Many residents will be receiving requests to "Join the Conversation" about our City's vision and the priorities you value. We appreciate your taking the time to complete and return a survey mailed to your home. Or you can complete the survey online by visiting the City's website

April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In California, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Burlingame Police Department, CHP, local law enforcement, and community partners throughout the state are working together to make the roads safer by highlighting the dangers of being distracted while driving, especially by cell phones.

  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.

  

Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a growing problem among California's motorists. Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect on January 1, requiring all drivers in California to keep their cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle. Specific information on the new law can be found at www.ots.ca.gov.

  

The Office of Traffic Safety will begin a new public awareness campaign throughout the state in April, emphasizing how the new law makes virtually all hand-held cell phone activity illegal - talking, texting, and using apps. The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April but year-round.

  

The Burlingame Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the state to provide educational experiences as well as zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving. The Burlingame Police Department is deploying extra traffic officers with grant-funded resources on Friday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 25 in city locations with higher numbers of traffic collisions. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first time offenders. This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the NHTSA.

National Library Week is April 9 - April 15. To celebrate, we encourage you to explore the libraries of the Peninsula Library System, discover all we have to offer, and connect with us!

To participate:

1. Pick up a Passport from your library, or download here by clicking on page one and page two.

2. Discover all the things our PLS libraries have to offer by trying out new library activities. The more activities you do, the more chances you'll have to win prizes!

3. Stop by a library to let staff know which activities you've completed. You will receive a raffle ticket for any completed activity shown on the log. As a bonus, you'll earn two raffle tickets when you visit a new library.

4. Bring your passport log to your local library by Saturday, April 15. Please limit one per person.

Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) seeks qualified applicants for its volunteer Citizens Advisory Committee. Click here for application information.

The goal of PCE is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing cleaner power to County residents and businesses at competitive rates. PCE will also develop new renewable energy sources, including within San Mateo County, and implement programs to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To further PCE's mission, the Citizens Advisory Committee will act as a liaison to the community; provide feedback on PCE policy and operational objectives; engage in outreach to the community, including encouraging ratepayers to opt-up to ECO100 (PCE's 100% renewable energy product offering) and implement other carbon reducing practices; assist with legislative advocacy in conjunction with staff and board; and, provide a forum for community discussions on a wide variety of strategies to reduce carbon emissions in conjunction with staff and board.

Use commute alternatives from April 1-May 31 for a chance to win weekly and grand prizes. Prizes include gift cards, a folding bike, and clipper card credits. Take the challenge and change your commute habits to save air pollution, gas, and money. Register at mycommute.org.

 

The San Mateo County Transportation Authority is soliciting applications for its Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC is a 15-member volunteer group who serve in an advisory capacity to the Transportation Authority's Board of Directors, providing valuable input on the projects and programs in the Transportation Expenditure Plan. The plan includes Caltrain improvements, highway and street projects, allocations to cities and the county for local undertakings, paratransit service for people with disabilities, and pedestrian and bike upgrades.

 

The committee meets the Tuesday before the first Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. in San Carlos. Members of the CAC must be residents of San Mateo County.  Interested persons can download an application or apply online at www.smcta.com/cac , or call (650) 508-6223 for more information. The deadline for submitting the application is May 5, 2017.

Let's Play! Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department is proud to announce the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Village Park Playground, 1535 California Drive, Burlingame. Come join the festivities!

Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)  provides private citizens with the basic skills needed to respond to their community's immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster when emergency services are not immediately available.This training is offered free to all Burlingame, Hillsborough and Millbrae residents.

Click here to view the full schedule and register.

The Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department is presenting two days of free theatre entertainment for the whole family.  Children, ages 5-11, will be entertaining through songs, dance and acting both days.  

 "Broadway Kids", a group of 25 children, will perform songs from Gypsy, Annie, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.   Following "Broadway Kids", 35 talented students will act, sing and dance their way through Music Man Kids, with "76 Trombones" and "Shipoopie".

  

These performances are sponsored by the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department's after school enrichment classes. They are free and open to the public. No tickets required.  For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 650-697-6936.

Save the Date! Burlingame's Youth Advisory Committee (Y.A.C) will be hosting their annual fundraiser, Mission ImPASTAble, to help raise money for the Youth Scholarship Fund and assist with future Y.A.C programming.

 

Join us at the Burlingame Recreation Center for a delicious pasta dinner with all the trimmings. This is a great family event! Tickets are $10 pre-sale, $15 at the door and $5 for seniors and children. For more information or if you are with a local business and would like to contribute a donation to the raffle, contact Nicole Rath at (650) 558-7308.

Join us for the 11th Annual Book Author Luncheon presented by the Burlingame Library Foundation!  Featured authors include Holly Brown, David Francis, and Vanessa Hua. Boutique shopping at 10:30 a.m. will precede the luncheon.

Reservations are available online.  

The Burlingame Library Foundation is auctioning off a number of fun and unique items to bid on to raise money for our organization - and the more items we have the more money we can raise, so we're asking for your help. Show your support by clicking on the Donate Items button to contribute to our catalog. Give a little and get a lot in return.

The online auction is now live!

Not so long ago, in a galaxy pretty close to home...the Burlingame Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) decided to bring you a celebration of all things Star Wars: May the 4th Be With You!

 

Students in K-5th grade will participate in activity stations, dinner and fun, all while allowing your child to channel their inner Jedi. Wear your best Wookiee costume, Darth Vader mask, or Princess Leia hair buns, the options are endless! We hope to see your child here! For any additional questions contact Nicole Rath. (650) 558-7308. To register click here.

Acclaimed by Kohl audiences, the Ying Quartet  returns after more than four years' absence to introduce new first violinist Robin Scott.  Formerly in residence at Harvard University, the Ying is currently quartet-in-residence at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. The Ying Quartet occupies a position of unique prominence in classical music, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today's world.

  

For concert tickets and information: www.musicatkohl.org or call (650) 762-1130

Complimentary Meet-the Artists wine reception following concert.

 
Many people are tired and confused by all the requests to sign petitions, make phone calls and attend rallies. The Citizens Environmental Council of Burlingame has invited a professional advocacy trainer to teach people skills and introduce them to tools that will help them use their time effectively and efficiently to influence policy makers regarding the topic of their choosing.

  

Admission is free, but reservations are required in advance by emailing [email protected]. Everyone attending the program will be eligible for a free raffle prize. Those who cannot attend the April 12 program who are interested in a half-day training session that may be offered in early summer should also email [email protected].

The Peninsula Girls Chorus (PGC), a place where girls have found their voices since 1994, will be holding spring auditions on April 22 for all girls ages 6-18.  No previous choral experience is necessary.  PGC currently serves over 230 singers in 6 different choir levels and was chosen by CBS news as one of the top choirs on the Peninsula. 

 

To schedule an audition appointment or for more information about PGC's program,  visit www.peninsulagirlschorus.org. You can schedule an audition appointment online or call the office at (650) 347-6351.