Vol. XXVI, Number 96 • Wednesday, August 31, 2005 ■ 50¢ Continued violations at Romic? Page 3 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Best of PaloTwentieth annual contest highlights Altoreader favorites Section 2 For classifieds see page 39 Photo illustration by Norbert von der Groeben ■ Upfront Police: Explorer leader admitted having sex with underage girls Page 3 ■ Sports Stanford football names starter at quarterback Page 16 apr.com REDEFINING QUALITY SINCE 1990 Reading between the emotional line makes the difference between finding a house and a home. LOS ALTOS HILLS European grandeur defines this stunning new construction privately situated on 2.68+/- acres with spectacular views of the bay, hills and city lights. 5bd/5ba floorplan with 6500+/- sf. State-of-the art amenities. $6,500,000 PALO ALTO Recently completed French inspired chateau offers a magnificent 13500+/-sf lot near Walter Hays Elementary and Lucie Stern. Spacious floor plan featuring 4bd/4ba and den. $4,250,000 PALO ALTO Lovely 3bd/2ba remodeled home in Greenacres neighborhood. Enormous lushly landscaped yards and gardens. Newer windows, hardwood floors, freshly painted inside and out. $1,295,000 apr.com | PALO ALTO OFFICE 578 University Avenue 650.323.1111 APR COUNTIES | Santa Clara | San Mateo | San Francisco | Alameda | Contra Costa | Monterey | Santa Cruz Page 2 • Wednesday, August 31, 2005 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Police: Explorer leader admitting having sex with underage girls Tony Graham reportedly told police he is bipolar and er couple,” which included taking he spent too much of his time with the Two of the 15 counts against Gra- ‘knew this situation would happen to him’ trips and staying in hotels together, young girls in the program.” ham accuse him of videotaping his according to the reports. Police said Graham first admitted sexual encounters with the girls, at by Bill D’Agostino “Graham said that he has a problem having sex with the three underage times without their knowledge or hile in police custody, the Tony Graham, 28, was arrested and believes that he is bi-polar (sic) girls in a telephone call to one of the consent. One girl told police she sus- longtime leader of the Palo Aug. 5 on suspicion of molesting the because one voice in his head says victims that officers taped. pected he was videotaping their en- W Alto Fire Explorers admit- three girls, ages 14-17, from August that it is wrong to sleep (with) under- According to reports, Graham counter because “he did something ted to having sex with three under- 2003 to July 2005. age girls and the other says that it is treated the girls to dinners, concerts in the closet and then walked back to age girls in the program and wrote Graham, who trained youth in okay,” noted one report, written by and gifts such as CDs and bracelets. the bed,” according to the report. apologies to each, according to po- CPR and first aid, told police inves- Palo Alto Police Agent Natasha Pow- The girls reportedly gave officers After investigators arrested Gra- lice reports on file in Santa Clara tigators he and the girls had long- ers. “Graham said he knew this situ- some of those presents, along with ham, they found DVDs of the sexual County Superior Court. term relationships “just like any oth- ation would happen to him because love letters Graham wrote. (continued on page 5) ENVIRONMENT Noisy protest loosens toxics report Document states Romic committed new violations, despite settlement by Sue Dremann noisy protest by members of an East Palo Alto youth group led A to the release of new documents alleging that Romic Environmental Technologies continues to violate state hazardous waste laws. Romic, a hazardous waste recy- cling firm in East Palo Alto, has been seeking a renewal and expansion of its operations permit from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The company has Norbert von der Groeben allegedly continued to violate state hazardous waste laws, despite a set- tlement the company made with the state last April, according to a state in- spection report. At the Aug. 22 protest, members of Youth United for Community Action, an East Palo Alto grass-roots organi- Chalk it up zation that wants Romic to vacate the Palo Alto’s Festival of the Arts drew thousands this weekend, showing up for artwork on the pavement, music in the air and wine on the palate. community, chanted outside the Enjoying themselves in the process were Melissa Kopecky (above), drawning Raphael’s “The Madonna della Sedia”; Alec Dorian (below, left), Berkeley office of Mohinder Sand- playing bass in musical group “the Invasion”; and Steve Murray and Kamil Szczegot (below, right), who savor a sip of champagne Sunday afternoon. hu, chief of permitting at the DTSC. The agency is responsible for grant- ing Romic’s operating permit. An argument between members of the youth group and a Highway Patrol officer broke out in the building after youth group representatives were asked to vacate the premises, accord- ing to Lily Martin, a youth group member. Sandhu agreed to meet with the group on the sidewalk, where they handed him 654 petitions from com- munity residents demanding a denial of Romic’s permit. Norbert von der Groeben Norbert von der Groeben The group demanded that Sandhu sign a statement, promising to include the 654 petitions in the public com- ments portion of the Draft EIR and Permit. After some wrangling, Sand- hu signed the document, according to Martin. Sandhu then released a copy of the (continued on page 5) Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, August 31, 2005 • Page 3 Body Kneads 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 Spa & Salon for Men & Women PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Our Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Jennifer Aquino, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Town by Don Kazak Don Kazak, Jocelyn Dong, Senior Staff Writers Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer Camping in Crawford Tomomi Tsuda, Photo Intern Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor hen Nadia McCaffrey ar- “I want an answer to the noble & Online Editor Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections rived in Crawford, Texas, cause my son died for,” Meredith Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn W Aug. 17 she didn’t know said. She said the first explanation Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jim Shelby, what to expect. She flew to Texas to for the war was the search for Jill Slater, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors join her friend, Cindy Sheehan, who weapons of mass destruction but that Aurora Masum-Javed, Patricia Bass, has been camped out near the en- morphed into the war on terrorism. SeptemberSeptember Specials-Specials- Chuan-Mei Lee, Loren Temple, Editorial Interns trance of President George W. “The best way to honor my son is DESIGN Bush’s ranch for most of August. Carol Hubenthal, Design Director to tell the truth,” Meredith said. Pres- • anicure and pa edicure 20 reg Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director Like Sheehan, McCaffrey lost a ident Bush “never talks about the Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior son in Iraq. dead ones when he talks about hon- • Body Kneads ignature acial w yebrow wa 60 reg. Designers; Patrick McCaffrey, 34, had been Dana James,Sarah McAleer, Scott Peterson, oring the troops,” she said. Designers the manager of Aikens Collision Another local woman also has • nlimited anning Bed 0 month reg 6 PRODUCTION Center, a body shop on Park Boule- been to Crawford: The protestors Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager vard in Palo Alto. He was called up Dorothy Hassett, Joan Sloss, Sales & Production were entertained last week by 810 San Antonio Rd., Palo Alto 650.852.0546 Coordinators as a member of the National Guard folksinger Joan Baez, also a Mid- Open 7 days a week, 10am-10pm ADVERTISING and deployed to Iraq in March 2004. peninsula resident and a veteran of www.bodykneads-dayspa.com Michael Howard, Advertising Manager He was killed in action three months protests of another war long ago. Must present coupon. Expires 9/15/05 Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Assistant later. Jasbir Gill, Colette Jensen, Display Advertising About 30 Gold Star families were Sales His mother met Sheehan last year. among the crowd when Baez sang Kathryn Brottem, Real Estate Advertising Sales “I needed to go,” McCaffrey said “Where Have All the Flowers Joan Merritt, Real Estate Advertising Asst. when she heard about Sheehan Gone?” People cried, Meredith re- OPEN HOUSE Linda Franks, Classified Advertising Manager camping out by the president’s Justin Davisson, Evie Marquez, Irene Schwartz, called. A couple of nights later, Baez Classified Advertising Sales ranch. Sheehan made front-page also moved the crowd by singing Blanca Yoc, Classified Administrative Assistant news by wanting to ask Bush in per- “Amazing Grace.” earn how to become a ONLINE SERVICES L son why her son died in Iraq. She The war has become a rallying Lisa Van Dusen, Director of Palo Alto Online has yet to get an answer. Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist Shannon White, Assistant to Webmaster point for Bush supporters and oppo- BUSINESS “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” nents alike over an ever-widening SAN JOSE: Sunday Sept 11, 2005 • 1:00–4:00pm Iryna Buynytska, Business Manager McCaffrey said of her visit. “It was gulf of disagreement. Miriam Quehl, Manager of Payroll & Benefits amazing,” she summed up after- SANTA CRUZ: Sunday Oct 23, 2005 • 1:00–4:00pm Paula Mulugeta, Senior Accountant “It’s OK to disagree, as long as Grace Li, Judy Tran, Business Associates ward.