Cambrian Relay For Life scores high points

By Carol Rosen, Editor

Cambrian Park held its first Relay For Life on May 1-2 and succeeded beyond anyone’s dreams.

The “Baby Relay,” which the American Cancer Society had hoped would pull in 25 teams and $25,000, scored 46 teams and the money, as of May 4, was at $140,000 and still coming in. About 50 survivors took part.

“It was amazing, given the weather,” said Patrick Male, the ACS corporate relations manager. “I was convinced that participation levels would be [adversely] affected because of the weather. But it wasn’t. People came out and it was inspiring and added to the spirit of the event,” he said.

Just under 600 people “passionately” participated in the event, despite the rain and muggy temperatures. This first Relay was planned as an introduction, and, according to Male typically doesn’t usually receive such a hearty response.

One reason could be the help provided by the veteran volunteers from Willow Glen. From that neighborhood’s chair, Mary Keenan, and throughout the volunteer ranks the Willow Glen folks helped every step of the way. “Willow Glen mentored our committee,” said Male, and “Mary Keenan helped every step of the way.”

Of course, it didn’t hurt that Xilinx was the title sponsor and that Patty Nation, the firm’s Global Communication Relations senior manager was event chair. Other sponsors included Quiznos from Camden Park and California Sports Center.

Although Vice Mayor Judy Chirco was there in spirit, she was under the weather and unable to attend. However, her husband Ed Chirco, a fixture in the Cambrian community, stepped in and spoke on her behalf. Chirco was a huge supporter as was her office, which made a team donation.

The opening ceremonies also included Xilinx CEO Moshe Gavrielov and cancer survivor Tammy Bower.

It looks like Cambrian is hooked on Relay and plans are definite for next year’s second annual event. Male said the feedback has been great and participants and volunteers are excited and looking forward to next year.

The top five teams for the Relay were Hope Sparkles, Bunco Babes, X Out Cancer, WaterLily Allstars and Team Tig. The top five participants were Carol Hofheimer, Roger Seaman, Emma Tucker, Alicia Genchi and Kari Ito. With most of the top five companies actually being schools, besides Xilinx, they were Leigh High School, Union Middle School, Oster Elementary School and the Union School District.

One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. The Relay For Life® unites communities across the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. This year marks the beginning of our celebration of 25 years of Relay For Life.

Camden Community Center receives LEED certification

As Camden Community Center welcomes over 1,000 area residents this month for the Celebrate Cambrian Festival, it will celebrate a few milestones of its own.

Located just north of Camden and Union and known for the giant sculpture of a hand that sits out front, the center has grown into one of the city’s most popular community facilities, and last month was officially recognized as a “green” building by the U.S. Green Building Council. The recognition comes just in time for the May 16 community festival held annually on the center grounds.

A first for any San Jose community center, the green building certification recognizes innovative (and sometimes downright unusual) design features that make the center energy efficient and squeaky-clean. Recycled and renewable materials are everywhere: floors made of bamboo (instead of wood), countertops made of pressed wheat board and sunflower seeds and insulation made of “cotton batt”—a fancy name for recycled blue jeans.

Waterless urinals and drought resistant landscaping save on water, while abundant natural light reduces electricity use. All of this efficiency adds up to dollars and cents for the city, by saving on operating costs. “Green buildings are a key piece of San Jose’s environmental strategy,” says Vice Mayor Judy Chirco, Cambrian’s representative on the City Council. “They reduce our impact on the environment, and reduce our costs at the same time.”

The green recognition comes a little over three years after the center opened its doors in 2005. The number of classes and amenities offered has grown steadily over that period; center staff reports that over 4,800 people signed up for classes last year, with offerings that include exercise classes, summer swim lessons and children’s summer camps.

In 2008, the center’s classes brought in enough revenue to completely cover their costs. Spring and summer classes for 2009 are filling up fast, especially since the city’s Parks Department unveiled online class registration, available at www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/register.

The most popular event by far is the annual Celebrate Cambrian Festival, now marking its fourth year. Planned for Saturday, May 16, and lasting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the festival is anticipated to exceed last year’s 1,000-plus attendees, who enjoyed such family entertainment as a children’s fun zone and mascot dance contest.

The dance contest will make a return this year, along with an art contest, small car show, bicycle helmet giveaway, free food and live entertainment, including the Leigh High School Band and local rock group the Groove Kings. More than 40 public agencies and community organizations will also be in attendance, providing information about their services.

Vice Mayor Chirco, who helped start the festival in 2006 soon after the center opened, sees the celebration as a way to build a sense of community, “In uncertain times,” she says, “I think it’s more important than ever for us to come together with our family and neighbors to celebrate our community.”

A longtime Cambrian resident, Chirco has a history with the center going back decades. As a teenager she attended the now closed Camden High School, which used to occupy the current community center site. Later, as a community activist, she stumped for the city to buy a piece of the old school property. As a member of the city council, now in her seventh year in office, she has seen the center go from construction site to thriving community hub.

“It gives me hope to see how we’ve been able to give my old school new life,” she reflects. “Our community is always renewing itself.