Nearly 25 years ago, former mayor Margaret Depriester gave new meaning to the term "spring cleaning". One of the original event coordinators, she instigated "Moraga Beautiful week" as a way to get the community together to clean up and beautify Moraga. "There used to be a large dumpster at the Rheem Bowling Alley" remembers DePriester. Community members dropped off large items and the retail shops all pitched in to clean up and remove debris. The parks were filled with volunteers to clean up and plant, and "we used to sell hot dogs and soda pops at the Commons to sustain the volunteers' enthusiasm".

Although the weed, trim and painting activities continued, current mayor Lynda Deschambault saw an opportunity to revitalize and bring back the success of the event to clean up the air, land and water.... and to incorporate the broader concepts of "Sustainability". Ecologically astute Deschambault is a long-time champion of community engagement and longs to preserve the things we love about Moraga, for future generations to enjoy.

A number of events were added the Moraga Beautiful Week over the last few years, and 2008 will prove to be one of the most vibrant and successful events on record! With this year's theme "Think Global. Act Local". The week will kick off with two garden tours; garden talks on native landscaping and all week native plants will be offered 20% off at the Moraga Garden Center.

The Farmers' Market will introduce their new "Start of the Season" and feature information on the importance of buying local produce. Our food is now grown in fewer and fewer locations. The USDA estimates that the average produce travels nearly 1,500 miles from where it was grown to your refrigerator. Although considered efficient and economically profitable for agribusiness, it is important the reduce the fuel usage associated with the many miles traveled and to support our rural local farming communities.

During the week, homeowners are encouraged to pitch in. Curbside pick up will feature the semi-annual large waste clean up days as well as the re-use truck pick up dates.

The week will wrap up with a work day at the Moraga Commons Park, followed by a Community Faire Saturday May 10th at the Rheem Shopping center highlighting local art, wine , merchants and an energy efficiency expo featuring home improvement opportunities such as solar, geothermal and more! On Sunday, we will close with a community wide event in the neighborhood of the Moraga Hacienda, featuring an e-waste drop off, and Donald Drive garage sale.

Moraga Beautiful May 3 - 11, 2008

Community Faire

On May 10th 2008, Moraga will hold its second Community Faire at the Rheem Shopping Center on Moraga Road (5 miles South of Lafayette exit on highway 24). The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is co-sponsored by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Moraga, collaborating with Sustainable Moraga, Lamorinda Art Alliance, and the Lamorinda Wine Growers' Association.

This free community faire is an opportunity for Moraga to showcase its businesses, services, and retail shops, before Moraga's main arteries into and out of town are closed for 9 hours each day through the summer. In addition, many vendors will show products that support living more sustainably. Because this event is designed for families, there will be on-going activities for children. Among them are face painting, paint-a-pot, recycled art, paper flowers, and spin art.

The Sustainable Living part of the faire will showcase vendors and services for home building and remodels, renewable energy, indoor products and furnishings, and socially responsible investing. In the afternoon, a panel including Tom Wright, Moraga Mayor Lynda Deschambault and Katryn Lyddan will discuss ways to live more sustainably.

The Entertainment Stage will include: Miramonte Jazz Band, Juke Joint Band www.jukejointband.com, a juggler, a gymnastics show, a Karate demonstration, and preschool Montessori kids doing Hula and Spanish songs.

A wine-tasting booth will feature area wineries such as Parkmon Vineyard and the Lamorinda Wine Grower Association; Moraga restaurants booths will offer delicious food for sale. Merchants will have special offers and promotions.

Artists from the area will display and sell their creations. Painters, jewelers, photographers and ceramic artists will be help with last minute Mother's Day gifts.

The Contra Costa County Animal Shelter will offer micro-chipping for all pets for $15 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m..

Sponsors of the Community Faire are all Moraga businesses: Long's Drugs, Moraga Retreat Care, Mechanics Bank, HomeGoods, Kimco Realty, Wells Fargo, and Union Bank.

For more information on the Faire, go to www.moragachamber.org.