BACK TO THE DUCK POND
“We live in the community next to the park and walk our dog several times a week through the park. The ongoing dialogue regarding the duck pond has been interesting considering some of the other “health issues” we see on a regular basis in the park, including drug dealers, couples having sex in broad daylight, and my favorite…used condoms lying in the park.
If concerns regarding health are truly at the core of the duck pond discussion, I believe these other issues need to be addressed as well.
One idea for renovating the duck pond is to have it be an Eagle Scout project for a local boy scout or two. Thank you.”
RED PHONE
While the Red Phone sees your heart is in the right place, it would seem that most of the issues you listed need to be addressed by the police. Perhaps better visiblity by our city’s finest would help deter the drug dealing and other activities not suitable for public display.
The renovation effort required to get the duck pond to where it should be would be beyond the scope of an Eagle project which would consist of a 100-hour project managed by a 16-year-old scout. An overall cleanup of the park would not be out of the question for a project, but that would not address the underlying problems that the city is facing at Community Park.
THE BELL IS MISSING
“I noticed while exiting the freeway onto Cochrane Road that the bell sign was missing from the side of the road. Just want to know what happened to it.”
RED PHONE
Caller, you are referring to one of the many signs that mark the Historic El Camino Real route.
After being referred from one person to the next, the Red Phone finally got in touch with Caltrans Traffic Maintenance. The department will check its maps to determine exactly which sign is missing and will get back to us with a determination on just what happened to the sign.
While we’re waiting, a review of the history of El Camino Real and its bells is quite interesting.
At the same time that the American colonies were rebelling against England, a handful of Spaniards and Mexicans established outposts along the California coast. The first was established in 1769 at San Diego, where they established a fortress and a Franciscan mission. A footpath, called the El Camino Real, or Kings Highway, was created to connect the outposts. Each outpost, called a mission, was situated in areas where large populations of Indians lived and where the soil was fertile enough to sustain a settlement. As time progressed and more missions were built, the footpath became a roadway wide enough to accommodate horses and wagons. It was not until the last mission in Sonoma was completed in 1823, that this little pathway became a usable route. A series of small self-reliant religious missions were established. Each was a day’s travel apart and linked 21 missions, pueblos and four presidios from San Diego to Sonoma.
WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET
“We live in The Oaks development off of Dewitt Avenue. Is the west side of Dewitt Avenue from Dunne Avenue south to Price Street (a new street) located in the city of Morgan Hill? The city doesn’t seem to think so. If it is, why are the city sweepers not cleaning the west side of Dewitt when they sweep the east side? The storm drains get clogged and the street looks bad and attracts garbage. Can’t the city get this street on their list and keep it there?”
RED PHONE
The particular stretch of road that our caller is referring to was, until lately, included in the unicorporated area of Santa Clara County. This area of new development on Dewitt Avenue has recently been annexed into the city of Morgan Hill according to Mori Struve, deputy director, public works – operations, and will be swept every two weeks right along with all the other streets in Morgan Hill.
The line separating county and city property did run along the west side of Dewitt Avenue which may have contributed to the confusion.
Compliments, concerns, complaints … the Red Phone would like to hear them all. Contact us at (408) 779-4106, ext. 206, or e-mail
re******@mo*************.com
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