The Campbell Reporter

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New HVAC system
goes into Building B

The Campbell Community Center track isn't the only thing that fell apart during the last year. The community center's current HVAC unit in Building B has exceeded its life expectancy and will be replaced

The Campbell City Council on Jan. 3 authorized the recreation and community service department to replace the existing heating and air conditioning system with an upgraded system that includes a new boiler, chiller and individual thermostat. An energy management system will also be installed. The new equipment will qualify for a PG&E rebate, which will reduce annual operating costs.

The current unit was installed in 1987 and has caused several problems in the last few years. Component failures resulted in expensive repairs and inconveniences to the building's tenants.

The HVAC upgrade is apart of the Strategic Action Plan, which was designed to improve and renovate existing city buildings. The Campbell City Council had previously approved the $350,000 project through its Capital Improvement Plan.

Baker reappointed
as commissioner

The Campbell City Council approved the reappointment of Bruce Baker to the Parks and Recreation Commission for an additional four-year term.

Baker was appointed to the commission in January 2003. He works as a park service officer for the town of Los Gatos.

With his longtime interest in parks and recreation, Baker requested to stay on the commission until December 2010. Baker received his bachelor's degree in recreation from San José State University in 1983.

"My hope is to make available the best urban recreational experience based on the needs of Campbell residents," he wrote in his application.

The city will review candidates for another vacancy on the parks and recreation commission that was previously occupied by Erik Kiehle.

Tower Records has closed for good

Tower Records shut the doors of its Campbell location on S. Bascom Avenue at the end of December, after liquidating all of its merchandise.

The Campbell store opened in 1975, making it the third oldest Tower location in the Bay Area.

News of the store's closure came in October 2006, when a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale of the Sacramento-based store to Great American Group for $134.3 million.

The store's closure comes as no surprise, as it has been struggling financially during the last few years. In August, Tower filed for Chapter 11 reorganization after accruing more than $200 million in debt.

Valley residents are the least generous

When it come to giving to charity, Silicon Valley residents are some of the least generous in the state, according to a December study by San Francisco-based NewTithing Group.

The study looked at the data from Californians earning $200,000 or more. In 2004, local residents gave a median gift of $2,800 to charity, which is less than 1 percent of their median income and less than half a percent of their investment assets, the study said.

In contrast, affluent Californians gave gifts as high as 1.3 percent of their income. Los Angeles residents topped the list, donating almost 1.6 percent of their earnings to charity.

Give a little, extend the holiday generosity

The holiday donation rush may be over, but several nonprofits are still looking for items.

EHC LifeBuilders feeds nearly 1,000 people daily, as well as providing shelter, transitional housing and support services. The organization seeks gift certificates for grocery stores or discount department stores, blankets, towels, toiletries and warm coats. Residents may also give financial contributions in honor of someone, including as a birthday or anniversary gift.

For more information, call 408.539.2100 or visit www.ehclifebuilders.org.

InnVision serves 16,000 people in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties annually, particularly with emergency and transitional housing, food, job training and children's programs. The nonprofit agency is still seeking material items for the winter, including towels, blankets, weather-resistant coats, and new socks and underwear. Shoes, especially men's tennis shoes, are needed as homeless people go through shoes every six to eight weeks.

For more information, call 408.292. 4286 or visit www.innvision.org.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties provides 30 million pounds of food a year to low-income children, adults and seniors. The holiday food and fund drive lasts until Jan. 13, but the organization accepts donations throughout the year. Specifically, the food bank needs high-protein canned items such as tuna fish, peanut butter and canned meals.

In addition, the food bank is now accepting fruit gleaned from area backyards, since the Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine ended last year. For help with gleaning, contact Village Harvest at 888.FRUIT411.

For the food bank's Virtual Food Drive, visit fooddrive.shfoodbank.com. For more information, call 866.234.8663 or visit www.2ndharvest.net.