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General Membership Meeting

Preparedness and First-Aid for Hiking the Villages

 Matt Kelly and Kris Carlsen

Foothill Center on Monday, April 27th at 7:00 PM

As we enjoy the natural wonders of our trails inside the Villages or take outside excursions we need to be prepared for emergencies – both in our training and the supplies we carry. Accompanying these activities are the risks of falls, sprains, strains, sore knees & ankles, heat exhaustion, poison oak, ticks, animal encounters and medical emergencies.

The Villages Hiking Club’s April 27th meeting will feature a presentation on preparedness, communications and first-aid related to hiking and walking by Matt Kelly, Vice President, LIONHEART SAFETY, LLC.  Matt has 22 years of experience as a SJFD Fire Captain, Hazardous Materials Specialist, EMT and Fire Academy Liaison.  He is the son of Hiking Club member Manoli Kelly.

The program will follow a short business meeting and a break for socializing with snacks and beverages.

The meeting will be held at the Foothill Center on Monday, April 27th at 7:00 PM.  The meeting is free and all Villagers are welcome to attend.

Author Posted on Categories News

New Benches on the Hill April 4, 2026

On Saturday’s Hill Hike Jim Ware led those hiking to the top, on a trek to find all six new benches which the Villages recently installed on our Hill. Accompanying Jim were Gigi, Joan, Lisa and Gordon.

Those benches are located as follows:
– intersection of Oak and Richter (signpost 26),
– intersection of Skyway and Upper Meadow (signpost 19),
– near the top of Meadow at signpost 45,
– at the upper intersection of Meadow and Thistle (signpost 44),
– on Meadow about halfway between signposts 42 and 44,
– at the intersection of Bay and Richter (signpost 25).

Japanese Tea Garden April 1, 2026

On April Fools day, 13 rambler hikers, Carol, Hansel, Joel, Kathy, Judy, John, Mimi, Maria, Manona, Michele, Steve, Tim and Wendy, went to the Japanese Tea Garden for a cherry blossoms hike. The Garden is not big, but compacted with delicate, manicured flowers, bushes, tiny trees, small hills, streams and bright red pavilions of Japan style. Joel, Michele, John and Mim even climbed a steep arch bridge meant for teenagers. The cherry flowers are so-so, not even as dramatic as that in our Villages. After garden visits, we climbed up hill to hike around Blue Heron like then climbed even higher to see a waterfall but we got a bone dry one. Oh yes, we got drenched by come-and-go SFO rain shower, but that did not kill our spirits, we all had a good time. We went to Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant near by for a warm lunch. Every loved the food there! The hike was led by Mimi and John.

Trail Maintenance Day March 28, 2026

The Hiking Club held a very successful Trail Maintenance Day. The focus was on five areas: Eucalyptus Grove Picnic Area, Bobcat Trail, Upper Bay, Boundary up to the mailbox, and The Switchbacks down from the mailbox. The social committee had lunch and drinks for the end of the workday.

Martial Cottle Park March 18, 2026

Eight Villagers set out this morning for a 3.5 mile (+/-) hike around a warm Martial Cottle Park. There was no cloud cover on such a warm mid-March day but we did it fairly early and all survived. Although the Visitor Center is normally closed on Wednesdays, a kind person who works there as a volunteer allowed all of us in to look around at the exhibits. This hike not recommended during the typical hot summer months!!! For more information on the park, click on the link below.

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, March 11, 2026

Hiking club members joined Jim Koski’s four mile March 11 hike at the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos. We hiked on the Loma Prieta Grade Trail and the Aptos Creek fire road, a fairly level narrow-guage railroad grade used in the late 1800s to haul redwood logs and cut lumber 7 miles to the Southern Pacific track in Aptos. We saw some of the old railroad ties and obvious cuts through hillsides. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at Carpo’s Restaurant in Soquel.