November 5, 2004

NEWS BRIEFS

East Valley YMCA offers Arthritis Aquatic Program

The Arthritis Foundation and the YMCA have co-developed an Arthritis Aquatic Program that offers relief to people with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. The class, offered at East Valley YMCA, 1975 S. White Rd., provides gentle motion and activities in water to help increase joint flexibility, range of motion, muscle strength and endurance.

Classes are ongoing and meet mornings, afternoons and evenings. The initial enrollment fee to join the YMCA is $100 for adults and $150 for families, with a monthly fee of $51 for adults and $75 for families. Call (408) 715-6500 for more information.

An Evergreen tradition

Don’t miss La Rochelle’s 26th annual Holiday Wine tasting

It’s that wonderful time of the year again when La Rochelle Winery welcomes the community to its twenty-sixth annual Holiday Wine tasting on Saturday, Nov. 27, and Sunday, Nov. 28, noon – 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Sample award-winning vintages, Daniel’s hot-mulled wine or VIP tasting for Club La Rochelle members. Start your holiday shopping with creative wine gift ideas or view local artists’ work from Karen Honaker and Judy Welsh. Meet Father Christmas or simply enjoy festive music from The Magnolia Jazz Band, Upstage Four Barbershop Quartet and the Continental Harmony Carolers. There’s kids face painting, too.

Tickets are $9 for adults, $3 for minors and children under 10 are free. Tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, call (408) 274-4000, www.lrwine.com.

Save the date

The Nutcracker performance comes to Evergreen

San Jose Youth Ballet brings the arts to Evergreen with a spectacular production of the Nutcracker Ballet performed in the new, state-of-the-art Evergreen Valley High School theatre on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.

Nearly 60 talented, pre-professional dancers ages 7-18 will join professional guest artists form Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley in a family-oriented production of the Nutcracker Ballet. The ballet is choreographed by Maggie Ferla and Xavier Ferla, co-directors of Dance Theatre International in San Jose as well as Maria LaMance, choreographer and Cristina McClelland, choreographer.

Tickets for the performance range from $18 to $25 with discounts available for children, seniors and groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets call (408) 274-7734. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Christmas Boutique benefits St. George Coptic Orthodox Church

The ladies of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church are sponsoring a Christmas Boutique benefiting the building fund for a new church. This event will be held on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27 in the Evergreen area at 4450 Terra Brava Pl. (off Nieman Bloulvard and Terrena Valley Road) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

In addition, the Christmas Boutique will be held in the Campbell area at St. George Church, 395 W. Rincon Ave. in Campbell (off Winchester) on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. For additional information call (408) 274-2401or visit the church’s Web site at www.stgeorgechurch.org.

County creates task force for homeless

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of a task force to develop a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness in Santa Clara County. The task force will focus on obtaining an accurate count of the chronically homeless population; discharge planning to prevent homelessness; outreach to and engagement of chronically homeless people; permanent housing with supportive services; and access to mainstream benefits and employment.

Task force members include two members of the board of supervisors, elected officials or designated representatives from each of the 15 cities and towns in the county and representatives from Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, Department of Correction, Social Services Agencies, Office of the Sheriff, Office of Affordable Housing, city of San Jose Homeless coordinator, chair of Santa Clara County Collaborative and someone who is or has been homeless.

The action was strongly supported by the Santa Clara County Collaborative on Affordable Housing and Homeless Issues, which includes more than 100 organizations that provide shelter and/or services to the homeless population.

The 10-year plan will build on the existing five-year Homelessness Continuum of Care Plan developed by the Collaborative, with special emphasis on solutions to chronic homelessness.

Shapell’s Montage Collection

Demand for new homes in Evergreen remains high

Similar to its successful grand opening in August, the second release of Shapell’s Montage Collection of two-story townhomes attracted home shoppers on Oct. 16 who bought 15 homes in two hours based on a lottery system. The townhomes, conveniently located in the Evergreen Hills master-planned community near Voltaire Street and Aborn Road, sold for $551,900 to $594,900.

Three townhome floor plans span from approximately 1,400 square feet to 1,578 square feet with two and three bedrooms, two and one-half baths and two-car attached garages. Every home showcases Shapell’s attention to detailing and excellent standard features. The striking architecture, featuring courtyard entries, gives this neighborhood a distinct look all its own.

Evergreen Hills is 1,000 acres with 3,000 planned homes and 160,000 square feet of commercial space. For more information, call (408) 274-3461, or visit the Web site at: www.Shapell.com.