THURSDAY, May 15

Bookmobile —— 1:45 to 2:15 p.m., Stellar Academy, 38325 Cedar Blvd., Newark; 2:45 to 3:30 p.m., Ardenwood School, 33955 Emilia Lane, Fremont; 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., Weibel School, 45135 S. Grimmer Blvd., Fremont; 5:50 to 6:20 p.m., Contempo Homes, 4190 Gemini Drive, Union City. 510-745-1477.

Open mic session for local writers — 7 to 9 p.m., Barnes and Noble bookstore at 3900 Mowry Ave., Fremont. An opportunity for authors to try out their material before a live audience. Each author will have a maximum of 10 minutes to read, or just have fun listening to other authors. Meet near the bookstore's history/technology section. Bob Garfinkle, 510-489-4779. Sponsored by the Fremont Area Writers Club, Fremont branch of AAUW, and South Bay branch of the California Writers Club.

FRIDAY, May 16

Social/ballroom dance class — 7 p.m., Fremont Adult School, 4700 Calaveras Ave. First session of five-week class for couples 16 and older, Learn the cha cha, swing and foxtrot. 7 to 8 p.m. for beginners; 8:10 to 9:10 p.m. for advanced dancers. Cost is $60 per couple. Couples may sign up in class on the first night. 510-793-6465.

SATURDAY, May 17

Book sale — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Union City Library, 34007 Alvarado-Niles Road. Sponsored by Friends of the Union City Library. Myrla

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Raymundo, 510-489-0133.

Bavarian Mayfest celebration — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Olive Hyde Gallery courtyard, located at 123 Washington Blvd. (across from the old Mission San Jose), Fremont. Music and traditional German dances performed by the Almenrausch Schuhplattler and children can enjoy their Bavarian Maypole. Enjoy bratwurst, weisswurst, authentic German soft pretzels, weissbier and juices from various food booths.

Bear Party 2008 — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Faultline Harley-Davidson/Buell, 41315 Albrae St., Fremont. The One Bear Project is seeking donations of teddy bears and other stuffed animals to be given to needy and abused children. 510-657-7200 or www.faultlinehd.com.

Connect @ the Library computer class—2 to 3:30 p.m. The library offers an information class on how to begin a job search using print and online library resources and how the library can jump-start the search. Participants must be familiar with basic Internet skills. Class is free, but registration is required. Sign up at the information desk or call 510-745-1401.

Multimedia Festival 2008 —— 5 p.m., Irvington High School's Valhalla Theatre, 41800 Blacow Road, Fremont. Event is planned by Mission Valley ROP students as a way to showcase their art while raising funds to support the multimedia programs. Festival showcases student projects in animation, graphic design, digital photography, video production and Web site design. Entrants will have an opportunity to win technical, artistic and audience choice awards and prizes. Tickets: $5 in advance, $7 at the door. To purchase tickets, or for more infomation, visit www.multimediafest.com. Advance tickets also available at MVROP's reception desk, 5019 Stevenson Blvd.

SUNDAY, May 18

Wildflower, art and garden show —— 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This annual festival, presented by the Niles Main Street Association, blends the beauty of the garden, the joy of springtime and creative works of local artists in the Niles district of Fremont. Self-guided garden tours until 3 p.m., sidewalk vendors along Niles Boulevard display paintings, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, photographs, plants, numerous demonstrations, including glass-blowing techniques, musical entertainment and more. Advance tickets for the garden tour are $12, or $15 the day of the event, and can be purchased at Antique Treasures, Bite and Browse, Corrie Glass, Keith's Collectibles and My Friend and I. 510-742-9868.

Fire Truck Day—10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. Grab the boots and fire hat and come to Ardenwood Historic Farm for a fun-filled day with some of America's finest firefighters. Climb aboard a variety of new and antique fire engines, get wet during the "battle of the fire trucks," enjoy live music by The Bungee Jumpin' Cows and meet Smokey the Bear. Crafts, games, horse-drawn train rides, sample goodies cooking in the country kitchen and more. Tours of the Patterson House are available, where music boxes, band organs and other musical machines are on display. Special event fees apply: $8 adults, $6 seniors and $5 for children 4-17. 510-796-0199.

Book sale —1 to 4 p.m., Union City Library, 34007 Alvarado-Niles Road. Sponsored by Friends of the Union City Library. Myrla Raymundo, 510-489-0133.

TUESDAY, May 20

Reduce stress by laughing —— 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Newark Community Center, 35501 Cedar Blvd., patio room. Gerontologist Beverly Bender will lead a belly-clutching workshop on how to look for the funny side of life even when nothing seems funny. 510-578-4840.

Mind your body —1:30 p.m., Newark Library, 6300 Civic Terrace Avenue, Newark. A whole brain workout for older adults. A representative from Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay will test brain skills. Learn memory skills, understand when memory loss is a problem and when it's natural, learn how to remember more for a longer period and the primary kinds of memory and how they affect your daily life. 510-745-1499.

Fund-raising event—6 to 9 p.m., Saddle Rack, 42011 Boscell Road, Fremont. Tri-City Health Center presents "Dancing With Your Local Stars." Local stars (business people, council members, etc.) will dance with partners from participating dance studios. In addition to the dance competition, there are silent and live auctions, a raffle gift drawing and more. Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Dress is business-casual. Light refreshments, no-host, cash-only bar. All proceeds benefit programs and services of Tri-City Health Center. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tri-cityhealth.org or by check at 39465 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite 2100, Fremont. For more information, call 510-252-5835.

Discover the power of poles —— 7 p.m., REI, 43962 Fremont Blvd., Fremont. Learn how to use poles for hiking, trekking, and walking correctly to more completely enjoy outdoor adventures, and techniques to save knees and prevent injury. 510-651-0305.

Bookmobile —— 2:30 to 3:25 p.m., Cabrillo School, 36700 San Pedro Drive, Fremont; 3:45 to 4:30 p.m., California School for the Deaf, 39350 Gallaudet Drive, Fremont; 5:25 to 6:10 p.m., Booster Park, Gable Drive and McDuff Avenue, Fremont; 6:25 to 6:55 p.m., Camellia Drive and Camellia Court, Fremont. 510-745-1477.

WEDNESDAY, May 21

SBA small-business resource —— 8 to 10 a.m., Fremont Main Library, Fukaya Room, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Small-business solutions workshop tells existing and prospective small-business owners how Small Business Administration programs can help them start, manage and expand their businesses. Expert speakers from the SBA and its network of resource partners provide practical information on training, counseling and mentoring, access to financing, and access to federal government contracting. Program benefits, eligibility requirements and application procedures also will be covered. Free. 510-745-1401.

Learn about ponds — 10 a.m. to noon., Sim Cottage at Shinn Park, 1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont. Join the Friends of Heirloom Flowers for a lecture on landscaping with ponds. Refreshments after lecture. Denise, 510-792-2923.

School-age story time —— 4 p.m., Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Free 45-minute program for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, features storyteller JoEllen Rice. 510-745-1400.

Social/ballroom dance class — 7 p.m., Ruggieri Senior Center, 33997 Advarado-Niles Road, Union City. First session of six-week class for couples ages 16 and older. Beginners learn the cha cha, swing and foxtrot from 7 to 8 p.m. Dances for advanced class from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. are yet to be determined. Cost per couple is $55 for residents, $60 for nonresidents. Couples may sign up in class on the first night. 510-675-5329.

Buddhism class —— 7 to 9 p.m., Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church, 32975 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City. Learn about a Buddhist approach to daily issues and see how Buddhism applies to the stresses of daily life. No cost for classes, but donations are welcome. 510-476-1415 or www.sacbc.org.

To list an item in the Argus Community Calendar, send the information, along with a contact phone number, two weeks before the day it should appear to Community Calendar, The Argus, 39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538; by fax to 510-353-7029; or by e-mail to jketchum@bayareanewsgroup.com.