With a shrinking fund balance from school construction bonds, the WCCUSD is having to make some really tough choices about allocating resources. One previously funded Richmond project that is now at risk is the rehabilitation of the historic Maritime Child Care Center to be used for the Richmond Children’s Foundation College Prep Charter School on the Nystrom School Campus complex straddling Richmond’s Coronado and Santa Fe neighborhoods and bordering the Iron Triangle. Once the City of Richmond stepped up to the plate as a funding partner, the school board unanimously supported this project in 2007. We hope they will remain solidly behind it.

I have written a letter (click here for a copy) to the WCCUSD School Board asking the trustees to give this project a high priority for continued funding due to its truly unique value to the District, to the City of Richmond and to America.. If you would like to add your plea to save the Maritime Center funding, click “reply to all,” and send your respectful message to WCCUSD Board members.

For more information about Maritime, see Rep. Miller Announces Initial Approval of Supplemental Funding for Maritime Center, June 25, 2007, Preservation Open House at Maritime Child Care Center, October 11, 2006, Wartime Children's Art Captivates Visitors at Maritime Center Open House, October 15, 2006, WCCUSD Joins in Funding Match for Maritime Center for Working Families, October 22, 2006, Last Chance to Save $2 million Maritime Center Grant, February 19, 2007, City Council Cements Maritime Center Funding, February 22, 2007.

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park continued to attract visitors and positive publicity and was cited as Richmond’s No. 1 visitor draw, culminating with the Home front Festival and an ornament on the White House Christmas Tree. For more information about Richmond’s national park, see Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau Cites National Park as Richmond's No. 1 Draw, July 20, 2007, Home Front Festival by the Bay, May 12, 2007, Save the Date for the Home Front Festival - September 28-29-30,August 2, 2007, Home Front Festival Update - September 28-29-30, August 6, 2007, Festival Excitement, August 11, 2007, Author Emily Yellin of "Our Mothers' War" Tapped for Home Front Festival Keynote Speaker, August 17, 2007, Our Families' Home Front Stories, September 4, 2007, Anticipation Builds for Home Front Festival, SF Chronicle on Ken Burns Series "The War" Describes Transformation of Richmond from Village to Industrial Giant, September 16, 2007, One Week To Home Front Festival, September 21, 2007,Home Front Festival Starts Tonight - Media Coverage Intensifies, September 28, 2007, Festival Brings Thousands to Richmond for History and Sunshine, October 1, 2007, Ken Burns "The War" Sparks Interest in WWII Sites, Including Richmond's National Park, October 9, 2007, Bus Tours of Richmond's National Park, June 26, 2007, Summer National Park Tours a Big Hit in Richmond, July 29, 2007, Welcome to National Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin! July 22, 2007, New Chief of Interpretation at Richmond's National Park Selected, October 25, 2007, Mapping Richmond's World War II Home Front, August 20, 2007, Interest in Richmond's National Park Soars, August 19, 2007, Richmond's National Park in the News, November 13, 2007 and Christmas Tree Ornament Honoring Richmond's National Park Displayed on White House Christmas Tree, November 30, 2007. Richmond was one of several National Park partners recognized with the Governor’s Historic Preservation Award. See Prestigious Historic Preservation Award, September 12, 2007. Richmond received a Preserve America Grant, June 21, 2007.