RECENT HEADLINES AND NEWS

August 2008

In this edition:

• Board Passes Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits for SF Workers
• First-Source Hiring Program Extended to Market-Octavia
• Controller's Whistleblower Program Approved by the Board of Supervisors
• Supervisor Mirkarimi Honors Foot Patrol Officers for National Night Out
• Third Friday Art Party: Triangulation, Experiments in Green Printmaking
• San Francisco Homeownership Fair on September 6th
• 15th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival
• Want to Plant a Tree in the Inner Sunset?
• Successful Inner Sunset and Upper Haight Clean Up
• New Evening Parking at Divisadero and Oak
• Looking for a Job?
• Upcoming Events
• Board of Supervisors Information
• Office and Community Volunteers Needed
• Comments, Suggestions, or Questions?
• Did you miss a previous newsletter?

Board Passes Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits for SF Workers
On Tuesday August 12th, the Board of Supervisors gave final approval to an ordinance put forth by Supervisor Mirkarimi that requires businesses with 20 or more employees to provide incentives for their employees to commute using public transportation. It requires businesses to offer their employees one of three public transportation incentive options.

The most popular option allows employees to take pre-tax deductions from their wages to cover the cost of public transit. The Department of Environment estimates that the program would allow employees to buy a $45 Muni fast pass for about $32 and a $64 BART ticket for about $45. In addition to providing savings to employees, employers also save money through a reduction in payroll taxes of up to 9 percent. The other two options are for employers to offer workers free transit passes or provide door-to-door shuttle services to work.

More information :
- Commuter Checks website
- Chronicle article
- Chronicle editorial
- Examiner editorial

First-Source Hiring Program Extended to Market-Octavia
The First Source Hiring Program was initially enacted in San Francisco in August 1998. The purpose of First Source is to provide low-income San Francisco residents with entry-level jobs that are created by the City�s routine activities in contracting and public works or by business activity that requires approval by the City�s Planning Department or permits by the Department of Building Inspection.
First Source requirements currently apply to commercial activity in space over 25,000 square feet and to residential project over 10 units.

Supervisor Mirkarimi�s amendments to the First Source law would lower the threshold for First Source participation to commercial space of 10,000 square feet within the Market-Octavia plan area. This change makes it possible for the City to assist small business owners in training and placing local residents in entry-level jobs that will be created as the Market-Octavia area is developed.

Controller's Whistleblower Program Approved by the Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Mirkarimi's ordinance regarding the Controller's Whistleblower Program. Program receives and tracks complaints about the quality and delivery of government services, wasteful and inefficient City government practices, misuse of government funds, and improper activities by City government officials, employees and contractors.

This Legislation is in response to Proposition C of 2003 creating a City Services Auditor to implement the whistleblower requirements. It implements the confidentiality provisions of investigations, expands protection against retaliation to those who cooperate with investigation, prohibit furnishing of false information and require cooperation with the Controller�s investigators conducting inquiries initiated by a whistleblower complaint. For more information see www.sfgov.org/site/whistleblower_index.asp

Supervisor Mirkarimi Honors Foot Patrol Officers for National Night Out

In conjunction with the 7th annual Western Addition National Night Out, Supervisor Mirkarimi honored the foot patrol officers of Northern and Park police stations, as well as Lieutenants Slade and Plyer, and Richard Johnson (co-founder of Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association). Richard has helped organize all seven of the National Night Out events, which attempts to bring the community and police together to create safer communities. He has also been involved with Community Partners and Mo Magic.

Lieutenant Michael Slade was a founding member of Operation Dream, a non-profit that works to enrich the lives of public housing children under the age of 13. Lieutenant Timothy Plyer has been instrumental in working with the neighborhoods to obtain the resources to better implement community policing.

The foot patrol officers for Park Station are Jason Gallagher, Monica MacDonald, Gregory Hicks, Paul Davies, Ocean Embody, John Andrews, Francisco Rodriques, Jimmy Lee, Bret Kacamarczyk, and Rosalyn Rouede. For Northern station, the foot patrol officers are Antron Barron, Ron Liberta, Steve Spagnuolo, Patrick Griffin, Melvin Maunu, and Patrick Robinson. Our thanks and appreciation to them for helping implement real community policing.

Third Friday Art Party: Triangulation, Experiments in Green Printmaking
When: Friday, August 15th, 5:30 to 8:00pm
Where: Supervisor Mirkarimi's office, Room 282 at City Hall

Triangulation is a printmaking show featuring works by Bay Area artists Parker Ito, Jeanne Lorenz, and Billy Sprague. This show is curated by Nick Santoro. The green revolution in printmaking has arrived as artists develop new methods that embrace digital technology and less hazardous image making techniques. Artists are working together to make multi layered, technically savvy work, mixing style and philosophy to explore a third, collaborative identity. On display will be their experimental hybrids of traditional print processes.

Accessibility Information: City Hall is accessible to persons using wheelchairs and other disabilities. The Van Ness Avenue Entrance is closed at 5pm each day. The entrances to City Hall that are open after 5:00 pm are the Grove Street and the Polk Street / Carlton B. Goodlett Entrances. The Polk Street / Carlton B. Goodlett entrance is accessible via a ramp and a wheelchair lift. All of the other City Hall entrances are accessible via ramp.

This event is free and open to the general public.

San Francisco Homeownership Fair on September 6th
The annual San Francisco Homeownership Fair will be held in District 5 this year - at the St. Mary's Cathedral Center. Now in its fourth year, the SF Homeownership Fair is sponsored by the City, the Redevelopment Agency, and private institutions. The Fair is organized by our non-profit homeownership counseling agencies to help low-income first time homebuyers get educated about the opportunities that exist in San Francisco. The Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) is the lead coordinating agency.

WHO: New Homebuyers & Existing Homeowners
WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 2008, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: St. Mary's Cathedral at 111 Gough Street, San Francisco
WHY: To learn the key steps for becoming a homeowner in San Francisco and important information for current homeowners.

- Meet and talk with representatives from over 40 different organizations all dedicated to increasing access to affordable homeownership opportunities in San Francisco. Exhibitors include the Mayor�s Office of Housing, SF Redevelopment Agency, lending institutions, real estate professionals, housing counseling agencies, and many others.
- Workshops include: First-time Homeownership Opportunities, How to Access Special Government Programs for First-Time Homebuyers, and Current Homeownership Market
- Most classes will be taught by local housing counseling agencies in three languages (Spanish, English and Cantonese).
- Door prizes, giveaways, and entertainment for the whole family!
For more information see www.medasf.org/hofair.html.

15th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival
San Francisco's award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 15th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, the theme of this year's festival is RESILIENCE: My Culture, My People, Me! Festival events (August 2-October 16) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place at various venues around San Francisco: Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, The Marsh, and Yoshi's San Francisco Jazz Club. See the upcoming events section below for a list of AfroSolo Arts Festival events.

Want to Plant a Tree in the Inner Sunset?
An Inner Sunset tree planting is being planned in the Inner Sunset neighborhood for 9th Avenue to 18th Avenue, Lincoln to Lawton. By joining forces with your neighbors, you can have a tree planted at great savings--only $165 per tree versus the normal $365 or more. Tree improve the quality of the air, raise property values, and build community. Sign up today! If you live within these boundaries and would like to have a tree planted in front of your home, please contact Wona Miniati at wona@miniati.com or call 415-564-6615.

Successful Inner Sunset and Upper Haight Clean Up

Residents, merchants and community members joined the Department of Public Works and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 9th to clean up streets throughout the Inner Sunset and Upper Haight neighborhoods. Over 60 volunteers painted out graffiti, cleaned tree basins, picked up litter, and swept sidewalks from Upper Haight to 19th Avenue, including Lincoln, Irving, and Judah streets, and the Cole Valley area.

The Inner Sunset and Upper Haight clean up was organized by the Department of Public Works, District Five Supervisor Mirkarimi; and merchant and resident groups. As a part of the cleanup, Sunset Scavenger Company and Clean City Coalition also provided residents with free drop off service for household bulky items, electronic recycling, recyclables and composting materials at St. Anne�s Schoolyard. Hundreds of residents used the service that aims to reduce the amount of trash that goes to the landfill by promoting reuse and recycling of materials.

New Evening Parking at Divisadero and Oak
Starting Saturday August 16, the Shell Station at Divisadero and Oak will be offering parking in the evenings. Parking will be available from 7pm to 2am. The charge will be a $12 flat rate. An attendant will work the lot from 7 to 11. From 11pm to 2am, parking will be handled through the Shell Station. No monthly or overnight parking will be offered. For more information, contact 665-6699.

Looking for a Job?

Recruiting BEET Rangers--Band of Environmentally Educated Teens
Green Job Training Internships stipend of $1,000+
Date: 8 months Spring-Fall 2008
This is a great opportunity for low income, diverse youth between the ages of 13-19 years old living in the Western Addition. This is an opportunity to become an environmental leader and improve the community's urban parks while making friends and helping others. Events planned include; wilderness adventures workshops in: park maintenance, design and construction, recycling, composting, organic gardening, nutrition, and cooking. park clean-ups, community celebrations, farmer's market, trips to urban and rural organic farms, bike rides/alternative transpiration and more events are planned! For the requirements and to request an application to either be in the program or sponsor/mentor please contact the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group at 415-643-3638 or 415-431-8112 hvnparks@hotmail.com or 415-345-9777.

Urban Solutions is Hiring
Urban Solutions currently has 2 job openings: Project Manager and Development Associate. For information about applying, go to www.urbansolutionssf.org/Jobs.

City Jobs
The City is always hiring for a wide variety of positions. For information on City employment openings click here. This page contains lists of job openings, information on Civil Service examinations, and a variety of other useful information on finding work.

SFPD
SFPD Hiring The SFPD is continuously hiring qualified applicants. Applicants must be 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, must be US citizens, must have a high School diploma or equivalent, and must not have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor which would prohibit possession of a firearm. For more information or to apply, Contact the Department of Human Resources at 44 Gough St, San Francisco. Additionally, applications are available on-line at www.sfgov.org/police or at governmentjobs.com.

Do You Know of Other Job Openings?
Please let us know and we'll include them in next month's newsletter. Email us at mirkarimistaff@sfgov.org or call the office at 554-7630.

 

Upcoming Events

Saturday, August 9th: Inner Sunset History Walk
Time: 11am
Where: Meet at Arguello and Hugo Streets
Join Western Neighborhoods Project board member Lorri Ungaretti on a City Guides tour of the Inner Sunset. Discover how this charming neighborhood emerged from the windswept dunes originally deemed hopeless and uninhabitable. Explore the area, see the bustling color, and hear the fascinating history of the neighborhood. For more information contact lorri@outsidelands.org.

Wednesday, August 13th: Mo' Magic Summer Reading Program Awards Ceremony
Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: AAACC (762 Fulton St.)
Awards ceremony and raffle prize giveaway for kids who complete and return summer reading logs.

Thursday, August 14th: Northern District Police/Community Relations Forum
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Location: Northern Police station, 1125 Fillmore (at Turk)
Work with police, city attorney, & district attorney offices to find permanent solutions to ongoing safety issues.

Tuesday, August 14th: Sunset District Neighborhood Coalition meeting
Time: 7pm
Location: Taraval Station, 2345 24th Avenue

Thursday, August 14th: Trust for Public Lands "Hayes Valley Playground Rebuild Workshop"
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Hayes Valley Playground Clubhouse (at Buchanan)

Thursday, August 14th: Bring Your Own Art (BYOA)
Time: 6 to 8pm
Where: Hall of Culture at the AAACC (762 Fulton St.)
Bring your own art youth program.

Friday, August 15th: Black & White Ball
Where: West Bay Conference Center (1290 Fillmore St.)
Semi-formal dance for the youth; dress code strictly enforced.

Friday, August 15th: Deadline for 4th annual SF Neighborhood Business Awards
Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination describing, in 200 words or less, how a SF small business has contributed to the good of a neighborhood. Nominations can be submitted through www.urbansolutionssf.org/nominate or urbansolutionssd.org/nominate/green.html to nominate a green business, or you can call (415) 346-0199 to have a form mailed to you.
The Awards ceremony will be on Tuesday October 7 at Mezzanine nightclub on 444 Jessie St from 5:30 – 8:30 PM.

Saturday, August 16th: Neighborhood Baptist Church Block Party
Time: 9am to 7pm
Location: Buchanan: Hayes to Grove; Ivy: Laguna to Webster

Saturday, August 16th: Buchanan St. Community Block Party
Time: 11am to 4pm
Location: Between Hayes & Grove, and the Hayes Valley Playground
Free to community with children activities, food, beverages, health screenings, information booths, music, and more.

Saturday, August 16th: Community Day at the SF Victory Garden
Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: SF Victory Garden (Civic Center in the front of City Hall)
Join fellow residents of SF and learn how you can make your community a greener and healthier place to live. The Community day at he Victory garden will feature a variety of fun and interactive experiences for people of all ages to learn first hand what they can do to make their neighbor hood sustainable. For more info call 415-554-7011 or email NEN@sfgov.org.

Saturday, August 16th: Lower Haight Block Party
Time: 4 - 7
Location: 400 block of Haight
The 400 block of Haight Street is having a party. Chili Cha Cha's, Nickies, SF Underground, Rotee, Two Jacks, Walgreens,Y Que and many many more will be showing off their wares and participating. Supervisor Mirkarimi will be there to commemorate the beautiful and artful tree guards and the people who made them! But, WAIT--there's more. Bring a stack of your most famous cookies for the COOKIE BAKE OFF and win FAME, GLORY, and possibly prizes!!!!

Saturday, August 16th: Sue Bierman Anniversary Celebration
Time: 1-3 pm
Location: Sue Bierman Grove at Oak and Shrader Street in the Panhandle
Join the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council for a celebration of the life and times of Sue Bierman, HANC founder, Planning Commissioner, two–term Supervisor and Port Commissioner. HANC will provide the basicsbar-b-que, drinks and utensilsand invites the rest to bring their favorite pot luck dish and story of Sue Bierman. We will remember our great friend and neighbor and do what Sue loved to do: get together and talk about the happenings of the neighborhood.

Sunday, August 17th: Grove St. Farmer's Market
Time: 8am to 3pm
Location: Grove: Divisadero to Broderick

Sunday, August 17: AfroSolo Festival Art Opening
Time: 2-4pm
Location: Main San Francisco Public Library (100 Larkin Street at Grove)
Resilience: My Culture, My People, Me!
Free and open to the public.
Visual arts exhibit on display Saturday, August 16 - Saturday, October 16
Focusing on the theme of resilience to examine the Black experience in the United States, this uplifting, inspiring, and thought-provoking multi-media exhibit showcases the works of AfroSolo alumni visual artists.

Monday, August 18: AfroSolo Festival Gala Concert at Yoshi's
Time: gala reception at 6, concert at 8
Location: Yoshi's San Francisco (1330 Fillmore Street)
In Honor of Four Great Ones: John Coltrane, Sammy Davis, Jr., Duke Ellington, and Hope Foye
Tickets: $25 Balcony, $35 Main Floor, $60 Gala reception and priority seating
86 year-old opera soprano Hope Foye will perform songs from her repertoire and will be honored with AfroSolo's Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. Noah Griffin, Ohnedaruth, and Robert Sims (additional performer TBA) will perform tributes to late greats Sammy Davis, Jr., Duke Ellington, and John Coltrane.

Monday, August 18th: SPEAK monthly meeting
Time: 6pm
Location: Grace Lutheran Church, Ulloa St. and 33rd Avenue, enter from Ulloa St. entrance

Wednesday, August 20th: Sustainability Tools for Small Business Workshop
Time: 3pm to 5pm
Location: Bayanihan Center (corner of Sixth and Mission)
Join Urban Solutions and The Idea Hive for a free interactive small business workshop experience. Participants will learn how to identify business opportunities from the environmental, social, and economic challenges of the Bay Area. We will use collaborative tools to create innovative products and services that address local needs. The workshop will bring together sustainability, systemic thinking, and the entrepreneur into an experiential learning lab.

Thursday, August 21: Preschool Videos
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Sunset Library, 1305 18th Ave. (at Irving)
Videos that preschoolers will enjoy!

Saturday, August 23rd: United in Health 3, Community Health Fair & Backpack
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Ella Hill Community Center, 1050 McAllister (at Webster)
In collaboration with Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, MoMagic, St. Mary's Hospital, and California Pacific Medical Center, AfroSolo hosts a student backpack giveaway, community health fair, providing health screenings, demonstrations, and access to healthcare professionals. If you or your organization would like to participate, please contact Thomas Simpson at Thomas@afrosolo.org.

Saturday, August 23rd: McKinley Elementary School Welcome BBQ
Time: 11:00 am - 2:30 p.m.
Location: 1025 14th Street at Castro
Volunteers are still needed for set-up at 10:00 and clean-up after. Please bring a salad, side dish or fruit to share. We will have the 'official' dedication of our new KaBoom! & WaMu play structures and we will be planting our herbs in the new classroom planters. All McKinley families are encouraged to attend.
The BBQ will begin with a short ceremony formally opening the new play structure in the upper yard. Join us for the ribbon cutting then celebrate with a BBQ.

Friday, August 22nd through Sunday August 24th: Outside Lands Festival
Time: All day
Location: Golden Gate Park, Polo Fields and Speedway Meadows
Radiohead, Beck, Tom Petty, Wilco, Jack Johnson, Toots and the Mytals, Two Gallants, Sean Hayes, and a whole bunch more. Three days of music and art in Golden Gate Park. For information on tickets and the schedule, see www.sfoutsidelands.com.

Thursday, August 28: Preschool Yoga
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Sunset Library, 1305 18th Ave. (at Irving)
Preschoolers will enjoy a variety of animal yoga postures, as well as a story! Space limited. Call (415) 355-2818 for reservations.

Friday, August 29th: Nominations Due for Park Task Force
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is looking for community members, members of the public or members of organizations that may be interested to serve on a Task Force working to develop guidelines for a funded $5 million park improvement program. Six individuals are needed to provide expertise to the Task Force based on their relevant experiences. For more information about the application process email Karen.Mauney-Brodek@sfgov.org or call 415-831-2789.

Sunday, August 31st & September 14th: Sunday Streets
Location: 6-mile stretch of roadway connecting the Bayview to Chinatown, along the Embarcadero
The roadway will be closed to make open space for people to bike, walk, run and be physically active. For more information, see www.sundaystreetssf.com.

Wednesday, September 3: Sunset Branch Monthly Book Club
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Sunset Library, 1305 18th Ave. (at Irving)
This month's selection is "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared Diamond.

Thursday, September 4th: Mo' Magic Community Meeting
Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: AAACC 3rd Floor, 762 Fulton (at Webster)

Thursday, September 4th: HVNA Transportation and Planning Committee monthly meeting
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Location: Hayes Valley Playground Trailer, 699 Hayes (at Buchanan)

Saturday, September 6th: Hukilau Poke Festival
Time: 9am to 8pm
Location: Masonic: Geary to Masonic
7th annual Hukilau Poke Festival and Spam Musubi Eating Contest. The premier Poke event outside of Hawai'i, with great prizes including a trip for two to Hawai'i for the Grand Prize winner. For more information, see www.dahukilau.com/pokecontest2008.html.

Monday, September 8th: HVNA Public Safety Committee meeting
Time: 7pm to 8pm
Location: Hayes Valley Playground Trailer 699 Hayes (at Buchanan)

Monday, September 8: Litquake + the Library: San Francisco Stories in the Sunset
Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Sunset Library, 1305 18th Ave. (at Irving)
Featuring readings, discussion and book-signing with authors:
Kim Wong Keltner, author of I Want Candy
Kemble Scott, author of SoMa
Pam Holm, author of The Night Garden
Lisa Lutz, author of The Spellman Files and Curse of the Spellmans

Thursday, September 11th: John Muir PTA Meeting
Time: 9am & 7pm
Location: John Muir Elementary located 380 Webster (at Oak)
Join faculty, students, parents and concerned community members as we partner to assure quality education for all children.

Ongoing

Thursday, August 21-Sunday, August 24: AfroSolo Festival Black Voices Series
Time: Thursday-Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 3pm
Location: The Marsh, 1062 Valencia Street (near 22nd and Mission, SF)
Tickets: $25 General Admission
Performing original solo stage works inspired by the theme of resilience are Idris Ackamoor with Music for One Hand Clapping; Angela Dean-Baham with Unsung Diva: The Life and Times of Sissieretta Jones, aka Black Patti; and Laura Elaine Ellis, in collaboration with Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Ajayi Lumumba, and Kimara Dixon, with the World Premiere of i that is we. Additional performance TBA.

August through September
Location: Museum of the African Diaspora (685 Mission St.)
MoAD presents a selection of works from the 19th and 20th centuries that will highlight African American history, as well as the history of photography itself

Every Tuesday: Supa Sick Wid It Turf Dance Class
Time: 4 – 5 PM
Location: Buchanan YMCA Dance Studio, 1530 Buchanan St.
Free for Western Addition/ Fillmore youth ages 10-18 years old. RSVP by emailing supasickwidit05@aim.com.

Every Tuesday: Family Storytime
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Locations: Park Library Meeting Room, 1833 Page St. (near Cole)
Stories and songs for children of all ages.

Second Tuesday of the Month: Park Police Station & Haight Community & Provider Forum
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Park Police Station, 1899 Waller Street, at Kezar
This is a forum for neighbors and service providers to meet, greet, eat and share community information and resources. Refreshments provided and movie tickets raffle prize. To RSVP or for more information contact: Olivia Swilley at 415-668-0494, ext. 306.

Third Tuesday of the Month: Taraval Police Station Community Meeting
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Taraval Police Station, 2345 24th Ave.

Every Wednesday: Young Mothers United, support group for Formerly Incarcerated Young Mothers
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Call Cria at the Center for Young Women's Development for location.
Learn about your rights young mother and community resources. Free food and childcare, and earn $25 dollars for every workshop.
Contact: Cria, 415-703-8800

Every Thursday: Infant/Toddler Lapsit
Time:10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Park Library, 1833 Page St. (near Cole)
Songs, rhymes and stories for ages birth-3.

Every Thursday: Preschool Storytime
Time:11:30 a.m. - 12:15 a.m.
Location: Park Library, 1833 Page St. (near Cole)
Featuring books, rhymes and songs.

Every Thursday: Preschool Events at Sunset Library
Time:10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Sunset Library, 1305 18th Ave. (at Irving)
Activities including stories, videos, and yoga.

Second Thursday of the Month: North Police Station Community Meeting
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: North Station, 1125 Fillmore Street

Second and Fourth Thursday of the Month: Healing Circle for the Soul Support Group
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, 2595 San Jose Ave between Geneva and 19th Ave

Every Saturday: Fillmore Farmers Market
Time: 9 AM - 1 PM, with live jazz starting at 10:30 AM
Location: O'Farrell Street at Fillmore Street
For more information call 1-800-949-FARM or go to www.pcfma.com.

Every Saturday: Hip Hop dance Class
Time: 1pm-3pm
Where: Hayward Playground RecConnect (Laguna and Golden Gate)
Hip-Hop dance class for all ages, sponsored by RecConnect. For information contact Jerry Jack at 415-292-2018 or Melissa Langness at 415-756-9869, mlangness@ymcasf.org.

Every Sunday: Divisadero Farmers' Market
Time: 10 AM - 2 PM
Location: Divisadero and Grove

The District 5 Interfaith Teen Council
Teens in the Fillmore, Western Addition, Japantown neighborhoods
Date: to be determined
Come and join in creating a new and vibrant multi-denomination community in your own backyard. The members are from local schools, churches, and religious institutions interested in sharing in religion, and strengthening the neighborhood with fellow District 5 teens. If you are a teen, or know of teens in your community that might be interested, and want to learn more or come to the next meeting.
Contact: Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman mgoodman@jchsofthebay.org or 415-345-9777.

Summer Programs

Ongoing – August 15: 2008 Free Summer Lunch Sites
The summer lunch program serves FREE healthy lunches to everyone 18 and younger, regardless of income. It is sponsored by the San Francisco Food Bank. For a listing of the food sites and for more information call 211 or 311, or visit www.summerlunch.org.

Ongoing – August 15: Teen Outdoor Adventure Camp
Time: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Booker T. Washington CSC, 800 Presidio Ave.
For more information contact LeKesha Howard or Will Purifoy at 415-921-2765.

Ongoing – August 15: Buzz on Bizz Summer Program
Students will learn the principles of business development, writing a business plan and selling their products/services. Students ages 14-19 are welcome to apply. For more information call 415-567-4568.

Hayes Valley Playground: Fun-N-Sun with Ja'Net, and Josh Time!
Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: 699 Hayes Street
For more information call 415-554-9526.

SF Skate Club Summer Skate Camp
August 11- August 22
For more information and registration go to www.sfskateclub.com or email sfskateclub@gmail.com or call 415-867-8500.

Garden Park Work Parties

Buena Vista Park - Monthly Clean-up 9:00 AM – noon.
Contact: Richard Magary, of Buena Vista Neighborhood Association (BVNA), and Friends of Buena Vista Park (FoBVP) at BVNA@ix.netcom.com

Haight-Ashbury Stewards Every Wednesday from 9:30 am to noon
Contact: Nature in the City, 415-564.4107 for details and check www.natureinthecity.org/haightashburystewards.php.
The weekly work parties do habitat restoration in the Haight.

Koshland Park - Monthly Cleanup, for more information,
Contact: Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Council, hvnparks@hotmail.com

Panhandle - Currently no set schedule.
Location: Fell and Ashbury aside the bulletin board next to restrooms
NOPNA and Panhandle Residents Association invites the community to come garden every second Saturday of the month. The park provides Gloves and tools but feel free to bring some of your own. Contact 415-346-1448, home@prosf.org.

Patricia's Green - Currently no set schedule.
If you're interested in participating in a clean up contact Russell Pritchard. He has bags and gloves. You can find him at Zonal at 568 Hayes or call 255-9307 or email: madelinebb@sbcglobal.net or russellsf@earthlink.net.

Victory Gardens 2008
Work with the Victory Gardens team to install a garden in your outdoor space. This Victory Garden Project is a pilot project funded by the City of San Francisco to support the transition of backyard, front yard, window boxes, rooftops, and unused land into organic food production areas. 15 households will be chosen to represent the diversity of SF to participate and Victory Gardens will provide support. For an application and more information, visit www.sfvictorygardens.org.

Life Project Seeking Leaders
Leaders in Future Environments (LIEF) Project is currently looking for potential mentors for the LIFE Project 2008 program year. LIFE Project is a prevention-based mentoring program that provides one-on-one mentoring, on-going support, and positive role models for youth impacted by parental incarceration. For more information contact Mailee Wong at 415-717-8404 or visit www.centerforce.org.

D5 School Enrollment and Support
Rosa Parks Elementary, the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program (JBBP) is open for enrollment. The JBBP is a unique, 35-year old Japanese language and cultural program with strong community support. Students receive one hour of formal Japanese each day by Native-Japanese-speaking "Sensei" who also work closely with credential teachers in each classroom. They also have Science Night a partnership with UCSF. 1501 O'Farrell Street.

John Muir Elementary
Students benefit from dedicated and experienced principal and teachers, strong community support, variety of programs, gardening program, a structured after-school program: the Beacon Center and a new playground in the Fall 2008. The community can support John Muir by donating clean bottles and cans, drop off between 9 AM – 2 PM. 380 Webster Street.

Become a volunteer at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.
The Volunteer Services Department at LHHRC is looking for the help of people in the community who go to help out. There are plenty of opportunities to make a difference in many different areas. For more info, call a Volunteer Services Coordinator: Linda Acosta 759-3333 or Cherrylyn Fernandes 759-3334.

Become a volunteer at the Annual Sunset Community Festival
Volunteers are needed for the festival itself and to help out with the fundraising arcade for the children to benefit the campaign to rebuild and redesign the Sunset Playground. If you are able to help out the day of the festival please contact Ron by email at ron@sfethos.com or call 664-5376.

Board of Supervisors Information

Looking for the Board of Supervisors meeting information, minutes, or agendas? Click the picture below or click here: