Atherton overcharged building fees; builders may be entitled to refunds. Page 9

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Photo by Howie Rosen #AMBAZOLA Toma 4IGER6IRGIN Geared up "LUE"RIE 0IEMONTESE /LIVE/IL Getting ready to hit the road for the second annual Tour for Woodside bike ride are, from left, Nicolas $ 99 $ 99 $ 95 Fenzi, Bob Page, Susan Doherty, Christopher Fenzi, Deborah Gordon and Millo Fenzi. The ride, held on 9 lb. 9 lb. 19 3 Ltr Sept. 23, drew 800 participants and raised an estimated $100,000 for Woodside High School, said Exp. 10/2/07 Exp. 10/2/07 Exp. 10/2/07 Ms. Doherty. At the end of the ride, cyclists chowed down on a barbecued chicken lunch donated by Draeger’s, one of a number of local businesses sponsoring the ride. 7OODSIDE2OAD 2EDWOOD#ITY.EXTTO'RAYS0AINT

Atherton Schools You Can Come In and Use Our... MILLING MACHINES ■ Town overcharged building fees; builders may ■ Building starts at Encinal: Classroom wing will be entitled to refunds. Page 9 be expanded for kindergarten classes. Page 15 METAL LATHES ■ Holbrook-Palmer Park: Some adults fear kids LASER CUTTERS are taking it over. Page 5 METAL WELDING People TechShop is a membership-based workshop that lets you drop in and PLASMA CUTTER ■ use our facilities, tools and equipment to work on your metal, plastic, Portola Valley’s Jon Silver to take a break after wood and electronics projects at your own pace in a supportive and 3D PRINTERS Portola Valley 28 years of public service. Page 7 creative environment! Membership is only $100 a month. SEWING MACHINES ■ Roberts market likely to open in Portola Valley Classes at TechShop are typically $30 and about an hour long, and VINYL CUTTER in January. Page 5 cover lots of great topics including machining, welding, fabricating, Community CNC, laser cutting, 3D CAD design, and lots more! Classes fill up PLASTIC CASTING ■ Town and school officials to meet on Phillips ■ Le Tour de Menlo rolls out at M-A High. Page 9 very quickly...visit our web site for our class list and to sign up. CNC MACHINES Brooks plans. Page 5 TechShop is open 7 days a week from 9 AM until midnight. SHEET METAL FAB ■ Matching grant could add $1 million to coffers for Town Center project. Page 11 PenStyle N 84 Visit TechShop Today! CONSTITUTION DR 120 Independence Dr ■ Eyeglasses are so stylish that even those with 101 INDEPENDENCE DR Menlo Park, CA 94025 perfect vision covet a pair. Cover, Section 2 MARSH RD www.techshop.ws 1 (800) 640-1975 Also Inside On the cover Births ...... 20 Menlo Park cop Chris Sample gets his car ready Calendar ...... 31 for evening patrol. Following a flood of resigna- 10 reasons why Burgess Park pools Editorial ...... 22 tions, the department is understaffed and inexpe- Letters ...... 22 rienced, forcing Mr. Sample and other officers to are the center of Menlo Park’s Obituaries ...... 21 work overtime to keep the streets patrolled. Photo Rain report ...... 21 by Veronica Weber. The story starts on Page 12. active community Town Square ...... 23 1. Open & Lap Swim 2. Masters Swim CALLING ON THE ALMANAC 3. Masters Water Polo 4. Youth Swim Teams The Almanac offices are at 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025. THE ALMANAC (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) is published every Wednesday by Embarcadero Publishing 5. Triathlon Teams For Classified ads, call 854-0858 ■ E-mail news to (no photos please): Co., 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025- 6. Swim School [email protected] 4455. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and at For all other calls, phone 854-2626 additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general 7. Summer Aquatics Camps News: Ext. 213 ■ E-mail news photos with captions to: circulation for San Mateo County, the Almanac is delivered free to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and 8. Adult Aqua Fitness Display advertising: Ext. 233 [email protected] ■ Woodside. Voluntary subscriptions for $30 per year or $50 per Fax: 854-0677 E-mail letters to the editor to: 2 years are welcome from residents of the above circulation 9. Snack Bar and Pro Shop [email protected] area. Subscription rates for businesses and for residents of 10. Family Picnics and Parties other communities is $50 per year and $80 for two years. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Almanac, P.O. Menlo Swim and Sport To request free delivery, or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, Box 7008, Menlo Park, CA 94026-7008. Copyright ©2006 by Information and registration 501 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626. Embarcadero Publishing Co., All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Burgess Park Pools • 650-328-SWIM (7946) www.menloswim.com

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Suiting Different Tastes MARIAMARIA - DELIDELI wine tasting party is a great way to get to know new friends and new wines. The easiest approach involves selecting representative examples of the same grape variety from different A areas. For instance, a "varietal tasting" may showcase Chardonnays from California, Burgundy, Washington State, Australia, New Zealand, northern Italy, Spain, and Chile. This type of comparative tasting of similarly aged wines lead to a better appreciation of how Noble Syrah different regions contribute their own distinctive character to the same variety of grape. More experienced wine drinkers may want Syrah is truly a noble grape, capable of producing wines of tremendous to engage in a "horizontal tasting" of wines from a single category power and grace. Best known for the great northern Rhone Hermitage and a single vintage for a more rigorous debate of subtle distinc- and Cote-Rotie, the new world has embraced this grape and now produces tions. Either approach ensures a fun gathering. wines to rival those from France. The following are limited production wines that represent the best CA has to offer. ine tasting parties are really a fantastic opportunity for you and your guest to enjoy quality 2005 A Donky and Goat, Vieilles Vignes ...... $36.99 wines in a great atmosphere. At ROBERTS MARKET, we can cater to your vision of the $ perfect wine tasting event. We offer a wide variety of foods from all over the world, and our 2004 Travieso "Amarante", Kirk's Vineyard ...... 38.99 W 2005 Failla Phoenix Ranch, Napa Valley...... $44.99 wine department is the most extensive in the area, more than most liquor stores. This means that if 2003 Ojai White Hawk Vineyard, Santa Barbara County ...... $44.99 you are going to a party with wine, we can provide you with everything you need. 2004 Peay "Les Titans", Sonoma Coast ...... $46.99 HINT: At a wine tasting, keep a wine journal of the labels from the wines you sample and your 2005 Radio-Coteau "Las Colinas", Sonoma Coast ...... $59.99 evaluation of each. 2004 Sanguis "The Last Dance", Santa Maria ...... $59.99 2004 Shafer "Relentless", Napa Valley ...... $65.99 2004 Sanguis "The Wedding", Santa Maria ...... $69.99 2004 Joshua Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley ...... $89.99 NOTE: The above wines assort for a 10% case discount CLOVER ORGANIC LOWFAT YOGURT ¢ 6 oz. 75 LA BALEINE FINE SEA SALT CRYSTALS $ 26 oz. – Also Course 2.39 — Special This Week at Roberts — PEPPERIDGE FARMS APPLE TURNOVERS $ $ 12 oz. – Also Raspberry 1.99 CHILEAN SEABASS 27.98 lb. QUACKER OATS OLD FASHION CEREAL $ $ 18 oz. – Also 1-minute Quick 1.99 COUNTRY STYLE BACON 3.98 lb. PEPSI-DR.PEPPER-MOUNTAIN DEW $ $ lb. 12 oz. – 6 Pack Cans – Plus Calif. Redeem Value 2.29 CRAB CAKE 3.50 PEDIGREE CHOICE CUTS CHICKEN DOG FOOD $ BEEF SHORT RIBS $ lb. 22 oz. – Also Beef – Liver – Lamb 1.09 4.98

4 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 M ENLO PARK | ATHERTON | WOODSIDE | PORTOLA V ALLEY Officials to meet on Phillips Brooks School plans ■ Letter confirms that the school bought 10 acres, Steve Toben said he met on Sept. The school has no immediate Toben, Mr. Vlasic and two Phil- likely for a new campus. 19 with 25 concerned Santa Clara plans for the Santa Clara County lips Brooks trustees. County neighbors of the site at site, Portola Valley deputy town Mayor Driscoll would not con- By David Boyce parking lot of the Alpine Inn in their invitation. “We’re interested planner Tom Vlasic said he was firm plans to meet and said he Almanac Staff Writer Portola Valley. in all learning together,” he said. told. did not want publicity about the In a letter to parents dated Aug. “This is a big deal.” School officials have not meeting, in part to avoid residents fficials from Portola Val- 30, Phillips Brooks officials say As for the planned meeting responded to numerous Almanac showing up outside the school- ley and Phillips Brooks the school purchased the property with Phillips Brooks trustees, Mr. requests for comment. house to protest. “We’re trying to OSchool, a private ele- and add: “The Board of Trustees Toben said the point was to be do this in a friendly manner here,” mentary school now extensively believes this property could be the cordial and give the trustees “the Meeting he said. rebuilding its campus on Avy site of a permanent home for The benefit of the doubt.” The meeting of Portola Valley Without a quorum — if just two Avenue in Menlo Park, plan to Phillips Brooks School.” The preschool-to-grade-5 and school officials could take of the five council members are meet this week to discuss why the That prospect worries neighbors school has leased its Avy Avenue place as early as Tuesday morn- present — the council would not school bought 10 acres of undevel- and Portola Valley officials because campus from the Las Lomitas ing, Sept. 25, at the town’s Historic have to open the meeting to the oped land near Arastradero Road of potential environmental impacts Elementary School District since Schoolhouse. public. in unincorporated Santa Clara on the area, including increasing 1978. The lease expires in 2017 Among those likely to par- County. The land is along Los traffic through Portola Valley. and has an option for one five- ticipate are Portola Valley Mayor See SCHOOL, page 8 Trancos Creek and opposite the Portola Valley Councilman year extension. Ted Driscoll, Councilman Steve Roberts market likely to open in Portola Valley in January By David Boyce town’s plan-check consultant for Almanac Staff Writer another round of analysis, mostly concerning structural and load- t will likely be January before bearing elements, said Town Plan- the Portola Valley grocery store ning Manager Leslie Lambert. Ionce known as John’s Valley Plan-check is complete and a Foods reopens as Roberts market building permit should be issued at the corner of Alpine and Portola this week, Ms. Lambert told the roads. Almanac on Friday. Owner George Roberts said he “This one is important,” Mr. is used to Portola Valley-related Roberts said. With a building questions from customers who permit, he can go ahead with patronize his Woodside store. electrical work, heating and cool- “They’re always asking about ing, plumbing and a mezzanine. when it’s going to happen,” he This interior work will establish said. the store’s personality, Mr. Roberts Bureaucratic processes have said. delayed a planned November The 2,000-square-foot mezza- opening in Portola Valley of a nine, a new feature, would house new version of what has become the store offices and an employee a Woodside institution. “The lounge, Ms. Lambert said. systems that are set up to wind The architectural design team your way through are the biggest includes grocery store design The Almanac/Veronica Weber problem,” Mr. Roberts told the specialist Sutti Associates, based Timber! Almanac. “It just takes so long to in Burlingame. Asked if planning San Mateo County public works employees contemplate how to remove a tree that toppled on to Perry Avenue do.” staff had been in unfamiliar ter- near Vine street in unincorporated Menlo Park on Sept. 19, taking out power lines on the way down. The amended building plans have been in the hands of the See ROBERTS MARKET, page 8 Atherton’s Holbrook-Palmer Park: Some fear kids are taking it over ■ Little League wins from playing ball at the park and for any accidents or misuse of the to open it up to youth sports have turns a temporary ballfield into a bid to keep backstop up to restore the field’s open space backstop. usually met with stiff resistance. permanent baseball field, depriv- all winter. appearance for half the year. “Don’t we have ing other park visitors of using the Despite the objections of mem- enough in the park area, Ms. Carlson said. By Andrea Gemmet ber of the Atherton Park and for children?” asked M-A Little League officials Almanac Staff Writer Recreation Committee and the ‘Don’t we have enough in the Park and Recreation argued that the backstop was ill the crack of the bat Holbrook-Palmer Park Founda- park for children? Could we not Commissioner Shir- getting damaged as a result of the be heard year-round in tion, the Atherton City Council ley Carlson. “We annual deconstruction and recon- WAtherton’s Holbrook- voted to allow the league’s back- leave something for the adults have the preschool, struction, and that it was an added Palmer Park? stop to remain up all year, on a trial in this community?’ a playground, Eas- expense that a nonprofit organiza- Under an eight-year-old agree- basis. The vote was 4-1, with Kathy ter and Christmas tion could do without. Boys and ment with the town, Menlo- McKeithen opposed, at the Sept. 19 SHIRLEY CARLSON, RECREATION COMMISSIONER (events). There’s girls should be able to go there to Atherton Little League officials council meeting. plenty for children. practice baseball in the off-season have had to remove the backstop In exchange, Little League will Holbrook-Palmer has never been Could we not leave something for or have pick-up games with friends at the end of the season in July, have to take out a larger insurance a typical municipal park geared the adults in this community?” to discourage rowdy adult groups policy and assume the liability toward children, and past attempts Leaving the backstop in place See PARK, page 8

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 5 6 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 PEOPLE REAL ESTATE Q&A by Gloria Darke Jon Silver to take break after To Sign or Not to Sign? Q: We are going through a divorce and many a property has been sold to people 28 years of public service do not want to do a lot of explaining to who weren’t even looking to buy a house our neighbors about why we are selling. Is simply by driving by and spotting the sign! He’s leaving the county Planning Commission, where he served 12 years it really necessary to put a “for sale” sign Signs are effective because many poten- in front of our house? tial buyers like to do “drive-bys” in neigh- By David Boyce borhoods they like. It’s human nature to — Mel J. Almanac Staff Writer be curious. When they spot a property A: Dear: Mel J., that attracts their attention, they will either Many sellers do not want the neighbors fter 28 years of volunteer- call the listing brokerage, or contact their to know they are selling for a variety per- agent to make a showing appointment. ing on the public’s behalf, sonal reasons but the fact is “for sale” signs The appeal of seeing a live property is far a rest from the routine is in are the number one form of advertisement A greater than that of a picture in a maga- and the least expensive. Compared with order, says Portola Valley resident zine, virtual tour or a three-line classified Jon Silver, but public issues will the other media, signs attract the highest number of phone responses, in ratio to the ad. Although various advertising media continue to matter to him. are effective in creating interest and inqui- Mr. Silver is leaving the San money invested. On the other hand, sticking a “for sale” ries, nothing beats a sign in the yard. Mateo County Planning Com- I appreciate your desire for privacy. mission after 12 years of meetings sign on your front lawn is not the only marketing tool realtors have. But we try But to effectively market your home there every other Wednesday morning. to use all of the tools at our disposal. With needs to be realtor tours, open houses, vir- Before that, he was on the Portola the internet now posting all of the listings tual tours, etc. And to add insult to injury, Valley Town Council for 16 years, it’s a whole new world. However, there are the whole world knows at the close of including three times as mayor, still buyers who do not use the internet and escrow what you sold the house for! from early 1978 to late 1993. The Planning Commission For answers to any questions you may have on real estate, you may e-mail me at gdarke@apr. oversees development on unin- com or call 462-1111, Alain Pinel Realtors. I also offer a freemarket analysis of your property. corporated county land, most of which lies west of the Coast Range from Pacifica south to the Santa The Almanac/Veronica Weber Cruz County line. Jon Silver with his two poodles at the Chilean woodchoppers house in NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING “It’s a good time to make a Portola Valley. Mr. Silver’s next public service endeavor is to save the change,” Mr. Silver told the Alma- aging house, left over from the Gold Rush era, that served as a refuge CITY OF MENLO PARK nac. His third and last allowable for Chilean prospectors turned woodcutters. CITY COUNCIL term ended in January, but he Planning Commission agreed to stay on until October, turned woodcutters. panied the council on an afford- when county Supervisor Rich The men had been expelled able-housing field trip to Palo Alto NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City Gordon plans to recommend from the gold fields by racist white and came away heartened, Mr. of Menlo Park, California is scheduled to make a recommendation to the City Council on the following item: his successor for District 3. The miners, so the story goes, and had Silver says. Board of Supervisors makes the found work making charcoal from Zoning Ordinance Amendment /City of Menlo Park: Consideration appointment. willow wood, which was abundant A family matter of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to clarify the definition of Gross Floor “It’s unfortunate,” Mr. Gordon then in Portola Valley. Sailing Being upbraided during a public Area to more specifically identify features of a building that are either says about Mr. Silver’s departure. back to Chile was out of the ques- hearing, and holding one’s tongue, included or excluded from the calculation. Gross floor area is used “He’s been a fantastic planning tion since San Francisco Bay was come with the territory of being a in calculating the floor area ratio (FAR) and parking requirements for developments in all zoning districts except for single-family and R-2 (Low commissioner.” During his tenure, packed tight with idle ships left public official. Decision makers Density Apartment) zoning districts. Floor area ratio equals the gross floor Mr. Silver deftly addressed coastal there by gold seekers. are advised to let everyone speak area of a building divided by the lot area and effectively regulates the protection and found the “right “To me, (the woodchoppers before closing the hearing so that size of a building. In addition, gross floor area is used in determining the places” for new developments, Mr. house) is just as valuable as slave legislators can then discuss and/or applicability of requirements for below market rate (BMR) housing and the Gordon says. housing in Virginia or a house act on the matter before them. preparation of traffic studies. The clarifications to the definition will focus Nonprofits may miss Mr. Silver, along the underground railroad Mr. Silver remembers that dur- on new buildings and attempt to minimize impacts to existing buildings. too. His commissioner’s stipend of in a (Civil War) border state,” Mr. ing a hearing held over several The Zoning Ordinance Amendment will be exempt from the California about $2,300 a year has been going Silver says. It is also a reminder that months on a controversial effort Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that the changes are intended to to causes such as the Audubon people of small means once lived to amend San Mateo County’s have no potential to impact the environment. Society, the Greenbelt Alliance and where homes now sell for millions, Coastside master plan, one man Copies of said draft Zoning Ordinance Amendment will be on file for the county hospital. he added. accused him, early on, of knowing review at the City Library and available for distribution at the Community “I’ll miss not having that free nothing about big families and Development Department, Civic Center, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, money to give away,” he says. Small is beautiful? their need for big houses. CA 94025, on Monday, October 1, 2007. Mr. Silver, 54, earns his living The woodchoppers house is not Unable to respond for months, NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that said Planning Commission as the owner of the Quicksilver alone as a small dwelling in Portola by which time the moment had will hold a public hearing on these items in the Council Chambers of the Delivery Service (it delivers the Valley today. Second-unit cottages passed, Mr. Silver says he had no City of Menlo Park, located at 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, on Monday, Almanac), and he shares his house offer homes for people with lower doubt that his accuser was wrong. October 8, 2007, 7:00 p.m. or as near as possible thereafter, at which with two large poodles. “One’s a incomes. A Town Council in the That’s understandable, given that time and place interested persons may appear and be heard thereon. socialist and one’s an anarchist,” he 1990s that included Mr. Silver his maternal Mormon grandfather If you challenge these items in court, you may be limited to raising only says. In keeping with their uncon- amended the general plan’s hous- had had three wives simultane- those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described ventional politics, he says he lets ing element to specify inclusionary ously, and his paternal Mormon in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Menlo their coats go natural and avoids zoning, which requires subdivi- grandfather had had four. Park at, or prior to, the public hearing. the “frou-frou” poodle look. “They sions of seven or more homes to “They didn’t get divorces along Documents related to these items may be inspected by the public on look like regular dogs.” reserve 15 percent of the project for the way,” Mr. Silver explains. At weekdays between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through With his life less regulated, Mr. below-market-rate homes. the time, most of the marriages Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, with alternate Fridays Silver says he plans to spend his Mr. Silver says he remembers a had been covertly sanctioned by closed, at the Community Development Department, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park. Please call Justin Murphy, Development Services Manager, time finding a permanent site in meeting during the zoning delib- the Church of Latter Day Saints, if there are any questions or comments on this item. He may be reached Portola Valley for the small home erations that “resembled a lynch he says. at 650-330-6725 or email at [email protected]. left over from the Gold Rush era mob.” A resident complained that Eventually the church distanced and known as the Chilean wood- she had left South Africa to escape itself by excommunicating his Visit our Web site for City Council public hearing, agenda, and staff choppers house. racial issues, that she’d left Ather- paternal grandfather, Mr. Silver report information: www.menlopark.org The aging little house on Portola ton to escape proximity to East says, adding that his grandfather DATED: September 20, 2007 Deanna Chow Road at the northern edge of the Palo Alto, and now “you want to later redeemed himself by arrang- Senior Planner Jelich Ranch is the only remaining do it here,” he recalls. ing to have three of the marriages PUBLISHED: September 26, 2007 house of five or six that served as The woman may have sounded annulled and getting himself re- If there are any questions, please call the Planning Division at (650) 330-6702. refuges for Chilean prospectors incorrigible, but she later accom- baptized. A Published in THE COUNTRY ALMANAC on September 26, 2007.

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 7 NEWS Residents’ views sought on what city should do about El Camino Real

Sometime in the next several ■ MENLO PARK weeks, Menlo Park residents can expect to see a familiar question show up in their mailboxes: Real corridor and downtown What should the city do about area. The city also intends to hold El Camino Real? a series of community workshops The city is sending out fliers and public meetings, likely start- soliciting public input to help ing in January. decide what should replace abandoned auto lots along the New director at MCC city’s main corridor. Among the questions the city Molly Given, a 10-year veter- is asking: an of childhood education, has ■ What kinds of new busi- been named the new director nesses does the city need? of the Menlo Children’s Center, ■ How tall should new build- which houses the city’s West ings be? Menlo preschool and school- age child care programs. ■ Would you like to see more Almanac photo by David Boyce housing on El Camino Real and Ms. Given has worked in sev- Firefighters direct hose at burning stacks of lumber. near the city’s downtown area? eral teaching posts, and recently Attached to the mailer will be a received her site director permit short survey that residents can fill from the California Department Firefighters battle lumber fire in Menlo Park out and send back to the city. of Education, according to a letter Firefighters from the Menlo Park Fire Protection the piles of lumber until a military-issue forklift City officials say the input will emailed to parents by city staff. District responded in force Sept. 19 to a grass fire — capable of lifting 15 tons — removed the non- be included in the city’s efforts to She is scheduled to start Oct. 1. along the Caltrain railroad tracks in east Menlo burning stacks on top so firefighters could get to design a comprehensive plan for Park that set alight stacks of lumber in an indus- the burning wood underneath. properties along the El Camino — Rory Brown trial parking lot. Such a fast-burning fire might have been The fire moved quickly due to high winds and prevented if officials had cleared the vegetation burned along the backside of Hamilton Avenue to surrounding the abandoned train tracks, Chief SCHOOL Madera Avenue, where it began to spread to piles Schapelhouman said. continued from page 5 ■ Raising that much money of lumber stored behind a wood trim shop, Menlo No structures were damaged, though one busi- would entail a fundraising cam- Park Fire District Chief Harold Schapelhouman ness with a propane tank behind its building was Letter to parents paign over 10 to 15 years. reported. threatened before firefighters secured the scene. The Aug. 30 letter to Phillips The fire closed six city blocks along Hamilton One firefighter sustained minor injuries when Brooks parents says that finding Avy Avenue campus Avenue while fire crews cleared the scene, he said. a piece of equipment was blown over and struck a permanent home is “critical” In the 2005-06 school year, After they doused the grass fire, firefighters him, according to Chief Schapelhouman. to the school’s long-term sustain- Phillips Brooks paid $900,000 in concentrated on hosing down and keeping cool Bay City News Service contributed to this report. ability and the 10-acre purchase is rent to the Las Lomitas district for “part of that continuum.” The site its Avy Avenue campus in Menlo “could be” the school’s permanent Park, about 7 percent of the dis- home, but the letter says the trust- trict’s revenue that year. ROBERTS MARKET amendments will go to the Plan- amendment, Ms. Lambert said. ees must first evaluate its potential In early 2006, Phillips Brooks continued from page 5 ning Commission for preliminary The employee parking lot will also and find a way to “most effectively got the go-ahead from the city of review, then to the ASCC, then have landscaping intended to pro- use this property.” Menlo Park to embark upon a $10 ritory in talking with a firm that back to the Planning Commission tect residential views and dampen The one-page letter is not signed, million upgrade of the campus. specializes in grocery stores, Ms. for a public hearing and a decision, noise, she said. but the two names at the bottom The project is nearing completion. Lambert said that that was not the Ms. Lambert said. The loading dock will have a are Scott Ryles, who chairs the The new buildings will expand case and described the relation- 6-foot-long sleeve to enclose the Phillips Brooks board of trustees, the school’s floor area to 31,000 ship as “a good working balance.” ‘Typical grocery store’ rear end of trucks and damp down and Kristi A. Kerins, the head of square feet from 18,000 square feet The other project hurdle will be Employee hours will be from 6 the noise of goods and produce the school. and alleviate a situation in which amendments to the conditional a.m. to 8 p.m., Mr. Roberts said, being unloaded, Mr. Roberts said. The letter also says: art, music, science and foreign lan- use permit, which can cover the with the last employee prob- Parked trucks will have to have ■ School trustees decided to guage teachers have to share class- impacts of exterior noise, exterior ably gone by 8:30 p.m. Employees their engines and refrigeration buy the property at the last board rooms, the spokeswoman said. lighting and delivery schedules — gathering in parking lots before or units shut down. meeting of the 2006-07 school In the Aug. 30 letter to parents, matters that neighbors may want after hours is unlikely, he added. The trash compactor out back year. The land set the school back Mr. Ryles and Ms. Kerins said they to weigh in on. The use permit “One thing about (store employ- will be enclosed in its own roofed about $5 million. Building a cam- expect students to “thrive in our must be brought up to date and ees) is they don’t hang around.” shed, Mr. Roberts said. pus comparable to the 4.5-acre site new Avy Avenue campus for years geared specifically toward Roberts Employee coming and going “This isn’t going to be any dif- on Avy Avenue would take “greater to come.” A market, Ms. Lambert said. will be discussed in granting ferent than a typical grocery than $30 million.” A staff report on use-permit amendments to the use-permit store,” he said. A

PARK providing an area for children.” brook-Palmer is Atherton’s only larger landscaped playground. honor its contract since the continued from page 5 In all, six people spoke against park. Besides fields and walking Construction of the Little League expense of removing the back- leaving up the backstop and eight paths, it holds tennis courts, sever- field came after multiple attempts stop is minimal. spoke in favor of it. While some al historic buildings, and a pavilion to get the town to provide space “I’m the only member who and family, they said. people complained that the back- that is rented out for weddings and for youth sports at the park. It was was on the council when this was “Our family and many, many stop is ugly, Councilman Charles events. the subject of intense public debate approved,” said Mayor Alan Carl- families support retaining the Marsala said it improves the look Over the years, as more families and its use is governed by a restric- son. “There was a lot of resistance backstop,” said Atherton resident of the park, since it partially blocks with young children moved into tive 10-year contract. The M-A to having kids at the park.” Michelle Dollinger, who spear- views of the rusting fences around Atherton, there’s been increasing Little League paid for the field’s Mr. Carlson said one of his headed the campaign to rebuild the tennis courts. tension over the use of the park. construction and reimburses the proudest accomplishments was the children’s playground at Hol- In 2002, Atherton families raised town for its maintenance. helping broker the compromise brook-Palmer Park. “Not just Tension over use money and replaced the park’s Councilwoman McKeithen that allowed the field to get because of the cost, but because it’s A 22-acre former estate, Hol- aging play structures with a much said that Little League should built. A

8 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 NEWS FOOTHILL COLLEGE Invites you to join us at our guest location at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) Town overcharged building fees; 2575 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park (408) 864-8817 (Just Minutes from either Foothill Expwy or 280) builders may be entitled to refunds A SIX-WEEK By Andrea Gemmet as possible.” ■ ATHERTON Almanac Staff Writer Mr. Cully did not return the Almanac’s phone calls seeking INVESTMENT AND FINANCIAL nyone building a home in manager Jim Robinson was told comment. Atherton who got permits about the fee table when it came to “I can’t think of single project that PLANNING CLASS before December 2006 might light. had a permitted value of $5 million. A Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. It is better to register now, but you want to get out a calculator and give “We discussed the matter of pos- That would have been a 20,000- the building permit and plan-check sible overcharges extensively with square-foot house,” Mr. Johns told may also register the first evening of class on Oct. 10th. (Class #255). The cost fees a second look. the former city manager and the the Almanac. is $49. No prior financial knowledge is required. To register call (408) 864-8817, Town officials acknowledged last former building official,” said Mr. When validating building depart- or go online, www.shortcourses.fhda.edu (in the Financial Planning section). week that a mistake in the printed Johns. ment fees, he found variations on fee table used by the Atherton Mr. Robinson agreed that any average ranged from $100-$500, “Outstanding Course!” Building Department caused staff corrections should be done on a go- Mr. Johns said. “I don’t want to exaggerate, but I truly believe this course has to overcharge projects with a valu- forward basis, and that the amount “I considered it to be a tolerable improved my life and my financial well-being. The instructors ation of $1 million or more. of the overcharges was likely to be level of error. Again, we’re talk- had an outstanding command of the material and presented it The errors were quietly fixed, immaterial, based on extensive fee ing about permit fees in the tens thoughtfully and with great humor & insight.” and town staff chose not to inform validations conducted during the of thousands of dollars,” he said. either the City Council or building audit of the building department, A $2 million project would have department clients. Councilman Mr. Johns told the Almanac. been assessed permit fees of about Some of the Topics Are: Charles Marsala raised the issue Mayor Alan Carlson said the $40,000 he said. $ THREE STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFULLY BUILDING A and the council is set to discuss it council should have been told about The building department is enti- STOCK PORTFOLIO at its next meeting, on Wednesday, the problem with the fee table. tled to recoup its costs by charging $ THE BEST WAYS OF INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE Oct. 17. fees, but legally, it cannot make a $ ANNUITIES, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS According to documents provid- ‘Tolerable level of error’ profit. “This happened at a time ed to the Almanac by Councilman The discovery of the overcharges when the building department had $ RETIREMENT STRATEGIES & PLANNING Marsala, the mistake was discussed is documented in an e-mail dated a net operating loss for the year of $ ACHIEVING TAX-FREE INCOME in November by Finance Director Dec. 1, 2006 between Mr. Cully and $200,000,” Mr. Johns said. “Despite $ PROTECTING WEALTH & ASSETS IN TROUBLED TIMES John Johns and Mike Cully, an out- Finance Director John Johns. any apparent minor overcharges, $ MANAGING YOUR MONEY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE side consultant then serving as the Mr. Cully wrote, “I am troubled the building department wasn’t $ TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS town’s interim building official. by our discussion on Wednesday making a profit.” Mr. Marsala said he heard from wherein you elected to dismiss the The problem with building fees $ WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW & FINANCIAL PLANNING Mr. Cully this spring about the inaccuracy of the existing printed is the latest revelation in a series of $ HOW TO CHOOSE A TOP-NOTCH ADVISOR overcharges, and filed two public fee tables as insignificant.” unflattering events for Atherton. $ TURNING THE MOST COMMON FINANCIAL MISTAKES INTO PROFIT records requests in order to docu- He goes on to say, “A quick calcu- Atherton’s building department $ IRAs: WHAT WALL STREET WON’T TELL YOU ment them. lation I did on a $2 million project is undergoing a major overhaul fol- $ ECONOMIC HEDGING & ASSET ALLOCATION Anyone who discovers an over- showed it was about $800 (over) on lowing numerous problems turned charge may ask for a refund, as long the permit fee alone. If you did a up during a three-phase internal $ INCREASING INCOME: WHICH CDs OR T-BILLS ARE SUPERIOR as the request is made within 180 quick calculation for a $5 (million) audit led by Mr. Johns last year. $ AND MUCH, MUCH MORE INCLUDING ROLLOVERS days of the error coming to light, project you would discover that Among the issues: sloppy prac- said City Attorney Marc Hynes. we are assessing the permit holder tices, poor record-keeping and lack ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR Steve Lewis is President of Lewis & Mathews Investment Mr. Hynes said it was unclear about $3,300 more than we should. of accountability. One of many Management, Inc., which is a personal financial advisory firm in how many projects might have This is 10.7 percent too much.” changes in its practices is the drop- Menlo Park. He teaches investment courses for various colleges been overcharged, and he did not Mr. Cully ends the e-mail by say- ping of preprinted fee tables in favor and institutions in the area. He is a financial author and has know how long the flawed fee table ing, “I strongly suggest you rethink of using a computer spreadsheet appeared on national radio and television. He is a past officer and has served as a board member of the S. C. International was in use. your position and we make these Association of Financial Planners. He has served on the National Mr. Johns said that then-city corrections as quickly, and quietly, See FEES, page 19 Academy Advisory Board of IAFP and is a member of the Palo Alto Financial Planning Forum. Among others, he has written for Money Magazine and Dow Jones’ Barron’s.

Le Tour de Menlo rolls out at M-A High Other instructors include Deborah Peri and Jim Curran. The instructors have taught Elite cyclists who are ready to to the King will head north from the start test their mettle on some of the and Queen to Redwood City, San Carlos, over 30,000 Northern Californians their Peninsula’s steepest terrain will of the Hill Belmont and Hillsborough in a money managing techniques. have an opportunity on Sunday, for the best series of hills that will include the Oct. 14, when the fourth annual combined two timed climbs. TAXES • FINANCIAL PLANNING • REAL ESTATE le Tour de Menlo rolls out begin- times on The ride will be fully supported, STOCKS • MUTUAL FUNDS • TRUSTS ning at 7 a.m. at Menlo-Atherton the two with a major rest stop at the half- SOME COMMENTS FROM PAST CLASS MEMBERS: High School. hills. way point in Belmont. Drinks “This course has been excellent, very informative and enlightening.” The Tour offers two courses, an Riders can register at www. and snacks will be available all “...Very objective in presentation of material...” extreme hills version with 5,000 TourdeMenlo.com through Fri- morning, as well as SAG services. “I have looked forward to each class like opening a new package each week.” feet of climbing in 50 miles for day, Oct. 12, or on the day of Route maps and instructions on “The course exceeded my expectations.” hardy riders, and a tamer, 30-mile the ride from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at how the climbs will be timed will “...I personally benefited a great deal from the subject covered.” route with fewer hills that offers a Menlo-Atherton High School, be available at the start. challenging course for beginning 555 Middlefield Road in Ather- Sponsors of the ride are the “... A very helpful, well thought out, well presented course. I have and intermediate riders. ton. Mailed entries should be Rotary Club of Menlo Park and recommended it to many people.” All proceeds from the event will post-marked no later than Oct. the Almanac. The ride’s $40 “Well done, informative, stimulating.” be used to support tutoring and 5 and sent to Tour de Menlo, entry fee includes a T-shirt. Late “Terrific! Loved the course.” scholarship projects of the Rotary 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, registration will be available “ Your ability to take subject matter to which I have never been exposed and Club of Menlo Park. Menlo Park, CA 94025, with for $45 on the day of the event. make it understandable commands my highest respect.” Another important feature of check or credit card information Students 16 and under are $30 “Extremely informative.” the 50-miler is an opportunity for enclosed. or $35 on ride day. Call Tom at riders to be timed on two hills in Riders will be able to start as 650-854-2626, ext. 222, for more THIS IS THE ONLY AD THAT WILL APPEAR FOR THIS the event. Prizes will be awarded soon as they are registered. They information. COURSE. PLEASE CUT OUT AND BRING TO CLASS (This space donated to Foothill College. Not paid with tax dollars.)

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 9 NEWS Woodside knocks report on Huddart, Wunderlich parks

■ such a lack of analysis to support on its dreadful inadequacies,” cilwoman Deborah Gordon. Draft environmental impact report ignores their assumptions,” Mayor Sue said Councilwoman Carroll Ann “You read this and it’s clear that town concerns, council says. Boynton said. Hodges. they didn’t hear us. They didn’t Residents of Greer Road are wor- One such error is the statement pay attention to any of these con- By Andrea Gemmet report is a state-mandated analysis ried that the access road to Hud- that Huddart Park is surrounded cerns,” Ms. Gordon said. “That’s Almanac Staff Writer of the project’s potential impacts. entirely by public lands, ignoring the thing that bothers me the housands of extra visitors? Woodsiders are concerned about the fact that it shares a half-mile most about this.” A wedding reception every traffic, noise and other effects, boundary with private property By consensus, the council agreed day of the year? Parked especially those from the proposed ‘You read this and it’s owned by Elizabeth Flood, said to incorporate residents’ com- T community building at Huddart cars clogging the roads near park clear they didn’t hear Mr. Susk, who is Ms. Flood’s attor- ments and concerns into an offi- entrances? A master plan for that could host weddings year- ney. The report also refers to a plan cial response letter from the town future development at Huddart round. The EIR says the park us. That’s the thing that to open to the public a permissive that will be become part of the and Wunderlich County parks in currently hosts two or three wed- bothers me the most.’ horse trail on Ms. Flood’s property, record in the final environmental Woodside has town officials and dings a week over the summer at something Mr. Susk said will not impact report. residents deeply concerned about its outdoor facility, said Virginia COUNCILWOMAN DEBORAH GORDON happen and should be removed “I think we have our work cut the development’s impact. Dare, chair of the town’s open from the EIR. out for us,” said Councilman Dave Huddart and Wunderlich parks space committee. dart at the end of their narrow lane Almost all of the concerns raised Tanner. “We need to go to San offer almost 2,000 acres of for- “If it’s used 100 days a year by will turn into a second entrance to at the meeting had been raised Mateo (County) in a bigger force 250 people, that’s 250,000 people,” est and meadow threaded with the park, overwhelming them with before with the county, said Coun- to make sure they hear us.” A trails and dotted with picnic and Ms. Dare said. She said the park traffic. They’ve already seen a big group camp sites. The master currently draws about 90,000 visi- increase in county park vehicles plan includes constructing two tors a year. using the road, and they report Castilleja celebrates a century new buildings at Huddart Park: a “It’s a potentially significant ongoing problems with the large visitors’ center and a community increase in use,” Ms. Dare said. numbers of recreational bicyclists. The Castilleja community is and varsity, a “decade parade” building at the Zwierlein group “It’s being shoved under the mat, “This is a call to action to the having a 100th birthday party will be held at 5 p.m. picnic area. It also details improve- being ignored, and it needs to be council to protect Greer Road from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, There will be a picnic din- ments to restrooms, roads, parking addressed.” residents,” said resident Bob Susk. at the Palo Alto school, 1310 Bry- ner, live music, dancing and lots and group camp areas, as well The proposed closure of park Residents and Woodside town ant St. roving entertainment at 6 p.m. as some trails and trail bridges. trail creek crossings for horses has staff also said they found a num- Events include a parade, alum- The birthday celebration, centen- A crowd of people showed up local equestrians upset, and the ber of errors from the master nae water polo game, dinner and nial show and closing ceremonies at the Woodside Town Council’s potential impact of cars parking on plan that had been repeated or a birthday celebration. The after- begin at 7:30 p.m. Parking will be Sept. 11 meeting to raise concerns the road rather than in the parking exacerbated in the environmental noon begins with carnival games, available at El Camino Grove lot that they said were not adequately lots has town officials worried. impact report. concession stands, student exhib- 2 at Stanford University. Shuttle addressed in the plan’s draft envi- “I’m amazed at this draft “Our citizens reviewed the draft its and music. After the water polo service will be provided. For more ronmental impact report. The (report) mostly because there is EIR in detail and picked up game at 4 p.m. between alumnae information, call 470-7749. 3FDZDMF
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10 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 NEWS FEATURED AUTHORS Matching grant could add World Without End The Book Thief Ken Follett Marcus Zusak $1 million to coffers for Monday, October 22 Tuesday, October 30 Tow n Center project 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Ken Follett has 90 million The Book Thief affects By David Boyce ■ PORTOLA VALLEY readers worldwide. everyone who reads it. Almanac Staff Writer The Pillars of the Earth is his bestselling book Zusak’s complex and sophisticated narrative has he passing of the com- 355 donors, up from 335 in April of all time. Now, 18 years after its publication, taken the young adult novel to another level, munity hat continues in and including 86 of $5,000 or Follett has written the most anticipated sequel of forever raising the bar for his successors. TPortola Valley in a “final more and five of at least $1 mil- the year – World Without End. fundraising drive” for the $20 lion. The 2000 census lists about million project to build a new 1,770 families in Portola Valley. Don’t miss these other exciting author events! library, Town Hall and com- Adding to, but separate from, munity hall and redo several the overall cost of the new com- Featuring Paola Gianturco Author à la Carte Event: recreational facilities. plex is a Sept. 12 decision by The Global Fund for Women Presents: The Hearty Boys: Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh This latest fundraising push the Town Council that is likely Women Who Light the Dark Tuesday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. Talk With Your Mouth Full got a kick-start Sept. 12 with an to lead to the spending of an Friday, October 12, 6:30 p.m. anonymous $500,000 dollar- additional $1 million to open Sultana Restaurant, for-dollar matching grant that up — or daylight — about 280 Robert Draper 1149 El Camino Real, Menlo Park runs until Dec. 15, according feet of Sausal Creek. Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush Michael Krasny to a statement from the Portola Finding the money to pay for Wednesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio off mik mikee A Memoir of Talk Radio Valley Community Fund. Gifts the creek element will be a sepa- and Literary Life michael krasny and Literary Life may be of any size and may be rate fundraising effort. Monday, October 15, 7:30 p.m. earmarked for any part of the For decades, the seasonal project. creek has been buried in a cul- Jennifer Ackerman The new complex is tentatively vert. In deciding to open up part Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: set to open in late 2008. The of the creek, the council also Gail Tsukiyama A Day in the Life of Your Body environmentally green elements directed the project architects to The Street of a Thousand Blossoms Wednesday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. of the buildings and grounds are cap the existing culvert and Tuesday, October 9, 7:30 p.m. expected to win a high, and pos- keep it underground as storage Tom Perrotta sibly the highest, classification for rainwater runoff. A Haven Kimmel The Abstinence Teacher for environmentally conscious The Used World Friday, October 26, 7:30 p.m. design. ■ INFORMATION Thursday, October 11, 7:30 p.m. With the town aligned along the infamous San Andreas fault, To make a donation to the Town the new Town Hall will also Center fund, go to www.pvtown- GO-GREEN Event house an earthquake-resistant center.com or contact Community Michael Shellenberger/ Vijay Vaitheeswaran Ted Nordhaus Break Through: emergency operations center. Fund volunteers Beth Rabuczewski at 529-9541 or Ms. Reiss at 529- ZOOM:The Global Race to Fuel the From the Death of Environmentalism The fundraising has attracted Car of the Future to the Politics of Possibility 0829. Send e-mail to pvcommu- about $17.5 million in tax- Wednesday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 29, 7:30 p.m. [email protected]. Checks deductible gifts since early 2004, may be sent to SVCF/For the the great majority from Portola Benefit of the Portola Valley Com- Special Family Events! Valley residents, said Commu- munity Fund, 4540 Alpine Road, nity Fund co-chair SallyAnn Portola Valley CA 94028. Diva Night 2007 Explore the World of Books for Kids Reiss. The fund’s Web site lists Tuesday, October 2 DIVA NIGHT Nick Hornby 5:00 p.m. – Drinks, food and mingling 2007 Slam Rodney Smith to be honored by council 6:00 p.m. – Presentations begin Tuesday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. A proclamation to honor Portola the corner of Alpine and Portola Kepler’s and the Menlo Park Library Present: Youth Author Speaker Series at the Menlo Park Library Valley resident Rodney Smith will roads where John’s Valley Foods Youth Writer’s Workshop with Deborah Davis [Ages 13 and up] start off the 8 p.m. Town Council used to be. Warriors Tour with Author Creating Memorable Characters meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 26, The council will also consider a Erin Hunter (aka Victoria Holmes) Thursday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Historic Schoolhouse. resolution approving an agreement Warrior’s Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest With his wife Mary, Mr. Smith with San Francisco-based stream Monday, October 15, 7:00 p.m. was a major donor to the preserva- consultant Phillip Williams & Spook Night with Dave Keane tion of open space in the town. He Associates to come up with a plan Nancy Farmer Saturday, October 27, 6:00 p.m. died May 25, 2007, at the age of 67 to open up about 280 feet of Sausal In the Land of Silver Apples All ages are welcome and costumes Friday, October 19, 7:00 p.m. while cycling on Sand Hill Road Creek at Town Center. are encouraged! after colliding with a car. The council will also engage in The council is also set to hear a discussion on how to raise the a progress report on the Roberts necessary $1 million to pay for the market grocery store planned for creek “daylighting” project. Kepler’s Story Time every Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

October 6th Story Time with Rosemary Wells Creator of the October 21st GO-GREEN Story Time with Madeleine Dunphy Max and Ruby characters, and illustrator for the popular Here Is the Coral Reef Dunphy's books are full of lush, highly Simitian holds ‘town hall’ meetings Mother Goose collections with Iona Opie, she will read from detailed illustrations that bring ecosystems to life and are their newest collaborative effort. must-reads for budding nature lovers. State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo City, 1017 Middlefield Road. ■ October 7th Max and Ruby Story Time Additional Rosemary October 28th Story Time with Jon Agee Alto, will hold “Town Hall” Saturday, Sept. 29, from Wells-themed reading with guest reader Chelsea McNeel. Nothing Don’t be fooled by the title! meetings in Redwood City, Palo 10 a.m. to noon, Palo Alto City This book really is something! San- Alto and Los Altos this week Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. October 14th Story Time with Chuck Ashton Redwood City Francisco resident and ALA Notable ■ Children’s Librarian, Chuck Ashton will lead our Story Time Book author Jon Agee will read his and next. He invites residents of Thursday, Oct. 4, from 7 to crowd in a romp through classics. latest picture book tale. the 11th Senate District to bring 8:30 p.m., Los Altos City Hall, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park questions, comments, and con- One North San Antonio Road. All events are at Kepler’s unless otherwise noted. www.keplers.com cerns about state government. For more information, call Meeting dates and places: Sen. Simitian’s district office at ■ Thursday, Sept. 27, from 6 (650) 688-6384 or go to www. to 7:30 p.m., City Hall, Redwood senatorsimitian.com . Follow me to Kepler’s. It’s our bookstore.

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 11 Menlo Park’s police force is understaffed and overworked . . .

wirling a cup of coffee in the break room of the Menlo Park Police Department on Sa September afternoon, Felicia Byars is exhausted. A patrol officer on the Menlo Park force for five years, Ms. Byars is nearing the end of her fifth straight day of at least 12 hours on the job. She’s been up since 4:30 a.m., is running on about four hours of sleep, and still has an hour- long drive back to her home in the East Bay. And her week still isn’t over: She picked up a couple of extra shifts, and still has two 12-hour days ahead of her. ➙

Special Report WAITING FOR BACKUP

Report by Rory Brown Almanac Staff Writer

ABOVE: Menlo Park officers, from left, Burke Bruttig, Alan Swanson, Chris Sample and Nick Douglas talk about a motorist pulled over for speeding near Marsh Road and U.S. 101. RIGHT: Officer Douglas pats down the car’s passenger.

Almanac photos by Veronica Weber

12 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 COVER STORY

Police Chief Bruce Goitia said the police department is “running out of bodies,” as officers Felicia Byars has been a police officer in Menlo Park for five years, which makes her one of leave Menlo Park to retire or join other law enforcement agencies. the more experienced cops out on patrol.

. . . and more cops are on their way out

➙ “You can’t just leave the streets empty,” Ms. Byars We’re running out of bodies to fill holes.” patchers with two cities to cover. said. “You get tired, you get depressed, but you sign up He added that when officers have to report to court, or for overtime because you have to.” get sick or injured, other officers are forced to come in More departures Overtime has become a must for Ms. Byars and other on their off days. Response times haven’t been affected, Chief Goitia said the city has hired six new officers officers, as an exodus of officers from Menlo Park has left but non-emergency calls aren’t getting the priority they — three new recruits going through the academy, and the force understaffed, overworked, and inexperienced. have in the past, Chief Goitia said. three from other departments — but with impending Thirty officers have left the force since 2004, some The extra hours put in by officers has also come at a retirements and more resignations, the department is through retirement. But 17 of them resigned to join other cost — in the 2006-07 fiscal year, the department paid still a ways from recovering. police agencies, according to a recent city report. Many officers $1.29 million in overtime — 28 percent more “We’ve had some success finding new officers, but in of them have cited a mix of exhaustion, morale problems than what was projected. the case of Terri Molakides, I don’t know how I’m going to and lack of opportunities as their reasons for leaving. The city should have 30 officers on patrol duty, but replace someone with 30 years of experience,” he said. Although a new aggressi ve recruiting effort is under way there are currently only 23, Chief Goitia said. He noted But Menlo Park and other California cities may have with the support of the City Council, Police Chief Bruce that some special units, such as narcotics, code enforce- to get used to more veteran officers leaving their jobs. Goitia said three more officers are expected to transfer to ment, and traffic enforcement, no longer exist, as those A surge in retirements is expected by the year 2012, as other police departments soon, and three more officers, officers have been reassigned to patrol to compensate baby boomers reach retirement eligibility and can cash including Cmdr. Terri Molakides, will retire. for the staffing shortage. in on their pension plans. The current pension benefit Cmdr. Molakides has been with the department for Mr. Poirier said he has worked back-to-back 17 hour offered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement 29 years, and will retire by next May, Chief Goitia said. days, and Ms. Byars said she once worked 23 hours System allows 30-year veterans of police departments Experience is a key concern. The department has 50 straight — not exactly the ideal situation for people who to receive 90 percent of their annual salary after they sworn officers when fully staffed, but that number has need to be alert at all times. retire — a formula in place in Menlo Park. dropped to the low 40s. About 20 current officers have “I don’t have time to work out, I don’t have time to eat In Cmdr. Molakides’ case, she’ll receive $97,000 to less than two years of law enforcement experience, Chief right, and I don’t have time to do the things I’m sup- $122,000 annually after retiring. Goitia said. posed to do when I’m tired,” Ms. Byars said. By 2010, there will be 11,000 to 13,000 police officer The flood of resignations has made officers such as The city’s dispatch unit is also severely understaffed, as openings statewide, according to a recent report co-au- Ms. Byars, with only five years on the force, one of the a recent merger of operations with the city of San Carlos thored by Cmdr. Lacey Burt and Assistant City Manager more experienced officers out on patrol. — a move that was supposed to make it easier to respond Audrey Seymour. “I like catching the bad guys and I like helping people,” to 911 calls — has actually made things more difficult. Ms. Byars said. “This is my home as a police officer, but All of the dispatchers who came from San Carlos Low pay I’m starting to get really tired.” in the merger have resigned, leaving Menlo Park dis- More vacancies and a smaller pool of cops to choose Jason Poirier, an officer who transferred to Menlo from mean that Menlo Park is in fierce competition Park from Brisbane just over a year ago, said he enjoys with departments all over the state to recruit and the overtime, but the department needs more cops. retain officers — not an easy task considering that the “I’m used to working on just a couple hours of sleep, Police problems city doesn’t offer the pay or opportunities of other law so I’ll take on the extra hours,” said Mr. Poirier, a former enforcement agencies. U.S. Marine. “To an extent, overtime is a good thing … The Menlo Park Police Department: Although Menlo Park provides the state’s top pen- but the more time we spend covering shifts, the less time sion benefit, the city aims to be an average payer when ■ we have to train and get experience in other areas.” Has lost 30 officers since 2004. it comes to base salary, meaning there are always other ■ Has 20 officers — about half the force — with less than departments that offer more. Making it work two years of law enforcement experience. “It’s a dog-eat-dog situation in recruiting cops from Thanks to the willingness of cops such as Ms. Byars ■ Has officers that work as many as 25 hours of overtime other agencies,” said Cmdr. Burt. “There are two things and Mr. Poirier, patrol shifts are covered, reports are in a week. cops look for — pay and opportunities. Right now, we written, and the department has been able to respond to ■ Has a dispatch center that is short four officers, aren’t offering much in those areas compared to most emergencies, but with more departures on the horizon, but required to take 911 calls for two cities. other cities, and we’re trying to get creative.” officers are getting burnt out. City Manager Glen Rojas, in an effort to address the ■ “It’s hard to have a stable environment in the police Has no officers assigned to narcotics, code officer shortage, has created a task force of top city offi- department when you have this amount of turnover,” enforcement, or traffic enforcement. cials and police officers to study surrounding depart- Chief Goitia said. “It takes an officer a very short ■ Has officers that commute to Menlo Park from as ments and their wage packages. amount of time to resign, but it takes us a very long time far away as Tracy, Modesto, and Reno. to get someone trained and ready to be in the field. … Continued on next page

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At the 7 p.m. briefing, officers discuss assignments before heading out on the night patrol shift. With the department short on staff, some officers who arrive for the 7 a.m. briefing are still hard at work at 7 p.m. Where in three critical years, girls accelerate accredited academically, strengthen self-confidence, by WASC and become leaders—ready to succeed In 2004, the Western Association of Schools and in high school and beyond. Colleges gave GMS away from East Palo Alto — one mutes, a racial discrimination its highest rating. Waiting of the few cities that pay less than lawsuit had been hanging over Menlo Park, Chief Goitia said. the department’s head since for backup October 2006, until the suit was Housing settled earlier this month. The chief said it’s not just lower Three former black officers, Continued from previous page pay that is prompting officers to Keith Butler, Kenneth Clayton leave Menlo Park; the increased and Joe Hinkston, were suing The starting salary for a line-lev- cost of living in the Bay Area is the city for $2 million, alleging el police officer in Redwood City pushing officers to the East Bay that Sgt. Ron Prickett created (one of the highest-paying employ- and Central Valley. a hostile work environment by ers in the Bay Area), for example, “Some officers want to buy a targeting the former officers is $85,980 a year, compared with home for less than half a mil- because they are black. $70,204 a year in Menlo Park, lion dollars,” he said. “You can’t The city agreed to pay YOU’RE INVITED TO ATTEND AN ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE: according to data provided by both do that in Menlo Park, and you $165,000 ($55,000 each) to the Sat., November 10 at 1pm or Thurs., December 13 at 7 pm cities’ personnel departments. can’t really do that on this side three former officers, although 650-968-8338, x115 or [email protected] The base salary for Redwood of the Bay.” the city attorney, council mem- City patrol officers is even higher All but two officers live out- bers, and Chief Goitia stressed www.girlsms.org than the $84,680 annual base side Menlo Park city limits, with the decision was made to cut salary for Menlo Park sergeants. some commuting from as far as legal costs, not because the city “Menlo Park has to offer more Tracy, Modesto, and even Reno. was at fault. )&)43./4).4()36!5,4 )43./43!&% than we have in the past,” said Chief Goitia said several new Chief Goitia said the lawsuit detective Jeff Keegan, president police departments in other parts did not affect morale, but he has of the Police Officers’ Associa- of the state offer higher salaries implemented thorough toler- tion, the union that represents than Menlo Park, and since they’re ance training for all supervising the city’s line-level officers. also closer to officers’ homes, the officers to make sure there are “With year after year of budget decision to leave Menlo Park is an no future problems. “I’m very cuts in this city, officers saw easy one. In addition to cutting confident the situation won’t there was no light at the end of their commutes, other depart- repeat itself,” he said. the tunnel for improving the pay ments provide opportunities in situation in Menlo Park.” the way of professional develop- Potential solutions Mr. Keegan said that when he ment, such as task forces. Due to At the suggestion of Mr. Rojas, joined the force 15 years ago, the officer shortage in Menlo Park, the council has already approved Menlo Park paid better than most cops are assigned to patrol. a new aggressive recruiting cam- a lot of Bay Area cities, and as City Manager Rojas and Chief paign to find more officers, and many as 300 people would apply Goitia said the task force is con- signed off on the creation of ,/3!,4/36!5,43!&% for open positions. sidering ways to make it more a referral bonus program that These days, the city is lucky to affordable for officers to live in awards any city employee up to $%0/3)4#/ get a handful of applicants, he Menlo Park, including creating $2,000 for referring an officer said. a subsidized housing program, who is hired and passes the pro- !PRIVATEDEPOSITORY 7 Ê
, ʛ£t Chief Goitia said although the transportation assistance, or bationary period. 3AFEDEPOSITBOXESOFALLSIZES / iÀiÊÃÊ œÊ›Ó city aims to provide average sala- providing live-in quarters for Mr. Rojas said the next recom- 3TRICTANDTOTALCONlDENTIALITY  6 Ê/t ries during contract negotiations, some officers. mendation he may float by the 3ECUREDANDAMPLEPARKING other cities often raise their sal- “I couldn’t drive three hours council is to add another super- ary levels to the point that Menlo every day,” Chief Goitia said. “We’re visory position to the depart- &ORYOUROWNSAKEWESHOULDHAVEYOURBUSINESS Park’s labor contracts become trying to figure out how to make it ment’s structure. He said the 6ISITOURFACILITIESANDJUDGEFORYOURSELF outdated several months after easier for people to get to work.” department could add a corpo- $ATABANKFORIMPORTANTANDCONlDENTIALRECORDS they are approved. ral or lieutenant position, giving But Menlo Park is also a player, Lawsuit settled sergeants a chance to move up &IRST3TREET ,OS!LTOS #! not just a victim, in the recruiting In addition to issues of pay, the chain of command, and eas- 4EL  WWWLOSALTOSVAULTCOM game. The city is luring officers long hours, and lengthy com- ing commanders’ workload. A 14 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 NEWS/COMMUNITY

‘Rodin by Moonlight’ Glittering gala to benefit Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford

By Jane Knoerle Martin’s House Party before the flood-lit “Gates Almanac Lifestyles Editor of Hell.” John Hennessy, Stanford University president, he old tune, “Moonlight Becomes You,” and his wife, Andrea, are the honorary chairmen could be the theme song of “Rodin by of the event. There is no acting chairman of the TMoonlight,” the biennial fundraiser to be benefit this year; instead, it’s a team effort by a com- held in Stanford’s Rodin Sculpture Garden on mittee of eight. Saturday, Sept. 29. True to her word, Melissa Badger of Atherton Always a glamorous affair, a hint of the evening’s will not serve as committee chairman, as she has decor comes from its orange and shocking pink done for the past three benefits. Committee mem- invitation emblazoned with the Napoleonic bee. bers are Melissa Badger, Stephanie Lingle Beasley, It will be hard to top the Versailles-themed Mary Linn Coldiron, Charlene Cogan, Julie Terrell “Rodin by Moonlight” of two years ago, when Hooper, Jacque Jarve, Sandy Levison, Lisa Moor- guests were serenaded by violinists surrounded by ing, Wendy Rohn, and Kathy Wiggans. 500 lighted votive candles on the steps of the art More than 400 guests are expected at the sold-out center. The entry also featured lighted fountains event. Past year’s guests included former Secretary in a formal garden of boxwood and white roses. of State George Shultz, who with his wife, Charlotte, Inside, J Floral Art created life-size animal topiaries were honorary chairmen of the 2005 benefit; Rep. a la Versailles. Anna Eshoo, D-Menlo Park; and Leon Panetta, the While not revealing any secrets, “Rodin” com- Clinton White House chief of staff. mittee member Kathy Wiggans does say there will The first “Rodin by Moonlight” took place in be heaters for the outdoor dining this year, offering 1987 and raised funds to light the Rodin Sculpture some warmth to those in strapless gowns. Garden at the Cantor Center for Visual Arts. The The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a “clas- museum closed for nearly 10 years after the 1989 sic” cocktail party hosted by Classic Party Rentals. earthquake, re-opening in 1999. Over the years, Dinner at 8 o’clock in the Rodin Sculpture Garden “Rodin by Moonlight” has raised nearly three- will be “created” by Douglas Keane of Cyrus res- quarter of a million dollars to support the museum taurant and the staff of Paula LeDuc Catering. and its programs. Mr. Keane, who was named one of America’s best Proceeds will continue to benefit the center’s new chefs in 2006 by Food & Wine Magazine, is the education programs and exhibitions, and enable chef at Cyrus in Healdsburg, which drew raves and Cantor to remain free to the public. Almanac photo by Veronica Weber four stars from San Francisco Chronicle food and Admission to “Rodin by Moonlight” ranges from “Rodin by Moonlight” committee members, from left, Jacque drink editor Michael Bauer. $750 per guest to $10,000. For ticket information, Jarve, Charlene Cogan and Wendy Rohn, are shown in the Rodin Dinner will be followed by dancing to David call 736-1667. A rotunda at Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center.

Construction begins at Encinal School Ex-manager hired as consultant ■ Classroom wing will ■ SCHOOLS complex for grades 4 and 5, mod- be expanded, modernized ernizing existing classrooms, and Atherton’s former City Man- ■ ATHERTON for kindergartens. portable buildings moved to the installing a grass playing field. It is ager Jim Robinson is gone, but campus this summer. part of the district’s plan to expand not forgotten. He will stay on include attending meetings By Marjorie Mader Ahmad Sheikholeslami, the dis- facilities at all four schools. Funding as a consultant to the town and being available by tele- Almanac Staff Writer trict’s facility program manager, comes from the $91.1 million bond through Dec. 31, according phone to the interim city man- said the first part of the work in F measure passed by voters in June to an employment agreement ager, city attorney and mayor, ork has started on getting wing will involve demolition and 2006. approved by the City Council Mr. Robinson will be paid Encinal School in Ather- abatement of material containing The projected increase in enroll- on Sept. 19. Mr. Robinson $120 an hour plus expenses. Wton ready to welcome a asbestos and lead. ment at Encinal will be comple- retired at the end of July after He also received his regular new class of kindergartners in fall The construction area will be mented by decreases in enrollment six years with the town. salary for the month of August 2008 for the first time in decades. fenced off and the areas of abate- at Laurel and Oak Knoll schools, As compensation for his as “paid management leave.” The construction project is part ment will be completely sealed off according to Superintendent Ken consulting services, which may of the Menlo Park City School from the public. Ranella. District’s plan to reorganize Enci- “The safety of our children, staff Laurel, now a K-2 school with 522 nal, now a grade 3-5 school on the and parents is most important to students, will become a K-3 with Mayor to sign off on audit Normally, at the completion district’s largest campus, into a K-5 the district. The work area will be 400 students under the reorganiza- The town’s annual outside of the audit Mr. Johns would school to accommodate projected prepared over and above what is tion plan. Oak Knoll, a K-5 school audit is nearly complete, sign a document called a man- increases in enrollment. An addi- required by federal, state and local with 730 students — the largest but it’s missing one key agement letter, attesting that tional grade will be added each year, regulations to ensure that everyone enrollment in the district — is pro- document, thanks to the the town’s financial docu- starting with kindergarten, until it is safe during this work,” said Mr. jected to have 700 to 720 students awkward timing of Finance ments are correct. However, becomes a K-5 school with 680 to Sheikholeslami. under the plan. Director John Johns’ suspen- since he is still on leave pend- 700 students in 2010-11. He said the district has hired an Encinal was one of the first sion. Mr. Johns was placed ing the results of a personnel Crews are working to expand and experienced contractor, Sterling schools in the district. It was a K-8 on paid administrative leave investigation, there’s no one modernize classroom building F, Environmental Corp. of Oakland, school, then a grade 3-8 school on Aug. 27, following a com- on town staff authorized to located near the district’s office on for the abatement work, and a cer- when lower grades were transferred plaint that he created a hos- sign the letter. The City Coun- Encinal Avenue, to house kinder- tified asbestos and lead consulting to the new Laurel School in the tile work environment. On cil voted 5-0 at the Septem- gartners. Completion is scheduled firm, North Tower Environmental, 1950s, and then a 3-5 school when that same day, auditors from ber 19 meeting to authorize for next August. for abatement oversight and inspec- Hillview became the district’s Caporicci & Larsen arrived Mayor Alan Carlson to sign Previously, F wing housed third- tions. middle school for sixth-, seventh- to conduct the annual audit the management letter. grade classes, which have been The project will also include and eighth-graders in 1989-90. A of Atherton’s books. shifted to temporary quarters — building a two-story classroom

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 15 NEWS Public weighs in on future of Hetch Hetchy system

By Marion Softky Almanac Staff Writer and Santa Clara counties. improvements in place is a risk for and now Bay Area program direc- two-thirds of San Francisco’s Key local projects are the replace- 2.4 million people.” tor for the Tuolumne River Trust, water wants to keep the emphasis he 18 people who spoke ment of two pipelines that run spoke passionately to save the on making the system safe and Sept. 19 in Palo Alto on under the Bay between Fremont Growth, conservation and Tuolumne from an additional reliable. TSan Francisco’s $4.3 billion and East Palo Alto with a tunnel, the Tuolumne diversion of up to 25 million gal- “The issue of urgency is fixing project to strengthen and upgrade and the addition of an extra pipe in The hearing focused primar- lons per day, as discussed in one of the water system. We can take time its aging water system proclaimed the right-of-way that runs through ily on how to meet the increased the PEIR alternatives. “That’s the to figure out how to meet the needs two very clear messages: East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and demand for water due to growth equivalent of filling 1,000 swim- of the future,” said Art Jensen, Hurry up and make the system North Fair Oaks. Individual proj- in population, jobs and business, ming pools every day,” he said. general manager of the Bay Area that delivers our water safe and ects will be subject particularly in Mr. Drekmeier and others also Water Supply and Conservation reliable; and, conserve and recycle to separate envi- view of global charged that studies of water- Agency (BAWSCA). water instead of taking any more of ronmental impact warming and sheds and fish used in the PEIR In a Sept. 5 letter commenting it out of the Tuolumne River. reports to evalu- Speakers focused on the prospects are outdated and inadequate. He on the PEIR, Mr. Jensen noted Some 50 people attended the ate their impacts, reducing outdoor water for reduced added, “The biggie is, the EIR that there is a 60 percent chance fourth of five public hearings, said Kelly Capone, snowpacks. mentions global warming but by 2032 of a major earthquake in from Sonora to San Francisco, on environmental use, which accounts for Water doesn’t discuss it.” the Bay Area that could disrupt the draft program environmental projects manager 60 percent of water used program staff Claire Elliott of Palo Alto noted the flow of water for 30 to 60 days. impact report (PEIR) for the proj- for the San Fran- estimates that that discharge from sewage treat- “The impacts on health and safety ect to fix the system that provides cisco Public Utili- in some communities. water demand ment plants is converting saltwater would be catastrophic,” he wrote. water from Hetch Hetchy Reser- ties Commission, in the Bay Area marsh to freshwater marsh around Mr. Jensen wanted to clarify voir in Yosemite National Park to which is running the WSIP. will increase by 13 percent in the San Francisco Bay. “We need to confusion over diversions from the 2.5 million people in four Bay Area While most speakers at the next 25 years — from 265 million reuse water,” if not for drinking, Tuolumne River. Sixty percent of its counties. hearing focused on saving the gallons a day in 2005 to 300 mil- for watering gardens and golf water is diverted, he said, but most The environmental report ana- Tuolumne River from more diver- lion in 2030. courses, she said. “I do not want goes to the Turlock and Modesto lyzes impacts of San Francisco’s sions and conserving water in our Most speakers urged reducing to see more lawns taking up water irrigation districts for agriculture. massive Water System Improve- communities, they all appeared to demand through conservation from a wild and scenic river.” San Francisco and BAWSCA receive ment Program (WSIP). The pro- support the rebuilding and seis- and recycling, rather than seek- Ms. Capone reported that 12 percent of the flow. gram consists of 22 separate proj- mic upgrade of the Hetch Hetchy ing new water. They particu- responses at the hearings in Sono- Mr. Jensen said BAWSCA has a ects to strengthen the system of system. larly focused on reducing outdoor ra, Modesto and Fremont were strong conservation program and dams, pipes, tunnels and pumps “We depend on this system; we water use, which accounts for 60 very similar to those in Palo Alto. hopes not to have to divert water that carry water 150 miles, across have no other source of water,” percent of all water used in some from the Tuolumne. It also hopes four major earthquake faults, to said Daniel Seidel of the Purissima communities. Agencies respond to negotiate more conservation serve homes and businesses in San Hill Water District in Los Altos Palo Alto Councilman Peter The agency that represents the Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Hills. “Every day without seismic Drekmeier, a former river guide, 27 suburban agencies that buy See WATER, page 17

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16 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 NEWS

High-speed SSUNDAYUNDAY OCTOBEROCTOBER 1414 • 4TH4TH ANNUALANNUAL rail not welcome TTOUROUR DEDE MENLOMENLO Atherton officials are not on board with the idea of running high-speed rail tracks through town. As a plan to link Los Angeles and San Francisco via high-speed trains inches closer to fruition, Atherton is making its pitch to route the trains away from its resi- dents’ backyards. A number of different routes are being considered during an envi- ronmental review of the massive project, and Atherton is weighing in with concerns and suggestions. One route being considered would add high-speed rail tracks to the Caltrain right-of-way through the Peninsula. “Construction of a high-speed rail line would be devastating to towns on the penin- sula,” said Councilman Jim Janz. “It needs a 100 foot right-of-way, it would take a lot of land.” The council unanimously agreed that high-speed rail should either run through the East Bay via the “Altamont” route or go through the Pacheco Pass and run along Highway 101 to Interstate 280. Caltrain rejects Wi-Fi bids The Caltrain Board of Directors voted Sept. 6 to reject two bids for Wi-Fi service on commuter trains. One bid demanded too much infrastructure and another didn’t meet the service standards desired by Caltrain, spokesman Jonah Weinberg said. Caltrain invested more than $1 million to research and test Wi-Fi during a short period last year. 2 courses, The vote is not the end of the con- cept. Mr. Weinberg said Caltrain up to 5,000 feet still hopes to eventually roll it out of climbing Early registration as part of a more comprehensive closes Oct.12 ($40) communication package. WATER King & Queen continued from page 16 of the Mountain Same day with the two irrigation districts that take most of the water. prizes registration “We support an alternative that ($45) does not require diverting an addi- tional 25 million gallons per day from the river,” he said. A Tee shirts ■ INFORMATION included with SAG support, ■ The PEIR can be viewed online all entries major rest stops, by going to PEIR.sfwater.org and linking to the site. A copy is avail- snacks all day! able at the San Mateo Library, at 55 West 3rd Ave. ■ Comments on the PEIR are due by Oct. 1. They may be submitted at the hearing, or online to wsip. www.tourdemenlo.com [email protected]; or in writing to Paul Maltzer, environ- mental review officer, WSIP PEIR, BENEFITS ROTARY TUTORING, SCHOLARSHIPS 1650 Madison St., Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103.

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 17 NEWS Preparing for disaster: 2007 County provides tools

By Marion Softky and city halls. It can be download- Almanac Staff Writer ed from the health department at www.smhealth.org. ire. Earthquake. Flood. Ter- rorism. Are we ready? Community alert system The Winners F September is National County residents can now sign Preparedness Month, and San up to receive alerts for problems Mateo County is sponsoring a ranging from traffic jams to earth- Best Hardware Store Best Seafood number of events to spur indi- quakes and fires via cell phones, viduals, families, businesses and e-mail and text messaging. Menlo Park Hardware The Fish Market schools to take the steps necessary “It’s cool, and it’s free,” said 700 Santa Cruz Ave 3150 El Camino Real to ride out the next disaster when traffic reporter Joe McConnell Menlo Park Palo Alto it happens. at a demonstration of the system 325.2515 493.TUNA(8862) “We don’t know when a natural Sept. 20. disaster or emergency will occur, The public can sign up for the Best Book Store Best Italian Restaurant but what we do know is that we alerts at www.smcalert.info. The must plan, prepare and act,” said site allows individuals to sign up Kepler’s Books & Carpaccio Rose Jacobs Gibson, president of 1120 Crane St to receive different levels of alert, Magazines the Board of Supervisors. and different areas. 1010 El Camino Real Menlo Park The county and its Office of 322.1211 “It’s an exciting and powerful Menlo park Emergency Services are promot- tool,” said Shriff Greg Munks. He 324.4321 Best Painter ing three programs to help people noted that besides information prepare for emergencies. on fires, floods and earthquakes, Best Jewelry Store Ruben’s the system could notify people Hirzel Fine Jewelers 322.5062 Pocket guide who sign up about neighborhood 730 Santa Cruz Ave Best Produce A good starting place is to get crime problems — such as a recent Menlo Park a copy of “The Pocket Guide rash of burglaries of laptops and to Emergency Preparedness,” 328.6030 Sigona’s Farmers cell phones from unlocked cars in Market prepared by the county Health Portola Valley. Best Fitness Facility Department. For more information, call Sgt. Stanford Shopping Center This small folder gives the infor- Palo Alto John Diggins of the Office of Sequoia YMCA mation everyone needs about how Emergency Services at 363-4790. 1445 Hudson St. 329.1340 to prepare for and respond to a Redwood City 2345 Middlefi eld Rd disaster. It gives do’s and don’t’s as Preparedness day 368.4168 Redwood City well as phone numbers and Web There’s a free gift for the first Best Meat Store 368.6993 sites for information. 1,200 families that arrive at the Best Stationery Store “I encourage every San Mateo county’s Disaster Preparedness Draeger’s County resident to pick up a copy Day program on Saturday, Sept. 1010 University Dr. Village Stationers of this guide at their city hall or 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Menlo Park 719 Santa Cruz Ave library, and keep it in your purse SMC Event Center, 249 S. Dela- 324.7700 Menlo Park or wallet,” said county Health ware St. in San Mateo. 321.6920 Officer Dr. Scott Morrow. “Pre- The event will include informa- Best Chinese 310 California Ave paredness begins at home. Make tion on topics ranging from pre- a family emergency plan, and paring emergency kits and disaster Restaurant/Take Out Palo Alto prepare a kit of emergency sup- 326.7970 plans, to first aid, school emer- Su Hong plies to minimize the impact on gency plans, and Survival Do’s and 1039 El Camino Real Best Thai Restaurant your family in a disaster.” Don’t’s. Police and fire agencies Menlo Park “Equally important are emer- will be on hand to field questions, 323.6852 Thai City Restaurant gency plans and procedures for and there will be demonstrations 3691 El Camino Real campuses and workplaces, since of emergency equipment. Su Hong Take Out Palo Alto many of us spend the majority Admission is free, as are hot 630 Menlo Ave 493.0643 of our time either at school or at dogs and soda. Menlo Park Best Hotel work,” added Supervisor Adri- For information, call the Office 322.4631 enne Tissier. of Emergency Services at 363- Best Sandwiches Stanford Park Hotel The pocket guide is available in 4790, or Supervisor Tissier’s office 100 El Camino Real English and Spanish at libraries at 363-4572. A Luttiken’s Menlo Park 3535 Alameda de las Pulgas 322.1234 Menlo Park Sally Ride festival at NASA Ames 854.0291 Best Toy Store Cheeky Monkey Astronaut Sally Ride, Ameri- Bridges Work,” “Design Your Best Bakery 640 Santa Cruz Ave ca’s first woman in space, will be Own Alien,” and “Gate to Gate the featured speaker at the Sally — Track a Flight from San Fran- Draeger’s Menlo Park 1010 University Dr Ride Science Festival on Satur- cisco to New York City.” 328.7975 day, Sept. 29, at NASA Research The day begins at 11 a.m. with Menlo Park Best Hair Salon Park at Moffet Field. check-in and ends at 4:15 p.m. 324.7700 The festival will bring together Advance registration at $18 per Woodside Bakery Images of Woodside hundreds of girls in grades 5 person is required, and includes 3052 Woodside Rd 3040 Woodside Rd through 8 and dozens of area lunch, all fetstival activities and Woodside Woodside female scientists and engineers, materials. 851.7247 851.7103 who will share their stories and Teachers, parents and students take part in workshops. Some can register and learn more of the 21 discovery areas with about the festival by visiting catchy titles are: “The Spin on SallyRideFestivals.com or by Spans — Understanding How calling 800-561-5161.

18 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 NEWS We’ve Changed The Way Toyotas Are Sold At TOYOTA 101 Get Yours at... Chloramine fight hits snag You’ll Be Green With Energy Prius Hybrid, By Daniel Debolt water, was originally made at the Camry Hybrid & Mountain View Voice EPA’s behest. The EPA had recommended that Highlander Hybrid - Highlander Hybrid s promised, local activ- water agencies switch to chloramine ists determined to eliminate to reduce trihalomethanes, a carci- Achloramine from the tap nogenic byproduct of chlorine dis- water were granted a meeting with infection. At high levels, chloramine federal Environmental Protection is classified as a dangerous chemical Agency representatives earlier this that can cause gastrointestinal and month to plead their case. respiratory problems. - Prius Hybrid - Camry Hybrid How far they got, however, is However, the byproducts of

To The 525 E. Bayshore Road, e V Dumbarton questionable. chloramine are “much more toxic” e Av Bridge 1.877.203.4381 t e ra Mark Up! Commission ns Blvd. Citizens Concerned About than chlorine’s, according to Dr. Redwood City www.toyota101.com Whipple odside Rd Chloramine met with the EPA Michael Plewa, professor of genet- Wo on Sept. 5 after Congresswoman ics at the University of Illinois, who Anna Eshoo’s office arranged the recently co-authored a study on tap meeting. Rep. Eshoo, D-Menlo water disinfection byproducts. Park, had issued a statement saying In the study, hamster ovary cells she was concerned about reports were used to examine the effects of of terrible allergic reactions to one kind of unregulated disinfec- chloramine, a disinfectant which tion byproduct — haloacetonitriles replaced chlorine in Peninsula tap — which may have increased with water in 2004. chloramine use. Despite the anecdotal reports, Because Dr. Plewa’s study does Bruce Macler of the federal EPA’s not involve a whole animal, the San Francisco office defended the EPA is hesitant to use it in the case switch to chloramine. Procedurally, against chloramine, Mr. Macler he said, reports of bad reactions to said. He also said Dr. Plewa’s Your Child’s Health University chloramine must be recognized by research may not apply to the the Centers for Disease Control or conditions in the Bay Area and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital offers classes, seminars and resources the medical community before the that the byproducts may not be designed to foster good health and enhance the lives of parents and children. EPA can take action. present here. “As far as we know there is no evi- Dr. Plewa isn’t as hesitant, and has dence there is a problem with public said the byproducts he is studying TALKING WITH YOUR K1DS ABOUT GROWING UP health,” Mr. Macler said. “When we are the most toxic he has ever seen. talk about what’s safe, we talk about In an e-mail last month, he recom- Julie Metzger, RN, and Rob Lehman, MD, will teach you how to develop conversations generally safe. It is possible people mended a switch back to chlorine. with your pre-teens on the experiences of adolescence. They will also present new ideas are affected. Medical folks have to Critics of chloramine still claim and current information on the topics of adolescent development and risk-taking behavior. start saying this is an issue.” it has done little, if anything, to - Wednesday, October 17 Mr. Macler’s position angered improve the water. Mr. Macler said CCAC president and Menlo Park one positive result of the switch to resident Denise Johnson-Kula, who chloramine was reduced levels of SIBLING PREPARATION says she almost died from a respira- legionella, but Ms. Johnson-Kula Designed for children two years of age and older, this class prepares siblings for the tory reaction while taking a shower said legionella was never really a emotional and physical realities of the arrival of a newborn. immediately after the switch in problem in local tap water. 2004. She has joined Ellen Powell, of - Sunday, October 21 “I could have died,” Ms. Johnson- People Concerned About Chloram- Kula said. “The autopsy would have ine in Vermont, to call for govern- BECOMING GRANDPARENTS said ‘Acute respiratory distress, ment oversight of the EPA’s actions Designed for new and expectant grandparents, this class examines the change in labor cause unknown.’ Who would have pertaining to chloramine. She is and delivery practices, the latest recommendations for infant care and the unique role known?” also meeting with Bay Area con- Her group says at least 400 Bay gressmen Mike Honda and Pete of grandparents in today’s society. Area residents have developed skin Stark in the next few weeks. - Thursday, November 1 rashes, respiratory problems or Mr. Macler said the EPA is in the inflamed digestive tracts after the middle of a six-year update to regu- PEDIATRIC WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM switch to chloramine. That switch, lations of disinfection byproducts, made by the San Francisco Public and that it would probably continue This family-based, behavioral and educational weight management program promotes Utilities Commission, which man- research of chloramine disinfection healthy eating and exercise habits for overweight children and their families. More than ages the Peninsula’s Hetch Hetchy byproducts on whole animals. A 80% of children achieve long-term weight loss through this program – and parents lose weight too! The new session starts soon, so call (650) 725-4424 to pre-register. Spaces are limited. FEES continued from page 9 way. In recent weeks, several Atherton residents said they have program to calculate building been interviewed by the grand Call (650) 723-4600 or visit www.lpch.org to register or obtain more permit fees. jury, apparently in connection information on the times, locations and fees for these and other courses. The San Mateo County Civil with the town’s treatment of Mr. Grand Jury recently concluded Johns. its investigation of the building Mr. Johns was suspended at department with a report that the end of August and is cur- LUCILE PACKARD singled out City Manager Jim rently on paid leave while a Robinson, accusing him of lack hostile workplace complaint CHILDREN’S of supervision and failing to against him is investigated. Mr. HOSPITAL keep the City Council informed Johns denied the allegation of significant issues within the against him and has said that he building department. is the one who has suffered hos- And another grand jury inves- tility and threats as a result of CALL TODAY TO SIGN UP FOR CLASSES (650) 723-4600 tigation may be getting under- his work for the town. A

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 19 NEWS

at 692-1200, or go to openspace. $350,000 reported stolen from child-health foundation org. A former employee of the By the end of January, the whole For more information, call ■ NOTES Lucile Packard Foundation for fleet of 225 trucks will be picking up 330-6429 or go online to www. Harvest Festival Children’s Health embezzled garbage, yard trimmings and recy- jobtrainworks.org. The 38th annual Harvest Fes- about $350,000 from the foun- dependent investigators, he said. clables, saving 3.3 million pounds tival will be held from 9 a.m. dation over a five-year period, The foundation raises funds of carbon dioxide in a year. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the foundation has announced. on behalf of the Packard Chil- A cheerful logo on garbage Open space meet on the Palo Alto Friends Meeting A police report has been filed, dren’s Hospital and for children- trucks rumbling though local Good Neighbor Policy House, 957 Colorado Ave. in Palo related programs in the Stanford the foundation said, but the neighborhood marks trucks Three years after the Midpen- Alto. The Harvest Festival was School of Medicine. name of the former employee that are burning biodiesel fuel insula annexed 220 square miles started by Josephine Duveneck — Jay Thorwaldson, has not been disclosed. — made from used cooking oil. of the San Mateo County Coast- at her farm at Hidden Villa. Since Palo Alto Weekly The loss is covered by insurance, Can you smell the french fries? side, the open space agency is 1970 the event has been held at and a check shows that all dona- the meeting house in Palo Alto. New name, programs still trying to improve its rela- tions have gone to areas specified Can you smell tions with its neighbors. There will be live music and by the donors, foundation Presi- the french fries? for job-training center The district board will con- storytelling, arts and crafts, and free children’s activities. Lunch dent and CEO David Alexander, A big crowd showed up Sept. sider a revised Good Neighbor Menlo Park’s environmental from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature M.D., said in a statement. 20 at an open house for the Policy at a public meeting at 7:30 programs coordinator Dianne falafels, crepes, chili and more. The missing funds were discov- Menlo Park nonprofit job- p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 330 Dryer and Evan Boyd, general There will also be a rummage ered through routine accounting training center, Opportunities Distel Circle in Los Altos. The manager of Allied Waste in San sale, book sale, bake sale, and procedures, and confirmed by in- Industrialization Center West. policy is designed to foster good Mateo County, were on hand to international bazaar. For more Supporters blew wooden train relations with its constituents ■ SPORTS ONLINE celebrate the rollout of the waste information, call 233-1959. company’s first 12 biodiesel- whistles to celebrate the new and neighbors of its preserves. ■ Check www.AlmanacNews.com powered garbage trucks. name of the center: JobTrain. The new policy has been for sports news and pictures, and Opened in 1965, OICW last developed over two years with Man arrested for a complete report on the Menlo- year helped 6,200 people finish numerous meetings and discus- attempted auto theft ■ Atherton Vikings Pop Warner BIRTHS high school, learn a trade, and/ sions with neighbors, particu- An East Palo Alto resident was football games by Jim Gallagher or find work. larly in the newly annexed area. arrested Sept. 19 in the 300 block of the Vikings Boosters. Woodside With its new name, the center The policy deals with topics of McKendry Drive in Menlo ■ Gallagher reports: Home ■ Heather and Owen O’Keefe, — located at 1200 O’Brien Drive such as the protection of privacy cooking seemed to agree with a daughter, Aug. 23, at Sequoia Park after a resident reported — is starting new programs, on adjoining private lands, pub- seeing the man attempting to the Menlo-Atherton Vikings on Hospital. such as solar installation as lic involvement in policy devel- Sept. 22 and 23, as they enjoyed ■ Anne-Sophie and Jean-Marc steal cars, according to the Men- success against the Cambrian Olivot, a daughter, Sept. 3, at part of its popular Project Build opment, the process for deciding lo Park Police Department. Valley Longhorns in their first Sequoia Hospital. construction training program. on the use and management of Jorge Molina, 19, was booked 2007 Peninsula Conference Pop ■ Anna and Grant de la Motte, In addition to job training, the preserves, and resource man- for attempted auto burglary, Warner games at Menlo-Atherton a son, September 7, at Sequoia center provides counseling, teen agement issues, such as control obstructing an officer and two High School. Hospital. services and child development of invasive species. programs at low or no cost. For information, call the district See NOTES, page 21

PUBLIC NOTICE TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY

The Town of Portola Valley is seeking an individual to serve on the Planning Commission. All interested parties are requested to please submit a letter to the Town Council by closing date of Friday, October 12, 2007.

For further information, please contact Leslie Lambert, Planning Manager at 650-851-1700, extension 12

Town Hall 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 650-851-1700

Published in THE COUNTRY ALMANAC on September 19, 2007, September 26, 2007, and October 03, 2007.

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20 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 FOR THE RECORD

The family prefers donations Jacqueline Mitchell Child, community volunteer to the Lucile Packard Founda- tion for Children’s Health, 400 By Marjorie Mader Hamilton Ave., Suite 340, Palo A Almanac Staff Writer schools and she was a longtime (Dianne) Child of Menlo Park; Alto, CA 94301. OBITUARY member of the Trinity Episcopal and her 12 grandchildren Chris, acqueline Mitchell Child, Church Altar Guild, a shopper Brandon, Rebecca, Andrew and known as “Jicky” to family three children in Menlo Park. for shut-ins, and a “cuddler” of Laura Child, of Atherton; Peter, Jand friends, died peacefully A natural and gifted educator, babies at Stanford’s Lucile Salter Matt and Emily Aguilar of Sept. 21, with she found great satisfaction in Packard Children’s Hospital. Menlo Park and Maddy, Michael, BLOOD DONORS her family by her first career as an elementary In 2005, she moved to the Margaret and Meghan Child of her side. She school teacher, said her family. Classic Residence by Hyatt in Menlo Park; and sister Barbara NEEDED was 81. She taught second-graders in Palo Alto. Kirtley of Ridgefield, Conn. A memorial the Palo Alto Unified School She is survived by her three She was preceded in death by 1-800 GIVE LIFE service for the District from 1948 to 1951. children, Mike (Renee) Child of her husband Pete and parents, longtime Menlo True to her lifelong love of Atherton, Nancy Aguilar, and Jeff Eva and Harry Mitchell. AMERICAN RED CROSS Park resident travel and adventure, she became and communi- a Pan Am flight attendant in Jacqueline ty volunteer will Child the early days of the golden age be held on Sun- of flight. It was at Pan Am that WEST BAY SANITARY DISTRICT day, Sept. 30, at she met her future husband of 31 2 p.m. in Holy Trinity Episcopal years, Ralph “Pete” Child. RESOLUTION NO. 1629 (2007) Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave. in They spent their first year of mar- RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ANNEX CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE WEST BAY Menlo Park. riage living in London and New York SANITARY DISTRICT ON-SITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL ZONE Born and raised on the fami- City before returning to the Bay Area ly’s ranch in San Jose, Ms. Child and settling in Menlo Park. Lands of Illich (077-341-010) graduated from Los Gatos High Together, they continued to School and San Jose State, enjoy their travels, bridge, theater, The District Board of West Bay Sanitary District finds and determines as follows: where she was president of the tennis, and swimming. They were A. This Resolution of Intention is adopted pursuant to the District’s “Zone Master Annexation Resolution” (“ZOMAR”), which was adopt- Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. charter members of Ladera Oaks ed by the District Board on August 12, 1996. The provisions of ZOMAR are incorporated by reference into this Resolution of Intention. She had two careers before Swim & Tennis Club. marrying Ralph “Pete” Child, Ms. Child was an active vol- B. The District has received an application to annex parcels of real property (the “Parcels”) to the District’s On-Site Wastewater Disposal Zone (the “Zone”). The Parcels are described in Exhibits “A, 1-3” attached to this Resolution of Intention and the description con- a mechanical engineer for Pan unteer throughout her life. She tained in the Exhibits are incorporated by reference. The name and address of the applicants and the number, type, volume and location of American, and raising their was involved in her children’s on-site wastewater disposal systems which are proposed to operate on the parcels to be annexed are described in Exhibits “B” attached to this Resolution of Intention and the information contained in the Exhibits are incorporated by reference.

C. The applicants have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the District Board that the Parcel constitutes “real property” for the purposes NOTES Police ask that anyone with of Section 2(b) of ZOMAR in that: continued from page 20 information about the case contact the Police Department X All of the conditions described in Subsections i., ii., iii., iv. and v. of ZOMAR Section 2(b) are satisfied; or outstanding warrants when at (650) 330-6300. — Bay City News Service Other conditions exist which demonstrate that the Parcel will benefit directly or indirectly from the activities of the Zone. If police found him hiding in the applicable, those conditions are also set forth in Exhibit “B” and are incorporated by reference. yard of a house on McKendry Drive, police said. Hikers, bikers, etc., D. All of the conditions and requirements of ZOMAR Sections 2(a), 2(c), 2(d) and 2(e) have been fully satisfied. Residents called 911 around cruise Ridge Trail 11:30 p.m. that day, reporting that In consideration of the foregoing findings and determinations, Hikers, bikers and horseback they saw Molina attempt to open IT IS RESOLVED by the District Board as follows: car doors along the street. Mr. riders, including children, will Molina allegedly gained access in have multiple opportunities to 1. It is the intention of the District Board to annex the Parcel to the Zone pursuant to the provisions of ZOMAR and applicable provi- to one vehicle, but fled the scene enjoy the Ridge Trail in San Mateo sions of law. to hide when police arrived. County on Saturday, Sept. 29, starting at the Skyline Ridge Open 2. In conjunction with a meeting of the District Board to be duly and regularly called and conducted, the Board will conduct a Public Hearing for the purpose of considering all matters pertaining to this Resolution of Intention. Space Preserve on Skyline Boule- The time, date and place of the Public Hearing are: Bill Russ’ rain gauge vard south of Page Mill Road. Menlo Park rainfall for the week The annual event, sponsored Date: November 14, 2007 of Sept. 17-23 is 0.2 inches, said by the Ridge Trail Council, Time: 7:00 PM Place: West Bay Sanitary District Offices Bill Russ, who has a rain gauge gives local trail enthusiasts an 500 Laurel Street in his backyard on Cotton Street. opportunity to experience local Menlo Park, CA 94025 The total for the 2007-08 rainfall sections of the trail that will season is 0.2 inches, compared ultimately ring the Bay along its At the Public Hearing, all interested persons will be heard. to 0.00 inches last year at this ridges. Three hundred miles of time. The season runs from July the 550-mile multipurpose trail 3. This Resolution of Intention shall be published and copies shall be delivered to the persons and entities as specified in ZOMAR 1 to June 30. A normal season’s Section 2(e)(i.). rainfall in Menlo Park is 16 inches are now open. to 18 inches. Participating in the Cruz 4. A true copy of this Resolution of Intention shall promptly be filed for record in the office of the County Recorder of the County of are the Midpeninsula Regional San Mateo. Open Space District, ROMP Ted Bache’s rain log 5. The District Manager shall cause the matters set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of this Resolution of Intention to be completed as (Responsible Organized Moun- directed. Ted Bache of Stanford Weekend tain Pedalers), and ETRAC ****** Acres near Menlo Park e-mail this (Equestrian Trail Riders Action Passed and adopted by the District Board of the West Bay Sanitary District at a regular meeting thereof held on the 12th day of message on Sept. 24: Sunday September, 2007 and to become effective on the 17th day of September, 2007 by the following vote: morning, after logging the 0.2- Committee). inch of rain we had in the previous The Cruz will offer a variety AYES: Shepherd, Walker, Knight, Lomax ABSTAIN: None 24 hours in my rain log that I have of trail activities, including a NOES: None ABSENT: Harrison been keeping for 12 years now, I family outing, and 12 or 24-mile ______decided to flip back and see how hikes. Buses will take hikers to President of the District Board of the many other Septembers there West Bay Sanitary District of San Mateo starting points. The fully sup- County, State of California were when we got wet. There ported hike includes breakfast, Ronald Shepherd were, in fact, 10 occasions when lunch, water, snacks, maps, and Attest: I noted something like “trace,” first aid stations. ______“decks wet” or an actual number Advance reservations are Secretary of the District Board of the — such as 0.2 for Sept. 9, 1999; West Bay Sanitary District of San Mateo and 0.1 for Sept. 26, 2001; and required at $40 each. For infor- County, State of California 0.1-plus for Sept. 21, 2005. mation or to sign up, call 415- David Walker 561-2595; or go to ridgetrail.org. Published in THE COUNTRY ALMANAC on September 26, October 10, 2007.

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 21 Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside for 40 years. Ideas, thoughts and opinions about local issues from people in our community. Edited by Tom Gibboney.

Editor & Publisher Tom Gibboney Uphill challenge for private school Editorial Arastradero roads, it appears that many of the same issues will come Managing Editor Richard Hine t is no secret that Phillips Brooks, the private elementary school that News Editor Renee Batti up again, issues that might have been identified if the site had been Lifestyles Editor Jane Knoerle has been located on Avy Avenue in Menlo Park since 1978, is eager to Senior Staff Writers move its nearly 300 students to a more spacious rural setting, but still given more study. For example: Marion Softky, Marjorie Mader I ■ remain close to most of its families who reside in this area. Santa Clara County could require the school to serve the local Staff Writers Andrea Gemmet, “rural” community, which could be difficult if current demograph- David Boyce, Rory Brown After nearly 30 years of leasing the 4.5-acre campus from the Las Editorial Intern Natalie Jabbar Lomitas School District, it is easy to see why Phillips Brooks contin- ics continue and some 90 percent of student families live outside Contributors Barbara Wood, ues to pursue a strategy to purchase property that could accommo- Portola Valley. Bryan Wiggin, Kate Daly, ■ Bill Rayburn, Miles McMullin, date the school for years to come. The site adjoins a perennial creek that could be vulnerable to Katie Blankenberg The sincerity of that effort became clear last week when the Alma- rainwater runoff from impervious surfaces at the school. Special Sections Editors ■ Carol Blitzer, Sue Dremann nac reported that the school had An engineer’s report found that just four of the hilly site’s 10 acres Photographer Veronica Weber EDITORIAL quietly spent about $5 million are suitable for development. That is less than the school occupies now on its current site. Design & Production The opinion of The Almanac for a 10-acre site in Santa Clara Design Director Raul Perez County, just across Los Trancos ■ The town of Portola Valley would have to issue a permit for Designers Linda Atilano, improvements at the intersection of Alpine and Arastradero roads, Gail Thoreson, Eric Kinnaird, Creek from the Alpine Inn. No Nancy Hwang, Joanne Lee, plans for the land have been made public, although a letter from top which could be a challenge since preliminary indications are that the Laura Don school officials to parents said trustees “believe” that the property town would oppose a school on the 10-acre site. Advertising “could be” the site of “a permanent home” for the school. The pur- ■ The school would have to acquire permission from neighbors Advertising Manager Neal Fine chase is viewed as part of a continuum in the school’s “long term sus- to widen a narrow road leading to the school site. One neighbor, Display Advertising Sales Sandra Valdiosera tainability” the letter said. who would control access to the school from Arastradero Road, Real Estate Account Acquiring the land is just the beginning of a campaign that school told the Almanac that she would refuse to grant an easement Representative Donna Berryhill across her property. Advertising Assistant officials believe could take up to 15 years of fundraising and planning Coordinator Deborah Carbone to establish a new school on the site. The letter to parents said, “At a Despite what looks like a deck stacked against them, we expect Advertising Services deliberate pace, the board will evaluate the feasibility of developing Phillips Brooks will take its time and make a sustained effort to over- Receptionists Renee Meil, the land into a school site. As they learn more, they will figure out come the hurdles at the new site. With $10 million in improvements Liz Reiter Circulation, Classified, how to “most effectively” use the property. nearing completion at its present campus, we doubt if the school & Legal Advertising Bill Rayburn Unfortunately, it appears that already there are major questions plans to move anytime soon. But given the issues already raised, it is likely to be an uphill strug- Published every Wednesday at about the “feasibility” of the site, questions that in many ways bring 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, up problems similar to those encountered five years ago when the gle. Unless things change dramatically, we doubt that the neighbors Menlo Park, CA 94025 or Portola Valley town officials will overlook the environmental and (650) 854-2626 school, after a huge struggle with the town of Woodside, had to aban- FAX (650) 854-0677 don its plan to move its campus to a hilly site off Lawler Ranch Road. traffic impacts that such a school would bring to an already busy e-mail news (no photos please) to: The difficult, hilly terrain there was found to be inappropriate for intersection and a quiet residential area. [email protected] school use, and access to the property would have created significant Maybe it is not too late for the school to extricate itself from this e-mail photos with captions to: [email protected] traffic impacts on Sand Hill Road and at the intersection of Interstate land deal and focus on its Avy Avenue campus, while continuing to e-mail letters to: 280 and Woodside Road. In addition, the school was adamantly search for a site that would be compatible for a private school of 300 [email protected] opposed by the Lawler family, which lives on an adjacent parcel and or even more students. Phillips Brooks deserves a chance to build The Almanac, established in September, 1965, is delivered each week to residents of Menlo Park, would have shared the same access road. a school on its own property, but at this point, the prospects of the Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside and adjacent unincorporated areas of southern San Mateo County. If the school attempts to develop the 10-acre parcel off Alpine and newly purchased site don’t look good. The Almanac is qualifi ed by decree of the Superior Court of San Mateo County to publish public notices of a governmental and legal nature, as stated in Decree No. 147530, issued November 9, 1969. LETTERS Voluntary subscriptions are available for delivery to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley Our readers write and Woodside at $30 per year or $50 for 2 years. Subscriptions by businesses or residents outside the area are $50 for one year and $80 for two years. Surprised by tone of Phillips Brooks story Editor: I am somewhat surprised by the ■ tenor of the article about the pur- WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? chase of land by Phillips Brooks All views must include a home address and School and the reaction of those contact phone number. Published letters will also appear on the Almanac Web site, www. interviewed. Phillips Brooks has AlmanacNews.com, and occasionally on been educating children since the Almanac’s Town Square forum. 1978 and from all accounts is TOWN SQUARE FORUM doing an admirable job of it. POST your views on the The school is in need of a cam- Town Square forum at pus to meet its long-term goal of www.TheAlmanacOnline.com continuing to educate children, EMAIL your views to plain and simple. The lack of sup- letters@AlmanacNews. port by any community towards com. Indicate if it is a that goal is mind-boggling to me. letter to be published. The suspicious nature of the MAIL or deliver to: woman interviewed is insulting, Portola Valley Archives Editor at the Almanac, mean-spirited and ignorant in 3525 Alameda de las Our Regional Heritage my view. Her conclusion that Pulgas, Menlo Park, From 1922 until 1976, the beach at Searsville Lake was a popular place to visit on warm summer days. CA 94025. the school was “sneaky” because For the last 31 years, Searsville and the surrounding 1,200-acre Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve have CALL the Viewpoint desk at been available for tours by appointment with its owner, Stanford University. 854-2626, ext. 222. See LETTERS, next page

22 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007 VIEWPOINT Water study should Menlo Park visitor sees red emphasize safety over recent parking ticket By Arthur Jensen 30 to 60 days. an Francisco’s draft envi- ■ The impacts to public health By Jim Walton I recognize that cities need to control parking, ronmental impact report for and safety would be catastrophic. ■ This an open letter to Menlo Park City Mayor but the circumstances I describe made me real- Sits improvement program The economic impacts, not Kelly Fergusson: ize that this city really is dumb enough to fine for the Hetch Het- counting injuries and loss Dear Ms. Fergusson: people spending money in their city. chy water system is of life, are estimated to Just before 1 p.m. on Tuesday of last week I So Menlo Park wants to play games with undergoing careful be at least seven times visited your city and took part in a business people patronizing their local businesses. OK, I review by 27 agencies the cost of rebuilding the meeting at Stacks restaurant on Santa Cruz guess it’s my serve. that purchase water aging water system. The Avenue. 3. I’m a businessman. I spend money in res- from the San Francisco system improvement pro- Before the meeting I parked my car in the lot taurants, in hotels, in gas stations, in gift shops, Public Utilities Com- gram includes projected behind the restaurant and, quite by florists, and so on, and I have the right mission. The system water use for the Bay chance, asked an “attendant” who was to choose where I spend my dollars. supplies water for 1.7 Area’s member agencies. punching license plate numbers into a Let me make it clear. It will not million area residents, These agencies, in Alame- be in Menlo Park. I don’t think it will businesses, and com- GUEST da, San Mateo and Santa “black box” what was the time limit on OPINION parking. “Two hours,” he told me. take you long to realize that this is not a munity institutions in Clara counties, and their After my meeting... I returned to my productive way to tax the people patron- Alameda, Santa Clara customers, are dedicated car and realized I had left an address izing the stores in Menlo Park. You may and San Mateo counties. to conserving water and I needed in my office, an address I make $37 here and there, but I promise While the Bay Area Water Sup- safeguarding the environment. could easily snag from the Internet, you, I’m going to get my $37 back from ply and Conservation Agency Today, the average resident in so I asked a passer-by where I could Menlo Park by spending my dollars review of the draft impact report the service area uses 15 percent obtain Internet access. I was directed GUEST elsewhere and I’ll encourage my business continues, we find it to be a good, less water per day than in 1986 and to FedEx Kinkos, just across the OPINION associates to do likewise. There are many comprehensive document analyz- 23 percent less than in 1976. street. viable alternatives quite close by. ing the environmental impacts In the Bay Area, residential I looked around the parking lot; it 4. It is not the $37 that bothers and program alternatives, as water use per person is lower than was just before 3 p.m. and (by my best estimate) me. I can afford that. It is the process and the “pack- required by law. Our agency will the average for the state of Califor- the parking lot was 50-60 percent occupied, so aging” of the tax you have chosen to levy on visitors submit written comments to cor- nia. And residential water use per I convinced myself that the city of Menlo Park to your city. It’s the little black boxes to log the “ins rect apparent errors and expand person in the service area is lower would not be dumb enough to fine people spend- and outs” of every car and the mindless monitor the discussion of future water than the average for the Bay Area. ing money in their city. So I decided to run across who is getting his kicks out of the “gotcha” process, demands, alternative water sup- The service area and its agen- the road to Kinkos. regardless of its impact on your local community. plies, and conservation efforts. cies actively support additional At 3:05 I returned to my car to find it had been George Orwell would have loved him. One issue the environmental conservation measures and water ticketed. Next to the car was the “attendant” I had Furthermore, it’s the total lack of common report should more clearly empha- recycling to make the most effec- encountered on my way to my business meeting. sense that goes along with all this — ticketing size is the critical importance of tive use of limited water supplies. “You asked me how long you had,” he told me. cars in a half-empty parking lot and the penal- completing the improvement plan The water management issues “Just doing my job, just doing my job.” izing store patrons. Perhaps you see things dif- to protect the public health and addressed in the draft impact So much for the events that occurred, but now ferently, but I think it’s absurd. Would you go safety of the people who live in the report are a longer-term issue let’s take a quick look at this. back to Stacks for another business meeting? Bay Area today. For example: — the projected growth is not 1. It’s obvious to me that the “attendant” targeted So, Menlo Park, enjoy my thirty-seven bucks. ■ Four active faults cross the going to happen tomorrow. The my car. He clearly “logged me in” at 12:52 p.m. and I’m going to enjoy getting a lot more of your major pipelines, tunnels and res- earthquake might. Protecting was back at the car at 3:03 p.m. According to the dollars by not supporting Menlo Park stores and ervoirs that provide water to 2.5 existing people from a known ticket I spent two hours and 11 minutes in the lot. hotels. To your local businesses, my apologies, million people in our counties and catastrophe that could result from He was waiting for me when I got back to my car. but you elected these folks. Now it’s your serve. San Francisco. highly probable earthquakes is He wanted to “enjoy the moment,” and as he said, P.S. I am forwarding this note to the Menlo ■ There is a 60 percent prob- the urgent issue that the WSIP is “Just doing my job.” Park Chamber of Commerce. I would be inter- ability that a major earthquake designed to address. 2. So your fair city has now “fined” me $37 ested to hear if chamber members have some will occur in the Bay Area between for parking in a half-empty parking lot. You thoughts on this issue. today and 2032. have every right to do this, but I’m not sure it’s ■ Following a major earth- Arthur Jensen is general manager in your own best interest. Jim Walton lives in Sebastopol. quake, the flow of water to com- of the Bay Area Water Supply and munities could be disrupted for Conservation Agency.

has been an outspoken advocate LETTERS of residential fire sprinklers, ‘I love it when my personal dislikes are validated by science’ I want to thank the Atherton Continued from previous page Town Council for its wisdom in Here’s what people are Oaks neighborhood. adopting a comprehensive fire saying in Town Square: TownSquare Not to be a stick in the mud, but any study of she was approached by Real- sprinkler ordinance. Posted by MPwork- Join the conversation on air fresheners might do well tors suggesting that someone This single public policy will ingMom, a resident of www.TheAlmanacOnline.com. Click on links under the to broaden its scope to per- was interested in her property save more lives than any other the Central Menlo Park TownSquare banner on the left side of the screen. fumes. Those “air fresheners” has no support in fact. I would fire safety initiative. Putting neighborhood. have thought that in an area of “my money where my mouth is,” can also irritate human air I hate stinky, chemi- passages, especially when they’re overused. enormous wealth, a highly edu- I had my home fully retrofitted cal air “fresheners” so I was particularly pleased cated and enlightened populace with fire sprinklers (the most today when I saw a story in the Chronicle about would make it a priority to sup- expensive type of installation) at environmental groups petitioning the EPA and Phillips Brooks buys school site port educating children to make less than 1 percent of the value the Consumer Product Safety Commission to test Posted by Get A Grip, a resident of the Menlo Park: the world a better place. What a of the home. and regulate these products. Sharon Heights neighborhood. disappointment. Atherton joins East Palo Alto The dangerous chemicals found in some of the The kids at Phillips Brooks are currently in being a leader in utilizing fire air fresheners that were tested harm not only asth- crammed into a small campus. It is distressing to Michael Corwin sprinklers to save lives. matics and people with delicate lungs, but also are see the knee jerk negative reaction of the Portola Shasta Lane, Menlo Park linked to cancer and reproductive harm. Valley Community. Peter F. Carpenter I have a relative whose house reeks of multiple We have three elementary school campuses in Thank you Atherton Larch Drive, Atherton air fresheners, so now I just have to figure out a the Sharon Heights neighborhood. They have little Town Council Editor’s Note: Mr. Carpenter is a subtle way to show her this article. negative impact to the quality of life and in fact board member of the Menlo Park increase the quality in many ways. Community Editor: Fire Protection District. As an Atherton resident who Posted by Joanne, a resident of the Menlo Park: Fair does not just mean one’s own back yard.

September 26, 2007 ■ The Almanac ■ 23 ALLLL ARRCHITECTURALCHITECTURAL STTYLESYLES - ALLLL GEEOGRAPHIESOGRAPHIES LAST OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THIS CENTRAL MENLO PROPERTY

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24 ■ The Almanac ■ September 26, 2007