Willow Glen Resident

News

Legion hires security and bans use of generators for jumpers

By Alicia Upano

American Legion Post 318 leadership and neighbors surrounding the Minnesota Avenue building cannot agree on the best way to deal with noise concerns, but neighbors are willing to give the Legion's latest efforts a try.

Neighbors, led by De Anza Way resident Fran Conte, have met with American Legion leaders several times since January. They claim the Legion's weekend party rentals flood the area with noise--music, loud children, cars and generators.

Since that first meeting, the Legion has hired a security guard for Saturday night parties to keep noise under control and posted signs in the parking lot that read, "Please be considerate of our neighbors/Keep the noise down."

The Legion has also banned the use of generator-operated jump houses and is looking into installing double-pane windows. In addition the Legion has added language to its party contract that requires renters to keep the rear doors closed and to stop playing music at 10 p.m., Legion commander Garry McLeod said.

But the neighbors said the Legion is still failing to address the root of the problem, which is music at the Saturday parties. Ideally, Conte would like no music at all.

Conte asked the Legion to do more, including limit the hours to 9 p.m. along with capping the number of people permitted to attend these weekend parties.

"You're not doing a lot," Conte said, referring to the noise control issue. The building, he claims, is not equipped to retain noise.

Helen Solinski, who is representing the neighbors on behalf of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, said, "This is about compromising with the neighbors, and it seems like you're dragging your heels and saying absolutely no."

McLeod, however, said the Legion has made commitments to the neighbors and is following through.

"Everything may not be accomplished as idealistic yet, but we're working toward that," Legion noise coordinator Gene Fanucchi said.

While the Legion would not end parties at 9 p.m. or give the neighbors a schedule of upcoming parties, members did say they continue to look at how to improve marketing the hall and attracting renters who will be sensitive to the neighborhood.

After a fairly quiet March, parties are expected to pick up in May. The opposing sides will meet again in June to gauge whether the Legion's fixes are working.

"We don't want you to close up and leave," Minnesota Avenue neighbor Russ Tugh said. "We just want you to play fair."