February 9, 2006

STREET SCENECorte De Belleza

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Four homes sit prettily on Corte De Belleza, where children of all ages happily play and neighbors are close friends.

Neighbors on Corte De Belleza are close friends who look out for each other.

Pamela Baker and her family moved to the court about 8 years ago, when she was pregnant with her daughter. She and her husband knew they wanted to live on a court and when they saw the house, they immediately made an offer. An added bonus was a bed left especially for their son, easing his transition into his new home. “He didn’t’ miss the old house at all,” says Baker, “because now he had a race car bed!”

Baker appreciates that the children who live on the court, as well as those who live nearby, are able to play safely outdoors, as she did as a child. “We all grew up running to our friends houses, and playing outside until dusk when our parents called us in,” she says, “and we want that so much for our own kids.”

She found that and more on Corte De Belleza. “All the neighborhood kids come here to play,” she says, “That’s what I like best about it.” The neighbors also socialize during holiday barbeques. While the children ride their bikes and tricycles, the adults relax in lawn chairs, chatting amiably together and watching them play.

They also look out for each other. They keep a neighborhood phone list in case anyone needs assistance, and look after each other’s homes. “That’s everything you’d want,” says Baker, who has a friendship gate in her backyard, open to neighborhood kids.

Many of the local families met through their children or while going for a walk or a bike ride. They also convene at nearby Jeffrey Fontana Dog Park. “Everybody’s out talking while the dogs are running,” says Baker. “Everyone’s so nice and my kids now know all the dogs by name.” Going to the dog park has become a neighborhood outing. “When we go to the dog park, we tell our neighbors,” she says, “and the kids go running for their bikes to join us.”

Once a month, the women also get together to play bunko and scrapbook. “It’s really fun,” says Baker.

Baker also feels a personal connection with her neighbors. She and her family attended the 25th Wedding Anniversary of next door neighbors Jeff and Diane Maeda and Canadian Thanksgiving and Boxing Day at Sean and Helen Louvelle’s home. In return, they attended Baker’s Halloween and Christmas parties as well as her daughter’s first communion. The Louvelle children also leave pictures for her on her doorstep. “It’s so fun to have little kids on the court again,” says Baker. “Even the big kids love them.”

Baker feels a debt of gratitude and a personal connection with the Louvelles, who are both nurses. For, when her mother was in the hospital, they looked after her. “It was so helpful to have them there,” she says. “My mom really appreciated it, too.”

“I’m very happy here,” Baker says. “It’s a good place for my kids and I love my neighbors.”

Sean and Diane Louvelle and their family have lived on Corte De Belleza for about a year and a half. Attracted by the school district and community feel of the neighborhood, they are happy with their decision to move here. “The cul du sac is great for the kids,” says Sean. “The view of the hills is amazing and the neighbors are very nice.”

The Louvelles also appreciate living in the Almaden Valley. “Wherever you go, you run into someone you know,” he says. “We’re also in a central location, so it’s like having our cake and eating it too.”

Utilizing their surroundings, they enjoy hiking through Quick Silver, playing at Almaden Mea-dows Park, and watching the dogs run at the Jeffrey Fontana Dog Park. With its AVYSL soccer program, YMCA and AVAC, Sean believes that Alma-den is good for young families. “It’s a big kid scene here,” he says.

Originally attracted to the area by its public schools, the Louvelles appreciate that Precious Preschool, which their daughter currently attends, is a stones throw away, and that Los Alamitos Elementary School is within easy walking distance. “It’s really a blessing,” says Sean. “The neighborhood’s great and we’re happy to be here.”

As several of the children of Corte De Belleza families have attended Precious Preschool, it holds a special place in their hearts, so it was only natural that they became its guardian angels. For years, Pamela Baker has kept a look out on the school and joined with her neighbors to make Halloween extra-special for its students. On the day of their Halloween party, the preschool students parade from the front of the school down the street to Corte De Belleza, where they’re met by costumed characters who give them well-wishes and compliments, as well as tasty treats. Last year, Baker handed out candy dressed as Sponge Bob while Louvelle played holiday music and manned another candy stand. That day, Baker’s sprinkled glitter set the sidewalks sparkling, but the shine was surpassed by the joy in the children’s eyes, as they showed off their costumes and gathered their first Halloween treats, thanks to some special neighbors.

Jeff and Diane Maedas have lived on Corte De Belleza for about 13 years. Their children, who are now college age, attended Los Alamitos Elementary School, Castillero Middle School, Pioneer and Lincoln High Schools.

The Maedas also appreciate their neighbors. “We’re all very close and look out for each other,” says Jeff. They also appreciate their community. “Almaden is quiet and small with well-maintained homes and good schools,” he says.

According to Jeff, this track of semi-custom homes, located off Redmond Avenue, was built in the 1980s on land once owned by Bob and Georgiana Hobbs. The Hobbs, who still reside in the yellow house on the corner of Redmond and Meridian Avenues, decorate their gate with scarecrows whose accessories change with the seasons. “Back when the Hobbs moved to Almaden,” says Jeff, “Meridian didn’t go through and there was no Albertsons or Union 76 station.” An old barn, belonging to the Hobbs family, makes up a part of the Maeda’s side fence, and a gate, which connected the two properties, lasted until a recent storm. Mancuso Street, which runs adjacent to Corte De Belleza, was named after another local family who originally owned property in the area.

“We really liked this house and the area,” he says. “There’s nowhere else we’d rather be.”