by Pat Crocker

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) A number of interesting events appeal to you this month. Someone will ask you for a favor. Think twice before giving an answer. You know what's what; follow your heart.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Stop spending so much money. Calm down a bit. Give yourself and your wallet a break. Do something special for yourself--excluding all others for a change.

AIRES (Mar. 21-Apr. 20): Keep up on your socializing with friends and doing things you enjoy, as it is tops on your list. However, when no one calls, keep in mind the phone works both ways. Make more of an effort to reach out.

TAURUS (Apr. 21-May 20): Slow down. You've been running around too much. Sharing good times is important right now--buying materialistic items are not as important as you think. Do something creative.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The good news is that you will be meeting someone new--perhaps a new friend, perhaps a lover. Whatever, you'll behave a great time. Enjoy yourself.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Get out of the house more. Don't worry about things so much. You've lived this long! I suggest you purchase a lotto ticket--including the numbers 7 and 15.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Focus more on what you want. Stop being so concerned about what other people think and want of you. Life is too short to live it for everyone else. Make good choices for yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You crave more quiet time right now. Don't be afraid to ask for it. Someone will be making you a promise. Be sure you truly want what you wish for.! Don't be too hard on yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Allow yourself to get closer to people. Spread your wings--expand your horizons. See more, do more, feel more, welcome more, have more.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.22): Your career is in the spotlight these days. Things will improve very shortly. Try not to be so bossy. Pay close attention to your health.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21): Learn to share more. Whatever has been bugging you lately will soon clear up. Try something new this month. It is a month of change for you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Deep discussions in which you share your heart and soul are most enjoyable. Stop spending time and money on people and things that no longer interest you. Stop doing what doesn't work.

High School is a Whole New World

by Joyce Tam

A whole new world?

That is one of the most common questions asked by teenagers ascending to high school from middle school. Many middle school graduates worry about leaving their usual environment to step into the unknown, the new life of being a high school freshman.

I've only attended my future school for the summer, but from my point of view, it is pretty different from what I am used to. For one thing, the thousands of new faces scurrying up and down the hallways to get to their classes are pretty scary. Most of the people are older than me, so I get this feeling of being a child once again. That feeling is not unlike the one I had in my first year at Visitacion Valley Middle School.

Another change is being bombarded by the unique and unexpected homework assignments. The teachers in high school must see us with a different perspective. One of my teachers gave our class
three to four days to memorize a few Spanish dialogues. We had to understand them and recite the dialogues in front of the class with a partner. Our homework was to answer Spanish questions in Spanish on a piece of paper. And that was for a Humanities class.

So know that no matter what the subject is, you may be required to learn about something totally different than what you had in mind.

High school is no joke; not at all. If a teacher says something, they mean it. Do not underestimate a teacher's will to stick to their word! In high school, if the teacher says there is a test on Friday, then you'd better expect it. It will not be an easy task getting them to change their mind.

Also, the students' point of view of school change. They are much more responsible for their own education. At Lowell, I see students sit outside their classrooms doing work or studying while waiting for the their teachers to show up. You may see a teacher show up late more often than seeing a student show up late! But we have to care about our education because the teachers are not always on our backs about getting things done. It is the students' responsibility and everyone knows that and accepts the fact The many clubs in high school let you experience more things. They let you find out more about what you like to do and help you to be well rounded.

So I do think high school is not like middle school. But that can be a good thing because in this world, everyone has to learn to adapt. This is one of the many examples of doing so in life.

Now a student at Lowell High School, Joyce Tam is a participant in the Youth Communication Apprenticeship Program.

Family Community Partnership Program

Following is a September schedule for the Family Community Partnership Program of the American Red Cross, 1704 Sunnydale Ave. 584-3620.

*Black Expo Event: Sept. 6, 7 at Oakland Convention Center. Call 584-3620 for free admission details.

*Bookmobile: 2 p.m. in front of 1704 Sunnydale Ave.

*Intake: 9 a.m.-12 noon Sept. 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29

*Orientation for New Clients: 10:30 a.m.

Five Years Ago in the Grapevine

SEPTEMBER 1992

*Violence erupted on Bayshore Boulevard when federal ATF agents bought drugs from a suspect at a local grocery and later arrested him two blocks south following a pursuit.

*Erdi Chen of Woodrow Wilson High School was awarded a Rensselaer Medal for being top junior in science and mathematics.

*Camp Fire Koyuse Club, under the guidance of Anne Kaartunen, continued to offer youth a stable program filled with positive alternatives.

*Visitacion Valley Community Center held a ceremony for the 1992 graduating class from its Child Care Program.

Saturdays at Randall Museum

Sign-ups begin 12:30 for 1 p.m. classes.  Space is limited. No organized groups please.  Some spaces can be reserved for members--call 554-9600 for information.  Young Audiences Arts Card holders receive a 2 for 1 discount.  $4-10 a person sliding scale.  Adults must accompany children under 8.

SEPT 6: Fantasy Animals: Construct animals out of cardboard tubing.

SEPT 13: Playground Physics: Explore physics and study gravity.

SEPT 20: Japanese Paper Dolls: Make dolls with a simple step-by-step process.

SEPT 27: Forests of the Sea: Learn about the kelp forest; Habitat and Native Grassland: Join experts in removing invasive exotic plants.

FREE ON SATURDAYS

Meet the Animals Talk at 11 a.m.; Animal Feeding at 12 noon; Model Railroad Exhibit on second and fourth Saturday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Indian Festival at the Presidio

In celebration of California Indian heritage, the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center will be celebrating its second annual California Indian Festival on Sept. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fort Winfield Scott Parade Grounds located in the Presidio.
Dance groups will be performing at this free event every hour starting at 11 a.m. Native American crafts and food will be for sale in addition to traditional demonstrations and activities throughout the day.

September Means Phone Book Recycling;
Compost Bins Again For Sale

by David Assmann
S.F. Recycling Program

San Francisco residents have a number of opportunities this month to help prevent waste and increase recycling. One of the easiest is to recycle your old phone directories. More than 1.2 million phone books will be delivered in San Francisco during September, making 1.2 million old phone books obsolete. Fortunately, however, these books can enjoy a new life as a useful product (like a new phone book, a recycled cereal box, or building insulation) if residents participate in San Francisco's ninth annual phone book recycling campaign.

If you have curbside recycling service, just put the phone books in a paper bag with your other paper recyclables and put them out with your blue bin. If you live in an apartment building with central recycling bins, you can put the phone books in the gray recycling bin for paper. If you live in an apartment building without recycling, you can take your books to a recycling center. Call the San Francisco Recycling Program Hotline at 554-RECYcle (7329) for information on the center nearest you. Businesses can call the hotline for information on a list of recycling centers that accept phone books.

This year, the new books contain an average of 40 percent recycled post consumer content. That means at least 40 percent of the material used to manufacture this year's telephone books came from old newspapers, magazines, and yes, old telephone books. By including 40 percent recycled post consumer content in the books, Pacific Bell' has saved 18,500 trees, 4.4 million kilowatt hours of energy and almost 8 million gallons of water for San Francisco's books alone.

Our goal this year is to recycle 2.5 million pounds of telephone books citywide (that's half of all the phone books delivered in San Francisco). If we reach that goal, we'll have one of the highest phone book recycling rates in the country (the nationwide average is about 11 percent).

September is also the month for our annual reduced rate home compost bin sale. If you've ever thought about getting a compost bin for your back yard, this may be one of your best opportunities to do so. On Saturday, September 27th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until the bins are sold out), we'll be selling $99 Earth Machine compost bins for only $19.50 to San Francisco residents. The bin comes with a free book on composting and information about free workshops. We'll be holding educational presentations throughout the day at the sale site (at the Garden for the Environment--located at 7th and Lawton in the Sunset District).

Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste and allows you to turn food, yard and garden waste into the perfect soil amendment for houseplants and gardens. Last year we sold out of bins by early afternoon, so we suggest you come early. This event is sponsored in cooperation with the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG), and you can get additional information by calling SLUG at 285-7585.

If you don't have a back yard, you can still compost your food scraps in a Worm Factory, which will also be available at the compost bin sale. This high quality worm bin, perfect for apartments, is available for only $21.50.

Door to door pick-up of yard and food waste may also be around the corner for many San Francisco households. For a number of weeks, selected households in the Sunset, Noe Valley and Twin Peaks neighborhoods have been participating in a test program to collect yard waste and food scraps. If this program is successful, we'll be able to expand it to other neighborhoods. If you're in the test area, you will already have received your bins and instruction materials. Please participate so we can expand the program to other areas.

Finally, if you're connected to the Internet, you may wish to check out our newly redesigned web site. Located at www.sfrecycle.org, the site gives viewers a range of options for information about waste prevention and recycling at home, work or school. For example, in the home section, viewers can obtain environmental shopping tips, information about waste prevention during the holidays and a list of what's recyclable in San Francisco. In the school section, educators and students can access our latest newsletter, get listings of resources, play an interactive Recycling Heros game and obtain information on how to set up a school recycling program. The site also provides background information about different recyclable materials.

Book Review

The Road to El Dorado by Craig J. Carrozzi (Southern Trails Publishing, San Francisco, 1997) 440 pgs.; $19.95; 1-419-281-1802

Local author Craig Carrozzi refers to his third book, The Road to El Dorado, as autobiographical fiction, as it is based on a true story of his experience as a Peace Corp Volunteer working in a Colombian juvenile prison during the late 1970s.

The theme and unifying element--El Dorado, the mythical land of gold sought and died for by numerous conquistadors and adventurers--is that blind seeking after material wealth is an absurd path that more often leads to catastrophe than to a better way of life.

Now living in the Portola district, Carrozzi is a native San Franciscan who grew up in the Mission District. Living in the heart of the City, he quickly developed an appreciation for various cultures. After graduating from California State University in Hayward and joining the Peace Corps, his travels took him to Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil, where he lived for six months while studying Portuguese.

Main character in The Road to El Dorado is Vachio, a street-wise individual with plenty of attitude who weathers the ups and downs of his Peace Corps experience with cutting humor and a resilient personality. Working in a prison in a small cowboy town, Vachio becomes so confused by the ambiguities of his position that he begins to lose faith in himself and those around him.

"My love of books inspired my love of writing," said Carrozzi who had a previous work on the Amazon River, Wedding of the Waters, serialized in the Grapevine.

Breastfeeding Products are Designed
With Modern Mom in Mind

Remember the days when most women stopped working to raise a family? Well, the times have changed. More and more women are going back to work just weeks after having a baby, facing many dilemmas as a result.

One of these dilemmas is whether or not to breastfeed their baby. On one hand, mothers want what is best for their babies--the benefits of their breast milk. On the other hand, many women are reluctant to deal with the reactions of co-workers to breastfeeding.

Others may be under the misconception that expressing their milk into a bottle to later give to their baby is the equivalent of feeding them formula. However, research has shown that this is not the case. For example:

*According to Rona Cohen, a clinical assistant professor at the UCLA School of Nursing, breast-fed babies have 35 percent fewer illnesses than bottle-fed babies.

*Cohen also found that nursing mothers have 27 percent fewer absences from work.

*Kaiser Permanente estimates that a formula-fed baby will incur $1,435 more in doctor bills than a breast-fed baby.

To help working mothers succeed personally and professionally, Evenflo, one of the nation's leading baby care and manufacturers, has designed a line of products with the modern mom in mind.

Operating with an adaptor or batteries, a Deluxe Breast Pump Kit comes with a two-compartment tote for storing and to help keep breast milk chilled for transport. A lightweight, battery-operated Portable Breast Pump features a swivel horn allowing for rotation, enabling the most comfortable pumping position.

With an adjustable shoulder strap and outside storage pocket, an insulated Express and Chill Tote can keep milk cold.

Children Important in Air Bag Campaign

A leading manufacturer of infant and juvenile products recently announced it has joined the Air Bag Safety Campaign in an effort to inform the public about the value and potential risks of air bags, as well as the proper ways to keep people, especially children, safe in motor vehicles.

Evenflo Company, Inc. has begun attaching an Air Bag Safety Campaign card to each of their infant and convertible seats. This card instructs consumers on how to properly use car seats, and displays illustrations of where not to place infants and toddlers. Cards are also being inserted into all outgoing consumer mail, with information being made available to more than two million people annually.

"At Evenflo, we are dedicated to working with the National Safety Council to help educate our consumers about how crucial it is to properly make use of infant and toddler car seats," said George Harris, president of Evenflo. "It is important that everyone understands that children under 12 years of age should ride buckled up in a rear seat only."

Recent news reports about children who have died from the force of deploying air bags have raised questions in the public's mind about their safety. In many of these cases, children were riding in the front passenger seat.

Harris urges consumers to adhere to the following additional safety tips while driving:

*Small children should always ride in a rear seat in child safety seats approved for their age and size.

*Check your vehicle owner's manual and the instructions provided with your child safety seat for correct use information.

*All passengers and the driver should buckle up with both lap and shoulder belts on every trip.

*Driver and front passenger seats should be moved as far back as practical, particularly for shorter stature people.

For more information on the Air Bag Safety Campaign, call Evenflo toll free at 1-800-233-5921.

Youth Summit Will Discuss Topics for Economic Justice

A Youth for Economic Justice Summit of, by and for youth interested in issues of unemployment, economic insecurity, the growing gap between the wealthy and poor, and how young people are impacted by global economy will be held Saturday, Sept. 6 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at New College, 766 Valencia St. Call 928-1205 for more information.

Get a Free Soil Test

Concerned about the amount of heavy metals such as lead in your soil? Much of the Bay Area's housing contains lead-based paint that eventually spreads lead dust into soil and yards over the years. Lead poisoning can be prevented.

Attend a free workshop to learn about lead hazards in soil, the health effects associated with lead poisoning in young children and pregnant women, and create gardening and landscape methods to improve soil quality while reduce outdoor lead hazards.

Workshops are held:

*Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at the Garden for the Environment, 7th Avenue and Lawton Street in the Sunset.

*Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Urban Youth Farm on Alemany Boulevard just past Elsworth Street.

Historic Proportions

Match clues to answers.

1970

1. These are used for the first time on January 22.
2. World Series champs for 1970.
3. First time this culinary reference used.
4. On December 8, this is stopped by the U.S. Army.
5. You could first count on this.
6. She started flying around in the funny papers.
7. First appearance of this strange looking footwear.
8. Best Picture at the Academy Awards on April 7.
9. Gallup Poll found him most admired man in America.
10. April 10 is the end of the line for this band.
11. On Sept. 19, first appearance of Ted Baxter on this popular show.
12. On March 31, they packed up and moved to Milwaukee.
13. Champions of the NFL.
14. And they were the last team to win an AFL title.
15. They were singing "ABC."
16. They were champs of the NBA.
17. But he was named NBA Rookie of the Year.
18. Top money-making movie of 1970.

A. Baltimore Colts
B. The Beatles
C. Dallas Cowboys
D. Richard Nixon
E. Lew Alcindor
F. New York Knicks
G. Seattle Pilots
H. Jackson 5
I. Mary Tyler Moore Show
J. Airport
K. Earth Shoes
L. Boeing 747
M. Midnight Cowboy
N. Broom Hilda
O. Reveille
P. Baltimore Orioles
Q. Fast food
R. Quartz wrist watch

Answers: 1-L; 2-P; 3-Q; 4-O; 5-R; 6-N; 7-K; 8-M; 9-D; 10-B; 11-I; 12-G; 13-C; 14-A; 15-H; 16-F; 17-E; 18-J.

Sez Who?

Match quotes to speakers.

1. "There is no avoiding war. It can only be postponed to the advantage of others."
2. "I am not an adventurer by choice, but by fate."
3. "There is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous."
4. "If you want to know about a man, you can find out an awful lot by looking at who he married."
5. "A poet can survive anything but a misprint."
6. "Science is all metaphors."
7. "I hate housework. You make the beds, you do the dishes--and six months later you have to start all over again."
8. "That's what show business is--sincere insincerity."
9. "Consumers are statistics. Customers are people."

A. Timothy Leary
B. Joan Rivers
C. Niccolo Machiavelli
D. Stanly Marcus
E. Benny Hill
F. Kirk Douglas
G. Napoleon Bonaparte
H. Vincent Van Gogh
I.  Oscar Wilde

Answers: 1-C; 2-H; 3-G; 4-F; 5-I; 6-A 7-B; 8-E; 9-D.

Consumers Care About Their Food

Seven out of ten consumers (69 percent) cited spoilage-related concerns, including bacterial contamination, as the most significant threat to food safety, according to Trends in the United States: Consumer Attitudes and the Supermarket, 1997, recently released by the Food Marketing Institute.

However, the survey also found consumers are taking action: Almost half of the survey respondents (45 percent) said they are doing something different as a result of the safe-handling labels on meat products. More respondents than in previous years reported washing their hands, cooking properly, not leaving meat out to thaw and washing meat.

With regard to nutrition, more than 90 percent of consumers surveyed indicated that the nutritional content of the foods they eat is important. While fat, salt and cholesterol remain as the top nutritional concerns, there has been a slight decline in the level of concern from last year.

Survey participants indicated that biotechnology and food irradiation are potential answers to issues surrounding food safety and product quality. Two-thirds of shoppers said they would be very or somewhat likely to buy food products such as tomatoes or potatoes that have been modified by biotechnology to taste better or require fewer pesticides.

Food irradiation could be a vital weapon against spoilage-related risks such as bacterial contamination.

More than half (60 percent) responded that they would be very or somewhat likely to buy a food product such as strawberries, poultry, pork or beef if it had been irradiated to kill germs and keep it safer.

The growing popularity of the take-home meal market was also abundantly apparent in this year's Trends. Because consumers are craving convenience, one-out-of-five (22 percent) is buying prepared food from the supermarket to eat at home. And, almost all considered these time-saving preparations to be "home-cooked" meals.

Initiated 20 years ago, Trends explores consumer attitudes toward the supermarket and other special topics, including supermarket food service, food safety, new products and services, and nutrition. The research is conducted and reported annually.