January 2021 Homestead Headlines

Volume 66, Issue 1 | January 2021

Download the Headlines here

January 2021 Community Center Calendar

Public meetings and gatherings are cancelled until further notice due to the shelter-at-home order.

12 | HVLT Board |

19 | HVCA Board |

19 | Firewise Committee |

26 | Sanitary District Board |

1st/3rd Wed. | Tam Design Review Board |

Community Center Updates

2020 In Review...and Looking Forward

By Alex Scalisi, HVCA Board President

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

While one might argue that 2020 shan't be categorized as the best of very much anything, there were plenty of positives and community progress that was attained during the course of the year. I'm proud of the work we were able to accomplish with county restrictions in place, the continued community energy, and the diligence of staying safe with appropriate measures. Homestead Valley remains a very special place and we will continue to nourish and invest in its future. Below are a few highlights from a year like never before:

As part of our defensible space process for the meadow and surrounding structures, there was a significant reduction in fire conducive plants and trees primarily between Montford Avenue and the community center parking lot. This was based on the recommendation by the Vegetation Battalion Chief MVFD & SMFD, as well as MARIN County Parks & Open Space representatives. The result of which, however, left a void and needed upgrading to replace the non-indigenous plants that were removed. Through a joint committee of HVCA board members led by Leslie Dixon, and individual community members, we now have completed our Native Plant/Firewise Demo Garden. The garden provides an educational opportunity for our community to understand native and firewise plants that they may want to install around their own homes and gardens. If you haven't visited yet, I would recommend strolling through the garden areas surrounding the community center parking lot to see the work that was completed, including the educational placards identifying each plant species.

In my opinion, the Demo Garden project represents the best of our community coming together to achieve a common goal. This was accomplished not only with HVCA board members, but also with community members with a common interest. Funds were raised through a combination of grants within the county as well as HVCA reserves. If there are projects within the Center and community that you would like to see completed, you need not be an HVCA board member. Collectively, we can take the lead from the Demo Garden team to work together on new projects. For more information, please reach out to David Ross, Executive Director at david@homesteadvalley.org.

In addition to the Demo Garden, we were also able to continue our partnership with Camp Funderblast for summer camp using the outdoor space in the Meadow and with the guidance from the County on safe reopening. The HVCA board approved the reopening of camp beginning June 15, 2020 in a scaled down capacity. I'm happy to report there were no incidents of virus contraction during camp and our partnership with Camp Funderblast remains strong, with a most recent partnership for a Winter Break camp conducted at the community center.

Along with a safe reopening of camp, we also conducted a limited safe pool reopening offering individual families the opportunity to rent the pool in a private setting. Also, with regards to the pool, we are getting closer to going out to bid for construction on a new pool in collaboration with the County. It's been a long process, and there's still work to be done, however I'm confident in the team working to complete this much needed upgrade to a wonderful asset that we have in the community. If you would like more information on the pool project, or to contribute to our fundraising activities, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Finally, as part of our ongoing safety measures within the community, led by HVCA board member Jim Derich, we are excited about the addition of an emergency back-up generator for the community center which will be in place shortly. This will allow community members the opportunity to find power during any of the PG&E Public Safety Power Shutdown events that are sure to continue during fire season.

There was a lot to be proud of in 2020 and I'm very excited about what is in store for 2021. We have a number of new families that have moved into the Valley and I'm looking forward to meeting the new faces (not just on an accidental Facetime). If you do have new neighbors, please welcome them and have them sign up for updates such as this on our Homestead Valley website. The 'spring of hope' is right around the corner and I'm looking forward to all it will bring! As always, be healthy, take care of each other and see you out in the community!

2021 Homestead Valley Annual Meeting

Thursday, January 21 - 7:00 PM

via Zoom

Updates, Elections and Recognitions

Land Trust Notes

South On The Miwok

Previously I described going out of the valley on the Diaz Ridge Fire Road, connected by the Panoramic Trail, and going down to the ocean at Muir Beach.

Before you get very far on the west Diaz Ridge, there is another option, the Miwok. Near the landmark large boulder, itself a worthy destination, the Miwok Trail crosses the road. The right-hand part descends into Frank Valley on a well-engineered, lazily switch-backing route, with much variety of views and cover. The left-hand way cuts down to Highway One near the head of Green Gulch. You can keep on the Miwok over to Tennessee Valley, and beyond that to Gerbode Valley and Rodeo Lagoon by Cronkhite Beach.

If you did that, you would miss one of my favorite jaunts, unmarked on trail maps: the cow trail down Green Gulch, rich with intimate views and floral abundance. You come out at Green Gulch Farm of the Zen Center, and can go through the fields all the way to Muir Beach.

Now imagine yourself back just having crossed Panoramic Highway southwest of Homestead Hill. Another unmarked route is right in front of you. Start out on the point, keep going down, and you will soon be on the floor of upper Frank Valley, passing in view of our neighbors, the Druid Heights community. You can connect with the Miwok Trail a short way down the valley, or loop back on the Dipsea Trail. This is what Paul McKown's sunset hikers did on a beautiful late October evening, making it back to Stolte Grove before total darkness came.

January 1988

These timeless articles are reprinted from "On Foot in Homestead A Hiker's Journal of a Coastal Valley," by Matthew Davis, 1988. Matthew Davis (1935-2015), a former HVLT Board member, wrote articles which appeared in the Homestead Headlines beginning in 1984. In 1988 Matthew compiled his columns into a book "On Foot in Homestead - A Hiker's Journal of a Coastal Valley," published by the HVLT.

Homestead Valley Vignettes by Chuck Oldenburg

Three Groves

In 1904 Lillian Ferguson, a writer and editor for the San Francisco Examiner and Sunset magazine, purchased a three-acre lot on Reed Creek in Upper Homestead Valley. She named her estate Three Groves for the buckeye, oak and redwood groves. Lillian created a garden designed as an oriental tribute in the buckeye grove. There were meandering brick paths, a fountain, an oriental cooking facility, a Mandarin red Chinese bench, a Mandarin red Moon Gate and several flowerbeds. In 1930 she sold Three Groves to George Sandy. He built a seven-foot dam on Reed Creek for a concrete lined lake next to the redwood grove. He imported several tons of sand from Monterey for a beach. In January 1967, a storm with 8.5 inches of rain resulted in Reed Creek filling the lake with mud from a barren hillside on Sequoia Valley Road. The lake became a concrete lined meadow. Today, Three Groves is a public park except for the privately owned house. The buckeyes died of old age. The oak grove was decimated by sudden oak death, but the redwoods have thrived. The formerly sunny beach is now in the shade.

Homestead Valley & COVID-19

We hope this finds all our friends and neighbors healthy, happy and safe at home in these continuing turbulent times. As of this writing, the shelter-at-home order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues. All public meetings and gatherings are cancelled indefinitely.

"The best is yet to come."

- Frank Sinatra

Useful links:

HVCA contact information:

info@homesteadvalley.org

Marin County Coronavirus website:

coronavirus.marinhhs.org/

Marin Recovers

marinrecovers.com

Individuals may contact Marin Health and Human Services with non-medical questions about the coronavirus by calling (415) 473-7191 (Monday - Friday, 9:30 AM to 12 Noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM) or emailing COVID-19@marincounty.org.