* The Morgan Autism Center, located in San Jose, is a non-profit special education program for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Founded in 1969 the center provides a very positive highly structured environment with a high staff to student ratio.

* Morgan Autism Center 40th Anniversary Celebration Starry Starry Night

A Cocktail & Hors d’oeuvre Reception with a special performance by the dynamic band SAGE – (< music will play)
A fun-filled evening of fine wines, champagnes and culinary delicacies.

Event Co-Chairs: Helen Marchese Owen & Angela McConnell
Honorary Co-Chairs:
Mayor Chuck Reed, City of San Jose
Supervisor Elizabeth Kniss, Santa Clara County

$100 per person – Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Cocktail Attire preferred.
Raffle Tickets Available: 1 for $10, 3 for $20, 8 for $50

* Tap To Talk
Cupertino based Assistyx has developed a communication device:

Regardless of cause–autism, developmental disability, mental retardation, down syndrome, apraxia, and many diseases–TapToTalk can help those who are non-verbal or have other speech or learning challenges communicate and learn.

TapToTalk

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White on Rice will appear at Camera 3 starting Friday, September 18.

A few months ago, I mentioned the film White on Rice, which headlined the San Francisco Asian-American Film Festival’s San Jose presentations. Now the film is back, booked for a one week run at the Camera 3 in downtown San Jose.

The film is about a 40-year-old guy who’s recently gotten divorced and moved in with his sister, where he’s sharing a bunk bed with his 10-year-old nephew. He refuses to grow up, but still hopes to find the perfect replacement for his departed wife. All the reviews I’ve seen say it’s really funny.

Even better, with a special coupon you can download from the San Jose chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League, proceeds from your attendance on the opening weekend will benefit JACL. The coupon is only good Friday through Sunday, and it doesn’t change the price of your ticket, but it does redirect part(?) of your ticket payment to JACL, to support their educational, civil rights, and cultural programs.

• What: Film screening benefitting San Jose Japanese-American Citizens League
• When: starting Friday, September 18
• Where: Camera 3 Cinema, 288 S. Second St., San Jose.

La Villa Deli - Willow Glen

Sunday the Rompacoglioni Car Crew will start their engines for the ‘Second Annual Cruise for a Cause’.

This classic ‘car cruise’ is happening September 6th – 9 AM to 3 PM on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Willow Glen.

Everyone is welcome to look at the cool cars. Please bring canned food and/or financial donations to the La Villa Deli parking lot.

Every $1 donated will help the Second Harvest Food Bank (750 Curtner Ave.) provide two nutritious meals.

As a youngster growing up in Modesto one of the highlights of summer was going to a baseball game. Mom brought a Thermos filled with ice cold Kool-Aid and dad brought the cowbell. It was my job to ring the cowbell for the home team. I rang that bell for every base hit, stolen base, runner who crossed home plate, and I gave it an extra big shake for a home run. Those were the days. The kind of days memories are made of.

Today I am ringing a ‘bell’ for a baseball game here in San Jose. The August 15th meet up between the San Jose Giants vs. the Stockton Ports will be more than just a good game, it will also be an event called “Don’t Let Cancer Steal 2nd Base”.

To help fight breast cancer please take a look at “Boobs by the Bay”

Put on your pink and make some baseball memories. Get your tickets now!

Game/Event Tickets cannot be purchased via the SJ Giants Box Office…they can only be bought directly from “Boobs by the Bay”

Payment can be made by cash, check or arranged via Paypal.

Delivery of tickets can be via snail mail, hand delivery, or even left at Will Call.

Please contact: Kerri Lodge at 408.846.4206 or check out the site click ‘Events’ to learn more, and purchase your tickets.

When: August 15th at 6 PM
Who: San Jose Giants vs. Stockton Ports
Where: San Jose Municipal Stadium
Why: To raise money for Breast Cancer

Roy's Station - photo by Matt Bruensteiner

Your chance to save a life could happen today. Two families here in San Jose are looking for a match.

The Asian American Donor Program will be at Roy’s Station Coffee Shop. 28-year old Nick Glasgow is in need of a bone marrow transplant. He is 3/4 Caucasian and 1/4 Japanese-American. Any person of Asian and Caucasian mix can be a potential donor.

Roy’s Station
Saturday, May 30
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
197 Jackson St.
San Jose – 95112
AADP

Across town a bone marrow donor registration drive will be held by the Lincoln Glen Little League for 6-year old Mateo Kohler. Mateo was adopted from Guatemala. Though finding a match might be difficult, it should be possible here in the Bay Area.

Lincoln Glen Little League
Saturday, May 30
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
River Glen Park
Pine & Bird Aves. – Willow Glen
Be The Match

There is not much time left, but if you can find a pair of NEW pajamas and get them to the Fairmont Hotel by 10 AM the Pajama Program be will happy to take your donation.

The PJs can be any size. They need not be fancy, or expensive. I put a set together from my local Rite Aid pharmacy.

Just drive up to the Fairmont’s main entrance to donate. As you hand over the pajamas they will hand you a heart shaped cookie – and a chance to win a night for two at the hotel.

If you can’t make it there this morning, cash donations are accepted online: The Pajama Program

Fairmont @ 170 S Market St. San Jose, Ca.

Photo by Bert van Dijk, http://flickr.com/photos/zilpho/

This Saturday, pick up some free coffee and save the environment at the same time.

The Phi Mu chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon will be coordinating a free e-waste recycle day as a fundraiser for the organization, SJSU’s music fraternity.

Green Mouse Recycling is making this happen at its Santa Clara headquarters, and here’s a list of things you can bring to the event:

• Computers/Laptops/Servers
• Televisions/Monitors
• DVD/CD Players
• Fax Machines/Printers
• Wire/Cabling/Printed Circuit Boards
• Aluminum/Scrap Metal/Plastic Products
• Microwave Ovens

Details:

Saturday, December 13th
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

292 Brokaw Road
Santa Clara, 95050

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Check for current things to do, events, places, stories, and more here.
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There’s plenty going on this weekend (October 18-19, 2008), and some of this is going on as we speak. But it’s not too late to join in. Check ‘em out:

Grease Sing-Along

9 pm Sat; 4 pm Sun. 201 S. Second St., San Jose

Fans are invited to sing along to the movie musical “Grease” at a special presentation at Cinema 12. Admission: $10 general, $7.50 students with current ID, $7 matinees, and $6.75 seniors 63+ and children 12 and under (10 movies for $60 discount card also available).

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

Sat & Sun, Oct. 18-19, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Half Moon Bay.

The World Pumpkin Capital celebrates fall harvest with a display of gigantic champion pumpkins, three stages of smashing entertainment, live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade with San Francisco Giants great Will Clark as honorary Grand Marshal, a haunted house, harvest-inspired crafts, homestyle foods, expert pumpkin carvers, photos with the grand champion gourd, pie-eating and costume contests, The Golden Gourds Youth Talent Show, The Take 5 Lounge with giant screen LED TV, the “ONE” Organic and Natural food tasting extravaganza, festival-label wine and Mavericks Pumpkin Harvest Ale. Admission is free.

Campbell Oktoberfest

10:00 am – 6 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 am – 5 pm Sunday, downtown Campbell.

German beer, music, beer, food, more beer, arts & crafts, and of course, beer. This festival draws over 40,000 people, so come early and expect to stay all day as you visit over 100 arts and crafts booths. Contact the Campbell Chamber for more information at (408) 378-6252, or email ccoc@pacbell.net.

Opera in the Park

Sunday, 4:30 pm at History Park, 1650 Senter Road

Take in a preview of Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, a “happy and charming operatic tale of idyllic life in a sort of 1900s valley of heart’s delight setting,” according to the website. There will also be a pre-preview of History San Jose’s exhibition, “She Made It! – The Tradition of Women’s Arts and Crafts Through the Years,” opening to the public on Friday, October 24th.

The season of giving is upon us, and as a board member of a local charity, I have to spread the news!

Local nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank has kicked off its annual food and fund drive. Spokesperson Lynn Crocker says they hope to surpass last year’s cash intake of $6.7 million. Between now and the middle of January, the organization hopes to raise $8 million in cash and 1.7 million pounds of food.

Crocker says the economic downturn, layoffs, and high food prices have resulted in an unprecedented number of people seeking food assistance, many for the very first time. For more information about the food drive and giveaway, please visit their website.

Second Harvest is one of the largest food banks in the county, but it’s not the only place people rely on for food during their holidays, so let’s spread the love! Here are a few other charities looking for some support this season, so they can keep on giving.

• Milpitas Food Pantry

• Sacred Heart Community Services
  

• Salvation Army
  

• Cupertino Community Services
  

And of course, my post wouldn’t be complete without a plug for my own charity – TurningWheels for Kids! Our San Jose-based charity raises money throughout the year to buy new bikes for local underprivileged children in Santa Clara County. Each December, our bikes are assembled by hundreds of volunteers and distributed to the kids in the community who need them most. Last year we assembled and distributed more than 2,000 bikes, and we hope to do the same this year. Bikes are important to kids for many reasons – the main two being health and responsibility. We love promoting healthy lifestyles among our youth, and we need your help! Just as other charities in the county, we’re experiencing higher costs and need more donations than normal. For more information about our charity, please visit the TurningWheels for Kids website . Our organization was built on $10 donations, and we still love them!

More than 2,000 bikes were assembled and distributed to children's charities just before the December holidays. TurningWheels is a local nonprofit organization that is run 100 percent by volunteers.

Yasmin Davidds wants your cell phone. The one you don’t use anymore. Because if they still work, thousands of battered women across the country can use them to keep in touch with emergency services while escaping an abusive relationship.

Bring your used (or dead) cell phone, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider to San Jose State on Oct. 21, 6-9 p.m., and hear Yasmin deliver a powerful message to young Latino college students about domestic violence and assault.

Date: October 21, 2008 Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: San Jose State University Student Union, Barrett Ballroom

The co-sponsoring Verizon HopeLine program:

• Distributed more than 60,000 phones with more than 180 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by victims of domestic violence
• Properly disposed of more than 1 million no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way
• Kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills

Verizon also offers a little-known service to everyone on their network: If you dial #HOPE (#4673) on a Verizon phone, operators will connect you with counselors in crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states. The call is toll and airtime free.

Go to mobilizingvoices.com for more information.