Sunset Spotlight/Police Blotter

McDonald's Loses Lakeshore Beef
The SF Board of Appeals voted against an appeal by McDonald's April 23 to overturn a determination by SF Planning Department Zoning Administrator Larry Badiner.

Study's Blueprint for Restoring Pine Lake, Lake Merced
A study released late last year by the Neighborhood Parks Council provides a general blueprint for significantly restoring Lake Merced and Sigmund Stern Grove's Pine Lake. The report breaks down the current state of each lake, what problems afflict them and what steps need to be taken to reverse decades of degradation.

Parkside Scrapbooks Find a New Home at Main Library
Ninety-five years of Parkside District history are now safely preserved and soon to be available to the public. After much negotiation, the Parkside District Improvement Club has deeded their unique historical scrapbooks to the San Francisco Public Library's History Center.

Sutro Tower Retrofit Plan in Works
On May 5, at 1 p.m., the proposed seismic upgrades to Sutro Tower will be presented to the SF Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee. Neighbors who live near the 977-foot-tall tower are delighted that Sutro Tower Inc. has agreed to retrofit the 32-year-old structure.

$50 Million Bond Deal in Works to Finance Park Garage
With time running out and facing a multi-million dollar deficit, the city of San Francisco is negotiating a deal with Music Concourse Community Partnership (MCCP) that would turn over ownership of a $50 million garage to be built under the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park for 30 years to MCCP in exchange for financing the project.

Neighbors Blast City Over Goats, Homeless at Reservoir
City officials pulled the plug on a plan that called for 500 goats to clear vegetation from the hillside above the Laguna Honda Reservoir. Angry neighbors claim the goats destroyed acres of native plants that provide a refuge for wildlife.

Squatter Faces Loss of 'Home,' Orchard
To some, Norman David Calande is a homeless squatter who lives in a tent on city property above the reservoir. To others, he is a loner who spends his time in interesting ways - building ponds and cultivating fruit trees.

UCSF Family House Provides Comfort, Care and Support
The busy block of Irving Street between Arguello Boulevard and Second Avenue can be an intimidating stretch of real estate, especially to out-of-towners. But on the northwest corner of the street, a large olive-green building provides a welcome relief from the bustle outside. This quiet haven - the Koret Family House - is reserved for the families of seriously ill children who have traveled more than 50 miles for treatment at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center.

Chinese 'Spirit Papers' Offer Safe Passage for Deceased
The comfortable beige chairs and natural wood paneling give the Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Library a cozy, modern feel. The symmetry and chic functionality of the auditorium provided a somewhat ironic location for a lecture about the ancient and mystical uses of Chinese ceremonial paper.

COLUMNS:

Supervisor Fiona Ma: Update on Community Happenings

Assemblyman Leland Yee: System Failing Needy Children

John M. Lee: Effect of War on Real Estate

Mabel Teng: Saving Tax Dollars