Trouble in Tamien Town

Last night VTA (and a battery of consultants) hosted a community meeting regarding the disposition of their significant land holdings around the Tamien Light Rail Station. The point of the presentation was to tell the community that the agreement hammered out over the controversial Barry Swenson Tamien Towers project had quietly failed and that the community would have to accept a smaller park, or much higher density, or 11-story towers (pick any two), in order to overcome a $1.5 million shortfall and build the parking structure that would enable the promised park. The organizers seemed unprepared for the overwhelmingly negative reaction that followed. Jonathan Noble of Cindy Chavez's office, architects of the Tamien Towers agreement, was quick to distance Cindy from the concepts proposed by VTA. So the attendees rejected the concepts, and urged VTA to return with new concepts more in line with the Tamien Towers agreement, which included funding ideas for the parking garage that did not require more sacrifice by the community. NWG was well represented at the meeting, and I urge attendees to add a comment.

Los Gatos Creek Trail

Progress on the Los Gatos Creek Trail west of Fuller Avenue... Here's the I-280 undercrossing, for example. For ecological reasons work has stopped until next summer... The City plans to open the trail again in November 2007. It promises to be a great way to walk or ride your bike to the train station, the Rose Garden, and so on.

Holiday Lighting Contest

Hi everyone, it's time to start plotting and planning on how to decorate your home to capture one of the great prizes in our 2nd Annual Holiday Lighting Contest! Please let me know if you would be able to help distribute the contest fliers and on which streets. We want to give everyone enough time to really do up their houses. Thanks! –Marci (mtnmouse21 {at} yahoo.com)

Your Holiday Schedule is filling up...

...but don't forget perennial favorites:

Christmas in the Park, Nov 25, 2006 - Jan 1, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - Midnight, in Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Don't miss San José's traditional welcome to Christmas. More info at www.christmasinthepark.com or 995-6635.

25th Annual San José Holiday Parade, Dec 3, 2006, Downtown San José, 8:30 a.m. Join Santa and his friends. Info at www.sanjoseholidayparade.com or 793-5512.

Christmas Tree Lane

North Willow Glen participates in the Willow Glen tradition of placing a lit Christmas tree in the front yard. It's easy to do if you act fast - you can get a tree courtesy of the Kreshels: call Karen at 293-5475 by November 12. If you live on Hull, Atlanta, Coe, or Fuller west of Bird, you may be able to get a tree from Sandy Kasik instead: call her at 323-9668.

North Willow Glen 2.0

I know people will miss the old website, but it was too much to maintain. The NWG Blog lets everyone on the Board post their news, and anyone in the 'hood can comment. Very 'Web 2.0'!

Citywide Aquatics Master Plan Nov 13, 14

Two community meetings to discuss preliminary concepts for City aquatics facilities. Public comment at these meetings is welcome - if you wanted to complain bitterly about Biebrach Pool being allowed to close without public input, for example. If you are unable to attend, the Aquatics presentation can be found at www.sanjoseca.gov/prns. For information, contact Carla Holmes 793-5511 -Ken

Monday, November 13, 2006, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
City Hall in the Rotunda, 200 East Santa Clara Street

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Moreland West Community Center, 1850 Fallbrook Street

SJPD Community Forum Nov 30

What's working, what isn't, & what can be improved? What are your concerns? The City of San José Human Rights Commission & the Independent Police Auditor want to hear from you!

Thursday, November 30, 2006, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
College Theater, San José City College, 2100 Moorpark Avenue
Spanish and Vietnamese translation available. For more information, call (408) 535-8110.

Tamien Towers II, or, Everywhere is Downtown

From Ken Yeager's District 6 newsletter:

"At a recent City Council meeting, I was the sole Councilmember to vote against a proposal to expand the current downtown design guidelines allowing 120-foot high rises throughout the City of San Jose. I voted against this proposal because I believe that a larger community discussion is needed regarding the potential impact of building high rises over 100 feet outside of the Downtown core and in North San Jose.

"To view the video clip of this discussion, please visit http://www.sanjoseca.gov/district6/. This clip is located on the homepage of my website and is posted just after my welcome letter."

The best moment on the clip is listening to Joe Horwedel fumble through his reasoning as to why no community input has been sought on this proposal: because that would slow up the developers who are eager to build those 120' towers in neighborhoods RIGHT NOW.

Let’s Look for the Chinook!

When: Friday, November 17
3:30 to 5:00 pm
$5.00 Members/$10.00 Non-Members per child
Ages: 5-10 (parent participation required)

Just when the weather causes you to stay indoors more often, the Chinook salmon begin making their way back into the Guadalupe River to spawn. Come with the Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens to take a look and see if you can spot some of these fantastic fish right here in downtown San Jose and learn more about their fishy ways with games and crafts. Contact: Kary Houle 408-298-7657, Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens

Daffodils

Shout out to Bill Halleck, who got 400 daffodil bulbs from San Jose Beautiful for the public spaces in North Willow Glen. Last weekend, several hundred got planted in the median on Bird Avenue between Hull and Coe. Thanks, Bill!

Candidates on The Alameda - Saturday, October 21

From Larry Clark, President, Alameda Business Association (408.436.8581):

"Please come to our weekly Farmers Market on The Alameda (1460 The Alameda @ Lenzen -Downtown College Prep) for our live “Candidates on The Alameda” festivities. This event is co-sponsored by The West San Carlos Business Association and will feature both candidates for mayor and all five candidates for our District Six Councilmember.

"At 11:00 on Saturday Morning, we will hear from both Chuck Reed and Cindy Chavez and then they both will take questions from the audience. At 11:30, we will have each candidate for District 6 say a few words and they will also take questions from neighbors. This is a great and convenient way to get up to speed on the positions of the various candidates."

Plus of course farm fresh produce, flowers, artisans and craftspeople, from 9 am to 1 pm, Saturday, Oct 21.

Fall Street Tree Planting

It's that time again when North Willow Glen residents sign up to get free street trees, thanks to their neighbors, city volunteers and Our City Forest. If you're interested, email hello@northwillowglen.org or leave a message at 228-4970. You can also visit our website (http://trees.northwillowglen.org) for a brief on the process and to see some tree species suggestions. Sign up by our September meeting (Tues Sept 26); planting day will probably be sometime in October.
-Ken, the tree guy

Free Electronics Recycling

"The Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley (VCSV) in partnership with your Council District 6 Neighborhood Associations is sponsoring a Free Electronic Recycling Event on September 16, 2006. They are accepting all computer and electronic equipment." WHEN: Saturday, Sept 16, 8 am - 4 pm. WHERE: United Way Parking Lot, 1922 The Alameda, San Jose QUESTIONS: Steve Ramona, 573-8573, or www.earthcarerecycling.com -Ken

Mayoral Candidate Cindy Chavez in NWG

If you think City government is remote (and who hasn't?) here's your chance to see it relaxed and in person. Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez will be in North Willow Glen this Saturday, August 5, 4 - 6 pm, in Fuller Park (the little piece on the corner of Fuller and Bird Avenue). There will be free ice cream and cool drinks, an opportunity to enjoy the green space and the company of neighbors, and time to chat with this mayoral candidate and find out what she's all about and what's ahead for San Jose. Questions? Email neighborguy@writerguy.com (Ken Eklund).