Chris Sakelarios - The Spectrum Magazine
Chris Sakelarios - The Spectrum Magazine
Chris Sakelarios - The Spectrum Magazine
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Chris</strong> <strong>Sakelarios</strong><br />
A “do-gooder” walking the talk<br />
RWC man’s After 5<br />
Wine Time<br />
much<br />
more<br />
&
Wishing You Health,<br />
Happiness and<br />
Success on<br />
Thanksgiving<br />
& always.<br />
from all of us at DMB Saltworks<br />
www.RCSaltworks.com<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net<br />
<strong>Spectrum</strong>_Thanksgiving_Ad_Final.indd 1<br />
10/27/11 4:27 PM
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong>.NOV.2011<br />
Table of Contents<br />
Inside <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> – 4<br />
RCSD Corner – 5<br />
“As I Was Saying...” – 6<br />
Nonprofits in the News – 7<br />
Challenger McCarthy Takes on<br />
Incumbents in Council Forum – 8<br />
Let the Good TImes Roll After 5 – 10<br />
P.S. <strong>The</strong> People Speak:<br />
Letters to the Editor – 13<br />
Nonprofits in Action – 14<br />
Community Interest – 15<br />
Cultural Events – 16<br />
<strong>Chris</strong> <strong>Sakelarios</strong>: Overcoming<br />
Obstacles and Inspiring Those<br />
She ‘Walks’ With – 18<br />
RWC Youth Hold Rally to Halt<br />
Bullying – 20<br />
Insurance Tips: Six Ways to Save<br />
Money on Life Insurance – 23<br />
Senior Activities – 23<br />
Mayor’s Beautification Recognition<br />
Awards – 25<br />
Shop Redwood City – 30<br />
Crossword: Know Your<br />
Community Puzzle – 32<br />
A Minute With Uncle Sam – 34<br />
Welcome!<br />
While Redwood City is experiencing a warming start to winter, the ice is ready to come to Courthouse<br />
Square and <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> is anything but chilly in bringing you our November 2011 edition.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> tries to feature businesses and business owners who perform charitable acts in our community.<br />
This month we have two such stories. Contributing writer Julie McCoy profiles lifelong Redwood City<br />
resident <strong>Chris</strong> <strong>Sakelarios</strong>. She recently won two gold medals at the Hunstman World Senior Games and<br />
is also the owner of a downtown area coffee shop.<br />
Redwood City resident Bob Lutticken has been in the food services business for 30 years and contributes<br />
to our community through donations and volunteerism. He recently expanded his Menlo Park business to<br />
include a wine bar that has customers flocking to experience the food and great atmosphere.<br />
Publisher Steve Penna predicts the outcome of the races Redwood City voters will be watching on Nov. 8<br />
in his column, “As I Was Saying….” He also writes about a new change to the downtown parking meters.<br />
We also have the Mayor’s Beautification Awards list, a section on nonprofits in the news and an advertising<br />
section highlighting businesses in the Main Street area. If you have not visited the area of late, you will<br />
be pleasantly surprised by the changes and activities.<br />
Once again this month, we continue to bring you our regular features on senior activities, items of<br />
community interest, cultural and entertainment events, letters to the editor, insurance tips from Hector<br />
Flamenco, information from the Redwood City School District and the popular feature “A Minute With.”<br />
If you are looking for our News Briefs section this month, you will notice it is not there. We have<br />
discontinued the section and will be running those types of stories, along with up-to-the-minute<br />
information on our community, online at www.spectrummagazine.net.<br />
Businesses are an important component of all communities because they create sales tax revenues that contribute<br />
to the overall city budget while providing much-needed services for the community. In that spirit, we<br />
encourage you, our readers, to support our valuable <strong>Spectrum</strong> advertisers by using their services when<br />
you are out shopping, dining or enjoying yourself in our community with friends and family. Many<br />
of them have special offers for you to cut out and present, including discounts on services, food and<br />
beverages, so please take the time to look over their ads this month and use their coupons and discounts.<br />
Until next month, enjoy Redwood City and don’t get hurt on the ice!<br />
Steve Penna<br />
Owner and Publisher<br />
penna@spectrummagazine.net<br />
Anne Callery<br />
Copy Editor<br />
writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />
Dale McKee<br />
Julie McCoy<br />
Nicole Minieri<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />
James Massey<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
007massey@gmail.com<br />
James R. Kaspar<br />
Cover/Cover Story Photography<br />
staff@spectrummagazine.net<br />
Contact Information:<br />
Phone 650-368-2434<br />
www.spectrummagazine.net<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 3
Inside <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong>: Cover Story Photo Shoot<br />
<strong>The</strong> photo shoot for this month’s cover subject, <strong>Chris</strong> <strong>Sakelarios</strong>, was<br />
arranged by <strong>Spectrum</strong> Publisher Steve Penna for Tuesday, Oct. 25,<br />
at 1 p.m. at the Backyard Coffee Company (formerly Sportivo Coffee<br />
Bar) at 965 Brewster Ave.<br />
Photographer James Kaspar arrived first and scoped out the coffee shop,<br />
which was to be the backdrop for the afternoon. <strong>Sakelarios</strong> arrived next,<br />
coming from a training session, and the two got the opportunity to meet and<br />
talk a bit before Penna arrived after attending a meeting.<br />
Penna’s and <strong>Sakelarios</strong>’ paths have crossed several times over the years.<br />
Both are Sequoia High School graduates (Penna was in the same class as<br />
<strong>Chris</strong>’ sister Nina) and they also attended Hoover School together. <strong>The</strong> two<br />
exchanged hugs and went to work.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trio started out in the main area of the coffee shop and then moved into<br />
the second area of the facility, which serves as a private physical training and<br />
weight room area. Of course, they needed the photos to highlight recent medals<br />
won by <strong>Sakelarios</strong>, but they also wanted to incorporate her occupation. Hence<br />
the coffee cup, whipped cream, exercise equipment and medals.<br />
Toward the end of the shoot, <strong>Sakelarios</strong>’ father, Nick, joined the group,<br />
and he and Penna exchanged several memories about old-time Redwood<br />
City history. <strong>The</strong>y took some pictures of the father/daughter team and it was<br />
heartwarming to watch.<br />
<strong>The</strong> entire shoot took about an hour.<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong> has conquered many obstacles in her young life, many of<br />
which have led her to where she is today: a community-involved person,<br />
business owner, award winner, inspiration to many and a trainer too. All<br />
are characteristics that improve the lives of others. When you look at her,<br />
maybe she is training us all? After all, roads or paths — whether we are<br />
crawling, walking, running or dreaming — are said to be paved with good<br />
intentions. <strong>Sakelarios</strong> is a perfect example of just that. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> salutes<br />
community-minded business owners like <strong>Sakelarios</strong> and introduces her to<br />
our readers in the hopes that she will inspire you to contribute as well.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Mag AD 4/2/08 4:23 PM Page 1<br />
Thank You<br />
for Supporting the<br />
Uccelli Family<br />
Through the Years<br />
We urge you to contribute<br />
and support our local<br />
non-profits who do<br />
outstanding work in<br />
our community.<br />
Painting, moving, gardening<br />
or construction needs?<br />
Hire a Reliable Worker<br />
through the<br />
A non profit organization<br />
Call: (650) 339-2794<br />
Or go to: www.mionline.org<br />
All wages go directly to workers<br />
Donate Your Vehicle<br />
650-363-2423<br />
Peter and Paula Uccelli Foundation<br />
650-366-0922<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 />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood City School District<br />
SHundreds Run for Redwood City Education<br />
everal hundred eager runners and walkers, perfect California weather<br />
and a robust community spirit all joined together Oct. 15 to result<br />
in the hugely successful, inaugural OktobeRun Half Marathon and<br />
5K Run/Walk. Nearly a thousand runners, walkers and community<br />
volunteers participated in the event, organized by the Redwood City Education<br />
Foundation and sponsored by 18 local businesses and 37 generous families.<br />
Numbering among the racers, ranging from age 3 to 86, were district<br />
teachers, staff and students, many sporting T-shirts emblazoned with their<br />
school’s logo, including Clifford fourth-grade teacher (and San Mateo<br />
County’s 2010 Teacher of the Year) Shannon Cody, who was ultimately<br />
the 10th-place overall finisher (and fastest female) in the half marathon,<br />
completing 13.1 miles in almost exactly 90 minutes.<br />
Superintendent Jan <strong>Chris</strong>tensen was also among the racers, completing the<br />
3.1 miles comprising the 5K Run/Walk. “We’re so pleased about this event,”<br />
said <strong>Chris</strong>tensen. “This is going to be a yearly event, and we so appreciate the<br />
support of our foundation, because they are so awesome and fantastic and do<br />
so many great things for our students.”<br />
Race Director Rick Hunter, who also sits on the board of directors for RCEF,<br />
and Course Director Ron Talain recognized a unique opportunity both to create a<br />
race event in a region where none has been held for the past several years and<br />
to benefit the students of the Redwood City School District in the process.<br />
Early estimates indicate that this first-time event raised an incredible $25,000<br />
to support and enrich the education of the district’s 9,200 students. Said Hunter,<br />
“This was an all-volunteer event and we owe every volunteer a huge debt of<br />
gratitude. We thank the Sequoia High School cross country team and leadership<br />
class who cheered you on and all the race day volunteers who got up early to<br />
work. Most of all, we thank the Race Organizing Committee, who put their lives<br />
on hold for several months and spent probably thousands of hours working on every<br />
detail. With the first successful year under our belts, next year’s planning will<br />
be easier and focused on adding to and improving what we did in 2011.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> OktobeRun coincided with Redwood City’s second annual<br />
Oktoberfest, further incentivizing runners with the prospect of great food,<br />
cold drinks and live entertainment to reward a race well run.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 5
As I Was<br />
Saying… Publisher<br />
| Steve Penna<br />
It’s the most wonderful time of this year or any<br />
election year! I absolutely get enthralled by<br />
elections and more so by the candidates and their<br />
campaigns. Even though this election has been<br />
low-key, some important decisions will be made<br />
on Nov. 8 and I am going to predict right now<br />
what voters will say.<br />
Let’s start with the Redwood City City Council<br />
race, where we have four incumbents — Alicia<br />
Aguirre, Ian Bain, Rosanne Foust and Barbara<br />
Pierce — facing off against political newcomer<br />
Paul McCarthy.<br />
In Redwood City and, to be truthful, in all areas,<br />
it is hard to beat an incumbent. You need major<br />
name recognition, a long history of community<br />
involvement, money, money and more money.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a slim chance that McCarthy would be<br />
able to unseat one of the incumbents, but I don’t<br />
see it happening. He has gained some momentum,<br />
endorsements and support, but not getting his message<br />
out to the masses of voters and not issuing a candidate’s<br />
statement in the voter guide will definitely hurt his<br />
chances regardless of momentum he gains. But he<br />
is also the only candidate who is not in favor of<br />
the two local tax increases on the ballot. But how<br />
do voters know that?<br />
What those election watchers will be waiting<br />
for on election night is to see in what order the<br />
candidates finish. Will the snub from labor groups<br />
and emergency services groups bump Pierce<br />
from her usual top vote-getter spot? She has<br />
firm support in other areas of our community.<br />
Have the environmental militants lessened<br />
Foust’s popularity? She also has strong support<br />
throughout all community neighborhoods. Has<br />
Bain gained more support in our community and<br />
will not finish fourth? If he has a strong finish, he<br />
might be in line for a vice mayor spot.<br />
And, maybe most importantly, will a top-ofthe-group<br />
finish secure Aguirre to take over as<br />
mayor in January 2012? Needless to say, I predict<br />
the incumbents will all be re-elected.<br />
I will disagree with Mayor Jeff Ira (who<br />
called McCarthy’s campaign “sad”) and give<br />
huge CONGRATULATIONS to McCarthy for<br />
making them all campaign hard for it and giving<br />
our community the opportunity to discuss some<br />
issues that needed to be discussed. Since when is<br />
it not the right of anyone to run for political office<br />
if qualified? And who is to say how one should<br />
run a campaign? Just because a candidate is not<br />
collecting thousands of dollars or spending his<br />
own thousands of dollars does not mean he is not<br />
serious or is running a “sad” campaign. I guess<br />
the voters will determine that.<br />
.…<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net<br />
In the Redwood City School District race,<br />
incumbents Alisa Greene MacAvoy, Shelly Masur<br />
and Dennis McBride are facing competition from<br />
parent volunteer Lea Cuniberti-Duran. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
are many issues facing the district, some of which<br />
are very controversial and important to students<br />
and the community and home values.<br />
Given that the district’s per-student spending is<br />
lower than in neighboring districts, most feel the<br />
current board members are doing an adequate job,<br />
and those parents who don’t feel that way send<br />
their children to private or charter schools. Nobrainer<br />
here — all three incumbents will win.<br />
.…<br />
In the Sequoia Union High School District race,<br />
trustees Lorraine Rumley and Olivia Martinez<br />
are campaigning against Menlo Park resident<br />
Allen Weiner, East Palo Alto resident Larry James<br />
Moody and Carrie Du Bois, San Carlos School<br />
District trustee. Despite the teachers union’s<br />
disapproval of the incumbents, they will both be<br />
re-elected and Du Bois will also be elected.<br />
.…<br />
All three incumbents on the San Mateo County<br />
Community College District board — Dave<br />
Mandelkern, Patricia Miljanich and Karen<br />
Schwarz — are running for re-election but are<br />
being challenged by Jaime Diaz, Joe Ross and<br />
Michael Stogner.<br />
Of the challengers, Ross has raised and spent the<br />
most money and has also gained the endorsements<br />
of State Assemblyman Rich Gordon, County<br />
Supervisor Dave Pine, school district board<br />
member Shelly Masur, the San Mateo Community<br />
College Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1493<br />
and the San Mateo County Labor Council.<br />
I don’t know if he will be able to overcome the<br />
obstacles of unseating an incumbent in such a<br />
large district. <strong>The</strong> district is virtually all of San<br />
Mateo County and covers all three community<br />
colleges: Cañada, San Mateo and Skyline. But<br />
given the strength of his campaign, the recent<br />
dissatisfaction with decisions made by the current<br />
board and the controversy surrounding Measure<br />
H, I think he might be able to do it.<br />
So I will go way out on a limb and say Ross will<br />
unseat one of the incumbents; I just can’t say which one.<br />
.…<br />
Measure H has the San Mateo County<br />
Community College District asking us to pass a<br />
$564 million (yes, $564 million) bond. This is not<br />
that hard to predict — it should and will fail. It<br />
is time for district board members to start doing<br />
their jobs and make some hard decisions about<br />
cuts to classes or continual salary increases for<br />
administrators. As one opponent of the measure stated,<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y need to tighten their belts just like anyone else.”<br />
.…<br />
<strong>The</strong> political action committee Redwood City Residents<br />
to Protect City Services (made up of elected<br />
officials and status quo alike), which is in favor of<br />
Measures I and M to increase the city’s hotel and<br />
business taxes, has run an unimpressive campaign,<br />
but predicting the outcome of this is not easy.<br />
My gut feeling is that both measures will not<br />
pass, but firefighters and union personnel have<br />
been walking precincts trying to create awareness<br />
and approval. In a low voter-turnout election like<br />
this is expected to be, that is so valuable and usually<br />
leads to passage. Also, voters are just not that aware<br />
of City Council politics and will be voting in trends,<br />
and it is not trendy right now to approve taxes at all.<br />
Given all that, I will go out on a limb and<br />
predict the business license tax increase, Measure<br />
M, will fail and the hotel tax, Measure I, will pass.<br />
When asked last time, voters rejected the business<br />
license tax, and the mood of the voters is not good<br />
right now. We are tired of taxes no matter how<br />
small the campaigns tell us they will be. Maybe<br />
the third time will be a charm?<br />
.…<br />
Measure K, a charter amendment regarding the<br />
sale and purchase of property, is also on the ballot<br />
and unfortunately has not gotten more attention. It<br />
generally takes away a charter-protected safeguard<br />
for residents that property sold is done so to the<br />
“highest bidder,” thus creating the most revenues<br />
possible for general services. Changing the charter<br />
gives our City Council the flexibility to take other<br />
“factors” into consideration when selling property.<br />
Many feel this might lead to favoritism toward<br />
one developer or another and that it will change as<br />
the dynamics of the council do. Regardless, this<br />
measure will pass just because no one is informed<br />
or understands the issue.<br />
.…<br />
You may remember I told you about the “option 2”<br />
on the new downtown parking meters, which gives<br />
one the opportunity to add time to an existing meter<br />
payment without having to pay again for time that<br />
has already been paid for but not used up yet. This<br />
option proved very popular with seniors, young<br />
teen drivers and those who do not use credit cards<br />
frequently. It’s fast, easy and convenient and if<br />
someone leaves time on the meter, the one coming<br />
in after can benefit from the time remaining. Why<br />
should we pay for the same service twice?<br />
I was a bit surprised when I got a few messages<br />
(continues on page 33)
Nonprofits in the News<br />
Redwood City Woman’s Club<br />
Clubhouse Centennial Celebration<br />
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2–4 p.m.<br />
Clockwise from center left: Georgia Jack gives a Woman’s Club history lesson. Club<br />
President Sally Newman cuts the cake. Councilwomen Rosanne Foust and Barbara<br />
Pierce pose with former Mayor Jim Hartnett.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Redwood City Woman’s Club, established in 1909 and a member of the<br />
California and General Federations of Women’s Clubs, meets at its historic<br />
clubhouse, built in 1911, at 149 Clinton St. the first Thursday of each month<br />
from September through June. Typical agenda: social at 11:30 a.m., lunch<br />
at 12 p.m., followed by meeting and program. Guests and new members<br />
are always welcome. For more information about membership or clubhouse<br />
rentals, call 650-363-1266, email info@rwcwc.com or visit www.rwcwc.com.<br />
Tim Griffith Foundation Gala<br />
It’s not too late to register for the seventh annual Tim Griffith Foundation<br />
Gala, A Warm Winter’s Eve. Please join us!<br />
Where: Elks Lodge, 229 W. 20th Ave., San Mateo, 650-345-4886<br />
When: Saturday, Nov. 12<br />
Times: 4:00 croquet (optional), 5:30 champagne reception and silent auction,<br />
7:30 three-course seated dinner, 8:45 live auction and Fund-A-Need<br />
Donations to: Tim Griffith Foundation, 570 El Camino Real #150-427,<br />
Redwood City, CA 94063<br />
Note: Carpooling will be provided to the croquet tournament. Please meet at<br />
the Elks Lodge at 3:45. Or just come for the evening!<br />
Charter Auxiliary for Children<br />
Charter Auxiliary for Children raises money for Lucile Packard Children’s<br />
Hospital through big monthly rummage sales at its facility at 1228 Douglas<br />
Ave. in Redwood City.<br />
All items are donated; all staff are volunteers. <strong>The</strong> group’s first sale in the<br />
Redwood City facility was in October 2010.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sales are on the third Friday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.<br />
and the Saturday following that from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., except in December<br />
when the sale is held the first weekend of the month.<br />
In December the group has an Annual Holiday Boutique & Rummage Sale at<br />
which they have a large selection of holiday merchandise as well as items from<br />
their regular stock of collectibles, antiques, silver, crystal, china, jewelry, art,<br />
toys, books, clothing for the entire family, shoes, linens, kitchen items and more.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 7
Challenger McCarthy Takes on Incumbents in<br />
Council Forum — Election Nov. 8<br />
Aguirre<br />
Bain<br />
Foust<br />
McCarthy<br />
Pierce<br />
Five candidates vying for four seats on the City<br />
Council of Redwood City told a local audience<br />
why they are the best fit for the job.<br />
For the four incumbents, that means<br />
piggybacking on previous work and future plans.<br />
For the lone challenger, it is the chance to infuse<br />
some new blood.<br />
While the roughly dozen and a half attendees<br />
at the League of Women Voters–sponsored forum<br />
may know the incumbents — Barbara Pierce,<br />
Rosanne Foust, Ian Bain and Alicia Aguirre —<br />
newcomer Paul McCarthy took the chance to introduce<br />
himself as a 12-year resident with children<br />
enrolled in local schools and military experience<br />
building infrastructure and balancing budgets.<br />
McCarthy credited the City Council for turning<br />
the city from mundane to vibrant, adding his belief<br />
that he also “could make a positive contribution to<br />
the continued growth of Redwood City.”<br />
McCarthy, a California Highway Patrol sergeant,<br />
is purposely not collecting donations or using<br />
traditional campaigning methods like fliers and<br />
lawn signs.<br />
Meanwhile, each incumbent said they are proud<br />
of the accomplishments already under their belts<br />
as council members and hope to continue work<br />
on downtown redevelopment, new economic<br />
opportunities and even perceived areas of blight.<br />
“I want to leave a mark on this community in a<br />
positive way,” said Bain.<br />
Public safety and the budget took center stage<br />
as well as other city needs like infrastructure.<br />
“If we don’t have funding, we really can’t have<br />
priorities,” Aguirre said.<br />
Bain pointed out the council’s efforts this<br />
year to balance the budget without deep cuts<br />
and layoffs but said the future needs improved<br />
property values and sales tax from new business.<br />
“We’re a first-class city. We should not settle<br />
for looking like a second-class city,” Bain said,<br />
referring to his desire to improve by cleaning up<br />
areas like Woodside Road.<br />
McCarthy also listed public safety alongside<br />
quality of life priorities like parks and believes<br />
they can be funded by the existing tax base.<br />
Expanding opportunities, like turning the old<br />
theater off Highway 101 into an auto row, will<br />
make the city work even better, he said.<br />
Foust reminded the audience the council<br />
members live in the city and don’t make decisions<br />
without also feeling the impact personally. Foust said<br />
she supports the business license and transient<br />
occupancy taxes, both on the November ballot.<br />
McCarthy disagrees with all the incumbents<br />
and does not support either tax-increase measure.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se taxes, “imposed on a small constituency<br />
who create jobs,” would burden “a nonrepresented<br />
constituency,” he told <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> incumbents were less ready to commit<br />
to a stand on the proposed development of the<br />
Cargill Saltworks site, saying they need the<br />
environmental review process to play out first.<br />
“I think we’re really a long way from taking a<br />
position right now,” Aguirre said.<br />
Pierce said she is committed, though, to a<br />
thorough and transparent process ending with “a<br />
very spirited debate.”<br />
McCarthy, who toured the site, called it<br />
“impressive” but said “this is so far down the<br />
road, it’s just planning stages and has some very<br />
significant hurdles.”<br />
He has concerns about possible conflict<br />
between residents moving into a formerly<br />
industrial area but, like the others running, said it<br />
is just too early to know.<br />
All the candidates heralded the revitalized<br />
downtown, including its popular summer<br />
programs and cultural events, but had different<br />
ideas on how to foster them.<br />
McCarthy thinks partnering with businesses<br />
makes sense and Foust wants to ask the<br />
community, program participants and possible<br />
corporate sponsors what they want. Pierce said<br />
she approaches it hands-on, as she does most<br />
issues, and pointed to her current work like<br />
“begging with buckets” for donations during<br />
events. Another idea she put forth is working<br />
with the Parks and Recreation Department for<br />
a dedicated revenue stream. Aguirre called the<br />
downtown the city’s living room and said the<br />
current funding, redevelopment money, is too<br />
uncertain to rely upon. Like the others, she thinks<br />
corporate partnerships are one possibility along<br />
with getting the community behind the effort.<br />
Bain is less hopeful businesses can fill the void<br />
if redevelopment funds disappear.<br />
“I’m not as optimistic as some of my colleagues<br />
that we can raise that money through corporate<br />
sponsorships,” Bain said.<br />
Affordable housing downtown and throughout<br />
the city has been hampered by the state environmental<br />
review requirements, Foust and Pierce said.<br />
McCarthy suggested giving the aging<br />
population in stand-alone homes with empty<br />
rooms opportunities to move into new<br />
developments downtown.<br />
High-speed rail is the best transportation<br />
opportunity for Redwood City, Aguirre said,<br />
adding she hopes it is home to a major stop.<br />
She also thinks cities need to work together rather<br />
than stand divided based on their individual needs.<br />
On the other hand, Bain said he is torn. He<br />
voted for it yet is conflicted over eminent domain,<br />
the number of tracks and other unknowns.<br />
“I am very skeptical of a stop in Redwood<br />
City,” he said.<br />
McCarthy thinks high-speed rail was wellintentioned<br />
but called it unsustainable.<br />
“You can never use the fare box to make this<br />
pay for itself,” he said.<br />
He also said dozens of grade separations, at a<br />
minimum, are necessary to avoid fatalities. He<br />
prefers electrifying the Caltrain corridor.<br />
When it comes to issues such as ending human<br />
services funding to homeless shelters, the candidates also<br />
said the domino effect needs to be considered.<br />
Bain, who did not join the rest of the council<br />
earlier this year in ending the funding to<br />
nonprofits, said the city needs to find replacement<br />
money and take a broader look at the effects.<br />
McCarthy thinks the city should use county<br />
resources for needs like homeless shelters rather<br />
than allocating its own precious dollars.<br />
<strong>The</strong> county is the funding source of last<br />
resource, also being cut, and fewer dollars means<br />
tough choices to keep priorities afloat, Foust said.<br />
“I don’t want to make a choice between public<br />
safety and human services funding,” Foust said.<br />
Editor’s note: This article, written by Michelle Durand,<br />
appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper. Additional<br />
quotes were added by <strong>Spectrum</strong> publisher Steve Penna.<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
SKATING<br />
TIS THE SEASON<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 9
Let the Good Times Roll After 5<br />
By Nicole Minieri, contributing writer<br />
If you ask Redwood City resident Bob Lutticken<br />
how he feels about wine, he will more than likely<br />
reply, “Wine is life!” And perhaps that old adage was<br />
the push behind his recent decision to completely<br />
remodel the interior of his health-conscious delicatessen<br />
in order to accommodate an opulent yet cozy wine bar<br />
environment, “After 5.” Exclusively owned and operated by<br />
Lutticken himself for the last 30 years, Lutticken’s Deli, at<br />
3535 Alameda de las Pulgas in Menlo Park, is now freshly<br />
adorned with contemporary wicker chair sections coupled<br />
with customizable tables. A rich black leather couch with<br />
throw pillows and matching oversized chairs surround<br />
a custom-made, modern wooden coffee table. Exotic plants are<br />
positioned everywhere against a background of newly painted<br />
walls, nice wood floors, fine woodwork, state-of-the-art ceiling<br />
fixtures, a gorgeous fireplace and a sizeable flat-panel TV.<br />
“Lutticken’s has always been a deli and catering business, and I finally decided<br />
months ago to develop a wine bar open after 5 p.m. since we had not been open at<br />
night for a number of years, but also because there are not a lot of wine bars<br />
in the area where we are located,” said Lutticken. “Plus, I wanted to create<br />
a nightlife atmosphere where a husband and wife, along with their families,<br />
could feel comfortable coming in for a drink. Interior designer Michael Black,<br />
who happens to be one of my regular customers, came up with the entire interior<br />
concept. I then gave him a budget to work with and he did a fantastic job in<br />
staying within that budget. We even remodeled the outside patio area, which<br />
is moveable. I love it and really enjoy coming here. It’s almost like Sonoma!”<br />
And luckily, being the only after-hours, family-friendly wine bar along the<br />
Alameda de las Pulgas strip has already worked to Lutticken’s advantage.<br />
“Over the last few years, the economic downturn has had a big effect on this<br />
area. Business was slow and it was getting to where the rent was so high that<br />
we were going to have to make some decisions as to whether Lutticken’s Deli<br />
was going to remain on the property or go. But now my business has really<br />
picked up and is very good as a result of the remodel. Our customers keep<br />
coming back and back; it’s not just a one-time visit.”<br />
During dusk hours, returning Lutticken’s Deli customers get to order topquality<br />
fine wines by the bottle or glass and an assortment of various beers<br />
ranging from domestic to micro, in addition to small-plate entrees of sliders,<br />
ribs, nachos, chicken wings, pizza, quesadillas, salads and cheese plates.<br />
During the daylight hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lutticken’s Deli still offers a<br />
unique breakfast and lunch menu that has given the establishment nothing but<br />
top ratings. “My deli in Menlo Park is a nice operation and has gained quite a<br />
reputation for being the best in the area for many years,” said Lutticken. “We<br />
offer a very good variety of deli food selections. Our salads are exceptional<br />
and we make excellent paninis. We also have a full-service specialty coffee<br />
bar. Our customers really appreciate what we offer and are the best in the world.”<br />
According to comments posted on review websites such as Yelp,<br />
Lutticken’s customers think the world of him, his deli and his newest venture,<br />
too! Customer feedback includes: “<strong>The</strong> Valencia Reuben — think coleslaw,<br />
not sauerkraut — was the best sandwich I’ve had in a while.” “Bob does a<br />
tremendous job with his sandwiches. <strong>The</strong> ingredients are always fresh and<br />
that’s what really makes the difference.” “We had so much fun. Food, service<br />
and wine were all fabulous.” “Great deli. Friendly and relaxing. Clean with<br />
air conditioning. Wi-Fi is available. Good food. I had a nice chef’s salad.<br />
Easy parking. I will be back.” “Have you been to Lutticken’s lately? OMG,<br />
the place has been totally remodeled and looks great. Same great staff and<br />
solid deli food, but now add a glass of wine or a beer or a coffee. A place to<br />
go and now to stay. You have to check it out.” “This place rocks!”<br />
Besides eating reasonably priced, fabulous food within a friendly and<br />
fun climate that “rocks,” loyal customers will soon have even more to look<br />
forward to. On Saturday, Oct. 15, Lutticken hosted his very first vintage<br />
wine tasting bar. <strong>The</strong> introductory event attracted everyone from the local<br />
avid wine taster to a group of curious women who stumbled upon the venue<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
during their quest for a safe place to enjoy the evening. And because the night<br />
was a real success, Lutticken is planning on having a wine tasting bar on<br />
Saturday nights once a month. He is also planning on having a karaoke night<br />
once a month, as well as a spot during the week for local-celebrity bartending<br />
night. “We are going to choose people in the neighborhood and people in the<br />
area who are well-liked and well-known to come and bartend for the night,”<br />
said Lutticken. “It’s going to be a fun thing to do!”<br />
Selecting superstars within the community should be an easy task for<br />
Lutticken since he has longtime roots in the immediate area. “I was born<br />
and raised in San Francisco,” he said. “I got married 30 years ago and after<br />
having a store in Redwood City, I decided to move here. My family and I<br />
have really enjoyed living in this area. We always go to all of the Redwood<br />
City downtown events and think it’s absolutely such a great place. And,<br />
Redwood City has been very good to me too, because most of my repeat<br />
customers happen to come from here. I’m very lucky!”<br />
“We offer a very good variety of<br />
deli food selections. Our salads<br />
are exceptional and we make<br />
excellent paninis.”<br />
But Lutticken is not only fortunate to have a steady stream of recurring<br />
customers, he is equally blessed with a dedicated team of more than 30<br />
employees, including manager Judy Congdon, who has been Lutticken’s<br />
right-hand person for the last three decades. “My staff is great,” said<br />
Lutticken. His team members are currently dispersed between the home deli<br />
in Menlo Park and several off-site locations. “We have a deli at the Stanford<br />
Outpatient Clinic in Redwood City, which does exceptionally well, and two<br />
other locations at Stanford Hospital that are considered to be the best within<br />
the hospital area,” added Lutticken.<br />
Whether you are looking to enjoy your first cup of gourmet java in the<br />
morning, want some delicious food and snacks midday, or just want to let the<br />
good times roll well after five, then it’s time to “chillax” at Lutticken’s Deli<br />
and/or After 5. It’s definitely a special neighborhood place where everybody<br />
knows your name and cares about you too!<br />
Like “Lutticken’s After 5” on Facebook to get updates and more information<br />
on upcoming events.<br />
Manager Judy Congdon with Bob Lutticken<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 11
Upsize your<br />
LIFE<br />
A choice of floor plans,<br />
elegant dining with<br />
chef-prepared meals,<br />
recreation, clubs and<br />
social activities.<br />
Great retirement living means upsizing<br />
your life without downsizing your lifestyle.<br />
That’s what you’ll find right here. All the<br />
comforts of single-family living without the<br />
hassles of home maintenance. You’ll enjoy<br />
great food, great neighbors and great times<br />
everything you may want today or need<br />
tomorrow to enjoy an Optimum Life ® .<br />
Call now to schedule your personal tour<br />
and ask about our move-in specials!<br />
Independent Living<br />
Personalized Assisted Living<br />
Exceptional Experiences<br />
Every Day sm<br />
485 Woodside Rd.<br />
Redwood City, CA 94061<br />
(650) 366-3900<br />
www.brookdaleliving.com<br />
Exceptional Experiences Every Day is a Service Mark of Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Nashville, TN, USA ® Reg. U.S. Patent and TM Office 00835-RES01-0310<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
P.S. <strong>The</strong> People Speak: Letters to the Editor<br />
No on Measure H and to all college board incumbents<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
<strong>The</strong> trustees’ priorities have gone astray. <strong>The</strong>y are spending money on pet<br />
projects. Instead of focusing on learning and retrofitting classrooms, they<br />
are building a mega-campus that cannot be sustained. <strong>The</strong>y have built a feebased<br />
health and fitness center, which competes with other businesses and<br />
nonprofits like the Jewish Community Center and the YMCA. New blood is<br />
needed! <strong>The</strong> college board always votes unanimously. <strong>The</strong>y are using bond<br />
measures like credit cards, not realizing what the end result will be (which<br />
will be more future bonds to sustain the campus). And, on a personal note,<br />
what’s very disturbing to me is that CSM will no longer have a horticulture<br />
program. <strong>The</strong>irs is the last in San Mateo County. A parking lot will replace<br />
the greenhouses that are there now. Shame on the trustees.<br />
Sonia Picone, Redwood City<br />
Voters should reject Measure H<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
Voters should reject Measure H, a $564 million bond for the San Mateo<br />
County Community College District (SMCCCD). When added to past bond<br />
measures of $675 million, the total not including interest would exceed $1.2<br />
billion! <strong>The</strong> owner of a $500,000 property would pay more than $6,000 to<br />
service this debt over its lifetime.<br />
SMCCCD can’t find money to give “students the classes they need.” Yet<br />
they found money to build (in their words) first-class faculty housing with<br />
stunning views and rents at half the market average. One cluster of housing<br />
was built on Cañada College property, formerly the home of a checkerspot<br />
butterfly colony. <strong>The</strong> new faculty housing is also tax-exempt, meaning they<br />
won’t pay their new tax on us!<br />
<strong>The</strong> district should sell the faculty housing and get out of the real estate<br />
business. If they want to subsidize staff housing, it should show in their<br />
budget as part of the compensation package. <strong>The</strong>y should also sell their<br />
property in Half Moon Bay.<br />
<strong>The</strong> district has used past bond money to create a luxurious private athletic<br />
club, which competes with taxpaying health clubs. And, don’t think that<br />
salaries won’t go up.<br />
New money for buildings frees up old money for salary increases.<br />
Jack Hickey, Redwood City<br />
Surprise fan in the Sequoia stands<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
In a world where sports professionals seem so detached from the real world, it<br />
was refreshing to see such an incredibly busy sports figure in our stands one<br />
Friday night. That man is the head coach of our San Francisco 49ers, Mr. Jim<br />
Harbaugh.<br />
To the amazement of the fans in the stands at Terremere Field, Mr.<br />
Harbaugh sat with his darling daughter and watched our Sequoia Cherokees<br />
play. Needless to say, the kids in the stands were thrilled to see him. He gave<br />
a kind handshake and graciously spoke to any student who dared approached<br />
him. I am sure his world is a busy one, but I do not know if he realizes how<br />
much that half-hour he shared with the students at Sequoia meant to them.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y are being raised in a society that elevates athletes and professional<br />
coaches. In turn, many of these professionals act unapproachable and<br />
arrogant at times. I want to thank Jim Harbaugh for showing the kids that<br />
there are true gentlemen in the sports world who still care about and enjoy the<br />
Friday night lights.<br />
Karen Lopiparo, Redwood City<br />
<strong>The</strong> Saltworks proposal is the solution to flooding<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
Enough is enough. Our community at Friendly Acres is tired of flooding<br />
every year and managing it alone.<br />
Our canal can’t handle the level of incoming water from Atherton, Menlo<br />
Park and other places; we’re tired of spending our hard-earned dollars and<br />
time cleaning up the mess on our own. <strong>The</strong> city needs to acknowledge our<br />
community, the impact of excessive levels of water, and solve this problem.<br />
Our community was relieved to see that the Bay Conservation<br />
Development Commission met to vote on the Bay Plan Amendment. Finally,<br />
the authorities have addressed the impact the rising bay and excessive water<br />
can have on Redwood City and throughout the Bay Area — but we still need<br />
a solution.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Saltworks proposal, which includes a three-mile levee to protect<br />
against sea-level rise, water overflow and a tidal restoration area, is a real<br />
solution. And, it is paid for by the developer. Finally, we have a solution to<br />
protect Friendly Acres and so many of our neighbors.<br />
Magdalena Mora, Redwood City<br />
Another neighbor says it would increase flooding<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
I live in Harbor Village on East Bayshore Road and was flooded as recently<br />
as January. I had to wade through water to get in and out of my house. This<br />
has been happening for years, and Cargill has never lifted a finger to help<br />
us. In fact, the levees they have built around the salt ponds have actually<br />
prevented water from being able to flow out to the bay like it would naturally<br />
— backing up in our neighborhood instead. If the salt ponds are developed,<br />
city reports say that the project could actually increase flooding because of<br />
all the new impermeable surfaces they would build (see page 61 of the Notice<br />
of Preparation). In addition, 30,000 more people would be at risk of being<br />
flooded since all they would have protecting them from rising sea levels is<br />
Cargill’s new levee, and no levee is disaster-proof. It may be convenient for<br />
developers to claim that increasing the population of our city by 30,000 will<br />
“reduce” traffic, or that putting 12,000 houses below sea level will “reduce”<br />
flooding, but that doesn’t make it true. <strong>The</strong>ir willingness to bend (or entirely<br />
subvert) the truth should give pause to all of us who truly care about the<br />
future of our city.<br />
Linda Brockett, Redwood City<br />
Vote McCarthy for City Council<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
I am writing this letter in support of Paul McCarthy, who is running for a seat<br />
on the Redwood City Council. I have known Sgt. McCarthy since I joined the<br />
Senior Volunteer Program at the CHP Redwood City area office in 2005. This<br />
is one of the best volunteer programs I have been privileged to belong to!<br />
I just want to let the public know what a wonderful human being Paul McCarthy is.<br />
He has always supported/encouraged our Senior Volunteer Program and<br />
has an open-door policy for all of us. He makes sure we have lots of activities<br />
to keep us busy all year long. We are treated as “family” at the Redwood<br />
City California Highway Patrol. <strong>The</strong>y invite us to all of their special CHP<br />
functions. It’s amazing how lovingly and respectfully all of the officers and<br />
staff treat us senior volunteers. And we love it!<br />
Paul has never sought public office and he is not accepting contributions<br />
for his campaign. <strong>The</strong> Redwood City business community is a critical<br />
component of our local economy and he wants to ensure that their concerns<br />
are addressed. He believes that we have one of the greatest communities on<br />
the Peninsula and he wants to make a positive contribution to the future of<br />
our magnificent city. Paul wants to assist in the growth and development of<br />
our Redwood City revitalized downtown.<br />
Colleen Clarke,, Senior Volunteer for CHP Redwood City Area Office<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 13
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. If you would like<br />
to become a volunteer advocate, or just want to<br />
learn more, please attend an orientation held in<br />
their San Mateo office. Visit www.AdvocatesFC.<br />
org or call 650-212-4423 for more information.<br />
City Talk Toastmasters<br />
Join the City Talk Toastmasters to develop<br />
communication and leadership skills. <strong>The</strong> club<br />
meets the second and fourth Wednesday of<br />
each month 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Community<br />
Room at the Redwood City Main Library, 1044<br />
Middlefield Road. Contact John McDowell at<br />
johnmcd@hotmail.com or 202-390-7555 if you<br />
would like to check out a meeting, or just stop in.<br />
Visit www.toastmasters.org for more information<br />
about the Toastmasters public speaking program.<br />
CityTrees<br />
CityTrees is a nonprofit working with the Public<br />
Works Department to enhance and care for Redwood<br />
City’s urban forest. <strong>The</strong>y usually plant or prune on<br />
the third Saturday of each month. Check www.<br />
citytrees.org for a 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. <strong>The</strong>ir Redwood<br />
City classrooms offer children through age 5 and<br />
their parents a tuition-free learning environment<br />
that’s supportive and fun. <strong>The</strong>y 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. <strong>The</strong>re 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 />
Friends for Youth<br />
Do you like to play video games, shoot hoops,<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net<br />
watch baseball games or just have fun? <strong>The</strong>n<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. <strong>The</strong>re 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 sessions, call<br />
650-482-2871 or e-mail mentor@friendsforyouth.org.<br />
Friends of the Redwood City<br />
Public Library<br />
<strong>The</strong> Friends support the mission of the four<br />
Redwood City libraries to fully serve the<br />
community. Through membership and sales of<br />
donated books, the Friends fund a variety of<br />
community programs, including school literacy<br />
outreach at Redwood City grammar schools. <strong>The</strong><br />
Friends fund approximately $65,000 in programs<br />
each fiscal year.<br />
Visit their newly expanded bookstore at the<br />
Main Library (1044 Middlefield Road), where<br />
they sell a wide variety of books in excellent<br />
condition and at extremely low prices. Or visit<br />
them at the Redwood City Farmers Market on<br />
Saturday mornings, where they sell books for 50<br />
cents each. When you visit the store, consider<br />
becoming a Friend — support starts at only $10.<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. 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 website at<br />
www.habitatgsf.org.<br />
Get Involved!<br />
Hearing Loss Association<br />
of the Peninsula<br />
Hearing Loss Association is a volunteer,<br />
international organization of hard-of-hearing<br />
people and their relatives and friends. <strong>The</strong><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 the<br />
first Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the<br />
second-floor conference room at the Redwood City<br />
Public Library, 1044 Middlefield Road. Please call<br />
Marj at 650-593-6760 with any 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 website at<br />
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<br />
out the best in kids” has been their mission for<br />
over 80 years. <strong>The</strong> Optimist Club of Redwood<br />
City meets every Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Alana’s<br />
Cafe, 1020 Main St. For information, visit www.<br />
optimist.org or call President Ed Rosen at 650-<br />
366-7589 or Membership Chair John Butterfield at<br />
650-366-8803. Or just come join them for lunch to<br />
learn more about how you can make a difference<br />
to the youth in our community.<br />
Peninsula College Fund<br />
PCF enables underrepresented graduating high<br />
school seniors from the Peninsula to achieve<br />
their dreams of college education by providing fouryear<br />
mentors, summer jobs and internships, and<br />
critical four-year scholarships. PCF needs your<br />
support. Become a mentor; provide a summer job<br />
or internship; spread the word with your public<br />
relations, marketing or grant-writing skills; help<br />
read applications or interview candidates; become<br />
a donor or create a donor team; or contribute to the<br />
general fund. Visit www.peninsulacollegefund.<br />
org or contact Charles Schmuck at cschmuck@<br />
pacbell.net or 650-561-9534.<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 />
(continues on page 24)
Community Interest<br />
Sequoia Hospital Celebrates Topping Off:<br />
New Hospital Pavilion Now Halfway Complete<br />
Sequoia Hospital announced the “topping off” of their new hospital pavilion.<br />
<strong>The</strong> pavilion’s concrete structure is now halfway complete and the toppingoff<br />
celebrates the last structural concrete pour being placed within the new<br />
structure. <strong>The</strong> new pavilion will deliver care in larger, private rooms with<br />
clinically advanced equipment.<br />
<strong>The</strong> existing hospital, including the Emergency Department and the Birth<br />
Center, is being remodeled, modernized and brought up to all state-mandated<br />
seismic requirements of California SB 1953. Overall, the new hospital<br />
campus is designed to meet the needs of future generations, carrying on a<br />
60-plus-year tradition of providing award-wining care to the community.<br />
“Our new pavilion is all about the patient,” said Glenna Vaskelis, president<br />
and CEO of Sequoia Hospital. “We are known for personalized, outstanding<br />
care. Our new medical campus provides our physicians, nurses and staff with<br />
new technology, a patient-friendly environment and the resources they need<br />
to take special care of every patient who comes through our doors.”<br />
“Sequoia’s new campus is designed for patients and their families,” said<br />
Stanley Deresinski, M.D., president of the medical staff. “Physicians in the<br />
community are very excited to see Sequoia’s vision come to reality, providing<br />
patients with award-winning care and physicians with a place to provide that<br />
care using the most advanced medical techniques.”<br />
New Pavilion Highlights:<br />
• Four-story pavilion with 104 new beds. Total campus bed count will<br />
remain the same at 167.<br />
• 148,000 square feet<br />
• Girdlestone Family Lobby on the garden level<br />
• Award-winning Heart and Vascular Institute<br />
• Women’s Integrated Health at Sequoia<br />
• State-of-the-art medical and surgical services, diagnostic and procedure areas<br />
• Three floors of larger, home-like private patient rooms with guest<br />
accommodations and free wireless access<br />
• Advanced technology, including Hybrid Cath Lab and Hybrid OR<br />
• Terraced landscaped areas with fountain and rooftop healing garden<br />
and investment services. Many value-added services — such as free online<br />
bill pay, paperless eStatements, members-only vehicle sales and the no-cost<br />
service of a personal auto shopper — will also be featured.<br />
About San Mateo Credit Union: Founded in 1952, SMCU is a memberowned<br />
financial institution that currently serves more than 68,000 individuals<br />
and manages more than $600 million in assets. Headquartered in Redwood<br />
City, the credit union currently has seven branches throughout San Mateo<br />
County and in the City of Palo Alto. For more information or to locate a<br />
branch, visit www.smcu.org or call SMCU’s Contact Center at 650-363-1725<br />
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.<br />
2011 Women’s Health Conference<br />
Saturday, Nov. 12<br />
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.<br />
Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club<br />
2900 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park<br />
Sponsored by Peninsula Urology Center & Sequoia Hospital<br />
<strong>The</strong> public is invited to attend this essential Women’s Health Conference<br />
presented by leading Bay Area physicians who practice at Sequoia Hospital.<br />
Today’s most important health topics will be covered. Learn about current<br />
thoughts on women’s heart disease, healthy cooking, vitamin supplements<br />
and bone health as well as restoring our bodies. Learn how to take the stress<br />
out of your life. Become a healthier you! See all topics and speakers at www.<br />
pucenter.com/conference.<br />
This free conference includes a complimentary breakfast and lunch<br />
prepared by the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. <strong>The</strong> conference is<br />
limited to 165 participants. To register, visit www.pucenter.com/conference or<br />
call 650-306-1018. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to improve your<br />
overall health and well-being.<br />
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) Corporate Real Estate oversees the new<br />
pavilion project. Sequoia Hospital was built in 1950 and will meet all statemandated<br />
seismic requirements of California SB 1953 when the rebuilding<br />
is fully complete in 2013. Additionally, the hospital remains open and<br />
fully operational during construction. To learn more, please visit www.<br />
sequoiahospital.org.<br />
Redwood City’s Lourdes Carini Named SMCU Manager<br />
of New EPA Branch<br />
San Mateo Credit Union (SMCU) gears up to open its newest branch in East<br />
Palo Alto. This will be the eighth branch location, and SMCU President and<br />
CEO Barry Jolette has announced Lourdes Carini as branch manager. <strong>The</strong><br />
former manager of SMCU’s North Fair Oaks branch on Middlefield Road in<br />
Redwood City, Carini has been with the credit union for two years.<br />
“We are delighted that our new branch will be presided over by Ms.<br />
Carini,” states Jolette. “Her skills and talents have served our members well,<br />
and her experience at our North Fair Oaks branch as well as her service in the<br />
community will be a valuable asset in East Palo Alto.”<br />
Adds Carini, “San Mateo Credit Union is a great fit in East Palo Alto. I<br />
am pleased that SMCU has given me the chance to provide comprehensive<br />
financial services to East Palo Alto. I am honored to be a part of this exciting time.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> new branch will be located 1735 East Bayshore Road in the<br />
Ravenswood 101 Shopping Center. Members can take advantage of<br />
traditional financial services, including savings, checking and money<br />
market accounts; credit cards; auto loans; mortgages; retirement accounts<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 15
Cultural Events<br />
Fox <strong>The</strong>atre and Club Fox<br />
2209 Broadway, downtown Redwood City<br />
Tickets available at www.clubfoxrwc.<br />
com, 650-369-7770 or tickets.foxrwc.com<br />
Fox <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
• Kalapana Live! 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.<br />
• Broadway by the Year. 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov.<br />
17 – Sunday, Nov. 20.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Fab Four. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.<br />
Club Fox<br />
• Cold Feat (Club Fox Blues Jam). 7 p.m.<br />
Wednesday, Nov. 9.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Stone Foxes and Vanaprasta. 9 p.m.<br />
Thursday, Nov. 10.<br />
• New Sun CD Release. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.<br />
• Aja Vu Steely Dan Show with Alien Cowboys.<br />
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.<br />
• Silly Sundays featuring Rodger Lizaola, Alvin<br />
Williams and Frankie Quinones. 8 p.m. Sunday,<br />
Nov. 13.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Night of Tele-Evangelists (Club Fox Blues<br />
Jam). 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Coffis Brothers & Allofasudden. 8 p.m.<br />
Thursday, Nov. 17.<br />
• Journey Unauthorized. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18.<br />
• Damage Inc., Roses and Guns, Points North and<br />
• Bad Boy Eddy. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.<br />
• Gelb Music Presents Gelbapalooza I. 3 p.m.<br />
Sunday, Nov. 20.<br />
• Daniel Castro (Club Fox Blues Jam). 7 p.m.<br />
Wednesday, Nov. 23.<br />
• An Evening of Pink Floyd with “House of<br />
Floyd”. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.<br />
• Kaye Bohler (Club Fox Blues Jam). 7 p.m.<br />
Wednesday, Nov. 30.<br />
San Mateo County<br />
History Museum<br />
2200 Broadway St., Redwood City<br />
650-299-0141<br />
www.historysmc.org<br />
Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.<br />
$5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students,<br />
free for children 5 and under<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net<br />
off-site programs. <strong>The</strong> museum houses the<br />
research library and archives that currently hold<br />
over 100,000 photographs, prints, books and<br />
documents collected by the San Mateo County<br />
Historical Association.<br />
‘First Fridays’ Storytime<br />
Big Red Barn: Stories From the Past<br />
Friday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m.<br />
Come listen to a story about life on a farm. Hear<br />
the story “Big Red Barn” and make your own<br />
miniature sheep to take home. <strong>The</strong>n join us in the<br />
museum’s Nature’s Bounty exhibit to learn about<br />
farming in San Mateo County. General admission.<br />
Hands-On History<br />
Origami Holiday Fun With Linda Mihara<br />
Saturday, Nov. 12, 1–4 p.m<br />
San Mateo County History Museum will present<br />
a lecture on origami, followed by an origami<br />
workshop led by Linda Tomoko Mihara. Mihara<br />
began folding origami at the age of 5. She is a<br />
third-generation Japanese American who learned<br />
the art from her parents and grandparents. Attendees<br />
will learn how to create an easy Santa, a tree and<br />
star just in time for the holidays. A materials fee<br />
of $3 for members and $7 for nonmembers will be<br />
charged. RSVP by Nov. 4 as space is limited.<br />
New Exhibit at History Museum<br />
Honoring Steve Jobs<br />
<strong>The</strong> San Mateo County History Museum is proud<br />
to announce a new addition to our permanent<br />
exhibit San Mateo County History Makers:<br />
Entrepreneurs Who Changed the World.<br />
<strong>The</strong> new exhibit features an original 1988<br />
NeXT computer and will discuss NeXT Inc., the<br />
company local Woodside resident Steve Jobs<br />
founded in Redwood City after leaving Apple in<br />
1985. Tim Berners-Lee used NeXT technology<br />
to create the World Wide Web and, according to<br />
Jobs’ 2005 Stanford commencement speech, “the<br />
technology … developed at NeXT is at the heart<br />
of Apple’s current renaissance.”<br />
Also on view are books, brochures and an<br />
original NeXT decal given away free with the<br />
purchase of the computer.<br />
Tribal Communities in a Bountiful<br />
LandscapeLifeways of the Ohlone<br />
Indians of the San Francisco and<br />
Monterey Bay Area<br />
On the Courthouse Docket<br />
Saturday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m.<br />
Local archaeologist Mark Hylkema will discuss<br />
the archaeology and ethnography of the ancestral<br />
Ohlone people.<br />
In 1769, when the first Spanish expedition<br />
reached Monterey and learned of San Francisco Bay,<br />
they encountered numerous tribal communities<br />
that lived in a bountiful landscape. Over a period<br />
of over 10,000 years, tribal communities adapted<br />
to several major environmental transitions, and<br />
archaeological research has found that tribes<br />
Cruz County coast developed an early focus<br />
on marine resources. Neighboring tribes of the<br />
Santa Clara Valley and San Francisco Bay shore<br />
developed a different economic focus, creating an<br />
exchange system that eventually promoted more<br />
complex levels of social organization.<br />
Hylkema is the Santa Cruz District Archaeologist<br />
for California State Parks and manages cultural<br />
resources within 32 parks in an area ranging<br />
from San Francisco to the Pajaro River. Hylkema<br />
also works on many other projects throughout<br />
the state and has 31 years’ experience in<br />
California archaeology, with an emphasis on<br />
Native American culture. In addition to his role<br />
with State Parks, he is an adjunct professor of<br />
anthropology at Foothill College and has taught<br />
anthropology courses at Santa Clara University,<br />
University of California at Santa Cruz, De Anza<br />
College, Ohlone College and Cabrillo College.<br />
After the presentation, visit the Nature’s Bounty<br />
exhibit and see a chert scraper over 5,000 years<br />
old that was discovered during Hylkema’s dig<br />
at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. It is the oldest<br />
artifact found in San Mateo County.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Courthouse Docket is a monthly series<br />
of lectures, presentations and performances<br />
exploring different themes in local history. <strong>The</strong><br />
program is held in the San Mateo County History<br />
Museum’s historic Courtroom A. <strong>The</strong> Courthouse<br />
Docket 2011 series is sponsored by Cypress Lawn<br />
Heritage Foundation.<br />
Images of America: Woodside<br />
Author event and book signing<br />
Thalia Lubin and Bob Dougherty<br />
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2–4 p.m.<br />
Local authors and historians Thalia Lubin and<br />
Bob Dougherty will sign copies of their new<br />
book, “Woodside.” <strong>The</strong> town prides itself on<br />
having no traffic lights and giving horses the<br />
right of way. Just released, this book contains<br />
dozens of images of the village and surrounding<br />
countryside. <strong>The</strong> book sells for $21.99.<br />
Free Admission Day<br />
Family Past-Times Program<br />
Holiday Tree Treasures & Handbell Choir<br />
Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.<br />
Create holiday ornaments to take home! Try your<br />
hand at making these old-fashioned holiday tree<br />
treasures: baubles with old-time images, colorful<br />
gingerbread ornaments, Dresdens, gewgaws,<br />
Sebnitz ornaments and <strong>Chris</strong>tmas cornucopias.<br />
<strong>The</strong> San Francisco State University Handbell Choir<br />
will perform a variety of holiday tunes at 1 p.m. Held<br />
in conjunction with Redwood City’s Hometown<br />
Holidays celebration and free to the public.<br />
58th Annual Exhibition for<br />
the Society of Western Artists<br />
<strong>The</strong> History Museum is housed inside the historic<br />
1910 County Courthouse. Over 50,000 people<br />
<strong>The</strong> Society of Western Artists will be presenting<br />
visit the museum each year, and the number of<br />
a demonstration of a three-color watercolor<br />
local residents who hold memberships is growing.<br />
painting on Nov. 19, 1 p.m., at the SWA Gallery,<br />
<strong>The</strong> History Museum teaches approximately spread along the San Mateo County and Santa 2625 Broadway, Redwood City.<br />
14,000 children each year through the on- and (continues on page 22)
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 17
<strong>Chris</strong> <strong>Sakelarios</strong>:<br />
Overcoming Obstacles and Inspiring Those She ‘Walks’ With<br />
By Julie McCoy, contributing writer<br />
A runner most of her life<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong>, 52, who won gold medals in both<br />
the 3K and 5K racewalking events her first time<br />
participating in the Huntsman World Senior<br />
Games, has been a runner nearly her entire life.<br />
In fact, she began running two weeks before her<br />
sixth birthday.<br />
When <strong>Sakelarios</strong> was about 9 years old, she<br />
was the first woman to run in the Bay to Breakers.<br />
At a time when women were not allowed to<br />
participate, she and her father, Nick <strong>Sakelarios</strong>,<br />
entered the event as father and son, and, well, it<br />
worked. After all, <strong>Chris</strong> is a unisex name and she<br />
had short hair, so no one noticed. She also ran the<br />
Half Moon Bay to Marine World Marathon when<br />
she was 9. (Marine World was then in Belmont.)<br />
By age 12, <strong>Sakelarios</strong> was already a seasoned<br />
pro when it came to running. She started racing<br />
worldwide at 14. She is a state and national track<br />
and field champion. “She’s been athletic most of<br />
her life,” said her father, who coached her in track<br />
and field for a number of years.<br />
Trained by a long-distance coach<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong> has a coach, Philippe Gonzalez of<br />
France, whom she met while training at San Jose<br />
City College. Gonzalez, who has been her coach<br />
for a year, has gone back to France but, via email,<br />
gives her specific exercise drills and records what<br />
she does. “He can tweak it a little if need be,”<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong> said. “He writes my program.”<br />
Battle with breast cancer a<br />
mere bump in the road<br />
<strong>The</strong>re’s a saying, “That which doesn’t kill you<br />
makes you stronger,” and for <strong>Sakelarios</strong>, this<br />
certainly is the case. In 2003, she was diagnosed<br />
with breast cancer and underwent a right breast<br />
mastectomy. <strong>The</strong>re was a time when she couldn’t<br />
run due to the cancer, but she never let it consume<br />
her. “It was becoming my life,” she said. “[But] it<br />
was just part of my life.” <strong>The</strong> bout with cancer has<br />
made her a stronger, more courageous person. She<br />
has had yearly mammograms and has fortunately<br />
been cancer-free ever since.<br />
A certified personal trainer<br />
In addition to keeping herself fit with her own<br />
athletic endeavors, <strong>Sakelarios</strong>, a certified personal<br />
trainer who specializes in biomechanics, helps<br />
other people get fit, too.<br />
Menlo Park resident Monica Ewing has<br />
known <strong>Sakelarios</strong> since the spring of 2009 and<br />
is currently receiving personal training from<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong>. A friend of Ewing’s, Tim Heath,<br />
invited her to <strong>Sakelarios</strong>’ workout class and she<br />
got hooked. “I was impressed with her from<br />
the very beginning,” Ewing said. “She has an<br />
unassuming way of instructing all her clients,<br />
whom she universally refers to as ‘athletes.’<br />
<strong>Chris</strong> is super-knowledgeable about the body. She<br />
never ceases to amaze me how she can diagnose<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
imbalances and causes of pain just by watching<br />
someone walk.”<br />
When Ewing first met <strong>Sakelarios</strong>, she was “an<br />
out-of-shape asthmatic who had never run a mile<br />
in her life.” But after working out with <strong>Sakelarios</strong><br />
for a few months, she was “running miles and loving it.”<br />
Said Ewing, “She always makes you feel like<br />
you can do anything, and she shows respect to<br />
everyone. Instead of the stereotypical trainer who<br />
screams in his or her athlete’s faces, <strong>Chris</strong> quietly<br />
says ‘please.’ And her style works better than<br />
any I’ve seen. Athletes who could hardly walk<br />
because of knee pain are running miles pain-free<br />
to this day.”<br />
Ewing added, “<strong>Chris</strong> knows and loves everyone.<br />
She and I have become close friends, and whenever<br />
I go anywhere with her, she always stops to talk<br />
to someone or waves at a passing car. I joke that<br />
if she were to visit Antarctica, she would find<br />
someone she knows. And she always remembers names.”<br />
Said Ewing, “<strong>Chris</strong> is a hard worker and passionate<br />
about what she does. She works long hours and<br />
puts her heart into her work. She is determined to<br />
succeed and never listens to the naysayers. To her,<br />
negativity is not worth her time.”<br />
Ewing has recommended <strong>Sakelarios</strong> as a personal<br />
trainer to many of her friends. “When it comes<br />
to personal training, she is a miracle worker,”<br />
Ewing said. “And she does it without working you<br />
to exhaustion. Weeks go by with seemingly little<br />
effort, then one day you realize you’re in much<br />
better shape than expected. <strong>Chris</strong> also is a great<br />
friend, a great boss and a great teacher.”<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong>, who trains people of all ages,<br />
believes that being older isn’t an excuse for<br />
not being in shape. For example, she trains her<br />
94-year-old great-aunt, Louise Rucker. She<br />
also trains former Redwood City Mayor Georgi<br />
LaBerge. “Not only is she a very capable trainer,<br />
but she has a very generous spirit,” said LaBerge,<br />
who was mayor from 1990 to 1992 and currently<br />
serves as executive director of the Redwood City<br />
Library Foundation. “She will do almost anything<br />
for someone who needs help. She is able to spend<br />
time with you. She is very much able to identify<br />
problems you might be having and to help you<br />
deal with it. She gives a lot of time to clients she<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong> with her father, Nick<br />
works with at the gym. She does that for almost<br />
anybody that comes to her path.”<br />
LaBerge said, “I just can’t say enough about<br />
what a good trainer she is. She is quiet and shy,<br />
but she really understands how to help a body<br />
do its best. She’s very generous. She’s very<br />
kind. She’s appreciative of everything. She has<br />
a wonderful family. We hope she’ll continue [to<br />
compete] next year and break some records.”<br />
LaBerge added that <strong>Sakelarios</strong> helped her to become<br />
a racewalker and that she has more energy.<br />
LaBerge and her husband, Warren Dale, were<br />
with <strong>Sakelarios</strong> at the Hunstman World Senior<br />
Games in Utah. In fact, LaBerge competed as<br />
“She can’t say no to anybody. She’s a do-gooder.<br />
She can’t help anybody enough.”<br />
well and won two bronze medals, thanks to help<br />
from <strong>Sakelarios</strong>.<br />
Victor Vari, a professor at Santa Clara<br />
University, and his wife, Julia, also receive<br />
training from <strong>Sakelarios</strong>. “She is a very giving<br />
person, very dedicated to her work,” Victor Vari<br />
said. “<strong>The</strong> main quality of the young girl is she is<br />
very dedicated.”<br />
Added Julia Vari, “She’s an exceptional lady<br />
and very serious about her relationships. Always<br />
caring about all the people she works with. She’s<br />
just an exceptional person. We are still operating<br />
because of her. She goes all out to assist those<br />
with very serious problems. When she becomes<br />
your friend, she’ll just do anything for you. She’s<br />
very bright. She’s a charmer. Very pleasant.”<br />
No challenge is too big for <strong>Sakelarios</strong>, who also<br />
helped Shirley Martin, a 600-pound woman, lose<br />
200 pounds. “No one wanted to take a chance of<br />
helping her because of liability,” she said. “I was<br />
honored to train her, to help her, to see the light<br />
come back to her eyes again. It was exhausting,<br />
draining, [yet also] rewarding. I was just as driven<br />
as she was. To me she was living in black and<br />
white and I helped her find color.”<br />
“We call her Mother <strong>Chris</strong> (like Mother Teresa),”<br />
Nick <strong>Sakelarios</strong> said. “She can’t say no to anybody.<br />
She’s a do-gooder. She can’t help anybody enough.<br />
She’s actually quite shy. Other people will ask her<br />
for help and she will never turn them away. That<br />
is how <strong>Chris</strong> is. Because of her personal training,<br />
people say, ‘I have this problem.’ <strong>The</strong>n she says,<br />
‘Let me see what I can do.’”<br />
A business owner, too<br />
As if being a star athlete and personal trainer<br />
isn’t enough, <strong>Sakelarios</strong> also owns and operates<br />
the Backyard Coffee Company, formerly<br />
Sportivo Coffee Bar, at 965 Brewster Ave. in<br />
Redwood City. She recently learned that her<br />
great-grandmother had a restaurant called <strong>The</strong><br />
Backyard and decided to honor her.<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong>’ dad; her mom, Beverly; her sister<br />
Nina and her brother Nick Jr., who all live in<br />
Redwood City, and even her 94-year-old greataunt<br />
help out at the shop.<br />
Like most businesses, Backyard Coffee<br />
Company — which also houses a gym in which<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong> provides her fitness training — has had<br />
a hard time in this sluggish economy. But even<br />
though business is slow, she believes in the people<br />
of Redwood City and remains optimistic. “You<br />
just get up in the morning, put your feet on the<br />
floor and go through the day,” she said.<br />
<strong>Sakelarios</strong> credits her landlord, Bill Caplain, for<br />
helping her out in these challenging times. “I will<br />
pay him back every penny owed, but he has just<br />
been very lenient in hard times,” she said. “He has<br />
helped me and then I help people. It’s just one big circle.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Backyard Coffee Company donates money<br />
to local schools and you’ll find artwork from local<br />
artists hanging on the walls.<br />
“<strong>Chris</strong> often thinks up new, innovative ideas to<br />
make her business better,” Ewing explained. “Some work;<br />
some don’t. But she always keeps trying. She<br />
loves spending time in the coffee bar, especially<br />
on Sundays, chatting with her customers. She<br />
hugs everyone. She grew up in Redwood City and<br />
knows and cares about her community.”<br />
Helping to bring back the fireworks<br />
For the last couple of years, Redwood City has<br />
been unable to hold fireworks on the Fourth<br />
of July due to the financial constraints of the<br />
Peninsula Celebration Association, which<br />
sponsors the show. <strong>Sakelarios</strong> has met with two<br />
City Council members to let them know she<br />
has started a committee to raise money so that<br />
Redwood City can bring the fireworks back next<br />
year, and they have said they will do anything to<br />
help. <strong>Sakelarios</strong> would like to hold some kind of<br />
fundraiser at the Backyard Coffee Company and<br />
donate the proceeds to the fireworks celebration.<br />
She estimated that if each person in Redwood<br />
City, which has a population of about 76,000<br />
people, contributed just $1 to the cause, it would<br />
cover the costs needed.<br />
With her usual “do-gooder” attitude, <strong>Sakelarios</strong><br />
said of the fundraising goal, “We’d be able to do<br />
it.” We bet she will.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 19
RWC Youth Hold Rally to Halt Bullying<br />
Curbing bullying can start by simply reaching out<br />
— a message local teens emphasized during an<br />
anti-bullying rally and concert at the Fox <strong>The</strong>atre.<br />
Started last year, the Young Dreamer Network<br />
is a youth development program run by the<br />
Redwood City–based nonprofit Dream Volunteers.<br />
Working with local teens, the program focuses<br />
on volunteer and leadership opportunities. Its<br />
first big event will focus on a topic chosen by<br />
the teens: bullying. Teen members of the Young<br />
Dreamer Network hosted a concert and rally on<br />
Oct. 24 for about 800 local middle school students<br />
to launch an anti-bullying campaign.<br />
“Bullying is very important in our lives right<br />
now,” said 16-year-old Angelina Laus, a junior at<br />
Summit Preparatory High School in Redwood City.<br />
Laus added that all the teens in the Young<br />
Dreamer Network could relate to having seen<br />
bullying or being bullied. <strong>The</strong> event’s goal is<br />
to stress the importance of sharing instances of<br />
bullying with others, she said.<br />
Sean Story, a 16-year-old sophomore at Everest<br />
Public High School in Redwood City, added that<br />
the group decided to focus on middle school students<br />
since kids are often finding themselves and their<br />
friends at that time. In addition, Story thought it<br />
was an impressionable age during which, with the<br />
right influences, negative habits could be changed.<br />
Making a change, Story said, comes through<br />
communication. Many programs separate the bully<br />
and the person being bullied. Story believes the<br />
two should work together to solve the problem.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> rally is to bring about awareness and to<br />
join forces,” said Story, who wanted middle school<br />
kids to be empowered and feel good about themselves.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event presentation included a challenge to<br />
those in attendance to befriend those who may be<br />
getting bullied. Bystanders, the teens explained,<br />
are important. <strong>The</strong>y have the power to befriend<br />
those going through a difficult time or explain to<br />
another why their actions are wrong.<br />
While smaller efforts have been taken on by the<br />
group, this is its first big event.<br />
“Dream Volunteers empowers youths to be<br />
difference makers,” said Dream Volunteers<br />
Executive Director Brian Burtz.<br />
<strong>The</strong> group meets weekly after school and began<br />
“Dream Volunteers empowers youths to be<br />
difference makers”<br />
to brainstorm for an idea in the spring. Students<br />
worked hard on the content while adults helped<br />
with logistics. Getting the content led to partnerships<br />
like working with a local company to make<br />
documentary and public service announcement–<br />
style videos that can be shown, said Burtz.<br />
Sam Sobell, a 16-year-old junior from Summit,<br />
described the concert as the beginning. <strong>The</strong><br />
group hopes to do more things to curb bullying<br />
in the future. While there are no plans set, Sobell<br />
mentioned training groups of students at different<br />
schools with tools to deal with the problem. In<br />
addition, Sobell encouraged parents to talk with<br />
their kids about bullying.<br />
“For kids, it can be hard to start the conversation,”<br />
he said. “If parents start it, it could be easier.”<br />
For more information about the Young Dreamer<br />
Network, visit www.youngdreamernetwork.org.<br />
Editor’s note: This article, written by Heather Murtagh,<br />
appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper.<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
6<br />
5<br />
0<br />
368-2660<br />
Corrin Rankin<br />
234 Marshall Street #100 • Redwood City, CA 94063<br />
Se Habla Español CA Insurance Lic. #1842835<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 21
Cultural Events (Continued from page16)<br />
Joyce Barron Leopardo is an award-winning<br />
watercolorist, juror, teacher and current president<br />
of the SWA board of trustees. Her paintings are in<br />
many public and private collections, and her bold<br />
use of color makes her work exciting.<br />
SWA demonstration meetings are free and open<br />
to the public. For additional information, please<br />
contact Judith Puccini at 650-737-6084 or see<br />
www.societyofwesternartists.com for directions.<br />
Fall Show Begins Dec. 2<br />
<strong>The</strong> Society of Western Artists has its fall show<br />
at the SWA Gallery, 2625 Broadway, Redwood<br />
City, through Dec. 2, judged by Diana Jaye, SWA,<br />
Deborah Matlack, SWA, and Jeanne Nordness, SWA.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first-place award went to Evelyn Nitzberg<br />
for “Persimmon,” second place to Edna Acri for<br />
“Hello Spring” and third place to Will Maller for<br />
“Path to the Baylands.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> show’s participants are Acri, Alisan Andrews,<br />
Tom Ayers, Tom Chapman, Lynette Cook, Catherine<br />
Streets Delfs, Carrie Drilling, SWA, Maller,<br />
Nitzberg, Betty Olson, Anne Oseberg, Jan Priseo,<br />
Camilla Roos, Decker Walker, SWA, and Sherry<br />
Vockel, SWA.<br />
For additional information, please contact<br />
Judith Puccini at 650-737-6084 or see www.<br />
societyofwesternartists.com for directions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Main Gallery<br />
1018 Main St., Redwood City<br />
650-701-1018<br />
www.themaingallery.org<br />
<strong>The</strong> Main Gallery, an artists’ cooperative with<br />
23 members, showcases the work of some of the<br />
best local talent in the Bay Area. <strong>The</strong> gallery is<br />
located in the historic yellow Victorian cottage at<br />
the corner of Main and Middlefield. <strong>The</strong> gallery is<br />
open Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.<br />
and weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.<br />
Sea Shells and Sonatas<br />
<strong>The</strong> Main Gallery is proud to present the show<br />
“Sea Shells and Sonatas” with Susan Wolf and<br />
Arup Biswas, which will run now through Nov. 20.<br />
Inspiration for an artist comes from many<br />
sources. After being given a book of seashells last<br />
<strong>Chris</strong>tmas, Wolf was reminded of how beautiful<br />
they can be. She says she really enjoys making<br />
beautiful things. “My shells are not all turning<br />
out as I’d expected! Some of the particular shells<br />
I’d envisioned have not gotten beyond the first<br />
thought. Others, which I’d thought to give only a<br />
passing mention, have become points of focus.”<br />
Most of the ceramic, hand-built pieces are porcelain<br />
with much underglazing, some with a clear overglaze,<br />
some just raw. A few are made of coarser sculpture<br />
clays. But all are unique and find their own inherent<br />
beauty inspired by nature!<br />
Biswas was born in India in the foothills of the<br />
Himalayas. <strong>The</strong> pristine Himalayan beauty instilled<br />
in him a love for nature, which he rediscovered<br />
when he moved to the United States in 1992 after<br />
acquiring a master’s degree in computer science.<br />
That’s when he bought his first camera and started<br />
photographing landscapes across the country.<br />
Biswas reminisces, “I remember crying in front<br />
of the Merced River in Yosemite after seeing the<br />
first snow in my life.”<br />
Music has influenced Biswas profoundly in all<br />
his photographic works. Although music and<br />
photography are experienced by two different<br />
senses, both mediums strive to evoke similar<br />
emotional responses in the human psyche. For<br />
Biswas, a well-executed photographic print, in<br />
many ways, he says, “is like a well-orchestrated<br />
musical symphony.” He states, “Trees are my most<br />
favorite subjects to photograph. I rarely get excited<br />
by grand landscape panoramas. But the blooming<br />
dogwoods in the spring, the yellow and orange<br />
aspens in the fall and the dramatic redwood<br />
trees covered in snow make me feel alive; I start<br />
experiencing the color, form and shape throughout<br />
my whole body. I respond with my camera.<br />
<strong>The</strong> results are the recording of these intimate<br />
conversations with nature — visual sonatas.”<br />
Redwood Symphony Presents:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Ring Without Words<br />
Saturday, Nov. 19, 8–10 p.m.<br />
Cañada College Main <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City<br />
www.canadacollege.edu<br />
redwoodsymphony.org<br />
$10 (adult student), $20 in advance, $25 at<br />
door, free for children under 18<br />
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a <strong>The</strong>me<br />
of Paganini (Daniel Glover) Wagner/<br />
Maazel: <strong>The</strong> Ring Without Words<br />
Redwood Symphony<br />
Eric Kujawsky, music director<br />
Daniel Glover, piano soloist<br />
Conductor Lorin Maazel created a 70-minute<br />
symphony comprising sections from all four of<br />
Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung operas, including<br />
“Ride of the Valkyries” and other famous sections.<br />
About Redwood Symphony: Redwood Symphony<br />
is an all-volunteer orchestra dedicated to the<br />
performance of ambitious, contemporary repertoire<br />
as well as the orchestral classics. <strong>The</strong> innovative<br />
programming and emphasis on education are two<br />
reasons so many of the most talented musicians<br />
from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area volunteer<br />
their time to play, and why our audience and local<br />
critics are so enthusiastic.<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
Insurance Tips: Six Ways to Save Money on Life Insurance<br />
By Hector Flamenco, Special to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />
It’s very important to purchase a life insurance policy when you are young so that<br />
you can protect your as well as your family’s future. <strong>The</strong> policy gives you the<br />
opportunity to provide income for your family to meet their most essential<br />
needs when you will no longer be with them. By starting early, you realize the premium<br />
savings of those in good health and lock in that rate for the term of the policy.<br />
You buy a life insurance policy to secure the future of your family<br />
members and, at the same time, save money. <strong>The</strong>se six tips will help you save<br />
money when buying a life insurance policy.<br />
Shop thoroughly before buying a policy<br />
Different insurance companies charge different premiums on the same types<br />
of insurance policies. Take time to find out the most suitable insurance policy<br />
for your needs, with the most affordable premium you can pay. Thus, it is<br />
very important on your part that you shop around carefully before you decide<br />
to buy a life insurance policy.<br />
Buy an insurance policy only if you need it<br />
Buying a life insurance policy is important, but first you must understand<br />
your financial responsibilities to secure the future of your family members.<br />
Find out how much money your family would need to maintain their<br />
lifestyles in case you pass away. Consider carrying coverage that will pay off<br />
the mortgage on your home to relieve your spouse of that burden.<br />
Make your premium payments annually<br />
It is better to make the premium payments on your insurance policy on a yearly<br />
basis. Most of the insurers permit you to make monthly, quarterly, semi-annually<br />
or annual payments. It may sound suitable to pay your premiums on monthly<br />
basis, but you’ll end up paying an installment fee in addition to the premium.<br />
Try to improve your health<br />
If your health is not good, you will find it difficult to buy a life insurance<br />
policy. Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure can<br />
make life insurance costly. <strong>The</strong> healthier you become, the lower your life<br />
insurance premium will be.<br />
Purchase life insurance as the need arises<br />
One good advantage to buying a life insurance policy at the earliest possible<br />
time is that you will have a low premium to pay on your insurance policy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> policy becomes more costly as your age increases. You will find that<br />
most of the insurance policies give you a choice to renew your coverage<br />
before the term of the policy ends without submitting to a medical exam.<br />
Request a reassessment in case your health improves<br />
Once you buy a life insurance policy, visit your doctor regularly and follow<br />
his advice. As your health improves, you can get quotes on another policy<br />
based on your new healthier lifestyle.<br />
Apart from this, it’s a good idea to get as much insurance as you can for as<br />
little as you can. Search for a policy that will provide you more coverage<br />
at low cost, such as term life. <strong>The</strong> cheapest option is usually no-load life<br />
insurance, where agents take a small fee for servicing the policy rather than a<br />
large commission.<br />
Editor’s note: This article is for general information only and is not a professional consultation.<br />
Always seek specific information from a licensed insurance professional. Hector Flamenco is<br />
an agent with State Farm Insurance. Visit his website at www.flamencoinsurance.com.<br />
Senior Activities<br />
<strong>The</strong> following activities are open to the public during the month of November<br />
at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City.<br />
Friday Movies for Everyone<br />
Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise announced)<br />
Come to the Veterans Memorial Senior Center for a free feature movie in our<br />
state-of-the-art movie theater!<br />
Nov. 4: “Buck” (postponed from an earlier date)<br />
Nov. 11: Center closed for Veterans Day<br />
Nov. 18: “Water for Elephants”<br />
Nov. 25: Center closed for Thanksgiving<br />
Veterans Day<br />
Friday, Nov. 11<br />
<strong>The</strong> center will be closed for Veterans Day.<br />
Thanksgiving Gathering Luncheon<br />
Thursday, Nov. 17, noon, Redwood Room, $7<br />
We will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal and musical entertainment<br />
will be provided. Please call 650-780-7259 for your reservations.<br />
West Bay Community Band Concert<br />
Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30–9 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., $10<br />
Ask anyone who has attended one of the concerts performed by the WBCB<br />
and they will tell you this is an event not to be missed! Come enjoy the music<br />
provided by these talented musicians! Call 650-780-7270 for more info.<br />
Thanksgiving Holiday<br />
Nov. 24 & 25<br />
<strong>The</strong> center will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.<br />
Senior Center Decorating Party<br />
Monday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m.–noon<br />
Get into the holiday spirit by helping to decorate the VMSC with your friends<br />
and family. A winter-themed extravaganza will take over the rooms and lobby<br />
of the center. A complimentary pizza lunch will be provided for those who<br />
sign up and come to decorate. To sign up, please call <strong>Chris</strong>tina at 650-780-7343.<br />
Save the dates:<br />
SamTrans Trip Planning Meeting<br />
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1:15 p.m., Goldstar Room<br />
A travel training meeting for a trip to Westfield San Francisco Centre on<br />
Wednesday, Dec. 14. Learn how to use the SamTrans KX bus for a round trip<br />
to San Francisco from Redwood City. Sign-ups for the San Francisco trip will<br />
be taken at the Dec. 6 planning meeting. Space is limited, so sign up early.<br />
Reservations are required. Call Donna at 650-369-6650 to sign up.<br />
Holiday Gift Bag Assembly<br />
Monday Dec. 5, 9:30–11 a.m., Redwood Room<br />
<strong>The</strong> VMSC is sponsoring our annual Holiday Giving Project. We will be<br />
providing gift bags to elderly Redwood City residents who are homebound<br />
and children in need. Join us to fill the gift bags. Please call <strong>Chris</strong>tina at 650-<br />
780-7343 to sign up.<br />
AARP Driver Safety Class<br />
Dec. 10 & 17, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., $12 AARP members, $14 non–AARP members<br />
This is an eight-hour class held over two Saturdays. Both sessions must be<br />
attended to obtain the insurance discount certificate. Enrollment is limited to<br />
20 people, so sign up early. Call 650-780-7270 and press option 2 to sign up.<br />
Leave your full name and phone number.<br />
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call 650-780-<br />
7270. Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department<br />
provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and<br />
supplies building and custodial services for city buildings. Redwood City<br />
Parks also operates the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks<br />
Community Center, providing social, educational and cultural activities, as<br />
well as information, referral and counseling services to persons living in<br />
Redwood City and neighboring communities. Redwood City Parks is more<br />
than you think! Its website is located at www.redwoodcity.org/parks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 23
Nonprofits in Action (Continued from page 14)<br />
Get Involved!<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. <strong>The</strong><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 />
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club<br />
<strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 650-556-9380, ext. 3.<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.org.<br />
Redwood City Art Center<br />
<strong>The</strong> 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<br />
schools. <strong>The</strong> Art Center has been involved with<br />
several local events, offering fun, creative art<br />
projects for children, and the center hopes this<br />
is just the beginning of their involvement with<br />
the community. For scheduling or donation,<br />
contact artreach@redwoodcityartcenter.org.<br />
For more general information, visit www.<br />
redwoodcityartcenter.org or call 650-369-1823. Or<br />
visit in person at 2625 Broadway, Redwood City.<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net<br />
Redwood City Eagles #418<br />
<strong>The</strong> Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international<br />
nonprofit united in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice<br />
and equality. <strong>The</strong>y support our police, firefighters<br />
and others who protect and serve. <strong>The</strong> Eagles<br />
have provided support for medical centers across<br />
the country to build and provide research on<br />
medical conditions, including heart disease, cancer,<br />
spinal cord injuries, kidney disease, diabetes and<br />
Alzheimer’s disease. <strong>The</strong>y raise millions of dollars<br />
every year to help handicapped kids, uplift the aged<br />
and make life a little brighter for everyone.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y 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. <strong>The</strong>y<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 />
Secretary David Tomatis at 650-575-3225, or<br />
check out their website at www.foe418.org.<br />
Redwood City Education<br />
Foundation<br />
<strong>The</strong> Redwood City Education Foundation is an<br />
all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated<br />
to providing students in the Redwood City<br />
School District with a strong education that lays<br />
the foundation for future success. <strong>The</strong>y raise<br />
private money to provide enrichment programs<br />
to all students in the district. <strong>The</strong>ir funding is<br />
focused on academic achievement, music and<br />
art, and health and wellness. <strong>The</strong>y 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 Orators<br />
Toastmasters Club<br />
Learn effortless public speaking as a beginner<br />
or polish existing skills. Join the Redwood City<br />
Orators Toastmasters Club, a fun, friendly,<br />
supportive and diverse group that meets every<br />
Friday morning from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at St. Peter’s<br />
Episcopal Church, 178 Clinton St. (at Brewster).<br />
Look for their sidewalk sign or check them out at<br />
www.rcorators.org.<br />
Redwood City Rotary<br />
Redwood City Rotary performs many service<br />
projects, provides college scholarships and<br />
donates to international relief efforts. <strong>The</strong> 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.org.<br />
Redwood City Señors Softball Club<br />
<strong>The</strong>se 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 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! <strong>The</strong> 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 Woman’s Club<br />
<strong>The</strong> Redwood City Woman’s Club, established<br />
in 1909 and a member of the California and<br />
General Federations of Women’s Clubs, meets<br />
at its historic clubhouse, built in 1911, at 149<br />
Clinton St. the first Thursday of each month<br />
from September through June. Typical agenda:<br />
social at 11:30 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m., followed by<br />
meeting and program. Guests and new members<br />
are always welcome. For more information about<br />
membership or clubhouse rentals, call 650-363-<br />
1266, email info@rwcwc.com or visit www.rwcwc.com.<br />
Sequoia High School<br />
Alumni Association<br />
<strong>The</strong> group meets the fourth Tuesday of each<br />
month at the Sequoia District Board Room,<br />
480 James Ave., at 7 p.m. All alumni and<br />
friends of Sequoia are welcome to attend.<br />
For more information call Nancy at 650-592-<br />
5822, visit sequoiahsalumniassoc.org or e-mail<br />
sequoiaalumni@earthlink.net.<br />
Sequoia High School Education<br />
Foundation<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sequoia High School Education Foundation<br />
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving<br />
the high school experience for all students.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir 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 />
(continues on page 33)
City Announces Winners of<br />
Mayor’s Beautification Recognition Awards<br />
F<br />
rom landscaping to remodeling, garden design to historic<br />
renovation, and architectural design to neighborhood improvement,<br />
the annual Mayor’s Beautification Recognition Program<br />
highlights the best projects from throughout the community of<br />
Redwood City. This year’s winners were honored at a special<br />
reception and ceremony at a City Council meeting, where<br />
each honoree received a special plaque, along with the congratulations and<br />
thanks of the mayor and the council, in honor of their civic pride.<br />
<strong>The</strong> annual Mayor’s Beautification Recognition Program, coordinated by<br />
the city’s Pride and Beautification Committee (www.redwoodcity.org/<br />
government/bcc/pride), is designed to recognize the efforts of residents, nonprofit<br />
agencies and businesses to maintain or improve Redwood City neighborhoods.<br />
<strong>The</strong> program encourages attractive structural and landscaping improvements<br />
in our community. Single- or multi-family residences, apartment complexes,<br />
homeowners associations and nonprofit or commercial properties are eligible.<br />
A panel of volunteer judges screened the entries, and the final selection process<br />
included a site visit to all the entries.<br />
As a community, the way in which we use, improve and maintain our homes,<br />
landscaping, buildings and gardens expresses an image of Redwood City. <strong>The</strong><br />
Mayor’s Beautification Recognition Program helps to promote and enhance this<br />
image both within Redwood City and beyond our borders. <strong>The</strong> awards show<br />
our neighbors and visitors that Redwood City recognizes the importance and<br />
value of keeping our city beautiful.<br />
Below is the list of 2011’s winners in each category. Sponsors and supporters<br />
of the annual program were Allied Waste Services, Cheryl Angeles, Glenborough<br />
Pauls, Maria Martinucci, the Muhlker family, Recology San Mateo County,<br />
Peninsula Building Material Co., Port of Redwood City, Redwood City Civic<br />
Cultural Commission, Redwood Oaks Neighborhood Association, Sequoia<br />
Health Services, SIMS Metal and Wells Fargo Bank.<br />
Garden/Landscape<br />
Steve & Lisa Deal<br />
1119 Fairview Ave.<br />
Steven Howard<br />
907 Katherine Ave.<br />
<strong>Chris</strong>tine Bahr<br />
1187 Lyons St.<br />
Chad & Chian Robinson<br />
3708 Farm Hill Blvd.<br />
Rick & Barb Urrutia<br />
423 Bark Drive<br />
M.A. Malone<br />
287 G St.<br />
Lee & Karyn Warner<br />
Frank & Liza Bizzarro<br />
1640 Hopkins Ave.<br />
Dan Crawford<br />
2707 Hopkins Ave.<br />
Matthew & Peggy Klein<br />
2236 Hopkins Ave.<br />
Structural Remodel/Design<br />
David Kassouf<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sandwich Spot<br />
2420 Broadway St.<br />
Jesus & Yolanda Lopez<br />
Mi Rancho Market<br />
150 Charter Ave.<br />
Spencer Arton & Zareh<br />
Samurkashian<br />
Circle K Service Station<br />
602 El Camino Real<br />
Michael Giotinis<br />
1808 El Camino Real<br />
Brian Jensen & Michael Bickford<br />
In-N-Out Burger<br />
949 Veterans Blvd.<br />
Ryan Sand<br />
Verizon Wireless<br />
2501 El Camino Real<br />
Yume “Sportcourt”<br />
1204 & 1280 Middlefield Road<br />
Frank Shih & Lin Wang<br />
Froyola<br />
2206 Broadway St.<br />
Kevin & Julie Bazzell<br />
155 Fulton St.<br />
Propel<br />
503 Whipple Ave.<br />
Dennis Jang & Bill Demas<br />
Turn Inc.<br />
835 Main St.<br />
Rick & Courtney Caccia<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 25
Experience and Integrity<br />
Re-Elect IAN BAIN for Redwood City Council<br />
Endorsed by<br />
Former Mayors<br />
Bob Bury<br />
Dick Claire<br />
Dani Gasparini<br />
Jack Greenalch<br />
Diane Howard<br />
Georgi LaBerge<br />
“Help me continue my<br />
work to raise standards<br />
and make this a<br />
community we can all be<br />
proud of.”<br />
Paid for by Ian Bain for City Council 2011 * FPPC# 1255762 * www.ianbain.com<br />
OUR<br />
BRANCH<br />
San Mateo Credit Union’s On Broadway branch has it all.<br />
From Auto Loans to Credit Cards, we can answer your<br />
questions and find you a better product to help<br />
your budget.<br />
OUR<br />
830 Jefferson Avenue, Redwood City<br />
(650) 363-1725 | www.smcu.org<br />
MORTGAGE<br />
CENTER<br />
San Mateo Credit Union has a special Mortgage Center,<br />
staffed by our mortgage experts.<br />
Come in and ask a question about your current mortgage.<br />
We love those! We want to give you the best loan with the<br />
most reasonable payments.<br />
619 Bradford Street, Redwood City<br />
(650) 363-1799 | www.smcu.org<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
Gift cards available NOW!<br />
Presents<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Best Beatles show in the<br />
world” - LA Times<br />
November 26<br />
TickeTs On sale nOw<br />
www.fOxrwc.cOm<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 27
Never late for the <strong>The</strong>atre<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.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
!<br />
Neighborhoood Toy Store Day<br />
Saturday,<br />
Nov 12, 2011<br />
10am - 5pm<br />
Jigsaw Java<br />
of Redwood City will donate<br />
5% of sales to benefit the<br />
Special Education Parent Teacher<br />
Association for Redwood City<br />
SEPTAR brings families and educators together<br />
to meet the special education needs<br />
of children in Redwood City.<br />
Face Painting!<br />
Blue Orange Demos<br />
sContests and Giveaway<br />
from 10am - 1pm!<br />
Z OOB DEMOS!<br />
Jigsaw Java<br />
846 Main Street<br />
Redwood City, CA<br />
94063<br />
(650) 364-3634<br />
SEPTAR 750 Bradford Street<br />
Redwood City, CA 94063<br />
650-576-4271<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 29
Auto Care:<br />
Redwood General Tire – 1630 Broadway –<br />
Redwood General Tire was founded on the<br />
principles of good customer service and quality<br />
products at fair prices. Many satisfied customers<br />
have been with them since their founding.<br />
Whether you are looking for a new set of tires or<br />
need repair work on your vehicle, this Redwood<br />
City institution has been providing quality vehicle<br />
services since 1957. <strong>The</strong>y even have free Wi-Fi<br />
Internet hookups so you can work while you wait<br />
for your vehicle to be serviced.<br />
Eating and Catering:<br />
Canyon Inn – 587 Canyon Road – Tim Harrison<br />
and the staff at Canyon Inn serve everything from<br />
their famous hamburgers to pizzas, all kinds of<br />
sandwiches and pastas, and South-of-the-Border<br />
specialties while various sports play on the big,<br />
flat-screen TVs. Don’t forget to reserve their<br />
closed patio for your next party — it has heaters,<br />
fans and a big-screen TV (no extra charges). Why<br />
cook when you don’t have to? <strong>The</strong>y do catering<br />
too for all occasions!<br />
D. Tequila Lounge and Restaurant – 851 Main St.<br />
– “We went there and it was fabulous! We were<br />
impressed by their food menu, and the burger I<br />
had was tasty. <strong>The</strong>y have 21 big-screen TVs for<br />
watching your favorite sports team, having a<br />
drink with friends or dancing the night away.”<br />
Little India – 917 Main St. – “<strong>The</strong>re are good<br />
restaurants. <strong>The</strong>re are bad restaurants. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
are OK restaurants. <strong>The</strong>n there are those places,<br />
the magic ones. You come back again and again<br />
because the food doesn’t just taste good and<br />
satisfy hunger, but helps heal the heart and soul.”<br />
Senior citizens receive $1 off and children under<br />
12 dine at half price. www.littleindiacuisine.com<br />
Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi – 2198 Broadway<br />
– “Large tables, the chefs and staff are very warm<br />
toward families and children, and the meals are<br />
plentiful and flavorful. Five stars for great service,<br />
food and prices. Well worth it! If you haven’t been<br />
there yet, go!”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sandwich Spot – 2420 Broadway – With<br />
a motto promising to change your life “one<br />
sandwich at a time” and a menu and atmosphere<br />
that has already made it a popular spot in<br />
downtown Redwood City, the Sandwich Spot will<br />
have you wondering where this place has been all<br />
your life, and whether or not you can get some of<br />
their signature Bomb Sauce to go.<br />
Financial Institutions:<br />
San Mateo Credit Union – Three Redwood City<br />
locations – As a member-driven organization,<br />
SMCU does everything possible to ensure that<br />
all of your financial priorities are anticipated and<br />
fulfilled. Offerings include free auto-shopping<br />
assistance, members-only car sales, low-rate<br />
home loans and lines of credit. Call 650-363-1725<br />
or 888-363-1725, or visit a branch to learn the<br />
advantages of membership banking.<br />
Home Improvements:<br />
Lewis Carpet Cleaners – 1-800-23-LEWIS – Founded<br />
in 1985, Lewis Carpet Cleaners has grown from<br />
one small, portable machine to a company of six<br />
employees and five working vans. <strong>The</strong> Lewis<br />
family works and lives in Redwood City and is<br />
committed to our community. Ask about their<br />
<strong>Spectrum</strong> special: Get 100 square feet of carpet<br />
cleaned for absolutely nothing. Call today! Get<br />
your home ready for entertaining during the year.<br />
Legal Services:<br />
Hannig Law Firm – 2991 El Camino Real –<br />
Hannig Law Firm LLP provides transactional<br />
and litigation expertise in a variety of areas. <strong>The</strong><br />
professionals at HLF are committed to knowing<br />
and meeting their clients’ needs through longterm<br />
relationships and value-added services,<br />
and to supporting and participating in the<br />
communities where they live and work.<br />
Proudly serving<br />
Redwood City<br />
and surrounding<br />
communities<br />
A cleaner, greener<br />
environment ...<br />
one stop at a time!<br />
(650) 595-3900<br />
Visit RecologySanMateoCounty.com<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net<br />
RSMC_RWC_AD.indd 1<br />
6/24/2011 11:11:52 AM
Real Estate:<br />
Michelle Glaubert at Coldwell Banker – 650-<br />
722-1193 – Michelle has been a full-time, topproducing<br />
real estate agent since 1978. With a proven<br />
track record, she has helped buyers achieve their<br />
dreams of home ownership and sellers make<br />
successful moves to their next properties. <strong>The</strong><br />
majority of her business is garnered through referrals<br />
from her many satisfied clients. Living in Emerald<br />
Hills, she knows the area well and is involved<br />
in the community. Count on Michelle’s years of<br />
experience to guide you through your next real estate<br />
transaction. Visit her online at www.glaubert.com.<br />
John Nelson at Coldwell Banker – 650-566-5315<br />
– John has been a resident of Redwood City for<br />
21 years and has been a real estate agent for 18<br />
years. He is known for doing his clients’ legwork,<br />
keeping them up to date with new listings and<br />
conditions as they impact the market. He will<br />
make the process as pleasurable and stress-free an<br />
experience for you as he can. Let John guide you<br />
through the complexities of buying or selling your<br />
home, eliminating hassles and stress. Visit him<br />
online at www.johnnelsonhomes.com.<br />
Specialty Businesses:<br />
Davies Appliance – 1580 El Camino Real –<br />
“Davies helped me with my appliance purchases<br />
and they know what they are doing. All they<br />
carry is appliances; you don’t have to worry about<br />
anything else. Leave it to them to assist you with<br />
your kitchen remodel and you will be very happy.<br />
I recommend Davies to anyone who is interested<br />
in great pricing and even better service. <strong>The</strong> focus<br />
is appliances and service.”<br />
Every Woman Health Club – 611 Jefferson Ave. –<br />
A women-only, body-positive fitness center in downtown<br />
Redwood City. Services include classes, weight and<br />
cardio equipment, personal training, therapeutic<br />
massage and skin care. Flexible pricing, with<br />
several options available for members and<br />
nonmembers. Visit www.everywomanhealthclub.<br />
com or call 650-364-9194 to get started.<br />
Hector Flamenco Insurance (State Farm) – 956<br />
Main St. – Hector has been in the insurance<br />
business and with State Farm for 20 years. He<br />
specializes in auto and business insurance. A local<br />
resident, he also provides servicio en español!<br />
Visit his website at www.flamencoinsurance.com.<br />
Saf Keep Storage – 2480 Middlefield Road – <strong>The</strong><br />
friendly and reliable team at Saf Keep is ready<br />
to assist you with a variety of storage products<br />
and services to suit all your storage needs. Visit<br />
their website at www.safkeepstorage.com to see<br />
exactly what products and services are available.<br />
Compare them to other facilities and you’ll see<br />
why their service makes the difference.<br />
Schoenstein Physical <strong>The</strong>rapy – 363A Main St.,<br />
650-599-9482 –<strong>The</strong> clinical approach of this<br />
independent, community-based physical therapy<br />
practice focuses on thorough physical therapy<br />
assessment, specific treatment strategies and<br />
patient education. Individualized treatment<br />
programs are designed to help meet patient goals<br />
of restoring function, returning to sport or<br />
occupation and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.<br />
St. Regal Jewelers – 850 Main St. – “This is a<br />
great jeweler! Phil, the owner, is amazing. He<br />
crafted a ring on time and on budget. He has an<br />
incredible eye for detail. I can’t say enough. I<br />
would never go anywhere else.” Whether you are<br />
looking for men’s or women’s quality jewelry,<br />
shopping local does not get better than this.<br />
Woodside Terrace – 485 Woodside Road, 650-<br />
366-3900 – Woodside Terrace understands that<br />
in choosing a senior living community, residents<br />
are looking for much more than a comfortable<br />
living environment to call home. Brookdale<br />
Living’s Redwood City community delivers<br />
inspired independent living with the promise of<br />
exceptional experiences every day. As residents’<br />
needs change, they are provided with a variety<br />
of ancillary services and a personalized assisted<br />
living environment that encourages them to<br />
continue to live as they please.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 31
Know Your Community Puzzle<br />
Across<br />
4. Former first name of Redwood City tequila lounge<br />
6. A first performance at the Fox <strong>The</strong>atre, for example<br />
9. Historic theater now home to Martins West<br />
Gastropub<br />
10. 4th of July parade organizers (abbrev.)<br />
12. Live “Jazz on ___” on Mondays all summer<br />
13. What you might do at Crippen & Flynn<br />
14. A quick greeting<br />
15. Found at the Port of Redwood City<br />
17. Former bakery at the current Kaiser Hospital site<br />
20. Council member Jeff<br />
21. A paid portion of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />
24. Redwood City’s largest park<br />
25. Redwood City’s first Parks & Rec. director Morton<br />
26. Grab a burger at ____-N-Out<br />
27. Old factory that moved into the downtown<br />
theater complex<br />
29. Found at Gelb<br />
31. Council member Jeff (the other one!)<br />
33. Cañada College degree (abbrev.)<br />
34. “Much ____ About Nothing”<br />
35. Assembly member Jerry<br />
36. Original business on the site of Mervyn’s Plaza<br />
38. Redwood City’s largest employer<br />
42. Redwood City has an upper and a lower Emerald one<br />
43. Redwood City’s Tapestry<br />
45. Industry pioneer recording company located<br />
in Redwood City<br />
47. If your vacuum is this, take it to Ralph’s on<br />
Main Street<br />
49. Not “me” but who?<br />
50. <strong>Spectrum</strong>’s annual edition “People With<br />
____”<br />
52. Not “know” but this<br />
53. Redwood City’s only cemetery<br />
54. Cañada College “fruit” festival in October<br />
55. Paula of Pete’s Harbor<br />
56. Kaiser Hospital employee’s degree (abbrev.)<br />
58. Alameda de las Pulgas = avenue of these<br />
61. “Hometown ____” the first Saturday in December<br />
Down<br />
1. Born in Redwood City, NASA astronaut Rex<br />
2. Blues Festival organizers<br />
3. Caltrain: “All ____!”<br />
4. Stephen Wagstaffe’s title (abbrev.)<br />
5. Callery’s <strong>Spectrum</strong> job<br />
7. DMB’s John<br />
8. Mezes Park is also known as “____ Park”<br />
11. Redwood City’s sister city (Mexico)<br />
12. Redwood City’s original name<br />
16. Redwood City General Tire’s Alpio<br />
18. What you read <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> for<br />
19. “As I Was Saying…” author Penna<br />
22. “____ Best by Government Test”<br />
23. SFPUC’s water system “Hetch ____”<br />
27. California’s first district hospital<br />
28. 2011 Miss Redwood City Sasha<br />
30. Do this at Angelica’s open mic night<br />
32. Dr. Howard Rose cares for this<br />
37. Redwood City Fire Chief Jim<br />
39. Sequoia High School’s former mascot<br />
40. Redwood City video game company (abbrev.)<br />
41. Former governor of California and owner of<br />
Rancho de las Pulgas (now Redwood City)<br />
43. Redwood City’s governing body<br />
44. San Mateo County Supervisor Carole<br />
46. Redwood City’s City Council is 57% this<br />
48. Redwood City–based home and training center<br />
for adults with developmental disabilities<br />
51. Worn by many a graduating senior from<br />
Woodside, Sequoia and Summit<br />
57. ____ Kapadokia Restaurant<br />
59. Spanish yes<br />
60. Sequoia Hospital medical professional (abbrev.)<br />
Solution<br />
Crossword provided by Alex Wright.<br />
Advertise<br />
with<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />
Call Us<br />
Today<br />
650.368.2434<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
As I Was Saying… (Continued from p6)<br />
from readers telling me that “option 2” had been eliminated from the meter system<br />
and they were no longer going downtown to spend sales tax dollars because<br />
they felt it was an unfair thing for the city to do. After checking it out for myself, and<br />
then not overreacting, I contacted the city to get some answers. Here is what I found out.<br />
According to the city: “Recently, City Council members and staff have received<br />
comments and complaints about the number of options and complexity of the<br />
menus on the parking meters and the time it takes when selecting ‘option 2’ to<br />
add more time. So staff took a look at how to simplify the process.<br />
“First, they looked at the statistics — it turns out that only about 5 percent<br />
of users utilize the ‘add more time’ option. When they do, it can be quite slow<br />
as the system has to access the Internet via Wi-Fi to get to the database —<br />
in fact, sometimes the delay is so lengthy that the system times out and the<br />
screen reverts to the first menu, requiring the user to start over.”<br />
Not to be rude, but shouldn’t they have thought about that before purchasing<br />
the system in the first place? <strong>The</strong> option is there for a reason.<br />
“So, in order to simplify the system by reducing the number of options, the<br />
decision was made to delete option 2. This way, the user has just the one menu<br />
selection — pay for parking, quick and easy.”<br />
I agree, and it creates more revenue for the city.<br />
“If they do want to add more time later, they can just pay again, as if they<br />
[had] just parked. If they do this before the meter has actually expired, then<br />
there may be a little overlap that they’re paying for (we built in several minutes<br />
of ‘cushion’ to help people with the transition). <strong>The</strong> cell phone option (which<br />
requires an easy registration and small fee) still offers the ‘add more time’ option.<br />
“We feel that this responds to the concerns that have been expressed and<br />
adequately simplifies the process for the greatest number of customers.”<br />
I love it that governmental entities are always looking out for what is best<br />
and more convenient for us.<br />
Don’t forget to VOTE!<br />
.…<br />
Advertise with <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />
Call Us Today 650.368.2434<br />
As I was saying…<br />
Nonprofits in Action (Continued from page 24)<br />
Sequoia Stamp Club<br />
This club was established in 1947 and welcomes<br />
all attendees to their bimonthly meetings. <strong>The</strong><br />
club meets at the Community Activities Building,<br />
1400 Roosevelt Ave., at 7 p.m. on the second and<br />
fourth Tuesday of each month. <strong>The</strong>re is a program<br />
every meeting and refreshments are served. <strong>The</strong><br />
dues are only $3 per year. Contact Hank at 650-<br />
593-7012, e-mail sequoiastampclub@yahoo.com<br />
or visit www.penpex.org.<br />
Soroptimist International by the Bay<br />
<strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong>y meet the second<br />
Thursday of every month. For more information,<br />
please contact their president, Teresa, at 650-743-<br />
1073 or sibay@soroptimist.net.<br />
Sustainable San Mateo County<br />
Established in 1992, this local nonprofit<br />
is dedicated to the long-term health of our<br />
county’s environment, economy and social<br />
equity. Programs include an annual report, an<br />
annual awards event with over 450 attendees,<br />
sustainabilityhub.net, green business workshops<br />
and more. If you would like to volunteer, contact<br />
the SSMC office at 650-638-2323 or advocate@<br />
sustainablesanmateo.org. For more information,<br />
visit www.sustainablesanmateo.org.<br />
Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club<br />
Since October 1956, the Woodside Terrace A.M.<br />
Kiwanis Club has been devoted to community<br />
service in Redwood City. Through the decades,<br />
the club has provided funds to help many worthy<br />
community programs and continues to add more<br />
community projects. <strong>The</strong> Key Club of Sequoia<br />
High School, sponsored by the Woodside Terrace<br />
A.M. Kiwanis Club, was chartered in 1994 and<br />
has been involved in raising money and donating<br />
time and effort to many programs. <strong>The</strong> Woodside<br />
Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday<br />
evening 6–7 p.m. at Harry’s Hofbrau, 1909 El<br />
Camino Real (one block north of Woodside<br />
Road). <strong>The</strong>y invite you to come to their meetings<br />
and check out the club’s website at www.<br />
wtamkiwanis.org.<br />
Woodside Terrace Optimist Club<br />
This is a unique club made up of senior citizens<br />
who want to stay involved. Most, but not all, come<br />
from the residence at Woodside Terrace. <strong>The</strong> club<br />
is open to all of the community and provides an<br />
opportunity for seniors to be useful. <strong>The</strong> club’s<br />
funds are raised by a card, candy and necklace<br />
Get Involved!<br />
sale held on the fourth Wednesday of each month<br />
in the main lobby at 485 Woodside Road, open to<br />
the public.<br />
Lunches/meetings are at 12:30 p.m. on the<br />
second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in<br />
the Assisted Living Dining Room at Woodside<br />
Terrace. Guests are welcome. Please call President<br />
Jack Murphy at 650-780-9891 or Millie Cole at<br />
650-366-1392 for reservations.<br />
YES Reading<br />
This local organization is dedicated to<br />
empowering students through literacy and<br />
investing community members in underserved<br />
public schools. YES Reading recruits and trains<br />
community volunteers to provide one-on-one<br />
tutoring for elementary and middle school<br />
students reading below grade level. YES Reading<br />
operates several reading centers on the Peninsula<br />
and in the South Bay, including a site at Selby<br />
Lane School in Atherton. If you are interested in<br />
becoming a reading tutor for a child who needs<br />
your help, please call 408-945-9316 or email<br />
info@yesreading.org. Visit the YES Reading<br />
website at www.yesreading.org.<br />
Editor’s note: If you are connected with a nonprofit<br />
organization and want your information printed in <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Spectrum</strong>, send it to writers@spectrummagazine.net or <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Spectrum</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064.<br />
Let our community know your contributions and maybe they<br />
will want to join you.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 33
A Minute With: Uncle Sam<br />
In the spirit of Election Day, we thought we would refresh your knowledge of<br />
Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the American<br />
government originally used during the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern<br />
elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard. Typically he is dressed in<br />
clothing that recalls the design elements of the flag of the United States — for<br />
example, a top hat with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue band,<br />
and red and white striped trousers. <strong>The</strong> first use of Uncle Sam in literature was<br />
in the 1816 allegorical book “<strong>The</strong> Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His<br />
Lost Honor” by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq.<br />
<strong>The</strong> well-known “recruitment” image of Uncle Sam was created by James<br />
Montgomery Flagg, an illustrator and portrait artist best known for commercial<br />
art. <strong>The</strong> image of Uncle Sam was shown publicly for the first time, according to<br />
some, in a picture by Flagg on the cover of the magazine Leslie’s Weekly on July<br />
6, 1916, with the caption “What Are You Doing for Preparedness?” More than<br />
four million copies of this image were printed between 1917 and 1918. <strong>The</strong> image<br />
also was used extensively during World War II.<br />
Sam’s hobbies include being the most famous poster boy in American history,<br />
encouraging voting, patriotism and wearing a hat.<br />
Any plans to run for elected office?<br />
No, my time has passed.<br />
If you were stuck on a desert island, which one book,<br />
movie or person would you want to take along?<br />
<strong>The</strong> United States Constitution.<br />
Something few know about you?<br />
During World War II, America was code-named<br />
“Samland” by the German intelligence agency<br />
Abwehr.<br />
What phrase do you most overuse?<br />
I want you.<br />
Last movie you saw?<br />
I don’t know that I have ever seen one.<br />
Favorite restaurant in Redwood City?<br />
Any that have hot dogs and baked beans.<br />
What is your motto?<br />
USA!<br />
Memorable moment?<br />
I was memorialized twice, both of which<br />
commemorate my life: the Uncle Sam Memorial<br />
Statue in Arlington, Mass., my birthplace, and<br />
a memorial near my long-term residence in<br />
Riverfront Park, Troy, N.Y.<br />
You still can’t believe?<br />
I am still relevant today.<br />
What is a dream you have or something you’d<br />
like to accomplish in your life?<br />
To give my finger a rest.<br />
What would life be like if you had wings?<br />
Interesting.<br />
Who or what is the love of your life?<br />
America!<br />
At this time next year, you will be?<br />
Probably in the same poster.<br />
Let your opinion be heard!<br />
Send your letters to letters@spectrummagazine.net<br />
or Opinions & Letters, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>,<br />
P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064<br />
Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 words.<br />
Columns 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 />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> 35
Alpio Barbara and<br />
the team at<br />
Redwood General<br />
Tire are involved<br />
in our community<br />
and urge all to be.