Willow Glen Resident

News

News Briefs

Art contest is about tree expression

Our City Forest is sponsoring a Tree Expression Art Contest in conjunction with National Arbor Day April 28, which is the entry deadline.

There are two categories: poetry in any form up to 300 words and photography.

Submissions may be made via email to jmiller@ourcityforest.org or by mail to Tree Expression Art Contest, Our City Forest, 595 Park Ave., Suite 100, San Jose, 95110. For additional information, visit www.ourcityforest.org.

Group discusses
postpartum issues

The MOMS Club of San Jose will discuss postpartum depression at its April 26 meeting at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Ave. Guest speaker and postpartum expert Dr. Ped Indman will lead the meeting and social from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The San Jose chapter is part of an international support group for stay-at-home mothers. The group offers playgroups, outings and service projects. For more information, visit www.momsclubsanjose.org .

Housing Authority
offers rental help

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara has opened its Section 8 wait list until April 28.

The Section 8 Housing Choice Program provides rental assistance to low-income individuals and families. To be eligible, a single person's gross annual income must be no more than $37,150. A family of four can make no more than $53,050.

Families may apply at www.hacscform.com. Registration forms are also available at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando St. and at Sacred Heart Community Service, 1381 S. First St. in San Jose. In Campbell, residents may go to the Campbell One Stop in the Employment Development Department, 2450 S. Bascom Ave. Those who are placed on the waiting list will be notified by Aug. 31, 2006.

SJ appeals board
delays club hearing

The San Jose Appeals Hearing Board has delayed weighing the Alano Club West issue scheduled for April 27. The board plans to hear the issue in May or June.

Residents surrounding the organization at 1139 Minnesota Ave. claim excessive noise and parking problems have distressed the neighborhood. Last year, the club was ordered to apply for the city's required conditional use permit to regulate its use. The club did not file a complete application.

The Alano Club West is a haven for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts that has operated at the Minnesota Avenue location since 1976.

Walk designed for
new bird watchers

A walk designed for beginning bird watchers will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. on May 6 along Guadalupe River Park & Gardens.

Janna Pauser of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society will lead the walk. Participants should wear walking shoes and bring their own binoculars. Birds that participants might see include hawks, kestrels, egrets and woodpeckers.

The fee is $5, and space is limited. Reservations can be made by emailing education@grpg.org or calling 408.298.7657. The walk will start and end at the Visitor & Education Center, 438 Coleman Ave.

BevMo and La Concha come before planners

Residents are encouraged to attend the April 26 San Jose Planning Commission meeting regarding the conditional use permit and liquor license exception for the proposed Beverages & More.

Beverages & More co-founder Steve McLaren wants to locate in the former Barbarella space on Lincoln Avenue, next to Subway. McLaren wants to have a public drinking establishment (a wine and beer tasting area) with offsite sales of alcohol.

The store will not open if both permits are not approved.

The second item of interest is the conditional use permit for the expansion of La Concha Spa. Spa owner Gloria Maciel wants to relocate and expand her business to an empty lot at 1030 Lincoln Ave. near Coe Avenue. She wants to construct a three-story, 8,941-square-foot building to replace the spa's 1,621-square-foot site, which is closer to Willow Street on Lincoln Avenue.

These items will be heard at 6:30 p.m. in city council chambers, 200 E. Santa Clara St.

Nikkei Matsuri fest
is set for April 30

The 29th annual Nikkei Matsuri Japanese American Cultural Arts Festival will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30 on Jackson Street, between N. Fourth and N. Sixth streets.

This free festival includes food booths, arts and crafts and two performing arts stages. Entertainment includes dancing, karate demonstrations, music and San Jose Taiko. For more information, visit www.nikkeimatsuri.org.

Walgreens free health
screenings in April

The Walgreens Wellness Tour comes to the neighborhood on April 28. Organizers invite local residents to take free health screenings for bone density, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and body mass index.

The vehicle will be at the Campbell Walgreens, 1660 Winchester Blvd., from 1 to 7 p.m. Campbell is one of 70 cities to be visited by a customized health-screening vehicle in a 12-month span.

According to Walgreens representatives, screenings are an essential part of early detection. In neighboring San Jose, 61 percent of the people screened for bone density showed increased risk of fracture.

For more information, call 866. 484.TOUR.