‘One City, One Book’ events coming up
The Walnut Creek Library Foundation is sponsoring free “One City, One Book” family events in September and October to encourage families to read.
Reservations are limited, so register quickly for the following events at www.wclibrary.org/one-city-one-book:
“Good Grief Cooking” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. Local author Lisa Rubino will discuss comfort food for tough times through healthy good cooking.
“Community, Culture Cuisine” will feature a panel of local chefs who will discuss how their personal journeys and cultures have inspired their signature cuisines. It is at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21.
“Letters to Your Future: Surefire Tips Techniques for Writing Your Memoirs” will be presented by Shirley Good and Neal Rosenau, who will share their expertise on creating a verbal picture of people and places from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.
“Where’s the Tri-Tip?” Butcher Gary LaPerle explains it all at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.
All of the above-listed events are held in the Oak View Room at the Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway.
At “Yes, Chef,” feast on a book discussion with a dessert and savories potluck, where you, the readers, bring along a favorite homemade dessert or savory to share at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road. The session will be moderated by Walnut Creek community libraries manager Sierra Campagna.
Walnut Creek downtown history tour Aug. 8
The next Walnut Creek Historical Society downtown history tour is Saturday, Aug. 8, departing at 9:30 a.m. from the fountain at Liberty Bell Plaza at the corner of Broadway and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
The monthly tours, every second Saturday, offer an easy, 90-minute guided walking tour of the downtown area highlighting points of historical interest. The walk into history on city sidewalks brings to life the early times of downtown Walnut Creek.
It is free, and registration in advance is not required. For more details, call 925-935-7871 or visit the www.wchistory.com and click on “Walnut Creek Downtown Tours.”
A taste of Japanese culture at Aug. 8-9 fest
The Diablo JA Club Summer Festival, the annual fundraiser for the Japanese American Religious Cultural Center in Concord, takes place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8-9, at the club building, 3165 Treat Blvd. in Concord.
There are free cultural performances, including taiko, judo, kendo, and obon and classical Japanese dance, exhibits and demonstrations, plus many kinds of food for purchase, including sushi, cookies, pies, manju, chicken teriyaki, tempura, udon, gyoza, hot dogs and beverages, plus games for the kids, ikebana flower arranging, bonsai and more.
Admission is free. Free parking is also available at nearby Ygnacio Valley High School, at 755 Oak Grove Road, and there will be free shuttle service to and from the school. For more information, go to www.diablojaclub.com/summer-festival.
Final Broadway Plaza concerts of season
Broadway Plaza’s free Thursday concerts in August, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., are winding up the season.
On Aug. 13, The Unauthorized Rolling Stones are set to play, and on Aug. 20, Journey Revisited performs.
Concerts are held in the Stanford’s parking lot, located next to Broadway Plaza’s five-level Main Street parking garage.
This year, there is a preshow block party, starting at 6 p.m., featuring vendors and retail exhibitors.
Free home composting workshop set Aug. 8
A free home composting workshop is scheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 8, at the Lafayette Community Garden, 3932 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Instructor Marian Woodard will cover topics including hot and cold composting basics; mulching, grasscycling and composting with worms. A question-and-answer session and troubleshooting are also on tap.
Register online at www.recyclesmart.org/workshops.
For information, call 925-906-1801.
White Pony Express seeks bigger home
White Pony Express, the only food rescue and relay program solely dedicated to serving Contra Costa County, has outgrown its 3,500-square-foot space in Walnut Creek’s Saranap neighborhood, and is looking for a new home at least twice that size.
And it could use the public’s help.
Founded in September 2013 by Carol Weyland Conner, Ph.D., spiritual director of Sufism Reoriented, White Pony Express feeds the underserved through a direct distribution model that allows for quick collection and delivery of large amounts of food, including fresh produce, dairy, meat and healthy choices.
Executive director Gary Conner says they hope to secure a new address and move the food operations indoors before the rains descend.
Property owners and Realtors interested in helping White Pony find a larger, fully equipped home base within a 10-minute drive of the current 1300 Boulevard Way can contact Gary Conner at 925-788-0146, or at gary@whiteponyexpress.org. Because pickup and deliveries are made throughout Contra Costa County and as far south as San Jose, the new location must have easy freeway access.
For more information, go to www.whiteponyexpress.org.
Streets of Saranap walk meeting point changed
The meeting place for Walnut Creek Mayor Bob Simmons’ walk through historic Saranap on Saturday, Aug. 8, has been changed. Residents should still gather for a 9 a.m. departure, but meet at 1850 Mt. Diablo Blvd. (at the corner for Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Bonanza Street). The walk will be about four miles in length.
Saranap is an early transit village nestled below the I-680, Highway 24 interchange. For additional information, visit www.walnut-creek.org/walks.
Lafayette in ‘SunShares’ solar program
Lafayette, along with neighboring communities throughout the East Bay, is taking part in SunShares, a communitywide solar bulk procurement program that tries to make residential solar both more affordable through buying it in bulk.
East Bay SunShares will be available to both residents as well as anyone employed or doing business in Lafayette but living elsewhere in the Bay Area. Program registration is open until mid-October.
For more information, go to www.mygroupenergy.com/group/eastbaysunshares
Disaster preparation class planned Aug. 12
Registration is open for a one-evening class for Walnut Creek residents who want to learn how to plan and prepare for a disaster.
The city’s Emergency Preparedness Team is offering the interactive, 90-minute workshop from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 in the third-floor conference room at Walnut Creek City Hall, 1666 N. Main St.
Workshop topics include making a family emergency plan, how to set up an emergency kit and how and when to shut off the gas after an earthquake.
Space is limited to 40 people. The class is free but registration is required and can be done by visiting www.walnut-creek.org or calling emergency preparedness coordinator Nick Zubel at 925-943-5899, ext. 2911.
Stuff the Bus helps WC students in MDUSD
Assemblywoman Catharine B. Baker, R-San Ramon, has kicked off her Stuff the Bus campaign for Walnut Creek students, collecting new school supplies through Aug. 22 for students attending Mt. Diablo district schools.
Walnut Creek drop-off locations include:
Needed items include backpacks, binders, notebooks and paper, pens, pencils, rulers, calculators and other basic supplies.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to excel in school,” said Baker. “Unfortunately, not every student has the proper supplies that will help them achieve their academic goals. That is why I’ve partnered with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and other community partners to help Stuff the Bus and ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed.”
Community partners include CVS, Contra Costa Association of Realtors, and the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce.
Moraga Commons Park concerts underway
Summer concerts at Moraga Commons Park start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. each Thursday through Sept. 26.
Visitors can bring a picnic or lawn chairs to the grassy area in front of the band shell. A snack bar operated by Moraga Park and Recreation Foundation volunteers open at 6 p.m.
The next show is Aug. 13, with the Spazmatics performing 80s rock and dance. For more information, visit www.moragaparks.org/concert.html.
Final summer concerts, movies slated in Orinda
The final Orinda Concert in the Park and Movies in Park events are here.
Residents are invited to bring their families and friends — along with blankets and lawn chairs — to the Orinda Community Park for the final free events.
The concert, sponsored by the Orinda Parks and Recreation Foundation and supported by the Orinda Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Orinda and the city, is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The final show features Cami Thompson from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11, playing big band jazz.
The movies have been presented by the Parks and Recreation Foundation with support from the Community Foundation.
The last movie of the season — “Frozen” — is Aug. 20, and starts at dusk. For more information visit www.cityoforinda.org or call 925-254-2445.
Vacation house watch service from Moraga police
The Moraga Police Department offers a vacation house watch service to residents out of town.
To request periodic checks of vacant homes, go to the Moraga police website (police.moraga.ca.us/) and click on the “Forms/Links” tab to fill in information and submit electronically. If any of the submitted information changes, especially the return-from-vacation date, call the police department immediately to let them know of the change.
Email Lisa Herendeen at lherendeen@bayareanewsgroup.com.