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Vol. XXIX, Number 40 • Friday, February 22, 2008 ■ 50¢ The Dragon not afraid Check out the Weekly’s of Albee online classifieds at fogster.com WeeklyWeekend Edition Page 10 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Woven wonders Palo Alto Art Center exhibit redefines the basket Page 7 Veronica Weber Veronica Worth A Look 12 Eating Out 13 Movie Times 18 Goings On 21 ■ Upfront Educators link AP classes to STAR tests Page 3 ■ Sports Paly boys, Woodside Priory girls play for CCS titles Page 23 ■ Home & Real Estate Fairmeadow: one circular sensation Section 2 KAELYN LEUKEMIA SURVIVOR CURRENTLY: DESIGNING HER FUTURE JUST ANOTHER REMARKABLE DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Kaelyn was a resilient 12 year-old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). At her community hospital, she began a diffi cult 26-month treatment with very good odds. But, 20 months into treatment, Kaelyn’s cancer returned and wasn’t backing down. With nearly all hope lost, Kaelyn and her family were referred to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for a life-saving bone marrow transplant. With care teams specially trained to support © 2008 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital pediatric patients and an environment designed just for children, the surroundings met all of her needs—medical and emotional alike. Over several months, groundbreaking treatment and dedicated providers gradually restored not only Kaelyn’s health, but also her family’s hope. Almost nine years later, Kaelyn is fully recovered, working on a bachelor’s degree and building on Lucile Packard her dreams of interior design. Her battle with leukemia long behind her, Kaelyn is free to focus Children’s Hospital on the promise of her future. Visit www.lpch.org for more information. AT STANFORD © 2007 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Page 2 • Friday, February 22, 2008 • Palo Alto Weekly 1949_Kaelyn_PAWeekly.indd 1 1/11/08 11:03:56 AM UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis High schools institute new testing rule Squeezed by state and federal standards, in requiring students enrolling in allows parents to request an exemp- ment and Evaluation Bill Garrison administrators link AP classes to STAR tests Advanced Placement (AP) classes tion from STAR exams for their said. to take state tests known variously children. In prior years, parents have com- by Arden Pennell as Standardized Testing And Re- The STAR tests measure cumu- plained about the slew of tests. porting (STAR) tests or California lative knowledge in subject areas at Students have labeled the simple tudents enrolling in college-lev- The new contract is a local solu- Standards Tests (CSTs). the end of the year. state exam less important than the el Advanced Placement classes tion to a problem districts statewide The federal No Child Left Be- They can consume up to 10 hours college-credit-conferring AP exams Sat Palo Alto High School this are grappling with: how to get stu- hind Act of 2001 uses participation or two days of a student’s time and administered by the College Board. semester had to sign on a new dotted dents to take tests they are techni- in such tests to calculate whether disrupt school scheduling, especially But 95 percent of students in each line — a contract agreeing to take cally allowed to skip. schools adhere to strict standards — in classes taken by both juniors and high school must take state tests to California standardized tests. Paly has joined Gunn High School or face penalties. State law, however, seniors, district Director of Assess- (continued on page 6) LAND USE Mayfield project finally gets green light Mountain View development to place 450 homes along Palo Alto’s border by Daniel DeBolt fter four years of meetings, the massive Mayfield housing proj- A ect along Palo Alto’s southern border gained the Mountain View City Council’s go-ahead Tuesday night. The council approved a conceptual master plan, a demolition plan and the first phase of construction. The 450-unit project will be lo- Norbert von der Groeben cated at 100 Mayfield Ave. near the interchange at San Antonio Road and Central Expressway/Alma Street. “I think we’re all tired, and we all want to see this completed in the best way possible,” said Nola Mae McBain, a Monta Loma neighbor- hood resident who had fiercely op- And the winners are ... posed the project over the years. Palo Alto Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Scott Laurence reads a winning number during the more-transparent lotteries for the The council voted 4 to 2 on the district’s limited-enrollment programs — including the new Mandarin-immersion program, the Spanish-immersion program and Young Fives. master plan, with Councilman Jac Siegel being the only earnest “no” vote. “There are too many unanswered COMMUNITY local attractions, hotels and restau- afield, Benest said. questions,” he said. rants. Palo Alto is brimming with at- He cited concerns about a loss of “We have the potential to have this tractions, restaurants and shops but trees, lack of park space, an unde- be a significant return on our invest- “we have never had a way of linking signed pedestrian tunnel, the poor lo- City seeks pros to manage ment,” Councilman Pat Burt said. these assets together,” Benest said. cation of the pool, and a strange plan The two-year pilot program is ex- Destination Palo Alto is targeting for garbage and refuse removal. Destination Palo Alto pected to pay for itself by increas- visitors rather than traditional tour- Residents ultimately will be unhap- ing hotel occupancy at the city’s five ists because most travelers arriving py with the development, he said. Annual investment of $240,000 could generate largest hotels by 5 percent, generat- in Palo Alto are here on business, for The other “no” vote came from “a significant return on our investment” ing $240,000 of Transit Occupancy Stanford University or for a special council member Nick Galiotto, who Taxes (TOT) for the city, Adminis- event, several speakers indicated opposed the conceptual plan because by Becky Trout trative Services Director Lalo Perez Wednesday. of the pedestrian tunnel, which he said. Initiated by former council mem- said will be unsafe. estination Palo Alto has ma- night. The city is expected to hire an bers Dena Mossar, Bern Beecham The tunnel would connect residents tured from an experimental The City Council Finance Com- agency or consultant to start in and Judy Kleinberg, Destination to the San Antonio train station on the Deffort into a budding visitors’ mittee agreed, voting unanimously July and focus on local promotions, Palo Alto was created in 2006 as other side of Central Expressway. program worthy of full-time, pro- (4-0) to spend $240,000 a year to while another entity such as the San a partnership between the city, the Representatives of project devel- fessional administration, City Man- hire a consultant, or possibly two, to Mateo Convention and Visitors Bu- Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, oper Toll Brothers said they are still ager Frank Benest said Wednesday manage the program and promote reau would promote the city farther (continued on page 4) (continued on page 4) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, February 22, 2008 • Page 3 Upfront Re-design removed and the 56 redwoods to be 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 Mayfield your living options (continued from page 3) boxed for future use elsewhere on (650) 326-8210 the site. with Avenidas! PUBLISHER William S. Johnson studying how deep the tunnel would Wouter Suverkropp, president run, and whether utility lines might of the Monta Loma Neighborhood EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor be in the way. Association, said the tree-removal Jocelyn Dong, Managing Editor Councilwoman Laura Macias de- program was “a recipe to remove the Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Associate Editors fended the tunnel, saying, “The only trees permanently.” Council mem- Keith Peters, Sports Editor Tyler Hanley, Online Editor way this project looks like smart bers asked how long the trees could Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor growth is with access to transit.” live in boxes, given that the project Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer Other disputes surfaced as well, could take years to complete. Arden Pennell, Becky Trout, Staff Writers including street requirements. Staff “Indefinitely,” was the response Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor found that a fraction of an acre — from Toll Brothers. Karla Kane, Editorial Assistant Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer about 6 percent — would have to be Toll Brothers expects demolition Marjan Sadoughi, Veronica Weber, Staff removed from the proposed Mayfield of the old Mayfield Mall/HP office Photographers Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Bentson, Park to adequately widen one of the structure to start this summer and Lynn Comeskey, Kit Davey, Jack McKinnon, streets, unless the space was taken take 10 to 12 months. The first phase Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Craig Wentz, from a set of 17 row homes called of construction is for 42 single-fami- Contributors Now Available for Purchase! Alex Papoulias, Veronica Sudekum, Richard To, Area Three. ly homes along the project’s northern Editorial Interns A compromise was finally reached and eastern edges. ■ Where To Live: Nick Veronin, Arts & Entertainment Intern to take half the space from Area Daniel DeBolt is a reporter for the Danielle Vernon, Photography Intern Three and the rest from the park. Mountain View Voice, the Weekly’s DESIGN A Housing Guide for Older Adults Carol Hubenthal, Design Director The development plans call for sister paper. He can be e-mailed at Diane Haas, Sue Peck, Senior Designers 167 heritage trees on the site to be [email protected]. 13th Edition Dana James, Paul Llewellyn, Charmaine Mirsky, Scott Peterson, Designers The city still has problems provid- PRODUCTION Destination ing resources to visitors, according Call (650) 289-5400 or Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager (continued from page 3) Dorothy Hassett, Blanca Yoc, to event organizer and former city visit www.avenidas.org Sales & Production Coordinators staff member Anne Cribbs.

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