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
Please call for an appointment.
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Young Professionals May Meetup!
Thursday, May 26, 5:30pm-7pm, Headlands Brewing Company, 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Ste A, Lafayette
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!
The Lafayette Young Professionals group is designed for the younger crowd ranging in age from 21-39 years old, with “young at heart” always welcome. This is a place where young professionals can tap into our local business community and really develop relationships that will be with us for the rest of our lives.
You do not need to own a business or be a Lafayette Chamber member to attend! Employees welcome!
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"Coffee" with the City of Lafayette Mayor Teresa Gerringer
The Lafayette Chamber will host, via Zoom, "Coffee" with the City of Lafayette Mayor Teresa Gerringer on the following dates in 2022 at 8am:
• July 29
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Thank you for helping make the 2022 Taste of Lafayette a big success!
We are most appreciative of everyone’s time, sponsorships, participation, and efforts. Our restaurants out did themselves once again! The food samplings were delicious, each stop shared a new savory taste or sweet treat, amazing beverage offerings and displays throughout. The entertainment was great and added to the fun ambiance of the night. AND we couldn’t have asked for a better crowd. Thanks to everyone who participated in the downtown restaurant tour.
This event was a huge team effort by so many so please let the credits roll …
Thanks to our sponsors: Cobain Orthodontics, Concentric Wealth Management, Diablo Foods, Dudum Real Estate Group, Gloria Touchet Photography, Lewis Asset Management, Local Food Adventures, Mechanics Bank, Minuteman Press Lafayette, Oakwood Athletic Club, Pacific Veterinary Emergency Specialty Hospital, Republic Services, Sequoia Signs & Graphics, Sculptology, Tom Stack with Coldwell Banker, Town Hall Theatre and Zenops.
Thanks to all the volunteers who worked to help make the event such a huge success from setup to take down and everything in between: Grace Dixon, Claire Mueller, Eleni Chatzigeorgiou, Mary Laska, Ava Bunton, Adriana Medina, Olivia Banks, Dennis Markam, Kyle Sumner, Chris Lane, Travis Johnson, Jeremy Steel, Grant Krogius, Dennis Garrison, Mike Heller, Yolanda Mendoza-Heller, Annalie Andre, Tami Andres, Valarie Petegrew, Lillana Lathers, Grace Birdsey, Jennifer Birdsey, Jessica Stokes, Emma Stokes, Alexis Sappal, Tina Sappal, Mattie Rumberg, Michelle Rumberg, Cindy Scribe, Leila Moses, Abby Coleman, Kim Coleman, Caroline Gustafson, Deborah Gustafson, Courtney Mercer, Claire Mercer, Julie Mercer, Ann Murphy, Cate Reichenbach, Christian Alba, Joscelyn Disharoon, Molly Dougherty, Riley Regan, Kathryn Ishizu, Kaylin Ishizy, Jennifer Woodford, Teagan Woodford, Elise Holzemer, Lauren Holzemer, Sarah Holzemer, Lila Morrison, Tracy Morrison, Grace Eppinger, Anna Eppinger, Cassie Moreno, Katie Moreno, Amy Lewis, Livvy Lewis, Lisa Obertello, Madalena Obertello, Carlos Meraz and your local Mechanics Bank Team. Your volunteer efforts and support were the key to the successful night!
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NEW Lafayette Chamber Members!
The following businesses recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
1330 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Casey Weider, 908-507-5661
A full-service digital marketing agency located in Walnut Creek, California, dedicated to helping local businesses. Our background is a combination of marketing experts and professional photographers and videographers.
Category: Marketing Services
1131 Larkin Way, C, Napa, CA 94558
David Marcil, 925-660-9485
We are specialist in residential and commercial Solar, Batteries, Generators and Roofing
Categories: Solar Products / Installation, Cabinetry - Custom
530 Getty Ct., Benecia, CA
925-876-7658
Category: Beverages
3266 Buskirk Avenue, Lafayette, CA 94549
Leigh Beiga and Peter Kepler, 831-251-8801
Daytrip has (6) different CBD sparkling waters sold at bars, breweries, grocery stores and online. We believe Healthier is Happier. All our sparkling waters have no sugar and are 5 calories!
Categories: Health Food / Nutritional Supplements, Grocery Stores / Deli
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Lafayette Chamber RENEWING Members
A huge thank you to the following members for renewing their membership for 2022 between May 16-22.
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What was all the honking about? Acalanes Senior Car Rally was a parade through downtown Lafayette on Friday, May 20. Congratulations Acalanes Class of '22! And thank you Rotary Club of Lafayette for the street prep and Lafayette Police for the escort!
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Lafayette Chamber Connectors
Join us for a unique take on networking.
This group discusses current challenges members are having with their business, big or small. Share your ideas and fresh perspectives with other members. Participation is encouraged and appreciated.
Next Connectors: Wedn., June 15.
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Lafayette Community Day!
Saturday, June 4, 2022, 8:30am-2:30pm, Plaza Park, Lafayette, and at select worksites.
Volunteer rally, workday, food drive for Ukrainian refugees, recognition luncheon, and music by Traveling Wilburys Revue. There is something for everyone with projects and activities in the focus areas of human services, youth development and education, seniors, arts and culture, diversity and kindness, and town beautification.
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.
The website provides details related to volunteer opportunities for the day and if there are any physical requirements for each project. People can choose the project best suited to them. All ages are welcome to participate in the art projects. Volunteers for other work projects need to be at least 12 years of age. Individuals under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.
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Business Person of the Year Dinner
Friday, June 24, 2022, 6pm-9pm, Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
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.
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.
We all know the sacrifices and hurdles small businesses had to endure through nearly two years. John was so dedicated to help our local businesses, he asked to stay on for a second year, and oh what a year it was. During this most challenging time for our community, John not only provided leadership to our business partners, but also ran a very successful music store with his wife Colleen, and is now finishing his Master’s in History from Harvard. During his presidency, our membership grew to over 620 members including 100 new members in 2021 alone. The Chamber worked with the City of Lafayette and Contra Costa County to advocate for our business community. By providing loan resources and facilitating online learning gatherings, Q&A sessions and updating changing Covid protocols as well as helping our restaurants create safe outdoor dining experiences all with the mission to keep Lafayette strong during a challenging time.
Learn more about John McCormick and the Lafayette Business Person of the Year at
We look forward to seeing you on June 24!
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Interested in sponsoring the Young Professionals Charity Poker Tournament? Reach out via email to Gian Panetta.
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This Week's Local Events
Don't miss out on your fellow Lafayette Chamber member's upcoming events!
A sampling of weekend's events:
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Business Resources & Opportunities
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WHAT IS WEB3 AND SHOULD I CARE?
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May Lafayette Social Networking Luncheon
You are invited to join Lafayette Social for their May Networking Luncheon at Barranco! 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 May 25th at 11:30am, and Vishwas and Vanti Prabhakara of Honey Homes will be our co-hosts! Space is limited, so please RSVP here. See you there!
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Community Encouraged to Support Local Businesses Through City of Lafayette’s E-Card Program
To support local brick-and-mortar businesses in Lafayette that have experienced economic uncertainty as a result of the pandemic, the City is continuing to offer the Shop Local Lafayette eCard Program.
“When you shop local, you are supporting local business owners and helping to keep the Lafayette business community unique, helping local workers keep their jobs, and also helping the overall community because a portion of the sales tax collected on purchases comes back to our community to pay for police, safety, road repairs and such,” explained Administrative Services Director, Tracy Robinson, who oversees economic development for the City of Lafayette.
The eCard program is in partnership with Yiftee and is offered at no cost to participating businesses. 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, while generating more sales for local businesses. The City’s “Twice as Nice” bonus card offer is only available for a limited time, and there is a limit of two bonus cards per purchaser. For full details and to purchase eCards, visit www.lovelafayette.com/eCard.
The program launched in March and was recently extended by the City Council, which has allocated $100,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds for this program. Additionally, the City has removed the $5,000 program benefit limit per business.
Currently, Shop Local Lafayette eCards can be redeemed at the following businesses:
The list of participating businesses is subject to change at any time and additional businesses may be added soon.
It’s easy to purchase a Lafayette Shop Local eCard. Simply go to the Yiftee website and select the value of your card ($10, $25, $50 or $100). Then, choose your recipient (yourself, family or friends) and send the eCard via email or text message. The recipient can use that value to make purchases at participating Lafayette Shop Local eCard merchants. For a limited time, you will also receive up to two bonus Shop Local Lafayette eCards. See Yiftee website for all terms and conditions.
*Lafayette Chamber members
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Check out the draft housing plan for Lafayette!
City Council Review of the Draft Housing Element
The Housing Element is one of the required components of the General Plan, the City’s guiding policy document for land use and conservation. The goal of the Housing Element is to achieve an adequate supply of safe, decent housing for all residents of Lafayette and State law requires it be updated every eight years. In 2020, the City initiated an update to the Housing Element for the years 2023-2031.
On May 2, the Planning Commission reviewed a complete draft of the Housing Element and recommended the City Council approve the document. At their last meeting on May 9th, the City Council reviewed portions of the draft Housing Element and on Monday night, they will discuss the remaining components of the document, including an inventory of parcels that may be prioritized for development. You are welcome to provide comments on the draft Housing Element at the meeting, or you can send written comments to staff at generalplan@lovelafayette.org.
Public Comment Period for the Draft Housing Element
Comments regarding the draft Housing Element are invited from all interested parties. Written comments, including e-mails, should be directed to generalplan@lovelafayette.org no later than 5:00 pm on June 6, 2022. All comments received by this time will be considered prior to preparation of a final draft Housing Element and submission to the State.
Next, staff will review and consider all the comments received and then present a revised document to the City Council prior to it being submitted to the State for review (anticipated in June). After the State has reviewed this initial draft, the City will have the opportunity to respond to comments from the State before the City Council formally adopts the Housing Element, which is anticipated to occur in Fall 2022.
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City of Lafayette's May 20 Weekly Roundup
➡ Monday Night’s City Council Meeting
➡ Second Review of Draft Housing Element by the City Council on May 23
➡ Upcoming Roadwork
➡ Bay Area Health Officials Share Guidance to Navigate the Nationwide Infant Formula Shortage
➡ Lafayette School District Proudly Announces Betsy Balmat As New Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
➡ Ballots Have Been Mailed for the June 7, 2022, Primary Election
➡ Poll Workers Needed in Lamorinda
➡ Contra Costa County Adding Resources to Combat Rise in Homelessness During Pandemic
➡ West Nile Virus in Contra Costa County
➡ PG&E Gas Holding Virtual Open House on Tuesday, May 24 Regarding Upcoming Transmission Pipeline Inspections
➡ Community Events and Meetings
➡ Public Meetings
➡ Community Briefs
➡ Cultural Observations and Celebrations
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California Statewide Primary Election is on June 7, 2022
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.
Election Day is an exciting opportunity for your voice to be heard through your vote. Be ready!
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Member News & Announcements
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Moraga Community Foundation and Canyon Club Brewery are raising money to help fund the Moraga Commons Enhancement Project. We have raised $350k out of $450k needed and are almost there! Come and enjoy yourself! No extra charge but a % of the nights revenue will go to this great cause!
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Million Lives Memorial
Thursday, May 26th, from 7:30 - 8:45 pm
Creekside Commons of Lafayette presents a moment to pause and reflect on the overwhelming number of lives lost to this pandemic and/or to honor someone you may have lost over the past years. Gather for a simple guided labyrinth walk with reflections by Soul Forum Host, Dan Senter and original music by local artist, Laura Zucker. Stones are provided to write down the names of loved ones lost to leave in the labyrinth. Walks begin every 15 minutes starting at 7:30. 1035 Carol Lane. Use Entry A, and walk down the ramp for access. The meditation will be available throughout June using a QR Code recording located on the Labyrinth sign. For more information, visit CreeksideCommons.org.
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Summer Bike Challenge
Looking for FREE summertime fun? Explore your hometown on two wheels with 511 Contra Costa’s Summer Bike Challenge. Simply bike to each destination on your city’s gameboard, and cross off the squares as you go. Pick up free prizes on select dates, take weekly Bonus Challenges, and enter the iPad Grand Prize drawing just by signing up. All ages are welcome to play! Ready to roll? Visit 511cc.org/sbc to get started.
Summer Youth Pass
The Summer Youth Pass is a three-month bus pass that gives kids a great way to get around town, all summer long. For just $30, passholders ages 6-18 can take unlimited bus rides on County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, and WestCAT from June through August. On sale now at 511cc.org/youthpass.
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Job Opening at J.McLaughlin Lafayette Store
We are looking for a highly motivated, results driven Sales Associate for our retail store, with a passion for classic American Sportswear and the ability to achieve goals and objectives while upholding the ideals and standards of the company. The ideal candidate should be sales driven and leads by example in building impactful relationships. As brand ambassadors, Sales Associates are the experts in taking care of clients, selling, and creating a unique shopping experience with new and existing customers.
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From the Lafayette Library and Learning Center
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Greeting Cards à la Milton Glaser
Through Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Lafayette Library Teen Center
May is Jewish American Heritage Month! To celebrate, we are making greeting cards inspired by Milton Glaser, one of the most influential graphic designers in American history. Pop by the Teen Center at the Lafayette Library in May and check out some of Glaser's iconic designs - then create your own!
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.
Sweet Thursday presents Dave Zirin: The Kaepernick Effect Taking a Knee, Changing the World
Thursday May 26, 2022, 5:00 PM | ZOOM
In 2016, amid an epidemic of police shootings of African Americans, celebrated NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began a quiet protest on the field, refusing to stand during the U.S. national anthem. By taking a knee, Kaepernick bravely joined a long tradition of American athletes making powerful political statements. His simple act spread like wildfire throughout American society, becoming a preeminent symbol of resistance to persistent racial inequality.
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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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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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Updates please!
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.
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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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