June 20, 2008

SPORTS

Group recognized as ‘community honorees’ for fundraising and support of music program

By Ali Abdollahi
Editor

The Oak Grove Band Boosters were named among the community honorees at the Community Breakfast and State of the City event on March 7. The Oak Grove Band Boosters is a non-profit organization consisting of more than 40 parents who provide funding and general support to the Oak Grove High School music department for the benefit of all students involved in the Oak Grove Band and Color Guard Programs.

Councilmember Forrest Williams (left) helps honor the Oak Grove Band Boosters at the Community Breakfast/State of the City event on March 7. Representing the Boosters were Mike Davis (middle) and Steve Olivarez (right).

The group provides funding and resources to enhance the educational experience of the students in their community. “The funding and resources we provide, make a music and dance program that includes jazz band, marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble and color guard, a possibility for students from all economic backgrounds,” said Steve Olivarez, the group’s president.

The boosters’ annual Crab Dinner, Wednesday Night Bingo Games and various other fundraisers provide the school with the ability to maintain its music program at a statewide competitive level. The Oak Grove Marching Band and Colorguard have accepted invitations and performed internationally several times, and also participate in the Annual San Jose Christmas Parade.

There are currently 135 members in the band and color guard. The funds generated by the booster program, along with its tireless members, provide hot and healthy meals for students at all competitions throughout California, repair and replacement of instruments and equipment, transportation of the equipment to and from all events, an interactive Web site, uniforms and non-profit based accounting.

Said Olivarez, “We enjoy supporting our school district, along with the band and color guard directors, in making this outstanding experience available to the children of our community.”

Speed City exhibit is on display at History Park of San Jose

By Renee Robinson
Special to the Times

The History Park of San Jose recently unveiled a retrospective exhibit entitled “Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power, Athletics at San Jose State College, 1940 to 1969,” a look at the San Jose and American history seen through the eyes of its student athletes.

Speed City Athletes, San Jose, Ca., March 1968. Top, left to right: Kirk Clayton, Jerry Williams, Sam Davis, Bill Gaines, Lee Evans, Bob Griffin, and Frank Slaton. Bottom, left to right: Tommie Smith, Ronnie Ray Smith, and John Carlos. Photo by Jeff Kroot

Urla Hill, guest curator and former educator of African-American Studies at San Jose State University, has collected on loan through the generosity of athletes and their families, a vast array of photographs, authentic artifacts including Olympic medals, and clothing worn by both Olympic athletes and state coaches.

The exhibit celebrates two themes: the role San Jose State students played in the turbulent Civil Rights movement and the political stance they took in the Black Power movement on the world stage. The second theme is of San Jose State’s policy of integrating the sports department as early as the 1940s, before the National Football League, and Major Baseball League teams recruited minorities.

“San Jose State has not only a rich tradition of its sporting program, but it too should be valued for its acceptance of people of color decades before it became de rigueur,” Hill said.

The exhibit will be on display at History Park on Senter Road through Nov. 30. There will be several panel discussions with various professionals well versed on the subject of San Jose State’s History Makers at venues throughout the city. The exhibit and various discussions groups are an opportunity for families, historians and art lovers of every age to explore and learn from the past, and celebrate the history of San Jose State athletes and coaches, and their impact on world history.

For more information about History Park of San Jose’s exhibit, “Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power, Athletics at San Jose State College, 1940 to 1969,” go to www.historysanjose.org.

Sports Brief

South ValleyPop Warner is holding sign-ups for youth football and cheer. Participants must be between 5 and 15 years of age as of Aug. 31. Sign-ups are from 12-3 p.m. at Round Table Pizza at 5440 Thornwood Ave. on the following Saturdays; Feb. 17, Mar. 3, Mar. 17 and Mar. 31. For more informations, visit www.stpopwarner.org or call Bill Vines at (408) 808-1473.