The Richmond Village Beacon, part of the Richmond District Neighborhood Center (RDNC), is offering a series of weekly classes for adults, running June 4th through August 2nd.

All of the following classes are either free or request a low donation of just $2 per class (*):

Mondays (first class June 4):
Ballroom Dance 1 6-7pm
Ballroom Dance 2* 7-8pm
Computer (English) 6:30 – 8pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays (first class June 5 or 7):
English (ESL) 6-8pm
Breathing / Relaxation Yoga 6-7pm
Cardio Yoga* 7-8pm
Zumba 8-9pm

Wednesdays (first class June 6):
Mindfulness Meditation 6-7pm
Tai Chi 7-8pm
Knitting Circle 7-8pm
Computer (Cantonese) 6:30-8pm

Classes are held in different rooms on the George Washington High School campus (30th Avenue and Anza). Best of all there is no need to pre-register. Just come 10 minutes early on the first day of class and you’ll be asked to complete an Adult Membership Form.

For more information, contact Sarah Huck at the RDNC at sarah@rvbeacon.org or by phone at 750-8554.

Sarah B.

Note that the change to an open primary election system does not affect how the primary elections for U.S. President or elections for county central committees are conducted.

On Saturday, the Anza branch library will host an information session for residents who want to learn more about this new open primary election system.

A representative of the SF Department of Elections will be on hand to answer questions and explain how the new system works, which goes into effect in our next primary election on June 5, 2012.

You can also find out more on the Dept. of Elections website.

Drop in anytime this Saturday between 2pm and 4pm at the Anza Branch Library, located at 550 37th Avenue between Anza and Geary.

Sarah B.

From 8am until 12noon, bring your items by 48th Avenue between Anza Street and Geary. Eligible items for drop-off include:

• Green Waste and Other Compostables
• Free Shredding & Document Destruction, Truck on site (max of two banker’s boxes)
• Curbside recyclable material (cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, cardboard, and all paper).
• Appliances (water heaters, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers).
• Scrap Metal (any item that contains metal, such as a kitchen chair, lamp, pipes, bird cage, bed frame, etc.).
• Mattresses and Box Springs (including futon mattresses).
• Electronics (including stereo equipment, VCR’s, old telephones and microwaves).
• Goodwill Industries will be on hand to recycle and reuse computer equipment (limit 5 computers per household).
• Non Recyclable/Non-Compostable Waste such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, ceramics, light bulbs, painted or treated wood, etc.
• Used motor oil/oil filters. Place used filters in a plastic bag. Do not mix motor oil with anything!
• All household batteries (non-automotive)
• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes (Broken tubes will not be accepted)

This drop-off is open to residents of the Richmond District only and proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill) is required. To avoid a lengthy wait, appointments are encouraged – call Recology at 330-1300.

For complete details, visit the Gigantic 3 Recycling Program website.

Sarah B.

Could Serra Bowl re-open in the Richmond District?

RichmondSFBlog reader Gideon happened by the former Delano’s Market space on the corner of 27th Avenue and Geary the other day, and observed a man checking out the property.

Turns out he was a representative from Serra Bowl, the Daly City bowling alley that was forced to closed in late April after losing their lease. They had been in business for 51 years and longtime customers were crushed by the closure.

On their Facebook page, Serra Bowl recently asked fans for recommendations on a new location in San Francisco:

Here is your opportunity to help us out. We are looking for a building large enough to build a new Bowling Alley in the greater San Francisco area. The building needs to have at least 20 thousand and up to 50 thousand sq.ft. with plenty available parking. The cost to lease needs to be no more than $1.00 a sq.ft. per month. Please reply if you know of such a space available.

We contacted them to see if the former Delano’s location, which has been empty since December 2010, is in the running for the re-birth of Serra Bowl. If we hear back with an update, we’ll let you know!

Could be cool to have a bowling alley in the neighborhood – aside from a market or car dealership, what else would need all that space?

Sarah B.

Photo by Nina Sazevich | Conservatory of Flowers

It’s too bad the dinosaurs died off millions of years ago. If they’d survived, they would have found some tasty treats at the new Plantosaurus Rex exhibition that opened yesterday at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

We’ve all learned the names of the dinosaur greats like Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, but how much do you know about what they ate and how they survived? Platosaurus Rex recreates a prehistoric paradise, displaying the giant ferns, spiky horsetails, and primitive cycads that grew in abundance and fed many of the monstrous reptiles that roamed the earth millions of years ago.

Tucked in with the plants on display are larger than life dinosaur models – you may have spotted the T-Rex’s head popping through the ceiling of the Conservatory as you passed by on JFK Drive. In one section of the exhibit, visitors come face to face with a scale model Meganeura, a massive dragonfly-like creature with a wingspan of over 2 feet. It’s the largest insect that ever lived.

The exhibition follows a timeline through various prehistoric eras, starting with the Triassic Period (250 to 205 million years ago), when the hot, dry climate forced plants to be near water to survive. Ferns, cycads, and lycopods (club mosses) are the horticultural heroes of this period.

Next up is the Jurassic Period (approx. 206 to 144 million years ago), known as the heyday for dinosaurs. Pangea had split in two creating new coastlines, and a warmer, wetter climate – the perfect environment for plants to thrive. The dominant land plant species of the time were non-flowering, fruitless seed plants including Gingko and conifers like Araucaria along with another important dinosaur food, horsetails.

Last up is the Cretaceous Period (approx. 144 – 65 million years ago), when flowering plants first came on the scene. Orchids, water lilies, and magnolias dominate this section of the exhibition. Well, the real dominate character is the giant, 23 foot tall T-Rex model among the plant life, but unlike the real thing, this one won’t bite.

The Conservatory has created a booklet for the exhibition that helps guide visitors through the different eras, and includes activities for younger dinosaur seekers. Docents are also on hand to share fossils.

Plantosaurus Rex runs through October 21, 2012. The Conservatory of Flowers is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am until 4:30pm (last entry at 4pm). Put on your best paleontologist gear and head on over!

Sarah B.

Photo by Nina Sazevich | Conservatory of Flowers

Photo by Nina Sazevich | Conservatory of Flowers

CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE
You are cordially invited to attend a special community meeting on Monday, June 4, from 6 to 8 PM. Come hear District Attorney George Gascón discuss the expansion of the Neighborhood Prosecutor and Neighborhood Courts program.

DA Gascón launched a new initiative in May 2011 to quickly resolve low level crimes through community leadership and restorative justice. Low level crimes will be immediately referred to the neighborhood court neighborhood panels for non-criminal resolutions that combine accountability with neighborhood improvement.

DA Gascón will be joined by Supervisor Eric Mar, and Richmond Station Captain Eric Vintero.

At the meeting, you will learn about the new model, get a chance to dialogue with the DA, and learn how you can volunteer to serve as a neighborhood court adjudicator.

The meeting will be held at:
Richmond District Station Community Room
461 6th Avenue / Bet. Geary Blvd. and Anza Street

For more information about the meeting, please call Rebecca Prozan, Rebecca.prozan@sfgov.org, 558-2449 or Jackson Gee, 575.6328 or Jackson.Gee@sfgov.org. .

Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7pm. It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 05/02/12, at 8:06am, plainclothes officers were at the west end of Golden Gate Park and observed the suspect walking along the curb line, looking into the windows of parked cars. The officers followed him for some time and detained him at 45th Ave and Lincoln Way. The suspect, a 38 year old male was on probation and in possession of narcotics. He was charged accordingly.

On 05/03/12 at 9:15am, a homeless male, after being told to leave the area by a Golden Gate Park gardener, punctured the tire of the gardener’s vehicle. The suspect, a 50 year old male was charged with vandalism.

On 05/03/12 at 10:18pm, plainclothes officers were in the area of 21st Ave and Geary and observed a male standing on the corner, yelling and screaming. As they stopped to do a well being check on him, he entered the passenger side of a vehicle which began to reverse onto the sidewalk. The officers ran the plate and the vehicle came back registered to a male they knew from previous encounters for copper theft. They detained the two males and the confirmed that the driver was the male they had contacts with in the past. As the driver had a suspended license, the officers had the vehicle towed and upon doing a search of the vehicle, discovered several hundred pounds of copper wiring in the vehicle. The driver/suspect was charged with possession of stolen property and driving with a suspended license.

On 05/04/12 at 10:43pm, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at California St and 5th Ave. When the
officer approached the driver’s side window, he could smell marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and saw a Ziploc baggie of marijuana on the back seat. The officer asked if the driver had a cannabis card and the driver said he did, but it was issued from another state. He advised the officer that his card was in his backpack and went to reach into the backseat to get it. The officer asked him if he had any weapons and the male said he had a handgun in his bag. The male was ordered to drop the bag and exit the vehicle and he complied. The male stated that the gun belongs to his father and he carries it with him as he travels a lot. The 32 year old male was charged with possession of a loaded firearm.

On 05/07/12, at 5:30am, on the 600 block of 14th Ave , a neighbor was walking past his friend’s home and saw that his garage door was open. When he looked inside he saw the suspect standing next to the car parked inside and asked what he was doing. The suspect said “I’m picking up the car.” When the neighbor asked what the owner of the cars name was, the suspect replied “I ain’t telling you.” The neighbor said he was going up to wake up the home owner and when he exited the garage the suspect fled. A short time later when the owner came out, his other car which had been parked across the street was gone as well as the keys that had been hanging in the garage. The stolen vehicle had a tracking system in it and plainclothes officers located it on the unit block of 12th Street. The officers were able to determine from a nearby security camera who parked the car and which building the suspect entered. The officers conducted a search of the building and found the suspect hiding under a pile of clothes on a bed. The suspect, who is on parole and had a parole violation warrant, was charged with the theft and possession of stolen property.

On 05/09/12 at 8:50pm, plainclothes officers observed a van parked in a parking lot on the 800 block of LaPlaya. Officers knew the van and the owner and that he was on probation. The van left the parking lot and drove to the area of Kirkham and 48th Ave where it was stopped. The officer conducted a probation search on the male and his van and discovered methamphetamine and packaging for sales. The 49 year old male was charged with narcotic and probation violations.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 05/05/12 2pm and 05/07/12, 7:15am on the 3400 block of Clay St, a suspect gained entry into an apartment building garage possibly by accessing an electrical panel on the exterior of the building. The suspect then broke into a vehicle parked inside and took a silver tray.

On 05/06/12 at 2:10am, the victim was walking on Clement near 28th Ave , when the suspects ran up from behind
him, one of them pointing a handgun at him. The suspects demanded his property and the victim handed over his wallet. When the victim handed him his phone the suspect said he didn’t want it. The suspect then fled west on Clement St . The suspects were described as a black male with a gray hooded sweatshirt and an Asian male, 5’7.

On 05/06/12 at 2:00am on the 1900 block of Lyon , the residents were awoken to a loud bang coming from their inner staircase. They got up and looked around the home and then went down the inner staircase and saw that their front door was open. Thinking the wind had blown open the door; they secured it and went back to bed. In the morning they realized that an iPhone, iPad and wallet had been taken.

Between 05/06/12, 5pm and 05/07/12, 8am on the 2300 block of Divisadero, a suspect gained entry into a garage which has an open area to the rear. The suspect then took a Toyota pickup that was parked inside.

On 05/08/12 at 5pm, the victim was jogging on a path on JFK Drive west of Transverse Drive. The victim saw the suspect jogging towards her and noted he was not wearing jogging clothes. As the suspect passed he grabbed her elbow and then ran off. She then noticed that there was a white powdery substance on her arm which began to burn. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 45-55 yrs, with brown shoulder length hair, wearing a dark baseball cap, off white button up dress shirt and khaki pants and stained teeth. The victim reported this the following day.

On 05/11/12 at 1:40am, the victim was walking home and in the area of 8th Ave and California St. She became
aware that someone was behind her and as she slowed to enter her building the suspect put his hand on her back. She told the suspect to remove his hand and as she turned to knock his hand away, he grabbed her buttocks and pushed her up against the gate. She managed to push him away, get inside the gate and lock the door. The suspect was described as a white male, 40-45yrs, 6’2” wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Captain Eric Vintero and Tobius Moore, the Permit Officer for the Richmond District station, recommended conditions for the approval at the hearing, such as adding one security guard on Thursday through Saturday nights between 10pm-3am.

The final approval did not incorporate the recommended conditions, but Office Moore says they don’t anticipate issues with Subway being open again 24 hours a day.

“Considering we have never had a police issue at that Subway, we are confident that all will be well,” Moore wrote in an email.

The Entertainment Commission also plans to conduct a 6 month and 1 year review to determine if any conditions would be appropriate in the future.

So the next time you have a craving for a turkey sandwich at 4am, you know where to go.

Sarah B.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is hosting a Community Clean Team event in the Richmond District from 9am until 12noon. Volunteers of all ages can help out with cleaning and greening the neighborhood including landscaping, painting over graffiti, cleaning tree basins, weeding, picking up litter, etc.

This is a great chance to get your whole family involved in helping take care of the neighborhood. The event kicks off at George Washington High School at 9am (600 32nd Ave at Cabrillo). Lunch will be served to volunteers at the end. To participate, be sure to sign up by emailing dpw@sfdpw.org or calling 641-2600.

Also on Saturday, as part of a city-wide “Love Your Parks Day”, the Friends of Mountain Lake Park and SF Parks Alliance are hosting a clean-up event and nature walk at Mountain Lake Park (Lake Street at 12th Avenue) from 10am until 1pm. Help with new plantings and cleaning the beach, followed by a “kid-friendly nature walk to learn about the lake’s history, habitat and resident critters.”

Volunteers will receive a free “Love Your Parks” t-shirt and lunch afterwards. Register online in advance to participate.

Sarah B.