March 9, 2009

Chirco holds third annual Valentine’s Day breakfast to honor leaders

By Carol Rosen
Editor

While it’s usually held on Valentine’s Day, this year Vice Mayor Judy Chirco held her breakfast to honor more than 50 people on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Left to Right: Patty Nation, Xilinx, Supt. Jackie Horejs, Union School District, San Jose Vice Mayor Judy Chirco, Supt. Tom Dase, Cambrian School District, Kyra Whitten, Xilinx, Denise Buessing, Amercian Cancer Society - Relay for Life, and Stephanie Villegas, Oster School Home & School Club President.

You could hear Chico, who looked quite well despite having surgery less than two weeks before, by her melodic and very happy laugh as she greeted a number of the people she call’s District 9 leaders prior to the event.

Calling those attending District 9 Stars, Chirco let everyone know how welcome they were and thanked them for their services to the city and its citizens. All the people attending have donated their time and their work toward making District 9 in particular, and the city in general, a better place to live and work, she said.

While those attending enjoyed a continental breakfast, each guest introduced themselves and their line of work, often with the vice mayor adding comments about those too shy to pat themselves on the back.

“It’s a time to meet and build strong relationships,” Chirco said. She initially started the breakfast because many community leaders were new and didn’t know each other. This meeting allows networking and lets people get to know each other.

Local superintendents, principals and student body presidents attended, as well as ministers, firefighters and policemen. Others included officials from Kirk and Camden Community Centers, the District 9 youth commissioner, the District 9 Action Committee, the Cambrian Community Council, the Cambrian Business Association, We and Our Neighbors’ Women’s Club, the library commission and the new Cambrian branch library, the senior commission and strong neighborhood associations.

There were officials from Branham High School, the Cambrian and Union Districts, Campbell Union High School District, Dartmouth and Ida Price Middle Schools, Pine Hill and Second Start Schools, Farnham, Sartorette, Schallenberger, Noddin and Hacienda Elementary Schools, Leigh High School’s new principal, St. Frances Cabrini School, MAEP and West Valley/Mission College district.

Ministers and pastors attended from Central Christian Church, the Christian Center of San Jose, and Church of the Chimes.

After breakfast the guests were treated to chocolate District 9 stars, a rare treat, but one that made those attending feel special.