February 9, 2009

CALENDAR

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

MUSIC

Feb 13 - 14
Bay Area Showcase Chorus offers Singing Valentines: Running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days, in-person deliveries will be available throughout Santa Clara, San Mateo counties and Tri-City areas, and phone “deliveries” will be made anywhere. Our performers are a special Valentine’s Quartet or Double Quartet. Cost is $15 - $30. To schedule your singing valentine, phone 973-1555 or for more information visit: http://www.singharmony.org/valentines2009

Opera San Jose brings Mozart’s comedic Cosi Fan Tutte to the California Theater for eight performances, Feb 7 - 22. Filled with irony and observation, Cosi Fan Tutte – “so do they all” casts all women from the same weak-willed mold when it comes to resisting temptation. Mozart even put his own wife in this category, though he himself was far from faithful. It is the story of two smug, young officers who accept a bet from a skeptical, old bachelor to test their girlfriends’ faithfulness. It is this element of cynicism pitted against naiveté that gives this comic gem its serious edge. In Italian with English Supertitles. Conductors are David Rohrbaugh and Anthony Quartuccio. Tickets are $69, $81, and $91 (includes city facility usage fee) from Opera San José Box Office, 2149 Paragon Dr., San José, CA 95131; or call 408-437-4450; 408-437-4455 fax; Visit www.operasj.org for additional information and performance times. Pictured: Bettany Coffland (left) as Dorabella and Rebecca Davis as Fiordiligi.in Opera San Jose’s production of Mozart’s comedy with a twist, Cosi Fan Tutte. Photo by Chris Ayers.

THEATER

Jan. 23 – Feb. 14
The Tabard Theatre Company presents The Little Prince at Theater on San Pedro Square: This whimsical adaptation of Antoine de Saint Exupery’s delightful novel speaks to the child in everyone. Directed by Andrew Ceglio, The Little Prince marks the third production of the Tabard’s 2008-2009 season. For a special treat, join cast and staff for an opening night reception following the performance. Scrumptious dessert offerings are donated by Charlie’s Cheesecake Works, a Tabard Community Partner. Show times are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Visit http://www.tabardtheatre.org for special school performances and other information. Tickets are $22 general and $10 for children 17 years and younger. Senior & adult student discounts are available. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling the box office at 679-2330.

Jan. 31 – Feb 21
The Saratoga Drama Group presents “The Will Rogers Follies” at the Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga. This highly entertaining musical brings to life the folksy wisdom and humor that characterized American legend Will Rogers. From his humble beginnings in Oklahoma to worldwide media fame, The Will Rogers Follies is a true crowd pleaser. Tickets are $20 – 27, and may be ordered by calling 266-4734. For more information, visit www.saratogadramagroup.com

CHILDREN & FAMILY

Feb. 24 – April 7
Willow Glen Elementary invites parents of preschoolers to tour its kindergarten program. Not only are Willow Glen Elementary kindergarten teachers regularly voted the best in the community, but in 2006 WGE achieved the coveted status of California Distinguished School. WGE kindergarteners have a choice of either English-only classes or the Two Way Bilingual Immersion program. Tour times are from 9a.m. – 10a.m. To register, contact the school office at 535-6265.

CLASSES

Feb. 7
Successful Backyard Birdhouses: Do you wonder why some people always seem to have baby birds in their yards? Where and how you mount the bird boxes and which boxes attract your local birds is critical to your success. Join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens and Mike Azevedo, County Coordinator for Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society’s Cavity Nester Recovery Program for tips on attracting birds to nest boxes in your neighborhood. Learn which local birds use nest boxes, what areas of the city these birds call home and where those birds like their nest boxes to be placed. You can also help restore the cavity nesting bird population that has been declining with the Audubon Society’s program to put up and monitor nest boxes at parks, cemeteries and other open spaces. This workshop, sponsored by the Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens will be held at the GRP& G Visitor & Education Center, 438 Coleman Avenue in San Jose. Pre-registration is required by calling (408) 298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to learn more. Hours are 10 a.m. – noon, fees are $10/members, $15/non-members

Feb. 9
Learn how to Prune Ornamental Shrubs & Trees: This free Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) World Garden Workshop will be held at the Erikson Adult Center, 4849 Pearl Ave, San Jose from 10 a.m. to noon. Master Gardener Sue Bell will teach gardeners of all skill levels how to prune and maintain ornamental shrubs and trees. To register for the 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 February World Garden Workshop list, or email your name and phone number to ritab@metroed.net. Sign-up early, as space is limited.

Ongoing
Mindful Living Alliance Insight Meditation Center, 419 California St. in Campbell hosts free meditations: Mindfulness Meditation and Dhamma Study - 9 to 11:45 a.m. every Sunday (except first Sunday of the month) Also from 9 to 10:30 a.m, Dhamma study and discussions, plus sharing of Dhamma practice or life experiences, under the guidance of Teacher Upasika Sarah Marks. Class to study theory and techniques on Vipassana (Mindfulness) meditation. From 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., Walking and Sitting Meditation. Vipassana meditations are also every Wed. from 9:30 – 11:30 am. RSVP by email to events@mlausa.org or call 505-5190, or visit www.MLAusa.org.

VOLUNTEERS

Feb. 10
Join Ace Hardware in “New Faces for Helpful Places” renovation program: Ace Hardware stores in the San Jose area, along with Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man,” Lou Manfredini, will be giving San Jose’s Santa Maria Urban Ministry a $10,000 renovation through our “New Faces for Helpful Places” program. Please join our team of volunteers at 9:00 am to help give this deserving organization the makeover it needs to continue to help San Jose’s inner city community. Location: 778 South Almaden, San Jose, CA 95110-2919.  Please contact or visit your local Ace Hardware store with any questions or for more information.

Good Sam Gift Shop Volunteers Needed: The Auxiliary of Good Samaritan Hospital invites you to join our team of dedicated volunteers and have fun while serving your community.  Our gift shop service is looking for enthusiastic and customer service oriented volunteers to help in both the shop and the stockroom.  A minimum commitment of four hours per week is expected.  No retail experience is necessary.  Please call the Auxiliary office (408) 559-2345 to have an application packet sent to you and to sign up for a one-hour information meeting.  Applications are also available at the Good Sam web site:  goodsamsanjose.com.” 

MISCELLANEOUS

Feb. 7 – April 11
Free VITA Volunteer Tax Preparation at the Campbell Library: VITA volunteers will be available at the Campbell Library, 77 Harrison Ave., Campbell to prepare taxes every Saturday from 10 a.m. – 12 noon and Thursday evenings 6 – 8 pm. on a first come first served basis.  Questions? Call the library at 866-1991.

Feb. 7
Leigh High School “Crab Feed 2009!” Held at LHS, 5210 Leigh Avenue from 6 – 9 p.m. All proceeds benefit Leigh’s Music and Arts programs. Early Bird Ticket prices are $37.50 or $42 after Feb. 1. To purchase online visit www.leighband.org or call 266-0328.

Ongoing
Marine Corps League: We meet the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. in various locations around the County in aid of former Marines and their families. We are a family member organization with youngsters and mothers, brothers and sisters and other relatives and friends of Marines as members and associate members. For more information, phone PR Officer Dick Whitaker, MCL Detachment #1122 Santa Clara County at 219-3024 or visit the MCL website at http://www.usmcleague.com/

Adopt a Rose for Valentine’s Day: With your donation of $50.00, Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens can help you select the perfect rose for adoption. Perhaps you will choose pink for grace, white for innocence, or red for that deep and undying love and respect you are feeling. We can also search our database of roses to see if your Valentine’s name matches one of our 3,900 historic roses. Your rose will be marked in the garden with an engraved plaque with your own personal inscription for one full year. To present your gift you will receive a beautiful Valentines box that includes a small box of decadent chocolates from Schurra’s Candy Factory, a large gourmet cookie from Café Too! at the San Jose Museum of Art, and two tickets for the Children’s Carousel at Arena Green. You will also receive a special gift card announcing your rose adoption. Gift packages will be available for pick-up, prior to Valentine’s Day, at the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center located at 438 Coleman Avenue. For more information about adopting a rose for your Valentine, call 408-298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org

Call for Artists: Tapestry Arts, San Jose’s oldest and largest downtown arts festival, is now accepting applications for its 34th annual arts festival. This outdoor event will be held over Labor Day Weekend, September 5-7, 2009. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 30, 2009. Artists can submit applications in one of two ways: by mail or online. Application fees are $15 for Santa Clara County residents and $20 for nonresidents. Entry forms are available by calling 408 494 3590 or at www.tapestryarts.org.

FIFTY PLUS

Welcome Wagon Chapter #3: Women’s Social Group with activities that include Golf, Tennis, Hiking, Bridge, Canasta, Pinochle, Luncheons, Movies, Antiques, Book Club, etc. For more information, please email Gail:  gailmagg@aol.com Or call Veronika (408) 559-3734

AARP Willow Glen - Chapter 5193: Meetings are held every fourth Monday of the month, 1 – 3 p.m. There will be speakers on senior issues and refreshments are served. Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. For more information, call 448-6400.

AARP Campbell Area Chapter 5151 meets the third Tuesday of every month (except December) at 9:30 a.m. in room Q-80 at the Campbell Community Center, 1 West Campbell Ave.  Guests are welcome from all communities.  For more information, call 316-2130.


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.