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August 2016 Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center: Where the Past Informs the Future By Jody Morgan
Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center (315 Cortsen Road, Pleasant Hill) is tucked into a residential neighborhood developed on land once farmed by the Rodgers family. The ranch house, Pleasant Hill’s oldest extant structure, is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The sloping ground surrounding the building is a vibrant urban farm where classes in the kind of sustainable practices pioneer families employed are taught from the perspective of what will best sustain future generations. Seasonal festivals bring crowds of all ages to savor the experience, while neighbors gather regularly to enjoy connecting. In 1987, 120 years after the structure was completed, the Pleasant Hill Historical Society succeeded in saving the ranch house from demolition by facilitating the transfer of ownership of the Rodgers’ home, original wheat barn, and 2+ acres
Serving Alamo and Diablo New Alamo Fire Station Right on Schedule By Sharon Burke
Construction progress is apparent on a daily basis at the new Alamo fire station located at 2100 Stone Valley Road, at the corner of Miranda Avenue. As of July 23, windows had been installed, roof sheathing and gutters completed, and plumbing and electrical rough-in underway. During August, plumbing and electrical work will continue, and HVAC rough-in will commence. Roofing, plaster, and stone veneer will begin to be added, along with site rough grading for site improvements. A planned bridge to cross the creek at the northwest corner of the property is awaiting approvals from the county, and the hope is that it will be completed before the start of school to maximize pedestrian safety for schoolchildren.
San Ramon Valley Fire Chief Paige Meyer said he is pleased that the station is on schedule and under budget. “We’re excited about the progress of the station,” he said. He credits the elected SRV Fire Board for its support and close scrutiny of the project, along with the contractor, Pacific Mountain Contractors of California, based in Concord.
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to the Pleasant Hill Park and Recreation District. Loved by many families over the years, the house was in a sorry state of disrepair and the barn was beyond redemption. A non-profit formed as the Friends of Rodgers Ranch in 1991 and renamed the Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center (RRHC) in 2014 took on the task of restoration. When fundraising permits, salvaged portions of the dismantled barn, supplemented by 19th century wood from an Alhambra Valley barn of similar vintage, will be incorporated in a structure visually identical from the exterior. Modern interior space will include room for workshops.
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Volunteer Extraordinaire – Chuck Schneck By Fran Miller
Chuck Schneck at the ball field.
Local Postal Customer
It is the rare individual that can claim nearly four decades of volunteerism with a single organization. For 37 years, Chuck Schneck has served San Ramon Valley Little League in
See Chuck continued on page 21 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
The Urban Farmers By Fran Miller
If your fruit trees are overflowing and your neighbors greet your offer of yet another bag of lemons with a yawn, it might be time to call The Urban Farmers. No one enjoys seeing their ripened fruit go to waste, but most people don’t know what to do about it. The Urban Farmers can help. The volunteers from this non-profit organization harvest excess backyard fruit and donate it to the needy. It’s a classic winwin. The organization’s goal is to build a community-based, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable model of hunger relief. More than 800 local homeowners have used Urban Farmers to harvest 147,000 pounds of fruit. Most tree fruit Volume XVI - Number 8 ripens in a very short period of time. If 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, the mature crop is not harvested, it puts Alamo, CA 94507 pressure on the tree and attracts bugs, Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 disease, and pests. Many fruit tree owners do not have the time or the ability Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com to harvest their fruit, or the means to Sharon Burke ~ Writer distribute their crops to those in need. The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do This is where Urban Farmers can help. not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today
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