Miraloma Park Improvement Club

Miraloma Life: May 2005

• Neighborhood Garage Sale
• DISASTER MEETING PLACE
• Leash Law Enforced
• History of Miraloma Park
• More Teresita Traffic
• Tennis Anyone? Or Basket Ball?
• Best Views In San Francisco
• Miraloma Life Preschools
• MPIC Election
• Miraloma Elementary School – Spring Festival / Silent Auction
• Of Spring and Sundry Things
• Teresita Traffic Update
• LEGAL EASE
• Spring Fling Festival
• Host An International Student For 6 Weeks
• Design Matters
• Traffic

Neighborhood Garage Sale

by Sue Kirkham

Saturday, May 14 is going to be a busy day in Miraloma Park. At this time 50 homes have signed (webmaster note: count is 79 as of Sunday, May 8th) up to participate in the 9-3 pm garage sale. Neighbors will display their goods in their own garage and the Club will advertise the event in advance.

We hope that the size of the sale will draw good attendance. If the event is as successful as we hope and of service to the neighborhood, it may be worth holding on an annual or bi-annual basis. No doubt we shall all learn a great deal from this first sale.

Sellers, be sure to have small change available, and save your grocery bags for those shoppers who buy many items and need containers. Buyers, buy a lot and have small change available also. We have great bargains.

The list of participating addresses will be posted on our website: www.miralomapark.org. On May 14, hard copies of the participating addresses will be made available at several locations, including Molly Stone’s at Tower Market, 744 Foerster, 954 Teresita and the clubhouse at 350 O’Shaughnessy (at Del Vale).

POST GARAGE SALE PARTY
Meet other Miraloma Park residents, and share your garage sale stories, at the post garage sale social at the clubhouse. The gathering is from 4-6 pm on Saturday, May 14 and is open to all Miraloma Park residents. Please email Sue Kirkham at info@suekirkham.com or call 229-1297 for further information.

BAKE SALE DONATIONS
Do you like to cook, and would you be willing to donate your favorite baked item/s as a fund raiser for the Miraloma Park Improvement Club? If so, we will sell any donated baked goods during the garage sale, with all proceeds going to the MPIC for ongoing maintenance and operations. Cookies or baked goods that can be eaten without a fork and plate would be best. Our upcoming expenses include replacement of 3 leaking toilets in the Clubhouse and a new water heater. Email Sue Kirkham info@suekirkham.com or call 229-1297.

DISASTER MEETING PLACE

When disaster strikes, go to the NERT Incident Command Center at Miraloma Playground (Omar Way and Sequoia Way). Rescue services, securing resources like food, water, shelter and medical services will be provided by trained volunteers.

Leash Law Enforced

by Captain Paul C. Chignell

Folks are reminded that officers of the Ingleside Station will be enforcing leash law violations in City Parks. Please also clean up after your dogs. In recent weeks there have been repeated violations in Precita Park, Sunnyside Park, Glen Park and Holly Park. Please be respectful of your neighbors. Citations will be issued.

Moving Violations

We have just received the statistics for Moving traffic violations. Members of the Ingleside police station have written 40 percent more citations this year compared to the same period last year.

Editor’s comment. Bravo Captain Chignell and the officers of Ingleside Station.

History of Miraloma Park

by Rosalie Kuwatch

Editor’s Note: This History of Miraloma Park appeared several years ago in Miraloma Life. There has been a great call for repeating it. It is fascinating for long term residents and newcomers alike. There will be 4 installments. We hope you will enjoy it and send comments, additions, reminiscences, etc.

In 1890 when Alfred “Nobby” Clarke was digging for water at the creek which ran along Blue Mountain at what is now Agua Way and Teresita Boulevard, he probably never imagined that thirty-three years later there would be a huge reservoir there. Two bases were built between 1923 and 1928 to supply water for users at the 500-foot level (Mt. Davidson is 938 feet). Called the Stanford Heights Reservoir, it holds 12,900,000 gallons. It not only served the domestic water supply, but has also been used for fire protection. Miraloma Park has been provided by the fire house built in 1936 on Portola Drive between Rex Street and Marne Avenue, adjacent to St. Francis Wood which was developed in the early 1920’s by Mason-McDuffie. The firehouse was built on land loaned to the city under an agreement that it be manned at all times. If it remains unmanned for 24 hours, the land reverts to the heirs who monitor it closely. Any time there has been an alarm that takes all men out of the firehouse, another company has taken over the station. There have been four firemen there at all times.

Very early the Miraloma Park Improvement Club was aware of the need for a school. A committee was formed and its successful petition resulted in a school of temporary wooden buildings that opened in 1940. The children had to go outside to the bathrooms and evening programs had to be held outside as well. In the late 1940’s parents joined in an effort to get a permanent building. A house-to-house survey was made to determine the number of children in the neighborhood. In November of 1952 the new school at 175 Omar Way was opened with 400 pupils in Kindergarten through grade six.  The Miraloma Park Improvement Club and parents have always actively supported the school. MPIC organized parent groups to build playground equipment and parents helped to maintain it. Many fund raising events held by the Club have had proceeds split with the school.

A high school was never anticipated and a 1932 photo shows cows standing in a snow covered pasture on Twin Peaks overlooking the site at Portola and O’Shaughnessy where one would be built forty years later. This spot was a stable for police horses and, in the 1950’s, it became a golf driving range. It came under the management of the Redevelopment Agency and, in the early 1970’s, the San Francisco Unified School McAteer High School opened in September 1973.

The Miraloma Community Church was established in 1940 in a space shared with a church in the Mission District. In 1943, it moved to a house at 406 Teresita Boulevard. The living room and dining room became the chapel, and bedrooms were used for Sunday School. The pastor lived upstairs. A small chapel was built in 1946 at 480 Teresita Boulevard and a large annex went up in 1952. Of the many weddings performed at the church, one of the most memorable was that of a young Japanese couple from Osaka, Japan who had decided to get married in Osaka’s sister city, San Francisco.

The bridegroom had a friend here who arranged the ceremony. They arrived on May 26, 1974 and were married three days later. In the confusion of getting blood tests and the license, the bridal bouquet was overlooked. The church gardener helped the bride gather flowers from the church patio. With an interpreter, they were married, photos were taken and the newlyweds returned immediately to Japan. In 1979, the small, original chapel was leased to a 125-member congregation of the Korean Reformed Church. Their young pastor, Reverend Jae Han, had recently graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey. He was serving at a Presbyterian Church in San Francisco but wanted to affiliate with a Reformed in America Church where he could serve a Korean congregation. After he found the church he was looking for in the Yellow Pages, he rang the pastor’s doorbell and inquired whether he could use the facility. He recruited his congregation from the first generation Korean community in the Richmond District. Those who did not drive were picked up in two vans. In recent years the Korean congregation of 125 members has matched the size of the Community Church congregation.

More Teresita Traffic

by Rich Pryor

I just read where the Ingleside police have stepped up their persuit of errant drivers in our area. Hurray! I live at Teresita and Reposa and have watched while car after car simply slows down or possibly even ignores the stop sign. I worry that I may be a victim of a red-light-runner while returning from Tower. I have also waited in line on Evelyn on my way to work. I have on several occasions watched as a driver was too impatient to wait. One time, a driver passed 12 cars going the wrong way on Evelyn only to turn into the parking lot if front of Miraloma Market. Then that driver turned toward Portola and made an illegal left turn in front of the same line of cars. I lost track of the number of violations and prayed for a police officer but to no avail. I have also turned right onto Teresita from the Tower Market parking lot to come face-to-face with an SUV doing the same thing. Boy am I glad my car has a front crumple zone, I may need it soon..

Then there are the drivers that go the WRONG DIRECTION down the parking lot in front of Tower? Some are driving forward, others are going backward. It is a one-way street. I guess they were only going one way. If I get a ticket in this area, I will assume that I deserve it. It will be the others that flaunt the law and never pay for it…until too late.

Tennis Anyone? Or Basket Ball?

Did you know that there are public tennis and basketball courts located off Teresita Blvd. at the Sunnyside Playground? You can access the Sunnyside Playground by the stairs adjacent to the Bus Stop which is adjacent to 901 Teresita, or by the main entrance located on the east side of Foerster (between Teresita and Mangels).

Best Views In San Francisco

If you are new to the neighborhood, or just have not had time, you may not have visited some special local outdoor features:

Mt. Davidson Park, the highest point in San Francisco, is located right here in Miraloma Park.  The views from the mountain are spectacular.  Mt. Davidson Park can be accessed from a number of paths and trails, the main one being the fire trail that leads in from the bus stop located at the intersection of Myra and Dalewood.  Other trails lead in from Juanita & Dalewood.  Enjoy bird watching, wildflower viewing, hiking right here in the neighborhood.  The blackberry bushes on the wooded side of the mountain are worth a visit at the end of the summer.  Take along a container for collection and enjoy a delicious blackberry pie, or homemade jam, for your efforts.

Glen Canyon Park is another nearby treasure.  Access the canyon from Elk Street (off Bosworth).  The trails begin behind  the Recreation Center. The main path is wide and passes many spectacular rock formations.  Trails lead up into the hills for an extra workout.

Do you have any special, local places to share?  If so, let the Editor know or drop a note toMPIC or contribute to the discussion page on the website at www.miralomapark.org

Miraloma Life Preschools

by Bonnie Wach

I have a few, scant memories of preschool, flashes of sitting in a big circle singing songs and listening to stories, playing on the monkey bars, being excited about bringing my homegrown potato to show-and-tell day. Thirty-odd years have passed since I set foot in a preschool classroom, but the day I walked into Wind in the Willows with my son, my childhood memories instantly came flooding back. Kids sat at small tables making giant colorful hats out of old ice cream buckets. Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys were spread out on the floor. Fairy princesses and knights disappeared and reappeared from the “rabbit hole” alcove. In a corner two children sat with oversized earphones intently listening to stories on tape.

At a time when kindergarten is being touted as the new first grade, and when children are being streamlined for Harvard as early as age three, Wind in the Willows on Monterey at Gennessee is a big breath of old-fashioned fresh air. Officially an early learning center, director Pat O’Connor prefers the term nursery school. “Play is children’s work,” says O’Connor, who’s been with the school more than 20 years. “We offer a place where childhood is celebrated, where little children are allowed to just be little children, and not rushed into being seven and eight-year-olds.” While the school incorporates many of the current educational philosophies (all the teachers have a minimum 24 units of early childhood education), O’Connor describes their approach as more common sense and eclectic. “We emphasize socializing, communication, and dramatic play. We have choosing time so kids can discover who they are and what they like and we stress compassion and empathy.” Music, art, reading, and outdoor play are all part of the curriculum.

Though Wind in the Willows has only been located in the neighborhood since 2000, its roots in the community go deep. The school was founded 32 years ago on Church Street and still has a loyal following among Noe Valley parents, many of whom made the move to Sunnyside when the school bought the building on Monterey. That sense of continuity is reflected in the staff as well. Long-time teachers Joyce Bautista, Terry Barrell, and substitute Xioma Neary all had their own children at the school before returning as teachers. Teaching assistant Christina Marchi was a student herself. “I think we all remember how difficult it is to be a mom to a preschooler and how hard it can be to connect with other parents in a big city,” says O’Connor. “We try to be a place where children and parents can connect with their community.”

Bucking the growing trend of full-day, full-week preschool programs, Wind in the Willows offers three-hour morning and afternoon sessions, with flexible-day options. Currently, the school has 60 students and four full-time teachers, with a child-teacher ratio of 6-to-1. The school encourages parents to participate in everything from fieldtrips and fundraisers, to art projects and storytime, but for those who want more hands-on involvement, there’s nearby Miraloma Cooperative Nursery School in the little red schoolhouse on Foerster.

One of the city’s most coveted co-ops, the parent-run school offers year-round half-day programs, as well as layover extended care between morning and afternoon sessions. Each program is overseen by a director, a teacher, and two teacher-parents, with teaching parents receiving a reduced tuition rate. Also in Miraloma Park is Treehouse Pre-K, a traditional home-based preschool and transitional kindergarten that offers an 8 a.m.-3 p.m. program as well as extended care.

Applications for fall enrollment are being accepted now at all three schools. For information on Wind in the Willows, call 333-7166 or go to www.windinthewillows.org. For Miraloma Co-op, call 585-6789 or go to www.miraloma.org; for Treehouse PreK, 661-4745 or go to www.treehouseprek.com.

MPIC Election

The MPIC slate for directors and officers who will stand for a 2-year term and will appear on the ballot at the June 16 general meeting, as determined by the nominating committee, is as follows:

Directors: Jim O’Donnell, Dan Liberthson, Kathy Rawlins, Sue Kirkham, Gary Noguera

Officers: Dan Liberthson, Corresponding Secretary; Kathy Rawlins, Recording Secretary

At the May 19 meeting, nominations for the slate will be taken from the floor. After the May 19 meeting, nominations will be closed.

Miraloma Elementary School – Spring Festival / Silent Auction

Entertainment, games, food and fun for all ages, including a performance by San Francisco blues band, The Jakes. Raffle and silent auction with goods and services from San Francisco merchants.

Miraloma Elementary School, 175 Omar Way, SF. Saturday, May 7, 11am.-3pm. Free admission. For more information, call: 643-5327.

Sharon K. Gillenwater
Principal, San Francisco Group
research > insight > strategy > content
415-643-5327
sharon@sanfranciscogroup.com
www.sanfranciscogroup.com

Of Spring and Sundry Things

Having heard nothing from our quadrupedal neighbors for quite some time, I was surprised and pleased to find the following taped to my garbage can lid last week. As always, I relay this important communication in the interest of serving and informing the public, but must insist that the views, culinary or otherwise, expressed therein are those of Mr. or Ms. Coyote only, and not of the editor or the Miraloma Life.

My dear Miralomans,

After a muddy, incommodious winter on this windblown hill, I was contemplating a move to sunnier East Bay climes when at last the skies cleared and tall grass and flowers sprang up to aid in the expeditious stalking of luncheons and dinners, of which, as you know, I am inordinately fond. Of course, alerted by the publication of a scurrilous anti-coyote diatribe of one of their members in your otherwise admirable newsletter, the raccoon tribe have made themselves scarce, hunkered down in their burrows. There have been, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, and such, to tide me over this interim of raccoon estrangement, and these other creatures (though not quite as appealing to the palate) have been relatively cooperative. A dash of wild radish, profuse during the last month, adds spice to even the blandest dish, as I learned during my studies at the Culinary Academy dumpster.

However, I would dearly like to calm the troubled waters of my relationship with the raccoon community, by assuring them that I am not in the least “anti-raccoon,” but on the contrary, a devoted admirer of raccoon kind, and most desirous of their society. Raccoons are indeed among the most intelligent, resourceful, and sociable creatures on earth, not to mention desperately cute, cuddly, playful, and succulent if properly aged. I extend the paw of amity to these most accomplished creatures and eagerly anticipate civil and-hmmmm-satisfying discourse.

As to the crow kind, that’s another matter entirely: no more acrimonious, utterly annoying creature crawls or flies the face of the earth! Many a orning their insults have wakened me from sound slumber, and the one I managed to sample tasted uniformly of burnt rubber. Let me put it bluntly: crows have no redeeming social or gustatory value. Therefore, I appeal to the MPIC, for the good of the neighborhood, to request urgent intervention by the Recreation and Parks Department, Animal Care and Control, the Superior Court, Homeland Security, the District 7 Supervisor, the Mayor or any other feasible jurisdiction to silence these nuisances, by means of tranquilizers, muzzles, repatriation, or any other necessary means.

Please restore peace to our mountain retreat! Think of your property values, my fellow Mt. Davidsonians, and the stratospheric levels they will reach if you can advertise crowless single-family zoning!

Your most humble and devoted neighbor, W. Coyote, Esq.

Editor’s Note: Mr. or Ms. Coyote sent a picture of himself, or at least I think it is of a him self or perhaps, her self, but our printer could not print it. If any reader has a better picture or at least one that is suitable for Miraloma Life would he or she please send it to me at the address on page 12.

Thank you for your cooperation and devotion to Miraloma wildlife.

Teresita Traffic Update

by Gary Noguera

Many interested Miraloma Park residents attended a town hall meeting at the clubhouse on Sunday, April 17 which was hosted by the MPIC Board of Directors. Guest speaker Nick Carr of the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) presented new options for calming traffic on Teresita that will move forward. Community support was overwhelmingly positive. Officer Wendy Frisk of the SFPD also attended and was very supportive.

Most noteworthy of all planned changes would be an “all-way” stop sign at the intersection of Stillings and Teresita Boulevard. We will continue to ask for more stop signs on Teresita Boulevard in the coming months. In addition, reviews are under way for potential traffic engineering updates such as planted traffic islands at the following Teresita Boulevard intersections: Fowler, Marietta, Isola, and Bella Vista and Foerster.

The DPT will be in contact with the residences in the immediate areas with more information about the changes. Residences in each affected area will have a vote about the proposed changes. As we all know, the situation of people ignoring the traffic laws on Teresita Boulevard continues to be an important issue for our community.

Additional enforcement efforts on lower Teresita have been requested of the SFPD. The MPIC Board will stay focused on the traffic problems on Teresita and will provide regular updates. Those with a particular interest about this issue are encouraged to contact the Board for additional information.

LEGAL EASE

by Steven Solomon

Q: I was perusing the Club’s internet discussion groups and came upon a question about what to do if a neighbor’s tree limbs are coming into my yard.

A: This issue came up in a case I heard when serving as a small claims court judge. Way back in 1872, the Legislature enacted laws about trees. If a tree trunk is entirely within your land, then the tree belongs to you. But if the tree’s branches intrude into a neighbor’s land, that neighbor can use the self-help remedy of trimming the branches.

Did you know that beginning in model year 2006, car makers will be required to install tire pressure monitors on all new cars & trucks? The estimated cost is about $70/vehicle, or $1.2 billion/year. For comparison, in 2003, the car makers spent $9.5 billion for advertising. In 2004, there were 22,177 dealerships in the U.S., of which 4% (989) were owned by the top eight dealership groups.

Steve Solomon is an 18 year resident of Miraloma Park. He just relocated his law office to West Portal where he continutes to represent consumers and business groups in a variety of legal issues.

Spring Fling Festival

by Caroline Grannan

The public is invited to a Spring Fling festival and silent auction at Lakeshore Elementary School on Saturday, May 7, from 11am. to 4 pm. The Hawaiian-themed event offers games for kids, entertainment, food, a raffle, and an array of deals and treasures to bid on at the Silent Auction. Entertainment includes a Japanese mochi pounding ceremony and performances by the Jazz Band from San Francisco’s Aptos Middle School, Lakeshore’s cheerleading team and teacher/musician/songwriter Rich Mertes’ Lakeshore fourth-grade class.

Admission is free. Lakeshore is located at 220 Middlefield Drive at Eucalyptus in the Sunset District, next to Lowell High School.

Host An International Student For 6 Weeks

Are you staying at home this summer? If so, we need to talk. If you have an extra bedroom with a private bathroom, and you would enjoy sharing your home from June 12 until July 23, please contact me.

Converse International School of Languages, located in the financial district of San Francisco, has several young adults, who work for an international accounting firm coming to study English. They would like to have the experience of living with an American family during their stay. Each student must live with one family, having the opportunity to enjoy the evening meal with the family.

This would be a great cultural experience for you, your family and the student. Compensation is provided.

For more information or questions regarding this unique opportunity to host a professional foreign student, please contact Betty Christian, Homestay

Coordinator at the following e-mail: homestay@CISL.org or call 415-971-3227.

Design Matters

Peter A. Zepponi, AIA – Architect

This is a monthly column addressing basic residential design and home improvement topics of interest to Miraloma Park residents. If you have a question or idea for a topic, please email pazdesignmatters@aol.com.

Q: What kitchen countertop material should you choose?

A: There are many options all with pros and cons depending upon your application, taste and budget. One of the largest design statements you can make in your kitchen design is that of the countertop. In addition to your kitchen cabinets and floors, countertops make up one of the largest design elements. Since it is such a large visual element it is important to understand your options and to select wisely. Every design or material decision influences subsequent design and material decisions. Some people start by selecting their cabinet style and then build upon that theme, while others might begin with a countertop and then make other decisions based upon a selected countertop.

In fact many items can be a design generator but that’s another discussion. For this topic I’m only going to focus on available countertop material options, relative pros and cons and general pricing. I have made some general groupings of classifications:

LAMINATES:
Plastic Laminates: Formica and Wilsonart are familiar brand names. This is a descendant of the faux wood grain we remember from childhood, however today’s laminates come in hundreds of colors, patterns, and textures and some aren’t even plastic. Some have wood and metallic surfaces.

Pros: Cost effective and widely available. Creatively used they can punch up a design. Coved backsplashes.

Cons: Not generally perceived as ‘upscale’. They can delaminate and chip at the edges. Edges and seams are usually visible. Can stain and scratch.

Installed Cost: $25-$50 per sq. ft.

WOODS:
End or edge grain butcher block, wide plank or exotic woods.

Pros: Wide plank or exotic woods can be rich and elegant giving a kitchen warmth. There are many edge detail options and color choices. Butcher block tops are functional, warm and can add a rustic feeling to a kitchen.

Cons: It must be oiled and maintained. It can scratch and wear if used as a cutting surface. Not heat resistant.

Installed Cost: $75-$200 per sq. ft. $55-$150 for edge grain

METALS:
Stainless Steel, Copper, Zinc, Pewter (Pricing is based on individual quotes; contact Purcell Murray Inc., at 800-892-4040)

Pros: Metals are generally heat resistant, can have invisible seams, integral sinks, backsplashes and drain boards, variety of finishes

Stainless Steel: stain resistant and won’t fade, modern look,

Copper: rich patina or polished, various finishes, old world feel.

Zinc: Develops a blue gray patina with age or can be polished. Early American feel.

Cons: Metals can be noisy, and scratch. Copper, zinc and pewter can stain, tarnish and show wear.

Installed Cost: S.Stl: $85-$150 sq.ft.; Copper: $100-$160 sq. ft. ; Zinc: $100-$140 sq. ft.

Installed Cost: $80-$190 sq. ft.

TILES:
There is almost and endless variety of color and design options with tile. Tile also comes in many sizes and materials including glazed ceramics, porcelains, stone, mosaics, glass and even large slabs of glazed volcanic lava.

Pros: Many design and color options. It can be very customized, be relatively inexpensive, and allow coved backsplashes. Individually damaged tiles

can be replaced if you have extra. Tile is generally stain and heat resistant.

Cons: Tile can crack, and chip. Unless it is full depth color a chipped tile will show the base material. Grout joints can stain, collect food particles,

and crumble. Designer tile can be very expensive.

Installed Cost: $30 sq. ft. and up.

CONCRETE:
Concrete has become a popular countertop option with the variety of color additives, stains and acid etching available.

Pros: It is hard, durable, stain, scratch, and heat resistant. It requires little maintenance and can have invisible seams, integral sinks, backsplashes and drain boards. It’s a contemporary look that allows unique and creative designs and shapes.

Cons: It is heavy, can crack, and sometimes have some surface deterioration. It is relatively expensive. Abrasive cleaners and spills can damage the finish.

Installed Cost: $135-$165 sq. ft.

GLASS:
Glass is a wonderfully versatile material. Just think of all of the products and applications that glass is used in and imagine how that could be applied to a countertop. There are numerous patterns, laminations, etching, stained glass, mixed materials fused with glass or laminated inside of two sheets, and pique assiette mosaics. It is however often seen as a sleek bar counter or used in modern/hip applications or as a protective surface over another material.

Pros: Versatile, heat, scratch, and stain resistant and easily cleaned. Creative design flexibility and can allow light and views through it. It can have

invisible seams, integral or sinks, backsplashes and drain boards. Sanitary.

Cons: Breakable, and can scratch. Shows water spots.

Installed Cost: $85-$150 sq. ft. and up for custom art pieces.

SOLID SURFACES and ENGINEERED STONE:
DuPont Corian is the brand name most people think of in terms of solid surfaces. Surell is another. It is a versatile, non-porous, seamless material that is easily maintained. Newer products on the market are the engineered quartz surfaces. Zodiaq, Caesarestone, and Cambria are three popular makers.

Pros: Quartz is a very hard and durable material, so those properties are carried through into these products. It is heat, stain, and scratch resistant.

It requires little maintenance and can have integral sinks, backsplashes and drain boards. It is sanitary and has several color options.

Cons: It generally does not have a natural look.

Installed Cost: Corian $60-$100; Quartz : $85-$130 sq. ft

STONE:
Granite, Slate, Soapstone, Marble are some examples. Granite is the most ubiquitous stone surface and can be very affordable if you can utilize a pre-fabricated and bullnosed countertop. Otherwise there are slabs available in numerous colors and patterns. The best thing to do is to go to one of the many stone warehouses and pick out the actual slab and have it fabricated for you. Granite is both heat and scratch resistant. Slate and Soapstone are popular choices for an Early American look. Both will show wear and scratches. Soapstone is a porous blue-gray stone that needs to e oiled. It will age over time. Slate is dark gray like a chalkboard. Marble looks great but is very susceptible to etching and dulling from acids (lemons, tomato juice, wine) and is sometimes not used as a kitchen counter because of that.

Pros: Beautiful, durable, natural material. Heat and waterproof.

Cons: Visible seams, requires periodic sealing, some spills can stain. It can feel cold and hard.

FYI: May 31 – June 3. The Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) is one of the nations’ largest residential tradeshows where you can see all of the products you’ve imagined or haven’t yet imagined in your home. I attend every year and always come away with new ideas. It is huge, filling both the North and South Exhibit Halls of the Moscone Center. It is billed as “Homebuilding’s Premier Tradeshow & Conference”. Exhibits are free Friday June 3 from 9am – 3pm. Or $45 for a three day exhibit only pass. Please check the official website for details. www.pcbc.com

If you are working with an architect on a project ask if they can get you a pass. It is a great opportunity to do some one-stop shopping.

USEFUL RESOURCES:

www.brookswood.com copper, brass, zinc, stainless steel, wood, butcher block, glass, concrete

www.contractorscopper.com  (Site no longer available) copper, brass, zinc, galvanized and stainless steel.

www.flyingturtlecastconcrete.com

* This column and its content are intended to be a source of general information. Applicability to your specific project should be verified.

Peter A. Zepponi, AIA is an architectural firm specializing in residential and commercial architecture.

Traffic

by Kathy Rawlins

On Saturday, April 9, there was a traffic accident at the corner of Teresita and Reposa involving a Muni bus and a truck. Although I did not witness the accident, I did stop to lend assistance as did several others. Many concerned neighbors were on cell phones speaking to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatcher. It appeared that a woman passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, as the windshield was broken on her side of the car and her nose was swollen. One by-stander had taken the initiative to immobilize the woman’s head and neck, holding them still in position to prevent possible further injury to the spinal cord in the event that the bones of the neck were fractured and could cut into the cord if she were allowed to move freely. Although it was not known if the male driver had had his seatbelt fastened, the steering wheel would probably have prevented him from breaking the windshield on his side of the car. However, he could have still sustained both an injury to his neck from the whiplash effect and torn his aorta (the large vessel coming out of the heart) when his chest collided with the steering column.

When the SF Fire Medics arrived they put not only the passenger but also the driver in devices to stabilize their necks and prevent further injury. Generally, the equipment used would not have been removed until x-rays of the spine showed that no fractures had occurred. Another bystander directed traffic around the bus and truck. This action helped to prevent any further accidents involving drivers who could not see oncoming traffic or pedestrians behind the bus and truck.

The accident was one more reminder to all of us that the Stop signs are there as a precaution to help prevent just such injuries. We all lead busy lives, and even though we place a lot importance on not being delayed in our routines, it is crucial that we obey the traffic laws involving speed and right of way. The MPIC applauds all who stopped to help out strangers on a Saturday afternoon. We want all our residents to live long and productive lives and encourage you to practice patience as you drive along our busy streets.

HELP MAKE OUR MAY 14 GARAGE SALE A HUGE SUCCESS.

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

The list of participating homes is available at
www.miralomapark.org/garage-sale.htm