-
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOPNA HOLIDAY PARTY
You’re Invited! All Neighbors Welcome
Jannah • 1775 Fulton Street
Saturday, December 9th, 6:30-9pm
NOPNA GENERAL MEETING
Oasis Cafe • 901 Divisadero
Thursday, January 18th, 7pm
Thursday, March 15th, 7pm
SFPD PARK STATION COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Park Station Community Room
Second Tuesday each month, 6pm
DIVISADERO FARMERS MARKET
Grove@Divisadero, Sundays, 10am–2pm
PANHANDLE PARK STEWARDS
Second Saturday each month, 9am-12pm
NOPNANews
A Publication of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
2017 : issue 4
l
r
e
d
n
a
x
e
A
a
k
i
r
E
/
i
k
s
n
i
l
i
W
h
p
e
s
o
J
:
o
t
o
h
P
MASONIC
UPDATE
NOPA residents, business owners, and
space for the other improvements. This
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOPNA HOLIDAY PARTY
You’re Invited! All Neighbors Welcome
Jannah • 1775 Fulton Street
Saturday, December 9th, 6:30-9pm
NOPNA GENERAL MEETING
Oasis Cafe • 901 Divisadero
Thursday, January 18th, 7pm
Thursday, March 15th, 7pm
SFPD PARK STATION COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Park Station Community Room
Second Tuesday each month, 6pm
DIVISADERO FARMERS MARKET
Grove@Divisadero, Sundays, 10am–2pm
PANHANDLE PARK STEWARDS
Second Saturday each month, 9am-12pm
Contact us:
board@nopna.org or www.nopna.org
commuters began noticing construction
has been partially offset by additional
and “No Parking” barricades along
residential parking and new parking
Masonic Avenue and its intersecting
spaces created on Turk and Fulton
streets back in March or April of this
streets. Even with this mitigation,
year. Once complete, the Masonic
however, the project continues to make
Avenue Streetscape Project will boast
parking difficult and create challenges
safety enhancements for all roadway
for many neighbors. For instance,
users, including raised bike pathways,
an online group of local mothers has
wider sidewalks, better lighting, and
pointed to the increased noise due
sewer upgrades. After almost six
to construction and parking difficulty
months, Alex Murillo of SF Department
as additional challenges to parenting
of Public Works (SFDPW) anticipates
young children. One local business
the project to end in April of 2018. The
owner (who asked not to be named in
project is on track to stay on budget
this article) has seen a negative impact
($26 million) pending any additional
to sales as traffic congestion, lack
unforeseen conditions or issues.
of parking, and sidewalk barricades
The improvement project has made
parking in the area more difficult, with a
total of 167 spaces removed to make
deter customers from coming into the
neighborhood.
(continued on page 3)
North OfPanhandleNeighborhoodAssociation
2 | NOPNANews
FROM THE BOARD
GIVING BACK
Charles
Dupigny
is the President
of the NOPNA
board.
It’s been a great year with positive changes in the neighborhood. We are
proud of the beautiful Panhandle Park improvements — new lighting,
irrigation, asphalt paving, benches, bike racks, signage, and landscaping
— completed through our collaboration with the city Recreation & Park
Department. In addition, there has been a focus on pedestrian and bike safety
with traffic calming, Bike Share, Masonic Avenue changes, and improved bike
lanes. And we continue to host community-building events like the annual
block party, Sunday Streets & Sidewalk Sale, and Halloween. We’ve hosted
political leaders in our general meetings and we are continuously seeking
ways to improve our newsletter, website, and social media presence.
And yet, we are still highly aware of the tumultuous world in which we live
today.
So, as we approach the holiday season, we want to encourage you, as our
neighbors, to be safe and give back to your community. NOPNA is a non-
profit organization and we always welcome tax-deductible donations to help
fund events, our newsletter, and the Panhandle. But, beyond NOPNA.org,
we want to encourage neighbors to give locally to some important non-profit
organizations that are doing great work for our young people, families, and
parks. As the Season of Giving approaches, please consider donating to one
or more of the following organizations:
Larkin Street Youth
Within our neighborhood, Larkin Street Youth houses homeless youth who find themselves on
the streets of San Francisco through no fault of their own. Larkin Street is a city-wide non-profit
and we believe in what they are doing — helping young people find safe places to live and
get back on track to a positive lifestyle. Three out of four youth who complete Larkin Street’s
programs exit street life.
Village Project
http://thevillageprojectsf.org/
Adrian Williams, Executive Director, created the Village Project in 2006 and has grown it from
an all-volunteer summer lunch program into a larger community-based non-profit with an after-
school academic program and a summer enrichment camp. The project provides public and
co-operative housing residents with positive activities and events for the “Village Kids” and
their families.
Ella Hill Hutch Collective-Impact
http://www.collectiveimpact.org/ella-hill-hutch.html
Ella Hill Hutch Community Center opened its doors to the Western Addition area of San
Francisco over 30 years ago. A full-service site, the center boasts a gymnasium, playground,
community gardens, classroom space, a computer lab, and four newly resurfaced tennis courts.
Ella Hill Hutch has a MAGIC Zone program offering out-of-school programming for primarily
low-income K-12 students during the school year and summer.
SF Parks Alliance
http://www.sfparksalliance.org/
Our neighborhood has worked a lot with the San Francisco Parks Alliance to help us make
improvements to the Panhandle. Its mission is to inspire and promote civic engagement and
philanthropy to protect, sustain, and enrich San Francisco parks, recreation, and green open
spaces.
The NOPNA News is published by the North
of Panhandle Neighborhood Association for
the residents, businesses, and friends of
our neighborhood, which is bounded by
Masonic Avenue and Turk, Divisadero and
Fell Streets.
PUBLISHER
NOPNA Board of Directors
EDITOR
Jason Cauthen
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brian Donovan
BUSINESS OUTREACH/ADVERTISING
Carmen Chan
COPY EDITORS
Nathan Lovejoy
Erika Alexander
Ann Kim
DISTRIBUTION
Will Valentine
PRINTING
Image Printing, San Francisco
NOPNA’s mission: The purpose of this
association shall be to establish neigh-
borhood unity, maintain multi-ethnic and
multi-cultural diversity, foster a sense of
neighborhood pride, promote a safe and
clean community, and improve the quality
of life for all residents of the neighborhood.
Please join us! You can sign up online at
Interested in donating to NOPNA? Check
if your employer double your donation
with a matching gift! NOPNA is a regis-
tered 501c3 organization.
GET INVOLVED!
NOPNA has launched an annual survey to
hear what you think. Please check out our
website (NOPNA.org) and fill out the 2017
NOPNA-Neighborhood Survey.
If you are interested in joining our email
list or would like some ideas for how to get
more involved, please email us at
We are always looking for volunteers to help
with events or distribute the newsletter or
help with safety.
Be safe and have a splendid holiday season!
We hope to hear from you!
North OfPanhandleNeighborhoodAssociation
issue 2 : 2017 | 3
MASONIC UPDATE
(continued)
Nearly a decade after community outreach began, we are reaching the
final stages of one of the most significant neighborhood improvements
we have has seen in a long time. Assuming all goes as planned (and
thanks in part to the recent overnight water-line work), NOPA should be
enjoying the new Masonic Streetscape, originally petitioned for over 10
years ago, as early as this coming spring.
For more about the project and its progress, go to the DPW website at
www.sfpublicworks.org/masonic for the latest updates.
Carmen Chan - is a San Francisco native with an interest in engaging local businesses in
the community. She and her husband moved to the neighborhood in 2009 and live here
with their young son.
PHOTO: Joseph Wilinski / Erika Alexander
FREE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE TOURS
If you are interested in the history and architecture of our
neighborhood, check out the free North of Panhandle
tour from San Francisco City Guides. SF City Guides is
an organization of volunteer guides who give free tours
(donations are always welcome) all over the city. The walk,
which lasts about an hour and forty-five minutes, takes you
through the ups and downs of NOPA’s history, highlighting
its changing demographics and superb Victorian
architecture.
Join a NOPA walk to hear about and see the details of the
physical, cultural, and demographic changes that have
shaped the neighborhood over the last 150 years. The tour
PHOTO: 1906 earthquake refugee camp by the McKinley Monument.
starts at 1 p.m. at the McKinley statue in the Panhandle on the Baker Street side, and is given twice a month. You can
always find the date of the next tour on the City Guides website: http://sfcityguides.org/index.html.
Linda Ackerman leads the NOPA City Guides tours along with Ernie Ng, who developed the tour.
NOW SERVING
LUNCH AND DINNER
Open 6 am – 9:30 am
everyday
Authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes,
prepared with natural ingredients and
served with special “injera” bread
Meat and vegetarian options • Beer and wine
Cafe specialties (pastries, sandwiches, and
“one-cup-at-a-time” coffee) available all day
Great selection of Ethiopian coffee blends for sale
Wheelchair accessible • No reservations required
4 | NOPNANews
PENTECOSTAL TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
Pastor Paul Hall recently joined the
Pentecostal Temple Church of God in
Christ at 1915 McAllister Street. He
brings with him some new ideas for
the church and how it can reach out
to the neighborhood. The following
Q&A is based on a recent interview
with Pastor Hall.
How long has the church been in
the neighborhood?
The Pentecostal Temple Church
of God in Christ has sat at 1915
McAllister since the early Sixties,
in a building that was previously a
local store. Over the years, it has
had several leaders. I came to the
church at the beginning of 2017,
but was already acquainted with
2016.
Can you tell me a bit more about
your background?
I was originally called to the ministry
in 1996, prior to being selected as
Lt. Commander in the Navy. I am
“bi-vocational” and earn a living
through careers outside of preaching.
After retiring from the Navy, I worked
as a teacher, later working my way up
events, comedy nights, education
sessions on stewardship, and even
just opening the front door during
services, so people feel welcome
poking their heads in to see what is
going on. I want to show people you
can have good, clean fun.
My wife, Lady Angela Hall [a former
director of the Boys and Girls Club
in Tracy], and I are particularly
dedicated to children and their
development. We are seeking to
develop reading programs and
other programs to help children
we see reading as essential to our
mission of sustaining and helping the
PHOTO: Pastor Paul Hall of the Pentecostal
Temple Church of God in Christ.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Cauthen
What are your impressions of the
community.
Pentecostal Temple COGIC?
and willingness to change from
a welcoming congregation. The
congregation itself is made up of
people from as far away as Vallejo or
Hayward, as well as some who have
grown up in our neighborhood.
What is your vision for the church’s
place in the community?
What do you hope people learn
from attending a service?
I want people to study the word for
themselves. I hope they leave with
a clear message and a call to action,
not just an emotional high
If you’re interested to learn more
about the church or the programs
they are doing, get the latest from
their Facebook page or drop by
the church, where you may catch
The church has a long and rich history
and I am looking for ways to adapt it
the Pastor before or after a service.
Pastor Hall mentioned that one way
to be an executive in the San Lorenzo
to the changing neighborhood and
he’s met the most neighbors is when
Unified School District.
the changing times. For example,
I am looking for ways to welcome
in the community, with musical
he sweeps up the leaves in front of
the church — so keep an eye out and
welcome him to the neighborhood!
Jason Cauthen is a San Francisco native who
lives in the neighborhood with his wife and two
boys.
the congregation through spotlight
In my relatively short time here, I
sermons conducted throughout
have observed a lot of love, flexibility,
issue 2 : 2017 | 5
FORD GOBIKE EXPANDING FOOTPRINT IN NOPA
Ford GoBike stations are rapidly
70% of GoBike riders in San
According to Justin Nguyen,
becoming integrated into the heart
Francisco are city residents, and many
Outreach Coordinator at Motivate,
of San Francisco neighborhoods, and
neighbors are taking advantage of
“Station locations take into account
NOPA residents have mixed feelings.
these bikes — including 150 rides
the feedback we’ve received from
Representatives from Ford GoBike
a day out of NOPA stations alone.
neighborhood groups including the
recently attended two neighborhood
Matt Schoolfield, a NOPA resident,
recent meetings at NOPNA and
meetings in order to address
often commutes with a Ford GoBike
PRO|SF, neighbors who attended
concerns and answer lingering
instead of his own. “Bike theft is a
workshops or who reached out to
questions. The major concerns from
huge problem,” Schoolfield said, “I
provide suggestions, institutions such
neighbors who attended these
don’t feel comfortable riding my bike
as USF and St. Mary’s Medical Center,
meetings include loss of parking —
downtown and parking it. As soon
and stakeholders adjacent to chosen
which are about four parking spots
as I park the GoBike, I can forget
station locations. All station locations
per dock station — and the ultimate
about it and go about my day without
also undergo rigorous traffic safety
value of the program.
worrying.”
NOPA currently has three Ford
GoBike stations at McAllister and
review from numerous city agencies,
including SFMTA, DPW, SFPD, and
SFFD.”
Baker, Fell and Central, and Grove
The success of the program will be
and Divisadero, which dock about 70
evaluated within the next six months
bikes total. Two future locations have
to understand how neighborhoods
yet to be finalized and will be shared
are using the system and to address
with neighborhood associations once
whether any changes should be
they are selected in the next few
made. If you have feedback or
months, and will likely be rolled out
questions for the Ford GoBike team,
by mid-2018. Two intersections under
please email outreach@fordgobike.
consideration are Grove and Masonic,
com.
and Fulton and Broderick.
Meg Rahner is an Erie, Pennsylvania native
who has lived in NOPA since 2010. She works
in tech marketing and in her spare time enjoys
yoga, cooking, and exploring San Francisco.
PHOTO: Meg’s parents enjoy an excursion
through Golden Gate Park on a recent
visit/ Meg Rahner
We are proud to support the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association.
Michael Leeder
Senior Vice President – Wealth Management
Wealth Management Advisor
Merrill Lynch
555 California Street, 9th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.676.2585 • michael_leeder@ml.com
Resident of NOPA
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.
© 2016 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
ARX77SC3 | AD-12-16-0341 | 470944PM-1016 | 12/2016
6 | NOPNANews
SURVEY:
TRAFFIC CALMING
QUESTION:
How many parking spaces do you feel it is appropriate
to remove at any proposed location in favor of traffic
calming?
NO PARKING
SPACES REMOVED
UP TO 2
UP TO 4
UP TO 8
HOWEVER MANY
ARE NEEDED
0
10
20
30
40
PERCENT REPONSE
Source: NOPNA
VISION ZERO
NOPNA ran a survey early in 2017 asking the
community which streets and intersections, if
any, need traffic calming. Two-thirds of the 112
respondents supported traffic calming.
When asked to consider the trade-offs between
traffic calming and parking, 40% thought no spots
should be removed and 60% were distributed
among those willing to remove two or more
parking spaces up to however many are needed.
Desire for traffic calming was primarily focused
on the east-west streets. Fulton (from Central to
Divisadero) was the most frequently selected (four
of the six highest selected blocks were on Fulton),
with stretches of Grove (from Lyon to Divisadero)
and Hayes (from Masonic to Lyon and Broderick to
Divisadero) also drawing votes in the top ten.
The NOPNA board will further discuss and
evaluate the information and, if agreed, reach out
to the street residents to gain specific feedback.
Funds are allocated annually for traffic calming
and intersection safety improvements, so NOPNA
can apply for this regularly if neighbors support
it. Your responses will also be considered at the
board meeting along with injury data to draw on
as possible improvements.
The results of the survey, collision data and maps,
and program details are all on our website under
the Resource page. If you have thoughts or
feedback, please share your thoughts at board@
Jason Cauthen and Tim Hickey are members of the NOPNA
board and enjoy spirited discussions about infrastructure.
issue 2 : 2017 | 7
8 | NOPNANews
DIVISADERO ART WALK!
The merchants and artists of Divisadero Street felt the love one
lovely Thursday night in September, when residents and visitors
turned out to celebrate local artists and local merchants. The
streets were packed with people enjoying art, music, food,
drinks, and one another. Thank you to all who came out to
support local businesses and artists!
Everyone had fun collecting stamps from businesses up and
down the street. It was a great way for businesses to chat with
customers and to get to know them better, and for residents to
discover businesses that they’ve never been into before. The
prizes for the raffle were top notch so it was truly a win-win for
everyone!
Giselle Gyalzen is the owner of Rare Device at 600 Divisadero and one of the organizers
of the Art Walk.
l
r
e
d
n
a
x
e
A
a
k
i
r
E
/
i
k
s
n
i
l
i
W
h
p
e
s
o
J
:
S
O
T
O
H
P
DIVISADERO ART WALK!
issue 2 : 2017 | 9
GROVE STREET:
ANOTHER SPOOKY-FUN HALLOWEEN!
The neighbors of Grove Street again opened their doors, and in some cases their yards and garages, to allow us all to
celebrate Halloween with them. The legions of superheroes, animals, royalty, and other creative characters competed
on cuteness, danced to the music, and of course delightedly trick-or-treated up and down the block. All the amazing
costumes made judging no easy task for our VIP judges — District 5 Supervisor London Breed, Assemblyman Phil Ting,
and NOPNA Board President Charles Dupigny — who awarded Certificates of Honor to the great winning costumes!
Just as many of us have spent Halloween reminding our little ones to say, “Thank you,” at each house, the NOPNA
board would like to thank the neighbors of Grove Street for hosting this great tradition again this year. Thank you also
to the many volunteers who helped monitor the barricades, run candy to houses running low, and help set up and
breakdown the whole event. Thank you to the USF band for keeping things fun and lively, and to Madison (of Madison
Hamilton Designs) for designing the NOPNA Halloween poster. Finally, NONPA thanks neighborhood realtor Jennifer
Rosdail for her many years of support.
Only with your help is this wonderful tradition possible! Looking forward to next year!
SUNDAY STREETS/SIDEWALK SALE
Sunday Streets fell on a (very) warm Sunday this year and our neighborhood rose to the challenge. Not only did we frolic
in the wide-open streets on bikes, skateboards, and on foot, but several neighbors took advantage of the weather to
host a neighborhood-wide sidewalk sale.
Thank you to Myrna, Ed, Wylie, Jim, Suzanne, Heather, Carrie, Ruth, Bob, Coralie, Kara, Kate Noreen, Leela, and anyone
else we missed for getting out there, connecting with your neighbors, and sharing all your great stuff with us!
Looking forward to doing it again next year!
10 | NOPNANews
NEIGHBOR PROFILE:
Fernando Aguilar, Director, Creative Arts Charter School
Creative Arts Charter School is
one of several schools in the area
that attract NOPA families. A
charter school is an independent
public school (it is part of SFUSD)
granted a charter to focus on a
particular mission. Founded in 1994,
it was recognized as a California
Distinguished School with an
Exemplary Arts Education Program
in 2014.
Tell us a bit about Creative Arts and
what makes it special.
Our mission is to create lifelong
PHOTO: Fernando Aguilar, Director of
Creative Arts Charter School. He earned his
personal to me and my family. We
are doing the best we can to ensure
our community members feel safe
and protected at Creative Arts.
What do you hope for your
students as they graduate from
Creative Arts?
I hope they know who they are as
learners, as individuals, as community
members. I am confident they will
know about their responsibility
to make an impact on the world
because making a positive difference
has been expected from them from
learners who know how to get
BA at Humboldt State and MA in education
the start.
the most out of their educational
environment and have the
confidence to make a change in
the broader community. Nothing
is more encouraging than when a
student can articulate understanding,
make meaning, and show it; when
their learning is demonstrated not
through rote memorization, but
through their creations in dance,
drawing, sculpture, painting, music,
photography, and theater. We’ve
created a space where kids can feel
safe, supported, and loved.
How is Creative Arts part of the
neighborhood?
We have about 70 families from
District 5 and we participate in
events like the Alamo Square Flea
Market and Sunday Streets. We
periodically invite District Supervisors
to the school to speak and not too
long ago London Breed joined us.
Right now we are talking with the
at USF. He has spent the past 6 years leading
Creative Arts.
organizers of Divisadero Art Walk
about how we can partner, which
seems like a perfect fit.
What are your favorite parts of the
neighborhood?
I used to live at Fulton and Ashbury.
My brother, who lived at Fulton and
Baker, and I were regulars at the
Panhandle basketball court for years.
Madrone Art Bar is a neighborhood
fave — owner Mike is a CACS parent
— and I still miss Brother-In-Law’s
BBQ.
How have the events of the last
year affected students?
It has brought us together as a
community. As first-generation
myself and having a mother who
made enormous sacrifices to ensure
my education, this is also very
What are your hopes for Creative
Arts in the future?
Very specific to our school is that we
are looking to expand and upgrade
our facilities while staying at 1601
Turk. We love this neighborhood and
are very connected to it. Our school
community has put a lot of effort
into making our current space work,
but we are maxed out in our current
building. An expansion for our facility
would mean creating a computer lab,
a well-equipped science lab, a maker
space, and a performance space.
Broader than that, I want to
create equity for all students to be
successful — not just those in a few
schools — and I want to support our
teachers so they can live and thrive in
the Bay Area.
Caitlin Storhaug is a marketing executive who
has lived in NOPA for 14 years and whose 9
year old son is a 3rd grader at Creative Arts.
issue 2 : 2017 | 11
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Respect the neighborhood, be part of the community
Your Custom Text Here