Vol. XXVIII, Number 74 • Friday, June 22, 2007 ■ 50¢ Upside- down theater in ‘Noises Check out the Weekly’s new online classifieds Off’ at fogster.com WeeklyWeekend Edition www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 12 Red Thistle Dancers The jig explore Scottish steps is up Page 9 Norbert von der Groeben Worth A Look 13 Eating Out 15 Movie Times 21 Goings On 23 ■ Upfront Four enter school-board race Page 3 ■ Sports Another successful Stanford season Page 26 ■ Home & Real Estate Extraordinary blooms Inside JACKIE ONE OF THE FIRST COMBINED INTESTINAL AND LIVER TRANSPLANTS CURRENTLY: LITTLE CHARMER JUST ANOTHER REMARKABLE DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Jackie Seki has a smile that lights up a room. But things weren’t always so bright for the little girl. By three months of age, Jackie was suffering from end-stage intestinal failure and her liver soon began to fail. Her only option: a combined small intestine and liver transplant. © 2007 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Jackie joined the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Transplant Program and became one of the few patients to receive the groundbreaking procedure. Ten years ago, an operation like this was experimental at best. Today, with the commitment and pioneering spirit of the doctors, nurses and researchers at Packard Children’s, patients like Jackie are thriving after such surgeries. It’s this kind of innovative thinking, as well as sensitive, nurturing care, that makes Packard Lucile Packard Children’s a world-class hospital. And these days, Jackie is a world-class doll, enchanting Children’s Hospital everyone she meets–people and animals alike. Visit www.lpch.org for more information. AT STANFORD Page 2 • Friday, June 22, 2007 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Four so far in Palo Alto school board race Board president, PTA president, a prior candidate Board members Mandy Lowell the Santa Clara County Registrar of continue that we have an excellent and Gail Price will leave two seats Voters Office. school district.” and a teacher are gearing up for the Nov. 6 election open after having served a limit of “I’ve been to about every single If elected, Baten Caswell said she by Susan Hong two terms. Townsend’s term expires school board meeting for the last would put a high priority on closing in November, but she is eligible to two years,” Baten Caswell said the achievement gap. he Palo Alto school board mille Townsend, PTA board Presi- serve another term. about her commitment to the dis- “I’m a big proponent about kids election is months away, but dent Melissa Baten Caswell, 2005 Any registered voter living within trict. “I’m very familiar with the is- being enthusiastic and curious and T four people have already board candidate Claude Ezran and Palo Alto Unified School District sues. And I’ve been on PTA council loving learning,” she said. She said thrown their hats into the ring for math-teaching specialist Barbara boundaries may apply. Candidate for two years.” she wants to emphasize educating the Nov. 6 ballot. Klausner have told the Weekly they declarations may be filed between “We have an excellent school “well-rounded happy, smart kids. Incumbent board President Ca- plan to run. July 16 and Aug. 10, according to district,” she added. “I want it to (continued on page 7) ENVIRONMENT Smoldering Foothills fire station impasse heats up Staffing the station using overtime worked fine — but the need to trim the city budget has triggered a war of words by Becky Trout alo Alto’s foothills will be without close-by fire and P emergency medical person- nel this summer except on high-risk fire days — a situation favored by no one — to shave the city budget. All agree that the hills are over- loaded with tinder-dry grass and brush — denied of fire for decades. Marjan Sadoughi And there is a public-safety issue in the summer, when thousands of hikers, bikers and summer camp- ers head for the open space, where they could get struck by a car, have a heart attack or get stung by a bee. Eye contact That’s not counting the multi- Riley Zander (left) exchanges a friendly glance with Hallie MacDonale while playing at Johnson Park on a recent weekday morning. million-dollar mansions and other homes, many in areas that lack a fire-safe, two-exit evacuation route. Funeral Home. chael King, said Spago’s departure The no-win situation could be LAND USE “It may be a simple structure but I may indicate that another restaurant resolved by the firefighters’ union don’t think it’s unremarkable,” Bun- would not succeed in that location. through a change in its contract, nenberg added. A new, modern structure would pro- according to several City Council City votes to protect Designed by local architect Roy vide more options for the owner and members — including Jack Morton, Heald, the building was meant to look future tenant, he said. Bern Beecham, Peter Drekmeier and Spago building residential so it would be unobtrusive Demolishing 265 Lytton in favor Vice Mayor Larry Klein — and City in the midst of a neighborhood, ac- of a modern building would require Manager Frank Benest. Although the restaurant is gone, the 1926 cording to a city staff report. either a decision to remove it from “The thing is if everyone under- structure is safe from demolition, for now It has not served as a funeral Palo Alto’s historic inventory or stood the situation there would be home since 1957. After briefly hous- extensive environmental review widespread agreement that there’s by Molly Tanenbaum ing missionary societies, the beige, and approval by the City Council, a better way to staff Station 8 than pago Palo Alto may have Murden and David Bower absent stucco building with arched first- according to Dennis Backlund, the with senior firefighters who are paid closed last month, but its — against a request to remove 265 floor windows has been a restaurant city’s historic preservation planner. overtime,” Drekmeier said. S building on Lytton Avenue is Lytton Ave. from the city’s historic for the past 30 years. The building has been on the But the International Association here to stay. inventory. It has housed the Gatehouse, then city’s historic inventory since 1989. of Firefighters Local 1319, led by fi- That is what the Palo Alto Histor- “It is a building that has a great Stars and finally Wolfgang Puck’s Historic consultant Meta Bunse, ery former firefighter Tony Spitaleri, ic Resources Board (HRB) decided deal of style to it,” board member Spago. of Davis-based JRP Historical Con- isn’t eager to negotiate. Spitaleri said on Wednesday when voting unani- Beth Bunnenberg said of the 1926 Architect Ken Hayes, who is sulting and hired by the owner, ar- it’s not true that the union insists mously — with members Carol structure, originally built for Tinney working with property owner Mi- (continued on page 8) (continued on page 7) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, June 22, 2007 • Page 3 Clean Home, Clean Conscience. WEco-friendly housecleaning services 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 W Rates competitive PUBLISHER William S. Johnson ReaderWireReader comments via e-mail, voice mail and U.S. mail with cleaning franchises EDITORIAL JayW Thorwaldson, Editor role of a folksy elected official both Keep pumping Jocelyn Dong, Managing Editor on TV’s “Law and Order” and on the TeamWorks provides its staff Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Ellen Fletcher (“The Biking Life”) is Keith Peters, Sports Editor my hero. She is a shining example of floor of the Senate. with living wages, quality health Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor His paychecks, in both cases, Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor the health benefits of being a bicycle insurance, extensive training, Tyler Hanley, Online Editor commuter. Ellen organizes the free, have depended on his ability to proj- and ownership opportunities as Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer guarded bike parking for Stanford ect a folksy, no-nonsense charm, Molly Tanenbaum, Becky Trout, Susan Hong, persuading observers that he is a members of our cooperative. Staff Writers football games and other events un- Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer der the auspices of the Silicon Valley man of the people. Marjan Sadoughi, Staff Photographer Bicycle Coalition. Thompson would, of course, W www.teamworks.coop Kelley Cox, Photo Intern prefer that you not notice that he Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor I have volunteered at several of 650-940-9773 Karla Kane, Editorial Assistant these events and watched in admi- spent decades as a lobbyist in W Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Bentson, ration as Ellen energetically biked Washington, D.C. During the 1980s Lynn Comeskey, Kit Davey, Tim Goode, Jack he represented the energy firm Proudly providing our customers with great service! McKinnon, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, up to each parking corral, pulling a Contributors trailer containing all of our supplies Westinghouse in a failed attempt to Thea Lamkin-Carughi, Editorial Intern win billions in federal subsidies. In Elizabeth Obreza, Arts & Entertainment Intern and lunches. I wish I got my mother on a bicycle the past few years he has lobbied DESIGN on behalf of Equitas, a London com- Carol Hubenthal, Design Director 30 years ago, when Ellen started. Real Estate Matters Diane Haas, Sue Peck, Senior Designers; Today my mom, two years younger pany seeking to limit liability claims Dana James, Paul Llewellyn, Charmaine than Ellen, is frail and housebound. for asbestos-related illnesses. That in plenty of light. Mirsky, Scott Peterson, Designers Caitlin Fitzpatrick, Design Intern We would all be well-served to get project has earned him $760,000.