Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Jay Lifson, Executive Director
|
August 7, 2017 News & Events
|
|
Lafayette Chamber's 3 Alarm Report
Hello Chamber Members and friends! The Chamber staff is alive and well in our secret office next to the school district office. We are busy working on finding a new place to call home, finishing the work to bring us up to date, ordering new supplies and of course getting ready for the
Art & Wine Festival. We have just a handful of opportunities left for sponsors and lots of opportunities for volunteers. Interested in either? Check in with Sara Regan
Sara@lafayettechamber.org - 925-284-7404.
We have narrowed the search for a new office down to about 15 locations. We are working through the options and should have a clear picture soon. News on the other tenants of 100 Lafayette Circle: Looks like Kelly from Studio 102 has found a place to work from over in the Franklin Building (corner of Golden Gate Way and First St.) across from the Library & Learning Center. Jeff Asadi (La Finestra Restaurant) has looked at a couple of Lamorinda sites to get his doors opened again. The therapists from upstairs have been successful in finding new office space. At this time, the CPA's including Chamber Members Marion Isles and Marta (Esthetician) are still looking for long term solutions.
There is no official word yet on what the property owners intend to do with the property. We think the building will be leveled soon.
Our board will meet in a special session tomorrow to review our progress and next steps! Again thank you to all the support you have given us. And we are here to support you. The show must go on!
|
EAST BAY BUSINESS NIGHT @ CAL SHAKES
Thursday, August 10, Bruns Amphitheater, Orinda
6:30 PM Pre-performance mixer with hosted wine & light bites
8:00 PM Performance of
black odyssey
Join sponsor City National Bank at this special event for East Bay business professionals, celebrating the west coast premiere of
black odyssey a music-infused mash up of Greek mythology & African-American folklore by Oakland native Marcus Gardley. Space is limited! Specially discounted tickets are $20 & $35 (based on seat location).
To order: visit
www.CalShakes.org. Choose
black odyssey performance date Aug 10, 8PM. Enter promo-code BUSINESS when ordering to receive your special discount!
|
Welcome to our Newest Members!
The following businesses have joined the Lafayette Chamber July 28 - August 4.
We encourage you to visit their website for more information!
|
|
|
TheGrapevineCouponBook.com
|
|
|
Lafayette Fire Relief Fund 
The devastating fire that ripped through 100 Lafayette Circle on July 13, 2017, destroyed nine Lafayette businesses including the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and La Finestra restaurant. The Lafayette Community Foundation has set up a general Fire Relief Fund to assist the businesses that were affected by the fire. The money collected will help cover expenses that will not be covered by insurance and help those businesses get back up and running as quickly as possible. This fund will remain active until December 31, 2017.
Donate here or send a check to: Lafayette Community Foundation, P.O. Box 221, Lafayette, CA 94549. When writing a check, please indicate that your donation is for the Fire Relief Fund. Please do not specify a particular business as IRS rules do not allow donations to be designated for specific individuals.
Thank you for your help in assisting our neighbors and keeping these businesses in our community!
|
Mixers 2018!
Bring more people through your business - get noticed - form relationships!
We are now scheduling our 2018 Mixers and have several dates available for you to host at your location! Our events bring many members and guests to your door especially the mixers. Get to know our members and they will recognize your services or products that your offer. Remember, when you throw a party invite your business neighbors, friends and family. Please contact Barbara for details at
Barbara@lafayettechamber.org or call 639-9187.
|
Mark your calendars ... 22nd Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
Saturday, September 16, 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday, September 17, 10:00am - 6:00pm
Downtown Lafayette | FREE - FREE- FREE | Valet Bike Parking, 1 block from BART, Shuttles to BART lots
The show must go on! The Art and Wine Festival is only weeks away. The Lafayette Chamber is looking forward to hosting one of the East Bay's biggest and best community events.
- Music on FOUR stages. This year's music lineup includes The Sun Kings, Foreverland, East Bay Mudd, ZEBOP!, The Bell Brothers, Neon Velvet, Trouble with Monkeys, Steven Ybarra Band, The Big Jangle, The Tuneriders, and The Spazmatics.
- Mouth-watering FOOD throughout the festival footprint: Amarin Thai, Amphora, American Kitchen, California Balsamic, Chow, Coffee Shop, Countrytime Lemonade, El Jarro, Evergood Sausage, Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches, Hustlar Catering, IzzyA's Frozen Custard, Lantern Catering, Mangia Ristorante, Nan's Gourmet, Papillon, Patxis Pizza, Philly Cheesecake, Pizza Antica, Postino, Proverb Foods, Rainbow Snow, Roam, Rustic Tavern, Slider's Food Truck, Smitten Ice Cream, Sonoma Teriyaki, Susie Cakes, The Cooperage, Uncle Yu's, Urban Remedy, Vitality Bowl, Yankee Pier and Yummi BBQ Food Truck
- Local Artists
- Premium Wine and Craft Beers
- Premier Commercial Vendors
- Quaint Downtown Store Fronts
- Backyard Carnival Kid Zones
- Eckerstom Productions Arts and Craft Vendors
Bring your friends and don't miss the fun! Share the event on
Facebook. Limited sponsorship and participation opportunities are still available. Call us at (925) 284-7404 for more information.
www.LafayetteFestival.com.
|
Bay Area SunShares Registration Opens August 7
The City of Lafayette is excited to announce that SunShares is back again this year. SunShares is a renewable energy program making it easier and more affordable for Bay Area residents to go solar or purchase an electric vehicle. SunShares offers discounts, free workshops and helps renters learn more about their clean energy options. If you've ever thought about installing solar or buying an electric vehicle but don't know where to start, SunShares is here to help! SunShares pools the buying power of participants to get discounted pricing from solar companies and vehicle manufacturers. This year, the program was able to negotiate a 15-20% additional discount beyond the companies' initially discounted bulk purchasing!
How SunShares works
- Workshops are held to help residents and employees understand the basics of solar, electric vehicles, financing options, options as a renter and answer questions. The City of Lafayette is planning on joining forces with the City of Walnut Creek and the City of Concord to host a workshop - more info to come. There are also educational webinars that have been scheduled at noon for the following dates: 8/16, 8/29, 9/14, 9/26, 10/12, and 10/17.
- Three pre-vetted solar installers were selected (PetersenDean, Solar Technologies, and SkyTech Solar) and will work with you to schedule your home solar evaluation. Register by November 10th to receive a no-cost, no-obligation solar proposal.
- Sign your solar contract by December 31st, 2017 to move forward with solar installation and take advantage of the discounted program pricing.
- Preview the exciting electric vehicle offerings. To see the deals and to receive your discount code, register at www.bayareasunshares.org. by November 10th, 2017.Bay Area SunShares Registration Opens August 7
|
Member News & Announcements
Premier Kitchens Inventory Sale
Premier Kitchens is celebrating their 30th anniversary! Hurry down and save big as they are remodeling their showroom. Fantastic deals! Premier Kitchens is located at 3373 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. (925) 283-6500
Nerdy Business Mixer
Wednesday, August 9, 5:30pm-7pm, Moose Lodge, 4660 Appian Way, El Sobrante
Join
Nerd Crossing at the Moose Lodge for a Business Mixer hosted by Nerd Crossing, Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa, El Sobrante Chamber and Moose Lodge. $10 entry with all proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa. Networking, raffle prizes, food by Cafe Soleil and Yogurtland Pinole.
2017 Gourmet Gallop Food & Wine Walk
Sunday, August 10, Downtown Walnut Creek
Diablo Ballet would like to extend to all Chamber Members a special ticket offer for our 2017 Gourmet Gallop food & wine walk on August 10 in downtown Walnut Creek, Contra Costa's biggest food and wine walk. Get special $30 tickets (saving you $15 off the regular price) by calling Diablo Ballet at (925) 943.1775 x2 and using code Gallop - Chamber Friend.
View flyer.
Volunteers Needed for White Pony Express
Due to an increase of food donations, White Pony Express (WPE), is urgently seeking volunteers who will happily sacrifice their own time to help families and individuals in need:
- Use our vehicles to pick up food rescued from supermarkets, restaurants and farmers markets and deliver it to nonprofits who feed the hungry in our community; or
- Accompany drivers to help load and unload at donor or recipient locations (need to be able to lift 30 lbs.)
Volunteers should be willing to commit to driving or helping on a regular basis (weekly or bi-weekly) for periods of two-four hours (or as much as you can fit in). WPE, whose mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County, currently rescues about 5000 pounds of food each day. In just over 3 1/2 years, WPE has rescued and delivered 5 million pounds of food. This is fresh, high-quality food (meats, dairy, produce, deli, and baked goods) that, if not rescued, would go to the landfill and create more methane gas. You can have a direct, immediate impact on the lives of the thousands of those suffering from hunger in our community.If you are interested, please Contact Mandy Nakaya: 925-818-6361;
mandy@whiteponyexpress.org; or go to
www.whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer
Trim Your Energy Costs with East Bay Energy Watch!
EBEW is specially designed to help small businesses upgrade to energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration. The program offers no-cost, start-to-finish technical assistance and cash rebates to help defray the cost of installing energy-efficient lighting and select refrigeration products. Who's Eligible for the Program? Alameda and Contra Costa County small businesses, Small institutions and Common areas of multi-family buildings (5 or more units). The first step is a no-cost, no-obligation assessment of your existing energy use. Call us at 1-800-576-6405 or email us
eastbayenergywatch@dnvgl.com.
www.EBEW.org
East Bay Leadership Council's candidate training program "Build the Bench"
Have you ever thought about running for office, but were too overwhelmed by the process to actually run? The East Bay Leadership Council is launching a candidate training program focused on how you can run and win in the East Bay. The program is designed for busy professionals and will connect you with leading campaign experts in the region. If you are interested, check out
www.buildthebench.com.
|
|
Deborah Lee Rose Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3-D Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle
Wednesday, August 16, 6pm, Library Community Hall
This book is a Junior Library Guild selection and 'California Reads' recommended title by the CA Teachers Association. Come hear award-winning children's author Deborah Lee Rose as she presents the incredible, true, heart-lifting story of Beauty, an injured bald eagle saved with a prosthetic beak.
Free. For ages 7 and up. Refreshments provided. For more information and to register click HERE .
Eugene O'Neill Festival: A Sneak Peek
Thursday, August 17, 7pm, Library Community Hall
Get a sneak peek of the 18th annual Eugene O'Neill Festival, which celebrates the great tradition of Irish storytelling and honors America's only Nobel prize-winning playwright. Cast members will perform scenes and artistic director Eric Fraisher Hayes will give an overview of the September festival's events. For more information and to register click HERE.
Contra Costa Master Gardeners present What Went Wrong in Your Garden? (And How to Fix it!)
Tuesday, September 12, 6:30pm-8pm, Arts & Science Room
You'll learn why tomatoes crack, zucchinis shrivel, and other crop problems occur - and get tips for how to avoid them in your own garden! Free. For more information click HERE.
To register email higginssierra@gmail.com.
Friends of the Lafayette Library Wonders of the World series presents The Restored Gardens of Alcatraz
Wednesday, September 13, 2pm, Library Community Hall
For more than a century, gardens were an important part of life on the barren island of Alcatraz. Learn about the history of the gardens, their restoration, and see how they look today. Free. For more information and to register click HERE.
|
Coffee with EBMUD Director John Coleman
Friday, August 25, 8am-9am, Lafayette City Offices, 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Desco Plaza - 2nd Floor, Room 265
More than a million water users in the East Bay will see their rates take a big jump. East Bay MUD directors voted to approve an 18.25 percent rate hike. A 9.25 increase takes effect almost immediately. Rates also go up another 9 percent next July. Sewer rates are also going up. The vote was not unanimous. Ward 2 Director John Coleman voted against the rate hike. The Lafayette Chamber invites you to join us for an informal meeting with John to learn about the future of our water supply.
Check out our
event page and see what opportunities are available for your business this year. The
Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is Saturday and Sunday, September 16 & 17. The
Lafayette Res Run for Education is October 22. Lafayette Community Breakfast is November 17. It's A Wonderful Life Tree Lighting is December 1.
If you'd like to receive a text message reminder about upcoming Lafayette Chamber events, email your full name and cell phone number to Sara at sara@lafayettechamber.org.
|
|
|
|
|
