.
Feedback

Fashion for the Homeless and Save the Planet this Week, Oct 10 - 14

Here are five things you need to know for Oct. 10 - 14.

The Year Was 1492 When He Sailed the Ocean Blue

Today, Oct. 10 is Columbus Day.  All financial centers and United Stated Post Offices in San Rafael will be closed in recognition of that well known sailor, Christopher Columbus, who in 1492 completed his journey to the New World, a.k.a. the Americas. Fun Fact: Did you know that several Latin American countries, including Mexico and Venezuela, also celebrate Columbus Day? But instead of celebrating one man’s triumph it is a day of recognizing the first encounter between Native Americans and Europeans.



School Credit for Training to Help Others.

The Center for Domestic Peace is offering a  starting on Tuesday, Oct 11. Not only will trainees have the opportunity to help women and children in potentially life-threatening situations, but this training session also qualifies for field placement college credit in social work and psychology courses.


Mad Rags to Benefit Homeless in Marin

Models walking the runway in a benefit to aid those in need will be rocking outfits by local Marin stores such as A luncheon held at , on Wednesday afternoon includes music, silent auction and fun. All proceeds from the event will benefit Project End Homelessness in Marin. 11:30 a.m.

Fall Produce and Other Delicious Treats

The San Rafael downtown farmer’s market may be done for the year but local seasonal veggies and other culinary delights are still available every Thursday from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the


Save the World....And the People in it!

There is still time to register for the 2011 Bioneers Conference, being held at the from Oct. 14 - 16. Join others at this leading-edge forum presenting solutions for people and the planet.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from San Rafael Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Kevin Moore May 11, 2013 at 04:20 pm
It would be nice if the comments section had "Thumbs up / Thumbs down" like the PressRead More Democrat.
Bob April 6, 2013 at 05:20 pm
Check with the San Rafael planning commission and get the low-down on why they turned down aRead More developer who submitted his plans to demolish and rebuild a mixed commercial/residential building at 2nd and B. That's directly across the street from SVDP, and a notorious loitering spot. It's currently a run-down box building that's long past its prime. The developer came in with a beautiful plan, and it was denied for, among other things, because it was not in keeping with the "Victorian era" of the others, and because the city was afraid people would store their bikes on the balconies. Take a look at it. It's the most run-down corner in the downtown area. A great way for a small town to thrive and achieve an identity, is to get people living there. The city makes it extremely difficult with their rigid design board, and archaic operations that remind me of private industry in the 70s. Oh, and then they approved Target - completely disregarding the data from our neighbors up north, as well as other small towns.
Scott Adams April 4, 2013 at 07:08 pm
Tim, I am aware of many who want to increase the housing density downtown. I am also aware thereRead More has been objections particularly around the bus and future SMART station. It seems having commercial use at street level and housing above is favored by the city. It would definitely help bring people downtown. Other elements besides safety, includes maintenance, on going activities and marketing. I made reference to Healdsburg which is a good case study. They endorsed a study by urban planners around 1990. It took until 2000 when Hotel Healdsburg opened and then the downtown took off. They have one big asset and that is their city park which is where they have ongoing activities. Public Spaces such as this offer a sense of place and acts as a magnet. If you go two or three block away from the park, Healdsburg is just another sleepy little town of 11,000. Sure the wine country is a tourist attraction, but according to the County Visitor's Bureau Marin has 12 million visitors a year who enjoy our natural environment and 80% leave and go elsewhere in the evening.
Tim H April 4, 2013 at 04:41 pm
Thank you all for your interest in this topic. Scott, are you aware of any new multifamily or mixedRead More use housing in downtown on the horizon? Someone in another article mentioned the need for greater density in the downtown area. It seems like greater density could make San Rafael a more attractive place to bring business. Maybe it's me being optimistic, but certain areas seem ripe for development which could be a catalyst for improving downtown. Just curious if others had any perspective of this issue.