Resources and tips on choosing a summer camp experience for your children from Ivette Villarreal, Kentfield School District Community Family Liaison. Read more.

Marin's New Homes: Who Decides When, Where, and Why?

Thursday, June 22, 7-8 p.m., Zoom (Spanish interpretation is available.)

• Moderator: Paul A. Jensen, Retired Community Development Director, City of San Rafael
• Sarah Jones, Director of Marin County Community Development Agency
• Barbara E. Kautz, Attorney specializing in housing-related issues and legislation

The purpose of the forum is to provide some clarification on the County planning processes and practices, and the role of these various plans and elements play in the development of formal housing plans for the County.

• Register here.
• View flyer.

– LANDSCAPING PROJECT –

Please be aware that Marin County Parks will be starting the Sir Francis Drake Landscaping Project in mid-June, which will address medians and entryways along the corridor from Elm Avenue to Eliseo Drive. It is expected to be completed in early fall. The project will add soil and sheet mulching, new drought-tolerant trees, new shrubs, and groundcover plants at key entryways, as well as a smart irrigation system that conserves water.

Work will take place on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. There will be temporary, partial lane closures between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and at least one lane of traffic will be open in each direction at all times. To reduce related traffic impacts, much of the project implementation will be targeted for the summer months when school is not in session. Additional information and traffic impact updates will be provided via Nextdoor as details become available.

• For more information on the Landscaping project, please visit: publicworks.marincounty.org/sir-francis-drake-boulevard-median-landscaping/

– STREET LIGHTING PROJECT –

As of June 6, the new street lights along the medians of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, between Manor Road in Kentfield and Eliseo Drive in Greenbrae, have been turned on. They are operating using photocell sensors to illuminate at night only. Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) staff are monitoring light levels to ensure that all fixtures are functioning at the intended level of brightness to meet the safety needs of the corridor. Adjustments will be made if needed. Concurrently, DPW is addressing the concerns of some residents to mitigate unnecessary light spillover from the new lights. Thank you for your patience as DPW staff handles each unique instance.

Please be aware that Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is an arterial road with an average of 54,000 vehicles driving through this section daily. The street lighting is designed to improve nighttime visibility for the safety of all users of the corridor.

• For more information on the Street Lighting project, please visit: publicworks.marincounty.org/sir-francis-drake-boulevard-street-lighting/

– WOOD & CABLE FENCE –

The sidewalk along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between El Portal Drive and Eliseo Drive meets standards for pedestrian path of travel. The wood and cable fencing along that stretch of sidewalk was installed during the 2021 Upgrade the Drake Project. By design, the fence was strictly intended to limit the possibility of pedestrians, particularly children, stepping out into the street, a concern voiced by residents in the area. The fence was not designed nor intended to be a vehicle barrier, as detailed in the archived website for the completed project: www.upgradethedrake.com/faqs/ (click the "Guardrails & Fencing" topic)

Following public feedback after three vehicle collisions with the fence last fall/winter, DPW worked with an independent traffic engineer to assess whether a vehicle barrier is necessary on that particular stretch of road. Through the process, it has been determined that this portion of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is an arterial road with no unusual design characteristics that would necessitate a vehicle barrier.

DPW has updated pavement striping and reflective delineators at bus pullouts, which are intended to provide improved guidance for motorists. The wood and cable fence will remain in place as intended for the guidance of pedestrians. However, regardless of fencing, pedestrians should always remain aware of their surroundings while walking on any sidewalk and avoid straying into the roadway.

Books are just the beginning this summer at the Corte Madera Library. Come by the branch to pick up an Adventure Journal to keep track of your reading and other activities. We'll be hosting weekly LEGO clubs, fun retro camp crafts, a programming camp, a marble run engineering challenge, events for teens, and more! But let's talk about books again: stop in for booklists and recommendations for all ages, and ask about getting help with downloading ebooks and audiobooks for those road trips and long flights! Hello Summer!

• Kids (0-12 years) Summer Reading Adventure Flyer in English and Spanish
• Teen Summer Reading Adventure in English and Spanish

Attention 7th grade parents

Please find all information about the 2024 DC trip, including how to register here. Our trip # is #209308.

Any questions should be referred to Ryan Palmer, Kent 8th grade history teacher at rpalmer@kentfieldschools.org.

The California State Park Adventure Pass is just for you. See how you can visit some of the most amazing parks in the country with your family and friends — for free.

the California State Park Adventure Pass provides free entry for fourth graders and their families at 19 amazing state parks throughout the state. Mountains, deserts, forests, rivers … the choice of where to visit is yours.

• Learn more About the California State Park Adventure Pass.
• View flyer in English and Spanish.

Public transportation is offering free rides for K-12 youth throughout the summer with the Summer Youth Ride Free Program.

FREE public transit for kids and teens transforms the North Bay into a summer playground.

SMART, Marin Transit, Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus, and Petaluma Transit are offering free rides for K-12 youth throughout the summer (June-August) with the Summer Youth Ride Free Program.

How it works: No passes are necessary to ride, simply show a valid K-12 school or government-issued ID to the conductor when boarding the train or bus. Youth grades 9-12 may use a school ID from the Spring 2023 semester. Youth grades 8 and under, if asked, may present a school ID, or simply tell the conductor their grade and which school they attend. Younger children, under age 5, also ride for free but must be accompanied by an adult.

• View flyer.
• Learn more.

Healthy Families Marin Home Visiting Program

Offers home visiting for parents of newborns. The program is designed to support parents, share information about child development and parenting, and provide information and referrals to families of infants and young children.

• View flyer in English and Spanish.
• Learn more at www.marinhhs.org/healthy-families-marin-home-visiting.

Crisis Text Support Line

Marin County offers our youth another means of confidential mental health support through a crisis text line that is available 24/7.

Text MARIN to 741741 for Support that Cares.

Help Me Grow Marin
Families can learn about community resources and tools to support their child’s development or family's needs. Whether it be assessing your child’s development, helping to apply for health insurance, or helping with finding a food bank, parenting class, information on child development, or low-cost medical clinic, we are here to help!

• View flyer in English and Spanish.
• Learn more at helpmegrowmarin.org.

Marin Health Hubs

Health hubs, provides free and bilingual services such as food distribution, nutrition education, health screenings, and information about community organizations. Everyone is welcome to attend the health hubs food pantry and to help us run it!

• www.marinclinic.org/health-hubs

California Parent & Youth Helpline

This free helpline provides free trauma-informed, evidenced-based emotional support to parents, children and youth in any language via calls, text, live chat, and email.

• Available 7 days a week from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Parents can join a Weekly Online Support Group through the website: caparentyouthhelpline.org.
• Helpline #: 855-427-2736