Willow Glen Resident

News

Stolen sponsorship signs frustrate Kiwanis Club

By Moryt Milo

Michael Rubino, president of the Kiwanis Club of Willow Glen, is at a loss to explain why anyone would cut down three sponsor signs for Music in the Glen.

"That kind of behavior feels like something against us and something against the community," he says.

He is uncertain when it happened, but on Aug. 14 around 7 p.m. as he drove by Willow Glen Elementary School, Rubino noticed the signs where no longer hanging on the fence.

The missing signs--Gail Leslie of Caldwell Banker, Aqui Cal-Mex Restaurant and Blue Sky Funding--were cut clean from their ties and hauled away. The remaining sign, Tim Casey Construction, was left undamaged.

"It's too bad that somebody would take down innocent signs promoting a fun night for the family in Willow Glen," Leslie said.

Rubino is frustrated by the vandalism and says, "Last year someone complained about the sizes and shapes of the signs. We went to the school and came up with a uniform look so everything looked neat and clean. We worked hard to try and do a good thing for the community. Then someone deliberately comes over and cuts three signs down. The sponsors paid for the signs, and they are helping to support a great community event," Rubino says.

He is concerned this behavior could affect finding future sponsors for the event.

Rubino says Music in the Glen has continued to grow. This summer between 700 and 800 people have attended each concert, and he wants to maintain that strong family-style atmosphere. That, however, is hard to do without sponsors, he notes.

The concert series is free, and all the funds raised from the sale of food and beverages support Kiwanis fundraising activities and Willow Glen Elementary School.

"I just hope this vandalism doesn't keep the sponsors away," he says. "We need the community's support."