Wrestling Heats Up Great America as Youth Sports Day Inspires Youth

By Robert Haugh

Amidst a backdrop chorus of screaming thrill seekers and roaring roller coasters a new sound was heard echoing at California’s Great America on Saturday, June 27 when thuds were heard as bodies were being slammed to the canvas.

An array of wild professional wrestling characters appeared at Great America as part of Youth Sports Day, including the high-flying masked Luchadores Chicano Flame, “Mexican Werewolf” El Chupacabra and Kid Omega --- plus an array of evil villains including the 399-pound “Mountain From Stone Mountain” Larry Blackwell, Kimo “The Heat” Kanaloa, “Italian Assassin” Vennis deMarco, “Nice Guy” Vinnie Massarro, “Insane” Mike Rayne --- as well as colorful and animated fan favorites like “Rock Legend Scum” Adam Thornstowe, Jeckles the Jester, “Son of a Rebel” Jody Kristofferson, Otis the Big Trucker, “The Showcase” Johnny Plinko and the perennial underdog, the 5-foot-5, 135-pound Kryptonite.

Dazzling thousands of fans throughout the day with array of powerful and innovative wrestling maneuvers, risk-defying aerial attacks and unparallel technical wrestling prowess, there was wrestling excitement for everyone’s palettes. Fans fought off the scorching 100-degree heat to watch in awe as the wrestlers performed bone-shattering maneuvers.

The huge 20-person over-the-top battle royal featuring the best wrestlers from throughout the West Coast had fans gathering in droves as wrestlers were being tossed far and near. In the end, the standing-room-only crowd in Celebration Plaza witnessed Kryptonite eliminate Blackwell with an assist from Thornstowe.

Great America guests also witnessed the stunning debut of the wild El Leopardo Locco, a mysterious masked wrestler from the Amazon jungle managed by the much-despised lawyer from New York, Buddy Sotello, ESQ. Fans also saw two of the country’s fastest-rising female wrestling stars in action as “Punk Princess” Christina Von Eerie defeated Leopardo Locco, while the sassy Davina Rose fended off the brash and arrogant “Glamorous” Ryan Von Kool.

“The Shooter” Tony Jones, as seen in the major motion picture Beyond The Mat was defeated by the ever-popular “Freak Show” Jeckles.

Other rough and tumble wrestling stars appearing included The Channel Surfers: “Sofa King” Ace Davis & “Love Seat” Tomas D. Ortiz, The Associates: Wise Guy & White Collar Criminal L.J. Summers and The West Coast Dragons: Corvus Ventura & Junior Morales and the professional wrestling debuts of the Miracle Fighter and APW Boot Camp student (www.allprowrestling.com) Tremayne Event. The rookies were participants in the battle royale --- both getting tossed out after being obliterated with fierce chops.

The wrestling matches were free to Great America guests as part of Youth Sports Day, which featured a bevy of local youth sports organizations including women’s professional soccer team FC Gold Pride and former U.S. Women’s soccer team captain Brandi Chastain, the San Jose Giants, Santa Clara University Athletics, Santa Clara PAL, San Jose PAL, Lift Up America and more.

For more information on California's Great America season passes and more call 408-988-1776 or visit www.cagreatamerica.com. The wrestling portion of the event was organized by scribe Robert Haugh’s Wrestling For Charity.

49ers Stadium Only $26 Million Net Boost for Schools, But Revenue Starts in 2011-12

By Carolyn Schuk

Facing a $12 million shortfall caused by declining local tax revenue and a catastrophic state budget deficit, Santa Clara Unified School District is looking for ways to close the gap in the short term, as well as ways to stabilize school finances in the long term.

The proposed 49ers stadium may be one of those strategies. That's because of Redevelopment Agency (RDA) tax pass-throughs – payments that are legally mandated if Santa Clara's redevelopment plan is amended to allow the agency to incur new debt – that will flow to SCUSD schools over the next 15 years.

The County Office of Education and West Valley-Mission Community College District would also benefit. Other districts that are inside Santa Clara city boundaries – Campbell Union, San Jose Unified, and Cupertino Union – would not.

But the stadium "boost" is $26 million, not $133 million – or $141 million – that some are reporting. That's because if the stadium isn't built, the district will still receive an additional $107 million over the same period from Redevelopment Agency property tax reversion – incremental tax revenue (from higher property values) that's diverted to repay redevelopment bonds. When the bonds are repaid, the tax diversion ends.

However, as any businessperson knows, total dollars is only part of the story. How soon those dollars start coming in – cash flow – is equally important to financial health. In the case of the Redevelopment Agency tax reversion, that money doesn't start flowing to SCUSD until 2020-2021 ($12.7 million, jumping to about $22 million in 2023-24).

That 10-year wait means any measures to close the school district budget gap – layoffs, cuts in after-school sports and recreation programs, eliminating summer school and adult ed, furlough days, larger class sizes, a parcel tax – are almost certain to be long-term.

On the other hand, if the stadium is built, SCUSD starts seeing additional revenue in 2011-2012, with $382,000 additional revenue that year, jumping to $2 million the following year and growing by roughly $2 million a year until 2020. The additional revenue for the schools adds up to $53 million between 2011 and 2020, so district cost-cutting measures are likely to be temporary and short-term if the stadium is built.

But the district isn't presenting a brief for the proposed stadium, stresses SCUSD Board Member Andy Ratermann. "The school district hasn't taken a position on the 49ers stadium. We are planning for both cases – with and without the stadium."

The next meeting of the SCUSD Board is July 7, 2009, 6:15 p.m. in the District Office Board Room, 1889 Lawrence Road. For more information, visit www.santaclarausd.org. If the intricacies of redevelopment finances have you scratching your head, the City of San Leandro offers a very readable Q&A on the subject at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/slredevfaq.html.

Carolyn Schuk can be reached at cschuk@earthlink.net.

Milestones 7/1/09

By Miles H Barber
Years of reckless California legislative spending have been camouflaged through slippery budget maneuvering by our legislators.
Now this patchwork puzzle, put together pitifully, points to repulsive problems packed with disruptive patter.
Tax revenues continue to decline and the deficit increases daily.
Cal Pers retirement fund dropped $60 billion in 2008, a 25% loss.
Corporations have been given the cold shoulder and simply asked to pay more of the tax burden. In addition, Californian citizens already pay the highest personal income tax in the nation.
Illegal aliens have been given the State’s credit card for medical services and the welcome mat at all social service centers.
Unions have held the legislature and governor hostage, demanding protection for their state jobs and cushy 90% retirement benefits.
Consider that BART union members right now are in negotiations for a new contract. There is little appreciation from these union leaders for their workers having jobs. They want more and are preparing to strike if they don’t get more.
Is anyone listening?
This is a depression folks. We all pull together or we push everyone over the edge.
Reason and sanity must replace greed and self interest.
Thinking that we can continue to pay for our own services and anyone else who happens to show up at our borders is fiscal insanity.
Unions holding out for higher wages and benefits threaten to rip apart the last strand of financial fabric holding together our fragile economy.
Why are we laying off our teachers while funding social services for illegal aliens?
Raising taxes continues to promote endorsement of sloppy spending practices.
Raising taxes does not infuse money into our economy.
Our tax burden and red tape bureaucracy has been driving industry out of California.
Without business and industry we are left only with government and state unions.
California has manipulated budget issues for years because our leaders thought they would never have to pay the Piper. And, if it did go bad they would just raise taxes.
Guess what? The Piper showed up and not at a good time.
Now they and we have to face the painful truth.
Special interest politicking will have to take a seat in the back of the bus.
Protected empires and entrenched unions will have to share the burden.
Cutting costs by reducing employee salaries, benefits and jobs is painful.
Granting continued “entitlements” to employees is absurd.
In Santa Clara, we have for the first time begun to mimic Sacramento. This year we borrowed against City reserves to give our union employees more money and benefits.
While we have not wiped out our reserves, we are dangerously close to borrowing for operations.
This is a red flag bigger than a barn.
Speaking of barns, it might be a good idea to close the door on this “spend till we drop” mentality before we actually emulate the fiscal policies of our State.

Miles Barber can be reached at: SCWeekly2004@yahoo.com

Wallenda Walks The Wire Over Great America

By Suzy Paluzzi

All eyes were cast upward as Nik Wallenda walked without a safety net, harness, or safety wire over 100 feet high.

Gingerly caressing his way across the very thin high wire stretching from the Barney Oldfield Speedway to the popular roller coaster Invertigo, bone-chilling suspense and tension broke into wild applause as the seventh generation member of the famous Wallenda family completed the 500-foot walk across California’s Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara on Sunday, June 28.

Adding to the risk was a steady breeze and 100-degree temperatures at 1:30 in the afternoon.

Walking only holding something for balance, Wallenda has a team that sets up the rigging and holds the wires below, with even his wife participating. When asked how she feels seeing the father of their three children do these death-defying acts, Erendira shares, “I’m nervous, but he has been doing this since he was four.”

Wallenda is the holder of two Guinness World Records. In October of 2008, the 30-year-old performer rode a bicycle 13-½ stories up for the highest and longest ride on a high wire. He wears the bicycle chain that broke then around his neck. “I respect what I do,” says Wallenda.

In 2001, Wallenda was part of the family troupe, which set the Guinness Record by achieving an eight-person pyramid on the high wire. Wallenda’s great grandfather Karl, who founded The Flying Wallendas, was known for creating the seven-person pyramid.

“I’m doing this because it is in my blood by now. I love doing it and couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Nik Wallenda says when asked why he performs such feats.
He will be honoring his ancestor, Karl, later this year by walking across the Grand Canyon in a death-defying high-wire act.

Wallenda is touring this summer across the United States and Canada, as part of the 2009 Walk Across America Tour. During the tour, Wallenda will walk at ten Cedar Fair amusement parks throughout the U.S. Great America was the third stop of the tour.

“I hope what I do is inspirational in that it overcomes odds. People need to know that goals, no matter what they are, can be accomplished with the proper training,” states Wallenda.

Suman and Deepi Singh came from San Bruno for their first time to Great America specifically to see The King of the High Wire’s walk. Tania Dubon, 10, of Santa Clara summed up the experience well. “I was stunned. I didn’t believe he could do it. The stick he holds looked wobbly and the whole walk went really fast.”

For more information on Nik Wallenda visit www.nikwallenda.com. For more information on California’s Great America, visit www.cagreatamerica.com.

Suzy Paluzzi can be reached at jomarch06@yahoo.com

Robinson Brothers Band Bring it Home to Central Park

By Tricia Chambers

The six musicians that make up the Robinson brothers may not have much time to spend playing together. But it wasn’t apparent from the way they rocked the stage for a full 90-minutes when they performed at last Wednesday’s Concert in the Park.

“Vinny (harmonica) and I call each other sometimes,” said keyboard player Mark Robinson, a Campbell resident well-known at the Triton Museum. “And we’ll say, ‘Hey let’s get together.’ You know, for special things like this.”

The band, a mix of local boys, ripped into a hot combo of blues/honky tonk and rock tunes, amidst a backdrop of hoots and howls from an audience that grew steadily larger as the show got under way.

Fessehaye Tesfay, a 26-year resident of Santa Clara showed up with his wife and son. He couldn’t fight the urge to keep time to the music by tapping his feet and shaking his head. But ask him why he’s not dancing and all he will do is laugh.

As crowded as the Pavilion was, there was still plenty of room for uninhibited adults to strut their stuff to the band’s jam of original tunes like “I’m Going to Marry My Mother-in-Law,” and Santo and Johnny’s 1959 hit, “Sleep Walk.”

It takes half a dozen members to get the Robinson Brothers’ sound. Bass guitarist Dave Gonzales whaled on a brand new guitar from the left side. Maybe out of sight, but just as integral, was drummer Quenston Statin who didn’t miss a beat during his own vocal solo. Blues composer and guitarist Craig Robinson displayed the same raw talent he showcases when he plays regular gigs at Gumbo Jumbo on Market Street in San Jose.

A classically-trained pianist since the age of five, Mark said, “We have all played J.J.’s Blues Club as well as blues clubs from here all the way up to San Francisco.”

According to Mark, each member is required to also perform a vocal solo. ‘Except me. That’s a rule,” he laughed. “The guy can’t sing,” he said of himself in the second-person.

Anyone who could manage to sleep through the excitement was definitely awake when Peter and Craig performed a soulful-ly rowdy rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home to Me.”

That song could’a gone on forever. Yeh, yeh. Yeh.

Next week you can catch the Mission City Opera and the Santa Clara Chorale when they head up the third and final Wednesday Concert at 6:30 p.m.

Show up to the Pavilion on July 12 and you can be a part of the fun when Peter Cor and the Jazzy Devils kick off the first of the seven Sunday concerts which are scheduled to run from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

For more information about the Concert in the Park series visit,
http://www.santaclaraca.gov or call 408.615.2210.

Re: Weekly Letter

I have received some comments on my letter that was recently published in The Weekly related to our July 4th Fireworks show. Please understand that I love the fireworks and understand their value as a community event. But in these times, I have concerns on how the fireworks are funded. If you enjoy the fireworks show, either as a Santa Clara resident or as one of the many non-Santa Clarans who come to watch Santa Clara’s show on July 4, please seriously consider sending a donation to the City to help defray the cost.

Donations may be sent to the City of Santa Clara, City Manager’s Office, 1500 Warburton Av., Santa Clara, 95050. Please make your check to “City of Santa Clara” and note that the donation is for the fireworks fund.

I have already sent in my donation. Enjoy the fireworks and all our July 4th festivities.

Sincerely,

Teresa O'Neill

Re: Milestones 5/27/09

Thank you for the column of May 27, 2009, regarding he City Council giving the unions a 4.75% increase in salary and benefits.

Please keep informing us, for we should vote for people like the ones who gave Santa Clara the reputation of being one of the best run cities in America for 75 years.

Sincerely,
Louise Lagunas

Re: Vote for the 49er stadium

Since this is to be a Sense of the City vote, it is a complete waste of money to treat it as an official election.

Why not instead do a Utility Bill Vote?

Simply include a vote card with each utility bill. Each household (and business) can then decide either yes or no and send the cards back to the city.

It will cost us next to nothing to do this and it will truly give you the thinking of the totality of the city. You could even give it a trial run, asking if the recipients would approve of the concept for the 49er vote.

Sincerely,
Ronald B. Johnstone

Re: SCUSD

I have read your news articles for many years and appreciate the local aspect your paper offers. A local treasure is going through a very hard time; this community asset has been a staple for over 28 years. Due to the massive economic restructuring at the federal, state and local level Educational Options has gone through substantial reduction.

The SCUSD Board of Education and the administration are dedicated individuals and strive to offer educational resources to all learners. I just wanted to bring the challenges facing this wonderful resource and the hard working people doing all they can to support it. I have had the pleasure of being a teacher here for over 20 years and they have been truly wonderful years. It is my desire to make the challenges facing Educational Options and the SCUSD as well as many school districts in the state of California known to as many community members as possible. The Board Meetings are open to the public and times and dates are listed on the SCUSD website http://www.santaclarausd.org/. I must stress I do not represent the school district in any official capacity. I am writing this as a community member that has used the services of Adult Education and treasure this valuable resource.

Brian Darby

City Council Roundup June 23, 2009 Meeting

By Robert Haugh

Roll Call: All Council members present.

Approval of the Minutes: The May 19, 2009, May 26, 2009 Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting and May 26, 2009 - Special Meeting were approved and filed.

Special Order of Business:
• Outgoing Commission Members Marwan A, Fawal, Cultural Advisory Commission (1998-2009), Mary Ann Marinshaw, Historical and Landmarks Commission (1999-2009), Frank J. Barcells, Planning Commission (2005-2009) and Edward L. Murphy, Senior Advisory Commission (2005-2009) were honored and recognized.

• The City of Santa Clara Silicon Valley Power Scholarship and Technical Grant Awards were presented to recipients. (See Page 6 for full story).

• Estella Ross Lockwood was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Cultural Advisory Commission for the full term ending June 30, 2013.

• Deborah Costa was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission for the full term ending June 30, 2013.

Unfinished Business:
San Francisco 49ers Proposed Stadium:

• Council Approved the recommendation regarding the process and timeline for creating a Charter Review Committee while Informational reports discussing the immense potential event synergies between the Santa Clara Convention Center and a new stadium and estimated costs regarding potential ballot measure for the stadium up to the 2010 Primary Election were noted and filed.

Ballot options include a March 10, 2010 All-Mail Ballot which is currently being researched as in general, this option under Election Code is limited to Cities under 100,000 residents. Estimated costs for this election would be $364,459. A second ballot option would be an April 13, 2010 Special Citywide election, carrying an approximate cost of $652,395. The third and most cost-efficient ballot measure would be holding the election during the June 8, 2010 Primary election, which would cost an estimated $151,644.

To declare a ballot for the March 2010 all-mail ballot option, if feasible, Council would move by November 24, 2009 to gold that election. For the April 2010 option, Council would need to call an election by December 15, 2009. Finally, for the June 2010 option, Council would need to call for that ballot measure by February 2010.

The Charter Review Committee will be comprised of 16 members, with each Council member appointing one individual, one member appointed by the Citizen’s Advisory Commission, one appointed the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce, and seven (7) at-large members to be selected by the City Council through an application/interview process similar to such used for other Commission and Board vacancies. Letters of interest must be submitted to the City by August 12, 2009. Informal interviews are scheduled tentatively for August 18 at 5:30 p.m., with selection of members immediately following at the Council meeting. All applicants must be Santa Clara residents and registered voters, as required for all City Boards and Commissions.

The initial committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 20 at 5:30 p.m. in Council chambers with subsequent meetings at same time and location on Thursday, September 3, Thursday, September 17 and Thursday, October 1 (if necessary).

Come Early to All City Picnic on July 4th

Come Early to All City Picnic on July 4th
Come celebrate Independence Day at Santa Clara’s traditional All City Picnic! The picnic will be held in Central Park from 8 am to 5 pm, followed by evening entertainment and a patriotic fireworks display at 9:30 pm. Because some fireworks shows in other cities have been cancelled this year, a larger than usual crowd is anticipated at Santa Clara’s public event.
Start the day with an outdoor pancake breakfast, and live entertainment that will continue throughout the day at the Pavilion. In the evening, there will be music, a variety of food booths, followed by a patriotic fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
Last year, more than 20,000 people enjoyed the pyrotechnic show, which is partially funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and groups. Donations are being processed by the City Clerk’s Office. For information on how to make a contribution to this annual tradition, call (408) 615-2220. For other event information, call (408) 615-3140.
Please, no pets, fireworks, portable bbq’s or alcohol allowed at this event per City ordinance

The School District Boundaries that Jack Built

By Carolyn Schuk

To anyone from any other part of the world, South Bay school district boundaries appear to have been determined by throwing darts in the dark.

For example, part of Santa Clara is in the Campbell Union School District, some of whose schools are in San Jose and Saratoga. And part of Sunnyvale is in the Santa Clara School District. Another part of Santa Clara is in the Cupertino School District, which has a school in Santa Clara.

It's a setup that makes for plenty of contention like the long-standing efforts of Saratoga residents to annex Campbell's high performing Marshall Lane elementary school, which is in the City of Saratoga.

But how did we get here?

This peculiar situation has its roots in the post-WWII era, a time when California was growing quickly and cities were annexing smaller towns and unincorporated areas, according to Supervisor Ken Yeager.

Before 1950, California school districts and city borders were one and the same – the same rational approach taken by most of the world. As San Jose annexed property, those rural districts didn't want to be part of San Jose Unified. "State law was changed to say that school districts didn't have to be contiguous," says Yeager. "There was no connection where the cities grew and where the school districts were."

Leaving annexed property in the original school districts also sweetened the deal, according to former City Council Member Frank Barcells, because districts retained their tax base. Except, of course, when they don't.

Such is the case with San Jose's North San Jose development. Although the proposed 32,000 residential units would be in the Santa Clara Unified School District, because the project is underwritten by redevelopment funds, property tax revenue returns to the redevelopment agency – not the school district.

One answer to the geographic dilemma would simply be to allow inter-district transfers. But California's crazy quilt of public school funding methods creates incentives for bigger districts, like Campbell Union, to accept inter-district transfers and for smaller ones, like Santa Clara Unified, to refuse them.

There are two types of school funding: revenue-limit and basic-aid. Schools are put in one or the other of these categories based on enrollment.

Campbell Union is a “revenue limit” district. That means that property taxes do not go directly to the district, but flow to the state and funds are distributed to the district based on enrollment. More students, more funds.

By comparison, Santa Clara Unified is a “basic aid” district, meaning that the district gets only a small amount from the state per student and city tax revenue flows directly to the district.

Basic-aid schools benefit directly from rising property taxes because they keep the additional revenue. But, as Santa Clara residents have seen in the past decade, basic aid districts are also exposed to steep funding drops when those tax revenues decline. While the revenue-limit method shelters districts from some of the impact of falling tax revenue, it makes the district more dependent on the state.

These designations are automatic, and Santa Clara is shy by about 1,000 students of becoming a revenue-limited district. With an influx of new students, the district's status would change. "But the problem is the years before," former Santa Clara Unified Superintendent Rod Adams told the Weekly in a 2007 interview.

Carolyn Schuk can be reached at cschuk@earthlink.net.

Police Report June 21 - 27, 2009

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

Drugs Location: 3300 Block of El Camino Real
Officers Lutz and Gutierrez responded to a citizen’s complaint about possible drug use by a group of young men. One of the suspects was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Case Number 09-6446

Traffic Accident Location: 2800 Block of Stevens Creek Blvd.
A motorist was making a turn in a department store parking lot when she struck a 17 year old male and knocked him to the ground. The victim was taken the hospital for abrasions and hip pain.
Case Number 09-6454

Drug Arrest Location: Lafayette & Richard Ave.
Officer C. Stewart made a car stop where the driver exhibited signs drug use. The driver was removed from his vehicle and arrested. A search of his vehicle revealed methamphetamine, a drug pipe and scales. His three week old daughter was also in the vehicle.
Case Number 09-6467

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Sexual Assault Location: 3200 Block of Scott Blvd.
Officer J. Green responded to a business that provides video conversion services for grocery and drug stores throughout the Bay Area. One of their employees observed possibly illegal behavior of a sexual nature on a video tape. The store where the video tape was submitted is in San Jose. The San Jose Police Department was notified.
Case Number 09-6494

Domestic Violence Location: 4900 Avenida De Angelina
Officers Bell and Pilger responded to the report of a woman being beaten by her boyfriend. The man was arrested and the woman was taken to Valley Medical Center for injuries to her face and mouth.
Case Number 09-6512

Burglary Location: 3500 Block of Benton St.
Officers J. Thompson and Shearer responded to the report of a liquor store burglary in progress. A witness provided a description of the suspect who was found attempting to leave on his bicycle. He was carrying chips and lottery tickets.
Case Number 09-6515


Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Search Warrant Location: 3000 Block of Monroe St.
Seven suspects were arrested after a search warrant was served. A Police Service Dog located controlled substances in the residence and in a vehicle.
Case Number 09-6518

Burglary Location: El Camino Real & Bowers
During a traffic stop, Officer Phan located several laptops and a flat screen television in the vehicle. The driver admitted that the items were taken during burglaries, primarily in San Jose The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested and the San Jose Police Department was notified.
Case Number 09-6518


Burglary Location: 3500 Block of Flora Vista
Upon arrival at an auto burglary in progress, Officer Garces saw a suspect breaking a car window with a fire extinguisher. Two suspects were arrested and evidence from other auto burglaries was recovered. One suspect was booked into County Jail and the other, a juvenile, was released to his parents.
Case Number 09-6554

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Felony Arrest Location: NA
Over the past year, a tagger has been vandalizing vehicles, schools, businesses, other buildings and street lights. Detective Shimada put together a case that resulted in a felony warrant being issued against the tagger. Officers Henderson and Garcia located and arrested the suspect.
Case Number 09-12860

Burglary Location: 500 Mansion Park Dr.
An unknown suspect stole an expensive cardio machine from an apartment complex gym.
Case Number: 09-6295

Assault With A Deadly weapon Location: 600 Block of Reed St.
Officers responded to the report of a woman swinging a pick ax at a man. Officer Lynch located the male who had bite marks and scratches. Officer Gratny located the female suspect and she was arrested and booked into County Jail.
Case Number: 09-6312

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Burglary Location: 500 Mansion Park Dr.
Someone smashed the window of an apartment complex business center and stole a cash box that was known only to employees. A former employee who was recently fired was questioned and admitted to the burglary. He was arrested.
Case Number 09-6558

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Domestic Violence ____ Location: 1000 Block of Clyde
A victim called her sister because she was being assaulted by a boyfriend. The suspect left prior to the officers’ arrival.
Case Number: 09-6640

Drug Arrest Location: Newhall & Sunny Vista
Officer Higgins stopped a vehicle that he recognized as being associated with a Mountain View Police Department weapons investigation. The driver of the vehicle was the brother of the subject associated with the Mt. View Police Department case. The suspect in today’s vehicle stop was cited for being in possession of marijuana, shotgun shells and three throwing knives.
Case Number: 09-6646

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Domestic Violence __________ Location: 1000 Block of Madison St.
The suspect slammed the female victim’s head on the ground several times. The suspect is on parole and an Emergency Protective Restraining Order has been issued.
Case Number: 09-6683

Weapons Arrest ________ __Location: 1800 Block of Market
Officers Martin and Roderick responded to a report of a suspicious person at an apartment complex. A pat search of a suspect revealed a fixed blade knife and he was arrested.
Case Number: 09-6685

DUI _______Location: 1200 Block of Coleman
Officer Torke responded to a report of patrons attempting to prevent an intoxicated male from driving away on his motorcycle. The rider fell over just as Officer Torke arrived and he was arrested for DUI.
Case Number: 09-6689

Warrant Arrest ____Location: 2600 Block of The Alameda
Officer Higgins made contact with a man who was sorting through recyclables at a grocery store. During the contact, Officer Higgins found that the man had two outstanding warrants.
Case Number: 09-6692

Drug Arrest _______Location: Monroe & Roosevelt
Sergeant Richards stopped a subject that matched the description of a prior assault suspect. The man was searched for weapons and told the officers that he had methamphetamine and a pipe on his person. He was arrested and booked into County Jail.
Case Number: 09-6693

Drug Arrest _______Location: San Tomas & benton
Officer Enos stopped a car and found the driver to be under the influence. A search subsequent to his arrest revealed marijuana and hash oil. He was arrested and booked into County Jail.
Case Number: 09-6697

School District Boundaries Leave Many Santa Clarans School Dazed

By Carolyn Schuk

Some of you found a flyer in your mail box titled, "Please Help Kids in our Neighborhood Attend Santa Clara Schools." The flyer is part of an effort by Santa Clara residents in the neighborhood west of Pruneridge Ave. to extend Santa Clara Unified district boundaries west from Pruneridge to Stevens Creek, and south from Saratoga Ave to Winchester.

You see, if you live in this neighborhood, you're in the Campbell Union School District, not Santa Clara Unified.

In the interests of full disclosure, I live in the west-of-Pruneridge neighborhood. My son graduated from Prospect high school this year, so I don’t have a dog in this fight any longer. But it would be unfair to say I'm impartial.

I got my introduction to the area's seemingly irrational school district boundaries – and California's schizoid school funding formula – when I was told that I couldn't enroll my son at Westwood despite the fact that it's three blocks from our house. When I inquired about a transfer, I was told I "could try," although the tone implied this would happen about the same time hell freezes over.

My call to the district office was transferred to a voicemail box and, as you might expect from the direction of this narrative, it was never returned. When I started writing for the Weekly years later, a then-member of the School Board was introduced to me with high praise for having successfully slammed the door on inter-district transfers. I wanted to say, "But my fingers were in that door."

I at least am in 95050 zip code. Pity the poor folks between Saratoga and Winchester with a San Jose zip code. When they want to take a class at the Community Recreation Center or register their kids for swimming lessons, they routinely must explain to skeptical city employees that yes, they are Santa Clara residents.

And not infrequently, they're incorrectly denied admission to activities and programs in the city because they're not in the school district. The subsequent apologies for the mistakes don't do much to lessen the feeling of being second-class citizens.

Parental stress also increases when they have to drive kids 10 miles to school when there is a school within walking distance, but it's in a different district. Not to mention the fact that students who go to school in another town don't develop close ties to their own hometown. (If you see an argument against school busing here, you're quite correct.)

Although I admit it's not a scientific sample, I offer my son as evidence. He has only one friend from Santa Clara – and that's because they met as freshmen at Prospect. He has no interest, for example, in Sister Cities' exchange student program, even though he's been studying Japanese for nine years. He wouldn't be able to find City Hall if he fell over it, although he can find Campbell's City Hall. In fact, he has no ties of any kind to Santa Clara. To him it's just a zip code.

There's a lot of talk about the fact that high school students from north Santa Clara have to cross 101 to attend Wilcox. But no one says anything about the fact that west-of-Pruneridge students are expected to cross 280 and 880 to get to Branham high school.

One of the selling points for the proposed 49ers stadium is the tax revenue that it will raise for schools; Santa Clara Unified schools. Sometime next year west-of-Pruneridge residents will be voting on the stadium with the rest of Santa Clara. And as they weigh the question, they might just wonder: what's in it for them?

The 6 Percent Dissolution

By Bob Goldman

Remember the good old days when you company would match your 401(k) contribution up to 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent, 6 percent or even 15 percent? The goal driving this beneficence was to encourage employees to save for their own retirement. It was a good idea, because management sure didn't give a hoot.

Well, kiddies, the world has changed since those ancient times — maybe six months ago. Now, if there's a percentage in your paycheck it doesn't represent a perk. The way the math works today is companies are asking employees to take a pay cut - 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent, 6 percent or 15 percent. The only match involved is the match you use to set fire your retirement plans. As for that 401(k), it just might pay for bus fare to your one-bedroom condo at Boca del Vista, assuming it hasn't been foreclosed, or converted into a kennel.

The reason companies use when asking employees to whack a percentage off their salaries is truly insidious. You have to lose a little so your co-workers don't lose everything. Management could fire 100 percent of 6 percent of the staff, or 100 percent of the staff could take a 6 percent pay cut, thus generating sufficient savings to keep the teenier-tinier paychecks flowing.

Presented this way, how can you say no? Could you ever live with yourself if one of the generous and always helpful IT nerds lost their job because of your need for a 60-inch plasma television with Sensaround Sound? And how could you sleep at night — or, more importantly, in the afternoon — knowing that your selfish desire to buy groceries for your family resulted in the decimation of your crackerjack HR department, the lively, fun-loving folks who organize those wonderful team-building events, like the time you had to fall backward into the arms of your co-workers to demonstrate your mutual trust and respect. (So they dropped you on the pavement of the parking lot. It wasn't their fault that no one had used the proper form explaining their duties, or submitted it in triplicate before the close of the business day.)

Not every company is using the communal pay cut to cut costs and save jobs. Another popular sign of the bad times is the forced leave of absence, a mandatory "vacation without pay" that could last a day, a week, or even a month in which you do not work, do not pass go, and do not collect a paycheck.

Frankly, in your case, this cost-cutting move holds a lot more risk that an across-the-board reduction. Once management sees how well the business runs without your presence, it will only be a matter of not much time before your temporary time off becomes permanent.

But let's not mire ourselves in a pity party. Here are two productive, pro-active responses that you can make to keep your head — and your paycheck — while others are losing theirs.

1. Prove your worth by countering a reduction in pay with an equal reduction in productivity.

As little work as you currently do, you could do less. Yes, it will take hard work to work less, but it's worth it to prove just how essential you really are. So, if it's your policy to never return phone calls, it's time to step up your game and stop answering the phone altogether. (This technique is especially effective if you have a job in customer service.)

If you routinely come in late, come in later. If you always leave early, leave earlier. Trust me — if business is bad, this technique will make it badder, proving to management that they can't monkey with your fundamental right to get 100 percent of pay for 50 percent of effort.

2. Use mandatory furloughs to demonstrate your resourcefulness.

Don't go meekly into vacation mode when forced to stay out of work. If you want to take time to play computer games or Twitter with your Facebook friends, do it in the appropriate location — at work. Instead, spend your forced furlough constructively. You could set up a tent in the company parking lot and move in with your family. Think how creative you will appear to management as you and the kids live off the land, skinning squirrels, and barbecuing the lug nuts off the boss' Jaguar.

Yes, with a little ingenuity you can make management understand the place for a seriously deranged and totally lazy employee like yourself is in your cubical. And if a few HR nerds or IT dinks have to lose their jobs, so be it. Trust me — there are plenty of Jaguar lug nuts to go around.

Bob Goldman has been an advertising executive at a Fortune 500 company in the San Francisco Bay Area. He offers a virtual shoulder to cry on at bob@funnybusiness.com.

Seven Energy, Power-Related College Scholarships Awarded by Silicon Valley Power

Five college scholarship grants and two technical grants for Santa Clara-based students pursuing studies in the energy services, public power and/or power industry have been awarded by Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the City of Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility. SVP grant recipients were chosen by a panel of local power, business, and educational professionals.

Four graduating high school seniors and a university Ph.D candidate will receive $5,000 tuition grants. Albert Ai of Wilcox High School, Kara Johnson of Santa Clara High School, and Melissa Darr and Kamini Iyer of Archbishop Mitty High School will begin college in the fall. Sara Cooper, a Brown University graduate with a degree in Chemical Engineering, is pursuing a Ph.D in Applied Physics at the University of Sydney.

Marc Fontana, a Hewlett-Packard retiree and De Anza College student in the Energy Management Degree Program, and Scott Shaw, a certified electrician studying energy services at the Institute of Business and Technology (IBT), will be awarded $2,000 tuition grants.

“These seven recipients are outstanding examples of academic achievement and commitment to serving the public through their anticipated studies and work in energy-related fields,” said John Roukema, Director of SVP. “They all understand environmental responsibility and wish to pursue professions related to green energy, alternative fuels, and solutions for our climate crisis. SVP is proud to support these Santa Clara residents.”

Ai will study Electrical Engineering at Princeton University. In addition to taking Advanced Placement (AP) math, science, Japanese, and social studies courses at Wilcox, Ai took advanced math classes at Mission College. He has volunteered to work for the Ulistac Natural Area Restoration Project in Santa Clara, and at the San Jose Tech Museum.

Darr plans to study Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Honors and AP courses in science, math, Spanish, English and philosophy prompted her to pursue an education that will prepare her to work in the renewable and green energy field. A musician, swim instructor and competitive diver, Darr also participated in Archbishop Mitty service projects such as Save the Bay, St. Anthony’s Association, Homeboys Industries and Los Niños (Tijuana, Mexico).

Iyer also is pursuing an Environmental Engineering degree at UC Berkeley, where she also intends to study economics and global issues. She indicated that a diverse environmentally-related curriculum will prepare her to help the energy and power industry to evaluate environmental impacts and offer appropriate solutions. Iyer is active in Habitat for Humanity, Sankara Eye Foundation, Udavum Karangal and the Madras Cancer Institute Foundation.

Johnson will study Genetic Engineering at UC Berkeley, expecting to enter a new field of study targeting the creation of alternative fuel sources such as “syn-gas.” She excelled in math and science classes at Santa Clara High, and was active in student government, school clubs, and church and community activities. A gymnast and track and field athlete, Johnson coaches children’s gymnastics.

Cooper’s work on her Ph.D in Applied Physics at the University of Sydney focuses on the practical application of advanced nanomaterials for use in renewable energy. A speaker at global conferences on nanotechnology and thermoelectrics, Cooper was a research fellow at the NASA Ames Center following her undergraduate education at Brown University.

Fontana will study at De Anza College to become an Energy Management and Conservation Specialist after passing the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) examination. After spending 26 years as a software support engineer at HP, Fontana plans to enter a new career that will combine his engineering skills with his knowledge of energy systems. He installed a photovoltaic system at his Santa Clara home in 2007.

Shaw also is interested in solar power and expects his studies at Santa Clara’s IBT to lead to a career centered on the utilization of alternative energy sources. Shaw believes his technical and problem solving skills in tandem with his certification as an electrician will work toward responsible environmental solutions in the evolving energy field.

The recipients were recognized at the Santa Clara City Council meeting on June 23.

About Silicon Valley Power
Silicon Valley Power is the trademark adopted for use by the century-old Electric Department of the City of Santa Clara, California. SVP provides power to more than 50,000 customers, including Applied Materials, Intel, National Semiconductor and Yahoo!, at rates 25 to 45 percent below neighboring communities. SVP also offers customers a 100 percent renewable energy option through its award-winning Santa Clara Green Power program and is an active participant in the wholesale energy markets in the Western United States. Visit siliconvalleypower.com/green for more information.

About the City of Santa Clara Support and Celebrate Community/Volunteer Partnerships
In 2005, the City Council established an action item called Support and Celebrate Community/Volunteer Partnerships, as part of their Principles and Priorities 2005 – 2007. In response to this action item, City Manager and Staff designed and developed an award program, to be sponsored by the City of Santa Clara and the City’s electric utility, Silicon Valley Power, to provide tuition and technical grants to students with a goal of entering a field related to energy service, public power, and/or the power industry to residents of Santa Clara.

Ask Ms. Power Plug

Dear Ms. Power Plug,
My sister is giving me a hard time about the amount of water and energy our pool uses, and it’s got me thinking I should be sure I’m doing everything possible to be eco-friendly. Any suggestions?
Cool in the Pool

Dear Cool,
Water is certainly on our minds these days. Let’s dive right in, starting with your pool.
Pumping water is an expensive proposition. A study by the Center for Energy Conservation at Florida Atlantic University found that simple improvements can save up to 75 percent of pool pumping energy and expense, whether in Florida or California. The study found that a 0.75 horsepower or smaller high-efficiency pump is usually sufficient for residential pools.
Improving the flow of water through the system makes the smaller (and less expensive!) pump highly efficient. Tips on how to do it can be found at www.energysavers.gov. Go to Water Heating, click on Swimming Pool Heating, and away you go!
Getting a new qualifying unit can also earn a $200 rebate from Silicon Valley Power, which covers well over half the cost of many pumps (but does not apply, unfortunately, to the designer pumps I’ve had my eye on at the department store!). The rebate is for certain qualified dual and variable-speed units for in-ground pools, so check www.siliconvalleypower.com/poolpump to get the details.
The U.S. Department of Energy also says a good cover on a typical Bay Area pool can reduce evaporation up to 90 percent, heating energy costs up to 80 percent, and chemical consumption by 35 to 50 percent. You can discuss the various cover types with a pool professional to get the best value.
After having a good swim, I just know you’ll want to think about some other water-saving tips.
Since almost one-fifth of all electricity used in the state goes to pumping water from its source to our taps, saving water also saves power. Some other reminders:
• Take shorter showers, using ultra low-flow shower heads.
• Turn the water off while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Water landscapes and lawns sparingly and in the early morning.
• The clothes washer is the second largest water user in your home. Many Energy StarTM rated washers use 35-50 percent less water and half the energy of older washers.
• Operate dishwashers and washing machines only when fully loaded.
Those steps and some pool improvements will certainly get you pumped up about the environment!

The Taking of Pelham 123

Rated R for language and violence
Reviewed by Karl Scott

One thing you have to give Hollywood credit for is that when they find a story they
like, they stick with it. The Taking of Pelham 123 first showed up as a theatrical movie
in 1974 with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. In 1998 it returned as a made for TV
movie with Edward James Olmos and Vincent D'Onofrio in the leading roles. I have never seen either of those two versions. This was probably for the best as I was able to view the current version with Denzel Washington and John Travolta without advance knowledge of the plot or being in the position of having to compare all the twists and turns. This version is pretty good summer thriller filmmaking.

All three versions are based on a novel by John Godey (1912-2006) who also penned a couple of other novels and several Disneyland TV episodes. His real name was Morton Freedgood. His other couple of novels were also made into movies but never remade with the regularity of The Taking of Pelham 123.

The story concerns the highjacking of a NYC subway train that is held for ransom while a cat and mouse game transpires between Washington (playing the subway representative) and Travolta (the evil genius bad guy). Travolta gets to ham it up and act crazy. Crazy like a fox. Washington gets to act out the part of a guy caught in the middle and in way over his head.

Their dialogue keeps things flowing during the long negotiating periods when the train is stopped and nothing much is going on except when Travolta gets riled up and shoots somebody.

Throughout the story a few facts are revealed that cast suspicion on Washington and always lets us know Travolta has more going on than meets the eye.

Every now and then Director Tony Scott stages a few high-speed car crashes and seems obsessed with using arty camera work to tell the audience something. The story is good enough that he could have easily avoided all the tricks and just filmed the movie as a straightforward crime and hostage tale, which is what it really is.

Eventually the finale takes place and it seems to be a typical TV crime show episode ending except with more graphic violence. After the cleverness of the dialogue and the vocal duels between Washington and Travolta it seems a tad disappointing.

A fourth version of the story is said to be in the works but will be more honestly titled "The Remaking of the Taking of Pelham 123-4."
Rated 2.75 out of 4 subway tokens.

E-Waste Collection Program

The County of Santa Clara, Department of Environmental Health, Household Hazardous Waste Program recently launched a new countywide e-waste collection program. E-waste is a popular term used to describe electronic products at the end of their “useful life.” This program allows residents from Santa Clara County to drop-off their unwanted computers, printers, circuit boards, used cell phones, TV’s or VCR’s at a collection event for free. Offering residents a way to recycle their used electronics helps keep e-waste from ending up in our landfills and polluting our environment.

On Saturday July 11, 2009 the County will be holding an e-waste collection event at the parking lot of 68 N. Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, Ca 95050, from 8:00 a. m - 2:00 p.m. A drive through system will be set in place making this service simple, safe, and efficient.

For more information on this event or upcoming events near you, please visit www.hhw.org or call 408-299-7300.

Community Calendar

City of Santa Clara 4th of July All-City Picnic Saturday, July 4 Pancake breakfast followed by entertainment and family activities. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. followed by Fireworks Display at 9:30 p.m. Central Park at 909 Kiely Blvd. For more information, call (408) 615-3140.
FC Gold Pride vs. Saint Louis Athletica Sunday, July 5 Women's Professional Soccer's (WPS) FC Gold Pride vs. Saint Louis Athletica at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. For tickets and more information, call (408) 541-3511 or visit www.fcgoldpride.com
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC Saturday, July 11 Major League Soccer's (MLS) San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University. Match starts at 7:30 p.m.
Antiques Appraisal Show and Tell July 15 Do you have an antique or collectable that you think might be valuable? Do you envy the people that get selected to have a family heirloom evaluated on Antique Roadshow? If so, buy a ticket for the Harris-Lass Museum Antiques Appraisal Show and Tell on Wednesday, July 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1889 Market Street. Each ticket holder may bring one item for appraisal by Denise Harr, former owner of the Antiquarium shop in Los Gatos, or her assistant. Only one item per person will be appraised.
Tickets to participate in this event are $15 each and include a box lunch. Tickets can be ordered from: Antique Appraisal Luncheon Coordinator, 1983 Harrison St., Santa Clara, CA 95050. The event is limited to 50 people. For more information, call Anita at 296-5949.

FC Gold Pride vs. Boston Breakers July 19 Women's Professional Soccer's (WPS) FC Gold Pride vs. Boston Breakers at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. For tickets and more information, call (408) 541-3511 or visit www.fcgoldpride.com

FC Gold Pride vs. Los Angeles Sol July 23 Women's Professional Soccer's (WPS) FC Gold Pride vs. Califorina rival Los Angeles Sol at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. For tickets and more information, call (408) 541-3511 or visit www.fcgoldpride.com
San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United Saturday, July 25 Major League Soccer's (MLS) San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University. Match starts at 7:30 p.m.
Junior Theatre presents Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr. July 28-30 The 41st season of the Roberta Jones Junior Theatre concludes with a toe-tapping production of “Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr.,” the Emmy Award-winning Saturday morning cartoon series brought to life in one of the most fun and energetic musicals ever to hit the stage! A cast of young performers, ages 8-15 years, will take the stage on July 28, 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale until July 27, $3 for children and $6 for adults. Performances are at the Mission City Center for Performing Arts, 3250 Monroe St. Ticket order forms are available at the Community Recreation Center, 969 Kiely Blvd., or download forms at RJJT.org, or call 615-3161.