The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Board of Directors invites you to attend our 9th annual Window on the River Park fundraiser.  Join elected officials, business leaders, and downtown residents for an outdoor reception to learn about our new vision for San Jose's Central Park.

Sponsored by Adobe, Cisco, Kaiser Permanente, and many others. 

Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Location: The River Street Historic District
Tickets: $150 ($125 is tax deductible)
Parking: Please use the surface lot at 333 W. Julian St.

http://www.grpg.org/WORP.shtml

The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy offers an opportunity to give your mother something unique, personal, and truly meaningful this Mother’s Day.  Adopt a rose in the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden and present your mother with a very attractive gift package containing:

• potpourri made from rose petals from the Heritage Rose Garden
• a chocolate truffle from Schurra’s Fine Confections
• a handmade bar of bee’s wax soap from the Sacred Bee

The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy will package these items for you, along with a card announcing the rose adoption, in an eye-catching gift box. This special gift package is available for $50 and includes the plaque with a personal message for mom installed next to her rose for a full year.

It's now too late for us to get the plaque up in time, but we can still do the adoption and get the plaque up sometime next week for a future visit.

Call Phil Cornish, Program Manager, at 408-298-7657 with questions. Gift packages will be available for pick up Monday through Friday at the Visitor and Education Center at 438 Coleman Avenue.

Stop by our energizer station from 6:00 – 9:30 am on Thursday, May 13th.  Look for us on the trail adjacent to the Visitor Center.

On Saturday, May 15th, we will have a booth at San Jose ViaVelo, a festival that will close San Fernando Street to motorized vehicles from Hwy 87/Guadalupe River to 3rd St. from 10 am to 3 pm.  For more information on ViaVelo and the Over and Under Tour, see http://bikesiliconvalley.org/out2010

The Complete Guide to Year Round Food Gardening!
Saturday, May 22nd
10:30 to 12:30pm
$10/members, $15/non-members
Learn how to get the most out of your year-round food garden. Come join Friends of Guadalupe and meet local author Pam Peirce to learn why her book, Golden Gate Gardening has been the gold standard in gardening books for Northern California. More>>>

REFRESH YOUR RESOLUTION RESOLVE! 
Join the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy and our awesome fitness instructors for one or more of these upcoming classes. More information available on our website!

Bike Ride to Alviso!
Saturday, May 15th
8:45
$10/members, $15/non-members
Join avid bay area cyclist Sheri Suomela and her husband Erik for a guided moderately paced bike ride from the Visitor & Education Center to Alviso - approximately 17 miles round trip. We'll travel over the levees and stay off surface streets as we look for birds and enjoy the Guadalupe River. After a stop for a picnic lunch at Alviso Marina County Park, we'll head back!

Pilates in the Park!
Saturdays, May 22nd-June 19th
8:30-9:30am
$25/members, $35/non-members
A new, moderately paced Pilates and Fitness Tubing class, designed to strengthen, tone and improve posture, balance and flexibility will run for 4 weeks. Taught by fitness instructor Sheri Suomela, outside on the grass, there is no need to bring equipment for this one, just bring yourselves dressed in comfortable clothing. A great way to start the weekend!

Twilight Yoga is back!!
Thursdays, June 10th - August 12th
6:15-7:15pm
$60/members, $80/non-members
With the warmer weather and longer evenings, it's time again for Yoga in the Park! Join fitness instructor Kristin Strellis for this gentle yoga class, designed to improve your balance, flexibility and relaxation. All equipment is provided and this class is held outside on the lawn.

For Kids
Don’t forget about our summer camps each day is a separate topic and you can sign up for 1 or more – here are a couple of week 1 days.

Monday-Thursday, AGES: 5-7 from 9:00 – 1:00pm
Friday Ages: 7-10

Fossil Detectives
Monday, June 21st
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
$40
Ages: 5-7
Do you know what a paleontologist is?  Would you like to be one for a day?  Many years ago the animal life in our area was very different and paleontologists are able to uncover the evidence of this.  Together we will be paleontologists and “dig up” facts about primitive beasts and how they left us proof they existed.

Trek the Trails
Friday, June 25th
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
$40
Ages: 7-10
“On your left!”  This and other acknowledgements can help to keep you and others on the trail safe and happy.  Learn how to have fun on your bike, but more importantly – be safe!!  Do a bike handling skills course, ride on the Guadalupe River Trail, and even learn how to fix a flat.  Bring your own bike, all necessary safety gear and plenty of water, snacks and lunch while we cruise around!

All events will be held at the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center, located at 438 Coleman Avenue. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early by contacting us at education@grpg.org or 408-298-7657 or by sending a check to: Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110. Visa and MasterCard are also accepted via phone or mail. For more information please call 408-298-7657.

Water Wizard Festival
Volunteers will be needed to help with many aspects of the day, from setting up and preparing materials ahead of time to helping at the festival itself. To find out more about how you can help with the 2010 Water Wizard Festival, or to inquire about sponsoring the 2011 Water Wizard Festival, please contact the education team at education@grpg.org or 408-298-7657. Click here to sign up!

Office Volunteers
A variety of volunteer opportunities exist in our office at the Visitor & Education Center.  Activities include clerical work, answering the phones, organizing the library, preparing materials for educational programs, greeting visitors, etc. We presently have openings Monday and Wednesday afternoon and anytime Thursday and Friday. Please call us to review a convenient schedule for you. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00.

Volunteer Profiles

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Board Member: Jim Alves Jim is a third generation Santa Clara/San Jose resident. While working his way through high school and college at the family business, Jim developed a fond interest in automotive repairs and care. He joined his father Tony in 1978 at Hardcastle Brothers Autobody after graduation from Santa Clara University’s School of Business. Together they transitioned their shop to the third generation while diversifying into other associated business ventures. Jim has worked with local vocational training centers through out his career. He currently serves as a member of the Plant Master Plan Community Advisory Group for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. As a business neighbor, literally “in the Guadalupe Gardens” since the earliest inception, Jim is thrilled to see the growth and ongoing progress of the gardens. Jim hopes to bring his small business management skills as well as his love for the outdoors, especially gardening, to Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens.

Meet Cristina Cunniff Cristina was born in San Jose and recently moved back after living in Southern California for about two years. She graduated from Branham High School in 2006 and attended Cal Poly Pomona for a year.  She wants to work in the medical field some day, but hasn’t yet decided on what area. Cristina likes to spend time with family and loves being outdoors, traveling and all sports. We are thankful she selected us to do her community service hours. She has helped us with different projects outside and inside the office, and was a great help at our Spring in Guadalupe Gardens festival. Cristina - thanks for your enthusiasm, tremendous work ethic, and willingness to help.

Shape the future of our South Bay shoreline

Come see three different land use maps that propose how to best use the 2,600-acre site of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant — a wastewater treatment facility centered between the Bay and Highway 237. As we develop a master plan to sustainably rebuild our aging Plant, we can consider a range of new land uses.

Saturday, May 8 – 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St., San José

Wednesday, May 12 – 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Alviso Library, 5050 N. 1st St., San José

Wednesday, May 19 – 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave., Cupertino

Learn more at rebuildtheplant.org or call 408-945-5182