At the November meeting our new president made a motion which passed to have some kind of celebration. Since so many members are former Milpitas Grammar School students, and 2nd and 3rd generations of the pioneers who settled in our town, the Society’s anniversary will be combined with a Milpitas Grammar School Reunion. There will be a lot of history at this event. We were lucky to find the only opening left this year at the Community Center on March 6, 2010.

The Celebration Committee has been working very hard over the holidays on this event. Invitations were sent inside the January newsletter. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP by February 19, 2010. We need a count for the caterer.

If you did not get an invitation, and you attended the Grammar School or are a current Milpitas Historical Society member who may have not seen the invitation or lost it, please call Barbara Bowman at (408) 942-1942.

Since the committee will be busy arranging this event, there will be no installation luncheon this year. Officers were installed at the November meeting.

Robin is a licensed acupuncturist and herbal medicine specialist who has been practicing in Milpitas for the last 24 years. She specializes in all types of health conditions as well as allergies. Robin will take questions from the audience and explain how acupuncture works. She will also treat anyone who wishes to experience acupuncture.

Carole Fried

Don Egbert

Dorothy Cestaric

Margaret Kruse

Rachel Martinez

Mary Ellen Hagen

Leslie Stobbe

Wanda Olinger

We’ll also visit the St. John’s Cemetery across the street, which is the resting place of many Milpitas pioneers and closed to the public.

Please bring a picnic lunch, and we’ll head up to Ed Levin Park to eat. Then we’ll continue up the hill to visit the historic 2-room Laguna School, which is owned by member Bill Hare.

Next we’ll head back to the cars and on to the Downing Ranch, which is also closed to the public. We’ll climb the hill to see the huge rock that the Ohlone Indians once ground their acorns on. This is a working ranch and you will see horses, cows … and many peacocks!

Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. We will meet at Big Lots at 9:00 A.M. and leave at 9:15 A.M. We may car pool, if there is interest, or drive your own car. It is not very far.

For more information, call Barbara at 408-942-1492.

We will be leaving Big Lots, 200 Serra Way,  at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Please call Barbara at (408) 942-1492 if you wish to attend, so that enough drivers can be arranged. Sorry, but those arriving without calling will have to take their own car if no space is available.

Guest Speaker – Dorothy Wuss

Dorothy’s maiden name was Bernell. Bernell Road in south San Jose was named for her parents. She will be speaking about the De Anza expedition on through to her Bernell history.