Willow Glen Resident

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Residents want to remove tree

A Willow Glen resident living on Carolyn Avenue wants to cut down a redwood tree with a 197-inch circumference. The homeowners have filed a tree removal request.

San Jose planning project manager Tracy Chu said the owners want to remove the healthy tree so they can expand their home.

Chu has not seen the tree except in photographs that were included with the application. She says the residents need to obtain an arborist's report on the health of the tree and whether it can be saved.

The timeline for reviewing the request depends on how quickly the residents file the arborist's report with the city.

Residents within 300 feet of the site will be notified, and the San Jose planning director will approve or deny the permit request, according to Chu. If appealed, the request will go on to the San Jose Planning Commission and then to the San Jose City Council.

The residents refused to comment on their application.

A permit is required for the removal of all trees that measure at least 56 inches in circumference. Although the permit is free, applicants have a public noticing fee of $110, an environmental exemption fee of $133 and a General Plan update fee of $3.

High turnout in mock election

Students at Presentation High School voted for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Nov. 7, and they didn't have to be 18 years old.

The polls opened at 7:20 a.m. and closed at 3 p.m. in school library, and the turnout was far better than the rest of the nation. Fifty-nine percent of students and faculty voted. Even with the high turnout, the results closely mirrored the results of the California election.

The mock election has been held at the school for the last three years through U.S. government and civics teacher Amy Fields' class.

"The administration thought it would be a good idea for the students to learn the voting process so when they turn 18 they are not afraid of voting," Fields says.

Students went into classrooms and did mini-presentations on the major candidates running for state offices and presented information on state propositions. The students also helped design the ballot, placed informational posters around campus and ran the election. In addition to their work at the high school, students became involved in the actual election by working on various campaigns in the Bay Area, Fields says.

City installs a new
flashing crosswalk

San Jose has helped to make getting across Lincoln Avenue near the Willows Senior Center safer. The city installed flashing pedestrian lights in October.

The new flashing crosswalk lights are identical to those in downtown Willow Glen that let motorists know a pedestrian wants to cross the street. The enhanced crosswalk with the solar-powered lights is at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Lincoln Court, just north of the senior center and the busy Curtner Avenue intersection.

San Jose's Department of Transportation installed the lights. The project is in line with District 6 City Councilman Ken Yeager's goal to improve pedestrian access on Lincoln Avenue, transportation division manager Laura Wells said.

Topic of forum
is citizen rights

The San Jose Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Independent Police Auditor will sponsor a community forum on Nov. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at San Jose City College, 2100 Moorpark Ave. in the College Theater.

Organizers welcome residents to discuss their concerns and possible solutions to human rights issues at the forum.

The commission role is to study human rights issues, including discrimination and equal employment opportunity practices. The auditor reviews citizen complaints for greater police accountability.

Spanish and Vietnamese translations will be available at the forum. For more information, call 408.535.8110.

Church bazaar will
have gifts aplenty

St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Ave., will start the holiday season early with its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event will include handcrafted items such as gift baskets, jewelry, wreaths, gifts, ornaments, stocking stuffers, baked goods, photo ornaments and personalized Santa letters.

Creations made by the St. Francis Sunday School students will also be available for purchase.

Vendors at the event will include PartyLite, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Pampered Chef, Creative Memories and Beads by the Sea Jewelry.

For more information, email st.francis_events@yahoo.com.

Need a break? Try
meditation for free

For those trying to break away from the hectic pace of the valley, Willow Glen resident Brett Jennings may have just the solution.

Jennings hosts free meditation classes at the San Jose Center for Spiritual Living, 1195 Clark St. The classes will run every Thursday through Dec. 7, from 6:15 to
7 p.m.

The Thursday classes are part of an introductory course on sitting meditation practices according to Deepak Chopra.

To RSVP, visit meditation.meetup.com.

Garden Walk is way
to discover park

Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens hold a walking tour and lunch from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18.

The guided interpretive tour will begin at the garden center, 715 Spring St., and continue through the gardens and along the river. Lunch will be at Lowry's Irish Coffee House in the River Street Historic District, continuing to Discovery Meadow to return on the light rail.

Walkers will explore both the natural and constructed areas of the park and learn about the flora and fauna, public art and the flood protection project.

The fee, which includes lunch, is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. For additional information, call 408.298.7657.

Library book sale
offers lots of items

With Willow Glen's library branch closed, residents can visit the newly renovated Rose Garden Library for a pre-holiday book sale event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the community room of the library at 1580 Naglee Ave. near Dana Avenue.

Sale items will include hardbacks, paperbacks, children's books and textbooks. All the proceeds benefit the library's programs and services. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags to carry purchases home.

Beautiful Music
for the holidays

A trio of Notre Dame students will perform on piano, violin and violincello at 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1100 Shasta Ave.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Proceeds from the performance by the Radiance Trio will go to Beautiful Minds Ensemble, which teachs music to autistic children.