The RGNA Board of Directors have begun a new term and it's very exciting! We have new faces and new ideas, and we feel very blessed. I feel very privileged to have been elected again along with Joseph Fota. In the past, I have learned a great deal from Joseph as he is an excellent leader. Over the years Joseph has kept this neighborhood his number one priority, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him and Cindy Fota. We are involved in numerous community events as well as challenges. I know this will be another successful year. Thank you Rosemary Gardens for allowing me to serve the best neighborhood in San Jose!
Thank you,
Holly Lewerence, Vice President
National Night Out will be held on Tuesday August 7th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bachrodt Park area. The Association will provide Ice Cream Sundaes! Everyone welcome!
Got Stuff? On Saturday, August 25, from 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m., the Rosemary Gardens Neighborhood will be having its second Neighborhood Yard Sale of the year. Sell your own stuff in your own yard and let the RGNA do the advertising for you. The RGNA places ads in the Mercury News Classified section, the PennySaver magazine and other neighborhood newsletters. We post signs at various locations in San Jose, and advertise on the web.
To offset the cost of advertising, we ask $2.00 from each house participating in the yard sale.
Sunday, September 16, 2001
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bachrodt School
CONGRATULATIONS!
Larry and Rochelle Vaughn, of Arnold Avenue, are the very proud parents of a new daughter, Audrey Nicole! Baby Vaughn, mom, dad and big sister Karley are doing fine. Audrey was born on July 13th and was 7 lbs., 6 oz. and was 19.5 inches long. Congratulations!
Congratulations to Luis and Kate Medina of San Juan Avenue on their new baby daughter, Sophia Eva. Sophia joined our neighborhood on May 18 at 6:25 a.m. weighing in at 6 lbs., 12 oz. and was 19.5 inches long. Big sister Isabel is very happy to have a new little sister.
Best Wishes and Congratulations to newlyweds Bud and Barbara Boman of Santa Paula Avenue! Their June 18th wedding was at the beautiful Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. A Luau celebratation with family and friends capped the day's festivities, then the newlyweds enjoyed a week long Hawaiian honeymoon.
Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to Gene and Lillian Sylvia of Keoncrest Avenue! Gene and Lillian celebrated their February 1st Golden Date with daughters Vicky, Candy and Liz, their five grandchildren and Lillian's two sisters at a family dinner at The Chart House. Congratulations and best wishes to you both!
Congratulations to Tom and Helen Masuda, 44 year residents of Santa Paula Avenue on their Golden Wedding Anniversary! Daughters Jan, Julie, Robin and Tricia hosted a dinner celebrating their parents June 20, 1951 wedding. Tom and Helen were surprised when they saw their granddaughter walking down the aisle wearing Helen's wedding dress on the arm of their grandson decked out in a white tux in a "wedding memory". The Golden Couple renewed their vows and enjoyed a second honeymoon in British Columbia.
WELCOME!
Congratulations to The Somera Family, first time homeowners on Forrestal Avenue. They have lived with Fely's sister on Keoncrest Ave. for the past 7 years. Lurimar keeps himself in shape playing basketball, while Fely enjoys cooking and gardening. Their children William and Janice will attend San Jose High in the fall.
Welcome to Joyce DelReal of Ferrari Avenue. Joyce is working hard to redo her backyard landscaping, and if that's not exercise enough, she's looking for a local Jazzercise class to join. Joyce works for the City of San Jose and enjoys jigsaw puzzles when the weather forces her inside.
Welcome to The Dones Family of San Juan Avenue. Originally from The Phillipines, they are enjoying their first American home and our neighborhood immensely. Wilfredo works for the City of Los Gatos while Rosita works for the County of Santa Clara. A very musical family indeed, Wilfredo plays guitar and Rosita accompanies him on piano. Daughter Angeline will be taking formal piano lessons soon.
The City of San Jose has made it easier than ever to keep on top of new building projects being submitted to the planning department. Each week, city planners post projects submitted the previous week at http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/planning/sjplan/recent.htm. The only project posted recently near the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood was on June 18, a Planned Development Permit for construction of a 23,634 square foot Marriot Residents Inn on a 2.86 gross acre site, west of North First Street immediately south of Skyport Drive.
Best wishes from the RGNA to Joe Russell, former President Spieker Properties, Silicon Valley, who left Spieker Properties in June. Joe Russell, John Petersen, and Slade Carlson were instrumental in developing a relationship with the neighbohood which kept us informed of recent developments and the securing of funds for the soon-to-be-built neighborhood park. Even with his busy schedule as President, Joe was always available to talk to the RGNA and the residents and to attend several of our events. Some of you may remember Joe and his sons at our last neighborhood picnic.
Filling in for Joe will be John Petersen who will be taking over the role as Regional Senior Vice President, Equity Office Properties, the new owners of the property next to the neighborhood.
Best of luck Joe, in your new venture.
The RGNA Board meets every fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. In addition to our regular meeting agenda, guest speakers will be in attendance to address the Board on specific issues. If any of the following topics interest you, we invite you to attend our meetings and voice your concerns.
District 3 - Tuesday, Aug. 28th - 7:00 p.m. - 1731 Technology Drive
Get the latest updates about what is going on in District 3 and express your concerns about the City, to Jose Posadas, staff member to District 3 Councilmember Cindy Chavez.
Code Enforcement - Tuesday, Sept. 25th - 7:00 p.m. - 1731 Technology Drive
Questions or complaint regarding issues dealing with Code enforcement? Lisa Ochoa, Code Enforcement Officer, will be answering questions, taking complaints and speaking about recent changes in the roles and responsiblities regarding Code Enforcement.
The most significant change establishes minimum landscape requirements and maintenance standards for duplexes and apartment buildings. Presently, besides the restriction from paving over more than 50% of a front yard, there is no requirement that the unpaved portion ever be landscaped. City staff has recommending that landscaping be required in the unpaved portion of these properties. For purposes of the ordinance, landscaping is defined as live trees, shrubs, lawn or other live plant materials to prevent the sole use of rocks to meet the landscaping requirement. City staff is also working on how to expand the ordinance to include single-family homes. By the end of August, whenever you see an apartment building or duplex without landscaping, please report it to Code Enforcement. It will be great to finally have all the non-landscaped apartment buildings in the City improved.
The revised ordinance also specifically prohibits commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 10,000 pounds from parking in residential areas unless associated with construction or a delivery. This will greatly enhance inspectors' ability to cite and remove inappropriate vehicles in our neighborhoods. I know this has been a major problem on some residential streets, and I hope we have finally found a way to correct the problem.
Another significant change to the Blight Ordinance allows for the expanded use of Administrative Citations rather than Compliance Orders. A Compliance Order involves a much longer process of notices and hearings, which is effective for significant ongoing problems such as illegal construction and housing violations, but is not an effective means to motivate compliance on minor blight cases. This revised process will allow for quicker resolution and a more efficient use of division resources.
The City's current Blight Ordinance is section 17.72 of the City of San Jose's Municipal Code and can be accessed from the City's home page at http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/ . Look for the link to the municipal code on the left hand side of the page.
- Excerpts taken from an article written by Councilmember District 6 Ken Yeager
The second Saturday of each month is Recycle Saturday. There are signs up on telephone poles a week ahead of time to remind you to put out your recyclables by 8:00 a.m. for the next Saturday's pickup. The money we raise helps RGNA to offset the cost of many neighborhood activities we all enjoy. Volunteers begin at 8:00 a.m. to collect your recyclables:
newspapers (sorry no telephone books or magazines) CA Redemption Value aluminum cans CA Redemption Value plastic soda and water bottles
It is easy to help us raise money! Lately, more and more people are drinking bottled water, yet we've not seen a large increase in our curbside pickup from you on Recycle Saturday. All you need to do each month is save and separate your aluminum cans from your plastic bottles by using separate plastic bags or two yellow curbside recycle bins. The amount you put out doesn't matter, the total weight of all cans and bottles is what our payment is based on.
Here's an example of the types of CA Redemption Value aluminum cans and bottles:
Plastic Water Bottles: 16 oz. individual size all the way up to 48 oz. size No Gallon Jugs or larger are allowed Plastic Soda Bottles: Any size from 16 oz. up to the 2 Liter bottles Aluminum Beer Cans Aluminum "Beverage" Cans: Mixed soda and juice, iced tea, soda etc.
If you are in doubt if your container is recyclable, just check the label for the words "CA Cash Refund". If you find this symbol on the bottom of plastic recyclable bottles, they are recyclable.
If you would like to volunteer to Host, Drive or Help with Pickup please leave a message at 441-RGNA or come to the home listed below on the appropriate Saturdays by 8:00 a.m.
August 11th - 8:00 a.m.
Gregg and Angela Ott
1337 N. San Pedro St.
September 8th - 8:00 a.m.
Bonnie and Ransom Fields
1368 N. San Pedro St.
Ingredients
8-10 peaches, sliced (not to thin)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1-1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Crumb Topping
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or to taste
Preheat oven to 400 F. Butter or spray an 8x8-inch baking dish. Combine peaches, sugar, lemon juice and flour in bowl. Blend well. Transfer to baking dish. Combine the crumb topping ingredients in small bowl. Mix with hands until lumps form. Sprinkle in crumbs over peaches. Bake for 30 minutes, or until bubbly and brown on top. Serve warm or room temperature. Recipe can be doubled and placed in 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
Looking for occasional childcare for my 10 month old. Prefer responsible young adult for some evenings and weekends. Call 441-RGNA (7462).
RGNA members may post one-line ads free, up to 75 characters per issue, $2 for non-members.
The Department of Aging and Adult Services of the Social Services Agency of the County of Santa Clara will be holding their Tenth Annual Adult Services Resource Faire. The purpose of the Faire is to provide education, information, and resource networking for adult service professionals, consumers and the general public.
This year, the Faire is scheduled for October 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and it is being copresented by the City of San Jose's Office on Aging; the Office of the Friends of the Human Relations Commission of the County of Santa Clara, and the Council on Aging of Santa Clara County, Inc.
The Faire will be held at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave.
There is ample free parking, but public transportation is convenient and encouraged. Attendance is free and open to the public and there will be gifts, prizes, and giveaways at the Faire for attendees. We expect over 100 Federal, State, local agencies and community based organizations to be represented at the Faire.
- Julie Aragon Department of Aging and Adult Services
Airport Staff were introduced to the new RGNA Board at their last regular meeting, and updated the board on the status of the Acoustical Treatment Program (ACT).
The Airport is currently in the process of updating the Noise Exposure Map (NEM). The NEM identifies the noise contour boundary and those homes eligible for category one treatment within the 65 CNEL contour. The NEM update is expected to be complete by May, 2002.
The ACT Program is currently offering "Focused Treatment" to eligible properties in the neighborhood. The updated noise contour may extend into the Rosemary Garden area and therefore allow the Airport to provide full acoustical treatment for impacted properties. The Airport is proposing that construction on the homes that are to receive the focused treatment be postponed until the NEM update process is completed. The Airport is scheduled to meet with the Rosemary Gardens area residents on Saturday, August 11, 2001 from10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Media Center of Bachrodt School to explain the NEM update process and its implications.
For information, please call (408) 501-7778 or visit www.sjc.org.
As part of the 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program, work began on the Interstate 880 Widening Project between U.S. 101/North First Street and Montague Expressway on July 5, 2001. The project will widen the four-lane "bottleneck" to a six-lane freeway within the existing median to include a new mixed-flow lane in each direction. This project also includes a southbound auxiliary lane from U.S. 101 to North First Street and ramp improvements at the southbound Brokaw Road exit ramp. It had been determined through the environmental process that noise barriers were also required within this project. Therefore, the existing 14-foot sound wall on the southbound I-880 on-ramp at North First Street will be extended 550 feet to the north.
VTA contractors began sound wall construction activities on July 5th. Sound wall pre-construc tion activities included temporary fencing placement, trimming and pruning of existing trees and shrubs, removal of a portion of the existing sound wall and installation of rodent control stations.
In general, work hours on the entire freeway widening project will be between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with extended hours as necessary for critical operations. Construction of the sound wall will continue through the end of August and the overall project construction is slated for completion by late 2003.
It has been said, jokingly, that every project involves six unique steps:
- enthusiasm
- disillusionment
- panic
- search for the guilty
- punishment of the innocent and
- praise and reward for the non-participants.
As we near completion of the first phase of Skyport, it's important to remember that hundreds, even thousands of men and women dedicated themselves to planning, financing, designing, purchasing, and constructing what will soon become a major entryway to the City of San Jose. The development of a project like Skyport is in many ways a rare privilege. It requires years of planning, millions of dollars of funding, and a great deal of attention to detail.
Now that we're within a few months of occupying the first phase of Skyport, we look forward to adding this project to our airport portfolio of properties. As many of you know, in July, Spieker Properties merged with and into Equity Office Properties, to become the largest public owner of real estate in the nation. As Equity Office Properties, we continue to value our relationship with the Rosemary Gardens neighborhood, and look forward to working together more in the future.
Equity Office Properties will continue to develop Skyport as planned, including the addition of the 1.3 acre park along Sonora Avenue, and John Petersen will remain as Senior Vice President for the San Jose region of the company. Finally, thank you for your neighborhood's continued involvement with this project, and special praise and reward to all Skyport participants.
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/Neighborhood Watch
277-4133
Graffiti Hotline
277-2758
Household Hazardous Waste
299-6895
Neighborhood Action Center
277-5722
Shopping Cart Pickup
277-4000
Sidewalk Repair
277-2572
Signs and Markings
277-5341
Traffic Enforcement
277-4341
Vehicle Abatement
- (unpaved surface & lawns) 277-5307
- (public streets) 277-5305
If you are a homeowner or renter age 62 or older, or blind or disabled and have less than $35,251 in total household income, you will qualify for a once a year refund from the State of California.
A portion of the amount paid by property owners and renters for property taxes will be refunded. Volunteers trained by the State Franchise Tax Board will be at many Community and Senior Centers from July 1st through October 15th to help applicants fill out the necessary forms.
For more information, call Marilyn Hills, of the City of San Jose Office On Aging, at 277-4790. This rebate is not automatic. You must apply! So tell your friends, neighbors and relatives about this little-publicized rebate.
- Melanie Maruca
Our late May heat wave brought out more than cooling fans and sprinklers, it brought the pesky American Cockroach out of our neighborhood's storm/sewer drains. I called the Santa Clara County Mosquito and Vector Control Offices for help. You may have noticed Vector Control trucks in the neighborhood on Thursday June 7th spraying all our the neighborhood's storm drains with pestcide. They will be returning every 3 months to spray our storm drains throughout the year to control the cockroaches at the request of RGNA.
Here is information from their flyer on Cockroach Control and Prevention to help you understand and control these pests in your home and yards.
Description
Oriental cockroaches are dark brown to black in color and 1 - 1 1/4 inches in length. These pests cannot fly. American cockroaches are reddish brown in color and 2-3 inches in length. These pests do fly.
Habits
Cockroaches are more active at night when they leave their dark, damp environment in search of food or water. Often they can be seen during the summer months wandering on lawns or pavement. Occasionally homeowners may find this roach indoors. This does not mean that the home is infested. Usually it indicates a roach is searching for food away from its nesting area. In yards, cockroaches may nest in any dark, cool, damp area. These areas commonly include:
* Under cement foundations
* Cracks in foundations
* Crawlspaces
* Basements
* Thick vegetation (especially Junipers and Ivy)
* Under wood piles and debris
Control
Cockroaches can be controlled outdoors with liquid insecticides registered for cockroach control. These include Chrorpyrifos and Diazinon. CAREFULLY FOLLOW ALL LABEL DIRECTIONS. Liquid insecticides may be applied with a pump type "hand can" sprayer or a plastic jar applicator, which attaches to a garden hose. Spray around areas where cockroach activity is observed. If roaches are entering the home, apply a barrier application around the foundation of the house as well as 2 feet up the wall. This will help prevent roaches from entering from these sites. All pillars, pipes, porches and supports need to be treated. Established infestations may require more than one application. Severe infestations may require the services of a Licensed Pest Control Operator.
When Using Pesticides
* Wear gloves and protective goggles
* Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing
* Do not permit children or pets to go on treated areas until the spray has completely dried
* Keep pesticides out of reach of children
Prevention
Since cockroaches nest in dark, damp cool areas, reducing or eliminating these area will prevent future infestations.
* Trim vegetation and thin-out heavy growth
* Do not water at night
* Do not leave pet food out overnight
* Remove leaf litter accumulations from under landscaping
* Stack firewood and lumber piles off the ground and away from the house
* Remove debris from yard
Exclusion
Cockroaches will commonly enter homes along the plumbing (up through the floor from underneath the crawlspace), along antenae, phone or electrical wiring (up through the floor from underneath the crawlspace) and under door and window jams. Exclusion measures, which will help prevent cockroaches from entering at these sites include:
* Weather stripping along bottom of all doors including garage doors
* Plugging cracks and holes in flooring and around baseboards, sinks
and pipes with steel wool and caulking or putty
* Repairing broken window and door screens
- Melanie Maruca