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W o r k i n g
a n d
P L a y i n g
T o g e t h e r
It’s a Couples Thing
How Do These Marriages Survive?
How Do These Marriages Survive?
Lobster is becoming a
"Maine" meal
in Redwood City
Also in this Issue:
The
POA
takes on City HAll
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Table of
Contents
Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
July 2006
Vol 2, No. 10
Steve Penna
Owner and Publisher
writers@spectrummagazine.net
Anne Callery
Copy Editor
Judy Buchan
Contributing Writer
writers@spectrummagazine.net
Robby Schumacher
Contributing Writer
writers@spectrummagazine.net
Valerie Harris
Contributing Writer
writers@spectrummagazine.net
Dale McKee
Graphic Artist
Damaris Divito
Photography Stylist
Clayton Shyne Ramos
Sales Associate
ads@spectrummagazine.net
DJ Design
Advertising Graphic Art
James R. Kaspar
Cover/Cover Story Photography
s our city prepares for the opening of the downtown
cinema project, can you feel the excitement? Welcome
to the July issue of The Spectrum Magazine.
A
INSIDE THE SPECTRUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Our cover story this month is on married couples that are
doing business together in the downtown area. How do they
do it? Are they destined to be the next Donald and Ivana
Trump? Don’t count on it; these couples do it the right way
and know how to separate work and play.
CULTURAL EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Publisher Steve Penna discusses recent conflicts at council
meetings, when members of the Police Officers Association
spoke during oral communication, in his column, “As I Was
Saying ….” He also gives his candid opinion on other issues
in our community.
We have a business profile on a fairly new Redwood City
restaurant that is offering a unique menu — lobster and fresh
seafood flown in from Maine. Old Port Lobster Shack is fast
becoming a favorite destination point for seafood and meat
lovers alike. After reading about them, you will see why.
Also, we have a story on retiring police Officer John Harp,
information on land developments at the Cargill saltworks
and Pete’s Harbor sites, and a report on a lawsuit that could
affect other redevelopment projects in our city.
We encourage you to support community news by filling out
The Spectrum’s subscription form on page 36. That way, you
will not miss an issue of The Spectrum and it will be mailed
to your home each month before it hits the streets.
We would like to thank our loyal advertisers for supporting
community news, and we encourage you to support them by
using their services when you can. They provide excellent
services, and many are helping our community by volunteering and supporting our nonprofit, senior and youth groups.
Pick them when you have a choice.
Until next month, Redwood City, catch a movie, eat at a local
restaurant, even if it is not in the downtown area, and enjoy
our community!
OFFICER JOHN HARP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
DOWNTOWN CHANGE ON THE HORIZON . . . .27
SENIOR ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
“AS I WAS SAYING ...” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
FINANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
PUBLIC DECIDES FATE OF CARGILL . . . . . . .17
COVER STORY: REDWOOD CITY COUPLES . . . . . . .20
NONPROFITS IN ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
DEVELOPERS SCALE BACK . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spectrum
THE
P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064
Advertising and subscriptions:
(650) 368-2434
E-mail: spectrumtext@yahoo.com
Published the third week of each month.
Periodical rates paid at Redwood City,
California.
Subscription rate: $30 per year in
Redwood City, San Carlos and Menlo Park
($60 all other cities); $24 for seniors (any
city). Not responsible for the return of
unsolicited material.
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Inside The Spectrum:
Our Cover Photo Shoot
T
rying to get one person’s schedule down to arrange a photo shoot is
difficult enough; can you imagine what we went through for this
month’s cover? Spectrum Publisher Steve Penna scheduled the
shoot for Monday, July 17, at 2 p.m., contacted our profiled couples and
arranged to meet them under the “Climate Best” sign on Broadway, near
the Grocery Outlet supermarket. Some could not make it because of vacations or other obligations, so we had three couples.
The day was a hot one; in fact, it was a Spare the Air day, which means
we are all to conserve energy to avoid those wretched blackouts. Cover
Story Photographer James Kaspar arrived first and was quickly joined by
Penna and Spectrum stylist Damaris Divito. Frank and Liza Bizzarro and
Bob and Irene Bryant waited in an air-conditioned car, and as soon as
Suniel and Yogeeta Bhas arrived, we started.
Everyone was in high spirits, and everyone seemed to know one another,
by reputation if not personally. Divito took control of the shoot and
arranged the couples in various positions, capturing the sign in the background to signify that the landmark sign at each end of Broadway is the
gateway to business success.
The shoot was completed in about one hour. Each couple left immediately after their individual pictures were taken, and the photo of the Bryants
walking away from the shoot, in the center of this issue, captured our
imagination.
Photographer James Kaspar and stylist Damaris Divito set up the cover shot
The Spectrum is honored to introduce our readers to these fabulous couples — both on the cover and in the inside story. One wonders how, when
most of us would never dream of associating, let alone living, with someone we work with, these couples can maintain their relationships in such
a healthy and productive manner. It takes work and, given the success of
their businesses, they are masters at both.
Long Term Care Insurance Agent
Annuities
Guillermo “Memo” Morantes, LUTCF
Financial Services Professional
CA. Ins. Lic. #0752732
New York Life Insurance Company
Licensed Agent
Tel: 650.513.5615
Fax: 650.513.3247
gmorantes@ft.newyorklife.com
1300 South El Camino Real, Suite 400, San Mateo, CA 94402
I support the Redwood City San Mateo County Chamber
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
A COMPLETELY UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL:
RCPD OFFICER JOHN HARP SAW IT ALL
By Judy Buchan
Contributing Writer
It was a balmy summer evening in 1993 as I hurriedly swallowed my dinner before
heading out to some mayor-type function. As I looked out our front window past
Mezes Park, I saw a crowd of neighborhood kids at the old Whipple Lodge site.
The motel had been recently demolished, and a large backhoe was parked on the
site, as more grading work was set for the following day.
Suddenly, the kids started running across the street to Mezes Park, and I knew
something was up. As I left dinner and walked briskly toward the motel site,
numerous neighborhood kids ran up to me and claimed, “I didn’t do it!” My suspicions were confirmed when I arrived at the vacant lot to find that the kids had
actually managed to start the backhoe and were walking on the moving tire treads.
A quick call to 911 summoned Officers Carmine Galotta, Dan Marshall and John
Harp. Perched in the cab, Harp and Galotta made several valiant attempts to turn
off the engine, while Marshall stayed safely on the ground. Finally, the construction company representative arrived on scene and shut the darned thing off for the
night. Another crazy evening in the neighborhood. …
OFFICER JOHN HARP
******
From taking on errant backhoes to chasing
gangbangers to working on three fatal officer
shooting cases to cleaning up Redwood City’s
waterways, Redwood City police Officer John
Harp has seen it all. He started at RCPD in
1979 and will retire to his northern Nevada
home this September.
As he recalled the events of his career with
Redwood City, Harp thought first of the three
fatal officer shootings he had covered.
As a new officer working his beat in May
1981, Harp was at Broadway and California
when he heard shots ring out in the bank
building (now housing A-1 Rentals). He got to
the bank to find Officer George Garrett, who
OFFICER JOHN HARP
had been shot and killed in a bank robbery
attempt. Garrett had confronted the suspect and shoved a teller out of the line of
fire, thus saving her life and giving his.
In 1988, rookie East Palo Alto Officer Joel Davis was shot and killed in a struggle
AT THE
SCENE
with a drug dealer. “At the time,” Harp said, “East Palo Alto had serious problems
with drugs and homicides. Officers from our department and other agencies were
sent there to help.” Harp and Officer Steve Sysum covered the crime scene in the
case as East Palo Alto officers searched for the suspect. A dark Cadillac drove by
them, which they later learned was driven by the suspect.
“We felt so bad,” Harp said. “We talked to our sergeant, Al Mann, and he agreed
to let us take an undercover car to try and find the guy. For the next three days,
we checked every motel in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City. We just
missed the guy at the Whipple Lodge; he was driving out as we were driving in!”
The suspect, Ronald Price, was eventually located at Redwood City’s Capri Motel.
“His mother and sister were in the motel room under assumed names; he was hiding under the bed,” Harp recalled.
“And Kevin Dolezal and I were there fast when Richard May was shot in East Palo
Alto in January,” he added.
******
Yet another Friday night in the mid-1990s with CXLS gangbangers patrolling the
neighborhood. They made the mistake of congregating by the Shell station on
Whipple, in perfect sight of RCPD officers. “Those darned kids!” Harp told me
later that evening.
******
Harp worked what’s known as the 2-beat, an area stretching from the alphabet
streets to Mezes Park to Brewster Avenue, during most his career.
“The gangs wanted control in Mezes Park,” Harp remembered. “That night we
found several 13- to 14-year-olds with guns.
“We had gangs under control with traditional law enforcement,” he said, adding,
“We took care of it; that was it.” What’s changed now? “Political correctness,” he
replied.
“The first time a gun was pulled on me was in Mezes Park,” he added. “I was new,
a martial arts instructor, with no weapon. … I wrestled the guy to the ground.”
He also worked in Edgewood Park and is now working in Downtown.
Harp thinks the most significant change in Redwood City is “the improved quality of the city, with the cinema, Sequoia Station, the museum … it’s really a selfsufficient town.”
OFFICER JOHN HARP
AT
RIGHT
He’s also seen changes in neighborhoods over the years. “Some have improved,
(continued on page 6)
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(continued from page 5)
some have gone bad. Nothing will happen until they try to do something about
low-income areas.”
Harp thinks one important part of the issue in low-income neighborhoods is
absentee landlords. “They need code enforcement and to work together with the
Police Department,” he said. Harp spoke of a recent fire at an apartment building
on Manzanita Street as an example. “Major gang players are living in an adjacent
apartment building,” and the owner of that building is trying to sell the property
rather than face retaliation from gang members.
Another hot spot has been 611 Heller St., site of a gang-related shooting last year.
“It’s quiet now, but there are major code violations,” he said. “A search warrant was
served there a while back, and the pit bull on the premises bit one of our officers.
That dog was shot.”
Harp is most proud of his work with “environmental cleanup of our waterways.
We removed over 150 old boats.” He also lobbied hard for the police boat.
Harp grew up in San Jose, one of six children in a blended family. He attended
Lincoln High School, West Valley College and San Jose State University, “for a
while, because I desperately needed a job.
“I’ve spent most of my adult life here in Redwood City. I’ve been active in PAL,
and I’m often greeted by young adults with kids, who ask me if I remember chasing them around when they were young,” he laughed.
He leaves with concern about turnover in RCPD. “Officers are leaving the department again; the high cost of living is the problem,” he said. “We just lost an officer with seven to eight years’ experience who took a $2,000-lower-paying job near
Sacramento. Most of our officers live in the valley, Sacramento, near Fremont, in
Contra Costa County and one even as far as Patterson. They can’t afford to live
here,” he stated.
He’s reached age 50, and both daughters are starting college. “I wish I could stay
longer, but it’s time to move on. I worked midnights and swing shifts and swings
as they were growing and I missed their growing up.”
******
As Officer Carmine Galotta recalls, the robbery call came in from the old UA 6 theater. A man was on the loose with the cash and a gun, so with description in hand,
Galotta headed north on 101 and Harp headed south.
“As John was taking the Marsh Road ramp off, he saw the suspect taking the southbound ramp onto the freeway. John immediately called in that he had the vehicle,
and the pursuit was on. At Willow Road, the guy spun out and ended up going
northbound on the shoulder of the southbound freeway. It’s night, and John
instinctively saw that this guy would be a danger to oncoming drivers. So John put
on his emergency lights and followed the guy going northbound on the shoulder
OFFICER JOHN HARP
6
AT THE
SCENE
of the southbound freeway.
“In the meantime,” Galotta continued, “I quickly did a U-turn on the freeway and
headed southbound from Holly Street. Al Mann, one of our detectives, was at a
softball game and heard the call on the radio, so he headed that way as well. The
driver bailed out around the Rolison Road area and hit the chain-link fence there.
The moneybag went flying, and John got the guy in custody with no loss of money.
“In my opinion, John put himself at risk to save drivers from the guy going the
wrong way. And he ended up getting both a reprimand for driving the wrong way
on the freeway and a commendation for getting the suspect and money with no
injuries to anyone,” he concluded.
“John Harp is a completely unique individual,” Galotta told me. “I’ve learned a lot
from him.”
Thanks for the memories, John.
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DEVELOPERS TRY SCALED-BACK BAY PROJECT
A large-scale Redwood City housing and office development proposal that divided
the city in a controversial 2004 ballot initiative is returning. However, this time
the developer is asking for the opposition’s advice on the dramatically scaled-back
proposal.
The Marina Shores development proposal, which became a community lightning
rod for a discussion on the need for housing versus limiting high-rises, was defeated at the ballot box as Measure Q. Its defeat forced the City Council to rethink its
land-use policies and sent the developer back to the drawing board.
Marina Shores Village developer Glenborough-Pauls is now introducing plans for
what is informally known as Peninsula Park. The concept-level project calls for a
33-acre development including 796 townhomes and condominiums, a 200-room
hotel, 10,000 square feet of convenience retail space, a community park and five
acres of marina and canals.
The new plan eliminates all office development and adds a community park along
the Bair Island Road frontage. The height is reduced by half and the density cut
back by 58 percent.
“We just wanted to make sure that when we reapplied that it would be acceptable
to more people,” said Paul Powers, president of Glenborough-Pauls.
The first public study session on the informal proposal took place at City Hall.
The Marina Shores Village proposal encompassed Pete’s Harbor and the Peninsula
Marina at the Redwood City bay shore, while the new plan lies only in the marina. Marina Shores also included 1,930 housing units, a 200-room hotel, 50,000
square feet of retail space and 150,000 square feet of office space on both waterfront sites.
It also included 20 240-foot-high towers, which exceeded the existing zoning
allowances. Measure Q failed by more than 1,800 votes on Nov. 2, 2004, despite
the unanimous support of the City Council.
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“Any development proposal in Redwood City gains
a certain amount of support in Redwood City,” said
Ralph Nobles, former chair of the Redwood City
Planning Commission and founder of Friends of
Redwood City, an environmental group. “But it didn’t have the support of the people of Redwood
City.”
Public concerns included height, density, traffic,
public access and environmental impacts, which the
new plan hopes to address.
Jill Ekas, Redwood City’s senior planner, said while
residents will probably compare it to the old plan,
Peninsula Park is a brand-new proposal that should
be considered a separate project from Marina
Shores Village.
“It’s going to be important for the public to consider it on its own merits,” Ekas said. “We’re starting
all over.”
But Measure Q opponents can’t help but look back
on the previous project’s failure.
“I have seen the initial plan, and I think the same
concerns are going to come up,” said Hilary
Paulson, past Planning Commission chair while the
Marina Shores project was going through the public
planning process. She also unsuccessfully ran for
City Council last year. Paulson said she feels she was
removed from the Planning Commission because
she voted against the Marina Shores Village project.
She said the new proposal is still too high, despite
the reduction in building height from 240 feet to
120 feet.
“It was quite a sales job,” Paulson said of the previous proposal. “They said for
them to, quote, ‘make a profit,’ they’d have to build it really tall — but you know
what? That’s not my problem.”
Paulson said Peninsula Park is also too dense for the city’s current zoning and
brings about questions of water consumption and the drawing of residents away
from downtown.
Powers, however, said it is the ideal location for development. “We think there’s a
desperate need for housing and we think it’s the perfect place to put it,” he said.
The Peninsula Park project is still in an early development stage and is now open
for community feedback. “It’s certainly much improved over the previous project,”
Nobles said. “We’re going to give it a really fair consideration — we just don’t
know enough about it yet.”
An informal community study session with the Planning Commission and the
Architectural Review Committee took place on July 11.
Editor’s note: This article appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper.
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P.S. The People Speak - Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
DISRUPTIVE BULLIES
Michael Mangini’s opinion piece in last month’s Spectrum is full of the same
misleading and emotion-laden material he has been disseminating for several
weeks in an effort to drive wedges in our community. At first he claimed that the
Emerald Hills Homeowners Association board members are “style police” who
want to force standards for design and color on the community. Then, when he
learned that such standards have been part of our Design Review Ordinance
since 1990, he claimed that these were enacted via stealth mode. This is so
wrong. I have lived in Emerald Hills for over 20 years, and I and hundreds of
other homeowners attended public meetings to discuss the 1990 design standards. Before they were enacted, our community was being devastated by rampant and uncontrolled development. But under the 1990 regulations, homes
have improved in quality; they now are proportioned in size to their lot sizes,
they step down the hillsides and they fit into the neighborhood’s character.
Neighbors are informed of prospective development and they can attend design
review meetings to give input.
After 16 years, it is time to update our zoning and design guidelines. That is
why the EHHA board held six community meetings two years ago to solicit
input from the community, researched design standards of similar hillside communities, prepared well-thought-out proposals for change that were presented at
open meetings last year, and conducted a community vote by mailing a ballot to
every person owning property in Emerald Hills. That ballot showed that the
EHHA proposals were supported by 55 percent to 75 percent of property owners
who voted.
Not all persons approved of the proposed changes, of course. But Mr. Mangini
and his cohorts were not satisfied that the “yes” votes predominated, and they
are now trying to derail the process. Why? Thoughtful members of our community are asking why Mrs. Mangini is working to upset the design review process
that she is sworn to uphold in her position as Community Member of the
Design Review Committee; isn’t this a conflict of interest? Why are a number of
disreputable developers members of the “coalition”? Why does this group have
to resort to lies, fear-mongering and reputation smears in order to get its way?
Why assume that all of the persons attending the community meeting came to
oppose the proposals because the “coalition” members yelled the loudest, booed
and pointed fingers at persons who tried to speak on behalf of the EHHA proposals? Is this what we want in our neighborhood: that the bullies disrupt our
democratic process?
Carolyn Chaney
Homeowner, Emerald Hills
HOMEOWNERS GROUP UNFAIRLY REPRESENTS COMMUNITY
Dear Editor,
It was my understanding that (as stated in their articles of incorporation) the
“specific primary purpose” of the Emerald Hills Homeowners Association is “to
promote the health, safety and welfare of all residents within those unincorporated portions of San Mateo County … commonly known as Emerald Hills.”
Imagine my surprise, therefore, when I received the latest EHHA newsletter,
which informed me that “the EHHA does not pretend to speak for everyone —
that is not realistic or possible. Our objective is to represent the majority sentiment of those who choose to participate with the Association.”
If the EHHA decides to represent only those people “who choose to participate”
then it has become just another special interest group like the NRA or the Sierra
Club. Much of the recent criticism directed at the EHHA is because people
believe that the county regards EHHA as community representatives and therefore gives the organization a status that would not be granted to a special interest group. Community representatives must speak for all of their constituents,
whether or not those constituents voted for them, and have a duty to put forward the diversity of viewpoints within that community as a whole, regardless of
the personal views of individual board members. In particular, such an organization must present a balanced perspective on the pros and cons of any proposal
that will affect its constituents.
The EHHA board has singularly failed to act in an impartial manner during the
development of its proposed new zoning restrictions and is in clear breach of the
EHHA’s articles of incorporation. I hope that the board will withdraw its onesided proposal and begin to comply with its own articles of incorporation so we
can have a homeowners association that properly represents our community.
Tim Farrar
Emerald Hills
Dear Editor,
The Emerald Hills Homeowners Association is using a campaign of half-truths in
an attempt to advance its own personal agenda of further restricting the property
rights of homeowners in Emerald Hills. While the EHHA has no doubt devoted
much time and effort to its campaign, the members of the EHHA board of directors fail to clearly see the facts of the situation. They maintain that they conducted a “community vote” and that the result of that vote “showed that the
EHHA proposals were supported by 55 percent to 75 percent of the property
owners who voted.” What they often fail to disclose is that out of 1,700-plus
households entitled to vote, only 423 households chose to do so. If one does the
math, 55 percent to 75 percent of 423 hardly represents a majority of 1,700.
While they may have interpreted the low voter response to mean that residents
either agreed or that they just didn’t care about the issues, the highly attended
May 31 county meeting should have clued them in otherwise. If the EHHA and
its board of directors truly care about the community and would like to find out
where the community really stands on the issues, they should pull their current
proposals and work together with all members of the community (not just those
who support their own personal preferences) to draft unbiased proposals to be
submitted to the community in a county-sponsored vote.
Adriana Botto
Emerald Hills
Dear Editor,
REJECT EMERALD HILLS REGULATIONS
Having carefully studied the changes supported by the Emerald Hills
Homeowners Association, I’m convinced the proposed zoning regulations will
reduce our property value.
Although hard-working and well-intentioned representatives from EHHA claim
they “provide many mechanisms for participation and have always made their
best effort to solicit community involvement,” the entire process can more
appropriately be described as a few select individuals selling their views to the
homeowners without giving homeowners much or any opportunity to raise
objections, voice concerns, discuss options or explore other possible solutions.
Please note that the “votes on proposals” run by EHHA lacked so many standard procedures found in all of our city, county, state and federal elections that it
can best be described as a nonscientific poll proving that leading questions result
in biased responses.
Specifically, information distributed to the voters was very one-sided.
Information arguing for the opposing points of view was not distributed to anyone. Yes, a few minutes of discussion was granted to a few select and brave individuals at some group meetings, but these individuals were not provided a true
opportunity to raise objections, voice concerns, discuss options or explore other
possible solutions. More importantly, their arguments were not included with the
one-sided information distributed to the “voters.” The “community input meetings” led by the EHHA should more appropriately be described as campaign rallies to promote the EHHA agenda.
I am not a developer, Realtor, builder or short-term speculative real estate
investor. However, my personal experience includes more than a dozen real
estate transactions. I have improved many of these properties through personal
remodeling efforts and/or expansion projects. I worked in numerous capacities on
these projects, including as a carpenter, plumber, electrician, architect, draftsperson and design review committee member (for a small homeowners association).
Factual errors and misleading information were used to help persuade community members to agree with the opinions of the selected EHHA representatives. I
listened to hundreds of homeowners speak at the meeting on May 31 and many
more before. The only responsible decision our current Board of Supervisors can
make is to dismiss the proposal immediately.
Jan Heinemann
Emerald Hills
Dear Editor,
TRAGEDY ON 101
I am outraged that an 18-year-old would drive recklessly on the Bay Area’s
busiest roadway, resulting in the deaths of visiting dignitaries. The CHP states
that street racing is a common occurrence. This teenager should be prosecuted to
the full extent of the law to serve as an example against this dangerous, lethal
conduct.
Steve Conrad
San Francisco
8
STATISTICS DON’T LIE
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As I Was Saying ...
I
By
S t e v e Pe n n a
P u bl i s h e r
f you have not heard by now, the Police Officers
Association has been attending council meetings and running full-page ads in local news
publications. The issue at hand is basically contract
resolution — they want one, now. They have
addressed, among other issues, salary freezes, pension benefits, compensation based on comparable
departments, City Manager Ed Everett’s “inaccurate and misleading” statements to the public, and
the question of “what value would you place on a
police officer?”
items that are not on the agenda, but there is to be no
discussion or action taken. This is where I see a problem. After the POA representative addressed the council the first time and made their statement, Mayor
Barbara Pierce replied with a statement saying, basically, that she was disappointed in the group going
“public” with the issue, that she assured the public and
them that a fair offer was on the table, and that the
council was hoping to work this out in negotiations
and not in a public forum. All fine and dandy — or
not?
But the other issue that has interested me is the POA
representative’s addressing the council under the oral
communication section of the meeting agenda.
When responding to someone during the oral communication section, the mayor or any council member is
really starting a discussion on the issue, and I am sure
that no one would be allowed to respond to their comments for that very reason. In my opinion, Pierce
should have just thanked the representative and moved
on. Instead, she added fuel to the fire and, to be quite
honest, “we” the public have no way of knowing if her
comments were accurate, and some members of the
POA have said they were not.
In case you were not aware, California Government
Code Section 54954.3(a) specifies that every agenda
for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for
members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public, before
or during the legislative body’s consideration of the
item, that is within the subject-matter jurisdiction of
the legislative body, provided that no action shall be
taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless
the action is otherwise authorized by subdivision.
In other words, a person may address the council on
Michelle Glaubert
650.598.2366 VM
650.722.1193 Cell
Then, during the next meeting that was attended by
POA members and their families, Pierce, after hearing
the comments and loud applause from the audience,
scolded them for clapping and warned them it would
(continued on page 36)
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Cañada College
Receives 2006 HP
Technology Grant
LetsTalkEvents.com
Cañada College is one of 10 higher education institutions in the United States to
earn the 2006 Hewlett Packard Technology for Teaching Leadership Grant.
The grant is valued at $120,500. Cañada College will receive HP technology,
including wireless tablet computers, docking stations, storage carts, inkjet printers
and wireless cards, valued at $110,000, plus $10,500 in cash.
The Hewlett Packard Technology for Teaching Grant is designed to transform and
improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology. Cañada
College is using HP wireless technology in engineering, math and physics courses
to create an Interactive Learning Network (ILN) that allows real-time student
assessment and assistance with individual or group focus. The college has created
a system that links notebook computers to allow teachers to monitor students as
they work through problems.
“Being able to monitor the work in real time is a tremendous advantage for the
students and the teacher,” said Amelito Enriquez, engineering and mathematics
professor at Cañada and project leader. “You can see where students struggle and
you can help them understand how to overcome the problem.”
A team of Cañada professors was selected to present its project at the 2006
Hewlett Packard Higher Education Technology for Teaching Conference held last
February in Monterey. Cañada was one of six colleges worldwide selected to present at the conference.
“Receiving this grant for a second consecutive year is a testament to the high-level
work being performed in the science and technology division at the college,” said
Cañada President Tom Mohr. The college earned a $74,000 Technology for
Teaching Grant from HP last year.
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CALL
650-365-2144
961 Woodside Road, Suite D * Redwood City, CA 94061
americancoast@msn.com * Fax 650-365-3481
(CA Dept. of Real Estate * Real Estate Broker #00836735
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
THE DEUTCHES BRING
A
BIT
By Valerie Harris
Special to The Spectrum
Old Port Lobster Shack
851 Veterans Blvd. (at Jefferson Avenue), Redwood City
(650) 366-2400
www.oplobster.com
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.–Close
Sunday 12 p.m.–Close
OF
MAINE
TO
REDWOOD CITY
Wi k i p e d i a . o rg :
“Prior to the 20th
century
eating
lobster was considered a mark of
poverty in the
United States. In
some parts of the
M a r i t i m e
provinces
of
Canada, lobster
was used as a fertilizer for farmers’
fields, and a great
deal of lobster
was fed to slaves
or the lower memLYNN AND RUSSELL DEUTSCH
bers of society.
Outside of the rural outports lobster was sold canned, losing much of its flavour,
which can be disguised if the lobster is dipped in drawn butter.
“The reputation of lobster changed with the development of the modern transportation industry that allowed live lobsters to be shipped from the outports to
large urban centres. Fresh lobster quickly became a luxury food and a tourist
attraction for the Maritimes and Maine and an export to Europe and Japan where
it is especially expensive.”
Few meals equal the joy of eating fresh, succulent lobster! At Old Port Lobster
Shack at 851 Veterans Blvd. (at Jefferson Avenue), next to Supercuts in the strip
mall, you will find a genuinely authentic New England lobster shack. Apparently
word-of-mouth and a few superb reviews by the San Francisco Chronicle have
caused a burgeoning business with clientele delighted to spend $17.50 for the
divine lobster roll sandwich. Lines quickly form out the door, and people cannot
wait to satiate their lobster fix with a basket of cheese fries and lobster rolls.
Old Port Lobster Shack’s lobster roll is a heavily fresh-lobster-laden salad on a deliciously toasted roll specially made for the restaurant. The sandwiches come with
mayo but may be ordered “naked,” with drawn butter and lemon wedges on the
side. For anyone watching their fat intake or on a weight-loss diet, the USDA
states that “lobster is one of the healthiest and leanest proteins available; it is a
good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are proven to reduce hardening of the arteries and risk of heart disease; and it contains less cholesterol, calories, and saturated fats than lean beef, pork, shrimp or even the light meat of
chicken. In addition, lobster provides an abundance of copper, which may help
overweight or obese women retain calcium in their bones while they’re dieting.”
Historically, dining on lobster is a relatively recent phenomenon. According to
The origins of the Old Port Lobster Shack actually arose serendipitously through
a fated meeting resulting from a bumped plane ride. Paul Blatt, a friend and business associate of Old Port Lobster Shack’s owner, Russell Deutsch, was en route
from Boston to San Francisco when he was bumped from a flight. Blatt was rerouted through Washington, D.C., and sat next to Lynn Brown, who was in D.C. on
business. Brown was in charge of regulatory affairs for Guidant, a Santa Clara
manufacturer of heart stents, and had been meeting with the Food and Drug
Administration. Blatt and Brown hit it off and had a wonderful flight, exchanging
phone numbers at the end. That night, when Blatt got home, he called Deutsch
and told him, “I just met your future wife.”
Deutsch grew up in the Boston area and was in the lobster exporting business, primarily to Switzerland. Brown was born and raised in the Bay Area. Deutsch called
Brown, and the chemistry was there to keep the calls coming. Brown decided to
meet Deutsch in person, so she flew to Boston to visit her sister, Joanne. Thirteen
weeks later, at a surprise birthday party for Brown, Deutsch gave her the ultimate
birthday gift: a proposal of marriage. Delightfully, she accepted! It was the first
marriage for both. Russell and Lynn Deutsch currently reside in Redwood City
with their two young boys, Isaac and Aaron.
When Deutsch relocated from the Boston area to the Bay Area, he came with
thoughts of opening up a New England–style lobster shack. Lynn had transferred
to Abbott Laboratories in Redwood City, so Redwood City seemed to be the perfect location for their business. Deutsch found an empty restaurant business, and
(continued on page 13)
Before
. Remodel
. Addition
. New Construction
AFTER
N.D.R. CONSTRUCTION
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
650.787.0831
Lic. # 796613
RUSSELL
WITH FRIEND
11
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
(continued from page 11)
in January 2006, the Old Port Lobster Shack opened its doors for business.
Business is so good that he is already considering a second location to keep up with
the demand.
Besides lobster, the Old Port Lobster Shack provides an assortment of other wonderfully fresh seafood, such as shrimp, clams and oysters on the half shell. Bacon
and sour cream cheesy fries, cole slaw, clam chowder and lobster bisque also round
out the menu. But here, lobster is king.
To really enjoy lobster at its peak, it must be eaten fresh. Freezing the lobster
toughens the meat. Old Port Lobster Shack flies in fresh lobsters several times a
week. Be prepared to eat the freshest lobster on the West Coast!
Coming Soon!
Gold Rush
Brick Oven
PIZZERIA
&
THANK YOU,
REDWOOD CITY!
PUB
650.368.3315
Moving to Main Street
Heimerhaus
sANDWICHES & cATERING
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WIC
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CLU A OR s!
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UR
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elt
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601 MAIN STREET * rEDWOOD cITY
650.366.8277
is now the largest
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ADVERTISING: (650)368-2434
www.spectrummagazine.net
Open to Serve you:
mON-fRI 8am - 3PM
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13
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
CULTURAL EVENTS
Free Live Music All Summer Long
Redwood City’s two famous and fabulous free summer concert series are about to
begin! Live in Downtown features great music every Friday at 6 p.m. in City
Center Plaza, right next to City Hall, and the Stafford Park concert series has free
music on the green every Wednesday at 6 p.m. throughout the summer. Here are
the schedules (go to www.redwoodcity.org/parks for more details):
Live in Downtown
July 28 — Take 2 (hits from the ’70s to today)
Aug. 4 — Emily Lord (adult contemporary)
Aug. 11 — Ben Marcato and His Mondo Combo (rockin’ swing)
Aug. 18 — Cool Jerks (Motown and big band)
Aug. 25 — Nite Cry (blues, rock and soul)
Sept. 1 — Jackie Payne & Steve Edmonson (big blues sound)
Sept. 8 — Aja Vu (Steely Dan tribute band)
Stafford Park
July 26 — Double Funk Crunch (disco, the hits and more)
Aug. 2 — Garage Band (’40s to today)
Aug. 9 — Orquesta d’Sol (salsa, Latin)
Aug. 16 — Sun Kings (Beatles tribute band)
The concert series are sponsored by the Redwood City Civic Cultural Commission
and Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Funded in part by
a generous donation from the Port of Redwood City, additional sponsors include
San Mateo Credit Union, Provident Credit Union and Allied Waste Services (formerly BFI).
The Little Fox
The summer has proven to be hot and the Little Fox follows suit with the hottest
bands in the Bay Area and beyond. So come check out Redwood City’s ever-growing music scene, with fantastic performers that are sure to please! The Little Fox is
at 2209 Broadway.
Redwood City Karaoke Night hosted by Anthony Nash
Tuesday, July 25, 8 p.m., free admission
Come on by, grab a mic and sing a hit of the stars at this hugely entertaining event.
Redwood City Blues Jam
Wednesday, July 26, 7 p.m., free admission
Join Kenny “Blue” Ray for an evening of quality blues music from the area’s best
musicians, where audience blues musicians are invited to “jam” on stage. The
14
music is real, the mood collegial and the doors open to the community to enjoy
this uniquely American music. The Jam meets on the second and fourth
Wednesday of each month, from 7 to 11 p.m. Bring your friends!
Bartron Tyler Group plus Atkinson Kincheloe Band
Thursday, July 27, 8 p.m., $12 adv./$14 door
The Bartron Tyler Group is a band that reaches beyond the confines of any single
musical category. Drawing from a broad scope of influences, their sound is an
undeniably unique and potent mixture of a quart of progressive rock, a pint of acid
jazz fusion, a dash of Afro-Cuban and Celtic, and a twist of blues. Whimsical and
dynamic in nature, their purely instrumental sound takes you on an acoustic journey, interweaving strong melodies and intricate rhythms.
Tommy Castro plus JL Stiles
Friday, July 28, 8 p.m., $20 adv./$22 door
Tommy Castro is respected by many as a firmly established and highly acclaimed
force in the American roots/blues arena. His prowess as a recording artist is reinforced by a charismatic and powerfully charged stage performance. Years of touring, writing and recording have resulted in a masterful blend of the musical genres
that he loves: blues, soul and rock. Carlos Santana, who’s invited Castro to share
the stage with him, said of Tommy, “The blues is in good hands.”
Bing and the Bingtones plus Garrick Davis and Julia Harrell
Saturday, July 29, 8 p.m., $16 adv./$18 door
Join Bing and the Bingtones as they perform their style of “rhythmic nighttime
music with a soul,” reminiscent of the great horn groups of the ’70s and ’80s, such
as Tower of Power, Sons of Champlin and Cold Blood. Bing, an East Coast native
of New Jersey, is a hopeless romantic who has composed music that richly
describes thoughts on everything from love to our lives since Sept. 11. Bing has
titled the Bingtones’ debut CD “American Dream” to reflect his music and feelings
of life in America.
Stung: A Tribute to The Police plus Big Daddy Sunshine
Saturday, Aug. 4, 8 p.m., $12 adv./$14 door
Stung is here to fill a void we all long for … the sound of The Police … live! This
Bay Area band has quickly made a buzz wowing audiences at the hottest area
nightclubs and events around the bay (SF Black & White Ball, Bay to Breakers
“Footstock” concert, Bimbo’s 365 Club) and around the world (Holland Tribute
Band Festival). This trio has even been blessed by a sit-in performance by Police
founder/drummer Stewart Copeland at his Beverly Hills birthday party.
Women in Jazz featuring Kat Parra, Kristen Strom and Wendy Waller
Sunday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m., $12 adv./$14 door
These three exceptional jazz musicians are as diverse stylistically as they are talented. This dynamic trio will present an evening of uniquely exquisite music. All
three women are seasoned professional musicians and band leaders and are disci(continued on page 37)
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CITY/POA CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS:
A WAR OF WORDS, BUT “IT’S NOT PERSONAL”
By Judy Buchan
Contributing Writer
“The work they do is great, as it should be.” — Mayor Barbara Pierce.
“The City Council apparently bases its value of police officers in strictly monetary
terms.” — Redwood City Police Officers Association.
After an appearance by members of the Redwood City Police Officers Association
at the June 26 City Council meeting, the war of words about contract negotiations
between the two sides went public and hasn’t let up.
The current POA contract with the city ran from Sept. 1, 2002, through Aug. 31,
2005. At issue is whether the salary increase called for by the process of comparisons with cities in other agencies should be set aside for one year to help meet city
budgetary constraints.
The city’s most recent offer to the group was voted down unanimously by all 75
POA members.
According to the city press release of June 27, “Many of the City’s other bargaining units have accepted a two-year salary freeze as part of Redwood City’s fiscal
recovery program — they are willingly doing their part for the financial well-being
of the City as we finally start to emerge from the fiscal crises of the last few years.
The City is calling for the Police Officers Association to do their part as well, and
accept a temporary one-year suspension in pay increases — clearly a fair and equitable trade-off in light of other departments’ continuing financial sacrifices.”
Mayor Barbara Pierce agreed that of the five bargaining units in the city, two —
Service Employees International Local 715 and Redwood City Management
Association — chose to take salary freezes, even though they did receive enhanced
retirement benefits. “They did give something up,” she said.
Sascha Eisner, SEIU 715 representative, remembers his group’s contract negotiations in a different light. “Look, they came to us in 2004 and said that they didn’t have a lot of money to put on the table. But we also looked at the CPI
[Consumer Price Index, on which salaries are pegged] at that time and it was very
low,” Eisner said. “We figured we wouldn’t get much of a raise anyway. So we took
the enhanced retirement benefit. That kind of move is not uncommon. There was
no quid pro quo with the city,” he added.
Also at issue is Pierce’s statement, again from the June 27 press release, that “they
[the POA] are the highest paid officers in San Mateo County.”
According to the current contract (obtained from the city’s Web site), salary
increases are calculated by comparing the total compensation rates for police officers in Redwood City to the average total compensation rate of officers in
Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Union City, Milpitas
and Santa Clara. This calculation includes top step base salary, employee PERS
payments, educational incentives, and health and welfare contributions.
When Pierce learned that two of those cities are in San Mateo County, she stated
that the city’s offer is “fair when compared with cities in the list.”
“You know, we may be paid higher than South San Francisco and San Mateo,” said
Officer Carmine Galotta. “But you have to look at the total compensation package to set the salary increase. We fall behind in the total compensation package.”
POA representative Ray Fowler contends that a salary freeze is actually a salary
(continued on page 18)
15
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Page 16
Redwood
Redwood City
City businesses
businesses are
are
here
here to
to serve
serve you!
you!
Check out our Best of the Best selections. The Spectrum Magazine knows you are always
looking for different places to dine, bank, invest, shop, work out or treat yourself. We have
been out in our community, using businesses that not only provide excellent service but also
contribute to our community. We urge you to shop local and shop often!
Auto Care:
Image Auto Repair – 623 Main St. – At Image Auto you will find a neatly landscaped, clean
and attractive facility. They offer scheduled maintenance inspections, service and repairs for
Dodge, Ford and GM diesels. But that’s not all, they also offer quality repairs on all makes
and models of domestic and Japanese cars, SUVs and light trucks. They are dedicated to providing their customers with quality products at competitive prices. Discounts are offered to
senior citizens and fleets. They treat all customers like they are number one! Call today to
schedule your appointment.
Redwood General Tire – 1630 Broadway – Whether you are looking for a new set of tires
or need repair work on your vehicle, this Redwood City institution has been providing quality vehicle services since 1957. Redwood General Tire was founded on the premise that good
customer service and quality products at fair prices will succeed in the marketplace. They
continue to follow this philosophy today and expect it to guide them into a successful future.
Many of their satisfied customers have been with them since their founding and continue to
do business with them today. They proudly serve the third generation of many of their first
Redwood City customers.
Eating and Catering:
Canyon Inn – 587 Canyon Road – You will find everything at this Redwood City favorite.
The Canyon Inn is nestled in the small, quiet neighborhood of Emerald Hills. It’s a popular
stop for bicycle touring clubs and local sports celebrities such as members of the San
Francisco 49ers. But the reputation draws celebrities and personalities from all over the
world. The restaurant is noted for its burgers and beers, most notably the Hacksaw Burger,
a big double cheeseburger named after Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. The Canyon Inn also offers
hot and cold sandwiches, hot dogs, fish and chips, spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, tacos and quesadillas. If you use their coupon in this month’s Spectrum, you can get 10 percent off all
meals. Now that’s an offer you cannot pass up!
Diving Pelican Café – 650 Bair Island Road, Suite 102 – This restaurant may be the bestkept secret in Redwood City. They offer a variety of specialty items, including eggs Benedict
with fresh crab and homemade hollandaise sauce. They also have beer, wine, and espresso
drinks available to go. For your convenience, they have outdoor seating that overlooks the
water. Conveniently located half a mile from the freeway, it’s easy to stop by and visit. Try
the famous pear, walnut, gorgonzola and grilled chicken salad. It is so delicious that people
come from all over to enjoy it! They also have a seasonal specialty, which is mango pasticcio
and feta cheese salad with grilled chicken. People tell us that they want to keep the cafe a
secret, because it is such a nice location with outstanding food. We won’t tell anyone?
Encore Performance Catering – 2992 Spring St. – Owner Dave Hyman’s menu goes on for
eight pages of mouthwatering suggestions for everything from continental breakfasts to formal dinners. Despite an entire page devoted just to warm appetizers, these are mere suggestions, and Hyman is quick to offer additional possibilities to fit any occasion. He also has a
strong sense of community and participates in many community-oriented events. Hyman is
proud of the fact that his business products are nearly 100 percent recyclable, and he contributes leftovers to St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room in Redwood City. Need a caterer for
that party or event? Call Hyman at (650) 365-3731.
Little India – 917 Main St. – This stylish Indian restaurant features a reasonably priced allyou-can-eat buffet for both lunch and dinner. The home-style food is mainly from the northwest region of India, and items from other regions of India are also featured. The food is low
in fat and sodium. You can dine in or take out. Senior citizens receive $1 off and children
(under 12) dine at half price. Bring your appetite, because you will want to try everything!
New Kapadokia – 2399 Broadway – From soups, salads and kebabs to entrees of doner, et
kavurma and vegetarian manti, this restaurant is Turkish cuisine at its best! A special lunch
menu at $6.95 for all entrees makes it even better. Wine and Turkish beer are available. This
restaurant is a must try for all Redwood City residents and friends!
Entertainment:
Arthur Murray Dance Studio – 2065 Broadway – Whatever your goal — meeting people,
gaining confidence or preparing for the first dance at your wedding — the expert instructors
can design a customized program that’s just right for you! One strength of the Arthur Murray
system is the wide variety of dances you can choose from: foxtrot, merengue, waltz, swing,
hustle, rumba, cha-cha, tango, salsa and many more. You can hire genuine Arthur Murray
professionals to teach and dance at your special event. For weddings, hire dance hosts to
come and dance with your guests. For birthday parties, have a group lesson and then everyone can dance together. Go with the era of your choice for anniversary parties. At business
parties, they will teach your group with fun and flair. For holiday parties, they will prepare
your crowd for the festivities. Hire someone to teach at your ‘50s party, ‘70s party or at the
theme party of your choice. Put a little fun in your life; try dancing! Take the first step to
years of fun and confidence on the dance floor. Contact Arthur Murray to get started today.
And your first lesson is always complimentary!
16
Financial Institutions:
Capital Mortgage Lending – 805 Veterans Blvd., #202 – Lourdes Carini and her team of
dedicated loan agents focus on residential lending, including purchases and refinances. As a
mortgage company, they deal with a large assortment of lenders, allowing them to research
the best financing to meet each client’s individual needs. Carini has over 25 years experience
in the Bay Area financial services industry. The company’s success is based on referrals, its
track record and being accessible to clients. So if you have a mortgage loan need or question,
please pick up the phone and call (650) 362-2700.
Edward Jones – 702 Marshall St., #515 – For decades, Edward Jones believed in building
relationships through face-to-face interaction and adherence to a strategy of recommending
quality investments that have proven themselves over time. So does Investment
Representative David Amann, who manages their Redwood City office. He understands that
this approach might be considered unfashionable. But if it means helping his clients achieve
their goals, whether for retirement, education or just financial security, it’s an approach he
plans to stick to.
First National Bank – 700 El Camino Real – In the ever-merging world of the banking
industry it’s hard to find places where the consumer or small business owner’s voice still matters. Independent banks and small local banking chains, which take the time to listen, are
slowly becoming things of the past. Luckily, this is not the case at First National Bank of
Northern California, according to Brian Palter, branch manager of the Redwood City location. “When we have a new client and do right by them,” said Palter, “they tell others.”
Doing right by a client, whether old or new, requires taking extra steps in situations which
nationwide chains might not do. Give Palter a call and see what he means.
Personal Improvement:
Redwood Massage & Sauna – 797 Arguello St. – First opened in 1964 by two Finnish
women, this professional facility is now under the management of Beverly and Harold May.
Ms. May is a full-time massage therapist with almost thirty years of experience. They pride
themselves on having exceptionally talented massage therapists to care for you, trained in a
variety of specialized techniques to improve your circulation, mental clarity and creativity as
well as optimize your overall physical health. Your experience at Redwood Massage & Sauna
will enhance your health and well-being naturally in the true Finnish tradition of therapeutic massage and sauna amid clean, comfortable and serene surroundings.
Re:Juvenate Skin Care – 805 Veterans Blvd., Suite 140 – Treat yourself, you deserve it!
Re:Juvenate is owned and operated by Sherna Madan, M.D., and Linda S. Moore, R.N.
Together they have more than 50 years in the healthcare industry and over 10 years in the
field of aesthetics. Both have lived and worked in the community for the majority of those
years. When a consumer is looking for a facility that offers a list of services that are so personal, name recognition and reputation are of the utmost importance. Relationships are
formed quickly, and trust is a huge part of the equation. Whether you are seeing a
Re:Juvenate clinician for acne, sun damage, skin tightening, wrinkle reduction or laser hair
removal, the process starts with a complimentary consultation with a member of the aesthetic staff. Call (650) 261-0500 and mention The Spectrum Magazine.
Warren Street Chiropractic – 520 Warren St. – Warren Street Chiropractic Wellness and
Injury Center was formerly Lease Chiropractic Offices, owned and operated by Timothy H.
Lease, D.C. Dr. Lease is beginning his 22nd year of practice and has a very broad patient
base, from infants to folks in their 90s. Cases include work injury (workers’ compensation),
personal injury (car accidents, slips and falls, bicycle and pedestrian accidents), carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, headaches, neck pain, back pain, and leg and arm pain. He
has a working network of other doctors and therapists, so he is able to refer for second opinions or other therapy if appropriate. The office has six spacious exam rooms, including a massage room.
Retail:
Lulu’s – 846 Main St. – Lulu’s is the latest and most unique gift store to open in downtown
Redwood City. Owner Nancy Radcliffe has taken 24 years of design experience to create a
collection of cards and gifts intermingled with eclectic antique pieces, all affordably priced!
In addition, Lulu’s carries everything from baby gifts that put a smile on your face to whimsical candles. Pamper your dog or cat or find that perfect hostess gift.
Mayers Jewelers – 2303 Broadway – Redwood City’s oldest family-owned jewelers still
sparkle like they did the first day they opened in 1969. They have a large selection of necklaces, rings and watches. If you cannot find exactly what you want, they have personal
designs that have kept Redwood City residents frequenting this fine business for years.
Home Improvements:
Lewis Carpet Cleaners – 1.800.23.LEWIS – Rick Lewis, founder, started his business in
1985 out of his home using a small, portable machine. Today, Lewis successfully operates and
manages an office/warehouse of six employees and has five working vans, with future plans
for expansion and growth. Lewis moved his business from San Mateo to Redwood City in
1995. The Lewis family works and lives in Redwood City and has truly made this town their
home. They are committed to the vision and success of our community and with relentless
effort will continue to support the community, devoting time, efforts, energy and services
today and in the future. Lewis has built his company on a foundation of integrity, loyalty
and communication. Call and ask about their Spectrum special. You can get 100 square feet
of carpet cleaned for absolutely nothing. Call today!
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Public to Decide Fate of Cargill
The company announced plans recently to close its 100-year-old Redwood City
facility within three years. It will start an early community-input process to learn
what the community wants to replace it. A letter to all Redwood City households
informed them of the impending wind-down and asked for their suggestions on
the future use of the site. The move to get early public input could protect the project from facing a referendum later, much like the one that killed the Marina Shores
project in 2004.
The 1,433-acre site is situated off Seaport Boulevard and encompasses a large
amount of wetlands. The property is currently zoned for minimal development
and any large plans will be subject to a zoning change and council review. Redwood
City Mayor Barbara Pierce isn't weighing in on what she wants to see there, but
said she's happy to see the public process beginning early. “In these days of referendums it's smarter to know what the community wants from the beginning,”
Pierce said.
In 2004, the community formed a grassroots movement to oppose the 46-acre
development at Marina Shores. The project was approved by the City Council and
would have created 1,930 condominiums, a small shopping center, a marina and
two hotels on 46 acres east of Highway 101 and adjacent to the Cargill property.
A small group of residents collected enough signatures for a referendum, and voters overturned the council's decision on the November ballot. Glenborough-Pauls,
the owner of the Marina Shores property, still has the option to develop.
Meanwhile, residents are not relenting. They are watching the Cargill property
with a close eye and have high hopes the property will be returned to wetlands,
said Ralph Nobles, a key figure in the 2004 referendum. Nobles said Cargill floated several ideas in the past, including a development comparable to Foster City.
Cargill insists it does not have any preconceived plans for the property and is sincere about its desire to hear public input. “It's a clean slate, there are no plans,”
said John Bruno of DMB Associates, the firm hired to facilitate the public input
process. “I believe very passionately as you look at a property of this size it is the
way to earn the buy-in from the community.” Cargill will hold public meetings and
open houses in the coming months, Bruno said.
BEN WARDEN/DAILY JOURNAL
THE FUTURE OF 1,433 ACRES OF CARGILL SALT PONDS WILL SOON UNDERGO A MASSIVE
PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT COULD RESULT IN NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE
REDWOOD CITY
BAY SHORE.
Last year, Cargill struck a landmark deal with government agencies allowing thousands of acres of tidal wetlands to be restored. The project is the nation's largest
shoreline restoration project to date. Cargill agreed to sell its excess ponds to the
government for $100 million in a deal brokered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein. A combination of $25 million from the state, $32 million from state water and park
bonds, $8 million in federal funds and $35 million from several well-known philanthropic foundations will pay for the 16,500 acres of land. The deal did not
include the Redwood City property because Cargill reportedly set the price too
high.
Editor's note: This article appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper.
It could become restored wetlands or it could be developed - the future of Cargill's
1,433-acre saltworks site in Redwood City is in the hands of residents.
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
(continued from page 15)
“forfeiture.” “We will never get that money back,” he said. The current salary survey shows the POA to be 2.8% below the average, “not the median,” he added. In
about four months, some cities within the comparison group will head back to contract negotiations, which means, Fowler said, that numbers will change. A 2.8%
pay increase equates to approximately $300,000 in straight time, not including
overtime, holiday pay, etc., he noted.
For now, the POA vows to continue its “public education campaign,” with full-page
advertisements in local publications and continued visits to City Council meetings. A possible citizen survey is also in the works.
Pierce urged the group to come back to the negotiating table. “It’s important for
me that negotiations stay in the negotiating room. It’s hard to understand how
putting this out in the community will resolve the situation,” she said.
He also indicated the mediation sessions had been held, with no success.
On July 10, POA members and their families again attended the City Council
meeting. POA President John Harp criticized the city’s press release as “misleading and inaccurate,” and asked that it be corrected. “We do not want to negotiate
in public,” Harp said. He called on the city to return to the bargaining table and
explained how salaries are calculated according to the current contract. Harp also
noted that POA has no vision plan and that its life insurance plan dates to 1972.
Pierce countered that it is the “POA’s responsibility to come back to the bargaining table.” She stated that the city had presented a “very fair” offer and encouraged POA members to call the city’s negotiator and set up a time to meet.
“We have great respect for our police officers,” she concluded.
The Spectrum has since learned that POA representatives did contact the city’s
negotiator to set up a meeting. When they asked if there had been any change in
the city’s offer, the negotiator is reported to have said, “No, it’s the same.”
Pierce also indicated to The Spectrum that the offer had not changed. When asked
if the city’s offer was any different, she replied, “No, I think it’s the same one.”
Both sides insist that the current situation is not to be taken personally. “It’s not
personal at all,” said Harp.
“My colleagues and I are working hard to be respectful and not to make it personal,” said Pierce.
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IT’S
A
COUPLES THING: REDWO
By Dale McKee
Contributing Writer
Couples have been doing it for ages, and Redwood City couples are no exception.
In fact, as you’ll see below, several of them are particularly good at it. I’m speaking, of course, of running a business together. What did you think I meant?
Running a small business isn’t an easy task, and the added pressures — and
strengths — of a marriage can certainly make or break such an endeavor. I recently spoke with several Redwood City business owners who work hand-in-hand with
their spouses to see just what it took to make such an endeavor successful. Some
of their answers jibed with those of other owners, but just as every marriage is different, every shared business has its own challenges and lessons. Let’s take a look
at what they had to say.
Owners: Frank and Liza Bizzarro.
Business: Bizzarro’s Auto Auction. “We sell
charity cars. It’s a public auction. Basically, we
do more than a hundred auctions a year. We
sell approximately 3,500 cars a year.”
How long they have been married: “We were
married in 1983.”
How they met: “I met my wife — she graduated from Michigan State and I met her when
I was in Las Vegas.”
What each of them did before they started
their current business: “We came here in late
’82. She traveled with me for about six or eight months, and we wound up in San
Francisco, where we started a refinishing business and realized San Francisco was
too wet for shooting lacquers. So we came on to the Peninsula, where we found a
little shop behind Chin’s Restaurant. We rebuilt that store and did retail antique
sales.”
What made them go into this business together: “We were in business before we
got married. Her maiden name is on the business card. We were partners before
we got married.”
How long they have been in this current business together: “We were doing the
antique auction until May of 2001. We did that for 17 years there on Main Street.
I’m a circuit auctioneer, since 1984. I’ve been working for different commercial
and classic car auctions. I realized that there was a big market for donated cars for
different charities. We’ve done that since 1995.”
What made them choose downtown Redwood City as their location: “We were
looking for a space where we could shoot lacquer. There was a little abandoned
mechanics shop that the Chins had. It actually didn’t have a street address — we
had to go to the city to get a street address, because we couldn’t get mail. It was
just the back building for the store. That’s kind of how it all started.”
How they separate home and work: “It was like, 12 to 14 hours a day nonstop for
17 years. We literally worked with each other from the beginning. When it came
to the auction, I’d be the person to talk to the person … but she would run the
business. She would be the brains behind the business. One of the things I learned
a long time ago is you have a whole lot less problems if you designate areas of
who’s in charge of what. It works real well. We have two children. One is graduating from Sierra High School this year, and the other one is a freshman at St.
Francis. Our children literally were just about born in the business.”
Owners: Suniel and Yogeeta Bhas.
Business: Cartridge World. “We fill and remanufacture printer cartridges and toners.”
How long they have been married: “We’ve been married for thirteen years.”
20
How they met: “We met in the Bay Area
through mutual friends.”
What each of them did before they started
their current business: “We were in a family
business, motels.” Yogeeta is also a medical
assistant part-time.
What made them go into this business
together: “We wanted to do something on our
own. Motels were Suniel’s father’s business
and we were helping him run that, and we
wanted to do something different — not that
we’re not still there for them, but we wanted to do something on our own on the
side, also. We looked into many franchises and this intrigued us, because this is a
business that saves people money … and it’s also a very environmental conscious
business, recycling.”
How long they have been in this current business together: “We opened this in
November of last year.”
What made them choose downtown Redwood City as their location: “We’re from
here. We picked this location because it’s a prime location — it’s right in the middle of everyone.”
How they separate home and work: “Just like everyone else. … See, the hours here
are very good. It’s not like a 24-hour business. We open from 9 to 6. So it’s very
manageable. This is one of the reasons why we picked this business and not something else, because we have children and we like to separate our business life with
our family life. Our family business (motels) requires 24-hour attention; it takes
up a lot of your family time. This business is a little different; you have time to
spend quality time with your family. A lot of businesses are not like that.”
Owners: Andrew and Dayna Talbot.
Business: Pickled Women’s Contemporary
Fashion.
How long they have been married: “Three
years.”
How they met: “We met at, actually, Pacific
Athletic Club.”
What each of them did before they started
their current business: “She was a clothing
designer, and I was a trader/market maker for
the Chicago mercantile exchange.”
What made them go into this business together: “She was an expert in this business, and we both wanted to start our own business. There was no contemporary
clothing business in Redwood City, and Redwood City has a lot of potential —
great potential. So we wanted to get here before the curve. Before things started
taking off, before rents were three times as much, before it was hard to get a good
space, etc., etc.”
How long they have been in this current business together: “Almost two-and-a-half
years. It’s working out great.”
What made them choose downtown Redwood City as their location: “The potential. The demographics are fantastic, and people are great, and it’s a missing business. There was nothing here.”
How they separate home and work: “That’s never an issue. It’s never defined. It’s
just part of life. When you have your own business, it just becomes part of your
life. It’s not like ‘I did my time, now it’s 5 p.m., time to go home.’ It’s just part of
the ebb and flow of our lifestyle. It’s part of living together.”
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CITY COUPLES
IN
BUSINESS
Owners: Carlos Lopez and Cathy Oyster.
consumers with great wines without costing an arm and a leg.”
Business: Young’s Ice Cream & Candy Bar. “We also own the Espresso Lane on
Woodside Road.”
How long they have been in this current business together: “Savvy Cellar Wines
was incorporated a year ago and launched its initial location in Redwood City in
December 2005.”
How long they have been married: “Fifteen years.”
How they met: “Blind date. A good friend at the time set us up.”
What each of them did before they started their current business: “I worked in a
bunch of different corporates, different levels … corporate globe-trotting. It wasn’t
really the globe, more like the Western states. Cathy was an event planner. She
owned her own wedding consulting firm called the Perfect Wedding.”
What made them go into this business together: “I was working in Livermore at
the time. Young’s Ice Cream kind of bloomed out of the Espresso Lane. We were
looking to expand the Espresso Lane, and [as] part of that expansion plan, this
opportunity came up. We thought with the redevelopment downtown, a good
opportunity, a good thing to have, is an old-fashioned ice cream store.”
How long they have been in this current business together: “We started the first
week of June last year. … It’s been good, really good. … Public support has been
tremendous.”
What made them choose downtown Redwood City as their location: “The building owner has been in this area for a long time. My father-in-law, who owns the
building here, he had an office space that might be able to be turned into anything,
really, some kind of retail business … and we came up with the idea of the ice
cream store.”
How they separate home and work: “It’s kind of a blend. I don’t think you really
ever separate them, per se. It’s always just a part of what you are. I would love to
know how to do that! I don’t think you can have both people doing the same
thing. I don’t get involved with a lot of the day-to-day bookwork and scheduling
and those kinds of things. … I’m more out front, doing the hiring and firing, meet
and greet, that kind of thing. She organizes everything, handles all the books, and
things like that. From that standpoint, our paths cross very rarely. There’s lots to
do that you don’t have to be totally immersed in each other’s day, so to speak.”
Owners: Brent Harrison and Jennifer Ayre.
Business: Savvy Cellar Wines, Inc.
How long they have been married: They
dated for four years and have been married
for one year.
What each of them did before they started
their current business: “Brent previously held
leadership and executive positions at
Netscape Communications, AOL and Apple
Computer. Currently, he is founder and principal of a consultancy called SmokeJumper
Strategy, [which] provides marketing and
product expertise to software and Internet
companies. He works at Savvy Cellar part-time, helping with marketing and wine
service. Jennifer is a trained jazz musician and teacher. After a stint in financial
services and software, she started studying wine three years ago. She has progressed to obtain her Level 2 Sommelier designation from the International
Sommelier Guild as well as a Certified Specialist in Wine. Jennifer is the driving
force behind Savvy Cellar, working the business full time and leading all aspects of
the operation. She can be found periodically sitting in [and] singing with the jazz
bands that perform each Saturday night!”
What made them choose downtown Redwood City as their location: “After looking at many locations between San Jose and San Francisco, we selected Redwood
City. We were attracted to the central Peninsula location and the amount of activity and development that was on the horizon in downtown Redwood City. We
have been well-received by the city and the downtown business community. We
have regular customers from Redwood City [and] each of its bordering towns, and
draw patrons regularly from as far away as San Francisco, San Jose and the East
Bay.”
How they separate home and work: “With a
business in start-up mode, there is not a distinct separation of home and work life currently. However, we do make sure we get away
from the business periodically for quick trips
together — where we don’t talk about business.”
Owners: Bob and Irene Bryant.
Business: Bob’s Court House Coffee Shop.
How long they have been married: They met in 1975 and married in 1990.
How they met: “While we were working at United Airlines.”
What each of them did before they started their current business: She was a
Manpower coordinator and he was an engineer at United Airlines.
What made them go into this business together: “We decided that after retirement
we wanted to have a coffee shop or restaurant.” He retired in 1990; she in 2001.
He had moved to Redwood City in 1961.
How long they have been in this current business together: Since 1989.
What made them choose downtown Redwood City as their location: “We liked the
atmosphere here, all the shops, etc. We took over the old Walgreen’s restaurant on
Broadway after it moved. We have been at our current location since June of
1999.”
How they separate home and work: At home, they do discuss certain things about
the day but fill their time traveling or attending the opera or symphony events.
So there you have it! As with most trials in a relationship, business seems to be
another hurdle that couples who are so dedicated must traverse; but those who go
the distance do so with style and determination. Are there pitfalls and challenges?
Absolutely. But these Redwood City couples wouldn’t have it any other way.
What made them go into this business together: “Jennifer was attracted to the
wine industry due to its growth and ever-changing dynamics. We both recognized
how difficult it can be to find great wine at good prices, and how many wine bars
and wine shops can be intimidating or unorganized. Out of this came the inspiration for Savvy Cellar wine bar and wine shop, founded with the mission to provide
21
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Fill-the-Boot Drive Helps Firefighters Fight
Disease
Redwood City firefighters asked motorists at
the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and El
Camino Real to drop donations into firefighter
boots to support their third annual Fill-theBoot Drive to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
Donations will benefit MDA services and
research programs, including MDA's clinics for
people with neuromuscular diseases at
California Pacific Medical Center and UCSF
Children's Hospital. Firefighters across the
nation have raised more than $250 million
since 1954 to benefit MDA.
The Redwood City firefighters raised $6,943 in
just four hours.
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
THEATER LAWSUIT REVERSED
A local attorney could take his case to the state Supreme Court after the state
Court of Appeals overturned a decision that ruled Redwood City violated the law
when it used eminent domain to build the new downtown cinema.
TED HANNIG
The state court overruled the 2005 San Mateo
County Superior Court decision that favored
property owners. It was a small technicality in a
“gray area” of the law. Don Wilson, the downtown attorney who filed the original lawsuit,
was disappointed in the decision but said he is
thinking about appealing to the state Supreme
Court. City Attorney Stan Yamamoto was not
aware of the decision, but said he was pleased
with the outcome.
Wilson filed the lawsuit in 2001 when the city chose to invoke its eminent domain
right on some downtown properties to make room for the new cinema. The city
felt it was improving a blighted area of the city by buying and redeveloping the
land. Wilson argued the city went beyond the 12 years it was allotted to invoke
its rights. It actually extended its 12-year period by six years so it would have
enough time to pursue additional property, Wilson said. When the city extended
its window to invoke eminent domain, it didn’t again have to prove the area was
blighted. For Wilson, it’s a matter of principle. He wants to make sure there are
clear limits on how cities can invoke their condemnation rights, he said.
In 2003, the city settled for $3 million a lawsuit filed by local attorney Ted Hannig
for property owner James Celotti, who claimed the city used eminent domain to
take his property for the benefit of a private developer.
The city is happy with the decision
and is preparing for the grand
opening of the cinema. The cinema
is part of a large retail project on
which the city spent $100 million.
Residents were split on whether it
was a wise decision for the city to
put that much money toward a
project for private retailers. The
city is looking for the big payoff.
The new theater has the potential to
HANNIG WITH CELOTTI
revitalize the entire downtown, which
was stagnant for years. Now, it is welcoming major retailers like Cost Plus World
Market and small family-owned stores like Young’s Ice Cream. “The jury is still out
on that. Let’s see if it works,” Wilson said.
EMINENT DOMAIN
GUIDELINES PRAISED
laudable, but every property owner at risk of eminent domain should be given a
copy, according to a civil grand jury report released July 13. The grand jury commended the council for staving off future eminent domain squabbles with the new
policy statement but said it hasn’t yet finished the job of cementing “fair treatment of citizens in the future.”
The guidelines should be given to property owners along with redevelopment
information when their land might be acquired. However, mass distribution is
unnecessary, said Mayor Barbara Pierce. “It doesn’t have to be all of Redwood
City,” Pierce said. “My guess is they’re looking for more certainty that we honor
our guidelines.”
The city adopted the Guiding Principles for Property Acquisition last November,
after the eminent domain policy used in connection with the downtown cinema
project came under fire. At its passage, city staff and council members expressed
hope the voluntary guidelines create greater sensitivity and respect when contemplating land grabs. A 2004-2005 grand jury concluded that the Redwood City
Redevelopment Agency forced property owners to take low prices through “delaying tactics and verbal coercion.”
In April 2004, Judge Quentin Kopp ruled that the city unlawfully seized private
property and razed a building to make room for the 20-screen cineplex and parking garage on land bound by Broadway, Jefferson Avenue and Middlefield Road.
James Celotti’s two-story building was taken on the grounds that a public parking
lot would be built on the
land, but Kopp ruled that
it was in fact being used to
benefit a private developer.
The city declared the block
a blighted area and
acquired it using eminent
domain. Celotti later
received a $3 million settlement.
The City Council said it
did not create the guidelines as a response to the
earlier grand jury report,
which suggested setting up
a way to handle complaints and conducting
training sessions. With the
new report, Pierce maintains that the city was well
on its way in rethinking its
approach to land acquisition. “We as a council
already weren’t happy with
the process. We followed
the law but weren’t happy
with how some of it felt,”
she said.
Property acquisition guidelines adopted by the Redwood City Council last fall are
23
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
News Briefs
BAR SHOOTOUT SUSPECT POSTPONES PLEA
The fifth time was not a charm for Domingo Samuel Naranjo to get his murder case rolling, as the 18year-old declined to enter a plea again to charges in connection with a fatal triple shooting at a Redwood
City bar nearly three months ago.
Naranjo is charged with one count of murder in connection with the shooting at the Headquarters Bar at
895 Second Ave. Naranjo, who was allegedly shot in the neck by 26-year-old San Jose resident Rolando
Fernandez, reportedly shot and killed 38-year-old East Palo Alto resident Hemerenciano Mendoza.
Fernandez is charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and the special circumstance that he committed multiple murders during the shooting. The special allegation makes
Fernandez eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Naranjo postponed a plea to murder and firearm charges until prosecutors supply his defense attorney
with evidence. He was ordered to return Aug. 1 to enter a plea and set a preliminary hearing date.
Authorities believe Naranjo and Fernandez were at the bar when Redwood City residents Humberto
Calderon Jr., 18, Jesus Hernandez, 28, and Mendoza were fatally shot. Three others were wounded,
including Naranjo. Fernandez was arrested hours later, after crashing his car twice and being apprehended on suspicion of driving while under the influence. Days later, police arrested Naranjo.
NANNY FOUND GUILTY OF HURTING CHILD, BUT NOT INTENTIONALLY
A San Mateo County jury found that East Palo Alto nanny Minerva Rojas injured the newborn Redwood
Shores boy in her care but did not do so intentionally, according to San Mateo County Chief Deputy
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Rojas was found guilty of willfully causing a child to suffer physical
pain under circumstances likely to produce great bodily injury, Wagstaffe said. But the jury found Rojas
not guilty of intentional infliction of injury resulting in traumatic injury, according to Wagstaffe. The jury
also found a special allegation of intentional infliction of great bodily injury on a child under 5 to be
false, according to Wagstaffe.
According to Rojas’ defense attorney, Randy Moore, the jury found that Rojas endangered the child, but
that no great bodily injury to the child took place. “I think it’s a great day for my client,” Moore said.
Even though Rojas was not acquitted on all charges, the jury’s verdict demonstrates that Rojas is “certainly not the monster that she’s been portrayed to be for month after month,” Moore said. According to
Moore, Rojas has always accepted responsibility for her actions, but she has maintained that the injuries
caused to Thomas, the newborn, were accidental.
Prosecutor James Wade said that although he was glad that the jury was able to come up with a verdict
for the family’s sake, the content of the verdict was not exactly what he had been hoping for. Child abuse
cases like this one can be difficult, Wade added, because often the victims cannot speak for themselves.
Motives in the shooting remain murky but authorities believe the two defendants had a prior confrontation. The two are traveling through the court system separately because of their different arrest dates. He
remains in custody on no-bail status.
The verdict came on the third day of jury deliberations. Rojas, 28, pleaded not guilty on March 22 to the
charges against her. Redwood City police arrested Rojas after they responded to a 911 call on March 16
and found 2-and-a-half-month-old Thomas unconscious and suffering from two skull fractures, retinal
and subdural hemorrhaging.
TRAIN MISHAP MAY HAVE BEEN SUICIDE TRY
A woman who barely survived being struck by a freight train in Redwood City may have attempted to
commit suicide, San Mateo County Sheriff’s transit police Lt. Dave Triolo said.
Thomas’s parents, Scott and Michelle Cline, met Rojas while she was working at a local daycare center
that their 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter attended, according to Wade. Rojas eventually left that daycare
center and began caring for Thomas and his sister at the family’s Redwood Shores home in January,
Wade said. According to Wade, Rojas’ attitude about the job changed and in March she began asking the
Clines for salary advances. They complied twice but then denied Rojas’ third request. Rojas asked for a
donation for a family in Mexico that was dealing with the death of a loved one, Wade said.
Sherri Moore, 37, of Redwood City, is now hospitalized at Stanford Medical Center, where she remains
unconscious in the intensive care unit with severe head trauma, Triolo said.
Witnesses at the Caltrain station near Broadway and Arguello Street indicated to investigators that Moore
might have been trying to kill herself when she trespassed onto the railroad tracks just before safety gates
and signs warned that a Union Pacific freight train was coming through, Triolo said. Paramedics administered first aid on scene before transporting Moore to Stanford Medical Center.
The collision remains under investigation, Triolo said. Nothing indicates foul play at this time. “This just
underscores the need for everyone who is in and about the train station to be aware of not just the safety of themselves and approaching trains, but to be aware of other people’s behavior,” Triolo said.
People who act suspiciously around train tracks should immediately be reported to the transit police, he
said. According to Operation Lifesaver, which monitors rail accidents nationwide, 93 people in
California died in train accidents after trespassing in 2005.
The incident caused a brief disruption of service along the Broadway and Arguello Street line, Union
Pacific railroad spokesman James Barnes said.
BAIL UNCHANGED FOR TEEN ACCUSED IN TRIPLE-FATAL CRASH
A motion to reduce the $3 million bail set for Edith Delgado, the woman charged with vehicular
manslaughter in connection with a July 5 car crash that killed two members of the Tongan royal family
and an East Palo Alto woman, was denied in San Mateo County Superior Court, according to the San
Mateo County district attorney’s office.
Delgado, an 18-year-old from Redwood City, pleaded not guilty to three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for her alleged role in the crash that killed Tonga’s Prince Tu’ipelehake, 54,
Princess Kaimana Tu’ipelehake, 45, and Vinisia Hefa, 36, of East Palo Alto. The crash took place around
9 p.m. July 5 on U.S. Highway 101 north of Willow Road in Menlo Park, according to the California
Highway Patrol. Delgado’s Ford Mustang allegedly hit a Ford Explorer driven by Hefa and carrying the
royal couple, causing it to roll several times and land on its roof, according to the CHP.
If Delgado were convicted of all charges, she could face a maximum of eight years in prison, according
to San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Delgado’s bail, which was initially set at $300,000 after her arrest on July 5, was raised to $3 million at her arraignment. Judge Thomas
Smith set Delgado’s preliminary hearing date for July 20 at 9 a.m. at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City.
Delgado was a student at Redwood High School in Redwood City.
REDWOOD CITY HOMICIDE VICTIM NAMED
The San Mateo County Coroner’s office released the name of Redwood City’s latest homicide victim.
According to police and a coroner’s deputy, the body of Redwood City resident Jeffery Henderson, 49,
was discovered on the floor of an apartment located at 1107 Second Ave. The Redwood City Police
Department said Henderson died from an apparent gunshot wound but no weapon could be found at the
scene. The Police Department is investigating a motive for the homicide and is asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to call (650) 780-7141.
24
On March 16, just days after she made her last monetary request, Rojas claimed she left the baby in
another room lying on a couch while she made lunch for his sister. She said by the time she returned,
Thomas had already rolled off the couch, falling about 19 inches to the carpeted floor below, according
to testimony by Redwood City police Detective Mike Reynolds. During a three-hour interview of Rojas
conducted by Reynolds and another detective, Rojas’ story changed several times, according to
Reynolds. During the interview Rojas admitted that Thomas couldn’t have rolled off the couch because
he was too young to do so. Reynolds asked Rojas if she had ever hit or dropped Thomas, both of which
she vehemently denied ever doing. However, she later told investigators that the baby may have been hit
in the head with a telephone or as Rojas opened the door to a refrigerator. She also said the baby fell
after she tripped on a toy, Reynolds said. Rojas also admitted to shaking the boy for five minutes, and
used a stuffed bear to demonstrate her actions to police.
During the trial, Moore brought in other parents to testify about the good experiences they had had with
Rojas as a caretaker of their children. “My daughter just loved her,” Redwood Shores resident Patricia
Wampler said. Rojas “was always hugging her and holding her and making her comfortable.” Physicians
also testified for the defense that the newborn’s injuries were consistent with an accidental fall, and not
shaking, Moore said. “I knew that she did not beat this child,” Moore said.
Rojas’ sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 29 at 9 a.m. in Dept. 3 of San Mateo County Superior Court.
SAN MATEO COUNTY APPROVES NEW DAY WORKER PROGRAM
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution authorizing an agreement between the county and the Multicultural Institute, which will now operate the county’s Day
Worker Program.
In a report drafted by the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, it was noted that there has been
concern among members of the Redwood City community regarding the congregation of day workers
seeking employment. To mitigate those concerns, the county, in contract with El Concilio, launched a
pilot day worker program in the North Fair Oaks unincorporated area of Redwood City, according to the
report. Now, as a result of today’s unanimous vote, the Multicultural Institute will take over and operate
the Day Worker Program. “I think this is going to be an outstanding program and a novel approach,”
Supervisor Jerry Hill said today.
The Multicultural Institute, which was founded in Berkeley in 1991, will provide street-based outreach
to day laborers and employers, according to Rigoberto Caloca-Rivas, executive director of the
Multicultural Institute. According to Caloca-Rivas, the institute will help day laborers find employment,
will designate pick-up sites for the day laborers that will not be an inconvenience to others, and it will
offer access to further educational training. According to the county report, the county hopes to have a
35 percent match rate between day laborers and employers by 2008. “Too many communities have simply just walked away” from this issue, Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson said. To help fund the program,
the institute was given $288,000, which is to be spent between July 1 and June 30, 2008.
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Nonprofits in Action
Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club
This group is small but has a growing membership. All members either live or work
in our community and share a common goal of making our city a better place to
live. This club is one of over 44,000 Lions Clubs in 199 nations. Chartered in
1966, this club has been vigorously active helping eyesight-impaired youth in our
schools and seniors who are hearing-impaired.
Join them for breakfast! The Lions meet every Wednesday at Bob’s Court House
Coffee Shop, 2198 Broadway, beginning at 7:15 a.m. Call Bill Gibbons at (650)
766-8105 for more details.
Redwood City Rotary Club
Roland Haga, a longtime Redwood City resident, will lead the Redwood City
Rotary Club in 2006–2007, succeeding financial consultant John Lowe, who
stepped down this week after a successful year at the helm of the 60-year-old service club.
“Along with continuing our club’s successful programs within the community, my
goals are to further promote literacy through a dictionary giveaway program in
local elementary schools and to focus on a potable water project in a village in a
third-world country,” said Haga, a civil engineer with BKF Engineers of Redwood
City.
In his valedictory, Lowe drew attention to four club accomplishments in
2005–2006: operating the Rotary Car Raffle, which raised about $60,000 for 12
local charities; providing blood-testing equipment and materials valued at $18,700
to a new medical clinic in the hard-hit African country of Malawi; funding nine
scholarships for Redwood City high school seniors; and celebrating the 60th
anniversary of the club’s founding in 1946. In addition, the club hosted interesting weekly speakers and fostered good fellowship among its members and within
the community.
that time, the club has met weekly at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and to hear a speaker at the Waterfront Restaurant at Pete’s Harbor in Redwood City. The club, with
22 members, has frequently been honored by Rotary District 5150, which includes
San Mateo, San Francisco and part of Marin counties, as an outstanding small
club. For more information or to join, call Lorianna Kastrop at (650) 299-0303.
Family Service Agency of San Mateo County
Looking for a dependable source of skilled, reliable workers? Family Service
Agency of San Mateo County provides employers with mature, ready-to-work,
experienced workers who are 55 years and older. Employers contact the service
because they appreciate the superior work ethic and the commitment to quality
that mature workers possess. There are no fees for hiring candidates. Contact
Barbara Clipper at (650) 403-4300, extension 4368, to place your job order.
For those who are at least 55 years old and looking for work, Family Service
Agency provides a range of services, including referrals for classroom training,
vocational counseling, job referrals and on-the-job training for qualified participants. Contact Connie Tilles at (650) 403-4300, extension 4371, if you are looking for work.
City Talk Toastmasters
Join the City Talk Toastmasters to develop communication and leadership skills.
The club meets 12:30–1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Council Chambers at City
Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road. Call Manny Rosas at (650) 780-7468 if you would
like to check out a meeting or just stop in. Visit www.toastmasters.org for more
information about the Toastmasters public speaking program.
Optimist Club of Redwood City
The Optimists invite you to become a member of Optimist International, one of
the largest service organizations in the world, where “Bringing Out the Best in
Kids” has been their mission for over 80 years! Whether you’re a club offi(continued on page 26)
Redwood City Rotary is an affiliate of Rotary International, the nation’s first service club and an organization dedicated to community service on a local and global scale. There are 32,000 Rotary clubs throughout the world. Rotary is known
locally for its scholarship program and support of the Police Athletic League, Boys
and Girls Clubs, Casa de Redwood senior housing, Salvation Army, Kainos Home
and Training Center, Sequoia YMCA Family Connections, St. Anthony’s Padua
Dining Room, Sequoia Hospital Foundation, Pets in Need and the Redwood City
Education Foundation.
Redwood City Rotary meets at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Sequoia Club, 1695
Broadway. For more information or to join, call John Lowe at (650) 367-9387.
Redwood City Women’s Club
Please join this group at their clubhouse and get acquainted. Regular meetings are
the first Thursday of each month at 149 Clinton St. Social at 11:30, lunch at noon
($10), general meeting at 12:30. For more information call (650) 787-4000 or
visit www.rwcwc.com.
Peninsula Hills Women’s Club
Peninsula Hills Women’s Club meets the third Wednesday of each month at the
Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave. For more information, call
(650) 366-6371.
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club
The club installed new officers at a dinner event at the Redwood City home of
member Brandy Navarro. Officers installed include President Fred Wolin,
President Elect Marc Manuel, Past President Jack Stephens, Secretary Marion
McDowell, Treasurer Bob Eppler, and Directors Brandy Navarro, Annde OleaWijkstrom and Bob Sans. In addition to the installation of officers, the club has a
tradition of “debunking” its outgoing president — this year it was Jack Stephens.
The debunking actually is a recognition of the president’s accomplishments over
the past year and was conducted by Lorianna Kastrop, past president for the current year. A major accomplishment for Stephens this year was the club’s distribution of $50,000 to local and international charities and organizations.
The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered in April 1988. In the years since
25
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$15,000 cash prize.
cer or a club member who enjoys the fellowship and friendship of others with a
common greater good, Optimist International needs and wants you as a member.
Rotary has sponsored the car raffle for four years, raising more than $200,000 for
local charities. All proceeds from the raffle are divided among the 12 participating
charities, each receiving a proportion of the revenues, based on the donors’ wishes. Proceeds are being tallied and will be distributed at the Rotary Club’s weekly
meeting July 18. That’s also when Grimm will announce whether she will accept
the car or the check.
The Optimist Club of Redwood City meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at Bob’s
Court House Coffee Shop at Middlefield and Broadway. For more information,
call the president, Steve, at (650) 365-8089 or the secretary, Ted Cole, at (650)
366-1392. Or come join them for lunch to learn more about how you can make a
difference.
Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club
“Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world
one child and one community at a time.”
Since October 1956, the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club and its precedents
have been devoted to community service in Redwood City. Through the decades,
they have provided funds to help many worthy community programs and continue to add more community projects. The Key Club of Sequoia High School, sponsored by the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club, was chartered in 1994 and has
been involved in raising money and donating time and effort to many of the club’s
programs.
The Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club meets every Thursday morning
7:15–8:30 a.m. at the Waterfront Restaurant, 1 Uccelli Blvd. (at Pete’s Harbor).
They invite you to come to their meetings and check out the club’s Web site:
www.agencyinfo.org/kiwanis.
Hearing Loss Association of the Peninsula (formerly SHHH)
Hearing Loss Association is a volunteer, international organization of hard-of-hearing people, relatives and friends. It is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, educational organization devoted to the welfare and interests of those who cannot hear well but are
committed to participating in the hearing world.
A day meeting is held on the first Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the
Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave. Educational speakers and
refreshments are provided. A demonstration of assistive devices is held on the first
Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the second-floor conference room at the
Redwood City Public Library, 1044 Middlefield Road. Please call Marj at (650)
593-6760 with any questions.
Editor’s note: If you are connected with a nonprofit organization and want your information printed in The Spectrum, send it to writers@spectrummagazine.net or The Spectrum
Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064. Let our
community know about your contributions and maybe they will
want to join you.
NONPROFITS IN THE NEWS
Small Donation Brings Big Payoff to Redwood City
Native and Her Community
Redwood City Rotary raffle winner of 2006, Dena Grimm
(holding son Owen), and husband Quetzal Grimm (holding son Dylan).
Dena Grimm is one happy lady! Thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Redwood City and its sponsors
— and Grimm’s own $15 donation to her favorite charity
— this Redwood City native and mother of two has just
won a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle or $15,000 cash.
“I never thought that I’d win,” said the 34-year-old stayat-home mother of a 2-year-old and a 10-month-old. “I’ve
never won anything. I just bought the tickets to support
Family Connections. This is super exciting.”
Two months ago, Grimm bought three $5 raffle tickets
through her son’s preschool and named Family
Connections as her charity of choice. Now, Grimm and
her family are scheduling a trip to Broadway Volkswagen,
which helped sponsor the annual raffle, to test-drive the
vehicle before deciding whether to accept the car or a
26
“The real secret to the success of this raffle is our sponsors,” said Pete Hughes, a
retired plastics manufacturer and long-time civic volunteer. “Our sponsors — the
Danford Foundation, San Mateo Credit Union, Glenborough-Pauls LLC, Bay Area
Bank, Dooley Insurance and Financial Services, Pete and Ginny Hughes,
Strathdee Design and Development, Bill and Vivian Nicolet, BKF Consulting
Engineers, T&H Building Supply, Roos Dental Care, Wells Fargo Bank, Boardwalk
Auto Center, Pete Liebengood, Redwood General Tire, Beth Beach, Landscape
Design and Action Computer Repair — pay all the costs so that all the proceeds
can be given away. It’s a great partnership and they deserve a big thank-you,” he
added.
Rotary Club members spend more than half a year hawking raffle tickets along
with volunteers for the participating charities. Tickets for next year’s drawing go
on sale in November.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
B.O.K. Ranch Art Ramble and Third Annual Trail Ride
Families, art lovers and equestrians will enjoy a day of music, art and riding at the
beautiful Runnymede Sculpture Farm in Woodside on Saturday, August 19, from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a self-guided tour of the 150 sculptures scattered over this
120-acre estate rarely open to the public. Equestrians can register for a two-hour
trail ride on private trails that pass by these works of art. BBQ catered by Canyon
Inn, pony rides and horse-drawn wagon rides are available for purchase. There will
be a raffle drawing for two tickets on Southwest Airlines. General admission is
$30; children under 10 are free. Tickets are available at the door. Cost for equestrians is $100 and includes T-shirt and prizes. For more information, to purchase
tickets or to register for the trail ride, visit www.bokranch.com or call (650) 3662265. Proceeds benefit B.O.K. Ranch, a nonprofit organization providing therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with special needs.
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MORE DOWNTOWN CHANGE
ON
HORIZON
B
lack metal street lamps and planter boxes line the street, as pedestrians stroll
along the new sandblasted concrete sidewalks, window shopping. The opening of two blocks of Broadway marks the first of several renovations nearing
an end in Redwood City’s downtown. All eyes are on the downtown movie theater, which is slated to open Friday, July 21. But the city is taking a deep breath
for only a moment, as there is a greater plan on the horizon.
City officials are finishing a draft of what is known as the Downtown Precise Plan,
a roadmap of urban design guidelines aiming to provide an overview of what the
city will look like in years to come. “It lays out the vision for the downtown,” said
Tom Passanisi, Redwood City’s chief planner.
The plan calls for 3,700 housing units, 600,000 square feet of office space,
295,000 square feet of retail space and 200 hotel rooms. These numbers will
include projects that are already in the works, in addition to new units to be built
in the future. It is also the maximum number of units the city will see. “This is if
everything goes perfect,” Passanisi said. “But realistically it will be less.”
Economic Development Coordinator Pat Webb said with the current construction
underway, the natural next step for the city is to attract people. “Having housing
is really the next phase in making this a vital downtown,” Webb said. “It needs
people … to live here and to get on at least an 18-hour clock, where there’s at least
18 hours of activity. San Francisco has a 24-hour clock, but we’re not ready for that
yet.”
The plan hopes to create a network of businesses and homes in one area that is
close to public transportation and gets residents out of their cars. “Our number
one thing is to make those pedestrians happy,” said Dan Zack, Redwood City’s
downtown development coordinator.
The plan also hopes to make Redwood City the entertainment center of the midPeninsula. “We expect one to two million new visitors every year,” said
Redevelopment Manager Susan Moeller.
Those drafting the Precise Plan hope it will attract developers because it would lay
out a guideline to the types of projects the city would approve. An environmental
impact report is also being conducted, saving interested developers the need to
research it themselves. The locations of the projects also remain uncertain, which
could be a concern to some residents weary of high-rises. “Height is another issue
that will be worked out,” Passanisi said. “It would mean higher buildings and
greater densities.”
For now, downtown Redwood City is beginning to see a new face. Middlefield
Road between Winslow and Broadway streets will open to traffic as “Theater
Way,” offering a European-style feel with shops and restaurants lining the granitepaved street. A 190-square-foot retail-cinema project is also being completed, with
businesses opening individually. Many have opened already, and more are expected to join them within the next month. A 20-screen Century Theatres stands
above a two-level parking garage at Broadway and Jefferson Avenue and is laying
carpet and doing other finishing touches with hopes to open by Friday, July 21.
The garage is partially open now.
Across the street, the city is reconstructing the facade of the 1910 courthouse and
is rebuilding the plaza by removing the south annex. Courthouse Square, as it is
known, is intended to provide an open space to act as a gathering place for live
entertainment. It is anticipated to open Oct. 1.
All of this development has spurred other plans that may soon come to the public
eye. “The downtown project is the catalyst for the downtown [Precise Plan],”
Passanisi said. “We’re trying to create a heart of the city, or a core.”
The draft of the Precise Plan is expected to be completed by fall and then open for
public review.
Editor’s note: This article appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper.
ADULTS
KIDS
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25 Years of Community Service
Mon. - Fri. 9am - 8pm
Sat. 9am - 6pm
Sun. 9am - 5 pm
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Redwood City
(650) 364-1268
Advertise with The
Spectrum
(650) 368-2434
27
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Port Hires Specialist to
Manage New Security
Programs
Eric Napralla has joined the Port of Redwood City in a newly created position of
assistant manager of operations, charged with helping the port to develop and
manage new security programs mandated by the federal Department of Homeland
Security. In addition, Napralla’s responsibilities include environmental management and compliance, safety, and project management. “Eric will directly support
the duties of the manager of operations and will be a great addition to the port
team,” said Port Executive Director Michael Giari.
Napralla comes to the port after four years with the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle,
where, among other duties, he was responsible for the implementation of safe vessel shipping practices and maritime law enforcement at ports in the Pacific
Northwest. He has a Bachelor of Science in business management from the
University of Phoenix in Seattle and has technical training through the Coast
Guard in a variety of disciplines including the Waterfront Facility Security School
in Overland Park, Kan.
Advertise with The
Spectrum
(650) 368-2434
28
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
Senior Activities for August
Meeting of the City of Redwood City Senior Affairs Commission
Thursday, Aug. 10, 1 p.m.
Sandpiper Community Center, 797 Redwood Shores Parkway
The public is invited to attend.
Redwood City Community Services Trip to the Giants vs. Dodgers Baseball Game
Friday, Aug. 18
Cost is $50 per person, which includes a ticket to the game and deluxe transportation. Reservations are first come, first served, so please call early. Call (650)
780-7344 for more information.
Computer Class Registration for Adults 50+
Monday, Aug. 28, 9:30–11 a.m. and 7–8 p.m.
Sequoia Room, Community Wellness Center
Classes offered include Using the Internet, Adobe Photoshop, Beyond Windows
Basics, Windows XP Basics, Windows XP/ME/98 Basics and Users Group Forum.
Classes are 10 weeks. A fee of $35 is charged for each class, with a $5 discount
available on registration day only. Additional material fees may apply. For more
information, call (650) 780-7306.
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call (650) 780-7270.
The Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and supplies
building and custodial services for city buildings. Redwood City Parks also operates the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks Community Center,
providing social, educational and cultural activities, as well as information, referral and counseling services to persons living in Redwood City and neighboring
communities. Redwood City Parks is more than you think! Its Web site is
www.redwoodcity.org/parks.
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A Special Open Letter to Spectrum Readers…
The police officers who serve and protect everyone in Redwood City have been working without a contract for
nearly eleven months. We are yet at another impasse (the third time in ten years) because the City has not
negotiated in good faith. The Redwood City Police Officers Association (POA) is simply asking for a fair compensation package based on the method of salary adjustments created by the Council and equality with other bargaining units.
In December 2004, the POA sent a letter to the City requesting to begin negotiations with the City, with the intent
to conclude negotiations before our contract expired on August 31, 2005. It was clearly the City's intent to delay
negotiations, while at the same time pushing forward in the media their proposal to freeze police officer wages.
In early 2005, the City Manager publicly stated on two occasions that public safety employees could expect no
salary adjustments. However, in 2005, the City Manager received pay raises totaling over 11% and members of
the Executive Management group received salary increases between 6% and 13%.
The City finally agreed to meet with the POA in July 2005, just weeks before the contract was set to expire.
Since that time, the City Council has stubbornly clung to advocating a wage freeze for police officers. The City
Council appears to be entrenched in its position and refuses to budge. Although the POA initially proposed an
ambitious plan to adjust its total compensation package, we have removed everything from our proposals except
fair and equitable compensation.
The City's representative told the POA a salary adjustment would be unfair to other unions who agreed to a
wage freeze. In a June 27, 2006, press release, the City Manager stated that “many” unions accepted a wage
freeze to help the City with its past financial crises. This is inaccurate and misleading. Two other bargaining
groups accepted a wage freeze in exchange for a future improvement to their pension plan. Additionally, those
other employee groups do not feel it would be unfair for police officers to receive a salary adjustment.
On July 10, 2006, the Mayor encouraged the POA to contact the City's negotiator and added, “We have some
difficult issues to resolve and I can tell you that the City is interested in resolving them as well.” We contacted
the City's negotiator. He told the POA that nothing has changed. Is this bargaining in good faith?
Redwood City police officers surpass other local law enforcement agencies by the City Council's own analysis of
police performance measures. Our families are presently denied health care benefits provided to other bargaining units. Police officers who risk their lives on a daily basis will be expected to do so at below average wages
and substandard benefits, unless the City Council agrees to negotiate a fair and equitable compensation package.
John Harp
President, Redwood City Police Officers Association
POA Special Letter
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FEATURING:
New England Clam "Chowdah"
Lobster - Lobster Rolls - Crab Cakes - Scallops - Clams & More!
Fish and Chips with Old Port Beer Batter
Captain's Platter (delicious fried fish, shrimp and clams all served with fries & slaw)
Fried Full-Bellied Clam Plate
Steamed Mussels
Owners Lynn & Russell Deutsch
August 30, 2006
30
August 30, 2006
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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
COCA-COLA AWARDS CAÑADA
COLLEGE STUDENTS $1,000
SCHOLARSHIPS
Kevin Coughlin of Redwood City and Lizbeth Mendoza of Newark, students at
Cañada College, have each been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola
Scholars Foundation.
Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the foundation
awards a total of 400 scholarships annually to students attending higher-education
institutions granting two-year degrees. In April, one scholar from each state
received a $2,000 scholarship from Coca-Cola through the New Century Scholar
Program of the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta
Kappa, the two-year college scholastic honorary organization. On June 20, an
additional 350 students were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship. All recipients
have demonstrated academic success and participated in community service within the past 12 months.
“The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program gives support and encouragement to an underserved population of college students,” said J. Mark Davis,
president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “This program is an extension of
our long-standing commitment to college education throughout the United States.
These fine students, who often juggle school, work and family, continue to give
back to their communities through volunteer service.”
The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program is made possible with funding from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. The Whitehead Foundation pro-
32
vides grants in support of human services initiatives. The late Joseph B.
Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola. The Two-Year Colleges
Scholarship Program complements the foundation’s Coca-Cola Scholars Program,
which awards more than $3 million annually in college scholarships to 250 outstanding high school seniors. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the most
recognized and respected corporate-sponsored scholarships in America.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is supported by the financial commitment of
the Coca-Cola Company and local bottling companies. The foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish
a legacy for the education of tomorrow’s leaders. Now in its seventh year of funding the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the foundation has provided $2.8 million in scholarship awards to students attending two-year, degreegranting institutions and more than $29.7 million toward the Coca-Cola Scholars
Program during the past 18 years.
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Baby Boomers Need to Avoid the “Legacy Gap”
By David Amann
Special to The Spectrum
If you are a baby boomer — born between 1946 and 1963 — and your parents are
still alive, you may want to talk to them about an important subject: their plans
for leaving a legacy. Their thoughts on the subject might vary from yours, so to
avoid misunderstandings that could lead to hurt feelings — and financial problems
— you will want to make sure now that you are all “reading from the same script.”
Of course, you may not be eagerly anticipating such a conversation. If so, you are
not alone. Your fellow baby boomers and their parents are not doing a good job
discussing inheritances and other issues related to legacies. In fact, fewer than one
in three families has actually had a meaningful discussion on these matters, according to a study by Allianz Life Insurance Company.
Once you have this conversation, you may be surprised at how different your parents’ attitudes are from yours. Consider this: Nearly 40 percent of the elder generation says it is very important to pass financial assets or real estate to their children, but only 10 percent of baby boomers feel the same, according to the Allianz
study. So it’s entirely possible that your parents own some assets that they want
you to have, and you might not even know about them.
And it is not “greedy” for you to inquire about these assets. In the first place, your
parents may feel strongly about leaving them to you. But just as importantly, if
your parents have not done proper estate planning, their assets may not be distributed as they had intended. And unexpected inheritances may also result in
unexpected tax burdens for the recipients.
Consequently, you may want to encourage your parents to work with an estateplanning professional to develop appropriate legal documents, including the following:
uted by a court. This could lead to a great deal of problems within your family.
Living trust — Even if your parents have a will, their assets may have to pass
through probate, which can be time-consuming and expensive. But with a properly established living trust, their assets can pass directly to their beneficiaries, without court interference, legal fees, lengthy delays and public disclosure.
Durable general power of attorney — This document allows your parents to
appoint another person to conduct their business affairs if they become physically or mentally incapacitated.
In addition, you will want to look over the beneficiary designations on your parents’ life insurance contracts and qualified plans, such as 401(k)s and IRAs. It’s
especially important to update these designations if remarriages and stepchildren
are part of your family picture.
Of course, it’s not easy to manage the estate-planning process. So, in addition to
working with an attorney, you and your parents may well want to consult with a
tax advisor to make sure everyone’s interests are protected.
Do whatever you can to help your parents leave the legacies they desire. You’ll be
doing them a great service — and you could be taking a large burden off their
minds.
Editor’s note: David Amann is one of the Redwood City community members who contributes to The Spectrum. If you have any questions regarding investments please send them
to writers@spectrummagazine.net or The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood
City, CA, 94064.
Will — If your parents die intestate (without a will), their assets might be distrib-
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Hoover School Teacher Discovers the Pleasure
of “Treasured Time” on the Train
Americans have long been passionate about automobiles. Rising gas prices and
environmental concerns have forced us to modify the American dream of large cars
and unlimited, inexpensive gasoline. We spend hours in traffic and leave our
neighborhood gas station $50 further from retirement. While we are all frustrated
by the current state of affairs, most people do what they always do: buy a goodsized car, fill up the tank, grumble at the price, drive around for a week, rinse and
repeat. There is an
alternative
for
those of us who
want to get off
that frustrating
treadmill. It’s the
new version of the
American
commuter’s
dream.
It’s easy, fast, less
expensive
and
safe, as many people commuting to
and
from
Redwood
City
have discovered.
The antidote to
the stress and cost
of your commute
is as close as your
local train station. Holly Reed, a teacher and 14-year veteran of the Redwood City
School District found out how this one simple thing can make a big difference in
everyday life.
Reed lives in San Francisco but works in Redwood City, making a long commute
an unavoidable reality. Like many of us, Reed didn’t like commuting. She disliked
the frustration of wasted time sitting in traffic, and in the evening when she headed home she felt that being tired compromised her safety. And yes, she hated
spending the $30 required to fill up her gas tank. But on her bicycle and Caltrain,
Reed found a respite from commute time, traffic jams and rising gas prices. Like
many people, she was concerned about giving up the independence her car represented for the conformity of something like the train. But she was also concerned
about contributing to traffic and air pollution. As luck would have it, she decided
to try taking the train to a conference in San Jose. From that day on, she was sold.
Reed parks her car at the Bayshore Caltrain station in San Francisco every workday. It’s a 40-minute train ride to Redwood City, but it’s time Reed would have
spent sitting behind the wheel if she had driven. Reed completes her personal commute with a bike ride from the train station to Hoover School. Bike lockers, avail-
34
able at Sequoia Station, are a convenient service provided for commuters to keep
their belongings safe. A short bike ride and a few burned calories later, Reed arrives
at work refreshed.
What’s best, as Reed describes it, is that the train ride acts as a natural buffer
between the stressful world of work and the peaceful environment of her home.
Instead of giving in to the demands of the road, Reed catches up on sleep or reads
professional literature — items she’d prefer not to read at home but doesn’t have
time to read at work. When she boards the train, Reed immediately goes upstairs.
It gives her a bird’s-eye view of one of her favorite sights: the bay and wetlands
along the train tracks in Brisbane.
“Taking the train is the antithesis of stressful. It’s a more sane, relaxing period of
time during my day. When I’m not reading or napping, I enjoy watching the birds.
It gives me a chance to reflect and ease into the transition between work and
home. I’ve really come to treasure my time alone on the train.”
When the train isn’t an option because Reed needs her car, she makes a point of
carpooling with several of her fellow teachers. While teaching is rewarding, being
in a classroom all day can isolate you from your peers. The teachers’ carpool time
gives them a chance to share stories and ideas, and the opportunity to get to know
each other better.
Reed’s switch to a nondriving commute is no feat of magic. There are multiple
options for Americans ready to realize that the American automobile dream can be
changed in a small way yet
make a big difference. Not
only for ourselves as commuters, but also for our
communities.
Editor’s note: The Peninsula
Traffic Congestion Relief
Alliance, a local public agency,
offers all the information you
need to plan an easy, inexpensive and stress-free commute.
The Alliance’s Web site offers
information, free tickets, free
gas cards, carpool tips, shuttle
services and helpful maps.
Take a page out of Holly
Reed’s book and visit
www.commute.org.
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not be tolerated — you naughty, naughty audience members! This being just minutes after the same audience was clapping and cheering the newly appointed board
and commission members. Double standard? You be the judge.
Sometimes it is better to be silent, and politicians are most likely among the last
people to figure that out.
****
I am hearing that two lawsuits were filed against the City of Redwood City by two
women from Human Resources who were booted out of their jobs by former director Maria Rivera-Peña. (Rivera-Peña, by the way, is now the Assistant Vice
President for Human Resources at San Jose State).
Well, the settlements have come in. One woman, who had surgery for breast cancer and who Rivera-Peña would not bring back to her job after the surgery, has
received $100,000 plus lifetime medical coverage. The other, who claimed age,
race and gender discrimination, just received a nice settlement check for
$322,000. (Her case did go to a jury trial; the city probably settled to cut its
potential losses.) One wonders how much more money will be taken out of
reserves to settle such matters?
****
Redwood City’s Fourth of July celebration came off pretty well, according to the
comments I have heard. I thought the parade, even with the “twirler” controversy
still on the lips of residents — I even saw some T-shirts of support for them — was
put together quite well. Of course, there should be more floats, bands — I really
enjoyed the bagpipes this year — and community group participation but, all in
all, it was fun to watch. The festival, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, was held only
one day instead of its usual three, because of how the Fourth fell during the week.
Several families told me they had a great time but that so many people did not
know about it. Well, they have only been doing it for like a dozen years now, so
get informed. The arts fair — GREAT! The merchandise for sale was of good quality, several nonprofit booths were there attracting attention and much-needed support, and the food and live music was enjoyable, to say the least. The car show on
the 2600 block of Broadway — FANTASTIC! Fireworks show — I did not see the
fireworks this year but heard a wide range of comments from great to ho-hum. But
who really cares? With the effort that went into saving them, we should all be
proud of the results!
If you want to get involved in any of the planning for next year’s events, contact
the Peninsula Celebration Association at (650) 365-1825.
****
This month’s Chamber of Commerce business connection was held at City Pub
and Mexquite Mexican Restaurant on Broadway (two of my favorite places). It
was an absolutely beautiful early-evening event with council member Jim
Hartnett, former Mayor Georgi LaBerge, County Supervisors Rich Gordon and
Rose Jacobs Gibson, and Police Chief Carlos Bolanos joining business and
community leaders Alpio Barbara, David Amann, Keith and Nina Kadera,
Glenn Lloyd, Jill Singleton, Elizabeth Gheleta, Lourdes Carini, Barry Jolette,
Warren Dale, Jeff Gee, Janet Borgans and many others for a great time.
****
OK, OK! I made a mistake. Last month I stated that one of the items on this
November’s ballot would be an eight-cent sales tax increase that Supervisor Jerry
Hill describes as a measure to “keep parks and recreation thriving.” The measure
will generate $13 million to $16 million annually.
Instead of an eight-cent sales tax increase, I should have said, as pointed out to me
by dozens of readers (thank you), a 1/8-cent sales tax increase. If you have traveled to any of our county parks, you will see all the needs that have been deferred
for too many years, and the money coming from the tax will help.
So I guess our wallets and purses will not as “emptier” as I thought. But they will
still be “less full.”
****
I am writing this column on my birthday, July 20. I don’t know about you, but I
get absolutely mortified at the attention family, friends and business associates
give me on the days surrounding and on my “special day.” Don’t get me wrong, I
appreciate it, but I am more the say-or-sing-me-“Happy-Birthday”-type person and
forget the cake, presents, and all the hoopla. I mean, I have been going through
this for, um, 38 years or so, so you would think I would be used to it. I am not.
As a complete contradiction, I am the first person that will plan something special
for those I care about when their birthday rolls around, that is, if I remember —
getting old has its drawbacks, and birthday memory loss is one of those for me.
Birthdays just remind me that I am a year
older, that I have not accomplished important long-term goals, that as I get older I
need to be more concerned about my health
and the lifestyle choices I make — I could go
on, but I think you get the message.
Hey, I know what, when this issue has been
sent to the printer, I am going to go to a day
spa and relax, get a massage and the whole
metrosexual treatment, and later on meet
some friends for dinner and drinks.
****
Here’s to getting older!
As I was saying …
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ples of jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban, R & B, blues and gospel. All have recently released
full-length CDs.
Redwood City Blues Jam
Wednesday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m., free admission
See description for July 26 above.
The Cheeseballs
Friday, Aug. 11, 9 p.m., $14 adv./$16 door
The Cheeseballs will make you shake your booty like it hasn’t been shaken in
years. The band members pride themselves on serving up a helping of nonstop
’70s disco dance hits and ’80s and ’90s pop classics, performing songs that you will
be surprised to discover you knew all the words to, such as “YMCA,” “Stayin’
Alive,” “Dancing Queen,” “Le Freak,” “Disco Inferno” and many more. The result
is always an audience dancing.
“The Best of Don Edwards,” while Western Jubilee offered Don’s newest recording, “My Hero Gene Autry,” recorded live at Autry’s 90th birthday.
Pride & Joy
Friday, Aug. 25, 9 p.m., $16 adv./$18 door
During 17 years of phenomenal success, Pride & Joy has remained one of the most
popular bands on the Bay Area music scene. This group is the pride of the Bay
Area and a joy to anyone who loves to dance. They have achieved this by presenting the most timeless pop/soul music of our time in an electrifying high-style
show that pulls the audience directly into the heart of their performance. This
band can play anywhere, from the most popular clubs on the circuit to wedding
receptions.
Finding Stella plus Hookslide
Saturday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m., $12 adv./$14 door
The music of Finding Stella nails the classic rock and pop spirit of the ’70s and
’80s and throws in a newer, warmer rock quality that draws huge crowds from
along the West Coast and beyond. Singer/songwriter Chris Snyder, Tim
Christmon, Rich Flynn, Dave Scott and Shoshannah Beck attribute many different influences and styles to their music, smoothly jumping from classic rock to a
little R & B to pop and funk to create newer, warmer rock sound.
Louisiana Red plus Madison Blues Band Unplugged
Thursday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m., $14 adv./$16 door
Born in Bessema, Ala., as Iverson Minter in 1932, Louisiana Red is one of the last
of the great original Delta bluesmen. Critics have called Louisiana Red’s albums
masterpieces, and in 1983 he won a W.C. Handy Award as best traditional blues
artist. As the years go by there are fewer and fewer artists left who were active during the formative years of blues music and participated in the development of the
music.
Yvette y Su Orquestra Mambo Tropical with Pete Escovedo
Friday, Aug. 18, 9 p.m., $18 adv./$20 door
Pete Escovedo will be playing all night long — three big sets — with Yvette y Su
Orquestra Mambo Tropical, who play contemporary salsa powerfully, passionately, rhythmically and entwined with beautiful melodies. These are hot salsa sounds
that sizzle on the dance floor! Escovedo has performed and recorded with artists
such as Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Carl Tjader, Tito Puente, Woody
Herman, Carlos Santana and many others.
The Salvador Santana Band plus Indubious with special guest Polly Wood
A Benefit for Samaritan House
Welcomed by The Wheel Company, Voices of Latin Rock, Peninsula Business
Exchange and Blue Coast Records
Friday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m., $14 adv./$16 door
For Salvador Santana, music is the family business. His father is the legendary
rock guitarist Carlos Santana, and his uncle Jorge is best known as the leader of
the Latin soul band Malo. Also, his paternal grandfather, José Santana, was a
prominent mariachi violinist in San Francisco, and his maternal grandfather was
the pioneering R & B guitarist Sanders King. Salvador started playing music at a
very young age, quickly picking up percussion and guitar.
George Kuo, Martin Pahinui and Aaron Mahi
Sunday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m., $18 adv./$20 door
They represent the traditional folk art of Hawaiian slack key guitar and vocal
melodies. The show features solo slack key guitar and a rousing trio jam session,
trading spontaneous solos and unique vocal harmonies, recreating the atmosphere
of a Hawaiian backyard party. Known for perpetuating traditional Hawaiian slack
key guitar styling (kiho`alu), George Kuo started playing slack key in the 1970s
with old-time slack key masters like Raymond Kane.
Redwood City Blues Jam
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m., free admission
See description for July 26 above.
Don Edwards: America’s #1 Cowboy Western Singer
Thursday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m., $14 adv./$16 door
The summer of 1997 found Don in Livingston, Mont., in the role of Smokey in
Robert Redford’s film “The Horse Whisperer.” In addition to this acting/singing
role, Don is featured on the MCA soundtrack. In May 1998, to coincide with the
theater release of “The Horse Whisperer,” Warner Western compiled and released
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A Minute With ...
How many current members are in
the DBG?
Seventy-seven.
Will there be enough parking for all
the expected new visitors downtown?
Yes, I believe there will be.
Some say that the DBG is citystaff–driven — what do you say to
that?
No, I do not think so. We have developed a good partnership with the city
staff for the betterment of the downtown
area.
Next big thing to come downtown?
Through the Precise Plan — it will create
development downtown.
Favorite television show?
Don’t watch TV — no time.
Madonna or Britney?
Neither. Maria Callas.
Alice Louise
Alice was born in West Helena, Ark., and moved to Burlingame 12 years ago.
She has two children, Nicole and Melanie, and one grandson, Zachary. When
the Arthur Murray Dance Studio moved to Redwood City in 2001, she was
the manager; she took over ownership in 2002. She first became the president
of the Downtown Business Group in 2005 and was re-elected in July 2006.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Intellectual stimulation, emotional validation, equal spirituality and good
health.
Which living person do you most
admire?
No one stands out in my mind.
Which living person do you most
despise?
I don’t despise anyone. Takes too much
emotion.
Who are your heroes in real life?
My best friend, Rebecca Sooy. She died
of cancer last year, and during her battle
she never relented from contributing to
her community and lived life till its
fullest until the end.
What is your most treasured possession?
My family.
What talent would you most like to
have?
To be a fabulous mediator.
Something no one knows about you?
My age. I will admit to 50 years old.
Five years from now you will be?
50 years old.
If you were to die and come back as a
person or thing, what do you think it
would be?
A polar bear. They are survivors.
What do you consider your greatest
achievement?
I have a lot of time left, so that might not
have happened.
What or who is the love of your life?
My family and those I consider my family.
Arnoldo Arreola
Manager - Re/Max Dolphin
601 Marshall Street
650.207.1777
amdata@msn.com
Arnoldo is the type of Realtor you will
refer your family and friends to!
Manages over 30 professional Realtors
Serving the Redwood City area for over 27 years
Attended Elementary School in Redwood City
Lives in Redwood City with his wife and children
Speaks Spanish to assist those needing that specialty service
Professional * Reliable * Dedicated to Personal Service
www.dolphinrealestate.com
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