As a native Santa Claran, my roots in the City are deep. I had a rewarding career in Santa Clara Unified and now have time to devote to the community. In 1995, when my late husband and I discovered 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 met the people in SOFN, 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. I value and strive to support the building of community in our neighborhood. It would be an honor to serve another term.
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.
I have been on the South of Forest Neighborhood Board since its inception and I am currently serving as the Board Secretary. I also do "fund-raising" and host the annual National Night Out events at my home with the help of all, you, my wonderful neighbors. As a Santa Clara resident for the past 16 years, I would like to continue my service on the board to help keep our neighborhood safe, prevent commercial encroachment, and preserve its "hometown" atmosphere.
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.
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.
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.
My husband Andrew and I moved into the SOFNA neighborhood one year ago. After getting married, we wanted to find a house where we would establish a home, raise our children, and become active members of our community. One year later, we are very fortunate to know and interact with our friendly and supportive neighbors, a rare practice in a society where it is more common to not know who lives next door. We feel very fortunate to be living here. My background is in Leadership and Administration where I work as a Vice-Principal for the East Side Union High School District. I hope to use my background in administration to help support the SOFNA with board policies and community organizing.
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.
"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.
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.