Good Morning Tri-Valley! Lots of Things to Share This Week!

• Local Maker Spotlight - Homestead Tallow

• TASTE - The Wine & Food Event of the Year! 🍷

• Country Music Legend Coming to Livermore!

• THIS WEEKEND - Jam in July: 11 Bands, 9 Food Trucks, Dozens of Vendors, Wine, Beer, & More!🍷🍺

• Local Police Departments Supporting the Community

• List Your Upcoming Event in Tri-Valley Explorer for Free!

Local Maker Spotlight - Homestead Tallow Products

Meet local entrepreneur John Barta, a man of many passions and ventures—IT, artisan mushrooms, and now something close to his heart: tallow-based products. Along with Michele and Rachel Barta, John founded Homestead Tallow Products with a simple belief: the best care for your skin (and even your pets) comes from nature, not a lab.

From soap and lip balm to skin care and pet shampoo, their mission is all about simplicity, purity, and transparency. As John puts it, “We live in a world full of chemical-laden products we use on ourselves and our pets, and I wanted something natural—where you know exactly what’s in it.”

I sat down with John and Michele to try their products, and I’m officially obsessed:

• Lip Balm: Super moisturizing and long-lasting—it feels like it sinks in instead of just sitting on top like petroleum-based balms.

• Tallow & Rosemary Soap: LOVE this! The organic rosemary (fresh from their backyard) acts as a gentle exfoliator, and the tallow is packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K for happy skin.

• Whipped Tallow Balm: Like velvet—luxurious and creamy but not greasy. It smells amazing and is perfect for dry skin.

• Dog Shampoo & Conditioner: My fur-baby’s coat was soft, shiny, and calm afterward—fantastic for pups with sensitive skin.

What’s next for the Barta family? Candles, leather conditioner, and a tallow cooking oil (I can’t wait to try that!).

Check out Homestead Tallow Products—I think you’re going to love them as much as I do!

_{In Partnership with Livermore Valley Growers Association}

TASTE - The Wine & Food Event of the Year!

I look forward to Taste Our Terroir every year—it’s Livermore Valley’s ultimate food and wine celebration, and it just keeps getting better! This year’s event spans four unforgettable days, from Thursday, October 16 to Sunday, October 19, 2025, with experiences that showcase the very best of our valley.

The festivities kick off Thursday night at a brand-new location, Wente Family Vineyards, for the signature Taste Our Terroir Food and Wine Pairing Competition. Twenty wineries team up with local chefs to create inspired pairings, judged by both experts and guests—plus decadent desserts and plenty of reasons to toast the winning teams!

The rest of the weekend is filled with intimate, can’t-miss experiences—scenic vineyard hikes, hands-on cooking classes, sommelier-led tastings, and varietal celebrations like Cluck, Cluck Cab Franc and the Ocean & Vine Sauvignon Blanc Social. Cap it all off with an elegant winemaker dinner and a glamorous masquerade under the stars. Click here for all the details!

_{In Partnership with The Bankhead Theater}
LeAnn Rimes at the Bankhead!

🎶 An Unforgettable Night with LeAnn Rimes at the Bankhead 🎶

Get ready for a truly special evening as the legendary LeAnn Rimes headlines the 10th Annual Brilliance at the Bankhead—LVA’s biggest fundraiser of the year!

This Grammy®-winning, multi-platinum artist has racked up 12 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Academy of Country Music Awards, and became the youngest solo artist to ever win a Grammy® at just 14. She’ll be performing alongside the Livermore-Amador Symphony in a one-night-only event that blends country, pop, and symphonic brilliance.

This is the Livermore Valley Arts fundraiser of the year—and a rare chance to see a world-class talent right here in the Tri-Valley.

✨ Don’t miss it! ✨

Jam in July - The Summer’s Biggest Block Party!

Ready for Jam in July?
The East Bay’s biggest block party is back on Saturday, July 27th at Vasco Row in Livermore! We’re talking 12+ wineries, breweries, and distilleries, 11 live bands, 9 food trucks, and dozens of artisan vendors. Oh, and did I mention admission is FREE?

And the cherry on top—perfect weather in the mid-70s (in July… in Livermore… seriously!). Mark your calendar, grab your crew, and I’ll see you there! Click here for the 411

Big Thanks to Pleasanton and Livermore Police Departments!

Free Vacation Checks from Pleasanton Police

Heading out of town? The Pleasanton Police Department offers free vacation checks for residents! While you’re away, an officer will stop by your home to ensure everything looks secure. Requests are handled based on staff availability, so be sure to schedule your vacation check at least one week in advance.

To arrange a visit, call (925) 931-5100.

School Supply Drive – August 2 & 3

Join us in supporting local K-12 students by donating school supplies! Officers will be stationed at CVS (1500 First Street), Walmart, Office Max, and Safeway (1554 First Street) on Saturday and Sunday, August 2–3, from 10am to 3pm, collecting items to help kids start the school year prepared.

Donations can also be dropped off at the Livermore Police Department (1110 S. Livermore Ave) through August 5. Suggested items include solid-color backpacks, notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, markers, calculators, binders, paper, and other school essentials.

Families in need can register for a backpack by filling out a form at the Police Department’s front kiosk.

Questions? Call (925) 371-4900.

List Your Local Events in Tri-Valley Explorer for FREE!

Click here to submit your local events - concerts, special dinners, fundraisers, and more!