On Saturday, San Mateo County moved to Tier 1, the most restrictive of the state’s four-tier, color-coded COVID-19 reopening plan. In addition, a new stay-at-home order went into effect on Monday. The order prohibits residents from leaving their homes to gather with other households between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Outside these hours, gatherings may include people from only up to three households.

Under purple Tier 1 restrictions, businesses and activities that may have been operating indoors – including places of worship, movie theaters, gyms, and museums – must move outdoors or close. Shopping malls and all retail must operate at no more than 25 percent capacity. 

Click here to read the press release.

Earlier today, Governor Newsom issued a new Regional Stay Home Order that will go into effect within 48 hours in regions with less than 15% ICU availability. It prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in all others. Although the Bay Area is not yet covered by this new Stay Home Order, the State projects that the Bay Area as a whole will have less than 15% ICU availability by mid to late December.  

More information can be found on the State’s COVID-19 website.

Eight months after the County issued its first shelter-in-place order, our local businesses continue to face the unprecedented challenge of trying to stay open during a global pandemic. More than just a trendy marketing idea, shopping locally can offer our business community the lifeline they need to stay afloat.

The City of Burlingame urges everyone to take the Buy In Burlingame Challenge.

As part of the fiscal year 2019-2020 Capital Improvement Plan, the Parks & Recreation Department will be updating Victoria Park's playground equipment at 30 Howard Avenue. Improvements will be limited to the playground area only and will not encompass the basketball court or field.

As the Parks and Recreation Department enters the planning stages for this exciting project, staff is forming a committee to create the Victoria Park Playground Plan and to consider park equipment options, including ADA improvements. The Department is seeking three neighborhood community members to be part of this committee. Victoria Park playground committee members will be asked to attend several meetings via Zoom, including a final presentation at a future Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. This process is anticipated to take several months. Please note, the committee is for adults only; no children will be included in the meetings. If you would like to be considered as a neighborhood representative for the Victoria Park playground committee, you may fill out an application here. The first meeting will take place via Zoom in January.

If you have don’t have time for the committee but would like to offer your opinions about the elements in the park, please complete this survey. The survey and committee application will be available until Monday, December 14.

Thank you in advance for your interest and participation! If you have any questions about this project, please call Karen Hager, Management Analyst, at 650-558-7317, or email khager@burlingame.org.

Are you curious about induction cooking? Or, have you heard of it but never tried it? Now is your chance!

Induction cooktops are an energy efficient, safe, and high performing cooking option that uses electric induction technology to directly warm cookware. In comparison to gas cooking, induction cooktops are known for heating faster, creating less indoor air pollution, and avoiding fire risks. Learn more here: www.burlingame.org/inductioncooking

The City of Burlingame's Sustainability Division invites you to borrow an induction cooktop to try out at home. Sign up here to be borrow an induction cooktop and compatible pan for up to two weeks. Check out the video on induction cooking and other information and get cooking with induction!

BayRen is offering a free, electric cooking demonstration webinar, “Electric Kitchen Celebration and Induction Cooking Party,” on December 15, at noon. Register here.

The Parks Division is in the process of planting over 100 trees throughout Burlingame in planter strip areas, tree lawns, and parks. Trees planted include red maples, Trident maples, eucalyptus Citriodoras, Chinese Flame trees, Tuscarora crepe myrtles, St. Mary’s magnolias, red oaks, Gingko bilobas, sycamores, and scarlet oaks. This planting initiative is the last of three plantings that were planned for this year.

The Parks Division would like to remind residents that if you do not have a City tree and would like one, the City will plant a one to 15-gallon tree on your property at no charge. Contact the Parks Division office at 650-558-7330 for more information.

The Burlingame Public Library's Winter Reading program for all ages – children, teens, and adults - has begun! Click here to access and print your reading log. Alternatively, participants may pick up a reading log at the Bellevue entrance of the Burlingame Main Library during the days and times listed below. Children and teens are eligible to receive a free book for starting and finishing the program.

Pick up your reading logs and free books at the Bellevue entrance of the Library on: 

Flushing trees down the toilet makes no sense, but that’s what happens when we use toilet paper made from virgin forests. For her Small Action Big Impact, Burlingame resident Holly Daley uses recycled toilet paper (and paper towels and tissues). Recycled, two-ply toilet paper is readily available and doesn't have a big price impact. Her favorite is the Trader Joe’s recycled toilet paper brand - which the Natural Resources Defense Council scored an "A" versus Costco’s Kirkland brand, which scored an "F".

Click here to see how your preferred brand scored.

Holly went a step further and called Safeway, Costco, and Target’s customer service departments to request that they carry recycled toilet paper and other recycled paper products. She recommends, “if you've not considered recycled paper products - for home and business - please give it a try! The impact here promotes the recycling industry, and saves virgin forests for better uses such as lumber for building homes and furniture.”

Thank you Holly for sharing your Small Action Big Impact with us!

 

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.

This holiday season, the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department's Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) will create winter holiday goody bags filled with trinkets, craft ideas, candy, and stickers. Enjoy time at home crafting with your family. Proceeds from this program will go towards YAC initiatives. For more information about the Burlingame YAC, click here.

Register for your holiday bag now!

Welcome this holiday season with a warm chat and a special guest all the way from the North Pole! Your child will hear Mrs. Clause read a short story and even have the chance to put in a good word for a spot on Santa's nice list! The Zoom link and specific time will be emailed after registration. Click here to register.

The Burlingame Library Foundation (BLF) is now accepting donations of books, DVDs, and CDs, in excellent condition. Please note our new drop-off location at 240 Lorton Avenue in Burlingame. The Main Library is not open for donations. Thank you to Dewey Land Company for generously donating space to BLF while the library is closed. 

Please follow these guidelines:

Are you looking for another way to support the BLF? Speaker Series Tote Bags will be available for sale for $15 (cash or check) during the hours listed above. Email info@burlingamelibraryfoundation.org with any questions.

Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

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

For more information, visit burlingamechamber.org.

Watch is live at https://www.facebook.com/BurlingameParksandRec

This year, the ceremony and lighting will stream online complete with musical performances, as well as a special greeting from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. We can’t wait to see you on the screen!   

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer coordinators, CERT volunteer team members, and neighborhood networks are the first responders in our neighborhoods and community. These individuals commit countless hours to training and exercises to ensure our communities are more resilient and can recover more quickly from all types of disasters. Even during the pandemic, we've seen our volunteers continue to provide virtual training, exercises, and engagement opportunities to keep our neighborhoods prepared and safe.

 

Please RSVP by registering today and join the Central County Fire Department in celebrating the accomplishments of our community volunteers. After registering, you will receive information about how to join the event.

The Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a home decorating contest! Sign up your home and start decorating! Judging will occur on December 17 and 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., so you will need to make sure your decorations are in full effect during that time. 

Prizes will be given for the following categories:

Contest Rules:

A Runner's Mind (ARM), in partnership with the Town of Hillsborough, invites the community to honor Lakas Shimizu’s passion for helping others by bringing canned goods to ARM Burlingame at 1111 Howard Avenue. Tomorrow is the last day to drop off your canned goods donations. Proceeds will benefit Samaritan House, and ARM will donate $1 for every can collected to the Lakas Shimizu Philanthropy Fund.

In the words of his parents Celine and Dan Shimizu:

This year, the Burlingame High School (BHS) and San Mateo High School (SMHS) Joint Choir Winter Concert and the BHS Band Winter Concert will be virtual. Tickets are free to the public. However, donations are appreciated to help both schools meet their annual fundraising goals.

Online via Zoom. Register here.

What if the streets in our communities could protect pedestrians and cyclists, help increase resilience against the effects of climate change, and beautify our neighborhoods? If this sounds like something you’re interested in learning more about, plan on attending this virtual open house where you will: