The North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is hosting its first holiday lighting contest.

Organizers encourage neighbors to be fun and artistic. Residents will select winners on Dec. 14, based on originality, Christmas spirit and contribution to the community. Categories include most creative, most elegant, best in daylight and best at night.

Winners will receive prizes donated by Willow Glen sponsors such as Aqui Cal-Mex Grill, Details Clothing, Emperor's Garden, Fleurish, Gussied Up, Park Place, Siena Bistro, Taqueria Tlaquepaque and Willow Glen Meats and Smokehouse.

North Willow Glen participants should have their homes decorated by Dec. 12. Residents can drop by 532 Coe Ave. on Dec. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. to pick up a ballot, stroll through the neighborhood to survey the decorations and vote.

Willow and Prevost streets and Bird Avenue border the North Willow Glen neighborhood.

It's a hole in one
for military troops

Iron Construction's Charity Golf Classic 2005 raised more than $20,000 for the American Red Cross Operation: Care and Comfort program.

Iron Construction, a Lincoln Avenue business, held the tournament at the Cinnabar Hills Golf Club. More than 150 players participated, paying $200 each. Numerous Willow Glen businesses sponsored the event by offering gift certificates as prizes or goods at the event. The Willow Glen sponsors were Details Clothing, Goosetown Lounge, Noah's New York Bagels, Peet's Coffee and Tea, Sew Beadazzled, Starbucks Coffee, Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt, Esprit Healing Center, Willow Glen Art and Frame and Estate Home Loans.

The money will support 25 to 30 "adopted" units in the United States military service that are stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other regions. These units receive monthly care packages until they return home.

Founder's Day will
return next year

The Willow Glen Business and Professional Association is resurrecting Founder's Day after a four-year hiatus. Founder's Day will return in 2006 on Sept. 24.

The festive day will include a 10K run, a 5K run/walk, a pancake breakfast and children's activity zone. The business association is searching for businesses interested in participating and sponsoring a health expo during the event. The association is also looking for volunteers.

Founder's Day will benefit the Willow Glen Foundation and the business association. For more information contact Willow Glen Runners Supply at 408.294.1522 or via email at lmaurer@sbcglobal.net.

Developer gets OK
to build on Delmas

Stonebridge Development received a planned development permit to build seven homes at 1235 Delmas Ave. in Willow Glen at the Nov. 16 San Jose planning director's hearing.

The .91-acre lot is located on the west side of Delmas Avenue near Dorothy Avenue. The developers will raze three two-bedroom houses and replace them with seven single-family homes and two-car garages.

On the same block, developer Greg Schatzel also plans to remove three houses and build 10 homes. The San Jose City Council voted to rezone the three homes from residential to planned development on Aug. 30.

Meduri family is
greening up lot

It's that time of year. The annual Meduri Farms Christmas tree lot is back at Willow Glen Elementary School on the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota avenues. Their location, the back parking lot on Lincoln Avenue, has changed because of construction.

Both full-size and yard trees will be available. Meduri will take large orders based on availability.

The Meduri family has been an instrumental part of the annual tree lighting ceremony. Its generator runs the lights on the big tree for the month of December. The family also donates several trees that are raffled off at the tree lighting ceremony.

The business makes a donation to the school every year for the tree lot. This year, its donation will be based on the number of trees sold.

Nonprofit takes
kids out to shop

Willow Glen-based Fraternal Order of Eagles is taking 100 children on a shopping spree two weeks before Christmas.

Teachers and principals in the San Jose Unified School District and the Santa Cruz-based New Horizons School for homeless and underprivileged children selected the 100 children. The Eagles raised enough money to give each child $150 to shop at the Target on Capitol Avenue in San Jose.

The Eagles frequently hold fundraisers for a variety of causes. To learn more, visit www.foe.com or call 408.993.1610.

Boy Scout sends
513 care boxes

One Boy Scout's effort toward his Eagle Scout award will make the holidays brighter for American soldiers away from home.

Del Mar High School freshman Tanner Condie credits many in the community for their generous support in his comfort and care drive for the troops overseas. He was able to gather enough food, hygiene supplies and letters for 513 servicemen and women.

He received about 400 letters and pictures from students at Castlemont Elementary School, along with 25 letters from younger children at his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Willow Glen. Tanner also wrote a letter for every care package being shipped overseas.

With the help of about 45 volunteers, he was able to assemble the packages over the Thanksgiving weekend so they can arrive for the holidays.

"I wanted the troops to know how much our community supports and cares about what they are doing for us and the country they are serving," Tanner said. " I think this will let them know that we care about them and are thinking of them."