The Burlingame Voice

Mixed Use Message

For those interested in city planning and the future, there is a very interesting newspaper article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle titled "The Mixed Use Mixed Message" Of particular local interest is the example of Santana Row.

- Written by Fiona

New Cell Phone Laws into Effect Tomorrow

New Cell Phone Laws go into Effect on July 1, 2008 - Adults may use Cell Phones be used Hands-Free The Burlingame Police Department would like to inform and remind its citizens about the new laws going into effect on July 1, 2008, that prohibit the use of wireless telephones while driving. The new laws prohibit all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. Motorists 18 years of age or older may use a hands-free device while driving, such as a bluetooth, a headset, or a device's speaker phone function; however, motorists under the age of 18 years are prohibited from even using hands-free devices while driving. Cellphones will "push to talk" capability are not an acceptable hands-free option. The law does allow for motorists to use handheld devices in emergency situations; however, these situations are limited to calls to law enforcment agencies, fire departments, emergency medical providers or other emergency service agencies. These new laws apply only to the driver of the vehicle and do not affect passengers. (source: city website)

- Written by Fiona

Yesterday's Burlingame Bike Races

Strength, experience propels Criterium winner By Emanuel Lee (Daily Journal) Cyclists of all levels took part in the Burlingame Criterium Sunday. Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter,? according to Mark Twain. Chris Hipp takes a similar message to heart every time he gets on his bike. At 46, long in the tooth by cycling standards, Hipp regularly competes against athletes young enough to be one of his children. But that doesn't stop the former pro cyclist from teaching a lesson or two to today's rising stars. The Redwood City resident earned one of the biggest victories in his 25-year cycling career on Sunday, besting a field of 101 competitors in the Burlingame Criterium men's pro 1-2 race. Unlike previous years, when this race came down to near photo finishes, Hipp made this one anticlimactic by criterium standards. With a little less than five meters to go Hipp raised his arms in triumph, buoyed by a burst that started with 100 meters remaining. Much to the surprise of the Labor Power racing team member who had no other teammates in the field, Hipp saw no one on his wheel, and shortly after he crossed the finish line under little duress. I looked back and thought, what the hell happened,'? he said. Usually when a guy jumps out like that there's a guy right behind you.? Not this time. Even though Hipp was able to get a solo break, victory was anything but assured. If his final burst wasn't powerful enough, he would've got caught from behind, adding to his bridesmaid status in 2005 and '06, when he finished fifth and fourth, respectively. But there was no doubt he had the goods, as he opened up a lead of five bike lengths before accelerating to the finish. In criteriums, like any sporting event, you need talent, some help and a little bit of luck. Winning riders are able to stay out of trouble while positioning themselves solidly in the peloten, conserve their energy by getting in the slipstream of other riders before positioning themselves near the front with a couple of laps to go and sprint to the finish. Even though Hipp had no teammates in the event, he had friends from other teams who helped him get to the end. So what was the difference this time? It takes a little bit of luck, a little positioning and strength,? Hipp said. You have to have the power. Experience plays a big role, too. I've been doing this for 25 years. I've raced against Lance Armstrong and Greg Lemond. Cycling for this long, you know how to position yourself, so today I didn't need any teammates it's nice to have them though.? Anna Woldring can attest to that. The San Francisco resident captured the women's pro 1-2-3 race, winning by a couple of bike lengths. As part of the Code 3 Racing team, which is in its first year of competition, Woldring brought home the team's first win in the pro category. It was also her first victory at this level; last year here she won the category 4 race. Sunday's win unfolded perfectly for Woldring, who was born and raised in the Netherlands before coming to America two years ago. Woldring was in the breakaway group with half a lap to go before making her move. A couple of cyclists blocked for her, she in turn got pulled to the front and from there it was up to her to power to the finish line. The 43-cyclist field included 2004 Olympian Christine Thorburn, who pulled off an impressive double, finishing 59th in the men's pro race before lining up for the women's event. Despite the big names in the field, no one could hang with Woldring. It's a huge deal,? Woldring said. This is the first win of our season and being a brand new team, it makes it all the more enjoying.? Woldring started racing when she was 11 but took a 10-year break from competition starting in her late teens. After arriving in the states she displayed her talent and potential, moving up from category 4 to her current position as a category 2 in under two years. Sunday's victory showed Woldring, 30, is hitting her stride at the perfect time (27-31 is an athlete's prime cycling years). While there were no crashes in the more experienced pro races, there were plenty of mishaps in three other events: men's elite 3, elite 4 and masters 45-65. Among the more serious encounters included one rider crashing into a pole and being sent to the hospital and another cyclist breaking his collarbone. Then there was the Ryan Phua Memorial Kids' Ride, which drew a record-breaking 800 riders. The most popular race? of the Burlingame Criterium is dedicated to the memory of Ryan Phua, who died in his sleep at the age of 2 in July of 2003. Ryan's father, John, got involved in the Lance Armstrong foundation in 1997 after being diagnosed and later beating testicular cancer. Proceeds of the 12-and-under ride for kids benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Ryan Phua Memorial Fund supporting cancer-related programs in the Bay Area. The variety of events, tough competition and hundreds of people lining up along the course showed why the Burlingame Criterium is one of the premier races in the state. The event is unique in that it takes place in the heart of a vibrant downtown community amid much fanfare. I love this race,? Hipp said. It's not often you get to race in a venue like this. The last lap I could barely hear myself it was so loud. A lot of times we're racing in industrial parks because it's easier to clear the streets. This race is way up when it comes to having a great atmosphere.? At the end of his cool-down lap, Hipp smiled and told the P.A. announcer, You see, old guys can win every now and then.? With a superb effort, Hipp was able to recapture some of his past glory. My racing heyday was 15 years ago,? Hipp said. Now I'm racing against guys half my age. I guarantee you I was the oldest guy in the field. At my age (on race day) you don't know if you're going to feel good or bad. Today, I had it.? Did he ever. ### Wonderful event for Burlingame and wonderful to have Burlingame Avenue closed for awhile after the race and see kids "Skateboarding down the Ave".

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame Library Event on Monday

The next Burlingame Library event is: Write that Cookbook! With Dianne Jacob Monday, June 30 7:00 - 9:00 pm Lane Room Free

- Written by Fiona

California Drive Assisted Living Project Dropped

Assisted living home plans dropped - New proposal calls for adult day care center on California Drive in Burlingame (by Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer) The developer of a proposed assisted living care facility in Burlingame has withdrawn the project in the face of stiff opposition from nearby residents. Owners of the property at 755 California Drive notified Burlingame planning officials this week that they were pulling out and requested that the fees they paid be returned. The owner, 755 California Drive LLC, paid $6,882 in planning fees and $76,554 for environmental consulting work. Burlingame planner Ruben Hurin said he expects to be able to refund all of the environmental consulting fees because hardly any work was done on that part of the project, and the city would probably keep at least half of the planning fees. "The reasons for taking it to withdrawal now is it is just not (economically) feasible at this point," said the property's owner, George Yerby. Yerby said opposition to the proposal to build units for 46 residents and 20 underground parking spots surprised him. The project was being developed in conjunction with Sacramento-based Cimino Care, and it was scaled back from previous plans. The plan now - submitted to the city Friday - is to leave the building as is and make it an adult day care center. It formerly housed a women's athletic club. "We are going to get a conditional use permit for that use. We will take the existing building and we will lease it to the Cimino family," Yerby said. Residents opposed to the assisted living facility argued it would have been too massive and would have violated people's privacy with windows facing backyards. They were notified about the application being withdrawn via e-mail earlier this week. "We were surprised and happy," said Palm Drive resident Brian McGinn, who lives near the property. McGinn and other residents mobilized against the proposed facility. They wrote council members and planning commissioners and urged the developer to scale it back. They also set up the e-mail address [email protected] as part of the effort. "Quite a number of people from that neighborhood were opposed to it," Burlingame Community Development Director Bill Meeker said. "To be honest, I think the one thing that really stopped them from doing this ... the project never fit the city's general plan," McGinn said. The city asked the developer to request a general plan amendment for the project because a conditional use permit alone couldn't allow such a use in an area zoned for commercial use, Meeker said.

- Written by Fiona

Road Closures for Burlingame Criterium and Ryan's Ride

Burlingame Criterium is Sunday, June 29, 2008! Date: 6/29/2008 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Downtown Burlingame Avenue Area A Criterium is a bicycle race over a closed circuit less than 5K - typically about a mile -through city streets. This leads to tight groups with frequent turns. The first race starts at 7 a.m. and the last race, at 1:30 p.m. The race route starts and ends at Burlingame and Lorton Avenues. The racers will proceed on Lorton to Howard Avenue, Park Road, Burlingame Avenue, Primrose Road, Bellevue Avenue, then Lorton Avenue again to Burlingame Avenue. Kids are welcome to participate in the kids ride at 10:20 a.m. Go to http://www.burlingamecriterium.com/athletes/index.html for more information and to sign up. Please be aware that the race course will be closed to motor vehicles from 5AM to 4PM. Parking will also not be allowed on the course streets from 5AM to 4PM; and in the interest of safety, ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS WILL BE TOWED. Please park all vehicles outside the race course. Course marshals are available during the event in case of an emergency. Go to www2.burlingame.org/course map.jpg for a map of the race course and road closures. (source: City of Burlingame website)

- Written by Fiona

Citizen Speed Watch - A Slow Start

Residents reticent to catch speeders (by Mike Rosenberg, The Examiner) (Getty Images file photo) Citizen Speed Watch is a program giving residents a chance to be trained to use radar devices to monitor speeds in their neighborhoods. BURLINGAME (Map, News) - A plan to arm city residents with radar gun to help police catch speeders is off to a slow start. As first reported by The Examiner, Burlingame in September proposed the Citizen Speed Watch program. The idea was for the police to train volunteers to use portable radar devices so they can monitor speeds in neighborhoods, police Chief Jack Van Etten said at the time. Launched last month, the program has been spinning its wheels no one has signed up as a radar-gun-wielding, traffic-law-enforcing citizen. Burlingame police Cmdr. Mike Matteucci said he had no idea why there has been no interest in the program, pointing out that fundraisers the department holds typically receive tremendous community response. We thought that there might have been a little more participation,? city traffic engineer Augustine Chou said. Typically other cities that have tried similar programs, however, have figured out that these sorts of ideas often lose momentum over time, Chou said. The program's premise was simple: Residents would receive radar guns that police no longer use, sit in their cars or on their front porches, and keep a journal marking the speed and license plate numbers of the cars that passed by. What the volunteers could not do is put flashing lights on their cars and pull over the speeders, or even cite them, police said. They could, however, pass the license plate numbers to police, who would send the drivers warning letters. Also, when volunteers found patches of the community prone to fast drivers, police would set up speed traps and other enforcement in those areas. The idea came about last year as a creative solution to the plethora of complaints the department receives from residents about traffic and speeding, Matteucci said. We just don't have the officers to go and work traffic in those areas like we'd like to,? Matteucci said. But other city officials said there are simpler ways to solve the speeding problems. Councilmember Terry Nagel, who started an expanded version of a neighborhood watch called the Burlingame Neighborhood Network, said getting to know one's neighbors who are often the speeding culprits might be the best solution. And perhaps those who expressed interest in the program decided later that pointing a radar gun at fellow citizens might not be perceived too favorably by those in the driver's seat,? Nagel said. To sign up as a volunteer, or learn more about the program, call the Burlingame Police Department at (650) 777-4100.

- Written by Fiona

Library Movie Tonight - Babette's Feast

The Movie at the Library tonight at 7:00 am in the Lane Room is Babette's Feast:

Philippa (Hanne Stensgaard) and Martina (Vibeke Hastrup ) turn down a chance to leave their Danish town, instead staying to care for their pastor father and his small church. Thirty-five years later, a French woman (St phane Audran) seeks refuge, and Philippa and Martina (now Bodil Kjer and Birgitte Federspie) take her in. The feast the woman prepares in gratitude is eclipsed only by her secret in director Gabriel Axel's Oscar-winning drama.

(source: Netflix)

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame Stationers to Close

I hope "Donald" will understand that this is an opinion (and an affectionate one) but I am so sorry to see Burlingame Stationers leaving Burlingame - historically and practicality-wise. The staff have always been so helpful and this store has been such a plus to our downtown. Reporters Notebook (Daily Journal)

After nearly 75 years of business on Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame Stationers will be closing its doors. Owners Bob Bishop and Gail Bishop Welter announced plans to close shop this week citing flat sales and increasing rent. An inventory closeout sale is planned through September.

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame Library Event Tonight

You can discover the healing properties of certain foods that can maintain health and improve chronic conditions at tonight's Library event: Wednesday, June 25th 7:00 pm Food: Your Best Medicine Therapeutic Chef Karen Diggs Lane Room

- Written by Fiona