Week in review

Much to the chagrin of court watchers, the 38-year-old Foster City man did not.

Instead of telling Judge Carl Holm and his wife's family he was sorry for driving down Bernal Avenue off a cliff and 150 feet into the Pacific Ocean, Rapoza used his time to condemn his court-appointed attorneys and look forward to a new trial.

Rapoza's statements Monday were much in line with the tone of his two-year tour through the county's judicial system. Multiple times, Rapoza tried unsuccessfully to fire his attorneys and often blamed his hospital confession on heavy medication and serious injuries sustained in the crash.

On Oct. 6, 2002, the Chrysler minivan driven by Rapoza plunged off the end of Bernal Avenue, 150 feet to the Pacific Ocean below. Raye Rapoza and her fetus died at the scene. Tehani Rapoza succumbed days later. Rapoza suffered severe injuries but was the sole survivor of the crash.

Rapoza did not take the stand in his own defense but his attorneys told jurors he may have driven unsafely due to a jealous rage. However, during his month-long trial, the prosecution claimed the deaths of Raye Rapoza and her two daughters was the result of a pre-meditated murder-suicide plot rather than a spontaneous fit of emotional anger.

On April 11, after four days of deliberations, the jury convicted Rapoza of one count of first-degree murder against his wife Raye, 34, and two counts of second-degree murder for her unborn fetus and the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Tehani.

Elementary school shuttered in South City

Many Hillside Elementary School parents and staff wept and hugged each other Monday night when the South San Francisco School Board voted to close the school in the fall, breaking up what they called a "family" of the school's staff, parents and students.

Trustees voted 3-2 to close the school because budget predictions showed a shortfall of about $538,000 of a total school budget of $60 million. Financial predictions for the district showed a deficit if the school at 1400 Hillside Blvd. were to remain open.

Rusty Refuerzo, a parent of a Hillside second-grader, said the decision was "tough" but he anticipated a close vote. His younger son would now probably attend Monte Verde Elementary in San Bruno, and all 296 of the school's students would be absorbed in other district schools.

He asked why the board couldn't consider raising more revenue, possibly from private sources.

Emanuele Damonte, the school board president, cast the deciding vote and said many of the trustees had lost sleep over the decision in the last few weeks.

"We just don't have any money," he said.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse renovation planned

One of San Mateo County's most recognizable landmarks could soon open to the public due to a $5 million fund-raising campaign which kicked off this week.

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse is the tallest in California and has been closed for four years due to safety concerns. This week, the U.S. Coast Guard will officially transfer the station and its famous tower to California State Parks.

Hundreds of visitors stop at the facility when traveling along Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.

The 115-foot tower was built in 1872 and remained open to the public until 2001, when falling iron caused the U.S. Coast Guard to close it.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, California Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman, other officials and citizens groups celebrated the transfer of the historic Pigeon Point Light Station from the U.S. Coast Guard to the California State Parks in a ceremony Wednesday.

BART hikes fares

BART directors voted Thursday to force riders to pay higher fares and pay parking fees so the financially troubled transit agency can reduce a $51 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Riders using the six BART stations in San Mateo County will pay an extra 10-cent surcharge to help pay operating costs for the Peninsula line. The surcharge is in addition to a 3.7 percent fare hike that previously had been approved for January and will boost the minimum fare from $1.25 to $1.40.

Following hours of debate at a lengthy meeting that began an hour behind schedule, even though dozens of people were waiting to speak, board members voted to impose a 10-cent surcharge on all tickets beginning Jan. 1.

Senior and disabled BART riders also will pay more, with their discount reduced from 75 percent to 62.5 percent.