Volume 68, Issue 11 November, 2024 | |
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On-Going 2024 Community Center Calendar
Saturdays: AA Mtg 10:00 a.m.
1st/3rd Wednesday: Tam Design Review Board Mtg 7:00 p.m.
2nd Tuesday: Homestead Valley Land Trust Board Mtg 7:30 p.m.
3rd Tuesday: Homestead Valley Community Association Board Mtg 7:00 p.m.
4th Tuesday: Sanitary District Board Mtg 7:30 p.m.
****Save the Date***
MHS/HV Joint Committee Meeting
Monday, November 4th, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Marin Horizon School Library
Open to the public, everyone is encouraged to attend.
HVCA Community Holiday Celebration
Sunday, December 8th, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays with your neighbors. All are welcome to a community potluck holiday celebration. There will be food, music, fun, and Santa may make an appearance too!
HVCC
HVCA Annual Meeting
Saturday, January 25th, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
HVCC
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The Homestead Valley Community Association (HVCA) Board of Directors has two seats open starting in January 2025. We are looking for enthusiastic, mission oriented people to fill these seats. The HVCA Board is composed of 15 volunteer members from our community. Serving on the Board is a great way to get involved in your community and make sure we continue to provide programming and services that meet the needs of the neighborhood.
Board Members are asked to attend monthly meetings (3rd Tuesday night of the month @ 7PM) as often as practical, given this is a volunteer position. In addition to the monthly meeting, Board Members choose at least one committee to join. These committees provide direction for activities and services like our pool, rental of the Community Center and Meadow, special events like the 4th of July parade/picnic and the Music Festival, communication to the community (like this newsletter!), safety and other important functions related to the overall management of HVCA.
Do you have ideas on how to engage our community? Do you want to get to know your community better and have a role in shaping our future? Do you have expertise that you want to share (e.g. finance, marketing, fund raising, property maintenance)? If you are interested in joining the HVCA Board of Directors, please contact Ashley MacDonald.
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Pixie Trail Landslides: First Repair Completed
Curt Oldenburg, Mark Stahl, and Brian Spring
Everyone who travels along Pixie Trail between Janes Street and Cape Court has by now seen the completed repair work on the landslide that occurred in the winter of 2022. The repaired slide and the grading of the formerly rutted Pixie Trail roadbed westward from Janes Street are very welcome improvements.
The repair of this relatively minor soil and rock debris flow involved excavating into the exposed rock and soil to create a few horizontal surfaces (benches) upon which large boulders (“rip-rap”, rocks roughly 15-24 inches in diameter) were placed. The voids of the boulders were filled with native soil and covered with a burlap material to facilitate soil stability and growth of local grasses and shrubs.
Specific improvements include addition of class two material on the trail surface, better out-sloping for drainage, timbers on the out-slope side of the trail to hold the trail edge, jute netting across all disturbed sites, and wildflower/native seed mix in those same areas.
The work was carried out by Maggiora & Ghilotti at a cost of $93,575 funded by County Services Area 14 (CSA14) funds. The HVLT thanks Jim Chayka (Marin County Parks) for his leadership in this repair effort.
Still ahead is the repair of the much more serious “western slide” [aka Landslide #1 – Major]. The repair of this second and more complex slide will likely involve the installation of Gabion boxes. Gabions are wire boxes, approximately 3 ft x 3 ft x 6 ft, filled with rocks. Soil will be removed down to a stable layer, “benched,” and two-three rows of Gabions will be placed on top of the benches to provide support to restore the original trail width and level. Funds for this repair are being accumulated over time, with $200K allocated so far from CSA14 funds. Repair work is expected to begin in spring-summer 2025. The site will be winterized for the upcoming rainy season.
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Fall 2024 landslide repair on Pixie Trail (Photo by Jim Chayka). | |
Now Accepting Annual Service Award Nominations | |
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Homestead Valley (HV) has a long history of volunteerism whereby residents see an opportunity to create 'a more perfect valley' and make it happen. From the creation of the Community Association (HVCA) over a hundred years ago and the Land Trust (HVLT) in the early 70's, to a music festival in Stolte Grove that then moved to the Community Center meadow, and more recently the installation of a display garden based on sustainable, regenerative gardening, featuring plants that grow well in HV gardens, the spirit of community service and generosity is omnipresent in Homestead Valley.
Each year, HVCA recognizes two of the many people who passionately give their time to make a difference in HV. You can find a list of prior Service Award winners on our website: Homestead Valley Annual Service Awards. Winners are announced at the HV Annual Meeting in January.
The HVCA Board would like to reach out to the community for nominations for 2024 Volunteer of the Year and Distinguished Community Service Award. Please send your nominations with a one paragraph write up describing the reason for your nomination by December 13, 2024 to jonnie@homesteadvalley.org.
Volunteer of the Year - this recognizes someone for their outstanding contribution of service and leadership in the community this past year. (This award can go to a previous recipient.)
Distinguished Community Service Award - this person has been continuously giving extraordinary service, inspiration, and an enduring dedication to our community (while giving generously of their time). This is a one-time award.
Many thanks to everyone who helps make Homestead Valley a very special place to live.
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Homestead Valley Backyard Gardening | |
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Homestead Valley Backyard Gardening:
Invasive Acacias
By Kristin Desmond Ashley
Hello! October weather was quite the mix this year in Homestead. Record heat in many places but now it’s starting to feel cooler overnight and more like fall. Still waiting for the first rain as I write this.
This month we are talking about acacia trees, another group of plants that have taken to our mild climate and wet winters and dry summers with great success. Fall can be a great time to remove our larger invasives, since bird nesting is over for the year.
Acacias are a large group of plants in the pea family mostly native to Australia. The invasive species we see here in Homestead are small- to medium-sized trees, many with spectacular late winter or early spring displays of yellow or pale flower clusters that light up our hillsides. Some people are allergic to their pollen. Aboriginal Australians used the seeds from some species to make a flour; other species contain toxic compounds. The acacia known as the Golden Wattle is the national flower of Australia. The acacias most commonly found in Homestead Valley are shown in the table below.
The wood of many acacias is quite hard and has been used to make furniture, bowls, and utensils. This hardness means a homeowner might be able to remove sprouts or small plants on their own but will need a tree service to remove mature trees. After you’ve removed them, rake up, bag and place in the trash as many of the fallen seed pods and leaf litter as possible to reduce new sprouts, then cover the stumps with plastic or cardboard and mulch to fully kill the plant. Most acacias will resprout readily from the stump. In fact, on Pixie Trail above Kerouac Hill, one can often see sprouts emanating from the roots of the nearby Black Acacia stumps. Follow up by removing new sprouts as soon as possible. Late fall or early winter is a good time to remove acacias, before they bloom and develop seed pods.
The California Invasive Plant Council lists eight species of acacia that are at least in “watch” status (high likelihood of spreading). Acacias are considered very fire prone due to their high resin and oil content, their tendency to form dense stands, and the dry litter that builds up below them. Fire also enhances germination, so if a fire happens in an area with acacias, you will see a flush of new plants afterwards.
The following acacia species are most commonly observed in Homestead.
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Acacia dealbata
Silver Wattle
Photo: Eugene Zelenko, via Wikipedia
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Acacia decurrens
Green Wattle
Photo: Marabeth Grahame, HVLT.org
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Acacia melanoxylon
Blackwood Acacia
Photo: Marabeth Grahame, HVLT.org
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Acacias take over spaces from our native trees. You have a bounty of options for native trees to plant and nurture, all of which will provide food and habitat for our native insects, birds and mammals for decades to come. Some natives are not commonly available in nurseries, but you may find that once space has been cleared, they sprout. Keep your eye out for them, and you can transplant them to where you want them to be.
Arroyo Willow, Salix lasiolepis
Big leaf maple, Acer macrophyllum
Bay laurel, Umbellularia californica
Blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana
Black elderberry, Sambucus nigra
California buckeye, Aesculus californica
California nutmeg, Torreya californica
Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia
Hollyleaf cherry, Prunus ilicifolia
Madrone, Arbutus menziesii
Tanoak, Notholithocarpus densiflorus
Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia
Happy gardening!
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NOTICE: LARGE CARDBOARD PIECES NEEDED FOR HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT | |
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The Homestead Valley Land Trust is working on a habitat restoration project up near Amaranth that is entering its final phase. They have removed a prolific invasive plant called cotoneaster that had taken over the better part of a meadow. Now that the cotoneaster is gone, the area needs to be covered with cardboard and burlap to prevent resprouting. We need about 2,000 square feet of large cardboard pieces, in compostable condition (i.e. no staples or plastic tape) to complete the job.
Marin Horizon School's Green Team is helping the Land Trust with this project, and is available to pick up and store cardboard. Your help with cardboard donation is appreciated! Please contact Jennifer Coyne at jbliebman@gmail.com if you have large pieces of cardboard (6x6 or larger) that you are willing to donate. Thank you, Homestead Valley!
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HVMF hats are back in stock!
If you were hoping to purchase one of our Music Festival hats and were disappointed that we sold out on the day of the event, we have great news.
We just received a new order of hats and they are available at the center for $35.00 each.
Email info@homesteadvalley.org, call 415-388-0137, or swing by HVCC to pick one up.
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Call for artists!
If you are interested in participating in our Local Artist Series in the future, please reach out to Jonnie Alper for additional information.
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Music Class Continues this Fall
In Harmony offers family music and movement classes for children ages 0-8 and the grownups who love them! These group music classes, designed for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids, are backed by a research-driven curriculum that will nurture your child's inner musician, but the emphasis is on FUN! You and your children will grow a strong bond through singing, dancing, clapping, bouncing, instrument playing and other rhythm activities! So much more than a music class, In Harmony Music fosters developmental benefits that will support all areas of learning.
Friday classes offered at Homestead Valley Community Center at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The fall session runs until November 15. Save $25 with coupon code HVCC. Additional indoor, outdoor and online classes available around Marin. Register now! www.inharmonymusic.com
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Pie Making Class!
Sundays at HVCC
9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
November - 10, 24
Have you ever felt intimidated by making pie? Fear not! Come roll up your sleeves and learn to make a tender, flaky pie crust while making your very own humble and delicious apple pie - just in time for the holidays! You’ll learn some tips and tricks and even eat some pie.. mmm. Cost is $95 per person. $105 Parent / Child together (8 and up).
Here is the link to register!
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Homestead Valley Vignettes by Chuck Oldenburg | |
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Tamalpais High School
In 1906, the Tamalpais Union High School District was formed by the union of the Sausalito and Mill Valley Elementary School Districts. A train stop platform was built in conjunction with construction of the school.
Train service began on August 8, 1908, two days after the school’s first day. The 8:17 am train from Sausalito and the 8:45 am train from Mill Valley stopped at the school as did the first trains after 3 pm in both directions. Homestead kids probably walked even though the Locust station was one stop from the school.
The board of trustees initially hired principal/teacher, Mr. E.E. Wood, and three other teachers: Elizabeth Keyser (English, Commercial), Grace Pack (Science) and Shone Kurlandzk (French, German, Latin). In April 1909, John D. Saxe of Homestead Valley was elected to the Board of Trustees. In 1911 Saxe was reelected and praised for his work in obtaining overwhelming voter approval of a $35,000 bond issue. The school expanded rapidly under the excellent management of principal Wood. By 1917 there were 330 students, 9 departments, 30 courses and 17 teachers.
Boyd Stewart, born in 1903, lived with his parents and younger sister on the 500-acre Stewart Dairy Ranch in Nicasio. He attended Tam High from 1918 to 1922. His commute was unique. He rode a horse five miles to San Geronimo to catch the 6:00 am steam train to Manor where he transferred to the electric train for Sausalito. He got off at Almonte and walked up the County Road to Tam High. The return trip brought him back to San Geronimo at 6:30 pm for the five-mile horseback ride home.
In 1921, the state passed a law mandating elementary school districts to tie with a high school. At that time, students in the following elementary school districts attended San Rafael High School: San Anselmo, Fairfax, Ross, Kentfield, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Belvedere, Tiburon, Bolinas and Stinson Beach. Citizens in the Ross Valley school districts voted, mostly by overwhelming majorities, to tie with the Tamalpais Union High School District rather than with the San Rafael High School District. As a result, in 1923, Tam High underwent a large expansion in both its student body and its tax assessment base. “The Special”, a five-car school train picked up students from Manor in Fairfax through the Ross Valley to Corte Madera. Two cars were for boys, two cars were for girls and one car was co-ed. It went through the tunnel in Corte Madera to Mill Valley Junction and backed into the new Tam High stop next to the gym which had been built in 1923. Busses brought students from Belvedere/Tiburon and from Bolinas/Stinson Beach. By 1926, there were 952 students, 15 departments, 98 courses and 47 teachers.
A second abnormal enrollment expansion occurred in the 1940s when the war effort brought thousands of workers to Marinship in Sausalito.
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Homestead Valley Contact Information | |
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STAY CONNECTED:
Did you know HVCA is on Instagram @homesteadvalley? Be sure to follow us to stay up to date on events, last minute announcements, and more.
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Homestead Valley Community Association, 315 Montford Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 | | | | |
