FOBA News • Spring 2016 www.fobaneighbors.org Page �1

AVENUES Newsletter of the North Fair Oaks Beautification Association • an all-volunteer, non-profit organization

FOBA Meetings:2nd Monday of the month 6:30-8:00pm,Riekes Center, 3455 Edison WayAll are welcome to attend.Contact us:
FOBA 
PO Box 4001
Menlo Park CA 94026-4001 Website:www.fobaneighbors.orgemail: info@fobaneighbors.org Facebook:www.facebook.com/foba.neighborsFOBA Officers & BoardArt McClish, President 321-6336Sandra Stafford Cecil, Secretary Brian Crowley, Treasurer

treasurer@fobaneighbors.orgLaura CaplanKyle BarrigerJon Mosby, Newsletter Editor

Playground Coordinator: Shannon Ciortea

FOBA purpose: To bring people together and enhance our neighborhood.

In this issue:• FOBA and You• Words from Warren Slocum• New Project News• FOBA Financials• Playground Event• Keeping Neighborhood Clean• Playground Fundraising Event

FOBA and YOU!FOBA Goals for 2016

At the January FOBA board meeting, the following goals were set for 2016:

1. Create a sustainable financial model: This is a continuation of our financial goal from 2015. The expenses to maintain our existing facilities still exceed our income even with generous support from our neighbors. The county announced a policy in late 2015 to support mini-parks in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. FOBA will submit a proposal to the county this spring to request funding to support our existing parks – the playground and the pocket park.

2. Triangle Space Project: FOBA’s next project is to revitalize the small triangle space across the street from the existing playground. (See article in this issue.) Specifically, we want to secure approval from the SFPUC to use the land, determine funding sources, complete the design and begin implementation.

3. Web Site Transition: In 2015, we discovered that we can no longer maintain our website on the existing platform. We need to transition the web site to a new platform so that it can be kept current. If you can help us with this project, please contact treasurer@fobaneighbors.org.

4. Produce semi-annual newsletter: The newsletter provides the neighborhood with updates on FOBA and FOBA projects. It is also the primary source for our semi-annual financial appeals.

If you would like to assist with the implementation of any of these FOBA goals, please let us know.

http://www.fobaneighbors.orgmailto:treasurer@fobaneighbors.orghttp://www.facebook.com/foba.neighborsmailto:treasurer@fobaneighbors.orgmailto:treasurer@fobaneighbors.orghttp://www.facebook.com/foba.neighborsmailto:treasurer@fobaneighbors.org




FOBA News • Spring 2016 www.fobaneighbors.org Page �2

A Few Words fromWarren Slocum…

Next FOBA ProjectFOBA's newest neighborhood

improvement project is the small irregularly shaped lot bordered by Ninth,Edison, and Fair Oaks Avenues.This "Triangle Space “, formerly known as the Open Space, was the first FOBA park project. It is located across from the FOBA playground was used as a staging area during the Hetch Hetchy pipeline upgrade four years ago.The current overgrown vegetation make sight lines difficult for drivers entering and exiting the neighborhood. FOBA is in the process of applying to the SFPUC, who owns the lot, for permission to restore the landscape and create a small plaza. Landscape contractor and FOBA neighbor Janet Bell, has once again donated her time and expertise to design and implement a safe and welcoming entrance to our neighborhood. Janet will present her design at the March FOBA meeting. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting improvement!

Triangle Park looking WestPhot

o by

Kyl

e Ba

rrige

r

Community Dreams for Flood Park!

One of the things I’m most looking forward to is the redesign of Flood Park! This gem of San Mateo County, originally part of the Flood estate, was built in the 1930s and has been a particular favorite for generations of families from Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks and East Palo Alto.

The preferred plan includes some great features including: a promenade, fields for soccer, baseball, and lacrosse, courts for tennis, basketball, and bocce ball, a sand volleyball area, demonstration gardens, trails, cool play areas and updated picnic and community gathering areas. It will be beautiful!

Special thanks to those of you who took time out of your busy schedules to participate in the “reimagining” sessions. The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Commission will consider the preferred plan at their April 7th meeting at 4 pm in the Board of Supervisors Chambers. Come hear the presentation, chime in, and follow the progress of this County treasure.

To see the preferred plan options, colorful sketches and photos, go to: https://www.parks.smcgov.org/reimagine-flood-park

Photo

Phot

o by

Jon

Mos

by

https://www.parks.smcgov.org/reimagine-flood-parkhttps://www.parks.smcgov.org/reimagine-flood-parkhttp://www.fobaneighbors.org




FOBA News • Spring 2016 www.fobaneighbors.org Page �3

Saturday March 20th @ 1:30 PMFOBA invites you to our annual Spring

Easter Event & Fundraiser!This event is all about our NFO

community; there will be something for EVERYONE!

In addition to our traditional egg hunt, bouncy house, face painting, crafting and visit from the bunny there will be the first annual NFO Baking Contest with local celebrity judges!

Many vendors will be present along with Santa Maria Style Tri Tip Sandwiches! Free Throw and Three Point Competition! This event is free with plenty of fun activities for all ages!  Some event activities will help raise funds for FOBA.

If you would like to volunteer for this event, we can use your help. Please e-mail shannonmarieciortea@gmail.com or atyeaw@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support!

Playground Event!It’s your community…

We appealed to all of you for your on-going financial support in our last newsletter and many of you increased your donations or became new donors. Thank you to everyone who supported FOBA! Our contributions in 2015 increased to $8,575 from $4,891 in 2014.We need your continued financial support…

The table summarizes our income and expenses for 2014 and 2015. As you can see, even with the increased support we still have an annual shortfall. We would like to work on the triangle space but we need to be sure that we have the funding to maintain our existing facilities first. Your continued gifts are essential to supporting these parks.As noted in our goals, we will be submitting a proposal to the county this spring under the mini-parks policy to try and secure additional funding to maintain our existing parks. Your support in 2015 will send a strong message to the county that these parks are valued by the community. Please continue your generous support of FOBA in 2016 as we further enhance our community!

FOBA's Financials

Photos from previous Easter event

2014 2015

Contributions 4,891 8575

Other Income 276 1600

Total Income 5,167 10,175

Facilities 7,613 9,500

Newsletter & Administration

3,165 3,500

Other Expenses 282 250

Total Expenses 11,060 13,250

Shortfall 5,893 2,795

http://www.fobaneighbors.orgmailto:shannonmarieciortea@gmail.commailto:atyeaw@gmail.commailto:shannonmarieciortea@gmail.commailto:atyeaw@gmail.com

FOBA News • Spring 2016 www.fobaneighbors.org Page �4

San Mateo County has launched a new mobile app that allows all of us to report illegal dumping and get a quick response. "Report It! SMC" has initially been rolled out for North Fair Oaks, and later will expand to other areas of unincorporated SM County as well as to other issues. Help keep our streets, sidewalks and parks clean. Use your phone to take photos of problem areas and submit them. The process has been streamlined. Reports go directly to the County departments that can address them. For more information or to download the app, go to www.nfoforward.org/about-our-community/report-it-smc.

Clean is Good

Here is your AVENUES Newsletter!or current resident

Fair Oaks Beautification Association NONPROFIT ORG.(FOBA) US POSTAGE PAIDPO Box 4001 PERMIT NO. 591Menlo Park CA 94026-4001 MENLO PARK CA

Playground Event!Mobile App to Report Illegal

http://www.fobaneighbors.org