Tell A Friend Thursdays
July 28, 2016
You’ve got a Question, Redwood City has the Answer!
Q: I heard the Redwood City Police Department has placed a new unit downtown. What is it and what will they do?
A: As the City’s Downtown core continues to grow in density, activity and character, the Redwood City Police Department implemented the Downtown Services Unit, a five-member team of specially trained officers with a well-established work history of solving problems through community partnerships. The team spends a considerable amount of patrol time on foot and on bicycles in order to increase officer visibility and form a deeper connection with residents and businesses. While the Downtown Services Unit is already in full swing, a storefront police substation will open next to the Fox Theatre this summer to provide a convenient access point for police services during major downtown events.
Q: I saw an announcement that Redwood City residents and businesses will soon be automatically enrolled for Peninsula Clean Energy. How will this affect me?
A: The Peninsula Clean Energy Authority, formed in March 2016, is a locally based and governed joint powers authority that provides residents and businesses in San Mateo County a cleaner and greener energy option.
Residents and business owners will soon receive the first of several notices informing them about the upcoming change in their electric energy supply from PG&E to Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE).
This will be a seamless transition with no disruption for customers, who will not experience any noticeable changes in their electric utilities. Customers will continue to receive a PG&E bill that will substitute Peninsula Clean Energy as the electric energy provider. All payments will continue to be sent to PG&E, who will continue to respond to all service needs. The only significant change is that PCE will provide cleaner electricity at lower rates for all residents and businesses in San Mateo County.
Enrollment is automatic and will begin October of 2016 and continue through the late spring of 2017. All residents and businesses are invited to consider the opportunity to enroll early in this program.
For more information go here.
Q: My family and I really enjoy the summer programs on Courthouse Square. How long will these run?
A: We agree that summers are a blast in Courthouse Square! Thankfully the fun isn’t over yet.
The Magic Lantern 3D Light Show sponsored by the Redwood City Improvement Association will continue every Tuesday until Oct. 11. As the days get shorter and we move into fall the show times will change. Go here for the latest schedule.
We have six more spectacular movie showings in the Square all happening on Thursdays. The final show will play Sept. 1. Like the 3D Light show, these movies will be shown at earlier times as the sun begins to set earlier leading up to fall. Check out this schedule for movies and show times.
ART on the Square will debut its final show of the year on August 26 from 5:00pm-8:30pm. ART on the Square has been celebrating its 10-year-anniversary so don’t miss this special event! You could even win a $25 gift card to snatch up some local art. For more information go here.
Redwood City has tons of music! Let’s break it down:
Music on the Square: Every Friday through Sept. 2.
Classical on the Square: Select Saturdays and Sundays through September.
Kidchella: A musical series for kids that occurs on three summer Sundays. Two remain; one on August 21 and another on Sept. 18.
Music in the Park: While not in the Square this is also a Redwood City favorite. Music in the Park occurs every Wednesday and will end on August 17 at Stafford Park.
Sounds of the Shores: Again, not an event on the Square but a very popular one in Redwood City. The final Sounds of the Shores performance will take place August 21 at Marlin Park.
For more info about these music programs go here.
Along with these continuous programs don’t miss out on our festivals that also take place on Courthouse Square! Fiestas Patrias will transform Courthouse Square into a festive, beautiful and fun setting in celebration of this important patriotic holiday in the Mexican culture. The 9th Annual Salsa Festival will fire up with music and dancing all day as well as salsa tasting, tequila tasting, art projects for kids and more. Oktoberfest will feature a fabulous traditional German Oktoberfest setting and live entertainment. For more information on these festivals go here.
Q: I heard the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District was testing mosquitoes in the area. Is this something they do on a regular basis?
A: The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District will test mosquitoes for West Nile Virus only in areas where a dead bird was found that tested positive for the virus. If mosquitoes in that area test positive, a treatment is then issued. Recently testing was performed on mosquitoes in Atherton and the nearby parts of Redwood City. This test found that a treatment should be performed in this area to protect individuals. The treatment is scheduled to take place overnight Friday, July 29th through early Saturday morning, July 30th. This treatment will not cause any harm to you, your pets, or other wild insects and animals. For more information on this, go here.
It is still early in the mosquito season and we encourage community members to prevent mosquito breeding and bites. Here are some helpful tips from the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District:
DRAIN- Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water.
DAWN and DUSK- Mosquitoes bite in the early morning and evening so make sure to wear proper clothing and repellent when outside during these times. Also make sure you have tight-fitting screens on your windows.
DEET- Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin, lemon eucalyptus oil, or IR3535 according to label instructions to keep mosquitoes from biting you.
For more information on the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District go here.
