SAN FRANCISCO – Several San Francisco restaurants are stepping up to support people affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California.

What we know:

Octavia, located at Octavia and Bush streets, quickly recognized the urgent need for action as the fires raged in Southern California.

“Personally, I’m from Southern California, and I have a lot of friends and family there,” said Jack Irving, Chef de Cuisine at Octavia. “As the fires started unfolding, it became clear we needed to do something.”

Octavia, which had paused its monthly Saturday bake sales, is bringing it back this weekend. The event, called Saturbake, will feature pastries, breads, pasta, and sandwiches, and run from 10 am to 1 p.m. All proceeds will go to World Central Kitchen’s relief efforts, which are feeding thousands of evacuees and first responders on the ground.

“It feels so good to see the community of San Francisco come together, not just here, but everywhere,” Irving said. “In restaurants, we’re all about hospitality, and I believe that goes beyond just serving dinner. Taking care of people is what we do.”

The Flour + Water Hospitality Group, which includes Flour + Water in the Mission District, is also donating a portion of sales from every tasting menu, house wine, and Margherita pizza to World Central Kitchen.

Modern Indian restaurant Besharam, located in the Dogpatch neighborhood, is also donating a percentage of proceeds from every tasting menu ordered to World Central Kitchen. 

In downtown San Francisco, Holbrook House is donating $3 from every Los Angeles Gin Martini sold through January 31st to the American Red Cross.

Erin Rickenbaker, co-owner of El Chato wine bar, is also fundraising to support relief efforts. She once lived in Los Angeles, and shared that this cause is especially personal for her.

“It’s nice to be able to provide people with warm meals and offer what we can. We may be far away, but this is something we can do, and it feels good,” she said. 

A portion of sales from El Chato on Tuesday night, which saw a busier than usual crowd, will go directly to restaurants feeding fire victims in Los Angeles. 

Hadley Kemp, a San Francisco resident, came out to support the cause. 

“I can’t stop reading the news, looking at photos, and hearing from friends who live down there,” Kemp said. “So, anything we can do to give back.”

San Francisco police are warning members of the Chinese community to be extra vigilant after thieves have stolen nearly $400,000 from elderly women in recent months in so-called “blessing scams.”

On Tuesday, police issued an alert Tuesday about the scammers, which often take place around the holidays and the Lunar New Year.

“These crimes against our most vulnerable community members are unacceptable, and we are working diligently to identify the suspects and bring them to justice,” Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement. “As we continue investigating these crimes, we want our community members to stay vigilant to prevent blessing scams by continuing to talk to one another daily and working with SFPD to report these crimes.”

According to officers, the Chinese-speaking suspects claim to provide relief from a curse or family illness through so called “purification ceremonies” in which victims are told to place cash and valuables in a bag to be “blessed”. Scammers tell the victims to open the bag at a later date for the “blessing” to take effect.

When a victim opens the bag, they discover their valuables have been switched.

“Every year, members of our community are targeted by bad actors preying on vulnerable populations, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. These scams are against the law, and we will arrest people committing crimes against our neighbors,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.

In Tuesday’s alert, police listed at least seven incidents dating back to Nov. 23 in which about $374,000 in cash and property were stolen. The incidents, which took place in areas across the city, involved victims who were in their 60s and 70s.

Police also released photos of potential suspects.

“Blessing scams are not new and are becoming increasingly brazen,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said.  “These despicable scams rob innocent victims of their hard-earned money and also take their dignity as well, as victims often feel deep shame.”

Police offered several tips to the community, including:

• Be aware of strangers
• Do not easily believe what strangers say
• Keep a distance from strangers
• Do not follow strangers anywhere
• Do not let strangers touch you
• Do not withdraw money at banks with strangers
• Do not bring strangers home
• Be aware if strangers ask for money
• Before withdrawing large sums of money/ valuables, tell your family   

Anyone who has information about these cases can contact the SFPD’s anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or by texting a tip to 411, beginning the message with SFPD. Cantonese speakers can use a special tip line at 415-553-9212 or 1-855-737-3847.

Reports can also be made at any SFPD or by calling dispatch at 415-553-0123 and requesting an officer to take a report. 

Justin Verlander’s one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants features a base salary of $15 million, as reported.

But there are some incentives and one important detail that leads one to believe the Giants are hoping the deal with the soon-to-be 42-year-old will work out.

First, the incentives. He could max out at $750,000, per the New York Post.

He can receive $200,000 if he wins the MVP. He can receive $150,000 if he finishes second and $50,000 if he finishes third.

The same applies if he wins the Cy Young. He’s won three in his career.

Verlander can receive $150,000 if he is named the World Series MVP. He can get $100,000 if he is named the MVP of the National League Championship Series and $100,000 if he is named an All-Star.

Now for the important detail. Verlander and his agent negotiated a no-trade clause, meaning that if the Giants find themselves in a position to have to trade him, they’ll need his permission to do so.

If he’s able to reach many of those incentives, it would mean he’ll have reclaimed the form that made him a Cy Young winner.

He’s coming off perhaps the worst season of his career. Due to injuries, he only made 17 starts, going 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 27 walks.

He’s won three Cy Young award, all in the American League and most recently in 2022 with the Houston Astros, when he went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA. With 218 strikeouts, he won the AL pitching triple crown. He also won an AL pitching triple crown in 2011.

He also has two World Series rings, both of which came with the Astros in 2017 and 2022.

For his career, he is 262-147 with a 3.30 ERA, with 3,416 strikeouts, putting him among the top pitchers in history in strikeouts.

He is a nine-time All-Star, the 2011 American League MVP, a two-time All-MLB first team selection, the 2006 AL rookie of the year and the 2022 AL comeback player of the year, as he was coming off Tommy John surgery, which led to him missing the entire 2021 campaign.

He also led the AL in victories four times, ERA twice, strikeouts five times and has pitched three no-hitters, the last of which was in 2019. He is one of only six pitchers that have three or more no-hitters for their career.