Tue-Fri 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tot Room:

Tue 12:30-2:15p, 3:30-6p

Wed 4:15-5:30p

Th 2:30-5:30p

Fr
12:30-4:30p

Sat
(varies, depending
on rentals)

Gym:

Tu
12:30-3p, 5:30-7p

Wed
2-3:30p, 5:30-8:45p

Th
11-3:30p, 5:30-8:45p

Fr
9-8:45p

Sat

9-10:30a, noon-4:45p

Summer Camp Stars at Movie Night
Movie Night Needs Volunteers
Summer Classes for Tots
Sandbox Solution Found
Tumbleweed Wanderers Play for the Tots
Two Volunteer Organizations, One Park
Volunteer Opportunities

Summer Camp Stars at Movie Night

Summer camp registration starts March 17, but eager campers can get a head start by coming to Movie Night on Saturday, March 10, at Upper Noe, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The featured film is the original version of “The Parent Trap,” which starts its story at summer camp. In keeping with the theme, Upper Noe staff will be on hand to answer questions as parents and children browse catalogs and fliers.

“We can help find which camp is right for them,” said Facility Coordinator Cheryl Woltjen.

This summer Upper Noe will host the Recreation and Parks Department’s popular Pacific Art Camp, which runs for four two-week sessions of dance, theater, art and music.

Children ages 6 to 12 will be divided by age into groups that rotate among the four disciplines, said Clove Galilee, the department’s program coordinator for dance and theater. A fifth one-week half-day session for children ages 5 and 6 will happen August 6 to 10.

You can also see a complete catalog of camps at www.sfreconline.com. Registration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, either online or in person at Upper Noe and other recreation centers.

Movie Night will start with live music from local dad-band The Funicellos and cartoons. The evening is hosted by Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center.

As with the tot concerts, donations are encouraged. March’s tot concert itself will be moved to March 17 to accommodate the arrangements that need to be made for the film.

Movie Night Needs Volunteers

Volunteers are still needed for Movie Night Saturday, March 10.

The first shift will help set up between 5 and 6 p.m., and the second group will help clean up between 9 and 10 p.m.

“Maybe this is the low-key opportunity you’ve been looking for to get more involved in our community,” said Karen Spira, who helped organize the event.

“Maybe you have a child at home who would enjoy learning about the fulfillment that comes with volunteering. Maybe you just really, really love The Parent Trap. Whatever the case, we need volunteers and would love your help.”

This event was organized by CRC members Allison Muir, Richard Hildreth, and Karen Spira with the help and cooperation of Upper Noe’s Levy Johnson and Cheryl Woltjen.

(Young volunteers should be accompanied by parents, please.)

Email info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com to help.

Summer Classes for Tots

Summer camp will occupy the auditorium—a popular indoor option for tots during the year—but the under-five crowd will have some options at Upper Noe this summer, too, said Cheryl Woltjen, Facility Coordinator for Upper Noe Recreation Center.

“We know that’s a void we wanted to fill,” she said.

There will be an outdoor class every day, mostly in the mornings. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, expect to see outdoor “alternative” recreation, meaning anything that is not sports, she said.

“We’re planning on using picnic tables for finger paining or bringing the toys out,” she said. “We’ll bring out the tot cars, the hula hoops.”

On Tuesday and Thursdays the center plans to offer “Express It,” an outdoor arts and crafts class for children up to three years old. On Wednesdays younger children can take Karate in the morning or make a mess in the kitchen with Petite Bakers in the afternoons.

Woltjen cautioned that all summer programming (besides summer camps) is tentative until mid-March, but she will have a better handle on what’s to come when she talks to parents March 10.

Sandbox Solution Found

Upper Noe’s sandbox finally has a cover, thanks to Karen Spira, a member of the center’s Community Recreation Council.

For the past year, the community has been searching for a solution to the on-going problem of cats using the sandbox as a litter box at night.

“We’re really excited about getting the sandbox covered because this is a health hazard,” said Spira, the mother of a two-year-old boy. “A lot of parents aren’t aware, and kids are bringing snacks into the sandbox.”

Spira and others on the council discussed many possible solutions—chicken wire, something made by a local tailor, a call to neighborhood engineers for ideas. Spira took-on the problem and found a good match for the project.

A web search yielded Custom Sandbox Covers, whose parent company has supplied marine canvas to businesses and government agencies for more than 30 years. The sandbox covers are made of the same high-grade, water permeable canvas used on U.S. Navy vessels.

A chain sewn into the cover’s hem allows it to fit over a sandbox much like a fitted sheet covers a mattress. The chain will be padlocked to a metal loop to prevent theft of the $1,800 cover. The Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center will pay for the cover and the lock.

“The tradeoff is that there’s going to be sandbox hours,” Spira said. The cover will be put on every evening when the site’s manager leaves. There is no staff on site Sundays and Mondays, so the sandbox will not be open on those days.

The Friends will also buy signs to explain the closure to parents as well as a box to store the canvas during the day. Spira is hopeful the cover will be ready within two months, she said.

The sandbox dilemma is what spurred Spira to join the Community Recreation Council, which is composed of local residents and Recreation and Parks department staff. Its role is to determine programming and events at Upper Noe, among other tasks.

(Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center is the park’s nonprofit partner and a fund-raising organization made up of neighbors. See story below.)

“To take action on something that’s been bothering me since my son was born has been really gratifying,” said Spira, who has been coming to the park with her husband since they moved around the corner about five years ago.

“We’ve always called the park our hangout because we don’t have a balcony or backyard,” she said. “We really feel grateful the park is here because it’s a wonderful resource.”

She hopes the site’s CRC will grow to include a wide variety of people, and she encourages park users to contact Facility Coordinator Cheryl Woltjen to join the group.

To learn more, visit http://www.noevalleyreccenter.com/get-involved/recreation-council-application or call the center at 415-970-8061.

Two Volunteer Organizations, One Park

There are two important but distinct volunteer organization that support and advocate for Upper Noe: the Community Recreation Council and the Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center.

The Community Recreation Council is part of the Recreation and Parks Department’s new organization model, implemented a year and a half ago.

Each recreation center has a CRC composed of seven members (including, ideally, one teen member) who meet monthly to discuss programming, safety issues, events and other park matters. Staff members help lead discussions and liaison between the community and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

(Upper Noe’s CRC needs more volunteers. Learn more here.)

The Friends group was established during the renovation of the park in 2008. Thanks to fiscal sponsorship through the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Friends can raise money for equipment, events, supplies and other park related projects. The Friends group can sponsor events, supplies, and projects that the CRC organizes or deems necessary for the park.

We have purchased many items for Upper Noe including AV equipment used for tot concerts, toys, art supplies, athletic equipment, and gardening projects. The Friends sponsor this newsletter, the free monthly tot concerts, the holiday music concert, and the Noe Valley Elementary School fair.

Together these two organizations give voice to Upper Noe’s community and facility needs.

If you enjoy the free events at Upper Noe, please consider giving a donation to the Friends group, join one of the organizations, or volunteer to help out at one of the events.

Tumbleweed Wanderers Play for the Tots

By turns solemn and lively, the Tumbleweed Wanderers will rock and roll with the tots Saturday, March 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Upper Noe Recreation Center auditorium.

TW is not a traditional kid band, but experience at the Noe Valley Farmer’s Market has shown them that children like their songs, said Jeremy Lyon, who started the band with Zak Mandel-Romann about a year ago.

“A lot of them are getting up and bobbing their legs and dancing,” he said. “They generally seem to have a good time just bopping along.”

The group grew from local roots: Mandel-Romann and Lyon formed an earlier band at Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.

“We spent a lot of time in Noe Valley at Happy Doughnuts, Dolores Park and cafes,” he said.

Lyon met Rob Fidel (vocals, banjo and guitar) at an open mic night in Santa Cruz; he met drummer Daniel Blum during an internship at a recording studio; and Mandel-Romann met keyboardist Patrick Glynn at band camp when both were young.

In the past year Tumbleweed Wanderers have played clubs, cafes, house parties and street shows. They recently finished a whirlwind two-week tour of the Southwest that included stops in California, Arizona and Colorado. On March 9, they will release their first acoustic extended play album at Bottom of the Hill.

This is the group’s first dedicated kid show, and Lyon expects they will focus on familiar cover songs from groups like The Beatles and bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, as well as their own material. They plan to bring a salad of acoustic instruments, including guitar, upright bass, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and a trashcan drumset.

Tot Rock is sponsored by The Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center through community donations. All families with children under the age of 5 welcome.

Volunteers Needed

• Serve as a greeter for the free concerts. The Friends of Noe Valley Rec Center need a “friend” to help us greet families during our monthly free concert. Let them know about our mailing list and introduce them to our small group. Our greeters hand out flyers and accept donations for the concert series. The next opportunity will be March 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Even volunteering for one hour would make a big difference!

• Help advise the city on what classes should be offered at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Serve a term on the Upper Noe Recreation Center’s Community Recreation Council and help shape programming at the Center. A teen member is still needed! Please contact Cheryl Woltjen at 970-8061. The form is available on our website and at the center. Please either drop it off or mail it to: Cheryl Woltjen, UNRC, 295 Day Street, SF, 94131.

• Distribute our new Friends of NVRC postcard. This newsletter is distributed to nearly 1,000 “friends.” Make sure interested neighbors know about our group by helping distribute our informational postcard around the neighborhood. Please email molly (at) noevalleyreccenter.com if you know of a good shop or cafe to distribute the postcards. Or you could help put them somewhere frequented by park users.

• Lead a new event. Are you interested in organizing a new event at the Center? Maybe a game night or movie night? We are also looking for someone who could add a creative addition to the park. We have limited space, but we’d love to see a new activity area or artistic display. Please email suggestions to info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

• Garden at the Park. Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with the Ladybug Gardeners on the second Saturday of every month. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Even an hour would be a big help! Please contact us at info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

Community Events

March 10

Ladybug Gardeners

9 a.m. to noon

Recreation Center grounds

Turn weeds into plants each month with the Ladybug Gardeners. Please bring gloves and a trowel. Lead Ladybug Joan Lionberger has gloves, projects and things to see for the kids, too.

March 10

Movie Night

6-9 p.m.

Recreation Center auditorium

Grab popcorn, learn about summer camps and watch the original Parent Trap.

March 17

Tot Concert

9 a.m. to noon

Recreation Center auditorium

Bring your under-fives and roll with the Tumbleweed Wanderers

March 21

Community Recreation Council

7 p.m.

Recreation Center kitchen

Help shape programming and priorities at Upper Noe
Outside the Center:

March 12-17

Word Week

Various Noe Valley locations

A week’s worth of literary events. Please see the Friends of Noe Valley‘s website to learn more.

Thanks for your interest and support of your park! Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. Let us know about any community events you are planning at the park so we can promote them. Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors who use the Noe Valley Recreation Center. We want this newsletter to help build the park community — please help us connect with members of the community.

Enjoy your Park!

Molly Sterkel (molly@noevalleyreccenter.com)

Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center

www.NoeValleyRecCenter.com

Tue-Fri
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Auditorium:

Tue
12:30-5:30p

Wed
4:15-5:30p

Th
9:30-noon
4:15-5:30p

Fr
12:30-4:30p

Sat
(varies, depending
on rentals)

Gym:

Tu
12:30-3:30p,

7-8:45p

Wed
12:30-3:30p,

6:30-8:45p

Th
11-3p

Fr
noon-8:30p

Sat
9-9:30a

February Fun

Register for Spring Classes
Field of Dreams
Summer Camp Preview
Coming Attraction: March Movie
Camp Mather Getaway
Lily Holbrook Plays for the Tots
Volunteer Opportunities

Register for Spring Classes

Spring classes begin the week of March 12, and come March 3, you can register for a growing number of choices for all ages at Upper Noe.

In addition to the regular favorites like Moovin’ and Groovin’ and Fairy Tale Frolics, tots will have two new options: Petite Bakers and Aikido. Bakers will be open to children ages three to four who want to stir things up in the facility’s little-used kitchen on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

“The thing with little kids is that they want to chop something, stir something or break something,” said Facility Coordinator Cheryl Woltjen. “If you can find recipes that have 12 eggs, you’re set!”

For those who want to wiggle rather than whisk, Aikido will be offered from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays for three- to five-year-olds. The class emphasizes  movement using the principles of Aikido, a martial art focused on mindfulness and movement rather than on fighting.

Older children will also have their pick between sports and arts. Both Futsol (indoor soccer) on Tuesdays and indoor basketball on Thursdays will divide children ages 6 to 12 into older and younger age groups to practice skills and drills.

Then on Fridays from 2:30 to 4:30, students can play theater games in a class called “So You Think You Can Act?”

Two hours later, adults can take the stage for an improvisational comedy class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The new classes are in addition to what was offered in the winter, Woltjen said. That means classes like Tango for seniors and Muy Thai for adults and tweens will continue as well.

“We haven’t had to cancel anything,” she said.

Register for classes in person at the center or online at www.sfreconline.org starting March 3.

Field of Dreams

Upper Noe is fielding two Spring Youth Baseball teams, both of which filled the day registration opened on Jan. 27, said Facility Coordinator Cheryl Wotljen.

The teams meet on Tuesdays, with the Kindergarteners starting at 3:30 p.m. and the first- and second-grade students starting an hour later. They will play other teams in the department’s league.

Though other sites still have openings, some players want to swing the bat at Upper Noe only, Woltjen said.

“People should sign up for the waitlist because the department might be able to add more teams,” she said. Interested parents should call Woltjen directly at 415-970-8061.

Summer Camp Preview

The Recreation and Parks Department’s venerated Pacific Art Camp comes to Upper Noe Recreation Center this summer for four two-week sessions of dance, theater, art and music.

Children ages 6 to 12 will be divided by age into groups that rotate among the four disciplines, said Clove Galilee, the department’s program coordinator for dance and theater. A fifth one-week half-day session for children ages 5 and 6 will happen August 6 to 10.

A Parents Night Recital Showcase and Art Exhibition caps each session.

“Each age group performs everything they’ve learned,” she said. “It’s a unique camp.”

There’s plenty to show off. The children make color wheels and self portraits as part of an art curriculum that includes learning about the color spectrum and negative space. In dance they have a chance to choreograph as well as dance to someone else’s tune. They sing rock and a capella in music, and in theater, they create plays and skits.

Each of the four teachers is a specialist in a particular fine art, Galilee said.

“This is our first time at Upper Noe,” she said. “I think we’re going to hit a whole new group of kids, which will be exciting.”

Children must attend both weeks of their camp session, which costs $250 for city residents. Sessions start June 4, June 18, July 9 and July 23. Camp hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Extended care, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., is available for $160 for the two weeks.

These tween-age children may use the playground during their lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. and sometimes in the pre- and after-care hours, said Jenny Rogers, a Cultural Arts Supervisor with the department.

“Our PAC kids are 7 to 12 and would not be allowed to use the equipment designated for use only by younger children,” she said. “We plan to have organized activities during our Pre-Care & After-Care, so it will definitely not be all playground time.”

See a complete catalog of camps at www.sfreconline.com starting Monday, February 6. Registration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 17. You can register online or in person at Upper Noe Recreation Center.

Coming Attraction: March Movie

March 10 will be Movie Night at Upper Noe, thanks to volunteer Allison Muir, who arranged for the free screening of the original “Parent Trap.”

Muir, a recent transplant from the Balboa Park neighborhood, serves on Upper Noe’s Community Recreation Council, and she hatched her idea at the November meeting. The Community Recreation Council, composed of local residents, works with SF Recreation and Parks to determine programming and events at Upper Noe.

“Upper Noe was one of the big draws of why we bought our house here,” said Muir, who has two children ages one and two. “Since I have little kids, I wanted to make sure there were good things there and that I was contributing.”

She chose the original version of the movie, which stars Hayley Mills and Maureen O’Hara, because she has fond memories of watching the G-rated film with her sisters as a child. She also knew the film could appeal to parents.

“It has a separate story line that’s more adult about divorce and romance as well as having those ‘tween aspects,” said Muir.

What’s more, the story begins at a summer camp. Since registration for Recreation and Parks Department summer camps begins the following Saturday, there will be camp information available in the auditorium before the movie, she said.

“It’s a kick-off for summer camp!” she said.

The evening will start with live music from The Funicellos, a group of groovy dads—including Muir’s husband—who took their name from Annette Funicello, a popular cast member of the Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s.

As it happens, Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon sing the opening credits to “The Parent Trap,” and Muir hopes the band will play the theme song and more at 6 p.m. as movie go-ers arrive and grab their popcorn. There will also be cartoons before the movie.

The evening is hosted by Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center.  As with the tot concerts, donations are encouraged. March’s tot concert itself will be moved to March 17 to accommodate the arrangements that need to be made for the film, said Kate Haug of Friends.

Camp Mather Getaway

Registration for the Camp Mather lottery ends February 5, leaving hundreds of San Francisco residents crossing their fingers in the hopes of being chosen for a cabin or tent space at the rustic week-long summer camp.

“It’s such a great tradition,” said Tanya Shadoan, whose family has gone every year since 2009. The scenery is beautiful, the internet-free atmosphere is relaxing and she always runs into people she knows while meeting new folks, too.

Perhaps best of all, her two daughters, Olivia in fourth grade and Zoe in sixth, love the independence they have there.

“Bikes are ditched everywhere. Nothing is locked. It’s all very safe and very communal,” said the San Francisco native. “People look out for each other’s kids, too.”

Because the cabins are unlocked and meals are prepared by camp staff, the children come and go as they please. During the day they jump on their bikes and head to the many activities offered by the camp: archery, swimming, hiking, ping pong and campfire fun, for example. There are crafts, two talent shows, a bingo night and movie night and a party at the end of the week.

The site is also 45 minutes from the Yosemite, and Shadoan’s family has biked the valley floor and floated the Merced River. Whether with family friends, her parents or her children’s school buddies, Shadoan and her husband Andy Ferguson have enjoyed their visits, and they hope for many more as their children grow.

“I love to see the teenagers who you would think wouldn’t be caught dead going to a family camp with their parents,” she said. They hang out with their friends, buying ice-cream at the general store late at night and pal-ing around. “They love it because they’ve gone since they were kids,” she said. And then she crossed her fingers for good luck.

For information about Camp Mather, including lottery details, facilities and cost, please visit http://sfrecpark.org/CampMather.aspx.

Lily Holbrook
Plays for the Tots

Sweet-tongued Lily Holbrook will sing for the tots at this month’s second Saturday concert on February 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Upper Noe Recreation Center’s auditorium.

“I have some songs lined up, and I’m planning on learning a couple of new songs,” said Holbrook, an East Coast native who is studying childhood development.

She plays cover songs, too.

“Kids really respond to Cat Stevens,” she said. Holbrook plays guitar while singing, so making the wheels on the bus go ’round mid-song can be challenging, but she is coming up with alternatives.

She has lived as a musician for the past 14 years, and her three albums have a full band and an edginess to them. The first, “Running From the Sky,” has been described as a somber fairy tale. “They weren’t written with kids in mind, but they work,” she said. Plus, her acoustic sets are more folky, she said.

Tot Rock is sponsored by The Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center through community donations. All families with children under the age of 5 welcome.

Volunteers Needed

• Serve as a greeter for the free concerts. The Friends of Noe Valley Rec Center need a “friend” to help us greet families during our monthly free concert. Let them know about our mailing list and introduce them to our small group. Our greeters hand out flyers and accept donations for the concert series. The next opportunity will be February 11 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Even volunteering for one hour would make a big difference!

• Help advise the city on what classes should be offered at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Serve a term on the Upper Noe Recreation Center’s Community Recreation Council and help shape programming at the Center. A teen member is still needed! Please contact Cheryl Woltjen at 970-8061. The form is available on our website and at the center. Please either drop it off or mail it to: Cheryl Woltjen, UNRC, 295 Day Street, SF, 94131.

• Distribute our new Friends of NVRC postcard. This newsletter is distributed to nearly 1,000 “friends.” Make sure interested neighbors know about our group by helping distribute our informational postcard around the neighborhood. Please email molly (at) noevalleyreccenter.com if you know of a good shop or cafe to distribute the postcards. Or you could help put them somewhere frequented by park users.

• Lead a new event. Are you interested in organizing a new event at the Center? Maybe a game night or movie night? Please let us know.

• Develop a new plan for the sandbox area or some other park addition. If you know of a person who wants to help re-imagine and re-engineer the sandbox area, please let us know. We are also looking for someone who could add a new creative addition to the park. We have limited space, but we’d love to see a new activity area or artistic addition to the park. The Friends group is looking for suggestions.

• Garden at the Park. Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with the Ladybug Gardeners on the second Saturday of every month. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Even an hour would be a big help! Please contact us at info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

Community Events

February 11
Tot Concert
9 to 11 a.m.
Recreation Center auditorium

Lily Holbrook let’s loose for the little ones.

February 11
Ladybug Gardeners
9 a.m. to noon
Recreation Center grounds

Turn weeds into plants each month with the Ladybug Gardeners. Please bring gloves and a trowel. Lead Ladybug Joan Lionberger has gloves, projects and things to see for the kids, too.

February 15
Community Recreation Council
7 p.m.
Recreation Center kitchen

Help shape programming and priorities at Upper Noe

Outside the Center:

February 16
Friends of Noe Valley
Thursday, February 16
7 p.m.
James Lick Middle School library 1220 Noe Street at 25th.

Help plan future events, including the popular annual Garden Tour.

Thanks for your interest and support of your park! Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. Let us know about any community events you are planning at the park so we can promote them. Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors who use the Noe Valley Recreation Center. We want this newsletter to help build the park community — please help us connect with members of the community.

Enjoy your Park!

Molly Sterkel (molly@noevalleyreccenter.com)
Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center
www.NoeValleyRecCenter.com

The center has a lost & found?

This month’s updated hours:

Tue-Fri
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Auditorium:

Tue
12:30-5:30p

Wed
4:15-5:30p

Th
9:30-noon
4:15-5:30p

Fr
12:30-4:30p

Sat
(varies, depending
on rentals)

Gym:

Tu
12:30-3:30p,

7-8:45p

Wed
12:30-3:30p,

6:30-8:45p

Th
11-3p

Fr
noon-8:30p

Sat
9-9:30a

Facility Coordinator Here to Stay
Circus Finelli Returns to Rock the Tots
Ahead at the Recreation Center
Pay Any Way
Belly Up to Upper Noe
All Is Not Lost
An Opportunity to Improve the Park
Volunteers Needed

Facility Coordinator Here to Stay

Upper Noe Recreation Center may have finally found a long-term facility coordinator, just in time for a new year of exciting programming.

Cheryl Woltjen stepped into the role in December and has set to work fulfilling her goal of getting the best programming into the safest and spiffiest facility possible.

“I want it to be a place where you and your kid can feel safe and have a good time in our programs,” she said.

Woltjen joined the Recreation and Parks Department in 1991, working as a substitute instructor. The bulk of her experience lies in working with younger children.

“At the beginning, I was mostly with the afterschool programs,” she said. She was primarily located at Richmond Recreation Center and the Douglass Playground and Midtown Terrace clubhouses.

Woltjen believes the department’s new structure, implemented about a year ago, allows facility coordinators to focus holistically on one site.

“I can really devote all my attention to the well-being of the whole place,” said Woltjen. She hopes to enlist the help of park users by urging them to contact her right away when they see any problems.

Her experience means she knows who to call for what problem when.

“I have the pulse to all the different people I need to contact to fix things,” she said. “I don’t have to start from scratch.”

She is joined by Levi Johnson, the site-based program coordinator who is responsible for adult fitness programming across the city. There are four additional part-time staffers who help set up and break down equipment and staff the office.

A Chicago native, Woltjen now lives in Alameda with her husband and two of her three daughters, ages 17, 25 and 30. An occasional jazzercizer, Woltjen gets most of her exercise while perched on her bicycle. The flat topography of the East Bay island allows her to use her bike like a car, running errands to the store, for example.

Her daughters keep her on her toes, and so will the devoted park users. Wotljen already attended her first Community Recreation Council meeting in December. (See article below.)

She wants park users to know that there is some flexibility in programming and therefore open hours in the gym and auditorium.

“People should call to confirm so they’re not inconvenienced,” she said.

Circus Finelli Comes to Rock the Tots

Circus Finelli will wow the crowds at January’s second-Saturday tot concert, Jan. 14 from 9 to 11 a.m.

The four-women clown troupe specializes in irreverent, cartoonish circus comedy set to the beat of a wide range of instruments.

“We do acrobatics, juggling—funny things,” said Luz Gaxiola, who plays accordion, trombone, kazoo, bombast and theremin. Gaziola is joined by Mahsa Matin on guitar, trombone, trumpet and exotic percussion contraptions, Verka Zaskodna on vocals, duck horn, and melodica, and Molly Shannon’s backup dancing.

You can see a video of Circus Finelli here. (Scroll down the page about half way.)

Tot Rock is sponsored by The Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center through community donations. All families with children under the age of 5 welcome.

Ahead at the Recreation Center

Want to get some exercise while your little one makes art?

The suggestion of such a combination class drew a lot of enthusiasm from members of Upper Noe’s Community Recreation Council at its second meeting Dec. 14.

New Facility Coordinator Cheryl Woltjen wrote down programming suggestions bandied about by five council members. Levi Johnson, the site-based program coordinator who is responsible for adult fitness programming across the city, added a few ideas too.

Programming for young children remains a priority. Possibilities include a Mommy and Me yoga, a Mommy and Me crawling class and a Strollercize class that would thread through the neighborhood.

Staff hope to make more use of the site’s stage, potentially opening up more programming while keeping the auditorium open for tots. The new adult belly dancing class on Thursday afternoons will start out on the stage, Johnson said. If its popularity grows, it would move down to the auditorium floor, he said. (See article below.)

A spontaneous board-game club for tweens has taken center stage Fridays after school. So far a handful of parents have wrangled the dozen or so participants, making room chess, Jenga and other games. A generous donation from Blue Orange Games instantly doubled the number of options available to the children.

Neither program is in the winter schedule; however, belly dancers can pay per class and at present the game club is open to all comers. (Parents are encouraged to stay if their children are less mature.)

Other programming possibilities included a Friday night movie series that would appeal to children and parents alike and a dog training or dog exercise class.

“We’re trying to build senior and afterschool school-age programming,” Wotljen said.

The council also continued discussion on how best to store the auditorium’s many toys during programming for those who don’t use them. Woltjen has asked the department’s capable carpenters to look at the site and come up with ideas for a custom-built solution.

Pay Any Way

Upper Noe is now equipped to take your money three ways: credit, debit or cash. You can register and pay for an entire term or pay for just a drop-in class.

Belly Up to Upper Noe

Adults looking for an interesting fitness regimen can shake it up at the center’s new Belly Dancing Class on Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the auditorium stage.

Though the class wasn’t organized in time to make it into the winter schedule, hip shakers can drop in and pay $5 for each class.

All is Not Lost

Lost that baby blanket that grandma spent months knitting? What about a cherished stuffed animal or toy? Frazzled parents will be happy to learn that Upper Noe Recreation Center has a lost & found inside the hallway across from the office. Come claim your goods!

An Opportunity to Improve the Park

Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center would like to reconfigure the sandbox area or the back patio, two capital improvements that are eligible for funding from the Community Opportunity Fund.

The fund is part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks General Obligation Bond, and the third and final round of applications are due in June.

The final round of projects will divvy up $1.25 million. Applications will be released in March, and required workshops will happen between March and April. Applications will be due in June, and winners will be announced in September, according to the department’s website.

Last year’s winners ranged from stairway beautification at Lincoln Park to an adult fitness area at Boeddeker Park, with grants between $6,500 to nearly quarter million dollars awarded.

The public monies must be matched by private funds, so please email us at info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com with your ideas.

Volunteers Needed

• Serve as a greeter for the free concerts. The Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center need a “friend” to help us greet families during our monthly free concert. Let them know about our mailing list and introduce them to our small group. Our greeters hand out flyers and accept donations for the concert series. The next opportunity will be Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even volunteering for one hour would make a big difference!

• Help advise the city on what programming should be offered at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Serve a term on the Community Recreation Council and help shape programming. A teen member is still needed! Please contact Cheryl Woltjen at 970-8061. The form is available on our website and at the center. Please either drop it off or mail it to: Cheryl Woltjen, UNRC, 295 Day Street, SF, 94131.

• Distribute our new Friends of NVRC postcard. This newsletter is distributed to nearly 1,000 “friends.” Make sure interested neighbors know about our group by helping distribute our informational postcard around the neighborhood. Please email molly (at) noevalleyreccenter.com if you know of a good shop or cafe to distribute the postcards. Or you could help put them somewhere frequented by park users.

• Lead a new event. Are you interested in organizing a new event at the Center? Maybe a game night or movie night? Please let us know by emailing info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

• Develop a new plan for the sandbox area or some other park addition. If you know of a person who wants to help re-imagine and re-engineer the sandbox area, please let us know. We are also looking for someone who could add a new creative addition to the park. We have limited space, but we’d love to see a new activity area or artistic addition to the park. The Friends group is looking for suggestions.

• Garden at the Park. Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with the Ladybug Gardeners on the second Saturday of every month. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Even an hour would be a big help! Please contact us at info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

Community Events

January 11
Upper Noe Neighbors meeting
7:30 p.m.
Auditorium

Update on the recent sexual assaults.

January 14
Tot Concert
9 to 11 a.m.
Auditorium

Bring your under fives to jam with Circus Finelli.

January 14
Ladybug Gardeners
9 a.m. to noon
Rec center grounds

Turn weeds into plants each month with the Ladybug Gardeners. Please bring gloves and a trowel. Lead Ladybug Joan Lionberger has gloves, projects and things to see for the kids, too.

January 18
Upper Noe Community Recreation Council
7 p.m.
Kitchen

Help determine programming and priorities for Upper Noe Recreation Center.

Outside the Center:

January 14
Friends of Billy Goat Hill
Saturday, January 14
1 to 3 p.m.
Billy Goat Hill, Castro and 30th streets

Help the Friends of Billy Goat Hill keep the steep park looking good.

Thanks for your interest and support of your park! Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. Let us know about any community events you are planning at the park so we can promote them. Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors who use the Noe Valley Recreation Center. We want this newsletter to help build the park community — please help us connect with members of the community.

Enjoy your Park!

Molly Sterkel (molly@noevalleyreccenter.com)

Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center

www.NoeValleyRecCenter.com

This month’s updated hours:

Tue-Fri
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tot Room:

Tue
1-6p

Wed
1:30-2:30, 4:30-5:30p

Th
12:30-6p

Fr
1-4:30p

Sat
(varies, depending
on
rentals)

Gym:

Tu
9-3:30p,
7-8:30p

Wed
1-4:30p, 7-8:45p

Th
9-4p

Fr
9-4:30p

Sat
9-noon

Happy Holidays! Farewell 2011!

Farmers’ Market CD Release Party
Looking Good From Behind
Neighbors Weigh in on Programming, Storage
Winter Classes Begin
Holiday Hours
Holiday Tree Lighting
Volunteer Opportunities

Farmers’ Market CD Release Party

December’s second-Saturday concert for tots will feature not one, not two, but 11 bands and musicians playing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate the recently released Farmers’ Market CD.

Look for The SHE’s, Erin Brazill & the Brazillionaires, Lily Holbrook, Mick Shaffer, Kailua Blue, Brian Bergeron, Circus Finelli, The Improbabillies (formerly Failure to Disperse), David Kesler, Kif and James Byfield (of Blind Lemon Pledge)—all featured on the CD. There will be face painting for the kids and food trucks on the basketball court.

A holiday event co-sponsored by the Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center and the Noe Valley Farmers’ Market, the concert celebrates the music played at the market each Saturday.

Richard Hildreth, who arranges music for the market and for the second-Saturday tot concerts at Upper Noe, produced the CD. His goal was to do more than showcase great local musicians, he said. He also hopes to raise awareness of the neighborhood’s effort to buy the parking lot that hosts the market, on 24th Street between Sanchez and Vicksburg streets.

“One thing I’ve already noticed is how many people are still unaware of what could happen to the parking lot,” Hildreth said.

The lot is owned by the Noe Valley Ministry, which needs the money from a sale to refurbish its 123-year-old Sanchez Street building. Advocates are hoping the city will use some of its open space acquisition funds to cover at least part of the estimated $4 million asking price. Neighborhood-raised funds would cover the rest of the acquisition costs, the conversion of the lot to a flexible-use town square and upkeep. Visit Residents for Noe Valley Town Square to stay abreast of the progress. Scroll down to the post on Feb. 22, 2011, to see the conceptual drawings of the square.

Donations at the party will go toward the Town Square effort.

Looking Good From Behind

Thanks to all who came out and helped plant the long-neglected backside of the Recreation Center!

Young and old, familiar faces and new—-many people helped make the Sanchez Street side a more beautiful place.

The effort started Saturday, Nov. 12, when volunteers prepared the site for planting. The following Friday and Saturday, volunteers planted hundreds of plants. Nature did its job, too, adding heavy rain on Sunday that probably helped start the plants on the right foot.

The dream to green the Sanchez Street side of the center is an old one. Lead Ladybug Gardener Joan Lionberger, who has lived across the street from Upper Noe since she was born, said she doesn’t think this hillside has ever been planted, so it was quite a monumental occasion to get it planted with hundreds of native California plants.

There are a few more plants that we can use to fill in a few more spots in early December. A special thanks to Teresa O’Brien, park section supervisor, Kristin Bowman and Brian Dwyer from the Recreation and Parks Department, who helped make the planting happen.

Neighbors Weigh in on Programming, Storage

Upper Noe’s Community Recreation Council will hold its second meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 7 to 8:15 p.m., when staff expect to introduce the center’s new facility coordinator and continue discussion from the first meeting in November.

Last month, six residents joined Recreation and Park staff at Upper Noe’s first CRC meeting to discuss programming and storage.

“We’re thinking of more dance and theater for adults and tweens,” said Thomas Iglesias, the site’s temporary facility coordinator.

Three council members have preschool-aged children, so there was also discussion of the immensely popular tot programming and the availability of the auditorium for open tot hours.

“All the neighborhood members thought the tot programs were a big success and a vital part of the neighborhood,” said Kate Haug, a neighbor and FONVRC co-chair who is serving on the council.

The community members agreed that the heavy use by children, their families and their care-givers added a vibrancy to the park.

“It’s a great example of a public space providing a needed service to the community,” she said.

At the same time, everyone agreed that expanding programming and use of the auditorium are goals for the Council, she said. One challenge will be to juggle class times to make best use of the space for all ages.

Storage looms large because the auditorium’s many toys—a joy to the tots who play there but a barrier to multi-purpose use—cannot be stored beneath the stage because the access is too difficult, he said.

“We’re looking for some storage that’s good to the eye,” Thomas said. “We’re thinking of looking for storage bins and put it where the couches are.”

Iglesias continues to invite anyone interested in influencing the center to come to the meetings, though in the future they may be closed to all but council members.

Councils comprised of staff and local residents based out of each recreation center in the city will eventually shape local programming, an idea the department rolled out about a year ago. Ideally, the Councils have seven members, including one teen. To fill out an application, please ask at the Rec Center, or show up at the meeting, or print out the version on our website, www.noevalleyreccenter.com, under the tab “Getting Involved.” To learn more, please email Iglesias at thomas.iglesias (at) sfgov.org or his supervisor, Karla Rosales at karla.rosales (at) sfgov.org.

Winter Classes Begin

Registration for winter classes begins Saturday, Dec. 17, and Upper Noe and its surrounding sister centers have dozens of classes for all ages on tap.

New this term at Upper Noe is a tango dance class for seniors, said Facility Coordinator Thomas Iglesias.

“It will be our first senior program in a while,” he said.

There will also be the usual run of art and movement classes for tots. Tweens and teens can join basketball teams for three age levels, plus the usual tennis and Muy Thai kickboxing classes. Adults can whip themselves into shape with a boot camp or a Pilates class.

“Everything that worked, we’re keeping,” Iglesias said. “We didn’t grow too much because [the department is] telling us we’re over budget.”

     One neighborhood over, the Eureka Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood Street, has a long list of classes that include more options for tweens, adolescents and adults, like cooking, dodgeball and street hockey. There is also a social club for seniors.

Across Mission Street, St. Mary’s Recreation Center, Murray Street and Justin Drive, offers dance and martial arts for all ages, plus adult tennis. Bernal Heights Recreation Center, 500 Moultrie Street, has a line-up of classes very similar to Upper Noe’s.

To the south, Glen Park Recreation Center, Elk and Chenery streets, offers seniors art and fitness. Adults can relax with Tai Chi, and children can enjoy a month of Saturdays with Tree Frog Treks, a science education and adventure camp.

To register, visit www.sfreconline.org. The department has re-vamped its website, so the browsing process has changed. To see our programs or those at our sister centers, select Browse Programs and do an advanced search for All Programs. You can then browse by facility.

Holiday Hours at Upper Noe

All our local recreation centers have the same business hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year Christmas and New Year’s fall on Sundays and the official “day off” to mark each holiday is the following Monday (Dec. 26 and Jan. 2). The good news is that means there are no special holiday hours at any of these centers this year. (The bad news is that rec centers could be open on Mondays if the department’s budget wasn’t so diminshed.)

Bernal Heights, Glen Park and Upper Noe recreation centers will all offer mid-December holiday workshops for the under-five crowd. At Upper Noe, young ones will celebrate the holidays with crafts, songs and stories at Holiday Happenings, a two-day workshop on Dec. 14 and 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Bernal will also have a holiday camp the week before Christmas. See www.sfreconline.org for more details. To search by facility, choose Browse Programs, then do an advanced search for All Classes. You can then sort by facility.

Holiday Tree Lighting

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department invites San Franciscans to the 82nd annual lighting of the venerable Monterey cypress tree at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park, Thursday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The evening is free and features small rides for children, live entertainment, a cookie factory, arts and crafts and a visit from Santa. For more information, visit www.sfrecpark.org.

Volunteers Needed

• Serve as a greeter for the free concerts. The Friends of Noe Valley Rec Center need a “friend” to help us greet families during our monthly free concert. Let them know about our mailing list and introduce them to our small group. Our greeters hand out flyers and accept donations for the concert series. The next opportunity will be Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even volunteering for one hour would make a big difference!

• Help advise the city on what classes should be offered at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Serve a term on the Upper Noe Recreation Center’s Community Recreation Council and help shape programming at the Center. A teen member is still needed! Please contact Thomas Iglesias at 970-8061. The form is available on our website and at the center. Please either drop it off or mail it to: Thomas Igelsias, UNRC, 295 Day Street, SF, 94131.

• Distribute our new Friends of NVRC postcard. This newsletter is distributed to nearly 1,000 “friends.” Make sure interested neighbors know about our group by helping distribute our informational postcard around the neighborhood. Please email molly (at) noevalleyreccenter.com if you know of a good shop or cafe to distribute the postcards. Or you could help put them somewhere frequented by park users.

• Lead a new event. Are you interested in organizing a new event at the Center? Maybe a game night or movie night? Please let us know.

• Develop a new plan for the sandbox area or some other park addition. If you know of a person who wants to help re-imagine and re-engineer the sandbox area, please let us know. We are also looking for someone who could add a new creative addition to the park. We have limited space, but we’d love to see a new activity area or artistic addition to the park. The Friends group is looking for suggestions.

• Garden at the Park. Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with the Ladybug Gardeners on the second Saturday of every month. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Even an hour would be a big help! Please contact us at info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com

Community Events

December 10
Farmers’ Market CD Release Party
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Auditorium

Celebrate the release of the Farmers’ Market CD by dancing to the kid-friendly bands who appear on the disk.

December 10
Ladybug Gardeners
9 a.m. to noon
Recreation Center grounds

Turn weeds into plants each month with the Ladybug Gardeners. Please bring gloves and a trowel. Lead Ladybug Joan Lionberger has gloves, projects and things to see for the kids, too.

December 14
Community Recreation Council
7 to 8:15 p.m.
auditorium

Help determine programming and priorities for Upper Noe Recreation Center.

Outside the Center:

December 1-24
Noe Valley’s HoliDAYS
December 1-24
24th Street

Santa, reindeer, cocoa, shopping specials: you can find a full line-up on the calendars available in 24th Street shopping district stores.

December 7
Noe Valley Wine Walk
Wednesday December 7
4 to 8 p.m.
24th Street

Walk or ride the motorized cable car along 24th Street from Chattanooga to Diamond streets at the first Noe Valley Holiday Wine Walk. Participating wineries include Terra Sávia Bourassa Vineyards and Wine Thieves. Buy a “Tasting Wristband” prior to the event at http://www.sresproductions.com/noe_valley_holiday_wine_walk.html or on-site at the Farmers Market parking lot between Sanchez and Vicksburg. Wine glasses and a map of tasting locations will be available at the parking lot.

December 8
82nd Annual Lighting of McClaren Lodge Cypress Tree
Wednesday December 7
5 to 7:30 p.m.
McClaren Lodge, Stanyan at Fell

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department invites San Franciscans to the 82nd annual lighting of the venerable Monterey cypress tree at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. The evening is free and features small rides for children, live entertainment, a cookie factory, arts and crafts and a visit from Santa. For more information, visit www.sfrecpark.org.

Thanks for your interest and support of your park! Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. Let us know about any community events you are planning at the park so we can promote them. Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors who use the Noe Valley Recreation Center. We want this newsletter to help build the park community — please help us connect with members of the community.

Enjoy your Park!

Molly Sterkel (molly@noevalleyreccenter.com)
Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center
www.NoeValleyRecCenter.com

Tue-Fri
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tot Room:

Tue
1-6p

Wed
1:30-2:30, 4:30-5:30p

Th
12:30-6p

Fr
1-4:30p

Sat
(varies, depending
on
rentals)

Gym:

Tu
9-3:30p,
7-8:30p

Wed
1-4:30p, 7-8:45p

Th
9-4p

Fr
9-4:30p

Sat
9-noon

Fall into November’s Schedule

Urgent Call for 20 Planting Volunteers
Help Shape Programming at UNRC
Meet Thomas Iglesias, New Facility Coordinator
Youth Classes Underenrolled
New Fall Classes Begin Now
City League Basketball at Upper Noe
Nobody from Nashville: Bluegrass for the Tots
New Signs Give Direction
Volunteer Opportunities

 Volunteers Needed

• Serve as a greeter for the free concerts. The Friends of Noe Valley Rec Center need a “friend” to help us greet families during our monthly free concert. Let them know about our mailing list and introduce them to our small group. Our greeters hand out flyers and accept donations for the concert series. The next opportunity will be Nov. 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. Even volunteering for one hour would make a big difference!

• Help advise the city on what classes should be offered at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Serve a term on the Upper Noe Recreation Center’s Community Recreation Council and help shape programming at the Center. Please contact Thomas Iglesias at 970-8061. The form is available on our website and at the center. Please either drop it off or mail it to: Thomas Igelsias, UNRC, 295 Day Street, SF, 94131.

• Distribute our new Friends of NVRC postcard. This newsletter is distributed to nearly 1,000 “friends.” Make sure interested neighbors know about our group by helping distribute our informational postcard around the neighborhood. Please email molly (at) noevalleyreccenter.com if you know of a good shop or cafe to distribute the postcards. Or you could help put them somewhere frequented by park users.

• Lead a new event. Are you interested in organizing a new event at the Center? Maybe a game night or movie night? Please let us know.

• Develop a new plan for the sandbox area or some other park addition. If you know of a person who wants to help re-imagine and re-engineer the sandbox area, please let us know. We are also looking for someone who could add a new creative addition to the park. We have limited space, but we’d love to see a new activity area or artistic addition to the park. The Friends group is looking for suggestions.

• Garden at the Park. Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with the Ladybug Gardeners on the second Saturday or every month. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Even an hour would be a big help!

 Community Events

November 9
Community Recreation Council
Wednesday, November 9
7 to 8:15 p.m.
Whether you’ve filled out a form or not, please come to Upper Noe’s first meeting of its Community Recreation Council. We will discuss goals for the council and programming for the center.

November 12
Live Music in the Auditorium (tot room)
Saturday, November 12
9 to 11 a.m.
Join Jamie Maddox and his hard-driving bluegrass band Nobody from Nashville at the Saturday concert. The Friends of Noe Valley Recreation Center is glad to sponsor Saturday morning live music in the Auditorium/Tiny Tot room at the Rec Center. Tot room open, too! Come by with your child and enjoy the music.

November 12
Ladybug Gardeners
Saturday, November 12
9 a.m. to noon
Recreation Center grounds
Turn weeds into plants each month with the Ladybug Gardeners. Please bring gloves and a trowel. Lead Ladybug Joan Lionberger has gloves, projects and things to see for the kids, too.

November 18 & 19
Plant Sanchez Street
Friday, November 18
9 a.m. to noon
Saturday, November 19
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Help us plant the Sanchez Street side of Upper Noe Recreation Center! (More information in article above.)

Outside the Center:
November 16
Noe Valley Democratic Club
Wednesday November 16
7:30 p.m.
St. Philips Church, 725 Diamond Street at Elizabeth Street

Corey D. Cook, an assistant professor of politics at USF and the director of the Leo McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, will review and analyze the November election results. Co-sponsored with San Francisco for Democracy.

Thanks for your interest and support of your park! Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. Let us know about any community events you are planning at the park so we can promote them. Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors who use the Noe Valley Recreation Center. We want this newsletter to help build the park community — please help us connect with members of the community.
Enjoy your Park!

Molly Sterkel (molly@noevalleyreccenter.com)
Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center
www.NoeValleyRecCenter.com