June 10, 2004

NEWS BRIEFS

Almaden artists exhibit at AVA Artfest at Triton

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

Four Almaden artists entered their works at the annual Alliance of Visual Artists (AVA) Artfest at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara. Showing their works at the June 4-6 show were Chandra Agrawal, Cindy Blain, Nick Fedrick and Diana Leone. Blain won an award of excellence for her watermedia painting entitled “Carry On” and an award of merit for her water color “Pavillion.” Fedrick won an award of merit for his photograph, “Bodie Chapel, Bodie State Historical Park.”

The art festival, which has been in existence for nine years, is designed as a chance for new and established artists to show their artwork to the public. The show is not just designed for the artists, but it’s also a chance for the public to view affordable original works of art.

Among the various mediums were oil and acrylic, watercolor, photography, sculpture and pottery. The best of show was a photograph done by Willow Glen artist Thomas Thackrey and the purchase award, the one piece of art the gallery buys, was an acrylic done by Clark Gussin, also from Willow Glen.

“The mission of AVA is to provide and create a venue for new and emerging and established artists, to bring them together and to mentor them,” said Jan York, co-chair of this year’s event. “We keep the festival as simple as possible, but we want to be able to help new artists especially to show their work and take advantage of this event.”

Metropolitan Adult Education Program to hold annual graduation

The Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) will hold its annual graduation on June 15, at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Education District campus located at 760 Hillsdale Avenue, San Jose.

“I believe our graduation is the most heartfelt graduation because students must complete all of the requirements that all other California graduates need to complete. They do this by juggling families and jobs, so our admiration goes out to all of our MAEP 2004 graduates,” MAEP Principal Nancy Arnold said.

MetroED Governing Board President Henri Zander, representing Campbell Union High School District and board member Rich Garcia, representing San Jose Unified School District, will present high school diplomas to more than 65 adult graduates.

For more information on the MAEP graduation, contact Michelle Alaimo at (408) 723-6464.

Next AVCA meeting June 14 to address Bioscience Incubators

The Almaden Valley Community Association will feature speaker Ruani Weerakoon, the Community Development coordinator for the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, at the next meeting, Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. Weerakoon will discuss the Bioscience Incubators Business Development in South San Jose.

The meeting will be held at the McDonalds Restaurant (back room), at 5925 Almaden Expressway (at McAbee).

For more Information, Contact: LDimmitt@aol.com or visit www.avca-sj.org.

National Day of Mourning for President Reagan observed this Friday, June 11;
government offices closed

There will be a National Day of Mourning on Friday, June 11 in remembrance of former President Ronald Reagan, who died last Friday at the age of 93. The national funeral service at Washington National Cathedral will be televised at 8:30 a.m.

Many federal and state government offices will be closed on Friday. There will be no mail service and the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed. However, county offices, schools, banks and libraries in Santa Clara County will remain open and garbage collection will offer regular service.