A patron in a Willow Glen coffee shop stabbed another customer in the shop on April 12.

The two men had stopped for a cup of coffee at the Starbucks on the corner of Meridian Avenue and Willow Street. While in the coffeehouse, a fight broke out between the two, and one stabbed the other.

The victim, according to San Jose Police Sgt. Bruce Unger, had a brain injury that resulted in a disability that caused him to speak fast and loud. That may have appeared threatening to the man with the knife.

Police responded to the incident at 5:11 p.m. and took the suspect into custody. The suspect is a recovering drug addict who was on his way to a support group, Unger said. The victim suffered minor wounds and was sent to the hospital.

"I think he way overreacted," Unger said of the knife-wielding suspect.

Commercial planes too noisey for some

When it comes to airport noise, resident Charley Luckhardt is ready to take off the gloves and come out swinging.

Luckhardt, a Willow Glen Neighborhood Association board member, asked the association to support Citizens Against Airport Pollution by contributing $1,000 to the group.

The money would be used to help CAAP's advertising campaign against America West's early morning flight. The flight is the first commercial airplane to fly into Mineta San Jose International Airport during curfew hours.

Luckhardt later withdrew his motion after several board members expressed reservations. The board members did indicate that they wanted to learn more about grassroots organization. The association also wants to continue supporting the residents' fight for quieter skies.

"I personally am not going to fly America West as long as they violate the spirit of the curfew," Luckhardt said. "And I'm going to tell my friends."

Residents want Alano Club to lower volume

The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association will ask Alano Club West to discontinue using its back patio until the club receives its conditional-use permit.

San Jose Code Enforcement has extended the club's conditional-use permit deadline to June 21 because of pending litigation involving a lawsuit in which Alano Club West is suing co-owner Stringfellow Properties in an attempt to purchase Stringfellow's half of the property.

If the club is successful in its suit, the club would then be able to file for the conditional-use permit. Stringfellow Properties has declined to sign the permit application; without the permit, the club will be forced to close.

The association's president, Helen Solinski, received several emails from Alano Club neighbors complaining about noise past 9 p.m. and early on weekends. The board at its April 13 meeting unanimously approved a motion to write a letter to the club asking members to stop using the patio.

Several Iris Court properties back up against Alano Club West, which is located at 1139 Minnesota Ave. Residents have raised noise issues with the association, San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager and code enforcement.

District has new design for elementary school

San Jose Unified District staff met with teachers, parents and administration on April 5 to unveil its final design documents for the reorganization and expansion of Willow Glen Elementary School.

As the "Gateway to Willow Glen," architect, Bill Gould, shared with the community a design concept for the school that includes a new two-story building that is designed in the historic Mission Revival style of William Weeks, popularized in the 1930s.

This historic style reflects the heritage of the neighborhood. Most importantly, the design addresses key parent and community concerns--a safe children drop-off zone; additional classrooms for morning kindergarten; and the replacement of 10 portable classroom buildings with a two-story 10,000-square-feet building that will maximize playground space.

The building will also have a modernized multipurpose room with a stage and food service area.

The final design will be presented to the San Jose Unified Schools Board at its regularly scheduled May 5 meeting. For additional information, please contact SJUSD Public Relations Supervisor, Karen Fuqua at 408.535.6444.

Teens fight fires in annual Tech Challenge

The theme for this year's Tech Challenge, the Tech Museum of Innovation's annual design competition, is "Battle the Blaze."

Teams of fifth-through 12th-graders will design, create and find innovative ways to extinguish a simulated wildfire.

Judging is based on mission success. thorough design journals and engineering methodology. Even the losers can come out on top because participants can also win special awards for team spirit, most attractive device and the most spectacular failure.

The trials and final competition happen between March and April. Trials are in the Tech Museum of Innovation located at 201 S. Market St. The final competition is held in the San Jose Convention Center. For more information, call 408.795.6105 or visit www.techchallenge.thetech.org.