Ellen Mattesi with her 3-D creation, “Evil Clown,” on Montford Avenue. (Photo by Mary Ann Hogan)

The Urban Dictionary defines Mill Valley as “a city in Marin County, California that was the basis for the South Park episode ‘SmugAlert!’ The people … are generally smug entitled hermits who live in tiny 837 sq ft shacks that they paid $1.2 million for.”

The “generally smug” people tend to make everyone else grumpy. Or so the story goes. If only life here were that simple. As a dinner host said recently: “I get grumpy about people who get grumpy over what’s happened to Mill Valley.”

Just look around and you may find an old-fashioned village with a small-town ethos and a big-hearted soul. Here’s a potpourri of Real Mill Valley:

Frightfully good

At the bend in the road where Molino Avenue T-bones with Montford, you’ll find artist and designer Ellen Mattesi’s Halloween Valentine to the world. For the past eight years, Mattesi, a “fantasy environment creator,” has adorned her front yard with elaborate 3-D bodies, torso-less arms and hands, skulls, teeth, skeletons, odd bones and a bunch of clowns, including the massive Evil Clown with footlong teeth. Says Mattesi: “All the other clowns have to keep feeding him body parts.”

Every year, people honk and wave, flash a thumbs up, or scream like banshees as they come off Molino, a funnel for hordes from Mount Tam and the beaches, as well as neighbors who live up the hill.

A few years back, Mattesi injured her knee and couldn’t create her display. She apologized on social media. Neighbors didn’t waste a second: “Would you like help putting them up?” “I’d help too. Have appreciated our Halloween fun since we’ve lived here … ” Her teenage daughter jumped in and saved the holiday.

That year, the mayor of Mill Valley left a business card with a note in Mattesi’s mailbox: “Thank you for bringing Halloween back to Mill Valley.”

Yes, they can

One day last week, a wayward bird made its way into Scott Snyder’s Tam Valley stovepipe chimney. Snyder and his wife could hear the hapless flapping.

First, they called a chimney sweep. “They said they didn’t deal with critters,” says Snyder, a data engineer, voice actor and critter lover. Then Marin Humane, which sent out someone to look. “They thought it might be an owl.” The group transports creatures, but doesn’t dislodge them from stovepipes. So Snyder called WildCare. But they only receive and treat. They don’t dislodge or transport.

Snyder asked neighbors for suggestions. Several offered help. One suggested Southern Marin Fire District, which covers Tam Valley. “It had just rained the night before,” says Snyder, “so I didn’t feel so bad.”

Within a couple of hours, a team of three showed up. They climbed up the steep Snyder roof. Removed the top of the stovepipe. Lowered a rope down the chimney. The bird clawed up the rope, about half way. Then it took flight. It wasn’t an owl. “Probably a scrub jay.”

Neighbors cheered on social media. “What a happy ending! … Cats in trees, birds in chimneys, our Southern Marin Firefighters can do it all!”

Yes, they can.

And did.

Signs of optimism

Says the sign on wall of Two Neat, a long-time funky art-and-dog-centric gift shop downtown: “Unattended children will be given an espresso & a free puppy.”

One Friday afternoon, a posse of middle-school boys came in and told shop owner Bob Bijou: “We’re unattended 12-year-olds. Can we have our free puppy?” Bijou gave them each a free piece of 10-cent taffy instead. The kids gobbled it down. Before long, regular Mill Valley Fridays became Free-taffy Friday, for the original gang of “unattended” and their friends. Even when the taffy’s not free, says Bijou, it’s a bargain. “Where else in Mill Valley can you get something for 10 cents?”

Notable signs abound:

• At the organic produce stand, corner of Shoreline Highway and Tennessee Valley Road, a roadside sign: “Peace, Love, and Pickles.”

• On the chalkboard sign at the Book Depot & Café: “What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookshop. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not fooling a soul.” (From Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods.”)

Befriend the parks

At the Sweetwater Music Hall next Thursday night, Nov. 2, 6:30 to 11 p.m., there’s a fundraiser for Friends of Parks and Recreation. Tickets, at $100, include wine, beer, appetizers and rock music by Mustache Harbor. Sponsors include the Mill Valley Soccer Club and the Southern Marin Lacrosse Club.

Beneficiaries include the new city skate park-in-the-planning, an effort of, by, and for a savvy group of Mill Valley middle-schoolers.

So have a good-hearted Mill Valley day.

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West Fort Worth Community Adds Upscale Apartment Living South of Interstate 30

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Mill Creek Residential, a leading developer, owner-operator and investment manager specializing in premier rental housing across the U.S., today announced the start of preleasing at Modera Walsh, a contemporary apartment community in the Walsh development on the west side of Fort Worth.

Mill Creek Logo

Modera Walsh, which consists of 379 apartment homes, sits at the confluence of Walsh Parkway and Interstates 20 and 30 – the primary east-west thoroughfares serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The community is part of an 80-acre district being built just south of Interstate 30 along South Marys Creek, which is expected to include a mix of future office buildings, retail, upscale housing and restaurants. The emerging district currently includes a Cook Children’s location offering pediatric, urgent care, and orthopedic and sports medicine specialty care.

Surrounded by rolling hills, two lakes, live oaks and long-range vistas, Modera Walsh embraces the unique topography with special plans for open spaces, parks and recreational trails. First move-ins are anticipated for later this month. 

“Walsh is one of the most desirable living destinations in the DFW metroplex,” said Michael Blackwell, senior managing director of development in North Texas for Mill Creek Residential. “It fills a unique niche in the market because of its quick access to the heart of Fort Worth, its outstanding school system, forward-thinking design and rolling terrain with recreational opportunities unlike anywhere else in the metro area. The natural landscape and thoughtful planning create a unique setting and there is a remarkable sense of community at Walsh, so we could not be more excited to join the neighborhood.”

The award-winning Walsh development spans more than 7,000 acres and is one of the largest mixed-use developments underway in the U.S. within minutes of a major city center. The surrounding Aledo Independent School District is regarded as one of the premier districts in the DFW area and routinely ranks in the top 10 school districts in the state.

Story continues

Designed to offer a variety of upscale options, the three-story community features 335 conventional apartment homes, 20 townhomes and 24 casita homes contained within six quadplex buildings. The conventional homes include one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts averaging a generous 959 square feet. The three-bedroom townhomes average 1,859 square feet while the quadplex homes, which feature one- and two-bedroom layouts, average 952 square feet. Both the townhomes and the casitas have attached parking garages and additional private garages are available throughout the community.

Homes will be delivered with a variety of refined features, including front-control electric ranges, side-by-side refrigerators, hidden-control dishwashers, premium granite countertops, wood-plank flooring, tile backsplashes, matte black plumbing fixtures and finishes, kitchen islands, oversized primary bedrooms, 10-foot ceilings and 42-inch custom cabinetry. Smart features include programmable thermostats, key fob access, mobile-app entry and ultra-high-speed WiFi.

Inspired in part by the renowned resort community of Alys Beach and intentionally woven into the surrounding landscape, the architecture and community amenities offer a lifestyle that is sophisticated but relaxed in an environment that is completely connected.

Amenities include a multitiered resort-style swimming pool, cabanas, outdoor deck with grilling areas and an outdoor kitchen, landscaped paseos, fire pit courtyards, a resident lounge and oversized verandah with co-working spaces, and a 24-hour fitness center equipped with TRX machines, cardio equipment and a separate yoga/Pilates studio. Just outside of the two-story clubroom is a private catering and dining room for special dinners or larger format remote meetings. The pet-friendly community also features a pet spa and an onsite dog park. Residents will also have access to EV charging stations, private parking garages and dedicated bike storage and lockers.

About Mill Creek Residential
Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC is a national rental housing company focused on the development, acquisition, and operation of rental communities in targeted markets nationwide. The national company, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, proactively develops, acquires, constructs, and operates communities through its seasoned team of real estate professionals in offices across the United States. Mill Creek is building its portfolio in many of the nation’s most desirable markets in Seattle, Portland, the San Francisco Bay area, Southern California, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Houston, South Florida, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York, and Boston. As of March 31, 2023, the company’s portfolio is comprised of 125 communities representing over 34,200 rental homes that are operating and/or under construction. For more information, please visit www.MillCreekPlaces.com.

Media Contact
Stephen Ursery
LinnellTaylor Marketing
stephen@linnelltaylor.com
303.682.3945

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mill-creek-announces-start-of-preleasing-at-modera-walsh-301891086.html

SOURCE Mill Creek Residential

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SAN RAFAEL (CBS SF) – Marin County authorities notified residents of widespread road flooding in San Rafael, Mill Valley and other areas and warned people to avoid certain areas due to extreme flooding on Sunday afternoon.

(CBS)

Many roads were under 2 feet of water and impassable, San Rafael police said in a warning around 2:15 p.m.

“The floods are expected to worsen due to another flood in addition to the amount of precipitation from the atmospheric river,” police said in a statement.

San Rafael officials said the downtown flooding was concentrated in the area east of A Street. There are road closures around the 2nd and 3rd street from the A-Strasse to the motorway entrance.

Shortly after 3:45 p.m., the San Rafael Office of Emergency Services tweeted images of flooding in residential areas. Officials warned that much of downtown San Rafael was flooded and asked residents to stay at home.

There is still significant rainfall in Marin and @CityofSanRafael. The main front is still pending. Much of the city center is flooded and not safe to travel. Please stay at home and only travel if absolutely necessary. #fluten #AtmosphericRiver @SanRafaelPolice @SRFD pic.twitter.com/Ql7msLmIqA

– San Rafael OES (@SanRafaelOES) October 24, 2021

According to city officials, there have been over 330 emergency calls for the fire brigade or police since midnight, four times the average call volume. The San Rafael Public Works staff are also responding to calls, helping clear trees from the streets and doing what they can to keep drainage free.

Local residents are advised to expect additional flooding, gusts of wind, and possible power outages before the main storm system wears off around 9 p.m. on Sunday. The rain will last through the night and into the morning.

Multiple blackouts are currently affecting some traffic lights and pumping stations in San Rafael and throughout the North Bay and Greater Bay Area. PG&E crews are responding to multiple reports of damage to power lines and pylons.

Meanwhile, the Marin County Sheriff tweeted about flooding in other areas and road closures.

A section of the Shoreline Highway in Olema was closed due to flooding from Sir Francis Drake / Hwy 1 to Sir Francis Drake / Hwy 1 in Point Reyes.

Shoreline Highway in Olema from Sir Francis Drake / Hwy 1 to Sir Francis Drake / Hwy1 in Point Reyes closed due to flooding.

Please only travel if it is absolutely necessary. pic.twitter.com/3p1yBpWHQl

– Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) October 24, 2021

Mill Valley also saw flooding in the Sycamore Triangle neighborhood. Residents there were told to raise their vehicles in the Mill Valley Community Center.

The town of Mill Valley is experiencing flooding in the Sycamore Triangle area. Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to bring their vehicles to a higher level at the Mill Valley Community Center.

Don’t call 911 unless you have an emergency. pic.twitter.com/i5J4RrMG85

– Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) October 24, 2021

Mill Valley Police later confirmed that a number of roads were closed due to local flooding.

The following streets are closed due to local flooding. Please stay away from the areas

– Miller in Montford
– Müller on Camino Alto
– Miller between Camino Alto and Almonte

Due to the road conditions, fallen debris and heavy rain, we urge everyone to restrict driving. pic.twitter.com/ST0n5bmDDU

– Mill Valley Police (@MillValleyPD) October 25, 2021

The sheriff also tweeted at around 4 p.m. that flood sirens went on in Ross, San Anselmo, and Fairfax as Corte Madera Creek reached its banks.

High water sirens activated in Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax. Creek begins to curve. Avoid the area and seek higher ground if you are near streams or creeks.

Updated information at https://t.co/6lGaK7yzy0 pic.twitter.com/mCGOkWuwlg

– Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) October 24, 2021

Residents have been advised to vacate the area and go to higher elevation areas if they are near streams or creeks.

The city administration in Sausalito declared a state of emergency on Sunday afternoon due to widespread storm damage.

At 3:30 p.m., more than 800 PG&E customers were without power.

City officials also reported fallen trees and power lines and said residents of the Marinship Park tent camp had been evicted, prompting the city to ask Marin County to build housing in Southern Marin.

The Sausalito Library at Litho Street 420 will remain open until 9 p.m. to protect people without electricity.

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report

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The Urban Dictionary defines Mill Valley as “a town in Marin County, California that was the basis for the South Park episode,” SmugAlert! “Was. The people … are generally complacent hermits who live in tiny huts that they paid $ 1.2 million for.”

The “generally complacent” folks tend to make everyone else sullen. At least that’s how the story goes. If only life was so easy here. A host recently said, “I get grumpy about people who get grumpy about what happened to Mill Valley.”

Just look around and you might find an old-fashioned village with a small town ethos and a big hearted soul. Here’s a potpourri from Real Mill Valley:

Terribly good

At the curve of the street on Molino Avenue partnered with Montford, you’ll find artist and designer Ellen Mattesi’s Halloween Valentine’s Day in the world. For the past eight years, Mattesi, a “creator of the fantasy environment,” has adorned her front yard with elaborate 3-D bodies, torsoless arms and hands, skulls, teeth, skeletons, weird bones, and a range of clowns, including the more massive evil Clown with teeth as long as a foot. Mattesi says, “All the other clowns have to keep feeding him body parts.”

Every year people honk and wave, flash a thumbs up or scream like banshee when they leave Molino, a funnel for hordes from Mount Tam and the beaches as well as for neighbors who live up the hill.

A few years ago, Mattesi injured his knee and was unable to create her display. She apologized on social media. The neighbors didn’t waste a second: “Would you like to help set up?” “I would help too. I’ve appreciated our Halloween fun since we lived here … ”Her teenage daughter jumped in and saved the holiday.

That year, the Mayor of Mill Valley left a business card with a note in Mattesi’s mailbox: “Thank you for bringing Halloween back to Mill Valley.”

Yes, you can

One day last week a stubborn bird got into Scott Snyder’s Tam Valley stovepipe chimney. Snyder and his wife could hear the unfortunate flutter.

At first they called a chimney sweep. “They said they didn’t study living things,” says Snyder, a data engineer, voice actor, and animal lover. Then Marin Humane, who sent someone to look. “You thought it might be an owl.” The group transports creatures but does not remove them from stovepipes. So Snyder called WildCare. But they only receive and treat. They do not displace or transport.

Snyder asked the neighbors for suggestions. Several offered help. One suggested the Southern Marin Fire District, which covers the Tam Valley. “It had just rained the night before,” says Snyder, “so I wasn’t feeling too bad.”

A team of three appeared within a few hours. They climbed the steep Snyder roof. The top of the stovepipe has been removed. Lowered a rope down the chimney. The bird clung to the rope about halfway. Then it flew. It wasn’t an owl. “Probably an exfoliating jay.”

Neighbors cheered on social media. “What a happy ending! … cats in trees, birds in chimneys, our Southern Marin firefighters can do it all! “

Yes, you can.

And did it.

Signs of optimism

The sign on the wall of Two Neat, a long-time funky downtown art and dog gift shop: “Unattended kids get an espresso and a free puppy.”

A group of middle school students came in on a Friday afternoon and told shopkeeper Bob Bijou, “We are unsupervised 12 year olds. Can we have our free puppy? “Instead, Bijou gave them a free 10-cent piece of taffy each. The kids devoured it. It wasn’t long before regular Mill Valley Fridays became free taffy Fridays for the original gang of the” unsupervised “and their friends Even if the toffee isn’t free, says Bijou, it’s a bargain. “Where else in Mill Valley can you get something for 10 cents?”

Notable signs abound:

• At the organic products booth on the corner of Shoreline Highway and Tennessee Valley Road, a street sign: “Peace, Love and Cucumber”.

• On the sign in the Book Depot & Café: “I say a city is not a city without a bookstore. It might call itself a city, but if it doesn’t have a bookstore it knows it doesn’t fool a soul. “(From Neil Gaiman’s” American Gods “.)

Make friends the parks

There’s a fundraiser for fans of parks and recreation at Sweetwater Music Hall next Thursday evening, November 2nd, from 6.30pm to 11pm. Tickets for $ 100 include wine, beer, appetizers, and rock music from Mustache Harbor. Sponsors include the Mill Valley Soccer Club and the Southern Marin Lacrosse Club.

Among the beneficiaries is the planned new city skate park, which was created by, for and for a savvy group of Mill Valley middle school students.

So have a nice day in Mill Valley.

The post Smug and grumpy Mill Valley? Look once more – Marin Impartial Journal appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.