Rated as one of the top 25 parades in the country, this year's parade will have several new features. The route will feature high-flying flags, a San Jose Holiday Parade logo painted on the street, and confetti cannons. In addition, inflatable characters will welcome the spectators as they line the parade route.

Giant helium balloons, floats, marching bands, equestrian units, special guests, celebrities and Santa Claus will all be part of the parade. Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley will provide a sneak preview of its Nutcracker production, and there will be appearances by Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob Squarepants.

The parade will start on Santa Clara Street under Highway 87, near the HP Pavilion at San Jose, and proceed east on Santa Clara Street. It will turn right on Market Street, marching south, past the "Christmas in the Park" display at Plaza de Cesar Chavez and ending at San Carlos Street.

A sneak preview of the parade's giant helium balloons, floats and bands can be seen at the "Inflation Celebration" on Dec. 7, 5­7 p.m.

After the parade, information booths will be open to offer free health screenings, entertainment and a special "toys for tots" concert featuring the U.S. Marine Band.

The parade is a program of the city of San Jose's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services and is produced in conjunction with Christmas in the Park and NBC11.

For more information, including volunteer opportunities, visit www.sanjoseholidayparade.com or call 408.277.3303.


New housing for SJ seniors opens

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales joined community and housing leaders for the grand opening of the Monte Vista Senior I Apartment Community in San Jose Oct. 24 at 2604 Hacienda Court, on the west side of S. Capitol Avenue and north of Lombard Avenue.

The apartment community was developed by ROEM Corporation, with the city's housing department giving $4.6 million and other partners, including the Foundation for Affordable Housing, providing $6.1 million to build the project. The architect is James Guthrie Associates, and the project manager is John Stewart Company.

The senior housing project is a companion development to the Monte Vista Garden Senior II project. In combination with the Monte Vista Garden Family development, scheduled to open next year, there will be a total of 116 below market rate units for San Jose's senior residents. Additionally, there are 114 below market rate units of family housing and 30 market-rate family units between the two projects.

In conjunction with housing at this location, ROEM Developers built the future light rail station park-and-ride, which is easily available to residents and the surrounding community.

For more information on the housing project, call 408.277.5800.


InnVision selected as fundraiser beneficiary

InnVision has announced that it will be this year's beneficiary of Cadence Design Systems' annual Stars & Strikes bowling fundraiser.

This year's event is the 10th since Cadence started the fundraising event in 1990. The goal this year is to raise $500,000 for InnVision, and, as in past years, Cadence will underwrite the cost of staging the event.

The event will be Nov. 10 at the Oakridge Lanes in South San Jose, across from the Oakridge Mall, and will feature several San Jose Sharks players.

"We are very grateful Cadence selected InnVision as beneficiary. The money raised will have an immediate impact on the people we help," said Christine Burroughs, chief executive officer of InnVision. "We have outgrown our Georgia Travis Center facility, and the funds from Stars & Strikes will enable us to renovate a recently acquired property that will better meet the special needs of the 100-plus women and children who rely on the center each day."

Cadence President and CEO Ray Bingham said, "InnVision provides a critical service and is truly a standout organization in this community. We are pleased to have an opportunity to help, especially at a time when we're hearing so much about the decrease in corporate giving in this tough financial climate."

For more information, contact Carol Shultz at 408.292.4286.


School committee holds election

The Santa Clara County Committee on School District Organization will be holding an election Nov. 29 for two open seats. There are 11 members of the county committee—two from each of the five county supervisorial districts and one member elected at large. Members from supervisorial districts 2 and 4 will be elected this year.

All candidates must be registered voters and reside within the county supervisorial district they wish to represent. No employee of a public school district or the County Office of Education may serve on the county committee. However, members of the governing board of a school district may serve.

Those interested in serving should submit an application to the County Office of Education with a letter of intent to serve and a résumé.

Candidates must submit the information by 5 p.m. on Nov. 13. For more information, contact Suzanne Carrig at the Santa Clara County Office of Education at 408.435.6869.