Mark your calendars! Tuesday, May 22, 7:00 p.m. is election time for the RGNA. Time for you, members of the RGNA, to come out and vote for your new board members. Two years ago when I became president, I thought, "What did I get myself into?" Now, I think, "Where has the time gone?" It has been a great two years, filled with lots of neighborhood events: picnics, ice cream socials, recycling days, tree planting days, neighborhood yard sales and Santa parades, to name a few.
I would like to thank the board members and volunteers that have worked so hard to make these last two years so successful! I'm sorry to say that long-time board member, Sue Valladao, has resigned her position on the board. Sue has been an RGNA board member for 10 years and is the current secretary. Sue has spearheaded many committees, such as the playground area at Bachrodt School, and is always involved with the many neighborhood events. Sue will be missed.
I would like to thank all of you who have stopped to talk with me while zipping through the neighbor- hood on my Zappy, or who sent me e-mail, or called the message center. Your ideas, suggestions, comments, and complaints have helped to transform our neighborhood into a model that other neighborhood associations hope to emulate, that the San Jose Mercury News has noted as a neighborhood with genuine community spirit, and has been recognized by Ron Gonzales, Mayor of the City of San Jose, Councilmember Cindy Chavez, and Community Foundation of Silicon Valley as a close knit community that strives to preserve the quality of life and build strong relationships in the neighborhood.
Thank you and Peace, Joseph Fota
Spieker Properties, Councilmember Cindy Chavez and the RGNA
invite you to attend the second community park meeting on:
Saturday, March 31st
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Bachrodt School
We invite you to participate
in
the first Neighborhood Yard Sale
for the year 2001!
Saturday, April 28, 2001
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Put on your Easter Bonnet
with all the frills upon it.
Come out to greet
and get a treat
from the Easter Bunny
as he comes hopping
down your street.
Saturday,
April 7th
10:00 to 2:00
Pictures available for a $3 fee!
If it rains, this event will be cancelled.
NEW ARRIVALS!
Proud parents Lisa and Randy Wallace and big sister Lauren welcome with love, twin brothers Michael Eric and Sean Anthony born on December 28, 2000. Michael weighed in at 4 lbs., 4 oz. and 17.5 inches long. Two minutes later, Sean weighed in at 3 lbs., 8 oz. and was 17 inches long. "The boys and mom are doing well" says their very proud grandmother, Liz Moscato!
A SAD FAREWELL...
We will miss the joyful smile and loving ways of Ada Mello. Ada lived in Peru until 1993 when she came to live with her son Gabriel Urdanivia, his wife Rebecca and daughters Zami, Natalie and Victoria of Forrestal Avenue. Ada was lovingly called Mama or Grandma by many, her smile left an impression on your heart. Ada loved life and taught you how to love and care for others by her example. She loved making her "sopa" (soup), and knitting sweaters, coats and beautiful heirloom treasures for her family and friends.
Below is the list of people that have paid their 2001 membership dues. Thank you!
SANTA PAULA AVE.
Margaret Amaro
Mary Bova
Nacho and Anita Campos
Leo and Anne Ercolini
Christine Gallegos
Art and June Gonzales
Richard and Eleanor Inouye
Kaye and Eva Kojima
Court and Karen Majusiak
Tom and Helen Masuda
Mary Moreno
Max, Kathy and Nick Moreno
Liz Moscato
Shig and Sets Otani
Jean and John Pagach
Carol Rivera
Rosalie Sunday
Vic and Peggy Tokushige
Felix and Regine Vasquez
Dora Vigil
Levine and Stephanie Visico
SAN JUAN AVE.
Dan and Holly Lewerenz
Esther Perez
Sue and Mike Valladao
Raj and Asha Vyas
Mark and Teresa Yasuda
FERRARI AVE.
Susan Kirk
Dorothy Magee
Marjorie Thorson
KEONCREST AVE.
Kay Brenner
Mary and Ray Clymer
Helen Elliott
Donald and Louise Ercolini
Bernice Giafaglione
Hedley and Florence Harris
Ken Harvey
Ingrid Krantz
Tom and Karen Mitchell
Mark and Tadashi Morimoto
Maria Rangel
Jaret and Jennifer Rice
Eugene and Lillian Sylvia
Patricia Wilker
Mits and Jean Yamauchi
FORRESTAL AVE.
Carlos and Joan Arellano
Barbara Burgess
Mike and Karen De La Cuesta
Bonita Hoffman
Rachel Lira
Anthony Lowe
James Manalad
Melanie Maruca
Sophie and Mark Sahines
Agnes Smith
Domenic and Mary Surico
David Toschi
Martha Toschi
Lisa Van den Bogaerde
ARNOLD AVE.
Marc Fuentes
Hazel Golden
Yukio and Teiko Kawabata
James Kinghorn
Ben and Mildred Langedyk
Rachael Osorio
Kat Parra
Kent and Kim Sherwood
Kenneth and Lucille Steen
Olga Sukup
Mary Trembley
Todd and Tracey Ulery
Rochelle and Larry Vaughn
Roger Wharton
W. ROSEMARY ST.
Ric Gilbert and Janet Kulig
N. SAN PEDRO ST.
Esperanza and Fredy Cadenas
Gary Dominguez
Joseph and Cindy Fota
Vita Fota
Jim George
Karl and Marisa McElmurry
Nelson McElmurry
Judy McQuay
Janet Okagaki
Greg and Angela Ott
Rebecca Renteria
Robert Smith
Dick and Jay Winingar
Tuesday, April 3, 2001
Street Cleaning
Saturday, April 7, 2001
EASTER PARADE
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Your Street
Saturday, April 14, 2001
Recycle Drive
8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
1437 N. San Pedro
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
1731 Technology
Saturday, April 28, 2001
NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Your Yard/Driveway
Tuesday May 1, 2001
Street Cleaning
Saturday, May 12, 2001
Recycle Drive
8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
1257 San Juan Ave.
Tuesday May 15, 2001
News articles and Ads due
9:00 p.m.
1437 N. San Pedro
Tuesday May 22, 2001
ANNUAL MEETING
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bachrodt School
Attention residents of Keoncrest Ave. and Arnold Ave. Your complaints about your parking problems (because of the resturants, the apartments, the airport, the school, and the VTA park-n-ride people) have been heard! The RGNA has contacted Stephen Au from the Department of Streets and Traffic to see what can be done.
We have received the guidelines for evaluation of a potential residential permit parking area. According to the guidelines set up by the San Jose Department of Streets and Traffic, the permit area must be of suffient size which translates into at least 150 residental parcels participating and there must be at least 75% support from the affected households for the residential parking permit to be issued.
If you are affected by this problem or would like to help with this issue, please contact the RGNA Message Center at (408) 441-RGNA (7462).
On February 27, 2001 the San Jose City Council approved the consultant agreement for the focused treatment of homes located within the Rosemary Garden Neighborhood. The Airport has given the consultant a Notice to Proceed with the services for the design of the focused treatment. Design assessments should begin later this month.
- Bert Beattie, Airport Project Manager
The RGNA has begun to address concerns from the community about the quality of education and conditions at Bachrodt Elementary School, but we need your help. A signed letter expressing your concerns or issues with Bachrodt, whether you are a parent who has a child attending, will have a child attending, have had a child attending, or do not send your children to Bachrodt (and the reasons why) would greatly benefit our talks with San Jose Unified School District and Rich Garcia, the school trustee for the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood. Together we can make a difference!
Please mail to or drop off a signed letter to:
Holly Lewerenz, Vice President RGNA
1257 San Juan Ave.
San Jose, CA 95110
Please show up at the following locations if you would like to help.
Recycle Saturday
April 14th
8:00 a.m.
Hosted by:
Cindy and Joseph Fota
1437 N. San Pedro St.
Recycle Saturday
May 12th
8:00 a.m.
Hosted by:
Holly and Dan Lewerenz
1257 San Juan Ave.
HOW CAN YOU VOLUNTEER?
Call the message center at
441-RGNA.
On the night of February 28th, the neighborhood was treated, courtesy of the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA), to an exciting celestial show which included the moon, some star clusters, blue and gold stars, double stars, and the planets Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.
The RGNA would like to thank Jim Van Nuland and the members of the SJAA who brought their telescopes and answered numerous questions:
Dirk Demol
Bob HavnerMike Koop
Paul Mancuso
Gary Mitchell
Bob O'Shaughnessy
For more information about San Jose Astronomical Association and up coming Star Party events, see their web site at sjaa.net.
On the evening of Saturday, March 31st, don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour!
COMMUNITY MEETING
On Saturday, January 27, staff from the City of San Jose, Caltrans and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority conducted an informational workshop at Bachrodt Elementry School exclusively for the residents of the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood. Topics included an update to the Route 87 Freeway Project, the widening of Interstate 880 and the San Jose International Airport Masterplan. Approximately two dozen residents attended. In general, questions and comments received from residents were very productive and the written comments submitted were extremely positive. Thanks to all of you that attended!
ROUTE 87 UPDATE
The detour road is almost complete. You probably have noticed that the northbound lanes are now using the new temporary bridge over Interstate 880. These lanes connect up with the detour road that was completed in September 1999 just north of Rosemary Gardens all the way to Air- port Parkway.
The southbound lanes south of Skyport Drive and over Interstate 880 are scheduled to shift to the new temporary bridge just next to the new northbound lanes in mid to late April. This will require one night of freeway closure so the connections can be paved. Residents along San Juan Avenue will be notified via flier before the night work occurs.
The shift depends on when the embankment wall footing at Hedding Street is established, and the recent heavy rains have delayed work on this wall. Once the footing is about eight feet high, traffic will shift and the left turn lane from southbound 87 to eastbound Hedding will be perma- nently removed. Motorists on southbound 87 may access the Civic Center by turning left at Mission Street.
To facilitate increased traffic through the Civic Center due to the removal of the left turn at Hedding, on-street parking along San Pedro Street was removed on March 3rd. The garage at Hedding and San Pedro streets is a good parking alternative when visiting the Civic Center.
More information on the route 87 Freeway Project can be found at www.route87.org or by calling (408) 232-0228.
I-880 WIDENING UPDATE
This project will widen I-880 from four to six lanes between Montague Expressway and North First Street. Currently, construction of the project is scheduled to begin in June of this year, and be completed in late 2003. For more information on this project and other Measure A+B projects, check out the VTA's website at www.vta.org or call Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575.
SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MASTERPLAN UPDATE
Beginning March 7 and concluding on March 29, Airport staff will conduct a series of community meetings to solicit input regarding airport improvements. Airport staff is available to meet with the neighborhood to continue these discussions. For more information, visit the Airport's website at www.sjc.org, or call (408) 501-0979.
Please join us at the Annual Meeting on
Tuesday, May 22nd
7:00 p.m.
Bachrodt School
Interested in being a board member? Call the Message Center at 441-RGNA
This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in the health and well-being of your neighborhood!
Answers to questions and concerns from the neighborhood:
1. Speeding in the Neighborhood
Once again the problem of speeding in the neighborhood tops our list as the number one neighbor- hood concern. The posted speed limit in the neighborhood is 25 mph. The RGNA will be meeting with Stephen Au of San Jose's Department of Streets and Traffic, to discuss traffic calming measures. In the meantime, call Traffic Enforcement at 277-4341 and file a complaint. The more calls to Traffic Enforcement, the better the response.
2. Dog/Cat Litter
Making it's return again as a neighborhood concern, is dog/cat litter. Owners, please be considerate to the feelings of your neighbors. If your dog makes a mess, clean it up. Residents in the neighbor- hood take pride in the appearance of their homes and no one wants to be cleaning up after someone else's animal. Residents, complaints of this nature are handled by Animal Control at 727-6529.
3. When is the next Dumpster Day?
The RGNA has contacted staff member Jose Posadas in Councilmember Cindy Chavez's office and requested that Rosemary Gardens be placed on the Dumpster Day list. We'll keep you informed.
4. Are we ever going to get street lights?
Yes! Currently, new street lights are being erected on the 1200 block of N. San Pedro St. These will be followed by street lights on the 1200, 1300, and 1400/1500 blocks of Santa Paula Ave. and San Juan Ave. Next, the update and amending of lights on the 1400/1500 block of Forrestal Ave. Then, although this part of the plan is still vague and subject to change, the 1200 block of Forrestal Ave., the 1200 block of Arnold Ave., the 1400/1500 block of Keoncrest Ave., the 1400 block of N. San Pedro St., the 1400 block of Arnold Ave., the 1300 block of Keoncrest Ave., the 1200 block of Keoncrest Ave., update/amend 1300 block of N. San Pedro St., and finally Sonora Ave., Rosemary Ave., Gish Rd., and Ferrari Ave. will be done piece-by-piece as each intersection of the above streets is completed. How long will this take? Years. But at least there's a plan. That's better than what we had two years ago.
5. Parking woes
This is not addressing the parking problems caused by the restaurants, the apartments, and the airport. This issue deals with residents parking in front of other people's homes. The street is public property and legally registered cars can be parked on the street for up to 72 hours and then they need to be moved. Cars parked for more than 72 hours can be reported to Code Enforcement at 277-5305. Car owners, most houses can accommodate two cars parked in front. If you must park in front of someone else's home, be considerate, don't park in the middle. Share the parking areas.
Have you noticed the Crape Myrtle trees in the neighborhood? Would like to have one for that bare parking strip in front of your house?
The RGNA and Our City Forest is once again offering free trees to the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood. What do you need to do to get a tree?
1. Contact the RGNA Message Center, 441-RGNA, and
leave your name, your address, and your phone number.
2. Help with the planting of the tree (very important).
3. Commit to a 2-3 years of watering the tree.
Depending on the allocation, trees will be given on a first come, first serve basis, and site eligibility.
Thank you Tracy Deitschman for letting the RGNA know about the trees.
QUICK-AS-A-BUNNY EASTER EGG NESTS
4 tb butter
4 c marshmallows (10 oz.)
5 c rice krispie cereal
1/2 c green-tinted coconut
miniature marshmallows
jelly beans
chocolate
eggs etc.
Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add marsh- mallows and stir till melted. Cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add Rice Krispies and coconut and stir till thoroughtly mixed. Shape mixture into 16 3" nests. Chill thoroughly.
Fill cooled nests with miniature marshmallows, jelly beans, chocolate eggs, hershey kisses, etc.
APRICOT SQUARES FOR EASTER
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c sugar
1 egg well beaten
1/2 ts lemon juice
1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 ts baking powder
1/2 ts salt
1/2 ts cinnamon
1 pn cloves
2 tb milk
3/4 c apricot preserves
Cream shortening. Add sugar, cream until fluffy. Add egg and lemon juice, blend well. Sift together dry ingredients, add, alternately, with milk. Spread half the batter into greased 9"x9" pan. Cover with apricot preserves. Top with remaining half of the batter.
Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden, and batter tests done. Cool, and cut into squares.
WANTED: Someone to walk with me around the neighborhood. Call Patty at 436-0679.
RGNA Message Center 441-RGNA (441-7462)
RGNA Mail   1437 N. San Pedro St.
RGNA Website   http://rgna.tripod.com
--------------------------------------
Airport Noise 452-0707
Airport Project Manager 501-7778
Animal Control 727-6529
Board and Care Issues 277-4069
Code Enforcement 277-4528
Crime Prevention 277-4133
Graffiti Hotline 277-2758
Household Hazardous Waste 299-6895
Neighborhood Action Center 277-5722
Neighborhood Watch 277-4133
Shopping Cart Pickup 977-0555
Sidewalk Repair 277-2572
Signs and Markings 277-5341
Traffic Enforcement 277-4341
Vehicle Abatement
(unpaved surface & lawns) 277-5307
(public streets) 277-5305
This month, we continue with the construction of Skyport Phase I, which, when completed at the end of this year, will include three office towers, two parking structures, a fitness center, and a variety of retail amenities. The appearance of Skyport has changed dramatically since our last update. This month, our contractor, Devcon Construction, completed steel erection for the third tower at Skyport and began construction of the second parking structure.
During the winter, we added precast stone panels and German limestone to the exterior of two towers at Skyport, we fireproofed and poured concrete decks for the third tower, and we completed foundation work for the first parking structure. In February, we also completed the demolition of the former Schlumberger building.
Since our last update, Spieker Properties has commissioned the Guzzardo Partnership, an award- winning landscape architecture firm, to design the 1.3 acre public park at Skyport. This park will be located on Sonora Avenue, between Technology Drive and Guadalupe Parkway. In January and February, we held meetings with the San Jose Parks Department, representatives from councilmember Cindy Chavez's office, the Rosemary Gardens Park Design Committee, and the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood to discuss design ideas for the park.
At our February 10th neighborhood meeting, our landscape architect presented several design ideas to the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood. A second Rosemary Gardens neighborhood Skyport Park meeting is planned for Saturday, March 31st from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Bachrodt School. A reminder letter and additional details will be mailed directly to every Rosemary Gardens resident. If you have any questions about Skyport, please contact Slade Carlton with Spieker Properties. Slade can be reached at (408) 346-4000 or by email at scarlton@spieker.com.
- Slade Carlton, Spieker Properties
Street sweeping happens the first Tuesday of every month. The next two street sweeping days are April 3rd and May 1st. Help keep the neighborhood clean. Have your car off the street between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on these days.