Volume 356 | July 2025

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President's Note

Dear Neighbors,

One of the pain points impacting Kent Woodlands residents has been the intersection located at Woodland and College and the corresponding traffic, sometimes backing up past the Woodland & Rancheria intersection as a result of the congestion.

In mid-June, fellow board member Ghigo DiTommaso (who has very relevant experience as he runs the San Francisco office of www.gehlpeople.com) and I met with Marin County Supervisor Brian Colbert, his top aide, and an experienced member of the traffic and construction division of the Department of Public Works to discuss our frustrations on behalf KWPOA’s membership.

We learned that the County has been working on the design of a roundabout at the intersection of Woodland and College — an intersection within an intersection that the County has deemed "below standards". Plans are in motion to get funding. However, it will be a heavy lift, as they estimate it will cost between $3M-$10M (their words).

In the meantime, the County, through our urging, will continue to look at ways to improve the lanes and lights at Sir Francis Drake and College Avenue, specifically the left turn onto College from the east side of that intersection, where they are currently exploring the idea of a double left turn lane.

Finally, one small win was making progress on getting the school bus to move to an actual bus stop further down College Avenue. Currently, this bus often creates a new temporary intersection during peak hours between Woodlands Market and the gas station by blocking the bike lane before putting out their 'stop' sign even though there is no crosswalk nearby, leading to many people being ticketed.

We will continue these efforts with the County and will keep you posted. In the meantime, continue to enjoy your summer and please use all efforts to create defensible space around your property to lower the fire risk for all of us.

Sincerely,

Jeff Leh, President

URGENT PEST ALERT

Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB) Ambrosia Beetle Identified in Marin County

The Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB) has recently been confirmed in Marin County. This invasive beetle attacks oaks and introduces a fungus that disrupts the tree’s vascular system, leading to rapid decline and death. Infestations start in the upper canopy and are often not visible until it's too late. Trees will die if infested and left untreated.

If you have oaks on your property, consider an inspection by an arborist to check for the presence of this destructive pest. You can learn more at www.mobpc.org.

Summer Travel with a Lighter Footprint

It’s summer—which means road trips, family reunions, or a dream vacation that requires a boarding pass. While we all deserve a little adventure, it’s worth remembering: airplane emissions don’t just vanish after landing. In fact, carbon released from flights can linger in our atmosphere for up to 800 years! That’s right —your beach getaway could still be warming the planet in the year 2825.

But don’t cancel your trip just yet—we’re not here to guilt you, just to inspire a lighter footprint. If you are flying this summer, consider offsetting your flight’s emissions through a trusted carbon offset program. Check out the ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator online, and involve your kids in the discussion.

Even better? Mix in a few travel tweaks:

Fly direct when you can (takeoff burns the most fuel).
Rent an electric rental car and use public transit or bikes.
Stay local—exploring your home state can be surprisingly magical (and way less exhausting).

Small choices, made by many, really do make a difference. So fly direct, consider offsetting your carbon and remember: it’s not about being perfect — it’s about being mindful travelers on a warming planet!

— Julie Johnson, CNKW Chair

Architectural Committee Application Notices

Please direct any Architectural Committee inquiries to Kristin Tiernan at AC@kwpoa.com.

Marin County emergency officials will use the AlertMarin Emergency Notification System to provide residents with critical information and potentially life-saving instructions in the event of a wildfire or any other situation that requires evacuation. An AlertMarin notification will provide timely, clear, and accurate instructions in the form of a call, text, or email.

emergency.marincounty.gov/pages/alertmarin

Then consider these helpful tips to make sure their alerts get to you at any hour of the day or night (note that instructions may vary, depending on your device):

Create a contact for “Alert Marin”
Add the phone number that Alert Marin will call from (415-473-6376) to that contact
Add the mobile number that Alert Marin will text from (88911) to that contact
For this contact, change your ringtone and text tone sound to a unique tone that will get your attention and be sure to TURN ON THE “EMERGENCY BYPASS” FUNCTION.