Kids Film Fest
Festival passes and tickets are on sale now for the opening night of the second annual Danville International Children’s Film Festival taking place May 20-22. Weekend events will include the screening of 75 films from around the world, seminars, celebrity guests and awards. Filmmakers range in ages from 11 to 57 and include several from Alamo and Danville.
Festival day passes for either Saturday or Sunday give entry to films in three downtown venues at $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for youths under 18.
The Opening Night Event at 6 p.m., Friday, May 20, in the Danville community Center will include dinner and a screening of “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie,” followed by a question-and-answer session with Tom Kenny, the voice of Spongebob, and Carolyn Lawrence, the voice of Sandy Cheeks. Tickets are $25 for adults; $15, youths.
Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. is the Northern California premiere of “When Zachary Beaver Came to Town,” followed by a session with the film’s star, 14-year-old Jonathan Lipnicki. Tickets are $8.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.villagetheatreshows.com or at the Village Theatre box office, 233 Front St.; telephone 314-3463. The festival is sponsored by the Town of Danville and the California Independent Film Festival. For more information, call 552-REEL (552-7335).
Venture teacher honored
Ron Houston, a teacher at Venture School, a fully accredited high school that administers curriculum through independent study, was honored as teacher of the year at the Board of Education’s meeting Tuesday night. Students at Venture attend school once a week and meet for several hours with a teacher and receive weekly assignments. Curriculum is tailored to each student’s needs and abilities while still fulfilling the educational requirements of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
Houston was recently the advisor for the Venture Web Design team. Last December, the team beat eight other teams from traditional high schools at the annual Rotary-sponsored Web Design Contest. In 2002, Houston was also vital in raising $25,000 for the Venture School Art Institute. The school originally received a grant of $25,000 under the condition that it matches the grant within a year, and Houston’s enormous efforts are credited with enabling them to match the grant.
Hotline help
A new class for people to become volunteer hotline counselors starts June 6 at the Contra Costa Crisis Center. There is no cost but advance registration is required. The classes meet from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday through June 20. After classroom training, volunteers spend six weeks of one-on-one training with experienced hotline volunteers.
“Hotline volunteers come from all walks of life,” said John Bateson, executive director of the Crisis Center. “Many have no previous experience. If you can put your own problems on hold and focus on another person’s need, we can teach you the rest.”
All volunteers must be 21 or older. After training, volunteers work one four-hour shift every week, providing emotional support and resource information. Thousands of people call the 24-hour hotline each year who are abused, depressed, grieving, suicidal, homeless or mentally ill.
Call Lesley Garcia at 939-1916, ext. 132, or e-mail lesleyg@crisis-center.org.
