Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
Man arrested near
Bird, Hull avenues
A San Jose man was arrested on Nov. 3 on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and an outstanding no-bail warrant in North Willow Glen.
According to San Jose police spokesman Enrique Garcia, two residents called 911 when they saw Gerald Gardner, 36, sitting on a bench and acting suspicious near Bird and Hull avenues.
The residents hung up before an operator took the call but officers were dispatched to verify there was no emergency.
When the officers arrived at the location, they asked Gardner if everything was OK, Garcia said.
According to Garcia, Gardner gave the officers his identification, and when they did a warrant check, they discovered he had an outstanding warrant.
When the officers attempted to arrest him, Gardner resisted and began fighting with the officers. He broke away, and an officer used his Taser to restrain Gardner, Garcia said.
Gardner was arrested and booked without further incident.
History San Jose has
old-fashioned gifts
History San Jose will serve up old-fashioned holiday fun Dec. 2-3.
Beginning at 11 a.m., area residents can shop for locally crafted gifts, including items by fabric artist Zhenne Wood and antique and needlepoint pieces by Beverly Britton. The museum's gift shop features local history books, Willow Glen Honey, Cilker Olive Oil and Village Harvest jellies and jams.
In addition, the event offers live entertainment, hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies, and model railroad aficionados will be on hand to share their hobby.
At History Park, children will be invited to mail their letters to Santa, who may make a surprise visit on a 1920s fire engine.
The park is located at 1650 Senter Road in Kelley Park, and admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.historysanjose.org.
Water district has
important flood info
Flooding could devastate area homes during the coming wet season, according to a recent informational campaign launched by the Santa Clara County Water District.
In early November, the water district warned nearly 100,000 property owners their properties are at risk for flooding. Some of these homes are in the official flood zone, as are parts of Willow Glen, though some homes outside of these zones are still at risk, the district said in a statement.
Although it's too early to tell if floods will occur this winter, the water district encourages residents to be prepared. In the past decade, flooding has caused $43 million in damage locally.
For more information on how to prepare homes against flooding, visit www.valleywater.org.
Celebrate holidays
with rainbow chorus
Rainbow Women's Chorus celebrates its 10th anniversary with a concert, "Something About the Women," on Dec. 9-10.
The Dec. 9 performance takes place at Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St., at 8 p.m. The following day, the venue is Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1550 Meridian Ave. at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Senior and group discounts are available.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rainbowwomen.org, or call 408.374.5228.
Trains toot horns
for holiday season
Caltrain stations are showing the holiday spirit with trains tooting their horns the weekend of Dec. 2-3.
At the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, the South Bay Historical Railroad Society on Dec. 2 will open its doors so passengers can enjoy the society's model railroad exhibits. They will be on display from 7 to 9 p.m. Travelers will also be entertained by a Salvation Army band at 7:30 p.m. The train arrives about 8:06 p.m.
For passengers looking to jump-start the holiday season, they can participate in the train-lighting event on Dec. 1 at the San Francisco Station.
Santa Claus and his North Pole crew will be at the station from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to greet commuters.
Church organizes
annual peace fair
Campbell United Methodist Church will host its 24th annual Holiday Peace Fair on Dec. 2.
The fair, at 1675 Winchester Blvd., runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and features international handcrafted gifts. Items include Latin American embroidery, toys and musical instruments, Palestinian olive oil, and free-trade coffee and cocoa. Children's activities will include gift-making and face-painting.
The church will have live entertainment all day and low-cost lunches that go with the international theme, such as borscht and Vietnamese sandwiches.
Admission is $1 and children are free.
All fair proceeds will benefit the African Refugee Women Builders, a U.S.-based service organization, and Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, an international organization devoted to assisting victims of political upheaval and natural disasters.
For more information, visit www.wilpfsanjose.org/peacefair.
'Oughta Be A Law' contest extended
With the elections no longer taking center stage, Willow Glen residents have another way to take an active role in their government, by creating a new law.
California constituents can submit suggestions to the sixth annual "There Oughta Be A Law" contest, which was created by state Sen. Joe Simitian.
Simitian is extending the submission deadline to Dec. 1 because of the busy election season. The winner or winners will have their ideas introduced as legislation and be able to testify at a hearing on their bill in the State Capitol.
"The prize will be the satisfaction of knowing that the winning entry can affect the lives of 37 million Californians," Simitian said. Since the contest's inception, 10 ideas have become law. To get an application, readers can visit www.sen.ca. gov/simitian or call Simitian's office 650.688.6384 or 831.425.0401.
Mechanical pigs aid
in school fundraiser
Willow Glen Middle School's Parent Teacher Association's fall fundraiser exceeded its expectations in its fourth year.
The school earned more than $40,000 from its catalog drive. Students sold Christmas ornaments, coffee mugs, recipe books and chocolate. Of this amount, $20,000 went to the school, exceeding its goal of $15,000.
The monies raised will benefit the school's PTA, which will distribute the funds among student activities, sports and field trips, vice principal Kitty Iwamoto said.
The incentive for the fundraiser was a fuzzy mechanical pig named Mr. Bacon. Students were given a pig if they sold 30 items or more. The pigs were later used in a race at the school, with the winner taking home $120 cash.
Media center will
have art gallery
Willow Glen High School's center parking lot has closed in anticipation of the school's expansion of its shared media center with Willow Glen Middle School.
The expansion will create an art gallery, television studio, two multimedia labs and a large multi-purpose room for project-based learning. There will also be a community room and staff meeting area as part of this expansion, said San Jose Unified School District director of school construction Ty Williams.
The newly expanded center will house the school's art and leadership programs once completed.
The expansion of the Gene and Mickey Long Media Center is part of the Measure F bond passed by voters in 2003. The bond money does not cover additional technology and books for the expanding center.
The Long Foundation trust, set up by the two former Willow Glen High School principals for whom the center was named, provides an additional $50,000 a year to cover those costs, said high school principal Elaine Farace.
The construction is under way and is tentatively scheduled for completion in August.
Tackle Hunger puts
ball in school's court
Willow Glen Middle School is revving up for its annual Tackle Hunger Flag Football game against John Muir Middle School.
The football game will take place at 2:45 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Willow Glen High School football stadium.
The undefeated staff at the middle school competes against the staff at John Muir for a pot of 200 food cans.
"Each school brings a box of 100 cans, and the winner takes both," said Willow Glen Middle School vice principal Kitty Iwamoto.
This year's goal is 10,000 pounds of food.
As of Nov. 16, the school's food drive was approaching 4,000 pounds.
The game is open to the community, and admission is three cans or $2 a person.
