Speak Out

Don't move Founder's Day parade without asking community

As a longtime Willow Glenite, I'd like to give Deborah Taylor-Hollis a giant "high-five" for her comments in the Aug. 3 Resident about the Founder's Day parade. Her points were very well-taken and should be taken to heart by both the business association board and Founder's Day committee.

To move the parade to Halloween without asking either the community or merchants what they think of such a radical idea is wrong. To want to hire a consultant to organize the parade when there are people in the community who would gladly do it for free is wrong. To wait until now to inform the community of a plan made in March is wrong.

I guess business association leaders have forgotten that one of the purposes of a business association is to bring the community together, or they wouldn't be tampering with one of Willow Glen's special happenings. But then again, this won't be the first Lincoln Avenue happening tampered with. The Lights Over Lincoln garlands have not been put up the last two holiday seasons, despite community support for them.

June E. Cooley
Almaden Road

WGBPA volunteers do care about parade

We are responding to Deborah Taylor-Hollis' opinion piece in the Aug. 4 issue of the Willow Glen Resident.

The Willow Glen Business and Professional Association (WGBPA) is a Business Improvement District authorized by state law and is contracted by our bylaws to "promote the adoption and application of higher social, business and professional standards in Willow Glen." Our members genuinely care about our community and many are residents of Willow Glen.

Many of the businesses mentioned in the opinion piece provide local jobs, give donations to local schools and are part of the continued revitalization of the Avenue. Starbucks and Washington Mutual have been particularly generous to Willow Glen Elementary School.

If contacted, we would have gladly offered the following Founders Day background information:

* In the early 1990s, the residential group that organized Founders Day was unable to continue the event. Founders Day was nearly lost. The WGBPA took on the event knowing that it was a community favorite.

* After Founders Day 1998, many people expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of vendors and merchandise. It has been suggested that the WGBPA look into working with professional vendor coordinators.

* In March 1999, California Artists expressed interest in participating in Founders Day. The board decided that the retail membership's input was necessary. The retail sector was polled regarding changes required if California Artists' proposal was implemented. The vote was in favor of the new format.

* In May 1999, the WGBPA was notified that the previous parade coordinator would not be available. Managing the parade requires a team of experienced people and many man-hours. Any plans we had for the parade were meaningless if we did not have the people to produce it. In May, WGNA was contacted to see if it could help.

* In July 1999, WGNA responded that it could offer financial support, but had no one available with experience.

With our limited resources (volunteers) already being taxed and knowing the community really valued the parade, the Founders Day Committee recommended that the parade be moved and not canceled. Since Halloween has become a safety concern in recent years, closing the street for a period and having the parade seemed a good match.

We are a small group of volunteers who care sincerely about Founders Day, the parade and the community. A new Founders Day Parade 2000 Committee should be organized partnering community and business interests. The parade at future Founders Day celebrations can only continue with community support through volunteerism. If interested, please contact the WGBPA at 298-2100.

Demetri Rizos
President, Willow Glen Business and Professional Association

Planning commission needs to clean up act

I have read one article ["Dream House", July 28], and talked to one neighbor too many with these same complaints. I can't believe that a distant neighbor of the Halls filed an appeal to save this house! If those neighbors truly were interested in preservation, why would they themselves live in a remodel? Worst of all, why on earth would anyone want to save a house that clearly is termite-infested, cracked and rapidly deteriorating before their eyes?

The behavior of the planning commission as explained in the article, and its total lack of attention and effort to do its job thoroughly is a sad state of affairs. I would discourage anyone considering relocating to Willow Glen with the intention of remodeling, not to do so. It pains me to keep seeing stories like the Halls'--it's hard to believe it's the homebuilder's fault time and time again. When will the planning commission take some responsibility for this and clean up its act?

In the meantime, I'm with the Halls--I wouldn't get too hopeful, not until I see the new foundation poured, walls up, electricity on and water running! Between now and then, the way the planning department and appeals process goes, someone could still impede their progress.

Margo Kamin
Lester Avenue

'The Glen' nickname destroys WG's history

I take issue with the yuppie terminology referring to Willow Glen as "The Glen." The Willow Glen Resident doesn't help matters by perpetuating this fantasy.

I remember moving to this area in 1935 and seeing the bold signs, "Willow Glen City Limits." Attending Roosevelt Junior High School in the seventh and ninth grades, I remember transferring from the streetcar at the northwest corner of First and Santa Clara streets to the great Yellow Coach San Jose Railroads buses 222, 223, 234 and 225 with the sign "Willow Glen" displayed prominently above the front windows. I remember the Willow Glen City Limits sign bolted high on the wall of Hansen's Creamery sometime after the deluded majority voted to be annexed to the city of San Jose.

How many of these "The Glen" yuppies can show me where the Willow Glen Theatre once stood? Hansen's Creamery? Moody's Hardware? The Willow Glen Pharmacy? Schwab's Meat Market? The S&S Grocery? The Oriole? The Willow Glen Recorder newspaper? (Not even the present tenants of the building know this one.)

My point is, Willow Glen should always be Willow Glen, and "The Glen" accomplishes nothing except to destroy the history of this great area by calling it what it isn't.

Robert L. Smith
Cottle Avenue

Around the Glen

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