The Noe Valley Voice June 2026

THE NOE VALLEY VOICE

Victorians Spring to Life in Noe Valley Tour

Cathie and Paul Staley Blend Architecture and Anecdotes

By Emily Hayes

Even if you have lived in Noe Valley for more than 20 years, you may find you have a lot to learn about your own backyard on a walking tour of the neighborhood

Take it from me In May, I went with a longtime resident and friend to the “Noe Valley: A Village Within the City” tour, and we both came away with a new appreciation for the Victorian architecture surrounding us for decades, as well as the rich history of the area’s early inhabitants

Sponsored by San Francisco City Guides, the walking tour takes about two hours and is mostly flat but be warned, there is one big hill on Castro Street if you decide to sign up!

The tour is given once or twice a month by wife-and-husband Cathie and Paul Staley, who have lived on 23rd Street in Noe Valley since 1988

The couple have been guiding the tour on Sunday afternoons since January 2024 They were working for City Guides and decided to revive the Noe Valley tour, which had been running from 2008 to 2021, led by various other walk leaders During the Covid pandemic, Cathie and Paul did a lot of walking in the neighborhood They noticed interesting architectural details and pitched City Guides to bring the route back, with updated commentary

These days, the Noe Valley tour

attracts a crowd of 25 to 30 people, many of whom are neighborhood residents or devoted City Guides walkers

Locals enjoy taking their relatives when

they are visiting from out of town “I think we get large groups for the

Saturday Farmers Market Is Full, Really Full

21 Vendors Now Fill Stalls at Noe Valley Town Square

By Matthew S Bajko

As it nears the peak of summer, the Noe Valley Farmers Market is running at full capacity Several smaller spaces have been carved out of its footprint at the Noe Valley Town Square on Saturday mornings, to make room for its roster of 21 vendors selling everything from organic cabbage to artisan chocolate

“We are booked solid,” says longtime market manager Elizabeth Crane “Honestly, I have no room I like to joke we should build a second story on top of the awnings out here and put in a spiral staircase in order to have a second level ”

One of those utilizing half a stall is Bob Grand, creator of Grand Scones The Noe Valley resident started baking as a hobby, making scones with the blackberries he and his daughter picked at a local park

After he retired, Grand decided to get a cottage food operation license so he could sell his scones directly to consumers Since the start of 2024, he has been a regular at the Noe Valley Farmers Market, routinely selling out of his $5 lemon-blueberry and cheddarjalapeno pastries

“I had asked the market about maybe selling the scones there, and nothing was open at the time [Fall 2023], but

Four-Year-Old Group Creating Miles of Community

By JL Odom

E very Friday at 7:30 a m , dozens of people gather on the corner of Sanchez and 26th streets They come for a few easy miles around the neighborhood but especially for the camaraderie

They’re part of the Noe Valley Run Club, which has been going strong for four years

“People are wanting to get out and meet their neighbors, and the run club is an excellent venue for that,” said Geneva Gondak, one of the club’s captains Gondak, an East Bay Municipal Utility District water conservation supervisor turning 30 in June, joined NVRC shortly after its March 2022 launch Founders Vicki Powell and Christine O’Connell announced the

October 18th 2026 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

CRIME SNAPSHOT

April Was a Bit Kinder That’s Good

Noe

Valley saw a continued decline in criminal activity this spring, according to the San Francisco Police Department’s digital map of incidents

Police recorded a total of 61 incidents in April down five from March and seven from February in the 10 categories the Noe Valley Voice tracks monthly

As usual, the larceny-theft category remained the neighborhood’s biggest problem area Police logged 28 incidents, including 24 shoplifting incidents in the vicinity of Castro and Jersey streets (See “‘Serial’ Shoplifter” story top right )

Still, front-porch package thefts and car break-ins, a common occurrence during the pandemic, continued their downward trend The data showed only two car thefts, one residential package theft, and one theft described only as “other” in April

Burglaries declined significantly month to month There were nine incidents in April four at residential and five at non-residential properties compared to 15 in March

Motor vehicle thefts, another qualityof-life complaint, remained low as well, with only two offenses noted

According to the digital map, there were no robberies and just two assaults reported in April However, domestic

violence incidents which include restraining-order violations increased from zero to four, while fraud reports rose from one to five The latter ranged from ATM thefts to false impersonation schemes

The Voice gathered the April data on May 14, 2026, from the digital “Map of Police Department Incident Reports: 2018 to Present,” found at https://data sfgov org/PublicSafety/Map-of-Police-DepartmentIncident-Reports-2018-to-/jq29-s5wp

“Noe Valley” in the SFPD’s dataset is bordered by 21st Street, San Jose Avenue/Guerrero, 30th Street, and Grand View Avenue/Diamond Heights Boulevard Be aware that the Voice Crime Snapshot may be incomplete, as the data are subject to change as updates become available

Reporting a Crime

If you witness a crime in progress, call 9-1-1. For recurring or non-emergency problems, call 1-415-533-0123

For non-violent crimes (e g , auto burglary, vandalism), file a report online at www SanFranciscoPolice org (see “Get Service”) Or call 3-1-1

Anonymous tips can be texted to 847411 with the key word “SFPD”

You also may call Mission Station at 415-558-5400 or Ingleside Station at 415-404-4000

In general, Mission Station (630 Valencia St ) covers the northern and central parts of Noe Valley, while Ingleside Station (1 Sgt John V Young Lane) covers Upper Noe and areas near Bernal Heights and Glen Park

Sean Perdomo is current captain at Mission Station (email Sean Perdomo@sfgov org) Gerald Newbeck is at the helm of Ingleside (Gerald Newbeck@sfgov org)

Corrie M Anders, Sally Smith

‘Serial’ Shoplifter Facing Charges for Walgreens Thefts

Aprolific

retail theft suspect repeatedly targeted a Walgreens store on Castro Street, allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in cosmetics and batteries in a crime spree that continued even after multiple arrests, according to a May 14 news brief from the San Francisco Police Department

Investigators say 24-year-old Tyrese Boswell was linked to 27 separate theft incidents between late 2025 and April 2026, with the alleged losses totaling nearly $40,000

Boswell first came to the attention of the SFPD’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force after a string of thefts at the Walgreens on the 1100 block of Columbus Avenue Police arrested him on Christmas Eve 2025 in connection with 18 incidents at that North Beach location

After his release, investigators say Boswell shifted his focus to the Noe Valley Walgreens store at 1333 Castro St , where he allegedly carried out a week-long series of thefts Police arrested him again on April 4 in connection with seven additional thefts at the Castro Street store

Authorities said Boswell returned to the Noe Valley store twice more after being released pending a court appearance Officers arrested him for a third time on April 16

The case is one of several recent retail theft investigations highlighted by police as part of a broader crackdown on organized shoplifting operations across San Francisco Authorities said suspects in multiple investigations were collectively tied to more than $43,000

in stolen merchandise

Boswell now faces numerous felony charges, including nine counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of grand theft, and seven counts of petty theft with prior convictions He also faces one misdemeanor count of possessing stolen property

Police officials say recent changes in California law have strengthened the ability of investigators and prosecutors to pursue repeat retail theft offenders One law that took effect in December allows felony charges for suspects with multiple prior theft convictions, while another permits authorities to combine the value of repeated petty thefts into a single felony case once losses exceed $950

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has assigned the Boswell case and several other repeatoffender investigations to a specialized Organized Retail Crime prosecutor CMA, SS, AI

Anthropic and Open AI have both announced 2026 IPO plans, but single-family home sales have already surged this year, particularly in the luxury market where inventory remains scarce. Noe Valley is leading the charge, attracting buyers with its sunny weather, idyllic village, parks, farmers market, easy downtown access, and proximity to Silicon Valley and SFO. The numbers are striking. After averaging roughly $1,100 to $1,300 per square foot for much of the last decade, many of Noe Valley's most desirable homes are now approaching or exceeding $1,800 per square foot, about 50% above historical norms. Is this the new normal or another technology-driven market cycle? Either way, strategy matters. If you're curious what today's market means for your home's value, call Jessica Branson for a con昀dential, no-obligation consultation—and a chance to see what it’s like to work with the best!

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A New Frontier For Bill Yenne

Noe Valley Historian Rides the Wild West in Fiction

By John Ferrannini

Longtime Noe Valley fixture Bill Yenne remains a prolific writer of both fiction and nonfiction—with his latest work coming out at the end of June.

Dodging a Showdown With His Past is the third installment of Yenne’s “The Ballad of a Westering Man” series, launched in 2025. The books cover the adventures of Gideon Safford (the westering man), who is on the run from the law for a crime he didn’t commit.

Asked if he has more in that series— or in the action thriller series he wrote the same year about retired special forces operator Jim Hammer—Yenne said, “I never say ‘last.’”

“Fiction is another world, one where I enjoy relating to the characters, being in their conversations,” he said. “One of the things about writing dialogue and fiction is you reach a point—a desired point in the writing process—where you don’t write the dialogue, you just sit there and take dictation, because your character, if you’ve created them right, crafted them right, molded their personality—they tell you what they want to say, and you just go with it, and that’s part of being in a trance.”

And Yenne does enough of a good job of it that the Wall Street Journal reported he writes “with a cinematic vividness.”

Yenne has also written nonfiction books, including about Noe Valley. He’s penned over three dozen books on historical topics, he said. At Small Frys on 24th Street—co-owned by wife Carol Yenne, current treasurer and former president of the Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association, and daughter Azia Yenne—one can find two books he wrote about the neighborhood.

MORE FOOD TO EAT

To my fellow neighbors and food enthusiasts,

The last few years spent scouting out and sharing local culinary treasures for the Voice has been an absolute privilege. It’s been a joy to shine a light on the many gems that make Noe Valley’s food scene so vibrant and special. However, as life often does, things are shifting. I’ve recently moved out of the neighborhood and, more importantly, Katie and I are eagerly preparing for the arrival of our first child. As a result, I’ll be taking an indefinite sabbatical from this column. My hope is that our crossroads will meet again in these pages before too long, and I can pick up right where I left off. To the chefs and bakers who have sparked such unbridled joy for my palate and my spirit—thank you.

—Matt Fisher, soon to be back on the beat for More Food to Eat

“Those books were heavily inspired by my living here and walking the streets every day, and interesting history,” he said.

The two books are San Francisco’s Noe Valley, part of the “Images of America” series, and Noe Valley, California, Past and Present, the latter of which uses photos to illustrate the then and now.

“I always tell people I moved to Noe Valley in October,” he said. “And then I add the year 1975—which isn’t exactly true. We moved here at the beginning of ’75 and bought our house in October, so it’ll be 51 years as of this fall.”

But his fictional works are not as much inspired by central San Francisco as by his childhood living in the dust of the pioneer days in Montana—hearing what he called “echoes of the past.”

Born in 1949, Yenne grew up in West Glacier, Montana. His father worked for the National Park Service.

“My father was a horseman. He spent his entire working life, or almost all of it, on the back of a horse,” Yenne recalled. “I grew up in absolute wilderness, where he [his father] was the

By Bill Yenne

supervisor of back country trails at Glacier National Park, so my summers were spent doing very much the same things people would have done a couple hundred years earlier.

“So, yeah, there were a lot of remnants of the past and the Old West, and so that’s probably—well, it is—the inspiration.”

Yenne remembers having to spend two hours on a bus each day to get to school.

His writing career once took him to the Vatican Library.

“I was working on a project—still a work in progress—and got in touch with them, told them about it, and they invited me invitation-only access to the secret archives, and so I went there, did time exploring some amazing stuff. Just being inside is incredible.”

Yenne joked he must be the only Noe Valley resident to have a library card from the Vatican. “But if that’s not true, and somebody else has done research there, I’d be happy to buy them a drink down at the Valley Tavern, and we can compare notes,” he said, referring to the 24th Street watering hole not far from Small Frys.

He donated for the tavern’s use a number of historic photographs of the neighborhood, for which a plaque thanks him on the tavern’s wall.

Yenne recently appeared on a March 19 episode of Matthew Pizzolato’s Dusty Trails and Small Tales podcast.

“From Sitting Bull and Hap Arnold to his acclaimed Western Bladen Cole series with Dusty Saddle Publishing, Yenne’s writing brings history—and the American West—to life with unmatched depth and authenticity,” the YouTube description of the podcast episode states. “His books have been featured on Amazon’s Best Books of the Year list, translated into multiple languages, and adapted into documentaries across the History Channel, National Geographic, Smithsonian, ARD, NHK, and more.”

Yenne shows no signs of slowing down, as the books in his current Western series “are just starting to emerge.”

Asked how much time he devotes to writing, Yenne answered, “A lot of people ask that, and I compare notes with other writers who get asked that a lot also.

“Some days, [writing] goes on all day,” he said. “Other days, your day is broken up. Five or six days out of the week with me would be acceptable.… You become so focused you lose track of time and day, and that happens to me sometimes. Which is what I enjoy about all this. It inspires the endorphins.”

The Staleys Bring History Alive Block

by Block

tour because the residents of Noe love the feeling of the place and want to know more about its past and the people who contributed to making it what it is today,” Paul says

“They always say the same thing, which is, ‘There was so much I didn’t know about Noe Valley I learned so much about right where I’m living,’” Cathie adds

Most consider the borders of Noe Valley to be 21st to 30th Street and Dolores to Grand View The 1 25-mile City Guides tour starts at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library on Jersey Street There, the Staleys explain the

role of the building’s progenitor

Gilded Age capitalist Andrew Carnegie and the debt owed to community activist Sally Brunn, who fought to keep the branch open (see Noe Valley Voice, March 1998 issue)

They also review the first big real estate deal here in the 1850s, made between José de Jesús Noé and Mormon developer John Meirs Horner (When Horner named the streets in Horner ’s Corner, he named one for his wife, Elizabeth ) Paul and Cathie take walkers past notable Victorian and Edwardian homes, pointing out the signatures of people who built and restored local buildings:

• Fernando Nelson built a set of beautiful Victorian homes along the western side of Castro between Clipper and 26th Street in the 1890s He was one of the first and most prolific builders in San Francisco (see Voice, June 2005)

• John Anderson, part of a family of Swedish immigrants, helped shape the look of Noe Valley with houses built around the turn of the 20th century

• Victorian restoration specialist

Skeeter Jones, owner of Clearheart Fine Design & Building, has created elaborate contemporary façades

Another notable part of the tour is a stop at the William Axford House on Noe Street at 25th, built in 1877 and designated a city landmark in 1981 Guides With Experience

Cathie is from Newton, Mass , while Paul was born in Palo Alto, Calif They met in the Boston area, where Paul was studying They raised three sons in San Francisco and have five grandchildren, three of whom were raised in the city

The Staleys became City Guides in

2022 The pair also do two other tours, including “The Beat Generation in SF,” which explores City Lights Bookstore, and “Welcome to San Francisco,” which takes newcomers from the Gold Rush to the present day

For the Noe Valley tour, Paul shares the area’s development, transportation, and retail history, while Cathie focuses more on architecture and art

“We’re really having a fun time with this It makes us even prouder of the neighborhood,” Paul says “This is home this is where we raised our kids and we get to share that with people It’s been really gratifying ”

In remaking the tour, the couple were provided with City Guides’ maps, photos, and scripts, the most recent of which had been written in 2010 They kept about half the content and created the rest fresh

Route Goes Up Castro

As members of City Guides a 48year-old nonprofit that functions in partnership with the San Francisco Library the Staleys took advantage of the Main Library’s history room as a source for new and old material They also did a lot of scouting in Noe Valley, to figure out the best route and architectural examples

They interviewed the owner of one home they talk about on the tour, as well as Judith Lynch, an author and expert on Victorian architecture

“She [Judith] gave me a lot of content on Noe Valley and on Victorians as well,” Cathie says “So we were fortunate to have some special resources ”

On the tour, they added a trip uphill on Castro Street by the family home of artist Ruth Asawa (1926–2013), known for her wire sculptures and bronze casts (See Voice December 1989, November 2005, and numerous other issues )

An exhibition of the late artist’s work, Ruth Asawa: Retrospective, which ran at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art June to September 2025, is currently on display at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain Meanwhile, Asawa’s estate is exhibiting her work at the Minnesota Street Project in Dogpatch through June 20, 2026

“She's become even more famous in

the past three years than she was when we started, because of the show at San Francisco MOMA,” Cathie says Infamous Crimes and Tall Tales

On the Noe Valley tour, Paul reviews a highly politicized murder on Alvarado Street in 1969, followed by a controversial trial “I had no idea that episode had taken place here,” he says And of course another new part of the tour compared to older iterations is a visit to the world’s most famous toilet, which opened in 2024 in the Noe Valley Town Square

“I hype it up a bit just to get a laugh out of folks It's a familiar story I do

close with an aspect that sort of underscores how special and unique our bathroom is,” Paul says “I am not going to tell you make sure you come on the tour, so you can hear the punchline ”

The City Guides tour “Noe Valley: A Village Within the City” usually begins at 2 p m on the front steps of the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey St It ends at the Noe Valley Town Square on 24th Street Participation is free but donations are encouraged The next tours are scheduled for June 14 July 12 July 19 and Aug 23 For more information and to register, go to sfcityguides org

Farmers Market at Full Capacity

then several months later, they came and asked if I wanted to try sharing something And the smaller size works out fine,” said Grand, who for 35 years has lived three blocks from his favorite market

Among those waiting for a space is Carter Gibson, another Noe Valley resident Gibson began selling his 5 5ounce jars of Extra Extra Chili Crunch seasoning online last year “One day last fall, I decided I was paying too much for chili crunch and thought this is crazy I feel like I could make chili crunch,” said Gibson, who lives near the corner of 24th and Castro

Within a few months, he had come up with a recipe, was receiving positive feedback, and decided to launch a business But when he asked the Noe Valley Farmers Market about selling it there, Gibson was told the earliest he might be able to do so was December

“It’s small-batch, Noe Valley–made It is perfect for the Noe Valley Farmers Market,” said Gibson

Crane told the Voice after talking with Gibson this spring that she hoped to bring in local producers of smallbatch food items for a short stretch during the 2026 holiday shopping season Gibson’s condiment would be a perfect stocking stuffer, she said

The colder, rainy months of the year tend to be slower, Crane noted Also, she said, some space might open in the fall, since not every farmer grows produce year-round “A seasonal vendor may drop out,” Crane said Regina Starr Faustine, a longtime member of the nonprofit board that runs the market at 3861 24th St , thinks it’s “unbelievably great” to see there are

no vacancies at the square on Saturday mornings

“We have sold out every possible spot and even spots you could barely think are possible,” noted Faustine, the current board secretary “Since we stopped having to let people in one by one to the market, we have just grown and developed ”

She was referring to the safety protocols put in at the start of the Covid epidemic in March 2020 to keep shoppers and vendors safe While the market was deemed an essential business and thus could remain in operation, it had to take precautions, such as limiting the number of people who could enter the square and spacing people six feet apart as they waited in line

“I made so many masks and gave away so many masks,” recalled Crane “We still have people line up at the entrance before we open at 8 a m That was not something we had before Covid ”

This is the first time since the health crisis that the market has a full vendor roster Green Thumb Farms of San Benito County and King Ranch from Watsonville recently joined the lineup of organic vegetable sellers And Mighty Chia chef/owners Laurine Wickett and Jennifer Spiegel and chocolatier David Upchurch are among the new food purveyors

Upchurch, who’s lived in Noe Valley for 16 years, has had a stall at the Stonestown Galleria Farmers Market since 2020 He joined the Noe Valley market last fall

“It’s my busy season So they invited me to join the market I’m like, yeah, let’s do it,” said Upchurch “And it’s gone very well since ”

Crane said she wasn’t exactly sure what was behind the demand from vendors to take part in the weekly market Success begets success, she surmised, and word is out that the nonprofit-run market is good for business

“It becomes a virtuous circle When more people show up to shop, then word gets out this is a good place for vendors,” said Crane “When more vendors show up, then more people show up to shop It feeds itself ”

Upchurch pointed out that there is lower overhead to participate in farmers markets, and the savings makes them more economical for small proprietors like himself, who can’t afford to open a store in San Francisco

“There's no way I could have a brick-and-mortar and do this,”

Upchurch said, adding that joining a farmers market is “just a smaller way to get started And now it’s gotten to become my bread and butter ”

He is using the stone fruits and berries he’s found at the farmers market in the confections he will sell this summer and fall

“I purchase chocolate that is made in the country where the cocoa grows so that makes it really unique,” noted Upchurch “So I focus on that relationship between me and the maker, and the maker has a relationship with a farmer ”

Grand also sources from seasonal fruits at the Noe Valley market Thus, he has been making his scones with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries “I tend to use mostly organic products, especially berries I try to do that as much as possible, do local, do what's in season,” he said

Just as she has brought in more vendors to the Noe Valley market, Crane is encouraging an influx of shoppers One lingering impact from Covid, she said, is that some people remain “a little gunshy” about going out in public and mingling with others

“I tell people we always need more shoppers,” said Crane Crane has been working with the NVFM board on spreading the word about the new vendors and the weekly musical groups the market hosts in the town square (See Rumors, page 23 ) Due to the constant churn of residents moving in and out of Noe Valley, Crane said the board can’t take for

granted that people know about the farmers market, even though it will mark its 23rd anniversary this Dec 6

Residents of the neighborhood had launched it in response to the closure of Real Food Company in August 2003 and because they wanted to have a place nearby to buy organic produce

“We have to be cultivating the next generation, essentially, of shoppers,” said Crane, who will mark 22 years of managing the market this fall

Her pitch is that shoppers get to speak with and know the people growing their fruits and vegetables, or making the food items, when patronizing the farmers market They also can find community whether by forming relationships with vendors or running into their neighbors each week, noted

Crane

“It is a happy place, even in the rain,” she said

And it is a fun outing, said Faustine

“It is a time and a place for people to just really relax, buy some organic produce and wonderful prepared food, and enjoy live music,” she said

Unique among local farmers markets, the Noe Valley Farmers Market runs yearround from 8 a m to 1 p m on Saturdays

To learn more about it, visit its website at https://www noevalleyfarmersmarket com

For information on Carter Gibson’s Extra Extra Chili Crunch, see https://www extraextracrunch com

VENDORS

Noe Valley Farmers Market June 2026

Boffo Cart—breakfast sandwiches, burgers Castellano’s—fruit

David Upchurch Chocolates

El Buen Comer—Mexican food Far West Fungi—mushrooms

Garden Variety Cheese—eggs, yogurt, cheese, meat

Grand Scones—scones made in Noe Valley Green Thumb—organic vegetables and berries

Herr Family Farm—vegetables

Hidden Star Orchards—apple products

Juicy Lucy’s—fresh juices

King Ranch Farms—organic vegetables

Mighty Chia—pudding

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Roti Pakistani food

Sour Flour—bread and pastries

Stepladder Ranch & Creamery— cheeses and meat

Tomatero Organic Farm— organic vegetables and berries

Twin Girls Farm—fruit

Waldscraft Bakery

Seasonal Vendor—Triple Delight

Blueberries

2026 has been a historic year for Noe Valley housing, creating interesting opportunities for homeowners considering a move. Lamisse Droubi brings 28 years of experience selling real estate in San Francisco, with over $1.8 billion in total sales and a deep understanding of changing market conditions. Whether you’re thinking about buying, selling, or simply exploring your options, Lamisse and her dedicated team offer thoughtful guidance and steady support throughout the process. A native San Franciscan raised in Noe Valley, Lamisse is known for her transparency, local expertise, and in-depth market knowledge.

If you’re curious about how today’s market may apply to your situation, Lamisse would be happy to share insights and answer any questions.

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Grants for the Arts

Grants for the Arts FY27–FY28 General Operating Support RFP opens in late Spring 2026.

San Francisco–based nonpro昀t arts and culture organizations are encouraged to apply.

For more than 65 years, Grants for the Arts has fueled the city’s creative heartbeatinvesting over $400 million in hundreds of organizations across every corner of San Francisco. General operating support powers the performances, exhibitions, festivals, and community programs that make this city a global cultural hub.

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Visit www.sfgfta.org to learn more.

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Explore our extensive print and electronic legal materials, use public computers for research, or access our copier, scanner, and printer. We also o昀er free legal programs and conference room rentals for legal use.

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Fourth Year for Friday Fun Run

group on Instagram with the caption, “More FUN than RUN all paces welcome!”

The club grew out of Powell and O’Connell’s pandemic-era neighborhood runs, after Powell jokingly referred to the outings as a “Noe Valley run club ”

What began as a casual idea among friends has evolved into a weekly fixture, with roughly 35 to 40 people attending most Fridays

“Even if they’re not the biggest runners, they’re joining for the community element that’s something I really appreciate about Noe Valley,” Gondak said

More Runs, More Runners

For fellow NVRC member and captain Andrew Dupree, 38, the club offered a way to rebuild social connections after the pandemic

“I needed more community in my life new friends, new acquaintances, new people to spend time with For me, the run club really played a big part in that It helped me meet people nearby who were looking for something similar,” he said

Dupree, a Google product manager, joined in fall 2022 after a neighbor mentioned the club while spotting him on a run

“I had never been a run club guy before I was just kind of a headphonesin, solo runner,” he said “So I was like, ‘I’ll try it out ’ I just wandered up there the next Friday and basically haven’t missed one since If I’m in town, I’m there ”

The club has expanded beyond its original Friday run Some members now meet earlier for a four-mile route through Glen Canyon Park before regrouping for the main run Afterward, many linger at Noe Cafe for coffee, pastries, and conversation

NVRC also hosts evening runs on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, meeting in front of Mamahuhu and the former Todo El Día (soon-to-be Bonita), respectively Following their

three-mile outings, some stick around for food and drinks at one of the 24th Street eateries

“We’re really about making friends, meeting the neighbors It’s our angle, our focus And I think that works for a lot of people,” Dupree said All Levels Welcome

Member and co-captain Brad Taylor has helped design NVRC hats and sweatshirts, which have become staples at runs and social events like potlucks and happy hours

Taylor, a health tech CTO in his 40s, joined NVRC in 2022 after a good friend recommended it Not a runner at the time, he figured what better way to start than with those in his neighbor-

hood He’s now a consistent presence on Fridays

“It’s a really great group of folks in all levels of running, from marathoners and ultramarathoners to folks who just want to show up and have a nice little run,” he said

“We’re very supportive of folks who are just beginning their running journey and just want to get a coffee and chat with their friends and neighbors,” he added

Group Photo at the Start

Newcomers to Friday mornings can expect a laid-back scene and welcoming atmosphere People mingle in small groups before the captains gather

everyone into a circle on Sanchez Street to review announcements and the route

After members introduce themselves one by one and pose for a group photo, they head out together for their approximately three-mile run

From Sanchez, they veer onto residential streets like Elizabeth and Church, cutting through Juri Commons park before continuing along Guerrero and Dolores With plenty of chatter and smiles along the way, they eventually loop back onto Sanchez

The runs often include children in strollers, dogs on leashes, and even a parrot named Banana perched calmly on a member ’s finger People wave from sidewalks and windows as the NVRC runners pass by Lasting Connections

Gondak has since moved to the Inner Richmond but still joins on Fridays when work allows At a recent run, she spoke with a longtime Sanchez Street resident who told her the club had helped him finally get to know his neighbors

“I think that’s really what the run club has brought and continues to bring to the neighborhood just a lot of those connections,” Gondak said

You can find Noe Valley Run Club on Instagram, Strava, and, of course, running around the neighborhood

Noe Valley Ministr y Opposes Landmark Status but Holy Innocents Still on List

With the Noe Valley Ministry

declining to accept city landmarking of its 1888 Carpenter Gothic building at 1021 Sanchez St , the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission recommended at its May 20 meeting that the Board of Supervisors not seek to make the building a local landmark

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman earlier this year had included the property, designed by architect Charles Geddes, on a list of nearly two dozen potential landmarks in the neighborhoods he represents His doing so came out of concern the buildings could be demolished under new zoning rules city leaders had passed to ease construction of in-fill housing developments

In February, the commission had voted against Mandelman’s landmark request for St Paul’s Catholic Church, at 1660 Church St The Archdiocese of San Francisco had objected to the city’s landmark designation, preferring to maintain its independence in the management of its iconic building, known both for its twin spires and its role in the 1992 film Sister Act

Not long after, the Presbytery of San Francisco notified the city that it also preferred to keep the Noe Valley Ministry, which it calls the Noe Valley Church, free of restrictions that might accompany landmark status

Though Mandelman has shelved his requests for the Ministry and St Paul’s, he is continuing to pursue landmark designation for Holy Innocents Episcopal Church at 455 Fair Oaks St , as its owners have not voiced objections to doing so The church’s brownshingled building, built in 1890, was designed by English immigrant Ernest Coxhead At its meeting last month, the Historic Preservation Commission voted to support landmarking the small church

It also backed Mandelman’s landmark requests for several residences in the neighborhood, including the Charles Katz Home, a Queen Anne Victorian at 1200 Dolores St , built in 1909; the Shaughnessy House at 394 Fair Oaks St , a Queen Anne dating from the 1890s; and the P F Ferguson House at 2 Vicksburg St (1874), an example of Stick-Eastlake architecture Also on Mandelman’s list is the former Firehouse No 44 at 3816 22nd St , built in 1909

The Board of Supervisors will now vote on approving those landmarks

SHORT TAKES

sometime this summer It will then be up to Mayor Daniel Lurie to finalize the designations

On April 30, Lurie signed into law landmark status for the residential properties at 102 Guerrero St and 361 San Jose Ave He also landmarked the San Francisco Fire Department’s former Engine Company No 13 at 1458 Valencia St Matthew S Bajko

Muni’s ‘Good, Bad, and Ugly’: Neighbors Hear It All Group president Chris Faust chaired a lively meeting of Upper Noe Neighbors on Monday, May 18, at Upper Noe Recreation Center

First up, Nathan Stalnaker, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), gave us the good, the bad, and the ugly

The good news, Stalnaker said, is that satisfaction is the highest it has been in 25 years and ridership is up The bad news is that fares account for only 8 percent of Muni’s operating revenue

The ugly is that Muni is facing a huge budget shortfall, and to help solve the problem, transit supporters have petitioned to put two tax initiatives on the November ballot: the “Connect Bay Area” measure, which would impose a regional sales tax of 5% (1% in S F ) to generate an annual $155 million; and a

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local parcel tax, which would cost homeowners $129 a year and raise an additional $150 million In addition, the SFMTA plans to save about $200 million by cutting vacant positions and eliminating certain investments

Without the budget infusion, Stalnaker warns, Muni might have to cut up to 20 routes, reduce service after 9 p m (60%), double bus wait times, and even cut cablecar service The cuts could happen as soon as Fall 2027 (see sfmta com)

Renil Bejoy, aide to District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, then gave the nitty gritty about charter reform and why we should support amendments proposed by the supervisor and Mayor Daniel Lurie, which would streamline city contracting Still, a few commissions might be disbanded

Bejoy noted Lurie was contending with a $600 million budget deficit, which will inevitably affect public safety and the health of nonprofits depending on city funds

When the gasps and sighs stopped reverberating, talk turned to Church Street and what to do with about $8,000 remaining from Avenue Greenlight’s grant to UNN in 2023 for banners and stringed lights Proposals have included flower baskets, historic plaques, filling up the empty tree wells in the area, and a new mural project

Speaking of prettifying the neighborhood, President Faust encouraged members to sign up for One City Day, a citywide day of service on Saturday, July 11 In Noe Valley, volunteers will fill in those pesky tree wells, starting at Upper Noe Rec Center, 295 Day St Sign up online at One City Day on the SF gov website

Faust also noted that the Upper Noe NeighborFest (formerly called the Upper Noe Block Party) will be held this year on Saturday, Sept 26, 11 a m to 3 p m Besides offering food, games, and business booths, the party will showcase local dance, art, and musical talent Want to strut your stuff? Contact Chris at hello@uppernoeneighbors com

In other news, the city and some Neighbors are considering adding parking meters on Church north of 29th Street Also, sidewalk repairs are happening, so let UNN know where the cracks are Construction is imminent on 30th Street near On Lok Senior Center

Finally, UNN is going back to holding meetings every other month on

Reel Oppor tunity for Girls Now Set for August

Because of a scheduling conflict, the Noe Valley Girls Film Festival has moved the date of its 2026 screening and awards ceremony from September to August

The event is now scheduled for Saturday, Aug 22, at the Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St

It had been set for Sept 12

However, that date was in the middle of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish holiday that runs this year from Sept 11 through Sept 13

Larry Kane, a parent whose daughters helped co-found the festival 11 years ago, said the organizers wanted to make sure there was “no conflict with Rosh Hashanah ”

Other dates associated with the festival also were revised

The submission deadline is now Saturday, Aug 1

The NVGFF is accepting film submissions via the Noe Valley Girls Film Festival page at the international film platform https://filmfreeway com/NoeValley GirlsFilmFestival You can also apply via nvgff com

Finalists are expected to be announced by Aug 15 The top films will be shown and winners revealed at the festival event

The rules invite girls to submit films in two age groups: 10 and under and 11 to 16 Entries can be on any subject but should be Grated and no longer than 5 minutes

Festival organizers are also seeking volunteers who are under 18 years old, live in San Francisco, and love movies to join this year ’s team Volunteers hold bake sales, review movies, solicit new submissions, find sponsors, and help stage the NVGFF event

Prizes traditionally include a first-place cash award of $250, second place $150, and third place $50 in each age group

Corrie M Anders

third Wednesdays So pencil in Wednesday, July 15, at 7 p m and plan to share your views on Muni, meters, and murals

It wouldn’t be a UNN meeting without door prizes At the May one, popular Sanchez Street eatery Taffi’s Café donated two gift certificates Yummy! Kit Cameron

Shout out for Claudia Siegel's extraordinary representation during the process of selling our home. Claudia is attentive to every detail regarding the process of listing and selling a home. She is passionate about her representation for her clients.

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The Cost of Living in Noe

By Corrie M Anders

Forthe second consecutive month, home shoppers engaged in heated price wars, sometimes paying a million dollars more to acquire a piece of Noe Valley real estate

In April, they purchased a dozen single-family detached homes, just one fewer than in March, according to data provided to the Voice by Corcoran Icon Real Estate

(Condominium sales took something of a breather, as shoppers purchased seven attached units in April, half that of March )

Facing a market with too little inventory to satisfy demand, house hunters dug deep into their pockets They typi-

cally paid 31 percent more than the seller ’s asking price, topping the previous month’s already eye-opening 25 percent overbids and far exceeding the 9 percent premium of April of last year

The shortage of houses prompted four buyers to pay more than $1 million above the sellers’ asking price Those sales pushed the average cost for a house in Noe Valley to $3 9 million

Christine Lopatowski, manager of Corcoran Icon’s 24th Street office, noted that recent buyers likely had lucrative jobs in the tech industry, particularly in the booming artificial intelligence sector

“We’ve got a lot of money out there, a lot of cash, and people want to get into a single-family home, and there is only so much inventory,” she said

The highest overbid relative to listed price, she pointed out, was for a threebedroom house in the 1300 block of pedestrian-friendly Sanchez Street It was listed at $2,695,000 but sold for $4 5 million 67 percent above asking

The month’s most expensive sale, with an offer the first day it hit the market, was a remodeled contemporary home in the 400 block of Jersey Street

The buyer picked up the keys for $7 6 million, 8 6 percent over the original

price ($6,995,000)

Among the selling points of the three-level, 3,600-square-foot home with four bedrooms and 3½ baths was the open flow between its living spaces and a south-facing yard with an outdoor kitchen and spa with hot tub The house also had hardwood floors, skylights, retractable sliding glass doors, a walkin pantry, a media room, and two-car parking

April’s condo buyers took an average 20 days to make an offer and paid about 12 percent above asking The previous month, buyers moved in after 18 days on average and paid 20 percent over list price

“The condo market wasn’t as aggres-

sive” in April, Lopatowski said “You didn’t have all that crazy overbidding ”

The costliest condominium was a modern residence in the 600 block of Grand View Avenue, with three bedrooms and four baths in 2,270 square feet of living space

One of four units in a renovated 1965 building, the home featured an openconcept living-dining layout, a skylit staircase, Viking kitchen appliances, two primary suites, a den, multiple decks, two-car parking, and sweeping views of the city and bay

After spending just seven days on the market, it sold for $2,350,000 17 8 percent above its asking price ($1,995,000)

We offer a combined 50+ years of experience representing Buyers and Sellers. We have successfully navigated every kind of market in Noe Valley and beyond, and would be delighted to share our expertise with you! The Noe Valley market is red hot! Call us to discuss your needs.

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Noe VALLEY LOCAL Services

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M.A. Counseling Psychology Somatics

Mind-Body Coaching

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June 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29; July 6, 13, 20 & 27: Toddler STORYTIMES are Mondays, 11:15-11:45 am Tickets 11 am Noe Valley Librar y 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

June 1-15: Galler y Sanchez shows PAINTINGS by Rober t Windle in The Colors of Jazz Noe Valley Ministr y, 1021 Sanchez 282-2317; noevalleyministr y org

June 1-20: Ruth Asawa: Untitled, an exhibit featuring sculptures, paintings, and drawings by ar tist RUTH ASAWA, is still on view at 1275 Minnesota Ruthasawa com

June 1-29: Mamahuhu hosts MAHJONG Mondays from 6 to 9 pm 3991 24th 3747012; eatmamahuhu com

June 1-30: The SF ZOO offers free weekday admission for kids 11 and under during June 10 am-5 pm Sloat and the Great Highway sfzoo org

June 2-30: Tuesday TRIVIA Night at The Dubliner begins at 8 pm Wed , it’s bingo 3838 24th 826-2279; dublinersf com

June 2-30: The B AR on Dolores hosts free BINGO on Tuesdays and free comedy on Thursdays 8 pm 1600 Dolores 695-1745

June 4, 11, 18 & 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30: Family STORYTIMES are Thursdays, 10:15 am and 11 am 451 Jersey 355-5707

June 5-26: The Noe Valley RUN CLUB meets Fridays at Noe Cafe , 1299 Sanchez 6:45 am for 4 miles, and 7:30 am for 2 5 miles noevalleyrunclub square site

June 5-31: Lola Galler y exhibits a group show “The Hope Brigade ” Tues -Thurs noon-6 pm; Fri -Sun 9 am-6 pm 1250 Sanchez 642-4875; lolasamfrancisco com

June 6, 13, 20 & 27: The Saturday FARMERS MARKET has fresh produce and music

8 am to 1 pm Noe Valley Town Square , 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

June 6-27: The Noe WALKS group strides on Saturdays, 10 am, on 24th at Sanchez

June 7: “SWING on the Square” star ts with a dance lesson at 4 pm then jives with a DJ from 4:45 to 6 pm in the Noe Valley Town Square , 3861 24th

June 7, 14, 21 & 28: Bring water and a mat to free YOGA FLOW 11 am-noon 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

Please call for complementary consultation. (415) 290-1269 ksarakane@yahoo.com

Clear the Clutter Reclaim your Space! patrosehomeorganizing.com

Custom & Refaced Cabinets

Replacing Dry Rot Deck Planks

Carpentry and Painting • Refinishing Hardwood Flooring • Finish Decks 6 different stains lasting 6 to 8 years. Call Miguel (510) 333-0732 VSA Construction General Contractor LIC # 990233 No job too small Old World Craftmanship (415) 877-1293 Pat Rose Home Organizing 415-608-7634

25 year member of Pet Sitters Intl. Cass Morgan • 415.513.9299 positivelypets1@earthlink.net www.sfpositivelypets.com

June 10-July 15: SFFD offers NERT

Training on Wednesdays, 6 to 10 pm Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center, 880 Lombard Register at 970-2024; sf-fire org

June 11: Valencia Live! NIGHT MARKET offers vendors, live music , food, and salsa lessons 5-10 pm Valencia between 16th and 19th visitvalenciastreet com/live

June 11: Noe Valley Books’ BOOK CLUB reads The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel 7 pm 3957 24th 590-2961; noevalleybooks com

June 12: My Own Pr ivate Idaho (1991) FILM screens from 2 to 4 pm at the Noe Valley Librar y 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

June 12: The QUEER CHORUS of SF performs a concer t, “Queer topia ” 7:30 pm Noe Valley Ministr y, 1021 Sanchez 2822317; noevalleyministr y org

June 13: SF Civic Music Association presents an afternoon of CHAMBER MUSIC 3-5 pm 1021 Sanchez 282-2317

June 14 & July 12 & 19 & Aug 13: City Guides offers a WALKING TOUR of Noe Valley, led by Paul and Cathie Staley, star ting at 451 Jersey, 2 pm Register with City Guides, 375-0468; sfcityguides org

June 15: Claudette Zepeda discusses Cooking the Border Lands with Mei Lin 6:30 pm OMNIVORE Books 3885 Cesar Chavez 282-4712; omnivorebooks com

June 16, 23, 30; July 7, 16, 28: Ages 6 to 17 can get MATH Tutoring Tuesdays by volunteers from Engage Tutoring 4-5 pm Noe Valley Librar y, 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

June 16: ACTION-SF strategizes on third Tuesdays, 6 to 7:30 pm Noe Valley Librar y, 451 Jersey; action-sf com

June 17-27: The Castro Theatre screens FRAMELINE 50 the SF International LGBTQ+ film festival 429 Castro 6216120; thecastro com

June 20: KIDS STORYTIME (for ages 3 to 8) at Noe Valley Books runs from 9:15 to 9:45 am 3957 24th 590-2961

June 20: Dance WORKOUT Rhythm & Motion is 4-5 pm Noe Valley Town Square , 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

June 21: Sunday Music in the Square features the Furey Brothers JAZZ combo 1-3 pm Noe Valley Town Square , 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

June 21 & July 19: Volunteers for Noe Valley CLEANUP DAY meet at the Town Square to pick up supplies 10 am-noon 3861 24th SF Public Works; mobilize us

June 22: Meet the AUTHORS of the Fog Eater Cafe Cookbook, 6:30 pm Omnivore Books, 3885 Cesar Chavez 282-4712

June 24: PRIDE NIGHT at Noe Valley Books includes a scavenger hunt, games, and music 7-8:30 pm 3957 24th 590-2961; noevalleybooks com

June 25-Aug. 22: CREATIVITY EXPLORED exhibits a group show

Reception June 25, 6-8 pm 3245 16th 8632108; creativityexplored org

June 26 & 27:The TRANS March (June 26) heads from Dolores Park to Civic Center at 5 pm The DYKE March (June 27) star ts with a 3 pm rally at 18th and Dolores and moves to Civic Center at 5 pm sfpride org

June 27: Bring a yoga mat, blanket, and pillow to a SOUND B ATH Healing at Bethany Church 10 am BethanySF org

June 27-28:The 56th annual PRIDE CELEBRATION, “Built this City,” includes the two-day Civic Center festival and the Sunday Pride Parade (from the foot of Market, 10:30 am) sfpride org

June 28: Sunday Music in the Square features SWING SHIFT, playing tunes from the Great American Song Book 1-3 pm 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

June 28: The Corner Sessions monthly JAZZ concer t at Dolores Deluxe runs from 1-3 pm 2500 22nd doloresdeluxe com

June 28: The Super SOCCER Stars Demo at the Noe Valley Librar y welcomes kids ages 1 to 5 in stages star ting at 2 pm (with

parent/caregiver) Sign up at Super Soccer

Stars 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

June 28: Ignite SF’s PUPPET SLAM showcases local ar tists 5-6:30 pm Eclectic Box SF 446 Valencia koshercomedy com

June 28 & July 12: The STERN GROVE Festival features music by Japanese Breakfast (June 28) and the SF Symphony with Béla Fleck (July 12) 2 pm 19th Ave at Sloat 252-6252; sterngrove org

June 30: The Noe Valley NIGHT MARKET offers local vendors, food, and music , 5 to 8 pm 3861 24th noemerchants com

June 30: PAJAMA STORYTIME includes stories and songs 6:30-7 pm Noe Valley Librar y, 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

July 3: Do a LABYRINTH walk at Bethany United Methodist Church, 5:30 pm 1270 Sanchez 647-8393; bethanysf org

July 4: The Golden Gate Park Band performs an INDEPENDENCE DAY concer t, featuring works by Joplin, Souza, and Cohan 1-2:30 pm goldengateparkband org

July 7: Charlie Palmer and Matt Villano discuss Wineland: Celebrating the Hear t of Sonoma 6:30 pm OMNIVORE Books, 3885 Cesar Chavez 282-4712

July 11: The Upper Noe Neighbors GARDENING Group will clean and mulch tree wells at 30th and Day 10 am-noon uppernoerecreationcenter com/gardens/

July 11: STEM Free Play happens with LEGOs at the Noe Valley Librar y, 10 to 11:45 am 51 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

July 14: It s LEGO and Board Game Night at the Noe Valley Librar y 6-7:30 pm 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

July 15: Upper NOE Neighbors meets at the Upper Noe Rec Center, 295 Day, at 7 pm 970-8061; uppernoeneighbors com

July 28: Kung Pao KOSHER COMEDY’s Resilient Comedy show star ts 7 pm Valencia koshercomedy com

It’s July! The next Voice Calendar will be for July

Wind in the Willows Early Learning Center

Preschool & TK programs for children 2 ½ - 5 years

● Small class size 6:1 student to teacher ratio

● Experienced teachers

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713 Monterey Blvd. in the Sunnyside neighborhood loanne@windinthewillows.org

● Play-based learning environment

● Tight-knit community

Registration is open! synergyschool.org/summer

June 8 - August 14

Classes in art, ceramics, cooking, science, STEM projects, sports, and excursions

TBirds, Flowers, Kids All Are Singing at the Park

he recent Noe Valley Garden Tour segment at Upper Noe Rec Center yielded dozens of colorful birdhouses built and decorated by the park’s young visitors The center enjoyed showing off its Native Plant Garden and resilient flowering plants along Sanchez Street The Upper Noe Gardening Group's next workday is July 11 from 10 a m to noon Everyone is welcome

See https://uppernoerecreationcenter com/gardens/ to learn more

What’s in Your Quake Kit?

Sally Smith / Illustrations by Karol Barske

Are you ready for the next earthquake, fire, or health emergency?

Consider the things you might need in order to live for a week without water or electricity Below is a list of items for your home preparedness kit or “Go Bag,” suggested by the San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT).

NERT holds community-based training programs in basic preparedness and disaster response skills To find out more, go to the SF-fire org/NERT website or call 415-970-2024 (the NERT class hotline) Congrats to all of the 2025 and ’26 graduates of the NERT training Thanks for joining the team!

Water: One gallon per person to last 3 to 5 days

(Use bleach to purify it, 2 to 4 drops per quar t )

Food for 3 to 5 days, such as canned or dried soups, beans, juice

Cooking Supplies: A grill or camp stove , utensils, matches, can opener, foil, plastic wrap, garbage bags

Clothing: Light and heavy layers for all, stored to stay dr y Include a pair of shoes and gloves

Safety: Flashlight radio batteries, rope , knife , scissors, fire extinguisher, wrench to shut off utilities

Supplies such as cash, house or car keys, pencil and paper, i d cards, insurance info maps

Hygiene: Waterless soap toilet paper

shampoo, toothbrush, sanitar y supplies

Special items for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities

Shelter: Tent, sleeping bags

Medical: First-aid kit, medications, KN95 masks, extra pair of glasses

Pet Supplies, such as food, water, leash, medications, and carrier

Checklist for the ‘Go Bag’

It never hur ts to have a go bag at home or work or in your car

□ Sturdy shoes

□ Flashlight, whistle

□ Glasses

□ Crank or battery radio

□ Food and water

□ Cash ($100 in small bills)

□ Basic first-aid, medications

□ Change of clothes

□ Toilet paper, hand sanitizer

□ Big trash bag, mylar blanket

□ Copy of driver’s license

□ Paper, pencil, family or pet photos, important documents

Upper Noe recently hosted the Girls Play Sports Volleyball Championship Upper Noe’s 12 and Under team, the Jets, won their division Go Jets! Meanwhile, Summer Session, running June 2 through Aug 29, starts with a few changes to accommodate kids at day camp Open Gym and Pickleball will shift into the late afternoons and evenings Auditorium classes are not affected Summer Day Camp will dominate through mid-August with nine one-week camp sessions Monday through Friday, 8:30 a m to 4 p m During those hours, the lobby and gym will be closed to visitors To find out more about registering for classes, see https://uppernoerecreationcenter com/ Friends of Upper Noe Recreation Center, the park’s stewardship group, invites your participation But if you see something out of order, contact San Francisco Customer Service (3-1-1) Note: Equipment for pickleball and pingpong is available from the office at 295 Day St (415-970-8061)

Chris Faust Friends of Upper Noe Recreation Center

Upper Noe Rec Center Summer Session (June 2 to Aug. 29, 2026) Rec Center Hours, 295 Day St : Tues –Fri , 9 a m

Sun & Mon closed (outside activities only); Park Grounds:

CHILDREN’S FICTION

Nat the Cat Finds a Map is the fifth book in the Ready-to-Read series by Jarrett Lerner Ages 3-5

Dr Becky Kennedy’s picture book Leave Me Alone! A Good Inside Stor y About Deeply Feeling Kids , illustrated by Joanie Stone , addresses children with strong emotions Ages 3-6

Sheep overcomes his fears in Baa Baa Shop: Sheep's Fir st Haircut, by Wendell Brooks with illustrations by Pei Pei Siew Ages 3 and up

In Clovis Meets His Match by Katelyn Aronson, illustrated by Benji Williams, a bull is upset when a new china shop opens in town Ages 4-8

CHILDREN’S NONFICTION

Children can spot the action in the complicated, colorful scenes in Taro Gomi's Big Book of Verbs Ages 3-5

Eyes , Knees , Boundaries , Please! My Fir st Book About Private Par ts and Consent, is the work of Krupa Bhojani Playfor th and Julia Bereciar tu Ages 4-8

Mar y Pope Osborne and Will Osborne’s graphic novel Space is second in the “Magic Tree House Fact Tracker” series; it’s also illustrated by Jomike Tejido and adapted by Mei Nakamura. Ages 6-9.

Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species , by Alison Pearce Stevens, includes photos of the dogs at work Ages 8-12

CHILDREN’S EBOOKS

National Geographic’s Little Kids Fir st Big Book of Space by Catherine D Hughes, illustrated by David A Aguilar, includes basic concepts and wondrous sights Ages 3-6

A fountain offers absurd gifts to a town, like bananas, in The Fountain by Lisa Loffredo Ages 3-8

In Rayana Johnson's Giant Leap by Jill Tew, a 13-year-old space explorer wants to go to Galaxy Camp Ages 8-12

Lidia joins the resistance after the Nazis bomb Warsaw, in Uprising by Jennifer A Nielsen Ages 8-12

TEEN FICTION

A goth teen fashion designer meets a tattoo ar tist apprentice in Tokyo, in Love Makes Mochi by Stefany Valentine Ages 12-17

Callum the green witch can pay off his debt to the Devil if he performs one last contract, in Soul of a Gentleman Witch by David Ferraro Ages 12 and up

In Hear t’s Gambit by J D Myall, competitors from two time-traveling Black families must fight a deadly duel Ages 13-18

In According to Plan by Christen Randall, two queer teens find acceptance while they work on the school’s literar y magazine Ages 14 and up

TEEN NONFICTION

Joy Hakim’s third book in the “Discovering Life’s Stor y ” series is The Bir th of Genetics Ages 9-12

The 1941 rivalr y between the Yankees and the Dodgers is the focus in Baseball’s Shining Season: America’s Pastime on the Brink of War, by Mar tin W Sandler and Craig Sandler Ages 10-14

M O R E B O O K S T O R

Stride With Pride

From June through August, readers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in the San Francisco Public Library’s reading, learning, and exploration program, Summer Stride Besides reading lists, author talks, and book giveaways, there are lectures and activities, and not to be missed the reading challenge If you complete 20 hours of reading or adventuring, you will win the coveted Summer Stride tote, featuring art by children’s author and illustrator Nidhi Chanani Additionally, Summer Stride is celebrating Pride Month with a full slate of LGBTQIA+ activities and reading suggestions For the complete scoop, go to sfpl org/summer-stride-2026

To start reading right now, check out the books on this page, which come to us courtesy of Noe Valley/Sally Brunn librarians Madeleine Felder, Cristal Fiel, and Amy Lewis

If you run out of readables, stride over to the branch at 451 Jersey St Note: All city libraries will be closed on Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth, and on Saturday, July 7, for Independence Day The Main Library, only, will be closed Sunday, June 28, for the San Francisco Pride Celebration

In Exploring Fashion Design Career s , Kelley Bar th describes the skills required for various jobs in the fashion industr y Ages 11-18

A woman scientist gets the attention she deser ves in The Real Rosalind: The Truth About Rosalind Franklin’s DN A Discover y and How It Was Erased by Debbie Loren Dunn and Janet Fox Ages 11-18

TEEN EBOOKS

Four teens on spring break tr y to steer a sailboat caught in a storm in What We Did to Sur vive by Megan Lally Ages 1418

In the romantasy Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley, a princess seeks revenge for her sister s death Ages 14-18

Two boys find love in a time-hopping epic spanning 130 years, in Abdi Nazemian’s Exquisite Things Ages 14-18

ADULT FICTION

Told by a schizophrenic narrator, The Monroe Girls by Antoine Volodine is set in a bleak future where the dead never really die

Two childhood friends reunite as expectant mothers in Mother s and Other Stranger s by Corey Ann Haydu

In Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lillith Assadi, a Palestinian man restlessly travels the world, searching for a home

T Kira Madden’s Whidbey follows three women, all connected to a murdered man

E A D

ADULT NONFICTION

Days of Love and Rage: A Stor y of Ordinar y People Forging a Revolution, by Anand Gopal, describes the Syrian struggle to over throw a brutal dictatorship in 2011

David George Haskell examines flora in How Flower s Made Our World: The Stor y of Nature’s Revolutionaries In The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis , DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence , Sebastian Mallaby zeroes in on the brains behind Google’s AI dominance

Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945 is Ian Buruma’s epic account of life in a besieged German city in World War II

ADULT EBOOKS

Lindy West’s memoir Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane harkens back to a road trip during a chaotic period in the author’s life

The Complex by Karan Mahajan follows the drama, ambitions, and betrayals of a prominent family in Delhi, India

Cosmic Music: The Life , Ar t, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane is Andy Beta’s biography of the late composer and spiritual leader

A Slovak youth sur vives a 1929 Pennsylvania coal mine disaster in Mule Boy by Andrew Krivak

ADULT DVD/BLU-RAY

Blue Moon (2025) directed by Richard Linklater, is a day in the life of lyricist Lorenz Har t (Ethan Hawke), attending the Broadway opening of Rodgers and Hammerstein s Oklahoma

LIBRARY EVENTS

All events take place at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Librar y 451 Jer sey St and are drop-in unless otherwise noted Be aware events are fir st come fir st ser ved For information visit sfpl org or call the branc h at 415-355-5707

Toddler Stor ytimes are Mondays, June 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 and July 6 & 13, 11:15-11:45 a m Tickets are available at the door, star ting at 11 a m Family Stor ytimes are Thursdays, June 4 11 18 & 25 and July 2 10:15 a m and 11 a m Tickets are available at 10 a m and 10:30 a m Noe Valley Librar y, 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

The 1991 film My Own Private Idaho screens Friday, June 12, from 2 to 4 p m

STEM Free Play for children with a caregiver is set for 10 to 11:45 a m on Saturdays, June 13 and July 11

Joy Nor th leads a watercolor workshop based on ar t by Alma Thomas, “Repetition as Meditation,” Saturday, June 13, from 2 to 3 p m Reser vations required: 355-5707

SF City Guides’ walking tour “Noe Valley: Village Within a City” explores historic homes in the neighborhood Sundays, June 14, July 12, and July 19 from 2 to 4 p m Registration required: 375-0468 (City Guides)

All ages can make Fake Cake Photo Frames with an ar tist from GoGo Craft on Saturday, June 14, 2 to 3:30 p m Reser vations required: 355-5707

High school students from Engage Tutoring can help with Math Tutoring and other homework on Tuesdays, June 16, 23 & 30, from 4 to 5 p m Reser vations required: 355-5707

Create your own Buttons to wear or pin to your bag during Pride Month at a workshop for ages 10 and up, Sunday, June 21, 2 to 3 p m

Lizard Lady Reptiles brings snakes and lizards to meet kids 5 and up (but those under 8 must bring an adult), on Monday, June 22, from 2 to 3 p m

A Summer Book Club discusses Philip Pullman’s “Dark Materials” trilog y on four th Fridays: The Golden Compass (June 26), The Subtle Knife (July 24), and The Amber Spyglass (Aug 28) 3-4 p m

Children and a parent or caregiver are invited to half-hour Super Soccer Stars Demo Workshops on Sunday, June 28 Kids ages 1 to 2 should sign up for 2:30 p m ; ages 2 to 3, 3 p m ; ages 3 to 5 3:30 p m Reser vations required: 355-5707

Families enjoy Pajama Stor ytime Tuesday June 30 from 6:30 to 7 p m

The June 30 session of Family Board Game and LEGO Night was postponed to Tuesday July 14 6 to 7:30 p m

A computer ar tist is sucked into a retro video game where he must rescue a dog, in director Alber t Birney’s fantasy/horror film OBEX (2025)

Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor star in One Battle After Another (2025), a dark comedy written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, based on Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland

Sentimental Value (2025) is a psychological drama set in Norway made by Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt, starring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård

Directed by Michael Angelo Covino, Splitsville (2025) stars Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjons in a “brilliantly unromantic comedy about open marriage

Annotations by Voice bookworm Karol Bar ske

Action SF, the National Movement in Your Neighborhood

https://m facebook com/ActionSFactivism/

Website: http://www action-sf com/

Email: ActionSFTeam@gmail com

Meetings: Third Tuesday (June 16), also on Zoom Noe Valley Librar y 451 Jersey 6-7:30 p m

Al-Anon Noe Valley

Contact: 834-9940; office@al-anonsf org

Meetings: Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p m , St Philip Church, 725 Diamond St (park on Elizabeth Street side; enter on 24th Street)

Thursdays, 7:15-8:30 p m Bethany UMC , 1270 Sanchez St (enter through Clipper Street side door and go up the stairs)

Castro Merchants

Contacts: Terr y Asten Bennett, President; Address: 584 Castro St #333, SF, C A 94114

Email: info@CastroMerchants com

Comerford Greenway

Contact: Howard Fallon

Email: ComerfordGreenway@gmail com

Website: https://greeningprojects org/comerford-greenway/ Quar terly workdays in Comerford Alley

Diamond Heights Community

Association

Contact: Betsy Eddy, 867-5774

Address: P O Box 31529, SF, C A 94131

Website: www dhcasf org Meetings: Second Thursday, 7 p m Call for location

Dolores Heights Improvement Club

Email: info@doloresheights org

Website: www doloresheights org

Meetings: Third Thursday of ever y second month Bank of America 18th and Castro Duncan Newburg Association (DNA)

Contacts: Deanna Mooney, 821-4045; Diane McCarney, 824-0303; or Lili Wu, 647-0235 Address: 560 Duncan St , SF, C A 94131 Meetings: Call for details

Eureka Valley Neighborhood Assn

Contact: Board@evna org

Address: P O Box 14137, SF, C A 94114

Meetings: See website Events Castro Meeting Room, 501 Castro St , 7 p m

MORE GROUPS TO JOIN

Fair Oaks Neighbors

Email: hello@fairoaksneighbors org

Address: 200 Fair Oaks St , SF, C A 94110

The Fair Oaks Street Fair is traditionally held the day before Mother’s Day

Friends of Billy Goat Hill

Contact: Lisa and Mo Ghotbi, 821-0122

Website: www billygoathill net

Friends of Dolores Park Playground

Contact: Nancy Gonzalez Madynski, 828-5772

Email: friendsofdolorespark@gmail com

Website: friendsofdolorespark org

Friends of Christopher Park

Contact: Br ynna McNulty 818-744-4230

Email: friendsofchristopherpark@gmail com

Website: FriendsofChristopherPark org

Friends of Glen Canyon Park

Contact: Jean Conner, 584-8576

Address: 140 Turquoise Way, SF, C A 94131

Plant restoration work par ties, Wednesday mornings and third Saturday of the month

Friends of Noe Cour ts Playground

Contact: Laura Norman

Email: noecour ts@gmail com

Address: P O Box 460953 SF C A 94146

Meetings: Email for dates and times

Friends of Noe Valley (FNV)

Contact: Todd David, 401-0625

Email: info@friendsofnoevalley com

Website: friendsofnoevalley com

Meetings: Two or three annually

Friends of Slow Sanchez

Contacts: Christopher Keene , Andrew Casteel

Email: info@SlowSanchez com

Website: SlowSanchez com

Friends of Upper Noe Recreation

Center

Contact: Chris Faust

Email: info@uppernoerecreationcenter com

Website: uppernoerecreationcenter com

Meetings: Email or check website

Friends of Upper Noe Dog Owners Group (FUNDOG)

Contact: David Emanuel

Email: info@fundogsf org

Website: www fundogsf org

Glen Park Association

Contact: info@glenparkassociation org

Website: glenparkassociation org

Address: P O Box 31292, SF, C A 94131

Juri Commoners

Contact: Dave Schweisguth, MI7-6290

Email: dave@schweisguth org

Website: meetup com/Juri-Commoners

The group is on hiatus and seeking a new

leader Call Dave “Tidy up when you can ”

Liber ty Hill Neighborhood

Association

Contact: Dr Lisa Fromer, president

Email: efromer3@gmail com

Meetings: Quar terly Email for details

Noe Neighborhood Council

Contact: Ozzie Rohm or Matt McCabe

Email: info@noeneighborhoodcouncil com

Website: noeneighborhoodcouncil com

Meetings: Quar terly at Sally Brunn Librar y, 451 Jersey St

Noe Valley Association–24th Street

Community Benefit District

Contact: Debra Niemann, 519-0093

Dispatch: To repor t spills or debris on 24th

Street, call Billy Dinnell, 802-4461

Email: info@noevalleyassociation org

Website: noevalleyassociation org

Board meetings: Quar terly See website

Noe Valley Democratic Club

Contact: Sam Maslin, President

E-mail: noevalleydemocrats@gmail com

Website: www noevalleydemocrats org

Meetings: Monthly at Valley Tavern or Tacolicious, dates publicized on website

Noe Valley Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 8 a m to 1 p m ; 3861 24th

St between Vicksburg and Sanchez

Contact: Leslie Crawford, 248-1332

Email: info@noevalleyfarmersmarket com

Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association (NVMPA)

Contact: Kristen McCaffer y President

Kristen@novysf@gmail com, 829-8383; or

Kathr yn Gianaras Vice President

Kathr yn@novysf@gmail com

Meetings: 9 a m Call to confirm location

Website: https noemerchants com

www NoeValleyMerchants com

Noe Valley Parent Network

An e-mail resource network for parents

Contact: Mina Kenvin

Email: minaken@gmail com

noevalleyparentsubscribe@yahoogroups com

Noe Walks

Contact: Chris Nanda

Email: christopher n nanda@gmail com

Website: NoeWalks com

Meetings: Saturdays, 10 a m Star ts 24th and Sanchez Ends Noe and Duncan for photo

Progress Noe Valley

Facebook: ProgressNoeValley

Email: progressnoe@gmail com

Website: progressnoe com

Meetings: Check Facebook page for current meeting and event schedule

San Francisco NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team)

Contact: Noe Valley NERT Neighborhood Team co-coordinators Maxine Fasulis, mfasulis@yahoo com; Carole Rober ts, carole rober ts@faludi com

Website: https://SF-fire org/ner t Visit the website to sign up for trainings

Upper Noe Merchants

Contact: Info@UpperNoeNeighbors com; https://uppernoeneighbors com/merchants/

Upper Noe Neighbors

Contact: Chris Faust

Email: Hello@UpperNoeNeighbors com

Website: www uppernoeneighbors com

Meetings: Bi-monthly on third Wednesdays Confirm by email or check website

THE NOE VALLEY VOICE editor@noevalleyvoice.com

All phone numbers are in the 415 area code, unless otherwise noted.

and now for the RUMORS behind the news

To Market, To Market

By Mazook

THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE: Congrats go out to Kou Herr and Uey Yang who got married on May 16 at Herr Family Farm The farm is one of earliest vendors at the Noe Valley Farmers Market It arrived in 2005

“We met 15 years ago, ” says Herr about Uey, “and our first date was 11 years ago when we went to a San Francisco Giants game It was love at first sight, and Uey moved in with me on the night of our wedding ”

Kou and Uey were both born in Thailand and say they will go back there for their honeymoon in December

“We’ll go there during our off-season at the farm, says Kou The Herr Family Farm is located in the town of Sanger, Calif , east-southeast of Fresno That’s where Kou’s mom and dad, Daothao and Geherr, live

You can wish them a lifetime of happiness any Saturday at the Noe Valley Town Square , 8 a m to 1 p m

Incidentally, I just got word of the music lineup for the market in June

According to town square music director Gil Guillermo, the acoustic duo Sam Lenny and Tuki Walker will perform bluegrass, folk, and countr y and the group Alie & Me will play eclectic originals and covers, both on June 13

On June 20, the two music groups are Out-of-Town Couple and Proceed to the Route , and they specialize in Americana Then on June 27, you can hear singer-songwriter Dave Kesler and solo musician Brendan

And remember that the Noe Valley Night Market is in the square ever y last Tuesday of the month, so the next one will be on June 30 This June market will have the block of 24th Street in front of the town square closed as well, so it’ll be a big and fun market

Speaking of markets, have you noticed that the Noe Valley Whole Foods Market has only a few small shopping car ts these days I have waited several minutes to get the next small car t (I hate the large ones) Why is that? Store manager Jack Douglas tells me that people have been showing up at all hours and walking off with the store’s shopping car ts He says Whole Foods has ordered a new supply of the $500 car ts, which he hopes will be delivered soon Douglas also informs me that the Noe Whole Foods has complained to the city about the abundance of people stopping pedestrians in front of the market to ask them to sign their petitions In some cases, they earn money for each signature they collect, so they’re out in force at election time Douglas says the petitioners are creating congestion for those entering and leaving the store’s parking lot and that city authorities are citing those who may be blocking the driveway

The voice of AI notes: “Gathering signatures or petitions on a traditional public sidewalk in San Francisco does not require a city permit, as it is a protected First Amendment activity However, you cannot block pedestrian traffic , building entrances or driveways ”

ART HERE: Be sure to check out the ar t showing at Lola Galler y at 1250 Sanchez St The show runs from now through July 31, and galler y hours are

Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 6 p m , and Friday through Sunday, from 9 a m to 6 p m The title of the show is “The Hope Brigade ” Par ticipating ar tists are Leigh Barbier, Paul Brown, Neil Guaman, Marc Ellen Hamel, Jennifer Keith, Olivia Kuser, Rober t Nielsen, Azian Nurudin, Ben Pax, Stefan Salinas, and Rober t Tannen

In other ar t news, an ar t framing store called Framebridge will soon open at 3824 24th St (across from Shufat Market)

As repor ted by Matthew Bajko in the Voice last month, Framebridge is a business founded in 2014 by CEO Susan Tynan Its website says it offers “affordable , high-quality, fast custom framing and one-on-one design ser vices directto-consumer ”

The company has more than 40 locations across the U S , including two in the Bay Area, in Berkeley and Palo Alto

I am told by a Palo Alto worker who provides “in-ser vice consultations” for Framebridge that customers are presented with different options for framing their image or ar twork Then, when the framing is done , the piece is delivered to the purchaser’s home

Bajko told us that Framebridge , a formula retailer, was approved without opposition in April, and the new store could open in late September or early October

Numerous calls to the company ’ s headquar ters in New York have gone unanswered

WE’RE THE BEST: Of course , we already knew this But the British Our Culture Mag, in its June issue , aler ted the world that Noe Valley ranks among the best neighborhoods in San Francisco, in several different categories

In its determination of the five “Safest Neighborhoods in San Francisco,” the online magazine ranked Noe Valley third after Sea Cliff (1) and Presidio Heights (2) (West Por tal and the Outer Sunset/Parkside were 4 and 5 )

Why Noe Valley? It’s “ sunny, walkable , and filled with small shops [and] a strong choice for young families and professionals who want a neighborhood vibe ”

But in the categor y “Best Safe Neighborhoods for Families,” the mag gave Noe Valley its top spot and pointed to our “quiet residential streets, playgrounds, and reputable nearby schools ”

Noe Valley also made the cut for “Best Safe Neighborhoods for Young Professionals,” who, Our Culture Mag noted, typically require “safety, plus an easy commute and access to dining and nightlife ”

Noe Valley was third after Pacific Heights and Russian Hill, because , the magazine said, we “offer[ed] a calmer alternative to downtown-adjacent neighborhoods while remaining transitfriendly ” We’re Waymo friendly too

THE WISDOM OF YENNE: Emily Landes wrote a great stor y about our neighborhood (with photographs by Morgan Ellis) in the May 28 San Francisco Standard, titled, “Noe Valley Is a San Francisco Lesson in Making a BlueCollar Neighborhood Upscale ” In the ar ticle , Landes quotes many residents and shop owners in the neighborhood including real estate agent Lamisse Droubi, Small Fr ys owner Carol Yenne , Trad Bone Broth makers Jonathan and David Kim, and BR Demko of Friends of Slow Sanchez on why Noe Valley is special (see above) and how generation after generation has been attracted to its “village-like vibe ”

In talking histor y with Yenne , Landes lands upon the paradox that those of us who live here often wrestle with “Yenne

Herr and Uey Yang celebrated their marriage on May 16. The couple plan to spend their honeymoon in Thailand this coming December.

is the first to admit that the community’s effor ts to make the neighborhood safer, cleaner, and more desirable have unintentionally made it harder for each subsequent generation to afford a home there ” writes Landes “Even into the mid-’90s, the median price in the neighborhood was less than $500,000; today that sum isn’t likely to cover the amount a winning bidder pays over the asking price ”

DUST BOWL MENSCH: Noe Valley filmmaker Steve Pressman has let us know that his latest film, Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthr ie , premiered at the end of May in Toronto, Canada, and will begin showing up at other film festivals in the weeks and months ahead

Pressman writes, “The film tells the little-known stor y of the significant Jewish influences that helped to shape and define Woody Guthrie's life and music In doing so, the film also casts a spotlight on Aliza Greenblatt, a prominent Yiddish poet and lyricist, who also happened to be Woody’s mother-in-law Along with including lots of Woody's wonderful music , the film also features inter views with Woody's children Nora and Arlo, rarely seen Guthrie home movies, Yiddish singers Daniel Kahn and Eleanor Reissa, and even a few glimpses of Bob Dylan and Ramblin' Jack Elliott!

“I'm honored that the film’s world premiere is taking place (as the Opening Night Film) at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls will then be shown in July at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, where the film is being featured as the festival's Local Spotlight film From there , the film will make its way to other festivals around the countr y (and beyond) ” Sounds great We’ll look for it

CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY of Haystack Pizza founder Alexander “George” Kouloulias, who passed away on March 27 at the age of 91 Memorial ser vices were held on April 14 Kouloulias was born and raised on the island of Ikaria, Greece But he spent most of his life in San Francisco I have many memories of Kouloulias over the years, star ting back in 1972, when he opened Haystack The large

wooden sculpture of him which stands at the end of the bar, greeted me ever y time I went there for a pizza The murals in the back dining room are beautiful and bring joy to all who have gone there for a par ty I remember a huge par ty there given by Peter Gabel and feeling welcomed by ever yone ’ s warm greeting I remember passing by Haystack’s front window in the morning (on my way to Mar tha’s for coffee) and seeing Noe Valley Pizza Restaurant owner Tony Vozaites sitting in front with Kouloulias having their morning coffees Tony passed away four years ago and now has joined George in heaven, I’m sure I remember George standing outside Haystack almost ever y afternoon, smoking his pipe and enjoying ever y puff, watching all the passersby, or going over and hanging out in the front of the Noe Valley Town Square And then there is the huge bull up on the roof of Haystack, welcoming all the walkers on 24th Street I have been told that George named the bull “Trumpster” about nine years ago

I talked to Haystack’s chef, Tommy Pham, who has worked there for the past 16 years “He [George] was a ver y generous man with a good hear t for ever yone , ” said Pham “I was given lots of envelopes which he told me to give to the many charitable groups in the city, and he was ver y generous to me giving me extra money He also gave poor customers free dinners He was ver y active in the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America You will see many plaques and awards on the walls by various San Francisco organizations ” George’s daughter Tina Kouloulias manages Haystack these days with help from his son, Jason Mills Tina says they have been adding to the menu and offering pizza slices for $5 for a cheese and $6 for a slice with a topping (e g , pepperoni)

Tina says the restaurant is also expanding its lunch menu with large salads, and they will have sandwiches by the end of June Stop by and say hi

THAT’S ALL YOU ALL See you in July By then I hope to have the complete results of the June primar y election You might find them surprising Ciao