Spotted in front of the Sleep Train store in downtown Walnut Creek.
The new Lafayette parking meters that accept credit cards on Mt. Diablo Blvd. near the Mercantile Building are really high. So high that as I was walking there one recent afternoon a woman asked me how much time she had on her meter. At first I didn’t understand, surely she could just look at the screen and see for herself. Then I realized that for people under about 5′ 3″, it’s very hard, if not impossible to view the parking meter screen. That because the meters there are 60 inches tall (5 feet), and angled up. In comparison, the same parking meters in Walnut Creek are a full 4 inches shorter at 56 inches. I hope these are part of a test, because they need to be significantly lowered to be usable by shorter people. Has anyone had problems with these meters?
Note: I couldn’t resist taking the headline from the Rent is Too Damn High Party.
The health center itrim in Lafayette is having it’s inaugural community walk (2 & 4 mile loop) this evening beginning at 6:15pm (every Tues) meeting in front of Clock Etc. next to the future itrim location at 973 Moraga Rd. First time walkers get a t-shirt and pedometer and water will be available.
If you live in west downtown Walnut Creek, which includes the areas within the map boundaries above, which include the Almond-Shuey neighborhood, you may apply to be part of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) which will, according to the plan website:
focus on making it easier to walk and bike between the BART station and downtown; and plan for new homes and businesses between Mt. Diablo Blvd and the BART station, while preserving the Almond-Shuey neighborhood.
The West Downtown Specific Plan will be a community-driven plan that defines a vision for the area and develops a regulatory framework for future development and public improvements. The Specific Plan Area is generally bounded by Ygnacio Valley Road at the north, California Boulevard at the east, Mount Diablo Boulevard at the south, and I-680 at the west.
Applications are due in by 5pm on Thursday, May 24th:
The CAC is expected to meet a total of seven times through December 2013, by which time the committee will have completed its task of creating a draft Specific Plan for the further review and approval by the City Commissions and City Council. Meetings will be scheduled on the second, fourth, or fifth Tuesday of the month from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The first meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2012.
Anyone thinking about doing this? If so, please keep us informed on the progress!
From the Animal Rescue Foundation website:
Sunday, May 20, 2012
10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Broadway Plaza – Walnut Creek
Fundraising Pet Walk
Registration 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Walk 10:30 a.m. SharpBest Dressed Pet Contest
Immediately following Pet Walk on main stagePet Wellness Fair and Vendor Booths
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.Follow your passion for pets to the 12th annual Animals on Broadway! Join ARF in celebration of the special bond we share with our furry friends at this spectacular free community event that brings people and pets together.
Kick off the festivities with the nearly one mile Pet Walk to help dogs and cats in need of a second chance. Help ARF reach our goal of raising $75,000 to support our life-saving work by registering to walk with or without your pet. Get a head start collecting pledges with your own easy-to-create fundraising webpage, or in person with our printable pledge form.
After the Pet Walk, head to the main stage for the Best-dressed Pet Contest and cheer on your favorite dapper dog and fanciful feline participating in the Walk.
Delight in the many offerings for pet lovers lining both sides of the street: have your dog washed by ARF volunteers, shop vendor booths showcasing pet items and children’s activities or listen to live music from SixString. Many dogs and cats will be available for adoption — visit the ARF Adoption Mobile and many other rescue group booths to fall in love!
Visit the Pet Wellness Fair for an assortment of individual services such as nail trimming, weight assessment, dental check, ask the vet, certified doggie massage, blood panel and rabies vaccination for a small donation to ARF. Donate $25 for a Pet Passport which entitles furry festival-goers to receive all these services. Micro-chipping and additional low-cost vaccination will also be available at the VIP Petcare Services booth.Animals on Broadway brings out the best, rain or shine! Gather up the family and join ARF and the Broadway Plaza retailers in Walnut Creek to celebrate Animals on Broadway — and don’t forget to bring your “best friend.”
From the Contra Costa Crisis Center website:
When: Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Heather Farms Park (Ygnacio Valley Road & North San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek)9:00am Check-in
10:00am Walk begins
11:00am Food, Music, and Friends
Registration $20 individiual, $30 family
Fee includes T-shirt, food, and entertainmentTo Register as a Walker Now Click Here
To Sponsor a Walker Now Click Here“The mission of the Contra Costa Crisis Center is to keep people alive and safe, help them through crises, and connect them with culturally relevant resources in the community. 24-hour crisis and suicide prevention lines, face-to-face grief counseling programs, homeless services, youth services, and 211 information and referral programs
are offered free of charge.”
Photo by Flickr user robotson
There’s been lots of complaints lately about home solicitors as summer approaches, and even police departments are sending out notices on what to do and their legality. Turns out it is legal to blanket solicit homes with a permit, but there are things you can do to limit yourself like posting a “No Soliciting” sign on your door, or saying, “no thank you” without even opening your door. However, such soliciting can be used to case homes for future burglaries, or worse.
So do you think it should be illegal to solicit homes for commercial purposes?
One of the oldest houses in Orinda, known as, “The Old Yellow House”, despite its faded pink color, has been bought by architect James P. Wright who plans on having it restored by his firm Net Zero Homes, which will be documented on their Facebook page.
The house, built in 1894, is located at 209 Moraga Way, and had been on the market for many years before finally selling for $335K in March. At the end of 2007 it was listed at $875K. You can find out more about the house in a October, 2007 article in the Orinda News.
In addition to restoring the house itself, this looks like it’s a great marketing opportunity for Net Zero Homes due to the historical significance, and it being on a well-trafficked road. I look forward to checking up on the progress of this restoration.
Photo of actual solicitor in Lamorinda neighborhood
Dear Creekville,
Recently a door-to-door salesperson came by my house trying to sell an alarm system. They sounded so convincing that I gave my name, number, address and told them to check with my husband. Is this legitimate or should I have told them to go away?
You’re not the only one getting these solicitors going door to door trying to sell things. Driving by the other day I found a swarm of solicitors walking around one neighborhood with clipboards and blue shirts (see above photo). Personally, when it comes to alarm systems I would tread very carefully because they may be casing your home trying to find out what kind of security you have. What I would say is that you already have an alarm system (even if you don’t), and “no thank you”. Even if they are legitimate, how would you know? Better to get recommendations from friends or go with a larger, more reputable company that doesn’t need to go door-to-door. The Walnut Creek Police Department recently put out a press release about what you can do:
As summer starts we historically see an increase in solicitors in our community. The police department consistently receives calls regarding solictors from the public. It is legal for a person to solicit others at their homes as long as they obey the Walnut Creek Municipal Code’s rules and regulations governing solicitors (http://www.codepublishing.com/ca/walnutcreek/).
The common violations of solicitors are failing to obtain a permit from the City, disobeying a no solicitor sign, soliciting outside of the hours allowed and being too agressive with citizens.
A common misconception is to believe a solicitor with a permit from the City has gone through a criminal background check or some other means have been done to ensure this person is a “safe” person to be soliciting. This is not true. Our current Municipal Code does not allow for a denial of a permit based on prior criminal history or failure to disclose criminal history.
Check out suggestions on what to do after the jump…
Photo by Flickr user ren_norman
From the Walnut Creek Police Department:
On May 15, Stage 3 of the Amgen Bicycle Race will pass through a 4-mile section of Walnut Creek in the Northgate area. The route includes North Gate Road, Oak Grove Road and east bound Ygnacio Valley Road beginning at Oak Grove.
Roads along the route could be closed as early as 1:00 p.m.; drivers should anticipate possible delays between 1 and 3 p.m.
Cyclists will enter Walnut Creek on North Gate Road from Mt. Diablo State Park. They will turn right onto Oak Grove Road and then right onto Ygnacio Valley Road.
Racers are expected to take about 9 minutes to cover the 4-mile distance.
The California Highway Patrol is handling road closures. Roads will open immediately behind the end of the race.
Walnut Creek PD will have an extra team of officers assigned to the race. Two officers will be stationed in the neighborhoods east of Oak Grove Road in advance of the race to handle any emergency calls.
City staff members have been working with Amgen Tour organizers to minimize the impact on the community. Principals at Northgate High School and Foothill Middle School have been contacted and asked to share the race information with their students and their parents, and message boards alerting residents to the upcoming race will be place in the affected area.
The City does not have the authority to deny use of public streets for the race.