By Jacquie Oliverius
EACH WEEK, it seems that there is a different club or organization marking a major milestone, all of which emphasizes the long history of the groups, plus the high level of activity and the varied interests of Central County residents.
One particularly crafty group — the Valley Quail chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) — marked its 25th anniversary as an EGA chapter with a special celebration Sept. 13 in Walnut Creek.
“President Sara Angle welcomed all attendees, most of whom were local but some came from as far away as Fort Bragg,” said Beverly Spurs, publicity chairwoman.
In addition to Angle, the chapter officers attending included vice president Evelin Mitchell, secretaries Joyce Mason and Jo Ellen Angel, and treasurer Celeste Chalasani.
“A slide-show presentation of chapter members and events through the years was shown, followed by a ‘show and tell’ of members’ earliest and most recent needlework projects,” said Spurs.
“The purpose of Valley Quail EGA is to educate, develop and promote the practice of needlework skills in the Contra Costa area.”
Spurs added that over the years, the chapter has had several community outreach projects and the latest is “the stitching of bookmarks for elementary school and adult literacy students.”
The anniversary celebration culminated with a white elephant gift exchange and an anniversary cake.
Valley Quail is one of 26 EGA chapters in the Greater Pacific Region, which includes Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and British Columbia, Canada.
The chapter meets at the United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek on the second Thursday of the month — in the morning of odd- numbered months and the evenings of even-numbered months. For more information, call membership chairwoman Merle Ritchie at 925-837- 3265 or visit the region’s Web site at www.ega-gpr.org.
Happy silver anniversary to the members of the Valley Quail chapter.
Martinez history
Between the second annual Martinez Historic Home Tour and the fourth Martinez History Lecture Series, residents will be able to immerse themselves in local history this month.
The first of four Friday lectures in the series will take place at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Martinez Senior Community Center, 818 Green St. Each of the lectures is free to the public.
Paul Craig will be speaking on little-known talents and interests of John Muir during the presentation, “John Muir — whittler, clockmaker, rancher and Martisian.”
The remaining lectures will take place Oct. 17, 24 and 31, all at the senior center.
The following day, the Martinez Historic Home Tour will open the doors to six historic Martinez homes for visitors.
The tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and begin at the Martinez Museum, 1005 Escobar St. The home tour takes approximately two or three hours, and the cost is $20 per person in advance and $25 when purchased the day of the event.
Bob Loomis will entertain guests with live music at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the museum, and participants will receive a keepsake booklet that highlights the history and architecture of each home on the tour.
The event is presented by the Martinez Historical Society, and proceeds from the home tour will benefit the effort to restore the 1877 train depot in Martinez. It is hoped that, once restored, the building will be opened as a museum.
For more information on the lecture series, contact Andrea Blachman, Martinez Museum director, at 925-372-7146 or the Martinez Senior Center at 925-370-8770. For more on the home tour, visit the Web site at www.martinezhometour.com or call June Rogers at 925-228- 2302.
Fourth of July presentation
The annual Pleasant Hill Fourth of July has something for everyone — a 5K run, a parade, pancake breakfast, crafts and games in the park and fireworks at night.
After the July event is over, there is still one more exciting activity. The 5K run is sponsored by the Fourth of July Commission, and the registration fees are divided among the 12 schools in Pleasant Hill.
At its September regular meeting, the commission announced the total of the fees — $9,842 — and president Jim Bonato presented checks to representatives from several of the schools, said Dee Wood, publicity coordinator.
Those attending the meeting to accept their checks were Elizabeth Kim of Strandwood Elementary; Cindy Matteoni of Sequoia Elementary; Barbara Oaks from College Park High School; Hellena Postrk of Sequoia Middle School; Candace Raitano of Gregory Gardens Elementary; Jory Sydlaske from Horizon Home Studies; and Debbie Wilson of Christ the King Catholic Grammar School.
“Checks will also be given to Fair Oaks Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill Middle, Valhalla Elementary and Valley View Middle schools,” said Wood.
“This was the fourth annual 5K run sponsored by the Fourth of July Commission, with a four-year total of $29,668 benefiting these 12 schools.”
For anyone who wants to be in on the planning for the 2009 celebration, new volunteers are always welcome. Call Bonato at 925- 938-5433 or visit www.PHJuly4.com
Tech trek-ers
For many years, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) in California has been sending young girls to college, not for four years but for a very special week during the summer at a Tech Trek math/science camp.
“AAUW California sponsors six camps throughout (the state) where young women entering eighth grade are brought together to explore science, mathematics and technology topics in a positive and encouraging environment,” said Terri Almeida, publicity coordinator.
This summer, the Concord branch of the AAUW sent three girls to the Tech Trek camp held at Mills College in Oakland.
Representing the Concord AAUW were Shuk Wai Lau of Concord, the daughter of Kit Fun Lui; Walnut Creek resident Shannon Barbour, the daughter of Jim and Robin Barbour; and Concord resident Nanise Ma’ake, the daughter of Viliami and Lata Ma’ake. All three girls were set to enter the eighth grade at Oak Grove Middle School this fall.
“Concord AAUW, along with a helping hand from Clayton Valley/ Concord Sunrise Rotary Club, provided the Tech Trek camp opportunity for these young women,” said Almeida. “The camperships are rotated among Mt. Diablo school district’s four middle schools located in Concord.”
Items for the column can be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to Jacquie Oliverius/ Good Neighbor, 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. Submissions to the “Good Neighbor” column about upcoming events must be received by noon Wednesday, at least one week prior to the event date. Due to space restrictions, non-timely items may not be immediately published.
(c) 2008 Oakland Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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