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Politics & Government

Things To Know: 'There Oughta Be a Law' Contest, Holiday Closures

A look at what's happening over the next month in San Bruno.

Things To Know: Senator Hill’s “There Oughta Be A Law Contest”.

Saturday, Dec. 22 & Sunday Dec. 23. San Bruno Library will be closed.

Monday, Dec. 24 & Tuesday Dec. 25. The City of San Bruno offices will be closed. EMERGENCY services will continue to respond as needed.

Find out what's happening in San Brunowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dec. 26-Jan 4. Winter Camp. It’s almost Winter Vacation and you are probably looking for something for your children to do during their school break. San Bruno Community Services Department is offering Winter Vacation Camp! Participants will join Recreation Leaders in games, songs, cooking, sports, arts and crafts, gift making and all around fun. Recreation Leaders will keep your children active all day! Bring a bag lunch each day! No camp 12/24, 12/25 & 1/1.  Ages 4-11. For more information view page 11 of the Community Services Activity Guide.

Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. New Year’s Teen Dance. Tickets $7.00 pre-sale, $10 at the door.  Glow Necklaces only $2.00. Meet up with all of your friends and dance to your favorite songs. Our live D.J. will be there with the latest and greatest songs of the year. Dances are held from 7-9:30pm at the Veterans Memorial Rec­reation Center. Tickets will go on sale one week before the dance at Parkside Intermediate School and at the Recreation Center. Student ID cards will be checked at the door. Dances are open to 7th and 8th graders only. The dances are not school sponsored or PTA events.

Find out what's happening in San Brunowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Saturday, Feb. 9th. Father/Daughter Dinner Dance. Tickets sell out fast. Contact Park & Rec. Dept. dbrewer@sanbruno.ca.gov

San Bruno Chamber News: Dickey’s Bar-B-Que has had their soft opening in Town Square. Jessica, who welcomes each visitor, is a charmer.  Watch the Chamber News for the announcement of their GRAND OPENING.

CONTINUING EVENT NEEDING YOUR SUPPORT:  Relay For Life: San Bruno Vice Mayor Ken Ibarra kenibarra@yahoo.com and American Cancer Society’s Julie Pierce Julie.Pierce@cancer.org are building the Relay For Lifeof San Bruno event Saturday April 27th & Sunday April 28th 2013. 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!  Flier attached

PG&E provided updated Transmission and High Pressure Lines Safety Information to San Bruno Schools.  The school check list includes:  (1)Description or staff training regarding the indication of a pipeline EMERGENCY; (2) Map or description of the physical location of the pipeline including distance and direction from school buildings and facilities; (3) Photo or reference to PG&E’s pipeline marker as a way to identify the general location of the pipeline; (4) PG&E’s emergency and non-emergency contact numbers (EMERGENCY 1-800-743-5000 – 1-800-PGE-5000 –non-emergency 1-888-743-7431; (5) Guidelines for responding to a confirmed or suspected natural gas pipeline emergency including how and where to evacuate and who to notify; & (6) Detailed school bus routes and student pick-up/drop-off location that avoid pipeline and pipeline rights-of-way for use during evacuation due to a pipeline emergency.  Documents attached.

Caltrain Advises Caution When Driving Near Railroad During dark, rainy winter months. It is more important than ever for drivers to be alert when driving near the Caltrain right of way.  Because the railroad has been operating on the Peninsula for nearly 150 years it is easy to become complacent about the dangers of crossing train tracks.  Caltrain maintains 44 at-grade crossings on its 52-mile corridor. These crossings are at grade level, which means that the train tracks are not separated from vehicle traffic. Although all Caltrain crossings are equipped with crossing gates, signal lights and bells, drivers still need to exercise caution when driving through these crossings. As part of its comprehensive safety program, Caltrain’s Transit Police Bureau staffs a 24-hour safety hotline.  Emergencies and suspicious activities can be reported to the Transit Police at 1.877.SAF-RAIL (1.877.723.7245).  People who live or work near the Caltrain right of way can take the extra precaution of programming this number into their cell phones. Should this number not be available to you at the time of your emergency, call 911. Emergency dispatchers have immediate access to Caltrain’s dispatching center. Caltrain reminds drivers of these three important safety tips: 1. If red lights are flashing or if crossing arms have been lowered, stop.   It is against the law to drive around gates that have been lowered at a railroad crossing. If the gates are down and no train is coming, the road is closed. If you believe that the gates are malfunctioning, call 1.877.SAF-RAIL (1.877.723.7245)2. Never stop on the tracks.  If your car stalls or stops on the crossing for any reason, get yourself and any passengers out and away quickly. After moving a safe distance away from the train tracks, call 1.877.SAF-RAIL to report the incident. Train dispatchers will be able to stop trains approaching the crossing and help make arrangements to have your vehicle safely removed from the tracks. 3. Always expect a train, on any track, at any time and from any direction.  Caltrain operates 92 trains a day on weekdays. Trains operate on the tracks at other times than the posted timetable. For example, a train may have a mechanical problem that requires moving it to Caltrain’s maintenance facility in San Jose. Caltrain is a member of Operation Lifesaver, an international rail safety organization. To make arrangements for a free rail safety presentation by a trained Operation Lifesaver presenter, call Tasha Bartholomew, community relations officer at 650.508.7927.  Additional safety tips can be found on Caltrain’s website.

TREE Cycling:  Please recycle your holiday trees.  Curbside collections will take place from December 26 2012 to January 25 2013.  Place trees curbside on your regular yard waste collection day.  Please remove alltree stands and decorations.  Apartments and condominium owners/managers, please contact Recology San Bruno ( 583-8536 ) to arrange a special collection.  Your holiday garbage collection schedule will change for those who would get theirs picked up on CHRISTMAS Day Dec. 25 to Saturday Dec. 22 & Saturday Dec 29.  Tuesday Jan. 1 pickups will be moved to Saturday Dec. 29 and Saturday Jan 5.

San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District.  The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District is an independent Special District devoted to safeguarding the health and comfort of the citizens of San Mateo County through a planned program to reduce osquitoes and other vectors of disease.  Attached are two brochures giving you information on how YOU can help control mosquitoes.  More info: 344-8592. Photo shows results of Cupid Row work and technician sampling for mosquitoes.

SAVE THE DATE:  Monday, Jan. 7 2013 – Noon. San Bruno Chamber of Commerce Installation of 2013 Board Members and State of the City Address by San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane at Skyline College.  Invitations to go out soon.  Questions: 650-588-0180 or office@sanbrunochamber.com

SAVE THE DATE: Monday, Jan 7 2013 - 6-8 P.M. The City's Transit Corridor Plan will be the topic of an Open House at City Hall. Residents are invited to attend any time during the 2 hours to review the plan and ask questions of City staff on the proposed plan.  You should address your specific "pre-meeting" questions to:  Mark Sullivan - Interim Community Development Director, City of San Bruno, 567 El Camino Real, Tel: (650) 616-7053, Fax: (650) 873-6749,  msullivan@sunburn.ca.gov  Proposed plans  http://planbruno.org/ 

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, Jan 8 2013 – 7 P.M. -  The City Council will have on its agenda (early in the evening) an update from the San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District on their ongoing efforts to seek out mosquito breeding sources and treating them when found.  San Bruno’s trustee and the District’s technician responsible for San Bruno will participate in the presentation.  Bring your mosquito questions.

SAVE THE DATE:  Tuesday, Jan 29 2013 – Relay For Life San Bruno Kickoff Event - 5-9 PM evening get together at City Rec Center.  Info:  www.relayforlife.org/sanbrunoca

SAVE THE DATE:  Saturday, February 9th 2013, 10 am-3pm Friends of the Library Book Sale.  Friends of the San Bruno Public Library Contact (650) 359-7917

Deadline – Tuesday Jan. 15  California Senator Jerry Hill is again holding his “Oughta Be A Law” Contest.  He Invites Constituents to Submit Legislative Proposals by the January 15 deadline.  Senator Jerry Hill, D - San Mateo, is encouraging Peninsula residents to participate in his fifth annual “Oughta Be A Law...Or Not” constituent bill idea contest.  The contest is open to all constituents of the 13th Senate District and allowsresidents to submit their ideas for improving the quality of life in San Mateo County and Santa Clara County or the state of California. Ideas can vary from local community improvements to statewide reforms. Applicants can submit their ideas for the creation of a new law or the repeal or revision of laws already on the books.  “This is a great opportunity for constituentsto participate in our democracy and learn about the legislative process,” Hill said. “Past winners have traveled to Sacramento to testify in committee and their proposals have been signed into law.”   Senator Hill will select awinner and then introduce the idea as legislation. The individual who submits the winning idea will have the opportunity to testify in Sacramento at hearings on the legislation. Applications can be obtained by calling Senator Hill’s District office at 650-688-6384 or from his website: www.senate.ca.gov/hill  Completed applications may be emailed to Senator.Hill@senate.ca.gov, faxed to the district office at 650-688-6370 or mailed to the district office located at 160 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto, CA 94301.  Submissions must be received by January 15, 2013. The deadline to introduce bills for the 2013 legislative session is February 22.  The 13th Senate District includes the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Mountain View, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Woodside and parts of unincorporated San Mateo County and unincorporated Santa Clara County.

Deadline - Jan. 17th 2013. Take A Plunge Registration to guarantee a t-shirt for the January 26th San Bruno Park Pool “Plunge” at 8:30 am. Your $20.00 proceeds benefit the Youth Enrichment Scholarship Fund: Code 5561.101. Dust off your swimsuits and start off the New Year right! Take a “plunge” in our unheated San Bruno Park Pool. This annual fun event will benefit our Youth Scholarship Fund.  Each partici­pant will receive a long sleeve t-shirt and snacks after they take the plunge. Please indicate on the registration form what size t-shirt you would like. Ages 5-over.

Deadline - Friday, Feb. 1st 2013. Make your nomination for the Community Recognition Award. Do you know a volunteer in the San Bruno community who is deserving of recognition for all the hard work and dedication he/she has demonstrated? If your answer is yes, please nominate him/her for a Community Recognition Award. The San Bruno Parks and Recreation Commission will review applications, and the award will be publicly presented to the deserving recipient at a tele­vised Parks andRecreation Commission Meeting. Nominations can be submitted by mail to: San Bruno Recreation Division Attn: Community Recognition Award 567 El Camino Real San Bruno, CA 94066 or E=Mailed to: Form attached dbrewer@sanbruno.ca.gov.

IN CASE YOU MISSED THESE: The County’s Department of Public Works can confirm that the received the  EMERGENCY Permits necessary and they completed removing most of the growth in Cupid’s Row that caused it to over flow during the recentheavy rains.  Hopefully their work will also begin to return Cupid Row from Huntington to the tide gates to its original design capacity and keep it at this capacity. Mr. Porter also mentioned that there might be consideration to increase the width of part of the canal to assist in holding additional water, so water does not as easily overflow. Photos attached.

San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District is pleased to share their attached tri-fold brochure on “What is Mosquito  & Vector Control” and Info about the biocides and chemicals they use to help Keep San Bruno Mosquito Free.  Both of these can be downloaded from http://www.smcmad.org/brochures.htm  Questions: 344-8592.  Mosquitoes breed year round, so DUMP ALL STANDING WATER.

San Bruno Community Clubs & Organizations:

Boy Scouts of America - Contact Council Headquarters - (650) 341- 5633 Friends of the San Bruno Public Library - (650) 359-7917

Girl Scouts of America www.girlscoutsnorcal.org  -1-800 447-4475

Blood Centers of the Pacific - (650) 369-8211 

Golden Chordsmen of San Mateo County - Men Who Love To Sing.   All are invited to join.  (650) 344-7464

San Bruno 4H Club - (650) 952-1209 or (650) 583-7249

San Bruno AARP - (650) 583-4499

San Bruno American Legion - (650) 201-6541

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