April 2, 2007

NewsBriefs

Community outreach project promotes and supports home safety

RSVP – REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program, an annual cost-free, hands-on effort, is scheduled for the week of May 7 –12.

The project is organized by the members and affiliates of the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR), Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) and the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR), the local trade associations of the real estate industry on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, from South San Francisco to Gilroy.

During RSVP Week, teams of REALTOR® volunteers and affiliates (professionals who provide industry-related services) will visit senior citizens and perform various cleaning and maintenance tasks free of charge.

RSVP provides seniors with a visit and free assistance with household tasks during a designated week each year. For homeowners or renters who are advanced in years or disabled, tasks like replacing smoke detector batteries, flipping a mattress or washing the windows can pose a major challenge. Last year, 450 REALTORS® and professionals offering real estate related services provided free help around the house for 274 homeowners.

Those who need help can apply by calling Ellen Santomauro, education director at (408) 445-5087 or by visiting the Web site, www.sccaor.com and downloading the application on the front page of the site. The application deadline is April 6.

REALTORS®, affiliates and members of the community who want to help with simple, household tasks for the elderly and homebound can sign up or get more information about the program by visiting the SCCAOR Web site at www.sccaor.com or by contacting Ellen Santomauro at 408.445.5087 or ellen@sccaor.com.

State Parks Foundation to hold Earth Day Cleanup

The California State Parks Foundation celebrates the 10th anniversary of its annual Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup Program at state and community parks throughout California on Saturday, April 21. Volunteers of all ages are needed on Earth Day to help restore the beauty of California’s treasured state parks.

Community participation is critical this year as continued funding pressures and a backlog of more than $900 million in deferred maintenance projects threaten the vitality of parks and beaches across the state.

Statewide, thousands of volunteers each year plant native trees and community gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitats, install recycling bins, remove trash and debris from beaches and parklands and make overdue repairs to fences and boardwalks.

Since its inception in 1998, the California State Parks Foundation Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup Program has had tremendous impact: 54,500 participants have contributed more than 222,315 volunteer hours worth an estimated $5,042,126 in park maintenance and improvements. Including $90,000 in grants distributed this year, the Foundation has awarded more than $898,000 to state parks throughout California.

Local cleanups will be held at Henry W. Coe State Park in Santa Clara County and at Castle Rock State Park and Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz County.

MetroEd to hold garden workshop featuring summer vegetables

The Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) is offering a new free World Garden Workshop on Incorporating Summer Vegetables in the Landscaped Garden on April 21 at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose.

Master Gardener Sue Bell will speak to gardeners on incorporating summer vegetables into an urban garden during a free workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, in room 18, across from MetroEd’s World Garden.

Gardeners who don’t want to dedicate an entire plot to growing a vegetable garden should find this month’s workshop very helpful. Bell has more than 14 years experience in designing and building edible gardens and tends to more than 30 fruit trees and vegetable varieties within her own urban garden.

The World Garden is located on the southwestern edge of the Erikson Adult Center campus.  Look for the redwood trees and the greenhouse roof after entering the fenced parking lot on Minas Drive, off of Pearl Avenue.

To register for the free workshop, call (408) 723-6450 and ask to have your name added to the April World Garden Workshop list or e-mail ritab@metroed.net.