Supporting the Arts in the City of San Mateo

Last Thursday I was pleased to attend and support a new non-profit group dedicated to supporting the arts in San Mateo,

"Common Brights", a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized by the Seevers' brothers, aims to create and sustain the arts in San Mateo for the overall well-being of our community.

Thursday's event at the San Mateo Main Library featured various works of art for sale. Future events will feature live music as well as showcasing local artists' work.

If you are interested in learning more about this wonderful group's efforts to bring art to San Mateo, check out their website here.

Here is an article from Thursdays's "Daily Journal" about "Common Brights".

See you at the next event!




With "Common Brights" founder James Seevers!

Welcoming Sister City Visitors from Toyonaka Japan

Last night I was proud to host a welcome dinner for four visitors from Toyonaka, Japan, which is San Mateo's sister city.

Toyonaka City official Shingo Maeda and Taketoshi Nagahara, along with students Yuma and Sayuka will be in town for a week to tour city facilities, speak to local school kids, and enjoy the culture of the greater Bay Area as part of their goodwill tour of San Mateo.

Yuma and Sayuka earned their trip to San Mateo by winning a speech contest in Toyonaka, Japan. They will present their winning speeches to the San Mateo City Council this Monday at 7:00 PM during the city council meeting. You will be able to see the speeches during the normal broadcast of the City Council meeting.

Yuma and Sayuka are spending their week as the guests of two San Mateo host families who have graciously opened up their homes for our visitors.

Last night's dinner (not hosted using City funds) was attended by over 30 people, and a great time was had by all. Our Japanese guests were treated to Chicago-style pizza, Texas bar-b-que ribs, and root beer floats at Windy City Pizza in San Mateo.

Please joining me in welcoming our international goodwill guests!

National Night Out - Celebrating Public Safety in San Mateo

Tonight over 50 Neighborhood Watch streets in San Mateo celebrated "National Night Out", the national event that pays tribute to the efforts of neighbors helping keep their communities safe.

Along with the police department, fire department, and City of San Mateo staff, I was happy to fan out around the City to celebrate at the 50+ block parties that took place this evening.

There were pot luck dinners on cul-de-sacs, wine and cheese in garages, and bar-b-ques in local parks. A great time was had by all!

All of these events highlight the participation of San Mateo residents in Neighborhood Watch. Working with our police and fire departments, all residents of Neighborhood Watch are helping to keep out communities safe!

To form a Neighborhood Watch group on your block, click HERE

Here are photos from around San Mateo tonight. Thanks to everyone for a great time!

Looking for San Mateo's Sister City Ambassador to Toyonaka, Japan!

All San Mateo residents between the ages of 16-20 are invited to apply for a free trip to Japan as a goodwill ambassador to the City of Toyonaka, Japan in July 2013.

For 49 years, the City of San Mateo has had a sister city relationship with the City of Toyonaka, Japan. The purpose of the sister city relationship is to establish goodwill and cultural understanding between the countries of Japan and the United States.

Next year, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship, the San Mateo Sister City Association, along with the City of San Mateo will send two students between the ages of 16-20 to Toyonaka, Japan as goodwill ambassadors.

The students will live with host families, learn about Japanese culture, and represent the City of San Mateo at official events in Toyonaka Japan.

Applications are available now by clicking HERE.

Applications are due to the City Clerk's office at San Mateo City Hall by Friday, September 14, 2012.