Friday, February 22, 2013

Supervisor Ken Yeager's Feb. 21 newsletter



Topics for this newsletter include:

  • Yeager announces gun buyback event on March 2
  • CalTrain holds public meetings on electrification
  • County offers green program program for local businesses
  • Water District seeks members for advisory commission
  • Save driving video contest for teens
  • Calendar of Events
If you would like to receive this newsletter by email, write to jim.weston@bos.sccgov.org with the subject line "add me to your list."

Monday, February 18, 2013

Council discussion on styrofoam ban

From the city's Watershed Protection Division:
Many of you have expressed interest in and are following the City of San José’s environmental initiatives. As such, we’d like to share that on February 26, the San José City Council will consider whether to phase-out the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food ware, commonly called “Styrofoam,” at all restaurants in the City of San José. This City is considering this action in order to address the problem of creek pollution caused by this unique and problematic pollutant.
EPS foam food containers have become a significant litter problem in our creeks. Foam containers tend to break into small pieces that fish and wildlife may mistake for food with harmful consequences. Foam pieces do not degrade over time and are very difficult to clean-up once it reaches the environment. If the Council approves the staff recommendation, the City will schedule public hearings this summer to approve and adopt an ordinance phasing-out EPS.

The staff report for the February 26 Council meeting is available at the following link:
http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12271

The following attachments will also be presented to Council as background information:

Transportation & Environment Subcommittee Memo from December 3, 2012:
http://ca-sanjose.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12277

Survey of Single-Use Bag Ordinances:
http://ca-sanjose.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12273

Survey of CA EPS Ordinances:
http://ca-sanjose.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12274

Consultant’s Report of Economic Impact Analysis:
http://ca-sanjose.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12275

Consultant’s Report of EPS Alternatives Pricing:
http://ca-sanjose.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12276

As always, the City is very interested in hearing from our partners, including you, on the potential phase-out of EPS foam food service ware. Stakeholder feedback will help guide the implementation if approved. Additionally, we would seek to identify where our staff can provide technical assistance to businesses to assist in a smooth transition. You are welcome and encouraged to attend the February 26th meeting to voice your input.

Thank you all for your continued interest in this matter and your feedback is appreciated.

Napp Fukuda
Deputy Director - Watershed Protection Division
City of San José | Environmental Services Department
200 East Santa Clara Street – 7th Floor | San José, CA 95113
Tel: 408.793.5353 | Fax: 408.271.1930

Friday, February 15, 2013

Sponsors needed for Dancin' on the Avenue

From the Mercury News:

The Willow Glen Business Association is seeking sponsors for the 18th annual Dancin' on the Avenue street party on June 22.
The party attracts more than 30,000 adults and children to Lincoln Avenue for an afternoon of activities, food, entertainment, beer and wine and, of course, dancing to live music. This year the hours will be 2 to 8 p.m.
Sponsor packages start at $375 and go up to $10,000.
Sponsors at $1,500 get a free booth with canopy, tables and chairs to distribute information and promotional items. Selling items is prohibited.
Sponsors' logos will appear on posters, fliers and in advertisements for DOTA, with high-end sponsors also receiving banners.
Available sponsorships include presenting, premium beer and wine garden, community stages, kids court, performance stages, wine glasses and automobiles.
DOTA raises funds for the business association, which supports activities benefiting the community at large and the business district.
For additional information or sponsorship packages, email info@willowglen.org or call 408.298.2100.
Sponsorships are sold on first-come, first-serve basis.

Gun buy-back program March 2

From the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office:

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's office will hold a gun buy back event on Saturday March 2nd, from 10 am to 2 pm at the County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose.
You can get $100 for a handgun, shotgun or rifle, or $200 for an assault weapon. Please transport your firearms unloaded and in the trunk of your vehicle. Funds are limited and subject to availability. We reserve the right to limit the amount of cash an individual can receive regardless of the amount of firearms surrendered.
Nationwide, there were approximately 31,000 deaths by firearms in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Vital Statistics Report.
The Santa Clara County Anonymous Gun Buy Back program is one part of the County’s initiative to reduce the number of guns in the community, as outlined in the 2013 State of the County Address. The Gun Buy Back program will allow individuals to voluntarily turn in their firearms, no questions asked, in exchange for cash. The Board President’s Office is working the Sheriff, the District Attorney and Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force to reduce the number of guns on the street. Share this information with your friends and family members to help make Santa Clara County safer for everyone.
For more info, go to www.SCCGunBuyBack.com or call 408/808-4401

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Friends & Neighbors Meeting Recap

To catch you up on what you may have missed, or to remind you what you may have heard, here are the meeting minutes provided by NWGNA Secretary Mary Pizzo with additional input from Dev Davis.
 
NWGNA Friends & Neighbors Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Word of Faith Church


Attendees - Dan Erceg, Bill Rankin, Mary Pizzo, Harvey Darnell, Sheila Hunter, Alan Hall, Walter Vierra, Debbie Palmer, Dev Davis, Robert Favela, Henry Melkin,  Ed Rast 

New to our neighborhood...
Will and Jen Willow@Bird
Suzanne and Jo on Bird
Mariam on Snyder
Brian on Hull

Welcome Introductions - Harvey Darnell, President (6:35-6:50)
Harvey introduced the NWGNA and a bit of it's history. Dan Erceg told the group the agricultural history of our neighborhood included hops production and Mulberry trees for the silk worms.

Council Direct 6 Melrose Cacal, representing Pierluigi Olivera, provided copies of newsletter and these announcements - 


Guest Speaker - Nancy Garrison, Master Gardener
"All Things Edible" presented by Nancy Garrison, Master Gardener. Nancy is resident of Willow Glen since 1980.  She presented 14 slides to inspire the gardener in everyone.  She offered raspberry plans to residents (you dig it up with her supervisor).  For more information, go to mastergardeners.org for resources about gardening throughout Santa Clara County and learn what works best in our neighborhood.  If you want a follow hands on pruning demonstration contact Nancy at nancyg2@aol.com.

Nancy shared  with us her personal recommendations with samples of each!
Jim Bacon avocado are frost resistant and heavy producers
Washington Navel orange
Page Mandarin orange
Shasta Gold Mandarin sweet, seedless variety
Satsuma Mandarins are seedless
Meyers Lemon is a hardy and tasty variety
Bearss Limes are juicy and fragrant
 
Tips from Nancy
Citrus gets pruned in mid-March
Prune apricots in July/August
Winter is best time to plant new fruit trees & vines
Good compost
-well-aged manure
-Gardner and Bloome, Fox Farm planting mix, vermicompost (& green waste products at rockeries but this stuff comes from the streets so beware heavy metals)
-Garrods Stables in Saratoga has horse manure for free
-not the stuff sold as forest compost (chipped wood pallets)
Fruit Trees
-buy small diameter trees (one yr old)
-plant tree & then immediately cut down to 18-24" tall
-want 3-4 main scaffolds for open vase center in Mercedes logo formation
-central leader pruning good for apples & pears
-looks like tree but gives fruit knee high to about 10 ft tall
-need to prune so sunlight can get to all parts of the tree for even fruit production
-each scaffold gets pruned next year at 18-24" so they will get deer antlers
-reduce shoot growth every year to just a few buds past last yr's growth
-never take off more than 30 percent of the tree in one yr
-whitewash tree: indoor latex paint mixed w/half water (no antimicrobials) or get tree trunk paint--to prevent sun damage
"How to prune fruit trees" book by R. Sanford Martin
-avail @ Yamagamis Nursery in Cupertino & Common Ground in Palo Alto

Next Friends and Neighbors Meeting - March 26, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Have you seen Bowie?

Bowie, a 60-pound light tan female with white chest and paws, and a long tail, escaped this morning at Bramhall Park on Willow Street and Camino Ricardo. He has tags and is microchipped. Bowie is 10 months old, shy, but friendly. Please call Diane at 408-981-6488 if you see him.

His info is on HomeAgain.com.

City wants input on garbage and recycling billing

From the City of San Jose:
City Wants Input From Residential Property Owners on Garbage and Recycling Billing
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The City of San José is looking at new ways to bill for Recycle Plus residential garbage and recycling service to replace the current, outdated system operated directly by the City. Residential property owners are encouraged to take the survey at www.sanjoseca.gov/recycling-garbage.
This survey is for residential property owners with curbside cart service. Community input will help the City evaluate billing options for residences. Potential billing changes will not affect customers with dumpster service.
“We’re evaluating how we can take advantage of pre-existing billing services and technology to help us avoid higher costs in the future,” said Kerrie Romanow, Director of the City’s Environmental Services Department. “Getting resident input is an important part of the evaluation process. Taking the survey is a great way for the public to get involved with what we’re doing.”
Property owners who complete the survey can enter to win a free curbside collection of up to three bulky items, including sofas, mattresses, refrigerators, or other large items. The service has a value of $26.00. The survey is online in English, Spanish or Vietnamese now through April 17, 2013. Residents with questions can email RecyclePlus@sanjoseca.gov or call (408) 535-8550.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Native Plants in a California Garden


 Come hear how Pat Pizzo has transformed several bare city spaces into native plant gardens cared for by the local community. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 6:30 PM, SJPL Willow, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose, (408) 808-3045 
What is unique about California native plants? Do they make good garden subjects? Where can I see native plants in a garden setting? What are some of the best-of-the-best drought-resistant plants? What kind of care will they need? Where can I find or buy native plants? 
Beginning and intermediate level gardeners will find answers to all these questions and more at this talk and slideshow by Patrick Pizzo. A retired SJSU professor, Pat is the founder of the Capitancillos Drive native plant street scape in San Jose near the intersection of Camden and Coleman roads. Handouts and plant lists will be available.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

San Jose Official Backs Plan For New $82M Google Airport

Read about the offer by a major airport operator to build an $82 million private airport for executives of Google Inc. at Mineta San Jose International Airport.

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Another warning from a neighbor...

This is being posted from the WGNA list with permission.
I got a phone call from "Microsoft" about a month ago telling me that my computer was sending them messages that I had a virus. He said that he could fix it right now. So after a few minutes of him controlling my computer, he said "your system is fixed, you owe me $200.00". I said "What? You never said I had to pay for a Microsoft tech" ... he said "I've destroyed your entire system, if you want your things back, you have to pay me $200.00". I said "no way" and then, to my shock, on my screen appeared an 'adult image not even appropriate for me to see' and when I tried to move my mouse to X it out, he said "see, I have control of everything, you going to pay now?" I said no and he hung up. When I clicked on my Outlook Inbox, it was gone....all my photographs were gone (some that are un-replaceable of family member who have passed), my Real Player was empty of songs & videos, I was writing a childs book - a manuscript for owning a dog, that was gone-about 3 years in the works...my yahoo was gone....most apps were gone! I took my system to Fry's and he said, there is a way to retrieve some of your things but it would cost more than a new system!
I called Microsoft and they said they Never call a computer user for anything. They said they've been having allot of people falling for this scam. So now the work really began....had to cancel all my credit cards, banking on-line had to be froze - and the scary thing, he knows where I live, my social security number, my driver's license, my medical info and on and on!
Please let your son read this and have him tell his friends as well. The man spoke with a foreign accent and spoke very fast.
I reported it to the SJ Police Department Fraud Division, my banks etc...there is nothing that anyone could do.

What an awful and violated feeling still stays with me. Never Ever let anyone 'remote access' your system. I didn't even know what that meant....what an expensive lessen.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Slow down, please

This was posted today on the WGNA email list and we are sharing it with permission:

"When I was 3, my little friend, who was 4, darted out in front of a car and was killed. I didn't see it, fortunately. At that age, I didn't understand why I couldn't play with her any more – I didn't know that "death" meant she was never coming back.

A few years later, my family moved about 1/2 mile away. Our new house was next door to the (innocent) woman who had killed my little friend. She was innocent – it was not her fault. The kids in my new neighborhood always made fun of how slowly this woman drove, and it was really slow. I'm pretty sure she didn't drive like that before she killed my little friend. I mean, for other drivers, I'm sure it was like annoyingly slow. But as an adult, now knowing what I know, I can understand.

My little friend's sister, who was born after she was killed, is a radio announcer on [local radio station] who I hear almost daily. I think about my little friend frequently – I don't know why. But when I drive by parks or schools where there are a lot of cars parked on the street, I know that there might be kids between those cars who could dart out into the street, so I just drive really slowly and look carefully. I am so afraid of hitting anyone.

This is why I drive slowly near schools and parks."