Office Hours at the Berryessa Farmers' Market, Fundraiser to Support First Responders in Ukraine, Berryessa Art Festival, and More...

April 14, 2022

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IN THE WAKE OF THE WEEK

Spring Egg Hunt at the Berryessa Community Center

We joined kids and parents this weekend at the Berryessa Community Center for the return of the annual Spring Egg Hunt! I was just as excited as they were to be out on a beautiful day with my #District4 neighbors and the event was a great way to kick of spring for our community.

Thank you to Chief Mata, Captain Acosta and the other members of the San Jose Police Department for coming out to join us. Their investigative skills were crucial in helping our community youngsters locate elusive eggs.

Visiting Alum Rock Park Ahead of the 150th Anniversary

We were given a fascinating behind the scenes tour of Alum Rock Park as we prepare to celebrate the 150th anniversary of one of the State's most incredible natural gems. The rangers gave us an in-depth history of the park and shown some of the programs and facilities both operating and in progress.

The San Jose Conversation Corps is also working diligently to unearth trails and areas of the park that have been covered over by erosion, especially the old hot springs. Their goal is to preserve and put on display the amazing history of the park and I'm excited to support them in this effort. For the next 6 months, the park will be hosting a number of special events to commemorate the anniversary including night hikes, guided nature walks, and much more! You can find them here or go to the article below for more information.

Office Hours at the Berryessa Farmers' Market

Come and chat with me at the Berryessa Farmers' Market located at 1376 Piedmont Road, on April 23rd. I'll be holding office hours from 9am to 12pm and giving out goodies at the D4 stall. Come share with me any concerns may you have, improvements you would like to see in District 4, any questions you would like answered, or just for a quick chat--anything is welcome. As your councilmember, this is the perfect opportunity for me to hear directly from you, the residents of District 4. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

IN THIS EDITION

SJ FIRE FIGHTERS HOSTING FUNDRAISER FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN UKRAINE
FREE MATTRESS REMOVAL DIRECTLY FROM YOUR HOME
BERRYESSA ART FESTIVAL AROUND THE CORNER

LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS UNION TO HOST FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN UKRAINE

The invasion of Ukraine has resulted in more than 24,000 deaths, approximately 2,000 buildings being destroyed, and at least 10 million people being displaced. Despite this, first responders have continued to serve their community, attempting to salvage and protect what they can by responding to fires and rescue calls. I’m sure you have been as touched as I have been when seeing the pictures of firefighters extinguishing bombed out buildings, carrying injured patients from a building collapse, or assisting the less mobile residents to safety. Working in conditions no one should have to endure, they honor the profession of firefighter with their actions.

On Saturday, April 16, 2022, from 0900-1300, Local San Jose Fighters Union L230 will be hosting a fundraising event, open to the public, at The Brit Downtown San Jose. Opening 2 hours early, The Brit will donate all proceeds from food and drink sales between 9am-1pm to our cause. Limited edition SJFF/Ukrainian t-shirts will be sold at the event to raise money. A raffle of donated items will also be held, such as a team signed Sharks jersey, signed Earthquakes jerseys, tickets to sporting events, and swag from local businesses.

If you would like to donate directly to the non-profit organization, their website is https://www.firefighteraidukraine.com.

GET RID OF YOUR UNWANTED MATTRESS FOR FREE

Our friends at the Mattress Recycling Council work to make our earth a cleaner place. Their @byebyemattress program makes mattress recycling accessible to Californians at no-cost, resulting in millions of pounds of material diverted from the waste stream! Visit www.ByeByeMattress.com to learn more about what’s available near you

EVENTS CELEBRATING THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF ALUM ROCK PARK

Alum Rock Park is celebrating 150 years! To celebrate its historic anniversary, Alum Rock Park is encouraging residents to enjoy the park’s nature and learn more about its history at special events planned through October 2022

All events are FREE, family-friendly and held on weekends! Event registration is required, and space is limited. Residents can learn more and register for events at this webpage.

THE BERRYESSA ART FESTIVAL IS BACK!

NEED HELP PAYING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL?

The past two years have been difficult, and while for some it feels like life may be getting back to normal, we know many are still struggling to keep up with utility bills. San José Clean Energy (SJCE) is here to help.

Relief on overdue bills is here! Customers with past due balances on their energy bill will receive a credit between February and April to help reduce debt accrued during the pandemic. Read more about the CAPP credit here: www.SanJoseCleanEnergy.org/CAPP

For more help paying your bill, visit www.SanJoseCleanEnergy.org/Discount-Programs. You can also call SJCE at 833-432-2454 or email them at info@sanjosecleanenergy.org.

Saving energy can lead to saving money! Visit www.SanJoseCleanEnergy.org/Energy-Savings-Tips for ways to save energy without compromising comfort.

COVID 19 UPDATE

Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests for Everyone: Every home in the U.S., regardless of their insurance status, is eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. Orders ship in 7-12 days. Order free at-home tests at www.covidtests.gov.

Avoid Fake COVID-19 Tests: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Division of Consumer and Business Education recently issued guidance on how to avoid purchasing fake COVID-19 tests. For more information, visit the FTC webpage.

Guidance to COVID-19 Testing Options: With the high demand for COVID-19 testing locally, the County Public Health Department offers guidance on what kind of test to use, when a test is needed, and where you should and should not go to get tested. The testing options are a PCR test, typically administered in a clinic or drive-through operation, and an antigen test, which is available for home use. To help inform residents about the COVID-19 testing options, we encourage you to share these social media assets.

Everyone 12 and older who is six months out from their second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months out from their Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot. People over 50 or those with weakened immune systems can receive a second booster 4 months after they received the first booster.

No Appointment Necessary for COVID-19 Vaccinations: The vaccine clinic locations listed below do not require advance appointments, however, capacity and wait times may vary. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made at www.sccfreevax.org.

Vaccinations are free, and no insurance or proof of immigration status is required. Anyone age five or older is eligible. Staff will be onsite to support language needs and disability access. Individuals seeking vaccination are encouraged to arrive at least one hour before closing time. Additional clinic dates and locations are added frequently, check www.sccfreevax.org for the most up-to-date information. For Santa Clara County locations outside of San José, visit the County’s vaccinations web page.

Vaccination Sites

· Sun Pharmacy (2559 S. King Rd., San José 95122)

· Advance SJ Pharmacy (2331 Montpelier Dr., Suite A-10, San José 95116)

· Dan Hopner MD/Rom Romero PA (2060 Aborn Rd., Suite 100, San José 95121)

· Emma Prusch Park (647 S. King Rd., San José 95116)

· Bay Area Community Health (5504 Monterey Hwy., San José 95138)

· Bay Area Community Health (Rocketship Mosaic) (950 Owsley Ave., San José 95122)

· Bay Area Community Health (1855 Lucretia Ave., San José 95122)

· Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (101 North Bascom Ave., San José 95128)

· Story Road HUB (1775 Story Rd., San José 95122)

· Latino College Preparatory Academy (14271 Story Rd., San José 95127)

Testing Sites

· Valley Medical Center/Valley Health Center East (1993 McKee Rd., San José 95116)

· Valley Water (OptumServe/CDPH Bus) (5750 Almaden Expy., San José 95118)

· Bay Area Community Health - Monterey (5504 Monterey Hwy., San José 95138)

· Costco (OptumServe/CDPH Bus) (2376 S. Evergreen Loop, San José 95122)

· SCC Office of Education (OptumServe) (1290 Ridder Park Dr., San José 95131)

· Santa Clara VTA (OptumServe) (2240 S. 7th St., San José 95112)

· Santa Clara VTA (OptumServe) (3331 North First St., San José 95134)

· Santa Clara VTA (OptumServe) (3990 Zanker Rd., San José 95134)

· County Fairgrounds, Parking Lot A (344 Tully Rd., San José 95111)

· Grand Century Mall (OptumServe/CDPH Bus) (1111 Story Rd., San José 95122)

School Site Testing

Again, we encourage school staff and families to register for weekly school site testing, especially during this winter season. Schedules vary by site. Please contact your school to learn your weekly testing day. This registration process also provides permission for your students to be tested when they are considered a close contact for school exposure if response testing is available and helps expedite that process. As a reminder, if you are notified to pick up your child from school for exposure, please be sure to check them out from the office. Additional information for testing and isolation will be provided at that time.