News & Events from the Lafayette Chamber |
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Jay Lifson, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
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Mix, Mingle & Meet New Park Theater Operator, CinemaSF
Wednesday, August 24, 5:30pm-7pm, 3535 Plaza Way
It’s the Lafayette Chamber’s summer mixer with The Park Theater Trust! Lafayette Chamber members and the community are invited to mix and mingle on Wednesday, August 24, 5:30pm-7pm in front of Lafayette Plaza Park. The Park Theater Trust will be introducing to our community Jaimi Holker and Adam Bergeron, the husband and wife team behind highly regarded CinemaSF, and the new operators of our much-loved Park Theater.
Learn how you and your business can support the Park and its exciting $5 million renovation. Enjoy a tasting of local wine by Hollie’s Homegrown and a taste of Sideboard’s famous mac & cheese! Get your Park Theater swag! Meet new members and learn about the Chamber's upcoming community events. Generations in Jazz musicians will be playing live music.
New Lafayette Chamber Members attending:
Bartenders:
Greeters:
We look forward to seeing you - please register so that we can have a name badge waiting for you!
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Remembering Dick Holt
Longtime Lafayette resident and Lafayette Chamber of Commerce member Dick Holt passed away on Friday, August 12, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Dick and his bride Robin have spent a lifetime of generosity and giving back to our community.
His "first" career was that as a Naval Officer, on active duty for 26 years. He served for 23 years on the city’s Planning Commission. He also served on the Environmental Task Force, President of Rotary Club of Lafayette, board member of the Community Foundation of Lafayette, creator of the Concert at the Res and the inspiration for building a permanent stage at the Lafayette Reservoir. Dick and Robin were recognized as Lafayette’s Citizens of the Year in 2017. Anchors Aweigh, Dick!
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Welcome NEW Lafayette Chamber Members!
The following businesses recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
1975 Hamilton Ave., Ste 5, San Jose, CA 95125
Tiffany Van Alst, 408-614-4300
Black Diamond is family owned since 2004 and specializes in hardscape & landscape design & installations. Working with "Experts Only" to create your outdoor Dreamscape.
Categories: Hardscape, Landscape Design / Construction / Services
255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 428, Redwood City, CA 94065
Alina Goga & Kasheica McKinney, 650-487-3123
At Thomas James Homes, we’ve seen the surprise and delight our customers experience upon realizing they can have the best of two worlds—a brand new home, in the exact neighborhood they want to live in. It’s what gets us out of bed every morning. And it’s the driving force that made us one of the largest, single-lot new home replacement builders in the country—with more than 800 luxury residences completed to date.
Category: Real Estate Services
P.O. Box 948, Clayton, CA
925-778-1165
Category: Non-Profit Organizations & Clubs
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Lafayette Chamber RENEWING Members
A huge thank you to the following members for renewing their membership for 2022 between August 15-21.
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Thank you Tom & Mike for the Semifreddis' Tour!
Earlier this year, Tom Frainier, CEO/President/Chief Boot Licker at Semifreddi's presented to the Lafayette Chamber Board of Directors an entertaining yet poignant and relevant talk about diversity in the workplace.
On Friday, Tom and Co-Owner Mike Rose (Mad Scientist Mike) gave the Chamber board and staff a tour of Semifreddi's Bakery in Alameda! Thank you Tom and Mike for your time, seriousness, and hilariousness during our tour!
Semifreddi's employees currently represent 21 countries and speak 11 native languages. Flags of all the countries hang above the high-ceiling, open workspace bakery. "Take care of your employees and they will take care of your customers," mentioned Tom. 80% of their managers started at entry level. Employee retention is key for a 24/7 operation. They are grateful for all their customers!
The Lafayette Chamber is grateful for Tom and Mike's time and insight and for the goodie bag! Many of our local grocery stores and restaurants sell/use Semifreddi's products. Tom recommends a grilled sausage on their baguette (toasted too) ... no condiments needed!
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS – Are you ready to get involved?
Petitions to run for the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are now available at the Chamber Office, 251 Lafayette Circle. It can also be downloaded here. The petition must be signed by five current Chamber members and returned to the office by September 15. The term of office for the new Directors will be January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024. Voting will take place between October 1-20. Ballots will be mailed to all Chamber members.
The Chamber Board is comprised of 17 elected representatives, 2-3 appointed directors-at-large, and a few non-voting advisors. The Board is the policy making arm of the Chamber and has final authority in all decisions affecting the organization. Our 2023 Chamber President Elect is Rebecca Troxell, owner of Rebecca’s Vault. Board members are required to attend, at their expense, the annual Planning retreat in January and monthly Board meetings. In addition, they are expected to actively serve on at least one Chamber committee. For more information or to obtain a petition, call the Chamber office at 284-7404.
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Lafayette Art & Wine Festival - Family & Kid Zones
Four kid zones for 2022! And a new Family Stage location (east end of Mt. Diablo Blvd.) thanks to our sponsors!
Family Zone Sponsors
Family Zone Vendors
Family Pet Vendors
NorSled Huskies
We are completely SOLD OUT for festival booths but we are seeking additional community groups for volunteer opportunities. Contact Sara at sara@lafayettechamber.org if interested.
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Lafayette Res Run for Education
Only a few sponsorships remain available for the Res Run for Education:
- two t-shirt sponsorships
- water station sponsorship
- Healthy Lifestyles Fair sponsorship
Contact Sara for sponsorship information.
Interested in participating in the Healthy Lifestyles Fair? Reach out to Ginny for information.
Race Day is Sunday, October 23, 2022: 5k, 10k (around the Lafayette Reservoir), or 2 mile fun walk/run. 5k: 8am, 10k: 8:15am, 2 mile: 8:45am. The start and finish line is in downtown Lafayette between Safeway and the RoundUp Saloon. The Reservoir Challenge (Virtual Race) runs October 13-22, 2022.
Looking to sign up a group? Contact Sara ASAP! Race packets that include our traditional long sleeve t-shirt and race bib will be available early October.
Support OUR schools. Register TODAY! The first 100 students from each school will receive a voucher at packet pickup for a 1/4lb of bulk candy from Zoonie's!
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Lafayette Social Networking Luncheon
We hope you will join us for our August Lafayette Social Networking Luncheon at Sideboard! A fun opportunity to share news about your business, learn about what's going on with other local businesses, and try out our amazing local eateries.
This month we will gather on Wednesday, August 24 at 11:30am! Space is limited, so please RSVP at lafayettesocial.com/events. Hope to see you there!
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Are you familiar with the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County?
The WDBCCC helps both local jobseekers and employers by facilitating workforce training and development programs, as well as connecting employers to qualified and trained talent throughout the county. The WDBCCC is a great resource for businesses looking for assistance staffing up – and supports businesses with recruitment, job posting, financial assistance for on-the-job training, and more! Their fantastic staff can also connect your business with other helpful supportive resources such as the East Bay Small Business Development Center, which provides free business advising, training, government contracting support and access to capital, etc. Reach out today to wdb@ehsd.cccounty.us.
Paid Family Leave Grant Money For Small Employers
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Building for Rent
The building at 3355 Mt. Diablo Blvd. will be available to rent starting in September. It is 2800 square feet with 378 feet in the back already rented. For additional information contact John Hannum at 925-963-4460 or hannum6440@aol.com.
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Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) Notifications - Sign up!
PG&E customers and non-account holders should sign up for notifications for any address they care about to stay informed about Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Address Alerts might be helpful if:
- You want to know about a PSPS at your home, work, school or other important location
- You are a tenant and do not have a PG&E account
- You need to stay informed about a PSPS affecting a friend or loved one
- Multiple members of your household want to be notified
It is important to remember that if you signed up to receive these alerts prior to June 2022, you will need to re-enroll for each address, to continue receiving these notifications through June 2023. To sign up for alerts for any address that is important to you or a loved one, visit www.pge.com/addressalert.
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Get Ready for Wildfire Season
The more prepared we are as a community, the better we’ll be able to respond to a catastrophic fire or other disaster in our area.
Join us Thursday, August 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. for an online town hall to help you prepare your family, home and neighborhood for wildland fires and for all other hazards, such as earthquakes and power failures.
Hear about:
* Lamorinda Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation Guide
* Firewise
* Red Cross
Followed by Q&A.
This event is hosted by the Lafayette Police Department and the Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission.
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City of Lafayette Weekly Roundup, August 19, 2022
➡ Special City Council Meeting on August 25 at 5 p.m. to Discuss Whether to Appoint Three Candidates to the Lafayette City Council or Proceed with the Election in November
➡ Roadwork Wrapping Up
➡ Drawing for Below Market Rate Homes for Sale in Lafayette Coming Soon - The Mill on Brown
➡ Construction to Begin Soon on First Street Rain Garden
➡ Take the Community Survey About What You Want To See on a County Pipeline Safety Website
➡ Reminder: Dogs Not Allowed on Stanley Middle School Campus
➡ Improve Your Personal and Home Preparedness - Get CERT-ified!
➡ East Bay Labor Data
➡ Sept 1 to 21 – BeKind21
➡ At Lafayette Plaza this week, the maintenance crew performed semi-annual maintenance aerating, re-seeding and fertilizing the lawn. The lawn area is scheduled to re-open on Wednesday, August 24.
➡ Public Meetings
➡ Community Briefs
Unveiling of Memorial Plaque Honoring Ashley Dias Set for September 2
A memorial plaque honoring the late Ashley Dias will be dedicated on Friday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Lafayette Plaza (corner of Plaza Way and Golden Gate Way in downtown Lafayette).
The cast brass plaque honors Ashley Dias who died after being struck by a vehicle while performing his duties as a crossing guard in front of Stanley Middle School last year. The Dias family had suggested the plaque to the City to honor Ashley and serve as a reminder to “Please Slow Down” and keep our community safe. Working with the Dias family, the City selected the planter between the Wayside Inn and the Park Theater as the location for the plaque.
The public is welcome to attend the event. Light refreshments will be served.
Shop Local eCard Program is Supporting Local Businesses: Buy a Shop Local Lafayette eCard and receive double the value to spend at participating businesses in Lafayette! Limit two bonus cards per purchaser. For full details, visit www.lovelafayette.com/eCard.
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Climate Careers Chat August 25th
Are you interested in sustainability, local cities, or the environment? Join Sustainable Contra Costa on August 25th, 6:30pm online to meet Michael Cass and Cindy Darling and hear about their sustainable career paths. Learn more and sign up at tinyurl.com/ClimateCareersAugust. This event is a collaboration between Sustainable Leaders in Action, Sustainable Contra Costa's youth-led branch, and the Contra Costa County Library.
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LCG and OLC Open House
Sunday, August 28, 11 - 2
You are invited!!! The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is celebrating its 11th year with a COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, August 28th from 11am to 2pm. The event is free and will feature inspirational speakers. Jim ‘Doc’ Hale will share fascinating information about the people who lived on this land for centuries before the 1800’s and a beekeeper from Mt. Diablo Beekeepers will talk about the amazing nature of bees and art of beekeeping.
In addition to the speakers, there will be guided tours of the garden, information on raising chickens, master gardening, family crafts, edible treats, iced tea and lemonade, and an opportunity to walk a labyrinth and see the garden’s Miwok Village.
Garden members will be on hand to answer gardening questions and show off a variety of gardening methods and practices including hinged covers that prevent critters from eating crops, vermiculture (worm composting), mulching, a butterfly garden, deer resistant plantings and so much more.
We look forward to seeing you on August 28! If you have questions, you can call (925) 946-0563.
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Lear at Cal Shakes Free Community Nights
Please join Cal Shakes on September 7 or September 8 at 7:30pm for a free Community Night performance of Cal Shakes production of Lear in a brand-new modern verse translation.
Community Nights are an opportunity to share our work with members of our community who are making the Bay Area a more equitable, more joyful, and more inspiring place to live and work.
Tickets are free! So, grab your friends and colleagues and join us for a night of theater under the stars. You can reserve up to 4 complimentary tickets by using the promo code Community22 at calshakes.org.
Returning to Cal Shakes after his acclaimed production of black odyssey, Marcus Gardley brings his world premiere of Lear, a deconstruction of the classic story of power, betrayal, and madness to the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater.
Set in San Francisco’s Fillmore District from the eminent domain crisis through to the subsequent displacement of the 1960s, and infused with a jazz score, Gardley’s deeply personal Lear reckons with uncomfortable legacies, with the consequences of our actions, and with the vulnerability and ultimate resilience of the human heart to find its way back again.
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Lafayette Learning Express - Looking for Proud New Owner
Dear Friends,
First and foremost, thank you for your loyalty and support throughout all these years. I have been so very blessed to have the privilege of serving our community for more than 8 years, and I truly have enjoyed every minute of it. I love this community and consider you a friend.
After so many years of owning our awesome Lafayette Learning Express store, I have made the decision to finally go into the next chapter of my life!! I’m excited and am looking forward to getting married and moving abroad. We are now looking for someone to become the proud new owner and continue the legacy of our very successful Learning Express franchise location in Lafayette, CA. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Mike Derse at the franchise Home Office. There is also a sale information sheet you can download by clicking here.
Our store is much more than just a business to me, and I will miss the Lafayette community and all of our customers. I hope Learning Express Toys of Lafayette will offer to someone else what I have been so grateful to have — a place to watch our children learn and grow, build lifelong friendships, and connect with our inner child!
With love & sincere gratitude,
Cindy Mashat, Owner/Operator
Serious inquiries please call Mike Derse at (978) 889-1025 for more information. Mike is the Business Developer for Learning Express. He can also be reached via email at mike@learningexpress.com.
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Do you have an event or announcement to share with our membership and/or the community? You can add your event to our online calendar, no login required (we simply need to approve it before it will display.) Add your event HERE. Questions? Contact holly@lafayettechamber.org.
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From the Lafayette Library and Learning Center |
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Red Cross Blood Drive
Friday, August 26, 2022, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Don Tatzin Community Hall
The Lafayette Library Foundation is a Premier Partner of the Red Cross, which has received hundreds of live-saving donations at the Library thanks to donors like you! Donating is a safe process and eligible individuals are strongly urged to give blood or platelets.
To schedule an appointment go to redcrossblood.org/give or call 1-800-733-2767 and use Sponsor Code: lafayettelibrary
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Show Your Membership!
Would you like to include a Lafayette Chamber membership emblem on your website or other marketing materials?
The Lafayette Chamber would be happy to provide you with the appropriate logos. Simply email your request to holly@lafayettechamber.org.
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Sign up for Text Notifications!
Please note: to signup via text you will be asked for your birthdate. This information is not stored, it is only used for verify you are over 21 years of age.
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