Feb 05, 2004

NEWS BRIEFS

SOS for volunteers for Leland’s Blue & Gold Dinner Dance

Leland High School is sending out an SOS for its annual Blue & Gold Auction and Dinner Dance April 24 at the Elks Lodge in San Jose. This is a great way to get together with parents and friends in the community while showing your support for Leland students. As you are aware, California is making significant cutbacks in school budgets, which directly affects our children. The auction will raise funds, which help our students both academically and athletically. Maybe you know a business owner or are a business owner who can make a donation. Or possibly you work for a company that is willing to donate to Leland. You can advertise your business by sponsoring a table at the auction and have your business or company name prominently displayed in the center of the table. No donation is too big or too small. Tickets are also on sale for $45 per person. If you would like to make a donation or purchase a ticket, call the school at (408) 535-6290 x230. Come aboard the SS Leland at a port near you and help us to make this a successful event.

Anderson Lake re-opens with new permanent boat launch ramp

After three months of preparation, Anderson Lake County Park, Santa Clara County’s largest and most popular boating lake, re-opened Jan. 31 with a brand new boat-launching ramp. The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department (SCCPRD) had installed a temporary launching pad in June to accommodate summer boating visitors to the lake until the permanent ramp was installed. Funding for the permanent ramp came from registration fees paid to the state by boat owners in the county.

The permanent ramp measures 60 feet wide and is constructed of four concrete lanes, ideal for powerboats to launch into the lake. Reservations will not be needed until May 1. Additionally, SCCPRD has improved Anderson Lake through various other renovations. Most notably, it built a protection wall, a turn-around area and new rail-guided boarding floats; expanded parking areas with more than 100 vehicle/trailer parking spaces; re-paved interior roadways to boat-launching and parking areas; built a six-unit restroom facility; and improved electrical lines, storm water drains, signs, and telephones.

Anderson Lake County Park, located in Morgan Hill just east of U.S. 101, is the site of Santa Clara County's largest reservoir. It can hold up to 89,073 acre-feet of water, more than the combined storage of the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s other nine reservoirs.

The 3,109-acre park also features the Live Oak and Toyon group picnic areas, Woodchopper Flat day-use area, the Moses L. Rosendin Park and the Burnett Park area. Anderson Reservoir, a seven-mile long, 1,250-surface-acre lake, also provides opportunities for power and nonpower boating and fishing. SCCPRD will no longer be checking receipts for nonMTBE fuel. Personal watercraft (jet-skis) are not allowed.

The Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department consists of over 44,000 acres of regional parklands, trails, lakes, streams and open space in 27 parks located throughout Santa Clara County. Visit the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department’s Web site at www.parkhere.org.

Branham High School orientation meeting Feb. 25

If you have a student in eighth grade and live in Branham High School's attendance area, mark your calendar to attend an orientation meeting Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. The staff will explain
the program and answer your questions. If your child attends Ida Price or Dartmouth middle schools, information packets will be mailed home soon. If your child does not attend either of these middle schools, but you live in Branham's attendance area and would like your child to enroll for next year, call the school to request a registration packet (267-1020).

Almaden Senior Center offers panel discussion on how to deal with loss of loved one

The Almaden Senior Center will present a panel discussion of what actions you might consider taking now, and later in the event of losing a loved one. Get organized financially, prepare a plan, remove the burden from loved ones, and get questions answered.

The panel of speakers includes Jay Campbell, estate planning, Arthur, Nordmark & Carr; Arnold Hilde, financial planning, New England Financial; and Sue Wetzel, preneed consultant, Skylawn Memorial
The meeting is Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Almaden Community Center, 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose. All are welcome to attend.

Older Adult Resource Specialist offered at Almaden Senior Center

Our Older Adult Resource Specialist service can provide home assessments, develop care plans, arrange support services and can provide ongoing monitoring for seniors with multiple needs. This service is available on Friday mornings. Call 268-1133 to make an appointment. Appointments are available every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.