Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
Vigilance urged
as car thefts rise
Car thefts in San Jose are up 29 percent in 2006, according to the San Jose Police Department's auto theft unit. Capt. Richard Fairhurst warned Willow Glen residents to keep a watchful eye on their cars.
Fairhurst, of the department's western division, attended the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association meeting on Oct. 24. Police officers regularly attend Willow Glen meetings to answer residents' questions about crime.
While San Jose is lower than the national average for violent crime, car theft incidents have increased over the past few years, Fairhurst said. The department has also noticed more juveniles are stealing cars.
Unlike the thieves who seek out high-value cars to disassemble or sell, Fairhurst said juveniles are stealing a broad range of cars. Juveniles will drive the cars until they run out of gas and then abandon the vehicles. Sgt. Scott Marsh said sometimes gang members use the stolen cars to commit crimes such as burglaries.
Police recommend residents install car alarms in their vehicles and park close to their homes and under an outdoor light whenever possible.
Further, Fairhurst recommended residents be careful when warming their cars up as the weather turns colder. Thieves are also keen on stealing these unlocked, running cars, he said.
Although theft is on the rise, Marsh said the police department recovers 85 percent of stolen cars.
Elks Lodge honors
veterans on Nov. 11
San Jose Elks Lodge No. 522, on the edge of Willow Glen, is holding a celebration for veterans for the upcoming Veterans Day holiday.
The lodge will host nearly 40 vets from the veterans hospital in Palo Alto on Nov. 9, showering them with gifts, dinner and entertainment. Two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Army Sgt. Sammy Davis and Master Sgt. Richard Pittman, will also attend.
Davis and Pittman are California residents who served during the Vietnam War. Davis was a cannoneer who was injured under heavy artillery fire but continued to fight using a howitzer. While injured, he rescued three wounded men.
Pittman also saved the lives of several American soldiers. His company suffered numerous casualties, and Pittman helped keep the enemy at bay by firing a machine gun and launching grenades.
These men will share their stories at the event, which begins at 6:15 p.m. The lodge is at 444 W. Alma Ave. For more information, call 408.298.3880.
Man stabbed multiple times on Lester Ave.
A San Jose man was stabbed multiple times in Willow Glen on Oct. 21.
According to San Jose Police Department spokesperson Enrique Garcia, the 18-year-old victim was drinking and smoking with four other males on Lester Avenue at 1:36 a.m.
The men got into an argument, which escalated into a fight. The victim was stabbed, and friends brought him to a local hospital.
The San Jose man is expected to recover, Garcia said.
The police have not been able to identify any of the individuals involved in the attack.
Podiatrist goes from
bunions to ballads
David Sharpe, a Willow Glen resident and podiatrist for more than 30 years, released his first children's CD, All the Things You Dream.
Inspired by his three grandchildren, the CD contains 15 songs that describe children's dreams from being a pirate to meeting the tooth fairy and are sung to rock 'n' roll, blues and country beats.
"PapaHugs" as he is known by his fans, recorded and produced the CD at Open Path Music Studio in Willow Glen.
For more information or to purchase his CD, visit www.davidsharpemusic.com.
Free SAT workshop
at Saratoga library
The Princeton Review will offer a free, two-part SAT workshop at the Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., next month. On Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., students can take a practice SAT test, and on Dec. 9 during the same time, they can return to the library to receive their test results. Students will also receive feedback on specific test-taking strategies that can improve their scores. Sign-ups to attend are required and are limited. The deadline to sign up is Nov. 21. If interested, call the library at 408.867.6126, ext. 3815.
Love, sacrifices and French Revolution
The West Valley College Theater Department will perform Charles Dickens' play A Tale of Two Cities. The production has been adapted by Bruce De Les Dernier, the artistic director and founder of the Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival. The story of love and sacrifice played out against the social turmoil that led to the French Revolution.
The production runs Thursdays through Sundays, Nov. 17 through Dec. 3, at the West Valley College Theater, 14000 Fruitvale Ave. in Saratoga. Performances begin at 8 p.m. and weekend matinees begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students with ID and seniors 65 and over. For more information, call 408.741.2058.
Willow Glen women
help with silhouettes
"Silhouettes of Style," the 52nd annual Mothers Guild Fashion Show that raises money for financial aid for students at Bellarmine College Preparatory, takes place Nov. 10 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.
Twenty Willow Glen women are among the committee members working on the show that will feature fashions by Eli Thomas, Macy's, Jessica McClintock, Talbots and Club Monaco. The lunch show is at 11 a.m., and a black tie evening show is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call 408.294.9224, ext. 209, or email activities.bcp.org/mothers_guild.
Superintendent looks
at school challenges
The Los Gatos-Saratoga branch of the American Association of University Women will meet on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the community room of the Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave.
Colleen Wilcox, superintendent of Santa Clara County schools, is the featured speaker and will discuss challenges facing public education today, such as academic achievement, safety in schools, unequal facilities, ethnic composition and the No Child Left Behind Act.
AAUW invites community members interested in local schools to attend. For more information, call Jean Wenberg at 408.257.9969
Hicklebee's shoppers
can grow a library
The Booksin Elementary School's library is part of Hicklebee's book bonus program. For every $200 spent at Hicklebee's, the library will receive a $10 gift certificate to spend at the store.
The program applies toward any purchase at the store. This includes books, games, toys, cards, trinkets or stuffed animals.
Mentioning Booksin School at the time of a purchase will help bring new books to the library's shelves. In 2005, Booksin acquired $100 worth of free books.
Hicklebee's is at 1378 Lincoln Ave. For more information, visit www.hicklebees.com.
Popular instructor
has course on DVD
Parents who send their children to Susy Dorn's Spanish immersion classes at the Campbell Community Center can now enjoy her lessons at home.
Dorn has released a DVD, Sal Y Pimienta. The DVD uses animation, puppetry and music to teach children Spanish and brings to life the songs on CD.
Dorn, a native Peruvian with a degree in child development education, produced the multimedia materials at the behest of parents. The DVD, CDs and sing-along books are available for purchase on Amazon.com. Dorn will donate 5 percent of proceeds to Children of Peru, a social cause devoted to improving children's lives. For more information on Dorn's classes, visit www. susydorn.com.
