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December 2014 Alamo MAC Seeks Input on New Park
Serving Alamo and Diablo
By Sharon Burke
The Alamo Municipal Advisory Council is seeking input from Alamo residents on all aspects of Alamo’s newest park, at the southwest corner of Hemme Avenue and Danville Boulevard. The .70 acre parcel was previously owned by the San Ramon Valley Fire Department, which declared the property surplus in March, whereupon the MAC unanimously voted to advise Contra Costa County to negotiate on the MAC’s behalf to purchase the lot. Negotiations were concluded with Alamo’s Park District, R-7A, paying $740,000 for the lot. This price is in line with average prices currently paid for vacant land in Alamo. “I’m very proud of the MAC's decision to purchase this property for a new park,” MAC Chair David Barclay said. “I think it is one of the major achievements of the MAC during its five year existence.” David advised that land buying opportunities in Alamo are limited, and the MAC had decided “this was an opportunity that we shouldn’t let get by us.” “A couple of years ago, the MAC looked at this property for an intensive use park, possibly with bocce ball courts, but the decision was that intensive use was inappropriate for this location. The plan now is for minimal activity at this park, with trailside amenities planned.” A six month outreach process is underway, and the first step is a survey of Alamo residents as to what they would like to see at the park, including suggestions on naming the park, design features, and amenities to be included. You can take the survey online at www.alamoparks.com. It’s very short, less than a minute to complete, and you can be a part of helping design our new park. Alamo’s Park District is funded by Alamo homeowners with a 2.2% allocation of the 1% property tax. These funds amount to approximately $900,000 annually and are used to support Alamo’s current five parks: Livorna Park, Andrew H. Young Park - the pocket park at the corner of Jackson Way and Danville Boulevard, Alamo’s share of Hap Magee Park - located on the Alamo-Danville border and jointly owned with the Town of Danville, and
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Two new Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) members have taken their seats and all eight Alamo MAC members are pictured at a recent MAC meeting. From left to right, bottom row: Michael McDonald, Jill Winspear, Ed Best, and Aron DeFerrari, alternate. Top row, Anne Struthers, Vice Chair, Steve Mick, Susan Rock, and David Barclay, Chair. The Alamo MAC meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the Alamo Women’s Club at 6pm. Alamo residents are encouraged to attend and be informed about Alamo issues and concerns.
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The Community Foundation of Alamo’s Tree Lighting committee along with various schools groups and local residents enjoyed the beginning of the holiday season with the lighting of the tree in Andrew H. Young Park on November 23rd.
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing: Giving Hope a Home By Jody Morgan
Having a home for the holidays is only a dream for many Contra Costa County residents. In 1991, the Homeless Task Force of Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church identified the escalating problem. Fifteen congregations responded immediately to their call for help, jointly founding Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing (CCITH). Recognizing that breaking the cycle of poverty, trauma and homelessness demands stability, the non-profit renamed Contra Volunteers serve dinner at monthly meetings where residents learn life skills Costa Interfaith and help shape programs to improve their lives. Photo courtesy of CCIH. Housing (CCIH) currently provides permanent residences for more than 330 formerly homeless families with support from 35 faith communities, generous sponsoring organizations and numerous individuals including 440 volunteers. Providing shelter is the first action item. Estimates suggest that on any given night, as many as 5,000 Contra Costa County residents are homeless. Accurate counts are difficult to obtain. “The reason I fight it [being labeled homeless] is not from pride, it’s from strategy. The moment someone labels you as homeless, they assume drugs, alcohol, or laziness. Volume XIV - Number 12 There’s not room [under this term] for 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, people who actually work,” explains one Alamo, CA 94507 client quoted in the Contra Costa County Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Homeless Continuum of Care’s Annual Fax (925) 406-0547 Report for Fiscal year 2013-2014. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher CCITH incorporated in 1997 as a Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com non-profit and partnered with Mercy Sharon Burke ~ Writer Housing to purchase Garden Park The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today Apartments (GPA) in 2000. Originally is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising
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