In late July, Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) will be hosting a neighborhood tree planting event in the Richmond District.

Prior to the event, FUF is accepting applications from residents and businesses that would like sidewalk trees installed in front of their buildings.

FUF sudsidizes 75% of the cost to plant the tree, so the cost to the homeowner or merchant is only $135-$180 per tree depending on the species you pick. They offer a variety of trees to choose from – check out their urban tree directory here.

The cost of the tree also covers its installation, including prep work such as concrete removal, and scheduled tree care over first 2 years of life.

The deadline to apply for a tree to be planted during the Richmond District July 27 event is JUNE 20. Visit the FUF website and complete the online application form to get started. If you have questions, contact Caitlin@fuf.net or call 268-0772.

Sarah B.

Here’s hoping it’s not a Manic Monday for you today. But in case it is, here are some local links to distract you…

• In case you missed the above, fun video on SFAppeal last week, it showcases some acrobats making the most of the Cliff House environs. And no need for copycat videos please, we trust you could do it too. UPDATE: Looks like the videographer removed it for some reason, so we posted another one of his Cliff House videos for you.
• It’s all about the Benjamins… We got an email from Rodney, the proprietor at the Purple Skunk Skate Shop (6037 Geary) this weekend. He told us some teenage boys came in on Friday and tried to purchase goods with counterfeit $100 bills. The shop, unsuspecting, accepted the first bill, but then got suspicious when a second teen showed up soon after, also trying to pay with a $100 bill. Rodney tried to stall the second suspect but they fled before police could arrive.
• Stop and smell the flowers… Every Saturday through May (except May 25), the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will be leading wildflower walks along the Lands End trail. The hikes meet up at noon in the Merrie Way parking lot near the Lands End Lookout visitor center.
• Tia Margarita on Clement at 19th Avenue turns 50 this year. The same family has owned the restaurant since its opening and serves up good food and what we hear is a great Margarita. They’re hosting an anniversary party this Saturday (sorry, it’s sold out), but if you’re stopping by, be sure to congratulate them on hitting this huge milestone. Muy, muy bien!
• Want to know the latest on the projects at Mountain Lake Park? A new restroom is being built, the lake is being cleaned out, and park groups are working to get a new playground built. This Thursday night, April 11 at 6:30pm, there is a community informational meeting at St. John’s Church (4620 California Street near 8th Avenue). Stop by to get the latest info and find out how you can help.



• A new sign has popped up on the 500 block of 48th Avenue between Geary and Anza. “The Black Dog” sign hangs from a second floor balcony. We’re not sure if it’s a Bed & Breakfast, a pet-related business, or just someone’s decorative flag. If you know anything, leave a comment to let us know. Thank to reader Gabriel for the tip. UPDATE: It’s just decorative; a motif from Martha’s Vineyard.
• Mark your calendars for healthy kids… The YMCA will be hosting their annual Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday, April 27th from 11am until 2pm at Argonne Playground (18th Avenue near Geary). Enjoy games, healthy treats, performances, arts & crafts, and much more. For more information, contact Jasmine Punzalan at jpunzalan@ymcasf.org.
• Got some e-waste to dispose of? Stop by George Washington High School this Saturday, April 20 between 10am and 3pm. The Lacrosse team is taking e-waste drop-offs to raise funds for their program. Enter on 30th Avenue near Geary. For more information, email Larry Yee at yeel@sfusd.edu.
• “Dahlias, darling, dahlias!” This Saturday is the Dahlia Society of California’s Annual Sale at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. Stop by between 9:30am and 12noon to shop for over 300 varieties of dahlias, tubers and plants. Their tip: come early for the best selection.
• Is there a budding DJ within you? Or living in your home? Then you might want to check out the free DJ workshop at the Richmond District branch library (351 9th Avenue) on Tuesday, April 23 at 4pm, presented by the Urban Music Program. Over the last fifteen years, UMP has worked with hundreds of youth and adults to further their knowledge of writing, recording, DJ’ing and producing.

Sometimes things break – a key gets stuck on your keyboard, a toy doll loses its arm, or the remote stops working on your tv. And our tendency is to dump it and go buy a new one, or leave it in the garage gathering dust.

But what if someone could help you fix it, or show you how to do it yourself? Wouldn’t you rather keep using that household item? Well your chance is coming up at the Fix-It event on Sunday, April 7.

Amy Z. is a Richmond District resident and a student at SFSU, enrolled in a class entitled “Geography of Garbage”.

“One of the assignments is to organize an event to help reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. Four of us decided that we wanted to organize a Fix – It Clinic,” Amy write to us in an email.

What is a Fix-It Clinic you ask? It’s an event where people can bring in broken electronics, appliances, toys, etc. to receive guidance on how to disassemble, diagnose, and hopefully fix the problem. The objective is to educate people on how to fix things so less items end up in landfills.

The event runs from 11am until 2pm at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center, 741 30th Avenue. Just bring over your non-working item to learn more about how it works, and hopefully, get it back in working order.

If you are planning to attend and know what you’re bringing for repair, go ahead and RSVP on the Meetup page.

Are you handy with repairs? Amy and her crew are looking for “anyone that likes to tinker” to help out. “It would be great if they had their own tools to share,” she says but it’s not required. Drop her a note through the meetup page for more information on volunteering.

Sarah B.

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

On Monday, a new wind turbine was installed at the Cliff House. The turbine, originally slated for installation last July, sits atop a 19 foot, 8 inch pole and extends about 10 feet above the roof of the building.

It is expected to generate about 9433kW hour per year – enough to power the small Cliff House gift shop.

The turbine is designed to be noiseless and rotate at just 85 revolutions per minute, slow enough to ensure that no wildlife such as bats or birds, are harmed by it.

In the project fact sheet, it states that the program requires a zero bird injury rate, so if one or more are injured, the turbine will be removed.

The installation is part of the National Park Service’s overall sustainability plan. The 3 year pilot will be monitored closely to measure its impact, which estimates a Green House Gas savings of 13,408 kilograms per year.

Sarah B.

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

• Magnolias – like the one above – are in full bloom right now at the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park. “Nearly 100 magnolias, many rare and historic, erupt in a fragrant riot of pink and white from mid-January through March.” Check out more pics
• Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and some shops on Clement Street are gearing up with a Valentine’s Boutique Stroll even this Saturday from 11am until 5pm. Get a free gift with purchase at Covet Boutique, save 50% at Seedstore clothing, and shop “vintage” Valentine items at Foggy Notion. Plus enjoy drinks and sweets while you shop.
• Catch a performance of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” this Saturday at 2pm at the Park Presidio United Methodist Church (4301 Geary Blvd @ 7th Ave), presented by the SF Shakespeare Festival On Tour. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for kids with proceeds benefiting PPUMC’s Arts and Activism Project, working to create a new performance venue in neighborhood.
• Got some ewaste to unload? Drive by Argonne School (680 18th Ave.) this Saturday between 10am and 1pm to safely recycle your working or non-working electronic item, appliance, or portable device that runs on electricity or batteries, and any accessory. View flyer (PDF) for all the details.
• Hiking fun: This Sunday from 1-3pm, join Jill Katz, an experienced San Francisco hiker and guide, for a six mile hike from the beach, to Sutro Baths, through a labyrinth and finally to a Tiki bar. It’s free but RSVP is required.
• Into chess? Been wanting to learn? The Richmond District branch of the SF Public Library has a free program, “Play Chess for Adults”, on Wednesday, February 13th and 27th from 1 to 2:30pm. Stop by for informal, drop-in chess. No sign-up required and chess sets are provided.

This Saturday, January 5th, George Washington High School is hosting an “Electronics for Education” event, inviting residents to stop by the school to donate used gadgets and recycle their electronics for free.

The event runs from 10am until 3pm at the high school, which is located at 600 32nd Avenue near Geary. Drive up and drop off your items which can include:

• Computers
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Smartphones
• Televisions
• Monitors
• Printers
• + more

The collection is being managed by All Green Recycling.

Sarah B.

Christmas has come and gone, and the tree is still twinkling in the living room. But when the lights are stripped and the ornaments taken down, what do you do with it?

Most San Franciscans know to drag their tree to the corner for free collection, and next week Recology SF officially kicks off their Christmas Tree collection program.

Trees should be cleared of all decorations and debris, and they must be placed next to trash bins by 6am on a resident’s regular trash pickup day. Any tree that’s more than 6 feet tall must be cut in half.

Trees are then collected and taken to Recology’s Recycling Center (501 Tunnel Avenue) where they will be turned into wood chips, which will finally be converted to boiler fuel used for generators at the center (Christmas trees are too acidic for composting).

In 2011, Recology reports that they collect 562 tons of Christmas trees. The tree collection program has been around for 26 years.

You have until January 15 to leave your tree for collection at the curb.

Sarah B.

[via SF Examiner]

Earlier this month, two Richmond District nail salons were recognized by the San Francisco Department of the Environment for making safer choices for their employees, customers, and the environment.

Salon Belle Linda (4448 California) and T & T Nails (405 Arguello) both achieved Healthy Nail Salon designation from the city.

The city has 250 nail salons and the technicians that work there are typically women of reproductive age. As a result, the city has increased efforts to encourage nail salons to help reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals commonly found in polishes and other products. Among the most harmful chemicals found are Toluene, Dibutyl phthalate, and Formaldehyde. Commonly known as the “toxic trio,” these chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and miscarriages.

Being designated a Healthy Nail Salon requires that businesses meet a thorough checklist of safety measures including:

• Technicians wearing protective gloves
• Designated areas for artificial nails with a localized ventilation system to reduce indoor odors
• Polishes and Lacquers without: Toluene, Dibutyl phthalate, or Formaldehyde
• Nail Polish Thinners without: Toluene or Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
• Nail Polish Removers without Ethyl or butyl acetate
• Artificial Nails without Methyl methacrylate (Banned by the FDA)

The program also requires training for all salon employees on the safer practices and chemicals.

“I’m very glad to be participating in the San Francisco Healthy Nail Salon program. I was nervous at first because I thought it might be hard to do, or might cost too much money, but in the end the staff at the department of the environment helped me out a lot. I feel so much better now knowing that my employees and customers are safe from harmful chemicals,” said Tony Dao owner of Salon Bella Linda on California Street.

Look for the Healthy Nail Salon program seal at Salon Belle Linda and T&T Nails, or at the other healthy salons across the city.

Congrats to our Richmond District businesses for taking a healthy step for their customers and employees!

Sarah B.