Richmond Roundup

Teacher in running to win $10,000 for middle school
Presidio Middle School physical education teacher and George Washington High School (GWHS) and Presidio alumnus, Michael Meneses, is one of five finalists vying for the Fox Sports Network (FSN) All-Star Teacher award.

Meneses is also the GWHS wrestling coach. He is the only San Francisco teacher nominated. If he wins, Presidio will receive $10,000.

The public is urged to vote for Meneses. He is known as a good teacher, good role model, and a great wrestling coach.

Meneses teaches his students and his athletes the importance of good sportsmanship and respect.

To vote, go to the Web site at http://fsnbayarea.com/ASTMain.jsp. Individuals can vote only once before the contest's July 4 deadline.

Big gift will spruce up Presidio
The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund recently gave a $15 million grant to the Parks Conservatory for the Presidio. The new gift raises the fund's giving to the Golden Gate National Parks to more than $30 million over the course of two decades, the largest cash contribution in national park history.

The latest gift will renovate and double the size of the Presidio's Rob Hill Campground, the only overnight campground in San Francisco. The planned renovations and expanded services will ultimately offer a national camping experience to community groups and families, including 15,000 low-income youth who will be served through the Camping in the Presidio program over the next five years.

The gift will also create 24 miles of trails and six additional scenic vista points. Hikers will be able to traverse from the Lombard Gate to the Golden Gate Bridge, or from Mountain Lake to Crissy Field, on well-marked trails. The campground, overlook and trails are expected to be completed in the next three to five years.

In addition, the gift includes a $7 million challenge that the Parks Conservatory and the Presidio Trust must raise in community support to trigger a $10 million match for trails.

To learn more and get involved, call Kathryn Morello at (415) 561-3050 or e-mail kmorelli@ParksConservatory.org.

Two more men indicted over Geary parking space death
The SF District Attorney's Office has indicted two men in connection with the murder of a man trying to reserve a parking space at Geary Boulevard and Third Avenue.

Roeung Chhith, 21, and Vansok Chil, 27, are being sought for their participation in the homicide. A criminal grand jury had indicted the two suspects a week before the district attorney's office filed charges.

Two other men, both 25 years of age, are already in custody for the slaying. They have pled not guilty.

On the evening of Sept. 16, 2006, Boris Albinder was reserving a parking space for a friend when the assailants tried to park their van there. A verbal altercation between the four suspects and a friend of Albinder escalated when the friend was allegedly hit by the suspects' vehicle. In the ensuing fight, the victim was stabbed in the chest, and died a short time later.

Youth dazzles ethnic dance fest
A 15-year-old Richmond District youth performed at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in June.

Crystal Lee performed "The Woman General," an heroic tale about Mu Gui Ying, a woman who becomes the commander-in-chief of China's Imperial Army after her husband's death. The dance won a gold medal for choreography at the National Dance Championship in 1993.

Lee, a student of the China Dance School & Theatre, had to audition for one of the 29 spots in the festival. Hundreds vied for the opportunity to perform.

The ethnic dance festival is held annually at the Ft. Mason Center.

Workshops explore mind, body, spirit connections
This summer, Pine United Methodist Church (UMC) hosts a series of interfaith workshops that explore the connections between the mind, body and spirit.

All classes will be held at Pine UMC, located at 426 33rd Ave., on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. They are free and open to the public, and will run from one and a half to two hours.

In July, experience the body's spiritual connection through yoga. Instruction for beginners will include breathing work and basic yoga postures on July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. In August, learn about various disciplines and methods of prayer as ritual, meditation, or simply as a conversation with God.

These interfaith prayer workshops will be presented respecting all traditions and faiths on August 5, 12, 19, and 26. For more information, call 751-0673.

Children's Plgd. set to re-open
The Children's Playground in Golden Gate Park is set to re-open July 14 after a major $3.8 million renovation. New play features for youth include "climbing wave walls, sea caves, seaside animal sculptures and a tree house village."

The playground, which opened in 1887, is located in the southeast part of the park, near the carousel and Sharon Art Studio. The renovation brought it into compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's safety regulations for playgrounds.

Funding for the renovation was provided by the SF Recreation and Park Department, state grants, and the Koret Foundation, which contributed $1.8 million.

Major sewer dig on 4th Ave.
An effort to replace the main sewer under Fourth Avenue, between Lake Street and Geary Boulevard, is currently underway. Crews are excavating the three blocks, one at a time, beginning with the stretch between Lake and California streets. Next, Cornwall Street to Clement Street will be done and then Clement Street to Geary Boulevard.

For the duration of the project, Fourth Avenue will be partially closed as construction occurs in the center of the street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Parking during the construction phase will be prohibited on both sides of Fourth Avenue. Work crews will funnel traffic into the parking lanes. Access to garages and driveways is expected to be available, but may be limited during some types of construction.

The public's plumbing will work as usual and the sewer main will not be shut off. The work on Fourth Avenue is estimated to take 6-9 weeks to complete. For questions, call the SF Department of Public Works' public affairs office at 437-7018.