On Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, guests of the 18th California Symphony Ball will be transported into a wondrous Cirque Du Musique, featuring professional circus performers around the world. The evening will begin with a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and champagne, followed by an elegant dinner paired with fine wines and dancing to the strains of the California Symphony with an exciting live auction. All proceeds from this event will support the Symphony’s education and artistic programs.. Tickets and tables can be ordered online at www.californiasymphony.org or be calling (925) 280-2490. Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville.
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Chevalier Restaurant Offers Live Music. Every Wednesday night, the recently opened French restaurant invites patrons to come and enjoy French/American jazz music by local group “Duo Gadjo” 7 to 10 p.m. 960 Moraga Road, Lafayette. chevalierrestaurant.com (925) 385-0793.
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Celebrating its 43rd year, Women Sing presents a holiday program, “O Holy Night,” with a galaxy of choral selections, highlighting the chorus's hallmark programming of "the traditional and the unexpected." Led by Artistic Director Martín Benvenuto, and accompanied by Paul Caccamo, WomenSing is a 50-member auditioned chorus, based in Orinda. Performances are Sunday, Dec. 7th, at the First Congregational Church, Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, at 3pm, and Wednesday, Dec. 10th at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, at 8pm. For ticket information, visit our Web Site at www.womensing.org, or call 925-974-9169. Ticket prices are $20 General, $25 Premium, $18 Senior, $10 Student.

MASTERPIECE OR MESS? Bob Wahrhaftig’s presentation is part of a series of First Friday events at the Moraga Art Gallery in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center which will be from 7pm-9pm on Friday Nov. 7th. Bob will discuss painting basics and how he is inspired to work with colors. Then he will set up a canvas and have each member of the audience splash different colors on the canvas ‘til it is covered. The artist will then use this mixture as a starting point to paint a portrait of a model . One lucky audience member will take the finished painting home in a free drawing. Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center Street, Rheem Valley Shopping Center, Moraga . For questions call 510-524-7664. Bob Wahrhaftig- Drinks and refreshments served. Free to the public.
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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.

The Moraga Art Gallery presents a new group show, "Celebrate"– through January 4, 2009. The Gallery is doubly featuring the work of 2 artists: Terri Durkovic, a jewelry designer following a life-long passion for creating wearable art. She is constantly collecting semi precious stones, pearls, shells, wood beads and precious metals to include in her designs. Natalia Udaltsova is a painter and artist who loves life and people, and this is reflected in her paintings. The public is invited to the Opening Reception on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, from 3-5 pm. 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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The Lafayette Gallery is celebrating the holidays with "Lightly Seasoned: Fine Art with a Dash of Holiday Spirit." Through Dec. 24, 2008. The gallery member artists are displaying original fine art, paintings, prints, watercolors, photography, jewelry and ceramics. Art is a perfect gift for the holiday season. It is a gift that will be cherished for many a season to come. Gallery Hours: 11 – 5 pm Tuesday – Saturday, 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, Ca 94549 925-284-2788.
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New this year is the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce event , the “Lafayette Holiday Art Walk , 2008.“ The Art Walk occurs all day on Saturday, Dec. 6th. Do stop by Lafayette shops to view artwork from gallery artists displayed at businesses from 10am to 6pm.

The Italian Dolomites—A slide presentation will reveal the flora, fauna and other aspects of this beautiful area. Emeritus College instructor Lucia Falcone also will describe local customs, natural resources, and favorite foods. The single session will be held from 1 to 3 p.m, Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Lafayette Community Center’s Elderberry Room, 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette. Fee: $15. To register, visit www.dvc.edu/emeritus or call (925) 906-9105.
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Thursday, Nov. 13 , 4pm Garth Stein will discuss and sign copies of The Art of Racing in the Rain. Orinda Books. 276 Village Sq, Orinda, (925) 254-7606
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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. (See story page 10)

Join the staff of the Shahrzad Dance Academy at the Lafayette Library on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. when they teach us the basics of Persian Dancing. Whether you have performed on a stage or never stepped foot in a dance class before, this class will be an experience not soon forgotten. So bring you friends and neighbors to a free, fun-filled evening of dance and laughter. Ages 10 through adults only please. For more information, please call (925) 283-3872 or go to ccclib.org. Sponsored by the Lafayette Community Foundation and the Friends of the Lafayette Library. Lafayette Library, 952 Moraga Road
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THE CYCLE RECYCLE. Again this year, Bobbie and Tom Preston will be doing the “Cycle Recycle, collecting repairable bikes for refurbishing by the inmates at Marsh Canyon Detention Facility. The repaired bikes will be given at Christmas to under-privileged children throughout the county-Most needed are tricycles and junior bikes. Not only do the kids get the gift of a bike, the inmates learn the marketable skill of bicycle repair. New and/or used, repairable bikes may be delivered to the side driveway of the Preston’s home from now through the month of Nov. only: 1307 Larch Avenue, Moraga. (No need to contact the Prestons before leaving a bike, unless you need more information). For more information call 376-8474.

The Friends of Orinda Creeks invites creek homeowners to learn more about protecting their creeks. Nov. 5, 2008 from 7:30 – 9 pm in the Gallery Room of the Orinda Library. Please RSVP at mayarapp@comcast.net or 925-253-1997.
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Home Composting for Busy People workshop on 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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Timeless Traditional Tea & Holiday Boutique at the Lafayette United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 955 Moraga Blvd., Lafayette. Saturday, Nov. 15. Boutique from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. with an informal tea cafe. Boutique features many handcrafted items at reasonable prices, perfect for Holiday gifts. Outside vendors also participating. Three seatings for the Multi-course Traditional Tea at 12 noon, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. $20 each, two for $35, or table for eight for $130 - Traditional Tea Requires RESERVATIONS - call 925-284-7857.
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Widowed Person Support offers social events and a workshop for all widows and widowers during Nov.. Call 925/932-3448. Saturday, Nov. 15, a luncheon at Terzetto Cuisine Café in Moraga. Saturday, Nov. 22, a free workshop to help widowed people handle the Holidays, at St. Stephens Church, Orinda.

County Connection has scheduled a Lamorinda public workshop at the Orinda Community Center, 26 Orinda Way on Wednesday, Nov. 12- 4-7 pm to discuss proposed service changes and a possible spring implementation of the approved fare increase originally scheduled to take place July 1, 2009. Staff will be available to describe proposed service changes, and gather usage information from riders to minimize ridership loss. Maps and information will also be available on the agency website - www.cccta.org , and a dedicated email account will be set up for email comments, by Nov. 1st (925) 676-7500, or visit www.cccta.org.
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Rheem Green movie night on Nov. 13th "Dead in the Water"
Around the world, one in four people doesn't have access to clean drinking water. Some large international corporations view this crisis as a business opportunity, attempting to deliver clean water, while also privatizing what many consider a public resource. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Neil Docherty investigates this controversial trend by looking at recent developments in Argentina, South Africa, Bolivia and California. For $14 (online) you can enjoy wine tasting and appetizers starting at 6pm, followed by the movie at 7pm.
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Commonwealth Club Event-Thursday, Nov 13 , 6:30 pm- Offshore Oil: Drilling Ourselves Into The Next Generation or An Environmental Catastrophe? Join a panel of experts to discuss both the short-term and long-term advantages and disadvantages of offshore oil drilling. JOE SPARANO, President, Western States Petroleum Association, MICHAEL BRUNE, CEO, Rainforest Action Network , RANDALL LUTHI, Director, Minerals Management Service, PETER SCHWARTZ, President, Global Business Network. 6 PM check-in, 6:30 PM program, Cost: $15 members, $30 non-members, $7 students. For tickets, visit commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705. Events held at the Bentley School at 1000 Upper Happy Valley Road, Lafayette, CA 94549.
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Clowning class for adults with Jeff Raz – Cirque du Soleil and Pickle Family Circus veteran Jeff Raz will teach some basics of clowning, the fundamentals of funny. Focusing on partnerships, students will learn classic routines, some cool moves and some really silly tricks. Class size limited. Mondays, 6:30-8 p.m., Nov. 3-Dec. 8. Stagebridge Theatre, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland (at 27th St.), Near BART, onsite parking. $75 (for 6 weeks) 510.444.4755. STAGEBRIDGE THEATRE COMPANY, a non-profit organization based in Oakland since 1978.
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On Saturday Nov. 15th, the Moraga branch of the Union Bank of California invites families to come to the branch and get their children fingerprinted by the Moraga Police for free. Residents are invited to come in and talk to Moraga Police Officers and Fire Fighters about protecting their children, and keeping our community safe. The bank will donate $1000 to schools with 70% of their students who come in for the free Fingerprinting between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from the following schools: Los Perales, Rheem School and Camino Pablo.
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The Moraga Women's Society and Hospice are having a "Fancy Us" Fashion Show and Luncheon on Nov. 17, at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street in Moraga, 10am - 1pm. Fashions are from the Hospice Boutique, and will be modeled
by the Hospice volunteers. Tickets are $25. Call Louise Barr 284-7465.
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Nov. 18th the Orinda Woman's Club will host its annual Festival of Trees luncheon, raffle, and fashion show. Women's Fashion by Helen Lyall of Vallejo; Men's Fashions by Jos A Bank Clothiers of Lafayette Mercantile; Hair and Makeup by Suzanne & company of Pleasant Hill. The doors open at 10:30 AM for raffle preview and cocktails, 11:45 AM is the luncheon and the fashion show. Tickets are $85.00 per person. Please call (925) 963-6356 for reservations. Proceeds benefit local charities. Blackhawk Museum at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville.
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Please join the Town of Moraga and the Moraga Chamber of Commerce at the annual Moraga State of the Town Address on Wednesday, Nov 19th at 7pm at the Rheem Theatre. There will be complimentary wines donated by Tim Argenti of Allied Waste and finger foods provided by our local restaurant owners from Terzetto Cuisine. Please come meet your local elected officials and network with community residents and neighbors! The Chamber will announce this year's business person of the year, and the Town Council will have a succinct power point presentation on key Town activities. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us!

MORAGA GARDEN CLUB MEETING - Nov. 20, 2008, Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga. SAXON HOLT, Acclaimed Photographer, will present "Images of the Garden." For membership call Pat at 925-4675.
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Montelindo Garden Club Meeting and Speaker Series, Friday, Nov 21st.
Orinda Community Church, #10 Irwin Way, Orinda, Meeting at 9:30 a.m., Speaker at 10:30. Speaker: Garth Jacober, master gardener, plant care teacher at Heather Farms, and owner of Mt. Diablo Nursery in Lafayette, will speak about perennials and pruning. The free meeting welcomes guests.www.montelindogarden.com.
email : montelindogarden@aol.com
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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. 2008. (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