San Jose gets early start on St. Paddy’s
Downtown San Jose missed its shot at celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in 2020 — Santa Clara County’s stay-at-home order went into effect March 17 — but it’s sure making up for it this year.
Starting today, there will be plushy leprechauns in the windows of eateries and other businesses, various downtown buildings will be lit up in green and a St. Patrick’s Day-themed arch set up in San Pedro Square ready for a picture-perfect selfie backdrop. And Wednesday, hundreds of shamrock-themed masks will be passed out to people downtown.
The San Jose Downtown Association’s staff has been doing a stellar job of working to draw visitors back to the city’s core the past few months with the lighting campaigns and social media selfie contests for gift cards to downtown restaurants. The Downtown Association’s website, sjdowntown.com, is one of the best resources to find out which eateries are providing outdoor, dine-in or takeout service and what the hours are.
Yes, there will be Guinness flowing at O’Flaherty’s and Irish whiskey being poured at Five Points bar — among other places — Wednesday, but celebrants need to remember to stay safe and keep a safe distance. After all, just because a public St. Patrick’s Day was “canceled”
last year doesn’t mean it’s OK to be stupid this year.
TWIST ON A TRADITION >> March 19 is St. Joseph’s Day, a Catholic holiday that is usually the cause for a big celebration by San Jose’s Italian American Heritage Foundation.
This year is far from usual, but that just meant the IAHF had to adjust its plans. Organizers are hoping to capture the spirit of the St. Joseph’s Table event even without a Mass followed by an in-person lunch.
People can stop by the IAHF cultural center at 425 N. Fourth St. that day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pick up a free to-go bag containing the traditional gift of a dry fava bean, an orange, a bread item and prayer cards.
Those items go back to the traditional Sicilian celebration that stems from a time of famine, when people resorted to eating fava beans — intended to feed cattle — and pleaded to St. Joseph, Sicily’s patron saint, for relief.
This year’s commemoration also honors Monsignor Joe Milani, who celebrated the St. Joseph Day Mass for many years and died in July 2020, and the bags are being blessed in advance by Bishop Oscar Cantu.
It’s free for everyone until the bags run out, but donations are always welcomed. Anyone who needs special accommodations or needs more information can call the IAHF office at 408-293-7122.
CHEERS >> This week, the Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council recognized Thelma Boac, a Berryessa Union School District trustee, as its citizen of the year.
Boac, who has lived in the North San Jose neighborhood for more than 50 years, had a long career as a teacher and administrator in the South Bay, including serving as principal of Silver Creek High School in San Jose. “It is a pure joy to honor a community role model, especially one who gives of herself so freely and expects nothing in return,” said Susan Fowle, chair of the council’s selection committee.
Meanwhile, Bay FM (94.5) had an on-air presentation last week to celebrate Jona Denz-Hamilton’s 25 years with the station. She was already a radio name in San Jose and Sacramento when she signed with KBAY in March 1996, and she’s certainly been a welcome presence in the South Bay ever since. “Jona is a real treasure to the Bay Area as a radio personality and through her involvement and service to the community,” Alpha Media Content Director Dave Numme said. And I’ll second that.