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BEST PHOTO SHOW
The opening reception of “Best Photo,” a photo show consisting of 50 images, each submitted by different photographers, was Friday March 2. The photos represent the self-proclaimed “best” from their collections, along with the story of why they chose the images they did. You’ll get a little history of the photographers and the storytelling behind the images.
What does the Photo Center mean by best? They wanted to see photographer’s favorite works and requested submissions that spoke to them an emotional way, in a technical way, or something they imagined and then executed perfectly. Each photo includes a few lines telling us about the image submitted, including why it was chosen it and what it means to them.
The show is presented by the Harvey Milk Photo Center in collaboration with Through the Lens and will be on view through March 22. Through the Lens is a revolving pop-up photography show, featuring a community of over 100 (and growing) local artists. Photographic subjects range from famous Bay Area landmarks, sunsets, nature, street photography and urban landscapes.
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11TH ANNUAL DOGFEST APRIL 7
DogFest returns to Duboce Park on Saturday, April 7 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. This annual event is a celebration of dogs and kids benefitting McKinley Elementary School, a K-5 public school at Castro and 14th Streets. The festival offers something for everyone -- dogs, kids, and parents of both breeds.
There are lots of great competitions for dogs and their human owners and celebrity judges will pick winners in eight categories: Best Costume, Best Tail, Best Trick, Best Coat, Best Mutt, Best Ears, and Best Lap Dog. You can register your dog to be part of the contests here
There’s also the Most Openly Corrupt Best-In-Show category. Here’s how that works: the winners of each of the main categories (bark, trick, etc.) and anyone who wants to buy their way in for $50 will be entered in the final contest of the day, the Openly Corrupt Best-In-Show contest. The audience will then vote for their favorite dog by putting donations into different buckets for the different dogs. At the end, the dog with the most donations will be crowned Best-In-Show. It really is corrupt, but it’s all in good fun with the goal of raising the most money possible for the school. Celebrity judges will choose the winners.
There will also be entertainment, a raffle, a silent auction, a Chow Zone, a Rescue Zone, and a Kid Carnival featuring carnival games, bouncy houses, balloon animals, face painting, children’s activities, baked goods, cotton candy, popcorn, and snow cones.
All the proceeds from the event goes directly to support the academic and enrichment programs for more than 350 children at McKinley. For more information, the schedule of events, or to register your dog for a contest, visit the Dogfest website.
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NEXT VOLUNTEER DAY MARCH 10
Join the Friends of Duboce Park at our next volunteer day this Saturday, March 10 from 10 a.m.-noon. Last month we did some replanting and removed weeds in the planting beds in front of the Scott Street entrance of the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts (see before and after pictures below). We will continue planting on Scott Street this Saturday. Rec and Park gardeners prepared the planting beds so they are ready for new plants.
At other recent volunteer days, we put in some new plants around the Scott Street Labyrinth, removed graffiti, and did weeding and planting in the Pierce Street circle and the triangle near the basketball courts.
Contact rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370 for more information or with any questions or comments. Our volunteer day is always the second Saturday of every month. 30 minutes or an hour of your time makes a big difference in the appearance of our park. Volunteers gave more than 203,000 hours of their time and energy to improving our 225 parks and recreation facilities in 2017. Those hours are equal to $6 million in park services.
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POLICE IN THE PARK
A neighbor reported on Next Door on March 1 that, “It looks like at some point last night someone broke the passenger side mirrors on at least five cars parked on Duboce at the park.” The person reported this to SFPD and encouraged others to do the same. There's not much crime in or around Duboce Park, but there is some.
Park Station officers do go through the park regularly -- at least once each night or early morning -- and Capt. Bailey has asked officers to get out of their patrol car and check around the Recreation Center and dark areas of the park for illegal camping or drug use. Veteran Officer Jeff Sung is part of the homeless outreach teach at Park Station and is often the officer performing the check. He said the captain has asked officers to complete a form after each night or early morning visit to the park.
SFPD Chief William Scott announced on August 31 that he was doubling the number of uniformed foot beat officers on San Francisco streets to help curb violence and property crime. Park Station has had two regular foot beats – one in the Upper Haight and the other in the Duboce Triangle and Duboce Park and more officers will be assigned foot beats as classes graduate from the Police Academy.
A police presence does deter crime in Duboce Park and other parks. The Chronicle reported that when the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds had their grand opening on February 14, “two police officers, two park rangers and four private security guards were standing watch at midday, making the new playgrounds probably the safest place to be in San Francisco. The playgrounds will be monitored during the night to make sure that adults — accompanied or unaccompanied — stay out.” The playgrounds will be monitored by park rangers and community groups and ambassadors. There was a monitor posted there last Monday afternoon and there was no visible signs of any illegal activity.
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LEARN TO DJ OR PODCAST
Registration began on March 3 for Spring Classes being offered at Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, all involving the arts. This month we are highlighting three of the courses in the Sound Arts.
Ableton 101 is an introductory course that teaches students how to synthesize, sample, program, record, mix and master music using Ableton live Suite 9 software. The class will cover Ableton Workflow, MIDI programming, Synthesis and Sound Design, Sampling, DJing/Remixing, Processing, Composition, Improvisation and Techniques for Live Performance. Starts March 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Electronic Music Lab – Ableton 201 is designed for those who already have experience with the basics of Ableton or electronic music production. The class will use Ableton Live Suite 9 software by integrating it with controllers and external hardware synthesizers, effects and drum machines. The goal of the class is to gain hands-on experience using a variety of tools and make musical tracks with students’ own vision and creativity. Starts March 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
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In DIY Podcasting, students will learn the technical skills to create their own podcasts from start to finish. This is a general information class and will apply to any type of podcast: talk, music, comedy, anything! Students should have a laptop computer or handheld audio recorder. Starts March 20. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
There are also classes in encaustic painting, dance ,textile and sewing, music, as well as courses in yoga and arts and crafts. The 104-page catalogue of classes is available at sfreconline.org, at the Harvey Milk Center or at Harvey Milk Photo Center. Rec and Park offers annual Recreation Scholarships to eligible, low-income individuals and families. Call Lillian Bautista, Scholarship Coordinator, at (415) 831-2717 for information on how to qualify.
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SUMMER DAY CAMP REGISTRATION MARCH 17
Rec and Park is offering more summer camps for youth and teens at 53 different San Francisco parks and recreations centers, including 15 art camps at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts. Starting in June, there will be two-week camps for each of four age groups (7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-19 years old).
Rec and Park offers intensive art making, where campers explore and develop their artistic abilities in art, dance, music, theatre, and technology. The activities require the ability to follow multi-step processes and normal hand dexterity. Each two-week session culminates in a performance and visual art show of campers’ work for family and friends on the last Friday of each two-week session.
If you have a teenager interested in acting, singing, dancing, or performing on stage or being a technician behind the scenes, the Young People’s Teen Musical Theater Company (YPTMC) offers six different camps in theater and performing arts at the Rec Center this summer.
Details can be found in the 2018 Summer Day Camp Guide, available at the Rec Center or online at sfRecOnline.org. Summer Camps begin June and end in early August and are led by talented art specialists.
Registration begins on March 17 at 10 a.m. and spots fill almost immediately, so sign up early to reserve a spot. Rec and Parks does offer Recreation Scholarships to eligible individuals and families. Ongoing eligibility is dependent on attendance record. Please call Lillian Bautista, Scholarship Coordinator, at (415) 831-2717 for information on how to qualify. Campers should arrive with a healthy lunch, snack, and water bottle daily.
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MAINTENANCE UPDATE
The two fenced areas in the middle of the Dog Play Area were put up to give the most worn areas a chance to recover from the normal heavy use. Some of those same areas were fenced last year and did recover somewhat but are now fenced again for “seasonal turf maintenance.” Rec and Park added dirt and seed to the most worn areas of the DPA before fencing them.
One of the bollards on the west side of the DPA is broken and bent. Two rungs are missing from the monkey bars in the Children’s Playground. Work orders have been submitted to repair both problems.
The basketball court is showing signs of wear, particularly under the east basket. Small holes and worn spots have been filled but a few small holes remain. A work order has been submitted for maintenance. Rec and Park has done a good job of replacing worn nets and straightening out bent rims.
Park users are encouraged to file reports of problems by using the 311 app or calling 311. Photographs can be attached using the app.
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LEARN DARKROOM BASICS, DIGITAL PRINGING
The Harvey Milk Photo Center is offering numerous introductory photography courses as part of their Spring 2017 class schedule. Two courses starting in the next two weeks are featured below. The complete class schedule and description of courses are listed at harveymilkphotocenter.org.
Darkroom Essentials & Processes is a great two-part introductory class which covers all of the basics in black and white darkroom printing. You will learn all of the essential steps and processes to get you on your way to printing your images. In part two, students move to more advanced techniques as they develop skills and confidence. On Tuesdays, March 13-May 22.
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Digital Printing Made Easy – Intro Level teaches students the key basics and steps for digital printing in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step demonstration. Students need to bring their memory cards or thumb drives to class and will practice the steps in order to make their own prints in class. On Wednesdays March 21 and 28.
The 2018 Spring Activities catalogue has the complete class schedule and description of all courses offered at the Photo Center. You can always check the class offerings online at sfreconline.org or pick up the catalogue at the Center. Don’t hesitate to call the Photo Center at (415) 554-9522 with any questions.
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PARKS IN THE NEWS
The Randall Museum, the one-of-a-kind art and science education center located in the Corona Heights neighborhood, reopened to the public on February 11 after a $9 million renovation that kept it closed to the public since June 2015. The renovation project brings new features to the museum including a state-of-the-art STEM lab, geology and zoology exhibits, an elevator, and a cafe, as well as updates to the live animal exhibit, science and ceramics studios, classrooms, and the first-floor lobby. The Randall Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday. Admission is free and attracts over 100,000 visitors per year.
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The Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds had their grand opening on Valentine’s Day. The new playgrounds are symmetrically aligned with City Hall and inspired by nature and weather themes. One is in the northeast corner of the plaza and the other is in the southeast corner. THe North and South parks were constructed in 1994 and 1998, respectively. The new playgrounds come with custom designed play features such as “Sky Punch”, a treehouse structure that is designed to challenge children as they climb up through the clouds of nets, and “Lenticular Cloud”, a spiraling play structure connects the ground path for children to roam along the colorful catwalk or explore using the twisting net.
It also includes “Fog Valley,” series of inverted semi circles that created a multi-use play structure to swing and climb on; and, “Cumulus City”, a little city of climbing structures which makes little play houses for children to escape and find a little retreat for imaginative games.
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Geneva Community Garden had its grand opening on February 24. The 10,427-square foot garden is located at Geneva and Delano avenues, next to the Balboa Park BART Station, and was once an empty lot filled with weeds. The 60 plots are already filled and there was already a waiting list of 30 people on the very day it opened. The San Francisco Giants' Mission Rock development is 28 acress and includes eight acres of parks in addition to 1.2 million square feet of office space, almost 250,000 of retail space, 200,000 square feet of light industrial space, and 1,327 units of housing.
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The Golden Gate Park Tennis Center, which has existed for 124 years, will be getting a $26.3 million makeover in 2019, will include 17 courts and a new, 7,780-square-foot clubhouse. The current cramped layout of the courts has been mostly static since 1912 and four courts will be eliminated in the new plan. All but $3 million was contributed. JOIN FRIENDS OF DUBOCE PARK
Annual Membership dues for a Supporting Member are $25 per person and entitle you to voting privileges and participation in the governance of the organization. Your dues help cover the few costs we have, such as our website, newsletter, movie nights, and insurance.
Your tax-deductible membership is gratefully accepted and should be sent to Friends of Duboce Park, 79 Scott Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Friends of Duboce Park are a 501(c)(3) organization. General Membership is still available at no cost but does not carry any voting privileges. Another way to show your support is by getting involved. If you are interested, please contact President Doug Woo at doug@friendsofdubocepark.org.
Our Mission Statement includes the following: "to organize and represent the collective interests regarding Duboce Park; to beautify and promote safety within Duboce Park; and, to initiate and/or support beneficial neighborhood projects on behalf of Duboce Park."
MARCH-APRIL CALENDAR
Thursday, March 1, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Lecture: Follow the Money. Harvey Milk Photo Center. Visit harveymilkphotocenter.org or call (415) 554-9522.
Friday, March 2, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Opening Reception: Best Photo. Harvey Milk Photo Center. Visit harveymilkphotocenter.org or call (415) 554-9522.
Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. Spring 2018 Class Registration opens. Visit sfreconline.org/register.
Saturday, March 10, 10 a.m.-noon. Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Day. Contact Rose at rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370.
Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. Summer Camp Registration opens. Visit sfreconline.org/register.
Saturday, April 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 11th Annual Dogfest. Visit http://mckinleyschool.org/dogfest/dog-show.
Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.-noon. Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Day. Contact Rose at rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370.
Monday, April 9, 7-9 p.m. Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association General Meeting. Gazebo, CPMC Davies Campus. Visit DTNA.org.
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