Redwood Shores’ own Pat Dixon (known throughout Redwood Shores as the “Swan Lady”) has been recognized via proclamation for her years of service to our community.
RSCA is proud to share the proclamation with the community honoring one of our most respected citizens.
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Here’s a shining example of a volunteer effort really making a difference: so far this fiscal year, the non-profit volunteer group Friends of the Redwood City Public Library has raised and committed over $71,000 to fund Library programs including film/music/book series for adults, children/young adult programs, Family Author Nights at schools, summer reading programs, Traveling Storytime, Live Homework Help, and more. You can learn more about the Friends’ great accomplishments at their website — www.redwoodcity.org/library/friends_of_the_library.html . You’ll also see how easy it is to become a member of the Friends and help to continue the wonderful work they do! While you’re there, read their Spring Newsletter.
And, be sure to visit the Friends bookstore at the Downtown Library for unbelievable deals on all kinds of books (all sales go to benefit the Library). Right now, the bookstore features a special Mother’s Day and Gardening books display you might want to check out. It includes a varied collection of children’s books, mom topics, wonderful cook books, and much more. There’s also a small collection of Easter books but get there quick before they’re sold out! You’re really going to want to get over there to check out the Friends’ “Giving Them Away!” sale – they’ve discounted a lot of fiction paperbacks – regularly $2 each, they’re are on sale for just $1 each OR 6 for $5! This sale lasts through this week only.
The volunteers of the Friends of the Redwood City Library work hard to help bring great programs and materials to the community – please consider becoming a member. Membership starts at just $10 a year for an individual! That’s a small investment you can make in your community’s library, and you’ll be helping to enhance and improve Library services. Also consider volunteering with the Friends of the Library — get all the information online!
You are invited to participate in an important discussion about updating Redwood City’s Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). The UWMP is the 20-year blueprint for our community’s water supply, an important visionary tool for meeting our long-term water supply objectives (see www.redwoodcity.org/uwmp). It’s updated every five years, and the City is inviting the community’s ideas, opinions and suggestions as we move forward with drafting the updated plan.
The second of two UWMP workshops is Wednesday, May 4th, 6 – 8 pm at the Public Works Services Municipal Corporation Yard located at 1400 Broadway. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Theresa Maluia at or by calling (650) 780-5991.
Please spread the word about joining the discussion of essential water supply topics, including reliability and impacts of drought; impacts of projected demand; water conservation; water reuse; and more. Updated information and schedules for the process of developing the UWMP are available online at www.redwoodcity.org/uwmp.
Below is the April 2011 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.
In the first of my monthly missives, I want to again thank all of the Redwood City officials and Council Members who took time to be at our Annual Meeting in February. I continue to be impressed with all of those who serve the City, and with their willingness to listen and have a conversation with us about our concerns and theirs. Same for our School District Superintendent and school staffs.
One of RSCA’s primary roles is advocacy for the interests of Shores residents and businesses. But our strong advocacy can sometimes be mistaken for an adversarial role, and I don’t think that describes our relationship with the City or the School District over the past few years. We have found City staff cooperative at all levels in listening to and dealing with our concerns, and we have an ongoing, positive dialog with our School District.
We don’t say “thank you” enough to those who serve us. Let’s change that. If you see any Redwood City employee here in the Shores – whether it is our police, fire, public works, maintenance, or other City staff – walk up and say “thank you for being here.”
Same for our teachers and school personnel. Take the time to say it.
Redwood Shores is an island. We are surrounded on three sides by water and on the fourth by Hwy. 101.
We live on an island. Although we are part of Redwood City, there is no boundary of the Shores that borders any other part of Redwood City. You have to travel 1? miles on a freeway to get from any part of the Shores to the closest part of Redwood City.
You realize just how isolated we can be whenever there is an accident on either the Dumbarton or San Mateo Bridges or on Hwy.101. Travel to and from the closest part of Redwood City can take 10-20 minutes, and sometimes it can take as long just to get to the other side of the freeway on either Ralston or Holly.
We don’t yet have the 2010 Census data, but the best estimates are that we have over 15,000 residents in the Shores. During the business day we probably have as many people coming into the Shores as leave to work. That means there are 15,000+ people here in the Shores at all times – days, nights, or weekends.
There are only two ways to get in or out of the Shores, and both involve overpasses that could be seriously compromised in a major seismic event. That would leave 15,000+ people stranded without City services or any other service that would need to come from the other side of Hwy. 101.
I make this point because we have a continuing discussion about a permanent public safety presence (i.e., police & fire protection) in the Shores. We have a fire station located in the Shores, and it is fortunate that the station was manned at the time of a recent fire at Lighthouse Cove, a condominium complex with 4-to-12 residence units in each building. (And we have many, many similar multi-family residential buildings in the Shores.) The quick response from the Fire Department’s Station 20, just a few blocks away, limited the damage to a single unit. Had the response come from the other side of Hwy.101, FOUR families might have lost their homes.
(The recent events in Japan have also reinforced the need for each household to be prepared for an emergency on “our little island”. More on that in coming issues of the PILOT.)
We do appreciate all of you who made time for our “60 Second Survey” of issues affecting the Shores, and we especially appreciated those who took time to offer additional comments. I will try to provide some details next month. We will ask for your input on other issues when we open another survey later this spring.
In December, one of our members raised the issue of tree roots damaging the pavement along sections of Marine, Bridge, and Redwood Shores Parkways. The City has responded quickly to repair the pavement along those sections, so you should have a smoother drive now. Weather permitting, most of the work should be completed by the time you read this.
— Harris Rogers, RSCA President
The 23rd Annual Mayor’s Beautification Recognition Program is underway!
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 27th, 2011, and screening/review of all nominations will be completed by mid-August. Recognition Awards will be presented at a City Council meeting in September.
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!
Here we are in the month of April, which also happens to be Pet First Aid Awareness Month.
Last year in this column I wrote about the need for every pet owner to have a pet first aid kit. With pet first aid awareness month upon us again, I want to ask all the wonderful pet owners reading this…do you have a pet first aid kit? If you do, that’s great!
Now, let me ask those of you who have a pet first aid kit…have you inspected the contents of your pet first aid kit lately? If not, now is the time to do so. Take a few minutes to locate your pet first aid kit. If it has been sitting in the back of your closet longer than you can remember, take a moment to dust the cobwebs off (we won’t tell on you!).
Now open your kit and inspect each item in your kit. Have any of the dates on the antiseptics or ointments expired? Is the individual packaging of every item still intact? Or is the packaging so old it has now become “one” with its contents, and any chance of separating the packaging from its contents is but a wishful yearning? Or has an item been in the kit for longer than you would admit to anyone and you aren’t quite sure what said item originally was (it’s OK, we promise not to reveal your identity!)? If you answered “yes” to any of these it is time to replace these items!
This is also a good time to check your kits contents to remind you exactly what actually is in your pet first aid kit. Maybe there are some items you need to add to your first aid kit? Since you last checked did your son “borrow” all of the bandaging supplies for his scout project? And, I know what you’re going to tell me… despite “juniors” promises to return all of the bandaging supplies to your pet first aid kit, quicker than you could say “abracadabra” those same supplies have vanished into thin air never to materialize again! It’s time to replace those items that have magically disappeared.
If you are reading this and feeling a bit guilty because you still have not put together a pet first aid kit, now is the time to act! You can put together your own pet first aid kit or buy a kit that is ready made. If you decide to purchase a readymade kit do check the contents to make sure you are not buying something that is just a bunch of bandages.
Optimally I recommend you have two pet first aid kits. One kit should be in your home. You should have another kit in your car for when you are traveling with Rover. I also recommend you have a smaller pet first aid kit in a waist pack…take it with you when you and Rover go hiking.
Some items to include in a pet first aid kit are bandages, tweezers, ointments, disinfectants, and a muzzle. Space does not allow me to list every item, however, if you would like me to email you a detailed list of suggested items for your pet first aid kit, please send an email to me and put “Pet First Aid Kit” in the subject line.
Get your pet first aid kit before you need one! You can never predict when you will need such a kit, so make it a priority to get a kit together today. By having a pet first aid kit you have taken steps to become a caring and conscientious pet owner.
–Jan Brown
Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting and is a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor.
These two messages were delivered to representatives of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District on behalf of the Redwood Shores Community Association.
March 18, 2011
Mr. Andrew Stulbarg, President, &
Members of the Belmont-Redwood Shores Board of Trustees
2960 Hallmark Dr, Belmont, CA 94002
Dear Mr. Stulberg & Trustees:
With regard to the resignation of Michael Parker and the resulting Board of Trustees vacancy, I am writing at the direction of the RSCA Board of Directors to strongly urge that your Board fill this vacancy with a resident of Redwood Shores.
The student population from Redwood Shores is about one third of the total enrollment of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, and Shores property owners provide nearly half of the tax revenue. Based on these statistics alone, we believe that the Shores community deserves representation of at least two seats on the Board of Trustees. With basic aid districts about to lose funding from the State, it seems likely that the District will inevitably seek increased taxes in upcoming ballot measures. Having another School Board member who is a Shores resident will go a long way in garnering neighborhood support for these measures.
In addition, we intend to publish this vacancy in the April issue of The PILOT. We are also strongly suggesting that you allow sufficient time for interested candidates from this community to apply before rushing to fill this open position.
As always we look forward to working with you on this and other issues that affect our local schools, which are a highly valued part of our community.
Sincerely, Harris Rogers.
March 19, 2011
Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri, Superintendent, &
Members of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School Board of Trustees
2960 Hallmark Dr, Belmont, CA 94002
Dear Superintendent Orta-Camilleri & Board Members:
As a longtime supporter of our local schools, Redwood Shores Community Association (RSCA) was happy to learn that the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District has been awarded $8.75 million in matching funds for use at Redwood Shores Elementary School.
We understand that that are legitimate needs at Redwood Shores Elementary to which these funds can be applied. For example, we think it would be reasonable to use a portion of these funds to build additional classroom space to accommodate future growth and to install an artificial turf field to save water and lessen the students’ exposure to goose feces.
However, we cannot imagine that Redwood Shores Elementary has $8.75 million of such needs.
Accordingly, we urge the District to use a substantial portion of these matching funds to pay off a significant amount (e.g., millions) of the $25M in outstanding Measure C Bonds. By using a portion of this windfall to repay bond principal, you would show Shores residents that you are prudent managers of our property taxes. This is an especially important message right now given that the School District is likely to ask voters to pass additional parcel tax measures in the near future.
Further, if for some legal reason the matching funds can’t be used to pay off Measure C bonds, we feel strongly that any matching funds – other than those needed for essential capital projects – should be spent on facilities that will benefit the community as a whole in addition to the school. Should this situation arise, we ask that you work with RSCA to engage the community in discussing and prioritizing various projects at Redwood Shores Elementary that would provide benefits to the entire community.
In the interest of keeping our community informed, we are happy to provide space in our monthly publication, The PILOT, and on our web site (RSCA.org) for District communications related to use of the bond funds and, of course, other District news of interest.
We look forward to working with you on this and other issues that affect our local schools, which are a valued contributor to our high quality of life.
Best regards,
Harris Rogers, President Doug Crisman, Past President
Redwood Shores Community Association Redwood Shores Community Association
As many of you may be aware, our school district will be unable to provide funding for some critical technology needs at our school: (i) much needed upgrades for student computers in the Sandpiper computer lab (cost $30,000), and (ii) a system upgrade to Sandpiper’s wireless infrastructure (cost $10,000). In order to address these technology funding needs, we are holding a technology fundraiser through the sale of Neighborhood Savings Books (see details below).
On a lighter note, the Sandpiper Multicultural Celebration was held on March 4. Much appreciation to the amazing committee who organized this fantastic event! Over 300 folks enjoyed the diverse food, family fashion show, arts and crafts, and entertainment. It was very exciting to see the debut of the Sandpiper Show Choir! Also, many thanks to the Sandpiper School Garden Committee! The new garden plantings near Rooms 3, 4, and 5 are a reflection of the “seeds of knowledge” and “continuing growth” here at Sandpiper.
Finally, please come to the next PTA General Association Meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. in Room B, at which time the election of PTA officers for the 2011-2012 school year take will place (see slate of officers listed below). Also, we are honored to have School-Force President Ardythe Andrews as our our guest speaker at our meeting. I hope to see you then!
— Suzanne K. Pritchard
— Sandpiper PTA President
Math and Science Innovation entered a new stage on March 23 when all fourth graders and a few third graders in a split class at Redwood Shores Elementary School were treated to live demonstrations of principles of flight and aerodynamics.
Mike Nadler (a former helicopter pilot) and his colleagues, Pete Johnson and Ray Squires first used scale models to teach students the proper nomenclature of various parts of an aircraft. Students in Mr. Mullins’ and Ms. DeStefani’s classes learned the names and functions of fuselage, empennage, aileron, elevator, flap, rudder, etc. in the classroom. They then moved into the spacious multipurpose room and watched Mike using radio controlled aircraft to demonstrate how airplanes take off, fly, and land.
COMING SOON!
Aeronautics Club: Mike and his colleagues are scheduled to return on April 6 to do similar presentations and live demos for all third graders in Mrs. Lo and Mrs. Norman’s classes. They will return on April 13 to sign up students who wish to join the aeronautics club as an extracurricular activity on Wednesdays after dismissal. The official launch of the club is scheduled for April 27 after spring break.
Yuri’s Day at NASA: One hundred third and fourth grade students at Redwood Shores and Sandpiper Elementary Schools are invited to NASA Ames in Mountain View on April 8 to celebrate the golden anniversary (50th) of first human space flight by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. They will see exhibits on astrobiology, hypersonic aircraft design, search for life in space, etc. All exhibits have been correlated to California Content Standards by a parent in Redwood Shores so the teachers can prepare the students in advance and review the concepts afterwards.
Parade of Planes: Details of this event were presented to Redwood City Council on March 7. Principal Linda McDaniel of Sandpiper Elementary School, Mark Larson, Manager of San Mateo County Airports, Carol Ford, President of San Carlos Airport Pilots Association, and Donna Marie Baldwin of Coldwell Banker attended the presentation to demonstrate their support. Redwood City Police Department subsequently granted permission to hold the event on Saturday, May 21. On that day, aircraft based at San Carlos Airport will taxi on their own power on Redwood Shores Parkway to Sandpiper with police escort in front and back and “wing walkers” next to each moving aircraft to keep spectators at a safe distance. The aircraft will be on static display at Sandpiper all day. Pilots will be on hand to inspire children to learn math and science so they can make their dreams come true. Please look for details of this exciting event here in the May issue of The Pilot.
AIM HIGH. SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT!