Do you have a robot to show and talk about?
Bring IT!
Popcorn will be provided (limited amount)
Please BYO… chair, blanket, water, refreshments and your favorite movie treat, etc.
Supported by a grant from Palo Alto’s “Know Your Neighbor” program : event organized by Lydia Kou
Note : This is a guest post by Barron Park resident Jerry Underdal, in which he expresses his personal views about the PAHC project on the Maybell–Clemo site.
I credit the Barron Park and Green Acres communities for accomplishing a great deal in pushing back against a hastily put-together, though well-intentioned, project that didn’t show an awareness of the deep suspicion of city hall and seething resentment over traffic impacts of the Arastradero makeover. Thanks to our efforts, the city was forced to acknowledge that we have a major traffic safety problem that has to be dealt with even if the Maybell/Clemo property reverts to apricot orchard. Public opinion around the city swung to sympathy and support for a neighborhood seen as fighting a process of land-use change that leaves citizens feeling powerless. Here was a neighborhood that wasn’t going to take it lying down. And (here I differ from the strong majority of BPA membership) we got concession after concession as PAHC and the City Council fought to keep the project alive and show the neighbors that it truly was trying to come up with a project that would be a point of pride for Barron Park, not dismay.
Do members know that there will be 7 two-story homes on Maybell, with varied set-backs of 18–22 feet so there won’t be a monotonous sameness, and the fronts of the buildings are to have distinctive elements so they look like anything but the generic rows of townhouses that we see elsewhere. There’ll be no driveways onto Maybell. There will be 5 three-story homes on Clemo, the upper portions concealed by existing oak trees. Traffic will be restricted from accessing Maybell except through the adjacent apartment house complex parking lot. An amount of $200,000 is provided for addressing safety concerns on Maybell–work to be completed before actual construction begins. And, of course, the main goal and public benefit for this project would be the 60 units of affordable housing for seniors with limited income, with attractive landscaping inside the complex. Continue reading »
Fellow members of the BPA – The survey of the membership is now over and here are the results.
Q1. It has been proposed that the BPA contribute up to $1000 towards the effort to qualify the referendum for the ballot.
The results and a bar chart can be downloaded here
The excellent response from our members is proof of the high level of interest in this issue. We received 150 electronic responses, which was from 43% of those to whom we sent an electronic invitation for the Survey Monkey vote. We received 29 paper ballots, from 54% of those who were given a paper ballot (no email address in our database). One paper ballot was dropped off at 11:45 PM. An eighty-nine year lady hopped on her bicycle and rode it down to my house to deliver it in person. The paper ballots were validated and counted by a two person committee: Lisa (Membership Chair) and me.
And I want to congratulate you, our membership, for taking this issue seriously and participating in this vote and letting the Board know your views. It is appropriate that this exercise in local democracy happened at the same time as our national holiday. A number of memberships to the BPA were received during the survey period and we believe it is because they wanted to be part of the process. We welcome them to the BPA and hope that this will motivate others to join the BPA. I also want to thank those of you who have sent me emails with your comments, both about the issue and about the process we followed. If you have some more thoughts to share in the upcoming days, please send them to me. I’d like to hear from you.
Art Liberman, BPA President
Palo Alto’s annual “ Chili Cook OFF and Summer Festival” will take place at Mitchell Park on 600 E. Meadow Drive from noon to 5 p.m. and chili tasting, which is open to the public, begins at 1:30 p.m.
This year there is a new booth, representing the Barron Park Association. Barron Park resident Mark Van Zanten has accepted the challenge and has created a new vegetarian chili that will impress the judges, and delight all those who get a taste.
The Barron Park Association’s Chill Out booth will not only have chili, but also a photo booth, music, a hula hoop contest and BPA sign up.
The Chili Cook Off and Summer Festival is a great family event with lots to offer: live music, children’s activities including bounce houses, balloon artist, face painting, food vendors and more. Admission is free. Chili tasting kits will be sold for a nominal fee.
The judges will decide on the awarding of over $2,000 in cash & prizes to the chili division winners and overall winner as well as for Best Booth and Best Spirit. The Public will vote on the People’s Choice Winner, and we need your help!
Come have fun in the sun! We need volunteers, if you are interested in helping please email mark_vanzanten@yahoo.com Mark needs volunteers, a small quiet generator and a few coolers.
We look forward to seeing you on the 4th!
Meet the Chef:
the Chili Chef , Mark Van Zanten
Mark Van Zanten has lived in Barron Park for a number of years and has been cooking for even longer. He is always looking for a new recipe, and has come up with one that will chill the crowd down on the 4th. Come visit the booth and see for yourself!
Donkey Funding Group – UPDATE: Bob Frost email: BobFrost34@gmail.com
