Weekly Message ~ October 2020
Business News
Downtown Business Alliance Meeting this Wednesday!
You are invited to attend the second Downtown Business Alliance Meeting.

This meeting is open to ALL Menlo Park businesses!

When: Wednesday, October 21 at 9 am
Where: "French Quarter" adjacent to Bistro Vida

County Launches Business COVID-19
Compliance Team
Beginning Monday, the County of San Mateo will launch its new COVID-19 Compliance Team, an eight-person unit tasked with responding to reports of businesses not following local or state health orders related to the pandemic and coordinating with cities on outreach.

The enforcement team is one prong of the County’s Business Engagement and Compliance Program. The other half is aimed at first educating business owners about complying with requirements for all businesses including, but not limited to:
  • making sure customers and employees wear face coverings at all times unless seated at a dining establishment. 
  • preparing, posting and following a Social Distancing Protocol. 
  • ensuring that employees who are sick do not come to work. 
  • confirming that customers are able to remain 6 feet or more apart. 

“We want to work with businesses and make sure they are maintaining a safe environment for their employees and their customers,” said County Manager Mike Callagy. “We’d love to never have to issue any citations but there is too much at stake for the community’s safety and economic health.”

Starting Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, residents will be able to report an alleged violation for investigation via an online portal accessible from the County’s homepage: www.smcgov.org  The submission form asks for the resident’s name and contact information, information about the business and the nature of the complaint and if he or she has previously contacted authorities about these concerns.
Find Out Where You Can Drop Off Your Voter Ballot
Here is a list of where you can drop off your voter ballot in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodisde. Face masks, six feet of distance and hand sanitization is required. Ballots can be tracked at Where’s My Ballot?.

Menlo Park

There are two outdoor drop box locations which will accessible though 8:00 pm on Election Day.:
Menlo Park City Hall (701 Laurel St.)
Onetta Harris Community Center (100 Terminal Ave.)

Three in-person vote centers open on Oct. 31 through Election Day:
Arrillaga Family Recreation Center Sequoia Room (700 Alma St.)
Onetta Harris Community Center, Multipurpose Room (100 Terminal Ave.)
Residence Inn, Menlo Atherton Room (555 Glenwood Ave.)

Contact Menlo Park’s City Clerk is Judi Herren if you have questions.

Atherton

There is a drop box located at:
Atherton City Hall (150 Watkins Ave), on weekdays through Oct. 23, open  from 8:00 am to noon. The hours expand to 5:00 pm from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.

You can vote in person at:
El Camino Hall at Menlo College (1000 El Camino Real) beginning Oct. 31.

Atherton’s Deputy City Manager/City Clerk Anthony Suber can be contacted with questions.

Portola Valley

There is an outdoor drop box location at:
Portola Valley Town Hall (765 Portola Road)

From Oct. 31 through Election Day, in-person voting is available at:
Portola Valley Town Center, Community Hall (765 Portola Road)

Contact Town Clerk Sharon Hanlon with questions.

Woodside

There is an outdoor drop box location at:
Woodside Town Hall (2955 Woodside Road)

From Oct. 31 through Election Day, in-person voting is available at:
Woodside Village Church (3154 Woodside Road)

Contact Town Clerk Jennifer Li with questions.
Around Menlo Park
Menlo Park Firefighter Annual Pancake Breakfast
For almost 20 years, the Pancake Breakfast at Menlo Park Fire Protection District headquarters has been an annual fall ritual.

It began in 2001 when the Junior League of Palo Alto Mid-Peninsula called the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, wanting to help with a service event, and proposed a pancake breakfast. When 9/11 occurred, all the funds from the Pancake Breakfast went to New York City widows and their children. Ever since, funds have been 100% donated to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.

"This year, due to social distancing because of COVID19 we cannot actually do our Pancake Breakfast. Which is disappointing as it will be the first time in two decades that the Menlo Park Firefighters Pancake Breakfast will not occur."

To continue support for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, the Local 2400 Firefighters Association has set up a GoFundMe instead to help burn victims for this non-profit organization.
Raise a Glass, Quarantine-Style
It’s time for another physically-distanced, but socially-close, casual gathering over Zoom!

Belgium isn’t just famous for chocolate, waffles and “French” fries – it’s also well-known for beer. Actually, those four sound like a pretty good meal. Let’s gather together online, to traipse through the beer fields of Belgium.

The Beers
  • A saison from Dupont
  • A dark red triple ale from Gulden Draak
  • A lambic: Oude Kriek from Hanssens Artisanaal
  • A witbier or “white beer” from Hoegaarden
  • A Belgian blonde ale from La Chouffe

All are available at the Willows Market in Menlo Park.

Friday, October 23, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Members at Work
Discovery Shop Event -
Fall Accessories For All Occasions
New Discover Shop Event this weekend from October 22-24!

Enjoy & explore Fall with Discovery Shop! Stop in here when the desire to cozy up in warm boots, scarves & gloves to wander 'n pounce through the Fall leaves BECOMES irresistible! Take a brisk walk in the cool Fall air looking FABULOUS with friends & family. We'll have fantastic purses too!

Discovery Shop: 748 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park

Shop Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday 11 am to 4 pm

Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce | (650) 325-2818 | menloparkchamber.com