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September 2015 Lamorinda 4-H By Fran Miller
A general assumption about 4-H is that it’s all about raising animals. But Lamorinda 4-H adult co-community leader Beth Manning suggests that 4-H is much more, and that the animals for which the organization is best known are catalysts for helping young people present themselves professionally. “It’s a lot easier to get up and speak in front of a group of people when you are holding your bunny rabbit,” she says.
Lamorinda 4-H members participate in the rabbit and cavy (guinea pig) project at the Contra Costa County Fair.
And while 4-H does likely bring to mind the image of kerchief-clad youth parading livestock at the county fair, it has become so much more. In addition
See 4-H continued on page 19
Sustainable Lafayette Offers Climate Change Solutions
Serving the Lafayette Community 20th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine & Music Festival
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday September 20
When summer begins to slip away, and we all get back into our regular groove, we reserve that third weekend in September to hang out with friends and neighbors at the annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival in beautiful downtown Lafayette. This event is a local favorite in Lamorinda, but it has become a regional event with thousands of Bay Area residents finding their way to our city. Award-winning art, four stages, 21 live bands, 260+ artists, a KidZone, great food, and arguably the largest selection of wine, beer and ale of any San Francisco Bay Area festival can be had. Here is a sampling of what to expect… Continuous Music & Dancing - No Cover Charge. Held on four stages over two days, there is room to dance to familiar tunes played by 21 of the Bay Area’s best headliner cover bands, including the Sun Kings, Stu Allen and Mars Hotel, Foreverland, Aja Vu, Spazmatics, East Bay Mudd, Big Jangle, Bob Athyde & Friends, Bay Bridge Beat, Other People's Money, Evolution, Juice, David Martin’s House Party, Echo Trail, Dave Crimmen, and Spinout. Unique Wine & Beer Offerings - There will be high-end wines and craft beer selections that most people never get a chance to taste, including wines from Lamorinda’s backyard vineyards. Food: Choice is Everywhere, Including Lafayette’s Restaurant Row Fare. More than 25 of Lafayette’s top restaurants are in the
See Festival continued on page 13
Volunteers Always Wanted!
By Fran Miller
Seeking to lend time to a needy cause? Start with the Volunteer Center of the East Bay (VCEB) to find your perfect match. VCEB provides online resources for both volunteers and non-profits, bringing the two together to create meaningful volunteerism.
By Fran Miller
Sustainable Lafayette’s past efforts to engage the public in solar and renewable energy, recycling, composting, and water conservation been fairly Sustainable Lafayette board member Wei-Tai Kwok displays have biochar - a recommended soil amendment. (Photo by Violet Hsu) successful. Their Recycle Lafayette initiative, for instance, has helped improve the city’s recycling rate from 58% diversion in 2013 to 66% in 2015, on the way to a target of keeping 75% of waste from the landfill. Sustainable Lafayette board members are hoping for the same sort of engagement with their newest initiative addressing climate change.
See Solutions continued on page 13
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 21 Lafayette, CA
ECRWSS
September is Corporate Volunteer month, sign up individually or as a business to help!
Finding your ‘volunteer match’ is fun and easy. Enter a few key interest words on the online form, such as ‘animals,’ ‘environment,’ or ‘education,’ and uncover a menu of opportunities from amongst 100 non-profit organizations and 400 volunteer opportunities. VCEB offers one-time, on-going, and single day-of-service projects. Their site receives 11,000 ‘hits’ per month from project seekers. Volume IX - Number 9 “We change lives,” says VCEB execu3000F Danville Blvd #117 tive director Jo Loss. “That’s the bottom Alamo, CA 94507 line. Our volunteers really are helping to Telephone (925) 405-6397 change someone’s life. Sizing diapers at Fax (925) 406-0547 St. Vincent de Paul might seem inconse- editor@yourmonthlypaper.com quential, but it really is a big deal.” Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Visitors to the VCEB site will find The opinions expressed herein belong to the and do not necessarily reflect that of Lamatching programs such as Board Link, writers, fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible which connects volunteers with non- for the content of any of the advertising herein,
See Volunteers continued on page 16
nor does publication imply endorsement.