Around The Glen

Discovery Museum hosts 'Arthur' show

The Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose will be the first museum in the country to host the traveling exhibit Arthur's World. The 2,500-square-foot exhibit opens on June 17, and will stay in San Jose for six months. Arthur's World is inspired by the Emmy award-winning PBS children's television series and the Arthur books by Marc Brown.

The exhibit includes a television in which visitors appear on screen as characters in the show. In the family backyard, where Arthur has set up tents for his first sleep-over, children can climb into sleeping bags, listen to night sounds and create shadow puppets.

In addition, the museum will present Arthur Builds a Treehouse, a participatory theater performance for kids of all ages. Some actors will be selected from the audience, and the whole audience will help Arthur solve his dilemmas. The show will be presented four times daily during the summer and is free with museum admission.

--Michele Leung

Singer Jayme Kelly Curtis to perform

In the mood for a little bit of blues with your mocha? On May 27, at 8 p.m., Jayme Kelly Curtis will perform songs from her new CD, In a Rushing Stream, at the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company.

The folk- and blues-flavored vocal music is free, though donations are appreciated. Curtis will be backed by Santa Cruz guitarist Bruce Argyle, who also appears on her CD.

The Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company is at 1383 Lincoln Ave. For information, call 297-9077.

--Chantal Lamers

'Go out and play,' says County Parks and Rec

The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department believes there is no better way to celebrate summer than to spend all day at the park. The county agency has named June 3 as "Go Outside and Play" Day.

All vehicle entrance fees will be waived on that day, and the public is encouraged to take advantage of the activities the parks provide, such as hiking, horseback riding, biking and trap and skeet shooting.

There are 28 parks within Santa Clara County, with a combined area of more than 40,000 acres. Parks will also have special Frisbee and bumper sticker giveaways. In addition, the parks will sell venture passes for cars and boats. A $50 pass allows unlimited access to county parks for 12 months. Venture passes may also be obtained at Reed's Sporting Goods, Mel Cotton's, Any Mountain and Sportmart.

Local county parks include Lexington Reservoir, Los Gatos Creek, Rancho San Antonio, Sanborn-Skyline, Stevens Creek, Vasona Lake and Villa Montalvo.

For information, call 408.358.3741, or check out www.parkhere.org.

--Michele Leung

The Conservatory of Performing Arts adds additional sessions

The San Jose Children's Musical Theater wants to help young thespians hone their art. Its annual summer teaching program, the Conservatory of Performing Arts, is back with an additional session in response to increased interest. COPA welcomes kids ages 4-18 who are interested in the theater arts, and provides fundamental classes in acting, dance and voice.

The two COPA sessions will be held at Monroe Middle School. Session I is June 26-July 14, and Session II is July 17-Aug. 2. Both sessions run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuition is $300 per session; sibling discounts and scholarships are available.

COPA is divided into four programs: Tiny Tots, ages 4-K; Junior Talents, ages 6-8; Rising Stars, ages 9-18; and Mainstage Conservatory, ages 13-18.

To obtain a brochure, call 408.288.5437, x22 or visit www.sjcmt.com.

--Michele Leung

'Plane pull' returns to Moffet Field

Get ready for the biggest tug of war on the West Coast. The Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Torch Run will host its second annual plane pull competition at Moffett Federal Airfield on June 10, beginning at 8:45 a.m. Admission is free.

Participants will discover which team has the Herculean strength to pull a donated Boeing 727 along a 12-foot course with a 1,000-foot rope. Teams of 20 donate $1,000 to take up the challenge, and all proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Santa Clara County. Team members are from local and state law enforcement agencies, corporations, airlines, military, clubs, businesses and organizations.

Police canine units will be on hand for demonstrations, and the Young Eagles will provide free airplane rides for kids 8 to 17.

To register a team, attend the event, or to get involved, contact Sgt. Danny Acosta or Catherine Brians at 408.267.2734.

--Michele Leung

Youth Task Force seeks new members

Santa Clara County is looking for a few good teenagers. The Youth Advisory Task Force of Santa Clara County is recruiting new members for the 2000-2001 school year.

A meeting for people 14 to 20 will be held on May 17, at 6 p.m. in the United Way Building at 1922 The Alameda in San Jose. Twenty applicants will be accepted this year. The deadline for applications is May 26.

The task force advises the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and Human Relations Commission on issues and policies affecting youth. The group promotes youth activism and advocacy by rallying for policies and solutions that will improve teen's lives. The task force also works with similar youth groups, community and local government on youth-related issues.

To RSVP for the meeting, call Kelly Tuffo at the Office of Human Relations at 792.2323, or Kris Freiwald at the Violence Prevention Program at 885.7661.

--Chantal Lamers

Docent tours slated for Guadalupe Park

Now's a good time to get out into the sunshine and take a tour of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. On June 3, docents will lead a walking tour of the park and gardens. The $10 tour runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Tour guides will give a tell-all story about the park's development along the Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose. Guides will explain how the river reflects San Jose's history and how flood control works. The tour includes a look at public works of art, a stroll through the Guadalupe Gardens and information on future plans for the park.

The tour begins at the Guadalupe Garden Center at 715 Spring St., between Taylor and Hedding streets.

Reservations must be made in advance. For information or to make a reservation, call Phil Cornish at 277.8845.

--Chantal Lamers

U-Haul offers reduced rates for college kids

Got a kid going off to college soon? Got a kid coming home from college soon? Either way, U-Haul can help. College Connection, a free service for college students, enables students to lower their moving costs by sharing a moving van. Students can haul their stuff cheaper by logging onto www.uhaul.com/collegeconnection. Also featured on the website are "Hot Deals" moving specials. Prospective college students and recent college graduates can also receive College Connection pricing by calling 1.800.468.4285.

--Chantal Lamers

Teacher charged with child molestation

A former San Jose Unified School District music teacher was arrested on May 15, for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl, San Jose police said.

San Jose resident John Robert Maurer, 37, taught at SJUSD from August 1996 until March 1998. Maurer recently worked as a substitute music teacher at St. Stevens School in San Jose. From February to May 2000, Maurer was a substitute music teacher at St. Andrews Elementary School in Saratoga.

The girl was visiting members of the suspect's family on May 6, when the alleged incident occurred, police said. The girl told her family a few days later, and they called police. A police investigation led to the arrest. Maurer was arraigned on May 17 and is being held on $50,000 bail.

Anyone with information related to the case can call investigator Eric Dragoo of the Sexual Assault Investigations Unit at 277.4102. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers Program at 947.7867.

--Chantal Lamers

Around the Glen

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West Valley College hosts annual fashion show

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