News digest News digest (December 02, 2005)

Hometown Holiday tomorrow

Bundle up from 4-9 p.m. Saturday to take in Pleasanton's annual parade and tree lighting ceremony. This year's theme, "Creating Hometown Memories," plays out downtown as people shop, enjoy free entertainment, kids get their faces painted and more. Santa will listen to children's wish lists and a carol sing-along will accompany the tree lighting, which follows immediately after the parade. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit hometownholiday.com. Holiday Concert Dec. 11

The Pleasanton Community Concert Band and The 91st Division Band will present a holiday concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, at Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton. The theme of the concert is "Joyful Exclamations! A Holiday Celebration." The Pleasanton Community Concert Band is a group of about 50 volunteer musicians. The 91st Division Band is "The Band of the Wild West" and is associated with the United States Army Reserve at Camp Parks. The concert is free. For more information, call 846-5897 or visit www.pleasantonband.org. Low-cost veggies

Pleasanton residents interested in gardening can sign up for a plot in a new community garden at Val-Vista Community Park. For a one-time annual fee of $75 ($40 in July), residents can stake out at 12'6"x18" plot beginning in late January. In total, 34 garden patches will be leased, assigned by random draw.

Residents can pick up a patch application at the Parks department, or, to download an application, visit the city's Web site: ci.pleasanton.ca.us. Under Services, click on Parks, Recreation and Sports. For more information, call Eileen Moreley at 931-5346. Poet Laureate showcases new book

Pleasanton Poet Laureate Cynthia Bryant will read from her new chapbook 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Towne Center Books. The event is part of the Poet's Showcase series sponsored by the City of Pleasanton Civic Arts program. Bryant's chapbook, "Pebbles in the Shoe," was recently accepted for entry in the new Ina Coolbrith Circle Library in the Sacramento State Library's reading room. Her first book was published in 1997 and she has since published eight others, all of which are in the Pleasanton Public Library. Bryant has been published in more than 30 anthologies and her poetry is featured on numerous Web sites. Admission to the Poet's Showcase is free and a book signing will take place after the reading. Call 931-5350 or e-mail Michelle Russo at mrusso@ci.pleasanton.ca.us for more information.

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