Lafayette, CA

Las Trampas is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.

Las Trampas is a non-profit organization dedicated since 1958 to enhancing the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Mrs. Helen Lucas started Las Trampas as a residential school for 30 mentally retarded children in 1938. Illness forced her to retire in 1958. A group of parents and friends of the students bought the school and decided to incorporate as a non-profit. They named their organization after the creek on the property, Las Trampas. There was a need for the services the school offered. In 1965 the Las Trampas organization received a Federal construction grant. Perata & Sylvester A.I.A. Architects of Lafayette, California designed the new buildings. The buildings were completed and occupied in 1968 with 66 residents.

Las Trampas opened its first off-campus group home in 1971. They added a second off-campus group home 1972. This phase began the transition from a dormitory life style for the Las Trampas residents to a more normal, independent living style. In 1990, Las Trampas became a State demonstration project for supported living. The first phase moved 20 clients to supported living apartments in Walnut Creek and Concord. By 1994, the dormitories' doors closed and everyone had moved into the community.

Las Trampas's mission has remained strong to support people with developmental disabilities so they may discover their capabilities and lead fuller lives in their homes, at work, and in the community. Today Las Trampas services include:

1. Four state-licensed group residential homes in the East Bay;
   


2. Supported Living Services for people in homes and apartments;
   


3. Independent Living Services for people that need minimal support;
   


4. Adult Vocational Program providing supported employment services and skills development;
   


5. Adult Development Program, a day program for ambulatory and non-ambulatory consumers that offers small group supported skills educational development in the areas of daily living tasks, communications, social interaction, and employment and
   


6. Day Programs offering a variety of activities including; a fitness room, cooking and nutritional classes, two art workshops, computer lab, a sensory room, music/library area and gardening as well as off site community activities.

In honor of their 50th anniversary, Las Trampas has planned a special event on Thursday October 16, 2008 from 11am to 2pm at Las Trampas' campus (3460 Lana Lane, Lafayette). The event is open to the public and features an open house with tours of their campus, client art display, live music and refreshments. Raffle prizes include local favorites; $40 gift card to Chow, dinner for two at El Charro and Celia's with more to come! Special guests include representatives from Senator Barbara Boxer's office, City of Lafayette and Larry Duson, president and Jay Lifson, executive director both of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please call Bonnie Peacock at (925) 284-1462 ext. 239. They look forward to hearing from you and hope you will join them in celebrating our 50th anniversary.

Alan 'AJ' Nisen
Mortgage Loan Officer
Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Orinda Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Alamo Chamber of Commerce VP
AJ's Email
AJ's Mortgage Website
AJ's ActiveRain Blog
AJ on Twitter

Welcome to Lafayette, California!  Living in the prime communities of the East Bay NEVER lacks of outdoor activities and family fun!  This weekend was the Lafayette's 13th Annual Art and Wine Festival.  The weather was ideal and all members of the family enjoyed this spectacular event. 

On the third Saturday of each month, the Lafayette Pet Shoppe will host rabbit adoptions for the Contra Costa County Animal Services.  September's adoption day coincides with the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, which gives us all even more reason to head over and check it out!

When:  September 20, 2008
Where: Lafayette Pet Shoppe, 3517 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette, CA. 925-284-5212
Why:  Because rabbits make great pets! 

Did you know:

• Rabbits can be house pets (without a pen/cage)? 
• Rabbits can be litterbox trained? 
• Rabbits have unique personalities just like your cat or dog? 
• Rabbits can have attitude that rivals any cat's?  (I have one of these bossy guys, he's hysterical).
• Often people who are allergic to cats are NOT allergic to rabbits?

Come on down and learn more about why rabbits are such great pets.

Some buns you might meet when you drop by:

When the City of Lafayette California says Green, they are not talking about your lawn! Nor are they talking about St. Patty's Day! When the City of Lafayette Says Green, the City is talking about their efforts to become a more sustainable community...

The City of Lafayetteefforts to become a more sustainable community has made an impact on many residents. In turn, many residents now try to seek out the most green businesses and services. This phenomenon has put more pressure on Lafayette businesses to become Green!

Why Become Green?

• Cost savings .
  


• Build customer loyalty. Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and are impressed by businesses with a green conscience .
  


• Preserve the environment by reducing Lafayette businesses' environmental impact

What The City of Lafayette Has Already Done to Become Green

The City of Lafayette, working with The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce to become Green has:

• Started the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Green Committee to help local businesses save money by adopting green practices and be recognize within the community for their efforts.
  


• Lafayette recently joined a national effort to become a Cool City. To become a Cool City, the City of Lafayette must calculate the town's carbon footprint, or the annual tons of carbon dioxide emitted, and then work to reduce emissions. .
  


• Is working with Sustainable Lafayette, a network of residents and organizations that learn from each other through an active website about what solutions work best for making our homes, businesses, and community more sustainable. The Sustainable Lafayette network has monthly get-together with their "Green Drinks" events throughout the Lamorinda area.
  


• The City of Lafayette has started a Lafayette Green Awards program that recognizes outstanding efforts by businesses and residents that contributed to a more sustainable community.

What Lafayette Businesses Can Do Now to Start Becoming Green

If you are a Lafayette business interested in adopting green practices, you can start by calling Jay Lifson jay@lafayettechamber.org at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Green businesses will receive promotion and recognition as special members of our community. And by all means, consider joining the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Green Committee.

As you consider becoming a green business in Lafayette, here are 15 Ways to Green your Business (from the Sustainable Lafayette Network)

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
Turn off lights when not in use
Install reduced flow taps and high-efficiency toilets
Print double-sided
Reduce bag waste by asking customers if they need a bag before assuming they do
Turn computers and other appliances off when not in use
Reduce packaging to ship or offer your products in
Have employees use their own mugs to avoid throwing away disposable coffee cups
Make the effort to remove your business from unwanted catalogs and mailings
Encourage employees to walk, bike, take public transportation, or car-pool to work
Purchase only Energy-Star compliant equipment
Purchase office/printing paper with at least 30% recycled content
Buy local-especially if your business sells food
Use green, non-toxic cleaning supplies
Make sure you are properly recycling

You can find AJ Nisen on Active Rain at Contra Costa California Mortgages. Call AJ to talk about your Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Free Credit Report or visit AJ's website to use his mortgage calculator.

Alan 'AJ' Nisen
Mortgage Loan Officer
Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Orinda Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Alamo Chamber of Commerce VP
AJ's Email
AJ's Mortgage Website
AJ's ActiveRain Blog

The state goal for all schools is an 800 API. Only 31% of all schools in California meet that goal. Less than 15% of all high schools state-wide meet the goal.

*The API is the cornerstone of the state's academic accountability requirements. The API is a numerical index (or scale) ranging from a low score of 200 to a high score of 1000. It reflects a school's or district's academic performance based on annual results of statewide testing at grades two through eleven.

Elementary Schools

Burton Valley Elementary 935

Happy Valley Elementary 946

Lafayette Elementary 906

Springhill Elementary 904

Middle Schools

Stanley (M.H.) Middle 904

Buying or selling a home in Lafayette CA or Lafayette CA real estate, contact me as I am a skilled agent, offering extensive knowledge and strong negotiation skills who is truly focused on "Getting You Where You Need to Be!"

Contact Vickie Nagy REALTOR®, ABR, CRS, GRI e-PRO, SRES (925) 407-7987 or click to e-mail Vickie Nagy

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Lafayette Elementary School District API Scores, LESD API, Lafayette CA Real Estate, Homes for Sale in Lafayette CA