Lunar New Year Celebration 
Friday, Feb. 3, 2023

Join us for Belmont's Lunar New Year event. Join Mayor Mates, Belmont City Council, a lion dance troupe, and our community partners in celebration of the Year of the Rabbit. 

The Chinese zodiac for 2023 represents homecoming, with an emphasis on family and friends. According to Year of the Rabbit lore, it's a time to focus on your relationships with others. The rabbit can also be a symbol of fertility, signaling new beginnings and fresh starts.

Belmont's event will take place:  

Friday, Feb. 3, 2023
3:30 p.m.
Belmont City Hall
1 Twin Pines Lane

In Memoriam of George Metropulos

Former Mayor known as "Mister Belmont" Passes Away

This week the Belmont Community lost a dedicated member.

George Metropulos, 65, served as mayor in 2003 and was on Belmont City Council from 2001-2005. He was a lifelong Belmont resident, from his first days attending Nesbit Elementary in Sterling Downs, then Ralston Jr High, and finally, Carlmont High School.

George was known for his bright personality and love of music and drama gave him an enthusiasm for life that was infectious. 

In his dedicated career in the Belmont Redwood Shores School District, George was a much-loved 2nd Grade teacher, connecting with so many Belmont families over the years. In his years on the council, he was proud to model for his students that local government is made of regular folks serving the community they love.  

George also served as a football/basketball announcer for Carlmont and gave his time and his sonorous voice as MC for many years of Save the Music Festivals, along with countless other local events. 

George was truly a local treasure and a very good human being. The San Mateo Daily Journal posted an article about him this week, click the button below to read more about our George. 

George's impact on our community is undeniable and he will be dearly missed. Goodbye dear friend and thank you for your service to Belmont. 

Read the Full Article

Join the 2023 Community Police Academy

Sign-ups are now open for the 2023 Community Police Academy. The free training course starts March 1, 2023, for six evening classes that will guide residents through a behind-the-scenes view of your local police department.

Participants will learn the functions, capabilities, limitations, and future plans of the Belmont Police Department. Building trust, transparency, and mutual respect in the community is the goal of the academy.

Participants will gain first-hand knowledge of, including:

-patrol operations

-communications

-evidence collection

-hiring and recruitment

-traffic control

-animal control

-laws of arrest

-search and seizure

-use of force

-investigations

-crime analysis

-police procedures

-ethical issues

These sessions are designed for student interaction. Students will be encouraged to ask questions, perform hands-on activities and provided opportunities for ride-a-longs and sit-a-longs with police officers and dispatchers. Each session will be taught by a member of the Belmont Police Department.

Once basic training is complete, graduates are welcome and encouraged to apply for the department volunteer program and continue to support and assist the department with various community events and activities.

Apply today, space is limited. Or email [email protected] for an application form.

Application

Feedback Wanted

County Seeks Storm Damage Estimates in Unincorporated Areas

The County's Department of Emergency Management is asking for the public’s help in estimating the damage caused by recent storms in the unincorporated areas.

Completing this survey (also available in Spanish) will help determine if the County qualifies for state or federal disaster assistance from the storms that began New Years Eve 2022. Completing the survey does not guarantee the region or the property owner will be eligible to receive disaster assistance.

The survey is for property owners and renters as well as business owners. It only takes a few minutes to complete.

Read the Full Story

All Parks and Open Space Re-Open
Just in Time for a Weekend Outdoors

All of our parks have been reopened, with a few exceptions, just in time for weekend outdoor activities. Here's our current updates: 

Twin Pines Parks: Open, except for the rear of Twin Pines Park. Both sides of the bridge, near the Redwood Picnic area and the far end of the walking path. Please continue to stay away from the creek. The ground is still very unstable.

Open Space trails: All of our open space trails are now open, except for the Chapparal Trail. Here are some reminders if you use any of our open space trails: 

-You may encounter marked and unmarked hazards as trail conditions have changed 

-Beware of fallen trees and erosion

-Avoid wet trail sections

-Use Trails at your own risk

We will continue to share updates as they become available. We thank you for your cooperation and your patience. 

DEADLINE APPROACHING
Special Poetry & Essay Contest inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We are now accepting entries for Belmont’s inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry & Essay Contest. The contest is open to all Belmont-Redwood Shores School District youth in grades three through twelve.

Entry deadline is Feb. 1, 2023, but don't put it off until the deadline. Our judges will be assessing entries as they come in. Submit early! 

Students may submit either their own poem or essay. The contest accepts written entries, no photos or images should be included in the submission.

Where Does Change Begin?

Contestants are asked to reflect on their own personal experiences and role in addressing forms of injustice and consider what steps can be taken toward building a stronger community.

Original poems or essays should creatively respond to the above question in context with Dr. King's famous quote:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Excerpt from “Strength to Love,” 1963.

To learn more about submitting an entry, click on the button below. 

Contest Details

Our hearts are heavy, and we stand with our friends and neighbors in Half Moon Bay as they process the tragedy of this week.

Want to help but don't know how or where to start? Just looking to provide hope?

Find ways to help at: https://coastsidehope.org/ or https://www.alasdreams.com/.

The following are events promoted by the City of Half Moon Bay. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at 4 p.m., Our Lady of the Pillar Church and the Coastside Interfaith Community will host a memorial service at the Boys & Girl Club Event Center at 530 Kelly Avenue. This service will include prayers and healing words from the interfaith leaders in remembrance of the victims and hope for the future. Spanish, Mandarin, and ASL interpretation will be provided.

Immediately following the memorial service, a candlelight processional walk will occur down Kelly Avenue, past the Mac Dutra Plaza memorial, and down Main Street to the I.D.E.S. Hall.

At 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the I.D.E.S. Hall, 735 Main Street, the City of Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, and local Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to a Community Gathering for dinner and fellowship as we begin to move forward as a community. Please register in advance. 

Click Here For More Information