December 26, 2008

NEWS BRIEFS

Learn how to prune fruit trees

Learn how to Prune Fruit Trees at Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s (MAEP) World Garden Workshop on Jan. 10, 2009 at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose.

Master Gardener Alan Buchinski will teach gardeners of all skill levels how to prune fruit trees. Buchinski specializes in pruning and works with the High Density Orchard at the Emma Prusch Farm Park.

The free workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.
To register for the free workshop, call 723-6450 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask to have your name added to the January World Garden Workshop list, or email your name and phone number to
ritab@metroed.net. Sign up early, space is limited.

Free shade trees lower energy bills

PG&E, in partnership with Our City Forest, is sponsoring a pilot yard tree-planting program for San José residents. “Shade & Save” is designed to conserve energy and save money on summer cooling bills by shading your home.

Those who qualify choose from five beautiful species available. OCF staff will consult with each resident on placement of their tree to maximize benefit and then provide the planting service, all at no cost.
Please Apply If You Are:

1. A San Jose resident
2. A PG&E customer
3. Have an air-conditioner

How The Program Works:

1. Fill out an application
2. OCF does a site evaluation
3. We plant your free 5-gallon tree!

Download your application today at www.ourcityforest.org/pge or call ??(408) 998-7337 ext. 111 to receive one by mail.

Mail completed applications to Our City Forest, 151 Mission St., San José, CA 95110 or fax to (408) 998-1078.
Please act now – supplies are limited!

San Jose Council appoints acting Independent Police Auditor

The San Jose City Council has appointed Shivaun Nurre to serve as Acting Independent Police Auditor while it conducts a search to fill the position permanently.

“I am pleased that Shivaun has accepted this appointment while we look to find a new Independent Police Auditor,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “The Office of the IPA plays an integral role in the civilian oversight process, and the entire Council looks forward to working with Shivaun in the coming months.”

“I am honored to fill the role of Acting IPA, and I will work to provide quality services to the residents of San Jose,” Nurre said.

Nurre currently serves as Deputy Director of the Office of the IPA and was appointed to the position of Assistant Police Auditor in January 2007 after serving as the Interim Auditor for four months. She has 10 years of public sector experience as a Deputy County Counsel for Santa Clara County. Her legal experience spans the areas of civil litigation, employment law, criminal justice and workers compensation. Nurre obtained an undergraduate degree in history from the University of California at Riverside and then worked for several years at the Congressional Research Service within the Library of Congress before obtaining her Juris Doctor from the University of California at Davis.

The City Council has retained a search firm to conduct a national search for a new IPA.

Raise money for Silver Creek when you shop at Lucky and Save-Mart

Do you have one of the new Lucky/Save-Mart S.H.A.R.E.S cards? With this card, you simply have the store swipe it every time you shop for groceries. Pay the same way you always do. It is that easy, and Silver Creek High School will get 3 percent of your purchase donated to the school! So, as an example, spend $100, pay your usual $100...and the school will get a $3 donation!

To get your card, either stop by the SCHS administration building or email SilverCreekPTSA@sbcglobal.net and provide your mailing address, and one will be sent to you.

Mann named president of county education board

Craig Mann is the new president of the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Mann was first elected to the board in 2006.

Mann ran in the primary election to represent District 8 on San Jose’s City council, but was unsuccessful. Mann served as the board’s vice-president in 2008. He is a teacher in the Ravenswood School District.
Anna Song, who has been on the board since 2000, was named vice-president. Joseph Di Salvo is a new member, elected to the board in November.

Other members re-elected are Leon Beauchman and Grace Mah. T.N. Ho and Jane Howard make up the rest of the board.

More information can be found at www.sccoe.org.

Silver Creek Valley Country Club elects new officers

At its annual meeting, members of the Silver Creek Valley Country Club elected Daniel Hearns, Rob Valiton and Scott Karstetter to serve a three-year term on its board of directors. Hearns and Valiton are new members; Karstetter was re-elected to a second term.

They join current board members: president John Crowley, Nigel Allen, Kerry Kirschenbauer, Bob Moore, Michele O’Brien and Jim Vandiver.

Matsumoto celebrates tenth anniversary

Tom Matsumoto joined Principal Mary Helmer and the students and staff at Tom Matsumoto Elementary School on Dec. 12 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the school. A time capsule is being prepared with samples of work and pictures from each class, and the entire school watched over 500 pictures chronicle the history of the school to date.

Employment opportunities available for Census 2010

Approximately 600 Census Workers to be Hired

Hundreds of Santa Clara County residents will be hired to work locally as census workers for Census 2010. The local Census Office has started the recruiting process and is encouraging residents to join this endeavor.

“Census 2010 brings great employment opportunities to our community,” said Melissa Erickson, County of Santa Clara Census 2010 Project Manager. “These jobs pay decently, and offer flexible hours and paid training.”

Census workers will be hired as Lister, Crew Leader, Crew Leader Assistant or Field Operations Supervisor. Depending on their positions, the workers will be paid $22-25/hr.

Basic qualifications for applicants include U.S. residency, at least 18 years of age, a valid social security number and passage of a background check. Field workers should also have a valid driver’s license. Applicants will also be tested on their clerical, reading, math and organizational skills. For a sample test and to learn more about Census 2010, go to: www.census.gov. To apply for positions and schedule testing with Census 2010, call 1-866-861-2010.

“The census result affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding,” said James Kamenelis, Local Census Office Manager. “That’s why it is crucial to get an accurate count of all the communities living in the U.S.”

Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds is awarded to states and communities based on census data.

Free tests for glaucoma

Each year as the New Year approaches, people around the world resolve to make changes that will result in longer, happier and healthier lives. Often people are determined to lose weight while others are committed to kicking unhealthy habits such as smoking. This year, EyeCare America would like to add “Get a Glaucoma Eye Exam!” to the list of healthy resolutions, and Glaucoma Awareness Month in January is the perfect time to do it.

In honor of Glaucoma Awareness Month taking place in January 2009, EyeCare America, a public-service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, encourages those without insurance to take advantage of its national Glaucoma EyeCare Program. The program offers free glaucoma eye exams for those who are uninsured and considered to be at increased risk for glaucoma. To find out if they are eligible to receive a referral for an eye exam, those interested should call 1-800-391-EYES (3937).

Free workshop to relieve stress

Art of Living foundation is offering a free 2-hour workshop on “Mind Body Wellness” for the Evergreen community.
 
The workshop is offered every other week at the Evergreen Library community room. The program began Dec. 20. Call 408-623-2139 for schedule and questions

The program includes an effective yoga called “Sukshma Ayama”, Pranayams (variety of breathing techniques), Dhyana (meditation) and Gyana (practical wisdom).

Cortese invites public to attend ceremony

Thank you to the communities of San Jose, Milpitas and Sunnyvale for supporting Dave Cortese in his bid for County Board of Supervisors. Thanks to you, Dave was elected as the District 3 Supervisor on November 4, 2008. Please come celebrate by joining us at his official swearing-in ceremony:

Monday, January 12, 2009.
5 p.m. Reception
6 p.m. Program
County Government Center Lobby
70 W. Hedding St.
San Jose, CA 95110

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by January 5, 2009 to Lara McCabe at (408) 299-5030 or lara.mccabe@bos.sccgov.org.

Top cat competition comes to San Jose

The 25th Annual Tails and No Tales Cat Show will have hundreds of felines competing for “Top Cat” on Jan. 3-4.

Recognized breeds of the Cat Fanciers Association, exotic breeds and household pets will be shown. There will also be a coloring contest, a Peoples Choice Award, and a Junior Showmanship competition for youths 8-15 to share their knowledge and presentation skills.

The cat show is open to the public Saturday, Jan. 3 from 10-5 and Sunday from 9-5 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Gateway Hall, 344 Tully Road. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children under 12 (ages 2 and under are free).

For more information, call 408.778.6318 or visit www.tailandnotales.com.