On Tuesday, May 10, the Lafayette Chamber hosted a very valuable webinar for restaurant owners and managers about best practices for adding reusables to their takeout business. The webinar was designed to answer restaurant operator's questions but it also provides tips for community members who want to reduce their plastic use. The webinar was recorded and can be viewed online on the Lafayette Chamber’s website at https://lafayettechamber.org/reusables/ or directly on YouTube at https://youtu.be/K1VZ_QwZJ_8. 

Sandra Ann Harris, Plastic Pollution Activist, Entrepreneur and Author

Jay Lifson, Executive Director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce

Eva Holman, Activist and Reuse Expert

Joshua Slattengren, Contra Costa Health Department

Grace Lee, ReThink Disposable

Nancy Hu, Lafayette Environmental Task Force

Ashley Louisiana, RecycleSmart

Kimberly Lam, Republic Services

Many thanks to Sandra Ann Harris for coordinating this webinar and to John McCormick, Lafayette Chamber board member and co-owner of Lamorinda Music, for hosting the webinar. Special thanks to Sustainable Contra Costa.

Download the Educational Flyer at HERE. Learn more at https://lafayettechamber.org/reusables.

The Hideout Kitchen – also featuring Unbound Training Company’s “Strong Man” photo booth

Canyon Club Brewery (at The Hideout Kitchen)

Founders Donuts (at The Lafayette Kitchen)

Anne’s Toum (at The Lafayette Kitchen)

* Lilikoi Boba Lafayette (in Plaza Park)

* Hollie’s Homegrown

* PanCoast Pizza (in Plaza Park)

The community is invited to join us in Lafayette Plaza Park for a FREE concert, 5pm-7:30pm on Tuesday, May 17 with the Lonesome Eddie and the Saddle Sores. The concert will be during the Taste of Lafayette event but no ticket (Taste passport) is required for the music or to patronize the Chamber bar.

Learn more about the Taste of Lafayette HERE.  🍽 View Dining & Shopping Guide HERE.   

2010 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 420, San Ramon, CA 94583

Matt Sharp, 510-381-4271

Residential lending services for local lamorinda residence looking to purchase or refinance a home or secure financing for home remodel projects

2999 Oak Rd. Suite 500, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Anthony Hyjer, 925-788-6180

We’ll match you with a package of HR solutions that truly fits your business. You’ll get access to better discounted benefits, time-saving payroll technology and the first-class service you deserve – complete with a dedicated support team.

111 Creekdale Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94595-2606

Philip Morisey, 925-457-4297

We manufacture portable bars called BumperBar.

Orinda, CA 94563

Joanne McKinlay, 415-637-6736

We combine Argentinian baked empanadas with the buttery, flaky, pastry of the Cornish pasty. It's a unique combination which we are very proud to serve. We make utterly delicious empanadas, sauces, salads, sides and agua frescas.

My Spa  

57 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, CA

Sara Luka, 925-899-3253

Skin care by esthetician; facials, waxing, body contouring, ear candling

Anthony's Custom Picture Framers, member since 1990

Cancer Support Community, member since 2017

Enumero Cribbage Boards, member since 2021

Fabula Tea, member since 2019

📷 Kiku Sushi & Vegetarian, member since 2021

Patelco Credit Union, member since 2008

resourcefill, member since 2021

Stanley E. Smith Insurance Agency, member since 1991

Whole Foods, member since 2011

Wednesday, May 18, 4:30pm, online via Zoom

Register in advance for this meeting HERE > After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Join the Young Professionals for a May meetup! This month we are excited to announce that entertainment will be provided by a local band, Mixed Signals, on stage at Headlands!

Register at https://lafayettechamber.org/yopros.

• May 27 REGISTER HERE

Registration is required for each date for that day's Zoom link, register at https://lafayettechamber.org/coffee. Questions can be sent in advance to holly@lafayettechamber.org.

Recordings will be made available shortly after the event on the Lafayette Chamber's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/lafayettechamberca.

Lafayette Community Foundation, in partnership with the City of Lafayette and Lafayette Chamber of Commerce are creating this special day for ALL of us.

Volunteer slots are now open, and the public is welcome to sign up to volunteer on Lafayette Community Day! Sign up by visiting LafayetteCommunityDay.org.

Email info@LafayetteCommunityDay.org with any questions or to inquire about the remaining sponsorship opportunities.

A big thank you to Republic Services for making this possible!

The Lafayette Chamber is thrilled to announce John McCormick as our 2022 Business Person of the Year. We will host the award dinner on Friday, June 24, 2022 at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa.

Tickets for the dinner can be purchased HERE>

John McCormick, co-owner of Lamorinda Music, took the reigns as President of the Lafayette Chamber in January 2020. Little did he know what kind of year it was going to be. We began the year with President John giving a beginner’s lesson on the Ukulele to the entire board at our annual retreat. We agreed on all kinds of new programs along with debating social and political positions. We had a full agenda and John was ready for the challenge. Shortly after the retreat we found ourselves at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. The goals and projects changed and with John’s leadership, the Chamber was able to pivot to a new purpose, saving our local economy.

https://lafayettechamber.org/business-person-of-the-year.

Photo by Craig Isaacs, BlueGoo Photography

➡ View May-June edition of Arts Community email blast HERE

A sampling of weekend's events:

Learn more and register for the May 17 event, “Find pathways to breakthroughs." You have ideas, drive, and a vision of success, but what steps will you take to make that vision a reality? Learn how to map your way forward from successful innovators who will share hard-earned tips from their own journeys.

Learn more and register for the May 18 event, “Innovating for real-world solutions." Do you see a problem that you know you can fix? Do you want to improve the world with your creativity and drive? Learn from successful innovators how they approach, understand, and solve challenges, and how intellectual property protection has been key to their success.

The Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Innovation and Entrepreneurship program is presented by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact InnovationOutreach@uspto.gov.

The USPTO offers many informative presentations, panels, and chats throughout the year. For more information, visit www.uspto.gov/events.

Join Matt Rouse, Holly Jackson, and D. Scott Smith, MBA, as we take a trip into the strange new world of #Web3 and what it means for "traditional" businesses. Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/eXDfVWiQ. REGISTRATION CODE: bbt (case sensitive)

REGISTER TODAY for your exhibitor booth at the 31st Bay Area KidFest

Memorial Day Weekend in Concord, May 28-29-30

Our audience is so excited to have KidFest returning this month. We have a booth space for you in our all new KidFest Marketplace. Vendors at our exciting, award-winning outdoor KidFest are interspersed with a free balloon animal booth and KidArt activities that ensure the 20,000+ attendees are exposed to your booth in the center of the KidFest grounds. Surrounding the Marketplace exhibitor area is our Main Stage with non-stop entertainment, free inflatables and sports plus rides and food. Learn more here.

The City of Lafayette is excited to offer the Shop Local Lafayette eCard program to support local brick-and-mortar businesses that have experienced economic uncertainty as a result of the pandemic. On Monday, the City Council authorized additional ARPA funds to continue to stimulate the Lafayette economy through this program and also removed the $5,000 cap on program benefits per business.

With the additional funds, we are able to offer the “Twice as Nice” bonus card - For a limited time, anyone who purchases a Shop Local Lafayette eCard will receive double the value to spend at participating businesses in Lafayette. The City hopes this incentive will encourage customers to shop, dine or receive services in Lafayette, thereby generating more sales for local businesses. For full details, including limits on the bonus cards, and to purchase eCards, visit www.lovelafayette.com/eCard.

See the current list of 14 participating businesses, including the most recent participating business, Sanctuaire Spa.

➡ Covid Cases and Hospitalizations on the Rise in Contra Costa County; Indoor Masking Strongly Recommended

➡ Monday Night’s Planning Commission Meeting

➡ Apply to serve on the Planning Commission

➡ Registration for the Lamorinda School Bus is now open for the 2022-23 School year!

➡ Customize Your Summer Camps

➡ Upcoming Roadwork

➡ Lafayette Community Day Has Something for Everyone

➡ Four State Covid Testing Sites in Contra Costa to Begin Offering Test to Treat Service Soon

➡ Watch Your Mailbox for Important Voter Materials for the June 7, 2022, Primary Election

➡ PG&E Wildfire Safety Webinar for Blind/Low Vision Customers on May 19

➡ Spring into the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge

➡ Public Comments Accepted on the Draft Housing Element

➡ Lafayette Planning Applications and Major Development Projects

Media Release from Contra Costa Health Services: Friday, May 13, 2022

 

Twelve Bay Area health officers are stressing the importance of taking safety precautions, including continued masking indoors, as the region experiences a new swell of COVID cases and hospitalizations.

The Bay Area now has California’s highest COVID infection rates. The current wave is fueled by highly contagious Omicron subvariants. Bay Area counties are seeing increases in reported cases, levels of virus in sewersheds, and hospitalizations. Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.

 

These health officers reiterate their continued, strong support for people to mask up indoors, keep tests handy, and ensure they are up to date on vaccinations by getting boosters when eligible.

“There’s a lot of COVID out there right now, so it’s time to take more precautionary measures to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, health officer for Contra Costa County.

The grim milestone of 1 million deaths from COVID in the United States underscores the need for continued vigilance against the virus.

 

 

Health officials say people should also stay home if they feel sick and get tested right away. Officials also encourage getting tested after potential exposure and limiting large gatherings to well ventilated spaces or outdoors. For people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 infection, medications are available that can reduce your chances of severe illness and death. Talk with your healthcare provider right away if you test positive.

 

The above statement has been endorsed by health officers from the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma as well as the City of Berkeley. cchealth.org

‌ ‌

Contra Costa Voters! The Primary Election is scheduled for June 7, 2022. Go to coco.vote for information.

The Contra Costa County Elections website has helpful information on Voting Registration and Voting Options. With the June 7th primary just around the corner, be sure you are up-to-date and informed on your choices.

The registration and voting options page has information on voting by mail, how to register to vote, voting rights, official ballot drop boxes, voting before election day and voting on election day, and looking up your personal voting information.

ISO 4000-5000 sq ft. Space for Storage and Retail

Grateful Gatherings, is a nonprofit 501c3, which provides furniture and household items for people transitioning from homelessness. When a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home in the Bay Area, they rarely have anything but a small box of belongings, we change lives in one day as we collect and deliver all the family would need to make their apartment a home. We believe that families thrive when they have a safe and comfortable home.

Our need: Since 2013 we have helped over 1000 people in the Bay Area without a storage space. We had delivered items only on demand, but now more than ever, we can’t keep up with our growing list of families looking for beds and furniture. We are looking for a 4000-5000 sq ft. space to store extra furniture items to help people immediately and sell items to raise funds for Grateful Gatherings. Areas we are interested in are: Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Alamo, Concord, Pacheco, or Martinez. These locations would allow our moving sponsors to easily pick up and drop off items at the location. If you may know anyone who has a property that could fit this request, please reach out to Grateful Gathering’s Co-Founder, Chris Flitter, chris@gratefulgatherings.org, 415-722-7238.

If you would like to learn more about Grateful Gatherings please visit the website at gratefulgatherings.org.

Do you have hiring needs that you would like to share with our membership and/or the community? You can add your job listing to our online job board! Log in to DIY or send info to holly@lafayettechamber.org.

Looking for a good read to get you through finals? Check out these page turners by Jewish-American authors across every genre - history, mystery, fantasy, and humor.

This program is presented by the Friends of Lafayette Library.

For more information visit www.LLLCF.org and follow LLLC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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.

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.

Have you enhanced your services, changed your contact information or perhaps even created a TikTok account? Need to add a new rep so they can register for upcoming events? Now is the time to update your Lafayette Chamber Directory Profile!

Check out your profile HERE. Then email your changes to us at info@lafayettechamber.org. Or DIY by logging into your account with these directions (on page 2).

Your online profile is search engine optimized. Include a full business description including key words that your potential customers and clients would use to find you. You can also add up to four social media platforms to the listing.