The Burlingame Voice

Voice Masthead

I've been wondering who designed the festive Masthead? It's wonderful. I'm always amazed at the creativity and input that goes into this virtual paper. Thank you!

- Written by Jennifer Pfaff

Ring in the new

Much has been said about the demise of some of our mom and pop establishments recently. As I walked along lower Howard Avenue, near Rollins Road, I noticed that a bright new, homey, independent coffee house is about to open there called Cafe Verdi. The owner said he hoped to open in a short time. Please watch for their opening.

- Written by russ

New Safeway designs emerge

For an update on the Safeway Saga, there is an article (with artist rendering) in today's Daily Journal about Martin Dreiling's ideas for a new Safeway project. According to the journalist, Mr. Dreiling has met with former mayor O'Mahony and city manager Nantell to discuss his "mixed use" plan.

Galligan's comment - always a downer - said that "Safeway is not necessarily looking for a plan from local architects and that it's up to Safeway to design their stores. I don't think they would want their opinion." Safeway's design was rejected and it seems Safeway is not interested in looking at alternate plans. Safeway's attorney declined to comment.

Perhaps Mr. Galligan needs reminding - once again - that Safeway keeps asking for direction from City Hall. If Safeway will not budge from their own rejected Plan A, then maybe they would be wise to get "direction" from Mr. Dreiling, who lives and works in Burlingame and is a very well respected architect. Randy Grange, Burlingame-based TRG Architects, would also "love" to get together with Mrs. Baylock to discuss ideas. Or from any other architect who is willing to spend hours pro bono on a happy ending to this saga.

Galligan said Safeway plans to wait for "clear direction on what the council could accept" at its January 3 council meeting, a meeting which Safeway will not be present. After 7 or 8 years of discussion, City Council please give Safeway "clear direction" on January 3 but, in the meantime, maybe the Council and Safeway could listen to the experts - creative and well respected Burlingame architects.

- Written by Fiona

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Thank you to the six young ladies who came to my door this evening singing Christmas carols. They reminded me why there is a celebration at this time of year.

During these politically correct times it wouldn't surprise me to hear Bing singing "White Holidays" and hip-swivelling Elvis singing "Its going to be a blue blue holiday without you"! I even heard someone talking about a holiday tree rather than a Christmas tree. While shopping at Pottery Barn I had to stop myself from going up to the manager to thank the store for playing Christmas carols!

The six students sang like angels with a giggle or two when they couldn't hit the high notes which made it alot more fun. Happy Christmas to them!

- Written by Fiona

School District Partners with Burlingame Rotary Club

The Burlingame School District (BSD) has joined forces with the Burlingame Rotary Club and Community Gatepath to donate English language textbooks to South African urban schools and small villages in outlying areas.

Because many schools cannot afford to buy textbooks and pupils are often sharing one book, donations help alleviate the serious textbook shortage. "When we upgraded our English language textbooks, we wanted to find an English-speaking country where students could really benefit from receiving used books," said Dr. Sonny Da Marto, BSD Superintendent and a Burlingame Rotary Club Board member. The Burlingame Rotary Club is arranging delivery of the books to South Africa.

Burlingame resident and former school parent, Mary Beth Hagey, who is involved with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to help to eliminate book famine in the African continent, acted as a liaison to South Africa. Community Gatepath, a nonprofit organization serving people with disabilities and their families throughout San Mateo County, picked up the books from local schools and prepared boxes for shipment.

For more information contact Dr. Sonny Da Marto, at 650-259-3805 or sdamarto@bsd.k12.ca.us.

- Written by mfctalk

Thanks to Wells Fargo

A special thanks goes to Wells Fargo, landlord of the Peninsula Beauty Supply store on the 1400 block of Burlingame Avenue. A few weeks back, many residents were aghast at what appeared to be the wholesale destruction of the historic facade on the building. I am happy to say that it was a restoration, and not another flattened facade. The work has taken a long time because plaster casts needed to be taken of existing patterns, that apparently were cracked. As I passed by today, the new stucco work reveals a completely beautiful restoration job that completes the building, one of several on the Towles corner with the identical friezes. Rather than obliterate the historic front, Wells Fargo took the high road and gave back to this town. This work stands in stark contrast to most buildings here that do complete make-overs on their fronts.

The most appalling recent example was the Apple store debacle. I've heard they kept changing their plans, up until the last minute. The owners should have been forced to mesh their new store design far better with our historic downtown, alas, no rules were yet in place. At the very least, I'd like to suggest that buildings on corners, like that one, be forced (yes, forced) to have a certain generous proportion of glass vitrines, doors, etc. for pedestrians on both sides of the store. The Park Rd. side is way too closed off. The little sliver of glass at eye level on Park Rd. just doesn't do it; the result being cool and aloof. I don't even think Apple intends their products to be aloof and detached.

Once again three cheers for Wells Fargo and their special attention to detail.

- Written by Jennifer Pfaff

Forced Retirements

During this time of good cheer there is a distressing story about Burlingame Avenue changes. Some wonderful businesses have gone or are going poof in the night on Burlingame Avenue/California Drive:

Clyde's Barber Shop (after 107 years)
Sam's Sandwich (after 32 years and relocating to the Greyhound Depot)
Slice on the Avenue (used to be Cheese Please)
Studio Shop (relocated to Primrose)
Sweet Treats (after 18 years)
Iona
Summit Bicycles
California Candy Company

The property owner, Karim Salma has been given planning permission to "build a 2,508 sq.ft. restaurant and retail shops". The owner "wouldn't disclose his plans on Friday citing confidentiality issues". The charm of Burlingame is the smaller shops (listed above) who generously give to schools, community events and save Burlingame Avenue from being an openair corporate mall. Go to the community events and see how community spirited the chainstores are!

I wonder if "build" really means to pull the present building down - a very important corner of Burlingame history. Surely that can't be so.

A city planner tells us that "we can't regulate retail stores. For the mom and pop stores, they can go to Broadway". You are right, Broadway has more village charm but our fair city regulates how many restaurants we have in town and whether businesses can be on the ground floor on Broadway.

We have many landlords who are greedily throwing out the small businesses who are being "squeezed out by higher rent and we have no negotiating power". It will be a disgrace if those businesses mentioned above are driven out for a Crate and Barrel.

Please, esteemed Burlingame city planners, be cautious about destroying Burlingame's charm. Progress is good but sometimes it comes at a huge cost.

- Written by Fiona

All Lit Up!

Is it my imagination or are there more houses sporting festive lights this year? Throughout the town there are tasteful (and some tasteless) displays of holiday spirit, with inflatable Santa's, grazing reindeer, illuminated nutcrackers and lights all over. Even our own masthead has had a seasonal makeover! The Editors of the Burlingame Voice would like to know your favorite street or house decorations.

- Written by admin

Player of the Year

Here at the Burlingame Voice, we occasionally covered schoolboy sports back before there were five local papers doing it. Now that the competitive edge has the Daily Journal and Daily News giving the Times and the Examiner reason to provide more complete coverage, we can simply touch on the highpoints. The SF Chronicle hit another high note in BHS' athletic year by naming three sport man and quarterback Drew Shiller the Player of the Year for his exquisite football performance. Check out page B9 for the whole story. We wish Shiller much success at USF where he will focus on basketball.

- Written by Joe Baylock

Safeway Garbage

We all know about our blighted corner of Burlingame but even I was shocked at the seven trolleys full of garbage in the Safeway parking lot today (Sunday). At first I thought they could have been trolleys owned by the homeless or even stuff left over from the teenagers who hang out but I think it was just old fashioned garbage!

I am not too proud to pick up garbarge - and there is alot of it - off the sunny streets of Burlingame but I refuse (sorry the pun!) to pick up the garbage on that blighted corner.

Safeway - be a good neighbor and clean up your property.

- Written by Fiona