Larkspur-Corte Madera, CA|News|
20-Foot Tree Crashes Down on Larkspur Plaza Drive
The tree landed between two parked cars without damaging either one.

jimw@patch.com
415.948.8919
San Francisco, CA
Bio: Born and raised in Philadelphia. Went to journalism school at Syracuse University, where I met the love of my life and learned the craft. Moved to the Bay Area nearly 15 years ago with several high school friends with open-ended plans to start careers and dig deeply into the incredible beauty and culture of the Bay Area. Not leaving. I love where I grew up and am always thrilled to go back, but my roots are here now, and they are deep. I love music, basketball, food, travel, and laughing as often as possible. We had a daughter this year, and I am over the moon.
Professionally, it's been a little bit of everything over the years, from doe-eyed sports reporter to music editor to newspaper and online reporter of many stripes. It's simple, really: whether it's the high school phenom or the 85-year-old who can still throw verbal haymakers with the best of them, I love telling people's stories.
Politics
I'm a registered Democrat who believes in fiscal conservatism unless you're dealt a ridiculously bad hand and have to spend your way out. I believe we're all created equal and should be treated as such. Pragmatic empathy is possible, and government is a much-needed, if often mismanaged, force for good in the world.
Religion
I was raised Roman Catholic in a comically large Irish Catholic family. I've drifted from the church quite a bit since then for a number of reasons, but I still hold dear the people and values that were a part of that upbringing.
Local Hot-Button Issues
After a rough economic stretch for downtown business, Mill Valley is in the midst of a push to stimulate downtown business. That effort must be willing to innovate but also strike a balance between promoting downtown business and retaining the town's inimitable character.
The city must remain vigilant on issues of emergency preparedness, vegetation management and evacuation planning. Despite an improving real estate market, the city should strive for a more affordable housing market.
With its Miller Avenue Streetscape plan and all of its road projects, the city should try to promote alternative forms of transit throughout town.
The tree landed between two parked cars without damaging either one.

Law enforcement authorities hope educating residents on how to lock a bike properly will help reduce the number of bike thefts in town.
The "Despicablimp," a promotional vehicle for the new movie "Despicable Me 2," an animated film featuring the voices of Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig that hits theaters Wednesday.
The truck driver didn't go through the two wider lanes in the plaza, damaging some toll-taking equipment and the truck's front axle.
Officials tout $32.7 million Bank of Alameda acquisition as a key element in company's long-term strategy.
Officials tout $32.7 million Bank of Alameda acquisition as a key element in company's long-term strategy.
Officials tout $32.7 million Bank of Alameda acquisition as a key element in company's long-term strategy.
Victim and suspect did not know one another and the attack appeared to have been unprovoked, according to police.
Scorching two-day event featured 90 images by 140 artists, with organizers hoping tallies will determine that it was a financial success.
This week's roundup of police activities includes noise complaints, car burglaries and some vandalism. But it mostly features the steady drumbeat of bikes being stolen from all over town.
The suspect allegedly assaulted a 60-year-old San Rafael woman in the laundry room of a Strawberry apartment complex.
Pius Kampfen agrees to pay a nearly $1.5 million fine in a plea deal; he could face up to five years in prison.
Four-unit development built near Old Mill Park in 2010 includes three market-rate homes and one smaller, moderate-income unit.
'Blue Jasmine,' starring Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin and Louis C.K., filmed here for three days in August 2012, including stops in Belvedere, Tiburon and Larkspur.
District officials say residents need to check for and eliminate additional standing water that may have accumulated after the recent rainfall.
Patron alerted firefighters to small blaze in the Sun Valley neighborhood of the city.
Sheriff’s deputies received a report that a woman stole a host of items from the car of a doctor Wednesday morning.