Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
Teenager breaks
into high school
A Willow Glen High School student went to school on Saturday, but it wasn't for extra credit.
On May 13 around 11:30 p.m., a high school employee noticed the school's silent alarm had been activated. There were no signs of forced entry, so the employee checked several classrooms and found one unlocked, San Jose police spokeswoman Gina Tepoorten said.
In the corner of the classroom, the employee found a male student hiding in the corner.
The student entered through a window that he unlocked during the week. The student was alone in the room and was drinking alcohol.
The employee called the police and the student was taken into custody, booked into juvenile hall on charges of burglary and being a minor in possession of alcohol. His parents were notified.
Willow Glen Way
bridge closed
The Willow Glen Way bridge closed on May 17, beginning a 10-month project to revamp the bridge.
The Willow Glen Way bridge crosses the Guadalupe River. Drivers will now have to use Bird and Alma avenues as a detour.
The closure affects seniors living at The Village at Willow Glen on Willow Glen Way. They frequently used the bridge to walk to the Albertson's on Bird Avenue, according to the Santa Clara Valley Water District. To accommodate them, the water district is working with The Village to increase its existing shuttle service and is providing cab vouchers for $6 in case of an emergency.
The water district also worked with the San Jose Unified School District to transport students who typically used the bridge to walk to Galarza Elementary Hammer Montessori School. Parents who are affected by the bridge closure may call Steve Mitchell at 408.535.6554 for more information.
A dozen shots are
fired into the air
A young man fired at least 12 rounds from a handgun into the air on May 7 around 10 p.m.
A resident at home in the 900 block of Minor Avenue heard shots being fired on the street, San Jose police spokeswoman Gina Tepoorten said. The resident saw a young Hispanic male between the ages of 18 and 20 walking north on Minor Avenue shooting the gun.
The police arrived at 10:05 p.m., but were unable to locate the shooter. Police found seven 9 mm shell casings near Minor Avenue and Virginia Street and five near Minor Avenue and Brown Street.
Tepoorten said the young man could have been charged with negligent discharge of a firearm for firing the gun so close to homes. The man is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, thin, with dark hair and eyes, wearing a red jersey and blue pants.
Washington Mutual
on Lincoln robbed
May has been a bad month for the Willow Glen branch of Washington Mutual Bank. After a May 1 robbery, the bank was hit again on May 11, San Jose police spokeswoman Gina Tepoorten said.
At 5:57 p.m., a man entered the bank alone. He approached a teller window and presented a note saying he was robbing the bank and demanding money. The clerk gave him an undisclosed amount of cash.
The man, who had no weapon, fled on a mountain bike heading north on Lincoln Avenue.
He is described as a white male between the ages of 35 and 40 years old, between
5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 230 pounds and with dark hair. According to witnesses, he wore a San Jose Sharks cap and a dark shirt with a tan pattern and dark pants.
The May 1 robbery at Washington Mutual led to the arrest of 58-year-old John Kent, who was charged with a string of robberies that culminated with the Washington Mutual Bank theft. A Willow Glen resident took down the license plate of the getaway car, leading to his arrest.
Anyone with information on the May 11 robbery is asked to contact the San Jose Robbery Unit at 408.277.4166 or report tips anonymously on the Crime Stoppers line, 408.947.STOP.
Loitering teens involved
in liquor store robbery
Four loitering teenagers robbed a southern Willow Glen liquor store at knifepoint on May 11.
Around 9:30 p.m., four teens spent a few minutes lingering outside Village Liquors & Grocery at 2285 Lincoln Ave. San Jose police spokeswoman Gina Tepoorten said they then entered the store. Three were armed with knives and covered their faces with bandanas.
One male approached the register and demanded money from the clerk. Another teen, who was unmasked and unarmed, went around the counter and took money from two registers. Tepoorten would not disclose the amount of cash, but said it was a "large amount of money."
The four robbers also took eight boxes of cigars and five boxes of lighters before fleeing north toward Curtner Avenue. No vehicle was seen, Tepoorten said.
Three of the four teens are described as 17-year-old Hispanic males in hooded sweatshirts, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall. The fourth is said to be around 18 years old. There are no leads at this time.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the San Jose Robbery Unit at 408.277.4166 or report tips anonymously on the Crime Stoppers line, 408.947.STOP.
San Jose Woman's
Club helps singer
The San Jose Woman's Club has awarded a $2,000 vocal scholarship for 2005 to Carlos Aguilar. A recital is planned for June 6, and will include a scholarship fundraiser luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
Willow Glen resident Alma Taylor, who helped establish the scholarship fund for vocalists in 2001, said Aguilar is the first male recipient of the award.
The 23-year-old, whom Taylor said has a "big basso profundo voice," was considering a career in football until he was chosen to sing in the San Jose State University Choraliers. He became "hooked" on a musical career. Aguilar became an associate artist with Opera San José and recently has become a resident artist, having sung in most of the operas during the last two seasons.
The San Jose Woman's Club is located at 75 S. 11th St. The fundraiser luncheon is $20. For more information or reservations, call Taylor at 408.269.2395.
Showcase home will
benefit symphony
The Preludes & Encores League presents the 2006 Designer's Showcase at the Blackwell home in Saratoga through June 4.
The colonial home has 6,000 square feet of living space, which was broken into 28 design areas decorated by the Bay Area's finest interior and landscape designers.
Preludes & Encores League, formerly the San Jose Symphony Auxiliary, is a volunteer group that has organized 26 previous Designer's Showcase homes to benefit Symphony Silicon Valley. Blackwell Homes' Jack Blackwell and his wife, Jean, were staunch supporters of the symphony. The house has sat empty since Blackwell's death in 2002, and the family offered the space for the Designer's Showcase. The house will be sold after the showcase ends on June 4.
The showcase will be open from Tuesday through Saturday and Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $25. Credit cards are not accepted.
Shuttles to the Blackwell home leave La Hacienda Inn, 18840 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road Tuesdays through Fridays, and on weekends and Memorial Day from Sacred Heart Church, 13716 Saratoga Ave. For more information, visit www.symphonysiliconvalley.org or call 408.354.0773.
Opportunity to mix
and to volunteer
The Willow Glen Middle and High School Foundation hosts a mixer called "Just One Fabulous Project" and needs the community's help.
Volunteers can help in a variety of ways, including soliciting donors for the wine-tasting and auction events and for grant writing. Volunteers are also needed as tutors and/or mentors for students.
The foundation also needs assistance in updating the database for the annual phone-a-thon and working with Willow Glen businesses to find internship opportunities for high school students.
A meeting about volunteer opportunities at the foundation is planned for June 7, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., 1468 Kiner Ave. Hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served.
For more information, contact Debbie Bishop at 408.266.1351 or email at wghsvolunteer@sbcglobal.net.
Groves accepts new
position in Mt. View
After 14 years, Cambrian School District superintendent Barry Groves is moving on.
On April 24, the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District school board announced Groves was selected to replaced superintendent Richard Fischer, who is retiring. Groves' new position begins July 1.
The Cambrian school board is now seeking a candidate to fill Groves' position. Groves said he would work with the Cambrian board to ensure a smooth transition for the district's new superintendent.
Discovery Museum
has new day camp
The Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose will offer a unique summer day camp program for future good Samaritans.
The Summer of Service day camp is geared for children entering grades 7-10. The museum offers four two-week sessions, in which students will have the opportunity to contribute to a museum magazine and documentary, be a mentor at a local preschool, conduct water-quality tests and clean up area rivers, or help feed the hungry and volunteer at a children's shelter.
For more information, call 408.298.5437 ext. 243 or email sos@cdm.org. Summer of Service can be found on the web at www.cdm.org/sos.
Students will make
beautiful music
Cambrian School District students will make music May 25, at the annual district band concert.
The concert brings together musicians from the district's four elementary schools, including Bagby Elementary School and Ida Price Middle School. The concert takes place at the Cambrian Community Center, 2650 New Jersey Ave., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cambrian's elementary schools also have an open house May 24 from 7 to 8 p.m.
For addresses and more information, visit www.cambrian.k12.ca.us.
