Thinks To Know: Senator Hill Nominated to Chair Senate Committee on Environmental Quality

Monday, Mar. 11 – RSVP DEADLINE for Thursday, Mar. 21st Skyline College will be holding its President's Breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. with Networking Opportunities followed at 7:30-8:30 a.m. for complimentary breakfast at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Blvd. Info. (650) 738-4325 Thanks to PG&E for hosting this complimentary breakfast.

Tuesday, Mar. 12 – City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m. Senior Center – Participate in YOUR City government

Wednesday, Mar. 13 – Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee meets at 6:15 p.m. at City Hall in Conference Room 101. For more
information contact Laura Russell at lrussell@sanbruno.ca.gov or (650) 616-7038.

Thursday, Mar. 14 – Architectural Review meets at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in Conference Room 101. For more information contact Laura Russell at 616-7038 or at lrussell@sanbruno.ca.gov

Thursday, Mar. 14 – Citizens Crime Prevention Committee meets at City Hall in Conference Room 113, at 7:00 p.m. Info: Officer Daryl McCoy at dmccoy@sanbruno.ca.gov. Neighborhood Watch is always on the agenda.

Thursday, Mar. 14 thru Saturday 16 - COMMUNITY ART PROJECT. Join Bethany Church’s mural project to commemorate the 2010 gas line explosion.  Volunteers will work with a mosaic artist. Sessions will be at the church on Rosewood Drive. For information call 589-3711 or email bethanypres@bethanypcusa.org

Thursday, Mar. 14, San Bruno Chamber of Commerce Annual St. Patrick's Day Mixer at O'Dowd Plumbing 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 100 Santa Lucia. Info: San Bruno Chamber of Commerce 650-588-0180

Saturday, Mar. 16 – Children’s Activities Fair at The Shops At Tanforan – 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. by JCPenny. Join The Shops at Tanforan and Parenting on The Peninsula to learn about recreational and educational children's programs.

Meet representatives from various after-school, summer and year-round programs and organizations. Watch demonstrations from participating exhibitors!

Interested in participating as an exhibitor - contact the mall management office directly at 650.392.1631 or via email at info@TheShopsAtTanforan.com

Sunday, Mar. 17, SAVE THE DATE - EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS - career conference for girls, grades 6–12, will be at Skyline College, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Register at skylinecollege.edu/eyh.

Monday, Mar. 18 thru Friday Mar. 22nd  - Bicycles will be welcomes all day on BART.  Melissa Jordan, BART Senior Web Producer is pleased to report that BART takes the next step in the history of bikes on board with a second pilot program the week of March 18-22 that will allow bikes on trains all day, including commute hours, with some restrictions.

“This is an important test because it will be a full work week during busy commute days, so we’ll get a look at how this works in ‘prime time’ conditions,” said Steve Beroldo, BART's bike program manager. In an earlier pilot test on five Fridays in August 2012, peak commute “bike blackout” hours were lifted (other bike rules remained in place and will for the new pilot, including not allowing bikes on escalators or in crowded cars). That was a more limited trial because Fridays tend to be the lightest commute day, and August is usually lighter due to vacations.

Thursday, Mar. 21, SAVE THE DATE - The City Council adopted an ordinance that bans single-use carryout bags and promotes a shift toward the use of reusable bags.  A Community Informational Meeting – at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Please contact the Public Services Department at (650) 616-7065 with any comments or questions.

Thursday, Mar. 21 – SAVE THE DATE – Prudential California Realty Speaker Series at 6:30 p.m. will be on Estate Planning. FREE. Millbrae Library, Civic Center Plaza, Meeting Room A. Learn how to protect your Real Estate investment, transferring to children, trusts vs wills, property tax transfer – Prop 58, 60, & 90. Learn the tax consequences & benefits. Info: 589-1000

Saturday, Mar. 23 – SAVE THE DATE – Project PRIDE's 34th Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast at the San Bruno City Park. All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast 9:00 -10:00 a.m. Adults-$5, Over 65 & under 12-$3, 6 & Under Free with one paid adult. Children's Activities 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Egg Hunt for Ages 1-8 11:00 a.m. Event Sponsored By: San Bruno Lions and San Bruno Rotary. Info: 616-7180

Wednesday, Mar. 27, SAVE THE DATE – 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - State of the County Address & Luncheon with State Senator Jerry Hill at South San Francisco Conference Center. Tickets: $30.00 per person – Info: San Bruno Chamber of Commerce 588-0180

Friday, Mar. 29, DEADLINE for applications accepted for 2013-14 Civil Grand Jury. The Honorable Lisa A. Novak of the San Mateo County Superior Court announced that applications for service on the 2013-2014 Grand Jury will be accepted for consideration until March 29, 2013.

Judge Novak made the announcement as the appointed Grand Jury Advisor for the next grand jury term, which commences July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014.

Any resident of San Mateo County for more than one year who is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, of ordinary intelligence, sound judgment and good character, with sufficient knowledge of the English language is eligible for selection by Judge Novak.

Elected public officials are not eligible.

The Court encourages all interested individuals to apply. The Court strives to obtain a cross section of the county population. After the completion of an interview process by Judge Novak, jurors will be selected through a random draw.

Application forms can be obtained by writing Grand Jury Clerk, Court Executive Office, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 or telephoning (650) 599-1210.

This columnist served for a year and it is a rewarding opportunity.

Sunday, Mar. 31 – DEADLINE for National Neighborhood Watch Nomination entries.  The National Sheriffs' Association in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U. S. Department of Justice is pleased to announce that they are accepting nominations for the 10th Annual National Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence to be presented during the General Session of the 2013 National Sheriffs' Association Conference in Charlotte, NC.

All law enforcement agencies, Neighborhood Watch groups, organizations, and/or programs that have made an exceptional contribution to the Neighborhood Watch program in their communities are encouraged to submit nominations to the National Sheriffs' Association by March 31, 2013.

For complete information on eligibility, criteria, and nomination forms   (http://www.usaonwatch.org/about/awards.aspx? )

Monday-Friday, April 1-5, SAVE THE DATE - 2013 San Bruno Lifeguard Training Classes. Students must be 15 years of age by the last day of the class and pass a swim pre-test (swim 300 yards continuously, tread water for two minutes, retrieve a 10 pound brick from 10 feet and return it to designated spot). Attendance at every class is required.  You can register online at http://www.sanbruno.ca.gov/parks_main.asp or come to the main office (251 City Park Way) and pay in person. For more information contact Jennie at (650) 616-7184.

Saturday, Apr. 20 – SAVE THE DATE – Prudential California Realty FREE 7th Annual Shredding Party – back parking lot of 180 El Camino Real – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Shred to protect your identity, protect your privacy, & to protect information you consider to be extremely confidential. Shred truck will be accepting documents for shredding from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 589-1000

CONTINUING EVENT NEEDING YOUR SUPPORT: Relay For Life San Bruno - Councilman Ken Ibarra kenibarra@yahoo.com and American Cancer Society’s Julie Pierce Julie.Pierce@cancer.org are building the Relay For Life of San Bruno event for Saturday April 27th & Sunday April 28th 2013 to be held at the Capuchino high School in San Bruno.  Form YOUR own Team.  Be a part of a committee. Volunteer for the event. GO TO www.relayforlife.org/sanbrunoca and there you can sign up to form your own team or join an existing team or just make a donation to an individual team member or to a team. Your friends and relatives from all over the WORLD can go to the San Bruno Relay For Life team web page www.relayforlife.org/sanbrunoca and at least make a small donation. Join and FIGHT FOR THE CURE! If you cannot start a team or do not know of a team to join, Crusaders For A Cure welcomes you to join their team.

CONTINUING EVENT NEEDING YOUR SUPPORT:  Blood Donations Needed.  Contact Elizabeth Cheney, Donations Coordinator, Blood Centers of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA (800) 707-8483, cheney@bloodcenters.org to book your blood donation appointment(s).  The Blood Center is located  on Rollins Road one block south of Millbrae Avenue.  They will accept appointments for donating whole blood, some donors may be able to donate a double batch of whole blood, and others could donate to their APHRESIS program where they will extract platelets, plasma, and or whole blood.  All blood types are always in need.  This writer has been donating for a number of years and the nurses at the Burlingame location are top notch and very friendly.  Call Elizabeth and book multiple appointments.  Aphresis donators can give at least once a month; whole blood donors can give every 8 weeks; double whole blood donors must wait 16 weeks. 

CONTINUING EVENT NEEDING YOUR SUPPORT:  San Bruno Education Foundation – The foundation is looking for volunteers to join the SBEF Board. If you are interested or know someone who you think might like to join the board, send email to info@sanbrunoedfound.org.

CONTINUING EVENT NEEDING YOUR SUPPORT:  The City of San Bruno is seeking volunteers: The City has numerous commissions and committees that through volunteers provide a vital service to the City. Currently there are two (2) openings on the Citizens Crime Prevention Committee, additional vacancies on other committees and committees MAY be open. To obtain the necessary volunteer interest form for ALL City committees and commissions email City Clerk Carol Bonner at cbonner@sanbruno.ca.gov.

The San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District reminds all County residents that mosquitoes breed all year long.  Remember to Dump All Standing Water.  The District (650-344-8592) is finalizing their schedules to treat all County storm drains at least every month; so you will shortly begin seeing those small white right hand drive jeeps in your neighborhoods. The District will also be coming out with a request for every citizen to become a “Dead Bird Reporter”.  When West Nile infected mosquitoes become very active, the mosquitoes infect birds and the virus kills many birds.  When residents report these birds, the District can almost immediately pick them up and with new laboratory equipment, obtain test results much faster than previously when the dead birds needed to be sent to US California at Davis for testing.  This much faster testing will allow the District to get back into the neighborhood from where the bird was collected (if the bird test positive) and set out traps and take additional steps to stop the possible spreading of WNV.  The District’s programs are based upon killing the larva stage of the breeding mosquito so the District does not need to consider spraying to kill flying mosquitoes.  Additional info can be found, along with downloadable brochures, at www.smcmad.org

In Case You Missed This: 

California President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg March 5th nominated Senator Jerry Hill (D - San Mateo) to chair the State Senate Committee on Environmental Quality.  The nomination will be considered on Thursday by the Senate Committee on Rules.

Senator  Steinberg released the following statement:

“I  am pleased to nominate Senator Jerry Hill to serve as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. Senator Hill will continue his role as Chair of the Senate Majority Caucus.

“During  this Legislative Session, we will tackle multiple pressing policies of major consequence to California’s environment and the quality of life that makes California attractive, competitive, and pioneering. The Senate’s Environmental Quality Committee will lead the discussion on strengthening the California Environmental Quality Act, on water quality, and on hazardous waste. This heavy agenda promises two momentous years for California’s nationally-renowned leadership on environmental policy.

“Senator  Hill’s Senate District, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Silicon Valley, embodies the confluence of economic growth and outstanding natural beauty. He is well-positioned to appreciate the complexities of this challenge, and well-versed in the false dichotomy that pitches business against the environment. California has led, and will continue to lead the nation in smart, environmentally sustainable economic growth.”

Senator Hill released the following statement:

"I'm honored by this nomination from President Pro Tempore Steinberg and I look forward to working collaboratively with him and all of the Environmental Quality Committee stakeholders to protect the environment while ensuring that our laws are aligned with California's 21st century economy." 

Contact: Rhys Williams (916) 651-4006

In Case You Missed This:

The San Bruno Relay For Life committee on Sunday March 3rd under the chairmanship of Melissa McNichol ( a survivor herself) hosted a free breakfast at the City Recreation Center to honor approximately 12 cancer survivors in addition to many of their caregivers.  Shown in the attached photo are some of the survivors and caregivers displaying their Links of Hope.  Each link in the chain represents one year an individual cancer survivor has beaten cancer.  This chain will have additional links added up to and during the April 27th event and proudly displayed at the event. Photographer Tom Jung of the San Mateo Daily Journal attended this event and his photo and article can be found at:  http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=lifestyle&title=Survivor%20breakfast&id=1764204