fanballoting.nhl.com

The Sharks are off to a great start; they have been enjoying sellouts at home. There is a buzz around the Bay Area that this truly could be the season the Sharks make it to the Stanley Cup finals. However, when it comes to the NHL All-Star voting Sharks’ fans are out to lunch.

None of the Sharks on the ballot are leading the way; for that matter they are down the list of players getting more votes from cities like Chicago, Detroit, Calgary and Anaheim. Heck! Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are leading the league in votes. Sidney Crosby has received the most votes ever in NHL All-Star balloting history. The Bay Area’s only current superstar Joe Thornton is down the list!

The Sharks on this season’s All-Star ballot are Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, and Evgeni Nabokov.

You vote for three forwards, two defencemen and one goaltender in each Conference. Since only two Sharks are listed in the forwards category, Devin Setoguchi is currently the Sharks fan’s leading “write in” candidate for the third forward

You may vote as many times as you want; which we hope is often.

You can vote for all the Sharks on the ballot by texting SHARKS to 81812 or online at NHL All-Star Fan Balloting where you can include your “write in” candidate.

The All-Star Fan Balloting closes at 05:59:59 pm PST on January 2nd, 2009.

Vote!

See also: Veterans Day 11/11/2009

Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. There will be a memorial ceremony and a parade in downtown San Jose.

The Parade‘s Opening Ceremony begins at 11:00 am with a memorial ceremony at Plaza Cesar de Chavez.

The Parade begins at noon from Delmas Street (near HP Pavilion) and travels east along Santa Clara to Market Street. The Parade then proceeds south on Market and ends at San Carlos Street; the reviewing stand is near Park Street.

Major General William H. Wade II of the California National Guard is this year’s Grand Marshal.

The United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County organizes the parade.

From the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Website where you will find a plethora of information:

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Since then, our main conflicts have been Word War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq.

Free Halloween Fun 2009

2008:

This time of year always comes up quick and equally goes by just as quick.  Halloween is tomorrow, whoa, where did that come from?  I could have sworn there was at least another week. So today I scrambled around finishing up costumes and getting appetizers for a kiddie party we are attending tonight. Yikes.  But I will admit it’s fun, and I love it!

When I was working in the Corporate atmosphere, if Halloween fell on a weekday, I would head down to the local Cemetery on my lunch hour.  There I would walk around in hopes something would pop up and scare me.  Nothing or no one ever did.  I always asked my co-workers to join me, and they said I was looney, “Eh, it’s all in the Spirit of the season” I said.  I don’t do that anymore, that would mean having to bring my own little goblins with me, and chasing them around tombstones would probably make the Dead laugh at me, not try and scare me. But as soon as I deem my kids old enough, I plan to hand this tradition down.

I just discovered today that a lot of newbie parents are still unaware of places you can take your kids besides the proverbial street Trick or Treating. Which is cool, unless the weather gets grisly.  So here are a few local haunts that are hopping with family fun.

Westgate Mall: Halloween Trick-or-Treat event –5:pm to 7:pm Westgate Mall’s annual Trick or Treat event located in Center Court, in front of Ross. Join us for trick-or-treating, live entertainment, balloon characters, arts & crafts and more! Plus, all children receive a FREE Westgate Mall trick-or-treat bag.

Westfield Valley Fair: Dress up in your favorite costume and join Westfield Valley Fair for a safe evening of Halloween fun. Trick-or-treating will be from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at participating retailers and the Westfield Concierge.

Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California:  Games and prizes, tricks and treats, arts and crafts and goodies to eat! On October 31 there is only one place to be: the Halloween Carnival at JCCCNC!  6:00 – 8:30pm

Children’s Discovery Museum:  Come in your favorite costume and be a Fanciful Wonderland Visitor. Don’t forget your camera . . . there are many wonderful photo opportunities in Alice’s Wonderland.  10am to 5:pm

I want to mention also that many Community Churches are holding events though out San Jose, but I don’t have those actual website to list. I apologize!  I’ll be happy to add them if you let me know!  Otherwise, just give your local Church a call and ask if they have anything brewing for the kiddies!

So go out there and have some fun! And be safe, for All Hallows sake!

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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.

This Sunday noon to 5:00 pm is The 8th Annual Antique Autos in History Park. There will be vintage autos (1900 to 1945), bicycles, motorcycles, fire equipment, early day gas engines which will power saws, washing machines and other tools needed in the early days, and more lining the streets.

There will also be children’s activities provided by Schmahl Science Workshop, vintage clothing and handcraft demonstrations. Movies which include early day automobiles will be shown in the hotel. Of course, there are the historic buildings to visit and the trolley to ride.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Ford Model T and there will be a short presentation to commemorate the event followed by the assembly of the Model T in less than 6 minutes.

For more about History San José check this earlier post.

History San José
Kelley Park, 1650 Senter Road

Sunday, September 14
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Free Admission, Parking $6.00

2009 events listed here.

America’s birthday, time to celebrate with parades, barbecues, picnics, festivals, and fireworks!

Here are some places to view fireworks and enjoy a day of celebrations:

San Jose

San Jose America Festival at Guadalupe River Park’s Discovery Meadow.

Enjoy international music, multicultural crafts and a variety of ethnic and festival foods. Activities for children are in Kidland.

Performances all day Friday at the Main Stage and the Blues Stage. There are also concerts Saturday and Sunday that include Night Ranger, Starship, Amanda Miguel and Diego Verdaguer.

July 4 – San Jose America Festival and Fireworks Show; Free

Gates open 12:00 pm; fireworks 9:30 pm

July 5 – Dia de la Familia Preciosa; $10

Gates open 3:00 pm

July 6 – Kinhcert on the Green: $15

Gates open 1:00 pm

Directions, Public Transportation, Parking, Bicycles

Event Map

FAQs (everything you need to know)

Santa Clara

Picnic and Fireworks Extravaganza. Central Park, 909 Kiely Boulevard; Free

Pancake Breakfast at 8 am, followed by games and entertainment throughout the day including a carnival area, petting zoo, face painting, and swimming at the International Swim Center. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase foods at the event.

Fireworks at 9:30 pm

Schedule & food prices (PDF)

Milpitas

Independence Day Festivities. Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Boulevard; Free

Water activities at Milpitas Sports Center Pools during the day; pool party 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Barbecue, at the pool party 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm; nominal fee.

Concert & Fireworks at Milpitas Sports Center Football Field; 8:00 pm (gates open at 7:30 pm); bring a picnic dinner.

Morgan Hill

Pancake Breakfast, 5-K Run & 1 Mile Walk, Historic 4th of July Parade, Downtown Family Festival, Live Entertainment & Car Show. Beginning 7:00 am.

Fireworks about 9:30 pm.

Annual Street Dance & Live Concert – Thursday, July 3rd; Downtown Morgan Hill – 7:00 pm

Event information

Berkeley

Berkeley Marina; Free

Activities will include entertainers, arts & crafts, free sailboat rides, free dragon boat rides, a giant slide, art projects, face painting and massages; beginning 12:00 pm at the Berkeley Marina.

Fireworks, end of the Berkeley Pier at 9:30 pm.

There is valet bicycle parking free of charge near Adventure Playground!

Event schedule

Redwood City

Activities will include arts & crafts, food, kids area, parade, and yes, fireworks.

Festival – 9:00 am

Fireworks, Port of Redwood City – 9:30 pm

April 13-19 is National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of all libraries, librarians and library workers along with promoting library use and support.

Many of the San Jose Branch Libraries have been or are being rebuilt. The new libraries have more study areas, teen areas, and cool reading areas, along with an increase in the number of computers. Most libraries in the South Bay now have Wi-Fi access. I noticed a large number of computers available at the Santa Clara City Library along with some nice areas to sit with your laptop computer.

If you have not been to the library in some time, then drop by and visit you local branch. You will find DVDs, CDs, books on tape/CD, and of course, a zillion books.

You may get a library card for any Bay Area library by providing proof that you are a California resident.

San Jose Public Library

Santa Clara County Library

Santa Clara City Library

Los Gatos Public Library

Sunnyvale Public Library

Alameda County Library

Next National Library Week is April 12-18, 2009