New Neighborhood Voice
Newsletter-
Edition 31 - Section 2
November 6, 2005
Click on a thumbnail to view larger photos
|
Eastside FISH |
|
Dave Roever
at JLHS |
|
New ARUESD
Trustee |
|
Tomoko Nakajima
|
Buddha's
Hand |
|
Arvind Kumar's
Toyon |
|
Horny deer
|
|
New City Hall -
now open
|
Kids were
impressed |
But what's
this?
|
|
Can you read
the lower line?
|
|
White Road
pigeon problems |
|
Alum Rock Ave.
at Clareview
|
|
How did they
find Guinness?
|
NNV Tours Marguerite Terrace
Wow! You should see it … and they’d really like you
to!
Our neighborhood’s new-old retirement residence has opened its facilities and
services to the public after 41 years as the exclusive domain of the ladies of
P.E.O. Sitting quietly behind row upon row of dowager roses, the buildings used
to passively turn their back on neighbors passing by the corner of Alum Rock and
Kirk Avenues. However, all that has changed. A grand renovation recently
reworked the front entrance into a warm, welcoming portico which seems to say to
passersby, “Hey, look at us now. We’re part of your neighborhood after all!”
The rather dank, enigmatic “California P.E.O. Home” sign at the corner has
been replaced by fanciful, leafy signage proclaiming a bright new entity,
“Marguerite Terrace.” This is not to say that the P.E.O. members who lived there
are gone. Sixteen ladies, all members of this “Philanthropic Educational
Organization,” live in the four residence buildings and they’re still enjoying
the sunny ambience and beautiful grounds which until now were theirs alone.
As of four months ago, Marguerite Terrace, opened its doors to “older adults”
(from age 62) in the community. And men are welcome, too! Couples accommodations
are in the offing. We denizens of the East foothills suddenly have a fantastic
new resource available to us – right close to our homes.
Last month Marguerite Terrace held marketing sessions and an Open House to
acquaint interested folks with their offerings. Two Thursday noon meetings
included a sumptuous luncheon buffet in the sparkling dining room which, we were
assured, is the usual offering available to residents every weekday. The buffet
table was beautifully colorful and artistically arranged. It had a potluck feel
(in the very best sense of the word) – with lots and lots of variety and
elaborate, out-of-the-ordinary salads, meats, fruits galore, desserts and a soup du jour. On Thursday, October 13th, the soup was Sweet Potato Bisque – just to
give an idea of the creativity involved in the nutritious food. Residents enjoy
three meals a day – every day – as part of their perks.
Four long-time NNV readers joined folks from other parts of town to hear the
marketing presentation, eat a tasty lunch and take part in a guided tour of the
facility and grounds. Once we passed the portal of the entry area, we discovered
that the gardens open up luxuriantly. One talented gardener, with occasional
help we’re told, tends the perfect lawns, blooming plants, fountains and
specimen trees. The vistas are simply beautiful. Scattered among the residence
buildings, there are pleasant outdoor seating areas – some shaded, some sunny,
something to please everyone.
Our guide, Esther Weger, who is an Eastside neighbor (she lives on Valley
View), has worked at the P.E.O. Home for more than ten years. She took us first
to the swimming pool/crafts studio complex at the furthest east end of the campus.
We could feel the warmth of the indoor pool as we entered the room and it was
obvious that its heated water could soothe sore joints and muscles. It ranges in
depth from 3 ˝ feet to 4 ˝ feet – deep enough to support swimming – shallow
enough not to overwhelm. Across the hall, we saw the arts and crafts area where
residents are working on all sorts of projects ranging from simple
“loving-hands-at-home” style to quite accomplished professional techniques.
We stopped in several buildings to visit a room here and there. Residents
furnish their rooms with their own things. Creative use of space makes each room
unique. It’s amazing how much furniture can be arranged in small spaces! Each
building has its own communal space and a kitchenette area. The ambience of each
communal area reflects the character of the residents who live in that building.
It was obvious that there is great esprit de corps among the women who live
there and there is an abundance of “flavor” in their lives.
Marguerite Terrace has a skilled nursing center on its campus. Local
physicians refer their patients there. Residence at the retirement community
isn’t necessary to take advantage of the center.
We visited all the public rooms including the library. The bookmobile brings
books-to-order every week. Besides reading, residents enjoy traveling around
town to shows and restaurants, exercise and other classes (optional, as are all
the activities), cardplaying, and all sorts of merry-making as evidenced by
their October calendar item “Oktoberfest Dinner and Beer Blast.” Residents may
have their own cars. There are even garages available.
We felt that Marguerite Terrace’s prices were quite fair for such a classy
place – and actually it turns out that it costs less to live there than any of
us expected. You can call to arrange a visit and tour and find out for yourself.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could move to this neighborhood gem when you no
longer want to cope with the details of maintaining a home? Call Manuel Melchor
at (408) 729-2017 for more information. See our
Community Bulletin Board for this month's
retirement planning luncheons and open house.
Click here
for photos from our tour of Marguerite Terrace.
Regional Medical Center
Institutes Specialized Cardiac Surgery Program
Partnership with Stanford Brings
Important Care Capability to Neighborhood Hospital
By Ben Stephenson
Regional Medical Center of San Jose, in partnership with Stanford University,
recently instituted a new cardiac surgery program that will bring the level of
care available at our neighborhood hospital to yet a higher level.
In a year that has already seen the hospital be certified as a trauma center,
instill a stroke care management program, deploy a state-of-the-art medicine
distribution system and break ground on a $155-million expansion effort, this
new cardiac initiative will feature a full-time Stanford heart surgeon
performing treatments previously unavailable at Regional.
Headed by Dr. Kai Inkhen, an assistant professor of surgery for Stanford’s
Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Regional’s cardiac surgery program will be
supported by up to five Stanford surgeons and offer a number of specialized
cardiac surgery procedures, including the ability to perform delicate open heart
surgeries without the aid of a supporting heart-lung device.
“This cardiac surgery program is a vital piece to the health and well being
of our patients,” said Bill Gilbert, chief executive officer at Regional. “We’re
proud to continue to raise the bar on the level of care we provide at Regional.”
For more information, please contact 1-888-RMC-8881 or visit
www.RegionalMedicalSanJose.com.
Click here
for a photo of the new cardiovascular surgery room.
NNV Note: Ground was broken for Regional’s
upcoming $155 million expansion project on the afternoon of Wednesday,
October 26th. There, under a big white tent, hundreds of people from the
hospital and community gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for
an additional 136,000 square feet of new space as well as renovation of 24,000
square feet of existing space.
Mariachi musicians serenaded away the gray
skies as folks noshed on a huge variety of beautifully prepared (and delicious)
finger foods, all manner of tiny elaborate desserts, red punch and coffee.
Regional CEO Bill Gilbert praised the seamless blending of several disparate
entities - Regional’s staff, staffers from San Jose Medical Center and those
remaining from the original Alexian Brothers Hospital.
Mayor Ron Gonzales spoke for the City – joking
that this groundbreaking was so long in coming, he felt as though it should be a
ribbon-cutting. Councilmember Nora Campos pointed out the enormous value the
expanded hospital will bring to the East side. A phalanx of HCA executives
blessed the expansion efforts and the atmosphere of cooperation and goodwill. It seems the acrimony of last winter – when HCA precipitously
closed its downtown San Jose Medical Center – has dissipated and all systems are
on track for a wonderfully comprehensive medical facility to be on line in late
2008 - right here in our neighborhood on Jackson Avenue.
Click
here
for photos from the RMC Groundbreaking Ceremony on October 26, 2005.
Calvary Cemetery, 1882 to the
21st Century, Part V
The last installment of NNV’s look
into our neighborhood’s serene final resting place
And another poem by Lara Gularte
It seems quite fitting that Calvary’s beautiful polished granite sign was
installed late last month just in time to grace NNV’s final look at the
cemetery. The sign was a long time coming and was the culmination of the
beautification of the cemetery’s “signature corner” at Alum Rock Avenue and
Alexander Avenue which, not so long ago, was the site of a gasoline station.
Now, Calvary comes all the way out to the corner with distinguished religious
statuary - a gift from fellow diocesan cemetery, Gate of Heaven in Los Altos.
Lovely professional landscaping (some of it made possible by a generous cemetery
patron) completes the corner’s makeover. Much of Alexander Avenue, once a
neighborhood of small houses, has become the western boundary of the cemetery.
The cemetery, formerly announced only by small chiseled stone plaques on either
side of the old Alum Rock Avenue entrance, suddenly seems to be a new presence
in the community.
Now that it’s put its handsome new face toward passersby on Alum Rock Avenue,
the cemetery may no longer be “the little secret” which former office manager
Carol Schultz called it in a 1992 interview with The Valley Catholic.
Then, she told the reporter “…we have some of the most prominent and historic
people buried here.” The article went on to say that “The headstones read like
nearby freeway exits – Berryessa, McLaughlin, Tully – and many graves bear the
names of long-time Valley founders – Mirassou, McEnery, Alviso, Chaboy, Rebeiro,
Alameda, O’Brien.” And yet, few noticed its existence – perhaps until now.
San Jose born poet, Lara Gularte, sent us her poignant poem “Finding my Great
Grandmother at Calvary Catholic Cemetery – Augusta E. Pedro 1864 to 1948” to
accompany our June article, the first in our five part series on the cemetery.
Generous Lara has now graciously written a new one to put final punctuation on
the series.
Calvary Cemetery
A poem by Lara Gularte
Rows of weathered stones
peaceful tribute to acres of sleeping souls
enclosed by chain-link,
protected from siren shrieks
and bus fumed air.
A bird unravels its song.
The cemetery rises up
manicured and still.
Sun filtering through trees
marks a family plot with room for more.
Two angels on ornate pedestals
bow their heads, pray.
New statuary
wonders
what became of the sleepers here.
NNV Note: Lara is of Portuguese ancestry and
made a point of finding her ancestors’ gravesites at Calvary which is the burial
place for many of our Valley’s Portuguese families. She has an excellent
collection of old family photos of the Portuguese who settled and farmed the
area and is actively researching and documenting their history. Click
here for Lara's photos of her great grandmother's and
her grandparents', Margaret and Antonio Gularte, headstones at Calvary .
Lara’s poetry has been published widely
including work which was translated into Portuguese by the University of the
Azores. She’s a Lick High School graduate and a graduate student in the MFA
Creative Writing Program at San Jose State. She now lives in Magalia where she
works as a Tutor/TA of English for the Butte County Community College at the
Center for Academic Success and doing private tutoring on the side. She says she
is working with others to set up programs for the youth there who live isolated
in the mountains. This month she will talk about the Azore Islands of her
ancestors, Portuguese culture, and the experience of Portuguese immigrants in
California at a World Culture Evening sponsored by the Paradise Center for
Tolerance and Nonviolence. NNV hopes to share more of Lara’s photos and research
findings with our NNV readers in future editions of the newsletter.
Click here for
photos of the new Calvary Cemetery sign. Click on these links for Calvary
Cemetery Part I,
Part II,
Part III and
Part IV.
NNV Briefs
NNV Note: Roger Abe is a ranger in Alum Rock
Park. He is a board member with both the
Yuki Teikei Haiku Society and Poetry Center
San Jose. Be sure to see Richard Brown's Poison Oak photo above.
Gallons of Batter, Miles of
Links Disappear at ARYC’s Annual Fundraiser
Alum Rock Youth Center Gym hosts happy hungry hordes –
celebrates another year
A sea of tables filled with five buck flapjack fanciers, celebrity chefs at
the griddles, a waitstaff of bright-eyed teenagers, just-right music in the
background – what more could the eastside community wish for on a bright and
shiny Fall Saturday morning early last month?
Actually, it was more than just a friendly crowd devouring uncountable tasty
carbs to benefit ARYC. It was a celebration of the second full year of operation
of our fantastic Alum Rock Youth Center on White Road near Pala Middle School.
Folks of all stripes and ages came out to support the center, watch a photo
presentation on its history and listen to government representatives on hand to
give a hand to ARYC Supervisor Ed Solis and his energetic staff.
The center is an after school mecca for our area’s young folks and offers
adult programs as well. This year a Tiny Tots class, a dance class and a drawing
class were added to the regular roster of leadership groups, homework support
programs, recreation, fee classes and sports leagues. “These classes and
activities deal with interests and issues that are related to challenges our
youth deal with daily. They are designed to provide opportunities for youth to
enhance their decision making processes, increase their level of self esteem and
communications skills,” according to Ed Solis.
Over 1,253 hours of recreational programming were provided over the past
year. More than 2,500 youth were served in after school drop-in programs and
1,200 more were enrolled for the summer and Saturday events. New youth meetings,
“Girl Talk” and “Stand” were added this year. Community events included “A Taste
of the South,” which hosted more than forty-five chefs and featured great
entertainment in celebration of Black History Month, as well as Fiesta
Celebrando el Cinco de Mayo, which more than seven hundred community members
attended. The annual Halloween Scary House, as usual, frightened people out of
their wits late last month.
If you still haven’t set your eyes on this super near-new facility at 137
North White Road, you’re missing one of our neighborhood’s best resources. Drop by!
Introduce yourself and take a guided tour. You can just feel the youth rubbing
off on you. It’s a very good thing!
Click here for photos.
On the Avenue – Alum Rock
Avenue
Venerable church will change hands – and congregations
The congregation of the First Church of the Nazarene (at Cragmont and Alum
Rock) has been enduring an
agonizing wait to move to its new facility in Evergreen. Ground was broken in
2002 on a large new modern church. Last year at this time, the hope was that
they could move into their 900 seat contemporary facility by Thanksgiving or
Christmas. Then as the new year began, they thought they might move by Easter.
The congregation is still worshipping in their old church.
Meanwhile, waiting in the wings is the congregation of Logos Christian
Fellowship, a small church on McKee Road practically under an off ramp of the
101 freeway. They’ve been ready to move to Alum Rock Avenue for more than a year
and have had to be patient as they waited for the Nazarenes to work out the
kinks of their new building, get necessary permits from the City, etc.
Now, after much sprucing up, painting and re-landscaping, a handsome banner
has gone up in front of the serpentine rock façade. “Coming Soon. Logos
Christian Fellowship,” it reads. NNV checked to find out just how soon that
coming will be. “Maybe in six weeks,” said Stacey, the Nazarene secretary. “Or
maybe three weeks,” she sighed. Logos' arrival is contingent on Nazarene’s moving
out. “We’ve about given up trying to predict when we can move.” Six weeks from
NNV’s call will be around the middle of December. It’s the dream of both
congregations to be in their new sanctuaries for Christmas services.
Click here
for a photo.
On the Road – McKee Road
Security guy seen lurking among the palms
One bright sunny day, your NNV staff went shopping at Save Mart in the
Country Club Plaza on McKee at Toyon. Upon leaving the store, it became obvious
that the parking lot was under surveillance of a security man who, for all the
world, looked as though he was trying to blend in with the frond-y shadows. He
seemed so intent on being furtive that we felt uncomfortable approaching him to
ask why he was there. So, we just snapped a photo of the back of his shirt to
document the occasion.
Later, we asked one of the Save Mart clerks why there seemed to be a sudden need for parking
lot security. The clerk said she didn’t know there was ever a security
person during the day, but she was sure there was one (or some) at night. She
did reveal this interesting tidbit, however. “There are often security
people inside the store,” she said. So, if you ever had the uneasy
feeling that someone is peering at you (besides the ubiquitous Mark deTar who
smiles at you from your cart), you might just be right.
Click here
for our surveillance photo.
“A Splendid Autumn Afternoon”
at Deckers' Gorgeous Craftsman Home
Garden Party underwritten by the
Deckers benefits YSI nature programs
By Susanne Mulcahy, Executive Director, Youth Science
Institute
For the second year in a row, Sandy and Gil Decker hosted Youth Science
Institute’s friends and supporters at their gorgeous craftsman home for what was
truly “A Splendid Autumn Afternoon” for a garden party and silent auction. Given
rain the previous day, the weather could not have been more perfect for the 75
that gathered in the beautiful garden and enjoyed tours of their immaculate and
inspiring home.
Tours were led by both Gil and YSI’s Alum Rock Manager, Mary Carlson.
Originally built in 1907, Gil and Sandy purchased the home in 1996 from Army
Doctor Colonel Hadley, who lived there almost 50 years. They spent the next two
years lovingly refurbishing, reconstructing and restoring this historic home in
the Los Gatos foothills.
Gil spent a majority of his career in the defense industry both in Silicon
Valley and Washington, D.C. including service as Under Secretary of the Army
during the Clinton administration. Recognitions and awards for his many
accomplishments, both corporate and philanthropic, are too numerous to mention.
Sandy’s involvement in the community is legendary. She is the former Mayor of
Los Gatos, and has always been active on many Boards. She will be recognized at
Silicon Valley Philanthropy Day 2005 as a Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser.
YSI is deeply connected to the Eastside, as the organization was founded at
Alum Rock Park, and is a beloved highlight of the park there today. YSI’s Thrift
and Gift Store on Alum Rock Avenue is completely volunteer-operated by YSI’s
Guild, a majority of whose members call the Eastside home.
Guild member and Eastside resident Karen Tatro and her Daughter, Susan, were
in attendance. Karen is currently chairing an effort to remodel the YSI Thrift
and Gift, a project slated to begin this December when the store is closed for
the holidays.
Guild members and Eastsiders Ellen and Gary Rauh donated two wonderful
auction items from the fruits of their vineyard which were “bid up” and snapped
up by wine enthusiasts. And, the Eastside’s Nancy Valby is YSI’s dedicated Board
President (though she was ill and unable to attend the event), while Valerie
Ball, YSI’s Treasurer, co-chaired the successful auction.
YSI’s event is additionally connected to the Eastside: Gil Decker raised his
three children there, attending Linda Vista, Joseph George and James Lick High
School. All three grew up with the YSI’s nature programs. Gil and Sandy are both
extremely committed to education, and they believe that YSI’s programs offer
engaging and comprehensive science education, through which kids learn to love
both learning and science. They give back to YSI through hosting this Autumn
Event, so that 100% of the proceeds raised from ticket sales and the Auction
benefit YSI programs.
Also making a return appearance, a delicious hors d’oeuvres buffet was
prepared and served by the epicureans of
Crimson Restaurant, one of Los
Gatos’ finest restaurants, inspired by chef/owner Diane Rose. Diane and her
talented staff created delicious and unusual fare that was enjoyed by all, and
echoed a very special day.
The event was a tremendous success, not only because it was “A Splendid
Autumn Afternoon,” but because wonderful friends of YSI gathered to celebrate
this 53-year-old organization, and support YSI!
Click here for photos from
this event.
YSI Wildlife Festival
Neighbors met critters, ate picnic fare, learned all
sorts of neat stuff
The Youth Science Institute Nature Center was the hub for the activities of
their 30th annual Alum Rock Park shindig-on-the-lawn on Sunday, October 2nd. The
weather cooperated perfectly – unlike last year when Mother Nature opened the
taps for a perfectly rotten, wet, cold, clammy day. Festival goers this year
were able to enjoy their hamburgers and popcorn as they strolled in the sunshine
from display to display learning about all manner of flora and fauna,
handicrafts, and environmental concerns. Because wildland fires are part and
parcel of life in a Wildland Urban Interface area such as the Alum Rock Park
neighborhood, there were several fire-prevention organizations on hand and the
San Jose Fire Department’s Shark Engine for kids to visit.
Kids and parents could see (and pet!) very large snakes, see a great horned
owl up-close, hike the trails with a knowledgeable guide, do science activities
and nature crafts, talk with park rangers and firefighters and watch the
Falcon’s Court folks put their birds of prey through their fascinating paces.
New Neighborhood Voice had a table and took the opportunity to meet visitors
and listen to community concerns. Several NNV writers and contributors stopped
to chew the fat (or were we shooting the breeze?) Carol Schultz, our
neighborhood historian, was there as was Bracey Tiede our gardening “Hot Topics”
editor, and Arvind Kumar, our California Native Gardening guru. DJ Johnson,
Joyce Baker, Chris Miller, Robin Edwards, Nella and Alan Henninger and will-be
writer Karen Negrete all shared ideas (and chuckles) under our parasol.
This is an excellent community event right here in our neighborhood. Mark
your mental calendar for next fall’s outdoor extravaganza!
Click here for photos from
this event.
Live Homework Help Now
Available On-line to Local Students
Kids and young adults need never be stumped again!
All San Jose Public Libraries now provide a service which makes real, live,
qualified tutors available at the beck and call of students grade four through
the second year of college.
Got a vexing math problem, science conundrum, social science query or English
enigma? Students living or schooling in San Jose can log on to the library’s web
site www.SJLibrary.org or click
here
for Live
Homework Help and aid is on the way within minutes from the Online Classroom.
Students enter their grade and subject and are automatically matched with a
tutor capable of rendering expert assistance. Parents or other adult homework
helpers are invited to take part in the tutoring sessions.
The service was unveiled in the Tech Center of our new Cruz/Alum Rock Library
branch early last month before members of the press and a variety of local
government reps. U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Mayor Ron Gonzales, Library Director
Jane Light, James Lick High School Principal Bill Rice and Kathy Low, Program
Consultant for the State Library Development Services, all welcomed the advent
of the program. Mayor Gonzales had high praise indeed, but ruefully regretted
that there was no “Mayor Tutorial” on line. Addressing the half dozen Lick High
students who were using the service during the presentation, Congresswoman
Lofgren encouraged them all to “plan to be hot shots.”
Demonstrating the procedure, a Lick student named Elizabeth engaged an
on-line tutor to help her understand weather cycles – precipitation falls as
rain, the sun evaporates the moisture, clouds form, rain falls, etc. The program
even allowed the student to draw an illustration of the process. The live tutor
was sitting somewhere at her own computer, guiding Elizabeth and making sure the
conclusions she reached were correct. The press conference attendees watched the
interchange on a large screen at the front of the room as it developed on the
small screen in front of Elizabeth.
Students can log on at all the libraries’ public access computers or remotely
via the library’s web site. They can use their Internet-linked home computers
but must log on each time via SJLibrary.org. Hours vary for the availability of
tutoring, but the service is generally available every day beginning at 1:00 PM
for English language help and Sunday through Thursday for Spanish language help
with math and science. The price is right. It’s absolutely free!
Click here
for photos.
Eastside FISH Volunteers
Provide Emergency Sustenance
And say special thanks to the Master
Gardeners
By Joyce Baker
Throughout the summer the volunteer Master Gardeners have been generous with
their vegetable harvest by donating many items to Eastside FISH (Friends in
Service to Humanity). We thank them because the recipients welcome fresh
veggies. Eastside FISH? If you are a newcomer to the area you may not be
familiar with this group of volunteers who have been in operation over 30 years.
Our distribution point used to be at Alum Rock Methodist Church and, although
they are still one of our supporters, we outgrew the space and moved down Kirk
Avenue to Alum Rock Covenant Church.
From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Monday through Friday, we distribute a 2-day supply
of food to those in need. Working with the Second Harvest Food Bank, we give out
food over-runs and unsold bakery goods to people in our area that have requested
help from the Food Bank. Most people come because of a sudden emergency: loss of
a job, displaced relatives coming into town, stolen purses that contained the
month's rent ... as many problems as life dishes out.
Because no one in FISH receives a salary (yes, it is all volunteer), we
really stretch donations to purchase eggs, hot dogs and little extras. Look for
our small sign on Kirk at the corner of Summit. Stop by any day and say hello
to the volunteer (who may be your neighbor) - a different person every day! So,
thank you again to the Master Gardeners for adding to the food boxes. We will
miss you in the winter months.
Click here for photos. Click
here for the
Eastside FISH Web site.
Friends of the Library Active
at New Cruz/Alum Rock Branch
Donate your cast-off books, buy new
ones, support special programs
By Joyce Baker
Not only do we have a big, new, beautiful building to call "our library" but
we are also blessed with an experienced, enthusiastic and dedicated librarian:
Nora Sepulveda Conte (who commutes to us from San Juan Bautista!). She has
helped us form a new Friends of the Library group which meets every 4th Tuesday
at 5 PM in the library. An hour's gathering, led by our president, Barbara Dabel,
enables us to plan fund-raising so that special programs can be offered. In
September, we sponsored an International Night which was a great success and
enjoyed by the many children participating. Please come and join us. I can
promise there will be no membership fees, no forms to complete, no roll-call,
just an informal gathering of caring people.
How do we raise money? At the moment it is primarily through the sale of used
books - check out our booth at the South (parking lot side) entrance. If you
have books to contribute, we're glad to have them. Watch for announcements of a
book sale in a few months, a great chance to "stock up" for all the dedicated
readers. A book can educate, entertain and transport you around the world as you
stay in the comfort of your home!
So drop in to the next Friends' meeting because we need and value everyone's
opinion. We are a community - let's join together
Big December 3rd Faire
Planned for James Lick High School
Athletic Booster Club invites artists, crafters,
vendors, musicians and customers!
Lick High School Athletic Boosters are inviting
participants to get involved with their December Arts, Crafts and Vendor Faire.
They’d like lots and lots of artists and crafters with handmade items to sell,
home-party vendors with on-hand inventory and, they hope, up-and-coming music
artists and bands who will want to purchase time slots for performances. They’d
love to have lots of customers from the community.
The faire will be on the first Saturday in December
(that’s the 3rd) in the main gymnasium. Right now there are still some 8’X8’
spaces available to rent for $50 plus a donated item worth $25 to raffle off to
raise Booster funds. Handmade and handcrafted items are preferred for the arts
and crafts area. To be involved, home-party vendors such as Partylite,
Tupperware, Mary Kay, Discovery Toys, etc., must have inventory to sell at the
event. November 18th will be the deadline for payment for rental space.
For more information or if you have an extremely unique
item you would like to show and sell, please call or e-mail Lynnette Rodriguez,
event coordinator, at (408) 258-6697,
lynnetterodriguez@sbcglobal.net.
Lyndale Neighborhood “Pocket”
Courted by City of San Jose
County ready to say “good-by.” City says “come hither!” No
recourse to annexation.
The City of San Jose came acourtin’ (again) to a meeting of the Lyndale
Neighborhood Association late last month. Lyndale is an unincorporated County
pocket (or island) bounded by Alum Rock Avenue, Story Road, Capitol Avenue and
White Road. The City would like to annex pockets like Lyndale to “eliminate
inefficiencies and unnecessary expenses in the delivery of urban services” and
make “city and county governments more accountable to local neighborhoods by
eliminating mixed jurisdictional situations in which problem solving
responsibilities are ambiguous.”
According to “Making Your City Whole: Taking Advantage of the Current
Opportunity to Annex Urban Unincorporated Pockets,” a September 2005 publication
of the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara County, City annexation
will allow residents of pockets “to receive more and generally higher quality
services and programs to benefit their neighborhoods than the County is able (or
will ever be able) to provide.” The County feels that by ceding pockets to the
City, they can “focus their efforts and … resources on addressing the countywide
issues and services for which County government is primarily responsible,
including health care, social services, courts and criminal justice functions.”
Pocket residents will be empowered “to have more influence over the decisions
that most directly impact the quality of life in their neighborhoods, by
enabling them to participate in the decision-making processes of the cities that
surround them.”
All well and good, it would seem. However not everyone who lives in a pocket
wants to change jurisdiction. Some like “the psychological distance
between themselves and residents of surrounding city neighborhoods” which the
powers-that-be cite as detrimental to the “greater sense of community.”
Can pocket residents resist City annexation? Well, no, not if their pocket is
less than 150 acres. Lyndale, at 127 acres, is ripe to become just another San
Jose neighborhood. Will the people have a chance to vote on annexation? Well,
no. “New legislation allows cities to annex unincorporated urban islands through
a streamlined process that does not require usual previous protest proceedings
of elections…” according to “Island Annexations Streamlined Process Q&A’s,” a
City of San Jose publication.
Are there all sorts of burdens which come with annexation? Will taxes change
dramatically? Will residents have to pay $10,000 annexation fees? Those answers
seem to be “No.” However, annexation will slightly increase property related
special assessments and garbage collection fees – and, residents operating
businesses will now need to have City of San Jose
business licenses.
Are Lyndale-ites quaking in their boots? Well, some are happy to comply. Many
are skeptical that City police can serve them as well as the County Sheriff’s
department. Some hate the thought. According to one neighbor, the City has
qualified seventy parcels to annex and will focus first on fifteen designated
targets. Lyndale is not one of the fifteen - so nothing is going to change
immediately – at least not for proud and self-sufficient little Lyndale.
AREF Elects New Officers
Alum Rock Educational Foundation volunteers improve ARUESD schools
The members of the board of the Alum Rock Educational Foundation are proud to
introduce its newest officers, Dr. Nancy Pang, and Mr. Edward Ortega, who were
elected by the board in August as President and Vice-President, respectively.
They join re-elected Treasurer Gaye Dabalos and Secretary John Leyba on the
board. Kathy Chavez Napoli has ‘retired’ as board president (though not from the
board) after dutifully serving the Foundation since its founding in 1999. Kathy
charted a course through rough waters and the board is thankful for her
continuing service to the Alum Rock students and community.
Dr. Pang is currently the district’s educational technology coordinator and
manages professional development in the use and integration of technology in the
curriculum. She earned her BA at UC Berkeley, her Masters in Education at San
Jose State, and her Doctorate in Organization and Leadership at the University
of San Francisco. Nancy’s work in grant writing for Alum Rock has netted the
district over $2 million for special programs to integrate technology into the
curriculum. She also brings experience with nonprofit organizations, including
service on the board of directors for the Rebus Institute. Most importantly,
she’s glad to be on the board of AREF. Dr. Pang says, “As an officer, I hope to
lead the organization, which has a highly committed board of directors, in new
directions to raise funds that will help Alum Rock students’ ‘dreams of
tomorrow,’” echoing the theme of the fundraiser held last March at National
Hispanic University.
Mr. Ortega has worked for Alum Rock for ten years in maintenance and
operations, following a career in private industry. He was previously a resident
of the city of Santa Clara, where he served on the board of the Santa Clara
Schools Foundation and served as a Park Commissioner for the city. An avid
golfer, Ed has a passion for open spaces that rivals his passion in working for
students in Alum Rock and raising money for the Foundation.
Mrs. Dabalos continues in her service as Treasurer of the Foundation, the
capacity in which she has served since January 2001 when she first joined the
Foundation as the school board’s representative. (She served on the Alum Rock
Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2002.) Having sent three daughters through Alum
Rock Schools, Gaye holds great hopes for the Foundation, most especially the
dream that in working closely with the school board, the superintendent, and the
community, we can grow the Foundation as an endowment for Alum Rock children,
“to raise money and create dreams and opportunities for kids that they wouldn’t
otherwise get.” Mrs. Dabalos recognizes that programs like the Alum Rock Jazz
Band made a special difference for her children and wants to see opportunities
like that for all Alum Rock students.
An Alum Rock graduate, Mr. Leyba continues in his second year as Secretary of
the Alum Rock Educational Foundation. Previously a candidate for the board of
trustees (and currently a regular contributor to NNV), John is continuing in his
efforts to make Alum Rock schools the best they can be for Alum Rock students.
He says, “There are many ways to serve, and we can all do something to make a
difference for the better in this district. Whether you have kids or not, these
are our schools!”
Click here for the AREF Web site.
Grievously Wounded Vietnam
War Veteran Challenges Lick Students
Respectful audience earns speaker’s admiration
All seats in the James Lick High School gymnasium bleachers were filled. Nine
hundred and thirty kids were packed in shoe-horn tight for a noontime assembly
on Friday, October 7th.
The students became quiet as Principal Bill Rice walked to the center of the
gym with a big, limping man. Dave Roever candidly invited the Lick students to
observe his scarred face and torn body. Blind in one eye, wearing a
reconstructed ear and a gray hairpiece to cover his blown-apart cranium, he
talked for forty-five minutes to the rapt, sympathetic youngsters. They never
took their eyes off the odd, big-bellied figure who hobbled slightly as he
crisscrossed the gym, microphone in hand. In a raspy Texas drawl, Mr. Roever, by
turns serious and comedic, explained how he was shot in Vietnam just as he was
about to throw a phosphorous grenade at an enemy position. The grenade exploded
at the side of his head.
It was a strange miracle that he survived, but after a year and a half in the
hospital and with the support of his loving wife and family, he lives to talk
about it. He shares his message of hope and faith and doing the right thing with
high school audiences all over the country. “Never strike a woman! Never hit a
child!” he said, engaging the young men in the crowd. He told of a disastrous auto
accident caused by drunk driving and drew great earnest applause when he asked
the Lick kids to vow never to drink and drive. He counseled the students not to
let their life challenges drive them to substance abuse. He grieved with them
over the hardships he knew many had in their lives. He shared his homely wisdom.
“It’s never OK to take your frustrations out on someone else,” he told them
solemnly.
Then he sat down at the small blond upright piano centered on the gym floor
and, with his battered face uplifted, he played an emotional, rolling,
thunderous hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” The kids may not have recognized the
tune, but they knew Dave Roever was communicating with them heart-to-heart and
soul-to-soul despite his damaged and thumb-less right hand. It was a riveting
and moving experience. The students of James Lick High School learned a lot from
a 58-year-old one-eyed Anglo guy who taught them to take care of the ones they
love, do the right thing and to never give up.
Click here for photos.
Newsmaker: Councilmember
Campos Elected President of LOCC Latino Caucus
400 member caucus comprised of mayors and
councilmembers throughout California
The League of California Cities (LOCC) wrapped up its Annual Conference with
San José Councilmember Nora Campos elected as Latino Caucus President.
Previously elected to the LOCC Board of Directors, Councilmember Campos will
succeed Mayor Nick Inzunza of National City as leader of the 400-member caucus.
As President of the Latino Caucus, Councilmember Campos will lead regional
advocacy efforts at state and local levels on issues that affect cities and the
Latino community. In January 2006, Councilmember Campos will meet with Latino
Caucus board members to develop the organization's agenda for the coming year.
"We are pleased to have Nora Campos as our newly elected League of California
Cities-Latino Caucus President, which presents an outstanding leadership
opportunity" said John Arriaga, Latino Caucus Executive Director, "Nora not only
will serve as our President, but she is also a member of the League of
California Cities Board of Directors and sits on the National League of Cities
HELO Board, creating a local, state and national level platform for leadership"
"In California, we live in a diverse, pluralistic society that needs a full
spectrum of voices involved in discussions on state and local issues," said
Councilmember Campos, "My role as the President of the Latino Caucus is to
provide leadership and advocacy as we work to represent the largest growing
population in our state."
The Latino Caucus is a non-profit official affiliate of the League of
California Cities. Established in 1990 as a community resource, the organization
continues its goal of improving quality of life through advocacy by addressing
professional, socio-economic, educational, cultural, and political issues.
Working closely with the League of California Cities and the California State
Legislature, caucus members participate in the development of public policy that
is important to the Latino community. As the statewide network for Latino
elected officials, the organization sponsors a broad range of workshops and
forums on issues and concerns important to the Latino communities and local
economic development.
In addition to her leadership as League of California Cities Board Member and
President of the Latino Caucus, Councilmember Campos is on the Board of
Directors for the National League of Cities (NLC) and a member of the NLC
Hispanic Elected Local Officials constituent group.
New Appointee to Fill Vacant ARUESD Board Post
At their Wednesday, October 26th board meeting, the trustees of the Alum Rock
District interviewed several candidates for the trustee position recently made
vacant by the resignation of long-time trustee, Esau Herrera.
After lengthy interviews, the members of the board voted unanimously to
appoint Jaime Alvarado to fill the rest of Mr. Herrera’s term. Mr. Alvarado is
Executive Director of the Mayfair Improvement Initiative and lives in the
Mayfair community.
Click here
for a photo from the meeting. Click
here for the Mayfair Improvement Initiative web site.
NNV Note: Jaime Alvarado resigned from the
ARUESD board on Monday, October 31. The board of trustees now has three choices
to fill the vacancy. They could appoint one of the other two applicants, John
Leyba or Mark Freitas, to the post at their meeting Wednesday, November 9. Or,
they can start the nomination process over - taking applications from interested
citizens. Or, they can wait about sixty days from Mr. Alvarado’s resignation at
which time the County will step in and set up a special election.
------ Advertisement -------
Century
21 Golden Hills
"In Alum Rock for more than 20 years, we know your neighborhood"
Luciano Zamora,
www.MyAgentLuciano.com or (408)
968-9571
Maria Pando,
www.MariaPando.com or (408) 691-1593
Call us and expect immediate results.
--------------------------------
Nakajima’s Band (and Chorus,
of course)
Vibrant young Lick Music Director shapes high school
musicians
Tomoko Nakajima is smaller by far than most of her students, but she doesn’t
let that stop her from getting a big, beautiful “noise” out of them. Ms.
Nakajima, six years out of Boston University where she studied
Music Education, has leapt with enormous enthusiasm into the fledgling music
program at James Lick High School.
She grew up on the Peninsula, graduated from Gunn High School and now travels
down the road every morning from Sunnyvale. She satiated her lust for far-away
places with her school years in Boston. She went there, she says, because she
wanted to go far away – not realizing just how much she was going to hate those
New England winters. But, now she’s back - and after cutting her music-teaching
teeth with two years at Cupertino elementary schools, she knows she’s ready for
high school teaching “which I knew I always wanted to do,” she says.
She was a voice major, played flute in the band and studied guitar and piano
as well. She’s using all these skills at Lick, teaching fifty to sixty students
in two classes of guitar, one piano (keyboard) class with twenty-three students
and a twenty-six student (three gentlemen) choir. The band has twenty-eight
musicians, but they’re stretched thin during football season because some band
members’ first commitment is to cheerleading or the football team. Ms. Nakajima
remedied the situation for Homecoming by combining the much-reduced Lick band
with the large, nearby, Pala Middle School band. NNV watched their combined
rehearsal of the Star Spangled Banner and Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” one
afternoon a few days before the big (but unsuccessful) game. Tiny Ms. Nakajima
and large Ted Henderson, the Pala music director, made quite a picture,
vigorously pumping energy into the resulting eighty-five member band.
Ms. Nakajima has high expectations for herself and her students at James Lick
as she becomes more established at the school. Her goal is to build the
confidence of the young musicians so they see themselves as being an important
element of the “movers and shakers” at the school. She wants them to realize
they are making a beautiful sound. “They don’t know yet that they can make a
good sound,” she explained to NNV. Giving them positive feedback and
appreciation will be something with which the community can help. She’s looking
for opportunities for the students to play for the community and is rehearsing
them now for a winter concert to be held at 6:30 PM, December 6th, in the
multi-use room. (You’re invited – watch our Community Bulletin Board for a
reminder.)
Ms. Nakajima is thrilled with the kids at James Lick. She has chaperoned two dances and discovered that, “It’s part of the school culture that the kids
‘stay clean.’”
She loves the feelings of nurturing she receives from her fellow teachers and
the administrative staff. “I haven’t had a bad experience yet! I’m very glad to
be working here,” she told NNV with her big, engaging smile. And, of course, it
was a great boost when Lick science teacher Roberta Cabigas sent a message with
the compliment that the choir was the best she had heard at the school during
her seven and a half years teaching there!
Tomoko Nakajima is approachable and welcomes interaction with the community.
“Come and be serenaded!” she suggests. And, though she didn’t say so, donating
your old musical instruments is a welcome way to help a school which has few
resources and many students who can’t afford their own instrument. She’d love to
hear from you at (650) 575-5046.
Click here
for photos.
You Dig It?
Area gardeners, both "Master" and casual,
share their wisdom and experiences with Eastside gardening and related topics
here.
November Hot
Topics
By University of California Cooperative Extension
Master Gardener Bracey Tiede
Call the Master Gardener Hotline at (408) 282-3105 with your gardening questions or check out our website at
www.mastergardeners.org/scc.html.
Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Med fly): If you've lived in this area since
the late 1970's, you probably remember the helicopter spraying for the outbreak
of this very damaging pest. Fortunately, aerial spraying is no longer needed to
control the Mediterranean Fruit Fly. Millions of sterile male flies have been
and will continue to be released over the next year to prevent the fly from
breeding. In addition to the sterile males (dyed pink!), fruit and vegetable
gardeners within the quarantine area in San Jose are asked to either bag up
extra produce and toss it into the trash or keep all produce on the property and
compost it for personal use. For information about this control program, go to
the Master Gardener
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Information website.
Poisonous Plants: As we approach the holidays, there are a lot of
questions on poisonous plants. Fortunately, many of these plants have a very
bitter taste that limits the amount of the plant eaten. Poinsettia and mistletoe
should be kept away from curious children, but the list includes other flowers
and plants such as azaleas, callas, carnation, daffodil, foxglove, hydrangeas,
iris, lantana, narcissus, poppy, sweet pea and tulips. Different parts of the
plant may be toxic. See the excellent information at the
California Poison Action
Line site.
Citrus Bud Mite: Have you ever seen weirdly shaped lemons or oranges
that appear to have 'fingers'? The Citrus Bud Mite attacks newly forming flowers
and fruits. The mite is only visible with a magnifying glass and has an
elongated yellow body with four legs that appear to come out of its head. The
mites feed inside the buds, killing them or causing a rosette-like growth of the
subsequent foliage and distortion of flowers and fruit. The problem is usually
limited to just a few fruit on the tree. Previously recommended oil sprays have
not proven effective. This is one of those pests that is best left alone. The
oddly-shaped fruit is edible. There is a citrus fruit that is normally shaped
like this called Buddha's Hand but all the fruit on the tree will be this form
instead of just a few. Here's a photo
of Buddha's Hand. Citrus fruit that just splits apart is usually the result of a
change in humidity, whether a sudden rain followed by a heat wave or uneven
watering.
Sooty Mold: Aphids, scale, mealybug and whitefly pests all excrete
sticky honeydew that is the home for sooty mold fungi. By itself, the fungi
cannot kill the plant but it can coat the leaves to the extent that sunlight is
prevented from reaching the leaf surface which can weaken the plant. Ants
actually "protect" the sucking insects from their predators in order to eat the
honeydew. A good first step to reducing the sticky mess that the fungi produces
is to keep ants out of trees and away from honeydew-producing insects. One
method is to apply a sticky compound such as Tanglefoot (tm) on a tape wrapped
around the trunk. Trim back any tree limbs that touch buildings, fences or other
access points as well. Baits such as ant stakes can be placed under trees and
shrubs to help reduce ant foraging. A strong stream of water will wash the mold
off leaves. The mold can be washed off fruit with mild soap and water. For ant
information,
click here. Click
here for
sooty mold information.
Readying Fruit Trees for Winter: Many fruit tree pests and diseases
spend the winter on or under the tree. There are several steps to take to remove
the threat. Rake up fallen leaves and debris. Put down an inch or two of compost
around the trunk. Clean up nearby weeds that can also harbor pests and diseases.
Check the bark of the tree for borers. If you find holes, use a sharp knife to
dig out any larvae. Apply the first spray for shothole fungus on stone fruits
using a fixed copper spray. In December, spray for peach leaf curl as
recommended in the calendar below. Now is not the time to prune except for dead
wood that may harbor pests. Wait until all leaves are gone and the tree is
dormant, usually in January/February. Keep a copy of our Fruit Tree and Vine
Care Calendar handy to schedule the treatments so you have pest and disease free
trees next year. You can see the calendar
here
(PDF File).
------ Advertisement -------
Curtis Horticulture,
www.CurtisHort.com, (408) 259-9974, CA
Lic #826409
Ecological
landscaping services: design/consulting, renovation, maintenance
Specializing in
native and drought-tolerant landscapes.
We live and work in the neighborhood.
--------------------------------
Toyon Brings Good Cheer
Native lights up winter landscape
By Arvind Kumar
When driving in the California countryside in winter, you may have seen a
shrub laden with red berries. No, not the small cotoneaster or the thorny
pyracantha, both of which have red berries. The one I am referring to grows
10-20’ tall, and has large green leaves with serrated margins. The top of every
stem is bent over with the weight of the berries, and the birds seem to think
that a feast has been served.
This is the toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), a member of the Rose
family. This handsome shrub is bedecked with red fruit from November through
February, providing color to the landscape when it is most needed.
This plant offers interest in other seasons as well. In late spring, its
stems are topped by clusters of tiny white flowers. In summer, they turn into
green berries, maturing to red by November. Many types of birds feast on the
berries throughout the winter months. The cultivar ‘Davis Gold’ has
yellow-orange berries.
Toyon is remarkably easy to grow. Best in full sun, toyon takes partial
shade, too. It accepts any type of soil, as long as it is well drained; in clay
soils, put it on top of a small berm. This California native is tolerant of
summer water, with which it grows faster. When fully established (in 3-4 years),
monthly watering is sufficient to keep it looking its best.
Toyon accepts pruning, and in small gardens, it can be grown as a specimen,
shaped into a small tree; a friend has successfully espaliered it against the
fence in her Sunnyvale garden. On larger properties, toyon can be given free
reign as a multi-trunked shrub, forming part of an informal hedge or windbreak.
As with other members of the rose family, toyon can be attacked by sooty mold
or thrips. In most cases, these are not serious and can be ignored. If the
infestation turns severe, apply neem oil spray.
Toyon is available at all native nurseries (Yerba Buena, Native Revival,
Elkhorn, Central Coast Wilds). It may also be available through nurseries whose
stock comes from Suncrest, e.g., Payless Nursery at King & Aborn in San Jose.
When California designates an official state shrub, toyon will be the topmost
contender because of its showy nature and widespread distribution (from Humboldt
to San Diego counties). This native shrub imparts a sense of place to the
garden, grounding it firmly in California. It is remarkably easy to grow, and
demands little by way of maintenance once established. An attractive shrub with
seasonal interest that also draws birds, toyon is an all-round performer.
Click here for a toyon photo.
Master Gardeners in Our Midst
Look for their green thumbs
By Nella Henninger
The Master Gardener Program is coordinated through the University of
California Cooperative Extension. The program is widespread not only in
California, but nationally and internationally as well. In Santa Clara County,
the training takes place every two years, the most recent having been completed
last May. Once they have finished the training, MG's have many areas in which to
use the knowledge for the benefit of the community. All activities have a
research based and educational component. Several research and demonstration
gardens, classes, speakers, school programs, tastings and a hotline to help
gardeners in the community with their questions are all part of the Master
Gardener Program.
Among the many Master Gardeners in Santa Clara County are a large number from
our Eastside area. Jeanie Sunseri and I took part in the most recent class. Jeanie is a
lifetime resident of the Eastside. She is a quilter, great cook, fulltime wife,
mother and grandmother. Master Gardeners has enhanced her knowledge and love of
ornamental plants and flowers and increased her knowledge of fruits and
vegetables. Jeanie volunteers at the Master Gardeners' Nine Palms research garden.
I grew up in Campbell but have been an Eastside resident for the last 37
years. My husband and I live on four acres off Crothers Road and raise sheep, a
donkey, chickens and keep bees. As a retired science teacher, I am especially
interested in the biology associated with gardening. I also volunteer at the
Nine Palms research garden and look forward to learning more and improving our
garden.
We on the Eastside are so fortunate to have quite a few very active Master
Gardener veterans living so close to us. Milli Wright has been an MG since 1989.
Milli is the "GO TO" person for insect and plant ID. She coordinates the cut
flower beds at Nine Palms. She has been especially interested in bringing back
the native milkweeds that Monarch butterflies feed upon in our area. It seems to
be working.
Mae Schrank and Deva Luna - aunt and niece - went through MG training
together in
1997. They live on the family property on Mt. Hamilton Road. You may notice the
National Wildlife Habitat sign on their gate when you drive by. Mae volunteers
at Nine Palms garden and tends about 40, mostly elderly, chickens at home. She
worked on a lovely potager (French kitchen garden) this summer. While she enjoys
opera, her main interest is gardening. Deva is a landscape designer specializing
in sustainable landscape and also teaches gardening through Santa Clara Adult
Education. They have a huge vegetable garden and 87 different fruits and nuts
growing on the property. Deva's interests include solar cooking, grafting,
herbs, permaculture, edible flowers, alternative building, quirky garden art,
and community building.
Bracey Tiede has been a Master Gardener since 1999. One of the most
knowledgeable and active MG's around, Bracey has been an East Hills resident
since 1992. You may recognize the name from her monthly Hot Topics in NNV.
Bracey and husband Richard's garden is organic and mainly Mediterranean. It
attracts many birds and insects that help keep the pests to a minimum. Bracey
has served as chairman, project director, hotline guru, mentor to new Master
Gardeners and briefly as coordinator of the whole program. She finds the things
she learns and helping gardeners solve their problems rewarding and interesting.
We have more Master Gardeners in our midst - more in later editions of NNV.
Click here for the
Master Gardener Web site and
here to learn
more about their “Nine Palms” San Jose research site, which is open to the
public by invitation only.
Resisting the Deer
And preparing for the Christmas Bird
Count
By Schuster Thompson
There I was. Just looking out my window.
Counting birds like I always do.
Judy’s persimmons are ripe. It’s a good time to count the birds as they peck
a hole in each one.
And then I saw him.
I don’t really like the deer in our yard because they scare away the birds.
But, mostly, I just ignore them. And they ignore me as they eat our ivy. Live
and let live, I say. Besides, they’re much too big. I like birds better –
smaller, more fun to count, tastier.
There have been a lot of deer in our yard recently. The ones with the horns
are chasing the ones with no horns. Judy thinks I don’t know what that means
because the vet got to me at a very early age. Dr. Lu may have nipped my
reproductive life in the bud (Judy doesn't like it when I say "butt") but I’ve got a good idea what it’s all about. (And
Judy wonders why I hate to let Dr. Lu get his mitts on me!)
I don’t mind the snakes.
Like the rattlesnake Judy found in the planter. Boy,
you should have heard her scream. She’s so cute when she’s out of
control!
But I digress. As I said, I was just looking out my window into the front
yard. And this really big guy with lots of spikes on his horns lay down right
under my window.
He stayed there for a long time. Just resting. I got a photo. You can see it
here.
He was real quiet and didn’t scare the birds. I took a little nap – and then
a longer nap – and he was still there. He must have been really tired. I think I
understand why. The bucks (horns) have to chase the does (no horns). Whoever
loses the race has to be “it.” And look all doe-eyed and run into the bushes. The
does always lose. Then the bucks have to tag the does with their horns
and call "ally-ally-in-free" and start the game over. Judy says
the bucks are “horny.” Well, duh, any fool can see that!
Actually, I don’t care about that stuff. The red berries are getting ripe.
It’s almost drunken robin season. And
Christmas Bird Count time. I like this
time of year.
------ Advertisement -------
To
run your ad in New Neighborhood Voice, E-mail JudyET@NNVESJ.org
or call (408) 272-7008
--------------------------------
Want
to write or take photos for New Neighborhood Voice? NNV welcomes reporters,
essayists, poets
and camera bugs. More “Voices” = a richer NNV. E-mail JudyET@NNVESJ.org or call
(408) 272-7008.
--------------------------------
Inaugural City Hall Rotunda
Event Draws Arty VIPs – and NNV
Acoustics and lighting leave much to
be desired
Parade of Floats doesn’t float NNV’s boat
A few days after the official official grand opening of the new San
Jose City Hall on Saturday, October 15th, there was another first-of-a-kind
event in the rotunda. Several hundred “VIPs” massed under the big, beautiful,
crystalline dome for an hors d’oeuvres and sweets event. There they “heard”
several City Councilmembers speak - extolling the dedication and hard work of
the History San Jose and San Jose Arts Commission volunteers, committees and commissioners responsible for the extensive
photography collection hanging on the walls inside City Hall and the outdoor
public art associated with the complex. Also, a number of committee leaders and
one of the artists spoke expressing their appreciation of the untold hours of
work which went into the finished product.
The quotation marks surrounding the word “heard” in the foregoing paragraph
are, unfortunately, apt. Though the three hundred listeners offered their best
ears to the speakers, very few words were intelligible over the din of the
rotunda’s reverberating echoes. Speaker after speaker made the error of speaking
toward, but not into, the microphone. All the audience could hear was garbled
and strangled noise. At one point, a man in red suspenders boldly walked up to
the speakers (who were standing on a ramp above the crowd) and shouted, “WE
CAN’T HEAR YOU! MOVE CLOSER TO THE MIKE!” The speaker of the moment did
just that, but just for a moment. Only one speaker got the picture and
spoke into the mike.
So, it was fortunate that many chairs were provided for the
assembled VIPs because it was a tiring, boring hour’s worth of listening to what
might just as well have been a strange and foreign language. It was a relief
when the drone stopped and the members of the audience were invited to guide
themselves on tours of the indoor and outdoor photo and art installations. And,
it was pleasant to be serenaded by the tinkling keyboardist who resumed his
suave playing after the speechifying was over.
The large, mostly old, photographs which line the walls of a hallway near the
City Council chambers are grand and represent large chunks of San Jose history.
Many are photos taken at schools and work places with many, many faces looking
into the camera. The detail of the photography is amazing. However, the display
apparently was conceived for day-time viewing because, in the dim hallway
lighting, it is difficult to appreciate the perfection. Lighting directed at
the photos would enhance the exhibit enormously. Is it possible that such
lighting got axed when it became obvious that some building expenses would need
to be cut?
And, speaking of lighting, the outdoor art installation, the parade of
concrete “floats,” is not illuminated at all – or at least the floats were not
lighted on the evening of this event – even though one of the purposes of the
event was to introduce the nearly complete public art projects. NNV wandered
around among the floats which occupy both sides of South Fifth Street behind the
City Hall complex trying to ascertain the themes by the light of dim
streetlamps. Mostly what became evident was the extremely phallic nature of many
of the float motifs. The themes are baffling without some signage giving clues
about the concepts being depicted.
Just to give the parade of floats another chance to overwhelm, NNV went back
during daylight two days later and took a look at the floats on North Fifth
Street across the street from City Hall. Daylight reveals more tapered monoliths
(read phalluses), exciting Majolica colors, outstanding tile work and
charming details, but it all seems to be inappropriately whimsical (read
goofy) for the gravitas of the City Hall and the enigmatic themes simply
make one scratch one’s head and wonder. At the risk of exposing NNV’s Philistine
roots, we’ll say give us the prosaic, non-phallic equestrian Fallon statue anytime!
Click here for photos from
the new City Hall. Click here
for our September, 2003, photo story on public art for the new City Hall, as
inspired by Eric Carlson of Soft
Underbelly of San Jose and
Beyond the
Pale fame.
FAQ (Frequently Asked
Questions)
