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NEWSLETTER: November 2018
In this issue:
Giving Thanks
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the sponsors, partners, supporters, contributors, and volunteers who made Pumpkins in the Park a great success! Save the Date for next year - October 12, 2019!
We are particularly thankful that Cortese Brothers Farms supplied our pumpkin patch again!
Event Sponsors - Bay FM/Mix 106, City of San Jose, Cortese Brothers Farms, First 5, Google, HGA, Martinelli's, NBC Bay Area/Telemundo, Watershed Watch
Event Supporters - Office of Councilmember Raul Peralez, Sheryl Hinshaw, and Marguerite Lee
We also appreciate these generous partners whose support underwrites all our events and programs - Able Services, Acosta Sheet Metal Manufacturing, Adobe, Air Systems, Mike & Christy Akatiff, Arm, Armanino, Terry & Carol Austen, Blach Construction, Boston Properties, BrightView, Heritage Bank of Commerce, Intel, Lewis & Tibbits, One Pearl Place, PG&E, Francois & Beth Rodigari, Samaritan Medical Center, San Jose Water Company, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Sharks Foundation, Sharks Sports & Entertainment, Silicon Valley Law Group, A Slice of New York, John Michael Sobrato, Swenson, Vulcan Construction, West Valley Construction
Gardens vs Commercial Use
San Jose's Planning Department issued a project number for the Office of Economic Development/Airport proposal to convert nearly 12 acres of gardens to commercial use. The matter will go to City Council next fall, but we are working to get the proposal withdrawn due to the unprecedented conversion from public to commercial use and the violation of planning principals in the 2040 General Plan.
Click here for our letter and supporting documentation.
Click here to contact Mayor Liccardo.
PlayGarden Updates
After 575,000+ visitors, the Rotary PlayGarden resilient surfacing was showing signs of wear, so we coordinated with the City of San Jose and Playgrounds Unlimited to re-pour the area around the rotating net and patch several areas around the playground. We hope you enjoy the refreshed look!
Historic Orchard Restoration
West Valley College Park Management students helped us remove over 20 diseased and/or expired cherry trees from the Historic Orchard. While we're sad to see the trees go, many were 20+ years old and at the end of their fruitful lives. Their removal is a big step in enabling us to restore the cherry section with new plantings and make irrigation improvements as we prepare the orchard for the next 20 years.
Volunteer Corner
Ernst & Young helped us with seasonal upkeep in the Historic Orchard.
A hearty thanks to all the volunteer groups that toiled to make GRPG a more beautiful place this past September:
Arm
Bellarmine College Preparatory
Hope Services
Intel
Mission Bay
Morgan Autism Center
National Charity League Heritage Oaks & Willow Rose Chapters
Playworks
South Bay Heritage Rose Group
UC Master Gardeners 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. We logged 828 volunteer hours in September.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
- Heritage Rose Garden Workdays
Weds. and Sats. 8:30-11:30 am. More info.
- Historic Orchard Workday
Sat. Dec. 1st, 8:30-11:30 am. Sign up.
- Rotary PlayGarden Maintenance Support
Ongoing on Mondays. E-mail volunteer@grpg.org for more information.
- Beginning Environmental Explorers (BEE) Education Aid
We are on the hunt for a long-term, dedicated volunteer who enjoys engaging and teaching students ages 2 - 5 years old. An ideal BEE education aide will be a passionate and patient volunteer to complement our enthusiastic education team! Spanish-speaking aides preferred, but not required. Interested or have questions? E-mail education@grpg.org.
Meet Volunteer: Don
 Don has been volunteering in our front office and at the Rotary PlayGarden for the past two months, greeting everyone with his warm smile. He enjoys his time here - the people, the atmosphere, the nature, and the beauty of the park. He's hoping to adopt a couple kittens from us, and we'd love for their fur-ever home to be with Don! |
