Sec 1 - The Almanac
Transcription
Sec 1 - The Almanac
NURSING HOME fined $100,000 for Atherton woman’s death. Page 5 YOU DECIDE. VOTE 2008 for your favorite shops & services at www.TheAlmanacOnline.com T H E H O M E TOW N N E W S PA P E R F O R M E N L O PA R K , AT H E RTO N , P O RTO L A VA L L E Y A N D WO O D S I D E JUNE 11, 2008 w w w. T h e A l m a n a c O n l i n e . c o m | VO L . 4 3 N O. 4 1 C L A S S O F 20 0 8 › M O V I N’ O N See Page 12. apr.com R E D E F I N I N G Q U A L I T Y S I N C E 19 9 0 Reading between the emotional line mak es the difference between finding a house and a home. M E N LO PA R K This beautiful new 6+bd/4+ba, 6,796+/-sf Mediterranean home offers sweeping views of Sharon Heights Golf Course and western hills. This home, designed for comfort and graceful living, features a great floor plan with a grand loggia overlooking the expansive lawn and golf course. $5,450,000 LO S A LTO S H I L L S Stunning 5bd/4.5ba home. Living room with soaring ceilings, and stone fireplace. Professionally designed kitchen, breakfast room with treetop views, library, flexible media/family room. Private rear garden terrace with fountain and fish pond. Sunny decks, pastoral views. $3,495,000 R E DWO O D C I T Y Stunning 3bd 2/ba on quiet cul de sac near Atherton/Las Lomitas. Gorgeous new granite and cherry kitchen. Master suite has French doors to the glistening pool. This neighborhood has perfect Mediterranean weather and is conveniently located just off the Alameda between Woodside and Atherton, less than a minute to Woodside Road with easy access to Route 280. $1,199,000 apr.com | MENLO PARK OFFICE 1550 EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 100 650.462.1111 apr.com | WOODSIDE OFFICE 2930 WOODSIDE ROAD 650.529.1111 APR COUNTIES | Santa Clara | San Mateo | San Francisco | Alameda | Contra Costa | Monterey | Santa Cruz 2 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 TW Let Me Help You Design & Build Your Home Remodel This week’s news, features and community events. I am passionate about beautiful work. Call Tim Wulff 650.834-5139 License #B-499492 F IR S T SH OT Atherton Antiques & Consignment A Most Distinguished u uished Collection of American and dE European Furniture • Art • Antiques 877 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park (650) 3 2 2 - 1 6 0 0 www.athertonantiques.com 2007 Photo by Dave Boyce/The Almanac Home again A Little Leaguer dusts off home plate after a game at the brand new baseball field in Portola Valley Town Center. The ball field opened in mid-May without ceremony more than two years after the old field closed. A ceremonial first pitch may come at the grand opening of the Town Center complex in the fall. Menlo Park Election 2008 ■ Nursing home nailed with $100,000 fine after Atherton woman’s death. Page 5 ■ City facing a projected $1.01 million deficit heading into the fiscal year that starts July 1. Page 10 ■ Jim Dobbie says “straight talk” won Atherton council race. Page 8 ■ Measure O falls short of two-thirds support. Page 8 1060 Evelyn Street et A Menlo Park, CA 650-328-5425 He Moather Jew ore elry ! Schools Portola Valley ■ Council may issue final ruling on dugout tree this week. Page 10 ■ New principal chosen for Corte Madera School. Page 15 Community Woodside ■ Welding sparks may have started fire that destroyed carport, cars. Page 6 ■ Menlo Park author illuminates parallels between Gold Rush and Cold War, and their impact on California. Cover, Section 2 ■ Veteran, volunteer Mike Salome dies. Page 7 Also Inside On the cover Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 17 Police Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Woodside High School graduates fling their caps skyward following the school’s 49th annual commencement ceremony on June 6. Photo by Veronica Weber. See lists of local public high school graduates beginning on Page 12 CALLING ON THE ALMANAC The Almanac offices are at 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025. For Classified ads, call 854-0858 For all other calls, phone 854-2626 News: Ext. 213 Display advertising: Ext. 233 Fax: 854-0677 ■ E-mail news to (no photos please): editor@AlmanacNews.com ■ E-mail news photos with captions to: AlmanacPhotos@gmail.com ■ E-mail letters to the editor to: letters@AlmanacNews.com To request free delivery, or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626. THE ALMANAC (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) is published every Wednesday by Embarcadero Publishing Co., 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 940254455. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and at additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for San Mateo County, the Almanac is delivered free to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside. Voluntary subscriptions for $30 per year or $50 per 2 years are welcome from residents of the above circulation area. Subscription rates for businesses and for residents of other communities is $50 per year and $80 for two years. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Almanac, P.O. Box 7008, Menlo Park, CA 94026-7008. Copyright ©2006 by Embarcadero Publishing Co., All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 3 A TOWN MARKET PLACE 3015 Woodside Road Woodside, 650-851-1511 Open 6:30AM - 8PM Sale Sa ale le Dates: Dates atess: June at June Ju n 11, 11, 1 1 12, 2 1 2, 13, 3 1 3, 14 4 w www.robertsmarket.com ww w.r .rob ber e ts tsma mark ark r et et.c com om TTOM TO M - WINE WINE WI NE & GROCERY GRO G ROCE RO CERY CE CERY Y Wine Fresh F h PRODUCE 2007 RosÉ, Part 2 California 39¢ $ 99 1 49¢ $ 99 2 CANTALOUPE RASPBERRIES New Crop YELLOW ONIONS Local SPRING MIX lb. ea. lb. lb. Special this week at Roberts MEAT $ 98 14 $ 1398 $ 1798 $ 1698 MARKET STEAK Boneless RIB EYE ROAST Cooked Daily FRESH PRAWNS Seasoned New Zealand LAMB RACKS On Sale GROCERY LAND O’LAKES SWEET CREAM SALTED BUTTER 1 lb. Cubes ANNIE’S NATURAL BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE 8 oz. – Also Cowgirl Ranch – Raspberry – Buttermilk KELLOGG’S EGGO BLUEBERRY WAFFLES 12 oz. – Also Homestyle – Cinnamon Toast NEAR EAST ORIGINAL RICE PILAF 6 oz. – Also Chicken Garlic – Spanish – Wild Mushroom HANSEN’S NATURAL SODAS 12 oz. 6 Pack Cans – Plus Calif. Redeem Value METHOD FRENCH LAVENDER HAND SOAP 12 oz. – Also Sweet Water 4 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 lb. lb. lb. lb. For dry rosé, 2007 is proving to be an outstanding vintage. Crisp, lively and refreshing wines are the rule, not the exception. We have tasted many examples and narrowed it down to the following selections. St. Roches “Les Vignes,” Cotes de Provence $ Dom. de Fontsainte “Gris de Gris,” Corbieres $ 1399 Ch. du Rouet “Esterelle,” Cotes de Provence $ 1399 Ch. de Lascaux, Coteaux du Languedoc $ 1599 Ch. de Trinquevedel Tavel $ 1599 Commanderie de Peyrassol, Cotes de Provence $ 1699 Mas de Gourgonnier, Les Baux de Provence $ 1799 Le Clos du Caillou, Cotes du Rhone $ 1799 Dom. du Bagnol, Cassis $ 2299 $ 99 2 $ 29 2 $ 59 1 $ 69 1 $ 89 1 $ 79 2 Insalata Caprese Fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, basil, lemon olive oil. $7.99 lb. 1349 Roberts Tip of the Week Choosing a Wine Glass G one are the days when a glass with big, flat bowl was considered to be best for drinking Champagne. Today, most agree that a flute, whose shape focuses on the bubbles and aroma, is the ideal choice. If you were to choose just one type of wine glass to fill all your wine-drinking needs, begin with a glass with a graceful stem sufficiently long to be held comfortably. Its bowl should be relatively large, with a capacity of at least 20 ounces. That will leave ample room for swirling the wine. Choose a glass with thin walls over one with thick glass. And make sure that the glass curves slightly inward a the top to focus the bouquet. A wine glass is usually the last step between you, and consuming the wine. At ROBERTS MARKET, we can give you tips on how to get the most enjoyment from your wine. We have wines in all price ranges and we are certain we can fine one to meet your needs. Come and see our selection of fine wines, or if you need a decanter, or wine glasses. We feature the finest produce, meats, poultry, and seafood available in the area, and we have a great selection of marinades which help change the taste of your favorite meats. Hint: Colorless glasses show a wine’s color to its best advantage. Deli Special from our Cheese Case Ovoline Fresh Mozzarella From Grande Perfect for your summer tomatoes Save $1.00 a lb. $8.79 lb. Short takes Save the date For those with longdeferred dreams of being a June bride — or groom — San Mateo County’s wedding chapel is now taking reservations for same-sex marriage ceremonies beginning June 17. The chapel, which is located on the first floor of the County Clerk’s Office at 555 County Center in Redwood City, holds up to 25 people, can be reserved for a 25-minute ceremony and rents for $35. Marriage licenses cost $78, and the ceremonies can be viewed over the Internet by farflung friends. Warren Slocum, the county recorder, said in a press release that he expects to expand the wedding chapel’s hours to accommodate the demand. Call 363-4500, ext. 6063. My wife is leaving That’s the tongue-in-cheek subject line of an e-mail sent by Las Lomitas School District Superintendent Eric Hartwig announcing that his wife, Woodside elementary teacher Debbie Hartwig, will decamp for Paris next year. Ms. Hartwig is retiring after 25 years of teaching at Woodside elementary. She got an offer she couldn’t refuse to spend a year teaching seventh grade at the American School of Paris. The Hartwigs are Francophiles who already have a pied-a-terre in Paris. “It’s a great new adventure for her, and instead of visiting Paris during her different breaks, she’ll come home to visit me,” Mr. Hartwig said. M E N L O P A R K | A T H E R T O N | W O O D S I D E | P O R T O L A V A L L E Y Nursing home nailed with $100,000 fine ■ Atherton woman died due to injuries suffered at facility, says state. Nursing home is appealing the charges. By Rory Brown Almanac Staff Writer D uring her 10-month stay at Atherton Healthcare nursing home in Menlo Park last year, 51-year-old Atherton resident Debra Nickel fell 14 times, including a late-November fall in which she sustained traumatic brain injuries, according to a California Department of Public Health report. She died several days later, the report said. Now, state officials have determined that the nursing home staff is at fault for Ms. Nickel’s death, and have hit the Menlo Park facility with a $100,000 fine and the most severe citation possible. The facility was fined a smaller amount earlier this year following an investigation into the October death of a Menlo Park man. The Department of Public Health announced its decision on June 5, claiming Atherton Healthcare staff was inattentive in caring for Ms. Nickel, who suffered from Huntington’s chorea disease and was prone to falls. The facility was hit with an “AA” citation — the most severe citation under state standards. “The facility failed to identify and continuously assess, evaluate and update the resident’s needs and plan of care to prevent further falls and injuries,” according to the report. Nana Cocachvili, executive director of Atherton Healthcare, located at 1275 Crane St., said the nursing home is appealing the decision, and that Ms. Nickel’s falls were “unavoidable,” due to the nature of her condition. Huntington’s chorea disease is a neurological condition that causes uncontrolled movements and emotional disturbance, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web site. “The patient didn’t allow help, and she couldn’t control her own behavior,” Ms. Cocachvili said. Ms. Nickel died Dec. 1, a week after an Atherton Healthcare staff member noticed a “deep lacerated wound” on the patient’s head while combing her hair, likely from an “unwitnessed fall,” according to the Department of Public Health report. The staff member informed a nursing home physician, who stated that Ms. Nickel “does not need to be sent out for stitches because scalp wounds heal easily,” the report says. The staff member notified a second physician, who recommended Ms. Nickel be taken to the emergency room, where she was admitted three hours later with high blood pressure and a heart rate of 128 beats per minute, the report says. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office See NURSING, page 6 Having fun, wish you were here Sarah Vitale, left, and Allison Silverman work on this year’s mural at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park late last month. Images of postcards from around the world adorn the music room wall, thanks to the students’ artistic efforts. Photo by Veronica Weber/The Almanac Taylor goes global It’s a small world for Menlo Park resident Taylor Francis, 16, who’s bringing his message on global warming to Shanghai and Beijing. Taylor trained under former Vice President Al Gore at The Climate Project, a Nashville-nonprofit. He’s spoken at Woodside Elementary School, the Woodside Priory and Menlo School. He will be in China through June 15, speaking to high school and college students, as well as business, government and non-governmental organizations, said Alex Carey, a Climate Project spokesman. Supes OK 20-year plan for Huddart, Wunderlich parks ■ Disputes with Woodside settled, but failure of Measure O may delay some improvements. By Marion Softky Almanac Staff Writer A fter four long years of contentious meetings, hearings, workshops and focus groups, San Mateo County now has a master plan for Huddart and Wunderlich parks that will preserve their resources and guide their use for the next 20 years. On June 3, the Board of Super- visors unanimously approved the master plan and the environmental impact report for the two hillside parks that rise from Woodside to Skyline. The meeting was unusually upbeat, since the remaining disagreements with Woodside have been resolved in the six weeks since a more contentious board meeting in April. “It went very well,” Woodside Town Manager Susan George told the Almanac. “Since April 22, we worked long and hard to work out a really good set of compromises. At the end of the day, we’re in 100 percent agreement.” The compromises would reduce access to lower Huddart Park through the gate to narrow Greer Road; allow horses to continue to ford West Union Creek until a new pedestrian/equestrian bridge is built; monitor and mitigate increased traffic due to new facilities in Huddart; and enter a maintenance agreement for 500 feet of Greer Road. Improvements called for in the new master plan may come much more slowly than hoped because of the failure of Measure O, the park sales tax on the June ballot. “We won’t be able to implement several projects,” said park planner Sam Herzberg. “Now we’ll have to seek private funds and grants.” The major project that’s closest to fruition is the restoration of the historic Folger Stables at Wunderlich Park and reconfiguring the driveway and parking lot, Mr. Herzberg noted. Supporters are well along in fundraising. “That will probably be the next step,” he said. Meanwhile the county is already taking steps to reduce fire hazards in the forest parks, Mr. Herzberg See PARKS, page 8 June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 5 N E W S Welding sparks may have started fire that destroyed carport, cars By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer S 800 Menlo Avenue, #101 Menlo Park, CA 94025 Dr. Kathleen Tavarez has been named an Invisalign Elite Premier Provider, recognizing 650-329-9600 www.drtavarez.com select doctors who have achieved an extraordinary level of experience and who represent the top 1% of North American practitioners. Your Child’s Health University Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital offers classes, seminars and resources designed to foster good health and enhance the lives of parents and children. parks from a welding torch may have started a fire that caused between $80,000 and $100,000 in damages and consumed a carport, a deck and two vehicles on Saturday, June 7, at 700 Glencrag Way in Woodside. The definitive cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Woodside Fire Protection District, Battalion Chief Don Romero told The Almanac. The only injury involved a minor burn on a firefighter’s arm, and that was treated at the scene, Battalion Chief Dan Ghiroso said. A resident of the two-story single-family house called 911 at 5:28 p.m., and the fire was out by 5:54 p.m., Mr. Romero said. While it was technically a twoalarm fire involving 62 firefighters and 22 vehicles, including 10 fire engines, two ladder trucks and a water truck, the second This family-based, behavioral and educational weight management program promotes healthy eating and exercise habits for overweight children and their families. More than 80% of children achieve long-term weight loss through this program – and parents lose weight too! The new session starts soon, so call (650) 725-4424 to pre-register. Spaces are limited. INFANT AND CHILD CPR Parents and other childcare providers will learn the techniques of infant and child CPR and how to avoid choking hazards. Mannequins are used to provide hands-on training. - Monday, July 7 NURSING continued from page 5 confirmed Ms. Nickel died Dec. 1 of swelling of the brain and brain hemorrhages caused by blunt trauma. The coroner’s office noted that Ms. Nickel was 51 years old, not 48, as the Department of Public Health and other media outlets have reported. CHILDBIRTH CLASS BY THE SEA Take a childbirth preparation class in a unique, retreat-like setting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay. This course includes breakfast and lunch for two at the hotel, as well as participation in breastfeeding and cesarean birth classes. - Sunday, July 27 SAFELY HOME CAR SEAT FITTING PROGRAM Did you know that 80% of car seats are set up incorrectly? A certified technician at Packard Children’s can ensure that your child’s car seat or booster is properly installed. The service, aided by Kohl’s, is free and available Monday through Saturday. Call (650) 736-2981 to make an appointment. Call (650) 723-4600 or visit www.lpch.org to register or obtain more information on the times, locations and fees for these and other courses. LU C I L E PA C K A R D C H I L D R E N’S H O S P I T A L TO SIGN 6 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 Ms. Cocachvili said Atherton Healthcare has appealed that decision too, and she argued the blame should lie on the transportation provider whose employee was supervising the patient when he fell, not the nursing home. “That incident should not be connected to us as a facility,” Ms. Cocachvili said. “We didn’t do anything wrong.” “Vastly improved” Another death TODAY Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Nursing home fined PEDIATRIC WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM CALL alarm had more to do with the fire’s potential to spread to the surrounding vegetation, Mr. Romero said. The relative absence of vegetation around the buildings — known as the defensible space — was “pretty good,” Mr. Romero said. An airborne ember from the fire in the carport probably started a small secondary grass fire, he said. The fire trucks did have to snake their way into the site via a roadway that had “a very sharp turn and was fairly narrow, Mr. Romero said, but added: “We did manage to get in there and put the fire out fairly quickly.” The two long-time residents of the home have been displaced because the fire district had to shut off the gas and electricity to the house, Mr. Ghiroso said. UP FOR CLASSES (650) 723-4600 The citation linked to Ms. Nickel’s death isn’t the only Department of Public Health claim Atherton Healthcare is currently fighting. In April, the state hit the nursing home with a $20,000 fine and citation following an investigation into the Oct. 28 death of a 79-year-old man who fell backwards off a wheelchair lift while being transported to an off-site medical appointment. The patient, Menlo Park resident Charles Ladeau, suffered major head trauma when he tried to stand up while being lifted into a van, and died shortly after the fall, according to reports filed at the Department of Health Services San Mateo County office in Daly City. The incident exposed the fact that Atherton Healthcare was outsourcing the driving of patients to off-site appointments through a private company without a formal contract, and without “written standards how transportation services should be provided,” according to the reports. Tippy Irwin, executive director of Ombudsman Services of San Mateo County, a group that supervises and investigates the treatment of seniors, said she doesn’t know who is to blame for recent incidents at Atherton Healthcare, but noted the facility has “vastly improved” from its days as Menlo Park Place Health Care Center under different ownership in 2005. “What happened recently was an absolutely horrible incident,” Ms. Irwin said of Ms. Nickel’s death. “But that place had plunged to the depths of poor quality. Is it perfect now? No, it has problems. But it has improved under the new ownership.” In 2005, the facility changed ownership and was known as Canaan Healthcare. The current owners took over in early 2007 and the name switched to Atherton Healthcare. Ms. Irwin said that several years ago, she was sending as many as six Ombudsman representatives a day to inspect the facility. Now she sends one inspector a week, she said. A C O M M U N I T Y R EAL E STATE Q&A by Monica Corman Menlo Park resident, veteran, volunteer Mike Salome dies By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer M enlo Park resident Mike Salome is no longer feeling cramps in his toes, a reminder of a bout with frostbite in 1944. The Nazis had given him and his fellow prisoners of war only thin socks and wooden shoes to wear during the winter at a camp in Germany. Michael J. Salome died May 22 at Stanford Hospital at the age of 84. A devoted volunteer who had given tens of thousands of hours to helping fellow war veterans, he had suffered a stroke recently, his wife Lee said. Mr. Salome’s wartime experiences fit a classic storyline for a World War II soldier. He entered France as a 19-year-old Army infantryman at Omaha Beach three days after the Normandy invasion; he fought machinegun battles in the hedgerows in the Normandy countryside, where the Germans were dug in and waiting; he crossed France in 27 days with Patton’s 3rd Army; and he was captured while in a foxhole outside the French town of Metz, he told the Almanac in 2001. For him, as the saying goes, the war was over, but the hardships were not. He was hauled off to the town of Limburg in western Germany to dig for bodies in bombed out buildings, then stuffed into a small boxcar with 75 other prisoners for a five-day, 500-mile trip north to Stalag 2A outside Neubrandenburg. The boxcar had no facilities and strafing by American war planes was a constant worry, he said. At the camp, where he spent nine months, they worked seven days a week unloading coal from railroad cars. Their guards were German soldiers in their 70s, he said. Mr. Salome said he escaped the camp on foot with seven other men as the war in Europe was winding down. They returned to the United States in the summer of 1945. Mr. Salome was discharged honorably, but continued his work for and with veterans throughout his life. Two focuses for him: prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action. He recently received an award from the Department of Veterans Affairs in recognition of his more than 35,000 hours of volunteer work at the VA hospitals in Menlo Park and Palo Alto. Homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse and post traumatic stress were common afflictions that he found there, he said. Mr. Salome had a career in real estate and was seldom without a pipe or a patriotic hat, relatives Butler Construction receives Family Friendly Award W.L. Butler Construction of Redwood City, founded by Bill Butler of Woodside, received the Family Friend Employer Award at the annual sixth annual Dads Count Fatherhood Breakfast held last month at the Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel. The event was sponsored by the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County. Company president Frank York received the award on behalf of W.L. Butler Construction, Inc. In a written statement, CEO Bill Butler, the father of three, said: “We’re a very family-oriented company, and I don’t use that term lightly. When we welcome you to our family, we also welcome your entire family, literally. Several of our tenured team members are blood relatives and we offer internship programs to help grow the next generation of the Butler family.” The company abides by all parent-friendly laws detailed in the Work and Families Act, Calling all school board candidates; informational meeting set for June 10 A candidate information night for the upcoming election for the Menlo Park City School District board is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, in the district board room at 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton. Those interested in running for the two seats up for election in November are invited to attend. Board members Laura Rich and Jeff Child are set to discuss the district and the role Photo courtesy of Libera Salome Mike Salome, in a recent photograph. said. He loved going to Las Vegas and working in his garden. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Libera; daughter Jean Szarlacki of Milpitas; son Robert of Louisville; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. “He had a very beautiful memorial service at the (Menlo Park) VA hospital in the chapel,” his wife told the Almanac. The family prefers that donations in lieu of flowers be made in memory of Michael J. Salome to the VA Palo Alto Hospital, attention Volunteers Services Fund, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304. A according to a company spokesperson. An onsite manager is available to assist employees with managing their benefits. The company supports many organizations that focus on families, including the Boys and Girls Club, Family Giving Tree, Job Train (formerly O.I.C.W.), Little League, Shelter Network, Second Harvest Food Drive, and Rebuilding Together. The Fatherhood Collaborative provides a forum to address and support the importance of men and fathers taking an active role in the well-being of children and families, according to the organization’s Web site. of board members, and answer questions. The candidate filing period opens July 14 and runs through Aug. 8, the deadline for filing candidate documents with the county Registration and Elections Division. For information about the meeting, call the district office at 321-7184. Being Realistic in this Market Q: I have read that sales of single family homes are down in the Mid-Peninsula. What are my chances of selling my home in this market? A: The number of sales during the first months of this year is down considerably from the same period in 2007. This is due to many factors ranging from problems in the financial markets to uncertainty among buyers as to which direction the market is headed. Many are very hesitant to buy until they know whether the market is going to see a significant decline or not. The national real estate news has been negative for a long time and this has an effect on behavior in our market as well. The best advice for sellers is to be very realistic about your property, particularly if it is in the low to mid-level price range. This segment has been most affected by the tightening of credit. Price your property very realistically if you are serious about selling. Avoid choosing the highest list price because buyers will be hesitant to act. Fix things that need repair; buyers like to know that sellers have not deferred maintenance. There is still good activity in our market and if you price and prepare your property well, it will sell. For answers to any questions you may have on real estate, you may e-mail me at mcorman@apr.com or call 462-1111, Alain Pinel Realtors. I also offer a free market analysis of your property. Stanford Driving School DRIVERS ED/TRAINING PACKAGE www.StanfordDrivingSchool.net $ 30off WITH THIS AD Summer in-Class Schedule Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Mon 6/9 Sat 6/14 Mon 6/16 Mon 7/23 Tue 6/10 Sun 6/15 Tue 6/17 Tue 7/24 Wed 6/11 Sat 6/21 Wed 6/18 Wed 7/25 Thur 6/12 Sun 6/22 Thur 6/19 Thur 7/26 (650) 493-1978 • 3960 El Camino Real, Palo Alto For more information on getting your permit, visit our website at: www.StanfordDrivingSchool.net The Bowman program builds confidence, creativity and academic excellence. Lower School - Grades K - 5 Middle School - Grades 6 - 8 Individualized, self-directed program Rich international and cultural studies Proven, Montessori approach State-of-the-art facility Low student-teacher ratio www.bowmanschool.org 4000 Terman Drive Palo Alto, CA Tel: 650-813-9131 June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 7 N E W S Dobbie says ‘straight talk’ won Atherton council race By Andrea Gemmet Almanac Staff Writer J im Dobbie credits his straightforward manner for his success in the race for an Atherton City Council seat in the June 3 special election. Although there are some votes remaining to be tallied, he was leading his competitor for the seat, Elizabeth Lewis, by 59 percent to 41 percent, late last week. The special election was held to fill the remaining two years left on Alan Carlson’s third term. Mr. Carlson moved out of Atherton in December and resigned his seat. “I ran what I consider to be an honest, straight-talking race. I didn’t pretend to be anything I wasn’t,” Mr. Dobbie, 77, told the Almanac. Mr. Dobbie also pointed to strong support throughout the town, particularly in neighborhoods west of El Camino Real. “I won every precinct, at least by the numbers I’ve seen,” he said. The fact that Mr. Dobbie hails from the Lindenwood neighborhood, east of Middlefield Road, became a campaign issue. Jim Dobbie Ms. Lewis’ supporters, including former council member Carlson, have charged that the Lindenwood Homes Association has too much influence over Atherton town government. “I want to squash this idea that Lindenwood is trying to take over the town,” Mr. Dobbie said. “I don’t think that’s the case, or people wouldn’t have voted for me.” As of Friday afternoon, June 6, the county reported 943 votes cast for Mr. Dobbie, and 647 votes for Ms. Lewis. Although the San Mateo County Elections Office doesn’t expect to complete counting votes until later this week, the ★ ELECT ON ★ 0 ★ 8 ★2 0 outcome of Atherton’s election is unlikely to change. Throughout the vote count, the results have shown a roughly 60-40 split in favor of Mr. Dobbie. Campaign spending The council race didn’t come cheap. Campaign spending exceeded a combined total of $40,000, with Ms. Lewis reporting expenditures of almost $25,000, and Mr. Dobbie spending more than $16,000. Mr. Dobbie reported receiving $4,000 in late campaign contributions after May 17. A $2,000 donation was made by Roy Demmon, a retired Atherton resident, and $1,000 each was donated by Robert C. Wilson, retired, and Eric Roberts, a self-employed art dealer. Ms. Lewis reported two late contributions, of $1,000 each, from David Dollinger, an Atherton resident and developer, and Brion Applegate, founder of Spectrum Equity Investors. A Red light cameras go live June 10 ■ Early numbers suggest system could be a big money maker for the city. By Rory Brown Almanac Staff Writer I f the early data is any indicator, Menlo Park’s new red-light photo enforcement program could add a lot of money to the city’s coffers once the system starts ticketing drivers on June 10. In a trial run of the system, 194 drivers were caught running red lights while turning left on to Willow Road from Bayfront Expressway from May 6 to June 4, according to Diel Hutchins, a program manager with the Menlo Park Police Department. The intersection is the first to be equipped with still-image and video cameras that catch drivers who run red lights, allowing the police department to mail tickets, as well as photos of each alleged violation, to drivers. Since May 6, the city has been mailing warnings to drivers caught by the cameras, but starting 12:01 a.m. June 10, the department will start mailing tickets of at least $378 to redlight runners. Big revenues ahead? If the trial period is a sign of things to come, money generated by the cameras could easily exceed the $100,000 of revenue the system was projected to bring in for the fiscal year that starts July 1. For every $378 red-light ticket, the city receives $150, Ms. Hutchins said. If 194 red-light violators are ticketed each month through the system, the city would collect about $273,000 annually. That total takes into account the monthly per-camera fee of $6,350 the city has agreed to pay Los Angeles-based Redflex Traffic Systems to install and monitor the cameras. And more cameras are on the way. Ms. Hutchins said two cameras — one for each direction of El Camino Real at Ravenswood Avenue — should be up and running in coming months. Cameras will also be installed on El Camino Real at Valparaiso Avenue, and on Sand Hill Road at the entrance to the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Improving safety Menlo Park Police Sgt. Sharon Kaufman, echoing remarks made by City Council members and city officials when the red-light photo program was unanimously approved in 2006, stressed that the cameras are intended to increase safety, not to boost revenues. She said putting cameras at 8 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 ■ MEN L O PARK frequently traveled intersections will make drivers think twice before running red lights. “I’ve seen some very serious ugly crashes there,” Sgt. Kaufman said of the Willow Road/ Bayfront Expressway intersection. “As much as people would probably prefer to see live officers at these intersections, it’s not logistically possible.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist David Halberstam was killed in a three-car accident at the Willow Road/Bayfront Expressway intersection last year. Sgt. Kaufman said it’s likely that only 60 to 75 percent of redlight runners will actually receive tickets, as the camera system won’t be able to identify some drivers. As drivers get used to the cameras, the number of tickets and revenue for the city will drop, she predicted. A Measure O falls short of two-thirds support Measure O, the county-wide proposal to increase the sales tax by one-eighth cent to benefit parks and recreation programs, fell short Tuesday of the two-thirds voter approval it needed for passage As of Thursday morning, the yes vote count was 44,864 or 60 percent of the vote, and the no vote was 29,596 or 40 percent. “It’s just very difficult to make the two-thirds threshold,” said Julia Bott, executive director of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, who led the campaign. The campaign raised $500,000 and recruited lots of volunteers. “The volunteers were stellar,” Ms. Bott said on election night. “We had so many people working so hard.” Supes OK parks plan PARKS continued from page 5 said. It’s controlling vegetation, removing hazardous trees, and improving drainage. “We’re doing this right now,” he said. The most controversial aspect to the master plan — the proposal to route a bike trail from the valley to Skyline through Huddart Park — was withdrawn after a couple of Parks Commission meetings in 2006 that drew 400 people, 79 speakers, and more than 300 letters. A new committee is working on a countywide trails master plan. Woodside compromises There has been a “dramatic reduction in traffic on Greer Road” since the county locked the gate at the end of that road in late April, admitted Woodside attorney and Greer Road resident Robert Susk, who has been leading the fight to curb park traffic on the narrow road. In a letter, Mr. Susk commended Parks Director David Holland and his staff for their attention to the problems of their neighbors. He also noted the entrance is still used Blood center sounds urgent call for donations The Stanford Blood Center put out an urgent call for type O negative blood donors last week after a heart surgery patient used the center’s entire O negative inventory. The surgery “just wiped us out, and we’re now struggling to Ms. Bott hopes the volunteers will stay involved in helping parks. “The need hasn’t gone away,” she said. “We still have to figure out ways to support our local parks.” The estimated $16 million a year that would have been raised if the tax had passed could have been used for after-school and summer programs for kids and teens; overdue maintenance and upgrades to trails, recreation areas, and park facilities; repairing and upgrading playgrounds and playing fields; and preserving natural open space. The money would have been spent on county parks but also would have been divided among the county’s 20 cities and three special districts. get back on our feet,” said blood center spokesperson Michele Hyndman. Ms. Hyndman said the center has exhausted the list of its regular type O negative blood donors, “and we’re looking for people in the community to step up and by garbage trucks, service vehicles and employees. “The institutional use of Greer Road as a ‘short-cut’ is an unwelcome and unwarranted misuse of this road,” he wrote. Mr. Herzberg reported that closing the gate significantly reduced traffic on Greer Road from cars, motorcycles, and packs of bicyclists who swept through. Now pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians can pass through one at a time, but cars and motorcycles are blocked. The county will probably establish a keypad control on the gate, he said. The county also accommodated the horse riders who like to cross West Union Creek on their way out of Huddart Park onto trails in Woodside. It agreed that horses could continue to walk across the creek as long as there is no bridge they can use — or unless a state agency rules they cannot. The only bridge now is for pedestrians, but it may fail and needs to be replaced. The county is willing to replace it with a bridge for both pedestrians and horses when necessary and if money can be found. This would have been a good project for Measure O funds, Mr. Herzberg grumbled. A donate” to ride out the crisis. The blood center is also below minimum inventory in types O positive, A negative, A positive, B negative and AB negative. Donors should call 650-7237831 or 888-723-7831 to make an appointment, find out hours of operation and get directions. For more information or to schedule an appointment online, go to http://bloodcenter. stanford.edu N E W S Jim Lewis threatens libel lawsuit against city, Councilwoman Fergusson By Rory Brown Almanac Staff Writer F or the past year, Palo Alto resident Jim Lewis has become one of Menlo Park’s most persistent volunteers, attending countless public meetings, trying to organize city events, and bombarding the City Council with e-mails and speeches regarding what he likes about the city, and how to make it better. He’s proving equally persistent in efforts to get retribution for what he says were libelous actions on the part of Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson. On March 7, Mr. Lewis and his attorney, Carleton Briggs, filed a claim against Ms. Fergusson and the city for more than $10,000. The claim says a Sept. 16 ■ MENLO PAR K e-mail sent to Mr. Lewis by Ms. Fergusson exposed the Palo Alto resident to “hatred, contempt, ridicule and obloquy.” Mr. Lewis identifies himself as a Menlo Park business owner, but he refused to disclose the name of his business to The Almanac. In the e-mail, Ms. Fergusson (who was mayor at the time) expressed reservations about sitting next to Mr. Lewis at a breakfast he organized to welcome incoming city manager Glen Rojas. Ms. Fergusson questioned whether the public was properly notified of the event, and whether Mr. Lewis was misrepresenting himself as a council member. “I am concerned that that the City Council, and myself as the council’s representative, and possibly even the city manager, will be subject to awkward misrepresentations,” Ms. Fergusson wrote in the e-mail. The city did not act on Mr. Lewis’ claim, rejecting it by default. That means Mr. Lewis has until December 5 to determine if he wants to file a lawsuit — something he said he will do if a settlement isn’t reached by that date. “Settlement is always an option,” Mr. Lewis said. “But if settlement fails, I definitely plan to take it to court.” Mr. Briggs said he had no further comment on the claim. Ms. Fergusson and City Attorney Bill McClure could not be reached before The Almanac’s deadline to comment on this story. CHRONOMAT A Downtown block parties are back By Rory Brown Almanac Staff Writer T he Menlo Park downtown block parties will return this summer, and the events have been scheduled for three Wednesday evenings: June 25, Aug. 6 and Aug. 20. Similar to last year’s parties, the city will close the downtown portion of Santa Cruz Avenue to traffic, stores will extend their hours, restaurants will offer outside dining, and local music groups will perform for several hours in the downtown area. All three block parties are scheduled for 6 to 9:30 p.m., and will coincide with the city’s “Music in the Park” concert series at Fremont Park. This year, the city is inviting local nonprofits to set up informational booths at the event. There is no charge for nonprofits to take part in the block party, but participants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations and have a significant presence in Menlo Park. Nonprofits wishing to participate ■ MENLO WAT CH can register by going to the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce Web site at MenloParkChamber.com, and click on the “Downtown Block Party” link on the home page. manager of juvenile mediation programs for the San Mateo County Superior Court. The event is scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. in the council chambers at the Civic Center, between Laurel and Alma streets. Recycle electronics Gangs forum Local gangs, and how to keep teenagers from joining them, will be the topic of a forum organized by Menlo Park Mayor Andy Cohen scheduled for Wednesday, June 11. The forum is the second in the mayor’s “Healthy Communities” speaker series — an effort to get Menlo Park and other cities to work together to tackle regional issues. The series kicked off May 28 with a forum dedicated to homelessness. The panel of speakers for the June 11 event includes Cmdr. Lacey Burt and Sgt. Eric Cowans from the Menlo Park Police Department; Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Peter Fortenbaugh; and David Cherniss, the San Mateo County residents can drop off old computers, televisions, batteries, cell phones, and other electronic equipment for recycling at Tyco Electronics’ Menlo Park campus on Saturday, June 21. Residents can drop off the equipment from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the main entrance to the Tyco campus, at 300 Constitution Drive, near the intersection of Bayfront Expressway and Chilco Street. There is no fee. Other items that can be recycled include stereos, printers, copiers, microwaves, and compact fluorescent bulbs and tubes. Stoves, refrigerators and washing machines will not be accepted. For more information, call the South Bayside Waste Management Authority at 802-3500. Jim Gorman Swim School Private swimming & diving lessons A (Semi-Private lessons available if pre-grouped) Reporting crimes with computer now available in Menlo Park Crime reporting is moving online in Menlo Park. For victims of a nonviolent crime such as theft, vehicle burglary or vandalism with no suspect information, the Menlo Park Police Department has a form to fill out on the Web at www. menloparkpolice.com. The link is located on the bottom right. The online report is optional, an alternative to having an officer write the report at the police station or at the scene of the crime, Menlo Park Police Sgt. Sharon Kaufman said in a statement. Other crimes that can be reported online include lost property, identity theft, hit-andrun, harassing phone calls and vehicle tampering. The form takes a few minutes to fill in and can be canceled at any point before clicking on a link to submit it. There are situations for which this form should not be used: ■ Emergencies. In an emergency in which persons or property are in jeopardy, call 911. ■ Freeway incidents. Call the California Highway Patrol. ■ Crimes that happen outside Menlo Park city limits. Call the appropriate law enforcement agency. ■ Crimes in which the victim can provide information on a suspect. Call the Menlo Park police at 330-6317. We teach 7 day/week, year-round All ages & abilities Warm clean pools Instructors are fun, patient, mature experienced and professional 854-6699 Extension 100 June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 9 N E W S Next fiscal year: Deficit or no deficit? By Rory Brown Almanac Staff Writer O n paper, Menlo Park is facing a projected $1.01 million deficit heading into the fiscal year that starts July 1. What do City Council members think about the projected deficit? For the most part, they don’t believe it exists. At their June 3 meeting, council members discussed the proposed 2008-09 fiscal year budget, which projects the city will spend about $38.24 million in the upcoming fiscal year and collect about $37.23 million in revenues. Although the city is projected to fall $1.01 million short of covering its costs, the city’s past budgets have outperformed expectations, and a majority of council members said it’s safe to assume the upcoming fiscal year should be no different. ■ MENLO PARK “If [historical] trends continue, we will not have this sizeable budget deficit when all is said and done,” said Councilman Heyward Robinson. The council did not take action on the budget, as final approval of the 200-page document is scheduled for June 17. But most council members gave nods of approval to City Manager Glen Rojas’ recommendations of avoiding any drastic budget cuts, and keeping the current 1 percent tax on all utility bills. Over spending? Councilman John Boyle was the lone council member to take issue with the budgeting approach, stating the city is “tempting fate” by taking on full list of projects when facing a projected deficit. He noted that the city’s spending is expected to increase by about 6 percent from the previous fiscal year, and revenues are projected to grow by just 1.5 percent. “This is not going to get us to a long-term sustainable budget,” Mr. Boyle said. “I don’t think we need to spend all the money we’re planning on spending.” Councilman Richard Cline said projects that may prove costly today, such as the El Camino Real visioning effort, should provide an economic boost to the city in coming years. Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson urged city staff to complete the long-awaited fee study that could show the city how to make city programs more cost-effective. Employee costs Absent from the council meeting were past council members Lee Duboc and Mickie Winkler, who sent a widely distributed e-mail on May 31 stressing that the city should be wary of growing personnel costs. Ms. Duboc said she’s trying to increase public awareness about rising employee and benefit costs facing Menlo Park and other Peninsula cities, and is yet to go directly to council members in an effort to be as “apolitical as possible.” “I’m not trying to be critical of city staff, and I’m not saying they’re doing a bad job,” Ms. Duboc said. “I’m looking at this strictly from an economic stability standpoint. ... This issue cuts across political lines in our city, and it’s something we need to address.” Ms. Duboc noted that she’ll be sending regular e-mails out about the issue of rising city employee costs. Ms. Winkler, who was recently named to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury, won’t be taking part in the effort, she said. PV council may decide on tree’s fate this week A Town Council decision is likely this week to decide the fate of the hollowed-out oak tree that leans over the home-team dugout at Ford Field in Portola Valley. The council meets at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, in the Historic Schoolhouse. The dugout has been closed since early April after six arborists agreed independently that the tree was in danger of falling. The town would be liable for any injuries. Also on the agenda: a first look at the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and revisiting the noise ordinance as it applies to construction activities by property owners, particularly on weekends. A Atherton: special budget meeting Birt TRADITIO- NS You are Invited to a Birthday Celebration! Budget talk and nothing but — that’s the agenda for a special Atherton City Council meeting set for Wednesday, June 11, in the council chambers, located at 94 Ashfield Road. Council members will discuss the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, and may even vote to adopt it. If they don’t adopt a budget at the special meeting, it will be added to the regular monthly meeting agenda on June 18. The agenda includes public hearings on the budget, and on setting the levy for the annual parcel tax. Information is available online at www.ci.atherton.c.a.us by clicking on “Agendas, minutes, reports” and then choosing the City Council agenda for June 11. Where: Traditions, 850 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park What: Birthday Cake & Special Savings in the tent (Thurs, Fri, Sat (June 5, 6, 7) When: June 5 – 14 and… everything in the store at our Celebration Price of 24% OFF until June 14. We thank you for supporting us these past 24 years! Traditions… making homes beautiful since 1985. 10 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 Woodside council reviews budget The budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1 will be a primary topic for the Woodside Town Council meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, in Independence Hall. The council meeting begins with an interview of Mary Brasher, a candidate for the Planning Commission; and Jack Helfand and Leo J. Kusber, candidates for the Architectural and Site Review Board. GRAND OPENING – NEW HOMES Saturday, June 7 TH - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. P A L O A LT O Address – Palo Alto Destination – Fun It’s time to live it UP. And at Echelon in Palo Alto, it’s easy. These contemporary condominium homes offer up to approximately 1,629 square feet. The address puts you close to good times of every description. The eateries and boutiques of University Avenue and downtown Mountain View. World-class shopping at Stanford Shopping Center. A football game or live performance at the University. Top-performing schools and a great commute location too. Come see the fun side of upscale — at Echelon. UPSC ALE CONDOMINIUMS ANTICIPATED FROM THE $700,000s . (877) 890-3414 101 PALO ALTO DLE FIEL DR D WAY MID OW REA L EAD INO DR CAM E. M EL FABIAN 82 NIO RD TO N NA SA Pricing effective as of publication deadline. Rendering is artist’s conception. Map not to scale. YourNewPeninsulaHome.com SHH 139 Menlo Park Almanac 10x13_v9.indd 1 June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 11 5/27/08 10:47:42 AM C L A S S O F 2 0 0 8 Photo by Veronica Weber/The Almanac MOV I N’ ON › GOODBYE Menlo-Atherton High School graduates wait in the school’s gym for the start of the commencement ceremony on June 5. T he annual adieu at MenloAtherton High School fell this year on Thursday, June 5, when some 339 seniors assembled at around 4 p.m. on the school’s football field for the beginning of the end of their high school journey. A contingent of Marines marched in with the flag, senior Betsy Burch led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the air rang with the tones of the national anthem sung by the school choir under the direction of Patrick Maier. The official welcome was given by seniors Tara Galvez and Victoria Phan. The program included speeches by six seniors: Stephanie Lee talked about “The Things We Carry”; Jenny Fried spoke of “My Friend, Voltaire”; Philip Arcuni looked to the future with “Face Forward”; Bo and Margho Dunahoo-Kirsch gave their views on the topic 12 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 M - A , SAYS CLASS O F 20 0 8 of “Becoming Us”; and Tara Galvez proposed an interpretation of the “MenloAtherton Legacy.” Principal Matthew Zito spoke and presented the class to Olivia Martinez, a trustee with the Sequoia Union High School District, and Ed LaVigne, an assistant superintendent with the district. Names read aloud were matched with diplomas and handshakes were exchanged. Then, with mortarboard tassels adjusted to reflect the seniors’ new status as alumni, the event drew to a close. Graduates: A: Gabriela Acuna, Marjorie Adams, Elanor Vaolele Afuhaamango, Siosiua Afungia, Matthew Aguilar, Anna Shea Alter, Daniel E. Alvarez, Rosa Elia Alvarez, Jammo D Amanuel, Gregory Andrews, Philip M. Arcuni, Sally Carina Arriaga, Jaime Arroyo, Johana Atrizco, Christian Ayala B: Lee Bader, Nina Dumont Baron, William Conrad Bassett, William Taylor Bauer, Nicolas Beowulf Bellamy, Stephanie Benavides, Sarah Hoy Black, Ana Laura Blanco, Alexis Anne Bley, Matthew Mark Bogott, Patricia Adele Bortolazzo, Matthew Christopher Boyle, Richard Douglas Branning, Ben Frank Brian IV, Alexandra Lee Brody , Elizabeth Mullaugh Burch, Taylor Russell Burwell, Roberto Bustos, Joseph Casto Abundo Buttram C: Julia Megan Cabral, Deisy Anacari Cabrera, Callie Jane Cain, Christopher Alex Calvarese, Shelly Marie Camarillo, Maria Selene Castellanos, Alejandra Susana Castillo, Nubia Jasmine Cazares, Catherine Izabel Cea, Jaime Franshesca Cea, Silvia Karen Ceballos, Paola Celis, Karina Chacon, George Joseph Chahrouri, Eric Chen, Michael Chen, Nicholas Lowrey Chladek, John Epstein Christie, Ray Swift Cleverly, Oscar Jean Pierre Coaquira Castro , Carolyn Rose Bobier Coates, Marina Colocho, Laura Contreras, Christopher James Cornelius, Isabel Correa, Rigo Jesus Correa, Brook Alexandra Costello D: Corinna M Dal Colletto, Christian D. De Jesus Sanchez, Lionel De La Torre, Alexander Degtiar, Andrew Ongkeko del Calvo, Elise Angele Delagnes, Nicolas I. Diaz, Stephen Scott DiSibio, Sebastian Doerner, Katherine Cecilia Doniger, Scott Doolin, Nicholas Dove, Roman Doyonnas, Megan Danielle Dunn, Bowen West Dunnahoo Kirsch, Margho Eve Dunnahoo Kirsch E - F: Suzanne Eldredge, Melissa Marie Eldridge, Larissa Anna Epstein, Everett Walter Estkowski, Agustin Alonso Estrada, Macario Eusebio Jr., Anna Elizabeth Rogers Faris, Jenna Jaquelyn Fejervary, Jessica Lynn Feldman, Bernard Yang Feng, Allison Leigh Fero, Fernando Fierro Gutierrez, Kevin M. Flaherty, Jose Antonio Flores, Nicholas Robert Fogel, Kelsey Olson Fowle, Emily Lauren Freeman, Jenny Fried, Daniel Santos Fuentes, Decca Livia Fulton, Terrence Wier Fundakowski G: Heidi Jean Galbraith, John Jacob Patrick Gallen, Tara Christine Galvez, Sergio Garcia, Jose Manuel Garcia Juarez, Dillon Aaron Garibaldi, Matthieu Nicolas Garlock, Sarah Kathryn Getchell, Kirk D. Gharda, Adrian Gomez, Stephanie Gomez, Cynthia Citlaly Gonz·lez, Diana Gonzalez, Madelyn Jasmine Gonzalez Dubon, Frederick T. Gray, Noah Justin Greenberg, Alexandra Greene-Deutsch, Mark Johnson Gregory, Nicole Danielle Gregory, Aaron Groom, Elaina Gross, Peter H. Gruber, Rogelio Guardado, Josue Gutierrez, Jasmin Guzman, Luis Pastor Guzman H: Andrew Hagman, Caroline A. Halaby, Megan Rene Haley, Faysal M. Hamawy, Erica La’ See M-A HIGH SCHOOL, next page C › GRADUATIO N LAU NCH ES W OODSIDE H IGH ’S CLASS O F 20 0 8 T he turf at Woodside High School’s football field is artificial, but the emotion was real from the seniors gathered on the field to receive their diplomas on Friday morning, June 6. Michael Fisher, president of the class of 2008, opened the ceremonies with the official welcome. The program included speeches by three seniors: Priscilla Taufoou attempted to capture the moment with her talk, “We Made It”; Megan Fisher looked ahead with “Changing the Future”; and Jennifer Black spoke about “The Power to be Incredible.” The gathering then heard the speech “The Hour of Passing” through the voices of 12 Woodside High valedictorians. The senior gift this year establishes a scholarship fund for the following three graduating classes aimed at students with “a strong involvement with the school, academic excellence and extracurricular activities.” Principal David Reilly spoke and helped hand out diplomas with Gordon Lewin, a trustee of the Sequoia Union High School District; Francisca Miranda, an assistant superintendent for the district; and Linda Common, Mr. Reilly’s predecessor as principal and now a special education administrator for the district. At the end, the class president led the class in the tassel switch and the formal end of their days as high school students. Graduates A: Paulina Danielle Bugayong Abaya, Kevin Matthew Abbott, Omar Abonce, Afelda Kristy Aguilera, Nicolas Andres Alas, Miguel A. Alcantara, Rachel Berta Alexander, Marie Ann Alftin, Haley Yadira See WOODSIDE HIGH, page 14 L A S S O F 2 0 0 8 › SUMMIT PREP GRADUATION IS A FAMILY AFFAIR ummit Preparatory Charter High School graduates S its second class of seniors at 6 p.m. Friday, June 13, at Carrington Hall on the campus of Sequoia High School in Redwood City. The celebration gets under way with a lunch for students, parents and faculty. Principal Todd Dickson will give brief remarks during the ceremony. Students will be heard from as narrators of a filmed photo montage showing the graduates in scenes from childhood on up to their experiences in high school, Mr. Dickson said. Of the 94 seniors set to graduate this year, 22 live in Menlo Park, five in Woodside, four in Portola Valley and one in Atherton, according to the school. Graduates A - C: Christopher Aden, Tarabel Alvarez, MonDana Bathai, Caleb Beckett, Brett Beekley, Samuel Bertken, Anthony Bigler, Victor Bilbao, Alexandra Bradley, Benjamin Brown, Antonio Carapia, Jason Caria, Isaias Castro, Jorge Cortes, Francis Cruz Photo by Veronica Weber/The Almanac Diploma in hand, a Woodside High School graduate scans the crowd in the stands on June 6. M-A HIGH SCHOOL continued from previous page Porche Hayes, Christopher Matthew Healy, Jasmine Araceli Herrera, Jeffrey Jerome Hester, Aaron W. Heuckroth, David Hiltbrand, Julie H. Ho, Kevin David Hobson, Melissa Hobson, Sean Michael Holtzman, Johann M. Holvick-Thomas, Matthew Hubbell I - K: Jose Luis Ibarra, Raul Ibarra, Emily Gale Jacobson, Isabelle Paige James, Samuel Jenkins, C. Richard Walker Jones, Elena Kadvany, Gregory S. Kalin, Janine Kaufer, Allison L. Kelley, Ariane Juliette Khalfa, Kelsey Kienitz, Matthew Craig King, Andrew Klein, Alp Kutlu, Jason Kwok L: Jonathan Lagan, Kevin Lane, Aloisia Eve’evakifaite Langi, Alexander James Lattin, Viliami Latu, Alecha Shirrelle Lax, Megan St. Clair Lazar, Alexander Joy Leanse, Stephanie Patricia Lee, Daniel Wolf Lees, Fred F. Liang, Katie Joanna Loma , David Lopez, Francisco J. Lopez, Jose Lopez Sanchez, Bradley C. Lovegren, Benjamin P. Lowe, Elaina Marie Luke M: Emelio Madriaga, Lindsy Maldonado, John A. Margolis, Michael Arthur Masket, Malakai Fuaimaile Mataele, Paula Mataele, Troy A. McCabe, Brendan P. McGrath, William McIntyre, Marleachia Shankail McJunkins, Arielle McKee, Emily McPherson, Molly McRae, Rachel Mein, Maria Mellin, Julie Menninger, Joncarmen Vashio Mergenthaler, Robert Andrew Merk, Chloe Anne Moffett, Litani W. Moimoi, Matthew Mojica, Megan Daphne Mongird, James Hutchins Moragne, Nancy Elizabeth Morales, Emmanuel Moreno, Madeline Morey, Rachel Jean Leiani Morris, Mateen Mortazavi, Matthew Scott Mosher, Ana Karen Mota, Roarke Murdock, Robin B. Murphy, Nicole A. Myoraku N - O: Mitchell Nahmias, Reenal Narayan, Arjun T.S. Narsinghia, Emma Neville, Matthew Meyer Nixon, Stedman O’Brian Tigner, Kimberly Annette O’Donnell, Pedro Garcia Ochoa, Robert Olvera, Marcos Orejel, Josselyn Orellana, Gregory Oremland, Elizabeth Olmstead Osborn, Zahra Survi Osorio P: Zachariah Pahulu, Karen Palafox, Cesar Paramo Garica, Ashley Kathleen Parish, Floriane Parmentier, Maria E. Patino Corona, James Hamilton Peck, Giancarlo Perez, Danika Maia Perman, John Maclean Peters, Erin S. Peterson, Victoria Phan, Isaiah Phillips, Flora Jr. Maria-i-Makulata Piponi, Timothy Kleczewski Ploeger, Alexandre Nicolas Popp, Joseph Prado, Jessica Radhika Prasad R: Raymond Joseph Rael, Sheraj Ragoobeer, Dara Rahimzadeh, Evelia Ramirez, Sally Frances Ramirez, Brizeida Carolina Ramos Torres, Janne Rapakko, Austin Donald Raub, Jonathan Rendon, Patricia Reyna, Michelle Marguerite Rich, Jenna Rieben, Julia Rose Robinson, Sean Spencer Robinson, Adilia Rodriguez, Julia Veronica Rodriguez, Karen Rodriguez, Lisette Rodriguez, Michael Angelo Rodriguez, Yulyana Rodriguez, Ana Iris Rubio, Marlies Cornelia Tomayo Ruck, Marbin Ruiz S: Vanessa Sagrero, Nicholas James Salem, Freddy Salto, Alida Benjamin Santos, Aaron B Sarfaty, Jon Schectman, Caitlin Borg Schlisserman, Alyssa Marie Schooler, Jennifer Sepulveda, Emma Sharer, Tatiana A. Sheikhrezai, Erica Marie Shepard, Katharine Burns Sherwin, Susana Siordia, Alison Margo Smaalders, Lauren Renee Smith, William Roland Smith, Scott Christopher Somersett, Christopher Sorenson, Benjamin Sorlie, Kendall R. Stacey, Michael Stanzler, Antony Staples, Scott Gregory Sterling, Michael Stosz, Michael Tadich Suhr, Scott Michael Superko, Ross Jackson Sylvester T: Shelia Malek Tabrizi, AnuAnu Tameifuna, Ericka Tapia , Kendra Thomas, Marcus Alan Thompson, Tate Thurston, Veronica Torres, Christhyan Jazmin Tovar, Laura Tovar, Emma Frances TownsendMerino, Jake Benjamin Hall Toy U - V: Juan U. Vaca, Raymond Maurice Vainikolo, Samuela Tuitupou Vakameilalo Jr., Jose Antonio Valencia Lopez, Mayra Valencia, Sarah Vallarino, Bernard N. Vallerga, Erika Valverde, Francisco Vargas, Miriam A. Vargas, Angelo Roberto Vargas Reyes, Stephanie Velazquez, Ashley Vella, Pieter VerHaar, Beatrice Von Guggenberg, Kasey McGovern Vosburg, Marc Richard Vujovich W - Z: Marika Walter, Alexandra Warner, Zoen C. Warran, Carson Y. Weiss, Scott Charles Wertz, Zoe West, Luisa Westley, Madeline Elizabeth Wheeler, Jamal Wilkins, Ce mone Williams, Danyell WilliamBuford , Drew Waymon Richard Winn, Andrew T. Winters, Erik A. Wolters, Matthew Wong, Ji Xia, Eric Yen, Kristin Ann Youngberg, Tyler Wayne Zammit, Jazmin Zamora D - H: Colin Reid Dennis, Mark Dreschke, David Eastman, Gabriel Erdozaincy, Brett Ernst, Oscar Escobedo, Sydney Fergason, Perla Flores, Austin Fosnes, Evan Geller, Brian Gluss, Raul Gonzalez, Kevin Hernandez, Brian Hodgins, Lindsey Hom, Susan Hood, Christopher Huang, Alex Hussinger I - M: Pamela Imperiale-Hagerman, Charles Kenny, William Kielty, Amelia Klear, Justin Kou, Molly Landeen, Philip Lehrer, Benjamin Levin, Martina Lo, Nicholas Lo, Luis Madrigal, Morgan Maich, Jade Maniscalco, Manuel Martinez, Edwin Mercado, Maxwell Mical, Alexandra Marie Miller, Benjamin Milman, Danielle Moneypenny, Jonathan Ward Mules N - S: George Nery, Laura Ogle, Jannet Orozco, Emma PelegriO’Day, Tatiana Perez, Luis Posada, Cameron Potratz, Natalie ReidLopez, Christian Rodriguez, Kinneret Rogers, Nicolas Romano, Alexander Rubino, Kaya Saldajeno, Jesus Sanchez, Tyler Schoening, Allison Sheridan, Margaret Shimer-John, Zachary Shpizner T - Z: Blaine Talberth, Michael Tang, Jonathan Thomas, Elizabeth Upton, Michael Urban, Geraldin Valdez, Melissa Valdivias, Harrison Vale, Daniel Valencia, Corey James Vixie, Anandini Wadera, Kevin Waylonis, Samuel Weber, Victoria Weber, Dean Wenstrand, Callan West, Blair Williams, Spencer Wittmeyer, Adam Wohlsen, Tyler Wood, Vitaly Zaytsev, Jimmy Zuniga, Adam Zwicker June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 13 PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN’S EYES The Vision Council of America reports that nearly half of American parents do not regularly provide their children with sunglasses that protect their eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Consequently, they could be setting up their children for potential vision problems later in life, such as sunburned corneas, cancer of the eyelid, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Children’s eyes are more susceptible because their lenses do not block as much UV as adult lenses do. Children also tend to spend more time outdoors than adults, and most UV eye damage is due to cumulative exposure. If parents go to great lengths to protect their children’s skin from the sun’s damaging rays, they should afford their eyes the same protection. The sun can damage your eyes just like it can damage your skin. Children need sunglasses with UV ray protection because they spend more time outdoors than adults and are particularly susceptible to eye diseases from UV radiation. At MENLO OPTICAL, we offer a wide selection of sunglasses with 100 percent UV ray protection. Call us at 322-2900, or visit us at 1166 University Drive, on the corner of Oak Grove Avenue and University Drive. P.S. Both UVA and UVB can contribute to cataracts, which affect more than half of all Americans by age 80. Mark Schmidt is an American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners Certified Optician licensed by the Medical Board of California. He can be easily reached at Menlo Optical, 1166 University Drive, Menlo Park. 650-322-3900. NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS BID PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK BONDE WEIR FISH PASSAGE IMPROVEMENT The City of Menlo Park invites qualified contractors to submit sealed bid proposals for the construction of the City’s SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK BONDE WEIR FISH PASSAGE IMPROVEMENT project. Work required as part of this project consists of, in general, installation of adult and juvenile fish passages over an existing weir structure, regrading, and replanting of the creek banks in the affected areas. Performance of this work requires a valid California Contractor’s License Class A. Project documents and copies of the prevailing rate of wages can be obtained from the Menlo Park Engineering Division, located in the Administrative Building at 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, CA, 94025. Sealed bid proposals will be received at the Engineering Division office until 2 p.m. on TUESDAY, July 1, 2008, at which time they will be publicly opened and read. Published in THE ALMANAC on June 11, 18, 25, 2008. NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Bid Proposals Sought for STREET RESURFACING PROJECT 2007-08 The City of Menlo Park invites qualified contractors to submit sealed bid proposals for the construction of the City’s OAK AVENUE TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECT BETWEEN OAK KNOLL LANE AND SAND HILL ROAD. Work required as part of this project consists of, in general, installation of new asphalt concrete speed tables, pavement marking, tyregrip crosswalk material, and concrete handicap ramp, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications. Performance of this work requires a valid California Contractor’s License Class A or Class C-12. Project documents and copies of the prevailing rate of wages can be obtained from the Menlo Park Engineering Division, located in the Administration Building at 701 Laurel St. Sealed bid proposals will be received at the Engineering Division office until 2 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2008, at which time they will be publicly opened and read. Additional information can be obtained from the City’s website: www.menlopark.org/cip Published in THE ALMANAC on June 11, 18, 2008. 14 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 C L A S S O F 2 0 0 8 WOODSIDE HIGH continued from page 13 Alvarado, Edgar Gabriel Arias, Favian Arredondo, Umberto Arroyo, Nicole M. Artale, Edgar Joel Arteaga, Nancy Arzate, Michelle Catherine Aubert B: Elvira Isabel Baizabal, Shelby Danielle Baldini, Terrance Hermel Baldwin II, Courtney Marie Ballagh, Paul Barbosa, Rafael S. Barragan, Mayra Alejandra Barriga, Gustavo Barron, Scott D. Barrow, Anja Elizabeth Becker, Shane Beecher, Alicia Stacey Beekman, Michael Bell, Harry Benson, Jessica Ann Bernal, Gabriel Aaron Beyrouti, John R. Biche, Jennifer Elise Black, Monica Lauren Boardman, Judith A. Bohl, Agustin Bonilla, John Michael Bordy, Jessie Julian Burgueno C: Lucero Maria Calleja, Alexander James Camacho, Betsabe Camarena, Jose Fernando Campos, Kiara L. Cano, Orlando Cardona, Jr., Ryan Carey, Courtney Elizabeth Carlomagno, Jessica Pilar Caruzo, Alexandra Whitney Cassandro, Irvin Alexander Castillo, Karina Celaya, Abel Chavez, Jerry Chen, Emma K. Clizbe, Tyler S. Clizbe, Julia Louise Cohn, Rochelle Monique Conley, Daniel Colin Constantz, Zaira Yael Contreras, Carlos A. Corea, David Brian Cornell, Lluvia S. Coronel, Melissa Nicole Costello, Joseph Mansell Cronin, Melissa Cruz, Guillermo A. Cuellar, Briana Monique Pintor Cuevas, Miguel Angel Cuevas, Elyssa Cumming, Ricardo Curincita D: Michael A. Dallara, Robert Lee Davinroy, Stephanie Elizabeth Davos, Christopher R. De Sousa, Jaspreet Dehar, Katrina Yukiko Dene, Cameron J. DeOliviera, Melissa Varela Diaz, Yiana Nicole Dimmitt, Zachary Thomas Dolezal, Brienna Lynn Drennen E - F: Nicole Angeline Edelman, Kyle R. Elliot, Samuel Erazo, Antonio Espinoza, Vince Mikhael Castro Estacio, Christopher Charles Eyre, Joseph Austin Falore, Curtis William Fay, Marco M. Ferrieri, Megan Kathleen Fisher, Michael James Fisher, Sean Patrick Fisher, Rebecca Olivia Flores, Alissa Nina Fraone, Andrew James Freeman, Morgan Lorene Freeman, Olivia June Sara Frischer, Derrick Myles Funes G: Casey Joseph Gallagher, Paul C. Gammer, Aldo Gabriel Garcia, Angelica Isabel Garcia, Carolina Garcia, Nancy G. Garcia, Andriana Heather Gasparini, Lisa Marie Gellerman, Justin Aaron Gilmore, Jenine Karisa Giusto, Dean McCoy Goble, Ana Karen Gomez, John Joseph Gonzalez, Jonathan Granados, Ethan Gregory Greene, Noelle A. Guess, Tatiana Lucero Guillen, Alma Daisy Gutierrez, Priscila Guzman H: Gregory Stephen Hahn, Trevor Hanson, David Harland, Jordan Robert Harris, Jose R. Haya, Shakara B. Haynes, Kevin C. Heard, David G. Herb, Denisse Herrera, Ryan James Heywood, Kristen Marie Hipsher, Debben Michele Hoffer, Faviola Huerta I - K: Noreen Alicia Ioapo, Lizet A. Jeronimo, Delilah Nicole Jimenez, Jesse R. Jimenez, Bernadete Gayle Johansson, Cierra Johnson, Sean Michael Johnson, Jamice Maxine Jordan, Alicia Violeta Juarez Crow, Photo by Veronica Weber/The Almanac M-A student Austin Raub, on his way to collect his diploma, carefully adjusts his mortarboard with its elaborate Lego scene. Radhika K. Kaushal, Patrick Steven Kelley, Riley Ann Kelley, Daniel D. Kit, Kealani Mizue Kitaura, Alexandra Michelle Kolb, Ashley Nicole Kravitz, Stephanie Rene Krebsbach, Samell Kumar L: Anthony Michael Lahlouh, Emily Sara Lakritz, Jonathan Tyler Lam, Katie Melanie Lam, Danielle Kathryn Lane, Amelia Lillian LaTorre, Yasmin Ledezma, Jennifer Lee, Shannon Alexandra Levante, Tracy Elizabeth Levante, Claire Lindeman, Jenna Marie Lindley, Andrew C. Lopez, Briceyda Yadira Lopez, Jairo Lopez, Leonardo Lopez, Sophia Alexandra Lopez, William H. Lopez, Robert Louis Losey, Kenia Yazmin Loza M: Jamie C. Maciel, Magdalena Maldonado, Blake A. Manders, Tucker Harry Marshall, Alejandra Maria Martinez, Betsy Martinez, Vanessa M. Martinez, Matthew Paul Matteucci, Dana Nicole Matthews, Allison Elizabeth McElwee, Joshua T. McGuirk, Daniel J. McKenna, Karla Medina, Sean James Medina, Johnny Mejia, Bianca Stephanie Mendoza, Enrique Mendoza, Julio Cesar Mendoza, Sofia Mendoza, Yuriana A. Mendoza, Stephanie Merlo, Aimee Augusta Mesenburg, Jamie Mae Mesenburg, Zachary Allan Micheletti, Helen Elizabeth Milne, Janet Miranda, Jeffrey William Mize, Claudia Michelle Montanez, Ruth Montero Cruz, Erik Montoya, Luis Fernando Mora, Baryuth E. Moran, Michelle Ann Moreno, Edgar E. Murillo, Stacey Jean Myers N - O: Meghan Nicole Naaf, Kalolaine Telila Sina Naufahu, Ashley Nicole Nelson, Gregory James Kojiro Nelson, Kelly A. Nelson, Lyly Thuy Nguyen, Tevis Warren Nichols, Diego Solorio Ochoa, Alexis Olguin, Jesus Olivares, Kristina Marie Olsen, Melanie Yayoi Ono, Jose Ernesto Orellana, Kristian Nichole Ortiz, Christian J. Oseguera, Irma Oseguera P - Q: Kaory Pacheco, Jaime M. Parker-Campbell, Heidi Anne Parodi, Kristina A. Pataki, Colin Patrick Patino, Taylor Kenji Patrick, Justin William Paxton, Michael J. Pedersen, Janet Peña, Martin Peña, Jose Carlos Pereda, Carlos Julian Perez, Carissa M. Perla, Dayton Elizabeth Pickering, Jennifer Ruth Pilakowski, Mario Pineda, Sandibel Piñon, Ricardo Alfredo Pixcar, Steven C. Purcell, Ryan Michael Quirk R: Emily T. Rago, Megan Rose Ramies, Randolph Paul Rhodes, II, Miriah T. Rios, Denisse Rivas, Elaine Rivera, Elizabeth Giselle Robles, Rebecca Cecilia Robles, Jessica Rocha, Enrique Rodriguez, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jr., Mary Ann Rojas, Marcus Johnson Rooney, Estefany Andreina Rosales Vela, Katherine Raquel Rosas, Erica Marie Roselli, Paolo Neil Rozo, Stephanie Juliet Ruane S: Jesus Salas, Miguel Sanchez, Diana de la Luz Santiago, Kelsey Santos, Jessica Andrea Schulman, Michael Philip Scroggins, Mario R. Segura, Irma A. Serrano, Abigail Leann Sevudredre, Gabriella Rose Shamuel, Aaron Charles Shepard, Katherine Shoomiloff, Dana Scott Shroyer, Erich Lowe Smith, William Smith, Amanda Joy Smithson, Rosa Elena Solorzano, Marcos M. Soria, Renee Marie Stanley, Holley Tasha Stuart, Meghan Marie Styles, Guillermo Suarez, William Harry Swenson T: Daissy Tabares, Miguel Tapia, Uriel Tapia, Priscilla Seauti Taufoou, Martin Davis Taylor, Kate Marita Taylor-Keeling, Monetta Oniese Thompson, Anthony Dashon Thornton, Spencer L. Thurlow, Nicole S. Tomita, Amanda Lizette Torres, Lorena Torres, Edgar T. Trujillo, Jeffrey J. Turner U - Z: Kayla Ann Ulrich, Vincent Van Vlasselaer, David Vargas, Isamar Anais Vasquez-Naranjo, Daisy J. Vazquez, Joanna Ezel Vazquez, Melissa Vazquez, Angel G. Vela, Jeremy Ryan Venable, Christopher Venegas, Albert Vi, Erick Viera, Teresa Villalobos, Carlos Alfonso Villegas, Kurtis J. Waldschmidt, Quinn Alexandra Washburn, Violet Aleta Watt, Rebecca June Wells, Lloyd Grant Whitcraft, Joshua Darrell White, Corey Steele Williams, Alexandra Elizabeth Wise, Emily Katherine Wohlford, Dariya A. Wright, Kristen Louise Wright, Oscar I. Yniguez, Ronald Yu, Denis Yugov, Mayra Georgina Zamora, Rawan Zantout, Erik Zarazua, Jason G. Zaru, Frederik Zavala Lombera, Andrea L. Zepeda › Eighth-grade grads spotlighted in future issues of the Almanac S C H O O L S Low Cost Divorce/Living Trust New principal named for Corte Madera Jensen Hauser DOCUMENT PREPARATION SERVICE INCLUDES: UÊÛÀViÊfx{ UÊÊÛ}Ê/ÀÕÃÌÃÊf{ UÊÊVÀ«À>ÌÃÉ ÊfÎ UÊ *ÀwÌÊfÎ UÊÊÊ*ÀL>ÌiÊÀiiÊ+ÕÌi®Ê UÊ`ÊÕV ÊÀit CUSTOM UPHOLSTERING Swiss Craftsmanship Since 1950 98 5th Ave. • (650) 365-5027 • Redwood City By Marjorie Mader Almanac Staff Writer T he search for a new principal of Portola Valley’s Corte Madera School ended with the June 4 appointment of Carol Piraino, principal for nine years of Palo Alto’s Walter Hayes School, a K-5 school. She will succeed Principal Joel Willen, who is retiring June 30 after four years at the helm of Portola Valley’s middle school and a 42-year career in education. Her appointment was approved by a 4-0 vote, with Trustee Don Collat abstaining during the special June 4 board meeting. The new principal’s annual compensation, including salary and benefits, is $160,000. She begins her new job on July 1. Ms. Piraino told the Walter Hayes faculty of her decision to leave the school last Wednesday before going on to a Giants game with the school’s fifth-graders. While at Walter Hayes, Ms. Piraino established a school-wide character education/social-emotional learning program called “Hayes’ Way,” said Ms. Campbell. Ms. Piraino also partnered with Denise Clark Pope, lecturer at the Stanford University School of Education, to create an elementary school model for Stanford’s SOS: Stressed Out Students Project, geared to students in high and middle schools. Earlier in her career, Ms. Piraino taught in the Ravenswood City Elementary School District. One of her main responsibilities as vice principal at Cesar Chavez Academy from 1995 to 1999 was to create a middle school within the K-8 school. Ms. Piraino is well-versed in the educational needs of students from a wide variety of ages and backgrounds, the superintendent said, and has played a leadership role in the Palo Alto district in both language arts and the math network. Ms. Piraino graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and majored in psychology. She earned a multiple subject credential at California State University at Dominquez Hills in Southern California and a master’s degree in administration at San Jose State University. Currently, she is working on a doctoral degree, specializing in educational leadership and change, at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara. A Palo Alto resident, Ms. Piraino spent the Sunday before her final interview bicycling through Portola Valley. A Kyle & Koko We The People® 650-324-3800 We the People is a registered trademark. Stores are owned/operated by franchisees who are not lawyers, cannot represent customers; select legal forms, or give advice on rights or laws. Services are provided at customers’ request and are not a substitute for advice of a lawyer. Prices do not include court costs. “We gutted our kitchen and put it in Dan’s capable hands! What a gorgeous showpiece we now have! Dan was able to utilize our space; he showed us a better flow than the old we previously had and Dan had innovative ideas that make us love our “Architectural Digest” quality kitchen. Our cabinets are beautifully made and everyone who sees our kitchen is in awe at the transformation. It pays to use a professional – and Dan is the consummate professional.” When A Little Help is All You Need • Peace of Mind • Dignity • Independence Cherie Colon Ready to be One of Our Next Happy Clients? Call Us Today! 650.325.2060 www.DanenbergDesigns.com 1155 Crane Street, Menlo Park • • • • • • • • • Personal Care & Bathing Nutritious Meals Light Housekeeping Transportation & Errands Companionship Medication Reminders Hourly & 24-Hour Care Bonded and Insured Child Care / Nanny Services also available Homewatch CareGivers 408 395-4676 www.homewatchcaregivers.com w 1340 S. De Anza Boulevard, San Jose, CA 95129 MENLO PARK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008/2009 Waterbabies Parent-Child Swim Classes For children 3-30 months of age 9:30 & 11:00 AM Monday through Friday 9:30, 10:00 & 10:30 AM Saturdays Warm clean pool Jim Gorman Swim School 854-6699 Extension 100 NOTICE IS GIVEN pursuant to California Health and Safety Code §13893 as follows: 1. The District Board of Menlo Park Fire Protection District Proposed Budget for Fiscal year 2008-2009. Copies of the Proposed Budget are available for examination by interested persons during regular business hours at the District’s Office, 300 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California. 2. The District Board will conduct a public hearing at the regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday June 17, 2008 beginning at 7:00 PM in the classroom at Station One, 300 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California to consider adoption of the fiscal year 2008-2009 budget. The purpose of the Public Hearing will be to hear any person regarding any item in the budget or regarding the adoption of other items. 3. The public hearing conducted on Tuesday June 17, 2008 may be continued from time to time at the discretion of the District Board. Published in THE ALMANAC on June 11, 2008. June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 15 The Portola Valley Schools Foundation wishes to thank these Realtors for their generous support of the Portola Valley Schools through the course of the 2007-2008 School Year. $1000 and Higher – Honor Roll Dean Asborno Alain Pinel Celeste Henzel Coldwell Banker Ginny Kavanaugh Coldwell Banker Joe Kavanaugh Coldwell Banker Lisa Keith Red Hawk Real Estate Paul Skrabo Cashin Company $500 - $999 - Contributor Steven Lessard Coldwell Banker Jim McCahon Coldwell Banker Eloise Pollock Coldwell Banker $200-$499 – Patron Scott Barnum Coldwell Banker Sue Crawford Coldwell Banker John Bartlett Coldwell Banker Janis Grube Coldwell Banker Lovinda Beal Coldwell Banker Enayat Boroumand Coldwell Banker Maureen Hamner Coldwell Banker Judy Byrnes Coldwell Banker Jean & Chris Isaacson Coldwell Banker Hugh Cornish Coldwell Banker Molly Westrate Coldwell Banker UNDERWRITTEN BY: BILL LEWIS MARY GEBHARDT CASHIN COMPANY DAVE HOBSON WENDY MCPHERSON ALAIN PINEL REALTORS ALAIN PINEL REALTORS 1550 El Camino Real Menlo Park 650.462.1111 3130 Alpine Road Ladera Shopping Center Portola Valley 650.529.2900 COLDWELL BANKER 930 Santa Cruz Ave. Menlo Park 650.323.7751 COLDWELL BANKER 800 El Camino Real Menlo Park 650.324.4456 167 So. San Antonio Rd. Los Altos 650.941.1111 16 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 F O R T H E ■ OB I T UA R I E S Joan Bruce Gifted teacher, world traveler Memorial services will be held Friday, June 20, for Joan Bruce, a gifted teacher who devoted her 40-year career to thousands of students in the Palo Alto Unified District and overseas. Ms. Bruce died June 3 at Stanford University Hospital after a short illness. Ms. Bruce moved to The Sequoias, the Portola Valley retirement community, after retiring in 1993. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. in Christ Episcopal Church, 815 Portola Road in Portola Valley. Ms. Bruce, who received two Fulbright exchanges, taught in a Maori school in New Zealand, a nursery school in England, and an Indian reservation in Arizona. During her career in the Palo Alto district, she taught at Ross Road, Walter Hays and Escondido elementary schools. She was a mentor to many students at San Francisco State University, and also shared her expertise with colleagues and younger teachers. Ms. Bruce helped her students take responsibility for their own learning and to work together collaboratively with others, expanding their interests, according to parents of her former students. During summers, Ms. Bruce as a young woman traveled to almost every country in the world including Indonesia, New Zealand and African countries. She enjoyed hiking on the Peninsula, in the Sierra, and in Washington and Switzerland. R E C O R D Ms. Bruce was born Oct. 22, 1928, in Long Beach. She graduated from Occidental College in 1951 and received a master’s degree in education from Stanford University in 1965. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Trust for Hidden Villa, Joan Bruce Fund, at Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022. Patricia Roberts Founder of the Roberts School Patricia Wingate Roberts, founder of the Roberts School, a small preschool and kindergarten in the Willows neighborhood of Menlo Park, died at her home in San Mateo on May 15. She was 89. In 2001 Ms. Roberts passed management of the school to her daughter, Brenda Roberts, and Elisa Barrett, director for the previous seven years. Ms. Roberts was born in Chesterfield, South Carolina. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Lander College in South Caroline. She married Howard N. Roberts in 1938. After her husband died in 1970 and her children were grown, Ms. Roberts pursued her life-long dream of opening her own school, say family members. At age 57, with a degree in early childhood development from Canada College, she launched and directed the Roberts School. Ms. Roberts is survived by her daughters, Brenda Roberts and Sandra Carr, and two grandchildren. Services for Ms. Roberts were held May 19 at San Mateo’s Hope Lutheran Church, followed by a graveside service at Skylawn Memorial Cemetery. Expect more of us. Maurice and Pedro are on a team creating a magnificent robotic waterwheel. It’s a science project at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, just one of many fun enterprises originating from after-school study and play at the club. Young hands and minds are guided by staff and volunteers like Maria Centeno, 16. With club support Maria overcame huge obstacles in her own childhood. Now she’s helping other kids beat the Opportunity Gap that defeats so many in low-income areas. Maurice and Pedro? Expect from them the skills and wills needed to keep Silicon Valley a wellspring of American progress. Help us close the gap. Call 650-646-6128 or visit: www.bgcp.org. AA cornucopia T ASTEofOF THE P ENINSULA restaurants and cafes providing the finest dining from brunch to dessert. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Celia’s Mexican Restaurant 3740 El Camino, Palo Alto (650) 843-0643 1850 El Camino, Menlo Park (650) 321-8227 www.celiasrestaurants.com Full Bar - Happy Hour Specials; Catering Vive Sol-Cocina Mexicana 2020 W. El Camino Real, Mtn. View (650) 938-2020. Specializing in the Cuisine of Puebla. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Coffee & Tea Connoisseur Coffee Co. 2801 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (650) 369-5250 9am-5:30pm Mon. - Sat. Coffee roasting & fine teas, espresso bar, retail & wholesale. Visit! Donate! Volunteer! This message made possible by Carney Global Ventures To Advertise in “A Taste of the Peninsula” call The Almanac 650-854-2626. June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 17 C O M M U N I T Y Concours d’Elegance slated for June 22 The 42nd annual Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance will be held Sunday, June 22, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Stanford University Sand Hill Athletic Field. The Concours is sponsored by the Palo Alto Host Lions Club, with proceeds going to local charities and nonprofits, includ- 30% OFF ALL TEAK FURNITURE WITH THIS AD A FATHER’S DAY GIFT THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME GRADE A SUSTAINABLE TEAK • LIFETIME GUARANTEE TOM’S OUTDOOR FURNITURE TEAK SPECIALISTS THROUGH JUNE 15, 2008 CUSHIONS EXCLUDED; CAN NOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS 1445 VETERANS BLVD REDWOOD CITY 650 366 0411 7 DAYS/10-6 TomsOutdoorFurniture.com ing Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Corvettes and Alfa Romeos will be featured, along with vintage classic cars, including an AuburnCord-Duesenberg Meet. The 350 cars on the field will include a display of historic race cars, vintage trailers and fiberglass cars of the 1950s. There will also be a display of extra-low emission automobiles sponsored by the California Air Resources Board. Among local residents showing cars are Joan Peterson of Menlo Park, who will display a 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia, Phil and Cindy White of Atherton with a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, and Larry and Jane Solomon with a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe. Car collector Martin Swig will give a “walk through the classics” in one segment of the Concours, during which he will comment on different cars on display. Admission is $25. Children 12 and under are admitted free. The athletic field is located at the corner of Sand Hill Road and Pasteur Drive on the Stanford University campus. For more information, go to www.paconcours.com. Appraisal Fair June 18 In its own version of “Antique Roadshow,” Peninsula Volunteers Imagine the world’s most advanced robotic surgical device in the hands of Dr. Dieter Bruno. Few top surgeons are as familiar with the da Vinci© Surgical System as Dr. Bruno. This is welcome news for anyone with prostate cancer. Because da Vinci represents the new “gold standard,” enhancing both the recovery experience as well as the clinical outcome. Sequoia Hospital couldn’t be more proud to announce this new technology and our association with a renowned physician like Dr. Bruno. His philosophy is consistent with ours as a leading community hospital. “My motivation to help patients is that I see something in each one of them that reminds me of my own family - we are all interconnected.” Learn more about the new da Vinci© Surgical System and Sequoia Hospital by calling us at 650-482-6000. Give yourself or a loved one the very best care possible. The da Vinci© Surgical System is being graciously funded by the Sequoia Hospital Foundation. Dieter Bruno, M.D. Urologist www.SequoiaHospital.org 18 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 ■ A RO U ND TOW N is presenting its first Appraisal Fair from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at Little House, 800 Middle Ave. in Menlo Park. Visitors may bring decorative arts, Asian arts, paintings, books, silver and jewelry. As to furniture, don’t bring the writing desk you inherited from Aunt Millie, just a photo and one drawer. Bonhams & Butterfields of San Francisco will make the appraisals at $10 each, or three items for $25. Box lunches will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the event will benefit Peninsula Volunteers programs. For more information, call 326-0665, ext. 238. Steve Poizner dinner The South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition and Palo Alto Republican Women Federated invite the public to an evening with Steve Poizner, California insurance commissioner, on Thursday, June 19, at Ming’s, 1700 Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto. A 5:30 p.m. social hour and registration will be followed by a 6 p.m. program and dinner at 7. Cost is $30 for members and $35 for others. Thursday, June 12, is the deadline for registration. For reservations, call 917-9125. A C O M M U N I T Y Nativity carnival kicks off summer season this weekend By Jane Knoerle Almanac Lifestyles Editor I t’s a sure sign summer is on its way. Thousands of visitors are expected in Menlo Park for the 28th Nativity carnival to be held Friday through Sunday, June 13, 14 and 15, on the Nativity school grounds at the corner of Oak Grove Avenue and Laurel Street. The event will feature 12 carnival rides, from “thrills and chills” for the adventurous to the merry-go-round for the younger set. There will also be multiple game booths and a Saturday night casino. Dinners featuring tri-tip, rotisserie chicken and pasta will be served all three days. There will be a Father’s Day brunch from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, featuring mimosas, orange juice, pancakes and sausage. Parish volunteer Patrick O’Hare says there will also be a tiki bar “serving the best margaritas in town.” Along with the dinners and pancake breakfast, visitors can snack on hot dogs on a stick, nachos, popcorn, cotton candy, French fries, shaved ice, lemonade and a variety of other beverages. Music will be performed by a series of bands. The Cocktail Monkeys open festivities from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday night with danceable music. Jimmy Legs, Mike Giramonte, and D-5 will entertain on Saturday. The Mt. Carmel Dads Band, folksinger Judy Bayse, and the Nativity Dadz will play Sunday afternoon. The winner of a raffle, with a grand prize of a 2008 Prius or $10,000 in cash, will be announced on Sunday afternoon. John Conway, original chairman and co-founder of the carnival in 1981, is back at the helm this year serving as Nativity carnival chairman for the 19th year. During the past 28 years, the carnival has raised more than $2.5 million for parish projects. For more information, go to nativitycarnival.org. TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY 765 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 PLANNING COMMISSION RECRUITMENT The Town Council is seeking an individual to serve on the Town's Planning Commission to complete the term of a Planning Commissioner stepping down the end of July 2008. This will be a three-month position. The term will expire in December 2008 and will be available for a 4-year term in January 2009. The Town Council will hold interviews tentatively scheduled for September 10, 2008. The objectives of the Commission are to continually advise the Town Council regarding the comprehensive planning of the Town and to administer the planning regulations. The duties and functions include review of the General Plan for development within the Town, recommend ordinance and resolutions to the Council as necessary to implement the General Plan, supervise the land use within the Town by conducting necessary public hearings and acting upon applications for: zoning amendments, conditional use permits, variances, subdivisions, site development permits and building permits. The Planning Commission consists of 5 members appointed by the Town Council. The Commission meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. If you are interested in serving on the Planning Commission, please submit a letter of interest to the Town Council by Friday, August 29, 2008. Published in THE ALMANAC on June 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, August 6, 13, 20, 2008. THE BLOOD DONORS NEEDED 1-800 GIVE LIFE A AMERICAN RED CROSS ALMANAC ONLINE DELIVERS 24/ 24 /7. JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT TOWNSQUARE TheAlmanac The AlmanacOnline. 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THANK YOU FOR VOTING WOODSIDE BAKERY & CAFÉ Menlo Park 713 Oak Grove (650) 323-5483 www.liteforlife.com APPLEWOOD Go u r m et Pi z z a TO W E E O AL Y PA L KL 2007 BEST OF 2007 PERSONAL BEST Best Travel Agency Best Ladies Shoes Best Lingerie Best Barber Best Bicycle Shop Best Cleaners Best Day Spa Best Fitness Best Hair Salon Best Manicure Best Pharmacy Best Weight Loss FOR THE NEST Best Auto Repair Shop Best Bank Best Frame Store Best Furniture Store Best Hardware Store Best Nursery Best Oriental Carpet Best Painters Best Plumber Best Paint Store Best Green Business STEPPING OUT Best Bar Best Live Music OPENING SOON IN FREMONT! READERS’ CHOICE FOR BEST DESSERTS 2007 prolific-oven.com 550 Waverley Street, Palo Alto 650.326.8485/326.8668 20 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 www.TheAlmanacOnline.com sid e 3052 WOODSIDE ROAD, WOODSIDE, CA Bakery & BAKERY: 650-851-7247 | CAFE: 650-851-0852 CAFE: LUNCH: 11-4 | DINNER: 4-9 | BREAKFAST: Sat-Sun BAKERY: 6am-9pm | BAKERY & CAFE OPEN 7 DAYS ENJOY OUR OUTDOOR DINING PATIO amber by BRINGING IT HOME GRACIANA Best Bakery Best Bookstore Best Grocery Best Meat Store Best Pet Store Best Produce Best Toy Shop Best Wine/Liquor Store Best Children’s Birthday Party Unique Contemporary European Apparel & Accessories 1155 Crane St. Suit 2 Menlo Park 650.463.5555 FOR THE HEART Best Boutique Best Florist Best Hotel Best Jewelry Store Best Place for a Date Best Place to Meet People Best Stationery Store WB C od Wo Los Altos 388 Second St (650) 941-5433 FOR THE HEART Best Bagel Place Best Breakfast Restaurant Best Chinese Restaurant Best Coffee/Espresso/Tea Best Dessert Best French Restaurant Best Hamburgers Best Ice Cream Place Best Indian Restaurant Best Intimate Dining Best Italian Restaurant Best Japanese Restaurant Best Juice Bar Best Mexican Restaurant Best Mom & Dad Restaurant Best Pizza Restaurant Best Place to Dine with Kids Best Sandwich Shop Best Seafood Restaurant Best Sunday Brunch Best Take-Out Food Best Thai Restaurant fé Lite Food Market DINING OUT Ca s. Los t h T he H g i l. ealthy Approach to We pol s ’ r de Vote f or Lite for Life in the rea THE BE ST BAKERY IN 20 07 BALLOT CATEGORIES 2005 -EATs&ISHs$ELIs7INE "AKERYs0RODUCEs&LORAL 5NIVERSITY$R-ENLO0ARK /PEN%VERY$AYAMPM BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT & BEST PLACE TO DINE WITH KIDS Comida Fresca... Salsa Caliente! Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner Dine in - Take out Full Service Catering 3539 Alameda de las Pulgas Menlo Park, CA 94025 TEL 650.854.8226 FAX 650.854.8228 www.lulusonthealameda.com F O R T H E R E C O R D ■ PO L I C E C A LLS This information is from the Atherton and Menlo Park police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Under the law, people charged with offenses are considered innocent until convicted. ATHERTON Fraud reports: ■ Unauthorized account in victim’s name opened in Georgia, first block of Shearer Drive, May 25. ■ Resident told police she won contest and needed to send money to address in Florida, first block of Mount Vernon Lane, June 1. Grand theft report: Two computers and TV stolen from library, Selby Lane School at 170 Selby Lane, May 22. Arson report: Phone books burned in roadway, first block of Lilac Drive, May 27. Animal report: Person attacked by same dog for third time, first block of Fletcher Drive, May 31. Residential burglary report: Unauthorized entry of home and guest house, first block of Tuscaloosa Ave., June 1. Assault report: Woman and child pushed off bikes by white male adult jogging by, intersection of Encinal Ave. and Middlefield Road, June 1. Stolen vehicle report: White Oldsmobile 88 Royale, 200 block of Atherton Ave., June 4. MENLO PARK Residential burglary report: House broken into, 2300 block of Sharon Oaks Drive, May 23. Auto burglary reports: ■ Window smashed and GPS stolen, 400 block of Santa Monica Ave., May 23. ■ Cash of about $100 stolen, 600 block of Oak Grove Ave., May 26. ■ 200 block of Van Buren, May 28. ■ 1300 block of O’Brien Drive, May 28. Fraud report: ■ Check fraud, Mi Rancho Supermarket at 812 Willow Road, May 23. ■ Unauthorized use of credit card, Hudson Shell Station 400 block of El Camino Real, May 26. ■ Unauthorized credit card charges, 1300 block of Hobart St., May 27. ■ Company check forged, 700 block of Santa Cruz Ave., May 29. ■ Unauthorized use of credit card, 1000 block of Berkeley Ave., June 3. Robbery report: Precious gem stones stolen, 1900 block of El Camino Real, June 5. Assault with deadly weapon reports: ■ Lucrecia Santos, 24, arrested and booked into jail on charges that include using shoe as deadly weapon, 600 block of Pierce Road, May 25. ■ 1300 block of Sevier Ave., June 4. Stolen vehicle reports: ■ 1988 Ford Mustang, 400 block of Ivy Drive, June 1. ■ 2000 Ford pickup truck, 1100 block of Windermere Ave., June 2. Adult protective services report: 300 block of Ambar Way, June 1. WOODSIDE Stolen vehicle report: Vehicle stolen from Park-n-Ride lot at Woodside Road and Interstate 280, May 21. Fraud reports: ■ Resident found unauthorized charge for $6,600 on credit card for stay at hotel in Australia, 4000 block of Jefferson Ave., May 23. ■ Attempt to make purchases using counterfeit bills, Roberts market at 3015 Woodside Road, June 3. Theft report: Tools valued at $3,120 stolen from job site, LADERA Miscellaneous flavors of ice cream valued at $225 stolen, 200 block of La Cuesta Drive, May 25. Sen. Simitian holding sidewalk office hours at farmers’ market Amidst the flowers, fruit and veggies at the downtown Menlo Park Farmers’ Market, State Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) will be setting up shop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 15. He’s inviting the community to ask questions, offer comments about state issues, or just say hi. “It’s tremendously helpful to hear firsthand what people are talking about,” Sen. Simitian said in a press release. The farmers’ market is located in the parking lot between Santa Cruz and Menlo avenues at Chestnut Street. Ex-Atherton cop cops plea in stolen golf club caper Former Atherton police officer Clark Yee has pleaded no contest to a felony charge of filing a false police report about stolen golf clubs he allegedly sold. Mr. Yee, 29, of Daly City entered his plea during a San Mateo County Superior Court hearing on June 4. His sentence includes financial restitution and a 50-day county jail sentence as part of a plea bargain agreement reached with the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. He also pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor burglary charge for entering the Golf Mart store with the intent to sell stolen goods. Mr. Yee allegedly sold 14 golf clubs to South San Francisco Golf Mart in exchange for store credit. The clubs previously had been reported stolen from a vehicle at an Atherton residence. The victim later recognized his golf clubs for sale at the store, and reported his discovery to police. Mr. Yee was one of the Atherton police officers involved in the investigation. Mr. Yee claimed he had unknowingly bought the stolen clubs from someone named Omar on Craigslist, but no evidence of such an online transaction was found on his home computers, said Deputy District Man who punched teacher likely headed for prison Several years in prison are likely for the man accused of punching a Woodside High School teacher last November after the teacher attempted to calm him down and discourage him from yelling obscenities at passersby near the school’s baseball field. Lamarr Edward Timmons, 19, pleaded “no contest” to felony assault and inflicting great bodily injury in a plea bargain before San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Clifford Cretan on June 3, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. The plea bargain includes a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, Mr. Wagstaffe said. Sentencing is set for 8:45 a.m. Aug. 1. Mr. Timmons remains in custody on bail of $100,000. His punch knocked out one of the teacher’s teeth and loosened another. The teacher, who was not identified so as to protect his safety, required about $5,000 in dental work, including steel pins Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Mr. Yee resigned from the Atherton police department earlier this year, before the conclusion of a personnel investigation triggered by a citizen complaint. Atherton Police Chief Bob Brennan said that Mr. Yee was a police officer in Palo Alto prior to working in Atherton, and that prior to the complaint, Mr. Yee had a good record with the department. Mr. Yee’s sentence qualifies him for the sheriff’s work release program, so it’s likely he will do community service work rather than serve time in jail, said Mr. Wagstaffe. to stabilize his teeth, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. Mr. Timmons punched the teacher without warning as the teacher attempted to leave; he then fled the scene, the report said. The teacher’s hands were full with books and a backpack, so he couldn’t defend himself. THE ALMANAC ONLINEDELIVERS ONLINEDELIVERS 24/ 24 /7. CHECK THE LATEST MOVIE E REVIEWS TheAlmanacOnline.com ne com WOODSIDE COMMUNITY RECREATION PROGRAM SUMMER SCHEDULE 2008 CLASS DAY YOGA FOR EVERYONE 9 Weeks Bring exercise 9 Weeks - mat and wear comfortable clothing 9 Weeks 9 Weeks Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri. LOW IMPACT AEROBICS & JOYFLEX BODY TONING 10 Weeks No class 7/7 & 8/1-8/12 Healthy Back, Cardio, Inner-Core Strengthening MUSIC TOGETHER 8 Weeks Ages 0-4 Years Creative Classes For Children TIME INSTRUCTOR LOCATION FEE STARTING DATE 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Carla Germano Independence Hall Wdse. Village Church Guild Hall Wdse. Village Church Guild Hall Independence Hall $135 $135 $135 $135 June June June June Mon. Fri. 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM Joy Lopez Independence Hall Independence Hall $360 $23 drop in July 7 July 11 Tues. Tues. Tues. 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Sean Mendelson Wdse. Library Wdse. Library Wdse. Library $145 $145 $145 $45 mat. fee July July July 16 17 19 20 8 8 8 Financial assistance available for children. Visit our Web Site at: www.woodsiderec.com ❃ To Register or Fax: (650) 851-3534 ❃ June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 21 Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside for 40 years. Editor & Publisher Tom Gibboney Editorial Managing Editor Richard Hine News Editor Renee Batti Lifestyles Editor Jane Knoerle Senior Staff Writers Marion Softky, Marjorie Mader Staff Writers Andrea Gemmet, David Boyce, Rory Brown Contributors Barbara Wood, Kate Daly, Bill Rayburn, Miles McMullin, Katie Blankenberg Special Sections Editors Carol Blitzer, Sue Dremann Photographer Veronica Weber Design & Production Design Director Raul Perez Designers Linda Atilano, Gail Thoreson, Joanne Lee, Laura Don, Gary Vennarucci Advertising Advertising Manager Neal Fine Display Advertising Sales Ella Fleishman Real Estate Account Advertising Assistant Coordinator Nora Cecilia Meléndez Advertising Services Receptionists Renee Meil Circulation, Classified, & Legal Advertising Bill Rayburn Published every Wednesday at 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 854-2626 FAX (650) 854-0677 e-mail news (no photos please) to: editor@AlmanacNews.com e-mail photos with captions to: photo@AlmanacNews.com e-mail letters to: letters@AlmanacNews.com The Almanac, established in September, 1965, is delivered each week to residents of Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside and adjacent unincorporated areas of southern San Mateo County. The Almanac is qualified by decree of the Superior Court of San Mateo County to publish public notices of a governmental and legal nature, as stated in Decree No. 147530, issued November 9, 1969. Voluntary subscriptions are available for delivery to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside at $30 per year or $50 for 2 years. Subscriptions by businesses or residents outside the area are $50 for one year and $80 for two years. ■ WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? All views must include a home address and contact phone number. Published letters will also appear on the web site, www.TheAlmanacOnline.com, and occasionally on the Town Square forum. TOWN SQUARE FORUM POST your views on the Town Square forum at www.TheAlmanacOnline.com EMAIL your views to: letters@AlmanacNews. com. Indicate if it is a letter to be published. MAIL or deliver to: Editor at the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025. CALL the Viewpoint desk at 854-2626, ext. 222. Ideas, thoughts and opinions about local issues from people in our community. Edited by Tom Gibboney. Juggling the risk of hillside fires The communities of Woodside and Portola Valley are talking about the danger of wildfires, a subject that most residents would like to forget, especially those who live in an area marked red on a state map denoting the areas that have vegetation most likely to feed into a catastrophic wildfire. But these days it is not possible to brush off the very real fire danger that threatens homes perched on hillsides amid redwoods, pine, oak, chaparral and what firefighters call “ladder fuel,” brush that helps fire take off from the ground and leap into tree canopies. And awareness of the danger is only heightened by the governor’s recent declaration that the state is officially in a drought. ED ITORI AL The state fire maps have become The opinion of The Almanac a topic of hot discussion in Portola Valley and Woodside, which are served by the Woodside Fire Protection District. If a home’s location is covered by red on a state map, insurance rates can jump. If the home is demolished for any reason, a new structure must be built to a much higher, more fire-resistant, standard. For the Portola Valley Town Council recently, the issue revolved around what was said to be a “current” state fire map that did not show any “very high” wildfire risks from vegetation. A different conclusion was drawn by the town’s own fire-risk consultant, who concluded that, indeed, several areas of town did rate the “very high” risk designation. And after a heated discussion April 23, the council decided not to forward the newer information to the state. A map showing high risk areas could raise insurance rates for homes in those areas. The more dangerous assessment is backed up by the Woodside fire district, which also believes the danger is much higher in some locations than indicated by the state map. Fire Marshal Denise Enea maintains that parts of several neighborhoods, including Woodside Highlands, Westridge, Alpine Hills and Portola Valley Ranch, should be labeled very high risk for catastrophic fire, and she has forwarded her map to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. The discussion of fire maps is very likely to result in all agencies agreeing that this season — in the midst of a drought and after the recent destructive fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains — is one of significantly higher-than-normal fire danger. We believe that likely conclusion is more than enough reason for the two communities to get moving now on helping residents build fire resistance in and around their homes, which is not going to be a popular way to go. The recent runaway fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains was fueled by the same mix of vegetation present in many areas of Portola Valley and Woodside. Wherever possible, residents need to clear this material away from their homes to create defensible space that can help firefighters if the neighborhood is under attack by wildfire. And a campaign must start soon, under the direction of the fire district, to remove the ladder fuels. We can understand the hesitancy of the Portola Valley Town Council to immediately share its consultant’s estimates of higher fire danger with the state agency whose map may well be used as a factor in determining insurance rates. But it is already clear that the council’s strategy backfired, and that state maps will soon begin to reflect the new, higher danger, fire assessment. L ETT E RS Our readers write Dead oaks near power lines need to be removed Editor: The recent town council debates about risks associated with wildland fires appear to focus intensely on issues of fuel load and defensible space. These debates, though wellintended, are missing a critically important point, which is that prevention of fires is even more important than fuel loads and defensible space. As the recent Summit fire and last year’s Palo Alto Foothill’s fire should convincingly demonstrate, there is no real “fire season” any more and even fires in relatively “easy terrain,” like the Palo Alto Foothills, can be difficult or impossible to contain until such time as weather conditions cooperate. A new and increasingly dangerous situation exists now: the large number of oak trees killed by Sudden Oak Death. Many of these trees are situated near overhead power lines and service drops and when they fall, they will inevitably hit the power lines. These trees decay quickly and as the trunk weak- 22 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 Woodside Library Collection Our Regional Heritage Mrs. Henry Bottger and her daughters, Lucy and Edith, at their home at the corner of what is now Kings Mountain and Greer roads in Woodside in a photograph made in 1868. ens and eventually fails, the upper portions are still dry and extremely flammable. The likely combination of low humidity, high offshore winds, and high temperatures this fall could pres- ent a “perfect storm” condition, triggering catastrophic fires in the foothills — regardless of fuel load or defensible space. Local agencies need to pass emergency ordinances that man- date the removal within 45 days of all dead or dying trees that are close enough to contact power lines or telephone cables sharing See LETTERS, next page V I E W P O I N T LETTERS Continued from previous page poles with power lines. The same stipulation should apply to trees on publicly owned rights of way. Ordinances should also contain provisions that in the future diseased trees be removed within 180 days of the leaves turning brown or are no longer viable. The responsibility to identify and notify the owner of the need to remove a dead tree, even those not near a power line, should rest on local police, fire agencies, road maintenance staff, and building inspection departments — in short, any public official or employee who is regularly working along roadways within the community. Stanley R. Gage Old Spanish Trail, Portola Valley The hard questions about high-speed rail Editor: I recently rode to Menlo Park on the train with a Caltrain official and had the opportunity to ask him a number of questions about how his agency would cope if voters approve the high-speed rail project in November. I asked him how Caltrain could co-exist while the high-speed rail tracks are under construction in the Caltrain corridor. He replied that it would be a “challenge,” but provided no indication as to how it could be accomplished. I asked what high-speed rail would do to property values in Atherton. He said, “they don’t like us anyway,” and that’s when he volunteered that he was the person who made the decision to drop Atherton from Caltrain service. I asked if the high-speed rail would be built on a tall berm like the one at Brittan Avenue in San Carlos, creating the “Great Wall of California” straight through the Peninsula. He responded, “It has to be grade-separated.” I asked what would happen to such a train on a high embankment if it came off at 200-plus miles per hour. His response: “It won’t go 200 miles per hour.” This brief interchange left me with the concern that the real questions and answers about high-speed rail have received no genuine public discussion, and it left me with the feeling that highspeed rail supporters do not want this discussion. It is high time we organized this discussion so that people can understand what they will really be voting for in the fall. It’s very easy to provide a list of questions that the high-speed rail advocates have not addressed or answered in any way. I’d like to see the answers. John Wilson College Avenue, Menlo Park Two views of direction for Menlo’s downtown Vision should support local, independent businesses By Clark Kepler T his spring the City of Menlo Park embarked on a process to develop a long-term vision and plan for the El Camino Real and the downtown areas. I had the pleasure of serving on the oversight and outreach committee charged with providing input to the consultant and staff and to help engage more community members. With the committee’s official work complete, I attended the May 19 Planning Commission workshop where the commission and other community members reviewed a draft of the vision plan goals. The workshop revealed the visioning process may only be getting started, not nearing the finish. Many concerned residents who had not previously participated asked that the scope of the discussion be broadened rather than hastily narrowed to the goals identified by the consultants. As a member of the committee, I’ve learned a lot about the challenges that lay before us as we have a unique opportunity to choose the future character of our town. And, as every Menlo Park resident knows, there is dichotomy of opinion about whether and how to develop our town. The discussion revived memories from nearly three years ago when I closed Kepler’s, the bookstore my father had founded a half century earlier, due to steeply declining sales. The community united and almost literally willed us back. I heard an outpouring of reasons from hundreds of people as to why Kepler’s mattered to them. By far the most common reason centered on Kepler’s being a locally-owned, independent bookstore. I heard again and again, “I didn’t realize that my shopping at Amazon would put you out of business. I’ll never do that again!” I knew that it wasn’t really going to happen. Thankfully, however, that’s not necessary. I knew if the people who value our presence simply shifted 10 percent to 20 percent more of their purchasing to Kepler’s that we could thrive. Many of Kepler’s customers had become aware that they were voting with their Green ribbon panel wants walkable, bikeable theme By Adina Levin pocketbooks. As a result of that experience, everal members of the two years later I founded the Menlo Park Green Rib“Hometown Peninsula Indebon Citizens’ Committee pendent Business Alliance” to attended the May 19 Planning help the rest of the community Commission review of the draft tap into that passion and help plan for the El Camino Real not only Kepler’s, but all our Vision Process. Our framework independent entrepreneurs. I includes the contention conparticipated in the visioning tained in our November 2007 process in part to speak for Climate Action Report, that the those local businesses. community must reduce our We should recognize that greenhouse gas emissions by at the community’s support for least 80 percent over the next 40 locally-owned businesses is not years in order to conform with only because they add “charm scientific and governmental and character” to Menlo Park recommendations. — which they do — but also Transportation sources are that independents make bet- responsible for nearly 40 perter economic sense. A number cent, or approximately 200,000 of economic impact studies tons per year, of our commuaround the country show that nity’s emissions. It locally-owned busiis critical that plans nesses generate much for our downtown greater benefits for the corridors help reduce local economy than these emissions. do chains and InterThe comnet businesses. mittee has a vision This derives from of a walkable, bikeemploying locals for able, livable, transitmany higher-skilled friendly city. It is and paying positions a city where many GUEST that chains centralresidents live near OPINION ize at corporate headwhere they work, or quarters, donating a can get to work on larger portion of sales to local transit. Where people can groups and events and re-spend- walk or bike for errands, to a ing profits in the community. restaurant, or to a class at the I left the last meeting with a gym. Where kids can walk or positive sense that the commis- bike safely to school. Where sion had heard the many con- people who work can easily get cerns of the public and hopeful here without having to drive. It that the visioning process might is a place where many residents be successful in co-creating the and visitors can easily choose Menlo Park our community not to drive single-occupancy deserves. vehicles for many of the necesAnd that we, the residents, of sities and pleasures of life. Menlo Park are very much a part This vision dovetails with of that co-creation. Residents other goals for the city. Many place a high value on individu- people at the visioning meetality and consider our home- ings spoke of wanting more grown enterprises as a source of vibrant central areas, with pride. If we want to preserve and restaurants, cultural activities, enhance our unique character, and lively, distinctive shops. we need to get involved, support People spoke of wanting to our locally owned, independent maintain and increase the entrepreneurs in word and in community feel of our city. deed: let the City Council and Lively, human-scaled pedesthe Planning Commission hear trian and bike-friendly busiyour support and shop local. ness and recreation creates Our one-of-a-kind, indepen- more community feel than dent businesses are an integral high-speed boulevards. Energy part of what makes Menlo Park costs are high, and there is a a great place to live. very strong case to be made that energy costs are going to Clark Kepler operates Kepler’s continue to increase. Making it Books and Magazines in easier not to drive will help city downtown Menlo Park. and household budgets, and S contribute to our city’s economic vitality in the future. Here are some elements from Green Ribbon Committee’s vision: ■ Make it easier and safer to walk and bike in the downtown, El Camino corridor, and across the center of town, with better sidewalks, bike access, and rail crossings. ■ Integrate pedestrian and bike routes with businesses. ■ Provide access so people can walk and bike for practical purposes or just for recreation. ■ Increase the number of useful and attractive places for shopping and recreation within walking and biking distance, so residents need to drive less. ■ Pursue a “park once” strategy, so people who drive to central locations can do more without needing to get back into their car. ■ Add shuttles to help get to and from commercial areas without driving. ■Add transit-oriented development, to increase the percent of residents and employees who can get to work without driving and live with less driving. Clearly, some of the response to climate change needs to be made at the national and global level. Decisions about overall energy supply, prices and limits to carbon emissions are made on a larger scale. However, many of the critical decisions that affect our society’s response to climate change are made at the local level. Local land use and transportation policies shape many of the choices we have as individuals, and can have a significant impact on the single largest source of carbon emissions. We believe these strategies are the wisest approach to respond to climate change. They also will help improve the quality of life and economic vitality of our city. Adina Levin is co-chair of the Transit and Transportation Work Group of the Green Ribbon Citizens’ Committee. She lives on Fremont Street. June 11, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 23 Let Ed Kahl show you elegant country estates in their summer splendor. R 4B an m s t f Cra WOODSIDE – Enchanting home on one acre w/beautiful style & use of wood. 4BR, 4.5BA, office, 3 fireplces, formal DR, great family rm, best kitch, sunny brkfst nook. Separate spacious 1BR guest house w/fireplace. Pool, spa, gorgeous land & gardens. $2,495,000. Excellent PV schools. WOODSIDE – 335 and 345 Kings Mountain Road – (photos above and below) side-by-side estates totaling 6.2 level acres offer a unique opportunity to acquire a 6+ acre estate property with a private entry across a steelhead creek and inspirational views of the western hills. The home at 335 (garden shown above) has 4BR, a spacious LR, formal DR. Outside are pool, tennis court, & horse barn w/corral. The 4BR 3BA home at 345 (below) has a pool, spa, tennis court, and a large guest cottage. Both properties are in the heart of Town and the Woodside Elementary School District. The homes are available separately or together: 335 KMR at $5,100,000; and 345 KMR at $5,000,000. Both adjoining estates of approx. 6.2 acres – $10,100,000. LD O S WOODSIDE – On a private lane off Whiskey Hill Road, 3+ acres, w/4BR home. asking $6,995,000 LD O S Ed Kahl (650) 400-2796 www.edkahl.com Ed@edkahl.com PORTOLA VALLEY ESTATE 237 Mapache – 3.3 Acres Family compound in prime Westridge. 4BR main house; 1BR guest hs; 2nd guest house w/ 1 BR plus large rec room. Excellent PV Schools. $5,750,000 Top 1% Coldwell Banker Agents Over $1 Billion Sold 24 ■ The Almanac ■ June 11, 2008 WOODSIDE LOT – 3.4 Acres on Mt. Home Road. $5,900,000 LD O S WOODSIDE – Garden estate on 1.5 acres, in the very heart of Town. asking $4,495,000
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