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www.PaloAltoOnline.com
trying to get a league ahead Pacific Art League reinvents itself for the future Page 20
Connoisseurs Guide inside this issue Title Pages 11 Spectrum 18 Eating Out 25 ShopTalk 26 Movies 27 N Arts Fascinating rhythms at Menlo Hub Page 23 N Sports Gunn grads hold Paly polo hopes Page 29 N Home Time to tour bountiful, delicious gardens Page 33 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is devoted exclusively to expectant She’ll pick mothers and children.
s &ULLY INTEGRATED /" AND NEWBORN her birthday. SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF s .ATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST You pick her s 3UPPORT FOR YOUR PERSONAL BIRTH PLAN s .EWLY RENOVATED POST PARTUM ROOMS s #LASSES AND VIDEOS FOR birthplace. PARENTS GRANDPARENTS AND SIBLINGS
To learn more about the benefits of giving birth at Packard Children’s, call (650) 497-8000 or visit deliver.lpch.org.
Page 2ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis City workers to foot larger share of pension costs City of Palo Alto set to approve agreement with largest labor union Monday afternoon by Gennady Sheyner steeply rising costs of pension and health to put in place cost sharing programs insti- medical plan. The allowance would drop from mployees in Palo Alto’s largest labor care benefits — obligations that have helped tuting employee contributions to medical and $820 to $284. union will have to start paying a greater lead Vallejo, Stockton and, most recently, San pension plans,” the report from Kathryn Shen, The SEIU workers will also now be re- E share of the city’s pension and health Bernadino into bankruptcy. In Palo Alto, the the city’s Human Resources Director, states. quired to pick up the full employee portion care costs under a new contract that the City council plans to hold a broad public discus- “This contract makes progress toward meet- of the city’s contribution to the California Council is scheduled to adopt Monday night. sion in September to consider ways to reduce ing the City’s goals in both areas.” Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalP- The proposed contract, which the city made these costs. The new contract, which the SEIU voted ERS), which administers pension plans for public Wednesday afternoon, would apply to According to a new report from the Human to ratify on July 17, increases the employees’ the city. The city had traditionally picked up the 580 full-time employees represented by Services Department, the city’s medical costs share of health care costs from the current the full employee share, though that changed the Service Employees International Union, have more than doubled and pension costs level of about 6 percent to 10 percent of to- in 2009, when the workers began paying 5.75 Local 521 — about half the city’s workforce. have tripled in the last decade, exceeding the tal premium costs. The city’s recent contracts percent of the pension contribution. With the These employees were the first to accept ben- city’s revenue growth. with police and firefighter unions resulted in new contract, employees will have to pay the efit cuts in 2009, when the council first started “The City cannot continue to absorb all in- similar concessions from public-safety em- full share of CalPERS’ “employee contribu- making structural changes to employee con- creases in future years and has been negotiat- ployees. At the same time, the city will drasti- tion” — which ranges between 7 percent and tracts. ing with all bargaining units since 2009 to cally reduce the monthly allowance it gives to The changes are meant to address the make permanent, on-going structural change employees who don’t participate in the city’s (continued on page 6)
HEALTH ELECTION 2012 Hungry in the City Council summertime to lose its two Stanford physician takes youngest members action after patients say they Yeh, Espinosa decline don’t get enough to eat to seek second terms by Chris Kenrick by Gennady Sheyner orried about rising hunger among he race for four seats on the Palo Alto her patients, a Stanford University City Council further opened up this week W pediatrician has launched a summer T after Mayor Yiaway Yeh announced that food program at an East Palo Alto school. he would not seek a second term. Lisa Chamberlain, an assistant professor of Yeh, who this year became the second- pediatrics who has practiced medicine at the youngest mayor in Palo Alto’s history, made Ravenswood Family Health Center in East his announcement just days after his friend Palo Alto since 2004, said a growing number and mayoral predecessor, Sid Espinosa, said of patients have been answering “no” to the Sierra Duren he would not run again. Both Yeh and Espino- standard question asked of all: “At the end sa joined the council in 2007. Councilmen Pat of the month, do you have enough money for Burt and Greg Schmid were also elected that food and rent?” year, and both have said they intend to seek “I’ve heard it over and over,” said Chamber- Volunteers Yajaira Garcia, left, and Pip Sanders stack sandwich boxes for families in need fresh terms on the nine-member council. lain, who said the uptick began in 2009. during the Summer Food Program at the Cesar Chavez Academy in East Palo Alto. The The announcements by Yeh and Espinosa One patient, with a nursing 6-week-old on her program is run by Lisa Chamberlain, a Stanford University pediatrician. could create opportunities for new candidates lap and her 3-year-old sitting in the exam room, to jump into the race. The city’s most recent told Chamberlain: “I’m hungry right now.” herself in the back room of the Ecumenical identify families most in need. council elections, in 2009, attracted 14 candi- “I know this family really well,” Chamber- Hunger Program’s turkey distribution, spread- “We know who our homeless families are, dates, only one of whom (Larry Klein) was an lain said. “Her husband is a day laborer, and ing the food out across more boxes so there who our foster families are, who’s in need,” incumbent. he hadn’t found work. They’re hardworking. would be enough to go around for the people said Woods, who volunteers with the lunchtime So far, only two new candidates have opted “As pediatricians, we’ve never seen a time of lined up outside. food distribution following her mornings of su- to enter the race. Former Mayor Liz Kniss, who more material deprivation for children. I’ve never “Then some people started coming back pervising summer school at Cesar Chavez. is concluding her final term on the Santa Clara had so many patients telling me they’re hungry. with their turkeys to ask for help cooking The summer school, which offers an aca- County Board of Supervisors, announced her “We’ve never had this many people, nation- them because they were living in their cars. demic and enrichment program to 290 stu- decision to run in January. She served as mayor ally, on food stamps. It’s happening, and it’s We realized we should have had pre-cooked dents, also serves its own federally funded in 1994 and in 2000. really profound.” options,” she said. free-and-reduced-price lunch to enrolled stu- Kniss was first elected to the Board of Super- About 45 million people — nearly one in Over the December holidays Chamberlain dents. visors in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004 and seven U.S. residents — received food stamps began thinking ahead to summer when the Ninety percent of Ravenswood’s 3,000 stu- 2008. Despite her more than decade-long hia- in 2011, a 70 percent increase from 2007, ac- federal school lunch program, which supplies dents meet income guidelines for the federal tus from the council, she has remained a famil- cording to the Congressional Budget Office. free or reduced-price lunches to the 3,000 K-8 breakfast and lunch program. iar figure at City Hall, updating the council on About 70,427 schoolchildren in Santa Clara students in the Ravenswood City School Dis- But Chamberlain and Woods stressed that the various regional issues, most notably Caltrain. County and another 21,590 in San Mateo trict students, would go on break. Stanford program focuses on whole families. Kniss has twice served as president of the County qualify for the federally subsidized She consulted with the school district before “I can’t feed the children and not their par- Board of Supervisors (most recently in 2010) school breakfast and lunch program. deciding to seek funds for summer food, rais- ents,” Chamberlain said. and has chaired various committees focused To qualify, a family of four may earn up to ing enough to distribute about 600 packaged Each weekday at noon, a truck from ven- on health and land-use policies. $29,965 for free lunches and up to $42,643 for lunches a day in the cafeteria at the K-8 Ce- dor Revolution Foods delivers 600 prepack- She also encouraged the city last year to reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches sar Chavez Academy. She raised funds from aged lunches that include a healthy sandwich switch the council elections from odd to even for their children. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford —turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, peanut years to save money and spur greater voter par- Ravenswood Family Health Center has University Medical Center, Stanford Univer- butter and jelly or chicken salad — and a fresh ticipation. The council put Measure E on the worked with the Ecumenical Hunger Program sity and three anonymous local donors. piece of fruit, pita chips and water. 2010 ballot, and it passed overwhelmingly. and other local groups to help feed children Ruth Woods, a former teacher and princi- Chamberlain typically arrives to help with More recently, attorney Marc Berman de- and families. pal who now directs student services for the Last Thanksgiving, Chamberlain found Ravenswood district, helped Chamberlain (continued on page 6) (continued on page 9)
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Upfront A free event for seniors
450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 QUOTE OF THE WEEK (650) 326-8210 ‘‘ PUBLISHER William S. Johnson A fresh approach! EDITORIAL Jocelyn Dong, Editor Carol Blitzer, Associate Editor Keith Peters, Sports Editor Saturday, July 28 Tyler Hanley, Express™ and Online Editor 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Residents have no more right to a Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Palo Alto Medical Foundation Tom Gibboney, Spectrum Editor space than workers. 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Sue Dremann, Chris Kenrick, Gennady — Don Barr, a Stanford University professor and Hearst Conference Center & Courtyard Sheyner, Staff Writers Eric Van Susteren, Editorial Assistant, Internship downtown resident, on why a permit-parking pro- Come enjoy: Coordinator gram in Professorville was a bad idea. See story on Veronica Weber, Staff Photographer page 7. Educational Seminars* Dale F. Bentson, Colin Becht, ‘‘ Music & Art by Seniors *Special movie screening Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, Gardening Demos from 2:30 - 4:15 p.m. of Sheila Himmel, Chad Jones, Karla Kane, Vendor Booths “How to Live Forever” Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Jeanie K. Smith, sponsored by LYFE Kitchen Susan Tavernetti, Contributors Food Tastings Helen Carefoot, Junesung Lee, Maytal Mark, Raffle Prizes Bryce Druzin, Lauren-Marie Sliter, Dean *Limited seating! To guarantee a seat at an McArdle Editorial Interns educational seminar and/or the movie, RSVP to pamf.org/successfulaging or call (650) 853-4873. DESIGN Around Town Shannon Corey, Design Director END OF THE ROAD? ... Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Scott Peterson, Few things Review Board’s recent approval of Paul Llewellyn, Senior Designers galvanize, frustrate and anger the Palo the project. Though he acknowledges Lili Cao, Designer Alto community like California’s high- that the project’s parking proposal PRODUCTION speed-rail project, a $68 billion effort complies with law (the site belongs to Partnering together Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager pamf.org avenidasvillage.org that the city has been fighting since the Downtown Parking Assessment for better health! Dorothy Hassett, Samantha Mejia, Blanca Yoc, 2009. The system, which the City District and will be assessed for 195 Sales & Production Coordinators pamf.org/successfulaging Council unanimously opposes, gained parking spaces), Alsman claims the (650) 853-4873 ADVERTISING traction earlier this month when Sac- city’s approval process fails to consid- Tom Zahiralis, Vice President Sales & Advertising Adam Carter, Elaine Clark, Janice Hoogner, ramento lawmakers approved by a er the real parking impacts of the new Brent Triantos, Display Advertising Sales razor-thin margin an appropriation bill development. “This lack of commer- Neal Fine, Carolyn Oliver, Rosemary that will enable construction of the cial parking spaces will force yet more Lewkowitz, Real Estate Advertising Sales David Cirner, Irene Schwartz, line to begin in Central Valley. But Palo cars and parking deeper and deeper Inside Advertising Sales Alto critics aren’t defeated. The city, into the neighborhoods,” Alsman Diane Martin, Real Estate Advertising Asst. along with its neighbors Menlo Park wrote. “Neither the City nor the busi- Alicia Santillan, Classified Administrative Asst. and Atherton, remains still involved ness community is doing anything ef- Wendy Suzuki, Advertising Sales Intern in litigation against the California fective to protect our neighborhoods EXPRESS, ONLINE AND VIDEO SERVICES High-Speed Rail Authority. And this or to stem more intensification or to Rachel Palmer, Online Operations Coordinator Rachel Hatch, Multimedia Product Manager week, the Palo Alto council plans to provide the additional parking needed take another strong but largely sym- to support downtown uses, their cli- BUSINESS Susie Ochoa, Payroll & Benefits bolic stance against high-speed rail: ents and especially their employees.” Elena Dineva, Mary McDonald, Claire endorsement of a citizen initiative that Margaret Sloan, an attorney for the McGibeny, Cathy Stringari, Business Associates could effectively stop the project in its project developers, Casa Olga and ADMINISTRATION tracks. The council is scheduled to Joie de Vivre Hospitality, rejected Janice Covolo, Doris Taylor, Receptionists consider approving the “Revote High this argument and noted that the Ruben Espinoza, Courier Speed Rail” initiative, spearheaded by project already includes measures to EMBARCADERO MEDIA state Sen. Doug LaMalfa and retired reduce parking problems, including a William S. Johnson, President Michael I. Naar, Vice President & CFO U.S. Rep. George Radanovich. The valet parking system. She urged the Tom Zahiralis, Vice President Sales & Advertising petition, which has been posted at council not to hear the appeal, which Frank A. Bravo, Director, Information Technology www.revoterail.com, would prevent she attributed to “one angry resident & Webmaster the state from selling any more bonds who admits he is only appealing the www.menloparkchamber.com Connie Jo Cotton, Major Accounts Sales Manager Bob Lampkin, Director, Circulation & Mailing for the project. Palo Alto officials decision in order to advance his own Services have consistently maintained that the ideas about a residential parking- Alicia Santillan, Circulation Assistant project, as it currently stands, bears permit program.” Chris Planessi, Chip Poedjosoedarmo, July 21-22, 10am-6pm little resemblance to the one voters Get Our Free, New Computer System Associates Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park approved in 2008, when they passed A LIGHTER TOUCH ... Palo Alto’s ef- Festival Mobile App! a $9.95 billion bond for construction fort to revamp its massage law has FOR APPLE & ANDROID DEVICES The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, of what was then a $33 billion rail been a rough and bumpy ride, span- 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) system. ning more than a year and featuring a s Contemporary Fine Art & Crafts s Stellar Lineup of Rock’n Roll, Blues, 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, litany of criticism from local massage CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a s Fabulous Food & Wine Jazz & Party Music newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara THE NEXT BATTLE ... After a long therapists and reflexologists. As a County. The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered free to and winding discussion that stretched result, the ordinance the City Council s Home & Garden Exhibits s Saturday Twilight Concert homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola from Monday evening into Tuesday is scheduled to adopt Monday bears Valley, East Palo Alto, to faculty and staff house- Featuring THE BIG DIG, Sensational morning, Palo Alto officials concluded little resemblance to the one initially s Green Products Showcase holds on the Stanford campus and to portions of Party/Dance Band, Los Altos Hills. If you are not currently receiving this week that there’s no easy way to proposed. Gone is the controversial s Artisan Specialty Food Purveyors 5:30 - 8 p.m. in Fremont Park the paper, you may request free delivery by calling resolve the tussle over parking spots requirement for massage establish- 326-8210. POSTMASTER: Send address changes between downtown employees and ments to keep logbooks of clients s Health & Wellness Displays s Radio Disney Road Crew Games, Music to Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Copyright ©2012 by Embarcadero Media. residents in nearby neighborhoods. In — a proposal that was widely panned s Microbrew & Wine Tasting Tent and Prizes All rights reserved. Reproduction without permis- rejecting a proposed parking-permit by local masseurs as an unnecessary sion is strictly prohibited. The Palo Alto Weekly is program in Professorville, the City infringement on customers’ privacy. s Chefs’ Demos Under A Shady Tent s Bicycle Parking in the Coldwell available on the Internet via Palo Alto Online at: Council opted to explore broader The proposed law also now exempts Celebrity Chef/Author Joanne Weir, www.PaloAltoOnline.com Banker Lot, 930 Santa Cruz Ave., long-term solutions. But the topic of reflexologists, whose practice con- 12:45 p.m. Saturday Our email addresses are: [email protected], Sponsored by the Rotary Club of [email protected], [email protected]. parking woes is still on the council’s sists largely of massaging the feet of s AutoVino Collector Car Show Menlo Park Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? collective mind. This week, the coun- fully clothed patrons. What the new Call 650 326-8210, or email circulation@paweekly. cil is scheduled to approve the design law does do is raise the educational s Action-Packed Kids’ Fun Zone com. You may also subscribe online at s Free Admission www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $60/yr. for a new hotel and restaurant at 180 requirements for therapists from 100 Info-line: 650-325-2818 | www.miramarevents.com Hamilton Ave., a building that once hours to 200 hours, forces all estab- housed Casa Olga, a care facility. lishments to get liability malpractice SUBSCRIBE! Though few people have a problem insurance and requires permits to be Support your local newspaper by becoming a paid subscriber. with the planned 86-room boutique displayed in conspicuous locations. $60 per year. $100 for two years. hotel, the impact of its parking is The Police Department drafted the causing some concern. Ken Alsman, latest proposal after months of com- Name: ______a Professorville resident who has munity meetings and hearings in front Address: ______long advocated a permit-parking of council committee, where several City/Zip: ______program in his downtown neighbor- council members argued that the Mail to: Palo Alto Weekly, hood, has filed an appeal asking initial proposal was too stringent and P.O. Box 1610. Palo Alto CA 94302 the city to overrule the Architectural demanded a lighter touch. N
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NONPROFITS CITY SERVICES Sea Scout building Palo Alto eyes staff cuts, in Baylands launches new life fee hikes at animal shelter Environmental Volunteers open new headquarters Sunday as center for science education City unveils plan for reducing costs of popular operation by nearly $450,000 by Helen Carefoot by Gennady Sheyner t the ship-shaped EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands, portholes serve as windows on the eeping Palo Alto’s finan- staff also propose to increase A marshland home of the California clapper rail cially troubled animal- most vaccination rates by $5 and the sand piper. Above the windows, the poet e.e. K services operation afloat and dog-licensing rates by $2 Cummings’ words dance: “The world is mud-luscious will require a slew of fee in- to $5, depending on the type of and puddle wonderful.” creases and staff cuts, according dog and duration of the license. It’s a sentiment the Environmental Volunteers, a non- to the city’s latest proposal. Adoption fees would go up by profit organization that teaches science through hands- The plan, which the City 25 percent for all customers. on education, hopes to instill in children and adults in Council is scheduled to consider Rabies vaccines would remain the Bay Area. Monday night, July 23, aims to at the current level, according to This Sunday, the 40-year-old nonprofit will open its save nearly $450,000. The fi- the report. new headquarters in the former Sea Scout building fol- nancial crisis at Palo Alto Ani- Proposed staffing changes are lowing an eight-year, $3.8 million effort to restore it. mal Services was prompted by not as drastic as ones the city had The center boasts wooden decks that provide an all- Mountain View’s decision last previously contemplated. How- encompassing view of the surrounding marshlands. In- year to withdraw from its part- ever, 2.6 full-time-equivalent side, four huge, touch-screen monitors in the capacious nership in the operation, depriv- positions would be cut from the Fenwick Hall, the center’s main group-learning space, ing Palo Alto of about $470,000 13-person staff, including the feature colorful, interactive displays on topics such as in annual revenues. animal-services supervisor and “Sky,” “Earth,” “Sea” and “Change.” On one screen, The plan calls for increasing one of four animal-control of- there’s a quiz on bird-beak identification. Another fea- fees for spaying and neutering ficers, along with the part-time tures live streaming of the tides outside. by an average of 22 percent — volunteer coordinator. The new headquarters will help the Environmental to about $95 — for residents of The loss of an animal-control Volunteers reach a wider audience, according to spokes- Palo Alto and its partner cities, officer would likely reduce re- person Kristi Moos. Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. sponse times when there are “We’re able to expand our mission to serve as envi- For non-residents, who make up simultaneous calls for services. ronmental educators in the local community, and we’re about three-quarters of all cus- This impact, however, would be
excited to call upon the wonderful natural resources Veronica Weber tomers, the fees would go up an slightly mitigated by Mountain available to us,” she said. “We will use this wonderful average of 50 percent, to $125. View’s withdrawal from the lo- teaching tool to bring the public into a greater appre- “The costs for these increases cal operation, the report states. ciation and respect for wetlands and the species that are still substantially lower than Daily calls for services are ex- inhabit them.” private veterinarian rates and pected to drop by about 10 per The center’s first exhibit will focus on the marsh and Kristi Moos of the Environmental Volunteers, left, competitive with other local day to seven or eight between feature a “marsh-cam,” a camera that streams video of talks with Ariana Gaxiola, 11, about wildlife in the low-cost providers,” wrote Ian November and April and to de- the marsh and its inhabitants 24 hours a day. A variety Baylands while Matthew Jones, an intern with the Hagerman, the performance au- cline from 13 to about 10 dur- of other habitats, ranging from the tundra to the forest, nonprofit, tests out tutorials on the digital touch- ditor for the city’s police depart- ing the busier period of May to will also be the subject of the center’s activities. screen science displays at the new EcoCenter. ment, which oversees Animal October. Each year, the Environmental Volunteers serves about Services. “Lower priority calls, such 13,000 children and adults in Santa Clara and San Ma- so kids arrive at the answers to their questions. We want The animal shelter, located on as decreased animal pickups, teo counties. Ten thousand of those are taught through them to develop an intellectual methodology that will al- East Bayshore Road, would also (could) experience a delayed re- schools. The organization trains volunteers to teach low them to better understand the world in general.” extend its hours with the expec- sponse and could be held over natural science through interactive classroom presenta- Teaching children to be comfortable with science is tation of booking an additional for the following shift during tions, day camps, nature walks and field trips. essential, he said. 3,000 appointments every year, particularly busy days,” Hager- “Our programs are hands-on because kids don’t learn “Especially in California and the Silicon Valley, sci- a 25 percent increase. These man’s report states. in a museum setting. They need to have a personal expe- ence is such a key economic factor. ... Science is an moves are expected to increase The proposed staffing reduc- rience with nature,” Executive Director Allen Berkowitz the revenues from the spay-and- tions are expected to save the said. “We teach in small groups and keep it inquiry-based (continued on page 10) neuter operation by $131,810 in city $284,426 annually starting the current fiscal year and by next year. $143,793 every year after that. Altogether, the cost reductions LAW ENFORCEMENT Though the changes to the would constitute about 60 per- spay-and-neuter operation are cent of the funding gap while the Police use Taser on mirror-breaking youth by far the largest component of revenue increases would make the city’s plan to raise revenues, up the other 40 percent. N Back-up officers, called to Mitchell Park in case of riot, not needed, Palo Alto police say by Gennady Sheyner and Sue Dremann and officers left within a short time. COMMUNITY MEETING teen who police said punched a police officer and The youth was taken to a local hospital, where he was destroyed side-view mirrors on at least three cars checked and cleared, Flohr said. He was subsequently A was stunned with a Taser and arrested at Mitchell taken to the police station and charged with battery on Review the proposed concept designs for the Park in Palo Alto last Friday, July 13. an officer, felony vandalism, resisting arrest and being Police received a call at 4:15 p.m. regarding the 17- drunk in public. Rinconada Park Long Range Plan. year-old youth, who was allegedly breaking the side- The incident was the first instance in two years since Thursday, August 2, 2012, 6:30-8 PM view mirrors off vehicles at Mitchell Park. Police Lt. Palo Alto police have used the electroshocking Taser. Dave Flohr said a security guard had called the police. The department began using Tasers in 2007 and was Lucie Stern Center Ball Room Police found the youth mingling with a group of peo- involved in several high-profile instances, including a ple at a musical event at the park, a concert put together 2008 case in which a man was stunned after police al- 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301 by various Tongan churches from the area. legedly lured him from his van. The city ended up pay- When police approached, the youth punched an offi- ing a $35,000 settlement. The City of Palo Alto seeks the community’s cer on the side of the head, Flohr said. The officer took In 2010, the department revised its Taser policy, spec- input on the proposed concept plans. the youth to the ground and, after deploying a Taser, ifying the weapon can only be fired when a suspect took him into custody. poses an “immediate threat of physical injury.” A large crowd gathered during the altercation, and The last time a police officer fired a Taser was in Email [email protected] officers requested more squad cars as a precautionary mid-2010. Each Taser instance is reviewed by the de- for more information. measure. Emergency medical personnel were staged at partment’s independent auditor, Michael Gennaco, who a distance, as police initially considered the situation provides the City Council with twice-yearly reports. The Meeting hosted by dangerous, according to dispatch reports. next report, covering February through July, is expected City of Palo Alto Public Works, (650) 617-3183 However, Flohr said, the crowd remained peaceful, in the fall. N
ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 5 Inspirations Upfront benefit reductions and staged a one- READ MORE ONLINE City pensions day strike. The council ultimately im- www.PaloAltoOnline.com (continued from page 3) a guide to the spiritual community posed these reductions unilaterally. Reporter Gennady Sheyner’s analysis Shen described the most recent of the financial impact of city workers’ 8 percent of salary. round of negotiations between the pensions, with charts showing the trend over the past 10 years, is posted on Palo At the same time, the pension union and the city as “very profes- Alto Online. Search for “Palo Alto’s tick- FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC formula for employees in the sec- sional, even collegial,” with both ing time bomb.” ond pension tier (those who have sides doing their homework and £nxÊ ÕÃÊ,>`]Ê*>ÊÌÊUÊÈxä®ÊnxÈÈÈÈÓÊUÊÜÜÜ°vVV«>°À}Ê -Õ`>ÞÊ7Àà «ÊEÊ ÕÀV Ê-V Ê>ÌÊ£ä\ääÊ>°° been hired after the 2009 contract contributing data to back up their for employees in highly specialized and who receive less lucrative pen- stances. fields. City officials also identified 10:00 a.m. This Sunday sion benefits) would be based on the “I think both the SEIU and the several areas in which the city in- three highest-paid years as opposed city were very sober about the cur- vests substantial resources in train- Something Better Than Fishing to the current system, which bases rent economic situation, and both ing employees. In exchange for the Rev. David Howell preaching payments on the single highest year. sides know that we need to be good training, the employees must agree An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ The city’s firefighters and police stewards of finances, especially as to stay in the city for at least three unions accepted similar conditions other cities are going belly up,” Shen years after they receive their certifi- in their new agreements. told the Weekly. cation (which Shen said has a value In exchange for the union’s agree- The new contract also addresses of close to $100,000). Those who ment to raise its contributions toward the problem of employee turnover choose to leave the organization af- pensions, the city has agreed to give and the challenge retaining employ- ter getting their certification must all SEIU employees a cost-of-living ees in light of the recent benefit ad- pay back $30,000 or a pro-rated increase of 1.68 percent. Workers, justments. Before the council’s June portion of the training costs. however, will no longer receive three 25 meeting, several SEIU employ- The new contract is expected to floating holidays (they are currently ees talked about the heavy turnover provide net savings of $545,569 in the only labor group to have such in various departments, especially the current fiscal year, according to holidays). They will also see the the Utilities Department, and ar- the new report. It would be effec- probation period for new employees gued that the loss of experience is tive from July 1 of this year to Dec. increase from six months to a year. threatening to reduce the quality of 31, 2013. The recent negotiations bore little service. The City Council meeting will be- resemblance to those in 2009, when In the new agreement, the city gin at 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, the SEIU protested the city’s proposed offers to adjust some base salaries July 23. N
NOTICE OF VACANCY ON THE Hungry (continued from page 3) Inspirations is a resource for ongoing religious services PALO ALTO LIBRARY and special events. To inquire about or to reserve space in ADVISORY COMMISSION (Term of Noel Bakhtian) check-in, while Woods and a group of Inspirations, please contact Blanca Yoc sixth-grade volunteers hand out the al- at 223-6596 or email [email protected] lotted number of lunches per family. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Palo Alto City Council is seeking Woods said 300 Ravenswood applications for a volunteer on the Library Advisory Commission. students — about 10 percent — are homeless or doubled up in apart- Commission Members serve without pay and are appointed by the ments with more than one family. City Council. Experience, duties, time commitments, and residency “I have a lot of families that are with grandparents, or families that Ready to Reinvent Your Life? requirements vary per Commission. For detailed information, are two and three families in a home please visit the City of Palo Alto Website at www.cityofpaloalto.org/ or apartment,” she said. clerk, or call the City Clerk’s Office at 650-329-2571. Chamberlain said, “This is a ser- vice-providing community of garden- Help us create a new “old fashioned” Applications are due by 5:00 pm on August 17, 2012. ers and babysitters,” noting that in her cohousing neighborhood of energy-efficient daily talks with the student volunteers DONNA J. GRIDER she realized several were unfamiliar condos just blocks from lively downtown MV. City Clerk with the term “Silicon Valley.” Briana, one of the sixth-grade vol- unteers, said she and the others were Enjoy sociability and activities with your recruited to help “because we’re re- sponsible. neighbors while living in your own private “The people here are really nice,” condominium. Our shared common facilities she said. Giselle, another volunteer about include a crafts room, exercise room, media to enter sixth grade at Willow Oaks room, workshop, roof deck and gardens. Elementary School, said she enjoys helping people. “And we have fun giving out the food,” she added. We’re 14 households strong and are looking for The independent Ravenswood Education Foundation, which raises 5 more to join us. Homes still available range funds for the district, is underwrit- from 1750 SF (3 bedrooms) to 2050 SF (4 bed- ing the summer academic program and also acting as fiscal agent for rooms). Construction starts this summer, Chamberlain’s lunch program. with occupancy by late 2013. Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Coun- Endorsed by the Greenbelt Alliance. ties also has made special efforts to feed children this summer. According to the food bank’s To find out more or to make reservations for Caitlin Kerk, the agency is provid- our next social on July 22nd: ing summer food to local programs that serve children, including Youth Community Service, Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change, Palo Alto YMCA, 650-479-MVCC (479-6822) Youth United for Community Ac- www.MountainViewCohousing.org tion, Nuestra Casa Children’s Pro- gram, Ecumenical Hunger Program, Build Peninsula, East Palo Alto Boxing Club, College Track, Girls to Women, Building Futures Now and the East Palo Alto YMCA. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com. Page 6ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V Upfront
NeighborhoodsA roundup of neighborhood news edited by Sue Dremann
AROUND ENVIRONMENT THE BLOCK PINPOINTING CELLULAR AN- Managing the urban forest TENNAS ... Want to know where the nearest cellular antenna is to City of Palo Alto’s new tree chief talks your home? Barron Park resident about his vision, community collaboration Doug Moran has created a map of the cellular antennas in western by Sue Dremann Palo Alto, including several being ine weeks into his new posi- forestry at California Polytechnic proposed by AT&T. The map is at tion as Palo Alto’s first city State University, San Luis Obispo, http://goo.gl/maps/sEqi. The City urban forester, Walter Pass- and has worked professionally with of Palo Alto also has information N more eschewed a stuffy City Hall trees for 20 years: as a researcher for regarding cell-tower locations and office interview and instead chose the U.S. Forest Service in the Sierra antennas, including a map of exist- his number-one place to hang out: National Forest in California and in ing antenna sites throughout the amid the trees. Starkville, Miss.; as the city urban city at www.tinyurl.com/cellmap. On a muggy Tuesday morning un- forester in Dallas; and the urban der fog-blanketed skies, Passmore forester for Austin, Texas, where he SHAKING THINGS UP ... Sept. arrived at Mitchell Park in hiking managed the city’s 300,000 trees. 22 and 23 will mark the third boots, a button-down shirt, dark “Trees are the most visible part of Quakeville Citywide Disaster gray slacks and a green backpack. the landscape. That’s the part of the Exercise event. The overnight Youthful, with a low-key demeanor landscape that has the most impact campout simulates a disaster that and slow, light drawl hinting of his on how people interact with nature,” forces residents to move into a long tenure in Mississippi and Tex- he said. nearby park. The city, working with as, the San Francisco native’s eyes Among his responsibilities, Pass- the newly restructured Emergency twinkled whenever he talked trees, more, who was selected over eight Services Volunteers Program and which was most of the time. other candidates, will act as a liai- the Red Cross, will open a shelter “I can talk about trees all day son between the city and the com- and will provide demonstrations long,” he said, grinning. munity. and education on what community Passmore began his $107,869-a- The city has had communication members can do to prepare for year job on May 15. He will coor- gaffes that have outraged residents,
the Big One. Additional information dinate all city departments dealing most notoriously in 2009 when the Weber Veronica and updates can be found at http:// with trees and tree management, California Avenue business district’s Walter Passmore, the city’s new urban forester, admires a stone pine paneighborhoods.org/ep. and he will oversee the city’s Urban trees were cut down with little pub- tree at Mitchell Park. Forest Management Master Plan lic notification. The forester position ARASTRADERO HEARING ... A program, which involves trees lo- is necessary to manage communica- “He is the reason we planted As in Palo Alto, many of Austin’s trial project along Arastradero cated in parks, public rights-of-way tions and proper maintenance and 115 trees in our park,” Austin resi- 1950s-era trees are reaching the end Road that changes the number of and on private properties. care of the trees, Public Works offi- dent Emily Wilson said by phone of their lives. When residents in the lanes along Arastradero in Palo Trees have been Passmore’s pas- cials stated in the city’s 2013 annual on Wednesday. “It’s Austin’s loss Brentwood neighborhood decided Alto will be evaluated by the city’s sion since his Boy Scout days. And operating budget. and y’all’s gain. He was our best to adopt their local park, the Friends Planning and Transportation Com- trees were his first paying job at age Passmore said he is a strong be- friend.” of Brentwood Park approached Aus- mission next Wednesday, July 25, 16 when he taught nature and forest- liever in community involvement In Texas, where summers are very tin parks officials with the idea of at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, ry merit badges lessons at a Scouts and keeping people in the loop. hot, having a tree to sit under means planting more trees. But they were 250 Hamilton Ave. The commis- camp, he said. He’s also big on public education. the difference between being out- stonewalled, Wilson said. sion’s recommendations, based “I’ve always felt pretty connected In Austin and Dallas he created side or not, she said. In 2011, Austin Department managers wouldn’t on a proposal by city staff, will be to nature — perhaps in part because neighborhood-based programs that had two months of temperatures ex- pay for water, and they wouldn’t forwarded to the Palo Alto City of my Native American heritage,” included an urban-forest steward- ceeding 100 degrees. approve the project unless the resi- Council for its deliberations. he said. ship program and basic biology and “We estimate we lost 10 percent He studied natural resources and tree-care classes. of our trees,” she said. (continued on page 8) PSYCHED UP ... A series of classes will be held for residents enrolled in Palo Alto’s Emergency Services PROFESSORVILLE Volunteers program, including psy- and to pursue a broader and more would have been bordered by Addi- chological first aid and radio com- comprehensive strategy for solving son Avenue to the north and Lincoln munications, according to Lydia Professorville parking the problem of inadequate parking Avenue to the south, stretching be- Kou, director of neighborhoods downtown. tween Emerson and Bryant Streets, development, education and opera- The broader analysis will include along with a block of Addison be- tions for Palo Alto Neighborhoods program rejected consideration of new public-parking tween Bryant and Waverley streets. Block Preparedness Program. Palo Alto City Council shoots down plan to impose garages and new methods to in- Time restrictions would have ap- Psychological first aid, a new class crease use of existing garages, in- plied on weekdays between 8 and by the American Red Cross Sili- parking time limits in historic district cluding valet parking and different 5 p.m. Staff proposed the program permitting processes. The council after six months of meetings with con Valley Chapter, will take place by Gennady Sheyner July 28 at 10 a.m. RSVP deadline also directed city staff to analyze a self-selected working group of is July 25. A basic radio class will technological remedies such as gate neighborhood residents and down- take place July 22 at 2 p.m. RSVP rofessorville neighborhood hood to avoid the two-hour time controls, parking-space identifica- town employees. deadline is July 20. The classes will residents looking to reclaim limits prevalent in other parts of tion systems and zone changes. But while some Professorville be held at Cubberley Community P the parking spots on their downtown. A group of residents has Council members argued the residents endorsed the plan, many Center, Room H-1, and are free. streets from downtown employees been clamoring for such a program process for developing the program of the speakers at the council meet- Residents interested in the Emer- will have to cope with the status for more than a year, claiming their wasn’t open enough, that the pro- ing voiced major reservations about gency Services Volunteers program quo for at least six more months quality of life has been affected. posed pilot area was too restrictive the staff proposal. can learn more through paneigh- after the City Council shot down a They’ve said they can no longer and that the program wouldn’t solve “Parking on city streets is a so- borhoods.org or by emailing epvol- proposed parking-permit program find parking close to their homes, the problem but merely shift it to a cial good that belongs to all the for the historic Palo Alto neighbor- many of which are so old they have different neighborhood. people of Palo Alto, residents and [email protected]. N hood Tuesday morning, July 17. no garages. “My greatest concern is that a lot employees alike,” said Don Barr, a Send announcements of neighbor- The permit program was intended But after a long and winding of the neighbors who are not in the Stanford professor who lives next to hood events, meetings and news to to defuse the tension between Pro- debate, the council decided not to zone would be negatively impacted the proposed pilot area. “Residents Sue Dremann, Neighborhoods editor, fessorville residents who have long rush into such a program. Council for whatever time duration we’d have no more right to a space than at [email protected]. Or talk decried the lack of parking on their members voted 6-2, with Gail Price have the program,” Mayor Yiaway workers.” about your neighborhood news on Town streets and the downtown workers and Sid Espinosa dissenting, to Yeh said. Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. who often park in the neighbor- scrap the permit-program proposal The pilot area proposed by staff (continued on page 8)
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working. He loves trees, and he students. level they want to be involved, and complementary understory plants to Urban forest likes to do projects,” she said. On this point, he became elated. it allows us as a city to get ... a bet- make trees healthier. (continued from page 7) Passmore said he wants to im- “We have huge potential with ter picture of what the city’s whole Sometimes, trees in Palo Alto’s prove notification when trees must the student population. The sky’s urban forest looks like,” he said. aging forest will have to be removed dents could prove they had a plan to be removed in Palo Alto, and he val- the limit on what we can get from Looking around Mitchell Park — a sensitive topic. Passmore said maintain the trees on their own for ues additional public involvement in young, excited students that want to with its broad expanses of lawn and he will work on ways to replace the two years. crafting the city’s urban-forest plan, make the world a better place,” he evenly spaced groupings of trees, old, dying forest with new trees in a “It looked like we would never do he said. said. Passmore considered ways to bal- timely way so the lush canopy will it,” she said. “We need a vision for the future. Passmore said he also sees great ance the growing needs of people remain. But then someone suggested the The urban forest is owned by the new partnerships with Canopy, the with enhancing the habitat of trees Besides trees, there are always the group contact Walter Passmore. people of Palo Alto, so we want as Palo Alto tree-education and urban- and creatures. human considerations in Passmore’s “Walter said, ‘Yes — absolutely. many people as possible to be in- forest development nonprofit orga- “The future is not so much about urban-forest design. This is what we do,’” Wilson said. volved in the process,” he said. nization. trees as it is about urban-ecosystem “The fun part about urban for- Passmore worked on the project Passmore also wants to create a “We’re working with them to management,” he said. estry is how to connect people with from beginning to end. The group citizen-forester program modeled bring an open-source tree map to That includes water use and con- nature,” he said. N continued to contact him when- after the UC Cooperative Exten- Palo Alto,” he said, where residents servation, the role of trees and plants ever they had forestry issues, she sion master-gardener program. can input their own data about their in climate management, shade pro- Staff Writer Sue Dremann can added. And he wants to work with the property trees. “It has a huge poten- duction, habitat enhancement for be emailed at sdremann@paweek- “He’s knowledgeable. He’s hard schools to create internships for tial to get people connected at the urban wildlife and the addition of ly.com.
Parking program sured but said the experiment funded by a $250,000 contribu- (continued from page 7) would at the very least provide tion from developers of Lytton staff with some information Gateway, a mixed-use develop- about parking. ment at Lytton Avenue and Alma Others disagreed and urged “It’s a fragile parking ecosystem Street that the council approved staff to proceed with the trial, that can’t take radical disruption,” earlier this year. Planning Direc- CityViewA round-up of Palo Alto government action this week which would have lasted between Keenan said. “We don’t know how tor Curtis Williams said the park- three and six months. Down- it’s going to turn out, but we’ll know ing study is particularly timely, town developer Charles “Chop” more in six months.” given the recent trend of offices City Council (July 16) Keenan’s endorsement was mea- Councilwoman Price agreed, becoming denser. Parking: The council rejected the proposed permit-parking program for a portion of supporting both the trial permit “We’re seeing office occupancies Professorville and directed staff to explore broader solutions, including new garages program and a more comprehensive that tend to be considerably more and zoning changes, to address a parking shortage downtown. Yes: Burt, Holman, solution than one person per 250 square Klein, Scharff, Shepherd, Yeh No: Espinosa, Price Absent: Schmid Electric: The council discussed the proposed definition of “carbon neutral” as it “Clearly, a more aggressive, a feet. The old model isn’t holding up would pertain to the city’s electric portfolio and directed staff to present the item to more comprehensive plan is really the same way, so it’s appropriate as the Finance Committee for further vetting. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Price, important,” Price said. “Along those part of this to look at those ratios,” Scharff, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Schmid lines, I feel for us to really be com- he said. prehensive, we do need to do a trial Staff will return to the council in Historic Resources Board (July 18) as one element of a comprehensive six months to report on the progress 411 Lytton: The board recommended that the city designate the residential build- ing at 411 Lytton Ave. to the city’s Historic Inventory in Category 2. Yes: Bernstein, approach.” of the parking study and early find- Bower, Bunnenberg, Di Cicco, Kohler, Makinen Absent: Smithwick Sept. 28 7pm The broad analysis will be ings. N 1213 Newell: The board discussed the proposed renovation and expansion of Main Library and agreed that the project meets the definition of “historic rehabilitation” and complies with state standards of rehabilitation. Yes: Bernstein, Bunnenberg, Di Cicco, Kohler, Makinen Absent: Bower, Smithwick Architectural Review Board (July 19) Main Library: The board voted to approve the proposed design for renovation and expansion of Main Library at 1213 Newell Road. Yes: Unanimous
Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week
CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to approve a new contract with the Service Employees International Union; consider the latest design changes to the California Avenue streetscape plan; discuss the new proposal for raising revenues and cutting costs at animal services; and consider joining the citizen initiative to prevent further spending of bond funds for high- speed rail The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 23, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). The meeting will be followed by a closed session to discuss the status of the city’s negotiations with the two police unions.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to consider a recommendation to place limits on amplifiers at Lytton Plaza and consider a recommendation to relocate the MacArthur Park restaurant as part of a development project at 27 University Ave. The meeting will be- gin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).
PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the Community Services and Facilities Element of the Comprehensive Plan and consider a proposal to permanently retain the recent lane changes on Arastradero Road. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamil- ton Ave.).
COUNCIL RAIL COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to hear a report from its Sacramento lobbyist and discuss the recently passed appropriation bill for high-speed rail. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).
LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to hear an update on the Mitchell Park and Main Library projects and discuss input re- ceived from the community about library computers. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, in the Downtown Library (270 Forest Ave.).
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American mayor in Palo Alto’s These and other news stories were posted on Palo Alto City Council Online throughout the week. For longer versions, go to (continued from page 3) history, called serving as mayor and councilman “an adventure and www.PaloAltoOnline.com/news honor.” Online This Week clared his candidacy. At 31, he could Meanwhile, Burt and Schmid inject some youth into a council decided to try to keep their re- Former supe offered plea bargain Marissa Mayer named Yahoo CEO that is about to lose its two young- spective council adventures going. Tim Hanretty, the former superintendent of Portola Yahoo has appointed Google executive Marissa est members. While he doesn’t have Schmid, an economist, emerged in Valley schools who is charged with stealing more Mayer as its new chief executive officer, the com- Kniss’ political experience or name recent years as one of the council’s than $100,000 from the school district, has been of- pany announced Monday, July 16. Mayer, 37, a Palo recognition, he has been gradually most outspoken opponents of re- fered a plea bargain by the county District Attorney’s Alto resident, took the helm on Tuesday, July 17, as building a broad gional housing Office. (Posted July 19 at 8:17 a.m.) president, CEO and member of the board of directors. base of support mandates. The (Posted July 16 at 5:37 p.m.) through various soft-spoken Candidates in 30 minutes or less volunteering ef- and methodical California State Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Youth re-sentenced to 16 years forts. He served councilman has Mateo) seems like a man who really could tell you his An East Palo Alto youth who received a 20-year in 2010 on even authored life story in three minutes flat. He demonstrated his state prison sentence for a 2008 shooting will receive the campaign a white paper mastery of the elevator pitch before a crowd of about a 4-year reduction in his prison time and will serve committee for challenging the 35 people at a forum hosted by the Menlo Democrats 16 years, a judge ruled during a re-sentencing hearing Measure A, census projec- club Tuesday, July 17. (Posted July 18 at 11:17 a.m.) Friday, July 13. (Posted July 16 at 11:55 a.m.) the school dis- tions that the trict’s success- Pat Burt Marc Berman Association of Stanford names new medical dean Man shot in East Palo Alto Sunday ful parcel-tax Bay Area Gov- Stanford School of Medicine has recruited the pro- A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg in East Palo proposal. Last ernments is us- vost of Johns Hopkins University to become its new Alto early Sunday morning, July 15, police said. (Post- year, he was a ing to support dean, Stanford announced Wednesday, July 18. Lloyd ed July 15 at 3:25 p.m.) member of the these mandates. B. Minor, a head and neck specialist, will join Stan- Infrastructure Schmid was ford Dec. 1. (Posted July 18 at 9:51 a.m.) Resident sparks apartment fire Blue Ribbon also a leading A Stanford resident moving into an apartment on Task Force, a force behind Saturday, July 14, started a fire after the moving box citizens group the recent col- Dishwasher sparks fire in Palo Alto A Palo Alto resident who left home with the dish- he left on a stove ignited, Palo Alto Battalion Chief that surveyed leagues’ memo Niles Broussard said. (Posted July 15 at 1:58 p.m.) the city’s infra- addressing the washer running returned to a kitchen on fire Tuesday, structural needs subject of the July 17. (Posted July 18 at 9:33 a.m.) and recom- Greg Schmid Liz Kniss city’s pension Alleged burglar a former employee Gustavo Alvarez, who was arrested after allegedly mended ways to and health care $5,400 in school computers stolen rappelling into JJ & F Market through a skylight, is a pay for the needed repairs. liabilities. The council earlier this Thieves made off with three Apple desktop com- former employee, police and one of the store’s owners Berman’s fledgling campaign month voted to hold a broad and puters valued at $5,400 after a break-in at Palo Verde have confirmed. (Posted July 14 at 10:26 a.m.) has already received the support of public conversation to address these Elementary School, Palo Alto police said. (Posted July dozens of local attorneys, profes- topics in September. 18 at 8:05 a.m.) sionals and residents and more than Burt, who co-authored the recent Coliform bacteria taints city water $22,000 in cash contributions. His memo (along with Schmid, Vice Grass fire narrowly misses homes When Palo Alto’s utility officials were testing list of contributors includes venture Mayor Greg Scharff and Council- A 10-acre grass fire in the baylands missed ignit- customers’ water quality in May they uncovered capitalist Steve Westly, former May- woman Karen Holman), served as ing homes in an East Palo Alto neighborhood by a something strange — an unusually high amount of or Gary Fazino, former school board Palo Alto’s mayor in 2010 and has matter of feet Tuesday evening, July 17. (Posted July coliform bacteria, a bacteria that is generally consid- member Carolyn Tucher and current been a central player in the city’s 17 at 9:17 p.m.) ered to be non-threatening but that can indicate the Councilwoman Nancy Shepherd. opposition to high-speed rail and presence of other unsavory organisms. (Posted July 14 Yeh’s announcement Tuesday the regional effort to improve flood VIDEO: Clay & Glass Festival at 10:27 a.m.) came five days after Espinosa said protection near the San Francisquito Artists and onlookers gathered Saturday and Sun- he won’t be running again. In an- Creek. day, July 14 and 15, at Rinconada Park for the 20th an- Want to get news briefs emailed to you every weekday? nouncing his decision, Espinosa Burt told the Weekly that if re- nual Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival. Video by Bryce Sign up for Express, our new daily e-edition. called serving on the council “one elected, he plans to pursue his pri- Druzin/Palo Alto Online. (Posted July 16 at 5:31 p.m.) Go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com to sign up. of the most rewarding experiences of mary goals in transforming the city my life.” He also encouraged other government into a leaner and more candidates to run for what he called efficient organization; establish- an “important and rewarding job.” ing Palo Alto as an environmental Espinosa, a Microsoft executive leader; and boosting the city’s emer- who directs the company’s philan- gency-preparedness efforts. thropic efforts in Silicon Valley, said Burt represents Palo Alto on the Ê",Ê /, - he is weighing various opportunities Peninsula Cities Consortium, a coali- in the private and public sectors and tion of cities working on high-speed plans to spend some time between rail issues, and serves as board chair now and the end of the year figuring of the San Francisquito Creek Joint out which of these to pursue. Powers Authority, an agency that 21st Annual Yeh, a Gunn High School gradu- aims to improve flood control around ate who in his five years at the dais the volatile creek in Palo Alto, East emerged as the council’s leading ex- Palo Alto and Menlo Park. pert on energy issues, put his own Burt called emergency-prepared- Palo Alto Weekly stamp on the largely ceremonial ness a priority that’s “not particu- mayoral position this year by launch- larly glamorous but extremely im- ing a series of “Mayor’s Challenge” portant.” sporting competitions to bring In terms of creating a “more ef- neighborhoods together. Yeh, who ficient and innovative city govern- DEADLINE Photo Contest previously worked as assistant city ment,” Burt said: “Over the past four auditor for the City of Oakland, has years, we’ve made great progress, EXTENDED! also been a strong supporter of the but there’s more work to do.” N city’s efforts to engage local youth Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner and a leading proponent of the city’s can be emailed at gsheyner@ ENTRY DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, JULY 27 aggressive green-energy programs. paweekly.com. In his announcement, Yeh listed issues the city needs to focus on in CATEGORIES: ÊUÊPORTRAITSÊUÊ 9Ê, Ê -Ê the coming months: repairing the city’s infrastructure, holding “con- UÊ6 7-Ê 9" Ê/ Ê 9Ê, structive stakeholder dialogues” on tackling the city’s long-term finan- cial liabilities, deepening the city’s engagement with the innovation For entry form and rules, community, supporting the city’s “Friends” groups and pursuing a Join today: go to: www.PaloAltoOnline.com carbon-neutral electric portfolio. SupportLocalJournalism.org Yeh, who is the first Chinese-
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Designed in 1941 by Birge and both problems the building faced in EcoCenter David Clark, the building was com- the past. Later, the building’s inte- (continued from page 5) missioned by philanthropist Lucie rior and exterior were refurbished News Digest Stern as a gift to the City of Palo and landscaping added. integral part of understanding life Alto. It was formerly used as the At Sunday’s grand opening, Police report uptick in residential burglaries and it leads to discoveries as well as local Sea Scout base until the Palo from 1 to 4 p.m. at 2560 Embarca- Palo Alto has seen a “significant increase” in residential burglaries better quality of life.” Alto harbor closed and the Sea dero Road, EcoCenter volunteers since the beginning of June, police announced Monday, July 16. The organization plans a variety Scouts moved in 1986. In 2004, the and staff will lead nature walks There have been about 20 residential burglaries, most of them in the of educational activities through the City of Palo Alto offered the En- around the surrounding Baylands, northern section of town, Palo Alto Police Sgt. Brian Philip said. center, including speaking events, vironmental Volunteers a 40-year as well as a scavenger hunt and Unlocked rear doors and windows are the typical means of entry, he art exhibitions and guided hikes fo- lease in exchange for renovating the a bird-watching expedition. The said. cusing on different subjects. structure and agreeing to use the free event will also include tours Sunday morning, Palo Alto police arrested Michael Holden, 36, while “We expect to do lots of creative space as a community resource for of the center and exhibits, a raffle, he was seeking treatment in Stanford University Hospital Emergency things,” Berkowitz said. “These ac- environmental education. music, an art show featuring local Department after hearing from Santa Barbara County sheriffs that the tivities could include canoeing in As part of the rehabilitation, the artists and a short opening cer- man had an outstanding warrant. the marshes, bird photography or building was moved off of its old emony. N Following the arrest, police Monday searched a Tanland Drive apart- studying marsh plants.” foundation onto a structure 4 feet Editorial Intern Helen Care- ment where Holden had stayed with “a friend of a friend” prior to going A complete calendar of events higher than the original to prevent foot can be emailed at hcarefoot@ to the hospital. There, they found laptops and cash that had been stolen will be available in August. daily tidal flooding and vandalism, paweekly.com. from an apartment across the hall in the same building on the previous Saturday, Philip said. In addition, police arrested one adult and two juveniles overnight be- VOTED BEST tween Sunday and Monday, after finding them breaking into vehicles in the 1400 block of Edgewood Drive. Philip said police are trying to determine whether the three are linked AUTO REPAIR 2011 to other recent burglaries. A map of the locations of recent burglaries has been posted on the department’s website at www.cityofpaloalto.org/ police. Entrust the care of your Hybrid vehicle to Police are encouraging residents to call 911 or the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413 to report suspicious behavior. Anonymous tips us, and enjoy expert service in a stress-free can be emailed to [email protected] or sent by text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984. N environment with a lot of TLC. — Chris Kenrick “We go beyond auto repair to auto care.” Copper thieves strike Mitchell, Greer parks Thieves stripping copper wiring from light poles and electrical systems SERVICE EXCELLENCE 2011 at Palo Alto parks have caused thousands of dollars in damages and WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH risked electrocution, city officials and Palo Alto police said this week. On July 12 at 7:35 a.m. a Mitchell Park employee reported that 27 “Christy” electrical boxes were open with wires hanging out, accord- “Thank you for 2010 ing to Linda Clerkson, city communications manager. The thieves stole your help and RUNNER-UP several thousand feet of copper wire from the boxes. The wires were professional “live” and had 220 volts/60 amps of electricity running through them at advice. I will the time, she said. refer friends, 2009 The electrical wires were pulled out throughout the entire park, which cut power to the small building that includes the Tiny Tots restroom and family and kitchen facility, the playground water feature, and 27 of the 36 light poles customers with To schedule your appointment, please call us today at 650-961-0302 located throughout the park, she said. confi dence... “The city’s priority was to immediately make the area safe. This work ” 2037 Old Middlefi eld Way involved locating the affected areas to shut off live electrical circuits, M.B., Milpitas Mountain View, CA 94043 Open Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm cover exposed wires and secure the Christy boxes throughout the park,” she wrote in an email Tuesday morning. Find us on A similar incident occurred about two months ago at Greer Park and af- Visit us at: www.deansautomotive.com Facebook 650-961-0302 fected the wiring between eight light poles and the irrigation controller. She said that cutting these wires is “an extremely hazardous thing to do. Individuals can easily be electrocuted or at minimum receive a very San Jose’s Most Trusted Clinic strong shock from these kinds of criminal activities. “Because copper theft is a crime and can also cause bodily injury and possibly death, if anyone sees suspicious activity, please notify the police San Jose 420 Evaluations immediately through the non-emergency phone line at 650-329-2413,” she said. N — Sue Dremann City of Palo Alto website gets a brand new look $ $ After years as the subject of tweaks, complaints and frustration, the 40 50 City of Palo Alto’s website finally received a dramatic and long-awaited Renewals From New overhaul July 16. The redesigned website, which remains at www.cityofpaloalto.org, in- Any Doctor Patients cludes a host of new features, such as videos, slideshows, colorful depart- ments pages and an increased ability for users to organize information Any and customize their homepage. It also includes a heavier social-media We beat element, allowing users to easily share information from the site with competitors prices their Facebook and Twitter networks (among others). The homepage pri- Restrictions apply. Must bring proof. oritizes links by popular usage. The prior website was a topic of derision ( must present ad-one per patient ) within the famously tech-savvy community for its bland layout, static interface and heavy use of stock images. Refer a family member or The redesign was spearheaded by city officials in collaboration with a Website Advisory Committee composed of volunteers. The city “soft friend and get 10% off your launched” the beta version of the new site two months ago to solicit com- cannabis photo id card ments from the community before the new look became official at midnight Our cards are real. Each card is hand signed by our doctors. Walk-ins welcome. Tuesday. City Manager James Keene said in a statement that the city’s 100% private and confi dential. 24/7 online and telephone verifi cation. collaboration with the citizen committee, along with community feedback Special discounts for Disable, Medicare & Veterans during the beta period, made the “great initial redesign” even better. Nearly 5,000 users tested the beta website, according to the city’s announcement. 3AN*OSEEVALUATIONSCOM s s SJ420.com Even though the site launched this week, city officials emphasize that Visit our website to book your appointment online 24/7 it remains a work in progress. The city plans to continue to update con- tent and navigation features and to make further changes to keep the site -ONDAY THROUGH 3ATURDAY s 3UNDAY s /PEN DAYS A WEEK consistent with the latest changes in technology and city programs. N N TH 3T 3AN *OSE BETWEEN 3T *OHN 3T *AMES — Gennady Sheyner
Page 10ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V Book Talk PALO ALTO PROTÉGÉ ... Palo Alto- based author Anna Caltabiano is making waves in the literary world before she is even able to get her driver’s license. The 15-year-old’s debut novel, “All That Is Red,” is receiving rave reviews A monthly section on local books and authors on websites such as goodreads.com Title Pages and amazon.com. She self-published the young adult fiction novel through by Gennady Sheyner was now threatening to turn against New Generation Publishing and it was “Golden Holocaust: Origins of Big Tobacco and the industry was released on May 20, 2012. Caltabiano’s the Cigarette Catastrophe and the SMOKING GUN preparing its counterattack. Proctor popularity is quickly gaining steam — her Case of Abolition” by Robert N. called the meeting at the Plaza Ho- Facebook page already has more than Proctor; University of California tel “the beginning of the industry’s 41,000 “Likes” and the young scribe has Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and ROBERT PROCTOR’S WAR AGAINST BIG TOBACCO conspiracy to deny, deflect, or dis- more than 211,000 followers on Twitter. London; 752 pp.; $49.95 tract from the hazard of tobacco.” Caltabiano was born in British colonial The solution, as Proctor tells us, Hong Kong and educated in Mandarin n Dec. 14, 1953, the world’s was the industry’s “Frank Statement Chinese schools before moving to Palo leading tobacco executives to Cigarette Smokers” — a position Alto. “Her writing reflects her concerns met at the Plaza Hotel in paper that was adopted by partici- for her own generation as it seeks out O downtown Manhattan to discuss a pants of the conference and that ran salvation, meaning, and companionship rapidly approaching storm. in 448 newspapers. The statement al- in online communities, with pop culture as The secret gathering, which fea- ludes to recent experiments in which its shared language,” her website states. tured top officials from American mice grew tumors after being paint- Tobacco, Philip Morris, R.J. Reyn- ed with tar but argues that “there is AT THE CORE OF APPLE ... Longtime olds and other industry titans, took no proof” cigarette smoking causes technology editor and writer Harry Mc- place at a time of widespread worry cancer. It also dismisses recent epi- Cracken (TIME, Macworld) will moder- for the industry. The New England demiological studies suggesting a ate a discussion with author Ken Se- Journal of Medicine had published link between smoking and cancer, gall, a part of Steve Jobs’ creative inner an editorial about a recent epidemi- claiming that statistics “could apply circle for more than a decade. Segall ological study that the journal said with equal force to any of the many will discuss his book, “Insanely Simple: yielded “evidence of an association other aspects of modern life.” The Obsession That Drives Apple’s between cigarette smoking and lung But even as Big Tobacco questioned Success.” The event will be held Tues- cancer so strong as to be considered the link, it pledged “aid and assistance day, July 31, at noon at the Computer proof within the everyday meaning to research efforts into all phases of History Museum, 1401 N. Shoreline of the word.” tobacco use and health.” Leading Blvd., Mountain View. Information: The month before the meeting, a this effort would be a new group, the www.computerhistory.org panel set up by Britain’s chief medi- Tobacco Industry Research Commit- cal officer in the Ministry of Health tee, whose research would be led by MASTERS OF MYSTERY ... Cara concluded that there is a “real” con- “scientists of unimpeachable refute.” Black, author of the “Aimee Leduc nection between smoking and lung This was the first in a series of indus- Investigations” series, Laurie R. King, cancer. On a separate note, a team try groups fronting as scientific orga- author of the “Mary Russell” mystery of scientists led by Ernest Wynder nizations. Though they hired leading novels, and Heather Haven, author of induced cancers in mice earlier that scientists and contributed generously the “Alvarez Family Murder Mystery” year by painting tars from tobacco toward experiments, the work they series, will be together for one evening smoke on their skins. These experi- funded consciously avoided the topic at Books Inc. at 74 Town & Country Vil- ments took place a year after the In- of the smoking/cancer link, as Proc- lage to discuss their works. The event ternational Union Against Cancer tor aptly demonstrates. The goal, he will be held Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. issued a resolution that “there is argues, was to distract the public with Information: www.booksinc.net now evidence of an association be- “red herring science” while continu- tween cigarette smoking and cancer ing to push a product that kills the MEET THE AUTHORS ... Kepler’s of the lung, and that the association equivalent of two jumbo jets crash- Books in Menlo Park is still closed as the is in general proportional to the to- ing daily. iconic bookstore continues its renova- tal consumption.” The industry’s mastery of public tions. Plans are to re-open the store by These were by no means the relations — even before the days of Labor Day, according to keplers2020. first studies documenting the link Sierra Duren Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man com. Kepler’s will host several authors between cigarettes and cancer. As — was among its greatest strengths. at the store despite the ongoing renova- early as 1900, Anton Brosch rubbed Television encouraged smoking tions. Upcoming authors at Kepler’s “tobacco juice” on a guinea pig and with state-of-the-art ads, including Books at 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo watched epithelial tissues grow on Robert Proctor, a professor of history of science at Stanford University, “dancing cigarettes” and popular Park include Terrie M. Williams, Ph.D., an old scar. Three decades later, shows that were sponsored by to- “The Odyssey of KP2: an Orphan Seal, and his book “Golden Holocaust: Origins of the Cigarette Catastrophe Argentinean scientist Angel Roffo and the Case for Abolition.” bacco giants (Philip Morris, for ex- a Marine Biologist, and the Fight to Save linked tar from tobacco to cancers ample, sponsored “I Love Lucy.”). a Species” (Aug. 2, 7 p.m.); Derald Ham- on lab animals, sparking other nia, going back to the highlands of which Proctor says “may well be the Proctor notes that cigarettes were ilton, “The Call” and “Twice Upon a Pre- studies of similar nature. But the Peru and Ecuador, where people deadliest invention in the history of the most widely advertised product quel and Three Shorts” (Aug. 4, 2 p.m.); pioneering work remained on the rolled up and smoked tobacco leaves modern manufacturing,” suddenly on TV until 1971, the year Congress R.A. Salvatore, “Charon’s Claw: Nev- fringes of science. By the early thousands of years before the com- made smoke milder and easy to banned cigarette ads. erwinter Saga Book III” (Aug. 8, 7 p.m.); 1950s, that began to change. The mon area. Tobacco reached France inhale. Other inventions, including Hollywood and professional Maria Ross, “Rebooting My Brain: How link between cigarettes and lung in the 16th century and by the mid- matches, lighters and industrial ma- sports were also in on the game. a Freak Aneurysm Reframed My Life” cancer, once hazy, was now solidi- 1800s European scientists had begun chines capable of mass-producing Between 1927 and 1951, at least (Aug. 9, 7 p.m.); Upcoming authors at fying in the public imagination. The to probe its toxic and intoxicating cigarettes, further smoothed the cig- 195 Hollywood stars (among them Books Inc. at 74 Town & Country Village industry needed to fight back. properties. Those early cigarettes, arette’s rise to prominence. While Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and in Palo Alto include Elizabeth Percer, The meeting at the Plaza Hotel, however, had little in common with hand-rolling allowed manufacturers Joan Crawford) endorsed cigarettes. “An Uncommon Education” (July 23, 7 which is detailed in Robert Proctor’s the sleek, elegant rods we think of to produce one cigarette per min- Even as late as 1983, Sylvester Stal- p.m.); Riya Sinha, “The Runaway Twins” new book, “Golden Holocaust: Ori- today. They were more like cigars ute, the rate of production jumped lone agreed to smoke Brown & (July 29, 11 a.m.); Juliet Bell, “Kepler’s gins of the Cigarette Catastrophe and — wrapped in leaf, smoked by the to about 1,000 per minute by the Williamson brands (Kool and Bell Dream” (Aug. 2, 7 p.m.); and Beth Tay- the Case of Abolition,” didn’t focus elite and difficult to inhale. mid-1920s. By the time the meeting Air) in five forthcoming movies in lor, “A Slave in the White House” (Aug. 9, on the health risks of cigarettes but That changed in the first two de- at the Plaza Hotel was assembling, exchange for $500,000. Other big 7 p.m.). Information: www.keplers.com rather on the risk to the industry’s cades of the 20th century, when a se- cigarettes had become what Proctor names, including Paul Newman, and www.booksinc.net profits and reputation. As Proctor ries of technological breakthroughs calls the “deadliest artifacts in the Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood, demonstrates in this monumental and made cigarettes sexier, deadlier and history of human civilization.” also did their part, accepting thou- Items for Book Talk may be sent scathing work, Big Tobacco had been more addictive than ever before. Though the industry’s well-paid sands of dollars from the industry in to Associate Editor Carol Blitzer, enjoying a period of unprecedented The most critical of these, Proctor in-house scientists continued to exchange for product placement. Palo Alto Weekly, P.O Box 1610, growth and prosperity up until this writes, was “flue-curing” — a pro- toe the company line and deny the Leading sports figures also ben- Palo Alto, CA 93202 or emailed to period of scientific consensus. cess in which charcoal-heated air cancer connection, and the U.S. efited handsomely from tobacco [email protected] by the last The practice of smoking tobacco is transferred to the tobacco leaves Surgeon General wouldn’t declare Friday of the month. has been around for several millen- during fermentation. The process, this link for another decade, the tide (continued on page 12)
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(continued from page 11) cepting money from Philip Morris with Duke University (which is still to assuage smokers even though, as serious but that are also substantially in 1971 and wore “Virginia Slims” named after James Buchanan “Buck” Proctor demonstrates, these inven- different from the horrors generally sponsorship. Baseball stars Stan Mu- colors during her famous “Battle Duke, the powerful former president tions do nothing to lessen the health associated with the term. Given the sial and Ted Williams plugged Ches- of the Sexes” victory over Bobby of American Tobacco), University of impacts of cigarettes. copious, detailed and damning evi- terfields, Proctor writes, while Lou Riggs two years later. And in 1994, North Carolina, University of Texas Proctor’s investigative work is dence Proctor assembles in his book, Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey London’s Imperial (which makes and New York University (NYU). comprehensive and devastating, he does himself a disservice by Mantle endorsed Camels. Cigarettes Davidoff cigarettes) began sponsor- Lorillard struck deals with Ohio though his tendency to reach for the shrouding his impressive research were branded in the context of sports ing the Basel International Tennis State University and NYU, Philip top shelf occasionally distracts a behind such a loaded title. as “performance-enhancing drugs Tournament in Switzerland, which Morris put two Columbia University reader from the impressive scholar- And while Proctor’s account is that calmed your nerves, eased ten- featured superstar Roger Federer on pharmacologists on its payroll while ship within. The book’s title is just exhaustive, at certain moments it sion and readied you for the big its promotional materials. R.J. Reynolds established a labora- one example. Proctor has no qualms also feels exhausting. Is it really game.” More disturbing than the indus- tory at the Bowman Gray School about comparing smoking-related critical for us to know, for example, There were some notable excep- try’s influence on professional sports, of Medicine (part of Wake Forest). deaths to the extermination of Euro- that a 2008 Google search returned tions. Honus Wagner, the legend- however, is its insidious infiltration Meanwhile, professors from schools pean Jews and his one-page prologue 1,950,000 hits for “smoking fetish” ary Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, of American universities. In the mid- as prominent as Harvard, Stanford, justifying his use of “Holocaust” in and 139,000 for “smoking porn”? revoked in 1911 his contract with 1930s, American Tobacco began Johns Hopkins and UCLA took the title does little to ease a sense of (Regardless of the answer, now American Tobacco out of fear that partnering with Medical College money from the industry and lent discomfort with the flawed analogy. you know). And his list of sporting circulation of his baseball card of Virginia (later renamed Virginia their imprimatur to the industry. He acknowledges the “significant events sponsored by cigarette mak- “would influence children to pur- Commonwealth University) to ad- Some of the most poignant sec- difference between the murder of six ers between 1960 and 2000 (to cite chase tobacco products.” As a result, dress the cancer “health scares.” Be- tions of Proctor’s encyclopedic million Jews at the hands of the Na- one of many examples) runs to six Proctor writes, only a few dozen fore long, some of the college’s most work are ones in which he unmasks zis and the suffering of smokers” but pages of fine print — a prime exam- of his cards were ever distributed. prominent faculty members (includ- these secret relationships. He’s not justifies his title with an argument ple of Proctor’s sterling scholarship Wagner’s honorable stance was, in a ing successive heads of the college’s shy about naming names and outing that “in both instances, though, we but a bit of a drag for those who like sense, rewarded posthumously. His Department of Pharmacology) were historians, academics, doctors and face calamity of epic proportions, to see more “story” in their history. baseball cards are among the most on the industry’s payroll, testifying politicians who in his view sold out with too many willing to turn a blind But at other times, his data charts sought-after prizes for collectors. In before regulatory committees and to the industry (including several at eye, too many willing to let the hor- are just what the doctor ordered, like 2007, one sold for $2.8 million. downplaying the cancer link. his own university). The book also ror unfold without intervention.” But when he gives us a “selected” list of The tradition of athletes shilling This was the most obvious but by exposes as “fraud” the industry’s by this logic, the “Holocaust” label 29 poisons in cigarettes, a catalogue for Big Tobacco continued well into no means the only example of col- various attempts to make cigarettes can be applied to anything from that includes ammonia, arsenic and the second half of the century. Ten- lusion. American Tobacco, Proctor feel safer. Filters, ventilation slits hunger in Africa to global warm- radioactive polonium 210. And his nis legend Billy Jean King began ac- writes, also developed close relations and “light cigarettes” were invented ing — issues that are undoubtedly account of Big Tobacco’s endorse- ments in the jazz industry greatly benefits a long list of American jazz greats who died from lung cancer, a catalogue that includes Lou Rawls, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Dorsey. The most important service Proctor performs in this compelling volume is to take what many of us suspect and think we know and magnify it. He is aided in this quest by the Legacy To- bacco Documents Library, an archive of more than 70 million pages that the tobacco companies had to release as part of their Master Settlement Agreement in 1998. Many of the facts and figures he cites to correct what he calls our “mass blindness” about the tobacco industry come from the industry’s own archives. “Most people know that the in- dustry’s behavior had been less than honorable, but how many know that cigarette smoke contains arsenic, cyanide, and radioactive isotopes?” Proctor asks in the prologue. “How many know that 90 percent of the world’s licorice ends up in tobacco, or that cigarettes are freebased with ! ammonia to turn them into a kind " " of crack nicotine? How many know that only about two-thirds of what goes into a cigarette is actually to- bacco, with much of the rest being a witches’ brew of added sugars, burn # accelerants, freebasing agents, bron- chial dilators, and moisteners like $ glycerin or diethylene glycol, the antifreeze contaminating all those deadly Chinese tubes of toothpaste? ! " How many know about the filth % & ' sometimes found in cigarettes — dirt () # and mold, of course, but also worms, wire and insect excrement?” A reader doesn’t have to agree with all of his solutions, including his im- # $ %& '( passioned call for abolition of ciga- * + ,-. ,/. rettes, to appreciate his work. And , 0 even if the abolition he lobbies for in the short final chapter doesn’t mate- rialize, it’s heartening to know that 0 1 through his efforts the industry’s long and complex campaign to confuse and deceive the American public can no longer proceed unimpeded. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner ! " !##$% # ! # &" " ! # # can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.
Page 12ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V Gail Williams Young (1935-2012) Gail Williams Young, a resident of Ather- the Palo Alto Ju- TransitionsBirths, marriages and deaths ton since 1969, passed away on July 15th sur- nior League and rounded by her adoring family. Although a the Menlo Circus David Redfield together they raised their two sons, non-smoker, she succumbed to lung cancer Club. A “hands- David Redfield, a research physi- Andrew and Steven, participated in after a determined fight to extend the life on” parent and cist and longtime resident of Palo local school activities in support of grandparent, she Alto, died June 30 of complications their children, and traveled widely she so fully enjoyed. She was 76 years old. from lymphoma. He was 86. in the United States and overseas, Gail was born in Oshkosh, WI and at- had a passion for Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1925, including trips to Poland, the Soviet tended high school in Libertyville, IL. After public education he was the younger son of Herbert Union, Japan and India. graduating from Northwestern University and was a reliable donor to local schools. and Lillian Rosenfeld. The family He took an early retirement from in 1957, she and her identical twin sister, According to her children, Gail had a moved to Los Angeles in the early RCA in 1985 and returned to Cali- Gwen, were hired as “Toni Twins” and ap- “joyful, inquisitive spirit.” She traveled the 1930s and Cal- fornia. He took a position of con- peared in TV and radio commercials fea- world to learn about art, architecture and ifornia became sulting professor at Stanford Univer- his home. sity in the Department of Materials turing hair and beauty products. Later that culture, and her beautiful homes reflected He complet- Science and Engineering, where he year, she married James Young, a Sales En- her impeccable taste and sense of whimsy. ed his train- continued his research and work gineer with General Electric. When they re- She often opened her home for art tours, ing as a pilot with graduate students until his re- located to California in 1969 with Permag even in her final days. in the Army tirement in 1997. Corporation, Gail became active in the West Known affectionately as “G.G.” to her Air Corps just Off campus, he spent many years Coast contemporary art world. She was an seven grandchildren, Gail was a gifted ath- as World War doing weekly readings for Learning avid collector, generous patron and part- lete who enjoyed golf, tennis and swimming. II ended, so Ally of Palo Alto (formerly Record- he returned to ing for the Blind and Dyslexic). He time consultant. Her art affiliations includ- She is survived by her devoted husband of UCLA to com- David Redfield was recognized in 2010 for having ed charter membership in the Cantor Arts 55 years, Jim; her children Keith, Kim and plete his under- completed 2,000 hours of reading Center’s Contemporary Collector’s Circle, Lynne; her son-in-law John Moragne and graduate education. After graduat- for them. and board member of the Palm Springs Art daughter-in-law Cheryl; her grandchildren ing in 1948 with a degree in physics, Through a local Palo Alto bridge Museum and La Quinta Arts Foundation. Hutch, Tyler and Danielle Moragne; Chris, he moved to Washington, D.C., and club, in 1992 he met Etty Korengold In recent years, she assisted the University Tommy and Caroline Cummings; and Kori received a master’s degree in phys- and the two became close compan- of Michigan in making art acquisitions for Young; her twin sister and brother-in-law ics from the University of Maryland ions for the next two decades, at- (1950) and a doctorate in physics tending theater regionally and at its Ross School of Business. Gwen and John Hibbard; many adoring from the University of Pennsylvania the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Gail was a dedicated community volunteer. nieces and nephews and step-grandchildren (1956). Over the following years, he and traveling in Europe, Asia, South She had a keen interest in mental health and Zach, Kiley and Chase Betancourt. Con- worked as a research physicist at a America and Australia. was president of the Mental Health Associa- tributions in her name may be made to The division of Union Carbide outside He is survived by his sons, An- tion of San Mateo County in the 1970s. In Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute of Cleveland, Ohio, and at RCA’s drew and Steven; his daughter-in- addition, she supported the Center for Re- (ALCMI), 1100 Industrial Road, Suite 1 San David Sarnoff Research Center in law, Patricia Pippert; his nieces, Princeton, N.J., with an interven- Judy Gruen and Sharon Model; and search on Women at Stanford and Planned Carlos, CA 94070. A private service will be ing stint as a professor at Columbia six grand-nieces and nephews. Parenthood, and served on the boards of held at a later date. University. PAID OBITUARY His work developed in the field of semiconductors, especially the role they can play in producing electric- Lasting ity through solar energy. In 1976, he patented a solar cell with a grooved Memories surface that continues to be refer- enced in new solar cell inventions. An online directory During his first year in Wash- of obituaries and ington, D.C., he was introduced to remembrances. Barbara Leiken. They married in PaloAltoOnline.com/ 1950 and stayed married until her obituaries death in 1984. During their years
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ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 13 Heinz Furthmayr, MD Possession of prohibited weapons.....1 Report referral from Heinz Furthmayr, MD, emeritus professor of pathology Child Protective Services ...... 1 at the Stanford University School of Medicine, died of a Trespassing ...... 1 Vandalism...... 1 heart attack on May 1 while trekking in Nepal two days Pulse Warrant arrest...... 9 before his 71st birthday. A weekly compendium of vital statistics Atherton Austrian-born, after medical school in Vienna he July 11-18 POLICE CALLS Open container...... 1 Theft related embarked on a research career that led him through Possession of drugs...... 2 Fraud ...... 1 the Max-Planck Institute in Munich to Yale University Palo Alto Miscellaneous Petty theft...... 2 July 11-18 Animal call...... 1 Vehicle related and in 1989 to Stanford. A clinical and experimental Violence related Elder financial abuse...... 1 Parking/driving violation ...... 2 pathologist whose work advanced the understanding of the Battery ...... 2 Found property...... 1 Suspicious vehicle ...... 6 Domestic violence ...... 1 Hazard ...... 1 Vehicle accident/property damage.....3 organization of the body’s connective tissue, Furthmayr Sexual assault...... 1 Lodging without owner’s permission . . .1 Vehicle code violation...... 7 contributed vital insights into the immunological and Strong-arm robbery ...... 1 Missing person...... 1 Miscellaneous Theft related Outside assistance...... 1 911 hang up ...... 1 structural properties of various collagens, the composition Attempted burglaries ...... 2 Resisting arrest...... 2 Animal call...... 7 and structure of basement membranes, the structure of Commercial burglaries ...... 3 Suspicious circumstances ...... 5 Attempt to contact ...... 1 Credit card forgery ...... 2 Trespassing ...... 1 Construction...... 2 membranes of red blood cells and the role of the membrane Grand theft...... 9 Warrant/other agency...... 5 Disturbance ...... 5 cytoskeleton in cell movement. He retired in 2005, and did Petty theft...... 3 Menlo Park Foot patrol ...... 1 Prowler...... 1 July 11-18 Hazard ...... 6 Residential burglaries...... 5 adventurous travel around the world. He is survived by his Violence related Juvenile problem...... 3 Shoplifting...... 2 Child abuse...... 1 Lost property ...... 1 wife, Uta Francke, emeritus professor at Stanford, of Los Vehicle related Theft related Medical aid...... 2 Driving w/suspended license ...... 5 Altos Hills, and three sisters, four brothers, his mother, Attempted burglaries ...... 2 Outside assistance...... 3 Hit and run ...... 1 Fraud ...... 1 Psychiatric hold ...... 1 numerous nieces and nephews, all in Austria or Germany, Lost/stolen plates...... 2 Petty theft...... 5 Suspicious circumstances ...... 3 Misc. traffic...... 4 and two god-children in Palo Alto. Residential burglaries...... 5 Suspicious person ...... 1 Theft from auto...... 6 Vehicle related Ticket signoff ...... 3 A public memorial service will be held July 26 at 4 p.m. Vehicle accident/major injury ...... 1 Auto theft ...... 1 Town ordinance violation ...... 3 Vehicle accident/minor injury ...... 5 at Stanford Memorial Church. Driving w/suspended license ...... 5 Tree down...... 3 Vehicle accident/property damage.....9 Driving without license ...... 1 Weapons charge/violation ...... 1 For more information please go to www.PaloAltoOnline. Vehicle tow ...... 5 Hit and run ...... 3 Welfare check...... 1 Alcohol or drug related com/obituaries. Reckless vehicle...... 1 Drinking where prohibited...... 1 PAID OBITUARY Vehicle accident/minor injury ...... 2 Drunk in public ...... 6 VIOLENT CRIMES Vehicle accident/property damage.....6 Drunken driving...... 3 Vehicle tow ...... 4 Palo Alto Alcohol or drug related 200 block University Avenue, 7/11, 1:43 Drunken driving...... 1 p.m.; battery. Unlisted block Middlefield Road Possession of drugs...... 3 , 7/12, John Peter Grothe Miscellaneous 8:54 a.m.; sex crime/misc. Unlisted block El Camino Real Coroner’s case...... 1 , 7/12, 1:36 Disturbance ...... 1 p.m.; strong-arm robbery. John Peter Grothe, who celebrated Scholar in Sweden Unlisted block East Meadow Drive Found property...... 1 , 7/13, Gang information ...... 1 4:12 p.m.; battery of a peace officer. life with passion and enthusiasm, and Norway. He Unlisted block University Avenue Illegal dumping ...... 1 , 7/15, passed away on Saturday, June 16th lectured in over Information case...... 3 6:07 p.m.; domestic violence/court order. Lost property ...... 1 Menlo Park in Los Altos, Calif., from brain injury 51 countries, 26 Mental evaluation ...... 1 800 block College Avenue, 7/17, 9:51 a.m.; caused by a fall. He was 81. of those for the Missing person...... 3 report on child abuse. He is survived by sister Carol Stevens U.S. Information of Palo Alto and half siblings, Tom Agency. Grothe of Chico and Heidi Carman of Dr. Grothe was Robert Thomas Kane San Rafael. Born in San Francisco on the author of “To Aug. 17, 1939 – July 6, 2012 May 28, 1931, to Walter and Dorothy Win the Minds of Men -- a Study of Robert Thomas Kane, 72, passed away unexpectedly on Grothe, he was raised in Hillsborough, the Propaganda War in East Germany” July 6, 2012 at his home in Florida. Born and raised in Glen Calif. He earned BA and MA degrees in and wrote numerous scholarly articles Cove, New York, Robert’s education, from St. Joseph’s Journalism from Stanford University in the American Political Science in Metuchen, NJ to studying in Bergamo with Mario and a PHD in Political Science from Review, Western Political Quarterly, Montessori, was as varied as his interests. Montessori was George Washington University. the N.Y. Times, the Washington Post, Robert’s professional passion for over 40 years. He founded His proudest achievement was the Christian Science Monitor, and the and operated many Montessori schools in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, educating thousands of drafting the original Peace Corps San Francisco Chronicle. He served children. Florida was Robert’s current home but Portola legislation and giving it the name “The with the American Field Service as an Valley, California was the center of his life for many years. Peace Corps” in 1960 when he worked adviser, leader and volunteer. Never at a loss for ideas or words, Robert was a strong- as Foreign Relations Adviser and At MIIS Dr. Grothe was a “father minded, kind, and very generous person. His flare for the Speech Writer for Senator Hubert H. figure,” mentor and friend who out-of-the-ordinary was a source of much amusement Humphrey. In 1961 he was appointed inspired, guided and cared for to all who knew him — from oversized Christmas trees Deputy Director, U.N. Division of the his students. He made a financial in the living room to rope swings and that long blue van U.S. Peace Corps. commitment to enable 145 highly carrying a generation of children to soccer or swimming. For the past 31 years Dr. Grothe was qualified international and minority Robert was devoted to his family. He is survived by his three children; Jeremiah (Beth an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate students to pursue their education. Ferreira), Caitlin (Justin Davis) and Meaghan (Vasco de School of International Policy Studies, You may honor Dr. Grothe’s memory Andrade) and by Beth Bement Kane of San Francisco, Monterey Institute of International by making a donation to the “Peter his wife for 31 years. He was ‘Grandpa’ to Rowan and Studies (MIIS), where he taught Grothe Scholarship Fund for Women Declan Kane; Taylor, Anna and Hudson Davis; and Cross-cultural Communications and in Developing Countries.” Checks may Tomas, Caroline and Frederick and a son (due 11/2012) de American Politics and was the Director be mailed to: Andrade. Bob was also survived by his brother, Richard of International Student Programs. MIIS Institutional Advancement Kane (Marilyn). Prior to coming to MIIS Dr. Grothe Office A funeral service will be held at Woodside Priory School’s 460 Pierce St. chapel in Portola Valley on Sunday, July 22 at 2:00pm. In taught at San Jose State University, lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Father Odense University in Denmark, and Monterey, CA 93940 Martin Mager Scholarship at Woodside Priory School 302 State University of New York, Stony Portola Road Portola Valley, CA. Brook. He was a Visiting Research PAID OBITUARY PAID OBITUARY
Page 14ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V City of Palo Alto Presents the 28th annual
5K walk, 5K & 10K run — Great for kids and families A benefit event for local non-profits supporting kids and families Register online: PaloAltoOnline.com/moonlight_run
TIME & PLACE Corporate Sponsors 5K walk 7:00pm, 10K run 8:15pm, 5K run 8:45pm. Race-night registration 6 to 8pm at City of Palo Alto Baylands Athletic Center, Embarcadero & Geng Roads (just east of the Embarcadero Exit off Highway 101). Parking — go to PaloAltoOnline.com to check for specific parking locations. COURSE 5K and 10K loop courses over Palo Alto Baylands levee, through the marshlands by the light of the Harvest Moon! Course is flat, USAT&F certified (10k run only) on levee and paved roads. Water at all stops. Course map available at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. REGISTRATIONS & ENTRY FEE In-Kind Sponsors Adult Registration (13 +) registration fee is $30 per entrant by 9/14/12. Includes a long-sleeved t-shirt. Youth Registration (6 - 12) registration is $20 per entrant by 9/14/12. Includes a long-sleeved t-shirt. Youth (5 and under) run free with an adult, but must be registered through Evenbrite with signed parental guardian waiver, or may bring/fill out a signed waiver to race-night registration. Late Registration fee is $35 for adults, $25 for youth from 9/15 - 9/26. Race night registration fee is $40 for adult; $30 for youth from 6 to 8pm. T-shirts available only while supplies last. Refunds will not be issued for no-show registrations and t-shirts will not be held. MINORS: If not pre-registered, minors under 18 MUST bring signed parental/waiver form on race night. SPORTS TEAM/CLUBS: Online pre-registration opportunity for organizations of 10 or more runners; e-mail [email protected]. Community Sponsors DIVISIONS Age divisions: 9 & under; 10 - 12; 13 - 15; 16 - 19; 20 - 24; 25 - 29; 30 - 34; 35 - 39; 40 - 44; 45 - 49; 50 - 54; 55 - 59; 60 - 64; 65 - 69; 70 & over with separate divisions for male and female runners in each age group. Race timing provided for 5K and 10K runs only. COMPUTERIZED RESULTS BY A Change of Pace Chip timing results will be posted on PaloAltoOnline.com by 11pm race night. Race organizers are not responsible for incorrect results caused by incomplete/incorrect registration forms. AWARDS/PRIZES/ENTERTAINMENT Top three finishers in each division. Prize giveaways and refreshments. Pre-race warmups by Noxcuses Fitness, Palo Alto PALO ALTO GRAND PRIX Road Race Series — Moonlight Run, 9/28; Marsh Madness, 10/27; Home Run, 9/11, for more information go to www.paloaltogp.org. BENEFICIARY Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund. A holiday-giving fund to benefit Palo Alto area non-profits and charitable organizations. In April 2012, 55 organizations received a total of $353,000 (from the 2011-2012 Holiday Fund.) MORE INFORMATION Call (650) 463-4920, (650) 326-8210, email [email protected] or go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com. For safety reasons, no dogs allowed on course for the 5K and 10K runs. They are welcome on the 5K walk only. No retractable leashes. Bring your own clean-up bag. Jogging strollers welcome in the 5K walk or at the back of either run. Friday Sept. 28 7pm
ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 15 Page 16ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 17 Editorial Heading off looming pension crisis City’s leaders seek ways to bring rising employee retirement costs under control Editorials, letters and opinions riven by increasingly higher pension and benefit costs, employee Spectrum compensation now makes up 63 percent of Palo Alto’s General Fund D budget, an unsustainable situation that could cripple the city in the AT&T’s chilly reception ing funds to where they’re really To fund high-speed rail, Demo- years ahead. Editor, needed such as general improve- crats have plundered the budgets for But as the Weekly’s cover story last week described, it will not be easy to According to the web page pro- ment along the existing streets and education, public health and safety, reduce these pension obligations and the potential big impacts on all other moting AT&T’s wireless plans for sidewalks and building up funds local infrastructure, public parks parts of the city’s budget. Palo Alto: “AT&T addresses com- to provide more parking (e.g., new and key social services, to say noth- The proportion of dollars paid for employee benefits to salaries is up munity needs where we — and garages like what was done in ing of damage to our environment, from 23 percent in 2002 to 54 percent in 2010 and will be 63 percent by our customers — live and work.” downtown Palo Alto) to encourage and destruction of farms, business- fiscal year 2012. Employee benefits alone now comprise 27 percent of the So why hasn’t AT&T addressed patronage. es and homes along the route. general fund budget. the community need for peace and Mike L. Meffert I’m a registered Democrat, but This snowballing crisis is not unique to Palo Alto, or even small cities. quiet by putting adequate sound Alhouse Deaton Management I now believe that the only way to Earlier this week a federal task force found that many states, including Cal- enclosures around screw compres- & Leasing, Inc. save California is to vote “NO” on ifornia, are facing higher health care costs and underfunded pensions while sor chillers on their Birch Street Palo Alto any tax increase, and to restore sane revenues are sliding backward. Many have resorted to budget gimmicks switching station roof? priorities by replacing Democratic legislators with Republicans one by and borrowing to make ends meet. And some cities, including Stockton Since 2008 these chillers have Restore sane priorities one. Doing so will indeed cause the and San Bernardino, are opting for bankruptcy as a solution. made frequent humming noises Editor, pain that the Democrats have built In Palo Alto, the pension problem has been growing for years, but high reminiscent of the plastic horns that California has plenty of money annoyed many during World Cup and has no need to raise taxes fur- into the current budget in order to investment returns lulled most municipalities into a false sense of com- force voters to approve more taxes fort. soccer games. We hear the chillers ther. That truth was demonstrated inside our house (200 feet away) by last week’s vote to commit $380 for Sacramento to waste. For example, in 2007 the city made a deal with the Service Employees Once the Democrats’ hammer- International Union to trade a less generous health care plan for a bump with all windows shut and outside million per year for interest pay- several blocks away. An HVAC ments on high-speed rail bonds. lock in Sacramento is broken, they in the pension formula that raised the pension benefit from $60,000 to can then return to their traditional $81,000 a year for an employee retiring with $100,000 a year in income industry paper explains that screw What’s needed in Sacramento is not more money but more responsible role of looking out for people in- after 30 years of service. compressor chillers produce “pure- prioritization of spending. stead of special, big-money inter- It is deals like this that will push the cost of 2013 pensions to $23.1 mil- tone” noises that are particularly annoying to the human ear. Decades of democratic control ests. To quote a line from the movie lion, up from just $3.8 million in 2002 and $2.4 million in 2003. Health After two years of complaints to in Sacramento have steadily driven “Network,” “I’m mad as hell and care expenses are expected to reach $24 million this fiscal year and to be AT&T, the police, code enforce- California to the brink of disaster I’m not going to take it anymore.” near $30 million in two more years, three times the $10 million cost in ment, City Council and a petition by Democrats abandoning their California has plenty of money; 2002. signed by 18 neighbors, a small step traditional role as guardians of it’s only short of common sense. A major part of the problem is the lackluster investment performance of was taken — turning off the chill- the people and wasting taxpayers’ Don Barnby CalPERS, the state retirement system, whose most recent report showed a ers at night. Then, sometime last money on boondoggle projects like Spruce Avenue meager 1 percent return, a fraction of its 7.5 percent goal. When CalPERS year the sound mysteriously went high-speed rail. Menlo Park earnings fall, cities are on the hook to make up the difference in retiree away. That was lovely, but now the paychecks. This is a double whammy for Palo Alto, which already pays a sound is back on and off, all times large part of employee retirement contributions to CalPERS. of day and night. WHAT DO YOU THINK? And the city’s costs are spiraling upward for another reason: the higher Is it a coincidence that AT&T salaries earned by top city employees that follow them out the door when turned off the noisy chillers while The Palo Alto Weekly encourages comments on our coverage or on they retire. For example, former Police Chief Lynn Johnson retired after they were seeking approval for the issues of local interest. more than 30 years in 2009 with an annual pension of $201,953, and former first phase of a proposed city-wide City Manager Frank Benest isn’t far behind with $193,351. Eighty-eight of cell phone antenna network (with the city’s 954 retirees receive more than $100,000 a year, which does not potentially noisy fans) and then Will the city’s new labor contract go include the cost of health care benefits for themselves and their family. turned them back on after the prec- far enough to avert the looming pension The city is making slow progress toward rolling back this trend by ne- edent-setting first phase was ap- gotiating two-tier, less costly retirement packages with most unions that proved? If AT&T wants Palo Alto and benefits crisis? offer new employees fewer benefits than current rank-and-file workers. residents to view the company as ? And the city is asking workers to pay more of their employee contribution respectful of community needs, it to CalPERS. At a meeting in May when the council was discussing the is time for a permanent solution to Submit letters to the editor of up to 250 words to [email protected]. long-range financial forecast, Vice Mayor Greg Scharff said that medical this annoying problem. Submit guest opinions of 1,000 words to [email protected]. Include your name, address and daytime phone number so we can reach you. and pension costs are “running at an unsustainable rate and crowding out Claire Elliott We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, objectionable content, everything else.” Chestnut Avenue libel and factual errors known to us. Anonymous letters will generally not be “What we’re asking people to do is accept a lower quality of life so that Palo Alto accepted. Submitting a letter to the editor or guest opinion constitutes a we can fund pensions and benefits that are growing at an outrageous pace. granting of permission to the Palo Alto Weekly and Embarcadero Media to I don’t accept that that should be the plan.” also publish it online, including in our online archives and as a post on Town Reduction lacks support Square. Scharff hopes a September city council discussion on pensions will get to Editor, For more information contact Editor Jocelyn Dong or Editorial Assistant Eric the legal aspects governing the rights of employees and the city in pension I have repeatedly spoken out Van Susteren at [email protected] or 650-326-8210. matters. For example, could the city roll back a pension set at 2.0 at 55 to a against reducing the number of 2.7 at 55 plan midway through a worker’s career? This is a legal issue that lanes on California Avenue. has not been tested, Scharff said. The city is also handcuffed by restrictions I am a property owner of a three- put in place by CalPERS, which does not allow 401k-type plans and sets story office building on Califor- stiff penalties if the city wants to withdraw from the system, he said. nia Avenue and a real estate agent Voters would probably be ready to support efforts to roll back some handling most of the office/retail of the city’s pension commitments, similar to the decision to throw out leasing on the avenue. I have par- binding arbitration for fire and police contracts, which was a major step ticipated with the merchants in for the city. sponsoring advertisements oppos- But at this time, it is not clear what options the city has to gain control ing the lane reduction and yet this of its pension costs, which are expected to grow faster than revenues in the only seems to slightly slow down years ahead. According to a Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report, efforts to reduce the number of the city’s current pension liabilities are $153.9 million and its health care lanes rather than to veto the idea liabilities are $105 million, or $259 million in all. The total gives Palo once and for all. Alto the dubious distinction of having the highest debt per resident in the I appreciate everyone’s thoughts county, at $4,021. and concerns as the California Av- Clearly identifying its options and their legal risks needs to be a top enue district is a vibrant and vital priority for the city in the months ahead. In all likelihood, changes in both part of Palo Alto, but let’s make state law and city policy will be needed, since the progress being made changes that are needed rather than in negotiating new labor contracts only slows down the growth of the chasing down this “requirement” problem. We look forward to a robust council discussion on the subject that lacks popular support. Reduc- in September. ing lanes will harm the vibrancy of this district. Please consider apply- Page 18ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V Check out Town Square! Hundreds of local topics are being discussed by local residents on Town Square, a reader forum sponsored by the Weekly on our com- munity website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Post your own comments, ask questions, read the Editor’s blog or just stay up on what people are talking about around town!
On Deadline New leader inspires hope for ‘Free at Last’ rehab program
by Jay Thorwaldson doing domestic-violence work in Alameda “The magic of Free at Last is the dedication In the 1990s she worked on substance-abuse he outlook for the County but reaching back to 1990 in prison- of the staff — and the people we help,” she treatment in New York state prisons. By 1999 financially chal- rehabilitation and substance-recovery pro- said. that had evolved into doing “re-entry work” for T lenged “Free at grams. The core programs include a men’s residen- the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, Last” substance and She immediately began meeting members of tial facility with 18 beds, a women’s residen- Calif., serving the San Bernardino/Riverside prison rehabilitation the community, exploring potential sources of tial facility with 14 beds and three transitional region. For the past three years she has been program based in East financial support, and laying the groundwork houses with 18 beds, plus an open drop-in doing domestic-violence work in Alameda Palo Alto has gotten for a strategic-planning process. center and support services such as counsel- County, a problem closely allied to substance brighter with the ar- “I knew it would be a challenge, but I like to ing, job-finding assistance and addiction pro- abuse and to re-entry. rival of a dynamic new fix things,” Harris said of her still-new job in a grams. The Norco job included one of her great- executive director, Car- recent interview. “We help people come back to their commu- est challenges: “I had to hire 38 counselors in la Harris. One of her major tasks is to change the per- nity, and be employed, part time or in school two weeks” for both a men’s program and a And the revival of ception about Free at Last’s basic survival as — so they learn to be self-sufficient.” women’s program. the program is just in time for an expected in- a community-based organization that over the Benefits of helping individuals become stron- She initially heard about Free at Last when crease in need due to the new AB 109 prison years has helped many hundreds of individuals ger extend to their families and to the commu- David Lewis was doing research on a cur- realignment, parole and probation reform pro- — men and women, older and younger — re- nities from which they come, she noted. riculum for an in-prison treatment program, a gram in California. A third of all those return- claim their lives after alcoholism, drug addic- There’s also a practical realism, cited by hybrid of Therapeutic Community, a 12-step ing from prison or jail to San Mateo County are tion, and jail and prison terms. Smothers last fall. Creating self-sufficiency treatment model. in the Free at Last immediate service area of “It’s sad that people feel it is dying. because and strength keeps people off the streets and She heard about Free at Last’s CEO opening East Palo Alto, eastern Menlo Park or southern it isn’t. We have created a strategic plan for im- away from crime — a benefit both to East Palo on Craig’s List in 2011 when she was working Redwood City. mediate and long-term solutions. ... My vision Alto and crime-sensitive surrounding commu- in Alameda County. “But whoever needs help, that’s who we for Free at Last is high. nities such as Palo Alto and others. Now she’s looking forward. “Once the staff is help,” Harris says. “I knew I would have to hit the ground run- Because Harris’ father was with the U.S. Air back to capacity one of the things I want to do The program has been struggling to survive ning,” Harris said of her first weeks on the job. Force she was born in Madrid, Spain, spent is ‘social enterprise’ work, to partner with cor- since the shooting death of its co-founder, “But I have gained a lot of support. For our a couple of early school years in Germany porations and businesses to create employment David Lewis, in June 2010. A former addict, immediate needs for the transition period we’re and most of her childhood in New York state. opportunities for the people we help —and Lewis became nationally known for his work appealing to individuals and to private foun- But she was drawn to social work and social have that business be in East Palo Alto.” after his personal recovery from alcohol and dations for general operations and to continue causes. “There is a huge, huge need for (job) oppor- drug usage. “We have no money,” co-founder services.” “I have a passion for this work,” she said. tunities for individuals in this community.” and board chair Vicki Smothers, who does She said additional funds have started com- “My father died of alcoholism at an early age. And there’s an immediate view: “Free at Last mental-health outreach for San Mateo County, ing in, including from some sources that were He was in sales and it didn’t feel like a good is such a vital, necessary entity in East Palo declared in an interview last September. former supporters but who pulled back due fit.” Alto. I can’t imagine East Palo Alto without Harris emerged as the lead candidate follow- to the uncertainties and confusion following One of her first jobs in a prison system, it,” she said. N ing a search that began last August to replace Lewis’ death. in 1989, “brought up a lot of my own stuff” Former Weekly Editor Jay Thorwald- interim CEO Gerardo Barragan. Stanford Uni- The staff now consists of 10 full-time per- and left her with a strong drive to help people son can be emailed at jthorwaldson@ versity’s Haas Center helped set up the search. sons and 14 part-time, about half of whom used change and improve their lives. paweekly.com with a copy to jaythor@ Harris “hit the ground running” in late to be full-time. Restoring their hours and using “My heart is really around social-justice is- well.com. He also writes biweekly blogs March, capping more than 20 years in reha- the staff to increase community outreach is a sues, including the core issues involved in so- at www.PaloAltoOnline.com (below Town bilitation and support programs, most recently near-term priority, Harris said. cial justice, such as racism,” she said. Square). Streetwise What is your favorite local lunch spot? Asked on Cambridge Avenue, Palo Alto. Interviews and photographs by Dean McArdle.
Jeff Salzman Reuben Veek Jane Urbach Edgar Brown Pat Bocook Business development Renewable energy Retired Lawyer Office manager Midtown Mountain View Barron Park Menlo Park Los Altos “Home. Whatever was left over from “Dish and Dash. It is quick without be- “Jack in the Box.” “Bistro Elan. They have a Greek salad “Joanie’s. The food is just so good the night before.” ing manufactured and has a delicious that is just delicious and healthy.” and I like the variety and portions and assortment of little sauces.” prices.”
ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 19 Cover Story
ainter Mark Garner is just the type of Pacific Art League mem- ber whom many at the league would like to see more of. He’s an enthusiastic and pro- lificD artist who has been painting every day of the two years he’s been retired from sell- ing real estate. Four of his “photo-realistic” watercolors were accepted into a league ex- hibition last fall, and two were in last month’s show. Currently, his painting of the Palo Alto landmark Mac’s Smoke Shop, vivid and de- tailed as a mosaic, hangs in the league’s main gallery. “Producing art is what I want to do,” he said. Garner is also focused on the present and the future of the art league, not its past. Though he has lived in Palo Alto almost 30 years, he was only dimly aware of the art league before he retired. He certainly wasn’t very interested in the controversy five years ago over a plan to move out of the top two floors of the league’s historic but seismically unsafe building in downtown Palo Alto. That plan, he said, “really wasn’t on my radar.” The current plan is, prominently. Garner has read up on the project that will dramati- cally shape the prospects of the 90-year-old arts organization. Next year, the group is scheduled to break ground on a $4 million renovation and seismic retrofit. The build- ing’s size will increase by 5,000 square feet, growing by two-thirds. The revamped second floor will be leased in hopes of retiring the bank debt funding the bulk of the project. “I think the building could use some im- BY REBECCA WALLACE provements. It’s dated. I hope it works out in PHOTOGRAPHS BY SIERRA DUREN their favor,” Garner said. Overall, he’s a fan of the art league, calling its staff and volun- Hfm]b[ teers “very supportive of the art community, especially to a guy like me who is new.” It’s an opinion the Pacific Art League PACIFIC ART LEAGUE LAUNCHES (PAL) would like others to share — many others. As the nonprofit gears up for the hc[Yh MAJOR RENOVATION OF ITS groundbreaking, executive director Richard Ambrose, board president Joy Chase and U`YU[iYHISTORIC BUILDING, REINVENTS their cohorts are planning ahead to shape its ITSELF FOR THE FUTURE future. Ambrose and Chase say the league has come far since the heated days of 2007 and 2008, when plans to sell its building at 668 Ramona St. sparked an angry “Vote No” campaign by some members. (The plan U\YUX was subsequently dropped.) The number of league members is up to 480, after bottom- ing out at 300 during the most contentious days, Ambrose said. In addition, the budget is nearly balanced after “multiple years of six-figure deficits,” he added. Many, too, agree that the atmosphere at the organization is worlds different. “PAL is back,” painter and longtime member Gary Coleman wrote recently in an email. “Once again it is a friendly, supportive art institu- tion.” But Ambrose, Chase and the others have big tasks yet to complete. They’ll need to keep the organization vital while its exhibi- tions and classes are displaced by construc- tion. In addition, the league’s small staff hasn’t focused as much on public relations as it could, and there is no development di- rector, Ambrose said. Looking ahead to the league’s 100-year anniversary (it was founded in 1921), Am- brose hopes to increase membership to 1,000 by then. That will include crafting new en- terprises to try to draw in the 20-something
Top: Young painters take a day-camp class on watercolor at the Pacific Art League. Left: Palo Alto city officials say the Pacific Art League’s 1926 building has retained the “great majority” of its historic character. The renovation plan wouldn’t change that. Page 20ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V NOTICE OF HEARING ON REPORT AND ASSESSMENT FOR WEED ABATEMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on December 12, 2011, the Fire Chief of the City of Palo Alto filed with the City Clerk of said city a report and assessment on abatement of weeds within said city, a copy of which is posted on the bulletin board at the entrance to the City Hall.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on July 23, 2012 at the hour of seven p.m. or as soon thereafter in the Council Chambers of said City Hall, said report and assessment list will be presented to the City Council of said City for consideration and confirmation, and that any and all persons interested, having any objections to said report and assessment list, or to any matter of thing contained therein, may appear at said time and place and be heard.
A tentative plan for the Forest Avenue side of the revamped Pacific Art League includes replacing aluminum “sliders” with wood-framed windows, and adding a new primary entrance for future building tenants. DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk and 30-something crowd, who have not typically been represented. “Our challenge, I think, is to sus- tain our membership not only dur- REMEMBER YOUR LOVE OF NATURE? ing transition and return but beyond that,” Chase said. Ambrose summed it up: “We’re pretty much in a transformative pe- riod.”
uilt in 1926 as the Win- sor Cabinet Shop, the cur- 6rent home of the Pacific Art League adds picturesque touches to the corner of Ramona Street and Forest Avenue. Crowned by a castle tower with wooden strips dividing its windows memory into small diamonds, the three-story building is covered with off-white pebbledash stucco. Clay-tile awnings cover some of the windows on the second floor. care When the Palo Alto City Council added the building to its Historic In- ventory in 1980, a staff report called it “a building of presence and strong visual interest ... that anchors the end Remember what a breath of fresh mountain air smells of this commercial block and turns the corner gracefully.” The State like? The Gardens Memory Care is located on a Historic Preservation Office has also beautiful 42-acre campus in the peaceful environs of declared the building eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, Portola Valley. Memory Care is just one of the benefits according to a city staff report. of calling the Sequoias Portola Valley home. Learn more In 1965, the Pacific Art League, formerly called the Palo Alto Art at sequoias-pv.org or call marketing at 650.851.1501. Club, bought the building and moved in, the staff report reads. The orga- nization has been there ever since, drawing many members, students and artists to its exhibitions, classes and other events. Many regulars are fond of the historic building, with its pretty (650) 851-1501 | sequoias-pv.org | 501 Portola Rd, Portola Valley, CA balconies and airy Norton Gallery upstairs. According to the staff re- This not-for-profit community is part of Northern California Presbyterian port, the “great majority” of the Homes and Services. License# 410500567. COA# 075 7,606-square-foot structure retains its historical character and integrity, despite a few alterations over the years. However, the building does not Palo Alto Weekly Photo Contest meet the requirements of the Amer- Center: One gallery view takes in both art and a warning that the icans with Disabilities Act; for ex- building has seismic hazards. Above: Artist Cherise Thompson, who ample, it has stairs but no elevator, teaches a printmaking course at the art league, readies a sheet of paper ENTRY DEADLINE IS and doorways need to be widened to for printing in the building’s print studio. JULY 27 accommodate wheelchairs. And it’s DEADLINE FRIDAY, on the city’s list of structures with seismic hazards, built from concrete EXTENDED! For entry form and rules: www.PaloAltoOnline.com (continued on next page) ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 21 Cover Story
terior comply with the U.S. Secre- family events for parents with young Pacific Art League tary of the Interior’s standards for children are also planned. (continued from previous page) rehabilitating historic structures, “I ran a Coffee, Art and Choco- and reinforced hollow-clay tile. according to the staff report. They late hour once a month for a couple “Historic and seismic rehabilita- include repainting the building in its of years midday, which attracted tion of the building” is not a small existing colors, adding a skylight and a small group of members and task, the staff report states. replacing windows and a door. The friends,” Chase said. “We need to So in 2007, the league came up addition will incorporate existing engage our members with more with a plan to sell the Ramona prop- architectural elements. loyalty-rewarding programs and in- erty to a developer who would re- The city’s Historic Resources teresting events.” vamp the building. The league would Board also unanimously approved Offsite events in which the league keep the first floor for classroom and the project last year. already takes part include solo exhi- gallery space, with the top two floors bitions in various Palo Alto venues. sold as commercial condominiums. he Pacific Art League ex- League members display their art “We’d love to stay here and do the pects to break ground on the at the Hotel California, St. Mark’s renovations ourselves. But that’s not Hproject in early January, with Episcopal Church, the city’s down- practical given what our assets are construction lasting 10 to 12 months. town library and other locations. right now,” Stephanie Demos, the It makes sense to start the work be- Currently, about 40 percent of the then-executive director of the league, tween academic quarters, so that fall league’s membership are artists, 40 said at the time. art classes can conclude in the old percent art students and 20 percent The contentious plan sparked the space and new ones begin later off- others, Ambrose said. A member- “Vote No” campaign, and many site, Ambrose said. ship costs $125 annually ($100 for staff and board members resigned. Richard Ambrose, executive director of the art league, discusses Kevin At the moment, the question is seniors) and includes such benefits Chase’s husband, architect Bill Brun- Deaton’s work “Seraphim” in the main gallery. where. Working with Cassidy Tur- as discounts on classes and free ley real-estate agents, the art league admission to 500 North American er, was one of the people elected to Starting in 2010, a building steer- “Councilmember (Karen) Holman the new board. is looking for a place to hold classes museums. ing group including Chase, Ambrose said the project was one of the nicest and exhibitions while everyone is Chase said many members came “The new board took over in or- and other board members worked projects she had seen in a long time,” der to stop the possible sale of the displaced by the construction. Am- to the league as art viewers, or oc- on the new construction project. It the meeting’s minutes read. brose estimates that it will take casional artists, and graduated to ex- historic building on Ramona Street. was approved by the Palo Alto City Under the plan, the building’s It was diverse in its interests and two months to prep the appropriate hibiting and selling their pieces. Council last year. space will increase by nearly 5,000 spaces; he hopes to find them by As plans are made and the ground- reasons for being on the board and In March the art league signed square feet, with an addition along conflicts ensued, which took about a October. breaking nears, summertime class- a memorandum of understanding the south side to augment studio, The hope is to find a site or sites es and exhibitions continue at the year to sort out,” Chase said. Demos with Oliver & Company of Berke- gallery and classroom areas. A new ultimately resigned. in Palo Alto or neighboring cities so league. Petite paintings from the ley and Richmond to be the general elevator and other changes will bring that the classes in particular can con- Santa Clara Valley Watercolor So- Chase herself was appointed, then contractor and project manager for the building into ADA compliance, elected, to the board in 2008 and be- tinue as planned. Ambrose said it’s ciety are on display in the Norton the work. and the seismic upgrade will include possible that gallery spaces may be Gallery; classes on monotype and came board president in 2010. Bruner, the league’s architect of adding steel columns. “My guiding principle has been to smaller during the construction. He’s intaglio fill the upstairs print stu- record, is architect on this project The project does not have any new looking at other galleries, cafes, va- dio; and kids attend a summer camp make PAL ‘a good place’ for artists, as well. Chase said that she and parking requirements; the nearby members and the community. I think Bruner, who is still on the board, parking lots and the garage under we are beginning to see this,” Chase recused themselves “from voting on neighboring City Hall are expected said. “We tried doing without an (ex- items that could possibly be to our to accommodate league visitors, ac- ecutive director) for a while; board advantage such as hiring the archi- cording to the council minutes. ‘Our challenge, I think, is to sustain members put in long hours. But in tect or even giving the final go on The art league is paying some of late 2009 we decided we needed the project.” the design costs from its cash re- our membership not only during someone to manage PAL on a daily serve, but the bulk of the $4 mil- basis.” he current plan for the old lion cost will be financed by a bank transition and return but beyond that.’ The board chose Ambrose, him- Ramona Street building is loan, Ambrose said. “We can’t raise J0Y CHASE, BOARD PRESIDENT self an artist who does large pencil getting a much calmer re- $4 million from donors, so we’ll be drawings. His experience includes H ception than the star-crossed 2007 leasing.” cant storefronts and other locations. focused on digital photography and curating exhibits at the Lawrence project. No members of the public Leasing out space on the second Hall of Science in Berkeley and the “We will have to offer discounts clay sculpting. spoke on the topic at the July 2011 and third floors, that is. The art and do continuous and effective mar- Major changes and challenges are Clay Center for the Arts and Sci- council meeting–, and the council league will keep its home on the ences in West Virginia. keting to inform our new and con- afoot, but several artists, like Cole- approved it 9-0. expanded first floor, and the proj- tinuing students and patrons of our man, sound optimistic about the ect also includes a new primary en- temporary location,” Chase said. future. trance on the building’s Forest Av- Meanwhile, the league continues “I love the old building. I am in Multimedia enue frontage for future tenants. The its quest to draw in new members. favor of the new direction,” he said. Advertising Sales Representative league has hired real-estate agents The organization is good at the clas- “Becoming active at PAL puts an and is already getting some interest sic after-school model of kids’ art artist into contact with other artists Embarcadero Media is a multimedia company with websites, email from prospective tenants, Ambrose classes and evening courses for older to learn from their experiences. It news digests (Express) and community newspapers on the Peninsula, said. in the East Bay and in Marin. adults, but it’s less adept at reaching also opens many opportunities to A flier from Cassidy Turley Com- the ages in between, Ambrose said. exhibit one’s art through the gal- We are the leader in community news and local advertising solutions mercial Real Estate Services is al- So it’s piloting and planning several lery and the community-outreach in the markets we serve. More residents in our communities turn to our ready advertising the new space at websites, email news digests and print media as the primary choice for new programs. programs. Additionally, it is a great local news and information. 229 Forest Ave. Listed attributes One is an Art-at-Work program, in place for artists at all levels to take include “Prime downtown Palo Alto which league artists bring art activi- small-sized classes with accom- We are looking for an aggressive, sophisticated Outside Sales location” and “Board room with pan- Representative for a prime display ad sales territory on the Peninsula. ties to workplaces, or the employees plished teachers.” Experience in online, social media, search marketing, and print media oramic views.” come to the league. In one case, Garner, for his part, just sounds sales is a plus. Familiarity with the advertising industry and selling Ambrose said the rental space Google called seeking an art-related thrilled to be active in the league solutions to local and regional businesses is required. could be used for technology, law or team-building exercise, Ambrose and painting regularly after a long- other kinds of offices. He speculated We offer salary, commission, bonus plan, health benefi ts, paid time off said. in-the-works retirement. and an environment where success and achievement is rewarded. that the league could re-acquire the “I said: ‘How about doing a mu- “I’ve been frustrated for 25 years,” space down the road, if it were to ral? We could provide the location he said. “I’m making up for lost Most importantly, the successful candidate must have a drive to be a top need and want it. performer and enjoy working with clients who are looking to our company and materials.’” time.” N to provide them with cost effective and effi cient advertising solutions. “We’re hoping we can retire the So, about a month ago, the Pacific Consultative selling approaches are key to success in this position. bank loan within 10 years,” he said. Art League and Google employees Information about the Pacific Art In addition, the league is planning League can be found at pacific If you have the passion to achieve great success in your career and worked together to create an 8-foot believe you can contribute signifi cantly to our leadership position in the a Centennial Campaign to help pay mural on paper with flowers, images artleague.org and 650-321-3891. market, please send your resume and a brief summary as to why you down the mortgage. of Mount Shasta and other pictures. Arts and Entertainment Editor believe you are the right candidate for this outstanding opportunity. While Ambrose wasn’t at the The league is also trying to bring Qualifi ed candidates will be contacted for an interview. league during the controversy, he Rebecca Wallace can be emailed at Silicon Valley workers in for brief [email protected]. Please submit your resume and cover letter to: seems certain that the new plan is a classes in drawing or other subjects. better one: “The proposal back then Tom Zahiralis, Vice President Sales and Marketing “It’s just the tip of the iceberg,” About the cover: [email protected] didn’t have a solution” to provide the Ambrose said of the outreach ef- league with a new home. Sylvia Wuensche-Wienands forts. paints an abstract work during Ambrose and others are also con- He is also interested in adding fident that the project will protect an art class at the Pacific Art 450 Cambridge Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94306 | 650.326.8210 lunchtime brown-bag lectures for League. Photo by Sierra Duren. PaloAltoOnline.com | TheAlmanacOnline.com | MountainViewOnline.com the building’s historic attributes. downtown-Palo Alto workers as Modifications to the building’s ex- well as gatherings for artists. More Page 22ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V ArtsA weekly guide to music, & theater, art,Entertainment movies and more, edited by Rebecca Wallace rhythm Local jazz pianist bolsters Menlo Park live-music scene LÞÊ >ÞÌ>Ê >ÀÊUÊ* ÌÃÊLÞÊ6iÀV>Ê7iLiÀ
Sometimes pianist Neil Adler performs with one drummer; sometimes his jam sessions at the Menlo Hub attract a crowd. In the top photo, from left, are John Higham, Rebecca DuMaine, Poh Soon Teng, Paul Neil Adler, who also has a background in physical therapy, is serious about his music. Getty, Adler and Rich Shah. Above: Diners watch the musicians jam.
eil Adler’s rhythm is infec- pelled to do. front of the restaurant audience on Thursday to the music.” tious. “It’s a strong passion, almost a drive,” he nights throughout the summer. He adds that Adler’s rhythmic drive was nurtured early During a piano gig at the Menlo says. “When you’re a musician, and you have he welcomes all types of music including jazz, by the booming Motown sound. “It was every- Hub, his foot-tapping translates the skill or the talent to do it, you feel like salsa, R&B, flamenco and Asian styles. where in Detroit,” he says. “It made a really to the audience, as several peo- that’s what you’re supposed to do, and if you “We’re going around the world this coming strong impression. That’s part of the rhythmic ple improvise their own accom- don’t do it, you get itchy.” year,” he says. impulse that I feel.” panimentN drummed on restaurant tables. A Detroit native, Adler moved to California Adams knew Adler through a mutual friend, Growing up, Adler met Stevie Wonder and Adler has said rhythm is the most important following his acceptance to Stanford Universi- and decided to schedule him regularly about Berry Gordy, the builders of Detroit Motown. element in music and can draw the audience ty to study physical therapy. Since then, he has three months ago. “(Stevie Wonder) was great. He wasn’t a big in. This technique evidently works, as several played piano locally for 40 years alongside his “The variety of music he plays is exception- star yet; he was the same age as me and he was diners begin to sing along to his version of career as a physical-therapy researcher and as- al,” Adams says. “He’s one of my favorites.” a much different person than he is today. We “New York, New York.” The tall ceiling and sistant. Adler has been a member of several lo- Adler’s signature style is minimalist. Play- didn’t know he was going to be a superstar; open space carries the sound throughout the cal bands around the Bay Area and describes ing with only his keyboard and a drum accom- they used to call him ‘Li’l Stevie Wonder.’” venue, supporting the relaxed and warm en- himself as a musical freelancer. He has played paniment, Adler creates a full sound through Studying the likes of Bill Evans, Herbie vironment. in Santa Cruz with Wally’s Swing World, in experienced improvisation. He also focuses on Hancock and Erroll Garner, Adler was sur- Adler is very clearly in the lead, even in his the Stanford CoHo as part of a jazz festival, maintaining the energy in his performance, rounded by jazz growing up. He cites his other small two-person ensemble. His direction is and in other jazz and salsa bands. often favoring ethnic styles over American musical influence: his family. subtle, and he maintains a wordless connec- The Menlo Hub in Menlo Park, formerly jazz. “My mother was a good singer and my fa- tion with his drummer, Alexander “Sasha” known as the Oak City Bar and Grill, is his “In many ways I’m not a traditional jazz ther a pianist,” he says. “My father’s LP col- Muchnik, through eye contact and subtle latest venue. He’s been scheduled to play musician,” Adler says. “I place more empha- lection I still have today, and (it) reflects the nods. Wednesdays at the restaurant, emulating the sis on rhythm and favor ethnic music like music that still defines some of the best of jazz “As a piano voice, you become the leader,” supper clubs of the war era. calypso, sun (Cuban), samba and American by George Shearing, Sarah Vaughn, Duke El- Adler says later. Mark Adams, the musical director for the soul and R&B. They come with very strong lington, etc.” A Menlo Park jazz pianist, Adler calls mu- Menlo Hub, says he plans to take the live mu- rhythm that makes it easy for the drummer to sic his avocation — something he feels com- sic scene up a step by auditioning local acts in follow along, and it gives a lot of momentum (continued on next page)
ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 23 ArtsA weekly guide to music, & theater, art,Entertainment movies and more, edited by Rebecca Wallace rhythm Local jazz pianist bolsters Menlo Park live-music scene LÞÊ >ÞÌ>Ê >ÀÊUÊ* ÌÃÊLÞÊ6iÀV>Ê7iLiÀ
Sometimes pianist Neil Adler performs with one drummer; sometimes his jam sessions at the Menlo Hub attract a crowd. In the top photo, from left, are John Higham, Rebecca DuMaine, Poh Soon Teng, Paul Neil Adler, who also has a background in physical therapy, is serious about his music. Getty, Adler and Rich Shah. Above: Diners watch the musicians jam.
eil Adler’s rhythm is infec- pelled to do. front of the restaurant audience on Thursday to the music.” tious. “It’s a strong passion, almost a drive,” he nights throughout the summer. He adds that Adler’s rhythmic drive was nurtured early During a piano gig at the Menlo says. “When you’re a musician, and you have he welcomes all types of music including jazz, by the booming Motown sound. “It was every- Hub, his foot-tapping translates the skill or the talent to do it, you feel like salsa, R&B, flamenco and Asian styles. where in Detroit,” he says. “It made a really to the audience, as several peo- that’s what you’re supposed to do, and if you “We’re going around the world this coming strong impression. That’s part of the rhythmic ple improvise their own accom- don’t do it, you get itchy.” year,” he says. impulse that I feel.” panimentN drummed on restaurant tables. A Detroit native, Adler moved to California Adams knew Adler through a mutual friend, Growing up, Adler met Stevie Wonder and Adler has said rhythm is the most important following his acceptance to Stanford Universi- and decided to schedule him regularly about Berry Gordy, the builders of Detroit Motown. element in music and can draw the audience ty to study physical therapy. Since then, he has three months ago. “(Stevie Wonder) was great. He wasn’t a big in. This technique evidently works, as several played piano locally for 40 years alongside his “The variety of music he plays is exception- star yet; he was the same age as me and he was diners begin to sing along to his version of career as a physical-therapy researcher and as- al,” Adams says. “He’s one of my favorites.” a much different person than he is today. We “New York, New York.” The tall ceiling and sistant. Adler has been a member of several lo- Adler’s signature style is minimalist. Play- didn’t know he was going to be a superstar; open space carries the sound throughout the cal bands around the Bay Area and describes ing with only his keyboard and a drum accom- they used to call him ‘Li’l Stevie Wonder.’” venue, supporting the relaxed and warm en- himself as a musical freelancer. He has played paniment, Adler creates a full sound through Studying the likes of Bill Evans, Herbie vironment. in Santa Cruz with Wally’s Swing World, in experienced improvisation. He also focuses on Hancock and Erroll Garner, Adler was sur- Adler is very clearly in the lead, even in his the Stanford CoHo as part of a jazz festival, maintaining the energy in his performance, rounded by jazz growing up. He cites his other small two-person ensemble. His direction is and in other jazz and salsa bands. often favoring ethnic styles over American musical influence: his family. subtle, and he maintains a wordless connec- The Menlo Hub in Menlo Park, formerly jazz. “My mother was a good singer and my fa- tion with his drummer, Alexander “Sasha” known as the Oak City Bar and Grill, is his “In many ways I’m not a traditional jazz ther a pianist,” he says. “My father’s LP col- Muchnik, through eye contact and subtle latest venue. He’s been scheduled to play musician,” Adler says. “I place more empha- lection I still have today, and (it) reflects the nods. Wednesdays at the restaurant, emulating the sis on rhythm and favor ethnic music like music that still defines some of the best of jazz “As a piano voice, you become the leader,” supper clubs of the war era. calypso, sun (Cuban), samba and American by George Shearing, Sarah Vaughn, Duke El- Adler says later. Mark Adams, the musical director for the soul and R&B. They come with very strong lington, etc.” A Menlo Park jazz pianist, Adler calls mu- Menlo Hub, says he plans to take the live mu- rhythm that makes it easy for the drummer to sic his avocation — something he feels com- sic scene up a step by auditioning local acts in follow along, and it gives a lot of momentum (continued on next page)
ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 23 Music@Menlo tenth anniversary Eating Out 9Vk^Y;^cX`ZaLj=Vc!6gi^hi^X9^gZXidgh
FOOD FEATURE
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Don’t Miss the Tenth-Anniversary Season ?jan'%·6j\jhi&&!'%&'$6i]ZgidcBZcadEVg`EVad6aid Now celebrating its tenth season, Music@Menlo—the Bay Area’s premier chamber music festival—offers an incomparable musical experience including world-class concerts and numerous free opportunities to explore classical music. The 2012 festival, Resonance, examines music’s impact on humanity—its ability to Michelle Le Michelle The grilled-asparagus salad at Calafia has baby frisee and radishes, with a lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. nurture mind and spirit, to transport listeners to new places, and, ultimately, to delight us all. Celebrating summer veggies :mXZei^dcVa8dcXZgih ;gZZ8V[8dckZghVi^dch WnLdgaY"GZcdlcZY VcYBVhiZg8aVhhZh Local produce inspires chefs to get creative with their menus 8]VbWZgBjh^X^Vch ;gZZ8dcXZgihWn by Junesung Lee :c\V\^c\Hnbedh^V IVaZciZYNdjc\6gi^hih alafia chef Charlie Ayers says dients is chef Gary Alinder, who enshrined in the burgeoning “loca- VcYAZXijgZh [gdbBjh^X5BZcad¼h he always keeps an attentive cooks meals using them for the vore” movement. >chi^ijiZ C eye out for the season’s best Peninsula Macrobiotic Community “It’s better for the local commu- when it comes to produce. every week. nity and the environment as well “The berries were amazing this “Seasonal is the best for you; it because of the reduced carbon foot- year: strawberries, blueberries, has the best nutritional value. It print,” Holloway said. “Food doesn’t blackberries, cherries. This sea- just makes sense because it’s more have to travel across entire oceans son also produced great asparagus, interesting, it’s more fresh and the just to get here.” and it was a strong year for sweet flavors are better,” Alinder said. For those who aspire to use season- English peas,” he said. “June pro- The community meets Monday al ingredients to try for themselves, duced wonderful peaches. You can nights at the First Baptist Church Ayers recommends Palo Alto’s Cali- still find some artichokes and baby in Palo Alto to share a vegan menu fornia Avenue farmers market and lettuces out there, and the season’s prepared by local chefs. The themed Sigona’s produce markets in Palo corn out of Brentwood was great.” menu changes each week. Alto and Redwood City. Ayers has created an eclectic Chef James Holloway, who also Alinder said he frequently shops menu at his restaurant at Palo Alto’s cooks for the macrobiotic commu- at the Berkeley Bowl for his ingre- Town and Country Village, and nity, said he does most of his shop- dients. The market carries many the majority of the ingredients are ping at farmers’ markets, and enjoys items but specializes in fresh pro- FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: produced in California from small getting to know the vendors. “You duce, he said. He has created a farms. Only items such as the sus- can’t build relationships like that at blog at macrochef.wordpress.com LLL#BJH>86IB:CAD#DG<+*%"((&"%'%' tainable salmon from Scotland are the grocery store.” (continued on next page) from out of the area, he said. Alinder said he remembers a time “We get our berries from a Palo when local, seasonal produce was Alto grower who harvests them in the only thing you could get at the his own backyard by Embarcadero. market. GREAT We get our chili peppers from Hap- “It used to be that farmers brought SHOWS py Quail Farms located in East Palo in everything from peas, alfalfa, EVERY Alto,” he said. “We get our eggs squash, fruits and so on. Then with 7/19 NIGHT! from Pescadero, tomatoes from Los the advancement of huge, mecha- Altos, and Brussels sprouts from nized agriculture, that died down Vertical Voices Half Moon Bay.” and we had monoculture, or special- Cooking with seasonal produce ization of just one or two different can dramatically influence the look, types of produce,” he said. smell and the taste of food, Ayers At Calafia, the menu changes “All at once, everyone in the room said. “As soon as produce is plucked four times a year, with new dishes realized that something special was off the vine, the nutritional value introduced each season. “It’s very happening.” —Washington Post and freshness diminish. Year-round special to try to use ingredients 7/21 7/25 7/28 Houston Person Charles McPherson Wycliffe Gordon produce can be shipped a long dis- within a small window. You have Photo: John Abbott tance,” he said. “The result is that a limited time to come up with a the taste is obviously much better creative item,” Ayers said. Soak up the sounds of summer at these and other shows: with seasonal ingredients; it just He added that buying seasonal 7/22 Julian Lage: 7/30 Taylor Eigsti/Kendrick Scott More shows, details & tickets at doesn’t taste the same when you get can be kinder on the environment them out of season.” because the food doesn’t have to Le Jazz Hot 7/31 Kenny Barron/Terell Stafford/ stanfordjazz.org Another fan of seasonal ingre- travel as far — an idea that has been 7/29 Matt Wilson Dayna Stephens 650-725-2787
ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 25 Eating Out
(continued from previous page) peas (about 4 pounds) 4 tablespoons unsalted organic butter with information and recipes. N 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic Info: Calafia Cafe and its 3 tablespoons chiffonade of mint leaves adjoining market are at Town & kosher salt and fresh ground pepper Country Village, Suite 130, 855 to taste El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Go to calafiapaloalto.com or call 650-322- 1. Blanch peas in 12 cups of boiling 9200. The Peninsula Macrobiotic salted water; once water returns to a Community holds dinners every boil, cook for one minute, turn off heat Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the First and let sit for one minute. Strain peas Baptist Church, 305 N. California and transfer into a bowl of iced salted Ave., Palo Alto. Reservations are water. Once peas are fully cooled requested; for details, call 650-599- down, drain well. This step can be 3320 or go to peninsulamacro.org. done a day in advance. 2. Preheat olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan, then add butter. Allow but- The following recipe is from Charlie ter to lightly bubble before adding in Use promo code YAY80s for $5 off single ticket purchase Ayers, and is currently on Calafia’s the peas, and saute on medium heat spring/summer menu. for one minute. Add garlic, cook for *use code online or over the phone another minute and add in mint and Calafia’s minty English peas salt and pepper. with butter and garlic 3. You may want to add grated Par- Ingredients: mesan cheese at the end. 6 cups freshly shelled sweet English Serves four.
PENINSULA ShopTalkby Daryl Savage
RESTAURANTS GOING AND COM- I have a lot of friends and investors ING ... Some good news and some here.” The restaurant is expected to bad news for restaurant-goers: Palo seat more than 100 guests and open Alto is losing three high-end restau- in October or November. rants next month, but gaining three new ones. Gone will be Trader Vic’s The third shutdown is Lavanda, a at 4269 El Camino Real, in front of Mediterranean Italian and Croatian Dinah’s Garden Hotel. The Poly- restaurant and wine bar at 185 Discover the best places nesian-themed restaurant that was University Ave., on the corner of Em- known for its exotic tropical drinks erson Street. Although owner Bruce to eat this week! with elaborate garnishes is slated to Schmidt said, “We will be reopening close in late August to make room soon at a location nearby,” he did not AMERICAN CHINESE for The Sea by Alexander’s Steak- provide additional information. Re- house. The restaurant will specialize placing Lavanda is Campo Pizzeria, Armadillo Willy’s Chef Chu’s in seafood and is a new venture for a new concept from the owners of the Michelin-starred Alexander’s Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon 941-2922 948-2696 Steakhouse, which has locations in Bay and Osteria Coppa in San Ma- 1031 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos 1067 N. San Antonio Road Cupertino and San Francisco. An teo. Sources said that Campo Pizze- www.armadillowillys.com www.chefchu.com experienced team has been put into ria is expected to open in October. place to manage The Sea; some of Cheese Steak Shop Ming’s the team works at Alexander’s, and TROUBLE AHEAD FOR TERRITORY 326-1628 856-7700 others have a long working history AHEAD ... At least two of Territory 2305-B El Camino Real, Palo Alto 1700 Embarcadero East, Palo Alto at both Spago and Fleming’s Steak- Ahead’s four stores are closing this house, according to Alexander’s chef month, including the one at Stan- www.mings.com Lutticken’s and chief operating officer Jeffrey ford Shopping Center. Scheduled to Stout, who will be chef at The Sea. shut down for good on July 28, the 854-0291 New Tung Kee Noodle House “With The Sea sandwiched between travel and casual clothing store is 3535 Alameda, Menlo Park 947-8888 our two locations in San Francisco currently offering most merchandise www.luttickens.com 520 Showers Drive, Mountain View and Silicon Valley, we feel this is the at steep discounts. Territory Ahead www.shopmountainview.com/luvnoodlemv perfect location to support each opened an outlet store in Midtown The Old Pro other as a restaurant group,” he said. Palo Alto in 2004, but that, along 326-1446 INDIAN The new restaurant is scheduled to with its companion store, Travel- 541 Ramona Street, Palo Alto open in mid- to late-October. smith, closed several years ago. www.oldpropa.com Janta Indian Restaurant 462-5903 Next out the door is Mantra, an In- NEW SUBWAY FOR SOUTH PALO dian restaurant at 632 Emerson St. ALTO ... A Subway is coming to STEAKHOUSE 369 Lytton Ave. that began serving in March 2006. Charleston Center at the corner of www.jantaindianrestaurant.com Sundance the Steakhouse Incoming is the Mexican eatery Taco- Middlefield and Charleston roads. licious. Owner Joe Hargrave has big Construction began this week to 321-6798 Thaiphoon plans for the site. A massive renova- transform a small office that was 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 323-7700 tion is planned, with Hargrave plunk- home to an insurance company www.sundancethesteakhouse.com 543 Emerson Ave, Palo Alto ing down $500,000, “and that’s just into the sandwich shop. Located www.ThaiphoonRestaurant.com for the construction,” he said. “Then near Piazza’s Fine Foods and next there’s the new furniture, the new to Green Elephant restaurant, Read and post reviews, explore restaurant menus, get hours and directions fixtures and the art.” The plans call Subway is expected to open in late and more at ShopPaloAlto, ShopMenloPark and ShopMountainView for walls to be torn down to make the summer/early fall. kitchen visible to diners. “You’ll see a lot more energy here,” Hargrave Heard a rumor about your said. A veteran restaurateur who has favorite store or business mov- powered by two other Tacolicious locations in ing out, or in, down the block or San Francisco, he said: “I’ve been across town? Daryl Savage will thinking about coming to Palo Alto check it out. Email shoptalk@ for a while. I love this community and paweekly.com.
Page 26ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V WOODY ALEC ROBERTO PENÉLOPE JUDY JESSE GRETA ELLEN ALLEN BALDWIN BENIGNI CRUZ DAVIS EISENBERG GERWIG PAGE TO ROME WITH LOVE WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY WOODY ALLEN
WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM
NOW PLAYING CENTURY 12 DOWNTOWN SAN MATEO CENTURY 20 DOWNTOWN REDWOOD CITY CINÉARTS@PALO ALTO SQUARE MOVIE TIMES 320 East 2nd Avenue, 825 Middlefield Road, 3000 El Camino Real, Movies San Mateo (800) FANDANGO Redwood City (800) FANDANGO Palo Alto (800) FANDANGO Showtimes for the Century 16 and Century 20 theaters are for Friday through Tuesday only unless otherwise noted. VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.TOROMEWITHLOVE.COM Showtimes for the Palo Alto Square theater are for Friday through Wednesday only unless otherwise noted.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Wed. & Thu. at 5:10 & 9:35 p.m. PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) ((( CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVENUE Century 16: Fri.-Mon. at 3:20, 7 & 10:10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9 a.m. & 12:10 p.m.; Mon. also at 11:50 a.m.; In 3D Fri.-Mon. at 4:10 BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Sun. also at 9:40 a.m.; 12:50, 7:40 & 10:50 p.m.; In 3D Mon. also at 10 a.m.; 1, 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 10:55 a.m.; 2, 5:15, 8:30 & 9:55 p.m.; In 3D at 1:10, 4:20, 7:30 & 10:35 p.m. CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26 Beasts of the Southern Wild (PG-13) (((( ***************************************** Guild Theatre: 2, 4:30, 7 & 9:45 p.m. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THE AGENDA The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG-13) ((1/2 WITH COMPLETE TITLES INCLUDING LEGAL DOCUMENTATION CAN Palo Alto Square: Fri.-Sun. at 4:15 & 7:15 p.m.; Mon.-Wed. at 1:15 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 1:15 & 10 p.m. BE VIEWED AT THE BELOW WEBPAGE: Bolshoi Ballet: Bright Stream (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Sun. at noon; Tue. at 7 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Sun. at noon; Tue. at 7 p.m. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/knowzone/agendas/council.asp Brave (PG) (((1/2 Century 16: 2:20, 4:50, 7:30 & 10:20 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 11:40 a.m.; In 3D Fri.-Sun. at 9 a.m.; In 3D Mon. & Tue. at 11:30 a.m. (TENTATIVE) AGENDA–SPECIAL MEETING- Century 20: 1:45 & 6:50 p.m.; Mon. & Tue. also at 10:40 a.m.; In 3D Fri.-Tue. at 10:20 a.m.; 3 & 7:40 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS Cabaret (1972) (PG) (Not Reviewed) July 23, 2012 - 4:30 PM Century 16: Wed. at 2 & 7 p.m. Century 20: Wed. at 2 & 7 p.m. The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13) (((( SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY Century 16: 10:30 & 11:30 a.m.; 12:30, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7 & 8:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9 & 9:30 a.m.; 1:10, 7:30, 9:30, 1. Recognition of Website Advisory Committee 10:30 & 10:55 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 11 a.m. & 11:15 p.m.; Mon. & Tue. also at 10 & 11 a.m.; 1:30, 7:50, 9:20, 10:10 & 10:40 p.m. 2. Appointment of one P&TC Member for One Unexpired Term Ending July Century 20: Fri.-Wed. at 10:30 & 11:40 a.m.; 2:10, 3:20, 5:50, 7, 9:30 & 10:35 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. also at 11:05 a.m.; 12:50, 1:30, 2:45, 30,2013. 4:30, 5:05, 8:45 & 10:05 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 10 a.m.; Fri. also at noon & 3:25 p.m.; Sat.-Tue. also at 12:15, 3:55, 6:25, 7:30, 8:10 & 9:30 p.m. CONSENT CALENDAR East of Eden (1955) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) 3. Approval of Master Services Agreement between the City of Palo Alto and Stanford Theatre: Wed. & Thu. at 7:30 p.m. Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. for Internet Connectivity Farewell, My Queen (R) (Not Reviewed) 4. Policy and Services Committee Recommendation Regarding Massage Aquarius Theatre: 1, 3:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m. Ordinance Ice Age: Continental Drift (PG) (Not Reviewed) 5. Approval of a Contract with Valentine Corporation In The Amount of Century 16: 11:30 a.m.; noon, 2, 2:30, 4:40 & 10:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. & Tue. also at 5:10 & 7:50 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9 & 9:30 a.m.; $1,947,368.50 for Channing Avenue/Lincoln Avenue Storm Drain In 3D Fri.-Tue. at 10 & 11 a.m.; 12:30, 1:30, 3, 4, 5:40 & 8:20 p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Sun. also at 6:50 & 9:40 p.m.; In 3D Mon. & Tue. also Improvements - Phase II, Capital Improvement Program Project SD- at 6:40 & 9:20 p.m. Century 20: 10:25 & 11:45 a.m.; 12:50, 2:10, 3:10, 4:40, 5:35, 7:05, 8, 9:25 & 10:20 p.m.; In 3D at 11:10 a.m.; 11101 12:20, 1:30, 2:40, 3:45, 6, 8:20 & 10:40 p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Sun. also at 5, 7:25 & 9:50 p.m. 6. Approval of a Contract with O'Grady Paving, Inc. in the Amount of Indiscreet (1958) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) $2,135,714, the 3rd of 6 Contracts in the 2012 Street Maintenance Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Tue. at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 3:45 p.m. Program Project (CIP PE-86070) (( 7. Adoption of Resolution Establishing Fiscal Year 2012-13 Secured and The Intouchables (R) Unsecured Property Tax Levy for the City of Palo Alto’s General Obligation Aquarius Theatre: 1:30, 4:15, 7 & 9:45 p.m. Bond Indebtedness (Measure N) Katy Perry: Part of Me (PG) (Not Reviewed) 8. Appeal of Director’s Architectural Review Approval of Site Improvements Century 20: 10:15 a.m. & 7:35 p.m.; In 3D at 12:30, 2:45 & 5:05 p.m. Associated with the Conversion of an Existing Building to an 86 Room Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (PG) (Not Reviewed) Hotel with Ground Floor Restaurant and a Design Enhancement Exception Century 20: 11 a.m.; 4:25 & 9:20 p.m.; In 3D at 12:45, 5:25 & 10:05 p.m. (DEE) and Sign Exceptions to 180 Hamilton Avenue Magic Mike (R) (Not Reviewed) 9. Selection of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League’s 2012 Annual Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:35 & 4:10 p.m.; Fri.-Mon. also at 7:40 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 2:25, 5, 7:45 & 10:30 p.m. Conference The Metropolitan Opera: Der Rosenkavalier (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) 10. Adoption of an Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Plan for Improvements Century 16: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Century 20: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. to Cogswell Plaza Moonrise Kingdom (PG-13) (((1/2 11. Approval of a Record of Land Use Action for the Reconstruction of the Century 16: 11:20 a.m.; 1:50, 4:20 & 7:10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9 a.m. & 9:50 p.m.; Mon. & Tue. also at 9:30 p.m. Century 20: Historic Residence at 564 University Avenue 12:25, 2:50, 5:10, 7:50 & 10:10 p.m. 12. Adoption of a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Purchase Notorious (1946) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Electricity Resource Adequacy Capacity Products for Calendar Year 2013 Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Tue. at 5:35 & 9:20 p.m. in an Amount Not to Exceed $2 Million Prometheus (R) (Not Reviewed) 13. Mitchell Park Library and Community Center Bi-Monthly Construction Century 16: 10:20 p.m.; In 3D at 7:10 p.m. Contract Report Savages (R) (((1/2 14. Approval of an Agreement with Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. for Up to Century 16: 10 a.m.; 12:55, 3:50, 7 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 10:25 a.m.; 1:20, 4:15, 7:15 & 10:25 p.m. Three Years in an Amount not to Exceed a Total of $303,000 for Federal Legislative Representation Snow White and the Huntsman (PG-13) ((1/2 Century 20: 4:20 & 10:15 p.m.; Fri., Sat., Mon. & Tue. also at 10:40 a.m. 15. Council Direction to Use Secretary of State Draw for Ballot Order The Son of the Sheik (1926) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) 16. Policy and Services Committee Recommendation to Accept the Policy for Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 7:30 p.m. Administering the Employee Ethics Hotline Star Trek: The Next Generation 25th Anniversary Event (PG) (Not Reviewed) ACTION ITEMS Century 16: Mon. at 7 p.m. Century 20: Mon. at 7 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Mon. at 7 p.m. 17. Approval of Detailed Sidewalk and Plaza Design for California Avenue Ted (R) ( Transit Hub Corridor Streetscape Improvements Project Century 16: 10:50 a.m.; 1:40, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 10:30 p.m.; Mon. & Tue. also at 10:15 p.m. Century 20: 12:10, 18. Finance Committee Recommendation to Reconfigure the Palo Alto Golf 2:40, 5:20, 7:55 & 10:40 p.m. Course, and Staff Recommendation to Negotiate an Amendment to Existing To Rome With Love (R) (( Contract with Golf Course Architect Forest Richardson & Associates for up Century 20: Fri., Sat. & Mon. at 1:40 & 7:25 p.m.; Sun. at 7:25 p.m.; Tue. at 1:40 p.m. Palo Alto Square: 1:30 & 4:30 p.m.; Fri.- to $341,035 Mon. & Wed. also at 7:25 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 10:05 p.m. 19. Adoption of Resolution Amending Section 1401 of the Merit System Rules The Who - Quadrophenia: The Complete Story (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) and Regulations with SEIU Local 521 Century 16: Tue. at 8 p.m. Century 20: Tue. at 8 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Tue. at 8 p.m. 20. Public Hearing: Proposed Revenue Increases and Expenditure Reductions for Animal Services ( Skip it (( Some redeeming qualities ((( A good bet (((( Outstanding 21. Public Hearing: Adoption of a Resolution Confirming Weed Abatement Report and Ordering Cost of Abatement to be a Special Assessment on the Respective Properties Described Therein Aquarius: 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto (266-9260) CinéArts at Palo Alto Square: 3000 El Camino Real, 22. Adoption of a Resolution Implementing Terms for Police Managers' Association Pursuant to Government Code Section 3505 Century Cinema 16: Palo Alto (493-3456) 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., Moun- 23. Consideration of a Motion to Support the Initiative “Revote High Speed tain View Guild: 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park (266-9260) Rail” (CMGR) (800-326-3264) Stanford: 221 University Ave., Palo Alto (324-3700) Century 20 Downtown: 825 Middlefield Road, Red- Internet address: For show times, plot synopses, wood City trailers and more information about films playing, go to (800-326-3264) PaloAltoOnline.com/movies
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ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 27 Movies MAGICALDISCOVER THE MOST FILM OF THE YEAR
“A BLAST OF SHEER IMPROBABLE JOY.”
A.O. SCOTT
Christian Bale as the billionaire-turned-Batman.
as the people know, the vigilante worth (Michael Caine), the romanti- OPENINGS known as The Batman is respon- cally crushed Wayne resists getting sible for the murders committed by “back into the swing of things.” The Dark Knight Rises Gotham City District Attorney Har- Pressing the point are two char- ---- vey Dent, a crusader who went crim- acters plucked from the pages of (Century 16, Century 20) All the inally insane. Most see an unequiv- Batman comics. Fearsome terror- world’s Gotham City in Christopher ocal win in the subsequent “Dent ist Bane (a piercingly intense Tom Nolan’s ambitious Batman trilogy, Act”: Crime rates have dropped pre- Hardy) was trained, like Batman, which comes to an emphatic conclu- cipitously. But police Commissioner by Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) sion with “The Dark Knight Rises.” Gordon (Gary Oldman) is having a and amongst his League of Shad- The screenplay by Nolan and his hard time living with himself, es- ows. Cat burglar Selina Kyle (Anne brother Jonathan takes inspiration pecially when pressed by the ide- Hathaway, credibly sly and sassy) from “A Tale of Two Cities” and alistic and suspicious young officer — also known, though not here, as “Metropolis” (not Clark Kent’s, John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Catwoman — wants a “clean slate” Fritz Lang’s) in depicting the levels Trading integrity for criminal con- in an Internet age when information of society: the 99 percent versus the victions seemed like a greater-good is immortal (as Ra’s al Ghul signifi- 1 percent, the skyscrapers down to short-term bargain, but the long-term cantly notes, “There are many forms the sewers. The leitmotif of Nolan’s consequences loom large. of immortality”). Aided by Lucius well-orchestrated Batman saga is Batman has receded into billion- Fox (Morgan Freeman), Batman’s how a society, and indeed an indi- aire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), “Q,” Wayne suits up once more as vidual, responds to a fall. In “The now a limping recluse joked about Gotham’s most important symbol, EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS now playing Dark Knight Rises,” Gotham be- in Howard Hughes terms. How the this time taking the wheel of a flying comes subject to cleansing fires — mighty have fallen. The listless Batmobile dubbed “The Bat.” CAMPBELL MENLO PARK SAN JOSE even a mushroom cloud — in hope- Wayne shows little interest in the The Cecil B. DeMille scale of the " % %(# *% # "% -&( ! '% #+%'&#'#$) ful anticipation of a phoenix-like rise good works of the Wayne Foundation film delivers a whole lotta movie, to civilized order over underworld or the forward-looking clean-energy with cast-of-thousands spectacle and chaos. project touted by Wayne Enterprises giant-sized action that says “epic” Nolan’s third act begins with a lie, executive board member Miranda almost as much as “blockbuster.” still being told eight years after the Tate (Marion Cotillard). Despite the Almost half the film was shot in events of “The Dark Knight.” As far efforts of loyal butler Alfred Penny- eye-popping IMAX that’s entirely worth the premium price, and when it comes to the seeming oxymoron h of blockbuster cinema, Nolan proves nual P oto C An on again to be uncommonly smart. The st te Nolans consider the issues of the day s 1 t (there’s a big Occupy Gotham theme, 2 Call for Entries with a twist); explore the role of leg- endary heroes (from Robin Hood to Batman and Robin) in galvanizing the public; and labor mightily to 21st Annual Palo Alto Weekly Photo Contest ensure that how their Batman ends dovetails with 2005’s “Batman Be- gins.” Cash and gift certificate prizes will be awarded to 1st - 3rd place winners in the following ENTRY DEADLINE Adult and Youth categories: Portraits, Bay Area Images, Views Beyond the Bay EXTENDED Rated PG-13 for intense violence July 27, 2012 and action, sensuality and language. For complete rules and submissions details go to: www.PaloAltoOnline.com/photo_contest Two hours, 45 minutes. Entry fees: Age: ❑ Adult ❑ Youth (17 yrs. or younger as of 7/6/12) Adult $25 per image Category: ❑ Bay Area Images ❑ Views Beyond the Bay Area ❑ Portraits — Peter Canavese Youth $15 per image Photo Title: ______One entry per category Photo Location: ______Your Name: ______You may use this form to mail pay- If non-resident, work location or school you attend: ______ment for entries submitted by email Email: ______and/or to mail your images on a Century Theatres at Palo Alto Square Address: ______CD. No print submissions. City/Zip: ______Day Phone: ______Fri & Sat The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - Matted prints for winning entries 7/20-7/21 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:00 To Rome with Love - 1:30, 4:30, 7:25, 10:05 Entry submission implies agreement of statement below. will be requested of the photogra- Sun 7/22 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - 4:15, 7:15 This photograph is my original work and was taken in the past 5 years. I understand that the Palo Alto Weekly reserves fi rst publishing and online rights to win- pher for exhibition. To Rome with Love - 1:30, 4:30, 7:25 ning entries and those chosen for exhibition. Judges will use their discretion as to whether an image needs to be recatagorized. Judges decisions are fi nal. Mon 7/23 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - 1:15 To Rome with Love - 1:30, 4:30, 7:25 Photographer’s Signature ______For questions call Tues 7/24 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - 1:15 To Rome with Love - 1:30, 4:30 650.223.6588 or e-mail Wed 7/25 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel -1:15 - 1:30, 4:30, 7:25 [email protected] To Rome with Love Tickets and Showtimes available at cinemark.com Page 28ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V Sports WATER POLO Packaged Shorts deal for SEASON ENDS . . . Palo Alto’s Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars were elimi- nated from the NorCal State Tourna- Paly polo ment in a 13-6 loss to visiting Moun- tain View at Baylands Athletic Center Johnson twins will on Monday evening. Palo Alto lost in double their efforts the second round to Northern Solano, 9-8, in eight innings Sunday night for Vikings’ program and fell short again with a third-round by Keith Peters ending this season. Mountain View ince they started playing wa- started off its first inning with a bang, ter polo in the seventh grade, connecting for four hits — one an RBI twin brothers Brandon and double into deep left off the bat of S Matt Johnson have been a team. catcher T.J. Solomona. Mountain View Brandon scored goals and Matt led 3-1 after the first inning. Palo Alto’s blocked them. It was a formidable bats came alive in the fourth when one-two punch that helped the two center fielder Alexii Sigona ripped a enjoy success at every level. two-run double into left field, tying the As 16-year olds in 2004, the two game 5-5. The fifth inning turned out helped the Stanford Water Polo to be pivotal for Palo Alto as Mountain Club 16U Red team earn a bronze View struck for five runs on four hits. medal at the Junior Olympics. As Shortstop Adam Spielman had the high school juniors the same year, key hit, a double over the head of left the two helped Gunn reach the fielder Shane Stafford, who was play- Central Coast Section Division I ing shallow, bringing in two runs and finals before losing to Bellarmine. putting his team up 10-5 after the fifth. No Gunn boys’ water polo team has advanced that far since then. WATCH LISTS . . . Stanford senior And, as college students at UC Ir- running back Stepfan Taylor has been vine, Brandon and Matt helped the included on the Doak Walker Award Anteaters to an 18-8 record and No. Preseason Candidate List. The Doak 5 national ranking in their senior Walker Award is presented annu- year. Both players earned Player of ally to the nation’s top running back. the Week honors in the Mountain Stanford’s Toby Gerhart captured the Pacific Sports Federation during honor in 2009. Taylor, from Mansfield, their collegiate days and Brandon Texas, has rushed for more than 1,000 was a three-time All-American. yards in consecutive seasons (2010- They both graduated in 2011. 11). Other Stanford players named to While Matt majored in social preseason ‘watch’ lists include: junior ecology and Brandon in criminol- defensive end Ben Gardner, named ogy, law and society, water polo for the Lombardi Award, which is pre- was still in their blood. So, they sented annually to nation’s top college headed to Australia to play profes- lineman or linebacker; Chase Thomas, sionally during the spring season Shayne Skov and Trent Murphy are in the U.S. up for the Butkus Award, which is pre- While they met that challenge, sented annually to the top linebacker Keith Peters another was waiting for them back in college football; Thomas and Skov home. School administrators at also have been included on preseason Palo Alto High had dismissed the lists for the Bednarik and Nagurski entire water polo coaching staff Awards, honoring the nation’s top de- Gunn grads and twins Matt (left) and Brandon Johnson are getting their feet wet as the new coaches of the in November and the program fensive player; and David Yankey was still needed varsity and JV head named to the preseason watch list for Palo Alto High water polo teams by coaching the Palo Alto Water Polo Club during the summer, in addition to the Outland Trophy, which honors the coaching at the Stanford Water Polo Club. (continued on page 31) top interior lineman. PRO BASKETBALL TRACK & FIELD COMING BACK . . . Stanford fans will get another season to watch ace Mark Appel take the hill at Sunken Lin takes next step The greatest dual Diamond, as he and the Pittsburgh Pirates were unable to reach an agreement before the signing deadline in his NBA career by Jason Friedman meet is turning 50 last Friday. The Pirates chose Appel irst things first: You’ll be seeing no puns (This month marks the 50th anniversary of the with the eighth overall selection in the here in this space. Not now, not ever. That’s famed 1962 U.S.-U.S.S.R. track and field meet at June Major League Baseball First-Year a promise. Well, maybe. Stanford Stadium. This story originally appeared Draft; however, many scouts listed F That means no more Linsanity. No more Lin Star in the Peninsula Times Tribune in 1992.) the Stanford starter as the top pitch- State. No more Linsane asylum. by Keith Peters ing prospect in the draft. “After much The fact of the matter is that Palo Alto High grad thought, prayer and analysis of both t was a warm, sticky afternoon. Athletes from Jeremy Lin is much more than a ready-made moni- opportunities, I came to the conclu- the world’s two greatest nations just completed ker made for easy headlines. He’s not just some two days of competition in what would be- sion the best decision is to remain at I Disney movie come to life. And despite what you Stanford continuing my studies, finish- came a meet for the ages. may have heard, he’s also far more than a mere ing my degree, and doing all I can to A journalist from the Soviet Union walked up marketing machine. assist the Cardinal baseball team in to Stanford University track coach Payton Jor- Jeremy Lin is a basketball player. And he’s a our goal to win a national champion- dan and said of the 1962 U.S.-U.S.S.R. Track and pretty good one at that. It has just taken this long field meet: “I doubt I’ll ever see another event ship,” Appel said in a statement. Ap- Harjanto Sumali for the NBA world to discover it. pel, was recently named the College as good.” That’s why he went from the Golden State War- Baseball Writer’s Association National It’s safe to say that the Russian newspaperman riors’ bench two seasons ago to commanding a Pitcher of the Year. didn’t. What happened at Stanford Stadium in $25.1 million, three-year deal from the Houston July, 1962 was a moment in history that never Rockets this week, after the New York Knicks will be repeated. READ MORE ONLINE declined to keep their restricted free agent point Champion again Two nations, as different as their political be- www.PASportsOnline.com guard. Serena Williams successfully defended her liefs, came together on a playing field. It was East “A year ago, I was just trying to stay alive and Bank of the West Classic singles title last against West. The Reds against the Red, White For expanded daily coverage of college fight day by day, just to be on a roster,” Lin said. and prep sports, please see our new Sunday at Stanford with a 7-5, 6-3 victory site at www.PASportsOnline.com (continued on page 30) over Coco Vandeweghe. (continued on page 30) ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 29 Sports
“We text back and forth it was numbers behind the phenomenon: erating out of the pick-and roll, good attempts per game last season, Jeremy Lin more congratulatory. When things The Harvard alum averaged 14.6 enough to rank him in the 63rd per- placing him sixth among all point (continued from page 30) settle down I will be talking to points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds centile at his position, and a whop- guards in that category. And during him.” in his injury-shortened 35-game ping 1.022 points per possession in “What I have now is way more than his jaw-dropping January run, he On his surgically repaired knee: season. During a span of 25 stars, iso situations, which put him in the I ever would have dreamed of, and bulled his way to the line more than “It’s better. I’m almost to the point Lin accumulated 455 points and NBA’s 95th percentile. Those num- way more than I need.” seven times per game. I have the same explosiveness as be- 192 assists. The only NBA player bers are downright elite. And just On Thursday, Lin was formerly Lin is not a finished product. And fore.” to match both those numbers in that in case you’re wondering, the bread introduced to the Houston media, that, perhaps, is the most exciting On free-agency and the Knicks: period was current U.S. Olympian and butter of McHale’s offense is the and had this to say. aspect of all. The world watched as “Coming into free-agency, I didn’t Chris Paul, with 548 points and 226 pick-and-roll. On the Rockets: his storybook tale unfolded and it expect to be anywhere beside New assists. Lin will have the ball in his hands “The biggest thing is the fact was undoubtedly amazing. But what York. I wouldn’t have signed an of- If his points and assists were a ton and he, like Lowry and Dragic I know what this organization is if the best is yet to come? What if fer sheet if I wasn’t excited about averaged out over 36 minutes last did before him, can be expected to about. I was in training camp with the Lin saga is only just beginning? playing here. I’m thankful for what season, Lin’s 19.6 points and 8.3 as- thrive as the primary playmaker coach (Kevin) McHale, I know what We’re all about to find out the an- the Knicks did for me last year. We sists were better than former Rocket driving the team’s offense. he is about and what to expect.” swer. So forget about the puns (OK, developed a friendship on that team point guards Kyle Lowry (16.0 and Lin is an excellent rebounder for On the past 12 months: maybe just one more). The only last year that will last a lifetime.” 7.4) and Goran Dragic (15.9 and his position. His 6.6 rebound rate “It’s been an unbelievable ride. A thing that truly matters: Jeremy Lin On the future? 7.2). put him 16th among all point guards lot of things happened that I didn’t can play and help the Rockets win “I just want to focus on getting Lin was a very good pick-and-roll last year and his 11.1 defensive re- expect to happen. I still have to keep games. And there’s nothing Linsane better as a person and a player.” player and a spectacular performer bound rate was good enough for reminding myself this is all happen- about that. While there has been plenty of out of the isolations last year. His 13th overall. ing.” pros and cons regarding Lin in his Synergy stats in those categories: Lin gets to the free-throw line in On former Houston star Yao Jason Friedman writes for brief NBA career, here are some .797 points per possession when op- bunches. He averaged 5.2 free throw Ming: Rockets.com
fore. Their teams will never be as Track meet dominant.” (continued from page 30) While the 1962 meet at Stanford wasn’t the last meeting between and Blue. The hammer and sickle the two superpowers, its succes- against the stars and stripes. sors never matched its intensity, It was the ultimate rivalry. And the spectators’ enthusiasm or the a two-day crowd of 155,000 — the camaraderie between athletes. largest crowd ever to watch a ttrack A year later, the event shifted to and field meet in this country — the Soviet Union. It returned to the turned out to view the spectacle. U.S. In 1964, where 40,000 saw the For a brief time, the Cold War rivals compete in Los Angeles. In thawed. Hated en- 1971, a combined So- emies became close viet-Commonwealth friends. Americans team ran against the stood and actually Americans in Berke- sang the “Star-Span- ley. The finals U.S.- gled Banner.” People Soviet dual meet was cheered. And they back in Berkeley in cried. 1978, but fewer than “It was a wonderful 22,00 turned out. moment,” said Jordan, “It all seemed to go Courtesy of Peninsula Times Tribune the organizational downhill after Stan- Stanford Stadium attracted 155,000 spectators over two days for the 1962 U.S.-U.S.S.R. track meet, genius behind what ford,” said Jon Hen- many have called the dershott, associated field powers. Soviet workouts attracted crowds were to lead the teams off and exit greatest track and field editor of the Mountain “It really was a summit meeting of 5,000 to Angell Field and Stan- at the open end of the stadium. meet in U.S. History. Payton Jordan View-based Track and back then,” Hendershott said. ford Stadium. After all, it was a With a band blaring a march and “It had more value, in Field News magazine Surprisingly, the 1962 meet came chance to see the “Reds”, as they the teams leaving to a standing ova- that respect, than any Olympics and a former national track writer about as a way to solve a budget were described by the media dur- tion, Tsibulenko turned to Thomas I’ve ever been to. of the year. “In 1962, it was the deficit in the Stanford Athletic ing their stay. Peninsula residents, and said in broken English: “We go “I constantly hear people say Big Red Menace, us versus them. Department. The 1960 Stanford however, discovered that these all the way around, yes?” it was the best event they’ve ever It was long gone by the 70s. The football team was moribund, com- strangers from behind the Iron Thomas nodded and the teams been to in their lifetime,” said the desire and need for international piling a 0-10 record and the depart- Curtain were hardly cold-hearted headed for a victory lap. Then silver-haired Jordan, now 75 but as dual meets just died.” ment was $100,000 in the red. individuals. something wonderful happened. physically vibrant as ever. “You’ll Quickening the demise of such The late Al Masters, then the “People sat thee and saw they American and Russian men and never see it again. It was a one- a grand meet was the European athletic director, approached Jor- were decent human beings,” Jor- women began slipping arm through time thing.” circuit and start up of the Grand dan and asked if a track meet could dan said, recalling the moment arm, putting arms around each Jordan is correct, for another Prix system. Then there was the create a gate. when Soviet women shot put- other’s shoulders and intertwining event just took place that will as- difficulty and cost of transporting “I said, ‘Sure.’ Then he said, “Do ter Tamara Press, unable to bend the white USA uniforms with the sure the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Meet its teams from Europe. you think we could get the Rus- down to receive her gold medal, red and blue of the CCCP. permanent place in history. Now, there’s a World Cham- sians here?’’ Jordan said. picked up AAU official Howard They no longer were in sepa- When the athletes marched into pionship every two years in ad- Jordan, of course, did. Berlinger and gave him a big kiss rate lines. Instead, they were two the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona dition to the Olympics, giving As a track star at Southern Cal as he placed the medal around her groups of great athletes marching for the opening ceremonies of the many more athletes a chance to in the late 1930s, Jordan received a neck. together. 1992 Summer Games, the Soviet compete against the very best. In letter from a Soviet athlete asking There were other memorable It was an emotional scene as the Union was only an athletic shadow addition, the track athlete’s loy- for some training tips. That athlete, moments during the two-day meet. 81,000 spectators stood and ap- of its once powerful self. alty has changed as much as the Gabriel Korobkov, later became Soviet high jumper Valeriy Brumel plauded. Many were in tears. They Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania world’s political climate. It’s the the head coach of the Soviet track breaking his own world record with has all witnessed something spe- have separated from the old URS free-enterprise system for all, on a and field team. a momentous leap of 7-5; Ameri- cial, something historic. (Soviet Union), whose 11 allied world scale. World recordholders When Jordan took a U.S. Team can Hal Connolly bettering his Little did anyone realize that it leftovers — the Commonwealth of like Carl Lewis and Sergey Bubka to Moscow in 1958, he met Korob- world record in the hammer with never would happen again.N Independent States (CIS) — joined command salaries never dreamed kov — and a friendship was struck. a 231-10 toss; 1960 Olympic triple with former Soviet republic Geor- of in 1962. It was Korobkov whom Jordan con- gold medalist Wilma Rudolph win- Keith Peters first wrote this gia in competing under the Unified There is no time for dual meets. tacted for the 1962 meet. ning the 100 meters and anchoring article for the Peninsula Times Team flag. Nor is it profitable for the indi- Following long planning ses- the U.S. Women to victory in the Tribune in 1992, for the 30th The old U.S.-Soviet rivalry is as vidual athletes. The call of one’s sions to make sure everything 400-meter relay; and future NFL anniversary of the meet. He dead as communism, and there is country has been replaced by the would run smoothly, Stanford put star Bob Hayes winning the men’s was among the thousands of no hope of resurrecting it. It has call from rich meet promoters. up $125,000 to cover the cost of 100 meters. spectators who attended the two- gone the way of the Berlin Wall Thirty years ago, however, bringing the Soviet team to the But the best was saved for last. day event in 1962. Payton Jordan and the sawdust high jump pit. the U.S.-Russia dual was the big West Coast for the first time. His- The planned closing ceremony went on to coach the 1968 U.S. “You’ll never see it again,” Jor- meet. The East Germans had not tory was in the making. was to have been a lineup of the Olympic track and field team to dan said. “There is no similar yet evolved into a power, leaving “This community went for it two teams, parallel across one end 24 medals and spent 23 years at circumstances — internationally the Americans and Soviets as the hook, line and sinker,” Jordan said. “ of the football field. Flag-bearers Stanford. Jordan died of cancer — at this period of time. The CIS world’s most dominant track and They embraced the meet and the John Thomas of the U.S. And Vik- at his home in Laguna Hills in won’t have the clout or unity as be- people.” tor Tsibulenko of the U.S.S.R. Then 2009 at age 91. Page 30ÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°V Sports
OF LOCAL NOTE Gunn wrestler pins down another title Palo Alto badminton player wins junior national title; local Frisbee players bring home world championship gold by Rick Eymer unn High junior Cadence Lee 17-7, in the quarterfinals. may be out of school this sum- Wynne, who graduated from Gunn G mer, but it hardly has been a in 2006, was a standout soccer player vacation as she continued to shine on for the Titans before turning to Ulti- the wrestling mat. mate Frisbee. He played in 10 games Lee’s latest achievement was win- in the tournament, scoring eight goals ning the 108-pound girls’ Cadet title at and adding two assists. Wiseman led the 2012 National Freestyle Champi- the team with 17 goals with James onships on Saturday in Fargo, N.D. adding three. Lee went 5-0, pinning three oppo- In the Women’s Masters division, nents in the first period in 49 seconds, Palo Alto resident Jennifer Donnelly 18 seconds and 1:55 to claim the title. coached the USA team to a 6-1 record Keith Peters She opened with a decision, pinned and the gold medal. Fellow Stanford two opponents, won her third match grads Dominique Fontenette and Ash- by decision (losing her first and only ley Simons played for the winning period in the five matches) and then team, which brought home the top Twin brothers Matt (left) and Brandon Johnson, 2006 Gunn High grads, will be the new boys’ JV and varsity won the crown. prize following a 15-13 victory over water polo coaches this fall at Palo Alto High. The two also play professionally in Australia. Lee was going to compete in the Canada. Junior Division of the championships Team USA reached the finals with a didn’t sit well with the Paly par- After that, the Johnsons will on Sunday, but an injury forced her 15-11 victory over Japan. Coaches ents as the Vikings often struggled make plans on returning to Austra- (continued from page 29) default. against teams they used to beat lia and continue their professional Lee next is scheduled to participate Golf routinely. careers. The move, however, keeps in a two-week training camp at the Menlo School grad Ben Scribner coaches, plus staff. When the staff was dismissed, the twins apart for one of the few Olympic Training Center in Colorado wound up being the second alternate Former Paly standout Jon Barnea, the Palo Alto Water Polo Club was times in their lives. Springs, Colo., followed by participa- after playing 42 holes on Monday an assistant on the Stanford men’s closed and its winter season can- Matt plays in Brisbane and Bran- tion in the Cadet World Champion- at the 2012 U.S. Amateur Sectional varsity team and who oversees the celed. don in Perth, which are on opposite ships in Baku, Azerbaijan from Aug. Qualifying at Marin Country Club. Stanford Water Polo Club boys’ The Johnson brothers, however, sides of the continent. 18-25. Scribner appeared out of the running program, contacted the twins and have breathed new life into it. “We only saw each other on after firing a 6-over 78 in the morn- told them they should consider ap- “We have a great turnout,” Matt weekends,” said Matt, who Skyped Badminton ing round, but rallied with a 3-under plying. said. “Basically, our whole varsity with Brandon as much as possible. Palo Alto’s Stephanie Yu, a seventh- 69 in the afternoon -- including three “Since they left for UC Irvine, I is here.” “It was definitely an experience to grader at Jordan Middle School, won birdies on his final nine holes -- to fin- have remained in good contact with The brothers have been holding wake up in the morning and not the gold medal in girls’ singles in the ish in a four-way tie for third at 147. them and we have always talked two-hour morning sessions at Paly, have him there. I was his goalie for Under-13 division at the Junior Na- Only the top three players qualified about the possibility of them com- four days a week, since signing on. 10 years.” tional Badminton Championships that for the championships at Cherry Hills ing back to the area to get involved In the evenings, Brandon coaches While both of their club teams finished up this past weekend in the Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, in coaching,” Barnea said. the Stanford Water Polo Club 18- enjoyed success, Matt said the sep- city of Orange in Southern California. Colo., on August 13-19. Barnea not only got the 23-year- under White (B) team while Matt aration was probably more difficult Yu went 4-0 to win the sin- Tyler Raber of El Macero won the old brothers to coach the club coaches the 16U White squad. for Brandon due to “not having me gles title, topped by a 21-14, coveted third berth on the third playoff teams, but both got hired on at Paly Their worlds, these days, simply behind him.” 21-16 triumph in the finals. hole with Scribner being relegated to as the new head and JV coaches. revolve around water polo. Matt’s team went 19-3 and made In addition to winning her first the second alternate spot on the sixth Brandon, who is 21 minutes old- “Paly has great athletic teams the playoffs while Brandon’s just Junior National title, Yu was third in playoff hole. er than Matt, is the Vikings’ new all around,” said Matt. “We want missed. The brothers faced each doubles and fourth in mixed doubles. head coach. Matt will assistant his to make water polo a sport where other twice during the season. She finished second in doubles in 2011. Water polo brother in addition to guiding the kids want to come out and play. We “My team won both times,” Matt Yu is now ranked No. 1 in dou- There’s still some work to be done JV team. don’t like to scream and yell and, if said proudly. bles, No. 2 in singles and No. 3 in by the Stanford Water Polo Club as its “We wanted to stay in Palo Alto,” we do, we try to stay positive.” Matt also did a good job of nearly mixed doubles in the U-13 division. teams prepare to host the upcoming said Matt, who previously coached Since the majority of area high shutting out Brandon, except for Next up for Yu will be the 2012 Pan SwimOutlet.com Junior Olympics in at Aliso Niguel High in Orange school teams practice and play one occasion. American Junior Badminton Cham- boys’ water polo. County while Brandon was assist- either together or on club squads, “Brandon scored once on me, a pionships in Alberta, Canada, (July The 16U Red team finished fifth ing the men’s team at UC Irvine. Palo Alto was behind everyone penalty shot,” Matt recalled. “That 22-29). A total of 16 countries will be and the 18U Red squad took seventh The brothers missed out on a else. The eventual goal is to keep was the only one he got in both participating. This is Yu’s fourth time at last weekend’s U.S. Club Cham- similar coach opening at Gunn, all the Viking players together dur- games.” attending the Jr. Pan Ams. At this pionships in Southern California, an which was filled by veteran Stan- ing the summer and compete in the “It was fun to play against him,” meet last year, held in Jamaica, Yu event featuring the top teams that will ford WPC coach Tim Kates. The Junior Olympics and other elite added Brandon. took home gold in doubles and mixed be in town next week for the Junior former St. Francis High and Cal tournaments. Each pro team in Australia can doubles plus silver in singles in the Olympics. goalie got the job while the twins “At Paly, we have good, young have only two imports. Both broth- U-13 division. .The 18U Red went 3-2, opening were in Australia. players,” said Matt. “We want to ers had their air fare taken care of with a pair of wins before falling to “Coaching at your alma mater build a team, make a run at cham- in addition of the use of a car and Frisbee eventual runner-up Los Angeles Wa- is always nice, but it is Palo Alto,” pionships and make the program house. Brandon also got $125 per Gunn High graduate Russell Wynne ter Polo Club, 13-9, and then even- Matt said of the new jobs. “We one of the best on the Peninsula. week. Stanford grad and four-time and eight Stanford grads helped the tual champion SoCal, 12-11. A third both wanted the head coach job (at Added Brandon: “Building a pro- U.S. Olympian Tony Azevedo, USA capture the Open Division at the straight loss, 9-6 to Lamorinda, put Paly), but we decided as long as we gram is always fun. I know where meanwhile, can make a living World Flying Disc Federation 2012 Stanford in the seventh-place game. put in the same time it didn’t really we can be and I can’t wait to get playing in Europe. Ultimate Championships that wrapped There, the 18s edged Santa Barbara, matter. It’s something he (Brandon) them there. I think we’ll surprise Thus, the twins are realistic up Saturday in Sakai, Japan. 8-7. is looking to do as a career.” some teams this year.” about their future in the sport. Wynne (a UC Santa Cruz grad) and The 16U Red team fared a little The Johnson brothers, who are Before that happens, Brandon and When their pro careers end, they’ll Cardinal grads Robbie Cahill, Tom better. Stanford again opened with back living at home because they Matt will coach their Stanford club shift their focus to coaching. James, Jordan Jeffrey, Jonathan Levy, a pair of wins before losing to even- hope to return to Australia in the teams in the SwimOutlet.com Ju- “We’ll try to keep this (Paly) Nick Schlag, Mark Sherwood, Bart tual runner-up LAWPC, 12-10. After spring, bring a lot to an empty table nior Olympics, which is being held program going year round,” Matt Watson and Josh Wiseman play for the a 5-2 victory over San Diego Shores, at Palo Alto High. The dismissal of on the Peninsula next week. The said. San Francisco-based Revolver team Stanford dropped an 11-6 decision to the previous coaching staff, reasons boys’ four-day tournament runs An ambitious plan, for sure, that represented the United States. eventual champ Del Mar. A 10-5 vic- of which were never made public, July 28-31, followed by the girls but one that’s followed by other A total of 19 countries were rep- tory over Lamorinda wrapped up fifth pretty much centered around head from Aug. 2-5. Area pools like Palo schools in the area. Matt and Bran- resented in the Open Division, with place and a 4-2 finish. coach Giovanni Napolitano. His Alto, Menlo-Atherton, and Sacred don Johnson know of Palo Alto’s Team USA capturing the crown with The Stanford 14U Red team went strong, European-based personal- Heart Prep will be used, with the success in other sports and they a 17-5 win over Great Britain. The 3-3 and took 10th while the 12U Red ity, demonstrative behavior and medal matches set for Stanford’s want to bring that to the water polo Americans edged Canada, 17-16, in squad finished 2-3-1 while taking reported lack of communication N Avery Aquatic Center. program. the semifinals and ousted Finland, 15th. N ÜÜÜ°*>Ì"i°VÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÕÞÊÓä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 31 Palo Alto Median Price – Midyear 2012
Crescent Park $2,200,000
Downtown $1,801,000 Community Ctr Green Gables $2,193,000 $1,697,000
Professorville $2,075,000
Old Palo Alto $2,558,000 Midtown $1,602,000
Stanford $1,636,000
College $1,429,000 South Palo Alto Ventura $1,492,000 $1,038,000
Barron Park Map Courtesy of Palo Alto Weekly $1,827,000
Green Acres $1,800,000
Information Based on MLS Single Family Homes Palo Alto Hills $1,888,000
Call Jackie & Richard to Sell or Buy Your Home Jackie (650) 855-9700 | Richard (650) 566-8033 [email protected] | [email protected]
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