October 7, 2004

Calendar of local events

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

HARVEST
HAPPENINGS
October 9 – Saturday
The San Jose Auxiliary’s annual Pumpkin Patch Boutique will be held at the First Congregational Church, at the corner of Hamilton and Leigh in San Jose. This popular event draws record crowds each year and features a wide variety of crafts, antiques and collectibles, fine jewelry, rare books and scrumptious home baked foods. Admission is $2 and for a small donation, lunch is available form 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds benefit the patients and families of Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.

October 9 – Friday
It’s time again for Pumpkins in the Park! This great family event, held is now in its ninth year and will take place at Discovery Meadow, Guadalupe River Park, to the delight of families in the South Bay. Pumpkins in the Park is a celebration of the environment, the Guadalupe River, and the fall harvest season. Enjoy live entertainment by “Banana Slug String Band,” Andy Zamenes, and “Zun Zun.” There will be many fun activities for children, including pumpkin decorating, fire trucks, puppet shows, environmental education activities and the chance to learn some traditional circus arts from Cosmo the Clown. For information on our Scarecrow Contest, or other event information, visit www.grpg.org. Admission is free, and the hours are 10 am to 4 pm.

October 15 – 31
Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos once again hosts The Haunted Forest, a variety of spooky sights to thrill the whole family. For the brave at heart, the Raglan Castle Walking Tour is a guided trek through the haunted forest that includes a witch’s house, the lair of the spider queen, a mysterious castle and graveyard, and a host of spooky characters to thrill and chill. Spooky Hollow give children 11 yrs and younger a haunt of their own, featuring the new Trick-or-Treat Street attraction. And of course there is the Wildcat Railroad, an age appropriate dark journey through the park. Children should dress for the weather, wear sneakers and bring a flashlight. Admission is $10 for the Raglan Tour, $4.50 for Spooky Hollow and Trick-or-Treat Street. Hours are 7 – 10 p.m. nightly, except Mondays Parking is $4.

October 29 – Friday
Campbell’s historic Ainsley House will host evening flashlight tours from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Anisley House tours will feature a guided walk through of the 80-year old house plus an evening of fun re-creating Halloween games form the 1920s and 30s. This family event will include hot cider, apples to dunk, candy and treats for the youngsters, and wholesome snacks for all in the Carriage House. The cost is $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members. Reservations are required by October 22. Call 866-2718 to reserve your spot. The Ainsley House is located at 300 Grant Avenue in downtown Campbell.

October 31 – Sunday
Free Harvest Carnival! Willow Glen’s 15th Annual Harvest Carnival will be held at Willow Glen Baptist Church at the corner of Hicks and Minnesota from 5-8 p.m. Families are invited to come and enjoy pony rides, a giant slide, a bounce house, crafts, games, a photo booth and lots of candy!! This event is free and open to all. For more information call 280-0611 or visit WGBC.net.

October 31 – Sunday
Haunt the Hollow - Halloween Event. Trick-or-Treat in Happy Hollow Park & Zoo on Sunday, from 2 - 5 p.m. Trick-or-treat stations throughout the Park & Zoo will provide a fun, safe and family friendly experience for all.
Happy Hollow will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on this event day. This event is included with regular admission of $5.50 per person. For more information, call Happy Hollow Park & Zoo at 408-277-4193.

THEATER
October 7 – 10
Lyric Theatre presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers” at the Mayer Theatre, Santa Clara University. This fully staged production with full orchestral accompaniment has scheduled only six performances. Tickets are $26 each. Performance times are 8 p.m. with additional 2 p.m. matinee performances on October 3 & 10. To purchase tickets, call 986-1455, or visit www.lyrictheatre.org.

MEETINGS
October 7 – Thursday
Candidates running for San Jose City Council District 10 and State Assembly District 21 will participate in a Political Forum sponsored by The Almaden Business Association. This forum will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Fish Market Restaurant, 1007 Blossom Hill Road, near Almaden Expressway. Everyone from the community is invited and encouraged to attend. Costco and Charlie’s Cheesecakes will provide refreshments.

Ongoing:
Las Madres Adoption Group is a wonderful support system for those who have gone through the adoption process and are looking to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adopted child. We have regular play dates for newborns-5 years old and monthly “mom’s night out”. For more information, contact Barb Griswold at barbgris@aol.com or call toll free 1-877-LasMadres.
Oakridge Century Theatres in association with Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups presents CineMamas! A morning out to the movies for moms and their little ones. This group meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m., There are three showings to choose from, baby-safe sound levels, cheerios at the concession stand and a relaxing atmosphere with other moms who understand kids are kids! Check CineMamas.com for a weekly update on what is showing. Kids under 3 are free!
Le Tip International, a business leads networking group meets every Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. at Denny’s Restaurant, 1140 Hillsdale Aveue. For more information, call 298-9131.

CLASSES
Ongoing
The New Almaden Community Center will be hosting a weekly yoga class on Mon/Wed/Fri. at 6 a.m. and on Tues/Thurs. at 7 a.m. Attendees should bring their own yoga mats, however, there are a limited number of pads available. For more information, contact Tara at 997-9383. Class fees are $6 each or $24 per week. Classes are appropriate for both beginner and intermediate levels.

HEALTH
October 9 – Saturday
The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2004 Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s disease will he held at 9:30 a.m. on Treasure Island. Four Thousand participants from around the Bay Area are expected to participate in this annual event to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research and awareness. Onsite registration begins at 7:30 a.m., the Opening Ceremony will be at 9 a.m. and the walk itself begins at 9:30 a.m. To learn more, call 800-660-1993, or visit www.alznorcal.org.

Ongoing:
Bay Area Alzheimer’s Association now includes meetings at Kaiser Santa Teresa. Meetings are held in the San Jose Kaiser Family Health Center, Conference Room C, 3rd Floor, located at 276 International Circle. For more information call 800-660-1993.

FIFTY PLUS
October 9 – Saturday
Older Women’s League (OWL) will meet at Cypress Gardens, 3555 Judro in San Jose. The topic presented will be “Downsizing: Taking Control of Your Excess Belongings,” by Caroline Finch.

Ongoing:
SeniorNet, computer classes for adults 50 and over still has openings in the following classes: Computer Fundamentals, e-mail A-Z, Managing Your Files, Photoshop Elements, CD Burning, Word Processing 1, Windows XP, Computer Security and Finding Things and People on the Web. To enroll in any of the course openings, contact Don House at 268-1703.
AARP Information Center needs volunteers to staff their office. Duties include helping seniors find various services and programs, and providing information on senior needs. The office is located at 840 Willow Street, Suite 300, at the corner of Bird and Willow Streets on bus route #25. The hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 278-1855.
The Geriatric Advisory Program is a service providing documented analysis, advice and resources to those caring for aging family members and is available through the Almaden Valley Counseling Service. Sliding scale fees available. 975-2988.

CHILDREN/FAMILY EVENTS
October 8 – 10
The St. Frances Cabrini School and Parish Fiesta 2004 will be held at the St. Frances Cabrini campus, 15325 Woodard Road on October 8 from 4p.m.-10p.m. , October 9 from 10a.m.-10p.m., and on October 10 from 11a.m. - 8p.m. This family-oriented event will feature 16 food and drink booths, 20 kids’ game booths, carnival rides, raffles, and volleyball and football tournaments. Live performances by “Nostaligia,” on 10/8, “The Heartbeats,” on 10/9 and “The Houserockers” on 10/10, make this a must-see event. Admission is free, with variable pricing for food and drinks, based on age.

October 9 – 10
“Showcase of Miniatures,” the oldest and largest show and sale of dollhouse miniatures will hold its 29th annual show at Parkside Hall in San Jose. Event hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $3 - $7 per person. For more information, call 257-9385, or visit www.minature.net/goodsamshowcase.

October 9 – Saturday
Celebrate Native American heritage during Ohlone Day at Deer Hollow Farm, located in Rancho San Antonio Preserve, from 1-4pm. Learn about Ohlone daily life in a replica Ohlone Village. Hands-on activities and special demonstrations by Keith Gutierrez, Naturalist at Redwood Grove in Los Altos make this a fun-filled event for the entire family. This is an annual fundraiser sponsored by Friends of Deer Hollow Farm to help support the environmental education classes at the Farm. Cost: Adults $5, Children, $3, Families $10. Special rates for groups. For further information, call 650-695-3276

October 9 - Saturday
Take a trip back through time to the early days of “moving pictures” at the Divine Science Community Center’s Festival of Silent Movies. Films screen at 7:30 p.m. and the admission fee of $6 or $10 for two includes popcorn & a beverage. The Community Center is located at 1540 Hicks Avenue in San Jose. for a schedule and additional information call 293-3838.

October 10 – November 15
Los Gatos Christian Church will be taking registrations for their Youth Basketball League. The League plays at Branham High School from November 20 through March 5, 2005. Both Boys’ and Girls’ teams will be available for participants in the 1st through 8th grades. For additional information, call Marge at 997-4642, or check the website at www.losgatoschristian.org.

MISCELLANEOUS
October 10 – Sunday
Save the date! The 11th Annual Almaden Times Classic 10K/2 mile run will begin at 9 a.m. The race will begin at Leland High School, and includes both a 10K and 2 mile run. Prizes will be awarded in 9 age categories and a special family entrance rate is available. For more information, call 997-0200 or visit www.av@avcounseling.org. Online registration is available at www.active.com, or see future Almaden Times issues for registration materials.

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.