EVENTS

Hispanic business showcase

Expo de Americas Business Showcase from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday will feature

the Michael Martinez Latin Band and other activities at the Finley Community

Center, 2060 W. College Ave. in Santa Rosa.

The showcase, promoting Hispanic businesses and companies interested in

doing business with Hispanic patrons, is presented by Hispanic Chamber of

Commerce of Sonoma County.

Also included will be food sampling from area restaurants, product and

service information, a live broadcast by Radio KRRS, a fashion show, and

prizes. The event is sponsored by the Exchange Bank. Admission is free. Phone

the chamber, 526-7744.

League's 75th anniversary

The 75th anniversary of the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County will be

celebrated at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Sonoma County Museum, 425 Seventh St.

in Santa Rosa.

Press Democrat columnist Gaye LeBaron will open the program speaking on the

History of Women in Politics in Sonoma County. The meeting is free and open to

the public. Free child care is available for the meeting with three days

notice. For child care reservations, membership and other information, call

546-5943.

Rincon library photo display

Rincon Valley's new regional library off Montecito Boulevard has 60

historical photographs on display showing the lives and times of people who

lived and worked in Sonoma County in the past 100 years.

The display was drawn from a collection of some 13,000 photographs at the

Sonoma County Public Library.

The library is open from 10 a.m. to 9 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and

Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The

library number is 537-0162.

Blood drive at Sebastopol

Blood Bank of the Redwoods mobile unit will draw blood from 3:30 to 7 p.m.

today at Gold Ridge Fire Department on Hessel Road near Sebastopol.

Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds.

They must have no signs of flu or cold and must have eaten a substantial meal

within four hours of donating. For further information, call 545-1222.

BENEFITS

'In the Mood' dinner, dance

Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena is the setting for ''In the Mood,'' a

dinner, dance and silent auction Friday to aid the Napa County Meals on Wheels

program.

The festivities start at 7 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres and wine. Dinner will

be served at 8 p.m. Dancing is from 9 p.m. to midnight. The cost is $100 per

person. Prizes will be awarded for the best 1940s costume and the best dancers

of the evening. Pamela Rose and Sidepocket will provide the music.

For reservations, call 963-5057. Black tie is optional. The winery is at

2800 Highway 29 in St. Helena.

Annual Great Day in Elk

Mendocino Coast's village of Elk presents its 20th annual Great Day in Elk

with a parade, festival, dinner and dance. Events start at noon Sept. 10 with

free admission to the parade and festival.

The barbecued chicken or pork dinner starts at 5 p.m. costing $8 for adults

and $6 for kids; reservations are suggested. Dancing to the Mighty T-Bones

starts at 9 p.m. for $7 adults and $4 for kids. The day benefits Elk's

Greenwood Community Center year-round activities. Further details are

available at 877-3564.

Car rally and Poker Run

A Hot Sebastopol Night Car Rally is set for 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 10 on Morris

Street in Sebastopol as a benefit for the city's Chamber of Commerce, with a

Poker Run providing some proceeds to the Sebastopol Teen Center.

The car show, cruise, live music and other contests includes prizes and

food. Event T-shirt will be available. It also is sponsored by Radio KMGG,

97.7 FM.

The cost is $4 for adults and $2 for those 15 and younger. Further

information is available by calling the chamber, 823-3032.

COUNTY LINES

Award for Pearl Harbor vets

The Secretary of Defense sent a representative to Santa Rosa recently to

present an award to Pearl Harbor veterans living in Sonoma County.

An Army spokesman said the Sonoma County Chapter of the Pearl Harbor

Survivors Association is the first such group in the nation to receive the

award from Defense Secretary William Perry.

The award commends the Pearl Harbor vets for keeping alive the history of

World War II. Chapter member Frank Sennello, who applied for the honor, said

vets have spoken to more than 18,000 students during visits to Sonoma County

schools.

The award was presented to the chapter by Maj. Gen. Kent Hillhouse, a

much-decorated Vietnam veteran who served most recently as commander of the

Army's 91st Training Division at Fort Baker is Sausalito. Hillhouse serves

with the Army Reserve.

During the ceremony in Santa Rosa, Hillhouse presented the Pearl Harbor

vets with a flag commemorating the 50th anniversary of World War II, pins for

members and a certificate signed by Perry.

Temporary homes for 2 teens

Two exchange students from Russia and Hungary need a temporary home or

homes since the Santa Rosa family signed up to take them in for the 1994-95

academic year has been delayed in a movie project in Hollywood until

mid-November.

The students, ages 16 and 17, can be housed by a couple, one or two

families or a single parent. They will be studying at Santa Rosa High School

for the school year; classes started today.

Both are fluent in English. They have their own spending money and medical

insurance.

Sponsored by the Academic Year in U.S.A. program, the boys need a Santa

Rosa home or homes until their original family returns. The program asks only

that the students be included in family and household activities. Residents

interested in taking in the students can call Mary, 539-1106.

Reading Is a Magic Trip

More than 4,000 Sonoma County children took part in Reading Is a Magic

Trip, the special summer reading program at the various libraries.

The programs ended with parties, the last set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the

Rohnert Park Branch Library for those who read there. Clo the Cow will be a

guest. There will be cow stories, jokes, and a little milk magic. Reading

certificates will be issued to summer participants.

The countywide program saw a major increase in young readers and parent

interaction with children's librarians, according to library director David

Price.

Final days at swimmin' holes

Labor Day is the final swimming day of the season at Healdsburg Memorial

Beach.

Spring Lake Park's swimming lagoon closes after Sept. 11.

The closures were announced by Sonoma County Regional Parks. The facilities

will reopen Memorial Day.

EDUCATION

Child care in Rohnert Park

After-school care for children ages 6-12 is available through the Rohnert

Park Recreation Department at the Ladybug Recreation Building, 8517 Liman Way,

and the Community Center, 5401 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park.

Hours are 2 to 6 p.m. with hours accommodating shortened school days and

minimum days. The cost is $30 per week without transportation and $35 with

transportation.

A one-time fee of $14 will be charged at the time of registration. Dates of

the first session are today through Dec. 16.

Transportation starts the third week of school. Call Jennifer, 584-7357.

Boating and seamanship

Members of Flotilla 14 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in San Rafael will

offer a 13-lesson boating skills and seamanship class at the San Rafael Yacht

Club, 405 E. Francisco Boulevard in San Rafael.

The class will meet Tuesday nights. Registration will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 6.

The course will cover a variety of areas including boat handling, safety,

legal requirements and aids to navigation. Call Herb Golenpaul, (415)

924-6103, or Dan Tinney, (415) 897-1715.

Series of parenting classes

A new series of classes dealing with infants, toddlers, teen-agers and

single parents will be held or start in September through arrangements by the

California Parenting Institute, 3650 Standish Ave. in Santa Rosa.

All sessions will be at the institute offices. Further class specifics

including requirements and costs are available by calling 585-6108.

Spelling Bee for Literacy

The second annual benefit Spelling Bee for Literacy will be from 6 to 9

p.m. Sept. 8 at the St. Rose Center, Tenth and B streets, in Santa Rosa.

Businesses and organizations can sponsor teams. The entry fee is $15 for

adults and $7 for children 12 and younger. To sponsor a team, call the

program, 544-2622.