Willow Glen residents are invited to attend a informational meeting to learn more about bicycle and pedestrian access to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

This is an opportunity to review and provide input on the proposed bicycle and pedestrian access being designed for the new airport facility.

Residents are invited to attend one of four planned meetings, with the first one planned for Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. at 4 N. 2nd Street. Additional meetings are scheduled for Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 49 N. 4th Street; Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. at the VTA headquarters and Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the City of Santa Clara City Hall.

For more information, contact the Airport Neighborhood Services Group at 408.501.0979.

Local youths act in the 'Velveteen Rabbit' play

Willow Glen resident Brian Mulcahy Jr. is once again showing off his performance chops, playing the lead role of the little boy in the Children's Musical Theater upcoming Rising Stars production of The Velveteen Rabbit. The show will be the last in the theater's summer series.

In this updated version of the beloved children's story, the play relates the tale of a plucky rabbit who must summon his own self-esteem when his relationship with the little boy is threatened. The cast, which also includes more than a dozen other Willow Glen residents, is composed of more than 100 children between the ages of 6 and 9.

The production will run from Aug. 12 through Aug. 15 at the Montgomery Theater, 1401 Parkmoor Ave., in downtown San Jose. Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.smtsj.org or call the Children's Musical Theater box office at 408.288.5437.

Residents can learn about identity theft

Brown bag a lunch, take a break from your desk and join the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 10 for a free Bring Your Own Lunch seminar, "Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft."

Presented by Kai Deering of Health Plan Alliance, this workshop will provide local citizens with information about how they can protect their business assets and families from identity theft. City of Santa Clara Police Department spokesman Kiet Nguyen will make a presentation, and those at the event will receive an information kit featuring identity theft prevention tips.

The seminar, which is free and open to all Chamber members and prospective members, will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Chamber Offices, Assembly Room, 310 S. First St., San Jose. Preregistration is available online at www.sjchamber.com. For more information, call 408.291.5265.

San Jose exhibit is
a 15-piece showcase

Fifteen pieces of art selected from the initial exhibit of the South Bay Art Momentum go on exhibit for the month of August in a Phantom Gallery space at 23 and 25 San Fernando St., in downtown San Jose.

Participating artists and guests voted Harry Kline's The Artist as a Work in Progress the overall winner. Kline created a mobius strip of paper with a series of charcoal sketches of himself.

In addition to Kline, chosen artists include Willow Glen artist Jen Norton, whose painting is called Worldly Women.

Norton describes the piece as "three women reaching toward a glowing dove. Their garments are created from the continents of the world, with patterns and decoration created by collaging copies of international money into the work. The money flows freely from one figure to another, and the women share one vision: peace.

"I believe that art allows us to visualize what otherwise seems unattainable."

A graduate of Santa Clara University, Norton is on the board of the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society and is on the steering committee of Silicon Valley Studios. Her website is www.nortonstudio.com.

National Night Out can better neighborhoods

Willow Glen residents will be able to enjoy each other's company while promoting neighborhood safety at one of the National Night Out events held throughout San Jose.

On Aug. 3, approximately 30 San Jose neighborhoods will come together at barbecues, ice cream socials and block parties as part of a nationwide attempt to increase crime-prevention awareness, police partnerships and neighborhood pride.

The events are made possible through collaboration between San Jose neighborhoods, the San Jose Police Department and the San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services.

National Night Out events are primarily planned and coordinated by ad hoc committees of neighbors and neighborhood associations.

The closest event for Willow Glen will be held at Alma Community Center, 136 W. Alma Ave., from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be food, a salsa contest, door prizes, a jump house and children's activities.

For more information about the Alma Community Center event, contact Cecilia Santos-Chavez at 408.998.8378. For more information about other events throughout San Jose, visit www.sanjoseca.gov or call 408.277.4000.