Around The Glen

Congregation Am Echad fundraiser offers kosher treats, music

Jazz, rock, soul and Jewish music swing into Willow Glen on Jan. 15 as Congregation Am Echad presents "Jazz Cafe, Kosher Style." The public is invited to enjoy this evening of jazz and desserts in a relaxed cafe environment.

Jazz Cafe, Kosher Style features the musical group Soul, with musician/drummer Menachem Klein, and will be held at the Synagogue, 1504 Meridian Ave. Tickets cost $35 per person or $50 per couple. Doors will open at 8 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to Etiz Chaim Academy to support Jewish education.

For more information, or for reservations, call 408.978.5822.

--Jessica Lyons

Take a walk around the Glen for health

Walk your way to better health with the Diabetes Society's weekly Wellness Walks.

Designed to help prevent diabetes and to provide individuals who have diabetes the opportunity to walk their way to better health, Wellness Walks are easy-paced strolls in Willow Glen. Diabetes Society staff will lead the walks, test blood glucose and answer any questions.

Wellness Walks leave from the Diabetes Society office, 1165 Lincoln Ave. #300, at noon on Fridays. Walks are free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, call 408.287.3785.

--Jessica Lyons

A clean, well-lighted place for the tots

KidsPark, a short-term, on-demand daycare center has recently received state approval to offer extended backup child care for up to 10 hours per day on a drop-in basis.

This means that parents have a place to take schoolchildren on days when school is closed, but the office isn't. And if a day-care provider is sick, a parent does not have to lose a day of work because KidsPark backup day care is available for a full day.

Stay-at-home or work-at-home parents also can use KidsPark to care for and provide recreation to children on a drop-in basis; for example, if a parent has a doctor's appointment or a business meeting.

KidsPark's three San Jose locations--near Valley Fair, Oakridge and Westgate malls--are all open seven days a week. For information, call KidsPark Westgate 408.374.2229; KidsPark Oakridge 408.281.8880; or KidsPark Valley Fair 408.985.2599.

--Jessica Lyons

Discussion looks at careers in the year 2000 and beyond

It's time to cross that get-a-new-job New Year's resolution off the list. But first, head over to Presentation High School on Jan. 27.

Presentation's Alumnae Council will host a discussion on "Professional Self Reliance in the Next Millennium," led by Carolyn Hennings, Santa Clara University's Career Services assistant director. Topics include hot jobs in 2000 (and beyond) and a guide to today's job search tools. The free event is open to the public.

The discussion takes place Jan. 27 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Marian Stuckey Center at Presentation High School, 2281 Plummer Ave. Coffee and dessert will be served.

For more information, or to RSVP, call Susan Ferrari Mikacich, 408.264.1664, ext. 24, or email smikacich@pres-net.com.

--Jessica Lyons

Guadalupe River Park has volunteer and docent opportunities

If you're working hard to exercise more, eat right and quit smoking, why not add one more resolution to the list? Save the earth. The Guadalupe River Park & Gardens needs your help.

The nonprofit Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Corp. is hosting two forums designed to introduce prospective volunteers to the new opportunities available in the park. Two volunteer coffees will be held on Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Both will take place at the Guadalupe Garden Center, 715 Spring St. (between Taylor and Hedding streets).

The meetings will give prospective volunteers an overview of the park's history, design and development, and specific information about volunteer opportunities. Park-friendly people are especially needed in the new Demonstration Gardens, Heritage Rose Garden and Historic Orchard. Occasional help is also needed for river clean-ups and special events.

One way to become involved is by being trained as a docent. With the expanded gardens and increased community interest in the River Park, park staff hope to offer more public tours and educational programs.

For more information, or to RSVP for a volunteer coffee, call Lucy Perez, volunteer coordinator for the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, 408.298.7657.

--Jessica Lyons

Council votes on design review law

The City Council is expected to approve an urgency ordinance on Jan. 11 that will put the new design review laws into effect that evening and lifting the moratorium on home-demolition permits. This means that on Wednesday morning, Jan. 12, homeowners can once again meet with city planners and pick up building permits.

The City Council's decision, however, won't necessarily send all would-be homebuilders back to the drawing board. Some lucky homeowners will skip the new design review process if:

* a special use permit for demolition was obtained prior to Jan. 11;

* plans for the new home were submitted as part of the special use permit application;

* and building permits are obtained prior to Dec. 31, 2000.

Homeowners who already have a special use permit for demolition, however, cannot change design plans down the road. Furthermore, if a neighbor appeals the homeowner's special use permit after Jan. 11, the planning commission will be allowed to evaluate the new home as part of the appeal process.

Homeowners whose special use permit call for a new home that occupies less than 45 percent of the current lot will actually save money because of the new laws, says Michelle McGurk, District 6 Councilman Frank Fiscalini's chief of staff.

"Folks in Willow Glen who have designed homes under the .45 FAR (floor area ratio) can withdraw their special use permit application on Wednesday morning and ask to fall under the new rules," McGurk says. "Then they can get their building permits and skip the design review process altogether, so they will actually save money on this process."

--Jessica Lyons

Around the Glen

The Domino Theory: One thing always leads to another

Sports Briefs

High school wrestling

WGHS Rams soccer