The LJ Kruse Company in Berkeley, California, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The plumbing and heating company has been continuously owned and operated by the Kruse family since it was founded by Louis Joseph Kruse in 1916. Andy Kruse, president and part of the third generation of leadership, said in a statement, “We are very excited to enter our second century of plumbing, heating and cooling services in the Bay Area. I often think about what my grandfather Louis would say if he saw the operation today. While the past is important to us, we are more focused on the future as the fourth generation is now about to take over.”

Founder Louis J. Kruse was the son of a German immigrant who came to California to prospect in the gold fields of the Sierra foothills. Louis was born in Grass Valley in 1889, and when his father died in a mysterious mining accident a few years later, the family moved to San Francisco. Louis grew up in the city, enjoyed working with his hands, and learned to be a gasfitter at Lick-Wilmerding, then a vocational school.

After the great earthquake of 1906, Louis saw the tremendous potential for tradesmen in the East Bay and moved to Oakland. He built a home in the Rockridge neighborhood and opened his plumbing shop on College Avenue in 1916. After his death in 1946, his son, Edward H. Kruse, presided over the company's rapid postwar growth. The firm now operates in all five Bay Area counties and is run by the third generation, Dave and Andy Kruse. The fourth generation of Kruse leadership is ready to take the lead. They include Janell Kruse Yates VP, Nathan Kruse VP, Ben Kruse union plumber and Will Kruse dispatcher. “We need the youth and the energy that comes with it,” Andy says. “When our grandfather was young, he had a vision, and the next generation does too.”

Nathan Kruse and Ben Kruse; Trimble layout at the Alameda County Courthouse.

The LJ Kruse Company operates two divisions from its 20,000-square-foot headquarters in Berkeley, California. (The building was renovated to LEED GOLD standards in 2012.) The construction division focuses on large commercial and residential projects with a strong emphasis on healthcare and design-build capabilities. The company utilizes in-house CAD, BIM and prefabrication techniques to install complex plumbing and piping systems in new and existing buildings throughout the region. The service division focuses on repairing and maintaining commercial, industrial and residential plumbing, heating and cooling systems. All field work for both divisions is performed by unionized plumbers, pipefitters and sheet metal workers and supported by an office staff of experienced managers and executives. The company is one of the few plumbing companies in the region that offers a range of services, from a one-hour service visit to your home to a multi-million dollar plumbing installation at a hospital.
Project.

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18 Reasons cooking class

18 reasons

18 Reasons is a nonprofit community cooking school in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District whose goals include helping people learn how to buy, cook and eat quality food, as well as helping low-income families by addressing food inequity in the Bay Area and through educational programming.

“Our mission is to inspire our community with the confidence and creativity to buy, cook, and eat good food every day,” explains Sarah Nelson, Executive Director at 18 Reasons. “This mission drives our work at 18th Street Kitchen and our Free Community Programming.”

“We live in a food environment where buying, cooking, and eating good food isn’t easy. Individuals and families must navigate deceptive marketing, confusing nutrition advice, and heavily processed products when deciding what to eat.”

This impactful organization works with chefs from around the world and hosts hands-on cooking classes, cheesemaking and fermentation workshops, dinners with farmers and brewers, wine seminars, and more, with most classes booking up completely. These hands-on cooking classes change daily.

“We attract students interested in learning fundamentals, world cuisines, and advanced techniques through a home cooking lens, and gear classes to meet these needs,” says Nelson.

Some example classes include Japanese Baking and Sweets; comforting curries; Croissants, Danishes and Kouign Amann, a special two-day workshop; and recurring favorites like Malaysian Chili Crab; sweet and savory galettes; Scandinavian baking; Flavors of Bordeaux; and Pasta Primers. Other popular classes include Basic Knife Skills and Culinary Boot Camp. Each class features a menu to be cooked or baked, with a new teaching chef guiding the class.

Baking croissants

18 reasons

For Valentine’s Day, 18 Reasons is offering two themed classes: Chocolate, which involves learning how to bake a Flourless Chocolate-Almond Cake with Marbled Chocolate Glaze, Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies with Flaked Sea Salt and more, and Valentine’s Day Feast, which includes learning how to cook a cherry and herb stuffed quail, mascarpone mashed potatoes and more.

18 reasons offers themed classes around other holidays as well, including Chinese New Year in Malaysia; Short and Sweet: Mardi Gras Party; Mid Autumn Festival Mooncakes; Umbrian Easter Feast; and Purim Baking.

“18 Reasons believes in the transformative and healing power of home cooking,” explains Nelson. “We choose to work with chefs that teach from a perspective and appreciation for home cooking as opposed to techniques and/or equipment typical for a commercial kitchen or restaurant.”

“Guests keep coming back, and we see a trend of multiple class takers,” she continues. “Some people enjoy trying new classes, while others gravitate towards a certain instructor or cuisine.”

Supported by these paid classes hosted through its 18th Street Kitchen cookery school, 18 Reasons offers free, hands-on cooking classes and grocery donations to low-income adults, families and kids, and Black and Latinx pregnant women, through its Cooking Matters and Nourishing Pregnancy programs.

18 Reasons is celebrating its 15th year this year, and they’ve evolved and expanded in many ways that include offering Cooking Matters classes in three counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco, and creating three new programs: Planned & Prepped, Food As Medicine (FAM), and Nourishing Pregnancy.

We chatted with Sarah Nelson, Executive Director at 18 Reasons on how 18 Reasons got started, its educational programs, the range of cooking classes they offer and more. Here’s what she had to say.

18 Reasons in the kitchen

18 reasons

How did 18 Reasons start?

The Bi-Rite Family of Businesses created a space in 2008 for community dinners and tastings, meant to connect farmers with the community members buying their products. Executive Director Sarah Nelson began a nonprofit, Three Squares, in 2011 to address food insecurity and the need for many in disinvested neighborhoods to increase nutrition and, ultimately, better health.

18 Reasons was born as a merger between the two — creating a nonprofit community cooking school with cooking classes at our Mission location, as well as free programming at sites within the community.

Talk about the range of paid cooking classes you offer. What can guests expect during these classes?

Our classes are unique because they’re largely powered by volunteers, which creates a greater feeling of community in classes. Our volunteers usually come from people who have taken our classes and want to get more involved in the organization.

We offer classes at a variety of price points, with our most popular Basic Knife Skills class being just $75. It’s important for us to offer classes that match a variety of student interests and budgets. The cooking classes are very communal, often asking people to work in small groups. It’s a fun opportunity to get to know classmates, and to initiate conversations that continue with wine and dinner at the end of classes.

We offer cooking classes that allow students to hone a variety of skills — from fundamentals like sautéing and egg basics, to deep dives into regional recipes and skills like Handmade Noodles of Penang. World cuisine classes are a way for members of a diaspora to connect to their culture through food, and for guests to learn more about regional culinary traditions.

18 Reasons class

18 reasons

Talk about the three food education programs you offer — in what ways have you seen these make an impact on the community?

Cooking Matters

Cooking Matters is a 6-week series of classes that pairs hands-on cooking practice with culturally appropriate nutrition discussions and healthy grocery donations.

We offer series for kids, teens, adults, and families in both English and Spanish. Topics covered include knife skills, learning about nutrition labels, food groups, and balanced eating, and how to use and choose vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.

84% of participants increase healthy food preparation, and 82% increase how often they eat fruit, vegetables, whole grains, or low-fat dairy.

Planned & Prepped

Planned & Prepped is a series for adult graduates of a Cooking Matters series that focuses on meal planning, prep, and storage on a budget.

This program was created in response to the question from Cooking Matters participants, “I’ve built a solid foundation of skills and want to keep learning more – what comes next?”

Food As Medicine (FAM)

FAM is a long-term, specialized Cooking Matters series tailored for participants with poorly controlled diabetes. FAM helps participants manage their diabetes using nutritious food, cooking skills, and nutrition education.

It is funded by CalAIM and in partnership with Contra Costa Health Services doctors, who support by recruiting participants and providing medical supervision and nutrition expertise during classes.

87% of participants report improvement in their blood sugar and 33% of participants report improvement to their A1C.

Nourishing Pregnancy

Nourishing Pregnancy is an innovative cooking and health program serving Black and Latinx birthing parents in the last months of pregnancy and first months postpartum. Over 16 weeks, participants take prenatal cooking and nutrition education classes and postpartum support classes.

Black and Latinx birthers typically receive medical care in white-dominated settings. All facilitators in Nourishing Pregnancy identify as Black or Latinx, and create a sacred space of social support and belonging.

Nourishing Pregnancy has dropped low birth weights of babies born during the program to zero!

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Ruby Bridges

A person’s age doesn’t define the power of their voice and that’s what the students of South San Francisco Unified School District learned after hundreds of students, teachers and parents gathered at City Hall to celebrate the annual Ruby Bridges Day.

Monday’s march was led with Mayor Mark Nagales speaking about the impact Bridges made and the power of student voices.

“It just shows me it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can make a difference in your community. And these amazing kids show me that you can do it if you put your mind to it,” Nagales said.

Bridges’ official day is Nov. 14, the day she first entered the previously all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans as the first Black student. The 6-year-old, first grader and her mother required the guard of US marshals as white protesters hurled racial slurs as they walked to school.

The district’s first celebration began in 2018, with a fifth graders’ question: “Why isn’t there a day named after Ruby Bridges?”

The students from Martin Elementary School organized to honor Bridges after learning about her during a lesson. Fifth grade teacher Deborah Carlino helped the students gather signatures to gain city, county, then state recognition in the form of a day to honor the civil rights hero.

Carlino learned in school during her masters program that getting students involved in public policy will help their overall growth. She said she wants to teach them to be strong and resilient.

“I always want my children involved in something, beyond the class and beyond themselves,” Carlino said. “Their first thought was, ‘let’s call the president,’ and they think we can just call them on our bat-phone, but there is a process and we went through that process.”

After the walk-to-school event Martin Elementary held a schoolwide assembly and Ruby Bridges came to surprise the students.

Principal Jonathan Covacha said they gave the students time and space to talk and reflect on the day.

“It was a day of dialogue, which is what Ms. Bridges wants for the students,” Covacha said. “Sometimes you don’t sign up to be the person that makes a difference, but, once they are there, go ahead and make their voice heard because it matters.”

During the assembly the students presented ideas of change that they wanted to see locally including: a compost bin for their lunchroom, to lower their carbon footprint; homeless issues; student attendance issues; and importance of going to class.

They also expressed a need to reopen the city’s after school program at Paradise Valley, which is within walking distance of Martin Elementary. It was recently closed by the city and moved to Orange Park, which is on the other side of town.

A lot of the parents had to opt out of the program because moving locations would require them to pick their children up to take them to Orange Park. While many parents don’t drive, or are working, it has become inconvenient; however, there is a need and the children want the location reopened or a solution to be met, Covacha said.

At a later date, students along with Carlino will be presenting their ideas at a City Council meeting, she said, the goal is for the kids to connect the kids to make an action.

“I always feel whatever action we make creates a ripple effect, we just don’t always see it,” Carlino said. “I really want to challenge grown-ups to rise to the occasion, because it’s about looking at the world through the eyes of a child, the way Ruby saw it.”

Visit: https://rubybridges.foundation/ for more information about Ruby Bridges Day.

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Family style at Lolinda

lolinda

Lolinda is a modern Argentinian steakhouse that combines Latin American flavors with California sensibilities and local ingredients. This San Francisco establishment is celebrating ten years in business in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. Lolinda prides herself on being a “new kind” of Argentinean steakhouse, one that isn’t just juicy cuts of meat, but a place that brings together the best flavors and dishes of all of Latin America.

“The inspiration for the menu, and the restaurant as a whole, was to create a “different kind of steakhouse” – one in which family-style service and sharing was the norm,” explains Alejandro Morgan, Executive Chef of Lolinda. “We believe sharing is not only the best way to enjoy many different dishes and maximize your experience here at Lolinda, but it also is more sustainable in a sense. By reducing the number of individual plates ordered, we reduce waste and create better value for our guests.”

This lively restaurant destination is an ideal spot for group dining, dates, business dinners and celebrations, thanks to its spacious interiors and two full bars.

Wood fire grill

lolinda

Nightly, a wide range of meats are cooked perfectly over the wood-fired asador, as well as freshly made ceviche, empanadas, specialty dishes, and grilled skewers ready to be served. Popular cuts include the filet mignon, 100% grass-fed from Argentina and the bife de chorizo, or the New York steak.

Lolinda encourages guests to curate a family-style menu from its varied selections of meats, ceviches, hot and cold small plates, skewers and larger format plates. You can’t go wrong with the ceviche mixto with squid, shrimp and halibut; any of the savory, stuffed empanadas; or the pulpo with salsa verde.

At the heart of this experience is the Asado Mixto, a classic combination of traditionally wood fire-grilled Argentinian meats that include chorizo, morcilla, flap loin, and short rib, meant to be accompanied with a variety of sides like yuca-riccota croquettas, pan de queso or papas. Another popular dish is the guacho, a juicy, prime bone-in ribeye for two.

Malbec braised short ribs

lolinda

We chatted with Adriano Paganini, Owner & Operator of Back of the House, and Alejandro Morgan, Executive Chef of Lolinda on this ten year anniversary and more. Here’s what they had to say.

San Francisco’s restaurant competition is steep. What are the top three things you attribute Lolinda’s success to?

Adriano: Consistency in our offering, our product, our purveyors and, of course, all our team members. We worked really hard to develop a menu that had a little bit of everything for everyone, while respecting seasonality, and over the past decade we have developed a deep understanding of what our guests are looking for. This allows us to really perfect our craft and make sure that every single dish and drink is perfect every time. We are also very lucky to be in a neighborhood that just makes a lot of sense for our style of steakhouse.

Talk about the inspiration of the menu. What are some of the dishes that have remained staples over the years?

Alejandro: In terms of the actual dishes and the menu itself, we took inspiration from the rich culture of the Sunday Argentinian Asado, and infused other Latin American flavors from different countries to create a unique point of view.

For our chef partner Alejandro Morgan, who grew up in Costa Rica and didn’t have the most amazing culinary heritage, he fell in love with the diverse foods and flavors of Latin America. He wanted to highlight the richness and diversity of the region. He wanted to have some of their best dishes on the menu: from the Peruvian ceviche, or the Nicaraguan vigoron to the Argentinian asado – and make them all with our own “Lolinda touch.”

How did the pandemic affect business?

Adriano: We were hit pretty hard, especially because we don’t have any outdoor dining space, but our team was nimble and we got creative selling meal kits to-go during the early days, offering our food on delivery platforms (which we had never done before) and then eventually reconfiguring our HVAC system and offering limited indoor reservations. Now we’re back to normal, and business is good, which we feel really grateful for.

What is the mixology and overall beverage program like? Talk about the two bars.

Alejandro: Our bar has always been an integral part of the vibe at Lolinda. We offer a selection of classic cocktails that do not deter from their classical preparation like the Manhattan and Martini which are both served old-school with a sidecar. These drinks really complement our menu, and there’s a little bit of something for everyone here. Our nuevo cocktails are where our bartenders get to have some fun. They change seasonally and give our staff a chance to play around with fun flavors, trends and different ingredients.

Going forward, is there anything you’re planning to change or evolve?

Adriano: The restaurant business evolves whether you want it to or not, especially in the last few years. For us, our evolution will always be about listening to our guests’ wants and needs. We will always evolve and strive to be better, but not at the cost of what we believe in: having a menu that is creative, not fussy, where we have good flavors and quality ingredients as the main component, in a space that is fun and inviting for everyone.

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South San Francisco CA February 28, 2022 Submitted by City of South San Francisco

The old US Bank on Grand is now home to the Economic Advancement Center

Today the City of South San Francisco officially opened the Economic Advancement Center (EAC), strategically located at 366 Grand Avenue, to offer workforce development and small business and entrepreneurship services to residents of South San Francisco and throughout North San Mateo County. The goal of the Economic Advancement Center is to provide much needed economic recovery tools to some of the most vulnerable residents and small businesses, offering support in both English and Spanish.

One of South San Francisco’s partners at the EAC is JobTrain (www.jobtrainworks.org/south-san-francisco-career-center), a nonprofit accredited in vocational training, academics and essential skills development for adults of all ages to help move unemployed and underemployed individuals to successful and self-sufficient employment with skills development. Since the city’s partnership, JobTrain has served over 73 clients, had 22 job placements (14 full-time, 6 part-time and an average hourly wage of $22.65/hour), and nine clients pursuing training and education.

South San Francisco also partnered with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (Renaissance)(www.rencenter.org/mid-peninsula/), a nonprofit who works with individuals who want to start a small business and helps them successfully do so by offering training on a variety of topics, such as business planning, access to capital, as well as offering ongoing assistance to the business owner. Services offered by Renaissance are currently being offered to all small businesses in North San Mateo County (Daly City, Pacifica, Colma, San Bruno, Millbrae, South San Francisco, and Brisbane). Since starting the partnership, Renaissance has served 91 clients, secured $86,700 in capital for 19 client businesses in Daly City, San Bruno, and South San Francisco, and offered 45 consulting classes and workshops and English and Spanish.

Mayor Mark Nagales announced at today’s grand opening that the City of South San Francisco has been selected to receive a $1.1 million grant through the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support services offered by Renaissance at the the EAC. This grant is estimated to create 372 jobs, retain 748 jobs and generate $43.7 million in private investment. The City has committed $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the EAC, and has received $200,000 in funding from the County of San Mateo, $500,000 in federal funds through Congresswoman Jackie Speier and private donations from Genentech and Lane Partners. City staff and its partners continue to pursue additional funding sources to expand and sustain all services offered to the community.

“The initial idea of ​​the EAC was introduced at a City Council meeting less than one year ago, and now that we are here celebrating the grand opening is incredible. So much work has been done between city staff, contractors, and our non-profits, and it’s amazing how many residents this center has been able to help even before the doors officially opened,” says South San Francisco Mayor Mark Nagales.

“Securing this grant for entrepreneurship services was a huge undertaking and our application being awarded shows not only the rest of California, but the entire nation, what amazing things we are doing here in South San Francisco. This will put us on the map in terms of economic development” says South San Francisco Mayor Mark Nagales.

All the services offered at the EAC are free to residents. To learn more about the EAC, please visit www.ssf.net/EAC. To learn more about JobTrain and workforce development services, please contact Julia Horiuchi at jhoriuchi@jobtrainworks.org, call (650) 505-4727 or visit the EAC at 366 Grand Avenue. To learn more about Renaissance and entrepreneurship services, please contact Amanda Anthony at amanda@rencenter.org, call (650) 321-2193 x 1103 or visit the EAC at 366 Grand Avenue.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – A 60-year-old man is being called number 1,000.

Insurance agent Patrick Alexander is recovering from being the 1,000 lung transplant at the University of California San Francisco since the program began in 1991.

“We don’t know much about the donor family or the donor his or herself, but we’re just so grateful,” Alexander said.

Alexander had scarring of the lung that impeded the ability for oxygen to enter the bloodstream.

USCF’s transplant expertise is world class. Pulmonologist Steve Hays said the one year survival rate is top in the county and has been that way for a decade.

“Our long-term survival is also continuing to really improve every year so that patients who are now getting a transplant have an expectation they could live nearly 12 years,” Hays said.

In about a year, Alexander is expected to be able to resume an active life of travel, exercise and other activities. Post-transplant complications are now rare.

Transplant surgeon Jasleen Kukreja said the program went from about 20% airway complications requiring some sort of intervention down to less than 1%.

“Which is really quite remarkable because no other program has been able to achieve that outcome,” Kukreja said.

Alexander can now expect to extend his life from 10 to 12 years.

“A year ago we didn’t even know that Patrick had the disease,” Alexander’s wife Allison said. “This is how quickly it progressed, and we’re just so grateful for the staff at UCSF. They have been so thorough.”

Copyright 2022 KGO via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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Discount Plumbing Rooter Inc., a full-service plumbing business serving the Bay Area for over 30 years, is proud to announce its continued pledge to serve the community. The company has become a trusted name in the plumbing services industry throughout the years, handling everything from fixing a simple leaky pipe to large-scale trenchless sewer line replacements and re-pipes. Discount Plumbing Rooter Inc. has got you covered.

For over three decades, the company honored the principles of quality workmanship and honest pricing. These values ​​have resulted in Discount Plumbing Rooter Inc. becoming the go-to choice for many residential and commercial clients across San Francisco and San Mateo County. Fortunately, the more they do business, the better their team of plumbers and the company become. They specialize in lateral sewer replacement, water heater repairs, replacements, and residential plumbing services.

Discount Plumbing Rooter Inc. is dedicated to fulfilling each customer’s needs, and they take each call seriously. Their plumbers understand how vital it is to have a functional plumbing system in your home or business. Don’t let the name fool you; you can count on the company to care for your emergency plumbing needs day or night with no overtime charge.

If you live in the San Francisco or San Mateo County service area, Discount Plumbing Rooter Inc. offers 24 hour emergency service. They also provide discounted offers on their website. In addition, they use the latest and most innovative plumbing technology and materials. This level of expertise has allowed them to be one of the leading plumbing companies in the Bay Area, with a reputation for quality craft, fair pricing, and excellent customer service.

They are hyper focused on customer service, which has earned them 4.5 stars on Google and Yelp; however, they are meticulous and do the job right the first time. Just in case, they are licensed, bonded, and insured if there’s ever a problem. You don’t have to take our word for it; Pebbles O. from Redwood City, CA, has many good things to say. “They were the only plumber available on the same day I called for a toilet repair. Antonio came over promptly, explained the costs, and quickly fixed the issue! He was very courteous and professional – wore a mask the whole time and shoe covers inside my house. We even chatted a bit about art. 10/10 wouldn’t hesitate to call them again for an emergency issue.”

Discount Plumbing Rooter Inc. and its staff are personable and care for the community. When your plumbing fails, don’t hesitate to take advantage of the company’s discount offers. For questions or concerns, representatives can chat on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. For more information, please check their website or YouTube channel. Don’t forget to follow their social media platforms or LinkedIn for updates.

CONTACT: Kevin Griffin
Discount Plumbing, Inc.
7 Bruno Ave
Daly City, CA 94014
Phone: (650) 991-2100
site: https://discountplumbingrooterinc.com/
admin@dprooterinc.com

Full service plumbing business, serving the Bay Area for 30+ years. Specializing in sewer lateral replacement, water heater repairs and replacements and all residential plumbing services. Customer service is our #1 priority which is why we have 4.5 Stars on Google and Yelp!

This release was published on openPR.

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WACO, Texas — The Waco campus of the Texas State Technical College celebrated a big milestone today that will impact all future plumbers that train at TSTC.

TSTC along with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners cut the ribbon on the new facility at TSTC Waco this afternoon.

And, it’s more than just another place for future plumbers to learn their craft.

TSTC is really proud of the fact that this effort, joint effort with the plumbing board, is going to result in far more quality plumbers in Texas,” Mike Reeser said, the Chancellor and CEO of TSTC.

This facility has different areas for learning plumbing skills, from work stalls with piping, to model homes they can practice on and will be tested with before heading out into the workforce.

“There are several pathways to becoming a plumber, and we have the thing that I am most excited about,” Frank Denton said, the Chairman for the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. “You don’t just become a plumber. It requires a lot of academic training and knowledge of codes and skill to get the job done, and it’s for the public safety.”

Even State Representative Charles “Doc” Anderson made an appearance at today’s celebration, noting this is going to add a huge piece to the economic boom Waco is experiencing.

“It’s a quality of life issue not only for the student and to go through this process, I say year, year and a half and they actually can earn a living out there,” Representative Anderson said. “So on their side, it’s a tremendous advantage and then on the customer side, so it’s a quality of life issue there, too, that you can get the services when you need them.”

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Jawbreaker is setting up shop at the Fillmore in San Francisco for three nights, March 24-26.

The New York City Post-punk act — featuring vocalist-guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach, bassist Chris Bauermeister and drummer Adam Pfahlerwhose — is making the rounds in celebration of the 25th anniversary of 1995’s acclaimed “Dear You” album.

“Dear You” marked the band’s major label debut on DGC Records, following a string of influential indie albums — 1990’s “Unfun,” 1992’s “Bivouac” and 1994’s “24 Hour Revenge Therapy.”

It also happens to be the last studio album that the band has recorded — at least to date. Jawbreaker ended up breaking up in 1996, although it reunited in 2017 to the delight of its many fans.

Many consider “Dear You” to be a masterpiece. Rolling Stone, for one example, ranked the offering at No. 4 on its list of “Top 40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time.”

Details: 7:30 pm March 24-26, Fillmore, San Francisco; $45, livenation.com

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San Francisco has been waiting for this day. For two long years, we wanted normalcy. We’ve suffered through mandates and lockdowns, sheltering and shuttering. The whole thing pretty much sucked.

There were fits and starts, signaling a possible return. A reopening here, a return there. But no matter how hard we tried, it never felt like the before times. There was always the specter of fear hanging over us. Another variant. The subsequent surge. What is it safe to believe? What is OK to venture out?

Well, we still don’t really know. But it’s clear we’re ready to try. The Giants’ Opening Day Friday at Oracle Park was a coming out party for The City. A recognition of where we’ve been and a celebration of where we’re going.

From foul pole to foul pole, bleachers and beyond, anyone who could fake a dentist appointment, ditch work and muster a ticket to the ballpark looked up to the sunny skies above and thanked the baseball gods for delivering. Simply put, it was a glorious day. The Miracle on Third Street.

It was also the Giants’ first season opener at home since 2009, a remarkable stretch considering. It took a dozen years, but it was worth the wait. Two years ago, the crowd consisted of cardboard cutouts. Last year, the limit on fans was 8,000.

This year? No COVID related mandates or requirements for fans. Whatsoever. And a sell-out crowd of 40,853 packed the place.

After a spirited and thoughtful pregame routine, in which the team honored local members of the sports world who had passed in 2021, along with victims of war in Ukraine, the US Navy Leap Frog’s Parachute Team dropped in from the sky, setting up a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by brian McKnight. Prior to that jenn johns delivered an inspirational version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and many people did.

The team hoisted its 2021 National League West pennant, and unveiled a plaque honoring last season’s record 107 wins. It was a proud day to be a Giants fan, whichever way you cut it.

When Brandon Belt rode in from the left field tunnel in a boat wearing his “captain” hat, the crowd celebrated the inanity. Belt threw out the first pitch to manager Gabe Kapler and it was time to “Play Ball!”

Then they did. And it was a doozy. The Miami Marlins were in town and it looked like they’d flop on the dock for the Giants, putting up minimal resistance for most of the game. The Giants were cruising behind six innings of solid pitching fromn starters logan Webbwho gave up one run on five hits. Joey Bart and Belt both homered, and it looked like the Giants would cruise to a 4-2 victory. Until the ninth, when the Marlins exploded for three runs and took the lead, 5-4. Last year’s phenom reliever Camilo Doval pretty much imploded there, giving up a soul-crushing, two-run home run to someone named jazz Chisolm, the Marlins’ second baseman … who bats ninth. The Giants countered in the bottom of the frame, when their own second baseman, Thairo Estrada, hit a ball deep into the left field bleachers. Off to the tenth we went. Remember, teams start a runner at second base in extra innings. The Marlins failed to get their man home in the top of the 10th. And so did the Giants, foiled by the boneheaded baserunning of mauricio dubon. But the Giants didn’t quit. There reputation drew a walk, and then Austin Slater drove the big fella home, all the way from first, to create the perfect finish. A play at the plate for the win. Safe! Giants 6, Marlins 5. The players rushed the field and the fans rejoiced. Disaster averted.

All in all, the Giants looked sloppy all day. Errors in the field. Bad base running. Generally funky. Who needs spring training, right? I blame the owners. For everything.

Whatever the reason. It sure felt like Giants baseball alright. Sweet torture.

All the expected swells were on hand, hobnobbing in an adjacent courtyard before the game. in one corner Barry Bonds was deep in conversation with Mayor London breed. supervisor Matt Haney was on hand with his father. They’ve been season ticket holders for over 30 years. Giants President and CEO Larry Bear was holding court in the center of it all, greeting friends and customers while basking in the moment.

I couldn’t quite hear what Bonds and Breed were discussing, but the mayor was happy to talk about this day. For a public official who supported many of the lockdowns and mandates that helped San Francisco survive the pandemic, it was a special day.

“We’ve not been able to come together like this in a really long time,” she told The Examiner. “And you see all the orange and the black … people of all ages, of all races, of all walks of life. That’s what San Francisco is about. Bringing a lot of different people together to celebrate a common goal.”

But what about the baseball Your Honor?

“Let’s make sure that the Giants win on Opening Day! We want another World Series, and we want another parade.”

Well, whadaya say Mr. Baer? Can the Giants do it again? The mayor’s asking. Last year’s record-setting season is a hard act to follow. Especially without busters Posey.

“We feel good about the season. You never know. Every year is a new movie,” Baer told me. “So we’re just trying to figure out what movie. The good news in sports, as opposed to movies, is you can change the cast in the middle of the season.” That’s gotta make the players feel good. But it’s true.

And “Traders Faran” (Zaidi), the team’s president of baseball operations, is known for mixing and matching his roster as much as anyone in the game. He doesn’t hesitate to make moves, and does not stand on sentimentality in doing so. The media had the chance to sit with Zaidi, and Kapler, on Thursday and hear them out on the upcoming season. They sounded enthusiastic, prepared, analytical and focused. You can’t help but feel their confidence, even if the Dodgers have a clearly better roster.

Said Kapler: “Yeah, I mean, last year was an extremely exciting year on so many fronts, and we had players have extraordinary years. So everybody’s looking to build on that success. And I don’t think that means like winning a certain number of games. But I think (it means) continuing to improve our processes and our practices. And so it’s kind of every time we go out on the field, every time we’re doing a drill, we’re doing a team fundamental, a simulated game, we’re trying to find the value at the margins or trying to ask ourselves, ‘Is that the best way we can prepare? Is that the best way we can practice?’”

The man should be a venture capitalist. Maybe he is.

Zaidi is even more no-nonsense, if that’s imaginable. His team is projected to win something like 85 games, by most prediction services. Doesn’t bother Zaidi: “It’s hard to get mad at an algorithm.”

His offseason was severely hampered by the misguided owners’ lockout, which restricted contact with players. But he took it in stride, binge-watching “Squid Games” to pass the time, among other pursuits. After a successful spring, with not too many injuries, Zaidi lauded the Giants’ starting rotation, which may be the best in the big leagues. It’s all very practical in Farhan’s world.

But even for Mr. Analytics, the opener meant something special.

“As far as Opening Day goes, a year ago feels like 10 years ago in some ways. We had really limited capacity and attendance at the time. So to have a big crowd on Opening Day. …It’s pretty exciting for everyone.”

We’ll give the last word to Mr. Haney, San Francisco’s would-be state assemblyman.

“People have been saying for a few months now that The City feels like it’s coming back. And I’ve always said to them, ‘Just wait till the Giants return,’” said Haney, wearing a Giants gamer. “We couldn’t ask for a better day. To me, this is not only the Giants coming back, but The City coming back. That’s what we’re celebrating today.”

The Arena, a column from The Examiner’s Al Saracevic, explores San Francisco’s playing field, from politics and technology to sports and culture. Send your tips, quips and quotes to asaracevic@sfexaminer.com.

Mayor London Breed and former Giants slugger Barry Bonds chat at a pregame party outside Oracle Park before the Giants 2022 season opener against the Miami Marlins. (Al Saracevic/The Examiner)

From left: Rafael Rodriguez, center, of Hillsborough embraces his son Rafael III, 10, as they ready to head into Oracle Park to watch the Giants on Opening Day alongside older son Santana, left, daughter Raquel, 8, and his wife, Raquel . (Craig Lee/The Examiner)

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