From the Archives

Five years after the city of San Mateo founded teen coffee house Zappucinos on B Street, city staff recommended it be shut down because kids were just not showing up.

Attendance at Zappucinos rose in 2001, but the numbers of people who come to the coffee house are still relatively low.

Band night, which drew 80 teens on Nov. 10, 2001, had proven to be one of the more popular activities at the center. However, activities such as mega movie night, has drawn as few as four teens. The popular band night had taken place at other recreation centers such as the King Center.

‘Photographer’ pleads no contest to felony

A San Mateo man who pretended he was a fashion photographer to meet teenage girls was sentenced to nearly a year in jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl March 28, 2002.

Eduardo Martinez Dehoyes, 31, was sentenced to 364 days in San Mateo County Jail and three years supervised probation after pleading no contest on one felony count of a lewd act against a 15-year-old.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Barbara Mallach agreed to a sentence less than a year after defense attorney William Johnston argued his client could be deported, according to prosecutor Kathy Rogers. Current immigration laws state that deportation is less likely for defendants receiving sentences under a year.

Historic fire station renovation nearly done

The original brass poles leading down to the fire engine and truck needed some polish, and a few seams needed some caulking, but otherwise San Mateo’s Fire Station 21 was ready to roll March 27, 2002.

About six months late and around $300,000 over budget, the renovation and seismic retrofit of downtown’s historic fire station was expected to be completed just a week later.

Started in December 2000, the $6.3 million project completely gutted the 14,000-square-foot building 120 S. Ellsworth Ave., leaving only the external walls, roof, windows and an interior stairway. Total construction costs were $3.9 million, $200,000 more than originally budgeted. However, the building now meets FEMA earthquake standards. Built to a higher standard of seismic resistance, the fire station is an essential services building that must be functional within two hours of a major disaster.

Arsonist attacks building fourth time

San Mateo fire officials and police were investigating an arson that occurred the morning of March 26, 2002 in a San Mateo office building, the third time the building was attacked in two weeks.

Investigators did not know why the Mills Square Tower building was targeted because there were no reported disputes or threats that can be connected to a motive.

Around 9:01 a.m., firefighters responded to a small fire burning in front of the seventh-floor elevators at 100 S. Ellsworth Ave. — next door to San Mateo Fire Station No. 21 — when an automatic fire alarm was activated because of smoke.

The nine-story building had four arsons, the first of which occurred a few months before.