Redwood Symphony Presents "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

The Redwood Symphony presents "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" with a full cast and chorus in two special performances Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 in the Cañada College Main Theater. Saturday's performance begins at 8 p.m. and Sunday's begins at 2 p.m.

Redwood Symphony Maestro Eric Kujawsky said Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the music and lyrics for the original 1979 musical thriller, could be one of the greatest composers of our time.

"I’ve long come to the conclusion that Mr. Sondheim could well be our greatest composer, up there with Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein, et al.," Kujawsky said. "The only reason that he is not, I’m convinced, is the snobbery that many serious musicians feel towards musical theatre."

Set in 19th century England, the musical tells the story of Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after 15 years' transportation on trumped-up charges. When he finds out that his wife poisoned herself after being raped by the judge who transported him, he vows revenge on the judge and, later, the whole world. He teams up with a piemaker, Mrs. Lovett, and opens a barbershop in which he slits the throats of customers and has them baked into pies.

Tickets for both performances are $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased by visiting www.redwoodsymphony.org.

Judge Cruz Reynoso to Speak at Saturday's Commencement Ceremony

More than 200 graduates will participate in the school's 43rd Commencement Ceremony

Judge Cruz Reynoso

Cruz Reynoso, one of California’s preeminent civil rights lawyers and a former Associate Justice on the state’s Supreme Court, will be the featured speaker at the 43rd Commencement Ceremony for Cañada College.

The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. in the upper quad. The campus is located at 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., in Redwood City. More than 200 graduates are expected to participate.

Elizabeth Elaina Mattingly is this year's valedictorian. She is one of three students in this class to earn a perfect 4.00 GPA. She is graduating with degrees in economics and business administration and will be transferring to a four-year school in the fall.

San Francisco's Doris Vargas will receive this year's President's Student Leadership Award. Vargas is a former member of the Lady Colts soccer team and has been active in Phi Theta Kappa, Cañada's award-winning honors club. She will be transferring to San Francisco State University in the fall.

This year's student speaker is Vimolruedee "Jojo" Kolby of Redwood City. Kolby emigrated from Thailand six years ago and enrolled at Cañada to learn English. She will be transferring to San Jose State University in the fall where she will major in business with a concentration in accounting.

The school will also honor four retiring faculty members: Chuck Iverson, professor of mathematics and computer science; Jacqueline Phillips, professor of ESL; Ronald Trugman, professor of business; and Nancy Wolford, professor of interior design.

Judge Reynoso was invited to speak at this year's commencement ceremony by Dr. Lawrence Buckley, the newly appointed president at Cañada. "We are honored to have Judge Cruz Reynoso as our commencement speaker," he said. "He is a man who has travelled a truly inspiring path, and whose personal values include a dedication to education and a commitment to serving others."

Judge Reynoso grew up in rural California in the 1930s and 1940s. The son of farm workers and one of 11 children, his personal story reflects the experience of many Mexican-American families from that era and it heavily influenced his professional decisions.

After exemplary academic success as a college and law school student in both the United States and Mexico, and three years of service in the Counterintelligence Corps of the United States Army, Judge Reynoso became the first Latino lawyer for the California Rural Legal Association (CRLA), a group of attorneys fighting labor abuses in California’s Central Valley.  In 1969, he began his service as the organization’s director.  During his leadership, Judge Reynoso lifted the CRLA to national prominence. Today, the CRLA provides free legal assistance to approximately 40,000 low-income, rural Californians.

Judge Reynoso was appointed an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals in 1976, and was elevated to the position of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California in 1981. 

Judge Reynoso served on the US Congressional Select Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Policy, and in 1993, he was appointed by the United States Senate to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights where he continued to fight for the underrepresented. 

He was a delegate to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, served on President Obama’s Transition Team in 2008 as an advisor on human rights, and in 2000 was awarded America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then President, Bill Clinton.

Today, Judge Reynoso continues his advocacy for improving California’s communities by taking-up the cause of promoting increased access to higher education for the state’s young people. As an alum of a California Community College, he is an enthusiastic supporter of the mission and goals of the colleges, saying, “…at community colleges, there is always hope.”

Four Finalists Named for Vice President of Instruction Position

Two Open Forums Will be Held to Introduce the Candidates

 

 

Four veteran California community college administrators have been named finalists for the position of Vice President of Instruction at Cañada College.

 

Two open forums will be held to introduce the candidates to the campus community. The first is scheduled for Thursday, May 2 from 2:20 to 4:30 p.m. in Building 3, Room 142. The second will be held on Monday, May 6 at the same time and place.

 

The public is invited to attend both forums. Each will begin promptly at 2:30 p.m. so attendees are asked to arrive no later than 2:20 p.m. Following a short introduction, finalists will ask for questions. Please bring any questions you wish to ask.

 

Following is the schedule for both forums along with brief information about each finalist.

 

Dr. Barbara Illowsky - Open Forum on Thursday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Barbara Illowsky is a professor of mathematics at De Anza College in Cupertino. She is currently on reassignment and working in the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office in Sacramento where she serves as the Director of the Basic Skills Initiative and oversees Middle College High School grantees. Dr. Illowsky holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from State University of New York at Albany, a Master’s Degree in Statistics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D./Doctoral Degree in Education: Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University.
 

Linda Hayes – Open Forum on Thursday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m.

Linda Hayes is the Interim Vice President of Instruction at Cañada College where she has served since July 2012. Prior to this, and since 1998, she served at the Dean of Business, Workforce & Athletics at Cañada College.  Beginning in 1988, she served as faculty/coordinator for the Business Office/Technology Department at Cañada College.  In addition, since 1978, worked as Adjunct Faculty at Skyline College. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Science, a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from University of San Francisco, and a Master’s Degree in Business Education from San Francisco State University.

Dr. Gregory Anderson – Open Forum on Monday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Gregory Anderson is the Dean of Learning Resources at De Anza College in the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District. He has been employed in the district since August 2005. Prior to this, he served as a full-time faculty member and program director at the University of Southern California. He has taught at the National University in La Jolla, Kyodou Gakuin Community College in Japan, RSNF-TINS in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and served as a director/coordinator/faculty member at Kwansel Gakuin University in Japan. He was also a volunteer teacher in the United State Peace Corp. Dr. Anderson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communication and English from the University of Wisconsin, a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the School for International Training, and a Ph.D./Doctoral in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Southern California.
 

Dr. Stacy Thompson – Open Forum on Monday, May 6 at 3:30 p.m.

Dr. Stacy Thompson is the Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences at Merritt College in the Peralta Community College District and has served in this position since July 2008. Prior to this, and since 1999, she served as faculty in the Child Development department. In 2004, she became Chair, Human Development at Merritt College. Dr. Thompson has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Lewis and Clark College, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mills College, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Mills College, and a Ph.D./Doctoral in Educational Leadership from Mills College.