The Fair Oaks Community Center is providing essential human services, including food distribution, homeless support services, safety net information, rental assistance and referral services to the entire County community. The Community Center is one of the County’s CORE human services agencies.
Rental assistance funds are available for all Redwood City residents who meet certain criteria. Residents can reach the community hotline at the Fair Oaks Community Center by dialing (650) 780-7500.
(The following is a message from the San Mateo County Health Officer.)
As I write this, I am both immensely grateful and exceedingly disappointed. We are in a grave crisis. I believe the virus is growing at an exponential rate in our county. Unless everyone does their part and follows the County’s Shelter-in-Place order and the Governor’s Safer at Home order, we will be facing an Italy-type catastrophe very soon. These orders are not recommendations, they are rules to be followed. My disappointment stems from the fact that many people just aren’t taking this seriously and going about their business as if nothing has changed. Our world has profoundly changed in an instant. It is now up to you all, the community, to decide what you want your future to be. If you decide you want to do your own thing and follow your own rules, you disrespect us all. You spit in our face, and you will contribute to the death toll that will follow. For those of you who say: “nobody tells me what to do,” now is a time to make an exception. You can go back to being ornery in the future.
Keeping humans apart from other humans is the only tool we currently have to slow this virus’ spread. This is a particularly fraught dilemma, as humans are social animals and they need each other, but we need to make every possible effort to avoid contact with each other.
For families in different households, do not mix your households at this time. As hard as this is, do not gather in any way outside of immediate households. As for outdoor exercise, people certainly need to get out, but do this in your own immediate neighborhoods. Do not drive except to provide or obtain an essential service. Do not go into other neighborhoods for recreation. This increases the risk of virus spread. Always maintain social distance. Wash your hands frequently and follow all the other recommended actions.
I’m grateful for the enormous amount of activity and the enormous amount of resources, from both the public and private sectors, going into protecting us and going into our healthcare system surge capacity. I am grateful that many people are taking this seriously and are doing everything they can to slow the spread of this virus. You are heroes for doing this.
I am deeply grateful for and everyone should thank God for our first responders and our front line medical and public health personnel. They are taking on personal risk to take care of you. They are heroes for doing this.
As for the supply shock, please lower your expectations of what you can get and when you can get it. Be grateful for anything that you can get. The capacity to deliver instant gratification is over.
As for the demand shock, look around and determine which small businesses you’d like to see still in your community when this is over. Then patronize them. Even if they are not open and you can’t get goods and services from them, you may want to consider paying them for services you might have received from them or they will be gone.
VOLUNTEER. Your community needs you now. There are many, many things that need to be done. This is the link to the survey for folks that want to volunteer: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WSXH6PZ
This is the email for non-profits and organizations needing volunteers: .
DONATE. There are critical shortages of supplies, especially some medical supplies. Please donate personal protective equipment (PPE). The email to donate PPE is . There will be an SMCStrong fund set up shortly to support individuals, small businesses and non-profits in the County. Donate to this if you can, or to your charity of choice.
Now more than ever, what I need for you to do is fully follow my recommendations’ advice and orders, unite as a community, come to each other’s aid, and let kindness, compassion, and gratitude guide your actions.
Scott Morrow, MD, MPH
San Mateo County Health Officer
March 23, 2020
(The following is a message from the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District.)
Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Community,
What a week that was…. I want to begin with the recognition that this novel coronavirus phenomenon and the subsequent governmental orders have created an unprecedented challenge for all of us. First and foremost, I ask that you follow the Shelter in Place guidelines for the health benefit of the greater community.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as our teachers and support staff have transitioned to At-Home Learning. We have made it through Week One. Looking ahead, please know that we are committed to improving the At-Home Learning program week by week.
This message update will cover:
State Orders and County Orders
Last week’s state-level shelter in place order is consistent with the County order that BRSSD is currently following. We expect County and State guidance to become more aligned over time, and I expect the existing orders to extend beyond April 7. I do not have inside information on this. However, as educators, we are planning for our school facilities to be closed to students for the foreseeable future.
Looking Beyond Spring Break
As it becomes clear that the dismissal of students from school likely will be longer than the two weeks initially ordered by the County Health Officer, our staff is working on what the next phase of our At-Home Learning program will look like. If the dismissal of students is extended, we will aim to provide more of a simulated school experience for our students beginning April 6, after Spring Break. Our goal is to provide all BRSSD students with routine, social connections, a sense of normalcy, and most importantly, an education.
At-Home Learning
Our At-Home Learning resources for families have been shared via email to date (listed here). This is impractical for the long-term. We are developing a dedicated BRSSD webpage with organized and consolidated resources to support At-Home Learning. We expect to have that established by the end of the week, March 27.
After Spring Break, as we shift to a long-term approach to At-Home Learning, more students may need to use computers with greater frequency to access the educational program. Later this week, we will send out another tech survey to families to lend out devices as needed. Similarly, we will continue to share resources for internet access, like Comcast’s program.
Last week, my direction to teachers was to continue the educational program and keep students busy. For some families, this worked well, but for others it was quite stressful. If your student is falling behind or feeling negatively stressed or overwhelmed, you have permission to excuse your student from assignments. Student wellness comes first. Please communicate this directly with your teacher. If your teacher has not indicated the relative prioritization of activities/lessons, reach out to them for guidance regarding how best to adjust the workload.
Counseling Support
If you or your child are in need of social-emotional support during the school closure, our amazing network of BRSSD counselors are here to assist you or your child. Please use this form to request support for either you or your child. All support will be conducted remotely: over the phone, via email or virtually (Google Hangout or Zoom). We will respond to your request Monday through Friday, within 24 hours.
In addition, you can also receive support from One Life Counseling through their school-based support hotline at 650-394-5224. Therapists will be on-call weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. One Life counselors will be available virtually for those in need of emotional support or ideas for social-emotional learning projects at home.
Thursday’s Board Meeting
The BRSSD Board of Trustees has its next meeting scheduled for this Thursday at 6:15pm. We plan to conduct it remotely with access to the public and the opportunity for public comment. Details for accessing the meeting will be made available on our homepage, brssd.org.
Mr. M’s Problem of the Week
Need a break from reality to work on a puzzle? Have a student that needs a challenge? Here’s a fun 3-dimensional tic-tac-toe problem (designed for ages 11 and up). Note that “noughts and crosses” is what they call tic-tac-toe in the United Kingdom. Different solution strategies and an extension to the problem can be found here.
We appreciate your partnership in your child’s education, now more than ever. Do not hesitate to write to me with feedback and questions.
Sincerely,
Michael Milliken
Superintendent
The following message from The City of Redwood City is shared for the interests of residents of Redwood Shores:
Want to help make a difference in your city? The City of Redwood City is currently seeking applications for upcoming available seats on the Planning Commission, Board of Building Review and Complete Streets Committee (pilot program). Deadline to submit applications is Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 5pm. Interested applicants can go online to access an application.
“We’re looking for committed people who are willing to work hard, represent our City, and who want to make a difference in the City of Redwood City,” said Mayor Jeffrey Gee, City of Redwood City. “We’re dedicated to innovation and improving the quality of life for those who live and work here. The best way to do that is give people an active voice in the process.”
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