For the handy individuals

• Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley | Participate in minor home repairs, team builds, or preparing earthquake + fire preparedness kits.
• Habitat for Humanity | Learn how to build and repair homes, and volunteer at its ReStore.
• Good Karma Bikes | Join this team in repairing bikes for the community.

Photo via @svpetproject

If you want to stay in your home

• Silicon Valley Pet Project | Become a foster parent coordinator or recruiter, and meet + greet with potential adopters.
• San Jose Public Library | Connect with local nonprofits for SJ Engage, create booklists for the Teen Book Committee, or write short stories for SJPL’s online Biblioboard.
• SJSU Alumni | Virtually network with current students, review resumes + offer feedback, and share job and internship openings.

Photo via @sj_cactus_succulent

For the outdoorsy types

• Guadalupe River Park Conservancy | Be a part of the Tag Team to preserve public art, support the front desk at the visitors center, or spend time doing trail cleanups.
• California Native Garden Foundation | Help with weeding, seeding, and planting at gardens, or support produce stands at local farmers markets.
• Alum Rock Trail Crew | Learn and help out with trail + restoration work.
• Trash Punx | Clean up trash around local parks, gardens, and neighborhoods.
• Veggielution | Lend a hand with farm boxing, gardening at the SoFA Pocket Park, and community-led cooking classes.

• Bennett Roth-Newell | Fri., Sept. 23 | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | Mama Kin, 374 S. First St. | $8 | Listen to the tunes from this San Francisco-based pianist, composer, and music educator. 🎹
• CATS | Fri., Sept. 23-Sun., Sept. 25 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd. | $30+ | Catch this record-breaking musical about a tribe of felines. 🐈
• Representation Matters Film Festival | Fri., Sept. 23 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Ave. | Free | Watch short films about diversity in the outdoors. 🍃

• Morning Bird Walk at North Coyote Valley | Sat., Sept. 24 | 8-11 a.m. | North Coyote Valley Conservation Area, Santa Teresa Blvd. | Free | Bring binoculars + search for fall’s feathered friends. 🦅
• San José Museum of Art Gala + Auction After Party | Sat., Sept. 24 | 9 p.m. | San José Museum of Art | Enjoy live music, a silent auction, and dancing in the museum.
• Nursery Workday | Sat., Sept. 24 | 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Our City Forest Nursery, 1000 Spring St.| Volunteer as part of the CA Climate Action Corps Community Climate Action Day. 🌎

• SoFA Street Fair | Sun., Sept. 25 | 2-8 p.m. | SoFA Market, 387 S. First St. | Free entry | Enjoy live music performances from local acts at 13 stages in Downtown. 🎶
• Downtown Campbell Farmers Market | Sun., Sept. 25 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | E. Campbell Ave., Campbell | Free entry | Shop from local farmers, craft vendors and food trucks at this year-round, weekly market. 🍊
• Meet the Birds that Inspired the Ancient Egyptians | Sun., Sept. 25 | 4:30 p.m. | Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, 1660 Park Ave. | Interact with + learn about the birds that were once highly revered to the ancient Egyptians.

• 88º | Sunny | 3% chance of rain

• The City approved a $2.8 million grant this week to go towards transforming the Pavilion Inn hotel into 39 apartments as part of Project Homekey. These units will be available for young adults transitioning out of the foster care system + construction is expected to be completed next summer. 🏘️ (San José Spotlight)

• Looking for a career change? Don’t forget, the San José Career Expo will be held today, Sept. 23 at the McEnery Convention Center from 1-4 p.m. There will be 70+ employers and all experience levels are welcome — register ahead of time. 💼

• San Jose Unified School District‘s lack of substitute teachers may soon be resolved. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, a new state bill will waive a required skills test for new substitutes. This move could help the SJUSD hire greater numbers of substitutes — having lost half of its pool during the pandemic. 🍎 (San José Spotlight)

• Santa Clara County’s MedAssist monthly grant program has expanded to now include all types of diabetes medication. The program supports residents who are not qualified for state or federal assistance, but still struggle with high drug costs. With 170+ people in the program, the county hopes to enroll 1,000 patients in the next year. Learn more + apply. (San José Spotlight)

• Prepare to spoil your pup... A new dog treat business — Woofboard — will be celebrating its grand opening at Downtown’s Moment SJ this Sat., Sept. 24 + Sun., Sept. 25 from 12-5 p.m. Expect raffle prizes, dog-friendly shaved ice, and free goodie bags for the first five customers. 🐾

• City Lights Theater Company‘s show “Every Brilliant Thing” was recently featured in the Marin Independent Journal’s Bay Area shows you should know about. The production tells the story of a boy who crafts lists of ‘wonderful’ things for his mother who suffers from depression. Catch the show now through Sun., Oct. 16. 🎭

• Tomorrow, blues musicians from around the Bay Area will be performing at the Poor House Bistro’s Fountain Blues Foundation fundraiser. The show runs from 12-9 p.m. and will have a full bar, raffle, and a silent auction — tickets are still available. 🎶 (The Mercury News)

• VTA recently announced that its ridership is up to 75% of pre-pandemic numbers. As of last week, the average number of riders was ~65,000 — nearly 3,700 up from the previous week. More detailed ridership data will be available in VTA’s October report. 🚍

• Another Shark is visting Fin Sin... “Shark Tank” investor Daymon John will be the featured guest of SJSU’s Insights Speaker Series on Tues., Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. He will talk about the “5 Shark Points for Success” — a limited number of tickets are available. 🦈

• Show your support for local journalism by joining the SJtoday membership program. Membership has some awesome perks like exclusive birthday deals, discounts from our online shop, Six & Main + more. Plus, 100% of membership funds help support our local editors — that’s us, Alyson + Nicole. Learn more + sign up. 💻

• Time to feel the fall breeze + enjoy the autumn leaves with the Fall For Your City Sale happening now on Six & Main, SJtoday’s online shop. Take 20% off the entire Fall For Your City Collection now through Sun., Sept. 25.

• Cleaning and staging and strangers, oh my. Did you know you can get an offer on your house without a single in-person showing? Learn how.*

• We’ve all been there — trouble falling and staying asleep is infuriating. Your mind races, you toss and turn, and the harder you try, the harder it is to drift off. Healthycell is a new, drug-free, pill-free sleep supplement to help you fall asleep faster, sleep deeply + wake up refreshed. Use code 6AM for 20% off.*

• Our jaws dropped when we saw the views from this cabin in Crook County, OR (~4 hours southeast of Portland). Listed for an average price of $249/night, we don’t know if we’re headed for the hot tub, porch hammock, or outdoor fire pit first.*

• City Editor Nicole recommends driving up Sierra Road to admire the city lights. 🌃
• City Editor Alyson says catch a lowrider cruise down Santa Clara Street.