November 6, 2007

News Briefs

Murder in Campbell

On Thursday, Nov. 1, Efrain Aleman, 24, was shot at 10:50 p.m. while walking three blocks from his home.

The shooting occurred in the 200 block of West Sunnyoaks Avenue near South Winchester Boulevard. Aleman was an immigrant from Mexico who worked at the China China restaurant in Santa Clara. Reports of several gunshots in the area led the Campbell Police Department to investigate. They found Aleman’s bullet-riddled body on the sidewalk.

Anyone with information is asked to call Campbell Police Department at (408) 866-2101 or Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for anyone with information leading to an arrest.

Campbell students celebrated for artistic talent

Campbell Union School District recently announced that three students’ original works will be displayed at the Santa Clara County Young Artists Showcase on Nov. 7 at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Interim Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Joe Fimiani will host.

Recognition will be given to Campbell Middle School eighth grader Arabela Espinoza for her piece called “Waiting for Guests.” Her teacher is Gloria Steinweg. Village School third graders Dylan Madison-Biggs and Sarah Malone both did “Untitled” works. Their teacher is Deborah Kotchian. The students’ art will be installed in the permanent collection at the Office of Education.

Gelato Classico Campbell now open

After months of anticipation, Gelato Classico Italian Ice Cream and Desserts has opened in downtown Campbell. It proudly serves 40 flavors of gelato and sorbetto, sundaes, banana splits, affogato, brownies, cakes and other fine desserts. They also offer espresso, a specialty coffee drink, gelato shakes and sorbetto smoothies.

Gelato Classico Italian Ice Cream and Desserts is located at 191 East Campbell Ave. across from the Sonoma Chicken Coop. The hours of business are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Campbell Veterans’ Memorial Ground Breaking Ceremony

The Campbell Veterans Memorial Foundation will hold a public ground breaking ceremony for the new Campbell Veterans’ Memorial to be located at Orchard City Green on the corner of Civic Center Drive and Central Avenue in downtown Campbell. Local officials and committee members will address the community before dedicating the site Nov. 11 at 3 p.m.

MOMS Club of San Jose West/Campbell makes wishes come true

The MOMS Club of San Jose-West/Campbell and Round Table Pizza of Willow Glen invite you to a pizza party in honor of a MOMS Club member's son, Sam. Sam is only 4 years old and suffers from a severe lung condition. This event is to celebrate his "wish" to go on a Disney Cruise which has been granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Proceeds will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation touching the lives of children and families every where.

So bring your captains dressed in their Pirate Get-Up and enjoy an evening of food, games, and a real Pirate Entertainer provided by Theater Fun.

Visit the MOMS Club of San Jose-West/Campbell Web site at: www.MOMSClubofWSJC.org. It’s a non-profit organization for the at-home mother of today! The party will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church , 1205 Pine Avenue in Willow Glen. (408) 717-3127.

Terra Polaris Gallery celebrates grand opening

Terra Polaris Gallery will celebrate its grand opening on Nov. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. International artist owner Pirjo Polari-Kahn, who is from Finland, works in clay creating sculpture, ceramics, bronze, mixed media jewelry, cocktail hats and wall art. She also features over a dozen other artists’ work. The grand opening will feature a ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. and entertainment by award winning magician Michael Stroud.Terra Polaris is located at 395 E. Campbell Ave., (408) 364-1000.

Audible Arts relocates to Campbell Avenue

Audible Arts owner, Jeff Wells relocated his business to downtown Campbell after eight years in San Jose on Winchester Boulevard near Highway 280. Wells features high-end stereo components and custom home theaters. Audible Arts is located at 412 E. Campbell Ave., (408) 376-0861.

YouSendIt, Inc. relocates to Campbell

YouSendIt, a global leader in digital content delivery, announced it has relocated to Campbell, and plans to hire approximately 15 local professionals over the next six months in response to the company’s incremental growth.  A job fair will be held at the new headquarters on Nov. 7 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. to recruit local, qualified candidates.
 
YouSendIt has leased 20,000 square feet of office space at The Pruneyard on Bascom Ave. The company doubled its workforce in less than a year and found a need to move closer to the employees it has been hiring. The necessary expansion and aggressive hiring plans reflect the company’s growth as the demand for an easy, convenient way to send, receive and track digital content increases.
 
“Campbell is well-known for its strong pool of well-educated, talented professionals with the right level of expertise in technology,” said YouSendIt CEO, Ivan Koon. “The area’s reputation as a great place to live and work makes it an ideal location for our headquarters. We look forward to becoming an active part of this vibrant community.” 

To celebrate the new location, YouSendIt is offering schools in Campbell and surrounding communities the YouSendIt Business Plus file delivery service at no charge. Interested schools, students, and educators can apply for the free service offer at www.yousendit.com/cms/bayarea.

An Eagle Scout project leads to renovation of Campbell Christian Elementary School’s athletic field. In the front row are Eagle Scout candidate Ethan Martinez, Alicia Hernandez, Kyle Fukui, Grant Fukui., while Morgan Martinez, Carlos Martinez, Burt McLellan, Stephen McLellan, Doug and Chris Jones lay new sod.

Ethan Martinez completes Eagle Scout project

Over 400 volunteer hours were devoted to renovating Campbell Christian Elementary School’s athletic field. The project was led by Eagle Scout candidate Ethan Martinez, with volunteers from Boy Scout Troop #581, along with Brian Kinnett, facilities manager, Principal Dr. Shawn Stuart and Ethan’s dad, Carlos. The existing sprinkler systems, grass and gravel were removed. The field was then graded and improved with a new sprinkler system, soil and sod.  Two-hundred and fifty elementary and preschool students now enjoy the fruits of the scouts’ labor. Ethan completed his Eagle requirements in August and should achieve his Eagle Scout rank by November.

Looking for homes

The Bay Area Siberian Husky Club [BASH] has rescued two very special need “swimmer” puppies named Eric and Ariel. The two were named after the characters in the Little Mermaid after they were put into a foster home with BASH Treasurer Randee McQueen.

Eric and Ariel, the swimmer puppies, are looking for a good home.

“They are called swimmer puppies because of they look like they are swimming,” said McQueen. “Their chests are so flat it is difficult for them to walk like most puppies so their legs look like swimming.”

Eric and Ariel couldn’t stand when McQueen rescued them. She started the brother-sister duo out with a sling for walking to strengthen their legs so they could hold their own weight. The first two weeks a crew of volunteers helped whenever the pups were awake. They are walking now thanks to BASH who will spend weeks working with the rescues.

The Campbell-based BASH is dedicated to the Siberian Husky Breed providing a forum where enthusiasts can work and show their dogs as well as participate in a variety of activities. The club also sponsors a rescue effort to save Siberian Huskies that otherwise may be turned out in the street or face euthanasia in shelters. Finding good homes and responsible owners for lost and abandoned Siberians is only part of the group’s efforts. They also provide information, training tips and advice to owners in need of solving problems with their canines in order to help them find alternatives to surrendering their pets. BASH rescues 99.9 percent of their dogs from shelters.

“Eric and Ariel were taken to the Pennisula Humane Society by people that said they found them,” said McQueen. “It was believed that they were actually the owners and they had no idea what to do with the puppies. More than likely the litter was large and these were the only ones with problems. It’s easier for people to take dogs to a shelter to maybe get help, and if they are put to sleep these people won’t have to do it.”

For more information on Eric and Ariel or BASH visit www.bayareasiberian.org.