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- 🚆 Regional Transit Measure Updates, Kids Night Out, and Vintage Fest
🚆 Regional Transit Measure Updates, Kids Night Out, and Vintage Fest
Plus, crab season opens, court workers vote to strike, and Diwali comes to Belmont
Greg Kemper
November 05, 2026
In partnership with
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! Fork It! Updates on Regional Transit Measure, updates on the crab season and its impact on you, and tons of events: a vintage clothing festival, kids night out, cozy coloring club, Diwali celebrations, and the beginning of Christmas events!
Let’s dive in!
In this week’s edition:
City Updates: Court Workers Striking
Business Updates: News on Crab Season and Its Impact on You, Local Non Profit gets Recognized
Events: Vintage festival, kids night out, cozy coloring club, Diwali celebrations, and the beginning of Christmas events
Your Backyard, All Four Seasons
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Most pergolas are just for summer. Yours is for every season.
San Mateo County Court Workers Vote to Authorize Strike
San Mateo County court workers have voted 99% in favor of authorizing an unfair labor practice strike. The workers, represented by SEIU Local 521, include court reporters, clerks, paralegals, accountants and judicial assistants. The union says court management has refused to negotiate a fair contract and has assigned deputy court clerks to courtroom clerk duties outside their job descriptions without proper training. No strike date has been announced, but the vote gives the union’s bargaining committee the authority to call one when needed. Anyone with an upcoming court date may want to keep an eye out for updates, since a strike could affect court operations. Read more here.
Bay Area Voters Pass Regional Transit Measure
Bay Area voters have approved Measure RTM, the Regional Transit Measure, securing roughly $1 billion a year for the region’s transit agencies over the next 14 years. The measure was passing with about 61.5% support across the five counties, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, well above the simple majority it needed, with both the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Standard calling the race. It adds a 0.5% sales tax in San Mateo County and the three other counties, and a 1% tax in San Francisco. For locals, the key beneficiary is Caltrain, which, along with BART, Muni, SamTrans and AC Transit, had warned of steep service cuts without the funding. Under SB 63, the state law that put RTM on the ballot, the transit agencies must now undergo a financial efficiency review to identify cost savings. Read more here.
Recreational Crab Season Opens, but Commercial Crab Is Delayed Again
Home crabbers can get their gear ready. Recreational crabbing opens in most areas on Saturday, Nov. 7, with restrictions on crab traps. The commercial Dungeness season will stay closed until at least January to protect whales from entanglement in fishing gear. This is the seventh straight year the Bay Area’s commercial season has been delayed because of migrating humpback whales. Recreational crabbers can still use hoop nets if they check them every two hours, and the next assessment comes in mid-to-late December. Locally, that means fresh Dungeness crab is unlikely to be on holiday menus or at fish counters, though DIY crabbers can still head out. Read more here.
Volunteers Wanted: Pound Puppy Rescue
Pound Puppy Rescue is a 100% volunteer-run organization dedicated to giving puppies a better start in life. They welcome community members to get involved through fostering, transportation, adoption events, photography, social media, and fundraising. Whether someone can offer a few hours or a temporary home for a puppy, every contribution makes a difference in saving lives! Learn more here.
Menlo Park’s Hearts for Homeless Wins County Housing Heroes Award
Hearts for Homeless (H4H), a Menlo Park nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, has been named a recipient of San Mateo County’s 19th Annual Housing Heroes Awards, which honor partners who help residents with mental health or substance use conditions find and keep stable housing. Founder and CEO Jack Fuller accepted the award at the Oct. 21 ceremony at the Redwood Shores Public Library. Since 2022, H4H has served more than 700 individuals and mobilized over 9,700 volunteer hours through programs that pair trained volunteers with people navigating the path to stable housing. The group is currently recruiting volunteer Mental and Emotional Support Advocates (MESAs). Learn more here.
Farm House in Belmont
1301 6th Ave, Belmont
Farm House serves New American cuisine at 1301 6th Ave in Belmont. The space was once a sandwich shop called Beli Deli, and Farm House opened there in 2018. The menu changes seasonally and features locally sourced ingredients, and the dining room has exposed brick walls and tasteful artwork. Most of its vendors are based in Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City and San Mateo. Dishes that have appeared on the menu include short ribs and a Black Forest ham omelet, buttermilk fried chicken, a pear salad and a burger, and Parmesan truffle fries with green herbs. Dinner service runs Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Drinks include wine by the glass, draft beer, brunch mimosas and signature cocktails such as the FHAB and an Aperol Spritz. There’s also a dog-friendly patio with a heated pergola, and the whole restaurant can be rented for private parties of up to 50 people. Learn more here.
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We do our best to verify dates/locations of events, but please independently verify before attending as details are subject to change
🎈 Kids Night Out | Burlingame | Burlingame Community Center | 11/6 | more
Drop the kids off for an evening of games, crafts, and fun while parents enjoy a night to themselves.
🧵 Yarn, Fabric & Sewing Swap | Burlingame | Library | 11/7 | more
Clear out your craft stash and score new supplies at this community swap for yarn, fabric, and sewing goods.
🕺 Totally Rad Vintage Fest | San Mateo | San Mateo County Events Center - Fiesta Hall | 11/7 | more
Browse racks of vintage clothing, accessories, and collectibles from local vendors at this retro shopping extravaganza.
📚 Meet Mirelle Ortega | San Mateo | Main Library | 11/7 | more
Join the library at 11 a.m. for a special author visit with Mirelle Ortega.
🪔 Diwali Celebration | Belmont | Twin Pines Meadow | 11/7 | more
Celebrate the festival of lights at Belmont’s 4th annual Diwali event, co-hosted by Parks & Rec and the Belmont Library.
🎨 Paint and Pastry | Belmont | Made of Dough | 11/7 | more
Pair your creativity with something sweet at this relaxed painting and pastry session.
🖍️ Cozy Coloring Club | San Mateo | Laurel Room | 11/7 | more
Unwind with colored pencils and good company at this calming coloring meetup.
🎄 Home for the Holidays Gala | Foster City | Crowne Plaza | 11/7 | more
Dress up for an evening of dinner, festivities, and giving back, benefiting the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.
🩰 Autumn Adult Ballet Retreat | Belmont | Better Together Dance Theatre | 11/8 | more
Lace up your ballet shoes for a fall-themed retreat designed just for adult dancers.
🍷 Wine and Food Pairing | Belmont | 3p Wines | 11/8 | more
Discover how the right bites bring out the best in each pour at this guided tasting.
🌉 “Golden Gate Silhouette at Sunset” Paint & Sip | San Mateo | Pinstripes | 11/10 | more
Sip a drink while painting a stunning Golden Gate Bridge sunset, no experience required.