Redwood Shores Levee Project: Construction Complete

Posted on October 30, 2010 by RSCA

Redwood City is happy to report that levee improvements around Redwood Shores have been fully completed. The levee pathways have been restored and construction staging areas have been cleared.

Concurrent with this work, the City has been seeking FEMA certification of the levee improvements, which in turn will result in the removal of the flood zone designation for Redwood Shores. The certification plans were submitted to FEMA in May. In mid-July FEMA notified the City that the package was under review, and that the final determination would be made by FEMA’s Risk Analysis Division in Washington DC. The City is very confident that levee certification is imminent.

In addition to the levee improvements, residents have noticed some additional signage and fencing along certain levee access points. These are being installed at the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as part of that agency’s requirement for the City to protect the habitat of special status species such as the California Clapper Rail and the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. As a reminder, the segment of levee facing Bird Island, from the sewage treatment plant to the new Preserve at Redwood Shores development, is closed to the public, as mandated by the USFWS. We’re told by the USFWS that public access to other parts of the levee may be jeopardized if trespassing onto the restricted sections of levee continues.

The City would like to thank Redwood Shores residents for their patience during the levee improvements, and for complying with the levee access restrictions implemented by the USFWS.

Children’s Halloween Parade 2010

Posted on October 28, 2010 by RSCA

Thanks everybody for coming out to the 2010 Halloween Walk. We’ll see you again next year!

Bring your kids in their Halloween costumes to Marlin Park on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 1:00 PM sharp for a spooky good time in the park.

We will have treats for the kids, so please bring a goodie bag or bucket. And PARENTS, don’t forget the camera for photo opportunities with the Good Witch!

RSCA holds this event each year for our children elementary school age and under.

Trick or Treat at The Marketplace

Posted on October 23, 2010 by RSCA

The Marketplace at Redwood Shores Shopping Center is sponsoring a Trick or Treat event at the Center for your children on Friday, October 29th from 2PM – 5PM.

Bring the children in costume for a safe, fun, environment to trick or treat. Participating merchants will have treats on hand and some will even be dressed up. The children can enjoy roaming the shopping center with their friends and families and check out all the fun costumes. Pets in costume will add to the fun day.

This is the first year for this event, which weÊanticipate will become an annual happening, so bring the children and enjoy the afternoon!

Boo!

Road Work Beginning

Posted on October 20, 2010 by RSCA

As part of its roadway preventative maintenance program, Redwood City will begin road repairs on Redwood Shores Parkway and Shoreway Road, between their intersection and U.S. 101. Work will take place overnight from 8:00pm to 6:00am on either Tuesday October 19th, or Wednesday October 20th. A light-up message board in the area will be updated to announce when the night work will take place.

During construction residents are asked to drive carefully through the area, and expect minor traffic delays while various lanes are closed. Flagmen will be directing traffic when appropriate.

In approximately two weeks, crews will come back to place a 2” layer of asphalt on top of the existing roadway to provide a safer and smoother road surface. This work will also take place at night, and a light-up message board in the area will be updated to announce the new dates. Redwood City appreciates everyone’s patience during construction, and will do whatever possible to minimize impacts to residents.

Redwood Shores’ 40th Anniversary Celebration

Posted on October 15, 2010 by RSCA

Redwood Shores and RSCA is celebrating its 40th Anniversary! You and your family are invited to join the party on Sunday, Oct.17, 2010 2:00-5:00pm, at the new Redwood Shores Elementary School.

Come review the history of Redwood Shores dating back more than 45 years. Read about the first residents and some of the early issues facing the Shores.

We’ll have activities and entertainment for kids of all ages, and many of our local businesses will be there to show their history and how they became part of the Shores.

Since 1970 RSCA has been THE advocate on issues that impact the quality of life in Redwood Shores. From early controversies over where Shores children would go to school, to the recent levee crisis with its potential effect on local property values, RSCA has been the primary voice of the Shores community.

As we begin our fifth decade, RSCA continues its efforts to keep the Shores a great place to live and work.

Please join us on Sunday, October 17th as we celebrate 40 years serving Redwood Shores.

To help you learn more about Redwood Shores’ past and present, the Redwood Shores Community Association has created a Walking Guide that takes you to various scenic and historic spots in the neighborhood. This two-mile walk is accessible at all of its points by foot, bicycle or car, and there will be signs out over the weekend to guide you through the tour.

Those with GPS-enabled smartphones (or those at home who are interested in what there is to see along the route) can also jump over to an interactive tour guide provided courtesy Google Maps. You can click for a Street View of each spot, and check out story text and photographs that explain the relevance of each spot.

Full-size guide signs will be posted on the 17th, so please take the tour and help celebrate our history!

View Redwood Shores Historic Walk in a larger map

Boo Fest At Shops On Broadway

Posted on October 15, 2010 by RSCA

Come out to the Shops on Broadway for a FREE Halloween Hoopla for kids and their families! Saturday, October 23, from noon – 4 p.m. on Theatre Way, Downtown Redwood City. (Near the Century Theatres)

Noon – 1:30 p.m

Join Radio Disney’s Rockin’ Road Crew for ghoulishly great games and prizes including movie passes, gift cards and tickets to local attractions.

Noon – 4 p.m.

Exciting Boo Fest Events include:

Wizards in Training Magic Lessons!
Pumpkin Decorating* (Free mini pumpkin for the first 200 kids under age 12)
Mask Making (while supplies last)
Face Painting
Trick or Treat at Shops on Broadway Restaurants & Stores (while supplies last)

BOO Fest! is proud to be the Kids’ Friendly Zone for the Peninsula Oktoberfest (see www.redwoodcity.org/events )

Free parking for the first 1-1/2 hours in the Shops on Broadway Garage (4 hours free with validation for Century 20 Theatre Patrons)

For more info visit www.ShopsOnBroadway.com or www.Facebook.com/ShopsOnBroadway

Meetings & Workshops On Proposed Saltworks Project

Posted on October 15, 2010 by RSCA

As part of its community outreach regarding the proposed Saltworks development project, Redwood City announces a series of upcoming meetings and workshops, aimed at providing opportunities for the community learn about, comment on, and participate in the environmental review process.

First, to provide the community with an opportunity to become more familiar with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, the City will host an informational meeting where staff and consultants will make presentations and be available to answer questions. The purpose of this meeting is to simplify the CEQA process, and help community members better understand CEQA and participate effectively in the review process.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 7 pm – Understanding the Environmental Review Process
Location: Redwood Room, Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue
The lead speaker for the September 22 meeting will be Whit Manley, author of “Guide to CEQA,” the authoritative sourcebook for CEQA information. This is an opportunity to gain an excellent introduction to CEQA. Brief presentations will also be given by Blake Lyon (Senior Planner, City of Redwood City), Andy Hauge, and Pat Collins (environmental review consultants).

Then, a series of Scoping Meetings will be held for the community to help identify the range of alternatives, environmental effects, methods of assessment, and mitigation measures to be analyzed in the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR). The Scoping Meetings are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 7 pm – Scoping Meeting with the Planning Commission
Location: Council Chambers, City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road
This is an opportunity for the community to provide oral comments to the Planning Commission, which will become part of the official record as to what the community feels should be included in the EIR.
Saturday, November 6, 2010, from 9 am to 1 pm – Scoping Meeting – Land Use & Housing
Location: Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue
This meeting will be in an informal workshop format – displays and handouts, staff available to talk about the proposal and the process, and an opportunity for you to provide written comments about what should be included in the EIR. Since this workshop is in an informal and conversational format, and does not include a specific forum for oral comments, the City will only take written comments for the official record. There will be additional opportunities for oral comments to be submitted during the EIR public hearings.
- - Tuesday, November 30, 2010, from 6:30 to 9 pm – Scoping Meeting – Water Supply, Wastewater, & Flooding
    Location: Sandpiper Community Center, 797 Redwood Shores Parkway
    This meeting will be in an informal workshop format, as described above, where the City will take written comments.

Sandpiper Spotlight: October 2010

Posted on October 8, 2010 by RSCA

Sandpiper is delighted to announce that the official Sandpiper API test scores are in and Sandpiper has continued its upward trend, achieving 947 (of possible 1000), a 12 point increase over 2009! These scores not only are a reflection of our children, but of our outstanding teachers and administration, as well as the extraordinary parent involvement at our school. Academic Performance Index (API) scores, released on September 13, are one unit of measure to show whether or not schools meet state requirements under the Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. With this score Sandpiper proudly accepts the title of the top performing school in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. Please join us in celebrating the success of our students in their performance on the test and our teachers for their dedication to providing rigorous instruction and results. API scores for all public California schools can be found at www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/

Thanks to funding from School Force, the school board was able to revise the school district budget to include music and science in the elementary school program this year. These positions were cut last Spring in anticipation of budget shortfalls this year. Sandpiper Principal Linda McDaniel and school district administration conducted interviews for these positions in late summer — and we are so pleased that they have been able to hire two very qualified and experienced educators on such short notice! Sandpiper welcomes Christopher Della Pietra as our music specialist and Nicole LaCount as our science specialist.

We also welcome our new administrative assistant, Christine Klups. Mrs. Klups is excited to get to know our staff, students and community. She brings a wealth of experience to her new job and is looking forward to working at Sandpiper. Anne Ho, who was laid off last Spring due to the unfortunate budget cuts, will return to her position as office assistant at Sandpiper for four hours a day. We are fortunate to have the support from our superintendent, Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri, who recommended a reinstatement of Mrs. Ho’s hours. Sandpiper Elementary School continues to be the largest elementary school in the district with an enrollment of 497 students. The additional staffing support will ensure a prompt response to your telephone calls and providing service to our students, staff and community.

If you think you saw a children’s bike race early in the morning on September 29, it was just our third graders biking to school for the 3rd Grade Bike Rodeo! Sandpiper’s PTA Green Team and the third grade teachers joined together to educate students about bike safety, rules of the road and to help with helmet fitting and bicycle checks. They had a special visit from professional bike race Maryann Levenson for a special bike safety assembly!

Wine Appreciation

Posted on October 6, 2010 by RSCA

“I’m no wine connoisseur, but I know what I like.” I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard that. I’ve been tempted to respond, “I believe you, but what, in fact, do you like, and can you tell me why?” Thank goodness, I’ve resisted that temptation, otherwise I’d be a very lonely guy. Wine drinkers, all of us, know what we like, but for the most part, we find it difficult to articulate.

Part of the reason, I believe, is that we simply don’t focus our attention on the act of drinking. It’s like other aspects of our lives. How about that picture hanging over the fireplace? In detail, what is it that you like about it? The same can be said of music. Is it strictly in the background, sliding by your consciousness? Or are you paying attention and heard that waffling sound of the fifty-cent piece that the drummer spun gently on the drum? It’s definitely in the details, but wouldn’t we be more confident if we could articulate them? Why do always order that California Chardonnay? Or that Cabernet?

Another reason for our inability to define our preferences, I believe, is the intimidating, sometimes off-putting, metaphorical vocabulary of winespeak; those descriptors that wine tasters and reviewers use that sound like they belong in a physiology class (legs, body), or a chemistry seminar (acidity, tannins, balance), or horticultural meeting (floral, herbaceous). No question those wine basics have to be learned. However, when the metaphors go to lofty extremes . . . .

What if I can’t perceive, for example, that a Super Tuscan has the gentle fragrance of the “forest floor?” Or that a red from Provence evokes “garrigue” (that aromatic melange of herbs and shrubs that grow wild in the countryside)? Or that Bordeaux smells faintly of cassis, cedar, and tobacco? I don’t remember the last time I got on my knees and sniffed the undergrowth at Muir Woods. And a spice jar of Herbs de Provence might give me a hint of that red from Provence, but I doubt it.

Lastly, our palates are like fingerprints; everyone is different. What you perceive is not what I perceive. I’ve been to large group tastings, and the articulated perceptions and descriptors vary widely. But that shouldn’t inhibit you from expressing your own opinion. One man’s “forest floor,” may be another man’s “mulch pile,” while an expert’s “garrigue” may be the beginners “weedy.” And “cassis”, well, blackberry preserves sounds pretty good to me. So, here’s a thought. Focus your attention, don’t be afraid to speak your mind, and have faith in your own palate. As one English wine writer says it, “Think while you drink.”

— Tom Barras

Sandpiper Elementary Prepares for Potential Disaster

Posted on October 5, 2010 by RSCA

In January 2010, Sandpiper Elementary School’s principal, Ms. Linda McDaniel, created a Disaster Preparedness Committee (DPC) whose mission is to prepare the school campus and students for a potential disaster or other emergency. Ms. McDaniel and the committee’s chairperson, Ms. Kathy Lee, recruited members from a wide range of backgrounds. The committee includes Sandpiper teachers, PTA members, and Redwood Shores Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, some of whom leverage their professional knowledge of radio communications, a physician, a fire captain, and a police officer.

The DPC quickly generated a plan of action for updating emergency supplies, developing procedures and logistics, and revising the school safety plan. Backpacks containing teacher support supplies (e.g., flashlights, gloves, first aid kit, student informational cards) were installed in every classroom. Lists of other emergency items such as water barrels, radios, tarps, crowbars, and sanitation supplies were compiled, in order to care for the students and independently maintain the school site for the state recommended 72 hours after a disaster.

Generous donations from the Sandpiper PTA and the Redwood Shores Community Association (RSCA) allowed initial purchases to be made, including a newly installed emergency supply shed. An earthquake/fire drill has been conducted, and a plan for parent reunification is almost complete.

A campus walkthrough with Captain Rick Kehr and his team from the RWC Fire Station 20 here in Redwood Shores helped to determine the most appropriate post-disaster meeting places, pickup areas and emergency vehicle logistics.

The DPC also established networking contacts with emergency and disaster preparedness officials in the Redwood City Fire Department, Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department, San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services, and other school districts.

Parents and community members are invited to make donations to the Sandpiper Disaster Preparedness Fund by writing a check payable to the “Sandpiper PTA” and dropping it off at the school office. Please be sure to write “DPC” on the memo line of your check.

The DPC is looking forward to continuing work on its multi-year plan to keep the Sandpiper community safe!

— Mike Mancusi