Richmond Roundup

Joe's, Green Apple named top businesses
Joe's Ice Cream and Green Apple Books have been named businesses of the year by state Sen. Mark Leno.

"Joe's Ice Cream is a family-owned business that has been offering ice cream treats since 1959. Green Apple Books is an independent bookstore that has thrived since 1967 in part because of its diverse inventory, loyal customer-base and knowledgeable staff," Leno said.

Leno honored Joe's Ice Cream in a brief ceremony at the store, located at 5420 Geary Blvd., on Nov. 9, at noon. Later that day, he honored Green Apple Books, located at 506 Clement St.

Joe's Ice Cream has been scooping homemade ice cream for the community since 1959. Owners Alice and Sean Kim have carried the traditions and memories of the store by continuing to serve most of the original flavors offered since its beginning.

Green Apple Books is owned by Kevin Hunsanger, Kevin Ryan and Pete Mulvihill.

"Green Apple Books is humbled to be honored with this recognition," said co-owner Pete Mulvihill. "We feel that the continued success of Green Apple reflects the values of San Franciscans, for they keep our doors open year after year – curiosity, fierce civic pride, keeping money in the local economy, and a little funkiness to boot."

Learning to 'roll'
Children received bicycle training and safety equipment at a bike safety fair held Nov. 16 at Roosevelt Middle School, located on Arguello Avenue at Geary Boulevard.

More than 100 youth attended the fair. Each received free bike safety gear, including helmets and bike bells. And parents learned about the Safe Routes to School Program, which works to improve road safety conditions near schools so that more youth bike and walk to school. The program wants to promote an interest in an active, healthy lifestyle.

The Safe Routes to School Program is expanding this year to serve 35 elementary schools citywide, plus three middle schools and two high schools.

The Roosevelt bike fair was organized by the Presidio YMCA's YBIKE Program, SF Bicycle Coalition, and California Assemblyman Phil Ting.

"All parents want their kids to pick up healthy habits," said Ting. "Riding a bike is a fun way for kids to exercise. Events like this fair help prepare our kids to be great cyclists by teaching them how to ride safely and responsibly."

Families were encouraged to bring their own bikes for free, basic tune-ups, provided by the Bike Doctor, and to try a free, safe and fun bicycle obstacle course courtesy of the YBIKE Program.

'Cave' getting new artists
The Cabrillo Art Cave, a collective of local artists, will hold an open house weekend on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Featured artists are Nancy Bremer, Lidia Orly, Cecilia Populus-Eudave, Deirdre Weinberg and Mariella Zevallos.

The Cabrillo Art Cave is located at 925 Cabrillo St. For more information, go to the website at www.cabrilloart.com.

Students compete for public speaking awards
Students from St. Thomas Elementary School and Tiburon's San Domenico School, in the sixth through eight grades, gathered at City College Nov. 16 to show their oratory skills. The students from St. Thomas swept the first-place honors.

Winning recognition for their skills were Melody Sifrey, who won for "dramatic interpretation;" Trinidad Kiev, who won for "humorous interpretation;" Katherine Pan, who won the "original oratory" category (Pan's twin brother Patrick came in second place); and Joey Truong, who won for "impromptu speaking." Other students from St. Thomas to be recognized were Juston Lee, Raymond Liu and Grace Pating.

The youth public speaking tournament was organized by Sanford Chandler, a retired debate teacher from George Washington High School. It is funded by Washington graduates.

Blaze at Internet archive damages apartments
A fire broke out at the non-profit Internet Archive, located at Funston Avenue and Clement Street, on Nov. 6, destroying equipment and damaging several apartments located next door.

It took firefighters about an hour to get the fire under control. The fire started in an office building that used to be the Christian Science Reading Room's office. Although equipment was destroyed, the fire did not affect the archive's website.

Richmond District residents displaced by the blaze were given assistance by the Red Cross.

The Internet Archive is one of 30 sites in the United States converting books and other materials into digital form and storing the information on vast databases. The free website (https://archive.org) has about three million daily users.

Church vandalized, police seek suspects
Vandals struck Our Lady of Kazan Church in early November, causing extensive damage, according to Fr. Juvenal, the parish priest.

Our Lady of Kazan Church, a Russian Orthodox Church, is located at 5717 California St.

Anyone with tips about the vandalism should contact the Richmond Police Station at (415) 666-8000.