5 Things You Need to Know Today, July 3

1. Don't miss the third free Music in the Park summer outdoor concert, 5-7 p.m., Sunday, July 3, Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn, 110 E. Main St. The show is part of the popular MIP series, a fixture of the Los Gatos summer scene. The act this Sunday is Bruce Gwyn & Big Rain. Music in the Park, which started more than two decades ago, is produced through a partnership between the Town and Los Gatos Music & Arts, best known for its successful Jazz on the Plazz concert series. Details: Valerie Hopkins or Marianne Hamilton, 408-354-1155.

2. Make plans to attend the 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday, July 4, at the civic center, 110 E. Main St. Entertaining the crowd will be Zenith Ark Project, the Sizzling Seniors, the Peninsula Banjo Band and the San Jose Wind Symphony. The hometown picnic and games are scheduled for 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the civic center. The Strike up the Band part of the festivity is set for 1:30-3:30 p.m., on the Los Gatos High School front lawn. Yankee Doodle Dancing begins at 3:30 at the civic center and the Red, White and Blue Barbecue will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Details: Monica Renn, 408-354-6834. No blankets allowed on the civic center lawn. 

3. Spend part of your afternoon at the "In the Abstract" exhibit noon-4 p.m., Wednesdays-Sundays, at the, 4 Tait Ave. The exhibit features works by abstract artists Ewa Gavriellov (prints), Paula Schales (sculpture) and Neal Boor (paintings). Exhibit runs through July 21. Details: 408-354-2646 or www.museumsoflosgatos.org.

4. Apply today for vacancies the town has on theLos Gatos Planning Commission and the Los Gatos General Plan Committee. The deadline to apply is July 22, 2011. Applications can be submitted online or in person at the Town Clerk Department, 110 E. Main St. Candidates will be interviewed by the Los Gatos Town Council. Details: 408-354-6834. 

5. Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, a Los Gatos resident and the former mayor of our town, is sponsoring a photo contest this summer. Send your favorite image that represents summer in Santa Clara County District 1. It can be anything from kids eating ice cream at Vasona Lake County Park, families boating at Anderson Lake, a barbeque in your neighborhood, a farmers market, or your favorite trail. Be sure that whatever you choose shows off the distinct flavor of our community. Wasserman will frame and proudly display the winning photos in his office. Three winning photos will be picked with no separate categories, just the theme: summertime. Get moving, get creative, and show the supervisor what your summer in Santa Clara County looks like! Deadline: Aug. 1. Complete photo contest rules and entry form can be found on Wasserman's website.