November 2, 2007

Willow Glen gets ready to celebrate holidays

Tree ceremony needs sponsor

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Even though Christmas is nearly two months from now, plans are underway for this year’s holiday celebrations on Lincoln Avenue.

The Willow Glen annual tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29—if sponsors can help Willow Glen Elementary School defray the $1,500 cost.

Typically the kickoff for the season begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at Willow Glen Elementary School. However, this year the tree ceremony may not happen because the school can’t afford the $1,500 that starts the downtown celebration. In the past, the PTA and parents have stepped up to help, but that doesn’t look likely this year.

The money needed supplies a cherry picker to put the lights on the tree, electricity to light the tree and rental for a sound system. Anyone interested in helping, should call Willow Glen Elementary Principal Dayle D’Anna at (408) 535-06265.

If sponsors do help out, the typical ceremony will be on Nov. 29 and will include holiday songs from choirs, elementary and middle school musicians and the lighting of the tree. Santa also plans to attend, for wishes and pictures, and the school will hold its book fair and serve pizza and other refreshments.

Holiday shopping and other activities will start on Friday, Nov. 23 with open house at stores and a visit from Santa Claus, who has told Willow Glen merchants he will roam the Avenue between 4 and 5 p.m. After that he will be available to visit with children at the Garden Theater Building on Saturday, Dec. 1 and Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 from 2- to 5 p.m. and Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional times may be added.

Carriage rides, which have been a great success over the past few years, also will be available with dates and times to be announced on the Willow Glen Business Web site, www.dowtownwillowglen.org. In addition, shoppers will be treated to holiday songs by carolers from Willow Glen High School. They are scheduled to sing on Friday, Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

While details are not yet available, the downtown business association will also hold a toy and food drive with participants asked to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate to Toys for Tots, and canned goods, dried foods or checks for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Meanwhile, there are a number of activities scheduled for November on the Avenue.

For example, Spa R&R offers infant massage classes for mothers and/or fathers on the first and last Monday of each month. Violet Johnson, a certified infant massage educator and a non-practicing British nurse midwife, teaches the 90-minute classes, which are limited to six babies per class. Infant massage promotes bonding, relaxation and a better sleep pattern. Johnson demonstrates the massage on a doll while parents work with their child. The cost is $35 per session and reservations are required. To reserve a spot for the 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. class, call (408) 297-4899. Spa R&R is located at 1345 Lincoln Ave.

Hicklebees will holding several free events during the month of November. On Thursday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m., Kirk Scroggs author of the “Wiley & Grampa's Creature Features” series, including “#7: Night of the Living Eggnog” and “#6: Hair Ball from Outer Space.” With outlandish characters and surreal scenarios, Scroggs has created a quirky series that will keep the Captain Underpants set (ages 7-10) coming back for more!

The children’s bookstore will host Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, who will be presenting the latest book in the “Starcatchers” series, “Peter and the Secret of Rundoon.” In this action-packed finale to the series, Peter and Molly find themselves in the dangerous land of Rundoon, ruled by an evil king who enjoys watching his pet snake consume those who displease him. But that's just the beginning of problems facing them. The two authors will visit at 3 p.m.

On Wednesday, Nov. 7, Bob Jacques returns to Hicklebee’s. Many will remember the last entertaining visit from Jacques, and now he's returning to celebrate the publication of two new books: “Eulalia!,” the newest in his “Redwall” series, and “Redwall: The Graphic Novel,” which brings to life all the battles, all the heroes and all the villains in a cool new format perfect for reluctant readers, those new to the Redwall world, or the countless fans of the series.

Author Jill O'Connor will be at the children’s bookstore on Thursday, Nov. 15. O'Connor, a graduate of the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London, has authored many books, including “Phyllo,” “Eater Treats” and “Simple French Desserts.” She will speak at 7 p.m. about her latest cookbook, “Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth,” and showing us how she creates her delectable treats.

Hicklebee’s is located at 1378 Lincoln Ave.

Two events are planned for Nov. 8. Chi Running certified instructor Ellen Mastros will give a free presentation on Chi Running and training at Urban Sports, Light snacks and refreshments, 6-7pm. Talk followed by Q&A, 7-8pm.)
ChiRunning combines the inner focus and flow of Tai Chi with the power and energy of running to create a revolutionary running form and philosophy that takes the pounding, pain, and potential damage out of the sport of running at Urban Sports, 1115 Lincoln Ave. The free program will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with light refreshments available.

Also on Thursday, Nov. 8, the Diabetes Society presents The Dynamics of Diabetes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This comprehensive one-day course covers the principles of diabetes self-management including the causes, effects and types of diabetes mellitus; diabetes medications and regimes; self-blood glucose monitoring; signs, symptoms and treatment for hypo/hyperglycemia; sick day guidelines; and emotions. Also covered are the prevention and delay of acute and long-term complications, resources and support groups. For more information, contact the Diabetes Society, 1165 Lincoln Ave, Suite 300 at (408) 287-3785.

On Sunday, Nov. 11, there will be a Pirate Pizza Party fund-raiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The MOMS Club of San Jose-West/ Campbell and Round Table Pizza of Willow Glen invite people to a pizza party in honor of a MOMS Club member's son, Sam. Sam is only 4 years old and suffers from a severe lung condition. This event is to celebrate his "wish" to go on a Disney cruise, which has been granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Proceeds will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation to provide other children’s wishes and to touch the lives of children and families everywhere. The fundraiser is scheduled for 5 p.m. at St. Francis Episcopal Church 1205 Pine Ave. The cost is $25 per family or $10 per person.

The Women’s Book Club holds its meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. All women are welcome; the cost is free. On Nov. 26, the club will discuss “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. In 1945, Barcelona lies shrouded in secrets after the war, and a boy mourning the loss of his mother finds solace in his love for an extraordinary book called “The Shadow of the Wind,” by an author named Julian Carax. The book follows the boy from childhood to adulthood as he searches for the author. The book club meets at Willow Glen Books 1330 Lincoln Ave. at 7 p.m.