Today, of course, marks the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2001, and the date continues to be one of reverence across the country. Yesterday, WGx reader James Hegg emailed his hopes for respectful flag-waving across our neighborhood: (more…)

Left for dead just a few years ago, the WG Founder’s Day Celebration returns this year for another installment — and this one will be televised. Sort of.

Founder’s Day will again coincide with two-day Italian American Heritage Festival, which runs Saturday - Sunday, September 27-28, 2008.

The Parade starts on Saturday at 10:30, proceeding down Lincoln Avenue, from the corner of Lincoln & Coe:

If you can’t be in Willow Glen to catch the parade, we’ve got a special surprise for you. This year we’ll be webcasting a live video feed of the parade on our website.

OK … Technically, the broadcast will only be an online video stream, but who cares? It’s almost worth watching from your living room just to say you did!

You might need a calendar program to keep track of all of the Classic Car shows in the neighborhood, but you can usually rely on the weekly get-together of car enthusiasts every Thursday at the corner of Bird & Minnesota.

Almost as soon as Mojo Burger opened it’s WG location, there’s been a matching car show on Thursday nights.

But this week, they take it up a notch … for their 2nd Annual Classic Car Show, hosted by Mojo Burger. They are once again combining with the Rockabilly Model agency for a Fashion Show at 6:30 pm, followed by a model photo shoot.

Just like the stamps you buy at the little counter tucked in the corner, the local stamp collecting office itself is about to become a collector’s item, so to speak.

The formally-titled Philatelic Office at the Meridian Avenue Post Office will permanently close its doors on August 16. Although there is no official word on the reason, the office has had its hours cut back over the years, and has served walk-in clients irregularly in recent months.

Like many major retailers, the US Postal Service recommends you now buy stamps from the regular counter service, or online at the USPS Store.

Someone died in that house!

Okay, it is an odd topic, I know … Fifty years ago, it was normal for people to die in their homes and the buyer that subsequently purchased that house had no concerns about it (if it was even disclosed — disclosures 50 years ago is a whole different topic!).

Today, buyers are leery of buying a home someone died in. Even if it was natural causes. Does this indicate society has superstitions, a fear of ghosts or a just a general fear of death? (You know, you are not getting out of this life alive right??).

I recently went on a broker tour of my local area of San Jose, Willow Glen, and we toured a house that had two recent deaths in the home. The first died of natural causes and the second died from a heroine overdose. Both were non violent deaths. Even as we were about to go through the house with over 40 ‘live’ agents, I heard comments from people who did not want to go in the house. That heightened my awareness and I tried to use my best psychic abilities and see if I could feel anything.

Although I did not feel or see anything unusual it was a topic of discussion for about 15 minutes before and after seeing the house. During those discussions, I learned that the house nearby also had a recent death in it. That makes the count 3 deaths and I heard some people say, ‘well death comes in three’s so the bad luck has passed.” To be honest, I would be a bit uncomfortable purchasing a house that someone had died in, and I shyly admit to being a bit superstitious.

Would you buy a house someone had recently died in?

Do you think a death in the house should result in a lower asking price?

Why do you think disclosing a death in the home is such a hot topic?

WGx wants to know what percentage of WG homes could be haunted by a previous occupant’s at-home death … Someone died in that house … and still we’re overpriced?

September 7, 2008

Mark your calendars for a fun day to renew old friendships, dance to some great music, and support local schools.

The Willow Glen Foundation is reaching out to Alumni on September 7, from 1:00 to 5:00, on the WGHS campus.

Alums from every WGHS class are invited to bring their children – and grandchildren – and have fun getting caught up with their Ram buddies.

“Honorary” Alums are welcome, too! The “Garage Band” will play music that everyone can dance to, and there will be games and raffles, and tours of the campus, a BBQ meal for purchase, and a “Ram Shop” with themed items to buy.

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.