BIG CHANGES COME TO ALUM ROCK VILLAGE

After more than a year of waiting and wondering if a new coffee house would be coming to Alum Rock Village, the question seems to be answered. "Starbuck's Coming Soon" banners were hung this week from the top of the old Rafiki's coffee house space at Alum Rock and White Road. Several residents were hoping for a Starbuck's or perhaps a Peet's and negotiations had been going on for some time to bring a major coffee house to the corner. No word yet on when the store may be open, but it appears work inside the space is moving quickly along. The space has been gutted inside.

This means that not only will great coffee be coming to Alum Rock, but so will jobs.

A notice in the window of the door says there will be a Starbuck's Coffee Company Hiring Fair on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 at 2990 East Capitol Expressway (Capitol and Tully) from 10am to 12pm. No word on how many full or part-time jobs will be created.

Meantime, across the street, the Thai White Rock Cafe has sadly closed down. The signs have been taken down and the windows have been shuttered. Word that the restaurant would be shutting down circulated in the neighborhood for months and it finally happened. It was a well-regarded restaurant and had several good reviews. There is now a notice in the window that says there has been a change of ownership. And it appears a new Vietnamese restaurant will take it's place. No word on when the new restaurant will be open.

FLEMING PARK PLANS TAKE SHAPE

Most community members at the meeting liked Concept Plan1 the best, with the exception of the gazebo. Neighbors voted for the gazebo to be replaced with a longer trellis type structure as seen in Concept Plan 3 (below).

Despite community outreach from the city, only a small group of neighbors from the Fleming/Alum Rock area turned out for a final neighborhood meeting to plan a new city park for the area. The meeting on September 17th, was also attended by two city employees from the parks department, Evelyn Velez-Rosario and Jason Condit, as well as City Councilmember Nora Campos and her staff member Ryan Ford. Condit, who is a park designer, unveiled three plans for the half-acre site between Alum Rock Avenue and Fleming Court (former site of the Korean Baptist Church).

All three of the plans incorporated elements previously requested by neighbors at a meeting last spring such as a small childrens play area, par course, covered seating and grassy open space. The designs also include existing assets such as the mature pine, oak and fruit trees on the property.

Click on the photos above to get a closer look at the plans.

After some discussion, neighbors voted to accept the Concept Plan 1 design, which will be modified to include a longer trellis type structure instead of a gazebo, as well as a low decorative fence around the park's Fleming and Waterstone Court perimeters.

Not all neighbors in attendance approved of the plans. One gentleman who stated his family has lived on Fleming for 70 years said he "couldn't believe" the city was putting a park on Fleming Avenue. He called it the worst thing he's ever heard of. The neighbor had not been involved in the process before.

The park plan was developed as a compromise effort to reduce density, ease traffic and create open space in conjunction with a Braddock and Logan housing development next to the park. In late 2005, developers announced plans to build 21 homes on the former church site. Shortly thereafter, neighbors banded together and spoke out at a series of planning and council meetings throughout 2006 to get number of homes reduced. Eventually, the city council approved a plan to build 14 homes on the site, with some of the remaining land to be used for a small public park.

Unfortunately, city officials stated that the park will not be completed until sometime in 2009, although construction on the homes is well underway.

SJPD LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE SERVICE

San Jose Police have launched a very useful new service on the http://www.sjpd.org/ website which allows residents with personal computers to monitor the numbers, types and locations of all calls for service.
The free service works with Google maps and shows graphically the general location of where reported crimes are taking place. Individual calls show up as small icons denoting the type of crime, when it was reported and the incident number in case you want to follow up later. Individual addresses are not shown to protect people's privacy. The service also allows residents to get email alerts in near real time when the crimes have been reported. This is potentially a great tool for neighborhood groups trying to monitor crime in their area. They can look for trends, such as a rash of burglaries or car break-ins. Unfortunately for many of us, crimes reported to the Sheriff's Office are not part of the new online service

You can find the SJPD'S Crime Reports site here:

http://www.sjpd.org/Crime_stats/CrimeReportsFAQ.html

TRAFFIC BACKLOG GETS WORSE

No, I wasn't using my cameraphone while driving. I was completely stopped on 680, waiting for the light on the Alum Rock offramp. I decided to take a picture, because this was the first time I can ever remember traffic being backed up this far out onto the freeway. In fact, traffic was backed up so far that cars were side by side with those backed up from the Capitol Avenue exit. This was taken at 6pm on Wednesday. Is the East Side area getting crowded or what?

LYNDALE AVENUE BOY STRUCK BY SUV

The California Highway Patrol reported that late this morning that an unidentified 3 year old boy was struck while riding his bike by an SUV on Lyndale Avenue at Highwood. The boy was taken by ambulance to Valley Medical Center with minor injuries according to CHP Officer Todd Thibodeau. "He wasn't wearing a helmet", Thibodeau said, adding that the boy was lucky to escape with only "cuts and scrapes."

The boy's bike shows what could have happened. It was lodged beneath the wheels of the GMC Suburban. The driver, Maria Velasquez, told the CHP she was motoring northbound at about 20 miles per hour on Lyndale, when the boy veered into the street. Thibodeau said she tried to avoid hitting him, but could not stop in time. Velasquez is not a licensed driver, Thibodeau said, so she was cited and the vehicle was impounded.

Neighbors Nancy and Allen Olson said they had noticed the boy and his younger sister riding bikes and scooters earlier in the morning, apparently unattended. "We saw no parents," Nancy Olson said.

ALUM ROCK YOUTH CENTER FUNDRAISER

Dear Community Friends:

On Saturday, September 15, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, the Alum Rock Youth Center Advisory Team is hosting a flea market in the parking lot of the Youth Center at 137 North White Road. Please share the information with others, consider rent a space to sell, visit us Saturday to buy items, or donate items to sell. We appreciate your continued interest and support. You are welcome at any of our Advisory meetings which are held the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Center.

Sincerely,

Tanya

OOPS! WRONG NAME SET IN CONCRETE

Fleming Dr. is stamped into the concrete on Fleming Ave's new wider curb and gutter at Braddock and Logan's new housing development.

Construction workers finished the new wider curbs and gutters leading into Braddock and Logan's new development on Fleming Ave. Unfortunately, it appears someone forgot to look at neighboring street signs or a map before the street name was stamped into concrete as Fleming Dr.

POLICE CHASE ENDS IN EAST SAN JOSE; SUSPECT ESCAPES

From the San Jose Mercury News
By Leslie Griffy

Sunnyvale public safety officers are searching for a San Jose parolee who escaped a dragnet Monday night, Lt. David Pitts said today.
Alegandro Alcala, 21, eluded officers after a chase that led investigators from a Sunnyvale mobile home park to East San Jose. The pursuit included an alleged assault and a stolen car and led 100 officers from four police agencies to search a San Jose neighborhood well after midnight.
The incident started at about 9:30 p.m., when a Sunnyvale public safety officer came into contact with Alcala in a parking lot. Alcala, who is wanted for a parole violation, ran.
Alcala ran into a mobile home park on Borregas Avenue.
At the park, Pitts said, Alcala broke into a mobile home where he allegedly assaulted a 76-year-old woman, who confronted him. Alcala ran out of the home after the woman's son went after him, Pitts said.
Next, Alcala allegedly broke into a second home in the park and stole a set of car keys. Officers next spotted him driving out of the park, Pitts said.
From there, they chased Alcala to an East San Jose neighborhood near Lake Cunningham, where Alcala crashed the car and ran away from law enforcement.
He was able to escape the 100-officer dragnet set up for him in the area after the crash. Residents reported seeing police helicopters for hours after midnight this morning. Pitts said officers cleared the area around 6 a.m. this morning.
Alcala is wanted on suspicion of kidnapping, assault, burglary, car theft and reckless evading of police officers. He is described as being 5-foot-11 inches tall, weighing 160 with short brown hair and brown eyes. He is Hispanic.

TWO VIEWS: HIGH DENSITY OR GREAT OPPORTUNITY?

The following opinions were submitted on ARNNE (Alum Rock Neighborhood Network Email list) by David Sanchez, Alum Rock Neighborhood Coalition President, and Andrea Flores-Shelton, Alum Rock Neighborhood Coalition Treasurer:

Dear Neighbors,
Another projected housing development (PDC07-041) is slated for 380 N. White Road, near the corner of McKee & White. From what I can tell, "The City" is trying to turn our community into the high density housing hub of San Jose, yet we continue to be one of the most neglected areas of the City.

Have any of you driven by the corner of McKee and White lately? The traffic light there is very old and always going out, there are no sidewalks on the north side of McKee, the two strip malls (7-11, Dairy Bell) are some of the worst blighted areas, and you would think White Road is one big crosswalk the way people are walking in the middle of the street to go from Seafood City back to their homes. Not to mention that there are already signs erected that another large high density housing development is being built at the same corner!, North Point I believe.

Add to this the recent closure of several large grocery stores in our area, the resistance of the City to rebuild Fire Station 2, already the busiest in San Jose mind you, and The City's inability to upgrade, or sometimes even maintain, our roads and services and you have a once proud community that is quickly becoming overcrowded, ugly, dangerous and very, very undesirable to live. From speaking with many of you at recent community meetings we as a community do not need, want or support The City's plans to turn Alum Rock into San Jose's Hub of High Density Housing.

I am a proud and long time resident of Alum Rock, 45 years, and my family has called this area of The City home for longer than that. We've been born, baptized, educated, raised and buried in this community. This is our home, you are our family, this is OUR community ........ speak up Alum Rock, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Let The City know what we want our community to look like, what our community needs are and how their decisions are affecting the community that we live in.

David Sanchez
alumrock.ning.com

David and others -
Thanks for the heads-up about this development but I have a different perspective on this. I wouldn’t consider 7 houses on an acre high density. When you look at the lot size (1 acre) and the shape of it, and the fact that it is currently vacant and next to a large development already, adding 7 detached homes seems cramped (probably tiny yards), but the new standard. It doesn’t sound like high density to me – not townhouses, condos, apartments. Best of all, converting this vacant lot with weeds, chain link fence around it catching garbage with no one caring about it into homes (hopefully in the realm of affordable) is a win from my perspective. I drove past it today – what an eyesore!

High-density will be Northpoint! High-density will be coming the day the American Legion decides to sell, but not even Northpoint can talk them into it.

I do think the community must use every development opportunity to extract community benefits – sidewalks, street lights, etc especially when long neglected, unincorporated parcels like this one are being annexed into the city due to the development. Fleming Avenue is a wonderful example with the pocket park being a part of the conditions of approval. My hope with the Northpoint development is that this community gets very involved because this is going to be huge and McKee and White MUST get the sidewalks and street lights, and traffic calming it desperately needs.

I am a tree hugger by most people’s standards, so development in Coyote or outside the urban service areas, and those mega homes that ruin our hillsides in Evergreen/San Jose/Milpitas hills make me cringe. But, 7 homes along White Road seems reasonable at this rate.

My two cents.
- Andrea Flores Shelton

ALUM ROCK FIRE STATION MEETING TONIGHT!

Hello Community Members!

Thank you all for making your voices heard! We have been overwhelmed with support in the fight for public safety and funding for our community priorities.

I have included important information about our next steps. Let’s keep working together!

Bring signs, friends, family and neighbors to a brief info session before we head into the Council Chambers to show the Mayor and Councilmembers that we need to keep resources and improve public safety in the area with the highest need. It is critical that we maintain funding for the rebuild of Fire Station #2.

Date: Tuesday, June 5

Time: 6:00 p.m. Group Pre-Meeting/Information Session
7:00 p.m. Council Session and Public Forum

Location: Bamboo Garden
San Jose City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara Street

Parking: 6th Street and Santa Clara Street
Underground garage
Parking validation will be available


*Don’t forget to bring 10 community members with you!


Key messages:
Fire Station #2: Oldest! Busiest! Neediest!
Our firefighters deserve better!
Protect the East Side ! Protect the City! Rebuild Fire Station #2!
Fiscal Responsibility! No Band-aid solutions!
Keep the promise! Don’t Cut Funding for Fire Station #2!

FIRESAFE PROGRAM COMES TO EAST FOOTHILLS

After the Suncrest Avenue Fire near Alum Rock Park, September 24, 2006. Defensible Space helped save the homes near the top of this hill. (Photo by Richard Brown)

By Allan Thompson

The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCFSC), a local non-profit group dedicated to preventing wildfires in Santa Clara County, has launched Defensible Space Chipping Programs to reduce hazardous fuels in selected areas of the county. These programs are funded by $90,442 in federal grants from the USDI Bureau of Land Management.
With the start of the 2007 Wildfire Season upon us, SCFSC is launching its pilot Chipping Programs in several areas including east and south San Jose and the East Foothills near Alum Rock Park, where last year’s “Suncrest Avenue Fire” burned a swath of grassland near some hillside homes.
These federal grants, and local matching funding from area individuals, companies and organizations like Pacific Gas and Electric Company and San Jose Water Company, enable SCFSC to provide these services free-of-charge. SCFSC is also offering more extensive assistance to qualified seniors and disabled residents through its Special Needs Assistance Program or SNAP.
To learn more about these free Chipping Programs, visit the SCFSC Website at http://www.sccfiresafe.org/ and click on “Defensible Space Chipping Programs.” If you have questions, e-mail DSChip@SCCFireSafe.org or call (408) 975-9591.
SCFSC also has a 20-page, guide for homeowners and residents available on-line or by mail. The guide, Living With Fire in Santa Clara County, is at www.SCCFireSafe.org/FireSafe/LivingWithFire.htm and is appropriate for the Wildland Urban Interface areas. It illustrates how to create Defensible Space and use fire resistant plants and roofing materials.

CALL TO ACTION: FULL FUNDING FOR FIRE STATION

Fire Station 2, on Alum Rock Avenue, is the oldest and busiest fire station in San Jose.

By Monica Limas
Office of Councilmember Nora Campos

This is a critical time and we need your support to restore full funding for the rebuild of Fire Station 2. We need to work together to ensure that the concerns of our community members are heard. Help give the Mayor and City Council the message that we are willing to fight for the much-needed resources in our community.

As requested by many of you, we have attached a sample letter. As well, we have included the city’s response to our request for full funding of the rebuild. Below are important dates and contact information.

Please confirm your participation so that I may be available to assist.

Important Dates:
* June 1st – Mayor’s Budget Message (Budget & Update)
* June 5th – Afternoon council session and public forum at 1:30 pm. Evening session at 7:00 pm.
* June 11th – Public hearing on Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets at 7:00 pm.
* June 12th – City Council vote to approve 2007 – 08 budget.

Contact Information:
* Mayor and City Council
200 E. Santa Clara St. 18th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408.535.4800

D5 Staff will be available with more information at the Mayfair Community Groundbreaking at 2039 Kammerer Ave. on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 6:00 pm. See you there!

In Unity,

Monica Limas
Community Relations Coordinator
Office of Councilmember Nora Campos, District 5
408.535.4905
408.535.4948 Direct
408.292.6262 FAX
monica.limas@sanjoseca.gov
https://webmail.cbs.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sanjoseca.gov/district5

City of San Jose
200 E. Santa Clara Street, 18th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113

NATIVE EAST FOOTHILLS OAK TREE SCHEDULED FOR REMOVAL

Tree cutters arrive to chop down this 40 foot oak on Fleming Avenue at Fleming Ct. But due to last minute protests over a lack of neighborhood notification, the tree was saved, but maybe not for long. Removal was approved by the San Jose City Council as part of a street widening project in conjunction with the new housing development by Braddock and Logan.

Letter to City Council from Doris Livezey of Our City Forest regarding the tree:

Apparently neighbors were successful in putting a temporary stop to the removal of a native oak next door to 145 Fleming. Neighbors were told by the contractor there was a permit for its removal but they had never seen it posted. Neighbors have stepped forward saying they want the tree saved. When I called the San Jose City Arborist's office I was told that a permit was never issued because the removal had been approved by the City Council members for street widening and future construction. I'm assuming I was given the correct information. What is wrong with this picture? City Council can order a tree removed but the average property owner has to go through the removal process? The City of Mountain View has roads going around trees as does Los Altos. I just returned from a town in Southern California where the street curves out to accommodate an ancient tree. We've all seen it. Is the City of San Jose that interested in future construction that it has to destroy an old oak tree? I would assume time is of the essence. I'm appealing to all of you who received this email to save the tree!

Doris Livezey
San Jose taxpayer and member of Our City Forest

CAMPOS CALLS FOR REBUILDING, NOT REMODELING ALUM ROCK FIRE STATION

Please plan to attend and speak out at the final public hearing on Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets June 11 at 7:00 pm - City Council Chambers!


Message sent on behalf of Councilmember Nora Campos:

Dear Friends,

As your representative and an active community member who recognizes the importance of public safety, I am advocating for the complete rebuild of Fire Station 2 in our community. The City's 2007-2008 proposed budget reduced funding and downgraded this project to a remodeling despite that it was fully funded last year as a comprehensive rebuild. A remodeling would not sufficiently address the deficiencies of the existing station, which is one of the oldest in the city. We have worked together to advocate for quality facilities and services in our community, and I ask that you continue to work with me to achieve these objectives by joining me in advocating for this project.

Located at Alum Rock Avenue between Capitol and White, Fire Station 2 was built in 1947 and has the highest volume of service calls at any single fire station in San José and the entire County. In Fiscal Year 2004-2005, Fire Station 2 saw 4,007 calls for service. A remodel is not a long-term solution for the improvements needed to allow firefighters to respond adequately to the amount of activity day in and day out at Fire Station 2. As the facility continues to age, it is important that we achieve the necessary quality of a new state-of-the-art fire station that can meet the great need in our community.

With new facilities such as the Dr. Roberto Cruz-Alum Rock Library and the Alum Rock Youth Center, storied buildings in the Alum Rock Village, and the vulnerability of the East Foothills, a fully rebuilt station that will result in improved services, increased public safety, and continued community revitalization in District 5 is critical. Please make your voice heard throughout the budget process and support with me the full funding and complete rebuild for Fire Station 2.


Sincerely,





Nora Campos
Councilmember


Important Dates:
June 11 at 7:00 pm - Final Public Hearing on Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets, City Council Chambers

Contact:
Office of the Mayor
San José City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Tel. (408) 535-4800
Fax (408) 292-6422

ALUM ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION: "LET'S GET TOGETHER!"

By David Sanchez
ARNC President

That's right, it's that time again ..... The ARNC Monthly Meeting will be held on May 17, 7:00 p.m. at the Joseph George Community/Recreation Center at 277 Mahoney Drive.

Some great information and ideas came out of last month's meeting:

Andrea Flores-Shelton has been researching the abandoned shopping cart issue on ARNNE (Alum Rock Neighborhood Network Email), thanks Andrea!. She supplied us with contact numbers on who to call to pick them up.

Steve Pollock has been working on having a guest speaker from Our City Forest share with us how OCF can help with Alum Rock beautification. Thanks for setting this up Steve!

Elizabeth Driedger is getting us information on San Jose's new Anti Graffiti Program and how Alum Rock can tap into this new resource. We can't wait to hear what you've found out about this Elizabeth!
San Jose Job Corps was contacted about litter issues that affect their Dale Drive neighbors, they are more than willing to work with the community at being a good neighbor but we need to hear back from our Dale Drive representatives.

Darcie Green and Elizabeth are working on setting up an ARNC Cleanup Day for the Alum Rock Village.
Darcie's been in contact with the folks responsible for running the James Lick Flea Market and is keeping us up to date as she finds out more information. Thanks Darcie, I know our neighbors are looking forward to this Flea Market starting up again.

With all of the talk about the Berryessa Art & Wine Festival, from yours truly, an idea came up as to whether something like this could work in our Alum Rock community to support our schools music program. There was some discussion but we'll have updates and more discussion this month.

With James Lick getting a new principal next year, Mr. Glenn Vanderzee, ARNC thought it would be a good idea to welcome him into the neighborhood with a small get together. Details are being worked out and Darcie is getting this on his calendar. We'll update you at the meeting on the date, time and location.

Last, but not least, your ARNC board members attended a meeting last month of the Neighborhoods Commission Work Group on the discussion of a proposed caucus election process. There was some very important information presented on the process that San Jose will be using to ensure relationships between the City of San Jose and the Community. Darcie and Elizabeth are working on getting the word out to all Neighborhood Group leadership in our area. We can update everyone at the meeting on our findings and answer any questions you may have.

I'll be sending out an agenda early next week. Oh ...... did I forget to mention the fantabulous door prizes again? lol

FLEMING AREA NEIGHBORS DESIGN PARK

Neighbors looked at several photos of existing parks in San Jose to help them decide which elements to include in the Fleming Avenue park.


By Len Ramirez

Horseshoe pits and barbecue pits are out. Open space, a play area, fitness equipment and a covered sitting area are in.

Those are some of the ideas generated by neighbors when they sat down with San Jose parks officials Monday night to plan a half-acre park on Fleming Ave.
The neighborhood could be enjoying its very own park in about a year, according to officials. About 15 people, including 9 neighbors, sacrificed watching both the Sharks and the Warriors in televised playoff games to attend the park's first planning meeting at the Berryessa Community Center.

Also attending were City Councilwoman Nora Campos and Jim Sullivan of Braddock and Logan, the developer. Park planners showed neighbors a series of photos of other half acre parks in San Jose, so they could get a feel for what can be done in that amount of space. Amenities will include landscaping, fencing, gates, a water fountain, lighting, in-ground irrigation and seating. Campos stated that the park's maintenance is secured through District 5 funds for the first two years.
The park is being built in conjunction with a 14 home development near Fleming Court. Construction has already begun with the homes due to be completed by the end of summer, 2007. Construction of the park will take longer, but should be completed by spring, 2008.
Another park planning meeting is tentatively scheduled for sometime in July, when neighbors will get to see three park design plans that incorporate the elements discussed tonight.

Neighbor attached dots next to their preferences. Blue indicates what they want; red indicates what they don't want.

PLAN A NEW PARK TODAY

What does a small city park look like? This is O'Donnell's Garden Park on William Street in downtown San Jose.

Just a reminder to all concerned, there will be a meeting to plan the new half-acre Fleming Avenue neighborhood park tonight. Please plan to attend and bring your ideas!

WHEN: May 7th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
WHERE: Berryessa Community Center, 3050 Berryessa Road

ROCK LEGEND SANTANA VISITS EAST FOOTHILL'S NHU

Carlos Santana speaks to students at the National Hispanic University about the importance of education. Photos by Julie Ramirez

By Len Ramirez

Legendary Rock guitarist Carlos Santana paid a visit to the National Hispanic University to deliver a message of inspiration and hope to hundreds of high school and college students.

Santana's visit was another coup for the small, predominantly Latino university on Story Road at the base of the East Foothills.Santana decided to visit the students from the Latino College Preparatory Academy and the NHU (which share the 11 acre campus) after being invited by a small but persistent group of students who never gave up in their efforts to bring the Grammy Award-winning artist to their campus. Santana, like many of the students, was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States as a child. His family settled in San Francisco's Mission District. Santana said visiting and speaking at schools helps him pursue his interest in helping students realize their full potential.

Carlos and his wife, Deborah, have been active in making a positive contribution to the welfare of the underserved through their foundation- The Milagro Foundation. The Milagro Foundation was started in 1998 to benefit underrepresented and underprivileged children around the world. With funds generated by concert ticket donations and generous individual and corporate donors, the foundation makes grants to grassroots, community-based tax exempt organizations that work with children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, the United States and countries around the world touched by the music of Santana.
"We are honored to host Mr. Santana and that he has taken an interest in the great work we are doing here at NHU and LCPA", said NHU President Dr. David Lopez.
The National Hispanic University is a private, accredited, 4-year university celebrating its 25th year in higher education. Founded in 2001, the Latino College Preparatory Academy is a charter high school for English Language Learners and is the first part of the NHU 8-year academic ladder (Grades 9-baccaulaureate degree at NHU).

NEIGHBORS ASKED TO HELP PLAN NEW FLEMING AVENUE PARK

This is the notice sent out to neighbors asking for participation in the planning of the new Fleming Avenue park.

By Len Ramirez

The East Foothill's first new park in many decades is becoming a reality and the city of San Jose is inviting us to help plan it.

Many neighbors in the Fleming corridor recently received a notice in the mail asking them to attend a special meeting at 6:30 pm, Monday, May 7th at the Berryessa Community Center for the purpose of planning the new park, which will be built on Fleming Avenue near Fleming Ct. The meeting is sponsored by the office of City Councilmember Nora Campos and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.

The 1/2 acre park will be built in conjunction with a new housing development of 14 homes on the former site of The Lord's Baptist Church, and is the result of a hard-fought battle between neighbors and the housing developer Braddock and Logan over that development. Neighbors successfully petitioned the city of San Jose to reduce the number of homes and add the park. The development originally planned for 21 homes to be built on the 2 1/2 acre parcel. The final result was a 1/3rd reduction in the number of homes and the addition of a small neighborhood park. In addition, at least two large mature trees were saved from the chainsaws and will become part of the park's design and keep that part of Fleming Avenue green and shaded.

This is a rare opportunity to make a real community impact and neighbors throughout the Alum Rock/East Foothills area should plan on attending the meeting on the 7th, to help ensure the new park is something neighbors will be proud of.

WHO:East Foothills Neighbors

WHAT:New Fleming Avenue park

WHEN: Monday, May 7th, 6:30 pm

WHERE:Berryessa Community Center

WHY:Help plan the park

HOW:Neighborhood participation

ALUM ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION PLANS MEETING, OFFERS PRIZES!

By David Sanchez

Howdy Neighbors!

This is your reminder for the upcoming ARNC monthly meeting, April 19, 7:00 p.m. at the Joseph George Community/Recreation Center.

Last months meeting saw our attendance double, we had folks show up to the meeting after hearing about it only hours beforehand. AWESOME! What a great group of people it was, with lots of Alum Rock pride and enthusiasm to improve our community.

Come hear Bud LoMonaco, our Alum Rock Village business representative, give us the latest scoop on The Village, a new monthly feature of our meetings.

Oh, and don't forget about the fantabulous door prize! See you Thursday.


David Sanchez
ARNC President