03/31/2011 - The Independent

4 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 Art & CommunitySunol Park to HostWildflower FestivalSunol Regional Wilderness willbe holding its eighth annual SpringWildflower Festival on SaturdayApril 2 from 11 am 4 pm.The festival will take place nearthe Old Green Barn Visitor Centerat Sunol Regional Wilderness atthe end of Geary Road off of Calaveras.Anyone with an interestin wildflowers or nature is encouragedto attend there is somethingfor all ages. Interpretive staff willprovide easy ways to identify wildflowersand information on whereto discover the best places andtimes to see different varieties.Nature slideshows, exhibits,and hikes of various lengths andsubjects will be offered throughoutthe day. Hikes range from kidfriendly,to ethnobotany, to a longerflower hike to Little Yosemitewaterfall. Activities also includearts and crafts, face painting,henna body art, games, and music.There are no food concessions inthe park so visitors should bringa lunch and enjoy a picnic in thegreat outdoors.The event is free to the public.However, the usual $5 parking feewill be charged. Call 1 (888) 327-2757 or visit www.ebparks.org formore information.To reach the park exit at the I-680/Calaveras Road/Highway 84south of the town of Pleasanton.Turn left onto Calaveras Road andproceed four miles to Geary Roadon the left, which leads two milesdirectly into the park.Hikes:11:30-2:30: Blooms for Beginners:Canyon View to LittleYosemite; Along this moderatelystrenuous 3-mile hike, we’ll enjoythe best that nature has to offerfrom stunning hillsides of wildflowersto the pools and waterfallsof Little Yosemite. Bring water, beprepared for some uphill hiking.Children must be closely supervised.Best for ages 7+. NaturalistCat Taylor.11:30-12:30: Flower Floozies:Bugs and flowers for small peopleand their adults. Naturalist KatieColbert.12-1:30: Butterfly Search: Allages. Naturalist Anthony Fisher.12-1: Wildflowers for a Lifetime:Senior Stroll: Stroll withsenior friends or families at aleisurely pace on flat and gradualinclines. Distance: Less than 1/2mile. Interpretive student aideNancy Ceridwyn.1:30-2:30: Wildflowers onWheels: Stroller Walk Meanderthrough the meadow sharing thebeauty of spring with wee ones onwheels. Distance 1 mile. Duration:1 hour. Interpretive student aideNancy Ceridwyn.2-3:30: Flora and Serpentine: Atwo mile up and downhill hike toPhotos - Doug JorgensenSome activities will be held at theGreen Barn (above). At right is afile photo of spring wildflowers.see how geology and flowers areall tangled up. Interpretive studentaide Nancy Ceridwyn.2:30-4: Mother Nature’s GeneralStore: Visit some of the plantsthat have provided humans withfood, medicine and tools for millennia.All ages. Naturalist AnthonyFisher.Soul Sauce Performs at the Pleasanton LibrarySoul Sauce, a Latin Jazz Band,will perform at the Pleasanton PublicLibrary at 2 p.m. on April 3.Soul Sauce draws on the richbody of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian-influencedjazz, as well as incorporatingoriginal works. Enjoythis jazz concert at the PleasantonLibrary, sponsored by the Friendsof the Pleasanton Library.The 5-piece group uses JonEriksen’s vibes as its focus, withThe Pleasanton CommunityConcert Band returns to the FirehouseArts Center for its 36thAnnual Spring Concert on April3, 2011.This year’s theme is Voices ofSpring. The program will beginwith “Voices of Spring,” “April inParis,” and special guest Joe Bonfiglioplaying “Clarinet Concerto”by Mozart.support from Curt Moore’s tastefuldrums, with Rich Kuhns on piano,Rich Girard on bass, and MichaelleGoerlitz on congas. The versatilevibist is also an accomplished jazzharmonica player, with a TootsThielemans-influenced sound.The title, “Soul Sauce,” composedby Dizzy Gillespie, seemedto co-leaders Jon Eriksen and CurtMoore to capture the essence ofthis group’s fiery sound, and wasThe Band will then honor thestart of baseball season with “TakeMe Out to the Ballgame,” “Caseyat the Bat” with narrator WardBelding and “Pastime.” The Bandwill finish the program with a rousingbaseball march by John PhilipSousa “National Game.”The concert will start at 2:00p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2011 ata logical choice as the name forthe band. The tune “Soul Sauce”was recorded by many jazz artistsover the years, and even made anappearance on the pop charts whenit was recorded by Cal Tjader in1964.The program is free and opento all. No registration required.For more information, call PennyJohnson, 931-3405.Concert Band Presents 'Voices of Spring'the Firehouse Arts Center, 4444Railroad Ave., Pleasanton.The concert is free, althoughdonations are appreciated. TheFirehouse Arts Center doors willopen at 1:40 PM. For more informationcall 925-846-5897 orgo to the Pleasanton CommunityConcert Band website www.pleasantonband.org.