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Laguna Honda Reservoir: Good News for Now

We’ve been following the situation of the Laguna Honda Reservoir over the past months. The issue in summary: The Reservoir, situated at the intersection of Clarendon Avenue and Laguna Honda Boulevard, belongs to the Water Department. They had used a corner of it below Clarendon during the renovation project, assuring the neighbors that they would restore it to greenery afterward. Instead, last year, they decided to make it into a gravel yard and headquarter their dive team there. (The details are here and here.)

The neighbors — particularly at The Woods, which is right next to the spot and overlooks it — were very upset and have been in discussion with the SFPUC about it.

But it wasn’t over; and the neighbors have been following up with SFPUC.

We blogged about it here and here and here.

Another issue is that a beekeeper has been permitted to place a number of beehives in this area (which is otherwise inaccessible to the public. Some neighbors are concerned about how it looks, and also about how the bees might behave.

It seems that there’s been some kind of a resolution, at least for now. This is a letter from Judith Clarke, President of the Woods Home-Owners Association. (It’s published here with permission and added emphasis.)

I wanted to give you an update on what is happening at the Laguna Honda Reservoir. On August 24, 2011, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) cleaned up the piles of gravel and dirt that had been stored on the Laguna Honda site for about a year. They also removed the pipes that were stored there and raked the loose gravel to allow the plants to grow.

The SFPUC will be working up the street at the Sutro Reservoir to do seismic retrofitting. This work will begin in either November or January. The SFPUC will not use the Laguna Honda Reservoir area for that work.

At this time, there is no movement by the SFPUC to move a trailer and/or shed onto the Laguna Honda Reservoir site for their Dive Team, as had been discussed previously. I spoke with Suzanne Gautier of the SFPUC and she told me that she does not know of any movement in that direction at this time.

This is good news and thank you to all who donated money and participated in the efforts to prevent the installment of the trailer. We must still be vigilant in watching that area in case something changes in the future. Please continue to report any activity. We are still discussing the issue with Sean Elsbernd, District 7 Supervisor, and other members of the Board of Supervisors. Our attorney is not doing any work for us at this time, but she is available to us to provide legal advice and work in the future.

The tarps that covered the beehives on the far side of the reservoir were damaged by the storms we had this year. Currently, there are no tarps covering the fence to hide the beehives. Some homeowners had indicated that they did not like the tarps. Others have said they want the beehives hidden. Please let me know what your preference is for having the tarps on the fence. We have an opportunity to influence whether they are put back or not. Thank you.

Judy Clarke
President, The Woods of San Francisco

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in comments and I’ll send them on. [ETA: This post has been edited to remove personal/ non-public information as requested.]

Thanks, Mr Rider-in-the-Fog

Lest anyone think that all I do here is grumble about bicycle riders who don’t stay safe… especially in the fog — I’d like to talk about one I saw this evening.

The sunny afternoon turned to a gray foggy evening. The mist was already wrapping itself around the hillside and trees. And there was this cyclist, working his way up the steep Twin Peaks Boulevard.

Wearing a yellow safety vest and a light-colored helmet.
With front and rear lights.
Staying to the side of the road, and clearly conscious of traffic.

From a grateful motorist: Thank you thank you thank you. May the wind be ever at your back.

Artichoke, what?

If, like me, you’re generally accustomed to seeing artichokes in grocery stores, this is what you are familiar with, right? Spiky globular green things with overlapping scales like some delicious reptilian vegetable?

I knew in theory that what they were was thistles.

But it wasn’t until a recent trip to Rockaway Beach that I really got the point. Someone had planted an artichoke in a flowerbed beside a parking lot.

It looked like this:

As I paused to take these photographs, a lady heading to her car stopped to see what I was looking at. She was as amazed as I was. “Who knew?” she asked several times. “Who knew?”

Just what I felt. I wonder if these things would grow in my yard.

Flyer: SFPD Park Station Contacts

Another flyer that Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization circulated was a list of contact details for the SFPD Park Station police. (They’re our neighborhood police station.) Here it is:

The other side had burglary prevention tips. We’ve asked SAFE, the outfit that wrote them, for permission to publish them here. If they agree, we’ll edit this to add them in. [Edited to Add: SAFE gave permission and additional information. We’ve published them separately, here and here.]

(FKNO is at http://www.forestknolls.org, not forestknolls.com — a cheap realty website; nor www.forestknolls.info — which is the site you’re on now. Note the different extensions: org, com, and info.)

Flyer: Midtown Terrace Playground

Some time ago, we’d posted about the renovations at the Midtown Terrace Playground. Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization sent round a flyer with details of what’s going on there — a latchkey program for 5-11 year-olds, and a daycamp — as well as hours and contact details. Here it is:

As usual, clicking on it twice will give a larger image. (We checked Terry Trejo’s email address in the Parks website, and it’s stated as Teresa.Kuchinsky.Trejo@sfgov.org — so if the one above doesn’t work, try this. Or call her!)

(FKNO is at http://www.forestknolls.org, not forestknolls.com — a cheap realty website, nor www.forestknolls.info — which is the site you’re on now. Note the different extensions: org, com, and info.)

Joining the Forest Knolls Yahoo Group

The Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization (FKNO) has sent out some useful flyers to all the neighbors. (FKNO is at http://www.forestknolls.org, not forestknolls.com — a cheap realty website, nor www.forestknolls.info — which is the site you’re on now. Note the different extensions: org, com, and info.) In case you didn’t get them, or prefer to have things on line, we’re reproducing them here.

The first gave instructions on how to join the Forest Knolls Neighborhood Yahoo group. This group, managed by Mary Allen, is helpful for anyone living in the neighborhood… people send out heads-ups, share information, and occasionally post lost or found pet notices. We get recommendations for handymen and other service providers, as well as neighborhood safety information. I generally post a notice there when I have something new out here, too.

This is a free group. Anyone can join, though of course its greatest value is to people in the neighborhood. And, as groups go, it’s civilized. I’ve seen groups where participants forget they’re in a public space, and start flame-wars or post overly personal information. This is not that kind of group.

So here’s the flyer. (Clicking on it twice will take you to a larger version.)

Coyotes and Dog, Unleashed

Out for a walk around 7 p.m. this foggy evening, I heard someone urgently calling his dog. I looked round, and saw a coyote bounding uphill above the trail. Another coyote lay low in the bushes, observing the situation below.

The dog followed along the trail after the coyote, happy tail and curious nose; it was in an investigative and playful mood. Fortunately, it obeyed the summons and rather reluctantly returned to its people, who promptly leashed it. The coyote watched it leave.

The people with the dog stood on the steps a little, watching the coyotes, then left. A jogger came up the trail; I stopped him and told him about the pair of coyotes. He nodded, turned around and went back the way he’d come.

I also retraced my path to avoid disturbing them, and found a place where I could watch them from the road above. It felt amazing — here I was, in the middle of a city, watching coyotes in the same way as I’ve watched the Deccan Dhole in a sanctuary in India, or a hyena in the Masai Mara. The coyote hung around the path for a while, sniffing and marking, probably to reclaim its turf from the dog. (Coyotes really notice dogs; they recognize them and react to them.)

Suddenly, it bounded from the path into the brush, and I knew someone must be coming. Sure enough, a jogger ran past on the same trail. Not sure whether he noticed them or not, but he kept going, and nothing happened. (He was dogless.)

I was surprised the coyotes were out so early and stayed so visible. Before this, I’d only ever seen them late at night, and people have reported seeing them early in the morning. (I posted about that, with guidelines for Coyote Caution.)

COYOTE CAUTIONS

I guess what this means is — if you’re taking your dog into coyote terrain (which is pretty much all the Natural Areas around here, as well as Golden Gate Park) — it makes sense to keep it leashed, even if it’s not early morning or late at night. This dog was sensible and obedient and returned when called. Some dogs would want to engage with the coyote, which could end badly for one or both.

Janet Kessler, who is the Jane Goodall of San Francisco’s coyotes, has recommendations for dog-walkers in coyote territory:

IF COYOTES FASCINATE YOU…

If you’re interested in coyotes, I highly recommend Janet Kessler’s brilliant blog, Coyote Yipps. Scroll down for some neat video; I loved the one of the coyote hunting some underground critter — a gopher? It has a surprise ending.

Night Walk with Fog and Dog

It was late for a walk last night, and the fog had wrapped our neighborhood in its soft blanket. Yet the night called me, and out I went.

It was magical. The fog softened and dispersed the light of the streetlamps. As I walked up by the forest, I could hear the rain… except it was dry where I stopped on the sidewalk. In the forest, the trees made their own rain from the fog, and it pattered onto the leaves of the understory like a heavy shower. This is the Cloud Forest effect. Under the eaves of the forest, the cloud-rain was heavy enough to flow down the street and into the gutter. Inside the forest, the undergrowth and the duff absorbed it all. (If you walk in the forest — be prepared for mud on some of the interesting trails.)

It was late enough that I shouldn’t have expected anyone to be out there. But I’d have been wrong. In 30 minutes, I encountered 4 people, all walking dogs. As I said once in a post, the dogs of Forest Knolls make us all safer. Paws on the street mean eyes on the street.

The Really, Really Free Market at 6th & Irving – Sat 24 Sept 2011

Just down the hill from Forest Knolls, Barbara organizes wonderful Inner Sunset community events that we’re delighted to signal-boost here. There’s been a Book Blast and a Fixit Fair…

The next one, coming Saturday Sept 24, 2011 is the Really Really Free Market. As she says below:

Bring what you want; take what you need.

Only, to make it easier on all the volunteers — and Barbara — it would help if the “bringing” happened before the event, not at it. They’re collecting stuff right now: Anything that’s clean and usable, (but not books or clothes or TVs or computers)… Just drop them off at her beautiful house on 6th and Irving.

Here’s her message (emphasis added):

We are now collecting for the 3rd Annual Inner Sunset Really, Really Free Market for SATURDAY, September 24th at the corner house on 6th & Irving, where everything is free. No money, no barter, no exchanges, no gimmicks….simply free. The event’s philosophy is “Bring what you want; take what you need.”

Have you any sports equipment, kids’ toys, cooking stuff, unused wedding presents, basement clutter, attic treasures, storeroom savories, small furniture, tool duplicates, dishes, school supplies? … *ANY*thing you no longer need or want? Is it clean & in working condition?

In the past two years/events, we have had virtually every donation whisked away on the day of the event, so *everything* that’s clean, usable & in working condition is acceptable. Even homemade food and on-location personal services.

(Unfortunately, we *canNOT* accept TVs, computers, clothing or books; Please save the clothing & books for another event, later in the season.)

We *really, really* (ahem!) prefer to get items *BEFORE* the day of the event.

If you absolutely can’t bring it to us, we will try to pick it up.
Please call Barbara to volunteer or for more information:

415/2.46.47.48 or email barbara@barbara.com

Notes: SFMTA 16 Aug 2011 Meeting about Bike Tracks on JFK Drive

These are a neighbor’s (slightly edited) notes from an SFMTA meeting about adding a cycle track in JFK Drive. They are published here with permission, and for purposes of discussion.

Comments are welcome (but please, everyone, keep it polite? Discussions are great, flame wars not so much.)

—————————————————

NEIGHBOR’S NOTES FROM AUG 16TH SFMTA MEETING

SFMTA, Park and Rec., other city agency staff were present; and about 20-25 people.

Antonio Piccagli (of SFMTA) gave a presentation showing the current plan and survey results. That presentation is on their website as a PDF.

There will be a “cycle track” on JFK Drive, which differs from a bike lane. A cycle track is a bike lane separated from cars by a barrier (posts, buffer zone). The one cycle and two cycle track designs and definitions from the June meeting are at the SFMTA website here. [The June meeting presented two options: A 2-way bicycle track on one side of the road, or two one-way tracks on either side of the road.]

People who attended the first community meeting on 13 June 2011 could fill out a questionnaire about the Plan. (Apparently the questionnaire was also available online.) There were about 500 responses. From the survey, the majority of respondents didn’t feel safe bicycling next to cars, preferred the one cycle track; want a continuous buffer zone; want to remove curbside parking…

Antonio said they decided on the one cycle track design. On each side of JFK Drive will be a 6.5 ft bike lane, then at least 5 ft buffer zone, then a car lane. The 6.5 ft wide bike lane allows two bikes to ride side by side; or for one bicyclist to pass another bicyclist.

JFKProposedCrosssection sm — Diagram from SFMTA website

SFMTA is introducing a novelty “floating parking lane”. About 11.5 ft from the curb will be places for vehicle parking. A big challenge will be intersection design.

This would remove 153 (32%) of the current 482 surface parking spaces along JFK Drive.

Q & A session
————————

Q: Will there be a workshop for drivers to educate them of the new traffic design?

A: SFMTA: No, we didn’t have that in mind.

Q: The existing car lanes are too wide, offer too much visibility, making drivers go too fast. Will the new design provide traffic calming?

A: SFMTA: Narrowing the road should reduce vehicle speeds.

Q: There are no signs, notices along JFK Drive about the new design or this meeting. How are people using JFK Drive going to know about these major changes? Only 20 people showed up tonight. You must like flying under the radar to get the plan through.

A: SFMTA: We posted information on our website, and told neighborhood groups.

Q: The plan is skewed and heavily favors bicyclists. Residents, visitors require parking to see the many places of interest. Why the need to remove 153 parking places?

A: SFMTA: It is a trade off.

Q: When will the plan be implemented?

A: SFMTA: We need to finalize the plan, show it to Park and Rec., and the Board of Supervisors. [We’re] hoping to get started in Dec. [2011]

Note from Webmaster: The SFMTA site gives the following timeline:

Project Timeline:
• June 13: 1st Community Workshop
• June-July: Review Public Feedback
• July-August: Refine Concept Designs
• August 16: 2nd Community Workshop
• August-September: Complete Final Design
• September: Present to Concourse Authority
• October: Present to Recreation and Parks Commission
• December: Implement Project

———————-

Comments from the neighbor who took the notes:

SFMTA wants to provide a safe environment for bicyclists. That is fine. However they are bending over backwards to accommodate one party.
90% of respondents like the one cycle track plan, 50% of respondents like the two cycle track plan.
If there are only two choices, why does their total add up to 140% of respondents? Haven’t seen the survey, not sure if people could submit multiple entries. The way data was gathered is highly questionable.

WHO TO CALL

From Webmaster: This note is also from the SFMTA website.

If you wish to comment on the plan but are unable to attend our meetings, please contact Miriam Sorell at miriam.sorell@sfmta.com or 415.701.4770.

Death-wish on Two Wheels

I want to start this piece by saying I like cyclists. They do their bit for the city by using an unpolluting form of transport, by being out there and visible rather than floating by in anonymous steel objects, by setting a good example.

Hence this article. Last night, driving downtown, I passed a cyclist on Polk Street. He was dressed in black. He had no light or reflector. He swayed as he zoomed through what is still a fairly busy street, on some occasions swinging far out of the bike lane. He didn’t stop at red lights or Stop signs.

He was surviving on the alertness of strangers. We’ve all been there once in a while, the “oops” moments when other people’s good driving saves us from our mistakes. This guy seems to be making it a life-style.

(I also saw several other cyclists go through red lights, but they were dressed more brightly and rode less fast.)

I like cyclists. Alive and unhurt. Stay that way, okay?

Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park, Road Closures 2011

As I’m sure pretty much everyone knows, the Outside Lands music festival is on this weekend in Golden Gate Park. The Festival is from August 12-14, 3-day tickets are around $200 and are still available. It seems like nearly 20,000 tickets have been sold, according to their website. [ETA 13 Aug 2011: According to today’s SF Chronicle, the organizers expect 120,000 people. ETA 14 Aug 2011: Apparently, 180, 000 — around 60,000 each of the three days.]
So of course a lot of roads and places in Golden Gate Park are closed during this time. (The photo of the map here will show a larger — and legible — version if you click on it, then click again.)

From the website:

“The following entrances will be closed to the public from Thursday, August 11thth at 8:00PM through Sunday, August 14th at 11:00pm:

On north side of the park:
* Transverse Dr at Crossover Dr
* JFK Dr at Transverse Dr
* 30th Ave
* 36th Ave
* 43rd Ave (Chain of Lakes)
* 47th Ave
* The Great Hwy at JFK Dr.

On the south side:
* Martin Luther King Jr Dr at Crossover Dr
* 25th Ave
* 41st Ave (Chain of Lakes)
* Martin Luther King Jr Dr at Lincoln Ave
* Sunset Blvd @ Irving St

In fact, some closures have started already (from Tuesday Aug 9) and though most places will reopen after the festival is over, the actual fields where it’s being staged will be closed longer.

The Polo Field was closed Aug 3, and will reopen on August 18
Lindley Meadow was closed Aug 9, will re-open August 15.
Speedway Meadow closed Aug 9, will re-open August 17.
Lloyd Lake and Metson Lake will be closed August 12 – August 14.
Spreckles Lake and the Dog Run will be closed to vehicles August 12 – August 14.

There’s detailed information on their website — all the programs, all the artistes, all the road closures.

Also, a hotline:

Again this year, we will have a Community Hotline to respond to any issues that may affect you during the festival. The festival hotline will be available from 10:00am – 11:00PM on the festival days.
The hotline number is 415-379-9063.

Doyle Drive ramp closed overnight [Aug 13], 2011

[ETA: It will be closed only Saturday 13th night…

Overnight Closure of Southbound Hwy 101/Doyle Drive to Southbound Hwy 1/Park Presidio Boulevard
SATURDAY ONLY, August 13, 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Friday, August 12 Ramp Closure is CANCELED

The overnight ramp closures scheduled for this weekend have been consolidated into one night of work. On Saturday, August 13, from 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., the ramp from southbound Highway 101/Doyle Drive to southbound Highway 1/Park Presidio Boulevard will be closed. There will be no closure tonight, Friday, August 12.]

——————————————————————–

If you’re planning to cross the Golden Gate Bridge this weekend, note that the Doyle Drive ramp will be closed overnight on ~~Friday and~~ Saturday from 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

I received this email from Avrum Shephard for the West of Twin Peaks mailing list:

On ~~Friday, August 12 and~~ Saturday, August 13 from 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., the ramp from southbound Highway 101/Doyle Drive to southbound Highway 1/Park Presidio Boulevard will be closed.

This closure is necessary to ensure traffic safety as crews install electrical utilities to support the new tunnel and bridge.

View the advisory for a map with detour routes. [Note: This is a PDF]

All dates are subject to change due to weather and unforeseen conditions. Please visit www.PresidioParkway.org for the most up-to-date information.

Meeting Report – Inner Sunset Park Neighbors – Summer 2011

I attended a meeting of the Inner Sunset Park Neighbors today. This group represents some 300 households in the Inner Sunset; the meeting was chaired by Andrea Jadwin. Since this is just below our neighborhood, I’m reporting some updates:

PARKLET ON 9TH AVENUE

The parklet outside Arizmendi Bakery (on 9th Avenue) is probably going ahead. This will be a small area with chairs and tables for anyone to sit.

Opponents have chiefly been concerned about putting people so close to traffic; supporters love the idea of a place to enjoy the neighborhood (and perhaps a delicious snack from Arizmendi!)

INNER SUNSET STREET FAIR IN OCT 2011

This year’s Inner Sunset Street Fair is scheduled for October 16th. This would be the second annual Inner Sunset street fair. They’re looking for donations and volunteers. Their website is here, with information about getting booths, volunteering and donating.

TILING STEPS

The Hidden Garden Steps project is also seeking donations and volunteers. Neighbors want to refurbish an existing staircase with a colorful ceramic tile mosaic — something like the brilliant tiled steps below Turtle Hill. The delightful design starts with a worm and mushroom at the bottom, and rises into a blue sky with flowers and a dragonfly.

PLANS OF THE BICYCLE COALITION

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition‘s Neal Patel made a presentation about their current initiatives. Apparently, 7 out of 10 San Franciscans use bicycles at least occasionally. The Coalition’s focus is on getting people to use bikes more, both for recreation and transport. They’ve added 34 miles of bike trails in 2009, but now want to have bike lanes connecting the city, safe for people from 8 to 80 to use. New bike lanes get people out on their bicycles. Their vision is of a safe biking trail, ideally with a physical barrier between the bike lane and car traffic, from the beach to the Bay.

The Coalition also offers urban cycling workshops covering rules and safety for kids, adults, and older adults who haven’t been on a bike in years… Questions focused on safety (including cyclists’ respect for pedestrians), specific bike routes, and bike-share systems.

I wanted the Coalition to use its outreach capability (it has 12,000 members) to warn people to wear reflective clothing in the fog. I can’t say how many times I’ve seen cyclists riding almost invisibly on Twin Peaks and areas surrounding our neighborhoods.

ADVOCATING FOR PEDESTRIANS

WalkSF’s Elizabeth Stampe talked about her organization, which focuses on making SF safer and more fun to walk. Since we’re all pedestrians to some degree, this is important for everyone. She pointed out the 800 people were hit by cars each year in SF — and thought this was possibly an understated number.

She mentioned measures to improve safety:

School zone speeds will be reduced to 15 mph for most schools in the city, which will make it safer for kids to walk to school;
They’re looking for better law enforcement (people don’t stop at Stop signs, for instance, or yield to pedestrians as they legally should do);
Looking for ways to redesign streets to slow traffic down and curb speeding.

One person described his efforts to get action on the dangerous intersection at 8th and Lawton, the site of several accidents. He wanted a Stop sign put in there. The SFMTA refused because (a) it’s a bus route, and this would slow the bus; (b) it increases carbon dioxide emissions; (c) enforcement of Stop signs is a problem, they’re widely ignored so why bother to add more?

The subsequent discussion focused on other ways to make a street less speedy; Stampe pointed out that the most dangerous roads are wide, straight and one-way because they encourage speed. Someone suggested more of the pedestrian-activated yellow flashing lights at crossings. The yellow signs in the road median saying State Law required stopping for pedestrians also helps.

Besides advocating for safety, WalkSF has volunteer-led walks all over the city. The next one is 12 miles, “Peak2Peak.” Also, they will host a Mayoral Candidates’ Forum on September 12th. (Details on their website.)

UCSF’s COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP

Craig Dawson spoke about UCSF’s Community Action Group (CAG), of which he is a founder member. They provide input to UCSF about issues concerning the community. UCSF initiated this group in 1991, when Laurel Heights neighbors were in legal battle with UCSF. They approached, Dawson said, their critics to be in the Group. He and Dennis Antenore have been on it since then. It includes four ISPN members: Craig Dawson; Dennis Antenore; Susan Maerki; and Kevin Hart.

The CAG is expecting to increase its activity as UCSF is currently working on its new Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) expected to be adopted in Feb 2014. Dawson urged neighbors to get more involved as the new LRDP would bring many changes affecting the neighborhood.

One issue is UC Hall, one of the oldest UCSF buildings. It was slated for demolition so UCSF could get within their “space ceiling” — a total amount of space the University can use within the Parnassus campus. (The ceiling was adopted when neighbors became concerned at the University’s rampant growth, but UCSF has exceeded it for many years.) However, it’s a historic Beaux Arts building, and some oppose its destruction. UCSF is now considering other uses for it; one possibility is housing, which would not count toward the space ceiling. The cost of a seismic retrofit may be an issue. Look out for public hearings.

Neighbors wanted to know how to get involved. UCSF’s Damon Lew (who was present) has joined ISPN, and will be posting information. Also, UCSF offered to host an ISPN meeting to discuss UCSF-related issues.

SUTRO STEWARDS

Speaking as Executive Director of Sutro Stewards, Craig Dawson very briefly described activities on the “underutilized” 61 acres of Mount Sutro owned by UCSF: planting the Native Garden, building trails, and preserving native plants under the eucalyptus. There was no mention of UCSF’s proposed plans to cut down thousands of trees.

Shaggy Grass (Formerly Furry)

About a year ago, I posted about some fantastic grass that had been planted near the intersection of Junipero Serra and 19th. It was almost surreal in the intensity of the green and the furry texture. Here’s what it looked like then.

But when I went to take some photographs, it already had signs that it might not last. Here’s what I wrote then:

But a few weeds are finding their way in already. It may be at its loveliest right now.

So next time you’re coming back from Serramonte or Pacifica or the airport, and the light changes against you at the intersection of 19th and Junipero Serra – rubberneck the grass.

It was true. A year later, it’s shaggy, not furry. I wouldn’t say it’s ugly; it looks like hay. It’s brown, and gone to seed which is what grasses do. Areas shaded by street trees are still green, so it may be the sun, I don’t know. It’s very springy under foot. Here’s what it looks like now.

And here it is from another angle.

I Brake for Raccoons

The other evening, I was driving down Clarendon Avenue. It was soon after dark. Right in front of Clarendon Elementary, a small animal darted across the road, fetching up against the chain-link fence that runs down the median there.

“Darn cat!” I said, stomping on my brakes. But it wasn’t a cat, it was a raccoon, and a second one already huddled against the fence on the median.

I presume this time, the two critters got across safely, either around the fence or over it.

I wonder, though, couldn’t the City make some small gaps under the fence in the interests of safety for the animals living in our neighborhood?

Red-tailed Hawks in Forest Knolls

Mary Allen posted these two great pictures of red-tailed hawks on our neighborhood Yahoo Group. They’re reproduced here with her permission and her notes.

These were taken from my living room windows… south facing toward Laguna Honda Hospital. They like to rest at the top of the tree on Warren at the bottom of my hill. I have my camera set up ready to go and when I happen to see them, I quickly rush to open the window and click away before they fly off.

(Taken with a Nikon D5000 200 mm lens.)

San Francisco Butterfly Count Results, 2011

The results are in! The sunny day paid off; the teams (34 people) saw ~~990~~ 967 butterflies of 26 species. Last year, it was 775 butterflies, 24 species. The count this year was a month later than in 2010, and in hot weather rather than on cold and foggy day. Also, they looked on Angel Island for the first time.

The Cabbage Whites were the most common. Next were the striking yellow Anise Swallowtails. These two butterflies accounted for nearly half the butterflies the teams observed.

If you’re interested in more detail, there’s a full list here.

You can Count Butterflies in San Francisco Tomorrow: 3 July 2011

The North American Butterfly Association is sponsoring the annual butterfly count in San Francisco. It’s usually in June, but had to be postponed this year because of the wet weather. So it’s tomorrow, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’re interested, bring lunch, and contribute $3. They are happy to have amateurs.

One group meets at the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way), with Liam O’Brien coordinating. (Email: liammail56@yahoo.com).

Another meets at the Presidio and will be led by Matt Zlatunich. (Email him at mbzlat@yahoo.com).

Picasso at the De Young

It’s very near here, the Concourse at Golden Gate Park. I’m a member of the Fine Arts Museums of SF, so admission would be free (or at least, covered by my annual membership). It was a weekday, and it was raining. So why not go to the Picasso exhibition at the De Young?

As usual, they did not permit photography inside the exhibition, but no one seemed to mind photos in the hall outside, which is where this was taken. It features one of the most striking pictures in the show, a portrait of Dora Maar. She was also an artist and photographer, brilliant and sharp-edged. (This poster shows the picture many times its actual size; it’s really fairly small.)

The exhibition was beautifully presented, showing not only Picasso’s path as an artist, but also his relationship with the multiple women in his life: His girlfriends Fernande Olivier and “Eva Gouel”; his ballerina wife Olga Khoklova; his mistress Marie-Therese Walter with whom he had a long affair, secret until she bore his daughter; Dora Maar, the woman in the picture; Francoise Gilot, mother of his son Claude and his daughter Paloma; and his second wife, Jacqueline Roque. He generally seemed to cheat on each wife or lover with a younger woman. Each of these women featured in paintings.

I strongly recommend the recorded audio tour (unless of course you’re already knowledgeable about Picasso). It’s 6 bucks for members (and 7 for others) and is definitely worth it. It puts what might otherwise be a rather overwhelming assemblage of paintings into context.