January 9, 2007

CALENDAR

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

MUSIC

January 13 - Saturday
Martin Luther King, Jr. Stop The Violence Rally and Concert Featuring Ginuwine: This MLK Fashion Event and Benefit Concert will help raise money, awareness and support for violence prevention activities. Activities begin at 4 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. Admission is $35 - $100. For more information, visit www.partiprogram.com

January 14 – Sunday
The San Jose Chanber Orchestra presents “Future Forecast” at Le Petit Trianon, 72 N 5th St San José featuring Anthony Quartuccio, conducting, oboist Jessica Pearlman, and cellist Mitch Wyman.
This performance also includes select members of the San Jose Youth Chamber Orchestra and will feature works by Janacek, Vaughan Williams and Pasculi. Premieres by Anica Galindo, Scott Perry and Dan Wyman. The concert begins at 7 p.m. with a pre-concert chat at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $30 - $5 each. For tickets or additional information, call 295-4416 or visit www.sjco.org.  

CHILDREN/FAMILY

October 21 – January 15
The new exhibit, “Dragons and Fairies: Exploring Viet Nam through Folktales,” opens at the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose. “Dragons and Fairies” is designed to educate children ages 5-12 about the rich cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people. It provides an opportunity to explore the lives and traditions of people living in modern and ancient Viet Nam. The Children’s Discover Museum is located at 180 Woz Way, in downtown San Jose, at the intersection of Woz Way and Auzerais Street. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m. -5 p.m.; Sunday: noon-5 p.m. Member’s only hour is Sunday 11 a.m. – noon.

November 17 – January 15
Ice skate under the stars – and palm trees – in the heart of downtown San Jose’s holiday activities.  Beginning its 11th season, Downtown Ice has become a holiday tradition and one of the best skating experiences in the West.  The stunning rink, produced by the San Jose Downtown Association, is recognized as a San Jose holiday icon. Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (subject to weather conditions) weeknights and noon to midnight on weekends and Dec. 17-31. Admission is 12 years and younger: $12, General $14. Prices include skate rentals and unlimited ice time. For more information, visit www.sjdowntown.com. Rink direct phone line is 291-0525.

January 15 – Monday
Join Santa Clara Valley Audubon naturalists and expert whale guides in observing the magnificent Gray Whale during the peak of its southern migration!  Participants also be likely to spot other sealife, including otters, sea lions, dolphins, and, of course, birds!  These 2-hour boating adventures are geared toward kids and their families and are the organization’s most popular Young Audubon excursion.  Space is limited, so call (408) 252-3740 for more details or to reserve your family's spot. The cost is $20/person for SCVAS members, $25/person for non-members; Scholarships available for families in need, All excursions depart from Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey Bay

January 19 – Friday
Worms Workshop! Join the Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens from 3:30 – 5 p.m. and learn how these little recyclers view our garbage and how they help to save the environment, as well as looking at them in a whole different view under the microscope! The festivities will also include a yucky, worm inspired treat! This workshop is designed for children five years of age and older, and will be held at the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center, 438 Coleman Avenue in San Jose. Attendees must be accompanied by an adult. Fees are $5 members/ $10 non-members per child. Reserve your spot by sending a check to: Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110. Visa and MasterCard are also accepted via phone or mail. For more information, visit www.grpg.org or contact Kary Houle, the Education Coordinator, at education@grpg.org or 408-298-7657.

January 20 - Saturday
Youth Indoor Model Airplane Contest.  Moreland Community Center Gym, 1850 Fallbrook Ave. in San Jose.  Boys and girls 18 and under, build and fly a simple model airplane, enter the contest.  Prizes awarded through 5th place in 5 events. $5 entry fee includes cost of materials.  Fly any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For information call Lou Young, 252-2145.

January 20 & 27
California Theatre Center (CTC) presents a lively stage adaptation of Beverly Cleary’s Newberry Award-winning story, “Dear Mr. Henshaw”, adapted for the stage and directed by CTC General Director, Gayle Cornelison. Many people have pen pals, but not very many people have pen pals who are famous authors!  Leigh Botts, an 11-year-old boy from California, has been writing letters to the well-known children¹s author Boyd Henshaw since the second grade. Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to keep a personal journal as a way to deal with all of the changes in his life, including his parents’ divorce. Along the way, Leigh also discovers his own strengths as a writer, and explores his own personal strengths and creative capabilities throughout the story.  By the end, Leigh has improved his relationship with his parents, done better in school, and has grown smarter and wiser through his correspondence with Mr. Henshaw. Dear Mr. Henshaw plays at 11 a.m. on 1/20 and 1/27 and at 7:30 p.m. on 1/27, at the Sunnyvale Theatre, Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 East Remington Drive. Tickets are $11 in advance/$12 at the door. Call 245-2978 for reservations. For more information, visit www.ctcinc.org.

CLASSES

January 13 & 20
Learn the ABC’s of  Trap – Neuter - Return (TNR) for Homeless cats. Do you have stray cats in your neighborhood or at work? You can help improve their lives - learn to TNR. Free TNR Classes at San Jose Animal Care and Services (SJACS), 2750 Monterey Road, San Jose. Class hours are 1/13 from10am-12 p.m. or on 1/20 from 3 -5 p.m. RSVP to 877-729-7475 option 2, as space in the classroom is limited. Leave your name, phone number, and which day you would like to attend; please speak slowly.

January 23 - Tuesday
Become a Savvy Investor Using Online Databases: The Campbell Library is sponsoring a free workshop from 7 -8:30 p.m. in the Campbell Library Community Room, 77 Harrison Ave. in Campbell.  Learn how to find stock and industry reports and key information using Standard and Poor's NetAdvantage. Unique features on Morningstar stock reports will also be illustrated as well as how to use this information to scan potential investments. Q & A period to follow. Laptops welcome. This program is presented by Marion Michel and Vicky Powell, members of the Silicon Valley Chapter of BetterInvesting. For questions call the library at 866-1991.

January 28 – Sunday
Youth Indoor Model Airplane Building and Flying Class.  Kids 10 or older, learn to build, adjust and fly light weight, free flying, indoor model airplanes under the supervision of experts.  This is the first step toward competing in local, national and international contests, science projects or just fun flying.  Eight sessions, 4-6 p.m., in the Moreland Community Center Gym, 1850 Fallbrook Ave. in San Jose.  For information call Lou Young, 252-2145.

Ongoing
South Bay Deutscher Schulverein, a German Saturday Language School, offers German language instructions at the Willow Glen Educational Park, Middle School Section, 2001 Cottle Avenue in San Jose. The school offers classes for pre-school  through teenagers, as well as adult beginners, intermediate and advanced courses on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.,  For more information visit our website www.sbds.org or call 266 5100. Please note that no information is available weekdays at the school location.

Yoga Instruction and Vipassana meditations. Instruction and practices on yoga and Vipassana meditations. Every Wednesday 9:30 am - 12 noon. Classes are free. Mindful Living Alliance Insight Meditation Center, 419 California Street in Campbell. For information call Tony at 408-732-3322 or e-mail MLA899@Gmail.com, or visit www.MindfulLivingAlliance.org.

FIFTY PLUS

AARP Campbell Area Chapter 5151 meets the third Tuesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in room Q-80, Campbell Community Center, 1 West Campbell Ave for informative and fun programs.  Visitors from all communities are welcome. Call 378-6996

AARP Information Center needs volunteers to staff their office. Duties include helping seniors find various services and programs, and providing information on senior needs. The office is located at 840 Willow Street, Suite 300, at the corner of Bird and Willow Streets on bus route #25. The hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 278-1855.

The San Jose Widow/Widowers Club meets at 12:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month for lunch at the Cup & Saucer Restaurant, 1375 Blossom Hill Road in Princeton Plaza. They also meet for breakfast every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at Goodies Coffee Shop on the corner of Bascom and Apricot in Campbell. Call 408-275-6178 or 408-292-3406 for information.

MISCELLANEOUS

December 26 – February 2
San Jose residents can set their Christmas trees out for curbside recycling collection by the City of San Jose. Natural and flocked (frosted) trees will be collected on the same day as garbage and recycling at single-family homes. Tree collection is done at no additional charge, but residents must remove tinsel, decorations, and the tree stand. Trees also must be cut into five-foot lengths and placed in the street about a foot from the curb - this keeps from obstructing the flow of storm water down the gutters. Residents in apartments and other multi-family complexes should check with their building management for proper set-out instructions. Otherwise, the same rules apply such as removing tinsel and decorations.

January 13 – Saturday
Branham High School’s Electronic Waste Recycling Day: Don't know what to do with that old monitor that Santa replaced with a flat screen?  Don't want to pay the disposal fee to get rid of your old TV or computer or dump the old microwave in the trash because you know it's full of toxic materials?  The answer is simple!  Bring your old electronic waste (E-waste) to the Branham High School parking from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eligible recyclable items include computers, monitors, TVs, microwaves, stereos, VCRs, DVD players, radios, fax machines, phones, etc. Just drive in, drop off, and we’ll unload everything for you; this service is being provided for free. Recycling proceeds will support the Recycling Club and the BHS Home and School Club. Contact Matt Zehner at 267-1020 x7253 or at mzehner@cuhsd.org for additional information.   

January 20 - Saturday
The 13th annual South Bay Scottish Society’s traditional Burns Supper will be held at the Orchard City Hall, Campbell Community Center, from 6:30-10 p,m. We will celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s immortal bard, Robert (Robbie) Burns, with songs, poetry, spirited toasts to the Lads and Lassies, ceilidh (“kay-lee”) dancing, a raffle, and music by John Taylor and Hamewith. There will also be a performance by champion highland dancers, Lauren and Madeline Cooper. The dinner will include the famous haggis, Beef Bridie, Neeps and Tatties, Veggies, salad, and a wee dram or two for the traditional toasts. Seating will be limited so reserve early.  Visit us online at www.southbayscots.org or call 406-2556 for more information. Cost: $30.00 for members and guests, $35.00 for non-members, $15.00 for children 12 and under, and $40.00 at the door. Reservations with a check made payable to South Bay Scottish Society can be mailed to Frank Cameron, 490 Cherry Ave., Los Altos, CA 94022.

January 22 & 29
Learn to Square Dance. Adult singles/couples (no partner required). Monday evenings. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Dance free in January! Loyola Elementary School, 770 Berry Ave. (near Foothill Expy & Springer), Los Altos. www.bowsandbeaus.org. Keith: 867-7715 or Mary: 650-941-3419 Caller/Instructor: Keith Ferguson.

February 3 – Saturday
“Six Degrees of Celebration,” the 16th Annual Gala Benefit for the Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose will be held at Villa Ragusa, 35 S. Second Street in Campbell from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets include live performance, dinner, and dancing to the music of Silicon Valley Houserockers, plus both silent and live auctions. Individual tickets are $150, Table sponsorships are $2,000 Black tie optional. For tickets call the Event Line at 288-5437 or email events@cmtsj.org.

February 3 – Saturday
Leigh High School Crab Fest 2007. Come on out to the Longhorn “Crab Shack” and help support the LHS Instrumental Music Program. Hours are 6 – 9 p.m. in the Leigh Cafeteria, 5210 Leigh Avenue, San Jose. Just $37.50 buys you all the fresh cracked Dungeness crab you can eat, or our mouth-watering 7 herb roasted chicken. Admission includes live jazz entertainment, a silent auction, door prizes and raffle. For more information, contact Eric or Jorey at 266-4670.

Ongoing
The South Bay Astrological Society meets at 1 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month at the Divine Science Community Center, 1540 Hicks Ave in San Jose. Come for refreshments and fellowship at 1 p.m.; Lecture starts at 1:30 p.m.. For more information call 512-1187 or visit www.southbayastrology.org The January 14 meeting features "Alchemical Antidotes by Carol Willis, M.A.  An astrological technique for insight and life healing."

San Jose Flycasters meet the second Wednesday of the month at Senior Citizens Center at the NE corner of Payne Avenue and Saratoga Avenue intersection in San Jose. On January 10, Jack Dennis, renown fly fisher, will tie flies beginning at 6:15 p.m., and present a program on Streamer Fly Fishing at the meeting, 7:20 p.m. San Jose Flycasters is a non-profit organization promoting the sport of fly fishing, education on fisheries and habitat preservation and restoration. Free and open to the public. Jim at (408) 278-7077; online: www.flycasters.org.
Humane Society Silicon Valley Companion Animal Loss Support Group Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Location: Humane Society Silicon Valley, 2530 Lafayette St., Santa Clara. Facilitator: Adam Dorsay, M.A. For more information, call 450-1800 or visit: www.hssv.org and click on Services and then Pet Loss. Meetings are free and open to the public.

The Hearing Loss Association of Silicon Valley meets on the third Wednesday of each month (except July and August) at the Moose Lodge, 1580 Hamilton Avenue in San Jose. Meetings begin at 12:30 p.m. Our mission is to improve the world of communication for people with hearing loss through information, education, support and advocacy. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 229-1041 or visit www.hearingloss.org.

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.