Monthly Archives: December 2009

RSTC Ends The Season With A Twist

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The Redwood Shores Tennis Club ended our tournament season with Team Tennis with a Twist.  I won’t tell you what the twist was, but none of the players had heard of it before, they LOVED it, and we will be doing it again next year.  Join us next year to learn the secret!

Winners of our first ever TTT Tournament were the Apples, with Annette Vernon (captain), Michael Garb, Tom Salles, Jim Schwartz, Judy Garb, and Laurie Merrill.  The Oranges came in 3 games behind.  Yes, we compared Apples to Oranges!  Prizes were, coincidentally, apples (cookie), apples (chocolate), and apples (tea).

The evening social was an Iron Chef Competition held in the remodeled kitchen of Irene and Jay Muzio.  Irene won Presentation for her pretty Caramel Apples, Barb Urrutia won Taste for an Apple Chutney Bruschetta, and Doug McCracken won Originality for Apple Burritos.  The secret ingredient was, of course, apples.

Thank you to the RSTC Board, officers, and volunteers for a fantastic year.  Our last remaining event is our holiday party to be held January 30 at Vivace’s.  We’ll hang up our aprons for a night to enjoy an elegant evening with a fantastic 4-course dinner, followed by a spirited white elephant gift exchange.

For more information about the Redwood Shores Tennis Club, please visit www.rstc.org.

Submitted by Karen Brodersen

Sandpiper News

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The Sandpiper Grants & Awards team was recently awarded a grant by the Art in Action organization. The funds received from this grant will be used to purchase specific supplies for the art program taught to every student by our trained parent volunteers. A special thank you to team leaders Jinmin Rudolph and Jeff Wong, and Grade 5 teacher Mrs. Taylor, for their leadership.

With the assistance of Ralston Cadette Troop 20724, the Sandpiper Green Team continues to encourage eco-friendly habits with student education and campus recycling events. In November the Green Team also kicked off the Cool the Earth Program which helps students and their families adopt eco-friendly habits at home. Look for future community recycling events on the RSCA events billboard or online at http://sandpiper.brssd.org/ptaprograms.html?bpid=12120.

The Sandpiper community wishes everyone a safe and joyous holiday season. Please remember school will be closed December 21-January 1 for the winter break. Classes will resume on Monday, January 4.

Preventing Spread Of Colds and Flu

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We are in the middle of a busy cold and flu season. In addition to all the usual seasonal cold and flu viruses, we have the H1N1 virus, which has been circulating throughout the United States this fall.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that flu activity is already widespread in 46 states, and that flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are unseasonably high. Plus we still have more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold and the seasonal influenza viruses to look forward to this winter.

The cold and flu viruses cause a predominately respiratory illness, with a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, headache and fatigue. In a healthy individual, these are temporary symptoms that last five to seven days. Individuals with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, often experience more severe symptoms.

While we have no vaccine against the common cold, the mainstay of preventing the seasonal flu has been the annual seasonal flu vaccine. This year we also have a vaccine against the H1N1 flu. Due to production delays and distribution problems, however, there is a nationwide shortage of both flu vaccines. So what else can we do to protect ourselves and our families against the flu?

Cold and flu viruses are spread from infected individuals in the droplets of a cough or sneeze, or in the discharge of a runny nose. If you are infected, you can help prevent spreading it to family and friends by doing the following:

  • Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then immediately dispose of the tissue after using it.
  • If you have no tissue, avoid coughing or sneezing into your hand. Instead, cough or sneeze into your upper arm.
  • If you do use your hand to cover a cough, wash immediately with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
  • Do not carry a cloth handkerchief that you use repeatedly, because it is a haven for lurking germs. Use disposable tissue instead.
  • If you get a fever, stay home until 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the aid of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol) to avoid passing the virus to others. Keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and rest.

To best avoid getting infected with a cold or flu virus, remember the following:

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as these are the places where the viruses enter our bodies.
  • If you need to rub your eyes or scratch your nose, either use a clean disposable tissue or wash your hands first.

If you are caring for a loved one with the flu, remind them of these tips to avoid passing the virus to family members. Follow the advice of public health authorities regarding school closures, and avoid crowded areas during the height of cold and flu season.

If you do get the flu-which is usually accompanied by a high fever, dry cough and body aches-there are prescription medicines to help reduce the duration and/or intensity of the illness. These work best if started within two days of the initial symptoms and are most often used for individuals with chronic illnesses who might have a more serious course. Your doctor may want to see you before prescribing these anti-flu medicines to assure you do not have pneumonia, a serious condition that may have symptoms similar to the flu but requires a very different type of treatment.

In general, avoiding colds and the flu involves following the advice we all received from our grandmothers-covering our coughs and sneezes and washing our hands. Follow this common-sense advice and the other tips outlined above, and have a happy, healthy holiday season.

Photo Caption: Dr. Bill Black is an internal medicine physician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).Endnote: The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.

Preventing Spread of Colds and Flu

By Bill Black, M.D., Ph.D.

We are in the middle of a busy cold and flu season. In addition to all the usual seasonal cold and flu viruses, we have the H1N1 virus, which has been circulating throughout the United States this fall.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that flu activity is already widespread in 46 states, and that flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are unseasonably high. Plus we still have more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold and the seasonal influenza viruses to look forward to this winter.

The cold and flu viruses cause a predominately respiratory illness, with a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, headache and fatigue. In a healthy individual, these are temporary symptoms that last five to seven days. Individuals with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, often experience more severe symptoms.

While we have no vaccine against the common cold, the mainstay of preventing the seasonal flu has been the annual seasonal flu vaccine. This year we also have a vaccine against the H1N1 flu. Due to production delays and distribution problems, however, there is a nationwide shortage of both flu vaccines. So what else can we do to protect ourselves and our families against the flu?

Cold and flu viruses are spread from infected individuals in the droplets of a cough or sneeze, or in the discharge of a runny nose. If you are infected, you can help prevent spreading it to family and friends by doing the following:

  • Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then immediately dispose of the tissue after using it.
  • If you have no tissue, avoid coughing or sneezing into your hand. Instead, cough or sneeze into your upper arm.
  • If you do use your hand to cover a cough, wash immediately with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
  • Do not carry a cloth handkerchief that you use repeatedly, because it is a haven for lurking germs. Use disposable tissue instead.
  • If you get a fever, stay home until 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the aid of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol) to avoid passing the virus to others. Keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and rest.

To best avoid getting infected with a cold or flu virus, remember the following:

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as these are the places where the viruses enter our bodies.
  • If you need to rub your eyes or scratch your nose, either use a clean disposable tissue or wash your hands first.

If you are caring for a loved one with the flu, remind them of these tips to avoid passing the virus to family members. Follow the advice of public health authorities regarding school closures, and avoid crowded areas during the height of cold and flu season.

If you do get the flu-which is usually accompanied by a high fever, dry cough and body aches-there are prescription medicines to help reduce the duration and/or intensity of the illness. These work best if started within two days of the initial symptoms and are most often used for individuals with chronic illnesses who might have a more serious course. Your doctor may want to see you before prescribing these anti-flu medicines to assure you do not have pneumonia, a serious condition that may have symptoms similar to the flu but requires a very different type of treatment.

In general, avoiding colds and the flu involves following the advice we all received from our grandmothers-covering our coughs and sneezes and washing our hands. Follow this common-sense advice and the other tips outlined above, and have a happy, healthy holiday season.

— By Bill Black, M.D., Ph.D.Endnote: The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.

Why Does My Dog Trainer Do That!!

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Many people take their dogs to obedience class, spend hours teaching the dog to walk at heel, and promptly abandon the technique. I’ll be told, for example, “my dog is all over the place on walks, sniffing and marking on everything.  If I stopped him from doing that he wouldn’t have any fun.”  Others have told me: ” I prefer that she is in front; that way I have warning that she is going to misbehave”.

We are taught to heel the dog as a way of managing behaviors, not merely to equip us to participate confidently in doggie parades and other. Quite simply, a dog that is even a step in front of you is under the psychological impression that he or she is leading; when you are in front, they are much more likely to defer to your wishes.  This is true even if the dog has learned not to pull.

Keeping the dog in the heel position (and educating your dog) enables you to dissuade dog-aggressive dogs from challenging other dogs you encounter; it assures passers-by who may be leery of dogs despite Fido’s sweet disposition that Fido will neither lunge at them nor jump up on them for attention.

While we still allow opportunity for sniffing and marking (or not), we actually give our dog more stimulation, and she’ll arrive home more tired and happier, when we challenge her to respond to what we ask her to do.  Similarly, if we keep her next to us, and watch for abrupt shifts in her body language as we walk, we will equip ourselves to modify her behavioral choices as opposed to being alerted that she’s ready to lunge and yank our arm from its socket yet again.  Last but not least, if I need to go to a mail box or a waste receptacle, I know that keeping the dog in a psychologically subordinate position will enhance the brevity and harmony of that trip.

— Submitted by Peter Levy, Bark Buster’s Certified Trainer

Fashion Forward: It’s The Holiday Season

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…And haven’t we all been reminded of this now since before Halloween?!  I just saw my first Santa on the street and it isn’t even Thanksgiving as I write this article.  So let’s talk holiday attire – whether you’re going to the office party, a dinner party, or dinner & dancing, this year’s multi-tasking holiday tips (meaning, they work for men AND women) will help you get all spruced-up for the season.

*Add a vest.  Ladies, there are so many lovely choices out there. Maybe you’d like something with sparkle…or a subtle metallic sheen…or in a regal burgundy, royal blue or purple…or how about fur (faux or real)?  Guys, your vest can be done in the traditional holiday plaid, but would be more innovative in a rich velvet, brocade or said regal burgundy, royal blue or purple mentioned above. (However, don’t try to match your lady – that’s just too much!) Any of these options will instantly update your look and add that special touch that says “I’m ready for the party!”

*Speaking of velvet, it’s classic holiday dressing. For us gals, a velvet pant and tunic or cami are luscious (and comfy too!)  Besides the vest mentioned above, guys look so handsome in a velvet blazer (this looks great with jeans too, for a dressy casual home party.)

*Shine on …with touches of glimmer and shimmer.  The operative word here is “touches”. While guys are probably not going to be tempted to overdo it (a shimmery shirt or tie will probably be the extent of it), us gals have to remember not to load it on too heavily.  We have all kinds of choices, from tops to pants to jackets to dresses to shoes to jewels to purses (isn’t it fun to be a girl and have all of these options?!)  Stick to just a couple of statement items so you’ll make the kind of statement that’s flattering, not blinding.

*Add some color…and we don’t mean black!  Yes, traditionally it’s the ‘go-to’ color for dressy occasions, but have some fun with your holiday attire.  Add a pop of bright color – guys in a great tie or bow-tie, or shirt – ladies in a ‘wow’ top or skirt, or maybe some fuschia satin pumps or sandals, for example.  All black is just too ordinary when there are so many other options out there.

‘Tis the season – have fun with your holiday dressing!

— Adena DiTonno is owner of adenaDesigns, a fashion consultancy in Redwood Shores.

Dredging Update

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The dredging will continue until December 18 – dredging will begin in the lagoon closest to Area H, north of Marine Parkway only (Zone 9A)

*Over the next two weeks, the contractor will be installing the floating pipeline that will be used to pump dredge material later from the lagoons around Shorebird Island (Zones 3,4,5) to Area H.

*By mid-December, the contractor will place a booster pump on a small barge, in the main lagoon approximately halfway between Shorebird Island and Area H.

*During the last week of December, and continuing through mid-January, the contractor will be dredging the lagoons around Shorebird Island.

*During January the contractor will complete remaining areas – portions of the lagoon near Area H, but south of Marine Parkway (Zones 8 and 9).

*By January 31, the contractor should be complete, and cleanup/demobilization of equipment will take place.

And as a reminder, the work hours will be 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, weekdays only. Boaters need to be very aware of the floating pipeline, which will be well-marked. While it’s in place, it will not be possible for boats to cross over the pipeline, as it will be only partially submerged. This may be a particular issue for residents living on parts of Shorebird Island, and along the northern side of the main lagoon, during the period while the Shorebird Island area is being dredged. Once Shorebird Island lagoon is dredged, the pipeline will be removed and boats will have access. The contractor will have floating buoys and markers attached to the pipeline to clearly indicate its location.

Light Up The Shores

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Don’t forget to turn on those Christmas lights Thursday night, December 17th. because the “Light up the Shores” judges will be out in their sleighs looking for the best decorated houses in our neighborhood of Redwood Shores. This year there will be nine awards ranging from the “Grand Prize” through “best house facing the street,” “best condo facing the street,” etc., including some honorable mentions. Each winner gets abeautiful engraved plaque suitable for hanging in the finest living room. The grand prize winner gets a Nob Hill Market gift certificate (donated by the good folks at Nob Hill).  All the others get a gift certificate from Starbucks in addition to a plaque.

Membership Reminder and Goose Update

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It’s Time to Join RSCA

By now you have received RSCA’s membership letter for 2010 and a special memento commemorating RSCA’s 40th Anniversary.  As mentioned in our letter, we take pride in having dedicated ourselves for the past 40 years to making the Shores an even better place to live.  Please help us continue to do so by lending your support.  At $35.00, membership in RSCA is a great deal – please join us by sending in your payment with the card included with our letter.

Goose Update

Many of us in the Shores enjoy living close to wildlife, including our diverse population of resident and migratory birds.  However, RSCA and the Pilot have received many letters and comments expressing concern about the problems caused by our resident population of Canada Geese. We may have too much of a good thing when it comes to these big birds.  Their droppings seem to be everywhere (parks, sidewalks and swimming pools), and they saunter across our roadways as if they own the place. They are also a risk to aviation, as they can collide with and damage airplanes.

In addition to being unappealing, droppings of Canada Geese are a potential health hazard as they are host to dangerous microbes.  For example, recent studies have found Escherichia coli, Listeria and Campylobacter bacteria strains in geese feces.[1] This means that our children when playing in our parks are exposed to the risk of illness should they come into contact with the goose droppings that blanket the area.

As an organization that works to preserve the high quality of life in Redwood Shores, we decided to investigate this problem.  It turns out that there are a variety of ways in which other communities have attempted to fix their goose problem.  Some have engaged dogs to harass the geese in the hope that they would move away (this was actually tried in Redwood Shores a few years ago); others have addled eggs so they would not hatch.  Neither of these solutions is ideal as both are costly and labor-intensive and some would object to them as inhumane.  What we are looking for is a cost-effective solution to reduce the number of geese in the Shores – humanely and safely.

We believe we found such a solution in the form of OvoControl G-Oral bait, which we have asked the City to consider applying on all impacted areas in Redwood Shores.  As reported by the USDA in 2007, OvoControl G “is safe and effective in reducing hatchability of eggs laid by resident Canada geese.”[2] Due to its effectiveness, application of OvoControl G should gradually reduce the numbers of hatchlings and, as a result, goose droppings in the Shores.  Moreover, this should involve little more than setting out the treated bait.

Our desire is to have a community where our children and pets can enjoy our sidewalks, lawns and parks without concern about unhealthy conditions due to excess goose droppings.  This is a public health issue, and we will continue to work with the City to make sure that they do everything possible to solve it.

[1] See USDA article, “Avian Diseases: Carriage of Bacterial Pathogens by Canada Geese and Blackbirds.”

[2] See USDA article, “Nicarbazin OvoControl G Bait Reduces Hatchability of Eggs Laid by Resident Canada Geese in Oregon.”

— Submitted by Doug Crisman, RSCA President

We Need A Stop Sign On Cringle

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Dear Editor

Okay, now that we’ve had a fatality and another injury involving traffic are we ready to seriously address this problem? Yes, we need a stop sign on Cringle at Redwood Shores Pkwy. Drivers are NOT getting it. What is so important that it is worth killing someone? Talking on cell phones, rolling through stop signs, excessive speed, I have witnessed all of this on a regular basis. People are getting ruder and ruder and there seems to be no end. I called our mayor a couple months back to report a semi who had two trailers and rolled through the stop sign on Sandpiper and Marine Pkwy and then proceeded to speed up the road towards the freeway. I needed to go 45 mph to catch up with him to get the appropriate info from his truck. I emailed the mayor with my concern of construction traffic adding to this already dangerous situation and she immediately responded by contacting the RCPD. I got email from her, the chief and the officer who investigated the situation. The driver was reprimanded and the whole construction group was “warned”. Great response from the city. My point is, more citizens who witness incidents need to get involved and we need to demand some action out here. Look at Edgewood road on the west side of the Alameda. They know how to slow people down…………speed bumps. Is that what it’s going to take? I’m tired of the rude behavior by drivers and I think it’s high time we really look for a fix.

— Kathleen S.

Dear Ms. Mertens.

I read, with interest, your article in the November Pilot, “Stop Sign on Cringle Dr.

I have lived at my current address near the corner of Cringle and Barkentine for 30 years. Until 2006 when I retired I had to make it somehow to 101 to get to work. I almost never went to Cringle to make the left hand turn onto Redwood Shores Parkway,

It was nearly impossible to find an opening during peak traffic times. If I ever decided to try it there, hoping for a miracle, I almost always just turned right and made a U-turn at Marlin Drive. Less hassle and safer. Most of the time, I made the left hand turn from Bridge Parkway onto Redwood Shores Parkway, because it has a 4-way stop. Even with that, I had to be very aggressive and make sure I made a move the instant it was my turn (not always easy to discern when everyone hits the stop at nearly the same time.). I always had a feeling that regulars at that corner came to recognize my orange VW Beetle and gave me the benefit of the doubt. I made that turn going to work for several decades and it kept getting harder to find that opening.

I have since retired and can choose the time that I leave in the morning. I do go walking and biking and find that few cars ever stop at Cringle & RWS Parkway when the sign blinks. It is a gamble for pedestrians. I just stay back until all cars have passed and it is safe without the sign. I have talked to other pedestrians and many have the same concerns.

Most RWS citizens never have to turn left onto RWS Parkway, so the majority do not want to have a stop sign placed at Cringle. Citizens to the South of the Parkway are definitely a minority. I am for a 4-way stop sign at Cringle and RWS Parkway. Not only would it make it safer for pedestrians, but it would make it safer for autos. More people could make the left turn at Cringle, freeing up traffic at Bridge Parkway. Also the pause required at Cringle would break up the bottleneck at Bridge parkway and allow a smoother flow of traffic.

— P. R. Mc Gowan, Redwood Shores resident

Dear Editor,

We live on Cringle Drive and support to have a stop sign for safety purposes. It is very difficult for us to cross onto Redwood Shores Parkway during traffic time. There is a big increase in the volume of cars since we moved here 25 years ago. Please continue the efforts for a stop sign. We would really appreciate it.

— Sincerely, Cynthia and Bob Fabianski

P.S.We know many of our neighbors support a stop sign too.
We will be happy to petition if that would help.

Dear Editor,
I would like to voice my support for a stop sign at Cringle and Redwood Shores Parkway. I can tell you first hand that when I ride bikes with my children, that the intersection is not safe.

Cars can be traveling quite fast and even with the pedestrian crossing lights on they don’t always slow down. Also I see children trying to cross while riding to school in the morning. It makes me nervous because it seems like an accident is waiting to happen. I hope if enough people voice their support that

something will be done about this.

— Submitted by Deborah Parker, RWS resident and parent

RSCA NEEDS YOUR VOICE.

Thanks so much for the feedback as shown in your letters, which RSCA will bring to the attention of Redwood City officials in the hope that a stop sign will be installed at the corner of Cringle and Redwood Shores Parkway. It is important that residents continue to express their opinions when there are issues such as this.

— By Carol Mertens, Editor