Portola Valley Update June 20, 2024

This week's update:

• This Weekend! Emergency Communications & Radio Day: Be Prepared and Stay Connected!
• This Weekend! Portola Valley Bird Walk – June 23
• Conservation Committee - Watch out for Snakes
• Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip - Westridge Firewise and Growing PV Participation
• Town Hall Closed on July 4th
• RSVP for 2024 Elections - Candidate Filing Seminars
• Upcoming Fireworks Buybacks
• Upcoming Events

Emergency Communications & Radio Day: Be Prepared and Stay Connected!

Saturday, June 22 , 2024, 10 AM- 3 PM

135 Portola Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028

Join us at Woodside Fire Protection District Station 8 for an exciting and informative event, Emergency Communications & Radio Day! This is your chance to enhance your emergency preparedness with expert guidance. Do you have a GO-BAG ready? Discover the essential items you should pack to ensure you're prepared for any situation. We'll also help you understand the importance of your ZoneHaven/Genasys code and how to find it, which is crucial for staying informed during emergencies. Additionally, our experts will assist you in creating a robust emergency plan tailored for residents of Portola Valley or Woodside. And if you're curious about what to do when phones, cell service, and the internet go out, we’ll introduce you to reliable communication alternatives that can keep you connected.

Meet our dedicated Volunteer CERT and amateur radio teams and watch live demonstrations on emergency preparedness. The PV Amateur Radio Club will be on the air, participating in the nationwide ARRL Field Day, an event where 40,000 amateur radio operators across the country broadcast simultaneously. This is a fantastic opportunity to see amateur radio in action and understand its role in emergency communication. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your readiness and gain invaluable knowledge from seasoned experts.

Sponsored by the Portola Valley Emergency Preparedness Committee, the Portola Valley Amateur Radio Club, WPV-CERT, WPV-Ready, and Woodside Fire.

Portola Valley Bird Walk – June 23

Enjoy a Bird Walk to observe and learn about the local birds of Portola Valley. Matthew Dodder, Executive Director of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, will lead the field trip starting at 8am at the Windy Hill Parking Lot. Bring binoculars, but if you don’t have them, some will be provided. The event will last 90 minutes. Great for kids and adults alike. This event is hosted by the Portola Valley Nature and Science Committee.

Conservation Committee Tip of the Month - Watch out for Snakes

Watch out for Snakes

Tip of the Month - June

With the warmer weather we’ve had recently, snakes become more active and are out and about during the day. They often are seen near paths which are warm in the summer sun. However, this makes them very vulnerable to bicycles and cars. Please pay attention when you are riding or driving and if you see a snake, slow down and let them pass. Most local snakes are not venomous and are important predators in our ecosystem. Here are two commonly seen examples:

Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip - Westridge Firewise and Growing PV Participation

On Jun-14-2024, CAL FIRE approved the Westridge Firewise application, which was achieved by the leadership of Patty Dewes – the wearer of many hats and Portola Valley’s Volunteer of the Year. The Firewise standing may help the 496 homeowners of this community-driven effort to qualify for insurance discounts.

The green area of this image shows that ~46% of the homes in Town are now Firewise! To maintain good standing in the Firewise program, block leaders will organize their neighbors to report preparedness activities and mitigation work done. The community efforts must be reported to CAL FIRE by year end.

The program’s goal is to encourage more homeowners to become more resilient, and as participation increases, the neighborhoods will become safer as well. Sadly, being Firewise doesn’t guarantee you will get insurance coverage. If you would like to go Firewise, contact Chip Swan through the WPV-Ready Firewise webpage to get your neighborhood started.

Many thanks to Chip Swan, DFM Marshall Hird, and Selena Brown for WFPD’s Firewise efforts.

Please subscribe to Portola Valley Town eNotices from the Wildfire Preparedness Committee!

San Mateo County Alert System SMC Alert is our primary emergency notification system. Encourage all adult members (18 and older) of your family to subscribe.

All the Wildfire Preparedness tips are on the committee’s page. To rate this tip or submit questions or concerns, please fill out this Google Form.

Town Hall Closed on July 4th

Town Hall will be closed on July 4th for the Independence Day Holiday. Per the Town's Noise Ordinance, No construction/landscaping activities allowed on July 4th

RSVP for 2024 Elections - Candidate Filing Seminars

The Elections Division will be holding two Candidate Filing Seminars for the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election. These seminars will cover important topics such as filing deadlines, filing forms, candidate statements, campaign finance reports, and voter data.

First seminar is on June 26, 2024

Second seminar is on July 24, 2024.

RSVP for the seminars and learn more about the 2024 elections here.

Upcoming Fireworks Buybacks

Throughout June the Sheriff’s Office and partners will host a series of anonymous fireworks buy backs across the county. Those who turn in fireworks will receive up to $200.

The events are:

• Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Branch Courthouse, 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco.
• Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new Sheriff’s Office Substation, 690 Broadway, Redwood City.