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by Rochelle Metcalfe
Check out the intersection of Third Street and Cargo Way – THE BAYVIEW GATEWAY – one-acre passive green open space, near Pier 90 in the Bayview District! In the mix, during the recent hot Friday early evening, for the PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, that included Supervisor SCOTT WIENER, D-8. Local Bayview community members and Port officials, that included Commission President LESLIE KATZ and Commissioner KIMBERLY BRANDON.
Special guest GUY JOHNSON, son of the late MAYA ANGELOU, accompanied by his wife, lovely STEPHANIE FLOYD JOHNSON, took part in the celebration, as his mother’s poetic words are inscribed on the benches as a commemoration of her strength and inspiration to the Bayview community.
Long before Ms. Angelou’s worldwide fame, she was part of San Francisco, lived in Fillmore and areas like Potrero Hill. Guy remembers well Cargo Way, where he played as a youngster, once blighted landscape. He was pleased with the changes.
The Bayview Gateway creates a new walkway along Islais Creek, between the Third Street and Illinois Street bridges. There are places for picnicking and enjoying the view of the Bayview Rise art mural (tall colorful building) seen from Third Street. The Bayview Gateway project was funded with $4.6 million from the 2008 Clean and Save Neighborhood Parks General Obligation Bond and Port funds. A future phase for the open space will bring public art to the corner of Third Street and Cargo Way.
Dropping a few names of community folks there – DORRIS VINCENT, TIM SIMON, “SPICE IT UP” CATERING was delicious! AND LOOOVED the rhythm of the ONE MAN BAND – MUSICIAN, DJ LES EDWINS – made you want to dance, and dance !
MOVING ON – The TALK OF THE TOWN is the WILLIE L. BROWN JR. MIDDLE SCHOOL, located atop Silver Avenue, in Bayview residential area, that offers a sweeping view of the NORTH BAY, 101 and parts of the Willie L. Brown Jr. Bridge. I’m excited about the State of the Art building and the knowledge, education that will be taught there. ALSO launching the FIRST LGBT course, and piloting new computer science classes.
Opened Aug. 17, but there among the celebratory crowd days before, Aug. 14, for the historic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! Remarks heard from FOUNDING Principal DEMETRIUS HOBSON, Superintendent RICHARD A. CARRANZA, SFUSD; Congresswoman JACKIE SPEIER, Calif. 17th District, MAYOR ED LEE, ASSEMBLYMAN DAVID CHIU, Calif. 17th District; Vice President MATT HANEY, SFUSD Board of Education; and The HONORABLE WILLIE L. BROWN Jr. humbled by it all, introduced family members, that included his wife, BLANCH BROWN – MARVELOUS to see and chat with her. She’s interested in teaching a dance class at the school.
Dropping a few names of those celebrating the day – BETTY SIMS who reside across the street from the school; DR. VERONICA HUNNICUTT, retired dean of City College, busy these days working with LENNAR and Company reference education plans for Hunters Point Shipyard campus when completed. DR. TOYE MOSES and wife, ALMA ROBINSON; LOUIS GARRETT, retired educator; marvelous to chat with MICHELLE LLAMAS, school secretary; former Board of Education Commissioner KIM MAUFAS, these days working on her doctorate; Commissioner JILL WYNNS, SFUSD BOARD; Commissioner LAVAUGHN KING, Southeast Community College, praised the school “OVER THE TOP!”
SENIORS – HEADS UP! HOUSING APPLICATIONS are being accepted this month, for those seniors interested in applying for rental at DR. GEORGE W. DAVIS SENIOR HOUSING, Third and Carroll. The campus is scheduled to open early 2016, and will feature 121 one and two bedroom AFFORDABLE rental apartments.
A diverse urban community along San Francisco’s rapidly developing Third Street corridor, integrating senior housing into a mixed-use micro-neighborhood, adds a multigenerational aspect and prevents seniors from living in isolation.
So, get over to Senior Elders Office, Third and Armstrong, to submit your application. Get a piece of the action; of course, always a waiting list!
Added plus on the site – a NEW SENIOR CENTER will house programs and services to help seniors and persons with disabilities age in place in their neighborhood. FELISIA THIBODEAUX, Black Cuisine coordinator, is looking forward to celebrate the same day as the 36th Annual Black Cuisine Festival – March 5th, GRAND OPENING Ceremony of the new Senior Center.
Thanks to SUZI TYNER, event planner, THE ACTION CONTINUES TO BE HOT at Dr. George Davis Senior Center on MONDAY NIGHTS – LIVE MUSIC that will continue through this month – THIS THE sixth year! Here’s a brief synopsis of some of the TOP performers – guitarist/vocalist PAT WILDER and her ALL WOMEN Band that featured a STELLAR violinist! Among those who enjoyed the vibes – KATIE HAMILTON, SANDRA ABRAHAM, GEORGE STAMMERJOHN – Katie and George swung out on the Texas swing … CI CI (CAROLYN CLARY BROWN) sporting a baaad red derby hat and red outfit; sweet sounding saxophonist-vocalist ANTHONY DILLARD, always threatens to blow the roof off the building; Diva ANGELA ARMSTRONG performed with special guest DJ JOHNNY DOLLAR; magnificent maestro pianist RICARDO SCALES and his group.
The September Monthly Third Wednesday Birthday Celebration was EXTRA special – member JEFFERY “JEFF” GRIFFIN celebrated his 100th BIRTHDAY – WOW! Always a groove featuring the Birthday BLUES BAND! There enjoying his personality – hip stepper CC; MARY ADDISON, BEULAH SUNDAY, MARY FLEMING and INEZ BRADSTREET, who made sure Jeff got to the afternoon party!
Jeff has always lived in Fillmore-Western Addition area of San Francisco. During his working years, as a professional barber, until he retired many years ago. SOCIALLY, he loved to dance and poplar at Oakland’s SWEET JIMMIE’S for about 15 years, headed across the Bay Bridge to be on the scene until the club closed – believe Aug. 3, 2006. An urge to stay active, Jeff joined the San Francisco based R&B Dance Club, meeting at the Verde Club on Potrero, to again become one of its popular dancers, always flashing a mischievous smile at 90-plus, STILL GOT IT at 100, as shown when he performed at the Senior Center – these days TAPS on his shoes, several ladies were vying to dance with him. HAPPY 100 BIRTHDAY, JEFF – YOU GOT GAME!
CONTINUE with the BLUES-R&B sounds over at SAM JORDAN’S SUNDAY BARBECUE, FEATURED ALLEN JORDAN’S finger-lickin’ feast, LIVE MUSIC BY THE 4 PEAS (ANTHONY DILLARD, SHANNON LACY on drums, GREGG ANDERSON, keyboard, and on guitar and keyboard JOHNNY RAMOS) – HEY, FELLOWS and lady, SOME GREAT ACTION! Several 3-street merchants WERE on the scene – FLETCHER STARKEY and ROSHANI PATEL of CDXX Restaurant (Third and Carroll), AUNTIE APRIL.
CALENDAR NOTE – Over at SUG’S Event Center in DALY CITY … HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WILLIE LOGGIN Jr., Center’s DJ, who will celebrate Oct. 4th – BOB GRAHAM will spin the sounds so WILLIE CAN PARTY!
DARE NOT end the column before, BELATEDLY, wishing HAPPY 83rd BIRTHDAY to our beloved publisher, DR. WILLIE RATCLIFF!
HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE … LOOK FOR ME … I’LL BE THERE …
Email Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net.
