The Willow Glen Resident

Around The Glen

YWCA seeks volunteers for career counseling

The YWCA of Santa Clara Valley needs volunteers in a variety of areas, from short-term projects to internships. The organization needs a computer-savvy organizer to set up systems for job information so Employment Center users can access current information. Career counselors are needed to teach workshops, conduct support groups or provide one-on-one career counseling.

The center is also offering an unpaid internship position for support group/workshop facilitators. For more information, call 295-4011.

--Maggie Benson

Church celebrates its 148th birthday with costumes and drama

The First Baptist Church on the outskirts of Willow Glen went back in time recently as the church and its women's ministry celebrated 148 years of service and worship with period costumes, drama and music.

Founded in 1850, the church was first located downtown and has been on Ironwood Drive since 1970, said Willow Glen resident Anita Gobal.

Since its inception, the women's ministry has cooked dinner for migrant workers, sent warm caps to a leprosy home in India, served meals to bereaved families and rolled bandages during wartime, said church historian Hilda Cayward.

At their Jan. 23 celebration, attended by about 125 people, the women of the ministry used original minutes and donned costumes to re-enact meetings from 1927, the 1940s and 1959.

Apparently, urban sprawl was a concern even 70 years ago.

"The sound of that locomotive fills me with fear. Two blocks away is dreadful! It scares the cows and people," one character said in the 1927 script.

"San Jose is becoming too crowded," another responded.

--Rebecca Wallace

Dramatic locals help bring 'Fiddler' to life

Six Willow Glen residents play a big part in the March musical, Fiddler on the Roof, presented by Bellarmine College Preparatory.

Tom Alessandri, a Willow Glen resident, is the vocal and stage director. Alessandri is also Bellarmine's assistant to the principal for curriculum and supervision. Bellarmine students who live in Willow Glen who perform in the play are Cari Cymanski (Grandma Tzeitel), Mark Maccora (Tevye), Charles Mugnolo (Yussel and Dan), Marty Quinn (Nachum the beggar) and Emily Ravenscroft (Chava).

The show will be playing March 5-8 and March 11-14 in the Benson Theatre at 850 Elm St. in San Jose. Tickets to the show are $8 for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday performances and $9 for Friday and Saturday performances. For more information, call Tom Alessandri at 294-9224.

--Amanda Atchison

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