WORLD WAR II AVIATOR M. Jean Harman receives Congressional Gold Medal | Page 15
THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDE
MARCH 17, 2010 | VOL. 45 NO. 29 WWW.THEALMANACONLINE.COM Pondering the effects of Prop 13 Concerned about diminishing school funding, local parent examines effects of 1978 property tax measure, and makes some startling discoveries. Section 2 represented by Scott Dancer
NEW LISTING SALE PENDING NEW LISTING
Portola Valley, Approx. one acre Woodside, 10-year-old Custom Estate Woodside, 1.29 acres FOR SALE $4,950,000 FOR SALE $4,495,000 FOR SALE $2,395,000
Woodside, 4 acres West Atherton, 1.6 acres Woodside, 17.6-acre lot FOR SALE $4,150,000 FOR SALE $13,900,000 FOR SALE $1,695,000
Woodside, 15.7 acres FOR SALE $24,000,000
Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Scott Dancer 650.529.2454 2969 Woodside Road scottdancer.com Woodside, CA 94062
2 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 UPFRONT GOT WRINKLES?
The Aesthetics Research Center is participating in a research study for crow’s feet and forehead lines. Looking for women, age 30-70, with slight to deep wrinkles. The Aesthetics Research Center 525 Chesapeake Drive • Redwood City Please Contact Stephanie for more information: 800.442.0989 or [email protected]
Come Join Us at Kicks 1060 Evelyn St. Menlo Park
Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac Trunk Show Menlo seniors, from left, Roxana Meyers, Vikram Padval and Deborah Wohl reflect the latest Bloomingdale’s fashions. Thursday, March 18th
Menlo School showcases spring fashions Representative Gabriella will be here to assist you. Menlo School’s 60th annual will make a personal appearance benefit, “Dream,” will be an all- featuring his 2010 collection. Mr. day party Friday, March 19, cel- Tadashi’s clients include celebri- 1060 Evelyn Street ebrating the graduating senior ties Helen Mirren, Queen Latifah, Menlo Park class. The event will feature lun- Beyonce, and Deborah Messing. cheon and dinner fashion shows, The evening gala begins with 650.328.KICK (5425) where seniors will model the latest cocktails, including a vodka bar fashions from Bloomingdale’s and and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner will entertain with dancing vignettes. be catered by McCall Associates. The benefit is the Atherton There will be a live auction with TOWN OF ATHERTON school’s main fundraiser for such “dreamy” items as a 10-day financial aid. More than 1,600 hoto by Michelle Le/The Almanac rafting trip in Chile, a vacation at COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS parents, alumni and commu- Menlo School parents Debbie Le Sereno Hotel in St. Barts, and nity members are expected to Rosenberg, left, of Atherton and Julie Christmas or New Year’s week at a RECRUITMENT Douglass of Hillsborough are chairing attend the two shows, staged in home in Aspen. After the fashion Join us and Make a Difference a large tent on campus. All pro- the school’s 60th annual benefit. show and dance productions, there ceeds, including funds raised in will be dancing to DJ Lou Loiben. online and live auctions, will go Bloomingdale’s stores will fill Co-chairs Debbie Rosenberg and The Town of Atherton invites dedicated volunteers to toward financial aid. the runway with the season’s Julie Douglass have spent the last “Day Dream,” the luncheon latest fashion trends. Models year working on the benefit, sup- submit an application for the following committees: show, begins at 11:30 a.m. “A will wear spring fashions by top ported by a committee of more Dreamy Evening,” the dinner designers, including Rebecca than 130 adult volunteers. Students show, starts at 6 p.m. Taylor, Nanette Lepore, Hugo pitch in on the day of the event, Finance Committee – 2 vacancies – 2 year term expiring Continuing their 14-year-old Boss, Eli Tahari, Theory, and doing everything from helping with April 30, 2012 partnership with Menlo School, RLX by Ralph Lauren. 1 vacancy – 1 year term expiring April 30, 2011 the Stanford and San Francisco Dress designer Tadashi Shoji See FASHION, page 17 At its regularly scheduled meeting on February 17, 2010, Also Inside On the cover Council voted to expand the Finance Committee to allow up to three (3) appointed, qualified Atherton residents with Around Town ...... 16 Jennifer Bestor of Menlo Park took a close look at property Editorial ...... 18 tax rates for downtown businesses and for an Allied Arts financial expertise for staggered terms of which are one Letters ...... 18 neighborhood, and began to think about ways to lessen the term for one year and two terms for two years and two Police Calls ...... 17 growing tax burden imbalance that favors commercial Regional Heritage . . . . 18 property owners. Photo by Michelle Le. See story, Section 2. years thereafter. Applicants must be Atherton residents and registered voters CALLING ON THE ALMANAC of the Town of Atherton. Applications must be received in the City Clerk’s Office by Friday, April 2, 2010 The Almanac Editorial offices are at 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025. THE ALMANAC (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) ■ is published every Wednesday by Embarcadero Media, Classified ads: 854-0858 E-mail news, information, obituaries 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025- Newsroom: 854-2690 and photos (with captions) to: 6558. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and For more information or to obtain an application, contact [email protected] Newsroom fax: 854-0677 at additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for San Mateo County, The Almanac is ■ E-mail letters to the editor to: Theresa DellaSanta, Deputy City Clerk, Town Administrative Advertising: 854-2626 delivered free to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola [email protected] Advertising fax: 854-3650 Valley and Woodside. Subscriptions for $60 per year or Offices, 91 Ashfield Road, Atherton, CA 94027, phone $100 per 2 years are welcome. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las (650) 752-0529, e-mail: [email protected]. Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025-6558. Copyright ©2010 or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, To request free delivery, by Embarcadero Media, All rights reserved. Reproduction Applications may be downloaded from the Town website, 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626. without permission is strictly prohibited. http://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/armm.html
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Sale Dates: March 17, 18, 19, 20 Deli Department Corned Beef 3015 Woodside Road Woodside,650-851-1511 4420 Alpine Road Portola Valley, 650-851-1711 Robert’s Market Open 6:30AM - 8PM recipe cooked with spices until tender Fresh Produce On Sale Grocery 14oz. – Plus Calif. Redeem Value $9.99lb Large, California ¢ $ 49 59 GUINESS DRAUGHT 1 NAVEL ORANGES lb
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4 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 M ENLO PARK | ATHERTON | WOODSIDE | PORTOLA V ALLEY Results are in, but what to make of Bohannon poll?
By Sean Howell N ANALYSIS The counter-argument is that Mr. Bohannon offers peek at survey Almanac Staff Writer Godbe is a professional, and he’s staking his professional reputa- By Sean Howell the company ordered the polls so it or the second time in a year, According to Brian Godbe, tion on the poll, which claims a Almanac Staff Writer could better understand the milieu a poll has indicated strong whose company Mr. Bohannon 5 percent margin of error. Mr. in which the city is processing the Fsupport among Menlo Park employed to conduct the poll, sev- Godbe has conducted similar sur- avid Bohannon has dis- project, and to prepare for the voters for one of the largest single en of nine respondents “support” veys for cities and school districts closed to The Almanac the possibility that the issue will be land development proposals in the the project — the most favorable across the Peninsula and the state, Dresults of a public opinion decided not by a vote of the City city’s history. The motivations of results he’s seen for a development including Menlo Park. poll his company commissioned Council, but by Menlo Park citi- the company that commissioned proposal in his 20-plus years on Answers to the second question regarding a land development zens: in a voter referendum, or an the poll — and the question of the job, he said. are more difficult to come by. Is proposal in the eastern reaches of initiative sponsored by either the whether it will have any bearing But the fact that Mr. Bohannon Mr. Bohannon trying to pressure Menlo Park. Bohannon company or the city. on the project’s prospects — is for a second time publicizing council members into giving his The poll, conducted by the Brian Godbe and Mr. Bohan- remain a mystery. the results of a poll raises three company a better deal in negotia- firm Godbe Research, asked a non sketched the poll results for The poll was not commis- distinct questions, all of which tions? Is he warning them of the representative sample of people The Almanac on Wednesday, sioned by the city, but by David council members have thorough- public rebuke they might face if likely to vote in the November 2010 March 10. Mr. Godbe delivered Bohannon, the developer behind ly debated: 1) Are the poll results they reject the project? Or is this election whether they supported a summary of those results and the proposal. The Bohannon reliable? 2) What exactly is Mr. merely a gentle reminder for them the Bohannon Development Co.’s disclosed the exact wording of Development Co. is wrapping Bohannon up to? and 3) What are to listen to their constituents? proposal for three eight-story survey questions when asked, but up its first round of negotiations council members supposed to do The poll itself holds a few office towers, a 230-room hotel, did not provide The Almanac with with Menlo Park, asking for with this information, anyway? clues. Council members will and several large parking garages. a copy of the exact questions and major zoning and general plan The debate around the first surely note that it surveyed only Pollsters also asked people whether responses. concessions in exchange for as- question is fairly straightforward. “likely” voters in the November they would vote for the proposal if The survey was conducted in yet-undisclosed public benefits to Several council members have 2010 election, when three of five the Bohannon company placed it January via phone interviews of allow for three eight-story office said they’ll ignore the poll alto- council seats are up for election. on the ballot as a voter initiative. 400 people. It cost “in the ballpark” buildings and a 230-room hotel gether, relying on the adage that Still, it does not ask respondents It follows on a similar poll the of $25,000, according to both Mr. near Marsh Road and Bayfront any survey will reveal whatever company commissioned in early Expressway. the surveyor wants it to reveal. See BOHANNON, page 8 2009. According to Mr. Bohannon, See SURVEY, page 8 Bell tolls for Jackling house ■ Judge rules against that Mr. Jobs could go forward preservation of 85-year- with demolition, the judge paused old Woodside mansion. twice to note the unhappiness among some in Woodside over the By Dave Boyce increasingly likely passing of this Almanac Staff Writer Spanish colonial-style mansion. “It’s unfortunate that someone phold Our Heritage, the didn’t buy the property who really preservation-orient- bought it in order to preserve Ued group trying to save the mansion, but that’s what Woodside’s historic Jackling house, happened,” said former Coun- has been dealt another blow. A San cilwoman Carroll Ann Hodges Mateo County Superior Court in May 2009, and quoted in the judge has overruled Uphold’s judge’s ruling. objections to plans by Apple Corp. Judge Weiner also quoted archi- chief executive Steve Jobs, the tect and then-mayor Peter Mason, owner of the 82-year-old mansion, who lamented the tearing down of to destroy it and replace it with a historic resources. “I think that’s modern home. really sad for the long term historic In her March 8 ruling, Judge heritage of our town,” he said. Marie S. Weiner spent most The judge noted the Jack- of its 12 pages recounting the ling house’s location on private four-year unfolding of this property, its inaccessibility to Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac case, including her decision for a view by the passing public, Susan Sartor, who will take the reins as principal of Las Lomitas School in July, sits with Angelina Uphold in February 2006, the the house’s “serious” state of Causor, to Ms. Sartor’s right, and other Las Lomitas students during lunch last week. appellate court’s agreement, disrepair as a public health and and Mr. Jobs’ subsequent — safety issue, its construction Sue Sartor named Las Lomitas principal and now successful — efforts to before there were building and address his case’s shortcomings fire codes, and its proximity to By Renee Batti The Las Lomitas Elemen- ary that he would retire at the as identified by the court. the San Andreas fault. Almanac News Editor tary School District board on end of the school year. The saga may not be over. The judge noted that Mr. Jobs March 10 voted unanimously Ms. Sartor’s roots with the Uphold Our Heritage has 60 “intends not to fix (the house) usan Sartor, who has to approve Superintendent Las Lomitas district go deep. days to appeal the decision. The and not to sell it,” though he has served as assistant princi- Eric Hartwig’s recommenda- As a girl, she moved with her last time Uphold appealed, they received several proposals to take Spal of Las Lomitas School tion to appoint Ms. Sartor. She family to the Sharon Heights won, but Mr. Jobs has addressed it off his hands, including two since 2005, has been named the will replace Gerald Traynor, neighborhood of Menlo Park, the deficiencies cited then by the in 2009. school’s new principal, effec- who served as principal for 10 courts. tive July 1. years and announced in Janu- See SARTOR, page 8 In her ruling, as she concluded See JACKLING, page 7
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COURTESY TO BROKERS
No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Access to Ko Olina Resort amenities may be subject to the payment of fees, membership requirements and other restrictions. Centex Destination Properties does not own or control the marina, golf course, other amenities or land outside Beach Villas at Ko Olina and does not guarantee the current or future use thereof. Amenities within Beach Villas at Ko Olina may be owned by a third party and may be subject to the payment of mandatory fees and membership. Some photographs above have been digitally enhanced and may change in the actual development. Prices, incentives, standard features and upgrades are subject to change without prior notice or obligation. These materials shall not constitute an offer in any state where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Project Broker—Centex Homes d/b/a Centex Destination Properties. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING.
6 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 NEWS REAL ESTATE Q&A by Monica Corman Menlo Park board OKs teacher layoffs Another California County Adopts Prop 90 ■ Parcel tax approval could save jobs. audience, saying that district officials are doing everything Q: I am over 55 years of age If a homeowner is age 55 or older, By Andrea Gemmet they can to prevent the layoffs and want to sell the home I have he or she may buy or construct a Almanac Staff Writer they have greater seniority, from becoming permanent on lived in for 30 years and move my new home of equal or lesser value they will be offered classroom May 15. property tax base to a new resi- than his or her existing home and eachers in the Menlo jobs, while teachers with the “We hate doing this to even dence in another county. Which transfer the base value to the new Park City School District least seniority will be getting one person,” Ms. Rich said. counties allow this transfer? could see preliminary lay- pink slips, said Superintendent “This is just awful. This is the property. The homeowner has two T A: There are eight California years from the time the original off notices in their inboxes this Ken Ranella at the March 10 worst. I hope each (teacher) week. At the March 10 meeting, board meeting. understands how much we counties that accept property tax property is sold to purchase or build the school board voted to end “It’s a reduction of services, value them.” transfers from other counties. As of the replacement property. nearly 12 full-time equivalent not positions,” he said. “It’s The district is looking to February 15, 2010, El Dorado County, There are specific rules that positions in the K-8 district as a not the assistant principal that make at least $1.2 million whose county seat is Placerville in must be followed in order to qual- cost-cutting measure. goes away, it’s another class- in cuts, in the event that the the Gold Country, became the eighth ify for this transfer. Homeowners The layoffs affect two librar- room teacher.” parcel tax does not pass. Swell- California county to adopt Proposition should contact the Assessor’s ians, an assistant principal, two Nearly eight temporary ing enrollment numbers, flat Spanish teachers, a counselor, teaching positions will also be property tax revenues, and an 90, the ordinance that governs these office for the county they plan to an instructional technology terminated, Mr. Ranella said. anticipated $1.4 million cut transfers. The other counties accept- move to for information on quali- coordinator and a couple of The number of layoffs for a in state funding are projected ing Proposition 90 are San Mateo, fications. If these qualifications physical education teachers. district of Menlo Park’s size is to leave the district with a $2 Santa Clara, Alameda, Los Angeles, are met, the result can be substan- Several other positions will significant, he said. Additional million budget shortfall for Ventura, San Diego and Orange. tial property tax savings. have their hours reduced. layoffs of staff in non-teaching the 2010-11 school year, district While only two classroom positions will be done in the officials said. For answers to any questions you may have on real estate, you may teaching jobs were on the coming weeks, he said. If the parcel tax passes, the e-mail me at [email protected] or call 462-1111, Alain Pinel Realtors. chopping block, the reality is The passage of Measure C, a district will still need to make I also offer a free market analysis of your property. www.MonicaCorman.com that young classroom teachers $178 annual parcel tax on the $300,000 in budget cuts for the with the least seniority will be May 4 ballot, could save many, coming school year, and about the ones who are laid off. if not all, of the jobs that were that much in cuts for the 2011- Come enjoy the gourmet fl avors of All but one of the people los- cut, Mr. Ranella said. 12 school year, Mr. Ranella ing their positions have teach- Board member Laura Rich said. Class sizes are almost Café Primavera ing credentials, and because addressed the teachers in the certain to be affected. A nestled in the heart of Allied Arts Guild. Serving Monday Board votes to take all Tinsley students next year through Saturday The Menlo Park City School and guarantees them a place number of new kindergartners District will enroll its full allot- in the district through eighth who registered in February, plus Breakfast 10:00am-11:30am ment of Tinsley transfer students grade. Children who leave the a decrease in the anticipated Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm from the Ravenswood school district or don’t show up usually number of Tinsley backfill stu- Tea & Desserts 2:00pm-4:00pm district. The school board voted have their spots backfilled. This dents from 14 to 10, the district unanimously at the March 10 year, due to the Menlo Park dis- would be able to accommodate 75 Arbor Road meeting to enroll its usual 24 trict’s enrollment growth and an all of the students. Menlo Park students, plus 10 “backfill” unusually large number of back- An earlier proposal to tempo- students for the coming school fill students, there was some rarily suspend the Tinsley pro- (650) 321-8810 year. question whether the backfill gram for all students next year Free Wi-Fi Mention this ad and receive 15% off your entire meal. As part of the Tinsley desegre- could be accommodated. met with criticism and outrage gation lawsuit settlement, Men- Superintendent Ken Ranella from parents who attended last lo Park takes 24 students every said that due to the combination month’s Menlo Park school A TASTE OF THE PENINSULA year, usually kindergartners, of a slightly lower than expected board meeting. A A cornucopia of restaurants and cafes providing Menlo-Atherton High finds a new football coach the finest dining from brunch to dessert. The Menlo-Atherton football interim head coach after Bob reach the Central Coast Section team, which struggled through Sykes left just a few games into Small School Division champi- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner a 1-9 record last season and has the campaign. onship game for the first time in gone through three coaches in Taufoou, a San Carlos native school history. Celia’s Mexican Restaurant the past two seasons, has a new and a graduate of St. Francis Menlo head coach Mark New- 3740 El Camino, Palo Alto (650) 843-0643 head coach. High, expects to be around a ton said he was sorry to see Tau- 1850 El Camino, Menlo Park (650) 321-8227 Sione Taufoou, 27, who for lot longer than his predecessors. foou leave but that he believes the www.celiasrestaurants.com the past three seasons has been He comes from a long line of Bears’ new coach has the person- Full Bar - Happy Hour Specials; Catering an assistant football coach at football players in his family — ality that will relate well to the Menlo School, will guide the Kaoi, Will and Matt. It’s a family M-A players and that he’ll be a Vive Sol-Cocina Mexicana Bears this fall. that is highly regarded in San steadying influence to a program 2020 W. El Camino Real, Mtn. View Taufoou replaces Tony Rosso, Mateo County. that has seen plenty of highs and (650) 938-2020. who lasted only this past season. Taufoou was the defensive lows over the years. Prior to that, Philip Brown fin- coordinator at Menlo School this Specializing in the Cuisine of Puebla. ished up the 2008 season as the past fall, which saw the Knights — Palo Alto Online Sports Open daily for lunch and dinner. Coffee & Tea JACKLING the house and reuse parts of it in Lindenbrook Road from its cur- continued from page 5 a new family home. It’s unclear rent location on Robles Drive, Connoisseur Coffee Co. whether Mr. Jobs ever agreed to according to a letter to the couple 2801 Middlefield Road, Redwood City Gordon Smythe, a venture cap- this, and the proposal has since from Town Hall. (650) 369-5250 9am-5:30pm Mon. - Sat. italist and enthusiast of Jackling lapsed. Representatives from Uphold Coffee roasting & fine teas, house architect George Wash- Later in 2009, Woodside resi- Our Heritage did not immedi- espresso bar, retail & wholesale. ington Smith, offered in the dents Jason and Magalli Yoho ately respond to requests for summer of 2009 to dismantle offered to relocate the house to comment. A To Advertise in “A Taste of the Peninsula” call The Almanac 650-854-2626.
March 17, 2010 N The Almanac N 7 NEWS There’s a new fl avor in town 5IF.JYJT 0QFO%BJMZ What to make of Bohannon poll? 11:00am - 9:00pm BOHANNON said they fear that the Bohannon in preparation for a vote — tell- 11:00am - 10:00pm Fri & Sat continued from page 5 company, instead of negotiating ing people, for instance, that the Serving Frozen Yogurt, Toppings, with the city, will use California’s project would generate $3.6 mil- Smoothies & Other Treats to grapple with questions about ballot initiative process to take the lion annually for local agencies, the company’s negotiations with issue directly to voters. without mentioning that much the city, something the council At one council meeting, Coun- of that money would go outside Proudly serving Blue Bottle Coffee and baked goods by Butterscotch Bakery will do in the upcoming months. cilman John Boyle scoffed at that of Menlo Park — the company It also doesn’t ask whether a coun- possibility. If the city were to tell would surely prevail, Mr. Godbe Free Wi-Fi cil member’s vote on the project residents the Bohannon company said. “It’s a home run” were his THE MIX A FROZEN YOGURT TREATERY would influence their decision on was making an “end run” around exact words. 3536 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS #3 Election Day. the council, voters would surely While council members have Next to Avanti Pizza, Menlo Park, CA 94025 But it does test, in a vague way, support the city’s autonomy and said that the poll won’t weigh
WWWTHEMIXYOGURTCOM s -)8 certain assumptions and predilec- reject the project, he said. much on their deliberations, the tions that council members have So Mr. Bohannon asked respon- political calculus suggested by the articulated in the year since the dents that very question: If the results is clear. If the city and Mr. previous poll. The results indi- Bohannon company placed the Bohannon can’t agree on terms, rectly suggest, for instance, that project on the ballot, would you and his company elected to place PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE tangible benefits to the nearby vote for it, even if you were told the it on the ballot, voters would Belle Haven neighborhood are far process represented an “end run” approve the project by a cushy NOTICE OF INTENT TO INCREASE more important to people than around the council? margin — even if the public ben- SOLID WASTE / RECYCLING RATES the more ethereal goal of reduc- Sixty-four percent of residents efits the city is currently trying to IN THE CITY OF MENLO PARK ing greenhouse gas emissions. would, according to the poll — a negotiate weren’t part of the deal. That’s noteworthy because council statistic that should only reinforce Whether the Bohannon com- members have suggested that the council members’ fears, though pany would actually elect to take The City Council of the City of Menlo Park hereby gives public project’s fate might hinge on the Mr. Bohannon reiterated that he that route, or whether it’s simply notice of its intent to increase the existing solid waste / recycling Bohannon company’s willingness is not at the moment planning to flexing its muscles, is another rates for commercial and multi-family residential customers within to reduce those emissions. mount a ballot initiative. question. But the poll should at the City of Menlo Park for the collection of solid waste and recy- The poll’s final question poses a Still, if the Bohannon com- least remind council members, clable materials. The increase, if approved, would be retroactively effective as of January 1, 2010. The City Council plans to consider more direct challenge to council pany uses the poll’s results to for the second time in the past these rate increases at a public hearing on March 23, 2010 at 7:00 members, some of whom have guide its marketing campaign year, of that possibility. A p.m. in the City of Menlo Park Council Chambers Building at 701 Laurel Street - Civic Center. “tons” of greenhouse gas emis- according to Mr. Godbe. What are the new rates: Several rate increase levels will be SURVEY continued from page 5 sions. Mr. Godbe emphasized that the considered at the public hearing. The maximum rate increase under In general, the results of the survey was not a “push poll” — a consideration is 28% higher than current rates. A detailed listing of Bohannon and Mr. Godbe. recent survey did not vary sig- term that describes a poll whose the proposed rates can be obtained from the Finance Department At the beginning and end of nificantly from those of the 2009 purpose is to sway voter opinion, located on the second floor at City Hall, 701 Laurel Street, on-line at http://www.menlopark.org/departments/dep_finance.html, or by call- the poll, the same percentage of poll, though by the end of the rather than record it. ing 650-330-6644. people said they “supported” the 2010 survey there was a statisti- “It’s really easy for somebody project: 70 percent. In between, cally significant increase over who opposes a project ... to say, In addition to the rate increase mentioned above the City Council pollsters asked a series of ques- the 2009 results in the number ‘well, this is just a push poll,’” will also consider expanding the services provided to include Door- tions, designed to simulate public of people voicing “strong sup- he said. “That’s yet another to-Door collection of Household Hazardous Waste, Universal Waste, debate, and to inform “commu- port” for the project, according campaign tactic that is just not Electronic Waste, and Sharps and Medicine at a cost of $0.20 per nication” efforts, according to to Mr. Godbe. true. The purpose is to find out month per customer through a City-wide contract for the Recycling Mr. Godbe. Prior to the poll, the Bohannon what voters’ priorities are, so we and Disposal Services provided by Curbside Inc. The additional The information the survey company conducted two focus services and fee, if approved, would be effective as of July 1, have to ask questions, and those 2010. provided on the project was group sessions: one for project questions have to have a point of couched in a series of hypo- supporters, and one for project view.” Necessity for new rates: The intended new rates are necessary thetical questions: Would you opponents. Mr. Bohannon gave Asked whether he had consid- due to the terms of the City’s existing contract with Allied Waste be much more likely to support a brief, anecdotal description ered bringing the city in on com- Company which provide for fees to be set at a level which gives the project if you knew thus and of those sessions, saying that he ing up with the questions, Mr. the Contractor a rate of return based on approved costs. The such? Somewhat more likely? and others who watched them Bohannon said he took issue with Contractor’s costs have increased in the current year primarily due Less likely? etc. It left the envi- from behind a two-way mirror the fact that people would dis- to increased labor and disposal costs. The City’s costs of providing ronmental consequences of the observed a noticeable softening count its results, just because a billing services and environmental programs that support reduc- tions in solid waste have also increased in recent years. Prior year project somewhat vague, asking among opponents when they developer commissioned it. He rate increases have not kept pace with this combination of rising people whether they would be realized that the project site is east observed that city staff includes costs, resulting in a significant amount due to Allied at the end at less likely to support the project of U.S. 101. land-use experts but not polling the contract on December 31, 2010. if they knew it would produce Those sessions informed the experts, and said the poll is pri- “thousands” of car trips and questions asked in the poll, marily for the company’s use. A If you wish to file a written protest to these fee increases, please send a letter addressed to Solid Waste Rates, City Clerk, City of Menlo Park, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Your letter SARTOR tor for the ELD program. have known Sue, I have been must identify the real property you own by street address and the continued from page 5 “It is just a thrill for me to extremely impressed with her assessor’s parcel number. Your letter must be legibly signed by any one of the current property owners. Your name should be set forth have an opportunity to continue knowledge of the school and as it appears on your tax bill. The City of Menlo Park must receive and attended district schools: working with this district in this community, and her ability to your letter at City Hall by 5:00 p.m. on March 19, 2010, or it must be the now-closed Ladera School new role,” Ms. Sartor told The work with staff and commu- presented at the City Council meeting on March 23, 2010, prior to and La Entrada Middle School. Almanac. nity towards common goals. the close of the public hearing on the matter. She began her teaching career “I always think of Las Lomitas She is the perfect match for this in San Jose and Redwood City. as a three-legged stool,” she said, position, and we are extremely Any person interested, including all solid waste / recycling col- She returned to the local district explaining that the “students, staff fortunate to have her ready and lection customers of the City of Menlo Park, may appear at the in 1988, taking a teaching posi- and parents here are top-notch. willing to take on this challenge public hearing and be heard on any matter related to the proposed tion at Las Lomitas, a K-3 school You put all those things together at this time.” increase in rates. located in Atherton. She taught and you have the optimal condi- Ms. Sartor and her husband, Dated: March 2, 2010 kindergarten, first, and third tions” for a great school. Mike, the assistant director of /s/ grades, and in 2002 began teach- Mr. Hartwig was unavailable public works for the city of Palo MARGARET S. ROBERTS, MMC, City Clerk ing English language develop- for comment before press time, Alto, live in Menlo Park. Their Published in THE COUNTRY ALMANAC on March 10, 2010 and ment at the school, at the same but in a prepared statement, he two daughters attended Las Lomi- March 17, 2010 time serving as the site coordina- said: “In the three years that I tas and La Entrada schools. A
8 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 NEWS
Water conservation mandates YMCA honors outstanding volunteers Three local residents were come to Portola Valley N PEOPLE Morris named to recently honored for their volun- Humane Society board ■ New rules for local water suppliers. teer service by the YMCA. Woodside are ahead. Woodside’s Town Council is The Palo Alto Family YMCA Arlene Morris of Menlo Park likely to see the BAWSCA ordi- presented its distinguished service has been elected to the board of By Dave Boyce nance for outdoor irrigation in award to Judy Horst of Menlo Park. directors of the Humane Society Almanac Staff Writer 30 to 60 days, with indoor rules The Association Office of YMCA Silicon Valley. coming later, Town Manager of Silicon Valley named Donald Ms. Morris is president and CEO he El Nino effect — Susan George said on March 9. of Affymax Inc. in Palo Alto, a 180- Lee of Portola Valley winner of its Judy Horst, Donald Lee and unusually warm tempera- In her staff report, Ms. George distinguished service award. Jessica person firm conducting research tures in the equatorial noted that BAWSCA’s approach Jessica Pulido received YMCA and development in the field of T Pulido of Menlo Park received the awards. waters of the Pacific Ocean — is is complicated but less so than teen volunteer of the year award therapeutic peptides. soaking the Bay Area with rain. the state’s, and that a similarity of from the Lewis and Joan Platt East chair and worked on the associa- She was CEO of The snow pack in the mountains rules from town to town would be Palo Alto Family YMCA. tion’s Hispanic taskforce. Clearview Projects is 107 percent of normal, accord- welcomed by regional profession- Ms. Horst is chairman of the Palo Ms. Pulido has prepared healthy from 2002 to 2004. ing to the state Department of als such as landscape architects. Alto Family YMCA board of man- snacks and led fitness activities for She earlier served as Water Resources. agers. She recently helped develop family nights at the East Palo Alto senior vice president New standards Not the perfect setting for the the Cooper YMCA scholarship Y’s welcome center. She has also of business develop- Arlene Town Council of Portola Valley Portola Valley’s ordinances, awards for college-bound students. served as a summer camp leader. ment at Coulter Phar- Morris to be passing ordinances regulat- adopted by unanimous vote, are Mr. Lee has volunteered on both The YMCA of Silicon Valley maceutical. ing how much water can be used intended to cut outdoor water the Lewis and Joan Platt East Palo serves nearly 190,000 members Ms. Morris is a graduate of inside and outside certain homes, use by 25 percent and indoor use Alto Family YMCA board of direc- and includes 11 YMCA facilities Carlow University in Pittsburgh, as happened on Feb. 24, but then by 20 percent, the report said. tors and on the YMCA of Silicon and Camp Campbell, a wilder- Pennsylvania, and attended gradu- the council had little choice. The outdoor ordinance applies Valley Association board of direc- ness camp in the Santa Cruz ate classes in marketing and finance The setting that really matters to homes with landscaping of tors. He has served as fund-raising Mountains. at Western New England College. is a three-year drought, new state- more than 1,000 square feet, wide water conservation man- whether it’s new construction dates, and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s or an existing home with land- THE ALMANAC initiative to cut water use by 20 scaping to be “rehabilitated” ONLINEDELIVERS percent by 2020. Since Jan. 1, every such that a building permit or city and town in the state has had new or expanded water service to establish water-use ordinances is required, the report said. using either the state’s model or For such homes, under the one of local design, provided it is as ordinance, lawns cannot exceed 24/7. tough or tougher than the state’s. 25 percent of the landscaped area CHECK THE LATEST MOVIEE RREVIEWSEVIEWS Also having an impact is an and cannot exceed 1,000 square TheAlmanacOnline.ne com October 2008 decision by the feet without a watering plan. San Francisco Public Utilities Of the non-lawn parts, 80 Commission to cap Bay Area percent must contain native or water supplies at current levels drought-resistant plants. Gar- SPRING HAS SPRUNG! until at least 2018. At current dens larger than 1,000 square IT’S TIME TO “STEP OUTSIDE AND ENJOY YOURSELF” usage levels, the Bay Area Water feet need a watering plan. Supply and Conservation Agency Landscaping greater than 2,500 (BAWSCA), which serves Portola square feet should have a sepa- Valley, Woodside, Menlo Park rate water meter, and must have and Atherton, estimates that a separate meter if greater than TEAK 40% OFF regional demand for water will 5,000 square feet, the report said. exceed supply by 2015. Conserva- These homeowners must also UMBRELLAS 30% OFF tion is thus not an option. employ professionals to design the Portola Valley’s ordinance is landscape and audit water use. Through 4-3-10 based on a model prepared by The indoor standards apply to BAWSCA and stakeholders from new construction, remodels that San Mateo, Santa Clara and require a building permit, and Alameda counties, where it is in all remodeled bathrooms and wide use. kitchens, the report said. Residents of Portola Valley are The indoor rules are meant to already living by the ordinance, meet or exceed changes coming according to a staff report by to the state’s plumbing and Planning Manager Leslie Lam- green-building codes, the report bert and Brandi DeGarmeaux, said. Generally, the standards who coordinates environmental require appliances verified to be issues for the town. The ordi- energy efficient, such as those nance also has the support of labeled EnergyStar. A
Correction An article in the March 10 issue on Margo McAuliffe’s efforts to raise money for a girls high school in Kenya states that Ms. McAuliffe met Father Daniel Kiriti when he visited the Penin- sula. In fact, she hadn’t met him here; she learned about him from a friend and e-mailed him several times about teaching math in Africa, and he encouraged her to come to Kenya. She met him for the first time in the Nairobi airport. TOM’S OUTDOOR FURNITURE SOLID ▪ SUSTAINABLE ▪ BEAUTIFUL
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March 17, 2010 N The Almanac N 9 special feature What’s at the Stanford Hospital Health Library Resources: t print, online, databases, video, online books A community health education series from Stanford Hospital & Clinics Personal Touch t Health Library librarians have special knowledge of available medicine and health materials just one or ones designated by their doctor.” t Librarians prepare information Twenty years and thriving: packets customized to each
The Library’s current hold- patron’s needs von der GroebenNorbert Stanford Hospital Health Library ings include 8,000 catalogued volumes, 700 health-related Community Programs Opens Fourth Branch at Oshman videos, a database of nearly 400 t Free lectures and programs at medical journals, thousands of the Health Library are held at all its branches and at the Redwood
articles from 2,200 general in- von der GroebenNorbert Family Jewish Community Center terest publications and a large City Public Library. This month’s Chinese language consumer programs and lectures at the For a decade, the same radiologist read nishes five locations for the patients, health collection. The Library Nancy Abreo is the librarian at the Oshman Family Jewish Community newest branch of the Stanford Hospital Gwen Pinkston’s mammograms. Then their families and others whose need to was the first part of the Hospi- Center include: Health Library and Resource Center, at one day she took one look and said, “I find answers is unique and immediate. tal to have its own Web page. the Oshman Family Jewish Community It also began capturing physi- t March 24, 7 pm. Health Care don’t like this.” Within days, physicians Center in South Palo Alto. diagnosed Pinkston with a small can- cian talks and publications as Reform Explained and Debated. cerous tumor in her right breast. Beginnings−and a new location archived and accessible docu- The newest branch of the Stanford Hospital Health Library and Resource Center, at the Oshman Family Jewish Robert Jackler, MD, Edward C. and Each branch has a collection crafted to ments and videos. Community Center in South Palo Alto, has plenty of room for readers. Amy H. Sewall Professor in Otorhinolaryngology The doctors also talked about treating include materials that reflect its location. t March 25, 7 pm. Long-term Care for You or Your loved One. Don her with a new approach called intraop- The Cancer Center library has the most The Library gets requests for reach out to the general community. And Integrative Medicine, an early support- Rush, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) erative radiation−then in clinical trials information about cancer. The Hospital’s information from around the we have an onboard group of patrons.” er of the Library. “With the Internet, at Stanford Hospital, but already dem- collection has more material about sur- Norbert von der Groeben world for everything in the you can go from too little to too much. t Wednesdays, 10:30 am. Strong for Life, an exercise program When Gwen Pinkston was diagnosed with breast cancer six years onstrating good results. Pinkston want- gery, transplants and cardiac issues – health spectrum, Cain said. Health care is ever more sophisticated designed by physical therapists for older adults to improve strength, ago, her daughter suggested she could find answers to some of ed to know about this technique, about the primary causes for hospitalization. The OFJCC branch in South Valuable Help and complicated. The Health Library balance and overall health. her questions from the Stanford Hospital Health Library. her particular cancer and about other Palo Alto is also a resource The Library has always been strongly plays an important role.” For more information and a calendar of events, options. Her daughter thought she had The newest branch, at the Oshman center with expanded program- supported by the Hospital’s physicians, visit healthlibrary.stanford.edu the perfect answer. “Call my friend at Family Jewish Community Center in about colds and flus,” Ralston said. “In- ming and space for classes and support including Sarah Donaldson, MD, an “ We went back and forth for several the Stanford Hospital Health Library, South Palo Alto, which is adjacent to the stead, we had people walking over from group meetings. oncologist who decided she wanted to days. She found all kinds of articles the branch at the Cancer Center,” she Moldaw Family Residences for seniors, the Hospital with their IV poles in tow. volunteer there. Since then, part of her for me.” Health Library Locations said. “I know she can help you.” offers classes, lectures and activities with We had people coming in saying, ‘My “ Illness makes you feel helpless. conversation with her patients involves – Gwen Pinkston, former Oshman Family Jewish Stanford Hospital older adults in mind. The educational significant other was just given a dev- Knowledge is power.” resources so they can learn more. “When Stanford Hospital patient Community Center 300 Pasteur Dr., Palo Alto Soon, Pinkston was working with Stan- programs were developed at the Stanford astating diagnosis.’ We were supposed I am their doctor, I tell them about the 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 650.725-8100 ford Health librarian Nancy Dickenson Research Prevention Center, the Stan- to be a mom and pop project, but we – David Spiegel, MD, Director, Stanford resources that are available. And if it’s a Spiegel, one of the first physicians to at the library’s Cancer Center branch. ford Patient Education Research Center always knew what the cutting edge was Hospital Center for Integrative Medicine patient with cancer, I tell them about the study the value of medical treatment 650.855.9396 Hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Fri Dickenson, like the Library’s other and the Hospital’s Aging and Adult and aimed for that.” library and the support groups in the that included support groups, under- Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Fri Main Branch experienced medical librarians, had Services. Physicians and staff from the Health lectures are held throughout the same breath as I’m telling them about stands very well the shock of a serious Stanford Cancer Center Stanford Shopping Center access to a broad range of resources Hospital will teach all the classes. Within two years, the Hospital branch year and cover topics from all clinical everything else,” Donaldson said. diagnosis. “Illness makes you feel help- 875 Blake Wilbur Dr., Palo Alto Palo Alto, 650.725-8400 to compile a packet individualized for was open. The Library had advisory and services at the Hospital. Many of the less. In the case of cancer, your body 650.736.1713 Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, Pinkston. “We went back and forth for The Health Library was one of the very review boards filled with Stanford Hos- lectures are videotaped and accessible When she does that, she knows she may turns on you. One of my patients told Hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Fri until 9pm Thursday several days,” Pinkston said. “She was first hospital-based libraries in the pital physicians and others. “There was through YouTube and the University’s have avoided a common problem. “Phy- me he’d started to think of his body as amazing because she found all kinds of U.S. to open with such a focused col- nothing in the library that wasn’t vetted iTunes collection. Sixty of those videos sicians do their best to educate their a dog that wouldn’t obey,” he said. “And articles for me, all kinds of Web sites. lection. “It was the dawn of consumer by a Stanford physician or someone with are available for purchase. The lecture patients, but maybe you’re starting at knowledge is power.” [email protected] All research searches are free, She got articles out of medical Web sites awareness,” said Barbara Ralston, the proper qualifications,” Ralston said. series is also recounted quarterly in an the wrong level, or the patient’s not re- 800.295.5177, TTY: 650.723.1216 and available by email. I couldn’t get into.” Hospital’s Vice-President for Guest Ser- electronic newsletter, Notes from the Doc- ally listening to what you’re saying,” she Having someone mediate the flood of vice and International Medicine. “We’d Talks, archived on the Library’s Web site. said. “A lot of patients get misinformed information is a valuable tool in moving With Dickenson’s help in finding the moved from ‘Dr. Spock’ to ‘Our Bodies, New Technology by going to an inappropriate source.” forward. The help of a medical librarian Plans for the new Stanford Hospital in- information. I even found the article particular information useful for Pink- Our Selves.’ People were starting to “The biggest difference between the While technology may be the means to Ultimately, she said, “It’s much more “can help them prepare mentally for the clude a library that will serve as a health he’d remembered reading. He was so ston, she began her treatment with an have dialogs with their physicians.” early days of the library and now is transport information, Ralston said, rewarding as a physician to see a pa- next step,” Donaldson said. “Sometimes information commons, she said. “We’ll happy. He just wanted information.” increased confidence in the outcome. She technology,” said the Library’s Direc- “it’s still about one human being helping tient who knows a lot about what they’re it can help them make decisions about be developing our technology capabilities decided to have the new therapy; she has The value of this information hit home tor, Nora Cain. “We just have access to another.” dealing with.” their treatment options because they but we’ll also be looking at ways to per- His father came back later to tell Hud- been cancer-free for six year. “Without with Ralston around the same time. She so much more now. The Internet has have enough to really look at those op- sonalize our services even more.” dleston that his son had survived. Nancy,” she said, “I don’t know if I would became ill far from home and couldn’t changed the game. And our library, un- The new branch at the OFJCC, on the The availability of so much information tions, based on scientifically-based in- have gone to a health library for help.” find anywhere with information about like some, is able to give people access other side of the city from the Hospital, can be problematic, said David Spiegel, formation. They can feel more confident Stanford Health Library librarian Since her experience with the help her illness. “I felt paralyzed and help- to information from many sources, not Ralston said, allows the Health Library to the Hospital’s Director for the Center of about their decision and have a more Carmen Huddleston cannot forget the available at Stanford’s Health Library, “ We always knew what the cutting less,” she said. When meaningful dialog with their physician.” evening a man came in, just as she Pinkston has talked to friends who’ve edge was and aimed for that.” she returned to Palo was closing the library. He was clearly been diagnosed with cancer. “They come Alto, she volunteered “We help people get started,” Ralston upset. “His son had had a very serious out of their doctor’s office with sketchy – Barbara Ralston, Stanford Hospital to join an effort, in its said, “to get centered, to develop a base head injury and the father wanted to info. It was really important for me to Vice President for Guest Services early stages, to open a of knowledge, to move step by step at know about a treatment using lowered have that help from Stanford.” and International Medicine health library that the their own speed.” body temperature. I pulled him some Hospital would support. von der GroebenNorbert This year, the Stanford Hospital Health Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders Library celebrates its 20th anniversary, The first branch in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ and the opening of a new, 1,500-square- opened at the Stan- transplants. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report foot branch at the Oshman Family ford Shopping Center. annual list of “America’s Best Hospitals,” Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally Jewish Community Center. That new “Our assumption was recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. It is part of the branch, and another to be opened soon that people would stop Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at at an East Palo Alto health clinic, fur- by and ask questions Gwen Pinkston has been cancer-free for six years and lives an active life that includes enjoying the vintage car she and her husband, Art, own and cherish. Stanford. For more information, visit stanfordmedicine.org.
10 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 March 17, 2010 N The Almanac N 11 NEWS Join Now Losing Weight has & Save never been so easy! $100* Lose 15-20 Lbs. in 8 Weeks Portola Valley school board OKs cuts By Andrea Gemmet Almanac Staff Writer UÊ«ÀÛiÊ9ÕÀÊi>Ì UÊ ÊEÊiiÊ iÌÌiÀ UÊVÀi>ÃiÊ9ÕÀÊ iÀ}Þ UÊ, Ê ÃÕÌ>Ì he Portola Valley School District is going to have to Menlo Park make do without a librar- Ê Ç£ÎÊ">ÊÀÛiÊUÊÈxä®ÊÎÓÎx{nÎ T ian or an educational technology >VÀÃÃÊvÀÊÌ iÊÀiÊ-Ì>Ì® coordinator. The board voted 4-0, I£äÊÜiiÊÕ°Ê Ìi`ÊÌiÊvviÀ°Ê >ÊvÀÊ`iÌ>ð with Judy Mendelsohn absent, at www.liteforlife.com its March 10 meeting to lay off both positions as part of a series of anticipated budget cuts to close GUIDE TO 2010 SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS an estimated $550,000 shortfall in the coming school year. At the meeting, the board also cut back by 40 percent the hours of its director of special educa- Conne tion, and trimmed a night cus- mp ctio todian’s hours by 25 percent. a n Like many other local school C districts, Portola Valley is fac- ing the double-whammy of flat For more information about these camps, see our online property tax revenues and big directory of camps at http://paloaltoonline.com/biz/summercamps/ cuts in state funding. Measure To advertise in a weekly directory, contact 650-326-8210 D, a $168 annual parcel tax on the May 4 ballot, is expected Sports Camps Summer Institute for the Gifted Berkeley/Hillsborough Gifted students in grades K-12 can participate on the renowned Summer Insti- to raise $345,000 per year for Spring Down Camp Equestrian Center Portola Valley tute for the Gifted (SIG) program. Hosted at some of the most famous colleges its four-year term. If it passes, Spring Down camp teaches basic to advanced horsemanship skills. All ages wel- and universities in the U.S., SIG combines both traditional summer fun and a chal- Portola Valley could escape come. Daily informative lecture, riding lesson, supervised hands-on skill practice, lenging academic schedule. Day programs are available for younger students. the worst of the budget cuts, tacking/untacking of own camp horse, and fun horse arts and crafts. www.giftedstudy.org 866-303-4744 www.sprindown.com 650.851.1114 although $200,000 in expenses Summer @ Harker San Jose would still need to be trimmed. Champion Tennis Camps Atherton K-Gr. 8 Morning academics – focusing on math, language arts and science – Far bigger cuts were proposed CTC provides an enjoyable way for your Junior to begin learning the game of and full spectrum of afternoon recreation. Highly qualifi ed faculty and staff . by district staff, including lay- tennis or to continue developing existing skills. The 4-6 year olds have fun learn- Also: swim lessons; swimming, tennis and soccer camps; academics for high ing eye-hand coordination and building self-esteem! school students. ing off all of the district’s para- www.alanmargot-tennis.net 650-752-0540 www.summer.harker.org 408-553-0537 educator/classroom aides. After much discussion, board mem- SOLO Aquatics Menlo Park The Girls’ Middle School Summer Camp Mountain View bers chose to postpone a decision Two great programs — SOLO Day Camp: One-week sessions of 5 full days (9:00 New from GMS - Day camp for girls entering grades 4-7. Explorations in Science, – 4:00) featuring instruction in swimming and fun activities; lunch included. Technology, and the Arts in the morning, Moving and Making, includes sports on layoffs of certified staff, said SOLO Sharks Program: Spring/Summer weekly afternoon swim clinics for all and games, swimming, arts and crafts, in the afternoon. Superintendent Anne Campbell. ages and abilities. www.girlsms.org/summercamp 650-968-8338 “Over the past two years, we’ve www.soloaquatics.com 650-851-9091 Oshman Family JCC Camps Palo Alto made $1 million in cuts, but YMCA Peninsula The Oshman Family JCC off ers outstanding camps for preschoolers through we’ve kept them on the periph- Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Redwood City day and overnight camps teens. With both traditional camps and special focus camps like sports, travel, ery,” Ms. Campbell told The for youth Pre-K through 10th grade. Enriching lives through safe, fun activities. performing arts and more, our innovative staff will keep campers entertained Almanac. “We’ve managed so far Sports, arts, technology, science, and more. Field trips and outdoor fun. Accred- all summer! to avoid having to do large-scale ited by the American Camp Association. www.paloaltojcc.org 650-223-8600 www.ymcasv.org/summercamp.com 408-351-6400 layoffs, like Redwood City has, Stratford School - Camp Socrates Bay Area but it’s starting to hit (educa- Matt Lottich Life Skills Woodside Academic enrichment infused with traditional summer camp fun—that’s what tional) programs.” At Matt Lottich Life Skills, all of our camps focus on giving high-level basketball your child will experience at Camp Socrates. Sessions begin on June 28 and end Teachers, or certificated staff, instruction while highlighting the life skills that this sport refl ects. Grades 2-11, on August 13 with the option for students to attend for all seven weeks or the two camp styles — Day and Elite Camps. fi rst four weeks (June 28-July 23). Full or half-time morning or afternoon program must be notified of pending www.mllscamp.com 1-888-537-3223 are available to fi t your schedule. 12 locations. layoffs by March 15, with final www. stratfordschools.com 650-493-1151 layoff notices due by May 15. Academic Camps Write Now! Summer Writing Camps Palo Alto/Pleasanton Classified staff can be laid off iD Tech Camps and iD Teen Academies Stanford Emerson School of Palo Alto and Hacienda School of Pleasanton open their with far less lead time, giving Experience North America’s #1 Tech Camp — 4 Bay Area Locations! Ages 7-18 doors and off er their innovative programs: Expository Writing, Creative Writing, the board some wiggle room as create video games, websites, movies, iPhone® & Facebook® apps, robots and Presentation Techniques, and (new!) Media Production. Call or visit our website it searches for other ways to plug more during this weeklong, day and overnight summer tech program. Teen Pro- for details. the projected budget shortfall. grams also available at Stanford. Save w/code CAU22. www.headsup.org 650-424-1267, 925-485-5750 www.iDTechCamps.com 1-888-709-TECH (8324) “(The board members) did TechKnowHow Computer & LEGO™ Camps Peninsula decide that they need to be very Summer at Saint Francis Mountain View Fun and enriching technology classes for students, ages 6-14! Courses include fiscally careful, but want to main- Summer at Saint Francis provides a broad range of academic and athletic pro- LEGO and K’NEX Projects with Motors, Robotics, and Game Design. Many loca- grams for elementary through high school students. It is the goal of every pro- tions, including Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Sunnyvale. Half and all day options. tain optionality over the next few gram to make summer vacation enriching and enjoyable! www.techknowhowkids.com 650-474-0400 months,” Ms. Campbell said. www.sfhs.com/summer 650-968-1213 x446 The librarian at Corte Madera, ISTP Language Immersion Palo Alto who has a teaching certificate Nueva Summer Hillsborough International School of the Peninsula camps off ered in French, Chinese, Spanish Nueva Summer off ers unique and enriching summer camps for students enter- or ESL for students in Nursery through Middle School. Three 2-week sessions, and seniority, will be offered a ing PreK - 8th Grade. June 21 - July 30. We have camps that will inspire every age: each with diff erent theme. Students are grouped according to both grade level classroom teaching position, from Marine Biology to Tinkering, and Model UN to West African Drumming. Half and language profi ciency. Ms. Campbell said. A or full day camps, from one to six weeks. Healthy lunch is provided for full day www.istp.org 650-251-8519 campers. Extended care available. www.NuevaSummer.org 650-350-4555 Theatreworks Summer Camps Palo Alto OPEN HOMES HOMES for SALE In these skill-building workshops for grades K–5, students engage in language- plus plus Woodland School Summer Adventures Portola Valley based activities, movement, music, and improvisational theatre games. Students Interactive Prior Sale Info For kindergarten through 8th grade. Off ers academics, sports, fi eld trips and on- present their own original pieces at the end of each two-week camp. MAPS & More site activities. June 28 - July 30. www.theatreworks.org/educationcommunity 650-463-7146 [email protected] 650-854-9065 EXPLORE OUR NEW SITE TheAlmanacOnline.com/real_estate
12 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 NEWS
Menlo Park weighs changes to downtown parking
By Sean Howell meeting peppered the consul- Almanac Staff Writer tants with questions through- out. A few voiced suspicion or enlo Park has plenty outright objections about the of parking spaces in its data collected in the survey, the Mdowntown area, but consultants’ methods, or the many business owners and cus- fact that the city is undertaking tomers say they’re frustrated at a parking study at all. These how hard it is to find an empty speakers exhibited what appears one. Others feel they’re not to be a longstanding general allowed to stay long enough mistrust of consultants in Men- once they do come across two lo Park, plus the residue of years white lines with only asphalt in of frustration over what some between. perceive as the city’s inability Those were two of the issues to crack the downtown parking presented to some 35 attend- conundrum. ees, mostly business and prop- A survey of 150 downtown erty owners, of a city-sponsored business owners yielded surpris- meeting on the downtown ing results. Half the respondents parking situation March 11. said they were “satisfied” with The meeting was the second the parking situation as is, with in a standard three-meeting, only 37 percent saying they consultant-led cycle, which will were “dissatisfied.” Contrary presumably result in changes to to conventional wisdom, the parking rules downtown. survey suggests that business Two representatives from Wil- owners view the difficulty of bur Smith Associates outlined finding a parking space as a two possible approaches. One bigger problem than the short involved restricting parking interval of time in which people limits to one hour on and are allowed to occupy a space, by around Santa Cruz Avenue and a wide margin, though that dis- providing spaces with a three- tinction was less apparent when hour limit in some parking pla- consultants asked the question zas, to accommodate shoppers. in a different way. Most plazas would retain the Other factoids that may be of current two-hour limit. interest: Downtown streets and A second approach, aimed plazas are most full between 1 at freeing up spaces in central and 2 p.m., both on weekdays downtown plazas, would keep and weekends; 65 percent of the current two-hour limit in people who park downtown stay the parking plazas, but allow for only one hour; half the people to pay in order to stay employees who work downtown longer. That might dissuade re-park their cars every two employees from snagging three- hours, rather than buy a permit; hour spaces meant for custom- 12 percent of customers move ers, the consultants said, though their cars to avoid getting cited; paid parking would also allow at any given time, cars occupy people to sit in the same space no more than four-fifths of the for a longer period of time. total spaces downtown. This is The people who attended the all according to the survey. A
Another try at spa in the Willows Ambreen Lakhani is hoping businesses that previously the fourth time’s the charm occupied the space, she said, when it comes to opening arguing that her business is a spa at 103 Gilbert Ave. in friendlier to customers. “The Menlo Park’s Willows neigh- services we offer are more borhood. down to earth. ... We want to Her business, Spa in the get to know the community, Park, held a ribbon-cutting we want to know our neigh- ceremony Feb. 27 to mark bors.” its presence in Menlo Park, Ms. Lakhani stressed her two months after opening its employees’ bona fides, say- doors. Ms. Lakhani’s business ing that each is nationally is the fourth spa to occupy licensed and has 500 hours of that location in the last several training. years, she said; the site had The spa is located in a small been vacant for six months. business strip in the midst of But she’s not intimidated the Willows, around the cor- by the failures of her prede- ner from Cafe Zoe, La Haci- cessors. “Our approach is enda Market, and Be Yoga, different” from that of the among other businesses.
March 17, 2010 N The Almanac N 13 NEWS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
TOWN OF ATHERTON Union negotiations at impasse STATE OF CALIFORNIA By Sean Howell Almanac Staff Writer N MENLO WATCH GARDEN ROOM RENOVATION enlo Park city officials PROJECT NO. 09-025 without having to drive or own a continue to meet with car,” Menlo Park resident Patty representatives from Notice is hereby given that SEALED BIDS will be received at the office of the City Clerk, 91 Ashfield M Boyle writes in an e-mail. the city’s largest union in media- Road, Atherton, California 94027, until 3:00 p.m. April 15, 2010, at which time they will be publicly Ms. Boyle sits on the city’s tion sessions over stalled con- opened and read, for performing the following work: Housing Commission, which is tract negotiations. a sponsor of the event along with Employees with the union, Renovation of the Garden Room, located at the Holbrook-Palmer Park Main House. Renovation the League of Women Voters. shall include demolition, painting, installing flooring, cabinets, and doors, upgrading electrical, Service Employees Internation- relocating utilities. al, have been working without a contract since late October. Grant will help police The Engineer’s Estimate for the project is: $53,317 In public meetings, some have enforce alcohol law argued that the city is making A $6,000 grant from the state Bids must be for the entire work, and shall be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked: ”Bid unreasonable demands, and will allow Menlo Park police to of (Contractor) for GARDEN ROOM RENOVATION, Project No. 09-025”, along with date and time of asking its lowest-paid employees employ underage decoys to try bid opening. for the most salary concessions. to bait people into buying alco- The city and union represen- hol for them. VOLUNTARY PRE-BID MEETING ON MARCH 24, 2010 at Garden Room of Holbrook-Palmer tatives met with mediators on The grant comes through the Park Main House, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton, CA 94027 at 2 p.m. March 12, according to City Department of Alcoholic Bev- Manager Glen Rojas, who said erage Control’s “shoulder tap” Plans and specifications may be obtained at the Town of Atherton Public Works Department, 91 the fact that the two sides are program, according to police Ashfield Road, Atherton CA 94027, for a non-refundable fee of $30.00. Additional important informa- still talking is encouraging. spokeswoman Nicole Acker. tion is contained in Town of Atherton Standard Specifications, which are available for an additional While the union has made The state instituted the program $20.00. If shipping is requested, there will be an additional charge of $20.00. several claims about what the after finding that minors were city is asking for, saying among increasingly turning to adults Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of cash, a cashier‘s or certified check or bid other things that it’s calling for to buy them alcohol, following bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the bid, as a guarantee that the bidder, if structural pension changes sim- a statewide crackdown in the awarded the Contract, will fulfill the terms of the bid. The Town of Atherton reserves the right to reject ilar to what a group of residents mid-1990s on alcohol vendors. any and all proposals and/or to waive any irregularities therein. is advocating, the city has not commented on the substance of Landscaping classes Bidders are hereby notified that, pursuant to California Civil Code Sections 3247 and 3248 and the closed-door negotiations. Standard Specifications Section 3.02, the successful bidder will be required to provide payment and People who want to learn about performance bonds in the amounts stated in Section 3.02 of the Standard Specifications. Planning for aging native landscaping and water- conservation techniques may be Bidders are hereby notified that provisions of California Labor Code regarding prevailing wages are population interested in two free upcoming applicable to the work to be performed under this contract. Pursuant to Section 1773 et seq. the Don Weden, a Santa Clara classes, sponsored by the Bay general prevailing wage rates have been determined by the Director of the California Department of County planner, will speak at the Area Water Supply & Conserva- Industrial Relations and appear in the California Prevailing Wage Rates. Copies are on file at the of- new Menlo-Atherton High School tion Agency. fice of the City Engineer and are available to interested parties upon request. The successful bidder performing arts center at 7 p.m. A class on March 20 from 9 shall post a copy of the wage rates at the job site. Thursday, March 25, about land- a.m. to 11 a.m. in Menlo Park use planning to accommodate an will focus on native landscaping. The Contractor may elect to receive 100 percent of payments due under the contract, without reten- aging population. The center is at A class on April 17 from 9 a.m. to tion of any portion of the payment by the Town of Atherton, by depositing securities of equivalent 555 Middlefield Road in Atherton. 11 a.m. in Menlo Park will offer value to the retention amount in accordance with the provisions of Section 22300 of the California Mr. Weden focuses on “what water-saving tips for gardeners. Public Contracts Code. we can do to adapt our cities to Both classes require registra- assure that our growing senior tion. The successful bidder must be licensed under the provisions of Chapter 9, Division 3, of the Cali- population — and others in the E-mail [email protected] fornia Business and Professions Code to do the type of work contemplated in the project at the time community — can live active, or call 349-3000 to register or the contract is awarded and shall be skilled and regularly engaged in the general class or type of interesting and productive lives, obtain more information. A work called for under the Contract. Failure of the bidder to obtain proper and adequate licensing for an award of the contract shall constitute a failure to execute the contract and result in the forfeiture of the bidder‘s bid security. Porter-French Each bidder shall submit with this bid a statement setting forth his/her/its experience and qualifica- N WEDDING tions. The statement shall be made on the forms provided by the Town and must accompany each Anne Porter and Charles bid. The three lowest bidders will be required to submit subcontractor‘s experience and qualifica- French were married Sept. 26 Young, tions statements within 48 hours of the bid opening, on forms provided by the Town. at Broad Street Presbyterian Molly Por- Church in Columbus, Ohio. A ter and Syd- By submitting a bid in response to this advertisement for bids, the bidder shall be conclusively reception followed at the Rocky ney Good. deemed to have read, understood and agreed with all of the information and materials contained Fork Hunt Club. Cameron in the bid documents, including but not limited to the construction contract, the standard specifica- The bride is the daughter Good was tions, the special provisions, the required nature and amount of insurance and the documentation of Lucy and Chip Porter of junior evidencing said insurance. Columbus. She is a graduate bridesmaid of Ohio University and a phar- and Devan Any questions regarding the project should be directed to David Huynh, Project Engineer, telephone: maceutical sales consultant for French was (650) 752-0555 or by written Requests for Information (RFI) to: Public Works Department, 91 Ash- Novartis. flower girl. Anne Porter and field Road, Atherton, CA 94027, preferably no later than five days before bid opening. RFIs may be The bridegroom is the son Duncan emailed to [email protected] or faxed to (650) 688-6539. Charles French of Elaine and John French of and Eric were married Ketchum, Idaho, formerly of French Sept. 26. For information on obtaining Plans and Specifications, Standard Specifications or obtaining a Plan Woodside. A graduate of Menlo were best Holders list, please call Judy Bellmont at (650) 752-0570. School and Harvard College, men. The groomsmen were he is a program manager for Sam Porter, Michael Stoll, John By: ______Microsoft. Intrater, Christopher Schon- Duncan L. Jones, P.E., City Engineer Maid of honor was Sarah berger, Christopher Catizone, Marshall. The bridesmaids and Nicholas Freund. were MacKenzie Tesner, Karen The couple is living in Seattle, Date: ______Anderson, Pamela French, Liza Washington.
14 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 NEWS World War II aviator saluted at Foothill M. Jean Harman of Menlo Park, in the Pucci ern California. who recently received a Congres- Lewis World For her WASP service, she sional Gold Medal for her service War II home received the Congressional Gold as a pilot during World War II, front mystery Medal, the highest civilian honor will be a featured guest at an series. given by Congress, in a ceremony Authors Series program Tuesday, The addition on Capital Hill on March 10. March 16, at Foothill College in to the author’s The Foothill program runs Los Altos Hills. discussion, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Cam- Ms. Harman was a member of there will be M. Jean Harman pusCenter Lounge (Room 2313). the WASP, the elite wartime corps a question- Admission is free and the pub- of female pilots who served on the and-answer session with Ms. lic is invited. home front. Harman, who grew up wanting Go to is.gd/ah9wt for more The program also will showcase to be a pilot after seeing Amelia information, including on park- Margit Liesche, author of “Hol- Earhart and Charles Lindbergh ing on the campus at 12345 El lywood Buzz,” her second novel while visiting relatives in South- Monte Road in Los Altos Hills. M-A dance team show Deputies’ ploy nets burglary suspects in Westridge Hip-hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet performances will highlight the seventh By Dave Boyce the twilight just before 6 p.m. a reciprocating saw, “all tools for annual Menlo-Atherton High School dance team show and fundraiser to Almanac Staff Writer when a patrolling deputy passing entering and possibly removing be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 26, in the high school’s new performing through the 200 block of Golden things,” Lt. Lunny said. arts center. Tickets at the door: $5 for students and $10 for adults. lert observation followed Dance team members shown are, from left: front, Holly Cogan and by a little deception — it Hills Drive noticed a parked green Mr. Ledbetter told deputies that pickup truck, a truck matching he had an accomplice at a nearby Erika Athens; middle, Sierra Drew, Brandi Armstrong, Lauren Smith Awas all in a day’s work for and Anna Argente; top, Jellie Hardison, Leah Worthington, Erin Kelley, a description from a suspicious- construction site, Lt. Lunny said. sheriff’s deputies patrolling the Emily Aguilar, Taylor Gananian, Kimmie Glass and Elise Cabral. Westridge neighborhood in Por- circumstances incident several While deputies were interview- tola Valley late on the afternoon of days earlier. ing Mr. Ledbetter, he received a Sunday, March 7. Alone in the driver’s seat was Mr. call from Mr. Rohman on his cell Deputies from the San Mateo Ledbetter with a “real concentrated phone, asking to be picked up. walking toward it, deputies said. said, adding: “He may just have County Sheriff’s Office arrested look on his face,” Lt. Lunny said, Mr. Ledbetter made the arrange- The officers in the truck identi- been on the move. They were in South San Francisco residents Gary quoting from the incident report. ments and gave permission to the fied themselves and ordered Mr. contact on their cell phones.” Wayne Ledbetter, 42, and Natha- Deputies questioned him and deputies to drive his truck to the Rohman to lie on the ground, but Five deputies and a sergeant nial James Rohman, 33, on charges Mr. Ledbetter identified himself rendezvous point on Fawn Lane, he turned, ran for about 20 feet, participated in the arrest, Lt. of burglary, conspiracy and pos- as a parolee and confirmed that he Lt. Lunny said. then stopped and gave up after Lunny said. session of burglary tools, Lt. Ray was, therefore, subject to random Mr. Ledbetter passed the time seeing an approaching patrol car. The men are also suspects in Lunny told The Almanac. Both search and seizure, Lt. Lunny said. in the back seat of a patrol car. Mr. Rohman also had bur- another construction site bur- men are in the county jail. Deputies searched the truck and When the truck arrived at glary tools in his possession but glary in the 200 block of The tale of their arrest began in found a bolt-cutter, wire cutters and Fawn Lane, Mr. Rohman started no stolen property, Lt. Lunny Westridge Drive. A
March 17, 2010 N The Almanac N 15 COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS TOWN OF ATHERTON Charming cottages tour STATE OF CALIFORNIA Five homes, which have been N AROUND TOWN remodeled for today’s life styles, FLETCHER DR. / RIDGEVIEW DR. PAVEMENT AND will be on display at the 19th Katie Sanborn is tour chairman. annual Charming Cottages of Among committee members are DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 08-010 Palo Alto house tour Friday and Judy Castaillac of Atherton and Saturday, March 26-27, from 11 Notice is hereby given that SEALED BIDS will be received at the offi ce of the City Clerk, 91 Ashfi eld Anna Henderson and Jane King a.m. to 4 p.m. of Menlo Park. Patti Zussman of Road, Atherton, California 94027, until 3:00 p.m. APRIL 8, 2010, at which time they will be publicly The tour, sponsored by the Palo opened and read, for performing the following work: Portola Valley is president of the Alto Area Mills College Club, is a local Mills College Club. benefit for Mills College students LAYOUT OF WORK, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVEMENT who in live in Santa Clara or Book sale at ON STREETS, REPLACEMENT OF DRIVEWAY APPROACHES, REPLACEMENT OF CONCRETE San Mateo county, and for the VALLEY GUTTERS, INSTALLATION OF NEW VALLEY GUTTERS AND NEW ROLLED CURBS, endowment fund of the Alumnae Menlo Park Library INSTALLATION OF NEW STORM DRAIN PIPING SYSTEM WITH INLETS AND MANHOLES, Association of Mills College. The Friends of the Menlo Park INSTALLATION OF A DETENTION CHAMBER SYSTEM, AND PLACEMENT OF PERMANENT Library will hold a book sale STRIPING FOR THE FOLLOWING STREETS: Original construction dates for the homes range from 1898 from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, UÊ / ,Ê ,6 March 21, in the library’s down- UÊ , 6 7Ê ,6 to the 1950s. Remodeling proj- UÊ -Ê "1,/Ê / ,- /" ® ects for the bungalows, cottages stairs meeting room at 800 Alma UÊ -1/ , Ê ,6 Ê / ,- /" ® and ranches include transform- St. in Menlo Park. ing an artist’s studio into a guest The sale will feature literature, The Engineer’s Estimate for the project is: $1.8 Million. house, adding a second floor, cookbooks, fiction and mystery, and bumping out a back wall. biography and history, gardening Bids must be for the entire work, and shall be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked: “Bid of Tickets for the tour are $30 in and home improvement, chil- Contractor®ÊvÀÊ / ,Ê ,°ÊÉÊ, 6 7Ê ,°Ê*6 /Ê Ê , Ê *,"6 /-]Ê advance and $35 after March 19. dren’s picture and chapter books, PROJECT NO. 08-010”, including date and time of bid opening. You can buy them at the door at and more. Titled “summer sale,” 446 Ruthven Ave. in Palo Alto the event will have books for sum- Plans and specifi cations may be obtained at the Town of Atherton Public Works Department, 91 Ash- on tour days only. mer reading and books priced to fi eld Road, Atherton CA 94027, for a non-refundable fee of $30.00. Additional important information is Got to charmingcottages.org be read and left at destinations. contained in Town of Atherton Standard Specifi cations, which are available for an additional $20.00. If to buy tickets online. All funds raised will be used shipping is requested, there will be an additional charge of $20.00. Approximately 100 of the to support Menlo Park Library Mills Club members will act programs and events, the spon- Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of cash, a cashier’s or certifi ed check or bid as hostesses for the house tour. sors say. L`ÊvÀÊÌÊiÃÃÊÌ >ÊÌiÊ«iÀViÌʣ䯮ÊvÊÌ iÊ>ÕÌÊvÊÌ iÊL`]Ê>ÃÊ>Ê}Õ>À>ÌiiÊÌ >ÌÊÌ iÊL``iÀ]ÊvÊ awarded the Contract, will fulfi ll the terms of the bid. The Town of Atherton reserves the right to reject CALENDAR Year for Priest Speaker Series. Fr. any and all proposals and/or to waive any irregularities therein. N Jim McKearney speaks on “Spirituality of the Priesthood.” Wed., March 24, $10. St. Patrick’s Go to AlmanacNews.com and click Seminary & University, 320 Middlefield Road, Bidders are hereby notifi ed that, pursuant to California Civil Code Sections 3247 and 3248 and on Community Calendar link on the Menlo Park. Call 650-289-3321. www.stpat- green navigation bar on the left to ricksseminary.org Standard Specifi cations Section 3.02, the successful bidder will be required to provide payment and view all Calendar listings. performance bonds in the amounts stated in Section 3.02 of the Standard Specifi cations. Future Vintage: Wine Tasting Dinner and Auction. This event helps support Marcus Shelby at the Portola Val- Northern California Urban Development’s Bidders are hereby notifi ed that provisions of California Labor Code regarding prevailing wages are ley Library. Jazz bassist Marcus Shelby youth financial literacy program, which is conducts a musical presentation on the life breaking the systemic grip of poverty in east applicable to the work to be performed under this contract. Pursuant to Section 1773 et seq. the of Martin Luther King Jr. and the music of the Menlo Park, East Palo Alto & Redwood City general prevailing wage rates have been determined by the Director of the California Department civil rights era. Shelby has written original through youth education. The event includes of Industrial Relations and appear in the California Prevailing Wage Rates. Copies are on fi le at the compositions, and rearranged and re- wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, orchestrated spirituals, freedom songs, jazz dinner and a live auction. March 20, 6-9 p.m. offi ce of the City Engineer and are available to interested parties upon request. The successful bidder and blues music written during the heart of the $150/Ticket, $1,000/Table (8). Menlo Circus shall post a copy of the wage rates at the job site. movement. Wednesday, March 24, 7-8 p.m. Club, 190 Park Lane, Atherton. Call 650-328- Free. Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, 1890. www.norcaludc.org Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. smcl.org The Contractor may elect to receive 100 percent of payments due under the contract, without reten- tion of any portion of the payment by the Town of Atherton, by depositing securities of equivalent value to the retention amount in accordance with the provisions of Section 22300 of the California Public Contracts Code. Sellers facing The successful bidder must be licensed under the provisions of Chapter 9, Division 3, of the Califor- financial difficulty can be nia Business and Professions Code to do the type of work contemplated in the project at the time the overwhelmed, but there are options. contract is awarded and shall be skilled and regularly engaged in the general class or type of work called for under the Contract. Failure of the bidder to obtain proper and adequate licensing for an award of the contract shall constitute a failure to execute the contract and result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s bid security. YOU HAVE OPTIONS! I've been trained to explain these options and Each bidder shall submit with this bid a statement setting forth his/her/its experience and qualifi ca- tions. The statement shall be made on the forms provided by the Town and must accompany each strategies to homeowners so they can make the bid. The three lowest bidders will be required to submit subcontractor’s experience and qualifi cations best decision for their future. statements within 48 hours of the bid opening, on forms provided by the Town.
By submitting a bid in response to this advertisement for bids, the bidder shall be conclusively deemed to have read, understood and agreed with all of the information and materials contained in the bid documents, including but not limited to the construction contract, the standard specifi cations, the special provisions, the required nature and amount of insurance and the documentation evidenc- ing said insurance. I'm the local certified by Any questions regarding the project should be directed to David Huynh, the Project Engineer, 91 à wÊi`Ê,>`]ÊÌ iÀÌ]Ê Ê{äÓÇ]ÊÌii« iÊÈxä®ÊÇxÓäxxx]Ê«ÀiviÀ>LÞÊÊ>ÌiÀÊÌ >ÊwÊÛiÊ`>ÞÃÊ the National Association of Realtors. LivÀiÊL`Ê«i}°Ê,iµÕiÃÌÃÊvÀÊvÀ>ÌÊ>ÞÊLiÊv>Ýi`ÊÌÊÈxä®ÊÈnnÈxΰÊ*>Ê `iÀ½ÃÊÃÌÃÊ>ÞÊ LiÊLÌ>i`ÊLÞÊV>}ÊÈxä®ÊÇxÓäxÇä° Contact me in confidence to understand your pre-foreclosure options including a lender short sale. By:______Duncan L. Jones, P.E., City Engineer Steven Gray 650-743-7702 Date:______REALTOR [email protected] DRE# 01498634
16 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 FOR THE RECORD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
block of Willow Road, March 8. walking down street was struck on knee ■ POLICE CALLS Stolen vehicle report: Blue 2005 Ford by vehicle driven by resident who claimed NOTICE OF INTENT TO INCREASE Escape, 300 block of Ivy Drive, March 7. solicitor had damaged angel on resident’s SOLID WASTE / RECYCLING RATES porch, 1800 block of Camino a los Cerros, This information is from the Atherton and Adult Protective Services report: 1000 March 8. IN THE CITY OF MENLO PARK Menlo Park police departments and the San Berkeley Ave., March 10. Mateo County Sheriffís Office. Under the Auto burglary report: Window smashed law, people charged with offenses are con- WEST MENLO PARK and coat stolen, 1300 block of Cloud sidered innocent until convicted. Ave., March 5. The City Council of the City of Menlo Park hereby gives Assault report: Door-to-door solicitor ATHERTON public notice of its intent to define the service area and Grand theft report: Steel plate, 5 feet by increase the existing solid waste / recycling rates for single- 8 feet, stolen from trailer, Santiago Ave., Have you been diagnosed with RA? family residential customers within the City of Menlo Park March 10. for the collection of solid waste and recyclable materials. Residential burglary reports: Stanford‘s Department of Rheumatology is conducting several ■ The changes, if approved, will be effective on July 1, 2010. Camera stolen from trunk of car in clinical trial studies to evaluate and treat your arthritis. You must be The City Council plans to consider these rate increases at garage, first block of Faxon Road, March 11. between the ages of 18 and 75 years. ■ Lock on trailer cut and tools stolen from a public hearing on March 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the City construction site, Stockbridge Ave., March 8. of Menlo Park Council Chambers Building at 701 Laurel Mail theft reports: Please call: (650) 736-8482 or email [email protected] for ■ Street - Civic Center. Mail stolen, Menlo College at 1000 El more information TODAY. (For general information about participants Camino Real, March 8. rights, contact 1-866-680-2906.) ■ Resident believes mail stolen, first block What are the new rates: Several rate amounts will be of Parker Ave., March 11. considered at the public hearing. The maximum monthly MENLO PARK Menlo Park Library rates under consideration by size and number of containers Fraud report: are as follows: ■ Seventy-five-year-old resident wire- Book Sale SERVICE LEVELS AND MONTHLY RATES transferred $19,000 to unknown person who CURBSIDE SERVICE BACKYARD SERVICE promised return of $1.5 million, 1300 block of Crane St., March 6. Featuring: Size of Containers 20 32 45 20 32 45 Auto burglary report: Vehicle broken into (In Gallons) and two bags containing business paper- s ,ITERATURE Number of containers 1 11.65 19.80 32.39 15.01 28.44 46.18 work and ID stolen, first block of Willow Road, March 6. s #OOKBOOKS Rate for multi can user 1 N/A 24.32 32.39 N/A 34.15 46.18 Grand theft report: Bicycle stolen, first s !RT #OLLECTIBLE 2 N/A 48.64 64.78 N/A 68.30 92.36 3 N/A 72.96 97.17 N/A 102.45 138.54 s %ASTER 2ELIGION 4 N/A 97.28 129.56 N/A 136.60 184.72 Girls’ soccer team s &ICTION -YSTERY s "IOGRAPHY (ISTORY In addition to the rates shown above the City Council will looks for players also consider expanding the services provided to include s 'ARDENING (OME )MPROVEMENT Palo Alto Soccer Club team Door-to-Door collection of Household Hazardous Waste, 94G Red Power, a class 3 team for s #HILDREN@S 0ICTURE #HAPTER "OOKS Universal Waste, Electronic Waste, and Sharps and Medicine at a cost of $0.45 per month per customer through a City-wide girls 16 and under, is looking for s players to add to its roster for the And much more! contract for the Recycling and Disposal Services provided by spring and fall seasons, including Curbside Inc. The additional services and fee, if approved, tournaments. Players must be 3UNDAY -ARCH n TO would be effective as of July 1, 2010. born after July 30, 1993. ,OCATED IN THE DOWNSTAIRS MEETING ROOM Necessity for new rates: The intended new rates are Nina Gann is coach for the 3CANNERS WELCOME BEGINNING AT necessary due to the terms of the City’s existing contract team, which practices twice with Allied Waste Company, which provide for fees to be set weekly in Palo Alto. Sponsored by: The Friends of the Menlo Park Library at a level which gives the Contractor a rate of return based E-mail [email protected] to contact team manager Clara WWWFRIENDSMPLORG on approved costs. The Contractor’s costs have increased Chang for more information. !LMA 3TREET -ENLO 0ARK #! primarily due to increased labor and disposal costs. The City’s costs of providing billing services and environmental ~All funds raised support Menlo Park Library programs and events~ programs that support reductions in solid waste have also Menlo School increased in recent years. Prior year rate increases have not showcases spring kept pace with this combination of rising costs, resulting in a significant amount due to Allied at the end of the contract on fashions CITY OF MENLO PARK December 31, 2010. FASHION ORDINANCE 966 SUMMARY If you would like additional information on the proposed continued from page 3 NOTICE OF ADOPTION rates, please visit the Finance Department located on the second floor at City Hall, 701 Laurel Street or call 650-330- parking to serving meals. 6644. Four professionals give the The City Council of Menlo Park adopted Ordinance No. benefit its polished flair. Alex 966 at its regular City Council meeting of February 23, If you wish to file a written protest, please send a letter Perez, Menlo School’s director of 2010. The Ordinance was introduced on February 2, addressed to Solid Waste Rates, City Clerk, City of Menlo creative arts and communications, 2010, and adopted on February 23, 2010, by a 5-0 vote. Park, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Your letter is the producer for ‘Dream.” Jan The ordinance is effective thirty days from its adoption, must identify the real property you own by street address Chandler, Menlo School’s dance and is summarized as: and the assessor’s parcel number. Your letter must be legibly director, has served as the benefit’s signed by any one of the current property owners. Your name choreographer for 27 years. Fash- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MENLO PARK, should be set forth as it appears on your tax bill. The City of ion show director Jeffrey Adair CALIFORNIA RENUMBERING CHAPTER 12.48, Menlo Park must receive your letter at City Hall by 5:00 p.m. has produced and/or directed the “WOODBURING APPLIANCES”, AS CHAPTER 12.52 on March 19, 2010, or it must be presented at the City Council show off and on for 20 years. He is AND CORRECTING CROSS-REFERENCES TO THAT meeting on March 23, 2010, prior to the close of the public assisted by BB Bernheim of Bern- CHAPTER IN THE CODE hearing on the matter. heim Productions. Go to is.gd/aggWH to partici- Any person interested, including all solid waste / recycling The full text of the ordinance and all exhibits are available collection customers of the City of Menlo Park, may appear at pate in the online auction, which at the Office of the City Clerk and/or may be viewed on will be open for bidding until 10 the public hearing and be heard on any matter related to the p.m. Wednesday, March 24. The the City of Menlo Park website at www.menlopark.org proposed increase in rates. URL is case-sensitive. Dated: March 2, 2010 Cost of the luncheon show is /s/ $100. Cost of the evening show is Margaret S. Roberts, MMC MARGARET S. ROBERTS, MMC, City Clerk $200. For reservations, go to www. City Clerk menloschool.org and click on ben- Published in THE COUNTRY ALMANAC on March 10, efit. Menlo School is located at 50 Dated: March 10, 2010 2010 and March 17, 2010 Valparaiso Ave. in Atherton.
March 17, 2010 ■ The Almanac ■ 17 Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside for 44 years. Ideas, thoughts and opinions about local issues from people in our community. Edited by Tom Gibboney.
Editor & Publisher Tom Gibboney Search far and wide for superintendent Editorial Managing Editor Richard Hine ith an annual budget approaching $100 million and At a Feb. 24 closed session, board President Olivia Martinez News Editor Renee Batti 1,000 employees, the Sequoia Union High School Dis- said a board majority voted to “limit the search for a superinten- Lifestyles Editor Jane Knoerle Wtrict far exceeds the size of many Silicon Valley com- dent to internal candidates,” an action that some open-govern- Senior Correspondents panies. And with some 8,200 students, its four comprehensive ment supporters contend violates the state’s open-meeting law, Marion Softky, Marjorie Mader high schools (including Menlo-Atherton and Woodside), adult known as the Brown Act. The law, critics say, permits discussion Staff Writers Andrea Gemmet, school and Redwood continuation high school have long been of a specific candidate in closed session, but not the process of David Boyce, Sean Howell Contributors Barbara Wood, fixtures in Peninsula communities. selecting a candidate. Kate Daly, Katie Blankenberg In recent years, the district has served many students well, Saying he is outraged about the decision, Atherton resident Special Sections Editors although it has struggled to Peter Carpenter, a former board member of the Menlo Park Carol Blitzer, Sue Dremann improve the graduation rate Fire Protection District and now president of the Atherton Photographer Michelle Le EDITORIAL among underperforming stu- Civic Interest League, says he will file a lawsuit to challenge the Design & Production The opinion of The Almanac dents and has become known board’s action, which he claims violates the Brown Act. Design Director Raul Perez for its increasingly strident And Terry Francke, general counsel of the nonprofit open-gov- Designers Linda Atilano, opposition to charter schools, ernment advocacy group California Aware, said he agrees that Laura Don, Gary Vennarucci particularly Everest Public High School. This opposition, with “...a discussion of whether to conduct a search is not a matter for Advertising outgoing superintendent Pat Gemma acting as the point man for closed session.” Advertising Manager Neal Fine a majority on the district board, has included successful opposi- There are other opinions that say such a closed-session deci- Display Advertising Sales Ella Fleishman tion to Everest’s acquiring a charter at local and county levels sion is not specifically outlawed by the open-meeting law, and Real Estate and Advertising and unsuccessful opposition at the state level. The state’s grant- the Sequoia district’s attorney made a spirited defense of the Coordinator Diane Martin ing of a charter for Everest then led to the district’s obligation to board’s decision on The Almanac’s Town Square Web site in an provide adequate and appropriate facilities, as required by law. exchange with Mr. Carpenter. Published every Wednesday at To put it mildly, the district has not cooperated. But regardless, district residents should be appalled that the 3525 Alameda De Las Pulgas, With Mr. Gemma’s retirement, which is effective at the end Sequoia board does not want to reach out to interview the very Menlo Park, Ca 94025 of the current school year, district board members have a major best candidates in the country for superintendent. To do so Newsroom: (650) 854-2690 opportunity to turn a new page and bring in a superintendent would not restrict any current Sequoia staffer from applying, Newsroom Fax: (650) 854-0677 who is willing to end the war with charter schools and improve but would surely widen the field by a huge factor and bring in Advertising: (650) 854-2626 Advertising Fax: (650) 854-3650 the graduation and college entrance rate of the student body. applicants who we expect would have fresh ideas about how the e-mail news and photos with Unfortunately, the board is now moving in the opposite direc- district operates. captions to: tion after deciding in a recent closed session to restrict recruit- The decision to limit the search smacks of cronyism of the [email protected] ment of a new superintendent to “inside” candidates only. The worst sort by a board that obviously does not want a change of e-mail letters to: restriction would rule out a nationwide search for a superinten- direction for a district that we believe must have new leadership [email protected] dent, a terrible decision that is very likely to place the district in as it adjusts to the growing charter school phenomenon and The Almanac, established in September, 1965, is delivered each week to residents the hands of James Lianides, who was hired by Mr. Gemma and tackles the lagging graduation rate. The board should change of Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and if appointed is expected to continue his unfettered opposition to direction as soon as possible and vote to open a nationwide Woodside and adjacent unincorporated areas of southern San Mateo County. The Almanac charter schools. search for a new superintendent. is qualified by decree of the Superior Court of San Mateo County to publish public notices of a governmental and legal nature, as stated in LETTERS Decree No. 147530, issued November 9, 1969. Our readers write Subscriptions are $60 for one year and $100 for two years. Are you paying out-of-state use tax? Editor: I agree with Clark Kepler N WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? (Guest Opinion, March 10) that large online retailers should col- All views must include a home address lect sales taxes. and contact phone number. Published letters will also appear on the web site, However, a point he (and www.TheAlmanacOnline.com, and many other people) seem to occasionally on the Town Square forum. miss is that it shouldn’t actu- ally affect state revenue whether TOWN SQUARE FORUM they do or not — because we, as POST your views on the taxpayers, are legally required Town Square forum at to pay a use tax if the retailer www.TheAlmanacOnline.com doesn’t charge us a sales tax. EMAIL your views to: “I’ve never heard of this!” you [email protected] may be saying. I suggest you take and note this it is a letter to another look at the tax forms you the editor in the subject line. might be working on right now. It’s line 25 of schedule 540EZ or MAIL or deliver to: line 95 of schedule 540. (The use Our Regional Heritage Editor at the Almanac, tax applies to any purchase made Atherton Heritage Association 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, out of state but used in Califor- This photo from the early 1920s shows Jack Barbour, right, and fellow students at the William Warren Menlo Park, CA 94025. nia, not just an online purchase. School on Alejandra Avenue in what is now Atherton. The identity of the other students, who were 15 CALL the Viewpoint desk at when the photo was taken in 1923 or 1924, is not known. Anyone with information is asked to contact 854-2690, ext. 222. See LETTERS, next page the Atherton Heritage Association and leave a message at 688-6540.
18 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010 LETTERS continued from page 18 Supervisor election model fine the way it is I believe this is why some yacht owners are very careful about By Nita Spangler rience and skills to departments described its city-county govern- where they dock.) n the belief that the election This mat- with job descriptions and quali- ment with district elections in Kevin Holsinger of San Mateo County super- ter recalls fied staffing. that city in an article headlined: O’Keefe Street, Menlo Park Ivisors would be improved 75 years After several false starts, the “We need a better way to run the — less expensive and more ago when new charter was adopted in city.” It said, in part: enervated with more office seek- San Mateo 1934. Experienced managers “The district [election] magni- Woodside should speak up ers — an appeal is being made to County had have served the county through fies the neighborhood and tight- the 2010 Charter Review Com- a reputa- prosperous and lean years. They knit interest groups to produce on Cargill project mittee to change the present tion as one deserve much credit. The county officeholders with little stake Editor: GUEST at-large election of five county OPINION of the most manager is usually the one to in citywide questions.” Calling The Woodside Town Council supervisors to election by district. corrupt. organize and see that things the 11 supervisors, “small-time should speak up against Cargill’s The Almanac in an editorial has Any three work, from overseeing hospitals politicos, the writer continues, plan to build housing and office already joined the call for changes supervisors could corner county- to pothole repair. “...The system is producing too buildings on its salt ponds in to district elections, even though wide control. Each supervisor was Now is a bad time to think much small-time drama and not Redwood City. We should indeed the Review Committee has not a road commissioner, with road about changing the stressed but enough big-picture results.” concern ourselves about what is met beyond organizing itself. superintendent, road foreman still well-run San Mateo County That is good advice from the happening in our neighboring city Changing voting and representa- and five equipment yards. With government. Electing supervisors county from which we were split when the quality of our collective tion would be a big decision — divi- patronage, friendships brought by district would certainly bring in 1854. San Mateo County, with environment is at stake. sive and contentious. If it happens, free driveways. more disputes, more conten- its 447 square miles, needs to San Francisco Bay is our every voter in San Mateo County District elections were elimi- tiousness, more costs and new keep its eye on the big picture. area’s best asset. A healthy bay will lose his/her vote for four of the nated after citizens in 1931 used alignments. Without a massive Our boundaries are in ocean- pays dividends to every single supervisors. You now vote for all state enabling legislation to write change, minor repairs are avail- front, San Francisco Bay and resident of the area. It is an five and they are all accountable to a charter, organizing as Freehold- able for legitimate complaints. two of the state’s most populated economic asset, a visual asset, a you and everyone. In the district ers. They acquired new working Supervisor Richard S. Gordon, cities. Our government is work- health asset and a physical asset plan, you vote for one supervisor offices in a courthouse built by who is retiring due to term lim- ing well. It’s a good government that we all have a responsibility who is the only one of the Board of the federal Public Works Admin- its, has already told the Charter even if our money is going to to protect. Supervisors accountable to you. No istration with funds that paid for Review Committee of the wide Sacramento. When it comes to Cargill/ supervisor would be accountable to Depression-era jobs. They also range of business before county Nita Spangler, a journalist and DMB’s scheme to convert open- every voter. Is disenfranchisement a approved the position of county government. In a recent arti- longtime observer of county gov- space salt ponds to a high- good thing? manager that would bring expe- cle, a San Francisco newspaper ernment, lives in Redwood City. density city, the size of an entire Foster City, it would be taking away open space that we collec- No mandate for Redwood Sec. 15270). In other words, a sustainability of the bay. The Redwood City Council tively all have a right to. City to assess Cargill public agency has the authority Cargill is asking Redwood City has shown that they not only We here in Woodside do Editor: to reject a proposal and forego to amend the general plan and believe that Cargill is entitled our part in maintaining a rus- an environmental review when rezone their property, and also to develop the site, but that they tic rural atmosphere for our The Redwood City Council a project is inconsistent with requests that the city abort its own are comfortable with the con- neighboring towns to enjoy. seems to believe that they have existing land-use policies and general plan update process. The cept of building a new city in Bicyclists and horse riders from a legal mandate to complete a ordinances. council agreed, thus stifling the the bay. This proposal is not like all over the peninsula are more full analysis of the Cargill Salt- Redwood City has the legal best approach for revising land- “any other application.” That familiar with our many scenic works proposal, including an right and a clear justification use decisions. An environmental is why concerned citizens all lanes and trails than I, a resi- environmental impact report, as to reject the Saltworks proposal impact report is no substitute for across the Bay Area are insisting dent, will ever be. they would other development at any time, because the project a city-run general plan process that Redwood City reinstate its Now we see Redwood City applications. directly violates the city’s exist- that fully engages public input. general plan update for the salt moving towards growing by They are dead wrong. The Cal- ing general plan and the goals Such EIRs are intended to inform ponds before considering any 33 percent again doing the ifornia Environmental Quality set forth by the Bay Conserva- agencies about potential environ- development proposals. same. (Redwood City’s current Act “does not apply to projects tion and Development Com- mental impacts from proposed Daniel Ponti population. is 79,000; Cargill’s which a public agency rejects or mission and the Environmental projects, not to justify changing Redwood City proposal has 12,000 homes disapproves” (CEQA Guidelines Protection Agency to improve land-use laws. for approximately. 30,000 resi- dents.) We all have an obligation to express concern now, before so WOODSIDE COMMUNITY RECREATION PROGRAM much money and so many well- meaning careers are invested that it becomes harder and SPRING SCHEDULE harder to stop this development in our bay. Redwood City has an award- CLASS DAY TIME INSTRUCTOR LOCATION FEE STARTING DATE winning plan to develop its YOGA FOR EVERYONE downtown as a vibrant, healthy, 12 W mixed-use community right eeks No Class Mon 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Independence Hall $204 March 22 along the transportation cor- 11 Weeks May 4, 6 Tues. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Wdse. Village Church Guild Hall $187 March 23 Carla Germano ridor, where development 11 Weeks Wed. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wdse. Village Church Guild Hall $187 March 24 belongs. Instead, Cargill is 11 Weeks Thurs. 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Wdse. Village Church Guild Hall $187 March 25 developing in the bay, on the 21 Weeks Fri. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Independence Hall $204 March 26 wrong side of the Bayshore Bring exercise mat and Freeway, which causes only wear comfortable clothing problems — destruction of des- perately needed wetland resto- LOW IMPACT AEROBICS ration to resuscitate our ailing & ZUMBA® No Class Mon. 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM Independence Hall $450 April 5 bay, traffic nightmares on the May 31 Joy Lopez wrong side of gridlocked 101, 14 Weeks Fri. 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM Independence Hall $23 drop in April 2 flooding of homes below sea A fun combo level, and most of all, perma- class to burn fat nent loss of increasingly criti- & tone the body. cally needed open space as our Balance ball & free weights used for toning. peninsula population grows. Financial assistance available for children. Visit our Web Site at: www.woodsiderec.com Gita Dev Mountain Home Road, Woodside C To Register or Fax: (650) 851-3534 C
March 17, 2010 N The Almanac N 19 apr.com REDEFINING QUALITY SINCE 1990 Reading between the emotional line makes the difference between finding a house and a home.
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MENLO PARK 1550 El Camino Real, Ste 100 650.462.1111 | PALO ALTO 578 University Avenue 650.323.1111 LOS ALTOS 167 S San Antonio Road 650.941.1111 APR COUNTIES | Santa Clara | San Mateo | San Francisco | Alameda | Contra Costa | Monterey | Santa Cruz
20 N The Almanac N March 17, 2010