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NEWSLETTER: March 2020

In this issue:

• COVID-19 Preparedness
• Lupe Loop Family Bike Ride
• River Cleanup Support
• Volunteer Corner

COVID-19 Preparedness

The health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and community is of utmost priority. As such, we are closely monitoring the evolution of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). At this time, the Visitor & Education Center will be closed beginning Saturday, March 14th through Tuesday, March 31st. Staff will be working remotely and maintaining correspondence during regular business hours; organizers of scheduled activities will receive direct outreach from staff. Programs and facilities will observe the following schedules:

• The Rotary PlayGarden will be closed through Tuesday, March 31st. Beginning Environmental Explorers programs will resume Wednesday, April 1st.
• Heritage Rose Garden volunteer workdays will be held as scheduled, weather permitting
• CHIRP homeschool programs will be held on Monday, March 16th and Thursday, March 19th and resume thereafter on Monday, April 6th

Notification of any changes will be provided via email or on Facebook.

Our staff regularly implements safety and cleanliness best practices and has increased cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces to multiple times during the day, in addition to observing social distancing. Staff, volunteers, program participants, and community members experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, who aren't feeling well, or who have weakened immune systems are encouraged to remain home.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation. Should you have any questions or concerns, you may reach our office via email at info@grpg.org.

Read more about public health guidance.

Lupe Loop Family Bike Ride

Join us and partners for a fun, family-friendly, and casual-paced ride along the Guadalupe River on Saturday, March 28th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Enjoy pre-ride festivities including free helmets for youth, free minor bike repair and DOUGHNUTS! The ride will start and end at the Children's Discovery Museum and is supported by experienced ride leaders who will provide guidance to any and all things related to supporting your bike riding skills and motivation. Pre-registration is required. We encourage participants to adhere to public health guidance practices provided by Santa Clara County.

Register here.

River Cleanup Support

Thanks to support from community volunteers, South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition's mid-week river clean ups resulted in the removal of over 20 tons of trash from Guadalupe River in February. We appreciate SBCCC's mobilization and shared vision for healthy and vibrant riparian habitat.

Volunteer Corner

GRPC staff joined South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition and community volunteers for cleanups along Guadalupe River.

A hearty thanks to all the volunteer groups that toiled to make GRPG a more beautiful place this past January:

Hope Services
Mission Bay
Monte Vista High School
Morgan Autism Center
National Charity League, Almaden Chapter
O.B. Whaley Elementary School
Pinewood High School
Pioneer High School
South Bay Heritage Rose Group
UC Master Gardneners of Santa Clara County

And that is only the groups! We also appreciate the scores of individuals who come out weekly to make a difference. You helped us log 562 volunteer hours in January.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

• Heritage Rose Garden Workdays
  Weds. and Sats. 8:30-11:30 am. More info.

• Front Desk Support
  We have openings at the Visitor & Education Center reception desk on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Contact us if interested.

Meet Board Member: Terry Austen
Terry was born and raised in San Jose and worked in a variety of healthcare management roles, beginning his career as the laundry manager for the now defunct San Jose Medical Center. Most recently, he served as Senior VP/Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente in the San Jose area, responsible for the delivery of care to approximately 200,000 KP members in San Jose, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy until his retirement in 2011. His academic milestones include a BS in Biology from the University of Santa Clara and an MBA from San Jose State University, where he serves as an Executive-in-Residence for the Lucas School of Business. Terry and his wife Carol live in the Rose Garden neighborhood where, when not travelling, they tend roses, orchids, a wine cellar, and treasured friendships.