WALNUT CREEK
The city of Walnut Creek invites residents and guests to one of its most cherished traditions, its annual Veterans Day ceremony. Hosted by Mayor Loella Haskew, the free event will be held at the Lesher Center for the Arts on the corner of Civic Drive and Locust Street, starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 11.
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This year’s national theme is “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service.” Haskew has invited representatives from “Joybound, People and Pets” to share details of their successful “Shelter to Service” program, which matches veterans with service animals to help with a variety of special needs.
“On Veterans Day and every day, we recognize the loyalty and service of those who have served our nation during conflicts and in peacetime,” Haskew said. “It’s fitting that we also acknowledge that some veterans return from service with additional needs, and sometimes a loyal four-legged service animal can contribute to their physical and mental health.”
As always, the Walnut Creek Concert Band will perform throughout the ceremony, including special recognition of each U.S. military branch.
The city thanks the Concert Band under the direction of Matthew Sadowski for providing the patriotic score for the hour-long event. The city also thanks the Lesher Center’s professional staff and other Walnut Creek city staff members for bringing this special ceremony to the community.
— city of Walnut Creek
Leftovers Thrift Shop holding fundraiser sale Nov. 5-9
Leftovers Thrift Shop’s next jewelry event will take place Nov. 5-9. This twice yearly event is an opportunity to find something really special for shoppers or as a gift. Shoppers will be able to choose from gold, silver, diamonds, name brands and artist pieces.
Leftovers is an all-volunteer, nonprofit thrift shop. Funds raised from the sales of sales help support the Crisis Center of Conta Costa and many other Contra Costa charities.
Leftovers is at 2281 Olympic Blvd. in Walnut Creek on the corner of Tice Valley Boulevard. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Also, for anyone with three extra hours a week, the shop is always in need of volunteers. Come in, tour the shop, talk to our volunteers and fill out an application.
— Leftovers Thrift Shop
PLEASANT HILL
Two youths honored for earning elite rank of Eagle Scout
Pleasant Hill Scout Troop 401 members Andrew Ruck and Benjamin Levy have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the prestigious highest rank that Scouting offers, attained by just 3-4% of Scouts.
Troop member and local Diablo Valley College student Andrew Ruck, 18, achieved 21 merit badges required to receive the Eagle Scout rank. For his Eagle Scout project, he planted fruit trees, painted new hopscotch areas, four square courts and a sensory maze at Concord’s Westwood Elementary School.
Benjamin Levy, 16, a student at Pleasant Hills’s College Park High School, also achieved 21 merit badges to become an Eagle Scou. He built a mobile sensory cart for Westwood Elementary’s counseling classroom for his Eagle Scout project, which he filled with donated sensory items, board games and activity bins.
Ruck and Levy thanked troop Scoutmaster Jason Botting, their troop’s fellow Scouts and leaders, family, friends and Westwood Elementary Principal Nancy Klinkner for all their help and support. The two were celebrated Oct. 24 in an Eagle Court of Honor at the Concord Historical Society.
Troop 401 is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill. The mission of Scouts BSA is to foster personal growth and help prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes. Visit scoutsbsatroop401.org online for more details.
— Pleasant Hill Scout Troop 401
PITTSBURG
Italian club holding Nov. 9 cookie contest, Fall Festival
The Sons & Daughters of Italy, C. Colombo Lodge 1315, will host their 12th annual Cucidati Contest and Fall Festival from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Pittsburg Youth Development Center at 1001 Stoneman Ave.
Everyone is invited to bake their favorite cucidati (fig-stuffed cookies originally from Sicily) and enter the contest, which will include monetary prizes. Cucidati classes will also be available for novice bakers or anyone interested in entering the contest, which requires bakers to make at least 100 cookies.
Visitors to the event will get the opportunity to sample cookies, vote for the people’s choice award and listen to Italian music. Homemade Italian baked goods, caponata (eggplant), meatball sliders, sausages, cannoli, Italian sodas and espresso drinks will be available for purchase. Sales at the event will be in cash only.
Presale entrance tickets are $20 (and include coffee and cookie samplings) and can be purchased from Pam Bustos at 925-642-8658 or at pam.bustos2136@gmail.com. Proceeds will go toward student scholarships.
To enter the cucidati contest, or sign up for baking lessons, call Zelda LeFrak-Belleci at 925-518-7110 or email zlefrakk@aol.com.
— Judith Prieve
CONCORD
VFW post’s Candy Cane Lane Craft & Gift Fair on Dec. 6
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1525 and its Auxiliary will host a Candy Cane Lane Craft & Gift Fair from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Concord Veterans Memorial Building, 2290 Willow Pass Road in Concord. Admission is free, and there will be a free craft activity for children.
Attendees can shop with vendors who will provide beautiful hand-crafted gifts. Bring a smartphone or camera to take a holiday photo with Mrs. Claus, and have a hot drink! Enjoy the event, and then walk a short block to the city of Concord’s annual tree lighting. Questions can be emailed to lorettamasnada@comcast.net.
— VFW Post 1525 Auxiliary
LAFAYETTE
Club to be presented with ‘Holiday Floral Extravaganza’
The upcoming monthly meeting of the Lafayette Garden Club (LGC) will start at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 14 for social time and light refreshments before a short business meeting at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., the club’s program will feature member Katherine Bergman presenting a “Holiday Floral Extravaganza.”
Back by popular demand, Bergman will create an array of holiday floral arrangements. Admission is free and guests are welcomed — join them! The club meets in the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center at 3780 Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Visit lafayettegardenclub.com online for more information.
— LGC
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