Miss the Envision Burlingame Workshop last weekend? You can still make your voice heard! The City is seeking your feedback on how Burlingame may evolve, and the online Community Survey is an opportunity to share your ideas. Fill out the online survey to provide input on different land use and transportation options by visiting www.envisionburlingame.org.

From May 23 to June 5, 2016, local law enforcement personnel will participate in the national Click It or Ticket campaign in an effort to save lives through increased seat belt use. This education enforcement period comes ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

 

According to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), while 88.5 percent of passenger vehicle occupants buckled up in 2015, almost 50 percent of occupants of fatal crashes nationwide are not restrained. In California, more than a half million people travel our roadways without proper restraints. These facts gravely highlight the need for increased education, awareness and enforcement and awareness of seat belt use.

 

This year, NHTSA is aiming to increase campaign participation even more by coordinating a "Coast to Coast" seat belt education and enforcement effort with the California Highway Patrol and law enforcement around the I-10, I-40, I-70 and I-80 corridors. Additionally, law enforcement agencies statewide are joining the Click It or Ticket effort to emphasize the "Coast to Coast" seat belt safety awareness campaign in all 50 states. 

 

"The law enforcement community in San Mateo County encourages the use of seatbelts . The simple and quick task of using your seatbelt can prevent injuries and save lives." said Burlingame's Chief of Police Eric Wollman.  "Time after time, we see the deadly results that come from drivers and passengers refusing to wear a seat belt. Wearing a seat belt is one of the most important steps in increasing survivability in a crash. Our job is to stop those who are not buckled up, and to keep them from repeating this potentially deadly mistake."

 

For more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

The Burlingame Police is issuing an advisory to all citizens in and around the Mills Canyon Park area.  On Sunday, May 22, 2016 at approximately 9:07 a.m., the police department received a report of a coyote that was menacing two hikers and their dogs.  The hikers stumbled upon the coyote while walking the trails inside the Mills Canyon Park. The hikers became cornered by the coyote who seemed to be interested in the dogs. The hikers and their dogs were safely escorted out of the canyon by BPD officers who were able to scare the coyote off.

 

Please use caution and stay alert when hiking in wildlife areas especially if you bring domestic animals with you. To avoid problems with coyotes and to make your property less attractive to them, you should follow some basic practices:

 

• Don't Feed or Try to Pet Coyotes - Keep wild things wild! Feeding, whether direct or indirect, can cause coyotes to act tame and may lead to bold behavior. Coyotes that rely on natural foods remain wild and wary of humans.
• Keep your Pets Safe - Although free roaming pets are more likely to be killed by automobiles than by wild animals, coyotes do view cats and small dogs as potential food, and larger dogs as competition. For the safety of your pets, keep them restrained at all times.
• Feed Pets Indoors - Outdoor feeding attracts many wild animals to your door!
• Don't Let Coyotes Intimidate You - Don't hesitate to scare or threaten coyotes with loud noises, bright lights, or water sprayed from a hose.
• Cut Back Brushy Edges in your Yard - These areas provide cover for coyotes and their prey.
• Educate your Neighbors - Pass this information along. Your efforts will be futile if neighbors are providing food or shelter for coyotes.

Call the Burlingame Police Department at (650) 777 - 4100 if you see a coyote.

The San Mateo County Elections Office is calling on residents to serve as Election Officers on Election Day. It is not too late to sign up! For a countywide election, the Elections Office recruits and trains up to 2,000 Election Officers. Right now, 5 more volunteers are needed in Burlingame.  

To become an Election Officer, the signup process is very easy. You can call the Elections Office at 650-286-2810. Their staff will be happy to take down your information and sign you up. You can also visit www.shapethefuture.org to sign up online. The process only takes a few minutes. After signing up, you will be required to take a three-hour training, and you will receive an Appointment Letter. You will be paid a stipend of up to $148.

We are so pleased to announce that over 60 Burlingame 8 ^th through 12 ^th graders have been accepted into the Parks and Recreation Department's Leader in Training program this summer and we are so proud of our local youth for stepping up in support of our community! Our youth leaders will gain valuable leadership experience assisting with our Summer Camp programs. Our campers will benefit immensely from the support provided by our youth leaders. Together we really do build a better Burlingame! It's going to be a great summer.

  

Though the deadline to submit an application has passed, if your teen is interested in submitting an application, we would be happy to keep their information on file should additional openings become available. Contact Nicole Rath at (650) 558-7308 or  [email protected] for more details.

  

As part of a pilot project to improve traffic safety and reduce collisions resulting from southbound left turns at the intersection of El Camino Real and Floribunda Avenue, Caltrans will be installing "No Left Turn" Signage at the intersection effective May 31, 2016.   The City of Burlingame thanks Caltrans and its staff for undertaking this very important pilot project to address safety needs.  The City has been working closely with Caltrans to address the traffic safety issues at the intersection, while concurrently advocating for the preservation of historic character of the El Camino Real and its natural resources.  The results of this pilot project will be studied and monitored for a period of 18 months to determine its effectiveness in improving safety. 

Come to the final competition of Burlingame Idol.  Eleven finalists will be performing their songs to determine the Burlingame Idol winner in four different categories.  Burlingame's "Glee" will open the competition singing "Lean On Me" and "Happy".

The performers that have advanced to the final competition after five weeks of eliminations are Misha Irfan, Holly Simson, Janelle Feraro, Hannah Broman, Lucy Ballinger, Alastair Rao, Sophia Aziza, Lavinia Simson, Aja Walker, Delores Huajardo and Jeff Cleary.

This competition is free and open to the public.  There will be a catered dinner at 5:00 p.m.  The cost is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and children under 14.  For reservations and more information, please contact [email protected] or (650) 697-6936. 

Come show your Burlingame Pride. Community Night is sponsored by the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Foundation and proceeds from each ticket purchased will benefit the Foundation and a community group of your choice.  For more information click here.

Come join us for breakfast! Central County Fire Firefighters are holding their annual pancake breakfast. Come visit us at Station 34 and watch our firefighters serve up yummy flapjacks while dining inside the firehouse. The cost is only $5.00 per person and all proceeds will go towards the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, a non-profit organization which supports burn survivors and their families. An exciting auction and fun activities for the kids will also be available. Please join us!

Peninsula Girls Chorus (PGC) is holding auditions on for singers from South San Francisco to Mountain View. These auditions are for entry to PGC in September 2016. Now in its 22nd year, the PGC is open to all girls, ages 6-18, who love to sing. PGC was voted one of the best choirs on the Peninsula in 2014 by CBS local news, and "Best of Burlingame" every year since 2009.

Singers in PGC perform in two concerts annually, and regularly perform the National Anthem at SF Giants games, as well as singing in a variety of community settings. With 200+ singers in five choir levels, these girls experience joyful music making, a nurturing teaching environment, top-notch training in healthy vocal technique, music reading and musicianship instruction, the chance to make new friends, performances throughout the community and opportunities for travel, both locally and abroad. Summer 2017 will include an overseas tour! Tuition assistance is available. For more information about the PGC and to schedule an audition appointment, please visit  www.peninsulagirlschorus.org.