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BAREC UPDATE: Judge Rules Against SaveBAREC in CEQA Lawsuit
AOne more hurdle has been cleared on the path to developing the 17-acre former UC agricultural station on Winchester Blvd., BAREC.
On July 18, Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Leslie C. Nichols ruled that the City of Santa Clara's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Santa Clara Gardens development project complied with the California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), saying that, "the decisions made in preparing the EIR are supported by substantial evidence in the record."
In his ruling, Nichols rejected a 2007 lawsuit filed by SaveBAREC -- the group spearheading opposition to the development – claiming that the city had "acted in violation of applicable provisions of CEQA" and "its approval of the project was a prejudicial abuse of discretion and/or arbitrary and capricious in that the City did not proceed in the manner required by law and its decisions and findings are not supported by substantial evidence." Click Here for Complete Story |
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Downtown: Why There’s No There, There
With the success of the historic areas like Campbell’s downtown strip and the “faux” downtown of Santana Row, many regret that Santa Clara has no similar draw. Click Here for Complete Story
Putting the "There" Back: Downtown Revitalization
The idea of "downtown" is an essential part of our sense of community. We're drawn to "downtown" – whether it's a true downtown like Palo Alto's University Avenue or a "Main Street, Disneyland" like Santana Row. Click Here for Complete Story
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Downtown Redevelopment Plan on Hold
A plan to restore an urban center to Santa Clara will stay on hold at least until mid-summer as potential developers wait for the uncertain credit and real estate markets to stabilize.
One of the two companies invited to bid on the project declined to participate. The other, while remaining enthusiastic, says that current economic conditions make it impossible at this time to develop accurate financial projections for the projects by the RFP deadline. These projections are necessary for construction loans as well as providing the project's budget. Click Here for Complete Story
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 Show of Strength Supports Special OlympicsBy Robert Haugh
Tugging, straining and grunting while pulling tons of vehicular mass down hard pavement, dozens of philanthropic hard hatters, public safety officials and community members valiantly tried out dueling one another while fighting the clock in a test of strength, endurance and pride at the sixth annual Northern California Special Olympics Power Pull.
With themed team uniforms and team names like The Sledgehammers, The Dogs of War and Big Red, one would wonder if they were witnessing an epic professional wrestling battle royal or a day of fun, laughter, camaraderie and excitement. However, there’s no doubt that the Power Pull fell under the latter category, with the true winners being the Special Olympics athletes.
Though the competition was fierce, intense and ever competitive, all competitors were jubilant, even in defeat, knowing they helped in raising funds for SONC --- all while trying to dethrone six-time reigning Power Pull champions, Rudolph & Sletten at California’s Great America on Saturday, July 19.
Finishing within one-half second overall --- the top three teams made this Power Pull the closest in the event’s history.
Making a bold statement during the first round of “time trials,” The Dogs of War team fielded by Santa Clara-based Jos J. Albanese Construction set the pace by clocking in with a time of 8.01 seconds --- no, not in a ¼-mile sprint at the drag strip, but tugging the 38,000-pound Central Concrete truck filled with gravel.
However, the Albanese team waited only a few minutes for defending and six-time champs Rudolph & Sletten to blister their first-round time with a mark of .... Click Here for Complete Story
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 The Wizard of OzStarting Arts just finished their theatrical production of The Wizard of Oz at the Center for Performing Arts at Santa Clara High School. The production ran from July 17 until July 19 with a mere four shows so I felt extremely lucky to be able to catch the opening night performance.
Being a Wizard of Oz aficionado, this was practically a dream-job come true. Starting Arts is doing something very right and very good as their production featured two casts with the leading roles played by two different groups of very talented young actors. Since photography was not allowed at the actual shows, I visited the dress rehearsal of Cast B and then saw Cast A perform. Click Here for Complete Story
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 Arrest Made in Santa Clara Paint Bomber Case
Santa Clara police have arrested a Cupertino man in the string of paint bombings that has plagued the city since early 2006.
Shortly after 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning, police arrested Coyer James King, 54, of Cupertino after Detective Pablo Lopez observed King putting a container of paint in the road near Lafayette and Santa Clara Streets. A search warrant executed on King's Cupertino residence uncovered additional evidence related to the case, according to Lt. Mike Sellars of the SCPD.
King was arraigned on Monday and charged with 15 felony vandalism counts. He is being held in Santa Clara County...Click Here for Complete Story
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 Concert in the Park: Ancient Future Fuses Pleasing Melodies
As soon as I plunked down to take a seat on the lawn at last Sunday’s Concert in the Park, the melodic notes coming from Ancient Future, immediately caused my blood pressure to drop.
When I realized that the three-member band was only in the process of tuning their unusual-looking instruments, I knew I was in for a memorable show.
Award-winning composer/band leader, Matthew Montford took to educating the crowd in between plucking his scalloped fretboard guitar. Click Here for Complete Story
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 A Home Safe and Sound, Right Next Door
For a mother and her children fleeing domestic violence, finding a safe place and the support to rebuild their lives is a challenge.
But HomeSafe Santa Clara helps make the process easier. A consortium of seven local non-profits, HomeSafe offers domestic violence victims and their children a one-stop-shop for housing and support services.
HomeSafe was one of seven properties featured in the annual Santa Clara County Affordable Housing Week Tour, ... Click Here for Complete Story
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 Take Care
A long bright bus attracted attention in the parking lot in front of Walgreen’s on 2012 El Camino Real in Santa Clara on July 13 th. In the front, was a table with complimentary bags of products like toothpaste and Tylenol.
It turns out this was one of the sites for Walgreen’s nationwide TakeCare Health Tour. The vehicle is equipped with machinery and technicians to offer free health screenings. The screenings include cholesterol level, blood pressure, bone density, glucose level, and waist circumference and body mass index. The value of these tests is over $115 and no appointment is required. Educational material is also available in two languages.
Jeff, one of the medical technicians, testifies that the technicians are extensively trained. Click Here for Complete Story
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 City Council Roundup
Santa Clara City Council Meeting, July 15, 2008
Roll Call
All Council Members were present.
Special Orders of Business
· John Roukema, the Director of the Electric Utility, made a presentation about the 2008 American Public Power Association Energy Innovator Award given to Santa Clara Silicon Valley Power. According to the staff report, “Silicon Valley Power…was one of three utilities selected by the American Public Power Association to receive the 2008 Energy Innovator Award at their annual conference held June 21-25, 2008.Click Here for Complete Story
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MetroFi Wireless Update
The City of Santa Clara Electric Utility will be taking over support of the MetroFi Free Wireless network. The Electric Utility had already planned to use the wireless network to support its implementation of the remote meter reading project. In addition to this, the Electric Utility will also be taking on the task of supporting and possibly expanding the free wireless network. “We understand the importance of the free wireless network to the residents of Santa Clara” stated Larry Owens, Electric Utility Division Manager. Click Here for Complete Story
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Red Ink Forecast for City Budget
Although Santa Clara ended fiscal 2008 -- the city's fiscal year starts in June -- with a $4.2 million surplus, and its fiscal 2009 budget is in the black, the City's five year forecast projects red ink for the next four years, starting in fiscal 2010. A flat – and possibly worsening – local economy will take a bite out of tax revenue, while new capital projects will add significantly to operating costs.
"With what's happening... Click Here for Complete Story
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The Suzuki Way
Adults and children alike sit quietly focused on the single performer on stage, who is sitting simply and playing guitar so skillfully-without one piece of sheet music. William Kanengiser’s recital was one of those scheduled during the week of the International Suzuki Guitar Festival, July 7-12, in Santa Clara. The concert was held at the Santa Clara Convention Center.
“This event (the Guitar Festival) is a celebration of the 25 years of Suzuki guitar and sponsored by our local Santa Clara conservatory, Longay Conservatory of Guitar,” says Mr. Frank Longay, Director. “There are 60 children enrolled in the Festival and 28 teachers taking professional development and an international faculty of 15. The countries represented include Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and the U.S.,” he adds. Click Here for Complete Story
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I Just Want My ZeeVee TV
Last week the folks who are trying to figure out the contours of the "digital home" of the not-so-distant-future converged on the Santa Clara Convention Center at the CONNECTIONS Digital Living conference. And no picture of the connected future is complete without considering the swarm of digital video entertainment headed for your house and mine via the Internet.
While many people are working on how to get all this to your house, Littleton, MA-based ZeeVee has a solution for bringing it to the place inside your house where you want to watch it: your big screen, high definition TV set. The company calls it "local-casting" and it works essentially like familiar cable TV service.
Using a device about the ...Click Here for Complete Story
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| Critics Corner- |
| | Razz on Wine: August 20, 2008
One of the great things about being in the wine business for about forty years and teaching wine appreciation at Southern Oregon University is that I get requests, from time to time, to visit personal cellars and evaluate their contents.
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| | Restaurant Review: Just Burgers and Q
Not a burger connoisseur by any means, I walked into Just Burgers & Q in Santa Clara with little or no expectations for an enjoyable meal. I’m glad to say that I was so very wrong.
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| Weekly Columns - |
| | Milestones: October 1, 2008
Consider the controversy causing the credit crisis and cash crunch and you can be confident that more casualties will be counted.
Of course no politician is to blame.
That’s what fingers are for, to point out those responsible.
Certainly no
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| | August 20, 2008: Work Daze
I admit it! Sometimes I get so involved with the pains and problems of being supervised that I completely ignore the terrible burden on those who do the managing.
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| | Milestones: August 20, 2008
It was in the cool predawn morning of Saturday, August 16th where men and women began to assemble at the Curtis school playing field.
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| | No Guarantees: August 20, 2008
What to be, what not to be? That is the question. Do you have a bright future? How much time do you actually spend predicting it?
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