Harvest Festival

Parents can get their children off to a good start this school year by going to Hoover High School's Back-to-School Night, said Susan Yee, PTSA president. The festivities continue from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 27. A schedule of events and more information should be coming in the mail. Meet the teachers, hear firsthand what the expected learning results are for your child's classes and get a feel for their daily school schedule by following his or her route through the campus.

Hoover’s first-ever EBay Fundraiser is fast approaching. This online auction benefiting Hoover is being sponsored by the Glendale Education Foundation. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of smart boards — exciting new technology for Hoover classrooms. Please plan to shop for Hoover EBay items from Nov. 15 to 22. The starting bid price for all items is only 99 cents, and 100% of the proceeds go to Hoover High School. If you or your business want to donate, contact auction organizers at the Hoover website, www. hooverhs.

Aesthetics and art reasons for their dissenting votes Our family would like to go on record as opposing the Americana at Brand project for several reasons, including environmental and traffic concerns. But mainly we oppose the Americana because of aesthetics. Mr. Caruso's design is definitely trendy and bears a striking resemblance to the Grove in L.A.; it also features huge signs and a gigantic multi-level parking structure (which, conveniently, are not shown in the artist's color rendering on literature urging us to vote yes on A, B & C)

BEST BET nextBlock.com is hosting a celebrity launch of its Web site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the J.C. Penney court of the Glendale Galleria. There will be Web site demos, prizes and giveaways and appearances from local radio and television personalities. nextBlock.com helps consumers find products at local businesses. For more information, call (619) 518-8661. TODAY The Women's Institute for Health & Wellness will host a free women's seminar from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hilton Glendale, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd.

Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to o7lindsay.sandhamf7o7@latimes.comf7; by fax to (714) 966-4667; or by calling (714) 966-4625. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well as a contact phone number. TILL OCT. 22 Project Playhouse, a six-week event with elaborate kid-size playhouses on display and sold at public auction, will be held at Fashion Island Center in Newport Beach.

Association backs new arts group On Tuesday, the Alex Theatre’s Board of Directors will introduce its plan for a new arts organization to Glendale’s Redevelopment Agency. Glendale Arts Alliance, as it’s being called, is the very thing this city needs. I’m happy to say that the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn. supports its development. We know that theaters, galleries and arts events bring in customers. If you look at the crowds in our local restaurants or shops, it’s often because there’s a show at the Alex or the Glendale Centre Theatre.