Willow Glen Resident

Education

Stolen carnival banner will not squelch mood of fair

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Teachers and parents involved in the Willow Glen High School homecoming festivities were shocked at the theft of one of their new banners.

"It's a little disheartening but it's probably nothing more than a stupid kid's wild prank," said Teri Kane, Willow Glen High School homecoming carnival and craft fair coordinator.

The banner, which read "WGHS Homecoming Craft Fair," and the date below it, was one of two that were purchased by the school for this year's event.

Kane noticed the banner, up for almost two weeks, was missing on Oct. 8.

"I was driving my son Charlie to school and noticed it was gone," Kane said.

Upon further inspection, Kane noticed broken zip ties nearby and then climbed a nearby Dumpster to check if the vandals had tossed it in.

"I can't imagine anyone would take it to use it," she said.

Once she confirmed the banner was missing, Kane called the school's director of activities, Melissa Foster.

"I felt awful," Foster said in an e-mail. "I cannot understand why anyone would take a banner advertising our event. It's meant to bring the community together."

Foster said she cannot speculate on who could have done this, but its effect has been felt.

"It brings the overall mood of the students who work so hard to put the homecoming on down a bit," she said.

The event, which coincides with homecoming, includes a craft fair and carnival with sale booths from local vendors, organizations and neighboring elementary schools. There is also an array of carnival games and food.

The stolen banner was located at the entrance to the football field on Cherry Avenue. A second banner that hangs near the pool area was untouched.

The banners were in response to vendors' requests about additional publicity, according to Kane.

The group of coordinators purchased upgraded banners for this year's event along with more signage around the designated parking areas, Kane said.

Although there are no plans to replace the banner this year, both Kane and Foster said that there is one way the community could help out.

"The community can support us by coming out to celebrate the homecoming with us and enjoy a fine day and fine festival," Foster said.