News & Events from the
Lafayette Chamber | |
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Taste of Lafayette SOLD OUT! May 21, 5pm. Entertainment for all in the Plaza!
Acalanes Car Rally, Friday, May 24, 5pm
Ribbon Cutting for Front Porch Music, Saturday, May 25, 6pm
Ribbon Cutting at Collab Fertility, May 30, 5:30pm
Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals at Lafayette Public House, June 6, 5:30pm
Rock the Plaza Concert Series Fridays 6pm, June 7, 14, 21 & 28
Lafayette Business Women at Douglah Designs, June 26, 8:45am
Lafayette Res Run for Education Early Bird Registration through June 30!
➡ Lafayette Chamber Events Calendar ⬅
More events from our members!
Lafayette Community Events Calendar
Arts Community Email Blast (current issue May 10)
Nonprofit Email Blast (current issue April 26)
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Taste of Lafayette - Tuesday, May 21! | |
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Ribbon Cutting for Front Porch Music!
A ribbon cutting this coming weekend will help launch Front Porch Music, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Lafayette, CA, dedicated to enriching our community through the power of music. The event will take place at 6p on May 25th, at Hurst Farm in Lafayette (716 St Mary’s Rd) during the organization’s monthly open mic (4-6:30p) featuring around two dozen local musicians taking turns playing music on the front porch! In addition to music and a ribbon cutting, the organization will announce it’s Gift Guitar program. Friends of Front Porch Music include the Town Hall Theatre and Lamorinda Music. Learn more at frontporchmusic.org.
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Sign-Up to Help With Beautification or Other Projects on Lafayette Community Day - Saturday, June 1
The Community Foundation of Lafayette, City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce present the 3rd Annual Lafayette Community Day on Saturday, June 1, 2024 – a Day of Service, Celebration, & Community 8 am to 1:30 pm in Lafayette Plaza.
All community members are invited and encouraged to participate! Volunteer sign ups are now available at lafayettecommunityday.org for cleanups, weeding, creek restoration, sheet-mulching, a family-friendly bike ride, donation sorting, painting, lunch service and other projects!
The day will start with a Learning & Selection Fair where registered volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about our host organizations and groups and select a project for the day.
Listen to Podcast here!
Watch video here!
Thank you to our returning major sponsor Republic Services and PG&E for helping to make this special day possible. Please visit lafayettecommunityday.org for more information about getting involved.
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Welcome our NEW Lafayette Chamber Members!
The following businesses recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
Catherine's Goldsmithing Designs, Inc (CG Designs, Inc)
3416 Mt Diablo Blvd, Suite A, Lafayette, CA
Catherine Dining, 925-888-9259
Custom gold smithing, including original pieces, repurposing, repairs, gemstone sourcing, purchasing gold.
Category: Jewelers / Jewelry
Lamorinda Taxi
Moraga, CA 94556
925-494-8873
Lamorinda Taxi is the most reliable, safe and prompt service to all major airports (OAK, SFO, SJO, Napa, etc). We also offer local rides to Downtown SF and around, Napa wine tour door to door with our new modern Mini vans, SUV and sedan cars. Easy online booking: www.lamorinda-taxi.com. Text / Call at 925 494 8873. Airport Transportation, Winery Transportation or Local service 24/7.
Category: Transportation
Love You More Designs
175 E Prospect Avenue, Ste 100, Danville
Gabriela Ghorbani, 510-377-5724
Jewelry & Accessories
Categories: Jewelers / Jewelry
PFLAG Lamorinda
P.O. Box 145, Canyon
Category: Non-Profit Organizations & Clubs
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Lafayette Business Women
Last week we celebrated Clocks, Etc. 48 YEARS IN BUSINESS!! View photos/videos here. Above photo by Lily Dong Photography!
The June gathering will be Wednesday, June 26 at Douglah Designs, 8:45am-10am REGISTER HERE
Lafayette Business Women is a women-led business group. Shared experiences, contributed knowledge and skills, networking and collaboration opportunities. Empowering female entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.
Meeting once a month through November, typically the third Wednesday of the month alternating from morning to evening events, at member locations throughout Lafayette.
This group is for Lafayette Chamber members and their employees. Guests welcome to attend the first meeting for free, then we encourage guests to join the Lafayette Chamber or pay the $20 guest fee during registration. REGISTER HERE
Upcoming events (more to be added soon!) REGISTER HERE
June 26 at Douglah Designs, 8:45am-10am
July 17 at HOLISTIKA, 5:15pm-6:30pm
August 21 at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa (Courtyard) 8:45am-10am
October 16 at Abio Properties, 8:45am-10am
November 20 at Mighty Market, 5:15pm-6:30pm
CHAMBER MEMBERS ONLY EVENTS
September 11 at Wine Thieves, 5:30pm-7:30pm
This group is a subcommittee of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Special thanks to Carine Camara, CARRINNA for coordinating these events!
Sign up for text notifications at https://eztxt.net/RFs4Sc. Sign up for email notifications at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/yozHC2T/women. NEW! Join our groups: LinkedIn and Facebook.
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Ribbon Cutting at Madison Park
Last week we welcomed Madison Park to Lafayette! Lafayette Chamber Board President Katie Santos, Lafayette Chamber Executive Director Sara Regan and City of Lafayette Vice Mayor Wei-Tai Kwok, welcomed Madison Park owner, John Protopappas and staff. Catering by Whole Foods. View photos/videos here.
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Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals
Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals will meet in 2024 the FIRST THURSDAY of the month at various locations throughout Lafayette. The times may vary as well. Please check the calendar for each event for specific details. Registration required.
Next Yo Pros: REGISTER HERE
➡ Thursday, June 6 at Lafayette Public House
Thursday, July 11 at Lafayette Public House
Thursday, August 1 at Headlands Brewing
Thursday, September 5 at Headlands Brewing
Thursday, October 3 at Headlands Brewing
Thursday, November 7, location TBD
December 11, Holiday Mixer After Party, location TBD
Guests may attend one event, following the one event we encourage you to join the Lafayette Chamber or pay the $20 guest fee during registration.
Learn more at https://lafayettechamber.org/young-professionals.
Join the email list here: https://lafayettechamber.org/e-blast.
Want a text notification? Sign up here: https://tapit.us/N56jNh.
Participate in the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lafayetteyopros.
NEW! Join the LinkedIn Group!
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Non-Profit Network - Sharing Knowledge & Building Community Together
At the Lafayette Chamber Non-Profit Network, we believe that non-profit organizations play an essential role in building and sustaining thriving communities. Our mission is to foster collaboration, share expertise, and promote best practices among non-profit professionals and volunteers in the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a newcomer to the non-profit sector, we're here to provide you with the resources, connections, and support you need to make a positive impact in the world.
Meeting quarterly throughout 2024 at East Bay Health: August 8 at 8am, November 14 at 5pm. 📍 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 101, Lafayette, CA. *subject to change
REGISTER HERE
FREE and open to Lafayette Chamber member non-profit executives, staff, board, volunteers. Not a Lafayette Chamber member? Reach out to us for a guest pass.
📷 Photo from our second Non-Profit Network event at East Bay Health on May 9! View more photos here.
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Businesses - Take the Survey! | |
RecycleSmart is in the process of soliciting bids for garbage, recycling, and organics services in central Contra Costa County beginning in 2027. As part of this process, RecycleSmart is seeking community input! Residents and businesses can participate by completing a short survey: www.RecycleSmart.org/Survey. | |
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Space Available at the Lemos Center
The available space is located at 3344E Mt. Diablo Blvd. 1692 square feet currently configured as office space but could be altered. Rent is $2.20 per foot plus .77 common area maintenance. Parking for 6 autos. Currently available. Call Bill, Lemos Center, at 925-939-4396 for more information.
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Brand New Speed Networking Leads Event
Join AI Business Networking tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21, for a Brand New Speed Networking Leads Event with an exciting AI twist! In just 30 minutes, you'll meet more potential leads and connections than you might all week. Stay after to learn about "AI Audibles and Mobile Podcast Listening and Learning" - a revolutionary way to leverage AI to nurture your new leads and grow your business through AI content check-ins and follow-ups. Register Here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcocOuqqT8iG9EPGMXAuThvhANyk9nBBj-a
At Noon PST, expect 30 minutes of fast-paced speed networking in breakout rooms, leaving with access to our Lafayette Leads list. Meet Tanya Tecnica and learn how "AI Audibles" can automate follow-ups to turn leads into customers. Whether you're AI-savvy or just getting started, our "AI Audibles" and Chalk Talks will help you become a lifelong learner in this AI Era. Join Live After Registration: https://zoom.us/my/aipublicity.
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Take the Return to Office Survey from Bay Area Council
The Return to Office survey helps us better understand current and future travel patterns and design transit services that best meet commuters’ needs. Help us plan for the future of the Bay Area by completing the Return to Office survey today.
Take the survey now! The survey will be live until Tuesday, May 21st at 5:00pm and should take five minutes or less to complete. All results are anonymous and will be aggregated before publishing.
The data collected in this survey is available to everyone. The latest results and all archived results can be found here.
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The Contra Costa County Elections Division is offering two paid training opportunities for our community to learn and share information about how elections work:
- Elections Social Media Ambassador Training: A virtual training opportunity for people who want to learn about how the county secures its elections and how to share fact-based election information on social media. The training is open to people ages 16 and older who live in Contra Costa County. Participants will receive a $50 stipend.
- Elections Community Ambassador Training: An in-person training opportunity for people who want to learn about how the county secures elections and how they can share that information with their communities. The training is open to people ages 18 and older who live in Contra Costa County. Participants will receive a $150 stipend.
You can learn more about these trainings at: secure-election.org/ambassadors.
This program is funded by a grant for voter education and part of a broader campaign to build trust in elections in Contra Costa County.
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Small Business Help Office Hours - Hosted by SCORE
SCORE has the largest network of free volunteer small business mentors in the nation. No matter what stage your business is at SCORE can be a valuable resource.
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has been partnering with SCORE for over 15 years.
We welcome our chamber members and community members to schedule a complimentary meeting with a SCORE representative on Tuesdays between the hours of 1:30pm-4:00pm in our Chamber office at 251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150.
Mike Harris is our in-house SCORE counselor. Mike earned a BS with an emphasis on electronics from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from Santa Clara University. After a few years in engineering, Mike spent most of his career in high tech marketing and operations management. While continuing to work in electronics he helped manage his family retail business. After retiring from his career in electronics, Mike began working with small businesses helping them obtain working capital loans. Besides mentoring, Mike helps present SCORE business plans and financial planning workshops.
To schedule your appointment, please call the Lafayette Chamber at (925) 284-7404 or book your appointment online here. Enter your desired time frame. In person meetings at the Lafayette Chamber office are by appointment only and are scheduled every 30 minutes.
SCORE also offers free and low-cost workshops. VIEW WORKSHOP SCHEDULE HERE.
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Business Card and Business Resource Center at the Lafayette Chamber Office
Our walls are filling up with our members promotion materials and business cards! Stop by the office or email Rebekah Dani to be included! We love to showcase our members!
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Cal/OSHA has published a model Workplace Violence Prevention Plan for general industry employers, and other resources
On March 1, Cal/OSHA and the DIR released the following resources:
And the long-awaited:
Who Does SB 553 Apply To?
The WVPP requirement applies to all California employers unless they are specifically exempted. The exemptions include:
- Employers already covered by the WVPP in Healthcare standard (or employers that already comply with that standard);
- Facilities operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and law enforcement agencies;
- Employees teleworking from a location of their choice that is not under the control of the employer;
- Places of employment that are not accessible to the public and have less than 10 employees working at any given time, so long as they have a compliant IIPP.
Important Deadlines
The law takes effect on July 1, 2024. At that point, employers must have taken all steps necessary to create, implement, and maintain a WVPP. Employers should not wait until the last minute because there are some potentially time-consuming requirements, including:
- Getting input from employees (and union representatives) when creating the plan
- Developing procedures to respond to and maintain records of workplace violence incidents
- Training all employees and supervisors
If you would like additional information, CEA has developed a WVPP Fact Sheet and a sample Violent Incident Log (.xls download) to help comply with SB 553’s record-keeping requirements.
Information provided by the California Employers Association (CEA)
https://www.employers.org. Questions? 800.399.5331 or email CEAinfo@employers.org.
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Implementation of Chip EMV/Tap Cards for CA EBT
Commencing this Summer, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will replace magnetic stripe EBT cards with Chip EMV/Tap cards in an effort to combat rising rates of skimming theft and similar fraudulent methods. EBT merchants are required to update their payment processing systems in order to continue accepting EBT benefits.
As CDSS continues to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities to mitigate third party theft of EBT benefits, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) better known as CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other food and cash aid, we need your help and support to combat EBT skimming fraud affecting the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Download Financial Institution Letter
Downtown Merchant Letter
Download SNAP Retailer Notice
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Upcoming Chamber Member Events | |
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Memorial Day Vigil
The Lafayette Hillside Memorial annual Memorial Day vigil will be held Monday, May 27th, 2024 at 5:30pm, and is open to all. There will be songs, poetry and remarks by local representatives. Please park in the Lafayette BART parking lot across the street and use the crosswalk.
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St Marys Road Pipeline Replacement Project
Starting on June 3, 2024, EBMUD crews will begin installing a new water pipeline to enhance water service in some Lafayette neighborhoods. Please refer to the detour map to see how St Marys Road will be affected. Side streets intersecting with St Marys Road will also experience temporary impacts as work progresses. The project is expected to continue until October 2024, and the duration of construction on each street may vary. Final paving will follow the completion of construction. For details on the affected work area, please review the detour map.
Work hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Traffic control will be provided. Residents may experience delays of up to 10 minutes when entering and leaving the work area. If you have special needs, please call and every effort will be made to accommodate.
What work is happening near you? Use this map.
You can email questions or concerns to: construction-east@ebmud.com or call 510-287-2053.
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Mobility Matters Chosen as 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Assembly Member, District 16!
Mobility Matters is proud to announce it has been selected as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. We are so honored to be selected for this recognition along with others for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that has been serving otherwise homebound residents trying to age in place in all communities in Contra Costa County since 2004. We provide free, door-through-door, one-on-one, escorted rides for seniors and disabled veterans with volunteer driver programs and match riders to accessible transportation providers through our Transportation Information and Referrals Helpline.
“We are deeply humbled to be honored for our work in this manner and appreciate the support of Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan as she recognizes the value of our work,“ said Elaine Welch, Mobility Matters CEO.
“Nonprofit organizations touch the lives of millions of Californians in ways that can often go unrecognized. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter – nonprofits improve the lives of all Californians and make our communities stronger,” said Geoff Green, CEO of California Association of Nonprofits (Cal Nonprofits).
A luncheon with award presentations, sponsored by Cal Nonprofits, will be held on the Capital west steps on June 5, 2024, and Mobility Matters will gratefully and proudly attend!
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City of Lafayette The Weekly Roundup
The Weekly Roundup, May 17, 2024 | Latest News | City of Lafayette, CA (lovelafayette.org)
News From the City Manager’s Corner
This week’s updates from City Manager, Niroop Srivatsa highlight:
- Sign-up for Lafayette Community Day Projects Now
- Insurance Presentation and Resources
- Public Art Committee Now Accepting Submissions for Downtown Gallery Exhibitions
- Help Shape the 2024 Contra Costa County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Apply to Serve on the Senior Services Commission
- Eligible Lafayette Seniors can get FREE access to Lamorinda Village Services and Programs
- Housing Element Submitted, Again
- PG&E Helicopter Patrols
Deadline is May 24 for Connecting Lafayette Survey: Give your input on the final iteration of the conceptual designs for the Connecting Lafayette project that will improve walking and biking around Stanley Middle School and Lafayette Elementary School. Visit the project webpage to take the survey and learn more about the project.
➡ Lafayette Planning Applications and Major Development Projects: Want to know the planning applications that the City’s Planning Department is processing? You can visit the Planning Applications Received page for the latest application information. Curious about construction taking place around town? Information on major developments that are underway can be found on the Major Development Projects website.
➡ Are you listed on the Experience Lafayette website? If not, reach out to Suzanne Iarla at the City of Lafayette
➡ Sign up to receive City notifications: Sign up for meeting agendas and Lafayette’s publications at bit.ly/LafayetteNotifications. Also, find out how to follow the City of Lafayette on social media at https://www.lovelafayette.org/connect
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Supervisor Candace Andersen Weekly Update
May 17 Weekly Update (constantcontact.com)
➡ Upcoming County Planning Commission Study Session
➡ Can You Believe It? Maybe NOT: A Presentation on Mis/Disinformation
➡ I-680 Northbound Express Lane Completion Project
➡ St Marys Road Pipeline Replacement Project
➡ Moraga and Orinda Holding Fire Safety Events
➡ Protecting Your Family and Home from Wildfire
➡ County Volunteer Opportunities
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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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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.
(925) 284-7404 | info@lafayettechamber.org
LafayetteChamber.org
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