Citizen complaints against the San Jose Police Department fell for the fifth straight year in 2003, according to the annual report released May 12 by the city's independent police auditor.

The San Jose Police Department and independent police auditor Teresa Guerrero-Daley received 323 complaints in 2003 out of the more than 500,000 calls for service that officers responded to.

"There has been a gradual and steady reduction in police complaints," Guerrero-Daley said.

"Our police oversight system has enabled our residents, elected officials, and police officers to work well together to resolve critical issues and make this community safer for all residents,'' Guerrero-Daley said.

The department received 403 complaints in 2002, 406 in 2001, 618 in 2000 and 819 in 1999, according to the auditor's report.

Bomb threat empties
classes at Lincoln

Students at Lincoln High School were evacuated on May 12 after an unidentified "young male" called the school and said, "There's a bomb in the school."

"The phone call lasted three seconds," said Principal Chris Funk. "We did the proper procedures and evacuated the school and informed the San Jose Police and the school district. We did a physical search of each classroom and checked corners and after all that I decided it was just a bad hoax."

The entire incident lasted about 30 minutes, following the 11:28 a.m. threat, and students returned to their classes after noon.

Workshop for school board candidates

The Santa Clara County School Boards Association hosts its annual candidates' workshop for prospective school board members on May 22.

Current school board members will discuss responsibilities of serving on a school board and a representative from the Registrar of Voters will talk about campaign filing.

The workshop is 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the United Way offices, 1922 The Alameda.

The workshop is free and open to all prospective candidates. For additional information, call Rose Filicetti, executive director of the SCCSBA, at 408.453.6515.

Mummies weren't funny, were they?

A lecture on what made ancient Egyptians laugh will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. May 23 at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.

Dr. Carol Andrews, a lecturer in Egyptology at Birbeck College, University of London, will present the lecture using both pictorial and written sources. She was also discuss the possibility that what people today find amusing, may not have been the same for Egyptians throughout the different periods of Dynastic history.

Andrews is the author of two books on mummification and was assistant keeper/senior research assistant in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum from 1971 to 2000.

The lecture is sponsored by the Egyptian Museum and the Northern California Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt. Admission is $5 per person. Reservations can be made in advance to 408.947.3665. The Egyptian Museum is at 1342 Naglee Ave., at Park Avenue.

2004 Santana Row summer concerts

The 2004 Summer Concert Series at Santana Row continues on May 22.

Miggs, a San Francisco-based rock band that plays original music by creator Don Miggs, will perform from 3 to 5 p.m. in Park Valencia, off Olin Avenue at Winchester Boulevard.

The monthly concerts are free and feature local bands playing a range of music from rock to blues to jazz.

Upcoming performers are Silicon Valley Houserockers on June 12, Yohimbe on July 10, Sistas in the Pit on Aug. 21 and The Betting Fraternity on Sept. 18.

Exchange student
hosts families needed

D.M. Discoveries Exchange Student Program seeks host families in the Rose Garden area for the next school year.

Hosts are asked to provide room, board and a measure of guidance for students during their stay. Participating students have their own medical insurance and pocket money and are screened in advance by D.M. Discoveries, a nonprofit monitored by the U.S. State Department.

Families with small or grown children, couples and single parents are eligible to host. For more information, call toll-free 877.417.9675.

Picnic, Popcorn and
Pictures' second year

Santana Row's popular Picnic, Popcorn & Picture Show returns for a second season with free outdoor movie screenings on Wednesdays through Aug. 25.

A different film is shown each week, starting at sundown, approximately 8:30 p.m. Some 500 chairs are set up in Park Valencia and tickets are handed out starting at 5:30 p.m. with seating starting at 7:30 p.m. Fresh popcorn will be for sale.

Film dates are: Grumpy Old Men (PG-13) on May 25; Gone in Sixty Seconds (PG) on June 2; What About Bob? (PG) on June 9; The Addams Family (PG) on June 16; Seabiscuit (PG-13) on June 23; Spider Man (PG) on June 30; Top Gun (PG) on July 7; Tootsie (PG) on July 14; Mr. Deeds (PG-13) on July 21; Moonstruck (PG) on July 28; Bringing Down the House (PG-13) on Aug. 4; A Fish Called Wanda (R) on Aug. 11; Meet the Parents (PG-13) on Aug. 18 and Jerry Maguire (R) on Aug. 25.

If it rains, screenings are cancelled. For additional information, call 408.551.2249.