Richmond Roundup

Nominations open for best neighborhood businesses
Nominations for the third annual San Francisco Neighborhood Business Awards (SFNBA), sponsored by Urban Solutions, are now being accepted.

The public can nominate their favorite small business in San Francisco to be recognized for its excellence and community contributions. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, Aug. 27. Anyone can nominate a business online at www.urbansolutionsSF.org/nominate or call (415) 346-0199 to have a form mailed or faxed.

Just explain in 200 words or less why your favorite business deserves an award. Last year's winners, including Cole Hardware, Balboa Theater and Cafe Que Tal, were celebrated with a night of food, drink and entertainment.

This year's awards ceremony will be held at Rasselas Jazz Club, 1534 Fillmore St., on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m.

"The Neighborhood Business Awards are more than just a 'Best of.' They honor small businesses that help make their corner of the city a more livable place," said Jenny McNulty, executive director at Urban Solutions.

Urban Solutions' mission is to foster the well-being of disadvantaged neighborhoods by helping to increase neighborhood commercial vitality, strengthen small businesses, create jobs and encourage diversity.

Since 1992, the non-profit group has worked with more than 3,100 small businesspeople, helped secure more than $14 million in loans for low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs and enabled the creation and retention of more than 350 jobs.

For more information, call Maureen at (415) 553-4433, ext. 106, or visit the Web site at www.urbansolutionsSF.org.

New book on SF neighborhoods
San Francisco native Emma Bland Smith shines the spotlight on two neighborhoods once considered part of the City's "Outside Lands."

"San Francisco's Glen Park and Diamond Heights" is available at area bookstores and at Arcadia Publishing by calling 888-313-2665 or going to the Web site at www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Grants go to local groups
First 5 San Francisco - an organization committed to nurturing early education, pediatric healthcare, systems change and family support - recently announced that a number of parent-led community groups in the Richmond District will receive funding as part of the commission's Parents Achieving Change Together in our Neighborhoods (ACTION) program.

Parent ACTION grants, totaling $216,000 for 71 parent-led community programs, aim to develop parent leadership, build community with parent-led efforts, and promote awareness of parent-child interactions and child development.

The Richmond District groups that got a grant are: The Treehouse Daycare's "The Treehouse Goes Camping" program, Argonne Elementary School's "Kindergarten Parents" program, Laurel Hill Co-Op Nursery School's "Parent Education Workshops," Multi-Family First Parent, Cheryl Anderson Sorenson Childcare Center's "Preschool Multicultural Year-Long" program, Nihonmachi Little Friends Preschool's "Big and Little Friends" program, Families Bridging Cultures and Communications programs, CPMC's "Interactive Learning Theatre: Teaching Children About Themselves and the World Around Them" program, and the Arab Culture Center's "Parent Group."

Children's Playground Reopens
With much fanfare, the Children's Playground in Golden Gate Park re-opened July 14.

There was a large press contingent at the event, which featured new play structures and a refurbishing of old classics. An old concrete slide, which works best with sand to slide on and a piece of cardboard to ride on, was kept in the new scheme. A new climbing wall was added, as was a "beach" section of the playground, featuring running water to inspire the creation of sand castles.

The $3.8 million pricetag for the rehab project was provided by the state and by a grant from the Koret Foundation, which gave $1.8 million.

The playground, created in the eastern end of Golden Gate Park in 1887, is the oldest west of the Mississippi River. It is located near the historic carousel and Sharon Art Studio.