Lafayette Community Center will host portrayer of flamboyant Quentin Crisp. “The trouble with children is that they’re not returnable.” This is one of many pithy quotes of the late Quentin Crisp, an English writer, actor and raconteur, who will be portrayed by Richard James at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17. The performance is sponsored by Emeritus College, a Diablo Valley College program. Tickets are $15 ($13 for Emeritus members). For reservations, visit www.dvc.edu/emeritus or call (925) 906-9105. The Community Center is at 500 St. Mary's Road, Lafayette.
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On Friday, Oct. 24, Saul Williams and his live band take over the Shattuck Downlow. Decked out in feathers, sporting faux fur, body paint and a Mohawk, Williams' high-intensity stage show is savage, eloquent and a force to be reckoned with. Tickets are $20 in advance at www.inticketing.com or $25 at the door. Doors are at 9pm and show at 10pm. 21+ w/ID. Shattuck Downlow 2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
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Chevalier Restaurant Offers Live Music. Every Wednesday night, the recently opened French restaurant invites patrons to come an enjoy French/American jazz music by local group “Duo Gadjo” 7 to 10 p.m. 960 Moraga Road, Lafayette. www.chevalierrestaurant.com (925) 385-0793.
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The Orinda House presentation "A Touch of Vegas" cabaret show brings a touch of glitz and glamour to Orinda on Oct. 24th & 31st. The 11-member cast of vocalists, dancers, and band members transcends the entire restaurant into a staged 1930's Cotton-Club era as performers entertain from one table to the next throughout the event. Reliving the tunes from the 1930's to today, the "Touch of Vegas" musical creates an unforgettable dining experience. The Orinda House, 65 Moraga Way, Orinda.

Moraga Art Gallery Show through Oct. 26th. " Summer of Decision" by local Bay Area and Lamorinda artists showing watercolors, oil painting, collage, ceramics, photography, mixed media, jewelry and glass design. Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St,. Rheem Valley Shopping Center/ next to Longs Drugs Moraga. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 12-5 pm, 925.376.5407.
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“A Novel Idea,” is the new show featured at the Lafayette Gallery through Oct. 25th. The four featured artists have incorporated references from both prose and poetry into their art. The Lafayette Gallery is located at 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. 925-284-2788,
www.lafayettegallery.net.
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Lindsay Wildlife Museum -Vanishing Wildlife- through Nov. 16. Watercolor and mixed-media by Rita Sklar Vanishing Wildlife depicts American, European, Latin American and African wildlife. Critics describe her paintings as a mix of abstraction and realism, giving the paintings a feeling of movement and immediacy and praise them as capturing the subtle mood of the mystery of nature. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek.
www.wildlife-museum.org.
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Exhibit: Balancing Perspectives East Asian Influences in Contemporary Art. Nov. 1 – 22. Presented in association with the de Young Museum College Advisory Committee. The exhibit will be featuring works by renowned contemporary Bay Area artists like William T. Wiley, Ming Ren and Gigi Janchang. Complementing the de Young exhibit, the works will be in a variety of media and reflect East Asian artistic and philosophical influences and stylistic techniques. Free. JFK University Arts & Consciousness Gallery, 2956 San Pablo Avenue, 2nd Floor, Berkeley.(enter at Ashby Ave.) For more information call 510-649-0499, or visit www.jfku.edu/asian

On Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, the Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda Libraries launch the second-annual Three Communities, One Book program, "Lamorinda Reads!"
See story page 5
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Finding Gifted Children: Gifted Behaviors In and Out of the Classroom- Book Signing After the Free Event - Open to the Public- presented by Saklan Valley School and its Parent Association. James T. Webb, Ph.D., ABPP-CL, has been recognized as one of the 25 most influential psychologists nationally on gifted education and he is the lead author of five books and several DVDs about gifted children, four of which have won “Best Book” awards. Thursday, Oct. 23rd 7pm - 9pm. Oakwood Athletic Club, Lafayette. Please RSVP at www.saklan.org, or call at 925-376-7900
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Oct. 23 at 7:30pm, Kathleen McCleary will discuss her bestselling book, House and Home, at the Lafayette Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing. 20% of the proceeds go to the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center. For more information, call (925) 283-3872 or go to lafayettelib.com.
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Book readings: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 4pm Julia Glass will sign copies of her new novel I See You Everywhere. 5:15 pm , Joan Taylor Cehn, Risa Nye, and Julie Renalds will read from Writin’ on Empty: Parents Reveal the Upside Downside and Everything in Between When Children Leave the Nest. Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda. 925/254-7606.
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The Role of the California National Guard: Protecting the U.S. at Home or Abroad? Thursday, Oct 16th, Bentley School, 1000 Upper Happy Valley Rd, Lafayette. Critics say that if a larger portion of The Guard were protecting the home front rather than serving abroad in Iraq, the recent California wildfires could have been more easily contained. As head of the California National Guard, General Wade offers a unique perspective on the role of our reservist force. 6 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program. Cost: $15 members and, $30 non-members Visit commonwealthclub.org for more information or call 415-597-6705 to make a reservation.
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Writin' On Empty: Parents Reveal the Upside, Downside, and Everything In Between When Children Leave the Nest. Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30 pm, Lafayette Library. Hear authors Linda Peterson, Taylor Cehn, Risa Nye, and Julie Renalds reading from their tales and essays .

Free Seminar-Pain Management by Anne Randolph, Physical Therapist, Thursday, Oct 16th, Aegis of Moraga, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. RSVP to: Candice Moses, 925-377-7900
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Las Trampas Celebrates 50 years- Thursday Oct. 16 11am to 2pm
The special event is open to the public and features an open house with tours of our campus, client art display, live music and refreshments and raffle prizes. Las Trampas is a non-profit organization dedicated since 1958 to enhancing the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Las Trampas’ campus (3460 Lana Lane, Lafayette). For more information, please call Bonnie Peacock at (925) 284-1462 ext. 239. See also: http://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue0215/Las-Trampas-Inc-Celebrates-50-Years-of-Service-to-the-Developmentally-Disabled.html
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Widowed Persons Support group will have a luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. at Back Forty Texas B.B.Q., 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. Cost: $16. Reservation required by Thursday, Oct 14. Call Molly Runnion (925)283-1119 or Millie Weisberg (925)906-9483. Widows and widowers are invited.
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Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Keith Ellison (D - MN 5) Saturday, Oct. 18 at 11 am. Congressman Ellison will address the current situations of war and peace around the world and social and economic injustice in our country, including the economy, credit card interest rates and health care. Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Co-Sponsors: Northern California Peace Alliance, Social Action Committee of Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group and Rossmoor Grandparents for Peace.
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Open House-Hacienda de las Flores -Sunday, Oct 19th from 2 to 5 p.m. 2100 Donald Drive in Moraga. This romantic Spanish-style estate features a patio with central fountain, large lawn and beautifully landscaped gardens. Discover the beautiful historical buildings and share your views of what the Hacienda should become to better serve the community. Tours for all ages, Treasure Hunt for the younger crowd, refreshments and informal discussion with the Foundation members at 4:30 p.m.
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The Peripheral Neuropathy Group will meet on Friday, Oct. 24 10 to 11:30am in the Vista Room of the Hillside Clubhouse, Rossmoor. Dr. Steven J. Holtz M.D. will be the guest speaker and will give a presentation on his work in peripheral neuropathy. It is estimated that 20 million persons in the United States are living with this condition. Most common symptoms are pain, tingling, burning or numbness of feet, and/or hands extending up legs or arms. The meeting is open to all persons interested. There is no cost to attend. For questions of any kind please contact Nancy Ostrander at 930-9524 or Carolyn Cash at 254-8195
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Emergency Preparedness: Victims Wanted! CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is calling on the Lamorinda community to come and be rescued on Saturday Oct. 25th, during the 3-city drill that will be conducted by the CERT team in conjunction with the fire and police departments. You will need to meet at 7 am at the Moraga Commons Park. Some CERT volunteers have been trained in pet rescue, so bring your four-legged friend if you have one. Please register ahead of time so the team can prepare enough lunches for all the volunteers. Call Chuck Treat @ 631-0859.
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Chaparral Spring Hike Saturday Oct 25, 9am. Meet at MP 14: Three Springs Entry, 10030 Marsh Creek Rd. 2.2 miles east of Regency Dr. in Clayton. Join Burt Bassler, Save Mount Diablo Board Member, for a hike on a new trail that the East Bay Trail Dogs built at SMD’s sensually beautiful Chaparral Spring property. The property is not open to the public so this is a special opportunity. Moderate hike, approx. 2-3 hours, heavy rain cancels. RSVP to Save Mount Diablo at 925 947-3535 or smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org
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Japanese Maple Pruning Workshop, Saturday, Nov. 1st from 10-12. The cost for this class is $15 per person. Please call or email to reserve your seat. McDonnell Nursery, 196 Moraga Way, Orinda, 925-254-3713 or info@mcdonnellnursery.com.
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Trail Adventure Sunday Nov 2nd. The Mount Diablo Trail Adventure offers a Half-Marathon, 10K Run, and Family Hike beginning at Castle Rock Park in Walnut Creek, climbing the fire roads up the slopes of Mount Diablo and finishing at Castle Rock. The event includes pre and post race entertainment by a live band and lunch for all participants. Registration for all events is $35. After Oct. 22 the fee increases to $40 for all events. Day of registrations open at 7 am all events start at 9 am.
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Home Composting for Busy People workshop on the Saturday, Nov 8th from 1-2:30. If you are interested in attending, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you rsvp with the Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority at 925-906-1806. McDonnell Nursery, 196 Moraga Way, Orinda, 925-254-3713
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The 5th Annual St. Perpetua Wine Festival is Sat., Nov. 8, 6:30 - 10:30PM at the War Veterans Memorial Building in Lafayette. This is a wonderful event to attend with friends and taste some hard to find wines. The event will include an extensive selection of wines to taste, learn about and buy; thanks to Wine Thieves, local Lafayette Wine Merchants. There will be a professional three-piece jazz band along with a delicious catered buffet dinner. Tickets are $55 each and include the wine tasting, entertainment and delicious food. You can purchase tickets on-line at www.stperpetua.org Call St. Perpetua School for more information 925-284-1640.
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CARE Parent Network- a workshop for parents of children with special needs in Contra Costa SELPA, which includes the Acalanes, Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda school districts - Saturday, Nov 8 from 9 am - 3 pm. The 'Parent Academy' is a wonderful opportunity for parents to attend up to four workshop sessions presented by an outstanding group of educators on some of the most requested topics in special education. Marchus School, 2900 Avon Avenue, Concord. Contra Costa SELPA parents: $25, other parents: $35, Other professionals: $50. Deadline to register is Oct. 31. Pre-registration is required. Questions? Call Cathy Nicoll, SELPA Coordinator at 925-827-0949 x13 Visit our website:
www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/selpa/ccselpa.htm
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Volunteers Needed: Tax-Aide Counselors, Computer Techies, and Greeters. Help low to moderate-income tax-payers of all ages - focusing on those over age 60. Provide free tax return preparation and electronic filing service. To learn about the non-profit all-volunteer program, attend a half-day orientation meeting in Nov. . (Orientation not required to volunteer) Classes to become IRS Certified Counselor in January 2009. You will learn much more about helping people through Tax-Aide when you call LaVerne Gordon, District Coordinator, at 925/335-8749 or 925/256-6807 or email laverneg1@juno.com,