SiliconValleyMom

Let’s not forget to support the arts in the Bay area.  CSMA (Community School of Music and Arts) which provides the community with great free concerts is having a raffle.  The prizes include tickets to Wicked (the current hot ticket!), “wearable art” created by designers Soo-Ling and DGStudios, and a “staycation” comprised of 15+ events to theater, opera, music, more.

Tickets are only $20 (six for $100) and can be purchased at CSMA’s main office or call Development Associate Amy Streeper (650-917-6800, x334); gala@arts4all.org.  There will only be 450 tickets sold so buy yours today.

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Tags: Around The Town, Uncategorized by admin
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From June 27, 2009, through March 28, 2010, we will be able to enjoy Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at the De Young in SF.   The exhibit will include over 130 outstanding works from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as those of his royal predecessors, his family, and court officials.  All of the treasures in the exhibition are more than 3,000 years old.

Tickets can be purchased now for members of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  For the rest of us, tickets sales begin on April 6th. Ticket prices for non-members range from $16.50 (children) to $32.50 (adults).

There is also special pricing available for groups and field trips including a limited number of reduced price and free tickets for field trip groups.

Celebrate-Family!

Tags: Around The Town by admin
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Both San Jose and Santa County Libraries will be hosting a new type of bookmobile during the month of April.  But instead of traditional books, this bookmobile travels with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a variety of portable media players to introduce the public to Overdrive, a web portal which supplies local libraries with digital content: ebooks, audio books and music.

I’ve long been a fan of audio books.  And I’ve recommended the Overdrive service for a number of years.  One of my favorite features is not having to ‘return’ the item back to the library.  With the digital library, your ability to access the item simply expires when the return date is reached. And of course the ability to access information 24/7.  

Overdirve users can also take advatage of several of the favorite features offered at the physical library branches such as being able to place an item ‘on hold’ and be notified when the item is availalbe for checkout. 

Visit the bookmobile on April 16th at Dr. MLK Library in downtown San Jose,  April 17th at Saratoga Library and April 18 at Morgan Hill Library (Santa Clara County Libraries)

Besides the Overdrive portal, below is a list of other online portals offered by the San Jose libraries.  Visit the San Jose eBooks, Audiobooks and Music page to access these online services. 

TumbleBooks - audio books for young children

Missons of California Ebooks: Online or downloadable ebooks on California Missions.

NetLibrary: Popular ebooks on business, legal self-help, computer science, economics, literature, psychology and more.

Safari Tech: Online programming and IT ebooks published within the last 3 years.

Pimsleur Language: Downloadable audiobooks for learning foreign languages and for learning English from another language.

For more ideas about great things at our local libraries, read my post:  My Favorite Things About the Library.

Celebrate-Family!

Tags: Around The Town, CPSC Recalls, Freebies, Golf, National Library Week, Newsletters, Reviews & Recommendations, Things to Do, Travel Suggestions, Uncategorized by admin
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See this recall on CPSC’s web site,

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
Release #09-181

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 268-8139
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SunKids Convertible Cribs Recalled by Suntech Enterprises Due to Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: SunKids Convertible Cribs

Units: About 1,900

Importer: Suntech Enterprises Inc., of City of Commerce, Calif.

Hazard: The sides of the crib are made of mesh that expands, creating a gap between the side and the crib’s mattress if it’s not zipped into place, or a gap between the side and an added mattress. A young child can slip into this gap and become entrapped or suffocate. Also, the crib’s drop side can fail to fully latch posing a fall hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported with this crib. However, CPSC is aware of the death of a 5-month-old child in August 2008 involving another company’s nearly identical crib that was recalled. The child became entrapped between the mattress and the mesh side and suffocated.

Description: The recall involves the SunKids convertible crib/playpen/bassinet/bed with model number PY256. “SunKids” is embroidered on the bottom left of the crib’s drop side. The convertible cribs have a drop side rail, stationary side rail, canopy assembly, and bassinet. The sides of the convertible crib are fabric and mesh. The mattress support, bassinet, canopy, and bed skirt are covered in fabric. The fabric and the mesh were sold in navy blue, light blue, pink, beige, white, beige checker, and pink heart.

Sold at: Small juvenile product retailers in N.Y., N. J., and Calif. from January 2007 through October 2008 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled convertible cribs and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Suntech Enterprises toll-free at (888) 268-8139 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Tags: Around The Town, CPSC Recalls, Freebies, Golf, National Library Week, Newsletters, Reviews & Recommendations, Things to Do, Travel Suggestions, Uncategorized by admin
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See this recall on CPSC’s web site.

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2009
Release #09-176

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 421-5354
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Product: What’s Inside? Soft Toy Boxes

Units: About 3,600

Manufacturer: Lakeshore Learning Materials, of Carson, Calif.

Hazard: The head of the stuffed butterfly toy can detach from the body, posing a choking hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: Lakeshore has received three reports of the head of the butterfly detaching from the body. No injuries were reported.

Description: The recalled product is a soft, multi-colored box with a different color on each side. “What’s Inside?” is embroidered on the front of the box and symbols of a lion, flower and purple butterfly are stitched on another side. Each feely box contains ten small stuffed pieces. The piece affected by this recall is the pink and purple butterfly.

Sold by: Lakeshore Learning Materials stores nationwide and Toys To Grow On(tm) catalogs from September 2008 through February 2009 for about $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from children and contact Lakeshore to receive a free replacement butterfly.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lakeshore Learning Materials at (800) 428-4414 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.lakeshorelearning.com

Celebrate-Family!

Tags: Around The Town, CPSC Recalls, Freebies, Golf, National Library Week, Newsletters, Reviews & Recommendations, Things to Do, Travel Suggestions, Uncategorized by admin
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