Park Place Vintage owner Linda Waltrip—second vice president for the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association (WGBPA)—is spearheading the avenue's decoration campaign.

Willow Glen is into decorating for Christmas and the holidays, but typically Lincoln Avenue only has a few lights, she said at the association's general members meeting on Oct. 29.

"I'm really excited that this year we're going to have some decorations," she said.

During the meeting, Waltrip said that $10,000 was budgeted for holiday decorations on Lincoln Avenue. The money is part of the association's Business Improvement District (BID) Fund.

The association manages BID funds on behalf of the San Jose Office of Economic Development. Lincoln Avenue merchants pay fees to the city, which the association then uses to sponsor programs and events.

This year Fresno-based Sierra Display—a decorating consultant firm—was contracted to help decorate the avenue.

The decorations campaign is part of the annual tree lighting ceremony, which this year will be held on Dec. 5 at Willow Glen Elementary School, 1425 Lincoln Ave.

Q Advertising owner and WGBPA Third Vice President Valerie Onorato, who heads the holiday promotion campaign, said that there will be horse and carriage rides and carolers strolling on the avenue on Thursday evenings in December. Merchants will also be encouraged to stay open later than usual on Thursdays.

Some merchants close at 5 p.m. because they believe there isn't enough business in the evening, Onorato said. But If merchants stay open later, patrons would be drawn to the avenue, she explained.

Willow Glen Books owner and WGBPA Secretary Cathy Adkins, who usually keeps her store open until 9 p.m. on weekdays, supported Onorato's idea.

She said a third of her business is from late afternoon or evening patrons. "I would love to share my evening customers with all of you," she said.

If December's Thursday night experiment works out, maybe merchants would consider keeping later hours for one Thursday of the month, Onorato said.

The association also discussed its amended bylaws. Under the new bylaws, there can be no more than two nominees for open offices, terms are for one year, board members may serve three consecutive one-year terms, and new terms will begin the first day of February.

Waltrip is heading the recruitment committee for new members.

"This is a positive experience for me," Waltrip said, "and the board is really fired up about this."

Candidate ballots will be sent Dec. 17, and the election of new board members will be Jan. 27.

Keeping an election clean isn't as immediate a concern as keeping the avenue clean. Since the new Civic Litter Modules (CLMs)—a fancy term for trash cans—were installed Oct. 31, cleanliness on the avenue has been less of a problem.

The new cans are green, aluminum canisters with tapered covers to keep out rain and to discourage rubbish overflow. The 45 CLMs have replaced all the old receptacles on the avenue and increased the total number of trash receptacles available downtown.

For more information on the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association, 1275 Lincoln Ave., Suite 3, call 408.298.2100 or visit www.downtownwillowglen.org.