Volume 67, Issue 12 December, 2023 | |
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December 2023 Community Center Calendar
12| HVLT Board Mtg |
19| HVCA Board Mtg |
19| HVSD Board Mtg |
1st/3rd Weds. | Tam Design Review Board Mtg |
Saturdays | A.A. Mtg | 10:00 a.m.
****Save the Date***
HVCA Annual Meeting
Saturday, January 27
HVCC
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Happy Holidays Homestead!!!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Things have really quieted down around the center, however, we do have a few programs and events lined up through the end of the year. Keep scrolling and have a wonderful December celebrating the holidays.
Cheers, Jonnie
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HVCA Community Holiday Potluck and Artist Reception | |
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Saturday, December 9th
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the HVCC.
Celebrate the holidays with your neighbors. All are welcome to a community potluck holiday celebration. Please bring an appetizer or desert to share.
There will be food, music, fun
and Santa may make an appearance too!
Featuring the Land, Sea & Sky art exhibition
of Robb Havassy and other local artists
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Rescheduled Community Conversation with Dennis Rodoni | | |
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Join Supervisor Dennis Rodoni for county updates and an opportunity to bring up concerns and issues that are important to you.
The conversation will be held via Zoom on Thursday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting link here.
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MHS/HV Joint Committee Meeting | |
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Homestead Valley/MHS Joint Committee Meeting Notes
Background
In 1991, the Marin Board of Supervisors approved the use of the Homestead School site on Melrose Ave (owned by the MV School District) for a non-profit independent school, Marin Horizon School (MHS). As part of the Use Permit reissued in 2005 that allowed for an increase in enrollment and new buildings, MHS was asked to form a permanent advisory committee to communicate with the HV neighborhood. The committee meets twice a year at MHS and meetings are open to the public. The meeting is co-chaired by Leslie Dixon and Bill Perrine. Please share any comments with either Bill (bill@marinhorizon.org) or Leslie (lesliekdixon@gmail.com).
Homestead Valley & Marin Horizon School Joint Committee Meeting Notes
November, 2023. Click HERE to view the meeting notes.
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Reminder that the gate to the MHS playground is open to the public on weekends and on holidays from sunrise to sunset. | |
Now Accepting Annual Service Award Nominations | |
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Homestead Valley (HV) has a long history of volunteerism whereby residents see an opportunity to create 'a more perfect valley' and make it happen. From the creation of the Community Association (HVCA) over a hundred years ago and the Land Trust (HVLT) in the early 70's, to a music festival in Stolte Grove that then moved to the Community Center meadow, and more recently the installation of a display garden based on sustainable, regenerative gardening, featuring plants that grow well in HV gardens, the spirit of community service and generosity is omnipresent in Homestead Valley.
Each year, HVCA recognizes two of the many people who passionately give their time to make a difference in HV. You can find a list of prior Service Award winners on our website: Homestead Valley Annual Service Awards. Winners are announced at the HV Annual Meeting in January.
While it has been an unusual couple of years, the HVCA Board would like to reach out to the community for nominations for 2023 Volunteer of the Year and Distinguished Community Service Award. Please send your nominations with a one paragraph write up describing the reason for your nomination by December 15, 2023 to jonnie@homesteadvalley.org.
Volunteer of the Year - this recognizes someone for their outstanding contribution of service and leadership in the community this past year. (This award can go to a previous recipient.)
Distinguished Community Service Award - this person has been continuously giving extraordinary service, inspiration, and an enduring dedication to our community (while giving generously of their time). This is a one-time award.
Many thanks to everyone who helps make Homestead Valley a very special place to live.
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Music Class Continues this Winter
In Harmony offers family music and movement classes for children ages 0-8 and the grownups who love them! These group music classes, designed for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids, are backed by a research-driven curriculum that will nurture your child's inner musician, but the emphasis is on FUN! You and your children will grow a strong bond through singing, dancing, clapping, bouncing, instrument playing and other rhythm activities! So much more than a music class, In Harmony Music fosters developmental benefits that will support all areas of learning.
Friday classes offered at Homestead Valley Community Center at 11:30 a.m. Save $30 with coupon code HVCC. Additional indoor, outdoor and online classes available around Marin. The 10 week winter session starts on January 12 - Register now! www.inharmonymusic.com
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Pie Making Class!
Sundays in December
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
December - 3, 10, 17
Have you ever felt intimidated by making pie? Fear not! Come roll up your sleeves and learn to make a tender, flaky pie crust while making your very own humble and delicious apple pie - just in time for the holidays! You’ll learn some tips and tricks and even eat some pie.. mmm. Cost is $95 per person. $105 Parent / Child together.
Here is the link to register!
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Homestead Valley Sanitary District Update | |
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By Bonner Beuhler, HVSD District Manager
HVSD has completed the first portion of the FY 2023/24 capital improvement project that began in August 2023, replacing over 3,000 feet of pipe on Lillian Lane, Linden Lane, Chapman Road, Ethel Avenue and Montford Avenue, along with some off-road easement work. Final restoration paving will take place during the last week of November, This work brings the total installation/replacement of the district’s old clay lines to 85% plastic pipe. The remaining 10,000 ft. that needs to be replaced is on Melrose and N. Ferndale Avenue, Morning Sun Ave. and Homestead Blvd. as well as the area of our next CIP program in the southern part of the district (Vernal Ave., Loring Ave., Western Ave., W. California Ave., etc.). We are hoping to begin work on that section in early/mid 2024. We appreciate the cooperation of all our residents, especially those that have been replacing their private laterals as we make our way through this necessary upgrade process.
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Homestead Valley Safety/Firewise | |
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Homestead Valley Safety/Firewise Annual Meeting – November 28, 2023
On Tuesday, November 28th, the Homestead Valley Safety & Firewise Committee held its annual meeting at the Community Center. This was a hybrid meeting with 20 community members attending in-person, as well as 12 additional persons joining the meeting via Zoom.
The keynote speaker was Marshall Nau, the Deputy Fire Marshal with the Southern Marin Fire District (SMFD). He provided a 30-minute presentation on the SMFD Home Assessment Program. This included information on the Seasonal Home Inspection Program, as well as the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) Defensible Space/Home Hardening Grants.
Following the SMFD presentation, Jim Derich and Steve Quarles reported on the recent accomplishment, activities and programs of the Homestead Valley Safety and Firewise Committee:
- Homestead Valley is certified Firewise Community in 2023 and paperwork has been submitted to maintain our status for 2024
- Emergency preparedness drills were conducted in March and November
- SMFD NRG Evacuation drill was held in June
- Recruitment for CERT volunteers
- The installation of the LRAD emergency notification system was completed
- 470 reflective address placards have been installed – ORDER HERE
Steve and Jim also spoke about the focus of Safety and Firewise work in the coming months:
- Strengthen the HVCC emergency response capacity; equipment, supplies and volunteers
- Serve as a demonstration site for residential home hardening
- Develop and implement a ‘Cluster Model’ for organizing our neighborhood Blocks
- Expand our CERT volunteer base – INFORMATION HERE
- Build awareness of the evolving Evacuation Plan being developed by the City of Mill Valley – MORE INFORMATION HERE
- Continue to promote the chipper and debris box programs – CLICK HERE
- Provide more information on Home Hardening and Defensible Space
- Share results of the MWPA sponsored mulch combustibility study
- Improve our web presence and online access to resources
A video recording of the meeting is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dxAm1jTNSU0
(Missing the first 5 minutes of Marshall’s presentation.)
You can reach out to the committee at: hvsafety@homesteadvalley.org
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Homestead Valley Vignettes by Chuck Oldenburg | |
Famous Residents
Homestead Valley can claim several famous residents. Some were famous when they lived here, for example, Ed Radenzel who reported the news on KQED’s Newsroom for several years starting in 1968. Others gained fame later, for example, Jack Kerouac, who lived here in 1956 before “On the Road” was published. There are many others. A sampling of three internationally famous Homestead Valley residents includes an actor/playwright, a musician and a scientist.
SAM SHEPARD
From 1977 to 1983, Sam Shepard, his actress wife, O-Lan Jones, and their son, Jesse, lived at 33 Evergreen Ave. In 1979, he won a Pulitzer prize for his play, “The Buried Child.” In 1983, he was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his role as Chuck Yeager in the film, “The Right Stuff.” He was later inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Letters.
JON HENDRICKS
In 1966, Jon Hendricks bought the large house at 328 Ridgewood Ave. and raised a family there. He still owns the house, but lives in New York and spends much of his time on tour throughout the world. He is a singer, song writer and professor of jazz at the University of Toledo. He has performed with many of the great jazz musicians and was part of the famous jazz trio, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.
PETER SHOR
In the early 1970s, Will and Jobi Shor and their two children moved to 318 Montford Ave. Their son, Peter, attended Edna Maguire Middle School and graduated from Tamalpais High School in 1977. That summer, he helped the US team win the International Math Olympiad in Yugoslavia, – he won 2nd prize. He then went to Cal. Tech., and on to MIT for a Ph.D. He did post doctoral work at U.C.-Berkeley before joining Bell Laboratories. His research there made him one of the most famous mathematicians in the world. “Shor’s Algorithm” is well known in the field of quantum computing. A recent experiment proved its validity. He has won many awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship.
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Homestead Valley Contact Information | |
Help 1st Responders Locate Your Home
Reflective Address Placard Order Form:
Click Here
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STAY CONNECTED:
Did you know HVCA is on Instagram @homesteadvalley? Be sure to follow us to stay up to date on events, last minute announcements, and more.
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Homestead Valley Community Association, 315 Montford Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 | | | | |
