Made to order Mexican WEEKEND page 20 OCTOBER 4, 2013 VOLUME 21, NO. 36 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 23 Interns evicted during shutdown CLOSURE IMPACTS NASA OFFICES AS FURLOUGH TAKES HOLD AT MOFFETT By Eric Van Susteren and Andrea Gemmet neers made generous offers to let interns stay at their homes,” he t’s one thing to be out of work said. during the federal shutdown, Members of Mountain View’s Ibut it’s another to get evicted Hacker Dojo have stepped into when you’re far from home. the breach, offering places to stay, That’s the situation NASA and several members are offering Ames interns found themselves the interns paid work at their in when many federal govern- startups during the shutdown, ment operations ground to a said Katy Levinson, the Dojo’s halt at midnight Monday after director of development. Hacker Congress failed to pass a budget Dojo got involved when NASA in the culmination of a bitter Ames interns started posting fli- battle over the implementation ers asking for somewhere to stay, of the Affordable Care Act. she said. MICHELLE LE The first government shut- Levinson said she’s trying to get Graeme, a border collie, brings enthusiasm to his job chasing geese and coots from the Shoreline Golf Links. down in 17 years confirmation of will not close the how many interns Department of Most of the were ousted, and Thank dog, city’s golf course finally breaks even Veterans Affairs believes there are or U.S. Postal Ser- interns struggled as many as 50. NEW OPERATOR ATTRACTS MORE PLAYERS, SHOOS GEESE AND COOTS AWAY vice, but NASA “We’ve verified By Daniel DeBolt and the Menlo to make the locations and And part of the credit goes to city services, like the police Park office of safety of 15, and t Shoreline Golf Links a very enthusiastic border collie department and the library. the United States arrangements. we’re looking for there are fewer geese named Graeme. Turning its first profit in Geological Sur- the other 35,” she Aand they are less of The turnaround can largely many years, the course made vey (USGS) have said. nuisance, the turf is in better be credited to Touchstone Golf, $30,000 in the fiscal year end- been shuttered. The dorm, called the NASA shape than ever and the course hired to run the city-owned ing in June — a big change Besides furloughing employees Exchange Lodge, is used by has finally made a profit after course after its deficit in 2011 from 2011-12, when it lost at Mountain View’s NASA Ames other companies in the summer, several years of being deep in threatened to take away over $1 Research Center, visitors can- including Google and SETI, she the red. million from funding for core See GOLF DOG, page 10 not even gain access to NASA’s said. “It can easily hold 600 kids. website, which states: “Due to There are usually a lot fewer in the lapse in federal government winter, and they spread them out, funding, this website is not avail- so even (the interns) don’t know Emails, board report paint picture able. We sincerely regret this how many of them are in there.” inconvenience.” Levinson said she stayed in the NASA Ames intern James same dorm several years ago, of Nelson’s offending behavior Mishra contacted the Voice to say when she was an intern. “If it that he and other interns who are had happened to me, I’d be 3,000 MV WHISMAN TRUSTEE tion has been building over Nel- inaccurate, accusations. They housed on campus were evicted miles from home, and (have) FACES CENSURE VOTE son’s behavior — both in private show a pattern of threatening from their dorms on Tuesday. less than $1,000 in my bank and in public meetings — since and insulting district staff mem- Interns were given a week’s account,” she said. “I wouldn’t By Nick Veronin he took office late last year. bers and attempts by Nelson to notice that they might have to want it to happen to me, and The emails, obtained by the use his position on the board find alternate housing during the we’re going to fix it. udging from email exchang- Voice through a state Public to gain political leverage over shutdown, Mishra said. es between Mountain View Records Act request, and evi- Superintendent Craig Goldman. “Most of the interns, includ- Blood drive canceled JWhisman School District dence compiled by Bill Lambert, As of the Voice’s Oct. 2 press ing myself, were unfamiliar with The local blood bank is being trustee Steven Nelson and his one of Nelson’s colleagues on the deadline, the school board was the San Francisco Bay Area and left high and dry by the shut- colleagues on the board and board, paint a picture of a trustee struggled to make arrangements. members of district staff, frustra- quick to make serious, and often See NELSON, page 13 Many senior scientists and engi- See SHUTDOWN, page 14 INSIDE VIEWPOINT 15 | GOINGS ON 24 | MARKETPLACE 25 | REAL ESTATE 27 apr.com EXPLORE THE NEW Where people, homes and a bit of imagination intersect S S S GINNY ZACHOW JEFF STRICKER & STEVE TENBROECK KATHY BRIDGMAN MOUNTAIN VIEW MENLO PARK LOS ALTOS Stunning 4bd/2ba contemporary home reflects elegance and Spacious 3bd/2ba condo with serene views, surrounded by Beautifully remodeled 3bd/1ba home with cottage/office. style. 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Tuesdays and Wednesdays! “All that’s going to happen is there will be a bunch of nego- tiations and they’ll turn the government back on in two or At Smiles Dental, we believe in treating our patients New Patient Special! three days, and in the mean- to the best of dentistry and technology with first time everyone has to deal with class personal service. all the pain and suffering — no $ checks, no services, nothing. Our skilled team is passionate about helping our ~ Includes99 Exam, Terry Bates, Mountain View Digital X-Rays & patients maintain healthy beautiful smiles. Cleaning A $366 Value! Our office is equipped with the latest technology to Offer valid for new patients only. “I think it is ridiculous. This help you achieve the smile you deserve. Second opinions welcome. Call for details. doesn’t happen in other coun- Some restrictions may apply. Dr. William Hall ~ Dr. Tiffany Chan ~ Dr. Aashima Sharma ~ Dr. Kathleen Tavarez tries as far as I know. It leads to inefficient government. I’m from Turkey, and I’m sur- 100 W. El Camino Real, Suite 63A Mountain View ( Corner of El Camino & Calderon ) prised to see this in the U.S.” www.SmilesDental.com | 650.564.3333 Ali Ergun, Mountain View “Obviously it is absurd. We’ve The Roundtable at Stanford University never had this back home in China. But the world is still running. It is affecting my friends, though. They were planning to go to a national ARE YOU park. I also have some friends HAPPY NOW? who work for the government. The New Science of Happiness and Wellbeing Liwen Chen, Mountain View “I was laughing. It is kind of Friday, October 18, 2013 ridiculous. I’m not a political 9:30 a.m. President’s Welcome for alumni guy. I just find it quite funny 10:00 a.m. Roundtable that the government shuts Maple Pavilion, Stanford University Katie Couric Jennifer Aaker down because people are www.stanford.edu/roundtable ABC News Stanford Graduate fighting internally.” School of Business Mohamed Mansour, Mountain View The science of happiness is a growing and intriguing field. Research about what truly makes people happy is not only surprising, but applicable no matter how much Firdaus Dhabhar Ian H.