MWNA & Community Announcements

The Moreland West Neighborhood Association is planning several great meetings and events this year to help beautify and strengthen our community, including our annual litter pick up in April, a neighborhood plant swap, creation of utility art boxes, and more. We’re seeking volunteers to distribute flyers next weekend (Jan. 21 & 22) to inform neighbors about MWNA activities. If you can help deliver flyers to a few blocks, please email morelandwestna@gmail.com. 

Our first meeting of 2023 will be on Thursday, January 26 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Moreland School District’s Multi-Use Room #2, located at 1850 Fallbrook Ave. Social time is at 6:20 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Come meet our new city representatives: San Jose Councilmember Rosemary Kamei and Campbell Councilmember Elliot Scozzola!  Bring your questions and concerns, and learn what challenges and opportunities lay ahead for our cities. We’ll also hear from San José Neighborhood Community Emergency Response Team reps about upcoming SJNCERT training opportunities and how residents can prepare for floods, earthquakes, gas and electrical events, fires and other types of emergencies. 

The Jan. 26 meeting will also be accessible via Zoom. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqc-CrrjssGdU-7RdhzvLaDf5uIpMMvzVc. 

**SAVE THE DATES: Following are MWNA meeting dates for 2023: Jan 26, March 30, May 25, Sept 28, Nov. 30. We hope you can join us!

Community Events & Announcements

Latimer TK & Kindergarten Info Session — Jan. 17 at 8:30 a.m.
If you have a student who’ll be enrolling in Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten in the Moreland School District for the 2023-2024 school year, we invite you to attend an info session at Latimer School. Sign up HERE. Contact Mrs. Hammer at 408-874-3600 or ehammer@moreland.org. We look forward to meeting you!

Latimer Middle School Info Night & 6th Grade Tours — Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. and Jan 26 & Jan 30 at 8:30 a.m.
If you have a student who’ll be enrolling in Middle School in the Moreland School District for the 2023-2024 school year, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming info sessions at Latimer School. Sign up HERE. Contact Mrs. Hammer at 408-874-3600 or ehammer@moreland.org. 

• Middle School Info Night — Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m.
• 6th Grade Meeting & Tour — Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8:30 a.m.
• 6th Grade Meeting & Tour — Monday, Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m.

Cash for College Webinar — Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. 
Sen. Dave Cortese invites you to a Cash for College webinar to help students and families learn about financial aid options available when enrolling in college. Topics covered will include application submissions to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) in anticipation of the state financial aid priority deadline of March 2nd. Organized in collaboration with Assemblymember Ash Kalra and the CA Student Aid Commission. Zoom registration: www.tinyurl.com/SouthBayCash4College.  This event will be made available for later viewing through Sen. Cortese’s Facebook page  and website. Contact Zach Contini at (408) 558-1295.

“Santa Clara County: Building Together” — Jan. 19 at 12 Noon
Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg will be the guest speaker for the 2023 kick-off Lunch with League event via Zoom. Ellenberg, who became President of the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 10, will discuss the County’s progress in addressing major issues including mental illness and substance abuse disorders, childcare for greater economic stability, true public safety, and getting residents who are experiencing homelessness into stable housing. With the theme “Building Together,” she will present a framework for the necessary tools the County must employ to meet these challenges. There will be audience Q&A after her talk. Register to attend this League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara webinar HERE. Free & open to all. 

Eat Pizza My Heart  — Jan. 19 from 4-9 p.m.
No need to cook on Jan. 19! Support Prospect High School’s Grad Night fundraiser by dining at Pizza My Heart in the El Paseo Shopping Center. 30% of purchase will be donated. Mention fundraiser when ordering. In person or called in orders only. Thank you for supporting our students!

Deadline to Apply for 16th Congressional District Student Advisory Board — Jan. 20 at 5 p.m.
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo invites local high school students to apply to serve on the 16th Congressional District Student Advisory Board, now in its 30th year. The program is for sophomores, juniors and seniors who are interested in public policy and learning about the legislative process. Students study a policy area of their choice and make recommendations to Congresswoman Eshoo, who has introduced many of the Board’s policy recommendations in the House of Representatives. Info: https://eshoo.house.gov/services/internships/student-advisory-board. Questions? Email Eshoo.SAB@mail.house.gov or call 650-323-2984.

King Tide Bike Ride 2023 — Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Witness the highest tides of the year and learn about the South Bay Shoreline Protection Project under construction in Alviso to restore wetland habitat and protect the South Bay from rising sea levels. Bring your bike and meet up at Baylands Park, Sunnyvale, at 10 a.m. Programming begins at 10:30, and we’ll leave on our bike ride around 11 a.m. We’ll ride 3 miles to Alviso Marina County Park, where we’ll hear presentations from construction project staff and check out the high tides. We’ll bike back to Baylands to finish the event by 1 p.m. Hosted by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition in partnership with Valley Water, USACE, and the South Bay Salt Ponds Restoration Project. Info/Sign Up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/king-tide-bike-ride-2023-tickets-429736121307

Provide Input on Creation of SJ Climate Commission — Jan. 24 & 26,  6-7 p.m.
Join us for a discussion on the future of San José’s Climate Commission. In June 2022, City Council provided direction for City staff to explore the formation of a citywide Climate Commission that could be merged with the City’s existing Clean Energy Community Advisory Commission. We are conducting community outreach to introduce this concept, review Council direction, and gather community feedback on the Commission’s purpose, composition, and logistics.  If you would like to learn more and provide input on this topic, please join us for one of the following webinars: 

• 1/24 @ 6-7 p.m.  (register here) 
• 1/26 @ 6-7 p.m.  (register here)

The webinar presentation will be posted on Jan. 27. Comments can also be provided via email until Jan. 27 at climatesmart@sanjoseca.gov. 

Lunar New Year: Lion Dance at West Valley Branch Library — Jan. 29, 3:30-4 p.m.
Let’s gather to celebrate the year of the Rabbit (Chinese Zodiac) and/or the year of the Cat (Vietnamese Zodiac)! Enjoy this cultural performance of Lion Dancers. Free. No registration required. This performance will be outdoors on our front patio. Info: https://sjpl.bibliocommons.com/events/639d2872102f6d043c572e2f

State of the County w/SCC Board Chair Susan Ellenberg — Jan. 31, 5:15-7 p.m. 
As we enter 2023, I look forward to building upon past progress. If you would like to hear more about how I plan to approach our county’s biggest challenges, I invite you to join my State of the County address in the Board Chambers at 70 West Hedding Street. Reserve a spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-the-county-2023-tickets-490583046097

Deadline to Apply for Valley Water’s Water 101 Academy — Feb. 10 at 5 p.m.
The application period for Valley Water’s Water 101 Academy is now open! The Water 101 Academy aims to educate, inspire, and empower community members to become leaders on local water issues and environmental stewards within their neighborhoods. Valley Water is looking for passionate community leaders in Santa Clara County to join the growing network of Valley Water Ambassadors. Apply today and join the 2023 Water 101 Academy! To learn more, visit www.valleywater.org/water101academy, email WaterAmbassdorProgram@valleywater.org or call 408-630-2239. 

Moreland School District: It’s Time to Enroll for Next School Year!
Registration for the 2023-2024 school year began on January 9 for all TK-8th grade students. Our free Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program is available to children who will turn 5 between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024. Throughout January and February, our schools will be offering wonderful tours for incoming families and students. Whether your child will be starting TK/Kindergarten, you just moved into the area, or your child is beginning middle school in the fall, our school principals and assistant principals have scheduled time to showcase the incredible lessons and events happening inside and outside the classroom at their schools! Check each school’s website for their tour dates and times. Info: https://www.moreland.org/apps/pages/Enrollment

Become a Substitute Teacher in Moreland!
Quality substitute teachers are a critical component to a successful school day, and the Moreland School District is always looking for more! Moreland staff teach over 4,000 students every day of the school year. It takes a lot of educators and support staff to support that many learners. Dedicated substitutes play an important role, standing in when needed in our schools. We sometimes rely on 30 or more substitutes a day! Flexible shifts and locations. Info:  https://www.moreland.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=427285&type=d&pREC_ID=1021584

Be an Informed & Engaged Resident in 2023
Get to know City of Campbell and City of San Jose websites. Sign up for SJ City & Department News and communications from elected representatives:

• SJ Councilmember Rosemary Kamei — https://www.sjdistrict1.com
• SJ Mayor Matt Mahan —  https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/mayor-and-city-council/mayor-s-office
• SCC Board Chair Susan Ellenberg — https://district4.sccgov.org/newsletter
• Assemblymember Marc Berman — https://a23.asmdc.org
• Senator Dave Cortese — https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/newsletters
• Congresswoman Anna Eshoo — https://eshoo.house.gov/contact/newsletter-subscribe

Help Street Sweepers Keep our Streets and Waterways Clean!
The SJ Dept. of Transportation plays a key role in keeping our streets and local waterways clean. Before storm water is discharged into local creeks and rivers, we work to remove litter and fine particles that can pollute the water. Street sweeping is an important tool in our effort to collect dust and other particulates, but we need access to the curb to do our job. Help us make a clean sweep by moving your vehicle. Residential streets are swept once a month between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day after garbage collection. To remember your sweep day:

• Visit sjenvironment.org/lookup to find info on street sweeping, waste collection, and water providers.
• Mark sweep days on your family calendar or set a recurring reminder in your electronic calendar.

Report Abandoned Shopping Carts via San Jose 311
Abandoned shopping carts are a growing problem in our neighborhood and they constitute illegal dumping. Please help to report shopping carts, graffiti, potholes, streetlight outages and other issues via San José’s 311 website or smart phone app.

Tour the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center
If you missed the special tour organized by MWNA last fall, know that the public can once again sign up for in-person tours of SVAWPC. Discover how Valley Water uses cutting-edge technologies to ensure our future water supply in Santa Clara County. See how we are creating a reliable, sustainable, and long-lasting local water source that helps our community and the environment. Tour participants will discover how reusing highly treated wastewater can be further treated and utilized for drinking.  Advanced technologies like microfiltration, reverse osmosis, UV light disinfection, and advanced oxidation are used to create advanced purified recycled water that meets and exceeds federal and state drinking water standards. Visit Purewater4u.org to sign up for a tour. 

Resources for the Unhoused in Santa Clara County
Help people find a warming center this winter or get on a waitlist for housing. Call the “Here4You” hotline — 408-385-2400 — at the Bill Wilson Center. You can also donate warm clothing, blankets and other in-demand items to local outreach agencies such as LifeMoves and HomeFirst. 

Free, Healthy Food in our Area
Available at the following locations and times. Various rules apply. 

• West Valley Presbyterian Church — 2nd Wed of the Month, 9:30-11 a.m.
• Union Church of Cupertino — 1st & 3rd Thurs of the Month, 9-10 a.m.
• West Valley Community Services — Every Weekday, 9:30-11:15 a.m.
• St. Lucy Parish — Every Fri, 10 a.m. -12 Noon
• Campbell United Methodist Church — 3rd Tues of the Month, 2-4 p.m.

“Light at Night – A Glowing Hazard” Symposium
The use of LED technology and energy saving lighting fixtures are bringing with them an unintended, yet pervasive and harmful effect: the over-lighting of our nights. The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter recently hosted a symposium to examine the biological and physical effects of lighting up the night and to offer strategies that guard our health and environment while providing safe and practical lighting solutions. View the recording HERE.  

Silicon Valley Reads 2023: Journey to New Beginnings
For the last two decades, Silicon Valley Reads has brought people together with books and events centered on a focused theme that resonated with the community. This countywide reading engagement program will mark 20 years in 2023, with special programs at schools, libraries and local organizations. This year, Silicon Valley Reads will set off on a “Journey to New Beginnings.” Info: https://libraryaware.com/2NFW3C?SID=3537958c-d7c4-4f87-bfe1-5c80518f1429 

Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines, Including Boosters
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone ages six months and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least two months after their final primary series dose (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html). People who have more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster. Testing & vaccine info: https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing.

Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
Every U.S. household is eligible to order another round of free at-home COVID-19 test kits from the federal government (https://www.covid.gov/tests). An order includes four boxes (eights test kits). If you need help placing an order, call 800-232-0233.