Tag: Environment

A Year in Review: Celebrating Sunnyside’s Spirit

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

(Also, an Appeal for Membership renewals and Donations)

What a vibrant year it has been for Sunnyside! As we look back on the last 12 months, it is impossible not to feel a surge of pride in our neighborhood. From festive street parties to rolling up our sleeves for cleanups, the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association (SNA) has been hard at work fostering connection, safety, and beauty in our corner of the city.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because neighbors like you show up, pitch in, and support the vision of a thriving community.

Highlights: How We Connected & Improved Sunnyside

Last year was packed with activity. Thanks to your support, we were able to deliver a wide range of events and improvements:

Bringing Neighbors Together

We believe a strong neighborhood is built on personal connections. This year, we prioritized opportunities to meet face-to-face:

  • Seasonal Celebrations: We hosted the Spring Party & Easter Egg Hunt, a spooky Halloween Party, and our festive Holiday Party to bookend the year with joy.
  • Slow Hearst Events: Working with The Friends of Slow Hearst, we activated our streets with parties and decorating events to reclaim public space for families.
  • Community Staples: The annual Garage Sale helped neighbors declutter and treasure hunt, while our monthly Coffees with the Board provided an open forum for conversation.

Beautifying Our Spaces

Taking care of our shared environment is a core SNA value.

  • Greener Streets: We organized Quarterly Cleanups of Circular Drive and facilitated Street Tree Planting to keep Sunnyside lush and litter-free.
  • Detroit Steps Revitalization: Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for fiscal sponsorship, we supported the Detroit Steps project, securing an Avenue Greenlight Grant, commissioning a stunning mural on the upper steps, and funding physical improvements.

Civic Engagement & Strategic Partnerships

We strengthened our voice in the city and supported local jewels.

  • Advocacy: We hosted a Meet the Mayor event to bring city leadership directly to you and engaged in Participatory Budgeting to ensure our tax dollars work for us.
  • Supporting the Conservatory: We established a fiscal sponsorship MOU with the Friends of the Sunnyside Conservatory, supporting their Benefit Concert and community game nights.
  • Culture: We were proud to support the beautiful Conservatory Concerts series.

We Need You to Keep the Momentum Going!

Looking at that list, one thing is clear: Member support acts as the fuel for these initiatives.

Every balloon at the Spring Party, every sapling planted on our sidewalks, and every dollar secured for the Detroit Steps starts with the backing of residents like you.

As we plan for an even more ambitious year ahead, we are asking for your help in two ways:

1. Join or Renew Your Membership

If you enjoyed an event last year, or simply appreciate walking down a cleaner, greener street, please become a member of the SNA. There is strength in numbers, and your membership amplifies our voice at City Hall

2. Donate to Fund Future Successes

Membership dues cover our basics (barely!), but donations allow us to dream bigger. Your contributions directly fund the supplies for cleanups, the permits for parties, and the grants for neighborhood improvements. Please consider donating here!

Let’s make this coming year the best one yet. Thank you for being a part of Sunnyside!

Sunnyside Gets Greener: 43 New Trees planted in Sunnyside

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

Our neighborhood got a little greener recently. The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, in collaboration with Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF), organized a tree planting day on Saturday, May 31st, and it was a resounding success!

Volunteers of all ages participated, showing a real commitment to enhancing our local environment. In total, 43 beautiful new trees were planted in tree basins throughout the neighborhood.

Volunteers planting a tree in a neighborhood, smiling and engaging in community service.

The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association and FUF have been actively working to bring more greenery to our streets. In April, homeowners had the opportunity to request a free street tree, with options for concrete removal and stump grinding available at no additional cost. FUF and the city are also committed to the crucial work of watering and caring for these young trees for the first three years.

Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) Will be in the Neighborhood 

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

Friends of the Urban Forest will be planting new street trees in Sunnyside Neighborhood, with a volunteer event on May 31st, 2025. (More info to come soon) The goal is to create stewardship and build community and they need your help!

We can make a positive impact by bringing the community together to plant more trees! 

They want to collaborate with us to:

1) Identify where trees are needed and wanted most 

 2) Recruit neighbors to join us for a fun and festive volunteer planting day! 

Please share their Street Tree Interest Form if you know someone or a location that could use a new tree. Also, please feel free to spread the word to any neighbors or groups interested in volunteering! You can direct them to the  Volunteer Registration Link

By sharing this information, you’ll be helping to expand our urban tree canopy and engage more residents in our reforestation efforts.

Lastly, if you’re interested in collaborating with Friends of the Urban Forest on other opportunities, please fill out our Partnership Interest Form.

Let’s work together to create a greener, more vibrant San Francisco!

Adopt-a-Drain: Rain is on its way

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Environment, SFPUC, StreetsLeave a comment

SFPUC has a program called Adopt-a-Drain, to help prevent the flooding that can happen when storm-drain grates become blocked with trash and debris. The program was highlighted in a recent item on CurbedSF. Anyone can participate — you can even name your drain!

So far Sunnysiders have so far adopted over 50 of the neighborhood’s storm drains. These neighbors have volunteered to keep the grates tidy which helps avoid local flooding. We have some trouble spots, often along the route of the old creek.

To sign up and adopt your own drain, go to adoptadrain.sfwater.org click>register. (Don’t forget to give your new drain a good name.) The map there shows which drains are claimed.

New this year: SFWater has flagged four Sunnyside storm drains as being in special need of adoption, on Foerster Street at Monterey and Joost.

adopt_a_drain_2018_09_30
Four red-flagged storm drains on Foerster St. Screenshot from Sunnyside on Adopt-a-Drain map. https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/ Green ones are available for adoption, purples ones are already adopted.

For those Sunnysiders who have already adopted their local storm drain, it’s time to check for debris and tidy it up — the heavy rain on its way later this week can cause flooding when the grates are clogged with trash and leaves. SFWater sends this reminder: Continue reading “Adopt-a-Drain: Rain is on its way” →

Air Quality Advisory

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn EnvironmentLeave a comment

From District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee.  For a map of local air sensors visit here.

Dear community members,

Please see the below info from SF72.org regarding air quality and citywide respite locations. Our District respite location is the Stonestown Mall. I encourage everyone to sign up for AlertSF.org to receive timely emergency alerts. Please minimize outdoor activity and if you must go outside, wear a mask.

If you must go outdoors, Muni is free all day today: https://www.sfmta.com/blog/mayor-breed-declares-muni-free-tomorrow-due-bad-air-conditions

Stay safe and healthy,
Norman

—————————————–

An Air Quality Advisory has been issued for the entire Bay Region  due to the Butte County Fire. The current air quality in San Francisco is PURPLE/UNHEALTHY FOR EVERYONE.

From Red levels (unhealthy) up to Purple (very unhealthy) and even at Maroon (hazardous) levels, people should remain indoors with windows closed, and continue to remain indoors until air quality improves. From Red levels (unhealthy) up to Purple (very unhealthy) and even at Maroon (hazardous) levels, people should remain indoors with windows closed, and continue to remain indoors until air quality improves. Air quality also is dangerous for pets, especially birds and smoosh face breeds. Keep walks short and windows closed.

PLEASE NOTE: the use of N95 masks are no substitute for staying indoors. If you must absolutely be outside, and choose to wear a N95 mask, it needs to be fit tested or at the very minimum, fit well with no gaps and be replaced when airflow becomes restricted. N95 masks can be sourced at local hardware stores.

For those whose indoor air is inadequate, please refer to the map below for public places you can go to escape the poor air quality. Be sure to check the hours of operation for each facility before you go. This list also can be accessed via www.sf72.org/AirQualityRespit. 

Air Quality Advisory & Safety Tips

Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires can affect health: eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

If you can see, taste, or feel smoke, you should immediately avoid or minimize outdoor activities, or travel to a location not affected by smoke, if you can.  This is especially important if you have health concerns, are elderly, pregnant, or have a child in your care.

Please follow the following tips to protect yourself and your loved ones.  Active children and adults, and people with heart disease or respiratory disease such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor activity.  Masks are not a substitute for staying indoors.  Masks such as the N-95 are not effective for untrained users and may be dangerous for people with lung or heart conditions.  N-95 masks may be helpful for people who must work outdoors if properly fitted. Employees should work with their employers for direction on when/how to use N-95 masks.

Contact your health care provider if you experience the following symptoms:

• Repeated coughing
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness or pain
• Palpitations
• Nausea or unusual fatigue
• Lightheadedness

As always, if you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Access additional public health information with the following links:  

Stay up to date with the following links:

  • Visit sfdph.org  for public heath information related to air quality.
  • Visit airnow.gov for current and forecasted air quality conditions in the Bay Area.
  • Visit baaqmd.com for forecasted wind and smoke directions via the Wildfire Smoke Advisory.