AccessAlmaden - What’s Happening in Almaden Valley

Almaden Community Center 2023 Spring Activity Guide

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Almaden Community Center Spring 2023 Activity GuideThe Almaden Community Center 2023 Spring Activity Guide is now available! General registration for community center classes, spring break camp and a wide variety of summer camps opens Feb. 25 at 10am. You can register in person at Almaden Community Center or online at www.sjregistration.com.

Dozens of week-long full- and half-day summer camps will take place at the Almaden Community Center or at neighboring parks. Camp instructors are from Mad Science of the Bay, Play-Well TEKnologies, Dance Arts Academy, Young Rembrandts, Futsal Kings, Skyhawks Sports Academy, Engineering for Kids, and more.

Early registration for Active Adults 50+ begins online and in person on Wednesday Feb. 22 at 10am. From creative crafts to pickleball, there’s something for everyone!

The Almaden Community Center is located at 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose, CA 95120. For more information about classes, camps or health guidelines, call the Almaden Community Center at 408-268-1133.

Run Turkey Run is Back!

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run turkey run 2022Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!

Almaden’s annual Thanksgiving “leftovers” Run Turkey Run event is finally back after the pandemic! The event will be held on Saturday, November 26th, at 8:30 AM. Run Turkey Run is a Thanksgiving-themed fundraiser which supports Bret Harte Middle School’s Booster Club. As many of you know, each year I support various fundraising events to benefit Almaden’s public schools, and right now I am proud to be one of the Gold Sponsors for this event.

Runners can participate in the 10k race, which begins at 8:30 am, or the 5k race, which begins at 8:40 am. The event is open to participants of all ages, and the run begins and finishes at Leland High School.

T-shirts and registration packets are available for purchase at Bret Harte Middle School’s cafeteria until November 25th for $35, and for $40 on November 26th for late registration on the day of the event. Pre-race packet pickups will be held at Bret Harte on Wednesday, November 23rd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and on Friday, November 25th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Be sure to show your support for Bret Harte’s Booster Club by participating! Join in the fun!

For more information regarding Run Turkey Run 2022, click here or call Bret Harte Middle School at (408) 535-6270.

Drop-In-Sports Back at the Almaden Community Center

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Drop in sports at almaden community centerGreat news for the community! Drop-in-sports are back at the Almaden Community Center. You can play Volleyball on Friday nights, and Basketball and Table-Tennis from 9am to 12pm on Saturday mornings.

Location:
Volleyball: at the Gym. Hours: Fridays – 6pm to 8pm.
Basketball: at the Gym. Hours: Saturdays – 9am to 12noon.
Table-Tennis: at the Community Room. Hours: Saturdays – 9am to 12noon.

Drop-in pricing:
Adults: $5.50 per session (Monthly: $27, Annual: $145)
Youth (14+), Seniors and Disabled: $2.75 per session (Monthly: $21, Annual $145)

For more information, call the Almaden Community Center at (408) 268-1133, or visit:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/4/2028

Quicksilver History Hike – June 2022

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Quicksilver History HikeThe next Quicksilver History Hike will be on June 25, 2022 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Join a Park Interpreter to explore what remains of the once-bustling mining operations in the hills above New Almaden. This moderate, 3-4 mile hike in Almaden Quicksilver County Park leaves from the Wood Road parking lot off Hicks Road in San Jose. Dress in layers with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and bring plenty of drinking water. There are no bathrooms nor drinking fountains along the hike.

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. This hike is offered once a month. Registration for the hike opens on the 1st of the month that the hike is offered. To reserve space on the upcoming History Hike, go to the Quicksilver History Hike page of the Santa Clara County Parks website.

Questions? Call 408-918-7700 or email interp@prk.sccgov.org.

Quicksilver History Hike – April 2022

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Quicksilver History HikeThe next Quicksilver History Hike will be on April 24, 2022 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Join a Park Interpreter to explore what remains of the once-bustling mining operations in the hills above New Almaden. This moderate, 3-4 mile hike in Almaden Quicksilver County Park leaves from the Wood Road parking lot off Hicks Road in San Jose. Dress in layers with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and bring plenty of drinking water. There are no bathrooms nor drinking fountains along the hike.

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. This hike is offered once a month. Registration for the hike opens on the 1st of the month that the hike is offered. To reserve space on the upcoming History Hike, go to the Quicksilver History Hike page of the Santa Clara County Parks website.

Questions? Call 408-918-7700 or email interp@prk.sccgov.org.

Almaden Community Center 2022 Spring Activity Guide

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Almaden Community Center 2022 Spring The Almaden Community Center 2022 Spring Activity Guide is now available! Registration for community center classes, spring break camp and a wide variety of summer camps begins Feb. 26 at 10am. You can register in person at Almaden Community Center or online at www.sjregistration.com.

Spring break camp for ages 5-12 will be held at the Almaden Community Center Monday-Friday April 11-15 from 8am-6pm.

Dozens of week-long full- and half-day summer camps will take place at the Almaden Community Center or at neighboring parks starting the week of 6/6-6/10 and continuing through the week of 8/15-8/19. Camp instructors are from such groups as Mad Science of the Bay Area, Young Rembrandts, Futsal Kings, Skyhawks Sports Academy, Engineering for Kids, Dance Arts Academy and more.

Registration for Active Adults 50+ begins on Feb. 23 at 10am.

The Almaden Community Center is located at 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose, CA 95120. The center follows all state and county guidelines regarding mask requirements and daily health screenings. For more information about classes, camps or health guidelines, call the Almaden Community Center at 408-268-1133.

Almaden Community Center and Almaden Library Updates

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Almaden Community Center and Almaden LibraryExciting updates from the Almaden Community Center and Almaden Library!

The Almaden Branch Library is now open for all in-person activities after the pandemic restrictions are lifted. Check out the new hours here.

While the Almaden Community Center is still awaiting opening for indoor in-person activities, there are a lot of sports camps and outdoor activities that you can register for. Some of the activities that are still open for July registration are:

Camp Dance:
July 19 to July 23. For kids aged 3 to 12 years. At the Almaden Community Center, Tiny Town Courtyard. This is an outdoor activity, masks are required.

Camp San Jose Strong at Vista Park: Full Day
July 6 to July 9, July 12 to July 16, July 19 to July 23. For kids aged 5 to 12 years. This is a full day camp from 8 am to 6 pm at Vista Park.

Camp San Jose Strong at Almaden: Half Day
July 6 to July 9, July 12 to July 16, July 19 to July 23, August 2 to August 6. For kids aged 3 to 5 years. This is a half day camp at the Almaden Community Center.

Beach Volleyball at Almaden Lake Park:
July 14 to August 4. For kids aged 8 to 12 years. Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:30 pm.
July 26 to July 30. For kids aged 10 to 14 years. 9 am to 12 pm.
These are outdoor activities, masks are required.

Spots fill up fast. Register for activities here: https://apm.activecommunities.com/sanjoseparksandrec/Activity_Search

Happy summer! Stay safe, everyone.

DIY Garden Projects for the Long Weekend

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DIY Garden ProjectsThinking about DIY garden projects for the Memorial Day weekend? Spring gardening is a favorite recreational activity for many of us, and though we are still sheltering-in-place, there are a lot of cool backyard DIY garden projects we can do while enjoying this beautiful weather.

Raised garden beds

Raised garden beds are great for growing seasonal vegetables and herbs. These can be made with bricks if you have any left around the yard or with untreated, but rot-resistant wood. Raised bed kits can also be ordered online. Place them at a location where they get at least six hours of sunlight. Here is a good resource for DIY garden beds.

Bird houses

Bird houses in the backyard are a nice way to attract small birds like robin, bluebird, wren, sparrow, and swallow. Bird houses also help some bird species thrive by providing a safe shelter from other predators. Find out more about placing bird houses here.

Arbors and trellises

Arbors and trellises make a beautiful feature for any backyard or front yard. Arbors create an inviting entrance and can highlight a special part of your garden. Trellises can offer support to pretty flowering creepers or vegetable plants. Learn more about how to install garden arbors and trellises here.

A Colorful Story for Your Backyard Garden

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Backyard gardenHello Almaden families! Hope you are all safe and sheltering in place right now. We are all facing a tough situation, but it need not be completely frustrating. We can use this opportunity to get a lot accomplished around the house and in the backyard garden, along with some great family bonding time.

It’s spring, and the beautiful weather calls one out to the garden. It’s time to go out for some planting. Spring is the best time to plant seasonal flower bulbs, saplings and beds to yield the summer.

In late March or early April, spring planted bulbs will transform your garden into a glory of colors in the summer. Some of the most popular varieties are calla lilies, dahlia, gladiolus, begonia, anemone, canna, and a variety of lilies like rain lily, nerine lily, and the Asiatic lily.

Late April is the time to plant the saplings directly into the ground. You can create beautiful borders or fill up those empty spaces in your backyard garden. While planting, take care to position sun-loving and shade-loving varieties in the right zones. Some of the plants you can place directly into the ground at this time are roses, which will bloom right through September or early October. While gardening stores stock a variety of annuals, you can get better yield from your hard work by planting perennials which keep blooming year after year. Popular perennials are lavender, geranium, daisy, iris, aster, black-eyed susan, bugleweed, and clematis, among others.

Stay safe and enjoy some family time in the garden.

For more planting information, visit:
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/best-flowering-perennials
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/CA/San%20Jose
https://www.ufseeds.com/learning/what-to-plant-in-april
https://www.americanmeadows.com/flower-bulbs/spring-flower-bulbs

Cleaning Up to Welcome Spring

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welcome springIt’s the end of January, and while there’s still a chill in the air, it’s also the time to begin working in the yard and garden so you can welcome spring in all its splendor. Here are some essential ‘welcome to spring’ tasks that you can tackle right now and enjoy your garden for months to come.

Clean Ditches and Drains

Clear out fall leaves, seedlings and other debris from ditches and drains around the garden to ensure good drainage from the soil. The cleared garden refuse can be put in a compost bin for ready fertilizer to use during spring and summer. If you don’t have a compost bin, this is also a good time to build one.

Start a Compost Pile

A good carbon-nitrogen balanced compost can be created by using common garden and kitchen waste. Carbon-rich matter are branches, dried leaves, wood chips, bark dust or sawdust pellets, shredded brown paper bags, corn husk, coffee grounds, conifer needles, egg shells and wood ash. Nitrogen can be found in fruit and vegetable scraps, tea leaves and grass clippings. A good balanced compost has more carbon than nitrogen, about one-third green and two-thirds brown material. In three months, the compost will be ready to use.

Refresh the Lawn

If there are bare patches in the lawn, re-seed them. Mix grass seed into soil in a wheelbarrow and spread over the bare areas. The rains will ensure that the seeds germinate and new grass grows well in spring. A good grass fertilizer may also be sprinkled now.

Trim and Fertilize

Trim trees and flowering bushes, and remove dead foliage to make way for new spring growth. Weed pulling is also best done now when roots are shallow. Late winter is also the best time to fertilize fruit trees and flowering bushes and shrubs.

Add Mulch

Add mulch to a depth of about three to four inches around the base of young fruit trees to protect new growth from the late winter frost. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the crowns and stems of plants.

Clean Bird Baths and Feeders

Water accumulated in bird baths can be a health hazard for both birds and humans, so it is important to scrub them clean at least every two to three weeks. Scrub with baking soda, or a 1:10 chlorine bleach and water solution for more stubborn dirt. Pressure wash if needed. Keep baths filled with fresh water every week to attract birds throughout spring and summer.

For more ideas, visit:
https://learn.eartheasy.com