August 22, 2008

NEWS BRIEFS

Music Intro open house

Grace Music Institute invites parents to bring their children and themselves to the “Music Intro Open House” to be held on Wednesday, Sept 3 beginning 6:30 p.m, – 9.00 p.m.

Come handle, try out and learn about the various instruments –violin, piano, viola that introduce your child and yourself to the wonderful world of music. Perhaps you and your children are ready to learn to play a musical instrument. Individual and group instrument classes are now being formed depending on demand.

Grace Music Institute is guided by talented and trained musicians with extensive experience and degrees in music and music instruction. Among them are Aera Joo and Nicole Shim. Joo is graduate of San Jose State with a Masters of Music in classical piano. Shim plays violin and viola and has extensive experience teaching elementary and high school music students, playing in orchestras and also church bands.

Grace Music Institute is located at Grace Church of Evergreen, 2650 Aborn Road (at Kettmann) San Jose. Phone number is 408 274 1200.

Grace Music Institute is a project of Grace Church of Evergreen to introduce children and adults to music and the arts. Appreciation and respect for music and the story of its heritage facilitates the appreciation for culture in general and the significance and value of all religions.

Allstate honors Aguilera for Volunteerism in the Community

Allstate honored local exclusive agent Laura Aguilera for volunteerism with the March of Dimes, CA South Bay Division by awarding the organization a $500 grant as part of The Allstate Foundation’s Agency Hands in the Community (AHIC) program.

“It’s great to work for a company that values community service,” said Aguilera. “I’m thrilled that Allstate chose to support an organization that I care deeply about.”

The AHIC program, which began in 2003, recognizes Allstate agent and personal financial representative volunteerism within the community and provides financial support to organizations through The Allstate Foundation.

“The very fabric of Allstate consists of people who care about their local community,” said Hank Barge, Allstate field vice president. “The Agency Hands in the Community program is a powerful way for Allstate agencies to get involved with their local nonprofits and partner with them in making their communities stronger and safer places.”

Allstate representatives who receive the Agency Hands in the Community award can serve nonprofit groups in many capacities – as volunteers, mentors, program partners and leaders. Organizations must qualify for tax-deductible contributions under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Notice of public hearing

An Open Hearing is scheduled for the Sept. 18 Ever-green School District Board of Trustees Meet-ing, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room, 3188 Quimby Road, San Jose, re: the availability of textbooks and instructional materials for the 2008/2009 school year.

Rotary Club to host charity event

Mexican Heritage Plaza is the site of “A Taste of the Valley,” the annual charity event hosted by the San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary Club to raise money to fund its youth projects and community programs. The event will be held on Sunday, September 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door.

Those who attend the colorful event will be able to sample the area’s fine wines, brews, restaurant delectables and desserts. Attendees will enjoy the music in the lovely, palm-shaded garden of the Mexican Heritage Plaza, designed and built in the architectural style of a traditional Mexican plaza. It is located at 1700 Alum Rock Avenue (at King Road).

Attendees will also receive a commemorative wine glass and be able to participate in a Silent Auction. More information is available at www.rotarysjee.org. For ticket information, please contact Nick Leon, President-elect 2009–2010, at: (408) 966-5760 or: njleon7@aol.com, or Sara Calkins, Past President, 2007–2008, at: (408) 926–4646 or: calkins3@ix.netcom.com.

SJSU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Holds Free Information Session

On Thursday, Sept. 4, San Jose State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will hold a free information session at Downey Savings, 2875 The Villages Parkway, Evergreen, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (408) 924-2734 at SJSU, or info@osher.sjsu.edu.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a program for people age 50 and better. There are no tests, papers or grades. The program is all about learning for the joy of it. Classes and programs are held throughout Santa Clara County.

There are 119 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes from Maine to Hawaii. They are made possible by generous funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

The Evergreen Community Challenge – lose weight in 6 weeks

Mwezo and Jane of Kujiweza Healing Arts are now offering you to be “Evergreen’s next Biggest Loser.”

Waist Shaper participants can lose 10 to 15 pounds or more in 6-weeks eating simple, delicious meals you prepare at home using the right approach. You will have to exercise, but no heavy duty workouts. The class will instruct you in simple proven techniques for eating and exercising that will melt the pounds away.

Class meets once a week for one hour for weight loss tips and hints, weigh-in, reward and recognition. The Aug./Sept. session starts Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 8:15 pm for one hour at: Creekside Cabana Club, 3840 Yerba Buena Avenue, San Jose 95121 (off San Felipe Road).

Register by August 26. For more information call Jane at (408) 315-1179, or by e-mail: janekerr52@hotmail.com.

Cool Season Gardening

Learn about Cool Season Gardening at Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s (MAEP) World Garden Workshop on Sept. 13, at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose.

Master Gardener Karen Schaffer will teach gardeners of all skill levels the basics of Cool Season Gardening. Learn about growing a variety of vegetables in Northern California’s cool climate. Schaffer will talk about site preparation, cultivation, variety selection and harvesting.

The free workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon, in the Erikson Adult Center auditorium. The World Garden is located on the southwestern edge of the Erikson Adult Center campus. Look for the redwood trees and the greenhouse roof after entering the fenced parking lot on Minas Drive, off Pearl Avenue.

To register for the free workshop, call 723-6450 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask to have your name added to the September World Garden Workshop list or e-mail your name and phone number to ritab@metroed.net. Sign up early, space is limited.

Santa Clara County Clerk of the Board to Retire

The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors announced that Phyllis Perez, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors will retire on Oct. 3, 2008.

“I can hardly believe it’s been almost 43 years since I began my career with the County of Santa Clara,” Perez said. “So much has been accomplished and I know it could never have happened without the support, trust, leadership, inspiration and loyalty of my bosses, my colleagues and my staff. I am deeply grateful to have worked alongside each of them.”

Perez has served the public with dedication and distinction. She began her County career as a Secretary in the Office of the County Executive on Dec. 5, 1965. Over the next 14 years she also worked in County Animal Control and the Social Services Agency. In 1979, she became the Assistant Clerk of the Board and in 1993 the Board of Supervisors appointed her as Clerk of the Board.

As the Assistant Clerk, she played a major role in establishing the training program for office professional-level staff that still continues today. In the last ten years, she extensively incorporated new information technology into the Clerk of the Board’s operations. In 2002, the County implemented KEYBOARD, the fully automated Board agenda process. She also developed the Board’s Policy Manual, the new Board Member Handbook and a Boards and Commissions Handbook.

Perez currently belongs to California’s Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Association where she has served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President.

She has also contributed to the community in several other capacities. Perez has served as a Board member and Chairperson of the Board for Next Door: Solutions to Domestic Violence. She is also a former member of the County Hispanic Roundtable Group and the Almaden Valley Women’s Club.

Perez graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Jose State University with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business. She continues her association with the school as a member of the San Jose State Alumni Association and San Jose State Spartan Foundation. She has also served as Chairperson of the San Jose State Communications Forum.