Gpn Summer 2005

Summer 2005

GLEN PARK NEWS Volume 23, No. 2

Official Newspaper of the Glen Park Association

Ninth Glen Park Festival Enlivens Neighborhood

Sunday morning April 24 began gray and dreary, preceded by 10 days of warnings about rain on that day. The Glen Park Festival organizers werenʼt having any of it, having by planned the event for Bonnee more than eight months. Waldstein So the weather got its act together. The sun broke through and the event went off without a hitch. Except for running out of beer late in the day. In that instance, Buddies Market lived up to the name “convenience store.” Attendance this year surpassed all previous years. Festival President Dan Gustavson of Glen Park Dental estimated a turnout of between 2,000 and 3,000 revelers. All 43 booths were sold out (five years ago there were only 20 booths) and vendors reported brisk sales and friendly interaction with Glen Park residents and visitors from other neighborhoods. Turnout was no doubt boosted by a publicity effort that included announcements in the Chronicle pink section and sponsorship by radio station KFOG. Anyone taking time out from browsing the booths, eating at the trendy food

Published Quarterly

City Crews are Busy in Glen Park

Gourmet cooking at the Festival

court or grooving with the nonstop music from 10–4:30 no doubt realized the tremendous amount of work done by volunteers from our community. Many committees were responsible for various aspects of behind-the-scenes coordination: developing sponsors to provide funding; soliciting donations for the raffles; obtaining the necessary permits; hiring the bands and securing the sound equipment; providing parking; and meeting health, safety and security requirements. In particular, the organizers were grateful to Kieran Buckley, Glen Park Marketplace developer, for his superb cooperation in moving lumber, equipment and debris boxes down Wilder to

help clear space for the vendors next to the construction site. Several nonprofits will benefit from the proceeds of the Festival, including Friends of the Library, Silver Tree Day Camp and St. Paulʼs Elementary School.

The Cityʼs Public Works crews have been spending a lot more time in Glen Park this year—sweeping sidewalks, painting by out graffiti on bus stop Rachel benches, emptying overGordon flowing garbage cans, hauling away broken news racks outside the BART station, planting new trees along Bosworth Street and weeding vacant public land. “Weʼre out there at least five days a week,ʼʼ said Mohammad Nuru, deputy director of the Department of Public Works. The intersection of Diamond and Bosworth streets also is in line for a major overhaul this summer. Crews will repave the street, repair the sidewalks, replace the guard rails and make

MORE FESTIVAL PICTURES, PAGE 5

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Photo by Liz Mangelsdorf

Glen Park Association Meeting Notice Tuesday, July 12, 2005 7:00 - 9:00 St. John’s School, 925 Chenery St. Parking available San Francisco Department of Planning staffers will offer a presentation on the City’s residential project application and review process. Richard Tarlov of Canyon Market will talk to residents about the grocery.

Diamond Street Dance

Photo by Liz Mangelsdorf

Glen Park News

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Mayorʼs Budget Would Boost Some Funding, But Muni Proposes Cuts Mayor Gavin Newsomʼs $5.3 billion budget proposal for the new fiscal year would by provide money to put Rachel more beat cops on the Gordon streets, expand hours at the recreation centers during the summer months and add crews to fill potholes. Thatʼs the good news. The bad news is that the Municipal Railway has proposed service reductions on two bus lines serving Glen Park, the 52 Excelsior and the 26 Valencia. The cash price to ride a bus also would go up 25 cents for a regular adult fare, bringing the total to $1.50. Parking meter fees and parking fines are set to increase, too. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the mayorʼs plan lays out several funding boosts that would benefit Glen Park, which like neighborhoods throughout the city has been hit by money-saving funding reductions over the past several years. For example, he ordered mid-year budget cuts in January that forced the closure of the Glen Park

The Glen Park News

2912 Diamond St. #407 San Francisco, CA 94131 (415) 908-6728 [email protected]

Recreation Center and George Christopher Playground one day a week to save money. Now, however, he wants to restore those hours while school is out of session, meaning Glen Park Rec Center would be open seven days a week and Christopher Playground five. Come fall, however, the cuts may be enacted again. Newsom has asked the Recreation and Park Department to spend the next couple of months reviewing the use of each playground, pool, recreation center and ball field to determine when they get the most use, when they get the least and whether there is demand that is unmet. The information would be used, he said, to determine hours of operation. The mayor said itʼs possible that hours would expand at some facilities and shrink at others: “We want to use this opportunity to reassess our system and put the resources where theyʼre most needed,ʼʼ he said. His proposed budget, the largest in city history, also would provide fundCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Summer 2005

Glen Park Association News About 20 years ago, my wife Jane and I saw a house for sale at the corner of Sussex Street and Diamond Heights Boulevard. The by house was one-of-aMichael kind solid brick, with Rice a quirky room layout, questionable “handyman” improvements, red shag carpeting and property lines moved around by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. It took us about 10 minutes to decide to make an offer. When we moved in, the neighbors were friendly, and my then two young sons found pals on the block. We loved walking to the canyon, the library, Glen Park Hardware and the butcher—called A Cut Above—in the Diamond Super. The Pickle Family Circus was a Memorial Day tradition in the park. I took BART downtown, and Jane had a short commute to UC Extension on Laguna Street. Diamond Super, A Cut Above and Terryʼs Meats are gone. UC Extension is gone. But in 2005, Glen Park is still a one-of-a-kind, quirky, friendly, walking neighborhood. There are plenty of “handyman” projects waiting for upgrades. The canyon and Islais Creek are slowly being restored, the park is

The mission of the Glen Park Association is to promote the collective interests of all persons living in Glen Park, to inform and educate about neighborhood and citywide issues, to promote sociability and friendships and to support beneficial neighborhood projects.

full of families and sports teams, and now we always take BART to SFO. The new Canyon Market, the new library and apartments are finally under way after a very long process. Iʼve been active with the Glen Park Association for more than four years, and ran for president because the associationʼs leadership was always working to balance the changes that come to every neighborhood in San Francisco, while keeping our special neighborhood character. The Associationʼs officers, committee volunteers and members are a tremendous resource to help the neighborhood deal with our future. The Association: • Pushes the City to implement parking and traffic changes needed in “downtown” Glen Park. • Helps review major projects and zoning changes as they come before government bodies. • Ensures that Glen Park is treated fairly and effectively by City Hall when it comes to park maintenance, street upgrades, Muni service, police and fire protection. I can say with confidence that the Association is a recognized voice on these matters. • Provides regular forums with public officials, other neighborhood groups and service organizations. The larger our membership, to put it simply, the stronger our voice when we call or write our City officials. Please join the over 130 families, households, partners and individuals in the Association, and become a member.

GPA Board of Directors and Officers for 2005 Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor Photo Editor Design Editor Copy Editor Advertising

Elizabeth Weise Rachel Gordon Liz Mangelsdorf Mary Mottola Denis Wade Nora Dowley

Reporters

Kevin Cutler Joanna Pearlstein Kate Stoia Denis Wade Bonnee Waldstein

Columnists

Photographers

Bill Berry Lori Chaplin Jean Conner Sharon Dezurick Bevan Dufty Tiffany and Paul Farr Carol Maerzke Katey Mulligan Michael Rice Joe Schuver Candy Cantada Ellen Rosenthal Michael Waldstein

President

Michael Rice

Vice-President

Jeff Britt

Treasurer Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Membership Secretary Health & Environment Neighborhood Improvement Glen Park News

337-9894 [email protected]

Michael Rice is the Glen Park Association president.

239-4347 [email protected]

Dennis Mullen 239-8337 Kim Watts 902-4767 Tiffany Farr 215-2320 Sharon Dezurick 584-4224 Meredith Miller 908-6728 John Walmsley 452-0277 Elizabeth Weise 908-6728 [email protected] Public Safety Volunteer needed Recreation & Park Richard Craib 648-0862 Traffic, Parking & Transportation Armando Fox [email protected] Zoning & Planning Volunteer needed Program Volunteer needed

Glen Park News The Glen Park News is published quarterly by the Glen Park Association. Signed articles are the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Glen Park Association. To advertise in the Glen Park News call 908-6728.

Summer 2005

Marketplace wrapped in Hipp-Wrap

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Photo by Michael Waldstein

Marketplace is Halfway There Work on the new Glen Canyon Market and Glen Park Branch Library has “hit the 52 percent mark” in the words of Chris Foley of the Polaris Group, which represents developer Kieran Buckley. After withstanding legal challenges and lively neighborhood debate, the project is by Elizabeth going full-speed ahead. Weise The white plastic that recently covered the western part of the building in the heart of the village at Diamond and Wilder streets isnʼt the latest Christo installation, but a necessary shroud so workers can sandblast the concrete exterior. A roughened exterior is needed so the adhesive that will hold the veneers that will cover the building will stick. The plastic sheeting—called “HippWrap”—keeps sand from destroying the finish on cars parked below. An Italian limestone veneer will cover the front of the library façade on Diamond and the adjoining south wall.

A thin brick façade will delineate the Canyon Market on Diamond and around to Wilder. The residential portion of the project will be covered in stucco. Work on the libraryʼs shell should be completed by December. The City then must put the interior work out to bid, a lengthy bureaucratic process expected to take months. It is projected that the branch library, now tucked into a storefront nearby on Chenery Street, will be able to move into its spacious new digs in June or July of 2006. Work on the Glen Canyon Market should be done by fall, and owner Richard Tarlov says he hopes to be open sometime in the final months of this year. Tarlov says heʼs in the building almost every day now with a measuring tape, considering different floor arrangements for the grocery store as he and the architect work to design it. “Iʼm able to chalk out where things will be,” says Tarlov, who is planning a full-service market. “Thatʼs such a rare

BUDGET CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ing to complete the Glen Park Plan, a Planning Department document that sets guidelines for future growth in the neighborhood—residential, commercial and open space—as well as maps out plans for parking, public transit and traffic management. The Planʼs stated goal by City planners is to explore “ways of retaining the beloved character of Glen Park into the future.ʼʼ The Planning Department endorsed the draft plan in April 2004, but a lack of funding has stalled the required environmental reviews. The

mayorʼs budget would put the project back into gear. The Board of Supervisors, which is holding a series of hearings on the budget, is aiming to adopt the Cityʼs new revenue and spending plan by the end of July. The supervisors traditionally make small alterations to the mayorʼs recommendation, usually by restoring services the mayor targeted for cuts. The biggest fights this year are expected to be over plans to reduce funding for AIDS and HIV services and to shift funding priorities in drug treatment programs.

and excellent opportunity. Itʼs a great way to design things. My architect is finishing her drawings of the basic plan of the store and weʼre now moving into more detailed specifications.” Meanwhile, work on the third component of the development—15 twobedroom, two-bath units—continues. At press time it appears the units will be rental apartments, although a final decision hasnʼt been made. Each will be provided with one parking place, as the City required. The final stages of the project will be to plant trees on Wilder Street and repave the sidewalks around the buildingʼs perimeter, said developerʼs representative Foley.

Glen Park News

Glen Park News

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Summer 2005

a tire swing, a log climber, belt swings, and a large play structure. An off-leash dog run will be located at the western edge of the park, near Diamond Heights Boulevard. The remodel will also create a new basketball court, two lawn areas, new landscaping, and new benches and picnic tables. Before the park was renovated, it was divided into two distinct areas separated by a staircase. As a result, people in wheelchairs could not easily travel from the one part of the park to another. The new design includes ramps to improve accessibility, and the contractors are excavating the hillside to expand the parkʼs usable space. The park is named for Walter Haas, who was president of Levi Strauss & Co. for 27 years and died in 1979. The University of California at Berkeleyʼs school of business is also named for him.

View through the fence

Photo by Candy Cantada

Haas Park Gets a Long Awaited Thorough Face Lift After nearly a decade of planning, a major renovation is under way at Walter Haas Park on Diamond Heights Boulevard. by The $1.44 million Joanna Pearlstein project, funded by the Department of Recreation and Parks and by private donations, will create a new childrenʼs play area and an off-leash dog area, and will be more accessible to the disabled. Construction is expected to be completed in November. The project began eight years ago when park neighbor Robin Lee contacted the City to ask if there were plans to renovate the childrenʼs playground. “The play structures had been built in 1968, and not much had been done since that time,” says Lee. Her early efforts to improve the area led to the formation of the group Friends of Walter Haas Park, which she chairs. “Although my initial goal was to get the playground renovated, when the community process started, the project grew greatly in scope because of the desires of the community,” says Lee. The group sought support from the Diamond Heights Neighborhood Association and held community meet-

ings to approve a conceptual plan. The project expanded from improving the playground to a complete overhaul of the four-acre space. But the process wasnʼt easy. “I was very surprised—to put it mildly— about the process needed to improve and update a park,” Lee says. “I had no idea what I was about to embark upon!” In 1998, the group applied for its first grant and was denied. But in 2000, the Friends received its first grant from the Open Space Fund. Over the next two years, Friends of Walter Haas Park raised a total of $330,000 from grants and private donations. Contributors included the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, the Mayorʼs Park Renaissance grant program, and the San Francisco Parks Trust, formerly known as Friends of Recreation and Parks. The City provided the remaining $1.14 million for the renovation, which was designed by the Mill Valley architecture firm Studio Green. In the new design, the childrenʼs play area will move from the eastern end of the park to a northern location overlooking the city. It will include a pre-school-age area with bucket swings, as well as a school-age play area with

Work under way at Haas Park

Photo by Ellen Rosenthal

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Summer 2005

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Glen Park News

Glen Park Parents Group Enjoys Picnic The Glen Park Parents e-mail list continues to work its magic! The past three months have seen the creation of many different baby groups— whether you have a by newborn, an “active” Kate baby, or an “almost big Stoia kid,” thereʼs a group of neighborhood parents in the same boat getting together so kids can play and parents can bond. And parents arenʼt left out of the action: there are Glen Park Parents reading groups starting soon and Momʼs Nights out at the Red Rock on the second Wednesday of each month. (To get on the e-mail list, go to www.yahoo.com and search the “Groups” section for glenparkparents, then follow the directions to sign up.) On Saturday, April 16, the Glen Park Parents group held its first group Picnic in the Park. Organized by Surrey Street resident Tristan Seifer, the group brought blankets, snacks to share and sand toys to donate to the playground, then spent the beautiful sunny afternoon hanging out on the grass and meeting the neighbors. Seifer organized the picnic after joining the Glen Park Parents e-mail list and wondering about all the new names she

Leeyan Lars Laperal plays the drums

Glen Park Parents picnic

was seeing there: “After joining Beth’s listserv, I was very excited to see how many families with young kids lived in our neighborhood. Some of the names popping up on e-mails were familiar, but most weren’t and I thought, ‘I really

Photo by Michael Waldstein

want a chance to meet everyone!’ The idea for a picnic just popped into my head one day, I sent it out via e-mail, and immediately received a tremendously positive response.” The Picnic was a big success. Says Seifer, “We made wonderful connections with several other families, and I’ve heard that other people had the same

experience. Looking out over the sea of families getting to know each other and clearly enjoying the day was a very satisfying experience for me!” A sunny day, a blanket on the grass, and lots of new neighbors to meet—what could be better? The picnic is now a regular event, on the second Saturday of each month.

Photo by Monique Reneé Laliberté

Pint-Size Dynamo Delights the Crowd Your eyes did not deceive you at the Festival—that was four-year old Leeyan Lars Laperal playing solo drums at 11:30 a.m. He made his debut at the Festival with his interpretation of “The Reason” by Hoobastank. Lars has been drumming since the age of two when his dad, Lowen, a registered dental assistant at Glen Park Dental took up the drums himself. He got Lars his own little set and as Lowen learned, he passed it on to Lars. Next in line is little sister Arryan, age one-and-a-half, whoʼs already got her start on the “boom boom.”

Ice cream at the Festival

Photo by Candy Cantada

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Summer 2005

Neighborhood Impressions: Lovelorn on Diamond Street Those of us who live within a couple of blocks of lower Diamond Street, or who have by Dolan taken a stroll through Eargle this area, have no doubt heard plaintive, insistent birdsong coming from all directions. It isnʼt the song of a bird collective. What you hear is only one bird, a very persistent little mockingbird, a very sad and pathetic case. Heʼs been around every year. He has found a mate in past years, but not this year; there just isnʼt a female around for him. He finds the tops of trees, house ridges, power poles—anything tall—and he often sings almost throughout the night as well as all day. (When does he eat? Does he expect to find a mate at 3 a.m.? Has he ever found a mate at 3 a.m.?) He began has annual serenade in March. Heʼs been expanding his territory by flying all around the Diamond Street valley, but nobly sings his little heart out for what appears to be no bird. Normally, when a pair mates, the male does sing a bit to defend his territory, but is usually too busy feeding the brood to do much singing. Earlier, I did see a pair of mocks in a redwood tree on Ohlone

Way, but they went off somewhere else to have a family. Last year and the year before he found a mate and built nests, but they were raided by blue jays that destroyed either the eggs or the little ones. I guess the female got tired of this guyʼs inability to have a well-protected home. I know itʼs the same one, because he sings phrases I taught him (“Over the Rainbow” among them), plus a dozen others—from cell phone rings to car alarms to starling squeaks—even cawing like a crow, for whatever good that might do. Listen carefully: he even says clearly, “Brigid, Brigid,” or is it “budget, budget”? Maybe sometime heʼll run out of birdtosterone. It did occur to me that with a paucity of other mocks around, we are probably experiencing a lot of bird incest. Wait till next yearʼs brood is flying about. “Neighborhood Impressions” is a new feature in the Glen Park News. Perhaps you have a story about living in Glen Park that youʼd like to share. Submit it to the Glen Park News and weʼll consider it for publication.

Glen Park News asks: Whatʼs your favorite thing about Glen Park? by Joanna Pearlstein

Jenny, age 41, Chenery Street Its sense of community. Walking down the street, people are so friendly and everyone looks out for one another. We all know each other by name.

Echi, age 15 Moreland Street I have to say the diversity. Itʼs really diverse around here. I like the little cafes, too.

Aztec Dancer

Photo by Michael Waldstein

Successful Glen Park Family Fun Fest About 200 Glen Park neighbors and their families and friends who enjoyed the 2005 Family by Fun Fest in Glen Canyon Denis Park on Saturday, May Wade 14 agreed that all the efforts of the Glen Park Advisory Board were well worth it. “It was a wonderful event,” enthused the Advisory Boardʼs Miriam Moss. “We do this so the community can come together and enjoy themselves and the park. Itʼs a great way for families to connect with one another.” Everyone who bought a raffle ticket won a prize, thanks to the generous donors whose financial support helped pay for the prizes. They include the Glen Park Association, Friends of Glen Canyon Park, Zephyr Real Estate, Citibank and the Bernal Heights and Glen Park gardening staff of the Recreation and

Charlie, age 41 Chenery Street The canyon, the park and the trails. I like going for walks in the park, taking my son in my backpack. La Corneta and BART get an honorable mention.

Park Department. The money the Advisory Board raises pays for bikes, trikes and other play equipment for the childrenʼs playground. Moss also thanked the Rec and Park staff who helped plan and execute the day. They provided the entertainment, the Jumpy, the food and the workforce to make this happen. A Jumpy, by the way, is the big box-shaped structure filled with balls that kids have fun jumping around in. The Advisory Board works hand in hand with the department to make our park the best in the city. They want to continue to improve the programming and the maintenance. The Advisory Board is always happy to have new volunteers to help plan and carry out its activities. If you have suggestions or would like to help, contact Miriam Moss at [email protected].

Mary, age 34 Chenery Street Especially since having a child, I love the community feel in the neighborhood. I like getting to know other moms, and the neighborhood has a small-town feel. I also enjoy the proximity to the canyon and the ability to take short urban hikes.

Jonathan, age 32 Alemany Boulevard I like the ethnic diversity, the restaurants and the small-town feel. The whole neighborhood feels friendly and nice. I also like the convenience of the video store and the transportation. Parking isnʼt bad, either. Photos by Joanna Pearlstein

Summer 2005

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CITY CREWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

other fixes that officials hope will last a while.a while. But, Nuru conceded, the everyday problems of grit and grime will not be eliminated – at least not anytime soon. Every time the neighborhood is cleaned up, the graffiti vandals and litterbugs arenʼt far behind, messing things up again. On almost any given day, within hours after a work crew has passed by, itʼs easy to spot the wind-whipped food wrappers and old newspapers gathered in the tree wells and gutters, the discarded wads of chewing gum stuck to the sidewalk, the fresh scrawl of a marker left by someone waiting for a bus. “Thereʼs still a lot of bad behavior out there,ʼʼ Nuru said. Mayor Newsom launched an antilitter campaign in February in which City workers, usually in groups of 10 or more, go on “citation walksʼʼ in different neighborhoods around the city on selected days. Their orders are to ticket people—merchants and property owners included—for littering and breaking other laws intended to keep the sidewalks and streets tidy. Theyʼre also told to “educateʼʼ folks on the finer points of discarding trash and keeping the exterior of their properties clean. The litter cops passed through Glen Park once, but it was raining and few people were outside breaking the law. The upshot: Only a handful of tickets were issued. Dr. Dan Gustavson, who runs a dental practice on Bosworth near Diamond, said heʼs seen a difference since the City decided to pay closer attention to Glen Park. Even though scofflaws are still tagging property with graffiti and using the sidewalks as dumping grounds for broken television sets and old mat-

tresses, the City responds quickly to complaints. DPWʼs complaint hotline number is 28-CLEAN. Continued budget problems at City Hall, however, have resulted in fewer City workers to clean the streets, and now officials are looking at expanding a program in which property and business owners in designated areas decide to tax themselves extra to pay for additional services—such as street and sidewalk cleaning, business directories and new trees and flower boxes—in their neighborhoods. So-called commercial benefits districts are in the works in the Tenderloin, Fishermanʼs Wharf and a small stretch of Mission Street near 21st Street, and business owners in Noe Valley and the Castro are looking to establish special assessment districts of their own. Union Square has long been the only such special district in San Francisco. The amount of the assessment will vary by district, depending on the scope of the project. Nuru said Glen Park could benefit from a commercial benefits district, and that he has broached the subject with a few merchants in the neighborhood to gauge their interest. The verdict is still out. “When you have hot spots like Glen Park and the Inner Sunset where thereʼs a lot of activity, the extra money can really help,ʼʼ he said. Gustavson said he could be convinced to dig deeper into his wallet to pay for neighborhood improvements: “Iʼm not a big fan of even more taxes than we already pay,ʼʼ he said, “but I would definitely pay more tax if it meant that the tax funds went specifically to Glen Park for (improving) lighting, roads, sidewalks and (abatement of) litter and graffiti.ʼʼ

Glen Park News

Glen Park News

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Summer 2005

Notes From District Eight Friday May 13 was a lucky day: We had a “hard hat” tour of the Glen Park library site with new City Librarian Luis by Herrera, NeighborSupervisor hood Campaign Bevan Committee co-chairs Dufty Tiffany Farr and Bonnie Willdorf, developer Kieran Buckley and many committed branch library supporters and volunteers. It was a fun, folksy, Glen Park Village evening. Neighbor Steve Stein played guitar beautifully, Destination and Sweet Sueʼs bakeries tantalized us with pastries, cookies and bread. Most of all we could see the “bones” of the evolving Glen Park Library: dramatic views, large reading spaces and high ceilings. With the building coming to life, itʼs time to address long-standing parking concerns in the neighborhood. There are nearly 200 unregulated parking spaces in the heart of the village, which represent a significant untapped parking resource, according to a Planning Department study called the Glen Park Plan. The plan found that these spaces can be put to better use in the neighborhood, and listed a set of priorities that should be used in designating them. They are: short-term customer parking serving neighborhood businesses, resident and employee parking, and visitor parking for nearby recreational facilities and other attractions. The Glen Park Plan recommends that the 200 parking spaces should be regulated as follows:

• Spaces within 300 to 400 feet of the commercial district should be converted to short-term pay parking. These include the spaces on the north side of Bosworth between Brompton and Arlington streets, and between Lippard and Brompton streets. • Spaces farthest from the commercial district should be converted to permitted residential parking. • Spaces mid-distance from the commercial district should be geared to favor short-term parking. It is important to better manage our parking so that the much-needed new marketplace development is accessible to Glen Park customers and wonʼt cause traffic congestion. Iʼd like to hear your feedback, ideas and suggestions about these elements of the Glen Park Plan, which can be found online at http://www.sfgov.org/ site/planning_index.asp?id=25091. Contact me at [email protected]. You can also talk to my legislative aide, Amanda Kahn, at 554-6986, or e-mail [email protected]. The Department of Parking and Traffic will facilitate a community meeting with the Glen Park Association and the Glen Park Merchants to discuss the proposed changes, and weʼll make sure you receive advance notice. If youʼd like to receive my monthly e-mail newsletter, please contact me or [email protected] to be placed on the list. Bevan Dufty is the District 8 Representative on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

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Glen Park News

Beboppers & Existentialists Are Helping Bird & Beckett June 2005 marks the sixth anniversary of Bird & Beckett Books and Records. As proprietor Eric Whittington starts his seventh year in the by neighborhood, heʼs Denis optimistic that better Wade economic times may be ahead for the oftenstruggling store, which has become something of a neighborhood cultural gathering place. “In May 2004 we inaugurated a membership program which got us through a seemingly impossible economic situation,” he says. “The store now has more than 100 members, with a couple more joining every month. Business is up and the outlook is promising. Weʼre not exactly out of the woods, but survival is pretty certain anyway. But donʼt stop supporting us now!” Ericʼs hope now is that his loyal patrons who subscribed to one-year memberships last year will chip in for renewals. He is sending reminders. Members get discounts, so if youʼre one, check your expiration date. If you havenʼt joined in the past, please consider it, Eric says. Your membership dollars go a long way to underwriting the music, writing and other programs we do, as well as just providing a bit of a base that helps us get through the many slow stretches that

are inevitable in a little neighborhood like Glen Park. A $35 Bebopper membership gets you a 10 percent discount for a year plus a poster; $50 Existentialists get a T-shirt or a tote-bag too (new T-shirt & poster designs are in the works). For $100, Bohemian members get a 15 percent discount plus the poster and T-shirt or tote bag. The $500 Medici level gets the 15 percent discount for the life of the store and free shipping, and $1,000 God or Goddess members receive a discount of 20 percent, likewise for the life of the store. Love for the shop is evident in these numbers: there are a couple of Medici members now, Eric reports, and four Gods and Goddesses. But, heʼs quick to add, the basic membership levels are critically important to us! This issueʼs Community Calendar lists coming events at B&B. You can see why we need your membership dollars to support our effort to bring good stuff to Glen Park, Eric notes. None of these are money makers in any significant way. We do it because we just canʼt help ourselves, and because itʼs worth doing. We appreciate everyone who supports Bird & Beckett by making it their bookstore of choice, browsing often, ordering through us, and becoming a member!

Good News for French Bread Lovers Readers have clued us in to a real neighborhood treat: Destination Bakery, Chenery at Castro, is now baking French bread daily. Glen park residents can find it both at the bakery and the Cheese Boutique, where owner Rick Malouf says, “Lots of our customers are saying they like Joeʼs bread better than the bread we had before.” Itʼs available fresh and hot starting at 10:30 in the morning and new loaves come out of the oven throughout the day.

Merchantsʼ Corner The Glen Park Merchantsʼ Association would like to thank all the participants of the Glen Park Festival for the great turnout by in April. Many of you Joe Schuver stopped by our booth and picked up one of our “goodie bags filled with coupons and information about your Glen Park merchants. We are happy to spread the word about the great businesses in the neighborhood and we enjoyed meeting you all. Our organization is continuing our efforts to eradicate graffiti from the neighborhood, and we are in the process of applying for permits for planter boxes throughout the business district. Watch for an update in the next Glen Park News. The Merchantsʼ Association welcomes Irv Kirschbaum, a longtime Glen Park resident, and his business

Surging Spring—Peaceful Heart. Irv has branded a unique approach to massage and bodywork called “integrative therapeutic bodywork,” encompassing a wide variety of

massage and bodywork methods. Irv sees clients by appointment at Breath of the Dao Holistic Medicine, 650 Chenery St., founded by Dr. Suzanne Friedman, licensed acupuncturist, nationally certified herbalist and doctor of medical qigong therapy. For more information, visit Irvʼs web site at www. surgingspringmassage.com or call

412-8570. Stop by and welcome Irv to the neighborhood! Mancor Computer Technology has opened up shop next door at 648 Chenery St. Joel Igtanloc is the manager. His business offers direct training and hiring, sales, repairs, upgrades and many other services, including Western Union and metroPCS. Contact Joel at 586-1227 or just stop in and say hi.

Joe Schuver is president of the Glen Park Merchantsʼ Association and owns destination bakery on Chenery Street at Castro.

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Summer 2005

Check It Out at the Library! There have been many interesting events in the usually by staid library world: A Sharon new City Librarian, Luis Dezurick Herrera, has arrived from Pasadena. Renovation of the Excelsior Branch is nearing completion—and that branch may have reopened by the time youʼre reading this in mid-June. Closer to home, the new Glen Park branch is taking shape. Despite the ominous date, on Friday, May 13, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library sponsored a “hard-hatʼʼ tour of the new library space. Those who attended trod up plywood stairs to the gray concrete space with high ceilings that will house the new branch. Through the cut-outs that one day will be filled with windows, the views we took in showed the trees in Glen Canyon Park and the hills leading to Diamond Heights. The tour made clear the advantage of being on the second floor of the new building, instead of at the street level. When I imagine working in the new space I realize that it will be like having a new job with the advantage of seeing many of the same people who use the local branch. Moving from our current storefront location on Chenery Street that—in a kind mood—could best be described as a compact, cozy space, to a place where we can spread out into 8,500 square feet, will be a welcome and challenging change. Some people attending the tour asked about the possibility of expanding hours and enhancing services once the new branch is open. I made no promises. Much of what happens in the future depends on the availability of staff and the patterns of use at the branch. In the short term, while other branches are being renovated, Glen Park will be able to “borrow” staff. But what is possible over the long haul depends on several factors, chief among them money. Specifically, will local and state funding keep pace with demand?

Setting the future aside for now, letʼs concentrate on the here and now: a summer reading program that runs from June 11 to August 6. I urge parents to have their kids sign up for the program, in which children are rewarded for reading (or, for the very young, listening). Participants will be asked to put in eight hours of reading, to keep track of what they read and to visit the library three times during the summer. There are small incentives for every two hours completed. Kids who complete the program will receive a grand prize—either a book, or tickets to local venues such as the zoo, Zeum, the Academy of Sciences or the Discovery Museum, or a toy. We ask that families sign up at only one branch, as the budget allows for only one grand prize per child. There also may be volunteer opportunities for 10- to 16-year-olds who want to help with the summer reading through the Kid Power program. And for those of you who have commented on wanting more books, DVDs and CDs at the branch, youʼre in luck. In anticipation of the opening of the new branch, our budget for new acquisitions grew. So check us out.

Glen Park Branch 653 Chenery Street San Francisco, CA 94131 (415) 337-4740 Hours Tuesday 10 – 6 Wednesday12 – 8 Thursday 1 – 7 Friday 1 – 6 Saturday 1 – 6

Sharon Dezurick is the Glen Park Branch Librarian.

Summer 2005

Page 11

Glen Park News

funding source she applied to. So she held fundraising events and got her Visa card out and, eventually, completed the film on her own. The finished product has garnered critical acclaim, been picked up for distribution by Frameline, the only US distributor solely dedicated to lesbian and gay film; and provoked intense personal reactions—all unusual enough for an experimental art film. Even more unusual perhaps is the fact that the film features prominently in one of San Franciscoʼs most intense ongoing debates—whether to install a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge. One of Jenniʼs close friends committed suicide by jumping from the bridge 10 years ago and, as she shot various scenes around San Francisco for The Joy of Life, she found herself drawn to the bridge and compelled to confront her feelings about it. “In the course of making the movie, I have to admit that Local filmmaker Jenni Olsen

Photo courtesy of Jenni Olsen

Film Features Local Scenes Working for years as the programmer for the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival taught local filmmaker Jenni by Olsen what kind of Kate movie she didnʼt want Stoia to make: “I saw so many movies, and so many of them were the same—romantic comedies, coming-of-age dramas. I knew that when I made a movie I would do something different.” She has lived up to that promise with her new feature film The Joy of Life, which played earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, just finished a run at the Castro Theatre and is moving on to other Bay Area locations. Star Wars 25 itʼs not, thankfully. Says Jenni, “I decided early on that I didnʼt want to have any actors, because the downfall of so many films is bad acting.” Thus, The Joy of Life has no live actors on screen. It belongs to a genre of filmmaking known as “landscape filmmaking” which uses shots of different landscapes—in this case, a wide and varied look at San Francisco—and voiceovers to tell you its story. The story in this case is one of promise and loss and hope, a fitting San Francisco story as anyone who has lived here for a while can attest. Jenni knows her film is not for everyone: “I expect that some people will walk out of every screening because itʼs not what they have come to

I developed an activist agenda,” says Jenni, who works now with the Psychiatric Foundation of Northern California as a strong proponent of a suicide barrier. How can a film with no actors address topics like loneliness and the human longing for connection? Can it convince you that a suicide barrier is not only a good idea but in fact a moral imperative for this city? Perhaps most importantly, will you see your house in one of the landscape scenes in the film? The answers to all these questions are waiting for you at the next film screening near you. In the meantime, filmmaker Jenni Olsen—an artist who can alter our perception of our city in such a unique way and who eagerly confronts difficult and controversial issues, whether of lesbian relationships or of what our commitment is to each other as citizens of this city and this planet—perfectly embodies the spirit of San Francisco.

expect from a moviegoing experience. But I would love to tell them that if they will sit and watch the whole thing, they are in for a great experience.” Sundance audiences agreed; one woman came up to Jenni after her Sundance screening and grabbed her by the shoulders, saying, “That was amazing, it was so beautiful.” Notes Jenni: “The pacing is very contemplative, very Buddhist. I hope that people will walk out of the movie and take some of that with them.” Jenni grew up in Minneapolis. She came out after reading the book The Celluloid Closet, about representations of gays and lesbians on film throughout history. That book, she says, made her realize “the power of lesbian and gay film to validate, affirm and empower ourselves.” She immersed herself in all things film-related, becoming a film historian, archivist and reviewer, and starting the Minneapolis Gay Film Festival. In 1992 she moved to San Francisco to work for the SF Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and eventually moved on to creating her own film projects. She now lives with her partner and two young daughters in St. Maryʼs Park. As for most artists, the hardest part is not creating the art, itʼs getting the funding to do it. For The Joy of Life, Jenniʼs first feature, a grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission gave her a great early start on the project; she was then turned down by every other

The Joy of Life will play July 22-28 at the Rialto Lakeside Cinema in Santa Rosa. For more information see www.joyoflife.com.

San Francisco Services Abandoned Cars Building Inspection Info Bus Shelters (repair/clean) District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty Garbage (oversized item pickup) Graffiti Hotline Mobile Assistant Patrol (MAP) (Homeless Outreach/Transportation) Mobile Crisis Team (Mental Health) Muni Information Muni Complaint/Compliment Parking Enforcement Police (non emergency) Potholes Rent Stabilization Board Street Construction Complaints Street Lighting Tree Problems Towed Cars Mayorʼs Office of Neighborhood Services

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www.sfgov.org/mons

Glen Park News

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Summer 2005

On Patrol in Glen Park Greetings from Glen Park! My name is Mike Walsh. My wife, Flo, and I are San Francisco natives and have been Glen by Park homeowners for SFPD 21 years. Weʼve raised Officer four children here (ages Michael 15 to 21) and we share Walsh the same joys, concerns, optimism and frustrations that most of you feel who have made a commitment to our neighborhood and our city. I also am an eight-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department assigned to Ingleside Station. I am one of the few police officers who enjoy the privilege of working in the district in which I live. I hope to be a frequent contributor to the Glen Park News, bringing you updates on safety issues and enforcement action in the neighborhood. A caveat: The opinions I express are my own.

Leash Enforcement

The enforcement objective du jour in the district recently is the order from Deputy Chief Greg Suhr for officers to cite dog walkers who are in violation of the current leash laws. Until now, officers have tried to use a balanced, common-sense approach to this very contentious issue. We have relied on warnings whenever possible, citing only those whose recalcitrant or unreasonable response has left us little alternative. Iʼm well aware that the extremist activists on both sides of this issue are seldom satisfied, seeking only to trounce those whose views they do not share. Nevertheless, we have tried to establish reasonable middle ground and provide enforcement where needed and mediation where possible — spirit of the law vs. letter of the law. As the laws apply to pooper-scooper violations, I, and most other officers, take a zero tolerance approach to violations we witness, or for which weʼve received a complaint witnessed by a reporting party who is willing to sign a private personʼs arrest form. The bail amount for a leash law violation is $31.99, and not picking up after your dog will cost you $319.90. No, that is not a typo. Glen Canyon Park and Christopher Park are the parks in our neighborhood which will be most affected by this order. Ingleside Station is fortunate to have two fine, committed officers patrolling the parks full time: Officer Sophal Chea and Officer Will McCar-

thy. Their primary enforcement objective will be preserving the playgrounds and ball fields for people, not pooches. Signs are clearly posted in these areas and dogs must be kept on leash and owners must clean up after them. In addition, your friendly mutt may strike terror in the heart of a pre-schooler who comes eyeball to eyeball with him at the Glenridge Cooperative Nursery School deep in the canyon at the Silver Tree building. So whether or not you observe the leash law elsewhere in the park, make sure to leash up whenever you see kids at play. Also, be cognizant of the clearly marked restoration areas in the canyon. Even if your dog is voice controlled, it is especially important to keep it on leash near these areas. I was chagrined to learn this lesson myself when my own dog, an otherwise very obedient retriever, slipped away and went bounding through a group of hard-working volunteers to roll in Islais Creek. As a result, our family is particularly careful to keep her on leash in sensative areas of the canyon. Although theyʼre mostly concerned with the recreation and playground areas of the parks, officers patrol the canyon as well.

Joggers Targeted

On a different note, joggers recently have been the victims of armed robbery in the Mt. Davidson area. The young assailants show a handgun, then demand money and the victimʼs cell phone. Glen Park has no shortage of joggers, and would be a natural extension for these creeps to expand their area of operation. Try to jog in pairs or larger groups, and report any suspicious activity you see to 911. Donʼt try to fight them. Carry as little money as you must and do your best to get a good description of the muggers if youʼre robbed so you can recognize them later. These guys eventually get caught and the more help in identifying them we get from victims, the more we increase the chances that our district attorney will prosecute the cases. Also, be aware that dialing 911 on your cell phone may only get you to the CHP dispatch center in Sacramento, depending on your carrier and/or the proximity of a cell in your location when calling. Do yourself a favor and program your cell phone to dial 5538090 in an emergency—the direct dial to San Francisco Emergency Services, but just remember that the number can be used only in the city.

Glen Park Dog Owners on Poop Patrol

Photo by Kate Stoia

Glen Park Dog Owners Group On May 14, the Glen Park Dog Owners Group (GPDOG) met up for one of our frequent Park Poop Patrols. We chose the morning of the Family Fun Fest by to make sure that no Kate oneʼs day would be Stoia ruined by a pile of dog poop hiding on the field or one of the trails. As usual, however, we were able to find hardly any mess left behind by dogs and their owners, so we just filled our bags with LOTS of garbage. GPDOG members also brought playground toys to donate to the kidsʼ sand area and, at the suggestion of John, the Glen Park gardener, cleared the fields of balls and sticks so that he could maintain them more easily. Glen Park DOG is a group of neighborhood dog owners; we consider ourselves responsible and active members of the park community. We hold frequent park clean-ups and pick up all the dog mess or other garbage that we see on our rounds. We also help keep the park safe for all park users, as we can generally be found out there morning and night, rain or shine. As any police officer will tell you, such consistent use

of the park by neighborhood residents helps keep us all safer, and discourages use of the park by criminals or camping by homeless people. We are eager to be good neighbors and, as one of the groups that uses the park the most, consider ourselves to be among its many guardians. We are against cars in the Canyon, as we believe the safety and sanity of all the parkʼs residents and users is better preserved in the absence of cars on our paths. We also police ourselves so that only people with well-behaved and well-socialized dogs walk their dogs off-leash. Finally, we maintain well-stocked plastic-bag stations throughout the park so that no one is ever caught without the means to clean up after his or her dog. We always try to make sure we know if our dog has pooped, but we donʼt have eyes in the backs of our heads. If you see dog mess anywhere in the park, please tell the nearest person with a dog so that we can clean it up—we are very aware of our responsibility in this regard. Dues for GPDOG are $10 per year, per family. To join, please contact our treasurer, Ilana Drummond, at ilana_ [email protected].

If you have questions or topics you would like me to address in future issues, feel free to e-mail me at mwalsh4719@ sbcglobal.net. Remember, I donʼt make policy, but I will comment on it. Also, if you would like to receive the daily crime report for the Ingleside Police District, e-mail Captain Paul Chignell at [email protected]. If you see me on patrol, feel free to stop and say hello. My partner, Officer Jennifer

Marino, and I are regular diners in Glen Park (no donut shop, Iʼm sorry to say!) and we look forward to chatting over a cup of coffee as our duties allow.

Officer Michael Walsh is assigned to the San Francisco Police Departmentʼs Ingleside Station and lives in Glen Park.

Traffic Citations Up April report from Ingleside Station: “We have just received the statistics for moving traffic violations. Members of the Ingleside Police Station have written 40 percent more citations this year compared to the same period last year.” Cars are towed when the driver doesnʼt have a valid license or insurance, as a Topaz Way resident found after ignoring a stop sign on Bosworth Street. That uninsured driver, who already had a warrant for driving with a suspended license, was arrested.

Memorial Day Traffic Check Pays Off Glen Park traffic was congested on Friday evening, May 28, the start of the Memorial Day weekend, as several agencies conducted a “traffic enforcement operation” on San Jose Avenue near Randall. The SFPD was joined by California Highway Patrol, San Francisco Sheriffs Department and US Park Police. Some 440 vehicles went through the checkpoint, six people were arrested for drunk driving and 16 vehicles belonging to people with suspended licenses were towed. SFPD Traffic Enforcement Effective Saturday, June 4, two motorcyle officers were assigned full-time to the Ingleside District for traffic enforcement. They are being deployed in areas that the community has requested for pedestrian safety and to curb speeding.

Graffiti Watch Graffiti Watch is a volunteer effort to prevent and remove graffiti from public property, assisted by the Department of Public Works. For more information or to report graffiti, call 28-CLEAN. This spring Officer Chris Putz of the SFPD Graffiti Unit reported that BART police and his unit worked together on a case involving multiple graffiti vandalism suspects. A number of suspects were indcited. These street gang members were charged with graffiti vandalism, burglary and other charges.

Glen Park News

Crime Reports From Ingleside Station The Police Departmentʼs Ingleside Station sends daily e-mail reports of incidents within their district. Recent Items by from Glen Park range Denis from mundane to alarmWade ing; fortunately there are lots of the former and few of the latter. Some examples this spring: Daytime burglaries were reported in March in the 100 block of Mateo and the 300 block of Surrey streets. In April and May, there were a burglary and stolen car in the first block of Miguel and thefts from the 200 block of Roanoke and the first block of Hiliritas. At 5:16 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, numerous gunshots were reported in the 100 block of Randall; when officers arrived both the victim and the vehicle from which the shots were apparently were gone. At 8:50 a.m. May 27, Officer Michael Walsh admonished a juvenile who had brandished an air pistol at St. Johnʼs School on Chenery. At 11:36 p.m. on Memorial Day, officers were called to break up a large fight at Bemis and Moffitt. One Sunday in May, at 2:30 a.m., a victim was robbed, punched and a bag taken at Diamond and Wilder. That month officers were also called to Roanoke and Chenery at 1:28 a.m. after a subject threatened to kill someone. They searched the area and located the subject—not a neighborhood resident—in a vehicle in the 100 block of Bemis. The suspect fled and was finally located in the 200 block of Addison where he was forcibly taken into custody. The victim and a witness were located and substantiated the threat to kill. Domestic violence, found property, stolen and found cars, a found purse and wallet and found ammunition also turned up in Inglesideʼs log, along with the arrest of a homeless person who was reported trespassing in the 600 block of Bosworth and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia.

To receive these reports yourself, e-mail a request to [email protected].

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Glen Park Traffic News Digest

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Summer 2005

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City Lists Areas Where Unleashed Dogs are Legal In City park areas where dogs are required to be leashed—including all of Glen Canyon Park— officers are citing violaby tors, as Officer Michael Denis Walsh reports in his On Wade Patrol column on page 12 of this issue. But the City has designated some areas within public parks where it is permissible for dogs to be off-leash. One new, nearby off-leash dog run should be open by the end of the year, reports Joanna Pearlstein in her story about the renovation of Walter Haas Park in this issue. Until then, Ingleside Police Station has issued a reminder for dog owners that the following areas are the only places where dogs may legally be unleashed in parks within Inglesideʼs jurisdiction: St. Maryʼs Park: Murray and Justin streets, in the fenced area in the lower terrace.

Upper Noe Park: Day and Sanchez streets, adjacent to the first base and outfield lines. Bernal Heights: At the top of the hill bounded by Bernal Heights Boulevard. Crocker Amazon: Dublin and France streets, in the area south of the playground and garden. McLaren Park: At the top of the hill at Shelley and Mansell streets, and in the south section of the park accessed via the 1600 block of Geneva Street. “Folks are reminded that officers of the Ingleside Station will be enforcing leash law regulations in all City parks,” Captain Paul Chignell reiterated. “Please also clean up after your dogs. In recent weeks there have been repeated violations in Glen Park, Sunnyside Park, Holly Park and Precita Park. Please be respectful of your neighbors. Citations will be issued.”

Glen Park News

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Summer 2005

Bargains and Bites at the Alemany Farmersʼ Market The glossy food magazines may rave about the see-and-be-seen Ferry Plaza market, but as first timers to the Alemany farmersʼ market discover, there isnʼt much Ferry Plaza by offers that you canʼt Emma find here. From organic Smith veggies and sweet Kumamoto oysters to fresh-made tamales, the pickings canʼt be topped. And with ample free parking and produce at $1 to $2 per pound less than at its posh cousin by the Bay, down-home, honest Alemany is actually preferred by many. No more than a five minute drive from central Glen Park, this oldest continuous farmersʼ market in California draws crowds of fervent regulars every Saturday from 5 a.m. till around 3 p.m. Itʼs located at 100 Alemany Blvd, at the eastern edge of Bernal Heights, where highways 101 and 280 meet. To get there, just take Bosworth under the San Jose overpass, turn left on Mission, right on Crescent, then meander along for a dozen or so blocks till you deadend at the bustling parking lot (it houses an antiques fair on Sundays). Alternatively, jump on the No. 23 bus from Glen Park BART Station—it even says “Farmersʼ Market” on the front. Although this market flies under the radar of most “It” lists, Director Gary Gentry says, “We get celebrities, musicians, chefs—you never know who youʼll be standing next to in line.” He says people come back for the unassuming, family-friendly atmosphere.

Toby Garrone, co-owner of Far West Fungi, agrees: “I prefer it here. People come here to really shop; they buy in big quantities, to cook dinner.” Some, like shopper Hannah Kahn, like the “buy local” aspect. “I like to give my money directly to the farmers. These people have pride in their products,” she says as she scoops cherries into a bag. And what products they are. Jumpstart your shopping with coffee and a pastry at one of the several baking stands at the far eastern end. Then start browsing the aisles. June brings glorious summer produce like fava beans and cherries. Asian farmers offer cornucopias of herbs—shiso, chicken mint, kaffir lime leaves and bouquets of fragrant basil. Artisanal cheese, wild and cultivated mushrooms, quail eggs, Dungeness crab—thereʼs more than enough to fill your shopping basket without emptying your wallet. Of the approximately 120 booths, around 12 are certified organic, according to Gentry. Many more farmers have chosen not to become certified (the

People enjoying the Farmersʼ Market

process is expensive), but still practice clean farming. When lunchtime rolls around, some shoppers head for the samosas, flatbread, and dips at Sukhi Indian Food,

Photos by Emma Smith

while others follow their noses to the excellent All Star Tamales. The lines are long, but no one minds. Carefree CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Summer 2005

Page 15

A Glass Half Full This is the fifth installment of our memoirs as owners of a Glen Park wine and spirits shop for 21 by years. We ran Tiffanyʼs Tiffany Wines & Spirits at 678 and Paul Chenery St. and lived Farr firsthand the ups and downs of operating a small business in the neighborhood. On weekdays, the Glen Park commercial district lacked foot traffic, and we had seemingly endless hours to fill before business picked up with the after-work crowd coming home from their evening commutes. When it was quiet, we spent hours trying to figure out how to become more profitable. We constantly worked on lowering our overhead, lowering the cost of the merchandise and increasing sales. We never acted on our idea to go to the BART station at rush hour dressed as grapes to hand out flyers with our wine specials, or in a cap and gown for graduation party deals, or as a bride with champagne specials. But when you are trying to make a living running a small business, youʼre always trying to think outside the box, to find a hook to lure customers. We also learned that location and neighboring businesses are key. All retail districts have an anchor business that attracts customers for the other merchants. When we were in business, our anchor, unfortunately, was the Diamond Super—a high-priced market patronized for little more than necessities. Standing in line, you would see customers with one item; few people bought all their groceries there. The produce, for instance, was notoriously bad. The parking lot was pocked with

FARMERS MARKET CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

couples, young families, no-nonsense grandmas and diehard foodies of all ages and ethnicities share the sidewalks and enjoy the fresh air. The bustle and diversity of the clientele are as much a part of the appeal as the canʼt beat ʻem prices and downright delicious fare. Oh, and did we mention the parking? Emma Smith lives on Myra Way in Miraloma Park with her husband and baby boy, but heads down the hill to Glen Park for her shopping and socializing. Most recently she worked in the food department at Sunset magazine.

potholes, garbage and an abandoned burned-out car. We rejoiced when the City rented the parking lot from the Diamond Super owners and we got lucky when Terry Bloom bought the meat counter. His fabulous prepared salads and delicious deli sandwiches were a draw, boosting business in the neighboring stores. A fire destroyed the market seven years ago, and Terry left Glen Park. Thereʼs hope, however, that he may return. Richard Tarlov, owner of the new market under construction at the site of the old Diamond Super, asked us for Terryʼs phone number. Fingers crossed, everyone! We have a very busy life now, with part of our time spent in our continuing quest to learn about wine, spirits and beer. We went to Mexico in November and visited the town of Tequila. We toured the agave fields and the Jose Cuervo distillery. We tasted the agave raw, roasted and, of course, in its bestknown form: tequila. We would like to share the recipe for one of our favorite tequila cocktails, the vampiro (or tequila Bloody Mary). Mix 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice, 3 tablespoons grenadine, onequarter teaspoon chili powder, 1 cup tomato juice, 1 teaspoon salt. Mix all ingredients, set aside. Pour an ounce and a half of tequila into a large glass over ice, then add the orange juice mixture. If desired, add club soda and garnish with a lime wedge. Adiós. Tiffany and Paul Farr can be reached at 415-215-2320 or tiffanyfarrSFrealt [email protected]

Glen Park News

Glen Park News

Page 16

Summer 2005

Digging the Dirt: News from the Garden Club Hummingbirds are frequent visitors to our gardens in Glen Park, particularly those that have nectarby producing plants such Carol as fuchsia, columbine, Maerzke salvia, honeysuckle, delphinium, penstemon, jasmine, bottlebrush and morning glories. Special hummingbird feeders, filled with four parts water to one part white sugar, also attract them. The most common variety in Glen Park is the Annaʼs hummingbird, which is just four inches long, has green iridescent feathers on its back and throat, and weighs about as much as a penny. Not only are hummingbirds fun to watch, but theyʼre good garden helpers, too, eating gnats, aphids, spiders and mosquitoes. But it is their helicopter-like maneuvers that draw the most attention. They can fly forward, backward, sideways and upside down. When flying forward, they can travel as fast as 60 miles per hour. When they hover over one spot, they hold their bodies in a vertical position and flap their wings in a “figure-eightʼʼ formation. The males sometimes fly in a “Jʼʼ formation to impress their mates, and make a sharp, explosive chirp when flying at the lowest point. The buzz you sometimes hear is the quick flapping of their wings, which beat about 50 times a second. Our gardens are full of wonderment, and one of the joys is when those of who tend them share what we know with others. It was 10 years ago when Judy Creighton sent out an invitation to anyone in Glen Park who was interested in gardening to meet at Creightonʼs Bakery. By planting the seeds of a common interest, 30 people showed up, and the Glen Park Garden Club was born. This spring, the club honored Creighton and the other the Founding Mothers: Andrienne Lacau, Tiffany Farr, Jean Conner, Leslie Bush and Ann Weinstein. And each year, we grow and cultivate new gardeners of all ages at our booth at the Glen Park Festival, where we tempt people with plants we have propagated and lovingly tended. This yearʼs event in April was no exception. Through our volunteer work, we find that lives are enriched, our neighborhood is made more beautiful and we raise funds to donate to various orga-

nizations in San Francisco. Gardening is part science, part art and, of course, part green thumb. Itʼs fun to try new things, and doesnʼt hurt to talk to the experts at the nursery, or your neighbors, about what will work best for your particular patch of land. This spring I discovered a new shade-loving flower called mimulus that comes in yellow as well as other bright colors. Maybe youʼll want to try it in your yard, too.

For more information on the Glen Park Garden Club, contact Mary Betlach, Glen Park Garden Club chair, at 5862318 or [email protected].

The Garden Clubʼs Glen Park Festival booth overflowed with horticultural goodies as the street fair got under way. By dayʼs end the booth was virtually empty and the clubʼs coffers contained an infusion of cash to fund the groupʼs charitable contributions. Photo by Denis Wade

In Glen Canyon Park Spring is always a wonderful time in the Canyon. The creek is flowing; birds are singing; flowers are blooming. One by of the highlights this Jean Conner year was that more water was in the creek thanks to frequent rains. The work done by the San Francisco Conservation Corps also helped by diverting more of the runoff from the slopes and the road into the creek. The Bullockʼs oriole is not usually seen in San Francisco but it was here again this spring. It nested last summer in the Canyon. Another uncommon bird, a Nuttallʼs woodpecker, could also be heard drumming again. The 18 volunteers saw two young great horned owls during the morning of the Friends Earth Day Work Party. A group of twenty birders also saw them on the Spring Bird Walk the next morning. The two owl chicks in their white downy plumage seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them. They

stood in the nest watching us watch them. The spring flowers seemed to bloom earlier this year. People said they thought it was because of the rain. The botany books state that the timing of their growth is determined by the length of the days. Certainly the rain helped the growth of most of the plants and, unfortunately, most of the weeds too. The most beautiful flower displays were of the sky lupine and the California poppies covering large areas of the east slopes of the Canyon with blue and gold. Saturday, May 21, the Friends of Glen Canyon volunteers were joined by 30 biology students and their teacher from Lowell High School. While the Friends were removing Italian thistles and wild radishes from the East slopes the Lowell students worked in the area where the Eucalyptus trees were removed. They weeded around the native plants that had been planted earlier in the winter by other volunteers.

Summer 2005

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Glen Park News

Backyard Zoology 101 Having attended college in the isolated redwood forests of UC Santa Cruz, I became intimately familiar with the characteristic sounds of the local fauna: The cackling of the blue jay. The call of the American kestrel. The quiet shuffle of the by deer through the fields. Kevin It was an idyllic life up Cutler there in the middle of trees, miles removed from the comparative hustle and bustle of Santa Cruz city proper. But it was only after I moved into town—abandoning the forest-shrouded dorms—that I began experiencing some of natureʼs most unique sounds and smells. I am speaking, of course, of the boiling hiss of the opossum, the fingernails-on-thechalkboard squeal of the raccoon, the baleful moan of the feral cat in heat, and the musky stench of the skunk, among many others. If you live close to parkland or any other open area, there is a good chance you have heard/smelled these wonders of nature. These animals can be seen in and around Glen Park foraging for insects, grubs and carrion, though more commonly they are observed in backyards browsing for cat food, chicharrones and Gogurt. Opossums, raccoons, feral cats and skunks are now part of the urban environment, having successfully adapted to human cohabitation by consuming our food waste. This is a partial list of animals one might spot in the Glen Park area: Opossum (Didelphis virginiana): Opossums rate low on the cute animal list—distantly trailing lookers like pandas, koalas and dolphins—deep in the ranks next to male elephant seals, river dolphins and those bats with the smashed faces. Nevertheless, they do hold a certain amount of charm, particularly in regard to their famous defense technique. When cornered, an opossum will gawk, hiss and bare its pointy teeth. In times of great stress, the opossum will slip into an involuntary, death-feigning catatonia. The animalʼs system reacts instinctively, slowing the opossumʼs heart rate and perspiration. Be careful: donʼt pick up “dead” opossums. Raccoon (Procyon lotor): Raccoons have grown comfortable with humans and often take up residence inside homes, attics and chimneys. If raccoons have ever moved into your home, attic or chimney, you may have been aural witness to the truly awful of sound of a mother raccoon defending her litter. Those who have not experienced the raccoonʼs wail may find the following

question helpful. Ask yourself: have you ever sucked air into your throat in an attempt to sound like a bird, only to find that despite your best efforts, you sound exactly like a person who is sucking air into their throat in an attempt to sound like a bird? The overture of the agitated female sounds like that noise, with the added sense of “something is about to die/is currently dying” thrown in for good measure. Feral cats (Felis domesticus): Feral cats are essentially housecats that have reverted to a wild state, with adverse effects on the environment. Feral cats feed extensively on native animals, thereby depleting food sources for native predators. They also breed like sea monkeys—one female can produce up to 20 kittens in a year—which produces an unfortunately noisy side effect: the sound of mating cats. A female in heat emits low, rumbling yowls, which are heard and responded to by nearby toms. Far from ordinary meows, these noises are closer to those of a wounded animal—a particularly noisy and grouchy wounded animal. Once the two have paired up, they engage in violent intercourse that involves much biting and pinning down of the female. When the lovers finally separate, it is not with a loving nuzzle but with a hiss and a squawk. It turns out that those cartoons in which male cats coo at their lovers and offer rotting fish are, unfortunately, less realistic than one might assume. Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis): Skunks make a powerful stink. The source of skunk stink is the powerful musk oil fired from the anal glands on the sides of their rectum. Accurate within 15 feet, skunks can spray up to six times when threatened. Skunks usually broadcast a series of warnings before spraying, including stamping their feet, kneading the ground like a cat, and holding their tails erect. Unheeded warnings result in a shot of musk from the rectum, which is not generally the place you want to get your musk from. This is just a short list of the animals one can find in Glen Park and environs. The best way to experience the sights, sounds and smells of these creatures is to get out into the park. Or, failing that, check your attic; there may be a whole warren of opossums, raccoons, cats or skunks just waiting to be discovered. Kevin Cutler is a writer and teacher based in Oakland. For years, he has been fascinated by the natural world, and is very excited about exploring nature through writing.

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Glen Park News

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Real Estate in Glen Park Here is a list of recent residential property sales in Glen Park during the spring, a by notoriously busy season Bill in the real estate market. Berry Most properties sold well above asking price, an indicator of the

neighborhoodʼs continued desirability. Bill Berry is a Realtor with Paragon Real Estate Group. For any of your real estate needs, you can reach him at 7387022, or at [email protected].

Single Family Homes Date 05/17 04/06 04/29 03/08 03/17 05/03 03/11 04/08 03/15 03/23 05/18 02/15 05/17 04/29 04/13 03/25 05/10 04/15 03/01

Address 843 San Jose Ave. 11 Surrey St. 1203 Bosworth St. 526 Arlington St. 284 Sussex St. 30 Hiliritas Ave. 2779 Diamond St. 135 Acadia St. 1720 Sanchez St. 219 Miguel St. 1 Wilder St. 375 Arlington St. 580 Chenery St. 2547 Diamond St. 207 Chenery St. 762 Chenery St. 40 Laidley St. 30-34 Surrey St. 36 Laidley St.

List Price $680,000 $579,000 $648,000 $589,000 $749,000 $749,000 $649,000 $729,000 $799,000 $829,000 $749,000 $749,000 $779,000 $899,000 $849,000 $869,000 $1,095,000 $1,695,000 $2,295,000

Sold Price $640,000 $706,000 $749,000 $790,000 $810,000 $826,000 $872,000 $880,000 $901,000 $905,000 $910,000 $932,000 $990,000 $1,100,000 $1,110,000 $1,200,000 $1,325,000 $1,507,500 $2,295,000

Address 172 Fairmount St. 1718 Dolores St. 55 Miguel St. #2 665 Chenery St. 1720 Dolores St. 663 Chenery St. 110 Everson St. 170 Fairmount St. 1855 Church St. 53 Digby St. 127 Roanoke St. 139 Randall St. 137 Randall St.

List Price $549,000 $534,500 $600,000 $575.000 $564,000 $725,000 $649,000 $729,000 $649,000 $859,000 $849,000 $949,000 $1,100,000

Sold Price $570,000 $575,000 $600,000 $620,000 $650,000 $675,000 $770,000 $775,000 $925,000 $940,000 $960,000 $1,155,000 $1,210,000

List Price $998,000 $1,250,000

Sold Price $1,075,000 $1,200,000

Condos / TICs Date 04/13 03/16 04/25 05/13 03/16 03/25 03/30 04/13 03/04 03/16 04/15 03/26 03/26

2- 4 Unit Buildings Date 04/14 04/06

Address 301-303 Arlington 124-126 Chenery

Summer 2005

Summer 2005

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Glen Park News

Glen Park News

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Summer 2005

Community Calendar Glen Park Association

Quarterly meetings are held on the second Tuesday in January, April, July and October. Everyone is welcome. Next meeting: Tuesday, July 12, 2005, 7—9 p.m. St. Johnʼs School, 925 Chenery St. Principal Ken Willers has invited us to meet at the school again. Parking is available in the fenced playground adjacent to St. Johnʼs school building. San Francisco Department of Planning staffers will offer a presentation on the Cityʼs residential project application and review process. Richard Tarlov of Canyon Market will talk to residents about the grocery.

Glen Park Advisory Board

Community Meeting: The Glen Park Advisory Boardʼs next meeting will be Wednesday, Aug.3, 6:30 p.m., in the Rec Center auditorium in Glen Canyon Park. All neighbors are invited to attend. Come and help develop plans for a new mural on the Rec Center building. Beautification Day: Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.–noon. Meet by the childrenʼs playground. Come when you can, and help with the cleanup, meet your neighbors and enjoy the park. Tree Seats: Watch for the Advisory Boardʼs latest project, new wooden seating around two redwoods outside the Rec Center, expected to be completed in June. For more information, contact Miriam Moss at [email protected].

Friends of Glen Canyon Park

Meetings and Plant Restoration Work Parties: Third Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.–noon. Next dates:June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20. Meet behind the Recreation Center in June and July. On Aug. 20 the work day will be held at the Golden Gate Park Nursery. Tools and gloves are supplied. Weekly Work Parties: Every Wednesday, 9 a.m.–noon. For the current weekʼs meeting place contact Richard Craib, 648-0862. To join Friends, or for more information about their activities, contact Jean Conner at 584-8576 or Richard Craib at 648-0862.

SFPD Community Forums

Third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m.: All residents are encouraged to participate in the monthly Community Relations Forum at SFPDʼs Ingleside

Police Station, hosted by Captain Paul Chignell. There are refreshments, guest speakers, and the opportunity to ask questions and air your concerns. Drop in and get acquainted with some of the dedicated people whose job is keeping our neighborhood safe. The main station number is 404-4000, or e-mail Captain Chignell at [email protected]. Next dates: July 19, August 16.

Light Yoga Classes

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:15–7: 15 p.m. (except second Tuesday of each month). Light Yoga classes at the Glen Park Recreation Center are an easy way to begin or continue the study of the Iyengar method of Hatha Yoga. Christine Trost teaches the basic poses, and modifies postures to suit your own physical requirements. This is a free community service (some leave gratuities for the teacher). Wear comfortable pants and top. Bring a Yoga mat or large towel. For more information call Christine at 846-8481 or e-mail her at [email protected].

Bird & Beckett

Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 2788 Diamond St., presents a cornucopia of regularly scheduled and special literary and musical events in the heart of Glen Park. All events are free, but donations are encouraged and the musicians and other artists appreciate tips. Remember to buy a book, record, greeting card or T-shirt when you attend these events. Book club meetings and jazz sessions are listed at www.birdbeckett.com, or call 586-3733 for more information. Coming Events: Every Friday, 5:30–8 p.m.: Jazz in the Bookshop with the Chuck Peterson Sextet, featuring Chuck with Bill Perkins on tenor sax, Rick Elmore on trombone, Don Prell on bass, Scott Foster on guitar and Jimmy Ryan on drums. This is a great neighborhood party every single week, and the music is tremendous. First Sunday of every month, 6–8 p.m.: Vocalist Dorothy Lefkovits with the Henry Irvin Trio—an open jazz jam session. First and third Monday, 7:30 p.m.: Open mic poetry series plus featured poets. Check with the store for upcoming names. Monday, June 20: Poets Gerry Nicosia and Klipschutz read their work.

Glen Park Garden Club President Mary Belach shot this photo of three Great Horned owlets (one is hidden behind its siblings) in a eucalyptus tree in Glen Canyon Park at 8:30 in the morning on April 22, 2005. She caught them using a spotting scope from Diamond Heights Blvd. near Arbor Street. The owlets are nocturnal and were just settling down to sleep for the day. They fledged in early May.

Klipschutz (the pen name of Kurt Lipschutz) is widely published. You can sample his work in the Outlaw Bible of American Poetry. Gerry Nicosia is well known for Memory Babe, his biography of Kerouac, and the recently published Home to War: A History of the Vietnam Veteransʼ Movement as well as his poetry. Second Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.: The Eminent Authors Birthday Reading features an open reading from the works of favorite authors whose birthdays fall during the month. Bring a bit to share with the group. First Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Bird & Beckett Book Club. The July 6 the book is Joseph Hellerʼs Catch 22. All are welcome. The August selections will be chosen at the July meeting. Second Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Political Book Discussion Group. Call the store for title of the book to be discussed on July 14. Sunday, July 10, 4:30 p.m.: The

Bird & Beckett Players read Chekhovʼs short story, “Rothsteinʼs Fiddle.” Monday, July 11, 7:30 p.m.: Poet Katherine Harrar with jazz pianist Eric Berman. Monday, July 18, 7:30 p.m.: Poet David Gitten plus open mic. Monday, July 25, 7:30 p.m.: Poet David Hadbawnik and Friends. Sunday, August 7, 4:30 p.m.: Poets and Glen Park residents Jane Rice and Monica Regan.

Sunnyside Neighborhood Association

Monday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m.: Meeting, St. Finn Barr Church Hall, Edna at Hearst streets. Saturday, June 25, 9 a.m. 3 p.m.: The Association hosts its annual Sunnyside Community Garage Sale. Maps of the garage sale locations will be available at the garage sale sites, on signs in the neighborhood, and also at local merchants.