Author: Ann Zeise

Hiking, Running, Walking

Milpitas and Silicon Valley have lots of great places for taking a walk or serious hiking. Here are groups who organize hikes to go together and make friends.

Clubs & Organizations

Bay Area Hiking And Anything Fun
This group is all about having a great time in the company of people with shared interests such as hiking, running, walking, bicycling, and a wide range of other activities and adventures we do together.

Bay Area Orienteering Club
We’ve gone orienteering with this group for several years now at local parks. Object is, with a map and compass, to locate ‘controls’ and not get lost.

Mission Peak Striders
A group of recreational runners of all ability levels from the Southeast Bay Area (Fremont, Hayward, Union City, Newark, Milpitas). We meet for regularly scheduled runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Check their Facebook page for updates.

Mt Diablo Guided Hikes, Walks & Events
MDIA sponsored hikes are free and open to all. Hikers are requested to arrive promptly at scheduled times. Site also shows popular trails to hike on your own. Mt Diablo is located about 30 miles to the north and east of Milpitas, off of I-680.

Open Space Appreciation Hiking Enthusiasts
The Open Space Authority docents are friendly, engaging and won’t make you cry hiking up the hill (unless you like killer hikes and then they have some crazy intense hikers, too). This group is for anyone who likes to go hiking, or for walks and would like people to go with. If you like walking with other people, if you are shy, friendly, outgoing, or just love being outdoors, this is a chance to hang out with some fun people.

Sleep Late and Hike
Interested in spending more time on the weekends in nature? Want to explore more of the Bay Area? Are you an afternoon person? Like to walk at a moderate pace? This may be the group for you!

Urban Footprints Hiking Club
Facebook page announcing local hikes.

Donate Camping Gear

Today’s Youth Matter
Makes use of gently used sleeping bags, tents, kayaks and canoes during their annual summer camps, which give at-risk children a weeklong escape. Baseballs, bats and tennis rackets also go a long way in bringing the fun back to a child’s life. 461 Valley Way, Milpitas, 408-719-9125.

Events

Bay Area Hiker Facebook Page
Members may announce hikes welcoming others to join in. Also find announcements for trail building volunteers. You will also find out about closed parks, often because of storm damage to roads.

See also: Trails & Bike Paths

Footwear at the Great Mall in Milpitas

Just about every shoe imaginable can be found at the footwear stores at the Great Mall in Milpitas. Check out the styles on the manufacturer sites before you go to the store, or if you know how the style fits, just buy online.

Adidas Factory Store
Kids footwear in toddler, grade-school & preschool sizes. Women’s footwear & sport apparel, men’s footwear & sport apparel. Shop at Adidas.com
#556 – Located in Neighborhood 1 near DICK’S Sporting Goods and Gap Outlet
(408) 946-8519

ASICS
A premium athletic company that specializes in high-performance footwear, apparel and accessories for a wide variety of sports.
#488 – Located in Neighborhood 4 between Nike Factory Store and Carter’s Children Wear. Shop at Asics.com.
(408) 941-9780

Columbia Factory Store
Columbia has been creating innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment for outdoor enthusiasts since 1938. Shop Columbia Hiking Shoes.
#256A – Located in Neighborhood 2 between A/X Armani Exchange and Red Robin
(408) 273-7000

Converse
Footwear, apparel, accessories for men, women & children. Shop Converse.com.
#479 – Located in Neighborhood 4 near Nike Factory Store and the Dining Pavilion
(408) 935-8442

Crocs
All Crocs™ shoes feature Croslite™ material, a proprietary, revolutionary technology that gives each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight and non-marking qualities. Find hours at Crocs.com.
#184 – Located in Neighborhood 3 near the Dining Pavilion and Foot Locker
(408) 262-7600

Dick’s Sporting Goods
An authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel, and footwear.
#1200 – Located in Neighborhood 1 between Camille La Vie and Gap Outlet
(408) 503-0370

Finish Line
We have the latest basketball sneakers, running shoes, and retro sneakers from top brands like Nike, Jordan, adidas, Under Armour, and more. Shop at Finishline.com.
#402 – Located in Neighborhood 1 near Kohl’s.
(408) 586-9093

Foot Locker
Athletic footwear and apparel. Shop at Footlocker.com.
#472– Located in Neighborhood 4 next to Uniqlo and the Dining Pavilion
(408) 946-0408

Kids Foot Locker
Offers parents a place where they can get the largest selection of quality athletic footwear, apparel and accessories for their children, as well as, expert advice. Shop KidFootwear online.
#111 – Located in Neighborhood 1 near Kohl’s
(408) 945-9675

Kohl’s
We not only offer the best merchandise at the best prices, but we’re always working to make your shopping experience enjoyable. Shop for shoes at Kohls.com.
#1160 – Located in Neighborhood 6 near Century Theatres.
(408) 262-4055

NIKE Factory Store
Experience sports, training, shopping and everything else that’s new at Nike in Men’s, Women’s and Kids apparel and footwear. Shops Nike footwear online.
#484 – Located in Neighborhood 4 near Puma and Burlington Coat Factory
(408) 942-6457

Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse
Our stores stock between 30,000 and 50,000 pairs of women’s and men’s footwear – all on display and easy to find.
#125 – Located in Neighborhood 5 near Century Theatres and Dave & Buster’s. Shop at Off Broadway Shoes.com
(408) 586-8978

Original Penguin
A full lifestyle brand that now includes suits, watches, bags, belts, hats, shoes for men. Shop online for Penguin shoes. Hiking shoes for toddlers also available.
#548– Located in Neighborhood 2 near Neiman Marcus Last Call and Cole Haan
(408) 956-8076

Shoe Palace
The largest selection and lowest prices on all of the hottest brands in shoes! Shop Shoepalace.com.
#190 – Located in Neighborhood 3 across from Nike Factory Store
(408) 262-1400

Skechers
Skechers designs and develops lifestyle footwear for men, women, and children. My favorite shoe store at the Great Mall. Shop Skechers.com.
#474 – Located in Neighborhood 3 near Burlington Coat Factory and Victoria’s Secret
(408) 719-8155

Timberland Factory Store
We make boots, shoes, clothes and gear that are comfortable enough to wear all day and rugged enough to last all year. Shop Timberland.com for shoes.

UGG Australia
Men’s, women’s and kids footwear offer signature UGG comfort and style in a spectrum of silhouettes from classic boots and shoes to slippers and sneakers. Shop UGG.com online.
#524 – Located in Neighborhood 2 near Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH and Coach
(408) 935-8923

Uniqlo
Our designers are artistic apparel engineers, dedicated to finding elegant solutions to common garment dilemmas. Shop Uniqlo.com for shoes.
#700A – Located near the Dining Pavilion at Entrance 4 or across from Camille La Vie at Entrance 1
(877) 486-4756

Zumiez
Discover Zumiez snowboarding and skateboarding shoes, clothing and much more. Cool clothes for girls, guys and youth! Shop for Zumiez.com for shoes.
#572 – Located in Neighborhood 1 near Old Navy
(408) 956-9410

Other shopping categories at the Great Mall

Amazon buys big Milpitas campus

Amazon buys big Milpitas campus as tech titan widens shopping spree

New Amazon Mall in Milpitas
30-acre Milpitas site of office and research buildings near the corner of Gibraltar Drive and South Milpitas Boulevard, outlined in red. Boundaries are approximate. Amazon has widened its shopping spree for Bay Area properties with the purchase of a big office and research campus in Milpitas that could provide fresh expansion space for the tech titan.

E-commerce behemoth adds to Bay Area property buying binge with new deal

MILPITAS — Amazon has widened its shopping spree for Bay Area properties with the purchase of a big office and research campus in Milpitas that could provide fresh expansion space for the tech titan.

The e-commerce behemoth has bought a 29-acre site with several office and research buildings near the corner of South Milpitas Boulevard and Gibraltar Drive, according to documents filed on Oct. 1 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.

Amazon paid $123 million in cash for the property, which is about two blocks away from The Great Mall, the county records show.

The site consists of five buildings, according to Amazon spokesperson , according to a marketing brochure that has been distributed by CBRE, a commercial real estate firm.

Mysterious Rock Walls

East Bay Mysterious Rock Walls are also known as the Berkeley Mystery Walls. These crude, stone walls are located in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. In places, they are up to a meter high and a meter wide; the walls run in sections anywhere from a few meters to over a half mile long. The rocks used to construct the East Bay Walls are a variety of sizes. Some are basketball-sized rocks, while others are large sandstone boulders weighing a ton or more. Parts of the wall seem to be just piles of rocks, but in other places it appears the walls were carefully constructed. The exact age of the walls is unknown, but they have an old appearance. Many of the formations have sunk far into the earth, and are often completely overgrown with different plants. The purpose of these walls is still unknown. Since the wall is not continuous and is composed of multiple sections, they could not have been used as a fence. They are not tall enough to have been used as defense mechanisms. The walls function is unknown as well as the constructors. The East Bay Walls are accessible in several area parks, including Ed R. Levin County Park in Santa Clara County and Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Alameda County. The walls are found in the east bay of San Francisco.

Ed Levin Rock Wall

The Real, True Story of the Mystery of the East Bay Walls | Bay Curious

East Bay Rock Walls and Alignments
There are many crude walls throughout the hills surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. In places, they are up to a meter high and a meter wide and are built without mortar.The walls run in sections anywhere from a few meters to over a half mile long.

The rocks used to construct the walls are a variety of sizes. Some are basketball-sized rocks, while others are large sandstone boulders weighing a ton or more. Parts of the walls seem to be just piles of rocks, but in other places it appears the walls were carefully constructed.The exact age of the walls is unknown, but they have an old appearance.

America Unearthed: Ancient Ruins Discovered in California (S3, E7) | Full Episode | History

Berkeley Mystery Walls, Fremont, California
Neither Spanish settlers nor anyone since has been able to tell who built these strange California rock walls. There are remnants of ancient stone walls all over the East Bay, and no one knows how old they are, who built them, or why. Though people have been pondering the enigma of the Berkeley Mystery Walls for well over a hundred years, no conclusions have been reached, and despite wild speculation, no serious scholarly study has ever been undertaken.

Dikes and Sills
Visually, a dike looks like a natural wall of stone, sort of like a dam – or dike. A sill appears on a hillside or cliff face as a horizontal band of stone, like a window sill. Since both dikes and sills are originally of subterranean origin, some sort of regional uplift and/or erosion must have taken place to expose them at the surface. However, the East Bay Walls are definitely sandstone and full of shell fossils, so not volcanic by any stretch.

Mexican Rock Walls
Mexican Rock Walls

Walls of Rock
I’m assuming many of the walls – there are miles of them in total around here – are put up by families, not someone making a solo effort. The work must be dangerous: to drop a heavy rock, or have it topple after it’s positioned, can easily be a bone-breaking event. Up on the trails, I’m conscious that a twisted ankle or a sprained knee would mean a painful hobble to get help, but having 120 pounds of lava fall on my foot would be a whole other problem.So, I tip my straw hat to the guys who can construct and maintain these things. The walls are often a guide to the route I need to take, and they also indicate the long, long heritage of land cultivation around here.

Grand Natural Wall Montana
Grand Natural Wall in Montana
It is easy to see how these walls are formed and broken down by erosion by looking at the Grand Natural Wall on the Eagle Creek in Montana, the biggest of many igneous “dikes” that formed within sandstone cracks millions of years ago. This “wall-like” appearance is quite common along this stretch of the river. Millions of years ago, during active volcanic periods, dark molten material was forced into cracks in the sedimentary rock. Over time the molten material solidified and subsequent erosion of the surrounding softer rock exposed the dark igneous walls you see today.

Mystery Walls – Bison Weirs?
The Spanish settlers in the area reported that the walls were already there when they arrived, and when they asked the local Ohlone American Indians, they said the same thing. Some think ancient Chinese navigators would have built the walls, but there would have had to have been thousands of them here well before the Ohlone Indians and over 10,000 years ago. However, the walls were the only structure left, which would have been odd for a civilization that knew how to build from stone.

Stone walls at Ed Levin County Park
Arlene, a local hiker, asked me about the stone walls at Ed Levin County Park. She said she’s been to the park but hasn’t seen the walls. Perhaps she’s among the sane folks who avoid hiking to the heights behind Ed Levin’s Sandy Wool Lake — the summits require 2,000 feet of climb in 3.9 miles, most of it unshaded and wind-blasted. The insane, like yours truly, have enjoyed the benefits of gazing upon these these interesting piles of stone.

To reach the walls you have to hike to the Monument Peak summit, about a quarter mile from the intersection of the Monument Peak and Agua Caliente trails. Either trail is a major slog, but the Monument Peak Trail is a little bit easier.

Unravelling the Mystery Behind the East Bay Walls: Who Really Made Them and Why?
In the hills around East Bay and elsewhere near San Francisco, there is a series of stone walls that extend discontinuously for miles. The walls are about 3-4 feet high in most places and are not enclosed. There is also no record of them being built or who might have built them.

New England Is Crisscrossed With Thousands of Miles of Stone Walls
Notice how farmers in the 1800s and earlier built stone walls out of rock debris in their fields. A lidar map on this site shows how each field was enclosed by a small square or rectangle of these discarded rocks, never in long, unenclosed areas. They were built from the ground up, never buried like our Mysterious Walls. Usually the remains of a farmhouse can be found nearby to these New England walls. No buildings or foundations have been found near the walls in our hills.

Sheep Jumping Fence

Including this to show how even sheep can manage to get over a wall made of sticks about 4′ high. Why would anyone try to contain wild game like elk or deer or farm animals like cattle or sheep with low rock walls? I can see how maybe more modern people saw these already half built walls, and reengineered them for their own purposes, such as hiding behind when hunting.

The Character and Function of Ancient Chinese Walls and Fortifications
Early Chinese were building huge, wide walls for fortifications against enemies and against flood waters. They were very good at constructing such walls, and they worked as they expected. They were not randomly piled rocks. Our walls are up in mountains and none are near rivers that need diverting, which they wouldn’t work for anyway. And if the walls were built for defense, defense against whom?

More about Ancient and Medieval History in the South Bay Area

Museums In and Near Milpitas

I’m not counting the “collection” in our garage, no I’m not! As some of you know, we homeschooled our son. So I’m going to talk about our favorite “field trips” in the area. I’m going to focus on museums for children and the young at heart.

Park and History Museum Plans
Park and History Museum Plans

Plans for Milpitas History Museum

Milpitas is the only large city in Santa Clara County without a museum.

Locating a museum next door to the Milpitas Public Library and Municipal Parking Garage is ideal and must be preserved.

The Children's Discovery Museum
The Children’s Discovery Museum

The Children’s Discovery Museum

We were members for years when Scott was younger, going to the BIG PURPLE BUILDING where they “let you play in the street” almost once a month. Well, the “street motif” is gone, but the newer design provides room for more hands-on exhibits. The Children’s Discovery Museum is easily reached by the Light Rail, stopping right in front of the building. Getting there by train doubles the fun. The museum is located on Woz Way, named after Apple Computer’s inventor, Steve Wozniak, who was the prime benefactor for the museum. The museum is supported by individual and corporate members.

Children are encouraged to get right in exhibits and think and play with the concepts. Interactive workshops are scheduled for Sunday afternoons.

180 Woz WaySan Jose, CA 95110

Contact the Children’s Discovery Museum for more information. Their phone number is 408-298-5437.

Irvingtonian Landscape
Irvingtonian Landscape

Children’s Natural History Museum

Irvington Fossils. This fossil collection was excavated in the 1940’s-60’s in a quarry located in the Irvington area of Fremont by a group of young boys. The collection of fossils included mammoths, sabertooth cats, giant cave bears, dire wolves, camels, western horses, sloths, and pronghorn antelopes.

4074 Eggers Dr.Fremont, CA 94536
510-790-6284

Charlie Caplin
Charlie Caplin

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

Best time to visit is Saturday evenings when they show a double feature of classic silent movies. The town of Niles was the Hollywood of the silent movie era, and movies by Charlie Chaplin and Broncho Billy were made in the area. Tours of the town to see the old film day buildings are also available. The whole area is considered historic. You can also ride a train up the Niles Canyon, once scenery for cowboy movies. Map of best things to do in Niles.

We offer weekday tours and activities for school groups that will fill their day of fun in Niles.

NESFM Tour offers:

  • A viewing of one or two silent films made in Niles by Broncho Billy and Charlie Chaplin
  • A brief talk on early film making history and Niles role in it.
  • A tour of the Edison Theatre c1913, Museum exhibits and the original tin lined projection booth.
  • A “Zoetrope”, (moving pictures) workshop where the students get to make their own moving picture strip.
  • A guided walking tour of the historic Niles district with our local historian / docents.
The Tech
The Tech Museum of Science & Innovation

The Tech

Now the Scott’s a teenager, The Tech Museum of Science & Innovation is by far the coolest museum in Silicon Valley. Upon entering, he makes a beeline for the submersible robots on the bottom floor.

Second Sunday each month is free admission.

We also like to see whatever movie is playing at the IMAX theater.

If you can’t make it to The Tech today, visit their online exhibits and mess around with science for a bit.

The Tech has STEAM activities for home education.

The Tech Interactive
201 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA 95113

Intel Museum
Intel Museum

The Intel Museum

At the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, you can experience the power of computer chips first hand, and the evolution of their development. Explore the pages of the site and interact with our Web movies to learn more about the museum and computer chips.

Intel Corporation’s Robert Noyce Building, Main Lobby
2200 Mission College Boulevard
Santa Clara, California
95052-8119
408-765-0503</a>

Display at the Computer History Museum
Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum

Spend a day at the Computer History Museum. Find out why computer history is 2000 years old. Learn about computer history´s game-changers in our multimedia exhibitions. Play a game of Pong or Spacewar! Listen to computer pioneers tell their story from their own perspective. Discover the roots of today´s Internet and mobile devices. See over 1,100 historic artifacts, including some of the very first computers from the 1940s and 1950s.
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043

650-810-1010

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

An affordable, sustainable, conservation-centered outdoor adventure for families with children.

Come play with us! The education department at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo encourages children of all ages to embrace their wild side. Join us as we explore our natural world and make new friends!

In the 1950’s, people from all over the USA fell in love with Disneyland, and wanted some place like Disneyland in their home town. Jaycees, Alden Campen and Ernie Renzel (former Mayor of San Jose) took this dream to heart, and following Oakland’s lead (the creation of Oakland’s Fairyland), approached City “fathers” in 1956 with the idea of developing a children’s park on property owned and for sale by the Kelley Family.

Beginning the week of Oct. 4, 2021, Happy Hollow’s new operating hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This schedule will continue through the fall and will be reevaluated as we approach the winter holidays.

Parking Lot at 748 Story Road, San Jose.

O'Brian's at the San Jose Historical Museum
O’Brian’s at the San Jose Historical Museum

San Jose Historical Museum

When you’ve completed your stay at the park and zoo, take the little train over to the San Jose Historical Museum, which is more of a city than a “museum.” I think all the historic buildings in the area are hauled here, renovated, and then opened to visitors. Children will like the horse drawn trolley rides and O’Brian’s Candy Store. The dentist office will help them appreciate their dentist even more!

1650 Senter Road
San José, CA 95112

Phone: 408-287-2290

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

Egyptian Museum

A four year old once told me he didn’t believe in mummies, so I took him along with us to the Egyptian Museum. Maybe ghosts are debatable, but mummies are in abundance here! The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States — including objects from pre dynastic times through Egypt’s early Islamic era.

Planetarium: Journey to the Stars 2:00 pm every day
Tomb Tours: Wed – Sun
1660 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126

Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House

Winchester Mystery House

No feature about area museums would be complete without a note about our most famous tourist trap/historical house. You are kept waiting for the next tour in the gift shop, so it’s a bit hard not to spend more than you intended.

Not many remember, but the Winchesters not only invented rifles but also roller skates! One section of the store is dedicated to a “museum” of the inventions of Mr. Winchester. If you stick to this end of the premise before the house tour, you’ll have a much less expensive stay.

The mansion was continuously under construction for the life of its owner, Sarah Winchester. I’ll let the link tell the story. What is myth and what is fact is frequently debated locally. It’s an especially spooky place to visit in October and open all night on Halloween.

Directions:
525 S Winchester Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95128

Dogs of Milpitas

Help finding dog-friendly places in or near Milpitas to be with your dog, as well as grooming, showing, training, and boarding opportunities for dogs.


Corgi Vlog: Monday’s w/ Nori at the Milpitas Dog Park up at Ed Levin.

Advice

Dog Behavior Training
Train your dog in 24 hours? Plus solve 25 behavior problems.

Humane Society Update to Services and Programs Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Thank you to all who have supported us during this challenging time. We have continued to reopen some of our services, and will continue to make changes to our programs in accordance with public health guidelines and local ordinances.

Boarding, Care, Training

AC Dogskool
This is your complete resource for your dogs training information. Learn about puppy training, dog obedience training, dog behavior modification, dog care and canine problem solving, clicker training, dog agility training, grooming and dog care, canine communication and dog training and safety tips.
111 S Main St., inside An Jans.
(408) 733-2829

Cooperhaus K9
For six decades, Cooperhaus K9 has established a reputation for outstanding obedience and protection dog training across the Bay Area. Boarding also available. Obedience classes are limited in sized due to Covid-19.
498 Gladding Ct.
844-935-6693

Humane Society Virtual Training
Does your new dog need to learn some better manners? Do you need help surviving puppyhood? If you’re ready for life with a well-behaved canine companion, we’ll help you get there! Using force free, reward-based methods we have effective behavior and training solutions for recently adopted puppies and dogs as well as long-time canine companions. Check out our offerings for dogs of all ages and talents! First two classes are online, and four follow-up classes will be held in-person at HSSV.

Red Rover Pet Resort
Doggy day care, dog boarding and dog grooming. Dog training and dog merchandise.
334 Turquoise Street
408-586-8690

Santa Clara Dog Training Club
SCDTC classes are postponed due to the Corona Virus. We will re-evaluate as the situation evolves. Be safe and hug your pup. Trains people and their dogs in the following classes: Basic Obedience (Puppy through Adult), CGC/TDI Testing, Conformation, Fetching and Retrieving, Nosework, Competition Classes (Novice, Open and Utility) and Rally.
344 Tully Rd., San Jose, CA 95111
(408) 806-3059

Dine with Dog Outside

Mil’s Diner
OK to sit outside and dine with your dog.
36 S Abbott Ave
Hwy 237/Calaveras Blvd.
408-946-4773

Dog Lovers

Paws on Patrol
New crime prevention program sponsored by the Milpitas Police Department to learn how to be observers while out walking your dog. You may use your steps tracker and win prizes for having the most steps per month among the members.

South Bay Chihuahua Meetup
Come out and enjoy an afternoon at the Milpitas dog park with the chihuahuas! Our meetup is FREE for all, friendly & informal and meets every 2nd Saturday of the month in the small dog section. (Fee for parking and annual pass.)

Dog Parks

Bark Here
Many of our County Parks allow dogs with certain restrictions. Here is a listing of our parks where you may take your K-9 friend for a walk or run off-leash.

Dixon Landing Park
A relatively small park, but has much to offer. There are numerous picnic tables, a children’s playground, tennis courts and a basketball court. Dogs welcome.

Milpitas Dog Park
Facebook group for those now participating in use of the dog park in Ed Levin Park. The Dog Park is open on a first come first serve basis. Picnic tables for up to 10 people from the same household are available.

Where To Walk With Your Dog
Bay Area Backcountry: San Jose

Events & Shows

San Jose/Bay Area Dog and Training Events
Brought to you by Stacy’s Wag’N’Train of San Jose. Don’t have to have a fancy or particularly well trained dog for about half these events. Note for 2020: Of course almost all of these events are currently cancelled. Absolutely check with the actual hosts/organizers before trying to attend!

Grooming for Pets

Carolyn’s Pet Grooming
227 S Main St #C
408-946-7387

Doggy Doodle Salon & Boutique
790 E Capitol Ave.
408-263-2222

Humane Society
Professional pet grooming services to animals in Silicon Valley. Let our groomers recommend the right service for your pet. HSSV Grooming Salon is open Monday-Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm, by appointment only.
901 Ames Ave.
408-262-2133

PetsMart
Same-day delivery of pet essentials by DoorDash available. No events during Covid-19. Receive hands-on care for dogs and cats from academy-trained, safety-certified pet stylists. 7AM-9PM.
175 Ranch Dr.
408-956-1044

Sharon’s Canine Classic
1350 S Park Victoria Dr #45
408-946-1050

Tatiana’s Pet Grooming
87 S Main St.
408-946-7387

Laws Mostly Concerning Dogs

Milpitas Animal Regulations
Most concern dogs, though laws here also for cats and other animals.

Milpitas Dog Park

Dog Park at Ed Levin (Milpitas Muni Code V-9-7.01)
Owned and maintained by the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department, this park may be reached via Calaveras Boulevard. For information, call (408) 262-6980 or Visit the County website.
Location: 3100 Calaveras Road, Milpitas, CA 95035

  • Only dogs, dog handlers, and those persons accompanying them are allowed in the dog park.
  • Dog handlers must be 16 years of age or older. Any person under 16 years of age, in the dog park, must be accompanied by a person 18 years or older.
  • A dog handler, as defined herein, shall accompany his of her dogs at all times.
  • Dog handlers are responsible for picking up and properly disposing of all feces deposited by their dogs.
  • No more than two dogs per handler will be permitted in the park at one time.
  • Dogs in heat are not permitted in the park.
  • Dogs must be vaccinated and free of communicable illness and disease.
  • Dogs must wear proof of current license.
  • Dogs must be under voice control of their handler.
  • Dogs displaying aggressive or anti-social behavior are not permitted in the park. Upon signs of aggression or anti-social behavior the dog will immediately be required to leave the park.
  • All other City of Milpitas park rules apply to use of the dog park.
  • Only dogs less than 20 inches from the top of the shoulders are allowed in the “Small Dog Area.”
  • Dogs must be leashed when entering and exiting the park.
  • Users of the dog park do so at their own risk. Neither the County nor the City shall be liable for any injury or damage caused by any dog in the dog park.

East Indian Restaurants in Milpitas

Dining and Food ~ Restaurants in Milpitas

Are you looking for restaurants with that spicy east Indian flavor? There are many in Milpitas. Most are also vegetarian or vegan.

Annapoorna Authentic Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
We specialize in Maharashtrian cuisine and Bombay style street food.
1466 North Milpitas Blvd
408-834-4933

Aria Dining & Banquets Fine Indian Cuisine
Patio Dining available. Expansive eatery & banquet hall serving traditional Indian fare, including seafood & veggie dishes.
212 Ranch Dr.
408-941-1700

BiryaniZ
Our mission is to offer the most authentic and flavorful Hyderabadi Biryaniz and other cuisine that are fit for the kings, our valued customers.
18 S Abbott Ave.
408-945-5700

Kathmandu Cuisine
Nepalese Indo Fusion food. The authentic taste of Kathmandu Valley, served in the Silicon Valley.
138 S Main St.
408-649-3616

Milan Sweet Center
“We server pure ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Jain Vegetarian’ food.” Yelp Reviews
296 S Abel St.
408-946-2525

Naan N Masala
Delivery available. Yelp. It’s informal and set up mostly for take out. Very very good! They made the naan fresh when I ordered it! And it was huge! There was no way my family could eat three, even with a pre-teen boy! Recommended by Cara Drouin.
94 S Dempsey Rd.
408-263-9400

Red Chillies
We are currently not accepting online orders. Serving Indian cuisine from the Malabar region in an inviting, colorful dining room.
167 S Main St
408-418-4778

Sri Ananda Bhavan
An Authentic South Indian Restaurant. We serve you purely vegetarian food and give you the true flavours of South Indian home cooked food.
61 Serra Way unit 120
408-791-6664

Swagat
Takeout only. They will deliver your order to you when you arrive. All you have to do is give them a call once you parked. Yelp. A small chain of East Indian restaurants offers taste tempting, but not fiery dishes.
68 South Abel Street
408-262-1128

Tirupathi Bhimas
Order online lunch and dinner time. Strip-center Indian eatery with an all-vegetarian menu, including dosas & Thali combination meals.
1208 S Abel St
408-945-1010

See also: Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Milpitas

Threatening social media trends at MHS: Devious Licks

MUSD’s Board President gathers student leaders to delve into threatening social media trends

September 23, 2021
On September 22, 2021, Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education President Chris Norwood convened a 60-minute Special Board Study Session with student leadership, Milpitas law enforcement and district leaders to discuss social media trends in our school communities and their impact on safety and resource utilization. In attendance were secondary school principals, assistant principals, teachers, students, and student governance leaders from Milpitas High School, Milpitas Middle College High School, Calaveras Hills High School, Thomas Russell Middle School and Rancho Middle School.

It was an eye-opening discussion. Students shared their knowledge of the many different social media trends, concerns, and platforms used most commonly for fun and in education. Three of the biggest student concerns were cyberbullying, unknowingly communicating with strangers and being trolled. Twitch, Discord, YouTube, Instagram, SnapChat, TikTok and other international platforms that pay users for content were mentioned as dominating the hearts and minds of the youth.

Read more.

IMPORTANT – Be Aware of “Devious Licks” TikTok Challenge


Dear MHS Community,

We are alerting you to a new trend on social media called “Devious Licks.” This trend involves encouraging teens to “lick” or steal items from school, whether these items are soap dispensers, teacher’s keys, urinals, or more, including school buses, and then posting about the stolen item on social media with the hashtag, #deviouslicks. Across our campus, we have already had incidents of soap dispensers being ripped off the walls, restrooms being vandalized, toilets and urinals clogged and overflowing, locker doors being stolen, and other acts of vandalism.

Here is a link to an NBC News video and article about this costly, community-damaging trend: NBC News – TikTok Devious Licks Trend

In response to this, we are alerting our MHS staff about this trend and asking our community to be vigilant about their student’s actions and social media activity, and encourage them that if they see something they should report it to an adult on campus.

This is a very serious offense, and if a student is found to be stealing, being in possession of stolen items, or damaging school property (which also includes people’s personal belongings), the MHS administration will take the appropriate disciplinary action which may include:

  • Loss of privileges for the remainder of the school year, including participation in athletics or other extracurricular activities, attending athletic games, dances, and graduation activities;
  • Seek reimbursement for the stolen and damaged items from the student or their family;
  • Suspension from school.
  • In more severe situations, where a student violates penal code, the referral to local law enforcement may be made.

As suspensions are a last resort disciplinary action, a student taking accountability is a positive step in the restorative justice process. Students who engage in, confess to, and/or return items that were stolen or damaged while engaging in this trend will be recognized for their desire to be a part of the restorative process in the determination of appropriate disciplinary actions.

Please talk with your student about the serious consequences of participating in this trend, or participating in any other activity that involves stealing or damaging school  and personal property. We also encourage monitoring of students’ social media activity, as these types of social media challenges tend to involve risky behaviors of which students do not typically realize the serious consequences or threat to the safety of our schools and community until it’s too late.

Thank you for your assistance in helping to put a stop to this negative activity in our community.

Francis Rojas
Principal

 

Stratford School has Unusual Funding Source

New Stratford School facility will open at former Orchard Supply site
By Eric Shapiro, Milpitas Beat, September 9, 2021
Per a Milpitas Planning Commision vote last month, on August 11, the 44,088-square-foot site will become a private school for students in preschool and early elementary grades. The school, which will be able to accommodate a maximum of 480 such students, will be operated by Stratford Schools, a company with existing locations on Great Mall Parkway and Corning Avenue, and is expected to open its doors in the Fall of 2022.

Go Milpitas
I dug a little deeper into Stratford’s business. Spring Education Group (SEG), is a for-profit private school company based in Campbell, (or Saratoga, depending on the site), California. SEG’s CEO is Shawn Weidmann. It is majority-owned by Primavera Capital Group, a Chinese-based investment group. Makes one wonder about end game here. If you want to go down another rabbit hole, google Fred Hu, the chair of Primavera. He, who attended Harvard, currently sits on Hong Kong Government’s Strategic Development Committee and the Advisory Committee for the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. In other words, this is not the way your typical private school is funded. Primavera’s intention is to “Connect Global Investors to China’s Leading Companies.” Says so on the Primavera home page.

Spring Education Group is organized into 3 divisions:

  • The Early Childhood Education Division includes 135+ schools (as of 2021) offering infant care through PreK/K programs. Our locations span a nationwide geographic footprint and a diverse array of pedagogical approaches — including our proprietary Links to Learning curriculum that draws from the collective expertise of renowned early-age educators such as Dewey, Piaget and Vygotsky; Montessori schools that embrace both accredited Montessori methods – AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) and AMS (American Montessori Society); and progressive language immersion programs in Mandarin and Spanish.
  • The K-12 Division includes 55+ schools (as of 2021), with programs spanning Preschool, Elementary, Middle School and High School. Across all of our K-12 schools, the common theme is our dedication to providing high-quality education and delivering superior educational outcomes through a variety of acclaimed pedagogical approaches. Our proven curricula include the top-ranked BASIS Curriculum used in our BASIS Independent Schools and Stratford’s STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) curriculum that was recognized by the White House as a leader in early childhood STEM education.
  • The Online Division features Laurel Springs School, a WASC-accredited pioneer in online private school education since 1991 that provides flexible and personalized learning experiences for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and beyond.

The SEG is buying up schools right and left all over the US. If you have one to sell them, just fill out the form and they’ll gobble it up, and run it and invest in it from Communist China. They already own Merryhill School in Milpitas.

What does Shawn Weidmann bring to your child’s education through experienced leadership of educators? Shawn joined Stratford School as the CEO in April 2015. Previously, he was the COO of Public Storage, the world’s largest operator of self-storage facilities with over 2200 sites in the 38 states. His extensive career as a leader includes being President of Teleflora, the world’s largest network of retail florists; consultant at McKinsey & Company; product manager for Progressive Insurance; and a partner at EHS Partners, a boutique consulting firm. He launched his career as an Army officer, leaving active duty as a Captain.

ESL – English as a Second Language in Milpitas and Online

ESL-English as a Second LanguageEnglish (ESL) classes for non-native English speakers in Milpitas, Fremont, San Jose and general Silicon Valley area of California.

Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order:
opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose
“If you mess with that word order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac, he warns in the extract. “It’s an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out. And as size comes before colour, green great dragons can’t exist.”

Local ESL Courses Cursos Locales

Christ Community Church
CCCM offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESL classes and language tutoring.
All of the Spring classes will be using either Zoom or Jitsi. Please use a tablet or laptop with a microphone and video camera, and if these are not available, you can use a cell phone.
408-262-8000 x7932.

La iglesia de la comunidad de Cristo
CCCM ofrece comenzar, intermedio, y clases de ESL y curso particular avanzados de la lengua.
408-262-8000 x7932.

Milpitas USD Adult Ed ESL Classes
ESL/Citizenship Registration will be available from Feb. 22 to March 5, 2021.
Register here!
New students must take a placement test with Milpitas Adult Education to get into the ESL program. Please Note: F-1 (I-20) students, B-1, and B-2 visa holders are prohibited from attending publicly-funded adult education programs in the United States.
408-635-2692.

Clases Del Ed ESL Del Adulto De Milpitas USD
Los nuevos estudiantes deben tomar una prueba de la colocación con la enseñanza para adultos de Milpitas para conseguir en el programa de ESL.
408-635-2692.

Vision Literacy ESL Classes
We welcome all levels of learners to improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in small groups with trained instructors. By appointment.
540 Valley Way, Bldg 4
For more information, click here or call us at 408-676-7323 or Email us at info@visionliteracy.org.

ESL -Online Language Learning Recursos de ESL En línea

Dave’s ESL Cafe
The Internet’s Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World.

Genki English
ESL games, songs and ideas to make your ESL lessons better.

Learning English
In the news, for work, with music or through sport.

Translations Traducciones

The Best 10 Translation Services Milpitas, CA 95035
Need help with translation? Here are the best translation services near Milpitas.

Tutors

ESL Tutors near Milpitas, CA
Sorted by rating. You may also sort by distance and price.

Milpitas, CA, ESL Lessons
Easily search and compare teachers in your area, including past student reviews and background checks. Our online tools make booking, managing your schedule and paying for lessons easy and hassle-free.

Vocabulary Vocabulario

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
Fourth Edition. Over 90,000 entries feature 10,000 new words and senses, 70,000 audio word pronunciations, 900 full-page color illustrations, language notes and word-root appendixes.

British – Canadian – American Vocabulary Guide
What’s a biscuit in Britain is a cookie in Canada and America.

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