Geary Boulevard gets fresh coat of asphalt ahead of Geary BRT

In late April, the SF Department of Public Works started repaving parts of Geary Boulevard.

According to District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, Geary needed repaving due to the large number of cracks and potholes that have surfaced. The boulevard was originally going to be repaved after the SF Municipal Transportation Agency finished its planned Geary Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, but that plan has been delayed.

The scope of the work includes demolition, excavation, traffic routing, pavement renovation, repaving work and all pertinent work related to the project. Stretches of the boulevard deemed not in need of paving will be skipped.

“We understand is that we are still years away from breaking ground on the BRT in the Richmond District. In the meantime, our road conditions must be improved in District 1 and I’m happy that public works agrees,” Fewer said.

The repaving project, which is being done by the A. Ruiz Construction Co., is expected to last about three weeks.

“We realize that repaving will mean some traffic delays on Geary while the work is being done – but hope the longterm improvements to road conditions are worth the short-term inconvenience,” Fewer said.

California recognizes ‘distinguished’ local schools

Six SF Unified School District (SFUSD) schools have been named California Distinguished Schools by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

They are: Lawton Alternative School and John Y. Chin, Claire Lilienthal, George Peabody, Commodore Sloat and Ulloa elementary schools.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized for demonstrating outstanding performance or improvement among students,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. “I’m extremely proud of our award-winning schools, as well as our district, for the continued commitment to offer the highest quality education for San Francisco students.”

In 2018, California used a multiple measures accountability system to identify eligible K-8 schools based on their performance and progress on state indicators, as specified in the California School Dashboard in one of three categories: outstanding student performance, outstanding student performance with high poverty rate, and outstanding improvement and equity across student groups.

In addition, this year California also recognized exemplary districts that have made a positive impact on student outcomes. The SFUSD is being recognized as one of 22 California exemplary districts for improving school culture and climate through its work with the African

American Achievement and Leadership Initiative. Marine succumbs to injuries caused by late night attack

Albert Bartal, 34, a life-long Richmond District resident, passed away April 17, more than six years after being injured after an altercation at the Jack in the Box restaurant on Geary Boulevard.

Albert Bartal

Bartal, a former Marine, firefighter with Cal-Fire and father of a young girl, got into an altercation during the late night hours of Nov. 24, 2011 with 22-year-old Eduardo Chapar -roesquivel. After Bartal left the restaurant and was walking along Geary Boulevard, he was struck by a vehicle driven by Chaparroesquivel at Ninth Avenue.

Bartal underwent surgery for a head injury and was in a coma after the incident. He never fully recovered before recently succumbing to the injuries suffered by being hit by the motor vehicle.

A service for Bartal was held on April 28, at the Church of the Highlands in San Bruno.

Party slated to honor IOA’s Friendship Line

The Institute on Aging is hosting a 45th birthday party for the Friendship Line, which provides and accepts phone calls to home-bound seniors to check up on their health and well being.

The celebration will feature Dr. Patrick Arbore, founder of the Friendship Line, and representatives from the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief Related Services.

Friendship Line volunteers Russell Berman, Alice Chiu, Jobyna Dellar, Melanie Grossman, Linda Lyons, Mary Penn, Kathy Seligman and Marilyn Stevenson will also be honored for their “dedication, caring and many years of service.”

Today, Friendship Line volunteers make and receive an average of 12,000 calls every month. More than 148,000 calls have been answered in the last year. The Friendship Line will continue to provide connections to people who have no other human interaction.

“Human connections are what bind us to life,” said Arbore.

The event will be held at the Institute on Aging, 3575 Geary Blvd., on Thursday, May 31, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

For more information, go to the website at http://www.ioaging.org.