The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Flower Child: In keeping with the festive air of the Farmers' Market, Dirk Pellett paints a flower on Gina Guerra's cheek.

Nostalgia and fresh produce mix on first day of Farmers' Market

WG Elementary grads remember old times as tile mural is unveiled

By Rebecca Wallace

Even though more than 55 years had passed since they attended Willow Glen Elementary School together, the three women still had the delightful air of chummy schoolchildren. They clustered in front of the school's 100-year-anniversary tile mural, which had just been unveiled for the opening day of the Farmers' Market at the school on May 2.

"Oh, they were in our class," said Lucille Eugein Dietrich excitedly, pointing to a tile with the names of two alumni painted on it. Janice Paull,who still lives in the same house on Willow Glen Way as she did in the '40s, nodded and pointed out another name on the tiles, which surround a bright image of a willow tree.

"We all looked a little better then," confided Glenna Swain Gassman. Above them, the names included "Cathy Miles Young 1960-1966" and "In memory of Richard McIntosh." Willow Glen Elementary Principal Lois Allen pointed out her favorite: "The Nash Girls 1952-1974."

The market drew a crowd of people on opening day as the sun moved in and out of the clouds. The Farmers' Market will be in town on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon through November and will feature different events throughout the summer, such as gardening day on the first Saturday of every month.

As the smell of the school's pancake breakfast wafted through the air, marketgoers walked dogs, pushed strollers and carried armfuls of fresh flowers and bags of bread and colorful produce.

And many were Willow Glen Elementary alumni, who had come from all directions to help their alma mater celebrate its 100th anniversary. "I heard one gentleman say he drove three-and-a-half hours this morning to be with us,"said parent Joe Guerra.

Jill Vollenweider of San Jose, standing with her husband, David, smiled as she gazed up at the tiles. "I went here in the '50s, and I just found my tile,"she said. "It just means a lot because I went here so long ago. I like to look around and see if I recognize anyone."

At the market, a musician strummed a Celtic harp, children got their faces painted and people sampled everything from fruit topping to pretzels. A man gathered signatures to support the Airport Traffic Relief Initiative, and women in navy blue Willow Glen PTA aprons poured pancake mix and flipped flapjacks.

"We'll be out here every weekend--if we don't go camping," promised the proprietor of the Foxhollow Herb Farm stand, where all sorts of herb products such as lip balm were being sold.

Over at the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association table, bargain-hunters were eagerly picking up "Glenopoly" fliers, which promised deals such as buy-one-get-one-free smoothies and lattés from various merchants.

Checking his watch, manager Demetri Rizos said association members had given out 500 fliers by 10:25 a.m.--market turnout was healthy indeed.

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