Paul Dubois, president of the Los Gatos Community Foundation, is leading the fundraising effort, selling bricks to pay for the cost of the bandstand project. But these aren't your average reddish-brown bricks lining the outer edge of the bandstand floor—they are laser-engraved with up to eight words of any length. The bricks serve as a way to remember a departed loved one; offer a memorial to love; feature a special quote; honor a graduation, birth or important event; and also represent local businesses, families and individuals.

"The bricks become a part of Los Gatos history—something that's going to be there forever," Dubois said.

Dubois and his wife, Mary Tomasi-Dubois, had an initial goal of selling 700 bricks at $150 each, with the proceeds going to the foundation to complete the bandstand. But the bandstand project turned out to be $30,000 more than expected, Dubois said, so they've increased the number of bricks they need to sell to 1,000.

"We said we were going to cut it off early, but really there's been a demand from the community," Dubois said.

As of April 14, 869 bricks had been sold, and Dubois said he has no doubt the remaining bricks will sell quickly.

"We're almost there," Dubois said. "And we're really looking forward to having the bandstand completed."

Bricks purchased at the bandstand's September 2003 inauguration will be installed in one big batch, Dubois said, in late May or early June.

To obtain a brick application form, call 408.354.8787 or visit www.losgatoscommunityfoundation.org. Brick applications can also be faxed to 408.395.9170 or emailed to pdubois@tomasidubois.com. Purchased bricks come with a tax-deductible certificate for Internal Revenue Service purposes.