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.