Amazing Skies comes to SAC Saturday

Get ready to see stars Saturday as San Antonio College hosts a day of hands-on exhibits and speakers at the Loftin Student Center Fiesta Room, a presentation in the Scobee Planetarium, and star viewing at the Scobee Planetarium Observatory and with telescopes provided by the San Antonio Astronomical Society.  The event is co-sponsored by Amazing Skies, an Urban Science Initiative Inc.

The featured speaker will be Col. John Blaha, who has logged 161 days in space on five space missions.  He has received numerous honors, including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal, among others.

Other speakers will include Bryan Snow, director of the Scobee Planetarium, and Jennifer Becerra, NASA Education Specialist, who will introduce NASA’s mission to “Ignite the Flame of Knowledge” about STS 118, a mission that includes NASA educator astronaut Barbara Morgan.  Also, Art Applewhite will discuss rocket launches.

The Amazing Skies exhibit will feature videos, rocket launches, and hands-on activities for students. Day viewing will take place 6 to 8 p.m. and night viewing of the stars from 8 to 10 p.m. with San Antonio Astronomy Association (SAAA) telescopes in the parking lot and at the San Antonio College Observatory. The schedule of events follows:

• 2 p.m. - Amazing Skies opens exhibits and Jennifer Becerra speaks (Fiesta Room)

• 2:30 p.m. - Bryan Snow presentation (Scobee Planetarium)

• 3 p.m. - Col. John Blaha, former NASA astronaut

• 3:30 p.m. - Art Applewhite discusses “Rocket Launches” (Fiesta Room)

• 4:30 p.m. - Telescopes 101 (Fiesta Room)

• 6 to 8 p.m. - Day viewing with telescopes

• 8 to 10 p.m. - Night viewing with SAAA telescopes and in SAC Observatory.

For more information, contact Bryan Snow at 733-2910 or go to www.amazingskies.org.  

Antique Cambridge seating up for sale

Alumni and others fond of Cambridge Elementary School can now own a little bit of history, as the original seating in the school’s auditorium will be put up for sale.

In a message from Alamo Heights Independent School District Superintendent Jerry Christian that went out Friday, he said that new auditorium seating will be installed at Cambridge Elementary School this summer.

“The present seating was originally installed in 1927 and has sentimental and antique value to our patrons,” Christian said. “Therefore, we are offering to sell the on a first-come, first-served basis.”

For those interested, there are some guidelines. The minimum bid for seating is $150 for a set of ends and five seats. Additional seats without end pieces can be added at $10 per seat. Purchasers have choice of seats, but they must be together and in the same row, and the end pieces in that row must be utilized because of varied sizing. Cambridge office staff will assist purchasers in marking the seats and end pieces upon purchase.

Checks will be made out to AHISD, given to Cambridge office staff when seats are marked, and then AHISD maintenance staff will then disassemble the seats and pieces ordered. Purchasers will then be contacted to pick up the seats between next Tuesday and June 8.

For more information, call the Cambridge office at 822-3611.

SAC launches new interiorscaping program

The San Antonio College Continuing Education Network will introduce an Interiorscaping Program June 12, with classes meeting on campus 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Interiorscaping is an expanding career field that combines concepts from interior design and landscaping," said Steven Lewis, coordinator of the Service, Trade and Industry Center.  "Recent growth in demand for interiorscaping technicians is driven by the realization that plants in the workplace increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, and improve the mood of employees."

The Interiorscaping program includes three courses:  interior plants, interiorscaping, and managing an interiorscaping business.  Students will learn to identify the most common interior tropical plants used in the industry today, select appropriate care methods for specific plants, identify production methods, develop an interiorscaping plan, select appropriate plants, use appropriate maintenance techniques, how to bid, customer relations and management techniques.

Leslie Knopf, owner and operator of Foliage Designs, will teach the course.  For more information, call Steven Lewis at 733-2642.

Committee approves Smith’s patent bill

The House Intellectual Property Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., approved U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith’s (R-TX) bipartisan patent reform bill known as the “Patent Reform Act of 2007” (H.R. 1908). The bipartisan bill, which Smith cosponsored with Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), represents the biggest change to patent law since the 1952 act was written.

“Few issues are as important to the economic strength of the United States as our ability to create and protect intellectual property,” Smith explained. “American IP industries account for over half of all U.S. exports, represent 40 percent of our economic growth and employ 18 million Americans.”

“Strengthening intellectual property leads to economic growth, job creation and the type of creativity that has made America the envy of the world,” he said. “Our goal is to help the small inventor toiling in his garage, the high-tech firm that files thousands of patents at a time and everyone in between.     

“We will continue to fine-tune the bill as it moves through the legislative process,” Smith added. “Today’s bipartisan support signals that Congress is serious about completing the job of patent reform we began last year.”

Student recognized for leadership at Austin College

An Alamo Heights High School alumnus was among those honored at the college’s annual Student Affairs Leadership Banquet April 24. The event recognizes students and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Austin College community through scholarship, campus involvement, and service.

Will Radke, the son of Janine and Alan Radke, was selected for the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. These national awards recognize junior, senior, and graduate students who demonstrate scholarship, participation and leadership in co-curricular activities, citizenship, service to the their college, and potential for future achievement.

Circus comes to town July 4-8

The 136th edition of The Greatest Show On Earth® runs July 4 to 8 at the Alamodome. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be presented in an entirely new format, with this contemporary production looking and sounding unlike anything audiences have ever experienced. 

 For the first time, Ringling Bros. will introduce a story line to the circus experience, taking audiences on a circus journey, with a jumbo video screen bringing the audience closer to the action and have them participating in this interactive production from start to finish.

The circus features 85 performers, 16 clowns, nine musicians, more than 70 domestic and exotic animals and 80 crew members. Former American Idol® finalist Jennifer Fuentes dazzles audiences with her star power as she combines the roles of traditional ringmaster and singing songstress.

The performance schedule is July 4 at 4 p.m.; July 5 at 7:30 p.m.; July 6 at 7:30 p.m.; July 7 at 3:30 p.m.; July 7 at 7:30 p.m.; and July 8 at 1 p.m. Tickets (not including additional fees) are $65 (Circus Celebrity), $45 (Front Row), $28 (VIP), $20, $15 and $10 .  All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at the Alamodome box office, www.Ringling.com, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 224-9600.  For group rates and information, call Sherri Villani at 226-5967.

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic invades Trinity June 8

“Weird Al” Yankovic returns to San Antonio June 8 at Trinity University’s Laurie Auditorium for another evening filled with his unique parodies and original music, and of course, lots of accordion!

“Weird Al” is enjoying the most success of his career with the release of his latest CD “Straight Outta Lynwood” and his hit single “White and Nerdy.” “Straight Outta Lynwood” debuted at number 10 on the Billboard album charts, giving Al his very first Top 10 album ever, and “White & Nerdy” came out on the Billboard singles charts at number 28 (as the “Hot Shot Debut”) and then rocketed to number 9 the next week, making it Al’s very first Top 10 single

Tickets are available now at all Ticketmaster locations including Macy’s, Mail in the Mall at South Park Mall, Lackland and Randolph Air Force bases, UTSA Ticket Center, Laurie Auditorium, Majestic Theatre, Beacon’s and select H-E-B locations in San Antonio or charge by calling 224-9600 or visiting the Web site www.stonecityattractions.com or www.ticketmaster.com.