December 4, 2007

Chirco awards District 9 volunteers

D9 stars shine brightly at council meeting

Virginia Holtz receives her commendation from Council member Judy Chirco.
Andrew Gong Sue is congratulated by Mayor Chuck Reed and Chirco.

At the Nov. 6 city council meeting, District 9 Councilmember Judy Chirco recognized several individuals to receive the District 9 Stars Award. The recipients include Virginia Holtz, advocate for parks and open space; Andre Gong Sue, Cambrian Business Association president; and The Kirk Senior Advisory Council, organizers of monthly senior luncheons. Also receiving D9 Stars were the district’s “Go Green” schools--Terrell Elementary, Union Middle, Noddin Elementary, Carlton Elementary, Ida Price Middle, Branham High School, Lietz Elementary and San Jose Unified School District’s Home Study Program.

“Over the years, through service on the Cambrian School Board, and now on the San Jose City Council, community members have shared stories about the talent and heroes in Cambrian Park and its surrounding area. These stars and their stories fueled my decision, and desire, to serve in public office,” Chirco said at during an evening ceremony. Each D9 Star was recognized with a commendation and a chocolate D9 Star.

The intent of the Stars Program is to learn more about the extraordinary students, teachers, employees, employers, athletes, musicians, activists and parents who add courage, compassion and comfort to the District 9 community.
Chirco looks forward to honoring more D9 Stars throughout the year. This program recognizes people who live, work, play and learn in District 9. They are nominated by fellow community members who fill out a nomination form at the District 9 Web site: (www.sanjoseca.gov/district9/). Below is a snapshot of the stars that shine so brightly in our community.

Virginia Holtz
Holtz has quietly been a relentless advocate for area parks and open space for the past 20 years. The community has benefited enormously from her concern, knowledge and skill. For many years she was a commissioner on the city’s Parks Commission and most recently served on the Sunshine Taskforce. She was nominated by Garnetta Annable.

Andre Gong Sue
The Cambrian Business Association was founded in 2003 with the help of people like Gong Sue. He has given his time and energy in several ways from recruiting new members to the business association to serving as an officer. He has also spearheaded fund-raising events, among them the recycling drive that benefited the Cambrian Library and the recent bowl-a-thon that raised $10,000 for the Heart Association.

The ladies of the Kirk Senior Advisory Council were honored for their work preparing meals and parties for the center participants.
Eight District 9 schools were recognized for their “Go Green” programs, which teach students good habits for a healthy planet.

His fellow Cambrian Business Association member Frank Shao nominated him for this award with a hearty second by Rick Gerhardt from the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Kirk Senior Advisory Council
For longer than anyone can remember, these ladies have been instrumental in providing the Kirk Senior Center participants with monthly luncheons celebrating special events and holidays. Delicious food, creative decorations and a welcoming atmosphere have created many lifelong friendships. These talented and hardworking women have put on about 200 parties. Even more important than the 2,000 meals they have prepared is how they have created a place of warmth, celebration and friendship for our seniors in District 9. The awards went to Julie Aiello, Margaret Bersano, Midge Borra, Virginia Cucco, Betty Davey, Sadie De Luca, Mary Jenecke, Gertie Klem, Margie McCoe, Ernestine Thatcher and Irene Williams. Melissa Monsees, geriatric specialist at the Kirk Senior Center, nominated the Advisory Council.

District 9’s Go Green Schools
Chirco also recognized area schools that are not only saving the planet, but are teaching students good habits for a healthy planet. These schools represent eight of the 80 Go Green schools in San Jose. The Go Green Schools program is administrated by San Jose’s Environmental Services Department, which connects schools with free recycling supplies and other green resources.

For example, the Special Education students at Ida Price Middle School are the leaders in their school’s recycling and last year collected over $1,000 from recycling cans and bottles. They then donated that money to Habitat for Humanity and took a field trip to Sonora to see the door and window that their donation purchased in the new house.

In addition to the Go Green Recycle School, there are three D9 schools that have received Go Green mini-grants to work on special educational projects. Lietz Elementary expanded its school garden to become a hands-on learning lab, teaching about nutrition, composting, recycling, alternative energy sources and plant, insect and animal cycles. Branham High School students have taken a barren area (see related story, page 1) of the school’s campus and transformed it into a beautiful drought-tolerant garden.

Chirco said her office used to get calls about that area being a dumping hot spot before the transformation. No more. The money the students collect from recycling goes to landscape improvements all over the campus. Last year they recycled 24,000 pound of e-waste and 1,300 pounds of scrap metal. The San Jose Unified Home Study Program has started a garden at their office.

Collecting awards for the Go Green schools are Mary Jones, Terrell Elementary School Recycle Project; Kim Huddleston of Union Middle School Recycle Project; Laurence Kuhn of Noddin Elementary Recycle Project; Tracie Bills of Carlton Elementary Recycle Project; Kenia Kennedy of Lietz Elementary Go Green; Janet McNamara of Ida Price Middle Recycle Project; Matt Zehner of Branham High School Go Green and San Jose Unified School District’s Home Study Program Go Green.