January 1, 2009

A look back at 2008 highlights

The past year was one of ups and downs from an election that made history to the highest gas prices in our history; from falling housing prices to falling stock prices to an incredible rise in home foreclosures. Here are some of the events that affected Almaden.

JANUARY

Just before the new year, a blaze destroyed a multi-million dollar home on Graystone Lane as the family watched on television while on vacation at Lake Tahoe. The owner, Harmoz Barandar, built the multi-million dollar custom home on Graystone Lane himself, with everything top of the line.

As usual, Jan. 1 ushered in new state and local laws including a law banning smoking in cars carrying children under age 18. Other laws included the July 1 ban on cell phone use without an earpiece while driving and one requiring automakers to provide key codes to licensed and registered locksmiths for replacement keys.

Mother Nature chose trees as a target during a particularly heavy wind and rainstorm Jan. 4 tearing limbs from trees throughout Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, Redmond Avenue and other areas throughout South San Jose. Many just hunkered down until the storm ended, building fires to fight off the cold, watching movies or playing board games while others took pleasure in the wild winds and rain.

The San Jose City Council argued for the second time about art at the new police substation.

Leland High School Debate teacher Gay Brasher was selected to receive the 2008 Tribute to Women award from the Silicon Valley YWCA.

The pace of home sales in California’s new-home communities in November continued to be dramatically lower than a year ago, according to the California Building Industry Association. The monthly CBIA/Hanley Wood Market Intelligence (HWMI) New Home Sales and Pricing Report showed that new home sales in November were nearly 55 percent below sales in November 2006.

Mayor Chuck Reed said San Jose’s future is bright and he’s looking forward to turning around the financial problems that have plagued the city in recent years, while presenting his State of the City address. However, he told a crowd of more than 1,400 people that some things had to change such as tighter financials During the program District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle offered Good Neighbor awards to Carla Lucarotti, Jim Lucarotti and Chris Verberg for their work with Leland High’s Key Club.

Ten local students won awards for their Green Vision artwork from San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed including eight Almaden Country School students: Maren Stubenvoll, Hannah Conradt, Markus Rocca, Kelsey Morris, Nick Pombo, and Ashley Brown.

AVCA is planning to form a District 10 Neighborhood Commission; its advisory forum to the San Jose City Council was the focus of the monthly Almaden Valley Community Association meeting.

The first annual Westfield Oakridge Winter Walk (WOWW) and Senior Fair was held Jan. 31 at Oakridge Mall.

On Jan. 19, San Jose held its second annual Neighborhood Associations Budget Deficit Discussion and Priority Setting Session. Designated representatives from each neighborhood association participated in small-group discussions and gave input on priorities for solving the City’s deficit.

Weather again reared its head as snow dusted Mt. Umunhum. Rain and cold weather plagued San Jose. Gray skies and fog made mountain views quite scenic from the ground, but roads were treacherous and some highways, such as 17 and Mt. Hamilton Road were closed.

Puja and Mala Batra filed a $10 million claim against both the city of San Jose and Santa Clara County for taking no action following the deaths of their parents and two others on Graystone Lane. The July accident, which claimed the lives of Inder and Uma Batra as they took and evening stroll, and of the 19-year-old driver Eric Satterstrom and his 18-year-old passenger Maxwell James Harding, was attributed to excessive speed.

Gayle Barnes, 52, lost her fight with ovarian cancer. She died peacefully in her sleep at home with her family. Despite numerous surgeries and chemotherapy, Gayle lived her life to the fullest, enjoying five years after her diagnosis. “I have cancer, it doesn’t have me,” she would say.

Almaden Valley has twice mourned the loss of Judy Brewer, once in her 2006 move to Connecticut and again as she moved to her final resting place.

Although the numbers looked bleak going into the winter holiday season, Second Harvest Food Bank saw an influx of cash donations as their 2007 Holiday Food & Fund Drive wound to a close. Because donations of food fell short of the goal, a portion of the money collected was used to purchase additional items.

A Jan.14 assault and robbery at Almaden Meadows Park at the corner of Meridian and Camden Avenues left residents on edge. The 17-year-old male victim visited the park at approximately 5:50 p.m. Two young male suspects, 18-20 years old, brandished a knife, held the victim to the ground, punched him and stole his wallet, cell phone and iPod.

The City Council selected Sharon Winslow Erickson as the new city auditor. Erickson replaces Gerald Silva, who was fired last August after 22 years with the city. She began her new job March 10.

As San Jose was inundated by storms, volunteers kept busy to ensure the city’s watersheds stayed healthy. San Jose received 7.84 inches of rain, 104 percent of the average rainfall. Logs and debris in Almaden’s Los Alamitos Creek in some cases blocked waterways. Unfortunately soon after, the rains stopped leaving the area drastically short of rain for the second year in a row.

FEBRUARY

Eleven-year-old Gunnar Moody was singing in his physical education class when his teacher asked him to go outside. When Gunnar, a high-functioning sixth grade autistic child refused, the teacher sent a student to get the San Jose Police officer located at the school. The officer asked Gunnar to leave three times. When he wouldn’t, the officer handcuffed him to take him from the classroom. Gunnar was later moved to another school.

Bad weather didn’t keep anyone from attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the SJPD’s new southern division substation Feb. 22.

It wasn’t all roses, but Mayor Chuck Reed’s assessment of his first year in office was plainly positive. In an interview with the Times, Reed looked back over his first year and noted his successes as well as his difficulties.

City Council chambers were crowded when three items on the agenda concerned the city’s budget and its structural deficit. Many of those attending were there to complain that the $200,000 consultants the city hired had not left any room for neighborhood association and community ideas, but instead given the public, in meetings and phone surveys, limited choices. Several claimed they were not allowed to ask questions or speak to their neighbors at meetings and, in general, had concerns about the process itself.

The future of the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve was at the top of the Almaden Valley Communi-ty Association’s February agenda. Dave Fadness and Jerry Strangis discussed developing the 1,050 acres in the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve.

As the Coyote Valley Specific Plan (CVSP) task force started its final year, members reviewed plan refinements and tried to complete their visions while some residents remained frustrated about the entire issue.

The falcons returned to City Hall on Valentine’s Day. Peregrine falcons named Clara and Carlos set up a nest on the top floor of San Jose’s City Hall. Last year, Clara and her mate Jose, raised three fledglings in the same nesting box.

In its regular meeting, Santa Clara County supervisors agreed to fund the Youth Science Institute at two parks, noted receipt of a $1.85-million donation for the Valley Medical Center and voted to oppose an FDA ban of blood donations from gay men.

Cold rain and wind didn’t keep anyone from attending the groundbreaking ceremony for San Jose Police Department’s new southern division substation Feb. 22. Chief of Police Rob Davis and Director of Public Works Katy Allen joined Vice Mayor Dave Cortese at the groundbreaking with council members Nancy Pyle, Pierluigi Oliverio, Forrest Williams, Pete Constant, Kansen Chu and Nora Campos.

MARCH

Pyle visited two classes at Carson Elementary School on March 3 to help the students in Mrs. Williamson’s and Mrs. Orias’ third grade classes celebrate “Read Across America.”

Silicon Valley Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) listened to community input and found local concerns surrounding federal economic policy at his “The State of the Economy in Silicon Valley.” Joined by Council member Judy Chirco, Honda discussed the country’s economic situation while also hearing important suggestions from those attending.

Almaden Valley’s Pat Conte has a thing for making kids happy. She’s raised three sons and is now a grandmother. Perhaps that’s why she is drawn to help children through the Family Giving Tree and various local schools with her role as coordinator of the AT&T Pioneers – Almaden Council.

Nearly 300 people spoke to San Jose’s City council members in March about naming a local business district “Little Saigon.”

Nearly 300 people spoke to San Jose’s City council members on Tuesday night, the vast majority asking the city to rename an area of retail shops on Story Road “Little Saigon.”

Despite more than five hours of speakers, a straw count of 286 people, the council voted unanimously to rescind actions taken on Nov. 20 to designate the area Saigon Business District and actions taken on June 5 referring to the area as a Vietnamese Business district. It then directed city staff to draft a policy outlining a process to officially designate and name areas and districts of the city.

The March AVCA meeting focused on future development plans for the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve (SAVUR) with representatives from the city and county outlining San Jose’s 2020 General Plan and Envision San Jose 2040.

Project Cornerstone celebrated its fifth annual Asset Champions Breakfast at The Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose with a puzzle-piece theme of “Connecting with Youth: Where do you fit?” Nine-hundred participants filled the banquet room.

There’s a 10-acre plot of land on McKean Road creating quite a stir in the area. Tony Alves and Rodney and Marci Lake, according to the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office, own the land, at the junction of McKean and Harry Roads. Neighbors on Kaiser Drive, many of whom have lived in the area since the early 1980s, were initially told the land belonged to the Santa Clara Valley Water District so they would not have to worry about anyone building on the land. In addition, Alimitos Creek runs lengthwise through the parcel.

With a track record of serving 10.7 million passengers last year, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is in the throws of a major overhaul to better accommodate 13 commercial carriers and 166 flights a day. Demolition crews began tearing down the north-end section of the 43-year-old Terminal C to make way for new Terminal B construction.

The Coyote Housing Group, a group of landowners and builders funding San Jose’s Coyote Valley Specific Plan process will end its funding agreement with the city. Over the past several months, market forces, costly planning delays and the uncertainty of the plan’s implementation due to existing development agreements and entitlements have formed a significant obstacle to the city’s ambitious, large-scale urban planning effort in Coyote Valley.

Mayor Chuck Reed presented his budget message at the March 18 evening Council meeting and council members unanimously ap-proved his suggestions. Reed asked the council to agree to a three-year general fund structural deficit elimination plan stakeholder group to determine a plan to be presented to the City Council in November. The group would include a group of up to 30 San Jose residents providing a balance of city employees, labor, business, non-profits, taxpayers and members of neighborhood associations.

Graystone Elementary School opened its new “Superdome” with a rousing perfomance of Alice in Wonderland in March.

It was a busy weekend for those attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Almaden on March 7-8. Church members sold emergency preparedness kits and conducted a humanitarian project.

The wait is over. Graystone Elementary School opened its new “Superdome” with a rousing “Alice in Wonderland” performed by 63 eager thespians. The wooden beamed 3,100-square-foot “Superdome” is located in the center of the school between the cafeteria, media and staff offices.

At the 39th annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon April 25, the Junior League of San Jose (JLSJ) honored community volunteers who made an outstanding impact in their communities. This annual event recognizes volunteers from local community agencies who went far beyond the already high expectations for volunteers and took it upon themselves to change the way things are.

A visit to Almaden Valley Athletic Club’s (AVAC) Senior Wellness program has helped hundreds of members ease into healthy lifestyles with development classes like Just Enough, T’ai Chi, Yoga, Pilates and personal training or with swimming, strength training, Los Alamitos Creek trail walks or ballroom dancing.

Venture Christian Church was out in force on March 22 hosting an Easter Egg hunt on the grounds of Jeffrey Fontana Park. There were at least 250 children searching for 3,500 eggs and other goodies that had been scattered around the park. The hunt was just one of 25 hunts in the South Bay from Campbell to Redwood City, and from Sunnyvale to a number in San Jose.

APRIL

In mid-March, the Department of Transportation and the San Jose Police Department reported four recommendations to the City Council including further investigation of red-light running, exploring methods of increasing traffic enforcement and parking compliance in neighborhoods and school zones using existing resources and evaluating potential traffic calming and/or enforcement proposals as part of the 2008-09 budget process within the existing confines of the city’s structural budget deficit.

A budding art world shined brightly on Simonds Elementary School during the seventh annual “Art from the Heart” student exhibit. Art from the Heart showcases Simonds’ students’ works of art but the Art Vista program is the internal mechanism allowing the creativity to flow.

CAHA dedicated the New Almaden history display at the Almaden Library and Community Center on April 5.

Selling cookies isn’t the only way Girl Scouts are pursuing their entrepreneurial spirit. Many local Girl Scouts attended a workshop, “Your Own Business,” at Castillero Middle School, which featured professionals ranging from photographers to physical therapists who shared their expertise about the business world. The day provided a crash course in starting and running a business, ranging from career exploration and the interview process to advertising and marketing.

Several hundred unsung heroes, including a large number of Almaden residents, were honored at the 13th annual Volunteers Recognition Banquet held by Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. Last year 2,500 volunteers donated their time and expertise contributing more than 38,000 hours to 28 county parks. The volunteers adopt trails—keeping them clean and free of brush and creating new ones for the public to enjoy.

San Jose City Council members unanimously accepted reports on the 2007 community survey and a homicide report given by Police Chief Rob Davis during its April 9 meeting. Council members agreed to provide a conditional use permit for liquor and the demolition and construction permits for the new Whole Foods Market, which is planning to open at the corner of Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road.
The Committee for Almaden Historical Awareness [CAHA] dedicated the New Almaden Historic photographs, mobile display and local history display at the Almaden Library and Community Center on April 5.

A group of Pioneer High School students held a community outreach fair April 5 to the delight of the Hoffman Via Monte neighborhood, which turned out to sample food, play games and learn something about what the community has to offer. Planned, organized and developed by the school’s Youth Re:Action Corps, a group of about 12 students looking for social change within the community, the fair was on the Cornerstone Church parking lot just off Blossom Hill Road and across from the Pat Dando Hoffman/Via Monte Neighborhood Center.

More than 40 volunteers showed April 12 to help clean up District 10’s litter. Participants in the city’s seventh annual Great American Litter Pickup met at the Pat Dando Hoffman/Via Monte Neighborhood Center Among and cleaned the streets and parks around the Dando Hoffman/Via Monte Center and around Pioneer High School. The volunteers picked up about 60 percent more trash than last year.

The status of South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve (SAVUR) as well as community issues topped the agenda at the April Almaden Valley Community Association (AVCA) meeting. County Supervisor Don Gage and City Councilmember Nancy Pyle led the discussions and made it clear that the city and county are working together.

Leland High School students looked to the future April 9 as 160 community professionals descended on the campus for Career Day.

A mountain lion was seen near the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. The cat is unspotted, tawny-colored above and buff below with a small head and petite rounded black-tipped ears and tail.

Leland High School students looked to the future April 9 as 160 community professionals descended on the campus for Career Day.

Pyle presented commendations to Holy Spirit Parish and the Friends of the Los Alamitos Watershed for their unique and dedicated efforts in serving as environmental stewards for future generations of San Jose residents.

At the top of City Hall, three of the four eggs laid by peregrine falcons Clara and Carlos hatched on April 22, Earth Day.

In Cambodia, a school was built in Doris Dillon’s legacy. During spring break Jim DeLong and his wife Denise, who both teach at Bret Harte, traveled to the Doris Dillon School in the Cambodian village of Banteay Meas. DeLong’s sister Michaelene and her husband Rod Pyle as well as Bret Harte teacher Laura Fujikawa and her 17-year-old daughter Susan Gelman joined them.

Nearly 400 people began a collaborative journey to the moon at noon on April 16—all on foot—in an effort to chart the 541 million steps it will take to get there while promoting as a way to better health. The Silicon Valley Moon Walk Challenge officially cut the ribbon to launch the advocacy campaign.

MAY

Despite concerns from San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis and Mayor Chuck Reed, the City Council voted to allow downtown restaurants and sidewalk cafés to stay open until 2 a.m. on weekends. During the discussion preceding the vote, several council members pointed out that a vibrant 24-hour city has to offer late hours.

Eight-year-old Andrea Winters, who attends Los Alamitos Elementary School, lost 11 inches of her hair last weekend for Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs and hairpieces to children that have lost their hair for medical reasons including those undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer.

The Almaden Valley Counseling Service Auxiliary held an Evening in Vegas Casino Night, which will be held at the Golf Club at Boulder Ridge on May 17. The event benefitted the Almaden Valley Counsel-ing Service Auxiliary [AVCS].

After several years of minimal attendance at community budget meetings, District 10 Councilmem-ber Pyle changed the time and venue of her annual budget meeting. She hoped a few extras would bring more people to the budget meeting. Her staff estimated that at the least 30 and possibly as many as 100 could attend the meeting. Besides presentation of a survey of more than 300 people, the majority of whom—69 percent—live in Almaden, Mayor Chuck Reed and City Manager Debra Figone were there to explain the budgeting process and ask for further responses from area citizens.

On May 3, Leland High School was teeming with runners, volunteers and cheerleaders for the third annual Pat’s Run. There was a 34 percent increase in runners as well as more than 550 volunteers from Leland High School, San Jose State, and San Jose Search and Rescue.

The Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office mailed more than 470,000 assessment notification cards last Friday. The card provides the property owner the opportunity to review the taxable value before it is formally enrolled on July 1 and sent to the Controller and Tax Collector to generate the 2008-09 tax bill, mailed in September.

Almaden Valley Athletic Club members raised funds for Turning Wheels for Kids holding a Zumba class. TWK is a nonprofit organization that encourages physical fitness by providing underprivileged youth throughout Santa Clara County bicycles and helmets.

At least 400 people showed up to hear Mary Tillman speak at the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Leadership dinner on May 21 at the San Jose Marriott. The Almaden Valley school teacher and now author follows a distinguished lineup of local women speakers who have made a difference for other women including Olympic ice skating gold medal winner Peggy Fleming, who is also a breast cancer survivor, and Santa Clara County District Attorney, and also an Almaden resident, Delores Carr, who is the county’s first woman DA and only the second woman tin California to hold that office. The annual dinner was standing-room only, and the chamber had to turn people away because the tables were filled. Besides Tillman, the chamber recognized four women who attend school full time, have jobs and still manage to volunteer their time.

On May 10, a group of about 50 adults and children helped kick off the new sports complex at Leland High School. After about 30 minutes of speeches from San Jose Unified School District officials like Superintendent Don Iglesias and Board Trustee and Vice President Leslie Reynolds and Pyle, everyone in the group grabbed balls and kicked them down field.

Project Cornerstone recently passed out awards to Leland High School students Varun Rajan and Pooja Rao’s as well as Graystone Elementary Assistant Principal Art Gonzalez.

As part of its green vision, the city of San Jose hopes to plant 100,000 trees over the next 15 years. And, as part of the city manager’s proposed budget, it hopes to follow the municipal code making home/landowners responsible for their care and maintenance.

Members of Almaden’s Cornerstone Community Church spent four weeks participating in Faith in Action. The focus of the four-week series was for church members to be Jesus to their neighbors; showing them that a church isn’t just a building but is made up of people.

On May 27, Leland students gathered to launch Maxwell’s Pledge.

Two candidates vied for the District 10 City Council seat, incumbent Nancy Pyle and newcomer Ashraf Madraswala, in this year’s June election.

It was an unusual opening for one of San Jose’s crown jewels. San Jose officially celebrated Almaden Lake Park’s Phase II grand opening by the turning on the water jet spray area to the delight of kids of all ages, especially on a hot Saturday.

After nearly four years, 30 victims of the 2004 San Jose pedicure infection outbreak, represented by attorney Robert Oushalem will finally be able to put closure to a lengthy legal battle. The scars on their shins and lower legs however, will remain with them for life—permanent reminders of the bacteria they were infected with after getting pedicures at three south San Jose salons.

On May 27, Leland students gathered to launch Maxwell’s Pledge. It probably was the ideal spot since the pledge is named for Maxwell Harding who was a Leland graduate. The family of Harding, one of the four Almaden residents killed in a tragic car crash on Graystone Lane last July, made a conscious decision to turn their trauma into a public service for local teenagers.

JUNE

On June 2 at its annual installation luncheon, 70 volunteers each donated $1,000 to East Field Ming Quong Center, where the $70,000 will be used to help support a large number of children. The Unicorn Shop installed its executive board members President Marilyn Wright, First Vice President Marie Delizonna, Second Vice President Kathie Green, Secretary Jan Curry, Unicorn Treasurer Lelea Viswanathan, Membership Treasurer Jan Miller and Parliamentarian Vickie Poitevin.

Nancy Pyle, the only opposed incumbent, won her second term by more than 7,000 votes in the June primary. Pyle collected 89.06 percent of the vote or 8,314 votes defeating Ashraf Madraswala, who grabbed a mere 10.94 percent or 1,021 votes.

Three young men from Almaden received their Eagle rank June 2 at Castillero Middle School.

For a school best known for its performing arts program, Castillero Middle School proved there’s plenty of room for academics to share center stage at their 12th annual Academic Expedition day. The event was underwritten and organized by members of Castillero’s Education Foundation, with the assistance of teachers, administrators and volunteers from the PTA.

Three young men from Almaden received their Eagle rank June 2 at Castillero Middle School. The members of Scout Troop 290 included R. J. Aitken, Aaron Lee and Sean O’Mally.

A recent decision by Almaden’s California Ridge homeowners’ board to get permits from the city allowing removal of 22 trees was rescinded. Instead, the homeowners’ association will be putting together a committee to determine what to do with the trees.

On June 6, a large party of at least 150 people gathered at Carabelle Park to say goodbye and to honor Graystone kindergarten teacher Sue Gutierrez. At least 150 people came to honor the teacher, who taught two generations of Almaden students. Gutierrez taught at Graystone for 32 years, with most of them teaching kindergarten students.

While San Jose’s budget for 2008-09 has been an ongoing process since last January, it passed relatively quickly with only a few distractions on June 17. During a June 16 public hearing, a large number of people, including city and police employees, labor union officials and residents, took their allotted two minutes each to express their desires of how the money should be spent. Even city council members posted memos requesting changes in the Mayor’s budget message. However, in the end there was little changed.

Changes to the city’s traffic calming policies came after last fall’s series of 10 meetings in each council district to gather information from citizens on the existing policy, get feedback on potential changes and recommend priorities to address neighborhood traffic concerns.

They marched in as seniors and marched out as graduates ready to attend college, get a job or maybe both. Nearly 800 young ladies and men from Pioneer and Leland High Schools walked to the stage to get diplomas last week.

The San Jose City Council spent its last session before the July break cleaning up administrative bits and pieces of work and taking the first step in a series for a project at San Pedro Square. Much of the morning session was devoted to a proposed upgrade to San Pedro Square that may result in $6 million in redevelopment money going to the rejuvenation of a “unique area.”

Dieters at the Almaden Plaza Weight Watchers center decided to address hunger and obesity in late April. The group kicked off a program they called Stop Dieting for Good, which was a joint charity effort to relieve local hunger by supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Since they started their program, the group has lost nearly 9,000 pounds and donated food items for each pound lost to celebrate their weight-loss success.

Castillero drama teachers organized a tour for Castillero Middle School students and parents to sample theater Broadway-style with a five-day trip to New York in June.

The Assistance League® of San Jose (ALSJ), celebrated its 25th anniversary with a charter luncheon and installation of new officers at the La Foret Restaurant on June 19. Over the past 25 years the group’s membership has increased as has its community presence and its return to the community.

The San Francisco Giants drafted Almaden native Kyle Woodruff on June 6 and by the following Tuesday he was playing in the team’s rookie league. The pitcher for Chico State was selected in the 27th round of baseball’s amateur draft, completing an exciting year for the Leland High grad. The 6-foot-6-inch right-handed pitcher worked his way back into Chico State’s lineup to help the school make its push for the playoffs.

Mayor Chuck Reed, and officials from San Jose State University and the San Jose Sports Authority hoisted the flag preparing to welcome the entire United States Olympic Team to San Jose for processing before the Olympians travel to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

San Jose announced it would also host the first-ever U.S. Olympian reunion July 25-27.

There are some courses of study that just can’t be completely captured in a textbook; sometimes it’s better to work them out on a stage. Knowing that drama is one subject that requires a multi-sensory approach to learning, Castillero drama teachers Sharol Felch and Diane Zlotziver organized a tour of Castillero Middle School students and parents to sample theater Broadway-style with a five-day trip to New York.

Three times a year, Journey Church celebrates Community Impact Day. On June 29, the church hosted its 12th day in a series, picking up where it left off on its last impact day in January and sending more than 170 volunteers into the community to meet the needs of the area in which Journey members worship.

JULY

On a beautiful sunny afternoon at the New Almaden Community Club, neighbors and friends came out to get their books signed by author Mary Tillman, whose “Boots on the Ground by Dusk, My Tribute to Pat Tillman” was available for the afternoon. She signed more than 30 books.

Three people with connections to Almaden died over the weekend, two of heart attacks and one in a motorcycle crash. Terry McElhatton, 52, a popular Valley Christian High School television and video teacher, passed away from a heart attack after a day of wind surfing with his son Chris. Richard Sim, 19, a popular graduate of Leland High School who was attending West Valley College, also passed away while eating dinner with his family. He had suffered from a heart condition. And, Joseph Dinapoli was killed after his motorcycle crashed into a tree on Almaden Expressway near McAbee Road. The 28-year-old died at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Children and adults, dancing and singing made the Montevideo July 4 parade sparkle, and some special guests showed up too.

Valley Christian Schools held its second annual football camp for men aged 18 to 25 with Down syndrome this year and it was a total success. It had 30 campers, from all over California. Steve Mariauchi and former 49er Dana Stubblefield joined former 49er Ronnie Lott as guests.

Almaden Valley joined forces with the American Cancer Society (ACS) for the area’s second annual Relay for Life held at Leland High School’s Pat Tillman Stadium. The 24-hour walk began at 10 a.m. Saturday with opening ceremonies hosted by NBC 11 News Anchor Laura Garcia-Cannon, who with humor and raw emotion shared her personal experience with cancer by describing the recent passing of her mother at the hands of the disease.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District joined other Bay Area and statewide water agencies to launch a regional public education campaign aimed at reminding residents and businesses to curb water use. The campaign features ordinary people adopting simple water conservation practices in their everyday lives.

In the midst of planning “Party in the Park,” a 40th birthday celebration for a crowd of some 3,000 attendees in downtown San Jose, Children’s Musical Theater (CMT) was also tending to the usual yet ambitious business of producing their latest show, “Babes in Arms.”

There was little cooling expected and Almaden Valley got some of the worst of the heat. Temperatures in Almaden soared into triple digits early in the week.

Those of us that love parades, and who doesn’t, got a real treat July 4 when the Montevideo neighborhood put on its 40th annual Independence Day parade. It was everything a parade should be and more, with floats, music and enough enthusiasm to create smiles on the most cynical faces. Children and adults, dancing and singing made the parade sparkle, and some special guests showed up too.

Rich DeLaRosa was one of seven local Allstate insurance agents who earned the regional champion award for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitability.

Outgoing President Dr. Peter Gregor named Almaden resident Elaine Luksus Rotarian of the Year for 2007-2008 at the Rotary Club of San Jose Sunrise. This honor is awarded each year to the Rotarian who demonstrates leadership, involvement and support of club and community service projects during the year.

Major Dan Nichols, an evaluator pilot with the 729th Airlift Squadron, is the first reservist at March Air Reserve Base to log 5,000 flying hours on the C-17 Golbemaster III.

Major Dan Nichols, an evaluator pilot with the 729th Airlift Squadron, is the first reservist at March Air Reserve Base to log 5,000 flying hours on the C-17 Golbemaster III. The Almaden native achieved the number while flying a mission to Bulgaria to support a fighter jet deployment. His achievement is rare, he is only the fifth pilot in the Air Force to log 5,000 hours on the C-17.

Pat Dando said the chamber have been working to make Silicon Valley a good place to do business for the past 122 years. She was guest speaker at the Almaden Valley Community Association’s (AVCA) monthly meeting, informing the audience about the history of the chamber, detailing the organization’s involvement in the community, and answering questions from the audience.

The 34th annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School all-star football game placed a coaching father on the same team as his son for the first time. Pioneer High School’s head football coach Mark Krail watched his son Kevin play football as a receiver for Leland for four years and before that in Pop Warner, but until this event had never coached him.

On July 17, a man was arrested for “engaging in lewd conduct in public” at the Almaden Branch Library on Camden Avenue. Raymond Charles Jorgenson, 58, was arrested at 2:30 p.m. at the library for two separate incidents; the first for touching himself inappropriately in front of a female and the second for masturbating inside his clothes in front of a female. Jorgenson has been notified that the library has taken steps to suspend his library privileges.

AUGUST

San Jose State University was the final jumping off point—the place where U.S. Olympians were processed prior to leaving the country for the Olympic games. More than 600 U.S. Olympic Team members, coaches and officials gathered by teams at SJS through early August 2008 for two-day stays. Athletes participated in team briefings, apparel distribution, medical screenings and training before departing for the Aug. 8-24 games.

It’s not every teen that gets to play soccer in Denmark and Sweden and gets to celebrate her 16th birthday there. Brooke Beytin returned from a two-week trip to the two Scandinavian countries where she played soccer as a guest player on a team that came in first at a Danish tournament and third at a huge youth tourney in Sweden. The 5-foot-11-inch teen who plays defense or center mid-field is the only freshman varsity soccer player for Leland’s Chargers this year.

Nearly 500 revelers soaked up the “Hot August Night” carnival, which was sponsored by the Journey Christian Church, which meets at Pioneer High School Sunday mornings.

They arrived at 9 a.m. in the Via Valiente Plaza parking lot with tables, awnings and silent auction offerings. Motivated by the goal to raise $5,000 toward a relief fund, about 45 volunteers from Almaden Neighborhood Church (ANC) were anxious to help those suffering from the 7.9-earthquake devastation in the Sichuan region of China last May.

Sarah Boudrault, who lived in Almaden for 40 years, passed away from complications due to cancer at her home on July 22, surrounded by her husband and children.

She was a very courageous woman, who told doctors that she wanted to go home when she realized that further treatment would not cure the cancer. “I have lived a great life,” she told doctors and her husband.

As is often the case with team sports, there’s much more to the Almaden Cabana Club swim teams than broken records and championship titles. The Almaden Gators, who practice and race at Almaden Country Club, celebrated an exciting season placing first at the Champs swim meet while breaking eight team records and five league records. This year marked the first time in more than 10 years that the Gators finished a regular season undefeated, and marked their first Champs victory since 1996. The Almaden Dolphins had a similarly outstanding season taking first place in their tournament boasting a 5-0 record in their the dual meets.

Fifty-five teachers are serving in the Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education. Three of them work in Alma-den. These local teachers work for various Bay Area companies and research labs to gain valuable hands-on experience in the subjects they teach to bring back relevant curriculum to their classrooms.

While marijuana farmers have been busy cultivating their rich cash crop this year, the officers that find and eradicate these farms have been busier. In early July, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office eradicated a plot in the Saratoga foothills and, more recently, they visited Hicks Road near the Guadalupe Reservoir where they found a huge farm run by three men who live in San Jose. Detectives eliminated 5,300 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of about $15.9 million.

While media outlets across the country continued to flood newspapers and the airwaves with accounts of a suffering national real estate market, San Jose bucked the economic trend and emerging as the poster city for how to rise from the ashes and be a leader in overall market health.

Residents of Almaden’s Hoffman-Via Monte neighborhood aren’t going to let crime ruin their neighborhood, and they surely weren’t going to let the threat of rain ruin their National Night Out, which saw a record number of attendees. The Hoffman-Via Monte event has been part of the national gala since 2001, hosted by the local Neighbor-hood Alliance Coalition or NAC and the Strong Neighborhood Initiative or SNI Team.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors announced that Gary Graves, the assistant county executive, will serve as acting county executive beginning Nov. 1 when County Executive Pete Kutras retires. The supervisors also reached a planning milestone for Martial Cottle Park, a joint venture by the county and the state. With goals and objectives established for the park’s future development, the park is one step closer to its anticipated opening in 2012.

Zoe Lofgren, the 16th Congres-sional District representative, visited Almaden to speak with members of the Almaden Valley Community Association. Upwards of 40 people attended, including Nancy Pyle as Lofgren explained some of the Congressional accomplishments of this year and then took questions from the audience.

There’s change in the air for Almaden’s middle and high schools for the upcoming school year. Castillero’s new principal, Katrina Johnson, moved up the ranks from her previous position as assistant principal (AP) of instruction. Judy Frazier, Castillero’s new assistant principal of instruction brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Melitta Nerhood, assistant principal of integration, motivation and attendance is Bret Harte’s new assistant principal. Darbi Pannell is Bret Harte’s new assistant principal in charge of discipline and activities.

Katee Shean, a 2006 Pioneer grad, not only made the top 10 for “So You Think You Can Dance,” but was the top female in the contest, winning $50,000 and joining a national tour.

Leland High School welcomed four new administrators, with Liz Chamberlin stepping into the role of principal. Leland’s new administrative team included Dorothy Kennedy, Daryk Tenorio, Nancy Dauenhauer, Chamberlin and Victoria Kim. Sue Walker, Pioneer High School’s incoming principal, graduated with many of her former students from Castillero Middle School this past June.

Katee Shean, a 2006 Pioneer grad, not only made the top 10 for “So You Think You Can Dance,” but was the top female in the contest, winning $50,000 and being part of a 42-city tour beginning in Sept-ember in Seattle. She was one of the three top dancers in the show’s final episode. Her financial award was also a first.

The long-awaited Pearl Avenue Branch Library opened with fanfare Aug. 9 as city officials and hundreds of eager residents praised the new facility.

Pioneer High School looked like a scene straight out of the movie “Pleasantville” as nearly 500 revelers soaked up the “Hot August Night” carnival Saturday evening. The event was sponsored by the Journey Christian Church, which meets at the school Sunday mornings.

The first year it was baseball and a picnic between the Almaden and Cambrian business associations. The second year it grew a little, while last year evolved into a barbeque competition inviting the Winchester Business Association. This year’s attendance surpassed the last three years with nearly 100 people showing up for the baseball game, a barbeque contest and good eats for all. This year also included the Evergreen Business Association and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, who took time out from celebrating his birthday to join in the fun, along with Nancy Pyle, Judy Chirco and Pete Constant.

More than 100 people came to the second annual Hidden Creek Block Party including about 60 adults and upwards of 45 children. They came mostly on foot, but many of the younger set brought their trikes, bikes and scooters to start the afternoon off with a bike parade led by Brent Kuhns in his restored Volkswagen bus. At least 30 children ages 2 to 12 participated in all manner of wheeled vehicles.

Volunteers from Venture Christ-ian Church worked at a home in one of San Jose’s eastside neighborhoods. This particular home has a single 72-year old occupant whose home fell into disrepair after her husband became disabled for the last years of his life.

The City Council voted to support AB1420, requiring restaurants under common ownership or control to provide specific nutritional information for all standard menu items. This follows one brought before the city’s rules committee last week, proposing that no new fast food restaurants be allowed to be built or to be within a specified area near schools.

The Family Giving Tree credits readers of the Almaden Times for coming to the aid of the nonprofit’s Back-to-School Backpack Drive. “We were going to have to turn down dozens of schools because we were short almost 3,000 backpack donations this summer,” said Family Giving Tree Executive Director Jennifer Cullenbine.

Thirty-three singers from Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose took a nine-day cultural vacation to sing at the Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival in Hawaii including Almaden students Bryn Parry, Wei Chen, Jeanine Raymond, Preston Adams, Hannah Rosenblum and Iris Young.

SEPTEMBER

The COMPAC Barbecue certainly delivered on its theme, “Shakin’ It Up,” when nearly 1,200 people in attendance were treated to a special and surprise visit by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now in its 26th year, the barbecue is COMPAC’s largest annual fundraiser, raising hundreds money to further its efforts in promoting candidates and ballot measures that represent the best interests of the business community on city, county and state levels.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors appointed Maria Marinos clerk of the board. Marinos, who began working with the county last March as chief deputy clerk, will replace Phyllis Perez who announced her retirement earlier this month.

The San Jose City council recognized and commended Alex Fraser (pictured with Councilmember Nancy Pyle) for 14 years of “extraordinary” service to San Jose on Sept. 8.

Change has been a byword during the current City Council’s tenure and its members again will look into changing city policy. However, this change will provide a policy for closure, sale or consolidation of public safety buildings that has yet to exist.

On Aug. 28 at about 7 a.m., someone called the San Jose Police Department with bomb threats at Leland and Oak Grove high schools. The police then called the schools and Leland administrators who evacuated students, parents and staff from the school to the football field and the campus was secured. After determining that nothing was wrong and no odd or different items were found, the students were allowed to return to the school and entered their first period classes after which the school went back to a normal schedule.

The San Jose City council recognized and commended Alex Fraser for 14 years of “extraordinary” service to San Jose on Monday, Sept. 8. The commendation noted that Fraser, who lives in Almaden Hills Estates, “has demonstrated a dedication to volunteer service, provided insightful analysis of proposed city policies and has shown forward-thinking leadership on neighborhood matters.”

Pyle presented the top five priorities for her second term to members of the Almaden Valley Community Association meeting Sept. 8. Over the next four-and-a-half years, she hopes to make San Jose an economically self-sustainable city; a force for youth; establish an international reputation for the city; create an environmentally sustainable city; and become a leader in emergency preparation at the macro and micro levels.

This year’s New Almaden Community Days parade was anything but boring, drawing huge crowds. The annual event, designed to pull the neighborhood together, kept up its tradition as the parade included floats, horses, old cars, newer cars, the San Jose Fire Department, bands and people with their dogs among others.

Tesla Motors is building a $250 million facility in San Jose to make its all-electric sedan. The first cars are expected to come off the assembly line in 2010. Officials from the electric carmaker made the announcement along with Mayor Chuck Reed and state officials at the 89-acre future site on Zanker Road near Highway 237.

The sky around Pioneer High School was lit up on Friday night, while the Mustangs did their own lighting up of the field against rival Gunderson High School during the annual Bell Game. Pioneer was one of five high schools in the San Jose School District to play their first home game under lights.

The San Jose City Council continued to work toward preventing and breaking the cycle of gang violence by unanimously passing the Action Collaboration Transformation, the strategic work plan for 2008 through 2011 for the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force.
The plan, which up to now worked with youth in junior and senior high schools, will begin working with children beginning at age 6 as well as with their families.

The Almaden Valley Women’s Club’s efforts to organize and execute a festival attended by more than 20,000 visitors did not go unnoticed by those attending who consider this festival a must-attend event on their social calendars.

At least 90 volunteers met at the Hacienda entrance to New Almaden Quicksilver County Park to remove more than 20 tons of debris from the creek. Students, residents and scouts joined the Friends of the Los Alamitos Watershed in conjunction with the state’s annual Coastal Cleanup. The volunteers removed seven pickup trucks of bamboo, 30 yards of debris and 5 yards of recyclables.

OCTOBER

UPS trucks delivered 4,400 school uniforms to the Assistance League of San Jose’s storage lockers and members separated, bagged and labeled the uniforms, two to a package, to prepare for delivery to more than 26 underserved schools.

Sponsored by a host of local organizations including the Almaden Times, Almaden Valley Counseling Services (AVCS) held its 15th annual Almaden Times Classic 10K/2-mile run/walk in October in the neighborhood surrounding Leland High School. The race is one of several fundraising events held by AVCS each year to support the group’s mission of providing access to affordable mental health counseling for all.

Almaden Valley Athletic Club hosted three fundraisers this month for breast cancer research. “October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the perfect time to help raise awareness about breast cancer and funds for research,” said Joe Shank, co-founder and owner of AVAC. “

While many Los Alamitos Elementary School parents feared Mother Nature would rain on this year’s walk-a-thon, the 528 students participating took the weather in stride as they set out on their annual 6,000-mile journey of fun and fundraising. The event is a 19-year tradition at the school, with the first Los Alamitos walk-a-thon (WAT) held Oct. 21, 1989.

If you don’t like producing multiple babies, it’s probably a good idea not to move to the triangle area between Meridian, Camden and Paso Los Cerritos; the area is having a baby explosion. Within the past 15 months seven families in a six-block radius have birthed twins along with two sets of triplets. Even more curious, there are three sets of twins and one set of triplets within two to three houses of each other.

Hoffman-Via Monte area residents typically have been shy about complaining over problems in their neighborhood. That’s all undergoing a big change. The area is home to a large number of apartment dwellers who, until recently did not come forward to let the city know about housing, gang or drug problems. In the past 3½ years though, the neighborhood action committee, with help from the District 10 office and police officers, have been more vocal and the situation is changing along with it.

To help those puzzled about the propositions and how to vote, three local community associations held an election forum at Gunderson High School this month to help voters make decisions. The Almaden Valley Community Association, the Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association and the VEP Community Association sponsored the forum, discussing Measure B, Measure C, Measure D, Measures J-K, and Proposition 11.

Tabard Theatre held its opening night as resident company at the Theatre on San Pedro Square Oct. 10 with an audience peppered with residents from Almaden. Opening night speakers included Nancy Pyle; Jason Minsky, vice president of membership and marketing for the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce; theater landlord John McEnery and District 3 Councilmember Sam Liccardo.

Halloween revelers who are more partial to the treats than the tricks of the season should probably avoid the McNally home this All Hallows Eve.

Family, friends and police officers gathered Oct. 28 to remember Police Officer Jeffrey Fontana’s death seven years ago with a candlelight vigil to honor the officer killed in the line of duty. Fontana was gunned down on the morning of Oct.28 as he patrolled the streets of Almaden Valley.

The San Jose City Council in closed session voted not to offer Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard a second four-year term. Her term ends Dec. 31. Mayor Chuck Reed, in a terse statement, an-nounced that her “service to the city of San Jose is sincerely appreciated. The City Council is committed to the role of the IPA as specified in the City Charter and approved by voters.”

Halloween revelers who are more partial to the treats than the tricks of the season should probably avoid Little Falls Drive this All Hallows Eve. While the McNally family on Little Falls Drive will reward your bravery with goody bags of candy, you have to earn your treats at their house by suppressing your reflex to flee from fear.

A week before Halloween, ghosts, goblins, princesses and fairies all merged into the Almaden Community Center for its second annual Community Festival. The huge costumed crowd met at the center to celebrate harvest and the fall season as well as have some fun and eat all the candy they could find. This year’s turnout was larger than last year’s 1,500 people.

NOVEMBER

Over 1,000 business and community leaders were treated to an enlightening discussion—sometimes serious, often humorous—with America’s Mayor, Rudy Giuliani at the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual Legends & Leaders Dinner. This 13-year tradition that has become known for bringing in high profile politicians, celebrities and professional athletes who have achieved legendary status.

The City Council voted to hold a District 7 recall election on March 3.The recall stems from the brouhaha that erupted after District 7 Councilmember Madison Nguyen suggested Saigon Business District as the name for a commercial area within the district instead of agreeing with some residents who wanted the name Little Saigon.

The 2008 election is finally over, after what seems like a decade of campaigning. The United States has a new president. During a tour of various precincts within Almaden, it appeared that close to 100 percent of voters either voted on Tuesday, voted early or mailed in a ballot.

Shana Moore, columnist and staff writer for the Almaden Times, was invited to address the Almaden Valley Women’s Club (AVWC) to re-energize the club for another year of service to the community. Moore’s speech, “Life 4.0… Five simple steps for carving out community where you work, live and volunteer your time,” reminded AVWC volunteers why they keep coming out to do good work in the community, and provided tips for making deeper personal connections within their organization and in the community at large.

Just a few months shy of its 40th birthday, the 135-acre Almaden Golf & Country Club finished major construction on a new lake on its 18-hole par 72 golf course as well as revamped holes one and 18.

City Council members held a special meeting to discuss Inclusionary Housing, a topic that apparently leaves little room for centrists. It voted 8-2 to discuss a draft of a proposed ordinance without knowing the plan itself or its timeline.

The Assistance League continued to make good on its pledge to put caring and commitment into action hosting a brunch at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club with a captivating flower arranging presentation by Kren Rasmussen of Bloomster’s. The San Jose chapter of the Assistance League, a national volunteer organization, raises valuable funds to support its philanthropic programs.

With the holidays just over a month away, Holiday Gifts for Teens volunteers collected donations. Every year the American Association of University Women and Sacred Heart Community Service volunteers put together gifts for this forgotten segment of the population.

With the general election now part of history, some races were still too close to call. Including Santa Clara County’s Measure B, which, if passed, will bring BART from Fremont through San Jose to Santa Clara. Measure B reached near the two-thirds margin it needed that night, but has since been on a roller coaster ride, but just before Thanksgiving managed to reach and hold the two-thirds margin.

Just a few months shy of its 40th birthday, the 135-acre Almaden Golf & Country Club finished major construction on a new lake on its 18-hole par 72 golf course as well as revamped holes one and 18. The club held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to show off the lake and the two new holes as a centerpiece for the course.

For the past several years, the Kiwanis Clubs of the Bay Area have worked with NBC11’s weatherman John Farley to help provide food for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Even though the collection this year didn’t include turkeys, people bought 21 turkeys for the donation. And, Almaden people were more than generous with their cash. “One man handed us a couple of bills and said he didn’t want to buy anything,” said Chris Verberg, a member of Almaden Kiwanis.

Take 60 pies, add 23 turkeys, cornbread and Jell-O to feed 500 people, gallons of fruit salad and gravy, eight turkey pans full of mashed potatoes and 386 hungry school children, and the mouth-watering result is Almaden Country School’s annual Thanksgiving Feast. For more than 25 years, the parents and students of the Almaden Country School have put on a huge food fest to honor this historical holiday devoted to thankfulness.

DECEMBER

The city and county looked into various solutions to ease parking problems on Whispering Pines, a residential area near the McAbee entrance to Almaden Quicksilver Park.

Downtown San Jose donned its holiday garb and there was plenty to see and do while enjoying the beautiful weather—and the lit tree. On the last Friday in November, the city lit its 60-foot Community Giving Tree to the delight of the large crowd assembled for the evening. Plaza De Cesar Chavez has transformed itself into a winter wonderland with more than 60 musical and animated exhibits and glittering lights at Christmas in the Park.

The volunteers of Valle Monte have proven again that if you want to be happy in a million ways, there’s no place like their “Christmas Tree Elegance” celebration for the holidays.

The volunteers of Valle Monte could pen a new version of a Perry Como classic, for they have proven again that if you want to be happy in a million ways, there’s no place like their “Christmas Tree Elegance” celebration for the holidays. The festivities kicked off Dec. 2 with a morning brunch and an evening office party. Wednesday’s events included a morning coffee and an afternoon tea that were repeated again on Thursday, along with an evening event sponsored by the Brandenburg Family Foundation.

Mayor Chuck Reed announced he had chosen District 9 Councilmember Judy Chirco to serve as vice mayor. She will begin her term at the second meeting in January after the council approves her appointment. Pyle was selected for 11 committee assignments including the Rules and Open Government Committee, which meets on Wednesday to discuss the agenda for the upcoming meetings. Pyle also will serve as chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee and as executive board alternate on the ABAG Committee and as liaison to the Civil Service Commission, the Disability Advisory Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Suggestion Awards Commission.

A car hit Bailey Kroeger on Dec. 5 while she was crossing Blossom Hill Road on her way to school. Although everyone said the accident should have killed her, she survived against the odds. Just out of the hospital with a broken shoulder, broken right tibia and fibia and a torn ACL on her left knee, the 13-year-old eighth grader at Dartmouth Middle School is recovering slowly and was able to go home. But it could take months for her injuries to heal so she can go back to school.

Every year, the Almaden Valley Rotary Club provides two special lunches for seniors—one at the Southside Community Center and the other at the Almaden Community Center, since its opening. On Dec. 12 for the third year the Almaden service club provided filet mignon lunches to 200 senior citizens. It is about 16 years at the Southside center.

The Almaden Pee Wee Football team won the Division II Pop Warner National Championship at the Wide World of Sports Center at Disney World Dec. 12, marking the first national championship in Almaden Pop Warner football. The Pop Warner Super Bowl was held the week of Dec. 9-12 in Orlando, Fla. where 64 teams from across the nation competed in two divisions and four age groups.

The San Jose City Council Dec. 16 appointed Shivaun Nurre to serve as acting independent police auditor while it conducts a search to fill the position permanently.

With the opening of the Pearl Avenue Branch Library in San Jose, the city has became the first municipality in the United States to install permanent public art that combines photovoltaic cells and art glass in an architectural application. Artist Lynn Goodpasture’s public art piece, integrates green technology and art demonstrating yet another aspect of the San Jose Green Vision.