Mount Carmel School Celebrating 125 Years Mount Carmel School ...
Mount Carmel School Celebrating 125 Years Mount Carmel School ...
Mount Carmel School Celebrating 125 Years Mount Carmel School ...
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<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>Celebrating</strong> <strong>125</strong> <strong>Years</strong><br />
Also in This Issue:<br />
Election 2010 and<br />
into the future in<br />
“As I Was Saying…”<br />
National Puzzle Day<br />
is coming. Are you<br />
prepared?<br />
Redwood City’s go-to<br />
guy is named Smith!
Learn More about the<br />
50/50 baLanced PLan<br />
More than three years ago the DMB Saltworks team began asking Redwood City residents for their ideas for future use of the more than<br />
1,400-acre industrial Saltworks site. The 50/50 Balanced Plan responds to the input of over 10,000 local residents.<br />
50% Open Space,<br />
RecReatiOn and tidal<br />
MaRSh ReStORatiOn<br />
Fifty percent of the Saltworks site<br />
will be dedicated to open space,<br />
active recreation and tidal marsh<br />
restoration.<br />
The new Bayside Park will offer<br />
significant new Bay access and<br />
amenities including more than 10<br />
miles of trails, a kayak launch, water<br />
recreation activities, interpretive<br />
exhibits, restaurants and shops.<br />
More than 200 acres of land will be<br />
dedicated to new parks and recreation<br />
facilities including a new 50+ acre<br />
sports park complete with more<br />
than a dozen new soccer and<br />
baseball fields.<br />
Hundreds of additional acres will be<br />
restored to tidal marshes. The 50/50<br />
Balanced Plan will provide private<br />
funding for all of the proposed open<br />
space, recreation and restoration<br />
efforts – with no new costs to<br />
existing Redwood City taxpayers.<br />
TODAY<br />
TOMORROW<br />
50% tRanSit-ORiented<br />
cOMMunity<br />
Fifty percent of the Saltworks site<br />
is dedicated to a Transit-Oriented<br />
Community of 8,000 to 12,000<br />
homes that is anticipated to be built<br />
over a quarter of a century.<br />
The 50/50 Balanced Plan envisions a<br />
permanent transit loop linking onsite<br />
project provided infrastructure<br />
to core centers of the City including<br />
the CalTrain terminal, downtown<br />
Redwood City, the proposed<br />
ferry terminal and local<br />
employment corridors.<br />
The DMB Saltworks team is<br />
now working with several major<br />
employers on plans to provide local<br />
housing for some of the 40,000+<br />
workers who commute to Redwood<br />
City jobs every day. By reducing<br />
the number of vehicles on the<br />
bridges and freeways, the proposed<br />
Saltworks community can do much<br />
to reduce greenhouse gases and<br />
traffic congestion in the region.<br />
Bayside Public Access and Trails 200+ Acres of New Parks Privately Funded Restoration Sustainable, Green Community New <strong>School</strong>s Greenhouse Gas Reductions<br />
Please Share Your Thoughts With Us<br />
1700 Seaport Blvd., Suite 200 | Redwood City, CA 94063<br />
650.366.0500 | info@RCSaltworks.com | www.RCSaltworks.com<br />
Saltworks_SpectrumMag_Ad_11_23_09.indd 1<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net<br />
11/23/09 12:50:24 PM
The Spectrum.JAN.2010<br />
Steve Penna<br />
Owner and Publisher<br />
penna@spectrummagazine.net<br />
Anne Callery<br />
Copy Editor<br />
writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />
Judy Buchan<br />
Contributing Writer<br />
writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />
Nicole Minieri<br />
Contributing Writer<br />
writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />
James Massey<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
James R. Kaspar<br />
Cover/Cover Story Photography<br />
jkaspar@sonic.net<br />
Valerie Harris<br />
Internet Maintenance<br />
Contact Information:<br />
Phone 650-368-2434<br />
E-mail addresses listed above<br />
www.spectrummagazine.net<br />
As we enter another year, we welcome you to the January 2010 edition of The Spectrum Magazine. We<br />
are starting out the year with a community celebration of stories and features. Sit back and enjoy.<br />
Our cover story this month is on a community institution, <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong>. Contributing writer<br />
Judy Buchan tells about how the school plans to celebrate <strong>125</strong> years of educating students academically<br />
and spiritually.<br />
Publisher Steve Penna starts the new year just as he ended the last one, by trying to provoke community<br />
conversation with items in his column, “As I Was Saying….” This month he writes about next year’s<br />
elections and makes some “off-the-cuff” predictions for our community.<br />
Our business profile this month, by contributing writer Nicole Minieri, is on a unique Main Street shop<br />
called Jigsaw Java. With National Puzzle Day coming on Jan. 29, you will get an inside look at this<br />
business and perhaps be inspired to stop by to visit and participate.<br />
We also have a profile on the city’s public communications manager, Malcolm Smith. You will see how<br />
he works to close the distance between the residents and city government and staff. He even solves a<br />
problem or two along the way.<br />
Along with all that, we bring you our regular features on community interest, senior activities,<br />
financial advice, information from the Redwood City <strong>School</strong> District, parties around town, news briefs,<br />
community cultural events and the popular feature “A Minute With.”<br />
In the new year, we encourage you to support our valuable Spectrum advertisers by using their services<br />
when you are out shopping, dining or enjoying yourself with friends and family in our community. Many<br />
of our advertisers have special offers for you to cut out and present, including discounts on services,<br />
food and beverages, so please take the time to look over their ads this month and use their coupons and<br />
discounts. And, when you visit one of them, let them know you appreciate their support of our local<br />
community publication.<br />
All of us at The Spectrum Magazine are excited about this new year and hope to spread optimism and<br />
community information throughout Redwood City.<br />
Contents<br />
This Month’s Photo Shoot – 4<br />
RCSD Corner – 5<br />
“As I Was Saying...” – 6<br />
Ira Takes Control<br />
‘Beginning of a Greater Community’ – 7<br />
Jigsaw Java Gets Jiggy – 8<br />
The People Speak: Letters to the Editor – 11<br />
Cultural Events – 12<br />
Community Interest – 13<br />
Shop Redwood City – 14<br />
<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong> at <strong>125</strong>:<br />
Looking Back and Looking Ahead – 16<br />
Nonprofits in Action – 20<br />
City’s Go-To Guy Is Smith – 24<br />
News Briefs – 27<br />
Finance: Time to Make New Year’s<br />
Financial Resolutions – 29<br />
Senior Activities – 29<br />
A Minute With Ruhina Karmali – 30<br />
The Spectrum 3
Inside The Spectrum: Cover Story Photo Shoot<br />
This month’s cover shoot was arranged by Publisher Steve Penna after<br />
emailing and calling Michelle Conci, who is the Development Director at Our<br />
Lady of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong>. Penna then contacted the “alumni” members<br />
in the shot and they all decided that Thursday December 17 at 3:00 p.m.<br />
would be the scheduled time.<br />
Penna arrived first at the school site on Grand Avenue and was followed<br />
minutes later by cover story photographer James Kaspar. They began looking<br />
for areas to stage the “subjects” and then were greeted by Conci and <strong>School</strong><br />
Principal Teresa Anthony. It was decided that the front entrance would be a<br />
perfect location to tell the story of the school’s history.<br />
The cover subjects, members of the eighth grade class and alumni Barbara<br />
and Brent Britschgi, Paul Sanfilipo, Paula Uccelli, and Jim Hartnett were all<br />
cooperative and interacted with each other like family.<br />
Once separate photos were taken of Anthony and Rev. John Balleza and the<br />
alumni, the eighth grade students arrived, and all “students” were posed in<br />
front of the entrance doors for a group shot.<br />
It seems that everyone, including Penna and Kaspar, was all engaged in<br />
one conversation or another. Parents stopped by to say hello as they picked<br />
up their children when school let out. There was excitement in the air and the<br />
weather cooperated perfectly.<br />
The entire shoot took about thirty minutes.<br />
The spectacular entrance to the school (which is used for this introduction<br />
story) proved to be the perfect setting and really does tell the story of all<br />
the cover shot subjects and how the doors have led them all in different<br />
paths while starting at the same point. In the picture alone, there are female<br />
business leaders, three former City Councilmembers and two former Mayors.<br />
The Spectrum salutes the students, parents, church and school<br />
Administration, and staff and the entire <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> community on <strong>125</strong><br />
years of top-notch education and dedication to the Redwood City community.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood City <strong>School</strong> District<br />
Hoover Brings Home Robotics Awards<br />
Kevin, a seventh-grader at Hoover <strong>School</strong>, prepares his Lego robot for the Smart<br />
Move Challenge.<br />
When Kevin and Luis, seventh-graders at Hoover <strong>School</strong>, first heard about<br />
an after-school program that would use Lego building blocks to build robots,<br />
they did not know what to expect. Neither boy had ever heard of First Lego<br />
League, an international program that gives children the opportunity to work<br />
with adult mentors to design, build and program robots built of Legos. Both<br />
Kevin and Luis were ready for the challenge.<br />
“I wanted to try it,” said Kevin. “It looked like fun, and I like playing with<br />
Legos.”<br />
Over a six-week period, Kevin, Luis and 75 other students from Hoover<br />
<strong>School</strong> along with about 30 students from Kennedy Middle <strong>School</strong> and North<br />
Star Academy designed, built and programmed Lego robots to complete<br />
missions based on real-world challenges for the Smart Move Challenge,<br />
an all-day tournament competition featuring teams of students from<br />
throughout the Bay Area who demonstrated their problem-solving skills,<br />
creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of<br />
community.<br />
Students were asked to explore robotics solutions to modern transportation<br />
problems through Smart Move, a two-part challenge. In the project phase<br />
of the challenge, teams identify a problem with the way people, animals,<br />
information or things travel in their community, create an innovative<br />
solution, and share it outside the team. For this part of the competition,<br />
students were judged on their presentation skills as well as their ability to<br />
work as a team.<br />
In the robot game part of the challenge, teams confront some of today’s<br />
transportation safety and efficiency problems as they program their robots<br />
to navigate a series of tasks on a ping-pong-table-sized surface simulating<br />
a series of roadways and bridges. Students had to use robotics, sensor<br />
technology and fresh thinking to solve real transportation problems, and they<br />
were awarded points for completing specific tasks. Missions in the challenge<br />
included efficiency planning, object avoidance, climbing steep bridges with<br />
no guard rails, passenger transport and crash tests.<br />
In addition to awards for their research projects and programming their<br />
robots, teams are awarded for sportsmanship. When Hoover student Luis’<br />
team, “Lego My Eggo,” was up for their last challenge, their robot completely<br />
broke down and there was nothing the team could do in the remaining 1.5<br />
minutes.<br />
“We started cheering for the other team because our robot stopped<br />
working,” explained Luis. Hoover students came up with a motivating chant<br />
for their rivals to encourage them to keep trying. The cheers were followed<br />
by professional handshakes with the other team at the end of the match.<br />
“Lego My Eggo” took home the Teamwork Award for the best display of<br />
positive sportsmanship any of the judges had seen.<br />
In addition, the eighth-grade “Lucky 10” team was awarded the Gracious<br />
Professionalism Judges’ Award for the amount of help and support they<br />
provided to several other teams with their robots. Two Hoover sixth-graders<br />
from “The Vipors” team qualified for the next level of tournaments to take<br />
place in December.<br />
“Participating in First Lego League is a fantastic way for students to get<br />
early experience learning high-tech skills that are used by engineers in<br />
the Silicon Valley,” said Sue Cortopassi, After <strong>School</strong> Coordinator for the<br />
Redwood City <strong>School</strong> District, who spearheaded the project for Hoover,<br />
Kennedy and North Star.<br />
The First Lego League program was made possible by funds provided by<br />
the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors. The Lego League teams were<br />
a collaborative effort between the Redwood City <strong>School</strong> District, the County<br />
of San Mateo, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, Citizen <strong>School</strong>s and<br />
the three participating schools. In addition, students from Woodside High<br />
<strong>School</strong>, science and engineering students and alumni from MIT, Cornell and<br />
Stanford University, and interns from Peninsula Works Daly City internship<br />
program served as mentors in software/engineering to the after-school staff<br />
and students.<br />
In addition to the students who participated in Lego League, the Redwood<br />
City <strong>School</strong> District and its partners provide about 1,500 students with<br />
academically enriching after-school programs.<br />
P a u l S c h r a g e , C o n d u c t o r<br />
St. Peter’s<br />
Chamber Orchestra<br />
Elgar Serenade for Strings<br />
Bach Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor<br />
Mendelssohn’s Symphony #4<br />
Saturday, January 23, 2010, 7:30pm<br />
Guest artist is Paris<br />
Opera Harpsichordist<br />
and Deutsche<br />
Grammophon<br />
recording artist<br />
Jory Vinikour.<br />
Special thanks to Kevin Fryer for supplying the harpsichord for the evening’s performance.<br />
spcorchestra.org<br />
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church<br />
178 Clinton Street, Redwood City, CA 94062<br />
Call Skip Bushee @ 650.367.0777<br />
Advanced Ticket Prices<br />
General $25, Senior: $20, Student: $15<br />
At the door: $30<br />
The Spectrum 5
As I Was<br />
Saying…<br />
Publisher | Steve Penna<br />
As predicted, Jeff Ira was voted in as our new<br />
Mayor for the next two years, and Alicia Aguirre<br />
was voted Vice Mayor. Aguirre nominated Ira<br />
and outgoing Mayor Rosanne Foust nominated<br />
her. Both votes were unanimous.<br />
Now let’s look forward a few years. Aguirre<br />
is rumored to be considering running for Rose<br />
Jacobs Gibson’s County Supervisor seat once she<br />
is termed out in 2012. Even though the race is two<br />
years away, and many things can happen before<br />
then, it is not unrealistic for someone running to<br />
start their campaign this early. If she is serious<br />
about running, she will definitely have to start now.<br />
Let’s assume Aguirre will run. If so, what does<br />
that mean for her rotating into being our next<br />
Mayor in 2011 if she is reelected to her Council<br />
seat? If she is running for Supervisor, she will<br />
have to run basically two campaigns at the same<br />
time. If she is reelected, she will not be able to<br />
carry out the duties of Mayor while running<br />
a time-consuming campaign for Supervisor.<br />
Another concern will be if her Council colleagues<br />
choose her as Mayor knowing that, and also that<br />
she will basically have to vacate her Council seat<br />
after less than a year if she is elected Supervisor.<br />
If that scenario plays out, there would be three<br />
years left in her term, and the Council would have<br />
to call for a special election to fill her seat. But<br />
if she were voted in as Mayor, it would be a big<br />
boost for her campaign; running as Mayor is a lot<br />
more powerful than just a Councilwoman. What<br />
to do? Aguirre obviously has some thinking to do,<br />
and it will be an interesting process to watch. The<br />
unknown always is.<br />
What is known is that the Fair Oaks<br />
neighborhood in Redwood City needs some strong<br />
representation on the Board, and Aguirre is seen<br />
as a candidate that will do that. There are image<br />
problems, financial problems, safety problems and<br />
whoever is elected needs to focus on them. Like I<br />
said, so many things can happen in two years.<br />
.…<br />
With last November’s election just wrapping up,<br />
campaign watchers are already looking forward to<br />
this June’s primary and beyond. Many races will<br />
be competing for the attention of Redwood City<br />
voters. Here are a few.<br />
A three-way race is shaping up to fill former<br />
Redwood City Mayor Ira Ruskin’s assembly<br />
seat. He will term out. County Supervisor Rich<br />
Gordon, Palo Alto Councilwoman Yoriko<br />
Kishimoto and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Josh<br />
Becker have each formally announced plans to<br />
run. Redwood City resident Marc Berman also<br />
considered a run but recently dropped out and<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net<br />
threw his support behind Becker.<br />
If Gordon expects to win, he must carry<br />
Redwood City, as the 21st District includes parts<br />
of San Mateo County (primarily Redwood City)<br />
and Santa Clara counties and the city of San Jose.<br />
It will be interesting to see how the whole “no<br />
more jails in Redwood City” attitude plays out in<br />
this election, because Gordon will have to voice<br />
his opinion at some point as to where a new jail<br />
should be built if at all.<br />
Ruskin on the other hand will be running for<br />
the Senate seat currently held by Joe Simitian,<br />
D-Palo Alto.<br />
Gordon will be termed out after 12 years and<br />
the race to fill his Supervisor seat should be a real<br />
sleeper with former county Sheriff Don Horsley<br />
running. Horsley was elected to the Sequoia<br />
Healthcare District Board of Directors and<br />
currently serves as president.<br />
Jefferson Union High <strong>School</strong> District member<br />
David Mineta was rumored to be also in the run<br />
but he will not be. That leaves Horsley to face<br />
fellow Healthcare District Board member Jack<br />
Hickey and environmentalist April Vargas.<br />
Neither of them have the wide base of County<br />
support nor the contributions needed to win the<br />
seat. Horsley to date has accumulated a $200,000<br />
campaign war chest.<br />
Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Warren<br />
Slocum, Controller Tom Huening and Coroner<br />
Robert Foucrault positions are up and they<br />
all can and will run for reelection. I doubt any<br />
legitimate candidate will enter any of those races.<br />
Jim Fox who has headed the District Attorney’s<br />
Office for nearly three decades will not be running<br />
for reelection. Chief Deputy District Attorney<br />
Steve Wagstaffe, will be running to replace his<br />
boss, and it looks like he will have no competition.<br />
Horsley’s predecessor Sheriff Greg Munks<br />
is also up for reelection and it looks like he will<br />
also have no opposition. San Mateo Police Chief<br />
Susan Manheimer has always been rumored to<br />
be interested in the seat, but has expressed no<br />
interest. She did tell me she has been encouraged<br />
to run for the seat but has not made a decision at<br />
this point. Better hurry up.<br />
Treasurer/Tax collector Lee Buffington will not<br />
seek a seventh term and will happily be heading<br />
into retirement. It looks like it will be a race<br />
between his deputy Sandra Arnott and former<br />
Burlingame Mayor Joe Galligan to fill his seat.<br />
So what does all this mean? First and foremost<br />
if you are an incumbent in San Mateo County you<br />
can almost always be assured that you will face<br />
no opposition and easily be reelected. But that is<br />
exactly what the County charter is designed to<br />
do. Second, if you have a well-recognized name<br />
and begin your campaign a year or more before<br />
the election you will secure the endorsements<br />
and contributions to ease to a victory. Here’s to<br />
democracy.<br />
.…<br />
I recently experienced something I have never<br />
before, and I don’t want to again. I currently live<br />
in a cottage behind a house and early (well, early<br />
for a writer) one morning, I heard banging on my<br />
bedroom window and woke to this guy telling me<br />
to get out because “the” house was on fire. Well,<br />
I immediately jumped up and went to the front<br />
door to see that he was right. To make a long story<br />
short—and to praise the Redwood City Police<br />
and Fire Departments, who all were the most<br />
professional and caring individuals you could ask<br />
for—no one was injured, although the tenants<br />
were displaced from the front house. My cottage<br />
was not directly affected.<br />
Out of every situation, good or bad, there is<br />
always something to be learned. Many lessons<br />
were learned that morning: Getting involved<br />
helps others (thanks to the guy who woke us up);<br />
and even in tragedy, we can feel assured that we<br />
have competent and dedicated emergency services<br />
workers in our community. Another lesson for all<br />
you “renters” out there is to have renters insurance.<br />
You don’t realize in how many different ways<br />
you need it. Take smoke damage, for instance.<br />
To clean all your clothing affected by smoke<br />
damage is costly. But the cost would be covered<br />
if you have the right insurance—do I sound like<br />
a commercial? So, right after the fire was out,<br />
I called Castle Insurance and checked on my<br />
policy, and paying the premium of less than $20<br />
a month is well worth it. As a public service not<br />
a commercial, I would suggest you get renters<br />
insurance also. It will save you a lot of money if<br />
you should need it, and does not cost that much to<br />
secure. That’s my good advice for the month.<br />
.…<br />
With the Holidays over and the New Year started,<br />
I just want to take this opportunity to say a few<br />
Thank You’s to some special individuals who<br />
have been instrumental in helping the Spectrum<br />
become and continue to be so successful.<br />
Contributing Writers Judy Buchan, Valerie<br />
Harris and Nicole Mineri have done an excellent<br />
job at portraying the people and businesses in<br />
our community with dignity and respect. They<br />
deserve as much, and our writers are the perfect<br />
folks to do just that.<br />
(continued on page 28)
Ira Takes Control:<br />
‘Beginning of a Greater Community’<br />
The Redwood City City Council got a major<br />
overhaul, installing newly re-elected member<br />
Jeff Ira as mayor for the next two years and<br />
adding two new faces to replace termed-out<br />
councilmembers Diane Howard and Jim Hartnett.<br />
John Seybert and Jeff Gee, both former<br />
planning commissioners, joined the council,<br />
shaking the makeup for the first time in five years.<br />
Along with Ira, the City Council unanimously<br />
installed Councilwoman Alicia Aguirre as vice<br />
mayor.<br />
Redwood City rotates its mayor every two years<br />
instead of the more standard year of other cities.<br />
During Foust’s turn with the gavel, she battled<br />
with San Mateo County over plans for a new<br />
jail in the city — specifically when the county<br />
planned to buy land for that purpose without first<br />
telling the city. She also took on Save The Bay,<br />
an environmental nonprofit whose fight over<br />
proposed development of the Cargill Saltworks<br />
site propelled twin ballot measures about open<br />
space in 2008.<br />
That was a “challenging time,” Foust said in<br />
her final moments as mayor, while highlighting<br />
positives such as downtown and the new general<br />
and strategic plans.<br />
Foust said it was “an honor and a privilege” to<br />
serve such “an absolutely incredible community.”<br />
But the best part?<br />
“All the things I got to do with our children,”<br />
Foust said.<br />
Foust’s enthusiasm was echoed by the newest<br />
members of the council as they look toward the future.<br />
Howard and Hartnett were both termed out,<br />
paving the way for the two new members. The<br />
audience stood and clapped as both literally<br />
stepped down off the dais.<br />
New members Gee and Seybert were elected in<br />
November, beating out probation officer Cherlene<br />
Wright and business owner Janet Borgens. Ira was<br />
re-elected for his final term.<br />
Seybert honored Hartnett and Howard, saying<br />
he looks “forward to following their direction.”<br />
But he mainly acknowledged his family for<br />
supporting his campaign and sharing him with the<br />
city he hopes to improve with his tenure.<br />
“Tomorrow is the beginning of an even greater<br />
community than the one we already enjoy,”<br />
Seybert said.<br />
Gee also pointed to the future, promising to<br />
work hard to make Redwood City the best it can<br />
be. Like Seybert, he also thanked his family since<br />
they had “51 percent” of the decision.<br />
Ira, no novice to the council, thanked everyone<br />
for giving him a final chance to finish his goals<br />
but reminded the audience everybody must work<br />
to reach that end.<br />
“The time to act is now,” he said.<br />
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the<br />
Daily Journal newspaper.<br />
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The Spectrum 7
Jigsaw Java<br />
By Nicole Minieri, Contributing Writer<br />
Gets J i gg y<br />
Ask a regular or a newcomer to describe their<br />
experience at Jigsaw Java, and they will offer<br />
words such as fun, awesome, exhilarating,<br />
incredible, intriguing, relaxing, peaceful and “OMG, the best!”<br />
Jigsaw Java, a safe haven for entertainment, learning and playing, is becoming a<br />
hot spot for spending leisure time in Redwood City’s downtown. Kids, adults and<br />
seniors can observe or engage in a variety of games and jigsaw puzzle–building<br />
activities while being served a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The marriage<br />
of puzzles and java is proving to be a successful venture and is certainly adding a<br />
pinch of exuberance to the city’s business district.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Jigsaw Java was founded by Redwood City<br />
native Mary Albitz and has been at 846 Main St.<br />
since its opening a year and a half ago. Albitz,<br />
who continues to own and operate the budding<br />
business, had a longtime passion for jigsaw<br />
puzzles before turning her pastime into her<br />
vocation. “I had always wanted to do something<br />
like this in Redwood City. So I started thinking<br />
about the idea six years ago, but really started<br />
working on it three years ago,” said Albitz. “It<br />
was a lot of work putting it all together, but not<br />
hard work. I really enjoyed every step of the way.”<br />
Albitz has undeniably put her heart and soul<br />
into building a business where people can<br />
come “one and all” to partake in the wonderful<br />
experience of so many kinds of jigsaw puzzle<br />
activities. “I make it a great experience for<br />
everyone, and 90 percent of the people who come<br />
through the doors absolutely love the place and<br />
always come back again. I’ll have sample puzzles<br />
out for people to play with, and they will have<br />
such a blast and so much fun with it,” said Albitz.<br />
“Actually a typical day for me at Jigsaw Java is<br />
filled with fun. A family will come in and take out<br />
a puzzle that they have stored here. Depending<br />
on how many people are in the family, they may<br />
all want to be working on the same puzzle or they<br />
may split up and some may play other games.<br />
While this is going on, other people will come<br />
in and search for puzzles, and I consider helping<br />
people search for puzzles to be the most fun<br />
thing that I get to do. Now, if it is a real busy day,<br />
there may be more than one family working on<br />
a puzzle, and the families will interact with one<br />
another to help put their puzzles together. What is<br />
so nice about this is that Jigsaw Java is developing<br />
into a close-knit community for the regulars, and<br />
to me that is what this is all about: building a<br />
community. And it is very satisfying to be able to<br />
create and share a place that builds and supports<br />
the community in the way that Jigsaw Java does.”<br />
Albitz is building a solid name for herself as<br />
an initiator and innovator, as well as leader of the<br />
pack among local competitors due to her eclectic<br />
selection of puzzle and game merchandise, which<br />
comes from over 20 different manufacturers.<br />
“I carry a huge variety of puzzles that other<br />
places don’t,” said Albitz. “I have everything<br />
from a 10-piece puzzle for a 10-year-old to a<br />
24,000-piece puzzle for the expert. I also have<br />
custom puzzles, where people will give me a<br />
photograph or image and I have it turned into<br />
a puzzle.” Albitz is also the first distributor<br />
of puzzles for individuals who suffer from<br />
Alzheimer’s and dementia. “These puzzles are<br />
fabulous,” said Albitz. “They trigger memory<br />
in these people and can therefore encourage<br />
conversation.”<br />
Plus, Jigsaw Java has become home to<br />
the world’s finest jigsaw puzzle table, the<br />
PuzzleMaster. This table is considered to be<br />
the ultimate accessory for the true puzzle lover.<br />
The PuzzleMaster is attractively constructed<br />
of unfinished wood with many key features,<br />
including a large working area for puzzles of<br />
1,000-plus pieces, two side trays for convenient<br />
puzzle-piece storage and tilting ability to<br />
eliminate glare and capture good lighting. It also<br />
folds easily for storage purposes.<br />
Just as the famed PuzzleMaster table comes<br />
with a crowd of patented features, so does Jigsaw<br />
Java, which offers many ways to enjoy the art of<br />
jigsaw puzzle activity. For starters, puzzle patrons<br />
are encouraged to become members of Jigsaw<br />
Java. Members can take advantage of savings and<br />
the freedom to build puzzles on a regular basis.<br />
Jigsaw Java also offers other types of puzzlebuilding<br />
involvement for levels from novice<br />
to expert. Daily studio fees are one option for<br />
building puzzles from stock or puzzles brought<br />
in from home while enjoying a free cup of coffee,<br />
tea or hot chocolate. Monthly membership and<br />
Puzzle-of-the-Month Club options are ideal for<br />
those who relish the excitement and challenge of<br />
building new puzzles on a more frequent basis.<br />
Jigsaw Java delights in hosting special events<br />
and gatherings, such as birthday parties, social<br />
group outings, hosted events, private parties and<br />
team-building events. “Jigsaw Java is the perfect<br />
place to have your next birthday or private party,”<br />
said Albitz. “It’s very different, fun, affordable<br />
and a great way to socialize.” The team-building<br />
events were designed to equip employees with<br />
tools that enable them to work more efficiently<br />
and effectively as a team in the workplace. Such<br />
events are ideal for corporate employers and can<br />
be held on-site as well.<br />
Jigsaw Java maintains a busy social calendar<br />
with events that are geared toward individuals,<br />
couples, families, local businesses and<br />
organizations. “We have a variety of events that<br />
take place, and the events vary from month to<br />
month,” said Albitz. These events include open<br />
houses, youth group gatherings, senior activities,<br />
gift-wrapping parties, wine-tasting parties,<br />
holiday parties and fundraisers. “I’ll come up<br />
with an idea for an event or someone else will.”<br />
The next big event on Jigsaw Java’s jiggy<br />
calendar is National Puzzle Day. “National Puzzle<br />
Day is actually on Jan. 29, but we are going to<br />
celebrate it on Saturday the 30th, and this is the<br />
first time we are joining in on the celebration,”<br />
said Albitz. “The main event will be a puzzle<br />
contest.” Teams of four will put together a puzzle,<br />
with $500 going to the team with the fastest<br />
time. For those not participating in the puzzle<br />
competiton, there will also be hand-cutting of<br />
wooden jigsaw puzzles and a crossword puzzle<br />
demonstration. Albitz is optimistic about the<br />
turnout and believes the festivities will be a great<br />
start to the new year.<br />
“Although Jigsaw Java has been steady with a<br />
constant traffic flow, we keep breaking even and<br />
have not become profitable yet,” said Albitz. “So<br />
far, November and December have been busy<br />
months, and my goal is to keep it going and be<br />
profitable by the end of 2010. I am on my way to<br />
achieving that because Jigsaw Java keeps getting<br />
busier and better by the month.<br />
Albitz is also on her way to becoming a leading<br />
figure in Redwood City as someone who is<br />
actively involved with community outreach. “I<br />
have been a member of the Peninsula Sunrise<br />
Rotary Club and participate in as many events<br />
as possible,” said Albitz. Using Jigsaw Java as a<br />
conduit for community service, Albitz has toy<br />
drives during the holidays, donates pizza and<br />
puzzle-party gift certificates for school auctions,<br />
opens her store to local schools for fundraisers<br />
and gives 10 percent of merchant credit card fees<br />
to the Redwood City Education Foundation.<br />
Whether she is helping someone in the<br />
community or helping someone with a puzzle,<br />
Albitz knows she is doing exactly what she has<br />
been called to do and will definitely not be doing<br />
anything else anytime soon. “I believe you should<br />
do what you love and have fun doing it, and I love<br />
jigsaw puzzles,” said Albitz. “I look at it the way<br />
Deepak Chopra looks at it: ‘There are no extra<br />
pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because<br />
he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must<br />
fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.’” Clearly,<br />
Albitz fits nicely into Jigsaw Java, and Jigsaw<br />
Java fits nicely into Redwood City!<br />
Jigsaw Java<br />
846 Main St.<br />
Redwood City, CA 94063<br />
650-364-3634<br />
info@jigsawjava.com<br />
The Spectrum 9
Parties Around Town Port Holiday Party. Thursday, Dec. 17<br />
Left to right, from top: Port Commissioners Larry Aikins (left) and Dick Dodge light up the tree. City Manager Peter Ingram shares a laugh. Former Mayor Diane Howard enjoying<br />
the party. Port Commissioner Larry Aikins talks it up. Former Mayor Georgi LaBerge and Jill Singleton share holiday spirits.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
P.S. The People Speak: Letters to the Editor<br />
Redwood City ‘pays it forward’<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving I lost my wallet with my work badge in it.<br />
I would like to take a minute to thank the good Samaritan who followed up<br />
on the instructions on the back of the badge and arranged to have not only<br />
it but my wallet returned to my employer. I cannot let everyone know how<br />
much it heartened me that someone would take the time out of their busy day<br />
to make sure that those things were returned. Thank you and please have<br />
a happy holiday. What a kind thing to do. I will be donating to the Second<br />
Harvest Food Bank in the name of The Good Samaritan to honor the kind deed.<br />
We don’t see your vision<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
Joyce M. Gamber, Redwood City<br />
Our San Francisco Bay is the vital, defining aspect of the Bay Area, and it<br />
has already shrunk by one-third due to filling and paving. For that reason,<br />
Peninsula leaders should oppose any development on the Cargill salt ponds.<br />
There should be no housing, schools or even businesses out there — behind<br />
levees that could fail. What the community does need is sports fields and<br />
park lands that are accessible to all. Redwood City already spelled out a plan<br />
that includes a huge new city park, protects the port and restores most of the<br />
salt ponds back to the bay where they belong. Why is nobody on the council<br />
speaking up for that positive vision? They seem to prefer to make people<br />
believe that we need to let Cargill build 12,000 homes in the bay in exchange<br />
for a few playing fields. It’s just not true.<br />
Joan Parker, Portola Valley<br />
it sets a terrible precedent” and “How would they feel if Redwood City<br />
passed a resolution … about a project of theirs?”).<br />
As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, my comment to Foust and<br />
the Redwood City City Council is: Sorry for intruding in your Redwood City<br />
redevelopment matter, but it’s our San Francisco Bay you are planning to fill.<br />
The City Council can save a lot of unnecessary administrative expense and<br />
save everyone else around the bay at lot of unnecessary grief if it just says<br />
“No” to filling the Saltworks to create a new mini city by the bay. This bad<br />
idea does not merit any further consideration.<br />
Urban development has already consumed enough shoreline around the<br />
bay. Each incremental filling may produce short-term monetary gains for<br />
developers and property-taxers, but each incremental filling reduces the total<br />
long-term value of the entire San Francisco Bay Area, which depends on the<br />
existence of a beautiful and vibrant bay. Fill the bay and you poison the goose<br />
that lays the golden eggs. The City Council should consider returning the<br />
Saltworks to wetlands.<br />
Yes, it is our business what Redwood City does to its portion of the bay,<br />
when it affects the other residents around the bay.<br />
Atlantis by the bay?<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
William Harris, Oakland<br />
Since the Redwood City City Council and their friends Cargill are hell bent<br />
on filling in the bay for profit, let us call the new sunken community Atlantis.<br />
When the water rises due to global warming, this future community will<br />
flood like Milpitas.<br />
What do you expect from a company like Cargill that produces bad hamburgers?<br />
Raymond DeMattei, San Carlos<br />
SamTrans making biking less safe<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
A gate connecting Pico Boulevard to Twin Dolphin Drive, which has<br />
for years provided important access for bicyclists and pedestrians to the<br />
Redwood Shores levee trail, has been closed by SamTrans. This gate closure<br />
disrupts bicycle traffic coming from the Whipple Avenue/Shoreway bike<br />
path into Redwood Shores. SamTrans recommends a detour out to Redwood<br />
Shores Parkway, which it claims is safer because it does not go by the yard<br />
entrance. Its suggested route is through the intersection that was recently<br />
the site of a bike fatality. While there is a marked bike path on Redwood<br />
Shores Parkway, bikers wishing to use the levee path must make two street<br />
crossings, for which there is no bike accessible signal control. I feel much<br />
safer riding on Pico than I do on Parkway. It seems to me that this action by<br />
SamTrans is making the situation less safe for bikers and is interfering with<br />
one segment of the Bay Trail bike route.<br />
Redwood City business is now Oakland’s<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
Richard Bitting, Redwood City<br />
Reference recent comments by former Redwood City Mayor Rosanne<br />
Foust directed at the Menlo Park City Council for intruding in the Cargill<br />
Saltworks redevelopment matter (e.g., “It is totally inappropriate, and I think<br />
Water mean GREAT news?<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
I was encouraged to hear that the developer of the proposed Saltworks<br />
project has identified a sustainable water source for the site. I also heard that<br />
DMB may have more water than is needed for the Saltworks and may help<br />
Redwood City with other projects. That’s great news on both fronts.<br />
I also understand that it’s atypical for a developer to bring its own water<br />
supply to such a large project. In fact, it’s unheard of in construction circles.<br />
To me, this shows the consideration DMB is bringing to Redwood City and<br />
the thoughtfulness it has for the project.<br />
I’m glad there won’t be a water issue and I’m glad DMB is putting the longterm<br />
relationship with our community first as it addresses all the issues.<br />
Let your opinion be heard!<br />
Christopher Martin, Redwood City<br />
Send your letters to letters@spectrummagazine.net or<br />
Opinions & Letters, The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862,<br />
Redwood City, CA 94064<br />
Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 words. Columns<br />
should be no longer than 750 words. Illegibly written and<br />
anonymous letters will not be accepted. Please include a daytime<br />
phone number where we can reach you.<br />
The Spectrum 11
Cultural Events<br />
The Main Gallery<br />
1018 Main St., Redwood City<br />
650-701-1018, www.themaingallery.org<br />
Wed–Fri 11–4, Sat–Sun 10–3, and by appointment<br />
The Main Gallery, an artists’ cooperative with 23 members, showcases the<br />
work of some of the best local talent in the Bay Area. The gallery is located<br />
at the corner of Main and Middlefield in the historic yellow Victorian<br />
cottage. The gallery is open Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and<br />
weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 650-701-<br />
1018 or visit www.themaingallery.org.<br />
San Mateo County History Museum<br />
2200 Broadway St., Redwood City<br />
650-299-0104<br />
www.historysmc.org<br />
Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.<br />
$2–$4; free for children 5 and under<br />
The History Museum is<br />
housed inside the historic<br />
1910 County Courthouse.<br />
Over 50,000 people visit the<br />
museum each year, and the<br />
number of local residents who<br />
hold memberships is growing.<br />
The History Museum teaches<br />
approximately 14,000 children<br />
each year through the on- and<br />
off-site programs. The museum<br />
houses the research library and<br />
archives that currently hold<br />
over 100,000 photographs, prints, books and documents collected by the San<br />
Mateo County Historical Association.<br />
Ongoing Exhibits<br />
The Great Rotunda. The stained-glass dome of the rotunda, thought to be the<br />
largest in a Pacific Coast public building, is the architectural highlight of the<br />
museum building.<br />
Courtroom A. The oldest courtroom in San Mateo County has been restored<br />
to its appearance in 1910.<br />
Nature’s Bounty. This exhibit gallery explores how the earliest people of<br />
the Peninsula used the natural resources of the area and how those resources<br />
were used to help build San Francisco after the discovery of gold in 1849.<br />
Journey to Work. This exhibit gallery shows how transportation transformed<br />
San Mateo County from a frontier to suburbs.<br />
Carriage Display. An exhibit of the museum’s 30 horse-drawn vehicles.<br />
Charles Parsons Gallery. An exhibit of the 23 historical model ships created<br />
by Charles Parsons of San Carlos.<br />
Politics, Crime and Law Enforcement. The Atkinson Meeting Room<br />
includes the Walter Moore Law Enforcement Collection of historic badges.<br />
San Mateo County History Makers: Entrepreneurs Who Changed the World.<br />
The exhibit chronicles the entrepreneurs who made San Mateo County<br />
internationally known.<br />
Land of Opportunity: The Immigrant Experience in San Mateo County.<br />
The exhibit tells the stories of the diverse people who came to the area and<br />
explores how different groups faced hardships and discrimination.<br />
Living the California Dream. The exhibit depicts the development of the<br />
suburban culture of San Mateo County.<br />
The Celtic Tiger: The Irish Economic Miracle. The exhibit explores how the<br />
Bay Area has participated in Ireland’s current economic boom.<br />
Filoli<br />
Cañada Road, Woodside<br />
650-364-8300, ext. 507<br />
www.filoli.org<br />
Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (last admission 2:30 p.m.);<br />
Sunday, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (last admission 2:30 pm)<br />
$5–$12; children under 5 free<br />
Filoli, designed by California<br />
architect Willis Polk and built in<br />
the early part of the 20th century,<br />
is one of the finest examples of<br />
country house architecture in the<br />
United States and is one of the few<br />
in California that remains intact in<br />
its original setting. Bruce Porter,<br />
with later help from Isabella Worn,<br />
laid out the 16 acres of gardens.<br />
Both guided and self-guided tours of<br />
the house and grounds are available<br />
from February through October.<br />
Guided House and Garden Tours<br />
These two-hour, docent-led tours<br />
includes both the house and the<br />
gardens. Reservations required.<br />
Self-Guided Tours<br />
No reservations required for these<br />
tours. A map is available for the<br />
self-guided tour, and volunteers are<br />
posted in both the house and the<br />
gardens to answer questions. There<br />
is also a continuous 14-minute video<br />
on the history of Filoli available in<br />
the Visitor and Education Center.<br />
Nature Hikes<br />
These hikes are available by<br />
reservation only on Saturdays at 10 a.m. The hike covers roughly three<br />
miles of trails and takes approximately two and a half hours. Nature docents<br />
describe wildlife, plants, endangered species and the historical background of<br />
the area. Visitors may not hike without a docent.<br />
Orchard Tours<br />
These tours are available on selected days throughout the open season. With<br />
a docent-led tour of the unique heirloom orchard, learn about the tradition of the<br />
gentleman’s orchard and how Filoli is conserving not only rare fruits but also<br />
this defining landscape feature of the country estate. Reservations required.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Community Interest<br />
New Elementary <strong>School</strong> Gets Name<br />
The new elementary school opening in Redwood Shores next fall may<br />
be named — drum roll, please — Redwood Shores Elementary <strong>School</strong>,<br />
a moniker meant to recognize the community that fought for the new<br />
educational facility.<br />
The Belmont–Redwood Shores <strong>School</strong> District Board of Trustees is expected<br />
to vote on a name for the new elementary school opening next fall. Voters<br />
approved a $25 million bond measure in 2005 to build a second elementary<br />
school in Redwood Shores, slated to open next fall on a 7-acre parcel among<br />
a 109-acre portion of wetlands. The Name the New <strong>School</strong> Committee<br />
has worked for some time to compile name suggestions and put forward a<br />
recommendation, which it found in Redwood Shores Elementary <strong>School</strong>.<br />
The name was one of 62 considered names. Other suggestions included<br />
Avocet <strong>School</strong>, Bird Island Elementary, Bluejay <strong>School</strong>, Don Warren<br />
Elementary, Clapper Rail, Everchanging Bay <strong>School</strong>, Gianni Antonio, Happy<br />
Elementary, Hope, Lagoon Elementary, Los Pajaros of the Shores <strong>School</strong>,<br />
Marine Elementary, Kingfisher, Larry Ellison Elementary, Pea Pod, Pelican<br />
Bay, Pete Hughes, Ruddy Duck Elementary, Sea Star Elementary, Shorebird<br />
Elementary, Snow Egret, Surfside, The Goat <strong>School</strong>, Wetlands Elementary,<br />
Willet and Whimbrel.<br />
At the same meeting, the board will study going for a potential bond<br />
measure.<br />
A number of projects — such as a new roof at Ralston Middle <strong>School</strong>,<br />
modernization at several schools, technology updates and equipment renewal,<br />
artificial turf, seismic upgrades and increased classroom space — have been<br />
discussed by the board without any funding options. The district is eligible to<br />
apply for state grants, but only if it has locally-generated matching funds.<br />
A proposed timeline for such a bond vote is on the November 2010 ballot.<br />
Sequoia Gives Grants for Special Needs, <strong>School</strong> Nurse<br />
The San Carlos <strong>School</strong> District and the city’s special needs program received<br />
emergency funds from the Sequoia Healthcare District Wednesday, keeping<br />
both afloat in the face of budget cuts.<br />
The district board of directors gave the school district $43,500 to keep a<br />
school nurse half-time for this year. The nurse serves 3,000 kindergarten to<br />
eighth-grade students on six school campuses.<br />
The district recently learned it will cost $570,000 more than expected to<br />
serve its special education students this year. Coupled with an anticipated $1<br />
million budget cut next year, the nurse position was on the chopping block<br />
until Sequoia stepped in.<br />
Sequoia, through its Caring Community Grants Program, also funds one<br />
school nurse each in the Sequoia High <strong>School</strong> District and the Redwood City<br />
<strong>School</strong> District.<br />
The San Carlos Special Needs After <strong>School</strong> Program also received $25,000<br />
to replace lost state revenue. The program serves 25 autistic, Down syndrome<br />
and other developmentally disabled children.<br />
The emergency funds slightly expand the district’s $8 million annual<br />
community health care funding budget.<br />
At the same meeting, board President Don Horsley and Director Kim<br />
Griffin also shared that a study of the coastside’s health needs is likely to<br />
conclude there isn’t enough money, support or need for a clinic to replace the<br />
now-shuttered Coastside Family Medical Clinic.<br />
A new private medical practice, the Purisima Medical Center, has helped<br />
alleviate the primary care problem, according to Horsley.<br />
Parking Fines Jump<br />
Parking scofflaws in Redwood City, be warned — the City Council hiked<br />
fines by $10 to cover state increases, bring the city more in line with the fee<br />
schedule of surrounding cities and add money to its general fund.<br />
On Jan. 1, 2009, California legislators enacted a Senate bill adding a $3<br />
surcharge to parking citations in all cities added on top of a $1.50 surcharge<br />
from 2008. The new increase is for court facilities construction.<br />
The increase means an approximately $72,000 loss to the city if it does<br />
not pass on the difference to violators. During the budget study session in<br />
October, councilmembers tentatively approved a staff recommendation<br />
to increase the fines by $10 to generate approximately $88,000 in revenue<br />
beyond the amount needed to be a wash with the state.<br />
The figure is based on the roughly 16,000 parking tickets handed out by<br />
Redwood City police in 2008–09. City officials say the ordinance was last<br />
changed in 2004, leaving the city’s fines lagging behind those of surrounding<br />
cities by a margin of $5 to $15.<br />
If the council agrees to the proposed increase, the current parking violation<br />
fine of $25 will move to $35. If, instead, the council opts for another proposed<br />
alternative of a $15 increase, the city could generate approximately $168,000<br />
in extra revenue.<br />
Bank Buys Fox Theatre<br />
The historic Fox Theatre in downtown Redwood City sold for $70,000 back<br />
to the bank that foreclosed on the property, putting into question whether the<br />
curtain will fall on the entertainment venue.<br />
Bids for the property at 2215 Broadway started at $70,000 with a maximum<br />
of $700,000. With no takers among the dozens of people gathered at the daily<br />
trust sale outside the county government center, the property returned to the<br />
beneficiary. The sale means lender Coast Capital Income Fund absorbs the<br />
substantial difference — the amount owed on the loan is close to $1.3 million<br />
— and now decides what to do with the theater.<br />
The theater’s next act happened amid a record number of properties up for<br />
auction. Following the holiday weekend, 158 parcels were up for grabs. A<br />
number, however, were postponed for reasons including mutual agreements<br />
between the banks and owners — the same reason the Fox Theatre’s public<br />
auction was delayed three times before Monday’s final sale.<br />
An hour into the process, PLM Lender Services, which handled the<br />
foreclosure sale, said there was little information about the scheduled auction,<br />
a sign they said of possible last-minute negotiations. But by mid-afternoon,<br />
the property was called and within minutes sold without any bids.<br />
The crowd was large compared to the handful that usually gather on<br />
Marshall Street, according to the regulars hoping to scoop up properties. The<br />
scheduled sale of the Fox obviously drew the curious, even if it didn’t draw<br />
checks.<br />
The theater’s net value is $2.39 million, according to the San Mateo County<br />
Assessor’s Office.<br />
Although it was sold for such a lesser amount, the Assessor’s Office could<br />
still send its own appraiser rather than use the sale price as the starting point<br />
for property tax assessment.<br />
The theater’s financial problems first came to light in September, as owners<br />
John Anagnostou and Michael Monte neared the three-month deadlines for<br />
notices of default filed during the summer. Even as the theater foreclosed and<br />
the auctions were scheduled, the owners publicly said they wished to retain it,<br />
and the multiple postponements pointed to attempts of staving off the sale of<br />
it and an adjacent parking lot.<br />
According to the notices of default filed with the Assessor’s Office,<br />
Anagnostou and Monte owe $62,795.72 on a $1.175 million note to Coast<br />
Capital Income Fund as of June 25. Monte and Anagnostou’s father, George,<br />
also owed $110,712.46 in past due payments, interest and fees as of July 24 to<br />
Palo Alto Players–Peninsula Center Stage.<br />
PAP filed a notice of rescission just before the last scrapped public auction<br />
after it was paid the past due installments, default interest, penalties and<br />
other costs to make the note current, according to Executive Director Peter<br />
Bliznick.<br />
PAP is the senior lien holder but filed its default notice second.<br />
Alongside the mortgage payments, the Fox Theatre was also nearly<br />
$30,000 behind in property taxes until recently.<br />
The art deco theater seats 1,400 and includes a bar and concession area.<br />
The property also includes the Little Fox nightclub next door. When the<br />
theater reopened, the city expected it to draw crowds downtown and to the<br />
newly spruced up Courthouse Square across the street.<br />
After the foreclosure, Redwood City officials fueled speculation about<br />
possibly purchasing the theater by discussing it in a closed session of the City<br />
Council but no plans were made to make an offer.<br />
The Spectrum 13
Shop Redwood City: In the New Year, Shop Redwood City!<br />
Check out our Best of the Best selections below. Shouldn’t you make the commitment to shopping locally?<br />
When you are out shopping, dining or enjoying some entertainment, you will benefit because your sales tax dollars<br />
stay local and help us all. These businesses not only provide excellent service but also contribute to our community.<br />
Auto Care:<br />
Redwood General Tire – 1630 Broadway – Redwood General Tire was<br />
founded on the principles of good customer service and quality products at<br />
fair prices. Whether you are looking for a new set of tires or need repair work<br />
on your vehicle, this Redwood City institution has been providing quality<br />
vehicle services since 1957. They even<br />
have free Wi-Fi Internet hookups so<br />
you can work while you wait for your<br />
vehicle to be serviced.<br />
Eating and Catering:<br />
Canyon Inn – 587 Canyon Road<br />
– “The Canyon Inn has had the same<br />
owner for over two decades and every<br />
year it just keeps getting better. They<br />
serve everything from their famous<br />
hamburgers to pizzas, all kinds of<br />
sandwiches and pastas, and they even<br />
have a South of the Border menu!<br />
There’s a Sunday breakfast buffet<br />
from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with NFL Ticket<br />
games on the big flat-screen TVs. Don’t forget to reserve their closed patio for<br />
your next party — it has heaters, fans and a big-screen TV (no extra charges).”<br />
Deseo Tequila Lounge and Restaurant – 851 Main St. – “We went there<br />
and it was fabulous! My friends were very impressed by their food menu,<br />
and I have to say the burger I had was tasty. They also have 21 big-screen<br />
televisions to view sporting events and more. I am so happy that Redwood<br />
City finally has such an upscale place for watching your favorite sports team,<br />
having a drink with friends or dancing the night away.”<br />
Little India – 917 Main St. – “There are good restaurants. There are bad<br />
restaurants. There are okay restaurants. Then there are those places, the<br />
magic ones. You come back again and again because the food doesn’t just<br />
taste good and satisfy hunger, but helps heal the heart and soul.” Senior<br />
citizens receive $1 off and children under 12 dine at half price. www.<br />
littleindiacuisine.com.<br />
Financial Institutions:<br />
San Mateo Credit Union – Three Redwood City locations – SMCU is<br />
member-driven and does everything possible to ensure that all of your<br />
financial priorities are anticipated and fulfilled. Offerings include free autoshopping<br />
assistance, members-only car sales, low-rate home loans and lines<br />
of credit. Call 650-363-1725 or 888-363-1725 or visit a branch for additional<br />
information.<br />
Home Improvements:<br />
Lewis Carpet Cleaners – 1-800-23-LEWIS – Founded in 1985, Lewis<br />
Carpet Cleaners has grown from one small, portable machine to a company<br />
of six employees and five working vans. The Lewis family works and lives<br />
in Redwood City and is committed to our community. Ask about their<br />
Spectrum special: Get 100 square feet of carpet cleaned for free.<br />
Legal Services:<br />
Hannig Law Firm – 2991 El Camino Real – Hannig Law Firm LLP provides<br />
transactional and litigation expertise in a variety of areas. The professionals<br />
at HLF are committed to knowing and meeting their clients’ needs through<br />
long-term relationships and value-added services, and to supporting and<br />
participating in the communities where they live and work.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net<br />
Personal Improvement:<br />
Business Profile of the Month<br />
Every Woman Health Club – 611 Jefferson Ave. – This womenonly,<br />
body-positive fitness center in downtown Redwood City<br />
offers a variety of classes, strength and cardio equipment,<br />
personal training and spa services. One of the best things about<br />
the club is their flexible pricing, with several options available<br />
for members and nonmembers alike. There is not a better way<br />
to begin the new year than by focusing on you. At Every Woman<br />
Health Club, they want every woman to feel strong from the<br />
inside out. Visit www.everywomanhealthclub.com or call 650-<br />
364-9194 to get started.<br />
Re:Juvenate Skincare Clinic – 1100 Laurel St., Suite F, San Carlos –<br />
Whether you are seeing a Re:Juvenate clinician for acne, sun damage, skin<br />
tightening, wrinkle reduction or laser hair removal, the process starts with a<br />
complimentary consultation with a member of the aesthetic staff. Call 650-<br />
631-5700 and mention The Spectrum<br />
Magazine. Perfect timing for a fresh<br />
look for the new year.<br />
Specialty Businesses:<br />
Bizzarro’s Auto Auction – 2581<br />
Spring St. – Services include auto<br />
auctions, consignment vehicle sales,<br />
appraisal services and even ways<br />
to donate your vehicle to charities.<br />
Increase your fundraising efforts with<br />
a live auction — Bizzarro’s is your<br />
one-stop auction team with spotters,<br />
clerks, sample catalogs, bid numbers,<br />
etc. Call 650-363-8055 for details on<br />
all of their services.<br />
Castle Insurance – 643 Bair Island Road, #104 – Castle Insurance<br />
is an independent insurance agency representing a carefully selected<br />
group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies. Visit www.<br />
insurancebycastle.com or call 650-364-3664 for a free quote.<br />
Terry Finn and Madonna’s Bail Bonds – 234 Marshall St., Upstairs<br />
#3, 650-366-9111 – Finn and Madonna’s provide bail bonds to any court<br />
jurisdiction, jail or police agency in California and in many other states.<br />
Interested parties representing incarcerated subjects are encouraged to<br />
contact the licensed bail agent on duty at the above office for immediate bail<br />
bond assistance.<br />
Michelle Glaubert, Realtor at Coldwell Banker – 650-722-1193 – Michelle<br />
doesn’t want to be one of the real estate agents that pass through your life;<br />
she wants to be the only Realtor in your life! “People like my honesty and<br />
my follow-through,” says Michelle. “They know they can count on me and I<br />
absolutely refuse to let them down.” Visit her online at www.glaubert.com.<br />
Saf Keep Storage – 2480 Middlefield Road – At Saf Keep, you and your<br />
belongings are safe and secure. A friendly and reliable team is ready to assist<br />
you with a variety of storage products and services to suit all your storage<br />
needs. Visit www.safkeepstorage.com to see exactly what products and<br />
services are available.<br />
Schoenstein Physical Therapy – 363A Main St., 650-599-9482 – The<br />
clinical approach of this independent, community-based practice focuses<br />
on thorough physical therapy assessment, specific treatment strategies and<br />
patient education. Individualized treatment programs are designed to help<br />
meet patient goals of restoring function, returning to sport or occupation and<br />
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.<br />
St. Regal Jewelers – 850 Main St. – As you begin your holiday shopping,<br />
listen to what customers are saying about this fine downtown jewelry store:<br />
“This is a great jeweler! Phil, the owner, is amazing. He crafted a ring on time<br />
and on budget. He has an incredible eye for detail. I can’t say enough. I would<br />
never go anywhere else.”
Parties Around Town Tribute to Diane Howard and Jim Hartnett. Monday, Dec. 8<br />
Left to right, from top: Former mayors Jeff Ira, Dick Claire and Jim Hartnett (top) and Georgi LaBerge, Diane Howard, Barbara Pierce and Rosanne Foust (bottom). Business<br />
owners Frank and Liza Bizzarro join the celebration. Assemblymen Jerry Hill and Ira Ruskin. City Clerk Silvia Vonderlinden, working as usual. The City Hall foyer is full to honor<br />
Hartnett and Howard.<br />
587 Canyon Road<br />
Redwood City<br />
(650) 369-1646<br />
www.canyoninn.com<br />
Est. 1973<br />
Proud Chamber of Commerce member<br />
Try our Hacksaw and Guacamole Burgers!<br />
◊ Full Menu – Hamburgers,<br />
Sandwiches, Salads, Soups,<br />
Daily Homemade Specials<br />
and much, much more!<br />
◊ Kids Menus ◊<br />
◊ Name that Sandwich or Burger<br />
– Don’t see what you want on our<br />
menu? Don’t worry, you can ask at<br />
the counter and we will make it!<br />
◊ WiFi available ◊<br />
◊ Patio Area Available for Kids’<br />
Birthday Parties/Team Parties/<br />
Adult Special Events!<br />
◊ Flat screen/HD, baseball<br />
package - we get any game!<br />
Head to the hills - Emerald Hills<br />
Celebrate with us!<br />
It’s our<br />
36th Year!<br />
From our family to yours.<br />
Drop by and say “hi!”<br />
10% Discount<br />
with this ad<br />
Hamburgers voted best by<br />
Sequoia High <strong>School</strong> Baseball Team!<br />
Pizza:<br />
Choose your own toppings<br />
or<br />
make your own sandwich/hamburger.<br />
Thursday Nite SPECIALS:<br />
could be Prime Rib, but always<br />
something special. Call for details!<br />
Sundays are special at Canyon Inn:<br />
SPECIAL BREAKFAST BUFFET<br />
9:00 A.M. ‘til 1:00 P.M.<br />
GIVE MOM and DAD A BREAK and<br />
BRING THEM TO OUR HOME<br />
ON THE HILL!<br />
The Spectrum 15
<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong> at <strong>125</strong>:<br />
Looking Back and Looking Ahead<br />
By Judy Buchan, Contributing Writer<br />
Built in 1932, the stately, Spanish mission–style building at<br />
Katherine Avenue and Grand Street has just about seen it all:<br />
The Great Depression and the financial meltdown of recent<br />
years, wars and rumors of wars, the struggle for civil rights of<br />
the last century as played out on television and the struggle for<br />
freedom today on the streets of Tehran and on Twitter.<br />
Yet Our Lady of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong>, now<br />
in its <strong>125</strong>th year of educating the youth of our<br />
community, is even more deeply woven into the<br />
tapestry of Redwood City.<br />
The school’s history actually started long before<br />
1932. In the summer of 1885, the Rev. Michael<br />
Riordan invited four Sisters of Notre Dame de<br />
Namur to be the first teachers of the new school<br />
at Brewster Avenue and El Camino Real. More<br />
than 50 students arrived on a warm August day to<br />
start school, having endured a short delay because<br />
school desks had not arrived.<br />
As was much of Redwood City, <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> was damaged during the 1906 earthquake.<br />
The community wanted <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> to rise<br />
from the ashes of the earthquake, and the sisters<br />
subsequently returned to help make that happen.<br />
While the Great Depression held the nation in<br />
its grasp, Redwood City moved forward with the<br />
construction of the school’s permanent home.<br />
Community-wide celebrations and a parade<br />
through downtown marked the opening of the<br />
new school. The gymnasium served as the church<br />
until 1956, when the current sanctuary was<br />
completed.<br />
“Here at Our Lady of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> we will<br />
continue to do what we have always done as a<br />
parish to work together — church and school —<br />
to love God, love one another and share the love<br />
of Jesus Christ with our greater community,” said<br />
the Rev. John Balleza, pastor of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>.<br />
“By offering our children excellence in academics<br />
and faith,” he continued, “we are sharing the<br />
Lord’s loving embrace as Jesus ‘blessed them,<br />
placing his hands on them.’ (Mark 10:15)”<br />
Graduates have gone on to become doctors,<br />
lawyers, priests, nuns, authors, teachers,<br />
homemakers and government leaders. They also<br />
have many fond memories of their years at the<br />
school.<br />
Barbara Britschgi (class of 1950) remembers:<br />
“‘In a fertile valley nestling beneath the<br />
great Sequoia shade, there’s a treasure house of<br />
knowledge where character is made.’ This is the<br />
beginning of our <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> school song,<br />
which holds true for all of our family — for<br />
Brent and I (Barbara Decia), for Susan, Steve and<br />
Mark, for Spencer and Jake, our grandchildren,<br />
and for scores of others in our family past and<br />
present — for truly it is our family’s school! It<br />
was here when our lives together began. This<br />
is where Brent and I met. We were childhood<br />
sweethearts; Brent was in the eighth grade and<br />
I was in the seventh in 1949. We would meet at<br />
the Sequoia theater (now called the Fox) with all<br />
our friends, and he and I would sit together. That<br />
was considered dating at that time. In 1957, we<br />
were married at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> Church, with my<br />
classmate from <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> being my maid<br />
of honor and Brent’s <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> classmate a<br />
groomsman. Our altar boys were Dennis Royer<br />
and Eddie Scott, then <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> students<br />
and today prominent Redwood City residents. I<br />
taught preschool for 10 years at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>.<br />
We can safely say <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> did produce the<br />
character that all the Britschgi family shares with<br />
the Redwood City community. As the song ends,<br />
‘And we vow our true allegiance to our school<br />
of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>,’ we do. We are very grateful<br />
for the education and training we received there.<br />
<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> has been the foundation of our<br />
lives.”<br />
Jean Harrison (class of 1946) agrees:<br />
“I have many happy memories from my eight<br />
years at Our Lady of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
However, I am most grateful to the Sisters of<br />
Notre Dame de Namur for instilling in the student<br />
the ability to think independently, to set a goal<br />
and to strive to achieve it.”<br />
Former Mayor and Councilmember Jim Hartnett<br />
continued the family tradition at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>:<br />
“My mom (Rosemary Royer Hartnett), aunt<br />
(Barb Royer Greenalch), uncle (Bill Royer, class<br />
of 1921) and my brother<br />
Don and sister Kathy all<br />
attended <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>.<br />
Also, many cousins<br />
from both the Hartnett<br />
and Royer side of the<br />
family attended as well.<br />
My grandmother (my<br />
mother’s mom) worked<br />
in the <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong><br />
cafeteria for a number of<br />
years, and my uncle Bill<br />
coached <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong><br />
basketball and baseball<br />
teams for many years.<br />
“I graduated from<br />
<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> in 1964.<br />
I was not a very good<br />
student but I certainly<br />
loved playing on the<br />
basketball and baseball<br />
teams, especially when we<br />
could beat our archrival,<br />
St. Pius (which unfortunately was not that often<br />
at the time). Having grown up living across the<br />
street from the school/church and having the<br />
family history, I always have felt and will always<br />
feel a special connection to <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>.<br />
Enduring values were instilled in me through a<br />
combination of the Catholic education as well as<br />
the life of the <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> Parish. One of the<br />
things I really learned about was volunteerism<br />
and giving of one’s time from my parents at that<br />
time, as they volunteered in school and church<br />
activities and groups all the time. I am sure their<br />
example in the many church and school activities<br />
they volunteered for very much helped form me<br />
and what I have become.”<br />
<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> students are consistently taught<br />
that they are part of a larger community and<br />
that they are called to serve those around them.<br />
The school has a year-round community service<br />
program that is a vital part of students’ education.<br />
Students are active participants in the Our Lady<br />
of <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong> Community Outreach<br />
Program, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and<br />
Catholic Charities of San Mateo County. In<br />
1999, the school received a grant from Citizens’<br />
Scholarship Foundation of America (now<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
called Scholarship America) in recognition of<br />
community involvement.<br />
According to former Councilmember Paul<br />
Sanfilipo, also a <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> graduate,<br />
responsibility and participation were key elements<br />
of his education at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>:<br />
“I believe some of the best education,<br />
inspiration and discipline was received by many<br />
students and still is today. Students were told by<br />
their parents, ‘You are there to learn, so listen to<br />
the teachers (nuns when I was there), and try to<br />
do the best you can in all subjects.’ We stayed in<br />
the same classroom all day with the same nun<br />
teaching the same 45 kids (talk about class size<br />
wasn’t a problem then). We also were taught to<br />
respect one another in the classroom and on the<br />
playground. Parents and teachers worked together<br />
to educate and raise the school kids, not only<br />
during school hours but after school. The baseball<br />
and basketball teams were fun to be on, even<br />
if you weren’t a starter, such as myself, but the<br />
experience of being on a team and teamwork was<br />
what it was about. Of course, it was nice to play<br />
and win games. However, there were always the<br />
St. Pius teams that always seemed hard to beat.<br />
Can’t remember if we ever did.<br />
“One thing that I remember was being an altar<br />
boy learning Latin for the Mass. Back then girls<br />
were not allow to serve. Marching into class<br />
each morning after saying a prayer outside in the<br />
schoolyard, and all the kids that went to McKinley<br />
would walk by and stare at us from outside the<br />
fence. When you would answer a question in<br />
class, you would have to stand up first, then<br />
answer the question. Also, our report cards were<br />
handed to us from Monsignor Munier, and that<br />
was always nerve-racking because if your grades<br />
weren’t too good he would roll his eyes, look at<br />
you and wonder. Then with all his encouragement<br />
say to you, ‘Try hard next time.’ All in all, it was<br />
good and I’m glad I had the opportunity to attend<br />
<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> for eight years as I made lasting<br />
friends and good memories.”<br />
Recent grad Edwin Garcia, class of 2009, now<br />
a freshman at Junipero Serra High <strong>School</strong>, is<br />
grateful for his time at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>:<br />
“<strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong> was and always will<br />
have a huge meaning in my life. The staff,<br />
learning environment and the dedication to faith<br />
molded me into a young man ready for the next<br />
stage of education. Every decision made in or<br />
for your life will count one way or another, some<br />
affecting your life minimally and others in major<br />
ways, but I’m positive that my parents made the<br />
right choice in enrolling me at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>.<br />
By expanding my faith here, I truly learned that<br />
nothing is impossible. In my heart, I will always<br />
be a padre.”<br />
Above left: Teresa Anthony and Rev. John Balleza in front of the school.<br />
Above right: Alumni members Jim Hartnett, Barbara and Brent Britschgi, Paul Sanfilipo and Paula Uccelli.<br />
Manuel and Teresa Garcia, parents to Edwin,<br />
Jonathan (in sixth grade), Brandon (fourth grade)<br />
and Elena (first grade), are proud of being part of<br />
the <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> family. Manuel said, “I take<br />
so much pride in all of my four children’s work,<br />
and I do so because I know that they achieve<br />
such feats with the help of all the staff members<br />
at <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> <strong>School</strong>. … I was not surprised<br />
that [my oldest son] transformed into a wonderful<br />
kid during his years here, due to the persistent<br />
teachings of the importance of faith, schoolwork<br />
and friendship. I can already predict that my other<br />
children will turn out be respectful kids, and my<br />
wife and I had no doubts in our minds when we<br />
decided to send our kids to <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>.”<br />
So a <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong> education seems to have a<br />
lasting effect. Principal Teresa Anthony said, “As<br />
we begin our <strong>125</strong>th year of providing academic<br />
excellence, we have a renewed spirit to continue<br />
our mission of providing the children of this<br />
community an educational environment which<br />
promotes their spiritual formation and strengthens<br />
their social conscience.”<br />
This <strong>125</strong>th-anniversary year includes many<br />
activities to which the community is invited.<br />
Jan. 20: Redwood City–San Mateo County<br />
Chamber of Commerce Mixer<br />
Jan. 31: CSW Mass with Archbishop Niederauer<br />
April 29, May 1–2: Annual Festival<br />
June 4: <strong>125</strong>th graduating class<br />
July: Fourth of July parade<br />
Aug. 13–15: All-Year Reunion Weekend<br />
October: Blue and Gold <strong>125</strong>th-Anniversary<br />
Ball and Auction Fundraiser<br />
So, happy birthday, <strong>Mount</strong> <strong>Carmel</strong>, and may there<br />
be many more birthdays to come!<br />
The Spectrum 17
Parties Around Town Downtown Business Group Holiday Party. Tuesday, Dec. 1<br />
Left to right, from top: Miss San Mateo County Anna Lisa Matias and an admirer. Councilman John Seybert and Sobers Rajakumar of First National Bank. Newly elected<br />
Councilman John Seybert. Frank Bartaldo having fun. Diane Rummel of the San Mateo County History Museum and her husband. DBG President Nancy Radcliffe and Phil<br />
Bucher of St. Regal Jewelers.<br />
CITY OF REDWOOD CITY HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN PROGRAM<br />
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Apply Today for a 3 % Low-Interest Home Improvement Loan.<br />
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AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS AND LANDLORDS<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Donate Your Vehicle<br />
650-363-2423<br />
Proceeds support Kainos Home & Training Center<br />
Providing quality residential, vocational and support services to developmentally<br />
disabled adults, enabling them to become active, contributing members of the<br />
community.<br />
Maximum Tax Deductions – We handle paperwork<br />
The Spectrum 19
Nonprofits in Action<br />
Advocates for Children<br />
Advocates for Children, CASA of San Mateo<br />
County, is actively seeking caring and consistent<br />
adults to mentor and speak up for the best<br />
interests of these children. Over 130 children are<br />
waiting for someone who cares.<br />
If you would like to become a volunteer<br />
advocate, or just want to learn more, please attend<br />
an orientation held in their San Mateo office. Visit<br />
their Web site (www.AdvocatesFC.org) or call<br />
650-212-4423 for more information.<br />
City Talk Toastmasters<br />
Join the City Talk Toastmasters to develop<br />
communication and leadership skills. The club<br />
meets Wednesdays 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Council<br />
Chambers at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road.<br />
Call Manny Rosas at 650-780-7468 if you would<br />
like to check out a meeting, or just stop in. Visit<br />
www.toastmasters.org for more information about<br />
the Toastmasters public speaking program.<br />
CityTrees<br />
CityTrees is a nonprofit working with the Public<br />
Works Department to enhance and care for<br />
Redwood City’s urban forest. They usually plant<br />
or prune on the third Saturday of each month.<br />
Check their Web site (www.citytrees.org) for a<br />
listing of events, dates and how to join.<br />
Family Connections<br />
This nonprofit group is the only parentparticipation<br />
preschool in San Mateo County<br />
focusing on low-income families. Their Redwood<br />
City classrooms offer children through age 5 and<br />
their parents a tuition-free learning environment<br />
that’s supportive and fun. Family Connections<br />
parents stay involved in their children’s education<br />
and, as a result, their children are more prepared<br />
for kindergarten and beyond. They are always<br />
looking for volunteers to play with the children<br />
while moms and dads attend parent-ed classes,<br />
organizers to help coordinate fundraisers,<br />
and people from the business world to initiate<br />
new corporate partnerships. Check www.<br />
familyconnections.org for more information.<br />
Family Service Agency of San<br />
Mateo County<br />
Looking for a dependable source of skilled,<br />
reliable workers? Family Service Agency of San<br />
Mateo County provides employers with mature,<br />
ready-to-work, experienced workers who are 55<br />
years and older. Employers contact the service<br />
because they appreciate the superior work ethic<br />
and the commitment to quality that mature<br />
workers possess. There are no fees for hiring<br />
candidates. Contact Barbara Clipper at 650-403-<br />
4300, ext. 4368, to place your job order.<br />
For those who are looking for work and are<br />
at least 55 years of age, Family Service Agency<br />
provides a range of services, including referrals<br />
for classroom training, vocational counseling,<br />
job referrals and on-the-job training for qualified<br />
participants. Contact Connie Tilles at 650-403-<br />
4300, ext. 4371, if you are looking for work.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net<br />
Friends for Youth<br />
Do you like to play video games, shoot hoops,<br />
watch baseball games or just have fun? Then<br />
you have what it takes to be a mentor! As a<br />
mentor, you can hang out with a young person<br />
like Reggie. He’s a 12-year-old who loves pizza,<br />
baseball and cars. He lives with his grandmother<br />
and three sisters and would love to hang out with<br />
a guy and have fun. There are 30 boys like Reggie<br />
waiting to be matched with a mentor like you.<br />
Most of the boys wait more than a year to meet<br />
their mentors.<br />
If you are interested in becoming a mentor,<br />
you are invited to attend a one-hour information<br />
session in Redwood City. For upcoming<br />
sessions, call 650-482-2871 or e-mail mentor@<br />
friendsforyouth.org.<br />
Funders Bookstore<br />
If you haven’t wandered into the Funders<br />
Bookstore, you have missed one of Redwood<br />
City’s hidden treasures. This project is a<br />
volunteer effort by a group of dedicated people<br />
interested in supporting the San Mateo County<br />
History Museum and simultaneously providing a<br />
community bookstore for everyone’s pleasure. A<br />
large collection of hardback first editions, trade<br />
paperbacks, children’s books, cookbooks and<br />
an entire room of $1 paperbacks are featured.<br />
Bookstore hours are Tuesday through Saturday,<br />
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is on the lower level of the<br />
San Mateo County History Museum at 2200<br />
Broadway, with the entrance facing Hamilton<br />
Street. Stop by for a browse!<br />
Habitat for Humanity<br />
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit<br />
organization that seeks to eliminate poverty<br />
housing and homelessness from the world, and<br />
to make decent shelter a matter of conscience<br />
and action. Locally, the Greater San Francisco<br />
affiliate partners with working families and the<br />
community to build affordable ownership homes<br />
in Redwood City. Formed through the merger of<br />
Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for<br />
Humanity San Francisco in August 2008, Habitat<br />
for Humanity Greater San Francisco provides a<br />
unique solution to the local housing crisis and<br />
has enabled nearly 150 families to purchase<br />
affordable housing. Contact Jennifer Doettling,<br />
communications director, at 650-568-7335 or<br />
jdoettling@habitatgsf.org. Visit their Web site at<br />
www.habitatgsf.org.<br />
Hearing Loss Association of the<br />
Peninsula<br />
Hearing Loss Association is a volunteer,<br />
international organization of hard-of-hearing<br />
people and their relatives and friends. The<br />
nonprofit, nonsectarian, educational organization<br />
is devoted to the welfare and interests of those<br />
who cannot hear well but are committed to<br />
participating in the hearing world.<br />
A day meeting is held on the first Monday of<br />
the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial<br />
Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave. Educational<br />
speakers and refreshments are provided. A<br />
demonstration of assistive devices is held on<br />
the first Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m.<br />
in the second-floor conference room at the<br />
Redwood City Public Library, 1044 Middlefield<br />
Road. Please call Marj at 650-593-6760 with any<br />
questions.<br />
Nursing Mothers Counsel<br />
Nursing Mothers Counsel, a nonprofit<br />
organization since 1955, provides free<br />
breastfeeding education and assistance by highly<br />
trained counselors (moms who breastfed for at<br />
least six months). To speak with a counselor (no<br />
fee), call 650-327-MILK (327-6455).<br />
NMC also has breast pumps and breastfeeding<br />
supplies available for purchase and rent. Call<br />
650-364-9579. If you’d like to become a trained<br />
counselor, call 650-365-2713. Visit their Web site<br />
at www.nursingmothers.org.<br />
Optimist Club of Redwood City<br />
Optimist International is one of the largest service<br />
organizations in the world, where “bringing out<br />
the best in kids” has been their mission for over<br />
80 years.<br />
The Optimist Club of Redwood City meets<br />
every Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Alana’s Cafe, 1020<br />
Main St. For information, visit www.optimist.<br />
org or call President Ed Rosen at 650-366-7589 or<br />
Membership Chair John Butterfield at 650-366-<br />
8803. Or just come join them for lunch to learn<br />
more about how you can make a difference to the<br />
youth in our community.<br />
Peninsula Hills Women’s Club<br />
Founded in 1960, Peninsula Hills Women’s Club,<br />
a member of the General Federation of Women’s<br />
Clubs and the California Federation of Women’s<br />
Clubs, is a philanthropic organization serving the<br />
community through charitable, educational and<br />
service programs. Meetings are held the third<br />
Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. For additional<br />
information, contact PHWC, P.O. Box 1394,<br />
Redwood City, CA 94064.<br />
Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA<br />
In addition to sheltering and finding new homes<br />
for stray and unwanted animals (100 percent<br />
placement for healthy dogs and cats since 2003!),<br />
PHS/SPCA has vital programs for people. The<br />
shelter drives its mobile spay/neuter clinic into<br />
low-income neighborhoods, offering owners free<br />
“fixes” for their pets. PHS/SPCA also provides<br />
a free animal behavior help line in English and<br />
Spanish. Call 650-340-7022, ext. 783 or 786.<br />
And domestic abuse victims who wish to leave<br />
their abusive situation but are fearful of doing<br />
so because they have pets can receive temporary<br />
sheltering for their pets through PHS/SPCA. Call<br />
650-340-7022, ext. 330.<br />
(continues on page 22)
Shop now for Valentine’s Day!<br />
The Spectrum Mag AD 4/2/08 4:23 PM Page 1<br />
Thank You<br />
for Supporting the<br />
Uccelli Family<br />
Through the <strong>Years</strong><br />
We urge you to contribute<br />
and support our local<br />
non-profits who do<br />
outstanding work in<br />
our community.<br />
Peter and Paula Uccelli Foundation<br />
650-366-0922<br />
The Spectrum 21
Nonprofits in Action (Continued from p20)<br />
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club<br />
The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered<br />
in April 1988. In the years since that time, the<br />
club has met weekly at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and<br />
to hear a speaker at the Waterfront Restaurant at<br />
Pete’s Harbor in Redwood City. The club, with<br />
22 members, has frequently been honored as an<br />
outstanding small club by Rotary District 5150,<br />
which includes San Mateo, San Francisco and part<br />
of Marin counties. For more information or to<br />
join, call Brandy Navarro at 650-367-9394.<br />
Rebuilding Together Peninsula<br />
RTP is a Redwood City nonprofit that provides<br />
free home repair and renovations for lowincome<br />
families, seniors and people living with<br />
disabilities throughout the Peninsula. RTP’s<br />
mission is to promote independent living in safety<br />
and warmth through volunteer partnerships<br />
with individuals and groups in the community.<br />
RTP is currently seeking skilled volunteers and<br />
construction captains for its annual National<br />
Rebuilding Day, when thousands of volunteers<br />
and sponsors unite to rehabilitate the homes and<br />
community facilities of our low-income neighbors<br />
and revitalize communities across the Peninsula.<br />
Come see how one day of your time can make a<br />
difference in someone’s life. If you are interested<br />
in volunteering, call 650-366-6597. For more<br />
information, visit rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.<br />
org.<br />
Redwood City Art Center<br />
The Redwood City Art Center promotes<br />
creativity and community by providing art<br />
education, exhibitions, studio space for artists<br />
and outreach to the local community and schools.<br />
The Art Center has been involved with several<br />
local events, offering fun, creative art projects<br />
for children, and the center hopes this is just<br />
the beginning of their involvement with the<br />
community.<br />
For scheduling or donation, contact artreach@<br />
redwoodcityartcenter.org. For more general<br />
information, visit www.redwoodcityartcenter.org<br />
or call 650-369-1823. Or visit in person at 2625<br />
Broadway, Redwood City.<br />
Redwood City Eagles #418<br />
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international<br />
nonprofit united in the spirit of liberty, truth,<br />
justice and equality. They support our police,<br />
firefighters and others who protect and serve. The<br />
Eagles have provided support for medical centers<br />
across the country to build and provide research<br />
on medical conditions including heart disease,<br />
cancer, spinal cord injuries, kidney disease,<br />
diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. They raise<br />
millions of dollars every year to help handicapped<br />
kids, uplift the aged and make life a little brighter<br />
for everyone.<br />
They meet on the second Tuesday of each<br />
month at the Eagles Hall, 1575 Marshall St., at 6<br />
p.m. for a social hour and dinner meeting. They<br />
play cards on the third Thursday and would love<br />
to have you join them. For more information,<br />
call President Ryan Herbst at 408-489-6582 or<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net<br />
Secretary David Tomatis at 650-575-3225, or<br />
check out their Web site at www.foe418.org.<br />
Redwood City Education<br />
Foundation<br />
The Redwood City Education Foundation is an<br />
all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated<br />
to providing students in the Redwood City<br />
<strong>School</strong> District with a strong education that lays<br />
the foundation for future success. They raise<br />
private money to provide enrichment programs<br />
to all students in the district. Their funding is<br />
focused on academic achievement, music and<br />
art, and health and wellness. They are currently<br />
seeking new board members. Board members<br />
are responsible for attending monthly meetings,<br />
chairing board committees, participating<br />
in fundraising and outreach activities, and<br />
promoting RCEF in the community. If you are<br />
interested in the possibility of serving on the<br />
board, please contact Adam Borison at 650-363-<br />
7271 or vp@rcef.org. For more information on<br />
RCEF, check out www.rcef.org.<br />
Redwood City Rotary<br />
Redwood City Rotary performs many service<br />
projects, provides college scholarships and<br />
donates to international relief efforts. The club<br />
meets in a spirit of good fellowship and fun<br />
each Tuesday at 12:15 at the Sequoia Club, 1695<br />
Broadway, to hear speakers and plan community<br />
benefits, including the annual July 4 raffle that<br />
raises $80,000 for 12 local charities. For more<br />
information about joining, contact Dr. Paul R.<br />
Piccione at drpaul@woodsidewellnesscenter.com<br />
or 650-703-5957, or visit www.redwoodcityrotary.<br />
org.<br />
Redwood City Seniors Softball Club<br />
These recreational and tournament-level senior<br />
men and women play slow-pitch softball all year<br />
long. Membership is open to anyone at least 50<br />
years old within the calendar year. Many of the<br />
players are in their 60s and 70s and still going<br />
strong. Club members play every Tuesday,<br />
Wednesday and Thursday morning at Griffin<br />
Field at Red Morton Community Park. For more<br />
information or to join the club, contact Joe Kirby<br />
at 650-366-5299 or joekirbyis@comcast.net<br />
(include “Senior Softball Club” in the subject<br />
line).<br />
Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club<br />
This group is small but has a growing<br />
membership. All members either live or work<br />
in our community and share a common goal of<br />
making our city a better place to live. This club<br />
is one of over 44,000 Lions Clubs in 199 nations.<br />
Chartered in 1966, the club has been vigorously<br />
active helping eyesight-impaired youth in our<br />
schools and seniors who are hearing-impaired.<br />
Join them for breakfast! The Lions meet every<br />
Wednesday at Bob’s Court House Coffee Shop,<br />
2198 Broadway, beginning at 7:15 a.m. Call Bill<br />
Gibbons at 650-766-8105 for more details.<br />
Redwood City Women’s Club<br />
Founded in 1909 as a member of the General<br />
Federation of Women’s Clubs and the California<br />
Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Redwood City<br />
Women’s Club will celebrate its centennial in<br />
September. The club meets the first Thursday<br />
of each month, September through June, at the<br />
clubhouse at 149 Clinton St., Redwood City.<br />
Social at 11 a.m., lunch at noon, followed by a<br />
meeting and program. For information, call 650-<br />
363-1266 or visit the group’s Web site at rwcwc.<br />
com.<br />
Sequoia High <strong>School</strong> Alumni<br />
Association<br />
The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each<br />
month at the Sequoia District Board Room, 480<br />
James Ave., at 7 p.m. All alumni and friends<br />
of Sequoia are welcome to attend. For more<br />
information call Nancy at 650-592-5822, visit the<br />
Web site at sequoiahsalumniassoc.org or e-mail<br />
sequoiaalumni@earthlink.net.<br />
Sequoia High <strong>School</strong> Education<br />
Foundation<br />
The Sequoia High <strong>School</strong> Education Foundation<br />
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving<br />
the high school experience for all students.<br />
Their mission is to support student success by<br />
investing in projects and programs that will have<br />
a substantial impact on the school community.<br />
If you applaud and appreciate Sequoia’s rise<br />
to academic prominence, consider a financial<br />
contribution that will guarantee the continuation<br />
of the programs and resources that have made<br />
Sequoia a winning school. For more information,<br />
go to www.sequoiahs.org.<br />
Sequoia Stamp Club<br />
This club was established in 1947 and invites<br />
community members to visit. The club meets<br />
at the Community Activities Building, 1400<br />
Roosevelt Ave., every second and fourth Tuesday<br />
at 7:45 p.m. There is a program every meeting and<br />
refreshments are served. The dues are only $3<br />
per year. Contact Hank at 650-593-7012, e-mail<br />
sequoiastampclub@yahoo.com or visit the group’s<br />
Web site at www.penpex.org. Sequoia Stamp Club<br />
sponsors a free stamp show at the same location<br />
on the first weekend in December.<br />
Soroptimist International of South<br />
Peninsula<br />
The Soroptimists invite you to become a member<br />
of Soroptmist International, the world’s largest<br />
service organization for business and professional<br />
women, where “improving the lives of women<br />
and children” has been their mission since 1921.<br />
Soroptimists work through service projects to<br />
advance human rights and the status of women<br />
locally and abroad. They meet the second<br />
Thursday of every month. For more information,<br />
please call their president, Maria, at 650-366-<br />
0668, Monday–Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.<br />
(continues on page 28)
LOCAL spotlight PREMIERE<br />
SAN MATEO CREDIT UNION • REDWOOD CITY, CA<br />
gives you<br />
The on broadway branch<br />
Everything you need is here at On Broadway. A full-service branch featuring<br />
friendly knowledgable staff. Convenient late hours and we’re open on Saturdays,<br />
too! SMCU. It’s your place downtown.<br />
Validated<br />
Parking!<br />
Admit One<br />
$25 * Checking Reward<br />
When you open a new SMCU Checking Account<br />
at the On Broadway Branch.<br />
*A $25 credit will be deposited into your new checking account upon opening. Funds will be placed<br />
on hold for 30 days. New membership must be opened at our On Broadway Branch, 830 Jefferson<br />
Ave, Redwood City, CA. You are eligible for membership in SMCU if you you live, work, or study<br />
in San Mateo County. A one-time, non-refundable membership fee of $10.00 ($1.00 for 18 and<br />
under) will be waived. Offer and terms are subject to change without notice. Federally insured by the<br />
National Credit Union Administration. Equal Opportunity Lender.<br />
(650) 363-1725 • smcu.org • 830 Jefferson Ave<br />
N 0 0 0 1 9 5 2<br />
The Spectrum 23
City’s Go-To Guy Is Smith<br />
His wife, Eileen McKenna, said, “I, and our<br />
entire family, am very proud of Malcolm’s<br />
involvement in and impact on Redwood City’s<br />
community. He finds the community appreciative,<br />
challenging and rewarding enough to travel daily<br />
from San Jose. He brings real-life issues to our<br />
family discussions and keeps all of us connected<br />
to all people around us.”<br />
Moving into the new year, one of Smith’s goals<br />
is to improve the programming of the Redwood<br />
City government television channel. Even though<br />
it will be a challenge and requires a lot of time,<br />
Smith is looking forward to the challenge.<br />
“I have great love and respect for the<br />
community,” he said. “This job keeps me excited<br />
every day.”<br />
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the<br />
Daily Journal newspaper.<br />
“Keeping the community involved<br />
and engaging them in two-way<br />
conversations is important.”<br />
The Chicago Bulls had Michael Jordan, the Los Angeles<br />
Lakers have Kobe Bryant and Redwood City has their goto<br />
guy in Malcolm Smith. The San Jose native and public<br />
communications manager has been serving the great city the<br />
past eight years with pride and dedication.<br />
Whatever is happening within the community,<br />
Smith, 51, is the person responsible for relaying<br />
the messages to the people and making sure they<br />
are aware of what’s happening. Smith acts as a<br />
consultant for all 11 city departments and when<br />
community relations needs help, Smith puts<br />
together a program describing how it will impact<br />
the community and translates it into terms that<br />
everyone will understand.<br />
He deals with a lot of issues, and the keys are<br />
knowing enough information about all the variety<br />
of issues and having the ability to explain them to<br />
the people.<br />
“Keeping the community involved and<br />
engaging them in two-way conversations is<br />
important,” Smith said.<br />
A perfect example is a dredging project in<br />
some of the lagoons in Redwood Shores that were<br />
filled with silt and had bad water quality in some<br />
parts. The engineers came to Smith and explained<br />
the situation and process. Smith put together an<br />
outreach plan focusing on what was going to<br />
be accomplished to improve the water quality,<br />
providing the community with both the upside<br />
and downside of the project. In short, Smith said<br />
his job is “packaging the messages into a form<br />
that people will respond to.”<br />
“Malcolm keeps the community informed<br />
so that all can do their part in building a<br />
great community together. He has wonderful<br />
communication skills, understands the<br />
importance of building relationships, and to me he<br />
is truly an amazing role model and mentor,” said<br />
Neighborhood Liaison Coordinator Erica Spacher.<br />
What separates Redwood City from other<br />
communities, Smith said, is that it’s very<br />
action-oriented and fast-paced, where a lot gets<br />
accomplished quickly.<br />
“We have this foundation and we want to keep<br />
building on top of this as things go along,” Smith said.<br />
The community has been involved with<br />
PACT (Partnership Academy for Community<br />
Teamwork), a citizen academy in which 40 people<br />
come in once a year for nine weeks, one night a<br />
week, to learn about what the city is doing and to<br />
talk with the employees of each department. The<br />
purpose is to show them how the city is run.<br />
When Smith is not busy at work handling<br />
countless issues, he enjoys spending time with his<br />
wife and two daughters, cooking and jogging. But<br />
his greatest passion is playing guitar and writing<br />
and recording music. He played in a band that<br />
released three CDs.<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Vicky Costantini Presents. . .<br />
492 Summit Road, Emerald Hills<br />
Absolutely stunning, 4bd/3.5ba home with amazing street presence.<br />
High ceiling entry is surrounded by a formal and very elegant living<br />
room and dining room. Character is spread all over this home from a diamond<br />
glass window, copper-topped bay, to a room long, built-in, bench<br />
seat. Large eat-in kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances. This home was<br />
specially built for its owner and it is apparent in every room. 3-car<br />
garage and ample driveway.<br />
2439 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City<br />
Lovely, 3bd/2ba, traditional, Mt. <strong>Carmel</strong> house situated in a highly<br />
desirable area in back of circle parks commonly known as Inner Circle.<br />
This is a must see home with hardwood floors throughout! Kitchen has<br />
stainless steel appliances, tons of cabinetry, and the finest Italian<br />
granite countertops.<br />
Vicky Costantini<br />
650.430.8425 | vcostantini@apr.com | www.vickycostantini.com<br />
Sale Pending!<br />
Sale Pending!<br />
Sale Pending!<br />
Sold!<br />
390 Summit Drive<br />
Emerald Hills<br />
$1,099,000<br />
3bd/3ba plus cottage<br />
262 B Street<br />
Redwood City<br />
$575,000<br />
2 bedroom, 1 bath<br />
11 West Summit<br />
Emerald Hills<br />
$1,050,000<br />
3 bedroom, 2 bath<br />
3802 Autumn Drive<br />
Redwood City<br />
$989,000<br />
4 bedroom, 2.5 bath<br />
Just Sold!<br />
3317<br />
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Represented Buyer<br />
1705 Alameda Redwood City<br />
Represented Seller<br />
2 Wilburn Atherton<br />
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297 Humboldt Avenue Brisbane<br />
Represented Buyer<br />
View all of my listings and search the MLS at VickyCostantini.com<br />
apr.com | WOODSIDE 2930 Woodside Road<br />
The Spectrum 25
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
News Briefs<br />
Man Dies in Crash on<br />
Woodside Drive<br />
The San Mateo County coroner’s<br />
office has identified the 21-year-old<br />
man who died in Woodside after the<br />
vehicle he was driving hit two trees<br />
and another vehicle before flipping.<br />
Ryan Ferrari, a Woodside<br />
resident, died in the crash,<br />
according to the coroner’s office.<br />
Ferrari was headed home at<br />
about 2:30 a.m. when he crashed in<br />
the 200 block of Woodside Drive,<br />
San Mateo County sheriff’s Sgt.<br />
Wes Matsuura said. Ferrari lost<br />
control of his vehicle, went into the<br />
opposite lanes and hit a tree. He<br />
then hit another tree and crashed<br />
into an oncoming car driven by a<br />
Redwood City resident, according to<br />
Matsuura.<br />
The vehicle spun out and flipped,<br />
and Ferrari was pronounced dead<br />
at the scene. The driver of the other<br />
vehicle, Jerad Tondino, was found to<br />
be under the influence and booked<br />
for DUI, Matsuura said.<br />
It was determined that Tondino<br />
was not injured in the collision and<br />
was not at fault for the crash.<br />
Six Arrested After Beating<br />
on High <strong>School</strong> Campus<br />
Redwood City police have arrested<br />
six students after a 16-year-old<br />
student was beaten on the campus of<br />
Sequoia High <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Redwood City police Capt. Ron<br />
Matuszak says the victim was<br />
knocked unconscious and suffered a<br />
concussion and a broken nose when<br />
he was attacked by a group of teens<br />
near the school’s football field.<br />
Matuszak says the teen was<br />
beaten because his attackers thought<br />
he was in a rival gang.<br />
The victim denies being a<br />
member of a gang, but Matuszak<br />
says the six students arrested<br />
have all admitted to having gang<br />
affiliations.<br />
A school district spokeswoman<br />
says the six students arrested could<br />
also face school discipline, such as<br />
suspensions or expulsions.<br />
Woman Hit, Killed by Car<br />
A woman was struck and killed by a<br />
car in Redwood City moments after<br />
she struck a parked construction<br />
truck herself on southbound Bay<br />
Road, according to police.<br />
The woman, Cherril Spivey, got<br />
out of her car after striking the truck<br />
with her van to check on the damage<br />
to both vehicles.<br />
While she was standing in the<br />
road, another vehicle struck her<br />
as well as the same construction<br />
truck Spivey had collided with a<br />
short time before, according to a<br />
statement by Redwood City police<br />
Sgt. Kathryn Anderson.<br />
Spivey, 63, was thrown<br />
underneath the parked construction<br />
truck and was pronounced dead at<br />
the scene by paramedics.<br />
The man who struck Spivey called<br />
in the collision and was cooperative<br />
with police. No arrests were made<br />
and the department’s traffic unit is<br />
investigating the accident.<br />
The collision occurred on Bay<br />
Road between Second and Third<br />
avenues.<br />
Spivey is a resident of Castro<br />
Valley. The coroner’s office released<br />
Spivey’s name yesterday evening<br />
after her family was notified of her<br />
death.<br />
Anyone with information<br />
regarding the collision is<br />
encouraged to contact the police<br />
department at 650-780-7100.<br />
RWC Woman, 49, Found<br />
Dead in Her SUV<br />
A Redwood City woman was<br />
found dead in her SUV in Belmont,<br />
suffering from stab wounds that<br />
may have been self-inflicted,<br />
according to police.<br />
Officers were dispatched to the<br />
1500 block of El Verano Way on a<br />
report of a suspicious vehicle and<br />
found Valerie Zuffi, 49, slumped<br />
over in her vehicle.<br />
Zuffi appeared to have suffered<br />
trauma “consistent with knives,”<br />
which were found inside the locked<br />
vehicle, according to police.<br />
A passerby called the Belmont<br />
Police Department and reported<br />
there was a white Ford Explorer<br />
parked on the street. The caller said<br />
it had been there for a while and that<br />
someone appeared to be sleeping<br />
in it.<br />
Responding units found Zuffi<br />
inside suffering from major trauma.<br />
She was not responsive, and an<br />
emergency medical technician<br />
from the Belmont–San Carlos Fire<br />
Department pronounced her dead.<br />
Detectives from the Belmont<br />
Police Department and the San<br />
Mateo County Crime Lab and the<br />
coroner’s office responded as well.<br />
Zuffi worked at Sun Microsystems<br />
from 1992 until 2008 and graduated<br />
from San Jose State University. It is<br />
unclear why Zuffi was in Belmont<br />
Saturday night and the death<br />
remains under investigation.<br />
Anyone with information<br />
regarding the incident is asked to<br />
call Detective Dave Lashley or<br />
Detective Peter Lotti at 650-595-<br />
7400.<br />
Alleged Car Thief Pleads<br />
Not Guilty<br />
The alleged car thief caught with a<br />
book titled “How to Be a Successful<br />
Criminal” pleaded not guilty to<br />
charges of vehicle theft, possession<br />
of a stolen vehicle, seconddegree<br />
auto burglary, receiving<br />
stolen property and misdemeanor<br />
possession of burglary tools.<br />
Brian Winner, 29, will stand trial<br />
Jan. 11.<br />
On Oct. 21, Redwood City<br />
police located and arrested Winner<br />
after responding to a call about<br />
a suspicious person looking into<br />
parked cars. Winner was allegedly<br />
driving a stolen car containing<br />
property taken from multiple<br />
victims, including the book. Winner<br />
remains in custody in lieu of<br />
$20,000 bail.<br />
The Spectrum 27
As I Was Saying…(Continued from p6) Nonprofits in Action (Continued from p22)<br />
James Kaspar has come through month after month with fantastic images<br />
for our cover. James Massey’s hard work and imagination means so much<br />
when putting the Spectrum together this past year.<br />
Naomi Hunter, John Edmonds and Stephanie Douglas contribute<br />
information that is so vital to our readers. Devin and Gavin Wright and Jeff<br />
Day help to spread the word of the Spectrum around our community.<br />
A thank you to our advertisers, whose support for community news is<br />
phenomenal. We know that you have several other choices to spread the news<br />
of your business, and we appreciate you more than we can say here. And<br />
thanks to our readers for making the Spectrum the most read publication in<br />
Redwood City.<br />
Happy New Year to everyone and the best of everything to you. Let’s make it<br />
a great one.<br />
As I was saying . . .<br />
.…<br />
Happy New Year<br />
from the Spectrum Magazine<br />
Sustainable San Mateo County<br />
Established in 1992, this local nonprofit is dedicated to the long-term<br />
health of our county’s environment, economy and social equity. Programs<br />
include an annual report, an annual awards event with over 450 attendees,<br />
sustainabilityhub.net, green business workshops and more. If you would<br />
like to volunteer, contact the SSMC office at 650-638-2323 or e-mail<br />
advocate@sustainablesanmateo.org. For more information, visit www.<br />
sustainablesanmateo.org.<br />
Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club<br />
Since October 1956, the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club has been<br />
devoted to community service in Redwood City. Through the decades,<br />
the club has provided funds to help many worthy community programs<br />
and continues to add more community projects. The Key Club of Sequoia<br />
High <strong>School</strong>, sponsored by the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club, was<br />
chartered in 1994 and has been involved in raising money and donating time<br />
and effort to many programs.<br />
The Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday evening<br />
6–7 p.m. at Harry’s Hofbrau, 1909 El Camino Real (one block north of<br />
Woodside Road). They invite you to come to their meetings and check out the<br />
club’s Web site at www.wtamkiwanis.org.<br />
Woodside Terrace Optimist Club<br />
This is a unique club made up of senior citizens who want to stay involved.<br />
Most, but not all, come from the residence at Woodside Terrace. The club is<br />
open to all of the community and provides an opportunity for seniors to be<br />
useful. The club’s funds are raised by a card, candy and necklace sale held<br />
on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the main lobby at 485 Woodside<br />
Road, open to the public.<br />
Lunches/meetings are at 12:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays<br />
of each month in the Assisted Living Dining Room at Woodside Terrace.<br />
Guests are welcome. Please call President Jack Murphy at 650-780-9891 or<br />
Millie Cole at 650-366-1392 for reservations.<br />
YES Reading<br />
This local organization is dedicated to empowering students through literacy<br />
and investing community members in underserved public schools. YES<br />
Reading recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-on-one<br />
tutoring for elementary and middle school students reading below grade<br />
level.<br />
YES Reading operates several reading centers on the Peninsula and in<br />
the South Bay, including a site at Selby Lane <strong>School</strong> in Atherton. If you are<br />
interested in becoming a reading tutor for a child who needs your help, please<br />
call 408-945-9316 or email info@yesreading.org. Visit the YES Reading Web<br />
site at www.yesreading.org.<br />
Editor’s note: If you are connected with a nonprofit organization and<br />
want your information printed in The Spectrum, send it to writers@<br />
spectrummagazine.net or The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood<br />
City, CA 94064. Let our community know your contributions and maybe they<br />
will want to join you.<br />
What you can expect from Dave Karow:<br />
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650.368.2434<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Finance: Time to Make New Year’s Financial Resolutions<br />
By David Amann, Special to The Spectrum<br />
Like many people, you may make some New<br />
Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’ve promised<br />
yourself that you’ll visit the gym more often or<br />
learn a new language or reconnect with a longlost<br />
friend. All of these are worthy goals, of<br />
course, and if you achieve them, you may add<br />
new dimensions to your life. But if you want to<br />
accomplish other major milestones you may have<br />
envisioned — a new home, college for your kids,<br />
a comfortable retirement and so on — you may<br />
need to set some New Year’s financial resolutions.<br />
What type of financial resolutions<br />
should you make? Here are a few<br />
ideas to consider:<br />
Contribute as much as you can<br />
afford to your 401(k)<br />
Take full advantage of your 401(k) or other<br />
employer-sponsored retirement plan. Your<br />
contributions are typically tax deductible and<br />
your earnings grow on a tax-deferred basis. Every<br />
time you get a boost in salary, try to increase the<br />
amount going into your 401(k), but at the very<br />
least, contribute enough to earn the employer’s<br />
match, if one is offered. In 2010, the contribution<br />
limit for 401(k) plans is $16,500, or $22,000 if<br />
you’re age 50 or over, although both these limits<br />
may increase if they are indexed for inflation.<br />
“Max out” on your IRA<br />
Even if you have a 401(k), you’re probably still<br />
eligible to contribute to an IRA. A traditional IRA<br />
grows tax deferred, while a Roth IRA’s earnings<br />
are tax free, provided you’ve had your account at<br />
least five years and don’t start taking withdrawals<br />
until you’re 59½. (Your ability to contribute to a<br />
Roth IRA is based on your income.) You can fund<br />
your IRA with virtually any type of investment.<br />
In 2010, you can put up to $5,000 into your IRA,<br />
or $6,000 if you’re age 50 or older, although, as<br />
was the case with your 401(k), these limits may go<br />
higher if they’re indexed for inflation.<br />
Rebalance your investments<br />
as needed<br />
Over time, your goals and risk tolerance can<br />
change. That’s why it’s a good idea to review<br />
and rebalance your portfolio at least once a year,<br />
possibly with the help of a professional financial<br />
advisor who is familiar with your situation.<br />
Avoid “emotional” investing<br />
Don’t make decisions based on emotional<br />
reactions to what’s happening with your<br />
investments. For example, just because the price<br />
of an investment may have dropped significantly,<br />
it doesn’t mean you should rush to sell it. Despite<br />
the price drop, it may still have good prospects<br />
and it might be an important part of your<br />
investment strategy. Consider all factors before<br />
making “buy” or “sell” decisions.<br />
Keep sufficient cash in your<br />
portfolio<br />
During the long bear market of 2008 and early<br />
2009, many investors discovered that they lacked<br />
enough cash in their portfolios. Of course, you<br />
need enough cash on hand to meet unexpected<br />
expenses without dipping into long-term<br />
investments. But beyond that, the presence of<br />
cash and short-term, more liquid investments can<br />
help reduce the volatility in a portfolio that may<br />
sometimes be battered by both the stock and bond<br />
markets.<br />
These financial resolutions, like all types of New<br />
Year’s resolutions, may not be easy to keep. But<br />
if you can stick with them, you may have many<br />
happy new years in the future.<br />
Editor’s note: This article was written by David<br />
Amann of Edward Jones for use by The Spectrum<br />
Magazine.<br />
Senior Activities<br />
The Veterans Memorial Senior<br />
Center, 1455 Madison Ave.,<br />
Redwood City, is providing the<br />
following activities that are open<br />
to the public during the month of<br />
January.<br />
Friday Movies for Everyone<br />
Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise announced)<br />
Come to the VMSC in January for a free featured<br />
movie in our state-of-the-art movie theater!<br />
Jan. 1: Building closed – New Year’s holiday<br />
Jan. 8: “Angels & Demons”<br />
Jan. 15: “All About Steve”<br />
Jan. 22: “The Other Man”<br />
Jan. 29: “My Sister’s Keeper”<br />
Free Home Repairs<br />
Rebuilding Together Peninsula<br />
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1–2 p.m.<br />
Sunset Room<br />
Free<br />
Rebuilding Together Peninsula rehabilitates<br />
homes and community facilities for senior, lowincome<br />
and disabled homeowners so they can<br />
live independently in warmth and safety. All<br />
services are free. Learn about the program at this<br />
information session.<br />
VMSC Closure Dates<br />
The Veterans Memorial Senior Center will be<br />
closed Thursday, Dec. 24, thru Monday, Jan. 4,<br />
for a winter break. Sunday Bingo will be open on<br />
Jan. 3.<br />
SAVE THE DATE!<br />
Valentine’s Dinner Dance<br />
Friday, Feb. 12, 6–10 p.m.<br />
Redwood Room<br />
$20 per person<br />
Love is in the air! Enjoy a wonderful dance with<br />
live music compliments of the Fun After Fifty<br />
Band! Singles and couples alike are welcome.<br />
A homemade Italian dinner, compliments of<br />
volunteer chef Frances Benedetto, will be served<br />
and dancing will follow. Tickets will be available<br />
in January at the VMSC Lunch Desk.<br />
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial<br />
Senior Center, call 650-780-7270. Redwood City<br />
Parks, Recreation and Community Services<br />
Department provides recreational facilities and<br />
activities for all ages and interests, and supplies<br />
building and custodial services for city buildings.<br />
Redwood City Parks also operates the Veterans<br />
Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks<br />
Community Center, providing social, educational<br />
and cultural activities, as well as information,<br />
referral and counseling services to persons living<br />
in Redwood City and neighboring communities.<br />
Advertise with<br />
The Spectrum<br />
Call Us Today<br />
650.368.2434<br />
The Spectrum 29
A Minute With: Ruhina Karmali<br />
Ruhina Karmali (left) with her mother<br />
and councilwoman Rosanne Foust at<br />
the Daily Boost ribbon cutting event.<br />
Ruhina was born and raised Yakima, Washington. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in<br />
Moraga, California. She majored in Business Communications. She has lived in the Bay Area<br />
for ten years and currently lives in Redwood Shores.<br />
She was President of the Speech & Debate team while attending Eisenhower High <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Hobbies: volunteering, skinning, reading good book and visit with your family. She is currently<br />
engaged to Vivec Kir and plan to get married this year.<br />
She opened the Downtown Redwood City Daily Boost in July 2009. It is located at the<br />
County Square on Broadway across from the Fox Theatre. She is a member of the Downtown<br />
Business Group.<br />
Why open a business in Redwood City?<br />
A dream come true.<br />
Has it met your expectations?<br />
No. Redwood City has to grow the foot traffic in<br />
Downtown.<br />
Worst thing about it?<br />
Lack of foot traffic.<br />
Best thing about it?<br />
Loyal customers who become a part of our Daily<br />
Boost family.<br />
Which living person do you most admire?<br />
My Father – Nazir.<br />
What are you looking forward to in the New Year?<br />
Breathe of fresh air – new opportunities.<br />
What talent would you most like to have?<br />
Ability to have a – “filter on my mouth.”<br />
Something few know about you?<br />
I love Chinese food and eat it every single day.<br />
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?<br />
Oh my God!<br />
Favorite song?<br />
“Maria, Maria” – Carlo Santana.<br />
Favorite movie?<br />
Devil Wears Prada Shoes.<br />
What is your motto?<br />
Work hard, play hard.<br />
Anyone you got on your mind?<br />
My family.<br />
Memorable moment?<br />
Grand opening of Daily Boost with so many well<br />
wishers.<br />
First word that comes to mind?<br />
Happy.<br />
I still can’t believe?<br />
That Redwood City doesn’t give business owners<br />
parking spaces Downtown somewhere.<br />
What is your idea of perfect happiness?<br />
Being around the people I love the most and being<br />
a successful business owner and giving back to<br />
the community.<br />
What or Whom is the love of your life?<br />
My fiancé.<br />
You currently feel?<br />
Stressed.<br />
Never late for the Theatre<br />
when you eat at Little India.<br />
All You Can Eat Lunch<br />
Mon - Fri 11am - 2pm<br />
Regular $9.95 Vegetarian $7.95<br />
All You Can Eat Dinner<br />
Mon - Sat 5 - 9pm<br />
Regular $12.95 Vegetarian $10.95<br />
Little India<br />
Restaurant<br />
917 Main St., Redwood City<br />
650-361-8737 • www.littleindiacuisine.com<br />
10 % off<br />
with your Parking<br />
Valadation!<br />
• Catering<br />
• In-House Parties<br />
Available<br />
• Takeout<br />
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
The Spectrum 31
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