May 12, 2009

Burlingame property owners, thank you for approving the storm drain measure! Your vote of confidence means that we will no longer keep throwing away money, patching a dilapidated system, and can fix it once and for all.

Looking ahead, here are some things to mark on your calendar.

Green Street Fair Next Sunday

More than 50 vendors, nonprofit organizations, children’s groups, builders and designers will flock to downtown Burlingame to demonstrate creative ways to go green this Sunday, May 17, at the second annual Green Street Fair.

Presented by the city’s Green Ribbon Task Force, the fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. adjacent to the Burlingame Fresh Market on Park Road between Burlingame and Howard Avenues. Highlights include:

I’ll be working at the Task Force’s table this Sunday. To learn more about exhibiting at the fair or to volunteer to help, please contact Denyse Jones at drjdesign@gmail.com, (415) 970-1092; or Leslie Lamarre at leslie@trgarch.com, (650) 579-5762.

Climate Action Plan on June 15

The Burlingame Green Ribbon Task Force has spent the past year drafting the city’s Climate Action Plan, which is scheduled to be presented to the City Council on June 15. The plan is a roadmap to help Burlingame meet the state-mandated goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50,000 tons by 2020 – or about 5,000 tons per year.

A study session on the draft plan will be presented at 6 p.m. on June 15 in Conference Room A at City Hall. The plan will be considered during the regular council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. that evening in the Council Chambers, also in City Hall.

After the Climate Action Plan is adopted, the Green Ribbon Task Force will transition to a new “Burlingame Green” citizens’ group that helps educate local residents and businesses about ways to lower carbon emissions and live more sustainably. If you are interested in learning more about this group, please contact me at terry@terrynagel.com.

Green Seminar Series This Summer

For the first time, the Green Ribbon Task Force is offering a series of seminars designed to help residents learn how to adopt sustainable lifestyles. The six seminars will be held on Thursdays from June 11 through July 23 (with July 2 omitted) from 7 to 8 p.m. The cost is $20 for the series with advance registration, or $7 at the door for each event, provided space is available. Refreshments will be served and there will be free giveaways at most events.

You can read more about the seminars on page 36 of the current Rec catalog or here: http://www.burlingame.org/?page=8&recordid=1639&returnURL=%2findex.aspx
Burlingame residents and nonresidents can register for the series, which is called “Go Green: How to Make Your Home and Your Life More Sustainable,” at the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department at 850 Burlingame Ave., online at www.burlingame.org/rec or by calling (650) 558-7300.

Start a Neighborhood Network

Want a no-cost, sure-fire way to cut crime, improve emergency preparedness and make new friends in your neighborhood? Start a Neighborhood Network! This program encourages citizens to work together to prepare for disasters. In the process of getting better acquainted, they foster a “Neighborhood Watch” awareness that helps prevent crime.

A summertime block party is the ideal time to ask your neighbors if they’d like to form a Neighborhood Network. Thanks to a grant, we can offer free, colorful flyers for you to distribute as well as lots of information about free services and training that our city offers. For more information, see http://www.terrynagel.com/Neighborhood_Networkpage586.htm

Volunteers will present information sessions on forming a Neighborhood Network on Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m. at the Burlingame Recreation Center and on Saturday, May 30, at 9 a.m. in the Lane Room at the main Burlingame Public Library. Admission is free.

That Other Election

A number of people have asked how I’m voting in the May 19 election. There are no easy choices here. We all know what the real problem is: California’s requirement of a two-thirds vote by state legislators to approve the state budget.

It may feel good to teach those legislators a lesson by voting “No” on Propositions 1A through F. On the other hand, that will just compound our state budget problems and result in other diabolical schemes to wrench funds from local jurisdictions. (The governor is already threatening to borrow $1 million of Burlingame’s property tax and has his eye on the gas tax again.) To be honest, I’m not sure whether “Yes” or “No” is the better way to vote. It’s one of those elections where you need to decide which choice stinks less.

For more info, read the California Budget Project analysis at http://www.cbp.org/publications/ballot_prop_land.html and check out the debate at Calitics.com.

Quick Takes

The Fresh Market is open again every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Park Road at Burlingame Avenue and every Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. on Broadway at Capuchino … Safeway has submitted its application for a new store at 1450 Howard Ave. Visit the city’s site at http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=1366 to see what it looks like … Sustainable San Mateo County has created a Sustainability Hub at www.sustainabilityhub.net to help individuals, businesses and cities in our county access resources, events, jobs and tools that promote sustainability … Sign for the city’s e-newsletter and other free city e-notifications at www.burlingame.org/signup.

Cool Site

Do gang members drive with their headlights out and shoot whoever flashes headlights at them as an initiation rite? Was a “Dear Abby” column pulled because it included a letter taken from an episode of “The Simpsons”?  Was Ronald Reagan the actor originally selected to play Rick Blaine in the movie “Casablanca”?

Only one of those statements is true. To find out which one and to check out other rumors and cautionary tales bandied about on the Internet, visit www.Snopes.com. (Also see the answer on my website!.)

Calendar

Thursday, May 14 - Bike to Work Day

Saturday, May 16 – 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The Franklin Carnival features rides, a game arcade, a green vendor section, arts and crafts, food, circus performers and more at Franklin Elementary School. Free admission; $5 punch cards for rides, games and food.

Sunday, May 17 – 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Second Annual Burlingame Green Street Fair Located on Park Road between Burlingame Avenue and Howard Avenue, adjacent to the Fresh Market. Free. (See above.)

Sunday, May 17 – 2-4 p.m. Burlingame Historical Society explores the history of the Burlingame Fire Department. Meet at Fire Station 34 on California Drive at Palm Avenue.

Tuesday, May 19 – Election Day

Friday, May 22 – Applications for one opening on the Burlingame Library Board at due at the city clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Visit http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=895 for details.

Friday, May 22 – 7 p.m. Final competition for “Burlingame Idol,” featuring 12 finalists, at Broadway Grill. Sponsored by Burlingame Parks & Recreation.

Thursday, May 28 – 7 p.m. Neighborhood Network training. Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Ave. (See above.)

Saturday, May 30 – 9 a.m. – Neighborhood Network training. Lane Room, Burlingame Library, 480 Primrose Road. (See above.)

Sunday, May 31 – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Washington School’s Renaissance Faire, 801 Howard Ave. Free admission.

Sunday, May 31 – 2 p.m. “Burlingame Idol” finalists give repeat performance at Broadway Grill.

Thursdays, June 11-July 23 (omit July 2) – 7 p.m. Green seminar series offered by Burlingame Green Ribbon Task Force. (See above.)

Saturday, June 13 – 10 a.m. to noon. Family Fun Bike Ride. Meet at Summit Bicycles at 1031 California Drive and end at Preston’s on Broadway, where free ice cream will be served. Sponsored by Citizens for a Better Burlingame, Summit Bicycles and Preston’s on the second Saturday of each month.

Monday, June 15 – 6 p.m. study session, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, City Hall. Tentative date for study session and council consideration of Climate Action Plan for Burlingame proposed by the city’s Green Ribbon Task Force. (See above.)

Monday, June 15-July 31 – Summer reading programs for all ages at Burlingame Public Library.

Sundays, July 5-26 – 1-3 p.m. Music in the Park. Washington Park. Free admission.

Saturday, September 26 – 10 a.m. Sixth Annual Burlingame Pet Parade. Parade participants must report by 9:30 a.m. to the parking lot on Chula Vista near Broadway.

See you around town!

Terry Nagel