News Briefs

WV Welcomers to host San Jose opera

The West Valley Welcomers, a local organization geared to introduce newcomers to the area, is hosting Opera San Jose at a fundraising event in the gardens of Robert and Doris Sandie, located at 19400 Los Gatos-Saratoga Rd. in Saratoga.

The event will take place on Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m., and the Welcomers are requesting a $25 donation per person. Proceeds from the event will go to local charities. Hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, wine and cold drinks will be served.

For more information or to RSVP, call Jan Petrucha at 867-9570.

EagleWing Theatre Company is rolling

Plans still haven't been submitted to the city by the EagleWing Theatre Company, which wants to purchase and build a community theater out of the old barn behind Bella Saratoga restaurant. But that isn't stopping the ETC from moving forward with its plans and its formation as a viable entity.

Over the past few months, the company has achieved status as a registered nonprofit organization, and board members are being named to lead the company into the annals of fundraising excellence.

Saratoga resident Marcia Wells-Lawson is the first resident to be elected to the board, which includes five other members from as far away as New York, Minnesota, Florida and Tennessee.

Wells-Lawson joins Saratogan and former opera singer Ken Carter on the board. Carter began the project and is spearheading the entire drive. The ETC is now engaged in fundraising activities to purchase and renovate the barn.

At a meeting with the Saratoga Business Development Council last month, the topic of EagleWing's theater sparked conversation between community development director James Walgren and Bella Saratoga owner Bill Cooper, who hosted an informational coffee for the public with the ETC and Carter in June. Walgren speculated that the barn would need a lot of expensive work to be brought up to code.

Cooper said that only a handful of residents came to the meeting. Already, the issue of the theater has created some debate over parking and traffic for the Village area, but is welcomed by business owners like Cooper who stand to benefit from increased foot traffic.

Karin Dowdy commended for clean air efforts

District implements Safe Schools Tipline

Violinist Jennifer Wey

Ju Ju's Antiques

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos Dammit Run

Courtside Tennis Center teams win at NorCal