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Thank You to Everyone Who Came to the Festival of Lights!
We hope you enjoyed the beautifully-lit Community Park and all the festivities on Sunday! This may have been the highest-attended Festival of Lights, ever. The night started with caroling down Visitacion, led by Kathy Wall, and ended at our holiday tree for the tree lighting ceremony. The Club Rec Kindergartners performed "Jingle Bells". Parks and Recreation Commissioners Frank Kern and Natalie Ocampo emceed the evening. Mayor Davis bestowed the Volunteer of the Year Award upon Camille and Marc Salmon for all of their amazing work in the community. Santa joined the festivities by way of fire truck (complete with a Police motorcade)! The tree was lit and the community was welcome to enjoy the park, which was transformed into a winter wonderland by JoeJoe Martin, his wife Erin Becker, and the LumiGeek team. Santa photos were held in the inflatable igloo. There was a fun interactive fireplace photo booth and stars galore. We can't wait until next year. Enjoy the photos!
We’d like to thank the following people: Mayor Madison Davis, Camille & Marc Salmon, Sagar Rajan, JoeJoe Martin, Sharon Boggs, Santa Claus, the Brisbane City Council, Parks & Recreation Commission, Youth Advisory Committee, Public Works Department, Brisbane Police Department, Brisbane Dance Workshop, Kathy Wall, Erin Becker, John Edmark, Phil Spitler, John Taylor, LumiGeek, and Dave Hoene. The Parks & Rec Department served over 500 cookies along with delicious cocoa and apple cider and distributed 400 glow wands. The park was filled with so much happiness and holiday spirit...something we all needed. Thanks, Brisbane Parks & Rec!
Those that stayed around until about 6:45 p.m. were surprised to behold BDW's flash mob, which was choreographed this year by Valerie Cunningham Campbell, Brisbane resident and professional Dance Instructor whose studio is The Dance Loft SF. Camille chose the perfect person to choreograph the flash mob participants, who actually got together a couple times to practice, including meeting at 2pm Sunday afternoon for a rehearsal. Thanks, Valerie, and BDW for adding this extra layer of delight to the evening! Check out this video edited by our Communications Team (thank you to Erin Becker, Jessica Aloft, and Chad Norwood for sharing their video clips with us, along with the Parks and Rec team for their photos):
Stay tuned next week for another Festival of Lights video being produced, this time by Millbrae Community Television (MCTV). In the meantime, do you have a passion for community and want a deeper involvement in helping shape the growth of a nonprofit organization? Do you have skills in organization growth, budgeting, fundraising, marketing, and or diversity equity and inclusion? If so, MCTV has the perfect opportunity...join them as a Board Member!
Speaking of Holiday Cheer
You may recall the window decorations along Visitacion last year. City facilities such as the Sunrise Room got their holiday window decorations added to them this past week. Pretty soon, you'll be greeted by more whimsical and fun decor, this time at the Community Pool and just in time for the Polar Bear Plunge event. Thank you to Parks and Rec Supervisor Nicole Houghton for coordinating these installations for the community to enjoy.
Update on Striping Upper Visitacion and Paving Lower Visitacion
Striping layout of the upper portion of Visitacion occurred Monday, November 27th. Due to weather delays, the City's contractor will be returning Monday, December 11, to restripe the centerline, edgelines, crosswalks, parking lines and tick marks, and new bike sharrows. There will be no parking between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Vis between Mendocino and San Benito. Thanks for your patience!
And we ask for those along the lower portion of Vis for extra patience, as the work to pave that section of the roadway (San Francisco to Mendocino) won't get started until early next year; the days have gotten too short and the temperatures too cold now for proper paving. We're sorry it will be a little while longer. For any questions, please call our Public Works Inspector at 415-760-3053.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Flags will be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset tomorrow, December 7, in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. U.S. flags will also be placed on on Visitacion Ave.
Swearing In Ceremony, December 14
Before we swear in a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, we will be recognizing Madison Davis for all of her leadership and service as Brisbane's Mayor this past year. We hope you will join us for this special evening.
If you're unable to join us in-person, you can join via Zoom Webinar at brisbaneca.org/cc-zoom. Meeting ID: 991 9362 8666 | Call-in Number: 1-669-900-9128. You can also view the livestream on Comcast Ch. 27 or via the City's YouTube channel, youtube.com/brisbaneca. For more information, please contact City Clerk Ingrid Padilla at ipadilla@brisbaneca.org or 415-508-2113.
We're Hiring in the City of Stars
Revised Winter Hours at the Marina Office
A reminder that as activity and use of the Marina slows significantly during winter and early spring, winter hours started November 26 and will end on March 10, 2024; the Marina office will be closed on Sundays. The new office hours will be Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. As always, staff can be reached at 650-583-6975 and via email at harbormaster@brisbaneca.org. After March 10, 2024, the office hours will resume their normal, 7-day-a-week operation.
Sandbags at City Hall + Winter Weather Tips
The National Weather Service has forecast above-normal precipitation in the Bay Area this winter, including rain in the forecast today and Thursday. To help residents prepare, San Mateo County has prepared a simple step-by-step guide to get started. For the latest forecast updates, please visit weather.gov/bayarea.
Today, City staff received Emergency Action Plan training and the PASS method was highlighted. We wanted to make sure you were also reminded of this important acronym; use this as an opportunity to either get a fire extinguisher or make sure the one you have is operable and in an accessible place in your home. Don't forget to install smoke alarms & carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups. Need more tips? Please visit: northcountyfire.org.
Adopt-a-Storm-Drain Program
The Adopt-a-Storm-Drain program is going strong, where residents who have "adopted" the storm drain(s) nearest their property are receiving a free landscape rake as a thank you for keeping their newly-adopted storm drains clear of fallen leaves and debris.
Take the Age-Friendly Community Survey In-Person at an Upcoming City or Library Event
Be a part of the change...in this case, making sure your city is poised to meet your needs as you grow older! You likely have heard that the City of Brisbane was designated as an Age-Friendly City in June of this year, with the next step being a community-wide AARP survey for residents 45 and older. City and Library staff met to discuss the survey being completed in conjunction with planned Library events. City staff also plan to be at the farmers' market tomorrow, weather permitting.
The survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete and you can start it at brisbaneca.org/aarp. Hard copies of the survey are available at City Hall, the Sunrise Room, and the Library (where completed ones can also be dropped off). The survey will be open through the end of 2023. For more information on how to get involved, contact Nicole Houghton at 415-508-2144 or nhoughton@brisbaneca.org.
Order Your Holiday Stars Through the Chamber
We've been hearing from more residents interested in getting a wood-frame star. The Brisbane Chamber oversees this much-cherished program in town. Did you know that Golden State Lumber donates the lumber, Brisbane Hardware donates the hardware, Lyon Medical Construction donates their time to pick up the lumber, and Starmaker Bob Wilson donates his time to craft the stars? If you'd like to be a part of this wonderful holiday tradition and hang a Brisbane star from your home or business, please consider making a donation to the Chamber, where the funds will go directly towards supporting their Scholarship Program! See the graphic for the suggested donation, based on star size. Email Madison Davis to place your order!
Get Your Letters to Santa in by Friday, Dec. 8
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Public Works helped set out the Letters to Santa mailbox, located just outside of Midtown Market. Write Santa a letter by Friday, December 8 if you'd like to receive a response back... directly from the North Pole, of course!
Check Out Parks & Rec's Winter Activity Guide!
The Winter Activity Guide is now available! Check out all the offerings from Brisbane's Parks & Recreation Department. Resident registration opens Tuesday, December 12, with Non-resident registration beginning Tuesday, December 19.
Calling all Brisbane Artists!
If you are interested in showcasing your talent at this year's Artists' Evening of Sharing event, taking place on February 3rd at Mission Blue Center, make sure you contact Beth by December 29th at beth@bethgrossman.com & visit brisbaneca.org/AES2024 for more information.
Mountain Plant Sale at Mission Blue Nursery Saturday, Dec. 9
It's planting season! Mission Blue Nursery is having a plant sale on December 9th, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Here are ten species they're excited to offer, among many others: seaside daisy, beach blue lupine, Pacific stonecrop, crevice alum root, Pacific reed grass, blue blossom ceanothus, redstem dogwood, Pacific ninebark, Franciscan wallflower, and California honeysuckle! For more information, along with the full plant sale inventory, please visit: mountainwatch.org.
Also available at the plant sale will be these endangered butterfly stickers, which feature the artwork of San Bruno Mountain Watch board president, Tera Freedman. They include: Mission Blue, Callippe Silverspot, and San Bruno Elfin.
Anonymous Gun Buyback Event Saturday, Dec. 9
The County of San Mateo and its partners are holding an anonymous Gun Buyback event at 400 Harbor Boulevard in Belmont, on Saturday, December 9, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All guns will be accepted, no questions asked - in exchange for cash ranging from $50-$200. This program is funded by a partnership between the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback, a local community group.
BDW's Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair is also Saturday, Dec. 9!
From 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mission Blue Center will be where you can go shop for holiday gifts for yourself and your loved ones. Don't forget to take your picture with Santa and support Silverspot Nursery School.
Marina Lighted Boat Decorating Contest Saturday, Dec. 9
And last but not least, we're quickly approaching this year's Lighted Boat Decorating Contest at the Marina!
If you'd like to enter this year's Lighted Boat Decorating Contest, be sure your vessel is lit up by 5 p.m., December 9th as that's when contest judges Harbormaster Andrew Rehberg and Sierra Point Yacht Club Member Michele Salmon will be starting their judging. Prizes will be awarded, so light them up! And if you'd like to enjoy the sight of slips all aglow that evening, be sure to come on by the Bay Trail at Sierra Point!
North County Fire Authority's CPR Presentation at Serramonte, Dec. 13
Polar Bear Plunge at the Community Pool December 14
The MOB's Holiday Sweet Treat Swap is Dec. 16
Annual Holiday Food & Gift Distribution - How to Register or Donate!
Could you or someone you know use a little extra support this holiday season? There's still time to register for this year's Holiday Food and Gift Distribution, with the deadline being the day of the event, Tuesday, December 19.
Brisbane residents can register in-person at the YMCA Community Resource Center located at 1486 Huntington Ave #100, South San Francisco Monday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Tuesday/Thursday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Registration can also be completed online Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. by emailing crc@ymcasf.org or calling (650) 276-4104 ext. 4. Make sure you bring your ID's, proof of your address, and a birth certificate/or school registration or ID card of minors in the household. The day-of the event will be Tuesday, December 19 from 3 - 5 p.m. at Brisbane City Hall.
If you'd like to DONATE non-perishable food or new, unwrapped toys, you can do so now until December 15 by dropping them in the cart found in the lobby of City Hall (50 Park Place) or in the bin located in the Police Department's lobby (147 Valley Dr.)
Brisbane Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, UPDATED HOURS 2-6 P.M.
- Mountain Fresh
- Villanueva Fruits
- Old-Fashioned Kettle Corn
- California Bakeshop
- California's Crêpe
- Hummus Heaven
- James Healey Confections
- Medina Berry Farms
- Amelia's Mexipino Cuisine
- Pasta Rey Artisanal Foods
- Roadside Rotisserie
- The Daisy Refillery
- Cousins Maine Lobster (returning 12/14)
Community Health Updates
Order another round of FREE at-home COVID-19 tests this fall on covid.gov/tests via USPS. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests. Need help placing an online order? Call 1-800-232-0233.
County Health is recommending that everyone who is eligible get the seasonal flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are available from health care providers and local pharmacies. Use MyTurn to find a location near you. Residents without health coverage who need flu or COVID-19 vaccines should contact County Health at SMCHealth_IZ@smcgov.org or call 650-573-2877 for more information.
Masks are optional at all City facilities. City Hall's Public Walk-In Hours are M, Tu, Th: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., W: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., and F: 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. View our online services to get city business taken care of from the comfort of home.
San Mateo County and statewide data regarding cases, deaths, positivity, and hospitalizations:
Upcoming Public Meetings
Archived Meeting Videos
Special Planning Commission Meeting - Tuesday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.
Did You Know?
The Brisbane Police Department has welcomed a new member to the team! K9 Ringo and his handler, Officer Valencia, successfully completed K9 school recently; Ringo's already assisted neighboring agencies with a number of investigations during his first week on patrol.
Let’s meet K9 Ringo: Ringo is a Belgian Malinois born and raised in Poland. Ringo is trained in apprehension, tracking, and firearm detection. We're glad he's finally here and know he will be an excellent addition to the Brisbane Police Department.
Quote of the week
This concludes our update; we'll be sending out the next Blast on Wednesday, December 13, in the afternoon. If this email was forwarded to you or you saw it on social media and would like to subscribe, sign up here. As always, please keep connected with us via our website and social media pages. Thanks for reading and staying engaged with us!