Only days after Willow Glen residents protested America West's 1:40 a.m. daily flight, the San Jose City Council approved the installation of two thermal cameras to track airplanes that are violating curfew at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

At its April 5 meeting the city OK'd $18,730 for installing the two thermal cameras. The city council had previously allocated $105,000 for the purchase of both cameras.

Currently the airport monitors curfew violators with only one visual security camera. The new equipment will locate airplane offenders through "heat dissipation," marking their violation from the moment the planes' wheels touch the ground.

The airport restricts commercial flights producing more than 89 decibels of noise from landing between 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. America West, which is under that noise restriction, is the first commercial flight, since the curfew's enactment in October 2003, to receive landing approval during the restricted hours.

New street lighting going into Gardner

Greater Gardner neighborhood leaders call W. Virginia and Delmas streets the lifeline of the community. And thanks to the San Jose City Council, the streets will be getting a facelift.

The Strong Neighborhood Initiative area wanted for a long time to perk up W. Virginia and Delmas streets with street lighting and crosswalk improvements. Now that goal has become reality, after the San Jose City Council approved $523,000 toward the project at its April 5 meeting.

The council awarded Beltramo Electric the contract to install heritage light fixtures on W. Virginia Street, from Bird Avenue to Highway 87 and Delmas Street from W. Virginia to Willow streets. The project also includes an embossed asphalt crosswalk near Willow and Delmas streets and Illinois and Willis avenues.

Real professionals at WGHS career fair

More than 900 Willow Glen High School students got career advice from the pros at the school's third annual career fair.

The Willow Glen Middle School and High School Foundation sponsored the fair, which featured more than 40 professionals from various fields, ranging from graphic design and forestry to engineering, medicine and plumbing.

Some well-known locals took time out from their daily routine to participate in the event, including San Jose District 6 Councilmen Ken Yeager and his council aide, Megan Doyle, and Al Bender, a prosecutor with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. The career fair is an opportunity for students to learn more about professions that they don't come into contact with on a day-to-day basis. Students had the opportunity to talk to FBI agents, U.S. Coast Guard officers and a chef.

Nonprofit gears up to
transform old homes

The nonprofit Rebuilding Together is helping to make the lives of the elderly, physically disabled and low-income safer. The organization's army of volunteers will be teaming up to repair 31 homes in the South Bay.

The nonprofit's work spruces up homes, clears away overgrown landscaping and repairs worn or broken items for many individuals who are unable to pay professional contractors and handymen.

Rebuilding Together volunteers do all the repair work at no cost to the homeowners that the organization selects. This year the volunteers will be out in force the last two weekends in April.

Since the organization's inception in 1999 it has rehabilitated more than 341 homes, including properties in Willow Glen.

For more information about the nonprofit, contact Beverley Jackson at 408.578.9519 or at bjackson@rebuilding together-sv.org.

Put the pedal to the
metal at car show

The Central County Occupational Center is looking for a few good cars.

Revving up for its second annual Custom and Classic Car Show on May 13, the CCOC needs car exhibitors. Exhibitors are asked to pay a $10 tax-deductible donation and will receive a free meal.

All proceeds from the show will benefit the center's SkillsUSA Club, which serves students in technical, skilled and service occupations. Many SkillsUSA members compete in championships at the regional, state and national level.

The event will be at 760 Hillsdale Ave. from 5 to 9 p.m. Contact Michelle Alaimo for more information, at 408.723.6464.

Citizens learn about
affordable housing

In a city where housing prices have skyrocketed, San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager spoke to the public about the reality of affordable housing.

At the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors' second annual Affordable Housing Fair, Yeager spoke to the public about housing assistance programs and how the association and the city were teaming up to help working people buy homes.

More than 3,500 people attended the April 2 event, which featured 70 exhibits pertaining to a range of home-buying issues such as first-time home-buying needs, housing assistance and finding a loan. The event also provided free seminars on home buying to participants in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese.

Post office open until
midnight on April 15

Willow Glen residents rushing to meet the April 15 tax deadline can head to their neighborhood post office, which is providing extended hours.

The Willow Glen post office, located at 1750 Meridian Ave., will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the lobby will be open 24 hours. San Jose's main post office at 1750 Lundy Ave. will also be assisting last- minute filers. Postal employees will be on hand to take tax returns on April 15 inside the lobby or at the curb until midnight.

Postal officials are encouraging tax filers to mail their forms prior to April 15 to avoid the traditional last-minute rush.