tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23432947836333524192024-03-12T16:57:47.137-07:00The Silicon Valley LibrarianThe Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-30231937019296768472021-02-27T17:34:00.014-08:002022-06-27T15:20:09.840-07:00John Burrell Leonard, West Side Fruit Growers' Association and the Glendenning Barn at Apple Park<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most iconic historic structures on the West side of Santa Clara Valley barely remains visible about 50 yards Southeast from the corner of Homestead and Wolfe Roads in Cupertino, although it is no longer in its original location. That site is the Glendenning Barn, built and later owned by the Leonard family, founders of Vallco Park.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Robert Glendinning was a Scotsman who sailed to the United States in 1850, via Australia, where he met and married Margaret Howie. The Glendenning's sailed for San Francisco with a hope to make their fortune in the Gold Rush. They settled in a tent on the West side of the Valley, planted crops and built a home on property they would later learn was still owned by the heirs of <a href="https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/hb9w1008pc/" target="_blank">Rancho Quito</a>. The Glendenning's owed $30 per acre to the owners of that land grant for their 200 acre parcel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Glendenning's have a very complete family history etched on the Robert Glendenning (1824-1868) grave marker at Mission City Memorial Park in Santa Clara. <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46347346/robert-glendenning" target="_blank">Find-A-Grave unravels some of the mysteries of the Glendenning-Leonard Family history in their genealogy references online</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-patvaIRvTOA/YErdVXMkd8I/AAAAAAAACac/3zNgbwcsoz0Mtuc-pTMOD19kyjrMnDHwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s582/Glendenning%2Bmarker%2Bwith%2Bfamily%2Bhistory.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="559" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-patvaIRvTOA/YErdVXMkd8I/AAAAAAAACac/3zNgbwcsoz0Mtuc-pTMOD19kyjrMnDHwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Glendenning%2Bmarker%2Bwith%2Bfamily%2Bhistory.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46347346/robert-glendenning" target="_blank">Robert Glendenning Grave Marker</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Find-A-Grave Web Site</div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Mary Lou Lyon, in her </span>Arcadia<span> book on the history of Cupertino, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=7yZfVQx_gdUC&pg=PT26&lpg=PT26&dq=glendenning+barn+-apple&source=bl&ots=Wn0rnd-MU4&sig=aTZnqlESj5Ng-SOyriyZCLj9ItM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwia2rvZg4bSAhWKjFQKHQjUAI0Q6AEIKzAD#v=onepage&q=glendenning%20barn%20-apple&f=false" target="_blank">mentions that John Leonard</a>, the son-in-law of Margaret Glendenning Burrell, built a barn on the original Robert Glendenning property around 1916. At that time, Homestead Road was called Younger Road. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>John Leonard's son was named John Burrell Leonard, however, he was known as Burrell Leonard to most farmers in the Valley. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50515284/john-burrell-leonard" target="_blank">The parents of John Burrell Leonard were John Leonard (1883-1975) and Grace Willett Burrell Leonard (1883-1961)</a>. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7Qf7M_pSS0/YDrcprSvHhI/AAAAAAAAA8E/k6diOf41Rmo5_ma_77Uii2M6UnPGMWxjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s740/Glendenning%2BBarn%2BCup%2BHist%2BSoc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="740" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7Qf7M_pSS0/YDrcprSvHhI/AAAAAAAAA8E/k6diOf41Rmo5_ma_77Uii2M6UnPGMWxjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Glendenning%2BBarn%2BCup%2BHist%2BSoc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Glendenning Barn as it appeared around 1916.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/07/14/barn-at-apple-park-represents-hard-work-of-generations-of-visionaries/" target="_blank">Cupertino Historical Society Collection, via SJMN</a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who farmed in the area knew <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50515284/john-burrell-leonard" target="_blank">John Burrell Leonard (1911-2000)</a>, or, "Burrell Leonard" through the West Side Fruit Growers' Association and the large dry yard for prunes and apricots which existed along the East side of Wolfe Road between Stevens Creek and Homestead roads. Leonard was instrumental in organizing a collective of growers and investors to incorporate as the Varian Group, then another property investor's group known as Vallco. His father, John Leonard, started the John Leonard Fruit Plant and Dry Yard in Cupertino.</span><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLKDExpJ7uI/YDrzd7q4Z6I/AAAAAAAAA8k/5EMHXNVm4SQftBxLzWMkZSE7LepSeFw3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s416/Burrell%2BLeonard%2B1927%2Bprune%2Bshipment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLKDExpJ7uI/YDrzd7q4Z6I/AAAAAAAAA8k/5EMHXNVm4SQftBxLzWMkZSE7LepSeFw3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Burrell%2BLeonard%2B1927%2Bprune%2Bshipment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(John) Burrell Leonard inspecting a 1927 prune </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">shipment headed for the East Coast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=7yZfVQx_gdUC&pg=PT26&lpg=PT26&dq=glendenning+barn+-apple&source=bl&ots=Wn0rnd-MU4&sig=aTZnqlESj5Ng-SOyriyZCLj9ItM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwia2rvZg4bSAhWKjFQKHQjUAI0Q6AEIKzAD#v=onepage&q=glendenning%20barn%20-apple&f=false" target="_blank">Mary Lou Lyon - Cupertino</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Arcadia Publication online)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hartnell College, which received a bequest on John Burrell Leonard's death, posted this lovely tribute online, which captures Leonard's life and interests:</div><blockquote><i>Leonard, who died in 2000 at the age of 89, was a descendant of a pioneering farming family that settled in Santa Clara County in the mid-1800s. He was a fruit grower whose orchard later became Cupertino’s Vallco Park development, and he was a major force in the incorporation of that city and its post-agricultural growth.<br /><br />Because of his longtime interest in agriculture, Leonard had visited Salinas as well as Hartnell College over the years, according to Bill Hyland, longtime friend and business associate.<br /><br />The Leonard estate has made contributions to 24 charitable organizations, including Hartnell, Hyland said. All of the organizations reflect his longtime interests-California history, land conservation, agriculture and the arts.<br /><br />At the time of his death, Leonard was president of the Leonard Company, a property development and management firm at the Vallco Financial Center.<br /><br />A bachelor all of his life, Leonard was a major landowner in Santa Clara County. His favorite property was his facility on Llagas Road in San Martin (between Gilroy and Morgan Hill), where he stored and maintained his collection of farm machinery, tools, photographs and other memorabilia from the Santa Clara Valley’s agricultural past.<br /><br />Born in San Jose, Leonard grew up on his family’s 200-acre farm. John, his father, pioneered diversified irrigation farming and packed fruit under the John Leonard label.</i></blockquote><blockquote><p><a href="https://hartnellfoundation.org/donors/art-gallery-receives-generous-gift-from-estate-of-silicon-valley-pioneer/" target="_blank">https://hartnellfoundation.org/donors/art-gallery-receives-generous-gift-from-estate-of-silicon-valley-pioneer/ </a></p></blockquote><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LysVSTwrqU8/YErTVvLW9XI/AAAAAAAACaM/qx_r-TU7yCgzvrN529KJ2rwqQMYIr-JQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s729/John%2BLeonard%2BFruit%2BPlant%2BCupertino.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="591" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LysVSTwrqU8/YErTVvLW9XI/AAAAAAAACaM/qx_r-TU7yCgzvrN529KJ2rwqQMYIr-JQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/John%2BLeonard%2BFruit%2BPlant%2BCupertino.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://calisphere.org/item/190ae115b5a210268aa3a3d7b546748b/" target="_blank">John Leonard Fruit Plant, Cupertino</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">History San Jose, Burrell Leonard Collection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FbuMiYWVBeY/YErTsAZGnBI/AAAAAAAACaU/XgHXo6sQy9ki0_5ftvCI0In_b7TWpCy-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s835/Leonard%2BFamily%2Bdry%2Byard%2Band%2Bacreage%2BCupertino.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="835" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FbuMiYWVBeY/YErTsAZGnBI/AAAAAAAACaU/XgHXo6sQy9ki0_5ftvCI0In_b7TWpCy-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Leonard%2BFamily%2Bdry%2Byard%2Band%2Bacreage%2BCupertino.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://historysanjose.pastperfectonline.com/photo/0F3B18C2-BE4D-4F6D-A9B8-219598188352" target="_blank">John Leonard Family Dry Yard and Orchards, Cupertino.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(This site seems to show Younger/Homestead Road.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">History San Jose, Burrell Leonard Collection</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azf3E06FIuE/YDrs_hEjVUI/AAAAAAAAA8c/kgAA1TFyaAM6udP0eu_TthISbNOkwh6GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s572/Glendenning%2BBarn%2BPlaque%2BCity%2Bof%2BCupertino.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="572" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azf3E06FIuE/YDrs_hEjVUI/AAAAAAAAA8c/kgAA1TFyaAM6udP0eu_TthISbNOkwh6GQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h211/Glendenning%2BBarn%2BPlaque%2BCity%2Bof%2BCupertino.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://cycle365.life/to-the-spaceship/" target="_blank">Kathleen Jones, Cycle 365 Life Blog</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The history of the West Side Fruit Grower's Association is best told by Philo Hersey himself, one of the directors of the WGA organization, as recounted in a <a href="https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=PRP18920507.2.18.2&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1" target="_blank">May 7, 1892 Pacific Rural Press article (found on the CDNC.UCR.edu Web site)</a>, where Hersey's anecdotes on the history of the collective farmers' group may be read from the original newspaper.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://vasonabranch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Robert Bowdidge's Vasona Branch Blog</a>, one of my favorite sites for local history, has an excellent collection of articles and images about the <a href="http://vasonabranch.com/packing_houses/index.php?title=West_Side_Fruit_Growers_Association" target="_blank">Westside Fruit Growers Association</a> with some lines about fruit packing houses in the Valley. (If you are into <a href="http://vasonabranch.blogspot.com/search?q=model+railroad" target="_blank">model railroads and old rails in the area</a>, you will definitely enjoy his railroad blog posts on those topics as well. Bowdidge is a very thorough and detailed history researcher.)<br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">On July 14, 2017, The San Jose Mercury News featured the barn in <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/07/14/barn-at-apple-park-represents-hard-work-of-generations-of-visionaries/" target="_blank">a story about the region's farming history and the fate of the barn on the Apple Park property</a>:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ef-TbnebR8E/YDrjReMW7II/AAAAAAAAA8U/9jCqCrIlWsU9nUL_dqFRm_Kz9LrGyvVjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/SJ%2BMerc%2BNews%2BJuly-14-2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ef-TbnebR8E/YDrjReMW7II/AAAAAAAAA8U/9jCqCrIlWsU9nUL_dqFRm_Kz9LrGyvVjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SJ%2BMerc%2BNews%2BJuly-14-2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/07/14/barn-at-apple-park-represents-hard-work-of-generations-of-visionaries/" target="_blank">San Jose Mercury News Image</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Glendenning Barn and it's new location at Apple Park was visible in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwxQnI98CKw&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">July 2017 drone video produced by Mathew Roberts</a>:<br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="220" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VwxQnI98CKw" width="280"></iframe></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To be continued.....</div></div>The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-82660667020527912020-09-17T18:24:00.018-07:002022-06-27T15:19:56.014-07:00Jan Batiste Atkins: African Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Professor Jan Batiste Adkins, Adjunct Instructor, San Jose City College, has published a series of Arcadia: Images of America series books on the local histories of African Americans, providing easily-accessible historic details and images for this important Bay Area cultural group. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-County-Images-America/dp/1467102431" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGqH9TOlFxg/X2QQ5IjlbuI/AAAAAAAAA6E/DEc03T40WMQrbaSgLRQCLRlwOK0rGDKiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Atkins%2Bbook.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Atkins' books include:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-America-Arcadia-Publishing/dp/1540237214/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1600383332&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Africa</a></i></span><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-America-Arcadia-Publishing/dp/1540237214/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1600383332&sr=1-1" target="_blank">n Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara County</a> </i><i>(</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><a href="http://blogs.sjsu.edu/mystory/2015/11/24/steven-millner/" target="_blank">Dr. Steven Millner</a>, professor of African American studies at San Jose State University, provides the introduction.)</span></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-Francisco-Batiste-Adkins/dp/1531650368/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">African</a></span></i><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-Francisco-Batiste-Adkins/dp/1531650368/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Americans of San Francisco</span></a></i></p><p><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/African-Americans-Monterey-County-Batiste/dp/1531677150/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">African Americans of Monterey County</span></a></i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In her <i>African Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara County</i> Arcadia book, Adkins relates that African Americans settled in the Santa Clara Valley as early as 1777, with a community firmly established here by the 1800's. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Between 1916 and 1970, a period termed "The Great Migration", nearly 6 million African Americans left the rural American South to resettle in Northern cities. This figure increased in 1963 when African Americans left the South in great numbers to escape Jim Crow laws, lynchings and voter repression. Some African Americans settled in San Jose, Santa Clara and Palo Alto, to seek new opportunities, particularly in the new technology industry, during the 1960's and 1970's.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">According to Isabel Wilkerson, <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/long-lasting-legacy-great-migration-180960118/" target="_blank">Smithsonian Magazine: September 2016</a>: </span></p><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>"At t</span>hat moment in American history, the country had reached a turning point in a fight for racial justice that had been building for decades. This was the year of the killing of Medgar Evers in Mississippi, of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, of Gov. George Wallace blocking black students at the schoolhouse door of the University of Alabama, the year of the March on Washington, of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” By then, millions of African-Americans had already testified with their bodies to the repression they had endured in the Jim Crow South by defecting to the North and West in what came to be known as the Great Migration. They were fleeing a world where they were restricted to the most menial of jobs, underpaid if paid at all, and frequently barred from voting. Between 1880 and 1950, an African-American was lynched more than once a week for some perceived breach of the racial hierarchy... </span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>...Merely by leaving, African-Americans would get to participate in democracy and, by their presence, force the North to pay attention to the injustices in the South and the increasingly organized fight against those injustices. By leaving, they would change the course of their lives and those of their children. They would become Richard Wright the novelist instead of Richard Wright the sharecropper. They would become John Coltrane, jazz m</span>usician instead of tailor; Bill Russell, NBA pioneer instead of paper mill worker; Zora Neale Hurston, beloved folklorist instead of maidservant. The children of the Great Migration would reshape professions that, had their families not left, may never have been open to them, from sports and music to literature and art: Miles Davis, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, August Wilson, Jacob Lawrence, Diana Ross, Tupac Shakur, Prince, Michael Jackson, Shonda Rhimes, Venus and Serena Williams and countless others. The people who migrated would become the forebears of most African-Americans born in the North and West." </span></p><p></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote style="color: #2d2d2d;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/long-lasting-legacy-great-migration-180960118/" target="_blank">https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/long-lasting-legacy-great-migration-180960118/</a></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ-sLLKzMOI/X2PvLemNvoI/AAAAAAAAA54/sPTFEVm388Izjdm6F1-OjB-ObW1TpbLUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Jan%2BBatiste%2BAdkins%2Bimage.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.africanamericanhistories.com/about/" target="_blank">Author, Jan Batiste Atkins</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>Adkins relates that many African Americans took jobs in the tech industry in Silicon Valley, as well as Ford Motor Company and public service agencies, "while Dr. Harry Edwards, John Carlos, and Tommy Smith took on civil rights challenges. The complicated history of the black community throughout Santa Clara County has mirrored the nation's slow progress towards social and economic success."</span><div><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;">For those interested in African American Genealogy in Santa Clara Valley (and beyond), retired Local History and Genealogy Librarian, <a href="https://www.scchgs.org/documents/meetinghandouts/African_American_Genealogy.pdf" target="_blank">Mary Hanel has compiled a PDF list of resource books and tools for the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society</a>, all of which may be found in the Santa Clara City Library Genealogy area at the Park Branch.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;">Likewise, the Sourisseau Academy has compiled an excellent history, <a href="http://www.sourisseauacademy.org/Publications/someearlyafrican.pdf" target="_blank">Some Early African American Settlers in Santa Clara Valley</a>, in PDF form. (Please see my <a href="https://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.org/p/ethnic-groups-and.html" target="_blank">Genealogy and Ethnicity</a> page for more links and information.)</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;">African Americans in Tech</span></span></p><p style="color: #2d2d2d;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To promote progress, African American women in tech have empowered themselves as tech entrepreneurs via the <a href="https://talktechassociation.org/" target="_blank">Tech Talk Association</a>, which holds <a href="https://www.blackwomentalktech.com/" target="_blank">Black Women Talk Tech</a>, an annual conference with over 500 female African American tech entrepreneurs, which is sponsored by Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Oracle, Amazon, Nike and other major Silicon Valley companies.</span></p><p style="color: #2d2d2d;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The annual Black Women Talk Tech conference is designed to showcase and empower more African American women (and girls) to take on tech careers, to achieve tech leadership and to grow new businesses. <a href="https://talktechassociation.org/chapters/" target="_blank">The organization has chapters in San Francisco and Los Angeles</a>, as well as other major cities across the U.S. (There is a <a href="https://www.blackmentalktech.com/our-story" target="_blank">Black Men Talk Tech</a> group and <a href="https://www.blackmentalktech.com/conference" target="_blank">conference</a> as well, sponsored by Morgan Stanley, The Knight Foundation, Shea Moisture, and a few other businesses, however, the men could use more Silicon Valley tech sponsors.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d;">Where we stand now, in September 2020:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d;"><a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/block-the-vote-voter-suppression-in-2020/" target="_blank">According to the ACLU, voter suppression for African Americans, Native Americans and other groups is still continuing in many states</a> through the use of new voter ID and voter Photo ID laws, through ongoing gerrymandering, through unwarranted purging of registered voter lists, through the elimination of voting sites near African American and Native American communities, through removing the option of voting-by-mail during COVID-19, plus other possibly unethical and unconstitutional efforts to control who may and may not vote in November 2020. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: georgia;">For those reasons and many others, Jan Batiste Atkins' books are important reads here in Silicon Valley, where our political leaders, our media organizations, our tech giants and our major, regional philanthropic organizations, have the clout to study, fund and promote ethical norms across the country, via their Web platforms and news posts.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><blockquote>"I believe the only way to protect my own rights is to protect the rights of others."<br /><br />--Dwight D. Eisenhower, <span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043;">Remarks at the United Negro College Fund luncheon</span><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043;">May 19, 1953</span></blockquote></span></div>The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-84524508380708674002020-02-24T18:31:00.002-08:002022-06-27T15:19:41.138-07:00WWII Women Airforce Service Pilots in Santa Clara Valley<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They called those who served in WWII The Greatest
Generation, hailed the return of soldiers with parades and <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/history.asp" target="_blank">The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944</a>, a<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 107%;">lso known as the
GI Bill, </span>then built memorials and awarded medals, producing inspiring Hollywood
movies about U.S. soldiers’ courage under fire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, some who served and lost their lives during
WWII were not recognized, assisted, awarded honors nor provided with GI
benefits and military burials, for decades. Some disappeared to new hometowns after
the war where little was known about their service. Among those unsung heroes were the Women
Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and some of them lived here in our Valley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BOtXyOqG5Qw/XlR9KXXmb6I/AAAAAAAAAtg/ASQPmlmRxuAsYVATJaUmmwA_LAow4KoEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Anna%2BLogan%2BMarge%2BFrenzel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="376" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BOtXyOqG5Qw/XlR9KXXmb6I/AAAAAAAAAtg/ASQPmlmRxuAsYVATJaUmmwA_LAow4KoEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Anna%2BLogan%2BMarge%2BFrenzel.jpg" width="238" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you dined at The Brave Bull in San Jose many years ago
and were served by a straight-talking, tough as nails, almost 6-foot tall waitress
named Marge, or took flying lessons from a by-the-book middle-aged woman of the
same name at Reid Hill-View Airport (when Amelia Reid was in charge of the
aviation school there), you most likely met former WASP, Marge Frenzel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Robin Reid, Amelia Reid's son, Frenzel was very tough on her student pilots, sitting behind
them in the cockpit and telling them to “sit up straight” during lessons,
believing their lives depended on comportment which proved they
were really paying attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Frenzel, born in 1920 as “Anna Logan”, grew up in a small
town in Kansas. She worked as an office assistant for a couple who owned a
small airport in South Dakota, where she learned to fly during her first
aviation job. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anna Logan, AKA: Marge Frenzel (above) was trained as a WASP in Sweetwater, Texas, WASP Class 44-1. After the war she moved to San Jose, California.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While in Sweetwater, Logan became friends with fellow WASP Marge
Hurlburt, with whom she would later design the Hurlburt Hurricane NX 1223 </span>along with another fellow WASP and co-designer, Duke Caldwell. Their aircraft was also known as the <span style="font-family: inherit;">Camburn Special, a midget plane designed for air racing.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qejVwXGU480/XlR9xyqfRQI/AAAAAAAAAto/JLFcDPBRRpgUfzUa0JQvI7_dpxkkhT3jgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Huburt%2BHurricane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="400" height="121" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qejVwXGU480/XlR9xyqfRQI/AAAAAAAAAto/JLFcDPBRRpgUfzUa0JQvI7_dpxkkhT3jgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Huburt%2BHurricane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurlburt_Hurricane" target="_blank">Hulburt Hurricane image from Wikipedia Commons</a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Logan/Frenzel was one of the first women to participate in
the Cleveland Air Races of 1948, although women were only allowed to participate in a secondary race sponsored by
Hale Department Store, since women were not permitted to fly in the actual 1948 Cleveland Race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was told
that Logan/Frenzel flew a North American T-6 (vintage aircraft racing was popular) and had to do a forced landing, telling
others that her plane had been sabotaged. Competition was very fierce, so some
women slept in the hangar with their planes to prevent tampering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RJ4OH2Swsc/XlV3xhTSwUI/AAAAAAAAAu4/fxkNEueFiwAi9j6GHa9RTf-nPeo_iOq_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Crystal%2BEagle%2BAward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RJ4OH2Swsc/XlV3xhTSwUI/AAAAAAAAAu4/fxkNEueFiwAi9j6GHa9RTf-nPeo_iOq_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Crystal%2BEagle%2BAward.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal Eagle Award<br />
<a href="https://www.aeroclubnocal.org/Crystaleagle_About.html" target="_blank">Northern California Aero Club</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Frenzel once stated (according to Robin Reid) that as a WASP ferrying planes, “You just figured it out; men (at the factories and bases) did not help us or tell us how to start the planes.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
This seems to be consistent with what I have read online about the hostility which some WASP met at factories and bases among men who felt that women should not be in service as pilots, taking jobs from men. As you will read below, others felt that engaging women pilots to perform routine aircraft transport work, allowed men to serve in other more vital capacities during the war.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Logan/Frenzel ended both her Brave Bull waitress employment and her Reid Hill-View flight instructor
career as she grew older, opting to become a San Jose school crossing guard
later in life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She and Amelia Reid were never close according to Robin Reid; he states that they repeatedly argued about the
layout and tidiness of the Reid Hill-View aviation school office. However, since both women were raised in small towns during the depression, they bonded as divorced women raising children alone. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABR_DNeVGKQ/XlVybetXXII/AAAAAAAAAus/yFkwKRIrG24wlq9ww1AvCiaivHSetiirwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Amelia%2BReid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="247" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABR_DNeVGKQ/XlVybetXXII/AAAAAAAAAus/yFkwKRIrG24wlq9ww1AvCiaivHSetiirwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Amelia%2BReid.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180549582/amelia-reid" target="_blank">Amelia Reid-Image from FindAGrave.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Robin Reid, Amelia Reid co-signed on a real estate contract to help Frenzel purchase a home in East San Jose, so Frenzel would have a safe place</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">to raise her three sons; Cal, Glenn
and Steve. As Robin Reid said about his mother, "You just did those kind of things to help people, in those days." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Chicago Tribune has a wonderful article about Amelia Reid (1924-2001) and her son, commercial pilot Robin Reid, including their history, backgrounds and flying achievements, at: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-02-12-9303181838-story.html">https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-02-12-9303181838-story.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Frenzel was mentioned briefly in newsletters posted online by <a href="https://www.ninety-nines.org/our-history.htm" target="_blank">The Ninety-Nines’s</a>, a women’s pilot
association with chapters around the United States. Frenzel received a <a href="https://www.aeroclubnocal.org/crystaleagle_Past.html" target="_blank">CrystalEagle award</a> (see image above) from the <a href="https://www.aeroclubnocal.org/aboutus.html" target="_blank">Northern California Aero Club</a>, during a program held at
Hiller Aviation Museum. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frenzel passed away in 2005; her</span> family still owns some of her planes.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was very difficult to locate information about
Frenzel in WASP source material, so I am indebted to those who knew her* for their contributions to this article. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many thanks to Robin Reid, who was kind enough to
call me with information about his mother and Anna Logan/Marge Frenzel.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A wonderful memoir about Reid Hill-View Airport by Jim Meide, mentions Frenzel:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.wingsofhistory.org/personal-history-of-reid-hillview-airport/" target="_blank">https://www.wingsofhistory.org/personal-history-of-reid-hillview-airport/</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wingsofhistory.org/" target="_blank">The Wings of History Aviation Museum</a> in San Martin has undoubtedly the best display on the history of women in aviation, found anywhere. Congratulations to their docents and volunteers who spent many hours reproducing photos and adding factual text to the display at their site, for their efforts to remember and honor women pilots, many of whom broke records for speed, altitude and endurance.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eleanor Thompson Wortz (below) also trained as a WASP in Sweetwater Texas, Class 43-4, just before Logan Frenzel. After the war she had an international career as a linguist and eventually moved to Los Altos with her husband. She worked for a brief time at Moffett Field in Mountain View, before becoming an educator.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GAeISb488H8/XlSAjwGFlTI/AAAAAAAAAt0/3-6bvZO0aV8WeuVZ_FWshqXdAQs9A3YowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Eleanor%2BWortz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GAeISb488H8/XlSAjwGFlTI/AAAAAAAAAt0/3-6bvZO0aV8WeuVZ_FWshqXdAQs9A3YowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Eleanor%2BWortz.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you attended the Los Altos United Methodist Church, took
Business courses at the College of San Mateo, or had a swim at the Woodland
Vista Swim and Racket Club in Los Altos, you most likely met Eleanor Thompson
Wortz (left), who wrote an autobiography about her life and aviation
experiences as a WASP, entitled: </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Fly Gals of World War II: Women Airforce Service Pilots
(WASP)</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. **</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Like Logan/Frenzel, Eleanor Wortz is found in the Women Airforce Service Pilot Digital Archive, within the Woman’s Collection online at Texas Woman’s University, with selected biographies, photos and basic data about the WASP program:<br />
<a href="https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2" target="_blank">https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wortz's obituary is found at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://waspfinalflight.blogspot.com/2013/10/eleanor-thompson-wortz-43-4-aug-18-201.html" target="_blank">https://waspfinalflight.blogspot.com/2013/10/eleanor-thompson-wortz-43-4-aug-18-201.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmxdUYIJLi4/XlSrxQxP_2I/AAAAAAAAAuA/zDv5v-9pE48DU_e8xB_vnZo_e472TFTmACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wasp%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="743" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmxdUYIJLi4/XlSrxQxP_2I/AAAAAAAAAuA/zDv5v-9pE48DU_e8xB_vnZo_e472TFTmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wasp%2Bphoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/women-wings-75-year-legacy-wasp" target="_blank">WASP Group - Smithsonian Air and Space Museum</a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This article lists only a few of our local WASP and aviation heroines. If you search
the archive of online magazines produced by the Ninety-Nines’s, a national club for women pilots, the
local chapter reports may show the names of former local WASP and women pilots once active in air races and local chapter meetings: </span><a href="https://www.ninety-nines.org/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.ninety-nines.org/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Likewise, the Aero Club of Northern California has honored
former WASP for their achievements: </span><a href="https://www.aeroclubnocal.org/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.aeroclubnocal.org/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Northern California Wasp group at one
time held annual reunions and posted that information online, yet, as the few
remaining local WASP decrease in numbers, sometimes little is known or easily discovered
about their lives and roles in the WASP program, if their biographical information has not been published or digitized by those archiving WASP history. TWU (Texas Woman's University) has digitized the publication, <a href="https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16283coll7/search/searchterm/wasp%20news" target="_blank">WASP NEWS</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">History of the WASP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On September 10, 1942, Nancy Harkness Love, under the aegis
of the U.S. Air Transport Command, gathered 25 rigidly screened women pilots to
create the Women’s Air Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), operating out of New Castle
Army Base in Delaware, Maryland. Only 40 women met the qualifications needed to
serve. When they were accepted into the program, they had to purchase their own
uniforms to ferry planes from aviation factories to military bases. </span><a href="https://www.army.mil/women/history/pilots.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.army.mil/women/history/pilots.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Similarly, Jackie Cochran, who learned to fly in 1932 while
working as a cosmetics salesperson and later won international aviation races, also
achieved the first blind instrument landing by a female pilot and set records
for altitude and airspeed. She became the first woman to fly a bomber to
England during WWII. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/jacqueline-cochran-and-womens-airforce-service-pilots-wasps" target="_blank">https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/jacqueline-cochran-and-womens-airforce-service-pilots-wasps</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41swnSEztLg/XlStiFZ1OGI/AAAAAAAAAuM/dH4VxRH9oD4Np3w3GVy93cjplTOIaLPdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/jackie%2Bcochran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="374" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41swnSEztLg/XlStiFZ1OGI/AAAAAAAAAuM/dH4VxRH9oD4Np3w3GVy93cjplTOIaLPdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/jackie%2Bcochran.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/women-in-aviation/cochran.cfm" target="_blank">Jackie Cochran - Smithsonian Air and Space Museum</a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
More about Jackie Cochran:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/cochran-jacqueline/" target="_blank">https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/cochran-jacqueline/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The British Air Transport Authority were already recruiting
women pilots to move military planes during WWII. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/air-transport-auxiliary.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/air-transport-auxiliary.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By 1939 Cochran believed that U.S. women could serve in the
same manner as women pilots in the UK. She proposed a similar program to Eleanor Roosevelt, however, General
Henry “Hap” Arnold rejected her proposal. Not to be dissuaded, Cochran
recruited 25 women pilots from the U.S. to train and serve in the war effort overseas
by ferrying military aircraft for England, and in her words, to “free a man to
fight”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It has been said that on her return from England in 1943,
Cochran was irate to learn that Nancy Harkness Love had been given permission
to train women pilots to serve in the WAFS. Cochran lobbied the military
heavily to adopt her original proposal, which included military classes,
training and duties for women pilots far beyond just ferrying new military planes
to bases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually, due to Cochran’s perseverance, the WAFS were
absorbed into a new service called the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) under
her leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.army.mil/women/history/pilots.html" target="_blank">https://www.army.mil/women/history/pilots.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although women who flew sometimes died and were injured during their WASP
service, the WASP did not gain full military status until 1977, thanks to <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-91/pdf/STATUTE-91-Pg1433.pdf" target="_blank">Public Law 95-202, Section 401 (PDF)</a>, signed by President Jimmy Carter. The new law granted WASP
retroactive veteran status. By 1984 WASP were finally awarded WWII Victory
Medals. Those who had served one year received the American Theater Campaign Medal.
In 2010, WASP were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (see image below).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124533914" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124533914</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_VKQBOUeDY/XlSucGeCuDI/AAAAAAAAAuU/2uJ3rPTnLNwtVNN7_We1Yi1z0a4lmhoqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WASP%2BCongressional%2BGold%2BMedal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="730" height="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_VKQBOUeDY/XlSucGeCuDI/AAAAAAAAAuU/2uJ3rPTnLNwtVNN7_We1Yi1z0a4lmhoqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/WASP%2BCongressional%2BGold%2BMedal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/women-wings-75-year-legacy-wasp" target="_blank">WASP Congressional Gold Medal, March 10, 2010</a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An excellent slide show, timelines and interviews of
then-living WASP may be found on the NPR Web site at: <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123773525" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123773525</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWR3WGd4yVU/XlSwk6Qu8tI/AAAAAAAAAug/mNeOiOZnpBgTcCrOQTOphbUzuH37RDkvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Margaret%2BPhelan%2BTaylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWR3WGd4yVU/XlSwk6Qu8tI/AAAAAAAAAug/mNeOiOZnpBgTcCrOQTOphbUzuH37RDkvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Margaret%2BPhelan%2BTaylor.jpg" width="287" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The NPR WASP timeline features accounts by WASP Margaret
Phelan Taylor (images at left) of Palo Alto, as well as the tragic story of Mabel Rawlinson (see images below) who
died at age 26 in 1943, when she may have been</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hit by friendly fire while towing a practice target for inexperienced aircraft
anti-artillery gunner students. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some believe Rawlinson's aircraft fuel was sabotaged with sugar
by “angry male pilots who resented the females taking over their stateside
jobs”, and that the sabotage was covered up by the military. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=oBIi6ezWZ0IC&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=jackie+cochran+rawlinson+crash+investigation&source=bl&ots=UXcQ2DXvgU&sig=ACfU3U2IBqcW7MnOsrE1zv9bIryKe3pmIA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjdoti1ye3nAhUOCawKHYMDAKYQ6AEwB3oECAwQAQ#v=onepage&q=jackie%20cochran%20rawlinson%20crash%20investigation&f=false" target="_blank">This prompted Jackie Cochran to fly to the site of Rawlinson's crash to conduct her own investigation</a>, where she determined that sugar in the fuel line and a stuck hatch was the cause of the crash.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rawlinson’s story is told by her niece (unnamed) at: </span><a href="http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2008/05/still_my_fallen_hero_fly_girl.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2008/05/still_my_fallen_hero_fly_girl.html</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2009/07/06/palo-altan-to-receive-congressional-gold-medal" target="_blank">Read Margaret Phelan Taylor's story on Palo Alto Online.</a> Images of Taylor (above) are from that publication. Here is the direct link to the article about Taylor and Rawlinson, plus Taylor's comments about conditions for WASP in service and lack of military funds for burials, etc., from that publication:<br />
<a href="https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2009/07/06/palo-altan-to-receive-congressional-gold-medal" target="_blank">https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2009/07/06/palo-altan-to-receive-congressional-gold-medal</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
This article is dedicated to WASP and the memory of Mabel Rawlinson.<br />
Images of her are below, taken from her obituary,<br />
written by her niece Pam Pohly, at:<br />
<a href="http://wingsacrossamerica.us/web/obits/rawlinsom_mabel.htm" target="_blank">http://wingsacrossamerica.us/web/obits/rawlinsom_mabel.htm</a><br />
<br />
To WASP who served without recognition for so many years;<br />
Thank you for your service.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZhNGAypmxI/XlWD9UFie1I/AAAAAAAAAvM/oNp5yZH_IbULJnjRmzsImQ-Oq7jY_yTLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mabel%2BRawlinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZhNGAypmxI/XlWD9UFie1I/AAAAAAAAAvM/oNp5yZH_IbULJnjRmzsImQ-Oq7jY_yTLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mabel%2BRawlinson.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXyV3C6KXN0/XlWD0PhQluI/AAAAAAAAAvE/u7mujkuLJvkEQnaAyNn_WwBj8b0AzsHTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mabel%2Brawlinson%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXyV3C6KXN0/XlWD0PhQluI/AAAAAAAAAvE/u7mujkuLJvkEQnaAyNn_WwBj8b0AzsHTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mabel%2Brawlinson%2B3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuk7ePRJGGs/XlWD3dDv0hI/AAAAAAAAAvI/bmfjVZbWoRoxZbqocS4V9j2qYsSFRSufgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mabel%2Brawlinson%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="207" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuk7ePRJGGs/XlWD3dDv0hI/AAAAAAAAAvI/bmfjVZbWoRoxZbqocS4V9j2qYsSFRSufgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mabel%2Brawlinson%2B2.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More Resources:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Ninety Nines history:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.ninety-nines.org/our-history.htm" target="_blank">https://www.ninety-nines.org/our-history.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater Texas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://waspmuseum.org/" target="_blank">https://waspmuseum.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wings Across American by Doreen Parrish:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wings/" target="_blank">http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wings/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">WASPS remembered:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://wwii-women-pilots.org/" target="_blank">http://wwii-women-pilots.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">OCLC Resources: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n80146348/" target="_blank">http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n80146348/</a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Eleanor Wortz:</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.rp-author.com/wortz/" target="_blank">https://www.rp-author.com/wortz/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WWII Roster of Women Pilots:</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.wwii-women-pilots.org/rosters.html" target="_blank">https://www.wwii-women-pilots.org/rosters.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gilroy Dispatch Article on WASP:</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://gilroydispatch.com/honoring-gravity-defying-women-pilots/" target="_blank">https://gilroydispatch.com/honoring-gravity-defying-women-pilots/</a></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
---END---<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;">
Sources not listed above:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Image of Anna Logan/Marge Frenzel WASP class photo reproduced for educational purposes, from Texas Woman's University online:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2/search/searchterm/44-w-1/page/2" target="_blank">https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2/search/searchterm/44-w-1/page/2</a></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2/id/4500/rec/35" target="_blank">https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2/id/4500/rec/35</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Image of Eleanor Thompson Wortz WASP class photo reproduced for educational purposes, from from Texas Woman's University online:</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2/id/4192/rec/2" target="_blank">https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2/id/4192/rec/2</a></span></blockquote>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Many thanks to <a href="https://www.santaclara.org/attractions/santa-clara-county-historical-genealogical-society-2-3/" target="_blank">Mary Hanel, Santa Clara City Library Genealogy and Local History Librarian</a> (retired) for information about Eleanor Thompson Wortz, to <a href="https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/about/amelia_reid/" target="_blank">Robin Reid</a>, to <a href="https://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/about/rhv/instructors/" target="_blank">Jen Watson of Aerodynamic Aviation</a> and to all of the docents at the <a href="https://www.wingsofhistory.org/" target="_blank">Wings of History Aviation Museum</a> in San Martin, California, for their assistance and willingness to answer perhaps far too many questions about WASP in Santa Clara County. ---C. Alexander.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
**<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Copyright: Eleanor Thompson Wortz, 2011. Robertson Publishing, Los Gatos, California. ISBN 13: 978-1-61170-034-3; ISBN 10: 1-61170-034-5; LOC Number: 2011929982)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Enter your location on WorldCat to find her book at your local library: <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/fly-gals-of-world-war-ii-women-airforce-service-pilots-wasp/oclc/785831774&referer=brief_results" target="_blank">https://www.worldcat.org/title/fly-gals-of-world-war-ii-women-airforce-service-pilots-wasp/oclc/785831774&referer=brief_results</a></blockquote>
</div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-68064504226475534372019-02-01T08:00:00.001-08:002022-06-27T15:18:31.409-07:00Infinite Looping: The Proposed HWY 280 Junipero Serra Trail to Apple Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for junipero serra creek trail cupertino" height="310" src="https://www.cupertino.org/Home/ShowPublishedImage/8524/636751988872470000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junipero Serra Trail (the dotted section of<span style="font-size: 14px;"> the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">proposed "LoopTrail") - </span><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi75L3s2ZngAhUNlawKHYQ6Bx8Qjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cupertino.org%2Four-city%2Fdepartments%2Fpublic-works%2Ftransportation-mobility%2Fbicycle-and-pedestrian-travel%2Fbicycle-transportation-plan-implementation%2Fjunipero-serra-trai&psig=AOvVaw2SKWr0esVuCxUkivGnsb9T&ust=1549081838213080" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">City of Cupertino Web site</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This post was updated on February 9, 2019.<br />
<br />
There are moments when a local history blogger is asked to address current proposals and their impact on the future of families and kids in one region.<br />
<br />
This is one of those moments, so I hope you will indulge me as I address a proposal which was discussed by the Cupertino City Council on February 5, 2019. All images are from the <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation-mobility/bicycle-and-pedestrian-travel/bicycle-transportation-plan-implementation/junipero-serra-trai" target="_blank">City site</a>, unless stated otherwise.<br />
<br />
The "Junipero Serra Trail" is a proposed freeway embankment, bike and pedestrian pathway which would be created as part of the Cupertino Loop Trail, <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=19449" target="_blank">between the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge connecting Mary Avenue over 280,</a> then over (or under) De Anza Boulevard along Highway 280, <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=19453" target="_blank">branching to Wolfe Road, Vallco and Main Street</a>. Another segment would extend up and down Tantau Avenue, following <a href="http://www.scvurppp-w2k.com/ws_calabazas.shtml" target="_blank">Calabazas Creek</a> to Rainbow Drive. (A segment of the Loop Trail would also extend along Regnart Creek.) The Loop Trail would then circle back near Stelling Road along the old railroad tracks, North to Mary Avenue. (Apologies, this is the best I could glean from the maps provided by the City online.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dil_LHVniN8/XFPicsBqigI/AAAAAAAAAoE/cXPqf4I99jorav-AUW3jimkWUdjI-3O4ACLcBGAs/s1600/De%2BAnza%2BBlvd%2BTrail%2BCrossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="981" height="201" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dil_LHVniN8/XFPicsBqigI/AAAAAAAAAoE/cXPqf4I99jorav-AUW3jimkWUdjI-3O4ACLcBGAs/s400/De%2BAnza%2BBlvd%2BTrail%2BCrossing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=21113" target="_blank">The Trail would pass over or under De Anza Blvd. at 280</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You may have guessed that this circuitous trail would be ideal for Apple staff biking between the two campuses and their homes or transit points. The City has referred to the entire trail as "The Loop", mirroring the Apple Infinite Loop address, at: <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation-mobility/bicycle-and-pedestrian-travel/bicycle-transportation-plan-implementation/junipero-serra-trai" target="_blank">https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation-mobility/bicycle-and-pedestrian-travel/bicycle-transportation-plan-implementation/junipero-serra-trai</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #444444;">"The Junipero Serra Trail is one of the trail segments that would make up “The Loop”. It will provide an off-street bicycle and pedestrian facility that runs parallel to the existing Junipero Serra Channel and Calabazas Creek and provide a connection between the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge and Vallco Parkway."</span></blockquote>
Some residents are rightfully concerned with child, family, home and auto safety at the 280 section of the Loop Trail, particularly since the proposed, non-street pathways and tunnels (also proposed along Calabazas Creek and along the old rail line near Stelling Road) are not visible from streets nor easily paroled by the small Sheriff staff at the West Valley Substation.<br />
<br />
Some residents also feel that kids and families walking or biking under roadways, in tunnels, or along freeways, or along the somewhat hidden and walled-in creek paths, create real safety risks with increased crime and assaults, particularly threatening women and children. These real safety concerns are not consistent or reflected in the somewhat sanitized and idealized images presented by Trail proponents and City consultants, as shown in the image below from the City of Cupertino Web pages covering the Loop Trail trail alignments and options:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PneAc2PFns/XFPvSBUH0HI/AAAAAAAAAos/KJMTNdikVAERMaKo6zU2LjXvgmTXPExAQCLcBGAs/s1600/Sanitized%2Bconsultant%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="981" height="242" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PneAc2PFns/XFPvSBUH0HI/AAAAAAAAAos/KJMTNdikVAERMaKo6zU2LjXvgmTXPExAQCLcBGAs/s400/Sanitized%2Bconsultant%2Bview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=21113" target="_blank">Junipero Serra/Loop Trail - Consultants' Vision</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(The De Anza Blvd.tunnel under HWY 280 presents safety concerns for women and children, as do the fairly hidden locations for the Trail along local creek beds. See photos below.)</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcetgvFpVyc/XFPaTP-t4FI/AAAAAAAAAnc/2zWQmegmAVUBM4E5LIFdASeACXgy9hslgCLcBGAs/s1600/Regnart%2BCreek%2BCupertino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcetgvFpVyc/XFPaTP-t4FI/AAAAAAAAAnc/2zWQmegmAVUBM4E5LIFdASeACXgy9hslgCLcBGAs/s320/Regnart%2BCreek%2BCupertino.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/environment-sustainability/water/stormwater-pollution-prevention/cupertino-creeks" target="_blank">Reality Check #1 - Actual image of Regnart Creek, Cupertino</a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_edLGepYtg/XFYoXutLW2I/AAAAAAAAA3w/-l0jOhUYkBsSvabFoPXusQU-SjeSW6H5ACLcBGAs/s1600/Calabazzas%2BCreek%2Bnear%2BRainbow%2BDrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="245" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_edLGepYtg/XFYoXutLW2I/AAAAAAAAA3w/-l0jOhUYkBsSvabFoPXusQU-SjeSW6H5ACLcBGAs/s320/Calabazzas%2BCreek%2Bnear%2BRainbow%2BDrive.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabazas_Creek_(Santa_Clara_County)#/media/File:Calabazas_Creek_Timber_Crib_with_Native_Plants_Sept_2011.jpg" target="_blank">Reality Check #2 - Actual image of Calabazzas Creek near Rainbow Drive</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As you can see in the photos of Regnart and Calabazzas Creeks above, the perilous creek Loop Trail sites are hidden by trees and fences. Crimes can occur out of public view, leaving victims unobserved and unaided for hours. Kids can easily slide down the concrete retaining walls into the creeks, causing serious injuries while isolated, with no help available to them, if the Trail is otherwise deserted.<br />
<div>
<br />
The Junipero Serra Trail adjacent to HWY 280 is planned to extend under the South end of the Blaney Avenue Overpass (where Lucille ends at the older, street-level section of North Blaney), near dense housing developments with many young families and children in residence.<br />
<br />
Worse, at that location Lucille Avenue circles under the overpass to old North Blaney Avenue at a blind street corner (see the City Loop Trail Enlargements/Sections illustration below) where there are no sidewalks under the overpass. These conditions prevent motorists and pedestrians on the street from viewing and avoiding swiftly-moving oncoming traffic, which often includes moving vans, multi-axle vehicle haulers and trucks with flat bed or towed major construction equipment, along the Eastern base of the overpass, near Cupertino Lock-It-Up Storage.<br />
<br />
That Lucille/North Blaney Avenue blind corner, under the overpass is where the City has proposed a Junipero Serra Trail pedestrian and bike entry and exit access point along HWY 280, leaving many nearby residents concerned, due to the frequent speeders and drivers who ignore stop signs within feet of that blind corner, with oncoming traffic views in both directions blocked by the concrete base of the overpass.<br />
<br />
Further, the outer (North) curb under the overpass has an intentional opening to the culvert system along HWY 280. The locked gate at that site is designed to allow emergency and maintenance vehicles access to HWY 280 and the culvert system of underground highway drainage pipes which fan out under the roadway.<br />
<br />
This location has no sound wall nor any protections for pedestrians and bikers, should a vehicle moving 65-70 miles per hour on HWY 280 leave the roadway and slam over the culvert onto a proposed Junipero Serra Trail path exiting near Cupertino Lock-It-Up Storage. The safety hazards of a Trail and pedestrian/bicycle access point at this location are serious and numerous.<br />
<br />
Instead, diverting walkers and bikers to existing bike lanes and sidewalks along Homestead Road, accomplishes the same goals of connecting walkers and bikers from the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge, past De Anza Boulevard to Wolfe Road, then onto Tantau Avenue, Main Street, Miller, Prospect Avenue and back up to Stelling Road and the Burnett Bridge, with far greater safety and with far greater road and patrol visibility should crimes be attempted.<br />
<br />
At Trail planning meetings, area residents stressed that the Lucille/North Blaney Avenue blind corner under the overpass had no space for new sidewalks and no protections from 280 mishaps, and was not an ideal place to encourage increased pedestrian activity, particularly for children, yet residents' comments and urgent concerns conveyed to City consultants were not adequately reflected in the consultant materials placed online for the 280 Junipero Serra section of the Loop Trail.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6BfM8_kqbY/XFPfRXTSWTI/AAAAAAAAAnw/f_b0M2CeJyEKtyCq3WbwY1MRnfk2XifpACLcBGAs/s1600/Blaney%2BAvenue%2BTrail%2BProblems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="981" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6BfM8_kqbY/XFPfRXTSWTI/AAAAAAAAAnw/f_b0M2CeJyEKtyCq3WbwY1MRnfk2XifpACLcBGAs/s400/Blaney%2BAvenue%2BTrail%2BProblems.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=21113" target="_blank">Problem Blaney Avenue Trail access points at Lucille</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-shAgGYNCqZc/XFPmTD72P3I/AAAAAAAAAoY/pjgkNlg0-qAeTckRjAvCFb7zJ6JQ_ceuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/N%2Bblaney%2BAvenue%2Bpinched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="897" height="130" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-shAgGYNCqZc/XFPmTD72P3I/AAAAAAAAAoY/pjgkNlg0-qAeTckRjAvCFb7zJ6JQ_ceuwCEwYBhgL/s400/N%2Bblaney%2BAvenue%2Bpinched.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(No safe pedestrian Trail access points exist near or under the North Blaney Avenue Overpass, yet this site is the entry/exit point planned for the Junipero Serra Trail section of the Loop Trail, according to consultants. The lack of a protecting concrete sound wall or crash barriers between HWY 280 and the proposed Trail pedestrian access areas are shown in the photos. <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=18037">Cupertino Trail Site Images</a> )</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Even Trail planners at the City state that the planned Lucille/North Blaney Avenue Trail access point at the corner is far too "pinched" for safe trail access and lacks protections from auto accidents on HWY 280. (See page 69, <i><a href="https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation-mobility/bicycle-and-pedestrian-travel/bicycle-transportation-plan-implementation/junipero-serra-trai" target="_blank">Draft Junipero Serra Trail Feasibility Study: Trail Alignments</a></i>. "Pinch Point Below Blaney Avenue".) The study states in that section:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Pinch Point Below Blaney Avenue </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Further east, the trail encounters a challenging
100’ long section starting below the Blaney
Avenue over crossing to the open Junipero
Serra Channel adjacent to Cupertino Lock It Up storage.
At the bend of North Blaney Avenue, there
is a 10’ wide pinch point between the sound
wall and metal beam guard rail. A potential
solution for widening the trail here is to shift
the street curb line 2’ inward and relocate
the guard rail accordingly. "</blockquote>
More text and the corner image from page 69 of the <i>Draft Junipero Serra Trail Feasibility Study, where</i> the roadway closely abuts HWY 280, with no sound wall barrier:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWW8Kh5535Y/XFTJdsKGERI/AAAAAAAAArA/0axWf_U39dQYIfKpBvepel-_25NfCTVIACLcBGAs/s1600/pinch%2Bpoint%2Bfrom%2Bdraft%2Bstudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="346" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWW8Kh5535Y/XFTJdsKGERI/AAAAAAAAArA/0axWf_U39dQYIfKpBvepel-_25NfCTVIACLcBGAs/s400/pinch%2Bpoint%2Bfrom%2Bdraft%2Bstudy.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Most residents in the area are very concerned as to how this entry/exit point near Cupertino Lock-It-Up Storage was ever chosen for a Junipero Serra Trail access point along HWY 280 and why it remains in the plans, despite multiple safety issues.<br />
<br />
Lucille Avenue has had multiple car break-ins impacting vehicles parked along the 280 side of the roadway. Plus, the connecting area of old North Blaney Avenue has experienced frequent, late night car-repossessions with multi-axle haulers blocking part of the narrow roadway at the base of the Olivewood side of the overpass, in the dark, just feet from the blind corner chosen for Trail access and pedestrian usage, shown in these photos.<br />
<br />
Moving vans and other cars entering and leaving Cupertino Lock-It-Up Storage and on Olivewood Road at The Pointe, often park near this blind corner, with some Pointe residents ignoring the stop sign at Olivewood, assuming that no cars ever approach from the blind corner or from Lucille, under the overpass.<br />
<br />
If the City wants to decrease severe pedestrian risks in the proposed Loop Trail plan, they will delete this Lucille/North Blaney Avenue blind corner as the site for a proposed Junipero Serra/Loop Trail access point.<br />
<br />
This issue and this site is one of the main reasons I wrote this column on behalf of some residents, since some neighbors expressed strong concerns repeatedly about this access point and access elsewhere along the length of Lucille Avenue to the City at Trail planning sessions, however their concerns seemed to have been minimized in the documents which Trail consultants <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation-mobility/bicycle-and-pedestrian-travel/bicycle-transportation-plan-implementation/junipero-serra-trai" target="_blank">placed online for the City</a>.<br />
<br />
(To eliminate confusion between the two North Blaney Avenues which proceed both over the Blaney Avenue overpass and below the southeastern side of that overpass, the lower section of North Blaney near Olivewood, could be renamed "Old North Blaney Avenue". That street name change could then appear in City documents and in updated street maps in print and online, eliminating much ongoing confusion for residents in this area. As you can see from the Google map below, the street name "North Blaney" does not appear below the black arrow on the eastern side of the overpass, where that road appears to be a continuation of Lucille Avenue, unless the user enlarges the map significantly. This could easily be resolved, if the name of that old, Eastern section of North Blaney Avenue was to be renamed, "Old North Blaney Avenue".)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDhX87jyA4I/XFQBAfxw1WI/AAAAAAAAApU/ZJtUjhP-_wACitSup1rhlilfA2gNCCsaQCLcBGAs/s1600/Blind%2Bcorner%2Bpinched%2Blocation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="499" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDhX87jyA4I/XFQBAfxw1WI/AAAAAAAAApU/ZJtUjhP-_wACitSup1rhlilfA2gNCCsaQCLcBGAs/s400/Blind%2Bcorner%2Bpinched%2Blocation.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(The blind corner location of the proposed pedestrian Loop Trail access point along HWY 280, where Lucille meets the original, pre-overpass level of North Blaney Avenue at Cupertino Lock-It-Up Storage, past Olivewood Street. North Blaney (West) to Merritt Drive leads to Apple Infinite Loop. North Blaney (East) to Homestead Road (East) leads to Wolfe Road, Tantau, Apple Park, Vallco and Main Street. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/N+Wolfe+Rd,+Cupertino,+CA+95014/@37.3326843,-122.0233246,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x808fb5981c12bd6b:0xec0f1b46eab88df!8m2!3d37.3302487!4d-122.0142856">Google Map</a> )</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Most pedestrians avoid walking under the North Blaney Avenue overpass and stay on the sidewalk along Villa De Anza Avenue, near the Verandas Apartments, then cross over the 280 overpass, or walk south towards Merritt Avenue on North Blaney. (Consultants proposed a new sidewalk shifted two feet into the roadway from the existing curb at the East end of Lucille where it meets "old" North Blaney, along the metal barrier of the curb you see in the photos above. A three-foot sidewalk shift into the existing roadway would be even better, however, that would not remove the dangers from this blind corner where motorists approaching from either direction are not able to see kids or pedestrians on the other side of the tall concrete and dirt base of the overpass.) This is absolutely not a place to encourage foot or bicycle traffic, for obvious reasons which can be clearly viewed in the photos above.<br />
<br />
This, along with speeding along Lucille and the lack of any 280 accident barrier wall at the proposed Junipero Serra Trail access point has residents in the area concerned about child and family safety.<br />
<br />
When a "creek trail" is not anywhere near a creek:<br />
<br />
The above section of the Loop Trail was referred to as the Junipero Serra Creek Trail in some City public hearing sessions. To correct that misstatement, the culvert along Highway 280 is actually a man-made drainage ditch to collect run-off from the roadway. The visible, surface-level culverts are connected to large cement pipes underground which are interconnected throughout HWY 280.<br />
<br />
The area under or near HWY 280 in this section of Cupertino has never historically been the site of any creek. The site under the roadway previously consisted of orchards where City water was piped in for irrigation of trees and crops.<br />
<br />
In summer, particularly during drought months, the culvert and the curb sewer drains in this area emit a rotten odor, as effluent settles and dries with no water to wash it away. Occasionally, when residents complain, the Sanitary District will flush out the culverts and sewer pipes in this area to relieve the sewage smell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Af3FNx4lXqs/XFQXEN3eABI/AAAAAAAAAqE/D4tHOe1odDEw1YQ-u0_VQ0Xg9gOiHfqDQCLcBGAs/s1600/No%2Bcreek%2Bhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="1403" height="101" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Af3FNx4lXqs/XFQXEN3eABI/AAAAAAAAAqE/D4tHOe1odDEw1YQ-u0_VQ0Xg9gOiHfqDQCLcBGAs/s400/No%2Bcreek%2Bhere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(No creeks here; this was all orchard land before 280 was built.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/N+Wolfe+Rd,+Cupertino,+CA+95014/@37.333644,-122.0262697,421m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x808fb5981c12bd6b:0xec0f1b46eab88df!8m2!3d37.3302487!4d-122.0142856" target="_blank">Google Map</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When an overpass is really an older, unsteady dirt structure:<br />
<br />
Residents who lived here years ago watched the North Blaney Avenue overpass being constructed in the 1970's. It consists of layers of dirt pushed upward by bulldozers into a wedge, reinforced by only one concrete wall on its North side, then topped by a concrete and asphalt roadway with some concrete supports underneath the tallest point of the dirt structure. This is not where residents want kids or families to linger, especially as this region is adjacent to the San Andreas Fault.<br />
<br />
When residents don't want their homes near new (or old) gaps in HWY 280 sound walls:<br />
<br />
There is a sound wall along 280 made of concrete bricks. The proposed trail will open up some sections of the sound wall, vastly increasing loud and continual highway noise at all hours, for nearby residents.<br />
<br />
Residents living nearest to the overpass will be doubly-impacted, since freeway noise bounces off the concrete underside of the overpass roadway like an echo chamber, magnifying the decibels and distance which the loud and continual road noise travels into area neighborhoods, at all hours of the day and night, near family homes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIKU0v9Ln64/XFQYm48oStI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/qWvd19gmGrwHD6ctD5mD1OyIskD0G0eUACLcBGAs/s1600/Sound%2BWalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="81" data-original-width="372" height="69" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIKU0v9Ln64/XFQYm48oStI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/qWvd19gmGrwHD6ctD5mD1OyIskD0G0eUACLcBGAs/s320/Sound%2BWalls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/noise_barriers/" target="_blank">Highway Traffic Noise - A National Concern FHWA</a></div>
<br />
Why PG&E power towers should not be moved closer to family homes:<br />
<br />
Another aspect of the 280 Trail plan is to move some existing PG&E power line towers closer to residential homes, to create more room for the trail along the freeway culverts. <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/electromagnetic-fields-fact-sheet" target="_blank">Exposure to these towers is controversial, from a health and safety perspective</a>.<br />
<br />
More information on power line towers and health studies relating to cancers, can be found, at Forbes Magazine online, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2014/09/01/do-high-voltage-power-lines-cause-cancer/#69eb8adb6497" target="_blank">which has links to recent studies and reports</a>.<br />
<br />
Why <i>Tumbling Tumbleweeds</i> should remain a classic song by the Sons of the Pioneers, not a new, local health and safety anthem for Cupertino residents:<br />
<br />
Trash viewed all along HWY 280 berms in our Valley, may become trash strewn along the proposed Junipero Serra 280 Loop Trail path, very near to homes and two busy schools in Cupertino, where children might walk, bike and play, unsupervised.<br />
<br />
Some residents regularly pick up plastic water and soda cans and bottles, cigarette butts, food wrappers, large boxes, bags of tossed trash, cigarette boxes, paper coffee cups, used diapers, beer cans, used personal products, etc., from accessible freeway ramps and the sides of overpasses and streets in this City near their homes, so local kids will not have access to that trash and it will not build up, encouraging more illegal dumping and trash in our neighborhoods.<br />
<br />
Likewise, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/20/caltrans-promises-extra-10-2-million-to-clean-south-bay-freeways/" target="_blank">Cal-trans has recently cleared-out trash</a> and hidden encampments on berms between Lawrence Expressway and Saratoga Avenue exits along Highway 280, yet trash along 280 now seems omnipresent and continually visible on connecting berms along HWY 17/880, Hwy 85 and along most freeway landscaping in on-ramps and off-ramps of HWY 280, as you can see below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d9XuUpvKWH0/XFP5Q6GU5DI/AAAAAAAAApA/WoHIWeDk8Y4Ei4Gf62jpBru-lEurCV9xwCLcBGAs/s1600/280%2Btrash%2BBird%2BAve%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="753" height="247" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d9XuUpvKWH0/XFP5Q6GU5DI/AAAAAAAAApA/WoHIWeDk8Y4Ei4Gf62jpBru-lEurCV9xwCLcBGAs/s320/280%2Btrash%2BBird%2BAve%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/13/opinion-crack-down-on-caltrans-trash-pollution/" target="_blank">San Jose Mercury News - Trash along Hwy 280</a></div>
<br />
According to some Cupertino residents, the last thing the City of Cupertino and residents need are new breaks in HWY 280 sound walls with new, easily-accessible, adjacent freeway paths, all ripe for dumping and illegal camping, near two area schools (Collins and Lawson) and single-family or apartment homes on nearby residential streets.<br />
<br />
How have other Valley creek trails fared?<br />
<br />
A similar City creek trail project was executed along the length of Guadalupe River in San Jose', leading to increased area crime, continual garbage cleanup efforts plus ongoing encampment problems:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"One reason people still shy away from the river is obvious. This neglected space through the city’s core is also where booming Silicon Valley pushes the societal injustices it wants to ignore. San José estimates more than 4,000 homeless people live in the city, and many of them make a life along the river. Walk or bike the trail, and you see tents under every overpass. Makeshift shelters grow thick in the willows lining the east bank of the river near downtown. It is clearly an environmental concern: Roger Castillo told me he sees homeless people poaching salmon and disturbing redds, leaving trash in the river, and digging into restored banks. Others told me people avoid the river because they fear the encampments."<br />
---Eric Simons, <a href="https://baynature.org/article/the-guadalupe-river-and-the-hidden-heart-of-san-jose/" target="_blank">Bay Nature Magazine: July-September 2018 (online)</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"“The health hazard from the homeless using the creeks as a restroom is a major problem,” he said. “And the trash issue is large. Some of it is toxic materials — paint cans, hazardous waste.” --Paul Rogers, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/11/24/environmental-group-to-sue-san-jose-for-sewage-spills-and-trash-pollution/" target="_blank">Bay Area News Group, November 24, 2014 (online)</a></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mb_0Re0lBtg/XFdqftdAXLI/AAAAAAAAA4k/zAlRYSBaAgQ7J_LBL5PnuE0j4QcsFuLfQCLcBGAs/s1600/San%2BJose%2BCreek%2Btrash%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mb_0Re0lBtg/XFdqftdAXLI/AAAAAAAAA4k/zAlRYSBaAgQ7J_LBL5PnuE0j4QcsFuLfQCLcBGAs/s320/San%2BJose%2BCreek%2Btrash%2B2014.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Encampments, sewage, trash and pollutants<br />
mar San Jose's Guadalupe Creek<br />
<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/11/24/environmental-group-to-sue-san-jose-for-sewage-spills-and-trash-pollution/" target="_blank">Mercury News</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Coyote Creek in San Jose' has experienced the same issues with ongoing trash and encampments:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The site was a place of misery where perhaps the nation’s largest homeless encampment, numbering as many as 300 people, once spread along a polluted Coyote Creek...Fencing and boulders were erected next to Story Road to discourage trespassers from coming back to the city-owned land. Rangers regularly patrol the area, breaking what had been an endless cycle of the vast encampment re-emerging after every cleanup. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Make no mistake: This site is not pristine. Trash still is visible in some places beneath new plant growth, and tires and other debris poke out of the drought-lowered creek. The hard-packed ground also is rutted from the heavy equipment that plowed through for the final sweep that came amid December rainstorms. And it’s not uncommon for rangers to encounter a homeless person camping in an out-of-the-way spot." ---Mark Emmons, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/07/09/san-joses-jungle-former-homeless-encampment-returns-to-nature/" target="_blank"><i>San Jose's "Jungle"</i>, San Jose' Mercury News: June 20, 2017 (online)</a></blockquote>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aXs9bllCZY/XFdm7rDQKoI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8ky5-IWMhzM9IBHR9RDi8H1RGU_yRy9HACLcBGAs/s1600/San%2BJose%2BCoyote%2BCreek%2Bencampment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="912" height="215" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aXs9bllCZY/XFdm7rDQKoI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8ky5-IWMhzM9IBHR9RDi8H1RGU_yRy9HACLcBGAs/s320/San%2BJose%2BCoyote%2BCreek%2Bencampment.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coyote Creek encampment, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/07/09/san-joses-jungle-former-homeless-encampment-returns-to-nature/" target="_blank">San Jose Mercury News</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Area School Crossing Guards, adjacent school streets (and City crew workers) are already overloaded:<br />
<br />
The Loop Trail, while a good concept for outdoor exercise and for enhanced bike and foot transit, would place more stress on neighborhood crossing guards near <a href="https://www.cusdk8.org/domain/801" target="_blank">Lawson School</a> and conceivably, near <a href="https://www.cusdk8.org/domain/226" target="_blank">Collins School</a>, due to increased auto traffic, foot traffic and bike usage, particularly near the back entrance to the Apple Infinite Loop campus near Lawson School at Merritt Drive. (The West end of Merritt Drive connects with Larry Way and Randy Lane behind Apple Infinite Loop, where more Junipero Serra Loop Trail access points are being planned for the West end of Lucille Avenue, along HWY 280).<br />
<br />
School crossing guards are not police officers nor traffic cops, yet they are already at risk, as are kids attending Lawson and Collins schools, due to intense traffic snarls and backups, as single family cars block driveways, clog streets and sometimes make illegal U-turns on Merritt, North Blaney and Vista Drive, to pick up children at both schools.<br />
<br />
Even the best monitoring does not seem to prevent parents and children from darting between moving, waiting or parked cars or to jay-walk across clogged streets beyond crossing guards and crosswalks, in an attempt to more quickly reach waiting cars, parents or children, before and after school hours.<br />
<br />
The situation has become so badly congested with complete gridlock existing on these three streets and their connecting roads between 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., then again between 2:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., that local residents are rightfully concerned that increased foot and bicycle traffic may further worsen conditions, which are already at critical gridlock mass, if the two proposed City Junipero Serra/Loop Trail access points along HWY 280 at Lucille and North Blaney avenues, and along HWY 280 on Lucille near Randy Lane and Larry Way, were to be built, according to Trail planners.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_izCQPbyryM/XFQUY-4AcnI/AAAAAAAAApo/Zb2JeIujSVAeTuzC9We_4Psp3WvKUJOswCLcBGAs/s1600/City%2Bof%2Bcup%2Bworkers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="394" height="273" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_izCQPbyryM/XFQUY-4AcnI/AAAAAAAAApo/Zb2JeIujSVAeTuzC9We_4Psp3WvKUJOswCLcBGAs/s320/City%2Bof%2Bcup%2Bworkers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ifpte21.org/content/cupertino-member-maintains-city-gis-program" target="_blank">City of Cupertino Workers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Likewise, City Roads, Trees and Maintenance crews are already overloaded with work. Residents notice that City crews seem to be out working at dawn, seven days a week, rain or shine, week after week. Does the City really want to stretch crews further adding new miles of trash pickup and performing more acres of path and tree maintenance, when some projects have been left in limbo for years? (Think of the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32273-d4181513-r599711277-Cupertino_Memorial_Park-Cupertino_California.html" target="_blank">many years in which the Memorial Park duck ponds and fountains have remained empty concrete basins</a>, when they could have been converted into acres of lovely, low-water native plant and succulent demonstration gardens--an improvement residents could enjoy, the City could be proud of and a project which could be used as an educational site for school visits and horticultural groups.)<br />
<br />
Apple, once again, seems to be at the core of this project:<br />
<br />
Many residents love Apple and recognize Apple walkers, bikes and bike riders. Residents report driving slowly behind Apple workers as they ride side-by-side in pairs while talking in the middle of local streets, or to avoid Apple bike riders gliding past stop signs in residential areas, or driving cautiously to avoid Apple workers who jaywalk on Lazaneo and Bandley Drive while heading to the Apple Cafe' and nearby restaurants.<br />
<br />
With gratitude for all that Apple has done for Cupertino, residents continue to pick up silver Apple bikes left on sidewalks and landscaping, placing the Apple bikes back on street corners, hoping someone from Apple will claim them. Now, residents notice lime green GPS bikes where Apple workers seem to travel along mid-campus routes, popping up near corners and in the middle of sidewalks.<br />
<br />
Again, these issues could be much worse, since residents also enjoy a more diverse and creative University-like vibe, with top-notch technical talent, an energetic, multicultural, entrepreneurial dynamic, all of which inspires edgy new businesses and eateries, in a City which has now become a global center for new technology and innovation.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16VJQ2xmddg/XFQWQp5lPsI/AAAAAAAAAp0/RC1793YqEuwTi92U-5oryWqcy4MVcb8yQCLcBGAs/s1600/Apple%2Bbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="556" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16VJQ2xmddg/XFQWQp5lPsI/AAAAAAAAAp0/RC1793YqEuwTi92U-5oryWqcy4MVcb8yQCLcBGAs/s320/Apple%2Bbike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wired.com/2011/07/apples-campus-bikes-are-classically-minimal/" target="_blank">Apple bike at Infinite Loop</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With that in mind, let's just say kindly and with no ill-will, that some residents believe that Apple already has provided a lot of free benefits for workers, including silver shuttle buses, catered meals and the aforesaid free bike usage.<br />
<br />
When the City may have done enough for Apple:<br />
<br />
Creating a City-subsidized path along HWY 280 for the biking and walking ease of Apple workers to and from Cupertino Apple campuses, after the City has already invested in numerous wide, green-striped bike paths and sleek new speed bumps near Apple campuses, Apple staff commute routes and Apple staff after-work hangouts and eateries, makes it seem to some Cupertino residents that the City has done enough for Apple workers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmS0RC_cKAM/XFZTkB1hI6I/AAAAAAAAA4I/edurEX2TU74ilnvZNdWxD9ZZdB2K22krQCLcBGAs/s1600/Pruneridge%2BHedding%2BBerryessa%2Bto%2BAlum%2BRock%2BPark.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="1124" height="165" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmS0RC_cKAM/XFZTkB1hI6I/AAAAAAAAA4I/edurEX2TU74ilnvZNdWxD9ZZdB2K22krQCLcBGAs/s400/Pruneridge%2BHedding%2BBerryessa%2Bto%2BAlum%2BRock%2BPark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Pruneridge Avenue previously began at Wolfe Road. Pruneridge Avenue changes names, becomes Hedding Street, then Berryessa Road, which leads directly to Piedmont Road and Penitencia Creek Road, the entrance to Alum Rock Park. Click on the link below to view a larger version of this map. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/N+Tantau+Ave+%26+Pruneridge+Ave,+Cupertino,+CA+95014/Alum+Rock+Park/@37.3629466,-121.8827501,12z/data=!4m34!4m33!1m25!1m1!1s0x808fb59a9445e69f:0xf90c8dd49180cdd4!2m2!1d-122.0058466!2d37.3322732!3m4!1m2!1d-121.9513707!2d37.3299644!3s0x808fcae34c00b2a7:0x1e7d4cb785c8eb4b!3m4!1m2!1d-121.9098979!2d37.35002!3s0x808fcb7900a462af:0xb78dc75f9eb746f3!3m4!1m2!1d-121.8677305!2d37.3792559!3s0x808fcc45f1d1caa7:0x1b42ce0ecce744cb!3m4!1m2!1d-121.8471842!2d37.3957522!3s0x808fcdcf296c3641:0x45fb575930051ed4!1m5!1m1!1s0x808fccbb2a209af9:0xcf6bf590fb0bb32a!2m2!1d-121.802276!2d37.396869!3e0">Google Map</a> )</span><br />
<br />
Residents recall that the City devoted an entire, now-lost section of Pruneridge Avenue between Wolfe and Tantau, once a wonderful biking and walking path which changed names yet extended East across the Valley all the way to Piedmont Avenue and the entrance to Alum Rock Park, to accommodate the new Apple Park campus and its new entrance on Wolfe Road.<br />
<br />
Now, two new, poorly-timed intersection lights on Wolfe Avenue at what was once the beginning of Pruneridge Avenue (between Homestead and HWY 280) at the new Wolfe entrance to Apple Park, create multiple backups and increased <a href="https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle" target="_blank">co2 emissions from idling vehicles</a>, as frustrated drivers wait, then wait, then wait some more, just to access ramps for HWY 280 or continue on Wolfe to Vallco, Main Street, Stevens Creek and Miller Avenue.<br />
<br />
Sure, we would all love to live in a charming version of a new South Bay-style Amsterdam (a new windmill for Memorial Park and canals along Stevens Creek and De Anza Blvd.? Sounds great!) Yet, the City allowed our town to become far too overdeveloped for that green option.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovPGDfcMeH0/XFZITqhlheI/AAAAAAAAA38/iSww6uPf2xwBpWvWmm-UMN7hnUDrvsHQQCLcBGAs/s1600/Amsterdam%2BBlog%2BEurail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="547" height="211" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovPGDfcMeH0/XFZITqhlheI/AAAAAAAAA38/iSww6uPf2xwBpWvWmm-UMN7hnUDrvsHQQCLcBGAs/s320/Amsterdam%2BBlog%2BEurail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blog.eurail.com/europes-most-bike-friendly-cities/" target="_blank">Eurail.com: Bike-friendly Amsterdam </a></div>
<br />
At the very least, the City should be creating more <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB35" target="_blank">SB-35 affordable housing</a> for workers employed at all wage levels in Cupertino at the old Vallco site and at other City locations, plus, parks for kids on the Northeast side of town.<br />
<br />
The City should avoid creating what is essentially <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/02/08/editorial-cupertino-mayor-remarks-highlight-everything-thats-wrong-about-housing/" target="_blank">a new version of a medieval boundary/ring road</a> for bike riders and walkers, which a relatively low number of residents will actually use, due to the excessively noisy, drainage ditch-abutting location along HWY 280.<br />
<br />
The planned placement of new paths in hidden vistas, along HWY 280, inside walled and steep stream beds, and through tunnels---all areas devoid of even minimal safety sight-lines from streets and sidewalks, are a huge safety concern for area women and children.<br />
<br />
The proposed Trail path along HWY 280 (and the Loop Trail in general) seem somewhat ill-advised, according to some residents, particularly when just a few feet from Infinite Loop and HWY 280 on De Anza Blvd., Homestead Road leads directly to Wolfe Road and Apple Park, to Tantau and thus to Main Street and the Calabazas and Regnart Creek areas. Many of these streets were newly paved, with new or existing well-maintained sidewalks and bike lanes already prepared for bicycle riders and walkers, when Apple Park was being constructed.<br />
<br />
The HWY 280 Junipero Serra Trail proposal in particular seems like an expensive and unnecessary project, duplicating already existing bicycle and pedestrian sidewalk paths which were just created in recent years (and at great expense to tax payers), while so many other projects in Cupertino were and are still, left in limbo, and are more critically needed according to some residents.<br />
<br />
Cupertino's critically needed improvements, on hold:<br />
<ul>
<li>More <a href="https://www.bisnow.com/silicon-valley/news/affordable-housing/cupertino-project-marks-first-bay-area-approval-through-streamlined-process-93178" target="_blank">SB-35 Affordable Housing</a> for seniors and other wage-inclusive workers and families at <a href="https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/community-development/planning/major-projects/vallco-sb-35-application" target="_blank">Vallco</a> and elsewhere in the City</li>
<li>A new, multi-story parking garage for the library.</li>
<li>A new City Hall and expanded Community/City Council Room, with adequate new and separate multi-story parking to accommodate residents attending public City planning meetings and City Council meetings, which may take place while the library is open.</li>
<li>Subsidized programs plus a ground-level, senior-appropriate pool, gym, screening room, stage and wood dance floor, for the Senior Center</li>
<li>A new Teen Center with subsidized educational and social programs for youth, as well as teen robotics, engineering, art, music, recording and digital media production labs.</li>
<li>A Cupertino Heritage Museum building and grounds, including a Heritage Orchard and Heritage Vineyard (to replace the poor substitute of one small room in Quinlan Center, with most of Cupertino's history and artifacts left stored in an outbuilding on Lehigh Hanson Cement Plant property.) Cupertino residents deserve a real museum to honor the City's history, founders and role in fruit-growing, wine-making and technology, and as a new site for school visits and adequate City history displays and artifacts. Cupertino has lagged far behind other Silicon Valley cities which have created acres of buildings, displays and grounds, to honor their pasts.)</li>
</ul>
These needed projects above seem to be areas where some residents would prefer new, value-added expenditures to occur in the City, since the above projects would serve residents of all ages and physical abilities, in a safe and accessible manner, unlike the proposed Loop Trail, which duplicates existing, newly-created bicycle lanes and designated pedestrian areas in Cupertino.<br />
<br />
Que' Serra, Serra: What will be (and most agree, should not continue to be):<br />
<br />
Stanford has begun the process of removing the name of Junipero Serra from site names on campus. More localities are recognizing that his name should never be chosen for civic or private projects, due to ethical concerns.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a97fkUNKZbo/XFQgQPluhwI/AAAAAAAAAqs/vSEzsqc82ZIhTpWUmMgfiSTI1iAGTDAqQCLcBGAs/s1600/Junipero%2BSerra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="528" height="243" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a97fkUNKZbo/XFQgQPluhwI/AAAAAAAAAqs/vSEzsqc82ZIhTpWUmMgfiSTI1iAGTDAqQCLcBGAs/s320/Junipero%2BSerra.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The only known portrait of Junipero Serra.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/17/health/junipero-serra-stanford-building-name-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">CNN report on Stanford removing Serra's name</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In September 2018, Stanford University decided to remove the name of Junipero Serra from campus buildings, citing that Serra and other Franciscan missionaries imposed religion on indigenous peoples, forced slave labor on native populations and decimated tribes with new diseases brought to native communities through his missionary work. To many, according to the CNN report, "Serra represents Europe's imperial conquest of native peoples." </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
City staff could be sensitive in naming projects since some historic figures and symbols represent acts of genocide, subjugation of native populations, plus other regrettable moments in history, which should not be celebrated.<br />
<br />
The Junipero Serra name should have been avoided, since HWY 280 (as it is referred to now), yet once held Serra's name, has not been referred to as such over the last twenty years once Serra's actual legacy was revealed, in contrast with what many were taught for years in grade school. <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-rethinks-how-it-remembers-its-history-12203840.php" target="_blank">There have been many calls to remove Serra's statue from a San Mateo County HWY 280 Vista Point rest stop</a>.<br />
<br />
To conclude: A request from some concerned residents:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
City of Cupertino, please do not build the Junipero Serra (HWY 280 )Trail, nor the Loop Trail in Cupertino.<br />
<br />
Some Cupertino residents are not agreeable to:<br />
<ul>
<li>The proposed Loop Trail access points near homes and schools </li>
<li>Trails over or along deep and fairly hidden-from-view creek beds</li>
<li>Removing sections of HWY 280 sound walls</li>
<li>Pedestrian access points (or trails) along HWY 280, Lucille Avenue and "old" North Blaney, abutting HWY 280, and the proposed Junipero Serra Trail portion of The Loop Trail</li>
<li>Trail paths with no crash or sound barriers between HWY 280 roadways and culverts, and the proposed Junipero Serra portion of The Loop Trail</li>
<li>Obscured or missing safety sight-lines for paths in tunnels and along stream sites, plus the problems "hidden" paths creates for law enforcement while keeping residents, women and kids safe</li>
<li>The increased risks of more trash and encampments on sections of proposed trail paths and access points adjacent to HWY 280 and all around the City</li>
<li>The entire Loop Trail series of paths and access points, which are planned too near to local homes and schools, negatively impacting safety patrolling ability as well as nearby residents' privacy, safety and noise levels.</li>
<li>The new safety issues created for kids, schools, neighborhoods and safety vehicles, when more pedestrians, bicycles and other motorized or self-propelled travel and recreation transport methods, are added to morning and afternoon school traffic gridlock near Loop Trail access points</li>
<li>Time and extensive/expensive City funds directed to Loop Trail studies, public meetings, artist renderings, flyers, booklets, Web sites and consultants, when the above "Cupertino's Critically Needed Improvements" bullet points are left unresolved, year after year in Cupertino, leading to parking gridlock at the library and at City Hall (where employees have to struggle to find parking a block away) plus a severe housing shortage for new workers and service workers, throughout the City.</li>
</ul>
Please improve and better utilize the many newly-paved roads and new, wide, green-striped bike lanes in Cupertino, instead of creating yet another expensive project which duplicates recent City taxpayer outlays for already-completed pedestrian and bicycle improvements.<br />
<br />
There are already existing wide and recently painted green-striped bike lanes, plus newly paved streets and improved sidewalks, near HWY 280, the Apple campuses, the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge, Main Street, City Hall, Stelling Road, Homestead Avenue and streets near the Regnart and Calabazas creek beds.<br />
<ul>
<li>Instead, choose to better utilize Homestead Avenue and its bike lanes and existing landscaped sidewalks, to best protect Apple workers, local families, kids and nearby schools, on the first leg of a City-wide route between the Mary Avenue, Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge, Apple Infinite Loop, Apple Park, Tantau and Main Street.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>From Main Street, instead of a new trail, please choose the new bike lanes and sidewalks on the newly painted and paved Wolfe Road, which becomes Miller Avenue when it crosses Stevens Creek. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>From Miller Avenue bike lanes and sidewalks, walkers and bike riders may continue on Miller to Prospect Avenue bike lanes and sidewalks, by turning right on Prospect, then proceeding past De Anza Blvd., where Prospect veers North and becomes Stelling Road, again, with more existing bike lanes and sidewalks. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Stelling, bike paths and sidewalks continue past Stevens Creek Blvd., where Stelling becomes Hollenbeck. Bike lanes and sidewalks continue on Hollenbeck leading past Whole foods, Quinlan Center, Memorial Park and finally, back to Homestead Avenue bike lanes and sidewalks, all with access back to the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge at Mary Avenue. </li>
</ul>
<br />
All in all, this is a far more direct, visible and safe route, and a much more logical, inexpensive and family-safe route, to accomplish better City-wide bicycle and pedestrian journey from to and from the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge, through residential and commerce areas, on to Vallco, Main Street and the Apple campuses.<br />
<br />
Thank you for taking the time to read the concerns of some Cupertino residents on this site.<br />
<br />
Residents attended a Cupertino City Council Junipero Serra Trail Feasibility Study session on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 5:45 p.m., at the City of Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino. <a href="https://cupertino.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx" target="_blank">Agenda and meeting documents may be found online</a>. Parking is very limited during library open hours at City Hall, so not all residents may have been able to attend the Council session.</div>
<br /></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-75241761071240419332019-01-19T12:47:00.001-08:002022-06-27T15:18:08.448-07:00Remembering Clyde Arbuckle Who Saved the History of San Jose'<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(69, 129, 142); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAuS49uh0BY/XBrBDLN2CRI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/aa6yKYp52iwEApzeKH4vy3E3osOht-lwACLcBGAs/s1600/Clyde%2BArbuckle%2BHSJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #45818e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="431" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAuS49uh0BY/XBrBDLN2CRI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/aa6yKYp52iwEApzeKH4vy3E3osOht-lwACLcBGAs/s200/Clyde%2BArbuckle%2BHSJ.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" title="Clyde Arbuckle - History San Jose" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/clyde-arbuckle/9AHQEhnEzhOHTg" style="color: #45818e;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Clyde Arbuckle</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span>Clyde Arbuckle, a Willow Glen resident, was the first City Historian for the City of San Jose'.<br />
<br />
Born in 1903, Arbuckle experienced the 1<a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/" target="_blank">906 San Francisco Earthquake</a> with his half brothers and sisters, one of whom was silent film star <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe_Arbuckle" target="_blank">Roscoe "Fatty" Arcbuckle</a>.<br />
<br />
His family were pioneers in the Valley, having settled here in 1846. Arbuckle was raised enjoying family history stories about early Valley life. He became an ardent collector of records and lore about our local history.<br />
<br />
Arbuckle worked for the American Railway Express after leaving school at the age of 15. He was a professional Banjo player and along with his brother, an award-winning bike racer with the Garden City Wheelmen.<br />
<br />
He married his wife Helen in 1932. They had a son in 1935 and a daughter in 1936. Arbuckle built a new family home on Franquette Avenue (near Curtner), which had no electricity on July 4,1939, the day the family moved into their new Willow Glen home.<br />
<br />
As an avid and humorous public speaker and storyteller with a photographic memory, Arbuckle was popular with many local historic groups, where he was known for his iconic khaki shirts and pants, worn daily with what he called his "Denver" Stetson.<br />
<br />
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI4fY1oqUSA/XBrnbhdCihI/AAAAAAAAABw/GHoRjkzchVQIf4HxB26ts9FQNNZ8gHVUQCLcBGAs/s1600/Willow%2BGlen%2BPinterest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI4fY1oqUSA/XBrnbhdCihI/AAAAAAAAABw/GHoRjkzchVQIf4HxB26ts9FQNNZ8gHVUQCLcBGAs/s200/Willow%2BGlen%2BPinterest.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/685532374501748654" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Early Willow Glen </span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
In 1945 the <a href="http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=1766" target="_blank">Historic Landmarks Commission</a> was formed and nominated Arbuckle to become the first City Historian for the City of San Jose'. In 1950 Arbuckle was named the first director and curator for <a href="http://historysanjose.org/wp/" target="_blank">History San Jose'</a>, a new organization dedicated to preserving the Valley's history and artifacts. <a href="http://historysanjose.org/wp/about-us/history/" target="_blank">Arbuckle and Theron Fox are credited with saving San Jose's history</a>.<br />
<br />
From the <a href="https://www.sjpl.org/blog/looking-back-clyde-arbuckle-san-joses-first-city-historian">History San Jose' Web site</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"In 1970, under the urging of friend and fellow preservationist Theron Fox, Clyde was commissioned to write the <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/clyde-arbuckles-history-of-san-jose-the-culmination-of-a-lifetime-of-research/oclc/58676252">definitive history of San Jose</a>. The history was published in 1985, printed by friend and history buff Leonard McKay (Smith & McKay Printing), who has been said to have contributed greatly to the book’s completion. </i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Clyde also wrote Historic <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/historic-names-persons-and-places-in-santa-clara-county/oclc/3760335">Names of Persons and Places in Santa Clara County (with Roscoe D. Wyatt in 1948</a>), and <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/santa-clara-co-ranchos/oclc/2882185">Santa Clara County Ranchos</a> in 1968. </i><i><br /></i><i>He was an active member of the <a href="http://www.ecvinc.org/Chapters.htm">Ancient and Honorable Order of E. Clampus Vitas</a>, the <a href="http://californiapioneers.com/">California Pioneers of Santa Clara Valley</a>, and the Argonauts Historical Society, as well as being a Mason. In 1998, Clyde passed away at the age of 94. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Further reading from the <a href="https://www.sjpl.org/caroom" target="_blank">San Jose Public Library, California Room</a>: </i><i><a href="http://discover.sjlibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1961080__Shistory%20of%20san%20jose__Orightresult__X6;jsessionid=E37547858CC8E2B4E28E76E9782A8695?lang=eng&suite=sjpl" target="_blank">Clyde Arbuckle's history of San Jose</a>, by Clyde Arbuckle; </i><i><a href="http://discover.sjlibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1545116__Ssanta%20clara%20county%20ranchos__P0%2C1__Orightresult__U__X3?lang=eng&suite=sjpl" target="_blank">Santa Clara County Ranchos</a>, by Clyde Arbuckle; </i><i>King Library, Special Collection's <a href="http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org/cdm/search/searchterm/clyde%20arbuckle/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/cosuppress/" target="_blank">Digital Collections</a>; California Room's <a href="https://www.sjpl.org/caroomsearch?words=clyde%20arbuckle" target="_blank">Clipping Files</a></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>---Submitted by <a href="https://www.sjpl.org/users/ralph-pearce">Ralph Pearce</a> on Saturday, March 15, 2014 - 5:01 PM."</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LL_4dY48akk/XBrnKPexeaI/AAAAAAAAABo/1RiM5FjSbbonwyXot3coeZ-wRBqbSwy0gCLcBGAs/s1600/First%2BStreet%2BSJ%2BPinterest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LL_4dY48akk/XBrnKPexeaI/AAAAAAAAABo/1RiM5FjSbbonwyXot3coeZ-wRBqbSwy0gCLcBGAs/s320/First%2BStreet%2BSJ%2BPinterest.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/685532374501748654" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">First Street San Jose</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
(Note: Some links to Clyde Arbuckle books on WorldCat and local organizations mentioned in the Ralph Pearce article above, were added by me.) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A number of Clyde Arbuckle's articles and books exist in educational institutions, archives and library collections. They are listed here <a href="https://oac.cdlib.org/search?query=arbuckle%2C+clyde&x=0&y=0">in the Online Archive of California</a> and <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=arbuckle%2C+clyde">OCLC's WorldCat database</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Arbuckle amassed a large collection of photographs of Santa Clara Valley. <a href="http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt7000385b/">The Clyde Arbuckle California History Research Collection</a> is housed in the California Room at the Martin Luther King Jr. Branch of San Jose Public Library.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-84706031818559832902019-01-18T12:23:00.004-08:002022-06-27T15:17:29.648-07:00Silicon Valley's Hot Jazz RootsHot Jazz began in New Orleans at the start of the 20th Century. The name came from The Original Dixieland Jass Band. "Jass" was changed to "Jazz" around 1917. (Three songs by the Original Dixieland Jass Band can be heard in the HBO series, <i>Boardwalk Empire</i>, including,<i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um4xhfwYnvg" target="_blank">Livery Stable Blues</a></i>.)<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2455551553148608680" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 542px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbg_7okRqDo/W-4mSvLhtZI/AAAAAAAAAOs/WovRydvUVs4ZO8D-sbfCXY-KTsvDrHvQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Original%2BDixieland%2BJass%2BBand.jpg" style="color: #0a5294; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbg_7okRqDo/W-4mSvLhtZI/AAAAAAAAAOs/WovRydvUVs4ZO8D-sbfCXY-KTsvDrHvQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Original%2BDixieland%2BJass%2BBand.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(11, 83, 148); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Dixieland_Jass_Band" target="_blank">Original Dixieland Jazz Band</a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
Trad Jazz had a revival after the Swing and Beebop era of the 1940's, although it is said to span the 1930's through the 1950's in the U.S. and Europe.<br />
<br />
The New Orleans style of Trad Jazz had its resurgence with tuba providing a strong base note and a marching band style. A trumpet played the melody while other instruments improvised together and in solos.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IU3gOyAoufY/W-4omjrFUGI/AAAAAAAAAPM/7KsH2aXZDC4KBIF2KQNM5KrQPrnu8WQ-QCLcBGAs/s1600/Mugsy%2BSpanner.jpg" style="color: #0a5294; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IU3gOyAoufY/W-4omjrFUGI/AAAAAAAAAPM/7KsH2aXZDC4KBIF2KQNM5KrQPrnu8WQ-QCLcBGAs/s1600/Mugsy%2BSpanner.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(11, 83, 148); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://riverwalkjazz.stanford.edu/program/relaxin-touro-muggsy-spanier-and-his-ragtime-band" target="_blank">Muggsy Spanier</a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
The Chicago resurgence replaced the tuba with a string bass plus other stringed instruments like banjo and guitar, in a strong, fast-paced, two-beat rhythm with improvisational solos.<br />
<br />
Chicago-style musicians were <a href="http://riverwalkjazz.stanford.edu/program/jimmy-mcpartland-hot-jazz-good-times" target="_blank">Jimmy McPartland</a>, <a href="http://rwj-a.stanford.edu/program/jammin-condons-eddie-condon-story" target="_blank">Eddie Condon</a>, <a href="http://riverwalkjazz.stanford.edu/program/relaxin-touro-muggsy-spanier-and-his-ragtime-band" target="_blank">Mugsy Spanier</a>, <a href="http://rwj-a.stanford.edu/program/bud-freeman-story-chicago-jazzman" target="_blank">Bud Freeman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pee_Wee_Russell" target="_blank">PeeWee Russell</a> and <a href="http://riverwalkjazz.stanford.edu/program/sweet-hot-salute-cornetist-bobby-hackett" target="_blank">Bobby Hackett</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cole_Porter" target="_blank">Cole Porter</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gershwin" target="_blank">George Gershwin</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Kern" target="_blank">Jerome Kern</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin" target="_blank">Irving Berlin</a> also played elements of Trad Jazz in Chicago-style, sometimes called "Nicksieland" after <a href="http://bedfordandbowery.com/2015/12/nicks-tavern-the-village-jazz-joint-that-went-down-swinging/" target="_blank">Nick's Greenwich Village Nightclub</a> where the music was popular.<br />
<br />
English Jazz pianist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_McPartland" target="_blank">Margaret Marian Turner McPartland</a> was a noted figure in the U.K., Chicago and New York Jazz scene, eventually hosting the popular <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2013/08/21/161653933/marian-mcpartland-piano-jazz-host-has-died" target="_blank"><i>Piano Jazz </i>program on NPR</a> where she played and interviewed notables from Jazz history and contemporary Jazz. (Jimmy McPartland was her husband, whom she met in 1946 while performing for the troops in Belgium.) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbUqWRytk1Y" target="_blank">You can hear some of her music on Youtube</a>.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Poj_md5kJaM/W-4nGwfpXQI/AAAAAAAAAO4/6rVkQAmmKdoQlM-xZ5zppkRa9US_d1TEQCLcBGAs/s1600/Lu%2BWatters.jpg" style="color: #0a5294; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Poj_md5kJaM/W-4nGwfpXQI/AAAAAAAAAO4/6rVkQAmmKdoQlM-xZ5zppkRa9US_d1TEQCLcBGAs/s1600/Lu%2BWatters.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(11, 83, 148); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
The West Coast revival began in the 1930's with <a href="http://riverwalkjazz.stanford.edu/program/emperor-nortons-hunch-yerba-buena-stompers-play-lu-watters" target="_blank">Lu Watters and his Yerba Buena Jazz Band</a>, who played at the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/56564022@N00/4249191239" target="_blank">Dawn Club</a> in San Francisco. (<a href="http://rwj-a.stanford.edu/program/west-coast-classic-jazz-tribute-turk-murphy-and-lu-watters-landing" target="_blank">Turk Murphy was an early member of the YBJB</a> before starting his own band.) Lu opened a restaurant called Hambone Kelly's in 1947 on San Pablo Avenue, which was called "<a href="https://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/ca/traveler/2001-03/highway_nostalgia.html" target="_blank">Music Row</a>" due to the number of dance halls and music clubs on that street between Oakland and El Cerrito. Watters' band performed at his restaurant until they dispersed in 1950.<br />
<br />
West Coast bands typically used both banjo and tuba, plus brass horns and a washboard, with improvisation and solos blasting two-to-the-bar tempos.<br />
<br />
Trombonist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turk_Murphy" target="_blank">Turk Murphy</a> broke Trad Jazz barriers, veering away from the Nicksieland Swing style of Chicago Trad Jazz and reviving the sounds of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQkLFTcdgH4">W.C. Handy, who is celebrated in this documentary.</a>. Turk Murphy also recorded some sessions for PBS <i>Sesame Street</i> segments. (See video list below.)<br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9Uj7443pXY/W-4ny6WIYmI/AAAAAAAAAPA/zDlD0FAz5Mwl0tmstjP67xd5D_GGLGYwgCLcBGAs/s1600/Turk%2BMurphy.jpg" style="color: #0a5294; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9Uj7443pXY/W-4ny6WIYmI/AAAAAAAAAPA/zDlD0FAz5Mwl0tmstjP67xd5D_GGLGYwgCLcBGAs/s1600/Turk%2BMurphy.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(11, 83, 148); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
Around the same time, a Trad Jazz revival took place in the Low Countries (coastal areas) of The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, notably with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtJbkknb5w">Dutch Swing College Band</a>, who focused on Ragtime and New Orleans-Style Trad Jazz. These bands are larger than most Trad Jazz bands with as many as fifteen musicians, among the largest bands playing Trad Jazz today.<br />
<br />
Noted Trad Jazz Festivals: <br />
<ul>
<li>The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee (ceased in 2017) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.nojazzfest.com/">The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.dixielandfestival-dresden.com/">Internationales Dixieland Festival</a> (Dresden, Germany) </li>
<li><a href="https://www.bixsociety.org/index.html">The Bix Biederbecke Memorial Jazz Festival</a> (Davenport, Iowa) </li>
<li><a href="https://gentjazz.com/en/home-en/">Ghent Jazz Festival</a> (Ghent, Belgium)</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erMue56hYho/W-40TkVnVGI/AAAAAAAAAPY/4Hwq7-3H6w4-fqNx6vHgmFW31zXAtSX2QCLcBGAs/s1600/Bix%2BBeiderbecke%2BBand.jpg" style="color: #0a5294; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="106" data-original-width="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erMue56hYho/W-40TkVnVGI/AAAAAAAAAPY/4Hwq7-3H6w4-fqNx6vHgmFW31zXAtSX2QCLcBGAs/s1600/Bix%2BBeiderbecke%2BBand.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(11, 83, 148); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
Bix Beiderbecke and his Band</div>
<br />
Traditional Jazz publications: <br />
<ul>
<li><i>Mississippi Rag</i> (now defunct, but online at <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/mississippi-rag/oclc/771138343">WorldCat</a>) </li>
<li><a href="https://syncopatedtimes.com/hot-links/1018/americas-finest-city-dixieland-jazz-society/" target="_blank"><i>Jazz Rambler/Syncopated Times</i></a> </li>
<li><i>American Rag</i> (also now defunct) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.jazzjournal.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>Jazz Journal</i></a> (in the United Kingdom)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
The term "Dixieland" is not used by many contemporary Trad Jazz musicians due to its association with racist Jim Crow laws in the South. "Trad Jazz" is the preferred term.<br />
<br />
Enjoy some music from YouTube by clicking on names in this partial list of Trad Jazz greats.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Kings" of Trad Jazz:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WojNaU4-kI&list=RD5WojNaU4-kI&index=1">Original Dixieland Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRjT4h7F_jw">Louie Armstrong</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0hjIcF8peo">Sidney Bechet</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://youtu.be/-0C6FiEYZ9g?t=5">Bix Beiderbecke</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE6HRi2E-dc">King Oliver</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5VDMbeBsDQ&start_radio=1&list=RDl5VDMbeBsDQ&t=19&t=23">Preservation Hall Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLnp23wfMM">Eddie Condon</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06FEKDVxVe8">Kid Ory</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pFuNaULdNo&list=RDqMAESVQfEKw&index=2">New Orleans Rhythm Kings</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2QEBshAQ68">King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_buUZ9XS2Q">Firehouse Five Plus Two</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wsX_wcTpD0">Chris Barber</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyKejZ6ii4U">Mugsy Spanner</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKvaZnv3Lq0">Dutch Swing College Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsBJcSLIu5k">Red Nichols</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLkrnw6Cq08">Pete Fountain</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdd0TFtjHjU&list=RDxdd0TFtjHjU&start_radio=1&t=0">Dukes of Dixieland</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh2aa8mzkkU">Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3io6YlyGzk">Clarence Williams Blue Five</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fj-yN-S-4E&list=RDEMFqPWFIUSGYbSbhMkhT46_A&start_radio=1">Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE3XEluz7f8">Turk Murphy</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8WEzEJap28">Turk Murphy on Sesame Street</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY4hMXCINhM">Chris Tyle's Silver Leaf Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Queens" of Trad Jazz</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V41xvvRJk3o">Sweet Emma Barrett</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEKURFGcOOc">Lizzie Miles</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCLcSolIhjU&list=PL6kXdC6F7Wf-4FyD07Gy9ZszNbCm_OT7Y&index=8">Mahalia Jackson</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0BpUtyV97c">Irma Thomas</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IKPDdP9fFU">Pat Yankee</a><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ex8Et-eeE20" width="280"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Contemporary Trad Jazz Performers: Local</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/07/03/legendary-jazz-singer-pat-yankee-knocks-them-out-of-their-seats-with-nicks-opening-85th-year-celebration/" target="_blank">All Stars, Pat Yankee & Bob Shulz Frisco Jazz</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.clintbakerjazz.com/" target="_blank">Clint Baker</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jazznut.com/" target="_blank">Devil Mountain Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rsjo.com/main.html" target="_blank">Don Neely's Rhythm Aces</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fogcitystompers.com/" target="_blank">Fog City Stompers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fultonstreetjazz.com/" target="_blank">Fulton Street Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.santhony.com/ggrm/" target="_blank">Golden Gate Rhythm Machine</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://jazzbashmonterey.com/project/high-sierra/" target="_blank">High Sierra Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://magnoliajazz.com/" target="_blank">Magnolia Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.reverbnation.com/missiongoldjazzband" target="_blank">Mission Gold Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sgjazz.com/" target="_blank">Silicon Gulch Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TootSweetJazzBand/" target="_blank">Toot Sweet Jazz Band</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Zinfandel-Stompers-227711613936326/" target="_blank">Zinfandel Stompers</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Contemporary Trad Jazz Performers: </b><b>New Orleans</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_BHrJfh3jY&start_radio=1&list=RDZ_BHrJfh3jY&t=3" target="_blank">Tuba Skinny with Shaye Cohn on Piano (Mix)</a><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jft3BVoxqjo" width="280"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hgNH6yF9SY&start_radio=1&list=RD7hgNH6yF9SY&t=137">Tuba Skinny at the Spotted Cat (Mix)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XigSlWve_A0">Tuba Skinny with Shaye Cohn on Cornet (Royal Street)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgYNfl-jXQ4">Royal Roses with Aurora Nealand</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBvvL0iF-es">Smoking Time Jazz Club with Marla Dixon</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P4pTOC_TKU&list=RD0P4pTOC_TKU&index=1">Faux Barrio Billionaires with Emily Estrella</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbH3HJvh2N0">Doreen Ketchens</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1nfequeXFM">Jazz Vipers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A_vnzwSGH4">Hot Club of New Orleans</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDIJFdZD68M">Palmetto Bug Stompers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4esllhdeT8s">Orleans Six</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFmddzu8cto"></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFmddzu8cto">Loose Marbles</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Contemporary Ragtime Performers: Local</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.castlehousevintagedance.com/" target="_blank">Paul Price Society Orchestra</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z6gDMR6CGrs" width="280"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.frederickhodges.com/" target="_blank">Frederick Hodges</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zSGqPsGv0OQ" width="280"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/royalsocietyjazz" target="_blank">The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra </a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/royalsocietyjazz" target="_blank">with Don Neely and Carla Normand</a><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="157" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u8qhb-kbLdk" width="280"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
(A portion of this post was displayed on another Web site I developed for a local nonprofit organization in 2018, which still displays my unattributed, original writing and Web redesign work. -- C. D. Alexander)</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-798992696612927162018-09-29T22:07:00.004-07:002022-06-27T15:17:11.215-07:00Musical Roots of Silicon Valley: Disney, Jazz and Irene Dalis<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It
has been well-documented that train-lover, Walt Disney was a frequent
visitor to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_%22Billy%22_Jones" rel="" target="_blank">Billy Jones' Prune Ranch in Wright's Station (now Monte Sereno)</a>, since Jones was a longtime Southern Pacific railroad engineer who was responsible for
reassembling the <a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/2013630977/" rel="" target="_blank">Gov. Stanford Engine Locomotive No.1 for the California State Railroad Museum</a>. Disney also loved
Jazz and was good friends with Louis Armstrong, who recorded an album of music
from Disney classics, entitled, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Disney Songs the Satchmo Way</i>, in 1968. </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Listen: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRCeFCyNqCQ&index=10&list=PLcWgIcTFbpgADoTnI0CtfHTgNmCm9ecBC" rel="" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRCeFCyNqCQ&index=10&list=PLcWgIcTFbpgADoTnI0CtfHTgNmCm9ecBC</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately,
the album, which Disney encouraged Armstrong to produce, was not completed
until after Disney's death.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There
is an excellent book which chronicles Disney music, musicians and the marketing of Disneyland
Records under Jimmy Johnson, who was the head of the Walt Disney Music Company
for many years: <o:p></o:p><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=jGdpWCTdb-IC" rel="" target="_blank">MouseTracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records. Published in 2006</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AKOY5dheglo/W7BA15TEdZI/AAAAAAAAA08/smkShYxf8XIp369_PJ2Ehjzn66Y-sm56QCLcBGAs/s320/Mouse%2BTracks.jpg" width="271" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A
number of compilations of Disney classics have been produced honoring Disney's love of jazz, including 2011's </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody Wants to Be A Cat, Vol. 1</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (featuring
Roy Anthony Hargrove, Esperanza Spading, Dave Brubeck, Joshua Redman, Dianne
Reeves, Bad Plus, Alfredo Rodriguez, Nicole "Nikki" Yanofsky,
Glad Hekselman and Mark Knaff).</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read more: <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Various-Disney-Jazz-Volume-1-Everybody-Wants-To-Be-A-Cat/release/6575260" rel="" target="_blank">https://www.discogs.com/Various-Disney-Jazz-Volume-1-Everybody-Wants-To-Be-A-Cat/release/6575260</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That recording was preceded by the 2006 release, <i>Jazz Loves Disney, Vol.1</i>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.discogs.com/Various-Jazz-Loves-Disney/release/9452363" rel="" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">https://www.discogs.com/Various-Jazz-Loves-Disney/release/9452363</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Volume 2 of <i>Jazz Loves Disney was released</i> in 2017:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read more: <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Various-Jazz-Loves-Disney-2/release/11157489?ev=rr" rel="" target="_blank">https://www.discogs.com/Various-Jazz-Loves-Disney-2/release/11157489?ev=rr</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
1927 Al Jolson movie, <i>The Jazz Singer, </i>inspired
Walt Disney to create the first synchronous sound cartoon,<i>Steamboat Willie,</i> in 1928, which also
marked the debut of Mickey Mouse</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Walt Disney performed all of the voices in the cartoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Watch: <a href="https://video.disney.com/watch/steamboat-willie-4ea9de5180b375f7476ada2c" rel="" target="_blank">https://video.disney.com/watch/steamboat-willie-4ea9de5180b375f7476ada2c</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The Jazz Singer</i> was the first
full-length motion picture to feature a synchronized music score with actors singing and speaking dialogue coordinated with their lip movements. The
film's release marked the end of the silent film era. (I will not add the film trailer or any YouTube segments of the film here, since some may rightly find Al Jolson in blackface as a jazz singer, offensive.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4IkOfZnVzI/W7QHB1-BbnI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/g7j9U1u5mO4VcfwNmaJYu3YhYnuXMyJ2QCLcBGAs/s1600/Silly%2BSymphony%2B1935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4IkOfZnVzI/W7QHB1-BbnI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/g7j9U1u5mO4VcfwNmaJYu3YhYnuXMyJ2QCLcBGAs/s320/Silly%2BSymphony%2B1935.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Music
for <i>Steamboat Willie</i> was written and
arranged by Bert Lewis and Wilfred Jackson. (Jackson was also notable for his work on
succeeding <i>Silly Symphony</i> cartoons, plus
segments of <i>Night on Bald Mountain</i>, <i>Fantasia</i>, <i>Lady and the Tramp</i> and other Disney films, followed by scores for the Walt
Disney TV series.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turn up your speakers then click on the YouTube arrow in the Mickey Mouse image below, to hear <i>The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor</i>, or, use the link below to hear the full soundtrack to <i>Walt Disney's Fantasia</i>.<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Listen: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj06pRMO9hM&list=PLWAb6uoo1Jl9k7McxMEf2xBlUmNTR81ZX" rel="" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj06pRMO9hM&list=PLWAb6uoo1Jl9k7McxMEf2xBlUmNTR81ZX</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lj06pRMO9hM" width="560"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately
for Disney, the song <i>Turkey in the Straw</i>
featured in <i>Steamboat Willie</i>, was later associated with many negative racial connotations and lyric variations by 1939. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Previously, Turkey in the Straw </i>was often recorded by banjo players and seemed to have its roots in two British
and Irish folk songs, both entitled <i>The Rose Tree</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen: <a href="https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/05/turkey-in-the-straw/" rel="" target="_blank">https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/05/turkey-in-the-straw/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Turkey in the Straw</i> was later
adopted as the basis for several instrumental jazz compositions, moving beyond any previous American bigoted variations by mid-century. This is one performance of jazz variations of the song, surprisingly, by Liberace:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCTEzFem8UY" rel="" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCTEzFem8UY</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although many of Disney's legacy productions display unfortunate and hurtful stereotypes of racial groups, the newer Disney productions seem to seek to correct those earlier missteps by <o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">highlighting the importance and traditions of many indigenous peoples and heritages.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For many of us growing up during the early Walt Disney heyday years, Disney
cartoons and films became our first introduction to dixieland music, jazz, classical compositions,
swing, big band and roots music, serving as the beginning for a lifelong appreciation of not only the music itself, but the musicians
who give the music life, though musicians were and still are, often relegated to the very end of most film and
video closing credits. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Musicians are artists and often do more to set the tone and atmosphere in films and TV shows than visuals and dialog. (How many of us have sat through obscure closing credits for film set caterers, animal handlers and studio accountants and lawyers, just so we could read the music credits at the very end? That hierarchy is so very wrong, on all counts, and needs to change.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
While the role of Disney and jazz might not be closely related to Silicon Valley history, our region's list of notable musicians from all genres, continues to amaze. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McQJ0EuB4JY/W7QJgSPdTgI/AAAAAAAAA1c/5IbE5mECgFcpRYRg7Qh2Uun1Go_3Lg30wCLcBGAs/s1600/Turk%2BMurphy%2BLane%2BSF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="250" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McQJ0EuB4JY/W7QJgSPdTgI/AAAAAAAAA1c/5IbE5mECgFcpRYRg7Qh2Uun1Go_3Lg30wCLcBGAs/s1600/Turk%2BMurphy%2BLane%2BSF.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turk_Murphy#/media/File:Turk_Murphy_tribute.jpg" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Turk Murphy Lane, SF Wikipedia Commons</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the early days when future <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ25n2GnGdg" rel="" target="_blank">Metropolitan Opera star Irene Dalis</a> and her parents lived in a Victorian at 124 Delmas Avenue in San Jose (<a href="http://historysanjose.org/wp/research-collection/history-san-jose-music-collection/local-sites/delmas-house/" rel="" target="_blank">now a registered city landmark</a>), to the Dixieland heyday of Melvin Edward Alton Murphy, aka: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE3XEluz7f8&index=1&list=PLifhGvbcSkwmyKwRtHRYFtgKrKZts9CNf" rel="" target="_blank">Turk Murphy</a> in San Francisco (he also appeared on the <i>Ed Sullivan Show</i>, produced songs for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8WEzEJap28" target="_blank"><i>Sesame Street with Pixar Studios animator Bud Luckey</i></a> and appeared with his band members and singer <a href="http://www.patyankeejazz.com/" target="_blank">Pat Yankee</a> at clubs along the Peninsula all the way down to Palo Alto), our regional music legacy is storied and far-reaching. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more about Turk Murphy and the Traditional Jazz Revival of New Orleans-style Dixieland music in San Francisco and down the Peninsula, watch the video below from the Bancroft Library at U.C. Berkeley:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mdz0hVhmxRo" width="560"></iframe>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdz0hVhmxRo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdz0hVhmxRo</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-51984045548453910962018-09-28T18:07:00.003-07:002022-06-27T15:16:53.899-07:00Housekeeping Note: Transition to HTTPS in Blogger and lost links<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NiV4FnyUYM/W67ZnxoLtEI/AAAAAAAAA0w/OjB6BuaOuOgPnfqPaA-7XoV9fsoVtkRSgCLcBGAs/s1600/Housekeeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="252" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NiV4FnyUYM/W67ZnxoLtEI/AAAAAAAAA0w/OjB6BuaOuOgPnfqPaA-7XoV9fsoVtkRSgCLcBGAs/s200/Housekeeping.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://melbournechapter.net/explore/teamwork-clipart-housekeeping/#gal_post_3083_teamwork-clipart-housekeeping-1.png" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Teamwork</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Apologies to readers who may find broken links in this blog. I recently used Google Blogger's <a href="https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/6284029?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">option to convert this Web site from HTTP to HTTPS</a>, creating a secure site.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately that transition seems to have deleted some photo caption attribution links, links to source materials, as well as links scattered throughout text on some of my Pages and Posts. I am working to restore lost links and attributions, which were previously coded to open in a new browser tab, another function lost during the conversion to HTTPS in Blogger.<br />
<br />
If you notice any dead links, please feel free to email me using my email address located on the right sidebar. Your patience during this transition process is appreciated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-72185496627826115852018-08-31T21:02:00.001-07:002022-06-27T15:16:39.253-07:00Silicon Valley After Dark & Tribute to Harry's Hofbrau - Best places to Shop and Dine <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Tired of traffic, jammed freeways and crowded parking lots during commute hours?<br />
<br />
Let me share some tips on where to shop, dine and enjoy Silicon Valley after dark, long after the commute traffic has subsided.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh_kKGm7zxo/W4oOaI4gkJI/AAAAAAAAA0A/xIR7oRGy3ZoM0zipc3j9Tnis3Ck35CwDgCLcBGAs/s1600/Kidder%2BMathews%2Bphoto%2Bof%2BSilicon%2BValley%2Bat%2Bnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="514" height="157" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh_kKGm7zxo/W4oOaI4gkJI/AAAAAAAAA0A/xIR7oRGy3ZoM0zipc3j9Tnis3Ck35CwDgCLcBGAs/s320/Kidder%2BMathews%2Bphoto%2Bof%2BSilicon%2BValley%2Bat%2Bnight.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silicon Valley at Night - Photo by <a href="http://www.kiddermathews.com/locations/silicon-valley.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kidder Mathews</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(If you are interested on taking off weight due to indulging in the many ubiquitous yet delicious ethnic, pizza, hamburger and BBQ spots in the Valley for lunch, after sitting at a desk all afternoon, shopping after dark gets you off the sofa and on your feet, burning calories while walking and enjoying the relative quiet of night time in the Valley.)<br />
<br />
I've chosen these spots not only for their value and late hours, but because they can be reached by multiple side roads from many Silicon Valley cities.They are accessible for bike and public transportation riders, as well as drivers.<br />
<br />
Okay, since I mentioned food, let's start there.<br />
<br />
If you are like me and have already lost the 40 lbs. needed to get your <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BMI</a> back in the safe zone (since becoming taller was not an option), here are some ideas on where to find some of the best late night hearty (or healthy) meals and drinks, at a reasonable cost and in family and singles-friendly venues:<br />
<br />
<b>Just lost - The best destination for hearty late night food</b>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.harryshofbrau.com/location/san-jose/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harry's Hofbrau on Saratoga Avenue in San Jose</a>:<br />
<br />
Harry's lost their lease on January 8, 2019. We have lost a community gathering spot in Silicon Valley which hosted meetings for many employee and nonprofit groups at no cost, provided attendees purchased a meal. You just don't see that type of generosity and community spirit at other venues here in the Valley.<br />
<br />
When the sudden news was posted about Harry's lease and the sudden closing, lines formed around the building to have one last meal at this wonderful establishment soon to be lost to developers and more bland multistory housing cubicles.<br />
<br />
The article below has been edited to become a tribute to Harry's Hofbrau, with thanks to the owners and staff for their generosity to many of us over the years.<br />
<br />
At Harry's, which was essentially a huge British Pub with a long bar, well drinks, wines and multiple beers on tap serving guests seated in large sectioned dining areas, we enjoyed everything from a "real" home-style hot turkey dinner overflowing with meat, gravy, mashed potatoes, cooked veggies and stuffing for about $12, a turkey enchilada dinner (with what seemed like 8 oz. of shredded turkey thigh meat) plus beans and rice, also around $12, plus a host of other hot entrees with the same modest prices. (I don't know how they did it. Seriously.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE0ZaxWMvQw/W4ngX9Xqa9I/AAAAAAAAAyw/r6QuMBlOAUoxxjWD_82UUWslNARuuRfsgCLcBGAs/s1600/Harrys%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="350" height="230" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE0ZaxWMvQw/W4ngX9Xqa9I/AAAAAAAAAyw/r6QuMBlOAUoxxjWD_82UUWslNARuuRfsgCLcBGAs/s320/Harrys%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry's Hofbrau - Bar area - Closed in San Jose<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://www.harryshofbrau.com/location/san-jose/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.harryshofbrau.com/location/san-jose/</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The portions were huge, the staff was friendly and the food was consistently excellent. (The portions were so massive, staff were waiting at the cashier desk to help you carry your laden tray and large-sized drink, which was the only drink size they sold, to your table.)<br />
<br />
Truckers loved Harry's so many semi's were parked along the curb while their drivers refueled inside this cherished and iconic, now lost San Jose establishment. Likewise, some owners of Silicon Valley fine dining establishments could be found eating a huge hot turkey dinner at Harry's. (No, I will not name names. They know who they are.) This place was just that good. If you grew up in the U.S. or landed here at some point and missed large family meals with kith and kin, this was the place to go. Harry's was open on many holidays and children were always welcomed, making it a mecca for both singles and families, plus those who wanted to eat a great meal while watching sports in the huge bar area.<br />
<br />
For vegetarians, there was a heaped dinner plate called a Super Salad for around $10 with tax, which included five choices from the many mixed vegetable salads, fruits and greens offered at Harry's salad bar.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dNISCpHPkmI/W4nc9iq0iFI/AAAAAAAAAyg/xvexdzoFQks2bFdugCeidrtINzFFCDQlQCLcBGAs/s1600/Harrys%2Bsalad%2Bbar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="737" height="156" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dNISCpHPkmI/W4nc9iq0iFI/AAAAAAAAAyg/xvexdzoFQks2bFdugCeidrtINzFFCDQlQCLcBGAs/s320/Harrys%2Bsalad%2Bbar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry's Salad Bar - Just a few of the many, many choices<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://www.harryshofbrau.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.harryshofbrau.com/about/</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you loved roast turkey legs or turkey wings, prime rib, corned beef, bratwurst, old-style spaghetti and meatballs, spareribs, lasagna, various entree specials and a host of other hearty American and ethnic foods, plus huge slices of cakes, pies, puddings and ice creams in a friendly neighborhood pub atmosphere, this would have been your personal oasis. And it seemed safe and family-friendly. (On a tired night a few months ago I left my mobile device at my table as I went to find a to-go container. When I got back to my table after a lengthy chat with a few folks in the dining area, my device was still there, near my half-eaten entree.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bIs-IADkkF0/W4niFGq9KwI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Zf2mI-RM5kEbmmuFsflKl-qmhJjwoCRjACLcBGAs/s1600/Peninsula%2BBanjo%2BBand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="99" data-original-width="249" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bIs-IADkkF0/W4niFGq9KwI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Zf2mI-RM5kEbmmuFsflKl-qmhJjwoCRjACLcBGAs/s1600/Peninsula%2BBanjo%2BBand.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peninsula Banjo Band<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="http://peninsulabanjoband.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://peninsulabanjoband.com/</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the true Harry's experience, folks would arrive every Wednesday after 7 p.m. (yet before 8:30 p.m.), then get in line for their meal. They heard the happy, traditional standards and dixieland sounds of the <a href="http://peninsulabanjoband.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peninsula Banjo Band</a> during their free, weekly 90-minute practice session in the rear of Harry's large bar area. This large group of about 20 musicians began as the Cupertino Banjo Band in 1963 and still perform at SF Bay Area venues and private parties to raise money for charitable causes. They provided a large tip jar on a music stand at Harry's, for contributions to those charitable causes, where they also placed booklets of song lyrics so attendees could sing along. Did I say the PBB are great people? You can bet your train whistle they are, and they deliver a great time for all ages.<br />
<br />
There are two remaining Harry's Hofbrau locations operating near Silicon Valley:<br />
Harry's Hofbrau: <a href="https://www.harryshofbrau.com/location/redwood-city/" target="_blank">1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City</a><br />
Harry's Hofbrau: <a href="https://www.harryshofbrau.com/location/san-leandro/" target="_blank">14900 East 14th Street, San Leandro</a><br />
<br />
For a high-quality, affordable, plentiful meal and a warm, classic, family pub atmosphere, hat's off to the owner's and staff of Harry's Hofbrau, in all of their locations.<br />
<br />
<b>Best late night food shopping and contemporary lounge</b> for coffees, deserts, beer and wine on tap, plus farm to table food--oh, and you can do your grocery shopping there daily until 10 p.m.:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/santaclara" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole Foods (and the Whole Foods Hot Bar and Tap Room) Santa Clara</a>:<br />
The dessert and hot bar buffet at this classy Whole Foods location is legendary, with ethnic, vegetarian and meat entrees, plus salmon, soups, many salads and hot side dishes, seemingly a cut above other Valley Whole Foods locations. The store and parking area is large and easily accessible off Scott Blvd. from Central Expressway, Hwy 101, Bowers and San Thomas Expressway, on Augustine Drive. Here are some photos from Yelp! reviewers:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbpYiC2uT0A/W4nwkFk8gmI/AAAAAAAAAzU/CUK9PgZTc_styxKouzwvIab6n9JyRAKPQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tiffany%2BS%2BYelp%2B-%2BWhole%2BFoods%2BTap%2BRoom%2BSanta%2BClara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="921" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbpYiC2uT0A/W4nwkFk8gmI/AAAAAAAAAzU/CUK9PgZTc_styxKouzwvIab6n9JyRAKPQCLcBGAs/s320/Tiffany%2BS%2BYelp%2B-%2BWhole%2BFoods%2BTap%2BRoom%2BSanta%2BClara.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/tap-room-at-whole-foods-market-santa-clara-santa-clara" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Santa Clara Whole Foods Tap Room photo by Tiffany S.on Yelp!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkcb6caxFjU/W4nxTGWwGCI/AAAAAAAAAzc/uhbk219_4qov320cp-GYp2_Au7smwQp-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Photo%2Bby%2BJP%2BYelp%2B-%2BWhole%2BFoods%2BTap%2BRoom%2BSanta%2BClara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="989" height="210" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkcb6caxFjU/W4nxTGWwGCI/AAAAAAAAAzc/uhbk219_4qov320cp-GYp2_Au7smwQp-QCEwYBhgL/s320/Photo%2Bby%2BJP%2BYelp%2B-%2BWhole%2BFoods%2BTap%2BRoom%2BSanta%2BClara.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/tap-room-at-whole-foods-market-santa-clara-santa-clara" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Santa Clara Whole Foods Tap Room menu bites and flights, photo by J.B. on Yelp!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Need to buy some practical items during your Silicon Valley, night-hawk adventures?<br />
<br />
<b>Best late night general shopping</b> with coffee or tea breaks: My vote is the <a href="https://www.target.com/sl/sunnyvale/2584" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Target store in Sunnyvale</a> on West McKinley Avenue. During my year of robust weight loss efforts I could be found here at night pushing a cart filled with heavy products (think gallons of water) around the outer perimeter of the store's interior, after dinner. (Hey, it's cheaper than a gym membership and I did actually buy a few things on each visit, just not chocolate. Rich, creamy, <a href="https://www.target.com/bp/guittard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guittard Organic 72% Semisweet Baking Chocolate</a> is sold at Target. Don't get me started.)<br />
<br />
The Starbucks in this Target location has been recently remodeled on the large, 2nd floor mezzanine, providing a range of coffees, teas and blended fare, with nuts, protein bars, cakes, cookies and a few sandwiches, in a generous and comfortable lounge-like atmosphere with large ceiling to floor windows. You may automatically exhale and unwind, just by entering this lovely spot. Chamomile tea optional.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJHWKH2nbn0/W4n54bq1x9I/AAAAAAAAAzo/RvNjTsCUcFMxa_d-axmC9ii99DbJ4zoKQCLcBGAs/s1600/Photo%2B%2Bby%2BRJ%2BS%2Bon%2BYelp%2BTarget%2BStarbucks%2BSunnyvale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="976" height="147" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJHWKH2nbn0/W4n54bq1x9I/AAAAAAAAAzo/RvNjTsCUcFMxa_d-axmC9ii99DbJ4zoKQCLcBGAs/s320/Photo%2B%2Bby%2BRJ%2BS%2Bon%2BYelp%2BTarget%2BStarbucks%2BSunnyvale.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yelp! <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/starbucks-sunnyvale-33?select=T145nTazzP5ReIBJwxZ_jw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Photo by RJ.S</a>. of the new Starbucks lounge area at Target in Sunnyvale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You can shop at this Target location until 11:59 p.m., every day of the week, however, the Starbucks closes at 9 p.m. Be warned, this Starbucks does not make decaf coffee in the afternoons or evenings, however they may offer to make you a decaf Americano, if you really need your beauty sleep.<br />
<br />
<b>Best late night place to go when something breaks</b> and you want expert advice, like, "What's a sodium vapor light?" or "What's a flapper valve?"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.lowes.com/store/CA-Sunnyvale/2211?cm_mmc=YEXT-GO-_-SiteLink-_-2211-_-Lowes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lowe's Home Improvement on East Arques Avenue in Sunnyvale</a><br />
Best place to enjoy the smell of fresh cut lumber, to pretend you are in the redwoods and to enjoy all things home and garden-related, while walking around this huge store being schooled in home and yard maintenance topics. Their garden area is also open until closing at 10 p.m., which is a real treat.<br />
<br />
While visiting this particular Lowe's, you can also view the new, circular, glass-walled <a href="http://www.centralandwolfe.com/#1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple Central and Wolfe Campus</a> across the street on Arques, which is beautiful when lit up at night.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FwhpCIAGx8/W4oHxEQ70MI/AAAAAAAAAz0/svhEra2ZY8gUr5buLAEtBzM6a8uag1RZACLcBGAs/s1600/Apple%2BCentral%2Band%2BWolfe%2BCampus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="1383" height="157" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FwhpCIAGx8/W4oHxEQ70MI/AAAAAAAAAz0/svhEra2ZY8gUr5buLAEtBzM6a8uag1RZACLcBGAs/s400/Apple%2BCentral%2Band%2BWolfe%2BCampus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple's new Central and Wolfe Campus in Sunnyvale<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="http://www.centralandwolfe.com/#1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.centralandwolfe.com/#1</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Happy moonlit trails,<br />
The Silicon Valley Librarian<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-41273746612699385492017-11-03T05:54:00.004-07:002022-06-27T15:16:14.267-07:00Bricks and Mortar Silicon Valley-Style: Housing, Heritage and ControversySeveral Bay Area news entities have aired segments recently about housing shortages in Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara and San Jose, as Facebook, Google, NVIDIA, Samsung and Apple (among other notable high-tech firms), design and execute extraordinary new structures to expand into large sties within those Silicon Valley cities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5TaAGAj1p0/WfwUY2iKldI/AAAAAAAAAjk/n1-IO2h-UuMLBIA37Xk4C3-pFk3t1TBFACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2BGoogle%2BCampus%2BIllustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="832" height="222" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5TaAGAj1p0/WfwUY2iKldI/AAAAAAAAAjk/n1-IO2h-UuMLBIA37Xk4C3-pFk3t1TBFACLcBGAs/s400/New%2BGoogle%2BCampus%2BIllustration.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">An image from Google's 2015 <a href="https://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/rethinking-office-space.html" target="_blank">West Bayshore Proposal</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/rethinking-office-space.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/rethinking-office-space.html</span></a></div>
<br />
The <a href="https://www.abag.ca.gov/" target="_blank">Association of Bay Area Goverments</a> or ABAG, assists local cities here in meeting state requirements to develop a Housing Element (HE) within their General Plans (GP) and General Plan Amendments (GPA). The Housing Element must demonstrate how each Bay Area city will plan and permit construction to provide new housing at all price points, particularly in proportion to the expanding business properties within their borders.<br />
<br />
The Housing Element portion of each GP or GPA is driven by the most recent RHNA, or <a href="https://abag.ca.gov/planning/housingneeds/" target="_blank">Regional Housing Need Allocation</a>, which sets goals for future housing needs in our Bay Area region. Each city in our region is required to meet their assigned target for a portion of the RHNA by permitting affordable housing within their city. This is accomplished by revising the Housing Element within their General Plan or by creating a General Plan Amendment. Typically RHNA goals are set for a period of eight years. All city Housing Elements are due to the state by January 15th, before the next RHNA cycle begins.<br />
<br />
Here is what ABAG states about RHNA on their Web site:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 20.48px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
State law recognizes the vital role local governments play in the supply and affordability of housing. Each local government in California is required to adopt a <a href="https://abag.ca.gov/planning/housing/elements.html" target="_blank">Housing Element</a> as part of its General Plan that shows how the community plans to meet the existing and projected housing needs of people at all income levels.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 20.48px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) is the state-mandated process to identify the total number of housing units (by affordability level) that each jurisdiction must accommodate in its Housing Element. As part of this process, the <a href="http://www.hcd.ca.gov/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #015d99; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)</a> identifies the total housing need for the San Francisco Bay Area for an eight-year period (in this cycle, from 2014 to 2022). ABAG and MTC must then develop a methodology to distribute this need to local governments in a manner that is consistent with the development pattern included in the <a href="http://www.onebayarea.org/regional-initiatives/plan-bay-area.html" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #015d99; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS)</a>. Once a local government has received its final RHNA, it must revise its Housing Element to show how it plans to accommodate its portion of the region's housing need. <span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 20.48px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
( <a href="https://abag.ca.gov/planning/housingneeds/" target="_blank">https://abag.ca.gov/planning/housingneeds/</a> ABAG, accessed November 2, 2017)</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-9Ckm6slp8/WfwbcJWv7AI/AAAAAAAAAkI/DMb5nJm-ssgrDp_qe_RODSQaHnJBx4zBACLcBGAs/s1600/INVIDIA%2BSanta%2BClara%2B-%2BDesign%2B%2526%2Bimage%2Bby%2BHao_Ko%2540Gensler.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-9Ckm6slp8/WfwbcJWv7AI/AAAAAAAAAkI/DMb5nJm-ssgrDp_qe_RODSQaHnJBx4zBACLcBGAs/s400/INVIDIA%2BSanta%2BClara%2B-%2BDesign%2B%2526%2Bimage%2Bby%2BHao_Ko%2540Gensler.com.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Santa Clara NVIDIA site (design and images by Hao_Ko@Gensler.com)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.gensleron.com/work/2013/2/20/nvidias-new-headquarters-stairscapes-and-other-delightful-wa.html" target="_blank">http://www.gensleron.com/work/2013/2/20/nvidias-new-headquarters-stairscapes-and-other-delightful-wa.html</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nareim.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NAREIM_Article_Images_004.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.nareim.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NAREIM_Article_Images_004.jpg</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The projected expansion of existing businesses or the addition of new businesses, requires each city to amend their existing General Plan Housing Element to redefine parameters and requirements for new growth, plus modify their Housing Element in proportion to business growth.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/" target="_blank">General Plan Amendment</a> (GPA) usually includes newly-restated planning goals for a specified time frame. Goals include limits on building heights, amended requirements for defined setbacks (the space between the roadway and the structure, including any landscaping requirements), the allowed density (units per acre), the percentage of low-income housing and senior housing in new developments, plans for expanded transportation, pedestrian areas and bike lanes, the modification of freeway access points, plus other details requested by City planners, City Council members and residents, who typically are involved for a year or more in a General Plan Amendment and Housing Element conceptual process.<br />
<br />
The State of California Governor's Office of Planning and Research provides <i>General Plan Amendment Guidelines</i> with suggestions for resident engagement and other topics, at:<br />
<a href="http://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html" target="_blank">http://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html</a><br />
<br />
In past years the GPA and RHNA process seemed perplexing to residents, since ABAG set a RHNA for each city to achieve state-projected housing requirements at all price levels, yet affordable housing did not seem to materialize according to the local RHNA plan, in some cases. Planned senior housing became market-rate condos, planned affordable-rate condos became luxury apartments, etc. That conundrum was eliminated on September 29, 2017, when Governor Brown signed <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB35" target="_blank">SB-35</a> <i>Planning and zoning: affordable housing: streamlined approval process</i>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">SB-35 requires that cities (and counties) make written reports to the State <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;">Office of Planning and Research, and the Department of Housing and Community Development, </span></span>by April first of each year<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">. In the reports, cities must demonstrate</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">their progress in meeting their RHNA and GP/GPA Housing Element goals, or they will be cited:</span><br />
<br />
<div id="s1" style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="id_6F1FD97D-C823-444B-A1B6-3B411BA4B570" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="law_section_element" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(b) If a court finds, upon a motion to that effect, that a city, county, or city and county failed to submit, within 60 days of the deadline established in this section, the housing element portion of the report required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) that substantially complies with the requirements of this section, the court shall issue an order or judgment compelling compliance with this section within 60 days. If the city, county, or city and county fails to comply with the court’s order within 60 days, the plaintiff or petitioner may move for sanctions, and the court may, upon that motion, grant appropriate sanctions. The court shall retain jurisdiction to ensure that its order or judgment is carried out. If the court determines that its order or judgment is not carried out within 60 days, the court may issue further orders as provided by law to ensure that the purposes and policies of this section are fulfilled. This subdivision applies to proceedings initiated on or after the first day of October following the adoption of forms and definitions by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), but no sooner than six months following that adoption.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="s2" style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="ActionLine" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h3 style="border-width: 0px; clear: left; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
SEC. 1.5.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
Section 65400 of the Government Code is amended to read:</span></div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">65400.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(1) Investigate and make recommendations to the legislative body regarding reasonable and practical means for implementing the general plan or element of the general plan, so that it will serve as an effective guide for orderly growth and development, preservation and conservation of open-space land and natural resources, and the efficient expenditure of public funds relating to the subjects addressed in the general plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(2) Provide by April 1 of each year an annual report to the legislative body, the Office of Planning and Research, and the Department of Housing and Community Development that includes all of the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(A) The status of the plan and progress in its implementation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(B) The progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs determined pursuant to Section 65584 and local efforts to remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The housing element portion of the annual report, as required by this paragraph, shall be prepared through the use of standards, forms, and definitions adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The department may review, adopt, amend, and repeal the standards, forms, or definitions, to implement this article. Any standards, forms, or definitions adopted to implement this article shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2. Before and after adoption of the forms, the housing element portion of the annual report shall include a section that describes the actions taken by the local government towards completion of the programs and status of the local government’s compliance with the deadlines in its housing element. That report shall be considered at an annual public meeting before the legislative body where members of the public shall be allowed to provide oral testimony and written comments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The report may include the number of units that have been substantially rehabilitated, converted from non-affordable to affordable by acquisition, and preserved consistent with the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583.1. The report shall document how the units meet the standards set forth in that subdivision.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Cited from: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB35" target="_blank">https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB35</a> )</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBw0XnSiB9E/WfwtZ6dIa4I/AAAAAAAAAko/wWR71NAv_2gLZefIX_meZ5B2xc35ltRMACLcBGAs/s1600/Facebook%2BWillow%2BCampus%2BExpansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="810" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBw0XnSiB9E/WfwtZ6dIa4I/AAAAAAAAAko/wWR71NAv_2gLZefIX_meZ5B2xc35ltRMACLcBGAs/s400/Facebook%2BWillow%2BCampus%2BExpansion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Facebook Willow Campus Expansion Plan, Menlo Park</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">OMA New York (Design and Image) posted by John Gendall, <i>Architectural Digest</i> July 7, 2017:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/facebooks-latest-campus-set-to-be-designed-oma-new-york" target="_blank">https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/facebooks-latest-campus-set-to-be-designed-oma-new-york</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
New construction is a hot button topic in Silicon Valley, often pitting neighbors against neighbors and sometimes leading to long, intense public hearings, as residents fight to protect heritage neighborhoods from high density, mixed-use sites near their homes and schools. (Mixed use = retail, office and housing in one development.) Residents have watched as once-adequate parking lots have been eliminated and replaced by new structures, causing customers to park in front of residential homes nearby. Some residents now shop and dine in other cities where parking is still adequate, providing easier access for families and seniors. Local businesses seem to be hurt by over-development of sites, which leaves few parking spaces for customers.<br />
<br />
Many new, mixed-use developments employ what Silicon Valley residents refer to as, "the Santana Row model," where shared-wall, two to three-story, Victorian-style retail and restaurant buildings, open to a central, landscaped lane with sidewalks, mini-parks, sidewalk cafes and bars. In this model, the retail facades hide adjacent high-density condos and apartments, which are part of the development.<br />
<br />
The Santana Row model is meant to replicate the popular charm of downtown Los Gatos, a City which preserved its heritage buildings and parks, becoming a popular evening and weekend destination for diners, strollers and shoppers.<br />
<br />
Santana Row feels like an old-fashioned town square in Europe, where people wear their best clothes to stroll the central, tree-shaded lane between high-end merchants like Tesla, Gucci and Kate Spade after a meal, a glass of wine or while window shopping. A burger may cost $20 due to the high cost to merchants in maintaining this contrived ambiance, yet residents seem to love the experience, despite the increasing lack of nearby parking and very dark paths to existing parking areas, some <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/ZT4Ssd4hUHn" target="_blank">across a six-lane street</a> just a few blocks from a major freeway entrance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7xGolqpDLY/Wfw9cmVj8SI/AAAAAAAAAlA/cP-jj8gPKHkix_p1SG8eATicruACsQ86ACLcBGAs/s1600/Satana%2BRow%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="722" height="195" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7xGolqpDLY/Wfw9cmVj8SI/AAAAAAAAAlA/cP-jj8gPKHkix_p1SG8eATicruACsQ86ACLcBGAs/s320/Satana%2BRow%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Santana Row Project in San Jose by Streetworks-Studio</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.streetworks-studio.com/project/santana-row/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.streetworks-studio.com/project/santana-row/</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(The two left parking lots were lost to new commercial structures.)</span></div>
<br />
The social platform, <a href="https://nextdoor.com/about_us/" target="_blank">NextDoor</a>, which is used by many Silicon Valley cities and local agencies for targeted dissemination of community information, has long been a mine field of local development controversy, easily rivaling the political divisiveness seen elsewhere in the nation both in tone and in harsh responses to neighbors with differing points of view on development issues. Several anti-development groups are very active in Santa Clara, Cupertino and Palo Alto Nextdoor neighborhoods, with some members serving as Nextdoor Leads, steering comments to oppose or promote local growth. Nextdoor recognizes that its platform may be a player in the 2018 election cycle due to SV's dynamic and engaged population, <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2017/04/the-anti-facebook-nextdoor-aims-for-neighbor-to-neighbor-approach-in-politics-111133" target="_blank">particularly in San Jose</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bqasFsCRiC0/WfxUWL62aeI/AAAAAAAAAlY/LQCfzrvTTNA8EFm4955QbVl_1zQs5PJHACLcBGAs/s1600/Scale%2BModel%2BApple%2BPark%2BSpaceship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="975" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bqasFsCRiC0/WfxUWL62aeI/AAAAAAAAAlY/LQCfzrvTTNA8EFm4955QbVl_1zQs5PJHACLcBGAs/s320/Scale%2BModel%2BApple%2BPark%2BSpaceship.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2015 Scale Model - Apple Park in Cupertino</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/03/09/389571195/an-exclusive-visit-to-apple-s-new-campus" target="_blank">Anya Shultz/KQED</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably the most interesting and inclusive perspective on the state of Silicon Valley housing is provided by <a href="https://jointventure.org/" target="_blank">Joint Venture Silicon Valley</a>, a group which seeks to set "<span style="background-color: white;">a neutral forum for collaborative regional thinking and leadership from both the public and private sectors." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Joint Venture Silicon Valley </span>holds a State of the Valley Conference each February highlighting the status of local industry, innovation, entrepreneurship, housing and transportation, plus speakers and panels on concepts designed to improve Valley life and innovation. As of this writing, the 2017 Silicon Valley Index report may be found online at: </span><a href="http://siliconvalleyindicators.org/" target="_blank">http://siliconvalleyindicators.org/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://grandboulevard.net/housingtoolkit" target="_blank">Joint Venture Silicon Valley and its member organizations developed a Housing Toolkit</a> for their <a href="https://grandboulevard.net/" target="_blank">Grand Boulevard Initiative</a>, which they hope will improve the length of El Camino Real from San Jose to San Mateo. They and their partners have shown incredible insight when approaching the Valley's housing needs combined with the needs of the organized preservation and historical community and those who need transportation variety. The Housing Toolkit site names goals and funding which support the need for preserving heritage homes and structures, while providing grants and assistance for new, low-cost housing and transportation. A summary of the Grand Boulevard Initiative may be found at: <a href="https://jointventure.org/initiatives/grand-boulevard" target="_blank">https://jointventure.org/initiatives/grand-boulevard</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3RynZAjnqmw/WfxW8L2Y7vI/AAAAAAAAAls/hvwOJ5EcMsExP_8xBhc50Hn6MPtHB_1sQCLcBGAs/s1600/Samsung%2BTower%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="900" height="176" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3RynZAjnqmw/WfxW8L2Y7vI/AAAAAAAAAls/hvwOJ5EcMsExP_8xBhc50Hn6MPtHB_1sQCLcBGAs/s320/Samsung%2BTower%2BSan%2BJose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Samsung America Headquarters in San Jose</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nbbj.com/work/samsung-america-headquarters/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">NBBJ Designers</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">(<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/12/24/255859905/check-out-these-gorgeous-futuristic-tech-company-headquarters" target="_blank">More futuristic high-tech architecture can be viewed at NPR.org</a>)</span></div>
<br />
Agreement on housing needs in Silicon Valley requires patient, thoughtful collaboration and the welcome residents have always shown to newcomers and new, innovative ideas. Our valley has been immeasurably enriched by past and current residents, by those who have arrived here to work with specialized education and knowledge, and by those who strive here based on their love of family and a desire to provide a better life for their children. Our combined vision is needed to solve the ongoing housing shortage in our region.<br />
<br />
The older buildings and homes some work to preserve today, were built by new residents during past eras. Those pioneers were the innovators of their day, just as we are today's innovators and planners, hoping to provide a means for our children (and their children) to live where they work, here in Silicon Valley.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shNYsaLLPa4/Wfxlse5H7dI/AAAAAAAAAmE/zkOHH_A9-_MWLBF733R9i7Fj4yE3trrjwCLcBGAs/s1600/Hills%2Bat%2BVallco%2BCupertino%2BArchitect%2BRafael%2BVi%25C3%25B1oly%252C%2Bwith%2BOLIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1038" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shNYsaLLPa4/Wfxlse5H7dI/AAAAAAAAAmE/zkOHH_A9-_MWLBF733R9i7Fj4yE3trrjwCLcBGAs/s400/Hills%2Bat%2BVallco%2BCupertino%2BArchitect%2BRafael%2BVi%25C3%25B1oly%252C%2Bwith%2BOLIN.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.theolinstudio.com/the-hills-at-vallco/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hills at Vallco Plan, sadly rejected by local voters</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Housing, overhead parks and retail near the new Apple Park ("Spaceship") in Cupertino</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "open sans";">Copyright image: Architect </span><a href="http://vinoly.com/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #24890d; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Rafael Viñoly</a> and<span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "open sans";"> </span><a href="http://www.theolinstudio.com/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #41a62a; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">OLIN Studio</a> </span></div>
<br />The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-6383050755808999852016-06-02T16:31:00.002-07:002022-06-27T15:15:49.645-07:00Silicon Valley Historical Societies, Aging Pioneers and Locked DoorsI thought it might be time to comment on some of the historical groups and associations in our region, many of whom are doing amazing work to preserve our local history and keep their doors open. Sadly, some seem to be failing in their mission to inform newer residents about our past, or to display what they own in online collections, keeping some local city histories locked up in file cabinets behind closed doors, due to an aging volunteer base, poor leadership and other chronic issues.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I make that latter comment with a compassionate caveat, since it is our choice as residents to support historical institutions and associations with our personal and corporate volunteer time, money, skills and resources, and to insure that our neighborhood's pasts and histories are preserved and displayed for future generations, online and in person. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7H0egerH-bU/V1C3BzF47UI/AAAAAAAAAYY/LB3YqgMWSRIPain8FoPE-8isNAPvkCeLgCLcB/s1600/Closed%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7H0egerH-bU/V1C3BzF47UI/AAAAAAAAAYY/LB3YqgMWSRIPain8FoPE-8isNAPvkCeLgCLcB/s1600/Closed%2Bsign.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/226376318740823693/" target="_blank">Pinterest - Unknown Source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Yet, it is also our role as residents to ask historical societies and museums for more accessibility to their records and the artifacts in their collections, when repositories seem more often closed than open to residents and visitors, especially on evenings and weekends, or when their events seem more tied to local fiction authors than presentations by historians. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(Yes, I can hear museum executives and boards exclaiming over funding and the lack of volunteers, yet many historic associations are supported by area Rotary, Chamber and City Council members, who could more effectively seek regional support for the museums in their cities, so museum curators may focus on managing and growing their volunteers and collections, rather than constant fundraising efforts.) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why maintain strong museums, from a local business point of view? Strong museums draw new and continuing tourism and trade to our cities.<br />
<br />
Historically, preserved historic regions draw greater foot traffic to local restaurants and businesses, as residents have observed on North Santa Cruz Avenue and the west end of University Avenue in downtown Los Gatos, on Big Basin Way in downtown Saratoga, on Castro Street in Mountain View, on Old Murphy Avenue in Sunnyvale, in the quaint neighborhoods around the Rose Garden and the University of Santa Clara, everywhere in historic downtown Los Altos and on the west end of Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen. Typically, historic associations and museums crop up in these historic districts, often in historic buildings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since strong museums in historically preserved areas are profitable for cities and the local businesses which surround them, they deserve more dynamic support from local corporations, Chambers of Commerce and City Council members.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRDHOgQGdKk/V1DBOl8zaCI/AAAAAAAAAYo/qJ4ekoQhSSoF5Ek4e-dTLFPZDYV6vEBpgCLcB/s1600/Zombie%2Battack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRDHOgQGdKk/V1DBOl8zaCI/AAAAAAAAAYo/qJ4ekoQhSSoF5Ek4e-dTLFPZDYV6vEBpgCLcB/s200/Zombie%2Battack.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse/" target="_blank">CDC: Zombie Preparedness</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Don't let me scare you off, this is not going to be a plea for your money or time, since many in SV are already overwhelmed with work, kids' schedules and lack of downtime, while battling some of the worst urban traffic north of LA. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you can stay with me for just a bit longer, I promise this won't be painful and you might learn something interesting about your region. Will you hang in there a bit longer? Great, thanks so much.<br />
<br />
Why preserve our history? Because it is fascinating, unexpected and varied:<br />
<br />
1. Did you know that our area was a home for East Coast and European sea captains who retired from hauling men and goods to the 1875 Gold Rush in San Francisco, then brought their vineyard and wine making knowledge to what is now Silicon Valley? Captain <a href="http://wwwstatic.kern.org/gems/historicalSociety/Vol601March2010Web.pdf">Elijah Stephens</a> ("Stevens Creek Boulevard" has his name, although misspelled) was one such English captain known for his brandies in <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=622">West Side</a> (now Cupertino.) His vineyards became part of what is now <a href="http://www.r-house.org/stevens-creek.html">Blackberry Farm</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. We have the oldest commercial winery in Northern California (pre-dating the loudest claimant, Buena Vista Winery. ) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Almaden_Winery" target="_blank">Old Almaden Winery</a> still sits in a small park in San Jose. Sadly, corporate donors have not yet been found to retrofit the old brick winery structure to make it and its underground wine cave safe as a future wine history museum.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iS_LLqV2xKE/V1CmSr39pYI/AAAAAAAAAX4/GBYMdTZ0WCA4wFkF-vbufpBGBjA9Ep0rACLcB/s1600/Olivia%2Bde%2BHavilland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iS_LLqV2xKE/V1CmSr39pYI/AAAAAAAAAX4/GBYMdTZ0WCA4wFkF-vbufpBGBjA9Ep0rACLcB/s200/Olivia%2Bde%2BHavilland.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_de_Havilland#/media/File:Olivia_de_Havilland_in_A_Midsummer_Night%27s_Dream_1935.jpg" target="_blank">Ollivia de Havilland Wikipedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
3. Did you know that Saratoga was once the childhood home of <i>Gone with the Wind</i> actor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_de_Havilland" target="_blank">Olivia de Havilland</a>, her sister, Joan Fontaine (Alfred Hitchcock's <i>Rebecca</i> and <i>Suspicion</i>), and their mother, <i>Lost Weekend</i> actor, Lillian Fontaine? Both daughters won Academy Awards for their roles in the above movies and were active in local Saratoga school productions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4) Did you know that Monte Sereno's Fred Hitt ran a fireworks factory there? (His pharmacist brother, <a href="http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=3348" target="_blank">Thomas Hitt</a>, made fireworks in Washington State.) Both brothers were noted for producing the battle scenes, explosions and fires for <i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i>, the burning of Atlanta scenes in <i>Gone with the Wind</i>, and a <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DygDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=fred+hitt+mt+lassen&source=bl&ots=GzJC2XJJ77&sig=cXVs3LwwyQSh2iOG5InP5utM1zU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjimqKWoorNAhUSElIKHQweAkQQ6AEIKTAC#v=onepage&q=fred%20hitt%20mt%20lassen&f=false" target="_blank">re-enactment of the eruption of Mt. Lassen</a> including lava pours, explosions and smoke, when that National Park was opened to the public in the 1930's.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBjLgn1OjPw/V1ClMIsWt-I/AAAAAAAAAXs/4pDUMD3fGFELF_oWgq65ZtFjwsiNxsv0wCLcB/s1600/Disneyland%2BRR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBjLgn1OjPw/V1ClMIsWt-I/AAAAAAAAAXs/4pDUMD3fGFELF_oWgq65ZtFjwsiNxsv0wCLcB/s320/Disneyland%2BRR.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Railroad#/media/File:Disneyland_Railroad_Poster.png" target="_blank">Disneyand Railroad Wikipedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
5) Did you know that Los Gatos was home to an orchardist and former railroad roustabout, <a href="http://bjwrr.org/history/" target="_blank">Billy Jones</a>, who built a railroad line around the perimeter of his Los Gatos ranch, then gave neighbors rides on that steam locomotive every Sunday, attracting Walt Disney when he heard about Jones' generosity to local children? When Disneyland opened in Anaheim on July 17, 1955, Jones was asked to be the first engineer on Disneyland Railroad, taking the first visitors on the Grand Circle Tour around the new theme park.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
6) Did you know that Sunnyvale's Fremont High School, formerly known as West Side Union High School, and the old Cupertino Union Grammar School, reportedly produced many <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremont_High_School_(Sunnyvale,_California)" target="_blank">notables and millionaires</a> from their former study body members? Notable names have included members of the <a href="http://www.mariani.com/our-story/" target="_blank">Paul Mariani</a> family and Apple's <a href="http://universe.byu.edu/2015/11/03/multi-millionaire-byu-alumnus-encourages-students-to-follow-their-passions1/" target="_blank">Greg Porter</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
7) Guess how many of these stories I discovered at local museums and their online sites? (Answer: Only story #3, at the <a href="http://www.saratogahistory.com/" target="_blank">Saratoga Historical Foundation Museum</a>, run by Foundation President, Annette Stransky.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Kudos to the <a href="http://californiapioneers.com/Welcome.html" target="_blank">California Pioneers of Santa Clara County</a> for placing many early recovered Santa Clara Valley home and commercial videos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/SCCPioneers" target="_blank">online in converted digital editions</a>, and to Jim Reed, Curator Emeritus, and Cate Mills, Curator of Library and Archives at <a href="http://historysanjose.org/wp/" target="_blank">History San José</a>, for making many images and documents in the extensive HSJ collection <a href="http://historysanjose.pastperfectonline.com/search" target="_blank">searchable online</a>.<br />
<br />
Kudos also to the continuing work of Mary Hanel of the <a href="http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/library/using-the-library/genealogy-local-history/genealogy" target="_blank">Santa Clara Central Park Library Heritage Pavilion and SCCHGS</a>, who continues to work with local historical groups in retirement. Applause to the <a href="https://www.sjpl.org/caroom" target="_blank">California History Room: Local History Collection</a> at the Martin Luther King Jr. Branch of the San Jose Public Library System, for their resources which may be accessed seven days a week.<br />
<br />
Likewise, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the astonishingly comprehensive work of John Hollar and the team at the <a href="http://www.computerhistory.org/" target="_blank">Computer History Museum in Mountain View</a>, who offer visitors an imaginative visual and hands-on experience with our digital history.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yet, there are still so many historical groups in this region doing their best to preserve one small corner of early Valley life with dwindling resources and volunteers, let alone digital collection, preservation and presentation skills.<br />
<br />
Some historic groups still resist using email to distribute their membership newsletters and event updates, and many do not respond to email requests nor update aging Web sites, despite prodding by newer board members (who sometimes quit in frustration, when their advice to modernize meets chronic resistance, month after month.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vh1eJup7eQ/V1Dqb-w7bnI/AAAAAAAAAkA/qxi3HW_0X6sFWi96LWNl3Rv1ejoC_La3gCLcB/s1600/Elijah%2BStephens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vh1eJup7eQ/V1Dqb-w7bnI/AAAAAAAAAkA/qxi3HW_0X6sFWi96LWNl3Rv1ejoC_La3gCLcB/s1600/Elijah%2BStephens.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cupertinohistoricalsociety.org/" target="_blank">Elijah Stephens (CHSM)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I urge residents (and struggling historic groups) to share their early videos, images and documents with the <a href="http://californiapioneers.com/Welcome.html" target="_blank">California Pioneers of Santa Clara County</a>, with <a href="http://historysanjose.org/wp/" target="_blank">History San José</a>, with <a href="http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/library/using-the-library/genealogy-local-history/genealogy" target="_blank">SCCHGS</a>, with <a href="https://www.sjpl.org/caroom" target="_blank">SJPL</a> and with the <a href="http://www.oac.cdlib.org/" target="_blank">Online Archive of California</a>, so our early histories do not remain locked in file cabinets behind closed doors, year after year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you have a moment, stop by your local museum or history association one weekend to see what they have to offer. If their doors are frequently closed, write to your local Chamber of Commerce, your local Rotary Club and your City Council members, to ask their support in making the rooms and resources of your local museum or history association more available to working residents, so families may explore regional holdings together.<br />
<br />
If the doors of your local museum or history association <i>are</i> open frequently, both on weekends and perhaps even one weeknight, please drop a $1 (or as much as you can afford) in their donation box, then find out what their future plans are for expansion, both online or on site.<br />
<br />
The collected information about our regional roots will amaze you, once you finally gain access to museums and history associations responsible for our collective pasts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-44881816524233199512015-05-24T01:34:00.001-07:002022-06-27T15:15:29.185-07:00Drought, Aquifer Wars and Sonar Dowsing<div class="MsoNormal">
Interestingly enough, <st1:state>California</st1:state>
has been affected by many droughts in past years, with the worst period of recorded
drought (since the inception of hydrology) occurring between 1928-34, 1976-77,
1987-92 and 2007-09.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How droughts occur:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state>California</st1:state>'s water
tables depend on a few Pacific coastal storms occurring between November and March
each year. If a Pacific high pressure system lingers off the coast preventing
those storms from depositing rain or snow in winter months, dry conditions in <st1:state>California</st1:state>
and <st1:place>Silicon Valley</st1:place>, may last throughout the year, or a
few years, if high pressure systems recur in consecutive years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Jz7ACF1AME/VWGBpcmXeqI/AAAAAAAAAV8/FYoEKem0t3s/s1600/Uvas%2BReservoir%2BSCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Jz7ACF1AME/VWGBpcmXeqI/AAAAAAAAAV8/FYoEKem0t3s/s400/Uvas%2BReservoir%2BSCC.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Uvas reservoir, </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_e_abbott/12290993595/in/photolist-jJ7ybF-kyFmeu-r3E5pf-52aFHn-eDLawZ-qogNBY-6AcGh9-fF1xNh-oqs1Ei-5gPgue-5M38KS-q8Decn-qfmzYa-qU84H6-cT8YWL-jPZcDf-j655t1-f8P56T-o1qpNb-cTfH5W-3D3nhE-efixd7-nYiG29-dr1Xey-j6TXjr-chr8cN-fDe5zA-63V2nf-oB5Bwq-micaJD-oyCkPo-amD5HF-5DR5ms-7CzMSt-o4QuhC-jCCd5H-pFdqoe-rVkvd8-6gRkf2-axC8sY-amD5qM-npr6ss-pXrbFN-r6XjbJ-qZG2jk-9tU7ce-9vAdPD-mHhQdZ-82dioP-eK4TT" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Likewise, according to E. R. Cook at Earth Science Reviews (as
illustrated by the Mercury news), the Western United States has experienced prior
200-year droughts during the European Middle Ages, so some feel our shorter
periods of drought are of less concern in terms of climate change. Of course,
that hypothesis is controversial, since access to water remains a political and
economic source of dispute for many Californians engaged in agriculture or near
large urban cities, where the bulk of city water may be imported from other counties yet used more for
landscaping than for food production.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQKCLABzFwY/VWGCIyP_BhI/AAAAAAAAAWE/QYeEqoksZ1o/s1600/200%2Byear%2Bdrought.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQKCLABzFwY/VWGCIyP_BhI/AAAAAAAAAWE/QYeEqoksZ1o/s400/200%2Byear%2Bdrought.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24993601/california-drought-past-dry-periods-have-lasted-more" target="_blank">Mercury News</a> Illustration</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Unrestricted groundwater drilling: An ongoing California problem:</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, the creation of new California wells in
agricultural regions has more than doubled in the last several years, with
apparently no State records or monitoring taking place for privately-drilled
wells (which now occur at much deeper depths than in past years) and which continue
to deplete state aquifers, according to a July 2015 <i><a href="http://waterinthewest.stanford.edu/groundwater/" target="_blank">Water in the West</a></i> Stanford University report. These privately-held
wells reportedly are allowed to drain their California aquifer source dry, unlike wells
in other states where extracted water is monitored so aquifers are not
significantly depleted, according to an <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140815-central-valley-california-drilling-boom-groundwater-drought-wells/" target="_blank">August 2014 National Geographic report</a>
on the boom in groundwater drilling in California's Central Valley.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>New Legislation to protect aquifers: Too little too late?</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New California legislation on groundwater pumping may
be too little too late to save heavily-tapped aquifers, since <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/09/140917-california-groundwater-law-drought-central-valley-environment-science/" target="_blank">many changes in new California laws will not take place until 2020</a>, based on resistance from California agricultural
lobbyists who have fought to allow Central Valley farmers access to new wells without extraction limits. Under the new laws drillers
have 5 to 7 years to develop extraction plans, yet <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/09/140917-california-groundwater-law-drought-central-valley-environment-science/" target="_blank">have until 2040 to implement them</a>, time which may be used to repeal these new laws by agricultural lobbyists, as composition of the State legislature changes over time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New sonar devices measure water source depth, aiding proportional usage limitations:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to a <a href="http://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/just-in/2014-08-15/drought-dowsing-goes-high-tech-sonar-devices-measure-water" target="_blank">Cal Alumni Association article</a>, "The
predominant techniques used to measure well water levels—measuring tapes or
pressure sensors—are labor-intensive and costly. The U.S. Geological Survey
monitors less than 10 percent of its 20,000 wells, <st1:state>California</st1:state>’s
Department of Water Resources monitors a few hundred." The article
continues to state that the development of new sonar devices which not only
locate aquifers but monitor their depth, may aid local legislation efforts to
monitor water extraction, so new agricultural wells are no longer draining water resources and aquifers completely dry in some regions of <st1:state>California</st1:state>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Resurgence of Dowsers in agricultural and Wine Country regions:</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Water witches," or dowsers, those who use so-called divining
rods (parallel hand-held metal rods) to locate
underground sources of water, have been in high demand since the current
drought has lingered and water restrictions have increased. Many practitioners are members of the <a href="http://dowsers.org/index.php/contact/local-chapters?sid=56:California" target="_blank">American Society of Dowsers</a> which has a San Jose chapter with both "spiritual" healing and water dowsers. The ASD also has a <a href="http://www.waterforhumanityfund.org/" target="_blank">Water for Humanity Fund</a> which seeks to use practical dowsing to improve global water sourcing and global water purification projects, among other goals. Their water dowsers have been
particularly popular in the Wine Country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C4zHxP1L8O8" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Pretty much all the farmers I know won't drill a well
if they don't have a dowser," <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/California-drought-Water-witches-in-demand-as-5708344.php" target="_blank">said Napa Valley vintner Marc Mondavi</a>, of
the famous wine-making family, who happens to be a dowser. Two years ago,
Mondavi released a new label - a Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay called the
Divining Rod - a tribute to his dowsing. Pretty much all of my weekends are
spent dowsing. I'm backlogged."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(SVL Note: We did a blind test of dowsing at a gathering in a rural wine country area, by loosely
holding parallel metal rods near a hidden water source known to only one attendee, yet not revealed to those present. About 30% of those who tried dowsing experienced crossed rods over the water source, while the remaining attendees experienced no reaction. Again, we were not told where the hidden water
source existed, we were told to walk around while loosely holding the rods parallel in our hands, "then see what happens." The metal rods in my hands crossed rapidly
over the water source, much like a magnet attracts a metal object. It was completely unexpected.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LraWFqIQmNM/VWGGblSa45I/AAAAAAAAAWY/-3uTQLSXjcM/s1600/March%2BMondavi%2Bat%2BCharles%2BKrug%2BSt%2BHelena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LraWFqIQmNM/VWGGblSa45I/AAAAAAAAAWY/-3uTQLSXjcM/s320/March%2BMondavi%2Bat%2BCharles%2BKrug%2BSt%2BHelena.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2014/11/14/40331/in-napa-and-beyond-winemaking-depends-on-witches/?slide=4" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marc Mondavi demo at Charles Krug</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dowsing practitioners like Mondavi claim a 95% success rate in locating water, yet without adequate regulations protecting California's aquifers from continued, non-monitored drilling and extraction, or a per unit reduction in the state's ABAG Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) mandate to provide low cost housing in proportion to new office development in Silicon Valley cities, California's water from all sources, may be in scarce supply by 2040.<br />
<br />
Take the California Water Challenge Quiz online:<br />
<br />
Next 10, a San Francisco-based ecological non-profit, hosts an online California Water Challenge Quiz and fact sheet which presents some interesting facts and water use alternatives for residents, along with the ability for residents to submit grass roots ideas on water conservation which might positively impact the availability of California's natural resources in future years.<br />
<br />
The Next 10 Water FAQ's and Quiz may be found at:<br />
<a href="http://www.cawaterchallenge.org/pages/overview" target="_blank">http://www.cawaterchallenge.org/pages/overview</a><br />
<br />
-----------------------<br />
<br />
Resources online and at your local library:<br />
<br />
To find a recent book or article on California's water challenges at your local library, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=su%3AWater-supply+California.&dblist=638&se=yr&sd=desc&fq=-fm%3Ajuv+%3E+ln%3Aeng+%3E+-fm%3Afic&qt=facet_fm%3A_content" target="_blank">check this list of titles on OCLC</a>.<br />
<br />
To find a book on Dowsing at your local library, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=dowsing+dowsers+California.&fq=&dblist=638&qt=sort&se=yr&sd=desc&qt=sort_yr_desc" target="_blank">check this list of titles on OCLC</a>.<br />
<br />
To find a book on California drought history and hydrology at your local library, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=hydrology+california+drought&qt=results_page" target="_blank">check this list of titles on OCLC</a>.<br />
<br />
To find a book on California legislation and well drilling technology at your local library, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=california+drilling+for+water+-oil&qt=results_page" target="_blank">check this list of titles on OCLC</a>.<br />
<br />
To find current California State Water Code, see <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml;jsessionid=8c570f098622df08b4081b631682" target="_blank">the California Water Code list at Leginfo</a>.<br />
<br />
To find recent or pending state legislation on California wells, safety, drilling and water extraction, <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml?quicksrchSelect=billKeyword&quickSearchParam=water+wells&quickSearchBoolean=true" target="_blank">see the current bill list at Leginfo</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-60851207257398829862014-05-25T02:16:00.002-07:002022-06-27T15:15:09.436-07:00Memorial Day and the Forgotten Comfort Women of WWII<div class="MsoNormal tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Silicon Valley may have it's first monument to the suffering of "Comfort Women," the young women and girls who were coerced into sexual slavery in Imperial Japanese Army-occupied East Asia during WWII, if a monument to remember the Holocaust and World Genocide is approved by one of our local cities<br /><br />To date, discussions on erecting a monument of this type have been tabled, apparently based on possible controversy with partners in local sister City programs. A group of area residents continue to revise and redesign memorial plans to accommodate concerns, hoping to to revisit approval for a world genocide memorial at future council sessions, much like the group who assisted Sonoma State University achieve consensus for it's elegant, educational Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Grove, mentioned below:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Hundreds of bricks display the messages of love, honor and hope. This project was launched by a few people with a budget of hope and promise, the joint efforts of the Sonoma State University School of Social Sciences, The Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide, The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust, and donor principal donor Mr. David Salm. It was made possible, too, by the generosity of the whole community and especially the businesses who have extended themselves in a most meaningful way to affirm the phrase 'Never again.' ” <a href="http://www.sonoma.edu/holocaustgrove/">http://www.sonoma.edu/holocaustgrove/</a></span></blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMA_WISdP48/U9MXAcT971I/AAAAAAAAAU4/rpT2T8kZ9AY/s1600/Lighted+Genocide+memorial+grove+sonoma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMA_WISdP48/U9MXAcT971I/AAAAAAAAAU4/rpT2T8kZ9AY/s1600/Lighted+Genocide+memorial+grove+sonoma.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sonoma.edu/pubs/newsrelease/archives/003403.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sonoma State University<br />Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Grove</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Why Remember Comfort Women?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Comfort Women have been viewed as victims of genocide, since many of the girls and young women who were coerced into sexual slavery during WWII, were left at the front to die by retreating Imperial Japanese Army troops. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Likewise, many surviving Comfort Women were left infertile due to shots they were given</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to control venereal diseases during the war.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sonoma State University, after careful deliberation and study, erected a <a href="http://www.sonoma.edu/holocaustgrove/" target="_blank">Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Grove</a> on campus. The focus of the memorial is a lovely sculpture by <a href="http://jann-nunn.com/section/276257_Holocaust_Genocide_Memorial.html" target="_blank">Jann Nunn</a> which serves as a beacon for peace, when lit after dark. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tiles with names of those who were lost to genocide form stylistic railroad ties under metal rods representing train tracks. These "track" converge under the green glass memorial, in a peaceful grove setting near a man-made lake on campus.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is inscribed at the base of the cylindrical sculpture:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "<i>Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.</i>"</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may view a segment of the 2009 Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Grove </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dedication Ceremony at Sonoma State University below, or at: <a href="http://youtu.be/RvpkvNIctz4" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/RvpkvNIctz4</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RvpkvNIctz4?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5cE0Da9jYo/U4GosyT81NI/AAAAAAAAATg/IozhWsgZMPI/s1600/Jan+Ruff+O'Herne+CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5cE0Da9jYo/U4GosyT81NI/AAAAAAAAATg/IozhWsgZMPI/s1600/Jan+Ruff+O'Herne+CW.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-wartime-sex-slave-jan-ruffohearne-hits-out-at-hideous-japanese-denials-20140224-33d4o.html" target="_blank">Jan Ruff-O'Herne</a>, a Netherlander, who</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was forced to serve as a Comfort</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woman at 17, in a WWII Imperial Japanese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Army Comfort Station in East Asia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The History of Comfort Women During WWII</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1932 <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=87bpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=shanghai+first+comfort+station&source=bl&ots=3rP5tbehkX&sig=cBry2catuLjFKb4ByZVfjYy6Af8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6KqCU-nqHtfpoATOzYLYBg&ved=0CCYQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=shanghai%20first%20comfort%20station&f=false" target="_blank">the first Comfort Station in Shanghai</a> was allegedly staffed by "volunteer" Japanese prostitutes. As the war expanded into Eastern Asia, more comfort stations were required by the Imperial Japanese Army, however, "volunteers" could not be found to fill new locations. More aggressive actions were employed to coerce, force or trick women and young girls into sexual slavery from regions surrounding new Imperial Japanese Army encampments beyond Shanghai. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is controversy as to whether the army or their agents or both, engaged in the coercion. What is clear, however, is that girls and women were sexually exploited and held captive for up to three years during the war, and in some cases murdered or left to die by retreating Imperial soldiers.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Girls and women from Korea, China, the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, <st1:country-region>Indonesia</st1:country-region>,
the Netherlands Dutch East Indies and Australia, were reportedly among victims coerced into sexual slavery for Imperial Japanese Army bases in East Asia.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The girls and women were called <i>ianfu</i>
by the Japanese, a euphemism meaning, "Comfort Women." Some teenagers and women came from vulnerable circumstances and were offered work in factories and laundries, yet were sent to fill new Comfort Stations outside of Shanghai, then not allowed to leave or return home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other Dutch women, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mard9WrYn2I" target="_blank">Jan Ruff-O'Herne</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(pictured above left) were found among girls living in Japanese concentration camps, who were told to line up and be inspected by Imperial Japanese Army officers. Officers selected girls from the lineup, then transported them to a military brothel, where they were told to either submit to officers or be murdered, and as O'Herne states, were raped repeatedly soon after they arrived.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Video of Jan Ruff-O'Herne and her daughters, telling her WWII story: <a href="http://youtu.be/Mard9WrYn2I" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/Mard9WrYn2I</a></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Mard9WrYn2I" width="560"></iframe>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20070628152156/http://www.awf.or.jp/woman/pdf/ianhu_ei.pdf" target="_blank">According to Japanese military documents</a>, the Comfort Stations were developed to prevent local "rape
crimes" by Japanese Imperial troops. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surviving Comfort Women like Jan Ruff-O'Herne, report that
they were raped multiple times each day by troops, with the number of rapes multiplied 4 to 5 times over weekends.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Reparations for Surviving Comfort Women</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kV1gAOkCjVU/U4Kg211zcmI/AAAAAAAAAUc/lgaZKHfDxTs/s1600/Ok-Seon+Lee+Guardian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kV1gAOkCjVU/U4Kg211zcmI/AAAAAAAAAUc/lgaZKHfDxTs/s1600/Ok-Seon+Lee+Guardian.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Former Comfort Woman Ok-seon Lee at a</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">shelter for former sex workers. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/05/japan-comfort-women-abe-apology" target="_blank">Guardian</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/07/29/206655160/statue-brings-friction-over-wwii-comfort-women-to-california">Ok-seon Lee</a>, (right) who stated that she was coerced into sexual slavery as a 15-year-old hotel worker and waslater stabbed by an Imperial Japanese Army officer, visited Washington DC to celebrate the anniversary of (2007) <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-110hres121ih/pdf/BILLS-110hres121ih.pdf">House Resolution 121</a> during a July 17, 2013 reception at the House of Representatives. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H. Res. 121 read, in summary:</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Force’s coercion of young women into sexual slavery, known to the world as ‘‘comfort women’’, during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II." </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Previously, in August 4, 1993, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan had issued what has become known as the <a href="http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/state9308.html" target="_blank"><i>Kono Statement</i></a>, which stated in part:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The recruitment of the comfort women was conducted mainly by private recruiters who acted in response to the request of the military. The Government study has revealed that in many cases they were recruited against their own will, through coaxing coercion, etc., and that, at times, administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments. They lived in misery at comfort stations under a coercive atmosphere.<br /> <br />Undeniably, this was an act, with the involvement of the military authorities of the day, that severely injured the honor and dignity of many women.<br />The Government of Japan would like to take this opportunity once again to extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women."</span></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/14/us-japan-korea-idUSBREA2D04R20140314">March 2014 statement</a> Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded to conservative Japanese politicians who requested that Abe, "water down" the 1993 Kono apology to Comfort women, alleging there was "no evidence of large-scale coercion by government authorities or the military." Abe refused, stating to a parliamentary panel:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"With regard to the 'comfort women' issue, I am deeply pained to think of the comfort women who experienced immeasurable pain and suffering, a feeling I share equally with my predecessors."<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The Kono Statement addresses this issue ... and, as my Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga stated in news conferences, the Abe Cabinet has no intention to review it."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many surviving Comfort Women and their families believe that an apology is not enough.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2007 there was some confusion over how funds and services for reparations to Comfort Women were being handled, according to the BBC. Some Japanese citizens raised private funds for <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6530197.stm">compensation to surviving Comfort Women</a> through the Asian Women's Fund. However, the BBC states that in some cases, the money went to medical centers and homes for the elderly, rather than to victims, while a few survivors received $16,700 from the fund. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NPR has developed a <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/06/04/134271795/comfort-women-untold-stories-of-wartime-abuse" target="_blank">slide-show on the testimonies of some surviving Comfort Women</a>, some of whom state that they were coerced into sexual slavery and raped at just 10
years of age.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were an estimated 200,000 women from <st1:place>East
Asia</st1:place> who were trafficked as Comfort Women during WWII, <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/06/04/134271795/comfort-women-untold-stories-of-wartime-abuse" target="_blank">according to historians</a>, so the lack of memorials to these exploited women and girls, is troubling to many worldwide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUxCubLS3P4/U4GuC-EijBI/AAAAAAAAAT4/VOcjXKTboac/s1600/Chinese+and+Malasian+Comfort+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUxCubLS3P4/U4GuC-EijBI/AAAAAAAAAT4/VOcjXKTboac/s1600/Chinese+and+Malasian+Comfort+girls.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women" target="_blank">Chinese and Malaysian girls</a> held at an</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imperial Japanese Army Comfort Station during WWII</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Koreans have spearheaded a movement to preserve the legacy
of Comfort Women, so their
suffering is not lost to history. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <st1:place><st1:city>Seoul</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region>Korea</st1:country-region></st1:place>, the<a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/07/29/206655160/statue-brings-friction-over-wwii-comfort-women-to-california" target="_blank"> bronze statue of a seated Korean girl</a>, representing a coerced WWII Comfort Woman,
faces the Japanese Embassy in silent tribute. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Korean residents in <st1:place><st1:city>Glendale</st1:city>,
<st1:state>California</st1:state></st1:place>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/07/29/206655160/statue-brings-friction-over-wwii-comfort-women-to-california" target="_blank">moved to erect a twin statue</a> of
the Seoul memorial statue at Glendale Central Park, yet were met with resistance from some in the Japanese community, who
claimed that all military Comfort
Women "were there voluntarily," which is only true in regards to the first Shanghai Comfort Station of 1932.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some Japanese-American residents found the
memorial "divisive," yet other residents referred to the statue as a "<st1:place><st1:placename>Peace</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Monument</st1:placetype></st1:place>."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/07/29/206655160/statue-brings-friction-over-wwii-comfort-women-to-california" target="_blank">A similar outcry</a> took place when a monument to Comfort Women
was erected in <st1:place><st1:city>Palisades Park</st1:city>, <st1:state>New
Jersey</st1:state></st1:place> in 2010. Japanese-American residents and representatives from the Japanese government asked the city council there to have it removed. However, Mayor <a href="http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/comfort-women-memorial-stays-in-palisades-park-despite-objection-from-japanese-government/" target="_blank">James Rotundo</a> stated that the monument was there for educational purposes, to raise awareness of the role of Comfort Women in WWII history.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gendale city council member Frank Quintero stated that <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/07/29/206655160/statue-brings-friction-over-wwii-comfort-women-to-california" target="_blank">many complaints about the memorial came from Japan</a>,
where some believed that the so-called, "Rape of Nanking" was also a
fabricated story, despite the fact that Japanese veterans who served in <st1:place>Nanking</st1:place>
in December 1937, admitted that a massive slaughter of non-combatants took
place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NN4yprsNLZM/U4Gu3PSRKxI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fYLh3OBDKAc/s1600/Bok-Dong+Kim+Glendale+7-30-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NN4yprsNLZM/U4Gu3PSRKxI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fYLh3OBDKAc/s1600/Bok-Dong+Kim+Glendale+7-30-13.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bok-Dong Kim, Survivor, Glendale </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WWII Comfort Women Memorial</span><br />
<a href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_23764692/glendale-unveils-comfort-women-statue" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contra Costa Times</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Historians estimate that the number of civilians slaughtered in <st1:place>Nanking</st1:place>
could be anywhere from 40,000 to 200,000, over the six-week period of time when the Japanese attack took place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.library.yale.edu/div/Nanking/Magee.html" target="_blank">Existing photos</a> show some prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Army being buried alive, and some mothers and
daughters raped with sticks, bottles and other weapons, then having expired from their injuries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Massacre photos were captured in
a <st1:date day="13" month="12" year="1937">December 13, 1937</st1:date> film by American Episcopal priest, John Magee,
who was a missionary to <st1:place>Nanking</st1:place> at the time of the Imperial Japanese Army assault. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Magee was credited with saving thousands of lives during the
slaughter. His witness to that event is memorialized at <st1:place><st1:placename>Yale</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype></st1:place>'s <a href="http://www.library.yale.edu/div/Nanking/Magee.html" target="_blank">Digital Archive of Documents and Photos from American Missionaries who Witnessed the Rape of Nanking</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Currently there are only <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/APf8284b54a7f646e8b015fbdf7dba7178.html" target="_blank">four memorials</a> to Comfort Women in
the <st1:country-region>United States</st1:country-region>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Why a Silicon Valley Monument Remembering Genocide During WWII?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Honoring and remembering the girls and women who were often fatally coerced into sexual slavery during WWII after the first "voluntary" Shanhai Comfort Station was expanded, as well as other nations who lost citizens to genocidal events in world history, remains important in returning dignity and respect to those who were affected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HkLqgGq9zts/U4Gw14Vv_8I/AAAAAAAAAUM/rXB3OU8eu8c/s1600/Jan+O'Herne+and+surviving+comfort+women+1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HkLqgGq9zts/U4Gw14Vv_8I/AAAAAAAAAUM/rXB3OU8eu8c/s1600/Jan+O'Herne+and+surviving+comfort+women+1993.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jan Ruff-O'Herne & surviving Comfort Women, Japan, 1993</span><br />
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-wartime-sex-slave-jan-ruffohearne-hits-out-at-hideous-japanese-denials-20140224-33d4o.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sydney Morning Herald</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By remembering thousands of Australian, East Asian and Netherlander Dutch East Indies women during World War II, the stories of those women will not be lost to history. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Public memorials, like the monument being considered by one Silicon Valley city, serve to raise awareness and prevent similar atrocities, reducing the likelihood that atrocities will be repeated, based on increasing public education on world history. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A public memorial may also serve to lift an undeserved residue of shame from those girls and women who were coerced and exploited into sexual slavery during WWII, yet have remained unable to speak of their wartime experiences and achieve healing. A growing wave of civic and global compassion for the suffering of Comfort Women through public monuments and programs, has slowly transformed the dynamic of hidden shame into a public recognition of courage and fortitude. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A public memorial may also serve to remove the veil of shame from contemporary victims of sexual assault and coercion, a silent yet profound gift to the many abused or exploited women and girls in our communities. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we can acknowledge the Holocaust in our history books and monuments, without first paring-down history to avoid offending those Americans of Austrian, German or Eastern European descent, we certainly may acknowledge the whole-scale coercion, exploitation and rape, of many thousands of East Asian, Australian and Netherlander Dutch East Indies women and girls during WWII, as viewed through the lens of <a href="http://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf" target="_blank">documented records</a> from the WWII era, where the massive and continued exploitation of women and girls was deemed an acceptable act of war.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
.................................................</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Conflict Surrounding UNAIDS and UN Resolutions Monitoring</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Trafficking and Prostitution Near Military Bases:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since prostitution near military bases has became a national and international issue, the United Nations, in 1950, attempted a treaty to monitor human trafficking and houses of prostitution. (Near military bases, these women were sometimes called "minor wives," since servicemen returned to the same woman regularly and often left children behind on exiting the service and returning home.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most notable UN Resolution on this issue was the 1985 report, <i>Activities for the advancement of women: equality, development, and peace: report of Jean Fernand-Laurent, special rapporteur on the suppression of the traffic in persons and the exploitation of the prostitution of others</i>, found at <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/activities-for-the-advancement-of-women-equality-development-and-peace-report-of-jean-fernand-laurent-special-rapporteur-on-the-suppression-of-the-traffic-in-persons-and-the-exploitation-of-the-prostitution-of-others/oclc/827301406?ht=edition&referer=di" target="_blank">WorldCat online</a>, which also displays where you may find this publication in your area.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The UN history of Chapter VII: Traffic in Persons (<i>Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others</i>) <a href="https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=VII-11-a&chapter=7&lang=en" target="_blank">may be found on the UN Web site</a>, which includes a record of each country's comments on Chapter VII as it pertains to their nation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently, in 2013 the United Nations group <a href="http://www.snap-undp.org/elibrary/Publication.aspx?ID=699" target="_blank">UNAIDS</a> was criticized for wanting to decriminalize "voluntary" global prostitution in order to better control AIDS and reduce sexual assaults and abuse, as stated in their <a href="http://www.snap-undp.org/elibrary/Publication.aspx?ID=699" target="_blank">2012 report</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many critics disagreed with the 2012 UNAIDS report, stating that global decriminalization of voluntary prostitution might lead to an increase in the illegal trafficking and exploitation of women and girls, supposedly working under the guise of "voluntary" service. It might not be easily proven that some so-called "voluntary" sex workers were in actuality, involuntary sex workers being held under duress due to enslavement or financial obligations to their employers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.................................................</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please also see my article about <a href="http://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.com/2012/07/last-may-marked-70th-anniversary-of-one.html" target="_blank">the Internment of the Japanese in the Bay Area during World War II</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
.................................................</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-32724266933290040592014-04-29T20:12:00.002-07:002022-06-27T14:11:30.844-07:00Shasta Dam, Cement Plants and Liberty Ships: Henry J. Kaiser, the City of Cupertino and the battle to reduce Silicon Valley Mercury pollution<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not many people realize that old Silicon Valley has ties with Shasta
Dam and the Liberty Ships of WWII, through industrialist Henry J. Kaiser.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-StSlhwzqLKE/U2BY6kQB2bI/AAAAAAAAAR4/GqUXXJ9YmoI/s1600/Kaiser+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-StSlhwzqLKE/U2BY6kQB2bI/AAAAAAAAAR4/GqUXXJ9YmoI/s1600/Kaiser+poster.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kaiser Overseas War Relief Poster</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%22WHAT_CAN_YOU_SPARE_THAT_THEY_CAN_WEAR%22_%22GIVE_CLOTHING_FOR_WAR_RELIEF%22._-_NARA_-_516124.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wikipedia</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kaiser, owner of Kaiser Aluminum and Kaiser Steel, was reportedly most
well known for his Kaiser Shipyards in <st1:place><st1:city>Richmond</st1:city>, <st1:state>California</st1:state></st1:place>,
where he built <st1:city>Liberty</st1:city> and Victory ships
during World War II. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was noted for the innovation of using welding instead of
rivets to build ships in just 5 days, a skill which could be taught quickly to inexperienced workers during WWII. Kaiser got the idea to use welding after one of his associates visited a Ford Motor Plant and watched workers on the assembly line. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Unfortunately the early ship welds cracked in cold
temperatures (called, "brittle fracture"), causing some Liberty ship
hulls to break in two at sea, before the hull design and welding process were more
closely monitored between 1947-1955.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is interesting to learn that Kaiser was also affiliated with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Hendy_Iron_Works" target="_blank">Joshua Hendy Iron Works</a> in <st1:city>Sunnyvale</st1:city>, which
built the EC-2 Triple Expansion Steam Engines for the Liberty ships Kaiser was
constructing in <st1:city>Richmond</st1:city>. More history on Hendy Iron Works may be found at the <a href="http://ironmanmuseum.com/" target="_blank">Iron Man Museum, housed at the Northrop Grumman Marine Systems Plant in Sunnyvale</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfUYOrjMWdA/U2BZ8jVWXMI/AAAAAAAAASA/yLe18HE2_vs/s1600/Triple-3+Steam+Engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfUYOrjMWdA/U2BZ8jVWXMI/AAAAAAAAASA/yLe18HE2_vs/s1600/Triple-3+Steam+Engine.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Liberty Ship Triple Expansion Steam Engine</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Liberty_ship_140-ton_VTE_engine.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wikipedia</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the construction of Liberty ships, Kaiser saw the need to provide a 10-bed emergency field
hospital for workers in a wooden shed at his Richmond Kaiser Shipyards, which
were the basis for the Kaiser Permanente medical plans
and hospitals which are still in existence today. The original Kaiser Field Hospital in <st1:city>Richmond</st1:city>
expanded to 160 beds by 1944, and continued to modernize until it finally closed in 1995 to become the "<a href="http://www.rosietheriveter.org/visit-discover/park-sites/item/55-kaiser-field-hospital" target="_blank">Rosie the Riveter" historical landmark</a> and musem. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the war era, Henry and Bess Kaiser owned a cabin along Permanente Creek
above Cupertino, where Bess felt the creek's
name would also be a good name for their Kaiser health foundation, since Permanente
creek ran perpetually, year-round, much like their health care for Alameda ship workers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What was once known as the Kaiser Permanente Cement Plant in
1939 before WWII, or Permanente Quarry (also named after Permanente Creek), was incorporated for
the <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao/shasta/virtual_tour.pdf" target="_blank">construction of Shasta Dam, completed in 1944</a>, to extract the unique seamount limestone from the hills above
Cupertino, creating gravel, mortar and cement for dam construction. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Kaiser Permanente Quarry seems not to be related to the 1918 construction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_ship">ferrocement ships in Oakland</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_ship">concrete barges later in 1943</a>. Likewise, the <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=543">concrete ship SS Palo Alto</a>, which now resides at Sea Cliff Beach in Aptos, does not seem to be related to Kaiser Permanente Quarry or the Kaiser shipyards.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An old railway line which can be seen near Hwy 85 and Stevens Creek Boulevard (near Cupertino Post Office), was once used to <a href="http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?city=Cupertino&country=California,%20USA" target="_blank">transport lime from the Kaiser Cement Plant to shippers</a> for dam construction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0yGvb8V3tQ/U2HhSp9BffI/AAAAAAAAATQ/nJ609w8iwIc/s1600/Last+Bucket+Concrete+Shasta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0yGvb8V3tQ/U2HhSp9BffI/AAAAAAAAATQ/nJ609w8iwIc/s1600/Last+Bucket+Concrete+Shasta.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=36122" target="_blank">USDI/BR</a> - Last bucket of cement used for Shasta Dam - 1944</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the Cupertino Kaiser Permanente Quarry has been an alleged source of ongoing pollution and controversy, since passing from Kaiser's ownership and becoming </span><a href="http://www.lehighsw.net/contact.htm#Lehigh_Southwest_Cement_Plants" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lehigh Southwest Cement (a Heidelberg Cement Group affiliate)</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Petroleum coke used to fuel lime production (since 2007), which along with limestone, off-gasses mercury emissions during processing, has led some to believe that the Cupertino Lehigh Cement plant <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=1239">allegedly is responsible for 29% of all Bay Area airborne mercury emissions</a>, perhaps impacting <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231009010668">Calero Reservoir, 20 miles away</a>, as well as local waterways.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since <a href="http://www.epa.gov/hg/health.htm" target="_blank">mercury is a significant neurotoxin</a> as well as a pollutant, and can become concentrated in local waterways, mercury now exists at allegedly <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231009010668" target="_blank">5.8 to 6.7 times higher in waterways near the Lehigh Cement plant, than at a site 2 miles away</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Likewise, groundwater is pumped into Permanente Creek from Lehigh quarry, so Selenium pollution in the creek (downstream from Lehigh quarry) was also found, indicating that the Lehigh quarry is <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=1239" target="_blank">allegedly the source of the pollution</a>. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "Quarry operations at the (Lehigh) cement plant have resulted in sediment discharges into Permanente Creek that are 3.5 times what would be expected under normal conditions," <a href="http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri894130" target="_blank">according to the USGS</a>. This sediment threatens local fish, which can no longer be safely eaten from <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=1239" target="_blank">Stevens Creek Reservoir</a> or <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=1239" target="_blank">Rancho San Antonio Reservoir</a>, due to mercury pollution levels from the Lehigh Cement plant, according the to City of Cupertino.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q79qKEV6Lw/U2Bm5tAD-fI/AAAAAAAAASQ/KyGqInJnGQg/s1600/Forum+Seniors+below+Lehigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q79qKEV6Lw/U2Bm5tAD-fI/AAAAAAAAASQ/KyGqInJnGQg/s1600/Forum+Seniors+below+Lehigh.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lehigh Cement Quarry above Cupertino Schools and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Homes, near Rancho San Antonio Preserve and Reservoir</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lehigh+Hanson+Cement+Plant+cupertino&aq=&sll=32.862718,-96.93969&sspn=0.012346,0.022531&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=Lehigh+Hanson+Cement+Plant&hnear=Cupertino,+Santa+Clara+County,+California&ll=37.317752,-122.089348&spn=0.047782,0.072956&z=13&iwloc=A" target="_blank">Google Maps</a> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lehigh Southwest Cement has been the target of numerous environmental court cases and lawsuits brought by local cities and environmental groups. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bay Area federal and regional water and air quality monitoring agencies and the Sierra Club, have also closely followed mercury and selenium pollution from Lehigh Cement, to counter apparent failures by state EPA monitors to accurately assess risks from plant emissions.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wocYb0QTlcY/U2BwiO_rfdI/AAAAAAAAATA/Ly7zYSbMYqs/s1600/20+worst+mercury+contamination+sites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wocYb0QTlcY/U2BwiO_rfdI/AAAAAAAAATA/Ly7zYSbMYqs/s1600/20+worst+mercury+contamination+sites.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_15222701" target="_blank">Mercury News 6-4-2010 Report</a> sites risks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Lehigh has worked to to bolster it's public relations efforts in the Valley, making large monetary and in-kind donations to the Cupertino Senior Center, the Cupertino Museum and Historical Society, and other local civic groups. <br /><br /> Brass wall plaques can be seen at the Senior Center, West Valley Community Services, and Quinlan Center (near the Cupertino Historical Museum), noting Lehigh Cement contributions to those entities, where Lehigh representatives also serve on boards of directors.<br /><br /> Unfortunately, the 20 worst mercury contamination sites in the state include five sites in Santa Clara Valley, with the worst being Almaden Lake. While some mercury pollution can be attributed to the Almaden Quicksilver Mines, the presence of Lehigh Cement pollution is also <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=1239">alleged to be a contributing factor to mercury pollution in our West Valley reservoirs and waterways</a>, according the City of Cupertino.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EucX3X5nFcU/U2BvZ0R9oiI/AAAAAAAAAS0/IlntsNfN1DU/s1600/Dont+eat+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EucX3X5nFcU/U2BvZ0R9oiI/AAAAAAAAAS0/IlntsNfN1DU/s1600/Dont+eat+fish.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.valleywater.org/mercury.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Santa Clara Valley Water District</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Posted Mercury pollution/unsafe Fish Sign</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most recently a <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/04/25/lehigh-cement-company-settles.html">$20 million judgment against Lehigh was won by the Sierra Club</a> ($10 million for the clean up of Permanente Creek, plus a $10 million bond, ensuring the work would be done in a timely manner).<br /><br />A <a href="http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/board_decisions/tentative_orders/Lehigh/TCDO.pdf">Cease and Desist Order</a> was pending against Lehigh Cement for anticipated inability to reach new cement plant EPA requirements in 2014, yet may not be implemented if restrictions are met.<br /><br />The City of Cupertino has documented pollution, violations and lawsuits against Lehigh Cement to raise public awareness about mercury and selenium pollution. A chronology of citations and lawsuits, as well as public hearings concerning Lehigh Cement pollution, may now be <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=944">found on the Cupertino City Web site</a>. </span></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-63689468440295492152014-01-25T02:21:00.003-08:002022-06-27T14:11:00.273-07:00Valley Vineyard and Winery History is a Story of Immigration and Dedication<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was surprised to learn that our valley was at one time
covered with vineyards. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bt5KHU_S7o/UuN-5-nsobI/AAAAAAAAAQA/m6Ey44REsqY/s1600/Gold+Rush+-+Public+Domain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bt5KHU_S7o/UuN-5-nsobI/AAAAAAAAAQA/m6Ey44REsqY/s1600/Gold+Rush+-+Public+Domain.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the Gold Rush, entrepreneurs were attracted to our fertile <st1:place><st1:placename>South</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> Valley so they could produce wine, brandy, and other products and goods, for the influx of immigrant miners flooding into San Francisco. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I state on my <a href="http://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.com/p/wine-history.html">Wine History</a> page, some East Coast sea captains (who brought miners to San Francisco), migrated to the fertile Santa Clara Valley, where they bought property and planted vineyards to produce the fortified wine and brandy so popular at the turn of the century. The East Coast already had a thriving wine and brandy culture in New England, with some vines imported from Europe, so these captains brought wine making and distilling skills with them, along with a desire to produce spirits for shipment to San Francisco, which was thriving due to immigrant prospectors seeking lodging, food, wine, and a way to spend their new fortunes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Captain <a href="http://wwwstatic.kern.org/gems/historicalSociety/Vol601March2010Web.pdf" target="_blank">Elisha Stephens</a> (of "<st1:place><st1:placename>Stevens</st1:placename>
<st1:placename>Creek</st1:placename></st1:place>") was one such English immigrant
noted for his brandies in <a href="http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=622" target="_blank">West Side</a> (now Cupertino), whose vineyards became part of what is now <a href="http://www.r-house.org/stevens-creek.html" target="_blank">Blackberry Farm</a> in <st1:city>Cupertino</st1:city>. <a href="http://www.santaclararesearch.net/SCBIOS/JJPIERCEbio.html" target="_blank">James Pieronnet Pierce</a> (an Englishman, whose father gave his sons $10,000 to emigrate to
America to make their fortunes), was part owner of the <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=499" target="_blank">Empire Gold Mines</a> in Grass
Valley, after building a sea wall in San Francisco. Pierce then moved to <st1:city>Santa
Clara</st1:city> where he purchased Enterprise Mill, which he
renamed <a href="http://www.santaclararesearch.net/SCBIOS/pacmanufact.html" target="_blank">Pacific Manufacturing</a>. What is not noted in area history records, is
that J. P. Pierce and Richard Thurston Pierce (his son), were noted as the most
important wine growers in the Valley in the 1870's. (A daughter, Frances
Pierce, married Lester Morse, son of one of the founders of the <a href="http://www.saveseeds.org/biography/ferry/" target="_blank">Ferry-Morse Seed Company</a>.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dhjz26yvWUM/UuN6Fd695SI/AAAAAAAAAPs/vrXVizrh4Qs/s1600/Vitis+Callifornica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dhjz26yvWUM/UuN6Fd695SI/AAAAAAAAAPs/vrXVizrh4Qs/s1600/Vitis+Callifornica.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vitis Californica - <a href="http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/Plant_of_the_Month/Vitis_californica--California_Wild_Grape/" target="_blank">UCANR</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The French were attracted to the Valley due
to economic tumult in <st1:country-region>France</st1:country-region>
during the Revolution, and the promise of riches from <st1:state>California</st1:state>
gold. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Antoine and <a href="http://www.r-house.org/barristers-barley.html" target="_blank">Delphin Delmas</a> were early French immigrants who were
instrumental in starting Valley nurseries which imported wine grapes from the
East Coast and <st1:place>Europe</st1:place>, to replace the disappointing
native <st1:state>California</st1:state> grapes, which
did not produce remarkable wine, yet attracted the early <a href="http://www.californiamissionstudies.com/Research/Articles/Wine_at_the_California_Missions.html" target="_blank">Mission</a> settlement in Fremont, since those native wild grapes were prolific along Valley streams and hillsides. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udMMIG_S7a8/UuN-UrbX1yI/AAAAAAAAAP4/UmOFtzp1DT0/s1600/Vitis+Vinifera+Cornell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udMMIG_S7a8/UuN-UrbX1yI/AAAAAAAAAP4/UmOFtzp1DT0/s1600/Vitis+Vinifera+Cornell.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vitis Vinifera - <a href="http://www.hort.cornell.edu/reisch/grapegenetics/bulletin/wine/winetext5.html" target="_blank">Cornell</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mountainwinery.com/about-the-mountain-winery/the-mountain-winery-history" target="_blank">Charles LeFranc</a>, another French Gold Rush
immigrant, bought land for his New Almaden Vineyards, and is considered to be
the father of commercial wine production. Philippe Prudhomme, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Sainsevain" target="_blank">Pierre Sansevain</a>,
John Auzerais, and others, also immigrated to the area and were considered to
be fathers of local wine production and grape importation, during the Valley's
wine heyday.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Many early imported vines came from New England and were of the <a href="http://www.hort.cornell.edu/reisch/grapegenetics/bulletin/wine/winetext5.html">Vitis Vinifera</a> variety. The early "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinfandel">Black St. Peter's</a>" version of this varietal was identical to Zinfandel, and was widely planted or grafted onto the <a href="http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/Plant_of_the_Month/Vitis_californica--California_Wild_Grape/">Vitis Californica</a> root stock. By 1860, it was considered to be the premier California wine grape, and in 1858 Delmas won awards for his "French Claret" made from his grafted Black St. Peter's grapes.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJqzR_IfRv8/UuN_VJ4nueI/AAAAAAAAAQI/v-Gbjy9ZX8E/s1600/Leland+Stanford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJqzR_IfRv8/UuN_VJ4nueI/AAAAAAAAAQI/v-Gbjy9ZX8E/s1600/Leland+Stanford.jpg" width="205" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leland Stanford (Public Domain)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The French Prune, Apricot and Cherry orchards of Blossom
Hill are well known, yet Stevens Creek Boulevard, Branham Lane, Delmas Avenue, Pierce
Road, Naglee School, Portal School, and other familiar roads and landmarks, are
named for early vineyard owners who also excelled in other aspects of civic
life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Like those men, <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/about/history/">Leland Stanford</a> was another early vineyard owner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stanford's ancestor, Thomas Stanford, emigrated to America in the 1700's and settled in Massachusetts. Leland Stanford, Sr. was born in New York where his father was a farm owner. He became a lawyer and practiced in New York and Wisconsin, until his law library and offices burned in a fire, and he decided to join his five brothers out West in California. <br /><br /> Jane's family would not allow her to move West with Stanford, so she remained in Albany, New York.<br /><br />Stanford opened a store for miners in Placer County and became Justice of the Peace, then helped organize the Sacramento Library Association (now Sacramento Public Library.) He rejoined Jane in Albany in 1851, but found Eastern life too dull after life in California, so Stanford and Jane moved to San Francisco in 1856, where Stanford joined Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins and Collis P. Huntingdon, the so-called "Big Four," in creating the <a href="http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/the-iron-horse/the-central-pacific-and-union-pacific-railroads.php">Central Pacific Railroad</a>, incorporating in June 28, 1861. <br /><br /> That same year Stanford was elected Governor in California, served for the required two years, then became involved in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Tevis">Pacific Union Express Company</a>, which would eventually merge with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Wells_Fargo">Wells Fargo and Company</a>, where Stanford was elected Director and would serve almost consistently in that role until his death in 1893. <br /><br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Tevis">Lloyd Tevis</a>, mentioned below in relationship to the Tevis/Novitiate vineyards above Lexington Reservoir, was one of Stanford's partners at Wells Fargo. Tevis was also a partner in <a href="http://haggin.org/PowerDuo.html">Haggin and Tevis</a>, a somewhat controversial San Francisco law firm. <a href="http://haggin.org/JBAH_Biography.html#top">Haggin</a> was an interesting pioneer from Kentucky who came to California during the Gold Rush to join Tevis, who was also his brother-in-law, in San Francisco. His family estate in Kentucky was ironically, near Lexington.)<br /><br />After profitable railroad pursuits Stanford became <a href="http://www.newclairvaux.org/leland-stanford-winery.html">enthralled</a> with wine-making after travel to France, bought agricultural property, and planted vineyards not only in near Menlo Park, but in Tehema County. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvo19LAtO08/UuQvtoROIiI/AAAAAAAAARA/yb9EGlluKQ4/s1600/Stanford+Barn+-+Cahill+Contractors.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvo19LAtO08/UuQvtoROIiI/AAAAAAAAARA/yb9EGlluKQ4/s320/Stanford+Barn+-+Cahill+Contractors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The old Stanford Winery today.<br /><a href="http://www.cahill-sf.com/experience/project/stanford-university-renovation-seismic-projects" style="text-align: start;">Cahill SF</a><span style="text-align: start;"> image (Photo no longer online)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stanford's property near Menlo Park, nicknamed "The Farm," not only had 900 horses, but a vast 158-acre vineyard which produced 60,000 gallons of wine per year. <br /><br />The old town of Mayfield, now where California Street sits in Palo Alto, was once the home of 13 saloons. Stanford wanted the entry gates to his new university to reside on Stanford Avenue near Hanover Street, if Mayfield residents would only vote to "go dry." <br /><br /> Mayfield residents rejected Stanford's offer, so Stanford asked Southern Pacific Railroad owner Timothy Hopkins, the adopted son of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Hopkins,_Jr.">Mark Hopkin's widow, Mary Hopkins</a>, to purchase 700 acres of private property North of the university, and sell off small lots. This community became known as University Park and was later incorporated as the town of Palo Alto. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jane Stanford was also active in local efforts to have Mayfield became a hub of the "<a href="http://www.paloaltohistory.com/liquor-in-palo-alto.php">dry town movement</a>" designed to ban saloons within the city limits. The Menlo Park-area vineyards were converted after his death by <a href="http://janestanford.stanford.edu/biography.html">Jane Lathrop Stanford</a>, however the winery building was preserved. Stanford's <a href="http://www.cahill-sf.com/experience/details.php?segment=Healthcare&sub_segment=Healthcare+Facilities&project_no=847">old brick winery</a> is used for shops and restaurants, on the West edge of the Stanford Shopping Center complex.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AC_gtEZpJXo/UuQz-1NM7pI/AAAAAAAAARI/SJp4j7beCA8/s1600/Governor+Stanford+Engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AC_gtEZpJXo/UuQz-1NM7pI/AAAAAAAAARI/SJp4j7beCA8/s1600/Governor+Stanford+Engine.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Governor Stanford Engine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Uploco.jpg" target="_blank">Public Domain</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We do
not have a Wine History Center in <st1:place><st1:placename>Santa Clara</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Valley to remember these early winery and vineyard owners</st1:placetype></st1:place>, despite the fact that wine
and vineyards were the bedrock of our early economic history, and these men were notable for so many other civic accomplishments. One of those notable men was Henry Naglee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morris_Naglee" target="_blank">General Henry Morris Naglee</a> was particularly interesting in regard to our early history,
since he was a Civil War Veteran who was also active in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War" target="_blank">Mexican-American War</a> which ended in 1848<st1:state>. </st1:state></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><st1:state><br /></st1:state></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Naglee bought land in East San Jose in 1852 and planted vineyards on returning from his last campaign, after travel to Europe where he visited Cognac and studied brandy production. From his efforts to produce a clear brandy from grafted, high-quality Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Charbono grapes, San Jose became a center of <a href="http://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/san-francisco-bay-area/santa-clara-valley/history">brandy and fortified wine production</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8-rbcePJpg/UuOBJHkBYpI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/2t1U6-AsbyM/s1600/Henry+Morris+Naglee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8-rbcePJpg/UuOBJHkBYpI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/2t1U6-AsbyM/s1600/Henry+Morris+Naglee.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Henry M. Naglee </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Public Domain)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=CF18770301.2.8" target="_blank">Naglee won numerous awards</a> for his "white
lightning," not because it was like French
brandy, but because it was considered to be excellent even by 1940, when remaining bottles were
tasted by local experts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He allegedly invited a group of pro-temperance teachers from San Jose Teacher's College (Also called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Normal_School">The Normal</a>") to tour "<a href="http://www.nagleepark.org/henrynaglee.html">Naglee Park</a>," in 1883, then served them lunch with lemonade laced with his clear brandy, causing some of the teachers to require assistance in mounting home-bound carriages. (1)<br /><br />His daughters sold off much of the estate after his death, and there was eventually a monument in his memory erected in <a href="http://www.sanjose.com/underbelly/unbelly/Sanjose/james/james10.html">Saint James Park</a>. <br /><br /> Naglee was quite a character and more information about him has been <a href="http://www.nagleepark.org/henrynaglee.html">documented</a> by local historians, notably, Charles L. Sullivan, Jack Douglas and April Halberstadt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/grapevine-phylloxera-northern-california-47340.html" target="_blank">Phylloxera</a> and The National <a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25154183?uid=3739256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103293119341" target="_blank">Prohibition</a> Act (also called the Volstead Act) had such a devastating
effect on <st1:place><st1:placename>Santa Clara</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>
vineyards and wineries, the vines were lost to inter-planted fruit trees, and
the valley turned towards stone fruits for economic survival. Only a few hearty vine growers and wine making families held out during Prohibition, along with the <a href="http://www.testarossa.com/the-historic-novitiate/" target="_blank">Novitiate</a>,
which produced sacramental wine for parishes in the state. Of those, <a href="http://www.mountainwinery.com/about-the-mountain-winery/the-mountain-winery-history" target="_blank">Paul Masson</a>, <a href="http://www.mirassou.com/history/" target="_blank">Pellier/Mirassou</a>, <a href="http://kirigincellars.com/history" target="_blank">Kirigin</a>, <a href="http://www.mounteden.com/history.html" target="_blank">Martin Ray</a>, along with
<a href="http://www.guglielmowinery.com/winery-history/" target="_blank">Guglielmo</a> and others, still retain historic vineyards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also of interest are the Tevis vineyards and the Swiss Chalet-style mansion which were located on 1,071 acres above what is now Lexington park and reservoir, now part of The Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District's <a href="http://www.openspacetrust.org/downloads/newsletters/Landscapes-SP00.pdf">Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.openspacetrust.org/downloads/newsletters/Landscapes-SP00.pdf" target="_blank">Tevis vineyards and mansion</a> were acquired in 1906 by Dr. Harry Tevis (son of the millionaire entrepreneur and 1872 Wells Fargo Bank President, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Tevis" target="_blank">Lloyd Tevis</a>.) Photo's of the estate may be found in the <a href="http://www.historylosgatos.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/Novitiate/id/23/rec/18" target="_blank">Novitiate Collection at Los Gatos Library</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lHGqDw-IQ2Y/Uz3Hmj3hzFI/AAAAAAAAARc/Lw6qAZu1IGU/s1600/Tevis+Saratoga+Club+House+Dining+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lHGqDw-IQ2Y/Uz3Hmj3hzFI/AAAAAAAAARc/Lw6qAZu1IGU/s1600/Tevis+Saratoga+Club+House+Dining+Room.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tevis Clubhouse Dining Room 1917 - <a href="http://losgatos.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/thanksgiving-at-the-tevis-estate-in-1917" target="_blank">Los Gatos Patch</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr. Tevis purchased the property from James C. Flood, owner of the 1871 stock brokerage firm, Flood and O'Brien. Flood was a colleague of Leland Stanford and one of the so-called, silver "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonanza_Kings" target="_blank">Bonanza Kings</a>." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flood's $100,000 investment in Virginia City, Nevada Comstock mines, eventually netted him, his partners and his investors over $150,000,000 from silver and gold, or approximately $3,000,000 per month for each year the mines were in operation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr. Tevis sold the property to the <a href="http://www.historylosgatos.org/cdm/ref/collection/Novitiate/id/8" target="_blank">Sacred Heart Novitiate</a> in Los Gatos, who then built <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma,_California" target="_blank">Alma College</a> on the site in 1943. Alma College was the <a href="http://www.historylosgatos.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/Novitiate/id/6/rec/2" target="_blank">first Jesuit Theological Seminary</a> on the West Coast and Governor Jerry Brown was once a student there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_8222780" target="_blank">Tevis Mansion burned down</a> on New Year's Eve night, 1970 and the property was sold to a Hong Kong casino owner in 1989, when it was slated to be developed as a gold course. According to <a href="http://www.openspacetrust.org/downloads/newsletters/Landscapes-SP00.pdf" target="_blank">historical records</a>, Novitiate wine from early Tevas vineyards was used to try to douse earlier fires on the property.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Wine and Immigration - Partners in early vineyard life</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story of our Valley's wine industry exists side-by-side with the stories of immigrants who came to California, not only to follow the Gold Rush and it's related industries, but <a href="https://www.loc.gov/search?new=true&q=immigration" target="_blank">to escape from wars, revolutions, famine, ethnic repression and extermination</a>, and capture the promise of a better life. That story continues today, although the industries now have changed to a more diverse economic culture.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYjMnEUGvXY/Uz3Lx15syRI/AAAAAAAAARo/_g8gvaMxKQ0/s1600/CAL+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYjMnEUGvXY/Uz3Lx15syRI/AAAAAAAAARo/_g8gvaMxKQ0/s1600/CAL+wine.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Californian Burgundy" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Californian-Burgundy.jpg" target="_blank">Yosemite Poster</a> by </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">London Wine Merchants</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Development of the local Wine industry at Old Almaden Winery in 1852, created a cultural phenomenon in the Bay Area allowing our region to become a Mecca for food and wine lovers, wine retreats, wine and cooking weekends, Wine and Art festivals, wine tasting tours, and wine history, just over two centuries since the first Mission grape was harvested for sacramental wine at <a href="http://www.missionsanjose.org/history.html" target="_blank">Mission San Jose</a>, now located in Fremont. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />With the addition of Native American, South American and Pacific Rim cultures, plus their traditional foods and new ethnic markets, we have a solid immigrant culinary base with a deep affinity to our local wine culture. <br /><br /> From that shared experience, we have strong local cultural support for organic, sustainable, locally-grown foods, breweries and wineries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's hard to believe that some of us are only a generation or two away from our own <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_21278625/commentary-many-old-silicon-valley-families-can-trace" target="_blank">immigrant roots</a>, while some of us are just beginning our journey as today's entrepreneurs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our wine history shares much of it's past with Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Napa Counties, where Santa Clara Valley families moved their wine making facilities after Prohibition and the housing boom here in the 1950's. If you explore those Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Napa Valley family names, you will see a similar salute to rugged and determined immigrant families who brought their native skills to the wines and vines of California, then stayed on to build civic centers, libraries, hospitals, and community places of pride and service, for today's families.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-------------</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">For more information about California Wine History, please see my </span><a href="http://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.com/p/wine-history.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Wine History Page</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and explore the wonderful books by </span><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Awine+california+au%3ACharles+L.+Sullivan&qt=advanced&dblist=638" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Charles L. Sullivan</a><span style="background-color: white;">, who taught a Wine History course at De Anza College for many years, and who was honored by the Wine Literary Foundation in 2008 for his exhaustive and intelligent work as a regional wine historian. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">--------<br /><br />(1) <i>Historic San Jose: Tales of Naglee Park</i>, Second Revised Edition by Jack Douglas: A project of the Campus Community Association. (Page 23, "Naglee Brandy" Chapter.)<br />Published by Campus Community Association, c. 2001, ISBN 0-9668707-2-7<br />(Articles originally appeared in the Campus Community Association newsletter.)</span></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-59704570728622986762013-11-15T02:54:00.002-08:002022-06-27T14:10:35.279-07:00Horrible Haiyan: We are all Filipino in Silicon Valley<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">My father was a Navy veteran stationed in East Samar during WWII. He had fond memories of the people he met there, and of their generosity and hospitality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rij4k6WjHyU/UoX1kgxhi7I/AAAAAAAAAPc/IJ5-1BJJvbE/s1600/Tinikling+Dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rij4k6WjHyU/UoX1kgxhi7I/AAAAAAAAAPc/IJ5-1BJJvbE/s320/Tinikling+Dancers.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; line-height: 18.229167938232422px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinikling" target="_blank">Philippine Cultural Dancers</a>: </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; line-height: 18.229167938232422px; text-align: start;">Kadena Air Base, Japan.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; line-height: 19.18402862548828px; text-align: start;">Senior Airman Nestor Cruz: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinikling" target="_blank">Wikipedia Commons</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">When he was not censoring mail, my father planted a large vegetable garden near his Quonset hut and shared his produce with the Guiuan Peninsula residents whom he befriended. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.184px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.184px;">They also shared their native culture and foods with my father, who was a gregarious butcher by trade, and an amateur chef by avocation, when he could pry my mother out of her kitchen back home. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many years later, at every holiday family gathering, my father spoke fondly of his time in the Philippines and the wonderful people he met there, entertaining our family with his many stories and memories. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">I became curious about our Filipino heritage here in Silicon Valley, when I realized that Guiuan, where my father was stationed, was hit by the recent Typhoon Haiyan and its destructive storm surge, which caused so much devastation in that region. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">My father would have been so sad to learn that descendants of the families who were so kind to him when he was so far away from home, had been so impacted by this recent natural tragedy. Likewise, the year before my mother died, she was brought bowls of pancit by visiting Filipino members of her former work community in Northern Silicon Valley. It had become one of her favorite foods from their potlucks at work. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">I am dedicating this column to Filipino families in our valley, who are now are suffering such tragic losses and challenges in grieving, locating or aiding their families back home, and who by extension, have been so kind to me and my family, among others they have touched in our community. Their tragedy is our pain, and we will stand by them until their suffering is eased.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first permanent settlement of Filipinos in the United States was comprised of
escaped sailors who had been pressed into service on Spanish galleons. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DIDKx2MGKW8/UoXXkaZlE4I/AAAAAAAAAN4/4WDCj2tpET0/s1600/Louisiana+settlement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:5ViewsOfStMaloLouisiana1883.jpg" border="0" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DIDKx2MGKW8/UoXXkaZlE4I/AAAAAAAAAN4/4WDCj2tpET0/s320/Louisiana+settlement.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5ViewsOfStMaloLouisiana1883.jpg" target="_blank">"Manila Village" Barataria Bay, Louisiana</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5ViewsOfStMaloLouisiana1883.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia Commons</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These escapees settled in "<st1:place><st1:placename>Manila</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Village"</st1:placetype></st1:place>
(<st1:place><st1:city>Barataria Bay</st1:city>, <st1:state>Louisiana</st1:state></st1:place>)
around 1763, although Filipinos were said to have arrived earlier in <st1:place><st1:city>Morro
Bay</st1:city>, <st1:state>California,</st1:state></st1:place> on Spanish
galleons, sometime around 1587.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Migration to the <st1:country-region>United States</st1:country-region>
began after the Spanish-American War, when the <st1:country-region>Philippines</st1:country-region>
became a territory of the <st1:country-region>United States</st1:country-region>
and Filipinos were exempt from immigration laws. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many early Filipino residents of <st1:state>California</st1:state>
were agricultural workers, yet some were students (primarily men) sent as
“pensionados,” through a Philippine Commission appointed by President McKinley
in 1901. The commission scholarship program for student
immigration was active between 1903 and WWII. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2UObh7_VQg0/UoXYFBrsqSI/AAAAAAAAAOA/6iFCcENl_TI/s1600/Filipino+American+Veterans+at+the+White+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_War_II_Filipino-American_veterans_White_House_May_2003.jpg" border="0" height="241" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2UObh7_VQg0/UoXYFBrsqSI/AAAAAAAAAOA/6iFCcENl_TI/s320/Filipino+American+Veterans+at+the+White+House.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_War_II_Filipino-American_veterans_White_House_May_2003.jpg" target="_blank">Filipino American Veterans</a> at the White House,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May 2003: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_War_II_Filipino-American_veterans_White_House_May_2003.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia Commons</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the war the United States Navy recruited Filipinos, who were by that time subject to an immigration quota of only 50 persons per year, due to the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which named them “aliens.”</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />After the war, The War Brides Act of 1945 and Alien Fiancées and Fiancés Act of 1946, allowed 16,000 Filipina war brides (and one groom) to come to the United States to be married. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many early nuclear families were located near Navy, Army, and Air Force bases, where some Filipino communities still reside today.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Luce-Celler Act of 1946 allowed 100 Filipinos to immigrate to the United States and petition to become citizens each year, to prevent them from being barred from entry once the Philippines gained their independence from the United States. (The act also allowed 100 Indians to immigrate annually as well.)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a wonderful online collection with San Francisco photos of Filipino life in the 1950’s, please
see <a href="http://thealvaradoproject.com/exhibit/" target="_blank">The Alvarado Project Exhibit: </a><i><a href="http://thealvaradoproject.com/exhibit/" target="_blank">Through My Father’s Eyes</a>.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRWmD21qbtM/UoXZkUgrOvI/AAAAAAAAAOM/DgyMIgqZnmo/s1600/Lapog+sons+of+San+Jose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt0j49p9vc/?query=lapog%20sons%20of%20san%20jose&brand=calisphere" border="0" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRWmD21qbtM/UoXZkUgrOvI/AAAAAAAAAOM/DgyMIgqZnmo/s320/Lapog+sons+of+San+Jose.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt0j49p9vc/?query=lapog%20sons%20of%20san%20jose&brand=calisphere" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John C. Gordon Collection: SJSU Special Collections</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From 1965 and into the 1990’s, the Family Reunification portion of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 allowed many highly skilled and educated Philippine natives to enter the United States. <br /><br /> Filipinos provided the US with a high proportion of health care professionals, and Filipino nurses were highly sought after by other countries, since there were nursing shortages both in the US and worldwide.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like many other cultures, Filipino Americans were subject to
early prejudice, which caused them to settle in what were called “Little
Manilas,” communities centered around larger urban cities, which would eventually disperse in later years.
In <st1:state>California</st1:state>, Filipino Americans
intermarried more and clustered less than in other areas of the
country, and seemed to own more businesses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qjEx9ReF8kU/UoXaE2Qm8hI/AAAAAAAAAOU/tph3ATNRL-M/s1600/Itliong+mural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philip_Vera_Cruz_and_Larry_Itliong.jpg" border="0" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qjEx9ReF8kU/UoXaE2Qm8hI/AAAAAAAAAOU/tph3ATNRL-M/s320/Itliong+mural.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AWOC/ UFW leaders Larry Itliong & Philip Vera Cruz. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philip_Vera_Cruz_and_Larry_Itliong.jpg" target="_blank">Tim Biley</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philip_Vera_Cruz_and_Larry_Itliong.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia Commons</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some Filipino American agricultural workers were very active in the early farm worker
movement in <st1:place>Northern California</st1:place>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, co-founders of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), which had already mounted a grape strike in Delano, merged with the National Farm Workers Association founded by Cesar Chavez, whose NFWA group walked the picket line in solidarity with AWOC workers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The merged group became known as the United Farm Workers Association, whose goals were to increase their impact in achieving a shared vision of equity and respect, and to obtain unemployment insurance for farm workers. UFWA later evolved into a farm workers’ union under the AFL-CIO, and was renamed the United Farmworkers Union.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The work of Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, when allied with Cesar Chavez, benefited all Filipino groups and opened many doors for later generations. Filipino American’s today maintain above average higher education rates, with most students gaining a Bachelor’s degree and advanced degrees in the fields of education and information technology, and in all health-related fields. The <a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/img/img-workforce-paper.pdf">American Medical Association</a> reports that Filipino Americans are the second largest group of foreign-trained physicians in the United States.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Likewise, Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian
American group in the <st1:country-region>United States</st1:country-region>
(after Chinese Americans) and generally enjoy a longer life expectancy than
most other Americans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HBxheXNkQgo/UoXdcZ8BOhI/AAAAAAAAAOg/O_j7_CSaj58/s1600/Filipino+Fusion+Truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HBxheXNkQgo/UoXdcZ8BOhI/AAAAAAAAAOg/O_j7_CSaj58/s320/Filipino+Fusion+Truck.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">Bay Area, Se</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">ñ</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">ior Sisig Filipino Fusion Truck.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Senor_Sisig_Filipino_Fusion_Food_truck.jpg" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Esque Magazine</a><span style="text-align: start;">: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Senor_Sisig_Filipino_Fusion_Food_truck.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia Commons</a>.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the Silicon Valley region, the 2010 US Census reported 105,403 persons of Filipino descent are among the 1,836,911 residents in this area, or 5.73% of the total valley population. <br /><br />In contrast, the entire San Francisco Bay area (San Francisco and Oakland, South to Fremont) has 287, 879 Filipino residents among 4,335,391 total residents, or 6.64% of the total population in this region.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the 2002 US Economic census, Filipino-owned businesses are primarily in the medical, dental and optical fields, and include Filipino-owned restaurants. In Northern California most of these businesses are located in the Bay Area<st1:place>, with Santa Clara County now home to the largest Filipino community in Northern California. (Los Angeles has the largest population of Filipino Americans in Southern California</st1:place>.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdt7a7gmKKo/UoXeN0qx-OI/AAAAAAAAAOo/MvCL3N3VVTA/s1600/Lloyd+LaQuesta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdt7a7gmKKo/UoXeN0qx-OI/AAAAAAAAAOo/MvCL3N3VVTA/s200/Lloyd+LaQuesta.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lloyd LaCuesta, <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012/04/25/all-hail-lloyd-lacuesta-iron-man-of-local-tv-news/" target="_blank">Image: Courtesy of KTVU</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Notable Bay Area Filipinos include:<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012/04/25/all-hail-lloyd-lacuesta-iron-man-of-local-tv-news/">Lloyd LaCuesta</a> – KTVU television journalist and South Bay bureau chief<br /><br /><a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=69330&ticker=IKAN&previousCapId=137692&previousTitle=IKANOS%20COMMUNICATIONS%20INC">Diosdado Banatao</a> – Engineer, philanthropist and businessman</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FK_cYlmr2zI/UoXhzFldwoI/AAAAAAAAAO0/sTQnXCFS2hM/s1600/Rob+Bonta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FK_cYlmr2zI/UoXhzFldwoI/AAAAAAAAAO0/sTQnXCFS2hM/s200/Rob+Bonta.jpg" width="160" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rob Bonta, <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a18/" target="_blank">ASMDC.org</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9FeSuYtvmQ/UoXiP65u9oI/AAAAAAAAAO8/53b_nfIic1s/s1600/Jose+Estevez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9FeSuYtvmQ/UoXiP65u9oI/AAAAAAAAAO8/53b_nfIic1s/s200/Jose+Estevez.jpg" width="157" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jose Esteves, <a href="http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/government/council/esteves.asp" target="_blank">City of Milpitas</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a18/" style="line-height: 14.4pt;" target="_blank">Rob Bonta</a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 14.4pt;"> (Left) </span><span style="line-height: 14.4pt;">– The first Filipino American California State Legislator</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/government/council/esteves.asp" target="_blank">Jose Esteves</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> (Right) </span>– Mayor of <st1:city>Milpitas</st1:city> and former city councilman</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
<a href="http://fanhs-santaclara.org/index.html" target="_blank">Filipino American National Historical Society</a> (FANHS) Santa Clara Valley Chapter
has more information on the history of local Filipino Americans in our valley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.filchamber.org/" target="_blank">Filipino AmericanChamber of Commerce of Santa Clara County</a> also has resources for tapping the wealth of experience in the Filipino community of Silicon Valley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">------------</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To contribute funds to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) flood relief efforts in the Philippines, please see the list of relief organizations vetted as credible by APALA, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance of the AFL-CIO: <a href="http://apalanet.org/apala-blog/yolanda/">http://apalanet.org/apala-blog/yolanda/</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---Catherine Denise Alexander, The Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
</div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-67976217498308080372013-07-02T14:18:00.001-07:002022-06-27T14:10:12.223-07:00Special Effects: Mt. Lassen, Stanford University, and Monte Sereno's Fred Hitt<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of early <st1:place>Silicon Valley</st1:place>'s
less-known but wildly interesting characters was the brother of Thomas Gabriel
Hitt (1874-1958), a <st1:city>London</st1:city>
pharmacist and chemist who was nearly expelled from <st1:place><st1:placename>Westminster</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>College</st1:placetype></st1:place> for creating fireworks,
which he kept hidden under his college bed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GouSXoXauzw/UdM68-ZOnxI/AAAAAAAAAMA/gxnObtlJzBU/s200/Hitts_Cauldron.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="157" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=3348" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hitt's firework label 1920</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T.G. Hitt left England in 1899 and emigrated to Victoria, British Columbia, where he established Hitt Brothers Fireworks Company with his younger brother, Fred G. Hitt, who later became a Monte Sereno native. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1905 the two brothers moved to Columbia City, Washington, just outside of Seattle, where T.G. bought four acres of rural, wooded hillside. He incorporated his fireworks factory there under the name Strontia and Chemical Manufacturing Company, only to change the name back to Hitt Fireworks Company two years later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the new hillside factory, T.G. Hitt could test his fireworks and explosions without disturbing neighbors, who came to refer to the site as "Hitt Hill." His brother Fred eventually moved to Monte Sereno, where he was an avid organist, which will have significance later in this story, but more about that later.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j6MY_qnW1SI/WQ_Jpm2XHAI/AAAAAAAAAiw/On1jtzt5nTMnGZ95Fkxt6n7C7QbCXg3zwCLcB/s1600/Fred%2BHitt%2BPacific%2BStates%2BFireworks%2BFactory%2BMonte%2BSereno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j6MY_qnW1SI/WQ_Jpm2XHAI/AAAAAAAAAiw/On1jtzt5nTMnGZ95Fkxt6n7C7QbCXg3zwCLcB/s320/Fred%2BHitt%2BPacific%2BStates%2BFireworks%2BFactory%2BMonte%2BSereno.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fred Hitt's home and Pacific States Fireworks Factory, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Monte Sereno, 1925 (<a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2007/10/03/historic-monte-sereno-photos-to-be-displayed-at-saratoga-library/" target="_blank">SJ Mercury News</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Monte Sereno, Fred, an engineer by training,
specialized on the more practical side of the Hitt brother's business by
producing flares for boats, auto owners, and railway engineers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The company
also produced flares used to exterminate moles and gophers, as well as a noisy product
called "Doggone," which a postal worker could use to discourage hostile
dogs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZLguPQOvxM/UdM7LJOpdmI/AAAAAAAAAMI/AN5Gu1XIoWU/s260/Hitt_Fireworks_Sheds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fred Hitt's Pacific States Fireworks Factory, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monte Sereno, 1940 (<a href="http://www.historylink.org/File/3348" target="_blank">HistoryLink.org</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hitt's bread and butter (in the previously Chinese-dominated
fireworks industry) was something called a "Flashcracka," a small, loud
firecracker, as well as other smaller firework products like coils of loud
caps for cap pistols, crystals which could be thrown into a fire to create a
rainbow of colors, Roman candles, sparklers, black snakes, and other affordable
novelties.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Hitt brothers substituted photographic black powder (an
oxidizer plus magnesium or aluminum powder) for the potassium nitrate which had
been used by Chinese fireworks manufacturers. This change made Hitt's
firecrackers louder and more startling than the products of their Chinese predecessors, and allowed the Hitts to further stun and amaze during their pyrotechnic displays. Over time Hitt shared his formula with Chinese
manufacturers, who then started mass-producing Flashcrackas for the Hitts. W.E. Priestly, Hitt's cousin, began selling Hitt's fireworks internationally with great success.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1aJJrW6VC0/UdM7aFSNX2I/AAAAAAAAAMU/zbBlTnuw9TE/s200/Ray+Hitt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="110" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Raymond Hitt</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1aJJrW6VC0/UdM7aFSNX2I/AAAAAAAAAMU/zbBlTnuw9TE/s438/Ray+Hitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <st1:city>Seattle</st1:city>, T.G.
Hitt and his son, Raymond (shown to the left), were known for creating elaborate sets and
recreating famous historical events. Their productions involved extreme and explosive pyrotechnical displays using life-sized, painted replicas of city scenes,
plus performances by chorus girls and military drill teams. The grand finale of
each event was the conflagration of the entire set, most notably in their more famous recreations
of the Fall of Babylon, the Last Days of Pompeii, and the Great Fire of 1889 (Seattle).</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">News of their propensity for building life-sized, historical
replicas, then destroying them in over-the-top firework extravaganzas, traveled to <st1:city>Hollywood</st1:city>, where
they were hired to stage explosive special effects for major movie productions, including:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>1926: What Price Glory</i>: Explosions and fires</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>1930: All Quiet on the Western Front</i>: The
explosive battle scenes</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>1939: Gone with the Wind</i>: The famous burning of <st1:city>Atlanta</st1:city> scenes</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Likewise, they created astounding and elaborate
firework displays for annual Fourth of July events, commercial events, and the grand-opening celebrations for national and international fairs:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1909:
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in <st1:city>Seattle</st1:city></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1915:
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition in <st1:city>San
Francisco</st1:city></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1926:
The <st1:city>Philadelphia</st1:city>
Sesquicentennial</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1939:
The <st1:state>New York</st1:state> World's Fair </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Di-XO0cg0xc/UdM_RZHZeFI/AAAAAAAAAMg/f0iIeSBv_IA/s256/Mt+Lassen+1915+eruption.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eruption of Mt. Lassen, 1915 <a href="http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs022-00/" target="_blank">USGS</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Di-XO0cg0xc/UdM_RZHZeFI/AAAAAAAAAMg/f0iIeSBv_IA/s256/Mt+Lassen+1915+eruption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notably, Hitt Fireworks also created products for the military during World War II. Those products included parachute flares for soldiers, allowing them to see
the ground before landing, plus large-scale smoke bombs to hide military bases and
shipyards during the war.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My favorite story, however, most likely because it is a
local one and it involves a truly over-the-top idea by the National Park
Service, concerns Monte Sereno pipe organ-playing engineer and resident,
Fred G. Hitt. First, some background.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ray Lyman Wilbur was born in Boone County Iowa and was the brother of Curtis Dwight Wilbur, who became United States Secretary of the Navy
under President Calvin Coolidge. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While a freshman at <st1:place><st1:placename>Stanford</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Ray Wilbur met fellow student Herbert
Hoover, who at the time was working for a local laundry and trying to encourage
students to become regular customers. <st1:city>Hoover</st1:city>'s
wife was a college friend of Marguerite May Blake, who became Wilbur's wife,
and the two couples remained lifelong friends. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvYJzQ8Ab9U/UdNDDMwy3CI/AAAAAAAAANA/y993NdPSi3U/s320/USGS+Mt+Lassen+1915.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eruption of Mt. Lassen 1915, as seen in Red Bluff, CA. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo/naturescience/eruption_lassen_peak.htm" target="_blank">NPS</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1929 after being elected president, Hoover nominated Wilbur (now the President of Stanford University), as the 31st US Secretary
of the Interior. (Wilbur was later criticized for renaming Boulder Dam after
President Hoover.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wilbur retained a lifelong interest in the welfare of Native Americans. He reorganized the Bureau of
Indian Affairs to improve Native American prospects and living conditions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1927 when the California State Park Commission was established by the State Legislature, Ray Wilbur, who was a Bohemian Club, Pacific Union Club, and Commonwealth Club member, was appointed to serve with three other commissioners.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because of <st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype> Lassen's ties
with the Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi, and Maidu tribes, it may have been a site of
particular interest for Wilbur when it was finally protected by Congress in 1916 as the
fifteenth national park, after a series of volcanic eruptions in
1914 and 1915.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xx40HbLlXOY/UdM_ckmJ7-I/AAAAAAAAAMo/OkAgD3O7cpE/s320/PopScience_Hitt_Lassen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="231" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Magazine Cover, November 1931</span><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/popularscience/vintage-covers-1930s/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pinterest, Popular Science</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xx40HbLlXOY/UdM_ckmJ7-I/AAAAAAAAAMo/OkAgD3O7cpE/s683/PopScience_Hitt_Lassen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To celebrate the grand opening of the new park in 1931, after roads were finally constructed making the park accessible to the public, something spectacular was needed after Wilbur, as Secretary of the Interior,
addressed national and state dignitaries. Monte Sereno resident Fred Hitt was
hired to simulate the 1915 volcanic eruption of <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename>Lassen</st1:placename></st1:place>, using fireworks, shells, and <st1:stockticker>TNT</st1:stockticker>,
with the help of park service workers and an elaborate series of electric signals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to a July 1931 San Francisco Associated Press
article which was carried nationally:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Using tons of powder and chemicals, carried on the
backs of mules to an elevation of more than 10,000 feet, a score or more of
pyrotechnic experts, wearing gas masks will attempt to duplicate the 1914
eruption of <st1:place>Lassen Peak</st1:place>, July 25. The park, containing 163 square miles and surrounding the
only semi-active volcano in the continental <st1:country-region>United
States</st1:country-region>, was created by Congress in 1916, but
has heretofore been inaccessible to the public. A new highway into the heart of
the park has just been completed."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bs-ZEcyC3n8/UdM_u3g0EeI/AAAAAAAAAMw/M67g6VdHUDw/s320/Niagra+Falls+Gazette+7-11-1931_Hitt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="223" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Niagra Falls Gazette, Man-made Eruption</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">July 11, 19231, <a href="http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%208/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201931%20Jul-Sep%20Grayscale/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201931%20Jul-Sep%20Grayscale%20-%200045.pdf" target="_blank">Fulton History</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bs-ZEcyC3n8/UdM_u3g0EeI/AAAAAAAAAMw/M67g6VdHUDw/s671/Niagra+Falls+Gazette+7-11-1931_Hitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The article goes on to describe two planned man made
"eruptions," one to last 20 minutes, with the second to last 40
minutes. Inside the crater Hitt planted 38-inch shells to simulate the heavy
smoke of one original eruption, termed "Vulcan's Face," which seemed to form a
man's facial features during the 1915 eruption of Mt
Lassen. After the two mock eruptions, Hitt planned an hour of
fireworks followed by a mock thunder and lightning storm. The AP reporter goes on to state:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Twelve-pound rockets and 38-inch shells will be
employed. Each shell is designed to make 500 lightning flashes, with thunder
clashes such as accompany each electric discharge during a natural storm. The
red lava overflow from the crater will be simulated by specially devised flares
and powder flashes. Fred G. Hitt, the expert in charge of the display,
believes...(the effect will have) a fair measure of success. "</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But why is Fred's organ-playing notable in this story about Mt. Lassen? According the unnamed AP reporter:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Much of the firing will be done by electric currents,
transmitted by wire from a sufficient distance to give the director in charge
(Fred Hitt) a perspective of the entire display. The men in the thick smoke of
the crater will place and discharge the huge shells, bombs, and rockets in
accordance with a carefully arranged schedule and specific instructions
received over the signal wires. To create the lurid glow of a volcano in
action, rockets that burn brilliantly for 40 minutes will be set off, 50 at
a time, at frequent intervals. To effect
the lava glow alone, 1,000 pounds of flares will be ignited."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRvNE3O1OF4/UdOOh_scGII/AAAAAAAAANQ/NL9BcLhVOh4/s511/Fred+G+Hitt+at+Mt+Lassen+1931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the event, Interior Secretary Wilbur observed:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRvNE3O1OF4/UdOOh_scGII/AAAAAAAAANQ/NL9BcLhVOh4/s320/Fred+G+Hitt+at+Mt+Lassen+1931.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="216" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fredd Hitt setting charges at Mt. Lassen, 1931</span><br />
<a href="http://www.susanvillestuff.com/the-year-the-park-service-blew-up-mount-lassen/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Susanville Stuff</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Governor Rolph and I were on the program in the early
afternoon of the second day---just before the fireworks began. These took the
form, at <st1:time hour="16" minute="0">4:00 P.M.</st1:time>, of a 'reproduction of typical daylight eruption of <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename>Lassen</st1:placename></st1:place>,' and, at <st1:time hour="20" minute="0">8:00 P.M.</st1:time>, a 'gigantic pyrotechnic display from
the top of <st1:placetype>Mt. </st1:placetype> Lassen'---both of which events we
(along with thousands of other Californians) viewed from <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/upload/park_map_with_volcanic_structures.pdf" target="_blank">Kings Creek Meadows</a>....their artificial, man-made 'eruption' turned out to be even more
spectacular than some of Mt. Lassen's own have been. Clouds of smoke rose from
the crater, which was ringed with red fire. At night the peak sparkled with
aerial flares, bombs and rockets, and the final phase of the fireworks display
simulated a molten lava flow, with wave after wave of red fire rolling over the
crater's rim and down the bare rocky slopes."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems that Fred Hitt not only played the pipe organ
masterfully, but tinkered with and repaired pipe organs over the years. As a
result, it's not surprising to learn that Hitt used an old pipe organ keyboard
to detonate the simulated <st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype> Lassen eruptions
and send signals to the gas-masked men in Lassen's volcanic crater, telling them when
to discharge their rockets, shells, and bombs, during what was most
likely, the most unusual event in California and National Park Service history.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many thanks to the Free <i>Online
Encyclopedia of Washington State History</i>, <i>The SCHOONER Project</i>, Rainer County Historical Society, and King County Library for material on the
Hitt family posted in <a href="http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=3348" target="_blank">History Link #3348</a> at HistoryLink.org </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More information on
opening ceremonies at <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename>Lassen</st1:placename>
<st1:placename>Volcanic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>
can be found in the November 1931 issue of <i>Popular
Science</i>. Some issues can be found <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Popular_Science.html?id=2CgDAAAAMBAJ" target="_blank">online</a> through Google Books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The Memoirs of Ray
Lyman Wilbur: 1875-1949</i> , Stanford University Press, 1960, can be found
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=N1ejAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">online</a> through Google Books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1931 San Francisco AP article on the dedication
ceremonies at <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename>Lassen</st1:placename>
<st1:placename>Volcanic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>
can be found in online newspaper image records for the <a href="http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%208/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201931%20Jul-Sep%20Grayscale/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201931%20Jul-Sep%20Grayscale%20-%200045.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Niagra Falls Gazette</i></a> (pictured) and
<i>The Reading Eagle</i>. I believe the image of Fred Hitt was taken from an earlier <i>NPS Museum <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/park_histories/index.htm" target="_blank">Gazette</a></i> article, but it could also have been taken from the <i>Popular Science</i> Magazine article of 1931. I have searched online for provenance but only find it <a href="http://www.susanvillestuff.com/2012/01/the-year-the-park-service-blew-up-mount-lassen/?print=1" target="_blank">reproduced</a> without clear attribution. There is a 1931 NPS publication which covers the re-creation of the Mt. Lassen eruption and fireworks event at the park's dedication, but it seems to have disappeared from online sources.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More images of the eruption of Mt. Lassen in 1914 and 1915 can be found online through the <a href="http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/lavo/" target="_blank">National Park Service</a> and <a href="http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs022-00/" target="_blank">USGS</a> Web sites.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heartfelt thanks to <a href="http://www.cupertinohistoricalsociety.org/" target="_blank">Cupertino Historical Society</a> and Rotarian,
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions/rotary-international/douglas-mcneil" target="_blank">DougMcNeil</a>,</span> for his slide-talk on Monte Sereno history, with a hope that
more about that lovely town and it's notable figures will be preserved and
placed online by a future Monte Sereno historical group.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Reading Eagle of Sunday July 19, 1931, also carried a story on the Mt. Lassen event, which can be found at this link in <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19310718&id=4BcxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bOEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3446,3038890">Google News</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All material was accessed online, <st1:date day="1" month="7" year="2013">July 1, 2013</st1:date>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---Catherine Denise Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-67214104092894150112013-06-18T20:57:00.005-07:002022-06-27T14:09:49.841-07:00BART, KQED, Bridges and Baseball - Quaking in 1989<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A friend invited me to a restaurant in Sausalito recently. Thinking about the drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County brought back many bittersweet memories of wonderful and tragic days in San Francisco's seismic history. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I used to work at KQED, first in TV programming, then in FM, over several years in the City. Before KQED moved to it's present Potrero Hill location, we used to have our studios and offices near the overpass at 8th and Bryant, South of Market, at the edge of the Tenderloin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MsbmXsR0PoQ/UcErVaroeoI/AAAAAAAAAJI/BU1jMWLHC0I/s1600/Golden+Gate+-+Larkspur+Ferry.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MsbmXsR0PoQ/UcErVaroeoI/AAAAAAAAAJI/BU1jMWLHC0I/s1600/Golden+Gate+-+Larkspur+Ferry.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">After disembarking from the Larkspur Golden Gate Ferry, our regular MUNI driver crooned soft pop and jazz as we moved South down Market Street through the Financial District from the Ferry Terminal. Regular riders brought him fresh morning coffee from the ferry's refreshment bar and we knew him by name. His voice sounded just
like Lou Rawls and it was a great way to travel in the City. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />
Every morning I had hot tea, a muffin, and read a newspaper with other City-bound commuters on the ferry. With the breathtaking early morning and late afternoon views, I believed then that I had possibly the
best commute of anyone on the planet. That all changed on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klRF28RKHZQ/UcEre6QG6fI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/LIxo_IQ9EZQ/s1600/Loma+Prieta.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klRF28RKHZQ/UcEre6QG6fI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/LIxo_IQ9EZQ/s320/Loma+Prieta.jpg" width="216" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">During the
opening practice before Game 3 of the 1989 World Series, which was scheduled to begin at 5:35 p.m. (an amazing Bay Area event with both the A's and the Giant's meeting at Candlestick that night), I was under <st1:street><st1:address>Market Street</st1:address></st1:street> on BART, heading to the ferry terminal
for my ferry ride back to Larkspur. My husband was waiting for me at home in Marin, after cooking us dinner so we could watch the game when I got home. I had ridden MUNI and the Market Street BART line for several years and knew every turn and bump in the route. But that night the BART car did a small side-to-side sway, went up and down suddenly, then we came to a slow stop after leaving the Montgomery Street Station. Next, the emergency lights came on and I saw startled faces in the soft
amber glow. It was completely silent, eerie, and all conversations stopped as we sat underground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I had been reading a newly-published book on the life and death of Chairman Mao. The chapter I had just started was discussing the construction of his mausoleum. I decided
not to read that chapter at that particular time, as I did not want to tempt the fates. One woman on my BART car had three small
children, did not speak English, and I could tell she was starting to
panic. Many of the passengers were trying to get the Series game or news on transistor
radios (having brought them to work for the ride home, knowing the series would start early), or to read their papers as if nothing had happened. Yet, when I looked at
their faces, I noticed that most were glancing rapidly at the doors and windows
of the BART car and not really looking at the open newspapers in front of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKo1iaTJKSc/UcErnvEGkWI/AAAAAAAAAJY/HmDBIBvoTnE/s1600/SF+Buildings.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKo1iaTJKSc/UcErnvEGkWI/AAAAAAAAAJY/HmDBIBvoTnE/s320/SF+Buildings.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Our BART driver announced that he lost communication with anyone outside and had no idea what happened or why we were stopped. He (gratefully) made the decision to evacuate us, since we had only 5
minutes of emergency power remaining before we would be stranded underground in the dark. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Happy to finally be escaping from the stalled BART cars, we carefully made our way out of the forced-open doors and along the narrow edge of the tracks. We climbed concrete stairs up to a catwalk running along the top edge of the BART tunnel, which had no barrier preventing a sheer slide down to the BART rail far below, if one of us fell or tripped. The stair and catwalk railings were coated with soot. As a result, my hands were covered with black grime as I inched along the narrow escape ledge, one member of a small, silent procession, guided by flashing penlights. (Fortunately, many of the passengers had small key chain flashlights and slide-talk laser pointers.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I remember
walking up the station stairs leading out of the Montgomery Street BART Station and emerging on Market
Street. Seeing daylight again was incredibly comforting and such a relief. There were long lines of men and women in the black or navy suits so
common in the Financial District, who were trying to make calls home at the overloaded phone kiosks. Others were standing far away from the shattered glass and rubble lining the sidewalks
along the buildings, since San Franciscans are well-versed about the likelihood of aftershocks and falling debris from historic brickwork. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b81g0WT8amA/UcEruAcjZOI/AAAAAAAAAJg/ucipyO29wiA/s1600/Collapse+of+the+Cypress.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b81g0WT8amA/UcEruAcjZOI/AAAAAAAAAJg/ucipyO29wiA/s1600/Collapse+of+the+Cypress.jpg" /></span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A young man rode a bicycle down Market Street yelling, "The Bay Bridge is
down! The Bay Bridge is down!" I was angry, believing he was trying to scare people. I learned later that what he said was partially true. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />One of my KQED Channel 9 co-workers had a neighbor who was killed in the UCSF van which had been caught under the collapsed Cypress structure. The commuter van had exited from the Bay Bridge heading South towards Oakland and Alameda, when the old overpass collapsed crushing the van and its occupants.<br /><br /> Another KQED television co-worker thought she lost her husband on the Bay Bridge when she learned a section of that bridge had collapsed. Likewise, her husband worried that he had lost her in the same bridge failure, since they were both traveling back to the East Bay from San Francisco in separate cars. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">After some harrowing minutes on the shifting bridge, my co-worker was flagged by emergency workers, told to turn around, and motioned to drive back over the West span of the Bay Bridge back to SF in the Eastbound lanes, as the Bay Bridge was shut down by emergency workers. (She and her husband moved out of state within a few months of the Loma Prieta, not wanting to experience another California earthquake.) Similarly, one of our television producers was on the Golden Gate Bridge coming in from Marin, when all of the cars stopped in the middle of the bridge to wait out the shaking and rolling as the Loma Prieta hit.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dlWn9l3w5CI/UcEwEJLPQPI/AAAAAAAAAKA/BcXWyv0h1l0/s1600/Marina+District.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dlWn9l3w5CI/UcEwEJLPQPI/AAAAAAAAAKA/BcXWyv0h1l0/s320/Marina+District.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The Larkspur Golden Gate ferries had to be diverted to a different pier in order to dock and load in San Francisco, since the
electric ramps could not be lowered to allow passengers to board. There were
planks of plywood balanced between the side of the pier and the ferry, directly over the water. Passengers hopped across the tilted planks to get on board as ferry workers grabbed their arms to steady them. Passengers threw $20 bills, entire ferry ticket booklets,
and any other cash they had on hand into into large, clean garbage cans held by ferry workers. As I recall, no one was turned away and many people paid for complete strangers to ferry out of the City that night, if they had no cash with them. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />We could see the Marina District fires burning in the distance when we were about midway across the Bay. The orange smoke reflected on the water created an unearthly glow and the City seemed unreal as the haze of smoke moved East and created an unnatural twilight over the familiar skyline. Many of us were relieved to see that the Golden Gate Bridge had survived, although we learned it was closed for inspection. The Ferry workers gave us updated news over their announcement system, since most on board had no access to news or radio reports. We learned that the Bay Area had just experienced a 7.1 magnitude quake from someone who had a transistor radio sitting near us in the ferry lounge area.<br /><br /> A Goodyear Blimp which had been covering the World Series at Candlestick Park was used to coordinate emergency efforts soon after the quake hit. Since all of the major networks were at Candlestick waiting to cover the World Series game and doing pregame commentary live, the Loma Prieta shaking and aftershocks at Candlestick were caught on camera and documented worldwide. Many broadcasters and reporters were from the East Coast or out-of-state and had never experienced seismic activity in California before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wEUBgjNz0jE/UcEwUwPx9QI/AAAAAAAAAKI/WxOOmaOdqMI/s1600/SF+Fires+1989+LPE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wEUBgjNz0jE/UcEwUwPx9QI/AAAAAAAAAKI/WxOOmaOdqMI/s320/SF+Fires+1989+LPE.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As I and many others on the crowded ferry motored out of SF, the ferry bar did a booming business. I found some of my Marin neighbors and friends from other non-profits who also worked in the City. People bought each other wine and beer and gathered in small groups, grasping at a new sense of safety from finding those they knew on board. A ferry crew member I recognized told me that they were on the way to Larkspur earlier and thought they had dropped an anchor in the middle of the Bay as the Loma Prieta hit. To be safe, they returned the ferry loaded with passengers to SF, where they learned they could not dock. Fortunately, they devised the plywood plank system, so they were able to load new passengers on board along with the previous passengers, and transport us all out of the City to Larkspur.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">There were many people from the East Bay who fled to Larkspur by ferry that night, since they had no other way to get back to Alameda County. I offered to drive one man across the Richmond Bridge back to his home, but he declined, not wanting to cross over any bridges while the aftershocks kept coming. He called his wife, got a cab, and found a hotel in Marin for the night. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6M156Hx1jFY/UcNZQZzfH3I/AAAAAAAAAK4/ipnNdLBRpe0/s1600/Tiano.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6M156Hx1jFY/UcNZQZzfH3I/AAAAAAAAAK4/ipnNdLBRpe0/s200/Tiano.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I was particularly concerned about my co-workers and those in FM whom I knew would be covering the quake live. At that time KQED was a bit smaller, somewhat informal, and we enjoyed a tightly-knit community at work. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />For many years employees donated Thanksgiving turkeys, money and food to Project Open Hand, and in return they would roast a few turkeys for our staff's Thanksgiving potluck. Since we had many staff members from different cultures, employees brought dishes from their heritage, and it was a really wonderful gathering every year. Managers, administrators, and production personnel all mingled during this annual event, asking about our kids, families and holiday plans. </span>
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFPin2-EBeo/UcNcAyx4Y2I/AAAAAAAAALI/aGq9aDt2mD4/s1600/Fred+Krock.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFPin2-EBeo/UcNcAyx4Y2I/AAAAAAAAALI/aGq9aDt2mD4/s320/Fred+Krock.jpg" width="248" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">As I drove home from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal that night, I listened to reports on KQED-FM 88.5, hearing the familiar voices of my colleagues and friends, hoping they remained safe as the aftershocks continued. At home it was reassuring to hear the Channel 9 announcers I worked with every day still making live announcements from the broadcast logs, as it meant that the station was still intact and the generators were working in our old building.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Many were off work for a few days if their buildings had been hit or power was out. Because I rode the ferry, I was able to work at KQED which had its own generator. However, I rode MUNI up and down Market Street for the rest of my career, no longer willing to get back on BART or to travel underground again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Bill Graham hosted a series of Earthquake Relief concerts at various venues around the Bay Area. Graham flew Bob Hope to each concert site by helicopter, so he could welcome the large crowds who turned out to raise money and enjoy major name acts like Carlos Santana, Neil Young. Bonnie Raitt, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Pete Escovedo, Bobby McFerrin, Taj Mahal, and Los Lobos. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AbfKuHRwKJ8/UcNcJnafJaI/AAAAAAAAALQ/E0Zojwn5K8w/s1600/Bob+Hope+KQED.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AbfKuHRwKJ8/UcNcJnafJaI/AAAAAAAAALQ/E0Zojwn5K8w/s320/Bob+Hope+KQED.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">When one of our KQED staff members asked the then 86-year-old Hope if he was ever planning to visit the troops again, Hope replied, "Son, the only battles I visit at my age are those on the golf course." He joked that he was a survivor of the 1971, 6.6 magnitude San Fernando Valley Earthquake, where he "got up and ran around the house and then the house got up and ran around me."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Earthquake Relief and Bill Graham raised over $2 Million dollars from 22,300 people who attended concerts in Watsonville, Oakland, and San Francisco, as well as donors to the live telethon broadcast on KQED Channel 9. Mayor Willie Brown offered viewers a matching grant of $50,000 from his re-election campaign. The entertainers and their generosity were a catalyst in healing the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and Watsonville. It was the first time in 35 years that KQED was given a waiver by the FCC to raise money for an entity other than itself, so it could broadcast the Earthquake Relief fundraiser live from 8th and Bryant.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9vUhMFGtg0/UcEsCc_pfCI/AAAAAAAAAJw/5QkdHgjDD8s/s1600/St.+Joseph's+Seminary.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9vUhMFGtg0/UcEsCc_pfCI/AAAAAAAAAJw/5QkdHgjDD8s/s1600/St.+Joseph's+Seminary.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9vUhMFGtg0/UcEsCc_pfCI/AAAAAAAAAJw/5QkdHgjDD8s/s1600/St.+Joseph's+Seminary.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Back in Santa Clara Valley, St. Joseph's Seminary lost one resident when an historic tower collapsed. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Around the Bay Area and down the coast to Watsonville, many residents lived and slept outside their homes during the 51 aftershocks which followed over the next 24 hours. Some of the aftershocks were real jolts at 3.0 magnitude. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Residents had no idea how long aftershocks might continue or how powerful the jolts might be. Every aftershock could further weaken already compromised structures. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />The Loma Prieta epicenter was located in the Forest of Nicene Marks, 2 miles North of Aptos. It had a devastating impact on San Francisco's Marina District, since much of the Northern part of the City had been built on landfill over marshy areas that were once part of San Francisco Bay and subject to <a href="http://quake.abag.ca.gov/liquefaction/">soil liquifaction</a>.</span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-usf6vf64tK4/UcEr0k4Ke6I/AAAAAAAAAJo/UFz25GQRCNo/s1600/Pacific+Garden+Mall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-usf6vf64tK4/UcEr0k4Ke6I/AAAAAAAAAJo/UFz25GQRCNo/s1600/Pacific+Garden+Mall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-usf6vf64tK4/UcEr0k4Ke6I/AAAAAAAAAJo/UFz25GQRCNo/s1600/Pacific+Garden+Mall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-usf6vf64tK4/UcEr0k4Ke6I/AAAAAAAAAJo/UFz25GQRCNo/s1600/Pacific+Garden+Mall.jpg" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Santa Cruz and Watsonville also suffered major downtown damage. The historic brick buildings at the Pacific Garden Mall, a popular gathering area in downtown Santa Cruz, partially collapsed, causing three deaths. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A Watsonville man died when his car hit horses escaping from a damaged enclosure. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Other businesses were closed for for clean up and repairs. The quake had a huge impact on the Peninsula and coastal economy, which had been in recovery after a 1980 recession, an oil and energy crisis and double-digit inflation.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In October of 2014 it will have been 25 years since the Loma Prieta Earthquake hit, since the World Series between the A's and the Giants took place at Candlestick, and a very long time since the Earthquake Relief Concerts brought the Peninsula and coastal communities together to rebuild and offer comfort to those who lost family, friends, homes and businesses. In light of all of that, two important questions still remain:<br /><br />How safe are Bay Area bridges? Are we willing to invest in structural safety?<br /><br /> Unfortunately, reports about continuing funding shortages for needed bridge and infrastructure repairs, plus ongoing discovery of serious Bay Area bridge safety issues, are becoming more urgent and frequent:</span><br />
<ul>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOnWMk5NMk0/UcE_rPUo5eI/AAAAAAAAAKY/R529UPY5qfE/s1600/Bay+Area+Bridges.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOnWMk5NMk0/UcE_rPUo5eI/AAAAAAAAAKY/R529UPY5qfE/s1600/Bay+Area+Bridges.jpg" /></span></a>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ABC 7 Bay Area <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=8027621" target="_blank">Report</a> in May 2013</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">KTVU 2 Bay Area <a href="http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/special-reports/funding-shortage-leaves-many-structurally-deficien/nXqbF/" target="_blank">Report</a> in May 2013</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">NBC 11 Bay Area <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/How-Safe-Are-Bay-Area-Bridges-208915111.html" target="_blank">Report</a> in March 2011</span></li>
</ul>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Since 1989, voters missed some opportunities to adopt measures designed to retrofit our Bay Area bridges, voting some measures down during elections due to increased tax costs to homeowners.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Many of our roads and overpasses need seismic and structural updating, however, there is even less funding now than there was back in 1989, due to the mortgage banking products collapse of 2008, which decimated cities and counties. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dQWIa8ciz_w/UcFj9clLe8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/U18ewrskpqU/s1600/Cypress+Structure.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dQWIa8ciz_w/UcFj9clLe8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/U18ewrskpqU/s200/Cypress+Structure.jpg" width="200" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Could it be time for a preemptive strike in the form of a second Bay Area Earthquake Relief concert, but this time held long before the next Big One hits for needed infrastructure and safety upgrades and repairs? </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dQWIa8ciz_w/UcFj9clLe8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/U18ewrskpqU/s1600/Cypress+Structure.jpg"></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Sadly, Bill Graham and Bob Hope are no longer with us. KQED remains robust and committed, still able to apply for another FCC waiver in the event of a second Bay Area catastrophe. KQED is geared for telethons using their large Mary Bole Hatch production studio, existing phone banks, and talented, experienced staff who already work with the public (and international and local talent) while organizing large, charitable-giving events.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">However, we now also have the social media stars of Silicon Valley (Facebook, Google, Apple, and others) who have the capability to develop and fund Bay Area 'Virtual Relief" events immediately, long before (or soon after) the next "Big One" hits. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The generosity of Bill Graham and the stars of Earthquake Relief in 1989 live on in the high tech boardrooms of Silicon Valley, where many do not remember 1989 and it's devastation of this region, yet know the impact of recent natural tragedies in Oklahoma and on the East Coast, as well as overseas in Japan, Haiti, and in other world regions.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-uEpu5jRNI/UcNfyhPeU9I/AAAAAAAAALg/sansSK5bRIk/s1600/Forbes.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-uEpu5jRNI/UcNfyhPeU9I/AAAAAAAAALg/sansSK5bRIk/s1600/Forbes.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Could we do it differently this time? Raise the needed funds now to improve infrastructure repairs and seismic retrofits for the safety of our communities, schools, and businesses, and as a result, save more Bay Area lives? </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br />You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. </span><br />
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/local_resources_for_local_needs">According to a report</a> by Stanford's Center on Philanthropy and Civic Society, philanthropic giving in Silicon Valley has a "weak philanthropic base" in terms of giving to local communities. Many of the donated funds from valley high tech firms, the Stanford PAC reports, are earmarked for overseas charitable work, not for infrastructure and social programs needed here in Silicon Valley or in the Bay Area. <br /><br /> Stanford's position is refuted by the Wall Street Journal <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323320404578213503162078098.html">article</a>, "The Tech Moguls That Gave Big in 2012." WSJ reported that SV "moguls" donated stock to local charitable groups in greater amounts than in previous years. <br /><br /><i>The Foundation Center</i> <a href="http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=404200002">proposed </a>that high tech donors really feared that a federal charitable deduction benefit would be lost in 2013, which artificially escalated the amount of high tech charitable giving in the Valley towards the end of 2012. <br /><br /> A Forbes <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/03/28/how-silicon-valley-profits-from-giving-back/">article</a>, "How Silicon Valley Profits from Giving Back," talks about our local philanthropy as a result of sharing abundance, rather than seeking future returns. Forbes implies that Silicon Valley donors are more engaged in sharing their success to empower others. Clearly, Silicon Valley is a source of conjecture as a new model of wealth, with a unique, global approach to charitable giving and philanthropy.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6G4RdAVKIZ4/UcNnNcVc76I/AAAAAAAAALw/9d-PPeCJi_E/s1600/USGS+EQ+Likely+63%25.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6G4RdAVKIZ4/UcNnNcVc76I/AAAAAAAAALw/9d-PPeCJi_E/s320/USGS+EQ+Likely+63%25.jpg" width="236" /></span></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Personally, I believe our high tech community is populated with generous people who believe in lifting others up and expanding local safety, since obviously, they live here too. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Hopefully, our amazing Silicon Valley <a href="http://www.siliconvalleycf.org/sites/default/files/2013-jv-index.pdf">philanthropists</a> will continue to dig deep for our communities, yet stay off our local bridges, roads and overpasses, until they can successfully lobby our local transportation agencies to have these structures repaired. A major social media and funding campaign to raise awareness and capital, so repairs can be made sooner, rather than later, would be awesome. <br /><br />Like us, their families, friends and co-workers may be injured or trapped in structures now <a href="http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_23327097/washington-i-5-bridge-collapse-spotlights-californias-aging">known to be compromised</a>. <br /><br /><br />Is infrastructure the job of Silicon Valley? No, not really. However, Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and many of the other natural disasters had Silicon Valley responding with generosity and compassion. <br /><br /> Perhaps we are in denial about our own elephant in the living room, which is the sad state of our historic and public buildings, schools, bridges, roads, and overpasses, in light of the <a href="http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/rghm/psha/Pages/index.aspx">63% statistical certainty</a> that the next big earthquake may take place within the next 30 years here in the Bay Area (according to the USGS). <br /><br /> Perhaps we need to stop throwing peanuts at that elephant and lift the seemingly rampant denial about our lack of safety while traveling throughout Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, by doing something meaningful about it now, to significantly lower the number of potential deaths and injuries during the next seismic event.<br /><br />(Photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, KQED, SF GATE, ABAG, Forbes, and the USGS Loma Prieta page.) Many thanks to the <a href="http://www.siliconvalleycf.org/">Silicon Valley Foundation</a> and other groups who help connect Silicon Valley leaders with those in need from our communities.<br /><br /> ---Catherine Denise Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-7610992432651293772013-06-13T15:17:00.005-07:002022-06-27T14:09:18.082-07:00Cure for the Shakes: The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZgLiSbiSr0/Ubo6VQzzRqI/AAAAAAAAAH4/zjD8vAhPHYE/s1600/PPIE+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZgLiSbiSr0/Ubo6VQzzRqI/AAAAAAAAAH4/zjD8vAhPHYE/s400/PPIE+Map.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(1915 PPIE <a href="http://www.sfmuseum.net/hist/ppiemap.html" target="_blank">Map</a> courtesy of the <a href="http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist9/ppietxt1.html" target="_blank">Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco</a>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cde_3W3izQ/Ubo-jXlhb_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/_SnLvJDoKnE/s1600/PPIE+1911+Groundbreaking+PC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cde_3W3izQ/Ubo-jXlhb_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/_SnLvJDoKnE/s320/PPIE+1911+Groundbreaking+PC.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Santa Clara and Alameda Counties shared an exposition hall at the 1915 PPIE held in San Francisco, near what is now the Marina District. Sadly, an image or more information about the hall and its contents are very hard to locate, but the hall is mentioned in catalogs from the fair, although not in great detail. Television producer, Lee Mendelson, created a lovely video, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzsD4ZYUe4o&list=PL7DD461C909DEFE72&index=19%20PPIE%20home%20movie">The Innocent Fair</a>, from 1915 Nitrate films he found in a Tiburon antique store.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVorg9gEBrM/Ubo-uk2Y1vI/AAAAAAAAAIY/yumAVEREZAg/s1600/PPIE+1915+booklet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVorg9gEBrM/Ubo-uk2Y1vI/AAAAAAAAAIY/yumAVEREZAg/s320/PPIE+1915+booklet.jpg" width="198" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
In honor of the coming 100th anniversary of the PPIE, I have added some information about the PPIE of 1915 on a new resource <a href="http://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.com/p/pan-pacific-international-exposition-of.html">Page</a> on this site, since the exposition, it's planning, and it's world-wide advertising from the time the City won the fair location bid in 1911, brought an influx of new visitors and residents to Santa Clara Valley after the devastation of the 1906 Earthquake, which had discouraged investments, building and tourism in this region.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13MfMXMV-wY/UbpB0iKAAmI/AAAAAAAAAIo/qCJEqcjp6ls/s1600/AlexanderGBell_First_T-A_Call_PPIE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13MfMXMV-wY/UbpB0iKAAmI/AAAAAAAAAIo/qCJEqcjp6ls/s320/AlexanderGBell_First_T-A_Call_PPIE.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The PPIE celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal and new routes to join the East and West, without the long trip around South America.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The PPIE also demonstrated a new transcontinental telephone line when Alexander Graham Bell made the first bi-coastal telephone call from an exposition hall.<br /><br /> A lighted and sparkling "<a href="http://www.sanfranciscomemories.com/ppie/TowerOfJewels.html">Tower of Jewels</a>" enthralled exposition visitors and could be seen for miles from the waterfront and on the north end of the City. The "Novagems" from that tower are now a highly sought-after collectors item.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1mJiUydCVU/UbpM0R_kGuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/BcDs9ISbBOQ/s1600/Tower+of+Jewels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1mJiUydCVU/UbpM0R_kGuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/BcDs9ISbBOQ/s200/Tower+of+Jewels.jpg" width="198" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The true value of the PPIE of 1915 to our valley and to the City was demonstrating to the world that we had healed from the fires and devastation of 1906. The PPIE declared that we were once again a safe location for world tourism and investments. <br /><br />Please see my new PPIE of 1915 resource <a href="http://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.com/p/pan-pacific-international-exposition-of.html">Page</a> to the right for more information and resources on this remarkable event. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
(Small photos courtesy of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama%E2%80%93Pacific_International_Exposition" target="_blank">Wikipedia Commons</a>. Alexander Graham Bell photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.corp.att.com/history/nethistory/transcontinental.html" target="_blank">ATT</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---Catherine Denise Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-67007311054453641382012-07-29T00:30:00.002-07:002022-06-27T13:51:09.144-07:00Remembering Internment in the Bay Area<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last May marked the 70th anniversary of one of the more troubling periods of our local history.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The U.S. Army <a href="http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt1j49p9dz/" target="_blank">Civilian Exclusion Order No. 96</a>, on May 24th
and <st1:date day="25" month="5" year="1942">May 25th, 1942</st1:date>, required
all Santa Clara County citizens in (West Coast) Military Area #1 of Japanese ancestry to report to the Civil Control Station Assembly Area, also known as the Men's Gymnasium, San Jose State College, located at 4th and San Carlos Streets in <st1:place><st1:city>San
Jose</st1:city>, <st1:state>California</st1:state></st1:place>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V5A1TLynCqw/U_o9Xm13ojI/AAAAAAAAAVY/I_0A5AD8WSk/s1600/Tagged%2Bfor%2BEvacuation%2BRussell%2BSalinas%2BCalif%2BMay%2B1942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V5A1TLynCqw/U_o9Xm13ojI/AAAAAAAAAVY/I_0A5AD8WSk/s1600/Tagged%2Bfor%2BEvacuation%2BRussell%2BSalinas%2BCalif%2BMay%2B1942.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tagged for Evacuation, Salinas California</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_Japanese_Americans#mediaviewer/File:Russell_Lee,_Tagged_for_evacuation,_Salinas,_California,_May_1942.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wikipedia/LOC Russell Lee</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The
exclusion order appeared on May 23, 1942, from the Presidio of San Francisco,
following similar public proclamations made on March 2, 1942.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">U.S. General John L. DeWitt created two military zones on the West Coast and required Japanese living in those zones to report all changes in residence within five days. <br /><br />On March 18, 1942 Roosevelt created the War Relocation Authority. <br /> <br />There were some U.S. government <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_rk3RP5KQs%20or%20http://archive.org/details/Japanese1943">films</a> made to justify these actions in 1943, all written and produced by the Office of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
All of
the proclamations resulted from <st1:place>Roosevelt</st1:place>'s <a href="http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=219" target="_blank">Executive Order #9066</a>, published on <st1:date day="19" month="2" year="1942">February
19, 1942</st1:date>, ordering the evacuation to inland resettlement
areas of all West Coast residents perceived as a threat to national security. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Documents and photographs online:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of these documents can be <a href="http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/210.html">read online</a> at the National Archives Records of the War Relocation Authority (WRA). The FBI Vault also has historic <a href="http://vault.fbi.gov/Custodial%20Detention/">Custodial Detention</a> documents online, which show records, memos, and other documents on the arrest of persons by nationality and geographic location, starting as early as 1939. Italian Americans, German Americans, and other Americans of certain European nationalities were tracked as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Online Archive of California has a profound group of photographs illustrating the bleak conditions of the Japanese in federal relocation camps during this era, some of which are available <a href="http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf596nb4h0;developer=local;style=oac4;doc.view=items">online</a>.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other counties in California posted similar exclusion orders as the army prepared to move and house thousands of Japanese residents and nationals, believing some were spies or in league with submariners off the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts. A sentiment of national suspicion by some towards the Japanese had been heightened after Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, which lead the U.S. Congress to declare war on Japan the following day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/JapaneseAmericanGrocer1942.jpg/306px-JapaneseAmericanGrocer1942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/JapaneseAmericanGrocer1942.jpg/306px-JapaneseAmericanGrocer1942.jpg" height="156" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Japanese-owned Grocery, March 1942</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_Japanese_Americans#mediaviewer/File:JapaneseAmericanGrocer1942.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wikipedia/LOC</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To comply with relocation orders, Japanese residents
lost their jobs, their homes, and their businesses, reclaiming only pennies on
the dollar, if anything, for houses, cars, and possessions, in order to evacuate to Federal assembly centers by the mandated deadlines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Japanese families were held in these assembly areas (like the Men's Gym at San Jose State College) under extraordinarily poor and crowded conditions, before being placed on crowded buses and trains to one of two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_World_War_II_Japanese_American_internment_camps.png">WRA Relocation Centers</a> on the West Coast, Manzanar or Tule Lake, with a third Isolation Center for those who were perceived to be at more high risk to national security, located near Manzanar. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span font-family:="font-family:" inherit="inherit"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span font-family:="font-family:" inherit="inherit">Along the Peninsula, Japanese families assembled and were housed in horse stalls at Tanforan Race Track, although some of the stalls had not been fully cleaned out. In some cases there were no doors on the latrines or restrooms, and women who were considered high risk had to change clothing in front of male guards, to make sure nothing was being hidden. On the train and bus journeys from the local assembly centers to the final California resettlement camps, women and men sometimes had to use open fields with family members holding up blankets and coats for privacy, as there were no restrooms at stops. Evacuees and conditions at Tanforan were photographed by </span><a font-family:="font-family:" href="http://www.sfmuseum.org/views/tanforan.ppt" inherit="inherit" target="_blank">Dorothea Lange for the WRA</a><span font-family:="font-family:" inherit="inherit"> in 1942.</span></span><br />
<span font-family:="font-family:" inherit="inherit" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<b>Survivors tell their stories Online:</b>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are some local accounts of Internment experiences
online, including some accounts by well-known celebrities living South of the Bay Area at the time of evacuation.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span font-family:="font-family:" inherit="inherit">The actor </span><a font-family:="font-family:" href="http://youtu.be/2XpPbBoxBME" inherit="inherit" target="_blank">Pat Morita</a><span font-family:="font-family:" inherit="inherit"> talks about being held in a Japanese
Internment Camp, during a video posted on YouTube.</span></span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A former internee visits the San Jose Japanese Internment
Memorial with a group of San Jose State University Journalism students, in a <a href="http://youtu.be/tG690XRoyJ8" target="_blank">video posted on YouTube</a>.</span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mas Hashimoto, who lectured regularly to local school groups and organizations about
his Internment experience as a resident of <st1:city>Watsonville</st1:city>,
is featured in a <a href="http://blip.tv/gavtv/the-gavilan-hour-mas-hashimoto-3754126" target="_blank">Gavilan College TV program</a>.</span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://youtu.be/yogXJl9H9z0" target="_blank">George Takei</a> eloquently describes his childhood experiences
during the Internment, as well as conditions during the war and at the camps, in a series of videos posted on YouTube.</span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Local Resources:</span></b></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Japanese American Interment <a href="http://www.sanjoseculture.org/public_art/collections/Japanese%20American%20Internment%20Fact%20Sheet%20NF.pdf" target="_blank">Memorial</a> is located at
300 S. 1st. Street (The Federal
Building) in <st1:city>San Jose</st1:city>. </span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <st1:place><st1:placename>Japanese</st1:placename> <st1:placename>American</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> of <st1:city>San
Jose</st1:city> has a remarkable exhibit on the Internment at <st1:street>535
North 5th Street</st1:street> in <st1:city>San Jose</st1:city>,
with some material <a href="http://www.jamsj.org/exhibit/world-war-ii-assembly-centers-and-internment-camps-exhibit" target="_blank">online</a>.</span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Books and Media:</b>
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Materials on the Japanese American Relocation and Internment can
be found online at WorldCat:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Japanese Internment Nonfiction and Historical Books for <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3AJapanese+Internment+california&fq=-mt%3Afic+%3E+-mt%3Ajuv&qt=advanced&dblist=638" target="_blank">Adults</a> </span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Japanese Internment Fiction for <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3AJapanese+internment+california&fq=mt%3Afic+%3E+-mt%3Ajuv&dblist=638&start=1&qt=previous_page" target="_blank">Adults</a>.</span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Japanese Internment Books for Children, both <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3AJapanese+internment+california&fq=-mt%3Afic+%3E+mt%3Ajuv&qt=advanced&dblist=638" target="_blank">Nonfiction</a> and <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3AJapanese+internment+california&fq=mt%3Afic+%3E+mt%3Ajuv&qt=advanced&dblist=638" target="_blank">Fiction</a>.</span></li>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
<b>Reflections:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Legislated discrimination against one group of people, for whatever reason, diminishes every other ethnic, gender-based and socioeconomic group, as the legislation itself places a government stamp of approval on laws and policies which codify prejudice as an appropriate act, in forming public policy for diverse groups of residents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If it is acceptable for some not to have full constitutional rights, for whatever reason, then none really have a guarantee of full rights, either now or in the future, no matter what their race, gender, education, status, or ethnicity may be.
By codifying separate constitutional rights among groups found within a nation, all residents become vulnerable as potential targets of the next legislative group to come along, who may very well believe that those who are safe today, are tomorrow's new enemies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />History truly offers many lessons.<br /><br /> (All photo images courtesy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American_internment">Wikipedia Commons</a>.)<br /><br /> ---Catherine Denise Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
</div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-66193001538720249512012-07-01T23:51:00.004-07:002022-06-27T13:50:45.312-07:00Digging Silicon Valley - Resources for Gardeners<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are certain benefits to growing up in a 1950's agricultural wonderland, like exploring a backyard oasis filled with bugs, birds, and critters, as well as an odd collection of home grown fruits and vegetables. In my youth this was capped off with the annual crop of alien-sized, monster Zucchini, which rivaled anything found in <a href="http://seeroswell.com/index.php/ufo-attractions-a-events">Roswell</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Please raise your hand if you are over fifty and ate part of at least one overgrown, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/stuffed-zucchini-zucchini-ripieni-recipe/index.html">stuffed zucchini</a> for weekly dinners during the summer months? Yep, I knew it. The parents always made it seem as if we were getting a delicacy. Right. Raise your hand if your family tried to give away old zucchini from their gardens hidden under tender, sweeter, and smaller squash? Yep, you are one of us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HhyCC64d-k/T_EoZP8VC_I/AAAAAAAAAEE/IXnZkJFlVvE/s1600/2012-July_Rescue_Hydrangea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HhyCC64d-k/T_EoZP8VC_I/AAAAAAAAAEE/IXnZkJFlVvE/s200/2012-July_Rescue_Hydrangea.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were beautiful butterflies and large, furry moths in this valley, along with amazing caterpillars, grasshoppers, huge bees, and assorted beetles. Much of the "old" West Valley flora and fauna can be seen at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/McClellan-Ranch-Preserve/159602624132832">McClellan Ranch Preserve</a>, which is worth a quiet afternoon of exploration.
<br />When my fifth grade teacher told us to place an ammonia-dipped cotton ball in a sealed jar and catch and kill bugs for a homework assignment, my dear mother sent that teacher a note the next day stating, "We don't kill living things that aren't bothering us at our house." Right on, Mom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TF-lZ3NVJgA/T_EoqoYkUzI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/B3kuYon977c/s1600/July2012_Rescue_Pink-Supreme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TF-lZ3NVJgA/T_EoqoYkUzI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/B3kuYon977c/s200/July2012_Rescue_Pink-Supreme.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This love of living things, and a few years of watching gardening shows on KQED, led to a kind of rescue mentality in my life. Dying house plant, small tree, bush, or veggie plant for sale? They all came home with me. I had a <a href="http://www.kakteensammlung-holzheu.de/en/mammillaria_lanata.html">Mammillaria Lanata</a> "nipple" cactus which I bought for $.49 at the local market because it was completely dehydrated and about to roll out of its miserable pot. I had that cactus for 36 years until my house-sitting friend left it outside during a freeze, when I was out of town. By that time it weighed about 15 lbs and had rings of bright pink flowers every summer. Rest in peace, my friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have included photos of some of my "rescue" plants here. A saved Hydrangea from the large, local home improvement center, was planted last summer. A salvaged Pink Supreme Rose was purchased from an unnamed nursery, where it was left with no water and in sad shape. My biggest victory, however, is a rescued Early Elberta peach, which had lost all of its leaves and was literally gasping (at least in my mind), when I saw it the local home improvement store last fall. It came home with me and was planted, fertilized, and loved. Here is my wonderful peach tree today:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvSVO1WHXxo/T_EqLyzdpGI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ErHVNLRZotY/s1600/July2012_Rescue_Early-Elberta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvSVO1WHXxo/T_EqLyzdpGI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ErHVNLRZotY/s320/July2012_Rescue_Early-Elberta.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have also inherited an old nectarine tree which looks like it's dying every winter. If you've seen </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1735898/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Snow White and the Huntsman</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, you might remember the barren, gnarled trees in the evil forest. Well, my old nectarine tree looks like a distant relation to Snow's worst arboreal nightmare. So, I thought, I'm going to give that old tree some love (and some fruit spikes.) Here is my old friend in all of her fruit-laden, summer glory today:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYxUj5h1p8I/T_Esx8YtzvI/AAAAAAAAAEo/7oepyqicMyE/s1600/July2012_Nectarines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYxUj5h1p8I/T_Esx8YtzvI/AAAAAAAAAEo/7oepyqicMyE/s320/July2012_Nectarines.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NkrqEPbQqHs/T_EtiXd-EwI/AAAAAAAAAE0/dqbgQRgTuds/s1600/July2012_Nectarine-fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NkrqEPbQqHs/T_EtiXd-EwI/AAAAAAAAAE0/dqbgQRgTuds/s200/July2012_Nectarine-fruit.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the fruit is large, beautiful, and healthy, so much so that I had to thin out the young buds this spring, yet still have such a large crop that I lost some branches due to the sheer weight of all of the fruit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />For fruit trees which produce abundant fruit, call <a href="http://www.villageharvest.org/about">Village Harvest</a>, a nonprofit volunteer organization which organizes teams to pick fruit and distribute it to the hungry, through several county organizations and food banks.<br /><br /> My newest garden residents are a Bearss Seedless Lime and an Improved Meyer Lemon, both rescued from a local hardware/nursery store and ready for some TLC. I will post pictures as they recover.<br /><br />If you are interested in learning more about heirloom fruit, vines, roses, and any type of gardening, try some of these local and regional resources:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: <a href="http://mastergardeners.org/scc.html">http://mastergardeners.org/scc.html</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Santa Clara County Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers:
<a href="http://www.crfg.org/local/chapters/ca_scv.html">http://www.crfg.org/local/chapters/ca_scv.html</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Santa Clara County Rose Society:
<a href="http://sccrose.org/">http://sccrose.org/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Cactus and Succulent Society of San Jose:
<a href="http://www.csssj.org/">http://www.csssj.org/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Allied Grape Growers of California:
<a href="http://www.alliedgrapegrowers.org/links.html">http://www.alliedgrapegrowers.org/links.html</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Heritage Roses Groups (Click on "Links"):
<a href="http://www.theheritagerosesgroup.org/">http://www.theheritagerosesgroup.org/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Old Time Farm and Garden (Radio) Show:
<a href="http://www.mastergardeners.org/events/kkup.html">http://www.mastergardeners.org/events/kkup.html</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Silicon Valley Health Corps Community Gardens:
<a href="http://www.healthtrust.org/svhealthcorps/">http://www.healthtrust.org/svhealthcorps/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The California Native Plant Society:
<a href="http://www.cnps-scv.org/">http://www.cnps-scv.org/</a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are lots of great books on gardening at your library, which can be found using WorldCat, which collects every library book, audio recording, thesis, map, etc., all in one large database online. Here are just a few suggestions from that database. Try your own <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/advancedsearch" target="_blank">search</a> to find more books, articles, and e-books on WorldCat.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Agardening&dblist=638&se=yr&sd=desc&fq=%28%28%28x0%3Abook-%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Abraille%29%29-%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Adigital%29-%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Amic%29-%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Alargeprint%29-%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Athsis%29%29+%3E+-mt%3Afic+%3E+ln%3Aeng+%3E+mt%3Ajuv+%3E+s0%3A10000000+%3E+yr%3A2011&qt=facet_yr%3A" target="_blank">Books</a> for kids</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Aheirloom+roses&dblist=638&fq=%28%28%28x0%3Abook-%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Adigital%29%29%29+%3E+%28%28%28x0%3Abook-%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Adigital%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Alargeprint%29%29%29+%3E++%3E+-mt%3Ajuv+%3E+-fm%3Afic&qt=facet_all_yr%3A" target="_blank">Books</a> on heirloom roses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Agrowing+vegetables+and+fruits&dblist=638&se=yr&sd=desc&fq=%28%28%28x0%3Abook-%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Adigital%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Athsis%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Amic%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Alargeprint%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Abraille%29OR%28x0%3Abook+x4%3Acontinuing%29%29%29+%3E+-fm%3Afic+%3E+-fm%3Ajuv+%3E+s0%3A10000000+%3E+ln%3Aeng&qt=facet_ln%3A" target="_blank">Books</a> on growing vegetables and fruits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Agardening&fq=x0%3Aaudiobook+%3E+-fm%3Ajuv+%3E+-fm%3Afic+%3E+ln%3Aeng+%3E+s0%3A10000000&dblist=638&qt=sort&se=yr&sd=desc&qt=sort_yr_desc" target="_blank">Audio Books</a> on gardening, including some biographies</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Gardening! (And happy reading!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Update: Sadly, all of my fruit trees all had to come out, due to vector control issues in my area. Evidently I was too successful and I was getting too many critters. I miss my trees. At least they were well loved while I had them.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---Catherine Denise Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span>The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-69902812912881489082010-12-22T11:50:00.001-08:002022-06-27T13:50:19.928-07:00Holiday Silicon Valley - Random Acts of Social Media <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Flash Mobs" and "Random Acts of Culture" have become internationally popular "spontaneous" public events in recent years.<br /><br />Some of the most widely viewed Youtube flash mob events were arranged in 2009 by T. Mobile, with over 25 million hits for the T-Mobile Dance <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM" target="_blank">held at Liverpool Station</a> in London, plus my favorite, 13,500 people Singing "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orukqxeWmM0&feature=channel" target="_blank">Hey Jude</a>" in London's Trafalgar Square. The most recent 2010 T-Mobile event, "The T-Mobile <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo&feature=related" target="_blank">Welcome Back</a>," was a surprise event for arriving travelers at Healthrow Airport's Terminal 5 in London. Although the 2010 event is tightly chorepgraphed, the awed expressions on the faces of the public are the real draw of these T-Mobile promotional events.<br /><br />The popularity and mainstreaming of these events has led to some wonderful holiday surprises, as non-profits and local musical groups have organized flash mobs and random acts of "spontaneous" cultural events in their own communities. <br /><br />It is not often that we may be surprised with the unexpected gift of joy and beauty, or the generosity of our fellow man, especially during the busy holiday season in cramped and crowded malls. These videos will gladden your heart, whatever your religious beliefs, as they illustrate how joy may be found in the most unlikely places, when we least expect a magical and remarkable gift to appear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This lovely Hallelujah Chorus surprise took place at Seaway Mall in Niagra Falls Ontario, Canada, on Nobvember 13, 2010: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=related" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=related</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object height="192" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/SXh7JR9oKVE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/SXh7JR9oKVE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="192"></embed></object></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Our own Symphony Silicon Valley Chorus surprised San Jose shoppers with a Random Act of Culture at Westfield Valley Fair Mall last November, with this performance of Amazing Grace: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X__Izoyw7Yo&feature=related" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X__Izoyw7Yo&feature=related</a></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><object height="195" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/X__Izoyw7Yo&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/X__Izoyw7Yo&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="320" height="195"></embed></object></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
The most stunning event took place at Macy's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=fvw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=fvw</a> when, as their site states, on "Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years."</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><object height="192" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/wp_RHnQ-jgU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/wp_RHnQ-jgU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="192"></embed></object></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Not only has social media changed how we connect in crowds, with spontaneous events and online with uploaded videos, but it could have changed how the Christmas story unfolded, if the birth of Jesus had taken place in 2010.<br /><br /> Google, Facebook, Twitter, and other Silicon Valley giants are featured in this witty and clever video which retells a "Digital Story of the Nativity - or Christmas 2.0," (once you get past the ad) using social media: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSk</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Holidays,<br /><br /> ---C. D. Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-56550971890279954032010-12-10T11:48:00.001-08:002022-06-27T13:49:49.933-07:00Write Roots - Online Genealogy & Memoir Resources<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQKH9HYkozI/AAAAAAAAACk/N5upSjLkp7s/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549147174897754930" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQKH9HYkozI/AAAAAAAAACk/N5upSjLkp7s/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Today I read that <a href="http://www.proquest.com/en-US/catalogs/databases/detail/ale.shtml">Ancestry Library Edition</a>, the public library subscription version of <a href="http://www.ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com </a> by Proquest, is one of the most widely utilized electronic subscription databases for genealogy in our Silicon Valley public libraries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />With the popularity of scrap booking, Census, and family tree-maker sites and software, plus the expansion of local historical society resources and projects as Baby Boomers age, I suspect that our generation will play a major role in documenting and recording the lineage and memories of our first, second, and third-generation relatives. In doing so, we will create a tangible record of our own rites of passage, as "memoir" scribes of our generation.<br /><br /> In writing about memoir, especially within the constraints of history, first learning the historical record and details of one’s heritage (even when the opportunity for gathering oral histories may no longer be available), may provide a valuable breadcrumb trail through creative options of how best to organize your writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQKImRtZ9cI/AAAAAAAAAC0/FY0ulvQjPLs/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQKImRtZ9cI/AAAAAAAAAC0/FY0ulvQjPLs/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="241" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my own family our cherished family oral historical beliefs were discovered to be a bit scrambled. Of course, the online heraldry sites said we come from royalty, that we were from another nationality altogether, and that we had a family crest. Well, it sounds like fun, but I think we are a lot like every other family, only special because we love each other, not because we are related to knights, kings or queens.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In reality, generations of the maternal side of my family fished along the rocky Adriatic coast, when they weren't growing grapes or making wine. Some were from generations of educated folk whose heritage was linked to regions which were home to the ancient Celts. The paternal side of my family is Northern European, and not much is known about them as borders and records changed or were lost during war times. But there was another stunning revelation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQKIH05VttI/AAAAAAAAACs/A0z-zoI4iEg/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQKIH05VttI/AAAAAAAAACs/A0z-zoI4iEg/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When a distant cousin researched our family records, she found that much of what we thought we knew, which had been handed down through our family's oral and written histories, was wrong.<br /><br /> In trying to remember the past, our family's elderly first generation had some dates and places confused, and there was a secret first (or second wife) attached to our great grandfather, depending whose side of the family was telling the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Instead of clinging to what we wanted to believe about our past, we received the gift of our real heritage and history. It was wonderful and all courtesy of records which my cousin found through online record searches, a historical path of detection which you can follow yourself or with the help of a librarian and a local genealogy center.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Aside from taking you deeper into your personal or family journey, genealogy and history sites will ground you in the authentic events which shaped your historic past, the silent backdrop which sets the atmosphere and tone of your memoir.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />The following works illustrate several methods of writing an historic memoir:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">• </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Placing your family memoir within an historical perspective and framing it as an allegory of the times, offers readers a broader view of your personal story within regional or worldwide events of significance. Greg Mortenson’s <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=greg+mortenson&dblist=638&fq=ap%3A%22mortenson%2C+greg%22&qt=facet_ap%3A">books</a>, Three Cups of Tea (2009) and Stones into Schools (2010) integrate one man’s journey from failed, scruffy mountain climber to respected international humanitarian, all within the framework of cultural and political events in Afghanistan and Pakistan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">• </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Likewise, taking a much-documented political or international event and telling the story of its personal impact on you, or the lives of a handful of people you knew well, personalizes history and brings it vividly alive for the reader. The ongoing popularity of era-based oral histories by Studs Terkel, some even contemporized in <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/studs-terkels-working-a-graphic-adaptation/oclc/276930322&referer=brief_results">graphic novel format </a>illustrates the multigenerational appeal of presenting real people who survived and thrived during typically summarized major local or world events, clustering a common major cultural memoir into vignettes, with one individual, one story at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">• </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A more recent work, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/angel-island-immigrant-gateway-to-america/oclc/457160535&referer=brief_results">Angel Island: immigrant gateway to America</a>, by Erika Lee and Judy Yung (2010) employs oral histories, holding-cell drawings, and government records to tell the story of Pacific immigrants who were endlessly becalmed on this San Francisco Bay gateway island while attempting to gain entry into the United States. Both Lee and Yung are descended from Angel Island detainees, which lend certain pathos to their memoir.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">• </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contemporary biography may also highlight an era, a personal transformation, or handle difficult subjects and memories within an historic perspective. Keith Richard’s new biography, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/life/oclc/548642133&referer=brief_results">Life, Keith Richards</a> (2010) has received positive reviews for its surprising poignancy as Richards reveals aspects of his childhood and adolescent years which are markedly different from the hard-driving, drug-saturated public persona which unfolded across the tabloids in his role as a founding member of the Rolling Stones. Transformational stories like these, framed by a specific era and its music, fashion, and world events, enrich the ability of readers to relate to the subject of the memoir. Even those readers who are unaware of Richards, per se, may relate to a story of self-annealing honesty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writing memoir from these perspectives closely follows aspects of Journalism, with its requirement for factual and accurate reporting of documented events. A subset of journalism which includes chronological reporting on authentic events, coupled with personal impressions and view points, has been termed, Narrative Journalism or “Creative Nonfiction.” One of my favorite introductions to this marriage of Journalism and memoir is </span><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/telling-true-stories-a-nonfiction-writers-guide-from-the-nieman-foundation-at-harvard-university/oclc/71006699&referer=brief_results" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Telling True Stories: A nonfiction writers’ guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. In this work noted nonfiction writers like Tom Wolfe, Nora Ephron, Susan Orlean and others, share their insights on the meaning and craft of narrative journalism.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To increase your breadth of historical knowledge while writing memoir, these online sites are particularly helpful:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">• </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ellisisland.org/">The Ellis Island Foundation </a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• </span><a href="http://www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The American Memory Collection</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• <a href="http://www.census.gov/history/www/reference/genealogy/">The U.S. Census Online </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration <a href="http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/">U.S. Census page</a> and related <a href="http://www.census.gov/history/www/reference/genealogy/other_genealogical_sources.html">genealogy pages</a> featuring passenger ship manifests, immigration records, and military service records, among other resources.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• LDS Family History Centers - <a href="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp">Family Search </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• University of Houston’s <a href="http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/">Digital History</a> site</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• American Cultural History: <a href="http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade00.html">The Twentieth Century </a>(by decade)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">• Ancestry Library Edition is available for free at some local libraries and can be accessed online with your library card.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /> ---C. D. Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-26899648106008584702010-12-10T10:35:00.002-08:002022-06-27T13:49:21.941-07:00Kerr Jars - A Silicon Valley Holiday Memoir<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The peeling, creaky ladder went over, spilling at least half a bucket of juicy, Burgundy-colored Royal Ann cherries, most of them tumbling in a sorry heap in the dirt at my feet.<br /><br />It was 102 in the shade at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and if I weren't trying to keep pace with my buff, older male cousins, I would have cried some deeply female pre-adolescent tears. I was dirty, sweaty, shy, and tired, and I had two more miserable hours among the cicadas, bees, and fruit flies, before cooling relief, in the form of the Meyer lemonade and liverwurst sandwiches which were waiting in my mother's linoleum-patterned kitchen.<br /><br />Pears soap. A long shower. My faithful Woodhue Cologne. My pink bedroom with it's white lace pillows, collection of special rocks, and dog-eared Agatha Christie novels, one bookmarked and waiting. I would disappear from the jovial warmth of family to find my quiet indoor oasis, although our house had only one bathroom and our entire, gregarious family had descended for the cherry harvest.<br /><br />We grew Blenheim and Moorpark apricots, along with Royal Ann and Bing cherries, cots which my aunts, cousins, and I would cut faithfully every summer, then dry. Our French Prune crop would be picked and sent to dry yards, then packaged by a local family conglomerate who would make their fortune selling dried produce internationally.<br /><br />During summer the valley air would smell like a candy store of ripe fruit, sticky with juice and sugar, at least until the peaches were harvested and the canneries would leave the skins to sour and decay in large, steaming piles. All of these visions, scents, and memories live on in my mother's fruit-filled Kerr jars, still tucked away on a shelf, cool and dark, waiting to restore me back to another time, rich with family, the scent of summer, and bounty in the life that was astonishingly simple compared to today.<br /><br /> Our family's European heritage would translate into a holiday gifts of our dried fruits to the postman, to our neighbors, doctors, dentist, tax accountant, and to out-of-state relatives and friends. We would stuff our dried prunes with chopped walnuts or whole roasted almonds, then dip them in dark chocolate, lining up the warm nuggets in dripping rows on old, bent cooling racks. My aunt and uncle, who had an apple orchard in the Wine County, before they converted it to grape varietals, would give us boxes of their spicy, sweet Gravenstein apples, more intensely delicious than any other apple I have tasted since. From this we made our own applesauce, cider, and apple cake, staples on our holiday tables.<br /><br /> I have no idea how my parents managed to produce a large tomato crop every year, since my plants seem to disappear from the valley's clay-hard soil, roots and all, long before they have a chance to produce. From their large crops of tomatoes, bell peppers, and herbs, my mother made her own canned, stewed tomatoes, which appeared in some form at every evening meal, cherry-red, gently tart, and carrot-sweet.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQJzlnKCSxI/AAAAAAAAACM/jCxNK47eSQU/s1600/Dad%2Band%2Bmy%2Bcousins.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQJzlnKCSxI/AAAAAAAAACM/jCxNK47eSQU/s400/Dad%2Band%2Bmy%2Bcousins.jpg" width="270" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a deep, new respect for my father, now that I am tending his garden and caring for the family home. I earned my own advanced academic degree to escape the farming life and work as a public librarian, although I now long to recreate the simplicity and abundance of my agricultural memory, while relishing visits to my cousins and their wine and vineyard-related businesses in Napa and Sonoma counties.My father was a wonderful cook, an accomplished dirt gardener, a skilled carpenter who erected redwood patios, decks, a workshop, and other outbuildings. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was also a dedicated home journeyman who wrestled skillfully with his own electrical and plumbing work, all while working dawn to dusk as a butcher. I never remember him once being home sick in his 40 years of employment. I wish I had his strength, knowledge, and skill, as I slowly restore the old family home and gardens, now surrounded by Hewlett Packard and Apple Computer, in what has become one artery within the heart of California's Silicon Valley. The picture I have included shows him with three of my six California cousins. He bought them all cowboy outfits around this time, in the late 1940's.<br /><br />It was a European tradition in our family to have a kettle of Cioppino on Christmas Eve. Everyone would gather and contribute some portion of the fish, Polenta, Ciabatta, or produce. The lace tablecloths would come out, wine glasses would appear, and a tray of relishes and French onion and clam dips would be set out in crystal bowls. As a special treat we would carefully boil ravioli's, either home made or from <a href="http://www.willowglen.com/dining/villa.shtml">La Villa Deli </a>in Willow Glen, and have their Cucciddata cookies for dessert, which was a special treat. For summer holidays we would have large bouquets of gorgeous chrysanthemums from our neighbor's hothouses, at least in the early years, before they moved to farm their acres of blooms in the Fresno area.<br /><br /> During holiday meals my father would have a few glasses of red wine and talk wistfully of his Navy days in Guiuan (Eastern Samar) in the Philippines. He was in charge of the vegetable garden near his Quonset hut (and of censoring mail), and would send my mother long letters about his produce, including photos of himself holding boxes of his vegetables and flowers while wearing native dress. He was a kind-hearted and fun-loving man who would find the horrors of war heartbreakingly unbearable. His Navy garden gave him solace, plus my mother's agricultural family, with it's seasonal rituals and strong ties, would strengthen and ground him with wonderful meals filled with fresh produce, among a family who thrived on European traditions and cookery in all its forms.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I run an old broom down the stacks of my mother's fruit-filled Kerr canning jar cases, I remember the beautiful molasses-colored eyes of one horse, it's large ivory teeth reaching over an old, white-washed corral, to grasp and crunch my offerings of late-summer carrots and apples. My mother and I regularly passed the same horse ranch as we walked down our rural, country lane to "Joe the Egg Man's house," as we called it then, where we would watch Joe candle each egg lovingly, before gently placing it in the cartons which we saved between visits. It's hard to believe that these early years existed in Silicon Valley, now home to a highly educated, high-tech international brain trust, a renowned center of venture capitalism, several world class universities, an astonishingly successful hub of ethnic diversity, and a thriving cultural explosion of opportunities. Back then, it was a dusty, verdant river valley, lush with produce and hard-working first and second generation Asian, Latin, and European families.<br /><br />Today my mother and father are long gone and the orchard has been subdivided, yet I still have a shed filled with my mother's home-canned apricots, peaches, and cherries from 40-50 years ago. They are no longer safe to eat and some day I will have to dispose of them, but they carry the life-blood of so many family summers in their sealed, sweet chambers, that the time to finally let go of their Dandelion Wine-like magic may not exist in my lifetime.<br /><br /> Recipes (Click images to enlarge)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQJz3CHeC5I/AAAAAAAAACU/RaWKY_8jdPY/s1600/Brandied_Cherries_sml.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549125080172071826" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQJz3CHeC5I/AAAAAAAAACU/RaWKY_8jdPY/s200/Brandied_Cherries_sml.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 134px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brandied Cherries<br /><br />I was surprised to find several large jars of brandied Royal Ann cherries in my mother's closet after she passed away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have included her recipe for this treat, which is luscious over ice cream or cheesecake. My grandfather made his own wine, whiskey, and brandy when he had a ranch in Cupertino near the current site of the county library and Cupertino City Hall. He used goats to keep the weeds down in the orchard, but that's a story for another time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sherry Prune Cake</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQJ0CUmwEqI/AAAAAAAAACc/3rPInb17OT0/s1600/Sherry_Prune_Cake_sml.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549125274113675938" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TQJ0CUmwEqI/AAAAAAAAACc/3rPInb17OT0/s200/Sherry_Prune_Cake_sml.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 118px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />If you have not tried Prune Cake or Prune Muffins, they are naturally sweet, incredibly moist, and delicious with spicy goodness. I like to add some walnuts to my muffins, and usually leave out the egg yolks, while cutting down on the sugar from my mother's original recipe. I also replace the milk with buttermilk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /> After all these years, Prune Cake with whipped cream remains one of my all-time favorites. My mother's recipe for Sherry Prune Cake is shown in her handwriting. Baking temperature is 325 degrees or 300 degrees for glass pans (which is not shown on the recipe card.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make sure to oil the pan well and line the bottom of the pan with wax paper, as this cake has a tendency to stick to the baking pan. Baking times will vary based on the moisture in the prunes (watch the browning of this cake and test with a toothpick to determine that adequate baking time has taken place.) For all of these reasons, using a bundt or tube pan is not recommended.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />To find books with holiday recipies, California Farm life records, and holiday memoirs (on WorldCat):</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">California Farm Life - <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=california+farm+life&dblist=638&fq=ln%3Aeng+%3E+-fm%3Afic&qt=facet_fm%3A_content">Find it for me</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">California Holidays and History - <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Acalifornia+holidays+history&fq=x0%3Abook+%3E+-mt%3Afic+%3E+ln%3Aeng+%3E+-mt%3Ajuv&qt=advanced&dblist=638">Find it for me</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">California Farm Recipes - <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Acalifornia+farm+recipes&fq=x0%3Abook+%3E+-mt%3Afic+%3E+ln%3Aeng+%3E+-mt%3Ajuv&qt=advanced&dblist=638">Find it for me</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cioppino and Italian History in the Bay Area (Cioppino was created in San Francisco)- <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Asan+francisco+history+italian&qt=results_page">Find it for me</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cioppino Recipes - Find it for me on <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=cioppino+bay+area&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_en#sclient=psy&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&q=cioppino+bay+area+recipes+history&aq=&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=1c030b17bae363c">Google</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Canning and Cookery History in the United States - <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Acanning+cookery+united+states&qt=results_page">Find it for me</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Canning and Preserving Recipes - <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%3Acanning+preserving+recipes&dblist=638&fq=-fm%3Afic+%3E+-fm%3Ajuv&qt=facet_fm%3A_audience">Find it for me</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cupertino Historical Society and Museum - <a href="http://www.cupertinohistoricalsociety.org/index.php/home">Find it for me</a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---C. D. Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
</div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343294783633352419.post-87385151607363812102010-11-01T15:04:00.001-07:002022-06-27T13:49:00.167-07:00Don't think of Oranges - Memoir Resources for Writers<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It took years for me to actually trust myself enough to write, solely for the joy of writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBPNRJsNKI/AAAAAAAAAB8/kFAGzIoObMA/s1600/the_end.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535011031399281826" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBPNRJsNKI/AAAAAAAAAB8/kFAGzIoObMA/s200/the_end.jpg" style="float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like many women, I felt compelled to write cogently and authoritatively when I had an issue or position to present for a practical purpose. However, writing about my own history, about my family memories, and about the many activities within my region of the country, felt less like an authentic life pursuit because, well, it was "fun."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my upbringing and within my family of origin, "fun" was considered to be highly suspicious stuff. It implied that not enough of the real, "important" work might be getting done, like picking fruit, canning, sewing, learning the Catechism and declension of Latin nouns, and writing those ubiquitous, weekly thank-you notes we penned so often in the 1950's and 1960's. "Thank you for your thank-note. I really enjoyed it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the 50's and 60's "fun" meant that you were somehow getting into something that might have to be mentioned in Confession. The parents weren't sure what your quiet, soul-cleansing revelation might be on Saturday morning, but they knew it would be a negative reflection on their parenting, one way or another. Our parents worked hard, they were honest, and even they weren't happy all the time, so how could their kids possibly expect to be happy without some misguided wrongdoing involved?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBJEkWtfKI/AAAAAAAAABE/nEViND6h5v4/s1600/Sisters.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535004284865576098" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBJEkWtfKI/AAAAAAAAABE/nEViND6h5v4/s1600/Sisters.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good, hard, sober work was highly valued on my mother's side of the family. "Work" consisted of those activities which, a) garnered a stable income but not so much cash that anyone else in the family might become too jealous or resentful, b) kept a boss consistently in focus because their opinion mattered much more than yours ever would, could, or should, c) led to regular promotions [for caveat, see "a"], and, d) gave one's parents bragging rights over the success of their child within the loamy family ecosystem, rife with the sprouting eyes of their own past successes and failures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Education was also valued, but only if it lead to a, b, c, and d. Too much education was considered excessive and self-promoting, especially for the women of the family. It distracted from time which could be spent, you guessed it, at work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBN41xwORI/AAAAAAAAAB0/nupHT9v7HzU/s1600/Kingsisters.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535009580942113042" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBN41xwORI/AAAAAAAAAB0/nupHT9v7HzU/s200/Kingsisters.jpg" style="float: left; height: 146px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I should say that a counterpart to "d" above, was a certain Greek chorus of woe and heightened phone activity when I or my cousins experienced challenges within our work or personal lives. We were all responsible, we paid our bills on time, contributed to charity, volunteered selflessly, but our parents remained concerned and vigilant lest too much happiness lead us astray. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Why do you want to go to graduate school? Don't you have enough education already?" "Can you afford a vacation?" "Where is he taking you? What does he do for a living? He does what?" (All said with <em>the look</em>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBKkhv9kLI/AAAAAAAAABM/KQkkbHB3odY/s1600/oranges_wink.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535005933433622706" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBKkhv9kLI/AAAAAAAAABM/KQkkbHB3odY/s200/oranges_wink.jpg" style="float: left; height: 185px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember one widely-reported incident regarding the health of one of my cousin's, well, how should I say this, "private parts." This was a second-generation subject of morbid controversy for at least three weeks running, no matter how much my poor cousin tried to quell the topic among our aunts. I would rather not have known anything about <em>it</em>, or <em>them</em>. (Don't think about oranges. Please don't even <em>talk</em> about oranges. I don't even want to <em>know</em> you have oranges.) When I had a biopsy in later years my family never knew about it. I took a good friend and we found copious ice cream varieties afterward. No oranges were harmed in the making of my personal drama. I would like to thank the Academy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, we learned early not to report the truth when our lives were a bit shaky or bumpy. We were always winners. We always succeeded. We never told our parents the real truth of our lives, because it would explode exponentially beyond our control, like a an exquisitely hand-tied fly, cast high over a broad, fast-running stream. One which we knew we could never reel in and recast, for it would be forever lost among the reeds on a swift current moving ever forward, until summer's heat and a new year left it tattered and scorched, waiting to be rediscovered and reexamined. In our family, secrets and sore spots never died, they were reconstituted like enhanced gravy at each holiday meal and appeared nearly as often.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBLRVwxKyI/AAAAAAAAABU/apNiA96_2nc/s1600/duckncover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="276" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535006703309892386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBLRVwxKyI/AAAAAAAAABU/apNiA96_2nc/s320/duckncover.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our mothers and aunts were born into a family where a married woman did not have hobbies, which were considered to be too unproductive. Hence, whatever foolishness we had gotten into (or out of) each week became our parents' version of living reality TV. Tune in, take an aspirin, call your sister, and talk about the worst case scenario. My cousins and I were the Cuban Missile Crisis, Med Fly, Whip 'n Chill, "Duck, cover, and HOLD," "Can't get no satisfaction," generation. We chewed on sugar-stiffened doilies, we melted red licorice in the steam of our mentholated vaporizers, and we beat our parents at Gin Rummy but had to do the dishes anyway.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBNFgP8mmI/AAAAAAAAABs/rG1yHwLXPVM/s1600/swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535008698989845090" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBNFgP8mmI/AAAAAAAAABs/rG1yHwLXPVM/s1600/swing.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our parents were more cautious, coming from a generation which had tasted wild abandon in the rhythmic flavors of Scat, Swing, and Jive, yet had it all suddenly yanked out of their grasp by the advent of war. They could remember a long, arduous climb out of the Great Depression with much deserved pride, so WWII was a secondary shock to their sense of trust in stability. Swing music, unfortunately, was now a pulsing reminder of the War years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We loved them, we respected them, and we clashed. We tried to convince them that being happy had inherrent value. We no longer believed that if we collected enough psychic Green Stamps that some day, long in the future, we could finally redeem our filled, sticky books for that elusive free gift, happiness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We watched the murders of JFK, RFK, MLK Jr., and John Lennon. We watched <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/dr-strangelove-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-bomb/oclc/46438325&referer=brief_results">Dr. Strangelove, or how I learned to love the Bomb</a>, and tried to forget the Cold War, despite the constant drone of late-night flights into <a href="http://www.moffettfieldmuseum.org/">Moffett Field</a>. We wanted some happy right now, because our future was not guaranteed, according to the lingering fears of The Greatest Generation. We wanted just enough happy to know that we were really alive today. Touch wood.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBL0kQ22OI/AAAAAAAAABc/ibECc25sLIg/s1600/falloutshelter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="254" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535007308498000098" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y3ENOeouTcw/TNBL0kQ22OI/AAAAAAAAABc/ibECc25sLIg/s320/falloutshelter.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we could, just for a few moments, feel the warmth of the sun on our Yardley-washed faces, feel it's heat though our tie-dyed t-shirts, and know that blissful release from winter's cold down to our Birkenstocked toes, we could leave this fragile life with not just a material legacy, fulfulling the dream of our parents, but with a life dream, a memory of having reached inside for a creative joy that grew out of our own intrinsic sense of value. We could finally be at peace.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-----------</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some books which have led me back to the joy of writing and a creative mindset, when I have, at times, temporarily abandoned a lifestyle which included my art. (Titles of these books are linked to <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/">WorldCat</a>, which will allow you to enter your zip code and find them in a library near you. WorldCat also finds these books for you on Amazon and other online book retailers, if available.)</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those of you who, like me, seem to get sidelined away from writing (or your own particular art form), I have found Julia Cameron's <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/how-to-avoid-making-art-or-anything-else-you-enjoy/oclc/58807292&referer=brief_results">How to Avoid Making Art (or anything else you Enjoy)</a> (Penguin 2005) to be a great kick-start back into living your writing dream and eliminating self-imposed distractions. Cameron uses simple, humorous, line drawings to illustrate concepts particularly appropriate for women who get too involved in others lives and find themselves with no time left for their own creative journey.<br />
</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For women who tend to want to wait to write or live fully until they have achieved some inner laundry list of perfection, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/women-food-and-god-an-unexpected-path-to-almost-everything/oclc/349248348&referer=brief_results">Women, Food and God</a> by Geneen Roth (Scribner 2010) is a revelation of wisdom about coming to a place of wholeness, so your life may actually begin right now. If you are waiting until you lose 20 pounds, get your garage cleaned out, put your kids though college, or finally have your remodel done before you live your dream, this book is for you. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes changing focus from a busy life to a writing life can present challenges. We can't tell our children, our jobs, or our elderly parents to stop having needs or crises so we can have time to write. If you need help finding your writing voice within a chaotic life, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/old-friend-from-far-away-the-practice-of-writing-memoir/oclc/156975181&referer=brief_results">Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend from Far Away: The practice of writing Memoir</a> (Simon and Schuster, 2007) has pages of prompts which can give unfocused and distracted writing a starting point. Her suggested exercises and themes are also helpful for blocked writers.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lastly, and I say this truly in all seriousness, we all need a life-memoir tiara. Not a Burt Parks, Miss America type of thing, but a self-made crown which reminds us of the best of who we are and how far we have come on our writing or life journey. Build yourself a circular ode to your spirit, whether in chicken wire, pipe cleaners and old earrings, or an embellished, aluminum pie plate covered with old magazine photos, glitter, and old buttons. Let it remind you that you have a creative, inner life and a writing spirit which needs tending. For home crafted tiara ideas, I like <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/crowns-tiaras-add-a-little-sparkle-glitter-glamour-to-every-day/oclc/81252763&referer=brief_results">Crowns and Tiaras: Add a little sparkle, glitter, and glamour to every Day</a> (Sterling Publishing, 2007), by Kerri Judd and Danyel Montecinos. Wear it with pride.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-----------</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
There are a wealth of classes and events available for writers of memoir and creative nonfiction in Silicon Valley. Here are some well-established resources:</span><br />
<ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stanford Continuing Education offers classroom instruction through <a href="https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/writersstudio.php">The Writers Studio</a>, plus online writing instruction through <a href="https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/onlinewriters.php">The Online Writers Studio</a>. Both sites list courses in memoir and other genre, including creative nonfiction. Stanford Continuing Studies also offers public events featuring notable writers. On November 18, 2010 the <a href="https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/publicprograms/event.php?eid=20101_EVT%20281">Speak, Memory</a> series begins with readings from works by Jorge Luis Borges, Oliver Sachs, and Anne Tyler. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.litart.org/">The Center for Literary Arts</a> at San Jose State University has presented some outstanding programs with notable authors. In 2011 E. L. Doctorow will be featured in a booksigning on March 23rd, followed by an onstage interview on March 24th, as part of the 2011 <a href="http://www.litart.org/#Spring">Martha Heasley Cox Lecture series</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---C. D. Alexander, Silicon Valley Librarian</span></div>
</div>
The Silicon Valley Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061095409822446714noreply@blogger.com