A Newsletter Published by the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail Summer 2006

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12th Trailblazer Race Set for September 24thAttention all walkers, runners and vol-unteers: put the 12th Annual Trailblazer Race and Trail Walk on your calendar for Sunday, September 24. This is a fun family event for people of all ages and experience levels, from serious athletes and recreational runners to first-timers. If you want to have some great outdoor fun in a glorious early-autumn atmosphere, Stevens Creek Trail is the place to be.

This year’s program will again feature certified 10K (6.2-mile) and 5K (3.1-mile) runs, a 5K trail walk and a host of fun races for children, plus free food, water and entertainment. Proceeds support the ongoing efforts of the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail to bring a paved, multi-use trail to the cities of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Los Altos and Cupertino, and to help maintain and beautify the creek and trail corridor.

“This event is by far our most significant and visible fundraiser each year,” says Aaron Gross-man, race organizer and executive director of the Friends organization. “But what really makes it special is the full range of fun, healthful, family-oriented activities it offers to all who attend. These activities showcase the trail and its scenic natural surroundings. We encourage everyone to spread the word—bring family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to take advantage of this spectacular event. And we thank them wholeheartedly for their support!”

All events start and finish at the Mountain View campus of Microsoft Corporation, the host and presenting sponsor, on La Avenida Avenue off Shoreline Boulevard by Highway 101. The 10K and 5K races are certified by the USA Track and Field Association and officially timed. The courses are flat and scenic, with major portions running alongside Stevens Creek and tidal wetlands that support many species of migratory birds and na-tive flora. The 10K course includes a loop around most of Shoreline Park while the 5K just enters the park periphery before turning back.

The 5K (3.1-mile) Walk also begins on the Microsoft campus, heading south along a particu-larly scenic stretch of the trail featuring colorful vegetation, heavily wooded areas and up-close looks at the creek. The free children’s events take

place afterwards (starting at approx. 9:30-9:45 a.m.) on the grass lawns and sidewalk paths of the Microsoft campus.

On-line and mail-in registration is avail-able now at www.stevenscreektrail.org. For lower rates, advance registration must be postmarked by September 9. The new race logo of two quail on the trail by local artist Bill Murray will adorn the natural-color T-shirts provided free to all pre-registered racers, walkers and volunteers (excludes registrants for free children’s events). Free shirts will be provided to day-of-event registrants as long as supplies last. Additionally, all registered participants will be eligible for the traditional post-race drawing of valuable prizes donated

by race sponsors.“Volunteers are always needed to help set up

the event, direct runners and take down every-thing afterwards,” says Grossman. “Those who sign up in advance will receive a free race T-shirt. Businesses, organizations and individuals who want to support this popular, community-ori-ented event please contact us about sponsorships or prize donations. Just call 408-255-5780 or email exec-dir@stevenscreektrail.org.”

Registration Advance At EventAdult 5K or 10K Race $25 $30Adult 5K Trail Walk $15 $20Youth* Race or Walk $10 $15

*Youth rates for ages 19 and underZ

Proceeds Support Trail Extension, Upkeep

Trail Progress Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Cupertino

Building a multi-use trail from the Bay to the foothills, and providing numerous access points along the way, will require the support and direct involvement of all four cities noted above. Here’s a progress report on construction and planning activities in each of these cities.

Mountain ViewThe City Council and city staff continue their remarkable progress in taking the trail upstream. Two significant projects are underway: 1) the tun-nel under El Camino Real near Grant Road, and 2) the Moffett Blvd. overpass near Highway 85.

The tunnel design is nearing completion and is likely go out to bid this fall with a project dura-tion of about a year. Look for a ribbon-cutting announcement in late 2007. When completed, the tunnel will extend the trail to the south side of El Camino Real for the first time, providing new access to the existing four-mile segment.

The Moffett overpass is on a bit longer horizon with design completion expected in early ’07, start of construction in summer ’07 and likewise a project duration of about a year. The overpass will eliminate the trail’s only surface-street crossing.

Both projects are fully funded.More great news! The city was recently award-

ed a state grant of $874,000 for trail construction. This is part of the statewide park bond passed by California voters in 2000. The funds will be used to assist with construction of Reach 4 Segment Two, stretching from El Camino to Sleeper Ave.

As progress continues, area businesses are rec-ognizing the trail’s significance as an eco-friendly commuter route. Example: Google has launched a “Self-Powered Commuter Benefits Program” to encourage employee use of the trail. More than 300 Googlers—bikers, rollerbladers, runners and walkers—participated this spring.

Los AltosA giant step was taken this spring when the Los Altos City Council approved a feasibility study (partly funded by the Friends) to look at the possibilities for bringing the trail through Los Altos. The study is scheduled to begin this summer. Many thanks to the Los Altos Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) for doing the legwork to make this happen!

SunnyvaleOur volunteers report a good, positive reaction among a growing number of Sunnyvale resi-dents to the proposal for a trail link, possibly at Remington Ave., tying in with Mountain View’s future Reach 4. This reaction arises, in part, from hundreds of visitors to our booth at the Sunnyvale Art and Wine Festival the last two years. The Sunnyvale BPAC and several private citizens have been leading the way on this front. Well done!

CupertinoThe Friends extends serious KUDOS to the City Council and city staff in Cupertino, where a one-mile-plus portion of the trail will be built between Stevens Creek Blvd. and McClellan Road. This project will feature a multi-use trail and lots of amenities in the Blackberry Farm/McClellan Ranch area. Watch for a groundbreaking an-nouncement in April 2007.

These are exciting times! Z

Volunteers Turn Out in Force for Annual Creek/Trail CleanupRemember the record rains of March? We do!

The spring of 2006 was the wettest in many years, sending so much water down the swollen Stevens Creek that the annual cleanup in April had to be postponed until the rushing waters subsided.

But the weather delay didn’t dampen the spirits of some 60 or more volunteers who turned out for the rescheduled event on May 20. It just gave them a greater sense of purpose!

On the May date, which coincided with National River Cleanup Day, the weather fully cooperated and everyone had a chance to enjoy the beautiful riparian corridor while scouring the creek and banks for refuse and debris. Volunteers were greeted at sign-in with a variety of breakfast items and a supply of bottled water. Working with about 10 members of the Mountain View city staff, which directs and oversees the cleanup each year, our vol-unteers then broke up into several teams, heading north or south along the trail from our base at Whisman Park.

Everyone contributed. The more ambitious volunteers, in protective clothing, challenged the blackberry bushes, poison oak and steeper banks of the creek while others worked more easily accessed areas along the creek and the trail itself. Still others helped paint sign posts and benches along the trail. For the refuse collectors, those ubiquitous Styrofoam packing “peanuts” seemed to be the most common but elusive type of debris. (When will they be outlawed?) Over 50 golf balls were found, as was a shopping cart, which

was pulled from a deep pool with a system of ropes and levers and lots of determination. And enough bottles and cans were recovered that their California Redemption Value (CRV) prob-ably would have been enough to pay for lunch.

Fortunately, lunch was on the house. Once again this year, Milan Pizza of Mountain View came through with a selection of hot, mouth-watering, extra-large pizzas—something else our volunteers “cleaned up” in a flash. Many thanks, Milan Pizza!

We are very proud of the cleanup tradition that’s now a much-anticipated event along the trail and creek each spring. Our hats are off to Hilary Hole-man, Jack Smith and the rest of the city staff for the outstanding job of organi-zation and preparation for our volunteers. We also want to acknowledge the employee teams from Synopsys and Google for their spirited involvement, as well as our food and beverage donors and the many individuals who helped make this event such a success. Thanks!

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Friends Welcomes Two New Board Members, Executive Director

The Friends of Stevens Creek Trail is pleased to announce three new additions to the Friends orga-nization—board members Bill Symons and Tom Frankum and Executive Director Tom Cronin.

Bill Symons was unanimously voted onto the board in January 2006. A native of Texas, Bill and his family live near the trail in Mountain View and use it regularly. Bill originally learned of the trail two years ago. At that time, Bill lived in Red-wood City and was looking for a bike commute route to his job on El Camino Real (in Mountain View!) near the trail. He discovered he could bike through Palo Alto Baylands, Shoreline Park and up Stevens Creek Trail to his job. Since then, he has adopted a section of Stevens Creek through a Santa Clara Valley Water District program. He has also organized a creek cleanup on an upstream section and volunteered at our Trailblazer Race and Creek Cleanup events. Bill looks forward to the completion of the El Camino undercrossing, which will make his work commute from the south side of El Camino much easier. “The trail and

wildlife corridor are a great legacy for our kids,” says Bill, an adoptive parent. “They provide safe routes to school, healthy commute alternatives to the car and a protected watershed and open space corridor.”

Tom Frankum was unanimously re-elected to the board in February 2006 after a four-year hiatus. A long-time Mountain View resident, Tom previously served as a board member from 1994 to 2002, actively working to win public support for trail construction during the trail’s earliest years. He also served as a member of the city’s Environmental Planning Commission from 1994 until 2001. Tom and his wife Jan, a Friends volun-teer for many years, moved out of the area until 2005. Upon their return, they quickly resumed their active support of the Friends. Tom is a re-tired building contractor and former high-school teacher whose knowledge of city and community issues will serve the board extremely well.

In June 2006, the Friends hired Tom Cronin as its new executive director, replacing Aaron

Grossman, who is leaving the organization in October. (See related article.) Tom comes to the Friends with extensive non-profit experience, as well as a love for open space, the outdoors and running. His resumé includes the positions of program director, technical consultant and executive director at several Bay Area nonprofit organizations. Prior to that, he held a variety of management positions over a 20-year period at Hewlett-Packard Company. Tom’s skill set ideally matches the Friends needs: nonprofit administra-tion, fundraising, volunteer coordination, public meeting facilitation and event management. His ability to communicate the Friends mission clearly and enthusiastically will serve him well in his new position. “I’m extremely excited about working with the Friends to continue the Trail and wildlife protection upstream to the Santa Cruz Moun-tains,” says Tom. Please help us welcome Tom to the Friends. Stop by the office and say hello.

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Few people in the 13-year history of the Friends have contributed nearly as much to the orga-nization’s achievements as Aaron Grossman. Elected to the board in late 1999, he has served as secretary, vice president and president (two terms) at various times. He has also managed the annual Trailblazer Race for the Friends for the last four years. In late 2004, when long-time Executive Director Susie Brain took a medical leave of absence, he volunteered to resign from the board and assume day-to-day management duties for the organization. He has served in that capacity ever since.

Throughout his tenure, Aaron has been a tireless organizer, an effective recruiter, a strong advocate and a persuasive spokesman.

For the last two years, he has also been a full-time student, returning to college to pursue a degree as a radiological technician. In October, he plans to leave his position as executive director to follow his new path in the healthcare field.

All of us on the Friends Board of Directors want to say a big “Thank You!” to one of the very best “friends” an organization could have. We also want to wish him every success in his new career. He will stay with the Friends through the upcoming Trailblazer Race and assist in the transition to incoming Executive Director Tom Cronin. (See related article.)

We hope Aaron’s new career is everything he wants it to be. But we also hope it doesn’t take him too far out of the area, on the chance he might consider returning to the board very soon!

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Thank You, Aaron!

Before you recycle, perhaps you have a friend who would like to read about the

Friends of Stevens Creek Trail. Please pass it on!

Mail your non-refundable check payable to “Friends of Stevens Creek Trail” before September 9 to: Trailblazer Race, Friends of Stevens Creek Trail, 22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. Pick up your race number starting at 7:00 a.m. race morning.

Waiver: In consideration of your accepting this entry, and intending to be legally bound by the agreement, I, for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, do hereby waive and release any and all rights and claims or damagesthat may accrue against the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail, Shoreline Park, the City of Mountain View, and the Microsoft Corporation, their subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, and employees for any and all injuries that may be suffered by me as a result of my participation in the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail Trailblazer Race held on September 24, 2006 or en route to or from the event. I attest and verify that I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained for the completion of the event and a medical person has not advised me otherwise. Further, I hereby grant full permission to any and all of the foregoing to use my name and likeness in any broadcast, telecast, video, web or print media of the event without compensation to me. I understand that the entry fee and numbers, if any, are non-transferable. As part of the waiver, I acknowledge that I have read and understand all of the above.

(NO T-SHIRT)

Start/Finish 1065 La Avenida, Mountain View at Microsoft Campus. Exit Hwy. 101 at Shoreline; follow signs to La Avenida (Bay side of 101). Free parking.

USATF Certified 5K and 10K Race Courses on scenic Stevens Creek Trail & Shoreline Park, mostly asphalt-paved for both serious and casual runners, wheelchair-accessible.

5K Trail Walk (3 miles) on mostly flat, stroller-friendly Stevens Creek Trail, with beautiful views of the Creek and wildlife.

M/F Age Divisions 12 & under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Register Online at www.stevenscreektrail.org

Race Day registration opens 7:00 a.m. Events start 8:30 a.m.

Registration Fee Advance/Race Day Adult 10K and 5K: $25/$30 Adult 5K Trail Walk: $15/$20 Youth (19 & under) 10K and 5K, 5K Walk: $10/$15

Registered Participants & Volunteers Receive Official Trailblazer Race T-shirt, free food and drinks, plus entry in post-race raffle for great prizes!

Free Children’s Races (no T-shirt) start about 9:45 a.m. near the main stage.

To Volunteer or Info: Contact us 408-255-5780 or racers@stevenscreektrail.org

Thanks also to the City of Mountain View, KMVT Channel 15, Mountain View Voice, San Jose Mercury News, Hobees, Trader Joes, California Medical Transport, Heritage Bank.

Official Entry Form — Mail before September 9 or bring with you on race day

Please complete all info and sign waiver.

Unsigned forms cannot be accepted. Thank you!

Sunday—September 24, 20061065 La Avenida, Mountain View

10K and 5K Races

5K Trail Walk

Free Children’s Races

Festival Area

Benefit for the Friends of Stevens Creek TrailPresenting Sponsor

Register Onlinewww.stevenscreektrail.org

Brain, Meyer Honored as Volunteers of the Year

I have been part of the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail Board of Directors for over four years now. Even though I moved to San Francisco and do not get to be on the trail as

often as I would like, I have stayed on the board because of the active and professional people who are dedicated to our trail mission.

Stevens Creek Trail has broad support from residents of Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Los Altos and Mountain View who live and work near the Ste-

vens Creek Trail and appreciate this tremendous community asset. Citizens and employers eagerly anticipate further extensions of the trail. Action in all cities along the trail continues in 2006. (See related article “Trail Progress.”)

The Friends organization advocates an environmentally sensitive and appropriate trail that will serve the needs of our many local trail users and also improve the wildlife corridor with increased trail habitat restoration projects and the development of educational programs along the trail. As more South Peninsula residents and

employers experience the beauty and functional benefits of the existing trail and wildlife corridor, the vision of a scenic, well-maintained, easily ac-cessed trail from the Bay to the foothills becomes increasingly real. Your support in this effort is sincerely appreciated.

Tom Bornheimer,President of the Board, Friends of Stevens Creek Trail

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The Friends of Stevens Creek Trail is pleased to recognize two long-time contributors to the organization as its 2005 and 2006 Volunteers of the Year.

Susie Brain, who served as executive director from 1999 to 2005, was honored as our 2005 awardee in November at Mountain View’s an-nual Celebration of Leaders gala, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. This year, since we’ve already selected our 2006 winner, we’re pleased to announce that Ray Meyer III, a board member from 1999 through spring of 2006, will be our honoree at this year’s recognition dinner. Both are richly deserving.

Susie’s tenure as executive director was marked by exceptional leadership, strong management and infectious enthusiasm. She ushered the orga-nization through an extremely difficult economic downturn that rattled Silicon Valley during her first few years. The Friends not only survived the recession but emerged a stronger organization, thanks to her creativity, professionalism, deter-mination and unflappability.

Susie has always taken a particular interest in Stevens Creek as a wildlife corridor, not just as a great place for a trail. Though our work focus-es primarily on building and maintaining the trail, she continues to remind us of the diverse plant and animal life that thrives in one of the few unspoiled streams remaining in the South Bay.

Susie took a medical leave of absence from the Friends in late 2004 and of-ficially resigned her duties in the spring of 2005. Nonetheless, she continues to support the work of the organization she guided so successfully for many years. Her spirit, energy and love of the great outdoors are evident in all that we do. The Friends simply would not be the same organization with-out her many contributions—and for that, we are extremely proud to recognize our former execu-tive director as 2005 Volunteer of the Year.

Our 2006 Volunteer of the Year is a big man with a big heart. He also has a big truck, which comes in handy on many occasions when real work needs to be done. The first to volunteer, almost without fail, is Ray Meyer III.

Ray served on the Friends board from 1999 through May 2006, including one year each as board secretary and treasurer. Within months of joining the board, he volunteered to “reinvent” and manage the annual Trailblazer Race, our largest annual fundraiser, which was then in its seventh year.

“Our previous race director had left the area.

We needed someone new to step up,” recalls Ross Heitkamp, long-time board member and current treasurer. “Ray just jumped right in and immedi-ately took charge.”

He has managed and coordinated race logistics ever since, securing and hauling supplies, organiz-ing set-up and tear-down teams and personally ensuring that everything is in place on race day. His hands-on style and attention to detail always make everything run smoothly.

“Ray is a businessman who also is very com-munity-oriented,” says Susie Brain. “He likes to give back to the community that supports his family’s business (Meyer Appliance in downtown Mountain View). He sets a great example for lo-cal businesses and is always a lot of fun to work with—calm, reassuring and kind.”

“Stevens Creek Trail is something everyone should relish and enjoy,” says Ray. “It gives us great cross-community connections—really ties our communities together. I’m very proud that I had the opportunity to work with the Friends to help make the trail possible.”

And so are we. Unfortunately, Ray’s growing family responsibilities forced him to leave the board in the spring of 2006. But he promises to be with us again on race day 2006—with his truck—to manage race logistics at least one more year. For that, and for the many years of friend-ship and hard work, we are very pleased to name Ray Meyer III our 2006 Volunteer of the Year.

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Board President Message

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID CUPERTINO, CA PERMIT NO. 466

Friends of Stevens Creek Trail22221 McClellan RoadCupertino, CA 95014

Trailblazer Race 2006 Sunday, September 24th

Mark your calendar for a day of fun for the entire family!

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

408-255-5780

Online Registration: www.stevenscreektrail.org

Board of DirectorsTom BornheimerPresidentRoy VerleyVice PresidentKathy BettmanSecretaryRoss HeitkampTreasurerDirectorsJohn BrazilTom FrankumBill SymonsArt TakaharaLinda WegnerExecutive DirectorsAaron Grossman (thru September 2006)Tom Cronin

The Trailblazer is a publication sponsored by the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail. The Friends of Stevens Creek Trail is a nonprofit 501 (C) (3) organization. All contributions are tax-deduct-ible to the extent allowed by law. The Friends organization promotes community pride and citizen involvement in the completion, enhance-ment, and enjoyment of the Stevens Creek Trail and Wildlife Corridor.

Thank You Thank You Thank You

Newsletter Design & Production Chris Mendible, Page Creations

408-249-7275mendible@pacbell.net

Articles and PhotosTom Bornheimer, John Brazil, Tom Frankum, Aaron Grossman, Ross Heitkamp, Roy Verley

Jean Albro • Larry Ames • Corin Anderson • Eric Anderson • Joane & Ross Anderson • Rodney Angove • Tori Atwell • Sherry & Peter BarbaKathy Bettman • William & Kathy Bishop • Peter Blasberg • Tom Bornheimer • Peter Botsford • Susie & Sam Brain • John M. Brazil • Don Burnett • Andres Buser • Nancy Clayton • Alice & Jim Cochran • Kathleen Creger • Donna Davies • Dick de Losa • Karen DeMello • Edward Dodge • Martin Donald • Wallace Erichsen • Patricia Figueroa • Tom & Jan Frankum • Stephen Garrity • Mark Gerrior • Heidi Gerster Hazel A. Gibson • Kelly Gibson • Peggy & Jerry Gin • Teresa Golden • Steve & Judy Gorin • David Greenstein • Waldo Griffin • Ronnie Haderle • Scott Harger • Ross Heitkamp • Heritage Bank • Konrad Herman • Don Hildenbrand • Rob Hurlston • Jean & Glenn Ireland Michael Johnson • Anne Johnston • Robert Karchevski • Beth & Peter Karpas • Susan & Jack Kay • William & Kathy Kilday • Robert Kirby Anthony & Judith Kramer • Dean Kudlick • Chris & Tracy Kuszmaul • Remo Lanfranchi • Neil Laughlin • Mark Lentczner • Margaret Limberatos Karen Linser • Edgar Lo • Kathleen Long • Julie B. Lovins • Leanne Luna • Joan & Wallace MacDonald • Darren Magda • Alice Martineau James Mauch • Nancy McKown • Hugh McLaughlin • Robert Mead • Dan & Micki Miller • Julie & Chuck Muir • Edward Munyak Tom Myers • Anne & Sam Ng • Leslie & Anita Nichols • Carol & Steve Olson • Kristen Olson • Henry Pastorelli • Doug & Shirley Pearson John & Barb Puccinelli • Diane Reedman • Philip Roemer • Michael Rogers • Dr. Anna Rosche • Lawrence Rosenberg • Alan Ross • Janette & Thomas Rudkin • Owen Saxton • Rhonda Scherber Farrar • Aaron Schuman • John Seyfarth • Bill Sheppard • Annie Sievert • Katrina Smathers Meghan Stanley • Marla Stein • Angie Steiner • Jane Stokes • Madeleine Stovel • Art Takahara • John & Andrea Thomas • Richard Thomas Richard Turner • Pieter VanDerStarre • The Verley Family• Robert Ward • Linda Wegner • Michael & Eleanor Willemsen • Dawn Woo Keith Wood • Patricia Wood • Dale Yamamoto