Fire at Trace Elementary, San Jose - pictures

For several pictures of the scene, click here - Fire at San Jose's Trace Elementary

Calling the five-alarm fire that engulfed part of San Jose's Trace Elementary School Monday morning "a suspected crime scene," the San Jose Fire Department said they would haveperimeter security available for some time.

Residents in San Jose's quiet Rose Garden neighborhood were awakened shortly after 4 am July 5 with the sounds of fire and police sirens rushing to a fire at Trace Elementary School.   Firefighters originally had to fight the fire defensively, and upgraded the blaze to five  alarm after about two hours.

By 8 am the fire was mostly under control, with flare-ups and several hot spots, and still with plumes of black smoke rising upward.  People within a two block radius of the fire who suffer from  respiratory issues, were warned to shelter indoors.

The original Trace building was destroyed, though the newer building, opened in 2008/09, and the outer buildings remained unharmed.  Teachers/parents who had gathered by 7 am were sad to note that the entire library was lost.   For more information click to this article on Examiner.com

sjDANCEco Dancin' Downtown video

I'm missing the names of some of these groups. If you can help supply them, please do. Just comment on on this post, or go to YouTube and comment on the video posted there.

For photos from the April 25 Dancin' Downtown event, check out San Jose Fitness Examiner

Thanks!

Walking, hiking, biking trails in Guadalupe River Park continues to improve

From the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, did you catch this update on the ever-improving trail system being developed in and around downtown San Jose?

South
Construction is getting underway to extend the Guadalupe River Trail further south. The 0.4 mile trail extension will lead trail users from Woz Way at the Children’s Discovery Museum parking lot to Virginia Street.

The linkage to light rail via the Virginia Street Station will be greatly improved, and distance to the Highway 87 Bikeway will be further reduced. The project has been under development for about 6 years and results from many community meetings, master planning and successful coordination with Caltrans for use of State property along the highway.

The trail will be paved and meander between the highway and river. At several key points, the trail will travel beneath highway structures. Although noisy from highway traffic, trail users will enjoy a dramatic view of downtown’s ever changing skyline and not be impacted by seasonal flooding that is anticipated along the east bank of the river. The trail will include two seating areas with interpretive signs about the Ohlone tribes that once lived along the river and Italian immigrant heritage of the neighborhood Washington and Greater Gardner neighborhoods. Additional amenities include paved trail entries with a “compass” design, seating and architectural elements. These elements enrich the trail experience and contribute to the neighborhood’s sense of place. A conceptual image of the future trail improvements is posted at:

http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/GRiver/documents/plan-smallonts24X72.pdf
(3.57 .pdf file)

The project is anticipated to be complete by December 31, 2010.

North
The paving of Guadalupe River Trail from Hwy 880 north to Gold St. in Alviso will start later this year. Unfortunately, that section of the trail will be closed during the construction period, but the resulting paved path should be worth the wait. The project start date hasn’t been determined - we will pass along the information once it’s announced.

4 reasons to see OVO while it's in San Jose aside from your love of Cirque du Soleil

If you haven't already noticed the blue and yellow tent, the ads, the buzz and the overall excitement about having Cirque du Soleil in San Jose February 4 - March 7, get with the program:

The new OVO is here (the second U.S. city after San Francisco to see the show), and it is set up under the Taylor Street Bridge.

WHAT! Pay $100 a ticket? Times are tough, dontcha know.

Well, not all tickets are $100. They start at $65 for adults. A little hefty, but considering that it is one of those occasional treats, it's worth it. It's priced in line with theater, sports and other spectator events and it definitely delivers in value. And in an era when so much is computer generated, animated, Photoshopped, and air brushed, there is a thrill in taking your family to something that is genuine, live and authentic.

Here are four other great reasons to see the show:

1. The artistry is beautiful. If you sit for hours and watch the Olympic gymnasts and ice skaters, marveling over what they are able to do, this is your opportunity to get up close and much more personal with body artistry that isn't constrained to doing everything by-the-book. (And note that three of the OVO cast are former Olympians).
   
2. It's designed for you to enjoy, unlike the Olympics where routines are designed to eke out another one-tenth of a point given by a judge. For two hours (plus a 30 minute intermission) you see aerialists and contortionists and gymnasts; all in fabulous costumes.
3. It's like a mini-vacation. Cirque du Soleil shows are must-do stops for tourists visiting Las Vegas and New York. Why wait for vacation? Treat yourself now. And consider this: Cirque shows are so popular that there are SEVEN of them in permanent residence in Las Vegas. Pretty much every discussion board about Vegas says a Cirque show is a "must-see." See the Cirque show here - go to the poker tournament in Vegas.
   
4. The buzz factor. Eight or nine of my co-workers (including me) saw the opening show, and the next day it was all any of us could talk about. What was your favorite? Wasn't the spider wonderful? Wow - what about that trampoline work - how DO they tumble up a 20 vertical foot wall? And the creatura!!! How can anyone be so funny and so lithe in a tube costume?
   

Looking for some behind-the-scenes info about OVO? Check this article: Cirque du Soleil OVO comes to San Jose. Behind the scenes with fitness and training.

Gina Carano prep for StrikeForce San Jose

For fitness folks who don't know Gina Carano already, first check out this brief overview, "The incredible Gina Carano" about the MMA superstar who will be in San Jose August 15.

There's a video on that article interviewing both Carano and her trainer, who actually had her cut back on her workouts in preparation for the StrikeForce battle with Cris "Cyborg" Santo.

Here are two more videos that show why she's such a fearsome competitor.