Richmond Roundup

Poster contest winners named
The Clement Street Merchants Association has named the winners of its annual Children's Poster Contest.

On Nov. 10, the winners were recognized and given ice cream cones at the Toy Boat Dessert Cafe on Clement Street for their creative talents. Jesse Fink, the proprietor of the Toy Boat and the newly-elected president of the Clement Merchants, presided over the awards ceremony.

This is the sixth consecutive year the merchants have sponsored the contest, which challenges elementary school students in grades K-5 to participate on behalf of their schools.

With the help of a grant from PG&E;, the merchants doled out $100 prizes to the first, second and third place finishers. One award per school was the limit. In total, seven Richmond District schools - Alamo, Argonne, Lafayette, St. Monica's, St. Thomas the Apostle, Sutro and Zion Lutheran - all got a $100 check for its art programs.

Recognized were: (K-first grade) Daniel Do, Monica Sturges, Wendy Zhou, Grace Peglar, (second grade) Victor Chan, Nathan Wong, Elise Ng, Angela Savage, (third grade) Gordon Kong, Alyssa Woo, Kai Kai, Nathan Woo, (fourth grade) Ki Deck Kwan, Daniel Ferdon, Paige Morris, Jerry Finley, (fifth grade) Natalie Skolovskaya, Anthony Aguirre, Kimberly Li, Nathan Nui, (sixth grade) Stephanie Wong, Kenneth Chan, Kathleen Griffith and Campbell Gee.

The theme of this year's contest was "fall, harvest or Halloween." A record 717 posters, many of which were on display in various storefronts along Clement Street, were submitted to the judges for their consideration.

Snowy Plover plan in works
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is seeking public comment concerning a National Park Service rule to provide for the temporary protection of the Western Snowy Plover. The bird nests in the sand dunes of Ocean Beach and Crissy Field during the winter time.

The plover plan would be enforced until an overall plan for dog management at the GGNRA is completed in 2009. Dogs are the greatest threat to the plover while on GGNRA lands.

To comment, go online at www.regulations.gov or send attention of Snowy Plover Protection Rule to: Superintendent, GGNRA; Fort Mason, Bldg. 201; SF, CA 94123. For more information, call (415) 561-4728. The deadline for comments is Jan. 22, 2008.

Kung Fu academy kicks butt at Florida festival
The Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy, with two locations on Clement Street, recently made its debut as part of Disney's celebrated Martial Arts Festival at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida.

Master Tat-Mau Wong and members of his organization competed in a three-day competition of martial arts disciplines from around the world, including styles from China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Columbia and Tajikistan, in an event with more than 2,500 competitors. There were theatrical fight scenes and both traditional and ceremonial displays. The skilled athletes and top-level martial arts masters kept an action-packed pace that kept the audience enthralled.

For one performance, with military precision, the Tat Wong performers filled the stage with a dazzling choreographed display of rarely seen ancient Chinese weapons, including the horse-bench and pressure point fan. One of the most extraordinary aspects of the team from Tat Wong was that there were entire families training together and competing under one roof at the same prestigious event.

Ultimately, the group from Tat Wong scored a total of 25 gold medals. As well, Tat Wong students brought home the gold and silver medals from the event's most illustrious division: the Three Star Grand Champion Award.

For more information about the Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy, call 752-5555.

Washington Students Help Peers in Uganda
The Invisible Children's Club at George Washington High School raises money for children living in poverty in Uganda. Funds are used to provide better shelter, water, food and education for youth.

Recently, the club held a walkathon that netted $439.71 for the cause. The North Face company contributed two backpacks to assist the effort.

According to club member Jerry Li, it is important to publicize the plight of the Ugandan youth so more money can be raised to help alleviate the suffering of youth in the poor African country. For more information, go to the Invisible Children's Club Web site at http://s4s.invisiblechildren.com/school/george-washinton-high-school?all_students=true.

Former Police Chief's Book Goes to the Movies
Former SF Police Chief Earl Sanders' book about the Zebra Murders is being made into a movie, with Jamie Foxx playing Sanders' lead character.

The book, co-written with Bennett Cohen, tells of the turbulent time in San Francisco in 1973 and 1974 when a group of black radicals was randomly shooting white people in the streets. Sanders was a detective in the SF Police Department at the time working on the case. He was the chief of police in San Francisco from 2002 to 2004.

The film is being produced by DreamWorks Studios.

Decorate Holiday Memorial Tree
The Neptune Society of Northern California Funeral Home at 1 Loraine Ct. invites the public to come in between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31 to place an ornament in memory of loved ones on their Memorial Tree.

The funeral home will be open Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Neptune Society of Northern California Funeral Homes sponsors the Memorial Tree as a community service. For more information, call 771-0717.

Beware of New Identity Theft Scam
A security fraud has recently been reported in 11 states, including California, and the FBI and federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their Web sites warning consumers.

The gist of the fraud is that someone claiming to be a jury coordinator calls your residence. When you protest that you never received a jury duty summons in the mail, the scammer asks for your Social Security Number and date of birth so he or she can supposedly verify the information and cancel the warrant for your arrest.

However, armed with the personal information the scammers can steal your identity. For more information, visit www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm.

IOA Launches New Educational Series
On Thursday, Nov. 15, the Institute on Aging launched "Discovering Secrets of the Aging Mind," a new educational series developed to train professions serving the aging population how to recognize and support people with brain diseases and mental health issues.

Nearly 200 professionals participated in the first program, and further topics will address mental illness and aging, clutter and compulsive hoarding, and brain health across the lifespan.

Cookbook Spreads Holiday Sweetness
Ernest Weil, founder of the bakery Fantasia Confections that closed its doors after 40 years in Laurel Village, has written a pastry cookbook entitled "Love to Bake."

In the cookbook, Weil shares the secrets of more than 150 popular recipes, including those for the famous Blum's coffee crunch cake, sacher torte and Florentine cookies. The first printing of the 248-page cookbook sold out, but now the family has decided to make the book available online as a download, with 100 percent of the proceeds going towards supporting organizations serving children and youth in the Bay Area and beyond. For more information or to download the cookbook, visit www.lovetobakecookbook.com.

Schools Receive Wells Fargo Contributions
Wells Fargo recently donated $100,000 to more than four dozen elementary, middle and high schools in the City. The grants will provide the schools with supplies and better extra-curricular activities. Recipients of the funds include Alice Fong Yu Alternative, Argonne, Commodore Sloat, Francis Scott Key and Jefferson elementary schools.