Great coming events at our Library:
Beauty Academy of Kabul
Wednesday -September 27 – 7:30 pm
Lane Community Room
A group of American hairdressers head to open the country's first Post-Taliban beauty school.
Last Images of War
Wednesday – October 11 – 7:00 pm
Lane Community Room
Film showing and a Q&A with documentary filmmaker and director, Stephen Olsson, of the story of four photojournalists covering the Afghan-Soviet war.
– Written by Fiona
Email from the city of Burlingame:
Based on public input received at the September 5 meeting, the City Council will be approving the revised scope of work for a traffic study for the Peninsula Avenue Interchange project. The meeting will start at 7PM on September 18, 2006 in Burlingame City Hall, 501 Primrose Road, Council Chambers. The scope of the traffic study has been revised to add an additional scenario to examine potential improvements at the Poplar Avenue interchange, with no changes to the existing Peninsula Avenue interchange. The intersection of Bloomfield Road and Bayswater Avenue has also been added to the scope.
– Written by Fiona
RAID forms against overpass changes (San Mateo Times)
SAN MATEO Residents near the site of a proposed freeway interchange upgrade are banding together to fight the project, with some worried about increased traffic, and others about losing their homes. The group is called Residents Against Irresponsible Development, or RAID. Its purpose is to prevent the city of San Mateo from approving freeway on- and off-ramps at the Peninsula Avenue overpass, said one of the group's founders, Cheryl Bower. "We feel like there's so many negative drawbacks to the interchange that they outweigh any benefits," said Bower, a realtor living on Peninsula Avenue, which forms most of the border between Burlingame and San Mateo west of Highway 101.
The cities of Burlingame and San Mateo together are looking at ways to improve the clunky Peninsula overpass and the dangerous Poplar Avenue interchange to the south. One option being explored is closing the Poplar interchange and putting in ramps at Peninsula, which would increase traffic in the area and lead to the seizure of some properties through eminent domain. Elected officials for both cities stress that they are merely studying their alternatives. Putting in an interchange would not take place for several years, after scores of public meetings and careful deliberation, city leaders stress. "Whatever's going to happen there isn't going to happen overnight; it's going to take years," San Mateo City Councilman Jack Matthews said. "We have an obligation to get information and make an informed decision." San Mateo decided to look at changes to the Peninsula overpass because of a state Department of Transportation project to install auxiliary lanes on Highway 101. To make room for the lanes, the overpass will be knocked down and replaced as early as next year. The project will widen the overpass to four lanes and allow for an interchange to be installed in the future. But people who live near the overpass say the uncertainty surrounding the project is already causing headaches. The threat of property seizure and the likelihood of increased traffic could make it difficult for residents to sell their homes for a good price and risky to renovate them, Bower said. For instance, the San Mateo County Association of Realtors has advised its real estate agents to notify homebuyers of the Peninsula Avenue project. And at least two homeowners in the area have been cold-called by investors who referred to newspaper accounts of the project and offered to buy their properties. Gary Parma, a Parks and Recreation commissioner for San Mateo, said his 91-year-old mother, who lives on the 1100 block of Peninsula, was called by a "shyster" who offered to relieve her of her burdensome home. Parma said his mother "had enough smarts to tell them to buzz off." Bower said RAID will have a core group of eight to 12 active members. The organization plans to set up a Web site to serve as an information clearinghouse, where residents can look at documents and find out the times and locations of upcoming meetings. Bower said RAID intends to be a civil voice of opposition. "We're a reasonable group," Bower said. "We don't want to be perceived as unreasonable or opposed to any kind of development." Bower said the cities should give more consideration to upgrading Poplar Avenue and reducing the accident rate there. Two options include installing a median to prevent left-hand turns that cross the Poplar off-ramp and improving the sight lines for vehicles exiting the highway.
The next meeting relating to the overpass comes Monday. The Burlingame City Council is expected to vote on whether to contribute $25,000 to a $63,940 traffic study of the area commissioned by the San Mateo City Council. The council meets at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 501 Primrose Road.
– Written by Fiona
Local Briefs (Daily Journal) – Police search for Burlingame burglars
Two brazen midday burglaries have Burlingame police warning residents to be on the lookout for suspicious activity. The Burlingame Police Department is currently investigating two daytime residential burglaries that occurred on Sept. 7 in the Easton neighborhood on the 1200 block of Vancouver Avenue the 2500 block of Poppy Drive. Both burglaries took place in day light hours while the residents were not at home, and both were reported by residents when they returned home later in the evening. In both incidents the suspect or suspects turned the power off to the homes via an outside circuit breaker box, entered the homes by forcing open a rear door with an unknown pry tool, proceeded to an upstairs bedroom, ransacked the bedroom and stole cash and jewelry, according to the Burlingame Police Department. Anyone with information regarding these crimes should contact Inspector Kevin Kashiwahara at the Burlingame Police Department 777-4100.
– Written by Fiona
See Smartvote for more information.
Measure A. Tax Measure — County of San Mateo (2/3 Approval Required) Shall San Mateo County enact a one-eighth cent sales tax, with annual audits and reports to the community, to support parks and recreation services provided by the cities, the county, and special districts, including, but not limited to: maintaining and improving park bathrooms, picnic areas, and athletic facilities; repairing and upgrading playgrounds and play structures; improving access to parks and playgrounds for the disabled; preserving natural open spaces; and maintaining hiking, walking, and biking trails?
Measure H. Burlingame Flood Protection and Safety Measure — City of Burlingame (Bond Measure – 2/3 Approval Required) To safeguard Burlingame residents, homes and businesses, shall the City of Burlingame be authorized to issue $37,000,000 in bonds to improve aging and undercapacity flood control infrastructure; and for seismic stability, disabled access, safety, security, fire protection, ventilation, and disaster preparedness improvements in existing City buildings, shall the City be authorized to issue $7,000,000 in bonds; with all expenditures monitored by a citizens' oversight committee with annual independent audits?
Measure M. Bond Measure — San Mateo Union High School District (55% Approval Required) To continue renovation and rehabilitation of 45- to 83-year old buildings and facilities on seven campusus for safe, healthy teaching and learning environments; further upgrade fire safety, accessibility, electrical, security, and sewer systems; repair, remodel, expand, build new and replace old, inadequate classroom buildings and other facilities per the District's Bond Projects List, with citizens' oversight of all expenditures, shall the San Mateo Union High School District issue $298 million in bonds at interest rates within the legal limit?
– Written by Fiona
Gang-awareness seminars set (San Mateo Times)
SAN MATEO Residents who are curious about how gangs operate can learn from police and former gang members in the new gang-awareness seminars, which start tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Shoreview Recreation Center. Each seminar has three segments (once a week over three weeks, one-and-a-half-hours each). The San Mateo Police Department will schedule five such seminars between now and March. Parents and their adolescent children are encouraged to attend. Spanish and Tongan translation will be provided at the seminars. Child care will be available for children 4 or more years old. Week one of the seminar discusses what gangs are, why they form and what gangs are present in the community. The second week focuses on gang structure and signs of youth involvement. The final week brings guest speakers, including former gang members; community and parent prevention strategies; resource awareness; and an introduction to the Police Activities League's anti-gang activities for youth. PAL administers the seminars. The seminars are funded through a grant from the state Department of Justice and the Coalition of State Police Activities Leagues. The sessions are sponsored by San Mateo Police in collaboration with the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, San Mateo County Probation Department, County Gang Intelligence Task Force, The Jericho Project and Tongan Interfaith Council. The first three-part seminar will be held tonight, Sept. 20 and 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Shoreview Recreation Center. The next seminar will be held on Oct. 16, 23 and 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center. San Mateo Police will also be hosting youth classes that include anger management, anti-bullying, anti-gang education, which is taught by the Children's Health Council. The youth who complete these sessions will be invited to participate in a "ropes confidence" course at Fort Miley in San Francisco. Gang-awareness education will also be incorporated into PAL's current judo and ski programs.
For more information on these classes, contact the San Mateo Police PAL office at (650) 522-7749 or (650) 522-7554
– Written by Fiona
District studies language immersion – Daily Journal
Burlingame schools could get a mix of languages as the district looks to bring in an immersion program. The Burlingame Elementary School District is considering starting an immersion program with either Spanish or Mandarin. First, the district needs to know if there are enough parents interested in either or both languages to set up a program. The school board decided Tuesday to create a mission statement generally outlining the intention to start a program. The notice will be sent out and publicized to parents who will have kindergartners and first graders next year. Those interested will be asked to sign up with the language they are interested in, said Superintendent Sonny Da Marto. A date for sign ups will probably be set in November. After sign ups, the board will decide which language, if any, to pursue. In the meantime meetings will start with principals and teachers to gather feedback. For more information contact the district office at 259-3800 or visit http://www.burlingameschools.com
– Written by Fiona
Cuts to bring layoffs, new school schedules (Daily Journal)
Burlingame special education English teacher, Steve Labrum, began his work day last Thursday like any other in class by 8 a.m. Two hours later, Labrum was fired. He was one of five temporary teachers who were told Sept. 22 would be their last day teaching in the San Mateo Union High School District. The cuts are just the beginning of what's to come at local high schools. Upcoming budget cuts are more than lost dollars it means new schedules for some students, a different routine for teachers, temporary teacher layoffs and countless other adjustments.
A number of incorrect property tax projections, county tax rebates, rising special education costs and late notifications led to the district's current deficit position, said Superintendent Sam Johnson. The County Office of Education is requiring the district to create a plan to end the year with $2 million in its reserve a feat that requiring the district to cut $3.5 million. The district is creating a list of suggested cuts to be reviewed and finalized by Sept. 21. The plan of attack: make cuts. The district is in the process of asking teachers, parents and staff for suggested cuts. All suggestions, even ones which would not change the situation, are put on a list. Currently, the list has 69 suggestions including reducing the number of temporary teachers, reducing after-school sports programs, cutting coaching stipends for winter and spring sports, increasing the number of special education students in a class and reducing security on campus. Final cuts will be made Sept. 28. Last week, the first round of temporary teachers one of the many budget items on the chopping block were given notice. Labrum began working at Burlingame in 2004 but is still considered a temporary teacher while he works on his credentials at San Francisco State University. For Labrum the news means he needs to start looking for another job but he doesn't know what will happen to his students. The kids are the ones who are going to be losing out and the other teachers who will have to pick up the slack, who have to plan another class,? he said.
More layoffs will happen through the end of the month. The loss of teachers will mean one of two things a teacher will need to step in and teach a new class or the students' schedules will be rearranged. Johnson hopes the reorganization will be worked out by the end of October. The district will attempt to find a teacher who can take on another class before it moves around students, said Johnson. With the new seven-period day, many teachers have a prep period as well as an alternative duty period time for the teacher to work on a special project. Teachers with this extra period could be asked to teach a class without a teacher for a stipend, said Johnson. There are a large number of teachers in a position to be assigned a fifth class. We certainly would talk to teachers but right of assignment is the administrative prerogative … We're working in unusual times. We're making some decisions that none of us would chose to make,? said Johnson. If a teacher cannot be found, students will need to be moved around. This could mean new classes and a new schedule for students in these classes. Principals are looking at these students' schedules to see who can be moved, said Johnson. There is no telling at this point how many students could end up with a new class schedule.
At Hillsdale High this reorganization of teachers and students could be detrimental to the school's small learning communities. Students at Hillsdale attend classes in one of four houses.? In each house the English, math, science and history teachers work with the same students. Each teacher is also responsible to monitor the progress of about 20 students. If we only had counselors there would be 500 students to one counselor. With 20 to 22 [students] to one [teacher] there is always an adult that can know every younger person in this school well. But that's what's in danger,? said 14-year English teacher Greg Lance. Creating a small school environment within a large student body took Hillsdale a number of years to complete. Since implementing the program a few years ago, the school has seen a significant raise in its test scores and an increase in students eligible for California universities. The school already cut the program for seniors this year in an effort to cut the budget. If teachers are let go at Hillsdale teachers will have less time to work together to create lesson plans and advise students. Basically, the new system at Hillsdale could collapse, Lance said. The district seems to be asking the faculty at Hillsdale to choose between protecting the financial health and well being of our families and the success of students who have typically been underserved in this district,? he said. This devil's bargain puts teachers in the unfair position of weighing the passion and commitment we naturally feel for our own families against the passion and commitment we also feel for our students and the new Hillsdale we have spent 10 laborious years creating.?
– Written by Fiona
By Heather Murtagh – (Daily Journal)
Three local business owners want the Rollins Road area of Burlingame to remain animal free a claim they put forward in a lawsuit.On June 5, the Burlingame City Council approved a change in the Rollins Road area plan allowing animal shelters or animal rescue centers into the area. Three business owners believe the change isn't in the best interest of the area, which is the reason for a lawsuit against the city filed Aug. 29. We don't believe animal shelters were what was envisioned for the Burlingame industrial area. I have optimistic hopes for … higher uses than just animal shelters between Broadway and Millbrae Avenue,? said Herman Christensen, general manager of Christensen and Company, one of the businesses filing the lawsuit. The trio Aerobay Office Center, Rilco Edwards and Albert Guibara is hoping for a well-landscaped, put together, upper scale industrial area, he said. That doesn't include uses like animal shelters. The suit attempts to reverse the change, which Christensen said is in the best interest for the area. Burlingame city attorney Larry Anderson disagreed with Christensen. The two sides should meet with a judge in the upcoming months, but Anderson said the city will have no reason to change the decision.
The industrial area of Burlingame already has one animal shelter hoping to be a new neighbor. Last year, the Peninsula Humane Society presented a plan for a new facility in Burlingame to a large crowd of concerned citizens. The reaction inspired the group to look a bit deeper at how it will affect its new neighbors. When the facility was first proposed, nearby business and property owners on the industrial street sent letters to the city complaining of potential noise, smell and increased traffic and parking concerns. If the lawsuit was successful it wouldn't affect the PHS efforts, said Ken White, president of the Peninsula Humane Society. The plans for the new center are under old rules. A reversal would, however, prevent PHS from expanding in the future. We have no plans to expand,? said White. Right now, we're just trying to move in.?
The new facility would focus on homes for homeless animals, rehabilitation for animals as well as education. It will not feature certain activities like housing of stray, injured and aggressive animals, euthanasia of non-adoptable unwanted animals, lost and found services and 24-hour ambulance services. These activities will remain at the PHS/SPCA center at Coyote Point Park. The Burlingame site is scheduled to open on July 1, 2008. Christensen and the others are against the PHS proposal, but realize the lawsuit will not affect the plans. At the very least, the lawsuit could prevent similar businesses from moving in, he said.
Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.
– Written by Jen
Palo Alto school district looks to drop `ski week' (full article Mercury News)
The Palo Alto Unified School District's Calendar Committee is looking at a plan that would eliminate “ski week,'' have high school finals before winter break and give students a longer summer. Committee members, who have received public input on the calendar, plan to present their proposal for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years to the public during two forums later this month. One major part of the calendar proposal is it excludes ski week — a mid-February vacation that was first given last school year and is on the calendar this year. The committee is also soliciting input by e-mail at calendarpausd.org.Other districts in the area — including Menlo Park City School District, Los Altos School District and Burlingame School District — have a ski week in February. “We had a lot of feedback and of the feedback we received, the majority of it didn't like ski week,'' said Assistant Superintendent Scott Bowers, a district representative on the committee. By eliminating ski week, the proposed calendar would let children out of school a week earlier in June. Students would still have three days off in February for a teacher in service day and George Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays. Another change in the calendar being considered is it would have 84 school days the first semester and 96 the second semester to account for days students are testing in the spring semester. … “I don't think the week off in February is helpful for kids' education and parents,'' Lowell said. “I think having a longer summer and more condensed school year is better. Public input also indicated that high schoolers have to spend some of their winter break studying for first semester finals, which are a little more than a week after they return to class, Bowers said. “The most important thing of course is to end the semester before Christmas,'' said John Fredrich, a Gunn High School social studies teacher and member of the committee, who is also opposed to ski week. Fredrich said he favors having finals before winter break because it would eliminate having to re-teach material after the break and continuity of having finals without that disruption is important to students. He said he is against ski week because it caused a shaky start to the third quarter with that break and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Last year was a very shaky start to the third quarter. We found there was difficulty in getting momentum going,'' Fredrich said. “The educational justifications are strong enough to try this.''
– Written by Fiona
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