The San Jose City Council approved wheelchair ramps at 53 Willow Glen locations at its Sept. 27 meeting.

Many of the wheelchair ramps will be constructed along Willow Street and Cherry Avenue. Intersections include Willow Street and Glenn Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Koch Lane and Minnesota and Newport avenues. The new ramps will be part of a larger effort to install 305 wheelchair ramps citywide. The project is slated to begin in October.

To install wheelchair ramps at these locations, workers will have to cut and remove existing concrete surfaces and repair defective pavement and sidewalks so people with disabilities can easily navigate the ramps.

Larry Ames, a Willow Street resident who initially sent the locations to the San Jose Department of Transportation, said the idea was to make all of Willow Street wheelchair accessible.

Ames originally envisioned installing ramps for people like neighbor George Garabino, now deceased, who had to cut into the bike lane when navigating his electronic wheelchair.

New faces to steer
neighborhood group

New faces are stepping up into leadership positions in the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association.

The group held nominations for the association board at its Sept. 27 meeting. Nominations include Harvey Darnell for president, Clark Williams for vice president, Chuck and Stephanie Hudson for secretary/treasurer, and Heidi LeVell, Tom Smith, Chris Wagner and Annette Boyer as directors. As of late September, all the nominees are running unopposed.

Darnell, a founding member of the association and Smith, a past president, bring their experience to the board. However, this year has attracted longtime neighborhood volunteers Williams and Boyer, who are joining the board for the first time.

"I just really believe in neighborhood associations. They're a great way to make a difference in your neighborhood and create a sense of community," Williams said.

To nominate a neighbor for the board, leave a message with the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association at 408.537.0393. Elections will be held at the association's Oct. 25 meeting at the Word of Faith church, 873 Delmas Ave., San Jose.

Asthma benefit
aids research

The American Lung Association is hosting its 4th annual "Blow the Whistle on Asthma" Walk on Oct. 8 to raise funds for lung disease research, advocacy, education and patient support programs. The walk will be held at West Valley College in Saratoga.

The agency has set a fundraising goal of $100,000.

To receive more information or make a pledge, call 408.998.5864 or visit www.lungsrus.org.

Willow Glen Elementary
scores jump 55 points

Willow Glen Elementary School's 2004-05 Academic Performance Index scores rose dramatically, by 55 points. The scores went from 701 to 756.

Willow Glen Elementary School Principal Dayle D'Anna said that although its API growth target wasn't met, she is encouraged by the gains.

"We're very excited because we improved a lot this year," D'Anna said. "It was a lot of hard work, but was worth it."

She said that over the school year, teachers have added new learning strategies, as well as afterschool activities funded by the district.

"We are using the [API] results to fine-tune what we need to work on," she said.

Willow Glen Elementary is looking at similar schools in the district that performed well to see what can be garnered from their approach.

"Maybe we have something to benefit from them," she said.

The API, which is the statewide accountability system for public education, is scored on a scale of 200 to 1,000. The state of California has set 800 as its target score.

Sunrisers bring light
to elementary school

Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers presented Willow Glen Elementary School with a check for $2,500 on Sept 23.

"They came to our flag ceremony
and presented it to me and the Parent Teacher Association," said Willow Glen Elementary School Principal Dale D'Anna.

The check represented proceeds from the fourth annual Music in the Glen that was coordinated by the two Kiwanis groups-- Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers and the Willow Glen Kiwanis. A portion of the proceeds from the event go to the elementary school every year, and a portion goes to charities.

D'Anna said that in the past, the money was divided among the arts, technology and music. This year, however, the $2,500 will go into the school's general funds.

"Unfortunately, we need a new copier," she said.

The Kiwanis Sunrisers have been the school's partner for a decade. "We've been an 'adopt a school' for the Willow Glen Elementary for the last 10 years," Jim Crownover, board member and past president of the Sunrisers, said.