San Jose Councilman Ken Yeager has called an Aug. 18 meeting to attain community input and feedback on the rebuilding of the Willow Glen Branch Library. Yeager's goal is to give people a chance to give vital input for their future library as far as what they do and don't want to see.

This meeting will deal primarily with the interior of the building. Things that will be discussed include items the residents want to preserve, items they want to change, new features they want added to their library and what kind of ambiance they want the building to have. Yeager hopes to incorporate what the community liked about the old library with this new one.

The library construction, originally scheduled to be rebuilt in 2010, has been moved up by two years. As proposed, the rebuilt library will be approximately 13,000 square feet, more than double the current 5,330 square feet. It will hold a collection of 61,800 to 75,600 volumes. Additions to the library will include a group study area, a storytelling area and a meeting area.

The architecture and design of the library will be discussed at a later meeting. The Aug. 18 gathering will be the first in a series of three to four meetings.

Those interested in participating can go to the old library, 1157 Minnesota Ave., at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will end at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 408.535.8450 or visit www.NewSan JoseLibraries.com.

Bats can help rid
homes of mosquitoes

At the most recent North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association meeting, Trudi Burney, director of education at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, spoke to the residents about cohabitation with the wildlife in the area. She also spoke about the benefits of having some of that wildlife around. Burney gave residents some suggestions in combating the mosquito problem and came up with an interesting alternative to pesticides: bat boxes.

"The best benefits about having bats around the neighborhood are that they eat thousands of insects a day, including mosquitoes," said Janet Alexander, director of operations of the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley.

There are different types of bats in the Bay Area. They include horay bats, pallid bats and most commonly, Mexican freetail bats.

To attract bats so they can eat your mosquitoes, place a small bat box on a large structure, such as the side of your house, underneath your roof or high in a tree. There are directions on constructing a bat box at www.californiabats.com/bat_house.html or you can buy them in hardware stores near the bird feeder and houses sections. Also, discontinue the use of pesticides.

"Bats get a bad rap," Alexander said. "They are actually good to have around. They keep the balance by controlling the insect population."

Most people never encounter bats because they tend to stay near tall trees and buildings. The only times bats and people interact are when the bats are sick and have fallen to the ground and people find them. A common misconception is that bats carry rabies, Alexander said. Less than half of one percent of all bats contract rabies.

For more information on bats and how to handle them, contact the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley at 408.929.WILD, visit its website at www.wcsv.org or visit the California Bat Conservation Fund at www.californiabats.com.

Have a funny time at
the senior center

Willow Glen seniors show off their acting talents in three one-act comedies at the Willows Senior Center on Aug. 19. The Theater in the Afternoon series, which is held every third Friday of the month, starts at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will be served at this one- to 1 1/2-hour-long event. Theater in the Afternoon also seeks more seniors to participate in future plays; for more information or to volunteer, contact Donna Bick at 408.265.3424.

Free repairs will aid low-income owners

Rebuilding Together Peninsula is accepting applications for free repairs and renovations to low-income homes and community centers.

The application deadline is Oct. 15, 2005.

Applicants must own and live in their home, have a low income and be able to work alongside volunteers.

RTP volunteers perform most of the free renovations on National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday in April. The next National Rebuilding Day will be April 29, 2006. Homes from Campbell to Daly City are eligible to receive major repairs, painting and help with major appliances.

To apply, contact RTP at 650.366.6597 or info@rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org.

Vaccine can protect kids going to college

Living in dorms, going to bars, attending sports events and kissing can expose college students to an increased risk of meningococcal infections. Meningococcal infections cause swelling of the spinal cord and brain and can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection that can destroy tissue in hours.

Vaccines are available to prevent the highly-contagious bacteria, which affect 3,000 people every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ten percent of all cases are fatal, said the CDC.

Symptoms of meningococcal include fever, severe headaches, vomiting, extreme fatigue and, as the illness progresses, a rash of small purple spots.

Dr. Ravin Agah, internal medicine and immunologist with Camino Medical Group, said, "Having your college student get this vaccine is the prudent thing to do."