Local Notebook
VTA offers summer discount passes
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has launched the Summer Youth Discount Pass Program to promote VTA services during the summer. For $49, youths ages five to 17 can take unlimited rides to destinations in Santa Clara County from June 1 through August 31. Youth summer discount passes can be purchased until June 16 at the VTA Downtown Customer Service Center, 2 N. First St., San Jose, or by calling VTA customer service at 408.321.2300 (TDD only) or 408.321.2330.
Nonprofit conference to give $25,000 award
Presented by the Center of Excellence in Nonprofits, the New Horizons in Nonprofit Leadership Conference will take place June 7 at the Silicon Valley Conference Center, 2161 N. First St., San Jose. The keynote speaker will be Burt Nanus, coauthor of Leaders Who Make a Difference. The conference will also present a $25,000 award for excellence to an executive director of a nonprofit, the largest regional award of its kind.
Parks to give free admission June 9
The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate the beginning of the park season with "Go Outside and Play Day" on June 9. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy the outdoors and activities that all 28 county parks will be providing. These activities include hiking, biking, trap and skeet shooting, horseback riding or just relaxing. All vehicle entry fees will be waived and visitors can purchase "venture passes" for autos and boats, which will allow unlimited access to county parks for one year. A venture pass is $50 and is available at any county park. For more information, call 408.358.3741 or visit www.parkhere.org.
Santa Clara County Fair announces free fireworks, food, music
In order to serve the community and attract new visitors, the Santa Clara County Fair, 344 Tully Road, in San Jose, has announced free admission to its annual FairFest, Aug. 2-4 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Nightly fireworks shows will be the highlight of each day, in addition to the daily schedule of stage shows, live music, rides, food, exhibits and traditional elements of the fair. New attractions this year include special arts and crafts exhibitors and vendors, as well as antiques and collectibles on display and for sale. A food and wine expo will feature cooking and product demonstrations, wine tasting, and exhibits by food stores, restaurants and houseware vendors. Local rock, blues and country bands will be performing, and local microbrews will serve beverages at the 'Blues 'n Brews' area. For more information call Vic Heman, 408.918.0578 or email vheman@carterisrael.com.
County recreation officials seek opinion on regional parks
The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department is asking the public to participate in workshops focused on needs and values concerning regional parks and recreation. The city has developed drafts of a vision statement for the future of regional parks in the county. Issues for discussion include the criteria that the department will use to identify projects of countywide significance, and a park classification system that will help the department organize its lands and establish what kinds of recreation improvements and uses are necessary for the various parks. A workshop will be held June 19, 7-9 p.m., at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Lobby, 1700 Alum Rock Ave. in San Jose. For more information, call Jane Mark at 408.355.2237 or visit www.parkhere.org.
California joins national science teacher initiative
The nonprofit organization WestEd, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the ExxonMobil Foundation are collaborating on Building a Presence for Science in California, an initiative to bring standards-based science education into every classroom in the state. WestEd, as well as several educational organizations that are joining WestEd in coordinating the project in California, will receive $520,000 to implement the new program.
Building a Presence for Science will link California science teachers and science education organizations to a nationwide science-learning network. Three hundred educators will serve as key leaders in the state. In turn, they will establish a network of 6,000 points of contact representing the state's 12,500 public and private schools. The points of contact will provide their school colleagues with information and resources that support the goals of national and state science education standards.
With the addition of California, a total of 20 states now comprise the Building a Presence for Science network. For more information, visit www.nsta.org.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
