Mission Palo Alto

Driveway asphalt work and seal coating: Mondays in August

2008-08-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Driveway seal coating is scheduled for Monday, August 11 and Monday, August 25. Also, preparation work (jackhammering existing asphalt) began today, Friday, August 8.

You must plan to move your car on the seal coating days.

The seal coating of driveways near the garages and carports of units 101-124 and 143-151 will take place on Monday, August 11. The remainder will be seal coated two weeks later on Monday, August 25. On the date of seal coating in your area, you will not be able to park in the affected areas or move your car in or out of your carport. Cars parked in the work areas will be towed.

The fire gate near units 130-131 will be opened on Monday, August 11 for your access in and out. Canty Security will patrol the area from 2:00 to 10:00 pm. The gate will be closed at 10:00 pm and residents entering after that will have to use the main entrance and turn right immediately to minimize driving over the new seal coating.

Be prepared to show Canty Security your driver license or some other ID showing you live at Mission Palo Alto to enter the fire gate.

Please contact Dominic Ferrari or any member of your Board of Directors with any problems or concerns.

August 2008 HOA Board Meeting

2008-07-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

The August 2008 Homeowners Association Board of Directors meeting will take place tonight, July 30, at 7:00 pm at 112 Mission Drive. As always, homeowners and residents are encouraged to attend.

Summer Block Party tomorrow!

2008-07-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

It looks like we're getting a break from the heat for the 4th Annual Mission Palo Alto Summer Block Party -- the high is supposed to be 81°F. Don't forget, the party is tomorrow, Saturday July 12th starting around 3:00 pm in the cul-de-sac in front of units 112-115. Do note that this area will be a "no parking" zone for the afternoon and evening.

If you can help out with a grill or picnic table, please contact Andrew or Jennifer Rich at unit 116. Non-alcoholic beverages (sodas and water), plates & bowls, napkins and utensils will be provided.

Plan on bringing something to sear and something to share -- your favorite appetizer, side dish, salad or dessert! We've had some great contributions from residents in the past and we want to keep that up this year.

Once again I will be DJing the party with great music, and we'll show a movie on the big outdoor screen at dusk.

Hope to see you there!

4th Annual MPA Summer Block Party: July 12, 2008

2008-06-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Save the date! The 4th Annual Mission Palo Alto Summer Block Party will be Saturday, July 12, 2008. We'll have more information as the date approaches, but you can count on good food, good music and good times, plus the return of movies under the stars.

Easy email link and announcement list

2008-06-06T11:47:00.001-07:00

Two quick updates to the Web site:

I've added a mailbox icon to the upper-right corner of every page on the site. Clicking that icon will take you to the mail form, from which you can easily send email to the Board, individual Board members, Property Management or committee chairs.
There was a request at the Board meeting Wednesday night for an announcement email list which would be notified when the Web site is updated. I'm working on that and it is a bit more challenging than initially thought, but modern Web browsers can automatically receive updates to the Web site as soon as they are published by subscribing to our news feed.

June 2008 Homeowner's Association Meeting

2008-06-04T16:57:00.000-07:00

The June 2008 Board Meeting will be tonight, June 4, at 7:00 PM at unit # 116. Homeowners and residents are encouraged to attend.

Just a friendly reminder, unit 116 is also home to feline residents; if you have allergy issues, please take appropriate precautions.

Summer 2008 Security Bulletin

2008-05-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

To: All Mission Palo Alto Homeowners and Residents
From: Board of Directors

Several security issues in the complex have been noted and reported recently. Among these are:

Young people who are not residents climbing over the emergency gate from West Bayshore.

The same young people using the pool and hot tub, and acting belligerently or threateningly when told by residents to leave the property.

Unit 117 broken into through rear balcony—accessed through Newell Rd apartments.

Empty alcoholic beverage cans and bottles and drug paraphernalia found in planter areas.

At least one car break-in.

If you encounter anything that looks wrong or feels unsafe, do not hesitate to call the East Palo Alto Police dispatch desk at 650-853-3171. If you are threatened, if you spot a crime in progress or other emergency, call 911 immediately.

We can only be safe and secure if everyone in the community helps out.

2008 Homeowners Association meeting

2008-03-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

The 2008 annual HOA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 PM, at the pool--please bring a chair. At the annual meeting, we will elect (or re-elect) the Board of Directors and discuss homeowner issues.

Free Web services from MissionPaloAlto.org

2008-03-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

As a homeowner or resident of Mission Palo Alto, you are eligible to receive these free Web services from MissionPaloAlto.org:

Free @missionpaloalto.org email address -- keep a single email address even if you switch from dial-up Internet to cable or DSL, or change Internet Service Providers.

Your own Web page -- personal Web page, blog, photo album, whatever you want at www.missionpaloalto.org/yourname

Public calendar -- have your public event placed on the Mission Palo Alto public calendar so your friends and neighbors can see it.

Email the Webmaster to take advantage of any of these free services!

March 2008 Board Meeting tonight, March 3

2008-03-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

The March 2008 Board Meeting will be tonight, March 3, at 7:00 PM at unit # 116. Homeowners and residents are encouraged to attend, keeping in mind the restrictions embodied in California Civil Code 1363.05 as revised this year (basically, anything you want to talk about with the exception of "Homeowner's Forum" needs to be on the agenda, and the agenda is determined no less than four days in advance of the meeting).

Just a friendly reminder, unit 116 is also home to feline residents; if you have allergy issues, please take appropriate precautions.

Welcome to the New MissionPaloAlto.org...

2008-02-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

...pretty much the same as the old, only with a new Web host. If you're seeing this post, it means the transfer has completed successfully.

Changes to MissionPaloAlto.org

2008-02-21T15:01:00.001-08:00

I am moving MissionPaloAlto.org to a different Web host, to consolidate the Web sites I manage and also save the Association over $100/year. This may cause a day or two of downtime for the Web site, and definitely will result in any saved email being lost.

I'll repeat that last part:

If you are saving your MissionPaloAlto.org email messages on the Web mail server, you need to download or save them somewhere else as soon as possible. They will be deleted when your email accounts are moved to the new Web server.

Next HOA Board meeting scheduled

2007-12-30T00:38:00.000-08:00

The next Mission Palo Alto HOA Board meeting will be Monday, January 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm, at 116 Mission Drive. As always, owners and residents are welcome to attend but should be aware that these are Board meetings, not general membership meetings.

News: Solar roofing tiles comes to tract housing

2007-11-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

Solar roofing tiles comes to tract housing -- CNet News.com

Call it building-integrated solar power for cookie-cutter housing.

DRI Energy has developed roofing tiles with solar cells built in them. For commercial customers, it has solar panels that literally glue onto flat roofs. The products, branded under the Lumeta name, will be available in the second quarter.

The green tech company sells to builders of commercial constructions, like retail outlets and office buildings, and developers of tract housing, large developments of new homes.

The problem with installing solar electricity in these types of developments is that builders don't want to work solar panels and the racking systems, said Stephen Torres, chief operating officer at DRI Energy. "They don't do rack installs unless they have to," he said.

In the southwest United States, where DRI Energy operates, many roofs aren't strong enough to support a large installation of solar panels, he added. And residential customers in many cases would prefer not having visible panels.

At the same time, there is growing interest in solar power because it's cleaner and it's a hedge against rising electricity prices. So, DRI Energy has designed roofing tiles that have the solar cells within them.

They start with standard terra-cotta colored s-tiles or flat concrete tiles and add a cavity to hold the wiring and solar cells which convert light to electricity. The added photovoltaic cells make their roofing tiles slightly thicker than tiles but are far less noticeable than adding flat panels, Torres said.

For business customers, it has designed solar panels that stick onto a flat roof with an adhesive. That "peel and stick" approach eliminates the need for brackets, said Torres.

Placing panels flat on the roof does have drawbacks. The panels will not generate as much electricity as others that are tilted to optimize the sun angle. Also, they will get hotter than rack-mounted systems which benefit from an air flow below them. That extra heat will lower their overall efficiency.

The company hopes to make up that loss with lower installation costs because there is less labor involved and they eliminate the cost of the racking, Torres said.

DRI Energy has a partnership with Chinese solar manufacturer Suntech Power to supply the cells and manufacturer the panels and solar tiles.

News: East Palo Alto plan hits bump -- SV/SJ Business Journal

2007-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

East Palo Alto plan hits bump -- SV/SJ Business Journal

According to public record, including hundreds of documents on file in San Mateo County court, Taran has spent well in excess of $100 million since September 2006 to acquire 70 parcels, mostly contiguous, in a thin ribbon of land fronting U.S. 101 and a stone's throw from what is arguably the most status-laden community in the South Bay. Yet, all of the properties lie in East Palo Alto, among the region's most humble communities, and they range from modest and aging apartments to some that can only be described as blighted.

The properties also flank University Circle, East Palo Alto's redevelopment centerpiece completed in the last five years that includes a four-star hotel, sparkling fountains and three stunning Class A office towers.

News: East Palo Alto hazardous waste plant ordered to close and clean up

2007-09-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

East Palo Alto hazardous waste plant ordered to close and clean up -- San Francisco Chronicle, 2007-08-31

The state has ordered an East Palo Alto plant that treats and stores hazardous waste to permanently close.

Romic Environmental Technologies Corp., which runs the plant, also must clean up its 10-acre bayfront site and return it to "productive economic use," according to a statement issued Thursday by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control.

"(The department) has constantly monitored the facility's operations and ultimately found that it could not be operated safely," said Maureen Gorsen, director of the department.

Next HOA Board meeting scheduled

2007-07-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

The next HOA Board meeting will be:

Date: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: 112 Mission Drive

As always, residents and owners are welcome to attend.

Weather forecast for block party: HOT

2007-07-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Weather.com forecast for East Palo Alto for Saturday, July 7:

Sunny; High 84°F, Low 56°F; Precip: 10%; Wind: WNW at 15 mph; UV Index: 10 (Very High); Humidity: 58%

Use sunscreen, wear a hat, stay hydrated; cold water and shade will be available all day.

Also, sunset will be at 8:32 PM so we'll plan to start the movie (have you voted yet?) around then.

Celebrate Independence Day by exercising your right to vote...

2007-07-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

... on the movie to be shown Saturday! Vote in the poll to the right of this post, or add a comment below if you'd like to see a different movie altogether.

We'll also have a short program of classic cartoons before the main feature.

Mission Palo Alto's 3rd Annual Independence Day Block Party Barbecue

2007-06-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Get together with your Mission Palo Alto neighbors for an afternoon barbecue and potluck to celebrate the Fourth of July. Come meet your neighbors and make some new friends. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon with some good music and great food!

When: Saturday, July 7th starting at 3:00PM.

What: A neighborhood barbecue. Bring something to "sear" and something to share. If you can help out with a grill or a picnic table, please let us know. Non-alcoholic beverages, plates, utensils and napkins will be provided by Mission Palo Alto.

Where: We will be gathering in the cul-de-sac in front of units 112-115; please bring your own chairs. This area will be a "no parking" zone for the duration of the event.

What to bring: Units 101-135, please bring a side dish or salad. Units 136-151, please bring a dessert.

And this year we've added something extra; join us at sunset for a movie under the stars! Vote for your choice of movie in the poll to the left of this post.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Rich.

News! Long Time No Post

2007-06-15T16:53:00.001-07:00

The two major pieces of news are that we have a new Property Management company and a new Board of Directors. Late last year, the serving Board contracted Dominic Ferrari to take over managing Mission Palo Alto from Deborah Sell. You can contact Dominic via email or by phone or postal mail:

Dominic Ferrari
Ferrari Management Company
444 First Street #A
Los Altos, CA 94022
Tel: 650.917.9911
Fax: 650.917.9991

On June 6th, the Mission Palo Alto Homeowners Association held its annual meeting, and elected a new Board of Directors. Remaining on the Board from last year are Clara Starr as President and Soccoro Nevarez as Treasurer, and Andrew Rich was elected as Secretary in place of Keith Trask who declined to be re-nominated.

This Web site has been pretty much on hiatus since last summer. We're going to try to get it back up as a going concern again, and I've made a few minor changes.

Posts now have comments enabled. That means you can comment on any post and I'll receive notification.

I've fixed and updated the mail form. It turns out the form had been broken for a while (oops); now fixed. Also changed the email addresses for the Board of Directors and Property Management.

Now the question becomes: What do you want to see on your Web site?

Some possibilities:

contact list for Mission Palo Alto residents

discussion forum

shared calendar (plan your events)

minutes of Board of Directors and annual HOA meetings

Mission Palo Alto realtor listings

Of course many of these features would be password-protected for resident use only.

Let me know what you think in the comments, or use the mail form.

[Draft] Network layout

2006-07-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Click for a full-size version.

Still more potluck/BBQ photos

2006-07-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

More potluck/BBQ photos

2006-07-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

Photos from the July 4, 2006 potluck and BBQ

2006-07-07T16:36:00.000-07:00