High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

Summer Is for Books

Just a year after welcoming Rodrigo Quintanilla, Manager of the Melrose Branch Library, we're saying goodbye as he transfers to the Eastmont Branch the last week in May. Rodrigo worked to expand outreach to the community in Spanish and English, and he attended the NCPC meetings regularly. As of mid-May, a replacement has not yet been named, but Children's Librarian Sharon Sensor will be filling in.

Starting June 18, youngsters can participate in the summer reading program and weekly special events. Eight hours of "Wolfin' Down Books" will earn children prizes. On Wednesday afternoons Melrose will host special events from a zoomobile, Harry Potter arts and crafts, special storytime, Prescott Clowns, a magic show, and African drumming. All of these programs are at 3:30 p.m., except for the clowns, which are at 2 p.m. Stop in at the library, 48th Ave. and Foothill, or give them a call, at 535-5623, for details.

A Wet Success on Earth Day

It rained all night and was still raining at 9 a.m. as I arrived at Courtland Creek for spring cleaning. But the clouds didn't dampen the community spirit. Discovery Center's Rich Bolecek had put a blue tarp over the pergola at the Brookdale entrance to Courtland Creek Park to shelter the table where 70 neighbors signed in to clean out the creek and the walks, to weed, and to plant.

Because there was little trash, the group concentrated on the hill near Brookdale. Some of the previous year's plantings stood proudly above the mass of horsetails. Others were revealed when the weeds and volunteer trees were cleared with the help of a pick ax brought by Al Scoggins of the High Street Neighborhood Alliance (HSNA). And there was room for the new blue-blossom Ceanothus and the flannel plants, appropriately named Fremontia.

The prize discovery in the creek was a living-room entertainment suite a sofa, chair, lamp, and a six-disk CD player. The volunteers enjoyed sweet strawberries (from Farmer Joe's), cookies (from the Food Mill), and pizza provided by Councilmember Jean Quan's office. HSNA's Natalya Nicoloff thanked the Discovery Center, the Fremont High Junior ROTC, and Melrose/High Hopes NCPC for this year's broad community support.

Melrose/High Hopes Goes Monthly

The Melrose/High Hopes NCPC is now meeting monthly to help the group make progress in addressing neighborhood concerns. Come to Horace Mann School, at Ygnacio and Congress, on the third Thursday of the month, at 7 p.m. The next two meetings are June 18 and July 21.

Camp Is Around the Corner

By the time school is out for the summer, Brookdale Recreation Center will be gearing up for Camp Shorty. Children from five to 12 years old can spend their weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., busy with crafts, sports, and local trips, for $50 a week. The program begins June 27 and runs through August 19. Older children can attend an auto-repair class, taught by new staff member Jose Ortiz. For more information, stop by, or call 535-5632.

As you pass the fence around the softball field on Brookdale and High, take a minute to admire the lush green vine and the fluted lavender flowers. I'm terrible at names of plants, but I'll include the name next column and credit the person who educates me.

Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.