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Speak Out
Community could decorate Lincoln
I've lived in Willow Glen all of my 40 years. I've lived here so long that I still can remember the wonderful holiday decorations that lined Lincoln Avenue, starting at Minnesota Avenue and ending at Willow Street. I've read this paper long enough to realize that the old decorations have long since been lost, destroyed or are just gone. I can recall past year's discussion of how expensive new decorations can be, who's going to find them and spend the time to place them, etc.
I'm sure I speak for most of the community in saying that everyone would like to see a more festive spirit line our main avenue. We all enjoy the different neighborhoods displaying the lawn trees and other holiday decorations. Why can't Lincoln Avenue get it together? we think to ourselves.
I also realize that there seems to be a lot of unrest and bickering between the business association, and in the past some of the same in our neighborhood association. Given the past few months' tragic events, and in light of trying to re-create a sense of community and reconnecting with our friends and neighbors, might not now be the time to find a way to display our solidarity with our neighbors, business associates, different faiths? If we can't all get along as neighbors, how can we expect countries to get along? What better opportunity than to try to find a way to brighten up Lincoln Avenue?
I'm sure my thoughts sound simplistic, but is there no way that the business association and the neighborhood association, and the different houses of faith in Willow Glen, District 6 City Councilman Ken Yeager's office and the schools located in Willow Glen could come together to fundraise? If everyone gives just a little bit, that little bit becomes a lot.
Why not a community-wide walk-a-thon/5K race? Little boxes in all businesses, churches and schools, requesting any spare change? Asking a large business to sponsor us--if we can rename the San Jose Arena the Compaq Center, maybe we can get the Garden Theater to be a corporate sponsor? A huge car wash? I don't know, but something, a way to pull everyone together, to work together as a team, to re-establish our love for Willow Glen and our fellow man. And what a tremendous example it would be to all our children, that a seemingly impossible task can be done when we all put our heads together and bring about a positive result in which we can all take pride. Maybe something like this can't be done in time for this year, but what if we look at a two, three, four or even five-year plan?
I'm sure we can all come up with a thousand reasons why this won't work. But wouldn't it be terrific if instead we all tried to find a way to see our glass as half full?
Joanne Cordova
Mayette Avenue
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
