<div><strong>Urgent! Help Save the Girouard Family Home on the community land where they have lived and served the public for more than five decades, spanning three generations. Sign the </strong><a href="https://chng.it/VYtYkXm77V" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Girouards' petition</strong></a><strong> and donate here to show support!</strong>
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<div>Dear Neighbors of Rhus Ridge, Los Altos Hills, and friends of the Girouard family,
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<div>For more than 50 years, the Girouard family has lived at Rhus Ridge and served as stewards of the open space and the surrounding Los Altos Hills community. Their work has kept our trails safe, our open spaces protected, and our neighborhood secure. But now, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is trying to evict them from the land they have called home for generations.
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<div><strong>A Family of Caretakers</strong>
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<div>Since 1972, <a href="https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/the-way-of-raye/article_1fbb490f-c594-59bd-8044-48a3576e9ad9.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raye Girouard</a> and his family have dedicated themselves to maintaining Rhus Ridge. Originally hired by the Duvenecks, who owned Hidden Villa Ranch and the 1800 surrounding acres at Rhus Ridge, Raye patrolled the land on horseback, cleared fallen trees from roads and trails, helped prevent fires and vandalism, and worked alongside MidPen rangers to keep the area safe. The Girouard family’s presence has deterred countless incidents of arson, trespassing, and misuse of the land.
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<div>In 1987, the Duveneck family sold 18 acres to MidPen, including the sliver of land on which the Girouard-owned house trailer home sat, with the understanding that the family would remain as residents and caretakers. After Raye’s passing in 2018, his wife Susan and son Jeremiah continued his work, raising Raye’s grandson, Raylen, on the same land.
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<div><strong>A Home in Crisis</strong>
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<div>In 1994 the Girouards bought and installed a modular home to replace their house trailer. MidPen has always recognized that the family owns that home, but for decades they have routinely obstructed the family’s efforts to make repairs to it.
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<div>Recently a severe winter storm caused major damage to the Girouard home, leaving it uninhabitable. Jeremiah is ready to repair and restore their residence so his family can move back in—but MidPen has refused to acknowledge their occupancy rights. Without that, the family cannot justify the investment to repair the home.
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<div>Instead, MidPen issued an eviction notice on January 10, 2025, citing the home’s disrepair as a reason to force them out. Without intervention, the Girouards must leave by March 10. If they lose their home, Raylen, who relies on the Los Altos Hills school district for special education and one-on-one support, will also be displaced.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help</strong>
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<div>We need your support to help the Girouard family fight for their home and continue their legacy of stewardship. The Girouard residence is not just a home - it's an example of affordable housing in one of the most expensive regions in the country. By donating, you're not only helping a family fight an unjust eviction, but also standing up for housing security and community preservation.
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<div>Your donations will go toward:
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<li>✅ Legal fees to challenge the eviction and fight for a just resolution, e.g., a long-term lease
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<li>✅ Home restoration to repair the storm damage and make the residence habitable
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<li>✅ Family support to ensure Raylen can stay in his school district and receive the education he needs
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<div>If MidPen prevails in their effort to discredit the Girouards’ rights, funds will be used to help them transition to stable housing after decades of unpaid service to our community.
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<div><strong>Make a Difference</strong>
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<div>MidPen is hoping no one will pay attention, but our community can show them that we stand with the Girouards.
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<div>The <strong>March 10, 2025</strong> eviction deadline has come and gone with little to no action and no "amicable" resolutions from MidPen. What’s the point of these eviction threats? The lack of transparency and the lack of real, viable solutions is frustrating. The confusion and stagnation we feel as supporters reflect the years of stalled discussions and uncertainty the Girouard family has endured and will continue to endure for the foreseeable future. Their fight for occupancy rights is not over. To take action and show MidPen that our community stands with the Girouard family, you can:
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<li>✅ Sign and share the Girouards' petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/SaveGirouardFamilyHome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SaveGirouardFamilyHome</a>
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<li>✅ Donate directly to the Girouard family through this GoFundMe
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<li>✅ Send a letter to MidPen urging them to resolve this matter by granting the Girouards a long-term lease. A letter template is available for you to personalize and send:
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<li>Send an automatic email, find the link at: <a href="https://chng.it/TvwBv2ZNYs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SaveGirouardFamilyHome</a>
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<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vo547m2eagAKNpfLqukWs7TkaGyNlvv8d8D8CbZhk-Q/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Download and mail a letter</a>
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<li>Submit your thoughts on the <a href="https://www.openspace.org/who-we-are/board-member-contact-form" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Board Member Contact Form</a>
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<li>✅ Let your voice be heard at the MidPen Board meetings on <a href="https://www.openspace.org/get-involved/public-meetings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 26</a> both at 7 pm for the regular meeting
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<li>✅ Amplify the Girouards’ GoFundMe and Change.org petition on your social media. #SaveTheGirouards #RhusRidgeCommunity
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<div><strong>Media Coverage</strong>
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<div>• <a href="https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/caretaker-family-in-danger-of-losing-lah-home-to-midpen/article_107e0c8c-e8a9-11ef-903a-cb3984b8294d.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caretaker family in danger of losing LAH home</a>
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<div>Los Altos Town Crier (February 11, 2025)
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<div>• <a href="https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2025/03/10/los-altos-hills-family-threatened-with-eviction-from-midpen-open-space-preserve/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Altos Hills family threatened with eviction</a>
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<div>Mountain View Voice (March 10, 2025)
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<div>• <a href="https://www.losaltosonline.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_c791d75e-fea3-11ef-8d1e-e7cc6135e498.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recognize Girouard occupancy rights</a>
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<div>Los Altos Town Crier (March 11, 2025)
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<div>• <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/bay-area-family-faces-eviction-home-20218211.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bay Area locals enraged as family faces eviction</a> from their family home of 50 years
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<div>SFGate (March 17, 2025)
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<div>Let’s prove that Los Altos Hills is still a place where we look out for our neighbors.
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<div>Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference.
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<div>Thank you for your generosity and support.
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<div>Sincerely,
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<div>The Rees and Schroeder family on behalf of our good family friends, the Girouard family
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<div>Venmo: @Jeremiah-Girouard
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Anonymous

Javier Hernandez

Miles Contreras

Jonathan Berman

Shannon McElyea

Ronnie Sullins (Fair)

Dione Hedgpeth

Tracey Gill

Amrita Tellam

Nina Marczyk

Paula Oswald

Help Save the Girouard Family Home at Rhus Ridge

Help Save the Girouard Family Home at Rhus Ridge

Still $8,620 to go. Help us build momentum.