Light Rail Opening 2004
Slide show movie of the opening of the light rail line at the Great Mall June 23, 2004.
Tag: <span>History of Milpitas</span>
Fireworks Set-Up for 4th of July 2002
A lot of work went into setting up the fireworks display on the 4th of July, 2002. Pyro Spectaculars is a very active company that hires professionally licensed “pyros” to manage the display set-up. They usually have a crew of friendly volunteers who turn out to help with various aspects of the two-day process.
The Zeise family has now helped out twice. Here are some photos of the whole gang working on the non-explosive part on July 3rd, which is why you’ll see some children.
For current 4th of July plans in Milpitas, check the Events Calendar.
For the most part, the tubes are made of the PVC-type material used to make drains for your home plumbing, though a few were made of iron and were quite heavy. They had diameters of 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″.
These are set up in a specific order in each box, well away from the sides and each other. They are inspected for any debris left from a previous display.
The finale fireworks are in their own green containers in the background of this photo.
The building in the background is part of KLA Tencor, which makes semiconductor equipment. Both they and Quantum (now Maxtor) were nice about letting us and the evening crowd use their parking lots.
It is doubtful this field will be around for many more 4th fireworks display.
Fiber Optic Cable
Optic Trunk Comes Through Milpitas
Sunday my son and I watched as the Utilities Construction Company strung fiber optic cable on top of (turned off) power towers that run parallel to Milpitas Boulevard, about a half block to the east. We chatted with an inspector for the company, who told us that they were going to be stringing the cable all around the Bay Area. This particular cable started in Hayward, so scenes like this will be common in the Bay Area for the next couple of weeks. Unlike another cable laying construction company that has been getting in trouble for laying cable through Indian burial grounds, this company specializes in high tower work, subcontracting the services of helicopters. The linemen nonchalantly hopped from tower to tower on the skids of the chopper. The chopper also brought up tools, equipment and the heavy rope that was first strung from the towers before the cable was pulled through the large bike wheel-sized pulleys. The capacity of the cable will be leased or sold in part to cities, utilities and internet service companies.
Dateline: December 20, 1999
By Ann Zeise, photos by Scott Zeise
Wind Storm, October 22, 2000
Wind Storm Blasts its Way Through Milpitas
Dateline: October 22, 2000
By Ann Zeise
Several people were injured when trees fell upon them during heavy winds. Power lines were knocked down and several sections of the city were without power at various times throughout the day. Some new construction at the Pac Bell station was blown over. Most citizens spent Sunday cleaning up debris or helping neighbors.
