The METNA News Newsletter of the Merced Extension Triangle Neighborhood Association

METNA MEETING Tuesday, November 14, 2017 7:00pm, Palmetto Meeting Hall

640 Palmetto Avenue (between St. Charles and Chester)

Invited Guests

Naomi Kelly City Administrator

Supervisor Norman Yee, District 7

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, District 11 San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Dr Mark Rocha, Chancellor

Leslie Milloy, Office of the Chancellor City College of San Francisco

Robert Yick, Captain

Taraval Police Station

Darcy Brown, Executive Director San Francisco Beautiful

ALL NEIGHBORS WELCOME

Volume 18 Number 1 Visit us at: metna.org November 2017

ENROLLMENTGROWSATFREETUITIONCITYCOLLEGE

TWINPEAKSTUNNELTURNS100YEARSOLDINFEBRUARY

ThisarticleisPARTTWOofathreepartseriesontheareawestofTwinPeaksandtheopeningoftheTwinPeaksTunnelinFebruaryof1918.Thewest sideof SanFranciscobecamea very valuable real estate commoditywhentheTwinPeaksTunnelopenedstreetcarserviceonFebruary3,1918.According to a 1913 Ingleside Terraces brochure equating the opening of thePanamaCanal to the eventual opening of the Twin Peaks Tunnel, “The PanamaCanalunitestheAtlanticandPacific.TheTwinPeaksTunnelunitesSanFranciscoand InglesideTerraces.” One1913advertisement for InglesideTerraces stated,“Presentconditionsjustifyhighervalues,butwhentheTwinPeaksTunnelstartspriceswillsoar.”Chief City engineerMichael O’Shaughnessey, responsible formuch of the newstreet infrastructure and expansion in post-earthquake San Francisco, oversawconstruction of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. Excavation work on the Twin PeaksTunnel began onNovember 14, 1914. The prediction at the timewas that thetunnelwouldopeninthespringof1917.WhentheUnitedStatesenteredWorldWar IonApril6,1917mostmaterials andmanpowerweredirectedat thewareffort.DespitetheslightsetbacktheTwinPeaksTunnelwasnearingcompletion.MayorJamesRolph,Jr.(mayor1912-1931)andtheMunicipalRailwaywereeagertocompletethismonumentalproject.Mayor Rolph had been mayor just a short time, when Muni began. Under his administration the Municipal Railway became a cornerstone cont’donpage4

CityCollegeofSanFrancisco(CCSF)has had an increase in studentenrollmentduetothenewfreetuitionpolicy enacted this fall. Fallregistration has increased by close to5,000 students over the same periodaslastyear. Last January, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges announced its decision to grant CCSF full accreditation for the next seven years. With the accreditation issue settled, City Supervisors enacted a two-year“FreeCityCollege”pilotprogram.Thefunds to establish free tuition comefrom a voter-approved tax on SanFrancisco properties that sell for atleast$5million.Thetaxisexpectedtoraise$44millionannuallyfortheCity.CCSF has eleven principal locationsthroughout San Francisco, includingthemaincampusat50PhelanAvenueatOceanAvenue.Inaddition to the

principal location, CCSF offers many classes at ten other campuses throughout the city: Airport, Chinatown/Northbeach, Civic Center, Downtown, Evans, Fort Mason, Gough Street, John Adams, Mission, and Southeast. To qualify for free tuition residents who live in San Francisco must have lived in California for a minimum of one year. Residentsmustpay$20persemester,ofwhich $17 is a requiredhealth fee,plusa$3webuser fee. The$46-per-creditforclassesiswaived.Afulltimestudentwith 15 semester creditswillsave individuals $690 while 12semester credits saves $552. ThemajorityoffundsCityCollegereceivescome from the state based onenrollment electronically. Refer towww.ccsf.edu/Services/Financial_Aid/Forms/EmailFAQ.pdf for moreinformation for an official CCSF emailaccount.TheCCSFcatalogofcoursesand

scheduleofclassescanbeaccessedatwww.ccsf.edu/en/educational-programs/ccsf-catalog.html andwww.ccsf.edu/Schedule/respectively. Answers for online registration areavailable Monday through Thursday,8:00am to 4:30pm, and on Friday,8:00am to2:00pmbycalling 415-239-3732. In addition you mayemail yourquestions to register@ccsf.edu.Spring classes will begin during thesecondweekofJanuary. Chancellor Dr. Mark Rocha of CCSFhas accepted an invitation to attendthe November 14th METNA meeting.“Free City” director Leslie Milloy willalso attend to give details onenrollment procedures for the Spring2018semester.Formoreinformationonthefreecollegetuitionprogramgoto:www.ccsf.edu/FreeCity.

METNA OFFICERS

President Vice-President Marc Christensen Glen Hatakeyama 60 Kempton Ave. 207 Chester Ave. 415 585-2465 415 333-0197 christensen.marc. ragtime217@ metna@gmail.comgmail.com Secretary Treasurer Eric Berquist Richard Zerga 233 Chester Ave. 1095 Clayton St. 415-939-2377 SF 94117 ericafton@gmail.com rjz1comcast.net Sergeant at Arms Neighborhood Glenn Rogers Improvement 3425 Alemany Blvd. Steve Heide 415 -333-9317 306 St. Charles Ave. 650 892-3648 Executive Committee Neil Hunt 239 St. Charles Ave. 415-308-3486

METNACOMMUNITYCALENDAR

METNA MEETING SCHEDULE 7:00pm Palmetto Meeting Hall @ 640 Palmetto Avenue Tuesday, November 14, 2017 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Tuesday, November 13, 2018

POLICE COMMUNITY MEETING Third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm @ Taraval Police Station, 2345 24th Avenue TARAVAL POLICE STATION WEBSITE: www.taraval.org

OCEANVIEW VILLAGE HOA MEETING @ OceanView Village HOA Office. Thursday, November 16, 2017, 7:00 pm NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE

TEAM (NERT) TRAINING Check the NERT website for NERT training classes. Sign up & learn how to be an emergency response team member. Website: < http://sf-fire.org/nert>

AREYOUPROVIDINGFOOD,WATER,ANDSHELTER FORRATS?

Page 2 The METNA News November 2017

Neighbors have reported an increase in rats in the neighborhood in recentmonths. This problem is not unique to the neighborhood and is prevalentthroughout San Francisco and Bay Area communities. The San FranciscoDepartment of Public Health has a Vector Control Program that informsresidentshowtocontroltherodentpopulation.

Thefollowingstepsshouldbefollowedtocontrolrats:

Step1:Removefoodandwater• Usegarbagecanswithtightfittinglids,andkeepthemclosedat

alltimes.• Removeleftoverpetfood,unwantedfruits,nuts,andvegetables.• Repairleakingwaterfaucets.Eliminatestandingwaterinold

planters,gutters,andotherplacesinandaroundyourhome.• HavedamagedgarbagebinsreplacedbyRecology.Call415-330-

1300.Step2:Eliminaterats

• Aftertheirfoodsourcesareremoved,ratswillreadilyaccepttraporpoisonbait.

• Rattrapsandpoisonmaybepurchasedathardwarestores,mostdrugstores,andsomesupermarkets.

• Uselargesnaptrapswhenratshaveinfestedahome,sincepoisonedratsmaydieinsidewallsandcauseodors.

• Usetrapsbaitedwithpeanutbutter,bacon,orfoodthatratshavebeeneating.Placetrapswhereratsarelikelytohideandwherechildrenandpetswillnothaveaccesstothetraps.

• Usecautionwhensettingtraps.Handletrapsbytheedgesawayfromthebaitedportionofthetrap.

• Ifusingpoisons,followthedirectionsandprecautions.Onlyusebaitboxesforpoison.Placewherechildrenandpetscannotreachthem.

• Placedeadratsinplasticorpaperbagsandputtheminyourblackgarbagebin.

• Notethatheavyratinfestationsmaycausefleaormiteinfestationsaswell.Treatareaforfleasandmites,ifnecessary.

Step3:Keepratsoutofyourbuilding• Repairdamagedventscreens.Coveropeningsaroundpipeswith

sheetmetal,orsteelwoolandcaulking.• Checkthebottomofexteriordoors. Ifthegapbetweenthedoor

and the floor is greater than 1/4-inch, rodents may enter thebuilding.Arigidweather-strippingmaybeinstalledtoeliminatethegap.

• Direct plug-in electronic pest repellers are available at mosthardware stores. They can be plugged in to wall sockets. Thedevice emits an ultrasonicwave that is nearly silent to humansandmostanimals.Mostpestsheartheultrasonicsoundandleavethearea.Theycanbeusedsuccessfullyinbasements,garages,andgroundfloorareas.

• Coveropensewerpipesandlargecracksinpavement.Step4:Eliminateshelter

• Ratshidein:pilesoflumberorfirewood,oldfurniture,blackberrythickets, ivy andotherdensely growingplants, and in anyotherareasthatarenotdisturbed.

• Store lumberand firewoodat least18 inchesoff thegroundandonefootfromwallsandfences.

• Cleanupandhaulawayanyjunkanddebris.• Cutbackovergrowthofweedsandplants.• Checkin,around,andunderanystorageshedsonyourproperty

forsignsofrodents.Step5:Cleanuprodentdroppings

• Droppingsmayhavedisease-causingorganisms.Putonlatexglovesforprotectionwhencleaningupdroppings.Spraythedroppingswithamildsolutionofbleachandwater.Wipeupwithpapertowels,andplaceinaplasticbagforproperdisposal.Washhandsthoroughlywhenfinished.

Foradditionalhelpinsolvinganinfestationorforfurtherinformationcall:TheSanFranciscoCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth,HealthyHousingandVectorControlProgramat415-252-3805.

COMMUNITYCALENDAR

November 2017 The METNA News Page 3

FIRSTDUESINCREASEFORMETNAIN18YEARS

Beginning February 1, 2018 the MercedExtension Triangle Neighborhood Association(METNA)willbe increasing itsannualduesto$20. TheExecutiveBoardvotedtoraiseduesforthefirsttimein18yearsduetoincreasesinoperating costs, including the printing of thequarterly METNA News, which is distributedfreeofchargetomorethan700neighborhoodresidentsandtocityofficials.Business memberships will remain at $50and those who wish to contribute to METNAcan join at a sponsorship level remaining at$100,orbybeingabenefactorstayingat$250.Thosewhowish to joinMETNA for2018maypay the current rate of $15 from now untilJanuary31st.

COMMUNITYCLEANTEAMCLEANUPONBROTHERHOODWAY

Community Clean Team Day in District 7 produced good results for the Brotherhood Way Greenbelt. In July, District 7 Day resulted in a major pruning of trees and shrubs on the south side of Brotherhood Way from Junipero Serra to Alemany. Public Works crews, along with a community youth group and METNA volunteers cut and cleaned up the greenbelt. Area residents Joan Broer, Eliza Campbell, Andy Chang, Bonnie Freeman, Agneta Hayes, Chris Herman, Romeo Perez, Andie Rice, Terrence Tighe, and Benny Zhou joined METNA Executive Board members Marc Christensen, Glen Hatakeyama, Steve Heide, and Glenn Rogers in the cleanup effort. The result is an improved plantedarea with better sightlines formotorists, cyclists, and pedestriansalong with limiting the potential firedangerfornearby homes. METNA

MET COMMUNITY CONNECTORS FREE EXERCISE CLASS FOR SENIORS

Seniors (60+) are invited to join the Merced Extension TriangleCommunity Connectors (METCC) programnowbeing offered free at theGoldenGateChurch,201HeadStreet,atupperPalmetto, twoblockseastof OceanView Village. An hour long Always Active exercise programdesigned for seniors that will include cardiovascular, strength training,flexibility, andbalance exercises is being offered and canbedone in thegroup or on your own. Joining METCC will give you an opportunity tomeetothercommunityseniorsandcreatethetypeofactivitiesyouwouldliketohavesuchas,acoffeehour,pot luck lunches, lectures,workshops,fieldtrips,andprogramstoeducateandentertaininasupportivesetting.For current information and meeting times regarding the METCommunity Connectors program contact Kim Mayor at:kimMETCC@gmail.com..

NEIGHBORHOODWATCH

extends a sincere thank you to everyonewho participated in the CommunityCleanTeamDay.SFMTAIMPROVEMENTSTO19TH

AVENUE/JUNIPEROSERRAWork is scheduled to begin byNovember 1st at the 19th Avenue andJuniperoSerra intersection,andalong19th Avenue where the M-Oceanviewcrosses19thAvenueatitsownrightofway,betweenWinstonandEucalyptusDrives.New pedestrian safetyimprovements and other safetymeasuresat theMuniMetroentranceat theJuniperoSerraand19thAvenuemedian will be constructed.Construction is to last approximatelyfour weeks. Northbound trafficnormally turning on to 19th Avenuewill be diverted on to Junipero Serraduring at least two weekends, while19thAvenue

BARTHASNEWDISCOUNTFORTEENSUSINGTHECLIPPER CARD BARTisencouragingteenagers13-18yearsofage with a new Clipper Card discountbeginning January 1, 2018. It will expand a50% youth price break, and let teens avoidpaying a 50-cents-each-way surcharge forpapertickets.Previously,youthdiscountsonlyapplied to ages 5-12. Youth under 5 years ofagewillcontinuetorideBARTforfree. BARTis phasing out the orange discount papertickets.

northbound between Winston andEucalyptus will be closed to all vehicletraffic during those weekends. Expectdelays and traffic backups as allnorthbound traffic will travel onJunipero Serra to either Ocean Avenueor Sloat Boulevard before reconnectingto19thAvenue.Also,M-OceanviewMuniMetroservicewillbesubstitutedbybusserviceduringthe weekends of construction. Buseswill start late Friday evening and runthrough theendof the service scheduleon Sunday night. Buses will runbetween West Portal and Balboa Parkstations. There will be regular serviceduringweekdays.Noticeswillbepostedon M-line shelters and stops to informtransitridersoftheexactstopsalongtheroute. Allow for extra time heading northduring the November constructionperiod, especially on weekends duringtheclosures. cont’donpage4

Ratandrodentpreventionaroundthehouse:

Page 4 The METNA News November 2017

MEETYOURNEIGHBORHOODMERCHANTS

PARKING VIOLATION FOR STREET SWEEPING

TRC 7.2.22 $73 FINE SFDPW AND SFMTA wish to remind motorists that vehicles parked on streets in the Merced Extension Triangle during street sweeping times are subject to a $73 parking fine. Mechanical street sweeping takes place twice a month within the area, and signs are posted on all streets. Street sweeping days and times are: 8:00am-10:00am 1st and 3rd Mondays 9:00am-11:00am 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 1:00pm-3:00pm 1st and 3rd Thursdays 8:00am-10:00am 1st and 3rd Fridays 1:00pm-3:00pm 1st and 3rd Fridays Check the signs before you park to ensure that you move your vehicle in time, so that the street can be swept, and you do not receive a citation.

METNAREMINDER

MayorJamesRolphduringceremonialPhotocourtesyofSFMTAlayingoftrackatWestPortal,Fall,1917PhotographyDepartmentTwinPeakscont’dfrompage1ofhislegacy.TheTwinPeaksTunnelwouldbehismasterpiece.ForestHill,WestPortal,St.FrancisWood,andInglesideTerraceswereintheir infancy and flourished once the tunnel was completed. The landwestofTwinPeaksbecameprimerealestateproperty.However, it would take another twenty-five years until residentialconstruction reached to what is now known as the Merced ExtensionTriangle, from Stanley Street (now Brotherhood Way) to the SanFrancisco-SanMateoCountyLine.AtthesametimetheMetropolitanLifeInsuranceCompanybeganbuildingaplannedcommunitystretchingfromLakeMerced on thewest to 19th Avenue and Junipero Serra to the east,knownasParkmerced.InthenextissueoftheMETNANews,youwillreadabouttheopeningofthe Twin PeaksTunnel and the three streetcar lines that opened up thesouth-westernsideofSanFrancisco.

CHASEBANK,N.A.FinancialInstitutionBranchManager:JaclynCrisostomo,VicePresident3981AlemanyBoulevardTelephone:650-756-6437Facsimile:855-323-505624/7Service:888-994-5626jaclyn.crisostomo@chase.comMonday-Friday:9:00am-6:00pmSaturday:9:00am-4:00pmClosedSundayBranchManager JaclynCrisostomowasborninSanFranciscoandhasremainedaBayAreanative. She graduated from San FranciscoStateandhasbeeninthefinancialindustryfor8years.Sheis excitedandfeelsblessedtobeworkingatChase. JP Morgan Chase bank is a full servicefinancial institution with over 16,000 ATMsand 5,500 branches nationwide. Servicesincludevarioussavingsandcheckingaccounts,with a variety of online banking programs.Chase Mobil Apps, Chase Quick Deposit, andChase Quick Pay are just a few of the manyservicesoffered. TheChaseportfolio includescredit cards, business banking, Certificates ofDeposit, auto loans, mortgages, home equitylinesofcredit,alongwithinvestmentbanking.Visitchase.com/mychasetolearnmoreoftheservicesoffered.

SUPPORTYOURNEIGHBORHOODMERCHANTS

NeighborhoodWatchfrompage3CURB RAMP WORK IN

THE MET New curb rampswill be installed atthe following intersections: PalmettoAvenue and Victoria Street, andChesterAvenueandPalmettoAvenue.ConstructionisscheduledtobegininNovember and continue throughMarch, 2018. A copy of the “30-dayNotice” was recently mailed toadjacent property owners to beimpactedby thework. Residentswillreceiveaconstructionnotice10to15days before work begins at eachlocation. “No Parking/Tow Away”signs will be posted 72 hours inadvance of the project work hourswithparkingrestrictions. Public works appreciates residents’patience as theymake improvementsto the neighborhood and SanFrancisco.

SISTERHOOD GARDENS CONTINUES TO GROW

Additional planter boxes have beenaddedtoSisterhoodGardensover

the past two Saturdayworkdays. On October 21stnumerous native plants wereadded both inside and outsidethefencebygardenvolunteers.The next build day at the sitewill be on Saturday, November18th, and volunteers are alwayswelcomed.AgrandopeningcelebrationofSisterhood Gardens will takeplace in either late March orApril,andadatewillbechosenafter the first of the year. Akiosk and two-sided bulletinboard will soon be added byPublicWorksinsidethegateonArchStreet.ForquestionsandinformationonSisterhoodGardensgoto:www.facebook.com/sisterhoodgardens. JOINMETNA