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Stow Lake September Twilight

Today was a day of intermittent sunshine and beautiful clouds. In the evening, a misty fog blew in and Stow Lake looked like something out of a romantic historical film. You half expected to see a lady on a white horse, or an armor-clad knight.

But even without the fantasy, it’s an interesting place at twilight; you never know what you’ll see. (The downside is that my current camera, which hates low-light conditions, doesn’t get very good pics.)

By the time we got there, most of the crowds had left. Only a few late walkers like us wandered around the lake. The last boat of the evening paddled toward the jetty. The mallards, geese and Muscovy ducks circled the edges of the lake hopefully before the last visitors disappeared.

A gull near the Boathouse hopped down to the edge of lake and came up with – something. It was reddish and scrawny and didn’t look like a piece of sandwich or candy. It brought its catch ashore to deal with it, and I got a closer look. It was a small red crayfish. I wouldn’t have recognized it, except that some months ago, I actually saw a much bigger crayfish at Stow Lake. The gull gobbled it down before I could even whip out my camera.

A flight of birds passed overhead, looking somewhat like swans and calling to each other. Then I realized it was actually Canada Geese, bleached by mist and twilight. They swept around and landed on the lake.

From Strawberry Hill, a Great Horned Owl called softly It sounded tentative, almost thoughtful. Probably just waking up and wanted its coffee.

On the other side of the lake, we noticed some black-and-white critters contrasting with the broad yellowish bare path on Strawberry Hill. Though the light was now quite poor, I looked carefully and realized it was a Mama Skunk with two kittens, hurrying along the path and occasionally detouring off it. Then I saw a bushy tail on our side, but it quickly hid amid the rocks at the lake-edge. It may be in the picture below – or not.

We passed the old stone bridge, and then, on cue at 7.55 p.m, I saw a bat, followed soon by several others. I tried for a photograph, but as usual, got only some smudges. (My technique is to point my camera in their general direction and keep clicking madly.) Spot the bats?

The geese took off in small flocks, flying away to an unknown destination – maybe the Botanic Garden. It was so quiet I could hear the whistle of the wind in their wings.

Further along, the city noises returned – the rush of traffic along the 19th avenue intersecting the park. It was back to our car, and back to the real world.

Trashcan Score: Raccoons 2, Bungees 0

So I recently posted here about how one bungee cord was not enough to prevent raccoons from getting into the trashcans… it took two per trashcan. That worked well.

Or so I thought. I was out of town recently when I got this message: “Double bungees are no match for these strong clever critters!“

Yowch. See this photograph? That’s what accompanied the message.

Maybe the black bin had overflowed and some of the garbage was left on the side in vulnerable garbage bags?

Nope. Here’s another picture. The raccoons had managed to push the bungee cord out of position, open the corner of the can, get in, and drag out the contents.

So we’re developing new solutions. (The easiest would be to put it in the garage until Garbage Morning, but with two cars and three garbage cans, that doesn’t work.)

Until we do, we’ve invested in a box of disposable rubber gloves for clean-up. And maybe we’ll add more bungee cords.

Stay tuned, and if you’re losing (or winning!) the Bandit Battle, I’d love to publish your experiences and photographs. Email at fk94131 at yahoo.com or leave a comment here. (Comments are moderated, so it may take a day or two to come through.)

Homeowners! 16 Sept 2013 Assessment Deadline

We received this letter from the office of Assessor Carmen Chu, with a request to publicize it. Homeowners who want to appeal the 2013-2014 of their property have until September 16th to do so.

It’s available here for download as a PDF: 2013.8.27_AAB Filing Period Deadline

Here’s a picture of the letter:

Of Raccoons, Trashcans, and Bungee Cords

A few days ago, I’d posted about the raccoon that visited our trashcans… and knocked them over to raid them.

Several neighbors suggested using bungee cords to keep them closed. Some were kind enough to send a detailed explanation of how to bungee a trashcan so the raccoons couldn’t open it. So we duly got some cords, and fastened down the lids of the green “compostables” bin, and the black “landfill” bin. (We didn’t bother about the blue bin; we figured recyclable paper and plastic and cans wouldn’t interest the critters.) And it worked! I added a note to my previous post to say so.

Until it didn’t.

A few nights later, they pushed over the green bin, and then deftly moved aside the bungee cord enough to open the lid and drag out its contents. Now what? we wondered. Someone suggested boring a hole through the lid of the trashcan and putting a chain through it.

Instead, we decided to try a double bungee, two cords on each bin.

So a few nights ago, I heard the now-familiar crash. They’d pushed the trashcan over. But this time the bungee cord held, and the bin stayed shut. We hurried out, and saw a couple of raccoons scamper off. We may have a solution.

If we do, it’s this:

Fasten each bin with two bungee cords in parallel, hooked over the handle, and the bar on the other side that’s used to lift the trashcan over the truck. You may have to open the hooks a little with pliers so they can grab the bars; at least we did.
Remember to replace them every time you put something in the trashcan. My experience is the raccoons come around 1-5 a.m., but who knows? Maybe they come earlier on some days and some places. [Edited to Add: The other evening, they showed up before 10 p.m.]
Remember to remove the cords in the morning before the garbage trucks come round, or they won’t clear the garbage.

Of course, it’s a lot easier if you can just keep the trashcans in your garage, and put them out only on the morning of Garbage Day. But if you have two cars parked inside, or a garage full of Stuff, it may not be feasible.

SFMTA Approved Speed Cushions for Warren, Speed Humps for Oak Park

I got an email from Dan Provence of SFMTA. The measures – speed humps on Oak Park Drive, and speed cushions on Warren Drive – were approved. This is from the e-mail:

Thank you for all of the input regarding the proposed speed humps on Oak Park and the proposed speed cushions on Warren. The ballot results found that 89% of responding households were in favor of speed humps on Oak Park and 67% of responding households were in favor of speed cushions on Warren. We also received 6 emails in favor of the proposals and 3 emails against. These were presented to the public hearing officer prior to the hearing for consideration. At the hearing were several residents in favor of the proposals and none opposed. All of the measures were approved.

We will work with the Department of Public Works to schedule construction and we will be in touch with more details soon. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Dan Provence, Livable Streets Subdivision

He’s at:

SFMTA | Municipal Transportation Agency , Sustainable Streets Division
1 South Van Ness Ave, 7th floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415.701.4448
Fax: 415.701.4343

email: Dan.Provence@sfmta.com

(Note: The photo is of a 2011 accident on Devonshire, but it’s the kind of thing we fear could happen elsewhere.)

CORRECTION: Hearing is on August 2, 2013

Sorry, everyone!

Misread the date of the hearing for the Warren Drive speedbumps: It’s actually August 2, 2013 at 10 a.m. in Room 416 of City Hall. (All the other details are okay.)

Aug 2, 2013 Hearing: Speed Controls on Warren Drive

CORRECTION: AUGUST 2, 2013 at 10 A.M.!

We’re nearly there on the speed bumps for Warren Drive! The majority of the neighbors voted for it. This means it’s going on to the next stage, a public hearing. That’s on August 2nd ~~3rd~~ at 10 a.m. in Room 416 at City Hall.

What they’re proposing to install are ‘speed cushions.’ Those are even better than speed bumps, being gentler and less noisy. They are “lower and wider” than the usual speed-bumps, and have indentations so buses can pass by without bumping. (I’ve driven over these things elsewhere, and they really do slow you down without axle-wrecking bumps.)

As many readers know, neighbor Beverly Mack has been working since 2008 to get traffic improvements on Warren Drive, which sometimes becomes a dangerous speed track. Now she – and the neighborhood – need your support to get it done. Please attend if you can, and send a letter (or email) in support if you can’t to Dan.Provence@sfmta.com.

These things could save lives.

Cute Coyote Pups – and Coexisting with Coyotes

This post is reprinted with permission from SFForest.net
Our area does get coyote visitors, and so do Twin Peaks, Laguna Honda, and possibly Sutro Forest. The video linked below has pointers for co-existing with coyotes.

As frequent visitors to our urban wild-lands and parks probably know already, coyotes are part of our city’s wildlife. They travel over considerable distances alone or in family groups, so you could actually see them anywhere (though wild-lands where they can hunt gophers are probably the best bet). And – this is coyote pupping season. Pups have already been seen in Golden Gate Park and elsewhere.

A “HOW-TO” VIDEO ON COYOTES AS NEIGHBORS

It might be helpful to know as much as possible about what behavior to expect from them, especially in relation to ourselves and pets. For a one-stop informational video presentation — the most up-to-date there is — please view CoyoteCoexistence.Com‘s new video, Coyotes As Neighbors: Focus On Facts. Here’s the video:

If you have specific questions or issues, you may contact them at coyotecoexistence at gmail.com for one-on-one assistance.

coyote pups 1 — Coyote Pups Alert. Janet Kessler

Protest the Poisoner with a Donation for Vet Bills

Sadly, Oskar the dachshund who was poisoned by the strychnine-laced meatballs, has died. The veterinary clinic did their best to save him, but lost the battle.

Oskar in veterinary hospital – photo credit: AIMSS Facebook page

The poisoner/s remains at large. There’s a $5,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. This dastardly crime could affect almost any animal or bird or even human – the police determine there was so much strychnine they advised against handling the meatballs without gloves. [Edited to Add: If you have information, call the police at (415) 242 3000 – Lieutenant Pengel or Inspector Nannery – or the Animal Legal Defense Fund at (707) 795-2533, ext. 1010]

Meanwhile, Oskar’s treatment was hugely expensive. Already facing the tragic loss of her pet, his owner shouldn’t be left holding the bill for a crime that hits all of us as a community. I’m not a dog-owner, but I am using my donation to protest this horrible act. If you would like to do the same, here’s the Paypal link.

The veterinary clinic, Animal Internal Medicine and Specialty Services, notes on their Facebook page: “Donations can be submitted through the paypal site, as well as in person at the hospital via credit card. We regret that at this time we cannot accept checks. “

[Edited to Add: They’re at 1333 9th Avenue, San Francisco, California 94122; the phone number is (415) 566-0540 and they’re always open.]

[Edited to Add 2: In response to some questions from readers, I asked AIMSS what the target amount was, whether the funds would go directly to reducing the liability of Oskar’s owner, and what would happen to excess donations if the target was crossed. Here’s what AIMSS said:

“Hey, Thanks for helping Oskar’s mom! So Oskar’s bill was capped by the hospital when it reached $26,000. All funds raised go directly to Oskar’s medical cost. If we go over the target amount we will donate any additional funds to SF Aid for Animals.” ]

Public Alert/ Poisoned Meatballs Left for Dogs

The San Francisco Park Station Police have put out an alert. There’s a poisoner loose who’s apparently trying to kill dogs. One dog is still seriously ill, and some wildlife has died. This message has been going out on the Yahoo Group, NextDoor and Facebook, but here is the official alert.

Any questions please contact the Park Station Investigations Team at 415-242-3000.

(A larger PDF version of this is available here: poisoned meatball alert-1 )

Forest Knolls Neighborhood on the Web

I thought I’d write this post to let everyone know the various ways we can connect on the Internet. For now, there are the following:

1. This website and blog, www.ForestKnolls.info (not dot com or dot org ! dot INFO)

This runs stuff of general interest, occasional pictures and articles, and announcements. It’s a good place for laying out or updating any neighborhood issues. It’s completely public – anyone anywhere with internet access can read it (should they want to).

It’s got a Pets page, so if you’d like to add a picture of any Forest Knolls pet to it, send it in to fk94131@yahoo.com – with the name of the animal if you want it included. So far, we only have dogs and cats, but I’m completely open to pictures of iguanas or macaws or even the odd tarantula. Send them in!

If you want to stay updated whenever there’s a new post, you can subscribe to the site for emails. (Go HERE and enter your email address in the box on the right side.) Your email does not become public, but the Webmaster can see it.

2. The Forest_Knolls_Neighborhood Yahoo Group.

Anyone can join, though it’s really of interest to people within the Forest Knolls neighborhood.You can give your actual name or not as you prefer. Your email address will be visible. It’s also public, but people are unlikely to search it out. They could if they wanted, though.

Here’s what I wrote about it two years ago, with instructions for joining:

“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.”

If you’d like to join that, the link is HERE. Look for the button that says “Join This Group!”

3. NextDoor Forest Knolls

Nextdoor is a new platform (which I wrote about HERE). It’s different from the Yahoo Group in that you need to give your actual name and address (and NextDoor will verify the address). It’s the opposite of anonymity. The idea is to facilitate the building of community and trust.

It’s relatively private, in that only others on NextDoor will see it. It won’t show up on a Google Search, for instance. But I’d warn that it’s private, not confidential. There’s no way of knowing who might copy or forward your post to someone else.

Recently, our neighborhood got the “Nearby Neighborhoods” feature, which gives access to Nextdoor in 9 other neighborhoods. That means when you post something on Nextdoor, you can decide whether to post it just to Forest Knolls, or to the whole bunch of neighborhoods. (If you post to all the nearby neighborhoods as well, around 1000 people will see your post.) You can even turn off some of the neighborhoods if they are not really of interest. People have been using it for things like recommendations for contractors, baby-sitters, household stuff for sale – and discussions about Sutro Forest. It’s a good way to meet up with others who have similar interests, say, for instance, small kids.

If you’d like to join, that link is HERE.

4. Forest Knolls Group on Facebook

That’s just started up. Anyone who’s on Facebook can join, but you have to ask the administrator (right now, that would be me). I’d love for more people to join and post stuff. It’s a good place to share pictures or anything you like. It’s public to anyone on Facebook.

Here’s the link:

WHAT SHOULD I JOIN?

What you decide to join really depends on how you want to use it.

The ForestKnolls.info website is intended to keep you informed, but it’s really dependent on the Webmaster. Stuff can slip by me. (If there’s something you think the neighborhood should know, email me.) It’s pretty easy reading. It also has neighborhood information.
The Yahoo Group has the most members right now, though all of them may not be from the neighborhood. (There’s no requirement they should be.) I think it probably reaches the most neighbors.
Nextdoor is good if it’s important to know who you’re talking to. Real names, real addresses. I think it’s pretty practical for the kind of thing you’d like to do in person.
Facebook is neat if you tend to go there anyway. It has the advantage that anyone in the group can post there – pictures, issues, just comments – it’s all welcome.

For myself – I’m on all of them. It’s neat that our neighborhood can be connected on the web. I hope more people join in – spread the word!

Raccoon At Night

Here’s a little night visitor to our house… I took this picture with a flashlight in one hand and a camera in the other.

For a long time, I’d assumed that the tall green trashcans – the ones that interest the raccoons because they contain the compostable food leavings – were actually impervious to wildlife if they were properly closed. Then this video on the Coyote Yipps blog clearly showed that was not true.

Well, I figured, at least the coyotes in our neighborhood hadn’t learned to do that. The only time I’d seen them in trashcans was when a neighbor overstuffed one so it wouldn’t close, and the raccoon figured the diner was open for business. Then, a few weeks ago, garbage night rolled around, and so did the raccoons. Though we were careful to shut our trashcans properly, they managed to push over the green bin and make a huge mess.

We added a couple of rocks to the top of the bin, and that was that, for a few more weeks.

Then, a few nights ago, I heard a 4 a.m. crash. I knew what it was: The raccoons had managed to overturn the can despite the rocks. I hurried out, worried both that they might have been hurt and that they would make another huge mess.

They weren’t, and they hadn’t. They bin had fallen forward and the lid held back most of the trash. The raccoons had walked into it and came out with a piece of moldy bread. I spot-lit the critter with my flashlight and took the photograph. Then I yelled some rude things in Racoonish to drive them off, righted the can, wedged it in a corner, and replaced the rocks.

I think it’s time Recology figured out a way to fasten the garbage cans. After all, raccoons aren’t exactly rare in this city. Meanwhile, I’m wondering if bungee cords or some kind of clamp would work.

[Edited to Add: Bungee cords are working thus far. Thanks, everyone who offered suggestions and instructions!]

July 4th in San Francisco

It starts every year on July 4th morning – indecision about where to watch the fireworks. The default for me is Twin Peaks or Tank Hill, where we can see the sky blooming from a distance and the city below. But today, we decided to get closer in, so we drove down, in the nick of time, to the Marina. It was crowded, of course, but we maneuvered into a parking spot that was out of the way if not entirely legal.

People were double and triple-parked; it didn’t matter, we were all there for the same thing. We were all waiting for darkness to fall over the Bay. The Coit Tower was lit in red, white and blue. Across the Bay, Sausalito’s display started.

Then there was the first boom! and a fire-flower appeared. Everyone started to move eastward to get closer. I joined them; a street-lamp where I stood was messing up my pictures. I passed a beacon flashing white, and then found a good vantage point.

All around me, people were taking photographs, many with iPads or smartphones, and a few with cameras mounted on tripods.

I like this picture. It’s such a classic fireworks display shot, but it captures some of the wonder of these night-blooming sky-flowers. And here it is closer up.

The smiley-faces came out beautifully, with no wind to blow them around.

This one reminded me of a bit from old poem: “lily cups… those flowers made of light…” These literally were.

The grand finale was an extended burst of red white and blue. Everyone cheered.

Hope you all had a happy 4th!

Traffic Calming for Forest Knolls, Soon?

Readers of this blog may remember that neighbor Beverly Mack has been working since 2008 to get some traffic calming for Warren Drive and Oak Park. If you’d like to read about that, the details are in my September 2012 post: Traffic Calming on Warren Drive: When?

Well, we have Action! SFMTA will be sending round letters and ballots to us all with a proposal for traffic calming. I’m not sure what it will be (Beverly asked for speed bumps).

But – when you get the letter and ballot, please respond! You could be saving lives.

Here’s what SFMTA wrote to Beverly:

From: “Provence, Dan” <Dan.Provence@sfmta.com>
To: “Beverly Mack (bmack4paws@sbcglobal.net)” <bmack4paws@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 3:17 PM
Subject: Traffic Calming on Warren and Oak Park

Hi Beverly,

I wanted to let you know that soon you and your neighbors will be receiving letters and ballots regarding traffic calming on your street. The proposal included in the letter has been approved by various City departments and now it is up to residents to decide whether or not they would like to proceed with traffic calming measures. I will be out of the office next week but I will be available beginning July 8 to answer any questions.

Thanks,
Dan

Dan Provence
Livable Streets Subdivision

SFMTA | Municipal Transportation Agency
Sustainable Streets Division
1 South Van Ness Ave, 7th floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415.701.4448
Fax: 415.701.4343
email: Dan.Provence@sfmta.com

Rainbow Lights in San Francisco

If any city is celebrating the Supreme Court’s recent judgement about the Defense of Marriage Act, and about Proposition 8 (which made same-sex marriage illegal in Calfornia), it would be San Francisco. Everything’s coming up rainbows.

I went to Twin Peaks to see City Hall lit up. I’d been told Coit Tower also was, and some other buildings, but it’s City Hall that really counts. And it was visible, much more so than this shot below would indicate. (My camera really doesn’t like low-light conditions.)

The web’s been flooded with pictures, of course. But it was exciting, and I felt I really needed to see it, up close, in person. It was nearing 11 p.m. when I got to City Hall, but it wasn’t deserted. Clusters of people wandered around, looking at the lights, which were spectacular. Everyone was taking photographs, with everything from iPhones to professional quality equipment with tripods.

I took a few of my own with my little Point-and-shoot thingy that doesn’t like night time shots. But City Hall was so bright, they came out okay anyway.

I remember reading, many years ago, a short story that had two gay guys married to each other. Then, it was science fiction. Now, it’s becoming real (again) in San Francisco. One of the marvelous ways in which we live in the future.

Goats in Forest Knolls!

In response to concerns from neighbors on Christopher and Crestmont about poison oak at the forest edge, UCSF contacted the Department of Public Works (which takes care of maintenance by the roadside). DPW responded with… goats!

It’s a flock from City Grazing, behind an electric fence (caution if you go to take a look). They had some cards stuck on their sign; it says you can rent between 2 and 80 goats. (They’re at http://www.citygrazing.com)

If you’re walking your dog by there, please be sure to leash him or her – they can scare the goats if they try to chase them, and an electric fence probably isn’t ideal for pets to crash into either.

We wish they’d waited until the bird nesting season was over, but then again, neighbors do need the poison oak cleared. And goats are *tremendously* superior to Roundup, Garlon, or imazapyr – the toxic herbicides that are sometimes used instead.

Did Someone Save the Squat & Gobble Trees?

[Edited to Add: It turned out they had permission for one tree to be removed, and no, it has not been saved. It’s gone.]

A few months ago, I reported that the two trees were marked for removal, next to the burned-out Squat & Gobble restaurant on West Portal. Though they’d survived the fire and the fire-fighting, they were in the way of the cranes that would be needed for rebuilding on the site.

It was sad. So many trees were being lost. There used to be a splendid old tree at the station, opposite the library; it was removed when work was done on the Station.

But… here it is, mid June. The rebuilding is coming along nicely.

And our trees are still there.

If they have indeed been saved, a big thank you to whoever preserved these trees.

UCSF Fitness Center Open House, May 6-14, 2013

UCSF’s Fitness Center is having a free Open House for a week (only for adults).

Validated parking and Group Fitness classes aren’t included, and towel and lock rental available for small fee.

Here are the details:

Fitness in your neighborhood! UCSF Fitness & Recreation Open House, May 6 – 14, 2013.

Come work out for FREE at UCSF Fitness & Recreation Centers. Friends and family welcome. (Must be 18 or over.) Join by May 14 and pay no enrollment fee. Save $50-150!

Cardio & strength machines
70+ Group fitness classes weekly*
Free weights
Swimming pool(s)
Squash & racquetball courts
Basketball court
Pilates studio
Sauna
Locker rooms
Towel service
Access to Mission Bay location

Senior 60+ discount available

Facility hours:

Mon-Fri: 5:30am – 10:00pm,
Sat & Sun: 7:30am – 8:00pm
New member enrollment hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 am-7:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am-1:00 pm, 2:30-5:30 pm
For more info, contact Member Services, 415.476.0348

Address: UCSF Millberry Fitness & Recreation Center, 500 Parnassus Avenue, level B1
campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/fitnessrecreation

* Validated parking and Group Fitness classes not included during Open House. Towel and lock rental available for small fee.

Dog People: Here’s the Million Dog March!

Someone sent this to me, and I thought that dog-friendly Forest Knolls would be interested!

————————————————————

MILLION DOG MARCH

Sunday, June 2, 2013

McLaren Park, San Francisco

We can’t break the world record without you and your dog!

San Francisco Bay Area dog lovers have worked hard to make the Bay Area the most dog friendly place on earth. Yet there are threats to many of the gains we’ve made—from Muir Beach to Montara, Oakland to San Francisco. That’s why dog people are planning to gather one June 2nd at McLaren Park in San Francisco to stand up and be counted, once again, for our dogs and our community—and to have a whole lot of fun at the same time as we try to break the Guinness World Record for largest dog walk.

We hope you’ll join us for the first-ever Million Dog March, a fabulously large dog walk and festival of fun and games, and help us:

Break the world record for largest dog walk

Show the size and passion of the Bay Area dog community

Stand up for our right to walk with our dogs in city parks, federal recreation areas and other public spaces

Raise money for Friends of SF Animal Care and Control

Enjoy a great time in one of San Francisco’s most beautiful yet underutilized parks

The Million Dog March will be a beautiful three-mile walk in McLaren Park, through grassy fields, around scenic lakes, under redwoods, over charming wooden bridges, and along trails with some spectacular views of San Francisco. After the walk, there will be a festival with music, vendors, information tables and games and activities for you and your dog. Have a photo taken of you and your dog. Let your dog try her paw at some agility equipment, go bobbing for tennis balls to win a prize, or see his furry face as a caricature.

The cost of the event is $25 in advance/$30 on the day of the event, which includes registration for one dog and its human family members as well as one t-shirt for you and a bandana for your doggie. Any proceeds from the event will be donated to Friends of SF Animal Care and Control, to benefit city shelter animals. Because of the number of participants, we ask that you keep your dog on leash during the walk.

REGISTER EARLY!  

To register and find out more: http://www.milliondogmarchsf.org

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/milliondogmarchsf

Event sponsors: Zynga, Pet Camp, K9 Scrub Club, Pet Food Express, Yelp, San Francisco SPCA, the Park Cafes, Citipets. Media sponsors: The Bark, 7 x 7, Bay Woof, San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Hosted by SFDOG. Endorsed by Crissy Field Dog Group, DogPAC of San Francisco, Ft. Funston Dog Walkers, Grateful Dogs Rescue, ODOG-Oakland Dog Owners Group, Ocean Beach DOG, Marin Unleashed, McLaren DOG, Montara Dog Group, Muttville, Point Isabel DOG, the Professional Dog Walkers Association, Save Off Leash Dog Walking, Wonder Dog Rescue.

PG&E Thieving Impostor, and Other Crimes

I’ve been hearing about PG&E impostors from other neighborhoods; now they’re hitting closer home. The Parks Station Police newsletter carried a report of a theft on 1th April in Midtown Terrace:

“1:30 PM Glenview & Burnett Theft of Credit Cards, Checks
“Suspect posed as a private contractor working for PG&E. Victim allowed him into her backyard where the suspect distracted the victim while an accomplice burglarized her home.”

So if someone says they’re from PG&E and they’ve come to help you – it probably makes sense to call the company. And not on the number the person gives, but the one from the phonebook or 411.

OTHER CRIME

The newsletter reported a traffic collision (without any details about who collided with what, but a bicycle was involved): 9:12 AM Twin Peaks & Panorama, Unsafe Speed for Bicyclist Conditions.
It also had 4 instances of thefts from cars in the Twin Peaks Parking lot – all in the daytime, when presumably there would be people around, but it still happened. Also, lots from other areas including one inside a parking garage.
A bicycle was stolen from 100 Crestline, which is over on the other side of Twin Peaks – but just as a heads up to all the riders in our neighborhood. I feel like everyone I know who rides has had a bike stolen some time. Maybe we should microchip them. (The bikes, not the riders.)