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Police Department Reports Successful Tourist Bicycle Season
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Tourist bicycles turning onto Bridgeway
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2019 was another successful year for managing tourist bicycles, according to a report presented to the City Council on November 19 by Lt. Stacie Gregory of the Sausalito Police Department.
184,296 bicycles were counted pedaling toward downtown Sausalito between March and October of this year, a 9.5% decline from 2018. Managing this inflow was a collaborative effort that included the City and its contractor Sausalito Bike Return, the bicycle rental companies, taxicab drivers, and the two ferry service providers, Blue and Gold Ferry and Golden Gate Ferry.
Sausalito Bike Return had the primary responsibility for minimizing impacts to downtown Sausalito. In 2019, the company provided the following services:
- Ambassadors: a team of employees who directed tourists to the bicycle parking area and the ferry landing. The ambassadors also made counts of the number of bicycles entering Sausalito from the south.
- Bicycle Parking: a staffed parking area for bicycles on Tracy Way. 47,917 bicycle parking permits were sold in 2019.
- Bike Return: a paid service that delivers bicycles to San Francisco by truck so that tourists don't have to take their bikes with them on the ferry. 6,313 tourists took advantage of the service in 2019.
- Ferry Queuing: new this year, staff from Sausalito Bike Return helped organize and accelerate the lines for Golden Gate Ferry.
2019 also saw improved efforts by the bicycle rental companies to educate their riders about bicycle parking and return services in Sausalito. A new "Taxi Guide" service created by local taxicab drivers helped inform tourists about the option of returning with their bikes to San Francisco via taxi.
The City paid Sausalito Bike Return $23,000 at the beginning of the 2019 season to provide ambassador services. End-of-season accounting returned $21,645 to the City as a percentage of Sausalito Bike Return's gross revenues of $216,446. The company's net profit for 2019 was $21,998.
Based on Sausalito Bike Return's success managing bicycle circulation in 2019, the City Council approved an extension of the existing contract with the company at its meeting on November 19. The extension covers the period March 20 through October 12, 2020.
Any questions or comments about the management of bicycle circulation in Sausalito may be directed to Lt. Stacie Gregory at sgregory@sausalito.gov or (415) 289-4188.
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License Plate Cameras Lead to Arrest
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The handgun found in the stolen vehicle
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At approximately 1:53 a.m. on Thursday, November 21, the Sausalito Police Department received an alert from its license plate recognition camera system of a stolen vehicle entering Sausalito from the 4000 block of Bridgeway. The vehicle, a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, had been stolen from San Francisco the previous day.
Corporal Francisco Padilla located the Volkswagen parked in the 800 block of Olima Street. Officers made contact with the sole occupant of the vehicle, a 47-year-old resident of San Francisco named Tommy Lee Boggs, and detained him without incident.
Officers found narcotics paraphernalia, suspected methamphetamine, burglary tools, and a loaded .25 caliber Raven Arms handgun in the Volkswagen. The officers' investigation also determined that there were five outstanding warrants for Boggs' arrest out of San Francisco for crimes such as burglary, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and violation of post-release supervision.
Boggs was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools, and outstanding warrants. He was booked into the Marin County Jail.
Twenty-eight stolen vehicles have been recovered since the City of Sausalito's license plate recognition camera system became operational in May 2017, leading to the arrest of 32 individuals for various crimes. Any questions about the City's license plate cameras may be directed to Captain Bill Fraass at bfraass@sausalito.gov or (415) 289-4170.
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Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks on December 14
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A scene from the Lighted Boat Parade
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The 32nd Annual Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade will get underway at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, when dozens of brightly lit and beautifully decorated boats will parade along Sausalito's scenic shoreline. The boat parade begins at the Bay Model near the north end of Sausalito, continues along the shoreline to Hurricane Gulch, then loops back to the waters off Gabrielson Park. Fireworks will begin soon after the conclusion of the parade.
The boat parade and fireworks are sponsored by the non-profit Sausalito on the Waterfront Foundation, along with local residents and merchants. Additional weekend events include the Captain's After Party on Saturday night and the Jingle Bell 5K on Sunday morning.
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Annual Homeless Outreach Event Held in Marinship Park
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A scene from the Homeless Outreach Event
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On Thursday, November 14, the Sausalito Police Department hosted its annual Homeless Outreach Event in Marinship Park for Sausalito's anchor-out and homeless communities.
Despite unexpected rain, 17 people received services that included interviews for housing placement from Marin Health and Human Services, advice on veterans benefits from the Marin County Veterans Service Office, showers from Marin Mobile Care, dental services from the Marin City Mobile Dental Clinic, health screenings by nursing students from UCSF, and pet supplies from the Marin Humane Society. The Sausalito Lions Club joined the event for the first time this year and offered free eye exams and the opportunity to make an appointment to get fitted for free glasses from their inventory. Lunch was provided by Sean Saylor of Saylor's Restaurant and Bar.
For more information on the Homeless Outreach Event, please contact Sergeant Brandon Rodgers at (415) 289-4179 or brodgers@sausalito.gov.
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Feed the Meters for a Good Cause in December
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Parking meters on Bridgeway
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From December 1, 2019, through January 1, 2020, residents and visitors will be able to park for free for up to three hours at Sausalito's on-street parking meters.
Even though on-street parking will be free, the City encourages everyone to continue to feed the meters. The money collected from December 1 to January 1 will be donated to non-profit organizations working to provide services to Marin County's neediest residents. In 2018, the City raised $5,995.
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Thanksgiving Schedule for the Library and City Hall
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City Hall and the Sausalito Library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29. We hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday! The next regular edition of Currents will be emailed on Friday, December 6.
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Recap of the City Council Meeting on November 19
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A regular meeting of the Sausalito City Council was held on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. The following, in red italics, is a brief summary of actions taken at the meeting. To learn more, please view the meeting agenda and watch the recording of the meeting.
Consent Calendar: Watch the recording of this portion of the meeting
Ratified Southern Marin Fire District Ordinance 2019/2020-01 Amending the 2019 California Fire Code.
Received and Filed the General Plan Update Status Report.
Approved Resolution No. 5878.
- 5D. Approve a Resolution to Reclassify a Vacant Administrative Aide Position to a Permit Technician Classification in the Community Development Department (Read the Staff Report, Attachment 1- Draft Resolution)
Approved Resolution No. 5879.
Received and Filed the Treasurer's Report for Q1.
Business Items:
Received the presentation on Marin County Sustainability Programs and Drawdown: Marin. Watch the recording of this portion of the meeting
Received and Filed the Report and Adopted Resolution No. 5880 Approving the Second Amendment to the Agreement with Sausalito Bike Return. Watch the recording of this portion of the meeting
Received Update on BCDC and the Waterfront Management Plan; Gave Input on the Slides for the Presentation to BCDC. Watch the recording of this portion of the meeting
Reviewed the 2020 City Council Meeting Schedule and Decided to Bring This Item Back for Approval at the Next Council Meeting. Watch the recording of this portion of the meeting
Public Hearing Items:
Adopted Ordinance No. 1275. Watch the recording of this portion of the meeting
Did you know you can watch City Council meetings live via webcast? You can also watch video recordings of past meetings on the City website.
Council meetings are also broadcast live on television via Comcast Cable Channel 27 or AT&T Channel 99. If you miss the live broadcast, check the rebroadcast schedule.
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be held on December 10, 2019, with the open session due to commence at approximately 7:00 p.m.
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Updates from Boards and Commissions
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General Plan Advisory Committee. The mission of the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) is to facilitate the update of the 1995 Sausalito General Plan in concert with City staff, consultants, and the public.
Previous meetings. The General Plan Advisory Committee met on Wednesday, November 13. At the meeting, the committee reviewed the project schedule for the General Plan Update, discussed and received input on the Environmental Quality Element Framework, and discussed and received input on the Health, Safety, and Community Resilience Element Framework. Watch the video recording of the meeting
Upcoming meeting. The General Plan Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. At the meeting, the committee will discuss the following General Plan Element Frameworks:
- Land Use and Growth Management Element Framework
- Community Design, Historic and Cultural Preservation Element Framework
For the full agenda packet, visit the General Plan Advisory Committee meetings and agendas page.
Questions about the General Plan Advisory Committee or the General Plan Update may be directed to the Community Development Department at (415) 289-4128.
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Planning Commission. The role of the Planning Commission is to review applications for design review and land use entitlements, as set forth in planning and zoning laws of the City and the state, and perform other such duties as specified in the Sausalito Municipal Code.
Previous meeting. The November 20 meeting of the Planning Commission was canceled due to a lack of quorum.
Upcoming meeting. There will be a regular meeting of the Planning Commission in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4. The following item is on the agenda:
- Sausalito-Marin City Pump Station Improvements: The Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District Coloma Pump Station improvements would demolish the existing Scotties Pump Station and Whiskey Springs Pump Station and replace both with a new Coloma Pump Station located in the City of Sausalito public right-of-way at the southwest corner of the intersection of Bridgeway and Coloma Street (adjacent to the Whiskey Springs condominiums). A design review permit, encroachment agreement, conditional use permit, and tree removal permit are requested.
All Planning Commission meetings are open to the public and are also live streamed and video recorded. If you have any questions about the Planning Commission or an item under consideration, please contact the Community Development Department at (415) 289-4128. The department's public counter in City Hall is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
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Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is a standing subcommittee of the Sausalito City Council. It consists of two councilmembers and is tasked with monitoring the City's finances, evaluating fiscal implications, and making recommendations to the Council.
Previous meeting. The Finance Committee met on November 7 in the Council Chambers. Topics covered included Landslide Task Force recommendations, the Land Economics Study, the FY 2018-19 year-end budget and audit, and implementation of the business license tax. It was also reported that the City received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. This is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and represents a significant team effort and accomplishment by City staff and Maze and Associates, the City's auditors. Watch the video recording of the meeting
Upcoming meeting. The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be held on Thursday, December 5 at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The primary agenda item will be a report on the FY 2018-19 audit and draft Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
All meetings of the Finance Committee are open to the public and are also live streamed and video recorded. Any questions about the Finance Committee may be directed to Yulia Carter, Assistant City Manager and Administrative Services Director, at (415) 289-4105 or ycarter@sausalito.gov.
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News from City Departments
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Southern Marin Fire. PG&E is not currently expecting any Public Safety Power Shutoffs through Thursday, November 28, according to the company's seven-day forecast of shutoff potential in nine geographic zones. Marin County is in Zone 3.
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Library. The Sausalito Library is holding a Thanksgiving fine amnesty through Saturday, November 30. Bring in your library card or ID during open hours and library staff will waive late charges, new and old, on your overdue Sausalito items. Because the Sausalito Library is one of many independent libraries within the MARINet consortium and LINK+, staff will be unable to waive overdue charges from other libraries. Charges for replacement items cannot be waived, but if you locate an item you have been charged for, bring it to the library for removal from your record. Any questions about the fine amnesty may be directed to (415) 289-4121 or rburgan@sausalito.gov. Please note that the library will be closed on November 28 and 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Administration. The City of Sausalito is currently recruiting for three full-time positions on City staff. Job titles and application deadlines are as follows:
For more information about job openings at the City of Sausalito, please visit the Job Openings page on the City website. Any questions may be directed to Human Resources Manager Susan Paterson at spaterson@sausalito.gov or (415) 289-4130.
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Parks and Recreation. Registration is now open for winter programs from Parks and Recreation. To get started via the City's online registration system, visit the login page and create an account. A temporary password will be emailed to you, at which point you can log in and set a new password. Registration options may be found in the "Start Here" section. Any questions about programs and classes from Parks and Recreation may be directed to (415) 289-4152 or jmyers@sausalito.gov.
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Things Happening in Our Community
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Help Feed the Hungry. The Sausalito Woman's Club is wrapping up its annual food drive for the SF/Marin Food Bank. On Monday, November 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Friday, November 29 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, the clubhouse at 120 Central Avenue will be open to the community for donations of non–perishable food (no glass containers please). Items the food bank needs most include soups, chili, canned vegetables, tuna, canned meat, cereals, and peanut butter. Low-sodium items are in great need for the elderly. Please help end hunger in our community. For more information, contact Mollie Squires at molliesquires529@gmail.com.
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School Unification Town Hall Meeting. Join the Unification Task Force of Willow Creek Academy and the Sausalito Marin City School District for a public meeting on Monday, December 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Willow Creek Academy multi-purpose room. Students, parents, and members of the community are all welcome. For more information, please call (415) 332-3190 or email unification@smcsd.org. Dinner and childcare will be provided.
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Law vs. Reality at Waldo Point – A History. For more than a century, law and reality didn't correspond at Waldo Point: what the law said should be there wasn't in fact what was there. The past fifty years witnessed a seesawing and at times even violent struggle to bring law and reality into harmony. In this program on Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Charles Bush, former attorney for the Gates Cooperative and author of the novel Houseboat Wars, will trace this unusual history.
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ICB Winter Open Studios. This year's annual open studios at the ICB building will be held on December 6, 7, and 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The historic ICB is home to over 140 artists creating fine art in various mediums – including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and weaving. This year, more than 90 artists will participate, and we invite you into our studios to learn more about our art and our process. The ICB has free parking and disabled access on the Bay side. The building is located at 480 Gate 5 Road in Sausalito.
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Breakfast with Santa. Santa's coming! He's making a special trip to the Sausalito Yacht Club on Saturday, December 7 to eat breakfast with you and your family. It will be a magical morning where kids make holiday crafts and visit with Santa while elves prepare a delicious breakfast of pancakes and sausage. There are two seatings to choose from: the 8:30 a.m. seating sees Santa arrive, the 10:00 a.m. seating gets to see him return to the North Pole. The cost is $15 for Sausalito residents and $18 for non-residents (free for children 2 and under). To register, please visit the Breakfast with Santa web page. Any questions about Breakfast with Santa may be directed to Julie Myers at jmyers@sausalito.gov.
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Sausalito Woman's Club Holiday Open House. The Sausalito Woman’s Club invites you to its annual Holiday Open House, "Yuletide Magic," from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. Enjoy homemade goodies, tasty libations, seasonal music, children's crafts and a visit from Santa! All community members and friends are encouraged to join in the festivities. There will be collection bins for new, unwrapped toys and gifts for the SWC's Annual Toys for Tots and Teens Gift Drive. The Sausalito Woman’s Club is located at 120 Central Avenue. Parking is extremely limited, so please consider walking, carpooling or using a ride share service. A shuttle service will be available from the St. Mary Star of the Sea parking lot at 180 Harrison Avenue.
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Sausalito Writers' Circle. Looking for a supportive group to share your writing with? Ready to tackle that story, novel, or poem? Interested in providing feedback to others? Whether you're an aspiring writer, a seasoned veteran, or somewhere in between, come join us on Sunday, December 8 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room. Your host at this Sausalito Library program is Sausalito resident, published author, and experienced workshop facilitator Cindy Knoebel. If interested in attending, please join our Meetup group and RSVP. The Writers' Circle typically meets twice per month.
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Holiday Book Sale. Join the Friends of the Sausalito Library for a special sale featuring books suitable for gifts on Sunday, December 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Friend Bookstore on the upper level of City Hall, 420 Litho Street. The Friends have been saving gift-worthy books all year for this special holiday sale! If you can't make it to the special sale, the regular hours at the Friends Bookstore are Mondays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Annual Christmas Choral Concert. The Sausalito Presbyterian Church's choral ensemble will present its 13th annual Christmas Vespers concert at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. The performance will include traditional and new carols, chants, and choruses by Lauridsen, Rutter, Chilcott, and others. Music director Ralph Hooper will be accompanied by trumpeter Mark Nemoyten and poetry reader Julie Carlson. There is no charge to attend, and a champagne reception will follow the event. The Sausalito Presbyterian Church is located at 112 Bulkley Avenue.
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Procraftinators: Crafting for Adults. The Procraftinators crafting meet-up for adults is the perfect place to bring whatever unfinished object, craft project, or hobby you are working on. The Sausalito Library invites you to the Edgewater Room from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10 to complete that knitting, embroidery, or jewelry project while socializing with others for encouragement and inspiration. Bring your own supplies, trade with others, or come to learn a new craft. This event is free of charge and open to all experience levels. Drop in any time between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
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Caregiver Support Group. Are you or someone you know caring for a loved one who is suffering from cognitive impairment? Consider joining the Sausalito-based Caregiver Support Group, led by facilitators affiliated with the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California. The next monthly meeting will be held on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Rotary Village Community Room at 701 Coloma Street in Sausalito. The group offers caregivers the ability to exchange information, talk through challenges and ways of coping, and share feelings and frustrations. Participants and their situations are assured complete confidentiality. For additional information, please send email to caregivermarin@gmail.com.
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Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks. The 32nd Annual Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade gets underway at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, when dozens of brightly lit and beautifully decorated boats will parade along Sausalito's scenic shoreline. The boat parade begins at the Bay Model near the north end of Sausalito, continues along the shoreline to Old Town, and loops back to the waters off Gabrielson Park. The annual fireworks will begin soon after the conclusion of the parade.
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Jingle Bell 5K and Children's Fun Run. The 6th Annual Jingle Bell 5K and Children's Fun Run will take place in downtown Sausalito on Sunday, December 15. The 5K race gets underway at 8:30 a.m., followed at approximately 9:15 a.m. by the Children's Fun Run and a pancake brunch in the Spinnaker Restaurant hosted by the Sausalito Lions Club. The cost to enter is $40 for adults and $25 for kids 15 and under. The entry deadline is December 1. Proceeds benefit the Dipsea Race Foundation's Dipsea Kidz program and Sausalito on the Waterfront's Child Education and Activity Fund.
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Coloring and Doodling Party for Adults. Come relax and join the coloring party on Tuesday, December 17 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Edgewater Room of City Hall. We provide a stress-free atmosphere, soothing music, and delicious refreshments so you can unleash your imagination. The Sausalito Library provides all coloring supplies, and we can help you make bookmarks and buttons from your artwork. Seating is limited for this free program. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Rebecca Burgan at rburgan@sausalito.gov.
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School Unification Town Hall Meeting. Join the Unification Task Force of Willow Creek Academy and the Sausalito Marin City School District for a public meeting on Tuesday, December 17 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bayside MLK Academy in Marin City. Students, parents, and members of the community are all welcome. For more information, please call (415) 332-3190 or email unification@smcsd.org. Dinner and childcare will be provided.
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Mail, Contacts and Calendars. Join Mac expert Jon Hartman in this workshop that focuses on the applications for your personal life such as managing people, time, and communication. On Thursday, December 19 at 10:30 a.m. in the Edgewater Room, you will learn how to create contacts and calendar events and sync them to your iPhone and iPad. You'll also discover the basics of Apple Mail and learn workflows and organization techniques to master your email. Instructor Jon Hartman is a computer consultant specializing in Apple devices who also teaches classes at the libraries in Mill Valley and Tiburon. All are welcome.
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