Richmond Roundup

Demos elect new president
At its meeting in April, the Richmond District Democratic Club voted for a new slate of officers. Incoming as president is Jake McGoldrick, the former two-term supervisor from District 1. Joining him are Vice President Hene Kelly, Secretary Jonathan Foerster and Treasurer Shirley Hansen. Serving on the board of directors for the new term are Elsa Davis, Chris Chow, John Dunbar, Susan Hall, Richard Hansen, Yvonne Liu, Nicholas Michlig and Alex Volberding.

The club also voted to oppose all six measures that have to do with the state budget on the ballot for the upcoming May special election.

Sergeant wins AAA award
Sgt. Jennifer Streegan, who is assigned to Richmond District Police Station's midnight watch, was presented with an American Automobile Association (AAA) award in April for catching auto thieves and recovering stolen automobiles. While assigned to the Mission Police Station last year, Streegan recovered 12 stolen automobiles and arrested four vehicle thieves. This is Streegan's fourth award for recovering stolen vehicles.

"We are very fortunate to have her assigned to Richmond Station," said Richmond Station Capt. Richard Corriea.

Free admission for locals at Academy
Thanks to a grant from the Bank of America, city residents can enjoy free admission to the California Academy of Sciences for two long weekends this year. Those who live in the Richmond, Seacliff and Laurel and Presidio Heights neighborhoods can go for free May 15, 16 and 17, and in the fall Sept. 11, 12 and 13 (zip codes 94118, 94121, 94115 and 94129). A driver's license or other picture I.D. is required to verify a home address.

The Academy is also free to the public on the third Wednesday of each month.

The Academy of Sciences is home to Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, Kimball Natural History Museum, and research and education programs. For more information, call (415) 379-8000.

Annual spring exhibit features 5 disciplines
The Richmond District Neighborhood Center's Richmond District After School Collaborative (RDASC) annual Spring Arts Showcase "Heroes & Heroines" will be on exhibit and performed at the Presidio Middle School auditorium, 450 30th Ave. (between Geary Boulevard and California Street), on May 7, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Anne Mannes, director of the Richmond District After School Collaborative, and resident artists Susan Appe, Ben Baker, Claudia Dudley and Gabby Gamboa are the organizers of the event for youth which occurs each spring. The arts showcase consists of five distinct arts disciplines (visual arts, drama, dance, music and poetry) and is performed and executed by more than 300 youth from the Richmond's elementary school youth. The program is going on its 15th year producing an event showcasing youth work.

For more information, call the Richmond District Neighborhood Center at (415) 751-6600 or go to the Web site at www.rdnc.org.

Amnesty for overdue library materials in May
San Francisco Public Library is encouraging patrons to return their overdue books and other library materials and restore their borrowing privileges without penalty or fine during an amnesty period to be held May 3-16.

Materials returned need to be in good condition. The program, Free2Return, gives patrons the chance to return items without penalty and thus make more items available for public circulation again. Fines will be waived on all returned materials, without restriction on how overdue the items are. Because patrons with a fine balance of more than $10 are prevented from borrowing Library materials, the amnesty restores borrower privileges to those patrons once they return their overdue materials.

The amnesty does not include overdue fines still on record from previously returned or lost materials.

The Library Commission approved the amnesty on March 5. The last time San Francisco Public Library held an amnesty program was in 2001; at that time more than 5,000 items were returned with a total value of more than $100,000.

Overdue materials can be returned to any branch or the Main Library during the amnesty period. To encourage participation, the library is asking, "What's Your Excuse?" Patrons are encouraged to share their cleverest excuses about why their materials are overdue at the Web site sfpl.org/fineamnesty. The best excuses will be highlighted on the site.

For more information on the library's overdue materials amnesty program, call (415) 557-4277.