As a trade-off for more infill development to boost San Jose's downtown residential growth, the city council voted on June 21 to modify the city's transportation policy, exempting developers from easing congestion in 10 "protected" intersections.

Four of the intersections are located in District 6 and include Bird Avenue and San Carlos Street, Meridian Avenue and San Carlos Street, The Alameda and Hedding Street and Winchester and Stevens Creek boulevards.

Currently, when a new development is being considered builders must pay to widen intersections by removing trees, bike lanes or parking. Under the new policy, these intersections will be exempt from widening. Instead, as part of the approval process, developers will pay to make the areas more pedestrian-friendly by adding street trees or improving sidewalks.

District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager and District 8 Councilman David Cortese cast the two no votes. Yeager said that while he did not want to curb business developments, he didn't want to see worsening traffic conditions for the sake of business.

The Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street intersection, originally on the list of "protected" intersections, was dropped from the list earlier this year after the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and residents argued that the area was not designed for high density traffic.

Women's Expo will
aid Career Closet

The Women's Expo on July 16-17 will be a weekend to indulge in educational workshops and trendy products which will benefit Career Closet, a nonprofit organization that helps disadvantaged women.

There will be 150 booths with items ranging from beauty, health, and career services to free wine tasting from Pietra Santa Winery in Hollister.

The show kicks off on July 16 at 9 a.m. with keynote speaker Janice Hoffman, author of Relationship Rules and trainer with the John Gray Mars Venus Institute. Scheduled workshops include scrapbooking, nutrition, hypnosis, bellydancing, elder care and cooking.

Career Closet is a volunteer-based nonprofit that assists economically disadvantaged women by providing suitable clothing and accessories, and services.

Registration is $10 per day at the door. Those who bring in a donation of costume jewelry for Career Closet will get a $5 discount. The two-day event is at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, 150 W. San Carlos St. For more information, visit www.thewomensexpo.com or email info@thewomensexpo.com.

Budget cuts affect
Willow Glen parks

With San Jose battling its fourth consecutive year of budget cuts, park maintenance in neighborhood parks will be reduced from seven to five days a week.

Three parks in Willow Glen, Frank Bramhall, River Glen and Wallenberg parks will still be able to keep the restrooms open daily, but maintenance has been cut from seven to five days.

Ed Bautista, spokesman for San Jose Park, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, said residents can expect to see the more heavily used parks not as well maintained.

"The grass may not be as green and it might take a longer time for the lawn to recover with less staff maintenance," Bautista said.

However, he hopes the community will work together with the department to help keep the neighborhood parks clean so everyone can use and enjoy them.

Summer concerts
in WG start in July

The Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers and the Willow Glen Kiwanis Club are getting ready for the fourth annual Music in the Glen outdoor summer concert series at Willow Glen Elementary School.

The series is a five-week event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday nights, with Flashback opening the series on July 7 featuring '50s and '60s music. Mark Russo and the Classy Cats will provide a Big Band and jazz performance on July 14, while cover band Sage will perform on July 27. Residents who want a dose of classic R& B and Motown can catch The Hitmen on July 28. The Joe Sharino Band will finish out the season on Aug. 5.

Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers member Jim Crownover hopes for a good turnout. Admission is free, but no dogs or alcoholic beverages will be allowed. Residents can bring their lawn chairs or picnic mats and their own food. Hot dogs and other foods will be available for sale during the concerts.

Sewers upgraded
over the summer

San Jose City Council awarded a contract of $1.27 million to Instituform Technology on June 21 for the sewer rehabilitation project in downtown Willow Glen.

Work will begin in August. Sewer renovation areas include Lincoln Avenue between Minnesota Avenue and Willow Street and Willow Street from Lincoln to Bird avenues.

Maintenance crews will repair defects in the sewer system and then install liners in the pipes. Because the project requires temporary lane closures on streets, the Department of Public Works will start with sewers on Lincoln Avenue. To minimize the impact on traffic, maintenance crews will do some of the work at night.

The project is expected to be completed by March.

Retiring director is
honored for 23 years

The Willow Glen-based San Jose Parents Participating Nursery School honored its retiring director Betty Klem at a year-end banquet at Lou's Village on June 1.

Klem, who has been with the association for more than 30 years, sent her children to the school in the 1970s. She then returned to become the school director 23 years ago.

During the past two decades she has been involved in the parent participation school movement at county, state, national and international levels. This year, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Council of Parent Participating Nursery Schools.

At the event, former colleagues and alumni reflected back on the children and young adults who began their education under Klem's guidance.

Klem was presented with a photo-memory quilt that included pictures from her first and final classes. A new bench at the school was also unveiled in her honor.

The school will have a new teacher, Sharon Malone, a participating parent at the school, next fall.

"I am excited about continuing the strong traditions of the school and following in Betty's footsteps," she said.

The nonprofit is a cooperative nursery school administered and maintained by parents. Parents contribute to the school's operation by serving on committees, assisting with fundraisers and working in the classroom once a week.

Correction

In the story about party planning in the June 22 issue of Image magazine, we used the wrong first name when we identified the chef of Restaurant O. His name is Justin Perez.