Almost 4 years ago, my wife and I moved my Alzheimers afflicted mother-in-law Jane to live with us…read morewhen it was apparent she could not take care of herself. Jane could keep herself occupied most of the day when we went to work but eventually it was clear she needed constant supervision and companionship. Somehow we heard about the Adult Day Care Center of the South San Francisco Park and Recreation Dept and I checked the program out. For about $48.00 a day, and I understood that price was dependent on needs but we were happy with the price especially considering it was for 6 hours, the Center provided activities, entertained and provided breakfast snack and a decent lunch for about 20 to 30 seniors in various stages of dementia. The team was very professional and headed up by Joe Hunziker, and together they provided a warm, very sanitary, safe and loving environment for the seniors. The only issue I had was the hours of operation which was 9am to 3pm, but fortunately my office was accomodating my daily late arrival. For Jane's return home I sometimes arranged to have a friend come to the house to let my mother-in-law in and make her coffee. Sometimes I paid $2 (previously but erroneously quoted $5) a trip for a ride back on the Senior Center operated bus (they have morning pickup service too) which is how quite a few seniors got to and from the center. As Jane could not open/unlock a door, I hired one of the care workers to travel with Jane on the bus, let her in and sit with her until the return of my wife or I. I think I was told the unofficial going rate for sitter service was $10/hour but they were so good and kind that I bumped up the rate to $15. In fact one of the workers was a doctor from Ecuador but could not practice here due to poor English language skills so getting her medical skills was amazing good luck in case there was an emergency. We used the sitters on weekends too so my wife and I could get away for awhile. All in all, the Adult Day Care Center of South San Francisco was a great find for the 10 months we used their service until Jane's Alzheimers became too much for even their and our skills.

I have enrolled my son (6) in a few of their programs over the last two years. Overall, I would…read moresay the programs are a hit and miss. The Smart Tots programs was very good, minus the food choices made for the children (see below regarding the food). He liked his ice skating classes (although that was administered by Belmont Iceland staff) and the chemistry class he just finished. I enrolled him in a hip hop class and that was abysmal. It was 45 minutes of the kids standing around. The staff was trying to teach these kids a full-blown routine (age 5-7, really?). Yeah, that went over well. The kids stand there and start looking at the ceiling, dreaming about the ice cream vending machine and Pokemon and, in the end, they receive little to no exercise or fun. The big issue I have with SCPR is the food the instructors are choosing to serve these kids. Hey, I am ok with a mini-cupcake or a little treat at the end of the week/program, but these people.... HOLY COW! Here is the snack menu for the chemistry camp for this past week: Monday: Granola Bar and Capri Sun (not the best, but ok) Tuesday: "Trail Mix" (consisting of gummi candy, nuts, M&Ms, & Skittles) Wednesday: Oreos (3) Thursday: Pepsi (with refills) and watermelon Friday: Cake Now, the camp did issue a snack schedule, but a traditional trail mix consisting of nuts, raisins, and a few M&Ms is vastly different than the farce of the "trail mix" that was served. Maybe their trail mix is for the trail to the local dialysis clinic. Additionally, Pepsi was not on the schedule, nor was the cake. And in the Smart Tots program, there were a few days where the kids were giving cake or cupcakes AND candy AND juice. Thanks, those were some fun afternoons. I can maybe, perhaps, somewhere see where an underpaid summer instructor would just shove sugar bombs at the students, but the fact that after complaining, the management MADE EXCUSES when their mission statement includes "health and wellness" ... well, I just don't see that these people give a crap about the children they supposedly serve.

I love the San Carlos Parks & Rec department…read more Where else can you get a Yoga class or a guitar lesson for less than $10.00? And it doesn't stop there Hula for Health, Pilates, Salsa dancing, Kayaking, Fencing. For those who are less active knitting, stained glass, photography, cooking & wine tasting too, the list goes on. They offer something for everyone, from the old to the young and young at heart. They even have programs for those with special needs. If you have some free time & a little extra cash check out the activity guide, even if you are not a San Carlos resident you are welcome.

Great support for businesses and residences. Lots of programs and activities to connect the…read morecommunities. Follow them on Twitter @ThinkFosterCity and Instagram. Attend their annual event cityFest June 2/3 with activities for all ages!

City Fest 2017: Allene Ball from Lantern Cove · 1h ago…read more I remember walking into a huge tent with a huge first birthday cake on the 1971 First Celebration of Foster City. Today's City Fest is a wonderful celebration of all aspects of Foster City from awesome bands, arts and crafts, Odyssey Zone and Carnival Rides,and Fire and Police Services, combining all our businesses and trades.. ..What a lot of pride we share in this town led by the huge efforts of Joanne Bohigian, Marah Curry, Karen and Dan Dykman and a multitude of volunteers. Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done and efficiently organized from parking, to rides, to exhibits, to singing. Thank you from us all. Long live City Fest that connotes a happy weekend to celebrate our magnificent town. Thanks to all of you who had a part in this event, the best I have attended as I have attended every celebration since 1971...Keep up the good work. You deserve a medal!

The staff members for the PREPARE Research Study at the SFDPH are friendly, appreciative & great…read more There are two research counselors, Alfonzo and Jeff, who are both expert at phlebotomy (drawing blood). The clinical nursing staff members are caring and gentle.

It's honestly disappointing how behind the times San Mateo County is when it comes to their job…read moreapplication and testing process. Due to circumstances, I applied for a position here and was required to come in person just to take the test--something that other counties have been handling online for years now, especially after COVID-19 pushed most hiring processes to adapt. While neighboring counties have made the shift to virtual testing (which is safer, more efficient, and accessible), San Mateo seems stuck in the past. It's frustrating to see such a lack of modernization, especially when we know remote options are both possible and proven to work. If the county is serious about attracting qualified candidates, especially from a wider range of backgrounds, updating their hiring procedures is long overdue.

I dropped off 5 quarts of old paint this weekend from my parent's garage. I still need to make…read moreanother appointment to drop off the other toxic cleaning chemicals. They've just been sitting around for too long. The drop off process is a breeze: you drive to the designated area, the staff comes out to greet you and collect items from your trunk. They made you stay in your car for safety reasons. And off you go. There are several people wearing white coats with googles and gloves testing all the items that was dropped off. Very very professional. It feels like a secret bio testing place. Ooooooo!

Phillisa was an exceptional representative at the Social Security Administration office on 16th…read moreStreet. From the moment we met with her, she demonstrated professionalism, patience, and genuine concern for helping my husband through the Medicare Part B application process. She understood how confusing and frustrating government paperwork can be and took the time to carefully review all of his documentation, ensuring that everything was complete, accurate, and up to date. As a disabled elderly veteran, my husband especially appreciated her respect, kindness, and willingness to patiently gather and verify all the necessary information. What truly stood out was her dedication to providing outstanding customer service. She was knowledgeable and efficient, making what could have been a stressful experience remarkably smooth and pleasant. Her positive attitude and commitment to helping others went far beyond what is typically expected. Dealing with government agencies can sometimes be challenging, but Phillisa made the entire process easy and reassuring. Anyone fortunate enough to have her as their representative is in excellent hands. She is a tremendous asset to the Social Security Administration and deserves recognition for the exceptional service she provides.

I went to the Social Security Office on 16th street to order a new Social Security card and the…read morewhole experience from the moment I entered the door was easy and painless. First of all the wait to see a clerk was very fast (having an appointment I believe helps..) and the new office unlike the old place was very pleasant. I waited only less than 10 minutes from the time I walked through the door to speak with the clerk. The person I dealt with, Ms. Morales was a pleasure to deal with. She was well spoken and it was very easy to understand her directions and questions to me. She had a very relaxed but very focused attitude and she was very sharp. There was a error in the spelling of my name which needed to be corrected on their records and she fixed that immediately with no problems. Once I ordered my new card with the correct name, she reviewed my retirement benefits because I had submitted my application online. She made me aware of some errors and unanswered questions by me on the application and fixed those problems as well without me having to ask her. Then to add icing on the cake, when I left their offices Ms. Morales made a point of following up on her own with my retirement application. Even though I didn't ask her to do it, she went ahead and help make sure the application was gonna be processed. When I returned home I found a message on my phone informing me that she had followed up with my retirement benefits.....NOW THAT IS SERVICE AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE. Iwas really very impressed by her professionalism and quick thinking. This is really what made the experience so nice. Dealing with government agencies can be difficult at times but dealing with Ms. Morales was a joy and a pleasure. Someone should give this young lady a promotion !

Once a month, they hold a free tour of the facility at this location...I would say it's kind of a…read moreneat experience to see, learn, and understand how waste water from our plumbing systems and the atmosphere gets filtered back into the ecosystem. This facility is much newer than the one in Bayview, and was built with noise control in mind. The majority of the plant is located underground. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable - explaining not only the end-to-end process but also suggesting how we can better our day to day water habits. That said, seeing the process isn't like a regular facility tour. There is no fiberglass to shield you...and the pre-treatment stench of raw sewage flowing through is VERY REAL. Tips: 1. Don't eat before 2. Don't breathe through your nose 3. Wear comfortable shoes and wear clothes you don't mind washing immediately

The San Carlos Senior Center is a wonderful place for seniors. They have a variety of services and…read moreprograms for people. The staff and volunteers are welcoming, and very understanding and helpful. It is a great place for people who have questions because they usually have theanswers. One of the enjoyable programs is the hit lunch served once a week. Nice!

I attend the Adult Community Center (ACC) on a regular basis, the weekly News and Views discussion…read moregroup and I volunteer with their Meal Delivery program. Generation Buddies is a relatively new monthly activity which I also recommend. I've also attended table tennis and a few bus trips. All the staff are wonderful - personable, friendly, receptive, and caring. Caitlyn, Matt, George, Daniel, Janet, Chef Brenda, Cheryl, and a few others I don't know. The receptionist volunteers Carol and Anne are great too! Parking is free either on the street or in the underground garage underneath the library, accessible from either Chestnut St. or Cherry St. Check it out!