Community briefs: Walnut Creek and Lamorinda Feb. 2 and beyond

Jan. 29--Email community briefs items to Lisa Herendeen at [email protected].

Lindsay Wildlife holds Conservation Icons series

The Lindsay Wildlife Experience 2017-2018 Conservation Icon series continues at 6 p.m. Feb. 10, with Dr. Walt Koenig, of the Cornell University Ornithology Lab, speaking about acorn woodpeckers.

A featured event May 5 is a presentation by Dr. Sylvia Earle, the first female chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and first female aquanaut. This event will be held in the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, in Walnut Creek. Tickets are $14.75 and go on sale in March.

The Conservation Icons speaker series events continue into June, and the remaining presentations are held at the wildlife facility, 1931 First Ave., in Walnut Creek. Upcoming lectures include:

--6 p.m. March 10: Dr. Tim Bean, of Humboldt State, with a talk about North American

porcupines.

--10 a.m. March 19: Lindsay Wildlife Alliance spring speaker Sam Labudde, of the

Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA), presenting "From Dolphins to Rhinos:

International Wildlife Protection."

--6 p.m. April 14: Butterflies will be the topic of Dr. Arthur M. Shapiro.

--6 p.m June 9: Dr. Brian Cypher, of UC Stanislaus, will talk about conservation and conflict related to urban canids (foxes, coyotes).

For more information, call 925-935-1978 or visit www.lindsaywildlife.org.

Parkinson support groups meet

The Parkinson's Support Group will have three concurrent individual meetings, followed by a group session from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 17, at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., in Walnut Creek. All are welcome. No reservations are needed and there is no charge.

From 9 to 10:15 a.m., there will be one session for men, one for women, and another for caregivers. The men with Parkinson's disease only meets in the Fireside Room. Contact Derek Ransley at 925-944-0162 or email [email protected]..

The women with Parkinson's disease only meets in the library. Contact Sandy Clark at 925-944-0769, or email [email protected]. The caregivers only group meets in the sanctuary. Contact Norman Kibbe at 925-935-9322, or email [email protected].

A general meeting and refreshments are from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. in the Oak Room, followed by "Duopa: A Treatment for Advanced Parkinson's Disease presentation by Dr. Salima Brillman, of the Parkinson's Institute; and ICU nurse and nurse/educator Stephanie Fiola.

For more information, call Co-Chairs Lance Gershen, 925-932-1028 or Abraham Raja, 925-304-2064. Web site: https://pnmd.net/.

Sons in Retirement meetings scheduled

Area Sons in Retirement, for retired or semiretired men, will be holding meetings, including:

Branch 146: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 8, The Clubhouse at Boundary Oak, 3800 Valley Vista Road, Walnut Creek. Guest speaker is Heather Ballenger, Walnut Creek Director of Public Works. Topic: The Dynamic State of Walnut Creek Public Works and Challenges for 2018..

The cost is $26. Call 925-825-5772 for reservations at least six days prior to luncheon. For additional information, visit www.sir146.com.

Lamorinda Branch 174: 11 a.m. Feb. 14, Holy Trinity Culture Center, 1700 School St., Moraga. Guest speaker will be Joan Bruzzone, who will discuss her family's history of the development of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.

For information, call Tyler at 925-963-5741 or visit www.branch174.sirinc2.org.

Photo contest open for voter election guide

The Contra Costa County Elections Division's photo contest is open and accepting entries from county residents through midnight Feb. 28.

The winning image will be featured on the cover of the county Voter Information Guide. The theme for the November 2018 photo is "Service in Contra Costa County."

The contest is open to photographers of all ages and skill levels, and submissions -- digital images only -- should be sent to [email protected] and include "Photo Contest Entry" on the subject line.

Judging will be on expression of theme, technical execution, originality, composition and photo description. Photos of the top three finishers for each election will be posted in the Elections Division lobby and on its website.

For the entry agreement and release forms, complete rules, or more information, visit http://bayareane.ws/2Gg42i2 or call the Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department Community Engagement program at 925-335-7805.

Rotary Club of Walnut Creek launches Wheelchair Project

The Rotary Club of Walnut Creek has launched its second annual Wheelchair Project, which provides all-terrain wheelchairs to needy, disabled children and adults in Central America.

Wheelchairs are purchased through the nonprofit Wheelchair Foundation (Danville, CA) and shipped by ocean container to Central America. Last year, local Rotarians traveled to Costa Rica to participate in the delivery process; this year, wheelchairs will be delivered to those in need in Puerto Cortes, Honduras.

According to the Wheelchair Foundation, an estimated 100 million children, teens, and adults worldwide need a wheelchair, but cannot afford one. With the help of Rotary clubs around the globe, the Wheelchair Foundation has delivered more than 1,060,000 wheelchairs worldwide to those in need, changing the lives of hundreds of thousands people with the gifts of mobility and independence.

This year's Rotary Club of Walnut Creek's fundraising efforts are now underway with a goal of $16,500 to purchase 110 wheelchairs that will be transported in a 20-foot container. To date, $10,000 has been raised and the Rotary Club of Walnut Creek is reaching out to community members who want to be a part of helping those in need.

Donors can purchase:

* one chair with a $150 donation

* one-half chair with a $75 donation

* two wheels with a $50 donation

* one wheel with a $25 donation

Checks can be made out to the Rotary Club of Walnut Creek Community Foundation with "Wheelchair Project" in the memo line and mailed to Rotary Club of Walnut Creek, PO Box 4191, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. For more information about the Wheelchair Project and the Rotary Club of Walnut Creek, visit www.rotarywc.org or www.wheelchairfoundation.org, or call 925-648-3888.

Volunteers needed for Mt. Diablo Silverado Scout Council

The Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, Boy Scouts of America, needs volunteers to help update and maintain the council website.

The council would like to form a council level website committee of four-to-six interested volunteers, but they are looking in particular for a council webmaster. WordPress experience is favorable, but not necessarily required. The committee will start in the spring.

Goals are intended to be completed before the fall recruiting season.

* Develop a new template/look for the site

* Optimize the council website for ease of use (especially mobile use)

* Ensure appropriate content is uploaded and maintained on a timely fashion

* Develop a protocol for updates and maintenance to the site

For those interested, send an email to [email protected] describing qualifications.

Aging in place workshop for seniors

The face of contemporary American society is changing, with people living longer than ever before. Most people want to stay living in their own homes for as long as possible. But doing so with dignity, independence and choice in the face of increasing health issues and daily needs can be challenging.

This workshop provides an overview of the various issues to consider, and how to identify options available. Topic presenters will be from Hillendale Home Care, Hospice East Bay and Senior Visionary Services, followed by an opportunity for questions and answers.

An overview of the various decision making issues that will be covered:

* How home safety assessment can help you or your loved one avoid accidents at home

* How to identify the need for home care, assisted living or hospice

* The differences between palliative care and hospice care; and Medicare and "Medical Certified"

* How grief support and crisis intervention can help you avoid burnout

* What housing options are available if it's time to relocate or downsize

* How to identify the right community to fit the needs of the individual; along with a review of available resources in the Diablo Valley.

Each person attending will receive resource information.

This workshop is being held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 29, at Congregation B'nai Shalom at 74 Eckley Lane, in Walnut Creek. The workshop is free. For reservations, go to https://walnutcreek.helpfulvillage.com/events/170 or at 925-956-1990, leaving your name, phone and email contact.

Signups underway for Covered California

Through Jan. 31, Californians can either sign up for or renew their health insurance for 2018 on Covered California's website at https://www.coveredca.com.

"My offices are here to help. If anyone in Contra Costa County has questions about enrollment or their health coverage, please call my office and we will connect you with resources to help you," said Rep. Mark DeSaulnier in a news release.

DeSaulnier's office is at 3100 Oak Road, Suite 110, in Walnut Creek. For information, call 925-933-2260.

Sandbag stations open for residents

Sandbag stations are open in Walnut Creek for residents, free of charge, though they must bring their own shovels.

Sand and sandbags are available at the following locations:

Lancaster Road across from Orchard Lane

Heather Farm Park Community Center parking lot (north end)

Larkey Park parking lot, 2771 Buena Vista Ave.

Howe Homestead Park parking lot, 2950 Walnut Blvd.

Rudgear Park parking lot.

To report flooding weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., call the Public Works Department at 925-943-5854. After hours, call police dispatch at 925-935-6400.

In Lafayette, residents can fill their own bags at either of two locations, open 24/7, on Mt Diablo Boulevard at Village Center, and on Camino Diablo at Loveland Drive.

For more information, call Public Works at 925-934-3908.

In Orinda, sand and sandbags, which residents fill themselves, are available at the following Moraga-Orinda Fire District locations, according to the city website:

Station 4320 on Via Las Cruces (nearest cross street Charles Hill Road)

Station 44295 on Orchard Road (nearest cross street Moraga Way).

Moraga does not supply sandbags to residents, except during a rare extreme circumstance when it is determined that an area is in an immediate state of emergency, according to the city website.

AARP Free Tax Preparation for 2018 tax season

Free tax preparation for the 2018 tax season is available starting February from AARP's Tax-Aide and United Way's Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. Service is provided by volunteer tax preparers who are IRS trained and certified. Both programs serve taxpayers of any age, and AARP membership is not required for Tax-Aide. EKS service is limited to those with incomes below $54,000, while Tax-Aide does not have an income limit.

For Tax-Aide site information or appointments in Walnut Creek call: 925-943-5851 for the Walnut Creek Senior Center site; 925-405-6278 for the Walnut Creek Grace Presbyterian Church site; or 925-979-5013 for the Walnut Creek St. Paul's Episcopal Church site. For information on other Tax-Aide sites, call: 925-726-3199. For information on EKS sites, call 2-1- 1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

To complete your tax return, Tax-Aide will need you to bring the following documents:

* Social Security Card or ITIN letter for all individuals to be listed on the return

* Photo identification for the taxpayer and spouse

* Copies of all W-2s, 1098s and 1099s

* Other income and deductions

* Your 2016 Tax Return

___

(c)2018 the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)

Visit the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.) at www.eastbaytimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.