Monthly Archives: November 2010

On My Soapbox

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Well, I see our weather hasn’t changed much — we still haven’t had any “summer” and not much of a “fall” either. Just maybe we’ll get some much needed rain and then into a glorious spring. I think we all need it — or at least what I’m hearing from those that leave a message.

Not sure how many of you attended the 40th Anniversary of RSCA but it was a delightful day — at least for me. Firstly, I want to give Sue Nix, RSCA Vice-Chair and her son, Marc, a great big ‘thank you’ for all the work they did. But not so much for putting me by the front door. I did not get to see many of the exhibits — only the new collection cans that Gino made me come look at. I really don’t think I can get everything I seem to collect into one of them but I’m gane to try.

However the really good part of being there was I got to talk with most everyone that came in and registered. Many asked me why we asked them to sign the Registry and it was because over these past years there have been many changes to the Shores. Some have been here since development started — back in 1969, and others just recently — all interested in the “history” of the Shores.

I have been here since August of 1985, when Shell Blvd. was being started. Prior to that there was a dusty road that went out to the SBSA plant, so on the 4th of July many of us would take a chair and walk up to Shell and RWSPkway, sit and watch the fireworks. It was kind of a “group/neighbor party and you got to know your neighbors. Because the Registry asked for an e-mail address a lot people left that space open. When asked why, many simply said they did not want their e-mail address “published”. We explained that was NOT the purpose, but simply to let them know what was happening out here.

I understand there were some cages for kittens. As a cat-lover I did not get a chance to get over to see them but from what I have been told they were adorable. For anyone interested they came from the Nine Lives Foundation, located at 3016 Rolison Road [off 2nd Avenue] in south Redwood City. $20.oo per month saves one kitten for a month. If you can, please donate. I was told they had a Mainecoon there, who was really a “looker”. For me, any time I see a cat I want to take it home. I can’t remember when there has not been a cat in our family. As a child we had a beautiful, black Persian and when he wanted to play with my Dad and me he got to running around chasing us. If we got too “rough” he would go looking for my Mother, bite her on her ankle, then come running back to us for more attention.

Since I am running out of space I want to thank all of you that stopped by after seeing my name tag, and mentioned that you read the ‘Soapbox’. This got started because we had residents that wanted to complain Ð about something — but did not want their names used. I thank each of you that leaves me a message or makes a suggestion. Over these past years I have brought many of these comments to the attention of the City Council, who have acted on them. Now the problem is the bait boxes that are being thrown into the water of many of the most easterly complexes and also along the main waterways. I should have more info on this for the December issue of the Pilot. Now it’s time to start your Christmas Decorations for the RSCA Awards. See you next month and do take care!

— Pat Dixon, the Swan Lady

(Note that Pat’s phone number for calls to contribute to “On My Soapbox” are usually included in The Pilot; the number has been omitted from the website version of this article. You can send a message to Pat by emailing with the words “For Swan Lady” in the subject line. )

When Trauma Occurs in Our Own Communities

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In recent weeks and months our community has experienced many traumatic events, such as the deadly gas main explosion in San Bruno, the recent ruptured pipe that leaked 48,000 gallons of raw sewage into our Redwood Shores Lagoon, followed days later by a small plane crash into that same lagoon, in which three people tragically died. Although we were all affected by these events, we were not affected in the same way. Those who witnessed the plane crash, or saw the plane heading toward them through their office window, or who bravely jumped into the lagoon hoping for survivors, experienced the accident in a very different way than those of us who drove by wondering why so many emergency vehicles were parked by the lagoon. As therapists, we wondered what the people in our community are doing with the realities of these events. Here are a few tips that may be helpful.

It is normal to think about and remember these events, to wonder about the persons who died and their families and friends. You may even think, “what if it was me”, or now have stress or fears that you never had before. Such reactions are perfectly normal responses to terrible events that occurred. But it is important to talk about this, to share your story and feelings with your friends, family, and coworkers. You may also have physical reactions, such as muscle tightness, body aches, and headaches, to name a few. Exercise, alternating with rest, can help give relief. Organize your time, and continue making daily decisions to give yourself a sense of control over your life. You may want to journal your thoughts or put the thoughts and feelings outside yourself, such as in a drawing or other art form. After a traumatic event, it is important to take care of yourself. Eat, rest and exercise as your normal routine allows. You may have recurring thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks. This is normal, and over time they will become less frequent and less painful. If you find that you fall deep into sadness, or can’t get the difficult thoughts out of your head, or are losing sleep, you might consider seeing a professional therapist who specializes in working with these issues.

Family life is a vibrant part of who we are in Redwood Shores. Model for your children the care and concern you would want for yourself. Be aware of how the children are processing these events and lend a listening ear. Let them tell their story without judgment, and let them know that their feelings and fears are being heard. Traumatic events change our lives. It is important to give yourself, your family, and co-workers the love and support that you all need to get through tough times.

— Dr. Carolee Stabno, PsyD, LMFT, and Sarah Nagle, LCSW

Letters to the Editor

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The following is a letter written into the editor of The Pilot for the November 2010 issue. Letters can cover a wide range of topic and often are concerning local issues discussed in previous issues of the paper. 

 

Just a Thought…

Driving through our community I see parents and their youngsters riding bicycles.  Family togetherness is precious, however I can’t help but wonder why the children are using helmets and most adults are not? The helmet law was created to protect our youth but the helmet was created to protect your life. Enforcing the law by making our children wear helmets is not enough. Parents have the responsibility to reinforce and display that safety and being socially responsible is just as important as following the law.  It is a fact that an accident or collision can cause severe head trauma and possible death. Parents are you emotionally and financially prepared for such a devastating event? What suitable excuse for not wearing a helmet could a parent give to a child? Parents do you want to keep having these precious times together? Just a thought!

— Redwood Shores Resident

President’s Message: November 2010

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Please Join RSCA and We’re Looking for New Directors.

RSCA celebrated its 40th year in 2010! In our 40 years we have seen Redwood Shores grow from a small collection of houses and no businesses to the thriving, beautiful community — now with two outstanding schools and great employers — that we call home. Through these 40 years RSCA has worked to enhance the quality of life in Redwood Shores. To support our efforts and your community, please renew your membership, or join for the first time!

Our activities are made possible by your support, and the larger our membership is, the more effective we can be as advocates for Redwood Shores. For example, we were the lead voice in informing the public about, and urging Redwood City to resolve, our levee emergency. The City responded by completing the levee work by early 2010 — well in advance of FEMA’s September 2010 deadline. In 2010 we also initiated a series of meetings with the Redwood City Police to draw their attention to some important public safety issues here in the Shores. And, not only do we represent Shores interests, we also keep you up to date in THE PILOT and on our web site, at www.rsca.org

In addition, we contribute financially to important local needs and causes. For example, in 2010 we pledged $20,000 to allow our new Redwood Shores Elementary School to purchase nearly 2,000 books for its library, and our community is enjoying the outstanding collections at our new Library, for which RSCA donated more than $65,000 in 2008-2009. We also sponsor fun family events, like our Eggstravaganza in the Spring and the Halloween Parade each October. This summer, as in the past, we co-sponsored a series of concerts in Marlin Park. We also “Clean up the Shores” each August with our annual levee cleanup, and we hold candidate forums for important local elections so you can meet and question the candidates.

We do all of this as community volunteers and we receive no support from homeowners association or RSOA dues. You can play your part in supporting RSCA’s activities by renewing your membership, or joining for the first time, for only $35.00, which is a great value. To join, please complete the information form included in this month’s Pilot, or respond to the membership letter you’ll soon be receiving from us.

RSCA Directors Needed

Do you want to help make our community a better place and have a good time doing it? If so, please consider becoming a Director of RSCA. Our board has up to 25 Directors who help with events, advocate with local governments, and make connections with business and community leaders. If you’re a resident of Redwood Shores, energetic, community-minded and eager to help usenhance the high quality of life in the Shores, please send an email to expressing your interest in becoming a Director, and we’ll be in touch.
— Doug Crisman , RSCA President

Sandpiper Spotlight: November 2010

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Sandpiper students reached out to help children at Crestmoor Elementary School last month who were victims of the San Carlos fire. For over three weeks, the students brought loose coins to school and deposited them in a huge jar in the school office — collecting $800 in total! Crestmoor had five families directly affected by the fire. Principal Linda McDaniel and student council representatives visited Crestmoor and presented them with $800 of gift cards to Safeway and Target stores. Sandpiper students also made cards which were passed around the whole school for the families. The collection effort and presents fit in with Sandpiper’s Character Counts program — focusing on fundamental character traits education, including caring about others.

Over 60 percent of Sandpiper’s 498 children walked or biked to school on International Walk to School Day, October 6th. Sandpiper’s Green Team is offering backpack charms as incentives to walk or bike to school throughout the year.

Sandpiper parent Tracie Pon spearheaded a Halloween costume drive where dozens of costumes were donated to Shelter Network, which provides housing and support services for homeless families. In addition, Sandpiper parent Taneshia Smith and her daughter, Maliya, sewed 16 tutus and stuffed them in princess bags with wands and masks and cards naming each costume a different fairy.

— Bonnie Wolf

Redwood Shores Elementary Spotlight: November 2010

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Are you reading your food labels lately? Have your children been exercising the required 60 minutes daily? Are you eating enough “green light” foods? All these questions and more will be answered during the Whole Child Wellness Week, sponsored by Redwood Shores Elementary School PTA. As part of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District Wellness Policy and recent grant for Wellness Coordination, Thea Runyan, consultant and Mindy Shelton, Health Educator, will be teaching classes for staff, students and parents in making healthy choices for a lifetime of good health habits. The school will learn the necessary qualities of good nutrition and how it affects student achievement at school, recommendations for physical fitness and how to cooperate with others in resolving conflict. As students are more inclined to partake of fast foods and plenty of sugar in sodas, the increase of Type 2 diabetes has increased among youngsters. Consequently, the Sequoia Healthcare District has granted resources over three years to support school districts in prevention and intervention work with nutrition, physical and emotional health. The healthy choices each student makes prolongs good health when they become adults and reduces the risk of health issues later.

As students are given more information on the kinds of choices and habits to incorporate into their lifestyles, parents need to be aware of the same kinds of habits that might be helpful in their own lives.

We also want to celebrate our reaching the goal of raising the $10,000 in donations for our library. Thank you, community, for your spirit and generosity in helping us with the foundation of our book collection. Thank you, Carol Castro, for your organization and dedication in helping our school raise these funds.

Editorial: An Alternative Site for a New Jail

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Last year, Sheriff Munks indicated that he needed a new jail to address over-crowding. With the courts and the Sheriff’s office in downtown Redwood City, the argument was made that the new jail needed to be downtown. The preferred site was the County Motorpool lot on Brewster.

After several years of community planning and civic investment in our downtown, the addition of a new jail to our downtown was not the type of urban housing any of us on the Council wants. Under the leadership of Mayor Ira, and with the full support of the Council, an alternative site has been identified — on Chemical Way, across the street from our police station.

Local government is more nimble and can move quickly. A lot of effort was spent in working with 4 separate property owners to purchase their properties for a fair price. Sales contracts were written, and the City executed the agreements with everyone’s knowledge and awareness that these contracts would be transferred to the County. Sheriff Munks and the Board of Supervisors have agreed that the Chemical Way site is a viable site for a new jail, and they have endorsed this site at their October 19 meeting.

This is just the beginning of the process to confirm an alternative site for a new jail. The sale of the properties cannot be finalized until the County completes the environmental review process. The downtown site will likely be analyzed as an alternative site during the EIR process, so we must continue to be vigilant. If a new jail is needed and is required to be in Redwood City, the Chemical Way site is the best site.

— Jeff Gee, Redwood City Councilperson

City Council Certifies Environmental Impact Report, Approves New General Plan

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At its meeting of October 11th, 2010, the City Council of Redwood City gave final approval to the City’s new General Plan, and also certified the Plan’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This is a remarkable milestone for Redwood City as it implements this years-in-the-making Plan which establishes the key goals, policies, and programs for the long-term physical development of the community.

Over the last several years, Redwood City has gathered a great deal of community input, comment, and opinion on the New General Plan through a series of public workshops, Planning Commission sessions, and City Council meetings. The result is a General Plan which is a highly evolved and flexible blueprint for the community, written to reflect that significant community input received, as well as Planning Commission and City Council direction.

The General Plan creates a framework for maintaining the qualities that distinguish Redwood City, while establishing a solid foundation for anticipating and responding to changing conditions over the next twenty-plus years.

“Redwood City’s new General Plan is an investment in the City’s future” said Peter Ingram, City Manager. “It enables thoughtful, sustainable change in our community, as a living document containing flexible, adjustable tools. It’s a foundation for future discussions, deliberations, and decisions involving the future of our community.”

Throughout the extensive community input process, Redwood City received hundreds of ideas and comments. Often referred to as a “blueprint for the future,” the General Plan is a document that establishes policies, goals, and programs for the long-term physical development of the community — how the City will look, how development will occur, and what the community wants the City to be for future generations.

The New General Plan, as well as a timeline and documentation leading to its approval, is online at www.redwoodcity.org/generalplan .

Night Work on Redwood Shores Parkway

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A few weeks ago, I advised about some night road repair work to take place on Redwood Shores Parkway. This email is to advise you that again, there will be some night work to finish up the job, taking place tomorrow night (Tuesday, November 9).

To complete the work started at that time, crews will come back tomorrow night to place a 2” layer of asphalt on top of the existing roadway to provide a safer and smoother road surface. This work will take place overnight from 8 pm Tuesday November 9th to 6 am on Wednesday. A light-up message board in the area has been updated to alert area residents and motorists.

Please use extra caution when driving in this area during construction, and expect minor traffic delays while various lanes are closed. Work crews will be directing traffic when appropriate. After this work is completed, permanent striping will be installed on the roadway. Redwood City truly appreciates everyone’s patience during construction, and will do whatever possible to minimize impacts to residents.

Thanks,

— Malcolm Smith

— Public Communications Manager