Windy!

There are several reports around San Jose of wires arcing and sparking due to the high winds. Please use caution.

Neighborhood Readiness is an NWGNA Priority

Have you decided on your New Year's resolutions yet? Did you include improving your preparedness for a serious disaster? You should! Emergency responders are usually overwhelmed when disasters happen, so it will be up to us neighbors to help each other. 

SAVE THE DATE!

NWGNA Friends & Neighbors Meeting

February 24, 2015

6:30 pm – 7:55 pm

Word of Faith Church on Fuller & Delmas

There is an excellent disaster preparedness program already used in 42 states around the U.S. called the “Ready Neighborhood” program. It can help you and your immediate neighbors respond to the emergencies caused by a disaster—and help kids or elderly or disabled neighbors who are home alone.

The first step is a “Map Your Neighborhood” meeting with 15-20 of your closest neighbors. At our February 24th Friends & Neighbors Meeting, we will watch the “Map Your Neighborhood” DVD and complete a meeting handout to see how it will work. We will all walk away with a 9-Step Neighborhood Response Plan and a better idea of how we can help our immediate neighbors be more prepared.

Do you want to learn more?

If so, send an e-mail to DisasterPrep@NWGNA.org with questions or to sign up to attend the NWGNA Friends & Neighbors meeting on Feb. 24th at Word of Faith Church on Fuller and Delmas at 6:30 pm. Although signing up isn’t required for attendance, please do drop us a note with with your name, address, and phone number if you plan to attend. It gives us a starting point for the map! 

We hope to see you on February 24th!

Dev Davis, Bill Rankin, Dave Magram, John Francis Maggio, Cathy Loughman, Tom Keegan 

NWGNA Disaster Prep Committee

Recycle your holiday tree

From the City of San Jose:

Curbside collection of holiday trees will be on your regular collection day between December 26, 2014 and January 30, 2015. Remove stands, tinsel, and decorations. Cut into 5-foot pieces. Set out by 6:00 a.m.

Last day for holiday lights voting!

Tomorrow is the last day for voting in the holiday lighting contest. You can drop your ballots at 562 Fisk by 8:00 p.m.

Rain, flooding, accidents, oh my

Last night, the rain caused flooding on Highway 280 that led to a multi-vehicle accident. Pumps were not able to keep up with the pooling water, so exercise abundant caution, especially when driving in the dark.

NWGNA Tee for #600 on Facebook

Just over five years ago we decided that Facebook might be a good way to help us interact with our neighbors. We thought if it went well we could have maybe 200 or even 300 people following us some day. Fast forward to today where we are creeping up on 600. That's nearly one follower per household in our fantastic little neighborhood. To celebrate our approaching milestone, we will be giving away a tee shirt to our six-hundredth Facebook follower. It is the latest batch with the new logo on the chest and the phrase "I don't work for the city. I'm your neighbor!" on the back.

NWGNA party tonight!

Come enjoy the freshly baked bread by neighbor Mark Lloyd, visit with neighbors, and begin voting in the holiday decorating contest. 562 Fisk, 5:30 to 8:00.

Del Monte Park is open!

Gun Buy Back Program, Dec 13

The San Jose Police Department will hold its annual gun buyback event on December 13. From the Mercury News:

The gun exchanges will be no-questions-asked, and gift cards of $100 will be given for handguns, rifles and shotguns, and $200 will be given for assault weapons. Unloaded weapons must be functional and transported in the trunk of a vehicle and will be retrieved by police. For safety reasons, no walk-up donations are allowed.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at PAL Stadium, 680 South 34th St. in San Jose. It is a partnership between the City of San José Council Office District 5, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, and the San Jose Police Department.

Neighborhood holiday party on Sunday

Join us Sunday night starting at 5:30 pm for our annual holiday gathering. It's the start of voting for the holiday lighting contest, too. Come by and share time with neighbors before heading out to check out the lights.

Holiday Party
Lila Kakuk's house
562 Fisk Ave.
Sunday, December 7
5:30-8:00 p.m.

VTA's BART/SV Meeting 12/2/2014

A representative from NWGNA attended last night's BART/SV Phase II public outreach meeting held at the VTA offices in downtown San Jose. The slides shown at the meeting are available here.

Of particular note, Measure A tax revenues would  be used to fund Phase I (Milpitas and Berryessa) and other VTA projects. Phase II would require additional funding to be procured both locally and federally. The local projected shortfall is $2.43B. There was some non-specific mention of public/private partnerships to generate additional funds.

The environmental review process will continue to include all four planned stations in San Jose: 28th St/Alum Rock, Downtown San Jose, Diridon, and Santa Clara. The process of the Environmental Impact Statement/Report will continue in draft form through the first quarter of 2016. At this time the federal New Starts funding application is scheduled and the finalization of the EIS/R occurs.

Further meetings are planned for the spring of 2015 which include more specific topics including: Economic and Community Benefits, Funding, Station Planning, Transportation Connectivity, and Construction Methods.

Attendees were permitted to ask questions and make comments such as:
- ensuring the Alum Rock at 28th Street station was included moving forward
- solicit greater community involvement and buy in to help ensure additional tax measures would pass
- ideas to save money by eliminating the Santa Clara station and any tunnels or facilities beyond Diridon Station
- idea to use BART service but non-BART equipment (BART-branded cars running on ACE lines) to service SJC and Great America at an estimated 10% of the cost of running BART-specific equipment
- distrust based on VTA's failure to bring BART to San Jose after multiple tax measures levied to do just that

After the meeting, we spoke with VTA employees one-on-one particularly regarding the coordination - if any - of VTA/BART and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) about construction north and west of the proposed Diridon Station stop. The short answer is that there is no communication happening between these agencies. It should be noted that in CHSRA meetings last year, the underground options for an underground HSR station at Diridon was not plausible due to plans for the underground BART tunnel in that area. At this time it is not known if BART will continue underground beyond its station near Diridon. If it does continue, either for service to Santa Clara or the proposed maintenance yard at Newhall, it is highly likely that the only economically viable HSR option would be elevated tracks. The VTA official we spoke with specifically noted that the VTA's work on BART had begun long before the HSR project.

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.

Water-wise Wednesday Tip

This tip comes courtesy of Santa Clara Master Gardeners monthly tips and events.

Adjust Irrigation with Weather ChangesYour landscaping will need less water as the weather cools, even in the absence of rain. It's a good idea to re-program your irrigation system monthly. If that sounds like too much work, you might want to consider a "smart controller". After programming in basic information such as zip code, plant and soil types, it uses data from historic weather patterns, current weather sent from local stations, and/or temperature and moisture sensors to adjust the watering times. This can save effort and oh-so-valuable water.

Beautification Day is Tomorrow

Let's pitch in to keep North Willow Glen looking great.

NWGNA Beautification Day
Sunday, October 5th, 9 am -12 pm
Meet at the corner of Delmas and Fuller

We'll be there with gloves on.

Mayoral Candidates Forum Tonight

If you are still on the fence about your choice for mayor, consider attending tonight's Mayoral Candidates Forum at Starlite Banquet Hall. Hear from Councilman Liccardo and Supervisor Cortese themselves about the issues facing our city. The event will be moderated by the League of Women Voters, though you will have a chance to submit questions that matter most to you. Hope to see you there.

San Jose Mayoral Candidates Forum
Starlite Banquet Hall
680 Minnesota Ave.
Tonight 6:30 pm

Water-wise Wednesday Tip

Help Keep North Willow Glen Looking Great

Over the years as the city has cut back on services, citizens have taken an ever increasing role in maintaining and improving their neighborhoods. Nowhere in San Jose is that more evident than in North Willow Glen. Our neighbors are responsible for maintaining so many great things we see around us such as the plantings and signature fences at our gateways, plantings at our many traffic calming islands, and decorations around the holidays. Neighbors are also responsible for what we don't see. By pitching in for the unglamorous tasks such as weeding, collecting litter, and removing graffiti, North Willow Glenners refuse to let our neighborhood become blighted.

In addition to those who work on a constant basis to keep North Willow Glen we can also use volunteers on our annual Beautification Days. This surge of volunteers working together can make a sizable difference in the appearance of our little area in a short amount of time. Please consider joining your neighbors in keeping North Willow Glen a great place to live. Contact us at board@nwgna.org with ideas you have to beautify a part of North Willow Glen you'd like to improve.
 Or simply arrive at the corner of Delmas and Fuller with your favorite gloves and tools and we will make you part of the crew.

NWGNA Beautification Day
Sunday, October 5th, 9 am -12 pm
Meet at the corner of Delmas and Fuller

Mayoral Debate Thursday

What are your priorities for city government? What issues are important to San Jose neighborhoods. This is perhaps your best chance to hear our final two candidates for mayor speak in a live forum and so close we can walk to it; Thursday, October 2nd at Starlite Banquet Hall, 680 Minnesota Ave. at 6:30pm. Learn about the candidates' visions for San Jose's next four years and beyond.

The event is moderated by the League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by District 6 Neighborhood Leaders and United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County.

Are you missing this cat?

This kitty was spotted on Spencer between Willow and Atlanta today and may have an abscess that affects her ability to chew. If you are missing her, check out this area.

Friends & Neighbors Meeting Tuesday

Great meeting coming up next week. Check your doorstep for a flier in the coming days. 


Tuesday, September 23 
6:30-8:00 pm 
Word of Faith Church 
Delmas & Fuller 

Emergency Response 
SJPD and SJFD officials will be on hand to answer questions and update us on new developments including the implementation of Community Service Officers. 

NWGNA Board Elections
Help continue making North Willow Glen one of the best neighborhoods in San Jose. Contribute to our community in a new way by nominating yourself for a leadership position on the board.

Please take the CalTrain survey

Caltrain is conducting a survey now about service and the newer train cars themselves, but there is also an area for additional comments at the end. Please consider taking the survey at www.caltrain.com/emusurvey

VTA Open House - Tamien parking project

There are two open houses this week to learn more about VTA projects, including the Tamien parking structure project.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
School of Arts & Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza
1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose
Location is served by VTA Bus lines 23, 77 and 522.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014; 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
VTA Downtown Customer Service Center
55-A West Santa Clara Street, San Jose
Location is served by VTA Light Rail and Bus lines 22, 23 and 522.

More information is available on the VTA's web site.

Missing child

A message from CITY OF SAN JOSE This is the San Jose Police Department with an Alert SCC with an At Risk Missing Juvenile broadcast. The juvenile is missing from 2920 Rorty Drive in San Jose. He is a Sergio Rogelio Zepeda Jr. Light Skinned Hispanic Male, 4'00ft tall, 40lbs., brown hair, brown eyes, rash or burn mark on the left corner of his lip, blk short sleeved Super Mario Brothers T-Shirt with White, Red, and Baby Blue writing. He may also be wearing a diaper and is known to take off his clothing. Not currently on medication, but autistic and non-verbal, He can utter words but can't communicate in sentences. He is not aware of his surroundings. If you locate the child please call 9-1-1 or 408-277-8911 immediately.

See you at next year's Produce Share

This summer's produce share in Hummingbird Park has finished up and we will re-start next spring. If you still have excess fruits and veggies to share, feel free to use either our Facebook page or the Yahoo! Groups email list to offer it to neighbors for pick-up from your porch. Thanks again for a bountiful year!

Emergency regulation to control water use during drought

From San Jose Water Company and the State Water Resources Control Board:

The Board has determined that the following water use activities by San Jose Water Company customers are not allowed:

1. Watering outdoor landscapes in a way that causes “runoff” onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures.
2. Washing a vehicle with a hose without a shut-off nozzle or other device that will immediately stop the flow of water when not in use.
3. Using drinking water to wash driveways and sidewalks.
4. Using drinking water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where the water is recirculated.

Violation of any of these four prohibited or restricted water use activities may be punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each day in which the violation occurs. These violations are defined as infractions under Water Code section 1058.5(d) and therefore enforceable by local law enforcement, or public agencies charged with enforcing the mandatory use restrictions.

Read more on the water company web site.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Produce Share this afternoon!

What can you bring to today's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Bikeways Meeting Tonight, 6pm

Curbside bike lane, painted & parking buffer.
Photo: People for Bikes

The City of San José Department of Transportation will host a public meeting to discuss proposed bicycle‐related street improvements for the area west of downtown San Jose tonight, August 13, 2014, 6:00 PM, at Gardner Community Center, 520 W. Virginia St. 

How do you think bikeways could be improved in our area? Do the lanes we have get you where you need to go? Does it strike you as odd that Bird has a large painted buffer between auto traffic and the median and yet the bicycle lane is right up against traffic? Is it strange that the lane ends abruptly at Virginia rather than continuing on over 280 to popular public transit destinations such as the CA-17 Shuttle stop or to the existing Enhanced Bicycle Lane on San Fernando that could take you to Diridon Station? Would you like to see the Willow Street Bicycle Lane upgraded to an Enhanced Bicycle Lane with green paint and/or a buffer that could get us more safely to downtown Willow Glen? How about a bike lane up Prevost to Virginia to the Guadalupe River Trail along with a ramp to ascend Virginia's enormous curb. If you'd like to see these changes or any others you've dreamt up happen sooner rather than later, here's your chance to communicate that to the people in charge of these matters.


The following is a brief overview of the upcoming planned bikeway improvements.

Stockton Avenue:
add Bicycle Lanes between The Alameda and Emory Street

Julian Street:
add Bicycle Lanes between The Alameda and Guadalupe River Trail

Park Avenue:
add new and improve existing Bicycle Lanes from Market Street to the Santa Clara city limits

Lincoln Avenue:
add Bicycle Lanes between Willow Street and San Carlos Street
add Shared Lane pavement markings and signing between San Carlos Street and Park Avenue

Scott‐Auzerais:
add Shared Roadway pavement markings between MacArthur Avenue and Los Gatos Creek Trail


You can find more comprehensive details of the above plans in the full contents of the DOT flier by clicking here to download the Acrobat file.

Development at the Old Valero on Willow and Lincoln

The Mercury News recently ran a brief article on the plans for the now-closed Valero station down the road on Willow.

Valero station in Willow Glen to be replaced with retail 
By Leeta-Rose Ballester

The corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street will no longer be home to a gas station as crews begin to remove structures and underground piping. 

The removal and cleanup of the Valero station will take about three months, said Brian Mason of Colliers International, co-leasing agent for the property at 1096 Lincoln Ave. Mason's partner is David Bider of Cypress investments.

"To close out a gas station means we've got to take everything out of the ground," Mason said. "It's a detailed and controlled process."

Once the all clear has been given by the city and there has been soil testing, Mason said, there are plans for a smaller retail development. 

The new retail area will probably house no more than two tenants and will be some 4,000 square feet to in order to limit the impact on parking in the area. 

"It's a popular corner, and we're going to be very selective," Mason said, adding that tenants will "fit the surroundings." 

Between cleanup of the existing Valero station and acquiring permits, construction of a new building won't begin for approximately another six months, he said.

Party in the Park: NOW!

Live music, food, games, food, candidates, food, mmm. Party in the Park going on until 7:00.

Party in the Park is Tomorrow, Starting at 4:30

Tomorrow is the last Sunday evening before school starts for many of the little ones in North Willow Glen and that's the signal for NWGNA's Party in the Park. We've got so much going on this year. We will try to wrap it all up in this post.

We have live music from North Willow Glen's own Johnny the Piano Man. He has a background in a diverse range of musical styles including classical music, jazz, rock and roll, experimental/electronic music, rockabilly and blues. We're looking forward to what surprises he will have in store for us.

Our own District 6 Councilmember, Pierluigi Oliverio has generously donated hotdogs to keep us all fed and happy. But that's not all. Willow Glen Meats & Smokehouse on Delmas is providing us with sausages too. Between all that and the side dishes neighbors will bring you might get pretty full, but you'll definitely want to save some room.

Willow Glen Creamery has donated two tubs of ice cream, including the wildly popular Mango and Chocolate Fantasy flavors. However will we choose?!

There will also be our special guests. Dave Cortese and Sam Liccardo will be on hand from 5:30-6:00 pm to briefly address the audience, share their views on the mayoral race, and learn what's important to us here in North Willow Glen.

Your kids will no doubt want to check out the crafts and activities we have planned as well, you know, in between eating, swinging from the monkey bars, and chasing each other around.

We hope to see you there.

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park (corner of Bird & Fisk)
Sunday, August 10th, 4:30-7:00 pm

Please be sure to visit our great sponsors Willow Glen Creamery and Willow Glen Meats & Smokehouse and thank them for their contributions to Party in the Park.

Willow Glen Meats & Smokehouse Spices Up Party in the Park

Our neighbors at Willow Glen Meats & Smokehouse on Delmas are joining the fun at Party in the Park and they're providing us with some of their delicious sausage. How great is that?! Be sure to stop by when you get a chance and support this North Willow Glen business.

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park
(Corner of Bird & Fisk)
Sunday, August 10, 4:30-7:00 pm

Willow Glen Meats & Smokehouse offers prime rib roast, seasoned and tied; marinated steaks - tri-tips, pork loin, and chicken; beef jerky; sausages; smoked products; bacon; chicken; fresh and frozen turkeys; pork; corned beef brisket; cheeses; party trays; wild game processing; sandwiches; lunch meats; beef; and smoked fish.

Music, Live and Local at Party in the Park

We are proud to present North Willow Glen's own Johnny the Piano Man to provide the musical entertainment at Party in the Park this year. First swing dance lessons, then hula, and now Johnny the Piano Man?! Always a good time with great neighbors.

John Francis of Duke Mantee and the GOLD MONEY BAND started his musical journey on the east coast in 5th grade. This journey took John Francis thru school band music, classical music, jazz, rock and roll, experimental/electronic music, rockabilly and blues. All while avoiding accordion music! Listen to what he does as he interprets and stylizes his music on the piano.

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park
(Corner of Bird and Fisk)
Sunday, August 10, 4:30-7:00 pm

Hot Dog, It's Party in the Park!

We would like to thank Council member Pierluigi Oliverio for his contribution of Party in the Park's main food offering: hot dogs. Knowing Pierluigi there will be a wide assortment so your favorite might just be on hand.

Pierluigi is the son of immigrant parents, Italo and Matilde, who are both retired teachers. Pierluigi attended Booksin Elementary, Hoover Middle School, and Willow Glen High in the San Jose Unified School District. He then went on to obtain his BA and Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. Raised on Willow Street, he is a homeowner on Cherry Avenue where he is a parishioner of St. Christopher’s church.

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park (Corner of Bird and Fisk)
Sunday, August 10, 4:30-7:00 pm

Party in the Park is Where Mayoral Candidates Want to Be

What a great chance to get to know the candidates better. Sam Liccardo and Dave Cortese will attend
Party in the Park from 5:30-6:00 pm to speak briefly and to visit with residents. If you'd like to learn their position on the issues that matter to you, its a great opportunity to ask them.

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park (Corner of Bird and Fisk)
Sunday, August 10, 4:30-7:00 pm

Dave currently represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors, which includes Evergreen, East Foothills, Berryessa, North San Jose and Alviso.

Sam represents San José’s Third District on the San José City Council, one of the most diverse communities in our city. 

Ice Cream, You Scream, we all Scream for Party in the Park

Willow Glen Creamery is donating to Party in the Park! Expect big favorite flavors Mango and Chocolate Fantasy.

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park (Corner of Bird and Fisk)
Sunday, August 10, 4:30-7:00 pm

Willow Glen Creamery has proudly served the Willow Glen community since 2002. Thanks to your support and nominations, we have won many “Best of Awards" We strive to serve the best frozen yogurt and Ice Cream. All of our yogurts are made fresh daily using frequently tested homemade recipes. We provide only the freshest fruits and best ingredients available. Our frozen yogurts contain many live active cultures which have been shown to aid in digestive health, and rich in calcium and nutrients! Our vast menu is sure to provide options for everyone in the family. Please see our Products Page for more information or better yet, come down and give us a try! We also proudly provide doggie yogurts for our furry friends!

Temp closure of the Lower Guadalupe River Trail

News from the city about a temporary closure of ​the Lower Guadalupe River Trail:

Work by the City of San Jose on a roadway and by PG&E on its gas system in North San Jose will temporarily prevent trail access along the Lower Guadalupe River Trail from Tasman Drive to Gold Street.

The City has awarded a construction contract to replace the existing undercrossing at Tasman Drive. The new structure will be about three feet higher than its current elevation and will make this section of trail less susceptible to tidal flooding. Work is expected to begin August 12 and extend through October.

A section of the east levee north of Tasman Drive will also be removed this summer as PG&E replaces a section of a gas transmission pipeline as part of a mandated pipeline safety program. PG&E expects to conduct its work between August 25 and October 30. The trail closure will also prevent access to ramp leading to the interconnected Highway 237 Bikeway.

During the closures, trail users are encouraged to use adjacent roadways and sidewalks, or they may use the gravel maintenance road along the west bank of the river. The City is working closely with PG&E and the Santa Clara Valley Water District to minimize the duration and construction impacts. For additional information San Jose Trail Program Manager yves.zsutty@sanjoseca.gov

Produce Share this Sunday!

Examples of what has been offered at the Produce Share this summer

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Party in the Park!

Come join us for our fourth annual Party in the Park.
We’ll have live music by Johnny the Piano Man. We’ll have a barbeque fired up with hot dogs of all kinds on the grill. We’ll also have snacks and provide beverages. Because we all love variety, please bring a snack or side dish to share.

We’ll have fun projects to keep the kids entertained and we’ll be hosting our Produce Share at the same time. See you there!

Party in the Park
Hummingbird Park (Corner of Bird and Fisk)
Sunday, August 10, 4:30-7:00 pm

P.S. There's going to be even more. Stay tuned for special announcements.

Help host the Produce Share!

We are looking for a few more hosts for the weekly Produce Share in Hummingbird Park, Sundays, 1 to 3 p.m. It's easy and fun -- you pick up a wagon a few houses down the street from the park, roll it into the park, set up a table, and greet people as they arrive to share fruits and veggies from local gardens. Encourage people to take the bounty home (or take it home yourself) and then at the end, roll the wagon back down the street.

We need hosts on these days:
August 10
August 31
September 7
September 21

Send email to board@nwgna.org with any questions.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Area Bikeway Projects Public Meeting August 13th

How do you think bikeways could be improved in our area? Do the lanes we have get you where you need to go? Does it strike you as odd that Bird has a large painted buffer between auto traffic and the median and yet the bicycle lane is right up against traffic? Is it strange that the lane ends abruptly at Virginia rather than continuing on over 280 to popular public transit destinations such as the CA-17 Shuttle stop or to the existing Enhanced Bicycle Lane on San Fernando that could take you to Diridon Station? Would you like to see the Willow Street Bicycle Lane upgraded to an Enhanced Bicycle Lane with green paint and/or a buffer that could get us more safely to downtown Willow Glen? If you'd like to see these changes or any others you've dreamt up happen sooner rather than later, here's your chance to communicate that to the people in charge of these matters.

The City of San José Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a public meeting to discuss proposed bicycle‐related street improvements for the area west of downtown San Jose on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 6:00 PM, at Gardner Community Center, 520 W. Virginia St.

The following is a brief overview of the upcoming planned bikeway improvements.

Stockton Avenue:
add Bicycle Lanes between The Alameda and Emory Street

Julian Street:
add Bicycle Lanes between The Alameda and Guadalupe River Trail

Park Avenue:
add new and improve existing Bicycle Lanes from Market Street to the Santa Clara city limits

Lincoln Avenue:
add Bicycle Lanes between Willow Street and San Carlos Street
add Shared Lane pavement markings and signing between San Carlos Street and Park Avenue

Scott‐Auzerais:
add Shared Roadway pavement markings between MacArthur Avenue and Los Gatos Creek Trail

You can find more comprehensive details of the above plans in the full contents of the DOT flier by clicking here to download the Acrobat file.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.