The sixth-graders at Westborough Middle School currently conduct science experiments in their compact classrooms, since there is no dedicated space for labs.
Science teacher Dan Kessler and his colleagues at the South San Francisco school are excited about the possibility of Westborough receiving a new lab to teach their courses in.
“The sixth-graders do an experiment with plants,” he said. “It would be nice to have the storage space to do a multiweek experiment.”
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At the west end of Orange Park in South San Francisco, there is a concrete path that weaves through a garden of public sculptures — from a granite slab to a statue of a child holding a dog — part of a public art program that aims to expand horizons and open minds.
“I appreciate the effort,” San Bruno resident Dawn Ferrer, 50, said of cities that put up art in public places. “There’s not a lot of cool architecture in this part of the city. It’s a perfect addition.”
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Larger class sizes, a shorter school year and the loss of programs could come to the Redwood City School District as officials brace for additional cuts now that one-time stimulus funds are running out.Jan Christensen, superintendent of the 9,000-student district, said although the one-time federal dollars will soon be completely spent — resulting in cuts for the future — it was worth saving jobs and programs for one more year.
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Reading out loud can be a tough task for any child learning the skill.
To make things easier, the Peninsula Humane Society has teamed up with local libraries to provide dogs for children to read to. The “Paws for Tales” program aims to boost kids’ confidence and skills in reading.
When reading in groups, children who tend to be shy and have trouble reading are quiet; they won’t develop those skills if they do not participate, Redwood City children’s librarian Jacky Averill said.
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While some Bay Area residents began the New Year on Jan. 1 by resolving to lose weight or save money, Brian Klug had a different idea: make his first purchase of 2010 a $2.9 billion CD-ROM.
The 30-year-old engineer, who works in San Mateo, said he saw the item — a Discovery Channel “Cells” CD-ROM — listed for $2,904,980,000 on the shopping site Amazon.com. He said he just had to see if it would go through.
It did.
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The CEO of DockDogs will bring some of the world’s leading jumping water-dogs to demonstrate at the 34th Annual International Sportsmen’s Exposition at the San Mateo County Event Center on Jan. 14-17.
What is DockDogs? It is probably, without quantifying, the largest and fastest growing canine sport in the world. We’ve been around since 1999. We do 180 sanctioned events every year.
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In the next 12 months, Burlingame’s newly appointed mayor wants to complete the needed steps to allow the decade-old Safeway project to break ground and create a strategic plan to guide the city on how to work with the planned California High-Speed Rail project.
Cathy Baylock, who was first elected to the Burlingame City Council in 2001, was appointed in December to serve a one-year term as mayor, her second time to hold the post.
One of her main goals for 2010, she said, is to give Burlingame a bigger voice in the statewide rail discussions.
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Smaller class sizes, retaining qualified teachers and maintaining libraries are just some of the benefits the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District will see, school officials say, if a parcel tax increase is approved by voters in February.
The elementary school district, along with Burlingame Elementary School District and the San Mateo Community College District, is among school entities on the Peninsula going to voters for more revenue — or considering asking for more — in order to support the education of local students.
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With a multitude of choices in San Mateo County, finding a restaurant is easy — but finding one with the highest health inspection rating can be a little more challenging.
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Dealing with a multimillion-dollar budget deficit, building a new jail and meeting the increased need for health care are among issues facing San Mateo County as candidates for the Board of Supervisors gear up for the June 8 election.
Of the five board seats, only District 3 will be open without an incumbent. Supervisor Rich Gordon, the current representative for that district, is termed out. Five candidates have filed to run for the post, with one already intending to drop out.
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A fixed pipe in South San Francisco’s Centennial Way dog park should solve problems with pooling brown water, city officials said.Mary Bates, superintendent of parks and facilities, said within the next few weeks an underground pipe will be fixed for better flow and drainage.
“It’s not functioning. We need to dig it up,” she said. “We want to keep the dog park clean and safe.”
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Crime prevention, location and recreation programs were among the most important aspects that make Daly City a great place to live, according to a community survey, but residents would opt to reduce some park and recreation programs as well as library services to save other city needs.
Daly City, along with many other cities in the state and across the nation, is struggling through financial hardship with less income and more expenditures.
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Improving public safety and city finances are at the top of the list of goals for 2010 for San Mateo’s newly appointed mayor.
John Lee was voted by his fellow council members in December to serve as the head of the city’s governing body for a one-year term.
The longtime San Mateo resident and retired businessman has previously served as mayor two other times in the past.
City leaders are currently facing an $8 million budget deficit as a result of decreasing tax revenue and increased operating costs.
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Downtown Redwood City will receive a makeover, with a plan to enliven the hotspot that widens sidewalks and adds trees and light fixtures that will improve safety.
The $1.5 million project on El Camino Real between Brewster Avenue and Broadway will improve the look and feel of the downtown area.
“It will be more like downtown,” said Saber Sarwary, Redwood City’s supervising civil engineer. “And [the development will] enhance the appearance more.”
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Thomas Kriese of Redwood City said he bought his first chickens two years ago to teach his two daughters where food comes from. He said the chickens not only fertilize his vegetables, but they eat his weeds and provide eggs.
“They pay for their stay in a sense,” he said. “They lay eggs every 26 hours.”
Kriese’s interest in urban farming began to grow with his garden. He started a blog, UrbanChicken.com, to share rules and maintenance with other chicken enthusiasts.
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