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Copyright 2008 Terry Nagel - All Rights Reserved
December 2, 2008
What happened? Wasn’t it just a few days ago that we were watching trick-or-treaters cavort through the neighborhood? And now we’re counting shopping days until Christmas!
I have a radical idea for you: Clean out your closets instead! Chances are you have some things on hand that you’ll never use again that a local nonprofit would love to have. The Community Wish List for San Mateo County lists items and services that dozens of local nonprofits need at www.communitywishlist.org.
By donating things to a nonprofit, you qualify for a tax write-off and the nonprofit gets needed items. We all benefit by keeping things out of the landfill.
Items that local nonprofits are seeking range from batteries and paper plates to computers and used cars. 4-H Youth Development could use those Legos your son last touched in 1985 and the Peninsula Humane Society wants, among other things, new feather dusters “to give orphaned baby birds a place to snuggle.”
The Community Wish List was started in 2004 by volunteers in Burlingame who wanted to help local nonprofits. Thanks to a grant from the Shinnyo-en Foundation, it is being widely promoted this holiday season. Check it out at www.communitywishlist.org. You can read a press release about the Community Wish List here:
The nicest gifts are those that mirror someone’s personal likes. If you have someone who is sentimental about Burlingame on your gift list, consider giving him or her a souvenir from the past year’s Centennial celebrations in Burlingame.
Commemorative programs from last June’s Centennial Gala, filled with historical anecdotes, vintage photos and a list of “Extraordinary Burlingamers,” are available for $10 each. These are limited, numbered editions that will appreciate in value over time. We also have a few Centennial Gala invitations, sealed in envelopes that were postmarked on the city’s actual 100th birthday, available for $5 each. Contact Mary Ellen Kearney at City Hall (mkearney@burlingame.org) if you’d like to order them.
Or how about a handcrafted European ornament that portrays our beautiful library? These hand-blown keepsakes were created in honor of the Burlingame Library’s 100th birthday and help support the library. They cost $65 and may be ordered at the main library or online at www.burlingamelibraryfoundation.org.
And there’s still some merchandise available with the Centennial logo: adult and kid-size T-shirts ($5), adult polo style shirts ($10), adult sweatshirts ($15), beer mugs ($5), wine glasses ($5), champagne flutes ($5) and baseball caps ($5). Stop by the Recreation Center at 850 Burlingame Ave. to buy them.
The city’s recent “Get prepared and get connected” mailing has prompted many people to ask how they can start Neighborhood Networks with neighbors for emergency preparedness and crime prevention. On Saturday, January 17, at 9 a.m. in the Lane Room at the main Burlingame Public Library, we’ll show you how to do it. We’ll also have lots of colorful emergency preparedness fliers available for you to distribute to your neighbors. Designed by San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist Don Asmussen, they’re amusing as well as information.
To learn more about the Neighborhood Network concept, go to http://www.terrynagel.com/Neighborhood_Networkpage575.htm.
You can now view live Web streaming of all regular Burlingame City Council meetings on the city’s Web site at http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=1306. Archived videos of previous meetings are also online and can be searched by keyword.
Don’t forget to report all power outages – even those that last only a few seconds – using the Power Outage Report form on my Web site at We are documenting problems in certain parts of the city to convince PG&E to make more circuit improvements in Burlingame.
The Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 101 at Broadway is now open for walkers and strollers … You can find out whether it’s a “no burn” day when the Bay Area Air Quality Management District prohibits burning wood in fireplaces by visiting http://www.baaqmd.gov/ … Want to get a free text message alert on your cell phone when someone lands at San Francisco International Airport? Go to the airport’s Web site, www.flysfo.com and follow the prompts to deliver text alerts to up to four cell phone numbers … Conde Nast’s Traveler magazine selected Burlingame-based Virgin America as the No. 1 domestic airline.
There’s a lot going on that you won’t want to miss. Note that the usual Friday evening Holiday Parade has morphed into two events: a Friday evening open house on Broadway and a Sunday afternoon parade, open house and train station lighting on Burlingame Avenue.
Thursday, December 4 – 6 p.m. “Growing Cooler: Climate, Energy, the Economy and Smart Growth” with noted author and journalist David Goldbert at The Forum at Redwood City, Little Fox Theatre, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City. $10 at the door.
Thursday, December 4 – 7 p.m., Lane Room, Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. The city’s Traffic, Parking and Safety Commission presents “The Burlingame Commuter,” with representatives from Sustainable San Mateo County and the county’s Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance. Learn free and easy ways to “green” your commute. Free,
Friday, December 5 – 4 to 7 p.m. Broadway Cheer Open House on Broadway. Bring a toy for the Central County Fire Department’s collection bin. Free.
Saturday, December 6 – From 8:30 a.m. Breakfast with Santa, including crafts and carols. Register at www.burlingame.org/rec. One parent and child costs $20, siblings cost $10 and additional parent costs $8.
Saturday, December 6 – 5:05-5:30 p.m. Caltrain Holiday Train stops at Burlingame Avenue train station. Bring a toy for the Toys for Tots program.
Saturday, December 6 – 7 p.m., Il Piccolo Caffe, 1219 Broadway, Burlingame. The Il Piccolo Players present two radio shows: “Jane Goes to the Psychiatrist” from the Easy Aces series and “The Case of the Careless Victim” featuring Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. Free.
Sunday, December 7 – Holiday Open House on Burlingame Avenue. Parade from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Open House from 3:15 to 7 p.m. Mayor Keighran will lead the countdown to the Burlingame Avenue train station lighting between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Carnival rides, train rides, music, dance and Santa. Free. Bring a nonperishable food donation.
Friday, December 12 – 7 to 9 p.m., main Burlingame Library. Burlingame Library Winter Wonderland. The library will close at 4 p.m. and will be transformed into a snowy landscape, complete with strolling singers, Nutcracker dancers, snow globe making and other crafts, cookies, hot cider and a Winter Village Train Display. Free. The Central County Fire Department will collect unwrapped Toys for Tots.
Sunday, December 14 – 7 p.m., Kohl Mansion. Musicians from the San Francisco Symphony will celebrate the holidays with pianist Robin Sutherland and guest violist Geraldine Walther at a Holiday Benefit Concert for Music at Kohl Mansion. See http://www.musicatkohl.org/ or call (650) 762-1130.
Thursday, January 15 – 5 p.m. Deadline for applications for two vacant seats on the Beautification Commission. For details and the online application, go to http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=895.
Saturday, January 17 – 9 a.m., Lane Room, Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primroad Road. “How to Start a Neighborhood Network” for emergency preparedness and crime prevention. Free. Colorful emergency preparedness fliers by cartoonist Don Asmussen will be available to distribute in your neighborhood.
Thursday, January 29 – 4:30-6:30 p.m., Canada College, Redwood City. The new San Mateo Chapter of California Women Lead presents a workshop designed to educate and encourage women to seek public office. $10 general/$5 student. For information, call Ruth Nagler at (650) 356-2128.
Have a question? Need help? You can reach me at tnagel@burlingame.org or (650) 347-3576.
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Here’s hoping you and your family have a wonderful holiday!