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March 2016 The Remarkable Markham: Contra Costa’s Only Arboretum By Jody Morgan
Visitors to the remarkable Markham rarely fail to return repeatedly, whether they initially arrive to stroll the trail, attend workshops, admire the gardens, or purchase plants. Celebrating its 35th year of partnership with the City of Concord as steward of the Markham Nature Park and Arboretum, Markham Regional Arboretum Society (MRAS) continually presents timely programs, installs purposeful plantings, and propagates for sale unusual plants appropriate to the local climate. Winner of Sustainable Contra Costa’s 2015 Award for Sustainable Resource Management, MRAS preserves the natural environment of Galindo Creek and the 17 acres comprising the park.
Patrice Hanlon, pictured with her RES SUCCESS crew, finds visitors of all ages and abilities delight in stopping to observe details of the diverse life forms found at Markham
Recognizing the educational potential of their property, Ira and Bee Markham sold 12 acres including their house to the City of Concord in 1966 with the stipulation that they retain the right to remain in residence as long as they wished. They continued to plant trees supporting their vision for the nature preserve, but after Bee’s death in 1979, Ira worried about future maintenance of their legacy. Karen Mahshi, Founding Member and Past President of MRAS, met Ira Markham while serving on the City of Concord Street Tree Committee. The Markham Arboretum Society (“Regional” was added subsequently) gained non-profit status in 1981, as Karen and like-minded individuals joined forces to ensure ongoing upkeep and continued enhancement of the Markham land. “When MRAS was founded,” she explains, “we were very involved with trees. The space was simply called ‘the Nature Park.’ We insisted that ‘arboretum’ should be included in the title to emphasize the unique resources of the property.” Mahshi, a landscape architect, drew plans for the International Garden in 1989. Following city approval, planting began in 1996. Today the site showcases plants from seven global areas with indigenous species adapted to East
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Serving Alamo and Diablo Bocce Ball at Livorna Park By Alamo MAC Chair Anne Struthers
Park-goers of all ages enjoy a game of Bocce Ball. For Alamo residents, bocce courts are coming to Livorna Park! Questions have recently arisen about how the decision was made to bring the courts to our community. Alamo Parks and Recreation is just one of the many services the County provides to Alamo residents. County Supervisor Candace Andersen relies on the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), made up of a diverse cross-section of Alamo residents, to advise her and the County on many issues, including what we want in our Alamo parks. Back in February 2011 the Alamo MAC sent a survey out to nearly 5,000 Alamo households and businesses to find out what they wanted in our local parks. With over 500 responses, the number one suggestion for Livorna Park was the addition of Bocce Ball courts. The development of the bocce courts was discussed at many of the monthly Alamo MAC meetings from 2011 to 2013, with the Alamo MAC Park Recreation Working Group making field visits to identify the best possible court location. Ultimately, it was decided to put the two courts at the sand volleyball site so that the large grassy area of Livorna Park would remain intact for family and community use.
Grateful Gatherings
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Grateful Gatherings (grateful-gatherings.org) is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to provide furniture and household items to those transitioning out of homelessness or poverty. They also help struggling schools with items they may need for education or even assist a family who may be in need from that school community. On March 5th, local resident Jacque Preble is collecting books for Grateful Gatherings to assist their efforts to help Allendale Elementary School in Oakland. Allendale is opening their library doors for the very first time and are in great need of early readers, Accelerated Reading books, and reading/picture books for the learning-to-read grades. A volunteer at the school said, “This will be the first year the library won’t be used as a storage area! It’s wonderful to see all of these K-5 kids sit and listen to stories with 100% attention!” Volume XVI - Number 3 Grateful Gatherings is a 501 (c) 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 See MRAS continued on page 18 (3) nonprofit organization serving Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Fax (925) 406-0547 Driven by volunteers and donations PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher of furniture and household goods they PAID Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com have furnished, delivered, and set up Permit 263 Sharon Burke ~ Writer over 60 homes and served over 400 The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today individuals since 2013, and last year not is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS
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