Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. There will be a memorial ceremony and a parade in downtown San Jose. In honor of Veterans Day, entrance fees waived at National Parks and other areas.

The Parade‘s Opening Ceremony begins on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month with a memorial ceremony at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Market Street.

The Parade begins at noon from Delmas Street (near HP Pavilion) and travels east along Santa Clara to Market Street. The Parade then proceeds south on Market Street and ends at San Carlos Street. The reviewing stand is near Park Street.

Vice Admiral Jody A. Breckenridge, Commander United States Coast Guard Defense Forces West and Pacific Area, is this year’s Grand Marshal.

In addition, entrance fees waived on Veterans Day at public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Bureau of Land Management. Click on the service’s link for more information (other fees still apply). There are a number of public recreation lands in the Bay Area or head on over to Yosemite.

Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Bachelder 'Dutch Boy' tiles were reproduced as part of the restoration of the Rotary Ryland Pool.

Near-downtown residents got together today to celebrate the completion of historical restoration work on the Rotary Ryland Pool at Ryland Park in the Vendome neighborhood. Vendome Neighborhood Association president Tina Morrill presented restored tilework on the pool, as well as educational signage, a commemorative plaque, and a new sign for the entry to the pool.

The pool was originally built in the 1920’s, featuring the Batchelder “Dutch Boy” tiles around its perimeter wall. These tiles were later painted over, probably in the 1970’s. What’s worse, to make the paint adhere better, the tiles were sandblasted, eliminating their original glaze and much of their relief pattern.

In 2006, when the city of San Jose wanted to close the pool, the public outcry, massive efforts by a small group of volunteers, and $1.4 million in funding came together to save it. The pool reopened last summer, but the historical restoration work continued over the past year.

Reproduction Dutch Boy tiles were produced from a mold taken from a 1920’s era Batchelder tile found at an out-of-state antique tile dealer. A commemorative plaque was installed, recognizing the contribution of the Rotary Club in donating the original pool and funding the recent restoration work. An education placard was also posted, explaining the restoration proces, and also hopefully making the point that historic resources should not be treated as cavalierly as the pool and its tiles once were. Finally, a new sign was added at the entry to the pool, designed by Northsider Sonya Lu and fabricated by Brian’s Welding, just down the street from the park.

The new entryway sign at Ryland Pool.

Bark in the Park is a fundraising event with big dogs, little dogs, skilled dogs, not so skilled dogs; well, you get the idea. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Humane Society Silicon Valley and San Jose Animal Care Center.

Throughout the day at various times: dancing dogs, dog water park, free dog agility course, flyball canine relay, performing dogs, grooming, training tips and herding demonstrations.

Special event highlights: dog costume contest, 11:00 am, silly dog tricks, 12:00 pm and pet/owner look alike contest 1:00 pm.

In addition, 99 cents rabies vaccinations, low cost microchipping, dog-related vendors and what would an event be without kid’s activities?

There will be live music along with food and beverages.

Important: All pets must be on a leash. Pick up after your dog.

Bark in the Park 2009
William Street Park, San Jose
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets

Saturday, September 19
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Admission: humans free – $5 donation per dog is encouraged

Parking: Attendees may park in the Naglee Park neighborhood, please do not block the driveways. There will be a drop-off location at the park and directions to nearby parking areas.

Pierluigi Oliverio

Tonight is council member Pierluigi Oliverio’s 3rd annual district 6 “Safety Fair & Outdoor Movie Event“.

Featuring – “WALL-E” by Disney/Pixar

When – Friday, August 28th

Time – 7:00 PM

Where – Bramhall/Willow St. Park – Willow Glen

Enter – Willow St. (near Meridian) cross street Glen Eyrie

Bring – a Blanket and Flashlight

Willow Glen Extra reported the other day on a threat to the “Three Creeks” bike trail proposed to link trails along Coyote Creek, the Guadalupe River, and Los Gatos Creek. The trail is planned by the city of San Jose to be built along abandoned railroad rights of way, but money hasn’t yet been found to purchase the land.

In the meantime, the railroad has sold portions of the land off to other parties, and now one purchaser is planning to build a structure over the proposed trail site. Stucco Supply Co. is requesting planning approval to build a storage area on the land they acquired from the railroad.

Because planning approval is needed there’s still time for input from the public. With enough support, the planning department can require the property owner to grant an easement for bicycle access through the site, allowing the bike path to pass through the area without having to be diverted onto busy streets.

See the WGx article for more detail, including the names and addresses of appropriate government people to contact if you support development of San Jose’s cycling infrastructure.

Officer Sanchez had goodies for the kids.

A couple of photos from the National Night Out event in the Northside.

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Saturday, May 16, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Creek Connections Action Group and the City of San Jose are teaming up with Save the Bay to clean up the levee for the Guadalupe River, and the banks of the Coyote Creek, as well as a number of other watersheds in and around San Jose next saturday, May 16 as part of the National Rivers day trash clean-up.

Anyone who wants to help (over 10 yrs old please) can chip in and help clean up our creeks. You can download a PDF file with a map of the creeks and find one near you, or go to the website to see a list of creeks being cleaned up.

You don’t need to bring a thing with you. Gloves and tools will be provided on site with instructions. Just make sure you visit the website to download a waiver form and get signed up!

The 18th Annual Kids Free Fishing Days is this weekend at the Campbell Percolation Ponds, Los Gatos Creek Park.

Kids 17-years-old and younger fish free and adults are welcome to attend. Bring your own rod, reel, and bait. The ponds will be stocked with 30,000 pounds of trout donated by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Kids who catch specially marked fish will be awarded prizes, including rods, bait and tackle boxes. For very young kids there will be opportunities for prizes at a rubber duck wading pool.

Even though the fishing is for the kids, the whole family can enjoy the event, which also features prizes, games and music. Bring a picnic lunch; there will be hot dogs/sodas available to purchase.

Los Gatos Creek County Park
1250 Dell Ave, Campbell

Saturday and Sunday, May 2 – 3
Begins at sun up and ends at sundown

Los Gatos Creek Park Parking (Vehicle Entry Fee): $6.00

…it is, in fact, an excellent time of year to visit the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden in the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens. You might also want to keep your calendar open on April 25 for Spring in Guadalupe Gardens.

The city of San Jose celebrated the grand opening of the renovated Roosevelt Community Center at the corner of East Santa Clara and 21st Streets. The Center is housed in a beautiful new building and offers impressive amenities that should benefit a broad cross-section of the community.

First, there is a fitness center with multiple stair-climbing and jogging machines. A dance studio will host classes in ballet, hip hop dance, and martial arts, among others. Computer and art rooms will host still more classes.

The teen center is another major asset, with a staff of three, and facilities for physical activities like ping-pong and pool; video games, including a Playstation system controlled by a stationary bicycle; board games; and a study area. The teen center will be open (If I’ve remembered this correctly) from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, 6 days a week.

Finally, as part of the grand opening, a free CPR class was held and I joined about 30 people learning the basics of CPR. It wasn’t a complete certification class, but taught us enough to hopefully keep someone alive while waiting for paramedics or firefighters to arrive. This class was taught by a trained EMT and San Jose firefighters. Fire Captain Jose Chavez told me the city is pursuing a “heart-safe” city designation, which would indicate a high percentage of residents trained in CPR, and availability of automatic external defibrillators (AED’s) in public places. Captain Chavez told me that AED’s have already saved six lives in San Jose public buildings and schools.