What the heck are they?:
”
I am a fairly recent newcomer to Gilroy and would like to get on
first name basis with my surroundings.
What the heck are they?: “I am a fairly recent newcomer to Gilroy and would like to get on first name basis with my surroundings. I live a bit southwest of town and enjoy the gorgeous view of lush mountains on the west from my front door and a cheery sunrise view from my back. I would love to know the names of the western and eastern mountain ranges that so beautifully frame my views. Thank you.”
Welcome to Gilroy!
The Red Phone went to the official Santa Clara County Web site, www.scc.gov, for the answer.
The major topographical features in the area are the Diablo Range to the east, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Baylands in the northwest.
The Diablo Range covers the entire eastern half of the county. It consists mainly of grasslands, chaparral and oak savannah. The Santa Cruz Mountains contain rolling grasslands and oak-studded foothills, along with mixed hardwoods and dense evergreen forests. Higher elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains are home to redwood forests, steep slopes and active earthquake faults. Areas of geologic instability are prevalent in both mountain ranges.
The Baylands in the northwestern corner of the county, adjacent to the southern San Francisco Bay waters consist mostly of vast salt evaporation ponds and remnant areas of salt marsh and wetlands.
Stopped up drain: “Hi, this is regarding the flooding that occurs on Fifth Street between Princevalle and Miller. Every time it rains, there’s only one drain and I want to know if there’s anything that can be done about it because the drain gets backed up and my husband has to, believe it or not, go out in the street and rake up the leaves and whatnot so that the flow of the water will be increased. He has to park up on the sidewalk because we can’t walk from the street to our house.”
The Red Phone contacted Teresa Hernandez with the City of Gilroy’s Operations Department on your behalf to find out what could be done to alleviate your drainage problem. The Red Phone left your name and number with her and she passed the message of the problems you’re having along to Streets and Sewers personnel so that they can check on the drain and/or contact you.
The Streets/Sewer/Trees section personnel are responsible for maintaining and repairing the city’s streets, curbs and gutters, bikeways, public parking lots and parking lots at city facilities. They maintain striping and markings on streets, curbs and install, maintain and repair street signs. They clean and maintain the storm drains throughout the city and provide the city with 24-hour emergency tree response, neighborhood tree clearance pruning, removal and replacement of dead and unsound trees, planting trees in new subdivisions, as well as processing permits for citizens who want to plant, prune or remove a city tree.
Requests for services can be made by calling 846-0444. The support staff will take information and will generate a work request for the crews. Staff will inspect the situation and report to you what, if any, work is required.
Memorable messages: “I’m just calling to say that we drive by the car wash on Monterey and there’s always an inspirational sign out there. Every morning when we drive by. I think it’s changed weekly. We just enjoy it so much! I don’t know where the man gets these quotes and sayings, but I just want to say thank you. My husband and I just wanted to tell him thank you and that we really enjoy those sayings he puts out there. Sometimes he’ll put them out in Spanish on one side and English on the other side. It’s just very, very nice. It’s the car wash across from St. Mary’s Church on Monterey. Thanks so much.”
The Red Phone passes that sign on occasion as well, so it knows exactly what you’re talking about. Let’s hope others enjoy it as much as you and that the owner of the sign sees this and realizes his work is appreciated.
