|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Annual ‘broom pull’ in Portola Valley, March 2
The Portola Valley Conservation Committee, community volunteers and Scout troops invite the public to spend a couple of hours pulling French Broom. As they have since 2004, participants will pull the invasive weed from public lands and rights-of-way.
Conditions are best during the rainy season for pulling the weed out. Once the ground becomes dry, it’s nearly impossible to yank it out of the ground, according to the town. It’s crucial to pull out the roots of the plants, because cutting it off just makes it much harder to remove and it re-sprouts with an even stronger root, the town’s announcement noted.
Community service hours are provided for this activity.
Bring water and gloves and wear long sleeves and close-toed shoes. Tools will be provided.
Meet at 9 a.m. at the Historic Schoolhouse, 775 Portola Road. The clean up will conclude by noon.
— Angela Swartz
Learn about California’s Mexican period at the Belle Haven Library
The Belle Haven Library, located at 100 Terminal Ave., is hosting a special exhibition on California’s Mexican period, which lasted from 1822–1846. The exhibition, titled “Telling Stories of Mexican California: Real Life & Myth Making,” will be on display until March 30.
The exhibition outlines California’s history leading up to statehood as a backdrop to the factual and fictional stories that emerged after the United States takeover of the land. The exhibition was developed by the California Historical Society, drawing extensively from their collections and consisting of 11 freestanding pop-up banners.
The library is also hosting several live events in conjunction with the exhibition. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Carlos Manuel Salomon Ph.D, author of “Pio Pico: The Last Governor of Mexican California,” will talk about California as a land in transition, and the powerful families of the time.
On Wednesday, March 12, Amy Cohen, executive director of the nonprofit Exhibit Envoy, will give a talk on how traveling exhibitions are conceived and created, and the logistics of bringing shows to audiences across the United States.
Application period open for 2025–26 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury
The application period to serve on the 2025–26 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury began on Feb. 3, 2025 and will close on March 31, 2025. The Civil Grand Jury is an independent investigative and judicial body composed of 19 citizens, and is meant to act as a “watchdog for citizens of the county.”
A seat on the Civil Grant Jury is open to “Any U.S. citizen and San Mateo County resident, 18 years of age or older, of ordinary intelligence, sound judgment and good character, with sufficient knowledge of the English language.” Applicants must have resided in San Mateo County for at least one year. Elected public officials are not eligible to serve.
The Civil Grand Jury application form can be obtained by emailing grandjury@sanmateocourt.org, or on the Court’s website: sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-grand-jury.
— Eleanor Raab
Free tax assistance in Menlo Park
Community members can get free tax assistance from AARP Tax-Aide volunteers every Tuesday at Little House located at 800 Middle Ave in Menlo Park. Volunteers are certified to prepare tax returns of simple to moderate complexity but more intricate tax situations may be ineligible.
To schedule an appointment online, visit aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations or call Little House at 650-326-2025. Tax preparation hours are 8:30-4:30 on Tuesdays, through April 8.
For a list of documents and tax forms to bring to your appointment, see tinyurl.com/tax-aide-SMC.
Menlo Park school district seeks members for citizens bond oversight committee
The Menlo Park City School District is looking for community members to serve on the citizens bond oversight committee to oversee the spending of funds from Measure U, a $123 million bond measure approved in November 2024.
The committee will be tasked with reviewing expenditures of Measure U funds, ensuring they are used in line with the ballot measure and that progress is being made on its capital improvement projects. The committee is also responsible for making regular reports on the status of the Measure U projects.
“We are committed to transparency and accountability in the expenditure of Measure U funds,” said Superintendent Kristen Gracia in a district press release on Feb. 6. “The citizens bond oversight committee will play a vital role in ensuring that our community’s investment in our schools’ safety and security is used wisely and effectively.”
The district is looking for members with diverse backgrounds and experiences including parents, senior citizens, community leaders and business owners. There is no prior experience necessary.
Applications for the committee are open until Feb. 21 and can be found on tinyurl.com/MPCSDCBOC.
New wildfire mitigation planning legislation introduced
State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park and Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz have introduced a new legislation on emergency wildfire mitigation. SB 326, also known as the Wildfire Mitigation Strategic Planning Act, will create a framework to better align state, federal, industry and private wildfire prevention actions to protect communities.
The legislation is part of “The Golden State Commitment,” a major wildfire legislative package led by state Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, D-North Coast.
“Wildfires strike without regard to county lines or utility service areas, so we need a coordinated and comprehensive approach to keeping California safe,” said Becker in a Feb. 12 press release. “By bringing everyone to the table—state, federal, industry, and private entities—we can be better prepared to respond to natural disasters like the recent wildfires in Los Angeles.”
Laird said in the release that the new legislation will strengthen the coordination between all agencies to effectively and efficiently respond to disasters.
“A comprehensive approach across all levels of government is essential to accurately assess and forecast wildfire risks, allowing us to take proactive measures that safeguard lives, property, and California’s natural resources,” he added.
The Wildfire Mitigation Strategic Planning Act will require the Deputy Director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to prepare a wildfire mitigation plan every three years. The framework will include improvements to coordination, ensuring cost effectiveness and evaluating the efficacy of mitigation efforts.
— Jennifer Yoshikoshi
