Looking for something unique and new to do this Independence Day? Support our neighbors in the Rose Garden as the Alameda Business Association restores their version of the small town holiday parade:

San Jose Rose, White and Blue Parade

San Jose revives its historic Fourth of July parade through the neighborhoods near The Alameda with antique cars, dance troupes, youth groups, floats and more. The parade will start at Lincoln High School on Dana Avenue and travel along Dana, Calaveras, Park and Hanchett avenues to finish at a festival near the corner of Hanchett Avenue and The Alameda. Stay for dozens of booths with food and fun.

July 4. Parade begins at 10 a.m.; festival runs from noon to 3 p.m.

The festival will be at the corner of Hanchett Avenue and The Alameda.

You can also be a part of the parade, with a chance to win prizes for your entry. There are also separate sections for kids, wagons, and bicycles. There will also be booths and other festivities.

Rose, White, and Blue … get it?

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If you were looking for something with a few more fireworks (but perhaps not literally), Gary Wiens at San Jose Metblogs has posted a thorough list of local Independence Day events.

WGx is a little late on this one … but it’s never really too late for free ice cream.

Actually, it’s 20¢ Ice Cream, which is close enough to free.

The WG Dippin Dots store at Almaden & Curtner (itself open almost two years now) is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the national frozen granular ice cream craze with “Two for Tuesdays” through June 24.

The ice cream was free back on May 20, but the “Two for Tuesday” deal gets you a second cup of “ice cream” for 20 cents, after you buy another cup at full price.

Alright … who’s gonna bring home the goods? The much-hyped “Danny’s Estate Sale” begins late Saturday afternoon at Happy Hollow.

Willow Glen’s already got its own backyard caboose, some snazzy sassy bus benches, and more free curbside barcaloungers than most other neighborhoods.

Obviously, we need some sort of quaint old-fashioned carousel horse to really complete the neighborhood. Among the 150+ items for sale:

• Various jungle-gym playground toys shaped like animals and bugs, snails, bees, and caterpillars.
• Assorted animal-shaped drinking fountains – could replace the water-spitting frogs at Lincoln Glen Park.
• Cars and Trains Cars from the original Antique Autos ride at Frontier Village.
• SJFD Firetruck playground structure – could solve the park versus fire station dilemma, probably cheaper to maintain than the hose wagon.
• Old-fashioned lamp posts — would look good on Nevada or Willow Glen Way, especially come Halloween.
• And, a commercial refrigerator. … seriously, it’s Item #23 — not intended for children’s playgrounds?

By the way … Happy Hollow remains open for a few more weeks, despite the sale. The last day to ride a sea creature, get lost in a crooked house, or see a puppet show is Tuesday, July 8, with renovation and construction continuing through Fall 2009:

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo opened its gates in 1961 and after 46 years a major renovation is taking place. In 2000, voters approved proposition P, the Parks Bond Act that would give Happy Hollow a $52 million “make-over�. A renovation that includes a new education center, animal care facility, retail shop, animal barn, new rides, new zoo exhibits, and an entry plaza with a commissioned piece of public art valued at just under 1 million dollars.

Congratulations to St. Christopher’s Parish, which offers up the 50th annual edition of the Parish Festival this weekend, Friday-Sunday, June 6-8.

St. Christopher Holy Name Society Presents
The 50th Annual St. Christopher Festival
50 years of fun - rockin’ thru the decades

Mark your calendars and come join the fun at this very special “50 Year Anniversary” celebration. There will be rides, food, games and entertainment.

The Festival Hours:

Friday — 5:00 to 10:00 pm
Saturday — 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday — 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Special Activities include the famous Tri-Tip BBQ on Saturday night, with special brunch items Sunday morning. Friday and Saturday nights feature concert performances by “The Hitmen” and the “BP Band” (aka Bent Peter), respectively.

Of course, while this is only the 50th year of the Parish Festival, the parish itself was established in 1951 under the Diocese of San Jose.

Hey, remember that novel by local author Rudolph Delson, the one that includes a character who grew up in San Jose, and shares those fond memories throughout the story? (more…)

Looking for something interesting to do on Saturday? Join Team Willow Glen on their training walk for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk (which itself is July 12-13). This week’s Willow Glen History Walk leaves from Elva’s Coffee Stop at 11:00 am. (more…)

Hey, you remember the unique Willow Glen Caboose, right?

Caboose owner Katy Dickinson has a fun opportunity for you to have Brunch on the Caboose, while supporting a major fundraising project of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Saratoga.

I took this portrait photo of WP668, our backyard caboose, since we are auctioning off a caboose brunch for six as one of the offerings in the SAMA Auction (Middle Eastern Feast and Auction to be held this Sunday, 13 April 2008, at 5:30 pm at St. Andrew’s, 13601 Saratoga Ave. Saratoga, CA).

SAMA is St. Andrew’s Medical Assistance Outreach program, and exists to provide hope and healing to a hurting world:

We raise funds annually through our annual Middle Eastern Feast and Auction and our Christmas Crafts sale. Medical Programs SAMA supports in the Holy Land include: Ahli Arab Hospital (the only Christian hospital in Gaza), and the Four Homes of Mercy (a home for the severely disabled based in Jerusalem).

By the way, Katy also blogs regularly on a variety of diverse topics, including her philanthropy, her job at SUN, and of course restored Caboose WP668.

Caboose Images Copyright 2008 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher

In this Presidential Election Season, turn to any news website that impacts public opinion, and you’ll find an “Online Voter Poll” or some such marketing ploy encouraging you to click through to another site.

Of course most of the time, your online opinion means nothing … other than an advertising opportunity for eager marketers.

But here’s an online poll that might just make a difference: Pierluigi Oliverio’s District 6 “Neighborhood Preservation Survey.”

Dear Neighbors,

As some of you may be aware, I have held two community forums regarding the topic of “preserving unique/historical neighborhoods.�

The purpose of the forums was to introduce a concept called “Neighborhoods of Distinction� which would provide neighborhoods the tools to keep the “character� of their neighborhoods intact by respecting private property rights.

Not an easy task; but worthy of discussion.

In an effort to gather district wide feedback, I have prepared a survey for your household to complete.

Your candid feedback is important to me. …

Warm regards,

Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio
City of San Jose, Council District 6
200 E. Santa Clara St., 18th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113-1905
Office Telephone: 408 535-4906
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/district6/

Express your opinion online! … no advertising, no spam, no dopey photoshop artwork … cute little budget “price tags” on Oliverio’s Budget Meeting notwithstanding.

Results of the survey will be announced Wednesday April 2, at 6:30PM during the “Neighborhoods of Distinction” meeting, currently scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Willows Senior Center.

Willow Vale Community Church celebrates its 125th year in San Jose at the end of the month, with a series of events, including special meal activities and sermons.

San Jose’s First Free Methodist Church was organized in downtown San Jose in 1883, and was located at the corner of St. John & 9th Street from 1883 to 1964. In 1964 the church relocated to the corner of Meridian & Curtner, and changed its name to Willow Vale Community Church.

Among the more interesting items on the celebration schedule is an “open sharing” time for former members and pastors at 10:00 on Sunday, preceded by the 9:00 Sunday sermon, “Breakfast with Jesusâ€? featuring former Pastor Dr. David Rupert.

Congratulations to the congregation!

Hey! Just a little more than a week to finish your Christmas shopping. WGx is making it easy for you to keep your gift-giving local. Sort of.

Looking for local WG authors? Maynard and Jennica got a nice write-up in the WG Resident back in November, and was also featured in the SJ Mercury’s WG Where We Live feature.

The book demonstrates an intense passion for the place he grew up, for the memories formed at the corner drugstore and then reincarnated through his characters and their experiences.

“It’s a comedy told by everyone,” he says. “It’s narrated by the two main characters, friends, their family and even dead relatives.”

It’s a love story of sorts, with Jennica sharing her nostalgic memories of growing up in San Jose.

That’s San Jose in general … and WG’s Palm Haven neighborhood in specific, where author Rudolph Delson also grew up.

Speaking of “Maynard” … another coffee table style book has recently been published, featuring fancy pictures of stuff right here in Willow Glen … including the famous Maynard Mansion on Minnesota Avenue, which serves as the cover for backdrop for author Dave Clarke Mora’s book, which was featured in the Nov 23 edition of the WG Resident:

Willow Glen resident Dave Clarke Mora takes the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” to heart when creating books for his new series Our Town Books, which highlights various local neighborhoods in photographs.

“Our Town: Willow Glen,” Clarke Mora’s first publication in the series, is an 80-page hardcover book filled with 150 color photos of popular areas throughout Willow Glen, including local restaurants, schools, homes, shops and places of worship.

Mora’s book has been on display at Bayside Community Church, Bill’s Cafe, Willow Glen Books, Siena Bistro and Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt. It’s also available online from the Our Town Books website, along with a similar book about Los Gatos.

Then there’s the updated “Touring Historic Willow Glen,” which was published as a partnership between the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) and Preservation Action Council of San Jose. The book was first released on Founder’s Day 2007, and might still be available from Willow Glen Books.

And as a simple community service …. Don’t forget if you are ordering gifts from Amazon, their “super saver shipping” promotion ends December 17 (that’s Monday)!

Of course, the wide array of Willow Glen bookstores will be open through Christmas Eve … Good luck!