Leon-Monday
Local Notebook
San Jose library official gets award
San Jose Public Library's Books for Little Hands Program Coordinator Rosemarie Leon-Monday will be among those honored by the Santa Clara County Reading Council through the presentation of a Celebrate Literacy Award May 28. Leon-Monday played a key role last year in the expansion of the library's early literacy program, which the award cites as "a valuable resource to our community." The original program gave time-challenged preschool childcare professionals the opportunity to pick up and exchange monthly selections of age-appropriate library books. Building on its success, the expansion added components requested by customers, including curriculum theme kits, books for children to take home and early literacy workshops. The expanded program now serves 6,886 children at 313 sites, an increase of 29 percent since April 2001.
WG High students to compete for Merit scholarships
Four Willow Glen High School students who had high scores on their PSAT tests will enter the 2003 National Merit Scholarship Program. Heather Asquith, Jeannette Estruth, Richard Larson and Daniel Saucedo were among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants out of more than one million entrants. They will move on to compete at the semifinalist level, which will represent the top scores in each state. Semifinalists get to compete for the 8,000 Merit scholarships that will be awarded in 2003.
Officials urge earth-quake preparation
After the May 13 earthquake in Gilroy, emergency preparedness officials are reminding customers to prepare their homes and families for natural disasters.
Officials say when an earthquake or other natural disaster occurs, every service that people depend on--including natural gas, electricity, water and emergency services--may be interrupted.
Before an earthquake, residents need to know how to turn off electricity, water and gas at the main switch and valves and have on hand emergency supplies such as a portable radio, flashlights, extra batteries, fresh water, a first-aid kit, blankets, food, alternative cooking fuel, a minimum two-week supply of needed medications and extra pipe or crescent-type wrenches for turning off gas and water mains.
Officials are also encouraging families to conduct emergency drills--making sure that children, houseguests and childcare providers know safety procedures as well as the safe spots in each room--and to remember to stay away from windows, mirrors, hanging objects and fireplaces in an earthquake.
During an earthquake, emergency experts recommend, if indoors, to stay inside, get under a desk or table or stand in a doorway. If cooking in the kitchen, turning off the stove before taking cover. If outdoors, experts recommend getting into the open, away from buildings, trees, walls and power lines, while watching out for falling debris.
If driving, experts recommend pulling to the side of the road and stopping, and not parking under overpasses, power lines, light posts, trees or signs. Drivers should remain in the car until the earthquake is over.
After an earthquake, it's important to check for injuries and damages; open windows and doors; and, if gas is leaking, get everyone outside and find a phone away from the building to call the authorities.
More emergency preparedness information can be found at the following websites: the American Red Cross, www.redcross.org, the California Office of Emergency Services, www.oes.ca.gov, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, www.fema.gov.
VTA makes bus and light rail fare changes
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will implement bus/light rail fare and service changes in July, due to the current economic downturn in Silicon Valley and a decline in ridership. Fares will be raised, five bus lines will be discontinued and service hours will be changed for 49 bus and light rail lines. For more information, call VTA's customer service department at 408.321.2300 or 408.321.2330 (TDD only), or visit www.vta.org.
In other news, on May 15, more than 600 students from Santa Clara County schools took a round-trip train ride from San Jose to Gilroy to learn about safety on the rails. VTA and Caltrain teamed up with the national nonprofit education and awareness program Operation Lifesaver, which is dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way.
Caltrain fares go up
Due to a drop in sales tax revenues and reductions in ridership, both caused by the current economic downturn, on July 1 Caltrain will implement a 10 percent fare increase to help support train service. The fare increase is the first one in four years. Fare changes will include: the rise of daily parking fees from $1 to $1.50, the rise of monthly parking fees from $10 to $15, an increase of the Weekend Pass from $9 to $10 and the elimination of the Discount Off-Peak Ticket, which Caltrain says was too confusing for passengers and conductors. For more information, visit www.caltrain.com.
Expo for boomers
The third annual PrimeTime Expo and Adult Services Resource Faire will be held May 31 and June 1 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway. The expo will feature health-related workshops, booth presentations and entertainment for people 45 and older. On May 31, KABL 960 AM personality Joe Romagna will broadcast live from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and another KABL personality, Jim Lange, will host a dance party from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.primetimeexpo.com.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
