News Briefs

Concert to benefit Valley Christian

Valley Christian Schools Discovery Center will present an English song recital featuring Kirk Eichelberger, a bassist from Opera San Jose, and pianist Christopher Luthi, a 1993 Valley Christian High School graduate and musical director of Opera Nova in Santa Monica. All proceeds will benefit the Discovery Center, which assists students with learning difficulties, and its educational therapy program, which supplements classroom learning with intervention techniques in two 80-minute sessions per week. The concert will be held Saturday, May 11, 7 p.m., at Valley Christian High School, 100 Skyway Dr., San Jose. Tickets are available for a $100 tax-deductible donation. For more information, call 408.513.2530.

Catholic association honors Willow Glenner

The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) recently named longtime Willow Glen resident Andy Phillips a 2002 NCEA Catholic Elementary School Distinguished Graduate. A graduate of St. Christopher School in San Jose, Willow Glen High School and Santa Clara University, Phillips is currently president of Vickers Concrete Cutting, Inc. Phillips has been an officer in the St. Christopher Holy Name Society for the past 10 years and now serves on the society's Long Range Planning Committee. He also serves as chairman of the board of trustees for Presentation Center in Los Gatos and is serving on the building committee at Presentation High School.

Special Olympics seeks coaches, volunteers

Coaches are needed for Special Olympics' year-round program to assist in teaching 14 different sports. No experience is needed to coach. Volunteers must be 16 or older or accompanied by an adult. Athletes are beginning to train for spring competitions in tennis, athletics, aquatics and golf. Special Olympics' next volunteer orientation will be held Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m., at the Old Almaden Winery Community Center, 5730 Chambertin Road, San Jose. For more information, call 408.392.0170 or visit www.sonc.org/sccso.

Good Medicare plans, values are declining

The 2002 Guide to California Medicare HMOs, released March 20 by Consumers Union and the California HealthCare Foundation, found that some Medicare HMOs may offer good values for Santa Clara County seniors, but the number of plans and the average value they offer are declining. The report concludes that though it may be more difficult to find a top plan this year, it's worth the effort for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries to investigate all their options. The guide released its findings after a new federal "lock-in" policy went into effect. Under the "lock-in" rule, Medicare beneficiaries can change plans only once between January and June 2002 and are prohibited from switching plans between July 1 and December 31. Before this rule began, seniors could change plans each month.

"Because of their low cost and expanded benefits, HMOs may be the best choice for many Medicare beneficiaries," says Trudy Lieberman, director of Consumers Union's Center for Consumer Health Choices. "This guide gives seniors the information they need to make an informed decision before the June 30 lock-in deadline."

The full report can be viewed online at www.calmedicare.org and www.consumerreports.org.

Fifth Biennial California State Senior Games

Senior athletes, from the superb to the sublime, promise a wellspring of vitality and inspiring competition when the 5th biennial California State Championships are combined with the San Jose Senior Games, Aug. 2-11.

Presented by the city of San Jose, the competition for athletes age 50 and older is expected to attract 2,000 participants in 20 sports united under the philosophy that "the competitive spirit never ages." Kaiser Permanente, a HMO provider, is the Golden Medal Sponsor.

It will be the seventh annual production of the San Jose Senior Games, but the first time the event has been combined with the California Senior Games, previously held in San Diego (twice), Sacramento and Pasadena. "This is a great opportunity for the beginning or recreational athlete to participate along with the more ambitious competitors," commented Seniors Games Chairwoman Becky Atigedewe. "Hosting the state championships gives us a chance to help everyone widen their horizons."

Among the outstanding athletes already committed to the senior games are Meri Jean Kelly, of Palo Alto, the national 55 and older racquetball champion in singles and doubles, and Ken Hayes, of San Jose, national 80 and older indoor tennis doubles champion.

While the bulk of the participants may not be able to compete with modern Olympians, the 50 and older seniors are groundbreakers for the arriving baby boomers, and they represent the age group that owns 75 percent of the nation's wealth.

Opening ceremonies will be at The Tech Museum of Innovation, with social events staged across Plaza de Cesar Chavez at the Fairmont Hotel, competition headquarters for the Senior Games.

Competitions scheduled are archery, badminton, basketball, billiards, bowling, cycling, 5k and 10k runs, golf, horseshoes, lawn bowling, racquetball, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, volleyball and weight lifting.

Atigedewe estimates that in addition to the core local organizing committee of 40, some 250 additional volunteers will be needed to implement the Senior Games.

For information, to register or volunteer, call 408.297.0247.

Around The Glen

Mark Mayfield: Kooky for Girl Scout cookies

Sports Briefs

High school sports

Presentation High School sports