Around The Glen

Glenite rallies his neighborhood to save imperiled tree

Despite the protests of a neighbor, a 25-year-old zelkova tree may come down in Willow Glen.

"I don't think it's fair," says Neil Najibi. "The tree is a beautiful part of Willow Glen and you can't tear it down."

At press time, however, no one had filed any formal complaints with city arborist Mark Beaudoin, who said the tree at 1990 Dorrance Court is causing sidewalk damage. If neighbors protest, sending written complaints to Beaudoin, the city will hold a public hearing on the tree removal. If not, the zelkova will fall and a new tree will be planted in its place.

--Jessica Lyons

 

The Glen plans to appeal commission's decision of a midnight closing time

The Glen owners John and Stella Karamanos have decided to appeal the Planning Commission's decision to close their restaurant's doors at midnight.

Now it's up to the City Council to decide if Lincoln Avenue's upscale bar can serve drinks till 2 a.m. on weekends and provide live music for its restaurant patrons.

The Glen's supporters say Willow Glen residents need a place for late-night dining in their own neighborhood.

But, at its July 14 meeting, the Planning Commission voted 5-2 to close the doors at midnight, following planning staff's reasoning that a late-night establishment doesn't have a place in Willow Glen's neighborhood business district.

The Karamanos' hope to have better luck with the City Council, said Barton Hechtman, lawyer for The Glen.

A public hearing date will be set after the City Council reconvenes in August.

--Jessica Lyons

Willow Glen streets get a beauty makeover

Glenites took to the streets Saturday to help beautify Willow Glen.

Volunteers armed with pitchforks and shovels spread mulch around the median trees on Meridian Avenue by Fruitdale Avenue on July 24.

The project is a follow-up to last year's Meridian landscape project, says J. Michael Gonzales, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association president.

"The mulch will tend to resist weeds better than open dirt and retains moisture," Gonzales says. "Also, it beautifies the landscape." In October 1998, WGNA members and local volunteers planted colorful trees, shrubs and flowers along the median at Meridian Avenue and Highway 280. Besides beautifying the area, the new groundcover created a virtual utopia for the Glen's squirrels.

The city of San Jose donated 16 yards of mulch for the project. Gonzales said he hopes to work with the city and Caltrans to incorporate the Meridian median area into their longterm plans for Highway 280.

"We're hoping we can somehow encourage Caltrans to put in some permanent signage, saying 'Entering Willow Glen' at this point."

--Jessica Lyons

Crime takes a powder during the annual National Night Out

Don't be alarmed if a cop or McGruff the crime dog stops by the neighborhood on Aug. 3. They're doing their part to take a bite out of crime, and they hope Glenites will too, by participating in the annual National Night Out, a going-away party for crime.

Each year neighbors across the United States turn on their porch lights and have a barbecue or visit with each other as a step toward crime-prevention awareness.

"It doesn't have to be a huge, well-organized, 1,000-people block party kind of event," says Kim Gaddis, crime-prevention specialist. "We have some groups who just decide as a block that they are going to barbecue in their front yards. It can be something that spontaneous and very simple."

Last year about 72 San Jose groups participated, including a handful from Willow Glen , Gaddis said. They hosted potluck dinners, barbecues and ice cream socials.

Police officers try to visit all the neighborhood Night Out gatherings, bringing coloring books for the kids and answering questions. Sometimes McGruff makes a special appearance.

"It's a good opportunity for people to meet their officers on a positive note, and it's a good opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and what we have [to offer] in the crime-prevention area," Gaddis says.

For more information on the Annual National Night Out, or to participate, call 277-4133.

--Jessica Lyons

SeniorNet helps its senior students become connected and computer-literate

Since it began about six years ago, the SeniorNet program at Willows Senior Center in Willow Glen has been a huge success. In the program, senior volunteers teach other seniors about computers and the Internet. Registration took place on July 24 for classes that begin August 9.

"Especially in the Silicon Valley, people don't want to get left behind in learning the latest in computer technology," says Ann Albano, a gerontology supervisor at Willows.

According to Albano, there are 160 Learning Centers in the country, but Willows is the largest.

Only 265 people can register for the eight-week session, whose classes include "Using Windows 98," "AOL" and "Graphics and Scanning."

Pam Wagner Rosales, another supervisor at Willows, mentions that the idea of seniors teaching seniors is a popular concept, and Willows provides a non-threatening learning environment. Also, at $20 a session, the classes are a great deal, and some seniors even take the same classes over and over.

"More and more, we hear about seniors communicating with families, grandchildren and children online," Wagner-Rosales notes.

"Initially when we started talking about it, some of the seniors were a little bit reluctant," she says. "But some of those very people have gotten really involved and are now instructors. SeniorNet has brought people into Willows who have since become involved in other programs, too."

Registration used to be on a first-come, first-served basis, but now a lottery system is in place.

"People used to show up at 12 midnight and sit in their cars for a 9 o'clock registration," Wagner-Rosales says. "People who came after 6 a.m. probably wouldn't even get in a class."

Interested seniors can go to Willows and fill out an application to be put on SeniorNet's mailing list.

--Kara Chalmers

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