LAMORINDA

Panthers girls hoops evaluations coming up

The Panthers Basketball Club will hold evaluations for fall/winter teams of fourth, fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade girls.

These sessions will be held Monday, Sept. 10 and Wednesday, Sept. 12 from 7 to 8 p.m. (fourth and fifth grade) and 8 to 9 p.m. (sixth and seventh grade) on both nights at Seven Hills School, 975 N. San Carlos Drive in Walnut Creek.

Formed in 2001 as a nonprofit charitable organization, Panthers Basketball Club is a member of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). Club teams compete in AAU-sanctioned basketball tournaments in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada and beyond year round.

If you are interested in participating or have any questions, contact Coach Steven Diaz at coachsdiaz@gmail.com

Lafayette

Escaped miniature pig finally captured

A miniature pot-bellied pig, spotted trotting through yards and along the bike trail near the Las Trampas pool over a couple of weeks in mid-August, was eventually corralled and sent home to Brentwood to rejoin his petting farm buddies.

Pastor Steven Moore stopped in mid-sentence during his Aug. 19 sermon at the Lafayette Christian Church and focused his attention out the front door of the sanctuary. There, several young people from the church were

Two weeks earlier, the church's Vacation Bible School hosted a visit from a petting farm; the pig was an escapee from the group of visiting animals.

Although concerned about the wild critters, including coyotes and foxes that inhabit the creek area, the owners had to take the rest of the animals back to the farm, reluctantly leaving the porker behind.

He didn't go far, though, having been seen by several neighbors of the church and on the church grounds, too. But it eluded several attempts to capture him, or to be enticed into capture.

The pig was eventually captured in a racoon trap set in the church courtyard, and reportedly will soon resume his petting farm duties.

-- David Pinkham and Carol Somerton

Nine-year-old raises funds to help homeless

For the second year in a row, a young Lafayette resident has raised thousands of dollars to help the homeless.

Kristi Conner, 9, and five of her friends completed a run Aug. 19 around the Lafayette Reservoir that has so far raised $9,250 to help homeless families in her community, according to the Concord-based nonprofit SHELTER, Inc.

Conner raised $3,000 last year during her run, which she organized with her mother. The girl was inspired to raise funds for the homeless after she saw people sleeping in doorways during a trip to San Francisco, according to Amabelle Camba, a development associate with SHELTER, Inc.

Conner is planning another run next year.

Art and Wine Festival downtown Sept. 15-16

The 17th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, featuring art, wine, beer, music and shopping, happens Saturday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in downtown Lafayette.

With more than 275 arts and crafts booths, the fair offers a unique variety of gifts and display pieces created by local and regional artists -- ceramics, photography, prints, paintings, blown glass, sculpture, jewelry and more.

New this year will be "Craft Beer Land" and "Food Truck Land."

Festival admission is free, but to drink the beer or wine that is poured "on the street" or in the Premium Wine Pavilion, a festival glass and drink tickets must be purchased. Free parking will be available at the Lafayette BART station, and there will be a free shuttle to and from the BART parking lots. There also will be free valet bicycle parking at 81 Lafayette Circle, just behind the Art Stage.

Former Lamorinda resident Anne MaGill dies

Anne MaGill, a former longtime teacher's aide in Moraga, assisting at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School and Donald Rheem Elementary School, died recently in Auburn after a 13-year with Alzheimer's Disease. She was 72.

A native of Blackwell, Okla., she graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland and Armstrong College in Berkeley. From 1969 to 1998, Anne was a teacher's aide in Moraga schools, and also worked in The Nurtury at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church. It was shortly after moving to Lake Wildwood, in Nevada County, in 1999 that she was diagnosed with Alzheimher's.

She is survived by Perry MaGill, whom she married in 1960, and by three sons; one of them, Perry, lives in Walnut Creek.

Library's museum docent program returns

The Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center are pleased to bring back the popular "World of Wonders" Museum Docent Program, kicking off with "One Woman One Garden in Walnut Creek," Thursday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Community Hall of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

The Sept. 13 presentation is free.

The Museum Docent Program will feature a docent from one of the myriad Bay Area cultural museums and other sites, giving one-hour presentations about their current exhibits once a month.

Many of these programs are part of the Contra Costa County library's Discover and Go initiative. Go to ccclib.org for more information on how to get discount or free tickets to programs at the more than 30 participating organizations.

MORAGA

Pear and Wine Festival set for Sept. 29

The 14th annual Moraga Pear and Wine Festival is returning to the Moraga Commons at the corner of Moraga Road and St. Marys Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29.

It's a celebration of old and new -- of the Moraga area's 100-year history of pear orchards, and of the region's burgeoning wine industry. The family-friendly festival will feature food (including the signature Pear Pies), wine, beer, live music, artist vendors, informational booths and kids jump-houses.

Festival admission is free. For information, go to http://www.moraga.ca.us/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=60863

-- Jennifer Modenessi and Sam Richards (unless otherwise credited)