June 5, 2007

NewsBriefs

City, county officials to raise rainbow flag

On Friday, June 8, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager , Vice Mayor Dave Cortese and San Jose City Council members Judy Chirco, Nora Campos, Sam Liccardo, Madison Nguyen, Pierluigi Oliverio, Nancy Pyle and Forrest Williams will raise the Rainbow Flag in honor of Gay Pride month.

The event will be held at San Jose City Hall at 200 E. Santa Clara Street, outside the West Plaza between the rotunda and city hall at the flagpole. An invocation, given by Rev. Michael Patrick Ellard, senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Jose, will begin the ceremony.

Yeager, who formerly held the District 6 city council seat, raised the first Rainbow Flag at city hall when he first took office on the council in 2001.

In addition to the Rainbow Flag raising, The San Jose Pride Festival will be held on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday June 10 at Discovery Meadow at Guadalupe River Park on West San Carlos Street at Woz Way.

On Sunday, June 10 the San Jose Pride parade begins at 11 a.m. on Market Street and St. John and will travel down Market Street to San Carlos ending at the Tech Museum.

For more information regarding the San Jose Pride Festival, visit the Web site at www.sanjosepride.com.

Popular Christian Pastor Joel Osteen to hold worship service in San Jose on June 8

Pastors of the largest church in America, Joel and Victoria Osteen of Lakewood Church will hold a worship event at the HP Pavilion on Friday, June 8 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 each. The evening will also feature the music of Dove award-winning Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, Grammy award-winning Israel Houghton and the Lakewood Ensemble.

Joel Osteen was featured as one of Barbara Walter's "10 Most Fascinating People of 2006." He was also named "Most Influential Christian in America of 2006" by the readers of The Church Report magazine.

Lakewood Church of Houston, Texas is the largest and fastest growing church in the United States with nearly 40,000 members holding services in one of the largest worship centers in the United States. Lakewood Church's weekly services are also broadcast on television in the U.S. and around the world in over 100 nations. According to Nielsen Media Research, Joel Osteen is the most-watched minister in America and reaches 95 percent of all U.S. television households.

Joel's first book, "Your Best Life Now" quickly hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list when it was released in October of 2004, and has since sold over 4 million copies. The book is available in 19 languages. While in San Jose Osteen will be signing copies of his book Friday, June 8 at noon at Borders Books and Music, 356 Santana Row, San Jose.

For more information about Joel and Victoria Osteen, go to www.joelosteen.com or www.lakewood.cc.

SJDP wins first place in CHP’s 2006 Law Enforcement Challenge

The San Jose Police Department has won first place in the California Highway Patrol's 2006 California Law Enforcement Challenge (CLEC) for cities in the 1001-2000 sworn officers category.

This is an annual competition amongst all California law enforcement agencies to determine who has the most efficient and effective traffic enforcement programs. Lt. Jeff Smith, commander of the Traffic Enforcement Unit, spearheaded the effort, both in terms of operational strategies and the preparation of the materials needed to compete in the event.

Chief Rob Davis said, "Lt. Smith's efforts have been superb, and to accomplish this with his reduced staffing level is nothing short of outstanding."

It should also be noted that SJPD's collaboration in traffic enforcement-related matters with other agencies in Santa Clara County also resulted in a first place finish in the Multi-Jurisdictional category in the competition. This is a result of the combined efforts of all Santa Clara County agencies and their participation in the annual "Avoid the 13" anti-DUI campaign.

"Although our department continues to operate with a staffing level that has not kept pace with the city's population growth, traffic safety is a priority for us, and we will continue to try to find innovative ways to provide it in San Jose," Davis said.

MetroED to hold World Garden Workshop

The Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) is offering a new free-of-charge World Garden Workshop on how to Espalier Fruit Trees on June 16 at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave. in San Jose.

Master Gardener Caroline Zlotnick will speak to gardeners on training espalier fruit trees to climb walls or fences during a free workshop from 1 to 3 p.m., rain or shine, in room 18, across from MetroED’s World Garden. Espalier is a form of pruning to train a tree to grow in a flat manner, against a wall or fence to maximize space in a small garden.

The World Garden is located on the southwestern edge of the Erikson Adult Center campus. Look for the redwood trees and the greenhouse roof after entering the fenced parking lot on Minas Drive, off of Pearl Avenue.

To register for the free workshop, call (408) 723-6450 and add your name to the June World Garden Workshop list or e-mail ritab@metroed.net. Sign up early because space is limited.

MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult career technical, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 35,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.

Free real estate seminar scheduled for June 20 at Camden Center

The Marshall Reddick Real Estate network will hold a free seminar to discuss “Where to Find the Money for Real Estate Investing,” on June 20 at the Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Ave. The program begins at 6 p.m. with a mentoring session for new people from 5 to 5:30 p.m. and a free buffet dinner from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

The seminar is designed to show people the necessary tools to achieve financial independence through real estate purchasing. A different educational topic is featured every month with a diverse group of real estate agents flying from different parts of the country to present their area, including those who have successfully invested through the network. Use this opportunity to network with others who are interested in real estate investing while enjoying free food and drink.

Newcomers will receive the group’s free 300-page First-Timer's Kit, and learn how to use the real estate network to start purchasing in real estate, nationwide. RSVP to Evan Gramley at (949) 885-8879 or egramley@marshallreddickseminars.com.

All MRS Investors who attend the Bay Area Club meetings will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a paid Hawaiian vacation for two!