Vol. XXV, Number 76 • Friday, June 18, 2004 ■ 50¢ INSIDE Brazil The Midpeninsula’s in Palo most complete Alto real estate listings Page 13 and classified section WeWeekend eEdition k l y www.PaloAltoOnline.com R&B pioneer Ruth Brown to headline Stanford Jazz Festival Page 7 Worth A Look 13 Eating Out 14 Movie Times 19 Goings On 23 Crossword Puzzle Section 2 ■ Upfront City workers threaten to go on strike Page 3 ■ Sports A record round by Palo Alto junior golfer Page 27 ■ Home & Real Estate Garden project supplies fresh food for hungry Section 2 First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto Affirming the dignity and integrity of LosLos Altos Altos (PCUSA) every person’s religious journey LutheranLutheran Church Come Visit Summer Schedule Sunday, June 20, 2004 10:00 am Worship —Summer Services begin— ELCAChurch Our Inclusive Child care provided ELCA Community of “The Gift” Rev. Cathy Harrington Pastor David K. Bonde Pastor W. Robert Martin III 9:00Pastor am David Worship K. Bonde Faith Pastor Jeff Vamos Summer Service: 10:30 a.m. Forum: 9 a.m. 505 E. Charleston Rd. Palo Alto (650) 494-0541 www.uucpa.org 10:309:00 am am Worship Education Hour Alpha Courses Courses 1140 Cowper Street 650-325-5659 www.fprespa.org Nursery Care Care Provided provided PALO ALTO COMMUNITY CHURCH 650-948-3012 460 S. El Monte Ave., Los Altos Affirming the Best of Who You Are. www.losaltoslutheran.org STANFORD MEMORIAL CHURCH Sunday Celebration Services Sunday, June 20 • 10 AM 8:45 AM, 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM Sunday University Public Worship Nursery & youth programs available at AM services Mornings for “Beyond Torment & Torture” Wednesday: Meditation, 7:00pm-7:30pm Spiritual Health Class: 7:30pm-9:00pm through June 30th Meditation 9:15-9:45am Dean Scotty McLennan “Know Our Oneness With God & With Each Other” Service 10-11am Non-denominational All are welcome. Visit our website for the daily inspirational and Inclusive Spirituality. For information Call (650) 723-1762 message from “Daily Word” Thursdays 7-8pm Visit http//religiouslife.stanford.edu 3391 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto • (650) 494-7222 Meditation & www.unitypaloalto.org Self-Development Pathways to Self Healing 4153A El Camino Way Palo Alto (650) 424-1118 www.psh.org Bahá’í Faith Grace Lutheran “Love is the cause of God’s revelation Church unto man, the vital bond inherent, in -ELCA- the realities of things.” 3149 Waverley St., Palo Alto 650–494–1212 www.paloaltobahai.org (650) 321-0939 8:00 am – Worship Service INSPIRATIONS 9:30 am – Worship Service Child care available at both services To include your Church in call Blanca Yoc 650-326-8210 Ext. 239 or email:[email protected] Rev. Randall K. Wilburn Inspirations Rev. Susan Shipman Winner of the 2003 Gold Award by Marriott! RESIDENCE INN PALO ALTO–LOS ALTOS. Combining the conveniences of home with the services of a hotel. Guest Suites Feature: Facilities / Services • One or two bedroom suites include fully equipped kitchens with stove, • 156 tastefully appointed suites refrigerator, microwave oven, dishwasher and utensils • Free wireless high-speed Internet access in lobby, meeting rooms & pool areas • Large work desk with desk-level outlets and adjustable lighting • Complimentary buffet breakfast & evening social (Monday-Thursday) •Cable/satellite TV with in-room movies and all-news channel • Manager’s weekly barbecues (summer season) • Granite kitchen countertops and Corian vanities • Dinner delivery service from local restaurants • Coffee maker with complimentary coffee • Express check-out • Separate sleeping and living areas • Complimentary business services (faxing & copying) • Hair dryer, iron and ironing board • Plenty of space for entertaining or meetings • Free high-speed Internet access • Fitness center, Sport Court,® pool and whirlpool Residence Inn by Marriott 4460 El Camino Real Los Altos, California 94022 Reservations: (800) 331-3131 Tel: (650) 559-7890 Fax: (650) 559-7891 www.losaltosresidenceinn.com Page 2 • Friday, June 18, 2004 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis mandatory unpaid leave for all if the two sides fail to reach an agree- ing parks, and keeping libraries open. PALO ALTO unionized employees. ment on a new contract. Police officers and firefighters are not In a potentially foreboding sign, the The last city strike occurred in the in the union. union sent a letter to the city’s largest mid-1970s. Assistant City Manager SEIU’s most recent contract Strike looming businesses and neighborhood leaders Emily Harrison said she joined the expired on May 1, but negotiations warning that a strike could be near. city a few years later, when the bit- have continued since. There was a “This type of action is not our terness was still fresh. scheduled get-together yesterday, Union issued 10-day warning on Monday choice and absolutely a last resort,” “Nobody wins in a strike and the and an additional one is set for by Bill D’Agostino union organizer Benjamin Holgate feelings last long after,” she said. Monday. Even if negotiations don’t wrote. The city has begun making contin- settle by then, there won’t necessari- strike that could make it hard- International Union, Local 715, have On Monday night, representatives gency plans to continue the most ly be a strike since the union’s mem- er to get electricity restored or worked toward a resolution on a new with the SEIU gave an official notice basic services should the strike begin bership will still need to vote in A check out a book from the contract for more than three months, to the City Council that workers next week, Harrison said. The favor of the action at a meeting on library could be days away if the but it appears as though neither side could strike Monday, June 28. Such a union’s 600-or-so employees perform Tuesday. city fails to resolve numerous issues can agree on a few key issues: the caveat is required for unionized most of the day-to-day work to run With numerous issues still out- with its largest union. city’s health care options, manage- employees to stop working, although the city, including maintaining utility standing, though, neither side is The city and Service Employee ment practices and a proposed it can be rescinded at any time, even services, answering 911 calls, clean- (continued on page 5) PALO ALTO Benest to undergo cancer treatment City manager not expected to miss much work by Jay Thorwaldson ity Manager Frank Benest will undergo treatment for a C small, cancerous growth at the base of his tongue, but was told Wednesday the odds are good for a complete recovery. He may not need to take much, if any, time off work. According to Benest, the tumor has been removed and radiation Norbert von der Groeben treatment will begin to prevent it from spreading. “Stanford feels confident they can treat it and it will be taken care of,” Benest told the Weekly on Wednesday, following a medical consultation earlier in the day. Such growths, known as squamous cell carcinomas, are associated with Chilling out skin cancer. It is more aggressive Anna Palter, Grace Donzelli, Claire Donzelli and Demetrio Donzelli wait for customers at their lemonade stand at the corner of Middlefield Road and than a basal cell carcinoma — the Santa Rita Avenue on Tuesday as temperatures hovered in the mid 90s. The children are raising money to help pay for a surgery for their pet dog. most common type of skin cancer — but can be treated successfully if caught early enough. ula-swinging mother. my kids,” Firth said. “The awful “There will be some side FAMILIES Today’s approaches to father- thing is when fathers don’t see their effects, but I should be able to hood are far and wide, from dads kids until the weekends.” continue working,” he said, Fathers who who come into parenthood late in Firth said a father’s role in the adding the treatment could cause life, to those who alter their careers family used to be clear and well him to lose his hair. to raise children, to those who defined: Dad’s biggest job was to “I was getting ready for a new look break the mold scramble to find the time while make money. In high-priced areas anyway,” he quipped. working long hours. like Palo Alto, Firth said, it’s near- The radiation treatment usually Few ‘Ward Cleavers’ in this day and age Ward Cleavers need not apply. ly impossible for a family to sur- lasts six to eight weeks. Firth, a free-lance writer, stays at vive on just one income. With the help of a nanny, Benest by Alexandria Rocha home to care for his 6-week-old boy, By staying at home, Firth said, has been caring for his two young imon Firth does not fit the use, like “guy-themed diaper bags.” Michael, and 2-year-old girl, Ada. the family minimizes the time — children, aged 10 and 5, since the classic image of a suburban “You don’t see any of those Because his wife works full-time and money — devoted to childcare. death of his wife last February. S father. things,” he said. as a Stanford English professor, it According to the latest federal “It certainly focuses one on what’s Glancing through a catalogue of The era of the briefcase-toting made more sense for Firth to stay statistics, the number of stay-at- important, doesn’t it?” he said of his Father’s Day gifts, Firth half-joking- dad, arriving home at 5 p.m. sharp with the children. He devotes three home dads jumped 70 percent bout with cancer.