September 6, 2007

NEWS BRIEFS

Rebuilding Together to host third annual ‘Paint The Town’

Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley is hosting its third annual "Paint the Town" party on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Almaden County Club, located at 6663 Hampton Drive.

The featured guest is Rick Spence of HGTV's "Curb Appeal."

Enjoy hors d' oeuvres, dinner, wine and beer (full bar available), set in one of the hidden jewels of Almaden Valley overlooking the rolling hills with all its natural beauty while enjoying an evening of live jazz. Don't miss your opportunity to bid on one of the many unique packages at the silent auction.

Proceeds from the event will support the work of Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley to repair and rebuild homes for very low-income seniors, particularly the elderly, the disabled and families with children, to ensure their warmth, safety and independence. For more information and online ticket sales, visit www.rebuildingtogether-sv.org or call (408) 578-9519.

Since 1991, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley has been rehabilitating the homes of low-income homeowners. An army of volunteers come together each October and April to rebuild homes and community through rebuilding day projects.

San Jose Peace Chorale holds auditions

San Jose Peace Chorale is having auditions every Thursday in September. The chorale sings four-part music, and no experience is necessary, but you must love to sing.

San Jose Peace Chorale rehearses at the Chai House, 814 St Elizabeth Drive, San Jose, every Thursday from 7:30 until 9:30 p.m. For more information, contact Diane at (408) 281-3580 or (408) 365-4755.

Lenae Timmons deployed to Iraq

Air Force Senior Airman Lenae M. Timmons is deployed to Sather Air Base, Iraq, as a member of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sather is one of several U.S. and Iraqi bases linked together to form the Victory Base Complex surrounding the Baghdad International Airport.

Victory Base is a melting pot of more than 50,000 soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors. The joint service troops perform security shifts side by side and work together in the aerial terminal, moving cargo and passengers.

The 447th AE Group is responsible for supporting U.S. and coalition forces with airlift, supplies and delivery of forces and materiel into the region. Sather Air Base is the largest and busiest aerial port terminal in Iraq, moving between 3,000 and 10,000 passengers per week.

Timmons, a command post controller, has served in the military for four years. She is the daughter of Kristy M. Mattison of Quail Creek Circle, San Jose. Timmons graduated from Pioneer High School in 2002.

Benefit dinner and wine tasting to raise money for Martha’s Kitchen

It lakes a cast of thousands (donors and volunteers) to feed the hungry at Martha's Kitchen. But on Thursday, Sept. 27, food—filet mignon—and wine will flow at its Gourmet Benefit Dinner & Wine Tasting. Once a year Martha's Kitchen charges for its meals to raise funds to continue feeding the hungry at no cost. The dinner will be held at Martha’s Kitchen, 311 Willow Street, at the corner of Locust Street. From 5:30 to 9 p.m.

This is the second year Elegant Events Catering executive chef and owner Jacques Hayes is helping Martha's Kitchen put together this fund-raiser. Martha's Kitchen started a benefit dinner in celebration of its 25th anniversary last year. Now, it has become its biggest fund-raiser. Guglielmo Winery will provide wine for the
wine tasting.

Martha’s Kitchen has been a free kitchen/dining facility open to the public and feeding the poor and hungry in San Jose and its surrounding communities since 1981. It prepared and distributed more than 140,000 meals in 2006. Many of those were serviced at other community, nonprofit organizations free of charge.

Support for Martha's Kitchen is also an investment in the services provided by these community nonprofit organizations: The Salvation Army of San Jose and Gilroy, Sacred Heart Nativity Schools of San Jose, Gilroy Armory, Washington Youth Center, Advent Lutheran Church, Santa Maria Urban Ministry, Living Center, St. Joseph's Cathedral Downtown Outreach, St. Joseph's Day Worker Center, First Christian Church and Dos Palos Youth in Crisis.

Tickets for the dinner are $100 per person, $60 of which is tax-deductible. Event sponsorships and donations are also requested. For more information, call Edita Cruz at (408) 293-6111.

San Jose Community Centers remain open for heat relief

San Jose is opening specific community centers for extended hours to provide relief from the summer heat. High temperatures can be dangerous for the very young and elderly in the community. If you need a place to cool down, the following centers will be open with extended hours:

Almaden Community Center
6445 Camden Avenue
San Jose, CA 95120
(408) 268-1133

Evergreen Community Center
4869 San Felipe Road
San Jose, CA 95135
(408) 270-2220

Camden Community Center
3369 Union Avenue
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 559-8553

Gardner Community Center
520 W. Virginia Street
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 277-4761

George Shirakawa Center
2072 Lucretia Avenue
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 277-3317

Southside Community Center
5585 Cottle Road
San Jose, CA 95123
(408) 629-3336

West San Jose Center
3707 Williams Road
San Jose, CA 95117
(408) 249-6580

Willows Senior Center
2175 Lincoln Avenue
San José, CA 95125
(408) 292-5871