Lafayette

Fire station 16 discussion slated for Jan. 15

Officials with the Contra Costa Consolidated Fire Protection District will be holding an informational seminar Jan. 15 to discuss the closure of fire station 16 on Los Arabis Drive.

County supervisors voted in December to close the Lafayette station along with stations in Martinez, Clayton and Walnut Creek following the defeat of a parcel tax the district argued was necessary to preserve service. Station 16's closure on Jan. 15 will leave the city with two fire stations.

Fire Chief Daryl Louder and other officials will be answering questions at the meeting.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Boulevard.

'Business Person of the Year' rescheduled to Feb. 1

Colleen McCormick, co-founder of Lamorinda Music, has been chosen as the 2012 Marquis Business Person of the Year, and will be honored at a Feb. 1 dinner at the Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa.

That date was rescheduled from the original Jan. 26.

Colleen and John McCormick, who met playing in the UC Berkeley band, opened the store in July 2010. Their store has since tripled in size.

The dinner -- which also will include the State of the City address by Mayor Mike Anderson -- begins at 6 with cocktails.

California Magic soccer tryouts in January, February

Tryouts for the California Magic Soccer Club will be held starting in January at Bentley School in Lafayette, 1000 Upper Happy Valley Road, for boys and girls U8 (Jan. 1212), U9 and U10 (Jan. 19 and 26).

Tryouts for the U11 — U14 teams will be held in February, with specific dates and times to be determined.

For information and specific tryout times, visit www.calmagicsc.com or email info@calmagicsc.com

MORAGA

Town council Goal Setting Workshop Saturday

The Moraga Town Council will consider the community's goals and priorities for 2013 on Saturday, Jan. 12 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Hacienda de las Flores, in the La Sala building.

This annual Goal Setting Workshop is an opportunity for the public to provide their input on Town priorities for the coming year.

Moraga's basic goals for 2013, as laid out by Mayor Dave Trotter, include exercising continued fiscal discipline; implementing the Measure K road repair program; accomplishing targeted general plan amendments and rezoning during 2013; outreach and partnering with Moraga School District Board on matters of common interest; completing Laguna Creek storm damage repairs project at the Hacienda de las Flores; negotiating with Moraga Country Club regarding its land lease with the town; and considering annexation into moraga of lands within town's "sphere of influence" at end of Camino Pablo.

The public is welcome to attend.

Town seeks board, committee volunteers

The town is seeking volunteers for a number of committees. commissions and boards.

There are openings on the following committees: ADA Advisory Committee; Audit and Finance Committee; Design Review Board; Park and Recreation Commission; Planning Commission and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee.

Applicants for the planning and park and recreation commissions and design review board must be qualified electors in the town. All other positions require town residency.

Applications, a letter of interest and a resume may be submitted at the town clerk's office, 329 Rheem Boulevard and are due by 4 p.m. Jan. 11.

For information, visit www.moraga.ca.us.

'Buy-a-Bulb' continues to glow

Yes, Christmas is over, but the local "Buy-a-Bulb" fundraiser to light the Holiday Tree at the Commons Park is ongoing, and contributions in any amount are accepted.

The town's goal is to raise $5,000 through community donations.

Checks can be sent to the Town of Moraga, Attn: Buy-a-Bulb, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga, CA 94556.

Contra Costa

Climate change presentation Jan. 23

Shelly Ryan of former Vice President Al Gore's Climate Reality Project will present the multimedia program "Climate Change: It's Not Too Hot to Handle" at the meeting of the Diablo Valley Democratic Club at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road in Walnut Creek.

The presentation will highlight the status of climate change worldwide, what is being done to remedy the situation and how every individual can make a positive difference.

Guided by the principle that climate change is real and solutions are available, the Climate Reality Project works to bring facts about the climate crisis into the mainstream and help citizens take meaningful steps to solve it.

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

East Bay Women's Conference is March 4

The 2013 East Bay Women's Conference, with keynote speaker Marlo Thomas and featured speaker Lisa Kristine, takes place March 4, at the San Ramon Marriott.

Both women have had significant impact on the lives of women around the world and continue to act and speak out for positive change.

Thomas is an actress and a social activist, and is national outreach director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Kristine is a photographer who has traveled the world for 25 years to tell human stories, including some tragedies.

ABC 7 news anchor Dan Ashley will emcee the conference that blends keynote and featured speaker presentations; breakout sessions focused on contemporary issues; exhibitor booths; a fully stocked bookstore and author signings.

The conference is presented by the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and Chevron Corporation. The $195 ticket price includes continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon reception.

Tickets for the conference, which has sold out its previous seven years, are now on sale to the general public. Go to http://www.walnut-creek.com and click on the Women's Conference photo on the face page.

'Peaceful Schools' conference Feb. 2

The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center in Walnut Creek will hold its second annual Creating a Peaceful School Conference from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Seven Hills School, 975 N. San Carlos Drive in Walnut Creek.

The conference is designed for anyone who works with young people in grades K-12, including parents, teachers, administrators, classroom aides, school personnel and after-school program providers.

The aim is to help participants develop the skills they need to make the classroom, the school and the community a more peaceful place.

The keynote speaker is Ron Claassen, a professor of peacemaking and conflict studies at Fresno Pacific University and director of the Restorative Discipline Project. The focus of the conference will be the use of restorative justice in the classroom setting.

Workshops and classes will cover a variety of topics.

Registration is $35 through Jan. 7, and $40 thereafter. A catered lunch is included. Continuing education credit will be available through Saint Mary's College for a small additional fee.

Full descriptions of presenters and topics and related information will soon be available online. For more information or to register, go to www.mtdpc.org; call 925-933-7850, or e-mail margli@mtdpc.org.

-- Jennifer Modenessi and Sam Richards