Dear RHN Members and Friends,
Russian Hill Neighbors concluded 2022 with considerable pride in our accomplishments for the year and with much energy and optimism for the New Year. Thank you for being members of this energetic organization and for the many ways you support our mission “to be a voice for residents and merchants to preserve and advance neighborhood character and quality of life through collaboration, volunteerism, and celebration of community.” Here are a few highlights:
Our Annual December Holiday Party successfully returned to “in-person” after the Covid hiatus. We are grateful to the many volunteers who made it such a gala event, and to our venue hosts at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church. A number of attendees mentioned that they had never been inside the church building, and some never knew of its existence. For those interested in the history of this property and its work, please follow this link Norwegian Seaman’s Church.
We had fun reconnecting at our Annual Picnic in August and at two “in-person” Cheers Events organized by the RHN Social Committee – one at Alto Vino on Mason at Pacific in October and the other at a joint RHN and Telegraph Hill Dwellers gathering at Casava in North Beach.
If you have noticed improvements in the cleanliness of our neighborhood streets and open green spaces, please note that literally hundreds of volunteer hours were expended in 2022 by our energetic Neighborhood Enhancement and Parks Committees through their Clean Up and Smile and Park Work Days.
We joined forces with Discover Polk and Lower Polk Neighbors in October for a Halloween Spooktacular with music and a jumpy house at Helen Wills playground and trick or treating along Polk Street, and a Holiday Shopping Stroll in December, in support of our local merchants and providing fun for local families.
In April, the long-awaited Francisco Park opened and has become a favorite gathering place for Russian Hill residents and visitors to our neighborhood. With your help, RHN played an early organizing role in the creation of the park as well as providing important financial support. Now that the park is built, private funds are still needed to maintain and improve it. Toward that end, the Francisco Park Conservancy recently announced its Stewards program (Stewards). As Marc Meyer, President of the Conservancy explains, “I want us to imagine the future…Close your eyes and visualize the park in 10 years. What do you see? The Conservancy’s mission is to help the community bring to life visions like yours for the park and its surroundings … thank you for building this park with us and for being along on the ride as the Caretakers and Stewards of its future.”
RHN was also able to support the following neighborhood serving organizations with donations: Aquatic Park Senior Center, Friends of the SF Public Library for the North Beach Library, Next Village, North Beach Citizens, SF Parks Alliance, Tel-High Neighborhood Center and Yick Wo School.
Thank you for your RHN membership and volunteer efforts. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event. Happy 2023!
Carol Ann Rogers
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