Day Trips are just that. Short trips to a wide range of venues at local locations. The events are of short duration no more than a few hours. The events range from museums, lectures, gardens, historical locations, manufacturing facilities or special events.
Come and join these fun excursions and, if you have ideas for new trips, contact Glenn Darragh at 408-621-4536 or Chuck Moggia at 408-997-1623.
March 21, 2024
Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center 4190 Zanker Road, San Jose CA.
For information click:Santa Clara Water | Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (purewater4u.org)
The purification center has successfully demonstrated our ability to create a safe, reliable, drought resilient addition to our water portfolio, producing as much as 8 million gallons per day of advanced purified water that meets state and federal standards.
The purification center receives secondary-treated wastewater from the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility located across the street. The incoming wastewater has undergone two treatment cycles (or about 10 hours of treatment) that help remove 99% of solid impurities in the water. At the purification center, the water undergoes three additional advanced treatment processes that purify the water to drinking water quality. Currently, this water is blended with recycled water to enhance its quality and expand its usage. However, Valley Water is working on expanding purified water reuse to boost our drinking water supply.
These processes are proven in the water treatment industry and are already used around the world to provide safe, drinking water.
View the process using Microfiltration, Reverse Osmosis, Ultraviolet Light, Advanced Oxidation and finally pure drinkable water.
Happy 2024 New Year SIRS,
Chuck & I have chosen “Rosie the Riveter” is our First Day trip in 2024 which will be on Thursday, January 18th. Rosie the Riveter is located in the WWII Home Front Museum at 1414 Harbor Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond, CA. The Good News is that there is No entrance fee.
Why Richmond? Richmond, California was chosen as the site for this National Historical Park because it has so many surviving sites and structures from the World War II years that can help tell the diverse stories of the home front. These stories include the mobilization of America’s industry and the changes in production techniques; the struggle for women’s and minority rights; the labor movement; the growth of pre-paid medical care; advances in early childhood education and day care; recycling and rationing; major shifts in population; and changes in arts and culture.
Richmond played a significant and nationally recognized part in the World War II home front. The four Richmond shipyards produced 747 ships, more than any other shipyard complex in the country. Richmond was also home to over 56 different war industries, more than any other city of its size in the United States. The city grew from less than 24,000 people in 1940 to nearly 100,000 people by 1943, overwhelming the available housing, roads, schools, businesses and community services. At the same time, Executive Order 9066 forcibly removed Japanese and Japanese-American residents from the area, disrupting Richmond’s thriving cut-flower industry. The war truly touched every aspect of civilian life on the home front. Through historic structures, museum collections, interpretive exhibits, and programs, the park tells the diverse and fascinating story of the WWII home front.
FILOLI October 26
Everyone had a great time even though the garden was mostly dormant. The house is never dormant and displayed some new looks of what used to be. There was some beautiful flower displays and, of course, little Bull Dogs strategically hidden. The orchard was almost bare but the turkeys were having a great feast of apples. We can not wait for the color of April and May.
Chabot Space and Science Center for Thursday, August 31st.
Rezo Mostafavi, Robert Miller, Joe Lowry, Heinz Bodeker, Chuck Moggia and Greg & Ursula Walters had a very interesting tour of the Chabot Space and Science museum viewing artifacts from past and present space voyages; from early Alan Shepherds first journey into space to space shuttles and more. The planetarium had interesting shows and we were able to see the planet Venus through the observatory’s telescope.
Testarossa Winery June 29, 2023
On June 29 Glenn Darragh organized an outing to the Testarossa winery in Los Gatos. This is a beautiful location with wonderful wines. A great time was had by all who attended.
Visit the Computer Museum in Mt. View
October 28, 2022
Computer History Museum at 1401 North Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. Their hours are 10am-5pm but propose we meet at 10:30am to tour the museum. The cost for Seniors is $13.50.
Please RSVP to Glenn at email: grdarragh@gmail.com or call 408-621-4536.
The Computer History Museum is a museum established in 1996 in Mountain View, California, US. The museum presents stories and artifacts of the information age and explores the computing revolution and its impact on society.
Experience Hakone
September 23, 2022
One of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s premier sites and 100 years old, Hakone is one of the old Japanese estate, retreat and gardens in the Western Hemisphere. Hakone has also been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013. 18 acres of magnificent beauty is nestled in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley. Open Hakone’s History to read more.
Another Day Trip
Senior Safari
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
748 Story Road, San Jose
FREE Parking and free admission for those over 50 if you enter between 9 and 10 AM
Thursday, July 28th.
No RSVP is required, just show up and wait for all the Sirs at the entry gate, so we can tour together.
SinSIRely,
Richard Kabanek
SIR Branch 54 Activities Chairman
REGISTER FRI SEP (27) 9 a.m. for SLAC TOUR OCT 25
Larry Snapp
I have had requests and survey results indicating tour of facilities or businesses.SLAC on the Stanford campus has Public TOURs but does not book by group. We want to make it a group outing BUT it requires those interested to self register. SIRs should focus on the October 25th tour for the 1:00-2:30 time. If we fill that time slot choose the 2:30-4:00 tour. Here is a link to the SLAC TOUR SITE: https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/public-toursEd. Note: This is not as simple as it looks. Signups for this event are handled by Eventbrite. You will need an Eventbrite Acct. to “buy” your “FREE” tickets when they go on SALE. I suggest you click on this link TODAY and create your account, then click on it tomorrow at 9 a.m. to get your tickets. SLAC TOUR 1 PMSLAC TOUR 2:30
SLAC: Stanford Linear Accelerator for years the longest and fastest accelerator in the world and the source of research that lead to 6 Nobel prizes in physics.
The Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests is nearly two miles long and is powered by 250 of these klystron microwaves which accelerate electrons through these pipes to targets at nearly the speed of light.
The Linac Coherent Light Source is an X-ray producing, free electron laser that sheds enough light to see things on almost an atomic level and is a major tool used in biological, chemical and energy research. Other faster and larger Accelerators have been built in the world so this has now become a primary tool at SLAC. SLAC also has other laboratories performing major Dark Matter research.
We were fortunate to have two LCLS research scientists (future Nobel Laureates) explain the history and current research that is continuing here.
Citywide Senior Bus Trip to Apple Center and Rosicrucian Museum
The City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Seniors Citywide Bus Trips Program’s next stop is Apple Center and the Rosicrucian Museum on Thursday, April 25! Visit the new “spaceship” campus at Apple Park’s Visitor Center and see the view on its rooftop terrace. Lunch will be at Mission Bistro in Mission College, and the day will conclude with a visit to the Rosicrucian Museum. Sign up at your local community center or online at https://www.sjregistration.com. For more information, please contact Barbara Crum, at 408-244-1353.
Sunnyvale Museum Day Trip
Sign up by texting or calling Larry Snapp 408-757-7627
Research Library and Archives Tour November 17, 2017 at 1 PM
Collection Center
1650 Senter Road
San Jose, CA
The Collection Center is a warehouse that is climate controlled and stores items so they will not deteriorate. This is a most interesting tour as they will show you the moving platforms and walls that house the myriad of items that are being preserved. Through this we will celebrate the lives and ways of living that was experienced by our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
When you tour the Center it will bring back memories from your childhood, things you played with, worked with, wore and items your parents may have told you about.
Our tour guide Ken Middlebrook was most knowledgeable and gave a talk about how the facility started and what its purpose is. Our group was full of questions. I might say very educated ones. Good going gang!
We started on the tour and saw painting galore and hundreds of items of all sizes stored and protected in a climate controlled environment. Their goal is to preserve items so that generations from now can enjoy them. The place was magnificent to pass through.
All our previous tours started in the morning and followed with a lunch of some sort. It was pleasant but decided to try something new. At the tours end we used the large table and served coffee, tea and 3 types of homemade cookies (by Joan) and had most relaxing conversion.
I hope you all enjoyed this unique tour and hope to see you all (and more) next time.
Regards Sir Michael Hastings
Rosicrucian Museum Day Trip
On Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 10:00 our Sirs group headed to the Rosicrucian museum. The parking was easy. We began with the walk around the Labyrinth and then visited the Peace Garden. From there it was off to the Egyptian Museum itself.
All was clean, neat and every display had writeups and also interesting talks from the docents. Much to our surprise, we learned that the Museum and Planetarium tours were FREE for that day (A Saving of $7.50). We saw lots of welldone history displays going way back in the time off Egyptian life. We also saw an underground burial tomb.
Around noon we walked to the Park Station Hashery and enjoyed a great meal and great company. It was back to see the Planetarium and off to home.
So our 6 tour members came away knowing more about human history thousands of years ago.
San Jose Dump Wednesday, April 12, 2017
The address is 1601 Dixon Landing Road, Milpitas, Ca.
They have an 8 person limit per tour.
Starts at 11:00 and takes about an hour.
We are asks to wear closed toes shoes and to let you know there is a bit of step climbing..
Our last tour at this site was on Nov 9, 2016 and was well received.
At present we have 6 people signed up. They are Heinz Bodeker, Ron Billet, Elroy and Marge Ann Lucero and John and Susan Knapp. That leaves 2 spots open. Please call or email me if you would like to come or need to cancel!
PS: The tour is two days before our Sirs meeting
Regards.. Mike Hastings
AINSLEY HOUSE DAY TRIP
TIME: 12 NOON300 Grant StreetCampbell, CA
Well they she be. A beautiful house outside and fantastic inside also. It is located in downtown Campbell, Ca. Our docents were really sharp and made the tour even better. We spent about an hour including a short film display and browsing s in the well-stocked shop.
After the event we walked to the Campbell Brewing Co. for lunch and a taste of beer. This was a great way to end the event.
Thanks to all the made it to the tour. It was enjoyable and allows for a great tour, good food and relation with our Sirs members and their wives. Thanks to all. Regards Mike Hastings Free parking next door at the Campbell Library. Tour Cost $5 [Senior Rate] Length of Tour: Approx 1 hour..
Tour at Newby Island Recyclery. October, 2016
The Newby Island Recyclery is the largest recycling operation in the world by volume. It is capable of processing 110 tons per hour and 400,000 tons per year with an 80 percent diversion rate. There are four conveyer lines manned by many workers plus optical sorters to separate the trash.
Our Tour guide (Mike Geiss) showed us the inflow section and the four paths the trash was taking and separated. It is really a sight to see.
There were four of us Sirs (Francis&Kathleen Seidl , Richard Kabanek and Mike Hastings. It was tricky parking due to the massive trucks coming and going but well worth the seeing it in action.
Another tour will be set up after the first of the year. Watch your newsletter.
Regards Mike Hastings
Sept 22, 2016 10:00 AM Gordon Biersch Brewery Co. tour located at 357 E. Taylor St., San Jose, CA 95112
There is no charge for parking since we park on the premises.
The tour itself is also FREE and will take about 50 minutes.
If you are interested in dining after the tour, the Happi House restaurant is an easy 2 blocks away.
The prices are reasonable and parking is easy.
This is a “don’t miss” tour so sign up, and bring a friend.
I’ll see you there.
July 28, 2016 Happy Hollow Zoo
Our excursion to Happy Hollow Zoo was really enjoyable. The parking was free! The park itself was free. Many handouts were passed out by pleasant young girls. A free orange tee shirt with park scenes on it and a device to show how many steps you made were handed out for free. To boot there were lots of well kept animals to take a gander at.
MOZART AUTO MUSUM TOUR
Mt. View, CA, July 7, 2016 11:00 to 1:00
This is a unique opportunity to tour a world-class museum to see and learn about some of the world’s rarest automobiles. Free Admission and Parking
April 20 2016
The Vector Control open house brochure at the following link https://www.sccgov.org/will provide the date and hours.
There are several walk bye displays plus a couple signup tours of their facility.
The tours are first come, first serve.
They offer a lite refreshment. Probably punch and cookies.
There are two fast food places near bye. Decided to let everyone go as they wish.
I plan to be there at 10:00, a half hour early so that I can check out the lay of the land.
The Big Bug Event
The County Vector Control put on their second Open House on April 20, 2016
and “WE WERE THERE”. Weather was fine and there was much to see. Booths showed many of the facets of their facility.
There were two tours which our group went on. One was triple troughs filled
with fish that eat mosquitos (YUM). They are available to the general public
and companies that have ponds that might attract mosquitos.
The second tour was of their labs with samples of all types of bugs,
microscopes and the like. They look for new bugs and diseases passed by
bugs.
The many tent displays showed how to protect your home from termites, rats
and the like.
I was happy to meet a new friend! See the attached pictures.
Thank you all for coming and keep your eyes open for future tours.
March 17 2016 Moffett Historical Museum
A tour to the Moffett Historical Museum is in the works. The museum is filled with aircraft and all kinds of displays pertinent to the Moffett Field History.
Parking is free. Our Tour rate is $5.00.
History of Football at the Triton
So here we are. The big game is over and we can settle down. I was thinking that many did not purchase tickets for the game. We did not rent a room in San Francisco and stayed out till midnight watching the fireworks and loud bands.
In fact there may be some who were not sure who was playing since the 49ers were not part of the frenzy, all we saw was a bunch guys running back and forth on the fields but not knowing much about the particulars of the game. Best part for some is the commercials in between plays.
All that aside, here is a way to learn a bit about the history of the sport. A great football exhibit is at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara. It has a series of displays that can give you a year supply of data about the game, its people, the rules, clothing and much more. For instance, what did the first teams use as a football and how has it changed through the years. You can also see how your arm matches up with some of the football big guys. Come join us for a great day of football history.
Place: Triton Museum 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Our tour of the museum has come and gone. Attending were Richard Kabanek, Bob Hartle, Mike Hastings and Hersh Brown.
There were three rooms with displays of football teams paraphernalia going back to the beginning of the game. Samples of helmets, shoes and garb worn throughout the years were in full size displays.
We watched the younger people trying out their kicking accuracy but when it came to muscle, we tried the arm and lower body muscle demo’s against 350 lb football pros and also tried on some of the football gear.
Lunch afterwards was at Andys. Food was great but there was severe traffic issues on the El Camino.
NOV. 6, 2015 Intel Tour
| We had 16 attendees including a couple new members. Our tour was assisted by a great (and funny) tour guide. The exhibit is as close as a person can get to the very heart of Silicon Valley. Intel by the way stands for Integrated Electronics. We also learned why we are called Silicon Valley! The tour itself was a bit over an hour and was awesome, especially discussions about the clean rooms and the perfection required to build the chips. Upon completion of the tour, we took a picture or two and then headed for lunch at the Smash burger. Our timing was great as the working crowd was just leaving when we arrived so we could all sit together. Thank you all for setting a few hours aside for our tour and keep an eye out for others to come. Regards… Mike Hastings, Tour Coordinator. |
| July 23, 2015 We’re going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo How about You, You, YouYou can go To, To, To.Mark your calendar I have planned a great outing to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, located at 1300 Senter Road, San Jose, CA, 95112. We meet at 9:00 am on Thursday, July 23rd. for a Senior Safari Walkabout. You will be there to help rouse the animals as they are being put out for the day. We have free admission and parking. If you want, bring a bag lunch and we will gather at the picnic benches under the trees near the parking lot at 11:00am. You can return to the zoo after lunch if you would like. |
Mike Hastings has arranged for a tour of the Santa Clara University Library (Learning Commons Bldg 401) on April 2 at 10:00am. The tour is limited to 20 people so make reservations with Mike early as the opportunity will pass quickly.
The tour is composed of: A. a description of how the library operates. B. The auto-retrieval book system. C. The St Johns Bible and why it is there. D. a look at their archive collection.
And then: lunch at the dining area across from the library ( there are several restaurants under one roof).
Parking: A PDF map is attached. The parking lot marked is $4.00 Credit card only.
Our April 2, 2015 tour of SCU Library-–Mike Hastings
Well; was that a good tour or what! Our tour guides Joanne Britten and Sheila Conway were experts and able to explain the workings of the automated library and gigantic archiving system in laymen’s terms. Parking was not too bad for our members had just a short walk to the Library. The tour was about an hour or so and we got to see the massive, automated book storage and retrieval system in operation. Students request for a book would be automatically delivered to them.
We moved on to the large display of archived materials on the third floor, some of which were over a thousand years old. One of the seven volumes of the St. John’s Bible was on display. You could tell the people that worked there, loved their jobs. We then descended to the basement which housed a huge archiving storage area. The temperature and storage containers were designed to assure the all items will stay as they were when written. At the end of the tour, our members split up for lunch. At first look, the huge multi restaurant was overwhelming with students everywhere. Four of us stayed and got our lunch in 5 minutes or so and got to enjoy the student atmosphere.
Richard Kabanek scheduled a tour of the Earthquakes new stadium. The trip to EARTHQUAKES STADIUM was a huge success. On January 26th, Branch 54 had another successful day trip. We had a very informative tour of the new Earthquakes stadium. Our docent was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of the stadium. I didn’t know but he said that the size of the “pitch” (soccer lingo) can be adjusted by the home team for each match depending upon the strengths or weakness of the opposing team. After the tour we had lunch at the Pasta Market on Coleman. Everyone thanked Sir Pierre Garabedian for the recommendation. Over 20 Sirs with their wives and friends attended both the tour and lunch. We had 2 quests and both showed interest in joining our branch. A very successful trip I must say.
