With the help of the Tri-County Apartment Association, the housing department has identified more than 40 vacant apartments available for fire victims. The Red Cross has offered to pay the first month's rent, and the city has offered up to two additional months' rent. The Housing Industry Foundation has provided $10,000 to assist with moving costs.

Residential victims can call Vivian Frelix-Hart of the San Jose Housing Department at 408.277.2244 or the Red Cross at 408.577.1000.

The Red Cross is also offering assistance at the Sherman Oaks Community Center at 1800A Fruitdale Ave., between Leigh Avenue and Southwest Expressway.

To donate cash to help fire victims, call the Red Cross at 408.577.2114. To donate items or supplies, visit the local Salvation Army office, 405 N. First St.

For impacted business owners, the city offers a number of low-cost, flexible-term financing options through the San Jose Office of Economic Development, 408.277.5880.

The San Jose Fire Department is also offering a $5,000 reward for information that will help determine the cause and nature of the fire. Anyone with leads is encouraged to call 408.277.5124.


Blight ordinance will go into effect Oct. 4

The San Jose City Council approved a revised version of a landscape ordinance, formerly known as the "blight ordinance," at an Aug. 27 meeting.

The ordinance sets landscaping standards for front and side yards of homes and apartment complexes. Residents must landscape their yards with live plants or decorative materials.

Many residents aired their concerns at the first city hall hearing for the ordinance, complaining about the ordinance, which, among other things, made it illegal to park RVs, boats, and trailers on residential streets. The city subsequently changed the rule and allowed RVs, boats and trailers to be parked on residential streets if the vehicles are kept clean and operable and don't pose safety hazards. The council will take a final vote Sept. 3, and, if passed, the ordinance will go into effect on Oct. 4.


New street event on Friday evenings

Downtown San Jose's South First Street will be transformed into an urban promenade every Friday night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 20 through Dec. 20.

An open-air marketplace, called SoFA Bazaar, will be held on South First Street, which is open to pedestrians only between San Carlos and San Salvador streets.

Live entertainment will showcase saxophones, jazz singers, acoustic guitars and disk jockeys playing contemporary music.

Businesses will sell or exhibit their goods, including comic books, classic vinyl records, antiques and vintage clothing.

Free parking is available after 6 p.m. at the lot on the corner of Market and Balbach streets, located just south of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, and at the Second and San Carlos Street Garage.

The event is produced by Filco.Events, part of POPULUS Presents, a public space activation collective coordinated by the San Jose Downtown Association and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency.

For more information, visit www.populuspresents.com or call 408.882.5064.


Second testing center opens in Santa Clara

Santa Clara County's second official General Educational Development (GED) testing center is set to open Sept. 7 at the MetroED campus, 760 Hillsdale Ave.

The MetroED GED center will offer a more flexible testing schedule than the other local center, located at the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

"The establishment of a MetroED GED center is in response to student and community needs of those living in central and south San Jose," said Jan Dreier, assistant superintendent of instructional services.

The GED series of five tests covers the core academic areas of language arts, social studies, science and math. Students must also write an essay on an assigned topic as part of the testing.

GED tests are designed to allow those who have not completed traditional high school to earn a high school equivalency certificate.

Program supervisor Diane Silvers estimates the test center will serve more than 1,000 students within the next year. For more information, call 408.723.6461.


Volunteers needed at SJ rose garden

The San Jose Heritage Rose Garden is recruiting volunteers to deadhead roses on Sept. 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. After deadheading, volunteers can enjoy a free ice cream sundae.

"The roses have bloomed several times because of the year's weather pattern," said Lucy Perez, the garden's volunteer coordinator.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own clippers. The park is located at intersection of Taylor and Spring streets.

For more information, call 408.298.7657.


Volunteers needed for elder ombudsmen

Catholic Charities is recruiting volunteers to become ombudsmen of long-term care for the elderly.

Volunteers who join the 36-hour certification program learn to evaluate whether elderly patients are suffering from abuse or neglect at nursing homes and whether the staffing of long-term care facilities is adequate.

This fall's orientation will be Sept. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 2625 Zanker Rd., Suite 200. The training classes will begin on Sept. 24 and end on Oct. 10. For more information, call Peggy Owen at 408.325.5238.


Volunteers needed to prevent child abuse

The Child Abuse Prevention Center is recruiting volunteers to help abused and neglected children of all ages in Santa Clara County. Volunteers will assist county social workers in providing services for these children.

The prevention center also needs volunteers to teach child abuse prevention and personal safety to children and adults. Bilingual speakers are especially encouraged to get involved. For more information, call 650.595.7640.