| Parks commission urges reopening four pools
Arguing that San Jose residents shouldn't wait years for swimming pools, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended Wednesday that the city repair and reopen four pools closed two years ago as soon as possible. The commission voted unanimously to reject a parks staff proposal to reopen only Mayfair and Biebrach pools and study the fate of Alviso and Ryland pools. All four were closed in 2005 because they needed substantial repairs. ``Those pools need to be reopened in the short term,'' Commissioner Mark Swineford said. ``You're not going to get a Cadillac, you're going to get a Chevy. But to me it's important to get the Chevy back on the road.'' The commission, however, backed the idea of leasing pools this summer from seven schools. Commissioners also voted to recommend a mid-term goal of expanding pools on city-owned land and a long-term goal of bringing San Jose's aquatics program up to the standards of other cities.
Group hopes disabled kids won't get left in the cold
Vocal support and dollars are rolling in for the proposed playground even though it still needs City Council approval. A team from Leadership Fond du Lac has proposed constructing the $131,000 project at Lakeside Park, across from the carousel and petting zoo. Fond du Lac's Advisory Park Board unanimously approved the idea at its Jan. 22 meeting. Councilman Sal Curcurio, who recently supported raising handicap parking fines, supports the playground because Fond du Lac has many diverse people. Recreational features should cater to everyone, including the handicapped, he said. Handicapped playgrounds may help bolster tourism. The playground would sit in a heavily traveled area, fueling more awareness during events like Walleye Weekend.
Disabled People Release Informative Bulletin
Lubango, 02/03 - A news bulletin called "Podemos" was released this Saturday, in Lubango, southern Huila Province, by the Network of Disabled People`s Associations (RAPPD), with the objective of contributing to the fight against marginalization and discrimination.
According to the co-ordinator of the network, reverend Eduardo Campos, the bulletin, which is being financed by the Dutch NGO Handicap International, will show the efforts being made by RAPPD to the benefit of physically impaired people.
The bi-monthly bulletin will also show the new challenges to be overcome by the associations affiliated to the network.
This is the first informative material created by RAPPD, in this province that has about 2000 disabled people. .
Australian aid brings out joy
The Spinal Injuries association has expressed its appreciation after receiving wheelchair repairing equipment from the Australian High Commission yesterday. The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji James Batley presented the association a donation of $5982.30 worth of wheelchair repairing equipment. The Spinal Injuries Association is the only organisation that looks after people who are confined to a wheelchair. Mr Batley said the equipment would enable the association to service as well as maintain and repair wheelchairs. "This service will mean a higher standard of care for those who rely on wheelchairs," he said. Association vice president Soloveni Tubuitamana thanked Mr Batley for donating the equipment. "It becomes hard for handicapped people to be mobile when their wheelchairs are not maintained.
Diana Golding moves to Buxton
SHE has run a major York shopping centre for the past 13 years, has headed a clutch of crucial city centre organisations and is even a Freeman of York. But now Diana Golding has decided to leave her home city to take charge of another shopping centre of a similar size in the Peak District spa town of Buxton. Diana, 52, of Rawcliffe, has been the manager of the Coppergate Centre since 1999, and was centre administrator for the previous five years. She has been president of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce for the past six months, having previously been vice-president and at one time chaired its retail group. She is a trustee of Shopmobility York, the charity which helps provide electric scooters and wheelchairs to enable disabled people to visit the city centre, and is a director of York Tourism Bureau and of the City Centre Partnership.
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