A
sidewalk garden at 23rd and Sanchez streets was recently
raided by a brazen woman in a BMW. Photo
courtesy Bret Walters
Plant Thief with Wheels
Editor:
We live at 23rd and Sanchez
streets and have installed a 70-foot-long sidewalk garden. The
neighbors love it, and we’ve been getting great feedback.
However, on Halloween night we
were hit by a thief who stole nine of our succulents out of
the garden. This was disheartening, of course.
Then on Dec. 9, I caught a woman
in her early 60s stealing salvia from the garden. I confronted
her, and she told me, “What’s the big deal? I am only taking a
couple of flowers.” She had a garbage bag full of salvia
branches! Her trunk also had another garbage bag full of
plants.
She drove off in a gold BMW. We
got the license number and I filed a report with the police
for petty theft. But the police said that unless there were a
pattern, they wouldn’t go out to confront her.
I am wondering if other
neighbors have been struck by plant thieves.
If you’d like to contact me,
please call 415-420-7874.
John Lum
23rd Street
Bundle of Disappointment
Editor:
I have lived in the Sunset for
over 40 years. I raised all my children (nine) in the Sunset
and enjoyed the rivalry between the neighborhoods because my
best friend still lives in Noe Valley. Several of my children
have chosen to live in Noe Valley, so I have a long history
with Noe Valley and go there often. I enjoy your restaurants,
etc., but not anymore. I will never feel the same about Noe
Valley.
My daughter lives there, on 29th
Street. She had her first baby in early January and was due to
arrive home on Sunday, Jan. 8, at about 2 p.m. I, being a very
proud grandma, wanted to welcome her and the new baby home, so
I made a special basket.
The basket had all my daughter’s
favorite foods (salsa con queso, candy, cookies, chips,
avocados, cheeses, etc.) and some gifts for the baby including
a tooth fairy pillow. This was a very big basket lined with
six baby-blue linen napkins. I tied a note to the basket that
just said, “Welcome home, baby,” but I didn’t sign my name.
I didn’t want to intrude on
their homecoming, so I left the basket on their stoop, or
doorstep, about 11:30 a.m., covered with a baby blanket. I
didn’t sign the note because I knew that she would know who
left the basket. The basket was filled with love for the new
baby and his mother.
My daughter did not call to
thank me. I waited for the call. It never came.
The basket was taken. I don’t
want to say stolen. This is Noe Valley, where everyone wants
to live.
I pray and hope that someone
just took this basket of love because they needed it more or
knew someone who needed it more, maybe another new mother in
need who also had a new baby boy and didn’t have a grandma to
bring it love.
So, Noe Valley, I’m happy to
live in the Sunset.
Dorothy (aka Nana)
Last name withheld by request
Time for Glee at School of the
Arts
Editor:
We’d like to invite you to The
Producers, which opens for seven performances at
the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts on Feb. 23.
You might not know that students at the high school have their
academic classes in the morning, then work in their individual
arts disciplines in the afternoon. All our students audition
to get into the school and upon graduation are accepted into
top colleges and conservatories across the country.
Over the next few weeks, the
actors and musicians will be working each night and on the
weekends on the schoolwide production of The
Producers. Under the direction of Keith Carames and
several artists-in-residence, this talented group is also
building sets and sewing costumes. The Producers is
a musical comedy about two producers who think they can make
money by producing a Broadway flop, so they select the most
awful, distasteful script they can find. (The comedy may be
rather mature for very young children.) The cast will have you
doubled up with laughter, and you will be amazed at the
quality of the pit orchestra, not to mention the nine scene
changes. The school’s musicals usually sell out—last year the
team brought you Ragtime, and
previously Seussical and Beauty and
the Beast.
We hope our neighbors in Noe
Valley will attend the show, and we are delighted to offer
readers of theNoe Valley Voice a discount of $2
per ticket when purchased online in advance. Go to www.sfsota.org and
click on the link to The Producers and use
“noe” when prompted for a coupon code. Thank you for helping
us celebrate the 30th anniversary season at School of the
Arts.
Sandra Halladey
Parent of Alvarado and James Lick alums who now attend the
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, 555 Portola Drive
The
parklet in front of Just for Fun on 24th Street became a
paddock for two reindeer when Santa visited Noe Valley
on Dec. 15. Dancer, an 8-year-old female, and Prancer, a
9-month-old male, provided good cheer for their local
fans. Photo courtesy David Eiland
A Reindeer Reminder
On Dec. 15, Just for Fun hosted
Santa and two reindeer at the store on 24th Street. We took
pictures of everyone who visited with Jolly Old St. Nick. For
those who never picked up their photos we still have them.
They are free, and there are some really cute pictures that we
would hate to toss out, so please, everyone who was there that
night, come on by and grab your photo!
David Eiland
Just for Fun & Scribbledoodles
3982 24th Street
415-285-4068
LETTERS to the EDITOR
THEVOICE welcomes
your letters to the editor. Write the Noe Valley
Voice, P.O. Box 460249, San Francisco,
CA 94146. Or emaileditor@noevalleyvoice.com.Please include your full name
and contact information. (Anonymous letters will not be
considered for publication.) Be aware that letters may be
edited for brevity or clarity. We look forward to hearing from
you.
THE NOE VALLEY VOICE
P.O. Box 460249
San Francisco, CA 94146
www.noevalleyvoice.com
The Noe Valley Voice is
an independent newspaper published monthly except in January
and August. It is distributed free in Noe Valley and vicinity,
on or before the first Friday of the month. Subscriptions are
available at $30 per year ($25 for seniors) by writing to the
above address.
The Voice welcomes
your letters, photos, and stories, particularly on topics
relating to Noe Valley. All items should include your name,
address, and phone number, and may be edited for brevity or
clarity. (Unsigned letters will not be considered for
publication.) Unsolicited contributions will be returned only
if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
The Noe Valley
Voice is a member of the San Francisco Neighborhood
Newspaper Association.
Email: editor@noevalleyvoice.com
Editorial: 415-821-3324
Website:
www.noevalleyvoice.com
Distribution: Call Misha,
415-752-1726
Display Advertising: Call
Steve, 415-239-1114
Class Ads: See home page
Display Advertising Deadline
for the
March Issue: Feb. 15, 2012
Editorial/Class Ad Deadline:
Feb. 15, 2012
CO-PUBLISHERS/EDITORS
Sally Smith, Jack Tipple
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS AND EDITORS
Olivia Boler, Other
Voices Editor
Corrie M. Anders, Associate
Editor
Heather World, Associate
Editor
Heidi Anderson, Karol Barske,
Helen Colgan, Chrissy Elgersma, Jan Goben, Liz Highleyman,
Laura McHale Holland, Florence Holub, Tim Innes, Jeff Kaliss,
Doug Konecky, Pat Rose, Roger Rubin, Shayna Rubin, Karen
Topakian, Nicole Wong
