Happy New Year!!!
MUMC’s back after our “Holiday Hiatus.” I hope each and every one of you had a prosperous 2011 and that we all will have an even better 2012!!
I want to start by saying THANK YOU!! to everyone who contributed to and participated in MUMC’s annual 2011 Year-end Holiday Promotion throughout The Castro. Our Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration was the biggest and some would say "best ever." More senior public officials than ever before joined us for the Ceremony, including Mayor Lee, District Attorney Gascon, Treasurer Cisneros, Police Chief Suhr, and District 8 Supervisor Wiener joining our own fabulous emcee Donna Sachet for a festive evening. A special THANK YOU to Santa (Fred Booth, aka "Fred the Plumber") and his Elf, (Seth Morrison, from MUMC Member, Whole Foods Markets), and to all the community music groups which joined us for a memorable evening. A big special THANK YOU goes out to SFPD’s Castro Liaison, Sgt. Chuck Limbert, who, on his day off, took care of crowd control which was estimated at over 500 persons.
As part of periodic routine leadership re-assignments by the Chief, the New Year brings us a new commander at San Francisco Police Department’s Mission Station which serves much of The Castro. MUMC joins the community in welcoming our new Captain Robert (Bob) Moser, and giving our profound thanks to departing Capt. Greg Corrales for his friendship and many years of leadership at Mission Station.
We’re starting out the year, already with many goings on in the neighborhood:
- On Saturday, February 4 at 2:00 at Jane Warner Plaza (Castro-Market at 17th Streets), community leaders will dedicate the plaque naming the Plaza and commemorating all the great work Officer Jane did for our community. We’re proud that MUMC’s share of last fall’s Castro Street Fair proceeds helped fund the plaque, along with generous support from many others in the community.
- Starting Sunday, February 12 and running through Monday, February 20, the AIDS Memorial Quilt will have a special showing in the neighborhood, to mark the Quilt’s 25th Anniversary and just in time for Valentine’s Day. This is the Quilt’s first major display in San Francisco since 1999. It will include a major display at the former Tower Records space at 2278 Market Street, as well as at four other business spaces in The Castro. All are invited to an Opening Ceremony on Sunday, February 12 at noon at 2278 Market. Then, the 40+ panel display there will be open (free of charge, but donations welcome) from noon to 8:00pm daily until February 20. This powerful event would not have happened without MUMC members Beth Feingold from Under One Roof, Petyr Kane from Citizen and Body, and Mike Smith from AIDS Emergency Fund working together with the NAMES Project Foundation.
- February 17 - 20 is the new "Bear Weekend" event in the Castro!! Even though International Bear Rendezvous (IBR) is no longer, leadership and members of the San Francisco Bear community (and MUMC Board Member Dave Barker from 440 Castro) are keeping the tradition alive. This year’s effort will draw many visitors to the neighborhood, not only from SF and the Bay Area, but from across the country to enjoy the city and "Bear Fun & Hospitality."
- That same weekend, the International Gay Bowling Organization hosts its San Francisco Golden Gate Invitational Classic National Tournament from February 17-19 at Serra Bowl in Daly City. MUMC Board Member Brittney Beck’s Beck's Motor Lodge is the host hotel for this event, so when not rolling the lanes, bowlers will abound in The Castro. Great job, Brittney, for making Beck's the S.F. home for the bowlers!!
Let's welcome all locals and visitors alike to The Castro for these special events
– and ALWAYS!
MUMC is preparing for our 2012 Member Dues Campaign and the 2012 edition of our wildly-popular Castro Guide visitor and information book. Watch your mail later in February for renewal and advertising opportunities.
Current MUMC Members should be sure to join us for our first Members Meeting of 2012, this coming Thursday, February 2 starting at 9:00am at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center (EVRC). Members will be asked then to VOTE on three important proposed projects in The Castro – a new Parklet in the 500 block of Castro, a new restaurant/brewery on 18th Street near Dolores Park, and a CVS Pharmacy proposed for the former Tower Records space on Market Street. We’ll also meet the CastroCBD’s new contractor for 2012, for the popular sidewalk cleaning program. Your MUMC Member Meeting also is THE PLACE to get all the latest news from City Hall, thanks to Supervisor Scott Wiener, who will join us.
Thanks for supporting MUMC! - Steve
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