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Fire Station 4 is re-opening in mid-April. This original fire station was built in 1958 as Santa Clara was experiencing tremendous growth. Santa Clara’s population at the beginning of the 1950s was 11,700 and grew rapidly to 19,860 by 1960. The addition of a fire station covering the south side of Santa Clara ensured that the Fire Department was capable of providing the highest possible level of fire protection to this rapidly growing area of our city.
The new Fire Station 4 is an important addition to the Fire Department. The new facility boasts several environmentally friendly features, one of which is a solar collection system. The Fire Department, in cooperation with Silicon Valley Power, has installed photovoltaic cells on the roof, which use solar energy to power the station. On low-use days, the building will produce an abundance of electric power which will be added back to the electric power system and will help make this building extremely energy efficient.
Today, Santa Clara’s population has grown to more than 107,000 and the need for quick, efficient fire protection remains. The new Fire Station 4 is one of 10 fire stations strategically located throughout the City, which allows firefighters to respond to over 8,000 emergency calls per year with an average response time of less than 3 minutes.
As soon as the new station is opened for business, residents are encouraged to stop by and request a station tour. Fire Department employees are excited to be back in the neighborhood, serving the residents with timely, caring, professional service.
(This summary is based on information provided by Rajeev Batra, Director of Public Works, and Carol McCarthy, Deputy City Manager.)
2008/2009 Budget. City Staff is developing a five-year street improvement plan for our neighborhood to present to the Council during the May budget hearings. This plan is being developed in accordance with the Council’s June 5, 2007 policy: “100% City funding of the South of Forest Neighborhood street improvements in the Five Year Financial Plan 2008-09 through 2012-13 through pay as you go, bonding or other funding measures not including the general fund."
Covenants City Staff is studying the covenant issue in order to make a recommendation to the Council before the May budget hearings. Between now and then, staff will update SOFNA on the issue.
Traffic Calming Developer funds for a traffic study and for traffic calming measures have not yet become available. (They are tied to Westfield obtaining permits for the Valley Fair expansion.) The City is committed, however, to doing the studies so traffic calming measures are incorporated during street reconstruction.
Next Steps SOFNA is hosting a neighborhood meeting at the Santa Clara Library at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Please plan on attending to get the latest information and to find out how you can help make sure reconstruction of our streets and sidewalks starts in 2008/2009.
Also, please mark the following City Council meeting dates on your calendar: May 6, 13, and June 10, 2008. We need to present a strong and united front to show our support of the Council’s commitment of 100% City funding for reconstructing our streets and sidewalks during the next 5 years.
(by SOFNA President Mike O'Halloran)
St. Patrick’s Day might have passed before you’ve read this, but the green continues. Spring has arrived. What a release. Here comes the Sun. The South of Forest Neighborhood is alive! A nice walk provides that evidence. Our SOFNA Quarterly Newsletter highlights some more.
Joanne and Elena have gathered a lot of information here from a variety of neighbors and sources. Lots of good heads up, tips, and info on upcoming events you’ll want to know about.
Special mention: Neighborhood Watch is here and needs wide support to make it truly work. Funding for our Streets & Sidewalks is on the Council agenda in May. Mayor Pat Mahan and Council members Jamie McLeod, Kevin Moore, & Dominic Caserta got us on there! We’ll have a neighborhood meeting on April 23 before the City Council sessions. Attend that and attend the City Council meetings. Evidence of wide support is critical in those meetings.
Join in! All of the neighborhood activities discussed in our SOFNA news exist and are enhanced by the involvement of residents. Hard work, maybe. Definitely on some items, and I want to extend a special "thank you" to Michelle for all the research and organization efforts on the Streets and Sidewalks. But, it can also be fun and a big part of that fun is knowing your neighbors! That’s what makes the neighborhood special: The South of Forest Neighborhood! Enjoy the read…
From the National Crime Prevention Council: "Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents, helps prevent burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve." Here in the South of Forest Neighborhood we have a street captain for each street and regular meetings with the Community Service Officer from the Santa Clara Police Department. Anyone can participate by being on the lookout for: property being taken out of houses where no one is at home; cars, vans or trucks moving slowly with no apparent destination, or without lights; a stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child; or anything that looks out of the ordinary.
Plan to attend our annual Neighborhood Watch meeting on May 8, 2008, at the home of Joanne Anderson at 6 p.m. If you are new to the area, come and meet the neighbors. If you have attended a previous meeting, come again to reconnect with other residents.
If you don't yet have a Neighborhood Watch decal for your window and would like more information, contact Corinne Celio.
If you are a grandparent whose grandchildren are far away or if you are someone without a Grandma or Grandpa nearby, come celebrate our multi-generational neighborhood on June 7, 2008, 11 a.m., at the home of Maria and Ted Coughlin.
We had such success last year that we will be doing a brunch again. Look for more news as the date approaches. If anyone out there, young or old, has a special talent, be it singing, playing an instrument, or joke-telling, start practicing for what will be a very receptive audience. Contac Corinne Celio if you would like to help.
We invite all residents and homeowners to join the SOFNA e-mail discussion forum hosted on YahooGroups. This is a great way to learn about neighborhood and local events as well as communicate with neighbors on issues which affect us all. Contact John Shores or any SOFNA Board member for more information.
The Santa Clara Fire Department and the American Red Cross will be presenting 3-hour workshops this spring on how to prepare for a disaster. Here is the schedule for the free classes:
Tuesday, May 6, 9 a.m.-12 noon or 6-9 p.m., at Santa Clara Central Library, 2635 Homestead Road
Saturday, May 17, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Muslim Community Association, 3003 Scott Blvd.
Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Santa Clara Central Library, 2635 Homestead Road
Ask a neighbor to join you in attending one of these workshops. Or, if you would like more extensive training, sign up for the Home Emergency Assistance Team (HEAT) 20-hour class. Space is limited for either program. Call the Santa Clara Fire Department Training Division at 615-4940, to reserve your spot now.
The Santa Clara Fire Department is scheduling their next Home Emergency Assistance Team (HEAT) class to start June 5. There are four Thursday evening classes and one all day Saturday class on June 21 (9am-5pm). The sessions will take place at the Fire Training Center, 1900 Walsh Avenue in Santa Clara. Your SOFNA neighbors Corinne Celio and Joy Haas have taken the course and recommend it. Joy advises that the "course will equip you to be more self-sufficient while you learn some ways to take care of yourself and assist with the needs of others." There is still room in the class.
The cost for the entire course is a very modest $5.00. To make your reservation, call (408) 615-4940.
(by Tracie Johnson)
Because I never got my first mortgage statement in the mail, I have been very diligent with the mortgage company, the homeowner insurance company, and the car insurance company to ensure that my “mailing address” and “property location” or “garage address” are correctly recorded as different. A casual conversation I had with a few friends in the neighborhood revealed that this was not true for everyone.
Conversations on this topic started on the Southofforest@yahoogroups.com e-mail group. Many neighbors went to their insurance companies and reported a variety of changes in their rates. Many people reported significant savings, particularly on car insurance, as much as $100 a year per vehicle. Some reported being reimbursed for past over-payments. A small few reported slight increases on their homeowners insurance.
Some of our neighbors have been asked by their insurance companies for proof of Santa Clara residency. Your property address is stated as Santa Clara 95050 on your property tax statement. You may also request from the City a “Proof of Residency” letter from the City Manager’s office. Contact Carol McCarthy at 1500 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95050. Or call at 615-2213 or email cmccarthy@santaclaraca.gov. Please provide your full name (with spelling) as well as your exact mailing address and telephone/contact information in case of questions.
SOFNA and the City are continuing to work on how we might get our mailing address changed to Santa Clara 95050. This insurance issue will certainly help to support our argument to the Federal Post Office. If you experience a change in your insurance rates, please let Tracie Johnson know via email or a letter.
On February 5, 2008 Santa Clara voters upheld resolutions which allow private development of the 17 acre BAREC property at 90 N. Winchester Blvd. However, onset of the development is still in question as a lawsuit challenging the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is still active.
Measures A & B passed by a vote of approximately 60% to 40%. Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) records as of 1/19/08, the last reporting period, show that Santa Clarans for Affordable Senior Housing and Parks, Yes on A & B…Committee received $600,000.00 from SummerHill Homes, sole contributor, and show expenditures of $660,233.56. FPPC records show that SaveBAREC No on A & B Committee received $7,703.00 from various contributors, list expenditures of $1,905 and an outstanding loan of $3,000.
Interested parties can access these and future ‘Measures’ reports via the City of Santa Clara website, City Clerk Department. Comprehensive articles about the BAREC property have been printed in the Santa Clara Weekly. They can be read on the internet at www.santaclaraweekly.com
Learn how you and your family can increase your brain fitness at an AARP Staying Sharp Forum on May 17 in San Francisco. Top neuroscientists will discuss the latest research on Brain Health in easy-to-understand language. For information, call (877) 926-8300 or visit www.aarp.org/health/brain/program
(by Debbie Benovitz)
Douglane Avenue has lost one of its long time residents and a dear friend. Sadly, Bob Samford passed away February 19th at his home with his wife, Helen, by his side. He was battling cancer.
Bob will be remembered by many in the neighborhood for his easy going attitude, his generous spirit and his devilish sense of humor. Our many SOFNA events will never be the same without Bob. He never missed the opportunity to take part in all that our neighborhood association had to offer (especially the Ice Cream Social). He brought humor, history and much knowledge of the neighborhood to share with us when we gathered. He will be sorely missed.
mid-April Completion of Fire Station #4 on Pruneridge
April 19 Start setting out material for citywide Spring Cleanup
April 23 SOFNA meeting, in Cedar Room at Main Library 7 p.m.
May 6 City Council Meeting - Budget at 7 p.m.
May 8 Neighborhood Watch Meeting, at 6 p.m.
May 13 City Council Meeting - Budget at 7 p.m.
May 20 Operating Budget Study Session at 7 p.m.
June 7 Senior Event at 11 a.m.
June 10 City Council Hearing - Budget at 7 p.m.
June 5, 12, 19, 21 HEAT Training
Joanne Anderson
Royanna Gazlay
Joey Goschy
Joy Haas
Tracie Johnson
Elena Morera
Arline Norsworthy
Michael O’Halloran
Michelle Purviance
John Shores
Thelma Sorich
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