News & Events from the Lafayette Chamber |
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 |
Sara Regan, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Typical Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
Closed Monday-Thursday 12:30pm-1pm for lunch.
|
|
The Lafayette Chamber office will be closed Monday, January 16 for the Martin Luther King Day holiday. |
|
Tom Stack is Lafayette's 2023 Business Person of the Year!
The Lafayette Chamber was very fortunate to have 12 qualified candidate nominations for the 2023 Business Person of the Year! Thank you Lafayette for the nominations! The selection committee chose Tom Stack for his decades of service to our community.
In 2000, Tom, his wife Kiki, who is also Chamber member, and their son, Sam, moved to Burton Valley. A 4th generation San Franciscan, Tom is an alumnus of St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco and graduate of Santa Clara University with a degree in Business Management. A serial entrepreneur, Tom spent 20 plus years working with and for the Grateful Dead, first by building his own licensing and marketing business into a worldwide distribution operation, then joining the Grateful Dead as VP of Licensing and Merchandising. Tom also represented Carlos Santana and the estates of Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Janis Joplin.
In 2006, he then bridged this experience into a successful real estate practice with Coldwell Banker Realty. Tom’s ability to manage expectations, communicate clearly, and be authentic with his clients has earned him rave reviews. “Tom’s business style is “relational, not transactional” and relationships are very important to him.” notes Colleen McCormick. “Tom drops by our store [Lamorinda Music] to bring gifts throughout the year, writes personal notes of support, and treats everyone like a treasured friend instead of just a business contact.” His motto, “I’ll treat you like a Rock Star!” holds true for so many in our community including us at the Lafayette Chamber.
A dinner will be held in his honor on Friday, February 3 at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa. The evening will also include the State of City Address by City of Lafayette Mayor Carl Anduri and the introduction of the Lafayette Chamber’s 2023 Board of Directors.
Tom will join former BPOY award recipients Ed Stokes, Paul Barendregt, Dan Kelly, Barb Sorken, Dave Hill, Don Jenkins, Cynthia Murdough, Paul Bettelheim, Bob Ewen, Sereta Churchill, Ann Denny, Caesar Perales, Dennis Garrison, Scott Hampton & Wendy Tamis, Steve Cortese, Mike Heller, Mo Levich, Larry Blodgett, Tom Courtright, Larry Duson, Jay Lifson, Colleen McCormick, Brian Aiello, Leila Douglah, Andy and Wendy Scheck, Brenda Oum, Dana Green, Terry Ring, Jennifer Perlmutter and John McCormick.
|
|
Welcome our NEW Lafayette Chamber Member!
The following business recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
Keller Williams East Bay, 201 N Civic Dr #130, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Beth Rustigian, 858-248-2656
Lafayette born and raised, Beth Rustigian is a real estate agent specializing in Lamorinda, and part of the Caspers Hot Dogs family. She has many years of experience in the real estate sector, and understands the needs of local homeowners.
Category: Real Estate Services
|
|
Lafayette Chamber RENEWING Members
A huge thank you to the following members for renewing their membership between December 12-January 3.
|
|
Lafayette Chamber presents “Getting your Business 2023 Ready” hosted by Pillar Cowork.
The Speaker Series will take place scheduled Tuesdays throughout the year from 12pm-1pm. In person and online options available for series with the exception of 2/14.
Speaker Series 1:
1/24 “Pay Yourself First: How a business owner can build their retirement savings.” - Presented by Eric Flett, CEO of Concentric Wealth Management
1/31 “Get Ahead of the Pack - Digital and Video Marketing in 2023” – Presented by Alan Koenigsberg, President of Agile Digital Marketing and Stephanie Shaterian, Owner of fLO Content
2/7 “The Must-Know New Laws of 2023– how they affect you and your business” – Presented by Anthony Hyjer, Business Performance Advisor at Insperity
2/14 “Staying Complaint in a Digital World – Keeping Your Website Accessible to Avoid ADA Lawsuits” – Presented by Craig Wacks, Head of Sales at AudioEye *Zoom Only* *Presentation titles subject to change.
Speaker Series 2:
Topics will be posted shortly, please note dates: 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2.
This series is meant to give back to our community by providing knowledgeable speakers about business topics in today's world.
Please be sure to REGISTER for each event as there is limited "in person" availability. A Zoom option will be provided and a link sent prior to the scheduled date, please choose your option during the registration process.
Please note: Registration is necessary for each scheduled date.
|
|
Lafayette Chamber New Member Orientation
Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 5pm-6:15pm, Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center
Don’t miss this opportunity to get the official rundown on the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, how to take advantage of available business resources, and how to participate in community events. Complete with a special welcome and presentations by Chamber Staff, Board Members, and Ambassadors, this is a special chance to get the inside scoop on everything happening in our community!
All new members who joined in the last six months, as well as those who joined when our office was closed due to the pandemic are welcome to attend.
|
|
Now taking nominations for the 2023 Lafayette Citizen(s) of the Year!
Deadline to submit nominations is Friday, February 10, 2023 at noon.
Criteria for Lafayette’s Citizen of the Year are as follows:
- Must NOT be a current elected or paid member of any City Council, school board or commission.
- Must be a current Lafayette resident.
- Must be someone who has given of their time, money or energy to help make Lafayette a healthy community, where people will want to live, work and shop.
- Must be someone who models excellence in everything they do.
- Must be someone who brings this community together and/or makes us proud to be a member of the community.
Previous recipients: W.B. Ellis, Ralfe Miller, Margaret Bainbridge, Mel Nielsen, John R. Jacques, M.H. Stanley, C.R. Turner, Theron Nelson, William Zion, Stanford White, Jack Hageman, Lou Repetto, Jop Van Overveen, Vern Odegard, Jack Marchant, Donn Black, Charles Franklin, Chris Adams, John Kennedy, Clifford Feiler, James Lloyd, Boardman Moore, Robert Augenthaler, Percy Whitten, Barbara Bupp, Irene Graff, Ed Stokes, Robert Fisher, Ernie Marriner, Ken Clifford, Don Young, Irene Thomas, Ned Robinson, Alice Johnson, Hirsh Morton, Sue Cross, Tom Cleveland, Herb Joyce, Skid Thomas, Su Stauffer, Tom Courtright, Lynn Hiden, Avon Wilson, Bill Wakeman, Richard Holmes, Guy Atwood, Connie & Mike Collier, Judy Garvens, Anne Grodin, Ellen Peterson, Norma Evans, Robert Wood, Mary McCosker, Budd MacKenzie, Kathy Bowles, Ivor Samson, Gwen Watson, Judy Carney, Jeanne Ateljevich, Team Library, Karen Mulvaney, Gayle Uilkema, Greg Moeller, Toni McShane, Marechal Duncan, Tom Steuber, Dick & Robin Holt, Donovan Jenkins, Don Tatzin, Rick and Janet Cronk, William Fraser and Janet Thomas.
📷 Janet Thomas and Don Tatzin
|
|
Preparing for More Rain
📷 by Anita Embleton
With more wet weather on the way, Lafayette residents are reminded to call police dispatch at 925-284-5010 to report flooding, mudslides or fallen trees impacting local roadways, or similar Public Works emergencies that require immediate attention. Non-emergency Public Works maintenance requests can be submitted online at www.lovelafayette.org/maintenancerequest. Do not use social media platforms to reach the City regarding any emergency situation, as it is not monitored 24/7.
|
|
➡ Regional Parks Closed Wednesday Through Thursday Due to Upcoming Atmospheric River Storm System. For up-to-date information regarding park closures and re-openings, visit www.ebparks.org.
|
|
Storm Preparedness and Safety Tips from PG&E
The New Year’s Eve storm delivered heavy rain and snow across our service area and crews have been working as safely and as quick as possible to restore power. PG&E does anticipate more wet weather over the next several days, which we are actively preparing for.
Another significantly stronger weather system is anticipated to impact our service area starting Wednesday through Thursday. PG&E is prepared to respond to any issues caused by the adverse weather which could result in trees, limbs and other debris falling into powerlines, damaging equipment and interrupting electric service. PG&E vegetation management crews are working to keep trees away from powerlines to reduce the risk of outages caused by downed trees and other vegetation.
PG&E is using its storm outage prediction models that help determine the potential timing, location and number of power outages. This allows us to have extra crews on standby to deploy to areas that are hard hit by the storm. PG&E is also prestaging power poles, powerlines, transformers and other electric equipment at yards throughout our service territory in preparation to restore power to affected areas safely and as quickly as possible.
The safety of our customers, employees and communities is PG&E’s most important responsibility.
Customers can view real-time outage information at PG&E’s online outage center and search by a specific address, by city or by county. This site has been updated to include support in 16 languages.
Additionally, customers can sign up for outage notifications by text, email, or phone. PG&E will let customers know the cause of an outage, when crews are on their way, the estimated restoration time and when power has been restored.
Customer Storm Preparedness and Safety Tips
- PG&E encourages customers to have a plan, prepare for power outages and above all else, stay safe.
- Customers can get updates on outages in their neighborhood through a variety of channels.
- Contact our outage information line at 1-800-743-5002
-
Access our Electric Outage Map online at pge.com
-
Customers can also log-in to their account through pge.com and sign up to receive proactive outage alerts through email, text or phone.
- Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
- Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
- Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.
- Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.
- Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.
- Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
- Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
- Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 8-1-1 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.
Winter Driving
- Streetlights: At night, the streets will be much darker than usual and will look different. Follow all posted speed limits – or drive a bit slower. Use turn signals when changing lanes and especially at corners with crosswalks.
- Traffic Signals: If traffic signals are out or flashing red, come to a full stop at every intersection, and proceed as you would at a four-way stop.
- Keep emergency gear in your car when you’re traveling in areas with snow and ice, including:
- Cell phone
- Flashlights
- Jumper cables
- Sand or kitty litter (for traction)
- Ice scraper or snow brush
- Blankets
- Warning devices (such as flares or reflectors)
If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line: Stay inside! The safest place is in your car. The ground around your car may be energized. Honk the horn, roll down your window and yell for help. Warn others to stay away. Anyone who touches the equipment or ground around the vehicle may be injured. Use your mobile phone to call 911. Fire department, police and PG&E workers will tell you when it is safe to get out of the vehicle.
If there is a fire and you must exit a vehicle that has come in contact with downed power lines: Remove loose items of clothing. Keep your hands at your sides and jump clear of the vehicle, so you are not touching the car when your feet hit the ground. Keep both feet close together and shuffle away from the vehicle without picking up your feet.
Gas Safety Tips (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention)
Customers who smell gas should vacate the premises immediately, call 9-1-1 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. If you smell gas, do not use anything that could be a source of ignition, including candles, cell phones, flashlights, light switches, matches or vehicles, until you are a safe distance away. Never use cooking devices such as ovens or stoves for home heating purposes. Make sure water heaters and other natural gas appliances have proper ventilation. Never use products inside the home that generate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, such as generators, outdoor grills or propane heaters. Install carbon monoxide detectors to warn when concentration levels are high.
Portable Generator Safety
Be sure that the power needs of the device (electric load) are supported by your generator and does not exceed the manufacturer’s specifications. Position your generator where its exhaust can vent safely to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and death.
Only use extension cords that are properly sized for your generator to prevent overheating. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) chart can be utilized to determine which extension cord is right for you. AWG measures extension cord thickness; keep in mind that the thicker the cord, the smaller the AWG rating will be. Keep cords out of high-traffic areas so they don’t present a tripping hazard. Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat can be generated or where damage to a cord may go unnoticed.
Permanent-standby Generator Safety
Installation requires a licensed electric contractor or other qualified professional. Ensure electricity from your generator does not flow or “backfeed” into PG&E's power lines. The most common way to prevent backfeeding is to install a “double-pole, double-throw transfer switch” along with your permanent standby generator. Any additions or adjustments to your house wiring should be inspected by your city or county building department. Once installation is complete, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to let us know about your backup system. PG&E line workers will then be aware of your generator when working on an outage in your area.
|
|
Business Resources & Opportunities |
|
If your email inbox is overflowing or disorganized, make a change for the better in 2023! Sarah Tetlow, owner of Firm Focus and our January featured speaker, is an efficiency and productivity consultant. Learn how to “tame the email beast” using Sarah’s highly effective AART method.
THURSDAY, January 12, 2023, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Eagle Room at
Cost includes lunch buffet: Premium sliced deli meats, cheese selection, tempura fried vegetables, BBQ meatballs, fruit, vegetable and antipasto selection, iced tea. (Other beverages can be ordered and paid at the restaurant.)
|
|
East Bay SCORE
Join East Bay SCORE for an upcoming workshop in January! You’ll discover training on a variety of small business topics. Plus, many workshops are held online, making it easy to attend a workshop from anywhere! Check out the upcoming SCORE Mentors East Bay workshops here: https://eastbay.score.org. Or make a free appointment with our local SCORE counselor, Mike Harris. Learn more here.
|
|
2022 Business Person of the Year and Lafayette Chamber Board member, John McCormick, releases new book Chinese in Napa Valley: The Forgotten Community That Built Wine Country.
"I wrote the book as a result of my bucket-list History Masters program at Harvard. As part of that program, I stumbled across a short article about Chinese workers in St. Helena vineyards in the late 1800s. As I researched, I discovered that Chinese workers were critical in many industries between 1870 and 1900 throughout the Napa Valley. There were Chinatowns in Napa, St. Helena, and Calistoga. Chinese workers were eventually driven out, and their businesses and homes were razed. I grew up in Napa, and there was no mention of any of this in the local history we were taught in school. This is a very important part of our community that has almost completely been erased from local memory. My goal is to have this book be a very belated acknowledgment and "thank you" to all the Chinese workers who lived, worked, and - in some cases - died, making the Napa Valley a world-class destination." 📷 Author, John McCormick with Rudy Winnacker, co-owner of Reasonable Books. The book is also available on Amazon.
|
|
Writers paint images with words. Artists tell stories with color.
Together they enrich our community.
Some of you may have heard about this exhibit, and some of you may have already signed up. This Workshop is the perfect place to ask questions such as: Why Should I Participate in This Exhibit? Both Napa & Marin County Art & writing groups have been holding Ekphrasis exhibits for 15 years. At last, the SF East Bay has its own Ekphrasis exhibit!
|
|
New Year, New Look! Lafayette Social Magazine is officially "Greet Lafayette!"
Greet Lafayette will continue to be a local magazine designed to reflect the social activities and interests within Lafayette.
Why Greet? To greet is to give someone a warm “hello” – an invitation to make a connection. And our magazine is all about building connections with your fellow community members, as well as with local business owners.
Look for the January issue, coming soon to Lafayette mailboxes.
|
|
Roadmap to Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten
Please join the Lafayette School District for a Parent/Guardian Presentation: A Roadmap to Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten on Thursday, January 5, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7 pm at Lafayette Elementary School.
- Kindergarten Readiness and Expectations
- Kindergarten Schedule - A Typical Day
- Partners in Education – Parent Organizations and LPIE
- Transitional Kindergarten
- Safe Travel to Schools
- COVID-19 Health and Safety Information
- Next Steps for Registration
- Q & A
Speakers include:
Superintendent: Dr. Brent Stephens
Assistant Superintendent: Betsy Balmat
Director of Human Resources and Communications: Lisa Spiegler
Principal: Mette Thallaug
District Administrative Specialist: Marilyn Sibley
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Teachers
Parent Organization President
Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) President
Questions? Contact Marilyn Sibley, District Administrative Specialist at msibley@lafsd.org.
This event is for parent/guardians only.
|
|
Garden of D’Lights
Evenings (Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun) through January 8
Entrance Times: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30PM
Tickets: Adults $28 | Children $16 | Children 4 and under FREE
Garden Members receive discounts on select tickets based on their Membership level. Complete details can be found online.
We invite the public to explore the Ruth Bancroft Garden’s exciting winter holiday event, Garden of D’Lights. Visitors of all ages will be in awe as they wander through 3 acres of glowing paths and discover the colorful, botanical sculptures created by thousands of lights and lasers on cacti, succulents, trees and more. It is a must see exhibit this holiday season!
This is our 4th annual Garden of D’Lights event. Each year we’ve added more and more lights and lasers and this year we will be featuring dazzling sculptural art from local artists!
Tickets are on sale NOW for Members. Become a Member today and your ticket discount will be applied at checkout!
The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with a mission to preserve Ruth Bancroft's example of exceptional design and expansive water conserving plant collection for the enjoyment and education of the public.
|
|
January Golden Happy Hour
We invite all Lamorinda seniors to join us for an early evening of warm smiles, engaging conversation & mingling in Golden company! Jim and Nancy Scala will be there to greet everyone.
A few appetizers will be provided. Everyone will be responsible for their own beverages or additional food. Space is limited for this free event, click here to RSVP. Cheers!
|
|
CERT Winter Class Registration in Progress
Lamorinda CERT has resumed in-person CERT Basic classes. We invite residents to register for the Winter class starting January 12, 2023 in Lafayette. The Winter class series will be on Thursday nights from 1/12 – 3/9 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm at the Lafayette Community Center. The subjects covered in the class include: personal and home preparedness for all-hazard emergencies, hazardous materials and fire safety; disaster medical response, light search and rescue, Incident Command System, disaster psychology, terrorism, radio communications and pet preparedness. Wildfire season may be winding down, but it is important to learn how to best prepare for next year’s season as well as other potential hazards by taking the CERT class series. Spaces are filling up fast. To register go to: https://classes.lamorindacert.org.
Preparedness is essential for the safety of you and your family. Take the CERT class series and learn how to get prepared before the next wildfire or earthquake strikes!
|
|
STRAIGHT FROM ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL, A LOCAL INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY, WITH THE FILMMAKER’S PRESENTING THEIR WORK!
Friday, Jan. 13th - 4:30 PM
Friday, Jan. 13th - 7:30 PM
Saturday, Jan. 14th - 4:30 PM
Saturday, Jan. 14th - 7:30 PM
Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
GENERAL ADMISSION: $13.00
IS ART TO BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE EYE OF THE VIEWER, OR THE ARTIST’S INTENTION?
SYNOPSIS: How should society deal with controversial works of art? Do the intentions of the artist matter? Or the impact on viewers? “TOWN DESTROYER” explores how to look at art and history at a time of polarized national debate over the power of images, racism, trauma, and what should be taught in schools. A dispute erupts at a San Francisco high school over Depression-era murals about the life of George Washington: slave owner, military leader, land speculator, President, and a man Native leaders called “Town Destroyer” after he ordered their villages destroyed during the Revolutionary War. The 13 murals at George Washington High School were painted in 1936 by leftwing artist Victor Arnautoff, a student of Diego Rivera. Non-rated - Documentary - 55 min. - TRAILER
BONUS: THE FILMMAKERS WILL ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE WITH Q&A AFTER EACH SCREENING!
MONTHLY FILMS ARE FREE FOR MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE NOT YET A MEMBER, CHECK OUT MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION HERE.
* NOTE: All health and safety protocols will include all attendees provide ID and proof of full vaccination, and booster. At this time, masks will also be required; subject to change in the future. We will also have four portable air purifiers in the room to enhance ventilation.
|
|
Start the New Year with Gold Coast
Start your New Year with a concert by the Award Winning Gold Coast Chamber Players performing music by Faure, Shostakovich, and Louise Farrenc. Connections in Time: Tracing a Musical Path features violist Pamela Freund-Striplen and the Horszowski Trio, described by the New Yorker Magazine as “the most compelling American group to come on the scene.” Saturday, January 14, 2023, Concert 7:30 PM, Pre-Concert Talk 7:00 PM.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
