Lynn Woolsey to Visit Community Center

 

We will have some political celebrities in the ‘hood May 5th. Lynn Woolsey, our Congressional Representative, will be hosting a Congressional Roundtable to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), and in particular how it would impact current labor organizing efforts for the Saint Joseph’s Health System here in Sonoma County.Two special guests, Congressman George Miller, Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor during the Clinton Administration and NPR commentator, are scheduled to attend.Priscilla Yaeger and Mito Gonzales will discuss the issues SJHS workers have faced while attempting to organize. The panel will discuss how the EFCA would provide stronger protections and a fairer process than current law.

It’s at Steele Lane Community Center, 415 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, California
Saturday May 5, 2007, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Paulin Creek Preserve Walk

As you may recall, Paulin Creek flows between out neighborhood and the County Center. Now get an inside look at this beautiful piece of urban open space east of us near Sutter Hospital, protected with help from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. We’ll explore the preserve, including its riparian and creek habitats, highlighting its easy trails & botanical diversity.
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2007
Time: mid day
Reservations: Email outings@landpaths.org or call Landpaths Event Line 524-9318.

Open House at Steele Lane School

Steele Lane Elementary School holds its annual Open House on Thursday, May 10. Come check out the school and meet parents, teachers and students.

5:30 -7:00 p.m. – Pot Luck, Plant Sale and Basket Fundraiser

7:00-8:00 p.m. – Visit Classrooms

Contact the school for more information, 522-3260.

Neighborhood-Wide Yard Sale, May 19 & 20

Mark your calendar. The NJCNA is promoting a neighborhood-wide yard sale and will post signs on Steele Lane directing people into our neighborhood. We will also place notices announcing the sale in Craig’s List and in the Press Democrat. This is the perfect time to clean out our closets during spring cleaning. And don’t forget how much fun it is to meet your neighbors and to see what’s been stashed in their garages. For further information call Phyllis Sutter 579.2868

SRJC Culinary Arts School Building

Someday, we may have a wonderful culinary arts school and bakery in our neighborhood! About 20 JC neighbors met with SRJC staff April 20th for a “scoping” session to unveil their tentative plans and seek input from the neighborhoods on siting and design.

According to Curt Groninga, Vice President of Administrative Services, SRJC is quite appreciative of the community attendance and participation.  It was helpful in that it will help guide the College in its decision making relevant to siting the Culinary Arts/Mixed Use Facility on one of the District’s properties.  A number of people volunteered to write a letter in support of the Mendocino/Carr site and if you still wish to, please address your letter or comments to either Dr. Robert F. Agrella, President, SRJC or myself.

The College and its consultants received a lot of worthwhile information (though at times divergent views) regarding aesthetics, siting, setbacks, the number of  levels (1 to 3) as well as a number of suggestions to acquire additional property to better accomodate the siting of the facility fronting Mendocino. The Board of Trustees will soon decide on the location at its Board meeting.  Irrespective of where the project is located, the College does intend to establish a project web page relevant to its planning.  Once that is established I will contact you with the appropriate URL.

Long’s Expansion Plans – Public Meeting May 8

Long’s will be holding a neighborhood meeting to review their plans to add 6,000 sq. ft. of new building on the existing property and to remodel the existing drug store. The new building will house up to three small scale community businesses. JCNA, other neighborhoods, and creek stewardship and LandPaths representatives have been meeting with the developer to recommend sustainable landscaping and bicycle and pedestrian friendly design. We have shared ideas from Portland, 1, 2, 3.

If you could please attend this meeting, it will send a loud message to Long’s and the city that our neighborhood really wants to create a special place here. Long’s own motto certainly supports our ideas! They are selling reusable shopping bags for .99 that say: “WE’RE ALL IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER. Protecting The Earth Starts In Your Own Neighborhood.” Bring one of this bags to this meeting and lets hold Longs to their word.

One item we are requesting Long do is some how acknowledge with some art that Poppy Creek flows through a culvert under their parking lot.

The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 8 at 7 pm in Room 7 at City Hall (100 Santa Rosa Avenue, at corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and First Street).

Should you have and questions or comments, contact Longs Drug Stores
Inc.#39, the applicant, at (925) 296-7919, or Gillian Hayes, the project
Planner at ghayes@srcity.org or (707) 543-4348.

Sharing The Good News About Steele Lane Elementary

The North JC Neighborhood Association and Steele Lane Elementary School present a school forum on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at Steele Lane Elementary School, 301 Steele Lane in Santa Rosa.

This Forum is designed for parents thinking about enrolling their children at Steele Lane in the fall. Childcare will be provided at the forum.

School Principal Barry Kelly will be present to share recent good news about the school’s achievements and plans for the future. Teachers and neighborhood parents will also be on hand to share information about the school and to answer questions by prospective parents.

Planting Poppy Creek

Thanks to Landpaths IOOBY (In Our Own Back Yard) program along with the City of Santa Rosa for coordinating a workday on Poppy Creek in Steele Lane park on March 7. Twenty sixth graders from Hidden Valley School teamed up with twenty third graders from neighboring Steele Lane Elementary to plant native plants along the north bank of the creek. The morning activity forged some bonds between the children and their local environment, and also brought out some neighbors to help with the project. Thanks to all who participated!

Updating the Playground Equipment

Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks Department is working on a project to update the playground equipment at Steele Lane Park and have prepared preliminary plans based on neighborhood input thus far.  Plans include accessibility to play area (a path to and around the playground); swings and play sets for school and preschool age groups; and possibly a net climber.

SR Rec and Parks hope to have the project underway by summer of 2007, with completion slated for September 2007.  To enable this schedule to stay on track, we can help by reviewing the plans and giving final comments that could be incorporated into the playground plans.  Rich Hovden, Parks Project Superintendent of the SR Rec and Parks Department, who is spearheading the effort, has agreed to meet up with NJCNA members and other interested community members on Saturday, March 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, on-site at the park.  Please join us to look at the plans in process and to share your ideas.

Another meeting will also be held on Saturday, March 31, at 2:00-3:00 p.m.  So please join us then to support SR Rec & Parks and our neighborhood in putting finishing touches on the plan.  Let’s help them build consensus toward a plan that meets everyone’s needs.

Steele Lane Elementary

Later this spring, the NJCNA will be hosting an education forum at which Steele Lane School Principal Barry Kelly and other teachers and parents will speak about recent progress at the school and exciting new developments.  Also a survey will be sent to various preschools to try to determine what prospective parents’ needs and expectations are for Steel Lane Elementary. And a reminder that volunteers are still needed for the Reader Volunteer Program – Even ½ hour can make a big difference for the children.  Contact Randi Megordan at the school for more information.