Weekly’S Great New Online Classifieds at Fogster.Com Weweekend Eedition K L Y Page 13
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Vol. XXVII, Number 18 • Friday, December 2, 2005 ■ 50¢ What makes music Check out the Weekly’s great new online classifieds at fogster.com WeWeekend eEdition k l y Page 13 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 38 Norbert von der Groeben Worth A Look 15 Eating Out 17 Movie Times 24 Goings On 27 Crossword Puzzle Section 2 ■ Upfront Hospital union set to strike Page 3 ■ Sports Castilleja volleyball plays for state championship Page 35 ■ Home & Real Estate Holiday home tour proves ‘PAST’ perfect Section 2 We Think William Deserves a Medal Before the Race Begins. A brain tumor hasn’t slowed down 10-year-old William. Because of the world class care he received at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, William is now up on his feet every morning, training with his mom for a half marathon and setting an aggressive pace to help others in need. Ranked as one of the top ten pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S.News & World Report, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford is a world class hospital devoted entirely to the care of children and expectant mothers – right in your backyard. Read more about William and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at www.lpch.org. L U C I L E PA C K A R D C H I L D R E N’S H O S P I T A L Page 2 • Friday, December 2, 2005 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Hospital workers to strike Dec.12 Hundreds of patients at Stanford “We don’t take what we’re about bor practice charge this week against NLRB reviews it they will find we to do lightly. We take it very seri- the hospitals with the National Labor have been bargaining in good faith,” and Lucile Packard Children’s, but care ously,” said John Vellardita, chief Relations Board (NLRB). Staley said Thursday morning. will not be affected, spokesperson says spokesman for Service Employees “Their refusal to bargain is the na- In a press release late Wednesday, International Union (SEIU), Local ture of the NLRB complaint,” Vel- the hospitals confirmed that they by Don Kazak 715, which represents the workers. lardita said. “They have rejected an have declined to reopen negotiations. ome 1,300 workers at Stan- broke down more than a week ago. Combined, the hospitals serve offer to return to the (negotiating) “If the union has new proposals to ford and Lucile Packard Chil- The strike date was announced at nearly 700 patients, and both are full table Dec. 2 and 3.” make which are consistent with (our) S dren’s hospitals are set to a 2:15 p.m. outdoor press confer- or close to full, Packard Hospital “The union is always free to file last, best and final offer, our hospitals strike on 5 a.m. Dec. 12, after ne- ence that was punctuated by thunder, spokesperson Sarah Staley said. an unfair labor practice charge, but will receive and review them,” the gotiations over a new labor contract lightning and a torrential cloudburst. SEIU, Local 715, filed an unfair la- we are confident that when the (continued on page 7) PALO ALTO Union voted down Managers, professionals say union dues not worth the benefits by Bill D’Agostino urprised council members sounded as though they dodged S a bullet after learning that man- agers and professionals in the City of Palo Alto decisively voted against joining a union Wednesday. Council members had been con- cerned about the possibility of a citywide strike if the managers and Norbert von der Groeben professionals unionized, since near- ly all of the city’s employees would have then belonged to a union. Councilman Jack Morton said the rejection was a “vote of confidence” for City Manager Frank Benest. More than 60 percent of the em- ployees chose not to unionize. With 157 of 184 casting ballots, 95 voted Scattered showers no and 62 voted yes. The group in- Chad Groft, a student at Stanford, dodges raindrops as he walks past the eternal summer backdrop of Mohammed Soumah’s “Under the Sun” cluded managers in most city de- mural on Country Sun Natural Foods Thursday morning as the first major storm of the season rolled through the Bay Area. partments, as well as professionals such as engineers, a veterinarian and an architect. They voted in secret at slightly exceed expenses for the more business friendly. Sales tax is the Lucie Stern Community Center. PALO ALTO next six years, thanks to those ear- the largest revenue source for the Some managers wanted to union- lier cuts. city. Palo Alto’s general fund is ize to defend themselves against the City’s financial The 37-page report tempers that $124 million in 2005-2006, with threat of reductions in employee somewhat bright positive outlook the city projecting to receive $20 benefits. Councilman-elect Larry with warnings that the local econo- million from sales taxes. Klein said during his recent cam- outlook stabilizes my faces potential pitfalls such as In 2004, then-Mayor Bern paign that he wanted to cut the num- increasing energy costs and the Beecham formed a committee to ber of managers in the city. But effort to boost flagging sales revenues possibility the “housing bubble” garner ideas to retain Palo Alto’s But dissenters said they voted no continues with new retail plan could burst. retailers; a second committee met because they did not see the benefit by Bill D’Agostino “The local economy, as well as earlier this year to gather ideas to for the union dues, which would the national economy, is likely to attract new businesses. have cost each employee 0.96 per- he era of deficits is over, but In the past few years, the city continue a slow, bumpy ascent to- Beecham, the chair of both com- cent of his or her gross salary. They the City of Palo Alto isn’t out made painful cuts in its staffing and wards stability,” concluded the re- mittees, said that despite the slight- also like negotiating directly with T of the woods. services, primarily due to deficits port, written by the city’s financial ly rosy forecast, the city needed to the top city managers. That’s the clear message from the caused by the stagnant local econ- experts. continue to find ways to support its “We did not want to put in a union city’s “Long Range Financial omy and exploding benefit costs. The modestly positive fiscal already existing retailers and court layer between us and them,” said Plan,” a 10-year financial analysis But, according to the new report, news comes as the city progresses new businesses. Risk Manager Karl Van Orsdol, who released on Thursday. revenues are now expected to on a two-year-old effort to become (continued on page 8) (continued on page 7) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, December 2, 2005 • Page 3 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson ReaderReaderWire comments via e-mail, voice mail and U.S. mail EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Movie-venue dearth ace (Weekly, Nov. 25). Jocelyn Dong, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors The termination of the film pro- The restaurant is a delightful place Keith Peters, Sports Editor gram at Spangenberg Theatre is a where many of us enjoy wonderful Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor sad event for anyone concerned meals on a regular basis; it is cer- Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers about the dearth of quality movie tainly not deserving of such a poi- Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer venues on the Peninsula. soned pen. Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer Brian Connelly, Photo Intern Over the years the Spangenberg In his review, Mr. Bentson sneers Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor & Online Editor folks have shown everything from at every aspect of the restaurant Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections classics such as “Lawrence of Ara- Cammie Farmer, Calendar Editor without any awareness of the wel- Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn bia” to eclectic foreign productions coming atmosphere, the obvious Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jill Slater, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors such as “Run Lola Run.” Very often sense of fun and the Carrubba fami- Suman Mudamula, Saqib Rahim, Ken Selis, the films shown there were either not ly’s generous spirit. Editorial Interns screened anywhere else in the Bay In fact, Mr. Bentson cannot find a DESIGN Area, or at the very least required a Carol Hubenthal, Design Director good word to say about what he him- drive to San Jose or San Francisco. Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director self describes as a popular restau- Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior Contrary to Gunn Principal Noreen Designers; rant. Surely he doesn’t imagine that Likins, I found the theater to be well Dana James, Sarah McAleer, Scott Peterson, in this competitive town such popu- Designers maintained and, although I am not a larity hasn’t been earned. 7$1)25' PRODUCTION fan of buttered popcorn, I never no- Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager ticed an odor there. On the positive Even when he can’t find anything in Dorothy Hassett, Brooke Fox, particular to complain about, Mr. <03+21< Sales & Production Coordinators side, the film screenings brought to my attention the other interesting Bentson fails to say anything posi- 6 ADVERTISING tive: “Not overly sweetened” or “un- Michael Howard, Advertising Manager productions that are held at Span- -LQGRQJ&DLFRQGXFWRU Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Assistant genberg and the decorations bright- remarkable.” He even complains that Jasbir Gill, Janice Hoogner, Sandra the tomato sauce is too red.