The Willow Glen Resident

Around The Glen

AARP to discuss shared, affordable senior housing

The Willow Glen chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will discuss shared housing at its next meeting at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at the Willows Senior Center.

The discussion will be led by Robert Campbell, executive director of Project Match, a nonprofit agency that matches up seniors to live in shared housing. In the past 20 years, the agency has helped about 16,000 adults locate affordable housing and has become a model for some 200 similar programs across the U.S., AARP officials said.

Prior to working with Project Match, Campbell was executive director of the Westside Community Health Center in Santa Cruz and the 1993 recipient of the Outstanding Community Person Award there.

"Project Match is helping seniors who are looking for safe, secure home-sharing as a means of combating escalating housing costs," Campbell said.

Ann Scales, president of the Willow Glen Chapter of AARP, urged all residents, whether AARP members or not, to attend the meeting to learn more about alternative housing arrangements. "We try to serve, not be served," she said.

The center is located at 2175 Lincoln Ave. There is no admission charge. For information, call Peter A. Szego at 298-0564.

--Amanda Atchison

Trust your intuition at local workshop

Novelist Edith Wharton once wrote of intuition as a way of entering another's soul.

Webster's dictionary defines intuition as "revelation by insight or innate knowledge."

People can find out how to develop this insight in a four-week instructional series put on by the Be Well Center in Willow Glen.

Aimed at developing "intuitive wisdom," the series will educate people on the concept of intuition, review personal stories and hold activities.

The group will meet every Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., beginning Feb. 18 and ending March 11 at its facility at 1044 Lincoln Ave. Registration is $95 and closes Feb. 13. Call Kathy Giovanola at 297-7334 for more information.

--Christine M. Lias

Politically correct pageant holds its talent competition

Youth Focus, San Jose's politically correct pageant, will hold its 30th Annual California State/Western Regional Talent Competition on Memorial Day weekend. Young people ages 4 to 24 are invited to compete for trophies, scholarship money and slots in the entertainment productions for the Santa Clara County Fair.

Youth Focus is an organization dedicated to pageants, competitions and the promotion of young people. It took over the Miss Santa Clara County Pageant from the county fair in 1968, and soon after changed the rules of the game.

Youth Focus scrapped its swimsuit competition, cut ties with the Miss California and America pageants, started a parallel pageant for boys and added new categories including scholastic ability, community service, talent, personality and public speaking ability.

Applications for the talent competition must be submitted to the Youth Focus office by April 1. Entry fees are $33 per person. For more information, call Youth Focus at 298-2644.

--Cecily Barnes

Volunteers needed for variety of city boards

People with strong views on child care or ideas about protecting historical landmarks can make their voices heard by serving on a San Jose government commission.

Volunteers are needed for commissions on the airport, arts, child care, development grants, the disabled, landmarks, housing, human rights, libraries, parks and recreation, senior citizens and traffic appeals. They must live in San Jose. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 27. To apply, call the office of the City Clerk at 277-4424.

--Rebecca Wallace

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