The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Kudos to Able Printing for filling tax night with fun and 'frivolity'

On April 15, yet another special event took place in Willow Glen: the 19th annual Able Printing Tax Charity Night, an event this writer attended and thoroughly enjoyed.

What was most enjoyable was watching the Able Printing staff in action and how attentive they were to the needs of their customers that night. You name it, they provided it--everything a harried last-minute taxpayer needed, and all in an atmosphere of frivolity to make the evening less taxing.

Able Printing deserves a special salute for putting this event on every year and donating the proceeds to local charities, this year's recipient being the Humane Society.

Because Able Printing is locally owned, one can walk in and always receive first-rate customer service. At one of the chain centers, you'd have to beg to get a robotlike clerk to help you, but at Able, the assistance is there without you having to ask for it.

Regardless of what the weather is outside, it is always warm, sunny and bright inside, all made possible by staff members who love their work and show it by their cheery dispositions and always going the extra mile for their customers.

We here in Willow Glen are fortunate to have locally owned businesses like Able Printing, Willow Glen Books and Hicklebee's, where you can walk in and immediately feel at home.

It's highly doubtful that the chains these businesses compete with can offer what they offer, whether it is Able Printing's attentive, friendly customer service and annual tax charity night, or the in-person appearances of interesting authors/illustrators at the two bookstores.

June Cooley
Almaden Road

Let's all consider the message we send to businesses interested in coming to the Glen

We'd like to commend John Karamanos of Willow Glen Billiards and Brew for his perseverance and dedication to the Willow Glen community.

His business contributes to the vitality of Lincoln Avenue, and he seems to be extremely conscientious in understanding and addressing the concerns of nearby neighbors.

Yet as most recently reported in the April 1 Resident, he continues to face one roadblock after another from neighbors. Had Mr. Karamanos known this from the start, it seems unlikely he would have invested in our downtown.

If Willow Glen hopes to fill the remaining empty storefronts on Lincoln Avenue, we should all consider the message we send to potential new businesses. We need to protect our rights and interests, but in a responsible way that encourages business investment in our community. It's a mistake to think that businesses will continue to come to the Avenue even though we make it difficult for some of them to open and thrive.

We hope the community and the City Council will support the Planning Commission's conditional-use permit allowing Billiards and Brew to remain open until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Dan and Karen Carter
Palm Haven Avenue

Rather than shocking people, let's put only the best spin on the Glen's diversity

In reading the March 18 article "Glen is a 'safe place' for the largest S.J. gay community," I found little in the article to substantiate the claims that this is a densely gay area. I thought that the article smelled of simple shock value, dressed up to bring to the attention of "straight" residents the idea that they are no longer alone in "paradise."

Let's try again. In a community that is as wonderful and picturesque as the Glen, it is important that we seek to promote and defend what it is that makes it so. Rather than scare residents with dubious facts, we should focus on the performance of those whose works add and enhance life in Willow Glen.

If they want to have some focus placed upon the difference of their lifestyle, that's their choice, and I applaud it. And let's do our best to put only the best spin on the diversity of Willow Glen and celebrate the fresh new directions we are taking here to enhance our futures.

I am a downtown business owner who happens to be gay. But I don't want to alienate anyone. The community needs my diversity as much as I need them.

This paper can help the community develop its own unique identity--that can include the gay and lesbian community wholeheartedly--by bringing us together.

The presence of gays and lesbians in Willow Glen would never have come about if it weren't for the friendly, safe and supportive atmosphere we have enjoyed all these years. Let's thank all those people in Willow Glen who have supported its fresh growth and those who I hope will come with promises of good food, wine and the arts.

Three cheers for Willow Glen!

Jeffrey Hellmuth
Glen Eyrie Avenue

Teen letter-writer sets a positive example with admirable goals

The letter in the April 1 Resident ("Give teens a chance; we're not all hoodlums") makes me proud of my co-citizens here.

Definitely, teenagers are not all hoodlums. As with so much in life, the many can take the rap for the few. Sadly, in this bit of history the few teenagers who are antisocial and self-destructive harm our environment as well as themselves and others' opinions of them.

I think of tagging, a truly vile activity which pollutes my world, and yours and all of ours. And I also think that violence and truancy and the "I don't care; there's nothing out there for me anyway" attitude is so sad. Even those who live in less agreeable neighborhoods can, if they choose, decide to adopt admirable goals such as the writer's. Good for her for writing.

Natalie Schutz
Hudson Drive

Correction

The Cole Porter concerts given by the Fun Times Singers will take place on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Church's McNaught Hall on Pine Street at Newport Avenue.

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