High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

High Hopes NCPC: Practical Strategies; Clean and Green The High Hopes NCPC met close to the spring equinox to shape the year to come. The group placed dots on large maps to represent priority projects and where members live and work. A brainstorming session ended with formation of working groups and agreement to return for a facilitated workshop in practical strategies and approaches to solving problems together. The NCPC also agreed to join the High Street Neighborhood Alliance in sponsoring Clean and Green activities at Courtland Creek on Saturday, May 15. Come by San Carlos and Courtland at 9 a.m. to plant trees, fix the fence, paint out graffiti, clean up, and enjoy refreshments. The Discovery Center will be there with a project to reintroduce tadpoles into the creek and analyze the water. Good News on High Street Traffic Safety Preliminary statistics on the impact of restriping High Street point to the power of neighbors working together. City Traffic Engineer Kevin Cummings compared average accidents for four years before and one year after the 1997 restriping. Overall, accidents were down 17 percent, compared to a 2 percent drop citywide. Accidents due to unsafe speed were down 21 percent; accidents associated with improper turns fell by almost one-half. Streets are for People The last day of Pedestrian Safety Week (May 3-7) will focus on the High Street corridor. Children will be encouraged to practice safe pedestrian behavior. Concentrated enforcement of traffic laws is planned along with other visible reminders that the streets belong to people. Other events will include a staged pedestrian incident near City Center and a poster contest open to all elementary school children. Ask about participation at your children's school. Melrose Library: Still at Home The latest estimate for the move to the Deliverance Church property on Bancroft below Fairfax, while the current building undergoes a year-long upgrade, is mid-May. Although plans for events are tentative, a writing workshop for high-school-aged students is planned for Tuesday, May 4. The after-school event will be sponsored by YO, the Pacific News Service's youth branch. For more information, call the library at 535-5623.