ACC Board Reports Q3 2024

 ACC Board Reports Q3 2024 Covering the period
July 1-September 30, 2024

Compiled for October 18 Council Meeting by Eleanor Crump, Vice Moderator 

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Board and Building and Grounds Trustees
Nina Harmon, October 6, 2024

1. Allan Gardiner, Randy Laferte and Javier worked on repairing a pipe leaking water on the large playground. They have bought parts and will have it finished by the rainy season.

2. Submitted claim for damage to the Social Hall floor, money was received and the work scheduled to start January 11 and complete January 18. 

3. Patio deck has been sanded and stained. 

4. Removed a tree and several cement pads in the preschool courtyard; laid new cement pads to fill the holes.

5. On behalf of the Health and Safety Committee, applied to Board of Endowment for $750 for reconstituted Automated Emergency Defibrillator to go in Social Hall; it will replace the old one which is inoperable.

6. The Health and Safety Committee designed and produced Emergency Response posters, which are now in each pew, and contributed an article on Emergency Preparedness to the ParishScope. 

7. As of September 1, 2024, Hearts Leap Kensington has moved into remaining area of their leased space. They have not yet identified any specific areas needing an upgrade. 

Respectfully submitted,
Nina Harmon, Chair
Board of Buildings and Grounds Trustees

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Board of Endowment Trustees
David Hertzer, October 6, 2024

During the Second Quarter, Endowment disbursed the following: (a) $2,702 for the new roof over the Church entrance, (b) $18,881 for improvements made to the preschool area, and (c) $7,500 for one-half of the Pastor’s Housing Allowance. During the Third Quarter, no disbursements were made from Endowment. However, in September 2024 the sum of not to exceed $750 was approved to pay for a new recertified Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for the Social Hall. This sum will be disbursed in the Fourth Quarter after Council approves the purchase and the AED is purchased.

On December 31, 2023, The Endowment Fund at Vanguard was $929,320.61 and on September 30, 2024 it was $1,047,887.72, an increase of 12.8%.  For the same period the Housing and Building Fund at Vanguard increased from $543,146.59 to $620,914.02, an increase of 14.3%.  These increases were made despite the disbursements made in the first half of the year. The two Vanguard Funds are widely diversified and mirror the markets.  The Dow Jones Index increased 12.3 % between December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2024. The Endowment Fund and the Housing and Building Fund have done very well so far in 2024.

Respectfully submitted,
J. David Hertzer, Chair
October 6, 2024

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Board of Hospitality and Outreach
Jaima Roberts, October 10 2024

Hospitality & Outreach began our 3rd Quarter with our normal responsibilities. We provided Social Hour refreshments of pastries or other treats as well as fresh fruit every Sunday.

Looking forward to the 4th Quarter, we will continue to provide refreshments for Social Hour as well as special events after church, our October 12 Focus Retreat, and during the upcoming holidays.

Respectfully submitted,
Jaima Roberts, Chair
October 10, 2024

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Board of Worship and Congregational Care
Susan Yourd, October 9, 2024

Quarter Three ended with the more informal summer season (July and August) giving way to the energy of an autumnal (September) rededication to ACC’s various missions.

W/CC, with others, participated in an Inquirers class that was composed of very thoughtful folks. As of this writing, we will welcome into membership four truly lovely folks who will enrich our faith journeys.
Ron Yourd has recently assumed the duties so ably performed by Anna Marie Hertzer; recruiting Greeters for Sunday services.

Worship host tasks are going smoothly. We regretfully accepted Dawn Canada’s withdrawal from our WH group as her circumstances have changed. The Care team is providing rides to her when she can attend worship. We hope again to have a full roster of Hosts soon.

The Congregational Care tasks have been looked after by Susan Francis. We have supported folks through rides to worship and other events and provided meals to several as needed.

Although not formally part of CC, there are two other groups providing smiles and support: the Tuesday (and occasional Thursday) shift of sandwich makers for the GRIP Souper Center and the cookie bakers for a local lunch outreach group in our area. (Not to mention the snack group from the Hospitality board who truly are a ministry out of goodies at Coffee Hour!). 

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Yourd, Chair
October 9, 2024

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Board of Missions and Social Justice
Dorothy Streutker, October 7, 2024

BMSJ was active over the summer. A Just Faith class began in July and ended in August, offered in conjunction with the Faith Formation board. It was attended by 10 people, including the two co-facilitators, and two women who were not ACC members. It was a serious subject, and everyone completed the assigned readings, and the discussion was good and meaningful. We discussed whether another course should be scheduled, but we tabled that subject for another time. 

The BMSJ also screened a film, "The Letter," about a timely encyclical from the Pope. He called for greater attention to the role of steward of the Creation. It was a meaningful, well-produced documentary, and was well attended. Another film, "The Strike," was suggested as a follow-up, though it is about prison conditions, quite different from "The Letter,"

The BWB fund continues to grow and provide down payment assistance to Bay Area homebuyers. We got an accounting at our September meeting:

Total Funds Raised to Date: $712,717.56

Total Funds Expended: $487,000.00

Administrative Fees and Loan Costs: $30,598.98

Fund Balance: $195,118.58

The idea of the BWB fund has sparked different groups to propose variations. A good idea grows! 

We're still working on a covenant to declare that we are a BWB congregation. Barry is carrying this load. 

In August, we got the congregation to assist in making "Blessing Bags," zip lock bags filled with socks, soap, toothpaste and brush, and other items of use to homeless people. Church members were encouraged to take the bags in their cars, and hand them out when they see someone who looks like they could use a blessing. Some leftover ones were distributed at the Souper Supper. 

Speaking of the Souper Supper, this congregation continues to support the service, making sandwiches at church and some people going to the center to serve in person. 

The UCC sent us a number of Voter Pledge cards, to have people commit to vote with stewardship of creation in mind. They have not gone quickly, but names and e-mails of those that have been turned in have been forwarded to Cleveland.  

The BMSJ has undertaken the task of writing a covenant statement of our commitment to the environment. Three contenders were under consideration. The Board agreed that the following would be presented to the Council, and eventually to the congregation. 

God calls us to be stewards of Creation, to recognize our

connection to the planet and to the life on the planet. As we

grow in awareness of the suffering caused by our abuses of

our Earth, we see that factors such a race, social class,

poverty, and geographic differences cause some to suffer

more than others. We affirm the divine gifts of Creation and

our connection to God, to each other, and to the life of the

planet. We covenant to continue to learn and to practice

ways to heal and prevent further damage to the planet, and to

heal and prevent oppression and social injustice.

The usual November call for donations for the Senior and Community Christmas fun will go forward. The Christmas Fund, for retired clergy, will be taken in January. 

Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy Streutker, Chair
October 7, 2024

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Board of Faith Formation
Eleanor Crump, September 30, 2024

Quarter 3, 2024 Activities

1.     Faith Formation met on August 5, and September 3. Our standing meetings continue to be the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM on Zoom.

2.     We finalized our mission statement which is now posted on the ACC website.

3.     Faith Formation Fireside Film Festival films paused for the summer.

4.     Living the Word: Pastor’s Sunday Scripture Study based on the scripture for the coming Sunday’s sermon Tuesday noons led by Pastor Jen and Midweek Sermon Reflection led by Maria 7:00 PM Wednesdays.

5.     Spiritual Journeys: Jen hosted Faith Abel as part of July 14 worship service and Dudley as part of August 11 worship service. Nick hosted Joe Pratt the eve of September xx on Zoom.

6.     Partner with Missions and Social Justice to offer a Just Faith Ministries training program July 10 - August 28

6.     Cluster continued to meet the first Monday of every month on Zoom. We usually have 4-5 people.

7.     Faith Formation contributed two articles for ParishScope: Earl Lectures, Aging and Retirement Series, United Against Hate in El Cerrito - free film

8.     The second Aging and Retirement cohort (Wise Hearts being the first), based on the book Aging as a Spiritual Practice by Lewis Richmond has been postponed due to insufficient interest.

Upcoming

1.     Fourth Friday Faith Formation Film Festival will resume Friday, October 25. In so far as possible, we will be choosing films that support Pastor Jen’s sermon themes.  Upcoming dates:

Oct 25

Nov 22 

(skip Dec)

Jan 24

 2.     Spiritual Journeys to be led by Caro:

(skip Oct)

Nov 26

(skip Dec)

(skip Jan)

Feb 25

Mar 25

 3.     Wise Hearts (group of 9 people) will gather in person at Crump’s home on Nov 4

4.     Considering several book groups and outside speakers.

Respectfully submitted,
Eleanor Crump, Chair
September 30, 2024

Introducing our New ACC Members!

On Sunday, Oct. 13, we celebrated as four new members joined our church.  They tell us a little about themselves below!

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 Clista Haley
I was born and raised in Cleveland, Mississippi, in the Delta. I am the oldest of 3 children. I have 1 brother, and 1 sister. Our dad was a farmer, and we had a wonderful upbringing by loving parents. I am the mother of 4 wonderful children, 2 sons and 2 daughters; Lauren is the youngest. I was divorced from their dad when Lauren was 7 years old. I went to college at UT Nashville with 4 children and got a degree in nursing. I was a stay-at-home mom until then.

After my divorce I moved back to Mississippi and lived about 30 miles from my parents. I worked at King’s Daughter‘s Hospital in Greenville as a registered nurse for several years, then worked for an OB/ GYN in a group practice for 6 years. I was his office nurse and assisted him in surgery. I remarried in 1985 to Ray Haley, a widower, and had a blessed life with him, traveling the world and being the stepmother to his 4 sons, all of whom were grown except the youngest who was a junior in high school.  Ray died in 2010. I moved to Cincinnati several years after his death to be near my oldest child, David.

Lauren had been living in the Bay Area for a long time. She graduated from college here, married and has two grown sons. She convinced me to move here last year. I moved here in September of 2023. I have no special talents but I’m a voracious reader and enjoy gardening. I was looking for a church home, and Lauren did a lot of research and thought ACC would be a good place to visit. I was delighted that Yusef and she visited with me, and we are all becoming members. I love the open friendliness, the acceptance of all faiths and non-judgmental attitude of all. Jen is such a special pastor and I do so appreciate all she does for the church and the community as a whole. I look forward to becoming a member.

Lauren Eastland
I am from the deep South, but I have lived in California since 1990, when I moved out here to follow the Grateful Dead and get out of the South.

I am an anthropologist, educator, and scholar of religion and human rights. I teach anthropology at several Bay Area community colleges. I am also a PhD candidate in Religious Studies at UC Davis, and I conduct research on U.S. Muslim educational choices. I hope to spearhead some interfaith events with the Muslim community in the coming years. 

I am the mother of two adult sons, Austin (26) and William (22), who live in the greater Bay Area. 

My hobbies include hiking, swimming in oceans and rivers, gardening, and going to live music events with Yusef.

Yusef Malenky
I am from the mean streets of New York City, born to a secular Jewish family who immigrated from Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. My father is a musician, and I have been a lifelong music enthusiast, having been named after Yusef Lateef.  I moved to California in 1988, also to follow the Grateful Dead and get out of the city. 

I began working in childcare as a teen and continue to work with youth and families in my capacity as a LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist). 

I started a formal spiritual practice in Sufism in my 20s, although my first experiences of the divine were through the New Testament.

My hobbies include going to live music events, hiking, and reading, mostly books on human development and religion.

 Rachel Sing
I am originally from the Boston area and moved to California more than 25 years ago, living first in the Central Valley and then in the Bay Area. I was raised Unitarian, but my children and I first attended a Disciples of Christ church and then joined a United Church of Christ church here in the East Bay.

Most of my career has been in education and youth development. My last position, before stepping back to focus on my children, was running a nonprofit based in Oakland that operated in the juvenile justice space, providing a peer-driven restorative justice program in partnership with the court system to divert youth from the pipeline to prison.

I love the outdoors and being outdoors -- mountains, forests, grasslands, and especially the ocean. I appreciate all manner of letting my mind forage and my imagination roam. 

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Clista, Lauren, Yusef, and Rachel are already active in some of our activities, and we look forward to their continued participation as they are able.

 WELCOME!!

Faith Abel, on behalf of the entire congregation at ACC.

Picnic Potluck Thank You

Thanks to all who came out for our Indoor Picnic potluck, and especially to Anita Baker who organized the event and set up our games and prizes! It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and play! Our next potluck will be October 3rd, and we’re hoping to hear from a representative of the League of Women Voters. 

Pride Sunday 2024!

ACC had a wonderful Pride Sunday on June 30th, celebrating queerness in the church and in the world! Outdoor greeters waved flags and received many friendly honks and waves from passers by. We had a joyous service, followed by a delicious potluck. Pride and joy were abundant as we rejoiced together in God’s favor that lasts a lifetime! 

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the celebration by greeting, bringing potluck items, and spreading the word! A special thanks to Anita for her work on the altar (with Susan’s help) and organization of the potluck (with Faith’s help), to Barry our lead outdoor greeter and liturgist, and to Bob for taking lots of great photos!

Food Truck Fundraiser Success

Last Thursday evening, we invited our wider community to join us for a food truck fundraiser for the Black Wealth Builders Fund and it was a rousing success! We only ended up with one food truck, but we learned that we can definitely pull a crowd big enough for two, or maybe even three! 

Southern Jazz Kitchen raised $300 with their 20% of profits donation. The owner, Michael, who manned the truck along with his wife and daughter, told us he made as much in a few hours at our event as he usually does in a full day! He wasn’t quite prepared to make over a hundred orders that evening, but he said next time he’ll be ready! 

An additional $700 was donated at our information table, manned by Barry and Tom, surely aided by the nearby ice cream table where Elena and Susan Frances served ice cream to all who made additional donations. That brought our total to $1,000! Someone came by at the end of the evening after the truck was closed and still wanted to make a donation, so we added another $40!

People had to wait a while for their orders, but there was a beautiful spirit of community and fellowship with people chatting while they waited and kids running around on the patio. We had a wonderful presentation from Jim Becker from the Richmond Community Foundation, Eric Mills from Neighborhood Housing Services, and Ebony Blake, a recent BWB loan recipient. Each of them spoke of their faith in God and the way they have seen God at work in their lives, in their work, and specifically through the Black Wealth Builders Fund.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to putting together this event and all who came! We provided a fun event for our community that brought people together, and raised awareness about this amazing fund that will surely continue to bear fruit!

Excellent Installation!

On Sunday February 18 we celebrated the installation of our new pastor, Rev. Jen Chapman! There was a lively procession, music, and official service of installation. Prayers for guidance and thanksgiving were given followed by a party with food & dessert! Thanks to everyone who was able to attend and to all of our guests, planners, and participants!

Bob Stokstad took some lovely pictures which you can view in the gallery below!

If you missed the service you can watch the
Live-Stream HERE!

Notes from the Council Meeting, December 13, 2023

Notes from the Council Meeting, December 13, 2023

From Faith Abel

Pastor Jen now has official Ordained Ministerial Standing in the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC.  The process took a little extra time because several committees were involved, but now we can proceed with her installation on Feb. 18, at 3:00 pm. 

Pastor Jen reported that she mentioned our “Blue Christmas” service on a neighborhood Facebook page and received several positive responses.  There were some new visitors at the service, possibly because of that posting.  God is at work!

The Pictorial Directory is under construction.

The financial secretary reported that as of now there are 32 pledging units totaling $107,430 for 2024.

Treasurer’s summary:  In November expenses exceeded income, but we expect to finish the year a little in the black.  Randy noted that our electric bill in 2024 was about $3,400.  The solar system is definitely reducing our bill.  The solar panels were installed in 2015.  Before that, the annual electric bill was $8,000 to $9,000 (and the price of electricity has gone up since then). 

The Deck Roofing project is completed, and the skylight repair will be done in early January.  The Social Hall Deck refinishing will be completed after the winter.

Based on what is currently kept on our office computer, it was decided to not take out a cyber insurance policy at this time.

A budget amount not to exceed $1500 was approved for Pastor Jen’s installation, with the money to be taken from the Search Committee Accrual Fund.

A decorating committee was formed to decide on the décor of the Narthex and possibly the Fireside Room, with a budget not to exceed $1000 during 2024, to be taken from surplus.  Pastor Jen, Nina Harmon, Elena Caruthers, and Linda Jones make up this committee.

Council has been actively considering additional hours/week, and increased salary and health insurance benefits for Jacob Day in the office.  After discussion and vote, the Council will offer Jacob additional hours and pay as a more fair compensation for work he does for us.  With the additional hours, Jacob will have better opportunity to assist with outreach, community programming, and increase in rentals.

An increase in salary and health insurance benefits was also voted for Javier.

Budget meetings have been on-going, and Council will propose a budget with a deficit to be presented at the Congregational Meeting.  Where appropriate, some designated funds may be used to balance the budget; these transfers will be identified as such.

The Nominating Committee, headed by Vice Moderator Dudley Thompson, will meet to consider officers for the 2024 Council.  The slate of Council members will be voted on at the annual congregational meeting.

The annual congregational meeting will be on January 21, 2024, following worship.  Online voting will be available.

All year-end Board and Committee reports are due by Jan. 10 to Linda Young, who will deliver them to Jacob for inclusion in the Annual Report.  4th quarter Board reports are due to Eleanor before Christmas.

Year-end bonuses were voted on for our 5 employees with sincere thanks for their work at ACC.

Faith Abel, Moderator

Preparing for Advent, 2023

How does a weary world rejoice? What a pertinent question for the times. We hope you’ll join us this Advent season as we come together acknowledging our weariness and welcoming joy. 

We just have three Sundays of Advent this year as the fourth is Christmas Eve and we will only be gathering for a 5pm Christmas Eve service that day. To make the most of our Advent Sundays, we have special festivities planned each week during Social Hour, including concerts by “Two of Hearts” (who you may know as Elena Caruthers and Anthony Knight), as well an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest on Dec. 3rd, a Cookie Exchange on Dec. 10th, and a Nativity Scene Display on Dec. 17th! 

A wonderful Advent devotional from A Sanctified Art, full of art, poetry, music, and thoughtful reflections, will be available to pick up at church beginning this Sunday (Nov. 26th). Please email Jacob in the church office if you need a copy mailed to you. Our Faith Formation team will be offering weekly evening discussions on the devotional book beginning Wednesday, December 6th at 7pm on Zoom. 

We also have some special events this year, beginning with a meditative Moonlight Labyrinth experience led by Ruth Robinson on the first Sunday of Advent (Dec. 3rd at 6pm). And we’ll have a “Service for the Weary,” a Blue Christmas style service, for those who are grieving this holiday season, on Tuesday, Dec. 12th at 7pm (this service will be live streamed on YouTube, but will not show the congregation).

Don’t forget to join us for the Greening of the Church on Saturday, December 2nd! Come at 9:30 for refreshments and fellowship, and we’ll work from around 10am to noon. 

CLICK HERE to read more about our Advent theme and see details about our events for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany!

Focus Retreat Part II Report: by Rev. Jen Chapman

Focus Retreat Part II Report

By Rev. Jen Chapman

Around twenty ACC members and friends gathered on Saturday, November 11th, for a half day follow up Focus Retreat. We took the goals discerned during our initial Focus Retreat in August, and broke up into three groups, one for each goal. Our work was to brainstorm ideas and choose a few areas of focus and first steps toward each goal to work on in 2024. It was another Spirit-filled day and each group did a fantastic job! I’m noticing that the work we are drawn to seems to center on three major themes: Spirituality, Community, and Justice.

Below is a brief summary of the ideas selected and the point person for each effort. Please understand that while there is plenty here for all of us to be engaged in, these ideas are only “first steps” toward each of our goals. Some of them will come to fruition and others may not, and still others may shift into something different. Additionally, you may have ideas of your own that haven’t yet been shared, and the Spirit may lead us to something none of us have yet anticipated. The important thing is that we’re getting started. Arlington Community Church has been activated toward the work of meeting these goals! 

1) To nurture spiritual vitality in our congregation that leads to peace, joy, and transformation. 

• Potlucks for Spiritual Nurture - Using some of our scheduled potlucks for activities that would foster an enhanced spiritual life. Potential ideas include meditation and learning about other faiths. Point People: Nina Harmon and Chieko Chambers

• Book Study Spectrums - Regular book studies offered as Spectrums beginning in January. Point Person: Susan Francis 

• Lectio Divina Small Groups - Introduction of this method of Scripture reading/reflection as a Spectrum followed by one or more ongoing small groups. Point Person: Caro Grosvenor

  The Spiritual Vitality Focus Group hopes we can be as least as much interested in “being” as in “doing”! 

2) To become a recognizable positive presence in the community, offering tools for spiritual growth and support for the journey

• Comfort Dogs - Providing visits by dogs to help people feel better and feel loved. Point Person: Ruth Robinson

• Black Wealth Builders Community Fundraiser - Developing a community event for fundraising and awareness around Black Wealth Builders. Point person: Susan Russell

• Community Choir -  Bringing people together to sing just for fun, potentially starting in September. Point Person: Linda Young 

• Marketing Plan - Developing a strategic plan for marketing church activities. Point person: Susan Russell

  The Presence in the Community Focus Group hopes people in the community would know us for our works, and know they are free to participate in our events whether they are members or not.

3) To dig deeper into what it means to be stewards of creation

• Just Faith Class - Offering an 8 week spiritually grounded educational course on a justice issue this winter. Point person: Eleanor Crump

• Inviting Speakers - Inviting speakers to educate us further and invite us to action. Topic will be selected in connection with Just Faith class. Point person: Dudley Thompson

• Investigating Safe Parking - Learning more about Safe Parking programs at local churches and looking into potential viability for a similar program at ACC. Point Person: Jen Chapman

• Investigating Heat Pumps - Continuing to learn about heat pumps and investigating their viability at ACC in cooperation with Building & Grounds. Point person: Dorothy Streutker

  The Stewards of Creation Focus Group hopes we will be able to look back and see that we have taken significant action on issues of poverty and creation justice.

It’s been just a few short days following the retreat and we are off and running! People are sending emails, making connections, and buzzing with excitement. And we are just getting started! If you weren’t able to be with us on Saturday, I hope you’ll find something on this list that interests you and get involved. (If you’re not sure how, or need help connecting, email me and I’ll get you started.) 

May the Spirit continue to guide us and empower us as we work to deepen our spiritual vitality as a congregation, our positive presence in the community, and our active engagement as stewards of creation.

Stumped by a Stump by Linda Young

Stumped by a Stump        

       - by Linda Young at the conclusion of the Church’s restroom upgrade project Oct. 2023

Curiosity can take us down strange and revealing paths. During demolition of the “old” 1960 restrooms at Arlington Community Church in Kensington, CA., I watched with curiosity as the skeletal structure of this area of the church was revealed. Old wires and cable pipes were found in odd places, such as a fat pipe running up through the exterior wall just as you step into the new “hallway” to restrooms. When investigating, we found the pipe went through the ceiling and out the wall to the balcony. It was capped there, but opening it, we found wires with no purpose. Something probably left over from the 1947 entry. But my curiosity was most aroused by something revealed under the floor of the women’s restroom.  When the floor was opened to find routs for new pipes, I noticed something perfectly round on the ground under the floor joists.  It looked like an elephant footprint, but a worker went down and helped check it out.  It was wood!  It was a round piece of wood almost a foot across, that had been surrounded by the “rat barrier”, a coating of cement on the ground.  It must have been a tree stump! 

With a little help from Javier, the church Caretaker, we collected some samples of the wood.  Curious to find out what kind of tree had stood there, I reached out to an old friend in the Biology Department at UC Berkeley, Randy Shekman. He said yes, he could help. He knew someone who might be able to identify the species. So, a few months ago I delivered a little box of dark bits and chunks of wood with photos of the stump to Randy.  Several weeks later I received a text forwarded from Lew Feldman, director of the Berkeley Botanical Garden: “I’ve had a look at the anatomy of the cell types making up the mystery wood you previously sent.  I can say for sure that it is a gymnosperm, not a flowering plant. Further, the wood anatomy suggests we are looking at wood from a member of the pine (Pinus) family.  Beyond that, I am not skilled enough to offer any additional insights.” 

Thrilled, but a little disappointed to not have more detail, I accepted the answer and sent a thank you note.  But apparently his curiosity persisted.  The very next day Randy forwarded a 2nd text: “I did some more reading yesterday after I first wrote you.  It seems it is also possible that this could be a Coast Redwood.”  

Apparently, his curiosity spread to colleagues, because weeks later, Julie Stokstad, who has been a long-time volunteer at the Botanical Gardens, sent me the attached article by Lew Feldman in the Garden’s newsletter. “Given that this stump persisted for such a long time, and the fact that redwoods are well-known to resist decay and deterioration, we concluded that the stump was most likely that of a redwood.”   Now, we not only know that ACC’s building inhabits Ohlone land, but that at least one Coast Redwood stood here as well. It is well documented that vast forest of redwoods once stood in this area. So, when you relax in our new restrooms, think with curiosity to yourself: “You could be sitting under a coast redwood tree. How would that feel?”