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Issues and Interests

Here are some of the issues that SSA is currently involved in.

Passing of Carolyn Marie Standish
Motorcycle Watch
SSA Bulletin Board is Online!
Burglaries in the SSA area  
Yahoo group formed for South Skyline
Barricade Fire Gel
Yellow Starthistle 
High speed Internet Access for the SSA Region
Fire and Rescue Volunteers
Emergency Preparedness
The Skyline History Project
Mission Statements of our Local Parks
Castle Rock Park

Passing of Carolyn Marie Standish

To look at her, you wouldn’t think that this 62-year-old science teacher was a gambling woman. But this summer, she gambled with her health. Her immune system already weakened by Lymphoma, she pursued a risky adventure—a visit to her daughter in Chile and a decades-old dream to tour Inca ruins and the upper Amazon region of Peru. A day after returning, she developed symptoms of blood poisoning, and died of septic shock on July 30. Her death was sudden for us all.

Carolyn had been pondering retirement. Up until now, Carolyn’s professional life was dedicated to education. In 1968 she earned a B.S. in Biology from California State College, Hayward, and then acquired a secondary teaching credential from San Francisco State. Her early teaching career brought her to schools like James Lick Junior High School in San Francisco and, later, Russell Middle School in Milpitas.

When her daughters began their own schooling, Carolyn’s teaching experience fueled her interest in Lakeside School District, a small one-school district in the Santa Cruz Mountains. First, she volunteered at the school, leading Girl Scout groups and organizing science laboratory experiments. Then, in 1984, she joined with other concerned parents to pressure the school board to improve the academic programs and bring a more dynamic and challenging science curriculum into the school. On this platform, she was elected to the school board, and served several years. During this period, the school opened a library, developed the Life Lab program (gardening), and initiated participation in the Yosemite Institute science camp and a nautical living history program affiliated with the National Park Service.

After a hiatus spent raising young daughters, Carolyn stepped back into the teaching role in 1995 at Russell Middle School, where she taught her favorite grade and subject: 8th grade physical science. We all knew she had an 8th-grade sense of humor, and shared her students’ interest in everything from saliva to rockets. In 2000, Carolyn was named Russell’s Teacher of the Year.

Carolyn loved her students, and loved to explore new and better ways to teach science. She had been contemplating a new career in landscape design—a field in which she could exploit her passion for gardening, style and what she called a “modest talent” for drawing. However, she hadn’t decided to retire yet from teaching, and was looking forward to another year at Russell.

She spent her free time reading, gardening, watching old movies, petting cats, going to the ocean and exploring the wonders of the natural world. We loved her sense of humor and pie-making ability.

Carolyn Standish was born to James and Doris Gibson in Watsonville, California, and grew up in Castro Valley. Since 1980 she had lived in Castle Rock State Park with her husband, Miles. She is survived by her husband, Miles; her mother, Doris; her sister, Elaine; and two daughters, Skye and Sierra.

A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at Hakone Gardens between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15th, her 63rd birthday. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Motorcycle Watch

In our ongoing effort to get some semblance of control over speeding motorcycles, we are posting the phone number to use to report motorcycles that are speeding or exhibiting other abhorrent behaviors (e.g. too loud).  If you witness a motorcycle that is operating outside the law, please call the CHP reporting line at:

    800-TELL CHP (835-5247)

SSA Bulletin Board is Online!

The SSA Bulletin Board is now online.  This is intended for the use of SSA members and other residents of our mountain community.  You can use the bulletin board to talk to other residents about what's happening in your neighborhood, announce events of local interest, look for lost pets, or whatever.  If this sounds interesting to you, visit the bulletin board here or click on "Bulletin Board" on the button bar on the left.

Burglaries in the SSA area

It was reported at the August 19 SSA board meeting that there have been a several burglaries in the area around Page Mill Road/Skyline as well as the Las Cumbres area.  Keep an eye out for suspicious activity!

Yahoo Group formed for South Skyline

A Yahoo group has been formed for South Skyline. To join the South Skyline email group, send a BLANK message to:

SouthSkyline-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  

No subject line is needed.

Barricade Fire Gel Available on the Internet

The subject of Barricade Fire Gel came up at an SSA meeting a year or two ago, at that time it wasn't being distributed in California. There may not be a local distributor, but it is sold on the Internet at Barricade International. The cost is $199 for the basic kit with 3, 1 1/4-gallon bottles and $150 for refill kits of 4 bottles (they recommend one bottle for 500-700 square feet of wall). I just ordered (and received) the kits. The only caveat I have is that I'd like to have asked them to ship UPS, they defaulted to FedEx at ~$60. Otherwise I'm happy with the service.

~Ken Smith

Back at that time the local distributor was Allstar Fire Equipment in Hayward. They now offer a number of alternative materials, so you may also want to check in with them for the latest info. 

Yellow Starthistle

Expect mid-June to be near the time for whacking YST.  If you are trying to reduce YST on or around your property, you should be getting ready.  We have collected information on the noxious weed commonly referred to as Yellow Star Thistle.  We now have a quick primer on it, and numerous links to agencies and groups that have studied it and/or have programs for eradicating it.

High Speed Internet

Several things are happening with regard to high speed internet access.  First, we have accumulated a little over 150 residents along Skyline that are keenly interested in getting high speed internet access.  This has gotten the attention of several providers.  For more detail on this; see our SSA Broadband Status Page.

Fire & Rescue Volunteers

 

Article from George Johnson, Southskyline Fire and Rescue Volunteers (SSFR), posted March 17, 2002 (This article missed getting into the January, 2002 Skylines.)

Support Our Local Fire & Rescue Volunteers
South Skyline Fire & Rescue Volunteers (SSFR) has not asked for donations from the community for many years. This year, Santa Cruz County has a matching funds program and SSFR is requesting donations to help them purchase Wildland Fire Protective Clothing, a Class "A" Foam Nozzle, and a GPS unit. If you would like to donate, please write a check payable to South Skyline Volunteers and mail it to 16765 Skyline Boulevard, Los Gatos CA 95033.

Emergency Preparedness

911 Emergency Response Information, posted January 2001

Skyline History Project

Skyline Historical Society, updated June 8, 2002

Local Parks Missions

Mission statements of local parks, updated November 20, 1997

Castle Rock Park

Castle Rock General Plan Information, updated January 1, 2001

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Last revised 12 September 2007
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