County inspection reports available online

Santa Clara County has Food Facility Inspection Reports online for local restaurants, coffee spots, and bakeries, and more. Also, the county is putting in place a placarding system for food service, so that can be helpful to understand. Not all businesses have been given a colored placard or numeric score in the inspection reports, but you can always read back to prior inspection reports.

Rainy Saturday, be prepared

To report street flooding in our area, call 408-794-1900.

For sandbag locations and to find out how to use them, visit http://valleywater.org/services/sandbagsites.aspx or call 408-265-2600

NWGNA holiday decorating contest

To participate in this year's holiday decorating contest, decorate your house by Sunday, December 7. Voting begins that day and ends 8:00 pm, Sunday, December 21.

Holiday neighborhood decorating: 2 pm Sunday

We will be decorating the neighborhood again this Sunday and we would love to have your help. It doesn't take very long and it's a fun way to kick off the holiday season by brightening the neighborhood for everyone. Join us at 2:00 pm on Nov. 30 at the corner of Delmas and Fuller!

SJWC Gingerbread House Decorating Party

From the San Jose Woman's Club:

Gingerbread House Decorating Party
Sunday, Nov 30 - 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Kick off the holiday at SJWC's Gingerbread House Decorating Party. This event is a fundraiser for the SJWC Charitable Giving Program and features a fun afternoon of gingerbread house decorating for children and adults, including children who would not be able to attend without a financial sponsor.

Buy a ticket that includes a Gingerbread House Kit for $20, or bring your own house to decorate for $10. We provide decorations, light refreshments, music, and a fun way to create a holiday centerpiece without messing up your own kitchen! You can also sponsor a child that wouldn't be able to attend for $20.  

Decorating stations will be set up in the SJWC Landmark Ballroom. We provide decorations, light refreshments, live music and sing alongs by the Sail Away Ladies, and a fun way to create a holiday centerpiece without messing up your own kitchen! If you'd like, participate in our Gingerbread House Decorating Contest at 4:30 p.m. Prizes for the best house.

We hope to sponsor 25 children and raise $2,000 for local charities including the Next Door Solutions, Opera San Jose, San Jose Day Nursery and Women's Gathering Place. Sponsorships are still available. Download the sponsor form.

$20 Gingerbread House Kit and Party or
$10 Bring Your Own House to decorate

Tickets and details

Questions? 

Supervisor Ken Yeager's Nov. 20 newsletter

Topics for this newsletter include:

• Winter a challenge for some residents
• Holiday train brings joys and toys
• County receives grant to prevent chronic disease
• County adopts new graffiti guidelines
• Expressway plan needs input from residents
• Calendar of events

If you would like to receive this newsletter by email, send an e-mail to supervisor.yeager@bos.sccgov.org with the subject: “Add.”

Holidays in Willow Glen

Downtown Willow Glen has quite a few holiday events planned, including Small Business Saturday, Ladies' Night Out, the tree lighting ceremony, story time with Santa, caroling, outdoor movie nights, cable car rides, and of course, photos with Santa. For more information, check out their web site.

Alum Rock BART Station in jeopardy

From StreetsBlogSF:

"Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) officials announced on October 6 that they would not seek federal funds in 2015 to construct Alum Rock and Santa Clara BART stations planned as part of the transit system’s extension through downtown San Jose. The move sparked an outcry from neighborhood leaders and elected officials, who have worked in community planning efforts for over a decade to anchor new compact, walkable urban centers with the transit stations."

If you would like your voice heard on this matter, Friends of the Five Wounds Trail has prepared an online petition to save the Alum Rock BART station.

Tamien Station Area Plan Public Meeting Tuesday Night

Learn about the big plans VTA has for a parking structure between CA-87 and Lelong. There is a public outreach meeting to inform those living nearby what impacts they can expect. Comments will also be taken during this meeting. The complete text for the "Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration" draft can be found on our file share site here.

VTA Public Meeting
Tuesday 18 November 2014
5:30pm to 7:30pm
San Jose Elks Lodge, No. 522
444 West Alma Avenue, San Jose, 95110

OFFICIAL SUMMARY FROM THE CITY OF SAN JOSE:

"The Project would consist of a four- or five-level parking structure with all levels above-grade. The parking structure would provide up to 900 parking spaces. Electric vehicle charging stations would be provided. The location of the parking structure would require the existing bus transit loop to be relocated to the south side of the proposed structure. A passenger drop off/pick up location would be located either in the bus transit loop area or in a turnout along Lelong Street. Bioinfiltration facilities to capture storm water runoff would be located on the west side of the parking structure along Lelong Street and in the middle of the bus transit loop. Replacement landscaping would include California native and/or drought-tolerant plants. The Project also proposes a traffic signal at Lelong Street and the State Route 87 on/off ramps. Figure 2 in the IS/MND provides a conceptual site plan for the Project and an illustration of the internal parking structure circulation."

TOMORROW: Holiday tree orders due

Did you get your order in? If not, download the form and get it over to Pam Shukait at 1023 Bird by tomorrow (or send via PayPal to pshukait@me.com).

Find your polling place for Tuesday's election

Look up your polling place for Tuesday's election at http://eservices.sccgov.org/rov/.

Daylight savings ends Sunday 2:00 am

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 2 at 2 a.m.

It's a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors, too. Fire Departments encourage it since the end of Daylight Saving Time provides a convenient reminder, especially with the busy holiday season coming up.

Holiday tree orders due in two days

Did you get your order in? If not, download the form and get it over to Pam Shukait at 1023 Bird by Monday, November 3 (or send via PayPal to pshukait@me.com). Call 408-297-4388 with any questions.

North Willow Glen Holiday Tree Lane

For many years, in early December, the streets of Willow Glen begin to light up with the sparkle of miniature evergreens. We would like to invite you to join in this tradition. We have set up a way for you to order a tree for your yard.

If you are interested in having a tree in your yard, and do not already have one for this purpose, please read below for more details.

• Orders need to be received by Monday, November 3, 2014. 
• Rebar is available if requested. This is used for anchoring the tree in your yard.
• We are expecting delivery of the trees to the neighborhood Saturday, Dec. 6 or Sunday, Dec. 7.
• You will have to set up the tree on your own.
• You are responsible for putting on your own lights. A very old tradition is to use the large colored lights and to put one white light at the top of the tree.
• We will email and post on the e-list when trees will be available for pickup. We are anticipating the pick-up day to be Sunday, Dec. 7.

* * * This year, again, we are also offering 22” Noble fir and Cedar wreaths decorated with pinecones. The wreaths will be $16 each. * * *

Fliers are being delivered to your door, but you can also download the order form and deliver it with a check made payable to: Pam Shukait or send via PayPal to pshukait@me.com. (Trees will be from Enchanted Forest Christmas Trees.)

Call Pam with any questions: 408-297-4388.

Water-wise Wednesday Triple Tip

There are three very relevant water-wise meetings happening in San Jose this week.

Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Tonight, 6:30-8:00 pm
San Jose Public Library, West Valley Branch, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose

This year’s drought has left us all a little more conscientious about the amount of water we use.  Now that fall is upon us, it is the perfect time to re-think your landscaping to reduce the amount of water you use.  Join Master Gardener Lisa Strand as she talks through steps you can take now to make your landscape more drought-friendly.  She’ll cover which California natives and other low-water plants grow well in our area, and teach you how to get them successfully established. She’ll also discuss how to convert your lawn into a beautiful water and wildlife-friendly garden.  

Waterwise Gardening: California Native Plants for Year Round Color!
Saturday, October 15, 10:30-11:30 am
Bascom Branch Library, 1000 S. Bascom Ave, San Jose

Join Master Gardener Rebecca Schoenenberger as she teaches you how to save water, time and money without sacrificing beauty in your garden. Learn which California native plants will provide year-round color and thrive in your garden. Plant list will be distributed to all participants. We will also cover 'how-to' do the project. She will share her experience designing, installing and maintaining many California native plant gardens. Her gardens have been featured in the Going Native Garden Tour--an event not to be missed.

California Native Plant Society Native Plant Sale
Saturday October 15, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Hidden Villa Ranch, Los Altos

Be sure to bring boxes and a wagon to this event. You'll need them to cart your haul back to your car. Arrive early for the best selection.