Willow Glen Resident
News
Moore, Kaylor, Kost bring new energy to association
By Laura Rheinheimer
Three new members joined the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association board in June, bringing their energy and experience to the group.
The neighborhood association elected Steve Kaylor as its treasurer and Stuart Moore to the board, while R.C. Kost was appointed to the board. The men will fill vacancies left by longtime board members Helen Solinski, Ellen Santomura, Margaret Hardy and Carol Rossebo.
The three come on board at an important time, with the association's involvement in a wealth of projects and issues, including downtown parking, Willow Glen history projects, chain stores and Founders Day.
They are bringing some fresh ideas to the table, said Ed Rast, Willow Glen Neighborhood Association president.
Kaylor is familiar with the inner workings of grassroots associations, as he has served on several neighborhood association subcommittees concerning land use, parking and Willow Glen history. He also helped craft a letter to the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association from the neighborhood association about its concerns with the removal of downtown parking restrictions.
As the association treasurer, he will oversee a $6,100 budget and track dues from its 500 members, along with grants, donations and expenditures for community events such as Founders Day.
Kaylor joined the association after a career change left him with more free time to volunteer and focus on community issues. The 38-year-old business owner ran uncontested, and draws from his experience as a former business manager at the General Electric plant at Curtner Avenue and Monterey Road.
While at G.E., he volunteered with local schools, and this experience instilled a desire for more civic involvement. Serving as treasurer was a good way to jump-start those efforts, he said.
The corporate environment taught him to compromise on issues, because everyone has an opinion.
Most of his efforts will focus on the downtown area close to where he and his wife, Kristin Yetto, live, on El Abra Way, one block north of Willow Street.
"I'm concerned about the vitality, look and feel of the downtown," Kaylor said.
Elected board member Stuart Moore, 40, is also interested in reviving the downtown. He plans to familiarize himself with city processes and work to keep Willow Glen safe and vibrant.
Moore is a stay-at-home father who has lived in Willow Glen for eight years.
Moore wants to focus his energy on resolving speeding traffic, preserving the history of Willow Glen and helping the downtown make itself more marketable. He designed the layout for a historical book, Historical Guide to the Homes of Willow Glen, which will be sold on Founders Day.
Moore credits the WGNA e-list for piquing his interest.
"The people here have such strong community spirit," Moore said. "I wanted to get involved in what's going on in the community and help out if I can."
Kost, 69, moved to Willow Glen in 1960 and said he has a feel for who is moving in and out of the neighborhood, based on more than 20 years in the real estate industry.
He owned Kost Properties from 1985 until 1993, when he dissolved the business. He did, however, stay in the real estate industry and eventually enlisted his son, John, to join him at Contempo Realty in 1995. It was a successful partnership, and the father-son duo stayed together until R.C. decided to move to San Diego and retire in 2004.
But R.C. Kost discovered he missed the challenge of selling homes and his old Willow Glen neighborhood. He moved back in early 2006 and rejoined his son at Re/Max Valley Properties.
It's important to the Kosts to be involved in the community, his son said. One of R.C. Kost's priorities is to help revamp Founders Day. This yearKost will man the neighborhood association's booth and helping with the historical walking tour on Founders Day.
