Calendar of Events

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Health Care Forum: Assemblymembers Fiona Ma and Mark Leno are holding a meeting to discuss future of single-payer health care in California, Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St., Saturday, Aug. 2, 3 p.m., free For more information, call 695-7891.

Aloha Festival: Experience the Pacific Rim without leaving the Bay Area at the 14th annual SF Aloha Festival, featuring live music and dance performances, authentic island food, games, crafts, canoe racing and more, Presidio Parade Grounds, Lincoln Boulevard and Graham Street, Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free. For more information, call 281-0221.

Summer Pottery and Craft Sale: Hundreds of hand-crafted ceramics, jewelry and glass artworks will be on sale with proceeds benefiting the Sharon Art Studio, an inter-generational community center for the arts, Golden Gate Park, next to Children's Playground and Sharon Meadow, Sunday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free admission. For more information, call 753-7005.

Community Barbeque: Neighbors are urged to gather for fun, food, music and camaraderie at the annual National Night Out, Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center, 3925 Noriega St., Tuesday, Aug. 5, 5 to 7 p.m., free. For more information, call (415) 694-1287.

Mystery Story: Hear the story of the "zebra murders" that terrorized the City in the winter of 1973-1974, which will soon be made into a motion picture, hosted by former Police Chief Earl Sanders, Ingleside Branch Library, 1649 Ocean Ave., Wednesday, Aug. 6, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., free. For more information, call 557-4277.

Mt. Sutro Lecture: Craig Dawson, a co-founder of Mt. Sutro Stewards, will give a talk entitled "Mystery and Discoveries Found Under the Eucalyptus Canopy," County Fair Building, Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, Thursday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m., free.

Arts and Crafts Club: Youths ages 8 to 12 are invited to learn a different fun craft each week at the Ortega Branch Library, 3223 Ortega St., Thursday, Aug. 7, 3 p.m., free. For more information, call 355-5700.

California Native Plant Society Meeting: The Yerba Buena Chapter welcomes Craig Dawson, who will tell of discoveries found during habitat management efforts at the Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve, County Fair Building, Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, Thursday, Aug.7, workshop at 6 p.m., lecture at 7:30 p.m., free. For more information, call 752-7031.

11 - 17

Poetry Reading: Poetry is celebrated with former SF poet laureate Jack Hirschman, local district residents will read their original poems reflecting San Francisco's diversity and culture, Sunset Branch Library, 1305 18th Ave., Monday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., free. For more information, call 557-4277.

Supervisor Forum: The West of Twin Peaks Council sponsors a forum with candidates from District 4 and District 7, St. John's Armenian Church, 275 Olympia Blvd., Monday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m., free.

Bowling for Charity: The 15th annual "fun day" bowling event, hosted by state Sen. Leland Yee and featuring arcade games and lunch, will be held to benefit the Janet Pomeroy Center, Serra Bowl in Daly City, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call Cindy Blackstone at (415) 665-4100, ext. 1252.

Balto: Youths aged six and older are welcome to hear the suspenseful and courageous true story of Balto, the half-husky, half-wolf who led a team of sled dogs through a blizzard to deliver a life-saving anti-toxin to Alaska in 1925, Sunset Branch Library, 1305 18th Ave., Thursday, Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m., free. For more information or reservations, call 355-2818.

Blood Pressure Screening: Individuals can find out their blood pressure and get information about other conditions it can cause, including heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, Community Health Resource Center, 2100 Webster St., Ste. 100, Friday, Aug. 15, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., free. For more information, call 923-3155.

Community Gardening Day: There will be a clean-up of the White Crane Springs Community Garden, sponsored by SF Parks Trust, tools provided, Seventh Avenue and Lawton Street, Saturday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free. For more information, call 750-5110.

Open Mic, Dramatic Reading: The Archangel Bookstore sponsors this monthly event, which includes prose from classic literature and philosophy and original works, 1352-A Ninth Ave., Sunday, Aug. 17, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., free. For more information, call 242-9698.

Dahlia Society Exhibition: Blooms from private gardens and the Dahlia Dell in the park will be on display, Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free. For more information, call 681-5638.

18 - 31

Pregnancy Preparation Program: Learn basic information to prepare for an optimum pregnancy,, UCSF Women's Health Center, 2356 Sutter St., third floor, Ste. J3-08, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., $25 per couple. For more information, call 353-2667.

Earthquake Preparedness: The public is invited to learn how to take precautions to lessen the damage from an earthquake at home or work, Parkside Branch Library, 1200 Taraval St., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., free. For more information, call 557-4277.

Amateur Astronomers' Lecture: Join Santa Rosa Junior College physics instructor Lynda Williams for a presentation about the current state of space debris and a look at possible future scenarios, Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m., free. For more information, call 554-9600.

Gardening Workshop: SF Botanical Garden curator Dr. Don Mahoney explains propagation methods for amateur gardeners, San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, Saturday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $30. For more information, call 661-1316.

Baroque Music Concert: The St. James Community Learning Center presents "Going Baroque," which will include works from Bach, St. James Episcopal Church of San Francisco, 4620 California St., Sunday, Aug. 24, 4 p.m. For more information, call 412-6723.

Mystery Writers Panel: Four San Francisco mystery writers talk about their books, give advice on how to get published and answer audience questions, West Portal Library, 190 Lenox Way, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m., free. For more information, call 355-2886.