Richmond Roundup

Leland Yee Throws Campaign Kick-off Party
Throngs of cheering well-wishers turned up at the Sunset Recreation Center Aug. 25 to kick off SF Supervisor Leland Yee's campaign for a seat in the California Assembly's 12th District. Yee is supported by current Assemblyman Kevin Shelley, former Mayor Frank Jordan and SF supervisors Jake McGoldrick and Tony Hall.

Yee was first elected to the SF School Board in 1988 and he served there until 1996, when he was elected to his first term as supervisor. He was re-elected in 1990 by the residents in District 4, located in the Sunset District.

The 12th Assembly District includes the Richmond and Sunset districts.

Clarendon Students' Exhibit Moves
During the four months the "Survivors of the Desert" exhibit was at the California Academy of Sciences it was often hard to see. That's because it was usually surrounded by children, eagerly pressing buttons and looking through the periscope as they learned about reptile life in the desert.

The exhibit, which was designed entirely by a class of fourth and fifth graders at Clarendon Elementary School, was recently moved to the SF Unified School District Office.

The exhibit is part of the Academy's "Museum as a Classroom" (MAC) program, which is designed to teach complex scientific concepts to school children.

Twenty four students from Clarendon went to the Academy regularly over a period of eight months to learn what a natural history museum is all about.

The MAC project was considered so successful that the Academy and Clarendon will partner again during the current school year.

- Eliot Dobris

Civil War Round Table Convenes at Fort Mason
The SF Civil War Round Table was established in 1965 and its members are dedicated to the study and preservation of Civil War history.

The group holds monthly dinner meetings on the third Thursday of the month at the Fort Mason Officer's Club, located at Bay and Franklin streets.

The speaker at the Sept. 20 meeting will be Larry Comstock, past president of the South Bay Civil War Round Table. For more information about the event or the round table, call Joan Keller at 752-4156.

Former Resident Returns for Book Signing
Mary Deal, a former Richmond District resident, will return to the neighborhood for a book signing on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Angelina's Deli, Cafe and Catering, located at the corner of California Street and 22nd Avenue.

Deal's novel, "The Tropics," reveals the hidden dangers of island life and is currently being considered for a screenplay. Although a limited supply of the book will be on hand at the signing, those who attend can purchase it at any bookstore or online bookseller and bring it to be autographed.

Small Businesses Conserve Energy
The SF Department of the Environment plans to introduce a retrofit program that will reduce electricity usage among small businesses in the City.

The Power Boosters Program, which was granted $8 million by the California Public Utilities Commission, groups small businesses by district so that they can receive bulk discounts on materials and labor. In addition to direct discounts, participating businesses will also be provided with financing, quality assurance, contract and construction management and savings verifications.

To persuade small business owners of the program's advantages, energy efficiency audits reporting the expected lower costs and energy savings will be distributed.

Beginning January 2002, the Power Boosters Program expects to begin the process of energy auditing and retrofitting small businesses all over the City through June 2003.

City College now offers online, TV classes
City College of San Francisco offers online credit classes and telecourses to the community. The student only comes to campus three times a semester for an orientation, a midterm and a final.

All CCSF online credit courses and telecourses can be applied towards an Associates Degree.

All telecourse lessons are broadcast on cable Channel 27, the SF Educational Access cable channel. To enroll in online courses at City College, download the application from the website at www.ccsf.org/online and follow the Summer/Fall 2001 registration directions or call 239-3885 to receive more information.

For more information, call the Online/Telecourse Office at 239-3885 or go to the university's website at www.ccsf.org.

Anza Branch Library set to reopen
Closed since March for extensive renovation, the Anza Branch Public Library will reopen its doors on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend the reopening celebration at 550 37th Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 15, beginning at 1 p.m. Lion dancers, a juggling act, vocal and instrumental performances and refreshments will be provided at the festivities.

Patrons will see the library's many improvements and additions, such as asbestos removal, electrical and data upgrades, new books and shelves, new kid-sized tables and chairs for the Children's Room, three new Internet terminals and eight new public catalogs. The library is even planning to host a college essay workshop, which is scheduled for Sept. 18 and Sept. 25, for George Washington High School students and other neighborhood teens.

The next major renovation the Anza Branch Public Library will undergo is a seismic upgrade and modernization, which was approved by voters in November 2000 through a $106 million bond measure. The construction, which will also take place at the Richmond and Sunset branches, is expected to begin in 2007.

Alamo to dedicate garden
Alamo Elementary School will have a dedication ceremony Sept. 15 to finish off its 75th anniversary celebrations.

Staff, alumni and students will be on hand at the school, located at 250 23rd Ave., to dedicate the Milton Marks Garden, named after the popular state senator that served the interests of Richmond District residents for decades. The event features tours of the school and a picnic lunch.

For more information about the event, call Alamo at 750-8456.

New fleet of shuttles start operation at the Presidio
With the start of the Presidio's new free shuttle service, people no longer need to use their cars to get from one end of the 1,480-acre park to the other, or to all the residential neighborhoods, visitor destinations and employment sites in between.

The program's 18 passenger vehicles run weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shuttles usually arrive twice every hour at each of its 40 transit stops, but come more frequently (every 20 minutes) during morning and evening commute hours (7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

In addition to stops at popular recreational areas like Baker Beach and Crissy Field, the shuttles also connects with a number of Muni routes and all Golden Gate Transit routes.

To view the shuttle's route and schedule, visit the website at www.presidiotrust.gov.