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City Beat
Lincoln Ave. decorations limited by time, funds, participation
Plans to focus on next year's event, additional money
By Kate Carter
The holiday season is fast approaching, but the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association is still struggling to get their plans for decorating Lincoln Avenue off the ground.
At their Nov. 14 meeting, business association board members learned that some of the plans they had brainstormed at their previous meeting were impossible to implement this year, due to lack of funds, limited time and hard-to-find volunteers.
The chair of the decorating committee, Site 1 Real Estate co-owner Frank Schapairo, is a newcomer to the business association's meetings but is not himself a member, as his business is not located in the Business Improvement District. He presented his plan for the business district's holiday decorations and assured the meeting participants that some, though limited, lights and baubles would adorn the avenue this year. He also emphasized the need to begin planning for next year's event now.
Traditionally, the decorations along Lincoln Avenue are up in time for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by the Willow Glen Elementary School PTA and the Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers. Santa Claus will light the large tree in front of the elementary school on the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota avenues on Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m., following performances by students groups that begin at 6:30 p.m.
Last year, Lincoln Avenue businesses initiated a Santa's Trail of stores that stayed open late to encourage ceremony guests to do some Christmas shopping after the event. The association is trying to increase the profitability of the event and decorating the avenue is part of that effort.
Schapairo told the participants in the meeting, who did not have a quorum of board members, that he had met with city officials about installing lights for the garlands to string across the street. He said he was told by the city's electrical maintenance supervisor Kevin O'Connor that the cost for the city to install the lights would be $1,500.
Business association president Bob Waligore told Schapairo to ask the city to defer billing the amount for the job until after the new year, when the association will receive its next allotment of Business Improvement District funds.
Waligore also said that the association received a $250 donation for the decorations, which Schapairo said he would use to purchase necessary outdoor extension cords, additional lights to replace worn-out bulbs and new garlands.
Schapairo, however, said he was constrained by the lack of budget for the event, frustrated by the lack of coordination among board members regarding the event's plans, and embarrassed that he had to approach the city for help at the last minute.
He proposed that the association begin planning for next year to try to implement ideas, such as wreaths on the light posts, lights on the trees and transportation for visitors up and down the avenue that cannot be accomplished this year.
The Santa's Trail effort, led by L'Daisy Patch owner Laura Augusta, is focused on listing businesses on a map indicating what each store offers and how late it will be open on the night of the tree lighting, she said. The map will be distributed to visitors at the ceremony.
Schapairo said that he and Posey Garden Florist owner Bob Barone would construct the wreath and light decorations for the eight arbors at the street's crosswalks. Schapairo said he would also consider hanging banners on the 21 light posts, and upgrading the garlands and lights for stretching across the avenue at Willow Street and Minnesota and Coe avenues. He said that he was hoping to receive help from other merchants and Willow Glen residents to help hang the decorations this weekend.
Schapairo recommended that the association establish a separate bank account for donations earmarked for decorating the avenue that could be supplemented throughout the year in preparation for the holiday season. He suggested holding a raffle of products and services by Willow Glen businesses during the Christmas Tree Lighting event in order to raise money for decorating the avenue and also to generate business for the street's merchants.
Schapairo committed to chairing the decorations committee for next year because he is becoming familiar with what is required to make the event a success, and hopes to improve upon this year's display. He said he plans to write a procedure for how to negotiate with the city departments and how to prepare the decorations.
Schapairo's plans for next year include upgrading the lighting and garlands, adding wreaths to light poles and lights to trees, and to involve more businesses in the planning of a Santa's Trail down Lincoln Avenue from Minnesota Avenue to Coe Avenue. He said he hopes to apply for a city beautification grant to cover some of these costs.
Anyone interested in helping decorate the avenue can contact Schapairo at 408.266.1371. Anyone wishing to donate to the association's decorations bank account can send checks to Decorating the Avenue, c/o Washington Mutual, 1402 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA 95125, attn. David Machado, manager.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
