Communications are critical in all emergency situations.
In a severe emergency such as major earthquake or wildfire, cell phones and landline telephones are not expected to work in Portola Valley. That means word of mouth, and radios will be the primary source of information. Portola Valley does have an AM radio station at 1680 kHz on your AM dial in your car or home.
The PV Emergency Preparedness Committee, CERPP, Woodside Fire Protection District and interested citizens demonstrated radio communications in association with the American Radio Relay League Field Day. Continue reading Portola Valley Emergency Communication Services→
Thanks to Paige Bishop and the Cultural Arts Committee, Portola Valley neighbors and friends enjoyed a concert at the Town Center on July 16, 2015.
The concert followed the usual Farmer’s Market on a Thursday afternoon and there were food trucks who provided additional fare.
It was a great time to meet and to greet old friends and new.
The Portola Valley Song was written by Nancy Bovee and performed with Steve Dunne and Laure Woods at the Portola Valley 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 21, 2014.
Bill Boller talks with Nancy Lund, Portola Valley Historian, and Virginia Bacon about Jacques Littlefield, Pony Tracks, the Millitary Vehicle Technology Foundation, and Collings Foundation, Stow, Mass.
This is a video of Portola Valley Planning Retreat held at the Town Center May 18, 2014. It followed the background session (Parts 1,2 and 3) and has the Town Council, Commissions and Public comment.
Some audio was lost so this video is incomplete, but includes most of what was said.
The stated objectives of the retreat were to review land use planning and the framework for planning decision making in Portola Valley with a critical eye to the future
This video is also over an hour long.
The Public discussion begins at 46.43 minutes.
This was a public meeting with Town Council, Planning Commission and ASCC in attendance along with members of the general public.
This is a video of Portola Valley Planning Retreat held at the Town Center May 18, 2014. It contains the general background information about history of the General Plan and its implementation along with legal issues and responsibilities.
The stated objectives of the retreat were to review land use planning and the framework for planning decision making in Portola Valley with a critical eye to the future
This video is over an hour long and includes Steve Toben’s remarks, “Relic or Blueprint” (also included as a separate 14 minute video on this blog), Planners George Mader, Tom Vlasic and Ted Hayden’s remarks (starts at 14.13 minutes) along with those of Town Attorney, Leigh Prince.(starts at 49.54 minutes).
This was a public meeting with Town Council, Planning Commission and ASCC in attendance along with members of the general public.
Steve Toben, former Portola Valley Mayor and Council Member, gives the kickoff lecture for the May 18, 2014 Planning Retreat held by the Town Council, Planning Commission, ASCC and Town Planners.
Marion Softky was a trail blazing environmentalist. She was also an excellent writer who crafted her skills as a News Reporter for the Country Almanac. She covered San Mateo County particularly the communities in the southern part.
Marion Softsky, November 24, 2011.
Marion had unique insights into land planning and development in Portola Valley and San Mateo County.
She carefully selected information she had collected over the years. We were fortunate she shared it with us just 6 weeks before she died. Her legacy is that she has provided us unique insights into more than 50 years of our history.
You’ll find her work documented in this lengthy video.
George and Marjorie Mader, long-time Ladera residents, know more about Portola Valley and its residents than most people who have lived in town for a long time. Marjorie was a reporter for the Almanac for decades, and the Portola Valley School District was her beat.
Marjorie and George Mader, June 9, 2012
She has witnessed the passage of countless school boards, has worked with parents, teachers and other community members and thus has a comprehensive understanding of how the district works. George was the town planner from 1965 until 2011.
As a county planner, he worked on a study of Portola Valley before it was incorporated. His remarkable vision in planning strategies to implement the will of the councils has been instrumental in preserving the beauty of the land as development has occurred. A pioneer in planning for geologic safety, he has crafted the technical ordinances designed to protect life and property from landslides and earthquakes. He has carried the Portola Valley story around the world to countries endangered by faulting to pass on the knowledge learned here. The Maders were Blues and Barbecue honorees in 2001.
George’s insights into how planning in Portola Valley has evolved from early days can be seen in these two videos. They are lengthy and quite detailed.
Part I
Part 2
Documenting life and times in the Town of Portola Valley, California
