| News - Friday, November 27, 2009
Newsgrams
Golden Gate Bridge seeking firm This week Golden Gate Bridge officials announced a plan to develop interactive visitor programs that could help alleviate the district's impending $132 million deficit. The district is currently seeking a firm for collaboration, with talks of a museum and 50,000-square-foot visitor center as part of the project. Talks of possible programs include allowing visitors in normally off-limits areas, like walking on catwalks beneath the bridge or climbing up cables. A new $3 million interactive science and engineering exhibit is set to open near the bridge in 2012. Future plans also include eliminating bridge toll takers and increasing the toll by $1 in 2013.
Homeless shelter winter rotation begins A countywide plan to rotate temporary emergency homeless shelters at churches this winter is set to begin Dec. 1 and run through March. However, San Rafael city officials have rejected Marin Interfaith Council requests for a provisional permit to operate temporary women's homeless shelters in four churches sooner than Dec. 8. Meanwhile, the town of San Anselmo has agreed to shelter 30 homeless men for three nights a week at its First Presbyterian Church, with help from members of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ross.
Tiburon cameras approved Tiburon officials last week unanimously approved the implementation of surveillance cameras to record the license plates of all vehicles that enter and exit the town. Police say the primary purpose of the plan, which authorizes up to $197,000 for six cameras to be installed at Tiburon's two entry points, is to help that department's investigation of crimes. Photographs of rear license plates could be used to gather names and check criminal records in the event of a theft or other crime—as well as notify police immediately if stolen or crime-involved cars enter the area. The controversial cameras have met opposition from some who say they are an infringement on rights to privacy and are unnecessary in a town of relatively low crime. While maintenance may reach up to $15,000 a year for the non-traffic cameras, the county sheriff's department is planning to contribute funding for the project.
Shorts... Thanks to a $389,000 grant from the Federal Lands Enhancement and Recreation Act, some services at three of Marin's state parks—Mount Tamalpais, Tomales Bay and Samuel P. Taylor—have been restored, including weekday hours at Mt. Tam and Tomales Bay parks...Marin County Department of Health and Human Services has received another 1,700 doses of H1N1 nasal vaccine. The next free vaccine clinic for high-risk individuals will be held Dec. 5 at Novato Community Hospital.—Samantha Campos
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