Vol. XXVIII, Number 31 • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 ■ 50¢ Two teens shot dead in East Palo Alto Page 3
www.PaloAltoOnline.com
School parents debate proposed Mandarin-language immersion program Page 27 Photo illustration by Carol Hubenthal, Norbert von der Groeben Talk about the news at Town Square, www.PaloAltoOnline.com ■ Upfront City reaches settlement with polluting firm Page 3 ■ Neighborhoods Residents sue city over ‘oversized’ development Page 7 ■ Sports Stanford men host USC, UCLA in Pac-10 basketball Page 33 In Business KGO’s Len Tillem & Michael Gilfix MEDI-CAL, TRUSTS, Len Tillem Esq. & Michael Gilfix, Esq. Len Tillem & Associates ASSET PROTECTION Gilfix & La Poll Associates, LLP Host of KGO’s “Legaltalk” Stanford Law School Tuesday, February 13, 2007 33 yrs Experience 2:30-4:30 pm or 6:30-8:30 pm Crowne Plaza Cabaña Mediterranean Room, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA. 94306
• Medi-Cal to pay Nursing Home Costs Seating is limited! FREE Seminar • New Medi-Cal Law Explained You can also register on our • Protect Residence from Medi-Cal Claim Call 650-493-8070 website • Special Needs Trust for Disabled Kids or 408-971-7292 • Pros & Cons of a Living Trust www.gilfix.com • Family Protection Trusts to Protect Assets you leave your children from Divorce, Lawsuits, and Tax.
We were driving to the store on a rainy day last week, and my son looked out the window and told me, “Mom, there are lots of puddles of precipitation outside today.” Precipitation? What four-year-old knows what precipitation is? I asked him how he knew that, and he told me he learned about the water cycle at school. You know, I wasn’t so impressed that he simply knew how to say a big word—I was amazed that he could apply something he’d just learned to what he saw going on around him. I’m so glad I chose Challenger School for my little guy.
HE Open enrollment begins February 1 see our open house schedule at www.challengerschool.com AMAZES ME EVERY DAY Because You Know the Value of Education
©2007, Challenger Schools
Page 2 • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Tighter ‘hazmat’ rules voted by City Council Decision follows $20,000 settlement with polluting firm over nitric-acid incident
by Molly Tanenbaum according to city officials. controls over facilities with certain would be “thwarting their ability to n the heels of a $20,000 settlement signed last Friday between the The Friday agreement includes levels of hazardous materials. adjust their businesses whatsoever,” City of Palo Alto and Communications & Power Industries, Inc., payment for penalties and the city’s “We’re treading into an area that City Attorney Gary Baum said. O (CPI) the City Council tightened zoning regulations for hazardous costs of the investigation. has not been tread by other cities,” The new zoning also requires materials Monday night. Monday night, a packed audience Director of Planning and Commu- firms to notify residents within a CPI accidentally released a ni- according to city and fire department of about 70 residents turned out for nity Environment Steve Emslie said 150-foot radius if they propose to tric-acid cloud over the Barron Park officials. The Palo Alto municipal the hearing on new zoning regula- of the new rules. exceed a threshold for hazardous neighborhood on Feb. 2, 2006, and code requires the fire department be tions. The council voted 7-0 to adopt The motion, by Councilman materials. did not notify the city, the fire de- informed of any release of hazard- the rules, which will cap the amount John Barton, allows companies to Councilman Jack Morton tried partment or residents of the release, ous materials into the environment, of hazardous substances firms can increase their hazardous-materials store and handle and increase city storage up to 10 percent. Any less (continued on page 5) EAST PALO ALTO CRIME Gangs fuel Shooting shootings, deaths jar police say East Palo Alto City has experienced 19 shootings in 22 days Family, friends mourn loss by Don Kazak of two teenagers killed he wave of shootings in East Sunday Palo Alto — in which 19 people Twere shot in the first 22 days of by Alexandria Rocha the year, including three homicides tudents at Cesar Chavez El- — has been caused by conflict be- ementary School in East Palo tween street gangs, according to East S Alto handed out white ribbons Palo Alto Police Chief Ron Davis. on Monday to commemorate Stop Most of the shootings, including the Violence Week — one day after seven people wounded between last their classmate Moises Jimenez, 13, Wednesday night and last Sunday was shot and killed in a carport on night, were from a conflict between Cooley Avenue. two East Palo Alto gangs, Davis The week-long schedule of events said. had been planned months in advance “Most (involve) narcotics and are but took on a sudden and pointed retaliatory. Most (victims) are being relevance with Jimenez’s death. targeted,” he added. Police said Jimenez and a second The shooting Sunday afternoon victim, Tomas Hernandez, 18, were that left 13-year-old Moises Jimenez standing in the carport of a small and 18-year-old Tomas Hernandez apartment complex on the corner of dead was also gang-related, Davis Cooley and Scofield avenues Sunday said — though likely not connected when two Hispanic males in hooded to the same East Palo Alto groups. sweatshirts walked up around 12:30 Instead, Davis said police believe p.m. the Sunday killings were retalia- Witnesses said the four exchanged tion for a shooting in Redwood City words before one of the men shot Ji- Saturday night that left three men menez, who died on the scene, with wounded. And the Saturday night a semi-automatic handgun. Hernan- and Sunday afternoon shootings are dez tried to run and was shot, col- a conflict between two local Latino lapsing at the corner of the parking gangs affiliated with the large, pris- lot. He died later at Stanford Medi- on-based Latino gangs, Nortenos cal Center. and Surenos, which could indicate The two suspects fled on foot the beginning of a conflict between and were still at large as of Tuesday gangs in Redwood City and East morning, police said. Jimenez and Palo Alto. Hernandez became the city’s first “Now, we need to target those two homicides of 2007. (East Palo Alto) gangs and make At Cesar Chavez Elementary sure there isn't any conflict between School on Monday, Principal David Redwood City and East Palo Alto Herrera made personal visits to each gangs,” Davis said. seventh- and eighth-grade classroom In response to the shootings over to deliver the news. He said counsel- the last week, the East Palo Alto po- ors were on hand and a number of Veronica Weber lice announced new efforts last Fri- students sought their services. day to step-up anti-violence efforts, The school serves fourth- through including increased patrols and of- eighth-graders. fering $500 and $1,000 rewards, “no This is Herrera’s fourth year at questions asked,” for information Cesar Chavez and his 10th in the A torn strip of police tape still remains on the site where Tomas Hernandez, 18, and Moises Jimenez, 13, (continued on page 5) leading to recovery of handguns and were fatally shot Sunday afternoon. (continued on page 5) Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 • Page 3 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER Our William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Jocelyn Dong, Acting Managing Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor Town Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor by Don Kazak Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer Alexandria Rocha, Molly Tanenbaum, Becky Trout, Staff Writers A long way from home Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer Veronica Weber, Photo Intern Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor & s a boy, Imtiez Ali used to but denied that his village harbored Since 1992, the fi rst and fi nest Online Editor take stories from his father’s al-Qaida members. in consigned furniture. Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor Cammie Farmer, Calendar Editor Abooks, edit them and make Mohammed was killed in a mis- Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Bentson, them into stories that were pub- sile attack a few days after Ali in- Open 10-4 Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday Lynn Comeskey, Kit Davey, Tim Goode, Jack 67 Encina, one block north of Embarcadero Rd., off El Camino Real, Palo Alto McKinnon, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, lished in a children’s magazine in terviewed him, by either the Paki- Contributors his native Pakistan. stan military or Americans, who 650 324-8791 Justin Bull, Editorial Intern Caitlin Berka, Arts & Entertainment Intern “I was always curious and in- had identified him as a “known quisitive,” he said of his becoming target.” DESIGN Informational Carol Hubenthal, Design Director a journalist. Now 30, Ali is a BBC In a freak coincidence, Moham- Diane Haas, Sue Peck, Senior Designers; radio reporter who also writes for med was killed just “two or three Meetings Nathan Hammer, Dana James, Paul Llewellyn, Charmaine Mirsky, Scott Peterson, Designers the London Telegraph. minutes” after Ali’s taped inter- Feb. 15 - Thu. We read about the “war on ter- view was broadcast on BBC radio, PRODUCTION Mar. 7 - Wed. Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager ror.” Ali reports it, from his base in the main source of Pashto-language Dorothy Hassett, Blanca Yoc, Peshawar, Pakistan. news to which villagers listen.. 4:45PM; RSVP Sales & Production Coordinators Ali is a visiting Knight fellow at “They thought I had something ADVERTISING Stanford University, one of eight to do with him being killed because Vern Ingraham, Advertising Manager Feb. 21 - Wed. Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Asst. foreign journalists and 12 Ameri- the interview played just before the [kindergarten only, 650-424-1221] Tony Gay, Janice Hoogner, Sandra Valdiosera, cans who spend a year at Stanford attack,” Ali said. Display Advertising Sales Kathryn Brottem, Real Estate Advertising Sales to research a particular issue and “I didn’t want to leave the coun- Joan Merritt, Real Estate Advertising Asst. attend forums. try. People would have thought I Emerson Learning--our inno- Nerissa Gaerlan, Evie Marquez, Irene He and his wife, Nakira Ali, and had done something wrong.” James Briggs Schwartz, Classified Advertising Sales vative approach to a classic Alicia Santillan, Classified Administrative Asst. their three small children, Fahran Being a news reporter in the un- Director education--brings out the ONLINE SERVICES Ali, 5, Aleena Gul, 3, and Arman ruly tribal area is highly danger- 650-424-1267 extraordinary in every student. Lisa Van Dusen, Director of Palo Alto Online Ali, 6 months, live in a modest ous, Ali admits. Three journalism Shannon White, Assistant to Webmaster Mountain View apartment. colleagues have been killed and a [email protected] BUSINESS They are a long way from home. fourth was kidnapped and released, • Superior Academic Preparation Iryna Buynytska, Business Manager 2800 W. Bayshore Road Miriam Quehl, Manager of Payroll & Benefits Ali grew up in small village in but never would talk about it later, • Emphasis on Thinking Skills & Personal Values Paula Mulugeta, Senior Accountant the mountainous Northwest Fron- Ali said. Palo Alto, CA 94303 Elena Dineva, Judy Tran, Business Associates • International Curriculum (Chinese, Spanish) Tina Karabats, Cathy Stringari, Doris Taylor, tier Province of Pakistan, just two “He was silenced.” Business Associates miles from a famous Buddhist There were 20 reporters covering • Cultivation of Gifts & Talents ADMINISTRATION monastery, Takht Bahai, which the tribal region last year, Ali said. Also: • Individualized Montessori Curriculum Amy Renalds, Assistant to the Publisher & dates from the 1st century, before “Now there are none.” Promotions Director; Islam became the prevailing reli- It’s a dangerous place for report- Hacienda School- • Year-Round, Full-Day Program Rachel Palmer, Promotions & Online Assistant Pleasanton Janice Covolo, Receptionist; Ruben Espinoza, gion of the area. ers to cover, even Pakistanis work- Jorge Vera, Couriers Ali is Pushtun, an ethnic group ing for Western news media. HeadsUp! Child EMBARCADERO PUBLISHING CO. of northwestern Pakistan and of He said the families of report- Development Centers- William S. Johnson, President much of the neighboring area of ers have been threatened but that Palo Alto • San Jose • Pleasanton EMERSON Michael I. Naar, Vice President & CFO; Walter Kupiec, Vice President, Sales & Marketing; Afghanistan. hasn’t happened with him, yet. His Frank A. Bravo, Director, Computer Operations After 9/11, when the United parents, a brother and sisters still SCHOOL & Webmaster www.headsup.org Cultivating Astonishing Potential! Connie Jo Cotton, Major Accounts Sales States invaded Afghanistan and live where he grew up. He and his Manager; Bob Lampkin, Director, Circulation & toppled the Taliban regime, many immediate family live in what he Mailing Services; Alicia Santillan, Susie Ochoa, Circulation Assistants; Chris Planessi, Joel Taliban leaders fled to the federally calls a safe compound in Peshawar. Pratt, Chip Poedjosoedarmo, Computer System administrated tribal area of Paki- His BBC office is “very heavily Associates stan between the Northwest Fron- guarded.” The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) tier Province and Afghanistan. Ali enjoys being at Stanford, but All Horizons Travel is published every Wednesday and Friday by Embarcadero Publishing Co., 703 High St., Palo That’s where Ali has been work- he wants to go back to Pakistan and Alto, CA 94302, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals post- ing as a reporter. report what it is happening in the age paid at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing It’s a region Ali described as tribal region. Please Join us for our offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circu- lation for Santa Clara County. The Palo Alto Weekly “lawless” in one of his London That’s near where he is from and is delivered free to homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Telegraph stories. that’s where the story is. 4th Annual Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and Almost all of the Taliban and Ali knew Daniel Pearl, the Wall to portions of Los Altos Hills. If you are not cur- tribal leaders there are Pushtun, Street Journal reporter who was Cruise Night rently receiving the paper, you may request free delivery by calling 326-8210. POSTMASTER: Send like Ali. kidnapped and killed by terrorists WED. JANUARY 31, 2007 address changes to Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box Anti-American sentiment runs in Pakistan in 2002. Ali recalled he 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Copyright ©2003 by high in those mountains. talked with Pearl twice in Pakistan 5PM TO 6:30PM Embarcadero Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohib- In one of his BBC broadcasts, to try to help him. ited. Printed by SFOP, Redwood City. The Palo Alto Ali interviewed tribal leader Nek Pearl had been an editorial intern Weekly is available on the Internet via Palo Alto RSVP Required Online at: http://www.PaloAltoOnline.com Mohammed in 2004. In a revealing at the Weekly when he attended interview, Mohammed declared his Stanford. 650.941-5810 Our e-mail addresses are: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. dedication to topple both the Af- Ali grew quiet when I mentioned Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? Call ghani and Pakistani governments that. Representatives of 22 Cruise Companies will 650 326-8210, or e-mail circulation@paweekly. because they are American-sup- In a slight rain, he walked me com. You may also subscribe online at www. ■ be here to answer your questions and offer you PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $60/yr ($30 ported. back to my car. within our circulation area). Mohammed described how he Senior Staff Writer Don Ka- special discounts, amenities and/or savings. fought with the Taliban in Afghani- zak can be e-mailed at dkazak@ stan against the Americans in 2001 paweekly.com. Disney Cruise Line • Oceania • Princess • Cunard Viking River Cruises • Globus River Cruises & Galapagos Islands SUBSCRIBE! Star Clippers • Royal Caribbean • INTRAV • Holland America Support your local newspaper by becom- ing a paid subscriber. $30 per year for INDEX Windstar • Norwegian Cruise Line • Celebrity Cruises residents of our circulation area: $60 for businesses and residents of other areas. Pulse ...... 10 Yachts of SeaDream • Seabourn • Peter Deilmann River Cruises Name: ______Transitions ...... 21 Regent Seven Seas • Cruise West • Uniworld Movies...... 23 Brendan European Waterways • Silver Seas • Lindblad Expeditions. 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Page 4 • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 • Palo Alto Weekly Upfront
the Violence ly for middle-schoolers. Gangs can CANTOR ARTS CENTER Shootings Week, Her- seem like an attractive option be- (continued from page 3) rera said cause (they’re) a place to belong.” AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY Ravenswood City School District. the students Across town at the carport Mon- He has never had to deal with this are engaged day, Maria Galvan, 17 — longtime WINTER & SPRING STUDIO ART CLASSES type of tragedy. in an essay girlfriend of the second victim, “Everyone I’ve spoken to, this is contest with Tomas Hernandez — put candles, Art classes are available for kindergartners through adults, something new for them, too,” he the theme flowers and a heart-shaped bal- and range from one-day workshops to weekly classes. said. of “peace,” loon in the spot where Hernandez Every class has an in-gallery component, Jimenez’s mother, Rosario Bal- which will collapsed. She and a friend put a deras, said her son, who would have and all materials are provided. Tomas Hernandez culminate in second memorial in the spot where turned 14 next month, was always a peace-mak- Jimenez died. happy. ing celebra- “When they told me he was in the FOR FULL CLASS LISTINGS, CALL 650-725-3155 “He was always trying to hug tion Friday. hospital, I felt sick and came home,” OR VISIT HTTP://MUSEUM.STANFORD.EDU you; trying to help you,” she said. Herrera said Galvan, who was at the mall SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL CLASSES To collect donations for the funer- said he held when she heard the news. Sign up today – classes fi ll quickly! al, the family has made fliers with a staff re- Her friend, Jennifer Menendez, photos of Jimenez, reading, “We treat this said Hernandez was gentle and a ask for your help and cooperation year, which little shy. to give an angel his last goodbye.” 85 percent of Galvan said Hernandez moved Cesar Chavez school is also doing his staff at- from Mexico to the United States its part. Herrera purchased boxes at tended. One when he was 15. He did not attend Student Camp and Trip Advisors Home Depot so students could col- Moises Jimenez of the major school but worked in landscaping lect donations for the funeral, too. topics of dis- and construction. He was trying SUMMER Students placed the boxes, with the cussion was how to build resiliency to become financially stable so he letters “R.I.P.” in black marker writ- in the students. could send money home, she said. “MAKE A BRIGHT CHOICE OPPORTUNITIES ten on them, around the campus. “We know students in our com- Hernandez’s relatives who live in FOR YOUR SUMMER” “He was here for a few years, munity . . . face economical chal- the Bay Area are hoping to have his FAIR and he had a lot of friends,” Her- lenges and the violence in our body shipped to Mexico, where his SUNDAYSUNDAY FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 5,4, 20062007 rera said. “A lot of those friends are community,” he said. “And we still mother lives. 10:00AM-1:00PM upset and profoundly impacted by expect them to score well on their Galvan, an East Palo Alto resi- Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso, Atherton what has happened.” standardized tests. dent, said her neighborhood is un- When asked how his classmates “How can you come to school and safe. Programs for ages 8-18 • Free admission • Free parking reacted after hearing the news, focus on math when the person who “We knew it was dangerous MEET DIRECTORS FROM: one student said: “A lot of people lives down the street from you just since we moved here,” she said. cried.” got killed?” “But there was nothing we could OVERNIGHT CAMPS Traditional, Teen, Specialty Another student said that Jimenez Herrera said he didn’t know do about it. ■ TRIPS Biking, Wilderness, Cross Country, Worldwide Touring “always got into fights because of whether Sunday’s shootings were Staff Writer Alexandria the Norteno” street gang. gang-related. But, he added: “Gangs Rocha can be e-mailed at aro- PROGRAMS Sailing, Ranch, Arts, Language, Community Service As part of the scheduled Stop are always at the forefront, especial- [email protected]. EDUCATIONAL College Campuses US & Abroad For information call: City Council Judy Wiesen, Student Camp & Trip Advisors: Vice Mayor Larry Klein was absent release takes place, even if CPI 415.454.5441 800.622.2347 (continued from page 3) and Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg determines it is inconsequential,” or but failed to push required notifica- abstained due to a conflict. Larkin said. tion from 150 to 600 feet. No one The city currently has two “risk Other zoning-ordinance items supported the motion. management” facilities that work that received less attention Mon- “The definition of ‘affected resi- with enough hazardous materials to day night include updates to city dents’ is very small. It’s three or qualify for state controls under Title regulations regarding landscap- four houses,” Morton said. 19: CPI and the city’s own water- ing, wireless communications fa- Spread Your Wings The 10 residents who spoke at quality control plant. cilities, noise and creek protection. the meeting addressed the chemical The new code will give the coun- The council unanimously approved release at CPI last February. They cil discretion over whether these fa- these updates and additions to the protested that increased notification cilities can increase their volumes city’s zoning code. does not resolve the risk of another of hazmats, as well as whether new In other business, the council: potential release. facilities could come into the city, ■ Reopened (with a 6-2 vote, “The emphasis has been on notifi- through a conditional use permit. Council members Kleinberg and cation and a buffer zone rather than Prior to entering into Friday’s set- Peter Drekmeier opposed) the appli- control,” resident Fred Balin said. tlement, CPI was required to take cation period for four appointments “The current proposal is way too corrective actions, including chang- to the Parks and Recreation Com- weak,” CPI neighbor Bill Kelly add- es to its internal waste-handling and mission, instead of choosing from ed, teary-eyed with emotion. “The emergency-notification procedures, the six available candidates. only thing we can do is separate CPI and to make changes to its equip- ■ Voted 5-3, with council mem- The right retirement community can from the neighborhood.” ment. A third-party evaluation was bers Kleinberg, Dena Mossar and Barton’s motion also included required to ensure measures were Bern Beecham opposed, to follow a { free you to discover a whole new world } direction to staff to work with CPI taken to eliminate the possibility of staff recommendation to require the to reduce the amount of hazardous a similar release in the future, ac- city’s refuse fund to pay rent into the At Pilgrim Haven Retirement Community, life abounds. materials it stores at its site. cording to Senior Deputy City At- city’s general fund for unused parts Enjoy your own charming apartment without the burden “We are struggling to find a way torney Donald Larkin. of the landfill that have not yet been to effectively control what’s here,” “Under the terms of the settle- developed into a park. ■ of home ownership and upkeep. Located in a quiet Councilman Bern Beecham said ment, CPI has agreed to notify the Staff Writer Sue Dremann con- residential area close to shopping and other downtown after seconding Barton’s motion. Palo Alto Fire Department if any tributed to this report. activities, Pilgrim Haven is a convenient way along with additional San Mateo dealers. of living. And there’s considerable comfort Gangs County Sheriff’s deputies. Among the latest incidents of (continued from page 3) in knowing you have access to assisted living “We’ll continue this schedule violence, an 18-year-old East Palo and skilled care should either be needed. assault rifles, respectively. until further notice,” Davis said. Alto woman was found shot in the The added patrols resulted in The chief also said the increased head Monday evening after her car several arrests and weapons recov- gang violence is a “powder keg” crashed at Westminster Avenue Ready to spread your wings? Call today. ered on Saturday night, Davis said, that police want to stop from going and Alberni Street, police said. including three vehicle chases and off. Officers are targeting known The woman died. (650) 948-8291, Ext.103 stops. One person arrested had areas where gang members hang In yet another incident involving 373 Pine Lane, Los Altos CA 94022 been out of prison just 12 hours. out, he said. guns, East Palo Alto police arrest- Days off for East Palo Alto offi- If the current police efforts don’t ed three 14-year-old boys at Edi- www.pilgrim-haven.org cers have been cancelled and night quell the street shootings, Davis son Ronald McNair Academy on Pilgrim Haven is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the West, patrols have been doubled to about said he would consider asking for Pulgas Avenue Monday afternoon a non-sectarian, nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation serving seniors through assistance from law enforcement after finding a handgun in one of quality retirement housing since 1949. State of California License #430708050, 12 officers from the normal six. DHS License #220000418, Certificate of Authority #94. Some nights, Davis said, there may in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Of- the boy’s backpacks. ■ be as many as 15 or 17 officers in ficers from those cities helped East Senior Staff Writer Don Ka- Palo Alto 15 years ago, forming a zak can be e-mailed at dkazak@ the field as FBI, parole and proba- ONTINUING ARE WITH A RADITION OF RUST tion officers are joining the effort, squad that targeted street drug paweekly.com. C C T T Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 • Page 5
The David Simpich Upfront MARIONETTES
The Pilgrim’s QUOTE OF THE WEEK Progress • Friday 1/26 7:30pm ‘‘ • Saturday 1/27 7:30pm How can you come to school and • Sunday 1/28 4:30pm focus on math when the person who First Presbyterian Church lives down the street from you just of Palo Alto got killed? 1140 Cowper St. (at Lincoln) ‘‘ —David Herrera, principal of Cesar Chavez $15 adult; $12 youth & child Elementary School in East Palo Alto, following (not recommended for children under 8 yrs) the shooting death Sunday of one of his students. See story on page 3. 650-361-1723 www.puppetshowcase.org Around Town BENEST TAKES be “very colorful and very fun,” MANHATTAN . . . Palo Alto’s Miller said, with colors selected own City Manager Frank Ben- to match the historic nursery- est figured prominently in a Jan. rhyme tiles. It will have a cozy 11 New York Times story on the reading nook and a large open dearth of city managers, a key space with playful carpet- interest of Benest’s. The pro- ing, she said. The foundation fession faces a “demographic launched the campaign to raise tsunami,” Benest told the Times, the second half of the money adding that at city manager con- in August. Miller said she par- ferences “all you see is gray hair.” ticularly wanted to thank major Benest expressed hope the next donors, families who bought generation, interested in mean- bricks, and others who helped ingful work, doesn’t associate out. that with government jobs. The article also discusses the plight HERSPACE . . . Karie Thomson, of Tecumseh, Okla., which found a Woodside resident and well- itself city manager-less after for- known philanthropist, has been mer head David Johnson left to appointed as the chair of the restore muscle cars. Peninsula Open Space Trust’s Board of Directors, spokes- SIMON SAYS . . . While Frank woman Nina Nowak announced Benest made ink through the recently. Thomson has served New York Times, Gunn High on the board of the 29-year-old School student Jacob Simon non-profit organization since was featured in a Wall Street 1996. She chaired the “Saving Journal article on homework the Endangered Coast” cam- loads Friday. The story observes paign for the trust. Thomson a trend among elite schools also serves on the board of of assigning more worthwhile directors of the Illinois-based — rather than drudge — as- Kinship Foundation and, along signments. Simon, 17, is said with husband David, is a strong to watch sports when he gets supporter of the African Wildlife home from school, rather than Foundation. “Her demonstrated immediately plunging into his devotion to POST’s mission, her schoolwork. “It’s nice to be depth of experience in environ- able to relax a little,” the article mental matters, and her infec- quotes him as saying. It also tious enthusiasm for our natural cites a study that shows stu- local landscape will greatly dents with more homework benefit POST as we deepen our often have lower math scores. land-saving work on the Penin- Simon’s no slacker, though: sula,” the trust’s President Au- According to the Journal re- drey Rust said in a release. porter, Simon’s enrolled in five Advanced Placement classes ENVIRONMENTAL this year. STEWARDS . . . Locals Trish Mulvey and Pat Showalter were NOTHING’S MISSING . . . Par- honored with the 2007 CEO En- tially due to its “What’s Miss- vironmental Stewardship Award, ing” sign campaign, the Palo an honor offered only twice a Alto Library Foundation raised decade, a spokeswoman for the the last $200,000 it needed to Santa Clara Valley Water Dis- furnish the Children’s Library, trict announced. Out of 33 nom- President Kathy Miller has an- inations, three agencies and 12 nounced. Supplying the recon- individuals received the award, structed historical library with which recognizes the protection shelves, checkout machines, of clean drinking water and the furniture and other necessities environment, as well as a com- will cost more than $400,000 mitment to fiscal responsibility. — money not included in the Mulvey is with CLEAN South cost of construction. The library Bay, an organization that works is currently expected to open in with other environmental groups mid-September, Library Director to prevent pollution from marring Diane Jennings said. Design- the South Bay and its tributaries. ers and library staff are already Showalter has worked to restore selecting furnishings, Miller said. and protect San Francisquito The Harriet Street library will Creek. ■
Page 6 • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 • Palo Alto Weekly Upfront
NeighborhoodsA roundup of neighborhood news edited by Molly Tanenbaum
AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? THE BLOCK
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WATER . . . A presentation, “Water: Where It Comes From and Where It Goes,” will take place in two weeks with speakers Greg Zlot- nick, the director of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and Phil Bobel, Environmental Com- pliance Manager of the Palo Alto Water Quality Control Plan. Attendees are asked to bring questions about the use of recycled water, safety of Palo Alto’s water supply, renova- tion of the Hetch-Hetchy sys- tem and more. The talk will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Acterra Conference Room/Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 E. Bayshore Road. It costs $5 for non-Acterra members.
STANFORD ON THE MOVE . . . A presentation, also on Tues- day, Jan. 30, will take a look at the future development of Stanford’s campus with univer- Veronica Weber sity architect David P. Lenox. The free, informative session, “A Snapshot in Time: Stanford University Campus Planning,” will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Tresidder Union, Oak Countdown for Cowper Inn East Room. Refreshments will Less than a month is left for the Cowper Inn. Owners John and Peggy Woodworth sold half of the 20-year-old bed-and-breakfast, at 705 be provided. Cowper St., before Christmas and closed it last Friday. “It’s going to be a single-family home once again,” real-estate broker Steve Pierce said, without revealing the buyer. The second half of the inn, next door at 711 Cowper, will close on Feb. 17 and has not yet been sold. THE TRUTH ABOUT PANDEMIC FLU . . . Speak- ers from the Palo Alto Medi- cal Foundation, Red Cross ‘Oversized’ 195 Page Mill project prompts lawsuit and the City of Palo Alto will gather to educate Palo Altans Two residents sue city, council and developer The three-story, 150,000-square- redesigned it and appealed a plan- about the real facts of global over approved mixed-use development foot research-and-development ning-department denial. pandemic influenza: the likeli- building with 84 apartments on Moss argues that the city misused hood of vaccine development by Molly Tanenbaum top was conceived by Hohbach a state housing law to allow Hoh- and what everyone needs to wo Palo Alto watchdogs have day that the city failed to comply and received sharp criticism from bach to disobey zoning rules that know to prepare for pandemic initiated a citizens’ lawsuit with the California Environmental many neighbors for being oversized prohibit residential and mixed-use flu. There will be demos on the T against the City of Palo Alto, Quality Act and the city’s zoning — three times larger than existing developments for the site, which use of masks, preparing hydra- City Council and developer Harold and planning laws when it approved zoning would normally allow. is bordered by the Caltrain tracks, tion solutions, keeping hands Hohbach over a controversial proj- Hohbach’s project. The project received a narrow, 5- Park Boulevard and Page Mill. clean and more. The event ect at 195 Page Mill Road. “A lot of us are just totally fed up to-4 council nod (then-Mayor Judy Senate Bill 1818 grants design will take place at Mitchell Park Bob Moss, Tom Jordan and a with that project and the way that Kleinberg, then-Vice Mayor Yoriko incentives or concessions — in Ho- Community Center at 7 p.m. on newly formed association, Citizens it was approved, and that includes Kishimoto and Councilmembers hbach’s case, that meant allowing Thursday, Feb. 1. for Upholding Zoning Regulations, four-ninths of the City Council and John Barton and Dena Mossar op- housing and more square footage assert in the suit filed last Thurs- the staff,” Moss said. posed) on Nov. 20 after Hohbach (continued on page 9) FUN RUN . . . Registration for the 11th Annual Juana Run has begun. Runners of all levels BARRON PARK — with a little help from their hu- in trouble,” she said. can participate, as there will man caregivers. A little extra feed sometimes be certified 8K for adults; a Rugged animals, Perry and Nin- helps. 200-yard and half-mile run for Cold snap tested mettle er didn’t require much intervention, Horses in the pasture at Pagemill children; and a 100-yard race Harding-Barlow said. Pastures on Deer Creek Road re- for children with special needs. of neighborhood animals “Because they are outdoor don- ceived blankets and extra feed to Visit www.juanarun.org for keys, they acclimatize. They hide help tolerate the bitter cold. They more information or to register. Donkeys hid in shrubs, while horses got blankets in the shrubbery as much as pos- also grew their coats in accordance by Sue Dremann sible — like the rest of us,” she with the weather, the facility man- said, referring to how humans ager said. Send announcements of rigid temperatures may have cord-breaking temperatures by snuggle beneath layers of blan- The worst problem the horses en- neighborhood events, meet- caught Palo Alto residents growing thicker-than-usual coats, kets to keep warm. countered was having frozen water ings and news to Molly Tanen- F off-guard recently, but they according to one of their chief “They are also quite fat,” she in their troughs, which caretakers baum, Neighborhoods editor, at were no surprise to neighborhood caretakers, Inge Harding-Barlow. added. had to frequently check and thaw. [email protected]. donkeys. From thicker fur to personal With Perry and Niner being And ice wreaked more havoc for Or talk about your neighbor- When it was still warm last fall, heaters and ponchos, neighbor- outdoor donkeys, “we can’t really ranch caretakers than for the ani- hood news on Town Square at Bol Park’s donkey duo, Perry and hood animals bundled up or hud- pamper them too much. If we get a mals — pipes broke throughout the www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Niner, seemed to presage the re- dled together in the last two weeks worse cold snap, then we’re really (continued on page 9)
Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, January 24, 2007 • Page 7 Lydian Academy Opens in Upfront Do you need a Fresh Start WEST COAST GLASS for secondMenlo semester? Park Offering 1-1 instruction for high school Comecredit and to other Lydian educational Academy services. News Digest where individualized instruction Former Secretary of Defense criticizes Iraq policy Free collegecan application help you workshop succeed. in Oct. & Nov. President George W. Bush’s decision to send additional troops to Iraq Submit your CSU application with time to 10% off materials is “too little, too late” and is contrary to what American commanders in We spareoffer one-on-one and receive instruction expert coaching for high from school 4020 FABIAN WAY PALO ALTO Iraq say is needed, former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry said 493-1011 in a panel discussion at Stanford Monday. credit, tutoring,our certified and othercollege educational counselor services.. Perry, a Stanford professor, is also a member of the bipartisan Iraq RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Call 650-321-0550 to schedule your Family Owned since 1929 Study Group, whose recommendations have largely been disregarded Call 650-321-0550 to reserve. by the president. free transcript review and initial consultation. JOE BAXTER Perry said the additional troops won’t matter unless fundamental Contractor License #227972 changes are made by the Iraqi government to heal the rift between 815 El Camino Real, Menlo Park Mon. - Fri., 8:00 - 5:00 Sunni and Shiite Muslim groups, which some are already calling a 650-321-0550 • www.lydianacademy.com INSULATED & BROKEN WINDOWS civil war. REPLACED, MIRRORS Perry was joined on the panel by Larry Diamond, senior fellow at Lydian Academy, LLC HEAVY GLASS TOPS & BEVELS the Hoover Institution, who agreed with Perry’s soft-spoken but glum assessment of the growing violence in Iraq. Diamond served as a consultant to Iraq’s provisional government in 2004 and later wrote a book, “Squandered Victory,” which was critical of the policy decisions made by the U.S. government. Perry and other members of the Iraq Study Group traveled to the coun- try last August and September, interviewing government and military ,5#),% 0!#+!2$ #(),$2%.3 (/30)4!, leaders there, before the group presented its final report in December. Perry said today the two top U.S. generals in Iraq the study group interviewed disagreed with the need for additional American troops. Instead, the U.S. mission in Iraq should be changed, he said, with U.S. troops providing training for the Iraq army. Perry, who served as secretary of defense for three years in the Clin- ton administration, also gave a surprisingly blunt assessment of the war’s effect on the U.S. military. “The Army is dangerously close to being broken,” Perry said. He 9OUR #HILDS (EALTH 5NIVERSITY explained that the combat readiness of most Army brigades has been downgraded since the beginning of the war, because of casualties and ,UCILE 0ACKARD #HILDRENS (OSPITAL OFFERS CLASSES AND SEMINARS DESIGNED other reasons. Related to that, National Guard units have carried part of the burden TO FOSTER GOOD HEALTH AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN of fighting in Iraq with Guard members called up for deployment. “The compact with these citizen-soldiers has been shattered,” he -/4(%2 !.$ "!"9 9/'! said. 4HIS POSTPARTUM 9OGA CLASS FOR NEW MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS PRESENTS A GENTLE Diamond said the war in Iraq “is one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in U.S. history.” RETURN TO PRE BIRTH FITNESS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TONING AND STRENGTHENING 4HIS He added that the call for additional troops is “all too painfully remi- CLASS IS APPROPRIATE FOR MOTHERS WITH BABIES FROM WEEKS UP TO CRAWLING niscent of Vietnam.” ■ —Don Kazak 4HURSDAYS &EBRUARY