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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
 Issue #49 ~ September, 2007
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Safety First - Safe Drop Off & Pick Up at School
As the new school year begins, the City of Redwood City and the Redwood City School District are joining forces to encourage Safety First when it comes to getting kids to and from school.
Redwood City City and the School District have created an informational web page designed to give parents and caregivers clear guidelines for the most safe and efficient ways to drop off and pick up their kids. The web page, which also contains a wealth of other links and information, is located at www.redwoodcity.org/schools.
By encouraging safe practices, we also aims to decrease the impact that back-to-school traffic has on neighborhood residents.
The beginning of each school year brings new parents into Redwood City Schools. Often, it takes parents several weeks to become familiar with the best locations and times to drop off/pick up their children. This confusion can create dangerous situations in which children cross the street at unsafe locations, walk between cars, or face increased risks even when crossing at designated crosswalks. Additionally, parents in a hurry sometimes park in bus zones, and in front of private driveways, creating problems for neighbors of the school.
Please take a look and learn the best, safest way to drop off and pick up kids at school, and minimize disruption to the school's neighbors.
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Volunteer Opportunity to Teach What You Love!
Citizen Schools, an after-school program in Redwood City, is seeking volunteers to teach or co-teach apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships are 10-week, 90-minute classes on any subject you want to teach - law, engineering, scrapbooking, carpentry, public speaking, calligraphy, robotics, and dog training are just a few of the apprenticeships we offered last year. No teaching experience is necessary! Citizen Schools staff will help you develop your passion or expertise into a 10-week curriculum and be there to help in every lesson. Teaching an apprenticeship is a unique way to work closely with kids and give back to your community.
WHERE: Citizen Schools has two locations in Redwood City:
- Kennedy Middle School (2621 Goodwin Ave.)
- McKinley Institute of Technology (400 Duane St.)
WHEN: 4:30-6:00 on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apprenticeships begin in mid-September and run through early December.
HOW: To volunteer, please fill out our online application: www.citizenschools.org/volunteer.
For more information, please visit www.citizenschools.org or contact Vince Gay at 650-363-2726, or by email at vincegay@citizenschools.org.
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Annual Memorial Service for Fallen Public Safety Members
Local public safety agencies throughout San Mateo County will be taking part in the sixth annual San Mateo County Public Safety Memorial Service, and invite the community to join in this special  commemoration.
The service in honor of fallen public safety professionals will be held on Sunday, September 9th, 2007 at 10:00 am in the Cunningham Memorial Chapel at Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Avenue in Belmont. The service will be non-denominational.
Local public safety agencies including police, fire, California Highway Patrol, San Mateo County’s California Department of Forestry, American Medical Response, the County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies from San Mateo County will all have representatives present to read the names of their fallen members and retirees who have passed away. Former San Mateo County Chaplain Mike Ryan (currently serving in Bellevue, WA) and others from San Mateo County Chaplaincy will be conducting the ceremony. Ceremonial music will be offered by the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums of San Francisco. All are invited to join in the commemoration and honoring of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. An informal reception will immediately follow the service.
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Coastal Cleanup Day is September 15
 The annual California Coastal Clean Up Day is
Saturday, September 15, 2007, from 9 am until noon - it's a great opportunity to volunteer to help keep our coast in great condition! Coastal Clean Up Day takes place during Pollution Prevention Week.
Since 1985, nearly 700,000 Californians have removed more than 10 million pounds of debris from our state 's shorelines and coast.
Click on the egret picture, or visit www.flowstobay.org to find out about a Coastal Clean Up Day event near you!
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City Trees Tree Planting Event Helps the Urban Forest
Local non profit group City Trees has scheduled another great tree planting event to enhance Redwood City's urban forest! In partnership  with the City of Redwood City, City Trees volunteers (and you?) will plant 54 trees. It's all part of the ongoing effort by City Trees to enhance and maintain our valuable urban forest.
- Saturday, September 15th, 2007
9 am - noon
Join the fun! Meet at the intersection of Alameda de las Pulgas and Chesterton Avenue.
More information is available at www.citytrees.org.
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Enter "Your Pet's Got Talent" Contest
Does your dog do the tango? Are you confident that your cat could compete on American Idol? Does your lizard have some special trick or skill? Then you should apply for the"Your Pet's Got Talent" event, taking place during Our Town - Downtown!
More information is right here! Apply now, and you and your pet may be selected for this fun contest! 
Show off your furry (or feathered!) companion’s unique talents in this fun contest at the 2nd annual “Our Town – Downtown” community festival in Downtown Redwood City on September 22nd where the competition will be held from 3 to 4pm. The deadline for entries is September 15th, so apply now!
Those pets (and their owners) selected to show off their unusual skills at Your Pet’s Got Talent will be notified by email.
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2nd Annual "Our Town - Downtown" Street Festival - September 22 
Join the fun Downtown on Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 with a fun, exciting, and historic celebration that the whole family will love!
The 2nd Annual “Our Town - Downtown ” event is a fun-filled day of great activities, music and entertainment, food, beverages, contests, and a wonderful time for the entire family. Noon to 8 pm at Courthouse Square, on Broadway, on Theatre Way, and on Main Street - in Downtown Redwood City!
Details are coming to www.redwoodcity.org/ourtown-downtown. Here are just some of the events and activities you'll find at Our Town - Downtown:
- Restaurants
- Classic adn Antique Car Shows
- Bounce Houses
- Fun Arts and Crafts
- Art Show
- Five Stages of Live Music
- Dancing Extravaganza
- Pet Talent Show
- Food, Beverages Wine, Beer
- History Lane
- Courtroom Re-enactments
- Skateboard Demonstrations
- Hiller Aviation Display
- Community Information Booths
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Senator Joe Simitian Town Hall Meeting - September 27
Join State Senator Joseph Simitian, Redwood City's representative in the California State Senate, for a town hall meeting in Redwood City. The entire community is invited to attend and participate, and discuss issues that are important to you, your family, and your community.
- Thursday, September 27, 2007
6 pm - 7:30 pm
Council Chambers, City Hall
1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
The Senator will speak briefly about the outcomes of this year's legislative session, and then answer your questions. Light refreshments will be served after the event. Senator Simitian's website is located here.
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San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day - September 29
Fire...earthquake...flood...terrorism...
Is your family ready to deal with a disaster? Here's an opportunity to learn about first aid, police, fire, and school site emergency plans, emergency kits, and disaster plans, see emergency equipment demonstrations, and get lots of tips to protect your family and neighborhood.
San Mateo County is hosting Disaster Preparedness Day on
- Saturday, September 29, 2007
10 am until 2 pm
San Mateo County Event Center
2495 S. Delaware Street in San Mateo
Free admission, free hot dogs and soda, and free gift for the first 1,200 families to attend.
For more information contact the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services at 650-363-4790 or the office of County Supervisor Adrienne J. Tissier at 650-363-4572.
This event is sponsored by San Mateo County, KGO Radio, The Examiner, San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services, US Department of Homeland Security, Samtrans, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, and UrbanShield.
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Find Your Neighborhood Association - New Maps Now Online
Redwood City now makes it simple to find out which Neighborhood Association you're in! Just go to our new Neighborhood Association Finder page and enter your address - you'll automatically be shown which association covers your area, and the contact and meeting information.
 Brand new maps of all the association areas are now online too!
Your neighborhood association is an easy way to get involved, meet your neighbors and fellow community members, and help to build community. Take a look!
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Save the Date - PAL Comedy Night Fundraiser October 4
Here it comes! It's the 2007 PAL Comedy Night  to benefit the Redwood City Police Activities League.
Save this date: Thursday, October 4, 2007, from 5 pm - 10 pm.
This year the Comedy Night honors Frank Bartaldo & Barry Jolette, and features commedians Michael Pritchard and Jim Giovanni. Edible delights will be provided by Arguello Catering and other local restaurants. For more information call 650-780-7619.
Save the date and look for the invitation soon!
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Make Your Kitchen Green!
We're not suggesting you paint it green, but you can do a few things to reduce energy use in your kitchen, food preparation, and consumption, and reduce the emission of carbon gas.
It's all part of doing your part for climate protection, and it's easy! Here are some free or very low cost actions:
- Eat local food once a week (saves transport and supports local economy)
- Eat one less pound of meat per week (less meat = less grazing & less transport )
- Use the microwave oven instead of the regular oven (more efficient and less energy used)
- Double the recipe to cook more at once, then freeze half of it (economy of scale in energy used to cook)
- Wash only full loads in the dishwasher
- Minimize refrigerator door opening, and keep the 'fridge full
- Avoid opening the oven door when cooking
- Scrape dishes, to reduce rinsing water use
- Air dry dishes
- Avoid the "rinse-hold" function on your dishwasher
- Use leftover oven heat to keep food warm
- Clean the coils on back or bottom of the refrigerator (more efficient energy use)
Pass these tips along to your neighbors! Working together, our community can have an impact on climate protection.
Want more ideas? Go online for more!
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