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CREATED:20070614T150400Z
DESCRIPTION:Lark Theater deadline extended\nMarin Independent-Journal, CA - 9 hours 
 ago\nBy Joe Wolfcale The deadline for the sale of the historic Lark Theater 
 to a nonprofit group has been extended to Friday, but $80000 more is needed 
 to seal the deal.\n\nLast push for Lark Theater\nJoe Wolfcale\nArticle 
 Launched: 06/12/2007 12:00:11 AM PDT\n\nLark Theater, a nonprofit group, 
 and its fund-raising arm, Screensavers LLC, have raised about $900,000 to 
 purchase the building at 549 Magnolia Ave. Escrow is set to close at the 
 end of the day Wednesday - if organizers can raise the additional money 
 needed to complete the purchase.\n\nIf they fail to raise the money, 
 property owners Michael Gottlieb of Mill Valley and Terry Andrews of 
 Tiburon have said they will pursue other options for the building.\n\n"It's 
 a hard, fast deadline and there are no extensions whatsoever," said Bernice 
 Baeza, founder and executive director of the Lark Theater, which has 
 restored the theater for single-screen movie showings and numerous cultural 
 and community events. "People just need to write checks; it doesn't matter 
 how much."\n\nBaeza said the escrow fee is $50,000, so the total needed is 
 $150,000.\n\nIf the group is successful, the renovated theater will 
 continue to operate and the Lark Theater group will be responsible for a 
 modest mortgage on the $1.5 million building.\n\nThe\nAdvertisement\nmovie 
 theater, built in 1936, has been declared a Larkspur heritage building and 
 is on the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore the exterior 
 cannot be altered.\n\nA sign hanging on the exterior of the building counts 
 down the days and asks the public's help.\n\n"Someone needs to step up," 
 said Gottlieb, who owns 50 percent of the building. "They've worked 
 incredibly hard to put this all together. We're 100 percent behind 
 them."\n\nGottlieb said he and his partner have received other offers on 
 the building and will consider them if the theater group fails to come up 
 with the money.\n\nLark Theater Inc. oversaw renovation of the building in 
 2004 and has operated it since. The theater sponsors film festivals, 
 simulcasts performances of the New York Metropolitan Opera periodically and 
 every year hosts an Academy Awards night. It also is rented for special 
 events.\n\nBaeza said Lark Theater officials decided to try to purchase the 
 building outright instead of paying "exorbitant" monthly rent that the 
 group couldn't afford. She said rent is $9,000 a month, and it was set to 
 increase to $10,000 a month under a proposed new lease.\n\nThe fund-raising 
 effort has been boosted by several major contributions from individuals and 
 local corporations - as well as local schoolchildren.\n\nStudents from 
 Marin Primary recently helped raised $1,000 with a bake sale and solicited 
 two separate $1,000 donations during the Flower and Food Festival in 
 Larkspur. Another group of children from the William Avenue/Heather Gardens 
 neighborhood added $140 to the effort.\n\n"These kids came up with this 
 idea and they did it," Baeza said. "They love the theater, they have 
 birthday parties and come to see all the movies. Where else can you just 
 drop off the kids to see a movie?"\n\nHOW TO HELP\n\nTo contribute, or for 
 more information, call 924-5111 or visit www.larktheater.net\n\nRead more 
 Larkspur stories at the IJ's Corte Madera / Larkspur page.\n\nContact Joe 
 Wolfcale via e-mail at jwolfcale@marinij.com\n\nFROM THEIR SITE\nSAVE THE 
 LARK!\nANOTHER SINGLE SCREEN MOVIE HOUSE TO CLOSE?\nNON-PROFIT WILL 
 PURCHASE BUILDING TO SAVE HISTORIC LARK THEATER IF MONEY CAN BE RAISED 
 IMMEDIATELY\n\nNeighbors, film lovers and preservationists are determined 
 to ensure that a single screen movie house will stay in downtown Larkspur. 
 Screensavers LLC has been formed to purchase the Lark Theater building, and 
 has been given a quick deadline to come up with funding to ensure that the 
 theater will stay open.\nA consortium of citizens raised the money to 
 renovate and reopen the 1930s movie house in 2004. Since that time, it has 
 always been a dream of the non-profit to have building owners with a stake 
 in the running of the theater.\n\n“The entertainment industry is changing 
 and we have always met our monthly rent – but with difficulty. said 
 Bernice Baeza who has overseen the renovation and reopening of the Lark. 
 “If we actually buy the building, our mortgage will be nearly 2/3 of what 
 we currently pay in rent, which will allow us to have more capital to 
 ensure that the theater remains part of the social fabric of the 
 community.In other parts of the Bay Area single screen movie houses have 
 become mini-malls, churches, gyms or have remained empty, which had 
 happened to the Lark before the renovation.”\n\nThe goal of the 
 non-profit Lark Theater is to enhance the artistic and social life of the 
 region by bringing first run, independent, international, classic and 
 family films as well as a place to gather for community events and birthday 
 parties.Since 2004, it has implemented the Youth Film Festival, CineMama, 
 conducted simulcasts with the Metropolitan Opera and has hosted school 
 curriculum events.\n\nTo date, Screensavers have raised over 60% of the 
 funds necessary to get the mortgage, but need an additional $300,000. The 
 theater will close this summer if the money is not raised.\n\nThere are two 
 options for donors: Donations can be made to increase the percentage of 
 ownership by the non profit Lark Theater. Or investors can participate and 
 own a percentage of the theater.\n\nFor additional information or a 
 prospectus, contact Baeza at info@larktheater.net\n\nTo donate, download a 
 donation form here\nor mail your check to: Lark Theater Capital Campaign, 
 PO Box 685, Larkspur, CA 94977.\n\n\nKIDS IN MARIN COUNTY PUT ON BAKE SALES 
 TO SAVE THE LARK\n\nLarkspur kids from Marin Primary School are conducting 
 a series of bake sales to raise funds to help the Lark Theater stay open. 
 Dozens of kids will be in front of the theater on June 3 from Noon-3pm to 
 sell their Mom's homemade baked goods.Enjoy yummy goodies, see Gracie and 
 enjoy the Flower and Food Festival all in the same day!\n\nTo date, Lark 
 Screensavers have raised over 60% of the funds necessary to get the 
 mortgage, but need an additional $300,000. The theater will close this 
 summer if the money is not raised.\n\n"We doubt that cookies will sell for 
 $100,000 a piece,"said Bernice Baeza, director of the non-profit theater. 
 "But if we get the kids to spark awareness and interest, we know that their 
 efforts will be priceless." The theater is for families and future 
 generations as a community center, a place for school curriculum and after 
 school activities as well as a film center.\n\nThe time is now to Save the 
 Lark or it goes Dark!\n\nTo donate, download a donation form here\nor mail 
 your check to: Lark Theater Capital Campaign, PO Box 685, Larkspur, CA 
 94977\n\nFor additional information or a prospectus on owning a piece of 
 the Lark, contact Baeza at 415/924-5111 or at info@larktheater.net\n\nTheir 
 Site Created By The Mojotown Project, Helping Non-Profits Achieve Their 
 Goals. \n\nadd put up by \n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/14/18427351.php
SUMMARY:LAST DAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE LARK - SINGLE BIG SCREEN THEATER
LOCATION:Off 101 Through Lucky Drive turn off - south bound side(Corta Madera Side) 
 - is most direct route - also through Paradise in Corta Madera and Sir 
 Francis Drake- turning on College\n\nsorry for any bad spelling - put this 
 add up quick
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/14/18427351.php
DTSTART:20070616T020000Z
DTEND:20070616T140000Z
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