February 1, 2007

NewsBriefs

Booksin to hold annual blood drive Feb. 9

Booksin Elementary School will hold its annual blood drive in the school cafeteria on Friday, Feb. 9 from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

This year’s donors will receive a free T-shirt with each donation. The T-shirt features artwork from the Healing HeARTs project, supporting creative expression of children at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. They’ll also be entered in a drawing for a free Warrior’s ticket. One out of two donors will be chosen automatically.

For more information about the school drive, contact Vern Ladd at (408) 448-2323. For more information about giving blood, go to http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu.

Construction continues on Lincoln Avenue

Construction on the Lincoln Brace storm drain improvement project began on Monday, Jan. 22 and is expected to be complete by Feb. 5.

The project is located along the west side of Lincoln Avenue between Brace and Minnesota. Construction activities will consist of installing new curb and gutter, new storm drain catch basins (near La Villa's and between LeBoulanger and Mann's) and storm laterals to facilitate storm water drainage along Lincoln Avenue. The construction firm of Stoloski and Gonzalez, Inc. has been retained to perform the work, which is a project of the Department of Public Works of San Jose.

Expect minor disruptions to traffic flow along and around Lincoln Avenue due to temporary lane closures during the construction period. A minimum of one lane of traffic in each direction along Lincoln Avenue will be maintained at all times and police officers will be assigned to control traffic for the full duration of construction.

Some on-street parking within the project area may be temporarily unavailable for public use during the construction period. "Tow Away-No Stopping" signs will be clearly posted at least 24 hours in advance.

Work hours will be from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. where the work requires a one-lane closure, or from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. where the work requires a two-lane closure.

Groups to hold District 6 candidate forums

San Jose District 6 Leaders Group and the Preservation Action Council of San Jose will hold a meet and greet with questions for the two candidates running for the vacant District 6 city council seat. The forum will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the United Way Building, 1922 The Alameda, Room 107.

Candidates Pierluigi Oliverio and Steve Tedesco will answer questions about land-use issues including zoning regulations, high-density transportation corridors, neighborhood planning and historic preservation.
Parking is located behind the building off McKendrie Street.

The Willow Glen Business and Professional Association will host a candidate forum at its Feb. 13 meeting . The two candidates will have five minutes each to provide an introduction, followed by 10 minutes of prepared questions and answers and then a few questions from those attending.

Oliverio’s segment will run from 8:15 to 8:40 a.m. with Tedesco’s segment scheduled for 9:15 to 9:40 a.m.

For more information about the candidates, visit www.fromhereforus.com for Oliverio’s Web site and www.stevetedesco.com for Tedesco. For more information about the forum or to submit questions, e-mail Michael@sdsnenexgen.com.

Santa Clara Country registrar mails sample ballots

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters has begun mailing sample ballots for the March 6 special election. Sample ballots for this election will only be sent to voters registered in San Jose City Council Districts 4 and 6.

The Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet contains voting instructions, information about City Council candidates, and the voter’s assigned polling place location. It also includes an application for absentee voting. Voters may choose to request an absentee ballot for this election only, or they can sign up for permanent absentee voting to automatically receive a ballot every election.

Sample ballots will be mailed to voters who register by Monday, Feb. 5. Voters who register after Feb. 5 will receive a letter to confirm their registration and polling place location. The last day to register to vote in the March election is Tuesday, Feb. 20. Only voters in San Jose City Council Districts 4 and 6 are eligible to vote in this election.

This is not a countywide election.

Santa Clara County provides sample ballots in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Tagalog. Voters can update their language preference by calling toll-free (866) 430-VOTE [8683] or completing a preferred language survey card at the polls on Election Day. Survey cards are also available online at www.sccvote.org.

Additional information, voter registration forms and absentee voting applications are available at the Registrar of Voters’ Office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, and online at www.sccvote.org.

Pfc. Humphries graduates from basic training

Army Pfc. Robert T. Humphreys has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, Humphreys studied the Army mission, history, tradition, core values and physical fitness and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.

He is the son of Annette Humphreys-Tennant of San Jose and the grandson of Sharon Humphreys of Campbell.
Humphreys is a 2006 graduate of Branham High School.

CCOC seeks auto exhibitors

The Central County Occupational Center will host its Fourth Annual Custom and Classic Car Show benefiting CCOC’s SkillsUSA Club on May 11 from 5 to 9 pm, at 760 Hillsdale Ave., in San Jose.

A $10 tax-deductible donation/fee is all it takes to exhibit a custom, classic or vintage car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle in the CCOC auto show. Exhibitors will also receive a free meal. All proceeds will go directly to support students competing in the upcoming SkillsUSA competitions.

Call Instructor Steve Johnson at (408) 723-6480 or e-mail him at sjohnson@metroed.net to register as an exhibitor. Spaghetti, hot dogs and soft drinks will be available for purchase by spectators. Spectators’ admission to the car show is free.

CCOC Engines and Transmission instructor Charlie Thompson will play 50s and 60s music with his local band, Flashpoint.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students enrolled in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA provides education experiences for students in leadership and teamwork and helps build self-confidence, professional work attitudes and communication skills. Many of CCOC’s SkillsUSA club members compete in annual SkillsUSA championships at the regional, state and national levels.

MetroED’s garden workshop features California native plants

The Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) is offering a new free World Garden Workshop on California native plants on Feb. 17 at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave. in San Jose.

Master Gardener Sharon McCray will lead the workshop, which will be held from 10 to noon, rain or shine, in Room 18, across from MetroED’s World Garden. 

The World Garden is located on the Southwestern edge of the Erikson Adult Center campus.  Look for the redwood trees and the greenhouse roof after entering the fenced parking lot on Minas Drive, off of Pearl Avenue.

To register for the free workshop, call (408) 723-6450 and ask to have your name added to the February World Garden Workshop list or e-mail ritab@metroed.net.

MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 35,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.

Infant massage classes at Good Samaritan Hospital

For the Mom or Dad who plans to be a real “hands-on” parent, Good Samaritan Hospital now offers infant massage classes as part of its childbirth and parenting education program.

“Infant massage is an ancient tradition,” says Patricia Bonasera who leads the childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding education programs at the hospital. “It’s a tactile expression of love, security and physical comfort. Infant massage is effective in helping to reduce crying, and many parents report it helps with gas.”

The hospital offers single session prenatal infant massage classes the first and third Tuesdays of each month. This gives parents the opportunity to begin using infant massage techniques as soon as their child arrives. Four-week sessions for a parent and baby are available throughout the year.

Good Samaritan Hospital offers a variety of childbirth preparation, parenting and breastfeeding classes, including programs for siblings expecting a new baby in the family and dad-only workshops led by a father of two.

Breastfeeding and New Mothers support groups are free. Classes and workshops have low registration fees.

Class schedules and registration are available online at www.parentingandbreastfeeding.com or by calling (408) 559-BABY.

Good Samaritan Hospital was one of the first five hospitals in the U.S. certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and was the first hospital in San Jose to use the Merci clot retrieval system to treat stroke patients. Opened in 1965 as a general acute care hospital, Good Sam is recognized for acute and tertiary services, including cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, behavioral health and specialized surgery. For more information, visit www.goodsamsanjose.com.

Santa Clara County resumes HIV/AIDS rapid testing

The state of California has given Santa Clara County the authority to resume HIV/AIDS rapid testing as of Jan. 16. The county had been directed to cease the rapid testing because its clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments license had not been approved and testing is not permitted without the license.

“A lapse in the availability of rapid testing means lives,” said Ken Yeager, District 4 County supervisor. “The moment this situation came to my attention, I had to act. At the Jan. 9 Board of Supervisor’s meeting, Yeager urged the Public Health Department to do everything necessary to get the license approved and testing up and running again.

Rapid testing is critical because it offers test results in 20 minutes as opposed to up to two weeks with traditional testing methods. On site counseling is provided at the time the results are shared with the rapid testing.

The University of California and the California State Office of AIDS reported in July 2006, that more than 25 percent of clients who were given conventional tests did not return for their results. With rapid testing, statistics show only 2.3 percent don’t return for results.

“The more individuals who get tested and know their status, the faster they can change their behavior to help stop the spread of the disease,” said Yeager.

Cambrian Community Council announces meeting dates

The Cambrian Community Council (CCC) meets the first Monday of each month, unless the first Monday is a holiday or election day, and then the meeting moves to the second Monday of the month. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are located at the Cambrian School District Office, 4115 Jacksol Drive.

The CCC is an elected board of experienced community volunteers from various Cambrian neighborhoods dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life of the Cambrian Community. It provides a forum for community concerns and acts as a liaison between the community and city, county and state officials. For more information, contact Vicki Alexander at (408) 507-6050.

The CCC will meet on the following dates:

Feb. 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, Aug. 6, Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov. 13 and Dec. 3.

City offers free tax preparation assistance for seniors

San Jose’s department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services and its Office on Aging/Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in conjunction with the AARP and the IRS is offering a free tax preparation program to assist seniors, ages 50 and over, and lower income clients with tax returns.

Tax Aide volunteers will be available to answer basic tax issues and assist clients with tax preparation. This year, all taxpayers regardless of income, can request a one-time telephone tax refund and receive an extra $30 to $60 on their return.

The program is available from Thursday, Feb. 1 through Saturday, April 14 at various times, dates and locations throughout the city.

The city of San Jose's Tax-Aide Program has been providing free tax preparation services for over 20 years to middle and low-income clients. Last year, the Tax-Aide volunteers prepared over 1,500 returns at 18 different sites throughout San Jose.

To schedule an appointment or to find out more information about the program, contact the RSVP Volunteer Tax-Aide Program at the Office on Aging at (408) 979-7906.

New board members elected for Guadalupe River Park & Gardens

Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens announced the election of five new members to the nonprofit Board of Directors in 2006. Elected for a three-year term beginning this month are Megan Doyle, aide to Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager; Kimberly Ellis, public affairs director, San Jose Area, for Kaiser Permanente; Papia Gambelin, government affairs and marketing manager for Green Waste Recovery Inc.; Andrew Giorgianni, attorney with the firm of Berliner Cohen; and Norm Kline, president and CEO of Library World, Inc.

First Congregational Church to hold visiting scholar lecture

Bart D. Ehrman will present this year’s Visiting Scholar lecture at the First Congregational Church on Hamilton Avenue.
Ehrman is the fifth speaker for the annual lecture in the Adult Education Roundtable project sponsored by the United Disciples Fellowship in partnership with the First Congregational Church of San Jose.

Ehrman, the James A. Gray distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill will speak on “The End That Never Came and the Christianities That Were Lost.” The free lecture is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 4 at the church located at 1980 Hamilton.

Ehrman’s education has taken him from Moody Bible Institute to Wheaton College in Illinois where he received his bachelor of arts to Princeton Theological Seminary where he received a master’s in divinity and a PhD. He has been teaching at the University of North Carolina since 1988. He’s the recipient of many awards, including a number of research and publication grants as well as course development awards and recognition for his teaching skills in the Bowman and Gordon Gray Award for excellence in teaching.

The professor shares his scholarship and expertise with other scholars through writing and professional societies like the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, the Society for Biblical Literature and the North American Patristic Society. He has also made video lectures and written a number of books including “Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium” or “The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, “Lost Christianities” and “The Apostolic Fathers.” He also has written contemporary books as in “Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code” and “Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene.”

There will be a reception for Ehrman in the Fellowship Hall of the church following his lecture. For more information, call (408) 377-7121.