A contentious turf battle between two Campbell softball leagues has drawn to a close, and the Campbell Girls Fastpitch Softball League is the last one standing.

Last year, representatives for both the Campbell Girls Fastpitch Softball League and the Campbell Bobby Sox League were looking to receive co-sponsorship status within the city and to jointly use softball fields and facilities at Forest Hill Elementary School.

In November 2004, the Campbell Parks and Recreation Commission voted 5-0 to grant both leagues co-sponsorship status. The recreation staff also recommended that the leagues share the field, with the amount of time given to each league contingent on the number of athletes on its roster.

With the softball season looming, however, the city of Campbell granted Campbell Fastpitch Softball 100 percent use of the fields.

Campbell Bobby Sox didn't submit a list of participants by a Jan. 7 deadline, Campbell Facilities Coordinator Chris Ghioni said.

"We did try to extend their deadline," he added. "But we got no response."

Campbell Girls Fastpitch Softball League will kick off its spring season on March 12.

Owner can split lot for two new homes

Despite minor concerns from neighbors, the Campbell Planning Commission on Jan. 25 unanimously approved Mike Paydar's request to split one lot at 1408 Capri Drive into two separate lots and build two new single-family residences. The property currently has a single-family home built on it, which will be demolished to allow for the new construction.

One neighbor did expressed concern that windows on the second floor of one of the proposed two-story homes would look directly into her bedroom. Another neighbor said his privacy might also be at risk, but said he was confident that he and Paydar could work something out.

Omid Shakeri, who represented Paydar, said he's aware of the neighbors concerns and has agreed to respect their privacy by putting opaque windows on the second floor and to plant trees to restrict views into other neighbors' properties.

Saidan gets nod to construct houses

In two separate votes, the Campbell Planning Commission unanimously approved Jacob Saidan's plans to build two new single-family homes on adjacent lots. One home will be at 1642 Walters Ave. and another will be next door at1360 Harriet Ave.

Although the first property went through without a hitch, the commissioners held a lengthy discussion regarding the property on Harriet Avenue.

That lot contains a secondary living unit that isn't up to current building code standards. The unit was grandfathered under prior building code standards and didn't require renovations. However, planning commissioners were not comfortable recommending approval of the Harriet Avenue project unless the owner also brought the "granny unit" up to code.

Campbell City Attorney Bill Seligmann said when looking at a new project, the city has a right to require that a the entire property conform to current code standards. The commissioners then made it a condition of approval that Saidan bring the secondary unit up to code when he proceeds with his project.

Community picks its
citizen of the year

The Jan. 25 Campbell Planning Commission had a last-minute item on its agenda, that none of the commissioners knew about until Campbell Mayor Jane Kennedy announced it.

And no one was more surprised than Planning Commissioner Tom Francois as Kennedy proclaimed him the 2004 Citizen of the Year.

"I was totally shocked," Francois said. "I had no idea what was going on."

But for those who nominated him the honor was long overdue.

Fellow Commissioner Bob Alderete said, "I can't think of anyone more deserving."

Francois has served on the planning commission for eight years and has been involved in countless civic events throughout his 43 years as a Campbell resident. He has also served on the Campbell Police Reserve.

Campbell also chose its 2004 Business of the Year. That honor went to Custom Vending Systems owner Alan Aerts, who is a long-time contributor in the Campbell community.

Local club brings in
more than $20,000

The Country Woman's Club of Campbell raised more than $20,400 at its ninth annual Crab and Pasta Fundraiser.

Cindy Campbell, the event's chairwoman, said she was amazed by the generosity of the community.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Country Woman's Club of Campbell, and $16,000 of the total raised will be applied toward scholarship awards, to fund an endowment and to help repair the Ainsley roof.

This year's club President Joanna Herz said a one-time $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a female student in the Campbell Union High School District. The scholarship will be presented at the club's 100th anniversary dinner on Feb. 24.