Catholic Bishop forms abuse policy taskforce
Roman Catholic Bishop of San Jose Patrick J.
McGrath has appointed 22 local people, many
of them parents and grandparents, to serve on
an advisory task force to review the
diocese's policy regarding sexual abuse.
The bishop has asked San Jose businessman and
local Catholic leader Michael E. Fox to serve
as spokesperson for the task force and former
San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery to co-chair the
group.
Bishop McGrath's mandate to them is to review
the existing diocesan policies regarding
sexual misconduct.
United Way Silicon Valley campaign gets $16.5
million in funds
The United Way Silicon Valley (UWSV) has
announced that, despite the economic downturn
and the events of Sept. 11, its 2001 campaign
raised $16.5 million; nearly matching the
previous year's fundraising efforts of $18
million.
"Our nation and valley faced extraordinary
challenges in 2001," said Mark Walker,
president of UWSV. "It is commendable what
our community was able to do in the midst of
a national disaster and the first economic
recession in almost a decade."
For example, 10 major participating companies
reported significant increases in employee
contributions over their 2000 campaigns. This
increase totaled $1 million. These companies
include Deloitte & Touche LLP, IBM, Knight
Ridder, LifeScan, Macy's, Philips
Semiconductor, Pratt Whitney Space
Propulsion, SAP Labs Inc., Sears Roebuck &
Co. and Wells Fargo Bank.
The organization's campaign was launched just
days before the Sept. 11 attacks and as a
result many companies postponed their
involvement. Others allocated a significant
portion of their funds to the New York City
relief effort rather than to local needs.
These factors, combined with the reality of
12,000 fewer employees in the workplace at
companies conducting United Way campaigns,
resulted in diminished economic resources.
The combined effects of the nation's tragedy
and the local economy's dramatic downward
spiral have, in fact, had a detrimental
effect on Silicon Valley's community support
organizations. News of the campaign results
comes with a warning that the crisis is not
over yet. UWSV board co-chair Ann Skeet
explains, "While we are beginning to heal as
a nation and as a community, the impact of
last year's events are very real and are
projected to have a significant long-term
effect on those in need. We are grateful for
Silicon Valley's efforts; now the hope is
that they will step up and increase their
support locally going forward."
Guadalupe Gardens present day camps
The Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
are presenting the Water Wizard day camps
again this summer for children ages 7-10.
Each session of the camp lasts for two days;
children will be learning about the Guadalupe
River habitat and wildlife, water
conservation and recycling worms. The cost of
the camp is $60 per child, and there will be
10 students to each teacher, with a maximum
of 30 children per session. The camps will be
held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m., with six sessions available
between the end of June and the first week of
August. The camp will be at the Garden Center
in Guadalupe Gardens, located at 715 Spring
St., San Jose. For more information, call the
education coordinator at 408-298-7657.
WGMS goes back to the Renaissance era
A group of 180 seventh-graders at Willow Glen
Middle School hosted 'Faire on the Glen,' a
Renaissance faire at the school's athletic
field on June 10. The students in the social
studies classes of Laura Harbers and Dawn
Whitney worked together to bring their
studies to life by dressing up as characters
from the Renaissance period. Music, games,
entertainment and food were also included in
the festivities.
Education foundation gives scholarships
The Willow Glen Middle School and High School
Foundation is awarding three scholarships to
graduating seniors with minimum grade point
averages of 3.0 and at least 100 hours of
community service.
Tri Vuu had 300 hours of community service at
Alma Youth Center. He will get $1,000 from
the foundation. Brooke Morales had 126 hours
of community service at St. Leo's Church. She
will get $500 from the foundation, to be
matched by the Presidential Freedom funds for
a total of $1,000. Erica Scott has 100 hours
of community service at the Cathedral of
Faith and will receive $500 from the
foundation, to be matched by Presidential
Freedom funds for a total of $1,000.
The foundation supports academic achievement
at Willow Glen middle and high schools. The
awards were presented during the high school
awards ceremony.
Photograph courtesy of Carrie Maietta
Patriotic Mural: Booksin Elementary students worked together to
create this tile mural.
Booksin students create patriotic mural
Booksin Elementary School students recently
completed a patriotic tile mosaic on the
building facing their playground. Volunteers
Carrie Maietta and Dawn Talley taught more
than 250 kids how to work with tile to create
a picture. After working for more than a
week, the students created a tiled image
representing their classroom with a waving
American flag in the background. Some of the
students hope to send a picture of their
mural to President George Bush.
Photograph courtesy of Micki Muir
WG K-Kids hold a penny drive
A group of Willow Glen Elementary School
fourth- and fifth-graders - members of the
Willow Glen Sunrisers Kiwanis Club called
K-Kids - organized a penny drive to benefit
the
Kiwanis Family House at the UC Davis Medical
Center. An armored truck transported $669
raised by the children to the Bay View Bank
on June 4, and the amount will remain there
until a check can be presented to a
representative of the Kiwanis Family House.
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
