Close to 400 neighbors and invited guests attended the event and visited the displays on August 25.
Among the guests were City Council candidates Emily Ann Ramos and Pat Showalter, and Board of Supervisors candidate Sally Lieber. They posed with former mayor (and our event photographer) Jim Cochran.
Marilyn Gildea and Elna Tymes staffed one of the welcome tables.
Tony Bright staffed the welcome table at the back of the park.
Alan’s self-designed dry-ice cooler kept 500 individually-wrapped ice cream treats really cold again this year.
CERT members John Thomas and John Partlan showed us how to prepare for disasters.
The Mountain View Whisman School District (MVWSD) brought a display and the new Monta Loma Elementary School Principal, Meghan Jinguji.
MVWSD Chief Business Officer Rebecca Westover was there…
…as well as MVWSD Superintendent Ayindé Rudolph.
Monta Loma Elementary’s PTA table was staffed by Elisa Ewing,
Secretary, and Toni Hallam, Treasurer.
Patricia Nguyen offered information about the Mountain View Education Foundation (MVEF).
City staff brought several displays. The Sustainability and Resiliency Initiative was represented by Dylan Weightman and Whitney Ramos.
Natasha Drosdova and Nancy Ducos explained the Multicultural Engagement Program.
Brenda Sylvia, John Marchant, and Sara Saunders represented the Community Services Department.
Recology’s Jason Ino offered food-waste pails and recycling information.
Don Arnold again brought a display about the Living Classroom program.
The Community Action Team (CAT) handed out free Covid test kits.
Robert Cox again represented the Mountain View Historical Association.
Tom Purcell loves discussing Monta Loma history and its mid-century-modern architecture.
“Gizmo Gary” Heyman and his daughters twisted hundreds of balloons …
… into many different shapes.
The Monta Loma Garden Club’s plant exchange/giveaway table offered gardening advice and a large selection of free plants, thanks to Jill Rakestraw, Ann McMillan, Karla Valente, and Grant Grundler.
Alan Whitaker was surprised by the number of attendees able to relate to the seriousness and humor of his “doctor is in” sign. He brought information on endangered butterflies.
The Save Our Parks group was represented.
Wouter Suverkropp again offered rides in a buggy pulled by robot horses …
… up and down the paved walkway.
Nirvana Nwokidu organized the “Monta Loma Junior Olympics” games for kids.
The sack race was popular.
Medals were awarded at the finish line by umpire Lars Ernstrom.
A line quickly formed when the cotton candy machine began spinning at 4:00…
… and kept both Gloria Jackson and John Ari Stepp very busy.
The MV Fire Department brought an engine but had to leave on a call. They returned…
… and before they left, created the “rain” and rainbow that the crowd was hoping for. Kids loved running under the spray; some even came wearing bathing suits in anticipation. Many still had their balloon “wands.”
Andre Valente took photos of the shower from the school side of the park.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this such a great event!