Block Party, May 19th

You're invited to the NOPA Block Party

Hosted by Parkside Market and
the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association

Saturday, May 19
Lyon Street between Hayes & Grove

Schedule:
11 am – 2pm
Kids + Family Fun
Magic Show, Bounce House
Arts & Crafts

12 – 12:30pm
NOPNA Updates & Announcements

2 pm – 7pm
BBQ by Parkside Market

1 – 7pm
Live Music

Learn about safety and crime prevention
Meet your neighbors near and far
Join in making NOPA a better community

Volunteers needed. If you can help, please contact:
Kevin Rafter at kmrafter@usfca.edu.

Today's Three-Alarm Fire

It was at least one building on Central Ave at Grove.

UPDATE: The fire started in a 3-story building beside Cafe Organica, then spread to the unit above the cafe. "The American Red Cross estimated that 12 to 15 people have been displaced by the fire." SF Gate

There are also photos on Nopaslist.org.

If you know anything about the fire or the occupants of the building, please let us know in the comments, or email board@nopna.org.

Recreation & Park Hearing for Panhandle Bandshell

This is your opportunity to express your support for (or opposition to) the temporary bandshell that is planned for the Panhandle this summer. Details are below.

Recreation and Park Commission Meeting

Thursday, April 19, 2007, 2:00 P.M.

San Francisco City Hall, Room 416

NOPNA is supporting the bandshell and we expect it to be a great public art project. We have been impressed with the responsiveness of Rachel Weidinger, the project director at the Black Rock Arts Foundation. They have addressed many questions and concerns on the FAQ page of their website about the bandshell - http://www.panhandlebandshell.com/faq.html.

Panhandle Bandshell News

Park & Rec has recommended they put the bandshell up on the asphalt pavement near the playground (east of the basketball courts). The organizers agree that that location makes more sense too and so I believe that is where it will be built.

Just so folks know what is planned, there will be no amplified sound, and they expect the performances to be things like kids shows, swing dance or other fun - no loud events will be scheduled. Neighbors can clearly influence what gets performed and the whole point of the project is to show we care about our environment, not trash it.

To complement or complain about the project, contact Rachel Weidinger at the Black Rock Arts Foundation, rachelann@blackrockarts.org, 415-626-1248 or contact Park and Rec directly.

Don't forget the website - www.panhandlebandshell.com

NOPNA Block Party May 19th

Mark your calenders - we're getting ready for the North Panhandle Block Party on Saturday, May 19th. David at Parkside Market is helping out as always. Lyon Street between Hayes & Grove.

We've got lots of fun for the kids in the morning, and music and food for the afternoon.

Dizzy Hips is sending 20 hula hoops...

This year we are also inviting any local businesses to come set up a table and introduce yourselves. Please RSVP to the NOPNA board, and bring a table and chair.

We are also planning a community resource fair with information from city services and helpful nonprofits. What would you like to know more about? Tell us in the comments.

Remarkable article about SF homicides

Read the article here.

In which "District Attorney Kamala Harris concedes there is some leniency, but says her office is improving."

And another fascinating frustrating point:

Police also cite a recent study by Harvard researcher and lecturer Anthony Braga, who concluded that 83 percent of people identified by police as suspects in San Francisco killings in 2004 and 2005 had criminal records. The identified suspects had an average of 11 arrests apiece, Braga found, and about half of the 83 percent had been on probation at the time of the killings.
At the same time, Braga found, 70 percent of victims in 2004 and 2005 homicides had criminal records and 60 percent of those with records had served time in jail or prison. Of those with records, they averaged 11 arrests.

The article includes this map of the gang turfs-