The Willow Glen Resident

Exalted Ruler: Wayne Leslie.

Photograph by Daniel Avila

Around The Glen

Olympic trainer is tapped to head Elks

A physical therapist and former U.S. Olympic athletic trainer has been chosen to head the San Jose Elks Lodge in Willow Glen. Wayne Leslie became the lodge's new exalted ruler on April 11.

A 24-year member of Elks Lodge No. 522, Leslie has practiced physical therapy in the Bay Area for the past 34 years. After he earned a master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Southern California in 1964, he took a trip to the World's Fair in New York, where trials for the Olympic judo team were being held.

After talking to people involved with the judo team, he was asked to become an Olympic trainer. He worked with various teams, including swimming and gymnastics, over the next 20 years.

"I went to the Mexico games in '68, and Munich in '72 and Montreal in '76. We boycotted the '80 games in Moscow, and I went to L.A. in '84," he recalled. "It was very exciting for me, to get to be really close to all of the famous athletes in the world."

Leslie also put his athletic skills to use closer to home as the trainer for the Santa Clara Swim Club for 10 years.

Leslie has been a member of the Miracle Mile Optimist Club for two decades and has twice served as its president.

--Rebecca Wallace

Help wanted at art museum's store

Anyone interested in performing a little community service can do it in an artistic atmosphere. The Museum Store, located inside the San Jose Museum of Art, is seeking volunteers to help run the store.

The store is looking mainly for people to help with cashiering, stocking and gift-wrapping. Volunteers will be asked to work a three-hour shift at least twice a month, preferably once a week.

The Museum Store, which opened in the newly renovated Historic Wing in 1997, offers gift items, jewelry, household items and a variety of books and catalogs. There is also a special children's section.

The store also hosts book signings with authors and artists; past notables have included artist William Wegman and author Barnaby Conrad.

Volunteers at the Museum Store are eligible for a 20 percent discount on purchases at the store. The museum is located at 110 S. Market St. For more information, call Leslie Barton, manager of retail operations, at 271-6879.

--Aji Mathai

Glenite chairs May 3 benefit for UNICEF

Willow Glen resident Joyce Akers is chairing a May 3 benefit for UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) that features a special screening of Warner Bros.' new animated feature, Quest for Camelot.

Scheduled for release on May 15, the movie is about adventures in a long-ago magical world and features the voices of Pierce Brosnan and Jane Seymour. The screening begins at 2 p.m. at the Century Capitol 16 theater at 3690 Hillcap Ave. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Profits benefit UNICEF. Seating is limited; to reserve tickets, call 264-5594.

--Rebecca Wallace

Students earn degrees on Sunday mornings

Free Sunday mornings can become very useful starting Aug. 8. That's the day classes begin for Saint Mary's College's San Jose bachelor of arts degree completion program in management.

The Moraga college's 10-course curriculum can be completed in about 18 months, college representatives said. The program is designed for working professionals.

Classes are held at the Saint Mary's College Education Center at 4320 Stevens Creek Blvd. To request application materials, call 1-800-538-9999.

--Rebecca Wallace

Book sale benefits the libraries at Brandeis

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the Brandeis University National Women's Committee will hold its 20th annual used-book sale at Westgate Mall from Thursday, April 30, to Saturday, May 9.

More than 35,000 used books will be on sale in addition to games, puzzles, tapes, records and videos. Proceeds benefit the libraries at Brandeis University. The sale will take place in the central concourse of the mall at 1600 Saratoga Ave. in San Jose.

--Aji Mathai

Special Olympics volunteers needed

Those interested in helping out with Special Olympics in Santa Clara County can sign up to be chaperones for athletes at the upcoming daylong track and field event.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old or accompanied by an adult for the entire day, said spokesperson Sue Rizzi. The meet will be held May 16 at Independence High School at 1776 Educational Park Drive in San Jose.

Two chaperone orientations will be held: the first on Saturday, May 2, at 9:30 a.m., and the second on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. They will be held at the Special Olympics office at 5730 Chambertin Drive in San Jose.

For more information, call 267-2734.

--Rebecca Wallace

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