South of Sunnyside

So, I never started that garden I was talking about. At least, not in the traditional sense of a “garden”—you know, with digging and dirt and plants and water.

But, I did buy this sweet potato at the grocery store several weeks back. I forgot that it was in the basket stand; by the time I found it, sprouts had already started. So, I decided to watch it grow (this is after a week or so).

The best part: it requires no water. Or digging. Or sunlight, evidently.

A few weeks ago The Business Journal posted a story about the City of Fresno’s Twitter account; at the time, the city had just surpassed 500 followers. The article quoted Randy Reed, director of communications:

“Twitter is an important part of the City’s public outreach effort, so I’m excited to see so many citizens linking up with us in this way…I hope that more people will take advantage of technology like this to stay connected to City Hall.”

I was skeptical that the account would provide genuine connection—that it would be used as anything more than a public broadcast. I decided to test the waters with a series of questions about the growing number of chain drug stores popping up around town. Though they didn’t fully answer my questions, I was pleasantly surprised to receive responses.

I’ve had several interactions since—in fact, I seem to be one of only a handful of residents dialoging with the account, even with a list of almost 750 followers. Each interaction is more informative, and response more timely.

Case in point: After posting about dying trees in the neighborhood, I tweeted the link with a question about who to contact. I received a prompt reply; I also received a warning that funds are tight (my response). I called the next day, and on Friday received confirmation that the trees had been evaluated, and that corrective steps have been taken.

Win!

To Randy Reed, I offer kudos for embracing evolving tools for communication.

If you’re on Twitter, follow the City of Fresno.

When Kim brings home a new dog, it’s usually one she finds on the street, and she either tracks down the owner or hands it over to a shelter within a day or two. Maggie, however, came from a shelter.

Kim promised me we’d be foster parents for only two weeks. That was over four months ago.

This week, I discovered that the City of Fresno only allows four pets per single-family household. Maggie puts us at four, so we’re in the clear of potential violations, but I’m afraid Kim’s becoming too attached.

Kim’s also wanting a baby, so eventually we need to make room for one more. That’s a good reason for you to adopt Maggie, right?

In case you need more:

• She’s darn cute.
• She burps (but in the cute, abnormal way).
• At under 35 pounds, she’s portable.
• You won’t find a sweeter, smarter dog¹

¹I’m not kidding. Maggie has been accepted by all three of our dogs—including Darla, our alpha. She has never growled, barked or bitten, and would love nothing more than to curl in a ball in front of someone. (That someone could be you…)

UPDATE: I pinged the City of Fresno last night, and received a prompt reply encouraging me to call 621-CITY. I did that today, and was told that city arborists would be sent out to assess the situation.

I really hoped we had seen the worst of the housing market.

But this weekend, Kim talked to the neighbors and discovered that the family across the street is putting their home up for short sell; if it doesn’t sell within a few months, they’ve already decided they’ll just let it go.

The family that rents next to them will also be moving soon—the owners have previously neglected to care for the home, so I don’t have high hopes that they’ll maintain it now.

Three houses down from them, a home twice the size of ours is for sale for the price we paid for ours.

Around the corner from them, another home has been abandoned, and now bears the yellow stains of decaying grass. Another abandoned home sits another three houses down.

As if this didn’t fill my life with enough cheer, a significant number—as many as 20, perhaps—of the trees lining the south side of California Avenue between, Fowler and Clovis, look to be dying. I think our neighborhood is giving up on itself.

Perhaps these trees are over zealous with excitement about the eventual change of seasons. Maybe they’re simply not getting enough water. Whatever the cause of the browning leaves, it’s only affecting trees on the south side of the road. Our side of the road, that is.