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Starting July 1st, addresses located on our residential streets will be changed to Santa Clara CA 95050. Business addresses on Stevens Creek Blvd. will remain San Jose CA 95117. The post office will not deliver any mail addressed to Santa Clara 95050 prior to July 1st. You will receive mail sent to your address with both city/ZIP Codes of Santa Clara 95050 and San Jose 95117 from July 1st until December 31st.
DO NOT use the regular Change of Address cards from the Post Office. They are for customers who have physically moved from one house to another. You will need to notify your correspondents (family, friends, bills, credit cards, etc.) of your new city and ZIP Code beginning July 1st. Many bills have a box or section where you can indicate your new address.
The coming address change is now a fact. You will receive an official letter of notification of this change from the US Postal Service and the City in the Spring. SOFNA will work with the Post Office, the City, and YOU to help make the change as simple and straight-forward as possible. We will provide assistance on what to do through upcoming newsletters, flyers, SOFNA events, and to you personally if you contact us. Please contact Tracie Johnson if you have any questions.
Important Meeting at 5:00 p.m., January 25th. The final decision about our area's school district transfer from the Campbell school districts to Santa Clara Unified will be made by the County Committee on School District Organization at a special meeting on Monday, January 25. The area includes Santa Clara addresses from Pruneridge to Stevens Creek and Saratoga to Winchester which are currently in the Campbell school districts. This meeting will take place at 5:00 p.m. at the SC County Office of Education (SCCOE) at 1290 Ridder Ave. in San Jose 95131 located just off the 880 freeway at Brokaw Rd.
The Committee must find a compelling reason for the transfer and see that it meets nine criteria as set forth in the State Education Code. The SCCOE staff has analyzed the request and concluded that the transfer does not meet three of those criteria. However, each of those three criteria are qualified to allow the Committee to judge whether they are "substantially" met.
Neighborhood Leader Mike O'Halloran feels that they are met, and he is prepared to make that case. The compelling reason for the transfer should overcome any reservations to make that judgment. As at the public hearing on September 22, where only 4 of the 9 Committee members were present, we need to assert those compelling reasons supporting the transfer. As done at the September 22 hearing, residents should present arguments with the compelling reasons for the transfer for the Committee to weigh. It is vital that we have as high a neighborhood attendance as possible so that the Committee recognizes that there is substantial community support. Please mark your calendar to attend this January 25 meeting. For more information, contact Mike O'Halloran.
Dorcich and Cecil now have safe, wide sidewalks and smooth street pavement. The reconstruction of the streets and sidewalks was completed on schedule in early December thanks to the skillful management of city staff and the contractor. The planned traffic calming measures, however, were not installed because permission was not obtained from all the affected property owners.
The design of the remaining South of Forest streets is underway. Reconstruction will continue westward with Phase 2 occurring in summer 2010 with funds appropriated in the 2009-2010 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget. A meeting with affected residents will be held before reconstruction begins. The 2010-2011 CIP budget hearings are scheduled for the following City Council meetings: Tuesday, May 11; and Tuesday, May 18.
The reconstruction of the streets and sidewalks is a 5-year project. To commemorate and celebrate the completion of Phase 1, SOFNA is planning a party to be announced. Hope you will be able to join us!
Having safe neighborhood streets is a SOFNA priority. Please continue to report unsafe and hazardous conditions, e.g. potholes, uneven surfaces, major cracks, to the City's streets department at 408-615-3080.
On March 22nd, SOFNA will hold our first fundraiser of the year at Tony & Alba’s Pizza & Pasta! Come out and join us! Meet your neighbors and enjoy great food! This is a perfect example of local business owners supporting their community. The way it works is that you come to Tony and Alba’s Pizza & Pasta anytime on Monday, March 22nd with the coupon from your SOFNA Newsletter and purchase any regularly priced meal. Tony and Alba will then donate 20% of the proceeds (excluding alcohol and specials) to SOFNA. Proceeds will be used to sponsor neighborhood events like National Night Out, Movie Night, and other surprises we have planned for the year. Many thanks to Tony & Alba Pizza & Pasta for their continued support of the South of Forest Neighborhood Association.
The 5th Annual Ice Cream Social held in September at the Benovitz home was another huge success! Many new babies, children and adults made the event truly an inter-generational one. New and established residents mingled and enjoyed the festive event in the beautiful backyard of talented gardener and hostess Debbie Benovitz.
Tony from the Fireside Caffe (next to Lexus) generously donated delicious gelato for the event. He also stayed and gave of his time serving his sweet treats. If you have not checked out the Fireside Caffe, stop on by for some yummy samples of gelato, fine coffee, or perhaps a wrap. A special thank you goes out to Tony, Hash, and staff for their enthusiasm, contribution, and support of the SOFNA neighborhood.
Santa Clara Fire Department Station 4 firefighters from Pruneridge Ave. pulled up to the Ice Cream Social in their shiny firetruck. The children were excited to see it. Thank you to our fine SCFD fire crew for attending the Ice Cream Social. It was great to have you!
A special thank you and hug to Debbie Benovitz for continuing the tradition of hosting the Ice Cream Social at her lovely home and making it another memorable and enjoyable event for SOFNA residents!
If you attended the August 2009 National Night Out (NNO) event, you may remember filling out a survey. The survey was conducted to obtain feedback and understand where SOFNA can improve. 35 surveys were completed. 72% of survey participants were 46 years old or older. 18% were 65 years old or older. 80% identified themselves as neighborhood home owners. A summary of the results are below.
The National Night Out, Senior Luncheon, and Ice Cream Social were identified as the most popular SOFNA events. Although the events are attended by more than just the neighborhood residents, 83% of respondents regularly receive the SOFNA newsletters.
The newsletters continue to serve as our primary means of communication, but 60% of survey respondents stated that they get information from the SOFNA e-mail group. If you have a computer and you are not yet a member of the e-mail group, please consider joining.
| Question | Strongly Agree | Somewhat Agree | Disagree |
| I believe that the neighborhood association is looking out for my best interest | 85% | 12% | 3% |
| I participate in the neighborhood community | 55% | 42% | 3% |
| We should have quarterly Town Hall Meetings to discuss issues and topics | 41% | 43% | 16% |
| I can do more to participate in the neighborhood community | 26% | 48% | 26% |
| I made new friends because of SOFNA events | 68% | 32% | 0% |
| Neighborhood problems and complaints are resolved fairly and promptly | 52% | 45% | 3% |
| If I have questions or concerns, I felt comfortable speaking with: My Neighbors | 81% | 19% | 0% |
| If I have questions or concerns, I felt comfortable speaking with: SOFNA Board + Organizers | 77% | 20% | 3% |
| I was kept well informed about the Street and Sidewalk project | 87% | 13% | 0% |
| I would like to be contacted more often about opportunities to help out with neighborhood activities and events | 29% | 46% | 25% |
| Question | Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor |
| Provide your opinion of: SOFNA Newsletter | 77% | 13% | 10% | 0% |
| Provide your opinion of: SOFNA Board of Directors and Community Organizers | 85% | 11% | 4% | 0% |
| Provide your opinion of: SOFNA Events | 86% | 14% | 0% | 0% |
| Provide your opinion of: Neighborhood Safety and Crime Prevention | 59% | 31% | 10% | 0% |
Join the SOFNA email group by sending an e-mail with your full name and street address to: southofforest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Neighborhood businesses are invited to advertise in the SOFNA quarterly newsletters. If residents know others who would like to advertise their services, please pass on the following information. Advertisement rates are as follows:
If interested, please contact Tracie Johnson.
January
30 -- Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day
- Call 299-7300 for appointment
February
15 -- President’s Day Holiday - City offices closed
March
02 -- SOFNA Board of Director’s Meeting -
7:30 p.m. Contact a Board Member if you would like to attend.
14 -- Daylight Savings Time begins -
Replace smoke alarm batteries, advance clocks one hour
22 -- All Day Fundraiser at Tony & Alba’s
27 -- Set out materials for Spring Clean-up Campaign
April
02 -- Spring Holiday - City offices closed
TBA -- Streets & Sidewalks Celebration for completion of streets and sidewalks project on Cecil and Dorcich
May
04 -- SOFNA Board of Director’s Meeting - 7:30 p.m. Contact a Board Member if you would like to attend.
13 -- Neighborhood Watch Meeting
31 -- Memorial Day Holiday - City offices closed
June
08 -- Special Election
TBA -- Honor Our Seniors Event
17 -- International Swim Meet begins at Swim Center
23 -- Concert in the Park 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
30 -- Concert in the Park 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
July
01 -- zipcode change takes effect
04 -- All-City Picnic at Central Park 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
05 -- Independence Day Holiday - City offices closed
07 -- Concert in the Park 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
11 -- Concert in the Park 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
18 -- Concert in the Park 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
TBA -- Fundraiser at Fireside Caffe
20 -- SOFNA Board of Director’s Meeting -
7:30 p.m. Contact a Board Member if you would like to attend.
Michelle Purviance .. President
Tracie Johnson .. Vice President
Anne Lino .. Secretary
John Shores .. Treasurer
Joanne Anderson
Corinne Celio
Royanna Gazlay
Joy Haas
Marcela Miranda
Arline Norsworthy
Liz Sedic
All residents are welcome at Board Meetings which are held at a home on Westridge Drive. Check the SOFNA calendar for the time and dates. Board Members welcome comments or questions and can be contacted at sofna.info@gmail.com