Holiday Trees Look Great

Wow, what a wonderful addition the tiny holiday tree's make around the neighborhood.

Many thanks to the Kreshel's who organized the tree delivery.

Thanks too all the holiday elves who delivered tree's.

It was a lot of fun to meet new neighbors and say hello to ones we know.

Run for an office!

Neighbors we are excited about elections for the new board! Nominations are still open!

There are many satisfying roles to play. Please consider volunteering for one or more of the following roles, their descriptions are included:

President - Focus, develop and represent the group vision of the NWGNA. Specific Duties: Have general powers of leadership, supervision and management of the NWGNA. Coordinate all NWGNA meetings and events. Countersign checks drawn on monies of the NWGNA. Report on all official activity to the Board. Attend all local SNI* meetings, and report pertinent information at general membership meetings.

Currently Nominated:
Allison England

Vice-President - Facilitate functions of the President by resourcing information from either within or outside the NWGNA. Specific Duties: Assist President in management and coordination duties. Act as substitute in the President’s absence to perform necessary duties. Countersign checks drawn on monies of the NWGNA. Acquire or disseminate information as required by the President.

Currently Nominated:
No one is nominated

Secretary/Treasurer - Keep an accurate record of all proceedings of all meetings of the NWGNA (Secretary). Make and oversee all deposits of NWGNA monies, and oversee all approved withdrawals. Prepare and submit regular treasurer's report. (Treasurer) (can be split or shared)

Currently Nominated:
No one is nominated

Director (5 Positions) - Possess a particular interest for neighborhood issues, be willing to participate in Board activities, and chair or lead neighborhood activities.

Currently Nominated:
Past President: Harvey Darnell
Other: Sandy, Eric Gaedke, and Corrine Winter

Lost Dog - UPDATE: Found!

"Medium, light brown/white Australian shep/cocker spaniel (9 months old). Name: Sammie. Lost Saturday, 8/11 @ 2:15pm on 520 Hull Ave. Please call Kelley: 408-505-8708 or 408-295-3924. Thanks!"

Hey everyone, help Kelley find this dog. MONDAY: Found! Yay! -Ken

Spencer Garage Sales Sat August 11, 2007

Annette Boyer tells us that "Several houses on Spencer Avenue are having garage sales on Saturday (August 11) from 8 to 1. Lots of goodies to be had! We've got nearly everything -- furniture, small restaurant equipment, sports equipment, construction materials including faucet hardware and carpet pad, an upright freezer, great plants, kids' stuff, and more. Don't miss it!"

Spencer Ave is between Willow and Atlanta, parallel to Delmas Ave, one block east of Tlaquepaque Restaurant #2.

Tomorrow is July 4!

Celebrate Independence Day in the neighborhood - come out to Delmas between Fuller and Atlanta in the evening. Kids' games begin around 7 pm, then FREE ICE CREAM after 8 pm! Bring a blanket and sit in the street to enjoy the fireworks (usually around 9:30). The Word of Faith Church will have chicken, hot dogs and drinks for sale (yum) beginning around 6 pm. Thanks to all the North Willow Glen volunteers for helping put on this festival again this year!

Dead roses and ice cream? July 10

"Want to do something different this summer to help your community and get a free ice cream as a reward? The Heritage Rose Garden needs volunteers to snip all the dead roses in order to promote more bloom. We’re hoping you will help us on Tuesday, July 10, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, with a sweet payoff at the end. No experience necessary. Volunteer experts will show you how. Bring your own clippers, or borrow one from the staff. It will be an enjoyable and rewarding way to spend a summer evening. The San Jose Heritage Rose Garden is located on Taylor Street, at Spring Street, just east of Coleman Avenue. For more information, and to sign up, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lucy Perez, at 408-298-7657 or email lperez@grpg.org"

San Jose Summer Camp

"Hello from the San Jose Family Camp Office,

"Due to your association's past history working with the City of San Jose, we are providing you with the following San Jose Family Camp information to introduce you to SJFC and advise you of last chance discounts for the 2007 Summer Season. Please review and distribute to your membership.

"Introducing our 1st Ever Mini Weekend August 17-19th! This is The City's effort to provide new customers an affordable, introductory offer to visit San Jose Family Camp and get a taste of what it's all about.

"There are still opportunities to take advantage of our Early Summer Discounts June 15-July 21st! Visit our website at www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/familycamp.asp.

"Not only is SJFC a great place to spend your family vacation; it's also a great place to work! We are still hiring counselors, cooks, food service workers, etc. for the summer season. Please visit the City of San Jose's website at http://jobs.cityofsj.org/ or call our camp office for more information."


Administration and Reservations:
San Jose Family Camp Office
Leininger Center
1300 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112-2520
Phone (408) 277-4666 Fax (408) 277-5426
Walk-Ins Tues-Thurs 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

4th of July Kick Off Meeting

Hello all

We are having the 4th of July Neighborhood Block Party Kick Off Meeting this Tuesday the 22nd at 7:00pm. Please join us at 961 Spencer Ave. (Chuck and Stephanie Hudson's house)

We are looking for an overall coordinator for the event and volunteers who would like to be responsible for elements of the day.

This is a really fun and easy way to get involved and meet your neighbors.

Hope to see many of you on Tuesday.

The NWGNA

Dumpster Day this Saturday! Volunteer

Our neighborhood Dumpster Day is this coming Saturday from 8am-11:30am (or until the dumpsters are full). We need some volunteers to help us with this important neighborhood beautification project! If you can volunteer - even for an hour - please contact Chuck Hudson at chudson@pipeline.com. Reminder: you MUST bring the little blue
card mailed to all residents in order to deposit your junk into the dumpster. Don't show up until 8 am and only residents living in the boundaries of North Willow Glen can make a deposit in the dumpsters. The following materials are prohibited: Tires, wet garbage (kitchen waste), hazardous materials (paint, oil, chemicals, explosives, ammunition, batteries, etc.), dirt or concrete, tar and gravel roofing and tree trunks larger than 6".

Vintage house salvage sales!

Two sales of vintage house components - doors, windows, everything! - one right here in our neighborhood.

MENLO PARK -- 900 OLIVE: SATURDAY & SUNDAY, April 21 & 22, 10am - 5pm.
A 1940's craftsman bungalow, FEATURES: scores of French windows & doors (most unpainted!); knotty pine paneling; oak flooring; all redwood siding; a charming garage with barn-style doors (buy the whole garage!); unique entry door; shower stalls; skylight; apartment-size gas range; wire fencing (rolls); 1500+ bricks in sand; some plants & trees.
DIRECTIONS: El Camino Real (Hwy 82) to Middle Ave (Safeway Store). West on Middle to end. Right on to Olive.


* SAN JOSE -- 1164 CLARK STREET: SATURDAY & SUNDAY, April 21 & 22, 10am - 5pm.
Our third sale is a 1908, Willow Glen, craftsman-style house FEATURING: fabulous (and very hard-to-find) wavy glass picture windows (with tiny little panes running along top of window); original entry door with beveled glass; original multi-panel interior doors with mortise locksets; Doug fir, oak & Pergo flooring; cabinets; appliances; full range of bathroom components; redwood siding; bricks; pavers (lots); flagstone (lots); plants & trees.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 280 in San Jose, exit Bird Ave South. Left on to Willow. Right on to Clark.

SNI 2.0, March 31 from 9:30-1 pm

The first phase of SNI (Strong N'hoods Initiative) has been very productive for North Willow Glen and the other n'hoods of the Greater Gardner Coalition. Fuller Linear Park, the vintage streetlights along Delmas, and the street repairs on Spencer and now Prevost are three of the most visible improvements that neighbors made happen via millions in SNI money.

Now it's time for "SNI 2.0" - setting the spending priorities for the next five years. Would you like traffic calming on your street? On Bird Avenue? How about fewer overhead power lines? Bike lanes that actually go somewhere? Enhanced public safety? Come to this meeting and state your views. Coffee, pastries 9:30 am; Forum 10-12:30; Lunch 12:30 pm.

Where: Gardner Community Center, 520 W. Virginia. RSVP appreciated 297-9135.

N'hoods Commission Forum March 24

"You are invited to attend our next neighborhood outreach meeting to update you on the latest draft work plan by the N'hoods Commission, to 'support the growth of participatory democracy and increased community involvement for all Neighborhoods in San Jose.' Date: Saturday, March 24, 2007 Place: San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street (rooms W118, 119, and 120 located behind the rotunda). Time: 9 am, sign in starts at 8:30 am. Parking: Free parking is available in the 4th Street parking garage. Please RSVP to strongneighborhoods@sanjoseca.gov or call 535-8508, and request a copy of the work plan." - Ernest Guzman, Beth Shafran-Mukai, Autumn Gutierrez, Randi Kinman

Neighborhood Watch on Spencer, April 16

Annette Boyer and Clark Williams invite all Spencer Avenue residents to join the block's new Neighborhood Watch program. Our first meeting is Monday, April 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at the home of Clark Williams and James Moore, 1006 Spencer.

Neighborhood Watch will inform residents how to deter crimes such as burglary, auto theft, car break-ins near our homes, and also address issues such as vandalism, graffiti, drug dealing and gang activity on our street and in our neighborhood.

Meet face-to-face with SJPD representatives and learn facts about:
*Police districts and beats
*Duties of beat officers
*Crime trends in your area
*How to react to suspicious activity
*How San Jose's 9-1-1 system works
*Recommended security measures

Spencer Avenue residents who attend the meeting will receive a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH window sign and other materials. No RSVP is needed but call Clark at (408) 297-0685 to learn more about the meeting.

Cute Two-Car Garage for Sale!

Now THIS is a garage sale fer sure. From Whole House Salvage: Cute, free-standing two-car garage available now -- slated for imminent demolition. Gabled roof, wooden siding. Size: approx. 18' x 20'; 12' 6" tall at peak. Pictures on our website soon: Price of materials: $5,000 Price to deliver (within 10-mile radius) and erect on new site with new composite roof: $5,000 (does not include foundation) Call immediately: (650) 856-0634

Feb 15: Climate Change

It's on our minds these days, threatening as it does our water supply and our regional economy and environment. Our City Forest & Eco-Silicon Valley are hosting a presentation on climate change and how we can work to stop it. The event is FREE and will be held at Our City Forest's office, 595 Park Ave, in San José on Thursday, February 15th at 6:15 PM. More info at 998-7337 or www.ecosiliconvalley.org.

Tree Fines Meeting Sunday Jan 21

A community meeting this Sunday will discuss ways to prevent illegal tree cutting, in light of the very visible flouting of the law last Saturday at the corner of Camino Ricardo and Willow Street. It's likely that many Councilpeople will be present, including both candidates for District 6, and the Mayor may also attend. Mayor Reed has declared support for the Cool Cities initiative, and an urban forest plays a key role. The meeting's in the basement of the Willow Glen Baptist Church, on Minnesota at Hicks, from 3 to 4:30 pm. NWGNA residents: come out and show your support for tree preservation.

Safe Night on Feb 2

"Safe Night USA offers a fun, safe opportunity for young people, ages 11-15, to socialize with peers. Children's Discovery Museum hosts 3 Safe Night events each year. Safe Night is free, fun and attended by a very diverse mix of kids. Next Safe Night: Friday, February 2, 2007 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm! Flyer pdf is here." - Brian Hames, Youth Educator, Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, 298-5437 x243

Holiday Lights contest winners!

BEST IN SHOW: 1st, 546 Atlanta; 2nd, 982 Delmas. MOST LIGHTS: 1st, 1072 Warren; 2nd, 549 Snyder. MOST ELEGANT: 1st, 562 Fuller; 2nd, 477 Marshall; 3rd, 580 Hull. MOST CREATIVE: 1st, 550 Snyder; 2nd, 440 Atlanta; 3rd, 391 Hull. Each winner received a portion of over $600 worth of gift certificates and prizes donated by local businesses. Congratulations to all! - Dan Erceg with Marci Hildt

(Photo: Dan Erceg delivering prizes in a 1923 Marmon. Click for larger view. Photo by Bruce Victorine)

Mayor's N'hood Priorities Jan 20

Via Pete Constant's office: an invitation to a meeting that the Mayor is holding later this month to identify 3-5 budget priorities, to then be discussed by the Council. Express your concerns in this public forum... help shape the budget priorities of our City.

Neighborhood Association Budget Priority Session, January 20, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., San Jose City Hall, Committee Rooms W 118-120. Lunch will be provided post-session at 1:00 p.m.

Candidate Forum Feb 27

The DeFrank Center will host a neighborhood forum with the District 6 City Council Candidates Pierluigi Oliverio and Steve Tedesco on February 27th at 7:30pm. They will share their visions for the district and take questions from the community. To RSVP, go here. Thanks! -The DeFrank Center at 938 Alameda.

Sunny Days are Bocce Days

Thanks go out to the crew that took down the holiday wreaths and garlands last Sunday. Some of the crew ended up at the Fuller Park bocce court, to make the most of a beautiful warm day, and to practice up for our eventual rematch with the Northside neighborhood. Those tiny people in the photo? Debbie Palmer, Dan Erceg, Chuck Hudson, Matt Thompson.

Holiday Lights 2006

I'm not sure what happened with the contest, but I do have a few photos to share. The houses pictured are 546 Atlanta and 562 Fuller. I'm really sorry that some other pictures didn't come out - especially the ones of Surfin' Santa at 550 Snyder! Congrats to all who brightened up the holidays.