AccessAlmaden

Spring 2020 Soccer and Baseball Registrations

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Spring 2020 soccer and baseballHappy New Year and welcome back to the Almaden Valley Real Estate blog, Access Almaden. With schools reopening and children back in classes, this is also the time to plan for the spring season of sporting activities. Right now, registrations are open for Spring 2020 soccer and baseball with Almaden FC and Almaden Little League Baseball teams.

Almaden FC (Soccer)

AFC is affiliated with US Club Soccer and NorCal Premier’s National Premier League (NPL) to establish a platform for competitive and developmental paths for players in the club. AFC provides players progressive training in 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and finally 11v11 groups. Almaden FC has registrations open for Almaden FC Tryouts, Competitive Soccer, Recreational Soccer and Camps and Clinics. The Spring Recreational Soccer program is for players born between 2002 and 2015, and will begin on March 9 and end on May 16. The Kicker’s Club program is for kids aged 4-5, goes from March 14 to May 16, and will be held at Pioneer High School. For further details on Almaden FC registrations, visit: https://www.almadenfc.org/

Almaden Little League Baseball

Almaden Little League is part of the Little League International (District 12, which is part of Section 5 in the Western Region). Almaden Little League practices at Simonds Elementary, Los Alamitos Elementary, Graystone Elementary and Challenger School. Players residing in or attending school within the 95120, 95141 and 95042 zip code areas are eligible to enroll. Registrations are now open for the 2020 spring season. For further details on Almaden Little League Baseball, visit:
https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1844237

Registrations fill up fast, so enroll soon!

November 2019 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

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November 2019 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update – The holiday season is firming up to be a good one for Almaden Valley real estate. We usually see activity decrease the last few months of the year, and although this pattern is repeating as expected when compared to previous months in the year, the number of homes that were under contract and sold are higher than they were the same time in 2018. The number of single family homes offered on MLS dropped dramatically from October to November, which is to be expected. However, the number of homes for sale last month was a rather dramatic 30% lower than the same month last year (21 versus 30.) The number of homes that sold increased over 9% from the same time last year (24 versus 22) but the number of homes that went under contract increased a whopping 40% (21 versus 15.) Even the average price per square foot experienced a healthy 6% jump from not only the same time last year, but also from last month ($691 for 11/19 versus $647 for 11/18 and $652 for 10/19.)

In short, Almaden Valley real estate was quite spirited last month. Whether or not this is an indication that the market may be swinging a bit away from favoring buyers as it has been for awhile to favoring sellers remains to be seen, but with the average sale price still below the $703/sqft high we saw in September 2018, there is still room for buyers to find bargains, and for sellers to find eager buyers. If you are thinking about buying or selling in this exciting market, contact me and let me show how I can help you get the best deal.

November 2019 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market

Holiday Events at Almaden Community Center

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Holiday Events at Almaden Community CenterThe holidays are just around the corner, and so are a couple of Almaden’s favorite family holiday events at Almaden Community Center – Breakfast with Santa and the North Pole Party!

Breakfast with Santa
The Breakfast with Santa event at the Almaden Community Center is an annual tradition where families can meet and take photos with Santa, enjoy a hearty holiday breakfast and participate in arts and crafts. It is being held on December 14, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. This event requires registration. Cost: $18.

North Pole Party
The North Pole party at the Almaden Community Center is a special holiday event for little kids (ages 4-6), being held on December 17, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The little tots will find themselves in a winter wonderland with holiday treats, music and art activities. Cost: $25.

For more information about holiday events at Almaden Community Center or to register, click here or call: 408-268-1133

Run Turkey Run 2019

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Run Turkey Run 2019It’s time for Run Turkey Run 2019!

Run Turkey Run, Almaden’s popular annual turkey run event, will be held on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 28, from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm. Run Turkey Run is a family fun event that supports Bret Harte Middle School’s Booster Club.

There are two runs available for runners to choose from: the 10k, which starts at 8:30 am, and the 5K, which starts at 8:50 am. Both runs begin and end at Leland High School. Turkey Run T-shirts ($15) and registration packets are available for purchase at Bret Harte Middle School cafeteria on Wednesday, November 27, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Race day registration (November 28) and packet pickups are from 7:00 to 7:30 am at Leland High School. Come on out and run or cheer to support Bret Harte Middle School!

For more information or to sign up for Run Turkey Run 2019, click here or call Bret Harte Middle School at 408-535-6270.

Halloween in Almaden Valley

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Halloween in Almaden ValleyIt’s time again for Halloween in Almaden Valley! Carving Jack-o-lanterns, turning your yard into a graveyard, trick-or-treating with kids, enjoying a costume party – whichever way you choose to celebrate, it is time to dress in your spookiest best and hop out to stir the cauldrons. And Almaden Valley is certainly a spooky place to be on Halloween night! Here are some fun neighborhoods to stroll around during Halloween in Almaden Valley.

Neighborhoods with Haunted Houses
Many residents are hosting haunted houses with fabulous displays of the spooky, gory and the macabre. You can visit haunted houses on Calcatera Drive, Azalea Drive, Shearwater Drive, Lillian Way, Medallion Drive, Redmond Avenue, Monteval Lane, Via Del Los Grande, and last but not least, at the end of Little Falls Drive. This last one is particularly spectacular and not to be missed. Expect to find lots of people thronging the street, but it is worth braving the crowds.

Allergy-free Treats
This year several residents are passing out allergy-free treats so that all kids can enjoy Halloween. They can be found on Hampton Drive, Casual Way, Portswood Drive, Crimson Drive, Burchell Avenue, Franciscan Way, Montalban Drive and Montellano Drive. For accurate addresses, check the Almaden area treat map on Nextdoor.com.

Happy trick-or-treating, and have a great Halloween!

Almaden Quicksilver County Park – October 2019 Events

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Almaden Quicksilver County ParkIf you enjoy nature and are interested in knowing first-hand the history of Almaden Valley, this is a great time to head to the Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Starting this weekend, there are some interesting events organized by the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association (NAQCPA) in partnership with the Santa Clara County Parks Department.

Here’s a synopsis of the events:

Saturday, October 12, 2019: A celebration of Pioneer Day, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, at the Casa Grande. The NAQCPA has held their annual Pioneer Day celebrations in the Almaden Quicksilver County Park for 34 years. Pioneer Day began with the purpose of sharing mining stories and meeting with former New Almaden miners who remembered the place. Today it has evolved into an event to showcase historic sites and current projects in the park.

Saturday, October 26, 2019: Quicksilver History Hike from 9:00am-12:00pm. The Quicksilver History Hike is a docent led hike of moderate intensity to historic mining sites within the park.

Sunday, October 27, 2019: Whoppers and Ghostly Tales of New Almaden at the park from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Want to learn about the ghosts of New Almaden? Come over for an evening of ghostly stories about the Almaden Quicksilver mines narrated by a docent as you tour the historic 1854 Casa Grande. Meet at the Casa Grande front entrance. Reservations online or (408) 355-2240.

For more information, visit: http://newalmaden.org/#AQS-Events

San Jose Water Lantern Festival October 2019

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Water Lantern Festival October 2019San Jose Water Lantern Festival October 2019 – It’s a visual splendor that evokes hope, love, peace, and dreams. The San Jose Water Lantern Festival is being held again in Almaden Valley, for the second time this year. Following the huge success of the spring event, this beautiful festival of floating lanterns is back for the fall season this weekend on Saturday, October 5, 2019.

Event at a glance:
Venue: The Almaden Lake Park
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2019.
Time: 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Enjoy the Water Lantern Festival with your family and friends, or come and make a date night of it. The event begins at 4:00 pm, when you can enter the venue. There will be music and food trucks, and you can decorate your lanterns provided at the entrance with special messages and prayers. The lanterns will be launched at dusk around 7:30 pm.

Tickets are available for purchase online right now, and they include the festival entry pass, a floatable lantern, a marker and a commemorative bag. The price of tickets also includes the cost of retrieving the lanterns from water and clean-up of the lake the following day. Special pricing on tickets is available for kids and couples. Kids under seven can enter for free.

For more information, visit: https://www.waterlanternfestival.com/sanjose.php. This beautiful spectacle is a memory-maker. Don’t miss!

Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival 2019

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Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival 2019Almaden Valley is buzzing with excitement. One of the community’s biggest events, the 43rd Annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival 2019 unfolds this weekend. On Sunday, September 15th, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the serenely beautiful Almaden Lake Park will be a beehive of activity, buzzing with families, performers, artists and wine enthusiasts.

Neighborhood artists will showcase their work, local vineyards will host sampling booths serving boutique wines, and patrons will be able to enjoy the pristine surroundings of Almaden Lake Park, sipping wine, listening to music or watching performances.

This year’s performers include Team M Taekwondo, Aerial Tumbling and Acrogymnastics, Almaden Spirit Athletics, Willow Glen High School Spirit Squad and Leland High School Dance team, besides the various local music bands.

There will be food trucks serving a variety of cuisines, with the new addition this year being Indian cuisine. There will also be a Kids’ Fun Zone, with a rock-climbing wall, bounce houses, arts and crafts, face painting, and a children’s stage. Performers in this arena will be Shaolin Kungfu Martial Arts, Little Gym and Leland Robotics.

The Almaden Art & Wine Festival is organized by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, a non-profit organization in Almaden. They provide grants and aid to a wide range of organizations as well as some local schools. So, come and enjoy this beautiful fall festival with your family and friends.

At a glance:
When: Sunday, September 15, 2019, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Where: Almaden Valley Lake Park

For more details, visit: https://www.almadenwomen.org

Almaden Graffiti Night Classic Car Show-N-Shine

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Almaden Graffiti NightIf you are a classic car enthusiast, Almaden Graffiti Night is a must do. On Friday, September 6th, 2019, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, Almaden Lake Park will host its 4th Annual Graffiti Night Classic Car Show-N-Shine with a bevy of beauties from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

On display will be about 100 classic and custom cars of various models and makes. These include custom cars, hot-rods, antiques, low-riders and traditional cruisers. There will be music and food trucks at the venue. This family friendly event is hosted by the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.

Admission is free for visitors. So stop by with your friends and family to enjoy an evening out and admire these classic cars of yesteryear.

Basketball and Swim Teams Registrations Open

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Basketball and swimWith the new school year in full swing and kids back into routine, it’s now time for sports registrations. Currently, registrations are underway for basketball and swim teams in Almaden.

Basketball

The Almaden NJB Youth Basketball League 2019-2020 registrations are now open. The Almaden NJB offers an exciting opportunity for both girls and boys to play in division, all-star and all-net, with teams advancing to the national tournament. Here are some dates to remember:

  • Registration: currently open
  • Mandatory player evaluations (grades 3-8): Sept 21-22
  • First games (division and all-net): November 24

Since the NJB is completely a volunteer-led program, there are several volunteer positions open that you may also consider, if interested. For more information, visit: http://www.almadennjb.org

Year-round Swim Teams

The two year-round swim teams in and around Almaden are the Almaden Riptides, which practices at the Shadowbrook Swim club, and the Quicksilver Swim team (QSS), which practices at both Gunderson High and the Almaden Swim and Racquet Club (ASRC). Both are currently accepting registrations. Further, while both are year-long competitive swim teams, they also offer recreational swim options. For more information, visit: https://www.almadenriptides.com and https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?_tabid_=0&team=pcqs