Andrea Koskey

Ascension Heights project troubles neighbors

Neighbors of a planned subdivision just outside of San Mateo’s city limits have organized against the development, saying that the years of construction will create significant health and safety impacts. The final environmental impact report for the 29-unit subdivision known as Ascension Heights is expected to be released Friday. The Baywood Park Homeowners Association, which has homes neighboring the proposed project, say the health risks from the dust particles and vehicle diesel fuel coming from the construction site are too great to bear. “All the surrounding neighbors are concerned,” association President Jerry Ozanne said. “The older original owners could...

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Biotech biz booming in South City

Opportunity for the biotech industry in South San Francisco is growing. Several companies are poised to build new office parks or expand current operations, according to city officials. The largest known project comes from Shorenstein Properties and SKS Investments, which has a memorandum of understanding with South San Francisco to improve 34 acres of waterfront property at Oyster Point. The overall project would include the creation of a 2 million-square-foot life sciences campus containing laboratories and offices at the marina. The 20-year plan to develop the land is in its early stages, but the overall proposal from the developers fits the city’s economic goals for the...

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South City park to receive $2 million improvements

Eleven acres of park in the center of South San Francisco are slated to get a face lift with new landscaping, sidewalks and playground equipment using $2 million of development fees set aside for the project. City engineer Ray Razavi said specific upgrades for Westborough Park are still to be decided. “We will ask for community input once we get a landscape architect,” he said. The city is currently outreaching to architecture firms for proposals to do the park improvement work. They'll accept proposals until the end of November, Razavi said. The city would like to see improvements to the park's picnic areas, which are greatly underutilized, as well as repairs to the...

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One newcomer lands on Burlingame city council

Newcomer Michael Brownrigg, a planning commissioner, challenged three city incumbents and was successful in knocking one out to obtain a seat on the five-member city council. Incumbents Ann Keighran and Cathy Baylock won another term. Voters did not re-elect councilmember Rosaline O’Mahony. City concerns include balancing the budget and overseeing a controversial development of the Safeway site....

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Three incumbents withstand two challengers in SMUHSD

Two challengers were unsuccessful in their attempt to oust three incumbents from the San Mateo Union High School District board of trustees. Voters re-elected Peter Hanley, Robert Griffin and Linda Lees Dwyer. Among concerns facing the district are management of a $300 million construction bond and the impact of state budget cuts....

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Single challenger unable to overtake three incumbents in South City

Voters reelected the three incumbents for the South San Francisco City Council: Pedro Gonzalez, Karyl Matsumoto and Mark Addiego. This summer, city leaders cut city services and made department funding cuts in order to balance the budget for this fiscal year....

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Chan, Ulrich teaming up with Lawson on San Mateo-Foster City School District panel

The San Mateo-Foster City School District is deciding where to build a fourth elementary school. How to deal with enrollment growth will be decided with the input of two newcomers: Julie Chan and Ellen Mallory Ulrich. Incumbent Lory Lorimer Lawson was re-elected....

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Redwood City School District: Paulson, Diaz-Slocum successful in re-election

Incumbents Hilary Paulson and Maria Diaz-Slocum were re-elected to the Redwood City Elementary School District’s five-member board of trustees, which faces budget-related program cuts and finding ways to increase student scores. They were challenged by Lea Cuniberti-Duran and John “Jack” Hickey....

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County aims to reduce recidivism

San Mateo — Nearly half of inmates released from jail in San Mateo County — 42 percent — were rebooked within one year of their release, according to county statistics. County officials say they are aiming to dramatically drop that number through the creation of a $3 million program that will provide inmates with housing, food, jobs and treatment — after they are released from jail. The program will be largely funded through a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice that will provide $677,000 annually; another $350,000 a year will come from the county. The money will be used to hire additional case workers to check in with former inmates and refer...

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Stress disorder plagued soldier

Two days before 27-year-old Reuben “Chip” Santos took his own life, he sent an e-mail to his family telling them he was tired. In response to the e-mail, his father headed to New Mexico, where his son, a decorated Army veteran who was raised in Daly City, was attending school. But before the elder Santos arrived, the family received word that Chip had succumbed to the post-traumatic stress disorder that had plagued him for years. “He only received 10 weeks of therapy,” said Debra Burton, Santos’ aunt and family spokeswoman. “And it was a short, questionable process.” According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 20 veterans out of...

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Future of our schools: San Mateo County school board races

San Mateo-Foster City School District: A push for representation San Mateo-Foster City School District spans two cities, but its five-member governing board currently has only one person from Foster City. Two candidates from the smaller city that are running for the board this election hope to even out the balance of representation. Christine Semenza, the district’s PTA Council president, said such a change is needed. “We have to find a balance between Foster City and San Mateo representation,” she said, adding, “That can be a big challenge sometimes.” There are three seats opening on the board and only one person seeking re-election. San Mateo-Foster City...

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Sidewalk projects aim to give leg up to disabled

When Ben McMullan comes to a curb, it’s a little difficult for him to step down onto the road. McMullan, 29, has cerebral palsy, which affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. For those who are in wheelchairs or who have trouble walking, curb-cut ramps make it easier to cross the street, he said. To accommodate the needs of disabled people, Burlingame has outlined roughly $400,000 worth of projects that officials say need to be completed in the next couple of years. Last month, City Council members approved the latest round of upgrades, focused on sidewalk ramps, curbs and gutters. Burlingame sets aside $100,000 annually for projects to improve...

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Habitat maintenance may still reach $566M

Maintaining the critical habitat for the threatened California red-legged frog, which makes its home in locations throughout San Mateo County, could cost up to $566 million during the next 20 years, according to a report released this month by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The frogs live in well-vegetated areas along rivers and ponds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although once common throughout California, scientists say its habitat has been lost to farmland and development. The amphibian was listed as threatened in 1996. A new federal report estimates that through a 20-year period, the cost to save critical habitat for the frog would be between $183 million...

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Project near border worries neighboring city

A $23 million improvement project in South San Francisco has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to the area, but has neighboring San Bruno officials concerned about traffic impacts. The Centrum Properties’ SFO Logistics Center is a redevelopment project that would modernize and upgrade the 26-acre site located off San Mateo Boulevard and bounded by Interstate 380 and Highway 101 — near the dividing line between South City and San Bruno. The project is expected to create 1,070 permanent jobs, including 750 newly created jobs, and 224 construction jobs. It will also increase car and truck traffic, according to the project’s environmental impact report. “The...

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Survey, meetings ask which services are most valued in community

Faced with an $8 million shortfall within the next two years, Daly City officials are asking residents for guidance on which city services should be cut and which spared. As a result of the economic downturn, cities nationwide are facing financial hardships, said City Manager Pat Martel. Daly City is expecting to have to make up to $8 million in cuts in the next two budget cycles, according to Martel. The city’s total budget is $98 million. Rather than cut without input, the city created a survey — which they’ve mailed and posted online — asking residents to rank city services and programs. “We don’t want to arbitrarily cut services,” Martel...

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Gridlock takes over lots, nearby streets with crush of cars

For 20 minutes twice a day, each school day, the streets surrounding Clifford Elementary School in Redwood City turn into a gridlock of cars, buses and pedestrians. More than 700 children attend the K-8 school. To handle the crush of cars, the school created a student pick-up/drop-off plan, principal Phil Lind said. Cars enter the school’s parking lots at one end and exit through another. Teachers direct traffic forward and students, one at a time, get into their parent’s car. Despite such organization, there are still ongoing troubles. “One of the worst problems is people parking in the bus zone,” Lind said. “It creates a gridlock situation, and the bus...

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Dumbarton next in line for retrofit

While work to replace the eastern span of the Bay Bridge continues, Caltrans is preparing to make $220 million in seismic upgrades to another commuter span — the Dumbarton Bridge. Construction is slated to begin next year on the retrofit of the 1.6-mile bridge, which connects Menlo Park on the Peninsula to Fremont in the East Bay. The upgrade includes strengthening 36 water piers by adding concrete encasements on the footings and columns, replacing all 44 deck expansion joints and strengthening the two bridge deck hinges and deck section with added steel bracings, according to planning documents. The project was approved by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development...

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From fueling life to fueling ships

Oil derived from algae could be the next trend in biotechnology, and a South San Francisco company is riding the wave with an $8.5 million contract from the Navy. Solazyme Inc., a synthetic biofuel company founded in South City, feeds various types of biomass — sawdust or sugar cane — through different algae strands to get oil for energy or for food, according to Harrison Dillon, the company’s co-founder and chief technical officer. “For many researchers, it’s about energy or food,” he said. “For us, it’s energy and food.” Dillon said algae found in lakes, rivers, streams and oceans was the precursor to all plant life and therefore...

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Dog debate comes to fore

Dog owners who want their pooches to run free at parks will have a chance to speak out, along with those who prefer the city’s existing leash laws, during a community meeting scheduled for Sept. 23. Chris Wilkins, 39, a member of San Mateo Off-Leash Areas, sent a written request to the city asking that dogs be allowed off-leash in public parks in the morning and early evening every day. The matter was brought before the Park and Recreation Commission earlier this month, but the oversight group tabled the discussion in order to hold a community hearing on the proposal. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the San Mateo Main Library, 55 West Third Ave. Wilkins said the requested hours...

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BART to cut back off-peak service

Starting Monday, BART passengers will see service reductions on nights and weekends. During off-peak hours — weekdays after 7 p.m., weekends and holidays — trains will run every 20 minutes instead of 15. Additionally, there will be no direct route south of Daly City to points exclusively on the Dublin/Pleasanton route. For the Millbrae, SFO, South San Francisco and Colma stops during off-peak times, there will be only single-route service on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line. The Peninsula routes have fewer passengers during those times, BART spokesman Linton Johnson said, so paring down service makes fiscal sense. “Currently, the outlying stations past Daly City receive...

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Hazmat leads to EPA fine

Seven California companies, including one in South San Francisco, failed to report 285 tons of hazardous waste, leading to federal fines. Achaogen Inc., a biotech firm located on Shoreline Court, was among the companies penalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hazardous waste can include heavy metals, and corrosive and flammable materials, according to EPA specialist Robin Holloway. Companies that produce more than 13 tons of hazardous waste per year are required every two years to report to the federal agency the amount and type of hazardous waste they are producing. “It’s useful so we know the kinds and types of waste,” Holloway said. “Then we...

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Rainy-day funds save teacher jobs

More than 400 school teachers who received layoff notices last month will retain their jobs after all. The San Francisco Unified School District announced in February a $29 million deficit for the 2009-10 school year. To offset some costs, the district said it would cut programs, increase kindergarten class sizes and lay off 506 teachers and administrators. But now that The City has promised the district $24.5 million in rainy-day-reserve funding, 405 teachers will be staying in classrooms. Officials from the district said teachers can expect to receive letters rescinding the layoff notices. The remaining 101 notices were delivered to administrators. District spokeswoman Gentle Blythe...

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Fruit Tree Tour aims to promote a healthier California

Common Vision’s sixth annual Fruit Tree Tour, a 30-city, 70-day tour to plant more than 1,000 fruit trees, will be in San Francisco on April 10. The nonprofit’s project director, Megan Watson, explains the significance of their work. For more information, visit www.commonvision.org. What is the mission of the Fruit Tree Tour? The larger mission is to create a healthier and more-just planet, starting in California. Our primary outreach is to low-income, rural communities across 30 cities in the state. The tree-planting program primarily visits underserved neighborhoods where liquor stores outnumber fresh-food grocers. Why are there fewer fresh foods in these neighborhoods?...

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Rec and Park hopes to fashion GPS tracking devices on vehicles

The City may soon know where each of its gardeners is at every moment of every day — or at least the vehicles they drive. New tracking devices will allow the Recreation and Park Department to track where department trucks are at all times and determine maintenance needs for the 350-vehicle fleet, if the $350,000 in project funding is approved. The GPS gadgets that will be installed in each vehicle are not like those used in the majority of cars, Rec and Park spokeswoman Lisa Seitz Gruwell said. Instead of a box for drivers to see where they are, officials will be able to know where the vehicles are at all times. “It can tell us when a vehicle is driven outside of San...

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S.F. zoo looks to add hippo

The San Francisco Zoo lost a member of its family when Mama Cuddles, a 46-year-old hippopotamus, was euthanized in August because of old age and health-related problems. But according to Carl Friedman, director of special projects for the zoo, it could soon acquire another one of the mammals. “We always had it in mind to get another hippo,” Friedman said. “[Cuddles] was a member of our family. It’s always hard when you lose one.” One potential addition is Farasi — whose name means “horse” in Swahili — a baby male currently housed at the Basel Zoo in Switzerland. Farasi recently generated worldwide media attention after reports...

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JROTC gains support from new Board of Education

A controversial high school military program could be brought back to San Francisco public schools by fall, the result of new membership on The City’s Board of Education. The national Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or JROTC, program had a 90-year history within the San Francisco Unified School District until the school board voted in 2006 to eliminate it. JROTC was to be phased out two years from then — which would have been this June — while district officials worked to create a replacement leadership program. To date, another program has not been selected. If passed, the resolution introduced by school board members Rachel Norton and Jill Wynns would...

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Kezar parking rates slated to rise in July

Proposed increases to parking rates at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium, located in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park, were approved Thursday evening. Prices will increase by as much as 67 percent, depending on the length of stay. They were approved unanimously with two modifications. At the recommendation of Recreation and Park Commission President Jim Lazarus, the monthly commercial parking rates will jump from $140 to $165, which is slightly higher than the proposed $160. But, the parking-validation book, often used by merchants, will be $150 per month, rather than the proposed $175. The new rates will take effect in July. The changes are expected to increase the...

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Daly City considers afterschool-program fee

Residents will be charged for afterschool activities — a program that has been free for decades — under a revenue-generating proposal going before city officials for approval. The Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special meeting Saturday to discuss ways to increase revenue and offset costs to fill its $900,000 share of the city’s deficit. Charging for the now-free afterschool programs is being considered. The City Council will hear the same proposals and vote Monday, according to City Manager Pat Martel. A citywide budget deficit of $2 million this fiscal year and an additional $6.4 million projected for the 2009-10 fiscal year, starting in July, prompted...

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The 3-minute Interview: Giselle Peacock

The San Francisco native and four-time U.S. Latin dance champion is one of the stars of “Burn the Floor,” a ballroom-dance show currently being performed at the Post Street Theatre. The show was recently extended through April 12. You’ve been dancing since the age of 10. How did you get started? I actually started dancing because my mom and dad started taking ballroom [dance lessons]. I came to class one day and a girl about my age was taking lessons — and she had sparkly shoes on. I wanted to wear the sparkly shoes. I also had a crush on the teacher, but it had nothing to do with dance. Reading reviews, many say “Burn the Floor” is...

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New technology connects S.F. schools, homes

A new software program at the San Francisco Unified School District aims to put teachers, parents and students more in line with each other when it comes to grades, attendance and assignments. The School Loop program is an all-in-one that will provide better communication between the home and school by allowing parents to log in to an account to see their child’s homework and communicate with teachers, said Brianne Meyer, chief information officer with the district’s Information Technology Department. “It’s a big asset for parents to have access at their finger tips,” she said. School Loop also offers a phone feature for parents who do not have access to a...

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Deadline for teacher layoff notices looms

Sunday is the deadline for all public school districts in California to inform teachers and other educators that their jobs are on the chopping block. The San Francisco Unified School District sent out notices to 453 employees earlier this week, according to the teachers’ union the United Educators of San Francisco. Superintendent Carlos Garcia announced that 506 teachers and administrators would be laid off if the district cannot close a $29 million funding gap. On Tuesday, Mayor Gavin Newsom said he would release $23 million from The City’s rainy-day reserve to help the school district. Many of the notices will be rescinded, according to school district officials, but...

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Move over, Boston: Irish happy to call S.F. home

Cities such as Boston and New York have typically become synonymous with Irish culture in the United States, but don’t sell San Francisco short. The City’s Irish heritage can be found on most any corner. From O’Farrell Street — named after Jasper O’Farrell, an engineer from Dublin who laid the ground work for The City’s current design — to the Fairmont Hotel — built for and named after James Graham Fair, once one of the richest men in The City — remnants of the Emerald Isle can be found all around San Francisco. So it’s no wonder that for 157 years San Francisco has celebrated its Irish roots with a parade and festival on or...

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SF parents playing the school assignment lottery

Sunset resident Jenny Benjamin has been on edge for six months about her young daughter’s educational future. Starting in October, Benjamin and her husband, Jeremy, visited 11 of San Francisco’s 70 public elementary schools knowing they could apply to as many as seven. They planned on visiting more schools in hopes of finding one well-suited for their daughter, but ran out of time. The couple wanted a strong academic program for their 4-year-old, a large student body and a choice of after-school programs, since they both work. Benjamin thinks The City has many solid public schools, but the difficulty was paring them down. “It’s a lot of work,” she said....

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Census in 2010 will bring much-needed jobs to area

Despite tough economic times with ongoing layoffs nationwide and turmoil in the stock market, the Census Bureau offered some good news: they will be hiring. The government agency is currently preparing for the 2010 Census and is expected to hire 4,000 workers in the San Francisco and Peninsula areas, according to Eileen O’Brien, coordinator of the Career Service Center at the College of San Mateo, which is serving as the testing center during the federal agency’s hiring process. The college has already held training sessions for 600 employees hired to help with the process, according to O’Brien, who expects more hiring in late summer or early fall. Those hired will...

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Flower industry shows signs of wilting

San Mateo County’s flower industry is less bountiful than in years past, but some industry businesses are optimistic the county’s No. 1 agricultural crop will make it through the economic storm. “Sales are down. The economy definitely is hurting me,” said Steve Oku, owner of Oku Inc., a large flower growing business in Pescadero that has been around for 30 years. Oku’s greenhouses grow a wide range of flowers, including roses, lilies, snapdragons, tulips and irises. Cut flowers may be seen as a luxury item, but according to San Mateo Deputy Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Ronald Pummer, flowers are “by far” San Mateo County’s top...

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Mayor doubles rainy-day cash for S.F. schools

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced support for releasing $23 million of The City’s rainy-day reserve fund to the San Francisco Unified School District — double the amount offered two weeks ago — in hopes of saving hundreds of teaching positions currently on the chopping block. The mayor originally promised $11.5 million, saying the district was eligible for 25 percent of the fund’s $92 million after The City took its 50 percent share. On Tuesday, Newsom and the city controller said the school district qualified for $23 million, 25 percent of $92 million. The final amount, however, is voted on by the Board of Supervisors. The district began sending out layoff notices...

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City seeks input on parks’ future

The Planning Department, the Mayor’s Office and the Recreation and Park Department want the public to weigh in on what San Francisco’s open spaces should look like during the next 100 years. This month, workshops are scheduled throughout The City to gather community input before a long-term plan is created. “We want to make sure we are all on the same page on how open space is used,” said Leigh Ann Baughman, executive director of San Francisco Beautiful, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving The City’s natural environment. “So we’re trying to meet as many people in different communities as we can.” A 100-year plan was chosen to cover as much...

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Parents want their kids schooled closer to home

Diversity in the classroom and close proximity to home were two of the main considerations parents said they want incorporated into any new student assignment process created by the San Francisco Unified School District. For years, district officials have been working to survey parents and community members as well as collect data on families in the district in an effort to improve the current system, which gives parents some choice, but ultimately assigns students to schools based on a variety of socio-economic factors as well as demand. At a meeting with the Board of Education on Monday night in the Bayview district, approximately 100 parents gathered to hear about the challenges the...

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‘Godfather of Skating’ still rolling

David Miles Jr., dubbed affectionately by locals as the “Godfather of Skating,” took his first spin on the asphalt near Sixth Avenue and Kennedy Drive in 1979. On Sunday the godfather, dressed in black attire and red fuzzy skates, celebrated his 30th skating anniversary in Golden Gate Park by, well, skating. Miles said he never thought he’d spend his life promoting and supporting skating, but 30 years after he first rolled on Golden Gate Park’s pavement, the 53-year-old father of three has become an advocate for skaters across The City. “It’s my life now,” he said. “Everything revolves around skating.” That includes fighting to...

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Students selling snacks shut down

Galileo High School student body president Jessica Wong and her peers thought they could sell food at the student store to help raise money for their class graduation. Earlier this month, though, operations were shut down because food being sold was in violation of the district’s wellness policy, which limits junk food sold on campus. “One school that violates the wellness policy because they need money, they’re doing it at the expense of every classroom of the schools that try to adhere to policy,” parent Dana Woldrow said. Woldrow, co-chair of the Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee, helped create the district policy that cut down the amount of...

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Development boom in Mission Bay prompts talk of building new school

Booming housing development at Mission Bay has school officials eyeing the possibility of opening a new public school there. Mission Bay is a $40 billion redevelopment plan by The City on 330 acres of land south of Townsend Street and north of Mariposa Street, between the Bay and Interstate Highway 280. It was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 1998. A permit for the 3,000th housing unit at Mission Bay was recently acquired, giving the San Francisco Unified School District the opportunity to develop a 2.4-acre site at the 330-acre development. David Goldin, chief facilities officer for the school district, said although development of a building at the site is a long way away,...

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Rec and Park statements spark questions

The Recreation and Park Department’s plan to lease some sites to private interests has led to public concern about the fate of several locations. One major question is the fate of Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. The Golden Gate Triathlon Club, which uses the stadium, has told its members and others that the Recreation and Park Department will sell the stadium by May 1. But the claim is a “complete rumor,” department spokeswoman Lisa Seitz Gruwell said. “I haven’t heard even a discussion about any changes for Kezar.” And seniors who use Portsmouth Square Recreation Center in Chinatown are concerned it will close in two months, despite assurances...

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3-Minute Interview: Jillian Iva

The lead singer of San Francisco-based Von Iva will bring the trio to The City’s Red Devil Lounge on March 12 as part of their national “Hell on Heels” tour. Can you, in one sentence, describe your band’s music? Bombastic, fantastic, street-glam, love music. How long has Von Iva been together and how did you get your start? We’ve been together about 4½ years. It was a kind of perfect storm of other bands we were all in that disbanded. Von Iva contributed tracks and performed in Jim Carrey’s most recent movie, “Yes Man.” How has that opportunity changed the band? People sure do talk about it. It hasn’t necessarily guaranteed...

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Comics a "gateway" to reading

When high school teacher Puja Arora was in school, she had an English teacher who allowed her to read a comic book as part of the required curriculum. It’s a learning tool she wants to pass on to her students. “The fact that he respected my choice as something that qualifies as literature really stuck with me,” said Arora, a Walnut Creek resident. “It is literature.” Arora was one of dozens of teachers, librarians and comic-book gurus who participated in a forum Sunday on ways to use comics in the classroom. The forum was held on the last day of WonderCon, the comic and sci-fi convention at The City’s Moscone Center. Comics are “a gateway...

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Funding injection misses schools’ mark

News that The City would provide the San Francisco Unified School District with $11 million — which is less than expected — from the rainy-day fund to help balance the district’s budget “disappointed” members of the school board. The district is projecting a $29 million deficit for next school year. To help reduce the financial shortfall, the Board of Education on Tuesday night approved sending layoff notices to 506 teachers and administrators. School officials had hoped the district would receive roughly $24 million from The City’s rainy-day reserve in order to rescind all of the pink-slip notifications. Earlier in the day, when announcing the $11.5...

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School district jobs on the chopping block

Ellie Rossiter remembers the drastic changes from one day to the next after Proposition 13 — a statewide tax initiative affecting schools — was passed. “I saw school buses just go away,” Rossiter, now a mother of two Miraloma Elementary School students, recalled of the 1978 legislation that caused a shift in school funding from property-tax money to the state’s general fund. “From one day to the next it was very different,” she said. That kind of shift in personnel or school programs is not something she wants her children to have to experience. But the millions of dollars being cut from district budgets could leave schools with tough choices,...

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Layoffs loom for S.F. schools

Teachers are the latest casualty in the economic crisis and state budget cuts. Roughly 362 full-time instructors and 144 full-time administrators in the San Francisco Unified School District will receive layoff notices in the coming weeks, according to a district staff report. Superintendent Carlos Garcia is expected to announce the layoff numbers today, and the Board of Education is expected to discuss them Tuesday.Layoff notices are required by state law to be sent out by March 15, although the notices don’t necessarily mean all the staff will ultimately lose their jobs. The district, with an annual budget of about $369 million, is facing an estimated $24 million less in state...

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DNA Lounge license could be stripped

A SoMa nightclub may face closure after a complaint filed by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control about “lewd” acts at gay events — a claim club owners say is asinine. The department is threatening to revoke the liquor license at DNA Lounge for “lewd” and “lascivious” behavior after department agents witnessed nudity and risqué behavior at four events last spring. “We were expecting a fine or a 10-day closure,” said general manager Barry Synoground. “But they’re taking a hard line. It’s killing us.” Though he does not agree with the charges, Synoground said the club is not innocent. He...

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Movie theater will be star of S.F. man’s horror flick

An Inner Richmond district theater will be closed in the coming weeks for a different kind of movie magic: A horror flick will be filmed inside. Filming starts this week at the Bridge Theatre on “All About Evil,” the feature-film debut of San Francisco filmmaker Joshua Grannell. The horror feature follows a mousy librarian who inherits a movie theater from her deceased father. In order to make the theater a success, Grannell said, she channels her inner serial killer. Though set in San Francisco, the majority of work will take place at the Bridge Theatre. The theater will be closed for filming until the first week in April. Grannell, who’s known for his drag...

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Rec and Park turns to layoffs to balance budget

Layoff notices will be sent today to 51 directors of city recreation centers, part of an effort to trim $11.4 million from the Recreation and Park Department budget. Following more than five hours and two days of public testimony, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the cost-cutting budget, which will now be routed to the Mayor’s Office. The proposed budget includes a total of 71 layoffs, 51 that will be recreation directors, along with proposed revenue generators such as possible charges for parking in some parks and a fee to enter the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Carli Fullerton, recreation director at the Golden Gate Park senior center, said the severity of...

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Tea Garden concession will change hands

The concessions sold at The City’s Japanese Tea Garden will be handled in the future by someone who is Japanese. More than four years after the Recreation and Park Department sent out a request for proposals for a new concessionaire, department commissioners voted unanimously to approve a bid by Murata’s Café Hana Inc. that offers The City a minimum annual guarantee of $200,000 plus 30 percent of sales for rent. The Café is owned by Carol Murata, a Japanese-American. The concessions have been run by Fred Lo, a Chinese-American, since 1992. A total of 10 businesses bid for the property. Although some, including Lo, opposed awarding the contract to...

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Maker of electric-car film comes to library

Forget the director’s commentary section on your DVD. Visit San Mateo County’s Main Library on Monday and hear from the real thing. “Who Killed the Electric Car?” director Chris Paine will visit the library for a viewing of his film, which sparked interest in alternative cars. A showing of the film will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Paine, a San Mateo native. The documentary film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006, looks at the role of the auto industry, oil manufacturers, federal and state governments, batteries, hydrogen vehicles and the consumer in the limited development of General Motors’ EV1 electric car in the...

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North Beach's Millie to return home after being found in Reno

Millie, a North Beach fixture, is scheduled to return home from Reno, Nev., after disappearing last week. Martha Garland of the North Beach Chamber of Commerce said Jenny and Phillip Antoniolli, owners of Columbus Cutlery, plan to drive to Reno on Wednesday to pick her up from the hospital. Millie — whose real name is believed to be Mildred Gardner — is a well-known street character in the neighborhood who takes Polaroid pictures and sells roses in restaurants. She was last seen in San Francisco on Feb. 9, and showed up wandering the streets of Reno two days later. Little is known about how she got there, but people missed her when she disappeared and have been asking about...

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Jefferson Elementary mulling deep cuts

Adding students and subtracting funding is creating what could become an unfavorable equation in Jefferson Elementary School District. Eliminating the band program and subsidies to summer school programs are among the measures district administrators are considering to bridge a $1.6 million budget deficit. The district, which serves roughly 6,000 children in Daly City — not including the Bayshore, Southern Hills and Serramonte neighborhoods — is also considering cuts to special education, layoffs and more. The 26-item list created by district officials also include nine layoffs, one-day furloughs for all staff and reducing per-student spending by $10. These proposals are...

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Husband who bilked $43,000 scheduled to appear in court

A 73-year-old San Bruno man, facing charges that he allegedly swept a 78-year-old woman off her feet and took $43,000 from her before disappearing, will appear in a San Mateo County courtroom today to enter a plea. Lazar Maksic preyed on elderly women in nursing homes and elder social clubs, according to Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Maksic charmed the woman, married her and then took $43,000 from her, Wagstaffe said. He disappeared six months into the marriage. The woman, whose name was not released, realized what had happened when Maksic disappeared. Calls Thursday to Maksic’s attorney were not returned. Courts were closed in observance of President Abraham...

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Proposals delayed for revised school-assignment plan

Proposed changes to the San Francisco Unified School District’s controversial assignment process slated to be unveiled tonight are not yet ready, officials announced. As they continue a 30-year effort to desegregate San Francisco schools while still offering parents some choice of campus, officials say they are working to make the system fair and accessible. Under the current system, parents are asked to fill out an application listing their top seven school choices. The district then uses a variety of socioeconomic factors, along with family location, to place children in schools. Race is not used as a factor, the result of a 1994 lawsuit by Chinese-American parents. Despite...

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3-Minute Interview: Education columnist dishes on school programs

The Washington Post education columnist Jay Matthews visited San Francisco’s two KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) schools before writing his latest book — “Work Hard. Be Nice.” — on the nationwide charter school program. What is it about KIPP that contributes to its success? Three things: School days at KIPP schools are nine-hours long, plus they have every other Saturday sessions and summer school, so right off the bat they have 67 percent more learning time than regular schools; each principal has the power to set up the rules, staff and curriculum at their school to be sure they get better results in the classroom; also, the KIPP method gives the...

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Off-duty police officer stabbed

An off-duty police officer was stabbed in the chest following a verbal argument at Haight and Steiner streets Tuesday afternoon, according to San Francisco police. Sgt. Wilfred Williams said the officer, who has not been identified, was riding his bicycle at the Lower Haight neighborhood intersection when he got into a verbal argument with a man in a green Cadillac. The suspect, whose name was also withheld, then got out of the car, stabbed the officer in the upper chest, jumped back into the car and drove off. The incident was reported at 1:13 p.m. The victim was transported to San Francisco General Hospital. His injuries are not considered life threatening, said Williams. Witnesses to...

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Rec centers may lose services amid cuts

Recreation centers may have services cut in the future, as the city agency that runs them mulls ways to trim more than $8 million from its budget. The Recreation and Park Department is considering consolidating facilities and operations, which could result in 60 to 80 layoffs. Specific locations and programs that will be affected have yet to be announced, said Rec and Park spokeswoman Lisa Seitz Gruwell. “It’s all speculation at this point,” Seitz Gruwell said. More than $8.8 million needs to be cut this year from the department’s budget. “These are not cuts the commission wants to make,” said Rec and Park Commissioner Jim Lazarus. “But we are...

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Furloughs force DMV to close

Anyone visiting the DMV today will find the doors locked and workers picketing outside in response to state-mandated furloughs. Employees at all California Department of Motor Vehicles offices are forced to take two unpaid days off each month as part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s efforts to cut costs and bridge the $42 billion budget deficit. The days off mean all DMV offices will be closed the first and third Friday of each month, an action some employees are not happy with. “It’s disappointing,” said Lorain Santisteban, an employee at the DMV in San Francisco. “Some people cannot afford to take a day off.” Roughly 90 percent of the state’s...

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Peninsula schools gird for student onrush

The enrollment numbers at some Peninsula schools have outgrown what was projected for this year, and officials said the increases expected in the coming years will leave their facilities bursting at the seams unless more space is allotted. The San Mateo-Foster City School District is seeing a dramatic increase compared with previous years, which prompted district officials to begin considering additional classrooms. Five to seven additional classrooms are needed to accommodate the increasing students, according to a district report. Recommendations also include building a fourth elementary school and upgrading Foster City Elementary School. In San Mateo, the district is considering...

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Court sets date to hear Prop. 8 arguments

The state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments March 5 on Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative that banned same-sex marriage. The high court will take up three cases challenging the proposition from 9 a.m. to noon in San Francisco, the court announced today. Three issues will be argued: The validity of the proposition; whether it violates the separation of powers doctrine under the state constitution; and what, if any, changes it might impose on same-sex marriages performed before the proposition passed in...

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