Neighborhood parking etiquette advice please?

Nope. Sorry. You're out of luck. Public parking means anyone can park there. Just because the space is in front of your house does not entitle you to it any more than someone across the street or down the block. Its first come, first serve. You can leave a note, but it makes YOU the 'bad guy' and he's still going to park there. The only thing you can do is act like he does: You see the space open, you park your car there.