Valley life briefs - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

ycoguqi.wordpress.com
, producer of the free concert series in its 21st put the call out for singersa to participate inSan Jose’s Got Talent. “We know theree is a lot of hidden talent inSan Jose’s amateur singers,” said Eric SJDA president. The granxd prize winner will receiver prizes including cash and an opportunity to sing the nationalk anthem at a San JoseEarthquakes game. A panel of local judgesd will select a winner each The competition will feature18 singers, and firsf rounds occur July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30 and Aug. 6. The six preliminary-roun winners will square off ina semi-final round Aug. 13 and Aug. 20. The finale will be Aug. 27.
has entered into a partnership with Menlo Park to help buy andrefurbish bank-ownerd homes to provide new affordable homeownership opportunities for local workinbg families. Menlo Park is investing $500,000 in the bringing a total initial investmentof $1 Habitat plans to acquire and rehabilitate five vacant bank-owned properties in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menloo Park, with a possible program expansion followint the initial pilot phase. San Mateo County was ineligiblwe for federal neighborhoodstabilization funds, leavingy communities such as Menlop Park that are facing growing instabilitt in their housing markets to come up with workable solutionsd without federal assistance.
“The Neighborhood Revitalization Program representd aunique public/private initiativer drawing support from many sectors of the community to help revitalizee local neighborhoods destabilized by the a Habitat spokesperson said. Families selected for the new prograk will help with the reconstruction and refurbishmeng of the homes as part of thestandarrd “sweat equity” requirement of the Habitat program. They will also have accesse to the same termsof Habitat’s homeownership program, including no down paymen t and a zero-interest mortgage.
will host a forum June 2-8 on the issue of an integrated, quality preschoolp system and what it means to the work forcd inSilicon Valley. Panelists will include Carl president and CEO of the Silicon ValletLeadership Group; Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Catherine Atkin, president of Preschool California; Ken Wilcox, presidentr of SVB Financial; Ned Barnholt of KLA Tencor; and Charles the Santa Clara County superintendentt of schools. The event is sponsored by Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Fremont Chamber of San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce. The cost is $35, and breakfasg is included.
To register go to http://preschool09.eventbrite.com.