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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #26 ~ October, 2005
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Broadway Temporarily Closed for Streetscape Improvements
An exciting new phase of work is starting on the downtown renaissance - major improvements to the surrounding streetscape, designed to enhance and complement the new Retail-Cinema and Courthouse Square projects now underway.
To accommodate this work, two blocks of Broadway between Jefferson and Hamilton will be completely closed to vehicular access for the next several months, beginning on Monday, October 3rd. Click here to view a map outlining the street closure.
The City wishes to assure the community that pedestrian access to the businesses in this area will be maintained – special signage is being installed to let people know that businesses are open and accessible, and clear, easy access will be provided in order to minimize the impact to these downtown businesses.
As we work to make these dramatic improvements to Broadway, the community will still have easy access to the Fox Theatre and Little Fox Theatre, Le Boulanger, Meridian World Travel, Great Hair Cuts, Bob’s Court House Restaurant, and Prestige Portraits.
The City would like to thank motorists, pedestrians, and especially the businesses in the affected area for their patience and understanding, and apologizes for this inconvenience. The temporary street closure is necessary to minimize the overall construction time and impact. This short-term inconvenience will lead to the entire community’s enjoyment of the new streetscape including artistic new sidewalk and street pavers, new high-quality planter boxes, new street trees, and many other beautiful design details.
All scheduling is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances, and the City will keep the downtown community informed of any new schedule information.
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The Forum@Redwood City Presents “Great Streets”
The Forum@Redwood City begins the season with special guest speaker Allan Jacobs. On Wednesday, October 5th from 6 – 7:45 pm, this well-known author, professor and city planning expert will discuss “Great Cities, Great Streets: Insights into Successful City Planning.” Please join us for a provocative look into the role of great streets and great boulevards in great cities.
Allan Jacobs has studied the best examples of streets and boulevards from all over the world in order to explore what makes great public streets, and his book, “Great Streets,” is a text that is used universally by students and practitioners. Mr. Jacobs will discuss how streets and boulevards respond to many issues that are central to urban life, including livability, mobility, safety, interest, economic opportunity, mass transit and open space.
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. An optional no-host dinner with the presenter and other participants will be held following the Forum for those wishing to continue the discussion.
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Project READ’s Annual Trivia Bee – 10/14
Redwood City Project READ’s 16th Annual Trivia Bee takes place on Friday, October 14, 2005 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Cañada College, 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard in Redwood City.
The Trivia Bee is a chance to see people gather to prove themselves experts of utterly useless and trivial information, while vying for the coveted title of Trivia BEE Champs of Redwood City! All this as hundreds of spectators cheer, sneer, and root them on - this gala event starts with an Hors d’oeuvre Extravaganza at 6:30, followed by the Bee Kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Spectator tickets, available in advance or at the door for $25, include gourmet hors d’oeuvres, specialty desserts, and coffee.
Corporations and individuals may register to participate as a team or event sponsor. Team sponsorship at several levels and prices are still available. Think you know it all? Think your team can kick some bee-booty? Then call 780-7077 today or visit www.triviabee.org for information on bringing your team to the Trivia Bee.
All proceeds benefit the award-winning Redwood City Project READ, a library-based nonprofit organization providing tutoring and other enrichment services dedicated to ending illiteracy in Redwood City by 2020 through intergenerational literary services.
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Library’s SuperSaturday for Kindergartners – 10/15
The Redwood City Public Library is partnering with the Redwood City School District to make sure kindergartners and their families can get library cards and start enjoying the benefits of its books and programs. Young and old alike are invited to a SuperSaturday event on Saturday October 15 from 11 am to 3 pm at the Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Road.
This special event for kindergartners, their families, and school staff will feature many fun family activities, special guests, prizes, and quick sign-up for library cards. At the event, families will enjoy Chiquy Boom the stilt-walking, balloon-twisting performer, the famous Maisy the Mouse character, arts and crafts, a puppet show, storytelling, and more. It’ll be a SuperSaturday for the entire family!
More information about library events and services, the Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Library is available on the library’s home page at www.redwoodcity.org/library, by calling 780-7017, or by picking up a Library events calendar in any Redwood City library.
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Singer/Storyteller Bill Harley at Library Benefit
Nationally-recognized children’s songster/storyteller Bill Harley appears in concert on Thursday October 27th at 7 pm, in the Foresters Hall, 1204 Middlefield Road. It’s a special performance with all proceeds benefiting the Library’s free programs for children.
Bill Harley is a two-time Grammy nominee, and is renowned for such hits as, “Zanzibar", "Monsters In The Bathroom", "50 Ways To Fool Your Mother", "You're In Trouble", "Dad Threw The TV Out The Window" and "Down in the Backpack".
This show is the perfect entertainment for children ages five and up, and all for a great cause! Tickets are a mere $10. For information go to www.redwoodcity.org/library or call 780-7107.
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Family Fun at Spooktakular Event – 10/29
Redwood City’s 9th annual Halloween Spooktakular event takes place on Saturday, October 29th from 12 noon until 3 pm at the Red Morton Community Center, 1120 Roosevelt Avenue in Redwood City.
Kids will thrill to carnival games, proudly show off their Halloween attire in a costume parade at 1:30pm, create Halloween mementos with crafts projects, make their way through a Monster Maze, and enjoy lots of other fun activities! Redwood City’s Halloween Spooktakular is suitable for kids up to age ten - admission is just $5. The public is invited to bring the kids and enjoy tons of Halloween fun in a safe, creative, and festive atmosphere.
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Fire and Police Offer Arson Precautions / Safety Tips
During the past few weeks several arson fires have been started in Redwood City. All of these fires occurred at night, were set in apartment buildings, and were most frequently started in carports, laundry rooms, storage areas, garbage containers, and other common areas. Fortunately, the quick action of the Fire Department has limited these fires from spreading and injuring residents.
The arsonist is still at large, and the Redwood City Fire and Police Departments are reminding the public of the importance of residents working together with the City to help protect the safety of our community, property, and lives.
A $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for these crimes is offered by the Redwood City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms. Any member of the community that may have information regarding any of these fires is asked to contact Detective Jackie Gouldson at 780-7620.
The Fire and Police Departments urge residents to observe these precautions:
- Be alert to suspicious persons in carport areas and laundry room areas of apartment complexes
- Immediately report any suspicious persons or activity to the Redwood City Police at 780-7100
- In the event of a fire or other emergency, immediately call 911
- Do not pile easily-combustible material such as furniture, clothing, junk, weeds, etc., in or around carports, laundry rooms, garbage areas, water heaters, underneath stairways, or in common areas.
- Any fuels, propane cylinders, gas cans, garden machinery, charcoal, barbecue lighters, matches, and other ignition devices should be stored in a safe and secure manner.
- All parked vehicles, including those in carports, should be locked.
- Make sure all fire extinguishers in your home are easily accessible, in good working condition, and that all family members know how to use them.
- Make sure that smoke detectors are installed throughout the home and that they are in good working condition.
- Have an emergency/fire evacuation plan in place, and practice it with all members of the family.
- Share all of this information with friends and neighbors
Additional community safety tips, including precautions for apartment and other building owners, are available on the City’s website. More information on fire prevention is located at www.redwoodcity.org/fire, and you can learn more about community policing at www.redwoodcity.org/police.
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Mayor’s Beautification Awards Presented
This year’s winners of the Mayor’s Beautification Awards were honored at a recent reception and Council meeting at which each of the winners and honorable mentions received a special plaque or certificate, along with the congratulations and thanks of the Mayor and the Council, in honor of their civic pride.
The annual Mayor’s Beautification Awards program, sponsored by the City’s Pride and Beautification committee, is designed to recognize the efforts of residents, non-profit agencies, and businesses to maintain or improve Redwood City neighborhoods. The program encourages attractive structural and landscaping improvements in our community. Single- or multi-family residences, apartment complexes, home owners associations, and non-profit or commercial properties are eligible. A panel of volunteer judges screened the entries, and the final selection process included a site visit to all entries.
This year the Civic Cultural Commission donated to make sure the awards program was a success. And, a number of other wonderful sponsors have donated sufficient funds to keep the program alive for the next several years, and I want to thank them as well for their dedication to keeping Redwood City beautiful:
- BFI/Allied Waste Services
- Glenborough Pauls
- Whole Foods
- The Port of Redwood City
- Peninsula Building Materials Company
- Sequoia Health Services
- Wells Fargo
- Norcal Waste Systems of San Mateo County
And we had some grass-roots donations as well, from Cheryl Angeles, Maria Martinucci, and the Redwood Oaks Neighborhood Association
Click here for a complete list of the winners of the 2005 Mayor’s Beautification Awards. And, you can view the slide show featuring the winning entries.
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Street Resurfacing Scheduled
As part of our ongoing roadway preventative maintenance program, the City of Redwood City will be resurfacing a number of neighborhood streets. This work will result in smoother, safer, improved roadways, but will cause some inconvenience to residents and motorists in these areas during construction. This phase of work is scheduled to begin on October 12, and conclude on October 14, depending on weather.
Neighborhoods are being notified when work is scheduled in their specific areas, and are being provided with details about what work will take place, its duration, and information on how to help make it a problem-free construction project.
The short-term inconvenience primarily consists of a requirement to keep cars off the street entirely during certain portions of the work, and to park cars off street for approximately two days after the work. It's expected that during the main part of the work, streets will be reopened to traffic by 5:00 pm. Click here for a list of the affected streets.
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Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort
Redwood City has posted links on its website to help the community get information on how they can help with the relief and rescue effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Click here to reach Redwood City's Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts page. The page that comes up contains links to various related pages on the San Mateo County web site, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s web site, the American Red Cross web site, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services web site.
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