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OMVNA Newsletter April, 1998 Sustainable Living: Ending Junk Mail as We Know It News on the Park at Mercy-Bush Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Honoring Our Newsletter Delivery People Neighborhood Preservation Survey The Old Mountain View Neighborhood is bordered by El Camino Real, Shoreline Boulevard, Evelyn Avenue, and Highway 85. The Old Mountain View Neighborhood Association consists of residents interested in preserving the quality of life in our neighborhood. Together we can make a difference—join us!
When & Where:
Sustainable Living: Ending Junk Mail as We Know It Sally Lieber If you're the earth-conscious type, you may be looking forward to the mixed paper recycling program, scheduled to start in September. This program offers a convenient way to get rid of unwanted junk mail. But even before the first truckload of mixed paper rumbles down your street, you can, relatively easily, cut the flow of unwanted mail that you get. The first step is recognition that there is a problem. Our trickle of junk mail turned into a torrent when we adopted a baby wolf through the mail, and began receiving regular updates on his health and activities, and solicitations from many of his animal (and human) friends. When the mailman asked us to stop stuffing the mail back into the box, we realized we had to get organized about attacking the problem. The first thing we did was write to the Mail Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) at P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9099. We gave them the correct spellings of our names, and all the really strange, misspelled versions, and asked them to delete our names from their members' lists. Since the DMA can only stop new solicitations, we used the reply envelopes to send our regrets to the charities and businesses we weren't interested in. We also cut back on unwanted telephone calls by writing to the same address (but to P.O. Box 9014). To shut off incoming credit card offers, we could have called Experian (formerly TRW) at (800) 353-0809. It took several months to see results, but we now have the satisfaction of a reasonably sane mailbox, and of knowing that we've cut back on the unnecessary junk mail that is a significant component of municipal solid waste. By also cutting our waste output and buying products with post-consumer content, we've narrowed the recycling gap. And yes—the wolf still writes now and then. News on the Park at Mercy-Bush City Council will discuss the 1997-1998 Open Space Plan on Tuesday, April 28, 7:30 pm, at Council Chambers (copies for review at the library). The Plan, which is reviewed every two years, lists open space needs and priorities for Mountain View, and ranks them in four tiers, Tier One being the most important. Development of a minipark at Mercy-Bush is on Tier Two of the Plan that the Parks & Recreation Commission has sent to Council this year. Developing this neighborhood park has long been a priority for our neighborhood association. Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Ronit Bryant The speed humps and traffic circles that have blossomed on View Street are the result of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) instituted by the City. To quote the City's booklet on the subject, "The primary purpose of the NTMP is to address neighborhood concerns and to reduce the speed and volume of traffic on local residential streets in local residential neighborhoods." The Program has 13 steps, of which the first four are detailed here: The other measures entail an education and enforcement program; identification of possible solutions; a citizens committee; a mail poll of residents and property owners; and public meetings. Interested? The first step is to talk to your neighbors and to call Public Works at 903-6311. Honoring Our Newsletter Delivery People Julie Lovins, OMVNA Newsletter Delivery Coordinator Please join me in honoring your neighbors who have been delivering your OMVNA Newsletter of late: Amy Anderson, Jean Anderson, Olivia Bartlett, Pat Bennett, Kathy & Brad Bettman, Ronit Bryant, Linda Cantwell-Lum, June Casey, Josef Cayot, Greg Davis, Kim & Jeff Farmer, Anita & Aaron Grossman, Tim Johnson, Twana & Bruce Karney, Shirley Kelley, Kim & Maarten Korringa, Andrew Lee, Ann & Steve Lewis, Sally Lieber, Gretchen & Don McPhail, Pat Mercedes & Tom Buckman, Susan & Lenny Migliore, Jerry Oliver, Jennifer & Russ Parman, Karl Pingle, Loren Pollert, Carol & Allen Price, Jan Proceviat, Carol Pursifull, Eric Schweitzer, Chris Whitaker, and Lauren Zuravleff. Among those who have recently been "regulars" or subs, we must also thank Dorothy Ashlock, Carol Bolster, Gloria Hernandez-Alvarado & Ed Flowers, Hal Holtz, Janice & Bill Ingle, Eric Johansson, Adam Kirby, Linda Jo Logan, Maura Maloney, Cris Mortenson, the Rosses, Liz Seki, Michael Silver, Janice Soderberg, June Struble, Dana Tamura, Audrey Thomas, Diana Whitecar, Eric Windes, and Robert Zukas. Many thanks to all! We can't do it without you! Neighborhood Preservation Survey We have recently carried information about the Old Mountain View Neighborhood Preservation Plan and neighborhood design guidelines. Now we'd like to hear your opinion. Clip and return to Anita Grossman, 234 W. Dana St. Your residence: __single family __duplex __multi-unit
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The opinions printed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the OMVNA Steering Committee. |