July 7, 2005

NEWS BRIEFS

Five arrested at two South SJ neighborhood ‘chop shops’

On June 28 the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATTF) uncovered a chop shop operating at 1244 Monteagle Drive, San Jose. A second chop shop was located in the area of Sonata Way and Serenade Way, San Jose.

Suspects Rafael Murillo, 33, Elizabeth Ponce, 22, David Amaton, 31, Francisco Amezuca, 20, and Ricardo Rodriguez, 26 were arrested and charged with auto theft and possession of stolen property. This investigation resulted in the recovery of 33 vehicles and three engines. All suspects remain in the county jail.

During the month of May, RATTF investigators were asked to assist the SJPD on the Monteagle Drive chop shop. Their investigation started after several citizens complained about the residence to SJPD at their community meeting. Investigators obtained and executed a search warrant with the assistance of SJPD, resulting in the recovery of stolen vehicles and automobile parts.

RATTF investigators have determined that stolen vehicles were being stripped of parts. The stolen vehicle parts were then being sold or used in other vehicles. The investigators suspect that some of the stolen vehicle parts have been installed in citizens’ vehicles without their knowledge. If anyone has had their vehicle repaired at the Monteagle address or has any information about these auto theft rings, contact RATTF Detective R. Tomlin at (408) 808-4555.

Local realtor does good

Margaret Yost

Margaret Yost, a longtime Almaden resident and well-known local real estate agent, was recently selected by her peers to be featured as the cover story in Broker/Agent Magazine. (A reprint of the magazine article is included in your Almaden Times home delivery.) In order to be selected, agents must be top producers, respected by their peers in the industry, and involved in professional activities.

Having lived, worked and been a part of the Almaden area for more than 20 years, Yost is well known in the Almaden Valley real estate community.

“This neighborhood is my neighborhood and I care about the same things that my clients care about. I’m not just selling real estate, I am selling a part of an area that I love,” she says. “Fam-ilies are moving to Almaden Valley for the same reasons they moved to Almaden years ago: great schools, beautiful surroundings, good value, and an environment where children thrive.”

She should know. The former eighth grade teacher and her husband Bob raised two children here. They attended Graystone, Bret Harte, Leland and Bellarmine.

Tickets on sale for Children’s Musical Theater’s ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ July 15-24

From left: Madi Tindall (Ursula), Jeff Cohn (Conrad Birdie), and Caroline Citelli (Kim MacAfee). Photo by Josh Miyaji

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose opens the 2005 summer series with its Rising Stars production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” July 15-24 at the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose (corner of Market and San Carlos streets).

“Bye, Bye Birdie” follows teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie as he fulfills one final publicity stunt prior to heading into the army—to kiss a teenage girl who is a member of the Conrad Birdie fan club. The kiss, which is to be televised live on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” takes Conrad to Sweet Apple Ohio, where his lucky fan, Kim McAfee, resides. Kim and her fan club friends are overjoyed at the chance to meet their teen idol but Kim’s boyfriend Hugo has other ideas! “Bye, Bye Birdie” will enthrall audiences, young and old, heralding classic Broadway tunes including “Telephone Hour,” “Put on a Happy Face,” and “Got a Lot of Livin’ to Do!”

Tickets are now on sale to the public for $15 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. A special Target® Family Matinee performance is Saturday, July 16 at 2 p.m., with all tickets $7.25.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the CMTSJ Web site at www.cmtsj.org or phone the CMT box office at (408) 288-5437. Tickets may also be purchased at the CMT Box Office, 1401 Parkmoor Avenue (at Meridian), San Jose, Monday through Friday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. or at the Montgomery Theater one hour prior to performances.

Linda Ronstadt to perform at Mariachi Festival July 16

Grammy Award-winner Linda Ronstadt will perform at a gala concert at the 14th Annual San Jose International Mariachi Festival on July 16 at the San Jose State Event Center.

Concert ticket sales support Silicon Valley’s Mexican Heritage Plaza, a nonprofit multi-cultural arts and education center, and its legendary Mariachi Festival July 13-19.

Individual tickets are available for $40 to $125 at Ticketmaster by calling (408) 998-8497 or at www.ticketmaster.com Tax-deductible VIP Linda Ronstadt concert packages are also available by calling 928-5551.

Almaden house fire sends firefighter to hospital

A single-alarm fire June 28 sent San Jose firefighter Clint Johnson to Santa Teresa Hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion. He was later released.

Johnson was among several firefighters from Fire Station No. 22 who responded to the Almaden blaze that started shortly after 1 p.m. in a two-story home located at 1227 Eagle Valley Ct.

The fire was caused by plumbers who were heating copper pipes that caught an interior wall on fire and climbed to the second floor.

San Jose Fire Capt. Allison Cabral said the fire, which caused more than $20,000 in damages, was under control an hour later. No one was displaced, she said.

—By Sheila Sanchez