Registration is now open for the 6th Annual CEC Student Film Fest on Tuesday, April 18, which is sponsored by the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC), Burlingame High School’s Burlingame Environmental Club and The Nueva School's Social Impact Filmmaking Club. Admission is free.  Register here.      
 
Entries will be screened and winners will be announced from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Burlingame High School Theater, 1 Mangini Way. With support from Peninsula Clean Energy, CEC will provide cash prizes to student filmmakers in three categories: Elementary grades 4-5 ($150), Middle School grades 6-8 ($150) and High School ($150). An additional $150 will be awarded to the Best in Fest winner.
 
San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine will be on hand to acknowledge the involvement of all participants. 
 
For more information, visit https://burlingamefilmfest.com. Questions may be sent to info@cecburlingame.org.
 

CEC’s free program on May 3 will explain what’s involved in replacing your lawn with water-efficient landscaping and how you can qualify for rebates to replace your lawn and create a rain garden. You’ll also learn why artificial lawns are not a planet-friendly solution. It will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Burlingame Community Center at 850 Burlingame Ave. in Burlingame.
 
“Get Paid to Replace Your Lawn” will feature Tom Francis, Water Resources Manager for the Bay Area Water Conservation Resource Agency (BAWSCA), and Sigalle Michael, Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Burlingame.
 
Admission is free, but preregistration is required at https://tinyurl.com/ReplaceLawn. This program is cosponsored by Burlingame’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
 
BAWSCA’s “Lawn Be Gone” program offers a rebate of up to $4 per square foot, depending on your city, and up to $500 per household for lawns that are replaced with drought-tolerant landscaping. Adding a rain garden to your project can add a rebate of up to $300. Click on your city to see which rebates you are eligible for on this map: https://bawsca.org/conserve/rebates.

Burlingame residents are invited to an Earth Month Scavenger Hunt. Participants photograph items, then tag and post them on Instagram or email them to jlee@burlingame.org by April 30. Those entering will have a chance to win sustainable prizes, including reusable gags and bamboo utensils. Bonus photos may win a jigsaw puzzle. There’s a maximum of one winners per household. More info here.

Coconut Bay Thai restaurant at 1107 Howard Ave. in Burlingame is offering reusable containers for takeout orders. These attractive and sturdy containers are an excellent alternative to plastic ones that add to landfill. Call the restaurant at 650-558-8268 and request the reusable containers for your takeout order, then download the Foodware App before picking up your order. Snap a photo with your takeout containers from Coconut Bay Thai and tag it @reusablesmc. During the month of April, you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a $25 gift card to Coconut Bay and other reusable prizes.

Tues. April 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m. 6th Annual CEC Student Film Fest. Winning videos will be screened and awards will be presented. See details above.
 
Wed. April 19, noon to 1 p.m. Commercial Kitchens in an Electric Era. Virtual event offered by Acterra. Pioneers in the commercial kitchen electrification field discuss the environmental benefits and lessons learned for the planning, design and implementation process. Free. Register here.
 
Thurs. April 20, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Induction Cooking Class. Virtual event offered by Acterra. Chef Kelvin Briggs presents a live cooking class featuring plant-forward cuisine and unique cooking techniques. Free. Register here. 
 
Fri. April 21, 5 to 6 p.m. Youth for Climate Policy. Sustainable San Mateo County and 5 other climate action groups will show young people how they can influence local government leaders to address climate change. Features student activists, State Senator Josh Becker and 4 former mayors of local cities: Kirsten Keith (Menlo Park), Georgi LaBerge (Redwood City), Mark Olbert (San Carlos) and Terry Nagel (Burlingame). Admission is free, but pre-registration is required at tinyurl.com/Youth4ClimatePolicy
 
Sat. April 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Love Our Earth Festival. Menlo-Atherton High School. CEC will have a table. See details above.
 
Sat. April 22, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sustainability for All Resource Fair. San Mateo Public Library, 55 W. 3rd Ave., San Mateo. From 11:30 to 12:30, RethinkWaste, Peninsula Clean Energy, the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability, OKAPI Reusables, Byrd’s Filling Station and other vendors will share tips and resources. From 2 to 3 p.m. children ages 8 and up will learn how to save their favorite clothes by mending holes or covering stains with materials provided; register here. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The same mending workshop will be offered for adults; register here. All events are free.
 
Wed. April 26, 6 to 7 p.m. Green@Home: Induction Cooktops. Virtual event presented by Acterra. Learn about the climate and health effects of induction cooking, compared to gas and electric-resistance stoves, and find out about rebates offered. Register here.
 
Thurs. April 27, 7 to 9 p.m. Rain Gardens. Presented by Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency. Burlingame Community Center, 850 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame. Free. Register here. 
 
Sat. April 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Earth Day @ Shoreway 2023. Shoreway Environmental Center, 333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos. Features a behind-the-scenes look at where your compost, recycling and landfill items go; a Super Swap of gently used books, puzzles and clothing items; and earth-friendly raffle prizes. Learn more and register here.
 
Sun. April 30. Deadline for Earth Month Scavenger Hunt for Burlingame residents. Details above.
 
Wed. May 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Get Paid to Replace Your Lawn. Presented by the Citizens Environmental Council. See details above.
 
Tues. May 9, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Electrify Your Home and Save Money. San Mateo Public Library, Oak Room, 55 W. 3rd St., San Mateo. Learn how to switch to electric water heating space heating and cooking to make your home safer and healthier. Includes rebate information. Register here.