June 7, 2004

It's the unspoken word, a fear so great that one could not even allow the thought to enter one's mind. For the residents of Kilkare Woods, such a fear came true last Monday, May 31 when the Cox-Kuntze family lost their home to a fire. Such a catastrophe brings family, friends and neighbors together at times when you tend to forget your own humanity. I've heard stories of the gallant efforts that neighbors up and down Kilkare Road made to save the family's home. Some armed themselves with water hoses, others pushed the family car away from the home and another kept their dog out of harms way. But most of all we are thankful that, although they lost most of their possessions, the Cox-Kuntze family escaped the tragedy unharmed. Kilkare Woods is in a narrow, winding canyon at the end of the 3.5-mile dead-ended Kilkare Road. There is only one way in and one way out. Crews from our own California Department of Forestry, the Pleasanton Fire Department and the Fremont Fire Department did a great job working together to keep the fire from spreading through the canyon and the 100-plus homes that line it's walls. Lon and Linda have lived in Sunol for 14 years with their son's Corbin, a seventh grader at Sunol Glen, and Calvin, a freshman at Foothill High. Local organizations have sprung into action offering help for the family. Sunol Glen School's Community Club is accepting monetary donations for the family to purchase gift certificates to replace some of the items that were lost in the fire. If you would like to donate, please make checks payable to the Sunol Glen Community Club and drop them off at the school office. The Community Club is also requesting that anyone with photos of the Calvin and Corbin from their years at Sunol Glen, Scouts, birthday parties or any other social functions drop them off at the school as well.

I had the opportunity to sit down and have a chat with Pastor Ron Hunt of the Little Brown Church recently and he said the church's youth was getting ready to kick off a community service project called "Youth for the Elderly". Teams of kids and their families will be armed with rakes and shovels to lend a helping hand with yard work or home cleaning to any seniors or mobility-impaired persons in our community. The plan is for the youth to ask people to sponsor them with a flat fee or a pledged amount per hours of service. In return the sponsor will receive rewards such as restaurant gift certificates or other services for each level giving. Their goal is to raise enough money to hire a part-time Youth Director. Direct cash donations towards the goal are also greatly appreciated. Nearly one third of Sunol's only church are children and with the growing number of families joining each week that number is only going to increase. If you know of someone in the community who is in need of cleaning services or if you would like to sponsor a youth, donate a gift or make a cash donation please contact Lina Owsley at 925-862-2004.

The Little Brown Church has an active Youth group, which meets on the first Sunday of each month after the 10:30 a.m.worship service. The group is planning a fun filled day at the beach in Santa Cruz on June 23; please call the church at 925-862-2004 before the 18th if you are planning to attend. All students 6th grade and older are invited to attend. All are welcome and you don't even have to me a member of the church to join in the fun.