While San Franciscans sprint and stumble to the finish line in the centennial running of the famous race, Carla and the other girls of the Daraja Academy school, more than 9,500  miles away, will be running the same distance by circling their soccer field in the dark.

“This is the best part of this fundraiser,” Lukach said. “These girls have always wanted to contribute [toward their education], but they come from poverty that is on the level of being unimaginable.”

Lukach sits on the board of the Daraja Academy, an all-girls secondary school in Kenya founded by Jason and Jenny Dougherty of San Rafael. Lukach met and befriended the pair more than three years ago when their dream of a school was still evolving into an actual project.

Lukach had been editing Daraja video footage to show at fundraisers in the United States for years, and was excited to visit Daraja two months ago and  finally meet the girls whose faces he had become so familiar with.

Mark Lukach tutoring students from Daraja Academy during his visit there in March 2011.

“I kept telling them I felt like I was meeting celebrities,” he said.

The state pays for girls’ education up until eighth grade, but without outside funding many are unable to continue on, instead resorting to house service, marriage — or in the worst case, prostitution.

“Instead, they’re in school,” Lukach said. “How can you not get excited about that?”

The Daraja Academy raises funds to sponsor each girl for a year at the boarding school, a cost of $2,500 that pays the basics: textbooks, healthy food, fresh sheets, teachers and so on.

Today the school is on its third class of incoming freshmen and has a total of 77 girls split into grades nine through 11.
At the Bay to Breakers Sunday, 77 people will run to raise money for Daraja, including 2010 women’s winner Lineth Chepkurui. Each participating Bay to Breakers runner is paired with a student and has a fundraising goal of $1,000. If all goes as planned, Daraja should receive $77,000.

Lukach is taking donations up until June 11 at Crowdrise: [http://www.crowdrise.com/RunningfortheDaraja77]
[http://www.crowdrise.com/MarkLukach]

Daraja Academy accepts volunteer workers. To apply, visit Daraja Academy’s website at daraja-academy.org/volunteer.

Since 1938, the outdoor Sigmund Stern Grove amphitheater, located at 19^th Ave. and Sloat Boulevard, has provided a free venue for concertgoers.

Originally purchased by Rosalie M. Stern and gifted to the city in 1931 in memory of her late husband, Sigmund, the venue was originally a tract of sand dunes and marshes until the planting of the first eucalyptus tress in the 1840s by George Greene.

Stern designated the grove on June 4, 1932 as a park to be preserved for free summer concerts, and the tradition continues today. The 2011 line-up features the characteristically eclectic mix of opera and ballet, international hits like Afrocubism, and indie pop sensation Neko Case, among others.

There’s plenty of grass to set up day camp, and there’s a reserved picnic table seating that is available to members of Friends of Stern Grove Festival. There is also a limited number of picnic table seats given out weekly through a lottery, with a household entering the chance to receive six seats at one concert per session.

Concerts begin promptly at two p.m. each Sunday, and run from  from June 19 to August 21. The Grove Café offers food with a portion of profits going to the non-profit organization running the festival. Picnics are welcome and beer and wine are permitted in the Concert Meadow and West Meadow. Pets and smoking are not permitted in the Concert area.

The San Francisco Ballet at the 2010 Stern Grove festival. Picture from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbach">jbach</a>

It’s been just over two weeks since the Devil’s Teeth Baking Company opened their doors, and to put it simply, business is good.

“It’s crazy,” says the bakery’s owner Hillary Passman, a fifteen-year resident of Ocean Beach, whose central inspiration – that people deserve fluffy eggs with bacon and cheddar on a fresh flaky biscuit – is already overwhelmingly popular.

The bakery’s simple storefront lacks a big sign, but that doesn’t prevent happy neighbors from crowding the doorway and sitting to chat on the…curb?

As of yet, there is no place to formally sit at the bakery. Passman has applied and paid for a permit for seating, which would allow a total of ten seats, both inside and out on the sidewalk. The plan is to place two tables with four chairs or benches outside with the additional seats inside.

But the process has been met with some contention.

The bakery’s upstairs neighbors are adamantly opposed to outdoor seating and have not only contested the permit, but have hired a lawyer to try to evict the bakery. A hearing is set for June 1 at 9 am at the Department of Public Works.

“They wrote a letter saying that the odors from people’s food as they sat four stories below them would waft up and annoy them,” Passman said. “And there might be sounds like laughing that would be disruptive.”

“Now people just sit on the sidewalk, which can’t be better,” Passman added.

They also meander down to the corner benches in front of Sunset Shapers where, according to owner James Mitchell, they are more than welcome.

Sidewalk seating is rare throughout the city, especially in the outer districts, and Passman feels it is an important addition to have at the bakery. She is keeping a petition on hand to demonstrate like-minded community support to bring to the hearing.

Despite neighborhood sidewalk drama, Passman and her employees’ two-hour coffee company training has already paid off, and they are delivering stellar dark roast to the Sunset community, Wednesday through Monday, from 7 am to 4 pm.

While San Francisco foodies are boldly venturing into the city’s outer regions, their curiosities piqued by the Devil’s debut, OB residents are excitedly flocking to a new gathering spot – where community and good food meet. The success is self evident, and although she has her hands quite full, Passman feels her work is worthy and well received by her neighbors.

“I love it!” said Passman. “This is my community. I live here, I work here, my kids go to school here.”

Be sure to swing by Devil’s Teeth next week for their fourth one-dollar Beignet Sunday, but get there early as they sell out fast.

And what’s the secret to those perfectly creamy eggs on the breakfast sandwich?

“Lots of stirring,” Passman replies. And clearly, lots of love.

Devil’s Teeth Baking Company is located on 3876 Noriega Street, between 45th and 46th Ave.

The three-day event will take place Aug. 12 to 14, and will feature everyone from R&B songstress Erykah Badu to rocker legend John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, to Montreal-based up-and-coming indie band Arcade Fire – and everything in between.

Bay Area-based band Diego’s Umbrella is one of the lesser-known artists playing the festival, and will add more spice to the mix with their gypsy pirate polka.

Outside Lands will also feature an outdoor marketplace with artisans and craftspeople, numerous food vendors such as Spicy Pie’s and Lydia’s Lovin’ Foods as well as a “Wine Lands” tent offering wine tasting from local California vineyards.

Another regular attraction is Eco Lands, which acts as the festival’s environmental sustainability epicenter. This area in Speedway Meadow features a solar stage, refillable water program, waste diversion, a recycling store, valet bike parking presented by Clif Bar and urban gardening workshops.

Outside Lands 2010 included gates modeled after Golden Gate Park's windmills. Photo: "marioanima" under Creative Commons license.

On an even greener note, Outside Lands is teaming up with SF Surfrider and Save The Waves to host the second annual Outside Lands Ocean Beach Clean Up on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Crews will meet at the parking lot across from the Beach Chalet at Stairwell 17.

Special three-day $175 festival tickets are available until sold out, and then advance ticket pricing is $185. When advance ticketing sells out too, regular tickets will be $199.50. The festival will take place at the Polo Fields, Speedway Meadow and Lindley Meadow.

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To many in such a dog-friendly city, the idea of enforcing leash restrictions at vast places such as Ocean Beach, already popular destinations for people and their dogs, seems ludicrous. But the GGNRA plan’s environmental-impact statement asserts that “a dog management policy inconsistent with [National Park Service] regulations and increased public expectations for use of the park for dog recreation have resulted in controversy, litigation, and compromised visitor and employee safety, affecting visitor experience and resulting in resource degradation.”

In response to dog owners’ outrage, Weiner drafted a resolution stating that among other detriments, the plan “would not only curtail dogs, it would eliminate from the GGNRA a main group of recreational park users – people who recreate in the GGNRA with their dogs.”

On Monday, April 11, the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee will hear two items that will outline the effects of the dog leash policy and also will put the the City on record as opposing the GGNRA’s preferred dog-management alternatives.

Since its Jan. 14 release, the GGNRA plan has met considerable protest from Bay Area dog owners worried about the proposed reduction of off-leash areas in more than 20 spots from Marin to San Mateo, and areas such as Ocean Beach in between.

Monday’s meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m., is expected to include speakers from the SFSPCA, the Peninsula Humane Society, Weiner and fellow supervisor John Avalos, and officials from the GGNRA.

A noon rally on the City Hall steps is in the works, organized by dog advocates and opponents of the plan.

Feedback both in opposition and in support of the proposal can be submitted at Monday’s meeting as well as directly to the GGNRA until May 30.

Photo: “Gimpbully” under Creative Commons license.

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Since its debut in 2008, Sunday Streets has steadily grown and evolved, adding new locations and dates throughout the city. Along with new hours, this year’s event also introduces “open source” programming – where formal programs are replaced by events and activities driven and produced by the community. In addition, a zero-waste policy is in place that encourages the physical engagement of participants rather than wasting paper with handouts.

Sunday Streets is a series of events put on by the City and County of San Francisco to encourage health, community and fun by closing off stretches of streets to auto traffic, only allowing walking, biking and other non-motorized locomotion. The events are also presented by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Livable City, a local transportation-oriented nonprofit organization.

Sunday’s event is free and offers group events such as tai chi, yoga and aerobics. Last year nearly 20,000 people turned out.

Great weather prevailed along the Great Highway for Sunday Streets on Aug. 22, 2010. Photo: Flickr user applez

This year, San Franciscans can expect returning activities such as free bike rentals from Bike & Roll, Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours, and Blazing Saddles; bike-safety courses from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, as well as bike-maintenance education. Folks can expect to rock and “roll” when the California Outdoor Rollersports Association presents its mobile roller disco and offers free skate rentals.

CORA also is organizing an effort Sunday to break the Guinness world record for the longest chain of roller skaters. Skaters who want to participate must pay $10 and register for the record attempt.

Urban artists handy with a spray can may want to check out a temporary mural wall at Lincoln Way and the Great Highway, sponsored by the Department of Public Works and the Arts Commission.

The YMCA of San Francisco will be coordinating children’s activities through their local branches near the Sunday Streets routes.

On Sunday the Great Highway will be closed from Sloat Boulevard to Lincoln Way, and in the park MLK and JFK drives will closed. The regular Sunday JFK Drive closure from Crossover Drive to Stanyan Street will be in effect.

No through traffic will be allowed  from any side of Golden Gate Park west of the intersection of 19th Avenue and Crossover Drive. Alternate detour routes are Chain of Lakes Drive, 43rd Avenue and Fulton Street  to 41st Avenue and Lincoln Way.

In addition, several Muni transit lines will be affected, and the 18-46th Avenue and 23-Monterey bus lines will move stops and adjust routes.

Drivers and transit riders should expect delays.

The idea for Sunday Streets originated in Bogota, Colombia some 30 years ago and continues today, spreading throughout the world from Tokyo to Kiev, Ukraine to San Francisco. In Colombia’s state capital, the event is known as Ciclovía, or “bike path” in Spanish, and is a citywide event dedicated to community-oriented activities with approximately 1.5 million participants — 20 percent of city residents — and 70 miles of streets closed for each week’s event.

If you love it and want another go, or just can’t make it this Sunday, Sunday Streets will revisit the Great Highway on July 10. For a complete calendar visit www.sundaystreetsf.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/sundaystreets.
To apply as an official Sunday Streets activity leader, e-mail sundaystreets@gmail.com.

Community-based organizations hoping to participate may set up information tables in designated areas along the route, and no insurance or pre registration is required for outreach tables, according to organizers. However, this activity is limited to local nonprofits and service organizations only, and no marketing or sales of any kind are permitted. No structures (such as tents, stages) may be set up on the route – only tables or displays less than six feet tall.

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Java Beach at the Zoo and the United Irish Cultural Center host a block party Sunday, March 13 in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Image: Java Beach

Feel the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day by getting out of the house and painting the town green! March brings a holiday of Irish cheer, so it’s time to celebrate and chug a pint of Guinness, run a 5K and stomp to some Celtic-Indian grooves — though perhaps not in that order.

Traditional festivities kick off Saturday, March 12 with a 9 a.m. St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Church at 756 Mission St. at Third Street, followed by the United Irish Societies of San Francisco’s 160th Annual
 St. Patrick’s Day Festival at the Civic Center Plaza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will coincide with the festival on Saturday, March 12, starting at 11:30 a.m. The parade will begin in downtown San Francisco at Market and Second streets.

Later that evening, the San Francisco United Irish Cultural Center hosts its annual corned beef and cabbage dinner following the parade at the UICC, 45th Avenue at Sloat Boulevard.

Then it’s time to get fit at the St. Patrick’s Day 5K on Sunday, March 13, at 9 a.m. Think about all the green beer yet to be had and get your run on! The run begins at East Beach/Crissy Field, in the East Beach parking lot west of the yacht harbor. Registration closes March 11 at 9 a.m.

Don’t want to wander outside the Ocean Beach area? No problem, the UICC is also hosting the 3rd Annual Green-Fest Block Party with ICCC and Java Beach Café at the Zoo, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 13. Irish bands, face painting and jumpy castles will be some of the featured events, all for no charge. Call (415) 661-2700 for more information.

The United Irish Cultural Center on 45th Avenue hosts a number of St. Patrick's Day events. Photo: Tom Prete / Ocean Beach Bulletin

Jumpy castles are just for kids, but wander next door to learn some Irish history through storytelling at Oral Histories of the Irish in San Francisco, from 2-4 p.m. in the St. Francis Room of the UICC.

That’s not end of St. Patrick’s Day activities, not by a long shot.

Feeling adventurous? Head down to the Mission District and enjoy an Irish History Night with treats, beer and wine hosted by the California Historical Society Museum on Wednesday, March 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A donation of $4 is suggested and an RSVP is required to (415) 357-1848, ext. 229 or e-mail kjacobson@calhist.org. 678 Mission Street.

Sweet tooth? Head into John Campbell’s Irish Bakery at 5625 Geary Blvd. for some St. Patrick’s Day Plum Pudding.

John Campbell's Irish Bakery on Geary Boulevard in the Richmond District. Photo: Tom Prete / Ocean Beach Bulletin

Now you’re probably feeling that sugar high! Get loose with some Irish music and dancing at the California Academy of Sciences’ special St. Patrick’s NightLife event on Thursday, March 17 from 6 -10 p.m. Cost is $12. Ages 21 and older.

Want to keep your groove on? Delhi to Dublin will be performing electro-acoustic-Celtic infused Punjabi with hints of reggae and hip-hop jams at Mezzanine on March 17, 2011 at 9 p.m. Cost is $18. 444 Jessie St.

All that dancing and you must be hungry! If you’re looking for authentic Irish fare and brews, wander over to Flanahan’s Pub at 3805 Noriega St. for a corned beef-buffet and Jameson drink specials.

Flanahan's Pub on Noriega Street features a corned-beef buffet and drink specials on St. Patrick's Day. Photo: Tom Prete / Ocean Beach Bulletin

Shannon Arms Irish Pub at 915 Taraval St. is planning an Irish bash too – but details are not being released until immediately before, so call (415) 665-1223 for more information.

Little Shamrock is throwing an annual St. Patty’s Day party, too — with Guinness and Jameson specials! All the couches will be cleared out to make celebratory room at 807 Lincoln Blvd.

Too much green beer? Don’t fret, and definitely don’t drive! AAA is offering a free St. Patrick’s Day Tipsy Tow. You don’t have to be a member, just call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) and tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow.”

Luxor Cab is also giving free cab rides home from 3 p.m. March 17 to 3 a.m. March 18. Rides will be provided from bars and restaurants only to a home residence. (415) 282-4141.

Whatever your desire, let this St. Patty’s Day be one to remember by partying it up and honoring the Irish.

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The La Playa Street Safeway has long been the subject of complaints that is is an eyesore, providing a dimly lit parking lot for loitering and an overall dingy element in the otherwise scenic Ocean Beach area. The latest in a series of proposed remodeling plans was shown Thursday night at the San Francisco Zoo Great Hall.

“I want something that’s attractive and that will make you guys happy,” said Natalie Mattei, Safeway’s real estate manager.

Safeway architect Ken Lowney acknowledged that concerns remain regarding the newest plan, suggesting that residents “remain skeptical until [proven] otherwise.”

At La Playa and 48th Avenue, this Safeway branch is a main source of groceries for San Franciscans from the Richmond and Sunset districts as far east as 19th Avenue, and Safeway is planning a remodel that representatives say will be both an aesthetic and social improvement.
Some residents, however, expressed a continuing fear that Safeway may not be letting on to all of the company’s plans.

“My guess is that they’re not going to surprise us,” said Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar, who introduced the new project plan. “I’ve really learned this process, and Natalie and Ken have been very transparent throughout.”

Safeway has been working closely with locals for the past two years to decide what the best remodel option is, and although support seems to be improving, some are still dissatisfied.

“The noise is horrific for us,” said La Playa resident Dianne Drosness, who is especially worried about the increased din that could accompany an uncovered parking lot. “You don’t know what the sound is going to be like until it’s done, and then it’s too late.”

In response, Mattei explained that Safeway would be bringing on acoustic and traffic specialists to address these specific concerns, and would address them in more depth after they are assessed professionally.

“We’ve been working with you for a long time together and our commitment to you is to work through the parking lot issue,” Mattei said. “Safeway was clearly not aware that there were any of the parking lot experiences that you guys were having.”

The new parking structure will consist of 200 above- and below-ground spaces, and an underground truck loading dock. The plan includes a residential and commercial space at the north end of the parking lot, but Safeway will not be involved in deciding its use.

Some residents wonder if Safeway is being as generous with its finances as it could be, in response to suggestions of enclosed parking.

“They’re creating a false dichotomy between 48th and La Playa residents,” said area local Daniel Horne. Rather than addressing the root problem, Horne believes, Safeway is instead pitting parts of the neighborhood against each other. Instead, he said, Safeway “just [needs] to spend the extra money for a covered parking structure.”

“Some of us are just sick of it,” said Drosness. “Safeway is a profitable corporation, let them put their money where their mouth is.”

Another concern is the decrease of exits, from eight to two. Mark Furman, a 48th Avenue homeowner, moved from Geary Boulevard to escape the noisy traffic sounds and wonders how much it will increase in front of his house when customers can no longer enter from Fulton Street.

Some key considerations regarding the plan’s exterior design are removing obvious places to loiter, increasing safety and improving the overall appearance of the area with native-plant landscaping and a traditional architectural approach.

The plan is still being revised and more community meetings will be scheduled. The final project must go through a planning and environmental review, and Safeway hopes to compile a final application for review soon. The approval process is expected to take approximately two years.

Images: Courtesy Safeway. Video: Lowney Architecture on Youtube.

This story has been modified to correct the name of the street from which drivers can enter the existing Safeway parking lot. It is Fulton Street.

Image: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

Emotions ran high Wednesday as members of the Ocean Beach community voiced concerns about new artificial-turf soccer fields planned for Golden Gate Park, touching on issues ranging from toxic chemicals to sprained ankles and rare birds.

Whether showing staunch support (mostly soccer players and suits) or uproarious opposition (amateur astronomers and wildlife advocates), residents vocalized their opinions about the proposed Beach Chalet Athletics Field Renovation Project.

“Right now our city team has to get in cars to drive somewhere else to play,” said Jill Lonsbury, a 20-year youth and adult city soccer coach. “I’d like to look at what impact that has on the environment.”

Lonsbury and other community members came to the Golden Gate Park Senior Center to voice their views on what issues should be addressed by an environmental-impact report the City has ordered for the proposed fields.

“We’re in favor of children, and we’re in favor of soccer,” said Mark Welther, executive director of the Golden Gate Audubon Society. “But we want to make sure that there’s a full and fair hearing of all the environmental issues that need to be considered in order to make a good decision about this.”

The well-attended meeting marked the second — and optional — phase of a 12-phase EIR process during a 30-day public-review period, when officials encourage the public to submit comments as to what they would like the final EIR to include. Once that comment period is done, the EIR is scheduled to wrap up in late summer or early fall. The Planning Commission will decide whether the completed EIR is sufficient some months after that, and the project itself is set for completion in mid-2013.

EIR supervisor Sarah Jones of the San Francisco Planning Department conducted the meeting and Dan Mauer of the Recreation and Park Department, on whose behalf the Planning Department is producing the EIR, provided a brief overview. The Playfields Initiative, a public-private partnership between the City Fields Foundation and the San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department, is funding this project.

Mauer described the current fields as having “a lot of gopher holes and [being] in pretty poor condition.” In addition to the “high-quality” synthetic turf and series of 60-foot light fixtures, the proposed plan will add more family-friendly facilities such as a spectator viewing plaza, children’s playground and picnic area.

But many were unconvinced that the new facilities are worth the impacts, raising questions about environmental and biological effects.

Image: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

“It’s funny to us today to see images of children being allowed to run around with plastic dry-cleaning bags on their heads, or pregnant mothers to be binge-drinking cocktails,” said Kelley Watts. “Our culture has evolved [to] where we now consider such behaviors ludicrous, so how is that we [have] come to believe that it’s OK to let children play in tire waste, which all parties agree contain unregulated amounts of heavy metals and chemicals?”

When asked if the EIR would be evaluating the effects of synthetic turf on human health, Jones replied that it would not, and concerned murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“The EIR looks at all direct and indirect impacts of the project, and will be looking at the physical effects,” Jones added.

The project proposes ripping out the four existing grass soccer fields and converting them to synthetic grass, but many believe that there are health and pollution issues associated with the fake turf. The project also includes the installation of 10 field lights 60 feet tall, to allow evening use, although some argued that only adults will benefit from this — in spite of City Fields’ goal of providing kids with safe and accessible playing fields.

Children’s safety in Golden Gate Park also brought up some points about the areas surrounding the fields, long known to be popular with people seeking sex.

“I had to send a parent or an assistant coach if the ball went into the trees because I couldn’t send my children,” said Richard Cross, a longtime soccer coach and project supporter. Cross and other neighborhood members are concerned with the proximity of children to daylight sex cruisers roaming the semi-wild woods. “I think putting up these lights, those creepy guys will go away.”

Whether based on aesthetic, historical or environmental concerns, most of the people at the meeting agreed that the proposed project must consider many factors and that it needs considerable work.

“Ocean Beach is one of the few places in the city where you can actually see the night skies,” said Rasa Gustaitis. “The [proposed] lights would bleach the starry skies.”

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Written comments about the scope of the EIR will be accepted until the 30-day public review period ends at close of business on March 4. Send comments to: Environmental Review Officer, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103. Questions or comments regarding the proposed project and the environmental process may be directed to Don Lewis, Planning Department EIR Coordinator, at (415) 575-9095.

More comments from community members on the next page