Willow Glen Resident
News
News Briefs
Graffiti is on the
rise in Willow Glen
The "Welcome to Willow Glen" sign painted on the Bird Avenue train bridge at Virginia Street was vandalized on April 20.
Neighbors, however, quickly re-moved the graffiti and repainted the sign.
"My answering machine was on fire," said North Willow Glen resident Dan Erceg.
Erceg is the "neighborhood guy," so-called because he's poured his time and energy into restoring the neighborhood for almost two decades.
He and his wife were out of town that weekend.
"Harvey Darnell ran into Rudy Martinez that weekend," he said. "Rudy painted out the graffiti."
Another neighbor, Debbie Palmer, went to Erceg's home and got paint out of his garage to repaint the sign in the correct green color.
The graffiti problem has recently risen in the Gardner and North Willow Glen neighborhoods, Erceg said, but it hasn't reached the levels of past years.
"The sign used to get hit twice a day, every day," Erceg said. "Now, it happens about six times a year."
Erceg said the rise in graffiti runs parallel to the budget cuts in the recent anti-graffiti program.
"San Jose police has slackened up on the diligence on graffiti artists," Erceg said. "They don't have the crew they used to have, and it seems like the kids caught wind of it."
To report graffiti, call the 24-hour hotline at 408.277.2758.
The Human Race to
sprint into 14th year
Willow Glen residents have an opportunity to do something good for the Human Race.
Residents can sign up to participate in the 14th annual Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley's Human Race. The annual U.S. Track and Field certified 10K/5K run and 5K pledge walk will take place on May 12 at Shoreline Park in Mountain View.
The course is flat and wheelchair accessible. Roller blades, scooters and strollers are welcome on the walk course. Pledge walkers with leashed dogs have a separate course.
The event started 28 years ago. The proceeds benefit more than 150 organizations and total more than $2 million. Registration and check-in begins at 7 a.m.
The 10K & 5K run start time is 8:30 a.m. and the 5K pledge walk starts at 8:45 a.m.
The 5K walk registration fee is $20 per participant 19 and up, $15 for ages 13-18, and children 12 and under are free.
The 10K and 5K runs' registration fee is $35 for participants 19 and up, $25 for ages 13-18.
Participant fees cover a T-shirt, pizza and participation in all activities.
For more information on the race, or to register, visit http://www.active usa.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1432787.
Caltrain Committee needs volunteers
Caltrain is looking for residents of Santa Clara County to fill vacancies on its Citizens Advisory Committee.
The nine-member panel acts in an advisory capacity to the board of directors. It meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Caltrain's headquarters in San Carlos.
For additional information or an application, visit www.caltrain.com or call 650.508.6223. Applications are due by 5 p.m. May 15.
