The South of Forest Neighborhood Association (SOFNA) is a community organization composed of residents from the City of Santa Clara who have banded together for the enjoyment and improvement of our neighborhood. As a resource center for neighbors, citizens, and students, this webite provides announcement, our neighborhood newsletter, short articles, guides, full-text documents, and links to related sites.
Joanne Anderson - Westridge Drive - current Vice President
I am a native Santa Claran with deep roots in the City. My mother, sister and I attended Santa Clara schools. I, also, worked in Santa Clara Unified for 32 years. When my husband and I discovered in 1995 that this neighborhood was in Santa Clara, our decision was made! We purchased the house on Westridge. We felt blessed to live in this beautiful neighborhood! What a pocket jewel in the City! As I have gotten to know the people in SOFNA, it has been a double blessing. It is quite impressive to see the successes accomplished by hard work and the unity of neighbors! I am delighted to host events such as Neighborhood Watch at my home. Supporting the building of community in our neighborhood is important to me. I have been on the board for one year, and it would be an honor to serve another.
Debra Bowman - Tyler Avenue
We are so fortunate to live in such a unique community within the City of Santa Clara, and it was my passion for our neighborhood that prompted me to take an active role in preserving its character. My family and I have lived on Tyler Avenue for nearly nine years now, and we expect to call this home for many more years, as it has truly become the center point of our life through employment, schooling, and friendship. I've been happy to serve with so many great people in a founding role with SOFNA, and see our neighborhood association as an effective and constructive way in which we can maintain and build value, preserve safety, and foster a greater sense of community.
Royanna Gazlay - Bel Ayre Drive - current SOFNA Secretary
Thirteen years ago in a real estate flyer my home was advertised as a "diamond in the rough." After purchasing it my late husband and I were married in our large back yard. I am fortunate that my neighbors have become like family, and that I have made many friends while working on the Lexus project and the formation of our neighborhood association. Santa Clara, and our neighborhood in particular, is a wonderful place to live and I plan to devote as much time and energy as I can to protect our neighborhood from commercial encroachment, keep it safe, and preserving its hometown atmosphere.
Joe (Joey) Goschy - Tyler Avenue
Santa Clara became "home" in June of 2000. It has a small town feel and the SOFNA neighborhood is unique with the charming older homes and larger lots. The people are involved and organized, and the behavior mirrors the true spirit of America. For a transplanted midwesterner (Wisconsin), the kindhearted, giving attitude of the SOFNA neighborhood reminds me of where I spent my youth. There are opportunities to get involved with local issues and be proactive. My background in Business, Information Systems, and Communication is at the service of SOFNA to support a safe, healthy community.
Joy Haas - Douglane Avenue - current SOFNA Historical Committee
In the post World War II years Santa Clara County was the fastest growing area in the nation. The springtime canopy of prune orchard blossoms and old wagon road was newly bull dozed and paved over when my parents purchased their home on Douglane in the early 1950’s. Through the years my mother wrote her sonnets and her Japanese haiku under what BAREC staff labeled an “aeronautical landmark” of mature trees in our rear garden. Today Jack in the Box and a military establishment stands on the site of what in earlier years was a white frame church with a large parking lot serviced by an alley with access to Tyler. In 1963 “gerrymandering” into this end of the SOFNA neighborhood began with loss of a Cecil Street residence and insertion of a parking lot with access to Cecil. Neighbors and I objected to no avail. The letter I filed with the City Clerk’s office and the Planning Commission in November 1963, documenting the violations of urban renewal has not been found in their files. Following the issues of annexation and Lexus, we have taken a stand throughout various environmental injuries, Valley Fair, Santana Row, traffic over our degraded streets, bad air and BAREC which have made us one of the most polluted zip codes in the country. I have been privileged to serve as a founding member of SOFNA and I am committed to preserving community assets and neighborhood amenities, a healthy inheritance for future generations of children.
Tracie Johnson - Bel Ayre Drive - current SOFNA Newsletter Editor
My partner Jane and I looked for nine months for a home with a large lot in a more rustic neighborhood before we uncovered our "gem in the rough" on Bel Ayre Drive six years ago. We love walking through this beautiful neighborhood. We got involved in preserving it when Lexus wanted to tear down a house. This last year I have been serving the neighborhood as the editor for our newsletter. When not working on my endless home projects I also enjoy teaching art and woodshop to high school students.
Elena Morera - Westridge Drive
Nine years ago we "stumbled" into this wonderful neighborhood, close to the freeways and major thoroughfares, yet quiet and unassuming. My husband and I felt so fortunate to find such a wonderful house surrounded by wonderful neighbors. When the Lexus dealership threatened to remove one of the houses on my street, I immediately went into action and invited the neighbors to unite, communicate, and act. I was part of the original committee and we met several times in my home. By coming together as a group we were able to prevent the encroachment into our neighborhood by Lexus. I am committed to doing everything I can to support this association to ensure we continue to have a safe and friendly community.
Arline Norsworthy - Cecil Avenue
I have been a resident of Santa Clara County all of my life. My late husband and I built our home in this neighborhood in 1949 and I have lived here for 55 years. When my husband passed away in 1970 my neighbors and church friends mowed my lawn, tended my children, and dropped off food. Most of the time I didn't even know who was kind enough to help me. It just got done!
I believe that neighbors should help neighbors and that is what life is all about. I have historical knowledge of this area and can provide a lot of advice. Unfortunately I have had serious legal battles with the commercial owner adjacent to me. I hope the support of a neighborhood association will prevent others from having to fight these kinds of battles alone.
Michael O'Halloran - Cecil Avenue - current SOFNA President
My wife, Bonnie, and our 2 boys, moved into our SOFNA house at the corner of Cecil & Westridge in 1998. Although I grew up in Mtn. View, I left the area after high school, only, ultimately, to return in a job relocation. "Why did I leave here?" I ask. Although the population has grown enormously it's still great. We chose our Santa Clara home carefully and enjoy the unique blend of convenient location and neighborhood calm, tucked in with modest homes on good family-size lots. I look for SOFNA as a means to strengthen these features, improving and protecting both the physical infrastructure that provides beauty and comfort, and the sense of community that provides security and enjoyment. This is our last move! No, really!
Michelle Purviance - Cypress Avenue - current Government Relations Committee Chair
"Country living, city convenience" was the phrase used to advertise the Cypress Avenue home my husband and I purchased over 10 years ago. While living in our unique neighborhood, we have experienced both. We like walking to local stores and restaurants and retreating to our backyard, a place that feels far removed from busy Winchester and Stevens Creek Boulevards. When this "distance" was being threatened with the state's sale of BAREC and the proposed Lexus expansion, I decided to get involved in protecting the balance between city convenience and country living. As an active SOFNA member, I have enjoyed combining my experience as a nonprofit professional with my interests in enhancing our neighborhood's quality of life and building a neighborhood community.
John Shores - Tyler Avenue - current SOFNA Treasurer
We moved to this neighborhood because we were attracted by the large lots with room for gardens and fruit trees. We quickly developed an appreciation for the neighbors and the neighborhood. I am trained as a regional planner and environmental manager. My passion is sharing my love for the environment and helping individuals and organizations to appreciate nature. Putting this "appreciation of place" into action, I am one of the founding members of the neighborhood association and I have enjoyed serving you and the neighborhood during the past year as a SOFNA board member and treasurer.
Thelma Sorich - Cecil Avenue
I was born and raised in this Valley of Hearts Delight and have lived in this centralized, very convenient neighborhood since 1958. I followed in my mother's footsteps by being active in extra curricular activities in school and as a parent I was active in the Parkway Home and School Club. Where is Parkway? It was across the overpass at the end of Forest Avenue!
Over the past thirty years I have been in leadership in a couple of not-for-profit health organizations and am also a member of the Santa Clara Women's League (we raise funds for the S.C. Senior Center Health and Wellness Program). Most of my time lately has been spent helping to save BAREC. I appreciate what the leaders of SOFNA have done for our neighborhood and if chosen to serve on the Board will strive to live up to their accomplishments.