Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
Willow Glen will be
linked to city trails
Willow Glen may be getting closer to nature and linking to three trail systems in San Jose.
San Jose is negotiating with Union Pacific Railroad to purchase the segment of the Willow Glen Spur, a portion of trail between Coe and Minnesota avenues, said San Jose trail program manager Yves Zsutty.
If this purchase goes through, Willow Glen will be connected to the Los Gatos Creek Trail, the future Guadalupe Gardens Creek Trail and potentially the Highway 87 bikeway, Zsutty said.
"People don't realize that there's a bikeway that runs adjacent to 87," Zsutty said. " People can go from Willow Street to Santa Teresa using the bikeway."
According to a newsletter issued by former San Jose Councilman Ken Yeager's office, the city and Union Pacific Railroad are evaluating the potential for San Jose to purchase the segment. The city and railroad are currently working with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control in order to turn the section in question into a trail. Negotiations and soil studies are slated for completion in the spring.
Contractor chosen
for library remodel
Construction of the new Willow Glen Branch Library is fast approaching.
San Jose City Council awarded a construction contract on Dec. 12 to Ralph Larsen and Sons of San Mateo for close to $7 million.
Due to an escalation in construction costs, the final bid came in $608,000 over the original $6,400,000 budget.
Council policy, however, provides for a standard contingency or buffer amount of 10 percent on public works projects involving the construction of a building. The additional $608,000 needed to complete this project was approved by the council in the form of a budget increase, and the funds will come from the Branch Libraries Bond Projects Fund.
The scope of work for the new library includes the construction of a 13,380-square-foot one-story building, various reading areas, a tech center, an Internet cafe area, children and adult collection spaces, a community meeting room and a new parking lot with 52 spaces.
Along with the initial bid, items including flagstone pavers, sidewalk replacement, interior signage and movable millwork bookshelves totaling in an additional $265,000 were considered but not awarded.
The aging 41-year-old Willow Glen facility was approximately 5,330 square feet. The library is being reconstructed through a branch library bond measure that was passed by voters in November 2000.
The bond provides $212 million over 10 years for the construction of six rebuilt and 14 expanded branch libraries in San Jose.
Construction of the Willow Glen branch is scheduled to begin in January, with a completion date in June 2008.
Seepersad cancer has
gone into remission
Jonathan Seepersad is in remission after a battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma.
The 2000 Las Madres Willow Glen II playgroup reached out to the Seepersad family after Jonathan was diagnosed in January 2005. The group raised funds to help the family with rising medical costs.
Neuroblastoma is a cancerous abdominal tumor in children. In Jonathan, the tumor was located in the nerve tissues of his adrenal gland above his right kidney. He was 5 years old when diagnosed and underwent chemotherapy to shrink the tumor so doctors could remove it.
The Las Madres playgroup had a special bond with the family. Jonathan and his mother, Gabrielle, had been attending the playgroup since he was 2 years old. To help the family the Las Madres group put together a garage sale fundraiser in early May 2005, which raised more than $1,000 for the family. The Willow Glen mothers also helped with meals and other necessities.
The family is from Trinidad and had no family in the area. During Jonathan's treatments his mother was constantly by his side, giving up her job to take care of her son. Jonathan has a younger sister, Arielle, and is expecting a little brother in March.
200 children get to go
on a shopping spree
San Jose Fraternal Order of Eagles hosted its second annual Christmas shopping spree for low-income and special-needs children on Dec. 10.
The event allows each child to spend $150 on holiday gifts at Target. The shopping spree was made possible by donations from individuals and companies, including Tim Casey Construction, the Nicholson Company, Bay 101 and Garden City Casino.
Last year, the organization was able to provide 112 children with funds. This year, 200 children went Christmas shopping at the Capitol Avenue Target.
The children are selected by their San Jose Unified School District teachers, principals and counselors based on grade improvements and personal growth. Children from Special Olympics and the New Horizons School for Homeless Children also participate in the event.
Foundation will offer
nonprofits art grants
Community Foundation Silicon Valley is offering grants of $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 to nonprofit arts organizations.
Between 15 and 20 grants will be given to midsize arts organizations with annual budgets of $50,000 to $2 million that are serving Silicon Valley.
A full description, guidelines and applications are available online at www.cfsv.org/grants_advancingarts.html.
Applications are due Jan. 8, and grants will be awarded on March 1.
