Two historic Willow Glen neighborhoods were among the top six applicants to win the San Jose Beautiful Neighborhood Improvement Awards.

The Palm Haven Restoration Committee and the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association were awarded the honors in December. San Jose Beautiful will recognize the neighborhood associations at a San Jose City Council meeting in January.

According to Margaret Wagenet of San Jose Beautiful, Palm Haven received the award for its many accomplishments over the past few years, including the restoration of its seven Mission Revival-style pillars and the installation of heritage street poles.

North Willow Glen has also made an about-face, returning the aging neighborhood to its former glory. In recent years, residents have added parks, signature white fences and heritage streetlights.

Rash of vandalism
hits Willow Glen

A streak of vandalism hit Willow Glen in December, including damage to cars and stolen Christmas trees.

On Dec. 11, vandals spray-painted a car on Minnesota Avenue with removable paint. On Dec. 18, a man saw several individuals smash the window of his parked car on Ridgeley Drive on the border of Willow Glen off Leigh Avenue. San Jose police officers located the suspects in a white truck on Fruitdale Avenue. Eighteen-year-old James Myers and two juveniles, ages 15 and 17, were cited and released.

The following day, Dec. 19, Coastland Avenue resident Karen Walker found her new Nissan 350Z egged. Walker said she is not only frustrated at how the eggs have ruined the paint on her car, but it's the second time her car was egged since she bought it in the summer.

In mid-August, Walker and several of her Coastland neighbors woke to find their cars egged, she said. But on Dec. 19, Walker said her car was the only one defaced. She filed a police report after the second incident occurred. She's repairing the damage through her insurance company, since the person her vandalized her car is unknown.

As the holiday weekend drew near on Dec. 23, Willow Glen residents on Roycott found their front lawn Christmas trees and a manger scene knocked down. The following day, Plaza Drive residents also had their lawn trees stolen.

San Jose police Sgt. Nick Muyo said insurance companies will most likely have to pay for damage in absence of tracking down the individuals responsible for these crimes. Neighbors are the best defense against these crimes, Muyo said.

"Neighbors need to talk, to know who belongs in the neighborhood and who doesn't," he said. "You just need to look out for each other."

Holiday spirit was lost on Milton Way

A Milton Way resident woke on Christmas morning to find his lawn and car vandalized. During the night, someone had etched a derogatory gay term on his front lawn with gasoline and set it on fire. His car was also vandalized with anti-gay terms using paint stripper.

Within a few days, word had spread and neighbors were outraged.

"The neighbors' response is a real testament; they've universally condemned this attack," said Clark Williams, interim director of the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center and North Willow Glen resident.

Williams said he heard about the attack on Dec. 26. "I was surprised because I know these kind of incidents are rare in the South Bay, but even more surprised it happened in Willow Glen."

Williams lives with his partner and daughter in North Willow Glen and said his family has always felt valued in the neighborhood. Williams said such an act of vandalism is meant to intimidate and harass.

"It makes the neighborhood fear who's watching their house," Williams said. "I find it hard to believe someone in our neighborhood would do this."

Willow Glen had two hate crimes in August 2004. On Aug. 9, someone placed dog feces on a welcome mat and toilet-papered a house on Kirkwood. On Aug. 17, another openly gay man found a gay pride flag with homophobic slurs at his home. It had been stolen the year before.

The police encourage anyone with information to come forward. Residents can report tips to the San Jose Police Department assault unit at 408.277.4161 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers, 408.947.STOP.