10 iPhone Photo Tips to Make Your Business Shine April 11 12 noon

Ribbon Cutting at 2GORGIS Wellness & KME Coaching April 12 12 noon

Lafayette Young Professionals April Social Mixer April 13 5pm

How to Build Your Brand Using Insight, Identity, and Innovation April 18 12 noon

Lafayette Business Women at Sexton Group Real Estate April 19 8:45am

Ribbon Cutting at Oasis Café April 20 11am

"Coffee" with Lafayette School District Superintendent Dr. Stephens April 21 8am

Ribbon Cutting at LALA Dental April 22 2pm

Ribbon Cutting at Pedego Electric Bikes Lafayette April 23 11am

How to Achieve Efficiency in the Workplace April 25 12 noon

Ribbon Cutting at Traffic Bar & Grill April 27 5pm

Hiring and Managing a Multigenerational Workforce May 2 12 noon

Taste of Lafayette Restaurant Stroll May 16 5pm. Tickets are limited!

Less than 90 tickets remain! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

A Friend of the Chamber membership provides a way for community members to support the efforts of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. We are 75 years strong and our mission continues “To promote and maintain a healthy business climate and to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Lafayette.” 

All aspects that make up a community are important to us: schools, residents, churches and synagogues, community organizations, activities, and the city government. Chamber members work with representatives of all these groups for the betterment of our community. A lifetime Friend of the Chamber membership is $150 per family. Learn more here>>

Our 1200 square foot space is versatile, intimate, and perfect for workshops/classes, showers, micro wedding receptions, performance shows, corporate events and meetings, dinner parties, pop-up shops, product launches, photography/videography space and more. Reach out today to set up a site visit.

Did you miss our Arts Community email blast? Read it here!

Have an event to share with our community? Add it to our Community Calendar!

The Community Foundation of Lafayette's Excellence Grants application deadline is April 30, 2023. For almost 25 years, the Community Foundation has been giving grants to community nonprofits in the categories of Human Services, Seniors, Youth Development & Education and Arts & Culture. If you are interested in applying for an Excellence Grant, please click HERE. To learn more about the Community Foundation, please visit www.lafayettecf.org. Selected grantees will be notified in mid-May. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please email [email protected].

Quiltlove is donating 10% of proceeds from all colorectal cancer support quilts organized by March 31, 2023 to the nonprofit Fight CRC, in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March.

Order your quilt online here and specify "Colorectal Cancer Support" on your order form to qualify for the charitable contribution.

Let's work together to establish sustainable habits and reduce waste in the 2023 Lamorinda Zero Waste Challenge! Anyone age 13+ can register to join; but only 1 city will be the winner. Who will it be- Lafayette, Moraga or Orinda? REGISTER TODAY!

1. REGISTER TODAY! Then, starting April 3rd, you'll get an email/text from Sustainable Contra Costa every Monday with the two "Zero Waste Actions of the Week."

All participants who submit photos will be entered in the weekly drawing for local gift cards (ie: Diablo Foods and Resourcefill.) WINNERS will be selected EVERY WEEK! Join our March 28th kickoff event at the Lafayette Library where you will also learn about energy efficiency. Look out for details.

Presented by the Rotary Club of Lafayette.

Learn more at https://rotarylafayette.org.

The Lafayette Creeks Committee would like to invite members of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, their families, and friends to attend the First Street Rain Garden Dedication on Saturday, April 15 from 10:00 to 11:00am at the corner of First Street and Golden Gate Way. We plan to make a Land Acknowledgement statement, listen to several speakers, and open this beautiful site to the public.

Swing for SHELTER is SHELTER, Inc’s 29th Golf Tournament and Auction benefitting its mission to prevent and end homelessness in Contra Costa County. Event happens Monday, April 17, 9am - 6 pm, Round Hill Country Club, Alamo. Register now at http://ow.ly/9OzB50N58w4

Hosted by Bali Construction, this event pairs two iconic East Bay gems - the Park Theater cinema and Orinda Country Club – and is sure to be a great day of golf and entertainment in support of a community-wide effort to renovate and reopen the iconic Park Theater. Sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000 and offer fun perks including tickets to the post-golf festivities in OCC’s beautiful clubhouse. This is a great opportunity to support this once-in-a-lifetime civic project with far-reaching cultural and economic impact for the entire region. Please visit parktheatertrust.org for more information or to register. Individual golf signups begin April 17th. 

Join Underdog Animal Rescue 4/22 for a FUN-draiser! Paint your pet and help us save more dogs. Sign up now bring your friends, family, or kids. It’ll be a fun time, and they even serve wine!

Come away with us for an Evening in Morocco! The Celebration of Care is our opportunity to support our patients and their loved ones, while honoring those who contribute their time, talents and financial resources to Hospice East Bay.

Visit our event webpage to purchase tickets, sponsor our event or donate a live or silent auction item. www.HospiceEastBay.org/morocco

Hospice East Bay’s newest support group is meant for high school-age teens coping with the loss of a loved one to suicide. Grief is a complex and personal experience, and it can be especially challenging for teenagers. That's why we've created a safe and supportive space where teens can come together to share their thoughts and feelings with others who understand what they're going through. Meanwhile, our long-standing Bridge program supports younger children, as well as teens, through art, play, talk, and peer support.

Sustainable Lafayette is SO excited to welcome you all to the Lafayette Earth Day Festival 2023 on April 23rd! This year it will be better than ever- a fun-filled event for all ages to celebrate our one and only Mother Earth! The Jim Ocean band will be there with their unique brand of Rock n' Roll. The band will treat the audience to a live performance of their new album, "FrankenClime" -- a humor-infused rock ‘n’ roll monster mash spotlighting the environmental challenges of the times. There will be arts, crafts and games for the kids, a petting zoo and a full slate of educational and interactive exhibits. Local and national environmental organizations and youth groups will be there inspiring all of us to take part in protecting our planet. Bring your family and friends!

Come for the plants, stay for the tour! Family Harvest Farm's spring plant sale will have what you need to kickstart your garden: tomatoes, peppers, melons, flower plants, and produce. Time to amend that soil and get those beds ready! We also will be offering tours of the farm on both days of the plant sale. Sign up in advance to join a farm tour on Friday, April 28 or Saturday, April 29 at 12:30pm. For more information and to sign up visit: https://give.jmlt.org/plantsale

Learn more at https://sustainablecoco.ning.com/events.

Join A Brighter Day's Virtual Support roup, Talk It Out, on April 27th from 3:00pm-4:00pm PST on Zoom for help with depression and anxiety. During our Virtual Support group, we will facilitate conversation about depression and anxiety, hold space for open discussion with our group, and our guests will have an opportunity to talk with a licensed therapist about what is on their mind. Please note that this is not a group therapy session as our licensed therapist will not be providing any professional advice or guidance; only helping facilitate conversation and educate our group about the basics of depression and anxiety. 

Zoom Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NI4WSAXtRV-_sb_FcLRfdw

The Lamorinda CERT Foundation emergency water drum sale is now in progress. Lamorinda CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) sells water storage drums in various sizes as well as fire extinguishers, GMRS and HAM hand held radios, and utility shutoff tools. The first sale of 2023 is on now through April 27th. Pickup of drum orders will be held on the evening of Friday, May 5 and the morning of Saturday, May 6 behind Fire Station 41 at 1284 Moraga Way in Moraga. All residents are encouraged to have an emergency supply of drinking water in case our community water supply is disrupted by a major event (earthquake). To purchase water drums, fire extinguishers, radios or shut off tools go to the Lamorinda CERT website: https://supplies.lamorindacert.org

Kick up your heels and join us for our most exciting event of the year as we celebrate our 15^th annual gala, Ruby Boots: There’s No Place Like Home at the San Ramon Marriott on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Dust off your boots and saddle up for a fun and life-changing event to raise funds to benefit homeless families and individuals in Contra Costa County. Festivities include cocktail hour, silent and live auctions, seated dinner, inspirational speakers, and entertainment by David Martin’s House Party. To support the gala you can become a sponsor, donate auction items, and/or buy tickets.

Silent Auction Items Needed: We need your help securing fabulous items to make our silent auction a success. It’s also an excellent way to promote your business. There are three ways to help make our silent auction a success: 1) donate an auction basket, 2) work with your community to create one or multiple donations, 3) donate individual items including gift cards, gift certificates, and more. Click on the link provided to see a list of items needed and to sign up to donate: https://bit.ly/rubyauction2023

To learn more about the gala, including sponsorship and ticketing, please visit: https://www.hopesolutions.org/annualgala/ or contact Carrie Veurink, Manager of Development & Community ([email protected] / 925-542-5068).

Lafayette Nursery School’s 46^th Annual Science Day of Discovery on May 6^th!

Make a volcano explode, shoot a rocket, make slime, dig for dinosaur bones and test your senses! These are just a few of the many hands-on activities at the 46^th annual Lafayette Nursery School Science Day. Experiments are designed for children preschool age through third grade. It’s a great experience for the whole family. Proceeds are donated to a local math or science-based charity.

Saturday, May 6^th, 2023, 10:00am – 1:00pm, Lafayette Nursery School, 979 First Street, Lafayette. $5 per child. More Information: Call Lafayette Nursery School at 925-284-2448 or visit the website at www.lafayettenurseryschool.org

Don’t miss The Lafayette Juniors 24th Annual Lifestyle Tour Saturday, May 6^th, 10 am – 3 pm. Tour five beautiful Lafayette homes for a great cause, with masterfully designed, unique, elegant and awe-inspiring living spaces. The Tour benefits A Brighter Day, Assistance League Diablo Valley and Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area. Tickets are $65, and a box lunch will be available for $15. More information at www.lafayettejuniors.org. 

There's an exciting new event in town! Following the success of December's Winter Workshop for Kids, Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary is hosting a family-friendly SPEED CROQUET social event. The fun takes place at the Lafayette Reservoir on Saturday, May 6. What is speed croquet, you ask? It's like regular croquet but faster and more fun. Trust us! Register a team to be part of the action.

Spectators, players, and people of all ages are welcome. In addition to croquet, outdoor games will be offered. The day concludes with Cosmo, a real pro who performs magic with a message; he educates, motivates, and inspires children of all ages. More details can be found on the event website.

Youth Homes hopes to see you on May 6th at 6pm for Comedy in the Park with comedian "Chicago Steve" Barkley. Join us at Shadelands Ranch Museum in Walnut Creek for a fully outdoor evening of music, food, craft beer, local wines, fantastic raffle prizes and auction items, and live comedy. Visit https://youthhomes.org/comedy-in-the-park-2023 to learn more and purchase your tickets now!

Join the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association for an afternoon of wine tasting, food, and entertainment! Taste Lamorinda Appellation wines from Thal Vineyards, Meadowview Winery, Los Arabis Winery, Raisin d'Etre Vineyards, Deer Hill Vineyards, St Romedius, and Tarabrook Winery.

May 7 12-5 in the Wine Thieves parking lot on Mount Diablo Boulevard. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now. We expect to sell out so get in early! Prices go up at the door. https://www.tinyurl.com/LWGAMay7

This year the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is rolling out the red carpet at the Blackhawk Country Club. Even Hollywood would be envious – because you’re the stars. Line up your gowns and black ties, mark your calendars and join us for a glamorous gala evening in support of the Food Bank on Saturday, May 20.

Tickets are available now for this impactful evening featuring gourmet meals, exclusive gifts and live entertainment. (black-tie optional)

Sponsorship opportunities are also available! 

Lafayette's three Cs--Community Foundation, City and Chamber of Commerce will once again partner for the second annual Lafayette Community Day. This special day of volunteerism and celebration will include an opportunity for attendees to sign up for day-of volunteer opportunities in the categories of youth development & education, seniors, arts & culture, diversity and kindness and town beautification.

Email [email protected] if:

Mark your calendar and plan to roll up your sleeves on June 3. Please visit  lafayettecommunityday.org for more details as they unfold.

You’re invited to Monument Crisis Center’s second annual Taps & Tacos fundraiser! Get a sip of summer with us on June 10, 2023. All proceeds will benefit at-risk families in Contra Costa County. Tickets and sponsorships are now available: www.fundraiser.support/tapsandtacos

It’s going to be an incredibly fun day in the sun playing golf with friends–all for a great cause. Save the date for June 12th and help us chip away at teen suicide!"

A Brighter Day will be holding its 7th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Chip Away at Teen Suicide, on Monday, June 12th at the Crow Canyon Country Club.

Player registration opened March 1st. Register here!

Trinity Center’s 2023 Spring Fundraiser is celebrating those who are overcoming the challenges of living unsheltered or unstably housed. Proceeds from this event will fund the vital services Trinity Center offers year round to our marginalized neighbors who seek essential safety net services and next step opportunities for housing / shelter, employment / financial stability, and wellness.

For information on Sponsorships, Auction Donations, or Event Tickets please contact Pam McGrath [email protected]

Calling all chefs! Elevate your dishes with premium saffron sourced directly from Afghanistan through TIEblueRockShop, and make a difference in the lives of Afghan families.

Our saffron is carefully selected from local Afghan farmers, ensuring that you get the most flavorful and aromatic spice possible. By purchasing our saffron, you're not only adding an exotic and distinctive taste to your dishes, but also supporting Trust in Education, a nonprofit organization based in Lafayette committed to improving the lives of families in Afghanistan.

Don't settle for anything less than the best when it comes to your ingredients. Trust TIEblueRockShop for your saffron needs and help make a difference in Afghanistan. Place your order today and experience the difference for yourself!

To Find out More about Trust in Education, please visit our website: www.trustineducation.org

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Month in April! Thank you to the 6,700 volunteers who served almost 100,000 hours last year.

The Food Bank hosts 60+ food distributions each week in Contra Costa and Solano Counties, but they can only do it because of volunteers! "Whether it's your first time or hundredth time, you're making a real difference in our communities!" says Geo, Program Coordinator of Mobile Distribution Sites at the Food Bank. 

View the Food Bank's urgent needs and sign up for a shift today.

Grateful Gatherings provides furniture and household items for people transitioning from homelessness. When a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home in the Bay Area, we help them furnish it. We believe that families can thrive when they have a safe and comfortable home. Grateful Gatherings is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with 7 chapters throughout the Bay Area in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Danville, Oakland, Berkeley and Marin. If you have gently used furniture you would like to donate to a family in need, please contact [email protected]. We do not accept large armoires or mattresses. Learn more at gratefulgatherings.org.

The Lafayette Historical Society (LHS) and the City's Public Art Committee collaborated with graphic designer Danielle Gogo-Gallagher to create the series of beautifully designed, photo-realistic history wraps utilizing archival photos from LHS’s impressive collection. The boxes are located along Mt. Diablo Boulevard between First Street and Dolores Drive. Each box includes a QR code that can be scanned using a smartphone to access educational information presented by the Lafayette Historical Society on the historical relevance of the archival images.

•         Saklan People Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Lafayette Circle

•         Early Downtown – Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Moraga Rd.

•         Pioneer & Farm Life Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Dolores Dr.

•         Mt. Diablo Boulevard – Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Oak Hill Rd.

•         Early School Days - Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Happy Valley Rd.

•         Leisure Pastimes – Mt. Diablo Blvd. and First St.

•         Tunnels, Roads & Rails Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Dewing Ave

The new utility box wraps are part of the City of Lafayette’s 175+ Years celebration in 2023. The City is working in partnership with the Lafayette Historical Society to increase awareness and appreciation of our history including recognition and understanding of the indigenous people who were first on the land that is now Lafayette, as well as the Spaniards and Rancheros that preceded American settlers who laid out the built community that we see today.

•         City of Lafayette webpage: www.lovelafayette.org/why-lafayette/175plus

•         Lafayette Historical Society webpage: lafayettehistory.org/celebrating-175-years

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Tutors provide in-person, high quality, consistent, and accessible educational support to children and youth in the foster care system. 

If you have a background in education or experience as a teacher, tutor, or paraeducator, we invite you to sign up for an Informational Session, or email [email protected]. We are especially in need of tutors for middle and high school math support.

Learn More and Sign Up 

Friends Corner Book Shop offers a wide variety of gently used books in dozens of topic areas for your shopping pleasure.  

·        Minibus Driver – If you enjoy driving a minibus, interacting with older adults and can spare about 6 hours a week or every other week, this is for you! A class C driver’s license suffices, but a Class B license is preferred.

·        Social Media Guru – We need help increasing our presence on the various social media platforms! Create posts daily or every other day from the comfort of your own home.

Interested? Contact us now at (925) 284-5546 or [email protected].

We now offer a door-to-door shopping shuttle service every Thursday FREE of charge to residents of Lafayette ages 60 +!! Contact us at (925) 283-3534 or [email protected] to learn more!

As always, if you are 60+, call 925-283-3534 to schedule a ride to lunch in a social setting at Café Costa, or to go to an appointment or errand or anything else.

Local restaurants are invited to join White Pony Express (WPE) in its mission to end hunger in Contra Costa County by donating their surplus food to WPE, who operates a very active Food Rescue Program. Every day, WPE picks up about 12,000 lb. of perishable food from food outlets and then delivers it to our 90+ non-profit partner recipients, including 14 high-need school sites. All food is redistributed within 24 hours and all programs are free to our recipients. When you donate your excess food, you will also be combatting climate change by keeping food out of the dump, which creates methane gas. 

If you have any perishable food products that you would like to donate, you can set up regular or one-time food rescue pick-ups by contacting Pete at [email protected].

Kaiser Permanente and Contra Costa Health have partnered to provide our community with information about self-care recovery tips and virtual treatment options that can help you get better if you get sick. This winter, many viruses (COVID, influenza and RSV) are spreading in the community creating crowded waiting rooms in doctors’ offices and hospital emergency rooms. Fortunately, most people who get sick with a virus can recover safely at home.

Visit this webpage in English and Spanish to learn more about how to recover at home if you feel sick and when to contact your medical provider.

Additional resources include

Lafayette Community Center Kitchen, 500 St. Mary’s Rd Lafayette, CA 94549

www.lafayetterec.org (925) 284-2232

Add a fundraising element to support your organization for any group of 15 or more people. This is available for ANY Oakland Athletics home game, but it does come with added fees, estimated to be between $2-$6 per ticket. Parking can be added on when attendees are in the process of checking out.

Contact Carly Wade at [email protected] with any questions/inquiries regarding anything A's ticket-related or to get seats locked in for the upcoming season!

On March 28th, Carl Anduri, the Mayor of the City of Lafayette, announced at his first Zoom “Coffee”, that the City of Lafayette will be donating up to $60,000 per year for two years, to sponsor memberships in Lamorinda Village for senior residents who otherwise would be unable to join. This is among some of the first private-public collaborations for villages across the U.S. 

The Board and Staff at LV have worked on this project with the City for over a year. Throughout this process, our number one goal was to ensure that our current and future members receive the same care and attention that we have been able to provide over the years.  In order to maintain our high standard of service, we will be reaching out to the community to engage additional volunteers to support our growing organization. If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer or if you are interested in membership, please contact the office at 925.283.3500 or by email at [email protected]. Thank you for helping make Lamorinda Village such a vital organization. www.lamorindavillage.org

In case you did not already know, the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building is home to the largest variety of events in Contra Costa County! From Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, business meetings, to Celebrations of Life, the Veterans Building hosts those type of events and more. 

Since reopening after the Covid shutdown, the Veterans Building is once again THE place to rent for your next event – and NO you do not have to be a Veteran to hold your gathering in our beautiful facility. Not only can you hold your event in the building, but we can help to make it all happen with suggestions for a caterer, decorations, or a DJ or musicians to make your party downright memorable. To take a site tour or get more information, please contact our Building Director Eileen Lawrence at 925-283-1153 or at [email protected].

Now’s the time to register for the Walk to End Alzheimer's, which will take place on Saturday, October 28th! Visit alz.org/eastbaywalk to sign up. You can also reactivate your team and get your fundraising started. Or, start a new team and encourage your friends, family and coworkers to join you. There are lots of resources available to help. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information. 

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