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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
 Issue #52 ~ December, 2007
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Help the Police/Fire Annual Toy and Book Drive
 Each year, the Redwood City Police Activities League (PAL) Christmas Toy and Book Drive has brought the holiday spirit right to the doorstep of many needy families.
In conjunction with the Police Officers Association and Firefighters Association, and with help from the Fair Oaks Community Center and a corps of volunteers, this annual event has become a welcome tradition in Redwood City.
Businesses are asked to place donation barrels at their sites;  individuals and families are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys and books; and volunteers are asked for their time and energy for ‘wrapping parties’ where everyone takes part in preparing the gifts for the kids, from gift wrapping, to ‘quality control,’ to helping with food and drinks.
To learn how to get involved, call Officer Dan Smith at (650) 556-1650 extension 11, or go online for a handy form you can print and fill out.
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Downtown Windows Aglow With Decorated Trees
The Redwood City Downtown Business Group invited a selection of non-profits and businesses to decorate holiday trees in Downtown windows, and the results are a holiday spectacular!
The decorated trees are located in the storefront windows of the "On Broadway" building's Broadway side, as well as in 3 of the pavillions  on Courthouse Square, and they are a sight to behold! You're invited to come and enjoy a great selection of beautiful, sparkling holiday trees, custom-decorated by community groups and businesses, brightening up various storefront windows Downtown. It’ll be wonderful for the entire family to stroll together throughout our beautiful Downtown, to feel the chill in the air, and enjoy the holiday cheer - and maybe a restaurant, store, or movie.
And, you can even vote for your favorites. Ballots are available in City Hall and in various downtown businesses next week.
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Fire Department Offers Holiday Safety Tips
Here are a few key winter holiday fire-safety tips from the Redwood City Fire Department:
- Live Christmas trees - especially dry ones - are highly combustible and will burn very fast. They should be purchased when they are very fresh and should be watered frequently to retain their green color and to avoid drying out. Decorative lights should be used wisely and their plugs should not be overloaded – attaching too many lights to a plug can overload electrical circuits and cause a fire.
- Use candles with care – they should never be placed on a Christmas tree. Make sure candles are not at a risk of tipping over, and do not leave lit candles unattended.
- Only firewood, or other products intended for this use, should be burned in fireplaces - and be sure to have your chimney inspected and cleaned if needed. Do not burn scrap wood or trash.
- If a home contains a central heating system, it should be inspected once a year and whenever any kind of a problem is suspected, to ensure that it’s operating correctly and safely.
- Space heaters should be used only in an area that is clear of any combustibles. It’s valuable to imagine a circle around a space heater that has at least a 3-foot radius – that’s the minimum area that should be kept clear. Any space heater purchased for the home should bear the label of an independent testing laboratory such as UL.
Additional information on home fire safety for the holidays and year-round is available from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). More information on how to make your home “fire-safe” can also be obtained by contacting the Redwood City Fire Department at 650-780-7400 or visiting www.redwoodcity.org/fire.
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CodeRED Emergency Notification System
Redwood City’s emergency high-speed telephone notification system, CodeRED, lets the City deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification messages to targeted areas or the entire City at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. Its database of phone numbers is significant, but many people would benefit from including their cell phone, work phone (even if out of the area), or other alternate number. By doing so, they are sure to be called when a CodeRED alert is activated in the area of their home or business.
Members of the community are encouraged to go online to update their information or add an alternate phone number to ensure timely notification. During a CodeRED alert, both the primary and alternate number will be called. This service is available to all Redwood City addresses, as well as those outside the City limits in the North Fair Oaks, Emerald Hills, or other unincorporated areas directly adjacent to Redwood City.
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Senior Center Gains National Accreditation
 Concurrent with its 25th Anniversary, Redwood City’s Veterans Memorial Senior Center is celebrating its recognition as the first nationally-accredited senior center in San Mateo County, only the third center in California to reach this status, and just the 148th to be accredited out of the 15,000 senior centers across America. The senior center’s accreditation status is bestowed by the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) a unit of the National Council on the Aging.
With this recognition, the Veterans Memorial Senior Center is considered to be in the top one-percent of all senior centers nationwide, and is commended for its vision, collaborative relationships, volunteer programs, outreach programs, wide range of health and fitness programs, and other supportive services.
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Sign Up for "Are You Ready?" Disaster Preparedness Class
"Are You Ready?" is a quick and informative introductory class in disaster  preparedness.
It's perfect for individuals, families, or groups that don't currently have the time to attend our more-intensive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, and it provides the basics of how to survive after a major emergency. The Redwood City Fire Department provides the training materials and instructors, you provide the interest and enthusiasm!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Sandpiper Community Center
797 Redwood Shores Parkway
~ Register for this class ~
Click here for information on this and future "Are You Ready?" classes.
This FREE one-to-two hour class covers the basics of what to do before, during, and after a major emergency. You will learn how to:
- Get informed
- Put together a kit
- Make a plan
Sign up today - and bring a friend or neighbor!
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City Wins "Diamond Award" for Courthouse Square and Events
We're proud to announce that Redwood City has been recognized by the Peninsula Arts Council with its annual "Diamond Award" for the City's  vision in developing the Courthouse Square, which has permanently enhanced the downtown business area and has created a vibrant artistic forum for the public's enjoyment.
The Peninsual Arts Center says that Redwood City's expansive schedule of events such as Art on the Square, Dancing on the Square, Movies on the Square, Music on the Square and the Friday Night Art Walk are now an integral part of the Downtown experience, for the entire community to enjoy, for free.
The combination of the City of Redwood City, the Redwood City Library with its many hosted readings, musical performances, and film nights, plus the cultural offerings of the San Mateo County Historical Association, has created an "...artistic synergy that has enlivened the downtown environment and has made Redwood City a year-round cultural destination."
Congratulations all-around!
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Community Book Sale at Selby Lane School
Here's a great opportunity for discounted books, just in time for the holidays!
Selby Lane School in Atherton/Redwood City is sponsoring a Book Sale where you'll save at least 50% off of the cover price. The books are from Scholastic Books and basically it is really a kind of  "warehouse" sale at the school. It is not a fund-raiser, it's just something they do every year as a wonderful community event.
Come check out the great selection a stock up on books for the holidays, and all year:
- Friday, December 7th from
3 - 8 pm
- Saturday, December 8th from 9 am - 8 pm
- Sunday, December 9th from 9 am - 8 pm
Selby Lane School is located at
170 Selby Lane.
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Five Quick & Easy Ways to "Green" Your Holidays!
Of course it's important to be green year-round, but being environmentally conscious during the holidays is particuarly important, when the environment might take a back seat to the sometimes  overwhelming consumerism, flashy lights, and gifts.
Here are some easy ways to build "green" into your holiday activities:
- Use recycled or avoid buying wrapping paper (and save any that you do use, for next year).
- Send tree-free holiday cards: cards made from hemp, or
other materials (a quick online search will locate sources).
- Decorate without so many lights, and use newer LED holiday lights instead. Make edible ornaments, wreathes, organic decorations, hang mistletoe and use bows and ribbons - go old-fashioned!
- Recycle your Christmas tree. Do not just throw away your
tree, take it to a local nursery to compost it or be sure it's disposed of in an environmentally proper manner.
- Wear a sweater instead of turning up the heat, or lower
thermostat 2 degrees (or both!) - give someone else in your house a sweater as a gift!
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