News Briefs News Briefs (January 21, 2005)

Help for fire victims

Mountain View firefighters collected $1,250 through their Create a Smile foundation to assist two families whose apartments were destroyed in a fire at 1902 Montecito Ave. on Tuesday. Neither family had insurance for their belongings.

The blaze began at around 4 a.m. and destroyed the 4-unit complex. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

To help make a donation, write to the Mountain View Professional Firefighters, Create a Smile Fund, P.O. Box 391177, Mountain View, 94039.

Day workers plan vigil

The day worker center at Calvary Church is planning a vigil at City Hall for Jan. 27, in conjunction with day worker organizations around the country. According to center director Maria Marroquin, workers will be rallying from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. to protest what they call abuses against day workers in other cities from police and immigration officers.

Marroquin said that workers locally have had no problems with law enforcement although they occasionally face employers who refuse to pay them for their work.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Marroquin was still waiting to get a city permit to use the plaza.

Gym raises funds

The Pace Yourself Fitness Studio in Mountain View will be conducting a two-week "Workout Against Cancer" fund-raiser to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Pace Yourself will contribute $20 to St. Jude Hospital for each new member who registers at their women-only fitness center from through Jan. 29. A discount on membership fees will also be in effect during the campaign.

Trail to grow

The city council is set to approve $3.14 million in funding to extend the Permanente Creek trail over Highway 101. The bicycle and pedestrian trail starts near Michaels restaurant at Shoreline and currently ends just north of the highway.

After exploring six different alternative routes, the council favored an overpass that would terminate at Old Middlefield Way. The extension will provide a safe way to cross Highway 101 on foot or by bicycle.

The city expects to complete the project by early 2007 and could explore additional options to further improve access to the trail.

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