Sunset Spotlight

Sunset Man Named New Vice Dean at UCSF
Michael Hindery has been named the new vice dean for administration, finance and clinical programs at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He assumed his new post on Feb. 28. As vice dean, Hindery directs the financial and administrative functions of the school, including the business operations, personnel management and strategic planning of the faculty medical group and the School's 26 departments and 17 organized research units and interdisciplinary programs.

His responsibilities include oversight of a yearly operating budget of approximately $1 billion, including more than $400 million in National Institutes of Health funding.

Hindery, a Sunset District resident, has a 30-year record of management and volunteer experience in non-profit service organizations. An avid rower, Hindery is a four-time national champion and earned a bronze medal in rowing at the 1991 Pan American Games as a member of the U.S. National Rowing Team.

"This is an exciting time at UCSF and a great opportunity for strategic decisions that are necessary to continue the School of Medicine's growth," Hindery said.

Local Students Earn Recognition
Three former Sunset District residents were recently honored for their academic achievements for the fall 2007 semester. Brendan John McCarthy, a graduate of the Urban School of San Francisco, was named to the Dean's List in the School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition, Sarah Levine was named to the Dean's List at Ithaca College's School of Humanities and Sciences, and Danping Liu was named to the Dean's List at Oklahoma City University.

Enter Academy's Children's Photo Contest
The California Academy of Sciences is launching a photo contest for youths ages 8 -12 to give them the opportunity to become researchers, study their surroundings, and capture nature through the lens of a camera.

The theme of the contest, "California in your backyard," is also intended to support the Academy's mission to explore, explain and protect the natural world.

Starting Tuesday, April 15, contest details and submission instructions will be available online at the Academy's Web site. Photographs will be accepted through June 15. Winners will be eligible to win cash prizes and have the chance to exhibit their photos in the Children's Gallery at the grand reopening of the Academy in September and throughout its inaugural year. For more information, visit www.calacademy.org.

UOP Doctor Receives Medallion of Distinction
The University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry recently honored Sunset District resident Dr. Roy Bergstrom with its 2008 Medallion of Distinction Award. The prestigious medallion is the Alumni Association's highest honor and is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the School of Dentistry, research, dental education or the community.

Dean Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr. presented the award to Bergstrom during the dental school's 109th annual Alumni Association Meeting at the Fairmont Hotel Feb. 29. As the director of budget and data analysis at the dental school, Bergstrom coordinates and maintains budget records and oversees risk management issues. He began his service at Pacific on the Stockton campus in 1980 as an assistant professor.

Bison Ready for New Quarters
The bison in Golden Gate Park have not moved into their new, larger grazing pastures yet because the SF Recreation and Park Department is waiting for grass in the new areas to grow. The bison paddock was expanded from eight acres to 12 acres in the new configuration, which cost slightly more than $1 million. If all goes well, the bison are expected to move into the new paddock sometime in May.

Woman of the Year Named
During a formal ceremony at the state Capitol March 10,Thurgood Marshall Academic High School science teacher and West Side resident Lisa Jovick was honored by Sen. Leland Yee as the 8th Senate District's Woman of the Year.

"While many teachers come and go at Thurgood Marshall High School, Lisa has welcomed the challenge of serving the students and families of the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood," Yee said.

After traveling to Northern Ireland in 2001 with students from St. Ignatius High School, Jovick left the private sector to become a teacher at George Washington High School. Jovick is currently the Science Department chair at Thurgood Marshall.

"Ms. Jovick has been a steadfast advocate for underserved kids and is most deserving of this honor," said Yee.

Arrest in Double Homicide
A 19-year-old Daly City man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of two men outside of a pizza restaurant near 19th Avenue and Irving Street March 29. Matthew Owyang was arrested a couple days after the shootings, which took the lives of Jason De La Cruz, 31, and Derek Butch, 23.

The men got into an altercation at Irving Pizza about 2 a.m. after De La Cruz told his sales crew from a cell phone company that he was paying the tab because the employees had just completed a successful sales month. But other patrons then demanded free food and drink, as well, according to witnesses.

When De La Cruz and Butch left the restaurant, Owyang allegedly approached and opened fire with a handgun. Owyang is being held in County Jail in lieu of a $20 million bond being posted. He faces special circumstances because of the double homicide, which could result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Park Drive to Close Until Fall
A portion of John F. Kennedy Jr. Drive in Golden Gate Park will be closed on Saturdays, starting April 5, for the next six months. The drive will be closed from 10th Avenue to Crossover Drive until Sept. 27

. The Saturday closures are part of Healthy Saturdays legislation approved by the SF Board of Supervisors after neighborhood representatives and stakeholders hammered out a compromise last year. The parties agreed to not revisit the issue for five years.

Lincoln Students Feed the Hungry
For the fourth year in a row, students at Abraham Lincoln High School donated the most food of any school to the San Francisco Food Bank. Last fall, students collected 4,808 pounds of food to feed approximately 3,800 city residents. For their efforts, the Food Bank treated Lincoln students to an all-school ice cream party on March 20.