Monthly Archives: December 2010

Street Lights on Marine & Bridge

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You may have noticed that many streetlamps on Bridge Parkway and Marine Parkway have been dark over the past few days (including, at one time, the traffic lamp at the overpass connecting Belmont’s Ralston Avenue and Redwood Shores’ Marine Parkway.). This situation is an important matter for the safety of autos and pedestrians in Redwood Shores.

Redwood City Public Works Superintendent Mike Gibbons, M.P.A. spoke with RSCA representatives on December 9th and explained that street light electical has been in repair on Marine and Bridge. Its team has been busy replacing wires and bad fixtures as well as repairing broken conduit. This was expected to be repaired quickly (within 10 days,) but complications have increased the repair time. On December 20th, Mr. Gibbons gave us this update on the situation:

“They are making steady progress to get all of the damaged wire and conduits replaced and get all the lights back on as soon as they can. Our contractor is still working in the area and I met with them this morning to see firsthand some of the difficulties they are having tracing the wire in the conduit and making repairs. All of the lights on the north side of Marine Parkway, between the Belmont city limit and Oracle Parkway East are now on and some of the lights on the south side of Marine Parkway are working. I gave them the go-ahead today to cut a new trench to install new conduit and wire to connect one light pole to another one, rather than have them continue to dig individual holes looking for the broken conduit. They didn’t give me an estimated time for repairs and the weather and holidays will affect their schedule somewhat I’m sure.”

RSCA will continue to follow up with the city about the status of these repairs.

Storms Coming — Sandbags Available for Redwood City Residents

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A significant set of storms is predicted to come in starting late tonight or tomorrow, Friday, December 17, along with high tides on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings.

If you are in a flood-prone area of Redwood City, you’ll want to know that sandbags are available – these are for Redwood City residents only and there is a limit of 24 sandbags per household. You can pick up sandbags in the parking lot of Redwood City’s Public Works Services building, 1400 Broadway (between Chestnut and Woodside).

Our Public Works Services and public safety staff will of course be monitoring the storm conditions closely. You can help by making sure the storm drains on your street are clear of leaves and other debris. Please work with your neighbors and identify those that will take the responsibility to clean any debris and leaves that may be covering catch basins or inlets before the storms start, and then keep an eye on them through the weekend and clear them out if they become blocked.

City crews are right now out inspecting and checking channels, creeks and storm drain inlets, but your help is needed throughout this series of storms. If you notice significant problems during the storms, you can contact Redwood City Public Works Services at (650) 780-7464.

Again, the sandbags at Redwood City’s Public Works Services Department are for Redwood City residents only, and there is a limit of 24 per household. For residents of unincorporated areas of San Mateo County, the County provides other sandbag pickup locations (best to call first):

  • Grant Corporation Yard, 752 Chestnut, Redwood City – (650) 363-4103
  • Princeton Corporation Yard, 203 Cornell Avenue, Half Moon Bay – (650) 728-7993
  • Pescadero High School, 350 Butano Cut-Off Road, Pescadero
  • La Honda Corporation Yard, 59 Entrada Way, La Honda – (650) 747-0341

Here are sandbag locations for some other Peninsula cities. If you live in one of these cities, be sure to contact your local public works department to confirm availability of sandbags, locations, and limitations.

  • San Carlos – 100 Bransten Road, San Carlos
  • Belmont – 110 Sem Lane , Belmont
  • Palo Alto – 600 E. Meadow Drive
  • Palo Alto – Palo Alto Airport
  • City of San Mateo – 1949 Pacific Blvd. San Mateo
  • Menlo Park – Alma Street and Burgess Drive
  • Menlo Park – Pope Street and Laurel Ave.
  • Mountain View – 231 N. Whisman Road, Mountain View

“Redwood Shores” Shirts Available

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For those of you who missed the 40th Celebration we have Redwood Shores T-shirts for sale for $10.00. The proceeds go to the Redwood City Historical Society. They come in adult Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large.

They make great socking stuffers. They can be delivered anywhere in the Shores. Please contact Sue Nix via E-mail at

Holiday Hazards and Your Pets

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Now that the holiday season is here, I want to give you some tips to help you and your companion animals have a safe holiday. Being aware of some of the hazards and taking steps now to prevent those hazards will help make sure an emergency trip to the vet is not on your holiday “to do” list!

Is your Christmas tree sitting in a stand full of water? If our dogs and cats could talk, I’m sure, many of them would tell us they thought you put that extra water “bowl” under the tree just for them … their own personal drinking bowl if you will. But are you aware the pine sap from the tree is toxic to your animals? If you do have your tree in a stand full of water, be sure to cover the stand with heavy towels so that Fido or Fluffy do not try to make it their own personal water bowl and worse become sick!

And, while we are on the subject of Christmas trees, no ornaments on the lower branches please. Cats and dogs are all too often enticed by the bright, glittery balls. They — think these “balls” are a present for them — they knock them down, play with them and break them. I’ve seen dogs eat these broken glass ornaments! Just as dangerous is if your little rascals should step on the broken glass ornaments. Stepping on these ornaments can result in an imbedded object, as well as cuts and bleeding.

The same caution should be used with those brightly ribboned packages you may put under the tree. Marmalade, the kitty, will think you put all those pretty bows and ribbons under the tree just for him. You don’t want Marmalade eating those ribbons and bows, so think about keeping your decorated packages in the closet until gift giving time.

And, for those of you especially with members of the feline family, tinsel is a big no-no! Merlin, the cat, will be very intrigued by this shiny stuff. If you cat is unfortunate enough to eat tinsel, you have a vet emergency! That piece of tinsel your kitty just ingested can cut his intestines as well as cause an intestinal blockage, requiring an emergency trip to the vet and often will require emergency surgery. Most everyone knows that chocolate is poisonous for dogs. Some dogs can even sniff out chocolate at 20 paces, even when it has been wrapped. Better to keep that box of chocolate you want to give Aunt Sally in a closet until gift giving time.

And, let’s not forget the family dinners you will be hosting! It is very easy to get distracted and not really pay attention to what “Fido” is doing. A friend of mine called me one holiday in tears because something was very wrong with her dog, Mango. The dog was lethargic and not eating. She rushed her beloved Mango to the vet. After emergency surgery to remove what they were calling a “foreign object,” the vet came out and showed my friend the offending substance. It seems at her holiday dinner, when no one was looking Mango was having a dinner of her own choosing. She foraged through the kitchen garbage and found and ate a whole corn on the cob (sans corn)! No one had seen Mango eat it, but there was no disputing it as the vet produced the “foreign object”.

Just taking some small steps and being made aware of potential hazards will help ensure you and your animals will have a safe holiday!

I wish everyone — human and animal — a very wonderful holiday!

— Jan Brown
— Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting & a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor. She can be reached at

Tax Tips

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(The following subject matter may require a more comprehensive discussion with your tax advisor than this summary can provide.)

Small Business Jobs Act Brings Tax Benefits

The House passed the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297).

California does not conform to any of the provisions in the Act. For now, here is a list of the provisions included in the Act:

  • ¤179 expanded: For tax years beginning in 2010 and 2011, expense limit is increased to $500,000 and phase-out threshold increased to $2 million;
  • ¤179 for (some) real estate: For tax years beginning in 2010 and 2011, taxpayers can elect to treat certain real estate as ¤179-eligible. Qualifying real estate includes:
    • Qualified leasehold improvements;
    • Qualified restaurant property; and
    • Qualified retail improvement property.
  • Bonus depreciation extended: Available for property purchased through December 31, 2010;
  • Luxury auto depreciation increased: As a result of the extension of bonus depreciation, first-year depreciation of automobiles is bumped up $8,000;
  • Deduction for start-up expenditures increased: Under IRC ¤195, increased from $5,000 to $10,000 for taxable years beginning in 2010 (only);
  • Exclusion for small business stock: For purchases made after the date of enactment and before January 1, 2011, the exclusion for small business stock under IRC ¤1202 is increased to 100%;
  • Five-year carryback for general business credits: Effective for credits determined in the taxpayer’s first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2009 (one year only), the carryback period for an “eligible small business” is increased from one to five years. In addition, the credit is not subject to the AMT limitation;
  • Built-in gain period shortened to five years: For taxable years beginning in 2011 (only), the recognition period for the BIG tax is shortened to five years;
  • Deduction for health insurance for SECA purposes: For 2010 (only), the deduction for self-employed health insurance is also a deduction for purposes of the SE tax;
  • Cell phones removed from listed property: Permanent and effective for tax years ending after 2009;
  • Information reporting required for rental property: Effective for payments made after December 31, 2010, rental real estate is treated as a trade or business for information reporting purposes. IRS to prescribe de minimis exceptions;
  • Higher information return penalties: Penalties under IRC ¤6721 are substantially increased beginning in 2011;
  • ¤457 plans can include Roth accounts: For tax years beginning after December 31, 2010; and
  • Rollovers from elective deferral plans to in-plan Roth accounts allowed: Effective on the date of enactment. Will allow a two-year deferral (2011 and 2012) for rollovers done in 2010.

— B.L. Pang EA
B.L. can be reached at (650) 593 7522 or emailed at

Santa Comes to the Shores

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On Sunday, December 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Redwood Shores Library, Santa will make a stop to greet the kids and hear their requests.

 Bring your cameras to capture magical moments of your children on Santa’s lap. Mingle with your neighbors, enjoy cookies and candy canes, hum along to the Christmas Carols played on the piano, and enjoy listening to readings from a new children’s book — Flying Poodles: A Christmas Story — by the author, Karen Morss.

A Chip Off My Thoughts

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I read a quote the other day. It was intended as a response to the experience of human suffering. But as I meditated on it, I realized it had broader implications for many challenging experiences … from the unbearable loss we feel at the death of a loved one, to the failure and hopelessness than can invade our being when we are out of work or facing a failed marriage. The quote was:

“Suffering is like a pile of rocks. You can choose to carry the load, throw them at someone, just let them lay there, or you can build an altar.”

Taken in its four phases, this quote sheds light on a number of things. First, choosing to “carry the load.”

We all have burdens to carry. But we need not carry them alone. When I have been asked what I believe is the purpose for life, I have replied “to be there for each other.” I believe that the purpose of our existence is as simple and as profound as that. God made us in love and has called us to love each other. So never think you must carry your burdens alone. We were made for each other.

Second, choosing to “throw them at someone.”

To me, the only thing worse than carrying burdens alone is to use burdens as weapons. Justifying the abuse of others because we ourselves have been treated badly only perpetuates abuse . . . it does nothing to bring healing to our world.

And, of course, just letting them “lay there” means to give up. J. Philip Newell, in his book, Listening for the Heartbeat of God talks about an understanding in Celtic spirituality of the inherent goodness of creation and the conviction that humanity bears within itself the image of God. If that is true then ignoring your burdens is to ignore the sacred in you that can relieve them. Burdens are then left to fester and infect the rest of your life. In essence you deny the depth of God’s love in you.

There is, however, another way. It is a way that the fourth phrase calls us to . . . to build an altar with our burdens. That is to say that we have a choice in life to block out God or to welcome God in. The author, professor and political activist Elie Wiesel, who survived the Holocaust, speaks eloquently of how his struggles shaped who he is. Elie Wiesel could have let the horrors of his life define who he was to become. He could have let those stones form a statue that would be left at the end of his life. Instead, Mr. Wiesel chose to use those stones to build an altar. In the process, he built a life that stands for peace in the face of war . . . love in the face of hatred . . . and life in the face of death.

My prayer for us all this holiday season is that we will take all the experiences we have been given in life and use them, as Elie Wiesel has done, for good.

Happy Holidays,

— Father Chip

“Pray and work to alleviate extreme poverty”

— The Rev. Chip Barker Larrimore Rector, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Redwood City, CA http://www.stpetersrwc.org

The Therapist’s Corner

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We all know the feeling: you wake up, feel sluggish and have trouble getting ready to tackle the day. You’d rather just stay in bed, don’t really want to interact much with others and don’t have the energy you usually have. Basically, you feel kind of “blah.” Even so, you pull yourself together, go to work and have a decent enough day. The next day you’re back to your old self, and those other feelings are just a memory. While it’s an uncomfortable way to feel, in clinical terms it really isn’t depression. It’s normal to feel that way on occasion.

Given that the holiday season is upon us, it seemed like the right time to write an article on the subject of depression. This is a time of year many people look forward to with both excitement and trepidation. It’s also a time when some may experience heightened states of feeling depressed. There are several forms of depression to consider, such as that which occurs in the context of bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depression), and dysthymia, which is a less severe, though fairly chronic condition that generally waxes and wanes for years. Additionally, post-partum depression is one that occurs in some women following childbirth, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has its onset during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight.

Major depression, however, is probably the form most people think of when the term depression is used. The diagnosis is not made unless someone experiences five or more of the following symptoms for at least a two week period: depressed mood, sleep and appetite disturbance, poor concentration, inability to derive pleasure, low energy, agitation, feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of death/suicide. Typically, major depression will also have an impact on important areas of functioning, such as with work and relationships. This is by no means a rare condition. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults and is the leading cause of disability for people ages 15-44.

So what can you do if you or a loved one suffers from depression? The combination of anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy is generally the best approach. There are, however, many forms of each, and so a good place to start may be to consult with your primary physician as they generally have a lot of experience with depression.

One final note about thoughts of suicide: always take them seriously. When someone is feeling such hopelessness and despair it’s not unusual for suicidal thoughts to surface. It is at those times that loved ones have to intervene. Taking the person to their physician or to an emergency room may be necessary and even calling the police is an option if you believe there is imminent risk and the individual is not cooperating in seeking help. While it’s often an uncomfortable topic to discuss openly, the consequences of not doing so can be much, much worse.

— Scott M. Granet

Scott  Granet, LCSW is a long-time resident of Redwood Shores, and is director of the OCD-BDD Clinic of Northern California in Redwood City. He would like to hear your suggestions for future columns, and can be reached at 650-599-3325 or .

Buy Safe Toys this Holiday Season

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Before you head out to purchase gifts for the children in your life, there are a few things you should know about toy safety. Well-chosen toys help children develop coordination, imagination and other skills, but inappropriate toys or unsupervised playtime can do more harm than good … and some toys can be dangerous.

Each year, thousands of children suffer toy-related injuries. Below are some toy-selection tips to help minimize risks to children:

  • Select toys that are appropriate for the child’s age and interest.
  • When buying for infants or toddlers, avoid toys with small parts. Even the button eyes on a teddy bear can be dangerous to a young child.
  • When choosing toys for infants, avoid those with long strings or chords that may cause strangulation.
  • For all children under age 8, avoid toys with sharp edges and points.
  • Avoid toys that shoot small objects into the air, since they can cause serious eye injuries and choking.
  • Look for sturdy toy construction. Avoid toys that have small or thin parts that can be broken off.
  • Check for toxins or poisons. Buy paint sets, crayons and markers that are labeled nontoxic.
  • Read all toy labels, and follow instructions.
  • Discard all plastic wrappings, which can cause suffocation.

Providing adequate supervision when a child is playing is as important as buying the right toys. Here are some safety tips:

  • Closely supervise young children while they play.
  • Keep toys meant for older children out of younger children’s reach.
  • Plan ahead if you buy cycles, skates or razors. Provide helmets, wrist, elbow and knee guards, and discuss safe areas for riding.
  • Do not allow young children to use shooting or target toys, chemistry lab sets or electrical toys. Closely supervise older children playing with these toys.
  • Teach your child to use and store toys properly.
  • Keep toys in good condition, and repair or replace them when they are damaged.
  • Do not allow children to play near stairs, hills, traffic and swimming pools.
  • Store batteries out of reach, since they are toxic and can pose a choking hazard.

Here’s to a happy, healthy holiday season. For more information on specific toy safety, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov .

— Ross DeHovitz, M.D.

— The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.

Wine Appreciation

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It’s that time of year. Short, cool days and long, chilly nights. I dislike it for a number of reasons. The weather primarily. There’s not enough sunshine, and green algae are sprouting on my barbecue bricks like outer space slime. Barbecuing holds no interest because there’s powdery mold on the briquettes, and there’s no more starter fuel. The golf courses are cold and uninviting, and it seems like I’m hitting rocks instead of golf balls. And the white wines lack important qualities like intense color, full body and serious, mouth-filling flavors.

Ah, but it’s wintertime. And I like it for many reasons. The weather primarily. It’s brisk and invigorating, especially on those quick morning walks. The sun is oblique and doesn’t jump into my face. In the evening I light my fireplace, mold into my easy chair, sip a Manhattan on the rocks, and search for truths in the flickering flames. At dinner it’s time for good old-fashioned comfort food, like meaty stews, hearty pot roasts, wine and broth braised chicken.

And being a wine kinda guy, I know it’s time to pair those dishes with the perfect cold weather wine, the type that slides down nice and easy and doesn’t require cerebral discussion to appreciate. A comfort wine. I won’t reach for that brawny Cabernet. I’ll pass on that slick Merlot as well as that smooth, aromatic Pinot Noir. And while a brambly California Zinfandel would work, I’m proposing a different wine, from a low-visibility French Appellation.

I’m referring to those user-friendly red “comfort wines” from the Southern Rhone appellation of Côtes du Rhône, which are near the more famous appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Wine snobs may scoff at these wines, because, the mélange of grapes — Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, and Mourvdre — from which they’re primarily made, don’t generate a strong, recognizable aromatic profile like, say, a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir do. But if drinking, rather than sniffing, is your priority then these wines will do you fine.

The reds of Côtes du Rhône are noted for their soft, round character. They are dark, ripe and full bodied, with hints of red and black fruits, and they’re the ideal mate for the multitude of flavors in stews and braises. Given their quality range, they’re very good values, with most usually selling in the $10 to $20 range. Some of the better known producers I have enjoyed over the years are Perrin & Fils, Guigal, St. Cosme, Santa Duc, Vidal Fleury and Jaboulet. If after sampling the basic appellation, you yearn for a bit more class and complexity, then move up to the Côtes du Rhône – Villages appellation, or to a specifically name village like Gigondas, Rasteau or Seguret. In any case, you’re sure to find one that satisfies your palate.

– Tom Barras