I recently got a note from Ben Lewis, founder and owner of Engage as You Age.

Ben asked me to share a little info about his organization, and because we all either know someone that is older and may need a friend to get through a time that can be emotionally challenging, or will eventually be older and will one day need a friend to get through a time that can be emotionally challenging, I thought it was, indeed, worth sharing.

Ben writes:

I run an organization, Engage As You Age, that works with homebound and isolated seniors and older adults. We pair them up with people who share their passions (and who also have personalities that they’ll get along well with).

 

We work throughout the SF Bay Area (including all of SF) and our office is in SOMA (on 5^th Street).

 

We’ve got a big couple of months ahead of us. We’re going to be on CBS 5 next month (filmed it recently but don’t have air date for the 5 minute spot yet) and are a finalist for a 30-minute tv show about us!

 

Since you seem to share information about community organizations, I thought you might be interested to learn more about us and share with your blog readers.

 

Engage As You Age fosters lively, intergenerational connections based on shared interests and passions. The carefully screened Activity Specialists sensitively woo homebound or psychologically isolated seniors into more active engagement with the world.

 

Regularly scheduled home visits may feature stimulating discussions based on shared passions and hobbies, a common interest in the arts, or the teaching of new skills. These sessions not only alleviate loneliness; they forge new friendships that help to lessen seniors’ reliance on immediate family members to meet their social needs.

 

Go to http://www.engageasyouage.com to learn more.

Thanks for sharing, Ben!  And if any other readers have a great local organization that they’d like to share with readers of this San Francisco blog, shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to post it!

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Sunset Farmers Market – Exploratory Survey

The Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center and Supervisor Carmen Chu’s Office are working with community members and the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association to explore the possibility of starting a Sunset Farmers Market.  We would like to hear your thoughts.  Please complete this super short survey (only 5 questions) to let us know what you think.  If you already filled out a paper survey, we’ve got you covered, otherwise respond now!

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Supervisor Carmen Chu invites you to donate….

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FOR KIDS

What are you going to be for Halloween?

With Halloween right around the corner, that’s a question that every kid’s hearing right now. 

Donate costumes, dress-up clothes, festive accessories, masks and props to the:

DISTRICT 4 COSTUME DRIVE

WHEN:  October 10^th through the 25^th

DONATION LOCATIONS:

·        Taraval Police Station, 2345 Taraval St.

·        The NEW Java Beach at 2650 Sloat Blvd.

·        Sunset Recreation Center, 2201 Lawton St. at 28^th Ave.

·        Taraval Street Fair October 25, Taraval St. between 46^th Ave & Great Highway

Look for our spookily decorated donation bins

DISTRIBUTION:  Children in need of a costume are invited to select a costume from the donations at the Taraval Street Fair on October 25

For further information call: 415-554-7460 or email chustaff@sfgov.org

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The Neighborhood Parks Council (NPC) is collaborating with Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF), Timberland, and SF Rec and Park on Dig It!, an Outer Sunset greening event on Saturday morning, October 18, 2008.

Approximately 400 volunteers will work on various greening projects throughout the Outer Sunset, including tree plantings, and playground, park and schoolyard cleanups.

Two of the playgrounds that volunteers will be working on, Sunset and West Sunset Playground, received a failing grade in NPC¹s 2008 Playground Report Card, meaning that these sites have safety and health concerns for the children of the Outer Sunset who play there.

Therefore, Dig It! is an exciting opportunity for San Franciscans to improve the condition of the recreational spaces in the Outer Sunset that need the most attention. Moreover, Dig It! addresses the fact that the Outer Sunset is an area of the City that greatly lacks adequate street trees and parks.

EVENT DETAILS

The event kick-off will begin will begin at 8am on Saturday, October 18 at West Sunset Playground at 3223 Ortega. At 1:00pm, volunteers will reconvene at West Sunset for lunch and prizes. Scheduled to appear are Sunset District Supervisor Carmen Chu and world-renowned environmental photographer James Balog.

The first 400 volunteers will receive a special Timberland t-shirt and a ticket to a concert that evening from 6:00 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. featuring Stone Gossard, founding member of Pearl Jam, at the Regency Center¹s Grand Ballroom (1290 Sutter).

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP

To volunteer at a Dig It! park, playground, or schoolyard cleanup project, contact NPC Outreach Coordinator Matthew Silva at (415) 621-3260 ext. 116 or msilva@sfnpc.org.

To volunteer at Dig It! tree plantings contact Reed Milnes at the Friends of the Urban Forest at reed@fuf.net or (415) 561-6890 ext. 103.

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In response to the tragic murder of Jordan McKay on September 17, 2008 at Cabrillo Street and 15th Avenue in our Richmond District, the Central Richmond District Safety Committee (CRDSC) is holding a community meeting. The goals of the meeting are:

- Provide whatever details are available about this particular incident
- Understand crime trends in our neighborhood — is crime getting better or worse, and why?
- Know what steps we can take to reduce crime and make our neighborhood safer

When:

Wednesday October 1, 2008, 6:00 pm

Where:

San Francisco Police Department Richmond Station
461 6th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 666-8000
map: http://bit.ly/4tjV2u

Speakers / Agenda:

- Irina Chatsova, SF Safe
- Kitty Ha, Safety Network / RAMS
- An officer from the San Francisco Police Department’s Richmond Station
- Q&A

Questions? Email crdsc.steering.committee@gmail.com
Comments: Post to the Central Richmond District forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/centralrichmonddistrict/

Finally, a reminder that anyone with tips may anonymously call the  SFPD Tip Line at: (415) 575-4444. (Refer to Case #: 080 986 135)

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Thursday, October 2, 6-8pm
City Hall, North Light Court

This promises to be a unique and exciting community event to help rebuild West Sunset Playground for our families and residents. Come join us for an evening of gourmet food and wine and good company at City Hall. There will be a silent auction with items such as spa and restaurant certificates, lunches with local politicians, and many more great items donated by local businesses and friends of San Francisco’s parks.  If you are interested in donating a silent auction item or know of any local businesses interested in helping West Sunset Playground, please let us know!

To register for the event and make your donation, visit our website at http://www.fowsp.org/SunsetSoiree.php

West Sunset Playground, located in the Sunset District on 39th Avenue and Ortega, is a heavily used playground surrounded by a high concentration of schools, a public library and residential homes. This playground is in dire need of repair as it was deemed unsafe by the Neighborhood Parks Council in their recent April 2008 assessment survey. Let’s work together to rebuild this playground for our children and our community!

For more information contact us at 415-839-8875 or events@fowsp.org.

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From the Sunset District Safety Network comes some pretty cool news:

Free Trees and HUGE Tree Planting Event Coming to the Sunset

As you may know, Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) are always working hard to secure funding that will enable us to further subsidize the planting and maintenance of street trees for  residents in the Sunset.  FUF is delighted to say that Timberland has awarded us a major grant that will make this possible.  Trees will be FREE for residents.

On Saturday, October 18, FUF is planning to manage a 100+ tree planting, from 19th Avenue to the Great Highway, while coordinating simultaneous park and beach clean-up efforts.  We need to engage 400 to 500 volunteers throughout the Sunset to meet these goals.  To ensure success, we need all Sunset residents to take part in this neighborhood event.  Please contact Suzanne@fuf.net or 561-6890 x101 for more information.  

There is a great way for Sunset residents, groups, and organizations to beautify our neighborhood for FREE.  All we need to do is provide our time and energy.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping out at darrow@snbc.org.

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I received an emergency plea today from the San Francisco Zoo. 

Please, if you care about conservation programs, please reach out to your San Francisco District supervisor.

Please read the details of what will happen if we let Chris Daly stick his nose where it doesn’t belong!!!  And take a look at the plea from the SF Zoo below.

We need your help and assistance as we near the upcoming Board of Supervisors hearing on Chris Daly’s “rescue zoo” legislation. This meeting will decide the fate of the San Francisco Zoo.

As you are probably aware, it has been a trying time at the San Francisco Zoo since the events of last Christmas, but changing the Zoo into a rescue facility is not the solution. We already care for more than 100 rescued animals (e.g., the Animal Research Center education animals, the grizzly bears, and Ulu, one of our polar bears), but the legislation would require that all future animals come from rescue situations, with a few limited exceptions. Under this scheme, our Members would no longer connect with rare and endangered animals or learn about the conditions of their native lands, but more importantly, the legislation would eradicate much of the Society’s contribution to conservation, endangered species education, and other vital programs here at the Zoo.

Supervisor Daly’s “rescue zoo” legislation will be heard before the full Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, September 9. The Supervisors as well as the Mayor need to hear from you before September 9 if we want to stop this legislation. To make communication easier for you, please visit www.sfzoo.org/rescuelegislation for more details on the legislation, the Zoo’s position on the matter, and how you can help save the San Francisco Zoo – from writing letters to meeting in-person with your District Supervisor.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Mayor Gavin Newsom District 1 Jake McGoldrick  District 2 Michela Alioto-Pier District 3 Aaron Peskin, President of the Board District 4 Carmen Chu  District 5 Ross Mirkarimi

District 6 Chris Daly  District 7 Sean Elsbernd  District 8 Bevan Dufty  District 9 Tom Ammiano  District 10 Sophie Maxwell  District 11 Gerardo Sandoval

On behalf of the entire San Francsico Zoo community, I thank you in advance for your consideration and assistance.

Best regards,

Tanya Peterson
Acting Executive Director and President

 

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I know I’ve neglected The Avenues Blog for a little while now. 

To be honest, I’ve had some personal stuff take my mind off of everything but the bare basics of life.  Which are family (including my remaining dog), food, work (including my San Francisco Real Estate blog) and sleep, pretty much in that order. 

But, now I’m back, and I want to make it up to you. 

And to do that, I’m giving away FREE STUFF!

I’ve got FREE tickets to two great events! 

You just have to be the first to CONTACT ME and tell me which event you’re hoping to attend! 

And just for your peace of mind, I just want to note that I will never do ANYTHING with your email address.  I will not sell, rent or raffle it and in fact, you’ll never hear from me after you get the tickets!  

  
San Francisco Zoo Night Tour Tickets!

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SNBC’s Annual National Night Out Community BBQ is back!

Join your friends, neighbors and members of the Sunset community at this FREE community celebration. Free food and music will be provided!

When: Tuesday, August 5, 2008
5:00 – 7:00 PM

Where: Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center
3925 Noriega Street @ 46th Avenue

For more information, contact Darrow by email or by calling (415) 694-1287.

Hope to see you there!

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