March 26, 2009

Calendar of local events

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

DANCE

April 4
The Flamenco Society of San Jose presents a “Juerga” or community performance, at the Hoover Theater at 7 p.m.: This performance will mark the Flamenco Society’s first Juerga of the year and will feature a great cast of dancers, singers & musicians, including the three remarkable flamenco dancers; Adela, Rubina and Patty. This event is full of fun and passion, and we encourage audience participation.  We always include aspiring students, as well as music and dance from other cultures, with specials guests performing Argentinean Tango. Admission is $14 general/ $12 students and seniors.  The Hoover Theater is located at 1635 Park Avenue in San Jose. Reserve tickets by calling 510-792-8355 or email flamencos@earthlink.net or purchase admission at the door on event date. Visit www.theflamencosociety.org for more information.

South Bay Boating Opening Day April 4 at 441 Seaport in Redwood City: This is the 71st year of the event and it is the official boating opening day. The public is invited to join the Port of Redwood City and South Bay Yacht Clubs for the 2009 opening day. This year’s theme is “Legends of the Bay” to tie in with the North Bay Opening Day theme “Legends of the Sea”. Most activities, other than meals, are free to the public. The highlight of the festival will be at 10:30 a.m. with the Decorated Boat Parade and Blessing of the Fleet. This will take place at the observation deck of the Port of Redwood City (next to the Sequoia Yacht Club parking lot on Seaport Boulevard). Spectators will vote for their favorite decorated boat to determine who will receive the coveted “Spectators Choice Award”. A US Coast Guard cutter and the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington will be available for walk-on tours. The tall ships will be in the port of Redwood City for their annual visit, with public sails and a new “Tours Aloft” adventure to the highest yard on the mainmast ($20 donation)! Visit their website for additional details – www.historicalseaport.org. All those with sailboats, powerboats, jet skies, canoes and kayaks are all invited to participate in the parade in support of this community event. For additional event information and registration for the boat parade, go to www.southbayopeningday.org or call the Sequoia Yacht Club at 650-361-9472. Pictured: Tall Ships Lady Washington (left) and Hawaiian Chieftain will be available for tours during the South Bay Boating Opening Day on April 4 at the port of Redwood City. Photo by: Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority

THEATER

March 8 – Apr. 12
Murder Mystery Players presents “Murder By Mischance,” a hilarious new whodoneit interactive murder mystery staged at Scott’s Seafood in San Jose. Playing on Sundays at 2 p.m., this fun-filled performance includes dinner as well as the interactive performance. Audience members have a chance to win prizes and guess who did what to whom. Tickets are $60.00 per person, tax and gratuity included, parking validated in building. Scott’s Seafood is located at 185 Park Avenue, 6th Floor, San Jose. To make reservations for this hilarious evening of murder mystery and audience participation, call Scott¹s Seafood at (408) 971-1700. Reservations are required, as seating is limited.

April 1 – 26
San Jose Stage Company presents “Always...Patsy Cline”, Ted Swindley’s acclaimed musical tribute to one of country music’s perennial icons. The production features Judith Miller and Mare Shell and is based on the true story of Pasty’s emerging friendship with loyal fan Louise Seger – one that lasted until her untimely death. Many of Patsy’s unforgettable hits – “Crazy” I fell To Pieces,” and Sewwt Dreams” add a sense of authenticity to this delightful production. All performances staged at The Stage, 490 South First Street in downtown San Jose. Tickets are $25 – $50 and may be ordered by phone at 283-7142 or online at www.thestage.org.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

April 4
Pioneer High School, 1290 Blossom Hill Rd., is having an Art Showcase and Auction from 1 – 4 p.m. in the High School PAC.  It is an opportunity for the community to view and purchase paintings, drawings, multimedia art and sculptures made by our very talented Pioneer art students.  Entrance fees includes: access to the event, a color catalog, entertainment, refreshments and appetizers. Adults $10, students $5, family $25 (parents & their children).  All proceeds benefit the Pioneer High School Education Foundation. To learn more visit phsef.pioneerhigh.org/artshow/

April – May
Jr. Rangers Open for Spring Enrollment: Explore the Santa Clara County park system’s wildlife habitats and cultural history as a Jr Park Ranger. These free programs run every four-weeks and meet once a week for 2 hours. Participants receive a free tee-shirt, water bottle and activity guide. Participants who complete the program are invited to the optional Jr. Ranger Camp out. The 9 – 11 age group takes hikes, play games and participate in nature-based activites. For more information, visit www.parkhere.org/jr.rangers or contact Janet Shriner at 846-5632.

Ongoing
There is still space available at Peninsula Youth Theatre’s summer camp program but spaces are filling fast! Our students not only act but also design and construct the sets, props and costumes. At the end of each of the two camp session, students participate in a free, public performance for family, friends and the community. The cost is $400 for the two week session which is held in the Mountain View and Saratoga area for ages 6-14 from June 15th to August 15th Monday through Friday. We offer a 45 minute mini camp for students ages 3.5 -8 at our studio in Mountain View. These classes are for a month, once a week and the cost is $77. Visit our  website at www.pytnet.org  for more information and to register online or call 650- 988-8798 with questions.

CLASSES

Why let the children have all the fun? There is still room available in Hands On Clay Classes for Adults.These small, hand-building classes are held on Wednesday mornings 9-10:30, and Thursday evenings 7-8:30 in the teacher’s studio in Almaden. All materials, kiln firings, use of tools and glazes are included in the fee ($100 /4 classes). For more information call 679-0238.

VOLUNTEERS

April 9
Change a life through literacy: Vision Literacy, a nationally recognized and accredited adult literacy program, invites you to attend its upcoming volunteer orientation to learn about tutoring opportunities in your community. The event will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Campbell Library, 77 Harrison Ave. To register or learn more, contact 262-1349 or info@visionliteracy.org. Come learn how you can change a life by teaching an adult to read!

FIFTY-PLUS

Ongoing
Welcome Wagon Chapter #3: Women’s Social Group features the following activities Golf, Tennis, Hiking, Bridge, Canasta, Pinochle, Luncheons, Movies, Antiques, Book Club, etc. For more information please email Gail at  gailmagg@aol.com Or call Veronika at 559-3734

MISCELLANEOUS

March 27
CCOC to Hold 40th Annual Open House: Celebrate 40 years of career technical education at Central County Occupational Center’s (CCOC) annual Open House. The community is invited to tour and observe hands-on student demonstrations and presentations throughout CCOC, located at 760 Hillsdale Avenue, San Jose. CCOC’s staff and student tour guides will be on hand to welcome parents, other students, businesses and community members to tour classes and observe hands-on student demonstrations throughout the campus from 8-10 a.m., 1-3 p.m., and 6-8:30 p.m. CCOC’s Culinary Arts and Baking & Catering Programs will offer a complimentary bowl of chili for visitors who stop by the cafeteria between 5 and 6 p.m. (while supplies last). CCOC-a unit of MetroED-offers more than 30 different technical training courses such as Veterinary Assisting, Fire Science/First Responder, Law Enforcement, Electrical Maintenance, Computer Technology Careers, Animation, Baking & Catering, Culinary Arts, Auto Body Refinishing, Auto Brakes & Alignment, and Interior Design.

March 28
Humane Society Silicon Valley Open House. Come see the Bay Area’s first environmentally “green” Animal Community Center that features cage-less animal care and a full spectrum of pet and community services under one roof! Event time is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Humane Society Silicon Valley’s new Animal Community Center, 901 Ames Avenue, Milpitas. More information can be found at: www.hssv.org

March 29
The Branham High School Helping Humanity Club will be holding a Charity Ball event at the Decathlon Club, 3250 Central Expressway, Santa Clara from 5 – 9 p.m. The Charity Ball will benefit the Helping Humanity Club’s goal of sustaining an impoverished village in Kenya, Africa. Tickets are only $50, and include an elegant evening with a 3-course pasta dinner, live music and talented student performances. To order tickets or for more information please visit www.helpinghumanityclub.com or call 221-4239.

March 30
Spa R&R at 1345 Lincoln Avenue in San Jose, will be having a free monthly support group at 7 p.m. for women with Breast Cancer.  Beginning in March, we will have MDs come in to speak on subjects such as Reconstructive Surgery, Nutrition, Chiropractic care, Relaxation and Hypnotherapy.  Our first guest speaker is on March 30, and will be Dr. Katherine Sutherland from Women Physicians, herself a Breast Cancer survivor of 13 years.  This conference will be one of many throughout the year held at Spa R&R on women’s health. We ask that attendees please bring in a frozen pot pie or canned goods for our Martha’s Kitchen Food Drive.  Martha’s Kitchen, located at 311 Willow Street, is a non-profit, interfaith, community dining room feeding the hungry poor with dignity since 1981.  As space is limited, please e-mail RSVPs to violet@sparandr.com or call at 408-297-4899 to sign up. 

March 31
The Civil War Round Table of the South Bay will hear Brad Schall discuss the political climate in California during the Civil War period.  Slavery in California?  Come here just how crucial was the question in our fair state so long ago. Our speaker will begin by 7:15 p.m., so, come meet us and listen for free before receiving our newsletter if you wish.  Come earlier if you will order dinner at Holder’s Country Inn, 998 South De Anza Blvd - cross street Highway 85.  Check our web site, sbcwrt.org, for plenty of more CW information.  Contact Bill Noyes at 408 374- 1541 for more information.

April 4
The San Jose Chinese School presents Modern Dance Award recipient, Bih Tau Sung. Sung will be giving a speech at the San Jose Chinese School, located at Leland High School, from 9 to 10 a.m. Bih Tau is a former principle dancer of Cloud Gate Theatre of Taiwan.   She is now a San Jose resident.  Bih Tau founded Dancing Sun Foundation – DSF - 10 years ago, and has presented many outstanding performance. Bih Tau’s “Still Lighting” will be staged at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on April 26 at 4 p.m.

Ongoing
Call for Artists: Tapestry Arts, San Jose’s oldest and largest downtown arts festival, is now accepting applications for its 34th annual arts festival. This outdoor event will be held over Labor Day Weekend, September 5-7, 2009. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 30, 2009. Artists can submit applications in one of two ways: by mail or online. Application fees are $15 for Santa Clara County residents and $20 for nonresidents. Entry forms are available by calling 408 494 3590 or at www.tapestryarts.org.


HAVE AN ITEM FOR OUR CALENDAR?
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, Fifty Plus, and our weekly publication, Almaden Times Weekly. Items must be submitted by email 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 Road, Ste. 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.