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ELECTION ‘06<br />
The<br />
reformer<br />
speaks<br />
Mayoral candid<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Chuck Reed touts<br />
his voting record<br />
and reform plans<br />
Editor’s note: The <strong>Times</strong> newspapers<br />
editorial board interviewed the five<br />
major mayoral candid<strong>at</strong>es. The<br />
interviews appear in the order th<strong>at</strong><br />
they took place. The interviews<br />
appeared in the April 27 issue with<br />
David Pandori, May 4 with Michael<br />
Mulcahy, May 11 issue with Cindy<br />
Chavez, and May 19 with Dave<br />
Cortese (these may be accessed <strong>at</strong><br />
www.almadentimes.com). The<br />
<strong>Times</strong> endorsement will appear in<br />
the June 1 issue.<br />
By Daniel DeBolt<br />
Staff Writer<br />
huck Reed’s Midwestern<br />
values set him Capart<br />
from the rest of<br />
the pack in the highly contested<br />
San Jose mayoral race.<br />
Chuck Reed<br />
His campaign message is<br />
plain-spoken and straight to<br />
the point: “Tell the truth.<br />
Keep your word. Be responsible<br />
for your actions. Follow<br />
the law,” it reads on his campaign<br />
liter<strong>at</strong>ure.<br />
Reed grew up in a small<br />
town in Kansas, where he<br />
started working <strong>at</strong> an early<br />
age. He won placement in the<br />
Air Force Academy where he<br />
learned leadership skills. His<br />
daughter, Kim is now an Air<br />
Force fighter pilot while his<br />
See REED, page 24<br />
THIS WEEK:<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Meetings 18<br />
Ask the Lawyer 38<br />
Borowitz Report 50<br />
Community Calendar 48<br />
Places of Worship 21<br />
School Scene 10<br />
Sports Report 40<br />
Street Talk 50<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Classifieds 52<br />
We<strong>at</strong>her Forecast 51<br />
Looking for a new home? Find one in this week’s Open Houses—pg. 49<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Permit No. 5187<br />
San Jose, CA<br />
Find us online <strong>at</strong> www.almadentimes.com May 26–June 1, 2006 � Volume 20, Number 22<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley's Weekly Community Newspaper - Since 1986<br />
Despite rain,<br />
Williams Heritage<br />
Day <strong>at</strong>tracts<br />
nearly 1,000<br />
See page 12<br />
The entire staff of the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly, comprised of editorial, art department, sales and administr<strong>at</strong>ive personnel pose<br />
behind the publishers of the<strong>Times</strong>, Sandy and Bill Bellou in honor of the paper’s 20th anniversary. The <strong>Times</strong> staff (alphabetically)<br />
includes: Diego Abeloos, Jeff Baham, Julie Davis Berry, Daniel DeBolt, Jamie Eldschun, Val Esquivel, Jeff Frazee,<br />
Lorraine Gabbert, Cambria Jaffee, Linda Judd, N<strong>at</strong>e Levy, Jeanne Lewis, Ryan Ozubko, Tami Ozubko, Jennifer Paigly,<br />
Sonia Pineda, Candy Richter, Anita Robledo, Carol Rosen, Jocelyn Harker-Simmons and Doug Thompson. Missing in<br />
action were Christina Couto, Lisa Friesner, Justin Petersen and Mike Zehder. At left: the first issue of the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
turns 20!<br />
� A history of your neighborhood newspaper<br />
� A timeline of significant milestones<br />
� Comments and kudos from local luminaries<br />
� And much more! –See page 26<br />
ABA exceeds<br />
fund-raising<br />
goals <strong>at</strong> Relay<br />
for Life event<br />
See page 4<br />
Leland senior Chris<br />
Faria turns from<br />
fan to <strong>at</strong>hlete with<br />
power soccer<br />
See page 42
Page 2 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
SALE PENDING<br />
This beautifully maintained 12 year old home has a flowing floor plan perfect for family and<br />
entertaining. High ceilings in foyer, living room and dining room. Walk-in closets in 3 bedrooms<br />
allow for plenty of storage space. Gre<strong>at</strong> Morgan Hill Loc<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
� 4 Large Bedrooms, 3 Full B<strong>at</strong>hs<br />
� 2,568+/- sq. ft.<br />
� Large nicely landscaped 7,840 +/- sq. ft. lot<br />
17373 WALNUT GROVE DRIVE<br />
LISTED AT $979,950<br />
Your <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Neighbors<br />
408.691.7322<br />
poconnor@apr.com<br />
750 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LOS G ATOS<br />
� 3 Car Garage, Tile Roof<br />
� Honeywell Air Clean System<br />
� Loc<strong>at</strong>ed in gre<strong>at</strong> school district
STEVE & CHRISTINE PERRY<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley’s Premier Realtors<br />
408-399-1005<br />
The Top 1% Agents in Coldwell Banker Northern California<br />
2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.<br />
18692 CARRIAGE HILL DRIVE<br />
$2,750,000<br />
AVAILABLE<br />
This stunning Tudor, nestled in the foothills of <strong>Almaden</strong>, sits on a one acre lot, and is 3875 sq. ft<br />
with many luxurious upgrades throughout!!! Gorgeous gourmet kitchen with slab granite countertops,<br />
Thermador stove, hardwood floors, plant<strong>at</strong>ion shutters, custom paint, luxurious master<br />
bedroom and b<strong>at</strong>h with huge walk in closet, remote controlled fireplace, wet bar, <strong>at</strong>tached work<br />
out room, marble flooring, Jacuzzi tub & steam shower. Other fe<strong>at</strong>ures include: top of the line surround<br />
sound and high definition Stereo/DVD/Home the<strong>at</strong>er system wired throughout home and<br />
outdoors with control pads in most rooms, amazing laundry room, circular g<strong>at</strong>ed driveway & gorgeous<br />
views. An entertainers dream, this perfect backyard has over $400K in upgrades, with its<br />
built in fire-pit, cascading rock w<strong>at</strong>erfall, pebble tec pool, lush landscaping, lighting throughout,<br />
covered p<strong>at</strong>io area, and much more!!!<br />
848 HILLPOINT COURT “ONE OF A KIND”<br />
$1,500,000<br />
AVAILABLE<br />
Very exclusive lot has 2.1 useable acres with sweeping views of <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley & Quicksilver Park. It is loc<strong>at</strong>ed off Graystone lane and will have 5<br />
neighboring new homes. It is a community of it's own in a quiet cul-de-sac<br />
with m<strong>at</strong>ure oak trees and picturesque boulders. This lot has building and<br />
site approval. Please call us for more details...408-399-1005<br />
STEVE AND CHRISTINE PERRY<br />
221 Los G<strong>at</strong>os Sar<strong>at</strong>oga Road, Los G<strong>at</strong>os<br />
408-399-1005<br />
www.<strong>Almaden</strong>RealEst<strong>at</strong>e.com<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 3<br />
18650 VISTA DE ALMADEN<br />
$2,950,000<br />
AVAILABLE<br />
As you drive up the hill to Vista de <strong>Almaden</strong>, you can't help but feel you are in the most exclusive neighborhood<br />
in <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley. Surrounded by 14 other beautiful custom est<strong>at</strong>es, this property is on 1 1/2 acres and has dram<strong>at</strong>ic<br />
views of <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley. Upon entering the driveway you'll appreci<strong>at</strong>e the views through the custom<br />
Cantera Doors which has clear glass and wrought iron accents. An elegant foyer with limestone floors and extensive<br />
moulding illumin<strong>at</strong>es as the crystal chandelier glistens overhead. This 5 bedroom 3 1/3 b<strong>at</strong>h home has over<br />
$300K spent on improvements in the last 2 years! You'll love the gourmet island kitchen with a Viking<br />
Commercial range, double ovens, dual sinks, warming drawer, & subzero refriger<strong>at</strong>or. Walnut stained hardwood<br />
floors are in the kitchen, family room & dining room. The bedrooms and bonus room have Fabrica plush carpeting.<br />
Huge pool & spa overlooking the valley, and ample lawn area for play with a 2yr old children’s play structure.<br />
Other possibilities for expansive backyard are; bocce ball court, basketball court, and wine vineyard!<br />
6581 DEER HOLLOW DRIVE<br />
$1,695,000<br />
COMING SOON<br />
This highly desirable Graystone home is 2,955 square feet and sits on a<br />
mostly fl<strong>at</strong> 12,197 square foot lot. With freshly painted interior and marble<br />
entry, this home offers you 5 bedrooms and 3 1/2 b<strong>at</strong>hs with a bedroom suite<br />
downstairs. Kitchen includes oak cabinets, upgraded granite counters, newer<br />
tile and premium appliances.
Page 4 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
From left, <strong>Almaden</strong> Business Associ<strong>at</strong>ion members Mike Fehling, Rich De La Rosa, Misty De La Rosa,<br />
Danny De La Rosa, Pete Bucter, Diana Young and Jim Young. The ABA’s to-d<strong>at</strong>e fund-raising totals of<br />
$7,000 for the Blossom Valley Relay for Life are nearly triple th<strong>at</strong> of their 2005 fund-raising amounts.<br />
ABA exceeds fund-raising goals <strong>at</strong><br />
Blossom Valley Relay for Life event<br />
Group’s second year shows<br />
tremendous growth in<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>ion, don<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
By Candy Richter<br />
Staff Writer<br />
ounding the track <strong>at</strong> Davis Middle<br />
School, it was hard to miss <strong>Almaden</strong> RBusiness<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion member Rich<br />
De La Rosa’s motor home. Nestled next to<br />
the Wal-Mart booth and festooned with the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Business Associ<strong>at</strong>ion banner, it<br />
had a trackside se<strong>at</strong> for the Annual Blossom<br />
Valley Relay for Life event.<br />
But when the goal is to <strong>at</strong>tract <strong>at</strong>tention to<br />
both a fund-raising hotdog BBQ and recycling<br />
center, the last thing you’d want to be<br />
is shy and out of sight. Complete with lawn<br />
chairs and fellow ABA chums to cheer them<br />
on, members of the <strong>Almaden</strong> Business<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion g<strong>at</strong>hered once again over the<br />
Display Advertising Sales<br />
If you always wanted a dream job with unlimited<br />
income potential, <strong>Times</strong> Media has an opening for an<br />
Advertising Sales Account Executive here in San Jose.<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Media, Inc. produces the only full color community<br />
newspapers in the US, and we are the only award<br />
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Call today <strong>at</strong> 408.494.7000 x201, or email your<br />
resume to: dreamjob@timesmediainc.com.<br />
weekend of May 20-21 for this sign<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
fund-raising event for the American Cancer<br />
Society.<br />
According to ABA team captain Gale<br />
Infeld of Ticket to Travel, herself a first time<br />
Relay participant, the experience was something<br />
th<strong>at</strong> she definitely wants to be<br />
involved with again next year. “It’s wonderful<br />
being able to particip<strong>at</strong>e in the Blossom<br />
Valley [Relay]. Any place you can particip<strong>at</strong>e<br />
in the fight against cancer is a benefit<br />
to the whole community,” she said.<br />
In 2005, the ABA’s first year particip<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
in Relay, the group raised $2,500. This year,<br />
their goal was to double th<strong>at</strong> amount to<br />
reach $5,000. According to Infeld, the total<br />
don<strong>at</strong>ions so far, including in-kind don<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
is $7,000—nearly triple their firstyear<br />
goal.<br />
“This year we had more members<br />
involved, and th<strong>at</strong> was exciting,” said<br />
Infeld.” One walker, Susan L<strong>at</strong>in, came all<br />
the way from the<br />
Gilroy/Hollister area to take the<br />
4:30 to 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 to<br />
6:30 a.m. shifts. Th<strong>at</strong> was about<br />
when the rain started up, but<br />
she was there.”<br />
Although many of the ABA<br />
participants were new to the<br />
team and to Relay itself, there<br />
were a few “old-timers” from<br />
last year to share their kernels of<br />
wisdom. This elite group<br />
included last year’s team cap-<br />
tain and ABA Treasurer Pete<br />
Bucter<br />
“Many of the impromptu<br />
ideas from 2005—like the recycling—are<br />
more organized this<br />
year, more well-run,” said<br />
Bucter.<br />
Mike Fehling, who joined <strong>at</strong><br />
the coaxing of wife and ABA<br />
member, Edie, did not particip<strong>at</strong>e<br />
last year and had never<br />
heard of Relay for Life before<br />
Edie’s involvement in 2005.<br />
“I’m impressed with the<br />
turnout [<strong>at</strong> Relay for Life],” said<br />
a pleased Fehling. “I didn’t think<br />
it would be this big.”
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 5
Page 6 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
So...<br />
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� Because he is a licensed Broker<br />
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� Because he has lived in your<br />
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� Because he does more listening<br />
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Quotes for the Week:<br />
No m<strong>at</strong>ter wh<strong>at</strong> you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and<br />
<strong>at</strong>tention to your own family, wh<strong>at</strong> have you really accomplished? — Lee Iacocca<br />
You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.<br />
— John Wooden<br />
The “Crown Jewels” of <strong>Almaden</strong>!<br />
Absolutely Fantastic Opportunity to<br />
build the Finest Est<strong>at</strong>e's in <strong>Almaden</strong>!<br />
Two Priv<strong>at</strong>e g<strong>at</strong>ed lots with magnificent Views to<br />
San Francisco and all of San Jose in one direction<br />
& <strong>Almaden</strong> View to the reservoir out the other.<br />
Very useable 3.5 acre and 3.2 acre lots.<br />
Cre<strong>at</strong>e a stunning approach to a grand est<strong>at</strong>e with<br />
room for a huge yard, pool, and tennis court and<br />
still have open space.<br />
Adjoins priv<strong>at</strong>ely owned open space land. Your<br />
setting is guaranteed perfection.<br />
There are only four homes on this g<strong>at</strong>ed street. Lot<br />
1 has an 8500 Sq ft Home on 7.28 acres, Lot 2 Has<br />
a 9,500 sq ft Home Under Construction on 3.15<br />
acres. Lots 3 and 4 remain for the most discrimin<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
buyers to build the home of a lifetime.<br />
Just Listed<br />
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Huge lot with detached oversized (shop area) garage. Room for<br />
toys and extra cars. 4 bedrooms, hardwood, granite slabs and central<br />
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Lot #4 Pending<br />
Lot #3 Still Available<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 7<br />
Bob Brandt<br />
408-425-9477<br />
bbrandt@apr.com
Page 8 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
ValleyViews<br />
Julie Davis Berry<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 216<br />
julie@timesmediainc.com<br />
Executive Editor<br />
Daniel DeBolt<br />
daniel@timesmediainc.com<br />
Lorraine Gabbert<br />
lorraine@timesmediainc.com<br />
Jeanne Lewis<br />
lewis@timesmediainc.com<br />
Carol Rosen<br />
carol@timesmediainc.com<br />
Staff Writers<br />
Diego Abeloos<br />
diego@timesmediainc.com<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 217<br />
Sports Editor<br />
Justin Petersen<br />
Sports Writer<br />
Mike Cleary<br />
Donald DeVries<br />
Edward Koetitz<br />
Columnists<br />
Jeff Frazee<br />
Photographer<br />
Christina Couto<br />
Copy Editor<br />
Jeff Baham<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 202<br />
graphics@timesmediainc.com<br />
Art Director<br />
N<strong>at</strong>han Levy<br />
n<strong>at</strong>e@timesmediainc.com<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 220<br />
Jamie Eidschun<br />
jamie@timesmediainc.com<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 224<br />
Linda Judd<br />
lindaj@timesmediainc.com<br />
(408) 494-7000<br />
Graphic Artists<br />
Ryan Ozubko<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 204<br />
ryan@timesmediainc.com<br />
Account Executive<br />
Valentino Esquivel<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 207<br />
val@timesmediainc.com<br />
Sales Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Lisa Friesner<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 221<br />
lisa@timesmediainc.com<br />
Classified Account Manager<br />
Anita Robledo<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 211<br />
anita@timesmediainc.com<br />
Sales Administr<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Candy Richter<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 225<br />
candy@timesmediainc.com<br />
Calendar Editor<br />
Sandy Bellou<br />
(408) 494-7100<br />
Chief Financial Officer<br />
Sonia Pineda<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 205<br />
Se Habla Español<br />
sonia@timesmediainc.com<br />
Billing Manager<br />
William Bellou<br />
(408) 494-7000 ex. 201<br />
william@timesmediainc.com<br />
Publisher/CEO<br />
Copyright © 2006 <strong>Times</strong> Media, Inc. All rights<br />
reserved. The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly prefers letters<br />
to the editor and submissions of guest articles and<br />
columns for possible public<strong>at</strong>ion to be sent by<br />
email or fax. All submitted m<strong>at</strong>erials become the<br />
property of <strong>Times</strong> Media,<br />
Inc., and receipt of unsolicited<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials cannot be<br />
acknowledged.<br />
When it comes to soccer,<br />
city needs mayor who can<br />
think outside the box<br />
Editor,<br />
On behalf of Soccer Silicon Valley (SSV) I<br />
would like to correct Dave Cortese in his answer<br />
to the question whether to bring Major League<br />
Soccer back to San Jose.<br />
He says the Earthquakes were asking for the<br />
city to pick up $5 million a year in oper<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
loses. Th<strong>at</strong> is not true. SVS@E who were interested<br />
in buying the team, asked for the subsidy<br />
as part of their negoti<strong>at</strong>ion with the city. His<br />
final paragraph st<strong>at</strong>es the only way for it to work<br />
is to get the voters to approve a new stadium<br />
and have it oper<strong>at</strong>e <strong>at</strong> little or no cost to the city.<br />
There are numerous ways to get the<br />
Earthquakes back th<strong>at</strong> would not require city<br />
money, just leadership. One way is to work with<br />
the County to build a stadium <strong>at</strong> the Fairgrounds<br />
with youth fields instead of the concert hall,<br />
which would cost double th<strong>at</strong> project. Another<br />
way is to work with SJSU in getting a deal with<br />
a new potential owner of the Earthquakes.<br />
Another idea is to partner with the City of Santa<br />
Clara, which has already demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed a willingness<br />
to work towards a new soccer stadium.<br />
Thinking outside the box is wh<strong>at</strong> this city<br />
needs in a new mayor.<br />
John Jussen<br />
Soccer Silicon Valley<br />
Chamber’s COMPAC<br />
exhibiting a change<br />
in str<strong>at</strong>egy, not in vision<br />
Editor,<br />
The past several years have found our city<br />
government consumed by investig<strong>at</strong>ions, misconduct<br />
and a number of legal actions. This<br />
has diverted elected officials’ <strong>at</strong>tention from<br />
focusing on issues th<strong>at</strong> are critical to the vitality<br />
of our communities and caused many to<br />
lose trust in our city government. Worse yet, it<br />
has become more difficult for businesses to do<br />
business in San Jose.<br />
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of<br />
Commerce has a 120-year history devoted to<br />
supporting the interests of this community. It’s<br />
a shame th<strong>at</strong> our motives are now under question<br />
after COMPAC, the Chamber’s political<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Media, Inc. Mission St<strong>at</strong>ement<br />
We are an independent, locally owned<br />
newspaper group devoted to the accur<strong>at</strong>e<br />
and balanced reporting of events th<strong>at</strong> affect<br />
your community. We are recognized <strong>at</strong> both<br />
the local and st<strong>at</strong>e levels for our objectivity,<br />
allowing policy decision makers to contribute<br />
editorial m<strong>at</strong>erial, yet maintaining<br />
arm initi<strong>at</strong>ed outreach to San Jose residents<br />
th<strong>at</strong> was 100-percent factual and supported by<br />
public record.<br />
We are proud of COMPAC’s leadership. This<br />
is the first aggressive outreach it has taken in<br />
recent history. Our approach is legal, on point<br />
and the right thing to do. The purpose of this<br />
outreach is to expose abuses of power and special<br />
interest persuasion, while highlighting the<br />
values th<strong>at</strong> should be observed by any city hall<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Our message is simple and focused. We need:<br />
� Open and honest discussions by city leaders<br />
before votes are cast and decisions are<br />
made.<br />
� To respect and protect priv<strong>at</strong>e property<br />
rights, without the reckless use of eminent<br />
domain powers th<strong>at</strong> cost our city millions of<br />
dollars and put businesses and families through<br />
years of senseless anguish.<br />
� To restore the public’s faith in city officials<br />
so th<strong>at</strong> our mayor and administr<strong>at</strong>ion are<br />
empowered to provide quality services and<br />
strengthen our local economy.<br />
� Critics are now <strong>at</strong>tempting to deflect discussion<br />
away from these issues by launching<br />
baseless and unfounded <strong>at</strong>tacks on COMPAC,<br />
including where its loyalties lie.<br />
For the record, we will continue to vigorously<br />
support the Grand Prix, an effort th<strong>at</strong> brings<br />
strong economics and worldwide media <strong>at</strong>tention<br />
to the Silicon Valley. Combined with the<br />
many human benefits a partnership with the<br />
Canary Fund provides for cancer research, it is<br />
a good investment for this city. It was never the<br />
event we opposed, only the process—and those<br />
who abused it.<br />
In the future, COMPAC will continue to advoc<strong>at</strong>e<br />
for issues th<strong>at</strong> affect the business community<br />
through communic<strong>at</strong>ions grounded in<br />
facts and reported in public documents. We<br />
have not, nor will we support sending hit<br />
pieces to the community, which by definition<br />
are last minute, misleading and unsubstanti<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
Additionally, COMPAC will not hesit<strong>at</strong>e to<br />
disclose the past activities of any candid<strong>at</strong>e<br />
whose conduct compromises the core values<br />
we believe are critical to the future leader of<br />
San Jose. It is important th<strong>at</strong> San Jose residents<br />
stay informed and do not lose focus on<br />
issues vital to our continued economic vitality.<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando<br />
President/CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley<br />
Chamber of Commerce<br />
GOTTA GET IT<br />
FIXED NOW?<br />
Find help in the <strong>Times</strong> Classifieds!<br />
our right to disagree.<br />
We engage in civic journalism, recognizing<br />
th<strong>at</strong> newsg<strong>at</strong>hering is strengthened<br />
when we include all segments of society.<br />
We promote sound economic development,<br />
well researched planning, transparent government,<br />
cultural diversity, quality educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and community awareness.<br />
If you appreci<strong>at</strong>e our<br />
parks, vote yes on<br />
Measure B<br />
Editor,<br />
I would like to encourage all of your readers to<br />
support Measure B, the Parks Charter Fund<br />
measure th<strong>at</strong> will be on the June ballot.<br />
The Charter Fund directs the board of supervisors<br />
to allot a percentage of the general funds<br />
to the Parks department and is how we have<br />
been funding the parks system since 1972. It<br />
does not increase taxes or require a new assessment;<br />
it just defines the use of monies th<strong>at</strong> are<br />
already collected.<br />
In <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley, we are very fortun<strong>at</strong>e to<br />
have so many wonderful county parks near us:<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Quicksilver, Santa Teresa, and<br />
Calero. The parks charter funds is how we<br />
assure th<strong>at</strong> our local parks are maintained,<br />
developed per their master plans, and more<br />
property is acquired and developed (such as the<br />
recent additions of Jocque Ridge to <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Quicksilver and Rancho Del Oro to Calero).<br />
If you appreci<strong>at</strong>e being able to walk, bike, ride<br />
horses, jog or just enjoy the outdoors in our<br />
parks please vote yes on Measure B in the June<br />
election so we can continue to do so.<br />
Janice Frazier<br />
Henwood Road<br />
Let us hear<br />
from you!<br />
HAVE AN OPINION?<br />
Let the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> hear from you.<br />
Send letters to newsroom@timesmediainc.com<br />
or via mail to:<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
1310 Tully Road, Ste. 107,<br />
San Jose, CA 95122
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
CALL HELEN or LUE for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion!<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 9<br />
Stunning 3016 sq. ft home on 1/3 +/- fl<strong>at</strong> acre lot in a fabulous loc<strong>at</strong>ion. Grand entry fe<strong>at</strong>uring high ceilings & tile floor. 4-bedrooms & 3full<br />
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Page 10 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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SchoolScene<br />
Rally held<br />
to fight<br />
high school<br />
exit exam<br />
Rel<strong>at</strong>ed lawsuit<br />
settlements have yet<br />
to be implemented<br />
By Daniel DeBolt<br />
Staff Writer<br />
tudents of the 2006 gradu<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
class will get a free Spass<br />
on the high school<br />
exit exam, thanks to an<br />
Alameda County Superior<br />
Court ruling on May 12.<br />
But <strong>at</strong> a rally <strong>at</strong> the county<br />
building last week, students<br />
didn’t just celebr<strong>at</strong>e their temporary<br />
victory; they spoke<br />
about the difficult work there is<br />
to come in making sure every<br />
student gets a quality educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
in California. And until th<strong>at</strong><br />
monumental task is achieved,<br />
they want to make sure students<br />
who <strong>at</strong>tend schools lacking<br />
in resources will have<br />
another exit exam made available<br />
th<strong>at</strong> isn’t as difficult, just<br />
as they do in other st<strong>at</strong>es.<br />
While critics would say these<br />
students want to cheapen the<br />
value of their diploma, the students<br />
point to st<strong>at</strong>istics th<strong>at</strong><br />
show many schools don’t have<br />
enough qualified teachers, textbooks,<br />
and other resources for<br />
them to gain the skills necessary<br />
to pass the test. According<br />
to the students who spoke <strong>at</strong><br />
the rally, in a society th<strong>at</strong> gives<br />
so much more to its high school<br />
gradu<strong>at</strong>es, it’s not fair to be held<br />
to the same standard.<br />
One young man who spoke<br />
said his motiv<strong>at</strong>ion to be in<br />
school was to stay out of trouble<br />
and out of jail, where many<br />
of his peers seemed to be heading.<br />
It wasn’t just about diplomas,<br />
he said, it was about saving<br />
lives. In the face of the<br />
exam, some have given up.<br />
“There are so few who are<br />
motiv<strong>at</strong>ed,” he said. “Once they<br />
do try and they get past high<br />
school, maybe they can be<br />
saved. Keeping them from th<strong>at</strong><br />
takes away all hope.”<br />
Speakers talked about students<br />
they knew who got<br />
decent grades but were kept<br />
from gradu<strong>at</strong>ing after failing the<br />
test. A boy who <strong>at</strong>tended a good<br />
school said his dyslexia made<br />
the test extremely difficult. An<br />
English as a second language<br />
student said th<strong>at</strong> even though<br />
he was an ESL student who<br />
knew everything on the test, he<br />
See EXIT EXAM, page 12
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 11<br />
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Page 12 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
SchoolScene in <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Despite rain, Williams Heritage Day <strong>at</strong>tracts nearly 1,000<br />
Many children<br />
“traveled the<br />
world with<br />
passports in<br />
hand” to enrich<br />
their minds and<br />
experience the<br />
cultures of their<br />
community.<br />
By Geeta Venk<strong>at</strong>esan<br />
Special to the <strong>Times</strong><br />
elebr<strong>at</strong>ions of the<br />
World” was the theme “Cof<br />
this year’s Williams<br />
Elementary School Heritage Day<br />
Festival on May 19. Close to<br />
1,000 festivalgoers braved the<br />
rain to visit the 19 cultural<br />
booths th<strong>at</strong> showcased their heritage<br />
and pride with cultural costumes,<br />
food, displays, and<br />
games.<br />
Throughout the day volunteer’s<br />
spirits remained high as we<br />
reminded each other “the party<br />
must go on.”<br />
Crowds g<strong>at</strong>hered around the<br />
stage to w<strong>at</strong>ch 26 performances<br />
put on by Williams students and<br />
family. The cultural diversity of<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> community was<br />
embraced through the coming<br />
together of so many people of<br />
different backgrounds. The festival’s<br />
purpose was fulfilled, as all<br />
who <strong>at</strong>tended learned about our<br />
multi-cultural community, and<br />
appreci<strong>at</strong>ed the unity in diversity<br />
of <strong>Almaden</strong> residents.<br />
This year’s festival was unique<br />
for Williams. The flags of 50<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ions were on display for the<br />
first time on the morning of May<br />
19 before flag salute. “Seeing the<br />
flags up made the day feel extra<br />
special,” says Malini Nagarajan,<br />
student volunteer coordin<strong>at</strong>or<br />
for the event.<br />
Personally, as the event coordin<strong>at</strong>or,<br />
as I was putting the first<br />
flag up and I felt the first drop of<br />
rain I reflected upon the months<br />
of planning and prepar<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong><br />
go into making such an event<br />
successful.<br />
“It’s like planning your wedding<br />
day,” remarked committee<br />
member Ellen Takeuchi. “It<br />
takes months of planning and it’s<br />
all over in three hours!”<br />
Exit exam<br />
Continued from page 10<br />
could be failed for not understanding the questions<br />
well enough.<br />
In a landmark settlement of the 2004 Williams<br />
lawsuit, the st<strong>at</strong>e has been forced to pass legisl<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to give more resources to schools lacking them. But<br />
the revolution has just begun, said Sanjeev Bery,<br />
San Jose director of the ACLU. “Now it’s the hard<br />
work of implementing everything.”<br />
The decision made by Robert Freed of the<br />
Alameda county court was made because it was<br />
obvious th<strong>at</strong> the Williams settlement has a long<br />
way to go in making schools equal, or <strong>at</strong> least in<br />
raising the “minimum floor” for acceptably qualified<br />
teachers, textbooks, classroom sizes and other<br />
resources, Bery said.<br />
“The court ruled in favor of equality and fairness,”<br />
said Antonia Swancy, a senior <strong>at</strong> independence<br />
high school. “Now the st<strong>at</strong>e needs to provide<br />
an equal educ<strong>at</strong>ion for all of us. Every student<br />
Committee members Lisa<br />
Yang, Susan Park, Ellen<br />
Takeuchi, Tina Meng and myself<br />
extend their thanks to the following:<br />
Bret Harte Middle School<br />
for the flags, the estim<strong>at</strong>ed 100<br />
Leland High School volunteers,<br />
all the parent volunteers, and<br />
the performers who invested<br />
many hours of practice and commitment<br />
to put on the spectacular<br />
show of music, dance, and<br />
entertainment. And appreci<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
goes to the children who<br />
“traveled the world with passports<br />
in hand” to enrich their<br />
minds and experience the cultures<br />
of their community.<br />
should <strong>at</strong>tend a school with enough textbooks,<br />
with qualified teachers and with a healthy learning<br />
environment.”<br />
Californians for Justice, the organizers of the<br />
event, conducted a poll of 1,600 students in East<br />
San Jose th<strong>at</strong> found two out of five students<br />
thought they had inadequ<strong>at</strong>e textbooks.<br />
According to a poll released in April by the public<br />
policy institute, 72 percent of Californians<br />
would support having small classes taught by fully<br />
credentialed teachers made available to students<br />
who initially fail the exit exam, even if it costs taxpayers<br />
more money.<br />
“Why should students be held responsible for<br />
problems with the system?” said Jenny Pearlman,<br />
and <strong>at</strong>torney for Public Advoc<strong>at</strong>es.<br />
Pearlman will be filing an appeal to a suit th<strong>at</strong><br />
was recently struck down th<strong>at</strong> would have given<br />
students <strong>at</strong> certain high schools an altern<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
exam to take. She said the judge thought there were<br />
no altern<strong>at</strong>ives, but Pearlman wonders if other<br />
st<strong>at</strong>es do it this way, why can’t California?
Jackie Jones<br />
Voice Mail (408) 491-1620<br />
Office (408) 491-1600<br />
email:jjones@cbnorcal.com<br />
www.jackiejonessells.com<br />
1045 WILLOW S TREET, SAN J OSE<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 13<br />
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Every heart th<strong>at</strong> has be<strong>at</strong> strongly and<br />
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behind it in the world, and bettered<br />
the tradition of mankind.<br />
Robert Louis Stevenson
Page 14 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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SchoolScene in <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Bright days ahead<br />
for Graystone<br />
By Allison Johnson<br />
Special to the <strong>Times</strong><br />
raystone families refused to let rain<br />
dampen their spirits or their pocket- Gbooks<br />
on Friday, May 19, as the school<br />
held its most successful Spring Celebr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
fund-raiser to d<strong>at</strong>e, bringing in over $60,000 to<br />
support school programs such as science,<br />
music, art and technology.<br />
While the overcast skies during the day may<br />
have been kind to all of the Graystone kids<br />
walking laps in their tangerine shirts to earn<br />
pledge contributions, the volunteers were sur-<br />
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snorkeling and w<strong>at</strong>er sports in Zihu<strong>at</strong>anejo/Ixtapa.<br />
Dawn Princess:<br />
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prised when l<strong>at</strong>e afternoon showers poured<br />
down on the silent auction tables and on the<br />
stage where the band had already set up.<br />
Within minutes, volunteers raced home and<br />
brought back many pop-up awnings, while<br />
those th<strong>at</strong> stayed quickly covered the valuable<br />
auction items with plastic. Eventually the<br />
clouds broke and the crowds came, bidding on<br />
getaways to vac<strong>at</strong>ion homes, beautiful baskets,<br />
sports memorabilia, spa services, helicopter<br />
and plane rides. Even with the rain, the auction<br />
was the most successful ever held.<br />
In a bit of irony, the slogan for this year's celebr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
was, "Helping Graystone Shine." So<br />
even amid the downpour, the volunteers, the<br />
sponsors, the parents, the friends, and of course<br />
the children did indeed help Graystone shine<br />
th<strong>at</strong> night. And those efforts will continue to<br />
shine through the next school year as well.<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 15
Page 16 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 17<br />
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Page 18 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Singles meets monthly to<br />
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95120 singles are welcome. Call 268-8987 to<br />
RSVP.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Community Associ<strong>at</strong>ion next<br />
meeting will be held Monday, June 12 from 7<br />
p.m. to 9 p.m. Speaker & Subject to be<br />
announced.<br />
The Santa Clara Co. Horsemen’s Associ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
founded in 1939, meets the third Friday of<br />
each month <strong>at</strong> its property loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> 20350<br />
McKean Road, San Jose. Increase your knowledge<br />
of horses and enjoy the kinship of fellow<br />
equestrians. You don’t need to own a horse to<br />
be a member. Call 268-4215 or check out our<br />
web site <strong>at</strong> www.horsemens.org.<br />
Leads Club, the original business referral networking<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ion meets every Wednesday<br />
<strong>at</strong> 11:45 a.m. on Hillsdale near <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Expressway. For loc<strong>at</strong>ion details and more<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call Yvonne <strong>at</strong> 239-6385.<br />
The Las Madres Adoptive Moms Group meets<br />
twice a month on Friday mornings for play<br />
d<strong>at</strong>es and lunch. Once per month we also<br />
have Mom’s Night Out, a family activity and a<br />
newsletter with stories written by members as<br />
well as inform<strong>at</strong>ive articles and book reviews<br />
on adoption. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, visit<br />
www.lasmadres.org or contact Barb Griswold<br />
<strong>at</strong> barbgris@aol.com or call toll free 1-877-<br />
LasMadres.<br />
apr.com | LOS GATOS 750 University Avenue, Los G<strong>at</strong>os 95032<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Area Meetings<br />
Congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
on a Fabulous<br />
20 Years Serving<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Community!<br />
Business Leads Unlimited (www.onlineblu.<br />
com) meets <strong>at</strong> 7:30 a.m. every Tuesday, <strong>at</strong> the<br />
Denny’s Restaurant on Blossom Hill Road<br />
approxim<strong>at</strong>ely one half mile east of <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Expy.<br />
Oakridge Century The<strong>at</strong>res in associ<strong>at</strong>ion with<br />
Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups presents<br />
CineMamas! A morning out to the movies for<br />
moms and their little ones. This group meets<br />
every Tuesday <strong>at</strong> 10 a.m., There are three<br />
showings to choose from, baby-safe sound levels,<br />
cheerios <strong>at</strong> the concession stand and a<br />
relaxing <strong>at</strong>mosphere with other moms who<br />
understand kids are kids! Check<br />
CineMamas.com for a weekly upd<strong>at</strong>e on wh<strong>at</strong><br />
is showing. Kids under 3 are free!<br />
Le Tip Intern<strong>at</strong>ional, a business leads networking<br />
group meets every Tuesday <strong>at</strong> 7:15<br />
a.m. <strong>at</strong> Denny’s Restaurant, 1140 Hillsdale<br />
Avenue. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call 298-9131.<br />
The Kiwanis Club of South San Jose meets<br />
Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. <strong>at</strong><br />
the Baker's Square Restaurant, 6055 <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Expressway (just north of Highway 85).<br />
Kiwanis is a worldwide service organiz<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
whose motto is “Serving the Children of the<br />
World.” We are actively seeking new members.<br />
Contact: Ros Higgins, Club President <strong>at</strong> (408)<br />
445-5121 for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion or feel welcome<br />
to show up <strong>at</strong> the meeting.<br />
<strong>Times</strong><br />
Classifieds<br />
Work!<br />
Call now to place<br />
your ad by phone:<br />
408-494-7000<br />
ex.221
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 19<br />
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I am dedic<strong>at</strong>ed to “CREATING CLIENTS FOR LIFE.”
Page 20 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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ALMADEN HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH<br />
1200 Blossom Hill Road (loc<strong>at</strong>ed just two blocks<br />
west of <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway) 269-2345,<br />
www.almadenhillsumc.org. Sunday worship services:<br />
9:00 and 10:30 am (childcare available <strong>at</strong> both<br />
times) Fellowship coffee time: 10:00 - 10:30 am.<br />
Adult classes and Sun. School for children and<br />
youth: 10:30 am. Serving, worshiping, and growing<br />
together with open minds, open hearts, and open<br />
hands are hallmarks of our Christian congreg<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The power of faith is celebr<strong>at</strong>ed through pastoral<br />
ministries, local mission, and social justice in, to,<br />
and with our local and global community. There is a<br />
variety of joyous music for children and adults, many<br />
special events/activities, and programs for all ages,<br />
including exciting youth ministries. People of all<br />
backgrounds, traditions, cultures, and lifestyles are<br />
welcome. Please join us <strong>at</strong> any time and for any<br />
event, no m<strong>at</strong>ter where you are in your spiritual journey.<br />
ALMADEN VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST<br />
(CONGREGATIONAL) www.avucc.org. 6581 Camden<br />
Ave. (loc<strong>at</strong>ed just east of <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway), San<br />
Jose, CA 95120. 268-0243. We are a friendly caring<br />
church where you are known by name. Please join<br />
us for worship each Sunday <strong>at</strong> 9:00 am in our<br />
unique Round Sanctuary. Nursery and child care provided.<br />
Ecumenical Sunday School follows <strong>at</strong> 10:10<br />
am as well as Fellowship hour where we look forward<br />
to getting to know you. The Reverend Kevin<br />
Smith, pastor. John Leslie, Director of music.<br />
CAMPBELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH<br />
1675 Winchester Boulevard (near Hamilton),<br />
Campbell, 95008. Church Office: 378-3472. Find out<br />
more: www.campbell-umc.org.<br />
E-mail us <strong>at</strong>: campbell_umc@earthlink.net SUN-<br />
DAY WORSHIP:<br />
9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Handicapped, hearing-impaired<br />
friendly facility. (Nursery Care available). SUNDAY<br />
SCHOOL for every age <strong>at</strong><br />
9:00 a.m. WHAT YOU WILL FIND: Youth/Young Adult<br />
programs, Choirs for all ages, Active Senior<br />
Fellowship, A dynamic and diverse congreg<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
seekers motiv<strong>at</strong>ed to explore the questions of faith<br />
and life; opportunities for fellowship, study, spiritual<br />
growth and outreach. Campbell UMC is a<br />
Reconciling Congreg<strong>at</strong>ion ~ ALL ARE WELCOME!<br />
Campbell UMC sponsors Bright Days preschool,<br />
offering a play-based, developmentally appropri<strong>at</strong>e<br />
curriculum. Call 378-8422 for inform<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY<br />
SAINTS<br />
6625 Camden Avenue, San Jose. Sunday School:<br />
10:20 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. Two Worship Services<br />
(Sacrament Meetings): Family Services: 9:00 a.m. or<br />
12:10 p.m. Young Adult Services: 2:50 p.m. For<br />
more inform<strong>at</strong>ion please call: Bishop Scott Jensen<br />
997-8726, Bishop Steve Hayden 268-1648, Bishop<br />
Hugh Hall (Young Adults) 268-5828. Friends and visitors<br />
are always welcome. Come and enjoy the Spirit<br />
and the fellowship. There are special youth activities<br />
on Sunday and during the week, as well. We strive to<br />
support individuals, families, and the community.<br />
EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN ALMADEN<br />
Are you looking for a fun family worship experience,<br />
an ecumenical Sunday School, and a theology complex<br />
enough to allow you to ask questions and<br />
explore your own spirituality? Episcopal Church in<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>, loc<strong>at</strong>ed off the <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway near<br />
the intersection of Camden and Redmond, offers two<br />
opportunities for worship on Sunday mornings. Our<br />
7:30 a.m. Eucharist is short, and followed by a coffee<br />
hour for socializing and discussion. Our 11:00<br />
a.m. family Eucharist offers gre<strong>at</strong> music, laughter<br />
and hope. At 10:10 a.m. we have a joint Sunday<br />
School with our sister church, the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
United Church of Christ. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
please call the church office <strong>at</strong> 268-0243. The<br />
Reverend Stephen Mills, rector. We are loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong><br />
6581 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120, (just<br />
east of <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway). www.eca-sj.org<br />
FAMILY COMMUNITY CHURCH<br />
WE'VE MOVED TO A NEW CAMPUS! 478 Piercy<br />
Road, San Jose, CA 95138. Loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> the g<strong>at</strong>eway<br />
to the Silver Creek Country Club and Evergreen<br />
Valley, FCC has something for everyone! It is one of<br />
the fastest growing churches in America and according<br />
to Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven<br />
Life," it is also one of the five healthiest churches in<br />
the n<strong>at</strong>ion. Visit us and find out why. Services:<br />
S<strong>at</strong>urday, 6 p.m. & Sunday, 9 & 11 a.m.; Singles<br />
Café, Sunday, 9 a.m.; Traditional hymn singing,<br />
Sunday, 9 a.m.; Iglesia Hispana (Spanish service),<br />
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.; Children's and Nursery programs<br />
during weekend services; Junior High,<br />
Sunday, 9 & 11 a.m.; Senior High, Wednesday, 7<br />
p.m.; Young Adults, Sunday, 6 p.m.; and 200+<br />
home-based small groups meeting from Hollister and<br />
Gilroy to North San Jose and Evergreen. Visit us <strong>at</strong><br />
www.FCCchurch.com to learn more about our addiction<br />
recovery, grief support, divorce care and other<br />
programs. Phone: (408) 365-0313. DIRECTIONS:<br />
Exit 101 and turn East on Blossom Hill; Right on<br />
Piercy to Family Community Church on the right.<br />
GATEWAY CITY CHURCH<br />
Rekindle a Sense of Hope! If you’ve been wondering<br />
wh<strong>at</strong>’s missing in your life, the solution may be spiritual.<br />
Having a rel<strong>at</strong>ion-ship with God makes all the<br />
difference. He’s much more loving and powerful than<br />
we really know. Life should be more than work, bills<br />
and stress. You can strengthen the spiritual side of<br />
your life, connect with gre<strong>at</strong> friends, and have a lot of<br />
fun <strong>at</strong> G<strong>at</strong>eWay City Church. Enjoy gre<strong>at</strong> music and<br />
relevant messages. Help your loves ones take a<br />
more positive and inspiring direction in their lives. At<br />
G<strong>at</strong>eWay City Church, you will feel welcomed and<br />
supported, not judged or left behind. Its church the<br />
way you’d hoped it could be, and life more fulfilling<br />
than you’ve dreamed. Dr. David Cannistraci, Senior<br />
Pastor. G<strong>at</strong>eWay City Church is loc<strong>at</strong>ed in South San<br />
Jose <strong>at</strong> 5883 Eden Park Place, behind the Holiday<br />
Inn, near the intersection of Highways 101, 85 and<br />
Bernal / Silicon Valley Road. Visit online <strong>at</strong><br />
www.G<strong>at</strong>eWayCityChurch.org for the l<strong>at</strong>est inform<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
or listen to our Sunday broadcast, “Life in the<br />
Spirit” Sundays <strong>at</strong> 10:30am on 1100 AM KFAX.<br />
HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS)<br />
“A friendly church th<strong>at</strong> cares about people.” 15885<br />
Los G<strong>at</strong>os-<strong>Almaden</strong> Rd. Los G<strong>at</strong>os, CA 95032.<br />
Phone: 356-3525 Fax: 358-4982. Pastors Paul<br />
Hoffmann and Scott Perry. Sundays: Contemporary<br />
worship , 8:30 a.m.; Traditional, 11 a.m. Nursery<br />
available. Sunday School/Bible study for all ages,<br />
9:45 a.m. Wednesdays: Worship and jr.-high confirm<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
classes. (Sept. - May), 6:30 p.m. Get<br />
inspired! Join us for fellowship, fun, gre<strong>at</strong> music, and<br />
Christ-centered educ<strong>at</strong>ion for all ages <strong>at</strong> the pace<br />
th<strong>at</strong> is best for you. Youth group, Bible studies, family<br />
events, parish nurse. Call for our Children’s Center<br />
preschool and school-age daycare inform<strong>at</strong>ion. We<br />
look forward to meeting you!<br />
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
Looking for an active Christian faith community...we<br />
invite you to experience our Holy Spirit Parish<br />
Community. We are loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> 1200 Redmond Avenue,<br />
San Jose, CA 95120. Mass is celebr<strong>at</strong>ed daily <strong>at</strong> 8:30<br />
am with Rosary recited after Mass. Our weekend Mass<br />
schedule is S<strong>at</strong>urday, 5pm, Sunday 8 am, 9:30 am &<br />
11:30 am. Rite of Reconcili<strong>at</strong>ion, S<strong>at</strong>urday <strong>at</strong> 4 pm or<br />
by appointment. Our Parish office is open Monday -<br />
Thursday 9:30 am - 4 pm. Telephone 997-5101.<br />
Recorded Mass times 997-5100. Religious Educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
for Early Childhood through Adults can be obtained by<br />
calling our C<strong>at</strong>echetical Office Monday - Thursday 10<br />
am - 5 pm telephone 997-5115. <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Youth<br />
Ministry (AVYM) (grades 9-12) serving Holy Spirit and<br />
St. Anthony Parishes can be reached <strong>at</strong> 997-5106.<br />
Holy Spirit Elementary School serving grades K - 8 <strong>at</strong><br />
1198 Redmond Avenue. Phone 268-0794.<br />
LOS GATOS CHRISTIAN CHURCH<br />
We help people become Jesus’ followers; those who<br />
understand and carry out His purposes for their lives.<br />
We are here to connect people to God and to one<br />
another in the kind of community expressed in the<br />
Bible- where faith, love and hope are more than<br />
words—they’re lived! Is this the kind of church<br />
you’re seeking? Give us a try this Sunday morning <strong>at</strong><br />
9:00. You’ll find relevant teaching from God’s word,<br />
heartfelt music, and an opportunity for every<br />
family member to encounter others on a similar spiritual<br />
journey. Whether you consider yourself a spiritual<br />
seeker or a committed<br />
follower of Jesus Christ, you have a home <strong>at</strong> Los<br />
G<strong>at</strong>os Christian Church. You’ll find this to be a community<br />
where you m<strong>at</strong>ter and where you can make a<br />
difference.You can find us <strong>at</strong> 16845 Hicks Road, <strong>at</strong><br />
the corner of Camden Avenue and Hicks Road. For<br />
more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, give us a call <strong>at</strong> 268-1411 or see<br />
our website <strong>at</strong> www.losg<strong>at</strong>oschristian.org<br />
SANTA CLARA VALLEY CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS<br />
SCIENCE<br />
Center for Spiritual Discovery (Formerly Valley<br />
West Church)<br />
2500 Masonic Drive, San Jose, CA. 95125. 408-978-<br />
6800. <strong>Times</strong>: 10:30 Sunday Service, Youth Church<br />
10:45, Quiet Medit<strong>at</strong>ion 9:30-10:15, Classes Monday<br />
evening. Pastor: Rev. Alice Carpenter. Discover your<br />
best self in our welcoming Spiritual community.<br />
Wherever you are on your Spiritual P<strong>at</strong>h, we welcome<br />
you to our service. Our teaching is based on New<br />
Thought teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ernest<br />
Holmes, Wayne Dyer as is expressed daily on the TV<br />
shows of Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil. Ours is a loving<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ion. You owe it to yourself to check us out.<br />
We have a traditional service, preceded by priv<strong>at</strong>e<br />
medit<strong>at</strong>ion if you wish, and followed by hospitality<br />
hour. We have a New Thought Bookstore on Sunday<br />
mornings. We welcome you to our classes, and<br />
encourage you <strong>at</strong>tend our Essence classes, on the first<br />
Sunday of the month. This is not your regular church!<br />
You are in control of your life experience...you have<br />
choices. We help you explore those choices.<br />
SANTA TERESA HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH<br />
5370 Snell Avenue, San Jose, CA 95123, two blocks<br />
north of Blossom Hill. Rev. Tom Coop, Pastor. 629-<br />
5906. Sunday worship service 10:00 a.m. Sunday<br />
School 9:00 a.m. Full range of church activities<br />
including special classes for children, adult Bible<br />
studies, choir, and social activities. Families welcome.<br />
Visit our Web site <strong>at</strong> www.sthpc.org.<br />
SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN<br />
1281 Redmond Ave. 997-4848. Sunday 10:00 am.<br />
Pastor Robert Weller. Sunday school for children &<br />
bible class for adults <strong>at</strong> 8:45 am Sunday.<br />
SOUTH BAY BIBLE CHURCH<br />
Bible & Family Focus Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. <strong>at</strong><br />
1300 Sheffield Ave. Campbell, CA 95008. Pastor<br />
Albert Yip,<br />
221-0234. Visit us online <strong>at</strong>: www.southbaybiblechurch.org<br />
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY CHURCH<br />
A caring community of believers who enjoy living<br />
and growing in Christ’s love and sharing th<strong>at</strong> love<br />
with others. Our goal is to become fully devoted followers<br />
of Jesus and our programs are designed to<br />
meet the needs of people wherever they are in their<br />
spiritual journey, from the curious to the committed.<br />
We offer ministries for all ages and stages of life -<br />
from Cornerstone Pre-school to seniors, plus thriving<br />
children’s and student programs th<strong>at</strong> your family will<br />
love; and through counseling, support and recovery<br />
groups we try to meet the needs of hurting people.<br />
Starting in February: ESL classes, Celebr<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Recovery, and the Alpha Course - an opportunity to<br />
explore the Christian faith. Join us <strong>at</strong> 9:00 or 11:00<br />
am for our Sunday services, with life-rel<strong>at</strong>ed Biblical<br />
teaching, contemporary worship and cre<strong>at</strong>ive arts.<br />
(Nursery, children’s and youth programs available)<br />
6601 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120. Phone:<br />
268-1676. To find out more, visit www.southhills.cc.<br />
ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
We invite you to become a part of our growing,<br />
active Parish. We are a caring and welcoming community<br />
th<strong>at</strong> promotes spiritual growth and reaches<br />
out to those in need. St. Anthony’s is loc<strong>at</strong>ed in the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley <strong>at</strong> 20101 McKean Rd. Sunday<br />
Masses are <strong>at</strong> 8:30, 10 and 11:45 AM. S<strong>at</strong>urday<br />
Mass is <strong>at</strong> 4 PM <strong>at</strong> our small, historic church, 21800<br />
Bertram Rd. in New <strong>Almaden</strong>. For inform<strong>at</strong>ion call<br />
the church office 997-4800. Rev. Warwick James,<br />
pastor.<br />
ST. BASIL GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH<br />
6430 Bose Lane, San Jose, CA 95120. 268-3214.<br />
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 am to 2:00<br />
pm. Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 am. M<strong>at</strong>ins 8:30 am.<br />
Bible Studies Wednesday Evenings <strong>at</strong> 7:00 pm.<br />
Thursday Mornings 10:00 am.<br />
ST. TIMOTHY'S LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL<br />
Come join us for worship <strong>at</strong> one of our four weekly<br />
services. S<strong>at</strong>urday: 6:00 pm (contemporary).<br />
Sunday: 8:30 (traditional) 10:00 (blended) and 11:00<br />
am (contemporary). Sunday school for all ages: 9:45<br />
am. Our day school offers a high quality educ<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
experience from preschool to grade 5. We are loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
<strong>at</strong> 5100 Camden Ave. San Jose CA 95124 with<br />
easy access from highway 85. Church: 264-3858,<br />
School: 265-0275. Pastor Daniel Selbo. Website:<br />
www.st-tims-lutheran.org.<br />
TWIN OAKS CHURCH<br />
NEW CHURCH IN THE VALLEY SEEKS INDIVIDUALS<br />
OPEN TO GOD. Twin Oaks Church seeks lasting rel<strong>at</strong>ionship<br />
with someone longing for God. Must be willing<br />
to be faithful. Must enjoy passion<strong>at</strong>e, engaging<br />
worship music. Individuals must be open to relevant<br />
bible teaching. Interested individuals should possess<br />
a desire for a church th<strong>at</strong> reaches beyond gener<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
lines with the love of Jesus Christ. Interested?<br />
Let's meet <strong>at</strong> 6pm S<strong>at</strong>urdays or 10am Sundays <strong>at</strong> 20<br />
Gre<strong>at</strong> Oaks Blvd in San Jose. Activities galore, your<br />
kids and students will love us. For more, check our<br />
site. Photo available <strong>at</strong> www.twinoakschurch.com.<br />
OK to contact us <strong>at</strong> 408-227-9500. We're new <strong>at</strong><br />
this, hoping to meet you soon.<br />
To advertise your place of worship in this section<br />
please contact the <strong>Times</strong> <strong>at</strong> 494-7000, ext 221. All<br />
phone numbers are in the 408 area code.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 21
Page 22 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
OPEN HOUSE NOTICE<br />
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PAUL SCHULTZ has been successfully fitting hearing adis for over 20 years in<br />
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<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
Chavez: Chamber using mailers to ‘wage a war’<br />
Chamber of<br />
commerce claims it’s<br />
just raising issues<br />
By Daniel DeBolt<br />
Staff Writer<br />
ne thing is certain: the 2006<br />
San Jose mayoral election Owill<br />
be remembered as anything<br />
but boring.<br />
In early May, candid<strong>at</strong>e Dave<br />
Cortese found himself in the middle<br />
of wh<strong>at</strong> many consider a politically<br />
motiv<strong>at</strong>ed controversy, and now his<br />
opponent and the front-runner in<br />
the race, Cindy Chavez, is taking<br />
her turn.<br />
In a hastily called press conference<br />
last S<strong>at</strong>urday, candid<strong>at</strong>e and<br />
Vice-Mayor Cindy Chavez said the<br />
chamber of commerce was using a<br />
campaign of dishonesty and halftruths<br />
to “wage a war” against her<br />
through mailers and phone calls to<br />
voters.<br />
An autom<strong>at</strong>ed phone call sent in<br />
mid May criticizes Chavez for voting<br />
to use eminent domain to take<br />
over the Tropicana shopping center<br />
on King and Story roads in East San<br />
Jose.<br />
The message was recorded by<br />
Teresa Mendoza, daughter of<br />
Tropicana business owner Jose<br />
Mendoza.<br />
The city “tried to take my f<strong>at</strong>her’s<br />
business and give it to wealthy<br />
developers,” she said on the recorded<br />
message. “My f<strong>at</strong>her worked his<br />
whole life to build his business and<br />
support his family. I think Cindy<br />
Chavez is wrong to take people’s<br />
businesses and property … there<br />
has to be a better way.”<br />
Chavez has filed two complaints<br />
with the elections commission.<br />
A mailer sent May 17 criticized<br />
Chavez on the same issue, but the<br />
fist mailer, sent on May 16, has<br />
caused the biggest stir. Chavez is<br />
criticized for supporting a $4.2 million<br />
subsidy for the San Jose Grand<br />
Prix, while major budget cuts to<br />
libraries, community centers, and<br />
other city services would occur<br />
months l<strong>at</strong>er. She is also criticized<br />
for keeping inform<strong>at</strong>ion about the<br />
subsidy from the public until the<br />
last minute. Depending on whom<br />
you ask, the mailers either focus<br />
more on the subsidy or on the way<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion was kept secret.<br />
On one side of the graphic’s<br />
heavy mailer, the text focuses on the<br />
secrecy of the Chavez and Mayor<br />
Ron Gonzales’ administr<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
while the other side focuses on both<br />
the support of the grand prix in the<br />
face of budget cuts while also criticizing<br />
Chavez for keeping inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
from the public.<br />
“Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez’s and<br />
Mayor Gonzales’ backroom deals<br />
and secret meetings are costing taxpayer’s<br />
millions,” one mailer reads.<br />
“Like $4.2 million for the grand prix<br />
and $11.25 million for the Norcal<br />
garbage contract. The numbers just<br />
keep adding up. Th<strong>at</strong>’s money th<strong>at</strong><br />
could have been spent on parks,<br />
public safety and libraries.”<br />
The chamber is being “hypocritical,”<br />
for criticizing support of the<br />
grand prix, Chavez said, because<br />
the group worked with the city to<br />
bring the grand prix to San Jose, and<br />
continues to promote the event.<br />
“Th<strong>at</strong> mailer had nothing to do<br />
with condemning the car race and<br />
everything to do with full disclosure<br />
and public deb<strong>at</strong>e,” said P<strong>at</strong><br />
Dando, chamber president and<br />
CEO.<br />
Following criticism th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
chamber was hurting an event th<strong>at</strong><br />
brought $42 million in revenues to<br />
San Jose, Dando said th<strong>at</strong> wasn’t the<br />
chamber’s intent. But she claims the<br />
controversy surrounding wh<strong>at</strong><br />
Chavez knew may have hurt the<br />
event.<br />
“If you don’t follow open discussion<br />
you wind up turning something<br />
th<strong>at</strong> could have been a good<br />
thing for the city into a bad thing,”<br />
Dando said, referring to Chavez.<br />
Represent<strong>at</strong>ives of the grand prix<br />
felt compelled to write a letter to the<br />
Mercury News following the release<br />
of the mailers in which they say the<br />
grand prix could bring $400 million<br />
in business revenue to the city during<br />
the years in which the city’s<br />
$4.2 million subsidy will help the<br />
race. It also said half of the subsidy<br />
will go to city staff for their work,<br />
and not come from the general<br />
fund. Some of the money went to<br />
the paving of the streets downtown,<br />
and the race also gener<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
$700,000 for the Canary Fund, an<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ion working on cancer<br />
issues, not to mention the fact it was<br />
broadcast in 60 countries.<br />
No other candid<strong>at</strong>e was mentioned<br />
in the mailers or phone calls,<br />
though Chavez wasn’t the only candid<strong>at</strong>e<br />
who voted for eminent<br />
domain to be used in the takeover of<br />
the Tropicana Shopping Center.<br />
Cortese also voted for the takeover.<br />
Chuck Reed didn’t.<br />
Willow Glen Neighborhood<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion President Ed Rast didn’t<br />
agree with the use of eminent<br />
domain <strong>at</strong> the Tropicana, and he<br />
said he isn’t a supporter of Chavez.<br />
But he said the mailers were a blow<br />
to the Chamber’s credibility. At the<br />
press conference, Chavez’s supporters,<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e assembly represent<strong>at</strong>ives<br />
Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo and former<br />
Mayor Susan Hammer said<br />
they were ashamed of a Chamber<br />
they were once proud to talk about<br />
as a symbol of a San Jose th<strong>at</strong><br />
worked collabor<strong>at</strong>ively.<br />
Every year the chamber has a barbeque<br />
<strong>at</strong>tended by 800 of the city’s<br />
business and political leaders.<br />
Lofgren said she doesn’t know if she<br />
wants to <strong>at</strong>tend the next one.<br />
Rast said the chamber was sending<br />
a message to people, council<br />
members especially, th<strong>at</strong> even if<br />
you work with the chamber on<br />
something, they could turn right<br />
around and <strong>at</strong>tack you for it. He<br />
said th<strong>at</strong> the city has so many<br />
important business issues to tackle<br />
th<strong>at</strong> when the Chamber engages in<br />
divisive campaigning it hurts their<br />
ability to work with others.<br />
On top of the autom<strong>at</strong>ed phone<br />
calls, Rast said he received a phone<br />
call from someone doing a “push<br />
poll” who asked him four to five<br />
questions about Chavez’s voting<br />
record. The idea behind a push poll<br />
isn’t to record and report results, but<br />
to persuade someone to vote a certain<br />
way by raising an issue through<br />
a fake poll. Dando said she wasn’t<br />
aware of a push poll and didn’t<br />
know wh<strong>at</strong> it was.<br />
Dando said the mailers were<br />
designed by a consultant and<br />
brought to the chamber’s Political<br />
Action Committee (COMPAC) for<br />
approval. There are 30 to 40 members<br />
on COMPAC but the chamber<br />
represents 2000 businesses. Dando<br />
isn’t a voting member of the committee<br />
but she is the spokesperson.<br />
She said an <strong>at</strong>torney reviewed the<br />
mailers before they were sent.<br />
“We had hoped we could steer<br />
the campaign in a direction the<br />
business community finds important,”<br />
Dando said.<br />
COMPAC started by setting<br />
guidelines for the mailers, Dando<br />
said. They wanted to raise the issue<br />
of public deb<strong>at</strong>e and full disclosure<br />
before the city council makes decisions,<br />
the costs of the reckless use of<br />
eminent domain, and stress the<br />
importance to restoring “confidence<br />
and a good name to San Jose city<br />
government,” she said. Only facts<br />
would be used and the mailers<br />
would not be sent last minute. And<br />
they would not tell voters to vote for<br />
or against a candid<strong>at</strong>e, Dando said.<br />
Dando said the chamber did follow<br />
its guidelines, but “in retrospect,<br />
I suppose you could always<br />
do things in a different way—the<br />
implement<strong>at</strong>ion may not have been<br />
perfect,” she said. “I think the voters<br />
are smart people and if they review<br />
the records of the candid<strong>at</strong>es they<br />
could make the right decision.”<br />
Dando said Chavez could<br />
respond to the issues, but instead,<br />
she has <strong>at</strong>tacked the messenger.<br />
“When issues are brought forward<br />
th<strong>at</strong> you don’t have a good<br />
answer to, you divert the <strong>at</strong>tention<br />
to surrounding issues,” Dando said.<br />
At the press conference, Chavez<br />
said there was no secret deal made<br />
for the Grand Prix subsidy.<br />
“The Merc got those facts wrong,”<br />
she said.<br />
Longtime friend of Chavez, former<br />
Mayor Susan Hammer, called<br />
on business leaders to help restore<br />
the chamber’s credibility. Eshoo<br />
and Lofgren also spoke.<br />
“The <strong>at</strong>tacks on this fine woman<br />
are an outrage, an insult to us all,”<br />
said Lofgren.<br />
Nancy Pyle, District 10 councilwoman,<br />
said she agreed wholeheartedly<br />
with Chavez and her supporters<br />
<strong>at</strong> the press conference.<br />
“We do need to speak up,” Pyle<br />
said. “This goes beyond the pale …<br />
it’s power mongering. It gives our<br />
city a bad name. The entire council<br />
votes on something and to blame it<br />
on one person—there is a lack of<br />
logic and respect.”<br />
There is a lot <strong>at</strong> stake, according<br />
to Dando. “Wh<strong>at</strong> happens during<br />
this mayoral election will affect<br />
San Jose not just for the next<br />
decade, but decades to come,”<br />
Dando said.<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 23
Page 24 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
The reformer speaks<br />
Mayoral candid<strong>at</strong>e Chuck Reed touts his<br />
voting record and reform plans<br />
REED, from page 1<br />
son, a recent college grad from Santa Clara<br />
University, is working to stop nuclear prolifer<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
“One blows things up and one tries<br />
to keep things from being blown up,” he<br />
laughs.<br />
Reed started wearing his trademark red,<br />
white and blue necktie on Sept. 11, 2001. He<br />
said he wears it in honor of his daughter and<br />
others serving in the U.S. military. “It’s the<br />
least I could do. Anyone who has a son or<br />
daughter serving in the military knows th<strong>at</strong><br />
when they ask you to do something symbolic<br />
like th<strong>at</strong> for them you do it.”<br />
While Reed may not have the support of<br />
community associ<strong>at</strong>ions in the volume of his<br />
opponents, he does have the support of<br />
police organiz<strong>at</strong>ions, the republican<br />
women’s associ<strong>at</strong>ions, and a realtors associ<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
When he was reelected to his post as<br />
District 4 councilmember in 2002 he<br />
received 86 percent of the votes.<br />
Reed likes to point to his voting record on<br />
the council as proof th<strong>at</strong> he always tries to<br />
do the right thing fiscally and ethically, even<br />
though it may be unpopular. There are three<br />
major decisions where he voted to stop<br />
actions th<strong>at</strong> ended up costing the city a total<br />
of $194 million. His opponents Dave Cortese<br />
and Cindy Chavez both voted in support of<br />
these costly actions, while Reed says he<br />
smartly opposed them. One was using eminent<br />
domain on the Tropicana Shopping<br />
Center, another was stopping the county<br />
from building a concert hall <strong>at</strong> the fairgrounds.<br />
Both actions ended up costing the<br />
city a total of $44 million in legal fees and<br />
damages. Reed also supported cheaper altern<strong>at</strong>ives<br />
to the new city hall th<strong>at</strong> would have<br />
saved $150 million. Both Cortese and<br />
Chavez supported the new city hall.<br />
Reed lives in the Berryessa neighborhood<br />
of San Jose with his wife Paula, an oncology<br />
nurse for a cancer center.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion on Chuck Reed visit<br />
www.chuckreed.com<br />
Q and A<br />
Cost of living/budget<br />
Many Silicon Valley workers are leaving<br />
the area because of the high cost of living.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> can be done to make more affordable<br />
housing available in this area?<br />
Our area is very productive per labor unit,<br />
but the cost of living is very high. Th<strong>at</strong> goes<br />
into the equ<strong>at</strong>ion of whether the next new<br />
thing will be invented here. When we talk to<br />
CEO’s the cost of housing is very high on<br />
their list of concerns. High density housing<br />
on transit corridors is really the only way.<br />
Rel<strong>at</strong>ed to th<strong>at</strong> is wh<strong>at</strong> we are doing in<br />
North San Jose. The 25,000 or so housing<br />
units th<strong>at</strong> will likely be built out there in the<br />
next decade or so will be higher density and<br />
in a price range affordable to young workers.<br />
And building along the transit corridor<br />
makes it cheaper to live here because you<br />
won’t depend on your car as much.<br />
How can we <strong>at</strong>tract more jobs to San<br />
Jose?<br />
The key thing is to make sure our driving<br />
industries can stay here and grow here. If the<br />
driving industries stop innov<strong>at</strong>ing eventually<br />
all the other jobs th<strong>at</strong> revolve around them<br />
won’t be cre<strong>at</strong>ed. When I first got into office<br />
I started talking to CEO’s and property management<br />
people. I found th<strong>at</strong> there were<br />
businesses th<strong>at</strong> wanted to grow but couldn’t<br />
because they couldn’t afford more dirt and<br />
weren’t allowed to build up on their property.<br />
Ebay would have left San Jose if not for<br />
their ability to build up on their land. BEA<br />
Systems was within two weeks of leaving -<br />
we eventually made a deal with them.<br />
Silicon Valley’s best days are ahead of it I<br />
think.<br />
There is a concern th<strong>at</strong> the process for<br />
opening up a small business in San Jose is<br />
too arduous. Should this process be streamlined?<br />
If so, how?<br />
It is too arduous and unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely we<br />
hear too many stories about this. As a city<br />
we are in the way. It’s not an easy thing to<br />
fix. When I was chairman of the Chamber of<br />
Commerce we were concerned how long it<br />
took to get tenant improvement permits. It<br />
used to take 60 to 90 days, now it takes a<br />
number of hours. We have to make sure we<br />
don’t have multiple inspectors on a project<br />
th<strong>at</strong> make people start over. Wh<strong>at</strong> we have to<br />
have is aggreg<strong>at</strong>e d<strong>at</strong>a and performance<br />
measures, not just anecdotal evidence of this<br />
problem. We want 90 percent of the people<br />
to be happy.<br />
One of the things I want to do is have regular<br />
performance hearings by the council. I<br />
want to get the council out of saying ‘go and<br />
report back in a year’ but looking <strong>at</strong> the<br />
things we’ve directed staff to do and see if<br />
we fixed it.<br />
In the face of the city’s budget problems<br />
how would you alloc<strong>at</strong>e funds differently?<br />
Well first you’ve got to not waste wh<strong>at</strong> you<br />
have. The money you spend on a car race<br />
cannot be spent on community centers - it’s<br />
gone. The money we spent on the county<br />
can’t be spent on the strong neighborhoods<br />
initi<strong>at</strong>ive. The money we spent on the new<br />
city hall is gone. When you start taking those<br />
things out of the budget, it affects everything.<br />
I don’t think we should have paid for<br />
the car race; it should have paid for itself. It<br />
was a lot of fun, but just too much money.<br />
I’m not saying it wasn’t good, just a choice<br />
between spending $4 million for cars or for<br />
crossing guards.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> can be done about the loss of our<br />
community centers and their staff?<br />
In the short run probably not much. I like<br />
the idea of bringing in community groups. I<br />
don’t like the idea of taking them out of service<br />
but th<strong>at</strong> really is the situ<strong>at</strong>ion. As we<br />
built out these projects, the parks and recre<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
department need more money to oper<strong>at</strong>e<br />
them. We hope to continue to oper<strong>at</strong>e<br />
them with community groups.<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Should BART be brought to San Jose? If<br />
so, wh<strong>at</strong> can be done to prevent it from taking<br />
funding from other projects in neighborhoods<br />
it won’t serve?<br />
I think BART should come to San Jose. I<br />
view th<strong>at</strong> as something we have to do for the<br />
future. We have infrastructure today th<strong>at</strong><br />
was built years ago and in the 30 year view<br />
it makes a lot of sense but in the short run<br />
it’s difficult. I think it should come all the<br />
way through San Jose, not just to Fremont or<br />
Berryessa. It’s interesting th<strong>at</strong> so many support<br />
BART and so few want to ride it. The<br />
voters have said they want it.<br />
How do we keep it from taking over projects?<br />
Th<strong>at</strong> depends on how we budget. I<br />
don’t support the new Measure A sales tax<br />
for a couple of reasons. There’s no guarantee<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
Photos by Jeff Frazee<br />
the money will go to BART or other projects.<br />
I was always cautious how government uses<br />
the bait and switch technique to fund other<br />
projects. I’ve seen the pressure officials bear<br />
in funding important projects. I would have<br />
supported a properly structured quarter cent<br />
sales tax for transport<strong>at</strong>ion only.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> can be done to mitig<strong>at</strong>e the major<br />
traffic problems there could be with future<br />
developments and an expanding city popul<strong>at</strong>ion?<br />
On North First Street with the new development<br />
plan we have $500 million in<br />
improvements th<strong>at</strong> have to be funded by the<br />
developers themselves. You have to do the<br />
same thing in Evergreen or Coyote Valley. In<br />
Coyote if we build 25,000 houses and no<br />
jobs th<strong>at</strong> is a big mistake. You need to take<br />
Candid<strong>at</strong>e Name: Chuck Reed<br />
Born: Garden City, Kansas<br />
Age: 57<br />
Political Affili<strong>at</strong>ion: Democr<strong>at</strong><br />
Family: Wife, Paula, and two children,<br />
Kim and Alex<br />
Resident's neighborhood: Berryessa<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion: United St<strong>at</strong>es Air Force<br />
Academy, Bachelor of Science<br />
degree in Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Affairs, 1970,<br />
Princeton University, Master's degree<br />
in Public Affairs, 1972 Stanford<br />
University Law Degree, 1978<br />
Career Background: Lawyer in priv<strong>at</strong>e<br />
practice in San Jose since 1978.<br />
Managing partner and CEO for a law<br />
firm of 35 employees. Served as captain<br />
in the United St<strong>at</strong>es Air Force<br />
1970-75 st<strong>at</strong>ioned in Thailand during<br />
the Vietnam War. Various boards<br />
and commissions and positions as<br />
director of organiz<strong>at</strong>ions (visit<br />
www.chuckreed.com) for list.<br />
advantage of the reverse commute<br />
by having jobs in the<br />
south and housing in the<br />
north. I don’t think you can<br />
describe the Evergreen development<br />
as smart growth<br />
because it’s just houses and<br />
more houses. I think converting<br />
the industrial land in th<strong>at</strong><br />
area is a big mistake.<br />
Development<br />
Recent decisions about<br />
Coyote Valley development<br />
have lead to the project being<br />
criticized as another example<br />
of urban sprawl. Wh<strong>at</strong> would<br />
constitute acceptable triggers<br />
before building homes in<br />
Coyote Valley? How many<br />
jobs should there be first?<br />
I think the real question<br />
isn’t about the plan, but<br />
should we give up the open<br />
space, will we have the jobs<br />
and when is the right time? I<br />
certainly don’t want to get the<br />
housing without the jobs. I<br />
think the financing is the easy<br />
part. We can pay for the oper<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
costs for wh<strong>at</strong>ever goes<br />
to Coyote Valley but the question<br />
of when, is the big question.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> can be done to make<br />
sure Coyote Valley development<br />
isn’t detrimental to<br />
other neighborhoods in San<br />
Jose by draining city resources? Should<br />
developers be responsible for a percentage<br />
of infrastructure improvements?<br />
I think developers should be responsible<br />
for the entire infrastructure; otherwise you<br />
do drain other neighborhoods. We know<br />
from some of the l<strong>at</strong>est reports th<strong>at</strong> in 30<br />
years everything works out gre<strong>at</strong>. In the<br />
short run it needs financing but I think th<strong>at</strong><br />
can be done. The Coyote Valley homeowners<br />
will pay for it, ultim<strong>at</strong>ely. Th<strong>at</strong>’s okay—<br />
th<strong>at</strong>’s the concept.<br />
With plans for continued housing growth<br />
in the Evergreen area, how will you, as<br />
mayor, ensure th<strong>at</strong> any neg<strong>at</strong>ive impacts on<br />
traffic, schools and city services will be<br />
minimized for Evergreen residents? How<br />
will you balance the interests of the local<br />
residents versus the interests of developers?<br />
According to the planning th<strong>at</strong> has been so<br />
far you can take care of some of the traffic<br />
impact <strong>at</strong> the freeways, but little can be done<br />
about the stoplight to stoplight traffic on the<br />
surface streets. It’s sort of planning by auction.<br />
If you put enough things on the table<br />
we want, we’ll put up with this. Th<strong>at</strong>’s wh<strong>at</strong><br />
has been put to the community. The industrial<br />
part is important to minimize those<br />
trips. Five thousand units will develop<br />
50,000 car trips a day. Getting onto the freeway<br />
will be better but the backup will be<br />
moved back to the surface streets. A lot of<br />
those streets are as wide as they can get.<br />
Crime/police<br />
Although San Jose has a low crime r<strong>at</strong>e<br />
compared to other cities it still has a gang<br />
problem. Wh<strong>at</strong> do you intend to do regarding<br />
gangs?<br />
This is a problem we cannot let get away<br />
from us. There is a tipping point. Once it<br />
crosses it’s hard to get it back. Prevention<br />
and suppression are important. The police<br />
are only good <strong>at</strong> suppression. We have to collabor<strong>at</strong>e<br />
with community organiz<strong>at</strong>ions who<br />
can talk to the kids and get them engaged in<br />
things th<strong>at</strong> are better than the gangs. When<br />
the police are doing their part the worst of
the worst are off the streets and the<br />
rest can be rehabilit<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
I have supported the funding<br />
th<strong>at</strong>’s come out of the general fund<br />
for prevention programs. For every<br />
kid there is something, all these little<br />
pieces, like t<strong>at</strong>too removal.<br />
The city paid $1.8 million for the<br />
police shooting of Bich Cau Thi<br />
Tran. Can expensive tragedies like<br />
these be prevented? If so, how?<br />
The specifics of the Tran case - I<br />
don’t think there was anything th<strong>at</strong><br />
could have prevented it under the<br />
circumstances. From everything th<strong>at</strong><br />
I’ve heard from people who were<br />
there, the officer made the only decision<br />
he could. We train our officers<br />
to do certain things and he did it. We<br />
learn from every shooting. Some of<br />
the things we learned were th<strong>at</strong> we<br />
need more support for people with<br />
mental health problems and we have<br />
to train our officers to recognize a<br />
situ<strong>at</strong>ion and do something different.<br />
The other piece is to give the officer<br />
wh<strong>at</strong>ever tools they may need. I<br />
don’t know if tasers would have<br />
been useful. We have equipped all of<br />
our officers with tasers and I support<br />
th<strong>at</strong>. We have people th<strong>at</strong> are alive<br />
today th<strong>at</strong> have been tasered th<strong>at</strong><br />
would have been shot. But it can’t be<br />
used as a substitute for talking to<br />
people. There are cultural and language<br />
barriers th<strong>at</strong> officers need<br />
training in. The chief has started a<br />
training program to make sure we<br />
are training them properly.<br />
Sports<br />
Citizens throughout the city complain<br />
they don’t have enough sports<br />
fields, especially in <strong>Almaden</strong> where<br />
citizens have spent years trying to build<br />
fields for their kids. How would you<br />
address this issue?<br />
Well, I think we should have built the soccer<br />
fields in South <strong>Almaden</strong>. I supported<br />
th<strong>at</strong>. I think th<strong>at</strong> was a good project in a good<br />
place for good reasons. We don’t have<br />
enough sports fields. We have a couple of<br />
places where we have the capital dollars but<br />
not the oper<strong>at</strong>ing dollars. I’d like to see more<br />
use of capital dollars in a way th<strong>at</strong> will save<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ing dollars, such as using field turf<br />
instead of grass so fields last longer and<br />
don’t need expensive maintenance. If we can<br />
do these projects in collabor<strong>at</strong>ion with the<br />
school districts, th<strong>at</strong> is the best. We did th<strong>at</strong><br />
twice in my district.<br />
If elected mayor, will you continue the<br />
city’s pursuit of bringing Major League<br />
Baseball, namely the Oakland A’s, to San<br />
Jose? If so, how will you go about doing<br />
this, considering th<strong>at</strong> the San Francisco<br />
Giants have territorial rights to San Jose?<br />
Should the city spend money to buy land<br />
for a park before the territorial rights issue<br />
is resolved?<br />
I will continue to work on it. I think it’s<br />
important. Ultim<strong>at</strong>ely the voters will make<br />
the choice. They have to understand how we<br />
would pay for it before they vote for it. I<br />
don’t support taking money out of the general<br />
fund away from kids who want to play<br />
baseball. I think we can be cre<strong>at</strong>ive on the<br />
capital side by cre<strong>at</strong>ing financing districts as<br />
they have in other cities.<br />
I don’t think voters would be willing to<br />
pass a tax unless it was only on people going<br />
to the ballgame. The territorial rights issue is<br />
probably the least of our worries because<br />
Major League Baseball is all about money.<br />
They know if it came to San Jose it would be<br />
positive for the league. Four hundred million<br />
to $500 million for a stadium? Th<strong>at</strong>’s tough.<br />
The mayor’s job is to find a way to do it.<br />
The land around the Caltrain St<strong>at</strong>ion is<br />
being land banked. If the voters think you<br />
are tricking them they won’t vote for it. You<br />
can’t put it to the voters without doing an<br />
environmental review of the project. We are<br />
within the law, doing the right thing. We are<br />
acquiring the land, and if we never build a<br />
stadium it will be a gre<strong>at</strong> place for housing.<br />
If elected mayor, will one of your goals be<br />
to bring Major League Soccer back to San<br />
Jose? If so, will the city of San Jose be able<br />
to provide the new team with a new soccerspecific<br />
stadium, as previously asked for by<br />
the owners of the San Jose Earthquakes?<br />
Th<strong>at</strong>’s a similar problem. Nobody wanted<br />
to pay for the $5 million losses anymore; we<br />
didn’t want to take it out of the general fund<br />
so they moved. If we can get an owner willing<br />
to pay we may be able to get a project<br />
going maybe in conjunction with San Jose<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e. If they are talking about an $80 million<br />
facility paying for the oper<strong>at</strong>ing costs<br />
will be tough. I think it’s gre<strong>at</strong>, I was a season<br />
ticket holder. But I wouldn’t have been<br />
willing to pay another $200 per se<strong>at</strong> to cover<br />
the costs.<br />
City Hall<br />
There seems to be an anti city hall feeling<br />
brewing during this election following<br />
events such as the Nor Cal garbage deal<br />
scandal and the l<strong>at</strong>e notice given before<br />
subsidizing the Grand Prix. Wh<strong>at</strong>, specifically,<br />
must be done to get the community to<br />
trust city hall again?<br />
I think we need a new mayor, a new vice<br />
mayor and a new, permanent city manager.<br />
We need a new mayor th<strong>at</strong> is honest, dedic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
to fiscal responsibility and open government.<br />
Th<strong>at</strong> will be a vast change from<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> we have now. Once you<br />
have th<strong>at</strong> you can start to get<br />
the public’s trust back.<br />
The Mercury News requested<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion on the San Jose<br />
Grand Prix after the council<br />
voted for the $4 million subsidy.<br />
The inform<strong>at</strong>ion given to<br />
the Mercury News had pages<br />
with inform<strong>at</strong>ion blacked out.<br />
When is it right to keep inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
from the public?<br />
There are very few circumstances<br />
when it is okay. The<br />
deliber<strong>at</strong>ive process we have<br />
used has been abused to keep<br />
people from being embarrassed.<br />
I want to err on the side<br />
of giving the inform<strong>at</strong>ion out.<br />
The essential problem is if the<br />
elected officials don’t want it to<br />
happen, the city staff will figure<br />
it out. Th<strong>at</strong>’s wh<strong>at</strong> happened<br />
regarding the car race.<br />
There really is rarely a good<br />
reason to keep inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
secret.<br />
The Sunshine law proposals<br />
currently don’t have any provisions<br />
for enforcement.<br />
Should a Sunshine law be<br />
enforced through fines or censure<br />
or dismissal of those who<br />
viol<strong>at</strong>e it?<br />
All of the above. All of those<br />
tools should be available. We<br />
either need a commission or to<br />
bring the requests to the council.<br />
Mayor Gonzales has proposed<br />
th<strong>at</strong> city elections be<br />
publicly funded, a policy some<br />
other cities have adopted. Do<br />
you think this would be an<br />
appropri<strong>at</strong>e policy for San<br />
Jose?<br />
If we could get it in place for this election<br />
I might have supported it, now th<strong>at</strong> I’m seeing<br />
how much time it takes to raise the<br />
money! I’m very cautious about the law of<br />
unintended consequences. How do we control<br />
the budget? There are some loose ends<br />
on th<strong>at</strong>. There are a lot of problems and I’ve<br />
never seen a model th<strong>at</strong> will work for San<br />
Jose, but we’ll wait and see.<br />
How would you go about selecting and<br />
working with a new city manager?<br />
The first thing is getting the council to<br />
agree on the job description, to figure out<br />
whether we’ll have a city manage like Del<br />
Borgsdorf, who worked for the mayor’s<br />
office, or someone like Les White who seems<br />
good so far. Having clarity of vision is important.<br />
Once we have a council in agreement<br />
about the kind of person we want then we<br />
can engage in a recruiting process r<strong>at</strong>her<br />
than letting the mayor do it. The life of a city<br />
manager is tenuous - any given Tuesday, six<br />
votes and you’re gone. Having council support<br />
is critical.<br />
Your campaign<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> political party do you affili<strong>at</strong>e<br />
with?<br />
Democr<strong>at</strong>. Been a Democr<strong>at</strong> since I was 12<br />
years old and John F. Kennedy was president.<br />
He was strong on defense, strong on<br />
civil rights, strong on public service. There<br />
are many things I don’t agree with on the<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ional level but I’m stubborn. Harry<br />
Truman was one of my favorites.<br />
Who is endorsing your campaign and of<br />
those endorsements which is the most<br />
important to you?<br />
The Deputy Sheriff’s Associ<strong>at</strong>ion is probably<br />
the most important. The Santa Clara<br />
County Associ<strong>at</strong>ion of Realtors, California<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 25<br />
Apartment Associ<strong>at</strong>ion of the Tri County<br />
Region, and the California Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
Police and Sheriffs (COPS). Those are the<br />
four major endorsements. There is also the<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion of Republican Women,<br />
Vietnamese American Republican Council<br />
of Northern California.<br />
In the past have you proven you have the<br />
management skills necessary to lead a<br />
group and the skills necessary to convince<br />
other council members to vote with you to<br />
get things done in city hall?<br />
I spent four years in an Air Force Academy<br />
Leadership Labor<strong>at</strong>ory. I managed a law<br />
firm. On the council, having not been a<br />
member of the labor caucus or the mayor’s<br />
team it’s difficult getting things done. But<br />
there are some significant things I did. I gave<br />
professional staff the idea we could change<br />
the restriction to two stories on North First<br />
Street. Once the professional staff bought<br />
into it I got the mayor into it and took it to<br />
the council to get the budgeting work to<br />
make th<strong>at</strong> happen.<br />
The priv<strong>at</strong>iz<strong>at</strong>ion of the convention center<br />
and the the<strong>at</strong>ers through Team San Jose was<br />
something I started and it seems successful<br />
so far. The management did not like the<br />
change. Expenses are down and we’re beginning<br />
to see the growth in our hotel taxes.<br />
The mayor has the power of the agenda and<br />
the power of the pulpit. I pushed for a long<br />
time for disclosure of fundraising because<br />
when Terry Gregory was shaking down<br />
Costco and Wal-Mart reporting th<strong>at</strong> wasn’t<br />
required. I took advantage of the opportunity<br />
of the public pressure to get there. The<br />
mayor can do these things even without the<br />
help of the labor council.<br />
How does your campaign deal with lobbyist<br />
contributions?<br />
Depends on wh<strong>at</strong> you mean by lobbyists.<br />
Problem is, in San Jose most lobbyists aren’t<br />
registered. Many don’t have to register, such<br />
as labor people, because the loopholes are so<br />
big. I have accepted contributions because I<br />
don’t think they are the problem. The problem<br />
is the elected officials who require lobbyists<br />
for people to do business with them.<br />
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay<br />
Area, though most people still refer to the<br />
area as the San Francisco Bay Area. Wh<strong>at</strong><br />
specifically needs to be done to “put us on<br />
the map” so to speak? Wh<strong>at</strong> big projects<br />
would you pursue? Wh<strong>at</strong> is your vision for<br />
San Jose?<br />
San Jose needs to be the Capitol of Silicon<br />
Valley, the best place to start and grow a<br />
business. If we’re the world’s capitol of innov<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
we don’t need to be the capitol of<br />
anything else. I have no desire to chase the<br />
image of other cities. The best days of<br />
Silicon Valley are ahead of us. If we are the<br />
capitol of Silicon Valley everything else is<br />
secondary. Major League Baseball is just a<br />
nice thing to have. I’m going to continue to<br />
make sure startups are here and continue to<br />
innov<strong>at</strong>e here.<br />
And finally….Why do you want to be<br />
mayor?<br />
I’m running for mayor because I want San<br />
Jose to be the best place in the world to work<br />
and live and raise a family. I want to make<br />
sure we as city continue to work on those<br />
elements.<br />
I don’t think the city has been well served<br />
by the Gonzales - Chavez administr<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Anytime you have three independent investig<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
two grand jury investig<strong>at</strong>ions and<br />
the censure of a councilmember and mayor<br />
in a little over a year, you’ve got some troubles.<br />
I want to be mayor to fix those problems,<br />
th<strong>at</strong>’s job number one for the new<br />
mayor. I want to move on to improve our<br />
neighborhoods, fix our schools, and finish<br />
rebuilding the downtown; all the things I’ve<br />
been working on for 25 years.
Page 26 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
“The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
provides a gre<strong>at</strong> service<br />
by keeping the community<br />
engaged in important<br />
neighborhood activities.<br />
I appreci<strong>at</strong>e their<br />
coverage of real stories<br />
about real people who<br />
make this valley wh<strong>at</strong> it<br />
is. Over the years, they<br />
have m<strong>at</strong>ured into a high<br />
caliber of journalism—<br />
rich in research and fact,<br />
tackling issues th<strong>at</strong><br />
affect our neighbors on<br />
local, st<strong>at</strong>e and in some<br />
cases, n<strong>at</strong>ional levels. I<br />
am proud to have been a<br />
devoted reader for all of<br />
their 20 years.”<br />
—P<strong>at</strong> Dando, president<br />
and CEO of the San Jose<br />
Silicon Valley Chamber<br />
of Commerce<br />
"One of the most devast<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
days in my life<br />
was Nov. 30, 2003 when<br />
our performing arts center<br />
<strong>at</strong> Pioneer burned<br />
down. The reporters<br />
from the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>,<br />
which covered the story,<br />
were accur<strong>at</strong>e, thorough<br />
and compassion<strong>at</strong>e.<br />
Th<strong>at</strong>'s all I could ever<br />
ask of a local newspaper.<br />
Congr<strong>at</strong>s to the <strong>Times</strong> on<br />
20 years of sensitive<br />
service to our community."<br />
—Steve Dini, Pioneer<br />
High School teacher<br />
"The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> is<br />
the glue th<strong>at</strong> connects<br />
our agency to the community<br />
we serve. The<br />
special groups th<strong>at</strong> we<br />
offer would never get off<br />
the ground without the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> there to<br />
help spread the word.<br />
For our annual fund-raiser,<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Classic 10K race, the<br />
<strong>Times</strong> has proven their<br />
commitment to the community<br />
through more<br />
than just advertising.<br />
Their sponsorship of this<br />
event shows th<strong>at</strong> they<br />
are eager to take on a<br />
positive leadership role<br />
within the community."<br />
—M<strong>at</strong>thew Osment,<br />
executive director,<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Counseling Service<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley, circa 1978<br />
By Lorraine Gabbert<br />
Staff Writer<br />
hrough the years, <strong>Almaden</strong> has evolved<br />
into a sophistic<strong>at</strong>ed enclave while Tworking<br />
hard to retain its rural charm.<br />
It is a uniquely close-knit community,<br />
brought closer during the past 20 years by its<br />
community newspaper, the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />
Published by Bill and Sandy Bellou, the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> strives to provide quality journalism<br />
while reporting on the issues of the<br />
day. As a community newspaper, it chronicles<br />
the events and achievements th<strong>at</strong> shape its<br />
citizens lives, and informs them on m<strong>at</strong>ters of<br />
concern.<br />
Looking back<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> not only reflects the<br />
community it serves, but owes its existence to<br />
the area’s residents and businesses, who were<br />
so impressed with the debut of the Evergreen<br />
<strong>Times</strong> in 1982, th<strong>at</strong> they requested their own<br />
community newspaper.<br />
Supplied with a sample of the Evergreen<br />
<strong>Times</strong> and a mockup of the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>,<br />
the Bellous went into the <strong>Almaden</strong> community<br />
and soon gener<strong>at</strong>ed 32 advertisers for their<br />
premiere edition. When they returned from a<br />
family vac<strong>at</strong>ion, about 30 phone messages<br />
greeted them from both delighted readers and<br />
businesses who wanted to advertise in their<br />
next issue.<br />
For both Bill and Sandy, the community’s<br />
immedi<strong>at</strong>e response to their public<strong>at</strong>ion was<br />
extremely gr<strong>at</strong>ifying when they realized they<br />
had another viable paper on their hands. “We<br />
felt so welcomed by the <strong>Almaden</strong> community,”<br />
says Sandy. “Message after message was,<br />
‘We love the paper! We want to be included.’<br />
It was wonderful.”<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> celebr<strong>at</strong>es 20th anniversary<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley, May 2006<br />
Publishers Bill and Sandy Bellou celebr<strong>at</strong>e the 20th<br />
anniversary of the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> filled the community’s<br />
need for local news, and for Sandy, working<br />
on it felt like coming home. Having lived most<br />
of her life there, <strong>at</strong>tending John Muir Middle<br />
School and Pioneer High School, she retained<br />
a personal connection with the Valley through<br />
friends and fond memories, such as riding her<br />
sister’s horse over <strong>Almaden</strong>’s rolling hills.<br />
The paper has evolved over the years, but<br />
has remained constant in its dedic<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the<br />
community,” says Bill, “and many of the stories<br />
we’ve covered come directly from residents,<br />
as they respect the paper and know<br />
they’ll be tre<strong>at</strong>ed fairly.”<br />
One of these cases is the pedicure infection<br />
story, broken by former <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> writer<br />
Kymberli Brady. This investig<strong>at</strong>ive series,<br />
which ran for 10 days before being picked up<br />
by a daily paper, may have saved countless<br />
others from becoming infected and scarred<br />
from unsafe pedicures. It was recently honored<br />
with a certific<strong>at</strong>e of achievement from<br />
the California Newspaper Publisher’s<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Benefiting the community<br />
With a growing circul<strong>at</strong>ion, the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong> went weekly in 2003, and in addition to<br />
news, fe<strong>at</strong>ures, school and sports events,<br />
included current favorites like Street Scene,<br />
Street Talk, Teacher, Volunteer and Pet of the<br />
Month. As keeping everything local has been<br />
the key to the newspaper’s success, writers<br />
cover 20 to 30 stories a week regarding issues<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ing to <strong>Almaden</strong>’s history, development<br />
and individuality.<br />
As the newspaper is fully supported by its<br />
advertisers, it remains free and is delivered<br />
weekly to homeowners’ doorsteps. Wh<strong>at</strong><br />
began in 1986 with a circul<strong>at</strong>ion of 12,000 has<br />
since grown to 20,000. The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
was also the first newspaper in Silicon Valley<br />
to be published on the Internet. Today, more<br />
than one million visitors explore the <strong>Times</strong><br />
newspapers online.<br />
Under parent company <strong>Times</strong> Media, Inc.,<br />
the Bellous—with Bill as CEO and Sandy as<br />
CFO—currently publish seven community<br />
newspapers including the <strong>Almaden</strong>, Blossom<br />
Valley, Cambrian, Campbell, Evergreen, Santa<br />
Teresa and Willow Glen <strong>Times</strong>. “It was only<br />
after invit<strong>at</strong>ions from business communities<br />
and homeowners associ<strong>at</strong>ions,” says Bill,<br />
“th<strong>at</strong> we expanded into these communities.”<br />
The Bellous’ vision for the community<br />
newspapers has always been to retain a<br />
wholesome family <strong>at</strong>mosphere, serve the<br />
community and accentu<strong>at</strong>e the positive in<br />
life, such as individual accomplishments,<br />
unique aspects of the area but also to cover
the hard news th<strong>at</strong> is important to readers.<br />
Interestingly, they didn’t set out to publish<br />
a chain of newspapers. Gradu<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
from San Jose St<strong>at</strong>e University with a<br />
degree in public rel<strong>at</strong>ions, Bill was pursuing<br />
a career <strong>at</strong> Memorex Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
where he served as editor of its corpor<strong>at</strong>e<br />
magazine when a friend asked for his<br />
assistance promoting his new small business.<br />
In response, Bill cre<strong>at</strong>ed a tabloid,<br />
which included advertising from businesses<br />
in the area. When additional businesses<br />
showed an interest, he decided to<br />
charge for the ads, and as it caught on<br />
with residents, he added news stories. It<br />
was the proposed cre<strong>at</strong>ion of a garbage<br />
dump in the Evergreen area, where the<br />
Silver Creek Valley Country Cub stands<br />
today, which provided the c<strong>at</strong>alyst for the<br />
transform<strong>at</strong>ion of the Bellous’ advertising<br />
circular into the Evergreen <strong>Times</strong> community<br />
newspaper.<br />
Frustr<strong>at</strong>ed by the lack of media <strong>at</strong>tention<br />
this controversial plan received, Bill<br />
and Sandy quickly notified area residents<br />
of the controversial plan. They were so<br />
effective th<strong>at</strong> the City Council Meeting<br />
had standing room only and the residents<br />
succeeded in blocking the dump. “We felt<br />
excited and gr<strong>at</strong>ified,” says Sandy. “It was<br />
a rewarding experience.” It was also a<br />
turning point in their lives.<br />
The Bellous continue to measure success<br />
in the lives they touch and the contributions<br />
they make to the community.<br />
“It feels good to particip<strong>at</strong>e in something<br />
th<strong>at</strong> makes life better for so many people,”<br />
says Sandy. “It’s a wonderful feeling to<br />
make a living and benefit the community<br />
<strong>at</strong> the same time.”<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> also supports the<br />
community through sponsorship of charitable<br />
and nonprofit events such as the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Women’s Club’s <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Art and Wine Festival, the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Classic race and the Snow Ball Fashion<br />
Show benefiting the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Counseling Service, the Tabard The<strong>at</strong>re<br />
and P<strong>at</strong>’s Run, benefiting the Tillman<br />
Found<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Bill appreci<strong>at</strong>es the loyalty of his readers.<br />
For instance, a building contractor in<br />
Evergreen who recalls having his picture<br />
in the paper while playing sports in elementary<br />
school, recently began advertising<br />
with the newspaper.<br />
“It’s emotional when you receive positive<br />
feedback from individuals who have<br />
been fe<strong>at</strong>ured in the newspaper,” he says,<br />
“or from readers who express their appreci<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
th<strong>at</strong> we took the time to cover an<br />
event or issue.”<br />
Today, r<strong>at</strong>her than a rural landscape of<br />
farms, ranches and orchards, <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
has developed into a residential and business<br />
community, while retaining some<br />
open spaces and parkland. “Like Sar<strong>at</strong>oga,<br />
it’s come of age,” says Sandy.<br />
Along the way, the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> has<br />
become a vital part of this community,<br />
earning the respect of the district’s residents<br />
and leaders. The Bellous appreci<strong>at</strong>e<br />
the support the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> has<br />
received from the community for 20<br />
years, and look forward to playing a<br />
dynamic role in its future.<br />
—Compiled by Staff Writer<br />
Lorraine Gabbert<br />
1986<br />
High school principals <strong>at</strong> Leland,<br />
Pioneer and Branham set goals for<br />
year ahead. Note: Leland Principal Dr.<br />
James Baughman l<strong>at</strong>er became superintendent<br />
of schools; only to have it<br />
discovered th<strong>at</strong> he had falsified his<br />
resume, never finishing college.<br />
Leland High School parents plan<br />
first gradu<strong>at</strong>ion night<br />
Vaudeville <strong>at</strong> the Opry House<br />
The<strong>at</strong>re entertains residents<br />
Court-ordered SJUSD desegreg<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
ruling requires transfer of about<br />
90 teachers.<br />
IBM’s new <strong>Almaden</strong> research center<br />
opens <strong>at</strong> Harry Road <strong>at</strong> site of<br />
California’s first mine<br />
Groundbreaking on Santa Clara<br />
Valley W<strong>at</strong>er District’s W<strong>at</strong>er<br />
Tre<strong>at</strong>ment Plant<br />
Construction underway <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Meadows Park<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Feed and Fuel revealed by<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> to be a historical site<br />
built in 1885, previously called<br />
Gilleran’s Saloon, it was one of 10<br />
along <strong>Almaden</strong> Road. During prohibition<br />
in the 1920s, it became a general<br />
store, and a saloon again in 1932.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Regional Park opens<br />
Bret Harte Middle School celebr<strong>at</strong>es<br />
20th anniversary<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley and Shadowbrook<br />
II Homeowner’s Associ<strong>at</strong>ions launch<br />
tree fund drive for <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Expressway. The County<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Agency agrees to plant<br />
and maintain the trees if residents can<br />
raise $5,000. The project was so successful,<br />
th<strong>at</strong> residents changed the<br />
goal to raising $10,000 and extended<br />
the planting all the way to Coleman<br />
Avenue.<br />
1987<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> names John<br />
Redding Citizen of the Year. In addition<br />
to serving as San Jose’s represent<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
to Santa Clara County Justice<br />
System’s Advisory Board, was president<br />
of Shadowbrook II Homeowner’s<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion and was involved in<br />
youth-rel<strong>at</strong>ed community service,<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion and sports.<br />
A “Safe Rides” program is<br />
launched by parents <strong>at</strong> Leland High<br />
School to provide weekend rides for<br />
intoxic<strong>at</strong>ed teenagers or those who<br />
don’t want to ride with an intoxic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
driver<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong>’s Community Club<br />
restaurant reopens with dancing after<br />
devast<strong>at</strong>ing fire<br />
Pioneer High School plans first<br />
grad night<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
A look back <strong>at</strong> 20 years of <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> ’ headlines<br />
Former councilmember Bob Putnam,<br />
February 1988<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Country School founder Nan Hunter, November 1995<br />
Leland High School student and<br />
Eagle Scout David Hunter uses CPR to<br />
save the life of English teacher Jane<br />
Owazarzak during class.<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong> history profiled by<br />
resident Constance Perham who ran a<br />
historical museum shop <strong>at</strong> her<br />
Bulmore House<br />
County budget thre<strong>at</strong>ens to cut<br />
funds for rural roads like McKean<br />
Community turns out for <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Meadows Park opening celebr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Old <strong>Almaden</strong> Center sl<strong>at</strong>ed to open<br />
soon<br />
Shapell Industries, developer of the<br />
Country View Housing project on 208<br />
acres of grazing pasture along<br />
Rajkovich, agrees to preserve knoll<br />
City Councilmember Bob Putnam<br />
calls for more cultural and historic<br />
amenities, including sculptures in<br />
front of libraries, historical photography,<br />
fine art exhibits, and st<strong>at</strong>ues in<br />
parks<br />
Leland Park land (8,083 acres) to<br />
be developed in Castillero Middle<br />
School-Pierce Ranch area<br />
1988<br />
Residents seeking city help in<br />
blocking illegal drug trafficking<br />
request sound barrier wall along<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway.<br />
Puerta de <strong>Almaden</strong> Housing project<br />
by North Valley Homes <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Expressway and McAbee Avenue is<br />
found in viol<strong>at</strong>ion of their permit due<br />
to cutting down three large trees. As a<br />
penalty, they are ordered to plant 30-<br />
36 box trees along McAbee.<br />
Putnam decides not to seek return<br />
to City Council se<strong>at</strong>. Six candid<strong>at</strong>es<br />
respond. <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> co-sponsors<br />
candid<strong>at</strong>e’s forum night <strong>at</strong> Castillero<br />
Middle School.<br />
Residents of California<br />
Ridge, a 154-unit condo<br />
community, tag and release<br />
visiting wild pigs further<br />
into Quicksilver Park. “I<br />
feel badly, because the pigs<br />
were here first,” says one<br />
resident. Deer are also<br />
becoming a nuisance.<br />
Speaker of the House<br />
Willie Brown tries to scuttle<br />
<strong>Times</strong>-sponsored business<br />
conference including<br />
Assemblyman Rusty Areias<br />
due to personality conflict<br />
Kitty Monohan becomes<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Citizen of the Year<br />
Developer pays $4.2 to<br />
$4.4 million for land previously<br />
owned by Los G<strong>at</strong>os<br />
Christian Church <strong>at</strong> corner<br />
of Leland Park Drive and<br />
Camden Avenue<br />
Residents b<strong>at</strong>tle Shapell<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 27<br />
developers’ hillside development west<br />
of Ross Creek and east of Quicksilver<br />
Mines County Park<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> and Santa Teresa<br />
foothills chosen for open space preserv<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
“How much progress should<br />
replace beauty?” asks a resident.<br />
Council members pass tax revisions,<br />
taking 10 percent from each district’s<br />
conveyance and construction<br />
taxes and placing them into a central<br />
fund.<br />
Holy Spirit Parish celebr<strong>at</strong>es 25<br />
years in <strong>Almaden</strong>.<br />
Dividend Development takes option<br />
on <strong>Almaden</strong> Winery site.<br />
Scoring 1550 on SAT (50 points shy<br />
of perfect), Pioneer’s P<strong>at</strong>rick Lin is<br />
named a Presidential Scholar, winning<br />
a trip to see the president in<br />
Washington, D.C.<br />
Los G<strong>at</strong>os Christian Church makes<br />
a bid on <strong>Almaden</strong> Winery site<br />
City starts construction of Golden<br />
Oaks Park (now Jeffrey Fontana Park)<br />
Santa Clara Valley W<strong>at</strong>er District<br />
completes Santa Teresa W<strong>at</strong>er<br />
Tre<strong>at</strong>ment Plant<br />
Re-zoning deb<strong>at</strong>e arises over the<br />
corner of Rajkovich (stables eventually<br />
became large condo complex)<br />
Joe Head is elected District 10 City<br />
Council represent<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
1989<br />
Guadalupe Dump expansion goes<br />
to Planning Commission. Residents<br />
protest<br />
San Jose City Council unanimously<br />
votes not to alter General Plan to<br />
develop <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Urban<br />
Reserve until certain triggers are met<br />
Williams Elementary School to<br />
reopen in fall of 1990 due to increasing<br />
enrollment<br />
City plans curbside collection of<br />
yard waste<br />
Governor vetoes proposed Los<br />
Alamitos/Calero Creek Park<br />
New bus route added to serve New<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Realtors predict rise in <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
home real est<strong>at</strong>e with completion of<br />
85/87 freeways<br />
Produce stands disappearing, but<br />
five still thrive<br />
City Councilmember Joe Head and<br />
Mayor Tom McEnery present commend<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
to <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Homeowner’s Associ<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Friends of <strong>Almaden</strong> Library for fundraising<br />
to enhance the library<br />
South Valley Park and Ride lots<br />
under construction<br />
City Councilmember Joe Head<br />
spearheads “We the People” conference,<br />
providing residents with a<br />
glimpse of government in action<br />
Continued, next page<br />
“The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Weekly does a gre<strong>at</strong> job of<br />
covering so many of the<br />
law enforcement issues in<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley. These<br />
are topics th<strong>at</strong> do not get<br />
touched by larger public<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
(such as auto burglaries<br />
in a neighborhood), yet<br />
are so important for a community<br />
if residents are to<br />
be proactive in w<strong>at</strong>ching<br />
out for each other.<br />
Furthermore, I find the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> to be a<br />
gre<strong>at</strong> source of inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to me as the chief of police.<br />
We <strong>at</strong> the San Jose Police<br />
Department know th<strong>at</strong> to<br />
do gre<strong>at</strong> police work we<br />
need to be communic<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
and collabor<strong>at</strong>ing with our<br />
city's residents. Through<br />
my regular reading of the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>, I have<br />
come to know who is<br />
active in the community<br />
and who is willing to take a<br />
proactive role in helping us<br />
solve problems. It is amazing<br />
to me how many of or<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> residents are so<br />
actively involved in making<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley such a<br />
gre<strong>at</strong> place to live, and I<br />
learn about these people in<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. I have<br />
put a lot of these individuals<br />
to work!<br />
I should also note th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> coverage of<br />
school sports and academic<br />
activities is nothing less<br />
than superb. It is so important<br />
to give or youth the<br />
opportunity to be recognized<br />
for their efforts and<br />
accomplishments. This is<br />
one of my favorite parts of<br />
the paper. We have gre<strong>at</strong><br />
kids in <strong>Almaden</strong>, and it is<br />
fun to read about them! It<br />
certainly is not lost on me<br />
th<strong>at</strong> to the extent th<strong>at</strong> our<br />
youth are actively involved<br />
in worthwhile activities,<br />
we as police officers have<br />
had our workload reduced.<br />
Many thanks to the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> for their<br />
ongoing recognition of our<br />
youth.<br />
As the chief of police,<br />
thanks for wh<strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> does for our<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley community,<br />
and congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions on your<br />
20th anniversary!”<br />
—Rob Davis, chief of police
Page 28 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 Page 29<br />
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Page 30 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
"It goes without saying<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong>, through their<br />
insightful writing and<br />
reporting has increased<br />
the community's awareness<br />
to the importance<br />
of palli<strong>at</strong>ive and hospice<br />
care. Their pictorial<br />
coverage of our hospice<br />
and bereavement<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ional events and<br />
public<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
announcements have<br />
been an invaluable<br />
contribution to both<br />
Hospice of the Valley<br />
and the community in<br />
which we serve. We<br />
often receive telephone<br />
calls from community<br />
members after reading<br />
about us in the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />
Congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions to<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> on your<br />
20th anniversary issue!<br />
We look forward to<br />
another 20 years of<br />
excellence in community<br />
news reporting."<br />
–Sally Adelus, executive<br />
director of Hospice<br />
of the Valley<br />
“The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
has provided a wonderful<br />
community service<br />
for the last 20 years.<br />
Whether listing events,<br />
profiling leaders in our<br />
district, or bringing<br />
important issues in the<br />
community to our<br />
<strong>at</strong>tention the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong> has been an<br />
important figure in<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>. The time and<br />
dedic<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>Times</strong><br />
reporters give to our<br />
community is truly<br />
commendable.”<br />
– Nancy Pyle, District<br />
10 city councilwoman<br />
“I think the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong> is the one of the<br />
finest newspapers I’ve<br />
ever read. You really do<br />
a gre<strong>at</strong> job covering the<br />
community.”<br />
– Claude Fletcher,<br />
chancellor of Valley<br />
Christian Schools<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure approves $48,332,000<br />
bill for developing parks, recre<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
wildlife habit<strong>at</strong>s throughout st<strong>at</strong>e, including<br />
$370,000 grant for Phase I development<br />
of Los Alamitos/Calero Creek Park<br />
The Loma Prieta 7.1 earthquake, the<br />
second worst to hit the Bay Area, and the<br />
most expensive, causes gre<strong>at</strong> damage in<br />
Oakland, San Francisco and Santa Cruz.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> is thankful to be mostly spared.<br />
Area churches unite to aid October’s earthquake<br />
victims.<br />
1990<br />
An 8-year-old <strong>Almaden</strong> boy came to his<br />
family’s rescue in tragic car crash. While<br />
on vac<strong>at</strong>ion, the Ahl family’s car slid on<br />
black ice and rolled over. As his f<strong>at</strong>her had<br />
a broken collarbone and his mother had a<br />
broken neck, he climbed out a side window<br />
to get help.<br />
IBM trail construction begins.<br />
Bret Harte teacher Frank Lehmann dies<br />
of a heart <strong>at</strong>tack. New gym floor dedic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
in his name.<br />
Alpha Beta supermarkets become<br />
Lucky’s<br />
Light rail electrific<strong>at</strong>ion is installed<br />
$126-million Terminal A is completed <strong>at</strong><br />
San Jose Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Airport<br />
Six residents start <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Emergency Response Team (AVERT) to<br />
help residents prepare for emergencies<br />
Leland High School and Bret Harte<br />
Middle School selected as California<br />
Distinguished Schools<br />
Displaced burrowing owls get new<br />
homes in <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley via efforts of<br />
IBM Research Center and the Humane<br />
Society<br />
Light rail is extended to South San Jose<br />
Los Alamitos/Calero Creek Park to<br />
break ground<br />
<strong>Times</strong> endorses Susan Hammer for<br />
mayor<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Vineyards will become a park<br />
Trail building is planned for <strong>Almaden</strong>’s<br />
vital 1.3-mile link from Fortini Road to<br />
Santa Teresa Park<br />
1991<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Fire St<strong>at</strong>ion 28 to be reloc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
to improve response time<br />
AVERT announces first fund-raiser<br />
Resident Bonnie Duncan cre<strong>at</strong>es 1,000<br />
yellow bows for residents to tie up in support<br />
of troops in Persian Gulf<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> churches target of vandal<br />
<strong>at</strong>tacks<br />
Santa Clara Traffic Authority to open<br />
four-mile section of Route 85 between<br />
Cottle Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> community welcomes home<br />
Gulf War veterans<br />
Mayor Susan Hammer’s campaign<br />
promise to city government to the people<br />
is realized with “City Hall in the<br />
Neighborhood” event <strong>at</strong> Branham High<br />
School. About 400 residents turn out to<br />
learn about city services and speak with<br />
elected officials<br />
Valley Christian Schools leases<br />
Branham High School property<br />
Redwood Center fire blamed on arson.<br />
$275,000 in damages<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> physician claims he was brutally<br />
be<strong>at</strong>en by police.<br />
Pioneer grad’s essay tackling racial<br />
prejudice wins n<strong>at</strong>ional grand prize in<br />
Hispanic magazine.<br />
Homeowners defe<strong>at</strong> plan for 50-foot<br />
cellular monopole <strong>at</strong> Via Valiente.<br />
Pioneer, which includes more than 50<br />
percent minority students, holds old-fashioned<br />
homecoming<br />
Project Crackdown helps drive gangs<br />
and drug dealers out of Via Monte-<br />
Hoffman Court neighborhoods<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Youth Counseling<br />
Service reaches out to young people<br />
through counselors on campus in response<br />
to Leland student’s teenage suicide<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
Former councilmember Joe Head poses with a scout <strong>at</strong> Guadalupe School in 1994<br />
1992<br />
“Trandominiums” (condominiums<br />
loc<strong>at</strong>ed by mass transit) considered by<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>’s light rail st<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Tennis courts under construction <strong>at</strong><br />
Castillero Middle School<br />
Glenrock Group applies to County for<br />
18-hole golf course permit and clubhouse<br />
on ridge by <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Park<br />
Greenbelt Alliance, a Bay Area Land<br />
Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion organiz<strong>at</strong>ion, kicks off 470mile<br />
bike tour and issues a call to action<br />
against developing South <strong>Almaden</strong> Urban<br />
Reserve<br />
Dedic<strong>at</strong>ion ceremony opens Los<br />
Alamitos Creek Trail<br />
Proposed Boulder Ridge Golf Course<br />
raises concern in community. <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley Community Associ<strong>at</strong>ion members<br />
fight to preserve the n<strong>at</strong>ural environment<br />
Calero Master Plan Environmental<br />
Impact Report leads to he<strong>at</strong>ed deb<strong>at</strong>e<br />
when Santa Clara County Parks and<br />
Recre<strong>at</strong>ion Department plans to elimin<strong>at</strong>e<br />
stables in lieu of a $3 million swimming<br />
lagoon<br />
1993<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> residents protest fence along<br />
Quicksilver Park boundaries <strong>at</strong> Wooded<br />
Lake<br />
Graystone Elementary School honored<br />
as N<strong>at</strong>ional Blue Ribbon School<br />
AVERT stocks additional supplies during<br />
earthquake preparedness month<br />
Crime in <strong>Almaden</strong> decreases by 7 percent<br />
in 1992 from 1991.<br />
Guadalupe School celebr<strong>at</strong>es 25th anniversary with limo rides and time capsules<br />
Compost site near Camden and<br />
Coleman may have led to health problems<br />
Construction begins on affordable<br />
homes project <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake<br />
EMQ opens Unicorn Thrift Shop<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Youth Counseling<br />
Service Auxiliary adds Children’s<br />
Breakfast to Snow Ball fundraiser<br />
City rejects plan to develop South<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Urban Reserve<br />
Williams Principal Linda Kakes lands<br />
in school field in a police department helicopter<br />
as children w<strong>at</strong>ch in amazement<br />
1994<br />
Homeowners win in Superior Court<br />
over Boulder Ridge Golf Course, overturning<br />
County Board of Supervisors approval.<br />
Judge raises questions regarding 11th hour<br />
compromise between Board and property<br />
owner, which foreclosed public review of<br />
agreement<br />
Consequences and risks of teen parties<br />
focus of Leland High School forum<br />
Castillero Middle School students to<br />
wear uniforms in the fall<br />
Bike helmet law goes into effect in<br />
January 1995<br />
After four out of five Union School<br />
District trustees refuse to reinst<strong>at</strong>e programs<br />
cut during past budget shortfall, citizens<br />
call for their resign<strong>at</strong>ion. Board is<br />
charged with fiscal irresponsibility and<br />
inaccessibility to public. Following a<br />
$50,000 special election, three are<br />
replaced<br />
Bret Harte is nomin<strong>at</strong>ed for California<br />
Distinguished School<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> resident particip<strong>at</strong>es in Civil<br />
War Memorial <strong>at</strong> Kelly Park sponsored by<br />
San Jose Historic Museum and <strong>Times</strong><br />
Newspaper Group<br />
Candid<strong>at</strong>es for Santa Clara County<br />
Supervisor, mayor of San Jose and Santa<br />
Clara County Sheriff interviewed by<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Newspaper Group<br />
Ground-breaking for Trandominiums<br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> light rail st<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
San Jose City Council Curfew<br />
Teacher Doris Dillon speaks to Graystone Elementary school kindergarteners in<br />
October 2000.<br />
Ordinance enacted by City Council to<br />
stem juvenile crime. Minors under age 16<br />
have a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and<br />
minors age 16 to 17 have an 11:30 p.m. to<br />
5 a.m. curfew. Becomes permanent law on<br />
April 1995<br />
County Board of Supervisors approve<br />
revised Boulder Ridge Golf Course plan<br />
with an open space easement of 97 acres<br />
of 203-acre site<br />
Third annual music festival entertains<br />
residents <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Park<br />
W<strong>at</strong>er main erupts flooding <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Expressway and sending a 50-foot geyser<br />
into the air, ironically in front of the Santa<br />
Clara Valley W<strong>at</strong>er District building<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> residents come to the aid of<br />
suffering Rwandans<br />
Pioneer<br />
Affordable senior housing, San Jose<br />
Rotary Plaza’s Marrone Gardens, opens on<br />
west side of <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway near<br />
Branham Lane. <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Rotary<br />
Club don<strong>at</strong>es $100,000 for interior decor<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
Joe Head gives up City Council se<strong>at</strong><br />
ahead of 1996 for personal financial reasons<br />
Residents stroll on new portion of 85<br />
freeway during San Jose Traffic Jam celebr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> crime r<strong>at</strong>e down 10.5 percent<br />
in 1993<br />
Five candid<strong>at</strong>es vie for District 10 City<br />
Council se<strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Country School students<br />
unearth windmill along Los Alamitos<br />
Creek<br />
1995<br />
Priv<strong>at</strong>e lawsuits filed against<br />
Guadalupe Dump by <strong>Almaden</strong> residents<br />
citing health problems<br />
Four <strong>Almaden</strong> homes victim of holiday<br />
burglaries<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>’s Steve Smith, who traveled<br />
to space on Endeavor, returns to visit his<br />
alma m<strong>at</strong>ers Simonds Elementary School,<br />
Bret Harte Middle School and Leland High<br />
School. While in space, Smith spoke via<br />
radio to Bret Harte student Leslie Adcock<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> article mentioning a<br />
suspicious red car helps nab burglars<br />
Winfield Boulevard extension over Los<br />
Alamitos Creek poised for city approval<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Youth Counseling<br />
Service holds forum on difficulty of parenting<br />
teens<br />
District 10 candid<strong>at</strong>es deb<strong>at</strong>e, including<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando, Steve Ferry, Carl Loeber,<br />
Meri Maben, Jerry Norve and Nancy Pyle.<br />
A special run-off election between Dando<br />
and Maben ensues, with Dando winning<br />
City Council se<strong>at</strong><br />
Castillero's music groups win n<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
awards<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley’s Parma Park will be<br />
graced with the “Spirit of <strong>Almaden</strong>,” a 20foot<br />
cinnabar-shaded steel sculpture<br />
depicting <strong>Almaden</strong>’s history.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley’s Emily Neu returns to<br />
her hometown with Ringling Bros. and<br />
Barnum and Bailey Circus. At 19, she is<br />
the youngest dancer with the circus.<br />
Angry crowd protests sale of <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Country School by school board to developers<br />
1996<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Rotary helps<br />
Gu<strong>at</strong>emalan orphans<br />
Friends of Human Rel<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Commission of Santa Clara County honors<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> resident John Fukasawa for raising<br />
$18,000 and don<strong>at</strong>ing countless hours<br />
for community center and local projects<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Charity League forms<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Blossom Valley Chapter<br />
Four <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley residents, including<br />
12-year-old Chris Reed, have been<br />
chosen as torch bearers for 1996 Olympic<br />
Games<br />
Pioneer High School’s exotic animal<br />
program provides unique educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Leland High School students win<br />
County’s Academic Dec<strong>at</strong>halon
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
Shop expands<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Country<br />
School to remain <strong>at</strong><br />
Henderson site<br />
In a joint effort with the<br />
SJUSD, Pioneer and Leland<br />
high schools launch community<br />
service programs<br />
Assemblyman Jim<br />
Cunneen has deep roots in<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>: ancestor John<br />
Trevorrow, a Cornish<br />
miner, joined the New<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> mining camp in<br />
1860<br />
1998<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando runs for<br />
mayor<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Tillman wins All-<br />
American laurels <strong>at</strong><br />
Arizona St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Descendants of<br />
California Cornish Cousins<br />
hold g<strong>at</strong>hering <strong>at</strong> New<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>. In 1888, 300 children,<br />
mostly Cornish immigrants,<br />
lived in English<br />
Camp.<br />
Williams Elementary<br />
Jenni Jones and Julie Perrucci are<br />
School wins California<br />
awarded Junior Leagues Silver Bowl Distinguished School award.<br />
award for charitable volunteer efforts Coleman Senior Housing project<br />
Family tragedy inspires helping others. brings 141 apartments to <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
After her daughter, Sierra, died <strong>at</strong> 5 Superman star Christopher Reeves<br />
months from a rare bacterial infection, her speaks <strong>at</strong> awards dinner benefiting Tech<br />
mother, Elena Joroski raised money to Museum and San Jose Silicon Valley<br />
start a bone marrow registry and aid Chamber of Commerce<br />
Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital New <strong>Almaden</strong> Quicksilver Mining<br />
through a Hair-Cut-A-Thon <strong>at</strong> Special FX Museum opens <strong>at</strong> La Casa Grande in New<br />
Salon and Day Spa<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Country School waits for Deputy DA Penny Blake receives<br />
word on new site.<br />
Women’s Fund Honor as a team leader for<br />
Astronaut Steve Smith prepares for children<br />
space walk during second trip to space in<br />
1997<br />
1999<br />
Tech Museum ground-breaking promises<br />
world-class science and technology Toxin cleanup <strong>at</strong> Quicksilver Park<br />
museum. William and Rosemary Hewlett almost complete<br />
don<strong>at</strong>e $2.5 million for museum. <strong>Almaden</strong> East G<strong>at</strong>e American-Chinese School <strong>at</strong><br />
residents Rose Tseng and Ray Abuzayuad <strong>Almaden</strong> Oaks Plaza serves Asian com-<br />
will serve on its board of directors. munity<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Golf and Country Club members<br />
vote on whether to renov<strong>at</strong>e or<br />
rebuild clubhouse. They choose $1 million<br />
fix r<strong>at</strong>her than $3 million remodel or<br />
$6 million rebuild<br />
Leland High School’s waiting list<br />
includes 400 potential students.<br />
In his granddaughter Lindsey’s name,<br />
Ed Jensen tackles 500-mile bike ride for<br />
Cystic Fibrosis Research<br />
Triplets Shelley, Honor and Sharon<br />
Summer run Boston Mar<strong>at</strong>hon together.<br />
Shelley won Open Women and Masters<br />
Women divisions of 10-k <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Classic.<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando a close second-place finisher<br />
to Ron Gonzales in mayoral race.<br />
Dando remains District 10 represent<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
Jean McNeill Rummelhoff named 24<br />
Nancy Pyle and Gary Rummelhoff run<br />
for San Jose Unified School District spot<br />
1997<br />
Leland grads excel: P<strong>at</strong> Tillman focuses<br />
on Rose Bowl for Arizona St<strong>at</strong>e, while<br />
Mike McLaughlin heads for Sun Bowl for<br />
Stanford and Dallas Dolen studies sharks<br />
in the Caribbean after winning a grant.<br />
Leland Senior Cassandra Hearn<br />
<strong>at</strong>tends President Bill Clinton’s inaugur<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
William Beeman leads County Scouts<br />
as president and chairman<br />
Lengthy 25-year flood control project<br />
planned for Guadalupe River<br />
Present<strong>at</strong>ion student Caille Millner<br />
collects $35,000 scholarship to <strong>at</strong>tend<br />
Harvard<br />
Trail w<strong>at</strong>ch volunteers p<strong>at</strong>rol trails<br />
Boulder Ridge Golf Course to proceed<br />
with 50 acres set aside for open space<br />
Leland student Carl Jiang wins st<strong>at</strong>e<br />
speech title<br />
Quantum Sports Parks President Jeff<br />
Wesolowski proposes Sports Park <strong>at</strong><br />
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds<br />
Eastfield-Ming Quong receives $5,000<br />
grant from PG&E and Unicorn Thrift<br />
th<br />
2000<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Community Center tries to<br />
meet residents needs with little space<br />
City Council Ethics Committee guides<br />
Fair Practices Campaign of District 10 City<br />
Council candid<strong>at</strong>es P<strong>at</strong> Dando, Nancy<br />
Pyle and William Garbett<br />
Group home of juvenile sex offenders<br />
(loc<strong>at</strong>ed on <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway near<br />
Redmond Avenue) is closed following an<br />
alleged <strong>at</strong>tack on an elderly neighbor who<br />
is robbed and stabbed <strong>at</strong> his home.<br />
Leland High School hosts<br />
Congressional House Minority Leader<br />
Dick Gephart, who called educ<strong>at</strong>ion, “not<br />
only the first, but the second, third, fourth<br />
and fifth priority.”<br />
Leland Principal Mitchell Carter<br />
under fire by faculty who voted “no-confidence”<br />
in his ability to lead. This was the<br />
first no-confidence vote in the history of<br />
the SJUSD<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando retains city council se<strong>at</strong><br />
over contender Nancy Pyle.<br />
Leland High School’s mock trial group<br />
heads to st<strong>at</strong>e championship<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>’s Manny Alarcon becomes<br />
the city of San Jose’s new fire chief<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Women’s Club (started<br />
in 1977) don<strong>at</strong>es $42,000 to community<br />
Castillero Middle School selected as a<br />
Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Department of<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Los Alamitos, Simonds and Graystone<br />
elementary schools are selected as<br />
California Distinguished Schools<br />
General contractor Philip Beitpullice,<br />
develops luxury homes on Glenview<br />
Drives “$3 million hill”<br />
Dando presents new city budget for<br />
local roads and parks. Mayor and City<br />
Council approve budget, including<br />
$656,000 for neighborhood parks and<br />
$300,000 for youth facility in Hoffman/Via<br />
Monte neighborhood<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> realtor arrested on child<br />
pornography charges. Mike Tenore pleads<br />
not guilty<br />
Star Testing reveals upward trend of<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> schools. Students scores<br />
increase in 81 percent of c<strong>at</strong>egories with<br />
Bret Harte, Los Alamitos, Simonds rank-<br />
Assembly District Woman of the Year<br />
Doris Dillon comes to terms with diagnosis<br />
of ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> residents display their art<br />
during Open Studios Tours<br />
Bret Harte Middle School’s spirit<br />
squad wins n<strong>at</strong>ional championship<br />
Eduardo Bull of Simonds Elementary<br />
School wins Junior League’s Silver Bowl<br />
54 homes are proposed <strong>at</strong> IBM Harry<br />
ing above 80<br />
Road site<br />
Williams Elementary School earns<br />
coveted Blue Ribbon<br />
Former Leland student Bobby Hill<br />
becomes n<strong>at</strong>ional champion for Miami<br />
Hurricanes<br />
Lisa Scalla of <strong>Almaden</strong> named Mrs.<br />
California.<br />
Series of c<strong>at</strong> mutil<strong>at</strong>ions in <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley concern residents<br />
As county parks commissioner, John<br />
Redding serves as conduit for compromise<br />
between pro and con forces of bicycle<br />
access to <strong>Almaden</strong> Quicksilver Park<br />
Leland High School’s new principal<br />
Mitchell Carter plans new medical center<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> preserv<strong>at</strong>ion committee b<strong>at</strong>tles<br />
IBM housing development<br />
Nancy Pyle runs for City Council se<strong>at</strong><br />
Pioneer High School junior varsity<br />
football player dies after suffering head<br />
injury on Oct. 16 during football game.<br />
Joseph Barajas was just 15 years old.<br />
City Planning Commission votes on<br />
proposal to rezone 36 acres of IBM property<br />
on Harry Road<br />
Senior center introduced to <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Community Center<br />
th Art and Dance <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Plaza adds<br />
10,000 square feet to meet the needs of<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> students<br />
The City of San Jose’s Strong<br />
Neighborhood Initi<strong>at</strong>ive program paves<br />
the way for improving communities<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> schools shine <strong>at</strong> Lego<br />
Robotics tournaments<br />
KICU-TV vets reunite for Pioneer’s<br />
“Odd Couple” production. Former disc<br />
jockey and KICU-TV personality Steve<br />
Dini and his wife, Sue, perform with a<br />
troupe known as the Glue Factory<br />
API scores <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> schools compare<br />
favorably with similar schools in the<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e. Williams in top 10th percentile<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ewide for second year in a row<br />
Parents help music thrive <strong>at</strong> Simonds<br />
Elementary School<br />
Former San Jose mayors forum <strong>at</strong><br />
Barnes & Noble fe<strong>at</strong>ures Ron James, Janet<br />
Gray Hayes, Al Ruffo, Tom McEnery<br />
Doris Dillon honored: Columbia<br />
University names teaching center after<br />
her.<br />
Leland High School students presented<br />
with New American High School trophy<br />
Former council member P<strong>at</strong> Dando takes the District<br />
<strong>at</strong> White House<br />
Hospice of the Valley fe<strong>at</strong>ure explores<br />
10 se<strong>at</strong> in June 1995<br />
offering de<strong>at</strong>h with dignity for the terminally<br />
ill<br />
Jim Cunneen named president of San<br />
Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce<br />
Greenbelt Alliance holds press conference<br />
to stop sprawl in south <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley Christian raises $20,000 for special<br />
needs students with benefit concert<br />
Bret Harte Middle School and Pioneer<br />
High School named California<br />
Distinguished Schools<br />
Graystone, Los Alamitos and Simonds<br />
elementary schools named Blue Ribbon<br />
schools<br />
Dando sets $500,000 aside for McKean<br />
road Sports Complex. <strong>Almaden</strong> Youth<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion aims to have soccer fields in<br />
place for play in fall 2002 and softball and<br />
baseball fields ready by spring 2003.<br />
McDonald’s proposes adding drivethrough<br />
to <strong>Almaden</strong> loc<strong>at</strong>ion. About<br />
3,000 residents sign petition requesting<br />
addition. Others fear traffic congestion<br />
and noise. Eventually, the failure of<br />
percentile<br />
New Principal Susan Votaw takes<br />
reigns <strong>at</strong> Leland High School<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Athletic Club boasts<br />
new indoor/outdoor swim facility<br />
Jim Cunneen versus Mike Honda for<br />
congressional se<strong>at</strong><br />
Doris Dillon, library resource specialist<br />
<strong>at</strong> Graystone and Williams elementary<br />
schools, educ<strong>at</strong>es and inspires while fighting<br />
ALS<br />
President Clinton supports<br />
Congressional candid<strong>at</strong>e Mike Honda <strong>at</strong><br />
fund-raiser<br />
Cisco’s proposed use of 688-acre<br />
approval for a drive-through named as one<br />
of the reasons for closure of the restaurant.<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando and Ron Gonzales christen<br />
“The Spot,” a teen hangout <strong>at</strong> Bret Harte<br />
Two children drown in <strong>Almaden</strong>—a 2year-old<br />
in a family hot tub, and a 1-yearold<br />
in a backyard swimming pool—highlighting<br />
the need for pool safety<br />
Doris Dillon dies in September.<br />
Students write of their memories of her.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> f<strong>at</strong>her-daughter team<br />
Emphraim and Laura Romesberg train to<br />
run Honolulu Mar<strong>at</strong>hon to benefit n<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Neurofibrom<strong>at</strong>osis Found<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Continued on next page<br />
industrial complex in Coyote<br />
Valley marks largest land-use<br />
decision in 20 years approved<br />
by San Jose City Council<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> schools meet API<br />
targets, but Leland and<br />
Castillero don’t make the grade<br />
Holy Spirit C<strong>at</strong>holic Church<br />
in conjunction with St.<br />
Anthony’s opens Holy Spirit<br />
C<strong>at</strong>holic School on Redmond<br />
Avenue<br />
Leland High School wins<br />
New American High School<br />
title from Washington, D.C.<br />
and Digital High School grant<br />
of $547,700 from the<br />
Governor’s Digital High School<br />
program.<br />
Unicorn Thrift Shop, which<br />
benefits Eastfield Ming Quon<br />
Children and Family Services,<br />
received Distinguished<br />
Volunteer Fund-raiser Award<br />
form the N<strong>at</strong>ional Society of<br />
Fund Raising Executives.<br />
2001<br />
9/11 victim and former Pioneer High School student)<br />
Nicole Miller is remembered by her family<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> School of Music,<br />
in a bittersweet ceremony in September ‘03 <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Park.<br />
May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � Page 31<br />
“I’m so glad th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> went<br />
from being a monthly to<br />
a weekly. The <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong> covers New<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> beautifully<br />
and we save each article<br />
in the archives <strong>at</strong> the<br />
museum for future gener<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
We’re very fortun<strong>at</strong>e<br />
to have such<br />
good coverage of the<br />
area and read it from the<br />
first page to the last. We<br />
love it.”<br />
– Kitty Monahan,<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Quicksilver County Park<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion president<br />
and <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Community Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
board member<br />
“I’m a mushroom kept<br />
in the dark until I open<br />
up my <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. I<br />
like the way th<strong>at</strong> every<br />
event is tre<strong>at</strong>ed special.<br />
And every fe<strong>at</strong>ure about<br />
a person makes them<br />
feel like a king or a<br />
queen. I can’t wait to<br />
read every issue.”<br />
- Terri Sanislo-<br />
Williams, New <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Quicksilver Museum<br />
park interpreter<br />
"The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
coverage of our sports<br />
teams brings it home to<br />
those who have <strong>at</strong>tended<br />
Leland and to those<br />
who plan to <strong>at</strong>tend in<br />
the future. Your emphasis<br />
on the positive<br />
things we do in <strong>at</strong>hletics<br />
brings it home to the<br />
community."<br />
- Dave Frandsen,<br />
former Leland boys'<br />
basketball head coach<br />
“We were on one of the<br />
first covers. I think the<br />
paper has really<br />
improved over the years<br />
in its coverage of politics<br />
and development.<br />
It’s a super neighborhood<br />
paper.”<br />
– Blondie Barnd,<br />
former owner of<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Feed & Fuel
Page 32 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
“For 39 years I have<br />
loved living in <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley. But it wasn’t<br />
until 20 years ago when<br />
the first public<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
began th<strong>at</strong> I really knew<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>—her people,<br />
her places and the<br />
grassroots vitality of a<br />
truly generous, caring,<br />
energetic and connected<br />
community. Thank you<br />
‘<strong>Times</strong>’ for letting us in<br />
on all the good news. I<br />
love knowing wh<strong>at</strong><br />
we’re doing and how<br />
we’re doing. It’s<br />
always a good day<br />
when I see your paper<br />
on my driveway.”<br />
– Nan Hunter, founder<br />
of <strong>Almaden</strong> County<br />
School<br />
“As a resident of<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>, I have certainly<br />
appreci<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
learning about my community<br />
from the stories<br />
in the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />
As a principal of<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> schools, both<br />
Simonds and Williams,<br />
I have been gr<strong>at</strong>eful for<br />
all the stories written<br />
over the years, which<br />
highlighted things happening<br />
on campus.<br />
There is no bigger thrill<br />
for a child than to have<br />
an accomplishment<br />
given press coverage. I<br />
am so gr<strong>at</strong>eful for the<br />
many stories our terrific<br />
students, staff and parents<br />
have received.”<br />
– Linda Kakes,<br />
Simonds Elementary<br />
School principal<br />
“The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
has been the gre<strong>at</strong>est<br />
boon to high school<br />
sports since TiVo. They<br />
have brought high<br />
school sports to the<br />
local community and<br />
provided a wonderful<br />
avenue for high school<br />
students to become<br />
involved in their community.”<br />
– Barbara Beard,<br />
Blossom Valley Athletic<br />
League Commissioner<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Women’s Group gears<br />
up for 25th anniversary of <strong>Almaden</strong> Art<br />
and Wine Festival<br />
Guadalupe Creek restor<strong>at</strong>ion project is<br />
underway<br />
Pioneer High School grad Nicole<br />
Miller, 21, dies in Pennsylvania plane<br />
crash on 9/11. A bench <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake<br />
Park was dedic<strong>at</strong>ed in her name. <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley residents responded to the terrorist<br />
<strong>at</strong>tacks with compassion and fundraisers<br />
for the victims. Proceeds from the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Art and Wine festival are earmarked<br />
for New York victims, and local<br />
schools and churches offer aid. Children<br />
express their feelings in poems, essays and<br />
drawings.<br />
Homeowners raise coyote concerns<br />
City mourns police officer Jeffrey<br />
Fontana, killed in the line of duty in<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> and l<strong>at</strong>er names a park, complete<br />
with a bronze sculpture of an officer with<br />
children, in his honor<br />
City Councilmember P<strong>at</strong> Dando suffers<br />
minor stroke<br />
2002<br />
City officials break ground on Parma<br />
Park renov<strong>at</strong>ions and Jake Eby Tot Lot<br />
City gives okay to increase controversial<br />
Meridian Avenue sober living home<br />
to18 residents<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Las Madres group given<br />
Good Neighbor Recognition Award by<br />
mayor<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Women’s Club don<strong>at</strong>es<br />
$62,000 for 9-11 victims<br />
Expo Design Center and Best Buy<br />
stores open, bringing business and traffic<br />
Pioneer High School students aim to<br />
serve <strong>at</strong> Service Learning Conference<br />
Jeffrey Fontana Park dedic<strong>at</strong>ed to slain<br />
police officer<br />
Large number of teachers and administr<strong>at</strong>ors<br />
accept retirement buyout<br />
Jake’s Play Lot opens in bittersweet<br />
F<strong>at</strong>her’s Day dedic<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Historic “Indian Maiden” cave protected<br />
<strong>at</strong> Boulder Ridge Golf Course<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> mother/son duo the Sumner’s<br />
excel in running mar<strong>at</strong>hons and fencing.<br />
Son dies in 2006 skiing accident<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> teacher Jane Elway Sever<br />
dies, becoming inspir<strong>at</strong>ion for son’s Little<br />
League team<br />
Officials announce th<strong>at</strong> funding for Mt.<br />
Umunhum cleanup is near<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> man saves neighbor who<br />
drove into swimming pool<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong>’s letter carrier hailed as<br />
hero for helping elderly man who fell and<br />
broke his hip<br />
Murder/suicide grips the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
community as focus turns to preventing<br />
domestic violence<br />
2003<br />
San Jose Unified prepares for wh<strong>at</strong><br />
would eventually be the most severe cutbacks<br />
in public educ<strong>at</strong>ion funding since<br />
Proposition 13<br />
An impassioned community rallies to<br />
save historically significant Opry House,<br />
part of Casa Grande structure loc<strong>at</strong>ed in<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong>.<br />
Greystone Elementary recognizes<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ionally acclaimed teacher Doris Dillon<br />
with a reflection garden named in her<br />
honor<br />
Highly decor<strong>at</strong>ed Navy Vietnam veteran<br />
Don Stedman of <strong>Almaden</strong> is inducted<br />
into the prestigious Comb<strong>at</strong> Air Crewman<br />
“Roll of Honor.”<br />
San Jose Police and Vice Mayor P<strong>at</strong><br />
Dando host community inform<strong>at</strong>ion meetings<br />
in response to series of home invasion<br />
robberies in the <strong>Almaden</strong> area.<br />
Steeped in controversy, the deb<strong>at</strong>es<br />
continue over the proposed McKean Road<br />
Sports Complex. Environmental concerns<br />
and improper use of public lands cloud<br />
issue.<br />
On Sept. 26, The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> officially<br />
becomes The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Weekly, launching the publisher’s first<br />
weekly public<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>’s Brittany Welby, right, and American Idol’s Paula Abdul meet with<br />
lawmakers in Sacramento regarding pedicure infections in 2005<br />
9/11 victim Nicole Miller is remembered<br />
in bittersweet ceremony <strong>at</strong> park<br />
bench dedic<strong>at</strong>ion in <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Park<br />
Proposed 6.81-acre development in<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong> thre<strong>at</strong>ens small town flavor<br />
of community.<br />
Westfield Shoppingtown Oakridge<br />
opens its doors after $140 million expansion.<br />
Four candid<strong>at</strong>es including Nancy Pyle,<br />
Rich De La Rosa and Claude Fletcher,<br />
announce bids for District 10 City Council<br />
se<strong>at</strong>, as P<strong>at</strong> Dando terms out in 2004.<br />
South Hills Community Church sponsors<br />
relief effort to aid victims of Southern<br />
California fires.<br />
Pioneer High School’s Performing Arts<br />
Center sustains nearly $2 million in damages<br />
after the Dec. 3 arsonist blaze.<br />
Faculty member Steve Dini rallies community<br />
to help “Bring back the PAC.”<br />
Loyal p<strong>at</strong>rons say “goodbye” to the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Library as it, along with the<br />
Community Center, closes for a projected<br />
two-year rebuild.<br />
2004<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>’s Rob Davis takes the helm as<br />
San Jose’s new police chief.<br />
The Vineland Branch Library opened<br />
for business Jan. 17 with hundreds of<br />
eager p<strong>at</strong>rons anxiously waiting its longanticip<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
opening.<br />
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales is hospitalized<br />
after suffering a ‘mild’ stroke Jan.<br />
28 while giving his sixth St<strong>at</strong>e of the City<br />
Address <strong>at</strong> the San Jose Center for<br />
Performing Arts.<br />
The District 10 primary election results<br />
in a runoff between <strong>Almaden</strong> insurance<br />
agent Rich De La Rosa and longtime educ<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Nancy Pyle to replace termed-out<br />
P<strong>at</strong> Dando.<br />
The San Jose City Council votes March<br />
9 to recognize same-sex marriages.<br />
Hundreds of residents crowd council<br />
chambers and overflow areas to oppose<br />
move.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Athletic Club hosts<br />
17th annual Super Sprint Tri<strong>at</strong>hlon<br />
Classic drawing an estim<strong>at</strong>ed 118 tri<strong>at</strong>hletes<br />
Celebr<strong>at</strong>ed Bay Area columnist Murry<br />
Frymer joins the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
On March 20, Leland student Troy<br />
Pollett, 18, dies of stab wounds on quiet<br />
Kiser Drive. Nearly 1,000 mourners<br />
packed the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Mormon<br />
Church on Camden Avenue to pay their<br />
last respects to Troy Pollett.<br />
Graystone Principal Jerri Kazmierczak<br />
announces plans to retire <strong>at</strong> end of school<br />
year.<br />
A proposed ordinance th<strong>at</strong> would allow<br />
the construction of so-called “granny<br />
units” in 6,000-square-foot single-family<br />
lots worries many <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley residents<br />
concerned th<strong>at</strong> the character of their<br />
neighborhoods will be destroyed.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> senior citizen Sara Whitlock<br />
sues San Jose Shark’s defensive star Mike<br />
R<strong>at</strong>hje, and his wife, Shayna R<strong>at</strong>hje, for<br />
the de<strong>at</strong>h of her dog and other personal<br />
injuries she allegedly suffered in the fall of<br />
2003 in a violent <strong>at</strong>tack she claims was<br />
caused by the R<strong>at</strong>hjes’ purebred American<br />
bulldog, Max.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>’s P<strong>at</strong> Tillman is killed in<br />
Afghanistan on April 22. He becomes a<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ional hero. Reports originally say he’s<br />
killed during an ambush in Afghanistan.<br />
It’s l<strong>at</strong>er revealed he’s killed by friendly<br />
fire. Tillman’s de<strong>at</strong>h sends shockwaves<br />
throughout the <strong>Almaden</strong> community. The<br />
pro football player traded his uniform for<br />
comb<strong>at</strong> f<strong>at</strong>igues. Hundreds of friends and<br />
family members <strong>at</strong>tend his memorial service<br />
<strong>at</strong> San Jose’s Municipal Rose Garden.<br />
Approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 35 <strong>Almaden</strong> residents<br />
g<strong>at</strong>her <strong>at</strong> the Santa Clara Valley W<strong>at</strong>er<br />
District to discuss an increase in wildlife<br />
interactions with people and pets along<br />
parks and restored creeks in <strong>Almaden</strong>.<br />
A Las Madres neighborhood playgroup<br />
begins working with Vice Mayor P<strong>at</strong><br />
Dando to finish converting the former<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Winery office building into a<br />
community center and recre<strong>at</strong>ion area for<br />
children.<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> community breaks<br />
ground May 22 for a new combined<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Community Center and Branch<br />
Library. San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales,<br />
Vice Mayor P<strong>at</strong> Dando and library officials<br />
<strong>at</strong>tend the event. Taxpayers vote in 2000 to<br />
pass Bond Measure O, a library bond th<strong>at</strong><br />
provides $212 million for the construction<br />
of six new and 14 expanded branch<br />
libraries, and P, the park and recre<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
bond measure th<strong>at</strong> provides $228 million<br />
for new construction and renov<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
neighborhood, regional and sports parks,<br />
community centers, and trails.<br />
Leland High School Principal Susan<br />
Votaw retires after 35 years of teaching in<br />
San Jose schools.<br />
Hundreds witness the dedic<strong>at</strong>ion of a<br />
bronze st<strong>at</strong>ue honoring fallen San Jose<br />
Police Officer Jeffrey Fontana <strong>at</strong> Jeffrey<br />
Fontana Park. Mayor Ron Gonzales and<br />
Vice Mayor P<strong>at</strong> Dando remembered the 24year-old<br />
officer whose shooting de<strong>at</strong>h after<br />
a traffic stop shocked residents of the quiet<br />
middle-class neighborhood where he died.<br />
S.J. Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Tri<strong>at</strong>hlon returns to<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>. Event draws a total of 1,650<br />
tri<strong>at</strong>hletes and about 5,000 spect<strong>at</strong>ors to<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Park.<br />
Leland High School names previous<br />
band director Bob Setterlund as its new<br />
principal.<br />
Reports <strong>at</strong>tacking the lucidity of the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Youth Associ<strong>at</strong>ion’s [AYA]<br />
books—and thereby questioning its<br />
motives—has city officials as well as AYA<br />
board members crying “foul” and raising<br />
questions whether the fortuitous timing is<br />
merely a disingenuous effort by the opposition<br />
to dishearten the community and<br />
halt the project days before an environmental<br />
impact report is scheduled to be<br />
released for public review.<br />
The San Jose Unified School District<br />
names Don Iglesias as its new superintendent<br />
to replace Dr. Linda Murray on Aug.<br />
31. He describes himself as a surfer from<br />
Santa Cruz who likes driving his classic<br />
Woodie. Iglesias was deputy superintendent<br />
and worked closely with Murray.<br />
Gary Dillon, the widower of revered<br />
teacher and librarian Doris Dillon, in<br />
whose name city officials were considering<br />
renaming the <strong>Almaden</strong> Branch<br />
Library, halts divisiveness in the community<br />
by withdrawing the name change<br />
before the San Jose City Council. It’s<br />
agreed th<strong>at</strong> the library’s children’s room<br />
would bear Dillon’s name.<br />
An increase in coyote interactions with<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> residents and their pets prompts<br />
action by community members to circul<strong>at</strong>e<br />
a petition to amend the city’s no-trapping<br />
ordinance, which prohibits the use of<br />
leghold traps. Residents and animal<br />
activists argue over mounting coyote<br />
thre<strong>at</strong>s. The San Jose City Council rejects<br />
an emergency measure to allow the trapping<br />
of coyotes th<strong>at</strong> have invaded the<br />
Villas of <strong>Almaden</strong>.<br />
Tempers flare as b<strong>at</strong>tle lines are drawn<br />
over traffic, trash and noise <strong>at</strong> TJ Martin<br />
Park. Nearby residents complain about the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Youth Soccer League program<br />
and thre<strong>at</strong>en legal action to prevent<br />
further disturbances in their neighborhoods.<br />
Neg<strong>at</strong>ive campaigning hits boiling<br />
point as District 10 City Council candid<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Rich De La Rosa delivers broom to sweep<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> he calls his opponent’s “dirt.” Nancy<br />
Pyle tries to tie De La Rosa to Tropicana<br />
lobbyists and lawsuits. De La Rosa accuses<br />
Pyle of dispersing a false and inflamm<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
last-minute hit piece two weeks<br />
before the election linking him to two<br />
well-known San Jose lobbyists who were<br />
under investig<strong>at</strong>ion by the San Jose<br />
Elections Commission.<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong> brothers Andrew and<br />
John Mark Teel lose their lives in a freak<br />
accident the evening of Oct. 25 while driving<br />
south on <strong>Almaden</strong> Road.<br />
San Jose City Council candid<strong>at</strong>e Nancy<br />
Pyle has the surprising lead in the District<br />
10 race after the Nov. 2 runoff election.<br />
Pyle comes from behind, winning the election<br />
by 414 votes out of nearly 30,000 cast.<br />
Political observers called Pyle’s win the<br />
biggest election upset in recent Silicon<br />
Valley memory.<br />
Nearly 700 friends, family and colleagues<br />
g<strong>at</strong>hered Nov. 14 to say goodbye<br />
and honor termed-out Vice Mayor P<strong>at</strong><br />
Dando after a 10-year career of public<br />
service to the city during a reception <strong>at</strong> the<br />
Marriott Hotel.<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly breaks a<br />
story about an 11-year-old girl who is the<br />
first victim of an outbreak of mycobacterial<br />
furunculosis caused after getting a<br />
pedicure with her mother and sister in an<br />
allegedly improperly disinfected<br />
whirlpool Pedispa. Two weeks l<strong>at</strong>er, it<br />
uncovers an outbreak among 11 women<br />
who received pedicures <strong>at</strong> three South San<br />
Jose nail salons. Soon, the number of cases<br />
rises to 57, with 13 salons implic<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
The San Jose City Council gives<br />
thumbs-up to McKean Road Sports<br />
Complex in 8-1 vote after 12 years fraught<br />
with environmental impact reports, public
meetings, political hurdles, and accus<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
AYA President Dan Smyth, Vice<br />
Mayor P<strong>at</strong> Dando, and AYA Treasurer<br />
Dan Kennedy express relief with the<br />
city’s green light to build the fields.<br />
The San Jose City Council nixes<br />
Winfield Boulevard Bridge and citizens<br />
who live near <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake Park express<br />
relief.<br />
The San Jose City Council censures<br />
District 7 Councilman Terry Gregory on<br />
Dec. 17 for allegedly accepting gifts and<br />
improper campaign contributions th<strong>at</strong><br />
viol<strong>at</strong>ed the city’s municipal code.<br />
2005<br />
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber<br />
of Commerce and Orchard Supply<br />
Hardware joined the Santa Clara County<br />
Chapter of the American Red Cross for a<br />
telephone fund-raising event for tsunami<br />
victims th<strong>at</strong> raised $141,000 in cash contributions<br />
from local residents and businesses.<br />
Former San Jose City Councilmember<br />
Terry Gregory resigned as the Santa Clara<br />
County District Attorney filed 11 misdemeanor<br />
counts against him for failing to<br />
report gifts valued <strong>at</strong> $1,296, a $4,000 loan<br />
and using his position to help a former<br />
girlfriend get a rental discount on an<br />
apartment.<br />
San Jose Unified School District’s<br />
declining enrollment, along with the st<strong>at</strong>e<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ional budget crisis, forced closure<br />
of Cory and Randol elementary schools.<br />
The new <strong>Almaden</strong> Business<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion began meeting under the<br />
theme of “Six Degrees of Connection” to<br />
reflect and guide its goals to strengthen<br />
the connection between member businesses<br />
to the <strong>Almaden</strong> community <strong>at</strong><br />
large.<br />
The Committee for Green Foothills<br />
(CGF) and the South <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Rural Alliance (SAVRA) filed a lawsuit<br />
against the city for approving a general<br />
plan amendment th<strong>at</strong> would ultim<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
allow development of a youth sports complex<br />
on rural McKean Road.<br />
Former District 10 Councilwoman and<br />
Vice Mayor P<strong>at</strong> Dando accepted<br />
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s<br />
appointment as director of local government<br />
outreach.<br />
A house on the 1500 block of<br />
Guadalajara Drive in the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Montevideo neighborhood was the scene<br />
of a standoff between San Jose police officers<br />
and its occupants the morning of<br />
Feb. 6.<br />
Serious omplaints against Advantage<br />
Driving School are uncovered in a series<br />
of articles in the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. The<br />
school has trained nearly 28,500 kids—<br />
3,600 from <strong>Almaden</strong>.<br />
Former Los Alamitos Elementary<br />
School technology coordin<strong>at</strong>or David<br />
Joseph Welsh, 57, is arrested for possession<br />
of child pornography.<br />
Seven of nine <strong>Almaden</strong> schools score<br />
above the 2004 Academic Performance<br />
Index target. Castillero Middle School<br />
and Pioneer High School make gains, but<br />
are still below mark.<br />
Emergency disp<strong>at</strong>ch system shows<br />
flaws after 911 call is rerouted when a<br />
man alerted authorities about a 77-yearold<br />
man who deliber<strong>at</strong>ely drove his car<br />
into Lake <strong>Almaden</strong> taking his three pet<br />
c<strong>at</strong>s with him.<br />
After seven years of silence, a former<br />
Advantage Driving School student filed a<br />
civil lawsuit against the school alleging<br />
she wants to prevent future students from<br />
experiencing the sexual abuse she claims<br />
happened to her. The suit stems from a<br />
1998 criminal case, where a 26-year-old<br />
Advantage Driving School instructor was<br />
convicted of st<strong>at</strong>utory rape of a 15-yearold<br />
student after his license had been<br />
revoked following a previous felony<br />
assault conviction. In 2002 another<br />
instructor was arrested on sexual harassment<br />
charges.<br />
A sex scandal strikes Leland High<br />
School when former chemistry teacher<br />
Earl Thomas Roske, 41, is accused of<br />
having sex with two female students.<br />
Roske is arrested May 6 on several sex<br />
charges involving the students. Roske, is<br />
charged with seven felony offenses.<br />
Residents worried about lack of parking<br />
and pedestrian safety <strong>at</strong> McAbee Road<br />
entrance of <strong>Almaden</strong> Quicksilver County<br />
Park. Pierce Ranch neighborhood residents<br />
fear if a parking lot is not built with<br />
a single-family home development, park<br />
users will continue to park on nearby<br />
streets.<br />
Two New <strong>Almaden</strong> historic homes are<br />
dedic<strong>at</strong>ed with monuments—the Randol<br />
family home and the Hauck house on<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Road.<br />
Police begin searching for Bret Harte<br />
Middle School secretary Barbara Jo Price,<br />
44, alleging she had embezzled nearly a<br />
half million dollars from the student ASB<br />
account.<br />
F<strong>at</strong>her George Mancha, 55, leaves St.<br />
Anthony’s C<strong>at</strong>holic Church to join<br />
Archbishop Mitty High School’s clergy.<br />
He’s replaced by F<strong>at</strong>her Warwick James.<br />
Anthony Sanchez is sentenced to 19<br />
years in prison for Troy Pollett’s de<strong>at</strong>h.<br />
On the eve of the long-awaited murder<br />
trial, Sanchez, 23, pled guilty to voluntary<br />
manslaughter for Pollett’s de<strong>at</strong>h and<br />
<strong>at</strong>tempted murder for stabbing Chris<br />
Johnson on March 20, 2004, after a trafficrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
clash and chase came to a tragic<br />
end on a quiet <strong>Almaden</strong> street.<br />
A jury awards $100,000 to a former<br />
Advantage Driving School student for<br />
compens<strong>at</strong>ory damages stemming from<br />
the 1998 st<strong>at</strong>utory rape by an instructor.<br />
He was convicted in September 1998 of<br />
criminal charges and sentenced to two<br />
years in prison. The DMV changes its policy<br />
issuing no more temporary instructor<br />
licenses.<br />
A crowd of 100,000 swarms downtown<br />
to cheer the Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix.<br />
Throughout the inaugural weekend event,<br />
several Champ Car drivers, as well as<br />
drivers from other series, criticized the<br />
1.44-mile, 11-turn racecourse, complaining<br />
the track was too bumpy and narrow<br />
for passing.<br />
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales opens<br />
the new City Hall complex for business<br />
with a ceremony <strong>at</strong>tended by 24 former<br />
mayors and council members.<br />
Former District 10 Councilmember P<strong>at</strong><br />
Dando announces she will accept a position<br />
as president and CEO of the San Jose<br />
Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.<br />
She became the only woman to lead a<br />
large chamber of commerce in California,<br />
and one of only four women in such positions<br />
throughout the n<strong>at</strong>ion’s 10 largest<br />
cities.<br />
Former Leland teacher Earl Thomas<br />
Roske pleads guilty to having sex with<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong>’s P<strong>at</strong> Tillman gave up<br />
a pro football career to sign up with<br />
the Army after 9/11. He was tragically<br />
killed by friendly fire in April, 2004.<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
two minor female students and receives a<br />
two-year, eight-month prison sentence.<br />
Rocki Kramer, executive director of<br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Counseling Service,<br />
announced she would retire in October<br />
after serving 25 years. The nonprofit<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Counseling Service celebr<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
25 years of compassion<strong>at</strong>e care<br />
th<strong>at</strong> touches nearly 1,000 lives a year.<br />
Cre<strong>at</strong>ed in 1980 as a counseling service<br />
for <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley students, the agency<br />
has added programs and expanded its<br />
services to reach seniors.<br />
Results of the 2005 Standardized<br />
Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program<br />
reveal <strong>Almaden</strong>’s public school students<br />
are making widespread gains in every<br />
subject and grade level tested.<br />
The Jeffrey Fontana Dog Park opens.<br />
Leland yearbook teacher Brian K.<br />
Jessee, 44, is arrested for possession of<br />
child pornography. Further investig<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
determined th<strong>at</strong> none of the images portrayed<br />
any student and/or Leland High<br />
School activities.<br />
More than 400 runners particip<strong>at</strong>e in<br />
the 12th annual <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Classic<br />
Oct. 9 <strong>at</strong> Leland High School. The event,<br />
including a 10-kilometer run and 2-mile<br />
run, raises funds for the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Counseling Service<br />
Esther Ouellette, 51, was killed crossing<br />
Blossom Hill Road <strong>at</strong> Vassar Drive during<br />
a traffic collision on Oct. 19. San Jose<br />
police reported th<strong>at</strong> an unidentified teen<br />
driver allegedly didn’t notice the victim<br />
<strong>at</strong>tempting to cross the intersection as the<br />
cars in the next lane stopped to allow the<br />
pedestrian to pass.<br />
M<strong>at</strong>t Osment becomes the new executive<br />
director <strong>at</strong> the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Counseling Service<br />
W<strong>at</strong>er polo officials worry about<br />
increasingly aggressive behavior and serious<br />
injuries in the high school sport.<br />
The San Jose City Council approves a<br />
secondary-unit pilot program th<strong>at</strong> will<br />
allow construction of 100 secondary units<br />
throughout the city for one year.<br />
The Jeffrey Fontana murder trial is<br />
dealt its sixth delay with officials questioning<br />
the efficacy of the judicial system.<br />
The delay came two weeks after Sandy<br />
and Tony Fontana joined police officers,<br />
family, friends and community members<br />
for a candlelight vigil on the third<br />
anniversary of Jeffrey Fontana’s de<strong>at</strong>h <strong>at</strong><br />
the park th<strong>at</strong> now bears his name.<br />
Fontana, 24, was shot and killed in<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> during a routine traffic stop on<br />
Oct. 28, 2001.<br />
The San Jose City Council unanimously<br />
censures Mayor Ron Gonzales for not<br />
sharing “m<strong>at</strong>erial facts” rel<strong>at</strong>ed to a secret<br />
promise of $11.25 million in payments to<br />
Norcal Waste Systems and its subcontractor<br />
California Waste Solutions th<strong>at</strong> resulted<br />
in a $1.40-a-month garbage r<strong>at</strong>e<br />
increase in 2003 for 155,000 households.<br />
The District Attorney announces it will<br />
work with a civil grand jury to determine<br />
if there was any wrongdoing by San Jose<br />
Mayor Ron Gonzales in the Norcal Waste<br />
Systems deal.<br />
San Jose City Manager Del Borgsdorf<br />
announces he’s “retiring” from his position<br />
effective Feb. 3, after being in public<br />
service for nearly four decades. Hired by<br />
the city in September of 1999, Borgsdorf<br />
came under fire this year after ethical<br />
issues surfaced <strong>at</strong> City Hall and shed a<br />
cloud of public mistrust over San Jose<br />
government.<br />
2006<br />
Fierce New Year’s storm topples trees<br />
throughout <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Commuter finds swastikas on Camden<br />
Avenue<br />
San Jose Chinese School oper<strong>at</strong>es <strong>at</strong><br />
Leland<br />
Gonzales resigns from major committees<br />
and is l<strong>at</strong>er censured by city council<br />
CNN fe<strong>at</strong>ures pedicure infection<br />
The Performing Arts Center reopens<br />
after fire <strong>at</strong> Pioneer High School<br />
Continued on next page<br />
W<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 33<br />
e are very excited to be<br />
celebr<strong>at</strong>ing the 20th<br />
anniversary of the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. In this day and<br />
age of newspaper buyouts and<br />
declining readership, it is s<strong>at</strong>isfying<br />
to be able to deliver something<br />
on your doorstep th<strong>at</strong> the Internet<br />
can’t: a local touch.<br />
When I first came on board <strong>at</strong><br />
the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> six years ago,<br />
I felt privileged to<br />
learn from one of<br />
the most cre<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
wordsmiths in the<br />
business, Karl<br />
Laucher. At the<br />
time we were desper<strong>at</strong>elyunderstaffed<br />
and spread<br />
way too thin.<br />
Fortun<strong>at</strong>ely, the<br />
readers in <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
are highly educ<strong>at</strong>ed—and<br />
yes they<br />
can be demanding—and<br />
they force<br />
us to never rest on<br />
our laurels and to<br />
constantly strive to<br />
improve our paper.<br />
Over the years I’ve fought to<br />
increase the number of reporters<br />
covering stories because I believe<br />
th<strong>at</strong> it is essential for the paper to<br />
have more than one voice.<br />
Working with talented reporters<br />
in the past like Debbie McDevitt,<br />
Kymberli Brady and Sheila<br />
Sanchez was essential to take the<br />
paper to the next level.<br />
I am very gr<strong>at</strong>eful to have a<br />
tremendous staff of reporters currently<br />
onboard including Jeanne<br />
Lewis, Lorraine Gabbert, Daniel<br />
DeBolt, Candy Richter and Carol<br />
Rosen. Their thoughtful, wellresearched<br />
articles help make us a<br />
paper to be reckoned with.<br />
Our sports editor, Diego<br />
Abeloos, covers events like a pro<br />
with the able assistance of<br />
reporter Justin Petersen, and the<br />
beautiful photography of Jeff<br />
Frazee. Our readers are constantly<br />
thanking us for our in-depth<br />
sports coverage.<br />
Thanks to our strong editorial<br />
team, we are now winning<br />
California Newspaper Publisher’s<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion Awards.<br />
Working on a community paper<br />
may be demanding, but it is never<br />
boring, and I’m gr<strong>at</strong>eful to have a<br />
lot of leeway from the publisher<br />
in steering the direction of our<br />
papers. We are truly the last independent<br />
newspaper in the valley—beholden<br />
to no one.<br />
People expect a lot from their<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. Not only do they<br />
want solid inform<strong>at</strong>ion on politics,<br />
city issues and crime, but<br />
they also want to read fun, inter-<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
From the<br />
Editor<br />
Julie Davis Berry,<br />
Executive Editor<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Newspapers<br />
esting fe<strong>at</strong>ures in the paper such<br />
as Street Talk, School Scene,<br />
Street Scene, Pet of the Month<br />
and Focus on Faith. These fe<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
have helped to make the <strong>Times</strong> a<br />
well-rounded paper and have<br />
earned the paper a lot of positive<br />
feedback.<br />
Deciding how often to cover<br />
city politics and city issues versus<br />
local news is a delic<strong>at</strong>e balancing<br />
act. We feel th<strong>at</strong> a<br />
community newspaper<br />
should cover<br />
“hard news” because<br />
so much of it affects<br />
our readers on a dayto-day<br />
basis. It is<br />
essential to be<br />
involved and knowledgeable<br />
about the<br />
process. It is also<br />
extremely important<br />
to ferret out the truth<br />
when reporting a story<br />
and to look <strong>at</strong> an issue<br />
from all sides—not to<br />
promote an agenda.<br />
We think we do a very<br />
good job of offering<br />
objective coverage to our readers.<br />
On the other hand, it is very<br />
important to cover the “smaller”<br />
stories like the little kid who raises<br />
money for tsunami relief—I<br />
mean how cool is th<strong>at</strong>? Or to warn<br />
readers th<strong>at</strong> there are cars being<br />
broken into around Quicksilver<br />
Park, so you’d better lock up your<br />
valuables. We can take the time to<br />
cover the smaller stories th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
big paper in town doesn’t have<br />
the time or the inclin<strong>at</strong>ion to<br />
cover.<br />
It is very rewarding to shine a<br />
light on problems like pedicure<br />
infections, problem driving<br />
schools and crime in neighborhoods.<br />
And, it is also rewarding<br />
to spend time with political candid<strong>at</strong>es<br />
and delve headfirst into<br />
the issues.<br />
It is extremely rewarding to<br />
help promote local organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
such as the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Counseling Service, Hospice of<br />
the Valley, the <strong>Almaden</strong> Women’s<br />
Club, the P<strong>at</strong> Tillman Found<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and the Tabard The<strong>at</strong>re. These<br />
worthy organiz<strong>at</strong>ions need and<br />
deserve our support.<br />
This summer we are planning<br />
to add some interesting new local<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>ures. And, we will continue<br />
to cover the issues th<strong>at</strong> our readers<br />
tell us they care about such as<br />
new businesses, politics, crime,<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion, sports, and faith,<br />
along with the occasional beauty<br />
queen and Eagle Scout—because<br />
th<strong>at</strong>’s wh<strong>at</strong> our readers tell us<br />
they want from their local paper.<br />
Thanks for coming along for<br />
the ride.
Page 34 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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<strong>Times</strong> Local News<br />
City council member Nancy Pyle is<br />
elected to represent District 10 in<br />
November 2004<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley Women’s Club don<strong>at</strong>es<br />
$10,000 to new library<br />
Home-schooled Julie Boiko selected as<br />
semi-finalist in Intel Science competition<br />
New <strong>Almaden</strong> Postman Manny<br />
Martinez retires after delivering mail for<br />
18 years<br />
Santa Clara Valley W<strong>at</strong>er District officials<br />
okay purchase of aer<strong>at</strong>or to reduce<br />
mercury contamin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Lake<br />
Park<br />
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pitches<br />
“Str<strong>at</strong>egic Growth Plan” to Silicon Valley’s<br />
movers and shakers<br />
City Councilmember Nancy Pyle presents<br />
“Good Neighbor” award to <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley Women’s Club<br />
Neighbors on Guadalupe Mines Road<br />
oppose proposed land-use change to the<br />
city’s General Plan for medium density<br />
housing project<br />
City develops plan to save community<br />
centers<br />
San Jose gets snowy start to Presidents’<br />
Day weekend<br />
City officials pass stiffer penalties for<br />
illegal removal of trees<br />
As AVAC celebr<strong>at</strong>es 30 th anniversary,<br />
four married couples share their memories<br />
of meeting <strong>at</strong> the <strong>at</strong>hletic club<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Charity League celebr<strong>at</strong>es<br />
annual Senior Presents <strong>at</strong> Cinnabar Hills<br />
Golf Club<br />
City council examines Sunshine<br />
Reforms suggested to make city council<br />
business more transparent and open<br />
Residents and local organiz<strong>at</strong>ions prepare<br />
for possible bird flu pandemic.<br />
Parade and four-mile run earn<br />
Montevideo neighborhood a fun reput<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Two New <strong>Almaden</strong> men struggle to save<br />
Feed and Fuel Restaurant and Bar by<br />
<strong>at</strong>taining historical st<strong>at</strong>us<br />
Persian New Year Festival celebr<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong><br />
Vasona St<strong>at</strong>e Park<br />
Local heroes b<strong>at</strong>tle blaze, saving a<br />
neighbor’s home<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> college student Brittany<br />
Welby receives commend<strong>at</strong>ion from the<br />
city of San Jose for pedicure infection victim<br />
advocacy<br />
<strong>Times</strong> begins six-part series of interviews<br />
with 5 major mayoral candid<strong>at</strong>es<br />
which will culmin<strong>at</strong>e in endorsement<br />
Thousands march for immigrants<br />
rights in San Jose<br />
Former student molested by Leland<br />
teacher Earl Roske sues school district<br />
San Jose celebr<strong>at</strong>es the life of P<strong>at</strong><br />
Tillman with inaugural P<strong>at</strong>’s Run <strong>at</strong> Leland<br />
AVCS Snow Ball 2006 a blockbuster hit<br />
AVCA holds mayoral candid<strong>at</strong>e forum<br />
Coyote Valley task force reviews affordable<br />
housing str<strong>at</strong>egy<br />
Principal Linda Kakes to retire from<br />
Simonds Elementary School<br />
Community grieves Pioneer freshman<br />
killed by hit and run driver and shares in<br />
candle-lighting vigil. Marcus Keppert was<br />
known as a gentle giant.<br />
City council rejects proposed demolition<br />
of 10 community centers<br />
Hundreds <strong>at</strong>tend grand opening of<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 35<br />
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Page 38 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
This week's question:<br />
I was wondering the other day about how long you<br />
have been writing your column in the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. It<br />
seems to me like it has been for a long time. If you could<br />
answer this question some time it would be appreci<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
Emily E.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Well, Emily, this is as good a time as any<br />
to answer your question. By the way, thank<br />
you for e-mailing it in.<br />
It was 20 years ago this month th<strong>at</strong> I started<br />
writing this column for the <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong>. Th<strong>at</strong> doesn't seem possible, but it's<br />
true. I guess the old cliché is true th<strong>at</strong> time<br />
flies when you are having fun. Time indeed<br />
has flown by.<br />
The founder and publisher/CEO of the<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>, Bill Bellou, asked me way<br />
back then to write a column for each issue.<br />
At th<strong>at</strong> time, the paper came out monthly. I<br />
told him th<strong>at</strong> I would give it a try although I<br />
had never done th<strong>at</strong> kind of work before. I<br />
was a lawyer and not a newspaper writer or<br />
columnist.<br />
As I recall, the initial invit<strong>at</strong>ion to write the column<br />
came about as a result of our son, Dan, asking Mr.<br />
Bellou about this possibility. At th<strong>at</strong> time, Dan was a<br />
student <strong>at</strong> San Jose St<strong>at</strong>e University, working part-time<br />
for the <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>, then loc<strong>at</strong>ed in small garagetype<br />
facility off Winfield. (L<strong>at</strong>er on, Dan went to law<br />
school and became an <strong>at</strong>torney. He is now practicing<br />
law with his own firm in San Juan Bautista, Calif., a few<br />
miles down Highway 101.) As I like to say, he is the second<br />
best <strong>at</strong>torney in the st<strong>at</strong>e of California…after his<br />
f<strong>at</strong>her!<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> was one the first of several com-<br />
Ask The<br />
Lawyer<br />
Donald J. DeVries,<br />
Attorney <strong>at</strong> Law<br />
<strong>Times</strong> Fe<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
Columnist rumin<strong>at</strong>es on 20 years of answering your law questions<br />
...We<br />
Have<br />
You<br />
Covered...<br />
munity newspaper public<strong>at</strong>ions of Mr. Bellou, now<br />
under the umbrella of <strong>Times</strong> Media, Inc.<br />
Several years ago, this newspaper changed from a<br />
monthly public<strong>at</strong>ion to a weekly public<strong>at</strong>ion due to<br />
changing times and needs. At th<strong>at</strong> time, it was agreed<br />
th<strong>at</strong> I would write this column twice per month. My oh<br />
my, how quickly those deadlines come up!<br />
But, so far, we haven't missed one (knock on<br />
wood).<br />
The changes th<strong>at</strong> I have seen in the legal<br />
profession during the last 20 years are simply<br />
amazing. Many changes come to mind<br />
but one of the most startling changes is how<br />
we now process inform<strong>at</strong>ion with the aid of<br />
computers and other technology. Legal<br />
research is now done online, which is more<br />
cost effective, quicker, and more reliable.<br />
Letters, articles, and even large public<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and photographs are composed and then<br />
sent instantly around the world or into the<br />
adjoining office by e-mail. This is just amazing<br />
to an Iowa boy like me.<br />
Throughout these past 20 years I have<br />
tried to pass along helpful inform<strong>at</strong>ion from the legal<br />
world th<strong>at</strong> may be of interest to you, our readers. It has<br />
been a gr<strong>at</strong>ifying experience for me and I have appreci<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
the opportunity to do so. (Not th<strong>at</strong> I am saying<br />
"goodbye" by any stretch of the imagin<strong>at</strong>ion—I hope to<br />
keep writing this column for many years to come.)<br />
Judging by many of your favorable comments to me<br />
over the years, it seems as though it has been a worthwhile<br />
endeavor.<br />
Something else comes to mind th<strong>at</strong> has occurred over<br />
the past 20 years and th<strong>at</strong> is the development, building,<br />
and now grand opening of the <strong>Almaden</strong> Branch Library<br />
and Community Center. Loc<strong>at</strong>ed just one block from<br />
Open House S<strong>at</strong>urday and Sunday 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.<br />
6672 Elwood Road<br />
Newly Remodeled 5bd 3ba, Beautiful<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley home. Blue ribbon<br />
schools. $1,269,000<br />
my office, this is just an incredible building and I hope<br />
th<strong>at</strong> each and every one of you have an opportunity to<br />
see and enjoy it.<br />
The 65,000-square-foot, $26 million new center<br />
includes not only the library, but also a senior center,<br />
computer center, sports facility (including a full-size<br />
gym) and tiny tots area. I think you will agree with me<br />
th<strong>at</strong> we in the <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley are very lucky to have<br />
this facility so close by us. It is st<strong>at</strong>e of the art and I'm<br />
sure you too will be very proud of it. I would like to<br />
take this opportunity to express my deepest gr<strong>at</strong>itude to<br />
all who have had a role in this new branch library and<br />
community center. It is truly amazing!<br />
So, thank you, Emily, for writing in and thank the rest<br />
of you too for your support over the years. It is truly<br />
appreci<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
Donald J. DeVries<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Donald J. DeVries is an <strong>at</strong>torney practicing law in <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Valley. If you would like him to answer your question in his<br />
next <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> column, you can reach him by e-mail <strong>at</strong><br />
don@almadenvalleylawyers.com, fax <strong>at</strong> (408)268-6502, telephone<br />
<strong>at</strong> (408) 268-9500, or mail <strong>at</strong>, 6475 Camden Avenue,<br />
Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95120. Your m<strong>at</strong>ters are personal<br />
and priv<strong>at</strong>e, so of course, he will not disclose your identity or<br />
any details about your situ<strong>at</strong>ion. Do you want to learn about<br />
a specific legal issue or how DeVries can help you? To access<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> columns since 1986 visit his web site <strong>at</strong><br />
www.almadenvalleylawyers.com. DeVries writes this column<br />
to provide you with general inform<strong>at</strong>ion about important<br />
legal m<strong>at</strong>ters affecting California residents—not to give you<br />
legal advice about your specific m<strong>at</strong>ter. No <strong>at</strong>torney-client<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ionship is cre<strong>at</strong>ed by these articles. The law is complex<br />
and constantly changing and varies from st<strong>at</strong>e to st<strong>at</strong>e. So<br />
you should consult an <strong>at</strong>torney before taking any action th<strong>at</strong><br />
would affect your personal or business m<strong>at</strong>ters.
AmericaWelcomeHome.com<br />
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Page 40 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
<strong>Times</strong>Sports<br />
Leland softball stumped by league foes<br />
Chargers drop 1-0 CCS<br />
quarterfinal round loss to<br />
Leigh, ending their season<br />
By Diego Abeloos<br />
Sports Editor<br />
he Chargers softball team saw its season<br />
end on a sour note, in the form of Ta<br />
1-0 loss to Leigh in the CCS quarterfinals<br />
on May 20.<br />
The loss was a tough end to an otherwise<br />
successful season for the Chargers, who<br />
went 15-9 overall in 2006. Pitcher Vanessa<br />
Truan took the tough luck loss for Leland,<br />
despite pitching a solid game in which the<br />
right-hander allowed just five hits and five<br />
walks while striking out eight.<br />
Leland Head Coach Joe Gron said he was<br />
proud of his team’s effort, despite the season-ending<br />
loss to the Longhorns.<br />
“I think the girls expected and wanted to<br />
win the game,” said Gron. “We did give 100<br />
percent, but just came out on wrong end on<br />
this one. There were no disappointments<br />
<strong>at</strong> all. It’s just not wh<strong>at</strong> they wanted or<br />
expected to have happen.”<br />
The bitter loss also came less than two<br />
weeks after the Chargers took a 2-0 win over<br />
Leigh toward the end of the regular season,<br />
snapping a losing streak against the<br />
Longhorns th<strong>at</strong> lasted nearly four years.<br />
As usual, pitching proved to be the key, as<br />
Leigh’s Jackie Hill shut down the Leland<br />
offense. Leland pitcher Vanessa Truan took<br />
the tough luck loss for Leland, despite<br />
pitching a solid game in which the righthander<br />
allowed just five hits and five walks<br />
while striking out eight.<br />
“Every time we play th<strong>at</strong> team it’s tough a<br />
game,” Gron said of Leigh. “Both teams<br />
respect each other. When there are two<br />
good pitchers, it comes down to one or two<br />
runs.”<br />
The loss to Leigh came just days after the<br />
Chargers posted a lopsided 11-5 win over<br />
Aptos in the opening round of CCS play on<br />
May 18 <strong>at</strong> the Salinas Sports Complex.<br />
A three-run first inning by Aptos did<br />
nothing to deter the Chargers, bouncing<br />
back with one run in the bottom of the first<br />
on a solo home run from shortstop Christina<br />
Saenz.<br />
In the bottom of the third, the Chargers<br />
took the lead for good, scoring five times in<br />
the inning for a 6-3 lead.<br />
The scoring got started when c<strong>at</strong>cher<br />
Jessica Talaugon laced a bases-loaded single<br />
to center field, scoring Saenz and Sara<br />
Adams to tie the game 3-3. L<strong>at</strong>er in the<br />
inning, with Amy Hakkinen <strong>at</strong> second,<br />
pinch running for Talaugon, Elisa Vye drove<br />
a single to right field, scoring the Chargers’<br />
third run of the inning and giving the team<br />
a 4-3 lead. Vye’s single was quickly followed<br />
by a booming double to left field off the b<strong>at</strong><br />
of A.J. Huffman, scoring Vye for a 5-3<br />
advantage.<br />
Pitcher Vanessa Truan then completed<br />
the six-run third, and helped her own<br />
cause, by singling to right field, scoring<br />
Huffman for a 6-3 lead.<br />
“I think nerves got the better of us in the<br />
first inning,” said Gron. “I think they threw<br />
The Chargers celebr<strong>at</strong>e after one of three home runs hit by the team during an 11-5 win over Aptos in<br />
the opening round of CCS. Photo by Jeff Frazee<br />
Leland shortstop Christina Saenz (left) reaches for the ball <strong>at</strong> second base as a Leigh base runner<br />
approaches <strong>at</strong> full speed during the CCS quarterfinals <strong>at</strong> the Sports Complex in Salinas on May 20.<br />
Leigh won the game 1-0. Photo by Dan Miranda<br />
a little adversity <strong>at</strong> us in the beginning, and<br />
we just persevered and fought through. We<br />
made some adjustments after the first time<br />
around through the b<strong>at</strong>ting order … and it<br />
worked out for us.”<br />
The Charger offense was <strong>at</strong> it again in the<br />
bottom of the fourth, scoring four more<br />
times for a solid 10-3 lead.<br />
The Chargers got their first run of the<br />
inning when Kirsten Rorie scored on an<br />
error for a 7-3 lead. L<strong>at</strong>er in the inning, with<br />
Ashleigh Adams on third after she wiped<br />
SPORTS BRIEFS<br />
Central Valley Edge class 3,<br />
U18 girls’ team seeks players<br />
Central Valley Edge class 3, U18 girls’<br />
soccer team is looking for players (born<br />
after 7/31/88) for the upcoming fall season.<br />
Please contact Coach Ary Afsari <strong>at</strong><br />
afsari@comcast.net or by phone (408) 507-<br />
7008 for more detailed inform<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Sports officials needed<br />
for high school sports<br />
FERMAR Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion, which contracts<br />
with high schools in Santa Clara County, is<br />
recruiting officials for high school <strong>at</strong>hletics.<br />
Officials are needed for fall season<br />
sports such as football, volleyball and field<br />
hockey.<br />
Men and women are encouraged to<br />
apply. No experience is necessary, as FER-<br />
MAR will provide training through classes,<br />
clinics and tests. All training m<strong>at</strong>erials are<br />
provided.<br />
two consecutive bases, a wild pickoff throw<br />
to third sailed wide, allowing Adams to<br />
score for an 8-3 lead and moving pinch runner<br />
Hakkinen, in again for Talaugon, to second.<br />
Vye then stepped up and completed the<br />
four-run fourth, launching a line drive tworun<br />
home run to center field for a 10-3 lead.<br />
The Chargers then scored their 11th, and<br />
final, run of the game in the bottom of fifth<br />
when Hakkinen, pinch hitting this time, hit<br />
a solo home run to right field.<br />
“The confidence was just rolling from<br />
there,” Gron said of the offense. “I told them<br />
to sit on one pitch because she (the Aptos<br />
starting pitcher) was struggling with her<br />
other one … and they teed off on it.”<br />
Meanwhile, Truan settled down after a<br />
rough first inning, holding Aptos scoreless<br />
until the top of the sixth, when the righthander<br />
allowed a two-run home run to cut<br />
the lead to 11-5. Still, Gron said he was<br />
pleased with Truan’s effort.<br />
“The home run was my mistake, I called a<br />
bad pitch,” Gron said. “ … She’s had a lot of<br />
confidence in her team all around, and all<br />
year long. She knew, and the team knew,<br />
th<strong>at</strong> once we got th<strong>at</strong> one home run in the<br />
first inning, we could come back.”<br />
Overall, Gron said he was proud of his<br />
team, not only for their season st<strong>at</strong>istically,<br />
but for the way the group pulled together<br />
through rough p<strong>at</strong>ches during the season.<br />
The rough times included a stretch in<br />
which the Chargers were shut out five<br />
straight games before finishing up <strong>at</strong> 7-3 in<br />
the final 10 games of the regular season.<br />
“They were able to try to turn this thing<br />
around themselves,” Gron said. “Sometimes<br />
all it takes is one game, you get a hit and<br />
then c<strong>at</strong>ch fire after th<strong>at</strong>. The game wears<br />
on you mentally sometimes and especially<br />
when you are going through those types of<br />
steaks. I’m proud of them for th<strong>at</strong>.”<br />
Staff writer Justin Petersen contributed to<br />
this report.<br />
Officials are paid $32-$61 per game,<br />
depending on the sport and level of competition.<br />
Additional opportunities to offici<strong>at</strong>e<br />
youth and adult sports are also available.<br />
Interested parties are encouraged to call<br />
FERMAR <strong>at</strong> (408) 567-1700.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Valley’s All-Star<br />
cheer team, Cheer Divas,<br />
hosting cheerleading sign-ups<br />
The Cheer Divas program has a few<br />
spots available for the 2006-2007 season.<br />
Practices are held <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Gymnastics. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion call<br />
408-370-DIVA or visit www.CheerDivas.<br />
com.<br />
Correction<br />
In the May 19-25 sports section of the<br />
<strong>Times</strong>, it was reported th<strong>at</strong> Pioneer swimmer<br />
Kevin Zondervan posted a 0:29.03<br />
mark to finish 12th in the 50-meter<br />
freestyle race <strong>at</strong> the CCS Swimming Finals.<br />
Zondervan’s time was actually 0:21.93.
<strong>Times</strong>Sports<br />
Pioneer baseball season<br />
ends with CCS opening<br />
round loss to Soquel<br />
Mustangs fall in 10<br />
innings 5-3; Wright goes<br />
seven innings in loss<br />
By Diego Abeloos<br />
Sports Editor<br />
espite riding the wave of a<br />
robust 12-game winning Dstreak<br />
to end the regular<br />
season, the Mustangs could not<br />
get momentum to swing their<br />
way in a 5-3 loss to Soquel in the<br />
opening round of CCS Playoffs<br />
on May 18.<br />
The loss was a bitter pill to<br />
swallow for the Mustangs, who<br />
snuck up on Mt. Hamilton<br />
Division foes during their first<br />
season in the league, finishing in<br />
second place with a 16-5 record,<br />
one game behind league leader<br />
Leland.<br />
“I don’t know wh<strong>at</strong> it was,<br />
because we came out with a lot<br />
of confidence and a lot of energy,”<br />
said Pioneer Head Coach<br />
Jake Hernandez of the loss. “It<br />
got l<strong>at</strong>e in the game, and th<strong>at</strong>’s<br />
when things get magnified. CCS<br />
is a different beast. But you’ve<br />
got to remember, these kids are<br />
16 or 17 years old and they make<br />
mistakes.”<br />
The Mustangs hung on for<br />
quite some time in the loss, forcing<br />
the game into extra innings<br />
with a 2-2 tie before Soquel put<br />
three runs on the board in the<br />
top of the 10th inning, fueled by<br />
a pair of Mustang throwing<br />
errors.<br />
After a throwing error by Eddie<br />
Hsieh on a pickoff play <strong>at</strong> first<br />
moved a runner into scoring<br />
position <strong>at</strong> third, a soft fly ball<br />
sailed over the drawn in<br />
Mustang infield for a single, giving<br />
Soquel a 3-2 lead. L<strong>at</strong>er in the<br />
inning, a single with a Soquel<br />
runner <strong>at</strong> second saw a wild<br />
throw from the outfield toward<br />
home pl<strong>at</strong>e, skipping to the backstop,<br />
allowing a run to cross<br />
home pl<strong>at</strong>e for a 4-2 lead. A third<br />
run eventually scored as well, as<br />
a Soquel b<strong>at</strong>ter was hit by a pitch<br />
with the bases loaded for a 5-2<br />
lead.<br />
“It’s one of those things th<strong>at</strong><br />
snowballs,” Hernandez said of<br />
the rough 10th inning. “With<br />
high schoolers, the emotions run<br />
so deep and they get so intense.<br />
They want to make things happen<br />
and be aggressive, but they<br />
make mistakes.”<br />
Pioneer managed to squeeze<br />
out one more run in the bottom<br />
Pioneer’s Derek Clark connects on a<br />
pitch during a 5-3 home loss to Soquel<br />
during the opening round of CCS.<br />
Photos by Jeff Frazee<br />
of the 10th, getting a two-out<br />
triple off the b<strong>at</strong> of left fielder<br />
Shaun Souza, scoring Derek<br />
Clark from first, but the comeback<br />
effort proved to be too little,<br />
too l<strong>at</strong>e, as M<strong>at</strong>t Montelongo<br />
grounded out to end the game.<br />
“We ran into a tough team,”<br />
Hernandez said. “When it comes<br />
down to one game, it’s the little<br />
things th<strong>at</strong> stand out. We didn’t<br />
execute, we made some baserunning<br />
mistakes and we made some<br />
errors in the field. We didn’t get<br />
the big hits like we’ve been doing<br />
all year.”<br />
The loss overshadowed an otherwise<br />
solid effort from starting<br />
pitcher Andy Wright, who went<br />
seven innings and allowed just<br />
two runs—both in the top of the<br />
fourth. Hernandez said Wright,<br />
who is undecided about where<br />
he will <strong>at</strong>tend school and play<br />
baseball next season, has been<br />
stellar all season and once again<br />
proved why he’s the ace of the<br />
Pioneer staff.<br />
“He’s done a gre<strong>at</strong> job,”<br />
Hernandez said of Wright. “He’s<br />
been really consistent. He only<br />
gave up two runs, and unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely,<br />
we couldn’t get <strong>at</strong> least<br />
three for him. …He struggled a<br />
bit, but you know, only two runs<br />
is gre<strong>at</strong>. He’s had a gre<strong>at</strong> season<br />
and he’ll play beyond high<br />
school.”<br />
Above all, Hernandez said he’s<br />
proud of his team’s season-long<br />
effort, given the fact the<br />
Mustangs were in the Santa<br />
Teresa Division last season, only<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 41<br />
to see the squad put together a<br />
l<strong>at</strong>e season 12-game winning<br />
streak and end up in second<br />
place in the A-league division.<br />
“I’m very happy with the season,”<br />
said Hernandez, immedi<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
following the loss to Soquel.<br />
Margaret Guerrettaz<br />
“Right now, with the emotions,<br />
we’re all obviously upset about<br />
the loss. But we came into the Mt.<br />
Hamilton Division and came<br />
within one win away from winning<br />
the (league) championship.<br />
I’m very proud of my guys.”<br />
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Pioneer’s Andy Wright pitched seven strong innings, allowing just two runs, during<br />
a 5-3 10-inning loss to Soquel in the opening round of the CCS Playoffs.<br />
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Page 42 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
<strong>Times</strong>Sports<br />
From sideline to center stage<br />
Leland senior Chris Faria turns from<br />
fan to <strong>at</strong>hlete with power soccer<br />
By Diego Abeloos<br />
Sports Editor<br />
For Leland senior Chris Faria,<br />
sports are a way of life.<br />
Chris, who uses a wheelchair<br />
because of the debilit<strong>at</strong>ing effects of<br />
cerebral palsy, has found ways to<br />
stay involved in sports, often sitting<br />
on the sidelines of Leland football<br />
games, cheering on his classm<strong>at</strong>es<br />
with a Charger h<strong>at</strong> perched <strong>at</strong>op his<br />
head. Some might even argue th<strong>at</strong><br />
Chris is Leland’s most ardent fan,<br />
frequently c<strong>at</strong>ching basketball and<br />
baseball games, or volunteering his<br />
time helping out the coaching staffs<br />
of the school.<br />
But Chris is far more than a fan—<br />
he’s also an <strong>at</strong>hlete.<br />
On May 13, Chris and the rest of<br />
his San Jose Steamrollers teamm<strong>at</strong>es<br />
took part in the Northern<br />
California Playoff Tournament of<br />
the N<strong>at</strong>ional Power Soccer<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion, a nonprofit organiz<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The Steamrollers fared well in<br />
the tournament, going 1-1-1 to finish<br />
the regular season with a 7-3-1<br />
record, in second place behind<br />
undefe<strong>at</strong>ed Hollister. The<br />
Steamrollers worked their way to a<br />
3-3 tie versus Berkeley, before handing<br />
Sacramento a 13-1 loss. The<br />
Steamrollers then finished the tournament<br />
on a down note, dropping a<br />
6-3 loss to Hollister in the tournament’s<br />
final game of the day.<br />
For Chris, who has played the<br />
sport for seven years, power soccer<br />
is his true passion. “I love the game<br />
and I love the people I’m playing<br />
SPORTS BRIEFS<br />
Central Valley Outlaws class I U13<br />
Premier boys host team tryouts<br />
The Central Valley Outlaws class I U13 Premier<br />
boys’ team invites boys born between 8/1/92 and<br />
7/31/93 to tryouts for the upcoming season. For<br />
more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, contact Richard Johnson <strong>at</strong><br />
439-9645.<br />
Leland Junior Spirit Camp signups<br />
The Leland Spirit Squad is hosting its annual<br />
Junior Spirit Camp June 19-23 from 9 a.m. to<br />
noon each day. The early bird camp fee is $100<br />
with an increase to $125 on June 1. The camp<br />
will offer cheers, dances and games for children<br />
entering K-8 in the fall of 2006. All campers will<br />
be invited to perform <strong>at</strong> a Leland High School<br />
football game. Please contact<br />
lelandjsc@gmail.com or Angelica Niklowitz <strong>at</strong><br />
(408) 268-5549.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> United U15 boys’ class 3<br />
soccer team looking for players<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> United, a class 3 U14/U15 boys’ soccer<br />
team, needs players for the spring and fall.<br />
D<strong>at</strong>e of birth should be between 8/1/91 and<br />
7/31/92. Call Coach Joe Escobedo <strong>at</strong> (408) 972-<br />
with,” he said of the sport, which<br />
has a nine-month season beginning<br />
in the early fall. “I have an opportunity<br />
to compete with people of my<br />
same abilities. It gives me something<br />
to do. I don’t just sit <strong>at</strong> home.<br />
I get to compete with <strong>at</strong>hletes.”<br />
And for once, Chris was the <strong>at</strong>hlete<br />
being cheered. A handful of<br />
Leland football players, as well as<br />
Leland head football Coach Jason<br />
Tenner, were on hand <strong>at</strong> the Alviso<br />
Community Center to w<strong>at</strong>ch him in<br />
action and volunteer their time to<br />
help out with the tournament.<br />
“Chris is always w<strong>at</strong>ching our<br />
games and he always looks like he<br />
wants to be in there, doing something,”<br />
said Tyler Begiebing, a sophomore<br />
football player <strong>at</strong> Leland who<br />
volunteered his time <strong>at</strong> the tournament.<br />
“This is kind of a chance for<br />
him to get out there and do something<br />
and be able to play. It’s pretty<br />
cool for him.”<br />
“It shows the respect he has for<br />
those guys, but also, the respect<br />
those guys have for him,” added<br />
Don Faria, Chris’ f<strong>at</strong>her. “For those<br />
guys to come out and be a part of<br />
his sport one time, I think it’s fantastic.”<br />
Spending time with dad<br />
While Chris finally had a chance<br />
to share his passion for power soccer<br />
with his classm<strong>at</strong>es, it is also a<br />
sport he has found a common bond<br />
in with his f<strong>at</strong>her for several years.<br />
Don Faria serves as the head coach<br />
for the Steamrollers, which has two<br />
separ<strong>at</strong>e division teams, based on<br />
<strong>at</strong>hletes with varying degrees of<br />
The San Jose Steam Rollers pose outside the Alviso Community Center where they competed in the Northern California<br />
Power Soccer Playoff Tournament on May 13. Back row: Don Faria, Robert Book, and Tracy Book. Front row: Ed Geer,<br />
Chris Faria, Jerry Book, Keith Armburst, and Greg Anderson. Photos by Jeff Frazee<br />
abilities.<br />
“It’s something th<strong>at</strong> me and my<br />
dad get to sit <strong>at</strong> the dinner table and<br />
talk about,” Chris said of the common<br />
interest in power soccer th<strong>at</strong><br />
he shares with his f<strong>at</strong>her. “We talk<br />
about wh<strong>at</strong>’s going on, wh<strong>at</strong>’s going<br />
to happen and wh<strong>at</strong> we need to get<br />
better <strong>at</strong>. At times, it’s hard to take<br />
criticism, because he’s my dad, but<br />
it works out fine.”<br />
Above all else, seeing his son<br />
compete in sports and sharing th<strong>at</strong><br />
common bond is always special for<br />
Don.<br />
“It is a tremendous feeling,” Don<br />
said. “The night before, he starts<br />
thinking about it and talking about<br />
it. … He prepares himself mentally<br />
for the game and it’s fun to do it<br />
with him. Also, it fun to yell <strong>at</strong> him<br />
as a coach and then consult him as<br />
8906 or Manager P<strong>at</strong>ty O'Malley (408) 927-5978<br />
for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> United U12 girls’ soccer<br />
team seeks players<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> United, a girls’ under 12, strong<br />
class 3 team applying for class 1 in the fall season,<br />
is looking for players for the spring and fall '06<br />
seasons. D<strong>at</strong>e of birth should be between Aug. 1,<br />
1994 and July 31, 1996. Contact Jeff Pine <strong>at</strong><br />
pine@apple.com or (408) 391-7542 for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
DeAnza Force 92G Black<br />
needs players<br />
DeAnza Force 92G Black is looking for highly<br />
skilled players for the NorCal premier spring<br />
league and fall season. If interested please contact<br />
head coach David Blutrich by emailing davidblue7@aol.com<br />
Cheer coaches needed for South<br />
Valley Pop Warner<br />
Cheer coaches are needed for South Valley Pop<br />
Warner. If you're interested in joining a team of<br />
outstanding coaches, please call Tiana Zar<strong>at</strong>e <strong>at</strong><br />
(408) 464-3285 or Teresa Smith <strong>at</strong> (408) 603-8280,<br />
or go to http://www.stpopwarner.org/<br />
a f<strong>at</strong>her.”<br />
The school of hard knocks<br />
The sport of power soccer itself is<br />
not for the squeamish, according to<br />
both Don and Chris.<br />
Power soccer, played on a basketball<br />
court in a four-on-four form<strong>at</strong><br />
with 20-minute halves and a soccer<br />
ball 20 inches in diameter, is similar<br />
to the form of soccer most fans of<br />
the sport are accustomed to, including<br />
physical play.<br />
“I think these <strong>at</strong>hletes want to be<br />
aggressive, they want to play hard,”<br />
Don said. “You don’t want anyone<br />
to get hurt, but they’re aggressive<br />
and they can hit each other’s chair.<br />
Chairs have fallen over in the past,<br />
and they’ve fallen out of their<br />
chairs, and those types of things. It’s<br />
really just a part of team sports and<br />
being competitive.”<br />
For Chris, the physical n<strong>at</strong>ure is<br />
one of the aspects th<strong>at</strong> he tends to<br />
enjoy from time to time. Still, Chris<br />
cautioned, not everyone can take<br />
the punishment in the same way as<br />
he does, given the varying degrees<br />
of disabilities th<strong>at</strong> many of the <strong>at</strong>hletes<br />
in power soccer have.<br />
“If you have a certain disability,<br />
it’s hard for you to take,” Chris said<br />
of the game’s physical n<strong>at</strong>ure.<br />
“Sometimes it is hard, but we can<br />
all take it. We just play as hard as<br />
we can. During the game, it doesn’t<br />
tend to hurt as much. You take it as<br />
it goes.”<br />
“When I see kids being thrown<br />
out of chairs, it does worry me,”<br />
said Robin Faria, Chris’ mother.<br />
“But you know, he an <strong>at</strong>hlete. Th<strong>at</strong>’s<br />
the way I think of it.”<br />
Foes on the court, friends off it<br />
While competitiveness reigns on<br />
the court, camaraderie is often<br />
found away from the games as well.<br />
“First of all, it’s the social aspect<br />
of it,” Don said. “You get this many<br />
people together, and all of them<br />
have similar disabilities to some<br />
extent. So the social aspect of the<br />
sport is gre<strong>at</strong>. You’ll see them<br />
socialize, when they’re not playing<br />
each other of course.”<br />
For Chris, the social aspect of the<br />
sport is also one the things he<br />
enjoys most about being involved<br />
with power soccer. Just like any<br />
teenager, some things are easy to<br />
discuss with parents, while other<br />
topics are better left for discussions<br />
with friends.<br />
“There are some things I can’t<br />
talk about with my parents, because<br />
they don’t live my life in th<strong>at</strong> way,<br />
so I have to talk to some of my<br />
teamm<strong>at</strong>es about it,” said Chris,<br />
who counts Jerry Book, a teamm<strong>at</strong>e<br />
and Pioneer student, among his<br />
friends on the team. “It’s really<br />
nice.”<br />
In early June, the Steamrollers<br />
will find themselves in<br />
Birmingham, Ala. for the N<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Tournament of the N<strong>at</strong>ional Power<br />
Soccer Associ<strong>at</strong>ion. While Chris<br />
assures th<strong>at</strong> the competition will be<br />
fierce, it is yet another opportunity<br />
th<strong>at</strong> combines the love of competition<br />
and socializ<strong>at</strong>ion for Chris and<br />
his teamm<strong>at</strong>es<br />
“Power soccer is a big community,<br />
so we get to see everybody,”<br />
Chris said of heading to the<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Tournament in Alabama.<br />
“We’re all friends, we all play the<br />
same sport, and we all have the<br />
same abilities, in a way. It’s kind of<br />
just fun to hang out and compete<br />
against the best teams.”<br />
While Chris said he’d continue to<br />
compete in power soccer for years<br />
to come, he’s also adding the title of<br />
coach to his sports resume. In the<br />
fall, Chris will serve as an assistant<br />
coach in the Leland football program,<br />
scouting and editing game<br />
film of opponents for the Chargers.<br />
On top of th<strong>at</strong>, Chris is also an<br />
aspiring sport writer and is currently<br />
working on setting up his own<br />
blog online, showcasing his skills<br />
as a sports columnist.<br />
According to his parents, all of<br />
those things are a part of an inner<br />
drive to make the most of the opportunities<br />
presented in life to Chris.<br />
“I’m very impressed and I’m very<br />
proud of Chris,” said Robin. “He’s<br />
done a lot. … I’m just very proud of<br />
him.”
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 43<br />
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Page 44 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
<strong>Times</strong>Sports<br />
A Willow Glen student unleashes a canon shot <strong>at</strong> a Pioneer team.<br />
Student-run dodge ball tournament<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>es $1,662 for charity<br />
Invisible Children honored with intra-district effort<br />
By Justin Petersen<br />
Staff Writer<br />
rganizers report th<strong>at</strong> San<br />
Jose Unified School ODistrict’s<br />
May 21 Invisible<br />
Children’s Dodge Ball tournament<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>ed $1,662 earmarked for<br />
child-relief programs in Africa.<br />
Money raised came from entry<br />
fees and T-shirts th<strong>at</strong> students<br />
designed to help spread awareness<br />
regarding the reported 10,000<br />
child slaves in Uganda—termed<br />
“Invisible Children” by a 2003<br />
documentary th<strong>at</strong> exposed the<br />
horrible practice spreading across<br />
the continent, where radical<br />
groups abduct children and force<br />
them into military service and to<br />
work as sex slaves.<br />
The tournament was conceived<br />
by Leland High juniors Shaina<br />
P<strong>at</strong>el, Elena Santa Maria, Emma<br />
Noftz and Jennifer Tsau, who presented<br />
the idea <strong>at</strong> an intra-district<br />
leadership meeting and received<br />
clearance from administr<strong>at</strong>ors <strong>at</strong><br />
Leland, Pioneer, and Willow Glen<br />
to pursue the event.<br />
P<strong>at</strong>el and company also drew<br />
the <strong>at</strong>tention of Willow Glen senior<br />
Jason Tom, who signed on and<br />
ultim<strong>at</strong>ely secured the finals’ site,<br />
inside Willow Glen’s gymnasium.<br />
“We w<strong>at</strong>ched the documentary<br />
<strong>at</strong> the very end of January, and<br />
were moved by it,” said P<strong>at</strong>el. “We<br />
wanted to plan fund-raisers to<br />
help. You hear about stuff going on<br />
in the world a lot, but seeing the<br />
documentary and seeing the faces<br />
of the children brought you close<br />
to the situ<strong>at</strong>ion. The movie gave a<br />
personal connection because we<br />
saw the faces of kids involved in<br />
war.”<br />
P<strong>at</strong>el said th<strong>at</strong> in raising awareness<br />
for the dodge ball tournament,<br />
more than 160 students<br />
were able to view the film, which<br />
chronicles a 20-year war waged in<br />
Northern Uganda where the LRA<br />
rebel army abducts small children<br />
ages 5 to 12.<br />
“The money goes directly to the<br />
End of the World Children’s<br />
Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion,” said P<strong>at</strong>el. “The<br />
money we raised will be used for<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ing recovered child slaves<br />
in Uganda.”<br />
P<strong>at</strong>el said th<strong>at</strong> world leaders<br />
have identified educ<strong>at</strong>ion as the<br />
most important tool to begin to<br />
restore normalcy in the lives of<br />
children abducted by the radical<br />
groups and subjected to traum<strong>at</strong>ic<br />
experiences.<br />
While it was a nimble crew from<br />
Willow Glen th<strong>at</strong> hoisted championship<br />
salutes over their heads<br />
Sunday, P<strong>at</strong>el and her cohorts<br />
hope San Jose Unified students<br />
make the benefit dodge ball tournament<br />
an annual event.<br />
“We are hoping to hold this<br />
dodge ball tournament every year,<br />
so if there is anyone from other<br />
schools in our district interested in<br />
helping us next year, they should<br />
contact us via e-mail,” said P<strong>at</strong>el.<br />
Leland hosted several preliminary<br />
tournaments where a total of<br />
12 teams competed within the<br />
school.<br />
Pioneer finished second, riding<br />
the shotgun shots and sure hands<br />
of tournament Most Valuable<br />
Player J.J. Goulden. Goulden, who<br />
moonlighted in the CCS track<br />
finals, where he landed earlier in<br />
the week, impressed tournament<br />
organizers and officials, suffering<br />
just one knockout on championship<br />
day.<br />
“I am not sure how many teams<br />
Pioneer and Willow Glen started<br />
out with,” said P<strong>at</strong>el. “There could<br />
have been as many as 25 teams<br />
total to begin with, and each team<br />
has eight players.”<br />
Leland’s top squad, The<br />
Revolution, finished in third<br />
place, behind a Willow Glen contender<br />
and Goulden’s group.<br />
THE ROUNDUP<br />
Leland baseball<br />
suffers early exit in<br />
opening round<br />
SI pitcher baffles b<strong>at</strong>ters with junk<br />
By Justin Petersen<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Fourth-seed Leland could not<br />
adjust to St. Ign<strong>at</strong>ius hurler Scott<br />
Benedetti, who baffled b<strong>at</strong>ters with<br />
screwballs and a three-quarter delivery,<br />
as the host Chargers were elimin<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
3-2 early in the first round of<br />
CCS Division I playoff action on May<br />
17.<br />
“It was frustr<strong>at</strong>ing,” said Leland<br />
Coach Scot Gillis, who guided the<br />
favorite Chargers (19-6) to a Mount<br />
Hamilton Division Championship<br />
this season. “From the fan’s perspective,<br />
it looks as though he was just<br />
lobbing it up there, and how could<br />
you not kill the thing?”<br />
Gillis said Benedetti was the first<br />
junk ball pitcher with a distinct delivery<br />
th<strong>at</strong> Leland had faced all year<br />
long, and th<strong>at</strong> they lost because they<br />
failed to make the appropri<strong>at</strong>e adjustments.<br />
“In CCS games, there is so much of<br />
the kids’ n<strong>at</strong>ural response to situ<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
th<strong>at</strong> takes over,” he said. “By<br />
th<strong>at</strong> time, it is very difficult to ask<br />
them to do stuff outside of normal<br />
routines. Everyone wants to throw as<br />
hard as they can, run as fast as they<br />
can and we were asking them to<br />
reduce the swing and hit solid ground<br />
balls to the right side of the field.<br />
Guys try too hard.”<br />
Leland failed to wait on Benedetti<br />
pitches, especially after a year paced<br />
by big hits.<br />
“Everybody was trying to hit the<br />
three-run home run, but we just needed<br />
to put the ball in play,” said Gillis.<br />
While Benedetti set the tempo,<br />
Leland was never far from surpassing<br />
Saint Ign<strong>at</strong>ius. Starting pitcher Kevin<br />
B<strong>at</strong>tipede relinquished just three runs<br />
on seven hits. He also contributed to<br />
his own cause in the sixth inning,<br />
when he blasted a two-run double off<br />
the left field wall.<br />
Senior Danny Dyer also ripped two<br />
of Leland’s six hits.<br />
“Kevin did a good job pitching,”<br />
said Gillis. “We had opportunities<br />
with the bases loaded, guys on second<br />
and third with one out, guys on second<br />
and third with two outs.<br />
Normally three runs are not enough<br />
to be<strong>at</strong> us.”<br />
While the Chargers were disappointed<br />
to fall early, out-dueled by an<br />
anonymous pitcher, Gillis said th<strong>at</strong> it<br />
was encouraging to learn Benedetti<br />
be<strong>at</strong> Serra, the sixth-ranked team<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ionally, in a game last week. Saint<br />
Ign<strong>at</strong>ius also forced Valley Christian<br />
into extra innings in second round<br />
action S<strong>at</strong>urday.<br />
“Knowing you can be<strong>at</strong> somebody<br />
and actually be<strong>at</strong>ing them are two different<br />
things,” said Gillis.<br />
Charger track team’s<br />
Barnett and McKenzie<br />
keep fingers crossed<br />
for st<strong>at</strong>e bid<br />
Leland qualifies two girls for CCS<br />
track finals<br />
Leland ladies Stephanie Barnett<br />
Leland’s Alex Todd takes a swing <strong>at</strong> a pitch<br />
during the Chargers’ 3-2 loss to St. Ign<strong>at</strong>ius<br />
in the opening round of the CCS Division I<br />
Baseball Playoffs on May 17. Leland came<br />
into the contest seeded <strong>at</strong> No. 4. Photo by<br />
Kevin Jones <strong>at</strong> www.johub.com.<br />
and Dana McKenzie lassoed lanes <strong>at</strong><br />
CCS track finals Friday.<br />
Barnett, a freshman two-miler, has<br />
competed amongst top CCS runners<br />
all year long, posting a best time of<br />
11:26.71 S<strong>at</strong>urday <strong>at</strong> the qualifying<br />
meet. Barnett had posted the seventh<br />
best time in the section upon entering<br />
the finals.<br />
“She has a lot of heart,” said Leland<br />
Track Coach Jerry Rose. “Stephanie<br />
qualified third in her he<strong>at</strong>, so we will<br />
probably see an even faster time<br />
when she runs versus the other girls.<br />
I don’t know about the title this season,<br />
but both girls certainly have the<br />
opportunity to finish in the top three<br />
and qualify for st<strong>at</strong>e.”<br />
McKenzie is a junior high jumper<br />
who cleared 5 feet, 2 inches <strong>at</strong> the<br />
semifinal event S<strong>at</strong>urday. According<br />
to Rose, McKenzie just missed the<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e meet last season as a sophomore,<br />
when she cleared the autom<strong>at</strong>ic-bid<br />
5-feet, 4-inch mark, moments before<br />
the bar fell while she was walking out<br />
of the pit.<br />
“Dana’s done it before,” said Rose.<br />
“She did it twice two weeks ago <strong>at</strong> the<br />
BVAL finals.”<br />
While Barnett and McKenzie were<br />
the sole finals’ qualifiers, Rose said<br />
Leland runners enjoyed plenty of success<br />
<strong>at</strong> the BVAL final meet. Kikita<br />
Fkiras, Lauren Dryegas, Danielle Ott,<br />
K<strong>at</strong>elyn Tyson, Dan McKenzie, Caryn<br />
Mohr, M<strong>at</strong>t Vera, Phil Petro and Joey<br />
Boose each finished in the BVAL top<br />
eight and qualified to compete <strong>at</strong> the<br />
CCS semifinals last S<strong>at</strong>urday.<br />
“They all did a gre<strong>at</strong> job,” said<br />
Rose. “Anytime you qualify 11 kids for<br />
the CCS meet, you’re in good shape.”<br />
Rose said a foot injury suffered by<br />
miler Stephen M<strong>at</strong>suka kept the presence<br />
of Leland boys out of the finals.<br />
Rose said M<strong>at</strong>suka was the most likely<br />
Leland boys’ candid<strong>at</strong>e <strong>at</strong> a CCS<br />
title.<br />
Mustangs subdued in<br />
CCS softball opener<br />
Pioneer falls 2-0 to West C<strong>at</strong>holic<br />
Lancers<br />
Pioneer pitcher Alyssa Walker surrendered<br />
just two hits to St. Francis,<br />
but the Mustangs could not muster<br />
sufficient support <strong>at</strong> Hawes Field in<br />
Redwood City, and fell 2-0 in CCS<br />
softball action on May 18.<br />
“We got caught looking ahead to<br />
Present<strong>at</strong>ion,” said Pioneer Coach<br />
Ernie Garcia. “I had no doubt th<strong>at</strong> we<br />
could have be<strong>at</strong>en St. Francis, but it’s<br />
unfortun<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> they capitalized on<br />
the mistakes we made, and one team<br />
had to win and one loses.”<br />
St. Francis (15-12) struck first in<br />
the top of the third when Walker<br />
walked the Lancers’ number-eight<br />
b<strong>at</strong>ter. The runner moved to second<br />
on a bunt, and advanced to third on<br />
an error <strong>at</strong> second base, when senior<br />
shortstop K<strong>at</strong>ie Town could not<br />
retrieve a wild throw on a double play<br />
ball. With a first and third situ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
set, the Lancers were able to pinch in<br />
a run.<br />
St. Francis scored again in the<br />
fourth, while the Mustang offense<br />
tried in vain to muster some support<br />
for Walker.<br />
“We had a chance in the bottom of<br />
the fifth,” said Garcia. “We had a runner<br />
on and we executed a push bunt,<br />
but the runner went to third and was<br />
tagged out.”<br />
Garcia said his team was understandably<br />
disappointed.<br />
“We knew we should have done<br />
better,” he said. “When we got scored<br />
on, we went into this down mode. We<br />
were hitting the pitcher really well<br />
until they scored two runs. We didn’t<br />
react. We were just fl<strong>at</strong>.”<br />
Pioneer (20-9) anticip<strong>at</strong>es fielding a<br />
strong lineup again next season. They<br />
gradu<strong>at</strong>e just three seniors this year,<br />
two of which start.<br />
“It was a good season overall,” said<br />
Garcia. “Hopefully we learn from this<br />
and look forward to next season.”<br />
Garcia added th<strong>at</strong> it will be especially<br />
difficult to replace Town, who<br />
paced the Mustang offense in 2006.<br />
Mustangs miss CCS<br />
track finals by a hair<br />
Pioneer runners edged out in qualifying<br />
he<strong>at</strong>s<br />
Pioneer may have wrangled a Santa<br />
Teresa Division track championship<br />
this spring, but no Mustangs will<br />
compete <strong>at</strong> the CCS finals Friday.<br />
“We missed two of our biggest guys<br />
<strong>at</strong> the preliminary meet last week,<br />
and nobody else qualified,” said<br />
Pioneer Coach Aaron Hansen.<br />
Steve Lopes and J.J. Goulden were<br />
not cleared to race <strong>at</strong> the Blossom<br />
Valley Athletic League finals two<br />
weeks ago, where <strong>at</strong>hletes qualify for<br />
CCS and where the two in particular<br />
were expected to vie for league<br />
crowns. Goulden and Lopes also<br />
anchored Mustang relays, the 4x100meters<br />
and 4x400-meters, respectively.<br />
“Everybody who was there ran<br />
well, though,” said Hansen.<br />
Marissa Silver and Carrie Herbert<br />
each posted personal best times, racing<br />
May 20 <strong>at</strong> CCS semifinals hosted<br />
by San Jose City College. Yet, the girls<br />
did not finish in the top eight, failing<br />
to claim a lane <strong>at</strong> Friday’s finals, in<br />
respective hurdle and sprint events.<br />
Silver and Herbert did finish in the<br />
top eight <strong>at</strong> the BVAL finals to get<br />
there.<br />
Senior Jason Wetzel actually won<br />
the BVAL discus event, but opted out<br />
of competing <strong>at</strong> CCS, due to a scheduling<br />
conflict. A potential Junior<br />
Olympics selection, according to<br />
Hansen, Wetzel chose to travel with<br />
his hockey team S<strong>at</strong>urday.<br />
Other Mustang highlights were<br />
senior Drew McReynolds, who placed<br />
second <strong>at</strong> the BVAL finals in both the<br />
110-meter high hurdles and 300meter<br />
hurdles. Freshman Tony Sarge<br />
also finished second in the mile <strong>at</strong><br />
BVAL Finals.
The Only<br />
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<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 45<br />
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Page 46 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
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Page 48 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
CommunityCalendar<br />
Unless otherwise noted all phone numbers<br />
are in the 408 area code.<br />
MUSIC<br />
June 4 – Sunday<br />
Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose presents<br />
“Sing You Now” <strong>at</strong> Westminster<br />
Presbyterian Church, 1100 Shasta Avenue<br />
in San Jose <strong>at</strong> 4 p.m. Join us for our Spring<br />
Season performance Appropri<strong>at</strong>e for ages 5<br />
and up. Tickets: $6 for children $8 for<br />
adults. For advance tickets or for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
call: 979-9997 or www.vivaceyouthchorus.org<br />
Ongoing<br />
Unwined Wine Bar and Shop, 6946<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway fe<strong>at</strong>ures live music<br />
with Arturo Ville every First, Third (and<br />
Fifth) Thursday; and Don Balistreri, solo guitar<br />
every second and fourth Thursday. All<br />
Thursday night performances are from 6 - 9<br />
p.m. Every Sunday fe<strong>at</strong>ures The Steve<br />
Cannon Jazz Ensemble from 4:30 – 7:30<br />
p.m. Admission is free. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
call 323-9463, or visit www.unwined.<br />
com Check the website for Wine tasting and<br />
Wine Educ<strong>at</strong>ion class schedules.<br />
Odd Couple<br />
Center Stage<br />
Productions (CSP)<br />
presents “The Odd<br />
Couple: Female<br />
Version” by Neil<br />
Simon, showing<br />
June 2 -17. This<br />
heart-warming<br />
classic proves finding<br />
a comp<strong>at</strong>ible<br />
roomm<strong>at</strong>e is no<br />
trivial pursuit! This<br />
production is directed<br />
by Susan<br />
Overland. Center<br />
Stage Productions<br />
is loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> the<br />
Center for Spiritual<br />
Living <strong>at</strong> 1195<br />
Clark Street in San<br />
Jose. Tickets can<br />
be purchased by<br />
phone, 294-1828<br />
ext. 116; or in person<br />
<strong>at</strong> the Center.<br />
Ticket prices are<br />
$15 for general<br />
admission and $12<br />
for students (with a<br />
valid ’06 student<br />
ID) and seniors 65+.Champagne Gala Opening is June 2 <strong>at</strong> 8 p.m. Gala<br />
Tickets are $20. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Group r<strong>at</strong>es are available<br />
for groups of 10 or more, (tickets must be made in one purchase.) If<br />
you’re interested in a group r<strong>at</strong>e, please contact the box office. For performance<br />
times and additional inform<strong>at</strong>ion,visit http://www.sanjosecenter.org/<br />
center_stage_productions.htm<br />
legacy is over 150 years old and continues<br />
to live today in Mexico and South America.<br />
The journey is one of nostalgia and the<br />
complexly beautiful art of music and dance.<br />
Performance time is 2 p.m. tickets are $12,<br />
$8 advance ticket sale discounts available.<br />
Student discounts available day of show. For<br />
more inform<strong>at</strong>ion and ticket purchases call<br />
928-5517 or 928-5563 or visit www.mhcviva.org<br />
CLASSES<br />
ArtHouse Kids Summer Camps. The<br />
Arthouse, 1043 Lincoln Avenue, is currently<br />
taking registr<strong>at</strong>ion for our summer camps<br />
which begin the week on June 26. Camps<br />
include Little Picasso's, Multicultural Art &<br />
Cooking, Pop Art, Animals in Art, The Art of<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ure and more. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call<br />
975-9987, or visit www.arthouse kids.com<br />
Ongoing<br />
Fine Art Classes will be held on Friday<br />
mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m <strong>at</strong> the New<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Community Club, Bertram Rd<br />
(behind La Foret Restaurant). Instruction in<br />
oil, w<strong>at</strong>ercolor, pastel, and acrylic. All skill<br />
levels welcome. Go to www.galafineart.com<br />
or call 268-2990 for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials lists.<br />
May 26–<br />
June 1<br />
yourself laughing <strong>at</strong> life, <strong>at</strong> Lily and most of<br />
all, yourself! Call 1-877-882-8124 or visit<br />
www.eventsunlimited.org for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Admission: $132 - $252.<br />
June 3 – S<strong>at</strong>urday<br />
The Center for the Performing Arts presents<br />
“The L<strong>at</strong>in Show,” fe<strong>at</strong>uring Salsa<br />
Band, Mariachi Band, Tango Band, Flamenco<br />
guitarists and singers, Intern<strong>at</strong>ional L<strong>at</strong>in<br />
Dance Champions, Salsa dancers troops,<br />
Argentine Tango dancers, Mexican Folkorico<br />
dancers, Brazilian dancers and drummers.<br />
This event showcases artists raising money<br />
to get Ballroom dance/Etiquette training in<br />
our schools. Andrew P. Hill will present the<br />
first of many pilot programs for kids.<br />
General dancing to live music will be available<br />
to the public after the show.<br />
Performance time is 7:30 p.m. Call 925-<br />
937-0761 or visit www.adrianflorespresents.com<br />
for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion. Admission:<br />
$28 - $48.<br />
June 3 – 4<br />
ART<br />
Tai Chi Chuan classes <strong>at</strong> Hakone Gardens:<br />
Beginning/intermedi<strong>at</strong>e classes are ongoing<br />
and meet on Thursdays from 3:45 - 4:55<br />
Don't miss this special class on lace knitting<br />
taught by Ele Schwartz <strong>at</strong> the<br />
Sunnyvale Lace Museum. The class takes<br />
place June 3 and June 4 from 9:30 a.m. to<br />
4:30 p.m. Basic skills (knit and purl stitches)<br />
are required. Cost for two days is $100 and<br />
includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon<br />
snacks. Class size is limited so register<br />
fast. Registr<strong>at</strong>ion deadline is May 20.<br />
June 3 – 4<br />
p.m., Hakone Gardens is loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> 21000 You can register by calling 730-4695 or go<br />
The Triton Museum of Art and the Alliance<br />
of Visual Artists present the 11th Annual<br />
AVArtfest, a festival of arts held in the<br />
sculpture gardens of the Triton Museum<br />
from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. ArtFest is where art<br />
collectors discover affordable original juried<br />
art works for sale. These pieces are cre<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
by hundreds of local artists who work in<br />
all media. A variety of art demonstr<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
as well as music and food, can be enjoyed<br />
in the park setting on both days. A portion<br />
of the art sales goes to support the Triton<br />
Museum of Art. Admission is free.<br />
CHILDREN/FAMILY<br />
May 19-June 10:<br />
South Valley Civic The<strong>at</strong>re presents<br />
"Annie", one of the world's best-loved musicals,<br />
<strong>at</strong> the Morgan Hill Playhouse, in<br />
Gardens have a gre<strong>at</strong> morning Family<br />
Fitness Walk planned right along the<br />
Guadalupe River Park trails. Walk hours<br />
are 9:30 - 11 a.m. All you need is to bring is<br />
your enthusiasm, walking shoes, w<strong>at</strong>er and<br />
sun protection. The instructor, Kristin<br />
Strellis, received her BA in Exercise Science<br />
Big Basin Way, close to downtown Sar<strong>at</strong>oga.<br />
Fees are $96 for a consecutive 8-week<br />
series or $20 for a drop-in class. For more<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call Instructor <strong>at</strong> 295-9439 or<br />
email linda@xs.com. Tai Chi is a soft, internal<br />
energy martial art. It promotes balance<br />
and flexibility, strength, clarity, health and<br />
relax<strong>at</strong>ion. This class is suitable for people<br />
of all ages.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
May 1 – July 30<br />
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum,1342<br />
to: http://www.thelacemuseum.org.<br />
June 6 – Tuesday<br />
Rally to Stop Domestic Violence will be<br />
held <strong>at</strong> City Hall Plaza, 200 E. Santa Clara<br />
Street from 12 – 1 p.m. Speakers will<br />
include: Councilmember Forrest Williams,<br />
Mayor Ron Gonzales, Attorney General Bill<br />
Lockyer, Supervising District Attorney,<br />
Family Violence Division Dan Nishigaya<br />
and Asst. Chief of Police Tuck Younis.<br />
Come show your support for the elimin<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
of domestic violence. You too can make a<br />
difference<br />
Ongoing<br />
DANCE<br />
June 3 – 4<br />
The Montgomery The<strong>at</strong>er presents:<br />
“Shaab-e Shiraz: Shirazi Nights” Traditional<br />
Persian and Central Asian dance, concert &<br />
poetry. Admission is $35 per person. For<br />
more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call 927-7004 or visit<br />
www.dancesilkroad.org.<br />
THEATER<br />
May 31 – June 25<br />
The San Jose Stage Company, 490 South<br />
First Street in San Jose, presents<br />
“Urinetown,” the Tony Award-winning<br />
musical comedy. In this tale of greed,<br />
corruption, love and revolution, the citizens<br />
must use public amenities regul<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
by a single malevolent company th<strong>at</strong><br />
profits by charging admission for one of<br />
humanity's most basic needs. Amid the<br />
people, a hero decides he's had enough<br />
and plans a revolution to lead them all to<br />
freedom! Along the way, “Urinetown”<br />
spoofs everything from “Guys and Dolls”<br />
to “Les Miserables.” Directed by Rick<br />
Singleton with Choreography by Dottie<br />
Lester-White and Musical Direction by<br />
Don Dally. Book and lyrics by Greg<br />
Kotis, music and lyrics by Mark<br />
Hollman. For tickets and show inform<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
call The Stage box office <strong>at</strong> 283-<br />
7142.<br />
downtown Morgan Hill (corner of Monterey<br />
and Fifth). With its upbe<strong>at</strong> ending and a<br />
wonderful musical score, it's no wonder this<br />
heartwarming show has become an intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
sens<strong>at</strong>ion. Directed by Colleen<br />
Chipman, Musical Direction by James<br />
Chipman, and Choreography by K<strong>at</strong><br />
Hepner. Tickets are $15 adults, $12 seniors<br />
or students. Performances are Friday and<br />
S<strong>at</strong>urday evenings <strong>at</strong> 8 p.m. on: May 19, 20,<br />
26, 27 June 2, 3, 9 & 10. There are also<br />
two S<strong>at</strong>urday M<strong>at</strong>inees, May 27 & June 3 <strong>at</strong><br />
2 p.m. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion or to purchase<br />
tickets, visit the SVCT web site <strong>at</strong><br />
www.svct.org or call 408-842-7469.<br />
June 2 – July 23<br />
California The<strong>at</strong>re Center’s Summer Rep<br />
2006 season opens with the production<br />
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, by<br />
Clark M. Gesner.” Based on the loveable<br />
“Peanuts” comic strip characters cre<strong>at</strong>ed by<br />
Charles Schulz, this fun and poignant Tony<br />
Award-winning musical takes the audience<br />
through a day in the life of Charlie Brown.<br />
From wild optimism to utter despair, Charlie<br />
and his friends offer their unique wisdom<br />
and insights into life. All performances held<br />
<strong>at</strong> the Sunnyvale The<strong>at</strong>re <strong>at</strong> the Sunnyvale<br />
Community Center, 505 East Remmington<br />
Drive in Sunnyvale. For performance times<br />
and ticket inform<strong>at</strong>ion visit www.ctcinc.org<br />
or call 720-0873.<br />
June 3 – S<strong>at</strong>urday<br />
Turn off the T.V. and come outside! The<br />
Friends of Guadalupe River Park &<br />
from Johnson St<strong>at</strong>e College, Vermont and is<br />
certified by the American Council on<br />
Exercise as a Personal Trainer. She is also<br />
CPR, AED and First Aid certified. Kristin will<br />
start off with some tips on walking correctly<br />
as well as the health benefits of walking.<br />
Along the trail she will show how many fe<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
of the park, like stairs and low walls,<br />
can be used for fitness opportunities along<br />
the way and will also be incorpor<strong>at</strong>ing fun<br />
games, yoga and stretching into the walk.<br />
We’ll finish off with a healthy snack and a<br />
handout th<strong>at</strong> will include all the activities th<strong>at</strong><br />
were introduced during the walk so you and<br />
your family can come back and do it all<br />
again and as often as you would like.<br />
Please bring a w<strong>at</strong>er bottle, sun protection<br />
and wear good walking shoes. Cost is $10<br />
Adult/members, $12 Adult/non-members.<br />
$8 per child (5 years and older). Space is<br />
limited to only 20 Participants, so reserve<br />
now by contacting Kary Houle <strong>at</strong> educ<strong>at</strong>ion@grpg.org<br />
or 298-7657. Please visit<br />
www.grpg.org for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
June 4 – Sunday<br />
The Mexican Heritage Plaza The<strong>at</strong>re, 1700<br />
Alum Rock Avenue, presents:<br />
“Zamacueca!” This unique, first in the<br />
world, production fe<strong>at</strong>ures 15 musicians and<br />
40 dancers representing five different countries<br />
who take the stage to tell the tale of<br />
interweaving commercial enterprise, historical<br />
trade routes, and economic and political<br />
development th<strong>at</strong> connect the cultural heritage<br />
and spirits of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina,<br />
Chile, Mexico and the United St<strong>at</strong>es. This<br />
Naglee Avenue, San Jose, will explore the<br />
life and career of Leonardo Da Vinci in its<br />
new exhibit "Leonardo Da Vinci: Artist,<br />
Scientist, Mystic." This family-friendly<br />
exhibit will fe<strong>at</strong>ure reproductions of<br />
Leonardo¹s sketches, scale models of his<br />
inventions (including the winged-glider), and<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials from the Rosicrucian Library.<br />
Docents will be available, and there will be<br />
gallery discussions regarding Leonardo¹s<br />
historical context of, his spiritual and artistic<br />
sides, and his being a link between the<br />
Ancient World and the Modern World.<br />
Entrance to the Exhibit is included with<br />
Museum Admission. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
visit www.egyptianmuseum.org or call 947-<br />
3636.<br />
May 26 – 29<br />
FanimeCon 2006: Held <strong>at</strong> the McEnery<br />
Convention Center & Civic Auditorium in<br />
San Jose, FanimeCon is the Bay Area’s<br />
biggest anime convention. This event<br />
includes live panel discussions, workshops,<br />
cosplay events, music, gaming, 24-hour<br />
anime programming and dances. Not-tomiss<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>ures include huge dealers’ rooms<br />
full of anime and manga goods. For more<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion, visit www.fanime.com.<br />
June 2 – Friday<br />
Unique Lives & Experiences presents “Lily<br />
Tomlin” <strong>at</strong> 7:30 p.m. <strong>at</strong> the Center for the<br />
Performing Arts in San Jose. Lily and her<br />
hilarious characters will sound off on modern<br />
life, love, childhood, the media, pop culture,<br />
the past and the future. You will find<br />
Branham High School Class of 1976. Our<br />
30th Reunion is September 30 <strong>at</strong> Coyote<br />
Ranch. We are looking for you and your<br />
high school friends. Please email Pam Poor<br />
<strong>at</strong> pamela.schuur@comcast.net to get on<br />
the mailing list and visit www.geocities/branham76<br />
for upd<strong>at</strong>es.<br />
Humane Society of Silicon Valley<br />
Companion Animal Loss Support Group<br />
Meetings: First Wednesday of each month<br />
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Loc<strong>at</strong>ion: Humane Society<br />
Silicon Valley, 2530 Lafayette St. Santa<br />
Clara. Facilit<strong>at</strong>or: Adam Dorsay, M.A. For<br />
more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call 450-1800.<br />
HAVE AN ITEM FOR OUR<br />
CALENDAR?<br />
We are seeking calendar items pertaining to<br />
the South Bay communities we cover in our<br />
seven monthly community newspapers:<br />
Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Campbell,<br />
Evergreen, Santa Teresa, Willow Glen, and<br />
our weekly public<strong>at</strong>ion, <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Weekly. Items must be submitted by e-mail<br />
or fax several weeks before the event. Send<br />
an email to candy@timesmediainc.com or<br />
fax to Candy Richter <strong>at</strong> 494-7078. Photos<br />
should be sent digitally as jpegs or mailed<br />
to Calendar, <strong>Times</strong> Newspapers, 1310 Tully<br />
Rd., Suite 107, San Jose, CA 95122. Due<br />
to the large volume of items received calendar<br />
requests left on voice mail cannot be<br />
used. Space is limited.
95030<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
305 W MAIN ST<br />
$1,875,000<br />
4 BR, 2.5 BA, 3,055 SqFt.<br />
Greg Simpson, INTERO REAL ESTATE SERVICES<br />
(408) 357-6187<br />
95120<br />
OPEN SUN MAY 28, 1:00 - 4:00 pm<br />
1462 NESBIT CT<br />
$950,000<br />
4 BR, 2.5 BA, 2,024 SqFt. Beautiful remodeled<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> home!<br />
C<strong>at</strong>hy Hickey, FIRESIDE REALTY<br />
(408) 476-2327<br />
95138<br />
OPEN SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
5899 ASSISI CT<br />
$1,449,950<br />
4 BR, 3 BA, 2,827 Sqft. Silver Creek Country Club!<br />
George Montanari, ALAIN PINEL REALTORS<br />
(408) 357-8808<br />
95032<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:00 - 4:00 pm<br />
15171 LESTER LANE<br />
$1,498,888<br />
5 BR, 3 BA, 2,877 SqFt. Spanish Manor!<br />
Wanda Klor, REALTY WORLD<br />
(408) 267-8808<br />
95120<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
995 HAMPSWOOD WAY<br />
$1,415,000<br />
4 BR, 3 BA, 3,328 SqFt.<br />
Margaret Yost, COLDWELL BANKER<br />
(408) 445-5133<br />
95138<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
1735 LUCCA PLACE<br />
$1,498,000<br />
3 BR, 3.5 BA, 3,201 SqFt. Silver Creek Valley Country<br />
Club!<br />
Wilson C. Fang, HELP-U-SELL WESTLAKE REALTY<br />
(408) 229-8700<br />
95120<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
6512 ALMADEN RD<br />
$1,050,000<br />
4 BR, 2.5 BA, 2,034 SqFt.<br />
MaryAnn Schroeder, ALAIN PINEL REALTORS<br />
(408) 410-7356<br />
95032<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
15485 CORINNE DR<br />
$1,524,999<br />
4 BR, 4+ BA, 2,800 Sqft. Gorgeous remodel!<br />
Randy Pertner, COLDWELL BANKER<br />
(408) 445-5192<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 49<br />
Get Listed! To place an ad in the Open House Directory, call Ryan Ozubko <strong>at</strong> (408) 494-7000 x204.<br />
95120<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
1154 EAGLE CLIFF COURT<br />
$1,799,999<br />
4 BR, 3.5 BA, 2,900 SqFt. Awesome home!<br />
Mohan M. Kinra, ALAIN PINEL REALTORS<br />
(408) 406-2821<br />
95008<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
2575 OAK PARK LANE<br />
$848,800<br />
4 BR, 2 BA, 1,687 SqFt. Excellent schools!<br />
Kelly Weimer, ALAIN PINEL REALTORS<br />
(408) 674-4069<br />
95120<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
7014 SILVER STAR CT<br />
$719,000<br />
3 BR, 2.5 BA, 1,739 SqFt.<br />
Minua Jin, BAY ONE REAL ESTATE<br />
(408) 391-9883<br />
95030<br />
OPEN SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
16115 MAYS AVE<br />
$1,998,000<br />
5 BR, 3 BA, 3,000 SqFt. Fine details!<br />
Don & Darlene, ALAIN PINEL REALTORS<br />
(408) 741-1111 ext. 636<br />
95120<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27 & SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 PM<br />
1189 ALMADEN OAKS LANE<br />
$2,230,000<br />
4 BR, 4 BA, EXQUISITE HOME!<br />
AGNES HERNANDEZ, VENTURA BARNETT<br />
PROPERTIES (408) 482-0945<br />
95136<br />
OPEN SAT MAY 27, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
5079 SUTTER CREEK CIRCLE<br />
$434,000<br />
2 BR, 1.5 BA, 988 SqFt.<br />
Wilson C. Fang, HELP-U-SELL WESTLAKE REALTY<br />
(408) 229-8700<br />
95127<br />
OPEN SUN MAY 28, 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
10153 BON VISTA CT<br />
$1,300,000<br />
4 BR, 3.5 BA, 3,431 SqFt.<br />
Sherry Hitchcock, ALAIN PINEL REALTORS<br />
(408) 314-0678<br />
95030<br />
OPEN SUN MAY 28 , 1:30 - 4:30 pm<br />
17150 LOS ROBLES WAY<br />
$2,999,000<br />
5 BR, 4+ BA, 4,942 SqFt. Los G<strong>at</strong>os schools!<br />
Bill Gorman, COLDWELL BANKER<br />
(408) 872-3555
Page 50 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
<strong>Times</strong>Fe<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
HUMOR<br />
Bush: Keep<br />
Guantanamo<br />
open, close U.N.<br />
Calls conditions<br />
<strong>at</strong> world body<br />
'intolerable'<br />
D<br />
ays after a United<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ions panel issued a<br />
report roundly criticiz-<br />
ing practices <strong>at</strong> the U.S. detention center <strong>at</strong><br />
Guantanamo, President George W. Bush<br />
said today th<strong>at</strong> the Guantanamo facility<br />
should remain open but th<strong>at</strong> the United<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ions should be closed.<br />
Mr. Bush's plan to keep Guantanamo<br />
open but close the United N<strong>at</strong>ions seemed<br />
likely to fall far short of the recommend<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the U.N. panel put forth.<br />
But <strong>at</strong> a press briefing <strong>at</strong> the White<br />
House, the president remained steadfast in<br />
his position th<strong>at</strong> the U.N. should be closed,<br />
calling conditions there "intolerable and<br />
possibly in viol<strong>at</strong>ion of the Geneva<br />
Conventions."<br />
"The United N<strong>at</strong>ions regularly issues<br />
reports, which we are then<br />
forced to read," Mr. Bush said.<br />
"This practice of making us<br />
read things is tantamount to<br />
torture."<br />
"Day in, day out, the U.S.<br />
ambassador to the United<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ions is forced to listen to<br />
the endless ramblings of foreigners,<br />
many of whom do not<br />
speak English <strong>at</strong> all," Mr. Bush<br />
continued. "He is forced to<br />
The<br />
wear those ear-thingies in his<br />
ears to understand them, and<br />
after hours of having those<br />
on, his ears start to hurt bad."<br />
Mr. Bush said th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
United N<strong>at</strong>ions has carried<br />
out other inhumane practices for years,<br />
including "making people get resolutions<br />
approved before they can go and invade<br />
other countries."<br />
The president concluded his remarks by<br />
congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ing Iraq on forming a new government,<br />
adding, "Now it is your duty to do<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> all governments must do: eavesdrop<br />
on your people."<br />
Elsewhere, a new study shows th<strong>at</strong> apes<br />
are capable of planning ahead, except for<br />
the ones who work <strong>at</strong> FEMA.<br />
For more from Andy Borowitz go to<br />
www.borowitzreport.com. Andy Borowitz is<br />
a n<strong>at</strong>ionally syndic<strong>at</strong>ed humor columnist<br />
whose work can be found in Newsweek and<br />
other public<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Borowitz<br />
Report<br />
Andy Borowitz<br />
Recent Real Est<strong>at</strong>e Transactions in <strong>Almaden</strong> Valley<br />
Address Zip Sale Price Bed B<strong>at</strong>h Sq. ft.<br />
4671 CAPAY CT 95118 $365,000 2 1 810<br />
1323 SHAWN DR 95118 $377,000 2 1 810<br />
1423 SANTA FE DR 95118 $660,000 4 2 1408<br />
5002 RUSSO DR 95118 $725,000 3 2.5 1513<br />
4472 WAIMEA CT 95118 $755,000 3 2 1406<br />
6702 COPPERWOOD CI 95120 $659,000 3 2.5 1451<br />
1038 KISER DR 95120 $722,000 3 2.5 1470<br />
6394 MENLO DR 95120 $768,500 3 2 1468<br />
6394 FARM HILL WY 95120 $772,000 3 2 1423<br />
972 REDMOND AV 95120 $840,000 4 2 1859<br />
1067 REDMOND AV 95120 $870,000 6+ 4+ 2236<br />
6270 TWEEDHOLM CT 95120 $968,000 4 2.5 2241<br />
1630 VIA CAMPAGNA 95120 $976,000 4 2.5 2035<br />
1376 CAMINO ROBLES WY 95120 $1,042,000 5 3 2673<br />
Get a free home evalu<strong>at</strong>ion today <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>HomeValues.com<br />
StreetTalk by Carol Rosen<br />
The <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly celebr<strong>at</strong>es<br />
its 20th anniversary this week. Wh<strong>at</strong> do<br />
you like best and least about the paper?<br />
(Asked <strong>at</strong> <strong>Almaden</strong> Center)<br />
“I read it whenever<br />
I get it. I love to<br />
read it. I like it<br />
because it has<br />
local articles and I<br />
[often] get to read<br />
about someone I<br />
know. They even<br />
had an article<br />
about my daughter once; it was the<br />
one about the personal ponies. The<br />
only thing I don't like is th<strong>at</strong> there<br />
may be too many ads.”<br />
Michelle Martinez, 38<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Real est<strong>at</strong>e investment<br />
“I don't get to read<br />
it regularly every<br />
time it comes out,<br />
but when I do I<br />
like the local news<br />
and how it gives<br />
the flavor of wh<strong>at</strong>'s<br />
going on in<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong>.”<br />
John Hughmanick, 49<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Law enforcement<br />
“I do read it a lot to<br />
see wh<strong>at</strong>'s happening<br />
in sports and in<br />
school scenes. I<br />
like how it interacts<br />
with everything<br />
in <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
and doesn't leave<br />
anything out.”<br />
Kelly Estrella, 15<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Sophomore <strong>at</strong> Leland High<br />
“Yes, I do read it. I<br />
like the articles on<br />
students, {such as}<br />
school scenes and<br />
sports. There's<br />
nothing I really dislike,<br />
but there are a<br />
lot of ads.”<br />
Charlie Ajlouni, 34<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Computer consultant<br />
“I like the sports<br />
section."<br />
Hannah Gootee, 14<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Eighth grader <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Country<br />
School<br />
"I read it regularly.<br />
I like school scene<br />
and the high<br />
school sports sections<br />
best. It gets<br />
delivered for free<br />
so it's good."<br />
Clark Marquard,<br />
45<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Stay-<strong>at</strong>-home dad<br />
"I read it regularly.<br />
I think the community<br />
news section<br />
is best<br />
because it keeps<br />
me posted on local<br />
and area news th<strong>at</strong><br />
gets glossed over<br />
by the Mercury<br />
News.<br />
Bob Weber, 60<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Distributes Pepperidge Farm cookies<br />
"I look <strong>at</strong> the pictures<br />
and school<br />
scenes and sports.<br />
I can't think of<br />
anything bad about<br />
it."<br />
Rosie Youhana, 17<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Junior <strong>at</strong> Leland<br />
"Oh yes, I definitely<br />
read it regularly.<br />
I always like looking<br />
<strong>at</strong> all the open<br />
houses and the<br />
crime blotter, but I<br />
will forever miss<br />
Kymberli Brady. I<br />
love everything<br />
about the paper. I can't even think<br />
about one bad thing about it."<br />
Shanna S<strong>at</strong>alino, 36<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Plumbing contractor<br />
“I read it regularly.<br />
I like the Street<br />
Talk section of the<br />
paper. I like to see<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> friends and<br />
neighbors say and I<br />
like to see if anyone<br />
I know got<br />
caught. And, today<br />
you caught me!"<br />
Neal Timmers, 37<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Stay-<strong>at</strong>-home dad
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 51
Page 52 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
<strong>Times</strong>Classifieds<br />
Announcements<br />
Hot<br />
Website Design<br />
www.zyzzix.com<br />
For Sale<br />
Automotive<br />
Children<br />
CHILD CARE<br />
Close to<br />
Capitol & <strong>Almaden</strong><br />
Mandarin / English<br />
Lower R<strong>at</strong>e -No L<strong>at</strong>e Charge<br />
408-421-2369<br />
DO YOU WANT<br />
TO HAVE<br />
A GARAGE SALE?<br />
ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION<br />
LISA @ 408-494-7000 ext.221<br />
Children<br />
Tutor<br />
Dining<br />
Jewelry<br />
Dining<br />
Floral<br />
Divorce Hiking<br />
Framing<br />
Jewelry<br />
Music<br />
Pets<br />
�<br />
Photography<br />
Music<br />
Pets<br />
�<br />
Yummy Tre<strong>at</strong>s<br />
Cool Collars<br />
Furniture<br />
Fun Toys<br />
Travel Gear<br />
Hip Apparel<br />
NOW OPEN<br />
Spring Sale<br />
10% Off<br />
Selected<br />
Merchandise<br />
241 E. Campbell Avenue, Suite B<br />
(408) 379-BARK (2275)<br />
www.metropooch.com
Jobs and Careers<br />
Animals Models<br />
Caregiver<br />
Carpets<br />
Housekeeper<br />
Health Care<br />
Printing<br />
Salon<br />
Spas<br />
Teaching<br />
Tutor<br />
Real Est<strong>at</strong>e<br />
FAIR HOUSING NOTICE: All real est<strong>at</strong>e advertised is subject to the St<strong>at</strong>e and Federal Fair<br />
Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limit<strong>at</strong>ion or discrimin<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The “<strong>Times</strong>” will not knowingly accept any advertising for real est<strong>at</strong>e which is in<br />
viol<strong>at</strong>ion of the law. All persons are hereby informed th<strong>at</strong> all dwellings advertised are<br />
available on an equal opportunity basis to the best of our knowledge.<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 53<br />
Business Opportunities<br />
IRA/401k INVESTORS<br />
We Have Consistently paid out<br />
Double-Digit Annual Yields<br />
over our company’s history.<br />
• Low Risk & Liquid — Have<br />
access to your funds on-line or<br />
close your account any time.<br />
How are your investments doing?<br />
Call today or see our website.<br />
www.LancasterCapitalMgmt.com<br />
Salon
Page 54 � May 26–June 1, 2006 � <strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly<br />
B<strong>at</strong>hs<br />
Carpet<br />
Notice to readers: Licensed contractors are required by St<strong>at</strong>e law to list their license<br />
number in advertisements. The law also st<strong>at</strong>es contractors performing work totaling<br />
$300 or more must be st<strong>at</strong>e license. Advertisements appearing in the “<strong>Times</strong>” without<br />
a license number indic<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> the contractor is not licensed.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion contact: Contractors St<strong>at</strong>e License Board <strong>at</strong> 1-800-321-CSLB.<br />
Carpentry<br />
Carpet<br />
Concrete Co<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
Construction<br />
Counters<br />
Consulting<br />
Electrician<br />
Construction<br />
Supplies<br />
Detailing<br />
Flooring<br />
Gutters<br />
Flooring<br />
Gutters<br />
Handyman<br />
Handyman<br />
Home & Yard<br />
Pressure Cleaning<br />
Hauling<br />
Landscaping<br />
Hauling<br />
House Cleaning<br />
Landscaping
Landscaping<br />
Moulding<br />
Painting<br />
“No job too big or too small.”<br />
* Fine Home Painting * Interior to Exterior<br />
Residential * Power Washing &<br />
Deck Refinishing * FREE Estim<strong>at</strong>es<br />
* High Quality, Professional Work<br />
25 Years Experience<br />
CALL LARRY RUYF<br />
(408) 225-3311<br />
Roofing<br />
S<strong>at</strong>ellite TV<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Weekly � May 26–June 1, 2006 � Page 55<br />
Plumbing<br />
Pool/Spa<br />
Shoes<br />
Tile<br />
Screen Printing<br />
Upholstery<br />
Windows<br />
Ad Disclaimer: <strong>Times</strong> Media Inc. does not accept liability for its failure, for any cause,<br />
to insert an advertisement in any of the seven <strong>Times</strong> Media Community Newspapers:<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>, Blossom Valley <strong>Times</strong>, Cambrian <strong>Times</strong>, Campbell <strong>Times</strong>, Evergreen<br />
<strong>Times</strong>, Santa Teresa <strong>Times</strong>, and/or the Willow Glen <strong>Times</strong>. The liability for any error(s)<br />
appearing in an advertisement is limited to the cost of the space actually occupied or<br />
where printed in any above mentioned newspapers. No allowance, however, will be<br />
granted for an error th<strong>at</strong> does not m<strong>at</strong>erially affect the value of the advertisement. To<br />
qualify for an adjustment, any error(s) must be reported within 10 calendar days of the<br />
public<strong>at</strong>ion d<strong>at</strong>e. The actual credit for the error(s) is limited to the first insertion only.
ALMADEN VALLEY<br />
$1,580,000<br />
GRAYSTONE HOMES OF ALMADEN~Beautiful<br />
executive home fe<strong>at</strong>ures 5bd/3ba and a bonus room.<br />
Backyard pool includes a spa/w<strong>at</strong>er fall and a w<strong>at</strong>er<br />
slide.<br />
Member of the<br />
Artisan Group<br />
www.ArtisanGroupRE.com<br />
TRUST EXPERIENCE<br />
Y OUR A REA E XPERT IN R EAL E STATE<br />
SOQUEL<br />
$1,234,950<br />
SANTA CRUZ GARDENS HOME~Views of the<br />
Bay. Dram<strong>at</strong>ic entry, bright open formal LR & DR.<br />
Upgraded gourmet kitchen, granite countertops and<br />
large deck off FR.<br />
ALMADEN VALLEY<br />
$1,125,000<br />
ELEGANT ALMADEN VALLEY HOME~Spiral<br />
staircase, 1bd/1ba downstairs priv<strong>at</strong>e entry,custom fe<strong>at</strong>ures,<br />
granite counters and huge park like yard, pool,<br />
spa, w<strong>at</strong>erfall.<br />
ALMADEN VALLEY<br />
$2,230,000<br />
HIDDEN TREASURE ~ A tranquil setting of massive oaks, sycamores and a creek with its own wood bridge greets visitors <strong>at</strong> this<br />
exquisite custom home in a <strong>Almaden</strong> g<strong>at</strong>ed community. 4 bd/4 full b<strong>at</strong>hs. Luxurious master suite with fireplace, 2 walk in closets,<br />
refriger<strong>at</strong>or and sink with hot w<strong>at</strong>er tap. Enchanting master b<strong>at</strong>h includes steam shower and slipper foot tub. Spectacular gre<strong>at</strong> room<br />
with cherry floors, built-in entertainment center and granite fireplace. A gazebo with recessed lights, wet bar and ceiling fan and a p<strong>at</strong>io<br />
with a built-in BBQ, refriger<strong>at</strong>or and gas fire pit make entertaining a dream on this 47,045 sq. ft. lot (approx). $2,230,000<br />
<strong>Almaden</strong> Office<br />
5985-B <strong>Almaden</strong> Expressway<br />
San Jose, CA 95120<br />
(408) 997-9999<br />
www.vbprop.com<br />
Campbell Office<br />
54 N. Central Avenue, Suite 102<br />
Campbell, CA 95008
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