April 7, 2007

CALENDAR

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

DANCE

April 22 – Sunday
sjDANCEco presents their 5th Annual Dancin' Downtown event.  This free event takes place at the Circle of Palms in the Fairmont Plaza in honor of "National Dance Week."   More than 30 dance groups will participate including special guest Moving Arts Dance. 

MUSIC

April 12 – Thursday
The Big Benefit for Denis Erectus  7:30 p.m. at The Saddle Rack, 42011 Boscell Rd at Auto Mall Parkway in Fremont (510) 979-0477. Featuring Y&T and Friends (Hard Rockin') Eric Martin (Acoustic Duo), Just Truckin'(Rockin’ Blues) Full Throttle (Classic Rock). With Guest Emcee Greg Kihn, and maybe some surprises, who knows? Five Newly Remastered Erectus Show CDs Available! Tickets $20 at the door or in advance at www.thesaddlerack.com Please spread the word and pass this onto everyone you can think of.  We really have a good chance to raise a lot of money with this awesome line-up! Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.
 
THEATER

March 24 – April 22
Get ready to eavesdrop on one of the most famous meetings in recent history. Russell Lees’ “Nixon’s Nixon” is about the imagined conversation of the secret meeting between President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger on the night before Nixon resigns his presidency. This staging is directed by Michael Butler, the Artistic Director of Center Rep in Walnut Creek. The San Jose Repertory Theatre is located at 101 Paseo de San Antonio in San Jose. Tickets are available at the San Jose Rep Box Office or can be purchased online at www.SJRep.com or by calling 367-7255.

April 7 – 29
San Jose Stage Company presents Jules Feiffer’s Obie Award-winning satire, “The White House Murder Case,” directed by Ray Garrett. Debuting off-Broadway in 1970, this political satire still resonates with its strangely familiar story of a President engaged in an increasingly unpopular war. As he and his Cabinet try to put a positive spin on a poison gas attack gone wrong, not to mention a murder in the Oval Office, the situation careens out of control, with hilariously lethal results. Previews of “The White House Murder Case” begin at The Stage, 490 South First Street, San Jose, on April 4-5, at 7:30 p.m. and on April 6, at 8 p.m. The Gala Opening is on April 7; at 8 p.m. Performances continue Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through April 29, 2007.

April 20 – May 5
"Jake’s Women," Neil Simon’s popular comedy and one of his later works, is being presented by Center Stage Productions, at the San Jose Center for Spiritual Living, 1195 Clark St. in San Jose. Resident Director, Bryan Freeman is directing and local actor Matt Singer will star as Jake. "Jake’s Women" is a comic psychological look at the complications in modern relationships. Novelist Jake finds writing about life is easier than living it and further complicates his own life through his fantasy world of relationships with the women in his life. Flashbacks, fantasy, and “real time” incidents intertwine to produce hilarious results. Tickets are $15, $12 for senior citizens 65+, and $20 for the Champagne Opening Night Gala. For directions or to purchase tickets, please call our Box Office at 284-1828 x116.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

March 30 – April 30
In celebration of the life of César Chávez, the Mexican Heritage Plaza will be hosting a month-long schedule of events - The César Chávez Festival de Bellas Artes . Coordinated with Chávez Family Vision of San José, these events will involve the active participation of Chávez family members, including César’s sister, Rita Chávez Medina.  She will Co-Chair the event with District 5 Councilmember Nora Campos and San José Mayor Chuck Reed. These events begin with The 6th Annual Commemorative Breakfast held on 3/30 in the Pavilion (indoor/outdoor) at the Mexican Heritage Plaza from 8 - 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 at the door or call 928-5563. On 3/31 the Annual César Chávez March will commence at 10 a.m. at Mexican Heritage Plaza and will end by returning to the Plaza, culminating with a concert at noon. For additional information on the planned events, call 408 928 5563 or visit www.mhcviva.org

April 3 – 30
To celebrate National Poetry Month in April, the Campbell Public Library is having a Teen Poetry Contest. One Middle School and one High School winner will each receive a $25.00 cash prize. Beginning April 3, each student may submit up to three original poems (no longer than 30 lines). The deadline for entering is April 30. Entry forms will be available at either the Children's or the Adult Reference desks, or online at www.santaclaracountylib.org starting on April 3.

April 7 – Saturday
The Evergreen Community Center will be hosting its first "Spring Family Fun Day", at Evergreen Park, 4860 San Felipe Rd., San Jose. We will be having an Egg Hunt, and Flea Market, and a variety of Children's activities and games. These activities will help raise funds to continue programs for children and older adults in the community.

April 7 – Saturday
Evergreen Valley Church is hosting a free community Easter Egg Hunt for children at Boggini Park (located at Remington & Millbrook) beginning at 1:30 p.m. Everything is free; prizes, photos with the Easter bunny, children's activities, snacks and refreshments.

April 7 – Saturday
Gilroy Premium Outlets and The Kids Supercenter will be hosting a Storytime Adventures with the Easter Bunny event from 1-3 p.m. Bring your children or grandchildren to enjoy stories of the Easter Bunny and Springtime fun. The Easter Bunny will be greeting children and handing out free treats.  In addition, parents are invited to bring a camera to take photos of their children with the Easter Bunny. For more information, call the management office at 842-3732.

April 15, 22 , 29 & May 6 & 13
Free Parenting Teenagers & Adolescents Class. This is a five-week video based course on how to parent teenagers based on the teachings of Dr. Les & Leslie Parrott. The class will meet from 10:45am to 12:15am on Sunday morning at Evergreen Valley Church located at 2750 Yerba Buena Road.  For more information contact the church office at 274-7422.

April 20 – May 5
The Tabard Theatre Company, now in its sixth season, presents “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” a stage adaptation of the hugely popular story by Roald Dahl, at the historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose. Adding another personal experience to the evening, the audience will be invited during intermission to take a tasty trip through Tabard’s own Chocolate Factory. This will feature products from Charlie’s Cheesecakes, along with Golden Ticket cookies, chocolate bars and other scrumptious delights. EHC LifeBuilders is this production’s designated non-profit to receive a portion of the show’s concession proceeds. Tickets are $22 general, $10 for youth 17 and under. Senior/ adult student discounts are available. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call the Tabard Box Office, 679-2330 to purchase or visit http://www.tabardtheatre.org for more information.

April 22 – Sunday
Earth Day Fair - St. Julie Billiart Parish, 366 St. Julie Drive, San Jose. Hours are 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Information Booths, Children's Crafts, Continuous showing of “An Inconvenient Truth” 4 p.m. Keynote Speaker:  John Farley, NBC11 Chief Meteorologist-A Discussion on Global Warming 5 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner.  Adults $8, Children 12 and under $3.  All proceeds go towards the purchase of efficient energy sources for St. Julie's Church.

April 28 – Saturday
Evergreen Valley United Methodist Church invites our neighbors to join us in an evening of fun at our second annual auction.  Five dollars will buy you a delicious dessert and an auction paddle.  You will have an opportunity to bid on time shares, progressive dinners, an authentic Filipino dinner, home-baked pastries, wood sculptures, artwork, and specialty items. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and auction starts at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Valley United Methodist Church, 3520 San Felipe Road. Fort more information, call 238-7631.

Ongoing
Youth Science Institute is taking registrations now for their Summer Science Camps! Designed for children ages 3 ½ to 14, there are over 35 camps to choose from. Camps include Bugology, Mighty Forest, Science Sleuths and Wild Wonders, just to name a few. Children enjoy the wonders of science and the natural world with hands-on projects, experiments, crafts, hikes and games. Camp fees range from $130 to $205 per week. Camps start the week of June 18th and run through August 17th 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 the YSI Centers in Alum Rock and Sanborn. Classes fill up quickly, so call 356-4945 today for more information or to register.
Summer is the time for California Theatre Center’s exciting and educational Summer Theatre Conservatory Program. Based in Sunnyvale, California Theatre Center (CTC) has offered its hands-on theatre Conservatories for ages 8 and up for over twenty years. By popular demand CTC now offers 2-week-long, half-day/ morning Junior Conservatories for ages 6-8. Registrations are currently being accepted at 245-2979. CTC’s regular Summer Conservatory is a three-week-long intensive workshop for young people ages 8 and up (must turn 8 by July 1, 2007) who are interested in developing and improving theatre skills. Conservatory students will work directly under the supervision of professional CTC company members to produce and act in their own production, culminating in public performances at the end of their Conservatory session. Conservatories are held from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm five days a week at a number of locations throughout the South Bay including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Saratoga and Los Altos. For more information about CTC Summer Conservatory dates and locations visit our web site at www.ctcinc.org. To register your child, call 408-245-2979.

FIFTY PLUS

February 1 – April 14
A free tax preparation program is available to assist seniors (ages 50-plus) and lower income clients with tax returns. Tax Aide volunteers will answer basic tax issues and assist clients with tax preparation. This year, all taxpayers regardless of income, can request a one-time telephone tax refund and receive an extra $30 - $60 on their return. This service is offered by the City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, Office on Aging/Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in conjunction with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To schedule an appointment or to find out more information about the program, please contact the RSVP Volunteer Tax-Aide Program at the Office on Aging at 979-7906. Participating locations include: Evergreen Library, 2635 Aborn Road, each Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and The Eastside Neighborhood Center, 2159 Alum Rock Avenue, each Monday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ongoing
Attention recently retired or semi retired men! Sons in retirement (SIRS) meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Elks Club, 444 West Alma in San Jose for lunch. Join us for good food, great speakers and the chance to meet new friends. SIRS has many activities including bowling, golf computer clubs. SIRS has no initiation fees or dues. If you are interested come to one of the Branch 94 luncheons or call Ron Bianco at 267-0386
The Evergreen Community Center, 4860 San Felipe Road in San Jose offers a variety of classes and special monthly events, as well as a Senior Nutrition Program. The Nutrition Program serves a delicious and well-balanced meal to seniors 60 and over every Monday – Friday at noon. The suggested donation is $2 per person. To make reservations at least one day in advance, but not more than two weeks in advance, call 270-1244. For more information of the Evergreen Community Center programs, call 270-2220.

Eastside Neighborhood Center of Catholic Charities, 2150 Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose offers a variety of activities and services for seniors on an ongoing basis. These include Bingo, Free legal assistance, Senior club dancing, Senior Care Advocacy, Nutrition Programs, Nurse Screenings, Free Insurance Screenings, and more. Call for times and appointments. 251-0215.

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.

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.

VOLUNTEERS

April 12 – Thursday
Hospice of the Valley is seeking volunteers with a variety of skills for patient, family and client services, grief support, community outreach, fundraising programs and office support. Comprehensive training and orientation commences April 12th. For more information, call the Director of Volunteer Services at 408.559.5600 or email request@hospicevalley.org.

Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, www.wcsv.org, seeks Center and home care volunteers to care for injured and orphaned wildlife for release back to the wild. Volunteer opportunities include:  animal care, board work, construction, database/office management, educational outreach, event planning, facilities planning, fundraising, graphic design, landscaping/gardening, volunteer coordinator. The Wildlife Center, located in San Jose, has an active and enthusiastic corps of volunteers committed to welcoming and training new supporters.  Join us in caring for local wildlife.  Email Patricia Abreu at patricia@wcsv.org or call (408) 929-WILD (9453) for orientation dates.

MISCELLANEOUS

April 21 – Saturday
The University of California, Berkeley, is holding its annual open house -- Cal Day – from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This all-day event is open to everyone, including youngsters who want to see a giant T. rex skeleton, adults who want to explore campus museums, and sports fans wanting to cheer on the Bears. Campus tours via a motorized cable car will be offered throughout the day. The open house also will feature lectures about ground-breaking research, performances by the Cal Band, and much more, most of it free. A complete schedule of Cal Day activities will be online by April 1 at: http://calday.berkeley.edu/. For more information, call (510) 642-2294.

April 22 – Sunday
Come Hike with Sierra Singleaires The group will meet at the Palo Alto Park and Ride, on Page Mill Road near 280, at 11:45 a.m. The hike will be at the Arastradero Preserve. This is free event. Call 493-7567 for information

Ongoing
May 1 - Tuesday
Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women- San Jose for women who have completed two full years from an accredited college or university. Applicants must reside in Milpitas, Campbell, San Jose, or Santa Clara, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants will need to show proof of enrollment in a four-year institution. Re-entry women are encouraged to apply if they have been out of college two or more years, and are returning as a junior. Grants are based on significance of academic goals; scholastic achievements; merits of the application; and an interview with the Local Scholarship Committee. Applications are now available online at www.aauwsanjose.org or by contacting Edie Kerr, Local Scholarship Chair, AAUW-San Jose, 40 Palomar Real, Campbell, CA 95008. Email is ekerr@strannik.com. The application deadline is May 1, 2007

May 19 - Saturday
The James Lick High School Class of 1987 20th Reunion is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at A.P. Stumps in San Jose. All details at jameslick1987.myevent.com or contact Lori at 408-568-1329.

September 15 - Saturday
Leland High School Class of 1987 20th Reunion - held at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Montgomery, 211 South First Street in San Jose. For hotel reservations call 1-866-823-0530. See www.classmates.com for more information, or contact Cynthia Bradley @ cwatt12@yahoo.com Other weekend activities also planned.

Artists Sought for Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival: The Almaden Valley Women’s Club Festival is seeking fine artists to display and sell their art at the 31st annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival. The festival is scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2007 at Almaden Lake Park in San Jose. This is a world-class, juried fine art event. Last year over 20,000 people attended this premier festival and over 40 artists were represented. If you are interested in showing your handmade original art or crafts, visit the festival website for guidelines and an application, http://www.almadenwine.com/artists.htm or email art@almadenwine.com.

The Ranch Golf Club Restaurant hosts Friday Night Dinners from 5 – 9 p.m. The Dinners are a la carte and reservations are recommended. For more information, call Kathrine Moss at 531-3047.

The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center will be hosting Women’s Movie Night every third Thursday of the month. The evening starts with socializing at 6 p.m. followed by the movie at 7p.m. with LCD large-screen projection with digital quality. Bring your favorite snacks to enjoy during the movie and the socialization. Contact the DeFrank Center at 293-3040 for more information.

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. All meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, call Jim at 278-7077; online: www.flycasters.org. San Jose Flycasters is a non-profit organization promoting the sport of fly fishing, education on fisheries and habitat preservation and restoration.

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.

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, and our weekly publication, Almaden Times Weekly. Items must be submitted by e-mail 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 Rd., Suite 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.