This week's Atherton Online features: 

• Town Center Services Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 
• Serve on a Town Committee 
• Take the Holbrook Palmer Park Playground Survey before January 31
• Explore a Cave at the Atherton Library on January 27
• Meet C/CAG's Local Road Safety Team at the Library on January 16 
• Election News and Information
• Friends of the Atherton Community Library Seeks Board Members 

Town Center Services Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

In recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Town Center services, including the Building and Planning counter, post office, and library, will be closed on Monday, January 15. Our emergency services from the Police Department and Menlo Fire will not be impacted by this closure. Please call the non-emergency police line at 650-688-6500 or 9-1-1, depending on your need.

Serve on a Town Committee 

Your participation is critical to the City Council’s and Town staff’s success in serving the community. A great way to participate is by joining one of the citizen advisory bodies established by our City Council. Currently, we are accepting applications to join the Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Volunteering to serve on one of the Town’s committees is a great opportunity to learn about local government, help influence decisions, and provide recommendations to City leaders. Learn more about the commitment below:

Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee – 1 Vacancy 

The City Council will appoint one (1) applicant to the committee:

• Meetings are held as needed on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 4:00 pm.  Special meetings may be called as needed throughout the year.
• Member appointment will be for a term expiring June 2026.  

Parks and Recreation Committee – 1 Vacancy 

The City Council will appoint one (1) applicant to the committee:

• Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm.   Special meetings may be called as needed throughout the year;
• Member appointment will be for a term expiring June 2026.  

Applications can be accessed online by clicking here or at Town Hall and submitted in the Office of the City Clerk at 80 Fair Oaks Lane, Atherton, CA 94027. 

The deadline to submit all applications is Friday, February 16, 2024, by 12:00 p.m.

Take the Holbrook Palmer Park Playground Replacement Survey before January 31

We are embarking on a journey to revamp the playground at Holbrook-Palmer Park, and want YOUR input to make it truly extraordinary! We've already heard from many of you and thank you for the great response to our survey so far. If you haven't had the chance to take the survey, please do before January 31, 2024. Together, let's create a playground that sparks joy and laughter for generations to come! Access the survey by clicking here. 

Meet C/CAG's Local Road Safety Plan Team at the Library on January 16

After listening to your valuable input, C/CAG is taking action to enhance local road safety in Atherton through an update to the Countywide Local Road Safety Plan. Meet their project team members on January 16 at Atherton Library from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM to share your thoughts on priority locations and potential measures. Visit C/CAG's project webpage to learn more. 

Explore a Cave at the Atherton Library on January 27

Have you ever thought about getting into cave exploration or "spelunking?" Visit our libraries in January for an opportunity to learn about caves and test your careful-explorer skills with CaveSim, an all-in-one portable caving experience! 

Participating library locations, including the Atherton Library, are excited to host this interactive experience where all ages can crawl and climb through CaveSim to learn about caves and test their careful-explorer skills. As you crawl your way through 60 feet of artificial cave passage, you will learn about responsible caving while trying to preserve delicate cave "formations." The event at the Atherton Library will be on January 27 from 10 AM to 5 PM. 

For those of you who'd like to practice climbing skills, experience vertical caving in a 12-foot tower. You'll also get hands-on practice with a cave rescue stretcher, a working cave rescue phone and learn about bat biology. While the cave is not wheelchair accessible, some children who use wheelchairs have explored CaveSim by crawling through the simulation.

Election News and Information

On March 5, 2024 there's a Presidential Primary Election. Voting is open from February 5 - March 5. We'll be featuring important news and information related to the election weekly. If there's information that you don't see here, check out the County's Elections site by clicking here.

Crossover Voting for the Presidential Primary on March 5

All voters can vote in the Presidential Primary Election on March 5, 2024, but voting for a presidential candidate and county central committees depends on the political party you are registered with. Learn more by clicking here. 

• If you are registered to vote with a political party, you will receive a ballot that contains presidential candidates for that party only.  
• If you are registered as a No Party Preference voter, you will receive a nonpartisan ballot, which will not include candidates for U.S. President unless you request a different ballot.  Some parties will allow you to crossover and vote for their presidential candidates.  The American Independent, Democratic and Libertarian parties will allow you to crossover and vote for their presidential candidates. 

Ballot Box Location

There will be a temporary indoor drop box from February 1, 2024 through March 5, 2024 at City Hall, 80 Fair Oaks. Find all vote center and ballot box locations online by clicking here.

Be an Election Worker

The San Mateo County Registration and Elections Division is seeking seasonal Election Workers to assist in the upcoming March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. This is an excellent non-partisan opportunity to be involved in the election process. Learn more and apply by clicking here.