Things To Know: Holiday Tree Lighting

Here are some important things happening around town that everyone should know about this upcoming week.

BREAKING NEWS:  Martin Ricard, our San Bruno Patch editor just advised that he will be moving on to other opportunities by the time you read this.  DO not worry.  Patch Regional Editor Stacey Chan, stacie@patch.com and Jamie White, Jamiew@patch.com will continue to oversee that San Bruno Patch continues to get posted.  This is where YOU come in.  YOUR help is requested to spread the word that all news tips, stories, photos, comments, etc. should be sent immediately to BOTH Stacie & Jamie for the time being.  If YOU want to start up or re-start a blog on San Bruno Patch on San Bruno subjects, contact both Stacie & Jamie.  Both Stacie & Jamie hope everyone who has or is currently writing anything for San Bruno Patch continues and also that you seek out possible new contributors.  Stacie & Jamie will be glad to answer ALL of your questions.  San Bruno Patch will grow!  This writer wants to thank Martin for asking me to write my Friday Things To Know column and support me for over a year.

Continuing. San Bruno Community Gallery Art Exhibit at the San Bruno Library. The Culture & Arts Commission announces its first Community Gallery Art Exhibit. This new program encourages artistic expression and fosters a greater appreciation for art in our community. Viewing is during normal library hours. Featured:  Artists Dru Chipman and Trudy Calandra.

Continuing. “Just Journal” and “Art Journaling” classes this Fall/Winter at the San Bruno Resource and Recovery Center, 458 San Mateo Ave. Classes are FREE and are offered as series every other Thursday night. Never journaled before? The “Just Journal” class is for newbies – come even if you missed the first class. You will be able to pick it up. The “Art Journaling” class is for people looking to learn and share new art techniques and prompts for exploring journaling as a form of contemplative practice. Info and to register: Stephanie Suggs at 650-588-0941 or stephaniesbcm@gmail.com Flier attached.

Friday, Nov. 23. City Offices (except EMERGENCY SERVICES) Closed for
Thanksgiving Holiday

Saturday, Nov. 24. Library Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday.

Saturday, Nov. 24.  20th Annual Holiday Boutique from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the San Bruno Senior Center, 1555 Crystal Springs Road.  Start your holiday shopping. Over 35 vendors selling professionally hand-crafted items. Info: Dee at 650-616-7183. Flier attached.

Saturday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 25. San Bruno AYSO is holding their 22nd Annual Turkey Tournament for U10 - U14 players. Tournament participants include Teams not only from San Bruno but from our neighboring cities and within AYSO's Section 2. Applications are available at the Information Tent at the Crestmoor Fields or on their website www.sanbrunoayso.org for information on their other upcoming activities throughout the coming months.

Monday, Nov. 26.  3:00 to 6:00 p.m.  and continues Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  The Homework Center meets in the Library Community Room, is free of charge and open to students in grades K-8. Students and parents must sign a registration form before a student uses the Homework Center. The registration form is available in the library’s children’s room.  It is recommended that parents of children younger than 10 years old remain in the library building while the child is at the Center.  The Homework Center will provide computers to complete assignments, access to online tutoring and a Homework Center Site Manager who will create an atmosphere conducive to studying, as well as help children complete their homework as time permits.  The Homework Center does not provide
one-on-one tutoring. For more information about the Homework Center, contact the library at 650-616-7078 or sbpl@plsinfo.org.

Monday Nov. 26 & Wednesday Nov. 28. Lowen’83 The Official San Bruno Soccer Club. Tryouts start today from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. and continue multiple days. Flier attached with the other dates info www.lowen83.com or lowensoccer@gmail.com. All tryouts at Lions Field 500 1st Ave. 

Tuesday, Nov. 27.  7 p.m. City Council meeting at the Senior Center on Crystal Springs Road.  Broadcast live on San Bruno Cable Channel 1

Thursday, Nov. 29.  1:30 to 6:00 p.m. and continues Thursdays. Homework Center at the San Bruno Library.  The Homework Center meets in the Library Community Room, is free of charge and open to students in grades K-8.  Students and parents must sign a registration form before a student uses the Homework Center.  The registration form is available in the library’s children’s room.  It is recommended that parents of  children younger than 10 years old remain in the library building while the child is at the Center.  The Homework Center will provide computers to complete assignments, access to online tutoring and a Homework Center Site Manager who will create an atmosphere conducive to studying, as well as help children complete their homework as time permits.  The Homework Center does not provide one-on-one tutoring. For more information about the Homework Center, contact the library at 650-616-7078 or sbpl@plsinfo.org.

Wednesday, Dec. 5. 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Traffic Safety & Parking Committee meets at City Hall in Room 115. Info: Jennifer Shapona at 616-7049 or jshapona@sanbruno.ca.gov

Thursday, Dec. 6. 5:15 p.m. The Beautification Task Force typically meets the first Thursday monthly in City Hall Room 115. Info: Councilwoman Irene O’Connell at ioconnell@sanbruno.ca.gov.  This month’s meeting will probably be canceled due to the Christmas tree lighting event.

Thursday, Dec. 6.  5:30 p.m. at the San Bruno Recreation Center in City Park. Come to the front of the Veterans Memorial Recreation Center in San Bruno City Park and join others for the Christmas tree lighting. Event starts at 5:30 with cookies, hot coco, holiday crafts and a chance to visit with Santa.

Tuesday, Dec. 11.  7:00 pm The City Council typically meets the second &
fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Senior Center 1555 Crystal Spring Road. The meetings are televised LIVE on San Bruno Cable Channel 1. Info: City Clerk Carol Bonner 616-7058 or cbonner@sanbruno.ca.gov  Here is YOUR chance to see your local government in action and YOUR chance to address your Mayor and Council members.

Thursday, Dec. 13.  Architectural Review Committee meets from 6 to 9 p.m. in City Hall Room 101.  Info:  Larua Russell 616-7038 or lrussell@sanbruno.ca.gov

Thursday, Dec. 13.  The Citizens Crime Prevention Committee meets at 7 pm in City Hall Room 113.  Neighborhood Watch will be on the agenda.  Info:  DMcCoy@sanbruno.ca.gov

Who’s Who and What’s What:

PG&E’s line 101 that runs along the Belle Air neighborhood has finally been completely inspected, recovered, and covered with 2 feet of dirt, thus protecting it from possible damage.  Thanks to the many agencies and
legislators who helped expedite the process that initially was projected to take up to 7 months.

SAVE THIS DATE:  Relay For Life – San Bruno. The American Cancer Society is holding their 2013 Relay For Life event in San Bruno Saturday April 27th and Sunday April 28th at Capuchino High School. Info at www.relayforlife.org/sanbrunoca San Bruno Vice Mayor Ken Ibarra is the overall San Bruno coordinator and you can reach Ken at kenibarra@yahoo.com or Julie Pierce at Julie.Pierce@cancer.org
or 650-207-9905 to volunteer to work as a committee chair or committee member.  A number of committees are being formed and YOUR assistance will assure a SUCCESSFUL event.

Changes to SamTrans Routes: Samtrans is proposing changes to its bus routes. Go to these sites to download the route maps:

http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_SSP/service-change/Route_140_Proposed_v3.pdf

http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_SSP/service-change/Route_141_Proposed_v3.pdf

Did you know there may be some changes coming to the Sam Trans bus route you are currently using? For more information, public outreach events and public meetings schedules, go to the Sam Trans website at www.samtrans.com/ssp or email ssp@samtrans.com or call them at (650)
508-6338 for info on the route(s) you take.

Everybody Has It. Everybody Needs It.  This Holiday season the Blood Center of the Pacific needs YOUR blood donation as during the holidays the need for blood goes up while the number of donors goes down.  This red
liquid carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, and carries
carbon dioxide and other waste products back to the lungs, kidneys and liver for disposal. It fights against infection and helps heal wounds, so we can stay healthy.  There’s no substitute for blood. If people lose blood from surgery or injury or if their bodies can’t produce enough, there is only one place to turn—volunteer blood donors. 

Donation Process  Prospective donors first complete a health history questionnaire and screening interview.  The next step involves a
brief physical examination of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and a test for anemia.  If the prescribed medical requirements are met, a pint of blood is drawn from the donor. Afterwards, donors are served refreshments while remaining seated for 15 minutes.  The entire process usually takes less than one hour.  Contact www.bloodcenters.org or call 888-393-GIVE (4483)

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS:  During the Christmas season consider
going to http://www.nfpa.org/ for information of specific holiday season safety tips.

In Case You Missed This:

Planning Commission on Nov. 20th approved the requesst for a conditional use permit for 675 ECR to allow a motor vehicle dealer.  Grace Honda is in talks with a Victory Automotive Group to acquire their business.  675 ECR would become the used car lot.

Planning Commission on Nov. 20th, with about 25 members in the audience discussed extensively the proposed Transit Corridor's Plan.  City assistant planner Laura Russell and Community Development Director Mark Sullivan (with the assistance of the environment consultant) reviewed the vision for the Transit Corridor Plan.  Multiple speakers voiced their concern on parking (to which staff replied that residential parking permits could be implemented to help resolve their concerns); the proposed increase in building heights was a concern voiced by a few; a couple speakers stated that San Bruno did not need the ability to support the 1610 additional housing units while a speaker for the County Housing Group spoke supporting the planning for additional units (the plan does not guarantee any specific number of new residental units will be built, just that the City is planning where these units COULD be built); and City Ordinance 1284 requires a vote by the residents before any structure taller than 50 feet or 3 stories canbe built.  This is a work in progress and many steps will need to be undertakin in open meetings with votes needed in some cases before any building can be built.  The commission voted 4 yes 1 no approving the three resolutions, thus passing them along to the City Council for their evaluation and vote to either agree or disagree on these same 3 questions.  Residents will have the opportunity to speak in support of or against and ask additional questions at an upcoming Council meeting.  Documents on line at www.planbruno.org

Caltrain riders and holiday aficionados should be on the lookout for a special passenger car announcing the return of the Caltrain Holiday Train, presented by Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The passenger car, which is “wrapped” in a festive green design, will be in service until the end of December. The Holiday Train will return to the Caltrain corridor for a two-night extravaganza Saturday Dec. 1 and Sunday Dec. 2. (Unfortunately this year it will NOT stop in San Bruno but will stop at the Millbrae station). Glowing with thousands of lights and holiday decorations, the glittering “show train” marks the start of the holiday season for local communities and, in the 10 years since its inception, has become a favorite holiday tradition for many. The train starts both nights at the San Francisco Caltrain Station with musical entertainment at 4:00 p.m. and a chance
to meet Santa before heading down the Peninsula. The same show will be repeated at four station stops each night. Free entertainment will be provided at each of the station stops prior to the train’s arrival. During each 20-minute stop, people can enjoy holiday music led by a traditional Salvation Army brass band and on-board carolers. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty and the whole gang will get off the train to greet children and pose for pictures. Members of the United States Marine Corps Reserves and representatives from The Salvation Army will be on hand to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys for local children who might otherwise go without this holiday season. Santa’s helpers can get into the holiday spirit by making a donation to support the Holiday Train on the website
www.holiday-train.org.

Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Senior Showcase Health & Wellness Fair 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Millbrae Recreation Center, 477 Lincoln Circle. Event sponsorships are now available, Sponsorship info: Kerry McArdle, Daily Journal, 650-303-6735 or Kerry@smdailyjournal.com The Senior Showcase has partnered with the Millbrae Health & Wellness Fair for a great, FREE community event. This well-established event has taken placein in Millbrae for the last six years. There will be over 50 tables with senior resources and services, FREE refreshments, health screening stations, goody bags, FREE document shredding and more.