Richmond Roundup

Ocean Beach Task Force's Anniversary
The Ocean Beach Task Force celebrated its first anniversary March 7 at the Beach Chalet Restaurant and Brew Pub.

The Task Force was created by SF Mayor Willie Brown to monitor environmental issues of importance at the beach. Brown, along with city supervisors Jake McGoldrick and Leland Yee, was present at the anniversary party and handed out certificates of appreciation to Task Force members.

Recently the Task Force outlined several possibilities to control erosion at the beach, including building an artificial reef, constructing a sea wall and moving back the upper Great Highway. It is hoped that the recommendations will become a part of a comprehensive plan.

Russian Art Exhibit Opens
The newly reopened Officer's Club at the Presidio is where a unique exhibit, "Unseen Treasures: Imperial Russia and the New World" is on display.

As part of the improvements at the Officer's Club, the exhibition space has been equipped with air filtering and de-humidifying systems, better security and new lighting.

"Unseen Treasures" is a collection of some 300 art objects from Russia from the 126-year-long period when North America, north of San Francisco, was part of the larger Russian empire.

The exhibit returns to its permanent home at Russia's State Historical Museum, located in Moscow, when the exhibit ends June 15.

The Officers' Club is located at the Presidio national park at 50 Moraga Avenue, at Arguello Boulevard. "Unseen Treasures" will be open to the public Wednesday through Monday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (open Wednesday until 9 p.m.)

For more information or tickets, which cost $12 for adults and $8 for youth under 12 years of age, call (800) 965-4827 or seek more information at the national park service's website at www.atthepresidio.org.

Plan Debuts to Recycle Food Waste
An innovative recycling program is underway to turn food waste generated in city schools into compost.

The new plan kicked-off at St. Ignatius High School March 26, when SF Supervisor Leland Yee and Paul Horcher, head of the SF Recycling Program, addressed hundreds of cheering high school students who supported the decision to start the statewide program at their school.

Students will now put food waste in special yellow containers. The scraps will be sent to Vacaville, where it will be turned into high-quality compost.

"It's a waste of time if you don't use recycling to the fullest," Horcher said.

He said the food recycling program will be expanded at the start of the new school year.

The city is trying to recycle 50 percent of its waste stream or it faces a fine of $10,000 a day.

DPW Oversees California Street Repaving
A major portion of California Street, from Arguello Boulevard to Franklin Street, is being repaved over the next three months.

Work by Esquivel Grading and Paving will begin at the western end of the project area at Arguello Boulevard and move eastward in four phases. Each phase will include "sawcutting" to score areas requiring excavation and grinding to strip away the existing asphalt. The DPW will also care for the street's base repairs and resurfacing and the department will install sidewalk curb-ramp installations.

Some parking will be removed during construction and traffic will be funneled into dedicated lanes. During the morning commute, before 9 a.m., two lanes will be open to accommodate traffic going downtown and for the evening commute, after 4 p.m., two lanes will be dedicated to westbound traffic. Service on the Muni #1-California electric bus line is not expected to be disrupted.

Work hours are Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend work is not anticipated, but DPW is prepared to work Saturdays and Sundays, if needed, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Questions concerning the project should be directed to DPW Public Affairs Officer Frank Lee at 437-7018.

Lions Look for Student Scholar
The Park Presidio Lions Club is offering a $500 scholarship to a needy college-bound student.

Applicants should write a brief, one-page letter explaining why they deserve the award (community service is a plus) and send it, with a copy of their student's transcript, to the Lion's Welfare Committee Chairman Ralph Pujular, at 3080 24th Ave., SF, CA 94132. The deadline is April 30.

Citibank Donates $10,000 to JCC
The Emigre Department at the SF Jewish Community Center got a boost recently when Citibank donated a $10,000 check to help fund programs promoting financial literacy among former Soviet Union immigrants.

The new programs will begin in the next few months after advertisements have run in the JCC's Russian language newspaper, "New Life."

Washington Girl Hoopsters Win City Title
The George Washington girl's basketball team won the city title March 2 by defeating Lowell by a score of 59 to 43.

With 6:42 left in the game and Lowell up by six points, the Washington team scored 22 straight points, led by sophomore guard Sky Shanks, to seal the title.

The victory marks the fourth time in the last five years the Eagles have won the championship. The young team, which is currently dominated by freshmen and sophomores, is coached by Marlon Arceneaux.

Tuesdays Free at Legion of Honor
Because of a large grant from the Ford Motor Company, visitors to the Palace of the Legion of Honor, located in Lincoln Park, will be admitted free every Tuesday through the end of 2001.

According to Fine Arts Museum Director Harry Parker, the grant will allow more people to view exhibitions.

Because every Tuesday is free, the museum is suspending its regular second-Wednesday-of-the-month free admission. For more information, call the Legion's hotline at 863-3330.