Author Archives: RSCA

From Lynn’s Kitchen

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JUNE STRAWBERRIES

My friends tease me that I was born with a whisk in one hand and a rolling pin in the other. From the time I was 5 years old I begged my Mom to teach me how to cook. I haunted her kitchen – she had no choice but to make me her little sous chef de cuisine! I loved my Dad’s vegetable garden, the raspberry bushes, his fruit trees, the grapevines and even the compost pile in the corner of the backyard that grew the largest and best squash! This early passion for baking and cooking, using fresh organic produce and healthy ingredients, remains to this day.

Our family always looked forward to June – Dad’s Birthday was the first week, and this also meant the strawberries were ripe! Dad would load all of the kids into the station wagon and we take a short ride from Wethersfield down the Connecticut River Valley to the local strawberry farm. After several hours of filling our baskets, the kids would collapse into the back seat of the car and we would head for home, sunburned, tired, and with clothes and hands stained bright strawberry red. And of course, we insisted that we have Strawberry Shortcake that night for dessert before helping Mom make Strawberry Jam the next day.

In honor of Father’s Day and one of my Dad’s favorite desserts, here is our family recipe for Shortcake Biscuits. It’s quick and easy to make, and the warm flaky shortcake biscuits just call out for fresh seasonal strawberries, whipped cream and a big glass of icy-cold milk.

SHORTCAKE BISCUITS

(Serves 6) – 400º F

  • 2 Cups sifted white unbleached All Purpose Flour
  • 4 Teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons White Sugar (I use Bakers superfine sugar)
  • 1 Large Egg
  • ½ Cup unsalted cold butter
  • ½ Cup whole milk

 

1. Mix dry ingredients together into medium mixing bowl.

2. Whisk egg and milk together in a separate bowl. Set aside.

3. Cut butter into very small pieces, and add to dry ingredients. Blend with pastry cutter, and then mix with your fingers, rolling pieces of butter into the flour. Do this quickly to keep the butter cold.

4. Add egg/milk mixture to dry ingredients and stir together with a fork. The batter will be a bit sticky.

5. Pour shortcake mixture onto lightly floured pastry cloth or floured marble rolling surface. Dust with a sprinkle of flour, and knead gently a couple of times into a round ball. Roll out to a ½ inch thickness. Flour bottom of biscuit cutter (I use a 2 inch diameter cutter, but have been known to make Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear sizes!) and cut out biscuits.

6. Place biscuits onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper, about 1 inch apart. Put another biscuit round on top of the first, so you have two rounds to make one biscuit.

7. Brush a little milk on top of each biscuit with pastry brush. I sprinkle the tops with a little sparkling sugar for garnish.

8. Bake on middle shelf in pre-heated oven (I do not use my convection oven) for 12 – 18 minutes (depending on size of biscuits) or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool on a rack.

 

Serve with fresh sliced strawberries between the biscuits, and on top of the biscuit, with whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. Enjoy !

— Lynn Kathleen Adams
— RSCA Board Member since 1994

Wine Appreciation

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Much like yours, I’m sure, my palate has evolved over the years. And in the case of white wines—California Chardonnay in particular—I’ve moved away from those whose overall style is formed and fashioned by the use of oak. It was not always so, for I clearly remember years ago being particularly irked when I overheard a wine store clerk murmuring sarcastically that the evening’s Chardonnay tasting class “was filled with a bunch of beginners.” We were put down because the group’s favorite wine of the session was a golden-hued, viscous, oak-infused California Chardonnay that tasted, as I now recall, more like an alcoholic fruit drink than real wine.

That nasty clerk was, of course, correct. We preferred it because it tasted somewhat sweet, with a buttery-smooth, vanilla-like, palate-coating richness, and an in-your-face tropical fruit flavor. Given those alluring, sensual qualities, what wasn’t there to like? Interestingly, what others and I didn’t prefer or rank well that night, was the Chardonnay style that had little or no contact with oak, of which France’s crisp, mineral-laden Chablis is the reference point. That style—which I now favor—finished dead last. However, judging by the company I keep, and the stores and wine reviews I browse, it seems that Chardonnays without oak (unoaked) still rank at the lower end of consumer preferences.

Oak’s effect on wine, like many of food’s serendipitous discoveries, was observed after winegrowers began using barrels to handle, store and transport the finished product. An oak barrel was never intended to modify wine’s basic character, but it did. Also, once oak’s salutary effect was fully embraced, it was only a matter of time before winemakers began to experiment with their various “oak options.” Just as chefs used herbs, spices and additives to improve the aroma, color, flavor and texture of basic food products, so did winemakers use oak—in its variety of options—to also modify and elevate wine to a new and improved state. (They can, as well, use a whole bunch of other additives and techniques with which to “craft” wines, but that’s another story.)

If you like soft (less acidic), full-bodied, deeply hued Chardonnays (and other whites) that are rich, ripe and highly aromatic, then look for those that have been barrel fermented and barrel aged. If that seems like too much of a good thing, then stainless steel fermentation followed by barrel aging should offer a lighter touch. (Be sure to check wine bottle labels for those details.) However, if you only want a much slighter effect, then look for those labels that use the words reserve, barrel select or aged. They, most likely, have been treated—either during or after fermentation—to a tea-bag-like steeping of large, porous bags of oak chips and/or chunks; or even more creatively, a dollop or two of a “tincture of oak essence.” (I doubt, however, if those options would ever be disclosed on the bottle.)

Lastly, one of my reasons for avoiding oaky Chardonnays is their relative lack of food friendliness. I may be overly analytical (or critical) in this respect, but I feel that, on balance, a wine’s inherent and unencumbered natural profile—aroma, flavor, acidity and body style—tend to yield more food pairing options than those whose character have been masked and/or re-crafted with oak seasonings.

President’s Memo: June 2012

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Membership Reminder

If you haven’t yet joined RSCA for 2012 you probably received a reminder in the mail recently. If by chance you didn’t receive your reminder, or if you misplaced it, just fill in the information on the form at the bottom of this page, and mail it to us along with your check.

Your $35 membership supports most of our community events like Eggstravaganza, the Halloween Walk, community meetings, and other Shores activities.

Be a member, and help us keep the Shores a GREAT place to live and work.

Meet RWC’s Police Chief on October 9th

Redwood City’s new Chief of Police, J.R. Gamez, will be joining us on Tuesday, October 9th for a conversation with the Shores community about our law enforcement concerns.

GET THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

Tuesday, October 9th, 6:30pm at the RWS Library.

Chief Gamez is an avid listener, and this will be a great opportunity to exchange information and have a dialog about issues that may seem unique to the Shores.

BIG Changes in our Summer Concerts!

In response to your many comments and suggestions, we are making some big changes this year in our summer Sounds of the Shores concerts in Marlin Park.

First, all our concerts this year will be on SUNDAY afternoons. Second, we’ve moved the time up an hour to 5-7pm. This will hopefully keep us in the warm part of the afternoons before the sun starts to go down and the evenings starts to cool off. We believe these changes allow more people to attend and in a more enjoyable (i.e., “warmer”) time of the day.

We are trying to arrange a few other new things for our summer concerts. If you are on our email list we’ll let you know what’s happening about a week before each concert. If you want to be on our list, go to RSCA.org, on the web and under the “Feedback” tab, just click on the yellow “Join our email list” button.

Be a VOTER !

By the time you receive this month’s PILOT we are just past this year’s primary elections. But many expect a record number of voters to be a part of the national, state, and local elections this fall, Nov.6th.

Shores residents are among the most civic-minded people in this local area. Being a voter is one of the most basic ways each of us exercise our most fundamental right to express our opinions about the politics of our nation, our state, and our local governance.

Being a voter also increases the importance of the Shores with local government officials. They look closely at how many eligible voters actually vote, and the higher that percentage the more influence we have as a community.

 

Join Our Email List

With over 5,400 residents and 700 business in the Shores, we use our email list to keep you informed about our community events during the year. If you would like to be on our email list, simply click on the “Join Our Email List” button in the Feedback section of RSCA.org to sign up.

Our Privacy Policy:

Your information is for use only by Redwood Shores Community Association in contacting you. We do not share, sell, or provide our contact list to any other person or organization.

— Harris Rogers, RSCA President

4th of July Parade & Fireworks

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The 74th annual 4th of July Parade by the Peninsula Celebration Association – a Family 4th – is the premier holiday parade in the entire region. And for 2012, the parade moves back to the heart of Downtown Redwood City, bringing thousands of excited spectators to see an incredible array of parade participants, floats, and festivities! The parade and festival returns to be part of the wonderful renaissance of our Downtown core, with its great array of restaurants, shops, theaters, and more. Plus, fireworks return for the 4th of July, launched from the Port of Redwood City!

A map of the new parade route is online at www.parade.org or www.redwoodcity.org/parade2012.pdf . The parade begins at 10 am, and the route starts on Marshall Street at the corner of Winslow Street, and continues on Marshall, Main Street, Middlefield Road, Winslow Street, Broadway, and onto Arguello Street where it ends near Alden Street. The theme of the 2012 parade is “Salute to Agriculture” and it offers a great look back at some of Redwood City’s past, as it winds its way throughout our historic Downtown. The 26th annual Independence Day Festival will cover several square blocks in the heart of Downtown Redwood City, starting at 9 am (parts of Broadway, Hamilton, Middlefield, Jefferson, and in Courthouse Square). Filled with arts and crafts, food and beverages, kids’ activities, and a whole lot of good old fashioned family fun, the festival is the place to be on the 4th of July! Plus the annual 4th of July carnival, coordinated by the Woodside Terrace Kiwanis Club, will be at its usual location, in the parking lot at Veterans Blvd. and Winslow Street.

The 4th of July fireworks are back, and will be launched from the Port of Redwood City! This wonderful show is brought to the community by Redwood City with Red, White, and Blue Sponsorship by Sims Metal Management, and generous support from:

 

Lyngso , CEMEX , Cargill, Recology San Mateo County , Sares Regis , Informatica, One Marina – New Redwood City Housing , Kaiser , Two Anonymous Donors, The Pete and Paula Uccelli Foundation, The Port of Redwood City , The City of Redwood City

 

  • The fireworks extravaganza will start at approximately 9:15 pm.
  • The fireworks can be seen from Downtown and anywhere west of Highway 101 where there is a clear view of the skies above the Port. They can also be seen from high points all over the Peninsula.
  • For those coming to the Port, early arrival is highly recommended! This area is mostly private property with very limited public parking.
  • The Port is providing a public viewing area along the waterfront off of Seaport Court. Once all of the very limited public parking spaces are filled, Seaport Boulevard will be closed to all vehicle traffic at the intersection of Seaport/Blomquist. Once the intersection has been closed, no vehicle access to the Port area will be available. This traffic control restriction could occur as early as 7:30 pm – so be sure to plan accordingly.
  • Alcohol is prohibited on-site at the fireworks show, and personal fireworks are illegal at all times in Redwood City.
  • The Peninsula Celebration Association’s Family 4th is also an opportunity to volunteer and be part of making this event a great success – go to www.parade.org and click on “Volunteer!”

 

The entire community is invited to join in the Family 4th by the Peninsula Celebration Association, in cooperation with the City of Redwood City! Get all the details at www.parade.org

  • Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station #9 – 7:30 am (benefits the Redwood City Firefighters Association)
  • 4th of July ParadeRun – 8:45 (www.paraderun.org – benefits the Redwood City Education Foundation)
  • Festival – 9 am
  • Parade – 10 am
  • Fireworks – 9:15 pm

Redwood City Sewer Work

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Each year, the City of Redwood City implements projects as part of its Sanitary Sewer Improvement Program. These projects are designed to improve safety, provide maintenance, and enhance operational efficiency and reliability of the community’s sewer infrastructure and service.

This year, the City expects to have its contractor start work on improving or refurbishing 14 pump stations in Redwood Shores. The work will take place from June through August of this year, and the City wanted to be sure that the Redwood Shores community members are well aware of the work that’ll be going on.

Sewer service will not be interrupted during of the construction period, and access to driveways and properties will be maintained at all times for residents, businesses, and emergency services.

The City is requiring the contractor to minimize the impact of construction activity in the neighborhoods. However, as with any construction project of this scope, some inconveniences are unavoidable. Please expect periodic lane closures, detours, some dust, and temporary parking restrictions during construction (look for “No Parking” signs). All motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are asked to be particularly cautious when near a construction area.

Regular working hours for the project will be between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. If necessary, and depending upon actual field conditions, work may be performed at other hours during holidays, off peak hours, at night, or on weekends as directed and approved by the City Engineer. The City will notify any neighbors who may be impacted by any changes in the work hours.

The City wishes to thank the Redwood Shores community members for their patience during this work. The end result of this work will be a more stable, reliable, safe, and efficient sewer system. Residents may feel free to contact Jimmy Tan of the City’s Community Development Department at (650) 780-7397 if there are questions or concerns regarding the construction.

The PILOT: June 2012

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Below is this month’s issue of The PILOT, published in it’s entirety on the RSCA website. To get a complete view of this month’s issue that is easy to read on your screen, please choose the “Fullscreen” option at the top of the viewer — from there, you can click on the left or right of each page to thumb through the various pages.

All of the software needed to view this web-based version of The PILOT should be linked below if it is not already installed on your web browser, and you can also download or print the PDF document for use away from the computer. If you are having trouble viewing this document on your cellphone, tablet or computer, please contact the RSCA website team.

View or Download The PILOT, June 2012 Issue

Click to view full-screen

“Redwood City Together” Schedules Free Screenings of Thought-Provoking, Inspiring Movies

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“Redwood City Together,” a collaborative coordinated by Redwood City 2020 and the City of Redwood City, announces a series of free monthly movies over the summer, featuring some of the most interesting and thought-provoking films of the last few years. These films will inspire new perspectives on our lives and those of people in other parts of the world, and offer an opportunity for discussions and new insights into our own community. These films are part of the Movies at the Library program, sponsored in part by Friends of the Library, and screened in the Community Room of the Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Road.

 

BABEL

Wednesday, June 6 – 6:30 pm

Three intertwining and tragic stories are set in Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico and Japan. A series of unintended consequences leads to the shooting of an American wife and an ill fated trip to Tijuana in this film that explores terrorism, immigration and American entitlement. In English, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese and French with English subtitles. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu; Rated R; 142 minutes; 2006.

 

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN

Wednesday, July 11 – 6:30 pm

Renowned filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of Waiting for Superman. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop-out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems. Directed by David Guggenheim; Rated PG; 102 minutes; 2010.

 

SIN NOMBRE

Wednesday, August 1 – 6:30 pm

Seeking the promise of America, a beautiful young Honduran woman, Sayra, joins her father and uncle on an odyssey en route to the United States. Along the way she crosses paths with a Mexican gang member who is trying to outrun his violent past and elude his former associates. Together they must rely on faith, trust and street smarts if they are to survive their increasingly perilous journey towards the hope of new lives. In Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Cary Fukunaga; Starring Henry Paulina Gaytan, Edgar M. Flores, Buillermo Villegas; Rated R; 96 minutes; 2009.

 

Redwood City Together is a collaboration of caring community members and organizations working to build a stronger, inclusive, and welcoming community. Redwood City Together believes we’re most successful when we appreciate our shared values and build on the strength of our diversity. People from all backgrounds want safe streets for our children, neighbors who look out for each other and a thriving community where we can prosper together. The group is coordinated by Redwood City 2020, a collaborative of key public and private organizations in our community working to ensure the health and success of all children, youth and families served by the Redwood City School District. Together, the partners of RWC 2020 identify barriers and then implement collaborative approaches that will open the doors to success. Visit www.rwc2020.org

Free Compost!

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Redwood City residents can now pick up free compost at the Shoreway Environmental Center at 333 Shoreway Road in San Carlos, courtesy of South Bay Recycling (Shoreway Transfer Station & Recycling Center).

Just go to the scale house through Gate 1, provide proof of residency (a utility bill or ID card), and you’ll be provided with up to two empty paper bags for the compost. Each bag holds about 3 cubic feet. From there, you’ll be directed to the Transfer Station to get the compost. It’s self-serve – you fill the bags yourself (they do provide shovels). There is a limit of two bags per visit, and it’s for residents only – not for commercial use.

Visit the South Bay Recycling website for hours of operation and other info. More information on these and other services is available at www.rethinkwaste.org .

Climate Corps Bay Area

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Climate Corps Bay Area is looking for 30 passionate, committed individuals who want a unique opportunity to work on community climate change projects in the SF Bay Area. Applications are currently being accepted for service starting in September. To learn more or apply visit www.climatecorps-bayarea.org

Climate Corps members have the opportunity to spend 10 months learning cutting edge, and valuable skills while helping Bay Area communities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Benefits of participation include:

  • Access to highly skilled community leaders
  • In-depth emissions reduction experience
  • Networking with other emerging leaders
  • Contribute to important community change
  • Stipend, health care, and educational award
  • Participation in AmeriCorps – the largest Community Service Program in the country.

— Susan Wright

Resource Conservation Specialist

County of San Mateo, Department of Public Works

(650) 599-1403

www.smcenergywatch.com

Presidential Primary Election — Earn a Hundred Bucks!

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This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our democracy and make a difference. We’re looking for some good people to fill some important Election Day jobs.

For more information:

(650) 286-2810 • www.shapethefuture.org

Position – Election Officers

Hours – 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Duties – Serve as a member of a Precinct Board that is staffed with a team who ensure the integrity of the election process at an assigned precinct.

Money – $100/day; a $25 training stipend

Training – Procedures Class (3 hours for first time Election Officers)

 

Sign up online at www.shapethefuture.org

 

— Office of Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder