Author: Marilyn Gildea

John Bianco ran his dad’s model trains at the Bianco home on Adele for six evenings every week between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.  Articles about Ernie’s trains appeared in the Mountain View Voice in 2010; 2012 (pages 1 and 9); 2016; and 2018 (pages 1 and 17).  A 2015 article in the San Francisco Chronicle features photos by James Tensuan, son of neighbor Donna Tensuan.

Our annual Ice Cream Social was held at Monta Loma Park on Sunday, August 28, and was a huge success.  Photos are here.

With the exhibits and the crowd spread out along the trees on the south side of the park all the way to Thompson Avenue, we didn’t realize until later how many came to meet their neighbors, visit the exhibits, and enjoy a selection of packaged ice cream treats.  The welcome-table volunteers signed in over 300 attendees, but many more did not sign in, so we estimate that attendance was at least 350.

Neighborhood participants included our CERT members (safety information), Gary  Heyman (balloons), Bill Lambert (Friends of Mountain View Parks), Tom Purcell (Monta Loma history), Alan Whitaker (Monarch and Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly info plus the plants they require), Joan MacDonald (CHAC), and Jill Rakestraw, Ann McMillan, and Grant Grundler (plant exchange).

Wouter Suverkropp gave rides to kids in a buggy drawn by robot horses, Gloria Jackson and John Ari Stepp offered cotton candy, and neighborhood band On the Edge provided music.  Marty Pulvers staffed the tee-shirt and logo-items sales table, Jim Cochran took photos, and Bill Cranston provided the A-frame signs that reminded us to attend.

Other participants were representatives of the Monta Loma Elementary School PTA, Mountain View Educational Foundation, Living Classroom, Canopy, Recology Zero Waste, the city’s Recreation Division, and Mountain View Historical Association. A crew from the Fire Department brought an engine.

Invited attendees who came included Mayor Lucas Ramirez and City Council members Alison Hicks, Ellen Kamei, Lisa Matichak, and Pat Showalter, plus MVWSD Board of Trustees members Laura Ramirez Berman and Ellen Wheeler.  They all appreciated the opportunity to meet Monta Loma residents, and their appreciation was echoed by the neighbors.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s event a success.

Approximately 40 neighbors attended the meeting on June 15, many coming early to meet new neighbors and greet long-time ones before the meeting.

Outgoing President Tricia DelGaudio began the meeting with a review of MLNA activities (Email list, newsletter, CERT, Neighborhood Watch, block parties, garage sale, and the Ice Cream Social).  She thanked the volunteers who make these possible, plus retiring newsletter editor Heather Schoell and retiring Traffic/Parking Liaison John Canata.

Tricia then introduced the board candidates.  Because the election was uncontested, the slate was ratified by voice vote.  The 2022-2023 board members are listed here.

Guest speaker Vice Mayor Alison Hicks gave an illustrated presentation about how residents can engage with the City as it updates its plans relating to parks and open space, urban forestry, walk- and bike-ability, and biodiversity.

Everyone enjoyed sharing smiles and finding bargains on a warm sunny Saturday, making our third annual neighborhood garage sale another huge success.  More than 30 households participated, some registering on the Monta Loma list and map, others on the citywide site, and still others on both lists.

A multi-family sale raised over $740 for a local scout troop, and a set-your-own-price sale to benefit CHAC (Community Health Awareness Council) raised $727.

Perhaps because our neighborhood had the most dots on the city’s citywide garage-sale map, a TV film crew visited Monta Loma. You can see the footage here.

The text of an article published in the Mountain View Register Leader in June 1958 that describes how Monta Loma residents helped construct Monta Loma Park is here.  A photocopy of the actual newspaper page is here.

Dotty Calabrese and Marleen Nyst organized an exhibit of Monta Loma Neighborhood artists, craftspeople, makers, and tinkerers.  They opened their studios and workplaces to showcase their crafts, demonstrate their processes, and/or sell their products on the weekend of November 13/14.

John Bianco ran his dad’s model trains at the Bianco home on Adele for six evenings every week between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Karla Valente’s efforts resulted in donations of $746 to Second Harvest Food Bank, and a treasure hunt for neighborhood kids, searching for stuffed animals displayed at homes.

Thanks to everyone who organized and participated in these events.  You helped make our holidays special.

The Ice Cream Social, held at Monta Loma Park on Sunday, September 5, was a huge success.  With the exhibits widely spaced for Covid safety, the crowd spread all the way to Thompson Avenue.  We didn’t realize until later that the welcome-table volunteers had signed in almost 300 attendees, who enjoyed a selection of packaged ice cream treats while meeting their neighbors.

Tee-shirt sales totaled 35, but some shirts (and logo items) remain available for purchase.

Neighborhood participants were CERT members (safety information), Gary Heyman (balloons), Bill Lambert (Friends of Mountain View Parks), Tom Purcell (Monta Loma history and bike-registration stickers), Alan Whitaker (monarch butterfly and native milkweed info and plants), Gloria Jackson (cotton candy), Jill Rakestraw (plant exchange), Karla Valente (gardening information), and Victor Brilon’s band, Nobody’s Girlfriend. Marty Pulvers staffed the tee-shirt and logo-items sales tables, Jim Cochran took photos, and Bill Cranston provided the A-frame signs that reminded us to attend.

Other participants were Monta Loma School’s PTA, Mountain View Educational Foundation, Canopy, Recycling and Zero Waste, and a MV police officer and dog.  The Bookmobile and the Fire Department were unable to participate, due to Covid and wildfires.

Mayor Ellen Kamei returned early from a trip in order to attend, and stayed for 90 minutes.  MVWSD trustees Laura Berman and Ellen Wheeler also came.  They all appreciated the opportunity to meet Monta Loma residents, and their appreciation was echoed by the neighbors.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a huge success.  Photos are here.

Show your pride in our neighborhood by wearing a Monta Loma tee shirt. Some red shirts and gray shirts ordered for sale at the Ice Cream Social are still available. Three adult styles are available, but only in gray or red. Click on each style for a photo.

One gray Youth shirt, size Extra Small (2-4), is also available.

To inquire about any of these remaining shirts, open an email message to Marilyn.  If you’re using a webmail service, send an email to marilyn@gildea.com.

It’s time to plan a block party for this summer or fall.  Begin now if you will block off a street, because it takes up to 30 days to have your permit application approved.  Information is on the Block Parties page.

Please participate in our virtual Annual Meeting and Board Election on Wednesday, June 16, to meet your board candidates and hear the invited speakers.