The San Jose Fire Department squelched five brush fires near the Guadalupe River off Almaden Expressway on Aug. 20.

The fires burned less than half an acre of brush along the river on the east side of Almaden Expressway between Koch Lane and Lincoln Avenue, San Jose police spokeswoman Gina Teeporten said.

Police were alerted to the fire at 2:22 a.m., after a 16-year-old boy riding his bike on the western side of Almaden Expressway spotted the blaze. The boy also saw four males running north on the western side of the creek, according to the police report.

Teeporten said the boy stopped a passing fire truck and informed firefighters of the brush fire. The fire department put out the fire and no structures were burned.

San Jose Fire Capt. Juan Diaz said the incident is under investigation and no further information is available.

Spencer Avenue's
turn for roadwork

After years of neglect, Spencer Avenue is finally getting a facelift.

The San Jose City Council unanimously awarded a construction contract to Joseph Albanese to repair the aging street at its Aug. 23 meeting. The project will cost $750,142. Work will begin in October. The city hopes to have the work completed by February.

Spencer Avenue will be reconstructed between Willow Street and Atlanta Avenue. The stretch will receive new paving, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, driveways, wheelchair ramps, fire hydrants and street trees.

The work on Spencer Avenue and neighboring streets is part of the Greater Gardner Coalition's top 10 goals for the area. Delmas and Minor avenues in North Willow Glen have already been revamped.

Money for the project comes from several sources, including a community development block grant, a redevelopment capital projects fund and the sanitary sewer connection fee fund.

Special Taize for
90-year-old Roger

The Stone Church will hold a special Taize service on Sept. 6 at 6:45 p.m., in honor of Brother Roger.

Brother Roger, the 90-year-old founder of the ecumenical Taize community, was stabbed to death on Aug. 16. He founded the community in 1940 in France. Since then churches around the world have adopted Taize. Followers of Taize are committed to the reconciliation and unity of various churches. Followers participate in services for prayer and reflection.

At the Stone Church, Taize services are modeled after Brother Roger's service in Taize, France. The church is dimly lit with candles and the service is accompanied by music.

The Stone Church is located at 1108 Clark Way. The church welcomes the public to honor Brother Roger.

PTA, students spruce
up elementary school

As teachers readied their classrooms for the first day of school, parents pitched in to spruce up the grounds of Willow Glen Elementary School.

The event is a Parent Teacher Association tradition. This year more than 15 parents and 25 children pitched in to clean up trash and dead leaves and plant flowers on Aug. 23.

Parent association financial secretary Shanon Westlake organized the event and said the volunteers focused their efforts on making the school's entrances more inviting.

Central Wholesale Nursery, located on McKinley Avenue in San Jose, sold flowers to the parents at wholesale prices. This enabled the volunteers to plant more flowers than in previous years.

Companies or individuals interested in donating plants or labor for future clean-up days can contact association president Alexandra Hoppe at alexandra_hoppe@ yahoo.com

Middle and high school
looking for volunteers

The Willow Glen Middle School and High School Foundation is looking for volunteers in various areas for the new school year.

The foundation--made up of parents, faculty, community members and alumni--meets nine evenings during the year to plan fundraising events and choose programs and projects to fund.

The positions that the foundation is looking to fill are for a secretary and for board members. The board members' duties include serving on one or more committees as a member or chairperson.

The foundation is looking for people who have experience in fundraising, public relations and communications.

Memberships cost $50 and time commitments are flexible.

For more information, contact Kim Guptill at kim.guptill@hp.com or Carol Myers at tom@golfmyers.com.

Tapestry Arts Festival
rocks holiday weekend

Labor Day weekend in downtown San Jose will be the scene for the Tapestry Arts Festival, the city's oldest outdoor celebration.

There will be four live-music stages, several hundred different artists, a home show and free hands-on children's art.

The centerpiece of the festival is a juried art show, featuring work from emerging as well as established artists.

Festival strollers can view fun and functional ceramics, unique clothing and jewelry, paintings, sculpture and prints, as well as works of leather and wood.

Crafters will display functional pottery, planters, clocks, belts, bags, furniture and jewelry..

Bands appearing include Nitecry, Aja Vu, Wally's Swing World, Silver Creek, Big Fun and The Joe Sharino Band.

The South Bay Guitar Society will also have a guitar and classical stage, with feature artists James Robinson Quartet, Bob Culbertson and Neil Hogan.

The Tapestry Arts Festival will take place Sept. 3- 5, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit www. tapestryarts.org.

Water Rituals flows
with art and live jazz

Susan Herrold, owner of Water Rituals--An Aveda Concept Salon, 1000 Lincoln Ave., has planned an art show and live jazz performance on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.

The show will introduce and showcase the art of Charles Knox. His art has been influenced by Mexican-American culture and his extensive travels to Africa.

The salon is located near the intersection of Lincoln and Coe avenues. An $8 donation is requested and food and beverages will be provided.

For more information on the event, contact Susan Herrold at 408.938.9800.