Sunset Spotlight/Police Blotter

Park Service Looks at Regulating Bonfires at Ocean Beach
Plagued by maintenance problems and concerns about the public's safety, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is considering a broad spectrum of options for controlling bonfires at Ocean Beach that could mean anything from a campaign to educate the public to an outright ban.

Natural Areas Program Draws Fire from Critics
In response to the broadening efforts to restore the natural areas of San Francisco to their original native habitat, the San Francisco Natural Areas Program came under attack at the March 13 Sunset District Neighborhood Coalition's meeting at the Taraval Police Station.

Sunset Residents Want More Housing Policy Input
Residents from the Sunset and Richmond districts told members of the S.F. Planning Commission at a March 27 meeting to delay adopting a new housing policy they say makes sweeping changes to the city's planning codes to allow for more neighborhood input..

Count Shows Decline in Coastal Scrub Habitat Birds
The annual Audubon Society San Francisco Bird Count, where local birders scour the city looking for all the birds they can find in the nearby area, found alarmingly low numbers of coastal scrub habitat birds this year.

Fastest Checker in the West at Andronico's
If there were talent scouts for grocery checking, they would all be watching a particular Andronico's clerk, the one with the moves of an all-star pitcher. In one smooth motion - and in a matter of seconds - he grabs a can of soup or a package of pasta or a box of cereal, perfectly aligns its bar code with the scanner, carries it past the scanner's eye, and slides it down the conveyer belt.

Author Writes to Help Himself, Inspire Others to Heal
In a study at a Connecticut nursing home, researchers gave half of the patients a small houseplant that the staff would take care of and the patients could simply enjoy.�The other patients were allowed to choose their own plant and were asked to take care of it themselves.� This second group of patients was also given other options about their living conditions, such as moving around furniture or decorating their rooms.�

COLUMNS:

Supervisor Fiona Ma: Update on Community Happenings

Peg Wallace's Restaurant Review: Thanh Long

Acting-Captain Larry Barsetti: Police Beat

Assemblyman Leland Yee: System Failing Needy Children

Jared Blumenfeld: The Ebb and Flow of Energy

Carole Migden: Tips for Filing Taxes Easier and Faster

John M. Lee: Effect of War on Real Estate