Uh-oh, those summer nights!

The Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers are getting ready for the third annual Music in the Glen outdoor summer concert series and picnicking at Willow Glen Elementary School. The first appearance will be by country band Sidesaddle on July 8. The Hitmen, who play classic R and B and Motown, perform on July 15. For Big Band and jazz fans, Mark Russo and the Classy Cats will delight crowds on July 22. Flashback will feature music from the '50s and '60s on July 29. And the Joe Sharino Band will perform on Aug. 5.

Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers concert organizer Scott McDonald says he hopes the event keeps growing. There are no admission fees, and hot dogs and other food are for sale. Concerts are scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

—Beth Walker

Three cheers for the
red, white and blue

The streets of North Willow Glen will celebrate the country's Independence Day in populist, democratic style.

The North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is having its second annual Fourth of July block party, and neighbors and families are invited to partake for free.

Delmas Street will be closed to street traffic between Fuller and Atlanta avenues on July 4 from 4 to 10 p.m and Willows Smokehouse Deli will be selling barbecue dinners from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will also be organized children's games and prizes scheduled between 7 and 8 p.m. Free ice cream will be served at 8:15 p.m. to the first 650 people. If folks stick around until 9:45 p.m., they will have a great spot to watch fireworks. No alcohol, dogs or personal fireworks are allowed at the event.

—Beth Walker

Sing a song and become
part of the Vivace Choir

For children who love to sing, the Vivace Youth Chorus is the place to be.

Youth ages 6 to 14 who want to develop their musical and ensemble skills can make an appointment over the summer to audition for the preparatory or intermediate choirs. Classes will begin Sept. 13.

The audition will help Vivace Youth Chorus director Peggy Spool place each youth in the correct choir based on that child's musical knowledge, experience and age. The choirs are professionally directed by Spool, and choir practices will be held at the Willow Glen Stone Church, 1108 Clark Way, on Mondays and Wednesdays.

For more information or to make an audition appointment, contact director Peggy Spool at 408.979.9997 or visit www.vivaceyouthchorus.org/index.html. More information can also be obtained at Vivace Youth Chorus' open house, tentatively scheduled for early September. Check the website for the date.

—Amy Wicks

Celebrate July 4 with
a wind symphony sound

Willow Glen residents are invited to attend San Jose Wind Symphony's free Fourth of July concert on the Los Gatos High School lawn to celebrate the holiday.

Symphony Silicon Valley percussionist member and Willow Glen resident Galen Lemmon will be the featured soloist on two numbers during the concert, playing xylophone. He will join fellow residents and San Jose Wind Symphony members Jeff Jones, percussionist, and French horn player Miriam Rowan.

The performance will begin at 1:30 p.m. Those who plan to come should plan to arrive early to get a shaded spot on the Los Gatos High School front lawn. Cannons from the American Civil War will be used on the 1812 Overture and Stars & Stripes Forever.

For more information, visit www.sjws. org or call 408.927.7597.

—Amy Wicks

Lady Liberty draws a
crowd to Willow Glen

If you light it, they will come. That's what Marlene Opray found out after installing her Statue of Liberty replica front and center in her Koch Lane front yard.

Lady Liberty's torch lights up every night from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., along with about seven other statues in Opray's front yard.

She gleefully says a "parade of cars has been driving by her home every night," with one woman stopping in front of her yard one night to yell, "Your yard looks beautiful!"

Opray adores the attention her yard art is receiving, especially from those who stop to take pictures of her Statue of Liberty.

"It looks so beautiful," Opray said. "I just love it."

—Amy Wicks