Hello Neighbor!
Please join the DHIC’s Green Garden Group for an invigorating morning of gardening and clean-up at the Cumberland & Noe Staircase on Saturday, October 7.
Meet us at 9 a.m. and we’ll provide all the tools needed, including Spike’s Coffee and homemade treats!SFDPW requires registration, so please sign up by using this link.
https://www.mobilize.us/sanfrancisco/event/561153/
One of our local landmarks is Audrey’s bench – at the southwest corner of Sanchez & 21st Streets. It recognizes the leadership of Audrey Rogers. She led the campaign that secured passage of the Dolores Heights Special Use District in 1980. She also obtained City upgrades, like moving utilities under ground.
The bench was designed by acclaimed wood carver, J.B. Blunk. Her children who grew up at 3732 21st Street help to maintain it. As they worked to clean the area and polish the wood bench on Sunday, August 20, neighbors walking by thanked them. If you haven’t already, spend a few minutes seated in this beautiful memorial to a neighbor who led the effort to preserve the unique character of our neighborhood.
Photo: Members of Audrey Rogers’ family hard at work.
Over the past several years, numerous people in Dolores Heights have seen a female coyote who frequents the area and Dolores Park. Some (especially those with small dogs and cats) are concerned about coyotes.
For the last 16 years, Janet Kessler has been documenting the San Francisco coyote population, their territoriality, and their behaviors, including their family life and behaviors towards dogs and people. She emailed DHIC suggesting that we provide more education about the coyotes to dispel concerns and/or give people a solid base of information. She posted this information on her blog. We encourage you to read it.
(Coyote spotted on the south side of Liberty, Street, between Church and Sanchez. Photo: Jennifer Bury.)
Thanks to all neighbors who responded to the carjacked Lincoln that crashed through the barrier and landed upside down on 19th Street on Saturday, July 22 (see minute 1:25 on linked YouTube video.) Many shared video and photos of the incident with SFPD. That evidence helped SFPD to arrest the two ringleaders in this carjacking/reckless driving incident on July 26
Unfortunately, the two individuals arrested are not being charged owing to lack of sufficient evidence to bring a strong case. Specifically, the owner of the carjacked vehicle is unwilling to serve as a witness. Sergeant Wren of Mission Station is investigating the crime. It is still an open case. As of September 2 he’s awaiting lab results on a piece of evidence that’s key to any further action.
DHIC has asked Supervisor Mandelman’s office to help us obtain a vehicle safety strategy and “calming” plan from SFMTA.
Good news: earlier in August, DPW workers replaced the broken metal railings on the top and bottom of the staircase.
What you can do:
(Surveillance camera footage of the crash. Start watching at 1:25.)
Neighbors’ vision to fill the empty retaining walls next to the 20th and Noe hillside garden (see photo above) is getting legs (or arms and paintbrushes). Dave Dea, co-chair of the Green Gardens Committee, reported that they’ve selected a wall mural artist. Her name is Melanie Getman, a native San Franciscan born in North Beach/Chinatown. Her website has many images of nature scenes with diverse color palettes, hopefully appealing to all tastes. The group wants the mural to be a nature scene – with the landmark Cork Oak tree as an anchor image, along with insects, plants, birds and raptors nesting, flybys etc.
Dave is asking for feedback and for more volunteers to help set up a GoFundMe and to raise money for the conceptual drawing of the mural to submit to the SF Arts Commission. You can reach him at ddea888@gmail.com.
Due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, we did not host a Green Garden Day event in September. Next up: Saturday, October 7th. That is also a holiday weekend but we’re hoping things will work out well.
On August 16, 20th Street residents walked the 3900 block of 20th with Dave Burke. The objective was to identify ways to deter residential break-ins/burglaries
Dave described the burglar mindset: stealing is the profession, the burglar wants our things, not to hurt us, and usually does not break in via the front door. 90 % of break- ins happen between 2 am and sunrise. Dave’s specific recommendations covered three areas:
Lighting:
Security:
Garden:
Network with neighbors. Know when they are out of town. Watch out for each other!
Dolores Heights Improvement Club 