George is flippin' burgers and flippin' FAMOUS

Don't believe me? Read this from The Fresno Bee:

These folks stay put

People who settle in the homes around here find charm and community.

By Margaret Slaby / The Fresno Bee

(Updated Thursday, November 3, 2005, 8:44 AM)

It's a Friday evening in a neighborhood of charming custom homes that sits just southwest of Shields and Palm avenues.

The tree-lined streets are quiet, with just a handful of walkers; some, like Jack Zulim, who has lived on North Thorne Avenue for eight years, are accompanied by their dogs. A few residents trim trees and tend to flower beds. A calico cat sleeps on a concrete walkway. Birds chirp from perches high in magnolia trees. A squirrel scampers across a lawn.

Meanwhile, George Freeman, who has lived in a 2,000-square-foot East Michigan Avenue home with his wife, Cindy, for nine years, flips burgers on a built-in, backyard brick barbecue. Children play in the grass while their parents sit on wicker patio furniture and talk of church, camping and kids. The Freemans are hosting an evening of dinner, worship and prayer that they've held monthly for three years. Tonight there are eight adults and four children; all live within a few miles of the Freemans' 1938-built home.

"I love living in this neighborhood," George Freeman says. "It's nice. It's quiet. The neighbors are friendly."

Before moving to Michigan Avenue, the Freemans and sons Luke and John lived just east of Palm Avenue in a 900-square-foot, 1927-built cottage. "We lived there for 16 years before we moved here," Cindy Freeman says. "I love it here — the older-style homes, the style, the history. It has a real neighborhood feel."

This is a place where people move in — and rarely move out. "The only way you come onto our street is if people have passed away and you move into their home," says Vincie Harmon, who has lived in a 1943-built East Brown Avenue home for 30 years. "You move in, and you usually stay."

Blanche Breckenridge has stayed on East Brown Avenue for 65 years. "It's always been a nice neighborhood," she says. "Everyone has always taken care of everything."

Warren Lloyd moved onto East Michigan Avenue 15 years ago. When asked to describe the neighborhood, he says: "It's rich. It's private. Great neighbors — all professional, some retired. Some of the houses are going for half a million dollars."

The Freemans bought their home in 1996 for $105,000. George Freeman says it was appraised five months ago for $310,000. Realtor Barbara Van Rozeboom, who lives on East Brown Avenue with her husband, Richard, says many of the homes are Taylor-Wheeler designs. The Van Rozeboom's 2,400-square-foot, Colonial revival-style Taylor-Wheeler home was built in 1938. They moved into it in 1977, raising sons Reed and Ross there. Barbara Van Rozeboom remembers the early days: "We had this herd of little boys who went through the neighborhood," she says, estimating 10 grew up at that time on East Brown and East Princeton avenues. The Van Rozeboom's backyard gate leads from Brown to Princeton avenues, and it was a revolving door as boys went to and fro.

These days, you won't find as many children in the neighborhood. "It's mostly older people," George Freeman says. "I don't see too many younger people on the block anymore."

Still, since many are old-timers, there is a sense of familiarity in the neighborhood. "I love my neighbors," says Kathleen Gerner, who has lived in the area for 20 years — in a 1950-built, 1,300-square-foot East Cornell Avenue home for the past five. "The guys across the street and next door have keys to my house, and they watch things when I go away."

Barbara Van Rozeboom says it's a special place to live.

"It's that sense of family and camaraderie," she says. "The people love this area, and they're loyal to each other and look out for each other. It's not like a coffee-klatch neighborhood where people are the nosy Parkers that are in your business. But they're there for you. It's almost like an extended family."

George Freeman visits with neighbor Lori Tacchino during a barbecue. "I love living in this neighborhood," he says.

Cobb's Hardware, at Palm and Shields avenues in Fresno, has been an area landmark since 1954.

Harvard Avenue features the kind of well-kept custom homes that keep residents staying for a long time.

Sam and Marilyn Obwald stroll down a typical tree-lined street in their neighborhood. The home they live in was first owned by Sam's parents.

Ethan Velez, 7, gives 4-year-old neighbor Kamryn Schultz tips on swinging a toy bat during a monthly potluck at the Freeman home.