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Around The Glen
Sanborn Park hosts night hike for all ages
The Youth Science Institute has scheduled a winter night hike in Sanborn County Park in Saratoga on Feb. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The hike, open to adults, teenagers and children, begins at YSI's Nature Center. Led by Nature Center Manager Patricia Kucker, the hike takes participants through the evening woods and teaches them to use their senses in identifying plants, trees and elusive nocturnal animals. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $8 per person.
The nonprofit YSI provides science classes, hikes and day camps to develop children's understanding of and appreciation for the interrelationship between humans and the environment. Night hike reservations are required. For more information, call 408.867.6940.
--SVCN
City youth commission opposes Prop. 21
The San Jose City Council didn't vote on what position it would take on the March ballot's Proposition 21, but about a dozen high school students came to sway the council against the initiative on Feb. 1.
The Pete Wilson-sponsored initiative on juvenile crime would include increased punishment for gang-related felonies by requiring juveniles 14 and older to be tried as adults, and a mandated death penalty for gang-related murders.
San Jose high school students and students from the San Jose Youth Commission told the council implementing the initiative isn't the solution to gang violence.
Youth commissioner District 6 representative and Prospect High School senior Justin Imamura said that if Prop. 21 passes, gang-involved juveniles wouldn't receive a hearing to decide whether they'd be tried as adults. Imamura also said if the initiative passes, more money would go into the prison system, money better spent on programs like youth crime prevention.
The SJYC voted to oppose Prop. 21 after meeting with other youth commissioners throughout the Bay Area. The Youth Commission has a number of other groups on its side, including the Los Angeles City Council, California Teachers Association, California League of Women Voters, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and University of California Student Association.
--Chantal Lamers
Founder of longtime Avenue business dies
After battling emphysema for several years, Victoria Reinke, original founder of Victoria's Dance-Theatrical Supply on 1331 Lincoln Ave., passed away on December 19. She was 88 years old.
Reinke and her husband started the company in San Francisco in 1938. The store moved to San Jose a few years later, and has been at the present Willow Glen site for 23 years. According to son Joe Reinke, current store owner, Victoria's Dance-Theatrical Supply is one of the oldest retail shops on Lincoln.
Though she also had an interest in gymnastics, Reinke devoted most of her life to designing costumes for clients including theaters, motion pictures, television and drill teams. Her business began after her involvement with a local tradition, a carnival that bears resemblance to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. "In San Francisco, in those days, they had 'jail days,'" explains Joe Reinke. "[At the festival], they had designated jail areas, and you needed tickets to get out." His mother provided some of the costumes worn by festival-goers, and a life-long business grew out of it.
Her greatest attribute, says her son, was her ability to make costumes from scratch. "She worked without patterns, which is rare. It was all in her head. It's really a lost art now."
Joe notes that his mother had come to terms with her mortality after coming out of a brief coma soon before her death. Reinke is survived by her six children.
--Michele Leung
LWV holds forum on ballot issues
The Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno League of Women Voters will hold a forum on the March 7 ballot issues Feb. 16 in the Saratoga Library Community Room at 7:30 p.m. Members of the League, as well as of the Association of American University Women will present pros and cons of the numerous bond elections and propositions on the ballot.
--SVCN
Developers strive to make new homes fit in
Thanks to contractors from Greenbriar Land Co., more new housing is on the way. The company came to the San Jose City Council Feb. 1 expecting to give a public presentation of a proposed 34 single-family housing unit on Lenn Drive. Luckily for them, they didn't have to.
Contractors were smiling as two Willow Glen residents, neighbors of the new housing unit, took the podium to tell the council what a good job Greenbriar contractors have done. Resident Todd Nelson said the housing project, Veranda, is the best possible use for the vacant land.
The 34-unit development will be built on five Willow Glen acres on the north side of Lenn Drive, and the company is expected to break ground by May or June, said Pat Castanzo, Greenbriar vice president of land development.
The project proposal began in November when Greenbriar presented it to the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, which approved it unanimously.
"We designed it so it would be that way," Castanzo said about the minimal zoning on the property. Zoning allows up to 16 units to be built on an acre, while Veranda will only build 6.8 units per acre.
Castanzo said one of the exciting things about the project was the photo study done on Willow Glen houses. The Veranda houses will include architectural features from neighborhood houses like roof types and shutter treatments.
Castanzo said the 34 houses will have 2,800 to 3,100 square feet and one of five different architectural themes.
"There won't be 34 pink stucco houses," Castanzo said.
--Chantal Lamers
Builder says homes won't be 'monsters'
Tim Casey isn't worried about selling the three new homes he's building at 1150 Meredith Ave. Since he began bulldozing the 1940s house on the property Feb. 1, he's received more than 15 inquiring phone calls a day.
Casey, of Tim Casey Construction, already sold one of the future homes for over $1 million.
The original house actually rested on three different lots, a total of about 19,000 square feet. Since the property was already zoned for three different houses, rezoning wasn't necessary--just a demolition permit.
But before he brought in the bulldozer, Casey held a neighborhood meeting and passed out brochures that featured what the future homes will look like.
The blueprints include architectural themes from neighboring homes so the new homes will easily blend in. But one point Casey really wanted to make, was "these aren't going to be monster houses."
Within a few weeks, three foundations will be laid out and Casey projects the homes should be completed within six months.
--Chantal Lamers
Marine sanctuary group is seeking salty volunteers
If you really want to get your feet wet, Save our Shores wants you.
This nonprofit environmental organization is offering a Sanctuary Steward Certification Course to train individuals in marine ecology, conservation education, and other issues facing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Through the course, Sanctuary Stewards will receive 50 hours of training and will practice their presentation and teaching skills by presenting slide programs for adults and children and leading beach clean-up events. Stewards will also staff the Save our Shores offices in Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. The training lasts 10 weeks and begins on Feb. 22. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and on four Saturdays.
For a description and application, call Save our Shores at 831.462.9122.
--Michele Leung
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
