Weekly Digest for October 2, 2023

This week's features

• Proposed revisions to the Housing Element
• Menlo Park Police participate in the Pink Patch Project
• FEMA National Emergency Alert Systems Test
• Free at-home COVID-19 tests 
• Turf replacement and garden transformation workshop
• Help name the new Menlo Park Community Campus (MPCC)
• SamTrans: RidePlus free through the end of October for Belle Haven Neighborhood
• Attend the Electric Home Tour: Virtual Edition
• Help protect against West Nile Virus

Upcoming public meetings and events

• Monday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m.
  Coleman-Ringwood Study Public Meeting
• Monday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m.
  Engaging Books for Engaged Young Readers
• Monday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m.
  Melanated Women Read: Seven Days in June, by Tia Williams
• Monday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.
  Planning Commission meeting
• Tuesday, Oct. 3, noon
  English Conversation Club
• Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m.
  Let Freedom Read! Library Reads Banned Books
• Wednesday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m.
  Teen Tabletop Gaming Meetup
• Wednesday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m.
  Garden Talk: How to Navigate a Nursery
• Wednesday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m.
  Housing Commission meeting
• Thursday, Oct. 5. 10:15 a.m. 
  Storytime
• Friday, Oct. 6. 
  Administrative Offices Closed
• Friday, Oct. 6, 10:15 a.m.
  Storytime
• Saturday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m.
  Very First Concerts—San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
• Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m.
  Caterpillar Puppets: Los Tres Cabrititos Traviesos
• City calendar
  View all upcoming events

Proposed revisions to the Housing Element 

A housing element, one part of a community's general plan, is a plan to guide the way each city, town or county is planned and managed. In January, the City adopted the 2023-2031 Housing Element and is in the process of addressing requested changes from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). On Oct. 10, the City Council will conduct a meeting to review draft revisions to the Housing Element before it is resubmitted to the HCD... Click to continue

Menlo Park Police participate in the Pink Patch Project

Menlo Park Police Department will participate in the Pink Patch Project this October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Pink Patch Project is a public awareness campaign where law enforcement agencies in the United States use pink versions of their agencies' patches to encourage conversations with community members about breast cancer... Click to continue

FEMA National Emergency Alert Systems Test

FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) test Oct. 4. The national alert will test WEA capabilities on all consumer cellphones and EAS capabilities on radios and televisions. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 11:20 a.m. PST Wednesday, Oct. 4... Click to continue

Order free at-home COVID-19 tests

Every U.S. household may order four free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests delivered directly to your home. Starting this week, orders will ship free. There is a limit of one order per residential address... Click to continue

Attend a turf replacement and garden transformation class

Are you curious about transforming your grass into a drought tolerant garden? Attend Menlo Park’s turf replacement and garden transformation class Saturday, Oct. 14 from 2–3:30 p.m. The City of Menlo Park offers its water customers $3 per-square-foot of lawn converted to conserve water. At this in-person workshop, learn all about how to get started designing your drought tolerant landscape, which landscape styles might fit your residence, the benefits of native plants and more... Click to continue

Share input on names and dedications for new community campus

Menlo Park seeks residents’ input for names and/or dedications for a new multi-service community campus now under construction at 100 Terminal Ave. Scheduled to open in 2024, the new campus will include five programs in one environmentally sustainable and resilient facility: recreation center, library, youth center, senior center and aquatics center... Click to continue

SamTrans RidePlus Program is free through the end of October

SanTrans Ride Plus is a brand-new service offering easy, affordable transportation for users in Half Moon Bay, East Palo Alto and the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park. Its free-to-use promotional period has now been extended through October... Click to continue

Attend the Electric Home Tour: Virtual Edition

Join dedicated community volunteers and nonprofits Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. via Zoom for the Electric Home Tour - Virtual Edition. There will be a great line up of experts to help you understand the importance of making an electrification plan for your home, and you’ll hear from neighbors who’ve made the switch to electric cooktops, heating/cooling, water heaters, vehicles and solar... Click to continue

Help protect against West Nile Virus

With West Nile virus cases reported in Menlo Park and surrounding areas, it is important to maintain safe practices to help protect yourself and others. Stay up to date with West Nile Virus information from the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District... Click to continue