Vice Ultra Lounge hearing postponed

A hearing on Vice Ultra Lounge, a club in Walnut Creek, originally supposed to be in front of the Planning Commission Thursday, has been postponed until late October.

Owners and managers were being called before the commission to discuss alleged violations of the business' conditional use permit. At the most, the commission could decide to shut Vice down if commissioners found it was operating "contrary to the public health, safety or welfare."

The club is located at 1251 Arroyo Way. Staff and the police were recommending that alcohol service be cut back from 1:15 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the business plan be modified.

In an agenda report, city staff gives a litany of violations by the business, among them that food is not being regularly served, alcohol is being served later than allowed, windows have been covered and increased demands on police.

Because police staff cannot be at the hearing, it has been postponed, said Planning Manager Steve Buckley. The public hearing on Vice will likely be held Oct. 25.

Event features 3-D view of Civil War

Even in the times of the Civil War 3-D photography was a big deal.

A special presentation "The Civil War in 3-D" will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday the Walnut Creek Library.

"Some 90 percent of non-portrait Civil War photographs were taken in stereo to be viewed in

The event will show the history of the Civil War through a slide show of 3-D photographs with narration and commentary by Ron Perisho, a member of the board of the Center for Civil War Photography.

Seating is limited. Reservations may be made online at www.WCLibrary.org.

The presentation is one of this year's "Walnut Creek Reads" community events, which has featured "The Killer Angels" Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize winning novel that tells the story of the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Choosen as the community-wide book club selection, many residents read it this summer and now are welcome to attend community events.

Also slated next week is the first of three community book discussions, set for Friday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Rossmoor Creekside Clubhouse. The discussion is free and open to Rossmoor residents.

Other upcoming community events are a lecture on "California and the Civil War" 7:30 p.m., Sept. 24 and a presentation of personal correspondence from Gettysburg, "Letters from the Storm" 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3.

Both events will be held at the Walnut Creek Library and are free to the public. Reservations can be made at www.WCLibrary.org.

Walnut Creek Reads is spearheaded by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and the Contra Costa County Library.

Caregiver workshop offered at a church

Hillside Covenant Church will host a Stephen Ministry Workshop 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 29. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The half-day workshop consists of three sessions designed both to enhance participants' caregiving skills and to help congregations explore ways to expand their caring ministry, according to a news release.

The cost of this workshop is $15 per person, or $50 for a group of four or more from the same congregation. For more information or to register for this half-day workshop, call Stephen Ministries at 314-428-2600 or register at online at www.stephenministry.org/workshop.

Applications sought for advisory boards

The city is accepting applications for a representative on the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District board, and now for a "possible" unscheduled vacancy on the Transportation Commission, according to the city's website.

There is one opening on the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustees. The appointment for the mosquito and vector board will be made for an initial term of two years from the date of appointment. The board meets bi-monthly on the second Monday night of the month, with the potential for occasional special meetings. Trustees also serve on committees which regularly meet between board meetings. All meetings are held in the district office at 155 Mason Circle in Concord.

Two weeks ago, the City Council didn't decide what to do about a transportation commissioner who has moved to San Francisco but wanted to continue serving. The council choose to not make a final decision but now the city is looking for a candidate for a "potential opening."

The appointment will be to fill an unexpired term through March 2014. The commission meets bi-monthly on the third Thursday night of the month; occasionally it may be necessary to hold a special meeting.

Applicants for both boards must live within incorporated Walnut Creek and be registered voters. Completed applications must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Registration for 2012 Community Service Day

To participate in Walnut Creek's Community Service Day on Oct. 6, city leaders are urging the public to sign-up now. Already more than 200 people have signed up to help do things such as clean the creeks to beautifying a school.

The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast at Heather Farm Community Center, courtesy of the Walnut Creek Lions Clubs. T-shirts will be given to the first 700 volunteers that morning. At 9 a.m. people will begin their project.

For a complete list of projects and links to online registration, go to www.walnut-creek.org/service. Those without computer access may call the Community Service Day hotline at 925-256-3505.

School financing, ballot props focus of meeting

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord), chairwoman of the Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, will discuss the state of school funding in California and November ballot propositions at the Sept. 19 meeting of the Diablo Valley Democratic Club.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road in Walnut Creek.

According to a news release, improving the educational system is a legislative priority for Bonilla, who has backed legislation to help local school districts reduce truancy. She chairs the select committee on high quality early childhood education.

Steve Olsen, who is retired from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and from the Clorox Company, will along with John Roe of the United Food and Commercial Workers union discuss the propositions.

For more information, call 925-946-0469 or go to www.dvdems.org.

Chamber candidates forum Friday

Voters will have a chance to hear from the candidates during a special "Candidates' Forum 2012" sponsored by the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. Sept. 14 at Scott's Restaurant, 1333 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek.

All four candidates will be on hand -- Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Barry Grove; Loella Haskew, a certified public accountant; Mayor Bob Simmons; and local business owner Justin Wedel. They will respond to questions from audience members and the chamber's political action committee dubbed WALPAC.

Continental breakfast will be served. Space is limited and registration is required; go to www.walnut-creek.com for more information.

Politico now to speak at WC library Oct. 2

Bay Area political commentator Joe Tuman will discuss the local and national political landscape 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Walnut Creek Library.

Tuman, broadcast political commentator and former Oakland mayoral candidate, will look at the future of redevelopment and its impact on California cities as well as pension reform and how local and state government is addressing this pressing issue, according to a news release.

The presentation is free and part of the Walnut Creek Library Foundation's Live! from the Library speaker series. It will be held in the Oak View Room at the library, 1644 N. Broadway. To reserve a seat or for more information go to www.wclibrary.org

Originally Tuman's talk was scheduled for today, but foundation organizers realized that was the same night President Obama is set to give his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

-- Compiled by Elisabeth Nardi