Even though the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important tools to end the pandemic, we still need to do our part and wear masks to stop the spread. The scientific community will need more understanding about the scope of protection the vaccine provides before recommendations on masks can change. Mask Up San Mateo County!

Did you know that your Christmas tree is compostable? Recology is collecting Christmas trees through January 31. Remove all decorations and tree stands, and place your tree next to the green compost cart or inside the green cart with the trunk sticking out. After January 31, please cut the tree to fit inside the green compost cart. Apartment managers can call Recology to arrange for the pick-up of multiple trees. Trees can be collected in piles or in a drop box for no charge.

One more tree composted means one less tree that goes into the landfill. Our landfill, Ox Mountain located in Half Moon Bay, is expected to hit capacity in 15 years. The less we throw away now, the longer the landfill will last, and we won't need to export our trash out of the region. Also, less trash means less methane is being created in the landfill. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas emission. The more we compost,​ the more compost is created to nourish soils and can be used in place of harmful fertilizers.

Compost your tree for a small action that has a big impact!

If you have a small action with a big impact – either at home, business, or school – please tell us about it. We would love to highlight it in the eNews. Send your Small Action Big Impact story to smichael@burlingame.org.​

The City of Burlingame is conducting a study to determine the feasibility of converting Chapin Avenue, between El Camino Real and Primrose Road, into a green street with landscape-based systems to capture and treat stormwater runoff. Pedestrian and traffic improvements are also being considered.

Over the past several months, the City received feedback from residents, business owners, and property owners on desired features for this street. We are now pleased to present two alternatives for public input. Click here to access the online survey and give us your feedback.

It's time to give yourself a little self-care and enjoy a safe and fun way to exercise. Participate in an hour of energetic dance fitness that is sure to put a smile on your face and get your heart pumping. Zumba is for everyone! It uses easy to follow dance moves set to infectious world music. There will be plenty of room for social dis-dancing and great views of instructor Kim Yee from any vantage point.

Classes are offered on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Washington Park Tennis Court. Sign up for a specific day or buy a 5-class punch card to use either day during the session, which runs from January 13 to February 17.

Click here for class details and to register. For additional information on fitness classes run by the Parks and Recreation Department, contact Tommy at tcook@burlingame.org.

Residents of Burlingame (and other cities in San Mateo County) who are 70 years and older are invited to register for a Got Wheels! annual membership card that will enable them to take up to 6 one-way trips or 3 round trips per month for only $5.00 per one-way ride!

With the Got Wheels! card, participants may schedule rides on an as-needed basis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to any destination within the following cities: Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Half Moon Bay, Montara, Moss Beach, and El Granada. Rides must begin and end within these geographic areas and San Francisco International Airport.

Membership is limited. Click here to access the application. Need more information? Click here for an information sheet, or call the Got Wheels! Program Coordinator at 650-403-4300, extension 4329.

This program was developed by Peninsula Family Services, and funding is provided by the County of San Mateo.

The Burlingame Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) thanks Facebook’s Youth Councils Program for their partnership and training workshops. The partnership is designed to provide YAC with resources to promote civic engagement and dialogue on social media platforms. The program workshops include three online sessions related to tools, brainstorming and content creation, and measuring the impact of social media campaigns.

Former Mayor Beach was invited to attend the last workshop, and the teens presented all that they had learned from the workshops. The YAC is grateful for the workshops and looks forward to having their voices heard.

Caltrain’s annual Celebration Train will not be running on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year due to the pandemic. Caltrain advises fans of the event to instead participate in the Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation’s MLK 2021 Virtual Celebration.

In past years, the Celebration Train paid tribute to the 54-mile 1965 Selma to Montgomery March and delivered celebrants to the traditional march in San Francisco that marks the holiday. Caltrain hopes to hold the event again next year, provided it can be done safely and responsibly.

Caltrain will operate a modified schedule for the holiday on Monday, January 18. SamTrans will operate on its regular, non-school day schedule.

Please continue to follow these important tips for shopping the Fresh Market:

For more information, visit burlingamechamber.org.

The Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department is encouraging members of the community to help it celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of non-violence, love, and community. Show your support. Print and display this “I Have a Dream” poster. Click here to learn more, or contact Nicole at nhoughton@burlingame.org.

via Zoom. Meeting ID: 973 0952 8591. Password: 668905.

Are you trying to practice your English with other language learners? Join Burlingame's English Language Group! You will get conversation practice with native English speakers.

This event is hosted by the Burlingame Public Library and is intended for intermediate English learners. You can join anytime.

via Zoom. Meeting ID: 848 8189 8884 & Passcode: 123865

The spring semester of the Virtual Homework Center is open! Students in grades K-8 can log onto Zoom to be paired with a teen mentor (with a 3.5+ GPA) for help with reading, writing, science, math, and languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Bulgarian, Korean, French, Turkish, Italian, and Tamil. Please email Teen Librarian Jenny with any questions at miner@plsinfo.org.

The Burlingame Community Education (BCE) Foundation Endowment Council is sponsoring a talk about Burlingame's efforts to combat climate change. This is the first of three forums planned for 2021 featuring community leaders talking about different aspects of Burlingame’s future.

Panelists include San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine; former Mayor Terry Nagel, chair of Sustainable San Mateo County and co-founder of the Citizens Environmental Council; Michael Brownrigg, former Mayor and current Councilmember of the City of Burlingame; Sigalle Michael, Burlingame Sustainability Coordinator; and Rusty Hopewell, who leads the Burlingame School District’s Healthy School Environmental Programs.

There is no charge, but pre-registration is required. Click here to register.

via Zoom. Pre-registration is required.

Students in grades 4 through 12 who live or attend school in San Mateo County are invited to learn tips on creating videos at this free Film Workshop.

The workshop will be taught by members of Burlingame High School’s Environmental Club to help students who wish to enter the CEC Student Film Fest, which is cosponsored by the club and the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC).

Entries are due March 1 for the annual contest, which invites students to enter videos on the environmental topic of their choice. CEC is providing cash prizes that will be awarded to student filmmakers in three categories: grades 4-5 ($100), grades 6-8 ($150), and high school ($350). The final entries will be screened and winners will be announced at the Film Fest on March 23. There is no charge to enter.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reopened the Paycheck Protection Program loan portal on Monday, January 11. It is initially accepting First Draw PPP loan applications from participating CFIs, which include Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs), and Microloan Intermediaries. Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses.

Click here for information, facts, and application forms. 

America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) recently announced its partnership with Google to train more than 30,000 small businesses to become digitally ready. Click here to learn more about Grow with Google's trainings and virtual workshops for small businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the launch of Ascent, a free digital e-learning platform designed to help women entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses. Ascent offers tips on preparing and recovering from disasters, strategic marketing, and business and financial strategy development.

Ascent is a joint initiative among the White House, the SBA, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Designed to support women entrepreneurs looking to remain resilient in their operations, Ascent is packed with content and resources from each agency and backed by academic research.

via Zoom

Attend this local job fair to learn about full and part-time opportunities for teachers, jobs in retail, and careers with advancements opportunities. This event is sponsored by Outdoor Supply Hardware. Job seekers should click here to register. If you are an employer hoping to reach job seeks, click here to send an email for more information.

Click here to register for this webinar.

Attend this webinar to hear about lessons learned from COVID-19, tips from businesses that are currently thriving, key business issues to think about, and the three roles of an entrepreneur. This event is hosted by Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.