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NEWSLETTER: September 2012

Pumpkins in the Park

Saturday, October 13, 2012 / 10 AM to 4 PM
Guadalupe River Park / Discovery Meadow
(Woz Way & San Carlos) San Jose

Giant Pumpkin Patch, Costume Parade, Scarecrow Row, Fresh Apple Cider, Guadalupe River Education, Lots of Free Kids' Activities, Children’s Concert

Volunteers Needed - We need volunteers to help make our largest event of the year happen! Various shifts and roles available. Please spread the word!

Scarecrow Contest - Whether you choose scary, silly, or spectacular, it's time to get creative and enter a scarecrow in our annual contest. Click here to register your scarecrow.

 

 

Trail Update

Meet & Greet – Board President Dave Finn (photo) met with cyclists 8/31 to celebrate the trail paving and promote the 9/19 trail count. Look for us on 9/28, the last Friday of the month, from 7 - 9 am. We’ll supply some treats, while you tell us what trail and park improvements you’d like to see.

Trail Count - Volunteers are needed between 7 am and 7 pm on Wednesday, September 19th for the annual trail count. If you can’t help count, please spread the word to others that it’s a great day to ride to work or take a lunchtime stroll.

Construction – the trail is nearly complete from Hwy 880 to Hwy 101. Given the smiles observed on a recent inspection tour and the comments from the 8/31 meet and greet, the paved trail is a smashing success.

 

 

Coastal Clean Up

Join us for Coastal Cleanup Day, an annual beach and inland waterway cleanup, on Saturday, September 15th from 9 am to noon. Wear long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves, sunscreen, and a hat!

 

 

Special Needs Update

In the year since we launched our special needs River Explorers and Flower Power field trip programs, we’ve served 220 individuals from 16 schools or organizations. We greatly appreciate the Yahoo! Employee Foundation’s financial support and the partnership with Santa Clara County Open Space Authority that allowed their Coordinator of Interpretive Programs Teri Rogoway to provide special needs training for our staff.

 

 

Volunteer Corner

Meet Board Member Katherine Oven
Katherine was born and raised in Monterey, and earned a BS in Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University and an MS in Civil Engineering at MIT. A registered civil engineer, she is currently a Deputy Operating Officer at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, where she has management oversight of a $1 billion water utility capital improvement program. Prior to joining SCVWD 10 years ago, Katherine’s career spanned 20 years of working at various engineering consulting firms both in Boston and in San Jose. Katherine has two grown sons and, to date, one lovely daughter-in-law. She loves living in San Jose because of its climate, diversity, and access to cultural and sporting events and the great outdoors. Katherine has served on church boards and has been involved with church music ministry for most of her life. As a board member of the GRPC, she wants to help promote and expand the next generation’s knowledge, appreciation, and respect for the environment within their back yards, and in community parks such as Guadalupe River Park and Gardens.

 

Meet Volunteer Alice Whistler
Alice retired in 2006 after more than 30 years at Santa Clara University’s library where she was head of instruction and research services. She has an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and master’s degrees in library science from UC Berkeley and educational administration from Santa Clara University. Her favorite pastimes are gardening with natives and drought tolerant plants, walking, and reading. A long-time member, Alice joined the GRPC volunteer team in January 2007. She works at the Visitor & Education Center answering phones, staffing the front desk, helping with office administration, and at special events such as Spring in Guadalupe Gardens, Window on the River Park, or the Water Wizard Festival. Alice’s attention to detail helps the staff to accomplish projects efficiently. We greatly appreciate Alice’s flexibility, friendliness, and generosity with her time!

Upcoming Events

Homeschool Series

September theme: Feathers, Fins, Burrows and Nests: Habitats and Adaptations in the River Park

Spectacular Birds of Prey - FULL!
September 12th

No Rock Unturned
September 19th

A Home on Your Back?!
September 26th

Time: 1:30 – 3 pm
Ages: 5-12
$10 members/$15 non-members per class
$35 members/$55 non-members per series

For more information, click here.

Fall Walking Series

Saturdays, September 8th -- October 27th (8 weeks)
8:30 to 9:30 am
Ages 18 and Up
$40/members, $50/non-members

Step by step, you'll be healthier as a result of this class. Join fitness instructors Kristin and Sheri Saturday mornings for fun, fitness and friendship along the Guadalupe River Trails. Starting Saturday, September 8th at 8:30am, this series will run for 8 weeks. Sign up.

Gardening with Succulents

Saturday, September 22, 2012
10 am to 12 pm
Ages 18 and Up
$10/members, $15/non-members

All you ever wanted to know about succulent plants! Master Gardener Laura Balaoro will discuss how to use succulents in the garden. Sign up.

Garden Celebration

Saturday, September 22, 2012
9:30 am - 1 pm
Ages 18 and Up
Free

Join the director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for a tour of the Nature’s Inspiration garden that was planted in the Courtyard Garden as part of a $200,000 state grant secured by San Jose's Environmental Services Department.

Autumn in the Heritage Rose Garden

Saturday, September 29, 2012
9 am to 2 pm
Free

The South Bay Heritage Rose Group is be their annual Autumn in the Heritage Rose Garden event from 9 am to 2 pm. For more information, visit www.heritageroses.us

Hardscape Design Class

Saturday, September 29, 2012
9 am - 12 pm
Ages 18 and Up
Free

The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agencyis offering a free permeable hardscape design workshop in the Courtyard Garden; visit www.bawsca.org to register.

Legacy Giving

Retirement accounts, which are subject to income tax, are good vehicles for charitable gifts. Charities aren’t subject to income tax so your gift goes farther.

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