Singer-songwriter Philip Rodriguez will showcase his new album, Youth, Innocence and Pain, at the Espresso Garden & Cafe on July 30.

The Willow Glen resident and acoustic guitarist started working on the album about a year ago. The album was inspired by his family. The name of the album comes from a line in the title track, "Innocence," a song, that was inspired by watching his 16-year-old son grow. In addition to new songs, the album also contains Rodriguez's interpretations of Townes Van Zandt's "Highway Kind" and "Colorado Girl," and Eric Taylor's "Joseph Cross."

His sister, Leticia Rodriguez, a performer from Austin, Texas, will be the opening act for the show. The performance will also feature Rodriguez's collaborative work with San Jose singer-songwriter Colin Carthen.

Rodriguez released his first CD album, River Through the Sun, in 1998. "Hopefully, when people listen to songs, there will be some that will ring true for them and help them resolve issues in their lives," he said.

The concert will be held on July 30 at 8 p.m. at the Espresso Garden & Café, 814 S. Bascom Ave. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $17 and will include admission and a copy of the music CD: Youth, Innocence and Pain. For more information, visit www.philiprodriguez.org.

Debbie Wible joins
Books Aloud board

Willow Glen resident Debbie Wible has been added to the board of directors of Books Aloud, a San Jose-based nonprofit that produces and distributes recorded books via its free library service for blind or physically handicapped individuals of all ages.

Wible's work with the organization started 16 years ago when she came across an organization called Variety Audio that was conducting auditions for readers in the basement of Martin Luther King library. Wible, who enjoys doing voice-overs, was thrilled when she passed the audition and became a volunteer reader.

As a volunteer, she would go to the library every week to record portions of a book for an hour. "I always get a good feeling when I enter the doors of Books Aloud," said Wible, a senior technical writer. "The book committee always selected books that I found interesting."

Wible said her life has been enriched by her volunteer work with the organization. "Over the years, my professional skills grew while my world was enlarged by the books I narrated," she said. "I had a sense of purpose knowing someone with difficulties seeing might enjoy the stories Books Aloud sends."

She hopes that with her new appointment that she can contribute to Books Aloud by raising money through grant proposal writing.

"I also want to help get the word out that we serve not just San Jose or California, but all of the United States."

For more information about Books Aloud, call 408.808.2613 or visit www.booksaloud.org.

American Red Cross
needs blood donations

The American Red Cross is asking for immediate blood donations to boost supply levels, as there are shortages nationwide.

"Without an adequate supply of blood, health care and patient care could be severely compromised this summer," spokeswoman Sara O'Brien said. "We want to make sure doctors never have to decide that one patient receives blood and another does not."

Locally, the Northern California Region of the American Red Cross Blood Services is using a variety of ways to encourage the public to give blood. Donation centers around the Bay Area have extended their hours, and there are also giveaways and prizes to say "thank you" to donors. There are weekly drawings for $100 gas cards and there will be drawings for two trips to Hawaii, one this month and one in August.

Blood donation takes about an hour, although the actual donation lasts about seven minutes. Donors have to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.

Book appointments online at www. BeADonor.com or can call 800.448.3543.

Christmas in July
comes to a ranch

Willow Glen area volunteers are sponsoring Christmas in July from 6 to 11 p.m. on July 23 at Coyote Ranch in Coyote Valley, just south of San Jose.

The evening includes a barbecue dinner, horse-drawn hayrides, a wine toss and a display of hot rods. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for children ages 4 to 10 and free for children ages 3 and under.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the annual Christmas in the Park display at Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown San Jose each December. For reservations and information, call 408.281.7333.