August 11, 2005

NEWS BRIEFS

Silicon Valley Young Republicans to hold All-American BBQ/Picnic Saturday

The members of Silicon Valley Young Republicans Federation will hold their annual All-American BBQ/Picnic this Saturday, Aug. 13.

Several well known Republicans will speak at the event, including former Congressman Ernie Konnyu, former mayor of Saratoga Don Wolfe and a representative from Assemblyman Abel Maldonado’s office.

The event takes place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sanborn County Park-Skyline, 16055 Sanborn Rd, in Saratoga. Tickets are $20 a person, $30 a couple, $5 for YR, College Republican, RNHA, or Reagan Club members. Contact svyreps@yahoo.com for information and reservations or mail checks to: SVYRF, 65 Washington Street, Suite #129. Santa Clara, CA 95050. Call (408) 243-4761 for more information.

Ravi Balu commissioned as Air Force second lieutenant

Ravi Balu has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Officer Training School (OTS) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.

OTS is a demanding 12-week course designed to train cadets to be top quality Air Force officers. The course’s extensive curriculum is comprised of classroom work, lectures, and exercises to develop leadership, team building, and officer skills. They receive instruction in military training and application, professional knowledge, human behavior, defense studies, leadership studies and management, communication skills, physical fitness, and field training exercises.

The new lieutenant will attend navigator training at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Balu is the son of Neal Balu of Green Bay, Wis., and Shanta Balu of Almaden Valley. He is a 1998 graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, and a 2002 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. In 2004, he received a master’s degree from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Almaden Valley Counseling Service to offer parent
education classes and caregivers support group

Save the date: Almaden Times Classic Oct. 9

The Almaden Valley Counseling Service is offering parent-education classes beginning in October. To be on the list to receive notification about the next classes, send an e-mail to staff@avcounseling.org or call (408) 997-0200.

The AVCS Geriatric Advisory Program will be offering a six-week Caregivers Support Group starting Aug. 23. The group offers caregiver resources, support, education and interaction with other caregivers. The group will meet Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The fee is $85. For more info or to register call Program Coordinator Vivian Silva at 975-2988 or e-mail vivsilva@aol.com.

All classes and support groups meet at AVCS- 6529 Crown Blvd. Suite D, San Jose.

Save the Date for the 12th annual Almaden Times Classic 10 K/2 mile run/walk benefiting the AVCA on Sunday, Oct. 9. Watch for more information in future Almaden Times or visit the AVCS Web site at www.avcounseling.org to register.

Family concert, clown show benefits ‘Save the Music’ organization Saturday at Discovery Museum

Andy Z. and the Andyland Band & Daffy Dave and the Treefort Gang will perform at the Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose (at the intersection of Woz Way and Auzerais Street) on Saturday with two performances benefiting the “Save the Music” organization. Showtimes are at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Ticket prices: Advance, $10 for Adults, $7 for kids (online at daffydave.com); at the door, $12 for adults, $8 for kids (add $5 for museum admission valued at $7). Advance tickets are available online at www.daffydave.com.

Changes to Coyote Valley meeting schedule

The planning department has announced changes to the Coyote Valley Specific Plan Task Force 2005 Meeting Schedule. All meetings will be held in the new city hall at 200 East Santa Clara St., Room 118, 119 and 120 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). Meeting times are subject to change and will be noted online at www.sanjoseca.gov/coyotevalley/.

The task force will meet on Aug. 15, Aug. 29, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. There is also at community meeting scheduled for Sept. 1 at the Coyote Creek Golf Club from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Blood Drive

The Stanford Blood Bank will be at PW Supermarket (Via Valente at Almaden) on Sat. 8/13 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Blood reserves are very low and they need your help! For additional information visit www.bloodcenter@stanford.edu. To make appointments, call 813-5321. For medically-related questions, call 650-725-9968.