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MEMBER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION | VOLUME I, NO. 7 | HATCHBEAT.COM | DEC / JAN 2014-2015

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARL RUSSO

I have been to Paris, London, Rome, Stockholm and many other amazing places around the world. I have to admit that New York City is exciting and gives you one helluva adrenalin rush. But to me the most beautiful city in the world is my forever home, San Francisco. Even though I am a fifth generation San Franciscan, every time I cross the Golden Gate Bridge and see that beautiful city landscape I am in awe. It touches me deeply like I’m watching William Wallace in ‘Braveheart’ fight to the end for the freedom he believes in and never sways from his dream. I am a sentimental fool.

How can such a wealthy city be in such poor condi-tion: Muni needs $10 billion; the homeless program is mediocre; the Planning Department is understaffed and backlogged; the ambulance crisis; the assessor is losing hundreds of millions annually; we are in drastic need of affordable housing; panhandling is an epidemic; buildings are going up like crazy, but our infrastructure and water are at risk. What the hell is going on! The answer is quite simple: no leadership or vision.

We are known as the city that knows how, but are becoming the city that knew how. Over the last few years we lost the 49ers. We lost the Lucas Museum that should have never been allowed to leave this City. We lost Amer-ica’s Cup. In my opinion, we have lost out direction on where we are heading. But, I will never lose hope since I am an extreme optimist. As Steve Perry says, “Don’t Stop Believing.”

We all get wrapped up in our worlds, whether it is making our mortgage or rental payments, putting food on the table and roof over our heads, raising our children or taking care of an elderly family member, taking care of

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John Farrell

Opinion

Let the farce be with you

San Francisco Supervisor London Breed joined SF Mayor Ed Lee and SF Supervisor Jane Kim Dec. 11 to announce Google Inc’s donation of $2 million to help non-profit organizations Hamilton Family Center, Larkin Street Youth Services and HandUp, which benefit the homeless. According to a report made in 2013, 6,436 adults live on the streets or in shelters in San Francisco, although the actual number is thought to be higher.

Photo from Supervisor London Breed’s Facebook page

Aquascapes is now open at the Conservatory

‘Aquascapes, the Art of Underwater Gardening’ to Open at Conservatory

The public can dive into the dazzling world of aquatic plants in a new exhibition, which began Nov. 13 and runs through April 12, 2015, of tropical underwater gardens at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Visitors go “below the surface” as they stroll past lush, living aquascapes, imaginatively crafted to highlight the diversity of freshwater tropical waterways.

Aquascaping, the art of creating stunning underwater landscapes with plants, stones and wood, is a popular international gardening trend. Annual competitions attract hundreds of elaborate entries from around the world. The beautifully-planted aquariums can mimic everything from primeval forests to verdant valleys or can become sublime works of underwater abstract art.

The Aquascapes: Art of Underwater Gardening exhibit features a dozen tanks ranging from 4 to 6 feet long, set into the walls of a partially enclosed cavern-like setting that gives visitors the feeling of being down in a cenote. Nine of the tanks (three each) take their inspiration from Africa, Asia and South America, making use of native plants, rock, hardwood and fish to evoke the natural landscape of these tropical places.

Three additional tanks are being created by local aquarium experts from San Francisco’s Ocean Treasures and will highlight the more abstract artistic possibilities of aquascape design.

“Aquascaping is enormously popular around the world, particularly in crowded cities and colder countries where outdoor gardening isn’t possible, but it isn’t so familiar to American audiences,” says Lau Hodges, Conservatory

Supervisor Breed announces Google Inc’s $2 million donation

Continued on page 2

Local author makes Italian Mafia history accessible with book, blog

Written by local author, Carl Russo, the travel guide “The Sicilian Mafia: A True Crime Travel Guide,” outlines the figures who have stood up against the threats of the Mafia, introducing some of the heroes to the Eng l i sh-sp e a k ing world through 150 years of Cosa Nostra history. It goes beyond history of the Mafia, with detail of the anti-Mafia movement.

“Even in their own villages, they’ve often been forgotten,” said Russo. “Sometimes the only evidence they existed is the

tombstone planted over their bullet-riddle corpses.”

After his initial trip to Sicily in 1999, Russo spent more than six years collecting materials that led to the book, which contains more than 200 photos, travel tips and an extensive history of every spot Russo p h o t o g r a p h e d , allowing readers to experience the “dark side” of Sicily without visiting the island.

In addition to his travel guide, Russo, who is a Bay Area native, has also written for several publications,

Top: Scopello: Heroin bound for the US departed from the waters of Sicily packed in oranges and food tins.Middle: Caccamo was known as “the Switzerland of Sicily” for its money-laundering opportunities.Bottom: Palermo: Pio La Torre was one of many politicians who battled the Mafia and lost.

including the Oakland Tribune and Indiewire, and maintains a blog about the Italian Mafia called “Mafia Exposed,” with recent articles about various mafia-related topics, such as the film “SALVO,” and Spazio Vintage, a museum in Palermo (www.mafiaexposed.com).

“I thought it was an old thing, a Hollywood thing. I happened to be in downtown Palermo, hanging out at a bar. No tourists around. No one to talk to except the

On average, the Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA) helps between 50 – 150 youth per day. In 2014, the organization lost its lease after 12 years of operation in the community. Without a building, HYA has encountered several difficulties in providing what they see as adequate service for the more than 5,000 homeless youth in San Francisco.

The Alliance searched for a new location to rent for seven months earlier in 2014, but three different brokers gave up. To bypass the difficulty in finding a rental space, HYA came up with a plan to raise $1 million through a

capital campaign, “Go Big or Stay Homeless,” to purchase a new location.

The campaign, organized through the website Crowdrise, states that a building will provide “a welcoming indoor refuge, where they can get a hot meal, a shower, clean clothes, and where they can see a doctor, a therapist and a case manager, all under one roof. A jumping-off point for youth to get off the streets, into recovery and living fulfilling lives.”

For the past few months, HYA altered services offered

Homeless Youth Alliance launches $1 million capital campaign, “Go Big or Stay Homeless” for new facility

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2 HATCH BEAT

Hydrophytes, when removed from water, often hang limply. Normally supported by the water around them, they lack strengthening tissue in their stems and leaves, allowing for greater flexibility in the event of water level change or water movement.

They also lack external protective tissue needed by land plants to limit water loss. This allows all of the surface cells to absorb water and nutrients, reducing the need for an extensive root system. Roots primarily function as anchorage or are dispensed with entirely, allowing the plants to float freely. Leaves are often highly dissected or divided, a specialization that creates a larger surface area for absorption and photosynthesis and minimizes water resistance. Air-filled cavities often extend through the leaves and stems, providing an internal atmosphere.

Certain fly and beetle larvae have taken unusual advantage of this, piercing the cavities with sharp appendages to create a personal oxygen source.

Some of the many unusual water plants that appear in Aquascapes: The Art of Underwater Gardening include the Madagascar lace plant, one of the most highly prized in the hobby. Its leaves are broad and long with a very delicate lace-like appearance. They were so much in demand by botanical gardens and hobbyists in the past that they almost became extinct in their natural environment. The Amazon sword plant is a popular rosette plant with lance-shaped leaves that can reach 20 inches

in height. The grass-like bamboo plant (Blyxa aubertii) can be found naturally in habitats throughout Asia as diverse as rice paddies and swiftly flowing streams. Other featured plants include the African water fern, Java fern, pygmy chain sword and more.

The Conservatory will provide details on its website about the contents of each tank, including substrate, stones, hardwoods, plants and fish for any interested professional or would-be aquascapers. Some of the tanks will be available for purchase by the public and can be taken home once the exhibit closes. Details will be posted to www.conservatoryofflowers.org.

Aaron John Gregory of Ocean Treasures, who is working on several tanks in the exhibit, hopes, above all else, that visitors will be spellbound.

“These aquatic environments are meant to be soaked in slowly … to catch your eye and pull you in until you feel like you are slowly floating through vibrant underwater forests, swaying with the hair grass, and sheltering in the towering sword plants. The harmony of the plants and fish intermingling among jagged rocks and twisting driftwood is simply mesmerizing.”

The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 general, with discounts for seniors and students. For more information, call (415) 831-2090 or visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org.

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curator. “I’m hoping we can change that with this exhibit because aquascaping offers urban audiences an exciting new possibility for apartment gardening – one that really allows the inner science geek and inner artist to express themselves.”

History and Practice of AquascapingAquascaping, with its focus on

aquatic plants (not fish) and their artful arrangement, began in earnest in the ’30s in the Netherlands. Freshwater aquarium equipment became commercially available, and Dutch aquarists began to experiment with arranging various types of plants with diverse leaf color, size and texture in terraced heights, much like a terrestrial flower garden. These crowded underwater gardens left little room for decorative rock or driftwood.

In the ’90s however, Japanese aquarist and photographer Takashi Amano introduced the world to his “nature aquarium” style. Amano masterfully made use of the Zen aesthetic practice of rock and plant arrangement to create minimal, but stunning works of living art.

Using just a few species of plants and carefully selected stones or driftwood, Amano’s aquascapes evoked serene landscapes in miniature – mountain ranges, peaceful grass fields and quiet forests. Schools of fish, usually limited to just one or two species, appeared to fly like flocks of birds through these panoramic vistas. Amano’s three-volume series, “Nature Aquarium World,” featuring photographs of his aquascape designs,

sparked a wave of interest in aquarium gardening.

Early Dutch hobbyists began the practice of aquascape contests, but heightened interest in the wake of Amano’s work led to the establishment of many others, which now attract hundreds of entries from around the world, including those sponsored by the Aquatic Gardeners Association in the U.S., Aqua Design Amano in Japan, AquaticScapers Europe in Germany and many others. Entries are judged not only on composition, but also on the viability of the aquascape.

Aquascapes are a fine balance between form and function. An aquascape is an ecosystem in which every living and non-living item contributes not only to the overall beauty of the aquarium, but also to the chemical and biological balance that allows the plants and any animals to live. Consideration must be given to lighting, carbon dioxide levels, filtration, algae control, fertilization and more. Plants and fish work together to process waste and aerate the water. Rocks and gravel provide shelter for beneficial bacteria that reduce toxicity from waste. Even the position of the wood and rock affects the health of the tank by allowing or impeding the flow of water.

Underwater PlantsTrue water plants, or hydrophytes, are

those that live totally submerged. They have adapted to life in the deep in several interesting ways and visitors to the exhibit will get a chance to learn about these fascinating survival strategies.

A memorial to victims massacred by leg-endary bandit Salvatore Giuliano stands at Portella della Ginestra.

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two waiters who had nothing else to do because I was the only guy there. Suddenly this young lady sits down. She was quite striking, black

hair, black eyes.’” Waiters told Russo she was the boss’s daughter. At first he thought they meant the daughter of the man who owns the bar, but they quickly emphasized that she was the daughter of another type of boss. “Mafia??” he asked. “Si!” the waiter answered,” Russo explained in an interview with David Amoruso.

In 2006, Russo began to photograph key Cosa Nostra locations in Sicily, including

godfathers’ homes, victim burial sites and murder scenes. Collecting photos for the guide began with Bernardo Provenzano, the Cosa Nostra boss who was arrested in 2006, and continued for six years.

“The image of the honorable godfather who keeps the peace in his territory is a lie. From the very beginning, he exploited his authority while Sicily was misgoverned by far-off governments and inept police. The extortion racket continues to this day, so that most every merchant has to pay the local boss or see his business burned to the ground or maybe lose his life. The Mafia has thoroughly corrupted many local governments and even colluded with Italian prime ministers and senators. The new Mafia has infiltrated legitimate industries across Europe to the point that it’s more profitable than all European Union countries combined,” said Russo.

“Like some of my favorite writers, I’m a college dropout,” said Russo, who saved up between trips to pursue the passion he stumbled upon for chronicling the Mafia. Before writing, Russo was a radio producer and disc jockey at KUSF-FM from 1990-2003. He also loves to watch foreign and independent films, particularly dark satires, such as one of his favorites, “The Loved One,” a spoof on the funeral business in Los Angeles, based on a satirical novel by Evelyn Waugh. He also creates films. In 2005, he made a short comedy called “Baby Pepper,” which screened at 48 film festivals in 13 countries.

Liz Fedak

Photo by Carl Russo

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668 Haight St.(415) 558-8375M-F, 12 p.m.-2 a.m.Sa-Su, 5 a.m.-2 a.m.

HATCH Beat 3

the sick, needy and less fortunate, helping in our neighborhoods., donating to the charities and programs that are close to our hearts. I believe in President Kenne-dy’s words, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

We count on our elected officials but it is time people start realizing they are not getting the job done. In private industry, if you do not do the job you are fired or demoted. In government you become lieutenant governor or become a member of the Assembly. San Francisco deserves a mayor to lead the City with a vision, which we haven’t had in 20 years. We need solutions and not rhetoric. We need to stop looking at race, color, gender, sexual preference and as Martin Luther King said, “But by the content of their character.” Character with qualifications that is. Once we do this then this great City will have direction and focus on the main issues, and the main issues are those that are in the best interest of the City and County of San Francisco.

Mayor Ed Lee was appointed to be an interim mayor until a real mayor was elected. This wasn’t the case since he went against his word and won re-election with the help of a flawed ranked-choice voting system. A system in which you are elected without a majority vote. I have been raised that you are only as good as your word and hand shake. It doesn’t mean much to most people anymore, but I stand by mine.

When the 2011 election was over, Mayor Lee had 59,775 votes out of 197,242, or 30.3 percent of the vote, before the rounds of the ranked-choice voting. After the ranked-choice voting rounds, Mayor Lee won with 84,457 votes, or 42.8 percent of the total ballots cast. There were 52,524 votes that were exhausted, meaning these voters didn’t vote for either of the two

remaining candidates. In other words, these votes didn’t count. This, to me, is unconstitutional. By the way, I get a kick because ranked choice voting was to save tax payers’ monies, and then the City decides to provide public financing for elected positions.

Mayor Lee’s record includes positives, which include bringing tech firms to the City, cutting the unemployment rate and reforming the city’s pension program and payroll tax. But let’s face the fact: pension reform wouldn’t have been addressed if it wasn’t for Jeff Adachi.

There are also negatives, like supporting the 8 Washington St. development to build luxury condos above the height limits, which was defeated by the voters in 2013. Also, why would a standing mayor have Willie Brown negotiate a Muni contract when anyone in their right mind would have given the drivers what they deserved?

Currently, the issue at hand is to remove the SF Fire Department fire chief. Wheth-er you like the fire chief or not, which I do, I can tell you one thing: Joanne Hayes-White will never sell out the City. And, as Al Pacino said in the movie Scent of a Woman, “That is called integrity.”

Prior mayors, like Joe Alioto, Diane Feinstein, Art Agnos and Frank Jordan, made decisions on what they believed was in the best interest of the City whether you agreed with them or not. You never felt that the City was losing its direction.

We are the City that knows how. We need our mayor to step up and take the lead.

John Farrell is a broker/realtor at Farrell Real Estate, former city asst. assessor of budget and special projects

farrellreinvestments@yahoo.com

Opinion, continued from page 1

HATCHBEAT.COMDecember/January 2014-2015

Los impuestos a los negocios de SF están cambiando. Entérese!

三藩市商業稅正在改變 . 了解變化！

Nagbabago ang mga Buwis ng Negosyo sa SF. Alamin Ang Pagbabago!

www.sfbiztax.org

SEE OUR PROGRESS in San Francisco

Together, Buildinga Better California pge.com/SeeOurProgress

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SEE THE FACTS IN SAN FRANCISCO

Replaced approximately 28 miles of gas distribution pipeline

Invested more than $167.5 million into electrical improvements

Connected more than 4,500 rooftop solar installations

At PG&E, our customers are our neighbors. The communities we serve as PG&E employees are where we live and work too.

That’s why we’re investing $4.5 billion every year to enhance pipeline safety and strengthen our gas and electric infrastructure across northern and central California. It’s why we’re helping people and businesses gain energy efficiencies to help reduce their bills. It’s why we’re focused on developing the next generation of clean, renewable energy systems.

Together, we are working to enhance pipeline safety and strengthen our gas and electric infrastructure—for your family and ours.

My-Linh Nguyen Senior New Business Representative HAYES VALLEY RESIDENT

I manage and coordinate the installation of new gas and electric services. The most exciting part about my job is that I have the opportunity to work with local business owners and play a part in the development of their businesses, which contribute to the growth of our San Francisco neighborhoods.

SFSeeProg_Hatch_10x16_1123.indd 1 11/23/14 5:59 PM

HATCH BEAT 5HATCHBEAT.COMDecember/January 2014-2015

much as you may think. A safe estimate is $15 to $20 per square foot.

Moving inside your home, there are many areas to improve your level of sustainability. Replacing old single-paned windows with double-paned, weather resistant ones is a no-brainer for lowering your energy consumption (and costs), as is beefing up your home’s insulation (especially in the attic).

About 12 percent of the average energy bill is contributed to lighting, so replacing all your lightbulbs (indoor and outdoor) with light-emitting diode (LED) and compact florescent (CFL) bulbs will reduce your bill as they use 75 percent

less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

If your home was purchased after 2009, it underwent an inspection to ensure that your plumbing fixtures are water efficient, and you can rest easy. If not, the city provides free low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators, as well as rebates on toilet replacement. If you plan to sell, when you do sell your home, you will have to bring your fixtures up to standard anyway, so why not get it taken care of now? It is also wise to check all of your fixtures for leaks, as it is estimated that homes with leaks can waste as much as 90 gallons of water a day.

If you’re ready to spend

some money, replacing all of your appliances with Energy Star Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified products is a giant step in the right direction, as is replacing your traditional water heater with a tankless one. If you can’t afford a new water heater now,

turn yours down by a few degrees and put an insulating wrap around it to to save energy.

Without spending money, you can take advantage of that green bin outside and compost all of your biodegradable items. An easy way to collect and dispose of them is in an empty paper milk carton–it’s compostable too, so once full, it can be tossed

Legacy of McKinley lives on in the Panhandle

Dedicated in 1904 by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the William McKinley monument stands at the Baker Street entrance to Golden Gate Park. Former SF Mayor James D. Phelan appointed a committee of 100 to provide a fund for the creation of a memorial to honor McKinley after his assassination in 1901. Ten competitors submitted designs for the monument, which were placed on exhibition at the Mark Hopkins Institute of art. The design of Robert I. Aitken was selected for the statue.

The monument, cast in bronze, stands 15 feet in height upon a square granite pedestal 15 feet, seven inches in height. In the pedestal is a marble medallion bust, in relief, of McKinley, with the base broadened out into a bench. It was intended to be simplistic to symbolize the dignity of the nation, while in its “stately pose and saddened features it conveys the solemnity befitting a work of this character, and can not fail to convey to every beholder the sentiment of reverence and affection which prompted our citizens to build it in memory of our martyred president.”

On May 15, 1903, President Roosevelt broke the ground for the monument. Artist Aitken presented the souvenir spade that was used to perform the turning of earth. The spade, cast in bronze, was an exact replica of the spade that McKinley used when he broke ground for the “Victory of Manila Bay” monument (also designed by Aitken), which stands in Union Square. The new space was engraved to say “Souvenir of the day, May 13, 1903, when President Theodore Roosevelt broke ground in Golden Gate Park for the monument to be erected by the citizens of San Francisco in memory of William McKinley.”

On that day, Rueben H. Lloyd was called upon to accept the monument on behalf of the park commissioners and predicted that Golden Gate Park would be recognized more and more as one of the greatest parks in the world, with no more fitting a decoration for the main entrance than a statue dedicated to mcKinley.

The statue was estimated to cost between $30,000-50,000, though the committee only raised $30,334.84. It was presented to the city on Thanksgiving day, 1904. Trees and shrubs were planted near the monument for the purpose of beautifying its surroundings, though the same foliage now hides much of the monument.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PRIVATE COLLECTOR

Congratulations! As a San Francisco resident, you already live in the greenest city in North America (according to a research study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit), and chances are, the environmentally friendly culture here has you doing plenty to live a green life. But, don’t you wish you could do more? Of course you do. Consider starting in the place where you can make the biggest impact: your home. There are multiple things you can do–from big projects to small changes–to make your personal environment an Earth-friendly one.

A great place to start is outside, as California is in the midst of the worst drought it has seen since 1895. San Franciscans are already doing their part by using 98 gallons of water, on average, per person per day, (compared to Sacramento’s 279, or Palm Spring’s staggering 736), but we can improve. One thing you can do that will have a strong impact is to change your landscaping: if you have a lawn, consider removing it and replacing the terrain with a compilation of native plants and succulents, or even a rock garden. Additionally, collecting water in rain barrels for outside watering will further reduce your water consumption.

Another way to ‘green’ your home’s exterior is to literally install a green roof, (a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium), which are Earth-friendly and charming. A green roof will slow down and filter rain water, absorb air pollutants, and keep the room below it warmer during winter and cooler during summer. An ideal location for a green roof is below a higher roof, with sight lines from the house and access from a porch or window for maintenance. Done properly (hiring a professional is highly recommended), a green roof will last twice as long as a conventional roof, as well as add undeniable charm, which always translates into a higher value. The cost of a green roof will vary, but is not as

Kristen Villalobos

Real Estate

Improve your home with greening projects

right in the bin. If you decide to make

changes that require spending money, the city of San Francisco offers assistance to greening your home by offering a rebate of up to $6,800 to defray the cost. In order to qualify for the rebate, you must follow the steps of the program outlined at sfenvironment.org.

Taking even just one or two of these steps towards a greener existence for your home will raise its value, and ensure that it is more in line with San Francisco’s values as well. By working together, we can continue to be leaders in the fight for the health of our environment, and an example for other cities to

follow. Throughout the course

of researching this article, the website sfenvironment.org was a wealth of information, and it would be a disservice not to direct you towards it. Here you will find a gold mine of green advice from how to stop your junk mail from coming, to a comprehensive guide for recycling and composting.

Kristen Villalobos is a realtor with Vanguard Properties. Email kristen@vanguardsf.com with any realty questions or column ideas.

6 HATCH BEAT HATCHBEAT.COM December / January 2014-2015

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority invests the city’s half-cent sales tax for transportation in improvements citywide. Most recently, the SFMTA used sales tax funds at Market and Haight

streets to widen side-walks, extend boarding islands, make crosswalks safer and create a transit-only lane for better bus service. Check out other street, transit and pedestrian improvements around the city and in your neighborhood at: www.MyStreetSF.com

Safer StreetsBetter Transit

SAN FRANCISCO’S HALF-CENT SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION DELIVERS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND TRANSIT EFFICIENCY

YOUR TAX DOLLARS CREATED

CalendarDance and Drumming – Les Bantus CongoleseSaturdays, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.African American Cultural Center, 762 Fulton St.Dance with former lead choreographer of the Congolese National Dance Company with renowned master teacher Sandor Diabankouezi.

Dynamic Restorative: Solstice Celebration & Rejuvenation with Stacey RosenbergYoga Tree: Hayes Valley, 519 Hayes St.Dec. 21, 1:15–4:15 p.m., $40-$45Hit the reset button with this sequence of active restorative postures and supported inversions. Restorative poses don’t have to be passive. This class of active restoration will help balance your nervous system, create breathing room, and will leave you feeling nourished and well-rested. You will be surprised at how deeply rejuvenating this class will be. “Stacey’s self-care workshop both replenishes the body and mind and brings

a playfulness to restorative yoga that is good for the soul.”“Fun with props not only lightens the tone, but also enables inversions in a way that is so safe and supported you can really relax and allow the wisdom of the body to do its thing.”yogatreesf.com

Peace, Love, Yoga – A Winter Holiday Class with Karen MacklinDec. 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., $25-$30Winter is a perfect time to turn inward, and explore a new level of depth in your practice. This annual two-hour class will help you stay grounded in your body and connected to your heart and highest self—today and throughout the season. We’ll draw the energy down to the earth for stability, prepare the digestive fire (for holiday mealtime!), and open the heart center to let in feelings of peace, compassion, and connection. We’ll end practice with a meditation on the chakras, and some sweet treats. yogagardensf.com

Little HurricaneJan. 15, 7:30 p.m., $15

The Independent, 628 Divisadero St.A gritty blues-rock duo out of San Diego, California that formed in 2010 when guitarist and vocalist Anthony “Tone” Catalano answered a musician’s call from drummer and vocalist Celeste “CC” Spina on Craigslist. Their passionate sound includes blues influence and vintage musical equipment.theindependentsf.com

Miranda July in Conversation with Adam SavageJan. 20, 7:30 p.m.Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St.Filmmaker, artist, and author Miranda July, is known for her off beat and independent short films and performance art. Her videos, performances, and web-based projects have been presented at the Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, and in two Whitney Biennials. In 2005, July starred in and directed her first feature-length film, Me and You and Everyone We Know, and in 2001, she wrote and starred in The Future. July’s fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, Harper’s and The New Yorker.

She published her first collection of stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You in 2007. The First Bad Man is her debut novel.cityarts.net/event/miranda-july-2/

Alzheimer’s: Moving Towards a Cure with Paula Wolfert, Dr. Lennart Mucke and Geoffrey Kerchner in Conversation with Patricia UntermanJan. 22, 7:30 p.m.Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St.Paula Wolfert’s world travels, and her deep understanding of how we cook and eat are the foundation of many classic cookbooks, including The Food of Morocco and The Cooking of Southwest France. Well-respected by her peers (Ruth Reichl credits Wolfert with “the best palate of anyone [she’s] ever met”) Wolfert is the recipient of numerous industry honors, including five James Beard Awards. In late 2013, Wolfert announced that she had been diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Following this discovery, she became an advocate for Alzheimer’s research and a model for those living with the disease.

Dr. Lennart Mucke is the director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Martin Distinguished professor of neuroscience and a Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Mucke’s research focuses on processes that result in memory loss and other major neurological deficits, with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease and related disordersGeoffrey A. Kerchner, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford with a special interest in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and behavioral neurology.

Acting Comedy, Ages 7-9Jan. 24–May 2, Saturdays, 10–11 a.m., $210New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave.This class offers physical comedy training for young actors. Students will learn basic clowning and comedy techniques by creating unique characters, hilarious jokes, and improvised scenes in this dynamic class taught by our talented

performing artists. This class encourages self expression and big choices with the body and voice, and may be repeated.Nctcsf.org

HarborJan. 23–March 1, Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m.New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave.By Chad Beguelin, directed by Ed Decker: Kevin’s seemingly perfect world hits troubled waters in this “wickedly funny” play when his ne’er-do-well sister, Donna and her teenage daughter show up unexpectedly at the Sag Harbor home he shares with his husband, Ted. This sharp and timely comedy sails through the riptides of family and the unpredictability of the lives we lead. Opening night on Saturday, Jan. 31 includes post-show celebration hosted by Minas Brazilian Restaurant.Harbor is produced by New Conservatory Theatre Center in association with Bob A. Ross Foundation, Enrique & Jason Monagas (executive producers) and David Meders (producer). Nctcsf.org

HATCH Beat 7

Across1. “I could ___ horse!”5. Pull the plug on10. Like the sea14. Watchdog’s warning15. Scottish island16. ____ vida, in Costa Rica17. Prohibition era20. Ostrich relative 21. Saccharine sentiment22. Tapeworms23. Hot dish25. Rapper’s entourage26. Kwik-E-Mart proprietor on “The Simpson’s”27. Expert28. Blue Nile Source (Var.)32. Wager34. Count Vronsky’s creator36. Windy City37. Mythical weaver38. Suffix in rock names: (Var.)39. Fool the river god

HATCHBEAT.COMNovember/December 2014-2015

Crossword

instrument must-have52. Like a couch potato53. Boetian of myth56. Refrain ending57. Cave dweller

You can now find the answers to all of the crossword puzzles online at hatchbeat.com/crosswords/.

of Scythia41. “From the Roots” author42. Cardigan alternative, for short43. Scuttle44. Weight abbr.44. Frame of mind47. Prompt50. Italian poet53. ____-cone54. Brewpub order55. Old glory58. Ward of the screen59. East coast state’s debt60. Famous ‘chpmnk’61. German river62. Rice-_____63. 1960s sprinter Wyomia

Down1. Wading bird2. Whiff3. Stun4. SFO posting5. Hiawatha’s craft6. Therefore7. Gallery display8. Notched, like a tool9. Vergil hero: (Var.)10. Propensity

11. Who, to Camus, I12. Fertilizer compound13. “The law is _____” (Dickens)18. Icehouse variation19. Crunch maker24. Imitate25. Monitor27. Pellet propeller29. Against expectations30. Consider 31. Yesterday, in Lima32. Business abbr.33. Qui ___, Vietnamese port34. S. Korean city35. Wash, agency37. The story of Major Chavan40. In a cave, the first speaker will always lose41. Zoology or archaeology, briefly44. Walk slowly46. Crete’s tallest peak47. Lassitude48. Candy heart message49. Youth50. Posterior of olde51. Woodwind

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with mobile operations, such as operating its needle exchange program out of a van for four nights per week, but the homeless Homeless Youth Alliance is ready to acquire a building in the Haight again. Others are not.

“People aren’t receptive to accepting HYA,” said Suzanna Rivecca, who collaborates with HYA and the Tides Center. “There is a lot of neighborhood opposition, a very vocal minority.”

For the future property they plan to acquire with the capital campaign, HYA plans to stay in the Haight, so that they are still accessible.

“The view depends on the neighborhood – the Haight is divided between people who’ve been here since the ‘60s who have a little more context and a sense of history, and see a homeless population as something that is part of the community permanently,” said Rivecca. “There is a misconception about how homelessness happens in the first place – people think services attract people, and so they want them eliminated.”

“Here we have ‘60s idealism of throwing off materialism, which was more ideological, at least in the beginning: from idealism to desperation,” said Rivecca, explaining why she thinks people seek San Francisco. “A gay kid being beat up in Alabama sees the Haight Ashbury as Utopia, a refuge, thinking: ‘Get here and something good will happen.’ But then people think that kids love

and prefer to be homeless, or are anti-authority. They may be wary of authority after having really negative experiences, and really don’t trust anyone. The same issue makes some people resistant to shelters or services, after being told in the past not to trust anything — the feeling is structured. Many of the people who work for HYA used to be on the streets themselves, and are aspirational role models who won’t be overbearing when helping.”

Other neighborhoods and associations broach homelessness in a different context. At a safety meeting in Hayes Valley in November, attendees were concerned about fire hazards created by camping, threats to their neighborhood created by disorderly conduct and unregistered sexual offenders exposing themselves. A civil attorney and district attorney were present to explain how residents can collaborate to file stay-away orders. In neighborhood groups on Facebook and other community websites, such as Townsquared, conversations do get posted that pertain to theft from businesses, people sleeping in their doorway and blocking entry to their home or even intimacy in alleyways, with participants listing homelessness as an identifier for the person mentioned.

The American Sociological Association explains that some people view homelessness as a systemic issue, focusing on the role of economic and housing systems as the cause “and on society’s

failure to provide adequate health care, substance abuse treatment, and other social benefits,” while others believe that homeless people are responsible for a falling quality of life, declining business for merchants, and adverse affects on the tourist industry.

“There is the occurrence of abstractly not wanting to see people suffer and wanting to remove them from their line of vision,” said Rivecca, “instead of accepting the person in the street as just as much human as you.”

Rivecca explained that a common street experience is rejection and harassment.

“People become filled with a sense of despair and fatefulness the longer you are out in the street. They believe that that is where you should be. More rejection and harassment convinces you that you should be there forever, and it is difficult to believe that you are worth saving,” Rivecca said. “And then there are people who just don’t want their kids to see someone passed out on the sidewalk.”

The Homeless Youth Alliance budgets $600,000 every year through foundation grants and city funding for its needle exchange as part of HIV prevention. The sharing of needles in the City has plummeted, and the rate of HIV has dropped as well, in part due to HYA’s work. “People no longer have to be worried about being caught with needles, after legislation against needles was eliminated in the past decade,” said Rivecca. “Maybe half of the kids

do some sort of substance — heroin, speed, alcohol – while some do none at all.”

Rivecca explained that the cycle of drug use comes most often from untreated mental illness and trauma to repress feeling crippling anxiety and depression. Medication leads to reduced drug use, but untreated mental health issues result in serious addictions to the drugs that are used.

“Laura’s Law —in theory, a mandate for mental health services — gives the City the right to legally mandate health care, but then the question is where will they get that health care,” said Rivecca. “The job can be intense, just listening to stories of intense drama and abuse, overdose, kids killing themselves. We are pretty stretched to capacity with a staff of 10.”

The organization acquired new employees this year, including two new outreach counselors who focus on street outreach.

“No one goes out by themselves, and, while it may be tempting, they can not work an excessive number of hours to avoid burn out,” said Rivecca. “Mary works 90 hours a week, she is really dedicated, but very stringent about adhering to boundaries. People can get burnt out. She advocates self-care.”

“We train people how to use Narcan, an opiate blocker, but when kids are by themselves, it is always possible for them to overdose,” said Rivecca. “It is an inevitable hazard of working with people who are dealing with trauma

and insecurity.”The organization has

a methodology for case management when death does occur. Then, there are also informal memorials, photos and speeches.

“The kids are very proactive about commemoration,” said Rivecca.

Rivecca also explained what nights are like for youth on the streets: intimidating, with the female homeless population at constant risk of sexual assault.

“They try to find the most remote location because of the ever-present threat,” said Rivecca. “Many of the girls and young women are in dysfunctional relationships. There are not a lot of resources and they are in band situations with no where else to go (there are very few women-only shelters). In the Mission, you find a lot of female sex workers, though there is less pressure for sex work in the Haight.”

The female to male homeless ratio in San Francisco is approximately 30:70, which plays out in how support services are offered.

“What does the population need? Just talk to people,” said Rivecca. “Saying hi, telling them their dog is cute. If what they’re used to is constant hostility, it means a lot.”

The Homeless Youth Alliance also offers several creative programs, such as a zine and arts group that created a photo book.

“The kids were given disposable cameras and paid for each roll that was filled up to create ‘Through Our Eyes,’ a photo book,”

Vol. I No. VI IDecember/January 2014-

2015PO Box 170365.,

San Francisco, CA 94117Phone: 415-819-4744

editor@hatchbeat.comads@hatchbeat.comwww.hatchbeat.com

HATCH Beat publishes most months and is

distributed for free to homes and businesses in the HATCH territory.

Editor: Liz Fedak

Columnists: Michael Milenski, Ellyn Shea, Kristen Villalobos

Contributors: Paul Kozakiewicz, Greg Gaar, Tom Pendergast, Lindsay Adams, Stannous Flouride, Omer Gal, Clyde Always, John Farrell

All contents © 2014 HATCH Beat. HATCH Beat welcomes all written articles, news tips, creative writing, art, feature story ideas and photographs from neighborhood contributors.

said Rivecca. “They have enthusiasm when they can take charge and express themselves freely.”

Project Runaway, a take on the fashion show Project Runway, was a fashion show with clothing and accessories, and a mini-movie was created to show the event.

For more information about the Homeless Youth Alliance, visit the website www.homelessyouthalliance.org, or donate to the campaign at www.crowdrise.com/GoBigorGoHomeless.

Capital Campaign, contin-ued from page 1

HATCHBEAT.COM 8 HATCH BEAT

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Standing Strong, Moving Forward.

December / January 2014-2015