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6°Ê888]Ê ÕLiÀÊnÎÊUÊÀ`>Þ]ÊÕÞÊÓx]ÊÓäänÊ N xäZ Harmonica convergence Page 10 Check out the Weekly’s online classifieds at fogster.com WeeklyWeekend Edition www.PaloAltoOnline.com Neurotic comics Comedic trio face their quirks with humor Page 8 Marjan Sadoughi Marjan Eating Out 13 Movie Times 15 N Upfront Roche leaving Palo Alto? Page 3 NSports Palo Alto swimmer loses second chance at Olympics Page 17 NHome & Real Estate Edible garden delights Section 2 MILES YOUNGEST PERSON TO RECEIVE LIFE SAVING HEART PUMP. CURRENTLY: BUNDLE OF ENERGY JUST ANOTHER REMARKABLE DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Miles Coulson is defi nitely a force to be reckoned with. When he was just four months old he needed a heart. And the clock was ticking. So a team of doctors at Lucile Packard © 2007 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Children’s Hospital came up with a bold plan – use a Berlin Heart, an artifi cial pump, until a transplant could be found. That the device had only been used a few times in the U.S. didn’t daunt them. They developed a protocol just for Miles. It was more than successful, it was groundbreaking for other pediatric heart patients. It’s this kind of innovative thinking, Lucile Packard combined with sensitive, nurturing care, that makes Packard Children’s a world-class Children’s Hospital hospital and Miles a world-class bundle of energy. Visit www.lpch.org for more information. AT STANFORD Page 2ÊUÊÀ`>Þ]ÊÕÞÊÓx]ÊÓäänÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞ UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Roche to exit Palo Alto, pending Genentech deal Swiss firm could abandon ‘green’ campus; ter in Stanford Research Park, Wal- acquired Syntex in 1994. “It definitely has a ripple effect, lach said. How much of an impact the mas- no question about it, when that many jobs impact uncertain The inflammation-research divi- sive firm’s departure would make employees are not going to be here by Arden Pennell sion would move to Nutley, N.J., locally is hard to measure. Wallach and visitors ... are not going to come and virology research would move said Roche would not reveal how in on a regular basis,” she said. he Swiss pharmaceutical com- top 25 generators of sales tax and to the Genentech facility in South many employees live in Palo Alto, Business visitors to the multina- pany Roche will close its Palo the top five generators of utilities San Francisco, she said. and it’s too soon to say how many tional company — Roche’s Web T Alto office, where it employs tax, providing as much as $300,000 But it’s uncertain exactly when jobs, if any, would be lost. site cites 79,000 employees in 150 1,000 workers, if its bid to acquire annually, he said. Though that’s a that would happen because the Ge- And workers tend to use the in- countries — generate hotel tax, she biotechnology giant Genentech is tiny piece of the $145 million city nentech acquisition offer hasn’t been house cafeteria — the company has said. They also spend on meals and successful, according to Jacqueline budget, the city would lose a “su- finalized yet, she said. fair-trade coffee delivered — rather gifts, she said. Wallach, Roche’s vice president of perb corporate citizen,” he said. The laboratories are currently than drive off-campus for lunch, she The future of the site itself is also communications. The firm has partnered with the housed at 3431 Hillview Ave., at the said. uncertain. Who would move into a campus city on environmental and safety intersection of Arastradero Road Some money will be lost, how- According to Jean Snider, director that has won accolades for its en- initiatives, he said. and Foothill Expressway. ever, according to the mayor. of Stanford Research Park, Roche vironmental practices — such as a This Monday, Roche offered The site’s history runs deep. Ear- Roche generates between $80,000 has a ground lease, a structure re- program that achieves 95 percent about $44 billion to acquire the lier tenant Syntex — perhaps best and $120,000 in sales tax and be- sembling ownership that makes the recycling of everything from labo- remainder of the South San Fran- known for manufacturing “the Pill” tween $140,000 and $180,000 in lessee responsible for the property. ratory materials to coffee grounds cisco-based Genentech’s shares. for birth-control — was one of the utilities-user tax annually, Klein Wallach said it’s too early to say — is unclear. Roche has owned a majority stake first companies in the then-named said. whom Roche will tap to fill the space, It is certain, however, that Roche’s since 1990. Stanford Industrial Park, formed in The departure also means losing but acknowledged that with 760,000 departure will make a dent in the If the deal goes through, Roche 1951 to promote the school’s ties to money visitors spend, said Sandra square feet of laboratories, it may city’s tax rolls, according to Mayor will close its own 1,000,000-square- industry and government. Lonnquist, president of the Palo Larry Klein. The firm is one of the foot research and development cen- Roche has been at the site since it Alto Chamber of Commerce. VÌÕi`ÊÊ«>}iÊ4) Combustible compost HEALTH A CalFire helicopter dumps water on a peripheral grass fire near the City may ban Palo Alto landfill, which erupted into flames late Wednesday af- smoking in ternoon and at times resembled a mini volcano. Firefighters spent Palo Alto parks Wednesday night battling the blaze, Parks commission to which consumed about 1.5 acres at discuss issue in September the end of Embarcadero Road. Six engines from Palo Alto, Woodside by Becky Trout and Mountain View and the CalFire hen Christine Martin visits the Baylands, as she does helicopter responded, according to W four or five times a week, Barbara Cimino, emergency manag- she spots something other than er for the Palo Alto Fire Department. the expanses of marsh grasses, the The smoldering compost is expected feasting birds or her fellow nature to burn for two to three days. People lovers. Martin, an Oregon Avenue resi- living in the path of the smoke were dent, spies cigarette butts scattered advised to limit outdoor activities. along the preserve’s trails. A city The cause of the fire is under investi- volunteer, Martin picks them up gation. For the full story, visit www. along with other trash. Martin said she also encounters Keith Peters PaloAltoOnline.com. cigarette butts near Hoover Elemen- tary School. And, she’s been both- housing arrangements in the area is branch, and a VA case manager is ered by smokers at past Twilight LAND USE uncertain. available to other vets who call the Concerts. “It’s a very stressful situation,” hotel home, according to Jill Hudson, “It’s bad for the environment. It’s said nine-month hotel guest Cyn- VA program director for community bad for my dog to eat them. It looks Palo Alto Hotel sold, thia Drescher-Murray. “The hotel mental health. The hotel is just a busi- like hell,” Martin said. isn’t offering to help us. They’re ness, she said, and the management A few months ago, she chan- slated for redevelopment just moving us out on the streets,” has no obligation to help the residents neled her discontent into a letter she said. find alternative housing. to the City Council and then to the Remodel may boost city revenues Drescher-Murray is a client of “It’s on our radar, and we will try to Parks and Recreation Commission, Telecare, an assistance organiza- do some problem solving for people requesting the city to consider ban- but leave some tenants scrambling tion for people with psychiatric ill- who need information.” she said. ning smoking in parks. by Karla Kane nesses. Telecare will help her find a Tom Murray, a five-year hotel res- Following a unanimous expres- new place to live, but other residents ident, said he is saddened by the im- sion of interest this week, the com- ne of Palo Alto’s last bastions year as a new boutique hotel. don’t have that support, she said. pending closure and wishes he could mission agreed to discuss a potential of low-income housing, the The downtown dwelling, located “People have no clue where’s stay in Palo Alto. Due to the lack ban in September. O Palo Alto Hotel, will soon at 425 High St., is now populated they’ll go,” she said. “There are of affordable housing, he will most “People have approached us and be no more. The 59-room, single- by mostly low-income residents. all kinds of people living there — likely have to move up the Penin- asked that this be looked at. We’ve residence-occupancy hotel has been Guests report monthly rents of working people, married couples, sula, possibly to Redwood City or also received letters,” Commission- sold and will close for redevelop- $1,000 or less. friends. It’s really upsetting.” further north. er Daria Walsh said. “It just seemed ment Aug. 14. Because most of the residents At least two veterans living at the “Unless you’re in a program, like a good idea.” Pending city approval for remod- have limited financial means, their hotel will receive housing assistance eling plans, it will reopen later this ability to find suitable alternative from the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs VÌÕi`ÊÊ«>}iÊ4) VÌÕi`ÊÊ«>}iÊ7) *>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊÀ`>Þ]ÊÕÞÊÓx]ÊÓäänÊU Page 3 Upfront PATIOS & GRILLS GRAND Outdoor Furnishings Just last week, the city announced Roche Roche’s plan to install a rooftop 1UALITY/UTDOORLIVINGPRODUCTS 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 OPENING! 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