October 20, 2006

Good times for all at Day in the Park

Evergreen residents turn out in droves for Day in the Park

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

Each year in October, the District 8 City Council office invites all of Evergreen’s residents to join them at Lake Cunningham Park for a Day in the Park.

13-month-old Mayah Bajacan attempts to carry off her favorite pumpkin at Day in the Park.

This year was no different, with Council member Dave Cortese and his office staff welcoming more than 9,000 people to the Oct. 7 daylong multicultural event.

“The whole point of the event is to build bridges of communication between all of the diverse cultures in this area,” said Cortese. “It brings residents out of their neighborhoods and subdivisions and into the larger neighborhood of Evergreen and the east valley. The people are what makes this a great event.”

This year was special, Cortese added, although he noted that each year it seems to get better and better. The day was well attended, he said, and no one ran out of anything, from the free hot dogs and hamburgers the council office passed out, to the ethnic food booths, to the 1,500 free pumpkins.

Despite rain earlier in the week, the weather cooperated. People, especially young ones, spent time fishing in the re-stocked lake or watching model boat races. The North American Model Boat Association attended for the first time and later raffled off three model boats.

Ryan Libed skates in the picnic area of Lake Cunningham Park where free hamburgers and hotdogs were being served as part of the Evergreen Day in the Park.

More than 100 non-profit organizations, government agencies and some private businesses opened booths for the day. One of those was the District 8 Roundtable, which has separated from the council office and is now independent. The group was busy signing up new members throughout the day.

There were seven cultural booths set up by vocational students from the Central County Occupational Center. These represented cultures from Canada, Spain, Egypt, Peru, Thailand, the South Pole and the Australian aborigines. The children’s area was also quite busy with different organizations, such as Bill Wilson, the San Jose Public Library and Grace Lutheran Church reading to children as well as face painting and spin art.

This year, District 8 partnered with the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen. The net proceeds of the day, which at press time were not yet calculated, will be going to the Jerry Erich Scholarship Foundation for a couple of local scholars.

Twenty-two prizes were raffled off, including the three model boats and, as part of the Rotary Club’s raffle, tickets to a luxury box at the HP Pavilion for a San Jose Sharks game, valued at approximately $1,900.

Two stages entertained residents. The Main Stage featured two famous singers, Manuel Romero and Jessica Johnson, as well as the Evergreen Valley Church Band and other local cultural groups.

Four-year-old Jacquelyn Tran is helped with an art project by her mom, Lani, at one of many free booths at Evergreen's Day in the Park. Following tradition, there was also free food and free pumpkins.

Day in the Park sponsors provided free food, including thousands of hamburgers and hot dogs disappeared into hungry tummies. The food was barbequed by San Jose Fire Fighters who donated their time.

A number of sponsors made the day possible. Publicity came from various local media including the Evergreen Times. Gold sponsors, contributing $2,000 or more, were Albertsons, Shapell Homes and McDonalds. Silver sponsors, donating $1,000, were

Barbaccia Investments, Taylor Woodrow Homes, Trumark Companies, Westfield Valley Fair, KB Homes, Beshoff Motor Cars, Southwest Airlines and the Roem Corporation.

Bronze supporters gave $500 and consisted of the San Jose Giants, Help-U-Sell, Brookfield Homes and Robson Homes.

Those contributing $100 included Yellow Checker Cab Company, Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc., Devcon Construction Inc., Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, Cord Associates, Normandin Chrysler Jeep, Berliner Cohen, California Apartment Association and Nas Broker Inc.

Cortese handed out the biggest compliment to his office staff and the “huge number of volunteers who all made the day possible. My staff handled the day so well this year, that it was stress free. Everyone had a good time.”