The Mayor’s Week in Review (June 17-23)

Summer’s here and the time is right, for  . . . . . 

Schools’ out!  Those poor kids at MVMS and the various elementary schools around town, watching their older siblings having fun this past week as they trudged into school for the last push.  Well, everyone’s out of school as of Friday.  Many say summer begins at Memorial Day, but if you are under the age of 16, there’s nothing like school ending to bring in the rush of summer.  All I can say is: be safe, but have fun!  Because once you enter college & the workforce, and start raising the family, the fun has a whole other level on it called responsibly, and that alters the landscape.  YOLO!  So soak it up. 

Pool and Hot Tub Safety:  With everyone out and the expected summer heat, many of us will enjoy the warm weather by swimming at Stinson, or on vacation, or in pools, or hotubs.  Be safe; take a swimming refresher course, and watch tidal warnings carefully. If you have a home watering hole, make sure it’s security features are working and up to snuff (gate, cover, supervision, water buddies, life vests as needed).  Make sure the water’s clean too.  Please click here for further information: Water Safety 

The Annual Food & Wine Event on the Plaza:  I left town Friday and was not able to attend, and as of the writing of this B-log (“Berman log”) I am on a flight and without any intelligence feedback, but I have to imagine it was a lot of fun and our thanks to Mill Valley Market and the Chamber for their hard work in putting on this great event. 

East Blithedale Summer Construction Starts Monday.  The Council is harping on this because it’s an important infrastructure upgrade YOU asked for -- but it’s here and will have significant impacts on our schedules this summer.  Again, this work involves improvements to the road surface to promote a smooth and quiet ride, new traffic markings, sewer pipe repair, and new manholes. While the project will cause short-term delays and traffic congestion over a period of two months, the benefits of this project will be significant.  The City is making every effort to mitigate traffic impacts during construction, but it’s not going to be pleasant.  Traffic will often be limited to one lane, so expect delays and congestion. The City’s plan for the construction period will include flaggers, traffic control signs, and police enforcement to direct motorists to the designated detour routes.  Caltrans will also activate an electronic message sign on Highway 101 to notify drivers of the detour route, and City staff will place detour signs at Sunnyside Avenue and Camino Alto to route traffic to Miller Avenue. “No thru traffic” signs will be placed at all the side streets leading into the Sycamore neighborhood from East Blithedale.  Please be courteous to your neighbors and do not “cut through” the residential side streets during the construction period.  Add time to your trip and plan an alternate route using Miller Avenue or Camino Alto if possible.  Your assistance is also appreciated while we work on this important project.  If you have questions or comments, please call the East Blithedale Project Hotline at 590-0117 or email publicworks@cityofmillvalley.org

What else? 

Torch Run:  On June 20, law enforcement personnel from agencies throughout Marin County participated in our annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. The event is both a fundraiser for, and to increase awareness of, Special Olympics.  Specifically, we recognize local athletes who have already competed in their regional events and will head to UC Davis June 28-30 for the Annual Summer Games.  Over 50 counties across the state of California will send their athletes to UC Davis to compete.  The Torch Run started at the Sheriff’s Archway at the Marin Civic Center. Participants, carrying a ceremonial torch, found their way south through multiple jurisdictions until they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. At the south end of the bridge, they handed the torch over to San Francisco Police Department representatives.  If you would like to support Special Olympics Northern California, please visit their website (www.sonc.org). 

Relay for Life:  The inaugural Relay for Life Mill Valley was held this past weekend.  It's a fundraiser that's in thousands of other cities across the US, put on by the American Cancer Society.   This year, Mill Valley Recreation joined up to let ACS use the Community Center to hold their first relay here in Southern Marin.  The Community Center employees also formed a "Mill Valley Community Center & Friends" Team to volunteer and participate in the event itself.  It did really well for an inaugural event: 7 teams and 50 participants came out for opening ceremonies, and we had probably close to 100 participants altogether for the 24 hour walking relay.  The participants walk in honor of loved ones who have fought the good fight against cancer - whether still surviving or passed on - and to urge continued research to end cancer once and for all.  You can find out more about this great program here: Fight cancer. 

Wetlands Day:  Last week I wrote about this wonderful event annually hosted by our very own  who runs the Plant’s laboratory.  I’ve posted a few photos from the event and if a picture says 1000 words, then this B-log’s going to be too long.   At its core the treatment plant is all about training and education regarding the importance of wastewater treatment, storm water flows, and our wetlands environment, and this is an important part of that outreach.  Thank you Liz and third graders everywhere in town. 

Major League Champions in Mill Valley:  This was a big deal for the Majors in Mill Valley, as I think it’s been a very long time since Mill Valley has won the regional Tournament of Champions, besting ~99 other teams in Marin and SF to clinch the title.  Congratulations to Chuck Swenberg (MV Red Sox Coach) and Ned White (head of MVLL) and of course the players for making Mill Valley proud!  

About town: 

Monday: 

·      Planning Commission:  7 PM at City Hall

·      Film Screening - Ai Weiwei - Never Sorry:  7 PM at the Library.  This documentary chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and gets into an increasing number of clashes with the Chinese government.

Tuesday: 

·      Laugh-Out-Loud Book Club:  4 PM at the Library.  This year focuses on Dan Gutman, prolific author of Babe and Me, The Million Dollar Shot, and many other funny novels for kids.   You'll read aloud Mission Unstoppable (Book 1 of The Genius Files series), which follows the adventures and misadventures of 12-year old genius twins Coke and Pepsi as they're chased across the United States by an evil nemesis. Register here: Laugh Out Loud!

·      World Literature Book Club - My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, 7 PM at the Library

·      Computer Class -- Basic Photoshop for Photography:  7 PM at the Library.  This beginner-level class covers the essentials of Photoshop CS6. Topics include the Photoshop user interface, using the tools panel, making selections, working with layers, applying filters, and making basic image adjustments. Register here: I need to learn how to Photoshop hair on my head 

Wednesday: 

·      Cowabunga dude!  Join Doug Hofkins a.k.a. the Surfing Magician at 330 PM at the Library.  This beach-loving magician will amaze you with his ever-evolving repertoire of illusions, sleight of hand, and all-around hocus-pocus. Props in the show include scarves, coins, animals, playing cards, and even a surfboard.

·      Computer Class - Intermediate Web Design Using HTML and CSS:  7 PM at the Library

Thursday: 

·      Las Tortillas Son Muy Deliciosas!  Learn to make Mexican soul food from scratch, 230 PM at the Library.  Stir up incredibly simple ingredients, squish the dough with a genuine tortilla press, and pop your creation onto the griddle.  Your creations will be served with a little guacamole and salsa too – olé!  Register here: I Love Mexican Food

·      Grow You Business Online -- Youtube & Twitter:  7 PM at the Library 

Friday:

·      Cartoon Creature Creation:  230 PM at the Library - Calling all cartoonists! Learn to draw creatures galore with professional cartoonist Brian Kolm of the Atomic Bear Press.  Registration required for this one too: Cartoon Drawing 

Saturday: 

·      9th Annual Flea Market:  Starting at 9 AM at the Community Center.  This event has grown each year so we are expecting our best year ever! Come down and shop to your heart's content.  Remember St. Stephen:  "One man gathers what another man spills.” 

Sunday: 

·      Yoga on the Plaza:  9 AM.  Your $10 suggested donation will go towards raising funds for the Mill Valley Parks & Recreation Scholarship Fund.  Namaste!

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Thank you as always for reading.  Have a great summer. 

Xo 

Andy 

PS:  Our City Council Meeting on Monday July 1 is being canceled while a few of us take some time off . . . . . because summer’s here and the time is right, for dancin’ in the streets.