March 1, 2007

NEWS BRIEFS

Mayor Chuck Reed to speak at LDS Know Your Neighbor dinner

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will be the keynote speaker at the second annual "Know Your Neighbor Dinner" sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 7 p.m., March 2 at 1336 Cherry Ave., in Willow Glen.

Reed is expected to speak on how neighborhood, faith-based and government leaders can assist him during his new administration at City Hall. There will be an open forum to ask questions. Many prominent local community leaders will attend the event including San Jose City Council members, and education, neighborhood, government and religious leaders.

Last year the LDS Church, located in the heart of Willow Glen, was filled with public-service leaders such as San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis and San Jose City Council members David Cortese and Forest Williams. Community and faith-based groups in attendance were Pastor Thomas Garner of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cambrian Park; Vahid Motazedian of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i Community of San Jose; Dennis King, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Ed Rast, chairman of United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County; Father Jose Rubio, with the Catholic Diocese of San Jose; Jim Zito, a member of the San Jose Planning Commission and the Rev. Nancy Schell with the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The dinner is free and an attempt by the San Jose LDS Church leadership to build bridges of friendship and understanding with the non-LDS community as well as provide services and assistance to Reed and others as they carry out programs that better the community.

Actor/Activist and MASH star Mike Farrell to sign copies of memoir at Barnes & Noble

Actor and activist Mike Farrell will stop by the Barnes & Noble located at 5353 Almaden Expressway on Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. for a special event highlighting the release of his brand new memoir, “Just Call Me Mike: A Journey from Actor To Activist.”

In the memoir Farrell describes his early years as a timid, reckless teenager in West Hollywood. He also chronicles his professional development from a young soap opera star on “Days of Our Lives” to the popular series “MASH” and successful motion pictures such as “Patch Adams.”

At the heart of his story, Farrell narrates his public struggle to be a responsible citizen of the world. From his firsthand accounts of the ravages of war and oppression in Cambodia, El Salvador, Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda and the Gaza Strip, to his tireless advocacy against capital punishment, to his deep commitment to environmental causes, Farrell portrays each of these experiences with passion, outrage and stubborn optimism.

Mike Farrell is perhaps best known for his eight years on “MASH” and five seasons on the drama “Providence.” He is also a writer, director and producer. As president of Death Penalty Focus, he speaks about, writes and coordinates efforts to stop executions. Opposed to the war in Iraq, he co-founded Artists United To Win Without War and was one of its primary spokespeople.

Peninsula Symphony piano competition to feature Almaden’s Tiffany Wang

Tiffany Wang

The five teenaged finalists in the 2007 Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition are specially selected finalists who are among some of the best pianists in the Bay Area, if not the nation. Already veteran competition winners, these pianists have won awards in local and national competitions. Their many hours of diligent practicing will culminate in an exciting day of competition on March 11 when all five will perform a challenging program of solo and concerto music in front of an esteemed jury of piano pedagogues and performers. The first prizewinner will receive a $1,000 check and an opportunity to perform with the Peninsula Symphony on April 1.

Leland High School student and Almaden Valley resident Tiffany Wang is one of the finalists.“I play to experience the beauty of the music,” said Wang. “I just like to hear it. But the actual mechanics of the piano is also a draw for me. Ever since I was young, I’ve liked to push buttons. My parents decided to funnel that interest into piano lessons.”

Whether it’s the beauty or the process, these piano students are very talented and extremely devoted to the art. You can watch them compete on Sunday, March 11 at Stanford’s Dinkelspiel Auditorium. The Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition is open to the public. Tickets are free and can be reserved at the Peninsula Symphony office at www.peninsulasymphony.org or (650) 941-5291.

Bonfante Gardens renamed Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park

Bonfante Gardens, Inc., a non-profit organization and California’s only horticultural theme park has announced it will undergo a corporate name change to Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. The name change will be transitioned throughout the park's seventh season opening March 31. 

Under recommendation by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, the park's management company, as well as their advertising agency, the park's board of directors unanimously agreed to rename the property Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. The repositioning is an opportunity to create more geographical awareness among our visitors and drive tourism to Gilroy and surrounding municipalities.

“We are excited about the new direction,” said Robert Kraemer, president and chairman of the board of directors. "While the park's name will change, our commitment to quality family entertainment and education will remain consistent."

Since many families turn to Gilroy Gardens for their child's first theme park experience, younger guests will enjoy Pit Stop Racer and Big Red Engine Co. Sized specifically for little ones, these new rides give children their first opportunity to get behind the wheel and ride alone in 2007.
 
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park opens for the 2007 season Saturday, March 31 at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.gilroygardens.org.