Spooked by Scary Solicitors

San Mateo Eichlerites debate how to handle
strangers who come a-knocking at the door

There was a time when our leader told us the only thing we had to fear was fear itself. In today's climate of cable TV news hysteria? Might be easier to count what not to fear.

Immigrants. Superbugs. Cybercrime. The threats are myriad and varied.

Now add to that a simple knock on the door or ring of the doorbell.

"Hi Neighbors!" cheerily begins a late October post on the NextDoor website by San Mateo Highlands resident Emily E. "Anyone else have a man knock on their doors today, asking for money for a magazine or book subscriptions? When I said I couldn't, he was not nice."