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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #24 ~ August, 2005
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Join the Fall PACT Program
Applications are now available for the Fall, 2005 session of PACT (Partnership Academy for Community Teamwork). The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 pm, August 12th, 2005.
Applications are available from the City Manager’s office, located in City Hall at 1017 Middlefield Road, or by calling 650-780-7300. The application is also available online. Enrollment is limited to 40 participants. Middle- and high-school aged youth are encouraged to apply (waiver must be signed by parent or guardian).
This nine-week citizens’ academy will provide participants with a hands-on overview of the management and governance of Redwood City, while helping to build relationships that will strengthen our entire community.
The Fall, 2005 program takes place each Wednesday from September 7th through November 2nd (except October 12, in observance of Yom Kippur that week’s session will be held Tuesday October 11), and engages in dynamic and interesting activities illustrating how the City functions. The sessions cover subjects from Public Works to the Police Department, from the City Council to Finance, from the Fire Department to the Library, and more.
This is a great opportunity for interested community members to get an insider’s view of where the City is going, become experts on how the City operates, and help to build a great community, together. Application deadline is August 12, so fill out and send yours right away!
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Fire Department Blood Drive - August 2
The Redwood City Fire Department is sponsoring a blood drive on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 from 9:00am – 2:00pm. It will be at the Bloodmobile at 1017 Middlefield Road in front of City Hall. The Stanford Blood Center is in desperate need of B-negative blood, which is found in only 1.5 percent of the population – all other blood types are also needed.
This blood drive is in honor of 14-year-old Brittany Marelich-Hill, who was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in February of this year. Her best hope is through blood and bone marrow donations. Brittany is multi-racial and has a special need for a particular bone marrow match.
Please help to make a difference in Brittany’s life or the life of another child who needs blood - call (650) 780-7400 to schedule an appointment to donate blood.
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SFPUC to Implement Water Fluoridation in September
California 's Fluoridated Drinking Water Act, Assembly Bill 733, became law in 1995, requiring water systems with 10,000 or more service connections to fluoridate once funding is available.
As a result, drinking water provided to the community of Redwood City by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) will be fluoridated beginning in September 2005. The SFPUC is the sole source of drinking water for the City of Redwood City. The water originates from the Hetch Hetchy water system.
Fluoridation is a safe, effective, and economical way to improve dental health for the entire community. Fluoride, one of the most plentiful elements on earth, occurs naturally in water supplies. When fluoride is present in drinking water at optimal levels, it has been shown to promote oral health by preventing tooth decay. Water fluoridation is the addition of small amounts of fluoride to a water supply to achieve a fluoride level that helps prevent tooth decay. Extensive research conducted over the past 50 years has shown that fluoridation of public water supplies is a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay.
The overall value and safety of community water fluoridation is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by the U.S. Surgeon General. Community water fluoridation is endorsed by numerous public health and professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Association of Public Health, U.S. Public Health Service, World Health Organization and the American Dental Association.
For more information on water fluoridation call the City Public Works Department at 780-7464 or go to the City's water fluoridation page. For health-related information, contact the San Mateo County Health Department at 650-372-8572. For general information on water fluoridation visit the SFPUC on line, or call 866-668-6008.
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Public Comment Sought on Design of Fleishman Park Renovation
With a restroom dating from 1963 and play equipment that’s seen heavy use since the early 1980s, Fleishman Park is due for a major renovation. Redwood City held a community input meeting in June to gather ideas from the people who enjoy the park, and now the City’s consultant hired to design the renovated park is returning with a conceptual plan for public review.
Neighbors of the park as well as anyone interested in how this park will be renovated are invited to attend a community meeting on Saturday August 6, 2005 beginning at 11 am to review and comment on the conceptual design for the renovation of Fleishman Park. The meeting will take place at the park, which is located on McEvoy Street, between Madrone and Cypress. Hot dogs, chips, and soda will be served.
Following the community’s input into the conceptual plan, the consultant will begin work on the final plans for the renovation. It’s expected that these plans will be completed by the end of this year. Construction should begin in the spring of 2006 with an expected completion by summer of 2006.
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Free Live Music Continues in Redwood City
Have you been to one of Redwood City’s free concerts this summer? Bring the family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy our beautiful weather and hear some great live music from local, regional, and national musicians.
There are five concerts remaining at our Live in Downtown concert series, taking place each Friday from 6 to 8 pm at City Center Plaza adjacent to City Hall on Middlefield Road:
- August 5 - Hale Baskin – a rising local star
- August 12 - Garage Band – from the 40s to today
- August 19 - Orchestra Kalachin – Latin salsa
- August 26 - Larry Lynch and the Lynch Mob
- September 2 - Jackie Payne – big blues sound
And, if a park-setting is more to your taste, there are three concerts remaining at the Stafford Park Concert Series, which takes place at the park located at King Street at Hopkins Avenue, each Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm:
- August 3 - Zydeco Flames – Down on the bayou Cajun
- August 10 - Pure Ecstasy – Motown and R&B
- August 17 - Ben Marcato & His Mondo Combo – Rockin’ swing
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Community Safety Tips
Keeping our community members safe is a top priority for the City – here are just a few brief tips that you can use in your own neighborhood.
Communication is key to maintaining our public safety, so keep in touch with your neighbors – communicate with each other and agree to keep an eye on each others’ houses when no one’s home. Be aware of unusual vehicles or activity. If you see suspicious activity, people, or vehicles, call the Redwood City Police Department directly at 780-7100. In an emergency, of course, you should call 9-1-1. The Police Department also maintains an anonymous tip hot line at 780-7110.
Attend your neighborhood association meetings to get to know other members of your community, and learn more about what’s going on in your neighborhood (click here for a list of neighborhood associations).
The Redwood City Police Department embraces a community policing philosophy. The Community Coordinating Activities Team (CCAT) works closely with the community to address the problems of crime, and quality of life issues. CCAT officers coordinate Neighborhood Watch meetings, neighborhood association meetings, and speak at schools and service organizations. You can reach the CCAT office at 780-7100 to learn more.
For more information on community safety topics, visit the Redwood City Police Department website’s “Hot Topics” page.
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Small Grants Available for Your Community Project
Grants of up to $300 are available for community engagement projects, beautification, neighborhood participation activities, or other projects that bring people together and build community. The purpose of this grant program is to help people to implement their own creative ideas for making their street, block, neighborhood, or community a better place to live and work.
Eligible projects will have a positive impact and will offer an opportunity for neighbors to get to know one another and work together toward a common goal of community improvement and engagement. This program is one way the City is helping people to strengthen the foundation of the entire community.
More information and applications are available online, at the Office of the City Manager at 1017 Middlefield Road , or by emailing or calling the City Manager 's office at 650-780-7300. Applications will be reviewed once a month and applicants can expect to hear from the City within 45 days of receipt of the application.
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