Fresh & Easy press release

Read more about the store's plans including hiring wages and benefits in today's press release.

Fresh & Easy to open March 2

Check out the latest on the new grocery store in the neighborhood -- Fresh & Easy is opening At Bird and Minnesota on March 2.

Fresh & Easy beginning to schedule No. Cal. openings

There's no word yet on when the Bird & Minnesota location will open, but Fresh & Easy has scheduled the opening for their Pacifica, CA store for March 9. Perhaps in addition to tulips and daffodils popping up, we will have a grocery store in the neighborhood again this spring.

More trees = Less cement

In preparation for planting more street trees in the neighborhood, we are looking for someone with the equipment and skills for cutting cement safely. Park strips that are paved over will need their cement removed before a tree can be planted.

If you've got the equipment and skills that you can volunteer in the spring, let us know!

Street trees through Our City Forest

San Jose's Our City Forest program is still alive and kicking. This nonprofit may be able to help you obtain a tree for your park strip, the area between the sidewalk and the street. Permits are required to plant trees, but the permits are free. If you live next to someone who doesn't have a tree, you might want to open the conversation about the benefits of having one.

If enough of us are interested, we can try to work with Our City Forest for a neighborhood planting effort in the spring. Kim Karcher has volunteered to coordinate that effort, so email her at kim.karcher@yahoo.com if you are interested in a tree or helping with this effort.

Read more about Our City Forest on their web site.

Big turnout for San Jose rose garden volunteers

Check out the article in today's Mercury News about the dedicated volunteers who gathered at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden yesterday to assist with maintenance of our city's beautiful roses.

Read the full story on the Mercury News site.

To volunteer with Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden, visit the group's web site.

Have you seen Micah?

A North Willow Glen cat, Micah, has not been home for the last few days. He's a skinny grey short-hair with white on the tip of his nose and a bit on his chest. He normally wears a red collar but it has been found, so he's not wearing it.

He's a friendly but slightly cautious cat. He may be stuck in someone's garage or basement. He will meow if he's caught somewhere.

Please let us know if you have seen Micah so his family can be reunited with him.

Many thanks to this morning's volunteers

Lila and Pat work together to remove bows

Many thanks to the volunteers who joined in this morning to take down and store the neighborhood holiday decorations. The crew made quick work of removing the garlands and wreaths that had made the area so festive.

Wreaths and bows, oh my!

The decorations are checked before being put into storage until next December and some items will be upgraded. Several elves work behind the scenes to ensure that the decorations are ready for the next holiday season, so much appreciation to the entire team.

Big thanks to Dan, Pat, Lila, Karen, Lorraine, and Bill!

Treats for volunteers

Fresh & Easy making progress

The soon-to-be Fresh & Easy store at Minnesota and Bird is making progress towards opening. A new sign has been installed outside and refrigerated display cases have been installed inside.

When the company opens a new store, they donate $1,000 to a local non-profit group based on suggestions from the neighborhood. We are not sure if organizations need to have official non-profit status, but we'll let you know as the voting is opened for our area.

San Jose's redevelopment agency selling land to buy property needed for proposed MLB ballpark

From the Mercury News: "San Jose moved a step closer toward a proposed downtown ballpark Friday, when officials announced they will sell five city-owned parcels, using the proceeds to pay for land needed to complete the stadium plan."


See the full article at http://www.mercurynews.com/oakland-as-move/ci_17040313

Just a reminder...

Please come join your neighbors this Sunday Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m. to help with cleaning up and organizing of the holiday decorations. We will meet in the Starbrite/Smokehouse parking lot with plenty of hot coffee and snacks.

What goes up, must come down

It's time to take down the holiday decorations that have made North Willow Glen so festive this winter. Volunteers are gathering next Sunday, Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the Starbrite/Smokehouse parking lot on Delmas near Fuller to remove decorations and place into storage. If you can help out, please join us!

The year in review

2010 has been a positive one in so many ways for North Willow Glen. Many dedicated volunteers have worked on their favorite events and issues to help make our neighborhood a better place. Here are just a few highlights from the last year:

Summer
Fruit/Veggie Share
July 4 Barbecue in Fuller Park
Willow Street construction

Fall
Walgreen's alcohol permit process begins

Winter
Holiday decorating contest and party
Neighborhood holiday decorating
Holiday yard trees

Throughout the year
High-Speed Rail meetings and planning
Save Our Trails / Three Creeks Trail
Virginia Street Flood Control Project
Neighborhood beautification maintenance
Increased focus on preventing vandalism

Our first meeting of the year will be January 25 -- come join us to lend a hand to your favorite project in 2011.

Jewelry found on Fuller Avenue

Debbie on Fuller found a piece of jewelry in the street in front of their house this morning. If you lost a piece of jewelry and can email her with an accurate description, she can return it to its rightful owner.

Holiday decorating winners!

Announcing the winners of the NWGNA holiday decorating contest. Thanks to all who participated and brightened our neighborhood this holiday season.

1st place 546 Atlanta
2nd place 477 Atlanta
3rd place 562 Fuller
Honorable mention: 391 Hull

Prizes will be announced and awarded soon, as well as the full list of generous sponsers of the prizes.

Thanks and congratulations to the whole neighborhood.

Happy New Year

Bill Rankin
Chair, NWGNA