Portola Valley Update March 6, 2025

CUBdate

Fern, Thistle, and Spruce are doing well under the care of the Oakland Zoo cub rescue team! All 3 cubs have gone through some teething days recently, and just like little humans, they get extra grumpy and don’t eat as much. All 3 cubs are eating well again, and have been gaining weight. They are making good progress in learning to adapt to their environment.

Hospital keepers Amber and Nikki are working with our cubs, Fern, Thistle, and Spruce every day, training them so they can be medically examined along a fence line, as they are too big to get too close to now. Our cubs are receiving being introduced to new people so they become used to a larger variety of humans in their lives. Amber and Nikki have kept the 3 kittens stimulated with new structures and enrichment items on a regular basis.

Upcoming CUBdate - Mountain Lion Talk

On March 20 at the Town Center at 6 PM, the Oakland Zoo will present an update on our lion cubs: Thistle, Fern and Spruce. Sponsored by Portola Valley's Westridge Garden Club and The Conservation Committee. The Oakland Zoo's Vice President of Veterinary Services, Dr. Alex Herman, will speak about the cub's safety, healing and future. Amy Gotliffe, Vice President of Conservation, will share about the Zoo's work to conserve this protected species since 2012 and our strategy to ensure the survival of our native lions. Register here.

For more CUBdates, follow the Oakland Zoo on  Facebook, Instagram , or visit their webpage

Jasper Ridge Prescribed Burn – 1 year later

Back in Mar-2024, Stanford conducted pile burns (aka prescribed burns) in Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ’Ootchamin ’Ooyakma. On Feb-18-2025, JRBP’O’O held a research convening on their studies of this work, together with some results from other fuel reduction efforts such as mastication and hand-clearing.

Nona Chiariello, a retired JRBP’O’O researcher and former WPC member, attended the convening and shared some of the changes that were reported resulting from the pile burns:

• Germination of a rare species last seen decades ago
• Germination of invasive species more typical of grasslands
• Wider daily fluctuations in soil temperature and soil moisture, which can affect germination and resprouting plants
• Reductions in plant diversity in the center of burns, versus increases at the perimeter
• Elimination of some fungi and nematodes from surface soil
• Increases in soil pH (greater alkalinity)
• Increases in less degradable forms of carbon

Many studies are in the early stages of lab work or data analysis, such as changes in the chemistry of runoff into streams and Searsville Lake. Other studies focused on new methods, such as 3-dimensional imaging of plants and vegetation.

A study of woodrat nests found that in shaded fuel breaks where trees were limbed up and the understory was reduced, woodrat nest occupation levels declined and then recovered after 9 months. Where poison oak thickets were masticated up to the edge of nests, there was a decline in nest occupation for at least a year, possibly due to a lack of cover for foraging beyond the nest edge.

Of importance for future maintenance and budgeting, the stewardship team quantified the amount of fuel reduction in each treatment.

The faculty panel discussed big-picture themes such as three timeframes for thinking about California ecosystems: historical conditions when tree density was lower; current conditions in which flammable, invasive species are increasingly abundant; and a future in which climate change may favor species from warmer environments. These have implications for deciding the goals and methods of fuel reduction.

A Stanford student’s Jun-2024 case study of the pile burn covers the collaboration with WFPD, other entities, and Westridge residents, which helped the burn to be a success. Participants remarked on how such a prescribed burn would not have been possible in the past. But times are changing, as “Fuel treatments require the public to understand an uncertain future risk and be willing to frontload the cost of prevention.”

Crime Prevention Workshop in Woodside and Portola Valley

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a crime prevention workshop at 3 p.m. on March 20 at Independence Hall in Woodside and on Zoom. Local residents will learn from law enforcement officers on how they can prevent identity theft and burglaries.

For more information, contact Woodside Council member Dick Brown by emailing d.brown@woodsideca.gov or by calling Administrative Services Director Cindy Safe at 650-851-6790 and by emailing csafe@woodsideca.gov .

Don't Forget! Music Trivia Night this Weekend!

Join your neighbors of 94028 and enjoy a fun-filled evening of banter and musical information...

Saturday, March 8th from 6:45pm to 9pm ( Trivia Starts PROMPTLY at 7pm) at the Portola Valley Community Hall.

Snacks and Beverages will not be available, please bring your favorite treats to share.

To Register Click Here

Neighborhood Clean up April 26

Saturday, April 26, from 8 AM to 11 AM (no items accepted after 11 AM)

This event is free for Portola Valley residents - you will need to bring a copy of your GreenWaste garbage bill or the mailer insert as proof of residency. Hazardous materials are NOT accepted.

2025 Youth Sustainability Award Winner: Portola Valley's Colin Chu

SSMC’s Youth Sustainability Award will go to Colin Chu of Portola Valley. Inspired by his deeply rooted passions in environmental and social justice, Colin founded Homeless Heroes in 2021, when he was in 8th grade. This nonprofit combats food waste and food insecurity by redistributing surplus school cafeteria food to homeless shelters. Since 2021, Colin has expanded Homeless Heroes by partnering with local and national organizations to deliver over 135,000 meals to more than 3,500 individuals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while addressing food equity. Colin’s impact extends beyond his nonprofit work. He serves on the U.S. Youth Action Council for the U.N. Ocean Decade and advocates for sustainable policies. As he prepares for college, Colin is working to continue to expand Homeless Heroes across the country, consistent with his mission to fight food waste, homelessness and climate change

Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) will honor five local sustainability champions and two green buildings at its 26th Annual Awards Celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, for their contributions to sustainability in San Mateo County

We hope Portola Valley residents will come to honor Colin at this gala event, which includes a hosted reception, dinner, live auction and an awards program filled with inspiring stories about local sustainability champions. State Senator Josh Becker will emcee the evening with former Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith. It will take place at the College of San Mateo from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

A big congratulations to Colin Chu for receiving this award!

New Update to Chipper Program!

New for 2025!

We Need Your Help to make this Service More Successful

To make our Chipper Program more efficient and ensure timely service, we kindly ask you to reserve your pickup in advance. This will help us schedule routes effectively and provide better service to everyone. MAKE A RESERVATION for the Chipping Program to schedule service.

March 23 Deadline for Entries to 8th Annual CEC Student Film Fest

The deadline to submit a video to the 8th Annual CEC Student Film Fest is approaching. Students who wish to enter should submit an original video, not more than five minutes in length, on the environmental topic of their choice by Sunday, March 23. They must live or attend school in grades 4 through 12 in San Mateo County in order to be eligible.

Please visit burlingamefilmfest.com for details, rules and to submit entries. Questions can be sent to info@cecburlingame.org. There is no charge for entries.

The Citizens Environmental Council (CEC) will provide $150 cash prizes in three categories: elementary grades 4-5, middle school grades 6-8 and high school. The overall Best in Fest winner will receive an additional $150.

The finalists will be screened and winners will be announced on Earth Day at the CEC Student Film Fest on Tuesday, April 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. live at the Burlingame High School Theater. San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo will be on hand to acknowledge involvement of all participants. The festival is open to the public and admission is free. Please register at https://burlingamefilmfest.com.

Hawthorns Area Plan Upcoming Meeting Schedule

Board of Directors Meeting - Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7 p.m.

These Midpen board meetings will held both in-person at 5050 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA  and via Zoom.

Midpen is continuing a multiyear process to develop a plan for resource management and ecologically sensitive public access at the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Preserve, located in the Town of Portola Valley.

Midpen has/ is holding two public meetings in the next several weeks pertaining to the Hawthorns Area Plan

1. Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, March 12th at 7 p.m. - At this board meeting, the Midpen Board of Directors will consider and determine which options to incorporate into the preparation of the Hawthorns Area Plan. The agendas for these meetings will be posted 72 business hours prior to the meetings start times. Another e-mail notification will be sent once the agendas have been posted.
2. Study Session on Wednesday, February 26th

For more information, visit openspace.org/hawthorns.

Staff contacts: Tina Hugg, Senior Planner (thugg@openspace.org) and Ashley Mac, Planner III (amac@openspace.org) or 650-691-1200

Celebrate Women’s History Month at the Women’s View Art Reception

Enjoy an exhibition that highlights the diverse and talented women artists who live or work in San Mateo County. Enjoy this large show with over 70 artworks open to the public from Mar 5-30 at the Twin Pines Arts Center, 10 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont.

Join us at the reception to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments on Mar 9 from 1-4pm.

Open to the public, but reservations required. Register to attend.