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Just because we’re social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t be social, right? That’s what San Jose resident Shelly Glennon figured when she started dancing every afternoon with her kids in their front yard and invited her neighbors up and down her street to get down on their porches or driveways.
“It’s completely transformed my state of mind,” said Glennon, who lives in San Jose’s Northside neighborhood. “They’re singing from the windows and balconies in Italy. I can’t sing, but I can do this.”
The dance-dance revolution started last week when Glennon returned home from Toronto with a cough. With two young children in the house, she immediately quarantined herself in her bedroom. “By the weekend, I was losing it. I couldn’t see my own babies,” she said. So, she put on some music and danced from her upstairs bedroom where the kids — ages 2 and 4 — could see her from the front lawn, and they danced along, too.
Once she was fully recovered this week, they took the show outside to get a little fresh air and exercise during the shelter-in-place, and put a sign in their front window encouraging neighbors on the 400 block of North 16th Street to join from their own front porches at 3:30 p.m. every day. Mark Phillips, one of her neighbors who works in the theater world, brought out his sound system on Thursday for a few appropriate musical selections: MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” and “Baby Shark” because, well, it’s “Baby Shark.” Everyone stayed at such a safe distance it was like watching a middle school dance.
“My hope is by the end of this, all of downtown is opening their door at 3:30 and dancing their hearts out,” Glennon said.
Now, other neighborhoods around the South Bay have suggested trying similar “safe” social gatherings, and San Jose City Councilwoman Dev Davis even proposed a 5 p.m. “happy hour” for Willow Glen neighborhoods with people staying 6 feet apart. But she said the Santa Clara County Health Department told her it was a no-no and forced her to cancel the plans.
We’ve all got to do what we need to in order to stay healthy and keep others safe, but I think dancing on the porch for 15 minutes has to come under an exercise exception. Otherwise, we’re gonna have a scene right out of “Footloose” in San Jose.
SIDEWALK OF HAPPINESS: Lori Kenyon, who lives a few blocks away from Glennon on South 16th Street, shared that her daughter, Natalie, had been keeping herself occupied by creating amazing chalk art in their backyard. But she decided to share some of that art with the world and make people smile, so she created several colorful pieces on the sidewalk in front of their home. The rain expected in a few days will probably wash the art away, but I’m sure it’ll come back.
If you can’t see it in person, you can check out her work on Instagram at @natalie_perhaps.
RIBS AND A ROLL: I’m glad to see so many restaurants still open for takeout right now, and it’s key to patronize them if you’re able to. Some are offering curbside delivery, others have meal specials and some are including cocktails and beer now.
Sam Carlino of Sam’s Bar-B-Que on Bascom Avenue has a a special offer, too, and it’s one he’s betting people won’t want to refuse. On Tuesday only, he’s throwing in a roll of toilet paper with every full rack of baby-back ribs he sells. The proceeds — the ribs are $25.95 a rack a la carte — will go toward a bonus check for the restaurant’s employees. And don’t worry, Carlino hasn’t been raiding Costco for the toilet paper. It’s surplus from the restaurant’s bathrooms that is going unused since the dining room is closed.
MUSICIANS LIVE ONLINE: One of the consequences of the coronavirus restrictions hitting at the same time as St. Patrick’s Day was all the music that was supposed to happen but didn’t. Many musicians have been comforting the rest of us with streaming concerts, and Celtic music promoters Tony and Celia Becker let me know about a good one this weekend.
Northern California-raised fiddler Galen Fraser and his bandmates, who were on tour in Spain and got stuck there when the restrictions went into effect, have organized the Stay at Home Festival, which began streaming Friday and was set to continue throughout the weekend. Dozens of musicians are signed up to take part, and you can check it out (and donate if you wish) at http://stayathomefestival.com.
COVID-19 FREE ZONE: Dawn Hogh is the new executive director of Cancer CAREpoint, the nonprofit that provides a range of support services for cancer patients throughout the region including therapeutic massage, counseling, support groups, and a wig bank. Hogh, who has 35 years in tech marketing, business development and nonprofit work, had previously been the deputy director of Cancer CAREpoint.
Noelle Henderson, Cancer CAREpoint’s board chair, said Hogh’s leadership will aid the nonprofit’s continued growth. “Her knowledge of and passion for Cancer CAREpoint coupled with her experience will help us accelerate our ability to reach those impacted by cancer in our community,” she said.
And congratulations to Bill Tantillo, the junior varsity football coach at Leigh High School in San Jose, who was one of 25 winners of the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award for his positive impact on youth sports. The parent who nominated him for the award, which includes a $1,000 prize, said Tantillo “creates an environment where every player feels like he belongs and is an important member of the team from the very first day.”
