“It has been three years since we all had the opportunity for fellowship on such an auspicious occasion,” said Erika Albury, an AACSA board member and co-chair of the luncheon with Lennies Gutierrez. “But the great thing is that we are all here today and we are here to celebrate the life, legacy and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

It was a successful comeback for the event at the Holiday Inn on North First Street, which had been held virtually since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were performances by spoken-word poet Prentice Powell, a stirring rendition of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by Victoria Thúy Vi McDowell, and portraits painted on stage by celebrated San Jose teen artist Tyler Gordon and his mother, Nicole Kindle.

AACSA Board Chair Daric Jackson presented awards to Huy Tran of the Justice at Work Law Group, Antoinette Battiste of Educational Pathways, Kenan Moos and Kiyoshi Taylor of Justice Vanguard and Rabbi Laurie Hanh Harper. And that was all before the big event, a powerful keynote by political strategist and commentator Symone Sanders.

As the first major event of the new year in San Jose, the luncheon was packed with elected officials — most toting commendations and resolutions — including new San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg,  State Sen. Dave Cortese and Assemblyman Ash Kalra. But you know who else showed up? Big name corporations and teams.

Amazon came on board as the luncheon’s presenting sponsor, joining fellow sponsors HP, Alaska Airlines, the Golden State Warriors, Destination:Home, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and First 5 Santa Clara County.  AACSA Executive Director Milan Balinton called out the San Francisco 49ers for a $100,000 grant to its Leadership Academy and highlighted more support for the program from Google, Alaska Airlines and Comcast.

Remembering the AACSA of a dozen years ago when it had just 1½ staff members and “really no budget,” Balinton said, “To say these numbers today is a vision that Dr. King had, that I had to catch on to, to create a flame to get other people to come together that now shows up in this room with all of you.”

COMMUNITY TRIBUTE: San Jose’s Oak Grove School District became something of a passion for Yvonne Cook, who died Dec. 19 at age 74. She was part of the home and school club of her children’s elementary school in South San Jose, but later served on the district’s advisory committee and was elected to its board, where she served from 1989 to 2012 — including four stints as board president.

WEATHERING CHANGE: The Cupertino Library Foundation had planned a pretty topical event scheduled for Jan. 18 with reps from Valley Water talking about the region’s drought emergency and the local water supply outlook, given that the period from January to November of 2022 had been the second driest year in the past 128 for Santa Clara County.

Well, things have changed a bit in the past two months, so the topic of the 7 p.m. discussion at the Cupertino Library on Torre Avenue has rolled with the tides. “In light of recent flooding in the Bay Area, discussion on flood management has been added to the agenda,” an email sent Tuesday morning read.

Pizza Flora, Ludwig’s, Mas Pizza and Nox Cookie Bar all have closed their doors or announced their closing in the past couple of weeks. Even Flames Eatery and Bar — a go-to breakfast spot for many downtowners who enjoyed bottomless mimosas — appears to have closed its doors on the corner of Fourth and San Fernando after more than 13 years in business. When you add other spots that never reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic started — or those like Cinebar that were lost in the Lawrence Hotel building fire two years ago — it does look a little bleak, to be honest.

(And I know BART is important to San Jose, but it would really help if VTA wasn’t displacing existing businesses like Mexico Bakery, Erik’s DeliCafe and Umbrella Salon. Couldn’t the agency have used the long-vacant Dr. Eu building on the corner of Second and Santa Clara, instead?)

But if you’ve been around downtown for the past couple of decades, you’ve probably lost lots of favorites over the years. I know I have. Fans of the arcade bar Miniboss may not remember when the corner of Second and Santa Clara was occupied by Toons nightclub. And if you go see shows at the Ritz, you might run into a Gen Xer who’ll tell you about F/X (or any of the clubs that hosted shows there in between). Like hanging out at San Pedro Square Market? Some have fond memories of when the Laundry Works was there and others of Hamburger Mary’s.

There are already some new bright spots downtown. Sunday morning, a line of cars was illegally parked on South First Street as their drivers dashed into EggHead Sando Cafe, a new breakfast hit. Scratch Cookery is dishing out hot chicken sandwiches in Fountain Alley, and the new Little Wine House in Little Italy is generating some raves despite only being open a few weeks. Newcomers Mama Kin in SoFA and Dr. Funk in San Pedro Square are drawing good crowds, too.

Alex Stettinski, who took over as CEO of the San Jose Downtown Association in November, has spent the past 25 years working in downtowns in Los Angeles and Reno, and he’s still optimistic about San Jose’s future despite the challenges.

“I know downtowns all over the country. That’s been my passion and my bread and butter for many years,” he said. “COVID has played a number on our downtowns that I haven’t seen, and you hate to see any small business close. But I’m also an optimist, and I have a world view that the pendulum always swings and the status quo is never as dire as it looks like.”

People are still interested in coming downtown, he said, and did so a lot during the holiday season. But the slow pace of workers returning to downtown offices may signal a transition for how downtown does business. Places cater to residents and people working from home — restaurants with a strong takeout or delivery presence, for example — may be better suited to thrive right now.

“I think the workforce will come back, and there will be more residents,” said Stettinski, who also lives downtown. “That will change the entire fabric of downtown. These are all things to look forward to in the future.”

PARK PLACES: Any plans you may have had for a New Year’s hike through Alum Rock Park are going to have to wait a bit longer. San Jose’s majestic park has been closed since the storms that battered the area at the end of 2022, and the trails have suffered some damage.

Daniel Lazo, the spokesperson for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, says the park is closed indefinitely for public safety, but the area is being monitored and maintenance and repairs are taking place as necessary. “Once Alum Rock is deemed safe to be used, it will be reopened for public use,” Lazo said.

One more casualty of the storms was the Hollywood-style letters spelling out “Alum Rock” at the Penintencia Creek Road entrance. No telling when that selfie-spot attraction will make a comeback.

By the way, many trails in Santa Clara County’s parks system are also closed because of the weather. You can check www.parkhere.org or call 408-355-2200 (press 3) for updated information.

TIME FOR A CHANGE: They say elections have consequences, and the 2022 elections in San Jose led, in part, to the closing of Foley Mortgage in Willow Glen after 65 years. Mike Foley — whose father, Gene Foley, opened his loan office on Lincoln Avenue in 1957 — announced that the company, now on Hamilton Avenue, would shut down at the end of January. Pam Foley, his wife and business partner, was re-elected to the San Jose City Council in June and started her second four-year term this month, leaving very little time for a mortgage business, he said in an email to customers.

NEW YEAR, NEW TITLES: With the change of the calendar came some changes at Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley. Susan Frazer has taken over as CEO, succeeding Mindy Berkowitz, who retired after about 20 years in the job. Frazer’s no stranger to the organization, having served as its chief operating officer for the past couple of years.

She’ll be joined by Jason Stein — who was the top guy at the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of the Boy Scouts of America for 18 years — in the role of chief development officer, and Lisa Tran is the new VP of finance and operations.

This weekend marks the return of FurCon — officially known as Further Confusion — the convention for fans of anthropomorphic animals. Known as “furries,” these fans often create and wear their costumes to the gathering at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, as well as the Hilton and Marriott hotels. The event kicked off Thursday night and runs through Monday. (There are workshops on writing and costume-making, dances, a poker tournament and a fursuit parade; check it out at www.furtherconfusion.org.)

Most years, it wouldn’t be unusual to see crowds of attendees — from people wearing ears and a tail to others in full fursuits — walking through downtown on their way to grab a bite or a drink. And while it’s still possible that you could find yourself at the bar at Paper Plane next to a woman dressed as a giant blue rabbit, heavy rain and fursuits don’t mix well. We can only hope they packed umbrellas.

But if you do see some furries in the wild, as it were, remember that they’re a diverse group like any fan subculture. Some prefer to stay out of pictures, but many that I’ve talked to in previous years welcome questions about their costumes, especially if they’re homemade.

SPOOKY TRADITION RETURNS: On the other hand, a dark and stormy Friday the 13th night is perfect for the return of flashlight tours at the Winchester Mystery House.

To set the mood, the San Jose tourist attraction will ring its iconic tower bell 13 times at 1 p.m. (the 13th hour of the day), and ticketed tour guests will start roaming the 161-room mansion on their own starting after sunset. Of course, there’ll be guides stationed throughout the landmark to make sure guests don’t get too lost. And if you happen to miss the fun this week, flashlight tours are being offered every Friday night through the end of Februrary.

Tickets are available now at winchestermysteryhouse.com.

ANOTHER TRIP FOR 2023: My call for outings in 2023 yielded a few good suggestions on top of those I offered, including taking a trip to the Japanese American Museum in San Jose. The museum at 535 N. Fifth St. in the historic Japantown offers rotating exhibits on the history and culture of Japanese Americans and includes a recreation of a barracks like those where Japanese Americans were interned during the war. After being closed for a while because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. You can get more details at www.jamsj.org.

But what a great marketing idea for the VTA to put music on some of its routes. How about getting a nice jazz trio to play on the light-rail as it cruises its way from downtown San Jose to Cisco or put some mariachis on the 22? Classic rock on the way to Campbell, maybe?

Shiloh Ballard, executive director of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, has been a fan for a while and appreciates the way he spreads creativity and joy while on two wheels. Last week, she organized a bike ride with a group of friends — including fellow nonprofit leaders Cayce Hill of Veggielution and Alex Shoor of Catalyze SV — for a leisurely Friday morning ride. The special guest was Opera Bikeman, who also goes by Vinny (every hero needs a secret identity).

After meeting at Crema coffee on The Alameda, they rode around the St. Leo’s and Shasta-Hanchett area with Opera Bikeman — who has flown a Ukrainian flag since last year’s Russian invasion — providing the soundtrack with opera music from the speaker in a milk crate attached to the back of his Aventon electric bike.

“It makes so many people so happy,” said Ballard, who would like to make the Opera Bikeman ride a regular gathering. “People can’t help but smile when they see us ride by.”

COMMUTING BY KAYAK: You might remember a few years back, I took a kayak ride on the Guadalupe River with Carl Salas, principal at Salas O’Brien engineering firm and a resident of San Jose’s Naglee Park neighborhood. He has continued to ride the mighty Guadalupe regularly — without me — but had been itching to try taking a kayak on Los Gatos Creek from Willow Glen to downtown.

On Jan. 2, a little fearful of the higher water level on the Guadalupe, he thought, “If ever there is a time for a longer distance kayak run on Los Gatos Creek, today is the day.”

He set off from the pedestrian bridge off the Three Creeks Trail near Lincoln Avenue and found himself soon kayaking in what he described as a beautiful, forested river run. He floated by Palermo’s creekside patio — no doubt surprising some lunchtime diners — and was surprised himself as he watched a hawk dive at a duck in the creek looking for a little lunch as well.

“The few miles along the river were exciting and enchanting,” he said, adding that you do need rose-colored glasses to ignore trash and the unfortunate sight of encampments along the creek bed.

PRICELESS TRIBUTE: In October, many of us lost a friend when Steve Yvaska, the Mercury News’ longtime antiques columnist, died in San Jose at age 68 from a rare degenerative disorder. He was a delight to anyone who crossed his path and always seemed happy to answer questions about what people would find in Granny’s attic — whether it was in his column, “The Seasoned Collector,” or at the various antique events around the Bay Area he frequented.

A memorial service will be held for him at 4 p.m. Jan. 12 at St. Christopher’s Church, 2278 Booksin Ave. in Willow Glen. It’s the perfect venue, as he was a volunteer adviser to the St. Christopher Antique Show and Sale for many years. The church’s Ladies Guild, which has put on those fundraising shows for 50 years, will host a reception following the service.

But with the new year, we’ve all got a chance to shake off those old habits, get out of the house and — gasp! — maybe get to hang out together again. I know, staying home is so much easier and you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, I’ve got a few ideas.

Of course, COVID-19 is still with us, so take appropriate precautions depending on your level of comfort. And don’t think of these as New Year’s resolutions — those are made to be broken — but as opportunities to get in touch with the outside world again.

TAKE IN A SHOW: Performing arts organizations are still struggling with small audiences as they try to stay open and keep actors, musicians and behind-the-scenes tech workers on the job. Attending a concert, play or other performance once a month would go a long way toward keeping them afloat.

You can stick with the bigger names — Broadway San Jose, TheatreWorks, Symphony San Jose, Opera San Jose — and do just fine, but why not explore something new at City Lights, San Jose Stage, Teatro Visíon, Tabard Theatre Company, San Jose Playhouse Palo Alto Players or the Los Altos Stage Company?

The next generation of actors are getting their start performing for CMTSJ, Playful People Productions and Starting Arts. The Hammer Theatre Center in downtown San Jose offers a mix of live and streamed performances, and when it comes to music, don’t forget the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, the Mission Chamber Orchestra and the San Jose Wind Symphony.

Most offer lower-priced previews for the budget-conscious, and if you find something you really like, think about subscribing for a season.

GO MAD FOR MUSEUMS: There’s an incredible diversity of museums and galleries to experience right here in Silicon Valley, and you could make a museum trip one weekend a month and only see a fraction of what the region has to offer.

In downtown San Jose, you can explore the San Jose Museum of Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art, MACLA, the Museum of Quilts & Textiles, Works, Chopsticks Alley, Anno Domini and Kaleid. Santa Clara has the Triton Museum and the de Saisset at Santa Clara University. The Cantor Museum of Art at Stanford is a gem, as is the Euphrat Museum at De Anza College in Cupertino.

Families can have fun at the Children’s Discovery Museum or the Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose or the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo.

Looking for something a little different? Try the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose or the New Museum in Los Gatos. History Park in San Jose and the Montalvo Arts Center and Hakone Estate and Gardens — both in Saratoga — all provide an experience not confined by a building.

LET’S DO LUNCH: Workers are slow in coming back to the office in Silicon Valley since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been disastrous for restaurants. So whether you’re in the office or at home, how about taking one day a week to go out to lunch?

You can visit a new restaurant (or at least one that’s new to you) or introduce a friend or co-worker to one of your old favorites. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but you might want to treat yourself to a splurge once in a while.

TAKE A HIKE — OR A BIKE: Remember all those parks you explored during 2020 when those were the only places anyone could go? Well, they’re all still there. Make a plan to visit the mineral springs at Alum Rock Park, stroll by the Stanford Dish or hit the 342 miles of hiking trails at Santa Clara County’s 28 regional parks.

If you’d rather get outside on two wheels than two feet, there are more bike paths than ever before. Check out the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition’s website at www.bikesiliconvalley.org for routes and ideas.

At the very least, it’ll help you work off that weekly lunch. If you’ve got other suggestions for getting outdoors this year, let me know and I’ll share them with readers in a future column.

Sharon Miller, who coordinated the concerts since their start in 1996, stepped down from that job after last year (though she’s still working for Catholic Charities Cathedral Social Ministries) and no one was able to step into the role this year. St. Joseph’s has gone through its own challenges including the relocation of its longtime music director, Julie Wind, about a year ago.

But while the inside of the cathedral is quiet in the evenings this month, there’s a lot going on outside. For the third consecutive year, the majestic building is being used as a digital canvas for a projection-mapped art show created by Santa Clara-based Estioko Designs. The show begins around 6 p.m. each night and is accompanied by music that’s best heard on the west side of Market Street facing the cathedral.

Maybe next year we can get both the projection mapping and celebrate the return of Season of Hope.

ALL ABOUT THE ART: ArtHouse Studio — a student art program that’s been around for more than 20 years — celebrated its first anniversary as a nonprofit this month with an art showcase and fundraiser in Willow Glen.

Executive Director Julie Stover said the nonprofit status enables ArtHouse Studio (formerly known as ArtHouse Kids) to concentrate on the creative and opportunity gap in under-resourced communities. It’s partnered with companies including LinkedIn, Adobe, Salesforce, Intuit, Nike and the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley to help students explore their artistic sides.

“Art can be a powerful tool to address mental wellness, empowerment and innovation,” Stover said. “We are all about the importance of showcasing images from our programs to let students and their families feel pride in what they have accomplished and give communities a chance to see and hear students voices for better understanding of the youth that surrounds us all. Art can be a great connector.”

ArtHouse Studio brings its Creativity for Life programs to over 1,300 students each week and is building a video series for schools that need a budget-friendly, 15-minute “creative break” in the day. You can check out a gallery of the student artwork inside the Garden Theater on Lincoln Avenue in San Jose, where the Dec. 7 fundraising event was held, and find out more at www.arthousestudioca.org.

HANUKKAH AND HOCKEY: Chabad of San Jose and other local Jewish organizations are celebrating Jewish Heritage Night at SAP Center on Sunday, the first night of Hanukkah. Fans who arrive early for the game against the Calgary Flames can watch the lighting of the Grand Menorah at 6 p.m., along with remarks by Rabbi Shaya Bernstein and Rabbi Aaron Cunin of Chabad, as well as San Jose Sharks player Luke Kunin.

“The menorah serves as a symbol of our community’s dedication to preserve light and encourage perseverance,” Rabbi Cunin said. “The eight-day holiday symbolizes the need to keep growing and adding light in our lives and communities.”

CRUISING RIGHT ALONG: Remember when San Jose City Councilmember Raul Peralez took down the last “No Cruising” sign in front of City Hall back in August? At the last City Council meeting of the year — and of his eight-year tenure — Peralez joined with members of the United Lowrider Council of San Jose to present that sign, autographed by him and many of his council colleagues, to Ken Middlebrook, curator of collections at History San Jose, to join the city’s historical collection.

CHEERS TO YOU: Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams was honored recently with the Daniel Curtain Young Public Lawyer Award for outstanding public service by the International Municipal Lawyers Association. The award came just in the nick of time for Williams — who’s been the county’s top lawyer since 2016 — as he’s been tapped to succeed County Executive Jeff Smith when he retires next year. Maybe the 38-year-old Williams has a “young county executive” award in his future.

The Santa Clara County Farm Bureau, meanwhile, presented the Linda L. Lester Friend of Agriculture Award to Valley Water Director Richard Santos last Wednesday for his support for Santa Clara County agriculture. If I were a farmer, I’d want the guy who handles the water to be a friend of agriculture, too.

While the 2020 and 2021 screenings were scrapped because of COVID-19, the culprit this year is the classic Palo Alto movie theater’s HVAC system. The theater, which originally opened in 1925 and was restored to great applause in the late 1980s by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, is expected to remain closed until early 2023 while the heating and ventilation system is replaced. (You can check for updates on the theater’s reopening at www.stanfordtheatre.org.)

“It’s a Wonderful Life,” the Frank Capra-directed 1946 holiday classic, had been an annual event at the Stanford Theatre since its reopening in 1989, consistently playing to a sold-out house on Dec. 24. Some fans lamented the news on Facebook, expressing their willingness to bring blankets to the unheated theater rather than miss George Bailey’s struggle with faith for another year, while others said they would just look forward to being back next year.

“I guess we’ll all just have to make our own personal Pottervilles, and seek out bars that serve hard drinks to make men get drunk fast,” longtime movie writer Richard von Busack quipped on Facebook, quoting a line from the movie.

One possibility that may not have been explored yet is holding the screening at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, which is just as majestic a venue. There is some precedent here, too, as there was a Christmas Eve showing at the California concurrent with the tradtional Stanford showing in 2007. Maybe the nonprofit Stanford Theatre Foundation can warm up to that idea to make everyone’s holidays a little brighter this year.

LIFTING THEIR VOICES: There’s a really special performance this Saturday at Five Wounds Portuguese National Church in San Jose, which is hosting a rare performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” by the nonprofit concert choir I Cantori de Carmel.

Daniel Henriks, the Carmel choir’s music director, was raised in Germany before studying at Julliard and embarking on a career as a baritone in European opera houses and concert halls. As you might expect, hearing performances of Bach’s “Weihnachts-Oratorium,” as it’s known in German, were part of his Christmas tradition growing up.

Tickets to the 8 p.m. concert are available at www.icantori.org.

HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS: Santana Row in San Jose again will be the site for a huge Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, the first night of the holiday. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. and include a performance by the West Grand Brass Band, a children’s choir and the lighting of the grand menorah on the stage at Park Valenicia in front of Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Last year, more than 1,500 people attended a gathering on the last night of Hanukkah, which was a collaboration among the seven Chabad centers in Santa Clara County. Get more information on this year’s gathering, as well as other Hanukkah events at www.chanukahsj.com.

And the outcome was due to ranked-choice voting, of all things.

The city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department is planning a “reimagining” of the 10-acre Columbus Park, and that includes dropping its connection to the much-maligned European explorer. The city asked residents to nominate potential names and conducted surveys to determine the most popular ones out of 19 suggestions. The five finalists were A.P. Giannini Park, Muwekma Ohlone Park, Walnut Street Park, Taylor Street Park and Janet Gray Hayes Park.

In the final ranked-choice voting — which got 842 responses — Muwekma Ohlone Park got the most first-preference votes with 206, just ahead of Giannini (200) and Hayes (199). But the former mayor won out by being the most common second-preference, which helped boost her past Walnut Street Park and Muwekma Ohlone Park. The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission voted in October to recommend Janet Gray Hayes Park to the San Jose City Council, which is expected to consider it in early 2023.

HOPE GRANTED: Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian joined Hope Services CEO Chip Huggins and Director of Mental Health Anna Fernandez for a celebration at the nonprofit’s location on Middlefield Road in Mountain View. The reason for the festivities? A $250,000 grant that Simitian spearheaded through the County Board of Supervisors last summer for Hope Services, which provides programs for members of the community who are developmentally disabled or require mental health services. The grant is funding four Ford Explorers and 60 laptops so clients can access its services remotely.

Huggins notes that the disabled community has had a tougher time recovering from the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic and providing transportation and remote access to telehealth is crucial. Simitian agreed, calling the partnership between the county and the non-profit “smart.”

“If something as simple and basic as a van or a laptop can connect the program participants at Hope Services with the larger community, that’s a winner,” Simitian said.

SHOPPING LOCAL: Still on the search for an interesting holiday gift that also satisfies your desire to keep your dollars in the community? There are a couple of events this weekend on The Alameda in San Jose to help you out. The School of Visual Philosophy is hosting its annual Handmade for the Holidays gift fair, with more than 30 creative types offering original art, homegoods and apparel from 3-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1065 The Alameda.

HELPING HANDS: Bonnie and Marvin Bamburg got some unexpected aid last Saturday night when they were heading to History Park in San Jose to catch Silicon Valley Shakespeare’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” They misjudged the curb while making a U-turn on Phelan Road, and their Tesla wound up perched on the concrete unable to move. Soon after, a group of young men approached the car from the nearby neighborhood and offered their help.

While the Bamburgs suggested calling a tow truck, the guys were insistent they could handle it themselves and together lifted the red Tesla off the curb and back onto solid ground. Bonnie Bamburg said the group continued on their way before the couple could even properly thank them for their help.

On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved naming the Alamitos Creek Bridge in Almaden Quicksilver County Park after Kathleen “Kitty” Monahan, a teacher, preservationist and historian who was a driving force behind the creation of the 4,000-acre San Jose park in the 1970s — as well as many other parks-related projects in the area over the decades. Monahan died in July at age 89, leaving Santa Clara County with one less strong voice to advocate for its open space.

Supervisor Joe Simitian proposed renaming the bridge on Alamitos Road, just south of Bertram Road, in her memory after a New Almaden resident contacted his office with the idea. He first ran the plan past Monahan’s brother, Richard, who told him the idea was wonderful because “Kitty bridged so many things. Alamitos Creek can be another one.”

There was only one small snag on the way to this perfect tribute and that was a board policy that didn’t allow naming something after a private individual unless that person contributed a majority of the funding for the facility or to acquire the land it’s on. Simitian wondered if it would even apply to a bridge and suggested that if it did, his fellow supervisors should override the rule in this case.

“Setting aside that lack of clarity, this situation is unique,” he wrote in a supporting memo. “This is a bridge in the public right of way, over a creek that is a community asset, located within the Almaden Quicksilver County Park; Ms. Monahan was pivotal in the effort to establish that park.”

Almaden Quicksilver County Park was always going to be part of Kitty Monahan’s legacy. But now this bridge named after her is a concrete expression of gratitude by the county.

GIFT-GIVING SEASON: “Stuff the Bus” returns to Christmas in the Park on Saturday, as the U.S. Marine Reserves Toys for Tots program will be taking donations of new, unwrapped toys from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and trying to fill at least one VTA bus. There’s even a drop-off lane on northbound Market Street for anyone who isn’t sticking around.

And Mike Hennessy says Hot San Jose Nights’ fifth annual toy and food drive is a go for Sunday at the Cambrian Park Plaza shopping center at Union and Camden avenues. They’ll take donations of new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food — no glass containers — from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that’ll be delivered to the Lord’s Pantry off White Road. TSP Motorsports President Mike Mak has a similar drive running at his shop at 2705 Lafayette St. in Santa Clara from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There should be some great cars on display at both venues, too.

CAROLING ALONG: Bass-baritone Marques Jerrell Ruff will add his voice to the Symphony San Jose Chorale for the “Carols in the California” program this Saturday night at the California Theatre. As always, the show will include traditional sing-alongs, along with the always popular “Twelve Days of San Jose Christmas,” a gift from conductor Elena Sharkova that never stops giving. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are available for $36 ($26 for anyone 26 or younger) at www.symphonysanjose.org.

Amid the sculptures and other art on the grounds and inside the historic villa, Council Board President Mark Lazzarini presented Brandenburg with the Boy Scouts’ Distinguished Citizen award Wednesday night. And the celebration, attended by more than 200 people, was art-driven from start to finish with Jodi Carr from Arty Party cutting silhouettes of guests and Suhita Shirodkar live sketching the event.

Brandenburg — along with her late husband, Lee Brandenburg — has supported a bounty of Silicon Valley causes, from the Children’s Discovery Museum and YMCA’s Camp Campbell to the San Jose Fire Museum and Montalvo’s Lucas Arts Program. They were also big donors to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library in downtown San Jose — the first-floor browsing library bears their name — and Diane has been a board member since 2009 of Forgotten International, a nonprofit that works to eliminate poverty in the United States and around the globe.

To add to the creative frivolity of the night, the dress code allowed guests to come attired in black tie or as their favorite artists. So among the tuxedos and gowns, you might have caught a glimpse of Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo and even Bob Ross. Montalvo Arts Center CEO Angela McConnell may have been my favorite, though, unrecognizable under a blue-black wig with colorful dots all over her face and a comic-strip skirt. What was the costume? “I’m pop art,” she replied.

BREEZE OF CHANGE: Urban Confluence Silicon Valley is pushing forward with moving “Breeze of Innovation,” the proposed downtown San Jose landmark structure, to Plaza de Cesar Chavez instead of Arena Green. At a presentation and fundraiser held Tuesday night at the Tech Interactive, Executive Director Steve Borkenhagen said the move still needs approval from the San Jose City Council, which may consider the issue as soon as January.

It sure sounds like Mayor-elect Matt Mahan favors the move. “Beyond being a visual landmark, Breeze of Innovation will help properly honor the legacy of Cesar Chavez in the park that bears his name,” Mahan said in a video Tuesday night. “It will also enhance our park for public events, for concerts and for our beloved Christmas in the Park.”

Honoring Cesar Chavez in a significant way has become part of the project, as has building a new stage for the park — home to the main stage for San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Music in the Park concerts and other festivals.

On top of an expanded mission, Urban Confluence’s board also has grown with new members including Andres Chavez, executive director of the National Chavez Center and Cesar Chavez’s grandson; Xavier Campos, president of Chavez Family Vision, and Gabriel Medina, vice president of Chavez Family Vision and Cesar Chavez’s grand-nephew.

The fundraiser fetched several four- and five-figure pledges, but it was Cinequest co-founder Kathleen Powell who ended up with the crown of “Last Breeze of Innovation Hero” following a rapid-fire auction for a vacation package. And she managed to do it with just $800 of strategically timed bids.

She said she hopes the crown she got to take home gets passed down year after year with names engraved into it like the Stanley Cup. Fun idea, but the headpiece — “gold-colored” not gold — looked a little flimsy for that. Might have to use Post-It notes.

SANTA’S HELPERS: Darrell Cortez, executive director of Shop with a Cop Silicon Valley Foundation, says the nonprofit will celebrate its 15th anniversary of its Heroes & Helpers shopping spree this week. On Dec. 8, 270 kids will enjoy a breakfast and then team up with law enforcement officers to spend a $150 Target gift card to buy gifts for their family members and themselves.

Some of the youngsters earned their way through a Readers Are Leaders campaign at their school, while others have endured a traumatic crisis. Cortez says it’s been a tough few years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the group is glad to be back in person to give those children a positive impression of law enforcement (and there are 24 local, state and federal agencies participating).

But they’re at least $5,000 short of donations to hit their goal and get a dollar-for-dollar match from a donor. Get more details on how to help at www.shopwithacopsv.org.

FILLING THOSE SEATS: There’s been a lot of chatter in San Jose political circles this week about how the San Jose City Council will decide to fill the two seats vacated by Mayor-Elect Matt Mahan and Supervisor-Elect Sylvia Arenas. Will it be an appointment? Will it be a special election? It might be both. We’ll find out after the special 5 p.m. meeting on Dec. 5.

TRIBUTE: One of the Google Doodles this week honored Jerry Lawson, a pioneering Black engineer in Silicon Valley who should have the gratitude of every gamer out there today. Lawson, who would have been 82 on Thursday but died in 2011 in Santa Clara, worked on early video game consoles in the 1970s for Fairchild and developed the video game cartridge.