Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
'Sassy Seats' project
can use volunteers
Willow Glen Beautification Project is launching its next project, "Sassy Seats."
The project, bus bench beautification on Lincoln Avenue and its immediate corners, encourages residents, businesses and neighborhood groups to adopt one of 11 benches.
Those who adopt a bench will be asked to clean, sand and paint it with primer, so it will be ready for a final painted design. Or the adopters can choose to do both the preparation work as well as the final design.
The Willow Glen Beautification Project is sponsored jointly by the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association and the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association. The groups are working with Valley Transportation Authority to add this creative element to bus benches in Willow Glen.
Volunteers and those interested in adopting a bench need to return their applications and bench designs by 5 p.m., April 28.
A selection committee will review all applications and designs and select the top 11 on May 16. Bench painting will begin June 24.
For more information, or to receive an application, contact Kitty Mason at 408.297.4315 or email kittymason@sbcglobal.net or Marvin Bamburg at 408.297.0288 or email marvin@mba-architects.net.
Bird and William to get major facelift
After meeting to discuss traffic patterns, crosswalk safety and parking, the Greater Gardner Coalition and the San Jose Unified School District have narrowed their options.
It was decided at the March 27 meeting to spend $100,000 of the $200,000 redevelopment money on improvements for the pedestrian walkway between Bird Avenue and William Street.
The improvements will include replacing the ramps, sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters.
Lighting, fencing and landscaping are not included; they will be reviewed at a later date.
Initially, the ideas of adding diagonal parking behind and alongside the school, and acquiring land at the corner of William Street and Illinois Avenue to make a parking lot and create a drop-off/pickup area were presented at a Feb. 9 meeting, but none proved feasible.
The redevelopment money had been allocated through the Strong Neighborhoods Initiatives program in 2002 for traffic and pedestrian safety, and the funds were approved by city council, but the work was never completed.
After the funding was approved, a number of events delayed the implementation of any improvements to traffic and pedestrian safety. These delays include a changeover in staff at Gardner Academy and the four-alarm fire that hit the school in November 2003.
Yeager out front in
fundraising efforts
San Jose City Councilman Ken Yeager has outpaced the fundraising efforts of his opponents in the Santa Clara County supervisor race, raising $210,000.
Yeager hopes to replace outgoing Supervisor James Beall Jr. for District 4, which includes portions of Santa Clara, San Jose and the city of Campbell. Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan and San Jose City Councilwoman Linda LeZotte are also vying for the seat.
Yeager has received support from a variety of law enforcement organizations, including the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County and the San Jose Police Officers Association.
Yeager is serving his second and final term in San Jose's District 6, which includes the Willow Glen and Rose Garden neighborhoods.
Park is looking
for volunteers
The Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens are looking for people to help in several areas.
Every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon the Heritage Rose Garden needs volunteers to assist in maintenance and plant care. Volunteer hours are flexible; an individual can help weekly or on an occasional basis.
The park and gardens also is looking for volunteers willing to weed, rake, mulch and plant in the courtyard garden.
In addition to garden help, the park needs volunteers for a variety of tasks in the office. Education volunteers are also sought to assist with events, festivals and field trips.
Guadalupe River Park & Gardens is a 3-mile park land that runs along the banks of the Guadalupe River through the heart of downtown San Jose. For more information, call Lucy Perez at 408.298.7657 or email her at lperez@grpg.org.
BBB launches data
protection toolkits
The Council of Better Business Bureaus and Privacy & American Business have launched a new national education initiative designed to help small business owners protect customer and employee data.
Security & Privacy Made Simpler was developed to demystify the complexities of data security and give small businesses a non-technical avenue for securing customer data.
This national program includes free, easy-to-read security and privacy toolkits, with separate kits focused on customer and employee data protection. The toolkits will be distributed through the 116 local Better Business Bureaus across the country.
The customer data kit is being released currently, with the employee kit scheduled for release in the fall. The program will also offer downloadable information that features experts on various topics, plus ongoing updates about new security and privacy developments that affect small businesses.
For more information, visit the Better Business Bureau online at www.bbbsilicon.org or www.bbb.org. For educational materials, go to www.bbb.org/security &privacy.
E-waste recycling
event on Koch Lane
Schallenberger Elementary School has teamed up with ASL Company, a state-funded recycling operation located in San Jose for a free electronic waste collection event.
The "Drive In and Drop Off" electronics that can be brought to the school include computers, monitors, VCRs, printers, fax machines, stereo equipment, telephones, microwaves, televisions, mice, keyboards, DVD players and speakers.
The recycling event will take place in the Schallenberger Elementary School parking lot, 1280 Koch Lane, on April 7 from noon to 5 p.m. and April 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
