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June 2013 A Bond of Books
By Fran Miller
Their story began unremarkably – a group of Tri Delta sorority sisters, newly graduated from Cal in 1979. Each was working and living on her own in the Walnut Creek area, and each was seeking the comfort of familiarity. They had known each other in the sorority but they were not particularly close. Proximity, convenience, and a love of reading originally brought the group of six together in an informal book club. And they have been meeting every couple of months since. Thirty years of books and 30 years of life – marriages, careers, relocations, children, and great loss. The six women in Elizabeth Olson’s “book club” have become over the years a family of friends. They have known each other for 2/3 of their lives and have seen each other through the best and worst of times. “Real family can sometimes be more difficult to deal with,” laughs Olson. “With this group, it is sometimes easier to understand, easier to take advice, and easier to listen.”
Serving the Lafayette Community Calling All History Detectives
The Lafayette Historical Society is sponsoring a Lafayette History Treasure Hunt on the weekend of June 15-16th. Those interested in participating can register on the Historical Society’s website (www.lafayettehistory.org), by calling the History Room at (925) 2831848, or by sending an email to lafayette. history@comcast.net by Thursday, June 13th at 6PM. At 5PM Friday, June 14th, clues and instructions will be emailed to participants. The clues will give directions to markers or plaques at 14 different historical sites in Lafayette. Information found on a marker or plaque will answer a question specific to that location. Answers to the clues must be emailed to the Historical Society by 5PM on Sunday, June 16th. There will be a prize drawing from among those answering all of the questions correctly. For more information, please contact the Historical Society at 283-1848 or at Lafayette.history@comcast.net.
A Day in the Life of Lafayette
Part of the group in 1982: Left to right, Elizabeth Olson, Vicki Bradley, Karen Moulds and Karen Roland.
Their group includes Vicki Bradley of Lafayette, Karen Moulds of Palo Alto, Karen Roland of Piedmont, Karen Presnell of Alamo, Karen Llevano of Walnut Creek, and Olson, a Lafayette resident. (Having the name Karen was not a prerequisite - merely a fun coincidence.) Some of them are professionals; some are stay-at-home moms. “We are all different, and that’s the magic in our ability to nurture this longtime friendship,” says Olson. Moulds’ grandmother Lurlene inspired their book club. She lived to age 102 and was herself a Cal grad. Lurlene had been in her own book club for 50 years, and knowing the sense of place and fulfillment it brought, she encouraged her granddaughter to start her own group. The young women chose to begin with the classics, as none had read Bronte, Austin, and Dickens in high school. After delving-in, they were surprised at how much they enjoyed the literary mainstays. The group started meeting every six to eight weeks to discuss their novel of choice, and they haven’t stopped since. In 30 years, they have amassed an impressive reading list. When Presnell moved to London and then Hong Kong over a nine-year period during the 80’s, she kept up with the group’s reading list. When she joined book clubs with other ex-pats in her host cities, she would send
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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 21 Lafayette, CA
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The Lafayette Public Art Committee announces A Day in the Life of Lafayette, a community created photo event which takes place on How do you see your surroundings in Lafayette? What if st neighbors,Solstice. fellow students, co-workers Juneyou,21your, family, Summer went out and took pictures of what they see around them How doand from you seean image yourof what our in Lafayette, there build community really looks like through the eyes of those wh surroundings in Lafayette? live and work here? What if you, your family, On Friday, June 21 – the Summer Solstice, the longest day neighbors, fellow students, year –take pictures in Lafayette anytime between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm. The project aims to create a crowdsourced, co-workers went out and took community created snapshot of our community on that particular day. All are invited to participate, from 5 years ol pictures of what they see around 105 years old! This is your opportunity to think outside the lens. in Selected photographs willand be displayed at the Library them Lafayette, from Gallery at the Community Hall, September through Novemb there built an image of what our Rules for submittals: Photographers must live orlooks work in Lafayette community really like One photograph per person will be accepted Photograph can be any up topeople 11”x14” through the eyes ofsizethe Photograph must be mounted on a 11”x14” mat board (black, and white, or gray) – here? no frames who live work On back of mat board, provide the following: Introducing A in - Photographer’s name Day - Contact information for photographer This Expressing life in Lafayette through photographythe Life - If of under Lafayette! 18 years, age and school - Title of photograph on June 21st, Summer Solstice, the longestaims day ofto thecreate year a crowdsourced community sponsored event snapshot of - Time and location the photograph was taken A our community project sponsored Photographs must be appropriate for general community on a particular day. Everyone is invited to participate, viewing by the City of Lafayette Public Art Committee Submittals must be made between from 5 years old to 105 years old! This is your opportunity to think Friday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 30 (by 5 pm) City of Lafayette Offices For more information - www.lovelafayette.org outside the lens. Here’s how it works: 3675 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Suite 210 On Friday, June 21st – the Summer Solstice, the longest day of year – take pictures in Lafayette anytime Volume VII - Number 6 between 12:01am and 11:59pm. Choose 3000F Danville Blvd #117 a photo, note the time and location it Alamo, CA 94507 was taken, and submit it to the City of Telephone (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Lafayette Offices between July 12th and th pm editor@yourmonthlypaper.com July 30 (by 5 ). The Lafayette Public Art Committee will review the entries Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher opinions expressed herein belong to the and select the winning photographs to The writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Labe displayed at the Library Art Gallery fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible the content of any of the advertising herein, at the Community Hall and on the for nor does publication imply endorsement.
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