A Note from Redwood City Firefighters: Fatal Structure Fire Hits One of Our Own

In the early morning hours of April 1, 2012 a tragic fire tore through a home in Pacifica. The unsuspecting family was caught off guard by the blaze that left two people fatally injured and several others hospitalized.

The event literally hits home for Redwood City firefighter Abel Virgen, because the victims of this blaze are his own family members. The house belonged to the family and sadly, Abel’s grandfather along with his 12 year old cousin, died in the fire. The 10 remaining family members have been displaced from their home indefinitely. The survivors of this horrific event are now in need of staple items such as food, clothing and shelter. Redwood City Firefighters’ Create-a-Smile Foundation, a local non-profit, has established an account with the San Mateo Credit Union dedicated to helping the family with these items. Ultimately our goal is to do everything possible to help Abel’s family establish some sense of stability, while they cope with the unimaginable loss of their loved ones.

Abel is a passionate, hard-working professional in his trade of firefighting. He commits himself daily to preventing the very same tragedies his family now faces.  Please join with your Redwood City Firefighters to help support Abel and his family in this challenging time.

Donations in the name of the Virgen family can be sent to:

Redwood City Fire Station 9 755 Marshall St. Redwood City, CA 94063

Attention: Create-a-Smile-Foundation

The checks should be made to: “Virgen Family Fire Fund”

The PILOT: May 2012

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, May 2012 Issue

Click to view full-screen

24th Annual Mayor’s Beautification Recognition Program

You’re invited to nominate your own (or someone else’s!) project to be recognized by the Redwood City Mayor and City Council – categories include best architectural design; best remodel; best historical restoration; most beautiful garden or landscape; best compatible building and garden or landscape; or any other category that you might think of.

Redwood City residents, non-profit organizations, and businesses can show their civic pride by submitting nominations. Individuals, homeowners associations, apartment complexes, businesses, non-profits, and others are all eligible. Applications are available online at www.redwoodcity.org/prideandbeautification , by visiting City Hall (1017 Middlefield Road), or by calling 780-7300.

The deadline for entries is May 25th, 2012.

The purpose of this program, sponsored by the City’s  Pride and Beautification Committee, is to encourage the efforts of community members in beautifying and improving their homes, buildings, and properties, and to publicly acknowledge and recognize their pride in being part of the Redwood City community.

It’s an easy and fun way to foster civic pride in the Redwood City community, beautify the entire City, and, of course, honor people and organizations for their work to make Redwood City a better, more attractive place to live and work.

So … take a look around your neighborhood, and find a property to nominate – or nominate your own!

Redwood City’s General Plan is Award-Winning!

Redwood City is proud to announce that its new General Plan, completed and approved in late 2010, has been named as the “Winner of the 2012 Comprehensive Planning Award – Small Jurisdiction.”

This great honor comes from the American Planning Association’s Northern California Chapter, recognizing Redwood City’s “outstanding achievement in the planning field” and paying tribute to the City’s innovative plans, projects, and achievements.

The General Plan is the blueprint for what Redwood City will be – it reflects the community’s values and guiding principles of today and creates a vision for the future of Redwood City. This plan was several years in the making, a process that included countless hours of staff time, dozens of community workshops and input sessions, and numerous meetings of the Planning Commission and the City Council. The result is a remarkable document that will guide the City’s physical development over the next 20 years, and which now stands as a shining example to other cities of similar size, as to what a top-quality General Plan should be.

This award is not only well-deserved recognition for the City staff, Planning Commission, and Council, but also for the entire community. It incorporates hundreds of ideas and comments from the people of Redwood City, who patiently followed the process, became engaged through innovative and unique community involvement activities, and helped to make this a living document, with flexibility to adapt to future unknowns and opportunities, and which stands as the foundation for the continuing work of building a great community together.

Redwood City’s General Plan is online at www.redwoodcity.org/generalplan

Redwood City Police Chief Hosting “Town Hall” Meetings

Redwood City Police Chief JR Gamez invites you to attend one of these upcoming Town Hall community meetings. Come meet the Chief and his command staff, help create connections between the community and the Police Department, exchange information, discuss neighborhood concerns, and provide your perspectives and opinions on law enforcement and related issues.

Food will be provided, and free childcare is available for participants.

Each meeting will be facilitated by Redwood City 2020, and Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center. You’re invited and encouraged to attend and participate in the Police Chief’s Town Hall meeting for their areas:

• Centennial, Stambaugh-Heller, Friendly Acres, and Redwood Village Neighborhood Areas

June 5, 2012, 7 – 8:30 pm

Boys and Girls Club, 1109 Hilton Street

 

Woodside Plaza, Oak Knoll/Edgewood Park, and Farm Hill Neighborhood Associations

July 10, 2012, 7 – 8:30 pm

Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue

 

Redwood Shores Community Association Area

October 9, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Redwood Shores Branch Library, 399 Marine Parkway

The PILOT: April 2012

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, April 2012 Issue

Click to view full-screen

Sandpiper Open House

Open House is your chance to view the wonderful work your child has completed this school year. The Multi-use Room in the Community Center will display Art in Action from all classrooms. Please remember Open House is not the time for teacher conferences. Our fifth grade students will have their annual bake sale to raise funds for their end-of-year activities. If you are new to the Redwood Shores community, this is your chance to check out the exceptional educational program at Sandpiper School. We hope that you will join us for an evening to celebrate our students’ achievement this year.

 

When: Thursday, April 26, 2012

Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Place: Your child’s classroom

Situations Requiring a Veterinarian’s Care

As any pet owner will tell you they have each had at least one occasion where their dog or cat just didn’t seem quite right. Maybe the animal is exhibiting signs of not feeling well; perhaps the animal is vomiting, or just plain doesn’t seem right. And, every pet owner will ask themselves if this is an emergency or should they take a wait and see approach or take their animal to the vet.

I always advise clients if something does not seem quite right with your dog or cat, to err on the side of caution. Listen to that little voice in your head and if it is telling you to take your animal to the vet, I always tell clients to do so. Better to be safe than sorry.

However there are certain situations that are always an emergency and require a veterinarian’s care. If any of these signs or symptoms are present, run don’t walk to your vet!

 

  • Seizures: Convulsions: Seizures can be caused by poisoning, head trauma or epilepsy.
  • Arterial Bleeding: Bright red, spurting blood is present with arterial bleeding.
  • Trauma: Any trauma to the head, chest, or abdomen
  • Fractures: Can be due to falls, vehicle accidents or just plain exercise
  • Poisoning: Bring the container of the suspected substance with you to the vets’ office because different types of poisoning require different types of treatment.

 

Next month I will give you the rest of my list of emergency situations requiring a vets’ expert care.


–Jan Brown

Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting and is a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor.

Relay for Life

Relay For Life — the 24-hour event starts on Saturday May 19th at 10:00am and ends Sunday May 20th at 10:00am.

We are still looking for teams to join the event. People can come at anytime during the event to walk and or volunteer.

What is Relay For Life?

  • Overnight relay-style event
  • Teams of people camp out around a track
  • Members of each team take turns walking around the track for the duration of the event
  • Food, games and activities provide entertainment and fundraising opportunities
  • Family-friendly environment for the entire community
  • There are many moments that create the Relay experience,

Survivors Lap – Relay starts with a Survivors Lap — an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer

Luminaria Ceremony – After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

Fight Back Ceremony – Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.

 

You can go to our website for more information;

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=37019

or find us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Relay-For-Life-of-Redwood-City/166197703045?v=wall

 

— Relay for Life

Jazz In Our Front Yard

Blowing away the silence of mid-week Peninsula entertainment options, The Hotel Sofitel is now the only place for Jazz on Wednesdays, hosting a quartet of world-class performers led by saxophonist Michael O’Neill. Shows, featuring keyboard, bass, sax and vocalist, are no cover in the hotel’s large, luxurious lounge, 6-10pm.

Upcoming Wednesday evening gigs feature the following singers:

  • April 4, Branice McKenzie, 10 years with Harry Belafonte)
  • April 11, Grammy award-winning singer Tony Lindsay
  • April 18, The lovely and incredibly versatile Jackie Ryan
  • April 25, Kenny Washington, among today’s top jazz male vocalists

Accompanying on bass is Ron Belcher, who’s played with Branford Marsalis, Regina Carter, Rodney Franklin, John Handy, and Pete Escovedo and many others.

Pianist Peter Horvath, has performed, toured, and recorded with Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Arturo Sandoval, Randy Brecker, Lalah Hathaway, Keith Washington, Rosie Gaines, Ray Obiedo, Kenneth Nash and the Oakland Symphony.

For more information go to Michael O’Neill’s site: http://www.mosax.com/gigs.htm

Plan on a fun Wednesday evening only minutes from home!