One of the last cities in the county to vote on a proposed franchise garbage deal, Belmont will continue a discussion Tuesday on whether it wants to go on its own for a trash contract.

‘Tis the season to toss on the scarves and don the Santa hats for the annual excursion into the Christmas tree lots and farms.

We buy a real Christmas tree for the smell. It’s the original smell of Christmas,” said Sean Tuttman who was shopping for a tree with his family at Steve’s Christmas Tree Lot in San Mateo.

A Belmont cabinet maker submitted the first application for a vacant seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Daniel Kaul, 55, turned in his application on Thursday. He said he has lived in Belmont since 1979 and grew up in San Mateo.

NOW THAT THE San Mateo Police Department has provided a detailed account of how a young mother was stalked and killed by Oakland resident Raymond Gee, the big mystery that remains is what drove Gee to commit such a horrible crime and then take his own life.

Friends and family members say Gee, 22, was a normal, mild-mannered guy — certainly not the kind who would show up at a woman's house with a gun and muscle relaxants and then spend the final moments of his life in a shootout with a SWAT team.

A male pedestrian was struck and killed Friday by a southbound Caltrain just south of the Hayward Park station, according to a Caltrain spokeswoman.

The incident occurred about 7:20 a.m., causing delays throughout the morning commute. Caltrain police and the San Mateo County Coroner's Office are attempting to determine if the man's death was an accident or suicide.

A gun-wielding stalker who invade the San Mateo home of Kim Loan Nguyen killed the 24-year-old mother of two with three shots, according to a ballistics report clearing SWAT team members who returned fire during the tense hostage situation last week in which she saved her young children before being mortally wounded herself.

A parking garage security guard at San Francisco International Airport pleaded not guilty Thursday in San Mateo County Superior Court to reportedly burglarizing vehicles parked in the lot, said chief deputy district attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Andrew Kenneth Ridley, 24, was taken into custody Wednesday during the execution of a search warrant at his Daly City home.

Schools and teachers across the Peninsula have scored extra funding - money that is seen as especially needed in today's tough economy.

Of course, every little bit helps," said Gail Greely, chief operating officer for Stanford New Schools. "But money that's discretionary can help enrich after-school programs and add material for arts and science."

San Mateo County's probation chief announced his retirement Wednesday, after a year marked by several high-profile juvenile escapes from his department's facilities.

Chief of Probation Loren Buddress will step down from his post effective Jan. 2 after nine years at the helm of the department and 18 years of work in the county.

Thursday afternoon police released frightening new details about last week’s killing of a young San Mateo mother and the man authorities say was stalking her.

During a late afternoon press conference, police revealed much more about the weeks leading to the deadly attack including how the stalker met the former beauty pageant contestant, wife and mother.

Now is the time to pick out a special toy for a needy child: the 2008 Caltrain Holiday Train will be making its annual appearance Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7. Decorated with more than 40,000 lights, the Caltrain Holiday Train will visit nine stations along the Peninsula between San Francisco and Santa Clara over two weekend nights.

Photo Credit: roland

Burlingame High girls’ basketball coach Marvin Lui loved the way his team played in the first half of Wednesday’s game against Carmel.

We preach defensive intensity and effort,” the first-year Burlingame coach said. “It’s the first thing we stressed from Day One, to have a strong defensive foundation. In that second quarter we kind of locked down on Carmel and made every shot of theirs a difficult one.”

So many California children are seeking subsidized school meals that funds to supply free or discounted breakfasts and lunches will dry up before the end of this academic year, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said Tuesday.

But so far, it hasn't materialized," said Robert Clark, chief business officer for the Burlingame district. "That's great. It means our families don't have that increased need. But other districts are probably the total opposite."

The Supreme Court has thrown out a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to set aside the conviction of a man for his role in robbing a San Mateo gas station and killing the clerk.

Michael Robert Pulido, 33, of San Mateo, was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery and receiving stolen property in connection with the 1992 crime. He was 17 at the time of the murder.

Photo Credit: dbking

The firm fired last year from overseeing $298 million in construction projects at local school districts filed a lawsuit last week against the San Mateo Union High School for unlimited funds.

Burlingame residents will soon find information regarding a potential storm-drainage fee stuffed into their mailboxes.

But like all things with airlines, the situation is changing rapidly. For instance, the clock is ticking on JetBlue Airways' four-day online fare sale.

The county will hold two special flu vaccine clinics prior to the beginning of the season and officials say there is an ample amount to go around this year for residents.

Photo Credit: lamSAM

Jerry Hill, D - San Mateo, was sworn into the California State Assembly Monday kicking off the 2009-2010 legislative session.

A flat $35 fee will now be attached to all parking fines in Burlingame after the City Council agreed to increase and unify the various penalties.