ART

The Moraga Art Gallery announces its new show entitled “EAST-WEST PORTAL,” signifying a mix of contrasting cultures embodied in the collages of resident artist Pamela Murray and jewelry by guest artist Jyotsna Chawla. The show runs through Oct. 21. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com, call (925) 376-5407 or email moragaartgallery@gmail.com.

The Lafayette Art and Wine Festival 2017 will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17 in downtown Lafayette. An award-winning art, wine and music festival with four live stages, 20+ cover bands, 260+ artists and a KidZone. There will be food, wine and beer. Free admission. Near BART. For more info see www.lafayettefestival.com, call (925) 284-7404 or email festival@lafayettechamber.org.  (See story page A3)

The Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery presents “Refuge,” a two-person exhibit featuring new work by Susan Sharman and Susan Taira. Sharman and Taira both find inspiration and solace in nature, translating their personal experience through a variety of mediums. Opens Sept. 14 with an Artist’s Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. and runs through Oct. 21. www.jenniferperlmuttergallery.com

Valley Art Gallery’s featured new artist is Ruth Hussey. For more than 40 years Hussey has concentrated on perfecting her skills, specializing in portraiture, figure and still life paintings. This exhibition will feature her works done in egg tempera, a medium used by many famous masters in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods. The show runs through Sept. 15. For information, visit valleyartgallery.org.

Closing Summer - Paintings by Joe Loria, opening reception from 6 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Lafayette Library Gallery.

MUSIC

The Lafayette Studio Big Band will perform an outdoor concert on the back patio surrounded by oak trees from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Dr, in Lafayette. The suggested donation is $25 at the event, which includes all refreshments and snacks. No reservations required. For more information, contact the church (925) 283-8304. To hear a sample of the music, visit www.lafayettebigband.com.

Pacific Chamber Orchestra opens its 29th season with “Poetry in Motion” – a lyrical musical journey through Mozart’s Overture to the Opera The Abduction from the Seraglio, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with pianist Natsuki Fukasawa and Schubert’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major. Performances will be in the Sanctuary at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16; and in the Bankhead Theater in Livermore at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17. Tickets are $10-$59. Children with paying adult are free. Tickets are available at www.PacificChamberOrchestra.org or at the door.

Pete Escovedo - Music and stories from his life and career at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the Orinda Theatre. www.lamoridamusicseries.com

The award winning Gold Coast Chamber Players bring the finest in chamber music to Lafayette and the surrounding areas. The first of this season’s five concerts, titled, Family Business will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 in the Lafayette Library Community Hall, and features music by the famous families Mozart, Mendelssohn and Bach written for piano and strings. Tickets include a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Visit http://www.gcplayers.org/ for tickets and information or call (925) 283-3728. (See story page B3.)

THEATER

Orinda Starlight Players present Robert Merrill’s “Five-Door Farce” Through Sept. 29 in the Orinda Community Center Park, 28 Orinda Way. Regular admission: $16; Senior $8. Tickets are available at the Box Office; call (925) 528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org for reservations. Showtimes: 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28. This is an outdoor theatre so dress appropriately and bring blankets.

California Shakespeare Theater and Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s co-production of “Measure for Measure” by William Shakespeare, directed by Tyne Rafaeli runs from Sept. 16 to Oct. 8 at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. Single tickets start at $20, with discounts available for seniors, students, persons age 30 and under, and groups. All tickets are available through the California Shakespeare Theater Box Office, 701 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley CA, 510.548.9666, online at www.calshakes.org, or at the Bruns box office on the day of the performance.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

SMC Creative Writing Reading Series with Robert Hass and Matthew Zapruder at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Le Fevre Theater, Saint Mary’s Campus.

Come to be informed about the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Congo Mission Conference, “Moving Mountains in the Congo Through Reconciliation,” from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. September 22 and 23, at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Keynote speaker, Dr. Pakisa Tshimika will discuss current conditions in Congo. All meetings are open to the public, and free. Register for Lunch or Dinner, $10 each, at 42queens@gmail.com. To view entire schedule click on Congo Mission Network Annual Meeting, CMN Conference.

Practical Advice for Those with Osteoporosis & Osteopenia. A free lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday Sept. 26 at Lafayette Physical Therapy located at 3468 Mount Diablo Boulevard Suite B110 in Lafayette. In this presentation you will learn concepts to improve postural alignment, balance, and proper movement patterns to protect your spine if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia. You will get practical advice on what to do and what not to do while staying active with these conditions. Valerie Watase, Director of LPT, will discuss the options for the management of these conditions.

“Creating Story in Memoir and Biography” by award-winning author Gabrielle Selz from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Saint Mary’s De La Salle Hall in Hagerty Lounge, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. This talk will focus on how to shape and condense life into a structured story. How do we shape a narrative that is factually accurate while also “feeling” true to the experience of reading? How do we marry chronology and evidence to a scaffolding of larger contexts and themes? Free.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Crafts with Valerie at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Open to grades 6-12. Make creative bookmarks and magnets with collage artist Valerie Adinolfi. All materials provided. No registration required.

Las Trampas invites you to a fun event for the entire family that also supports a good cause. You can walk, roll or run at the 8th Annual Walk n’ Roll 1 mile or 5k from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 23 on the Lafayette-Moraga Trail at 3460 Lana Lane. Registration fee of $25 includes: T-shirt, raffle, Whole Foods bag, games by KKDV, refreshments and entertainment by KKDV and the Jan Coogan Group of Bread & Roses. You can register online at www.lastrampas.org.

Calling all local children and young adult book authors to attend the Chalk Walk on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Moraga Commons Park during the Pear and Wine Festival. Each of Moraga’s five elementary and middle schools, and Saint Mary’s College will be assigned a piece of art or sculpture that is currently located within Moraga. They will research the artist and the piece. During the Chalk Walk, each school will have a 10 x 10 space where students will recreate their assigned piece in their own interpretation. Local children’s book authors may reserve a booth space in the vicinity. Booth Space is $25. For more information and to register go to www.moragachamber.org.

The second annual Color Run will take place beginning at 9 a.m. (registration starts at 8 a.m.) on Sunday, Sept. 24 at Acalanes High School. This 1.5 mile run through the Acalanes campus and grounds is also a great team bonding event for scout troops, club sports teams and LMYA teams. Each participant will receive an official Color Run T-shirt and have a blast being covered in a rainbow of colors as they run through five different color stations. Please visit the Acalanes High School Webstore at https://acalaneshs.revtrak.net/color-run-1/ to sign up. If you don’t have a Webstore account, you may check out as a guest by using the code 9999999.

OTHER

John Tateishi will be teaching a course starting Sept. 26 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center on the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, their campaign for redress, and the present-day implications of this part of American history. Tateishi will also be giving an overview of his class at a free info session at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. For info, visit olli.berkeley.edu.

The California Independent Film Festival opens Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Rheem and Orinda Theatres. Visit www.CAIFF.org for full schedule and tickets. (See story page A1)

Don’t miss the 13th Annual Orinda Classic Car Show Weekend: “Dancing with the Cars.” Pre-party, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 and Classic Car Show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Enter your car and buy party tickets today at www.OrindaCarShow.com. These events benefit the Seniors Around Town transportation program, Educational Foundation of Orinda and other local charities.

Women Support Group: Sexual Trauma Survivors - An ongoing group in Lafayette from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays at the Bay Area Psychotherapy Institute, 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite B201 Seminar Room. This is an on-going group for those who identify as female who have survived sexual trauma. It is a safe and confidential place to share with other women how the trauma has impacted your life and to explore different healing modalities. Group members will help each other to work through interpersonal obstacles to transforming their lives and overcoming trauma. Ranges from $30-40/session. www.lamorindacounseling.com

Lamorinda is a cat-caring community! Community Concern for Cats thanks local media and retail for introducing neighbors to our adorable adoptables from 1 to 4 p.m. this weekend, Sept. 9 and 10 at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

Please join us for a free movie screening of an exciting new documentary film called “Changing the World One Wall at a Time” from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Intercultural Center at Saint Mary’s College. The film is about one of the world’s largest street art campaigns held to raise awareness for the thousands of young Baha’is who are barred from higher education in Iran because of their beliefs. To learn more about this movie, visit www.notacrime.me/thefilm/.

From Spiritual to Material and Back Again, featuring Dr. Anna Gatmon, author of “Living a Spiritual Life in a Material World: Four Keys to Fulfillment and Balance” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in the Orinda Library Auditorium. Explore the challenges and treasures of discovering new interior lands. Gatmon’s rich life journey has included careers as a fashion model, an educator and a counselor. She holds a doctoral degree in transformative learning from the California Institute for Integral Studies.


Be prepared to handle all-hazard emergencies. Take Lamorinda CERT classes in Orinda this fall. Your $25 registration pays for 8 weeks of localized FEMA training plus a live exercise final; students receive a free medical supply kit ($30 value) after class #4. CERT welcomes Lamorinda residents and employees. Evening classes begin Sept. 14; for details go to https://classes.lamorindacert.org

All are invited to attend the Saint Mary’s College Guild Installation Tea Party 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the SMC Soda Center. Cost: $30 Per Person. Wine Purchase Is Available. Make check payable to SMC Guild; send to Patricia Wiegmann, 39 Carr Drive, Moraga, Ca 94556. Please RSVP by Sept. 10.

Join Friends of Orinda Creeks in the annual beach and inland watershed cleanup at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Trash accumulates along San Pablo creek in Downtown Orinda and flows downstream all the way to San Pablo Reservoir and beyond to San Francisco Bay. Directions: turn down the driveway at 25 Orinda Way and park near the chain link fence. Bring sunscreen, gloves (if you have them), water, and wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and sturdy shoes. All other equipment will be provided. For further information, contact Adriane Bosworth at bosdesign7@gmail.com or (925) 254-7538.

The Sept. 19 showcase meeting of the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette branch of AAUW will feature Ann White, an ambassador of Road Scholar, a not-for-profit leader in educational travel. She will speak about the history of this organization, its mission and the wide variety of travel experiences they offer. The meeting will also start the year with informational presentations about the many interest groups and service opportunities available to AAUW members and will take place at 9:30a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 at the Orinda Community Church Fellowship Hall, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Guests and visitors are welcome.

Many Faces of Gynecologic Cancers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 in the Lafayette Library Community Room. Join an engaging panel of medical experts as they explore the unique issues of ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers. The panel will offer insight into ongoing screening guidelines, latest treatment options, advances with minimally invasive surgery and menopausal issues faced by gynecologic cancer survivors. Q&A session to follow presentations. Advanced registration recommended. Call (925) 677-5041 x260.

Fourth Street Fashion: A Runway Show - A benefit for the Berkeley Food & Housing Project from 5 to 9 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23, Fourth Street, Berkeley. Costumes by Castle in the Air, looks by local clothing and accessory shops, gift bags, beer and wine, food booths, DJ. Free event. http://www.fourthstreet.com/events/2017/9/23/fourth-street-fashion-a-runway-show

The Great Conversation: Collegiate Seminar’s 75th Anniversary Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Soda Activity Center: Moraga Room, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. The event will feature round table Seminar discussions, plenary speeches, and concurrent panel talks. Speakers include President James Donahue, Professors Ted Tsukahara, Raina León, Felicia Martinez, Ellen Rigsby, many more faculty, and alumni. And, as befits a symposium, it will end with wine and conversation.

Middle Eastern Festival 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church, 501 Moraga Way, Orinda.  Food, games, live entertainment, folk dancing, crafts,  Middle Eastern heritage exhibits and more. Entrance fee: adults $2.00; children under 12 free. For information: www.stjohnorinda.org - or call (925) 258-4255.

The Value of Community and Choice as we Grow Older at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 is a live-streamed event presented by Beacon Hill Village in Boston and hosted locally by Lamorinda Village features best-selling author of Being Mortal, Atul Gawande MD, MPH. For more information or to register (seats are limited) call (925) 253- 2300 or RSVP@LamorindaVillage.org. Event held at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Dr, Lafayette.

If you’re affected by prostate cancer or know someone who is, Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Services invites you to learn about the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Samuel Merritt University in the Fontaine Auditorium, 400 Hawthorne Ave, Oakland. You will have an opportunity to browse our resource tables before the presentation starts. During the presentation, a team of six clinicians specializing in cancer will address radiation treatment, MRI and biopsies, surgical management, androgen deprivation therapy, bone health, and integrative medicine. Samuel Merritt University in the Fontaine Auditorium.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley is pleased to present the President of the League of Women Voters of California, Helen Hutchison, speaking on the movement to reform the corporate property taxes in California’s Proposition 13, which contained giant loopholes allowing big corporations and wealthy commercial property owners to avoid paying their fair share of corporate taxes. President Helen Hutchison will speak from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Concord Public Library, 2900 Salvio Street. Concord. All are welcome. Light refreshments served.

SENIORS

Orinda Senior Health and Wellness Fair 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way. This three-hour free event will feature Dr. Patrick Arbore as the keynote speaker talking about Senior Empowerment. He will be followed by an expert panel presenting effective ways to improve health and wellness through exercise, nutrition, continuing education, spirituality, connectedness and alternative medicine. For more information see www.orindachamber.org or call (925) 254-3909.
Start Downsizing Now For Your Move in the Future presented by Mark Shaw, Re/Max Accord Lafayette Realtor from 10:30 to noon Thursday, Sept. 28 in the Cedar Room, Lafayette Community Center. Do yourself (and your children) a favor and start tackling the many years’ worth of “stuff” that has accumulated in your house and garage. Breaking it up into small, doable tasks is much easier, less stressful and less exhausting than waiting until the last minute. Mark will share tips and advice he’s gained from his many years in real estate. Members: free; non-members: $10.

The Senior Mobility Action Council, a workgroup of the Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging, is putting on an event: the “Senior Transportation Forum 2017, It’s More Than Just A Ride!” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 at the John Muir Medical Center, Ball Auditorium in Walnut Creek. The purpose of the forum is to help educate the public, elected officials, seniors, transportation advocates, social workers, and medical discharge planners about the transportation challenges that older adults and the disabled face in CC County as well as the importance of accessible transportation in maintaining a strong community.

GARDEN

The Walnut Creek Garden Club presents “How About A Facelift To Your Yard? What Are Some Things We Can Do To Improve Our Home’s Curb Appeal? at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11 at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road. 9:45 - Business Meeting; 10:30 - Social; 11 Program.

Lafayette Garden Club is excited to present Rosalind Creasy, a garden and food writer, photographer, and landscape designer with a passion for beautiful vegetables and ecologically sensitive gardening. She has authored several books and will be sure to delight us in the wonders of edible gardening. The meeting will be held from 9:45 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Lafayette Veteran’s Building located at 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

Montelindo Garden Club Meeting (third Friday of every month, September through May) will be at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. Everyone welcome. Presentation: Growing Unusual Fruit in the Bay Area. Speaker: Idell Weydemeyer.

The Moraga Garden Club Monthly Meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. Guest speaker will be Kristen Yanker-Hansen, past president of the California Horticultural Society. The topic of her discussion will be “Planting a Dry Garden.” Interested parties are welcome to attend the 9:30 a.m. social hour, the 10 a.m. meeting, and the presentation by Kristen Yanker-Hansen, immediately following the meeting.