Bottom of the Hill Finds New Owner Amid San Francisco Civic Updates and California Heating Safety Reminders

Revered San Francisco venue Bottom of the Hill will continue operating with a new owner, SFGATE reported on Friday. The ownership transition comes alongside several other local developments across the city, including a Mission Local fact-check examining election advertisements that ask whether Props. D, E, and F will really "Clean up City Hall." Separately, NBC Bay Area reported that former SFPD Deputy Chief Ann Mannix and her daughter are to be laid to rest.

Alongside local civic and community updates, California residents face seasonal home safety reminders ahead of colder weather. In a press release distributed via PR Newswire, Morey Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. highlighted statewide carbon monoxide requirements that apply to California residences. Under the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 (Senate Bill 183), codified in part at Health and Safety Code section 17926, California law requires a State Fire Marshal-approved carbon monoxide device in every existing dwelling unit that has a fireplace, an attached garage, or a fossil fuel-burning heater or appliance. The mandate took effect July 1, 2011, for existing single-family homes and January 1, 2013, for other existing dwelling units, and a combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm satisfies both requirements.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas generated by the incomplete burning of fuels, including propane and natural gas, according to the release. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 200 people in the United States die each year from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products, and notes that mild to moderate symptoms can be mistaken for the flu. To reduce hazards, the commission recommends having a qualified technician inspect and service fuel-burning heating systems, including chimneys and vents, every year. The agency also advises homeowners to request that inspections cover the venting system, as blocked or cracked vents can allow combustion gases to enter a home.

Addressing heaters in San Diego that sit unused for months before the first cold night, Morey Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. stated that scheduling HVAC maintenance before the heating season begins is the simplest way to catch problems early and reduce carbon monoxide risks. During a long idle period, dust and debris can accumulate in filters and around burners, and ignition and safety components can wear without anyone noticing. According to the company, a professional pre-season check typically covers electrical and mechanical components, thermostat controls, automatic safety devices, filters, burners, ignition, blowers, and venting, turning potential emergency furnace repairs into routine adjustments.