Sunday, October 31, 2010

NWGNA is on Google Calendar

Did you know that NWGNA maintains a Google Calendar and it is posted on our blog at http://northwillowglen.blogspot.com/? Upcoming meetings and events that are of interest to our neighborhood are posted to the calendar so you can stay informed about what's happening, when, and where.

If you use Google Calendar, you can add NWGNA events to your own calendar by clicking on the Google Calendar image below the calendar in the blog (example image shown to the left) and you will be asked if you want to add the calendar to your own. The events are always maintained separate from your personal calendar and displayed in a different color.

High-Speed Rail Town Hall Meeting: Thursday

The city and high speed rail have drafted a plan for how design issues will be resolved. Come hear about the proposed agreement. Ask questions. Do you think there is enough community involvement in the proposal? Does San Jose have enough say? Find out starting at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4 at City Hall. Remember, the aerial alignment will skim around Greater Gardner, and cross Bird Avenue just north of I-280. Shouldn't it look good? Please attend. Tell a neighbor!

Thanks to Jean Dresden for this notice.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

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 Friday, November 5, 2010.
  • Rebar available if requested. This is used for anchoring the tree in your yard.
  • We are expecting delivery of the trees to the neighborhood Saturday, December 4th.
  • 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.
  • Trees will be available for pick up at the Shukait’s house (1023 Bird Ave) on Sat., Dec. 4. We will email you the pick up time as we get closer to the date.
* * * This year, we are also offering 22” Noble fir and Cedar wreaths decorated with pine cones. The wreaths will be $15 each. * * *

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

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Gas leak prompts evacuation of Gardner Elementary School

Read the SJ Mercury News article at http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_16397438

Help needed: Christmas tree flyer distribution

With Fall in the air and Halloween just around the corner, it is time to think about Christmas trees! It's that time of the year again to distribute the Christmas Tree flyers!

Below is a list of the streets that will need flyer distribution. If you can help in the distribution please email Pam at . Send her your house address and she will drop off the flyers before this weekend. Distribution should be done in the next week so everyone has a chance to meet the Nov. 5th deadline.

1) Fuller Avenue – Between Gregory and Bird (~26 lots) -
2) Fuller Avenue – Between Bird and Delmas (~34 lots) -
3) Fuller Avenue – Between Delmas and Prevost (~18 lots) -
4) Bird Avenue – Between the bridge and Coe (~30 lots) -
5) Bird Avenue – Between Coe and Willow (~20 lots) -
6) Atlanta Avenue – Between Delmas and Prevost (~11 lots)
7) Hull Avenue – Between Bird and Delmas (~47 lots) -
8) Atlanta Avenue – Between Bird and Delmas (~56 lots)
9) Hull Avenue – Between Delmas and Prevost (~25 lots)
10) Coe Avenue (~50 lots) -
11) Fisk & Willis Avenues (~18 lots)
12) Marshall Avenue (~26 lots)
13) Brooks Avenue (~26 lots)
14) Willow Avenue (~18 lots)
15) Prevost Avenue (~26 lots)
16) Spencer Avenue (~42 lots)
17) Delmas Avenue – Between Atlanta and Fuller (~22 lots) -
18) Delmas Avenue – Between Willow and Atlanta (~49 lots) –
19) Gregory Plaza area from Bird between West Virginia and Fuller and back to 280 - Katie Price

Thank you for your help!
Pam Shukait

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Summary: Walgreen's proposal to sell alcohol

Here's a very brief update on the community meeting held on Monday at the Willow Glen Library to discuss Walgreens' proposal to sell alcohol. There was a full crowd, including our Council Member Pierluigi Oliverio, at the meeting. The attendees were strongly opposed to the proposal to reinstate beer and wine sales at the store.

People talked at length about prior problems when Walgreens used to sell alcohol. Additional comments were made about the overabundance of existing liquor outlets in the area, the proximity of the store to the future trail on the old railroad right-of-way, and the store's proximity to an SNI neighborhood.

The Greater Gardner NAC took a formal position of opposition to the proposal and sent a letter to the planning department detailing their position.

Jenny Nusbaum is the City of San Jose's project manager for this conditional use application by Walgreens. Her contact information is below. If you were unable to attend the meeting, want to provide input to the City or have questions about the process, please feel free to contact her.

City of San José Planning Division
Jenny Nusbaum, Project Manager
Phone: (408) 535-7872
Email: jenny.nusbaum@sanjoseca.gov

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Free documentary film showing: "Trashed"

Trashed - the film flyerOn Monday, Nov 1 at 6:30 p.m., Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio is hosting a showing of the documentary film Trashed. It tells the story of garbage--American Style! Seating is limited so please email Tina.West@sanjoseca.gov if you would like to attend. The film's trailer is also available.

After the film there will be a group discussion with the City of San Jose Director of Environmental Services.

The event's flier with more info is also available.

Tomorrow: Your chance for input about Walgreen's alcohol permit application

Reminder: The City of San Jose Planning Division would like to invite you to a community meeting about a proposed conditional use at the Walgreen's store at Bird and Willow. Planning staff will be facilitating the meeting, providing you an opportunity to learn about the proposal and get answers to your questions.

Location: Willow Glen Branch Library Community Room
1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose, CA
Date: Monday, October 18, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm ─ 7:00 pm

For more info: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/hearings/CNM/201/PD10-016_Bird&Willow_Walgreens.pdf

Monday, October 11, 2010

Updates from September NWGNA meeting

For those of you who weren’t able to make the last NGWNA General Meeting, held on September 28th from 6:30-8:00 PM at Word of Faith Church on Fuller and Delmas, here’s a brief recap.

We talked about the very successful Fruit and Vegetable Share. Residents have enjoyed sharing and sampling delicious organic produce and baked goods and neighbors have had a chance to get to know one another. There was discussion about which other things we could share and how best to continue the momentum. The continuous improvement of the Share events be a subject of discussion at future meetings.

Franklin Maggi, an Architectural Historian from Archives and Architecture, spoke at the meeting.  His company is under contract with the City of San Jose to perform an architectural survey of this neighborhood. This survey could lead to designating our neighborhood as a historic conservation area if the residents were interested in pursuing this (think Palm Haven and Shasta Hanchett as examples.) The study will be completed next summer and the Planning Department will then present it to the neighborhood.  Harvey Darnell is the neighborhood contact and he will be sharing more information with us in the General Meetings as it becomes available. 

Also discussed was the Holiday Decoration Contest.  Pam Shukait will once again be distributing yard trees.  The price is a phenomenally low $16 per tree!  More details will be forthcoming about the decoration contest as we get closer to the Holiday season.

A big item of discussion was the Walgreen’s proposal to start selling alcohol. The majority of attendees were opposed, with some folks feeling neutral on the subject. Our neighborhood does have a voice in the matter. The Planning Department will be conducting an information meeting at the Willow Glen Library at Willow Glen Branch Library Community Room, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose, CA on Monday, October 18, 2010 from 6:00-7:00 PM .  This is our opportunity to weigh in about what we think is best for our neighborhood. 

Harvey Darnell, President of the Greater Gardner NAC (Neighborhood Action Committee), gave a brief presentation on what’s going on with the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative.  Given the Redevelopment Agency’s budget situation things are not looking good. Half of the SNI staff have been laid off due to budget constraints and all improvement projects that have not yet broken ground have been canceled.  One piece of good news is that the current draft of the City’s 2040 plan still shows our neighborhood as single family residences.

Lastly we discussed problems in Fuller Park.  Individuals have been congregating in the park in the late evening and consuming alcohol.  (The park is closed after sunset and alcohol is never allowed).  They have been leaving trash and graffiti including gang tags.   For increased police patrols in this area, call the 311 non-emergency number if you observe this kind of activity. Updates to the situation will be discussed at the next General Meeting.

Following the meeting, many of us gathered outside the facility to get acquainted with other neighbors in attendance before heading home for the evening. But not before sampling Bill's apple crisp made with neighborhood apples from the Fruit and Vegetable Share.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Put it on your calendar: Community meeting for Walgreen's alcohol permit application

The City of San Jose Planning Division would like to invite you to a community meeting about a proposed conditional use at the Walgreen's store at Bird and Willow. Planning staff will be facilitating the meeting, providing you an opportunity to learn about the proposal and get answers to your questions.

Location: Willow Glen Branch Library Community Room
1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose, CA
Date: Monday, October 18, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm ─ 7:00 pm

For more info: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/hearings/CNM/2010/PD10-016_Bird&Willow_Walgreens.pdf

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

San Jose neighborhood updates

City Memo on Changes to the Police Department Download Document: 09-24-10 CMO.pdf (413.9 KB)

City Memo on Changes at Code EnforcementDownload Document: 10-04-10 PBCE.PDF (62.12 KB)

Neighborhood Leadership Institute Training: Saturday November 13 at San José State For inquiries, please contact Natalie de Leon at (408) 279-2600

Caltrans Problem Report (i.e. Troubles Along 280) http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/msrsubmit/

Video of the September 22 NAC Meeting (Thanks, Mark Warlick, Blackford NAC)
CNAC is the Coalition of the "Strong Neighborhood Initiative" (SNI) areas identified by the City of San Jose as requiring the intervention of City resources and neighborhood volunteers to handle problems such as blight, crime and street gangs. This part two of the September executive board meeting held 22 September 2010
http://www.youtube.com/user/CNACSanJose

The latest from the Redevelopment Agency on Neighborhoods in Crisis http://www.sjredevelopment.org/inforMemos/20100927StrongNeighborhoodsBusinessPlan.pdf
 

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Spread the word!

The North Willow Glen neighborhood has had a great surge of information in the last year via the Yahoo! Groups list and the blog (which copies over to Facebook). All of this means that we are all sharing more information with each other and contributing to our great neighborhood. We now have more than 125 people on Facebook, and over 200 people on the Yahoo! Groups list.

So, help us spread the word by letting other neighbors know about these resources. If you are chatting with a neighbor, ask them if they know about these forums to help include more people.

If neighbors need more info, they can send an email to nwgna-owner@yahoogroups.com.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Please help find Bingo

Sadly, Bingo is still missing from North Willow Glen after several weeks. Bingo is a volunteer dog in senior living communities and his family misses him greatly. Please help find him! He is a Shih Tzu, neutered, white with black spots.

Click on the photo to see it larger.

CALL IF FOUND - 1-888-833-4208

Friday, October 01, 2010

Reminder: half marathon in San Jose on Sunday

The 5th Annual Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 8am. The race begins and ends in downtown San Jose, running through Japantown, University Ave, Rose Garden, and Cory neighborhoods. Please plan your Sunday travels accordingly.

Course Map: http://san-jose.competitor.com/files/2009/04/SJ_10_CourseMap.pdf

No fruit/veggie share this weekend

As a reminder, there will be no fruit and veggie share this weekend. Discussions are taking place to see what the schedule and location might be going forward into the fall and winter. If you expect to have goodies to share as the seasons change, please post a comment so you can help us gauge interest.