Monthly Archives: December 2010

Fashion Forward: Time to “Re-Boot”

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It’s common enough advice when it comes to trouble-shooting all our tech-y problems, be it computer, cable box or whatever. It’s also good fashion advice this time of year — the stores are still full of a wide selection of boots and the cooler weather is now turning our minds towards more substantial footwear.

You may think you’re ‘all set’ when it comes to the boot department, but it’s smart to give your boots a serious scrutiny. Because they tend to be worn in more inclement weather conditions, they can take a serious beating. If yours aren’t too terribly damaged, it would be smart to take them now to the shoe shop so that scuffs can be buffed and polished, soles and heels examined and replaced where necessary, and perhaps a water repellant applied for protection. Naturally, you’ll let them thoroughly air out and dry out after each wearing, then store them properly with boot trees so they’ll retain their shape. (Bed Bath & Beyond has a nifty pair for only $9.99.)

Now that you’ve evaluated and salvaged your existing boots, take a look to see if you need to supplement your wardrobe with other styles. Rarely does one pair of boots cover all your needs.

Flat-bottomed boots are extremely popular now and serve your casual needs very well when worn over your jeans or leggings. Shoe-booties combine the look of a boot with the smartness of a pump. There are many variations: they can end at the ankle or slightly above, have a fold-over top, zipper or button detailing, come in a platform sole, may have a peep-toe, and of course, are available in a variety of heel heights, colors and leather or leather/fabric combinations. Shoe-booties look great with tights, work with pants or skirts, and can be dressy or casual. Rain boots (yes, galoshes!) are cuter than ever and are worth the investment when you know you’ll be out running errands in rainy weather. So many colors and patterns are available now — have some fun with your rain boots. They’ll brighten a gloomy day.

Most of all, if you’re in the market for boots, don’t wait too long to go shopping. The selection now is plentiful so shop early if you’re looking for a particular style. If you’re more flexible with your needs, you can wait for the soon-to-come sales. After that, the selection is going to be very limited for the remainder of our cooler, rainy season and you may be kicking yourself (with an old boot) that you missed out. Get out there and re-boot!

— Adena DiTonno

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

President’s Message: December 2010

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Happy Holidays

RSCA would like to wish you all the best for the Holidays and the coming New Year. We’d also like to help you celebrate the Holidays with your neighbors. You could start by joining us in welcoming Santa to the Shores at the Redwood Shores Library between 1 and 3 pm on Saturday, December 12. In addition to visiting with Santa, your children can enjoy a story time hosted by the Library and have fun with arts and crafts projects. We’ll also have live music from the Library’s grand piano and holiday refreshments.

Then, if you’re feeling like dressing your house up for the holidays, we’ll be judging our annual Light Up the Shores holiday lights contest on the night of Friday, December 17. We’ll award a number of prizes, including a grand prize and several honorable mentions, and some special awards, like best decorations on the water and best town home. So, if you’re ready to make a statement for the season, get out those inflatable Frostys, Santa’s sleighs, singing trees, and lights of all hues and help light up the Shores for the holidays.

Tell Us What You Think

As your community association, one of RSCA’s missions is to advocate on issues that matter to Shores residents. Some of these issues are obvious. For example, most of us are concerned about public safety, which is why we’ve raised issues with the Police like cars running red lights and speeding, out of control parking at Marlin Park on weekends, and Police response times. We also address major issues that impact property values, such as certification of our levees. There are other issues we tackle that aren’t so obvious but that impact quality of life all the same. One such example is the rough pavement – caused by tree roots – that seems to have become a problem all over the Shores, with the worst conditions being on Redwood Shores and Bridge Parkways. We’ve recently raised this issue with the City in the hope of finding a solution that smoothes the roads without injuring the trees.

We’re sure there are other issues that you also care about. To help us identify these, we’ve posted a 60 Second Survey on our website that we’d like to you to complete. It won’t take long (seriously, only around 60 seconds) and simply asks you to rank your concerns about a wide range of issues that impact the Shores. With survey results in hand we’ll be able to focus our advocacy efforts on issues that matter to you the most. And, we’ll be in a stronger position with the City or other agencies when we can show from our surveys concrete data as to your concerns.

— Doug Crisman , RSCA President

Looking For a Cat This Holiday Season?

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Visit The Nine Lives Foundation shelter in Redwood City. Our cats will keep you warm this winter and are much softer than a Snuggie. With over 150 cats of every size, color and personality, you are bound to find a love match.

Founded in 2003 by Monica Thompson, D.V.M., first as the non-profit Feline Well-Care Clinic, a veterinary hospital that occasionally rescued cats. As time went on, Dr. Thompson discovered her true passion was rescuing cats from Bay Area shelters that would otherwise be euthanized.

In December of 2004 she established the no-kill Nine Lives Foundation, a community-based not-for-profit 501(c3) organization. Since then we have rescued and adopted out more than 2,500 cats and kittens.

Housed in a large warehouse, the uniqueness of Nine Lives is evident the moment you walk through the door. There are cats everywhere to greet you. The majority of the cats reside in large play cages where they have room to play, interact and socialize while waiting for their forever homes. But the lucky resident cats walk around and act as feline ambassadors.

The amazing adoption counselors know the personality and temperament of every cat there. Give them a description of the kind of cat you are looking for and they will find a few to fit your bill.

As a non-profit, we are always looking for volunteers to help with adoptions, fostering kittens, fundraising, grant writing, event planning, public relations, web development, general maintenance, and cat socializing. If you have a skill, we need you. Even if it’s just to stop in occasionally to cuddle cats. And you can volunteer as much or as little of your time as you would like. You will find volunteering at Nine Lives to be a fun and rewarding experience.

Our next event:

“A Home for the Holidays” Open House is December 12th

For more information about available cats, upcoming events and ways to help, please visit our website: www.ninelivesfoundation.org Our shelter is located at:

3016 Rolison Road in Redwood City 650-368-1365.

CityTrees

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Most of you probably already know about our wonderful local non-profit group, CityTrees — a volunteer-based organization that has done incredible work in our community enhancing our urban forest.

I’m writing to let you know that CityTrees is launching its end-of-the-year donation campaign to buy trees, tools, and supplies for another big year of building community and greening Redwood City in 2011.

2010 marked their 10th anniversary, and in that decade CityTrees has partnered with Redwood City to plant nearly 2,500 trees, and prune another 400 trees. Over 3,000 supporters and volunteers aided in this effort. This small organization has really made some remarkable achievements — just in 2010, for example, those accomplishments include:

  • Tree planting events where 116 trees were planted
  • Pruning workshops
  • Pruning and tree maintenance events
  • Raising awareness and support of our urban forest at special events
  • Offered a “Tree Tip of the Month” email to share tree-related information
  • Obtained a funding grant and six business sponsorships

I want to encourage you to help keep CityTrees healthy and active in our community by considering a year-end donation of any amount. By the way, 80% of donations go directly to CityTrees’ programs, to help make a lasting difference in our community.

Fully Alive Spotlight

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Bloodmobile Donation Drive

The Bloodmobile will be making a stop at the Fully Alive Community Church. Sunday, January 9, 2011, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM — 1406 Radio Rd. in Redwood Shores.

Schedule for your life-saving appointment online at www.bloodheroes.com . Click on “Donate Blood” and enter sponsor code: fullyalive.

 

Fully Alive hosts “A Second Harvest Food Drive”

Please bring your non-perishable food donations to our campus from December 11th – 17th. Bins will be out or you can drop stuff off on the front stairs! Thank you for helping feed those in need this Holiday season!

Please call our church office for any questions or information. 650-631-9505 ext 102

Editorial: Planning for Higher Education

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One of the Bay Area’s most treasured assets is our access to higher education.  This is one significant reason that our region remains the preeminent location for venture capital firms.  Our three community colleges:  Cañada College, College of San Mateo, San Jose State, the University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley, Stanford University, and a number of other public and private colleges and universities.  This access to these great institutions and the benefits of these colleges and universities are an economic driver for the Peninsula.

Last month, we held a study session with the Planning Commission to hear an update on Stanford University in Redwood City.  In addition to Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, Stanford University owns 33 acres around the former Excite @ Home Campus.  Stanford is proposing to construct 1.5 million square feet of new space in Redwood City.  Proposed uses include:  administrative, business and professional offices, medical professional clinics and offices, research and development facilities, public open space and recreational facilities, and laboratories.

Stanford has been working for the past two years with the neighborhoods immediately next to their proposed project.  Through these community meetings, the initial project proposal has evolved and changed to meet neighborhood concerns.

Over the next 12 months, Stanford in Redwood City will be closely reviewed by staff, the Planning Commission, neighborhoods, interested community members and the Council to determine the appropriateness of the proposed development, and the benefits to Redwood City.  The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) should be published in early 2011, with public input in the Spring.  Reference documents are available on the City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org .

— Jeff Gee, Redwood City Councilperson

From Lynn’s Kitchen

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COOKIES FOR SANTA

This time of year I always wish we lived in Truckee, just north of Lake Tahoe. Watching the weather reports of snow in the Sierra always make me homesick for New England and the first snowfalls of winter. We adored the snow when we were children. Of course, we didn’t have to try driving to work in snowy or icy road conditions then. A snow day meant no school! Dad would tackle shoveling the driveway and sidewalks (before he bought a snow-blower), and we would all bundle up with warm jackets, hats, scarves, mittens and boots, and enjoy making snow forts and attacking the neighborhood children with snowballs. Figaro, our grey tuxedo cat, would even scamper about in the snow, shaking his paws every so often with a puzzled look on his kitty face.

One time I took my native California husband back to New England in the late autumn/early winter – we stayed at one of my sister’s home, out in the country (most everything in Connecticut is out in the country!). There were reports that it might snow that evening, but the family members were skeptical. Imagine our delight when we awoke to freshly fallen snow! There were still gentle flurries, and we sipped our morning coffee beside a blazing fire in the stone fireplace. The cardinals were feeding at the many bird feeders our brother-in-law had placed outside the large picture window – we remember the contrast of the cardinals’ scarlet feathers against the evergreens as they enjoyed their breakfast, too.

I’m sure that many of you follow the tradition of setting out cookies and a glass of milk in anticipation of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve. We always made certain we had freshly baked cookies for Santa, and a few carrots for his reindeer. They were always gone in the morning with a little “thank you” note beside the plate.

These cookies are certain to please everyone, including Santa! They’re rich and delicate, and perfect for a late evening snack. The cookie dough will also keep nicely in the refrigerator if you want to make extra – just let it soften a bit before you make the cookies.

PECAN BUTTER COOKIES

(Preheat oven to 325 degrees F)

  • 1 Cup Pecans, Toasted
  • 2 Sticks (8 ounces) Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 Cup Confectioners’ Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
  • ½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 and ¼ Cups All Purpose Flour, Sifted

Toast pecans in non-stick frying pan on medium heat – watch carefully as they can burn easily. Remove from heat and let cool. Chop coarsely into smaller pieces and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar in mixer until well mixed and pale. With mixer running, add vanilla and salt, reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add in the flour, mixing until incorporated into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in pecans until well mixed. Cover cookie dough and refrigerate until firm, approximately 15-30 minutes.

Drop 1 Tablespoon scoops of cookie dough on parchment covered cookie sheets, leaving two (2) inches between each cookie. Bake until edges of cookies are golden brown, about 12 – 15 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheets on wire racks for 5 minutes, and then remove cookies to wire rack to finish cooling. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

This recipe should make approximately 2 dozen cookies.

Enjoy with a glass of cold milk or hot chocolate! Happy Holidays to all and a Healthy New Year !

— Lynn Kathleen Adams
— RSCA Board Member since 1994

On My Soapbox

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Not sure about you all but I keep wondering where the ‘time’ has gone. Here it will be the Holiday Season and I’m still back at Halloween. Had a number of calls asking me to please ask all you car drivers to “PLEASE SLOW DOWN”.

Evidently there have been some near-misses with drivers either not coming to a complete stop at our various arterials or actually just going on through. Some of the main complaints were against those who were making right turns off our main Parkways without slowing down at all.

In the event any of you were wondering what happened if you saw the huge tarp that was attached to the back yard fence of the house on the right side of east-bound Redwood Shores Parkway [RSP] at Bridge, it was because a car going south on Bridge had stopped at the arterial and was in the process of making a left turn when a car came east on RWS, did not stop and broadsided the car that was turning. Fortunately there were no serious injuries, but I have wondered about the dollar amount cost for the driver of the car that didn’t stop.

And now that we are in our rainy season the DMV wants us all to remember that “if your wipers are on so should be your headlights”. These past few days, with the rain, and no headlights on, if you see another driver flashing his headlights at you, that may be the reason!

Again, the please slow down’s are for the number of wildlife – mainly the geese – that have been hit. Some have been killed and some injured, but no one coming to their aid. A lot of the callers commenting on this have made the same comments I feel – moving here you knew it was in a wildlife area – and if that is not what you wanted, perhaps it is time to move out. It is really sad when you see a lifeless goose on the road and his mate sitting beside it. Also comments were made about the number of squirrels that have been hit on west-bound Marine over near Oracle. When I have been changing the median sign there I am always surprised at the speed of the cars – way over the limit.

As I keep saying, set your clocks ahead 10 or 15 minutes and give yourself a little extra time. Which brings up – again – a reminder that it is illegal to leave any of your dog’s “leavings”. Take a small bag with you when you take your pet for a walk and pick up anything it decides to leave. Also bring a small bottle of water so that you can wash down any puddle that your female pet leaves. Lastly on pets, be aware that if you allow your pet to sniff the remains of another’s dog and that dog has a disease, your dog can catch it.

As I said last month, I am trying to downsize after 25+ years, so if you are looking for a glass bottle or figure item, I have many with our wildlife theme, for use as a special Christmas gift. They are not expensive – originally they were – but I would like them to go to those who would appreciate their meaning. After much contact with the Fish and Wildlife people it has now been stated that since our water comes here through pipes from the bay, the bait boxes are basically legal if one has a commercial fishing license. The only caveat is that it they cannot be used on private properties. Here on the Davit Lagoon we have had between 8 and 10 pairs of Pelicans for over the past month or so. I have to presume that the fish are really “running”, as I have enjoyed the show they put on in diving for them.

I’ve used up my space so have a Happy Holiday Season and a safe New year’s and see you in January…

— 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. )

News from Belmont-Redwood Shores School District

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Dear Community,

Measures I and N have passed! On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to express our gratitude for the support given to pass these critical bond measures that will mean so much for the needed repairs of our schools and facilities to house our growing student population. Currently, there are 3,207 students enrolled. This is an increase of 241 students over last year!

Measure I is the Ralston Middle School repair measure and passed with 65.21% “yes” votes approving the issuance of $25 million in bonds. Measure N (only in Belmont, west of Hwy 101) is the elementary school repair measure. It was passed by a 63.20% “yes” vote approving the issuance of $35 million in bonds.

The passage of both Measures I and N will enable the District to continue quality education and proactively prevent classroom overcrowding. Much needed repairs and replacement of leaking roofs will be taken care of as well as repairs to classrooms including constructing and/or acquisition of additional classrooms to house projected increases in student enrollment of about 150 students per year for the next three years. Funds are also needed to meet current fire/safety codes, improve disabled access, upgrade technology, to replace outdated electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and safety/security systems.

Both Measures I and N will have citizens’ oversight and no funds are to be used for administrator salaries.

If you are interested in getting involved in citizens’ bond oversight, are at least 18 years of age and not an employee, vendor, contractor, or consultant of the District, an application packet may be obtained from Nellie Hungerford (Assistant Superintendent Business Services and Operations) at district offices, 2960 Hallmark Drive, Belmont 94002 or by calling (650) 637-4800 ext. 1010 or emailing Nellie at .

Even in these challenging years of reduced funding, your work to provide for the housing and safety of our children is deeply appreciated. Together, we are “Creating the Future” — a better tomorrow — for the children in Belmont-Redwood Shores School District!

— Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri
— Superintendent, Belmont-Redwood Shores School District

75th Anniversary Celebration of the Douglas DC-3

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On December 17, 1935 the first Douglas DC-3 transport took to the sky on its maiden flight from Clover Field, Santa Monica California – the site of the Douglas Aircraft Factory. Aircraft designer and builder, Donald Douglas, plans to revolutionize the airline industry were on the line with that first flight, he wasn’t to be disappointed. Much like the importance on the Wright Brothers first flight, the first DC-3 took to the air on the same day 32 years later.

Safe and reliable and built for passenger comfort, the DC-3 quickly became standard of commercial flight, enabling the fledgling airline industry to carry passengers at a profit for the first time. While revolutionizing commercial air travel, military variants of the DC-3 were an integral part of WWII. Out of the 10,631 of the type built under Douglas guidance from 1935 until 1947, it is estimated that over 1,200 of the sturdy twin engine transports are still flyable worldwide.

Friday December 17 & Saturday December 18, the Hiller Aviation Museum will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the historic DC-3 with a tribute featuring a host of presentations by experts, a photo exhibit and DC-3 aircraft on display.

The Hiller Aviation Museum is located at 601 Skyway Rd. on the San Carlos Airport. For more info call (650) 654-0200 or visit www.hiller.org

— William Turner
— VP Operations, Hiller Aviation Museum