Richmond Roundup

Two People Honored by Clement Merchants
At its meeting in November, the Clement Street Merchants Association recognized two people for outstanding service to the community - Richmond Station Capt. Sandra Tong and Mohammed Nuru, the deputy director of operations for the SF Department of Public Works.

According to merchant President Irwin Philips, there are a number of sidewalks that are going to be replaced along Clement Street. Construction will cease from Thanksgiving through Christmas, he said, so as to not interrupt shopping during the holiday season.

The merchants also named the winners of its 2003 poster contest, which ended in November. Contestants from numerous local schools participated, with posters being put up in merchant windows prior to the association's successful festival.

The poster contest winners were:

· kindergarten - Vanessa Puno and Eva Cai;

· first and second grades - Samantha Lui, Sumin Youn and Carmen Kong;

· third and fourth grades - Alexi Wattis, Anabel Glenn-Schuster, Anna Ng and Tina Li;

· fifth and sixth grades - Chris Zander, Oliver Fong, Kristina Lum and Misha Semenov.

New Coffee Shop Helps Farmers
Zazen, a new coffee house at 2314 Clement St., is leading the effort to ensure that coffee farmers throughout the world are getting a fair-market price for their product.

According to proprietor Richard Adhikari, who runs the business with his wife Laurie, coffee for Zazen is purchased from microbrewers, who only buy "fair trade" beans, sometimes dealing directly with foreign growers.

For more information, call 221-8283.

"Shop Outside the Box"
A new program by the SF Small Business Commission recognizes unique merchants who live and work in San Francisco.

Recognized from the Richmond District were: Ladybug, Ladybug (www.ladybugladybug.com), April in Paris (www.aprilinparis.us), Baby Blossoms (www.babyblossoms.com), Baby Wit (www.babywit.com) and TableAsia (www.tableasia.com).

The Small Business Commission will host a celebration at Union Square Dec. 12 to honor 30 unique small business merchants in the City and to remind the public about the importance of supporting local business.

Environment Department Launches Chinese Language Web Site
The City's Department of the Environment recently launched a new Chinese language website. With the help of the SINA Corporation, an online media company and information service provider for local Chinese communities with an estimated 77 million registered users worldwide, the site will provide information on recycling, toxic materials reduction and energy issues. Residents and commercial businesses can access facts, tips and department services or contact the department directly. This website will help SF Environment reach its goals for the City to recycle 75 percent of its waste by the year 2010 and help reduce the disposal of toxic materials in landfills, including chemical solvents, motor oil, paint, batteries and electronic devices.

Yee Runs Unopposed in Primary Elections
Assembly Assistant Speaker pro Tempore Leland Yee filed re-election papers with the SF Department of Elections after collecting 1,800 signatures - 300 more than required - in less than five days. No other Democrat filed to run against Yee in the primary elections that will be held March 2, 2004.

Yee hopes these indicators suggest a level of satisfaction with his performance by residents of the 12th Assembly District, which includes San Francisco and the cities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City.

"I look forward to continuing my public service to the residents of San Francisco and San Mateo counties," Yee said.

Chinese Education Center Celebrates Thanksgiving
Students at the Chinese Education Center, a school for newly-arrived immigrants from Chinese-speaking countries, recently celebrated their first Thanksgiving in the United States.

The annual celebratory meal included a traditional Thanksgiving meal, a play and readings from a "Thankful Book." The students and their families also used the occasion to reflect and compare their own immigration to that of the Pilgrims.

Presidio hosts 'Barber'
The Presidio Middle School's Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) hosted two performances of "The Barber of Seville" through the San Francisco Opera Guild's in-school education programs where students performed with professional singers from the Opera Guild.

The main cast included: Susanne Lustgarten, as Rosina; Andrew Truett, as the Count; and Mark Hernandez, as Figaro. Supporting roles were played by: Katie Bondy, Natasha Budanova, Max Dubowy, Jenny Fang, Vanessa Herndon, Brenda Morales, Ai Nakamura, Isabel Poling, Ron Valentino and Tammy Zeng. In charge of lighting and the stage were: Max Kinniston, Anton Mayzus, Nadia Papaloukas and Jacob Seymore. The Lafayette Elementary School Glee Club also performed a chorus number at the first performance of the evening.

The production was a huge success, organizers say, thanks to the teachers and parents of Presidio Middle School students. The school has been recognized as a National PTA School of Excellence for Parental Involvement.

Help needed for seniors
Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly needs more than 100 volunteers to share the holidays with San Francisco elderly who will be alone. Volunteers deliver meals, flowers and gifts to seniors and spend time visiting them.

For more information on how to participate, call 771-7957 or visit the website at www.littlebrothers.org/sanfrancisco.

More Riders for Park Shuttle
The Golden Gate Park Free Shuttle, a public service that operated on weekends and holidays from May through October, had a ridership of 56,000 passengers during the 2003 shuttle season. That marks a 55 percent increase over last year's summer session.

The Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority created the shuttle program in 2001 to reduce traffic congestion and help ensure that the park remains pedestrian-friendly, while providing an easy mode of transportation for locals and visitors exploring the area.

The shuttle picks up passengers at 15 locations throughout the park that are near popular attractions, including McLaren Lodge, Conservatory of Flowers, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Beach Chalet Restaurant and Ocean Beach.

The service is expected to resume operations in the spring of 2004.

Groups work to help needy
Students from the University of San Francisco have organized a canned food drive in conjunction with local movie theaters to benefit the SF Food Bank. The public can donate three or more cans or non-perishable food items and receive discounted admission on movie tickets or a chance to win other prizes.

The Four Star and Balboa theaters will offer discounts throughout the month of December. The Alexandria, Bridge, Coronet and Clay theaters and United Artists Stonestown Twin Theaters will offer prizes throughout December. For information, visit www.cannedfilmfestival.org.

As well, the SF Federal Credit Union, in conjunction with the Women's Community Clinic, is hosting a blanket drive through Friday, Dec. 12 at all of their credit union branches. All new or gently-used blankets will be distributed via the Women's Community Clinic to San Francisco homeless people living in shelters or on the streets.

Donations will be accepted at the Geary Branch, at 4375 Geary Blvd.; and the Lakeside Branch, at 2645 Ocean Ave. For more information, call 775-5377, ext. 4.

Academy plans for Long Hiatus
The California Academy of Sciences is celebrating its last month in Golden Gate Park (before it closes to be rebuilt) with programs, lectures and events scheduled to take place throughout December.

Exhibits closing Dec. 31 include Skulls, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and 150 Years of Science. In addition, Morrison Planetarium's star shows will be on hiatus until the new Academy building is completed in 2008. Showing each weekend are "Christmas Star," "What's Up?" and "Stars Over San Francisco."

To encourage all to visit, the Academy will host "Three for Free" on the last three days of 2003, during which time the public will be granted free admission on Dec. 29, 30 and 31; visiting hours will be extended from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Academy will return to Golden Gate Park in 2008. It opens its downtown 875 Howard St. location in early 2004.

For more information about "Three for Free," call 750-7145 or visit www.calacademy.org.