March 20, 2008

NEWS BRIEFS

Workshop on addiction, hepatitis, HIV, mental health issues

Maranatha Christian Center will hold a one-day workshop on Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for adults, teens, faith-based personnel, pastors, church leaders, doctors, social workers and nurses covering the overlapping issues of addiction, hepatitis, HIV and mental health.

The workshop "Bringing It All Together" will address the role of drugs as a precursor to many of these diseases and the application of creative prevention measures, including routine screening for diseases, to engage community members living with these problems.

By the end of the sessions, participants will have the tools to apply harm reduction techniques and risk assessment methods, better understand myths among youth related to these medical diseases and learn about resources and other concerns regarding youth and adults.

The event will be held at the Maranatha Christian Center, 1811 South 7th Street. Space is limited and those attending are asked to RSVP by March 25 online at www.maranathacc.com. Admis-sion is free and breakfast and lunch will be provided. The event is co-sponsored by: Blackwomens health.com, NAMI Santa Clara County and the Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.

For more information, call (408) 280-7729.

Venture Christian Church sponsors egg hunt

There will be an Easter egg hunt for children in District 10 on Saturday, March 22 at Jeffrey Fontana Park, the corner of McAbee and Golden Oak Way, at 1:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Venture Christian Church and has asked Councilmember Nancy Pyle to be a special guest. She will deliver a brief welcome to the community and help kick off this year’s HUNT event. Join Venture Christian Church for a fun community adventure!  Bring the family and hang out while the kids hunt for colored eggs, filled with candy and prizes.

For more information, please contact Sarah Berrett at 268-1870 or 529-0756.

Great Silicon Valley Caper coming

The Great Silicon Valley Caper, a unique limousine scavenger hunt organized by EMQ Children & Family Services to fund addiction prevention programs in local schools, is scheduled for Sunday April 27 from 2 to 7 p.m.

While limo teams of eight sleuths are competing to solve clues at top-secret sites around San Jose, they'll be raising money to educate kids about the dangers of pill swapping and alcohol abuse. Limos are available at the $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000 levels. The Great Silicon Valley Caper ends at the Hayes Mansion with delicious food, a live auction and prizes awarded to the winners.

EMQ Children & Family Services helps kids in crisis. The private nonprofit is nationally recognized for innovative, family-centered programs that help children recover from issues such as severe depression, thoughts of suicide, or drug abuse.

Proceeds benefit EMQ Children & Family Services' Addiction Prevention Services, which educates children and families about the dangers of adolescent drug and alcohol use, prescription pill swapping, and other unhealthy behavior choices. EMQ's program includes counseling for children exhibiting high-risk behaviors and for families that have a parent in recovery.

EMQ also has planned a general meeting on Monday, April 7, 9:30 a.m. with guest speaker, Dr. Lisa Cullins. She will talk about the children EMQ supports through its Almaden Unicorn Thrift Shop. This meeting will be at the Joint Venture Church on Camden Avenue.

On Monday, June 2 the Unicorn thrift Shop will hold its installation luncheon of new officers for 2008-2009. It’s also the group’s 15th anniversary serving the Almaden community. For more information, call (408) 364-4113.

Church sponsors Adventures in the Arts

Steve Kritzer, a seasoned performer, award winning songwriter and multi-instrumentalist well known in the Bay Area, will be the featured performer at the Almaden Adventures in the Arts musical series Saturday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Joint Venture Churches of Almaden, 6581 Camden Ave.

Kritzer is as comfortable with Celtic and bluegrass as he is with country, rock, big band swing and traditional folk, blending these influences in his own style with a warm, personable stage presence and amazingly diverse musical talents. His CDs continue to get regular airplay on both sides of the Atlantic.

“His hands are around his guitar and his arms are around the audience,” said Radio KEEN’s Lynn Scheinberg.
For ticket information call (408) 268-0243.

Care in Crisis meeting to discuss humor

“Enhancing Our Lives With Humor” is the light-hearted topic of Vivian Silva at the second in a series of free seminars dealing with “Care in Crisis” on March 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 6581 Camden Ave.

Pat Dando kicked off the seminar series on March 10 with a talk on “Stroke Awareness.”

Upcoming programs include “Hospice Care” on April 14, and “Emergencies -- What to Do and How to Do it” by Bonnie McPhearson on April 31.

For further information call 268-0843.

Owl chapter to hold meeting May 10

The Santa Clara County Chapter of the Older Women's League (OWL) will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday May 10 at the Community Room of the Cypress Gardens Housing Complex, 3555 Judro Way, behind the Cypress Senior Center.

This 10 a.m. meeting will feature speaker, Jay Laefer, vice chair of the Santa Clara American Civil Liberties Union. He will speak on Citizen Rights, what the ACLU and we can do to protect and defend our rights. All are invited to attend.

MetroED’s Upcoming World Garden workshop offers citrus growing tips

Learn about growing citrus at Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s (MAEP) new free-of-charge World Garden Workshop on April 5, at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave, San Jose.

Master Gardener Nancy Garrison will teach gardeners of all skill levels, the basics of Growing Citrus. Garrison has been growing citrus and 50 other types of fruit in her local garden for more than 28 years. Garrison has extensive gardening knowledge and founded the UC Master Gardener program in 1982. In addition, she is the chair for the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers and has been involved in the International Rare Fruit Orchard at Emma Prusch Farm Park for the past 25 years.

The free workshop will be held, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Erikson Adult Center auditorium. The World Garden is located on the southwestern edge of the Erikson Adult Center campus. Look for the redwood trees and the greenhouse roof after entering the fenced parking lot on Minas Drive, off Pearl Avenue.

To register for the free workshop, call (408) 723-6450 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask to have your name added to the April World Garden Workshop list, or e-mail your name and phone number to ritab@metroed.net. Sign up early, space is limited.

MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult career technical, academic and community programs.

It annually provides more than 30,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Santa Clara County.