The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, which met on Aug. 10, will spearhead an effort to bring together supporters and opponents on the issue of a proposed dog park to help find a common ground.

The search for a Willow Glen dog park has gone on for years, parks manager Steve Roemer said, as part of the effort to bring a dog park to each city council district.

Parks staff had reviewed Bramhall and River Glen parks as possible sites before settling on Wallenberg Park on Curtner Avenue. But that has also brought concerns.

Opponents worry about child safety because of the proposed park's proximity to Willow Glen Middle and High schools, as well as the current playground area. They have also voiced concerns about the lack of aesthetics in dog parks and the possible cutting down of heritage trees on Curtner Avenue to build a parking lot.

Supporters suggested options to a fenced-in yard, including set hours for "off-leash time" or requiring dogs to pass a "canine good citizen" test.

Airplane noise still
troubling residents

At an Aug. 10 Willow Glen Neighborhood Association meeting, residents expressed their frustration with the noise levels emanating from the airplanes flying overhead to the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

Airport committee member Charlie Luckhardt advised the residents to file complaints with the Airport Noise Hotline. He also said that more information concerning the airport noise laws would be posted on the association website.

Megan Doyle, council assistant to San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager, reiterated the importance of filing a noise complaint. She said messages left on the hotline are tallied and the problem areas are brought up during city council meetings.

Airport spokesperson Fernando Peña said that 85 percent of the time, planes arriving and departing go into the wind, which is through North San Jose. The other 15 percent, the wind changes and traffic goes through South San Jose, affecting Willow Glen residents.

The Airport Noise Hotline is at 408.452.0707. Residents will need to provide a name, address, phone number and date and time of when the disturbance occurred. The message center is available 24 hours a day.

For further questions or general information, residents can also call the Airport Neighborhood Services at 408.501.0979 or the Noise Monitoring Specialists at 408.501.0956 or email questions to noisecenter@sjc.org.

HRC invites residents
to forum on taser use

The city of San Jose Human Rights Commission invites the community to a forum on taser use, Aug 18 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

This forum will address issues and concerns regarding taser use. Residents will have the opportunity to speak about the issue and hear from panel members.

Panel members will include San Jose Human Rights Commission members, police Chief Rob Davis, Amnesty International representative Mona Cadena and medical adviser Dr. Howie Michaels.

The Human Rights Commission is made up of San Jose residents who advise the city council on matters affecting human rights. In 1989, San Jose adopted Resolution No. 59485 establishing a city human rights policy. The HRC was established in 1991 to help fulfill that resolution.

For more information on the HRC, contact city staff liaison Aracely Rodriguez at the city manager's office at 408.535.8150.

Willow Glen event planner goes private

Willow Glen resident Catherine Kolbeck is now open for business. Kolbeck, owner of A Catherine Kolbeck Event, started her event planning business earlier this month but has been coordinating corporate and social events for more than 10 years.

Kolbeck provides her services to corporate events, team building activities, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, bridal showers, bar/bat mitzvahs and graduations.

She said she has had a great response from the community since starting her business.

"This is where I want my client base to be," Kolbeck said. "I want to help with the community's unique and personal events."

She is currently working with residents of Lennon Way and White Street in Willow Glen to organize a block party over the Labor Day weekend.

For more information, contact Kolbeck at 408.981.5554 or visit her website at www.ackevent.com.

Friends of WG library looking for members

The Willow Glen Library is looking for a few devoted friends.

Three volunteer board positions with the Friends of the Willow Glen Library will be open on Oct. 1.

The volunteer group helps put on special events, enhances library programs and purchases books and media for the library's collection.

Residents interested in volunteering are asked to donate up to five hours each month.

Available positions include a membership chairperson who will manage the 100-person group membership; a telephone chairperson, who schedules volunteers for the library's quarterly book sales; and a member-at-large, who will provide input to the board and help supervise the book sales.

Interested people can contact Friends of the Willow Glen Library publicity chairwoman Deb Garvey at 408.293.1788 or via email at dlgarvey@pacbell.net.

MetroEd honored for
its diploma program

MetroEd's local high school diploma program has been honored with a Program of Excellence award by the California Department of Education for the 2004-05 year.

San Jose's Metropolitan Adult Education Program runs the high school diploma program and was one 11 programs that applied for the award. MetroEd received the award based on excellent curriculum and instruction, leadership and planning, learner accomplishment and community involvement.

The school offers the classes three times a day, in addition to maintaining waiting lists. MetroEd director Suzi Glass said many students who attend the program juggle families and jobs while earning their high school diplomas.

For more information about MetroEd, call 408.723.6450 or view the fall class schedule at www.metroed.net.

Willow Glen High is in need of volunteers

As the beginning of the school year approaches, the Willow Glen High School PTA is in need of volunteers as well as someone to serve as president.

The PTA president's responsibilities include facilitating meetings, monitoring the budget along with the treasurer and working with event coordinators. Previous co-presidents will be available for training and support.

Other PTA areas in need of help are volunteers for the teacher and staff welcome back breakfast, the PTA board and registration and schedule pickup.

The breakfast is scheduled for Aug. 22 for teachers and staff. Breakfast items, juices, plates, cups and napkins are needed, as well as a person to arrange the set-up and coordination of the arriving baked goods.

Volunteers for leadership positions are also needed for the senior awards reception, the end-of-the-year staff appreciation luncheon and Grad Night.

The PTA also needs volunteers to help coordinate the barbecues at several beautification days and the senior college scholarship committee.

For more information about volunteer opportunities or the PTA president position, contact Debbie Bishop, volunteer coordinator, at wghsvolunteer@sbcglobal.net or at 408.266.351.

For more information about assisting during registration and schedule pick up times on Aug.16-17 in the mornings contact Melissa_Foster@sjusd.org.