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- Attendees: Mike Boulland, Ronald Horii, Kitty Monahan, Paul
Vincze, Jenel Vincze, Mario Blaum, Holly Davis, Ed Jackson,
Woody Collins, Larry Gonzalez, Ash Kalra
- We watched a Powerpoint presentation, "Two Rivers and a
Road," made by students at Los Paseos School, under the direction
of Margaret Rodriguez and John McPherson. The two rivers are
Coyote Creek and Fisher Creek. The road is El Camino Real. The
presentation talks about the history of the Coyote Valley and the Santa
Teresa area.
- Ron showed a slideshow showing trail closure signs, old
barbed wire fences, the removal of barbed wire, construction around the
Stile Ranch entrance, people flying an R/C glider at the Pueblo Area,
the new bridge on the Stile Ranch Trail, the new split rail fence
section on Manila Drive near the entrance trail to the spring, the
buildings at the Norred Trail, and the large bollards on the Joice
Trail which caused a biker to crash.
- Saturday 10/27 is Tarantuala Night at the BGJ Ranch,
7:30-10 pm.
- The Healthy Trails program starts 10/16.
- Mike will be giving a van tour using a van provided by Ed
Jackson. Ash Kalra, Sandy Soto, Forrest Williams, Nancy Pyle, Rosemary
Kamei, and Lisa Killough have been invited. Possible dates are November
3, 4, 24, 25, and December 1, and 2. Ash invited invited 3 others,
including Matt Freeman of the STFNA. Mike and Sandy have put an
itinerary together. The tour will start with a video presentation at
Los Paseos School, a visit to the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch, then a
drive up Bernal Road, Harry Road, into the Almaden Valley, and back
through the Coyote Valley. Mike will point out the historical sites,
such as Rancho San Vicente, the Berryessa Ranch, and the Battle of
Santa Teresa.
- Joe Schultz left as Deputy Parks Director to become
director of the Santa Cruz County Parks. Two people are taking his
place. One is parks maintenance supervisor Jim O'Connor. The other is a
woman from the city of San Jose who has worked for the city parks and
city council.
- On Saturday 10/20, Mike is giving a ghost tour of Rancho
Santa Teresa. It is a fundraiser for the Kiwanis. Mike needs people to
help act as guides. John Dorrance will give a presentation. Sam said
he'd help out. Jenel will be there earlier with 4H for a
scarecrow-building project.
- The update to the master plan for Santa Teresa Park will
cover the Santa Teresa Historic District: the Norred, Bonetti,
Bernal-Gulnac-Joice, and Pyzak Ranch sites and the Bear Tree Lot. The
master plan is being developed by a consultant. The plan is being paid
for out of capital improvement money. It has to be done by an outside
consultant. Antoinette is directing them. She wants them to come up
with new ideas. A task force with community members to review the plan
has not been formed yet. We need to come up with our own ideas. We
talked about having a theme for the plan. Holly suggested the
"Valley of the Hearts Delight," as the Santa Clara Valley was called
because of all the blossoming fruit trees.
- Ron made a wish list of
ideas for park projects. These are brainstorming ideas for future
discussion. We discussed more ideas: restoring the kitchen at the
Bernal Ranch House; having the ranch open more often, with after-school
programs, and more multicultural events; opening the trail from the
Fortini to the Stile Ranch Trail; sell booklets at a new gift shop; a
nature center; a meeting room; a place for FOSTP HQ; drop the parking
fees; no access for future developments.
- Ed. Mike, Holly, and Sam went to the Santa Teresa Community
Fest. It was smaller than last year, but the people seemed more
responsive. They gave out lots of FOSTP flyers and maps. Paul Bernal
suggested we have a theme area next year, like gathering the people
together about Santa Teresa Park. Holly will plan the locations next
year.
- We have $233.44 in our account.
- Mike has the 501c3 form made up. A lawyer helped draft the
form for FOSTP, along with 2 other groups, NACC and FOLAW. We are
splitting the lawyer's $250 fee with them. We voted and approved paying
our share of the fee. We'll post a copy of the application on our Yahoo
Groups site and later on our website. The form has to filed with the
federal government. There is a $500 filing fee. We should apply for a
grant to cover it.
- On Nov.17th is the UNSCC conference at SJCC. They have
seminars in a number of topics, including CAP Grants. It costs $10 to
attend (if register early).
- Ed says the piles of bushes that were cut down around Santa
Teresa Spring have not been picked up yet. They can be a fire hazard.
There is a large dumpster in the street next to the ranch house, but
it's full.
- They are still having problems with kids after hours at
Santa Teresa Spring. The dispatchers are still having problems telling
where the spring is. We suggested inviting them to one of our meetings.
- Julie Lee will be coming back in November.
- Paul said he found some teenagers in the canal between the
MRU and Bernal Road. They had a blowtorch and were trying to set a
skateboard on fire. Paul confiscated the torch and called dispatch.
- Paul said he agrees with trails needing to be closed, but
not all of them. The service road going off the Ohlone Trail to the
storage building has been chained off. He thinks the road should be
re-opened, but a safe route down the hill to the Ohlone Trail needs to
be created. There are steep volunteer trails that lead down from there,
including to the archery range. The shortcut from the Bonetti Ranch to
the Norred Trail has been closed off, but it was on the original plan
for the Norred Trail and may end up being a real trail once the Bonetti
Ranch is developed.
- Jenel said that something has been digging in her front
yard. It could be pigs, but the damage is small. It may be raccoons
looking for grubs.
- Mike talked to the Clampers about funding a plaque. They
said they would help. Historic Heritage can also help, but it's a long
and complicated process.
- Mike got some information from the Santa Clara County Fire
Safe Council. They have a web page that includes pictures from one of
the fires at Santa Teresa Park. We can ask them to speak at one of our
meetings.
- Holly said the Coyote Grange is having a speaker from the
Pacific Legal Foundation talk about how to protect private property
from eminent domain and other government actions. It's on Oct. 18 at
7:30. The talk is free.
- Support History San Jose funding, City Hall Oct. 16.
- New Almaden Pioneer Day is 10/13. There will be 5 vans
leaving from the Hacienda parking lot from 10:30 to 12:00. The cost is
$10 and includes lunch. It will be at the Santa Ysabel site, which is
past the Buena Vista site on the Randol Trail.
- Volunteer Hours and activities since our September meeting:
- Ronald Horii: 35 hours, FOSTP meeting, park
photography,
slideshows, New Almaden Day, Fishing in the City, FOSTP &
Almaden websites
- Mike Boulland: 30 hours, FOSTP meeting, FOSTP by-laws,
Community Fest
- Kitty Monahan: 2 hours, FOSTP meeting
- Paul Vincze: 15 hours, FOSTP meeting, trail watch
- Jenel Vincze: 6 hours, FOSTP meeting, Community Fest, 4H
- Mario Blaum: 10 hours, FOSTP meeting, trails
- Ed Jackson: 12 hours, FOSTP meeting, Community Fest
- Woody Collins: (hours reported separately), trail crew
lead
- Holly Davis: 16 hours, FOSTP meeting, 4H
- Larry Gonzalez, 2 hours FOSTP meeting
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