Choi Boy's Blathering...

Depend on San Mateo Teleminder and Pager system for emergencies in Palo Alto

nobody@vox.com(Enoch Choi) — Tue, 01 May 2007 08:31:08 -0700

San Mateo County's emergency notification service.

http://www.smcalert.info/index.php?CCheck=1

Palo Alto's teleminder system has failed us in the past, so I don't rely on it for notifications of emergencies. Within an hour of the Redwood City fire, I was paged by the San Mateo system, and emailed as well. I signed up because my clinic has a Surgicenter in Menlo Park.

via Elaine Meyer of University South:

It appears we have a notification system that can't recover

from an input error, and we have no support contract.

Excerpt from the staff report regarding the event on Sat., April 7

-- a Redwood City fire wafted fumes over the northern part of Palo Alto:

At approximately 1:45 p.m., Technical Services staff recorded the Shelter in Place message and launched the Teleminder system. The initial instruction was to conduct a citywide notification, an incorrect action taken by a staff member, which resulted in an attempt to send the message to the entire City (132,000 phone numbers). This action immediately caused the system to lock-up. Numerous attempts, supported by Information Technology and Office of Emergency Services (OES) staff, proved futile.

The Teleminder system has no vendor support, as the product was sold by the vendor to an outside company. Several attempts to reboot the software were unsuccessful, as well as efforts to reduce the size of the notification area. At approximately 4:00 p.m. the Technical Services Coordinator informed the Police and Fire Chiefs that the Teleminder system was not working and that it did not appear that any warning information concerning the fire could be sent out to residents via this system.

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SAN MATEO COUNTY PREPAREDNESS DAY 9/30/06 10AM SMC EVENT CENTER

nobody@vox.com(Enoch Choi) — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 10:02:45 -0700

~2ND ANNUAL SAN MATEO COUNTY PREPAREDNESS DAY~

FREE ADMISSION, FREE HOT DOGS & SODA
FREE GIFT GUARANTEED FOR THE FIRST 1,500 FAMILIES!

Survival DO's and DON'Ts
First-Aid, Police, Fire, SWAT, &
Emergency Equipment Demonstrations
Emergency Kit and Disaster Plan Instructions

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30, 2006
10AM - 2PM, SMC EVENT CENTER
2495 S. DELAWARE ST., SAN MATEO

For more information, contact Office of Emergency Services at (650) 363-4790
or the Office of Supervisor Adrienne J. Tissier (650) 363-4572
Grant Funding Provided by the Office of Homeland Security and the US
Department of Homeland Security

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Tom Bracamontes of Mi Sueño Winery @ 750ml San Mateo 8/27/06 2pm $15

nobody@vox.com(Enoch Choi) — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:25:10 -0700

750ml welcomes Tom Bracamontes of Mi Sueño Winery. Please join us for a tasting of these limited production wines.

August 27^th

2-4pm

*15.00 tasting fee

227 S. San Mateo Dr.

San Mateo, CA 94401

(650) 342-WINE

750ml-sanmateo.com

Tom Bracamontes, in the wine industry since 1985. His experience includes Stag's Leap, Chateau Potelle, Vine Cliff, and Paul Hobbs. For more info on Rolando and Mi Sueño, go to:

http://www.misuenowinery.com/index.html

See attached invite for more details. Please RSVP via email or call 650.342.9463

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750ml wine bar in San Mateo Grand Opening

nobody@vox.com(Enoch Choi) — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 21:48:46 -0700

A great tasting at 750ml, the highlight being the enoteca system which uses argon gas to preserve wines, and dispenses 1 oz pours, deducting it from a smart card. As a wineblogger, I received $20 gratis to try it out, and enjoyed a Ponzi Pinot willamette valley, german blaufraumilch, and Lang & Reed napa cab franc, along with tasty appetizers.

Had a good chat with Brian, who explained that he wanted to get interesting wines out in the enoteca so folks could try stuff they hadn't. He's a 20 year veteran of wine retailing in SF.

I was suprised at the resonability of the pricing. $35 for archipel (which goes for $37 at costco), $11 paringa shriaz, j lohr valdiguie, all good deals for yummy wines. And lots of rose by the bottle, although i left before he opened one up for the reception.

On leaving, the owner of San Sakana cellars handed me a bottle of 2005 Viognier broken leg vineyard anderson valley, and asked me to review it. I'll do so, and soon! ;)

750ml Wine Bar

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San Mateo's Coyote Point Museum in Jeopardy...

nobody@vox.com(Enoch Choi) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 15:03:52 -0700

It would be awful if Coyote Point Museum in San Mateo
should close. It provides such a valuable resource
for our kids about wildlife and environmental
responsibility. I have vivid memories bringing my kids &
mom in law along with my wife to see the fossils, zoo,
colorful water bottle wall, and crafty activities they prepared.

We went to the Palo Alto Jr Museum and Zoo today, and
know that they have financial challenges as well. I hope
with the recent Palo Alto budget surplus, it will continue to
be supported.

I thought the Palo Alto and Menlo Park Parents Club
would want to know that Coyote Point Museum
may be closed or torn down.
I don't have all the context yet, but I believe
the Board of the Museum met Monday night.
This Museum means so much to our family.
Our two daughters just had a super week of
camp there. It is one of our three year old,
Rachel's, favorite places. It is
also a key local anchor point for learning how
to reduce global warming and to protect our
environment for our children.
A Committee (which I have just joined) is organizing
to help keep the museum open. Here is the web site:
http://www.savecoyotepointmuseum.org/
At the moment, they are asking for pledges (not
outright donations, in case they don't meet the goal)
with a goal of raising $300,000 by September 1st.
I understand it would also be helpful to contact Jerry
Hill, President of the San Mateo Board of Supervisors
( jhill AT co.sanmateo.ca.us or (650) 363-4568).
You can also help by letting friends and neighbors
know the museum is under threat of closure.
There is a Parks & Rec meeting this Thursday
August 3rd - I am checking to see if the museum
committee is planning an effort for this meeting.

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