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Superfest Disability Film Festival coming to Courthouse Square

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Courthouse Square to host Juneteenth celebration on Friday

Wednesday night, Aug. 29 — the “curtain” rises at 8 pm on a special night at the movies.  Not just because this is a movie night out under the stars on a summer’s night (on Courthouse Square), but because this night – is Superfest.

Superfest – the Disability Film Festival, featuring five quirky, sweet, funny and probably surprising portraits of people with disabilities:  like “Chief”, the story of a woman can’t afford a service animal, so she trains her own (that’s Chief), who is definitely not your average service dog — and “Interviewer”, about the quirky, pop culture-referencing, young man who does the interviewing for a top law firm, and who has Down syndrome.

All the movies will feature open captions and audio description.  And this is a BYOB event (Bring Your Own Blanket, also your own chair, if you want one.  And you are welcome to bring food, and something to drink.).

Need even more information?  You can find that here:  Superfest Disability Film Festival.

Reports: Orchard Supply Hardware to close all stores by year’s end

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Reports: Orchard Supply Hardware to close all stores by year's end

Multiple news reports are reporting grim news tonight about San Jose-based Orchard Supply Hardware, the home improvement and gardening products store.

All stores across the nation “will permanently close by the the end of this year,” according to KRON4, with liquidation beginning Thursday.

Redwood City has a store at 2110 Middlefield Rd.  Orchard Supply Hardware launched in 1931, is headquartered in San Jose and, after filing for Chapter 11 reorganization, was acquired by Lowe’s in 2013. According to NBC Bay Area, the chain has 98 stores across California, Oregon and Florida.

San Carlos Airport asks ‘Burner Express’ for ‘the quietest arrival and departure settings possible’

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San Carlos Airport asks 'Burner Express' for 'the quietest arrival and departure settings possible'

The San Carlos Airport is set to see increased activity when the ‘Burner Express’ — a series of chartered flights taking people to the annual Burning Man festival in Nevada — begins service this week.

Chartered flights between San Carlos Airport and Black Rock City Airport run from Thursday, Aug. 23, through Monday, Sept. 3. See the schedule of flights here.

Airport officials met with staff of the Burner Express to “emphasize the importance of using the quietest arrival and departure settings possible when operating into and out of the San Carlos Airport,” Airport Manager Gretchen Kelly said in a statement.

“We’re happy to be a small part of participants’ Burning Man experience but are mindful that their fun isn’t a burden to those on the ground,” Kelly said.

Also, parking vehicles overnight is prohibited at the airport, so visitors are encouraged to use taxi, Lyft, Uber or Caltrain to get to the airport.

For more information, go here.

Bay City News contributed to this report

Photo: County of San Mateo Public Works

Sequoia Union, Sprint partner to provide free home internet access for students

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The Sequoia Union High School District has partnered with Sprint’s 1Million Project project to provide free home internet access to families in need.

Students attending district schools can apply online and will receive their device in a few days, the school district announced (must be logged into their school email account to apply in order for the link to work).

Sprint says the 1Million Project aims to help young students across the nation be better equipped with the ability to accomplish their homework. About 70-percent of teachers assign online homework, and some 5 million families with school-aged children in the U.S. don’t have reliable internet connectivity at home, according to Sprint.

“This disconnect leads to dramatically inequitable outcomes among our students,” the company states.

During last school year, the program’s first year, Sprint distributed 190,000 devices to more than 1,400 schools in 120 district across 30 states.

Photo: Sequoia Union High School District

Community opposition to bikini coffee shop proposal takes flight

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Community opposition to bikini coffee shop proposal takes flight

Growing community opposition to a bikini coffee shop in Redwood City has involved divine intervention.

Sister Christina Heltsley of St. Francis Center is mounting opposition to a plan to open a Pink Pantherz Espresso at 2797 El Camino Real in North Fair Oaks, the space formerly occupied by the old Caffino. Pink Pantherz is a small coffee shop chain established in 2014 where baristas wear bikinis. It has locations in Fremont, Modesto, and Fresno.

Heltsley is joined by a number of residents who say the type of business is inappropriate for the location. Kids pass it twice daily on their way to Selby Lane, the local public school, Heltsley says.

In a Facebook post Sunday, Heltsley called upon community members to pen letters to Pink Pantherz owner Jose L. Carmona requesting that he nix plans to open at 2797 El Camino Real. Her post mentions the property is owned by “very highly resourced people living in Atherton.” That appears to reference the Hiller family, best known for their display of aircraft and helicopters at the Hiller Aviation Museum, who appear to be branching out in the display business with the controversial bikini coffee shop proposal.  Online property records, including the P.O. Box address listed in county property tax records, indicate owners of the site are members of the Hiller family. Calls to family members have not been returned.

Heltsley previously spoke against the plan at a recent San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting and has also made her case to local media.

“In truth, this kind of place would never be allowed in a more economically advantaged community,” she said. “Our community is filled with hard working and wonderful families, we so do not want to be a dumping ground for trashy places.”

Some community members support the business. Carmona told the San Mateo Daily Journal that his business has been involved in the communities where it operates and intends to comply with local regulations. KPIX 5 visited the Pink Pantherz location in Fremont, where manager Sarah Perrin says the business employs confident women serving quality coffee.

“If you go out to a beach, you’re seeing girls in bikinis,” Perrin said, adding she was personally shocked by the community opposition. “At the end of the day, it’s just coffee. There’s nothing that goes beyond us handing you over a drink.”

But with menu options such as “Panty Dropper,” “Booty Call” and “Hard On,” community members disagree with the beach comparison.

“It’s a disgrace when all the children go past that place in the morning,” resident Janet Davis said at the county board meeting.

The county is currently reviewing the business owner’s application — and yes, employee attire has been a point of concern.

“The proposed employee attire would be considered an adult entertainment business (specifically, cabaret) under County planning code,” County spokeswoman Michelle Durand told Climate in an email. “Planning Director Steve Monowitz has informed the owner that to comply with zoning code,  employee dress must completely cover their bottoms from a point below the buttocks and their entire breasts from a point immediately above the areola. If and when the business does open, the County will work closely with the owner to ensure compliance. Failure to do so will be a code violation.”

In an effort to comply, Carmona told the Daily Journal he would be proposing new uniforms for the Redwood City location.

San Mateo County to discontinue parks shuttle service due to declining ridership

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San Mateo County to discontinue parks shuttle service due to declining ridership

After two years running, the San Mateo County Parks Department will end its Park Shuttle service connecting Edgewood County Park & Natural Preserve in Redwood City and Wunderlich County Park in Woodside, citing declining ridership. The final day of service will be Sunday, Aug. 26.

The weekend shuttle service was launched to make it easier for residents to visit county parks, as few of the 22 parks in the system are accessible by public transit. Shuttle begins at 9 a.m. every weekend day from East Palo Alto and Menlo Park and makes stops in Redwood City, including the transit center and Fair Oaks Community Center.

“After two years of service and declining ridership, the Department decided not to reapply for grant funding and to discontinue the service,” according to a statement.

IMAGE: Current route map for parks shuttle (San Mateo County Parks Department)

‘Everything you need to know to go EV’ at Redwood City event

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Thinking about going electric?  You can find about everything about the world of EVs (electric vehicles), from A to Z (including E and V) – at a free workshop, Wednesday evening, Aug. 29.

Get there at 630 pm, and you can check out some EVs in the parking lot – the presentation starts at 7, and the place to be is Redwood City Public Works Services, 1400 Broadway.

Hear a comparison of electric versus gas for powering your ride, learn about leasing versus buying, second-hand versus new, find out about the available government rebates (up to $10,000), and get the facts on that all-important question of battery range:  how far can you go before you need to fill up (on electrons), and how/where do you do that.

This is not a sales pitch from electric car makers – it’s an informational program from the City, and Fossil Free Midpeninsula.

You do have to RSVP beforehand, and you can do that online here:

Redwood City police deploying DUI saturation patrols

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Domestic violence incident in downtown Redwood City leads to arrest of pimp

Starting today through Sept. 3, the Redwood City Police Department is deploying DUI saturation patrols targeting drunk or impaired drivers.

The effort is part of a national Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign partnering police departments, sheriff’s offices and the California Highway Patrol.

“The enforcement campaign will continue through the Labor Day holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest times of year in terms of alcohol-involved traffic deaths,” the Redwood City Police Department said in a statement Friday.

Chief of Police Dan Mulholland added, “This campaign is not about issuing citations. It is about reinforcing the message that driving while impaired is illegal and dangerous to you, your family and your community.”

The police department offered these simple tips to stay safe — and not get busted:

  • Always designate a sober driver.
  • Use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home.
  • Have a friend or family member who is about to drive buzzed or impaired? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get them home safely.
  • Report drunk drivers – call 911.

The DUI operation is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Taser deployed on domestic violence suspect who died

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A Redwood City police officer used a Taser multiple times on a domestic violence suspect who died after a struggle with officers on Monday, according to Bay City News, citing San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

The DA’s office is investigating the death and said it’s not clear yet what role, if any, the Taser use played in the death of Ramsey Saad, 55.

The incident has led to four Redwood City police officers being placed on administrative leave, per protocol.

Police were called about 7:20 p.m. Monday to the 500 block of Lanyard Drive, where a neighbor said Saad was assaulting his 83-year-old mother and threatening to kill her in front of the residence, according to police. Attempts by neighbors to physically restrain Saad were unsuccessful, and he attacked the first officer who tried to provide aid to his mother, police said. Additional officers who arrived on scene attempted to detain him but he continue to violently resist, police said.

During the struggle, Officer Oscar Poveda deployed a Taser on Saad “two or three times,” Wagstaffe told Bay City News. Eventually, Saad fell unconscious and was taken to a hospital, where he died. The other officers placed on leave due to the incident were identified as Officers Matthew Cydzik, Brian Simmons and Daniel Di Bona.

The incident remains under investigation, and a coroner’s report will likely take weeks to complete, Wagstaffe said.

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