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Around The Glen
Kiwanis fundraiser will feature wine tasting
Wine, in moderation, is healthy for the body, and, apparently, it's also good for raising money for the student body. The Kiwanis Club of San Jose Foundation and Santa Clara County Kiwanis clubs in East San Jose, Willow Glen and Los Gatos will hold a Turn-around and Scholarship Wine Tasting Benefit to aid at-risk youth.
Proceeds from the benefit will be used to fund "turn-around scholarships" to serve needy students in the East Side Union High School District, Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell Union and San Jose Unified. The awards give financial assistance and recognition to students, who have made significant changes in order to graduate from high school. Assemblyman Mike Honda will be the honorary chairman at the benefit.
The event is March 30 at 5:30 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza at 1700 Alum Rock Ave. For tickets, which are $25, call 408.998.0504. For information on business sponsorships, contact Marty Baccaglio at 408.288.9911 ext 241.
--Michele Leung
Census 2000 looking for a few good people
Willow Glen residents, who wish to earn a few extra dollars may apply to work for Census 2000. The Census Bureau of Santa Clara County is seeking in-field and office staff to help compile the census. Pay rates for recruiting assistance are $17 to $18 per hour; field workers get $15.50 an hour plus 31 cents per mile; office staff will earn $11.75 an hour.
Those interested may apply anytime for flexible hours, Monday through Friday, for day and evening shifts. The bureau also has a Saturday shift from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To apply call 408.535.5175 or visit the bureau's website at www.census.gov.
--Chantal Lamers
Italian foundation hosts opera benefit
Are you part of the fandom of the opera? The Italian American Heritage Foundation is hosting a benefit dinner for Opera San Jose, which will fund the opera's outreach program to expose schoolchildren to the art of dramatic theater. The 11th annual dinner on March 10 will feature principal artists from the company, strolling musicians and aria dedications. The event begins at 6:15 p.m. and will be at the IAHF Cultural Center, at 425 N. Fourth St. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Call 293.7122 to make reservations.
--Michele Leung
Real-life role models needed for students
The Role Model Program, based in San Jose, gives busy residents a chance to volunteer their time to an important cause--children. The Role Model Program is looking for short-term volunteers to deliver a workshop to students called "Dare to Dream."
Gail Wiest-Haywood says the program is a way for working adults to help empower students to reach their goals and their potential. "It's appealing in the valley because people want to give, but don't have much time," she said. The time commitment consists of a one-hour training course and four one-hour workshops with a classroom of students.
Wiest-Haywood said the program's volunteers include district attorneys, doctors and police officers throughout San Jose. She said it's important that students realize they have important role models right in their own neighborhoods, not just famous basketball players or movie stars.
The program was started by San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales 10 years ago, with the help of friends. For information, call 408.264.0433.
--Chantal Lamers
Complex may become low-income housing
Owners of the Almaden Plaza apartment complex, at 2431 Rinconada Drive on the border of Willow Glen, want to give the 108-unit building a new look, and, maybe, some new tenants. The property owners, RHC Communities, want to remodel and renovate the building for low-income housing.
On Feb. 22, San Jose City Council members unanimously approved City Housing and Financing recommendations to issue tax-exempt multifamily revenue bonds to fund the improvements. RHC submitted a proposal to the city requesting the city issue up to $10 million in tax-exempt bonds for the project.
Alex Sanchez, San Jose's director of housing, said this is just the first of many steps. Now that the council has approved the resolution, property owners have to apply for a state tax-exempt bond allocation. Sanchez said since the number of tax bonds the state can grant is limited, it's rather competitive. Sanchez said state approval could be granted within the next few weeks, and then property owners will be back in council chambers for final approval of the bond.
Federal law states the use of tax-exempt multifamily bond financing requires that 20 percent of a project's units be made available to very-low-income households. Residents who earn 50 percent or less of the area's median income can qualify as renters.
-- Chantal Lamers
Second-graders learn about joys of giving
Willow Glen Elementary second-grader Elliot Hoffman had his 15 minutes of fame on Feb. 28. It all began in late December, said second-grade teacher Arleen Runels. During recess, one of her students accidentally kicked the class's sole soccer ball over the fence. (Runels said recess equipment is frequently lost this way.)
Although Elliot, who witnessed the soccer ball escape over the fence, is in another second-grade class, he felt sorry for his schoolmates. That day, the 7-year-old went home and asked Santa Claus to bring him a new soccer ball to give to the neighboring class. "The day we came back from Christmas he gave the class a soccer ball," Runels said.
Runels said that, since part of second-grade curriculum is learning to write a friendly letter and address an envelope, all 20 of her students wrote thank-you letters and mailed them to Elliot. The following school week, Runels' students invited Elliot to their classroom for Elliot Hoffman Day, and they presented him with a gift--a soccer ball.
--Chantal Lamers
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
