Music Center in business 25 years
The Community Music Center, located at the Richmond Neighborhood Center at 741 30th Ave., is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The non-profit organization provides low-cost music lessons to the public. Since opening, the number of students being served has doubled. Last year, the center extended its reach by expanding its voice, piano and new String Orchestra Workshop programs to St. John's Presbyterian Church, located at 1 Lake St.

For more information, call 221-5215.

NERT exercise for all grads
The SF Fire Department's Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) will hold its annual earthquake search-and-rescue exercise at the West Sunset Playground, 39th Avenue and Ortega Street, on Saturday, Oct 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. All NERT graduates are welcome.

Donations wanted for homeless
The St. Anthony Foundation will be in the Richmond District on Sunday, Oct. 26, to collect gently-used clothes, dishes, linens, pots and pans to give to homeless people free of charge.

The non-profit organization will have trucks and volunteers set up on Lake Street, between Arguello Boulevard and Second Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information, call (415) 241-2600.

Butterfly makes a comeback
The Western Pygmy Blue butterfly was seen for the first time at the recently restored Crissy Field marsh in the Presidio.

The butterfly is the smallest in North America, measuring about one-half inch in diameter. The butterfly's larvae hatch into caterpillars, which feed on pickleweed and California sea blite, which was introduced into the marsh during renovations.

Author writes about clean writing
Author Janis Bell has written a new book about the essence of good writing.

"Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences" helps writers of all types better communicate their messages.

Bell teaches at Golden Gate University. Her book is available at Books Inc. in Laurel Village, Stacey's and at Amazon.com. For more information, go to her Web site at www.janisbell.com.