A NEIGHBORHOOD JOURNAL

Inner Sunset Benefit District Seeks Feedback

Earlier this year, an effort began to establish a Green Benefit District (GBD) for the

Inner Sunset District. Supporters say the district could empower the neighborhood to

provide needed maintenance and help pay for improvements and anything

not budgeted by the city and county of San Francisco.

The effort is being spearheaded by a non-profit organization, Build:Public.

“Since the February community meeting, the group has been busy preparing for a

major outreach push to get responses to a neighborhood-wide GBD survey,”

said Torel Patel, a stewardship program manager at Build:Public.

Build:Public is a mission-driven organization that attempts to empower neighborhoods

to fund, build and maintain “great public spaces” in San Francisco

and beyond.

“A Green Benefit District could catalyze traffic-calming and pedestrian safety

improvements, among other neighborhood greening and enhancement

projects. Since last summer, Build:Public has been working with representatives

from Inner Sunset Park Neighbors, Inner Sunset Merchants’ Association,

California Academy of Sciences, UCSF and other community stakeholders interested in

forming a GBD,” Patel said.

One local homeowner in the proposed Green Benefit District said a proposal

being looked at would cost each homeowner in the GBD about $500 a year.

“Forming a GBD can take a considerable amount of time and resources – in large part

because a GBD must be voted into existence. This makes extensive community

outreach to property owners essential,” Patel pointed out.

The first GBD was formed in the Dogpatch neighborhood in 2015.

The formation process took about three years due to a protracted legal review because

the City had to draft enabling legislation for the program.

‘Summer of Love’ Exhibit Opens at de Young

The M.H. de Young Memorial Museum opened a “Summer of Love” exhibition on

April 8, which “turned back time” with music, film screenings art-making and

other memorabilia from the 1967 Summer of Love in San Francisco.

The exhibition features iconic rock posters, a “trippy” light show, fashions

from the ’60s-’70s and more. It will be on display through Aug. 20.

The event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Summer

of Love and is part of a citywide celebration.

For more information about other events planned for the anniversary celebration,

go to the website at http://www.sftravel.com.

Music Center’s Summer Schedule Available

The non-profit SF Community Music Center, with a branch located at the

Richmond District Neighborhood Center at 741 30th Ave., has a revamped website

with available offerings.

The website has resources for finding the right teacher; music

making opportunities based on age and interests; and, “inspiring

stories and images from our community.”

For more information, go to the website at http://www.sfcmc.org.

Sutro Stewards Host Hike at Mount Sutro

The Mount Sutro Stewards is hosting a Sunday family hike at

UCSF’s Mount Sutra Open Space Reserve, which is located

above the Parnassus Avenue university campus.

The hike is aimed at youth aged 5-13 with an adult. It will cover what plants need to

grow, leaves and seeds and what animals and pollinators can be

found at Mount Sutro. The hike is approximately one mile long

on dirt trails.

The hike will be held on Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to noon.

To RSVP (required), go to the website at www.familyhike.eventbrite.com.

Food Trucks Host Presidio Picnic

San Francisco’s largest community picnic is held at the

Presidio through October, featuring music, youth activities and

gourmet food trucks. The summer-time event is sponsored by

the Presidio Trust and Off the Grid Markets.

The free-admission picnic is held on Sundays at the Presidio

Parade Ground, 103 Montgomery St., at the Main Post., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call (415) 561-4323 or go to the

website at www.presidio.gov/presidio-picnic.

The Presidio will also feature its Presidio Twilight program

through October at the Main Parade Ground on Thursday evenings,

from 5-9 p.m. For more information, call (415) 561-4323.

Volunteers Needed to Clean Ocean Beach

Volunteers are needed as hundreds of elementary students

from the Bay Area will be making a difference at this year’s

24th annual Kids Ocean Day’s Adopt-a-Beach Clean-Up

on May 17, sponsored by the Marine Science Institute.

Sunset Elementary School third grade student Natalie Kurpius won the art contest

sponsored by Kids Ocean Day. For more information, or to volunteer,

go to the website at www.sfbaymsi.org/kids-oceanday or call (650) 364-2760.

Golden Gate Park Band Back In Session

This year marks the 135th anniversary of the Golden Gate Park Band (GGPB),

which presents popular concerts in Golden Gate Park. It is one of the country’s

last big-city outdoor bands to present a full season of entertainment

in the outdoors.

Throughout its history, the band has presented a large variety

of music, including classical transcriptions, original works for

concert bands, Broadway show selections, opera and marches.

The director of the band is Michael L. Wirgler, who has

been GGPB’s conductor since 1999. Before that, he was a member of the

band for 25 years. Retired from a 33-year career as a music teacher,

Wirgler continues as a performer, teacher and composer.

The free Golden Gate Park Band concerts will continue until

early October. All concerts (unless noted) are on Sundays, at 1

p.m., and are held at the Spreckels Temple of Music at the Music Concourse in

Golden Gate Park.

The schedule for May is:

• May 7 – Polish Constitution Day (Polish music, singing,

dancing);

• May 14 – Great concert band music (TBA);

• May 21 – Armenian Constitution Day (Armenian music,

singing, dancing);

• May 28 – Memorial Weekend concert (Patriotic and

American music);

For more information, go to the band’s website at

http://www.GoldenGateParkBand.org.