New Connector Ramp to Open in Marin County
Caltrans has announced the new connecting ramp from southbound Highway 101 to eastbound Interstate 580 will open to traffic at about six a.m. Sunday, April 27. The new ramp will have two lanes, as opposed to one lane on the old ramp. However, only one lane will open on April 27th. The old ramp must be demolished before the second lane can open. The second lane is scheduled to open in mid-September. The new ramp is an essential element of the Highway 101 HOV Gap Closure Project. When the project is finished, Marin County commuters will have one continuous car pool lane (or HOV lane, for "High Occupancy Vehicle") running through the most populated segment of Marin County. The entire project is on schedule to finish in December of this year. The Transportation Authority of Marin has put together a very complete and visual description of the Highway 101 Gap Closure Project. I urge you to take a look before hitting the road next Monday. For more information, please contact Bob Haus with Caltrans at 510.286.5576.
Mall Renovation Gets Council Approval
I think the word "exciting" was used a dozen times during last Monday's City Council Meeting when residents, housing advocates, bicycle enthusiasts and local organizations all came together to support the planned renovation of the Mall at Northgate. Council members voted in favor of the project that will give the Mall a great new look, something that everyone expressed is long overdue. In its presentation before the Council, the Mall owners, Macerich, said it will embark on comprehensive housing studies within five years, a change in the development agreement that came at the urging of housing advocates. Construction of the 725,000-square-foot shopping center is expected to begin this summer. The plan is for the revamped center to be finished just in time for Christmas shopping in 2009. The Mall will be open during the renovation.
West End Village Constructing to get Underway
Residents, Businesses and City staff are gearing up for construction to begin on the Fourth Street West End Village project. Beginning Monday, April 28, crews will initiate removing 98 Liquid Amber trees that have caused sidewalks in the area to crack and become uneven and unsafe. The locally impacted community agreed that it would be best to take the trees out all at once and move on to the sidewalk enhancement phase of the project. We will replant trees that are aesthetically pleasing and not invasive to the environment, such as Sycamores, Red Maples and Crape Myrtles. Demolition of the sidewalks is scheduled to being on Monday, May 5. After a series of meetings with business owners and residents, we are incorporating their requests in our construction plan. We will work quickly and efficiently in segments to make sure there is parking space available for customers, and that they know that shops are open during construction. The project is expected to take 12 months to complete. Throughout the process we will be updating residents and businesses on the status of construction. The Public Works Department will also have the latest information available on its city webpage .
Earth Day Success
It was great to see so many people participate in this year's Earth Day celebration at Pickleweed Park. The City coordinated the multi-lingual event which included a park and shoreline cleanup. It was followed by family activities - Aztec dancers, a bicycle treasure hunt for children as well as educational booths and activities focusing on the environment. Cory Bytof, who coordinated the event, said many different segments of the community came out to have fun and learn about what they can do to protect the environment. We look forward to another successful year in 2009.
Getting the Dirt Out
In anticipation of the centennial of the Downtown Library's Carnegie wing in January 2009, the Friends of the Library hired an art conservator to clean the marble plaque above the fireplace. The plaque had not been cleaned since its installation in 1913. After conducting various tests, conservator Bonnie Baskin discovered the best method for removing grime was a Pink Pearl eraser. Baskin spent about 15 hours literally erasing the accumulated dirt. The plaque commemorates Andrew Carnegie's donation of $25,000 in 1905 to build the library as well as the sixty-one residents who purchased the lot on which the library was built. Next time you are in the Library, check out the ‘unveiling' of this plaque.
Community Events and Reminders
Town Hall Meeting on the State Budget
Senator Migden will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on the State Budget on Tuesday, April 29, 5 p.m. at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael. She will be accompanied by Senator Denise Ducheny. If you have questions or need more information, please call Senator Midgen's San Rafael District Office at (415) 479-6612.
Art Talk
San Francisco's most beautiful museum is the subject of an illustrated art talk at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, at the City Council Chambers. Renee Dreyfus, curator in charge of ancient art and interpretation for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, will speak on "Alma Spreckels' Vision." Dr. Dreyfus' presentation will focus on the history as well as the highlights of the collection, and those wild and sometimes crazy donors who brought magnificent works to the museum. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the San Rafael Library. For more information, call 485-3321.
Spring Tea Party
Kids will love the fun and food at the Mad Hatter tea party on Saturday, April 26th & Sunday, April 27 at Falkirk's cultural center. You can enjoy the theatrical company of characters in original costumes, as they entertain and amuse the little ones. This event sells out; please make your reservations now. For more information and reservations, please call 415-485-3333.
