September 5, 2008

NEWS BRIEFS

Stimulus still available to retires and disabled veterans

Even though the tax day deadline has passed, it’s not too late for seniors or disabled veterans to claim their economic stimulus payment. To get a payment you must file a 2007 tax return by October 15, 2008. Payments will continue through the end of the year. That’s it.

About 5.2 million Social Security and Veteran’s Affairs retirees – over 21,000 in Santa Clara county – have not yet filed who are potentially eligible for a stimulus payment. They may not know they qualify, or think it is too late to get a payment. These folks normally don’t need to file a tax return, and some have not filed in several years. This year they must file a very simple 1040A tax form to receive their payment.

Minimum stimulus payments of $300 for individuals or $600 for married couples can be paid to those who received at least $3,000 from any combination of Social Security, Railroad Retirement or Veterans Affairs benefits, non-taxable combat pay, or a small amount of earned income.

Anyone can help family, friends, or their community by spreading the word that a 2007 tax return needs to be filed by October 15. The IRS will do the rest. Please visit www.irs.gov for details.

EBPA changes meeting place

The Evergreen Business & Professional Association has changed its meeting place. It’s Sept 17 meeting will be at El Patron, Canyon Creel Plaza, 5635 Silver Creek Valley Road.

Evergreen Business & Professional Association

The Evergreen Business & Professional Association (EBPA) invites all business owners/managers in the Evergreen area to attend its Wednesday, Sept. 17 mixer. The mixer will be from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Golden Hills business center in its conference room located at 2690 South White Road, San Jose. There will be a charge to cover dinner.

The guest speakers will be one of EBPA’s own members, Vince Songcayawon. He is President and Broker of Songs Realty & Invest-ment and he will speak on “How to Invest in Today’s Real Estate Market.” Additionally, Eric Ostgaar-den is the Branch Manager with Bank of the West and he will be speaking on “How to Better Protect Your Bank Accounts from Theft or Fraud.”

Anyone who has a business in Evergreen or lives in Evergreen but has a business elsewhere is invited to this very informative mixer. Please RSVP to Carla Evans at President@evergreenbusiness.net or ebpa@plazadental.com or Filomena Cota at filomena1961@comcast.net.

Children Moon Festival

The first HOI TET TRUNG THU - Children Moon Festival - will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at Cesar Chavez Park in downtown San Jose.

The festival aims to share the rich cultural facets of the Vietnamese tradition with the greater Bay Area community. It also serves as an enrichment opportunity for our youth and their families. Admission is free.

A full program, featuring ethnic dances, talent and karaoke contests, lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, traditional arts & crafts and bilingual story time culminates in a nighttime lantern procession. On-stage entertainment includes magic show. For the younger set, there will be face painting, balloon animals, and many different contests.

Viet-American Business group (VABG) and Vietnamese American Community of Northern California are coordinating the event.

Clean, Green Evergreen

A meeting will be held to plan a second vendor-resident solar showcase. This planning meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the gathering space at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 5111 San Felipe Rd., San Jose, 95135. The tentative date for this next showcase is Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

SilverCreek Sportsplex Open House

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept 6, SilverCreek Sportsplex will hold an open house. The whole family can experience the multiple activities available—hockey, soccer dance and more. See info@silvercreeksportsplex.com for activities schedule. The Sportsplex is located off of Hellyer Avenue at 800 Embedded Way.

EESD to discuss parcel tax ballot measure

Do you want to improve the quality of education in the Evergreen Elementary School District? At the next District 8 Community Round Table meeting, EESD representatives will discuss Measure T, a parcel tax measure that will be placed on the November general election ballot. If it passes, the parcel tax will be $90 per parcel of taxable real property beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009 for a period of five years. The money will be used to fund services including enhancing math and science instruction, restoring music and arts programs, maintaining safe school campuses, providing individual attention from teachers, and maintaining the kindergarten through third grade class size reduction programs.

Other featured topics for the upcoming meeting include an update from Involved Evergreen regarding the potential replacement for Lunardi’s in the Evergreen Village Square.

Everyone who lives or works in District 8 is invited to join the D8CRT, which focuses on issues of interest to the District 8 community. The next District 8 Community Round Table meeting will be held on Sept. 9 at the Evergreen Branch Library from 7:00-9:00 p.m. For more details on the D8CRT, visit www.d8crt.org.

Harvest Fair And Exposition

“An ole time country fair” will provide fun, food at Emma Prusch Farm Park on Saturday, Oct 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entertainment for the entire family includes usual food, pony rides, hay wagon rides, games, apple juice tasting, petting zoo and mariachi music.

Parking and admission to the park at 647 South King Road is free. For more information, visit www.pruschfarmpark.org or call 408.926.5555.

The fair is presented by the Prusch Farm Park Foundation.

Rotary Club of San Jose East / Evergreen

Fine wines, brews, delectables and desserts – that’s the fare for a Rotary charitable event on Sunday, Sept 14. Proceeds will benefit community and youth projects. The event will be at the Mexican Heritage Plaza at 1700 Alum Rock Road and King Road from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For information, contact Nick Leon at njleon@aol.com or call 408.966.5760 or Sara Calkins at calkins3@ix.vetcom.com.