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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Caltrain Begins Work on Redwood City
Rail Bridge
Redwood City residents who live near the Caltrain bridge that crosses Redwood
Creek at Maple Street may soon awake to the sound of jackhammers, as construction
on the bridge is slated to begin. The construction will take place in two
stages, beginning with the strengthening of the structure that supports the bridge
and then continuing with the replacement of the deck, Caltrain reported. Though
acoustic curtains will be set up to reduce noise, neighbors will likely hear noise
from concrete-cutting saws, cranes lifting tracks and bridge panels, heavy equipment
moving gravel, and trucks placing asphalt, Caltrain reported. According to
Caltrain, the equipment being used in the project will be stored on Pennsylvania
Avenue, a one-way street behind the Redwood City Public Library. The reconstruction
of the Redwood Creek bridge is expected to be finished by June 12.
Cañada College Still Searches for New
President
After launching a nationwide search following the resignation of its president, Rosa
Perez, in June 2005, Redwood City–based Cañada College announced today that
it still has yet to elect a new president. Though the San Mateo County
Community College District Board of Trustees interviewed two finalists, neither
was selected to take over as president of the college. Board members reportedly
made their decision based on feedback they received from Cañada College faculty,
staff and students solicited during open forums, as well as from other parties with
invested interests in the future of Cañada College. In light of its ongoing quest for
a new president, the board of trustees asked Thomas C. Mohr to continue serving
as the college’s interim president. Mohr, who served as superintendent of the San
Mateo Union High School District from 1996 through 2004, was originally
appointed to the interim president position in August 2005. Mohr worked as an
assistant superintendent at SMUHSD for a decade before becoming superintendent.
Before that he was a high school principal in the Jefferson Union High
School District. He currently lives in San Mateo.
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New County Program Launched
A new county program launched to help reduce referrals to child welfare services,
San Mateo County’s Child Protective Services receives up to 5,000 calls each year
to its Child Abuse Hotline but typically can only respond to the most urgent allegations
of abuse or neglect — about 8 percent of calls received. Youth and Family
Enrichment Services announced it will launch a new program to deliver comprehensive
social services to help address the other 92 percent of hotline calls that do
not meet the state standard for child welfare services intervention and are referred
to community resources as an alternative.
Known as Differential Response, this new, early-intervention program is the result
of an initial grant of nearly $850,000 from the county’s Human Services Agency.
The new program is designed to keep more children out of the child welfare system,
helping at-risk families obtain the support and resources they need to reduce
instability in the home and create a safer environment for their children. Youth
and Family Enrichment Services is currently operating a pilot of the program in
Redwood City and will expand the program to reach the rest of the county by July
1.
Redwood City Reads — One Book, One
Community
Redwood City Reads — One Book, One Community is an exciting community
activity that invites everyone in Redwood City — young and old alike, from all
parts of the city — to read the same great book at the same time! People can get
together for book discussions, literary presentations, panel discussions and other
related events. It’s happening in May in Redwood City!
A volunteer committee surveyed the community and has selected “The Kite
Runner” by Khaled Hosseini (www.khaledhosseini.com) as the one book that the
entire community is invited to read at the same time. Here’s how it works (also see
redwoodcity.org/1book or call (650) 780-7058):
1) People can buy the book at Barnes and Noble (1091 El Camino Real) or their
favorite local or online bookseller, or borrow it from the Redwood City Public
Library.
2) Everyone can read the book right now. They are urged to join with friends and
neighbors, reading it as part of a book club or on their own.
3) During May, readers can join in any or all of the great events and activities that
are scheduled. Go to redwoodcity.org/1book for all the program details.
“This is a perfect opportunity for people throughout our diverse community to
join together with a common interest around this wonderful book. It’s an unforgettable
and moving story, and I’m sure people will be inspired to talk about it at
the planned book discussions, presentations and other programs,” said Mayor
Barbara Pierce. “I encourage all of Redwood City to read this one book right now
and be a part of building a great community together!”
The Redwood City Public Library offers many free programs for children, adults
and families and is the learning center of our community. For more information
about library events and services, you may access the library’s home page at
www.redwoodcity.org/library or call (650) 780-7026.
Planning Commission To Unveil
Principles for General Plan May 2
The Redwood City Planning Commission has incorporated many community
comments from eight public workshops into the Guiding Principles for the General
Plan. These Guiding Principles will in turn drive the vision and specific elements
of the General Plan.
The community is invited to join the Planning Commission for the unveiling of
the Guiding Principles, illustrating how the workshop participants’ thoughts and
comments were brought forward and connected to the principles, and to set the
stage for the next steps in our General Plan Update.
The meeting is Tuesday, May 2, starting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
Hall, 1017 Middlefield Rd. During this meeting you’ll have a chance to comment
on the Guiding Principles, and the Planning Commission will consider formal
adoption of their content.
The next steps of the General Plan process include the development of the Vision
for the General Plan, Planning Commission action on that vision, and then
expanding on that vision with specific elements that directly correspond to the
many important issues that the General Plan addresses. Once the Planning
Commission has taken those steps, the entire General Plan Update and all of its
elements will be presented to the City Council for its consideration.
Mayor’s Beautification Awards
For the 18th consecutive year, Redwood City residents, nonprofit organizations
and businesses are showing their civic pride by applying for a Mayor’s
Beautification Award. Individuals, homeowners associations, apartment complexes,
businesses, nonprofits and others are invited to participate. Applications are
available by calling (650) 780-7300 or by visiting City Hall (1017 Middlefield
Rd.). The application is also available online at www.redwoodcity.org (click on “I
want to” and select “Apply for a Beautification Award”), where applicants can print
it, fill it out and send it in. The deadline for entries is June 30, and judging will be
completed by the end of July.
A panel of volunteer judges will prescreen the entries, and the final selection
process will include site visits to the top entries. Categories include best architectural
design, remodel, or historical restoration; most beautiful garden or landscape;
best compatible building and garden or landscape; and more. If an entry doesn’t
exactly fit into one of the categories, applicants can create their own categories.
Entering the Mayor’s Beautification Awards program is an easy and fun way to
demonstrate neighborhood and civic pride and to help connect with the community
of Redwood City.