Feb 12, 2004

Seniors are concerned about Almaden Senior Center closing March 17

Editor,

I’m a volunteer at the Almaden Senior Center and the secretary of the Senior Advisory Council and I’m speaking for all concerned seniors regarding the closing of the Almaden Community Center. We are a group of just under 1,000 members and we are all very concerned about the center closing on March 17 for two years to build a new center.

This center provides a home base for Almaden’s seniors. The classes provide companionship, activities and nutrition for so many people. The benefit to us and the community as a whole is tremendous. Many of the classes are staffed by senior volunteers and these same volunteers also help out at the library and cook for the homeless and help out at Sacred Heart. In addition, SeniorNet is run by an all-volunteer group of seniors.

I’d like to stress that seniors are a large voting block in Almaden and seniors vote! We can’t get any answers about what is going to happen to our senior center. Can the Almaden Times Weekly help us?

Deanna Green
Crystal Springs Drive

Mother concerned about preschool program closing

Editor,

I'm a mom with a 3-year-old son (Cameron) who is currently attending the preschool program run by the Almaden Community Center, which ends in March. He absolutely loves it there, especially since he's an only child.

I have been informed that there will be no further preschool classes offered due to the library reconstruction, leaving quite a few young children out in the cold, so to speak. Needless to say, this is very disappointing to the parents of the children as well. It's a great program, especially for stay-at-home moms (and dads) who are looking for an inexpensive social outlet for their children.

I'm very surprised that I haven't read about this in the Almaden Times Weekly. Chris Thomas, the preschool teacher said there was some discussion about finding an alternate site but is far from certain that this will happen.

I was wondering if your paper thought this might be a good story. If more people in the community knew about the plight of our youngest residents, it may help to bring about a solution.

Stella Baker
Juli Lynn Drive

Editor’s response,

We are aware that this is a hot button issue in Almaden and have been trying to find out where the classes will be relocated, but the problem is that the city is having some difficulty relocating these programs and the location possibilities have changed over the past few weeks. Here’s Vice Mayor Pat Dando’s office response to your letters:

We know that many people have concerns about the Almaden Community Center transition plan. The good news is that we will soon have a beautiful new facility with lots of space for programs. The current challenge is to offer as many classes as we can at convenient locations during the construction.

I am working with the San Jose Parks and Recreation Department to find space for our young children, seniors and exercise programs by using both city and community facilities such as The Spot [at Bret Harte Middle School], the Matthew Susanj Community Center [behind Toys R Us on Blossom Hill Road], the Vineland Library [at 1450 Blossom Hill Road between Meridian and Camden Avenues], local churches and schools.

The Spring schedule of classes will have details regarding the new location of classes. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer all of our current programs. However, we are conducting a community survey to identify those programs which are in high demand. We will work hard to try to accommodate the programs identified.

In January, the Almaden Winery project [on Blossom Hill Road near Camden] will be finished. The Winery will have two multipurpose rooms, a kitchen and three classrooms. This building will accommodate most, if not all, of our current classes until the new center is completed.

The next 18 months will call for us all to have patience and flexibility, but it will be worth it as we move into the new center.

Pat Dando
Vice Mayor
City of San Jose

Borowitz article on Janet Jackson offends reader

Editor,

I had always considered the Almaden Times Weekly to be a family newspaper covering items of interest in the Almaden Valley for family members of all ages. That was my thinking up until last week. The Times feature on page 47 from The Borowitz Report, headlined "Ashcroft detains Janet Jackson's right boob," is entirely inappropriate for the younger family members and was insulting to me. Even more appalling was your placement of this tasteless piece of satire next to Street Talk, a column geared to attracting young people since it featured two young girls, ages 10 and 14, thus, drawing the attention of even more youngsters to The Borowitz Report. Shame on you.

Although, Mr. Borowitz's satire is usually well done, this particular piece was an insult to all those who considered the Jackson/Timberlake public conduct an outrage and their follow-up excuses totally inane. Good satire attempts to focus on human folly (or vice) and, through the use of irony, wit or derision, create laughter. Thus, Mr. Borowitz is trying to convey to all, including the younger ones, that any outrage at Jackson/Timberlake act is pure folly. By doing so, he also fully condones their act.

The only thing close to folly is that, as a Monday morning quarterback, one could have predicted Jackson's and Timberlake's finale based on the producer, MTV, Jackson's past nude poses, the fact she wore a nipple cup and, most of all, the song, "Rock Your Body," with the closing lyrics, "I gotta have you naked by the end of this song." Oh, sure, the exposure of her breast was an accident!

Gerald F. Dooley
Almaden Road

Puppy Love lost!

Editor,

On Thursday, Feb. 5 around noon, our Chihuahua went outside unnoticed and dug a hole under the fence. We’ve been searching for him, to no avail. He disappeared from the Almaden Hills Estates development, located near Almaden Expressway and Winfield Boulevard. There is easy access to the Los Alamitos Creek and Almaden Lake Park, which he likes to visit, and he could have wondered into the area. We’re also located across the Expressway from McDonald’s and he loves his 99 cent hamburgers.

His name is KishMish (pronounced Keesh-Meesh), but also answers to Mishi, Kish, Baby, and Junie (if you can't seem to get his attention, please try saying "KishMish food!" or "KishMish beeyah!") He’s a 2-year old larger Chihuahua with blonde/white fur on most of his body, beautiful brown eyes, and a pink nose. Distinguishing markings include a small, nearly unnoticeable white patch of fur on his forehead above his eyes (like the horse, Black Beauty!) and a streak of toasted blonde fur on his back. When he’s in a standing position his rear quarters, located above his tail, wrinkle into a slight roll. Similar to Dumbo the elephant, he has almost grown into his "babyhood" larger ears. He’s a cautious little dog, but very friendly to family and close friends. After being gone from his family who miss him very much, he may appear agitated because he’s stressed (Ah! Life in the Silicon Valley). He left wearing a thin, red collar that we hope he hasn’t lost.

We truly miss our little pup, and hope he comes home soon. Every day we walk past his water/food bowls and wish he were home with us. He was such a joy! We are offering a reward for his safe return, so if you’re out, keep your eyes open! We hope that he is home for Valentine’s Day!

To contact us, please call (408) 927-9083 or call (408) 250-2102.