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Pure business WATER STORES CASH IN INBUSINESS | P.29 APRIL 6, 2007 VOLUME 15, NO. 14 INSIDE: WEEKEND | PAGE 23 650.964.6300 mv-voice.com Probe begins at MV Whisman DISTRICT’S CEO RESIGNS of the accused, chief financial officer Rebecca Wright, would AS STATE AUDITORS be stepping down at the end of LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS the school year. Despite the close OF INFLATED SALARIES timing, “One does not have any- thing to do with the other,” said By Alexa Tondreau the district’s human resources director, Stephanie Totter. t the request of Superin- According to the allegations, tendent Maurice Ghysels, brought by an anonymous letter Aauditors from the Cali- sent to district officials and news fornia State Teachers Retirement outlets last November, Wright System arrived at Mountain View and Totter conspired to inflate Whisman’s district offices Mon- the final compensation of former day to investigate allegations of a Superintendent Eleanor Yick and scheme to inflate the salaries of former Associate Superintendent outgoing school officials. Modrite Archibeque, and in SAM TENNEY The audit begins two weeks return received a salary increase Springer School third graders Melanie Knickerbocker, Megan Bioucchi and Hunter Lai look for birds after it was announced that one during the 2005-06 school year. while on an environmental field trip to the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. The letter alleged that Yick and Archibeque added nearly $18,000 in health benefits — and, in Yick’s case, an additional $3,500 in phone Trustees and mileage expenses — to inflate The Baylands experience their final year’s salary. Retirement is based on final year’s salary, and SANDPIPERS, STILTS AND A TASTE OF PICKLEWEED ENTHRALL YOUNG FIELD TRIPPERS smile on the higher salaries would result in thousands more in retirement By Alexa Tondreau were taken on a morning among young students. benefits per year. nature hike through the salty The group, which estimates it unions A prepared statement issued pring was out in all her marshes and grasslands of the has taken nearly 250,000 students by the district this week did not glory on a recent Friday, natural preserve, nestled along on field trips in Santa Clara and LABOR CONTRACTS indicate the reason for Wright’s Sas a group of third grad- the Bay in Palo Alto. The trip San Mateo counties, is hosting March 22 resignation notice. On ers from Mountain View’s was made possible by Environ- a fundraiser later this month to APPEAL TO March 28, one week later, the dis- Springer School traveled out to mental Volunteers, a 35-year- raise and renovate the preserve’s FOOTHILL-DE ANZA trict announced that Craig Gold- Baylands to take in the sights. old Peninsula nonprofit created man, principal of Huff Elementary Thirty Springer students to foster an appreciation of nature See BAYLANDS, page 8 By Alexa Tondreau School, would replace her as CFO. Totter, when asked about specula- lthough it was touted tion that Wright was stepping down as an informational due to the alleged retirement fraud Ameeting, the Foothill- and the impending investigation, Study: More lucrative to save farm De Anza board of trustees left said that was absolutely untrue. no doubt Monday that they “There is no connection,” she By Daniel DeBolt “The study I think really at $49 million if SummerHill intend to adopt a project labor said. “First of all, [the investi- confirms what we believed all Homes carries out its current agreement, or PLA, which will gation] has not been resolved. he Mountain View Farm- along,” said Farmlands Group plan for 55 homes at an estimated impose union law on campus Once they give Dr. Ghysels the lands Group came to Blach member Vicki Moore. “We’re $1.4 million each. Instead, the construction projects totaling findings, those allegations will TIntermediate School in trying to convince the City Farmlands Group is propos- nearly $500 million over the be addressed.” Los Altos last Sunday to present Council that without a doubt ing 48 larger homes be built on next several years. Totter said Wright has been a study they hope will end all this is fair financially.” smaller lots to make room for The five-member board open with the district about her doubts that preserving a third The study — an economic fea- a five-acre farm. Those homes expressed unanimous support plans to leave, and gave them of the Grant Road farm isn’t just sibility study done by Bay Area would sell for $1.8 million each, a pipe dream, but something Economics, a giant in the field See UNIONS, page 18 See PROBE, page 19 potentially very profitable. — estimates the total site value See FARM, page 10 INSIDE GOINGS ON 32 | MARKETPLACE 33 | MOVIES 26 | REAL ESTATE 41 | VIEWPOINT 20 Relieve Stress! Discover Home Consignment Center And SAVE On Upscale Name Brands Specializing in the Consignment Sale of Quality Furniture, Accessories and Jewelry Truckloads of New Items Arriving Daily at Prices You Will Love! Los Altos/Mtn. View 650-917-8526 141 El Camino Real San Mateo Saratoga Danville San Rafael 650-577-8979 408-871-8890 (925) 866-6164 415-456-2765 1888 S. Norfork 600 El Paseo de Saratoga 1901 Camino Ramon 863 E. Francisco 2 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ APRIL 6, 2007 An Attractive Smile Voic es Opens doors & closes deals. AROUND TOWN Asked in Downtown Mountain View. Pictures and interviews by Zunaira Durrani. Where do you go for the great outdoors? “To the beach. Fresh air, sun and Free Exam & X-rays, What can your smile do for you? water.” Consultations, It’s your smile that people notice first. At Smiles Leeann Wibol, San Diego & Second Opinions* Dental Care we know how important first impressions are & we’re here to help your smile make a great one. Our nationally recognized doctors, state of the Free Take Home Teeth art technology and calm, relaxing atmosphere are just Whitening Kit the first steps we take to give you a smile that will * with Exam, X-rays & Cleaning last a lifetime. Call today to see how we can make Offers expire 30 days from today your first impression even better. “I go to different parks. I like the *Offers may not be combined Mission City Memorial Park. I Call Today 650-964-2626 also love the Cuesta Park because it’s big and beautiful.” www.smilesdental.com Frouzan Sobhanipour, Mountain View 100 W El Camino Real Suite 63A Mountain View, CA 94040 Dr William S.Dr. HallWilliam • Dr S. Jennifer Hall Wu “I live in Marin County and it has lots of hiking trails. The Marin Headlands overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and the SendSend UsUs Pacific Ocean is my favorite.” A Postcard Pat Goss, Tiburon A Postcard “Sometimes I go to Golden Gate Park. It’s very green, calm and pretty quiet there.” Susan Boeckmann, San Francisco “I go to the Fisherman’s Wharf.” Photo of Kirill Yurchenko in the Karen Cheng, Taiwan city of Minsk, Republic of Belarus. Take a photo with the Mountain View Voice on your next trip and email to [email protected] or mail to Postcards, P.O. Box 405, Mountain View, CA 94042. Have a question for Voices Around Town? E-mail it to [email protected] APRIL 6, 2007 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ 3 LocalNews FINE KITCHEN CABINETS MV: Waiting List Open ◆ FREE Showroom Design Consultation ◆ Lifetime Warranty ◆ Made-to-order Cabinets in 1O Days 1BR Senior ■ Apartments CRIMEWATCH SR Fountains Apts ATTEMPTED ARMED clerk. After taking the cash and liquor, the 2005 San Ramon Ave., Mtn. View ROBBERY, 209 E. two men managed to escape in a vehicle (650) 966-1060 MIDDLEFIELD RD., 3/30 waiting outside the store with a driver. Later, On Friday at 7:40 p.m., an adult male Palo Alto police reported they had located a Every Tues. 9am-12pm Only entered Carl’s Jr. on Middlefield Road and vehicle matching the description. When they Every Thurs. 1-4pm Only walked behind the counter towards an stopped the vehicle, all three suspects tried to To Open Permanently employee. He pointed a semiautomatic hand- flee. The police were able to locate and arrest two suspects, both 25 years old. * Income limits and monthly gun at the employee and demanded cash. rents subject to change with At this point, a car stopped in front median income of of the drive-thru window. The suspect, BRANDISHING A WEAPON / seeing the car approach, fled the scene Santa Clara Co. Section 8 DRUNK IN PUBLIC, 893 LEONG BEST BUY CABINETS without stealing anything. He is described DESIGN ◆ COUNTERTOPS ◆ APPLIANCES Certifi cates and Vouchers DR., 4/1 837-H Industrial Road (between Holly & Brittan) San Carlos as a Hispanic male in his mid 20s, 5 feet 7 Accepted. On Sunday at 2:22 a.m., a male suspect 65O-413-555O • www.bestbuycabinets.com inches tall and about 150 pounds. He was at the King of Clubs Bar became involved Open Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-5 wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and in a fight with the bar’s patrons, including dark sunglasses at the time. women. He left the bar but returned later A s with an air-powered BB handgun. The bar’s o s n e patrons were able to take the gun and O en ARMED ROBBERY, 275 p hold him until police arrived. The suspect ra MOFFETT BLVD., 3/31 h ! On Saturday at 9:26 p.m., two armed men is 24-year-old Anastacio Morales, who wearing masks entered a liquor store and was arrested on charges of brandishing a demanded cash and liquor from the store weapon and drunken behavior in public.