The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Skye Dunlap Busy Neighbor: Helen Solinski has wasted little time since moving to Willow Glen two years ago. She joins WGNA this week. Longtime community activist appointed to citizen's group The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association gets a new board member By Mary Spicuzza Anyone who hasn't yet heard of Willow Glen's Helen Solinski needn't worry. It's only a matter of time before this local whirlwind of activism crosses the path of everyone in the community. She's only lived in Willow Glen for two years, but during that time, Solinski's commitment to the community and drive to get involved have made her an obvious choice for her new position. On Wednesday, Dec. 16, Solinski will officially be appointed to the board of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association. "I've been so impressed with Helen's positive approach to solving problems," association president Kris Cunningham says. "She is pleasant, efficient, and always willing to help. My board members keep asking me, 'When are you going to appoint Helen?'" Solinski, a San Jose native, moved to Willow Glen from Almaden, where she was a member of the Cambrian Neighborhood Association. "I moved to Willow Glen because there's such a strong sense of community here," Solinski says. "People get involved; people know they can make a difference here." And that she has. Solinski first got involved with the association through her involvement in stopping the garbage dumping and donation pillaging at a Salvation Army trailer near the corner of Lincoln and Curtner avenues. Neighboring Willow Glen residents were in an uproar over the garbage, and Solinski led an effort to work with code enforcement, Salvation Army officers, and the landowner to find solutions. The property owner has since hired a security guard, Salvation Army began more frequent pick-ups, and most nearby residents seem pleased with the current cleaner conditions of the donation site. "An older man even came up to me on Founders Day and gave me a big hug when he found out I'd been working on the clean-up efforts," Solinski laughs. Her devotion to the community also could be attributed to her deep family ties to Willow Glen. Her grandparents owned The Golden Rule, a dry cleaner that operated on Lincoln Avenue. The busy couple also owned a bakery in the Glen. Solinski's father, a son of Polish-American immigrants, was a pitcher for the San Francisco Seals back in the 1940s, before he moved to San Jose. Solinski grew up making annual trips to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds with her mother, who was crowned Queen of Santa Clara County in 1949. "I wonder what she would have thought of the whole amphitheater debate," Solinski now muses. Solinski consistently attended fairground meetings about the amphitheater with Cunningham, and was very vocal in her opposition to the proposed giant open-air theater. "At least I knew the fairgrounds really well when I went to meetings," she laughs. Besides her involvement with the association, Solinski manages an aluminum company. And she has some exciting life changes planned for the future. "I'm getting married," Solinski says. "I can't believe it. That should definitely go on the front page." An avid animal lover, she spends hours strolling through the Glen on long walks with her dog. Beyond family ties and her investment in the community as a home-owner, her drive to get involved is obviously just part of her character. Whether she's talking about beautification or traffic issues, recycling or clean up, Solinski does it with passion. "I've just never been the type of person who could sit back and not get involved," Solinski says. Community participation is just what the association looks for in its members. The now 10-member board, made up of Willow Glen residents, works to represent the diverse neighborhoods of the community. And Cunningham seems to have an eye for good candidates. A former appointee, J. Michael Gonzales, is now the first vice president of the association. Another appointee, Peggy Rossignol, has been an active advocate of residents in the debate over Garden Theater permit issues. It's that drive to stand up for positive change that Cunningham sees in Solinski as well. "She's so eager to learn," Cunningham says. "Helen is the kind of person who can approach things with positive energy and interest. And an open mind. Now I just need two more Helens." [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, December 9, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.