In brief: Walnut Creek seeks veterans’ stories to share on Memorial Day
WALNUT CREEK
The city of Walnut Creek is hosting its annual Memorial Day ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon May 27 at Civic Park. Everyone is welcome to attend and pay respects to those who served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Many residents have very personal connections to Memorial Day, having lost a relative or friend during a wartime. City officials and staff hope to hear those stories of people who made an impact and why, whether he or she was a family member or friend.
The city will highlight some of the stories received during the Memorial Day ceremony, with elected officials reading an assortment of narratives submitted by Walnut Creek residents. Stories can be emailed to WalnutCreekListens@walnut-creek.org. Mayor Loella Haskew will reading each submission as it is received.
“It will be an honor to read those personal stories about someone who has touched the lives of our residents,” Haskew said. “We are looking forward to sharing those accounts with the broader Walnut Creek community.”
The names of 65 former Walnut Creek residents are on plaques outside City Hall. Those are the names of people who lived in Walnut Creek and were killed in the line of duty, but submissions for Memorial Day can share personal stories regardless of where the service member lived.
Memorial Day is one of the city’s most cherished traditions. In addition to the readings, the Walnut Creek Concert Band will perform, and the event will conclude with a gathering across the street from Civic Park at the Veterans Memorial for a brief closing ceremony.
— city of Walnut Creek
PITTSBURG
Visually impaired clients enjoy visit to Niles Canyon Railway
A group of 20 clients, volunteers and staff from the Pittsburg-based Lions Center for the Visually Impaired (LCVI) enjoyed a private charter train ride April 16 through the lush greenery of Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol.
Charter Agent Jim Evans was the group’s docent and explained the railway’s history and mission while describing sights along the way. Clients seemed comforted by the gentle sway, immersive engine sounds and comfortable seats of the 1926 M-200 Railbus and asked lots of questions.
“I didn’t even know we were riding backwards at first,” laughed Mac Coates, 72, a long-time LCVI client. ”I had fun, learned something new and was even able to get a little rowdy with my friends from the Lions Center.”
LCVI provides free supportive services for blind and visually impaired seniors in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties. For more information, call 925-432-3013 or visit lcvi.org.
— LCVI
WALNUT CREEK, DANVILLE AND ALAMO
Garden tour to fundraise for education of women and girls
Get ready to refresh your spirit — the American Association of University Women, Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek (AAUW DAW) garden tour is returning for the 22nd time in 2024.
Continuing last year’s theme of “Gardens That Inspire,” the 2024 tour will feature six lovingly curated landscapes for tour attendees to visit. The gardens are in Walnut Creek, Danville and Alamo and will cover a fascinating range of styles from California natives to extravagant flowers to a beautiful rose garden.
The self-guided tour of six gardens will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10-11. Tickets are $40 per person before May 1, $45 thereafter, and proceeds provide will college scholarships for local women, STEM educational activities for middle school girls and other educational programs. For tickets or more details, visit daw-ca.aauw.net/2024-garden-tour online.
— AAUW DAW
CONCORD
Free Saturday postseason tax clinics will start on May 18
Do you need tax help after April 15? Did you request an extension and now need to file a tax return? Have you received a letter or notice from the IRS or FTB? Do you need to file a prior-year tax return? Do you need to amend a tax return? Do you have a tax question?
Tax-Aide volunteer counselors are available to help, and the free service will be available on Saturdays in the Concord Library at 2900 Salvio St. in Concord from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18, June 15, July 13, Aug. 17 and Sept. 14. Those interested should bring the following:
• a government issued photo identification (a California driver’s license or state identification card, U.S. passport, etc.; this is required) for you and your spouse;
• proof of Social Security Numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers for you, your spouse and all dependents on your tax return (this is required);
• copies of any IRS and/or California Franchise Tax Board notices received;
• a copy of your most recent state and federal tax returns;
• all your income and deduction forms, including 1099-SSA, 1099-R, W-2, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, 1099-MISC, 1098, etc. for the relevant tax year;
• any other documents that report income or deductible expenses, such as real estate tax paid, DMV renewal fees paid, charitable contributions, etc.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 925-471-5686. For more details online, visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org.
— AARP Foundation
City’s popular Music & Market concerts to return June 6
The city of Concord has announced that its popular concert series, Music & Market, will return June 6 to Todos Santos Plaza for the summer and early fall. The four-month concert series features a lineup of talented local artists representing an array of musical genres.
The events also include a vast farmers’ market hosted by the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA), where visitors can shop all the great produce, snacks, home goods and more that the Bay Area has to offer, including food trucks.
The concerts will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday from June 6 to Sept. 26 (excluding July 4), with the farmers’ market running from 4 to 8 p.m. The full concert lineup for this year’s Music & Market concert series can be found online at cityofconcord.org/DowntownEvents.
— city of Concord
PITTSBURG
Adult Education Center hosting county spring job fair May 1
A Contra Costa County spring job fair will be from 10 a.m. to noon May 1, featuring more than 40 employers seeking to fill more than 250 open full- and part-time positions.
The free job fair will be in an outdoor setting at the Pittsburg Adult Education Center at 1151 Stoneman Ave., where plenty of free parking will also be available. Attendees are asked to simply bring their resumes and dress for success.
For those who need resume, free resume reviews will be provided from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 24 in Room #23 at the Pittsburg Adult Education Center. At the same time in the same room the next day, free “inside” information on how to succeed at job fairs will be presented.
For questions, contact event organizer George Provol at gprovol@pittsburgusd.net or 925-473-2400, ext. 4964.
— George Provol
LAFAYETTE
Nursery school’s annual Science Day of Discovery on May 4
Lafayette Nursery School’s 47th annual Science Day of Discovery will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4. Make a volcano explode, shoot a rocket, make slime, dig for dinosaur bones and test your senses. These are just a few of the many hands-on activities that will be on hand during this great experience for the whole family.
Experiments are designed for children preschool ages through third grade. Proceeds are donated to a local math or science-based charity.
The cost is $5 per child, and the event will take place at in the Lafayette Nursery School at 979 First St. in Lafayette. For more information, visit lafayettenurseryschool.org online or call the school at 925-284-2448.
— Chelsea Bowman
Lifestyle Tour of area homes to raise funds set for May 4
For 25 years, the Lifestyle Tour presented by Lafayette Juniors has continued to be one of Lamorinda’s most beloved events and the group’s largest fundraiser. The Lafayette Lifestyle Tour is a self-guided event featuring beautiful Lafayette homes with masterfully designed, unique and awe-inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces.
This year’s tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4, and funds raised will directly support Lafayette Juniors’ local beneficiaries: Hospice East Bay, CASA of Contra Costa County and Girls Crushing It. Tickets are available online at lafayettejuniors.org.
— Lafayette Juniors
WALNUT CREEK
May 13 golf tournament to fundraise for the school district
The Walnut Creek Education Foundation (WCEF) has opened registration for their third annual “FORE! Education Golf Tournament” at Rossmoor’s Dollar Ranch golf course May 13.
Funds raised are invested in our Walnut Creek public schools to support the education of 5,000 students. This year, WCEF will raise $1.5 million to fund critical programs and salaries not paid for by the state. This includes weekly art, music and science lab classes for elementary school students, as well as a credentialed librarian.
Middle school students have access to more electives including robotics, computer programming and world language. High school students benefit from a fully staffed Wellness Center, advanced placement classes for college readiness, dozens of visual and performing arts classes, four world languages, career pathways in medical and engineering fields and so much more.
These opportunities are available because our community supports public education and donates to WCEF every year. Interested in playing? You can sign up online at wcefk12.org/golf or donate at wcefk12.org/donate.
— WCEF
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