GPNA
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Survey
  • JOIN / ABOUT
    • ABOUT GPNA
    • MEMBERSHIP - JOIN/RENEW
    • GPNA Board
    • Get Involved - GPNA Committees
    • Ready GerstlePark
    • History of Neighborhood
  • Local Resources
    • CORONAVIRUS - CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
    • CORONAVIRUS - COUNTY OF MARIN
    • Reserve Gerstle Park
    • Local Lodging
    • Neighborhood Maps
    • Open Space Maps
    • Schools
    • City of San Rafael SNAPSHOT
    • FIRE Safe MARIN
    • Marin County Supervisor KATIE RICE NEWSLETTER
    • Marin County Sheriff EMERGENCY ALERT & WARNING TOOLS
    • READYmarin.org / CERT Training
    • SAN RAFAEL VOLUNTEERS
    • WILDFIRE EVACUATION CHECKLIST - Download & Print!
    • 2019 CRIME STATS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
  • What's Coming Up?
    • 4/1 - SPRING FLING
    • PORCHFEST - 9/17/23
  • GPNA EVENT CALENDAR
    • Annual GPNA Meeting on 01-30-2023
  • SIDEWALKS
  • Get Connected!
    • Join Nextdoor.com/gerstlepark
    • Visit WeAreSanRafael.com
  • GPNA Newsletter
    • Current Newsletter
    • Past Newsletters
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • Dumping
  • ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD MTG - 1/30/23

Gerstle Park TakeOut Night featuring BangKok Thai - 9/12

9/4/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
Bangkok Thai's Yellow Curry
The GPNA is big on supporting our local restaurants. That’s why on Saturday, September 12th, the folks from Bangkok Thai Express are coming to Gerstle Park, where neighbors can easily swing by and pick up one of their delicious meal kits. 

Don’t let the word “meal-kit” scare you. 
​

They are extremely easy to make. It’s as simple as heating all the ingredients, and you have a fresh, home-made Thai meal.  Bangkok Thai will be offering their tasty Yellow Curry (picture below).  Each meal kit feeds 2-3 people and comes with plenty of rice.

How it works

  • Choose chicken, tofu or shrimp ($25/kit  for chicken or Tofu, $30/kit for Shrimp)
  • By 11 p.m. on Wed, Sept 9th, text 415- 302-9877 with your order.  (Mention your are ordering for the Gerstle Park night. Please tell her how many meal-kits and what kind of meat.) 
  • Pick up your kit in front of 108 Marin St. on September 12th between 5:30 - 7 p.m. Be prepared to pay with cash or Venmo. 
  • Instructions for how to make your dinner will be on Youtube (we'll also include the link with the pickup).
  • Eat a delicious meal without doing a ton of work!

Bangkok Thai's Yelllow Curry

Picture
2 Comments

Keeping the Gerstle Park Community Spirit During COVID-19

5/12/2020

2 Comments

 

We hope you’re all surviving okay during these unsettling times.
COVID-19 presents different challenges for everyone in the neighborhood---  financial hardship, worrying about your health because you’re on the frontlines, juggling parenting and working, or simply having to stay home when you’re an extrovert. 


Many of us feel helpless, wanting to help, and others are yearning for a way for us to stay connected while we’re confined to our homes. With that as context, we put our heads together and put down some ways to help and stay connected. (If you’re looking for official updates on COVID-19, please visit the city website.) 

Happy Hour + Music Night in Gerstle Park - Livestream with DANNY CLICK 
GPNA hosted livestreams of a local artist -- Danny Click -- on our Youtube page. His style is described as smart, sassy blues-infected country. Because Gerstle Park is home to San Rafael PorchFest we thought this would be a great way for the neighborhood to connect while social distancing. 

This way the neighborhood was able to all enjoy music at the same time while sipping on our beverage of choice as we shelter-in-place. We're looking for more musicians. Email info@gerstlepark.com if you’re interested in playing. 

Support Local Businesses

One of the many reasons we live in Gerstle Park is our proximity to a vibrant and lively downtown. Let’s do what we can to keep our downtown buzzing. For those with the means, consider pre-paying for a service to help local businesses with their cash-flow this month.
  • Restaurants: order takeout or buy a few gift cards
  • Hairdresser, manicurist, acupuncturist, housecleaner, etc: consider reaching out and pre-paying for your next service
  • Yoga, gym, or workout studio: Pay for a few sessions in advance

Volunteer at a food bank or ExtraFood

A significant percentage of the people who regularly volunteer are older adults and people with chronic illnesses who have been advised to stay home at this time.  If you can, help our most vulnerable neighbors stay healthy by:

  • Helping to pack boxes of nonperishable food at food bank warehouses
  • Picking up and delivering meals for homebound older adults
  • Delivering supplies to assisted living facilities  Sign up here!
Let's all make sure we stay safe, healthy, fed and connected to social services during this community-wide COVID-19 response.

Staying Home? Some fun Things to Do
Board member, Sandi Luna, pulled together a great list of things you can do while you’re homebound. Take a look at the list, and tackle a couple of them. 
Connect with your Friends and Family Online
A Guide to Hanging out Virtually

Spring Clean!
Spring Clean your Kitchen
8 Things you can Spring Clean this Weekend

Cook or Bake
92 Cooking Projects to Keep you Busy
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Browse Food52 Recipes
5 Sheet Pan Dinners

Do Arts and Crafts
30 Easy & Fun Paper Crafts for Kids
Educational Crafts for Kids
5 Online Art Challenges

Read
8 Books by Bay Area Authors
2020 Best Books for Kids
10 Books to Read Right Now

Watch Movies or Stream the Theater
10 Movies Filmed in San Francisco
Perfect Movies to Watch While Stuck at Home
ACT Shows to Stream

Listen to Music or Podcasts
Bay Area Musicians to Stream
7 Podcasts with Lasting Power

Organize!
41 Best Hacks for Organizing a Small Bathroom
Glass Kitchen Storage Ideas
Organize your Refrigerator
99 Pantry Staples

Shop Online Retailers who Donate Proceeds
Home Retailers Donating Profits Right Now

Exercise
Online Yoga, Pilates, Fitness & Meditation Classes
13 Exercises you can do from Bed


2 Comments

Rebate Programs Available to Gerstle Park Residents

2/12/2019

2 Comments

 

Removing your old wood stove and making your house more energy efficient might save you some cash

The Marin County Sustainability Team works in tandem with city and state agencies to find ways to help Marin County residents save money while making our air cleaner and our homes more energy efficient. Currently, Gerstle Park residents are eligible for several rebate programs.
​

Spare our Air, and Remove Your Wood Stove.
In Marin, communities that reside in valleys tend to collect more particulate matter (PM) pollution from residential wood smoke burning during the winter than hillside and coastal communities. The San Geronimo Valley is a famous case where the geographical characteristics lend to higher concentrations of PM pollution than San Jose, West Oakland, and Livermore, despite having a small population.  High concentrations of PM can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate other lung diseases, and negatively impact hearth healthy, ultimately leading to increased risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. 

  1. The County of Marin provides a rebate of $250 for removing a wood stove or decommissioning (rendering inoperable) a fireplace, and a $325 rebate for replacing a wood stove or fireplace with a gas or electric-powered option. Interested? Learn more at www.maringreenbuilding.org.  
  2. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District still has funding for homeowners in Gerstle Park to remove their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces or replace them with gas-burning stoves or inserts or electric heat pumps. The rebate starts at $1,000 for a removal and replacement project. If you have been thinking about a project like this, sign up with the Air District ASAP at https://grantapps.baaqmd.gov (funds may run out soon). You must sign up with the Air District before starting any work.
Make your Home More Energy Efficient, and Save $$$
If your home is too cold in the winter, look into improving the insulation and air sealing first and foremost. An insulation and air sealing project is the most cost-effective project you can do to improve your home’s comfort. The Bay Area Regional Energy Network provides rebates for insulation, air sealing, furnace upgrades, hot water heating upgrades, and other energy efficiency improvements for single family homes. Learn more at www.bayrenresidential.org or call a Home Energy Advisor at (866) 878-6008.

A quick summary:

  1. Wood smoke is bad for air quality and public health.
  2. If you must burn wood, use best practices like burning only dry, seasoned wood (more at www.epa.gov/burnwise).
  3. Rebates are available for decommissioning or replacing wood burning stoves and fireplaces through Marin County and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
  4. Residents in parts of San Rafael, Sausalito/Marin City, and most of West Marin are eligible for larger rebates starting at $2,500; apply ASAP at https://grantapps.baaqmd.gov.
  5. Additional rebates for home energy efficiency project are available. More info at www.bayrenresidential.org andwww.marinsustainability.org.
2 Comments

2019 GPNA Annual Meeting Recap

1/29/2019

0 Comments

 
 Thanks to all who renewed their membership and showed up to our annual meeting last night (for those that still need to renew, you can do it here ;-)). It was a success! The GPNA board gave an update on all our past activities, outlined what to expect in 2019, and debuted our 2018 slideshow. Thanks to Mayor Phillips, the SRPD and SRFD for spending your evening with us.

Above is the full presentation, but if you want the highlights, here you go:
  • We voted in two new board members, Odessa Shekar and Jennifer Horta. Congrats and welcome!
  • Thanks to the Hugo Landecker Estate Donation of $10,000 and our annual Paramount/Netflix donation ($3.5K), the GPNA has an amazing balance sheet! This gives us runway to continue putting on great events and reinvesting in the community. 
    • With the Paramount funds we intend to partner with the City to refurbish the tennis court in Gerstle Park. 
  • The City will break ground on fixing Gerstle Park sidewalks in March, and will invite additional homeowners to participate in the San Rafael Sidewalk Repair Program in March (visit their website for more details).
  • Since PorchFest 2018 was such a success, The GPNA plans to host PorchFest 2019 in Sept. Stay tuned for more details, and if you're interested in volunteering, email sanrafaelporchfest@gmail.com. 
  • Construction on the new Albert Park started, and it should reopen in April! Be on the lookout for details about the park ribbon-cutting ceremony that should take place in late April. 
  • The Marin Sustainability team came out to talk about all the programs we can take advantage of to make our homes more energy efficient. If you'd like a FREE, third-party, home energy advisor to help you figure out how you can make your home more energy efficient, call: (866) 878-6008. Visit www.BayRENResidential.org to see if you qualify for any energy rebates.

After what happened in Paradise, fire safety is top of mind for everyone. The Mayor mentioned the City is considering a parcel tax to increase funds to ensure we can do EVERYTHING recommended to keep us safe. Quinn Gardner, Emergency Planner, walked through what the San Rafael Fire Department does daily to keep our community safe from fires, and she outlined the city's "Wildfire Action Plan," sharing what elements of the plan currently have funding/resources and what don't.  As we all know, nothing is fireproof, but there is a lot we all can do to make us safer ---  visit cityofsanrafael.org/wildfire-action-plan to learn more. 

Mayor Phillips gave a quick overview about the 2040 plan and how the city is doing tackling the homeless problem.  The good news: homelessness was down the past couple years, and they anticipate the trend to continue this year.   And, Captain McElderry from the SRPD spoke about how crime stats in our neighborhood are down, and highlighted some of the great work our police officers do day-to-day.

Thanks for all those who came! See you around the neighborhood. 
0 Comments

First Annual San Rafael Porchfest a Success

10/2/2018

1 Comment

 
The GPNA wants to thank our community for rallying together to put on this event.  It took dozens of volunteers, porch hosts and musicians to make the event a success, and without this community’s amazing cooperation, it couldn’t have happened.
 
Marin County has been the stomping ground of many prominent musicians who created the revolutionary “San Francisco Sound,” making San Rafael a natural fit to continue its musical tradition by hosting Marin County’s first PorchFest.
 
Spearheaded by Gerstle Park resident, Tom Obletz and the Gerstle Park Neighborhood Assoc. (GPNA), with tremendous support from local musicians Jenny Kerr & Phil Milner, the first Annual San Rafael PorchFest took place on September 23rd, and was a massive success.   It was a day of community, music and fun enjoyed by (we estimate) more than 1,000 people!
 
San Rafael Mayor, Gary Phillips, spent the afternoon at the event, applauding the inaugural team, saying they "pulled it off beautifully."  We were even featured in the Marin Independent Journal.
 
In total we had more than 50 musical acts playing on 18+ [20] porches throughout the neighborhood.
 
Originally conceived in Ithaca, NY, in 2007, PorchFest in [is] a nationwide phenomenon. An  all-volunteer, family-friendly, free event brings communities together to celebrate music and creativity. There are more than 60 other Porchfests in the U.S. and Canada. More than two dozen of those had their first Porchfest in 2016.
 
We also want to give a special shout-out to the events amazing sponsors: Zephyr Real Estate, The Naughty Dawg, Sandra Luna Real Estate, and Jeans to a T.
​
1 Comment

National Night out in Gerstle Park on 8/15

7/23/2018

1 Comment

 
Join your neighbors, local police and firefighters for the evening in Gerstle Park.  Bring a dish to share, and enjoy some ice cream, compliments of the GPNA!
Picture
1 Comment

Save the Date! Pacifics Baseball Gerstle Park Night Saturday, June 30 at 5pm

6/12/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Join GPNA on Saturday night, June 30th, for a night of Baseball and Beatles! The Pacifics will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the release of the Beatles “White Album”. Beatles Tribute Band “Nigel & Clive and the British Invasion” will play. 
​

For a neighborhood discount, enter promo code “gerstle” for $5 off General Admission at www.pacificsbaseball.com. First 250 fans get free commemorative white t-shirt.

 
All Fans encouraged to WEAR WHITE!

1 Comment

Annual GPNA Garage Sale this weekend!

6/12/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
It's that time of the year again! The GPNA is hosting its annual neighborhood garage sale on Saturday June 16th from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Hundreds of people come to Gerstle Park to shop at dozens of different garage sales to find something new (for them).

Want to sell stuff you no longer need?  Support the GPNA and register your house ($20) to ensure it's listed on the official Garage Sale Map. Alternatively, if you live in the hills (e.g. on Clorinda or Alvina) and don't expect much foot traffic, you can register for a slot to sell your stuff in Gerstle Park ($30).  Being on the map ensures that avid garage sellers will swing by your house to see what you have to offer. 

All money raised goes to a great cause. This is the GPNA's only fundraiser, and the money raised is used to host our neighborhood events, like theSpring Fling, Fall Picnic, and Halloween House Contest. Hope to see you there! 
2 Comments

Update on Sidewalk Repair Program

3/14/2018

0 Comments

 

Applications for Sidewalk Repair Program open March 20 - April 24, 2018

In conjunction with the adoption of San Rafael Municipal Code Chapter 11.60, the City Council called for the development of a pilot Sidewalk Repair Program which attempts to share the financial burden associated with sidewalk maintenance between the City and property owners, and streamlines and consolidates sidewalk repairs throughout the City. Under the new program, the City will split the cost of sidewalk replacement 50-50 (up to a maximum of $1,000 in City contribution), and cover 100% of the cost of curb and gutter replacement (up to a maximum of $4,000 City contribution). Additionally, tree work including removal will be done by the City based on review by a City Arborist. It is important to note that driveway aprons are not eligible for cost share in the program.

The primary purpose of the program is to assist property owners with the following costs associated with sidewalk repairs:
  • Concrete sidewalk repair and replacement
  • Curb and gutter work required with side walk repair and replacement
  • Tree work associated with sidewalk repair and replacement (root trimming, stump grinding, removal/ replacement)
  • Encroachment permit fees and related inspections

​Applications will be accepted March 20—April 24. Shortly after 4/24 deadline, a “lottery,” with funds allocated for 20 low income property owners, will take place to determine who will be admitted into the program this fiscal year. It is anticipated that roughly 150 properties citywide will be accepted into this year’s program. See application for further details. 

​
For more information on the program, visit the city's webpage that's dedicated to the program.


0 Comments

Spring Fling is Right Around The Corner

2/28/2018

2 Comments

 

By Alicia diVittorio

Picture
Bright and early on March 24th, we'll be holding our annual neighborhood Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt. There will an Easter egg hunt, egg dying and munchies for all.  

Kids up to age nine are welcome to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt.  We'll have plenty of eggs to go around, and a few golden eggs for select lucky winners!

When: Easter Egg Hunt starts at 10 a.m. SHARP, March 24th
Where: Gerstle Park

Can't wait to see you all there!
Picture
Picture
2 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    September 2020
    May 2020
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All
    Events

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Survey
  • JOIN / ABOUT
    • ABOUT GPNA
    • MEMBERSHIP - JOIN/RENEW
    • GPNA Board
    • Get Involved - GPNA Committees
    • Ready GerstlePark
    • History of Neighborhood
  • Local Resources
    • CORONAVIRUS - CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
    • CORONAVIRUS - COUNTY OF MARIN
    • Reserve Gerstle Park
    • Local Lodging
    • Neighborhood Maps
    • Open Space Maps
    • Schools
    • City of San Rafael SNAPSHOT
    • FIRE Safe MARIN
    • Marin County Supervisor KATIE RICE NEWSLETTER
    • Marin County Sheriff EMERGENCY ALERT & WARNING TOOLS
    • READYmarin.org / CERT Training
    • SAN RAFAEL VOLUNTEERS
    • WILDFIRE EVACUATION CHECKLIST - Download & Print!
    • 2019 CRIME STATS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
  • What's Coming Up?
    • 4/1 - SPRING FLING
    • PORCHFEST - 9/17/23
  • GPNA EVENT CALENDAR
    • Annual GPNA Meeting on 01-30-2023
  • SIDEWALKS
  • Get Connected!
    • Join Nextdoor.com/gerstlepark
    • Visit WeAreSanRafael.com
  • GPNA Newsletter
    • Current Newsletter
    • Past Newsletters
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • Dumping
  • ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD MTG - 1/30/23