October 21, 2004

STREET SCENEWhispering Pines Dr.

Across the street from Whispering Pines Drive is Quicksilver Park.

On the southwest side of Almaden valley, Whispering Pines Drive is nestled next to the McAbee entrance of Quicksilver County Park. In fact, many of the houses face the large expanse of wilderness bursting with the natural diversity of the area. From the residents’ street windows, Oak woodland, Chaparral and grasslands on rolling hills present California’s changing seasons along with the wildlife indigenous to the area. But for some reason, not one pine tree is present.

“We’ve moved here in 1985, the year the houses were built,” Dennis Mesic commented from his front yard.

“This morning there were six wild turkeys on my neighbor’s roof. We’ve seen coyotes and once a bobcat. We lost two cats; probably the coyotes got them so no more cats. We raised our children here; they went to Castillero, Simonds and Leland. They’re grown now. We’ll stay here the rest of our lives. It’s a good place to be.”

Mesic remarked that there isn’t too much traffic where they are located. There is a concern for some of the residents who live near the McAbee entrance of the Quicksilver Park. On a sunny weekend morning, cars line the street of the block on both sides. The plan for a parking lot near the entry is also a cause for worry though no decision has been made by the city.

“The cars are gone by the evening,” Mesic said about the problem. “We like it here. When we first moved here, Mr. Pierce used to drive by on a golf cart inspecting the property. Once he fell off and my wife, Sue, ran to help him up.”

Whispering Pines is part of the Pierce Ranch development that Blackwell built in the mid 1980’s. The Pierce family sold off the large parcel but continued to live at the end of the street in their ranch house and run the dairy business. The farm is still there but weeds have taken over the out buildings and the cows are further up the hills.

The last sale reported on the street was in September. The five bedroom, two and a half bath house with 2263 square feet sold for $859,000.

Brian and Casey Pozzi are raising their children, 3-year-old Trent and 2-year-old Payton, on Whispering Pines.

“We’ve been here three years and love it here,” Brian said as his wife Casey, assisted the two kids out of their vehicle after a day’s outing. “We hike the two or four mile loop at the park across the way. It’s close to nap time so we have to go.”

Steady streams of hikers exit their cars and walk the short distance to the entrance to the park from Whispering Pines. Some have dogs eager for a workout, others backpacks full of provisions for a more strenuous climb.

“I walk the trails every day,” Neeru Sharma commented from her front yard rose garden.

It is so beautiful here and such an excellent place to live. The neighbors have been talking about having a block party, maybe next summer.”

Neeru and her husband, Rajeev, moved to Whispering Pines seven years ago to start their family. Five year old Rajeev attends Simonds Elementary and 4-year-old Sameer is with her today.

“We love the area,” Neeru said. “We see lots of wild turkeys and deer. The park is dry now but my husband says don’t worry, it will be green soon.”

“It’s a real good place to live,” Roger Henson remarked about moving his family to Whispering Pines three years ago. “It has real good vibes. When we bought the house there was the bidding war going on with homes and we purchased the house in 20 minutes. I lived in New Almaden for 15 years before and I really like it being a county boy from Walnut Creek. And I like the Quicksilver Park so close by. I take my German Shepherd for runs there.”

Henson mentioned that the area residents are a congenial group who enjoy living in the scenic area. They have a strong neighborhood watch program with meetings attended by Chief of Police Rob Davis to promote safety on the relatively isolated street.

Whispering Pines Drive—where the amiable residents witness the seasons change in their own private wilderness across the street. It’s a good place to live in Almaden.

—By Jeanne C. Lewis