May 8, 2008

Calendar of local events

Unless otherwise noted all phone numbers are in the 408 area code.

MUSIC

May 8 – 11
Symphony Silicon Valley presents Gershwin 1920’s Radio Hour: The California Theater is the perfect setting for guests to be part of the live broadcast of a 1920's radio show, complete with announcer and commercials of the era, and featuring Gershwin's two jazz and blues infused piano concertos in their original Paul Whiteman big band orchestrations.  International concert pianist Gwendolyn Mok performs with a jazz vocalist in added Gershwin favorites.  Come for great music and great fun. For more information, call 286-2600 or visit www.symphonysiliconvalley.org.

May 11
The award-winning California Youth Symphony, under the direction of Maestro Leo Eylar, continues its 56th season with a program of music that offers a sonic comparison among nationalistic schools of composition in England, Russia, and the United States at 2:30 p.m. at the Flint Center in Cupertino. This year’s Senior Soloist Competition winners are Jenna Chen, flute; Ian Harshman, clarinet; and Timothy Kang, cello. A resident of Cupertino and a senior at Monta Vista High School, Jenna Chen is Principal Flute of the California Youth Symphony.  CYS Principal Clarinet Ian Harshman, who lives with his family in San Jose, is a senior at Leigh High School. California Youth Symphony Principal Cello Timothy Kang also resides in San Jose, where he is a senior at Lynbrook High School.

ART

May 3 – June 20
Photography Exhibit “The Person in Front of You:  Photographs from West Africa” Friends of African Village Libraries, a San Jose-based nonprofit that builds and supports sustainable libraries in rural African villages, is sponsoring this exhibit of photographs by Los Altos-based photographer David Pace and Kathy Knowles of Osu Children's Library Fund in Canada.  The artists capture in moving detail the daily lives of children and their parents in rural villages in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Exhibit location is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 2nd Floor, Exhibit Area, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose. Opening Reception is May 11 from 4 – 6 p.m. fro more information, call 396-6394 or visit  www.favl.org

CHILDREN/FAMILY

May 13
Santana Row’s popular Mommy & Me on the Row series returns for another season of free entertainment, interactive games, arts & crafts, and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children.  Families can register for the free program through the Santana Row website, www.santanarow.com, at the Concierge Center in Santana Row Park, or the morning of the event in Park Valencia.  Membership includes a variety of incentives that range from specially priced lunches to shopping incentives provided by Santana Row merchants. Event hours are 10 a.m. to noon on the second Tuesday of each month. To resister or for more information, visit www.santanarow.com or call 551-4611.

May 16
Central County Occupational Center hosts Fifth Annual Custom & Classic Car Show benefit: This CCOC show is scheduled for 5 – 9 p.m. at 760 Hillsdale Ave., San Jose, and will featuresmore than 175 mostly locally-owned cars including custom, classic, hot rods, muscle cars, and all types of fully restored cars. A $10 tax deductible donation/fee is all it takes to exhibit a custom, classic or vintage car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle. This fee also includes a free meal. All proceeds support students competing in upcoming SkillsUSA competitions. CCOC will send five students to compete in the National SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City in June. To register, Mike Cortese at 723-4209 or email mcortese@metroed.net . Refreshments will be available for purchase by spectators. Spectator admission is free.

May 17
Youth Science Institute Insect Fair. Join YSI from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sanborn County Park in Saratoga. Walking sticks, silkworms and hissing cockroaches will be there...why not you? At this family-oriented, hands-on event, children and adults can get an up-close look at live insects such as spiders, scorpions, millipedes and more.Adding to the fun will be children’s crafts, face painting, and bug-themed treats. This event is free to the public. Park entrance fee is $6 per car. Contact 356-4945 or see www.youthscience.org for more information.

May 17 – 18
Campbell Chamber of Commerce announces the 30th annual Boogie on the Bayou Festival. This popular free community street festival features live entertainment, Strutters’ parades, scrumptious vittles, kiddie activities, and over 125 arts and crafts vendors. So grab your Mardi gras beads, pack up the family and head on over to downtown Campbell. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 5/17 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 5/18.

Ongoing
YSI Summer Science Camp. Youth Science Institute has week-long, half-day camps for children ages 3 ½ to 6th grade. Everyone is welcome and YSI Family Members receive priority registration. There are 30 camps to choose from, including Bugology, Radical Reptiles, Phunky Physics, and Water is Wonderful. Children enjoy the wonders of science while connecting with nature through hands-on projects, experiments, crafts, hikes and games. Camp fees range from $140 to $240 per week. Camps start the week of June 16th and run through Aug. 15th at each of YSI’s Science and Nature Centers, located at Alum Rock Park in San Jose, Sanborn Park in Saratoga and Vasona Park in Los Gatos. Scholarships are available at YSI Alum Rock and YSI Sanborn. Camps fill up quickly, so go to www.youthscience.org or call 356-4945 ext 16 for more information or to register.

CLASSES

Ongoing
Children's Drawing & Painting Classes - art classes for children 7-12 years old are offered in Nelly Rouhani's house in Almaden. Classes are on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. with a maximum 4:1 child to teacher ratio. Children will learn about the fundamentals of drawing and paint using various media. Tuition is $100 per month, and includes all required materials. A snack will be provided. For more information, call 607-7588 or email niloufarafshin@sbcglobal.net.

Clay classes for adults.  New handbuilding ceramics classes are forming now. These small, relaxing clay classes are held on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m., and Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11 a.m. The fee includes instructions, clay, glazes, use of tools, and kiln firings. The classes are held in the artist's studio in Almaden. For more information or to register, call 679-0238. Space is limited to only 4 students for each class, so register today!

FIFTY PLUS

May 16
The City of San José Office on Aging is hosting the free annual Spring Into Health, 50+ Wellness Festival and Fun Walk. Event hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at History Park, 1650 Senter Road in San Jose. Come join the fun and take home important health and fitness information, take part in interactive demonstrations, health screenings, have a chance to win fabulous prizes and participate in a one-mile fun walk through out San José History Park. Registration is required for all attendees. The first 500 registered participants will receive a free nutritious lunch and gift. Registration forms are available at all San José Senior Centers or call the Office on Aging.  For more information, please call 979-7915.

VOLUNTEERS

May 15
American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteers: A volunteer orientation is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon at the San Jose Bolld Center, 2731 North First Street in San Jose. Volunteers greet, inform, and thank our wonderful donors at Santa Clara County area blood drives or make important deliveries as a volunteer driver.  Minimum commitment is only two 3-hour shifts per month.  Evening and weekend volunteer shifts available.  Advanced sign-up is required.  For more information, call Anne at 510-594-5165 or email blackstonea@usa.redcross.org.

MISCELLANEOUS

May 10
Vesak Celebration 2008 at San Jose City Hall: Vesak honors the three great events in the life of Lord Buddha – birth, enlightenment and passing away. This annual celebration is an opportunity for families, friends and neighbors to come together to rejoice in a day of peace and harmony. Vesak is organized by Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Center and International Children Assistance Network (ICAN), a San Jose non-profit organization. Event time is from 2 - 10 p.m. at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose. For more details, please contact: Ms. Quyen Vuong at 396-6002 or quyen@quyen.org , ICAN (International Children Assistance Network) at 509-8788, or Lieu Quan Temple at 272-5765.

May 14
The Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens will celebrate its seventh annual “Window on the River Park” event from 5:30-7 p.m. poolside at Axis, 38 N. Almaden Blvd. (next to Hotel De Anza), downtown San Jose’s new luxury high-rise. This event celebrates the development of San Jose’s central park and is a major fundraiser for the non-profit Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens (GRPG). Mayor Chuck Reed, several city council members, and business leaders will join the festivities to commemorate another year of progress in developing this urban oasis. Tickets are $125 ($100 is tax deductible) and can be purchased at www.grpg.org or by calling 298-7657.

May 16 – 17
Super-Con 2008 is bringing the biggest and brightest stars of comics, sci-fi and pop culture to the San Jose Convention Center’s South Hall. Building on the success of last year's show, Super-Con 2008 features even more panels, discussions, displays and presentations by icons and industry leaders.  The annual Super-Con Cosplay Contest allows those daring souls to roam the convention hall in costume (providing photo opportunities galore) before the formal costume contest pits hero v. hero.  Bid on one-of-a-kind pieces of art created especially for the auction by our super guests. Full convention programming info is at www.super-con.com.

May 16
Hospice of the Valley hosts its 28th Annual Western Gala—“Wild Women of the West” –  at 6 p.m., at Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell. Celebrating the “Wild West”, the evening includes premium wine tasting, an elegant dinner, live music, silent and live auction. Returning as Master of Ceremonies is longtime supporter Brian Adams of KLIV/KRTY radio. Funds raised will provide quality end-of-life care services and programs for adults, children and families facing life-limiting illnesses. Western Gala Tickets: $175.00 per person. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For tickets and sponsorship information, email: gala@hospicevalley.org or visit www.hospicevalley.org.

May 17
Village Walk Global Outreach presents “A Stroll Down Memory Lane", a fundraiser for the construction of a school in the village of Bamburi, Kenya. This event will be held at the IBEW Banquet Hall, 2125 Canoas Garden Road, from 6 – 10 p.m. The evening’s entertainment will feature Food Tasting, Live Music, Live Auction And Raffle, Fashions from the 40’s – 90’s, a Musical Revue and much more. Tickets are $40. For more information, contact Brenda Childress at 838-2246 or Vickie Wilson at 566-3105

Ongoing
Announcing the Lincoln High School (San Jose) Class of 1973 - 35 Year Reunion: This event will be held on July 19 at City Beach in Fremont from 6 – 10 p.m. Cost is $65 per person. Email registration requests to alhs73reunion@yahoo.com

Santa Teresa High School Class of 1988 20th Reunion will be held on June 28, at 7 p.m. at the San Jose Hilton and Towers. Tickets are $93 through May 30th and go up $10 after that date. Tickets can be purchased from GreatReunions.com – Select California and find Santa Teresa ’88. For More information, go to the Alumni page of Santa Teresa High School:  sths.ca.campusgrid.net/home/Alumni

Camden High School Class of 1973 will hold a Reunion gala on June 21 at the Los Gatos Lodge. For more information, contact Jackie (Johnson 73') Daley at 205-9715, or email jclarktx@yahoo.com.
Get ready for a blast from the past! Leland Chargers Class of 1988 are reuniting this September. The location will be the Hotel Valencia in Santana Row at a to-be-announced date. For more details or to join a Reunion Committee, contact Paula Cavagnaro at CavagnaroPaula@yahoo.com or Laura Delizonna at ldelizonna@gmail.com
Willow Glen High School Class of 1988 Twenty Year Reunion. This event will be held on Sept. 13, at the Hotel Los Gatos, 210 E. Main St. in Los Gatos, at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $95 per person. For more information, go to Classmates.com and click on the Events/ Reunion link and register today.

Santa Clara High School Class of 1968 Reunion. This event is open to any attendee of the school from it’s inception up through the Class of 1981. Our event, “The Panther Festival” – is named in honor of the school’s mascot until it changed to “Bruins” in 1981- and it will include a BBQ picnic and music performance to be held on Jun. 14, at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, CA. A website for the event is available at www.pantherfestival.com.



HAVE AN ITEM FOR OUR CALENDAR?
We are seeking calendar items pertaining to the south bay communities we cover in our seven monthly community newspapers: Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Campbell, Evergreen, Santa Teresa, Willow Glen, Fifty Plus, and our weekly publication, Almaden Times Weekly. Items must be submitted by email or fax several weeks before the event. Send an email to candy@timesmediainc.com or fax to Candy Richter at 494-7078. Photos should be sent digitally as jpegs or mailed to Calendar, Times Newspapers, 1310 Tully Road, Ste. 107, San Jose, CA 95122. Due to the large volume of items received calendar requests left on voice mail cannot be used. Space is limited.