Blood Centers of the Pacific — this area’s nonprofit community blood organization that provides volunteer blood donations to more than 50 hospitals throughout Northern California — urgently needs type O-negative blood donors.
Because pricing pressure from hospital systems has led to blood bank consolidation, staff reductions, and a significant change in the way blood banks collect blood, collecting a high demand blood type such as O-negative blood has become problematic for blood centers across the country.
Only 6 percent of people have O-negative blood; however, at hospital trauma centers, a great percentage of the blood transfused is O-negative because it is the universal blood type.
“O-negative can be given to anyone in an extreme emergency situation when there is no time to crossmatch the donor’s blood with the patient’s,” said Kent Corley, public relations associate at Blood Centers of the Pacific, in an email. “When you do the math, our community needs people who are O-negative to give blood at least twice as often as everyone else. And we really need them now!”
Another special need for O-negative blood is in the treatment of babies because neonatal care facilities require fresh units of O-negative blood each day to treat their tiny patients.
Blood Centers of the Pacific has blood drives in the Peninsula, San Francisco, South Bay, East Bay, North Bay, and Shasta/Redding area.
Donors may call 888-393-4483 or go to www.bloodcenters.org to make a convenient appointment to donate. Scheduling your appointment online has never been easier. Hours at many blood donation centers will be extended to accommodate the urgent need.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula in Redwood City celebrating 25 years
Rebuilding Together Peninsula in Redwood City is celebrating 25 years of working to ensure thousands of low-income neighbors across the Peninsula are living independently in warmth and safety.
From Daly City to Sunnyvale, about 1,700 homeowners and 400 community centers have watched the place they call home transform before their eyes with the help of 60,000 volunteers.
Formerly known as Christmas in April, Rebuilding Together Peninsula began as a small grassroots movement by the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula in November 1989 after hearing a presentation about homelessness and poverty in the Bay Area made by Patty Johnson, founder of the original Christmas in April in Midland, Texas.
The group felt it was imperative to take action after they learned that there were thousands of people in their own community who had to choose between medication and putting food on the table or repairing their homes. The following April, Rebuilding Together Peninsula held its first National Rebuilding Day — the organization’s signature program — and renovated 15 houses and three community centers with the assistance of 20 sponsors and 500 volunteers.
“Literally, a house someone can call home is so important,” said Katrina Wollenberg, founding Rebuilding Together Peninsula board chairwoman and former Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula member. “When we learned there were so many people in our very own community living with no heat, broken windows, and so much more they just could not afford to repair, we knew we had to help.”
Since its inception, Rebuilding Together Peninsula has continued to grow and expand its services, helping the area’s most vulnerable neighbors — seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and families with children — make critical home repairs and modifications at no cost to them.
Starting with its annual National Rebuilding Day program, the organization has since added the Team Build, Youth Assisting Seniors, and Safe at Home repair programs, serving low-income homeowners and other nonprofits in San Mateo and northern Santa Clara counties.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula’s vision for the future is to strengthen the quality and expand the services provided. To ensure the organization is well positioned for growing its programs, it has accepted the Healthy Housing Challenge set forth by the National Center of Healthy Housing.
The challenge is guided by seven principles: a healthy home should be dry, clean, pest-free, contaminant-free, safe, ventilated, and well-maintained. Endorsed by the Surgeon General, these principles are put into action by the Healthy Housing Challenge, making health and safety repairs more accessible, actionable, and affordable, and helping Rebuilding Together Peninsula staff and volunteers identify major hazards and improve the quality of work done in the 200-plus projects the organizations completes each year.
Expanded repairs by Rebuilding Together Peninsula will reduce illness, accidents and injuries that account for more than $220 billion to the American health care system.
Believing strongly in Rebuilding Together Peninsula’s vision of a safe and healthy home for every person, The Wollenberg Foundation is assisting the organization launch the Healthy Housing Challenge by making a matching $250,000 grant to address the priorities of today and in the future.
The following are some of the ways Rebuilding Together Peninsula has restored the feeling of home the past 25 years:
650 roofs repaired
4,180 smoke detectors replaced
2,207 grab bars installed
8,073 sheets of plywood hung
10,032 ladders climbed
62,920 gallons of paint spread
1,333,500 nails pounded.
To learn more, go to www.RebuildingTogetherPeninsula.org or call 650-366-6597.
St. Andrews Episcopal Preschool & Daycare in San Bruno marks 50th year in operation
2014 marks the 50th year that St. Andrews Episcopal Preschool & Daycare in San Bruno has been providing children, two to six years of age, with a quality education.
Founded in 1964 at its present location at 1600 Santa Lucia Ave. — adjacent to San Bruno City Park — St. Andrews Preschool has been a leader in childcare and child rearing, with a Christian foundation, in San Bruno. The preschool is open to children of all religious beliefs and ethnic heritage.
Over the years, St. Andrews Preschool has graduated several generations of well-prepared students into the San Bruno Park School District. Many of its alumni serve the community in professional capacities such as first responders, teachers, medical personnel, business entrepreneurs, and more.
For more information about the preschool, call Director Jeanne McLaughlin at 650-583-1930 or to learn more about St. Andrews Episcopal Church, call the Rev. Deborah Hawkins at 650-583-6678.
HIP Housing looking for people who have rooms to rent
HIP Housing is in dire need of more people who have a room to rent in their home for its Home Sharing Program, which is a free service to the community.
As a result of the challenging housing market, HIP Housing is seeing hundreds of people who want to rent a room in San Mateo County.
If anyone is looking for a housemate or renter, or trying to rent out a room in their home, HIP Housing’s Home Sharing Program can help make that a safe, comfortable process — which it has been doing for 42 years.
This program is especially important now, as San Mateo County has become one of the most expensive areas to live in within the United States. The need for extra income is a common problem, and renting a room in your home is a great way to reduce costs and stimulate the community.
For more details, go to www.hiphousing.org or go to www.facebook.com/hiphousing.
Veterans Affairs-Community Forum to be held in San Francisco
A Veterans Affairs-Community Forum, sponsored by One Vet Once Voice, Air Force Association Golden Gate Chapter 120, and American Legion Cesar E. Chavez Post 505, will be held Wednesday at the Philip Burton Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Ave., 2nd floor, Arizona room, in San Francisco.
Open to community and veterans organizations, a town hall session will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., and then a follow-up meeting to the VA-Community Mental Health Summit held on Aug. 29, with reports from the Summit’s breakout session workgroups, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For more town hall information, call Eddie Ramirez at 415-244-7100, and for more details about the mental health follow-up meeting, call either Jennifer Boyd, Ph.D., 415-221-4810, ext. 3421, or Dan Evenhouse at 415-221-4810, ext. 2839.
South San Francisco Public Library seeking public input on Andrew Carnegie building technology upgrades
South San Francisco Public Library is seeking public input for technology-focused renovations to upgrade the historic 1917 Andrew Carnegie building in order to modernize the Grand Avenue Branch Library in South San Francisco.
“With local funding from the City and funding from San Mateo County Measure A, South San Francisco plans to remodel the 8,000-square foot main floor of the Grand Avenue Branch Library to improve public infrastructure and interior design,” Cheryl Grantano Rich, assistant Library Director, wrote in an email. “Donations toward new furnishing and equipment to further enhance the project are also being sought.
“As the community’s primary information and technology center, the Public Library offers public access to computers, wireless connectivity to the Internet, meeting and study rooms, tutoring services, expanded learning programs, digital literacy education, and much more. In addition to books, the Public Library provides technology-focused training and programming to encourage online public participation and civic engagement.”
The Grand Avenue Library at 306 Walnut Ave., along with the City’s contractor, Group 4 Architecture of South San Francisco, is gathering public input as follows:
From Monday to Oct. 24 the Library will host a Community Kiosk at 6 p.m. to take comments on library design options.
On Wednesday, an Open House will be held from 11 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 6 p.m. and a Community Meeting will also be held from 6 to 7 p.m.
On Oct. 28, there will be a City Council and Library board meeting at the Grand Avenue Library to also take comments on the library design options.
Call 10 weekdays prior to the event to request sign language or other accommodations. Please refrain from wearing scented products to programs.
Public input can also be submitted online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/visionssfgrandavelibrary.
For more information, call the Public Library at 650-829-3876 or 650-877-8530 or go to www.ssf.net/library.
St. Vincent de Paul’s Catherines’ Center to celebrate 12 years of helping women after incarceration
St. Vincent de Paul’s Catherines’ Center will celebrate 12 years of assisting formerly incarcerated women to change their lives at a Circles of Mercy Gala from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Kohl Mansion, 2750 Adeline Drive, in Burlingame.
Mercy High Schools in Burlingame and San Francisco, and other ministries of the West Midwest Community of the Sisters of Mercy, will celebrate their alliance with SVdP’s Catherines’ Center.
Bob Grassilli, chairman of the Mercy High School Burlingame board, and longtime supporter of Catherines’ Center and the memory of his sister, Sister Diane Grassilli, who was a member of the leadership team at the time of Catherines’ Center founding, will be honored at the event. Representatives of the Circles of Mercy will also be recognized.
The event will also include a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, entertainment by Mercy High Schools’ artists, the Dance Ensemble from San Francisco and the Chorale from Burlingame, and will conclude with desserts and Irish coffee.
The Circle of Mercy ministries — through friends and fundraising — have supported the work of SVdP’s Catherines’ Center, which offers solace, safety and a program of rehabilitation for the women it shelters, since its inception.
The Center, a transitional home for women leaving incarceration, provides space for up to 20 women at one time as they participate in carefully structured, individualized programs designed to simultaneously heal mind, body and spirit. Residents stay up to 12 months and, if needed, receive further support as program alumnae.
Strengthened by having the full responsibility in SVdP’s Catherines’ Center activities and requirements, the women leave with a greater sense of self-esteem and connection to family and community. More than 80 women have benefited from Catherine’s Center to date.
Tickets for the event are $100 per person and may be obtained by calling 650-867-8171.
Sanchez Adobe presenting traditional and contemporary quilt exhibit
Sanchez Adobe is presenting an exhibit of traditional and contemporary quilts from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26 at 1000 Linda Mark Blvd. in Pacifica.
A bed turning will highlight the fun event. Bed turnings were popular in the “olden days.” When a woman wanted to display all the quilts she had made over the years, she would invite all the women in town over for refreshments and a bed turning.
Before the guests arrived, she, with a helper, would place all her quilts on top of her bed — one at a time — as if it were the only quilt on the bed. As a result, only one quilt could be seen at a time.
When the guests arrived, they would all gather around the bed to see the hostess’ lovely quilt work and to hear her describe each one as she folded the top of the quilt to the bottom of the bed so she could show and tell about the next one.
After all the quilts were shown, refreshments were served while the women discussed the quilts they had just viewed and learned about.
Refreshments will also be served at Sanchez Adobe. Admission is free. For more information, call 650-359-1462 or go to www.historysmc.org.
Halloween Family Concert to be held at Cañada College
Violinists in witches’ black, a cellist as Snoopy, and Maestro Eric Kujawsky in pirate’s stripes will greet the children who attend the Halloween Family Concert being presented by the Redwood Symphony at 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Main Theater at Cañada College, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., in Redwood City.
The program begins with a Tour of the Orchestra, in which the audience will circulate through the building to meet the orchestra musicians, as they demonstrate their instruments and answer questions. At the top of the bill for the afternoon, the symphony will play the suite from the Disney movie “Frozen,” and the children are welcome to sing along.
After intermission, Redwood Symphony will perform music from Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker Suite.
Chosen by a raffle, 10 children will get their own batons to lead the symphony in a Sousa march. Pre-sale tickets for the family event, $10-$25, are available at www.RedwoodSymphony.org. Adult tickets are $5 more at the door. Parking is free.
Peninsula Jewish Community Center to hold The Pink Ribbon Day Fundraiser
Peninsula Jewish Community Center is presenting The Pink Ribbon Day Fundraiser from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at the PJCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., in Foster City to help breast cancer survivors stay “In the Pink.”
Guest speaker Kristen Thompson, a nurse, wife, mother, Ironman triathlete — and two-time breast cancer survivor — will talk about the challenges of training for the Ironman Triathlon while battling, and ultimately beating, breast cancer, not once but twice.
Multiple fitness classes and a marketplace will also be featured at the event. The Marketplace for shopping will include information tables hosted by Kaiser Permanente, Mills-Peninsula, Check Your Boobies, ChemoCare Bag Ministry, and more.
The schedule of events for the fundraiser is:
From 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Indoor Cycling and also Boot “Boob” Camp
From 9 to 10 a.m., Pink Tae Bo Party
From 10:25 to 11:30 a.m., Pink Dance Party
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Marketplace
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., optional box lunch ($10 and must order in advance by calling 650-378-2703)
From noon to 1 p.m., guest speaker
Fundraiser proceeds will provide scholarship opportunities for those who might not otherwise be able to participate in the Pink Ribbon Program, a post-operative workout that enhances recovery.
Founded in 1998 by a breast cancer survivor in order to address major areas of concern such as body image, frozen shoulder, and/or range of motion, depression and anxiety.
The proceeds will also help increase the number of PJCC instructors who are breast cancer exercise specialists to help serve more women. The private, small group classes at PJCC, which is the only facility on the Peninsula to offer the Pink Ribbon Program, are open to all breast cancer survivors.
Today, breast cancer is no longer viewed as an automatic death sentence, but instead considered a treatable illness, thanks in part of early prevention awareness and advanced treatment options.
Preregistration is required for each class offered at the fundraiser ($20 each). Additional donations are gratefully accepted. To learn more, call 650-378-2703 or visit: www.pjcc.org/pink.
Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County to hold community meeting
Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County is holding a Community Meeting: Call to Action from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 18 at the San Mateo County Office of Education, 101 Twin Dolphin Drive in Redwood City.
The public is invited to this discussion that will delve deeper into the ways in which community and county agencies can work together to support the needs of fathers and to promote responsible fatherhood.
By joining forces, the intent is to reach the goal of successful outcomes for all children and families in San Mateo County.
As more information about the free event becomes available, it will be posted at http://Fcmeeting.eventbrite.com or call 650-802-5090.
For more details about the Fatherhood Collaborative and its popular Dad & Me activities, go to www.fatherhoodcollaborative.org.
San Francisco International Airport to hold Halloween Costume Photo Contest
From now to Oct. 31, San Francisco International Airport is holding a Halloween Costume Photo Contest on Instagram where participants can share their Halloween costume photos for a chance to win prizes.
The contest invites participants to follow the SFO Instagram page (www.Instagram.com/flysfo), upload Halloween costume photos using the hashtag #SpookySFO2014, and tag flysfo. The winners will be determined by the most number of “likes” a photo receives.
Contest participants are encouraged to promote their photos to receive likes.
Participants can also email Halloween costume photo entriesy to socialmedia@flysfo.com, and SFO will post them on its Instagram page. Each photo uploaded counts as an entry and participants may enter as many times as they wish.
There will be one grand prizewinner who will select either an Oculus Rift Virtual Headset Development Kit or a pair of wireless Beats headphones as their prize. Three runners-up will each receive an iHome Bluetooth speaker.
The prizewinners will be announced on Nov. 4. In the event of a tie, a random drawing will be held at a later date, and the winners will be announced at that time.
For details on ways to play and complete contest details, go to www.flysfo.com/SpookySFO2014.
Peninsula Volunteers Inc. to presenting Baubles Bangles and Bags luncheon
Peninsula Volunteers Inc. is presenting the sixth annual Baubles Bangles and Bags luncheon from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Menlo Circus Club, 190 Park Lane, in Atherton.
Babette Pinsky, of Oakland, who has boutiques across the country including San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, will give an entertaining presentation on fashion. Boldly textured and brilliantly styled, the Babette line is a locally made clothing collection for women. As a designer, artist of fashion, and producer of timeless “American made” merchandise since 1968, Babette has been nominated for the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Award.
More than 150 new or gently used premier designer handbags by Judith Leiber, Nancy Gonzales, ETRO, and Valentino to name a few, will entice the bargain shopper.
Baubles such as a South China Sea Pearl necklace donated by Darlene Woodson, of Atherton, and intriguing “mystery boxes” filled with special surprises will invite plenty of bids.
Proceeds from the event — co-chaired by Jill Jerrehian, of Los Altos Hills; Terri Carville, of Los Altos; and Kimber Sturm, of Rocklin, Calif. — will benefit Peninsula Volunteers programs: Meals on Wheels; Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center; and Rosener House Adult Day Services.
Tickets cost $125 per person and are available by calling Cathy Duhring at 650-326-0665, ext. 238.
Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center to hold Tacos & Trivia event
The Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center is hosting Tacos & Trivia from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rouge Nightclub and Lounge, 1500 Broadway St., in San Francisco.
Proceeds from the event will help the Center continue to provide recreational, vocational and educational opportunities to people with disabilities through programs and services that encourage self-expressions, promote personal achievement, and lead to greater independence. Because the Center is near the San Mateo County border, many of the Center’s participants are from San Mateo County. To learn more, go to www.prrcsf.org.
Michael Pritchard, stand-up comedian, wellness coach, and youth counselor, advocate and activist, will be the master of ceremonies. The evening will also include trivia, hosted beer and Nick’s crispy tacos, dancing to the band, The Blooms, of San Francisco, and valet parking.
Various sponsorship packages are available. For sponsorship details, call Esther Landau at 415-213-8541 or email elandau@prrcsf.org.
One ticket at $50 includes beer, tacos, and participation in the trivia game. For tickets, go to http://janetpomeroy.givezooks.com/events/trivia-and-tacos-at-rogue-night-club. For questions, call 415-213-8508 or email events@prrcsf.org.
Sustainable San Mateo County to hold the fall update meeting
Join Sustainable San Mateo County for the fall update of the 18th annual Indicators Report focused on Transportation: Planning for the Next Mile that will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the San Mateo Main Library, 55 W. 3rd Ave., in San Mateo.
The event will feature the following presentations:
The Future of Mass Transit: Ratna Amin, transportation policy director, SPUR
Shared Mobility: Elliot Martin, assistant research engineer, University of California Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center
The Future of Personal Mobility: Steve Raney, Cities21.
Networking, lunch, a transportation expo, and a chance to win prizes for attendees to take an alternative mode — walk, bike, bus, train or carpool — to the event will also be included.
Commute.org, San Mateo County Spare the Air Resource Team, and vRide are the Fall Launch sponsors and will also be exhibitors at the transportation expo.
The County of San Mateo, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Cargill, cities of Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and the Town of Portola Valley are sponsors of the 2014 Indicators Report.
The event is free but space is limited. For details and to register in advance, go to www.fall14indicators.bpt.me.
To view the Indicators Report, go to: www.sustainablesanmateo.org/indicators-report/.
Sustainable San Mateo County is also seeking nominations for its 2015 Sustainability Awards for forward-thinking organizations and individuals.
The awards honor and publicize businesses, government programs, community groups, and individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to sustainable practices. Nominees’ actions should support the key elements of sustainability: social equity, economic vitality, and a healthy environment.
To learn the criteria for both the Sustainability and Green Building awards and to submit the nomination forms online by Nov. 21, go to: www.sustainablesanmateo.org or download the forms and mail to: Sustainable San Mateo County, 177 Bovet Road, 6th floor, San Mateo, Calif., 94402. Self-nominations are welcome.
The awards banquet, which will include networking, dinner, wine, live and silent auctions, and video presentations of the winners, will be March 26 at the College of San Mateo, Bayview Dining Room, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., in San Mateo. For mre information, email advocate@sustainablesanmateo.org or call 650-638-2323.
Sustainable San Mateo County is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation dedicated to the long-term improvement of our region’s economy, environment, and social equity by providing fact-based information about sustainability.
Pro Bowl NFL Player to be guest at the Mills-Capuchino High School Football Luncheon
Raymond Chester — four-time Pro Bowl NFL Player — will be a special guest at the 19th annual Mills-Capuchino High School Football Luncheon being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Ave., in South San Francisco.
Jeff Bayer, director of marketing, NFL Alumni Northern California Chapter in Redwood City, will conduct an interview format with Chester.
After attending and playing football at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md., the Oakland Raiders drafted Chester, a tight end, in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft. During his three years with the Raiders, he was selected for the 1970, 1971, and 1972 Pro Bowl squads, and chosen as the National Enterprise Association NFL Rookie of the Year 1970.
In 1973, Chester was traded to the Baltimore Colts for Bubba Smith, but remained close to his East Bay ties, including his old boss, Al Davis. Traded back to the Raiders in 1978, he played at a high level — chosen for the 1979 Pro Bowl team, and started on the Raiders Super Bowl XV winning team — until he left the Raiders in 1981.
In 1983, Chester played one year for the Oakland Invaders, of the former U.S. Football League (1983-85). Once again, he made All-League honors as well as the Sporting News’ USFL All-Star team. Retiring after the 1983 season, Chester’s NFL numbers are substantial — 364 receptions for 5,013 yards and a 13.8 per catch average — which are some of the reasons there is a campaign underway to elect him to the 2015 NFL Hall of Fame.
The Rotary clubs of Millbrae and San Bruno are presenting this popular community event to honor both high schools’ senior football players and Spirit Squad members and to benefit their athletic departments.
Lunch — chicken or vegetarian pasta — costs $29 per person before Nov. 1, $35 per person after Nov. 1 or at the door, and $290 for tables of 10.
The luncheon also celebrates the friendly rivalry of the 55th annual “Battle of the Strip” Varsity game, which starts at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 (the Junior Varsity game is 11 a.m.) at Mills High School, 400 Murchison Drive, in Millbrae.
For reservations or to sponsor a student athlete if unable to attend, make check payable to Millbrae Rotary Club and mail to: Millbrae Rotary Club, P.O. Box 23, Millbrae, Calif., 94030.
For inquiries, call Faye or Tom Dawdy at 650-588-5400.
If you have any news tips about our county communities, call or fax Carolyn Livengood at 650-355-5533 or e-mail her at carolynlivengood@sanbrunocable.com.
