Thursday, May 17, 2012
Vote in our poll.
The Marin Civil Grand Jury released a report earlier this week that was supportive of San Rafael's two red-light cameras. The report stated that intersection accidents decreased by 12 percent the first year the cameras were installed, and that they are worth the cost. San Rafael is the only city in Marin that has opted to use red-light cameras, according to the report. Novato evaluated the possibility of having red-light cameras in 2010, but found that the volumn of possible citations would not be enough to pay for the program. The city's contract with Redlfex allows for 10 cameras at the maximum and will be renewed every five years. Mayor Gary Phillips told the Marin Independent Journal that the Council could be discussing expanding the …
Tell us what's on your mind.
There's plenty in the news to rant about this week. Whether it's the San Rafael Airport's soccer complex that will be coming before the Planning Commission shortly, the grand jury's findings on red-light cameras or SmartMeters, we want to hear your opinions! Go ahead and get the conversation started right here in the comments below. Sure, we’d like the topics to be locally-focused, but go ahead and jump in with any thought you have that you believe will start up a good, civil online community discussion. Last week we had a great discussion about the need for more vegan and vegetarian dining options in our city. Please keep it clean and refrain from personal attacks and/or name-calling. Address the issue without attacking the person and we’…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
While PG&E says only a few have opted out of SmartMeter installation, a Novato company has filed a complaint with the state Public Utilities Commission.
The wall-mounted digital devices that measure electric power consuption are back in the news. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which started installing SmartMeters to replace analog meters last year, told the Marin Independent Journal that installation is 79 percent complete in Marin County and that only a few thousand people have opted out thus far despite a concern about radio waves emitted by the meters that could pose health risks. Check out the IJ's story here. Also, a complaint about SmartMeters filed by a Novato company was heard by the state regulatory board but shelved until May 24, according to a story by Marinscope Newspapers. David L. Wilner, owner Wilner & Associates, said the public is not protected enough from SmartMeter …
Do you think the unincorporated areas of San Rafael are well represented by our City Council?
In a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Susan Adams brought up that many neighbors who are affected by San Rafael city projects, like the airport’s proposed soccer complex, live in unincorporated areas. Because of this, they can’t vote for the representatives who will be approving these decisions. At the same meeting, Santa Venetia neighbor Mary Feller said the board is their community’s only advocate. “The city is not listening to us. They don’t care what we say because we don’t vote for them,” she said. However, others believe in a more local control and that decisions should remain within the grasp of the City Council without the board’s interference. Tell us below what do you think? Follow us on Twitter | Like us on …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
When was the last time you took a moment to praise someone for a good deed or yelled out to tell everyone how impressed you are with someone?
Patch columnist and blogger Andy Falk recently gave a nod to the San Rafael Public Library and all libraries. He wrote: "I love the San Rafael library and my kids are enthusiastic about the summer reading program. My mother is a tireless contributor to the Tiburon/Belvedere library. Libraries make a positive difference in our communities and are worthy of our support." -- We've heard your Rants (and there will be plenty more), but now it's time for some Raves. When was the last time you took a moment to praise someone for a good deed or yelled out to tell everyone how impressed you are with someone? Let's hear some shout outs. Maybe it's someone at the grocery store who found your wallet and turned it in. Maybe it's a tireless volunteer …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Nicole Nada plans to arrive at her first chemotherapy session in Greenbrae in style — after a 6-day, 320-mile charity bike ride from Eureka starting on May 15.
Larkspur-Corte Madera editor Derek Wilson writes a column called "Tick Tock..Time of My Life" that chronicles his days living with Stage 4 carcinoid cancer. Here's his latest entry. -- It's already a long trip from Nicole Nada's home in Eureka to see her doctor in Greenbrae. Her next trip is going to take a lot longer. Nicole is planning to embark on a bike trip, beginning in Eureka on May 15 and ending at the Marin Cancer Institute in Greenbrae on May 21, just in time for her first round of chemotherapy. What a way to arrive. She's blogging about her journey on her site www.kickingmycancer.com. "Why the ride? Three reasons, most importantly for myself — I love to cycle and be active and it seemed like the perfect way to arrive at …
Let's hear some shout outs.
Patch reader William Calhoun shared some appreciation for his colleagues at the San Rafael Public Library "who tirelessly and cheerfully provide excellent service(s) to our community." -- We've heard your Rants (and there will be plenty more), but now it's time for some Raves. When was the last time you took a moment to praise someone for a good deed or yelled out to tell everyone how impressed you are with someone? Let's hear some shout outs. Maybe it's someone at the grocery store who found your wallet and turned it in. Maybe it's a tireless volunteer for one of our nonprofits. Maybe it’s an elected official or city leader who has gone to bat for a cause that's important to you. Use the Comments section below to give someone (or a group…
Something getting you down? Tell us about it.
Vegans/Vegetarians Need More Dining Options For several weeks since our What Do You Wish Was Here? column was first launched, several readers dream of a vegan or vegetarian restaurant to move in some of the store fronts recently left vacant. Melissa Bradley wrote: I eat mostly vegetarian and yes, it would be great to have more choices. There is the vegan restaurant in San Anselmo called Cafe Gratitude. It's fine, and I eat there some times, but it would be so wonderful to have additional options as far as restaurants in San Rafael, and mostly or all vegetarian would mean a lot of choices on the menu. I would eat there if they opened one that had good food and service. Does anyone out there want to do it? Do you think there are enough …
Friday, May 11, 2012
The Orcas and Riptide look like they are heading in opposite directions this year.
On Saturday May 5 the Terra Linda Orcas celebrated the first dual meet of the year by visiting the Indian Valley College pool in Ignacio and soundly beating the Novato Riptide in their own waters, 333 - 201. This was a little payback for Orcas who have finished directly behind the Riptide the past two years in the season ending Marin Swim League County Championship Meet. The Orcas and Riptide seem to be heading in opposite directions. The lopsided score should give the surging Orcas plenty of confidence as they host their first home dual meet of 2012 against the Lucas Valley Lightening this Saturday May 12 at the Terra Linda Recreation Center. Lucas Valley lost their first dual meet against a very strong Strawberry Seals team 301 – …
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Terra Linda Recreation Center
670 Del Ganado Rd, San Rafael, CA
/articles/terra-linda-orcas-beat-novato-riptide-in-season-s-first-meet
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Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Regional association keeps displaying signs of a disconnect with the people it is supposed to represent.
A little while ago, I attended a Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers meeting to listen to a presentation given by Ken Kirkey, ABAG Director of Planning. Kirkey gave an update on the One Bay Area plan and the latest Regional Housing Needs Allocation. He was supposed to answer questions that councilmembers had submitted prior to the meeting but neglected to answer many of them. Residents were also given the opportunity to ask questions. In response, Kirkey oftentimes gave rote answers that had little to do with the actual questions, stated that the question(s) were outside ABAG’s purview, or simply stated that regardless of why a community would have difficulties complying with the RHNA numbers, they would have to plan for …
Inside9
10:54 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Yes, I am still worried about smart meters. Thanks for asking! Smart meters have not changed since I last worried about smart meters. My biology and that of my most members of the human race also has not changed since they first started to be installed. The lastest expert group to to give their opinion against installation is the Austrian Chamber of Physicians! more ›