SPRING 2014 VOLUME 32, NO. 1 Muni Reworks 35-Eureka Line New Playground Comes Alive Reroute Plan he San Francisco Municipal Transportaion Agency appears T ready to back off its controver- sial rerouting plan to run the 35-Eureka by bus along Diamond Zachary Street and eliminate Clark direct bus service to another portion of Glen Park altogether, after neighbors rallied to stop the proposed change. Muni’s original proposal, unveiled last winter, called for eliminating the 35-Eureka’s current loop along Moffitt, Bemis and Addison streets and extend the route south along Diamond Street to serve the Glen Park BART station. The 35-Eureka proposal is part of the San Francisco Municipal Transpor- tation Agency’s Transit Effectiveness Project, which aims make the public transit system more efficient, reliable, safe and comfortable for its riders, in part by overhauling routes. The goal behind the 35-Eureka Glen Park children and parents enjoy the playground during opening week. Photo by Liz Mangelsdorf change is to provide a direct Muni link between the Castro and Noe Val- ids being kids, they would not draw was the canyon. Now, it feels like ley neighborhoods and the Glen Park wait for the official inaugura- the playground is a destination, too.” BART station. K tion of the renovated Glen Can- The $5.8 million Glen Canyon Park While many residents are in favor yon Park Playground. They poured in playground improvements were funded of connecting the bus to BART, there before the speeches were over, before by the voter-backed 2008 Clean and was fierce opposition to the Diamond by the ribbon was cut. And Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, with Street route, largely from Diamond Rachel they kept coming after- added support from the Trust for Pub- Street residents worried about the Gordon ward—eager to try out lic Land and the California Coastal added noise, pollution and traffic con- the new dome-shaped Conservancy. gestion that the buses would bring. The climbing structure with its web of Grace Mendoza, 8, found refuge narrow, windy street already is used by ropes, the dual slides, sand pit, swings, from the blazing hot sun on the day of CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 and bars for somersaults. the grand opening beneath one of the “It’s a lot of fun,” exclaimed 7-year- climbing structures, and gave the new GLEN PARK old Katya Pabarcus, as she tried out the setting a big thumbs up. Her favorite play equipment on Saturday, March part: No more splinters from the fray- ASSOCIATION 15, just hours after the official ribbon- ing old wooden equipment that got QUARTERLY MEETING cutting ceremony wrapped up and the mixed into the sand that used to serve politicians and other City officials took Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m. as ground cover. Now, bouncy rubber Recreation Center in off. Her mom, Emily Pabarcus, kept covers the ground. Glen Canyon Park one eye on Katya as she looked around. “I always played at the old play- GPA President Michael Rice, left and For Agenda, see Calendar on Page 20 “I think it looks great,” said the ground, and it was fun,” she said. “But Supervisor Scott Wiener help kids cut the Glen Park mom. “It’s a big improve- this is nicer.” ribbon to reopen the playground. Photo by Michael Waldstein ment; it feels more open. Before, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 CHINA HOUSE OPENS ~ PG. 16 GLEN PARK FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ PG. 11 NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHTING ~ PG. 14 2 Glen Park News | Spring 2014 GLEN PARK NEWS F FROM THE EDITORS F The Glen Park News is published It’s spring in Glen Park—the bloom- quarterly by the Glen Park Asso- ing and budding and greening in the FARMERS’ MARKET REOPENS MARCH 30 ciation. Signed articles are the canyon are proof of that. So is the opinions of the authors and not imminent opening of the Glen Park The Glen Park Village Farmers’ Market begins its 2014 season on Sunday, necessarily those of the Glen Park Village Farmers’ Market. March 30, in the BART parking lot at Bosworth and Arlington streets. Association. Between March 30 and Nov. 23, the It will continue every Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through the Sunday market will operate every Sunday from Editor-in-Chief Rachel Gordon before Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, when it begins its winter hiatus. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the BART parking “Last year was a great success, and this year we have more events and activi- lot. at Bosworth and Arlington streets. Deputy Editor Gail Bensinger ties planned,” said Ric Lopez, president of the Glen Park Merchants Associa- Take your tote bag and stock up on tion. “Thanks again to all the neighbors for their overwhelming support. fresh vegetables and fruits, Grandma’s Copy Editor Denis Wade “Sunday mornings in Glen Park will not only be the time to shop at the Vil- jams, breads and confections from Des- lage Farmers’ Market, but also a place to meet and greet your neighbors.” tination Bakery, cheese and other sea- Photo Editor Liz Mangelsdorf sonal treats for the week ahead. This is the market’s third season, and recent years is giving way to a renewed reported selling a dozen small terrari- Design Editor Liz Mangelsdorf it has established itself as a popular sense of optimism. In the village’s com- ums during the holidays—maybe it’s Jack Orsulak addition to our local community. mercial district, most merchants report the way to start a garden despite the Along the business corridor of Glen things are picking up. drought. Online Editor Elizabeth Weise Park, there have been a couple of other On Page 18, you can read Marc Dick- As for that other Christmas tradition changes in the past year. China House low’s assessment of the current state of at ModernPast, about 125 kids visited Advertising Nora Dowley opened in February in the spot at 2794 real estate, but it’s no secret that Glen Santa Claus in early December. The Diamond St. vacated late last year by Park and our immediate neighbors— most unusual request? “A typewriter Distribution Hong Sing. A story about our newest Noe Valley, Sunnyside, Bernal Heights, like my mom used to have.” Techies, Manager Murray Schneider eatery is on Page 16. parts of the Mission—have become take note. desirable addresses. Thanks in part Canyon Market, the village’s largest Reporters Gail Bensinger FitGLENfit, the new gym at 666 to the influx of tech-industry workers employer, didn’t experience a downturn Zachary Clark Chenery St.—a sister to fitBERNAL- and other new residents, the Christmas comparable to other stores because a Rachel Gordon fit on Cortland Avenue—finished shopping season produced improved food shop tends to be “anti-inflation- Isabel Gordon its first calendar year “better than we bottom lines for Glen Park merchants. ary,” said co-owner Richard Tarlov. Kevin Janssen expected,” said Dean Eriksen, co-owner At Glen Park Hardware, owners Susan When money is tight, he explained, Murray Schneider with his wife Jeanne of both establish- and Hal Tauber said seasonal sales over people tend to shop for food rather Denis Wade ments. They have picked up new mem- the holidays resembled pre-recession than eat out. But he agrees that there Bonnee Waldstein bers (who can use either site) and have seen an increase of non-members taking good years more than the most recent are signs of economic recovery, such as Columnists Marc Dickow classes. “We’re trying to cross-pollinate “soft” ones, when the economy was an uptick in customer traffic at the end Capt. Timothy Falvey our two communities,” he added. shakier. Susan said a lot of parents of of commuters’ workdays. Connie A. Freeman Both facilities have been cited as the new homeowners, some from the East As for commuters and every- Jennifer Helton first “green gyms” by the San Francisco Coast and Midwest, came in for items one else, please shop the neighbor- Monika A. Lewis Green Business program. Dean lists to help their kids fix up their houses. hood. Our shops, restaurants and Michael Rice some of the furnishings that contrib- Of course, many of those visiting par- services contribute to what makes Denise Sanderson ute to the coveted designation: rubber ents are also grandparents who visited Glen Park such an appealing place Amy St.Clair diLaura matting made from old Nike sneakers, the children’s section of Bird & Beckett to live and our merchants—includ- Scott Wiener salvage lumber from the old Cal-Berke- Books & Records, sometimes buying ing those who are here only on Sun- ley stadium, “people-friendly” clean- the same books they bought for their days at the Farmers’ Market—such a Photographers Liz Mangelsdorf ing materials, low-flow toilets, recycled children a few decades ago. Overall, valuable addition to this community. Bob Heywood materials in the T-shirts for sale, mostly said proprietor Eric Whittington, busi- Murray Schneider battery-run equipment, fans instead of ness held up well in all departments. The readers of the all-volunteer Glen Denis Wade air conditioning, and compostable tow- Nick Whittington, Eric’s son and the Park News look to this quarterly paper Michael Waldstein els and cups. poet in the family, said the fifth edi- as a source of information that helps Next door, Cheese Boutique owners tion of Amerarcana, the elegant literary knit us together as a community. But Rick and Nada Malouf—who a year review he edits and the bookshop pub- the editors and contributors also owe 2912 Diamond St.