San Anselmo: Town Hall, Recreation, Library Holiday Hours, Christmas Tree Recycling, Winter Storms, and Vehicle Burglaries

Town Hall and Recreation Office Holiday Hours

Town Hall and Recreation offices will be closed for the holidays from Tuesday, December 24, 2012 through Wednesday, January 1, 2012. Employees will be taking vacation days and other paid time off in addition to the regular holidays. While Town offices are closed for the holiday week, the Police and Fire Departments are on duty and in touch with me and other department heads to ensure a quick and thorough response to any issue that may arise, including storm and flooding problems.

Library Holiday Hours

Holiday hours for the Library will be as follows:

Monday, December 23                                               Open 10:00am-8:00pm

Tuesday & Wednesday, December 24 & 25               Closed

Thursday-Saturday December 26-28,                         Open 10:00am-5:00pm

Monday, December 30                                               Open 10:00am-8:00pm

Tuesday, December 31,                                              Open 10:00am-2:00pm (Please note early closure)

Wednesday, January 1, 2014                                      Closed

Thursday-Saturday January 2-4, 2014                        Open 10:00am-5:00pm

Christmas Tree Recycling

Marin Sanitary will have curbside collection of Christmas trees.  Trees will be collected at the curb on your regular yard waste pickup day through the month of January.  If trees are greater than 6 feet in length, please cut them in half.  Remove all metal stands, plastic tree bags and ornaments.  Flocked trees will not be accepted.

Winter Storms

With winter rains (hopefully) upon us soon, it is important to be prepared.  The Town has storm resource information available on the website at:  http://www.townofsananselmo.org/index.aspx?nid=297.  Information includes links to the flood gauge that measures creek depth, flood gate design information, flood protection tips, weather information, winter preparedness tips and sand bag information.

The Town has access to a number of different communication methods to deliver storm and weather related information to the community.  It is important, in addition, for each of us to stay tuned to local radio and TV stations to keep abreast of the weather forecast and be prepared with sand bags, flood gates or other prevention measures that are required in your specific situation. 

As is always the case, during heavy winter rains, sand and sand bags will be available for San Anselmo residents and merchants on Sunny Hills Drive in the parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts, which is across the street from Swirl, the yogurt shop in the Red Hill Shopping Center.

Important Information:  When you hear the flood horn, it means that flooding may be imminent.  You should immediately move your family and vehicles to higher ground.  Please don’t use the flood horn as an opportunity to go see the creek firsthand.  Rushing flood waters are fast moving and very dangerous.

Vehicle Burglaries

Due to the proliferation of electronic devices such as GPS units, iPods, laptop computers and smart phones, vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles are on the rise.  These crimes are becoming common because people make it far too easy and tempting for a thief to gain access to their vehicles by leaving valuables in plain view.

Thieves can quickly enter vehicles, often sight unseen.  Some common methods of entry into a vehicle are:

·         Smashing out a window commonly known as “smash and grab.”

·         Using a tool to open a door or unlock the door through an open window.

·         No force necessary, because doors are unlocked.

Most likely targets for theft:

·         Any vehicle with a visible GPS unit, radar detector, visible power cord or mount.

·         Vehicles with a brief case, purse, gym bag or other valuables left in plain sight.

·         Vehicles where a mobile phone is visible.

However, most thefts from vehicles are preventable.  There are just a few things you need to do to prevent them:

·         Close your windows and lock your doors.

·         Remove all valuables or place them in your trunk.

·         Remove “pull-out” style or removable car stereo face plates.

·         Do not leave keys in vehicle.

·         Do not leave a car running.

·         If possible, move mounting hardware out of sight.  It could indicate to a thief that a device is inside the vehicle.

More tips:

·         Mark your valuables with your Driver’s License or Identification Card number.

·         Use anti-theft devices such as an audible alarm.

·         Park in well-lit areas.

·         Make sure your vehicle’s windows are rolled up and the doors locked before leaving your vehicle.

·         Don’t trust your vehicle remote to lock your doors – DOUBLE CHECK!

·         Don’t park where others cannot see your vehicle, such as behind buildings, shrubbery, landscaping berms, or larger vehicles/trucks.

Of course, the same advice goes for homes.  Keep doors and windows locked to safeguard your home.

San Anselmo News, published weekly on Fridays, is available at the San Anselmo Town Hall, Library, on the Public Notice Bulletin Board. It is also available on the Town’s website, www.townofsananselmo.org, and by email subscription.