Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
DOMINICAN AREA NEWS
DOMINICAN/BLACK CANYON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION , PO BOX 151702, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94915-1702 SPRING 2009
Annual Meeting Agenda
6:30 Pre-Meeting, Meet and Greet 7:00 Welcome 7:05 Neighborhood News Update
Including freeway and sound wall progress, water-front plans for the Canal and much more.
7:20 Dominican University Update
Including updates on the Field, Edgehill Mansion, Magnolia House
7:40 Police Beat SRPD Officers patrolling our neighborhood answer YOUR questions
8:00 New Local Groups Reports on Sustainable San Rafael and Awakening the
Dream 8:15 Disaster Preparation
One neighbor explains what he has done—and you can do—to prepare for emergency
8:30 The new Mall at Northgate-exciting changes 8:45 Adjourn
2009/10 Membership Dues Dominican/Black Canyon Neighborhood Association
Please support our annual meeting, fire safety program, adult social, newsletter and other activities by sending in your annual dues of $18 today! (envelope enclosed) Name:________________________
e:mail:___________________________
Address:_________________________ Phone:___________________________ YES! I would like to help with: Social Events____________________ Send emails_______________________ Deliver newsletter________________ Write Newsletter Articles_____________ Website Maintenance_____________
Dominican / Black Canyon Neighborhood Association
ANNUAL MEETING Wednesday, MAY 20th 2009 7:00 pm Doors open at 6:30 to “Meet and greet”
Come BE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Every Resident Welcome - Non-members, too! Sodas and Munchies Will Be Served
NOTE: New Location!! Guzman Hall 50 Acacia Avenue (Dominican campus)
New Member
Page 2 DOMINICAN AREA NEWS Spring 2009
Neighborhood Voices
Advice and requests from your neighbors:
Please don’t leave your trash and recycling cans at curbside all week. Return them to their proper place soon after collection is complete. Thank you!
Please be mindful of your dog’s whereabouts when walking and help keep
our lawns and walkways free of poop. And take two clean-up bags—they aren’t heavy!
Please slow down when driving through our neighborhood.
Toastmasters Club at Dominican
Whether you work in a corporate environment or from home, whether you are a student or retiree,
Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining communication and leadership skills. Dominican neighbors are invited to join
the Toastmasters Club that meets on campus Tuesdays, 12:15 – 1:15 pm. At $48 for the first year, Toastmasters is an affordable and effective way for you to become a better speaker and stronger leader. For membership information, contact Jane Winter at [email protected] or 415/458-3762.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Edgehill Mansion Restoration Update
On January 15th the City of San Rafael’s Planning Commission approved design plans for the transformation of Edgehill mansion into the Dominican Heritage and Alumni House. “The City is fully supporting Dominican’s plans to
restore this beautiful building that has been neglected for many years,” said Steve Stafford, associate planner. The announcement followed six months of work by an historical design consultant, engineering consultants, and the project’s architect, Mohamad Sadrieh, to address challenges unique to the Victorian style of the mansion and surrounding gardens.
The design calls for the restoration of the mansion’s exterior Queen Anne features, refurbishment of the mahogany paneling throughout the first floor, and the establishment of the St. Catherine Benincasa Chapel. New building elements include the addition of an elevator, a Garden Room for dining and meetings, and Legacy and Heritage Halls, where the University’s Dominican heritage will be celebrated.
Detailed construction plans were submitted to the City of San Rafael’s Building Department on January 23. It typically takes 90 days or longer to receive a building permit once the City receives the plans.
Bring your used batteries to the May 20th meeting and we will recycle them for you!
____________________________________________________________________________ DOMINICAN AREA NEWS Spring 2009 Page 3
Coleman Grade School’s Annual International Festival will be held on the school grounds on Saturday May 30 from 11:00 - 4:00 pm. The International Festival is a fun event for the entire neighborhood and showcases food, games, and crafts from around the world. Kindergarten through 5th grade students will perform International music and dance. This year's event also features raffles with fabulous prizes and a silent auction. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a delicious lunch and celebrate the cultural diversity that hallmarks both Coleman and the city of San Rafael. Coleman School is located at 800 Belle Ave. near Rafael Dr. and Dominican University. Admission is free.
Coleman School International Festival
For Kids
Changes in Chipper Day—would you be
willing to pay a fee?
Our Chipper Days have had wonderful neighborhood support and participation for years, and removed many tons of potentially flammable vegetation from our midst. It started as an event funded by our neighbor-hood association, and grew to a scale that
only public money could support, which the City of San Rafael generously did. Last year 's Chipper Days lasted for over a week. With success came increased costs. In the current budget climate, the City of San Rafael was unable to contribute the many thousands of dollars re-quired to support us in 2009, and our DBCNA could not make up the difference. One San Rafael Neighborhood Association is organizing their Chipper Day service as a fee based event. Participants have the advantages of a chipping service that they don't have to coordinate them-selves, and of lower costs than they would incur doing it on their own. Are you interested in this for our area? We could try to organize a pick-up for late May if enough members want it. Email: [email protected] or Call: 415-456-8373, if you are interested, or want more information.
Volunteers Needed: Coleman Elementary There are two programs that train and coordinate volunteers for our neighborhood elementary school. It is a wonderful way to connect with children and really make a difference in how a child views learning – in just an hour a week (or more if you have time!). It is also a great way to learn more about your local school. For more information, contact:
Marin County School Volunteers:
Email: [email protected] Phone: 415.499.5896
Experience Corps Bay Area - program offers adults 55 and older the opportunity to develop caring relationships with elementary and middle school students:
Megan McCarthy Director of Community Engagement 415-474-0235 [email protected]
In addition, you can support our local schools by attending events and supporting fundraisers. Especially in the current economic climate, PTAs are being asked to fund more and more programs at the schools.
Disaster professionals say the most important thing we can do is be prepared to survive for 72 hours in our homes. This first line of defense, called “Shelter in Place”, will save the most lives. To help you prepare, Marin public safety agencies have been offering a two-hour course to teach you what to do before, during and after a disaster. Materials and checklists can be found at: http://www.getreadymarin.org/resources.html.
In addition, at our annual meeting, May 20th, one neighbor will share what he has done with his neighbors to prepare. Come hear about what you can do. We will be scheduling a two hour “Get Ready” program for the neighborhood—watch your email.
You owe it to your family. You owe it to your neighbors. You owe it to your community.
Get Smart! Get Trained! Get Ready!
Page 4 DOMINICAN AREA NEWS Spring 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Broom removal in Neighborhood Open Space: To Keep You Safe
Crews are again working to remove flammable French Broom in City open space on Gold Hill, and near Aquinas Drive and Mountain View Avenue, thanks to welcome donations from Dominican Black Canyon neighbors and the Jones Family Foundation.
After much campaigning, and the especially tireless efforts of neighbor Dick Sadler, enough money was re-ceived to start work in some heavily infested, but very difficult to access, areas behind homes on Mountain View. Some of these broom colonies have spread to the point that they combine to become a continuous stand marching half way up the hill. The City of San Rafael and the DBCNA also contributed to the campaign, but 95% of the money comes from private donations. The eradication team works with donations of either cash or talent. One neighbor donated the services of a landscape company to clear broom from a narrow trail, opening new vistas for hikers, and stopping the pro-duction of seeds that are quickly spread by hikers and bikers. Two other donors paid for the repeated dump truck trips required for carrying this broom to the recycle center. With more donations, more work will be done. If you would like to make a fully Tax Deductible donation and help continue the work, please contact the Marin Conservation League, 1623 5th Ave # A, San Rafael, CA 94901, (a 501(c)(3) organization). (415) 485-6257 [email protected] .
Next DBCNA Planning Session Please join us for an informal meeting to discuss possible social events scheduled for the fall. We will get meeting at the Marin Ballet Board Room at 10:00am, Saturday, June 6th. Let us know which events you’d like to see.
Sustainable San Rafael: New Group Seeks Healthy, Balanced Community Sustainable San Rafael is dedicated to advocacy and community education to help bring about a healthy, bal-anced and aware community. They are residents and business people organized around the idea that we can, and must, do more in our own community to deal with global warming and encourage more sustainable living. Their primary focus is working with our city and county government to adopt policies that do this, and with our fellow citizens to lead by example. What is meant by “Sustainable”? The simplest definition is “living within one’s means” or, as the UN put it in 1987, “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Beyond this, it has meanings that include our sense of community, our spirit, and our political will. You are invited to go to the website, http://sustainablesanrafael.org, where you can download a membership application with all the details E-mail Updates: SSR regularly sends updates on important issues and notices of sustainability-related events. To receive those emails, contact [email protected] and put “subscribe” in the subject line. And if you can take a moment to tell something about yourself, your particular sustainability interests and how you might be able to help.
Page 5 DOMINICAN AREA NEWS Spring 2009
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Exciting New Changes at Northgate Mall
The biggest changes at Northgate Mall will occur by November: The new Kohl’s will be in place and will be cut off from the rest of the mall by a curved roadway. Along this new outdoor stretch, nestled under a mature oak tree, will be several outdoor cafes and a larger restaurant with outdoor seating, perhaps BJ’s Brewery House. But much has happened already. Several drastic changes have taken place . . . all for the better. Driving in the east side of the property by Rite Aid (to be demolished and in a new location by February 2010), one notes that the entire exterior facade has completely changed. US Bank and
Regis Hair Salon are visible stores on that side and are open. Also present is the new 60’ entrance creating a totally new access point. There is a large door that hides in the wall on a nice day and opens the entire entrance, giving it an outdoor, open feel.
The new food court will be by the Century Theatres and is slated to partially open by sum-mer (tenants signed are Combo King, Subway and Sbarro). The new seating has been in-stalled and looks very modern—a drastic change from the old food court that was located next to the old Mervyns (which will be Kohl’s). The old parquet flooring throughout the entire mall is now but a memory and has been replaced with tinted concrete flooring which resem-bles the Ferry Building in San Francisco. With so much accomplished, work has turned to the West side of the property. The long corridor that connects Sears and Macy’s has been completed and boasts a 15’ higher ceil-ing, clerestory operable windows and narrower walkways. Stores that are currently open during renovation are: Macy’s, Sears, Century Theatres, Applebee’s, Claire’s, GameStop, Gap, GapKids, babyGap, Visionary Opticians, Regis and US Bank (both just opened in new location on east side of building). Tenants that have signed are: Northgate Beauty, Vans. Gymboree, PacSun, Wetzel’s Pretzels, Roadside BBQ, See’s Candies and MANY more in the pipeline that we look forward to announcing in the near future.
Freeway & Sound Wall—Linden & Landscaping
Writing at the end of April, here is the latest timing for the improvements to the freeway and related areas as reported by the Transportation Authority of Marin (your Measure A Tax dollars at work): Northbound HOV Lane—April 26, at best Linden Lane Reopening—May 2009 Landscaping Exterior of Sound Wall—June 2009 Bike and Pedestrian Lane—Late Summer, Early Fall Retrofit Sound Wall with Superior Acoustic Tile--Late Summer, Early Fall Resurface Road Bed with Sound Deadening Asphalt--Awaiting warm, fogless nights
Page 6 DOMINICAN AREA NEWS Spring 2009 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gardening: Extra Fruit on Your Tree? No Space for a Garden?
We Can Help!
The Marin Open Garden Project organizes weekly meetings of backyard gardeners to exchange excess fruit, vegetables and other goodies from their gardens. Have a
tree full of fruit? The Project will harvest unwanted fruit from your garden and distribute it to other neighbors and community food banks and soup kitchens. Need a plot? Let them introduce you to a gardener with land to share. They are working to expand the number of community gardens in Marin County and create a seed library tailored to Marin's distinctive microclimates. They are also creating a garden tool library from which residents may borrow tools at no cost. For more information about the Marin Open Garden Project, call 415.264.2828 or [email protected]. Their website blog is http://opengardenproject.blogspot.com/ Upcoming Marin Open Garden Events May 9, 2009 (Saturday): San Rafael Garden Bounty Exchange, 11:00-12:00PM, San Rafael, Library, E St. and 5th Ave. May 9, 2009 (Saturday): Corte Madera/Larkspur Garden Bounty Exchange, 5:00-6:00 PM, Piper Park May 10, 2009 (Sunday): Novato Garden Bounty Exchange, 9:00-10:00 AM, Dogbone Meadow Park May 10, 2009 (Sunday): San Anselmo/Ross/Kentfield/Greebrae Garden Bounty Exchange, 11:00- 12:00 PM, Ross Commons Post Office Parking Lot
Zumba! Come join the spirited ZUMBA (Latin dance music) exercise class at Dominican's Conlan Gymnasium on Tuesday eve-
nings from 6 to 7PM, beginning May 12. $12 Drop-in (first class free) or Monthly Pass $40 (4 classes). Taught by Certified Zumba Instructor, Sandra Hanns. [email protected] for more information.
Enjoy visiting the Dominican Library this summer!
Neighbors are welcome to enjoy the newly renovated Reading Room, If you have a valid Marin County Library card you can check out books for four weeks, or DVDs for 24 hours.
Hours until May 16, 2009 will be (Spring Term) Monday through Thursday - 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday - 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. From May 17, 2009 to May 24, 2009 (Intersession) the hours will be: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on weekends.
From May 25, 2009 - July 31, 2009 (Summer School Hours)
Monday through Thursday - 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday - 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Page 7 DOMINICAN AREA NEWS Spring 2009
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Who the Heck Are Those Guys?
(A recurring segment on people we see in our neighborhood)
All year long, we see the San Rafael Public Works trucks doing important maintenance in our neighborhood. We wave at the guys and thank them, but we generally don’t know their names. Archie Choice is one of the crew that inspects runoff drains to keep them flowing freely, paints crosswalk markings, and keeps everything
running smoothly for those of us in the Black Canyon/Dominican neighborhood. Archie has been on this “beat” for the past 27 years, and has worked for San Rafael Public Works for 29 years, and will be retiring next year. He lives in San Francisco, and loves coming to beautiful Marin every day to be in nature. He gets his share of skunks and raccoons as he inspects the numerous drainage pipes that travel through our area with its many seasonal creeks and streams, but those are to be expected. It’s the dis-carded car batteries, engine oil, purses and old newspapers that make his job tough, and, as he points out, bad for the environment. Yes, Archie can remember the days when nuns wore habits here in the neighborhood, and says that he will miss coming up to Dominican, but hopes to find a reason to visit or volunteer or take a class. So, the next time you see Archie, or any of the rest of the crew, be sure to say hello, and thanks for making our neighborhood safe, clean and beautiful.
Conlan Center Pool—Do You Want To Join?
Costs for Pool only: Family: $570 Adult: $320 Child/Senior: $170
For more info, please visit: http://dominican.edu/athletics/development/athletics-membership.pdf or go to the front office at Conlan Center
Field of Dreams at Dominican
According to Ian Tonks at Dominican, fundraising is at full throttle for the planned Field of Dreams at the corner of Belle and Grand Avenues. To date, they have raised $1,632,259 from the following sources:
Events = $58,525 (includes the Helicopter Ball Drop, Athletics Hall of Fame and Car Raffle)
Foundations = $250,000 Organizations = $54,062.50 Businesses = $27,4 Individual Gifts = $1,242,271
A car raffle to raise funds through ticket sales has been very successful, but they need to sell more of the $20 tickets. The grand prize is a 2009 Honda Fit Sport with navigation or $10,000 cash. The grand prize drawing will take place on Satur-day May 16 at the conclusion of Dominican’s 2009 undergraduate commencement ceremony in Forest Meadows. Winners need not be present to win. To participate, simply download a copy of our Car Raffle Entry Form at www.Dominican.edu (search: Car Raffle) and mail to: Kim Richter at Dominican University of California, 50 Acacia Avenue
Dominican/Black Canyon Neighborhood Association Board of Directors
Carol Goepp, Secretary/Treasurer Sandy Miller
Jim Harrison * Cheryl Douglas Dan Sonnet
In Addition to Board Members
Newsletter Coordinator Dan Sonnet
Production Editor Polly Elkin
Events Coordinator Sandy Miller
Computer Guru Tracy Solomon
History Committee J.R. McCabe
Web Site Guru Peggy Toth
Please Join Us at our Monthly Board Meetings
All Residents Welcome! Many thanks to Dominican University for allowing us to use Guzman Hall for our annual meeting, and to Marin Ballet for the use of their board room for our monthly meetings.
“Awakening the Dreamer” Symposium
The “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium” is an initiative of The Pachamama Alliance, (www.pachamama.org) a San Francisco-based non-profit whose mission is to preserve the Earth’s tropical rainforests—and contribute to a new global vision of sustainability and equity for all. Indigenous people of the Rainforest told us that if we truly want to help them, what we must do is change the dream of the modern world. To do this, we dreamers have to awaken. This Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposium does just that. Participants will explore our culture and how it contributes to these problems in a workshop that uses inspiring video, up-to-the-minute facts and figures and dynamic group interaction. We will hear from some of the world’s leading experts on topics as diverse as the current state of the Earth’s bio-diversity and the reality of the socio-economic disparity throughout the world. Please join us on May 17th at the Open Secret Bookstore, 923 C. St. between 3rd and 4th in San Rafael, 1:00pm – 5:30pm for an opportunity to understand what is happening to our world and to consider how we can all play a part in addressing these problems and creating a world that works sustainably for us all and for future generations. Please register at our website, www.awakeningthedreamer.org.
