Willow Glen Resident

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News Briefs

Legionnaires honor
four Army chaplains

Santa Clara County legionnaires will honor four Army chaplains who sacrificed their lives during World War II at an interfaith memorial service on Feb. 3.

The U.S. Congress designated Feb. 3 as Four Chaplains Day in 1998 to recognize George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, who died on the USAT Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943. Willow Glen's American Legion Post 318 is hosting the event at St. Patrick's Proto Cathedral, 389 E Santa Clara St. Campbell's West Valley Memory Post 99 will also participate in the event.

The chaplains were of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths, and were instrumental in saving lives after the Dorchester was struck by a torpedo from a German U-boat U-223. The ship sank quickly, and all four chaplains gave their life vests so four soldiers could live.

The men were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross and Chaplain's Medal for Heroism.

The service is open to veterans and community service organizations, and the public. The service begins at 10 a.m. For more information, contact the West Valley Memory Post 99 at 408.623.3716.

Tedesco campaign
housed on Lincoln

San Jose City Council candidate Steve Tedesco opened his campaign headquarters at 1090 Lincoln Ave., Suite 1 in downtown Willow Glen.

The Willow Glen resident is in a runoff with Pierluigi Oliverio for the District 6 seat, which includes the Willow Glen and Rose Garden neighborhoods.

Tedesco and Oliverio received the most votes during the November election, leading to a March 6 runoff to fill the District 6 seat vacated by former councilman Ken Yeager when he was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

For more information on Tedesco, visit www.stevetedesco.com. For information on Oliverio, and a list of candidate nights, visit www.fromherefor us.com.

Boosters want to
add more music

Willow Glen Middle and High School Music Boosters parents invite residents to the organization's first Pasta and Crab Feed at Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Ave., on Jan. 27. The all-you-can-eat crab feed features dinner and dancing for adults, a silent auction and raffle. Entertainment includes Garage Band, a KFOX finalist in the Last Band Standing contest. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased by Jan. 15.

The event is a benefit for music programs at Willow Glen Middle and High Schools.

To purchase tickets, call 408.448. 4456, or email arndt_family@sbc
global.net.

Pilot program will
target old malls

The San Jose City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed Shopping Center Improvement Pilot Program, a two-year program intended to improve neighborhood malls ineligible for redevelopment money.

Paul Krutko, the city's economic development director, said the program goes beyond aesthetics. Deteriorating plazas scare off shoppers and give a false impression of neighborhood decline, according to a recent memo from Krutko.

The memo further states that in some cases, "actual disinvestment is occurring" due to landlords who, content with existing cash flows, provide little or no incentive for outside investors to add life to the mall.

The Shopping Center Improvement Pilot Program will be run by the city's economic development office, redevelopment agency and planning department. The amount of money granted to businesses will depend on the height of the building. For every 60 linear feet, the city will offer a $25,000 grant; if the owner invests $5,000 in façade improvements, the city will match that amount as well.

Improvements will focus on signs, awnings, paint and landscaping. It does not include roofing, structural or interior upgrades.

VTA bans smoking
at transit facilities

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's board of directors adopted a no-smoking policy at all transit facilities.

The new policy applies to all VTA shelters, transit centers and light rail station platforms.

The policy was effective Jan. 1, but signs identifying "no smoking" areas are not expected to go up until spring 2007. Until the signs are in place, VTA officials say it will be hard to enforce the new rule, but they hope smokers will be considerate and comply starting in January.

Silicon Valley Reads
selects 2007 book

The annual selection for Silicon Valley Reads is The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle. Libraries throughout San Jose will be scheduling drop-in book discussions and recorded interviews with Boyle.

The book depicts immigration through the eyes of two Southern California couples who live in different circumstances. The novel chronicles their relationship against the background of growing hostility between immigrants and native residents .

Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando St., has scheduled a drop-in discussion for Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. On Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. the library will broadcast a videotaped interview with the author, followed by a discussion session.

For more information, call 408.808.2397.