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MARK YOUR CALENDARS Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association January/February 2017

January 2017

Marin Veteran’s Auditorium Jan-March

1/27/17 & 1/28/17 Marin Symphony Masterworks – Midori Comes to Marin1/30/17 & 2/2/17 – Marin Speaker Series – Alan Alda2/25/17-2/26/17 – Song for All Beings3/18/17 & 3/19/17 – Best of Broadway Under the Stars3/27/17 – Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett Tour

28 – Marin JCC Winter Nights: An Aftrican Dance Party, 7pm

31- SVNA Community Meeting. Supervisor Damon Connolly’s yearly review. 7pm, Korean Presbyterian Church, 635 Adrian Way.31 – After Meeting Parking Restrictions in SV, 8:00pm-ish, Korean Presbyterian Church, 635 Adrian Way.

February 2017

4 – Marin JCC Winter Nights: The Colors of India 7pm

Venetia Valley Neighborhood Story Time: 10amWhen/Where: 2/4/17 (Room 51) 3/4/17 (Room 1) 4/1/17 (Room 1)

11 – Second Saturday Medians Workday, 9am-noon. Call Nanni for meeting location, 472-3269.15 – 5:30pm, CSA #18 Parks & OS Advisory Board Meeting15 – (tentative) FCZ#7 Flood Zone Advisory Board Meeting16 – 6pm Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Public Meeting for Northern Marin Application (including SV)17 – Marin JCC Winter Nights: Andre Thierry 7pm

See Something...Say Something 415-479-2311

Continued on page 2

• Linda Levey and the SVNA BoardIf you live in Santa Venetia, you are reaping the benefits of our Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association. You may not even realize it, but now is the time to say THANKS and… Join or Renew Your Membership!!!One of the most important things we can do as a neighborhood is say thanks! Thanks to the SVNA Board, Committee Members, Neighbors, and County Staff for the time and energy required by so many people to get projects worked on… and sometimes even completed!Did you get an extra garbage pick-up for “bulky items”? SVNA worked with the County and Marin Sanitary Service to get extra pick-ups through-out the year to keep your homes free of debris and garbage off our streets. Did you attend the annual Halloween Block Party or Labor Day Picnic? SVNA members organized, did the work, and the SVNA paid for those. If you want the perks to continue, YOU will have to contribute. Preparing the newsletter, setting up meetings and events, meeting with our Supervi-sor and other Committee groups, posting on the websites, working on the medians, cleaning up garbage… Volunteers do this!In no particular order, below are some of the things the SVNA does and did for our neighborhood – in 2016! (and some year’s before)

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES:» LABOR DAY PICNIC including Live Music, Raffles, Cookie Contest, Spin-a-Wheel and Watershed booths, Children’s Play, and, last but not least, the Fairy Princess, Face Painting and Balloon Animals» HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY on Adrian, over 500 Trick-or-Treaters!» EASTER EGG HUNT at Castro Park» JULY 4TH FIREWORKS VIEWING PARTY on the Bridge (2015)» ANNUAL SPLASH DAY at North-bridge Pool» SV GARDEN EXCHANGE at Pueblo Park

COMMUNICATIONS:» SVNA AWARD-WINNING NEWSLET-TER with bimonthly mailing and an-nual mailing party. Besides publicizing SV information, events, honoring our lost friends, and more; through our newsletter, we publicize and promote activities and groups in SV and Marin including SRCS, VV School, and the Marin School, GWC, Ranger and Park activities, Civic Center Library, SVNHN, SV Community Plan, Neighborhood Pools, etc. that directly benefit our community.» SVNA Board of Directors Meetings, monthly» Community Meetings presenting timely topics, 5 meetings per year» Candidates’ Forum (in election years)» Supervisor Damon Connolly meet-ings to discuss SV needs, bimonthly» Power in knowledge – ongoing posting of news and information on various websites

LAND USE COMMITTEE:» Communicate with the County regarding developments in Santa Venetia» Organized and held Spe-cial Meeting to facilitate discussion within our commu-nity about the Marin County Medi-cal Cannabis Dispensary Ordinance.» Organized and held Spe-cial Meeting to facilitate discussion within our commu-nity about development proposals at Sunny Oaks,

Oxford Valley, » Monitoring of Marin County and City of San Rafael agendas for projects affecting SV and posting information to keep neighbor-hood apprised of possible developments» SVNA supports local environmental groups with our donations

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION:» 2nd Saturday Median Crew: median main-tenance, clean-up, and planting» Raffle for money for our Medians for ongoing maintenance and supplies» Bella Santa Venetia Committee» Golf Street corner planting, watering, and maintenance for SV Welcome Sign» Garbage clean-up on NSPR, MacPhail, and more» Members painted the wall along NSPR to remove graffiti (2015)» Lovingly nurtured and participated in our beautiful Pueblo Park Mosaic Art Installa-tion – started in 2015, finished in 2016» Worked with Marin Transit to curb the mis-use of the bus stop garbage can on NSPR at Mabry

2016 (and more) SVNA AccomplishmentsRenew/Join the SVNA and Make 2017 Even Better!!!

SVNA Community Meetings

Supervisor Damon Connolly 1/31/17, 7pmJoin us as we welcome Supervisor Damon Connolly for a discussion about what has happened in the past year and his expectations for the coming one. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas about what we can do to make our lives and community better in Santa Venetia.

Parking! After-Meeting 1/31/17, 8:00pm-ishWe’ve fielded many complaints and worked with our Supervisor to find solutions. Join us to discuss proposed changes including no park-ing on NSPR, limiting over-sized commercial trucks on our residential streets, and changing the 72-hour rule throughout Marin County.

Dos Reuniones Comunitarias el 1/31/177pm: El Supervisor Damon Connolly se une a nosotros. Traiga sus preguntas, inquietudes e ideas sobre lo que podemos hacer para mejorar nuestras vidas y nuestra comunidad en Santa Venetia.8:00pm: Estacionamiento! - Hemos presentado muchas quejas y trabajado con nuestro Supervisor para encontrar soluciones. Únase a nosotros para discutir los cambios propuestos, incluyendo no esta-cionar en NSPR, limitar los camiones comerciales de gran tamaño en nuestras calles residenciales, y cambiar la regla de 72 horas en todo el condado de Marin.

SVNA COMMITTEE CONTACTS

2 S V N A C O M M U N I C ATO R J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 01 7

DENNIS BORTOLI [email protected] 415-479-0167

NICOLE CIBELLIS-ANDREWS [email protected] 415-225-6115

LEAH ELAMIN [email protected] 415-717-3326

Past President MARK WALLACE mark.t.wallace @gmail.com

SVNA BOARD OFFICERS & MEMBERS

• Bella Santa Venetia: COULD THIS BE YOU?• Land Use: MARK WALLACE, LINDA LEVEY• Median Crew: NANNI WURL• Membership: LINDA LEVEY• Neighborhood Watch: COULD THIS BE YOU?• Newsletter: LINDA LEVEY• SV Community Plan: BONNIE MONTE, [email protected]• Social Activities: NICOLE CIBELLIS-ANDREWS • Traffic & Roads: GARY ROBARDS, [email protected]• Watershed: RUSS GREENFIELD

ADVISORY BOARDS• Dredging (CSA #6): ELLEN STEIN [email protected]• Emergency Services (CSA #19): MARK WALLACE, NANNI WURL• Flood Control Zone (FCZ #7): JACKIE GARCIA, jacqueline. [email protected], 415-492-1898, RUSS GREENFIELD• Parks (CSA #18): LINDA LEVEY, GINA HAGEN, NANNI WURL

Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association PO Box 4047, San Rafael, CA 94913-4047 www.thesvna.org

The deadline for articles and ads for the March/April issue is March 1, 2017. Email text to editor Linda Levey, [email protected], 415-499-3411. Put SVNA in the subject line of email.Advertising Rates Paid-up SVNA resi-dents can advertise and support The Communicator. Buy a 3-1/2 x2" ad. Ads in the big Jan/Feb issue are $60 and the issue is mailed to all 1800 homes; ads in the other 5 issues are $30 each. Pay one issue at a time or get one free issue by paying a year in ad-vance—only $180 for the whole year, 6 issues, and receive FREE 4-color on the SVNA website and in the display case. For ad specs, contact Norma Novy, [email protected], 415-499-9409.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association Mission StatementTo preserve and promote the quality of life of the Santa Venetia community. This is achieved through encouraging healthy social interaction; facilitating the flow of information; and protecting the natural beauty and economic well being of the community.

Photo credits: Joyce Clements, Linda Levey, Karen Thompson, Sue Mace, Marin County Staff, Norma Novy • Thanks to Ann Thompson for the Communicator masthead design and artwork for Mt. Tam/Miwok Indian tribute, to Jok Church for the original SV logo design, and to Joel Lau for revising it. Articles in this newsletter represent the opinions and ideas of the authors, and may not reflect the views of SVNA or its Board. While this newsletter aims to best represent information that is useful to the community, please note that SVNA reserves the right to edit submissions for both accuracy and clarity.

President RUSS GREENFIELD [email protected] 415-578-2580

Vice-President GINA HAGEN [email protected] 415-377-3377

Treasurer LINDA LEVEY [email protected] 415-499-3411

Board Member Emerita NANNI WURL 415-472-3269

Continued top of next page

Could this be you?

NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY:» Neighborhood Watch Group meetings (decals available)» Safety on our Streets including working with the County and City to discuss traffic calming and parking issues» Raffle for DART/CERT supplies, update DART Carts in case of emer-gency» Worked with the County, LGVSD, Marin Cove HOA, etc to update our Schmidt/Meadow local path hoping to make it safe for bicycles and pedestrians alike» Worked with the County to get gravel on the Mark Twain path because of slipping complaints

MEMBER PARTICIPATION ON “OUTSIDE” COMMITTEES:» SV Community Plan» Flood Control Zone #7 Advisory Board to the County» CSA #6 (Dredging) Advisory Board to the County» CSA #18 (Parks & Open Space) Advisory Board to the County» CSA #19 (Emergency Services) Advisory Board to the County» Marin County Watershed Program – Technical Committee» Gallinas Watershed Council (GWC)» Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD)» Santa Venetia Neighbors Helping Neighbors (SVNHN)» North San Pedro Road Traffic Committee» Friends of Civic Center Library» SRCS (San Rafael City Schools) Facilities Visioning Workshops» Resilient Neighborhoods Program

WORKING WITH THE COUNTY:» Members worked with Parks and Open Space to facilitate and partici-pated in finalizing our beautiful Pueblo Park Mosaic Art Installation» Members worked with Parks and Open Space on various park updates including our plans to refurbish the Pueblo Park Tennis Courts in 2017!» Worked with our Supervisor’s office and neighbors for a solution for garbage/dumping on our streets, now we have bulky item pick-ups included with our garbage service» Attended and participated in meetings regarding the Medical Canna-bis Ordinance (in 2015 we made sure the 7-Eleven property will not be considered as a dispensary site and it was removed from the list.)» Worked with our Supervisor’s office for a solution to parking issues in our neighborhood including excluding huge trucks from our streets and modifying the 72-hour rule to rid our streets of abandoned ve-hicles. (ongoing)» Worked with our Supervisor’s office for a solution to the mess on NSPR at Mabry. Implemented a 30-day no parking period to clean up the area and hope to make that permanent, we finally got an agreement and action to fill in the berm to prevent the water from leaking across our road, and we hope to get the fence and telephone poles removed in 2017. (ongoing)» Worked with county to request sign compliance in our commercial district for a more attractive entrance to our neighborhood (ongoing)» Worked with our Supervisor’s Office, Parks and Open Space, and SRCS to try to get the McPhail’s site as a neighborhood resource (ongoing)» Worked with our Supervisor’s Office to try to get the Buck’s site as a neighborhood resource, this should come to fruition in 2017! (ongoing)» Worked with DPW Road and Marin Transit to get damaged bus stop bench area on NSPR repaired in 2015 and a new bus stop bench in 2016» Worked with our Supervisor’s Office to get the dead trees on NSPR at La Brea removed and the sidewalks repaired

2016 (and more) SVNA AccomplishmentsContinued from front page

S V N A C O M M U N I C ATO R J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 01 7 3

As we’ve always said… Members are good, “participating” mem-bers are even better! So now seems a good time to thank some of our neighborhood volunteers (in no particular order). If I forgot anyone, I am so sorry. Let me know and it won’t happen again! The SVNA Board – Preparing the newsletter, managing membership, setting up meetings and events, meeting with our Supervisor and other Committee groups, posting on websites, working on the medians, cleaning up garbage… we run the gamut! Your Board Members are listed on page 2 and include Russ Greenfield, Gina Hagen, Linda Levey, Dennis Bortoli, Nicole Cibellis-Andrews, Mark Wallace and Nanni Wurl. The next time you see one of them on the street, make sure to say THANKS!

SVNA Committees & County Advisory Boards Also listed on page 2, members of these groups meet regularly to work on various projects and advise and advocate for our community. Below is a listing. Thank you all for the time you spend on our behalf.2nd Saturday Median Crew: Nanni Wurl, Dennis Bortoli, Carolyn Byrne, Barbora Juigova, Wayne Lechner, Amanda Mitchell and Carl & Helen SitchlerSVNA Land Use: Mark Wallace, Mary Hanley and Linda LeveySVNA Social Activities Committee Leader: Nicole Cibellis-Andrews and all our Picnic and Halloween Party volunteers – way too many to list here!DART/CERT: Sandy Fullerton, Jean Zerrudo and Sylvia LakemanFCZ #7 Flooding: Jacqueline Garcia, Russ Greenfield, Jeffrey Krupnick (and outgoing members Michael Perani and Evan Marks and incoming members Alex Kahl and Roger Kirk)CSA #18 Parks: Linda Levey, Gina Hagen, Karen Thompson, Joyce Cle-ments and Nanni WurlCSA #6 Dredging: William Adkison, Kenneth King, and Ellen Stein (and outgoing member Chris Deibel)CSA #19 Emergency Services: Mark Wallace and Nanni Wurl Friends of Civic Center Library: Chris Owen, Shelly Cooper (and outgoing member Alison Fuller)SV Community Plan: Bonnie Monte, Giselle Block, Jane Brnad, Russ Greenfield, Mary Hanley, Roger Heller and Oscar SeguraGWC: Russ Greenfield, Alex Kahl, Bonnie Monte, Art ReichertAs well, thanks to SVNHN/Santa Venetia Neighbors Helping Neighbors, members who meet regularly and plan projects to benefit our commu-nity: Sue Ann Anderson, Carol Bryant, Shelley Cooper, Mari Dannecker,

Thanks to Our Volunteers!Missey Jaquysh, Sherry Julin Issa and Linda Allais Warner.And to some other special people in our neighborhood:Our SVNA.org Webmaster: Marina McKennaOur Picnic Raffle Master: Silvia LakemanPicnic Games: Wayne LechnerTranslation: Gerónimo Diaz and Wayne LechnerKeeping our Neighborhood Clean: Rich McGrathCommunity Meeting Stenographer: Alison FullerPitching In when Needed: Tad InouyeThe SVNA Newsletter, The Communicator is an ongoing project and many hands make lighter work. Linda Levey and Norma Novy work hard on collecting and putting articles together every other month. But our newsletter would not be what it is without your neighbors/our members who write the articles – their names are listed each issue. But thanks are also due to the volunteers that are not listed are those members who help us to deliver/mail the newsletter (Russ Greenfield, Dennis Bortoli and Nanni Wurl) and proof the newsletter each issue be-fore we go to print (Allison Fuller, Anna Mullins, Bobby Gaddy, Bonnie Monte, Carol Bryant, Dennis Bortoli, Diana King, Fontaine Segerquist, Gina Hagen, Grace Dearborn, Jennifer Curtis, Joe Hagen, Jon Metcalf, Judy Schriebman, Lesley McTaggart, Linda Levey, Maggie Garloff, Mark Wallace, Mary Carol Winkler, Mary Hanley, Maureen C. Brant, Nicole Cibillis-Andrews, Norma Novy, Patty Wells, Rich McGrath, Russ Greenfield, Sandy Fullerton, Shelley Sweet, Shirley McGrath, Siobhan Semple Stoddard, Sue Ann Anderson, Sylvia Lakeman, Tad Inouye and Valerie Taylor).And finally, thank you to our neighbors who actually pay their mem-bership annually. It is such a help. As well, thank you doubly to our neighbors who donate extra with their membership. As you’ve heard, “it takes a village!” so if you have the time to help, please let us know. If you don’t have the time to help, at least renew your membership! Your neighborhood thanks you.

NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT:» SVNHN and various members have reached out to assist neighbors and residents that suffer a hardship.» SVNHN has raised money through yard sales and various activities and provided an annual sponsorship for a Terra Linda student from SV.» Designed, prepared, and implemented a GoFundMe page for Nestor and Santa Venetia Market, raising money to help after an attack inside the store (www.gofundme.com/help4Nestor).

WE KNOW IT’S OLD NEWS, BUT STILL…. 2014 was a big year for our Neighborhood Association— it was our 60-year anniversary while at the same time Santa Venetia celebrated its 100-year anniversary. The County honored us with a proclamation you can view here: www.BigTent.com/usr/files/90170450_2_00_ Proclamation.jpg.

SO JOIN US AND…

1. Become a member 2. renew your membership annu-ally 3. volunteer...today!The SVNA is NOT an HOA but is a VOLUNTEER Neighborhood Association working towards the betterment of our community. The more members we have, the more power we have to protect and improve our neighborhood. And remember, no matter when you joined, you have to renew every year in January to continue as an SVNA member! Our fund-ing comes directly from your memberships and we work to spend membership dollars and donations wisely for the benefit of our community.

COMMUNITY MEETING, Tuesday, 1/31/17, 7pm Supervisor Damon Connelly–State of the County. AFTER MEETING, Tuesday, 1/31/17, 8:00pm-ish, Parking Restrictions in SV. Korean Church, 635 Adrian Way at Rosal Way


[email protected] | (415) 339-9336 ext. 1004

http://thesvna.org/membership/

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Supervisor’s Corner • Winter 2017

• Supervisor Damon ConnollyI want to take this opportunity to encourage you to attend the two upcoming Santa Venetia Neighbor-hood Association meetings on Tuesday, January 31, at the Korean Presbyterian Church on Adrian Way. At 7pm, I will address the community on a multitude of issues – bring your questions and concerns. At 8pm

we will be discussing possible parking restrictions that could affect you.We are seeing an increase in the number of commercial oversized vehicles being parked for extended periods of time on local streets; in effect the vehicle owners are storing their vehicles in the community instead of at a commercial lot or place of business. These large vehicles create safety issues by reducing line of sight, take up multiple parking spaces and are creating other impacts.The problem of people storing their oversized commercial trucks and trailers on public streets can be addressed by regulation, which we will discuss at the community meeting on the 31st. Restriction can range from a total ban on overnight parking of oversized commercial vehicles on the streets of Santa Venetia, as the City of San Rafael has recently done, to requiring that vehicles be moved every 72 hours by no less than 500 feet, to requiring permits for parking. The Sheriff’s Office has emphasized that whatever regulations the Board of Supervisors creates must have viable enforcement. The right of way along N. San Pedro Road between La Pasada and Vendo-la has been of particular concern. This stretch of road is in bad condition from all of the parking and the water seepage from the property at the base of the hill. The County will be installing a drainage system in that area to keep the water from reaching the roadway and this stretch of N. San Pedro Road will become a permanent no parking zone.When we prohibited parking along that stretch of road last summer on a trial basis, virtually all of the oversized commercial vehicles disappeared from the neighborhood, suggesting that people are using this location for storage, and that the owners of the vehicles may not live in the com-munity.It is up to those living in the neighborhood to decide how much regula-tion is warranted. These possible parking restrictions have been created in response to years of complaints by people throughout the commu-nity. This meeting is your opportunity to look at the options and provide input. This is also my opportunity to encourage you to join the Santa Venetia

Neighborhood Association. They are a strong voice in rep-resenting your interests. Their newsletter provides important information on flood zone activities, special districts that are working to improve your local parks and protect the natural resources that make this community so special. The SVNA board leadership is the hardest working group of com-munity volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with. They are working for you!As always, it is an honor to serve the people and neighbor-hood of Santa Venetia. I deeply appreciate your support and remain available to discuss any concerns that you may have. I hope to see you on the 31st!

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Concerned about development? Here’s where you can find the scoop about what’s happening in your ‘hood. Keep an eye on the online forums for up-to-the-minute information.This is a list of current and ongo-ing projects that we are aware of in Santa Venetia. Now is the time to get involved, before the projects are built, not after. If you have an interest in the outcome of any of these building projects, and you should, please contact the SVNA Land Use Committee and/or the appropriate parties. North San Rafael” projects – Visit http://tinyurl.com/ln8rvfn and to re-view open projects in North San Rafael (or other areas). You can subscribe to this page and get updates whenever there is a new project in our area (or in all of Marin!)Buck’s Landing / Launching – The property was purchased by Gallinas Landing LLC last year. The County is interested in the property for the purposes of public use and open space and is in negotiations with the rel-evant parties to explore options towards these goals. >>> County Contact: Supervisor Damon Connolly, [email protected]. Gallinas Creek Dredging – CSA #6 con-tinues to plan for a geomorphic dredge of lower Gallinas Creek in 2018 or 2019 to provide conveyance for boating and other recreational purposes. For an update, see the Dec. 2016 staff report: http://tinyurl.com/zt63tld. >>> SVNA Contact: Ellen Stein, sfskyway@hotmail. com. County Contact: Jon Liang, 415-473-6215, [email protected] Watershed Program – They have released the draft Gallinas Watershed Program Final Report and would like your comments, the com-ment period closes January 31. This report includes watershed descriptions as well as summaries of each of the products developed by the Program. Direct link to the Final Report: http://tinyurl.com/htuw8dm and Appendi-ces are in the Gallinas Watershed library: http://tinyurl.com/heauvwh. Also, to see a plethora of information – including agendas, minutes, and their newsletter archives – visit: http://tinyurl.com/p4zsetg. >>> SVNA Contact: Russ Greenfield, [email protected]. County Contact: Laurie L. Williams, Senior Planner/Watershed GIS, [email protected] Cannabis Dispensaries – After much discussion and many meetings, the BOS adopted an ordinance regulating Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in unincorporated Marin. There will be two dispensaries along the 101 Corridor, possibly one in Santa Venetia. Three Public Meetings have been scheduled – the Public Meeting for Northern Marin Applica-tions (including SV and Novato sites) will be held 2/16/17 at 6pm. For more information, click here: www.marincounty.org/main/medicalcannabis. >>> County Contact: Supervisor Damon Connolly, [email protected]’s/MacPhail’s School Site – The McPhail Working Group remains dedicated to keeping this site and field as a neighborhood park and re-source, as well as protecting the seasonal wetlands. If you are interested in being involved, apprised, and/or updated as to the status of this property, contact [email protected] to be added to our email distribution list. >>> SVNA Contact: Linda Levey, [email protected]. SRCS Contact: Christina Perrino Zecchini, [email protected], 415-492-3576.North San Pedro Road Parking and Garbage – Parking, garbage, and water overflow on NSPR, before and after La Brea, has gotten out-of-hand! If this bothers you as much as us, let us know. We are working with the County and other parties to establish a no parking zone and clean up that area to get our “country road” back again. If you are interested in participat-ing, let us know and attend the 1/31/17 meeting! >>> Contact: [email protected] Valley Site – The owners of the Oxford Valley Parcel, Jim and Jill Higgins, completed fire safety brush clearance and, alerted to illegal dump-ing of trash in the stream, they were able to clean it up before it rained. They plan on submitting plans to the county for a single family home some time next year. Jim has provided the following contact information for those interested in his future plans for the valley: oxfordvalleyfarm@gmail.

com or 415-949-8005. As well, you can view their previously prepared concept here: http://tinyurl.com/hqop9yd. >>> SVNA Contact: Mark Wallace, [email protected] in Santa Venetia – We are working with the County to implement new rules on parking in Santa Venetia – banning oversized, commercial trucks from parking on the streets of our residential neigh-borhood and changing the 72-hour rule so that cars must be moved a certain distance after

being tagged. If you are interested in participating, let us know/attend the 1/31/17 meeting! >>> Contact: [email protected] Gallinas Road, 35 – The applicant submitted a Design Review ap-plication, which has been approved, to demolish an existing single-family residence and accessory structure, and construct a new single-family residence and detached garage on the property. For more information: http://tinyurl.com/jhvhhnf >> County Contact: Jocelyn Drake, Project Planner, [email protected], 415-473-6245.Santa Venetia Community Plan – This long-overdue document will estab-lish what we value about our neighborhood and provide direction on what we want to preserve or improve, and what we would like to change. These guidelines will be invaluable when future issues arise affecting traffic, de-velopment, transportation, flooding, and more. Our Plan was approved by the Planning Commission and is expected to go before the BOS early this year. The revised draft plan is available for public review online: www.marincounty.org/santavenetia. >>> SVNA Contact: Bonnie Monte, [email protected]. County Contact: Christine Gimmler, [email protected] Oaks Development Project – An application has been submitted to subdivide and develop on a vacant lot on Sunny Oaks Drive (approxi-mate number 71). If you are interested in being included in SVNA updates on this project, please let us know. Click here for more information and to sign up for updates on this project from the County: http://tinyurl.com/z89lgmp >>> SVNA Contact: Mark Wallace, [email protected]. County Contact: Project Planner Tammy Taylor, 415-473-7873, [email protected], 22 – Ongoing application to “raise the roof”. Current status of the application shows as incomplete. For more information and to follow this project, click here: http://tinyurl.com/hjg27o6We’re out of room this issue but if you are interested in the following Land Use issues, please consult our previous and future newsletters or contact our SVNA Land Use Committee with questions:Hacienda Way, 800 – Look for new 2nd story to be added to the property.Marin Osher JCC – No new news…McInnis Marsh Restoration Project – No new news. More information can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/o4n7wcj and here: http://tinyurl.com/jpyqgvd. >>> County Contact: James Raives, Senior Open Space Planner, [email protected] San Pedro Road, 294/296 – No new news…Parking in Santa Venetia – See County code 15.36.030 and 15.36.040San Rafael Airport Soccer Complex/Recreational Facility – No new news - let your neighbors know if you see any activity on the site. For more information: http://tinyurl.com/jgx7doc.Sidewalks – Responsibility and liability information can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/8se52.SMART – Updates and information can be found here: www.cityofsanra-fael.org/stationareaplans or www.sonomamarintrain.org/construction-updates.Traffic in Santa Venetia >>> SVNA Contact: Gary Robards, [email protected] Valley – SRCS Visioning – Visit www.srcs.org for more informa-tion. >>> SVNA Contact: Gina Hagen, [email protected]. SRCS Contact: Christina Perrino Zecchini, [email protected], 415-492-3576.S V N A C O M M U N I C ATO R J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 01 7 5

Land Use Update 2016Be Proactive, Not Reative

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• $10 OFF All Hair Colors(Ask for Diana)

We Need You!Rebuilding Together: Neighbors band together to help a neighbor fix up their home. We have the contacts and the manpower to get this done, just need that special person to tell everyone else what to do.Bella Santa Venetia Committee: Looking for an organizer who is in-terested in landscaping, signage, gar-bage clean-up, and more – all those things that make our Santa Venetia a more beautiful place to live.SV Neighborhood Watch Commit-tee: We’ve already put together a binder, window decals, and phone tree forms, plus a list of all the people that have joined the Neighborhood Watch group. Maybe you can help people organize their blocks, encour-age each block to create a phone tree,

and/or help host block parties.If you have the organizational skills and interest to head up any of the projects or committees listed above, please…. Let us know!

Stop by the Osher Marin JCC Cafe for:

Peet’s Coffee | Mighty Leaf Tea

Smoothies | Three Twins Ice Cream

Sandwiches, Salads & Soups

Pastries & Snacks

MARINJCC.ORG/CAFE 200 N. SAN PEDRO RD. SAN RAFAEL

Bring this ad in for:

Expires: 3.31.17 - one per family

a FREE 12 oz Peet’s Coffee

(415) 479-1070405 N. San Pedro Road

San Rafael

— in Santa Venetia — One Mile East of County Civic Center

[email protected]

S-S Dinner 4-9pm

Tu-F Lunch 11:30am-2pm Dinner 5-9pm

Closed Monday

GROUP PARENT-INFANT CLASSES Thoughtfully discover and support your child becoming all he came here to be.

Jennifer Curtis, CD (DONA), CIIMRIE Practicum Student

Class Schedules & Locations: www.facebook.com/heartfulbirth

“Free to Be...”A place and time for infants

and their parents

415-233-0671 jennifercurtis@

heartfulbirth.com


V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E : t h e s v n a . o r g



Flood Control Zone 7 (Zone 7) is a special district that was established in 1962 to construct and maintain the critical infrastruc-ture, including levees, pump stations and storm drains, that reduces flooding and flood-related property damage to Santa Venetia.

Levees protect the community from high bay and creek levels. Storm-water pump stations throughout the community pump rainwater over the levees and into Gallinas Creek. And, three large drains intercept water from neighboring hillside development, ushering it under the community and directly to the creek. Local flood facilities require annual maintenance and periodic upgrades to remain effective and to protect residents’ property from flooding.

Every year, Zone 7 works to:

• Maintain 17 pumps at 5 permanent and 3 portable pump stations• Maintain pump station motors and generators• Maintain timber floodwalls on 1.6 miles of levee• Inspect and treat levees for rodent infestations and other levee stability issues• Prune/remove vegetation and remove trash from Castro, Mabry, and Estancia ditches to improve conveyance during storms• Inspect and maintain bypass pipes

A 5-member Advisory Board, appointed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, reviews all flood control projects and the proposed annual zone budget. The next scheduled Advisory Board meeting is February 15, 2017.

Since its inception, Zone 7 has relied on locally generated, locally con-trolled sources of funding. The Zone nets about $400K annually from regular ad valorem property taxes and ERAF (Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund) mitigation contributions. For 21 of the past 34 years, the Zone has also collected parcel taxes approved by voters.

The last voter-approved measure ended in 2007 and reserves are now critically low. The Zone 7 Advisory Board is considering whether to place a revenue measure in front of voters in FALL 2017 to raise ad-ditional funds to ensure the Zone can continue maintain and improve its stormwater pumps and levees.

To learn more about Zone 7, please visit the Zone 7 webpage.

http://www.marinwatersheds.org/zone-7.html

For more information and/or to be notified of of Zone 7 Advisory Board meetings, contact: Engineer Jon Liang, 415-473-6215, [email protected]

Protecting Against Floods and High Tides Left: Flooding in Santa Venetia in 1983

Below: Map of Flood Control Zone 7and its

facilities

Above: Timber floodwalls on 1.6 miles of levee

Below: Zone 7 Voter-Approved Special Tax Amounts

Pump station outfalls (in dry times)

One-On-One Help & TrainingDigital Photography - Phones - Tablets - PC & Mac

Housecalls

Scott McDanielTechnology Concierge

[email protected]

Techno MavenSwing By After the Show!

• Delicious Food & Great Prices • Family Style Dining• Thin Crust Pizza • Extensive Italian Menu

• Happy Hour 4:30-6:30pm Complimentary Appetizers• Dinner Sun-Thurs 4:30-10:30pm, Fri & Sat 4:30-11pm

• Plenty of Free Parking• Complete Dinners Ready to Take Out

• Have Your Next Party Here • Catering AvailableAcross from the Civic Center next to A & W

200 Merrydale Road • San Rafael • 415-472-7100www.GasparesPizza.com

Swing By After the Show!• Delicious Food & Great Prices • Family Style Dining

• Thin Crust Pizza • Extensive Italian Menu• Happy Hour 4:30-6:30pm Complimentary Appetizers• Dinner Sun-Thurs 4:30-10:30pm, Fri & Sat 4:30-11pm

• Plenty of Free Parking• Complete Dinners Ready to Take Out

• Have Your Next Party Here • Catering AvailableAcross from the Civic Center next to A & W

200 Merrydale Road • San Rafael • 415-472-7100www.GasparesPizza.com

VISIT

OUR

WEBSITE:

thesvna.

org

The Marin County Sheriff’s Department Emergency number from landline or cell ...............................................911Safety Related, non-emergency (24-hour Communications) ...................................................415-479-2311City of San RafaelEmergency .......................................................................................................911Emergency from a Cell Phone ............................................ 415-453-1515Non-Emergency Fire Dept. ...................................................415-485-3300Non-Emergency Police Dept. ...............................................415-485-3000San Rafael Emergency/Disaster Info Hotline .................. 415-485-5070Flood Control/Clogged DrainsWorking Hours .........................................................................415-473-6528After 5pm/Weekends.............................................................. 415-473-7513To report Water Waste to MMWD .....................................415-945-1520Website for water waste info and to report water waste: http://marinwater.org/171/Water-Waste-PreventionCommunity Development Agency/PlanningFront Information Counter ...................................................415-473-6269If you see dumping (get license #) .....................................415-479-2311To request dumped stuff pick-up .......................................415-473-7388PG&E Underground Alert ......................................................800-227-2600PG&E Electrical Outage .........................................................800-743-5002Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Sewer Overflows (24 hours) .........................................................415-472-1734Bus Stop Trash Can ...................http://marintransit.org/contact.html ....................................... or email: [email protected] 415-226-0855To Report Graffiti, do so with location & description 415-479-2311 How to Report an Issue in our Parks and/or Open SpaceEmergency number from landline or cell ...............................................911Safety Related, non-emergency (24-hour Communications) ........................................................415-479-2311Routine for Parks ....................................................... 415-446-4419 Routine for Open Space ............................................ 415-473-2816

Community Compass

Diagnosis, service and repair on most makes and models. Specializing in VW and Audi.

(415) 785-82931345 E. Francisco Blvd, Ste. B, San Rafael, CA 94901

www.marshallmotorworks.com

Father and Son Keeping You on the Road!Father and Son Keeping You on the Road!


• Linda Levey, Joyce Clements, Karen Thompson, Gina Hagen, Nanni WurlComing this spring – a new tennis/pickleball court for Pueblo Park, new plantings, and a family picnic area! Game demonstrations will be part of the community celebration in May. Stay tuned! (Made possible by the work of your neighbors (and SVNA members) on our CSA #18 Parks and Open Space Advisory Board – Funding from CSA #18 along with Measure A matching funds.)What Is Pickleball? The newly upgraded tennis and pickleball court coming to Pueblo Park in Santa Venetia will be the FIRST public pickle-ball court in Marin County. Pickleball — what a strange sounding game! Here’s a little about it: Pickleball is a paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, it is played, singles or doubles, with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. The sport is becoming wildly popular and will undoubtedly be even an Olympic sport. Want to see a sample game? Watch a mixed double (a man and a woman on each team) champion-ship played: http://tinyurl.com/j46lrqg. Also, brought to you by Measure A funding, new signage for our parks. For a preview of the signs and discussion of all these projects and more, join us at our next Advisory Board Meeting February 15 at 5:30pm at the Civic Center, Room 260.

Second Saturday Medians• Nanni WurlNo median work in November, December or January due to a rain out, which we needed. (We even planned a back-up day.) Carolyn and I did some planting on a Sunday in November and I was impressed with how kind most of the drivers were, since my speed is minimal.The Median Crew would like to express their condolences to our co-vol-unteer and my long-time friend Carolyn Byrne who lost her sister before Christmas. And finally, for all of you who are reading this, thank you for your ongoing and generous donations to our cause. If there is any chance you also have some time, our Median Crew can use some help! Even an hour, once a month, would help us. It’s a new year so perhaps this could be one of your resolutions?

CSA #18 – Parks Advisory Board

n Editor's Note: Because this is a shortened newsletter, we had to leave out many of the articles that have become the staples of our award-winning newsletter. Please see the archives on our website (www.thesvna.org/newsletter) , and future articles, for issues and information for our neighborhood including Social Activities, DART/CERT, the Civic Center Library, Santa Venetia Neighbors Help-ing Neighbors (SVNHN), Marin County Cultural Services, Marin Osher JCC, Gallinas Watershed Council (GWC), Notable Neighbors, and more.

From the SVNAIt is with heavy heart that we report the loss of two of our neighbors.

Caryl Sircus was a kind and generous soul with the gift of always giving to others. She touched the lives of so many people and her spirit will be with them always. Her online obituary is http://tinyurl.com/zcnyzb4. The world lost a bright light when Sevin Philips passed away January 7th. Known for his warm smile and zest for life, he was a

loving husband and father. To know him was to love him. He will be missed! Our deepest sympathies go out to their families.

[email protected] • www.thesvna.org

Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 4047, San Rafael, CA 94913-4047

Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association January/February 2017

See Something...Say Something 415-479-2311

Compiled by Linda LeveyFrom Linda LeveySVNA Holiday Dinner (see above): In what has become an annual event, the SVNA Board dined at our local restaurant, Gaspare’s this year, with our Supervisor Damon Connolly, Aide Susannah Clark, and various fam-ily members. Good company, good food, good night. Mary’s Futons Comedy: If you’ve never been, it’s great fun laughing while lounging on futons. The next show, featuring Irene Tu and Jennie McNulty, is scheduled for Saturday January 28, 2017. Tickets are on sale now. For more information: http://tinyurl.com/grxugfj.Christina Toms at China Camp: See video taken of King Tides at China Camp State Park by Chistina Toms, http://tinyurl.com/hbinjhd.Curbside Donations: With respect to items left at or near the curb without a FREE sign attached. Please do not take for granted that it is yours for the taking. Personally I tried donating an electric rotisserie/oven, easily worth $50, to Disabled American Veterans. We called for a pick up, specifically for said item. We used a red opaque DAV supplied bag, the recipient was extremely obvious. The bag was placed four feet onto my property. Needless to say I was very upset when the DAV driver needed to knock, looking for the rotisserie. First let me say I’m not accus-ing anyone in our neighborhood, but whomever it was needed to feel the bag to know what it was. As far as I am concerned, the rotisserie was stolen and probably re-sold. If said culprit was decent enough to ask for it, I would have considered it. From Max EspaillatCERT Training Program: Is there any way to post something in our next newsletter that informs our community of a great program called, CERT? It’s vital training for emergency/natural disaster situations. Did you know that there are only 23 (maximum) firefighters assigned to save 65,000 San Rafael residents? If an earthquake or flood hits, we’d lose so many lives due to a lack of emergency care. As a community, we’d fare better if we had some people with training to help while we wait the days or even weeks for the Fire Dept/Paramedics to help us. Thank you!Editor’s Note: We do have an SV DART/CERT Group. See www.readymarin.org for more information.From Sue Ann AndersonNext Garage Sale: Our group, Santa Venetia Neighbors Helping Neigh-bors, will have our next fundraising Yard Sale in the Spring! Please watch for our signs and postings then. We hope you will shop with us and help us give back all we raise to the needs in our community, Santa Venetia!!!

Good Food—Good NeighborsDon’t forget, Gaspare’s Pizze-ria is the place to go for a won-derful meal AND to benefit the SVNA. So, the next time you are too tired to cook, need a special night out, are ready to celebrate, and/or have a yen for some delicious Italian food or pizza: order in or order out at Gaspare’s. And remember – mention the “SVNA” and they’ll donate 15% of your meal ticket to our neighborhood. A big THANK YOU to Danny, Gaspare, and Robin!

Dr. Nicole Yezman, N.D., MAcNaturopathic Doctor in Santa Venetia

Specializing in chronic health issues

415-747-7061frontdesk@Clinic of Natural Health.com

www.Clinic of Natural Health.com

Find your path to wellness today!

Local Santa Venetia Office - Taking New Patients1125 Adrian Way, San Rafael, CA 94903

Neighborly Notes

(Usual donation $15/$25 but any amount will help!)

Name _____________________________

Address ___________________________

___________________________________

Phone _____________________________

Email ______________________________

Check enclosed for $________________

The Friends of the Civic Center Library is a chapter of the Friends of the Marin County Free Library. Contributions are tax deductible under IRS 501(c)(3)

The Friends of the Civic Center Library

3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 427 San Rafael, CA 94903

Join/Renew Membership to Friends of Civic Center Library. Critical funding needed!

Make checks payable to and mail to:

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