Run Turkey Run 2018

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It’s Thanksgiving month and Almaden’s most popular community event of the season is coming up. Bret Harte Middle School Booster Club’s “Run Turkey Run 2018” is on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, 2018. This family fun run event is the biggest fund-raiser for Bret Harte Middle School, and is gaining popularity with increased participation every year.

Both the 5K and 10K runs begin and end at Leland High School on Camden Avenue at 8:30 am. They are run on paved trails along the Los Alamitos Creek trail, making it easy to participate with family members including children and seniors.

The registration for Run Turkey Run is open, but prices increase after November 15th. Run Turkey Run spirit T-shirts are also available. All proceeds go to Bret Harte Middle School Booster Club. So, hurry and book your place at the start line!

For more details and to sign up, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SanJose/AVRTR

Almaden Halloween Haunts

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Pumpkin patches, haunted houses, costume parties and great neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. It’s Halloween, and Almaden Valley is abuzz with festive spirit. Here’s what is haunting the neighborhoods this week.

Castillero’s Cobra Crypt: This year, Almaden’s Castillero Middle School’s Drama Department has started a new Halloween tradition. It’s hosting the “Cobra Crypt”, a week-long Halloween fest that includes a pumpkin patch, haunted house, carnival, games and a variety of activities. The fest is every day from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm till October 31st. Tickets are $5. This is Castillero Drama’s biggest fundraiser, and by all neighborhood accounts, not to be missed.

Halloween Britannia Arms AlmadenThe Simpson’s Halloween at the Britannia Arms: On October 30th, at 7:30 pm at the Britannia Arms, you can enjoy a Simpson’s themed Halloween event. There will be a costume contest, Simpson’s trivia, special food and drinks, and more.

Neighborhood trick-or-treats: Almaden Valley boasts some of the best trick or treating neighborhoods in San Jose. Attractive areas include Chateau Drive and the Country Club neighborhood, the Pierce Ranch neighborhood, and the Graystone neighborhood, among others. The biggest attraction might be at Little Falls Drive in the Country Club neighborhood, which draws huge crowds for the spooky haunted house display at the end of the street. Venturing there is well worth it, and give yourselves ample time to park and stroll through the streets.

Happy Halloween!

Upcoming Events at Almaden Valley High Schools

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Almaden Valley high schoolsAlmaden Valley high schools Leland and Pioneer both have exciting events that you can attend over the weekend and next week.

On Saturday, October 20, the Leland Parent Club is hosting its annual music and dance event, the Dandiya Raas Mela. The Dandiya and the Garba are traditional ritualistic dances performed during the Indian festival of Navratri or the “nine nights”.

This event is one of the biggest fundraisers for Leland High School. A special highlight of the event this year is a performance by the “Naach” group, a students club specializing in Bollywood dance. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the door. All proceeds go towards enrichment programs at Leland High. For more information, visit: http://www.lelandparentclub.com/dandiya.html

Next week, from October 24 to October 27, students at Pioneer High will be performing twin fall plays, 12 Angry Men and 12 Angry Women.

12 Angry Men is adapted from the American courtroom drama of the same name, while 12 Angry Women is a feminist adaptation of the same play.

Advanced reserved seats may be booked through phsdrama.ludus.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. So, come with you family and friends to watch this classic adaptation from a highly talented drama team and help raise funds for Pioneer High. For more information, visit: https://pioneer.sjusd.org/index.php/calendar/filter-by/event/699/2018/10/24/

Almaden Art and Wine Festival 2018

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Almaden Art and Wine Festival 2018Almaden Valley’s most exciting annual event is here: The 42nd Almaden Art and Wine Festival is being held at Almaden Lake Park this Sunday, Sept. 16, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The setting itself is incredibly beautiful with dazzling white tents against the backdrop of Almaden Lake, bright yellow sunflowers, people in colorful attire strolling and sipping wine, musicians playing and artists showcasing their work.

The festival is organized by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club (AVWC) and provides a platform to local artists to display and sell their work and to local musicians with an audience to showcase their talent. It also gives family run and specialty wineries an opportunity to introduce their products through wine-tasting.

The Almaden Art and Wine Festival is an important local fund-raiser. The proceeds from the festival go towards supporting a host of local non-profits serving the areas of education, teens and women.

At the festival, there is entertainment for all ages. Kids have a 25 ft. rock wall and rappelling area, slides, bounce houses and a special stage for kid’s entertainment. Adults have a variety of local bands and performers on the main stage.

It’s an event not to be missed, so stroll in, sip some wine and prepare to be entertained.

For more information, visit: https://www.almadenwomen.org/

Almaden Community Center Fall 2018 Catalog

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Almaden Community Center Fall 2018The Almaden Community Center Fall 2018 Catalog is here, with a host of exciting new activities and programs lined up, including…

Art Start by CLAP (ages 3 – 5) – This activity focuses on developing fine motor skills through drawing, textures, collages and other art techniques. All material provided.

Cartoon Animation by Young Rembrandts (ages 7 – 14) – Develop a sense of humor by learning how to draw and illustrate goofy expressions and hilarious situations in cartoons.

Junior Chemical Engineering: Crazy Connections by Engineering for Kids (ages 5 – 7) – Experiment with bubbles, playdough and other material to learn more about solids, liquids and gases.

Chemical Engineering: Mix it Up by Engineering for Kids (ages 8 – 12) – Create your own rocket fuel or find out the secrets behind color pigmentation. Participants will use various ingredients to create mixtures, solutions and learn about chemical reactions.

Little Wilderness Medicine by Little Medical School (ages 5 – 12) – Learn valuable outdoor skills including how to deal with weather exposure, snake bites and other outdoor emergencies in this cool program about Wilderness Medicine.

Minecraft, Animated! By Techsplosion (ages 5 – 11) – Make fabulous stop-motion animated movies and create life-like sets using cameras and Minecraft characters.

Junior Wedo Lego Robotics: Robots in Motion by Engineering for Kids (ages 5 – 7) – Learn to use and program with Lego Wedo Robotics 2.0. After completion, kids can move on to Robo Battles.

Ninjago Workshop Using Lego by Play-well Teknology (ages 5 – 8) – Help defeat the evil Lord Garmadon by building cool Lego Ninjago machines and tools!

To register for these and other Almaden Community Center activities, call (408) 268-1133 or visit: www.sanjoseca.gov/prns

4th of July 2018 in Almaden Valley – Fireworks, Parade and More!

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4th of July 2018 in Almaden Valley4th of July in Almaden Valley is traditionally an exciting day of festivities and fun-filled family events. This year promises no less!

Montevideo Neighborhood Parade and ‘4 on the 4th’ Run/Walk

The Montevideo neighborhood celebrates the 50th year of its annual Independence Day Parade. This is certainly one of the most festive neighborhood celebrations in the South Bay. Events begin in the morning with the ‘4 on the 4th’ Run/Walk through the neighborhood, and then the unique parade with colorful floats.

The parade begins and ends at the Montevideo Improvement Association (MIA) Clubhouse, looping through Camden Avenue, Puerto Vallarta Drive, Vera Cruz Drive, Monteverde Drive and Montellano Drive. Both the parade and the run/walk are open to all.

For more details, visit: https://montevideoneighborhood.wordpress.com/fourth-of-july/

Annual Family Fun Festival and Fireworks Show at Almaden Lake Park

The spectacular display of fireworks at the annual Family Fun Festival and Fireworks Show at Almaden Lake Park on the 4th of July is a must watch! Festivities begin at 3:00 pm with various activities for families. There will be a fireworks safety demo and a booth to write thank-you letters to soldiers. There will also be food trucks and booths by various local organizations including the Kiwanis Club of Almaden Valley, which will be serving all-American hot dogs, the entire proceeds of which will go back into charitable activities serving the community.

The fireworks show kicks off at about 9:00 pm. The event is free to all, so bring your family and friends. Please note that alcohol, pets, barbecues and personal fireworks are not allowed.

The Almaden Lake Park 4th of July celebration is the destination to enjoy a stunning and safe fireworks display. Don’t miss it!

For more information, visit: http://www.sjd10.com/4th-of-july-annual-event-.html

5D Playday at Santa Clara Valley Horsemen’s Association

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5D playdayThe Santa Clara Valley Horsemen’s Association 5D Playday summer event series continues on Sunday, June 25, 2018, and then again on August 26, 2018.

The events of the 5D Playday series include Barrels, Speed Barrels, Single Stake, Pole Bending, Birangle and more. If you have a horse and want to join the events, the fees are $30 for members (cash only) and $35 for day-members, for all events. Participants of all levels of experience are welcome.

Sign-ups are at 8:00 am; events begin at 9:00 am. Parking and admission are free. Breakfast and lunch are available for purchase at the snack shack.

If you would rather just soak in the fun, take your kids, family and friends and head to the Santa Clara Valley Horsemen’s Association this weekend for an exciting day right here in Almaden Valley.

The Association was formed in 1939 to promote a better understanding of horses and an enthusiasm for riding. It is located at 20350 McKean Road, San Jose, CA, 95120.

For more information, visit: http://horsemens.org

Bevy Produce and Goods Spring Event

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Bevy produce and goodsBevy Produce and Goods, Almaden’s neighborhood organic produce store, is holding its first Spring Event, ‘The Bevy Market’, tomorrow. Patrons and organic food lovers can taste and sample a variety of produce, dairy products, snacks and much more, all sourced from local vendors and farmers.

Bevy Produce and Goods is the brainchild of Yesie Chang, a young Almaden resident. After graduating from Leland High School, Yesie devoted her energies to the study of agriculture and farming, an area of keen interest for her. “While working at the farm I decided that this was going to be my life career,” she said.

Yesie’s stint in farming also determined the focus of Bevy Produce. All of Bevy’s produce and dairy products are grown and made by farmers locally from within a 300-mile radius. “A lot of local farmers grow organic produce and we source only from them to ensure everything is fresh. I want our customers to know where their produce is coming from.”

Besides edible produce, Bevy also has a line of handmade and natural soaps and cleaning products. And why a store in Almaden? “I believe in being neighborly and giving back to the community”, Yesie said with a proud smile.

So, if you have not yet stepped inside this quaint little neighborhood organic store, be sure to do so tomorrow, Saturday, May 26, 2018, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Location:

Bevy Produce and Goods
6948 Almaden Expressway, San Jose CA, 95120
www.Bevygoodproduce.com

Almaden Community Center Summer Camps 2018

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Registration is now open for Almaden Community Center summer camps!

The Spring 2018 activity guide details a huge variety of summer camps offered from June through August, designed to keep teens and kids of all ages creatively engaged this summer.

The camps are broadly categorized into the following groups: Music and Dance, Art and Craft, Sports, Science, Engineering and Robotics. Many of them have full-day and half-day options. Here’s a sample of what’s in the guide…

Art and Craft

  • Art Start – Painting, drawing and collage
  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – Art and reading camp for tiny tots
  • Origami
  • And more!

Music and Dance for Tiny Tots

  • Anna and Elsa Dance Camp – A fantasy adventure with song and dance party and Frozen themed games
  • Cheerleading Dance Camp – Learn the latest in hip hop and cheer leading moves
  • Princess Dance Camp Royal Ball – Tiny tots attend balls with fairy princesses
  • And more!

Lego Camps

  • Jedi Engineering, Jedi Master and Jedi Cadets
  • Minecraft Build Adventure Games using Lego
  • Lego Robotics using Wedo and EV3
  • And more!

Camps by Mad Science

  • Spy Academy
  • Eureka Young Inventor’s Camp
  • NASA Journey into Outer Space
  • And more!

Camps by Engineering for Kids

  • Electronic Game Design
  • Minecraft Virtual Education
  • 3D Printing – Superheroes to the rescue
  • And more!

Sports camps by Skyhawks

  • Basketball, golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, and more!

For more information including schedule and fees, visit: https://issuu.com/sjparksandrec/docs/almaden_community_center_4ef9f0ee2c0588

Almaden Community Center Winter 2018 Catalog

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Almaden Community Center Winter 2018

The Almaden Community Center Winter 2018 catalog has arrived! The activity guide details a host of exciting activities from January 2018 to March 2018.

Highlights include a number of new classes, special events like the North Pole Party, and camps like the President’s Week Camp and Futsal Camp. Here’s a preview of what’s inside…

New Classes:

* Apprentice Aerospace Engineering – Up, Up and Away
* Junior Aerospace – Taking to the Skies
* Behind the Brush!
* Beginning Fencing

Special Events:

  • North Pole Party – Join Santa in this fun-filled party at the North Pole with lots of food, music, art activities and even a special gift. The event takes place on Dec. 14, 2017, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm at the Almaden Community Center.

Camps:

  • President’s Week Camp – This camp is conducted by the Almaden Community Center staff and includes a variety of arts and crafts, games, activities and even a day field trip. Camp goes from Feb. 20-23, 2018, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Almaden Community Center.
  • Futsal Camp – Futsal is a fast-paced 5×5 soccer game played indoors on a basketball court. This week-long camp is a great way to initiate your child into Futsal or soccer. Camp goes from Feb. 20-23, 2018, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Almaden Community Center.

To view the complete Almaden Community Center Winter 2018 catalog, click here: https://issuu.com/sjparksandrec/docs/almaden_20community_20center