Richmond Roundup

Youth Lead Beatles Revival
If you hear someone singing "Yellow Submarine" on your next walk down a neighborhood street, do not be surprised to turn around and find that the performer is about three feet tall. Some of the "Fab Four's" most delightful ditties are the curriculum springboard for arts and science lessons this summer at the Montessori Children's House preschool located at Arguello Boulevard and Lake Street.

Under the title "Beatles and Beetles," the first of the school's two-part summer session for four- and five-year-old children has been using Beatles songs as a teaching tool since early July. The second half of the session will focus on beetles and other bugs that crawl around on six or more legs.

The inspiration for the Beatles program came from an Englishman, school director Roger Setterfield. He was there in England a few years back when the Liverpool lads hit it big. Given the child-friendly nature of many of the group's songs, Setterfield figured it was time to launch a new wave of the "British Invasion."

"Yellow Submarine" and "Octopus' Garden" top the charts. The songs' storybook natures guide art and science study in class. Outside of class - parents will testify - those tunes and a half dozen others have become as common as pleas for ice cream.

For Setterfield, the teachers and children, the "Beatles and Beetles" program is a summer break from the regular Montessori curriculum which resumes in September.

- Mark Smoyer

Arguello Bicycle Lanes Made Permanent
In late July the SF Board of Supervisors made the one-year trial run of bicycle lanes on Arguello Boulevard a permanent fixture. The bicycle lanes were added by removing one lane of traffic in each direction; reducing the thoroughfare from four lanes to two.

According to statistics compiled by the SF Department of Parking and Traffic, the use of the lanes by bicyclists is up about 67 percent during the morning commute since the lanes were added.

The SF Bicycle Coalition is planning to initiate a renewed effort to add more bicycle lanes in the Richmond District. For more information, call the coalition at 431-BIKE, ext. 2 or visit the website at www.sfbike.org.

Geary Merchants Fete Local Politicians
The Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants Association held its annual luncheon July 24 at the Cathedral Hill Hotel. About 420 people attended.

The program included a performance by one of the principal performers from the city's own Beach Blanket Babylon, awards to Geary merchants that have made a significant contribution to the community, a demonstration of the future of e-commerce by Richard Carlton and the recognition of a host of city officials.

One of the merchants recognized for his contributions to the community was Clyde Cournale, who has been a real estate sales and management expert on Geary for 54 years. Cournale, who runs the business with his son Curt, was given a certificate of appreciation by SF Mayor Willie Brown.

Other merchants that received special certificates of appreciation were: Phyllis Nabhan (Gas Light and Shadows); Marie Brooks (Ellis Brooks Chevrolet); Barbara Hatley (Tigges Jewelry); Madaline Gloria (Foreign Car Repair); and Ella Budovsky (Budovsky's Insurance Services). Barbara Taylor, a reporter with KCBS radio, spoke about the importance of women in business.

Women's Association Installs New Officers
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) aims to empower female entrepreneurs in worldwide economic, social and political fields.

The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of NAWBO installed its new officers July 18. Susan Grant of Winguth, Grant & Donahue took her place as the new president. The president-elect, who trains this year with Grant and will succeed her as president next year, is Claudia Viek of the Renaissance Entrepreneur Center. The vice president is Nosh Production, Inc.'s NaNoshka Johnson. Secretarial duties will be undertaken by Barbara Kasoff of Grass Roots Impact and May Pon of Butterfield-Brown & Association, Ltd. will serve as the new treasurer.

Instant Runoff Voting Put on 2002 Ballot
The San Francisco Green Party introduced and encouraged a measure for an Instant Runoff Voting Charter Amendment and the SF Board of Supervisors has voted to put it on the March 2002 ballot.

Instant runoff voting proposes that voters cast ballots not only for their first choice candidates, but also for their second and third choices. This system would ensure that if a first choice does not have enough ballots to make a run for office, second and third choices will be counted.

The initiative claims to bring about a fairer and more participatory democracy. It also boasts possible advantages, such as the elimination of run-off elections that will save San Francisco taxpayers about $2 million per year, an increased voter turnout (because run-off elections generally have lower turnouts) and a reduction in negative campaigning which usually rises during run-offs.

Field Day for Children at Golden Gate Park
On Thursday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Friends of Recreation & Parks will host a Field Day for children ages five to 12 years old at Golden Gate Park's Sharon Meadow.

The event will feature a variety of outdoor activities and games designed just for kids, such as arts and crafts, ring toss, board games, ball games and an inflatable jumping room. The special day is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Friends' website at www.sfparks.org or call (415) 750-5105.

Free Aloha Festival at the Presidio
The Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association (PICA) will host its seventh annual San Francisco Aloha Festival on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will be held at the Presidio's parade grounds located off Lincoln Boulevard.

To celebrate and perpetuate Pacific Islander tradition, the festival will feature live entertainment from a number of Pacific Islander music and Polynesian dance troupes.

Visitors are welcome to participate in educational workshops, try samples of ethnic island cuisine, watch cultural exhibits and browse booths offering books, music, flowers and other goods from the islands.

For more information, visit PICA's website at www.pica-org.org.

Growing Up Asian in America Exhibit
From Aug. 1 through Aug. 31, the Richmond District branch of the public library will feature the art and writing of children in an exhibit titled "Growing Up Asian in America." The library, located at 351 9th Ave., is open Mondays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

City Drafts New Dog Policy
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's Draft Citywide Dog Policy is now available for public comment. The period for public feedback will continue until 5 p.m. on Aug. 13.

The Rec. and Park Department will make changes to the document based on public comment. The revised draft will then be posted on the department's website and sent to the SF Recreation and Park Commission for approval. Notice for a public meeting will be posted on the website and sent to everyone who requested a copy of the policy.

If approved, a two-month campaign will be implemented to inform the public. Rec. and Park, the SF Police Department, park patrol officers and SF Animal Care and Control will work together to enforce the new policy.

Copies of the policy can be accessed for review on the website at www.parks.sf.gov.org or by phone by calling (415) 831-2084. Copies are also available at recreation facilities throughout the city.

Community Music Center Introduces its Fall Quarter
The San Francisco Community Music Center invites music students of all ages and skill levels to enroll in classes for the fall quarter.

The courses include weekly private lessons in any Western, Chinese and Latin American instruments for students age eight and up, group music theory classes for teenagers and adults and other music programs, such as chorus and ensemble open to all ages. Instrumental private lessons are also held at the Community Music Center's Richmond District branch, located at 741 30th Ave.

Appointments for registration will begin Aug. 20 and students must call the branch where they wish to study. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

For an appointment at the Richmond branch, call (415) 221-4515. For all other appointments or more information, call (415) 647-6015. Catalogs are available at the Community Music Center's website at www.sfmusic.org.

SF Model Yacht Club Hosts Events, Meetings
Members of the San Francisco Model Yacht Club will be putting on model sailing and power boating events locally, nationally and internationally.

The club's monthly meetings are open to new members on the second Saturday of each month. Share information and discuss business at 11 a.m. at the SFMYC Clubhouse near Spreckels Lake, located in Golden Gate Park at 36th Avenue and Fulton Street.

Local Residents Make Columbia's Deans List
Among the spring 2001 honorees on Columbia University's deans list at its two undergraduate schools are Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely of the Sunset District and Nathan Wilson of the Richmond District.

The honor is bestowed upon students who earned a grade point average of 3.33 or more.

Priority Changes in China Adoption Policy
As of Aug. 1, the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) in Beijing began implementing new policies regarding the priority of applicants who want to adopt a child from China.

The Chinese government is granting top priority to Chinese Americans, including inter-racial couples where only one spouse is Chinese American and single Chinese American women. (Single men are currently ineligible to adopt from China.) Rather than waiting more than a year for a child, the waiting period for Chinese Americans has been reduced to four to six months.

Highest priority also goes to families of any race who will adopt a disabled child and applicants who have lived continuously in China more than one year.

The new second priority category reduces the waiting time for certain applicants to within 10 to 12 months. This applies to applicants of any race who are under 45 years of age and willing to adopt a three-year-old child or older.

The Chinese adoption agency gives lower priority to single parent applicants and opposes adoptions by homosexuals. A firm age policy also requires applicants to be between 30 and 55 years old.

ACCEPT Adoption and Counseling Agency, a non-profit adoption agency with an office in the Sunset District, specializes in international adoptions. A representative from the group said the CCAA's new policies are a great opportunity for both the people who wish to adopt from overseas and the Chinese children they will be adopting.

Record $88 Billion Assessment Roll
The value of San Francisco's taxable property hit a record $88 billion, exceeding last year's record property value by more than $9.5 billion.

This year's tax roll closed eight days before the deadline thanks to a state-of-the-art INPACT computer system that allowed assessors/recorders to do their job more quickly and accurately, according to tax assessor Doris Ward.

The $88 billion assessment roll will generate more than $1 billion in local tax revenue.

Correction
In a photo caption last month an earthen dam was identified incorrectly as separating the North and South lakes in Golden Gate Park. In fact, it is located in the middle of the North Lake. The Richmond Review regrets the error.