August 21, 2008

Almaden Times Classic set for Sept. 28

It’s nearly time again for the Almaden Times Classic, the fall race held annually to benefit Almaden Valley Counseling Service. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the race.

The 10K/2 Mile Run-Walk will again start and end at Leland High School, 6677 Camden Ave. on Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. It runs through a paved creek trail and some residential streets that will allow runners and walkers to appreciate the beauty of Almaden.

Starting at the high school parking lot, the race goes down Camden Avenue to Queenswood Way where it connects with the Los Alamitos Creek Trail. It crosses McKean Road, goes up Harry Road on the creek trail across Pfeifer Ranch Road up to the tip of the creek trail and back down the trail until it reaches Leland High again.

There are 10 age divisions including 6 and under, 7 to 9; 10 to 13; 14 to 18; 19 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; and 70-plus. Gift certificates will be handed out to the four overall winners and each of the top three in each division will win an award. Each participating child will receive a ribbon. The entry fees include a T-shirt, goodie bags, food and drinks. Random prizes will be given based on race numbers.

Those who want to participate can pre-register by Sept. 23, which is recommended to ensure T-shirts. Registration fees are not refundable. Separate entries are required for each family member. The cost is $25 for adults and $13 for children 12 and under. Families of up to four members consisting of adults and children are $60. The fees go up after Sept. 23 to $30 for adults, $15 for children and $70 for families. Nothing will be mailed to entrants.

The race is one of five events the AVCS holds to raise funds to provide its counseling services, parenting and divorce classes, education outreach and anger management classes. The other events are Santa’s Breakfast, and the biennial Snow Ball and Home Tour and the new Casino Night.

Its mission is to provide access to affordable mental heath counseling services to everyone in the community. AVCS is a community-based, nonprofit counseling agency committed to meeting the mental health concerns of all ages with an emphasis on youth. AVCS offers a full range of counseling services, which supports and promotes personal growth, positive family relationships and emotional well being.

Its services include short and long term counseling for children, adolescents, individual adults, couples and families. Fees are based on a sliding scale and are determined by income. Counselors conduct outreach and intervention on school campuses, providing regularly scheduled and emergency services to 19 South San Jose schools.

It offers parenting classes quarterly—Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP); to be on the waiting list for the next class, call (408) 997-0200. It also offers classes on cooperative parenting and divorce, which includes how to parent as a team when you are no longer a couple, as well as providing speakers to lead workshops and discussion groups on a variety of topics. For example, AVCS held a community forum last October on “How to Keep Your Children Safe-Talking to Teens about Driving,” which was sponsored by Councilmember Nancy Pyle, Leland High School and AVCS.

This year’s sponsors for the race include Dr. Thomas McGrath, Optometrist, Camden Almaden Buildings, Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage and Athletic Performance, Starbucks, McDonalds, California Pizza Kitchen, In N Out Burger, Sonoma Chicken Coop, Classic Car Wash, Graphic Images, Brandenburg Family Foundation, Almaden Shopping Center, Cindy Cockcroft, Alain Pinel Realtors, Natalie Vander Kam, DDS Pediatric Dentistry, Margaret Yost, Coldwell Banker’s Neal and Donna Schwartz, the City of San Jose, Legends Pizza and the Almaden Times Weekly. Other sponsors include ALCIS, San Jose Water Company, 4D, Actel, Braddock and Logan Homes, Shapell Homes, Westfield Valley Fair, Almaden Physical Therapy, Summerhill Homes, Almaden Roasting Company, Elite, Time Out Services, PG&E, Athletic Nation, Panera Bread, Camille’s Side Walk Café, Unwined, Sports Basement,
For more information, visit www.AVcounseling.org and click on fundraising events or call (408) 997-0200. To register online go to www.active.com or fill out the entry on page 23 and mail it in.