Category Archives: News

In Memory of Connie Morgan

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Our beloved teacher, Connie Morgan, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 8, at 5:35 p.m. surrounded by her devoted husband, children, extended family members and a lifetime friend. I am thankful that I was able to visit with Mrs. Morgan prior to my departure for vacation. I took a copy of the yearbook to share with her the many thank you notes from the fifth grade class.

Mrs. Morgan was an extraordinary teacher who touched the lives of each of her students in a very special way. She had an incredible gift for being able to bring out the best in every child who crossed the threshold of her classroom door. The children in Mrs. Morgan’s classroom will remember her as the teacher who believed in them and prepared them for success in school. She always went above and beyond her teaching duties to ensure the happiness of not only her students and their parents, but also her colleagues.

Even as Mrs. Morgan battled her illness at the beginning of the 2009 school year, she had planned the entire year for her students. She had made the initial entries in the memory books that she prepared for students every year and scheduled the annual class play on the master calendar. Mrs. Morgan’s smile brightened the office every day. We were fortunate to be able to share her love for teaching and learning. Her passion for art will never be forgotten, as we continue to carry on the annual Art in Action display at Open House.

We know how difficult it was for Mrs. Morgan to let go of her commitment at Sandpiper School to take care of her health and we were grateful when she returned to school in June 2010 to say good-bye to her students. In her own way, she brought closure to her 20 years of service in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. Mrs. Morgan was more than a colleague, she was a friend for life. As she now rests in peace, we will find comfort in knowing she was loved by all who were connected to Sandpiper School and we loved her too. Our deepest sympathy and condolences are extended to Mrs. Morgan’s family.

A memorial service for Mrs. Morgan was held on Sunday, July 24, at 3:00 p.m. at the Sandpiper Community Center. Her family invited the Sandpiper School community to join them in this celebration of her life. Plans are underway for a special tribute to Mrs. Morgan at Sandpiper School.

— Submitted by Linda Mc Daniel, Sandpiper School Principal

From Lynn’s Kitchen

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HOT AUGUST NIGHTS

When our summer weather turns hot and the evenings are still warm, it seems our appetites languish. This is a wonderful time for a light salad with fresh grilled vegetables, stone fruit or a small piece of grilled salmon or grilled chicken breast. By eating lightly, there is room for a scrumptious, soothing dessert. There is nothing better than a cool panna cotta to finish off a summer meal. I fell in love with panna cotta the very first time I tried it, and always look for it on the menu when we are dining out. Panna cotta means “cooked cream” and was originally from the Northern Italian region of Piemonte. The desserts are softly set and creamy, and are perfect for a dinner party or special dessert because they can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to serve.

There are so many creative variations to flavor the dessert – this recipe uses balsamic flavored strawberries as an accompaniment, but you can use fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and even other ripe stone fruits, such as cherries, peaches or apricots – just remove the pits and peels if necessary and slice them into bite-sizes pieces.

 

PANNA COTTA WITH BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES

(Makes 4 Servings)

Ingredients

  • ½ Packet (1 teaspoon) unflavored Gelatin Powder
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons Cold Water
  • 1 ½ Cups Heavy Cream
  • 1 Cup Plain Whole Milk Yogurt
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ½ Vanilla Bean, split and seeds scraped
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar, plus 1 Tablespoon
  • 2 Pints (4 Cups) Sliced Fresh Strawberries
  • 2 ½ Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Sugar
  • ¼ Teaspoon Freshly Grated Black Pepper
  • Freshly Grated Lemon Zest, for serving

Directions

In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin on 1 ½ Tablespoons of cold water. Stir, and set aside for 10 minute to allow gelatin to dissolve.

In a medium bowl, whisk together ¾ of the Heavy Cream, the yogurt, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean seeds. Heat the remaining ¾ Cup of Heavy Cream and the 1/3 Cup of Sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat, and add the softened gelatin to the hot cream mixture, and stir to combine. Pour into 4 (6 0 8 ounce) ramekins or custard cups and refrigerate uncovered until cold. When the panna cottas are thoroughly chilled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Combine the sliced strawberries, balsamic vinegar, 1 Tablespoon Sugar, and ground pepper 30 -45 minutes before serving. Set aside a room temperature.

To serve, run a small knife around each dessert in the ramekin, and dip the ramekin QUICKLY into a bowl of hot tap water. Invert each ramekin onto a pretty dessert plate, and surround the panna cotta with the strawberries. Dust tops of panna cotta lightly with freshly grated lemon zest, and serve.

— Lynn Kathleen Adams
— RSCA Board Member since 1994

Wine Appreciation

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“You ARE kidding me, aren’t you?” my wife said as she stared incredulously at the glass that I was using to drink my red wine. It was a squat, thick lipped, tumbler that I occasionally use for drinking water and fruit juices. “You of all people!” she added for additional taunt. “We’ve got nice crystal stemware, and you’re drinking from that . . . that thing?”

Sure enough, that’s what I was doing. It was dinnertime and I was drinking wine from a stubby, glass that was built to survive even the worst that the Terminator could inflict. Actually, the glass seems ideal for sipping Pastis, that milky white (when water is added), anise flavored liquor that the French call the “milk of Provence.” In his best selling book, Toujours Provence, Peter Mayle asserts that to enjoy Pastis, ambiance is the key ingredient, “which dictates how and where it should be drunk.” He says that it can’t be drunk in a hurry. It can’t be drunk in New York or England or “anywhere that requires its customers to wear socks. It wouldn’t taste the same. It has to be in Provence.” And although he doesn’t mention it, I suspect the right glass—a non-descript tumbler—is also one of the vital components. Anything more refined, like crystal or quality stemware, just wouldn’t do the deed.

Similarly, my wife requires a specific cup and saucer in order to properly enjoy her breakfast caffeine boost. It has to be thin-rimmed and of delicate construction. She claims the coffee is not as enjoyable and tastes completely different in anything else but fine china. Of course, I suspect the morning ambiance is given a substantial boost when she’s stirred and gently awakened by the enticing aromas of ready-to-drink, Columbian Supremo that wafts into the bedroom, courtesy of you know who.

Also, if you’re into super-premium wines, then you might also be into Riedel wine glasses from Austria. If not, be advised that they have produced a highly successful line of connoisseur wine stemware that are specifically designed to deliver the heights of drinking pleasure for each of the most popular red and white varietals. That’s correct, one individual and distinct shape for each grape varietal. Ambience, it appears, can at times make special demands of us.

But “peasant food, “as I refer to it, was one of the key players in our dinnertime ambiance: leftover stew I discovered lurking behind several Tupperwares in the corner of our freezer. Also, we had a half empty bottle of a so-so Pinot Noir sulking quietly in the food compartment door of our Sub-Zero refrigerator. It was, without a doubt, the perfect, elemental match of two underachievers who would come together to deliver their last best shot. They were destined for the other. And, as such, the moment demanded something without the breeding of a Riedel, or even the workman-like reliability of our anonymous daily drinker stemware. No, it required the perfect partner—that ordinary, undistinguished, squat little tumbler.


– Tom Barras

www.TomBarrasWineCommentary.blogspot.com/

New Law Requires Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Homes

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Sacramento – Starting July 1, 2011 new legislation will go into effect requiring homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in every California home; a move CAL FIRE officials say will save lives.

“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, each year claiming the lives of an average of 480 people,” said Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover. “And sending more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms across the nation.”

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced from heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and many types of appliances and cooking devices. The best way for homeowners to stay protected from CO is to have a carbon monoxide detector installed on every floor and outside each sleeping area. A recent study found that nearly nine in 10 California households did not have a CO detector. “Having a CO detector is a small investment that really can help save your life and the lives of your family,” said Chief Hoover.

To help educate homeowners about the new law and to encourage them to install a carbon monoxide detector, CAL FIRE / Office of the State Fire Marshal is teaming up with fire departments across the state, the Home Safety Council, First Alert and Lowe’s to host “CO Saturday” on June 4. “CO Saturday” will be a special day-long safety celebration to teach families how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Though previous laws only required newly-constructed homes to have CO alarms, the state’s new Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Senate Bill 183) requires owners of all existing single-family homes with an attached garage or a fossil fuel source to install CO alarm devices within the home by July 1, 2011.

Owners of multi-family leased or rental dwellings, such as apartment buildings, have until January 1, 2013 to comply with the law.

For more information on how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov . For more information on “CO Saturday”, please visit www.homesafetycouncil.org .

— By the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Jeff Gee Appointed to SamTrans Board of Directors

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Councilmember Jeff Gee beat other elected officials from nearby Peninsula cities, including Menlo Park Mayor Pro Tem Kirsten Keith, for a spot on the SamTrans Board of Directors.

Gee will take the position that was left vacant after former San Carlos Mayor Omar Ahmad died suddenly of a heart attack May 10.

Gee was picked for the position Friday by a group of elected officials representing the 20 towns and cities spanning the Peninsula that are included in the San Mateo County Council of Cities.

Keith and East Palo Alto Mayor Carlos Romero had also expressed interest in the vacant position.

Gee joins the board during a tumultuous time for local public transportation agencies, as many cities and counties are faced with cutting services in an attempt to cope with cash-strapped budgets.

Local public transportation agencies and officials are further burdened by the financial woes of Caltrain, which earlier this year announced a fiscal emergency and bandied about the possibility of reducing the amount of trains in circulation, or closing train stations in order to cut costs.

Furthermore, the elected officials in local communities must be prepared to engage in ongoing discussions about High-Speed Rail coming through the Peninsula.

But despite the seemingly daunting tasks he is faced with, Gee said he is prepared for the challenge. As a child, Gee’s father worked as an engineer for SamTrans as the transportation route was going through initial stages of planning for construction.

He said he recalls seeing blueprint plans for the route sprawled across his kitchen table years ago. Now he’s about to join the table that will decide the direction the agency will take in the future.

But Gee acknowledges the irony of now having an opportunity to map the future of his father’s work.

“It is an honor to have it come full circle,” said Gee.

Gee said the extent to which SamTrans will be able to offer services to San Mateo County residents will hinge largely on whether voters are willing to pay a tax that would go to save Caltrain.

As the rail system has fallen on dire financial straits, both SamTrans and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority have increased contributions in an effort to keep Caltrain running, said Gee.

Gee said routes to some isolated neighborhoods across the county, such as those near the coast, have suffered a reduction in the amount of busses stopping in their neighborhood.

Such service cuts can be directly attributed to the increased contributions SamTrans is making to Caltrain, said Gee. And he said that runs contrary to the purpose and responsibilities that SamTrans has to county residents.

“When we birthed SamTrans for the county, it wasn’t to run a train. It was to provide services to residents in the county,” said Gee.

He said he would be in favor of a tax that would go to support Caltrain, which is the only local public transportation agency lacking a dedicated funding source.

Gee said he will work to increase collaboration and efficiency between all existing public transportation agencies on the Peninsula. And that should he succeed, the city and residents of Redwood City would benefit.

He said that increased reliability and collaboration between agencies such as SamTrans and Caltrain would make Redwood City a more attractive destination for businesses wishing to move into the city.

As well, it would move the city closer to achieving a goal set by the City Council that would make Redwood City more friendly to those who favor alternative means of transportation such as walking or biking to driving a car.

He said Redwood City residents are beginning to make different decisions related to transportation than the generations before did.

“There is a change going on in our community,” he said, citing people who elect to move into higher density housing near transit centers as opposed to out in the suburbs, which demands more driving.

But Gee said residents will be faced with even more difficult decisions soon, as it pertains to a High-Speed Rail line coming through the Peninsula.

Gee, who is in favor of High-Speed Rail, said it is in the best interest of the greater community to begin discussions regarding how people envision the future of the Peninsula. And he advocated for communities throughout the region to begin such talks soon.

If those discussions and pro-active behaviors don’t start soon, Gee fears the fate of the region may fall in the hands of outside parties.

“We have to have a vision first. Or else, someone will tell us what the solution will be, whether we like it or not,” he said.

— Reprinted with permission by Stacie Chan, Editor, Redwood City Patch

President’s Memo: August 2011

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More On our “Resident” Canada Geese

We highly value the Shores’ open spaces and our surrounding wetlands, but when our kids can’t play in our parks without being soiled with bird excrement, when we can’t stroll through our community without constantly stepping in feces, then we have a problem that requires action. The rapid increase in the numbers of non-migratory Canada geese and the excrement they leave all over the Shores has created a public health hazard in addition to a significant decline in our community’s ability to enjoy our parks and walkways.

Because of summer vacations The PILOT is going to press a little early this month, but here’s a little of what’s been going on recently:

I was expecting a higher level of response to my comments last month on this issue. The most impassioned was a “complaint” that we had been talking about this issue for the past two years, yet it appears that still nothing was being done to resolve the problem. And that’s somewhat true.

We did come up with what appeared at the time to be the best solution, and one that’s being used in other parts of the U.S. It involved the use of a “birth-control” bait that would suppress the reproduction of the resident geese. But, unlike other areas of the U.S., we have protected bird species here in the Shores that could have also been impacted, so that solution had to be shelved.

On July 15th I had a first meeting with representatives of U.S. Fish & Wildlife and CA Dept. of Fish & Game to review our situation in and around the Shores. To my knowledge this is the first time that both US & CA wildlife officials have been in the same room at the same time to have a discussion of what can and can’t be done to mitigate our Canada geese infestation without impacting migratory species and native wildlife.

What we’ve tried to do is start a process whereby we can get the FACTS and the best advice from state and federal wildlife departments on what we can/can’t do, then work with the City to put together a plan for “coordinated” action in the Shores.

The City alone can’t solve the problem

Redwood City has been and is actively involved with RSCA to find solutions to our problems with Canada geese in the Shores. Most of what needs to be done, though, will be on private properties in the Shores, and it will require cooperative efforts between the City, state, and federal agencies, our local businesses, the individual HOAs, and the non-HOA residents of Redwood Shores.

RSCA will be working with all involved to develop a coordinated plan to clean up our community. We don’t want to simply move the problem from one part of the Shores to another.

We will also be sharing our plans with neighboring communities. Part of our increasing problem here is due to mitigation efforts in Foster City, for example, driving even more of these non-migratory geese into the Shores.

One of the problems we have faced in getting people to come to terms with and address the severity of problem has been the level of “half-truths” and “old truths” that seem to come up every time any action is proposed. (By “old truths”, I mean things that might have been true 20 years ago that are no longer true in 2011.)

They were NOT here first

Canada geese are NOT native to this area, most here do not migrate, and Canada geese decided to settle here permanently only as this community developed. As I said last month, current urban landscaping provides a “preferred habitat” that invites a normally migratory species to “settle”, and Canada geese have become an “overly successful species” without natural predators here in the Shores. They “crowd out” other native and migratory species by taking their food and habitat.

Federal & state agencies across the country have recognized and adopted regulations to deal specifically with the problems of “resident” Canada geese. They are now considered a “nuisance” species in most areas.

Feeding is ILLEGAL (by Fed, State,& Local laws)

If you are feeding ANY wildlife, either on your own property or in the parks or other public areas, please STOP! Be aware that feeding wildlife is a violation of federal, state, and local laws.

Again, this is the #1 recommendation of both the U.S. and state wildlife agencies. Feeding encourages the geese to stay here, and it also causes them to grow accustomed to human interaction. This is not beneficial to the geese (or to any other wild species), and it can result in more aggressive and harmful behavior by the geese towards humans. Any food left outside – whether it’s for pets or wildlife – also attracts rats and other pests.

Help us keep our neighborhoods, parks, and walkways clean so that we can maintain the highest quality of life in the Shores.

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 go to RSCA.org and under “Feedback”, click on the “Join our email list” button 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.

Caltrain Cameras

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Caltrain is looking to curb suicides on it’s tracks by installing cameras. A total of 70 cameras will be mounted to the front and back of every train in an effort to record deaths and suspicious activity.

The transit system is expected to award the camera contract Thursday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The effort will be paid for by a $500,000 grant from a state bond.

So far this year, there’s been nine suicides on the tracks stretching from Gilroy to San Francisco. Last year, there were 11 reported.

Caltrain is adding 65 cameras to its trains this summer in order to keep track of everything that happens in its presence.

The digital video recording equipment will be added to all the locomotives and cab cars operated by Caltrain, on both the front and the back of each piece of equipment, Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said.

The cameras will only be placed outside the trains.

“This is a project we’ve been working on for a couple of years,” Christine Dunn said.

The Board of Directors that oversees Caltrain approved the purchase of the cameras in 2008, which is being paid for with grant money.

The cameras will operate 24 hours a day, and will be used as another tool in an investigation of any accidents or fatalities that happen on the Caltrain right-of-way, Dunn said.

“They’ll record everything that’s in front of them,” she said, which “will include trespassers on the right of way, anything that’s happening in the maintenance yard, vandalism, signals along the train tracks.”

Dunn said that despite recent speculation, the cameras are not being installed as a direct response to recent suicides on Caltrain tracks.

AT&T Construction Through August

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AT&T will be installing a number of infrastructure improvements for its wired communication services, including placing Lightspeed cabinet boxes in Redwood Shores for U-verse high-speed internet, television and telephone service. Because of this, construction crews will be at various sites throughout the month. Please be on the lookout in these areas to slow down while passing construction zones stay extra wary of pedestrians when passing these sites.

The proposed construction schedule for Redwood Shores is as follows:

Batch 1:
Estimated window start time: Week of 7/25/2011

  • Davit and Shell
  • MH 755 Redwood Shores PKWY
  • 1 Egret Ln

Batch 2:
Estimated window start time: Week of 8/8/2011

  • 601 & 650 Redwood Shores PKWY
  • 1 Avocet Dr
  • 440 Marine PKWY

Batch 3:
Estimated window start time: Week of 8/22/2011

  • 455 Compass Cir
  • 397 Lanyard Dr
  • 800 Marine PKWY
  • 595 Shell PKWY

Batch 4:
Estimated window start time: Week of 9/5/2011

  • 400 Tiller Ln
  • 554 Marine PKWY
  • 700 Marine PKWY
  • Shearwater & Mindanao

Wine Appreciation

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A buddy of mine says he likes his red wines “in the style of Jennifer Lopez.” You know, what you see and sniff is what you get with this colorful, grapey and juicy quaff. Overtly fruity and vibrant, with no tannic edges, this extroverted, purple, mouth watering gem is made for immediate enjoyment. Age it in your wine cellar for later drinking? Heck no, guzzle it today, and enjoy it with simple, food—ribs, burgers, sausages, basic pasta. Serve it in tumblers or Styrofoam cups, and nobody will bat an eye. Subtleties and nuances are not part of this all time Bistro favorite. Everything is up front, right where it belongs. There are no cerebral discussions needed to appreciate this hedonistic package of pleasure.

“Gimme a Catherine Zeta-Jones Red any day,” spouts another friend of mine. Maturity, refinement, and elegance are the hallmarks of his style of red wine. Approachable and certainly enjoyable right now, this well structured, elegant Cru delivers complex, voluptuous flavors of blackcurrant, cedar and tobacco. But this world class claret, with well balanced fruit and tannins, needs a little time and understanding to soften and reveal its long term promises. When the time comes, you must pay attention because the messages are soft, gentle, and nuance-laden. Satisfying throughout its long life, this very special red wine requires the right food, the right glass, and the right crowd. Snobby? Some would say so. Ah, but for those who know…

And yet another friend insists that the “Julia Roberts Red” is the only way to go. While frequently described as a “feminine” style of wine, many men have been known to knock themselves out pursuing it elusive charms. A “sweetie,” but not in the sugar sense, this aromatic beauty offers a nifty middle ground to the two wines mentioned above. This Pretty Woman is outgoing, fragrant, and smooth tasting from the get-go. Offering more serious flavors, structure, and longevity than J-Lo, it doesn’t require Zeta-Jones’ long term commitment before you understand what it’s all about. And while it is known for its immediate, tannin-free red berry appeal, this is not a one night stand drink. Though sometimes elusive and occasionally confounding, this is the wine that you will keep going back to week after week and year after year.

So, what’s the point of all that anthropomorphic word play? Well, first of all, I’ve described three types of red wine. Each made from different grapes. With each style providing its own brand of pleasure. Recognize them? I’m suggesting, not so subtly, there’s variety out there. There are many reds and numerous whites that should be explored and enjoyed. If you’re willing to learn the major grape varieties, and their flavor profile (taste characteristics), plus a few wine vocabulary basics (wine’s structural aspects), then you’re well on your way to knowing what’s in your glass, and more importantly, why you like it.


– Tom Barras

www.TomBarrasWineCommentary.blogspot.com/

The Perils of Internet Shopping

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When stores started selling their wares on the Internet several years ago, they opened a Pandora’s box. Customers are now faced with so many options that they can easily feel overwhelmed and suffer “paralysis by analysis”. I have clients who delayed starting a remodeling project for twelve years because they had the misconception they could save time and money by doing all the planning and shopping themselves. They spent hours perusing the web and became thoroughly confused about what was a good investment, which products were reliable long term and where to begin the project. All they discovered was that the task was too daunting to undertake without professional experienced guidance.

Shopping on the Internet doesn’t save money unless you consider that all your time is of no value. Mistakes in Internet purchases can be difficult and costly to resolve. Some companies don’t even have a phone number on their website for customer assistance! The customer is responsible when they order a product in the wrong size. This can be a major dilemma when measuring for window treatments or not considering the clearance for the swing of the door on an appliance when it is installed in cabinetry. Then there is the problem of tracking the product from purchase to delivery and installation-all without damage to the product or the home. The California Board of Equalization now requires the consumer to retro-actively pay sales tax on all out of state Internet purchases, so there isn’t even any saving in sales tax. When a customer shops for furniture, appliances and plumbing fixtures on the Internet they are unable to sit on the product, test its’ functionality or judge its’ quality.

Working with a designer keeps the customer from being overwhelmed with choices and decisions. Designers guide their clients towards durable products and companies with proven track records of excellent customer service. Often making a slightly larger investment in the initial purchase will yield a product with a history of lower maintenance and better warranty service. After all, doesn’t everyone want the dollars they spend today to provide years of pleasure and worry-free maintenance in their home?

What happened to the clients who delayed their remodeling project for years? Within weeks of hiring a decorator, they had a team that included an architect and a contractor who transformed their wishes into a specific floor plan with detailed attention to their needs for storage as well as dedicated spaces for music and video gaming. Now they can proceed with confidence to build their “forever “ home.

 

— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors

To find the solutions to your home dilemmas, give Jean a call: of (650) 593-9622