July 12, 2009

The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are the perfect time to do some of the things you don’t ordinarily take the time to do. One of those things is getting to know your neighbors better.

Our family lived on Poppy Drive for a decade before I started to get to know some of our neighbors. Then I learned that my neighbor next door had a passion for Burlingame’s history and spent several wonderful afternoons leafing through his old volumes and photos before he moved away. My neighbor across the street has a knack for growing sweet peas, and one family up the street had their home featured in an HGTV makeover.

And, by the way, in our immediate area we have two surgeons, two dentists, two nurses, a former paramedic, two CERT-trained volunteers, four people certified in CPR, a former assistant fire chief, a police officer, an allergist, a Web designer, an electrician and two contractors. We have several generators and lots of tents, axes, shovels and camping lanterns. People on our street speak Spanish, Italian, French, Mandarin and Tagalog. Several are experts at working with children and the disabled.

Start a Network

The reason I know all this is that our area formed a Neighborhood Network and took an inventory of skills and supplies that neighbors are willing to share during emergencies. You can do the same in your neighborhood and, when you do, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you and your neighbors are better prepared to withstand disasters than you expected.

If you are in the process of starting a group or want to form one, please come to the Neighborhood Network Coffee this Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Lane Room at the main Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road.  Admission is free; coffee, pastries and fruit will be served. Please RSVP by July 18 to info@theneighborhoodnetwork.org.

The meeting is designed to help neighborhood leaders get better acquainted and learn from one another how to start a Neighborhood Network. We’ll also show you how to get better connected to complimentary services that the city offers, and we’ll offer free emergency preparedness flyers that you can distribute in your area. These networks help prepare neighbors for emergencies and have the added benefit of assisting with crime prevention.

But the best benefit is getting to know your neighbors better.

Need a New Car?

Now is the perfect time to trade in your old car for a new one. If you buy a new 2008, 2009 or 2010 model before November 1, you may qualify for a rebate of up to $4,500 under the federal government’s new “Cash for Clunkers” program. And if you purchase your car in Burlingame, some of the sales tax you pay will come back to the city, helping support the excellent city services that residents expect.

The program is administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whose Web site is http://www.cars.gov. You can find the answers to some frequently asked questions at this unofficial site: http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/

Junk Your Junk Mail

To get rid of unwanted mail, check out these free services:

Short Takes

Burlingame lists lots of summer activities on its Web calendar at http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=9, including Family Fun Nights on Tuesday evenings and green seminars on July 16 and 23 at 7 p.m. . . . False alarm! The Broadway Fresh Market continues every Wednesday on Broadway from 4 to 8 p.m. . . . The Community Wish List for San Mateo County at http://www.communitywishlist.org lets you find a local nonprofit that can put your discarded furniture, computers and other items to good use, and you can take a tax deduction.

Looking for assistance for an elderly parent, low-cost medical services or another community service? Check out the county’s Community Services Locator at http://cip.plsinfo.org/locator.html . . . The San Mateo County Grand Jury has just released a report called “Trash Talk” that criticizes the process used to select the new garbage company that will serve our city under one of the largest RFPs in the United States. You can read it here: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/grandjury/2008/trashtalk.pdf . . .  Every residence is entitled to two free “bulky item pick-ups” each year from Allied Waste; call (650) 592-2411 to schedule yours.

California Department of Motor Vehicle offices will be closed July 17 and 24. From August 2009 through June 2010, they will be closed the first, second and third Friday of each month . . . The California High Speed Rail Authority has posted its Scoping Report, which summarizes feedback from the community on the San Jose-San Francisco portion of the line, at http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/images/chsr/20090626113405_DraftSFtoSJScopingReport.pdf . . . SamTrans will hold a public hearing on proposed service reductions and fare increases at 1 p.m. on August 12 at the SamTrans building at 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos.

Calendar

Tuesday, July 14 – 7 p.m. Family Fun Night: Puppet Art Theater. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free, but advance tickets required.

Thursday, July 16 – Noon-1 p.m. Sustainable San Mateo County Roundtable on make better land use decision, with Ken Kirkey, planning director for the Association of Bay Area Governments. San Mateo Public Library, 55 W. Third Ave., Laurel Room. Free. Bring your own lunch.

Thursday, July 16 – 7 p.m. Green Seminar presented by Burlingame’s Green Ribbon Task Force: Green Plumbing 101. Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Ave. $7 at the door.

Saturday, July 18 – 9-10:30 a.m. Neighborhood Network get acquainted meeting for block captains and those who wish to start groups. Free. Refreshments. (See above.)

Sunday, July 19 – 1-3 p.m. Music in the Park. Washington Park. Free.

Monday, July 20 – 7 p.m. Burlingame City Council. Council Chambers, City Hall.

Tuesday, July 21 - 7 p.m. Family Fun Night: Magic Dan. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free, but advance tickets required.

Wednesday, July 22 – 7-9 p.m. Culinary Getaways: Provence & Tuscany with Sherry Page. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free.

Thursday, July 23 – 7 p.m. Green Seminar presented by Burlingame’s Green Ribbon Task Force: Leave Your Car Behind. Summit Bikes, 1031 California Drive. $7 at the door.

Thursday, July 23 – 7 p.m. Weekend Adventures in San Francisco and Northern California with author Carole Terwilliger Meyers. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free.

Friday, July 24 – Noon. Tech Talks at Burlingame Public Library: Elementary Expression – blogging, Twitter and Facebook. Free.

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

Tuesday, July 28 - 7 p.m. Family Fun Night: Magic Dan. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free, but advance tickets required.

Wednesday, July 29 – 7 p.m. Ocean, Road and Rail: A Year-Long Travel Adventure with the Aiken/Windom Family. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free.

Thursday, July 30 – 7 p.m. Movie Night: National Lampoon's Vacation. Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free.

Thursday, July 30 – 6-8 p.m. Info Session/Mixer for “Be the Change” environmental leadership program presented by Acterra. Meet others who want to create innovative challenges to environmental challenges in the community and workplace. Mountain View Council Chambers, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Free. Light refreshments. RSVP to Rebecca Iverson at rebeccaai@acterra.org.

Saturday, August 8 – 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 to adults. Sponsored by Citizens for a Better Burlingame, Summit Bicycles and Preston’s on the second Saturday of each month.

Wednesday, August 12 – 1 p.m. SamTrans will hold a public hearing on proposed service reductions and fare increases. SamTrans building, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos.

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. Visit www.burlingamepetparade.com.

See you around town!

Terry Nagel