May 2023 Homestead Headlines

Volume 67, Issue 5 May, 2023

Download the Headlines here

May 2023 Community Center Calendar

05 | Community Conversations with Dennis Rodoni |

07 | Local Artist Series - Artist Reception: Sandy Slichter |

09 | HVLT Board Mtg |

14 | Community Wetsuit Swap |

16 | HVCA Board Mtg |

18 | Mill Valley Philharmonic Concert |

23 | Sanitary District Board Mtg |

1st/3rd Weds. | Tam Design Review Board Mtg |

Saturdays | A.A. Mtg | 10:00 AM

Joint Marin Horizon School/HV Committee Meeting

Wednesday, May 3, 4:00 pm

Marin Horizon Library

Homestead Valley News

Hello Homestead Community!

Have you been by the Center lately? The flowers in the native garden are blooming, the wisteria is covering the entrance and the meadow has had five new trees planted just in time to celebrate Earth Day. The patio has been power washed and the pool deck is spotless, ready to welcome our Homestead swimmers. Everything looks amazing.

Stay tuned for some exciting updates to the website as well as news about the annual Homestead Valley Music Festival on August 26th (save the date!). Plans are also in the works for a grand 50th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the HV Land Trust. Please reach out if you would like to join us in planning this event for the Fall.

Community Conversation with Supervisor Rodoni

Please join Supervisor Dennis Rodoni on Friday, May 5 at 3pm at the HVCC for a Community Conversation/Office Hours. Dennis will provide general county updates and an opportunity for you to discuss these and other issues that are important to you.

To find out about other Community Conversations and for updated information please visit our Community Conversations/Office Hours webpage or visit our Facebook page, and make sure you are signed up for our D4 Updates and Newsletters.

For more information or to schedule a personal appointment with the Supervisor, please contact Rhonda Kutter at RKutter@marincounty.org or (415) 473-3246.

Pool Season is On!

The Homestead Pool opened for the 2023 season on Saturday, April 29th. We are so excited to be open for our first full season since the renovation! We have a great crew of lifeguards and gatekeepers to keep everything running safely and smoothly.

Please visit our website for more details on daily and seasonal rates as well as Spring and Summer hours.

Local Artist Series Continues

Please join us for an opening reception featuring

Homestead Valley artist Sandy Slichter

Sunday, May 7th

2:00-5:00 pm

Sandy Slichter is a long time Homestead Valley resident. She was born in New England, and began her art as a hobby drawing pen and inks and painting for friends and family. Art became a natural expression of her love for the outdoors, and wildlife in particular. International history trips to various destinations, including Central America and Africa, are inspirations for her art. Sandy has attended art classes at College of Marin, Point Reyes Field Seminars, and sessions with individual instructors.

In Mill Valley, Sandy has banded hawks with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory and in turn has painted many of her favorites. She also worked as a volunteer caregiver at the Marine Mammal Center, and has contributed to many wildlife and conservation organizations.

Please join us for a reception to view and welcome Sandy's art to the Homestead Valley Community Center on May 7th.

Mill Valley Philharmonic Concert

Mill Valley Philharmonic

Chamber Music Concert

Thursday, May 18, 7:00 pm.

Homestead Valley Community Center

Mill Valley Philharmonic is our town's very own community orchestra, performing live symphonic music in local Marin venues for over 20 years. On May 18, you'll have an opportunity to hear a few of their musicians perform a variety of chamber music.

Two groups will perform: The "Forget Me Knots" a violin and cello duo, including the concertmistress of the orchestra, performing classical selections as well as fiddle tunes; and the "Presidio Quintet" a woodwind quintet including several members of the Mill Valley Philharmonic wind section. This will be a special musical treat you won’t want to miss!

HV Safety/Firewise Committee Update

Time Change Weekend Drill – a Great Success!

On Sunday of the Daylight Savings time-change, Homestead residents had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities designed to help us be better prepared for an emergency – individually and collectively as a community.

Communications Hub: The HV Community Center was set up as a communications hub to facilitate various activities:
Walkie-Talkie Radios: Conducted a successful test of our walkie-talkie radio network with a pilot group of our Block Contacts. We were able to clearly communicate with block throughout Homestead Valley.
Radio Check with Net Command: Using VHF radios, we were able to established communication between Homestead Valley and the regional command center at the Public Safety Building at 1 Hamilton Drive (Hauke Park) in Mill Valley.
C.E.R.T.: Set up an information and recruitment table for CERT volunteers
Group Text: Initiated a test of a group text messaging system to reach out to Block Contacts throughout Homestead Valley
COVID-19 Test Kits: Distributed free COVID-19 test kits to residents.
Be Prepared: Residents were encouraged to choose from a menu of activities that would help them to become better prepared to respond in an emergency:
Sign up for Alert Notifications: AlertMarin.com
Make a Plan: a household/family emergency plan LINK to PDF
Go Bag: Make one or re-check the contents of an existing Go Bag.
Emergency To-Do List: Make a list of what you will need to do in the event of an emergency: Shelter-in-Place and/or Evacuation
Designate Out-of-Area contacts & share with your household
Block Contact: Do you know who your Block Contact is? If not, find out!
OK/HELP Sign: Make or print an OK/HELP sign and practice placing it in a visible location from the street, so help goes where it is needed during an emergency .
C.E.R.T.: Sign up to become a trained CERT volunteer.

If you were not able to participate in March, there will be another opportunity on November 5^th(the next time-change weekend), when we set our clocks back to Pacific Standard Time.

What you do today will define your tomorrow.

Protect Yourself, Your Home, Your Neighbors, Your Community.

Community Wetsuit Swap

Spring has sprung and the waves are calling!

Have you or your kids outgrown your wetsuit? Rather than buy a new one, come swap with a neighbor. Together with Ladies Shred, the HVCA is hosting a community wetsuit swap on Sunday, May 14th, 9AM -12PM. Ladies Shred has been empowering girls in Marin through surfing, skating and creativity for 10 years.

You can find out more about Ladies Shred and it’s founder, Lil, at ladiesshred.com. See flyer for details.

Homestead Valley Sanitary District

Homestead Valley Sanitary District Background and Update

The Homestead Valley Sanitary District (HVSD) was formed in 1931 under the Sanitary District Act of 1923 to provide sewer service to HV. On October 4, 1947, Homestead Valley residents voted to approve an $85,000 bond issue to construct a sewer a collection system. Since that time, the District's sewer system has expanded to require almost 13 miles of public sewer mains. This is due to the growth of our population. The original sewer lines were constructed of short sections of vitrified clay pipe (VCP), which unfortunately proved susceptible to joint displacement and root intrusion. This condition results in blockages in the pipes and allows groundwater to intrude into the pipe during the rainy season -referred to as “inflow & infiltration” (I&I). During the rainy season this I&I contributes to overflows at the SASM treatment plant.

HVSD’s ongoing Capital Improvement Program is intended to upgrade the original clay sewer mains. The clay pipes are being replaced with state-of-the-art High Density Polyethylene Pipe which comes in much longer lengths and are fused (welded) at all joints.

This improvement in turn, minimizes I&I, root intrusion and hence helps both our District Treatment Plant and our environment.

Current Status /Upgrades

To date, HVSD has diligently maintained its collection system and replaced 80%+ of its clay sewer mains under its Capital Improvement Program. For current maps detailing the status of our Capital Improvement Upgrades please click on this HVSD web link.

http://homesteadvalleysd.org/capital-improvements.php

We appreciate the cooperation of all the Homestead Valley Sanitary District neighbors to facilitate the construction of the District’s Capital Improvement Projects.

Homestead Valley Vignettes by Chuck Oldenburg

Chuck Oldenburg, Homestead Valley's unofficial historian,

passed away March 29, 2023 at the age of 94.

The Headlines editors and his family selected the following history chronicle from his recent book, "Homestead Valley History Chronicles", to run this month because it tells the story of one of his favorite themes of Homestead Valley history, namely the repeated opposition by Homestead residents to annexation of Homestead to the City of Mill Valley.

Annexation to Mill Valley

Throughout its history, Homestead Valley has periodically rejected Mill Valley’s annexation proposals. The first such proposal occurred at a 1908 meeting of the Mill Valley Improvement Club – Homestead residents that were invited to the meeting rejected the idea. The following editorial in the January 17, 1920, issue of the Mill Valley Record tried 'sweet talk':

What is the matter with Homestead?

Nothing is the matter with Homestead. She’s all right. Homestead Valley is one of the most marvelously beautiful spots in all this world, as is said over and over again. Homestead also possesses some of the most worthy and delightful of people among its residents. This unorganized little hamlet is suffering for want of organization. It is normally a part of Mill Valley, and it were well for its interests to be identified with those of Mill Valley. In other words, a number of unpleasant problems would be disposed of if Homestead were to incorporate with Mill Valley. Just now this member of the community seems to be a bone of contention, but it would not be if it were to enter the door that is open to it. The school districts are already identical; why should not this territory be identical in all its interests with those of the Mill Valley incorporation? There is mail delivery twice a day waiting as an inducement, and other things besides, and also escape from a number of annoyances. We say to Homestead, “Try it.” You could not lose out.

Homestead rejected subsequent annexation proposals in 1925, 1946, 1950 and 1966. But in 1951, Mill Valley annexed Homestead’s commercial strip on Miller from Montford to Reed. The objective was sales tax revenue. The 23 commercial lots and three residential lots met all the requirements of the “Annexation of Uninhabited Territory Act of 1939.” Later, by a quirk of fate, Homestead annexed part of Mill Valley. In 1988, the Homestead Valley Land Trust acquired ownership of 50 streets and 30 lanes in Mill Valley.