Category: Forest Knolls News and events

Forest Knolls Halloween Plans

It’s coming up to Halloween, and Forest Knolls is organizing a candy loop…

Walter Caplan of the Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization (FKNO) dropped off a flyer at my place with the details. Laura Bloch is organizing this.  Laura is at LJBloch@aol.com or (415)  504 8043.

Basically, if you’re in the loop (on the map below) and want to take part, have a pumpkin outside your house, and be ready for visitors between 5.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The FKNO will provide pumpkins and pumpkin signs.  (This doesn’t mean that homes that aren’t on the loop can’t participate. Just have a pumpkin visible, leave your porch light on, and have a stash of candy ready. That’s what I mean to do!)

And if you have kids (or are a kid) who wants to trick-or-treat, come on over to the Forest Knolls loop and look for the pumpkin signs.

West Nile Virus and the Sewer System

I was at a meeting yesterday where Nader Shatara of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) talked about the West Nile Virus (WNV). It’s a mosquito-borne disease that typically first shows up in birds, particularly crows and ravens and jays. In fact, unexplained dead birds are sometimes the first sign that WNV has arrived. It can be transmitted to people when a mozzy bites an infected bird and then a person. Usually a mild disease in humans, it can sometimes be serious or even fatal.

San Francisco recently had its first human case where the patient had no record of travel or other explanations for the disease. (An earlier case was related to an organ transplant.) He is recovering.

Cats and dogs can also get it, but it’s very rarely anything serious for them. Squirrels sometimes die of it, and it’s occasionally a problem in horses – though not, of course, in Forest Knolls.

TREATING THE CATCHMENT BASINS

The best way to prevent WNV is to control mosquitoes. In San Francisco, the most common place for breeding mosquitoes is in the storm drain system, mainly in the catchment basins under the street.

So for the last several years, the Water Department has been treating the catchment basins. Its contractor, Pestec, inspects the basins – he said the current routine is once a month – and if needed, puts in a something to stop the breeding. A colored dot above the grate shows they’ve checked it, using a different color each month. (This month’s color is blue.) Some of you may remember I wrote about it here two years ago.

At the time, they were using Bacillus Thurengiensis Israelensis (Bti) dunks. Bti is an organic way to kill mosquito larvae. Nader said they’ve switched to using Bacillus Sphaericus. (Click here for a  PDF version of an EPA fact sheet about this bacterium.) It also kills mozzy larvae, but apparently has a longer lasting effect. Only, in at least one catchment basin that was supposedly treated, they found live mozzies. They’re trying to find out why – one theory is the packet of bacteria snagged on something and didn’t get to the water.

REPORT DEAD BIRDS – SOMETIMES

San Francisco’s program to prevent WNV includes dead bird reporting. If you find a dead bird, you can put it in double plastic baggies (wear gloves or pick it up with tongs or something in case of other infections) and call it in for testing. (Click here for a  link with all the details.)

From the California Department of Public Health West Nile virus website:  If you find a dead bird, particularly a crow, jay, magpie, raven, sparrow, finch, or raptor, or dead tree squirrel, please file an online report at http://www.westnile.ca.gov or call toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD. Dead bird and dead tree squirrel reports are very important because they are usually the first indication that the virus is active in an area, and this allows CDPH to monitor the virus throughout the year.

Only, in San Francisco, this service is apparently closed between October 15th and mid-May.

REPORT MOSQUITOES AND AVOID HOSTING THEM

If you see mosquitoes in storm drains (or in PG&E vaults, which can also trap standing water, like in this picture), call the SF DPH and let them know.

I’m not sure if there’s a public hotline for it, but Nader was kind enough to provide his business card and his number is 415 252 3887; he’s at Nader.Shatara@sfdph.org

If you have standing water around your house (garden ponds, plates under potted plants, containers left outside, unattended bird baths) you might want to deal with it. For garden ponds, Bti dunks are good; or you can get mosquito fish (gambusia) if your pond’s large enough.

NOT A HUGE PROBLEM

Keeping it in perspective – WNV is not a huge problem in San Francisco. The last human case was in 2005. Our neighborhood especially may benefit from being surrounded by the eucalyptus forest – eucalyptus tends to repel mosquitoes. (There’s a 2009 research paper on it HERE; you can read the abstract for free but would have to buy the full report.) We probably don’t have a problem like the treeless parts of the city. The last dead bird was found near City College.

But anyway, except for their role in the food chain, who wants mosquitoes? No harm in keeping an eye out for them.

Traffic Calming on Warren Drive – When?

[Edited 16 Sept 2012 to correct and clarify the dates and time line.]

Back in December 2010  mid-2008, neighbor Beverly Mack put in a request to the San Francisco MTA for traffic calming on Warren Drive, one of our neighborhood’s main streets. The issues were speeding, particularly on the curves and cut-through traffic.  Warren Drive has steep slopes and blind curves, with children often present. Parents park on the street to walk their kids down to the Clarendon School via the Ashwood Lane stairs. What they asked for was two speed-bumps.

The form needs ten signatures from neighbors; they got fifteen.

Here is a PDF of the application for Traffic Calming to SF MTA

SF MTA issued Beverly an acceptance letter in December 2010. In this acceptance letter, SF MTA noted that while it had accepted the application, that didn’t mean they would do anything right away.

Excerpt from SF MTA acceptance letter 2010

(The PDF is here: Acceptance ltr (10-0458) SF MTA Warren Drive Traffic Calming)

I guess it was a fair warning, because nearly two years later, exactly nothing has happened.

Beverly called SFMTA, and found the project is currently 14th out of 39 projects. She got an email from SF MTA that said, “Sometimes this ranking does shift as new applications are accepted and meet additional criteria (vehicle speeds and volume, recorded collisions, evidence of cut-through traffic, parks and schools nearby, etc). The traffic calming program is currently being evaluated and no new applications will be reviewed until Spring 2013 which means your ranking should not change.”  (By implication, they aren’t clearing any either.)  It’s a funding issue, apparently.

(What I’ve heard, true or not, is that it takes actual collisions to move the project up the rankings so they start acting on it.)

ONCE THE PROJECT STARTS

Even once the project starts, it takes time to accomplish.

So there it is: Despite all the effort, it looks unlikely anything will be done for another year or two — at best.

Does anyone have any ideas? If so, email Beverly:  BMack4paws  at  sbcglobal.net

[Edited to Add: One way to help is to call or email the SF MTA.  Jeffrey Banks at 701-5331, email is Jeffrey.Banks@sfmta.com]

Meanwhile: SF MTA has a questionnaire out, seeking feedback  about customer satisfaction. There’s one section where you can leave a comment. Perhaps that’s an opportunity to push this neighborhood’s needs.

Here is the link to the survey: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/acontact/CustomerSatisfactionSurvey.htm

No Public Meeting Tonight 10 August 2012

Sorry, folks, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding somewhere.

FKNO is not organizing a Forest Knolls Neighbors’ meeting for tonight. It’s essentially a potluck by and for people who have been walking their dogs at the reservoir. It’s not intended as a large public event. The candidates were invited to stop by if they wanted.

I will be removing the previous post on the matter.

 

Rest in Peace, Earl Martin

Earl and Connie Martin in 1956 outside their partially built home

Some time ago, I’d written about meeting Earl and Connie Martin, original residents of Midtown Terrace. Earl had taken a lot of photographs of Forest Knolls and Midtown Terrace in the 1950s and early 1960s, when they first moved here. When I asked permission to publish them, he kindly invited me over to their home.

That article (with some of his pictures) is here: Historic Forest Knolls Pictures from Earl & Connie Martin, Midtown Terrace Original Residents

Today I was saddened to learn that he passed away last month, soon after my May 2012 interview. My thoughts go out to his family. I was honored and fortunate to meet him.

Emergency Response Training, July 10 and 17, 2012

I was sent this flyer today, for the San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Training being held at UCSF at Parnassus.  It’s for July 10 AND 17th – anyone can attend, but they have to attend both sessions. Here’s the flyer (clicking on it will yield a larger version):

Crestmont Preservation: Comments from Mt Sutro Woods

The steep hillside above the planned development

Readers who have been following along with the Crestmont Project story would be interested to know that the Mt Sutro Woods Owners Association has filed a response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

[Click HERE for the back story; and HERE for the most recent developments. The name of the project was changed to San Francisco Overlook, but as far as we know, not much else was altered from the original plan. A developer wishes to build 34 housing units at the end of a long cul-de-sac on a steep slope accessible only by driving through Forest Knolls neighborhood.]

The report was filed by the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. The bulletin below summarizes the issues and has a link to the full letter on the Crestmont Preservation website.

BULLETIN fromCrestmont-Mt.Sutro-Forest Knolls Neighborhood Preservation Coalition

Draft EIR

Letter to Planning Department
Response to Draft EIR Update, 6-26-12

(The comment period to the Draft EIR ended June 19, 2012.)

Letter from McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP on behalf of Mt. Sutro Woods Owners Association (MSWOA):
“…we believe the DEIR is severely flawed in many respects and fails to meet minimum legal requirements as an informal document under CEQA. The DEIR needs to be supplemented with additional information, analysis and mitigation.”

The letter addresses the following issues:

  • Geology & Soils
  • Construction Impacts
  • Parking
  • Circulation
  • Alternatives
  • Parking & CC&Rs
  • Violation of Arbitration Decision

The letter is posted on our web site  www.crestmontpreservation.org

Direct link to letter (PDF file 2MB): Click HERE

______________________________________________

STOP SF OVERLOOK t-shirts can be ordered HERE (on Zazzle).
We have also posted a link on http://crestmontpreservation.org.

REMINDER:
Please display the poster in your window and urge your neighbors to also display the poster! If you need a poster, please call Sam Sobol, 415-640-3869 or email info@crestmontpreservation.org.

Sam Sobol

We’re Still in District 7! Who’ll be our New Supe?

This year, San Francisco reorganized its Supervisory Districts. I’ve been interested to know how the re-districting would come out, with plans of all kinds to change the boundaries this April. One proposal would have moved us (and Midtown Terrace) to District 8.

Well, the final maps are out, and we’re still in District 7. I was also pleased to see that our District includes all of Mount Sutro. One proposal had the boundary along Crestmont, which I didn’t like because actions on Mount Sutro would impact our neighborhood but we’d have less input.

[I talked about Redistricting in an earlier post, HERE.]

So here’s the map. Clicking on it will make a larger version come up.

What’s changed?

Not very much. Parnassus Heights, which is contiguous with Cole Valley, has gone into District 5.  A small area East of Ocean Avenue has joined D11. A couple of small areas North of Holloway and just above the I-280 have been added.

In the map above, Forest Knolls is in pale yellow (and the forest is in green). The areas added to District 7 are in pink, and the areas subtracted, in orange.

A NEW SUPERVISOR

As some of you know, our supervisor, Sean Elsbernd, is termed out, and so there’ll be new candidates for a supervisory election. It will be held by ranked choice voting, which means you should choose the three candidates you like best and mark them in order of preference.

Who’s running (so far)?

1.  Joel Engardio. He  was one of the earliest to declare his candidacy. He stands for a sensible approach to city budgets, he’s small-business friendly, he supports dogs in our parks and off-leash areas, and he supports trees and urban forests. The reason I know so much about his platform is that he got in touch early. (I wrote about that HERE.)

His website is HERE. It has links to fun short (3-minute) videos about his platform: Budget, dogs, trees.

2.  Norman Yee. I met Norman at a West of Twin Peaks council meeting, and today found a newsletter from him in my driveway. He’s currently president of the School Board, but we didn’t get a chance to talk about what he stands for, but HERE is his website.

3. Andrew Bley. I met him at a Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association meeting. Again, I didn’t get a chance to talk about his platform. His website is HERE.

4. F.X. Crowley. I haven’t met him yet, but HERE is his website.

5. Michael Garcia, who also I haven’t met. Again, his website is HERE.

Pretty soon, as the campaigns kick off, I expect various Neighborhood associations will start having candidate presentations. I’ll report on any I attend. Meanwhile, please feel free to comment.

[Edited to Add (22 May 2012): In the last few days, I’ve met F.X. Crowley, Andrew Bley, and Michael Garcia.  I’ll be writing about them soon.]

Crestmont Battle: Draft Environment Impact Report is Out

For neighbors who have been following the Crestmont (now renamed San Francisco Overlook) battle: The Draft Enviromental Impact Report has been published. It’s time to let the city know what you think.

[Click HERE for the background on this battle, and HERE for the update.]

I received this email from Dr. Sam Sobol, who is co-ordinating the opposition.

BULLETIN from Crestmont-Mt.Sutro-Forest Knolls Neighborhood Preservation Coalition

SF OVERLOOK Development – Draft EIR Published!

Planning Commission Public Hearing, Thursday, June 7, 2012

The Draft EIR for the San Francisco Overlook Project was published May 2, 2012, and is available for review online, http://sfmea.sfplanning.org/2004.0093E_DEIR.pdf

Paper copies (510 pages) and CDs are available at the Planning Information Center (PIC) counter at the Planning Department, 1660 Mission St., San Francisco. We will post a link to the Draft EIR on our web site.

The public comment period, during which the Planning Department must respond to any objections, extends for 45 days and we urge all of our neighbors to review this document and provide feedback and objections to the Planning Department and the Planning Commissioners, as well as our Supervisor Sean Elsbernd (see addresses below). Letters and/or e-mails should be addressed to Mr. Bill Wycko and cc’d to each of the Planning Commission members and Mr. Elsbernd. The more letters the Planning Department receives, the more impact our concerns will have. You are not limited to a single letter, and each letter can address a separate issue of concern.

The Planning Commission Public Hearing will take place Thursday, June 7, 2012, Room 400, City Hall. Prepare now to join your neighbors to add your voice to our objections to this massive project which threatens to overwhelm our neighborhood. Commission meetings begin at 12:00 PM, but we will be notified of a more precise time in advance.

ADDRESSES

Planning Department: Bill Wycko, Environmental Review Officer, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission St., Suite 400, SF 94103. bill.wycko@sfgov.org

Commissioners: Address same as above.

Rodney Fong, Commission President, planning@rodneyfong.com

Cindy Wu, Commission Vice-President, cwu.planning@gmail.com

Michael Antonini, wordweaver21@aol.com

Gwyneth Borden, plangsf@gmail.com

Ron Miguel, rm@well.com

Kathrin Moore, mooreurban@speakeasy.net

Hisashi Sugaya, hs.commish@yahoo.com

Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, SF 94102, Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org

STOP SF OVERLOOK t-shirts can be ordered here: http://www.zazzle.com/preservecrestmont

We have also posted a link on http://crestmontpreservation.org.

REMINDER: Please display the poster in your window and urge your neighbors to also display the poster! If you need a poster, please call 415-640-3869 or email info@crestmontpreservation.org.

Sam Sobol

West Portal’s Arts & Crafts Fair: April 13-15, 2012

The West Portal Arts fair is this weekend. It’s a lovely place to pick up unique gifts, or buy jewelry or art or craft pieces directly from the people who make them. I love the atmosphere, and the variety.

(CLICK HERE for my report on last year’s fair.

And HERE’s my report from 2010, with a slideshow of pictures.)

I think there are some people who come back year after year. I also heard there’s a rug weaver who takes commissions…

Wishing them good weather this year too!

ETA: I dropped in on the fair this evening, just before it closed. The rug weaver was there, Xenon Hippolito, Master Weaver. The rugs are Zapotec, and they’re beautiful. Some are in neutrals, like beiges and browns; others are in saturated reds and oranges.

Everyone I spoke to said today had been good, and that augurs well for the weekend. Hope the weather holds!

Inner Sunset FREE Fix-It Fair…Saturday, April 21, 2012

It’s back! The FREE Fix-it fair…

When:  Saturday, April 21, 10am-4pm,  Inner Sunset

Where:  Backyard/Basement at northwest corner of Sixth & Irving

Rain or shine, more than a dozen generous craftsmen will work to bring perfection back to your life, by gluing, clamping, sewing, soldering, re-wiring, hammering, sawing, cutting, cleaning, adjusting … whatever you bring us.

We’ll attempt to fix anything except electronics & relationships.

Last item in at 3pm.

Twice your money back if you’re not satisfied. (It’s Free!)

Questions, or to volunteer: Barbara: (415) 246 4748

Emergency Response Training via NERT

I got this note from the NERT co-ordinator for the Clarendon area. This is a really worthwhile program, and those who attend these classes do a favor not only to themselves and their families, but also are able to help people around them if there’s an earthquake.

APRIL IS EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS MONTH

Early last month, many of us got a very literal wake up call at about 5:30 in the morning, when a slippage on the Hayward fault jolted us awake. This month, we commemorate the 106th anniversary of the far more devastating quake that hit San Francisco on April 18, 1906. It is a good time to reflect on the fact that we need to be prepared. One of the best ways we can make ourselves ready to help ourselves, our families, and our neighbors in the event of a major quake or other disaster is to take advantage of the free training offered by the San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team program.

This training is offered at various locations throughout the city. This May, for those living in Forest Knolls, the Fire Department will provide NERT training just a few block away at 5th and Irving. For more information, see the attached flyer or visit the NERT website at www.sfgov.org/sfnert. You also can call the NERT office at 415-970-2022 to sign up for training or to get more information.

Here’s the flyer. Clicking on the image will take you to a larger version you can print out.

NERT flyer April 2012

Alert: Crestmont Development – San Francisco Overlook

The steep hillside above the planned development

[EDITED TO ADD (April 6, 2012):  The EIR has been delayed. Please follow the Crestmont website for updates as they happen – and I’ll try to update this also.]

I received the note below from Dr Sam Sobol, who is spearheading the move to prevent this proposed development from spoiling our neighborhood. As many of you know, this has been an ongoing issue for Forest Knolls. All the access to the new building/s would be through our neighborhood. For those who have not been following it, here’s the history:

What it’s all about: Click HERE

Recent developments:  Click HERE

BULLETIN from Crestmont-Mt.Sutro-Forest Knolls Neighborhood Preservation Coalition
SF OVERLOOK Development – Publication of Draft EIR

 

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES!

Update, 3-6-12

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the SF Overlook project at the end of Crestmont Drive will be published Wednesday, March 21, 2012.

[Edited to Add: Delayed, not sure when]

The review and comment period will end on Monday, May 7. We will mobilize all our resources at that time to make our neighborhood’s voice heard.

There will be a public hearing before the Planning Commission on Thursday, April 26. Please pencil in this date on your calendar and plan to attend this important hearing. We will need to appear in force and make sure our message is heard!

STOP SF OVERLOOK t-shirts can be ordered here: http://www.zazzle.com/preservecrestmont
We have also posted a link on http://crestmontpreservation.org. We hope to see many neighbors at the hearing wearing these t-shirts and sweatshirts.

REMINDER:
Please display the poster in your window and urge your neighbors to also display the poster! If you need a poster, please call 415-640-3869 or email info@crestmontpreservation.org.

Sam Sobol

Here’s what the poster looks like:

Joel Engardio, Supervisor Candidate, Takes a Position on Dogs

I’ve posted here before about Joel Engardio, one of the candidates for Supervisor for District 7. (Sean Elsbernd is termed out this November.)

At the time, it was because of his forest-friendly video. (Click on the owl picture to watch the 2.5 minute video.)

He’s made another 2-minute video, this one about dogs in San Francisco. I’m not a dog-owner, but I am pleased our neighborhood is dog-friendly. As I said in In Praise of Dog-Owners — paws on the street mean eyes on the street.

Click here for Joel Engardio's dog video

If you’d like to find out where this candidate stands – clicking on the picture above will take you to the video.

Missing Cat [FOUND] – Maine Coon – Jan 2012

A note from a neighbor:

Our gray/brown/black Maine Coon cat, Rosie, has been missing since yesterday afternoon [6 Jan 2012] from her home at +++ Christopher, near Oak Park. She is an indoor – outdoor cat, but rarely stays out long. She has a collar and tag, but it’s hard to see under all her fur, and has been known to fall off. She is usually afraid of strangers, and has never been in a fight.

If you’ve seen her, please email  or call us at [Edited to remove] . Thanks!

Edited to Add:  Good news! Rosie is safe home. Here’s the note I received:

“Thank you to everyone who expressed concern. Rosie seems to have gotten accidentally detained in a neighbor’s garage. She’s fine, and we’re happy to have her home.”


Happy New Year for 2012!

A bright pink card from our neighborhood organization appeared in my mail today, thanking me for “making the holidays brighter in our Forest Knolls neighborhood by lighting up your home.”

Yes. Though we decorate for ourselves, we’re really decorating for other people… and in the process, creating a sense of celebration. So I’d like to continue what has become a tradition* here  and publish a selection of lights around our neighborhood. (It’s a selection and not comprehensive; I may have missed some homes, and my camera missed some others, giving me only a bright blur…clicking on a picture takes you to a larger version.)

And here’s wishing everyone a wonderful year ahead in 2012. Happy New Year!

[*This website has been around long enough to actually talk of a tradition! This is the third holiday season.)

Halloween 2011 in our neighborhood

Forest Knolls is organizing a Trick-or-Treat loop this year! It’s from 5.30 pm to 8 p.m on Monday Oct 31, and is being coordinated by Laura Bloch. Here’s the flyer:

 

 

(The loop starts at the bottom of Forest Knolls drive, up via Oak Park, left on Christopher to Warren Drive, and then follow Warren Drive until it meets Oak Park.)

Letter from Clarendon School

At the request of Walter Caplan, we’re posting this letter from the Principal of the Clarendon School. (Click twice on it for a clearer copy if this looks a bit blurry.)

————————————————————————————————-

What About A Block Party?

Last Sunday, our neighboring area Midtown Terrace had its annual block party. (I didn’t go, but I’m hoping to get a report on that soon, and when I do, I’ll post it here.)  [Edited to Add: I did – scroll down.]  And it started a correspondence on our neighborhood Yahoo Group.

“I just drove by the Midtown Terrace block party in envy.  Would love to have something like that for our street one day. I can already envision the jumpy house in the Forest Knolls cul-de-sac.  Any interest out there?” wrote one of our neighbors.

Walter Caplan, President of the Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization (FKNO) immediately responded:

Funny you should ask. The Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization was recently granted [funds] by Sutro Tower Inc. to be used for a FOREST KNOLLS block party.  I have been talking with some neighbors, and the consensus is that we should have a block party next spring [i.e. 2012], and likely situate it on Oak Park at the curve just beyond Warren Drive.”

A number of people thought it would be a good idea (including me). I heard from someone who grew up here that they used to do stuff like that, but I guess as the young people grew up and left, so did the parties… It’s time to start again!

Some of those who responded also volunteered to help out in making it happen. So… with any luck, we’ll be on for the block party next spring.

Edited to Add: And here’s the report, also from Walter:

October 2nd started out like most foggy mornings and the Midtown Terrace Homeowners Association (MTHOA) volunteers were worried that a cold day would keep some people from attending the annual MTHOA Block faire. By 11 am the morning mist had turned into a beautiful sunny day and hundreds of local residents were streaming to the annual block party. Like always, the party was in full swing by 1 pm.

After seven years the MTHOA has become a real neighborhood success and a looked-forward-to event.   The first “block faire” was held at Midtown Terrace Park and only 43 people showed-up.   Once the MTHOA started blocking off Dellbrook Avenue the annual block party became a very popular neighborhood event.   Featuring free food and drinks, face painters, caricature artists, two inflatable jumpers, cotton candy, music, popcorn, a bubble machine and the ever-present Mr. Scruffy the clown, the entire MTHOA neighborhood is now attending an event that has become an annual neighborhood celebration and tradition.  There are scads of moms with kids, few teenagers (they think it uncool to be seen at this event), senior citizens, and the dads who seem to come for the food and usually leave as quickly as possible so that they can watch the Sunday afternoon football game.  Stay ten minutes or stay four hours, MTHOA is awfully glad that everyone showed up to spend some time with their neighbors.

Moms and kids seem to love this event the best as everything is designed to make children happy.   So many kids who now live in Midtown Terrace are now going to different schools and rarely get a chance to meet.  Mothers with children are constantly meeting other moms with children and forming lasting friendships in the community.  Events like the MTHOA block faire have turned out to be a great way to keep the neighborhood a community.  The local fire station parks a truck and gives tours of the fire engine and lets the kids ring the bell.  Almost 400 people were served this year and that’s not even counting the hundreds of kids who attended.   A block party is great way for a neighborhood to become a community.

The Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization hopes to create a similar block party for our residents in the spring of 2012 at a centrally located spot – possibly on Oak Park just past Warren Drive.

Oops. Ouch. Crash. Careful on those slopes.

A neighbor had this posted on Facebook, and I’m publishing it here with permission. It happened in our neighborhood, a few days ago. Someone lost control of their car on a slope, hit a couple of parked vehicles, and flipped over.

The sound of it was horrible – I thought it was the next door construction site dropping the giant dumpster… then I started hearing all the sirens and walked out and saw that mess…

It’s a brand-new Subaru. It still has the yellow dealer’s plates. Hope everyone’s insured.

The best part? The driver was taken to hospital — and released the next day.

[ETA: I suppose I should add, please drive carefully on our neighborhood’s steep roads, people. Whether you live here or are visiting.]

[ETA 2: The neighbor who took this picture didn’t say exactly where it was, but sent an additional pictures along.]

[ETA 3: Okay, it was on the 1st block of Devonshire (see comments).]

Here are more pictures:

This was the first car hit:

And then the Subaru “drove up” this car, and overturned.

It attracted a lot of attention, official and otherwise.

And here’s a close-up.