Richmond Roundup

Geary Merchants Feast at Luncheon
It was a political shin ding like no others, with live theater, cabaret acts, marching military soldiers and ballroom dancing. The mayor, most members of the SF Board of Supervisors, the chief of police, district attorney and nine representatives from foreign consulates were there. A member of the Beach Blanket Babylon cast, impersonating Mayor Willie Brown Jr. wearing an oversized fedora, joined the mayor on stage and sang a song in the usual shtick of the well-known musical revue. A crowd of 400 was present at the Cathedral Hill Hotel Feb. 25 to honor six Richmond District businesses, which were being recognized by the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants and Property Owners Association. The association's president, David Heller, emceed the event. Recognized for outstanding contributions to the community were John Riggio (Riggio's Italian Restaurant); George and Grace Honma (K & G Jewelers); Wyman and Norman Chin (Creative Paint and Hardware); Yung and Myla Kang (Printing U.S.A.); Peter Balakas and Bill Soldatos (Richmond Produce Market); and Mark and Bella Golmyan (Gastronom). Also performing at the luncheon was a group of exercise buffs from the Richmond YMCA, who ran through a wild aerobic drill, and two singers - Supervisor Tony Hall and Richmond District songwriter Noah Griffin.

Jewish Community Center Holds 'Topping Off' Ceremony
The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco held a "topping off" ceremony Feb. 6 to celebrate the placement of the tallest beam in the construction of the JCC's new 235,000-square-foot facility on California Street. The significant milestone in the evolution of one of San Francisco's leading service organizations marks the completion of the building's skeleton up to its highest point. The JCCSF is on schedule to open its new $80 million facility in December. The JCCSF is the oldest Jewish center on the West Coast, providing educational, social, cultural and recreational programs to the community since 1877. Open to all, the JCCSF's mission is to build and preserve Jewish identity. While undergoing the reconstruction of its California Street facility, the JCCSF is temporarily located at the Presidio, where most services are continuing. For more information, visit www.jccsf.org or call (415) 346-6040.

Central Fwy.Õs Fell Street Exit Closes March 29
Caltrans has announced that the Fell Street exit of the Central Freeway will be closed for demolition on Saturday, March 29. Traffic will be redirected for several years while the freeway is rebuilt. When completed after several years of construction, the freeway will end at Market. A voter-approved Octavia Boulevard plan, passed by San Francisco voters, will take its place between Market Street and Fell and Oak streets.

Geary Blvd. to Get Repaved Masonic to 10th Avenue
The SF Department of Public Works has hired a contractor, Interstate/M.H., A Joint Venture, to repave Geary Boulevard between Masonic and 10th avenues. During the next several months all underground work and asphalt repairs will be made to the boulevard. Traffic will remain open but may be restricted to one or two lanes. The repaving is slated to begin in May or June.

Embroiderers' Guild Holds Classes
The San Francisco Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. has been active in the City for more than 25 years. It fosters the highest standards of excellence in embroidery through education, study and preservation of the fine art.

On Tuesday, March 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the organization hosts an all-day workshop teaching novices how to make colorful beaded Temaris, or balls, using Swarovski crystals and seed beads. The beaded baubles can be used as pendants, purse adornments and earrings.

To ensure a place in the class and a beading kit, send a check for $10 to SF/EGA Programs, 2934 Pierce St., SF, CA 94123. The deadline is Friday, March 7. On Monday, April 14, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Tuesday, April 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will also be classes on how to create three-dimensional structures from silk linings and fine linen fabrics.

Learn how to make a "lapin pocket," a small sampler purse with a stitched motif of a medieval French rabbit, or an "acorn band sampler pivot box," a functional box with a top that pivots on tightly twisted handmade cord and anchored by Mother-of-Pearl buttons. Reservations for either of the classes are required by Wednesday, March 5. For more information about the Embroiderers' Guild of America or classes offered, call 468-7224.

Students go to Laguna Honda
A group of students at Cabrillo Elementary School packed up their flutes, violins and other instruments recently and headed to Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center to perform for residents. The field trip was organized by fourth-grade teacher Mae Rose Albert and the students were coached by music teacher Robert Daniels. Cabrillo is located at 735 24th Ave.

New "Clubhouse" Opens on Clement Street
A new youth "clubhouse" opened Feb. 12 at 217 Clement St. for youth between the ages of 11 and 18. The purpose of the clubhouse is "to impact youth with highly motivated, enthusiastic, caring volunteer mentors in an open, non-structured, safe environment equipped with cutting edge, state-of-the-art hardware and software, allowing youth freedom for self-exploration while learning, exchanging experiences and developing bonds with mentors from the community at large."

The clubhouse is sponsored by the Community Youth Center (CYC), PACE, Intel and Macromedia. It is open weekdays between 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

According to May Gutchinov, director of finance and administration at CYC, Intel ponied up $60,000 to help pay for an administrator, but more corporate sponsors are being sought to help pay for the program. A wish list for the clubhouse can be found online at www.computerclubhouse.net. The CYC is a non-profit group with several youth locations and programs operation in the City.

Artists to the Rescue
Local artists in the Richmond District are donating their artwork for a live and silent auction that will benefit the Friends of the Urban Forest.

Participating are Verity Dierauf, G. Levy, Patrick Mednick, Joel Peirano, Leah DeNola, Norman Kondy and Kat Kroll. The benefit art auction will be held Monday, March 31, at SomARTS Gallery, 934 Brannan St., at 6 p.m. Tickets are $125. For more information, call 355-9988.

Film Festival Features Local Artist
Richmond District resident and director Spenser Nakasako has been working in the Southeast Asian communities of San Francisco and Oakland for 10 years, training at-risk refugee youths to make films about their lives. The award-winning director will present his film "Refugee" at the 21st Annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

The film explores the gritty life of three young men from the Tenderloin who return to Cambodia and reunite with their long-separated family. The festival begins Thursday, March 6, and lasts through Sunday, March 16, at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres at 1881 Post St. Nakasako's film will play on Sunday, March 9, at 6 p.m. and Monday, March 10, at 1 p.m. For more information about the festival, call 255-4299.

Rossi Playground Meeting
The public is invited to attend a "community design day" to help plan for the upcoming overhaul of the playground at Rossi Park. The event will be held at the Richmond Recreation Center, Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 621-3260.

Meeting to Plan Bike Transportation
A workshop will be held Thursday, March 13 to discuss improving bicycle access in supervisorial districts 1, 2 and 5. It will be held at the Roosevelt Junior High School, 460 Arguello Boulevard, at 7 p.m. For information, call 431-BIKE, ext. 27.

UCSF Hosts Med Program
UCSF hosts a Mini Medical School, a program open to the general public and designed for people who want to learn more about science and the intricate workings of the human body. The six-week series of lectures run every Wednesday from April 2 to May 14. The theme of the Mini Medical School is Òlearn and discover.Ó Topics include epilepsy, addiction, female hormones, anesthesia and asthma. The course will be taught at the UCSF campus, in Cole Hall at 513 Parnassus Ave., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each weekly class includes a one-hour lecture and a question and answer session. Tuition for the course is $75. For more information or to register, call 476-2557.