• Arts & Entertainment

    Art Clubs and Associations in Milpitas

    art on utility box

    Join Milpitas art clubs to share tips. Come to a gallery to view our art. Take a class to learn or improve your favorite art form. Arts Commission-Civic Art Art Clubs and Associations Art Clubs, Classes, Studios and Galleries Ceramics Grants for the Arts Arts Commission Serves as an advisory body to the City Council on matters pertaining to the Arts, performance or visual in the City of Milpitas. The Commission reviews Phantom Art Gallery artist applicants, and reviews the Cultural Arts Support Program. The Arts Commission meets at the Milpitas City Hall, Committee Conference Room, 455 East Calaveras Boulevard. It holds regular meetings on the fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m.…

  • Sports & Recreation

    Swimming Pools & Lessons

    Swimming pool at the Milpitas Sports Center Public Swimming Pools Milpitas has lots of pools where you can go and to keep cool or take swim lessons when the summer heat sizzles. Recreational Swimming at the Milpitas Sport Center Due to Covid restrictions, only a limited number of participants are allowed in the pool, and they must all make a reservation well in advance. No drop-ins. Two large and one “baby” pool provide a variety of water fitness and exercise programs. Recreational swimming is offered at both Milpitas Sports Center and Milpitas High School during the summer months. Pools are fully supervised by lifeguards. The fee a $2.00 is charged…

  • History

    Indigenous People (Ohlone Indians) of Silicon Valley

    Ohlone Indigenous people

    History of the Ohlone Indians, the indigenous people who inhabited the south San Francisco Bay region of California. Bloody Island Massacre To this day, the US Army, State of California, or County of Lake, have made no attempt to apologize for nearly annihilating the innocent Pomo people of Bodanapotti. California Powwow Calendar Check here for powwows of indigenous people being held in California. California Cultures: Native Americans At the time of Spanish colonization in the late 1700s, California was home to more than 300,000 indigenous people in more than 200 tribes. Their centuries-old way of life was brought to an end relatively quickly: native Californians soon established regular trading relationships with…

  • Housing

    Gardens in Milpitas

    Gardeners Know All the Dirt

    In spite of our “adobe brick” soil, we manage to have quite lovely gardens in Milpitas. Many are giving up manicured lawns for drought-tolerant and California Bay Area native plant landscaping. Plants are selected to attract hummingbirds and butterflies common to our area to our gardens.  Beautification of Local Gardens Heritage Tree Program Recognize and protect individual trees or groves of trees. Includes photos of significant and historic trees in Milpitas’ gardens. Neighborhood Beautification Ordinance The Neighborhood Beautification Ordinance was adopted to enhance the quality and appearance of our community. It requires a minimum level of upkeep for properties and prevents activities that detract from a residential atmosphere. Our City Forest…

  • History

    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…

  • Arts & Entertainment

    Museums In and Near Milpitas

    Park and History Museum Plans

    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. 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 We were members for years when Scott was younger, going to the BIG PURPLE BUILDING where they “let you play in the…

  • Animals & Pets

    Birds

    Identify the birds of Santa Clara County and the San Jose – San Francisco Bay Area. Help save the Burrowing Owl, and learn to build nesting boxes for blue birds. Share photos of our Milpitas Bald Eagles’ Nest My tamed Western scrub jay, No Fear, opens peanuts while sitting on my hand. She either eats them right away or buries them in the yard. I’ve noticed the squirrels watch her carefully, and steal the hidden peanuts when she comes back for another. Taming and handfeeding backyard birds is a fun project. Common and Rare Birds BIRDS OF THE BAY AREA Fremont Birding Circle (FBC) Fremont Birding Circle (FBC) is a group dedicated…

  • History

    Ancient & Medieval History in the South Bay Area

    Medieval-SCA

    You can find out more about ancient and medieval times right here in the South Bay Area. Learn about the mysterious rock wall formations, too. Paleontological Boy Paleontologists In the Irvington gravel pits, known as Bell Quarry, located off of Osgood Road from 1944 to 1960, the Boy Paleontologists of Hayward unearthed plant and animal fossils including mammoths, saber cats, horses, camels, and even rodents. A new species named Tetrameryx irvingtonensis, a four-pronged antelope, was the most significant find. Presently Freeway 680, between Washington Boulevard and Durham Road, covers this fossil field. Children’s Natural History Museum Including “Irvingtonian Fossils”, the “Boy Paleontologist” Room, “Bones of Vertebrates,” and “Environments through Time”…

  • Health Services

    Emergency Training and Planning

    Hillcrest CERT

    Health Services in and near Milpitas Hillcrest Citizens Emergency Response (SAFE) Team graduates 14 Back: Tilly Hermandi, Jeff Sample, Ann & Fred Zeise, Susi Gunarsa, Kathy Kuhne, Dana Arbaugh, Brian McCracken, and Americo (of the Milpitas Fire Dept.) Front: Yea-Cheng Wang, Gunawan Ali-Santosa, Tina Pham, Agnes & Bethany Eytchison, and Scott DeMars Use 9-1-1 to hail emergency crews to your location in Milpitas. Be prepared! Get this emergency preparedness information on these links printed out BEFORE the power goes out! Milpitas Police Department Offers Text-to-911 Service Texters are advised to text in their location and what kind of help is needed during a given emergency. The MPD instructs users not to send…

  • History

    Milpitas Historical Society April 14, 2021 with Mort Levine & Deva Luna

    Milpitas Post founder Mort Levine

    Milpitas Post founder Mort Levine, with his daughter Deva Luna, reflects on his family’s history in Milpitas, and talks about the life of his wife Elaine Levine, co-founder of The Milpitas Historical Society and original publisher of the Milpitas Post. Video from the Milpitas Historical Society.