THE PILOTVolume 42 Number 12 Redwood Shores Community Association December 2012

RSCA Ca l e nda rHappy HolidaysStart your holiday by joining us for

Santa Comes to the Shores at the RWS Librarybetween 1 and 3 pm on Sunday December 9th.In addition to visiting with Santa, having funwith arts and crafts projects, we’ll also have livemusic from the Library’s grand piano and serve

holiday refreshments. Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season

From RSCA

• Sunday Dec. 9th Santa Comes To The ShoresRWS Library 1pm - 3pm

• Thursday Dec. 20th Light Up The ShoresJudging

• Wednesday Feb. 13th RSCA Annual MeetingRWS Library 7pm

Disaster Drill a Success!On Saturday, November 17th the Redwood City/San CarlosCommunity EmergencyResponse Team, CERT, held apractice drill in Redwood Shores.The drill was organized byChristy Adonis, the Redwood CityEmergency Preparedness Coordinator (see page 3). Residents wereasked to display the green side of a card that arrived in theNovember issue of the PILOT (cards were also distributed lastNovember) so that the card could be seen from the street. CERTmembers searched all the streets in Redwood Shores finding thedisplayed cards. That information was communicated by radio toan Incident Control Center that was established for the drill inMarina Park. Over 40 people, including Shift C Firefighters fromthe Shores Fire Station took part in the drill. The percentage ofhomes displaying the disaster cards was almost three times as manyas was counted in the same type of drill last year.

The search drill was designed to be very close to what would be needed following a major disaster. In a real disaster, where theobjective would be to find seriously injured victims as quickly aspossible, every green card displayed would be one less house whereFirst Responders would have to stop and knock on the door. Thosehomes that would display the other side of the card (red) would befound quicker.

By Mike Mancusi

Since 1970 RSCA has been THE advocate on issues thatimpact the quality of life in Redwood Shores.

As we begin our fifth decade, RSCA continues our workto keep the Shores a great place to live and work. We thank you again for being a part of that effort.

Page 2REDWOOD SHORES

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION270 Redwood Shores Parkway, PMB #205

Redwood Shores, CA 94065 - 1173rsca.org

2012 BoardPRESIDENTHarris Rogers....................................harrisrogers@rsca.orgVICE PRESIDENTSue Nix...............................................suenix@rsca.orgSECRETARYLynn Adams........................................lynndams@rsca.orgTREASURERStephenBellingham..................................stephenbellingham@rsca.orgPAST PRESIDENTDoug Crisman....................................dougjcrisman@rsca.org

BOARD MEMBERS

The Board of Directors meets promptly at 7pm,the third Thursday of each month at

The Redwood Shores Library

DEADLINES DEADLINES The deadline for the January Pilot is theweek of December 11th to the18th

THE PILOT531 Shoal Circle, Redwood City, CA 94065

thepilot@rsca.orgEditor, Carol Mertens 595-1595Advertising, Carol Mertens ..................................595-1595Circulation, Carol Mertens....................................595-1595Shores Press ..........................................................593-2802

Design & Review Board Inquiries: adb@rsca.orgJim CvengrosCarol FordSue Nix

For CC&R Copies, Carol Ford - carolford@rsca.org

THE PILOT is a monthly publication of theRedwood Shores Community Association (RSCA).

Circulation: 6,000 Redwood Shores Households & Businesses

The opinions published in the Pilot are those of the authors andnot the expressions of RSCA unless so officially designated.

President’s Memo Page 3RWC Firestation 20, Letter to the Editor Page 4We’re For The Birds, Toy & Book Drive Page 8Boat Ramp Update Meeting Page 10Games Debtors Play Page 11Muscle Cramps Page 12Free Legal Day Page 13For the Health of it Page 16RWC hires new Econ. Development Manager Page 16RWS Real Estate Update Page 17 Gabe Sleeper chosen for award Page 17Ancient Healthcare Wisdom Page 18RWS Tennis Club Page 19Teaching Your Dog Manners Page 21Holidays to Holy Days Page 21Pet Sitting Adventures, Chanukah Page 23Holiday Magic Page 24Lynn’s Kitchen, Wine Appreciation Page 25Why do I need Life Insurance Page 26Your Genetic Map Page 27

Table of Contents

A full service law firm of highly ethical and experienced attorneys dedicated to providing individualized attention and the highest quality of legal services.

Terry Anderlini is past president of the State Barof California. Merrill Emerick is past president ofthe San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association.They have been serving satisfied clients for over 30 years.

Contact Terry or Merrill for a free confidential consultation.

ANDERLINI & EMERICK LLP411 Borel Avenue, Suite 501San Mateo, California 94402

(650) 212-0001www.aelawllp.com

A & EANDERLINI & EMERICK

Lynn AdamsMayling BellinghamStephen BellinghanNina BoireDoug Crisman

Jim CvengrosCarol FordMike MancusiCarol MertensSue Nix

Harris RogersRobert SchmidtClemencia RodriquezMichael WhatmoreAndrew Young

Page 3

President’s Memo for December 2012 by Harris RogersDisaster Prep: Last Month’s IssueHurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Sandy make clear: we can

NOT be assured that state or federal help will be immediately availableafter a large-scale natural disaster here.In November’s PILOT, we offered some tips on things you should

do to get you and your family prepared to survive the aftermath.Whether it’s an earthquake, tsunami, or an extremely unusual weatherevent, you should assume that there might be no outside help for 1-2WEEKS (that’s right – WEEKS)! after any large scale disaster.It’s up to each family to be sure they have adequate supplies on

hand to survive that initial period. For over two weeks afterHurricane Sandy there were still areas with no power or access tofood or clean water.Go back and review the NOVEMBER issue and keep it for future

reference. Remember the Boy Scout’s motto: “BE PREPARED”In this month’s PILOT and starting on this page, we want to introduce

you to some of the local people responsible for helping us prepare ourselves and our community:

Fire Chief Jim Skinner - Chief Skinner joined the Redwood City

Fire Department as a Firefighter in 1982.After a number of assignments and pro-motions, he was appointed Fire Chief in2008. Chief Skinner currently heads anorganization of 70 employees, 5 fire stations and a budget of about$17 million. In addition to preventing and fighting fires and otherdisasters, Chief Skinner’s department is responsible for creating andupdating a disaster plan for all city departments. That planning hasresulted in the creation of the Emergency Management Center forcommunications and control during a major disaster.According to Chief Skinner, the major challenges facing our fire

department this year have to do with hiring and training 15 new firefighters to replace retirees and continuing the integration with theSan Carlos Fire Department.

Grace Le and Peter Vorstamenti, Redwood City Public Works DepartmentFollowing the disaster of Hurricane

Katrina in 1995, the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency, FEMA, embarked on are-evaluation of the levee requirements inpotential flood zones throughout the country.Here in Redwood Shores, we are protected from flooding by a systemof levees that were constructed by the contractors who built our housingdevelopments. FEMA notified Redwood City that parts of the RedwoodShores levee system needed to be raised from six inches to two feet in order to be approved under their new standards. Lack of FEMA certification would result in Redwood Shores being labeled as a floodzone and require home owners to obtain expensive flood insurance.Raising the levees a small amount was not difficult. However

small portions of the levees belong to Belmont and the levee passesone end of the airport runway which is regulated by the FederalAviation Administration. Grace Le, a Senior Civil Engineer for thePublic Works Department of Redwood City was given the task offinding a solution to the problem that satisfied the four governmententities: Redwood City, Belmont, the FAA and the FEMA. Sheworked on the project for three years (2008-2011) before gettingagreement from all parties. The project, now completed, cost abouttwo million dollars.

Christy Adonis, Redwood City EmergencyPreparedness CoordinatorMs. Adonis, a 17 year resident of

Redwood City, joined the Redwood CityFire Department in 2008. She previouslyheld a similar position in the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department. She is responsible for training the citystaff and community in the area of emergency preparedness. TheCity staff will be used to assist in the City Emergency ManagementCenter in the event of a large scale disaster. She is also responsiblefor the development and training of the Redwood-San CarlosCommunity Emergency Management Team (CERT).

Page 4

More on Disaster Preparedness – RWS Firestation 20Our fire station, located on Redwood Shores Parkway, was opened in 1998. The building contains a garage that holds two fireengines, one purchased only a few years ago and the other, much older, used as a backup. Each fire engine is equipped with over2500’ of hose, 500 gallons of water and a pump to pressurize the hoses for firefighting. It carries medical aid gear, rescue toolsand 3 personnel. The building also contains an office where firefighters use computers for ongoing training, a heavily used gym,small bedrooms, a kitchen and TV area.

At all times, the fire station is staffed by a “shift” consisting of a Captain, a Firefighter/Paramedic, and a Firefighter. They work24 hours on followed by 24 hours off. The three shifts that rotate through Station 20 are pictured below along with their rankand years of service. SC = San Carlos

A Shift, from left: James Demattei, Captain, 11 yearsJulie Gardner, Firefighter, 7 yearsRyan Coy, Firefighter/medic (SC), 6 months

B Shift, from leftJoshua Williams, Firefighter/Medic (SC), 3 monthsBrian McCoy, Firefighter, 17 yearsRick Kehiz, Captain, 31 years

C Shift, from leftScott Boynton, Firefighter/Medic (SC) 1yearJeff Timms, Firefighter, 28 yearsSteve Martin, Captain, 23 years

Letter to the Editor:I have lived in the shores for close to 30 years and have spent the lasttwo months walking to Nob Hill grocery on Redwood Shores Parkway.I turn left on Bridge Parkway and proceed for a very long block to getto the shopping center. It is during this part of my walk that my stom-ach is in knots. Why? I invite everyone reading this letter to walk thisparticular strip of sidewalk, no more than two feet from cars speedingpast at 40-45 miles per hour. To add to ones’ enjoyment try it whilewalking with a toddler and carrying a bag of groceries. One sneeze, oneblowout or one case of someone taking their eyes off the road for amoment and the Shores has a tragedy. A preventable one. I am notwriting just to complain. I have been thinking of various ways to alle-viate the danger short of tearing the sidewalk out and putting the medi-an next to the street, as should have been done from the onset. I canonly think of a low (possibly 3 or 4 feet tall) retaining wall built next tothe sidewalk adjacent to the street. As for infringing on the bike path?The bike path is a joke. It puts ones’ bike on an excursion wobblingbetween the gutter and street and puts one into traffic, therefore useless.With approx. 30,000 residents currently living in the shores a one-timetax of $5.00 per person would raise $150,000.00. I do not know nor doI pretend to know anything about the cost of this type of wall. It maybe that this amount would cover it or it might cost several times thisamount. If we, in the Shores community, can raise the Money andawareness of this problem I am sure the city or state will help. This isan ongoing problem and I would dearly love to see it solved before weall regret not doing something about it.

Jeri Dopp, Redwood Shores Resident

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Buying or selling your home?Call Mary today!

Mary FicklinREALTOR, CRS/CDPE

650-454-0112

mary@maryficklin.com

A RWS resident since 1982 anda Realtor serving the SF Mid

Peninsulasince 1975

DRE#00522273

Cell (650) 454-0112 Direct 650 645-1745 http://www.maryficklin.com

Wishing you and your family a joyous and

wonderful Holiday SeasonFrom RSCA

Page 8

Redwood Shores…We’re For the Birds

The Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) enjoys a much widerrange than just Canada. This is a fact recognized by many Shoresresidents who don’t like our resident Canada Geese because ofthe mess they make on our sidewalks.

For those who may not recognize them, the Canada Goose is alarge, very striking bird with a black head and neck and hand-some white “cheeks”, light tan breast and dark brown back. Likeall water birds, they have large webbed feet and can be seensilently drifting along, usually in groups, on the main lagoon.That is, they drift along until our resident swan finds them andorders them out of “his” pond. Despite the problems they create,they are handsome birds and make quite an impressive site whena group lifts off in a V formation, honking as they ascend, pow-erful wings beating on the air.

Canada Geese mate for life. Since they typically don’t breeduntil their 4th year, stable pairing often does not take place untilthe 2nd or 3rd year. Larger birds tend to choose larger mates andsmaller ones choose smaller mates. Generally the male will be abit larger than his mate. The female builds the nest of twigs,grass and moss and lines it with feathers usually choosing a sitewhere she can spot a predator approaching. The male guards thenest. Despite this description, I have never come across aCanada Goose nest here and don’t know anyone who has!

In the wild, geese concentrate their feeding on wild grasses andsedges in summer and berries and seeds in winter. Two sub-species have adapted to urban environments and graze on domes-ticated grasses year round. I suspect these are the geese who livein the Shores.

Even while we can see them grazing on our larger lawn areas,there are some myths about what they eat. A woman told me shesaw a Canada Goose eat a clam. Another was certain they “ruinour lawns”. Eating clams would be a very impressive feat sincegeese don’t have claws or a jaw to open a clam shell and even ifthey could, they are vegetarian. They do no harm to the lawns.For most of us, it is the mess they leave behind that is the annoy-ing concern. I have heard there is some experimenting withgrasses that don’t appeal to Canada Geese. Let’s hope they work.

Remember: Teach your children to not touch, feed or annoy birds orother wildlife. They are a valuable asset to our community. Pleasepick up plastic bags and other plastic refuse. Birds can get entangledin them and starve. By Ramona Ambrozic

References: Sequoia Audubon Society, Wikipedia, The CornellLab of Ornithology website — www.allaboutbirds.org.

Toy and Book Drive Officially Kicks-Offthe Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time of joy, happiness,family, and friendship. Unfortunately, there arelocal kids and families in need, who don’t have theopportunity to share in the spirit of the holidays.

The Redwood City Police and Fire Departments,Police Activities League, and Parks Recreation and CommunityServices, have teamed up with The San Mateo County Sheriff’sOffice, San Carlos Fire, Woodside Fire, and the CARON Project tobring the Christmas Toy and Book Drive and the holiday spirit rightto the doorstep of many needy families. With help from the FairOaks Community Center and a corps of volunteers, this annualevent has become a welcome tradition in the Redwood City com-munity. But it can only happen with the community’s help.

Businesses, individuals, or groups wishing to get involved can getmore information at www.toydriverwc.com

Page 9

Page 10

ROCKY DHALIWAL, D.M.D.Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry

278 Redwood Shores Parkway(Next to the Nob Hill Market)

Redwood ShoresTel (650) 654-6545 Fax (650) 654-6564www.RedwoodCityCosmeticDentist.com

Boat Ramp Update Near Shannon Park

SENSITIVE TEETHSensitive teeth hurt with exposure to cold air, hot or cold food and beverages and sweets. Sometimes it stops people from properly brushing and flossing their teeth. This can lead to more sensitivity, decay, infection and even tooth and bone loss. Teeth are often sensitive because the dentin layer of the tooth has become exposed. The dentin is the middle layer of the tooth. Above the gums, thedentin layer is normally covered by an outer layer, called the enamel, and, on the roots, cementum. Dentin contains millions of tinytubes that extend from the nerves at the center of the tooth to the outer layer. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes are left open.Any stimulation at the surface of the dentin is transmitted through the tubes to the nerves, causing pain. The dentin is usually exposedin two ways: Abfraction and Worn-away enamel. Abfraction occurs when one tooth hits sooner than the rest. This causes undue stresson the involved teeth, and they begin to flex. Over time, this continual flexing causes the enamel to separate from the dentin layer.Many habits can wear away tooth enamel, such as brushing too hard, using a medium or hard bristled toothbrush, using an abrasive“tartar-control” or “whitening” toothpaste, and grinding or clenching your teeth. Some dental procedures may temporarily expose thedentin, leading to short-term sensitivity. Treating Sensitive Teeth—

To determine the cause of your tooth pain, we’ll first make sure that the pain isn’t caused by decay, a broken tooth or abscess. Thenwe’ll continue the exam to find out how the dentin has become exposed. If the problem is abfraction, we may adjust your bite, restorethe damage by bonding a filling in place, or crown the tooth. If the problem is a worn-away enamel layer, we may remove plaqueand bacteria, present a plan for improved brushing techniques and treat the area with fluoride. Proper homecare is essential in taking care of sensitive teeth. We may recommend that you use a desensitizing toothpaste.

Redwood City – As you may know, for several years RedwoodCity has been planning to build a small, fenced concrete boatramp at the edge of the lagoon at the far north-eastern end,adjacent to Shannon Park. The purpose of the ramp is to provide lagoon access east of Shell Boulevard for the City’smaintenance purposes, such as removing widgeon weed, algaecontrol, and water testing, and for emergency access. Thisboat ramp is only to be used for the City’s maintenance staffand is not open to the public.

Two community meetings were held, in January of 2010 andMarch of 2011, to inform neighbors about this imminent project.The first bids for the work came in too high, so the City re-bidthe project, and has awarded the contract.

Because the work is expected to start during the week ofJanuary 7, 2013, we thought it was important to host a com-munity information meeting as soon as feasible, in-betweenthe upcoming major holidays:

*Tuesday, December 11, 2012 – 6:30 pm CommunityRoom, Redwood Shores Branch Library, 399 MarineParkway

At this meeting, City staff will briefly review the backgroundof the project and the ramp design, provide the contractor’s

anticipated schedule for construction, and outline the potentialtemporary impacts to traffic. There will also be plenty of timefor your questions about the construction.

As a reminder, the ramp will be located at the end of DavitLane at the edge of Shannon park near the Ventana Del Marcomplex. It will be fenced with the same 3-foot fence that isalong the edge of the lagoon throughout the rest of ShannonPark. Access to the ramp itself will be by a locked gate on asection of that fence. This is not a public ramp; it will be foruse only by the City, the City’s contractors, or public safetypersonnel in an emergency.

Redwood City is committed to maintaining the water quality ofthe Redwood Shores lagoon and ensuring it remains a sourceof beauty, pride, and quality of life for residents like you.Without ready access to the lagoon east of Shell Boulevard, thewidgeon weed proliferates and dramatically reduces waterquality. It restricts the natural flow of water and leaves anaccumulation of debris when it dies out, which can also contribute to an unpleasant odor. Ready, permanent access atthis location will make maintenance much easier and lessexpensive, and benefit the Redwood Shores community.

Page 11

Games Debtors Play – Part Two

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$GET PAID IN FULL AND ON TIMEwhile you GROW your business

or practice.Over the past 40 years, I’vehelped hundreds of businessesand practices do exactly that.• Conducted public collectionseminars in 200 cities in all50 states

• A member of the Institute of Management Consultants.

• Spoken at the Commonwealth Club and many othervenues.

• References are available at www.sklarcashflow.comCall (650)654-9038for a FREE phone consultation

Leonard Sklar, PrincipalAuthor, “The Check Is NOT In The Mail”

Redwood Shores Resident$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

President’sClub MemberDRE#70053608

Stephen Bellingham (650) 922-3335Mayling Bellingham (650) 430-9748sbellingham@apr.commbellingham@apr.com

www.thebellingamegrouprealtors.com

Wishing You A HappyWishing You A HappyHol iday Holiday

And A Wonderful And A Wonderfu l New Year New Year 20132013

The Bellingham Group

Redwood ShoresResident

Discover a Partnership in Excellence

In part one of “Games Debtors Play,” I discussed some so-calledgentle games and then began describing ways of handling moreserious games. Unfortunately, debtors can be so creative in avoid-ing responsibility for paying in full and on time, that it’s necessaryto continue, on this document, with more of these creative gamesand how best to avoid getting manipulated by them.

1.Debtor sends a check but doesn’t sign it. This could be an inno-cent oversight, but, even so, call the debtor, tell them you will bereturning the check for signature, and will you please take careof that right away. You can even enclose a self-addressed andstamped envelope to help the debtor keep their commitment.

2. “I’m divorced. Call my spouse.” Both spouses are responsibleif the debt was incurred before the divorce. In that case, tell thedivorcee that you will bill the spouse, as a courtesy, but if it’snot paid in 10 days, we will look to you for payment.

3. “My attorney is handling this.” You respond by asking debtor tohave the attorney contact you within 24 hours. If no response,send attorney a certified letter that states, “Unless we hear fromyou within 48 hours, we will assume that you are no longer theattorney of record.” That usually gets a response.

4. “I’m bankrupt.” Ask, “When did that happen? Please send mea copy of the bankruptcy notice.” If your debt was incurred priorto bankruptcy, you may be out of luck in collecting, and you maynot pursue the debt further. If the bankruptcy is Chapter 7, aLiquidation Bankruptcy, you cannot do anything to pursue collection. If it’s Chapter 13, the “Wage Earner’s Plan,” fill outthe form you’ll receive, and you’ll probably receive something,usually within three to five years.

5. “Your product (or service) is no good.” Respond by stating thatyou stand 100% behind your products. Ask debtor to return thatproduct, you’ll send another one, and the balance of $200 is duenow. But, what do you do if the customer claims that they don’twant the product, it isn’t what they expected, it’s too expensive,they’ve changed their mind, the product has since gone on sale,or whatever? Your policy should include a willingness toaccommodate a reasonable customer request, but state thatproducts kept or services received must be paid for.

6. “I’m not paying, period.” Great. Now you don’t have to wastetime. You can use a third party collection source right away, butit can’t hurt to first ask debtor what is the reason for saying that.Maybe you can come to some agreement.

7. “I need an extension on this.” Ask, “How much time do you needto clear this in full?” Also, “What is your financial situation?”Then you negotiate, but you decide if you’re willing to accept themaximum the debtor agrees to or if it’s out to collection it goes.

8. “My husband handles all the bills.” You say, “Well, I’m sure hedoesn’t want to be called at work, so why don’t you have himcall me today at this number.” You don’t volunteer to call him,at first. And, if husband doesn’t call in a day or two, then youcall him at work. But, if hubby or a supervisor tells you not toever call him again at work, you cannot. In that case, you letthe wife know that she needs to arrange payment or it’s out ofyour hands.

9. I can’t pay it all now.” Now you negotiate. Propose half nowwith the balance due in a week or two, paid with a post datedcheck, sent along with the original check.

By Leonard Sklar Part Two to be continued next month

Page 12Muscle Cramps – Everyone Hates Getting Them!

By Dr. Jenny Kim, D.C.

A muscle cramp is an involuntary spasm or contraction of a muscle that isforceful and sustained. Many people describe muscle cramps as a tightand sharp pain that makes it difficult to use or move the affected muscles.Muscle cramps can affect any muscle, but they are most common in thecalves, hamstrings, quadriceps, hands, feet, and lower back. There aremany ideas to what may cause muscles to cramp or spasm. Someresearchers believe that inadequate stretching or muscle fatigue can lead tocramps. Other studies show that low level of fitness, overexertion, anddepletion of electrolytes or dehydration can cause muscle cramping.Certain diuretic medications can also cause cramping due to the loss ofsodium, potassium, and magnesium. It is very likely that any one of thesereasons or a combination of them can lead to agitated muscles and to cramping.

The best treatment during an episode for muscle cramping would be togently stretch the affected muscle. If the cramping is a result of anotherinjury then applying ice packs to the area for the first couple days will helpalleviate the pain. If the muscle cramps are coming on more so duringphysical activity then it likely the body is dehydrated and making sure todrink lots of fluids may help lessen the cramps. Following are some addi-tional tips to help prevent muscle cramping:

- Start with improving your diet. Eliminate sugar and caffeine from thediet, such as soda, which is high in sugar and sodium, and can pull out calcium from the muscles.

- Increase foods rich in calcium (milk, yogurt, soy), magnesium (leafygreen vegetables, tofu), as well as foods high in potassium (bananas, avocados, kiwis).

- Before and after exercise, stretch, stretch, stretch! Especially the musclegroups that are prone to cramping.

- Avoid postural positions that can lead to muscle spasms of large musclegroups in the back. For example, many desk workers complain of mid orlower back muscle spasms. Improving the posture and making sure tostep away from the desk to stretch the back can help reduce the tenden-cy for fatigued muscles.

- Vitamin E supplements can also help with reduce muscle cramping.

Your doctor of chiropractic can help form a treatment plan that can integratestretching, exercise, and nutrition to target problems with muscle cramping.Chiropractic adjustments and myofacial treatments can improve the

flexibility of the muscle tone and movement to the joints ofthe affected muscle groups.

Dr. Jenny Kim, D.C. practices at Premier ChiropracticClinic in Redwood Shores. This reprint is part of abimonthly Health Newsletter program. If you would like tobe included in future Health Newsletters, log ontowww.PremierChiropractic.com and sign up with youremail address to receive our monthly newsletters by email.Information provided courtesy of American ChiropracticAssociation (ACA) www.acatoday.org

Dr. Jenny Kim D.C.

130 Shoreline Dr. #130Redwood City, CA

94065

650-631-1500www.PremierChiropractic.com

Expiration Date - December 31, 2012

Page 13

Free Legal Day

GRC is offering a Free Legal Day to all members of the community

FREE 30-Minute Consultationwith Attorney Garry Cohen

Please contact our office to scheduleyour free 30-minute consultation today!

Date: December 27, 2012 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Grathwohl, Rauch & Cohen, PC100 Marine Pkwy., #305Redwood City, CA 94065

650-592-8600www.grc-law.com

GRC specializes in the following areas of law:

Civil Litigation - Including trust contestsEstate Planning - Wills/Trusts

Power of AttorneyHealth Care Directives, etc.Trust Administration/ProbateBusiness Formations

Real EstateLandlord/Tenant Issues/Disputes

Divorce

Page 14

Page 15

Page 16For the Health of It!

Come to Your Senses: 5 Simple Paths toQuickly Ease Stress and Lift Your HolidaySpirits. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, yet somelevel of holiday stress is a reality for mostof us. When it all seems too much, andyou’re feeling tired, tense, anxious or blue,don’t underestimate the power of comingback to your senses. They offer 5 simplepaths to alleviating stress and improvingyour mood in a snap:

1. See…Here in Redwood Shores, we have much to visually soothe us.Find a water view and observe. Let your thoughts float by asyou watch the water move. Focus on birds, insects and otherwildlife. Study the trees and plants, paying attention to colorand detail. Just 10-15 minutes will transport you to a morepeaceful place, inside and out.

2. Touch…Treat yourself and your cat or dog to a good long pet. Linger ina hug with a special someone and feel your tension melt.Indulge in a professional massage or reflexology. Use a TinglerHead Massager – these things are amazing – you’ll literally tingle from head to toe! Try a massage bath mat or slippers torenew from your toes up.

3. Smell…Experience aromatherapy via a diffuser, application to your skin (note that some oils require dilution in a carrier oil beforeapplying) or a small bottle to open and inhale periodicallythroughout your day. Scents like peppermint, grapefruit androsemary will uplift your mood. Scents like lavender, rose orvanilla will calm your mind.

4. Taste…Here we want pleasure without a sugar crash, garbage food guiltor the need for a nap! I find a hot drink fits the bill very well.Try CocoCardio or CocoCeps from iherb.com. Or an organicdecaf coffee, such as Mount Hagen instant. Or warming herbalteas, such as chai, cinnamon or chocolate blends (Republic ofTea). Sweeten your beverages with a few drops of liquid stevia.Treat yourself to a splash of organic half and half. Feel the warmmug. Smell the aroma. Taste the flavor. Savor it while you sitin a quiet place.

5. Listen…Try classical music, acoustic guitar, harp or piano to relax. Naturesounds like waves crashing on the beach or meditation CDs couldalso be just what you need. Check out isabellacatalog.com– a good source for soul-soothing sounds.

You’ll feel less frazzled when you focus on and fully experiencesensory pleasures. It’s easy, and it doesn’t take much time. Don’tunderestimate the power. Pick what appeals and give it a try!

Happy Holidays to you! By Lauren Picciani, MAHealth Educator & CoachQuestions or comments to: laurens128@yahoo.com

Redwood City Hires EconomicDevelopment Manager

Redwood City, CA – As the next step in its intensified focus oneconomic development and enhancing the vitality of the City’sbusiness sector, Redwood City is pleased to announce the hiringof Sean Brooks as its Economic Development Manager. Mr.Brooks started work in Redwood City on December 5, 2012.This is a new position, which has evolved from the City’s previ-ous use of a consultant for economic development coordination.

“Sean will be a great addition to our team in Redwood City, andI’m sure the spotlight he’ll bring to our economic developmentwill be very welcomed by our business community,” said CityManager Bob Bell. “He has an impressive background and hasshown great leadership in working closely with businesses andassociations to create opportunities for retail and businessgrowth. Sean’s real estate and finance experience will also contribute to the entire scope of public-private partnershipstoward economic development.”

Mr. Brooks comes to Redwood City after working as the eco-nomic development manager in the City of Hayward, and hasalso held that position in the City of Brea. In addition, he hassignificant experience in public accounting, finance, and public/private real estate development, is a CPA, and holds anMBA from UCLA.

“Redwood City is known in the Bay Area as a vibrant, forward-thinking city with incredible prospects for the future, and I amthrilled to become part of that,” said Mr. Brooks. “There is a greatdeal of emerging economic activity in this community right now.My challenge, which I am grateful to accept, will be to build on this impressive foundation, to enhance and strengthen the economic prospects of our business community and our City.”

Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org or information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education,and local business. Subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter and other Citydocuments by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov.

Page 17

Gabe Sleeper Chosen For Prestigious Award written by a proud Mom

At the age of 9, going on 10, Gabe Sleeper started the Fall session juniorpolo program at Stanford Water Polo Club. He knew after the first session, that he wanted to be a goalie and water polo was now an addic-tion and in his blood. Now, 14 years old and in 8th grade at RedeemerLutheran School in Redwood City, Gabe is a graduate of SandpiperElementary School and has lived in Redwood Shores 11 years now. Heis the lead goalie on the Stanford Water Polo Club 14U A Team, whichcompetes at high level tournaments such as the recent US Turbo CupChampionships that was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan November 1-4.Turbo Cup has the top 12 teams in the country competing against eachother, and it is an excellent opportunity for Northern and SouthernCalifornia teams to compete against other US teams that they will onlysee again, at the Junior Olympics. This tournament is second only to the

elite USA Water Polo Junior Olympics games that are held each summer where teams from all over the US are broken into three divisions to compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

A tradition at US Turbo cup, is the Jody Campbell Sportsmanshipaward where 12 out of 180 athletes are chosen for outstanding sports-manship, leadership, sacrifice and hard work. The other namesake ofthis award for girls is Maureen O’Toole. Both are hall of fame legendsand Olympic champions. Gabe was chosen for this award by his coachand recognized at the national level for his talent. This is the secondtime that Gabe has been recognized at the USA Water Polo nationallevel. In March 2012, Gabe was 1 of 70 athletes chosen, nationwideout of 175 in his age group, to attend the Olympic DevelopmentProgram (ODP) National Training Selection Camp that was heldMemorial Day weekend in Irvine, California. He was invited back thisyear and hopes to make the Cadet National Team this time. At JuniorOlympics (JO’s) which were held at Stanford this past summer, Gabeled his team to a 3rd place bronze medal in the Gold Division.

If you were to ask Gabe, what are his hopes and aspirations as ayoung athlete heading into high school next year, he would tell you“I want to play for a great high school team, go to Stanford and playthere, then play on the National Team or an international teamabroad.” Who is my water polo role model? “It is hard to choosebetween the two, as one is an Olympic goalie (Genai Kerr) whoencouraged me at the age of 12 to be a goalie, and the other was mycoach who helped me grow and mature as a person and player (ColinMelo).” “Genai always told me that if you truly love something, thenyou will be great at it. Both are great influences on me and they arejust two, though there are 4 more I could name right now too.”

Merry Enduring, Character-Building, Christmas, and Hopeful New Year, Hardy Redwood Shores!

I’m a story junkie, and I recently watched Burns’ PBS Series on the Dust Bowl. It was a tough life for the MidwestFamilies for whom it was written, had “no escape from endurance,” one of whom wrote, “the crop was corn or character.”Since the 2008 Crash, American homeowners have been enduring and growing character. Like the Dust Bowl

Migrants, we learned that the cycle of real estate repeats like the cycle of weather and crop rotation, and that those who live in SiliconValley especially, cannot escape the dust/bust-boom cycles. Since the end of summer, the Peninsula has experienced a boom in homesales—in large part because there was little-to-no inventory. Inventory is typically lower this time of year nearing the holidays, but asof Thanksgiving in Redwood Shores, there is none—no single family homes for sale. There are 8 pending homes, one had zero dayson market, the rest except for two—one of which was a short sale—sold for at/about or under two weeks. Since August, 17 homes havesold at a brisk clip either at asking or 30-40K over, with the multiple offer pending sales expected to top that when they close escrow.In the same timeframe, 53 homes sold in San Carlos and Belmont @ a mil+. Nearly half sold for over asking and some of those went

$100-$200K over. Burlingame sale prices for well-presented homes have been trending $200K to $300K or more over asking. Manyof the sales have been cash with no contingencies whatsoever. There is finally movement in the $10 mil+ price range with increasedactivity in Hillsborough and San Mateo Park, but the higher-end has slowed, and in Palo Alto from a month ago. San Mateo area inven-tory is down sharply and no one is sure if tis the season or a sign of things to come. Upper end Woodside continues to be a struggle.Sales are slowing again across the board in all of Woodside and surrounding ‘rural’ properties.Some say the ebb of sales is due to post-election insecurity and strong financial and political headwinds, notably the “financial cliff.”Does this mean the return of the bust/dust bowl cycle, or will home prices ratchet up after the New Year? In the PBS series, one of thewomen interviewed who grew up in the dust bowl of the Oklahoma Panhandle, said that dry farming requires hardy stock. RedwoodShores residents are hardy stock, and have faced a dry, uncertain future before, but always hopeful. Like the people of the Dust Bowl,we continue to endure and build an even stronger character with our homes. By KT. Eckardt, Realtor, Coldwell Banker, Redwood Shores & Peninsula Residential Professional. Email kteckardt@yahoo.com

Page 18

Ayurvedic Medicine: Ancient Health Care Wisdom By Avi Mamidi, Pharmacist, Pharm.D

Ayurvedic medicine, also known asAyurveda, is one of the oldest health carepractices known to mankind. This holisticmedical approach was developed in Indiathousands of years ago, and it continues toevolve and thrive around the world. In theUnited States, ayurvedic medicine is con-sidered a form of alternative medicine.While formal scientific research on the

effectiveness of ayurvedic medicine is limited, we use many elements ofthis ancient medical practice in our daily lives without even realizing it.Ayurvedic medicine focuses on the use of diet, herbs and spices, as wellas massage and meditation, for improved health. Most of us try to eat a balanced diet to stay healthy. Many of us go

to health-food stores to purchase herbal teas and dietary supplements promoting a wide range of health benefits. Most of the Western medical world recognizes the health benefits of therapeutic massage andmindfulness meditation.Ayurvedic medicine is holistic and based on the belief that everything

in your life directly impacts your health. So it places value on your emotional state, the quality of your relationships, your job satisfaction,and whether you have time to eat right and exercise. To correct “energyimbalances” in your life, an ayurvedic practitioner may suggest that youtake a vacation or even change jobs. In the Western world we call this“work-life balance,” and it’s catching on like wildfire.I’m Indian, and when I look back on my childhood I remember daily

experiences involving the study and practice of ayurvedic medicine andtreatments. Perhaps two of the earliest, most long-lasting memories ofhow ayurveda impacted my life were simply breathing and diet. My mom would tell me time and time again to practice “staying quiet”

and “controlling my breath.” When I got into trouble she would put mein time out and say I couldn’t go play until I was able to calm down, closemy eyes and breathe in long, deep breaths. This was my first experience

with Pranayam, a globally recognized and increasingly popular yogabreathing technique.I also remember watching my mom cook. She had a silver compart-

mentalized container with 10 spaces for different spices. I watched herconcoct the most amazing dishes using these spices. The one that intriguedme the most was the neon yellow-orange powder called turmeric. Shesaid each dish needed “just a dash” of this spice. Later, while completingmy doctorate of pharmacy program, I again had the opportunity to studythis incredible spice and its potentially healing properties. I believe many ayurvedic medicine practices are beneficial, but medical

research is limited. Studies have been done on ayurvedic dietary supple-ments for conditions including diabetes and osteoarthritis, and while some early results have been positive, more clinical trials must be done to confirm these results.It’s also important to mention that safety is critical when it comes to

ayurvedic medicine. Many ayurvedic herbs and spices are imported to theUnited States from India and China, and one study found that one-third ofthese imports may be contaminated with substances such as harmful metals. Like all dietary supplements, ayurvedic products are generally notreviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). How can you be safe? First, use special caution when buying any

medical products on the Internet. If you’re considering using a dietarysupplement, first get information from reliable sources. Be aware thatdietary supplements may interact with medications or other dietary supplements and may contain ingredients that aren’t listed on the label.Always tell your health care providers about any alternative treatmentsyou use, including dietary supplements. I believe ayurvedic medicine offers us a rich legacy of health wisdom.

Used with good sense and caution, I hope more elements of this ancient health care practice will become mainstream and help us all leadhealthier lives.Avi Mamidi is a pharmacist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’sRedwood City Center.

Page 19

Redwood Shores Tennis ClubRSTC has completed the last tennis tournament of the 2012season. Only our end-of-season party remains, taking place onJanuary 26, 2013.

It has been another very successful year. New members joinedthe club and took part in our tournaments and socials, alongwith stalwart regulars. We feasted on Armadillo Willy’s BBQin August. In September, we headed to the ocean to play andparty for a long weekend. We had brilliant weather for our falltournaments. What a treat to have 80 degree weather inOctober!

Our final tournament of the season was in November and thefirst tournament of 2013 will be in March (weather permit-ting). Meanwhile, I am sure that every sunny day will have ourmembers thinking of RSTC and looking forward to the nextseason. Our members, new and veteran, all think this is a veryspecial club. We are not just about tennis and we are certainlynot about winning tournaments. We are about playing joyful-ly – in tennis, in life, with friends.

If you enjoy tennis, please join us next year!For more information, visit www.rstc.org.Although we have traditionally had ourMembership Mania event in March, we maymove it a month or two later as we havebeen rained out several years in a row. You are welcomed tocontact me directly with any membership inquiries rather thanwait for Membership Mania. Email is preferred but I doanswer the phone!

Finally, RSTC does not provide lessons to children or adults.Sports in Action (sports.in.action.rws@gmail.com) holds clin-ics for elementary school-aged children at Preserve Park. ThePacific Sports Resort (www.pacclub.com) has lessons for allages. Whether or not you actually need to be a member to takea lesson changes so just give them a call and ask.

With very warm wishes for your holidays,Karen Brodersen, President of theRedwood Shores Tennis Club

Scouting for Food a SuccessThe Boy Scouts of Troop 27 would like to thank the residents of Redwood Shores for their generosity.They collected over 1200 lbs of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank on November 17th, 2012.Thanks for your support. Check out the Troop 27 web site at: http://t27.org/ by Saleel Awsare

Looking For The Perfect CleanersWe will:• Keep your whites, white!• Keep your sweaters & suits soft and luxurious

• Properly press & hand finish all itemsAlterations, Pickup & Delivery available

Call Steve 592-5616370 Bridge ParkwayCelebrating Our 25th Year

Redwood Shores Cleaners

Coupon Coupon Coupon$5 off with $25 dry cleaning! Must present coupon with

incoming order. Expires on December 31st, 2012

Page 20

Page 21

Want a well-mannered dog that doesn’t pullon the leash, comes when he is called anddoesn’t jump on you?

Invest in the convenience ofdog training classes

in your home.

See improvement the first session.

Jean Cary, Dog Tutor650-593-9622

www.service-dog-tutor.com

Teaching Your Dog Door Manners by Jean CaryA dog who bolts out the front door whenever you open it toreceive guests can create a frightening situation. Will he knockover or scare the guest? Will he stop and come back at the edgeof the yard or dash out into the street? Many dog owners haveresorted to locking a barking dog in the back room because theyare concerned about these embarrassing situations at the frontdoor. A better solution is to teach the dog precisely how youexpect him to behave as you open the door.

Put the dog on a leash and have him sit at the door jam. Say“wait” and put your palm in front of his nose. Open the door afew inches and slam it. Praise the dog when he backs up.Repeat the “sit” and “wait” commands and the door slammingseveral times. Next have someone go outside and knock forentrance into your home. With the dog on the leash, give the“sit” and “wait” commands to your dog and don’t open the dooruntil the dog is behaving calmly. Practice these routines for 10minutes a day for two weeks, and your dog will be a model doorgreeter. The same technique can be used to keep an excited dogfrom jumping out of the car as soon as the door is opened. If thedog jumps out of the car before he is released, put him back inthe car until he will wait while the door is opened for you tosafely take his leash and call him to your side.

Now that your dog knows to sit and wait at the front door, usethis behavior at all your doors and the dog will no longer boltthrough an open doorway, tripping you on the way out. Whenyou are ready to go out the door, you pass through the opening

first while your dog waits on the other side of the door until yougive the “go through” command and sweep your arm in thedirection you want the dog to go. The dog should then be askedto sit and wait again while you close and lock the door. Now it’soff for a walk for both of you.

Written by Jean Cary, Service Dog Tutor. To learn how to pol-ish up your dog’s behavior or to teach him useful tricks contacther at (650)-593-9622.

Holidays To Holy DaysWikipedia tells us that “the word holiday derived from the notion of‘Holy Day’ and gradually evolved to its current form.” I’m thinkinga lot of people would like it to evolve back.

There just has to be something more than eating yourself into anurgent 2013 plan to lose weight and spending hundreds and thou-sands of dollars on things that eventually will show up on eBay or ina local garage sale. And there is.

Please allow me to share a few ways that I see people making theirholidays “Holy Days” for themselves and for their children.Essentially it has to do with getting back to the bedrock of God’sLove showing up in the most humble of places.

There is an angel tree that goes up every year in our worship spaceand each paper angel on the tree has the name of a child of a prison-er who won’t receive gifts from mom or dad this year. Some parentshave their child pick out one of those angels describing the age and“wish list” of that child and they go shopping to pick out a gift to bedelivered before Christmas. That is holy.

An Alternative Gift Market is offered in many worshiping commu-nities or online where financial contributions are made to peoplewith real needs – like Village Enterprise Fund providing micro grantsand training for the poorest of the poor in Kenya and Uganda, orHope House in Redwood City that helps women stay out of jail andlive clean and sober lives – and a very cool card is provided to be thegift you send. All my family and friends know that I carefully pick

out gifts like that which fit their particular passions and interests. It is not the only gift I give, but it isprobably the holiest.

Musicians and choir members willmake their way to senior residences ormaybe to Street Church in RedwoodCity on a chilly Monday or Wednesdayevening to build bridges of love withthose who are addicted or mentally ill or just down on their luck.They might take their children or grandchildren and show them thekind of places where God typically shows up in the biblical story:among the forgotten, the marginalized and the outcasts. That is holy.

What will make this season holy and meaningful for you? I don’tknow, but I know that for me it is usually when I move out of my bubble of comfort and privilege and connect with the poor in ameaningful way. Those are often “manger moments” where God isvery present.

Whatever this season holds for you, may you have the best “Holy Days” ever! Pastor Mary

Mary Graves is the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in SanCarlos (www.trinity-pres.org) and a resident in Redwood Shoressince 1996.

Page 22

Redwood Shores Certified Farmers MarketWEST COAST FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION

Every Friday - Year Round3:00p.m.– 7:00 p.m.

Redwood Shores Public Library399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City, CA

Farm-fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables baked goods;apiary items; kettle corn; arts & crafts;

and much, much more!

• Free Parking • Free Raffle forWeekly Market Basket

VENDORS WELCOMEFor more information,

call Jerry at 650/290-3549

Page 23

650-341-6255www.janspetsit.comBonded and Insured

Serving our Clients Since 1998

Attention SellersAre you considering to

evaluate and sell your home.Finally we are experiencingSellers’ Market. Great time to be a seller, low inventory,low interest rates, lots of

qualified buyers.

Here is my value package to you:• 3.99% Total commissions Guaranteed for 2012

• Free initial Staging Consultation• Investment and Management Services• Free Financial analysis and Consultation to achieve your goals

We also handle Short Sales, Exit strategies andREO acquisitions.

Jila Afjei, Better Homes & Gardens, J.F. Finnegan Realty, 650-771-0706

emai l: j i la.afjei@gmail.com

Pet Sitting AdventuresHello readers! I thought it was time to share some more funny

and amusing situations I’ve encountered while pet sitting.Felix was a very cute black and white cat. While he was social

and would come out to greet me, he was not too interested in getting to know me. Oh, he wasn’t mean or anything…Felix justwanted to keep his distance. This was not a problem and I’veencountered many cats such as Felix.Imagine my surprise as I’m stooped over cleaning the litter box

to suddenly feel something land on my back. Yep, it was Felixand he thought my back was the best place for him to perch. As I tried to coax him off – not easy when one is bent over, mindyou – it was obvious he was quite content sitting on my back. I eventually made my way to a table, which was about the sameheight and finally was able to convince him to get off my back!Rocky was another cat with a food craving! Rocky, who much

preferred being an outside cat (he stayed inside while I took care of him) would paw and meow at the back door hoping I would let him out. One day Rocky’s owner left me a noteinstructing me to give him a bit of yogurt – not just any yogurt,but vanilla yogurt.As I’m scooping some yogurt into the dish, Rocky is still

pawing at the door to be let out. The second I put the dish ofyogurt down, Rocky left his duty at the back door, walked overto the dish of yogurt and finished the entire dish. As soon asRocky finished the yogurt, he returned to the back door, hoping,again, I would let him out.On another food note, Merlin was a cat who had a fetish for

vegetables. In particular, Merlin loved fresh spinach, green beans,asparagus and broccoli. This cat could smell these vegetableseven when he was in another part of the house. Merlin would doanything he could to feast on these vegetables. For Merlin, heseemed to prefer the raw variety, but cooked was also fare game.Merlin spent many an hour confined to a separate room when hisowner was trying to prepare dinner!Buster was a dog with a tennis ball fetish. While most dogs

love to play “fetch”, Buster was no ordinary dog when it came to“fetch”. Buster never tired of running after and retrieving balls.Buster never tired; his owner, on the other hand often complained

of a sore arm! The only way Buster would give up on his fetishwas when his owner put the tennis balls in a closet.Scout was another dog. Although I had walked Scout several

times, each time I arrived he would act very leery towards meand his body language all but said “do not come near me”. I respect a dog who through their body language tells me theyare not too sure about me. Although this was not my first meeting with Scout, I did not wish to take any chances. I spoketo Scout reassuringly, hoping my voice would remind him hedid indeed know me. But, Scout wasn’t having none of it. I really was in a quandary deciding how best to handle this situation. I decided to back off, and as I did so, I turned andpicked up the leash that was lying on the table. The secondScout saw the leash, I suddenly became his best friend! He proceeded to walk to the door, waited for me to put on his leashand we went on our walk with no problem!

Jan Brown is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting and is a Pet Tech®Pet First Aid Instructor. She can be reached at janspetsit@comcast.net.

Chanukah begins on December 9th 2012,and lasts for 8 days.

The history of Chanukah has come toshape its modern celebration in numer-ous ways. Its connection to this period ofthe Jewish struggle renders Chanukah a holi-day steeped in meaning and tradition.

Page 24

Holiday Magic

David Taylor #DRE: 01909406

Real Estate that’s Taylor Made!Direct: 650.931.8353Cell: 650.703.0814

dtaylor@interorealestate.comA Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year to Everyone

When it comes to dressing for holiday special occasions, youcan probably make a little magic right in your own closet. Thekey is to plan ahead so you won’t be caught up short when thespecial day arrives.

FIRST, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOURWARDROBE, Your holiday wardrobe, that is. Assemblepotential outfits for your holidays, from the office party to dinner parties to New Year’s Eve. And don’t just look at them– try them on, complete with accessories, to make sure they fitand to see what might be missing. You’ll have time to shop forthe necessary items without rushing. (Let me know if you needsome help putting your holiday-wear together.)

START WITH A BASIC, such as a black pencil skirt. For yourHoliday Office Party, wear a satin blouse in one of the beautifuljewel tones of the season. Add a festive belt and earrings (not too sparkly) and black patent pumps. The key here is to notbe over the top with any item, but yet to add a little extra‘oomph’ to your look. For the Opera or a Dinner Date, wear theskirt with a brocade top, embellished shoes and a dressy clutch.For a Home Party, wear the skirt with an embellished top,chunky cuff bracelet and animal print flats.

LET’S TRY IT WITH A METALLIC BROCADE SKIRT (brocade is a very popular trend this year.) In this case, we’lluse a burnished gold brocade. For Dinner with the Boss, tuckin a white or cream blouse with interest at the neckline, accom-panied by a black fitted jacket, wide black belt with gold trim,black and gold stud earrings, black tights and pumps. For aFundraising Gala, wear the skirt with a black bustier withtouches of gold trim, black & gold strappy sandals and carry ablack clutch with simple gold trim. For Lunch with the Girls,pair the skirt with a burgundy peplum top (both of which arepopular trends this Fall), add in a chunky necklace, studdedboots and a black envelope purse with a touch of gold.

These are just a few examples of how you can mix up your holiday wardrobe, using one staple item from your wardrobeand changing out the accompanying items. Visit my blog at adenadesigns.wordpress.com/2012/11/30 to see these examplesand more of how to create holiday magic in your closet.

Adena DiTonno is a wardrobe and image consultant inRedwood Shores. Visit her website at www.adenadesigns.netfor free tips sheets and to sign up for her blog and monthlynewsletter.

212 Poinsettia Ave San Mateo Village 2 bdrms, 1 bath - Tastefully remodeledhome.Offered at $689,000

New Listing!!!! 133 Otay AveSan Mateo VillageOffered at $699,000

SOLD

Page 25WINE APPRECIATION

By Tom Barras

From LYNN’s KITCHEN(Or how a former Connecticut Yankee embraced California Cuisine)

Lynn Kathleen Adams

SUGAR COOKIES FOR SANTAIt’s difficult to imagine how it can possibly be December already –

after all, many of our trees still have their autumn-colored leaves clinging to their branches. I am missing the New England snow flurrieswhich always set the mood of anticipation for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.I’m sure that many of you follow the tradition with your children of

setting out cookies and a glass of milk in anticipation of Santa’s visit onChristmas Eve. We always made certain we had freshly baked cookiesfor Santa, and a few carrots for his reindeer. They were always gone inthe morning with a little “thank you” note beside the plate.These cookies are certain to please everyone, including Santa! They’re

crisp and melt-in-your mouth delicate, and perfect for a late eveningsnack. This recipe can easily be doubled. Your children can help withthe dough rolling and flattening the cookies with a glass, which may (ormay not!) speed up production of these sugar cookies.

NO-ROLL CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES (Preheat oven to 375 degrees F)2 ¼ cups all purpose flour½ teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon cream of tartar½ teaspoon salt¼ pound unsalted butter, at room temperature½ cup baker’s (superfine) sugar½ cup confectioners’ sugar1 egg½ cup vegetable oil (Crisco or Wesson Oil)½ teaspoon vanilla extractGranulated sugar – for dippingSparking sugar (red and green for Christmas) if you want to add a col-orful festive touch

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, andsalt.In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, baker’s sugar, and confec-

tioners; sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg and oil until wellblended. Beat in the vanilla.Add the dry ingredients on, one-third at a time, beating until blended

after each addition. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, forseveral hours or overnight.Divide the cookie dough into 8 sections. Working with one section at

a time (keep the remaining sections in the refrigerator while you work!),pinch off about 2 teaspoons of the dough and roll between your palms toform 1 inch balls . Place the cookie balls about 2 inches apart on anungreased (or parchment paper lined) cookie sheet. Moisten the bottom of a 3 inch drinking glass with water and dip it into

the granulated sugar – flatten each ball of dough with the sugar coatedglass, dipping the bottom of the glass into sugar before flattening eachcookie (don’t use too much water!)Now is the time to sprinkle the tops of the flattened sugar cookies with

sparkling sugar if you want to add that Christmas-y colorful touch!Bake the cookies for about 8 minutes in a regular oven (don’t use your

convection oven as they will brown too quickly) until light golden aroundthe edges. Let cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight cookie tin. Thisrecipe will make about 4 dozen cookies.Enjoy with a glass of cold milk or hot chocolate! And don’t forget to

leave some out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Happy Holidays to all and aHealthy and Prosperous New Year!

Lynn has been a RSCA Board Member since 1994

For the last few years, I have been explor-ing the subtle and interesting flavors ofoolong teas. While reading about themrecently, I noted the following: “As withthe production of wine, the final taste andquality of the product are influenced bymany important contributory factors—climate, soil, altitude, conditions, whenand how it is plucked and processed.” Wineenthusiasts will recognize the similarity of theabove to the French wine concept known as terroir (tare-wah), which literally translatedmeans “soil,” but in critical wine discussions and literature implies significantly more than that.

Terroir has been variously defined. “Somewhereness” is the mostconcise. Somewhat wordier is a “Taste of place.” Both implysomething extraordinary, and both impute underlying factors likemicroclimate, topography, subsoil, proximity to bodies of water, to name a few. These and other aspects are what account for thedistinctive differences between one wine from another, particularlythe good from the great, and especially when they’re made from the same grapes. Even within the same appellation, fine-tuned,experienced palates can discern differences from one plot to another, from one string of vines to another, and most easily, onevineyard from another. You and I, of course, can only swirl andsniff and muse inconclusively. As such, the significance of a wine’sterroir, asserts that its unique, nuanced qualities that can never beduplicated, by anyone—anywhere.

The early Greeks were the first to tame the vitis vinifera vines, thewild grape vines that grew haphazardly in nature. Instead of lettingthem continue to randomly intertwine around shrubs, bushes andtrees, they developed organized planting and trellising systems. In time, a thriving wine exporting industry resulted, and soon thereafter, the special attributes of certain vineyard locationsbecame known and coveted throughout the Mediterranean. Wherethe wines came from, and the terroir they revealed, was how earlyconnoisseurs and aristocrats selected their favorite wines. Uniqueand distinctive wines were, then as now, to paraphrase the MichelinGuidebooks, “Wines worth seeking out.”

Lesvos, a beautiful and historic island tucked into the North-EasternAegean Sea produced wines with just such distinction. Numerousamphorae that have been unearthed from ancient excavations contain special seals and inscriptions confirming Lesvos as thewine’s provenance, its place of origin; in effect, an “ancient appella-tion.” The inscriptions do not mention, for example, Chardonnay,or Pinot Grigio, or whatever the local grape was called. No, thosewritings confirmed that the amphorae contained something veryspecific and noteworthy—the wines of Lesvos. Sadly, however,Lesvos’ flame of fame of has long been extinguished. Blights, over-running conquerors and other disasters of man and nature have longsince eradicated those celebrated vineyards of my forebears. Butbeyond that tragedy, I will always wonder if my dear mother alwaysknew, but somehow forgot to talk with me about those ancient andfamous wines of her birthplace.

Page 26

Food for Fines• During the Month of December 2012 Clear library fines while providing food to those in need. Bring non-perishable food items to any of Redwood City’s fourlibraries during open hours and your library fines will be waived.All food will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Major Donors Reception • Saturday December 8 from 3:00-4:30pm Reception with music, light refreshments, and unveiling of adonor plaque for major donors who purchased a piano for the Redwood Shores Branch Library.

Music, Stories & Games in English and Spanish• Saturday December 8 at 11:00am Join Valéria for music and stories for ages 1-4.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town! • Sunday December 9 from 1:00-3:00pm Santa is coming to the Library! Bring the whole family – andyour camera! Sponsored by the Friends of the Library andRSCA.

Homework Center• Monday-Tuesday 3:00-6:00, Wednesday 1:00-6:00, Thursday 3:00-6:00 Please note that the Homework Center will be closed fromDecember 20—January 6 and will resume on January 7, 2013.

Weekly StorytimesMondays • 11:00am - Preschool Ages 3-5 Tuesdays • 7:00pm - Pajama Time Stories for All Ages Thursdays • 11:30am - Tiny Tales Ages 0-18 Months

Teen Gaming and Activities:• Mondays 5:00pm Visit Sea link Café at the Redwood Shores Branch Library! Café hours: Monday - Thursday 7:30am-6:30pm, Saturday 7:30am-2:30pm and Sunday 9:30am-2:30pm

Meeting Space Available at Redwood Shores Branch Library Please visit: www.redwoodcity.org/library/info/meetingrooms.html

Volunteer with the Friends of the Library The Friends operates a resale book store at the DowntownLibrary to generate funds to support library programs andevents. Call 650.780.7050 for more information about theFriends and to identify your volunteer interests. For volunteer opportunities at the Redwood Shores BranchLibrary, please call 650.780.5740.

Why Do I Need Life Insurance?No one wants to leave their familyunprepared for the future. Planningtoday can protect the promise of yourfamily’s tomorrow. Following aresome of the reasons why you shouldconsider life insurance.

To Replace Lost Income.Most people buy life insurance as ameans to replace income lost if some-thing happens to them. Providing money for survivors is impor-tant. Life insurance is the most cost effective way to do it.

To Pay Off Debt.Debt can be very burdensome to your family, especially withoutyour income available to help repay it. Life insurance can beused to pay off debt and help create more financial security foryour family.

To Pay Final Expenses and Offer an Emergency Fund.Final expenses can be very significant, especially if there arelarge medical bills, funeral or legal expenses to pay. An emer-gency fund can cover unexpected bills such as emergencyrepairs to your home or car. Life insurance provides cash thatcan be used to help your family cope in a time of distress.

To Help Pay for Your Children’s Education.Educating children can be expensive and often requires a long-term strategy. Many people plan to contribute funds each yearuntil they have enough money saved to pay all or some of theirchildren’s education costs. Unfortunately if something unex-pectedly happens to you, there may not be enough time to setaside adequate funds for education. Life insurance can help bycreating a lump-sum of cash that you can count on to help paypart of your children’s education costs.

If you have any questions on the above information KendraBronstein is a Registered Representative working for JohnHancock Financial Network in San Mateo and would be happyto answer any questions that you may have. She can be reachedat 650-341-5050 ext 158 or check out her website atkendrabronstein.com. CA Insurance License #OG77962.

Offering John Hancock Insurance Products. Registered Representative/Securities offered through SignatorInvestors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC. OSJ – Golden GateMansour Agency, 1900 S. Norfolk St, Ste 200, San Mateo, CA94403. Agent Phone 650-341-5050, ext. 158. 276-20121112-123223

Page 27

Garage Sale/Bake Sale Fundraiser Help our Belmont-RWS Blasters

12-year-old boys’ baseball team get toCooperstown! Furniture, electronics, toys,

strollers and car seats, dishes, books, DVD’s, costume jewelry and much, much more!!December 8th, Saturday, 9am - 3pm., 1 day Only, Rain or Shine!

1250 Avon Street, Belmont, off Ralston Ave., just east of Barrett Park.

Redwood Shores HandymanNo Job is too small, Can do almost anything

Redwood Shores Resident Call Scott 650-464-3276

Silvia’s Housecleaning Service. License #22085 - Bonded and Insured.

$15 off for first 3 cleanings for new customers only.Coupons good for weekly & bi-weekly clients only. Serving the Shores for 10 years. (415) 860-6988Flores Housecleaning Service, Excellent service,good references. Call Ana or Edgar 650-924-0406

C L A S S I F I E D A D S

Able Handyman Fred •Complete Home Repairs •Maintenance •Remodeling

•Professional Painting •Carpentry •Plumbing •Electrical •Custom Design Cabinets •Fence •Tile •Deck •Gates •7 Days a week •Free Estimate

650.529.1662 • 650.483.4227

High Quality Licensed Family DaycarePrivate, For over 16 years, For All Ages,

In My Redwood Shores Home.Flexible Hours, Homemade Organic Meals

Excellent References - 595-2862

BELMONT, BURLINGAMEREDWOOD SHORES & WOODSIDE

YELLOW CAB20% off for

REDWOOD SHORES RESIDENTS(Van Available)

(650) 921 2038

Easy Slide Handyman Services - Peninsula local with over15 yrs experience. For all your repair, remodel & maintenanceneeds. Int/Ext doors, windows, shower & closet doors, bi-foldpocket doors & screens. Complete dry wall texture & paint.Int/Ext wood-work & tile. Free estimate (650) 504 1566.

• Specializing in Japanese Maples with over1100 trees and 100 different varieties to choose from.

• A full service Nursery featuring Bamboo,Citrus, Azaleas, Rhododenrons and Camellias.

Puzzled about yourGarden?

Garden Design andConsultation Services

Available

Tyler’s Carlmont NurserySINCE 1962

2029 Ralston Ave. Belmont 650.591.6845www.carlmontnursery.com

Open 7 days a week 8:30am-5:30pm

Happy HolidaysHappy Holidays

Page 28

The Pilot Presorted StandardU.S. Postage PaidRedwood City,CAPermit No. 579

December 2012