Robert Holgate News Today

Malton School is to join a multi-academy trust serving over 5,000 children.

A Kelty cadet is flying high after landing a prestigious role in his troop.

Footwear brand Hoka is footing the bill for the theatrical release of '26.2 to Life,' a documentary about a runners club inside California's San Quentin Prison.

A Bolton based vet and medical supplies company has announced a major expansion.

Adventures of a Lefty Lesbian By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– “The lesbians have disappeared,” notes Pam David, the lifelong civil rights activist and organizer, who feels she’s not hearing the “L word” as much these days. Reminiscing with us, Pam describes San Francisco’s vibrant lesbian community that lasted decades, “along the Valencia Street corridor, there was a lesbian presence. I worked at Artemis, a lesbian restaurant. Down the street was a lesbian bookstore, craft...

Signs of the Times for Asian Americans By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– Kung Food is a popular, cozy Chinese restaurant on McAllister Street, at Divisadero. Recently, several handwritten, angry signs appeared in the front windows, so we reached out to the restaurant’s young owner, and hip-hop artist, Andy Yang. Andy’s signs detail recent attacks on his Asian American friends and family: “My friend’s 64-year-old mom was robbed and assaulted in broad daylight.” “My...

In Memoriam: Alvin H. Baum, Jr. (1930–2021) Alvin H. Baum, Jr., passed away on March 28, 2021. He was 90 years old, and died of natural causes in his sleep. Alvin (Al) was born September 7, 1930, in Chicago’s Hyde Park, but grew up in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb, with his younger brother, David. Precocious at a young age, he was told he could identify car models at the age of two. Al struggled with a severe speech disability as a young child, but was always accomplished in...

Ed Decker and His Team Have Reinvented The New Conservatory Theater Center By Jennifer Kroot and Robert Holgate– Ed Decker is the Founder and Artistic Director of The New Conservatory Theater Center (NCTC) in San Francisco. Since 1981, NCTC has presented high quality, queer, and allied theatre productions, as well as youth education programming. Just prior to the shutdown, we saw their incredible productions This Side of Crazy and Head Over Heels. We wondered how NCTC is surviv...

Local Businesses Persevere Despite Pandemic, Crime, and Chainstores By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– Hayes Valley is one of the last independent shopping neighborhoods in San Francisco. The uniqueness, vibrance, and charm of Hayes Valley is largely due to its restriction on formula retail (aka chain stores). The iconic neighborhood draws tourists and locals alike for shopping, eating, and hanging out. Sadly, the pandemic has caused several independent stores that defined the...

Credit: Will Zang By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– After months and months of sheltering in place, we wanted to begin 2021 with a fresh perspective, so we had a good, old fashioned, socially-distant phone call with our friend, former California State Senator Mark Leno. Mark’s outlook is always broad and thoughtful—just the remedy!  We asked him how he’s dealing with the lockdown. Mark describes his time at home as reflective. “The power of gratitude has served me well,” he...