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The Civic Arts League in Walnut Creek aspires to broaden cultural interest in the arts in our communities. It recently awarded $1,000 to the California Symphony to support programs, including "Sound Minds," that provides after-school violin lessons and tutoring for first-graders and "Music-in-the-Schools," in which symphony members perform mini concerts and educate students about instruments and music.
The city of Walnut Creek Civic Arts Education Foundation was also awarded $1.000 for additional drama and art classes, music camps and after-school programs. Full and partial scholarships from the Friends of Civic Arts Education Foundation were provided last year to more than 70 low-income children who enjoyed arts classes and programs.
The Civic Arts League has announced its new board of directors, led by Marilyn Hughes, president; June Krug, vice president; Janet Abbott, secretary; and Charlotte Hartness, treasurer. Congratulations to these busy ladies!
Alumni anniversary
The Cal Alumni Association counts more than 100,00 dues-paying members and thousands of alumni volunteers, many who number among our families and neighbors.
These men and women form a network of support not only for each other but also provide scholarship opportunities for deserving youth through their volunteer efforts. Anniversary activities will continue all year. For more information, visit
JMMC scholars
The John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus Volunteers presented scholarships to seven students for their clinical studies.
Scholarship Chairwoman Dianna Lomonaco presented the 2012 Edna Haywood scholarship awards to hospital volunteers Linda Park and Maria Bayog, who will be attending UCSF; to Lindsay Stevens, Samuel Merritt and Thanh Vi Nguyen, who will attend Cal State East Bay; to Tatiana Ramage, who will attend the UC Irvine School of Medicine; and to Mawra Hakimi who will attend the UC Davis School of Medicine.
Edna Haywood was a nurse who began the hospital in Concord in a home she purchased on East Street in 1930. Volunteer students are selected for scholarships each year.
Beaver Festival
There's a new kit in town! A healthy baby beaver has been observed giving a tiny kit tail slap near his home in Alhambra Creek above the footbridge in Beaver Park in Martinez. Visit him now and volunteer with Worth A Dam, organizers of the annual Beaver Festival in Martinez.
The festival is right around the corner, and the good folks at Worth A Dam are hoping that volunteers will come forward again to lend a hand. Whether you're a creative teen, a patient retiree, a handyman, a teacher, an artist, or someone good with crowds, this year's festival will work even better if you're part of it.
"Last year we had so many volunteers that everything came together easily," said the group's leader, Heidi Perryman. "This year, with 28 booths, seven musical groups and a growing supply of interested attendees, everyone is hoping for another generous crew."
My husband and I attended last year with our grandchildren and enjoyed a lovely day, easy parking and activities for everyone.
Worth A Dam will present the Beaver Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, in "Beaver Park," at the corner of Marina Vista and Alhambra Avenue in Martinez.
If you're interested in helping out with the Beaver Festival, or finding more information, go to www.martinezbeavers.org. You can email Worth A Dam at mtzbeavers@gmail.com or call Heidi at 925-283-4499.
Full moon walks
Join National Park Service rangers for free evening full moon walks this summer at Mount Wanda, its trail head at Highway 4 and Alhambra Avenue in Martinez. Each two-hour walk begins with a gentle saunter up to watch the full moon rise over Mount Diablo.
Those interested can joins the walks at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, and Friday, Aug. 31, and meet at the Caltrans park-and-ride lot at the corner of Alhambra Avenue and Franklin Canyon Road (just south of Highway 4 and the big rail trestle) in Martinez. Hikers should bring water, binoculars, a light jacket and a flashlight, and also wear good walking shoes because the trail is steep. If it rains heavily, the walks will be canceled.
Contact us
You can read the Good Neighbors column online by selecting the "My Town" menu choice at www.contracostatimes.com and scrolling to Concord, Walnut Creek, Martinez or Pleasant Hill. The e-edition of the Contra Costa Times, along with the weekly Walnut Creek Journal, Concord Transcript, and Pleasant Hill/Martinez Record are available as complete copies of the print editions on Thursdays by subscription. Visit us on line at www.contracostatimes.com.
"Good Neighbors" is compiled by Faith Barnidge. Send club and organization news, Scouting items, notices of awards and other submissions to goodneighbors@bayareanewsgroup.com.
