Category: Gems of Burlingame

  • Thinking of Dan

    When I think of the people in B'game who created the highly-engaged community we have here, Dan Anderson certainly comes to mind.  This piece in the Friday Daily Journal paints part of the picture about Dan by noting his time in B'game and his Lions work

    Erik Winkler, Burlingame Lions Club president, was nominated for the challenge of dumping a bucket of ice water on his head by member Marie Woods. He decided to dedicate his challenge to former president Dan Andersen, who is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis himself.

    “I’m doing this for my dear friend Dan who is suffering from this awful affliction,” he said before the challenge Thursday.

    Kudos to Angela Swartz of the DJ for highlighting this.  Allow me to add some of the historical context.  Back in the day the Rec Center was as much of an issue as it is now.  Plans were floated to demolish the Lion's Club hall and the tennis courts in Washington Park for a new 40,000 square foot structure.  Dan Anderson was the prime mover in forming the Washington Park Society to oppose that plan.  Those of us who call ourselves preservationists took heart from that move.  Dan also was very active in the hospital redevelopment project.  You could even say that Dan's willingness to speak out against City Hall gave impetus to the formation of the original print version of the Burlingame Voice.  Here's to ya, Dan.  You have my best wishes and gratitude!

  • The Sherman will be leaving Burlingame very soon.

    The ship that has been anchored off the shore of Burlingame for several decades known to many as The Sherman, as well as by several other names, will be leaving either early in the morning on Sunday, perhaps about 1:30am and if not possible at that time then another attempt will be made at higher tide on Sunday at 4:30pm.

    Here is how she looked today with tug boat awaiting. The entire history of The Sherman can be seen in an exhibit inside the Burlingame Hillsborough History Museum inside the Burlingame Train Station.

    Martha and sherman

     

  • A Shepherd Retires

    The Daily Journal did a really nice, front page piece on Pastor Pete Garrison's retirement from the ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on B'game Ave. after 27 years there.  Rather than just link to it, I waited until after the final service to bring you the on-the-scene story and photos.  The former pastor is a good friend of mine and there a legions of others in B'game who can say the same.  His ministry extended past his direct flock to the B'game police where he served as chaplain and to various other service clubs in need of a word or two to the Big Man.

    Pastor Pete's final sermon, on the second Sunday of Easter, revolved around Doubting Thomas and how we are all plagued by doubts and challenges but the way to overcome them is clear to those who would listen.  And there were plenty of folks there to listen.  Commenting on the crowd, Pete quipped "I should retire more often".

    A great lunch followed along with some bon mots from the Lutheran district rep, the elders of the church, the kids and folks who just wanted to say "thank you".  I echo that sentiment.  Here is the scene during the sermon.

    Pastor Pete1

    And here is a good sign that we won't be seeing around town anymore

    Pastor Pete2_sign

  • Friday light. Thursday night lights.

    Thought I would share a little about what makes Burlingame Burlingame again. Last night was another example. A few local actors portrayed legendary Burlingame local figures up at the Kohl Mansion, a jewel in the crown of Burlingame.

    It was an interesting tale of Freddie Kohl and his loves ( and hates.) But more importantly, it was local amateur theater. That's another attribute of small town Burlingame. Wish we had more of it.

    Photo

  • Panther Retiring

    The Daily Journal has a lovely piece about BHS English and journalism teacher Linda McLaughlin retiring at the end of the school year after 27 years.  Linda taught both of my kids so I've met her at a couple of parent-teacher nights and one kid was on the Burlingame B newspaper staff, so I can appreciate her contributions on both fronts.  The piece notes

    She began teaching the journalism class 26 years ago when the last advisor for The Burlingame B retired. At the time, she said she knew nothing about journalism but wanted to pick up an extra class so she could stay at the school.

    The timing is right for her retirement, McLaughlin said. She plans on spending time with her four grandsons and two step-granddaughters, travel, research the history of Burlingame High for a potential book and read.

    I look forward to her end-of-year column for the paper and will try to remember to link to it.  The book sounds like a tremendous idea and I know the Historical Society archives will prove very useful.  Congrats, Linda!

  • Holocaust Educator

    If you are not attending B'game Historical Society quarterly meetings you are missing some great events like this and this.  Yesterday's meeting was no exception as a local Holocaust survivor, author and educator spoke to the Society in the Lane Room.

    Helen Farkas moved to B'game in 1962 and is still residing in the Mills Estates home that she and her late husband bought new.  Her journey here is a long and painful one starting in Transylvania as it vascillated between being Romanian and Hungarian.  Helen was able to describe how the slow descent towards the Holocaust began with anti-Semitic posters, confiscated radios (so they would not listen to Voice of America), wearing the yellow Star of David, etc.  She was taken to Auschwitz with her family, separated from all but her sister, and eventually escaped during the Death March to Czechoslovakia.

    Helen took some questions and offered her book for sale (Remember the Holocaust, 1995) that is offered in conjunction with Mercy High School (in SF) where the Farkas Center is located.  Reading about the Holocaust is one thing, hearing about it as we did (and as 400 students at BHS did last week) is quite another.  Here is Helen.

    Helen Farkas

  • Kohl Mansion – Our Latest 100 year Gem

    The Daily Journal has a lovely little piece on the centenary year for Kohl Mansion that notes

    In 1982, the mansion was even entered into the National Register of Historic Places, which lists historically significant sites throughout the United States.

    Other activities to be held at the mansion to celebrate the anniversary include a lecture on the history of the mansion by Michael Svanevik, a professor emeritus at College of San Mateo, on April 29. There will be a 100th birthday party on the green Aug. 10 with music, mansion tours, a classic car show, a slice of birthday cake and proclamations presented by community leaders and public officials.

    This is a nice follow-up to the B'game Centennial celebrations in 2008.  Remember them?

    Here's the main room where the chamber music events are held as well as all sorts of other community events.  Great year to acquaint yourself with Kohl Mansion if you haven't done so.

    Kohl Mansion main
     

  • Another Talented B’gamer

    The SM County Times has a great write-up about the SF Symphony's current "Beethoven and Bates Festival" highlighting a piece by B'gamer Mason Bates.  I don't know Mr. Bates, but I like what I read about his composition and performance with the symphony.  The article's author, Richard Scheinin, notes

    I'm just guessing that some sort of Isaac Hayes fanaticism lurks behind Bates's piece, which the orchestra commissioned and premiered in 2009. Bates (who is 36, lives in Burlingame and shuttles to the Midwest as a composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) has made a name as the man with two careers. Also a club DJ, he isn't shy about describing his influences as a composer. They run, he has said, from Berlioz to John Adams and Swedish texturalists, from Pink Floyd to Radiohead, and from jazz keyboardist John Medeski to "micro house" techno minimalism.

    That about covers the waterfront in terms of influences!  I don't envy him the B'game to Chicago commute tho!

    Update:  Jan. 17th      I had a great time at the SF Symphony last night.  I got there early enough to hear the pre-concert talk by Mason Bates that really helped me grasp the innovations with natural and man-made pre-recorded sounds that he incorporated into the piece Liquid Interface.  My front row seat gave me a spectacular view of MTT fiddling with his conductor's monitor for the pre-recorded part.  You could really tell this was a guy accustomed to dealing only with live performers.  The Playbill indicates that when they have the third and last Bates piece recorded a CD will be released.  Here's a cameraphone photo of Mason taking a bow at the end.

    Mason Bates bow

  • Locals vs. Local

    Congrats to the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints on their NFL wins today–both great games.  Personally I am glad the Saints get to go to Seattle before we hopefully go.  While we B'gamers are watching the Niners tomorrow in frigid Green Bay we need to bear in mind that we want the Burlingame Packer to do well also.  That's right, #69 in green is a B'game guy that you can read about here.  His folks must be very proud–and nervous since the Niners are 2 1/2 point favorites!

    Here's a photo of David Bakhtiari so you know who you are looking for during the game.  Big stuff for a rookie!

    Bakhtiari_69

     

     

  • Another Local Downtown Fatality

    We keep an eagle eye on the Avenew in hopes that it won't all be new in the next few years.  The DJ has a piece on The Personal Touch's decision to go to strictly on-line

    After 33 years in business, a local engraving store is shutting its doors due to rising rent costs.
    The Personal Touch of Burlingame will be closing in January 2014, after finding a final Burlingame home at 257 Primrose Road for 18 years. Its previous location was at Burlingame Avenue and Park Road.

    “We pleaded with the landlord, but they keep raising rents,” said Folks, who lives in San Carlos. “We paid top dollar and had no air conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter. A client just came in and said what everyone is saying, ‘It’s sad to see so many small businesses leave Burlingame.’”

    Please click through and read the whole story because it bears on what our "village" will look like 10 or 20 years from now.  We bought a couple nice things in the shop just last month so now I will look at them in a whole new light–which is easy with crystal!  As we move into the heart of the holiday season, please remember to Shop B'game.

    Personal touch closing

The Burlingame Voice

Dedicated to Empowering and Informing the Burlingame Community

RECENT COMMENTS

RECENT POSTS

CATEGORIES

ABOUT THE VOICE

The Burlingame Voice is dedicated to informing and empowering the Burlingame community.  Our blog is a public forum for the discussion of issues that relate to Burlingame, California.  Opinions posted on the Burlingame Voice are those of the poster and commenter and not necessarily the opinion of the Editorial Board.  Comments are subject to the Terms of Use.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All content subject to Copyright 2003-2026