Instead of confronting the mad Thanksgiving rush at the mall for holiday shopping, Willow Glen residents can shop early, find unique gifts and support international artisans at the International Gift Faire Oct. 22­23.

The event will be held at Lincoln Glen Fellowship Hall, 2700 Booksin Ave. The festival features handcrafted items marketed by Ten Thousand Villages, the oldest and largest fair trade organization in the United States.

The festival includes fairly traded folk art, pottery, jewelry, home decor and other crafts from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

"Our sale gives shoppers opportunity to help these artisans provide better nutrition, health care, education and housing for their families," said sale coordinator Frances Shroeder.

Volunteers from local churches and the members of a World Hunger class at San José State University will serve as sales clerks.

The festival will be held Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 408.264.1662 or visit www.internationalgiftfaire.com.

Nonprofit works to
further peace effort

Willow Glen resident Nancy Goebner is chairing the "Voices for Peace" display at the Berryessa Branch of the San Jose Library, 3311 Noble Ave., because the Willow Glen branch did not have space for the exhibit.

Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Chapter 101 of Veterans for Peace Inc., the show features a compilation of quotes from former U.S. presidents and generals, as well as Major General Smedley D. Butler, the most highly decorated Marine in United States history. Veterans Ed Hart and Tony van Renterghen compiled the exhibit.

Veterans for Peace Inc. is a nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization dedicated to the abolishment of war.

"Voices for Peace" will be on display through Oct. 7. For more information, contact Nancy Goebner at 408.386.9260 or VFP_101@yahoogroups.com.