Willow Glen Resident
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Mature trees, roses
are DiFiore's legacy
In mid-June at age 91, Frank S. DiFiore, a pillar of Santa Clara Valley's horticultural heritage, quietly passed away with little more than a few sentences in an obituary in the San Jose Mercury News. Owner of Symons Nursery at Bird Avenue and Willow Street in Willow Glen for more than 40 years (the current location of Walgreens and a self-storage facility), and in later years on San Carlos Street in San Jose, Frank coached thousands of local residents on the nuances of beautifying their homes with plants and trees from his extensive nursery, and his intimate knowledge of Santa Clara Valley soils and microclimates.
I was fortunate to have moved to a small home in Willow Glen within walking distance of Symons Nursery in the late 1980s and grew to appreciate Frank's deep passion for horticulture, his incredible work ethic (he worked well into his 80s), and his simple willingness to share a great story about the Valley's agricultural past.
When you admire a mature tree or rose- bush in Willow Glen, chances are high that they originated from Symons Nursery, and that Frank passed on a few words of wisdom on how to plant and maintain the plants before they left the care of his great nursery.
Having run across Frank's brief obituary, I simply wanted to say a few words in Frank's honor.
I have no doubt that there are many local residents with innumerable great memories of Frank, and Symons Nursery.
If you feel like sharing your thoughts and memories regarding Frank, I'm sure his family and friends would be honored. I would encourage you to add your thoughts/memories to Frank's online memorial at www.legacy.com/mercury news/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?Person Id=89026928.
May you rest in peace, Frank.
Mark Johnson
Saratoga
Illegal immigrants are OK if products remain
This letter is in response Bob Kieve's "What happened to supply and demand? (June14)." Lots of things that have resulted in many good paying U.S. jobs migrating to overseas lower cost (that's hourly rate) areas. Would you insist that the pay for agricultural workers increase enough to attract more job seekers so astute grocers can start buying now-less expensive produce from outside the United States?
I'd rather, as much as possible, have products be produced or manufactured in this country. If that means tolerating some level of "illegal" immigrants from Mexico, so be it. A more basic issue is the corruption and incompetence, the oligarchies, and monopolies in Mexico. Mexico has to clean its own house so its citizens are less likely to want to come to the U.S. It won't entirely solve the problem as I believe wages will always be higher here than in Mexico. The United States will always be more attractive.
Allan MacLaren
San Jose
Dancin' has record
sales, sponsorship
The Willow Glen Business Association is proud to report that the 2007 Dancin' on the Avenue was a smashing success. An estimated 35,000 people converged in downtown Willow Glen for the 12th Annual Dancin' on the Avenue.
Joe Sharino Band, NuDay, The Groove Kings and PT and the Cruzers rocked a diverse crowd on a beautiful Saturday. The Kids Court was filled with families taking in the music on the community stage and enjoying games and crafts presented by local businesses and nonprofit groups.
A broad variety of food booths were bustling throughout the evening; many of our local restaurants and bars were humming too. Although it was the largest Dancin' ever, the event ended with no major incidents--a testament to the great work of San Jose Police Department and private security firms--but mainly attributed to the spirit of this great community event.
New this year was a VIP Center to show appreciation to Dancin' sponsors and civic dignitaries. Invited guests enjoyed food and beverages donated by many WGBA members, as well as front row seats for headliner Joe Sharino Band.
More than 200 volunteers served 88 beer kegs, 68 cases of wine and 123 cases of water and soda and sold more than 45,000 tickets and 300 wineglasses.
Many businesses reported record sales, especially food and beverage establishments, generating much-needed sales tax revenues that contribute to the city of San Jose's bottom line and the work of WGBA.
Dancin' broke all records, with sponsorships up 30 percent and beverage sales up 33 percent. All expenses are not yet calculated, but it is clear the net result will be an all-time high.
With the city of San Jose's budget shortfall, event success is more important than ever because the business association uses its resources to augment lagging city services to keep our neighborhood business district clean, safe and thriving.
Increased revenues allow us to do many things including sidewalk steam cleaning, landscaping and maintenance of city-owned planters along the Avenue and promotion of downtown Willow Glen businesses.
The festival organizers will be meeting to review the festival in detail and provide areas to improve for next year's 13th annual Dancin' event. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please submit them to info@downtownwillowglen.org.
For upcoming events, mark your calendars for Sept. 29-30 when WGBA brings back the Founder's Day Parade and Celebration in conjunction with the Italian Family Festa.
Norma Ruiz, executive director
Willow Glen Business Association
