Monthly Archives: September 2010

Wireless Lighting Control

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Imagine the convenience of controlling the reading lamps at your bedside, as well as the ceiling cans and the pendant lamps on your dresser, with a single control.

Universal design technology is available now with the Maestro¨ sensor/dimmer from Lutron¨. The clear channel radio frequency of the remote only communicates with lighting fixtures or motorized window coverings, so there’s no interference from a TV remote or cell phone. The best feature of the Maestro¨ is that installation doesn’t require cutting into the drywall or replacing existing light fixtures. The control keypad (about 2″ by 4″) can be mounted anywhere on the wall, on a stand, on a horizontal surface, or just be left loose on a counter. Now the controls that turn lights on and off, adjust dimmers and set pre-set lighting scenarios can be conveniently placed for easy accessibility for children or for wheelchair-bound persons.

Since there isn’t any hard wiring, the control panel can be relocated with ease. Wireless controls can communicate with all the lights in the house with a single keypad. Who cares if the porch light is on when you get into bed? Just turn it off using the keypad on your nightstand.

Precisely controlling the light levels in a room provides illumination that is appropriate to the task while conserving energy. The universal design of the control keypad requires a single tap to illuminate a lamp. A double tap turns up the light to maximum brightness; and another single tap turns the light off.

If you are frustrated with searching for a wall switch in a dark room, you can install a motion sensor that illuminates the room to the appropriate light level gradually when someone enters the room. The same sensor will turn off the lights at a pre-set time interval after the room is vacated. This will eliminate tripping over furniture and rugs.

Another luxurious feature of a wireless control is the use of the keypad to raise and lower motorized shades to adjust the natural light level in the room. One motor can pull up to six shades, and existing window coverings can be retro fitted to incorporate this feature. One keypad can speak to as many as nine devices.

Say, “Goodbye” to dangling drapery cords and to lamps left turned on all night!

— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors

Wine Appreciation

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“Wow, that’s just a little toooo dry for me,” I said recoiling from the bitter, astringent jolt of a young Cabernet Sauvignon. That unpleasant experience, as I was later to learn, had nothing to do with “dryness,” which is the opposite of sweetness. What it was related to was something entirely different. That harsh, mouth-puckering feeling was caused by a high level component in red wines known as “tannins.”

While most of us, I believe, can easily relate to the weight of “body style” and the crispness of “acidity,” things get a tad perplexing when it comes to tannins. But if you’ve ever crunched on a grape seed, chewed the skin of red plum or a portion of banana peel, or more likely, sipped strongly brewed tea, then you’ve experienced the eye-popping reaction to high level tannins. Your mouth feels like it has no moisture, and it’s been lined with scouring pads. Hence, the confusion with dryness.

Tannins are to red wines what acidity is to white wines. They’re a vital, life-giving component that supplies texture, structure and balance. While acidity has been called the “nervous system” of whites, tannins can be called the “backbone” of reds. It allows them to age and develop flavor and aroma nuances far beyond primary “berry” and “plumy.” And just as there are seasoned wine enthusiasts who are “acidity freaks”, so too are there those wine veterans who like the distinct, textural “grip” and strength of character derived from well integrated tannins.

Why mainly reds? The source of tannins is primarily from grape skins, (think crush and the long soak of fermentation), as well as the oak barrels used during the aging process. Tannin levels are also directly related to the type of grape, the duration of skin contact during fermentation, and the age of the wine. Pinot Noir grape skins, for example, yield lower tannins while Cabernet Sauvignons generally impart a more aggressive style. A very short soak on Zinfandel skins will produce that forward, fruit laden White Zinfandel, while a longer infusion will yield the more traditional, muscular Red Zinfandel. And if you store it for several years, those tannins will fall away and you will perceive a wine with a distinctly different taste and bouquet.

 Without an adequate level of tannins, reds would taste one dimensional, flabby and lifeless. With too much, they would taste unbearably sharp and bitter. With the right balance, they are described as “silky.” And just as acidity tolerance levels vary with each person’s palate, so does one’s reaction differ with various tannin levels. Also, much like acidity in white wines, tannins in reds refresh the palate between bites of crusty, grilled meats and thereby, in the context of accompanying food, genuinely fulfills its intended function.

— Tom Barras

On My Soapbox

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Not sure if we will have a “summer:” this year, but I keep hearing it will be in September. Since it will be in about the middle of the month when the Pilot comes out, let’s all pray we get some really nice weather.

Most of the calls again were about ‘careless’ drivers — not being courteous or staying within our set speed limits. I’m still hearing about how “awful” the stop is at Cringle, but I’m sure that those who oppose it do not have children going to Sandpiper. That is the only way the kids that live south of Redwood Shores Parkway can cross over to get to the paths to get them to the school.

Also we all need to start driving slower knowing they are out there. Some quoted me on my ‘know where you are going and start earlier if necessary’ — so you are not rushed.

Again came up the checking of headlight, taillights and signal lights. While September and part of October may be light later darkness will overcome all sooner than we expect it. And one more time, solid lines mean staying in the lane you are in until it is clear to change.

And please, if you are making a right turn stay in the right hand lane after your turn until it is clear to move over to the left and use your signal! This was one of the biggest complaints — turning right and going all the way across to the left lane. Another of the questions had to do with the feed-in and exit lanes. H you are on the freeway and move to the right to use an exit or entry lane — but do not intend to do either of those things — when you see that the lane markers have become different in shape — that is the time to get back onto the freeway itself.

I’ve seen many cars use the Holly-Redwood Shores exit lane as a way to get around slower traffic in the right hand lane on the freeway — only problem is they cannot always get back to their left and have caused backups in the exit lane.

Also remember that the DMV says a driver should leave one car length for each mile of speed between cars on freeways. Obviously most of us do not do that, so the best thing to do is keep your eyes on the road and be alert to your surroundings! EI Camino Real is one of the roadways where 5 to 6 feet between cars is allowed.

Once more I was asked to repeat: “if you find yourself stopped at a light and are looking into the back seat of a car next to you, you really should have your eyes examined, especially before you go to renew your license. The DMV is really keeping a close eye on all of us in that matter.

And lastly, once more, our waterways are also controlled by the Fish and Wildlife, so please remember that max speed in a motorized boat is 5 miles per hour and absolutely no wake. These evenings have been so nice that there are a number of these larger boats out and most stay within the limits, but there are a few that apparently think it “cute” to see how fast they can go. How sad, because we can be told by the F&W they will no longer allow motorized boats. So everyone with a big boat, please conform — for all of us.

September should be a great month for evening cruises, so please slow down and really enjoy your ‘evening out’. Since I have physical problems I cannot use my small boat anymore. do you know of anyone who would like it they can have it and it does have a motor. And if you have space for one more I’d love to go out with you for a spin. I really miss going out in my boat as I used to several years ago. Have a good one, drive and boat carefully and hope to see you next month.

Enjoy September, it should be a delightful and warm month!

— Pat Dixon, the Swan Lady

From Lynn’s Kitchen

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Autumn Leaves

New Englanders are so very patient.  They’ll swelter through the hot muggy dog days of summer, hopeful for a quick August thunderstorm to cool the heat and humidity down a bit.  Now mind you — this is not to say they will not complain endlessly about the weather.  But they’ll also dream longingly of sweet September, the first frost, the country fairs and festivals, the bushels of newly harvested Cortland and McIntosh apples, and the fresh apple cider.  Even if there is an Indian Summer, the cool early mornings and evenings are a welcome delight.

Autumn in New England is spectacular.  The glorious colors of the maple trees resplendent in their crimson and golden hues are simply breathtaking.  Wood smoke spirals heavenward from the fireplaces.  The air is crisp and energizing, perfect for a hike in western Connecticut.  We’d pile into the car and drive up through Litchfield and then continue on over all of the little bumpy back roads lined with stone walls we could find, to Kent Falls, one of our favorite places to hike, take photographs, and admire the foliage.  Getting lost along the way was always an adventure, and of course, we all had our different opinions on how to find our destination.

Our expedition was usually an all-day affair, so we would have to have a little sweet snack along with our fresh picked apples to munch on when we got hungry.  This recipe is an adaptation from one our family has enjoyed for many years.  I believe it originally came from Old Sturbridge Village, right across the Connecticut state line, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  This living history museum depicts early New England life from 1790 to 1840, and always made us thankful that we did not live during this era — it was such hard work!  ÒQuakersÓ are a delicious oatmeal cookie, very easy to make — once out of the oven, they’re guaranteed to disappear quickly!

QUAKERS

  • 2 Cups Brown Sugar
  • 1 Cup Unsalted Butter
  • 2 Eggs, Beaten
  • 2 Cups Sifted All Purpose Flour
  • 3 Cups Quick Quaker Oats
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Teaspoons Vanilla

 

  • 1/4 Cup Sugar (do not include in the dry ingredients above — set aside)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream the butter and brown sugar.  Add beaten eggs and vanilla.  Sift flour with baking soda and salt, stir in Quaker Oats, and stir the dry ingredients into the creamed butter and brown sugar.  Mix well until all oats are integrated into the batter.  Put 1/4 cup sugar into a small bowl.

Take about a walnut sized piece of the batter, roll into a ball, and then dip the ball into the sugar, rolling around to coat all of the surface area.  Place cookies onto baking sheet covered with parchment paper, allowing about three inches between each cookie.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  You can add 1/2 to 3/4 C. chopped walnuts if you like to the dry ingredients.

This recipe should make 4 dozen large soft cookies, or you can roll the batter into logs, chill then in the refrigerator and slice to make almost six dozen thinner crispier cookies — just watch your timer when baking to make certain they do not overcook!  Enjoy on a hike admiring our own California change of season, or in your kitchen with a nice cold glass of milk!

— Lynn Kathleen Adams
Note: Lynn has been a RSCA Board Member since 1994

New Public Services Officer

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It gives me great pleasure to announce that Evan Boyd has accepted my offer to become Redwood City’s next Public Works Services Director effective Sept. 7, 2010.

Following 14 years of management positions in the manufacturing and consulting sectors, in 2006 Evan became the general manager of Allied Waste Services of San Mateo County, where he has led a $120M business unit with 370 employees.

He holds a degree in business administration from Chapman University, and in 2007 was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “40 under 40 people to watch”.

Evan brings us a wealth of management and leadership experience, a passion for customer service, and many solid working relationships across our community and the County. He will be a major asset to the city’s executive team and our policy makers as we move into a future of resource challenges, clarification of core services, refinement of service delivery standards and measures, and our pursuit of shared services opportunities.

Please join me in welcoming Evan to Redwood City!

— Peter C. Ingram
— City Manager

Fashion Forward: Fashioning Your Fall

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Yes, we’ve just experienced the Mark Twain-attributed quote “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco”, and many of us are looking forward to the warmer days of September and October. However, in the fashion world, Fall is here. If you haven’t thought about Fall yet, now would be a good time to think about packing away your summer clothes and preparing your closet for the coming season.

Fall Trend #1: Camel and Gray Neutrals. While many of us have a closet full of black as our ‘go to’ neutral, think about adding in some camel and gray. They both work beautifully with black and also with each other.

Fall Trend #2: Add a Pop of Color or a Rich Opulent Print to Those Neutrals. All three of the above-mentioned neutrals can handle a pop of color – whether purple, green, red or whatever. Pick one of ‘your’ colors and add it into the mix. Similarly, a rich brocade or metallic print accent will add depth and texture to a simple basic.

Fall Trend #3: Leopard Spots. Animal prints have been a long-time staple, but the leopard is taking the lead this year. It’s fun to wear leopard spots – on your handbag, or perhaps your shoes or a belt. Just remember to not overdo it – a little goes a long way.

Fall Trend #4: Fur and Feathers. Whether your fur is faux or real, you’ll be seeing it and feathers everywhere as accents. They are playful and available at all price points. Since a fur coat isn’t a necessity in our area to keep warm, think about incorporating it into a vest or handbag or some other accessory.

Fall Trend #5: Classic Shapes with Sharp Tailoring. This might be the time to reevaluate your wardrobe basics and replace those that are worn or damaged, or perhaps add in some new ones. You should find lots of choices now, so take advantage of the supply and stock up. (If you find this task daunting, a wardrobe consultant can help with the evaluation and shopping.)

Fall Trend 6: Longer, Fuller Skirts. For those who haven’t enjoyed the trend of shorter skirts, take heart. Now you should be able to find those longer skirts you’ve been waiting for. Again, take advantage of the supply and replenish your wardrobe while you can before the ‘fashion gods’ rule them gone.

When you’re incorporating trends into your wardrobe, buy quality for those items that you consider essential to your wardrobe going forward. Spend less on those items that you know you’ll only want to enjoy while they’re the current ‘hot thing.’

— Adena DiTonno

Adena is owner of adenaDesigns, a fashion and wardrobe consultancy in Redwood Shores.

Pipeline Assessment

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On September 21st, PG&E released a list of that company’s top 100 sites in its gas pipeline system that are marked “for longer-term evaluation and planning” by its risk management program.

No segments of pipeline within Redwood City were identified by PG&E as being on that list. The segments nearest to Redwood City which are on that list are in San Carlos, at Brittan Avenue and El Camino Real, and in Menlo Park near Donahoe Street and 101.

The full list and other information is available on PG&E’s web site: www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/response/pipelinemaintenance

PG&E has also set up a hotline that customers can call to determine if their homes are within 500 feet of a pipeline, or within 500 feet of one of the sections that is on the utility’s top 100 list. That hotline number is (888) 743-7431.

According to its website, the risk of a pipeline segment is determined by PG&E by using the following criteria:

  •  The potential for third party damage such as dig-ins from construction;
  •  The potential for corrosion;
  •  The potential for ground movement;
  •  The physical design and characteristics of the pipe segment.

 It’s our understanding that PG&E has been ordered by the California Public Utilities Commission to inspect its entire natural gas transmission system. We do not have information on when such inspections will take place in Redwood City. Typically, if PG&E needs to do any work in the public right-of-way in Redwood City, they must obtain a permit from the City, and that is when we would be notified of any impending work, including inspections. We’ll do our best to keep you informed if we get additional information.

Thank you,

— Malcolm Smith

— Public Communications Manager, City of Redwood City, California

A Vision of Transporation

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In early-August, the California High Speed Rail Authority released the Supplemental Alternative Analysis (SAA) on the alignment of high-speed rail through the peninsula. This report is a continuation of the process of refining the manner in which high-speed rail will travel through the peninsula.

The SAA report indicated that the preferred alignment through Redwood City is an aerial structure, four-tracks-wide. The arguments for this alignment include: CalTrain operations would be least impacted, reduced need to purchase additional properties, avoidance of creeks (Redwood Creek, Cordelleras Creek), and less cost.

I appreciate the fact that CHSRA has narrowed the list of potential alternatives that they are willing to review. Until recently, there were just too many moving parts to be able to commit resources to explore, examine, review, estimate and engineer.

However, now it is our turn. As a community, we need to develop a vision of what we want regional and state-wide transportation to look like in 2025/35. If San Mateo County and the peninsula cities could have resolved BART in the 1960’s, we would not be having a conversation about high-speed rail today. BART would ring the entire Bay Area. BART would have been far less expensive to build then, than it will be today, there would be greater frequency in trips, greater reliability, and high-speed rail would be stopping at a multi-modal station somewhere in the South Bay.

I think it is a safe to predict that the world in 2025 will be different than it is today. Our challenge is to create a vision and a plan for regional and state-wide transportation, and to define Redwood City’s role.

This Fall, there will be a series of meetings in Redwood City. Some of these meetings will be hosted by CHSRA and the Peninsula Rail Board and will discuss the potential of a high-speed rail station in Redwood City. Other meetings will be hosted by the City, and will work on developing a transportation vision for Redwood City. Our efforts will involve a detailed examination of the aerial alignment proposed by CHSRA, the impacts and consequences of being aerial, examine “Redwood City-centric” solutions to high-speed rail and discuss whether we should have a high-speed rail station in our downtown.

I hope to see you at these meetings!

— Jeff Gee, Redwood City Councilperson

Candidate Forum

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The League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County is sponsoring a Candidate Forum for the County of San Mateo, Supervisor, 3rd District.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Redwood Shores Branch Library

399 Marine Parkway

Redwood Shores

Meet candidates April Vargas and Don Horsley who will be taking questions from the audience.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government. We do not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.

We believe that our candidate forums for city councils, school districts, and special offices provides the community with an essential tool for making effective choices in local leaders.

Please Join Us!

Lochtefeld’s Announce Acquisition of Fox Theatre in Redwood City

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Local entrepreneurs Eric and Lori Lochtefeld have completed their purchase of the historic Fox Theatre in the heart of downtown Redwood City. The property consists of the Fox Theatre, Club Fox nightclub and over 16,000 square feet of office and retail space, as well as a dedicated Box Office. The purchase price was $6mm.

“We officially closed escrow on Wednesday the 15th,” said Lori Lochtefeld, owner of Lacewell Realty. “We are excited to finally focus all of our energies on operating our incredible venues.”

The husband and wife team plan to bring live entertainment back to Redwood City, utilizing both venues for live music, comedy shows, theatrical performances, lecture series, and private events.

Club Fox will officially be open for business on Friday, October 8th and will operate six nights per week, hosting a variety of local and touring acts. The Fox Theatre is currently operating and is available for bookings by promoters, event planners and corporations. The first publically promoted event will be renowned Ukranian rock band Okean Elzy on October 17th. For more information on upcoming events and ticketing, please visit www.FoxRWC.com .

“We plan to host a few concerts in the months ahead to re-introduce our venue to the local community and the peninsula; our official grand opening will be in February after all of the wonderful renovations have been completed.” said Eric Lochtefeld. “There are a lot of events to look forward to, as we have already secured a multi-year deal with Broadway by the Bay that will bring Broadway musicals to the Fox starting in April.” Renovations include improvements to the seating and main floor, a new state-of-the-art sound system, enhanced stage and venue lighting, and an updated fire sprinkler system.

About the Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre originally opened its doors to the public on January 2, 1929 as The New Sequoia Theatre. The Fox Theatre has been the headlining attraction in Redwood City, including an induction into the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The Fox Theatre will re-open its doors to entertain the Bay Area, as it regains its place as the centerpiece of vibrant downtown Redwood City.