Jan/Feb 2005 GCCA Newsletter GLEN COVE WATERFRONT PARK…An Unpolished Gem By Janet Laine, Harbor Homes Representative One of the most beautiful park sites in Vallejo is located right here in Glen Cove! Glen Cove Waterfront Park offers spectacular views of the Carquinez Strait waterway and is truly a gem for Vallejo, a City lacking sufficient park lands for its populace. The Bay Area Ridge Trail, a path linking the most scenic areas of the San Francisco Bay regions, will connect through Glen Cove Waterfront Park offering hiking and biking activities to Vallejoans and other outdoor enthusiasts. This 15-acre parcel of land, located off South Regatta at the end of Whitesides Drive, was dedicated to the City of Vallejo in 1983 as a public park within the residential development of Glen Cove. All Vallejo parks, including Glen Cove Waterfront Park, are managed by the Greater Vallejo Recreation District (G.V.R.D.) – a staffed organization governed by five board members tasked with providing recreational programs, open spaces, parks and facilities to the citizens of Vallejo. G.V.R.D. has contracted with the Benicia-based company, LandPeople, to create an updated master plan for this park, replacing the outdated and significantly overly-developed 1988 plan. On November 13, 2004, LandPeople hosted a meeting at the Glen Cove Waterfront Park site for all interested parties to discuss the development of a new master plan. A large crowd gathered, and individual shared opinions regarding improvements that should be made at the park site. The crowd overwhelmingly indicated that the Stremmel building should be removed. Proponents of the Vallejo Inter-Tribal Council restated their desire to end all public access to the land. Several Glen Cove residents suggested that the new master plan include very little development and supported the continuation of the Bay Area Ridge Trail linking Benicia State Park to the Carquinez Bridge. Many citizens who have experienced the beauty of this site agree that the land should remain largely undeveloped and as natural as possible. In fact, some individuals have suggested that nothing be done to the site, including allowing the weeds to remain uncut. Noting a 2004 summertime fire at the park site, for safety reasons, this is not an option. Weed abatement is necessary to control fire hazards and to eliminate cover for nefarious activity. Most significantly, the abandoned, neglected Stremmel structure is a safety hazard that must be removed or restored; both options will require some disturbance to the land. Requests for proposals for any considered restoration and future use of the Stremmel building may be submitted to LandPeople for review within the next four months. The Glen Cove Waterfront Park is a natural treasure offering a peaceful, beautiful setting with spectacular pedestrian access to the water and to a 400-mile trail system. For twenty years the City of Vallejo and its residents have been awaiting the cleanup and official opening of the site. Join us in supporting citizen commitment to preserve this park site for all Vallejo residents and guests to use and enjoy. NOTE: A Glen Cove Waterfront Park Committee report will be presented at the February 17th 2005 G.C.C.A. General Meeting. CHAIR’S CHIT-CHAT By Ruth O. Fisher, G.C.C.A. Chair A tip o’ the hat to those of you who have removed your outdoor holiday lighting! This new year’s first G.C.C.A. General Meeting is set for February 17th at the Glen Cove Elementary School. In addition to a guest speaker lineup, the Glen Cove Community Association will be selling discounted tickets to the 2005 opening weekend at Six Flags Marine World. (Page ) Along with other non-profit organizations, G.C.C.A. was invited to participate in advance ticket sales for the 2005 Spring Spin--a March 12th and 13th event. This inaugural program in the Bay Area offers $19.99 advance tickets ($47.99 value) and returns $5 for each ticket sold to the participating organizations. Besides supporting the G.C.C.A., each ticket holder will further benefit at the Saturday/Sunday opening weekend by receiving a free admission ticket to Waterworld USA. An initial block of 50 tickets will be available at the Thursday night neighborhood meeting. Additional tickets purchased that evening will be distributed by mail. Cash and checks (ID required) will be accepted for payment--no credit cards will be processed. (Page ) As 2004 was waning and many neighbors were busily involved with holiday activities, a criminal element touched the Glen Cove area. Three separate auto vandalism incidents involving convertibles have been reported in recent weeks--the last occurred in the daytime. All of the rooftops had been slashed to allow entry into the vehicles. The best deterrent to any community crime is observant residents who will take immediate action to report inappropriate incidents to the Vallejo Police Department by using the 9-1-1 emergency system. Some of the enormous good that Glen Cove elicits will be evident at the February 17th G.C.C.A. General Meeting when a gift presentation is made to Principal Allison, thanks to the participants in last year’s G.C.C.A. silent auctions and to generous G.C.C.A. members who opted to donate $5 to the Glen Cove Elementary School. Plan to attend! Mark Your Calendars - - Spring Garage Sale - - May 14th, 2005 CLEAN STREETS vs. AUTO PARKING By Dennis Albright, Headlands Representative The City of Vallejo sweeps Glen Cove curb and gutter areas on all our public streets once a month, according to the schedule shown on its website. In order to access the schedule, log on to www.ci.vallejo.ca.us and then go to Departments, Public Works, Maintenance and Street Sweeping. There are three routes that cover the Glen Cove neighborhood. The boundaries shown are North, South, East, and West. Route 15 covers Magazine Street to Clearpointe Drive/Jordan Street and I-80 to Palou Street and is swept the third Friday of every month. Route 16 covers I-780 to Wellfleet Drive and Glen Cove Road to Seahorse Drive/Vallejo City Limits and is swept the fourth Monday of every month. Route 18 covers North Regatta Drive to City Limits and I-80 to City Limits and is swept the fourth Tuesday of every month. Whenever the scheduled sweeping day falls on a holiday, the City attempts to make up for that missed day within five working days. Unfortunately, because some automobiles are left parked on the street, many areas are repeatedly missed and debris continues to accumulate. As City of Vallejo residents, we are paying for this service and should make an effort to assure that we all receive it. Glen Cove residents are encouraged to mark calendars with their specific street sweeping days so they remember to park their vehicles in their driveways and/or garages on those days. If you notice that a neighbor normally parks a vehicle on the street, you might want to remind them of the sweeping schedule in order to have the roadway cleared for the monthly cleaning effort. Any questions on street sweeping can be directed to the City of Vallejo Street Supervisor at 648-4430.  The Glen Cove Community Association would like to express their appreciation to the following businesses for their year-long support of the 2004 GCCA Newsletters: All Creatures Benicia Plumbing, Inc. Dudikoff Insurance Agency Glen Cove Dental Glen Cove Realty Home Ranger Realty Lawrence Lockwood, Attorney Wah K. Mark, D.D.S. Eric Marshall, Realtor Tipp Realty at Glen Cove Touro University Medical Center The UPS Store at Glen Cove Unique Travel Agency THE G.C.C.A. 2005 ELECTION RESULTS By Ruth O. Fisher, G.C.C.A. Chair The annual Glen Cove Community Association’s election was held at the October 2lst General Meeting. Attending members re-elected Ruth O. Fisher as Chair, Brita von Rechendorff as Vice-Chair, and Stacey Kennington as Secretary for 2005. Charter Glen Cove resident, Barbara Hooker, had earlier announced her year-end resignation from the Treasurer’s post and the California Lighthouse Representative position. The G.C.C.A. Board has formally approved Shana Jones as the incoming Treasurer. The 2005 G.C.C.A. Board of Directors will also include the Development Representatives and Alternates listed below. THE CREST: Phillip Johnson, Rep., Pat Johnson, Alt. THE ESTATES: Zee Magee, Rep., Rosiana Tamsil, Alt. GLEN COVE HILLS: Bob Mintzer, Rep., representative needed! HARBOR HOMES: Janet Laine, Rep., Wendy Dugan, Alt. HEADLANDS: Dennis Albright, Rep., Mike Grivett, Alt. MARINA VISTA: Wendell Quigley, Rep. OLDE TOWNE I & II: Stacey Kennington, Rep., Kathryn Marocchio, Alt. GLEN COVE MARINA: LeAnn Langford, Rep. THE POINTE: Ward Stewart, Rep., Brita von Rechendorff, Alt. QUIET HARBOR: Barbara Erick, Rep., Alexander Lyman, Alt. THE RIDGE: Trish Blair, Rep., Linda Bowens, Alt. SEASCAPE: Victoria Gray, Rep., Justin Ackmann, Alt. SHIPWATCH: Marsha Duffy Roos, Rep., Cardenas Shakelford, Alt. THE SHORES: Bobbi Khan, Rep. SPYGLASS: Lonette Rincon, Rep., Lu Harrison, Alt. VISTA DEL MAR: Ruth O. Fisher, Rep., Barbara Sizelove, Alt. WATERVIEW: Russ Turnbull, Rep., Julie Parker, Alt. WESTPOINTE: Esam Amso, Rep., Gabrielle Woodhurst, Alt. These community-minded volunteers are to be commended for taking time from their personal and professional lives to participate in the enhancement of the Glen Cove neighborhood.