Pretty amazing what the Founder’s Day celebration has become, isn’t it?

The once defunct event is a big draw downtown this weekend, and Saturday’s parade was noticeably more crowded than last year — both in the marching units and along the sidewalks. The combination with the Italian Festival has been powerful, and the event is clearly a driving force in downtown business schedules.

Despite a parade of store closures this summer, this weekend produced some suddenly quick grand openings. The new restaurant Opa! opened to good preliminary reviews this week, even if it is Greek instead of Italian.

The Treehouse in the Glen toy store took several months to open despite original predictions that it would open its doors in May. It opened just two weeks ago — and not even early cash register computer glitches could keep the store from having its own unit in the parade.

Most curiously, though, is the lightning-fast opening of the Athletic Performance, which replaced Urban Sports almost overnight. The WG Resident on September 16 that landlord Michael Mulcahy had not confirmed rumors that another athletic store was in the works. But on September 18, he published the name of the new store online:

Athletic Performance from Los Gatos will open a new athletic footwear and clothing store in the former Urban Sports …

As one of the building’s owners, I am very excited to have AP come to WG. So if you have athletic shoe needs, especially running shoes and attire, get in their soon. They hope to be open by September 27 when the Founders Day Parade and Italian Family Festa hit WG.

That was quick … although the store is open with very little stock on its first weekend.

No, it’s not open yet … but there might be light at the end of the exit ramp. Maybe.

In fact it might open today, but we’ve heard that one before … Crews are installing bright orange pylon for lane control this morning, so maybe … keep your fingers crossed …

This long-delayed ramp project has been on WGx’s radar for a while now, and has become a hot topic on the SJ Mercury’ Mr. Roadshow column … although promises made to Gary Richards this past week have not come true:

Q Any news on when the off-ramp from southbound Almaden Expressway to Curtner Avenue will open? It’s taken almost a year to complete this. … Jerry Tanner, Dina Jacobsen and so many more

A Finally, good news. On Friday, traffic officials hope to open the free right-turn lane from the exit onto westbound Curtner. And the traffic signal could be activated on Oct. 3, which means the entire ramp will be ready and drivers can then make left turns onto Curtner.

Did it open for westbound traffic? No.

An earlier update from the Roadshow column blames the problem on PG&E, by the way:

Q When will the Almaden Expressway off-ramp to Curtner Avenue reopen? It was only supposed to be closed six weeks (which I never believed!). It’s been paved and painted and lights are in place. But nada. Meanwhile, I’m forced to drive a little further to get home and have to use a dangerous intersection at Almaden Road and Canoas Garden instead of a couple of quick and easy right turns. … Penny Bowen and many more

A You have a right to be steamed, as this work is taking far too long. The new ramp may open in two or three weeks. PG&E says it needs that long to power up the new traffic signal. The county is hoping to open up the free-right turn onto Curtner before the signal is ready. Alas, you’ll have to stay tuned.

But maybe today. At least westbound. Maybe.

Sure, the Parade was simulcast with online video, but WGx was also there to take some close-up photos of (almost) every marching unit. Enjoy!

Check back as more pictures are added!

Got some photos to share? Email them to WGx@WillowGlenExtra.com!

Of course, since WillowGlenExtra is an official sponsor of the Booksin Walkathon, there are more pictures of that Booksin’s parade unit available on that group’s Website by WGx.

The Solar Power may not be ready … but the WGHS Football Team is ready to turn on the Ram Power anyway!

The Rams Varsity Football Team kicks-off its home season tonight with a game against visiting Del Mar High School. Yes, it’s a night game … complete with the premiere of the new stadium lights! Finally.

Willow Glen High Rams will Turn on the Power!

SAN JOSE, CA- Friday, September 26, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. the WGHS Rams will be the second in a series of San Jose Unified’s High Schools turning on the power on their long awaited stadium lights. Willow Glen High School, 2001 Cottle Ave., San Jose, 95125, is the second school of the season to flick the switch on their new stadium lights, as they prepare to host Del Mar High School. …

San Jose Unified’s Board of Education president and Willow Glen resident, Pam Foley, commented, “Football and night games are a perfect combination. This is a great way to continue to build community. Let’s invite the neighbors for a tailgate party and to join us in cheering on our team. WGHS has planned a long time to host night games. We are prepared and the team is ready to go. I know what I’ll be doing on Friday night.”

Stadium lights have been installed at all of San Jose Unified High Schools, with San Jose High Academy being the first to play under the lights in 2007. Schools will be allowed 10 night events, 5 of those can be football games. Lights are to be off at 10:00 p.m.

Pioneer High School was the first SJUSD school with lights on this year, for their game back on September 12.

Crime in WG seems to be making more and more of the neighborhood news recently, with the SJ Mercury News running at least two stories this week about ongoing investigations that are looking for your help.

On Tuesday, Police say a couple stole a grocery cart of food from Mi Rancho Market, on the northern end of Lincoln Avenue:

A San Jose grocery store employee briefly hung onto the hood of a moving car as he tried to stop three people who were stealing a cart full of groceries just before dinnertime Tuesday, according to police.

The employee of the Mi Rancho supermarket at 1003 Lincoln Ave. — whom police did not identify — was not hurt during the robbery.

Police later found the suspects’ abandoned car — a silver Mercury Grand Marquis. But the three suspects —a woman and two men — are still at large.

Also today, police released a sketch of a man suspected of exposing himself near Branham High School and Ida Price Middle School earlier this month.

This follows police activity earlier this month, when officers in SWAT gear used a battering ram to break down the door of a house on Malone Road and arrested two of the inhabitants:

1200 block of Malone Drive, 7:19 p.m. Tuesday. A search warrant resulted in the arrest of four people, the recovery of narcotics packaged for sale and an illegal weapon.

Exciting times, no? ;-(

It’s either the secret hideout for the next James Bond villain … or something really cool happening on the WG Middle School and High School sports fields.

The co-located campus for grades 6-12 hosts all of the obvious sports-related activities, but over the last few years, the San Jose Unified School District has been adding fancy electronics, too. In addition to revamping the playing surface, the space also boasts stadium lights and even a fake tree that doubles as a cell phone tower.

Next up: construction of Solar Panels. As part of its green initiative announced last year, the District is installing solar panels all around the campus in Willow Glen:

California’s San Jose Unified School District is joining the green movement by unveiling what it says may be the largest solar power and energy-efficient programs in U.S. K-12 education.

The program … includes the construction of solar arrays on the school roofs and parking canopies, and will initially generate two megawatts of power, eventually rising to five meagawatts. Over the 25-year lifespan of the project, the district expects to save $25 million in energy costs and reduce its utility power demand by 25 percent. Overall, the district estimates it will cut the equivalent of 37,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The panels installed at WGMS will produce 765kW in elctricity, and offset 49% of the total electrical consumption on site with its solar power. District wide, it’ll be a 25% reduction in the demand for utility power, and the 37,500 tons of reduced emissions is equivalent to planting 400 acres of trees.

The project will eventually include curriculum enhancements, too, including focus on solar power and engineering. And teachers from local elementary schools are looking forward to installations at their sites, too.

Oops. WGx meant to publish a bit more proactively on the topic, since one of our WG neighbors wrote about World Car Free Day on his website. Gary Wiens from San Jose Metblogs tells the story:

On Monday September 22, people from around the world get together to celebrate a day without cars. With gas prices at an all time high, Carfree Day is the perfect time to leave your car at home and get around your neighborhood and the region by foot, bike, bus, and train or by sharing the ride.

Only WGx was admittedly asleep at the wheel, due to another busy Monday in real life. To make amends, you’re invited to consider the story of a transplanted Willow Glen family now living in Amsterdam, where car-free day was apparently Sunday … and was legally mandated. Bet that would’ve impressed Gary …

One of the finest social events of the Fall Season is the annual Willow Glen Foundation Wine Tasting Fundraiser, the primary fund raising event for the WG Middle School & High School Foundation (Website by WGx).

This year’s version will be hosted on Sunday, November 2, benefiting the Foundation and the event’s host, the new Willow Glen Library.

Each year, local wine makers and merchants donate their products and services to raise funds to improve Willow Glen Middle and High School. This year, our goal is to raise $30,000 to be used directly to improve student literacy, including:

• Refresh and update books in both school libraries;
• Expand the individualized reading program in the middle school;
• Put more books in language arts and literature classrooms; and
• Fund 8th Grade literature circles.

The check you write today will help make these things a reality!

And new this year, you can buy your tickets — or make any donation — online from the Foundation’s website.

As a follow-up to last winter’s WG jewelry scandal, NBC-11 is reporting that Dan Mokma has been arrested by SJPD, and was being held in the Santa Clara County jail yesterday:

Mokma, the owner of Willow Estates Jewelry in San Jose, said he was desperate for cash to pay his bills.

“I regret that. I did do that. And I deeply regret that. And I’ve been doing everything I can to make it right,” Mokma told NBC Bay Area reporter George Kiryama in February.

Detectives say they have found 20 victims since the investigation began in February.

With the fate of Fire Station #6 now apparently separate from the Station 37 question, we have the November ballot measure to ponder. WGx wonders what the response will be from the rest of the city to the public safety priorities of the Cambrian and Willow Glen neighborhoods.

In response to the unsavory possibility of closing one station to open another, the City of SJ did formally adopt an official policy on closing fire stations. In theory, this preserves Station 6 for years to come, although that doesn’t make the Hose Wagon feel any better.

Mixed in with a Presidential ballot, a statewide debate on gay marriage, and a variety of school bonds, the parkland-for-fire-station question will probably get little consideration beyond a cursory one.

Since WGx World HQ is much closer to the Senior Center than it is to the current Station 6, officials can expect at least one “yes” vote in November …