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 …

The WG Library has only been open a few weeks, but it is already hugely successful in one key area: Fund Raising!

In a thank you letter mailed to donors earlier this month, the San Jose Public Library Foundation celebrated an incredible milestone:

The outpouring of support from the Willow Glen community for this library has been amazing. Thanks to contributions from residents, businesses, and community groups, more than $300,000 has been raised to date! These news funds will be used to augment existing library collections, acquire new language materials and multimedia resources, upgrade technology, and enhance the teen learning centers and children’s areas in the library.

Local residents initially had concerns that the collection might suffer since the bond measure funds supported the construction of the library, rather than the lots of new books and materials. Clearly, the community has come through.

Ever since Pierluigi Oliverio announced that the movie for his Second Annual District 6 Movie Night would be Disney’s Cars, WGx can’t help but notice there are quite a few “Mater” look-alikes around town.

You know Mater … the rusty but lovable tow truck from Radiator Springs, who takes Lightning McQueen tractor-tipping, and teaches him how to drive backwards, among other important life lessons.

Will the real ‘Mater’ please stand-up …

The movie night is this coming Friday, August 29, and Willow Street Park. … Maybe a guest appearance — or three — is in order. Anyone?

The Fire Station 6/37 debate – which needs a snappy nickname if you ask WGx – migrates in a less dramatic direction this week, with the publication of a City Council memo signed by Pierluigi Oliverio, Judy Chirco, and Mayor Chuck Reed.

Oliverio distributed the memo to community stakeholders late last week, and it will be addressed by the SJ City Council Rules Committee this Wednesday, August 20:

Please see the attached memo … requesting (1). that the San Jose City Council remove the potential sale of Fire House 6 from the budget and 5-year forecast (2). adopt a policy regarding selling, consolidating or closing any fire house in the city. Further, any sale, closure and/or consolidation will include using scientific data and extensive community outreach and council approval before a decision of selling, closing or consolidating a fire house is placed in the budget.

As many of you have been aware, the city placed the sale of Fire House 6 (located on the corner of Minnesota and Cherry Avenues in Willow Glen), in the City of San Jose budget last year without making the community or councilmember aware of their actions. Because the public safety bond money has been spent, the city wanted to sell Fire House 6 to help pay for construction costs for the new Fire Station even though current response data from the San Jose Fire Department does not warrant closing Fire House 6.

Following discussion by the Rules Committee, the idea of a new policy will be presented for council consideration at its regular meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 9, 2008.

The issue of fire station closures and capital budgets for new stations was the primary agenda item at last week’s WG Neighborhood Association meeting. Although the WGNA obviously leans toward opposing the closing of Station #6, they have yet to publish an official stance.

Following this past weekend’s Kids Safety Fair, safety topics will be on the agenda this Wednesday at the Willows Senior Center, as Pierluigi Oliverio hosts a District 6 Public Safety Meeting from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

The topic of neighborhood safety is a big one, but with newly appointed Fire Chief Darryl Von
Raesfeld in attendance, WGx is guessing a little Station 6/37 drama is somewhat unavoidable.

San Jose’s Department of Parks Recreation & Neighborhood Service (PRNS) is planning to renovate the grass playing fields at Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park this Fall, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Actually, there is no good time, but playing fields across the City are in desperate need of upgrades … so this improvement will be appreciated.

The fences are schedule to go up on October 1, after which city crews will thatch, and fertilize the lawn. The renovation process is a cross between roto-tilling and aeration, but no grass is harmed.

Since the park covers almost eighteen acres, the restrooms, most of 29 picnic tables (and 11 BBQs), both kids playground structures, both asphalt basketball courts, and all six tennis courts should remain open and enjoyable.

And better grass will be worth waiting for!

No, it’s not a fancy new reminder service provided by WGx … unless your own library books actually are due back today.

Today is the day that the new collection is set to arrive at the brand new Willow Glen Branch Library! The official Grand Opening is still scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2008.

If you can’t wait until August 23, you can make a donation in support of the library, and join others for a special Donor Preview Event on August 20. There is still time to support the new branch and have your name — or the name of a business or organization — added to the donor wall at the entrance of the library.

• Donors at $100 -$999 will be listed on the Community Wall
• Donors at $1000-$4999 will be listed on the Legacy Wall
• Donors at $5000+ will be on the Laureate Wall

There are also opportunities to have specific areas of the library sponsored by individuals or businesses with special plaques thanking them. Contributions of $1000 and above can be paid over a three year period.

Please visit www.sjplf.org/donationform.pdf for the pledge form.

It’ll be just like the old fashioned drive-ins, right?

The Willow Glen Movie Night was so successful last year, that it will return this summer for a second showing, hosted by Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio. This time around, it’ll be “Cars: The Movie” (yeah, the Disney one), scheduled for 6:30 pm at Willow Street Park.

In August, I will be hosting my 2nd Annual Movie Night and Safety Fair at Willow Street Park. Last year’s movie night was a success. Over 500 residents came out to see Happy Feet and Schurra’s chocolates gave out complimentary candy. This year it will be held on August 29, 2008.

– Pierluigi Oliverio

By complete coincidence, WGx was on a tour of Bramhall Willow Street Park this morning. Note to Councilmember: If the movie is going to be shone in the amphitheater, you might want to turn on the sprinklers so the grass is alive by the end of August …

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Also, if cars aren’t your thing — and you would rather watch bees — Oliverio is presenting a Rosegarden Movie Night a week earlier, on Friday, August 22. The RG equivalent will be hosted at the Rose Garden, featuring Bee Movie.

One of the more eclectic pockets of WG might get a bit more interesting.

Twenty-two new “office condominiums” are proposed for the corner of Willow Street and Westwood (where Willow dead ends a few blocks east of Meridian). The proposed use permit would combine two existing parcels to include up to 22 office condominiums on the site.

OK … so what are “Office Condos?

Office condominiums work much like their private housing counterparts. Instead of renting a suite of offices, some companies purchase an individual unit in an office condominium complex. The common areas are co-owned by all of the tenants and a board usually oversees landscaping and other maintenance issues. Office condominiums are often created as part of a mixed-use renovation in downtown areas of medium to smaller cities.

The existing businesses on the block are mostly dental and medical offices, with a smattering of chiropractors and chinese medicine providers. There are also duplexes and other assorted multi-use residences across the street from the proposed “condos.”

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.