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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #16 ~ November, 2004
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Join Community Builders
Last year the City, with a generous grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation, produced the acclaimed “Community Builders” program. This is a six-session series available to about 100 participants interested in learning how to better build a great community here in Redwood City. The program features internationally-known speakers, authors, and presenters sharing their insights, knowledge, experience, and advice on the subject of Community Building.
The City will be providing this program once again, beginning in January. If you’re interested in participating, please mark the dates on your calendar now. All sessions are from 6 until 9 pm, and include dinner.
- January 11
- January 27
- February 10
- February 24
- March 8
- March 15
This will be the last time the City will sponsor Community Builders, and your final opportunity to participate in this remarkable program. Be a part of something that will bring a greater sense of community to Redwood City by joining Community Builders. For complete information and an application, click here or call 780-7305.
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Get Informed and Exercise Your Right to Vote on November 2
Redwood City urges all registered voters to become fully informed about the statewide and local issues on the November 2 ballot, and to exercise their right to vote.
Two issues are highlighted for Redwood City voters: Proposition 1A and Measure Q.
At its meeting of August 23, the City Council adopted a Resolution in support of Proposition 1A , on the November 2, 2004 ballot. This proposition is designed to place restrictions on the State legislature’s ability to take local government funding.
In taking this position in support of Proposition 1A, the City Council noted that since 1991 the State has taken an astonishing total of over $35 million from Redwood City’s local funds, and further notes that had there earlier been a preventative measure in place such as Proposition 1A, the most recent State seizures of funds would not have taken place, and the City’s budget deficit would be significantly lower.
Impartial information on this measure is available at the California Secretary of State’s website and at the League of Women Voters Smartvoter website. You can get to those links through the City’s website.
The City has created a web page that will help voters gain complete information on Measure Q, the Marina Shores Village ballot measure on the November 2 ballot. There, you’ll find an impartial analysis, overview, arguments for and against the measure, documents and reports, and links to websites for both the “Yes on Q” and “No on Q” campaigns.
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Artists and Authors at the Library in November
The Redwood City Public Library and the Friends of the Library are offering a variety of special, free programs for all ages during the month of November.
On Monday, November 1 st artists from the state of Puebla, México will demonstrate techniques for making sugar skulls, discuss the tradition of the Day of the Dead, and tell fascinating stories for adults and children. The presentation will be in Spanish and English, and is scheduled for the Fair Oaks Library at 3:30 p.m., and in the Main Library’s community room at 7:00 p.m.
Then, on Wednesday, November 3, the community is invited meet local author Inés Villafañe-León at 7:30 p.m. in the community room of the Main Library, for a book signing and discussion. The author will talk about her recently-published novel in Spanish, Viento Del Sur and her bilingual collection of stories, A Story for All Seasons: Un Cuento Para Cada Estación.
Get all the details at www.redwoodcity.org/library or by calling 780-7026.
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The Forum at Redwood City Presents Michael Pyatok - “The Affordable Housing System and the Role of Design”
The City of Redwood City and local non-profit training and education organization Communities by Design have scheduled another exciting educational forum on urban design. On Wednesday, November 3, 6:00 to 7:45 pm, Mr. Michael Pyatok will share his expertise designing non-profit housing throughout the United States.
Principal of his own architectural firm since 1985, and co-author of the book, “Good Neighbors: Affordable Family Housing,” Mr. Pyatok is a recognized leader in the field of affordable housing. His work focuses on the design of community facilities and multi-family housing, including low-density suburban as well as high-density, inner-city, mixed-use developments.
Mr. Pyatok is also a tenured professor of architectural design at the University of Washington, and the Director of the Center for Affordable Homes and the Family at Arizona State University. His award-winning architectural designs have set a new standard for higher density affordable housing development.
The Forum takes place at the Little Fox Theater, 2209 Broadway, in downtown Redwood City. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the cost is $10 per person, payable at the door. For more information call 780-7363.
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Whole Foods to Open in Redwood City on November 17
Redwood City welcomes the new Whole Foods Market, a 39,000 square-foot grocery store at the corner of El Camino and Jefferson. The official opening will kick off with a bread-breaking ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on November 17.
The event will feature Whole Foods Market regional president Ron Megahan, Redwood City Mayor Jeff Ira, store team leader Pedro Fonesca, award winning company chef John Mitchell, and the new Whole Foods Market Redwood City store team. The store is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on opening day. Regular hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
Throughout opening day, Whole Foods Market will treat customers to an open house celebration with vendors distributing free product samples, a gift basket raffle, and free face painting for kids. In addition, the first 1,000 customers to spend $25 or more receive a complimentary Whole Foods Market canvas grocery bag.
The Whole Foods Market in Redwood City will add 145 jobs to the local economy, and brings a new distinctive retail environment to Redwood City. For more information go to www.wholefoodsmarket.com
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Yellow Ribbon Drive - Support our Sons and Daughters in the Armed Services
“Yellow Ribbon, Redwood City” (YRRWC) announces a City-wide drive for care package items needed to support our deployed soldiers. In partnership with the “Operation Care and Comfort,” YRRWC is hosting this drive from Monday October 25th through Friday November 12th.
Acceptable donation items include: socks, T-shirts, deodorant, disposable razors, toothbrushes, and much more. A complete listing of needed items is posted on the collection bins and on the YRRWC web site at www.yellowribbonrwc.com. Collection bins are generously donated by BFI and can be found at:
- City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road
- Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Avenue
- Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road
- Red Morton Community Center, 1120 Roosevelt Avenue
- Sandpiper Community Center, 797 Redwood Shores Parkway
- Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue
- Police Department, 1301 Maple Street
- Fire Department (downtown), 755 Marshall Street
- Public Works Services Department, 1400 Broadway
- Main Library, 1044 Middlefield Road
The purpose of the Yellow Ribbon Redwood City drive is to provide support and comfort to our deployed U.S. military service members serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict regions, by sending care packages containing needed items. “Yellow Ribbon Redwood City” is a community-based committee working together to offer support to the City’s deployed citizens and their families, as well as to the City’s officially-adopted Screaming Eagles unit. For more information call Tiffany Teele at 400-6764. The Yellow Ribbon Redwood City website is located at www.yellowribbonrwc.com.
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Help Protect our Creeks and Streams During Rainy Season
An unfortunate side-effect of our rainfall is that it generates an upsurge in water pollution as trash and other pollutants that accumulate during the dry season flow through Bay Area watersheds and into storm drains and waterways.
Runoff from our streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and other man-made surfaces goes into storm drains and waterways, sweeping up litter and debris in its path. During storms trash, organic matter, and automotive pollutants are primary sources of pollution that threaten water quality and wildlife in our local watersheds.
Storms flush large amounts of pollutants down Bay Area watersheds causing erosion, destroying habitat, depleting oxygen levels, and poisoning fish. Most people don 't realize that even leaves and grass clippings carried into creeks with rainy weather can disrupt the ecological health of our waterways. Our irreplaceable watersheds and waterways are necessary to support habitat for plants and animals, and they provide drinking water for people and wildlife.
The good news is that reducing such runoff pollution during the rainy season is preventable. Here is a list of 6 things residents can do to make a difference in their watershed:
- Set an example for others by not littering; if you do see litter, pick it up and put it in a trash can
- Carry a litterbag in your car or bicycle
- Keep trash containers covered securely to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter
- Keep leaves and yard clippings picked up around your home and recycle as green waste
- Regularly maintain your vehicle to avoid auto fluid leaks that build-up on roadway surfaces
- Organize or join in the cleanup of a neighborhood, creek, estuary, or wetland
Redwood City Public Works further asks residents if they see leaves and/or debris covering catch basins to please rake them up and place them on the planting strip or pile on the sidewalk away from the catch basin so that they don’t fall back into the gutter causing clogged drains.
For information on reducing storm water runoff, visit www.flowstobay.org or call Redwood City Public Works Services at 780-7464.
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