October 14, 2004

STREET SCENECastello Drive

Between Jeffrey Fontana Park and Los Alamitos Elementary School nestles a neighborhood of good friends.

Homes along Castello Drive range in size from 2,000 to 2,200 square feet, with lots from 8,000 to 10,000 square feet, and sell for $800,000 to $900,000.

The homes along winding Castello Drive are part of the 156 residences that make up the Oak Tree Park Neighborhood, and particularly for 15 to 20 families on Castello Drive and Chrismara Court, it is one big, happy family. Residents moved in from around the world, and by some trick of fate, were lucky enough to land here, surrounded by neighbors they could count on.

For these residents, the cabana club, located just across the street, is their unifying force, bringing families together. They hold impromptu dinner parties by the pool, chatting amiably over drinks as the kids swim and play, or gather to cheer on their swim team, which this summer took top honors.

Laura MacKean, who hails from Canada, has lived on Castello Drive with her family for almost five years, and is delighted with their location. “It’s a real bonus to be living across the street from the elementary school,” she notes. “The people whose home we bought were just lovely, and they raved about the neighborhood.” When the MacKeans saw the cabana pool everything fell into place. “We arrived on a Saturday night, and by Monday morning my daughter was on the swim team,” beams Laura. “It was fantastic, and that’s how we got to meet everybody right away. We just knew everyone.”

This year, their swim team, the Oak Tree Park Sharks, won the overall championship in their division by practicing five days a week and improving their times. Twenty-two years ago the team began with 30-35 swimmers, and now they sport about 110 per year. Kids who previously swam on the team later became their coaches, including Sinan Dumlugol, Zac Greer, Matthew Johnson, and Tara Musco. “I’m so happy for the kids,” comments Mackean. “They worked so hard and they really deserved it.”

Every June, the Oak Tree Park Neighborhood holds a barbeque, to which all 156 families are invited, and this year marks their third neighborhood-wide garage sale. Their children attend the same schools—Los Alamitos Elementary School, Castillero Middle School, and Pioneer High School—and form lasting friendships. Many older kids also babysit the younger ones in the neighborhood.

In the fall, 12 to 18 families share in an annual progressive dinner party known as the “Safari Supper,” as they roam from house to house. This “eating, walking, drinking, talking experience” was created by the Dymoke family seven years ago, in keeping with a tradition from their previous home—a small village in England. During the Safari Supper, three courses are served; appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The event usually follows a safari theme with wooden giraffes, animal print candles and table clothes, leopard dishes, and even pith helmets adding a jungle feel. The evening is carefully orchestrated and full of surprises. According to resident Jeanne Hanley, although everyone gets together at the beginning and end of the Safari Supper, nobody knows who’s doing what and where they’ll be going until that evening. “At the end of one course, envelopes are distributed telling everyone where to go next,” says Hanley. “You have six couples at each meal, and never see the same couple twice.”

When Hanley, who has resided on Castello for 11 years, became pregnant with twins, she was especially grateful that her mother-in-law lives right across the street. Initially, the Hanleys fell in love with the house, not knowing anything abut the neighborhood. “I didn’t know how lucky I was going to be,” confides Jeanne. “Everybody watches out for everybody. From making meals and having someone’s house cleaned when they’re sick, to walking neighbor’s kids to and from school, if somebody needs help or assistance, we all pitch in.”

To one family who moved here almost three years ago from Alabama’s Tennessee Valley, Almaden Valley felt like home. “The neatest thing about moving here,” said Retta Bastiaans, “was that everyone reached out. You hear about southern hospitality, but this went beyond that. We planned on only being here for two years, but it’s so great nobody wants to leave.”

“Regarding living here, I love it!” enthuses resident Ruvy Dunlugol, who moved here in 1991. For Dunlugol, the California sunshine was a welcome change. Originally from Turkey, she spent many years in Belgium where it rains a lot and appears in shades of grays and browns. “We came for a year and stayed,” she shares. “My sons love it here and I do, too. The neighborhood is wonderful and safe. It’s heaven for a family. They are the family we don’t have nearby.”

“During holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, those of us who don’t have families here have our meals together,” mentions Mackean. “Everyone is so caring and wonderful. It’s a wonderful life here.”

—By Lorraine Gabbert