Welcome to the Murdock Neighborhood Association

National Night Out is celebrated all over San Jose and throughout the country. On this night neighborhoods send a message that they are united and watching out for each other by holding special events like the one MNA will be holding in Murdock Park. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back

More information will be coming soon. For the last three summers, MNA has celebrated with a bring-your-own-barbeque picnic. Neighbors brought their dinner and the MNA supplied the cooking coals, drinks, and dessert. Watch for email and an orange flyer in Murdock Park and on your doorstep for details about this year's National Night Out.

Hurrah!! Many thanks to Mori Mandis, Kathy Herrington, and all who worked so hard for this!!

Want to know what a CAP grant is? Read about the CAP grant program here.

Here is the CAP draft of where the monies will go.

Murdock Neighborhood Association Membership Dues are $10 per family per year, starting Jan 1st of each year.

DUES CAN BE PAID AT MEETINGS OR SENT TO:
Murdock Neighborhood Association
P.O. Box 2545
Saratoga, CA 95070-0545

The MNA website has a printable form to send with your dues.

Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to socialize with others in the neighborhood! San José Councilmember Pete Constant attended. The food was plentiful and delicious because everyone brought a dish from their cultural heritage to share. Free Hot Dogs and Ice cream were provided and there were games and a piñata for the children.

See photos from this year's picnic.

Many thanks to Margie and Larry Murchan and all who helped arrange this event!

Hot weather can kill your new tree.

Using a bucket or hose, water your tree at least twice a week during the dry season, 5-10 gallons at a time. Please maintain the watering basin and add wood chips or mulch.

Some tips from Our City Forest:

• Soil drainage can vary greatly. Check the soil moisture a few inches below the soil surface. It should feel moist, but not soggy. If there is any excess moisture, wait 1-2 days (don't wait longer to check) then check the soil moisture again before watering.
• If possible, irrigate in the evening or early morning using a low flow rate for a long duration. To determine duration, you can time how long it takes to fill a 1 or 5 gallon bucket at a given flow rate.
• Maintain the watering basin. Make sure water does not leak out and keep the watering basin free of all vegetation.
• Turf sprinkler irrigation systems alone do not provide sufficient watering for young trees to survive. Additional deep-watering is necessary to saturate the root ball.

• A child was hit by a car leaving the Murdock-Portal School parking lot. Read this Urgent Traffic Update
• The January '08 Traffic Update was posted on the Home Page for several months in the Spring. It is being reposted for those who missed it.
• April '08 Traffic Update
• July '08 Traffic Update

Be considerate of your neighbors and don't park a car in front of your house on Street Sweep Day (second Tuesday of the month). The sweepers have a large turning radius. This means they have to start moving away from the curb well before they get to that car. The street in front of your house will miss sweeping and also a large part of the street in front of your neighbor, too.

MNA currently has $2000 in the treasury and would like to spend $750 on a projector to show movies in the park on an annual basis. The first movie would be on National Night Out. The Board would like to hear your opinions about this. Use the website's Contact Form to send your thoughts about Movie Night in the Park.