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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
 Issue #43 ~ March, 2007
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Enjoy "The Big Read" Events Throughout March
 The Big Read is a great community-building activity for families, friends, kids and seniors, neighbors, and everyone from throughout the community. The purpose is to promote reading, a love of books and learning, and to highlight the need to stamp out illiteracy in our community.
The entire community of Redwood City is invited to read the classic book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury during The Big Read – and then participate in a variety of fun, interesting, and illuminating book-related activities during a month-long calendar of events.
In addition to book panels, kids' story times, and discussions, two keynote events are a live interview with author Ray Bradbury (via satellite) on March 23rd, and the closing event, the "Fair on the Square" outdoor festival on March 31st in the Courthouse Square, featuring live music, food, beverages, arts and crafts for kids, book readings, and more.
A great community partnership is hosting The Big Read: the National Endowment for the Arts, non-profit Montalvo Arts Center, the City of  Redwood City, the Redwood City Public Library, the Redwood City School District, Cañada College, and the San Mateo County History Museum.
The Big Read is sponsored by Peninsula Community Foundation, Montalvo Arts Center, the City of Redwood City, Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and Applied Materials.
This event is part of The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
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Deadline to Register for PACT is March 9!
Register now for the Spring, 2007 session of PACT (Partnership Academy for Community Teamwork). The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 pm, March 9th, 2007.
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 school and high school students are encouraged to participate (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 Spring, 2007 program takes place each Wednesday from April 4th through May 30th 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. For more information call 780-7300.
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Appy for Board, Commission, or Committee by March 16th!
The City of Redwood City is seeking applicants for appointment to several of its advisory boards, commissions, and committees. This is a wonderful opportunity for interested City residents to become involved in participating in City government and serving the community. Members of the public are invited to bring their interest, experience, and enthusiasm to one of these boards for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in Redwood City.
The deadline for submitting applications is 5 pm, Friday, March 16, 2007.
The City is currently seeking applicants for the following boards, commissions, and committees (click here for the application details):
Further information and applications are available by calling the City Clerk’s office at 650-780-7220, on the City’s website, or by visiting the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City.
Basic requirements are that applicants have an interest in civic and community improvement, are 18 years of age or older, are a United States citizen, and are a resident of in corporated Redwood City (some board or commission positions may have additional requirements or preferred areas of expertise).
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City Offers "An Inconvenient Truth" in Spanish and English
 To help educate and engage Redwood City residents about the issues of global climate change, the City invites members of the community to join friends and neighbors to experience “An Inconvenient Truth,” former Vice President Al Gore’s passionate and inspirational documentary look at global warming 's deadly progress, and how we can all help to stop it.
A live presentation of the slide show that led to the documentary will be presented in Spanish, provided by the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club. The DVD will be shown at a second presentation, in English. These events are FREE.
- Spanish language slide presentation/narration:
Thursday, March 15, 2007
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Fair Oaks Community Center
2600 Middlefield Road
- English language DVD showing:
Thursday, March 22, 2007
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Community Room, Downtown Library
1044 Middlefield Road
“An Inconvenient Truth” examines and exposes the myths and misconceptions that surround this critical issue that affects every human being. There can be no doubt that we are all contributors to global warming – and we all need to be part of the solution. The average American generates about 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year from personal transportation, home energy use and from the energy used to produce all of the products and services we consume, and it’s having a global effect. Reducing that output is not just a good thing for today and for the generations of tomorrow – it’s crucial to our entire planet.
Redwood City is committed to moving toward reducing the output of greenhouse gasses in both City operations, and throughout the entire community. This will be accomplished through a combination of actions by the City to ensure all of its operations are as “green” as possible, and through providing information and tools to members of the greater community to help them make good decisions about what they can do - as individuals, families, and neighborhoods - to reduce their “carbon footprint.” More information on what people can do to help reduce greenhouse gasses is available at the Sierra Club’s website.
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Poner Fin al Recalentamiento Global!
Únase con sus vecinos, los amigos, y otros miembros de la comunidad para ver una presentación de multi-medios que provocara pensamiento, basado en el Premio de Academia ganador documental -
Una Verdad Inconveniente
(An Inconvenient Truth)
Jueves, 15 de Marzo del 2007
(esta fecha presentada en Español)
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Centro de Comunidad Fair Oaks 2600 Middlefield Road
Esta presentación es GRATIS
Esta es una presentación viva de una Verdad Inoportuna, El antiguo Vice Presidente Al Gore con su apasionada y inspiradora mirada al progreso mortal del recalentamiento global – y como todos podemos ayudar a pararlo. La presentación expone los mitos y ideas falsas que rodean esta cuestión crítica que afecta a cada ser humano.
Todos somos los contribuidores del recalentamiento global - y todos necesitamos ser parte de la solución. El americano promedio genera cerca de 15,000 libras de carbono dióxido cada año del transporte personal, uso casero de la energía y de la energía usada para producir todos los productos y servicios que consumimos, y está teniendo un efecto global.
El reducimiento de esta producción no es sólo una cosa buena para hoy y para las generaciones de mañana – es crucial a nuestro planeta entero.
Para más información por favor llame a la Ciudad de Redwood City al 780-7300.
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Register Now for Spring Gardening Workshops
Learn how to beautify your garden and use water efficiently in
the 2nd Annual Spring Gardening Workshop.
All classes are FREE and offered on a first come first served basis.
Choose one class or attend them all!
- Drought Tolerant Plants
Learn the importance of using low-water-use and drought tolerant plants in your garden. You will become familiar with successful trees, shrubs and groundcovers well suited for your garden.
- Saturday, March 17 - 9:00 am to noon OR
- Thursday, April 19 - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Irrigation Scheduling & Maintenance
How much water is enough...or too much? You’ll learn an easy
method to develop water schedules for your garden, and practical guidelines for the maintenance of your irrigation system.
- Saturday, March 24 - 9:00 am to noon OR
- Thursday, April 26 - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Garden Design
Learn the importance of implementing an overall garden design program when installing or renovating your garden. This is an excellent course for homeowners looking for ideas to improve their garden, with water efficiency in mind.
- Saturday, April 7 - 9:00 am to noon
To Register Call (650) 780-7436 or visit redwoodcity.org/conservation.
Space is limited and will fill quickly. Call today to reserve your seat!
All workshops will be held at the Redwood City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road.
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Community Group Holding "Unite to Fight Global Warming" Rally on March 18th
You are invited by:
- Sierra Club Cool Cities Program
- League of Women Voters
- Sustainable San Mateo County
- Silicon Valley Leadership Group
- Santa Clara County Council of Churches
...to join the "Unite to Fight Global Warming" rally! Show your support for local action on global warming, and learn how you can take personal action on this historic challenge.
Sunday March 18, 2007
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Historic Carrington Hall
Sequoia High School
1201 Brewster Avenue
Redwood City (2 blocks from Caltrain station)
This FREE event features a keynote address by Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope.
(Note: this is not a City-sponsored event)
What is the Cool Cities campaign?
Communities all over America are responding to the threat of global warming with smart energy solutions. These "Cool Cities" are taking decisive action to reduce heat-trapping emissions, lower energy bills, save taxpayer dollars, and protect our environment.
At a time when the federal government is failing to act, mayors and other local leaders are taking the lead to curb global warming. Beginning with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, nearly 400 mayors representing over 57 million Americans in 38 states have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce global warming emissions in their cities and to strive to achieve the targets recommended for the U.S. by the International Kyoto Protocol (see www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate).
These Cool Cities are working to meet this goal with practical and innovative energy solutions that reduce energy waste and global warming emissions, and thereby cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health, and save money.
Some of Redwood City's own efforts include greening the city's vehicle fleets with hybrid vehicles and utilizing cleaner-burning fuels, and modernizing city facilities with money-saving energy-efficiency technology.
Read more about the Cool Cities campaign at http://www.coolcities.us.
What 's happening locally?
The local Sierra Club chapter is starting up Cool Cities teams in cities throughout the Silicon Valley region. Right now, Sierra Club volunteer coaches are working one-on-one with Redwood City team leaders to help move toward making our community a Cool City. This effort includes engaging the community to take individual action on reducing each household's "carbon footprint."
How can you get involved?
Redwood City's Sierra Club lead for the Cool Cities Program is Rick Nordensten. To get involved in our community's efforts to fight global warming, please contact him by phone (650.369.4260) or email .
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