Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
Water district will
replace its old lab
The Santa Clara Valley Water District will begin construction this month on a new water-testing laboratory to replace its 38-year-old lab.
This past July more than half a dozen children fell ill in San Jose. County officials suspected they may have come in contact with a water-borne microscopic parasite. The lab, one of only a few across the country certified to test for microscopic parasites, was pushed to the maximum.
"We are conducting nearly 140,000 water-quality tests a year in a lab that wasn't designed to handle that kind of load," said Larry Wilson, chairman of the district's board of directors, in a recent press release.
The county will spend approximately $17 million on the new facility.
Construction is expected to take about 14 months, with the new lab ready for operation by December 2007.
Meeting scheduled for input on parks
The San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services has scheduled a master plan meeting for Sept. 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Historic Hoover Theatre, 1677 Park Ave.
The department is seeking community input that will assist its staff working on guidelines for the development of future parks and recreational facilities within District 6.
Jazz series music
keeps things funky
The Tuesday evening Summer Jazz Series at Santana Row continues with the San Jose Jazz Society sponsoring Jess Massanari on Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Park Valencia. Massanari leads a funk-jazz quartet.
Santana Row is located at the intersection of Winchester and Stevens Creek boulevards. For information, call 408.551.4611.
Travelers can move
swiftly to planes
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport announced Sept. 14 that travelers may enroll in the United States' first registered traveler program.
Verified Identity Pass operates "Clear," allowing travelers to register at airports nationwide through optical and fingerprints image-capturing.
Users may bypass certain security measures and use a Clear-members-only line to go through airport security. Fees are $79.95 per year, plus a one-time $27 registration fee from the Transportation Security Administration.
The company's website says the program offers "fast passage through airport security" and "exemption from automatic selectee screening."
Bill Sherry, director of aviation for San Jose airport, said the major benefit of Clear is "predictability" and "expedited security processing."
Travelers may begin the enrollment process at www.sjc.org or www.fly clear.com.
Residents invited to
meeting on projects
The San Jose Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement has scheduled a community meeting for Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m., in a vacant store, 569 W. Alma Ave. between Belmont and Capurso ways, to gather community input on retail developments in Willow Glen.
Planning department staff members will discuss two different applications.
The first project would demolish the Bears Lounge, a bar at 220 W. Alma Ave., and replace it with a new retail center. The second project, at 580 W. Alma Ave., will renovate the existing retail center, and build a new commercial center at 640 W. Alma Ave.
The developer for both projects, Salvatore Caruso Design Corporation, has not signed any tenants. Future tenants may include restaurants, clothing and other retail businesses.
For more information contact Rebekah Ross, project manager for the planning department, at 408.535.7842.
Cambrian selects
new superintendent
The Cambrian School District hired Thomas Dase on Sept. 18 to replace Barry Groves as its superintendent.
Groves left in July after 14 years in the district to become the superintendent of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District. Dase will be the district's fourth superintendent.
Dase comes to Cambrian from the Pleasant Valley School District, where he was the superintendent. He was also the assistant superintendent of educational services for the Culver City Unified School District in Southern California.
He was a teacher in the Downey Unified School District, a principal in the Redondo Beach Unified School District and a curriculum director for the Fontana Unified school District earlier in his career.
The Cambrian School District has 3,100 students, including students from Campbell and Willow Glen.
Schallenberger gets
ready to celebrate
Schallenberger Elementary School, 1280 Koch Lane, is getting ready for its16th annual walkathon Oct. 4, followed by its second annual fall festival Oct. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Schallenberger students have until Oct. 2 to collect pledges for the walkathon. The school plays music and cheers students on as they walk laps around the school from 10 to 11:45 a.m.
Christy Schroeder, director of the fundraiser organized through Schallenberger's Home and School Association, said last year's walkathon raised $52,000.
It was also a special occasion for the school, which celebrated its golden anniversary, 50 years.
Funds from last year's fall festival went toward science and reading programs, school supplies and the media center. Schallenberger also used the funds to purchase its sign in front of the school and 15 picnic tables for lunchtime use.
This year's festivities will include carnival games, a raffle and silent auction, face painting, a cake walk and prize booths.
Outback Steakhouse in Campbell will cater the barbecue-style meal, a chicken and rib dinner.
Tickets for the dinner cost $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, with 75 percent of the proceeds going toward the school funding needs.
For information about volunteering, contact Christy Schroeder at 408.267.1049 or schroderchris@comcast.net.
