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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
November, 2009
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Redwood City International Latino Film Festival
It's here! Redwood City is hosting the International Latino Film Festival - November 6 - 8, 2009, with special free screenings at community colleges on November 4 and 5.
Join family, friends, neighbors, Latino film lovers, and new attendees for three evenings of incredible, award-winning international Latino films and a fabulous gala kick-off event. The Redwood City International Latino Film Festival offers the best features, shorts, and documentaries from Latin America, Spain, and Latinos in the U.S.
Go online for more details - movie descriptions, tickets, and more.
It all takes place November 6 - 8, 2009 in beautiful Downtown Redwood City.
Special FREE Community Screenings:
Skyline College – November 4
Cañada College – November 5
College of San Mateo – November 5
Gala Opening Reception – November 6
San Mateo County History Museum
Downtown Redwood City Movies – November 6, 7, 8
Century 20 Downtown Theatres
Don't miss the Redwood City International Latino Film Festival!
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Become a Green@Home Volunteer - Training Starts This Week
Green@Home House Call Volunteers help residents of Redwood City reduce their energy use by providing free home energy audits and installing basic energy saving devices.
To become a House Call Volunteer, you must attend a two-part training program. A $30 deposit is required at the start of training, and will be refunded after performing a minimum of two House Calls within two months or so following training. Volunteers work in teams and will be expected to perform approximately two 2.5 hour House Calls a month with a minimum of 10 House Calls performed. House Calls are scheduled at a time that is convenient for the volunteer.
Thursday, November 5 AND November 12, 5:30– 9:45 pm
Training takes place in Redwood City
This event is FREE after refund of required $30 deposit.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED to attend all Volunteer Training classes.
For more information or to register, email greenathome@acterra.org or call 650-962-9876 x380. Please go to www.acterra.org for more information on Green@Home energy audits and other great programs.
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Join Assembly Member Ira Ruskin for Town Hall Meeting
Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, Assembly District 21, is hosting a Town Hall meeting here in Redwood City (as well as others throughout his district - see www.assembly.ca.gov/ruskin for complete schedule). You're invited to attend this informal and interactive session to discuss legislative and community topics with Assemblymember Ruskin.
Redwood City Town Hall Meeting
- Tuesday, November 10, 2009
6 to 7:30 pm
City Hall Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
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Downtown Library to be Temporarily Closed for Improvements
The Redwood City Downtown Library will be closed for approximately 35 days for the installation of a new heating and air conditioning system, beginning Monday, November 30th, 2009, with an expected reopening on Monday, January 4th, 2010.
This is actually good news, since the new system will be significantly more efficient, saving the City energy, reducing the building’s carbon footprint, and saving money on power bills. And the other good news is that during this closure the Downtown Library will also be building a new teen center, adding three new study rooms, expanding the area used by the Project READ literacy program, and upgrading the technology lab.
While the Downtown Library is closed, you're encouraged to use the opportunity to fully explore Redwood City’s three branch libraries, including the newest library at Redwood Shores where a new café has just opened. Two branch libraries (Schaberg and Fair Oaks) will also have extended hours to help accommodate more patrons.
Visit www.redwoodcity.org/library for the list of the City's branch libraries and hours.
All public programs that normally take place at the Downtown Library will be suspended for the construction period, but the library’s collection of books and other materials can still be accessed online (www.redwoodcity.org/library). Items placed on hold for library patrons can be picked up at the Schaberg Branch Library instead of the Downtown Library. The book drops at the Downtown Library will remain open for returning materials.
Redwood City and the Redwood City Public Library apologize for this inconvenience, but remind the community that these improvements will make your “Five-Star” Downtown Library even better, and help to save a lot of energy too!
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Veterans Day Celebration at Woodside Terrace
The community is invited to join in honoring our nation’s veterans with an afternoon of food, fun and entertainment at Woodside Terrace.
Our Spirit of ’45 Celebration will feature great food, live music from The Magnolia Jazz Band, information on Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits from Heritage Financial North and opportunities for our veterans to recount their “Stories of Service.” Make plans now to be here!
Complimentary admission, food and refreshments
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 • 1 TO 5 pm
485 Woodside Road, Redwood City
Reservations: Call (650) 366-3900 by November 6
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Non-Profits & Businesses Can Join Tree Decorating Contest
The Redwood City Downtown Business Group is proud to announce the 3rd Annual Hometown Holidays Community Tree Decorating Contest!
The contest is open to non-profit organizations and private businesses as a way to help spread holiday cheer by decorating trees for display in some of the empty storefront windows downtown. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners for "Best Theme" tree decorations, in both the non-profit category and the business category.
Community groups and businesses interested in participating can get more information and an application at www.hometownholidays.org (click on "Forms" and then scroll down to "Tree Decorating Contest").
NOTE: The deadline to apply is 5 pm, November 13th.
Entry is free, and the Downtown Business group provides the trees and a sign in the window identifying the participating organization or business. Participants do the decorating and compete with each other for some great cash prizes - the community will vote for their favorites! Decorations can be based on any theme you want.
All the trees will be decorated and in place by December 2nd, and then the entire community is invited to join the fun 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 visit a restaurant, store, or movie.
More information is available by calling the Redwood City Downtown Business Group at 650-307-4064 or at www.hometownholidays.org. And don't forget, December 5 is Hometown Holidays!
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See GIS in Action November 23rd
Redwood City has been developing and utilizing GIS (geographic information system) for several years, and this year we're using the worldwide "GIS Day" to unveil the publicly-accessible version.
GIS is software which combines data with parcels and maps. It creates stunning and very useful “smart maps” with graphic depictions of layers of data that you can click on and off – neighborhood boundaries, street names, census data, schools, parcels, land use, demographics, and more! It's an incredible tool, and later this month a version of Redwood City's GIS will be available on the Internet to the community.
The official GIS Day is actually November 18th, and staff will be making a GIS presentation to the City Council at their meeting of November 23rd. You're invited to attend this meeting and hear an overview of the system, and how you can use it from your own desktop. Staff will also provide a real-time demonstration of the capabilities of GIS.
- Monday, November 23rd - 7 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
1017 Middlefield Road
GIS Day provides an international forum for users of geographic information systems technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society. More than 80 countries participate events and activities for GIS Day, 2009.
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"Job Search for 55 and Older" Workshop November 24th
In this challenging economy, everyone needs to use all tools available to secure the right job. This free two-hour workshop provides participants with tips and new skills that can help open new doors of employment opportunity. PeninsulaWorks will provide presentations by experts on job searching for 55 & over, as well as networking opportunities for job seekers. Get ready to go back to work!
- Tuesday, November 24th
1 - 3 PM
Community Room at the Redwood City Downtown Library
1044 Middlefield Road
This workshop is presented by PeninsulaWorks and is co-sponsored by the Redwood City Public Library, the Friends of the Redwood City Library, and the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County. PeninsulaWorks is the premier source for employment and training solutions in San Mateo County. Their mission is to help job seekers and laid off workers and our businesses that need talented workers to remain competitive.
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Join in Farewell to Council Members
Redwood City Vice Mayor Diane Howard and Council Member Jim Hartnett are completing 16 years of dedicated service to the community, as they both step down from their final terms on the City Council.
You're invited to join in celebrating and honoring the great work that these two public servants have accomplished - it's a special tribute on Monday, November 30th, 2009, at 7 pm in the Redwood City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road.
This is a great opportunity to join with others who have worked with Diane and Jim through their time on the Council, and celebreate their years of service to not only our local community, but the entire region.
Please RSVP by calling the City Clerks' Department, 650-780-7220.
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"Grand Boulevard" Improvements Begin
Redwood City has begun construction on significant pedestrian, sidewalk, and landscape improvements, as well as a water main replacement, on El Camino Real between Broadway and Brewster Avenue. This is Redwood City’s first step in the regional collaborative effort involving 19 cities and two counties to transform El Camino Real into a “Grand Boulevard” for the length of the peninsula. Work on this project is expected to continue through April, 2010.
Redwood City has received over $1 million in grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Federal Stimulus Package) and the California Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program to pay for this project. The regional Grand Boulevard initiative is designed for El Camino Real to achieve its full potential as a place for residents to work, live, shop and play, creating links between communities that promote walking and transit and an improved and meaningful quality of life.
Here are some details:
- El Camino Real, Broadway, and Brewster will remain open during construction.
- The speed limit has been changed to 25 mph along the 1/10th of a mile on El Camino Real between Broadway and Brewster.
- Motorists should exercise extra caution and be aware of all traffic control devices in this area at all times.
- Motorists should expect various lane realignments and turn restrictions.
- Sidewalk access to all local businesses will be maintained throughout the length of the project.
- Work hours are weekdays from 7:30 am to 4 pm (there may be the need for occasional night work on some portions, and a possibility of occasional weekend work).
Redwood City apologizes for any inconvenience, and asks for the community’s and motorists’ patience and cooperation during the construction period. While there will be delays and inconvenience for a few months, this project will result in an enhanced, more inviting, and improved section of El Camino Real, as we work to transform it into a Grand Boulevard.
For more information on the regional Grand Boulevard initiative, go to www.grandboulevard.net.
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Save the Date: Hometown Holidays is December 5
Once again, it's time to save the date for Redwood City's illustrious Hometown Holidays - and this year it's ven bigger and better than ever!
This fun-filled family event is back. Snow lot...shop for your holiday gifts...food...lots of things for the kids to do - petting zoo, pony rides, photos with Santa, and more.
Come and play the whole day - then, stay to watch the fabulous fireworks!
- Saturday, December 5, 2009
10 am - all over Downtown Redwood City
Visit www.hometownholidays.org for all the details.
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Bethlehem A.D. Holiday Event Returns
After a two year break, diverse church and community groups have come together to present "Bethlehem A.D." as a unique Christmas gift to the San Francisco Bay Area. With lavish sets and costumes, a cast of 200 actors, and a menagerie of exotic animals (about 85 in total), Bethlehem A.D. recreates the ancient village of Bethlehem on the night of the first Christmas.
- December 21, 22, and 23
6 - 9:30 pm
1305 Middlefield Rd. near Main - look for the searchlight!
More info is at www.BethlehemAD.com. Event is "walk-through" only.
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