Click photo to enlarge
John Muir, as portrayed by Natinal Park Service Ranger Frank Helling, and friends, at the 2011 John Muir BirthdayñEarth Day Celebration.

A breath of fresh air! We love strolling around the John Muir National Historic Site with our family and friends, touring the environmentalist's original home and nine-acre native plant garden.

The John Muir Association works closely with our National Park Service to protect and share these delights with everyone. We wish to share news of this national treasure with our neighbors.

Muir collectibles

The John Muir Association has donated a portion of its William and Maymie Kimes Collection to the National Park Service at the John Muir National Historic Site.

The collection, valued at more than $100,000, numbers nearly 2,000 items and includes significant books of historical interest, many signed by Muir.

"The John Muir Association continues to demonstrate leadership in the preservation of Muir's legacy," said Tom Leatherman, National Park Service general superintendent of John Muir National Historic Site. "We are excited to add these new items to our collection and hope that they will be part of one of our future rotating exhibits in the house, so that all can learn and gain inspiration from them."

JoAnne Dunec, association president, said, "The John Muir Association is proud to have been the custodian of these priceless items from John Muir's life. The board of directors is pleased to donate them to the National Park Service, where they can be forever protected, and where the

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public will have opportunities to view and enjoy them."

Mary Ann Gaebe, Sherida Bush, Juliet Don, Gay Gerlack, Robert Hanna, Cathy Ivers, Matt Parks and Heidi Perryman form the current board of directors, including honorary board member, Michael Muir.

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    John Muir's home in Martinez is open to visitors every day. You can take free self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, and professionally guided docent tours at 2 p.m. daily, and also 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

    Guided tours for groups of 10 or more, and school tours for groups of 70 require reservations. For more information, visit www.johnmuirassociation.org or call 925-228-8860.

    The John Muir National Historic Site is located at 4202 Alhambra Ave. at Highway 4 in Martinez.

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    John Muir had an abiding passion for native plants and was one of the great botanical collectors of his day.

    The nine-acre California Native Plant Garden surrounds the John Muir National Historic Site. A free handout for plant location and identification is available at the Visitor Center during regular hours or you can listen to a cellphone garden tour (how cool is that?) by calling 925-232-2600.

    Baskets of garden-grown fresh fruit offer visitors a little free snack to make their garden visit even sweeter.

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    The 35th annual John Muir Conservation Award seeks nominees before Aug. 1.

    The John Muir Association supports the National Park Service in sustaining the National Historic Site as a center for education, inspiration, and advocacy of the legacy of John Muir.

    In keeping with this mission, each year since 1978, the association has honored those who continue Muir's environmental preservation.

    The 35th John Muir Conservation Awards will be presented at Spotlight Muir! to be held Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Martinez site.

    Residents are invited to nominate a deserving individual, nonprofit organization, business, public agency or educational institution for recognition. Award categories are:

  • Conservationist of the Year for excellence in environmental protection, or making significant contributions to the advancement of conservation.

  • Environmental Education Conservation Award for outstanding contribution by an individual(s) (professional or volunteer), business, organization or public agency to environmental education, whether in a classroom or otherwise.

  • Nonprofit or Public Agency Conservation Award for outstanding achievement by a nonprofit organization or public agency that promotes environmental protection, or demonstrated significant achievement or leadership in the advancement of environmental protection or conservation.

  • Business Conservation Award for outstanding achievement by a business (other than a nonprofit organization) that promotes environmental protection, or demonstrated significant achievement or leadership in the advancement of environmental protection or conservation.

    To nominate a candidate, complete the John Muir Conservation Award nomination form available at www.johnmuirassociation.org.

    Email or mail the completed submission packet no later than Aug. 1 to: John Muir Association, P.O. Box 2433, Martinez, CA 94553, Attn: Conservation Award Committee.

    For awards information, contact jma@johnmuirassociation.org or call 925- 229-3857.

    Native plant sale

    Summer is the best time to plant succulents. Drought-tolerant perennials need to be watered only occasionally during the first year to become established, and succulents thrive in California's dry summer heat.

    This is also the only opportunity of the year to receive 30 percent off retail prices for selected plants at the Summer Plant Sale at The Ruth Bancroft Garden. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek.

    Sheriff's volunteers

    Residents in Contra Costa County volunteer in eight different programs through the Sheriff's Office. Volunteers help get full-time officers out in the field helping our neighbors.

    The largest volunteer program is the Search and Rescue team. Last year, the SAR team volunteered nearly 50,000 hours to the community. Their most important mission is to seek out, find and return missing people to their loved ones. Other missions include missing person searches, medical support at community events and crime scene support.

    They can be called to search on Mount Diablo or in city neighborhoods one day, or at 11,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. While all team members are "ground pounders," many obtain additional training in a number of different specialized disciplines including using search dogs, in technical rescue, tracking, on mountain bikes, as equestrians, with metal detectors and in mountain rescue.

    Everything is handled by volunteers. The team recruits highly motivated people and holds training academies in the spring and fall. The next academy is in September.

    The Volunteer Services Unit is continually accepting applications. Those interested may pick up an application in person at the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, Volunteer Services Unit, at 50 Glacier Drive in Martinez. Visit www.contracostasar.org or call the volunteer services coordinator at 925-646-4461 for more information.

    'Pennies from Heaven'

    Martinez Rotary thanks "Pennies from Heaven" donors

    Martinez Rotary recognized 16 businesses in Martinez and Pleasant Hill for displaying "Pennies from Heaven" jars. More than $1,800 was given back to the community through penny contributions.

    Randy Leptien, from LLC, Inc., Lory Costa from Fidelity National Title, and Russ Gorman from GLT Sign Solutions, Inc. attended the Martinez Rotary meeting in June and received certificates of thanks. The participating businesses received certificates of thanks. Martinez Rotary also donated $250 each to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, represented by executive director Larry Sly and Meals on Wheels, represented by Paul Kraintz, co-founder and secretary/treasurer.

    "Good Neighbors" is compiled by Faith Barnidge. Send club and organization news, Scouting items, notices of awards and other submissions to goodneighbors@bayareanewsgroup.com.