VoicED Academy is a specialized college guidance and academi

VoicED Academy

VoicED Academy is a specialized college guidance and academic strategy organization founded by Ava Gencheva. With over 20 years of experience in elite education, the academy provides comprehensive support for high school students navigating the competitive admissions process to selective universities worldwide. The organization is grounded in a strategic, thinking-driven philosophy that prioritizes long-term development over simple checklists. Services include personalized college strategy and admissions planning, expert academic writing and essay coaching, and structured group programs. Founder Ava Gencheva, a former school director and UCLA admissions reader, brings a unique dual perspective to her consulting, having supported thousands of students in achieving their academic goals. Her expertise extends to helping students build authentic voices and clear direction, with a track record that includes guiding more high school students to the TED stage than any other educator in Silicon Valley. Families can expect an integrated, high-touch experience that covers everything from initial planning to final application submission. By focusing on fit, purpose, and original thinking, VoicED Academy helps students stand out with confidence and clarity throughout their educational journey.

Santa Clara County

Bay Area

Los Altos

California

VoicED Academy is a specialized college guidance and academic strategy organization founded by Ava Gencheva. With over 20 years of experience in...

Illusive Comics & Games, LLC

All are welcome at Illusive Comics &amp; Games, located in Santa Clara. Woman owned and all spectrum friendly, we are a brightly lit, well organized, and welcoming shop. It's easy for anyone to come in and wander, and shop. Roll some gorgeous dice and play some boardgames if you have the time. We will you pick out the perfect item you're looking for! We have the largest selection of new comics in the Bay Area. You can also find Dungeons &amp; Dragons, Pokemon, Magic: the Gathering, and a huge selection of boardgames. We've got comic books for every age, starting with Superhero board books. We have a full weekend of events all of the time, which we update on our website each week. There's also space for free Boardgaming for you and your friends. Illusive has been a Santa Clara mainstay since 2007. We're on Stevens Creek at Lawrence Expy and 280, next to Harbor Freight, on the other end of the center from MicroCenter. Open every day of the year, our Holiday Hours for 2026/27 are Mon 11a-7p Tues 12p-7p Wed 11a-8p Thur 11a-7p Fri 11a-9p Sat 10a-7p Sun 11a-7p (Libraries, Teachers and Schools- contact us for bulk ordering discounts for your schools and fundraising options!)

Campbell

All are welcome at Illusive Comics & Games, located in Santa Clara. Woman owned and all spectrum friendly, we are a brightly lit, well organized,...

The Reading Buddies program will take place at the Los Altos Library on Saturday December 27 at 2:30 PM. Families are invited to read a book with their favorite furry friend. Los Altos Library13 S. San Antonio RoadLos Altos, CA 94022650-948-7683

The Reading Buddies program will take place at the Los Altos Library on Saturday December 27 at 2:30 PM. Families are invited to read a book with their favorite furry friend.

Los Altos Library13 S. San Antonio Road

Los Altos, CA 94022650-948-7683

Visit the Los Altos Library on Saturday December 27 for the Reading Buddies Program for families.

Read with your favorite furry friend- Los Altos Library Saturday 12/27

Neighbor News

Palo Alto

Mountain View

Cupertino

San Mateo County

East Palo Alto

Menlo Park-Atherton

Saratoga

Albert Gregory

Redwood City-Woodside

Alameda County

Newark

San Carlos

Martin Family Hall

For Music@Menlo's 2026–27 season, pianist Gilles Vonsattel presents Beethoven's complete Piano Sonatas across eight concerts. Hailed as "immensely talented" by the New York Times, Vonsattel brings both technical brilliance and deep musical insight to Beethoven’s works.
A captivating speaker, Gilles also presents full-evening lectures with live performance excerpts. In this September 18 installment, he traces Beethoven's remarkable journey from the Classical elegance and confidence of the op. 14 and op. 22 sonatas to the monumental Hammerklavier, one of the most technically demanding works ever written for the piano.

Local Event: Gilles Vonsattel: "Encountering Beethoven"

Gilles Vonsattel: "Encountering Beethoven"

For Music@Menlo's 2026–27 season, pianist Gilles Vonsattel presents Beethoven's complete Piano Sonatas across eight concerts....

Spieker Center for the Arts

For Music@Menlo's 2026–27 season, pianist Gilles Vonsattel presents Beethoven's complete Piano Sonatas across eight concerts. Hailed as "immensely talented" by the New York Times, Vonsattel brings both technical brilliance and deep musical insight to Beethoven’s works.This installment includes two highlights from his early sonatas, as well as the iconic&nbsp;Hammerklavier&nbsp;Sonata that set course toward Beethoven’s late style.

Local Event: Gilles Vonsattel: Beethoven Piano Sonatas

Gilles Vonsattel: Beethoven Piano Sonatas

History Park San Jose

Walk for Mental Health. Walk for Hope. Walk for Our Community.
NAMI Santa Clara County invites the community to come together for NAMIWalks Silicon Valley 2026 on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at History Park in San Jose.
NAMIWalks is more than a walk. It is a day of connection, hope, and community action to raise awareness about mental health, fight stigma, and remind individuals and families affected by mental health conditions that they are not alone.
Mental health touches all of us—our families, friends, workplaces, schools, and communities. By walking together, we can help create a Santa Clara County where conversations about mental health are welcomed, people feel comfortable asking for help, and everyone has access to support when they need it.
NAMIWalks Silicon Valley is free and open to everyone. Individuals, families, friends, companies, schools, community organizations, and teams are all encouraged to participate. Whether you walk in honor of someone you love, in support of your own mental health journey, or simply because you believe mental health matters, we invite you to join us.
Funds raised through NAMIWalks help NAMI Santa Clara County continue providing free mental health education, support groups, advocacy, and resources to individuals and families throughout our community.
<h3>Event Details</h3>
NAMIWalks Silicon Valley 2026 Saturday, October 3, 2026 History Park, San Jose 635 Phelan Avenue San Jose, CA 95112
Come walk with us, bring your family and friends ,fur babies, form a team, or support someone who is walking.
Together, we can raise awareness. Together, we can reduce stigma. And together, we can build a community where no one has to face a mental health challenge alone.Register for free here <a href="https://www.namiwalks.org/siliconvalley" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">namiwalks.org/siliconvalley</a>
Join NAMI Santa Clara County on October 3 and walk with us for mental health for all.

Local Event: Namiwalks Silicon Valley

San Jose

Namiwalks Silicon Valley

Walk for Mental Health. Walk for Hope. Walk for Our Community.
NAMI Santa Clara County invites the community to come together...

Pacifica

Detective Hit By Car During Pacifica Retail...

After the pair stole thousands of dollars in merchandise, one woman was arrested and another remains at-large, police said.

Detective Hit By Car During Pacifica Retail Theft Spree: Police

Crime & Safety

San Mateo

Educators Get A Housing Lifeline In San Mateo

A new 74-unit workforce housing project aims to help teachers and school employees afford to live closer to the communities they serve.

Schools

🌱 Patch AM: Want a Wednesday workout you and...

You won’t want to miss Gilles Vonsattel: "Encountering Beethoven" on the Los Altos Patch calendar

🌱 Patch AM: Want a Wednesday workout you and your dog can share?

Community Corner

Across California

Federal Judge Restricts Warrantless Immigration...

The mere fact that someone is in the country illegally is not enough to justify a warrantless arrest, a federal judge ruled.

Federal Judge Restricts Warrantless Immigration Arrests In Southern California

Mom, Baby Killed In Highway Fireball In Bay...

Prosecutors said the man drove more than 140 mph before the fiery crash and later continued posting videos of himself driving fast.

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