Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the slideshow on your mobile device.

Orchids of different colors and shapes decorated the kitchen inside the house at Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside during “The Spirit of Orchids” showshow, which opened Jan. 6 at the historic landmark. From a bright orange masdevallia orchid to a spotted violet and white odontoglossum, orchids of all colors and shapes were on display.

To accompany the orchids in the kitchen, Chinese brush paintings by artist Ming Lee adorned the halls of the house. Those will eventually be relocated to the visitors section.

The show is part of Filoli’s 2020 winter season and will run until February 24.

Dear Miss Behavin: My cat, Louie, has been roaming around the house and meowing in the middle of the night, waking me up. How can I get him to stop?

Cats are naturally nocturnal animals so this behavior is no surprise. Luckily, there are a few ways you can encourage him to sleep through the night. The first thing to check off your list: is he hungry? If you think he may be, try feeding him dinner a little later, or offering him a small bedtime snack. If you free feed, make sure he has some food in his bowl before you go to bed.

Next is exercise. Is Louie getting enough physical and mental activity to be tired enough to sleep through the night? Keep in mind that cats sleep most of the day, so are fully charged by the time we are ready for bed. To help them adapt to our routine, set aside a good amount of time to play with your cat in the evening. Think of playtime for cats like walks for dogs– this should be a regular part of their routine for their physical and mental well being.

Sara Werning is the assistant to the behavior department at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, call (650)340-7022 ext. 316 or email swerning@phs-spca.org.

After more than two decades of driving regional public policy on transportation, housing and other key challenges, Carl Guardino will step down this year as president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

“Twenty-three years in any CEO role is a very long run,” Guardino said. “I just felt that the organization is strong and getting stronger. It’s in a good place.”

Guardino, 58, said he and his wife, Leslee, contemplated the decision over the holidays, and he called Steve Milligan, CEO of Western Digital and chair of the Leadership Group’s board, to break the news last Thursday. He reached out to the remainder of the 15-member executive board over the weekend and told them he would stay on until a search for his replacement is completed, a process he said could take anywhere from 3 to 9 months.

“I don’t know a person who has had a greater impact on bringing our region together to tackle our great challenges than Carl Guardino, whether in creating a housing trust, leading several transit measures or simply bringing 25,000 people together on Thanksgiving morning to run together in turkey outfits,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, a good friend of Guardino’s who first worked with him on the Measure A campaign in 2000.

Don’t expect Guardino to be on the sideline for very long, either. He considers this move a “transition” not a retirement. And while he doesn’t have a future role in mind, he says he’ll be looking for one that fulfills his dual passions — the innovation economy and community engagement.

“I like to think the best days are ahead, and I’m really excited about what may be next in my career,” Guardino said.

He’ll also continue to have a role in shaping statewide policy on the California Transportation Commission, a role he was first appointed to in 2007. His current term runs through 2023.

A native of west San Jose who graduated from San Jose State University, Guardino worked for then-Assemblyman Rusty Areias until he became vice president in 1991 of what was then the Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group, which was started in 1978 by Hewlett-Packard co-founder David Packard. In 1994, Guardino was hired away to be a vice president at HP but he returned to the Manufacturing Group in 1997 to succeed then-CEO Gary Burke, who took an executive position with NASDAQ.

In a letter sent to his board of directors, Guardino reflected on what he believed were the group’s biggest successes, including being the driving force behind four transportation sales-tax initiatives that provided more than $30 million in funding for regional transit and road improvements and three statewide housing bond campaigns totaling $11 billion.

But Guardino said he’s equally proud of the creation of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation, which has provided an avenue for the association’s philanthropic efforts. He and his wife founded the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in 2005, and the Thanksgiving Day race has provided nearly $10 million to housing, health and food nonprofits since its inception. Following its model, two other runs — the Santa Run Silicon Valley and the Hearts & Soles run — supported downtown San Jose holiday events such as Christmas in the Park and Downtown Ice and funded salad bars in Bay Area public schools.

His departure shouldn’t slow down those runs at all, said Guardino, who plans to be involved in all three this year and hopes to continue playing a role in the future. “They’ve become traditions and institutions for our community,” he said, “and I don’t see that changing.”

Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian said Guardino — and the Leadership Group by extension — has exhibited an understanding that the vitality of the business community is contingent on the vitality of the larger community. “The Leadership Group under Carl’s tenure has understood the community’s array of concerns — transportation, housing, education — more than other business groups might acknowledge,” said Simitian, who has worked with Guardino while serving on both the Board of Supervisors and the state Legislature.

Simitian also remarked on Guardino’s persistence that has helped him succeed. “If there’s a way to a ‘yes,’ he will get to ‘yes,’ ” Simitian said, recalling a tough negotiation over a transportation sales tax ballot initiative in 2016. “He’s a dog with a bone, and I mean that as the highest compliment.”

Even if he doesn’t agree on a particular issue, Simitian said, Guardino is always willing to collaborate on other issues. “There are a lot of people who talk, but there are relatively few people who ‘do,’ ” Simitian said, “and Carl has been a doer.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW — The insurance provider for the non-profit group operating the city’s RV parking lots has pulled out of negotiations, likely meaning more weeks of delay in expanding safe parking for RV dwellers this year.

Amber Stime, director of MOVE Mountain View — which is running the Safe Parking program — said that the organization’s insurance provider won’t cover the operation of the city’s three RV parking lots that offer spaces for up to 70 overnight RVs. The largest lot near the Shoreline Amphitheater has 30 spots and is set to revert to special event parking in March.

Though the city’s insurance provider already covers the two city-owned lots in the program — including one at the former Evelyn VTA light rail station — Stime said MOVE’s insurance provider hesitated to cover the largest lot near the amphitheater and will stop covering the organization altogether. MOVE is currently looking for another provider.

“This is a very new idea to use a parking lot for safe parking,” Stime said of the program. “This particular insurance provider, I think, was okay with a little smaller lots, but decided they didn’t want to expand the coverage to the larger one. I think they definitely don’t want to be covering these kinds of facilities.”

Following years of complaints from residents who say oversize vehicles are illegally dumping waste, blocking bike lanes and causing nuisances in residential streets, Mountain View in September set up its Safe Parking Program offering about 70 spots in private and city-owned lots for people to sleep in overnight.

Back in September, Mountain View joined East Palo Alto and Berkeley in banning oversize vehicles — those measuring more than 7 feet high, 7 feet wide and 22 feet in length — from parking on city streets with designated bike lanes starting this month. Another measure, which banned oversize vehicle parking on “narrow” city streets measuring 40 feet wide or less starting June 30, was contested by RV resident advocates and will be decided by voters in this year’s ballot.

Mountain View spokeswoman Shonda Ranson said the insurance issue was “unforeseen,” but she assured residents that church parking lots hosting up to 4 passenger vehicles each are still open, though no oversize vehicles will be able to park there.

“MOVE is seeking a new carrier for the additional insurance required for Safe Parking Program operations,” Ranson said in a statement. “Presently, the city, county and MOVE are looking at a number of options to provide this service to our residents in need.”

Stime said she’s already in conversation with other insurance companies and that she was “pretty confident” MOVE will again be covered and the parking lots will be able to resume operation, though the organization is still seeking an underwriter.

“It’s just a snag and the program will continue,” Stime said. “But this is just one step to solve this issue. It’s about providing a housing first approach to homelessness, so the case management allows people to get resources that they need. I don’t see [the program] as a thing to prevent homelessness, it’s a step toward having some stability.”

The insurance snag comes just as safe parking case manager Community Services Agency is ramping up its outreach to get more RV dwellers and people living in their cars into the program.

CSA Executive Director Tom Myers said 13 people have already signed up for the about 70 spots currently open, and that more are soon to follow. Currently, hundreds of Mountain View families have found housing in oversize vehicles in Mountain View. A May 2019 count by the city found 212 inhabited vehicles, of which 171 were RVs.

“I think part of it is that it’s a brand new program, so we need to time to work up to 70,” Myers said.

Still, as CSA advocates reach out to people, Myers said they are hearing hesitation from people who would prefer the program to allow parking all day, not just overnight. And some RV residents are turned off by rules preventing diesel generator use to power appliances inside the mobile homes.

Like Stime, Myers said the program isn’t an end-all be-all.

“Safe parking is an important tool for certain people, but everyone needs to keep their expectations in check,” Myers said. “Sometimes people put too much stock into a safe parking program solving all the issues.”

On a hike with my family last week at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, we came across something that at a distance looked like flat mushrooms growing inside a circle of Bay laurel trees. Upon close inspection, it turns out the mushroom-looking shapes were actually stacks of old editions of the Mercury News, wet and pressed against each other — almost beyond recognition.

The layout looked like newspapers from the mid-2000s, and I racked my brain on how they wound up there off the Redwood Trail behind the Montalvo Arts Center’s amphitheater. This wasn’t some random dumping — and it had enough of a “Blair Witch” vibe to it that I was glad I didn’t make this discovery on my own.

It didn’t take long to find out that this was the remnant of a public art piece called “Nest,” which was created in 2005 by environmental artist Steven Siegel. It and another, larger piece called “Stories of Katrina” used more than 23,000 cubic yards — about 11 tons — of newspapers donated by the Mercury News as a memorial to the hurricane that devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005. With the help of assistants and community volunteers, the 18-foot-high “Stories of Katrina” was built on Montalvo’s Great Lawn and de-installed in 2006.

“Nest,” however, has survived nearly 15 years, soaking in the elements and becoming part of its environment. And if you’re hiking around Montalvo, it’s a touching discovery to make.

SHADOWS OF MEMORIES: Playwright Cristal González Avila has produced a fascinating project for Teatro Visión called “Luz: A Shadow Play Inspired by Senior Stories” that has its world premiere Saturday at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. With funding from Silicon Valley Creates’ X Factor grant, the project gathered stories from San Jose seniors during workshops and interviews, who talked about memories like marching with Cesar Chavez, watching a mother battle cancer and coming out as gay at age 60.

Their stories will be brought to life by actors Stephanie Ceja and Hector Ruela Sanchez, along with shadow puppets and projections. The performance takes place at the Mexican Heritage Plaza’s gallery at 8 p.m. A $20 ticket price is recommended, but you also can pay what you can between $10 and $40. Go to www.teatrovision.org/senior_stories for more information.

ROSY OUTLOOK FOR 2020: The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, which is home to 189 varieties of the sweet-smelling flower, has its annual volunteer event on Saturday from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Regular volunteers and home gardeners can show up — no need to RSVP — and learn how to properly prune roses during the event.

The Rose Garden at the corner of Naglee and Dana avenues was named “America’s Best Rose Garden” in 2010 and much of the credit for its continued beauty goes to the volunteers who put in more than 30,000 hours every year.

SINGING IN THE NEW YEAR: If you know a boy who likes to sing, you might want to point them toward Redwood City, where the Ragazzi Boys Chorus is holding its annual SingFest on Saturday. The free, half-day mini-camp for boys ages 7 to 10 includes singing, games and a short performance for parents. It also serves as an introduction to the Peninsula choral group, which has more than 250 singers — ages 5 to 18 — from more than 100 schools in the Bay Area. SingFest starts at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Redwood City, and more information is available at bit.ly/SINGFEST.

Meanwhile, Schola Cantorum is inviting singers of any age to its community singalong on Jan. 26 at Los Altos United Methodist Church. The 3 p.m. event, “My Favorite Things: The Songwriting Genius of Richard Rodgers,” will showcase hits from Broadway shows including “The Sound of Music,” “South Pacific,’” and “Oklahoma!” Dawn Reyen, Schola’s assistant director, will direct the singalong and accompany on piano — and don’t worry about the lyrics, as they’ll be projected on a screen. Admission is $15, and you can get more info at scholacantorum.org.

Sunnyvale School District Superintendent Benjamin H. Picard this month announced his intention to retire effective June 30.

First hired by the district in 1987 as associate superintendent of personnel and business services, Picard held a variety of positions before being named superintendent in 2009. Prior to joining Sunnyvale School District, the Nebraska native served as a teacher or administrator in three different Nebraska communities from 1972 through 1987.

In the 1990s, Picard served on the initial planning committee that conceived and launched a public-private collaborative between the Sunnyvale district, the city of Sunnyvale and Advanced Micro Devices to build the school-based Columbia Neighborhood Center, which provides recreational, health and educational services to students and their families.

Based on that model, Picard recently led discussions around a new branch library concept in north Sunnyvale that would be a partnership with the Sunnyvale School District, the city of Sunnyvale and the Fremont Union High School District. The city council was set vote on that project on Jan. 14.

Former district board president Nancy Newkirk said these projects are indicative of Picard’s ongoing level of engagement.

“When Ben participates, you hear from community members that his engagement goes beyond sharing his expertise,” Newkirk said. “He volunteers at events, invites opportunities for building partnerships and encourages and recruits community members to participate, long after his leadership roles end. This reflects … the depth of his commitment to civic responsibility as a longtime resident of Sunnyvale.”

Among other initiatives Picard spearheaded is the Sunnyvale Wellness Program, a team of over 15 partners who support staff and student wellness, nutrition and health. He also created Our Kids Our Community, a partnership with Sunnyvale Community Services and the Sunnyvale Rotary Club that raises money to cover costs for the district’s summer nutrition program.

Picard said he and his wife, Susanna, plan to retire in Sunnyvale and remain actively involved in the community.

A special meeting of the district board was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. at the district office, 819 W. Iowa Ave., for representatives of Leadership Associates to organize and plan the search process. The meeting is open to the public. Moving forward, the district said, public input will be a key component of the search process. A new superintendent is expected to be in place by July 1.

Library launches new website

The Santa Clara County Library District launched its completely redesigned website Jan. 7 at sccld.org.

“Our website averages 126,000 unique visitors every month,” County Librarian Nancy Howe said in a statement. “Because we are in the heart of Silicon Valley, it is essential we offer a 21st-century experience for our patrons with innovative services and a robust online library.”

While the online catalog remains the same, patrons can find library happenings with a new calendar system under “Events.” There are also dedicated pages for kids and families, as well as teens.

The library district will use the “Feature Titles” page to tout books, music and movies. “Online Library 24/7” gives users access to ebooks, audiobooks and online news, movies and music, as well as dozens of online research services. “Learn 24/7” provides free online tutoring, test prep and online courses.

The “Services” page helps users access account information and learn about the library’s passport services, English as a Second Language classes and more. Patrons can use the “Connect page” to keep up to date with Library news. Library district residents who don’t have a library account can get a free digital library card instantly as part of the new online eCard service.

Patrons can give feedback about the new website by sending an email to webmaster@sccl.org.

Auto Burglary: On Dec. 30, an unknown suspect entered an unlocked vehicle and stole items in the 700 block of Dry Creek Road.

Auto Burglary: On Dec. 30, an unknown suspect entered a truck in the 200 block of Kennedy Avenue. A set of keys was in it, and the suspect attempted to start the truck but did not know how to operate a diesel engine, so the suspect fled with the keys.

Grand Theft Auto: On Dec. 30, an officer located a stolen vehicle from San Jose in the 200 block of North First Street.

Auto Burglary: On Dec. 30, an unknown suspect gained entry into a gated garage and cut the top to a vehicle in 1700 block of South Bascom Avenue. The suspect rummaged through the vehicle, but nothing was taken.

Assault: On Dec. 31, a 20-year-old hit a 19-year-old with a trash bag during an argument in the 100 block of Friar Way. The suspect claimed to have forgotten there was a glass bong in the trash bag, which caused several lacerations to the victim’s face and head.

Grand Theft Auto: On Dec. 31, an unknown suspect stole a white 2016 Nissan Altima in the 1800 block of East Hamilton Avenue.

Grand Theft Auto: On Dec. 31, it was reported the victim’s son last drove a gray 2010 Ford Focus on Dec. 9 and parked it on Zanker Road. When he returned, it was missing.

Fraud: On Dec. 31, an unknown suspect used a credit card number belonging to a Campbell resident to make fraudulent online purchases.

Auto Burglary: On Jan. 2, an unknown suspect smashed the window to a vehicle in the 300 block of April Way.

Vandalism: On Jan. 2, an unknown suspect shattered the front window to a business in the 2100 block of South Winchester Boulevard. No entry was made.

Theft: On Jan. 2, an unknown suspect stole a trailer with attached ramp from a lot in the 1200 block of White Oaks Avenue.

Fraud: On Jan. 2, it was reported that a victim in the 1000 block of Dell Avenue mailed a check to the Los Angeles area on Dec. 7. It was Dec. 29 before it reached its intended destination. The check was also stolen, forged and cashed in Los Angeles.

Grand Theft Auto: On Jan. 2, an officer recovered a vehicle reported stolen from Sacramento in August 2019 in the 900 block of Camden Avenue.

Burglary: On Jan. 2, an unknown suspect pried open the back door, entered and stole items in the 100 block of East Hamilton Avenue.

Evading an Officer: On Jan. 2, a 25-year-old was stopped for previously fleeing from an officer. The suspect attempted to flee again and was caught and taken to the ground in the 2300 block of South Winchester Boulevard.

Grand theft Auto: On Jan. 3, an unknown suspect stole a black 1999 Honda Civic in the 200 block of Echo Avenue.

Burglary: On Jan. 3, a 35-year-old from CCTV video described as wearing a gray beanie, red shirt and black pants stole a package from a front porch in the 200 block of Railway Avenue.

License Plate Theft: On Jan. 3, an unknown suspect stole a license plate from a 1966 Chevy truck in the 1600 block of Elwood Drive.

Violation of No Contact Order: On Jan. 3, a 36-year-old man went over to his ex-girlfriend’s residence in violation of a no-contact order. The suspect knocked the victim’s phone out of her hands when she was trying to call 911, causing a minor injury, in the 700 block of Filbert Way. The suspect fled but was located nearby.

Driving Under the Influence: On Jan. 3, a 22-year-old was stopped for a vehicle code vehicle and was found to be driving under the influence near Bascom and Hamilton avenues.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance: On Jan. 3, a 31-year-old was contacted in the 800 block of Gale Drive and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a meth pipe, and was under the influence.

Hit and Run: On Jan. 4, a driver in a gray Chrysler minivan with damage to the driver’s side mirror and windshield and a black paper license plate turned westbound on Rosemary Lane from southbound Winchester Avenue. The suspect hit a bicyclist, causing minor injuries. The vehicle then continued westbound on Rosemary Lane, hitting a pedestrian in the 100 block of West Rosemary Lane near Winchester Boulevard.

Under the Influence, Possession of a Controlled Substance: On Jan. 4, a 31-year-old was stopped for a vehicle code violation in the 500 block of East Hamilton Avenue and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a meth pipe, and under the influence.

Theft: On Jan. 4, a 61-year-old stole lumber from a store in the 400 block of East Hamilton Avenue. He was caught by loss prevention.

Theft, Possession of Controlled Substances, Drug Paraphernalia: On Jan. 4, a 67-year-old stole more than $500 worth of items and was caught outside by the manager in the 2300 block of South Winchester Boulevard. Leaving the store, the suspect was stopped for driving with a suspended license. During a vehicle search, the suspect was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, MDMA pills and psilocybin mushrooms for sale. The suspect also possessed a methamphetamine pipe and crack pipes.

Theft: On Jan. 5, a 25-year-old with a mustache and wearing a dark hoodie with a baseball cap under the hood grabbed money from a cash register when the clerk opened it in the 700 block of West Hamilton Avenue.

Auto Burglary: On Jan. 5, someone entered a parking garage in the 1700 block of South Bascom Avenue, cut the top to a vehicle and stole personal items.

Rotary crab feed

The Rotary Club of Los Gatos is holding its 19th annual Crabfest and Auction Jan. 25 to raise money for local charities.

Attendees will feast on all-you-can-eat fresh, cold crab at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga. Doors open at 5 p.m. to give folks time to peruse silent auction items before dinner is served at 5:45 p.m.

Tickets are $30-$80 at losgatosrotary.org.

Kiwanis host candidates

Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos is giving the candidates for California State Senate, District 15, a chance to explain their platforms at the club’s luncheon meetings each week during January.

Four candidates are running for the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Jim Beall, who is terming out.

Attorney Ann Ravel, a former Federal Election Commissioner, was set to speak Jan. 9, followed by former San Jose city councilmember and state assembly member Nora Campos on Jan. 16.

Dave Cortese, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, is up on Jan. 23. The schedule is rounded out by Johnny Khamis, council member for San Jose’s District 10, on Jan. 30.

All luncheon meetings are held at Los Gatos Lodge at noon, with an optional lunch buffet for $25. All are open to the public.

The Jan. 30 event will be an evening social with location to be determined.

For more information, contact Nancy Pearson at kiwanislosgatos@gmail.com.

Since our kids discovered LEGO about five years ago, you can find the ubiquitous bricks in just about every room of our house. We’ve got bins filled with them — all various shapes and sizes — along with creative constructions on shelves and just enough littering the floor to spike bare feet at night.

Make no mistake, I’m a LEGO enabler, but it’s fun to watch the kids put together a set, break it apart and make something entirely new. (I’m also a minor user: Last year, I built the LEGO Aston Martin DB5 with a bit of help from from my son, Alex, who was 7 at the time.)

Which is all to say that the planned April opening of the LEGOLAND Discovery Center at the Great Mall in Milpitas is a big deal around our place. And we’re certainly not alone, given the large response to the venue’s recent poll to put Bay Area landmarks in a “miniland” there.

Next weekend brings another big milestone with Brick Factor, a competitive job hunt being held Jan. 18 and 19 to find the Discovery Center’s first Master Model Builder. Contestants will put their skills on display by building original LEGO models in timed, themed rounds that’ll be judged by a panel that includes James Judy, general manager of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area; Megan Amaral, Master Model Builder at the Discovery Center in Boston and Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran. Both days are free for the public to attend; Saturday’s competition runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday’s is from 1 to 3 p.m.

At the end of the final round, one candidate will be named the winner and awarded a full-time, salaried position at the 31,000 square-foot attraction. Grown-ups — sorry, Alex — can still apply to compete through Jan. 12; more information is available at https://bit.ly/37Bvzbw.

THE MAN WHO MOVED THE ALAMEDA: Longtime South Bay residents and Santa Clara University alumni certainly remember that The Alameda used to run right through the college campus until 1989. The effort to reroute the state road was a tremendous effort involving many people, groups and governments that took 31 years to complete. But the man recognized as the driving force behind the effort was E. Jackson “Jack” Going, the founding partner with Leo W. Ruth, Jr. of San Jose engineering firm Ruth and Going, who died Dec. 30 at age 91.

The major work re-routing The Alameda around the campus took place in the mid-1980s, but the effort really began in 1958 when then-president Rev. Patrick Donohoe asked Going, a 1949 engineering alum, to draw-up a layout for the proposed route. When Going retired from his firm in 1984, he went to work as a full-time consultant on the $25 million project. A plaque on campus commemorates his efforts to unify the campus.

A funeral Mass Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Santa Clara Mission will be co-celebrated by the Rev. Peter Pabst and Rev. Bill Rewak, who served as Santa Clara University’s president during the major work and planning on the project. The Rev. Kevin O’Brien, SCU’s current president, will give the final commendation.

ICE, ICE BABIES: It’s hard to believe how fast its two-month season has flown by, but Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice in San Jose is wrapping up this weekend. And the outdoor skating rink — wedged between the Fairmont hotel and the San Jose Museum of Art — is closing with a fun event, Tots on Ice. Kids under age 5, along with a trusted adult, will have the rink all to themselves from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Admission for the special event, including skate rental, is $10).

The rink opens for everyone else at 11 a.m. at regular admission prices. Check out www.downtownicesj.com for hours and prices.

To submit an item to the What’s Happening calendar, email ccnsports@bayareanewsgroup.com to request a form. Put “What’s Happening” in the subject line. Nonprofit organizations only. You might be asked to submit a copy of your 1099 or 501(c) 3 to verify nonprofit status. Entries are edited for content and are published as space is available.

Adult sports

Albany Recreation: Registration open for the following sports: softball (men’s and coed), soccer, kickball, basketball, pickleball leagues held at Ocean View Park and Albany High School. To register and for more details, visit albanyca.org/adultsports or call (510) 524-9283.

Berkeley Tai Chi: Drop-in classes on Wed. and Fri. mornings. Tai Chi at 8:30 a.m. and NejGong at 9:30 a.m. both at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. $12 members, $15 non-members. For more info. contact 415-250-0375, jjshelfer@yahoo.com or visit sites.google.com/a/hillsideclub.org/hillsideclub/programs/chi-gong.

Baseball

Sirious Baseball: Player development camp for current high school students, ages 14-18. Camp based in Campbell and runs through Jan. 19, meeting Tues. and Thurs. from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 9-11:30 a.m. on Sunday’s. $125/week. To register, visit siriousbaseball.com/hsprogram or for more information, contact (408) 963-6598.

Golden State Grind: Registration is open for Antioch-based 7U-18U player development tryouts by appointment. Beginner to competitive opportunities with availability for players, coaches and teams. Register at www.goldenstategrind.com or for more information, contact (925) 255-5536.

Basketball

Red and Black Clinic: Girls basketball clinic for 4th-8th graders interested in improving fundamental basketball skills. Held Feb. 8 from 8:45-11 a.m. at Salesian College Preparatory Gym in Richmond. $20 at door and $10 for pre-registration before Feb. 1. To register and for more details, visit https://www.salesian.com/uploaded/Red_Black_Camp/Girls_Clinic/RedBlackClinicFebruary_8_2020.pdf or contact Steve Pezzola at spezzola@salesian.com

Basketball is Fun Clinic: Registration open for “instructional play” class, for boys and girls ages 5-13. Ideal for beginners and intermediate players. Locations in Walnut Creek and Alamo. Six-week sessions begin in January and end in May. Register online at https://baysports.org.

Upward Sports: Registration now open for boys and girls kindergarten-eighth grade. $200-225 depending on age group. Sign-up at upwardsportsopcc.org or for more information, contact upwardreg94523@gmail.com.

Cheerleading

Upward Sports: Registration now open for boys and girls kindergarten-eighth grade. $200-225 depending on age group. Sign-up at upwardsportsopcc.org or for more information, contact upwardreg94523@gmail.com.

Football

Express Flag Football Training, Conditioning and Tournament Program: Training (two days per week) in Alameda at Woodstock Park. Games and tournaments on the weekends. To register and for more information, go to www.eastbayflag.com/express.

NFL Flag Football: Registration now open for upcoming winter and spring seasons. Co-ed flag football, for ages 5-13, benefits are being physically active through non-contact, continuous-action sport while learning the fundamentals of football, lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. Locations in Walnut Creek and Danville. Register at https://baysports.org.

Fundraiser

John’s March Against Stomach Cancer: Walk or run around Sonoma Raceway’s 2.52-mile road course to raise funds for No Stomach for Cancer in honor of longtime raceway spokesperson John Cardinale. Saturday Jan. 11, advance registration not required. Registration at 7:30 a.m. and march begins at 9 a.m. $40 per person, includes walk/run, t-shirt and refreshments. For more information, visit johnsmarch.org or contact Diana Brennan at dbrennan@sonomaraceway.com, (707) 933-3918.

Hall of Fame

Piedmont Sports Hall of Fame: The PSHOF, founded in 2003, honors and enshrines Piedmont HS and Millennium HS athletes, coaches, administrators and community members for outstanding and extraordinary contributions to Piedmont High athletics. The PSHOF accepts nominations on a year-round basis for their biennial induction ceremony. For nomination criteria and forms, visit piedmontathletics.com/hall_of_fame/.

Jobs

Las Lomas HS: Looking for coaches for the boys volleyball program. Season begins in the spring. Contact varsity coach Jim Changaris at (925) 457-0091 or Coachchangaris@sbcglobal.net.

St. Joseph Notre Dame HS: Seeking athletic director. For more information, contact Julie Guevara at 510-523-1526 or hiring@sjnd.org.

Saint Mary’s College HS: Seeking head varsity softball coach for the upcoming 2020 season. Salary is $5,000. To apply or for more information, contact Casey Filson at cfilson@stmchs.org.

Pickleball

NorCal Courts Pickleball: Open gym for adults +16 and up from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at NorCal Courts, 360 Ferry St., Martinez. $4 per person. (925) 457-5081, www.norcalcourts.com.

Walnut Creek Recreation: Drop-in play for adults +18 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-noon at Tice Valley Gym, 2055 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. $4. (925) 256-3572.

Rowing

Artemis Rowing Club: Spring registration now open, including a free two-week trial, for boys and girls ages 12-18. Season begins Jan. 13 for middle school students. To register or for additional information, visit www.artemisrowingclub.org or contact (510) 542-9673.

Soccer

Orinda Adult Drop-in: For men and women ages 30 and up, every Sunday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Wilder fields, Wilder Road, Orinda. For more information, 925-254-7688.

Softball

Albany Berkeley Girls Softball League: Sign-ups open for girls ages 5-14 through Feb. 1. Costs vary from $99-250 depending on age group. For more details, visit www.abgsl.org or contact (510) 847-3858.

Tennis

Pleasant Hill Recreation: Registration open for monthly lessons for kids (6-12) and adults and teens (+13). Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. or Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Register at www.phrecsports.com/tennis.html, (925) 682-0896.

Track and field

Castro Valley Track Club: Online registration open for year-round boys and girls track and field club, for ages 8-18. $275. (510) 409-9308, mail@jamesjphillips.com, www.cvtrackclub.com.

Volleyball

United States Youth Volleyball League: Registration now for 2020 spring programs in San Jose. Instructional eight-week programs for boys and girls ages 7-15 meets twice a week April 1-June 6 at Butcher Park, Kirk Park and Linear Park in San Jose. The programs will provide boys and girls ages 7-15 the opportunity to learn and play volleyball in a fun, safe, and supervised environment. To register and for additional info, visit www.usyvl.org.

Nearly 16 years after Macy’s opened a store at Antioch’s Somersville Towne Center, the company has announced it will close its doors there.

The announcement of the store closure comes only a few months after another of the mall’s longtime anchor tenants, Sears, shuttered. Victoria’s Secret is also expected to close in the mall as of Jan. 21. The only major anchor tenants remaining are Fallas, on the southern wing and 24-Hour Fitness on the far eastern wing of the shopping center.

The Antioch Macy’s location is the only California one on a list of more than two dozen in several states that will be closed amid declining sales. Macy’s most recent earnings report showed a sales decline of 3.9% at stores open for at least a year.

Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette told CNN that warm weather, fewer tourists shopping in stores and problems at lower-tier malls. Shares of Macy’s have lost roughly 40% over the past year, though the drop in holiday sales was not as much as expected.

A full list of closures is expected at Macy’s upcoming investor day on Feb. 5. No exact closure date was confirmed for the Antioch location though mall officials said it would likely be in March or April.

Calls to Macy’s corporate communications office were not returned.

Lena O’Neal was one of many shoppers on Wednesday surprised to hear about the closure. The Oakley resident, who had just purchased luggage, said she shops there often for clothes, perfumes, jewelry and gifts.

“I love this place; I hate that they are going to close it,” O’Neal said. “I don’t know how they can say the economy is doing well when all the stores are closing down.”

Emilia Rubio of Pittsburg was also surprised to learn the store would be closed. She said she shops there frequently for clothes for herself and her children.

Harjeet Kaur manages Eyebrow Art next to Macy’s and acknowledged that the the store would see less foot traffic when Macy’s closes in spring.

“I really like it there,” she said, noting she shops Macy’s for clothes and perfumes.

Richard Pagano, Antioch Chamber of Commerce CEO, also bemoaned the store loss but urged residents to keep shopping locally, which he said was “imperative to the longevity of local business.”

“While it’s unfortunate to see a national retailer close its doors in any community, it’s important to recognize the many retail stores throughout the Somersville Towne Center, city of Antioch, and East Contra Costa region as a whole that are still open for business.”

The chamber recently embarked on a two-phase economic development project with the city of Antioch and St. Mary’s College focusing on the Somersville area where the mall is located. In the first phase, students and faculty made recommendations ranging from farmers markets to senior housing among other ideas, to try to pump up the economy surrounding the mall.

“We’re excited to see what we can build on from Phase 1, and where Phase 2 of the project leads us,” he said.

A mall spokesman did not respond to questions, but in a statement issued from a public relations agency, said, “Our No. 1 priority remains meeting the needs of our customers and continuing to position Somersville Towne Center as a gathering place for Antioch and the communities surrounding it.”

Macy’s opened at the Antioch mall in July of 2004, replacing JCPenney, which had anchored the northeastern wing of the shopping center, and later moved to Southeast Antioch.

Although at 107,142 square feet, it was about half the size of other Macy’s stores, it was hailed as an option for upscale fashion previously unavailable in the area. Until then, East County shoppers with disposable income had to travel to Concord’s Sunvalley Shopping Center or beyond for designer clothes.

The mall underwent a $6 million face lift in 2003, replacing the parquet floor with tiles, adding restrooms and new paint. Millions more went into building the two-story Macy’s structure.

In 2014 Time Equities Inc. purchased the then-48-year-old shopping mall from Macerich Co. for $12.3 million, later upgrading the interior and exterior.

Despite the loss of Macy’s, Shannon Skinner, the mall’s specialty leasing rep/marketing manager, said one new smaller tenant is coming to the mall soon, a boutique clothing store called The Red Carpet. In addition, Guzman’s Gymnastics recently located to the mall, and Beat the Streets is moving to a large location there on Feb. 1.

“They’re all fabulous,” she said of the tenants. “I know it’s sad to see national tenants go, but we still have some amazing people here.”

Wire services contributed to this report.

Alameda has come up with the perfect solution to the culinary letdown after the holidays by presenting its third annual Restaurant Week from January 16 through Jan. 26.

The “week” is actually an 11-day celebration of the Island’s restaurants, part of California’s campaign to promote unique culinary experiences and have something to look forward to after New Year’s Day. All 38 participating restaurants are providing something special to urge patrons in from the cold: It could be a prix fixe menu, a special cocktail, a two-for-one offer or some other enticement. The decision rests with each restaurant but each offering is a special only offered during the event.

The restaurant gift card raffle will return this year and, for the first time, Restaurant Week will kick off with the Alameda Master Mixologist 2020 competition on Jan. 16, with proceeds benefiting the Alameda Food Bank. For Alameda’s Community Development Department, it’s a good way to showcase Alameda and what it has to offer.

“When we began in 2017 we wanted to promote restaurant businesses in Alameda. Restaurants are trending here, and we wanted to make sure that we were promoting restaurants in January, which is traditionally a very slow month for them,” said Lois RP Butler, Alameda’s economic development manager. “It’s also about the community coming together to support the food bank, and that’s very much in line with what Alameda is about.”

The raffle is a fun part of the 11-day event; patrons can pick up a raffle card at the first restaurant they go to and get it stamped every time they dine somewhere new. When the six spaces are full, the card can be turned in to any participating restaurant, and it will be entered to win more than $1,000 in Alameda restaurant gift cards. The raffle drawing for gift cards, ranging from $25 to $100 and provided by participating restaurants, takes place at the end of Restaurant Week. Last year more than 20 gift cards were awarded.

“It’s a really fun opportunity because it encourages patrons to try out a variety of restaurants participating in Restaurant Week,” said Annie Cox, an economic development assistant with the city. “There’s a nice diversity, everything from Asena and East End (restaurants), really nice dining establishments, to Tucker’s Ice Cream, whose special is a flight of ice cream, so there’s really something for everyone.”

Wanting to showcase Alameda’s thriving community of bars, breweries and distilleries, along with starting Restaurant Week with a fun kick-off event, the Community Development Department, in collaboration with the West End Arts and Entertainment District, created Master Mixologist 2020, an evening of craft cocktails, small bites and voting that takes place at Phoenix.

Seven bars — The Hunter, Fireside Lounge, Forbidden Island, East End, American Oak, Angela’s Kitchen and Town Tavern — are competing by creating a signature cocktail using one specific liquor, assigned by raffle. The liquor sponsors range from Alameda’s St. George Spirits and Oakland’s Wright and Brown to the distant Broken Shed of New Zealand and Ardberg from Britain, each donating the liquor for the event.

Everyone who attends will judge by tasting a sample size of each cocktail and voting. Bite-size offerings from a select number of participating restaurants give a sneak peak of Restaurant Week’s culinary delights. At the end of the evening someone will be crowned Alameda’s Master Mixologist for 2020. In acknowledgement that food insecurity is an issue for some in the community, event planners decided to make the Mixologist competition a fundraiser for the Alameda Food Bank, donating the full price of each ticket.

“This is a reflection of Alamedan culture; once we decided to make this a benefit we reached out to different community members, restaurants and bars, and people have been incredibly generous, either by sponsoring or by donating time, food and drinks,” Cox said.

“This is really the community coming together to support the food bank; it’s a partnership,” Butler added. “This event is about food, so why not give money to the food bank so that the people who can’t afford to go to the restaurants will also benefit from Alameda Restaurant Week?”

Restaurant Week organizers say the 11-day event is a win-win situation, offering participants an incentive to explore Alameda’s culinary experiences, get a great deal and something special and help other Alamedans. Event organizers encourage everyone to come and enjoy this year as well as anticipate future years, with the promise of something different every time.

If you go

What: Alameda Restaurant WeekWhen: Jan. 16-26Info: alamedarestaurantweek.comAlso: Alameda Master Mixologist 2020 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Phoenix, 2315 Lincoln Ave. in Alameda. Presale tickets are $20; tickets at the door are $25.

All the beautiful people have dogs. It’s one of the first things I notice about Carmel by-the-Sea, a village where evening lights twinkle in the aromatic mist of orange blossoms and sea salt. Where shopkeepers still sweep the sidewalks. Where Clint and Doris (God rest her soul) made their homes when they could have lived anywhere.

To say Carmel is pup-friendly is a grand understatement. Doris Day’s animal activism left its mark here, with seemingly everyone having a well-heeled companion. And if people-watching is a thing, dog-watching is a bigger thing. Pick a pedigree and you’ll probably see it — from poodles to doodles to Danes.

To get the real flavor of this village in the pines, consider the Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea. While it initially seems pricey at $100, the passport lets you sample generous wine flights from 13 tasting rooms, and it never expires (I’ve used one passport for several trips to Carmel). As you stroll the one square mile of this pleasantly walkable town, notice the absence of addresses and signage, which has long prompted homeowners to decorate their doors and front entries.

The delightful architecture of the mixed residential and business district, just a short walk from Carmel’s white sand beach, is unique. So are many of the tasting rooms, owned by vintners who often pour their own wines (Jeffrey Blair is frequently found holding court at Blair Estates as he shares stories about the influence his grandparents had on his palate). The local flavor also permeates a Carmel landmark — La Playa Carmel, built in 1905 as a stately stone mansion. The richly appointed bar holds tight to tradition, even offering 10-cent martinis for lucky patrons who happen to have a dime when the bartender rings the bell.

Perhaps the most pooch-friendly place is Doris Day’s Cypress Inn, where discerning dogs go for live music in the 1929 Mediterranean-style living room lounge. Night after night, the caliber of free entertainment is impressive. From flamenco guitar to cabaret singing — music in this elegant setting is a treat. On the nights I was there, several sofas and chairs had people with pups curled blissfully by their sides. It made me sorry I didn’t have my cat along, as everyone knows there is no better lap animal.

Then there’s Clint’s place — which begs the question, “Are you feeling lucky?” I have a friend who actually saw Eastwood sit down at the piano in his bar at Mission Ranch and play chopsticks. Yes, she would rather have heard something jazzier, but what do you want for free? And even if you don’t see Clint, Mission Ranch is a lovely place for a glass of wine, with sheep grazing in the meadow just beyond the picket fence.

Food in Carmel-by-the-Sea is exceptional — as one would expect. I dined at Vesuvio, a solid option for Italian food and lively ambiance inside and on the rooftop terrace. Family-owned Pèpe’s famous garlic bread (baked in a wood-burning oven and served with marinara) is one example of a 100-year old family recipe that has foodies coming back.

Another option is Brophy’s Tavern, an upscale sports bar with a creative menu of tasty choices including braised short rib house fries with chimichurri, scallions, queso fresco and pan jus. For lunch on the go, we ordered from 5th Avenue Deli & Catering. This works well if you’re hiking the trails and looking for whales.

In fact, folks say Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is the number-one attraction on the Monterey Peninsula — and that’s no doubt true. But I still say it’s hard to beat dog-watching — especially when you’ve got a glass of fine zin in your hand.

Local attractions

The Hofsas House (hofsashouse.com) is a family-run “Bavarian inn in the pines” that has grown from four cottages in the 1940s to a 38-room hotel. Within walking distance of Carmel-by-the-Sea shops, restaurants and the famed white sand beach, Hofsas House has a swimming pool and dry saunas, bakery-fresh breakfast pastries and rooms with ocean views and fireplaces (many are pet-friendly).

Carmel Culinary Week is Jan. 19-26. For more information, see Carmel-by-the-Sea’s official travel site at carmelcalifornia.com.

Ginny Prior can be followed on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com. Email her at ginnyprior@hotmail.com.

It’s a winter battle that’s as predictable as another tweet from you-know-who. And it has nothing whatever to do with politics. And thank goodness for that.

It involves PG&E. It’s a struggle over the thermostat. How warm will our house be kept during these long, cold days and nights? It’s a problem.

With the utility company greatly stressed by huge financial challenges and on course to raise its rates on a regular basis, the question of electricity and natural gas costs becomes more relevant.

The marital discord caused by this situation is an annual event that shows no signs of easing off. In fact, it’s getting worse.

One side (mine) prefers to trim back electrical usage and heat if possible. The other side (hers) isn’t quite as particular.

The thermostat, located on a wall in the living room, is ground zero for trouble. Confrontations are routine.

She will tip-toe up to the thermostat and goose the temperature up a notch or two. Once the result becomes obvious, yours truly will sidle up to the device and casually reverse her effort. It’s a delicate dance.

Nothing goes unnoticed. An extra light here, a pointless murmuring radio there, an unused but glowing computer — all get the same treatment: Off.

Maneuvering through this domestic minefield can be tricky, if not downright dangerous. You can’t allow a power dispute to get out of control.

So compromises are necessary; an extra degree of heat, perhaps, or a reduction in holiday lighting can make a difference when it comes to marital harmony.

But household activity tends to come to a halt when the monthly PG&E bill arrives. Opening the envelope is typically painful from November through March. Howls of pain and anguish can be heard throughout the neighborhood.

Usually, it’s that wintertime natural gas tab that really hits home with a vengeance.

But there is always hope for better times. Until then, it’s a question of “Watt the heck is going on?”

Addendum: Our average monthly electricity bill does not justify a move to a solar energy setup; such a decision, at least so far, does not make financial sense. But it remains a consideration if PG&E continues to jack up rates as it is predicted to do.

Nuts for Candy

As the consumer sales environment increasingly relies on online business and local land values escalate, it’s no wonder long-time Peninsula establishments are disappearing.

So it’s a true tonic to point out the 25th anniversary of Nuts for Candy, a sweets shop located on Broadway in Burlingame, that town’s smaller, secondary retail district.

The outlet observed its quarter-century milestone late last month. Kudos all around.

Dust to dust

On a more depressing note, does anyone else wonder why cremation operations tend to send out their rather morbid advertising blurbs during the holiday season?

Somehow, the idea of sitting down to a free pre-Christmas lunch to listen to a pitch for their services is less than a jolly ho-ho-ho. But, hey, that’s just me.

If you cotton to the notion of soup, salad and salmon served up with a heaping helping of details about attractive urn options, go for it.

John Horgan’s column appears weekly in the Mercury News. You can contact him by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com or by regular mail at P.O. Box 117083, Burlingame, CA 94011.

A proposed housing development along a key San Jose thoroughfare connecting the city’s downtown to its retail epicenter is expected to help transform the neighborhood into a bustling, urban corridor.

But neighbors — frustrated by the fallout of a larger building boom in their area — are pushing back against the latest proposal, which offers no affordable housing and only limited parking, exacerbating an already serious parking shortage.

About a dozen community members came out to a meeting Thursday night to offer their input on a plan to build two seven-story mixed-use buildings with a total of 173 for-sale condominium units, more than 20,000 square feet of retail and office space and 189 parking spots at 1530 West San Carlos St.

The property’s owner and developer, Urban Villas LLC, has hired San Jose-based Studio Current Urban Design and Architecture to design the development on an approximately 1.34-acre site between Buena Vista Avenue and Willard Avenue.

Situated in the middle of the city’s West San Carlos Urban Village, the project is part of a concerted effort by San Jose leaders to energize the main corridor between the city’s downtown core, its transit hub at Diridon Station and its expanding retail centers — West Valley Fair and Santana Row. About a mile from the proposed project, Google is planning its massive transit village that is anticipated to bring up to 25,000 new employees to the area.

“The Diridon neighborhood is going to be the biggest area of growth over the next two decades in San Jose, and this is going to be the bedroom community for that neighborhood,” said Jeff Current, the lead architect on the proposed development, in an interview after Thursday night’s meeting.

The project would require razing an automotive dealership, vehicle rental company, martial arts studio, restaurant and eight homes occupied by residents under the Section 8 voucher program.

Tenants currently living on the property have been given until May to vacate their units. Those in at least four of the eight units have already left, according to Viji Mani, one of the property owners. The units were not rent-controlled, so none of the tenants qualified for the city’s Ellis Act protections, which would have provided them with compensation for their displacement.

Instead of providing some of the 173 condos at below-market rates, owner Urban Villas LLC has proposed paying $7.3 million of in-lieu fees for the city to use toward housing initiatives across the city.

In the midst of an escalating housing crisis, Alex Shoor, executive director of the policy nonprofit Catalyze SV, said he is pushing for affordable housing in the development because the city needs swift and reliable solutions.

“Who knows where and even when the affordable housing will get built (by the in-lieu fees),” Shoor said. “And one of the reasons we care about affordability is we want integrated neighborhoods because we think that can correct some of the historical inequalities and injustices and segregation that has happened as a result in our neighborhoods for generations.”

Community members in the audience Thursday night brought up a wide range of concerns about the proposed development from its lack of affordable units to potential privacy loss from the buildings’ rooftop gardens to the feasibility of securing tenants for the retail space. But the biggest concern echoed by neighbors revolved around parking.

If 16 parking spaces are reserved for the office and retail employees and customers, the project provides a little less than one parking space per condo. Although the project slightly exceeds the city’s mandates, nearby residents say city requirements don’t reflect the serious parking shortages already present in the neighborhood.

Robert Ferris lives just a few houses away from the proposed development on Buena Vista Avenue — a narrow street where parking is allowed only on one side. Ferris said the development boom in recent years in the West San Carlos Street corridor has led to increased traffic, inadequate street parking and, overall, a decreased quality of life for residents.

“This is not San Francisco. This is not Manhattan. Things are spread out here and we don’t have the greatest transportation system in the world by any stretch,” he said during the meeting. “… Yes, you have to gear toward the future, but this is a working-class neighborhood with maids, contractors, electricians — what are they going to do, take their equipment on a bus?”

But not everyone agreed that the limited parking at the project site was a detriment. Carlin Black, a resident involved in the creation of the Stevens Creek Urban Village, said the project was planning for future residents looking for a place to live close to Google and other big tech companies that are building or expanding campuses in the city — not those who already live in the area.

“My suspicion is that this is actually overparked, in a sense,” Black said. “This is not history. It’s the future, and you’re not going to relieve the neighborhood parking problems by putting more parking in because neighbors can’t park here.”

The West San Carlos Urban Village plan, which was adopted by the city council in May 2018, says the 129-acre area primarily along West San Carlos Road from downtown San Jose to West Valley Fair has the capacity to hold an additional 980 jobs and 1,245 residential units. The plan, which hundreds of housing units have already been proposed under, envisions the area will be transformed into “an accessible, well-connected neighborhood and vibrant business district.”

Under the proposed project plans, 1530 West San Carlos St. will be built in two phases. During the first phase, the developer would complete the east building, with 103 residential units and approximately 14,046 square feet of retail and office space. The second phase would complete the project with a building on the west side of the site that would include up to 70 residential units and approximately 7,118 square feet of retail and office space.

Current, the project’s lead architect, said the buildings would consist of a variety of units from 500-square-foot “junior” one-bedrooms to 1,300-square-foot three-bedrooms. Current and Mani said they did not yet have estimates on how much the units would cost.

The project is expected to go before the city council in summer 2020 with the hopes of completing the first phase of the project by the spring of 2023. The city is gathering input and beginning an environmental impact report for the project at the end of the month.

Violins of Hope

As one of the “Violins of Hope” Bay Area partners, New Museum Los Gatos will present “In the Artist’s Studio: The Violin Workshop of Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein.” The exhibition runs Jan. 24-April 26.

“The Violins of Hope” is a rare assemblage of string instruments played by European Jews before, during and after the Holocaust. Fully restored by the Weinsteins, father and son Israeli luthiers. The NUMU exhibition presents a virtual experience of their Tel Aviv violin workshop Weinstein where the violins are restored. It will share the story of the Weinstein family and the inspiration behind the project, and highlight one of the 70 historic instruments in the collection.

The exhibition was developed in partnership with Music at Kohl Mansion Burlingame, producers of the Violins of Hope San Francisco Bay Area Project.

Music at Kohl Mansion commissioned local composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to write a new chamber work for “Violins of Hope.” Entitled “Intonations: Songs from the Violins of Hope,” the work commemorates the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The work will receive its world premiere at Kohl Mansion Jan. 18-19.

Presented in association with a larger exhibition at the Veterans Building in San Francisco titled “A Journey of Heroism, Healing and Humanity” featuring 20 restored violins and their stories, the NUMU exhibit features an interactive element allowing visitors to make a violin using symbols, words and decorations. The exhibition will also be supported by an app that creates an intimate listening experience for each viewer and includes historical supplementary content.

NUMU is located at 106 E. Main St., in the Los Gatos Civic Center Plaza.  For more information, visit numulosgatos.org.

Special Events

Friends Bookstore: The Friends of the Los Gatos Library Bookstore is open in the old library. Gently used fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and DVDs are priced to sell quickly. Store hours are Tuesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Civic Center Plaza, 110 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408-399-5700, www.friendsoflglibrary.org.

Saratoga Friends Book-Go-Round: The Friends of the Saratoga Libraries’ Book-Go-Round is supplied by donations and run by volunteers with all proceeds going to support the Saratoga Library. Inventory is constantly changing, with everything from barely used current titles to book club favorites to collectibles and art books. Store hours are Sunday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. 14410 Oak St., Saratoga. 408-867-5552, info@BookGoRound.com, http://www.bookgoround.com.

Seniors

Live Oak Adult Day Services: Seniors can get breakfast, lunch and a snack and participate in activities such as yoga, music, art and bingo. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. www.liveoakadultdaycareorg, 408-354-4782.

Campbell Adult Center: The city of Campbell’s Recreation and Community Services Department offers services and programs for adults 50 and older. Campbell Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Ave., room C-33. 408-866-2146.

Westhope Senior Activities Center: Come for family-style lunch Mondays at noon; a small donation is requested. Other activities include line dancing, Mondays at 9:30 a.m. All seniors are welcome. Westhope Presbyterian Church, 12850 Saratoga Ave.

Family/Youth

Preschool Story Time: Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga. sccl.org/locations/Saratoga.

Theater/Arts

Maxwell Quartet: The Glasgow-based string quartet is regarded as one of Britain’s finest. Their performances pay tribute to their Scottish folk music heritage. Jan. 19, 2 p.m. Los Gatos High School Theatre, 20 High School Court, Los Gatos. $5-$65. http://www.lgcca.org

Synergetic Elements: An exhibit of wood-fired ceramics by potter Jordan King. Through June 30; opening reception Jan. 11, 2-4 p.m. Hakone Estate and Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. www.Hakone.com,  408-741-04957.

A Winter’s Evening of Music at Hakone: Soprano Esme Salzman and cellist Mark Salzman perform classical favorites in a benefit for the Hakone Foundation that includes an hors d’oeuvres reception. Jan. 18, 6-8 p.m. Hakone Estate and Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. $50 foundation members/$75 non-members. www.Hakone.com,  408-741-04957.

Sis Boom Bah! The Life and Times of Los Gatos High School: An exhibition exploring the legacy and legends of LGHS as well as the history of the town, all through the lens of the teenage years. Through January 2020. New Museum Los Gatos, 106 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408-354-2646, numulosgatos.org.

Lectures/Meetings

Introductory Yoga Class: Mondays, 7 p.m. 13650 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga. www.sccl.org/locations/saratoga.
ESL Conversation Class: A joint program of the library and Campbell Adult and Community Education. Meets Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon. Campbell Library 77 Harrison Ave., Campbell. www.sccl.org/campbell, 408-866-1991.

Creative Writers Group: Share your writing, give others feedback and learn how to improve your writing. Every second and fourth Saturday, 11 a.m.  Library Conference Room, Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Ave. 408-399-5784, www.losgatos.ca.gov/42/los-gatos-library.

Drop-in Tech Tutoring: Tech tutors can help you learn to use your laptop, phone or tablet. Tuesdays, 1 p.m. Technology Lab, Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Ave. 408-399-5784, www.losgatos.ca.gov/42/los-gatos-library.

Los Gatos Art Association: Professional and amateur artists meet to share their art and see demonstrations by well-known artists. Every second Sunday, 1-3 p.m. Congregation Shir Hadish, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. www.lgaa.org.

Art History Group: Led by Kathy Kelley, author of “Art History Through the Ages.” Meets the second Monday of each month, 3-4:30 p.m. Adult Recreation Center, 208 E. Main St., Los Gatos. Free for 55 Plus program members; $5 per meeting for non-members. 408-354-1514, www.lgsrecreation.org.

Eating Disorders and Body Image Support Groups: The Eating Disorders Resource Center offers free support groups to create a safe space for those struggling with eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction. The groups are unstructured and open to all ages, genders and types of eating issues. Meetings are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, 7-8:30 p.m. EDRC Office, Mission Oaks Hospital, 15891 Los Gatos-Almaden Road, Los Gatos.

Submit a listing by emailing information about your event to cal@community-newspapers.com. Deadline is noon, two weeks prior to Friday’s publication.

Special Events

Sunnyvale Farmers Market: Enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables and arts and crafts from local growers and artisans. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Murphy and Washington avenues, Sunnyvale. Urbanvillageonline.com/markets/Sunnyvale.

Seniors

Sunnyvale Senior Center: The center offers a variety of services and activities, billiards room, fitness center, table games, trips, classes and lunches every weekday. 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale. 408-730-7360, Sunnyvale.ca.gov.

Senior Nutrition Program: Hot meals served along with camaraderie. Must be age 60 or older and a resident of Santa Clara County. Monday-Friday, live dance music at 9:30 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m. First United Methodist Church, 535 Old San Francisco Road, Sunnyvale. Sunnyvaleumc.org/mission/seniornutrition.html.

Theater/Arts

OSLO: Los Altos Stage Company presents the South Bay premiere of the 2017 Tony Award winner for Best Play. Jan. 23-Feb. 16. Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. $20-$38. losaltosstage.org, 650-941-0551.

Weddings in History: The new display in the series of rotating exhibits at the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum showcases wedding and bridal party dresses from the past as well as items related to such a celebration, such as invitations, veils, photographs and jewelry from the mid-1800s to 1968. Through Feb. 9; museum open Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon-4 p.m. Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum, 570 Remington Drive, Sunnyvale. 408-749-0220, heritageparkmuseum.org

Fine Arts League of Cupertino: The group meets the second Monday of the month, 7-9 p.m., and welcomes visitors. Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino. Visit falc.org or call Janki at 408-863-9991.

Lectures/Learning/Meetings

Racists Anonymous: RA holds weekly meetings to better understand how to confront discrimination on anything based upon outward appearance including race, gender, LGBTQ and disability among others. RA is a 12-step program patterned after AA. Thursdays, 6:45-7:45 p.m. United Congregational Church, 1112 S Bernardo Ave., Sunnyvale.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous: FA holds free meetings for anyone in the community who may be suffering from overeating, food obsession, under-eating or bulimia. Everyone is welcome, including those who are concerned about someone who may be suffering. FA is a nonprofit 12-step fellowship based on the principals of Alcoholics Anonymous. Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m. St. Jude’s Church, room 5, 20220 McClellan Road, Cupertino. 415-248-9347.

Cupertino Morningmasters: Improve your speaking and networking skills at this Toastmasters club. Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. Bethel Lutheran Church, 10181 Finch Ave., Cupertino.

Sunnyvale Rotary: Meetings are Tuesdays at noon. Elks Club, 375 N. Pastoria Ave. Sunnyvalerotary.org.

Dementia/Alzheimer’s Support Group: A safe, confidential, supportive environment for families to develop informal mutual support, get information about dementia and develop methods and skills to solve problems related to dementia. Fourth Tuesday of the month. Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church gym, 728 Fremont Ave., room 750, Sunnyvale. For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900.

Eating Disorders and Body Image Support Groups: The Eating Disorders Resource Center offers free support groups to create a safe space for those struggling with eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction. The groups are unstructured and open to all ages, genders and types of eating issues. Second and fourth Saturday of the month 9:30-11 a.m. for family and friends. El Camino Hospital, 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View. www.edrcsv.org

Open Gardens: Charles Street Gardens opens its gates to the public. Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 433 Charles St., Sunnyvale. Charlesstreetgardens.org.

Military Officers Association of America: The Silicon Valley chapter holds a luncheon meeting on the third Thursday of the month. Siliconvalleymoaa.org, 408-245-2217.

Submit a listing by emailing information about your event to cal@community-newspapers.com. Deadline is noon, two weeks prior to Friday’s publication.

Charitable meals grants

Santa Clara County’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency charitable feeding pilot program is accepting applications through March 18 for grants of up to $1,000 to nonprofits that rent commercial kitchens in the county for preparing charitable meals.

Nonprofits with no access to commercial kitchens can sometimes operate out of compliance with state law, or spend significant resources to redesign an existing kitchen or rent a permitted facility.

Commercial kitchens are designed to enhance food safety.

“Food safety is an absolute essential. I get that,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who championed the program. “But changes in State law in recent years have precluded well-intentioned nonprofits from providing a healthy, hot meal to people who need it. I’ve heard from too many churches, temples and local nonprofits who want to help that they simply can’t. That’s why I’m so pleased we’re making these mini-grants available. They should cover the costs for local nonprofits to rent a compliant kitchen and then do the good work they’re anxious to do.”

Grant requests will be considered based on a nonprofit’s goals to improve the safety, quality and availability of food to Santa Clara County community members who may not have the resources to provide for meals themselves. To apply, visit www.sccgov.org/sites/cepa/Pages/cepa.aspx.