A tree branch fell onto a power line along Vine Street on June 14, causing a power outage in some parts of downtown San Jose and Willow Glen.

Residents reported electrical blackouts along Curtiss, Settle and Lincoln avenues.

Jeff Smith, the spokesman for PG&E said the outage occurred at 4:38 p.m. and affected 4,800 customers. Power for 4,100 customers was restored by 5:12 p.m. The remaining 700 had their power restored by 6:30 p.m.

Contractor illegally
cuts down old tree

Willow Glen residents are upset with builders who illegally removed a redwood tree at 1038 Broadway Ave. to make way for three new homes.

At a San Jose planning director's hearing on June 15, city planners suggested that the builders pay a $500 fine, and plant 10 24-inch box trees. Six of the trees would be planted on the development site, and four should be donated to Our City Forest at $300 per tree. However, residents who were at the meeting argued that the penalty is not stiff enough.

"It's ridiculous," Broadway Avenue resident Patty Toth said after the meeting. "It's a 75-year-old tree. Developers should not be able to get away with cutting trees down after they were denied approval."

The matter will be discussed on June 22 at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, Room 205 at City Hall, 801 N. First St. Toth hopes neighbors and residents can rally to come up with a reasonable penalty that will discourage such behavior. She encourages residents to attend the meeting and voice their concerns.

Exchange volunteers
need host families

InnVision, a Willow Glen-based nonprofit that provides housing and services to the homeless and at-risk families and individuals, is looking for host families for three Frenchwomen who are part of the International Volunteer Program exchange.

The volunteers will be running InnVision's summer day camp for homeless children and will need housing for about six weeks. One volunteer will arrive the first week of July and two are scheduled to arrive a week later. They return home during the third week of August.

"It's a great way to support InnVision as an agency," Autumn Gutierrez, InnVision's public relations manager, said. "This helps us to staff our program." Families can choose to host the volunteers for their entire stay or part of it.

For more information contact Gutierrez at 408.292.4286, ext. 1018 or email her at autumng@InnVision.org.

Theater program is
saved from cuts

The San Jose City Council voted on June 14 to retain neighborhood watch programs and the Young People's Theater at the Kirk Community Center.

"Our neighborhoods are at the core of San Jose's community policing effort," Mayor Ron Gonzales said.

The council also voted to save the Young People's Theater by increasing parent fees and volunteer participation. Willow Glen resident and program parent Rosemary Marks, who has been fighting to save the program, is relieved, but says there is still a lot of work to do.

"The parent group is getting together to work out the necessary strategies to make the program succeed," she said.

Developer schedules
meeting for Hacienda

Hacienda Gardens Shopping Center at the intersection of Foxworthy and Meridian avenues is slated for redevelopment as a 206-residental homes.

Toll Brothers plans to redevelop the 8.75-acre property with 41 townhomes and 165 flats-- single-story stacked residences configured for one to three bedrooms. The permit application has been submitted to the San Jose Planning Department. The proposed rezoning has been approved by the city.

The developers have scheduled a community meeting for June 28 at 7 p.m. at the Kirk Community Center, 1601 Foxworthy Ave., rooms 16 and 17, to discuss the project with nearby neighbors.

The homes will all be privately owned and the development, Willow Glen Paseo, will include an underground parking garage, a private courtyard with a gym, clubhouse and swimming pool.