Willow Glen Resident

News

News Briefs

One more debate at
Billy DeFrank Center

The Billy DeFrank LGBT Center will host a free San Jose mayoral forum with candidates Cindy Chavez and Chuck Reed at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 30.

The ProLatino, the Silicon Valley Rainbow Chamber of Commerce and South Bay Queer & Asian groups will all participate in the forum, moderated by the League of Women Voters.

Candidates are expected to discuss issues of importance to the gay community.

The forum will take place at the DeFrank Center Grand Ballroom, 938 The Alameda.

Halloween happens
in downtown WG

Downtown Willow Glen is getting into the Halloween spirit.

On Oct. 27, the Willow Glen Funeral Chapel, 1039 Lincoln Ave., is showing It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown at 6 p.m. The show is free and includes popcorn, snacks, drinks and goodie bags. Costumes are optional.

On Oct. 28, grab your coffee and see the Willow Glen High School Homecoming Parade at 9:30 a.m. on Lincoln Avenue.

At 1 p.m., children can enjoy the free concert, "All the Things You Dream" by PapaHugs Productions at 1202 Lincoln Ave. There will be balloon animals, face painting, popcorn and lemonade. Halloween costumes are welcomed. For the older crowd, Willow Glen Funeral Chapel presents the Alfred Hitchcock 1958 thriller Vertigo, which will be shown at 1 p.m. The funeral chapel will have free popcorn, snacks and drinks.

It all leads up to Oct. 31 and the traditional trick-or-treating in downtown Willow Glen along Lincoln Avenue between Minnesota and Coe. Infants through preschoolers can show off their costumes from 10 a.m. to noon. For the older children, trick-or-treat will be from 3 to 5 p.m.

Meeting planned to
discuss Alano Club

Neighbors have an opportunity to weigh in on the future of the Alano Club West which the San Jose Appeals Hearing Board ordered to close by Oct. 31.

A community meeting will take place at Willow Glen Baptist Church, 292 Minnesota Ave., on Oct. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to hear community comments and feedback on the Alano Club West's application for a conditional use permit.

Alano Club West and Stringfellow Properties, the owners of the properties, have filed with the city for a conditional use permit, which would enable the club to continue operating out of its current facility at 1139 Minnesota Ave. and use the 1143 Minnesota Ave. property for access and parking.

For more information, contact city planner Erin Morris at 408.535.7846 or Tony Filice in councilman Ken Yeager's office at 408.535.4906 or Sean Cottle, counsel for Alano Club West of San Jose, at 408.947.2404. La Concha Spa has
event for teachers

La Concha Spa on Lincoln Avenue gave a few lucky teachers and staff from Willow Glen schools the gift of relaxation and a respite from their busy lives.

On Oct. 23, the spa held its first teacher appreciation day to honor the hard work of teachers and education staff.

Teachers from schools that included River Glen and Willow Glen elementary schools and Willow Glen High School attended the event.

Seven teachers from Willow Glen Elementary, including fourth-and fifth-grade bilingual teacher Francisca Vargas and resource teacher Stephanie Boronda, enjoyed the pampering from La Concha massage therapists.

"I was pleasantly surprised," Vargas said. "What a good opportunity to try a local place out."

Both Vargas and Boronda said they were touched by the generosity of the spa.

"I've always valued teachers and how they watch and educate our kids," says La Concha Spa spokeswoman Tish Galloway. "They are our eyes for our kids."

Galloway says it's easy to take for granted the hard work of others, especially teachers.

"We leave our kids at school and then return and pick them up and they are safe," says Galloway, who has been a massage therapist at the spa for six years. "They're not only teachers, they are people. Teachers are like an extended arm of our family."

The free event provided a 15-minute mini facial and massages. The spa pampered teachers with hair and make-up consultations in an atmosphere that included hors' oeuvres and punch.

In September La Concha had an appreciation night for merchants on Lincoln Avenue.

"We want to get people to socialize and realize what massage therapy can do for them," Galloway says. "We are bringing together like minded people and trying to help them stay healthy."

For more information, contact La Concha Spa, 1042 Lincoln Ave., 408.286.8612.

Get ready to cheer,
show Rams spirit

This year's Willow Glen High School Homecoming on Oct. 28 will have a special cheering section where alumni can join old friends as they root for their alma mater.

Alumni can get tickets one of two ways. They can join the Willow Glen Foundation and receive two free seats in the cheering section, along with some Ram-themed giveaways, or they can purchase tickets at the Willow Glen Foundation table that will be located next to the bleachers at the Community Carnival and Craft Fair. Alumni can also buy regular tickets at the game gate.

The Homecoming football games start at 11 a.m. for junior varsity and 2 p.m. for varsity. The Community Carnival and Craft Fair starts at 10 a.m. and goes on until 4 p.m.

The traditional homecoming parade down Lincoln Avenue starts at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street.

Students can enter travel writer contest without ever leaving home

High school students who aspire to become globetrotters can spread their wings in the Bay Area Travel Writers contest.

The contest, in its second year, is open to high school students and is sponsored by the 20-year-old Bay Area Travel Writers professional organization. There is no entry fee, and entries must be postmarked by Oct. 31.

Students are asked to submit an essay up to 500 words about a travel idea or experience, whether the writer has traveled to the other side of the world, down the block or anywhere in between.

All essays will be evaluated by BATW judges--professional travel writers--for accuracy, originality, creativity, proper use of language, syntax and grammar and humor.

Winners are awarded $200 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place and will be notified by phone by Nov. 21. Three honorable mentions will also be awarded.

One entry per high school student is permitted. The essay must be typed, double-spaced, with full name, address, and telephone number written in the upper left-hand corner on all pages; staple all pages together.

The student's school name, location and English/journalism teacher must also be included. A signed affidavit is required on the bottom of the last page attesting that the work has been created solely by the entrant.

Mail the entry to BATW High School Contest, c/o N. Frank, 2601 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.

For more information contact Bob Ecker, BATW president, at 707.421.
1701 or via email at eckerbob@mind spring.com.