Town Meetings & News

The City Council will hold its next Regular City Council Meeting on Wednesday, November 19 at 6 PM. The agenda is published and you can view it here.

This Week in Atherton Online

Atherton Holiday Tree Lighting
A.D.A.P.T. Volunteer Search
San Mateo County Messages
Holiday Shopping Advice - Atherton PD
Waste Less This Holiday Season from CalRecycle

Holiday Tree Lighting

You're Invited: Atherton's Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration!

Join us as we kick off the season with sparkle, cheer, and community spirit at the Town of Atherton’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting!

Date: December 11, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: Atherton Town Center – 80 Fair Oaks Lane

Enjoy a magical evening filled with:

• A dazzling tree lighting ceremony

• Festive music and caroling

• Hot cocoa and holiday treats

• A special visit from Santa Claus

• Fun for the whole family!

Let’s come together to celebrate the joy of the season and the warmth of our community. Bring your friends, family, and holiday cheer—we can’t wait to see you there!

No RSVP required. All are welcome!

Happy Holidays,

Town of Atherton

A.D.A.P.T. Volunteer Search

Volunteer Treasurer Needed– Get Ready Atherton
Get Ready Atherton (formerly ADAPT) is a community-led, all-volunteer nonprofit that builds disaster-prepared neighborhoods—block by block—and provides neighborhood response in times of emergency.

We’re looking for a part-time volunteer Treasurer to help manage basic financial records, and ensure smooth coordination with our leadership team and the Atherton Police Department.

Ideal for: someone organized, community-minded, and comfortable with simple bookkeeping or nonprofit finances.
Time commitment: a few hours a month, flexible schedule.

Join us and help keep our community strong and resilient.

Please contact: Susan Warren at susan.w.warren1952@gmail.com

SMC Messages

Community Affairs - Rapid Response Support

Prepare. Plan. Respond.

The best way to be ready for any type of emergency is to prepare, plan, and respond. Start by meeting with a trusted legal service provider. Create a plan for your family. Know your rights and memorize the Rapid Response Hotline Number: 203-666-4472.

Find information including plan templates, red cards and legal assistance here: www.SmcRapidResponse.org

San Mateo County Office of Community Affairs can provide support for immigration services, volunteer opportunities rooted in civic engagement

#CleanCommunity
#ComeTogetherSMC
#TodosJuntosSMCC

Core Service Agencies

Need food, housing or utility bill assistance?

Eight Core Service Agencies work in close collaboration with the Human Services Agency of San Mateo County to provide you and your family with basic emergency and support services. To find out more about these services, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SMCcores

Holiday Shopping Advice

Holiday Package Safety Tips from the Atherton Police Department

The holiday season is a time of giving—and unfortunately, it can also be a time of taking. As online shopping ramps up, so do opportunities for package theft. The Atherton Police Department encourages all residents to take a few simple steps to keep your deliveries safe and your holidays joyful:

Deliver to a secure location

Consider having packages sent to your workplace, a trusted neighbor, or a secure locker.

Track your packages

Use tracking apps and delivery alerts to know when your items arrive.

Use security cameras

Visible cameras can deter theft and help identify suspicious activity.

Request signature delivery

When possible, require a signature to ensure packages aren’t left unattended.

Be a good neighbor

Watch out for each other’s deliveries and report any suspicious behavior to APD immediately.

If you see something unusual, don’t hesitate to call our non-emergency line at (650) 688-6500 or dial 911 in an emergency.

Let’s work together to keep Atherton safe and festive this season!

Warm regards,

Atherton Police Department

Waste Less This Holiday Season

CalRecycle offers 6 Tips to Save Cash and Waste Less This Thanksgiving

On average, families throw out $3,000 in food each year and about 320 million pounds of uneaten Turkey Day drumsticks, potatoes, and other fixings get trashed.

Waste increases nearly 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

This Thanksgiving, Californians can celebrate more and waste less with just a few simple changes that help stretch budgets and protect the planet.

“Reducing holiday food waste is a small step every California can take to save money and make a big impact,” CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said. “Keeping food out of landfills cuts pollution and honors the water, energy, and labor it took to grow, transport, and prepare it.”

Top 6 Tips for a Less-Waste Thanksgiving

Ditch Disposables – Stick with durable utensils, dinnerware, and decorations you can reuse.
Love Your Leftovers – Ask guests to bring reusable containers so they can take food home. Leftovers stay safe in the fridge for up to four days.
Freeze Food – Make leftovers last even longer by freezing them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers helpful freezer food safety tips.
Compost Food Scraps - Food that can’t be saved goes in your green bin, not the trash. 97% of required California communities have organics recycling to turn food scraps into compost or energy instead of pollution. Label food scrap bins for guests.
Cash in Containers – Set out labeled collection bins for CRV beverage containers so you can cash them in at a recycling site once the party is over. Wine, liquor, and all juice bottles and cans are worth cash now, too.

Plan Ahead – Shop your fridge first and buy only what you need (with help from online guestimators). Plan for 10-20% more guests than RSVPs to cover drop-ins and big appetites. Check out this video for portion planning tips.

Did You Know?

You can Stay Connected with the Athertonian Newsletter?

The Town’s quarterly newsletter, The Athertonian, is packed with updates on local projects, council decisions, and community events.

View the latest edition: https://atherton.news/Athertonian-Summer-2025

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