Diablo Reporter

Free Admission to Ruth Bancroft Gardens

Posted on May 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

Don’t forget! National Public Gardens Day will take place this Friday, May 10, 2013! National Public Gardens Day is an annual celebration of the nation’s public gardens to raise awareness of the important role botanical gardens and arboreta play in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces, and education in communities nationwide.

Better Homes and Gardens along with Rain Bird & American Public Gardens Association sponsors National Public Gardens Day every year in May which is a freebie day where you can get free admission to hundreds of public gardens around the country.

This means free admission to the Ruth Bancroft Gardens!!!

The Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, Ca 94598. The Garden is open for visitors seven days a week from 10am – 4pm. The Ruth Bancroft Garden Office is open from 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday.

Free Admission All Day
Docent Tours at 10am, 11:30am, and 1pm
Kids Activities and Pollination Play Area
Photo Walk at 10:15am (led by an RBG member)
Take a stroll around the Garden with one of our camera-crazy members who will point out interesting plants and vistas
Submit your photos to the National Public Gardens Day Photo Contest! First Prize is $500 plus a one-year membership to the public garden of your choice.
Staff-led iPhone Photo Walk at 2pm
Let RBG staff show you some of their favorite plants in the Garden and how to make your photos pop with creative angles and filters, upload your photos to Instagram (#ruthbancroftgarden), and play Stump the Staff with your own creative shots!
Download Instagram to your iPhone (or Android phone) before the walk. Optional: download SmugMug’s Awesome Camera app for even more photo-editing fun (iPhone only).

This coupon brought to you by the Diablo Reporter is required for admission.

Tip: Each coupon is good for up to two people to get free admission into the garden but you can print the coupon as many times as needed to accommodate everyone in your group.

Click here for full-sized pdf version of the coupon with National Locations

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Posted in Walnut Creek

Help Stamp Out Hunger – National Food Drive

Posted on May 8, 2013 | 2 comments

Letter carriers will be collecting food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and food banks across the country as they deliver the mail in this one-day national food drive. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 11th as a reminder to leave a bag of non perishable food by your mailbox, before your regular mail delivery. Your donations will help us fill many empty tummies during the summer months when children are out of school without access to free meals.

To learn more about the Letter Carriers Food Drive contact Joan at jtomasini@foodbankccs.org. To learn more about the Food Bank and how you can stamp out hunger year-round, visit www.foodbankccs.org

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Posted in Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek

Free Computer Tutoring and Support

Posted on May 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

Sharpen up your computer skills or just learn the basics. The Concord Library is offering Computer Tutoring Classes on Thursdays and Saturdays. Visit and receive one-on-one help with basic computer instruction — set up an e-mail account, search the Internet, format a Word document, beginning Excel skills.

Classes are held Thursdays 1-2PM & 2-3PM and on Saturdays 2-3PM & 3-4PM. Call the Concord Library to register at 925-646-5455 or click here to view the calendar of events.

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Posted in Concord

We have hit 10,000 total views!

Posted on May 3, 2013 | 1 comment

Hello fabulous readers!

Just this minute Diablo Reporter has reached 10,000 total views!

Getting this many hits in just 4 months is AWESOME! We’ve had 70 new followers, plus 47 super cool Facebook fans and 19 amazing Twitter followers!

I want to personally thank you all for reading and sharing us with your friends. There’s so much more to come! We’ve got many awesome stories coming up plus hot new features, cool pages and interactive widgets!

Please check out our Diablo Reporter Facebook Page, Twitter Stream, and soon to be active Youtube channel. Remember to bookmark and check back so you won’t miss our need-to-know stories and updates.

Is there a story you think we should cover? Email us at DiabloReporter@Hush.com! Thank you again for all your support and encouragement there is so much more to come. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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Posted in Clayton, Concord

Concord Spray Park Opens Tomorrow

Posted on May 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

Concord’s popular Meadow Homes Spray Park, at 1351 Detroit Ave., will open for its second season on May 4. Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends while school is in session. After school recesses for the summer in June, hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

In its first year, more than 8,000 youngsters visited the park. Residents are not the only ones who think the new facility is special. The spray park received an Agency Showcase Award from the California Park & Recreation Society, District 3, in the category of Outstanding Facility/Park and the American Public Works Association (Northern California) Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Structures Category.

For more information, call the spray park hotline, (925) 671-3366.

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Posted in Concord

Embrace Your Inner Nerd – Free Comic Book Day Coming Up

Posted on May 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

This Saturday May 4 , is Free Comic Book Day!

Yes, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is about you, the person who hasn’t set foot in a comics shop in years, or ever. It’s the industry’s attempt to change that state of affairs. Walk into a participating shop this Saturday and they will hand you a bunch of free comics. Or maybe just one free comic. Or maybe they’ll let you pick from a table heaped with piles of free comics.

The point is: Free comics! Woo!

This year there are a whopping 52 different FCBD comics that stores may have in stock, most of which you can preview on the Free Comic Book Day site. On this same site, you can enter your zip code and find the closest participating shop.

Pick up your FREE at Flying Colors Comics located at 2980 Treat Blvd ( @ Oakgrove Rd) in Concord. They are open 11AM – 7PM on Saturday. Embrace your inner nerd and get your free comic!

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Posted in Concord

18th Annual Clayton Art and Wine Festival – This Weekend

Posted on May 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

Bring your family and friends to scenic Clayton and check out their 18th Annual Art and Wine Festival. See over 125 artisans displaying unique arts and crafts along historic Main Street. Plus LIVE music throughout both days. Enjoy fine wines and premium beers. Explore the international food court and Kiddieland. Free Admission! Doors open Sat, May 4, 2013 – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sun, May 5, 2013 – 10:00 AM to 5:00PM. This event is put together by the Clayton Business and Community Association.

Check out the music schedule below for live bands:

Saturday, May 4, 2013

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: MY EVERGREEN SOUL – (Contemporary) 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM: TONE PONY (Country) 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: PLAN B (R’nR/Pop) 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: CROSSMAN COUNTRY (Country)

Sunday, May 5, 2013

10:30 AM – 12:00PM: THE VENTURAS (R&B/50-60’s R’nR) 12:30 PM – 2:30PM: RHYTHMTOWN JIVE (New Orleans Rock/Jazz) 3:00 PM – 5:00PM: PHD’s (R&B/Rock & Roll)