Weekly Digest for October 18, 2021    

This week's features

• Participate in the RethinkWaste poster contest and promote composting
• Join the Great California ShakeOut and be earthquake prepared
• Deadline extended: Apply to serve on the Independent Redistricting Commission
• Apply for emergency rental assistance
• Bay Area health officers set criteria for lifting indoor masking rules

Upcoming public meetings and events

• Tuesday, October 19, 10 a.m.
  Preschool/Toddler Tuesday: Nanny Nikki Music
• Wednesday, October 20, 10 a.m.
  Storytime
• Wednesday, October 20, 3 p.m.
  Mystery Readers Group: Ghostly Mysteries
• Wednesday, October 20, 6 p.m.
  Environmental Quality Commission meeting agenda
• Thursday, October 21, 4 p.m.
  After-School STEAM: The Bugs of Pokémon
• Friday, October 22, 4:30 p.m.
  Teen Creative Writing Club
• Saturday, October 23, 10:30 a.m.
  Seed Swap
• Saturday, October 23, 2 p.m.
  Teen Book Club
• Monday, October 25, 7:15 p.m.
  Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Group: The Graveyard Book
• Tuesday, October 26, 5 p.m.
  City Council meeting
• View all events
  City calendar

Participate in the RethinkWaste poster contest and promote composting

Menlo Park is a part of the South Bayside Waste Management Authority, better known as RethinkWaste, and the public agency recently announced its annual poster contest, which is open to students in grades 3–5 within its local service area. This year’s theme is Compost Champions, which encourages children to demonstrate how they compost their food scraps, dirty paper, and yard trimmings in an art form. Contest guidelines: 1) Participants must be in grades 3–5 in the RethinkWaste service area, 2) The poster should highlight...Click to continue

Join the Great California ShakeOut and be earthquake prepared

International ShakeOut Day is always the third Thursday of October. While COVID-19 has brought many uncertainties, one thing's for sure: ShakeOut is still happening this year! Join Thursday, October 21, for the Great California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake preparedness drill in California. Anyone is welcome to participate. You can hold your ShakeOut drill when and where you want. You can include people in multiple locations (home, work or school), perhaps through video conferencing. While some areas of California are more likely...Click to continue

Deadline extended: Apply to serve on the Independent Redistricting Commission

The City of Menlo Park seeks residents to apply for the Independent Redistricting Commission. This is the body that sets the electoral boundaries for City Council districts following the 2020 census. The commission will be comprised of seven members and two alternates. Alternates may not vote, but will participate fully in meetings and must meet all of the same qualifications and standards as other commissioners. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet other eligibility requirements. Attachment A of the application outlines the...Click to continue

Apply for emergency rental assistance

San Mateo County, along with the State of California, still offers emergency rental assistance to San Mateo County residents who have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19 and have been unable to pay their rent and/or utilities. The program is for both eligible tenants and landlords, and proof of citizenship is not required. Eligible tenants and landlords may apply for assistance with utilities in addition to rent. Qualifying renters and landlords are eligible for 100% of rent and utilities owed. Renters and landlords affected by COVID-19…Click to continue

Bay Area health officers set criteria for lifting indoor masking rules

The indoor mask mandate remains a key tool in controlling the spread of COVID-19. The County of San Mateo, along with eight other Bay Area local governments, has agreed to lift indoor masking requirements when all of the following are achieved: 1) The rate of COVID-19 transmission reaches the “moderate” or yellow tier and remains there for at least three weeks; 2) The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 is low and stable in the judgement of local health officials; 3) The percent of the total population that is fully vaccinated…Click to continue