Palo Vol. XXVII, Number 17 • Wednesday, November 30, 2005 ■ 50¢ Alto Time may be right for Chinese classes Page 3 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Virtual Crisis Community Web site EPA.net may close in January Page 14 Norbert von der Groeben Can you find the phony ad? Look inside for details. ■ Upfront Keeping it simple at Greer Park Page 3 ■ Upfront Stanford Stadium comes down Page 3 ■ Sports Paly Vikings get rematch Page 22 apr.com REDEFINING QUALITY SINCE 1990 Reading between the emotional line makes the difference between finding a house and a home. ATHERTON Discreetly located on one of Atherton’s most desirable avenues, this exceptional 6 bedroom 6+ bath estate on over 1.5 acres provides a private sanctuary that feels miles away from it all. $7,998,000 LOS ALTOS HILLS Spectacular large lot with incredible landscaping. Dramatic architectural design. Six suites and guest house with two suites. Park-like setting with mature redwood trees. $6,995,000 PALO ALTO Prime Old Palo Alto. 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Just around the corner to Walter Hays Elementary. $2,999,000 apr.com | PALO ALTO OFFICE 578 University Avenue 650.323.1111 APR COUNTIES | Santa Clara | San Mateo | San Francisco | Alameda | Contra Costa | Monterey | Santa Cruz Page 2 • Wednesday, November 30, 2005 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Simple plans taking shape for Greer Park plot Commission will forward recommendation “That gives you the option to tion to the City Council at a future been decrying the city’s consideration come back later and do something meeting, possibly in December. of a course change. to council next month more elaborate,” subcommittee chair “Aesthetically a passive park on But there are other, less costly op- by Bill D’Agostino Jeanette Marquess said. this busy, windy corner would give tions for increasing available tennis It’s also the cheapest alternative, the feeling of quiet open space,” the courts in the city, such as fixing up ity leaders are now thinking ploring numerous grand plans for estimated to cost $250,000. “Given subcommittee’s 26-page report noted. courts in bad shape and adding lights modestly about the future of the public tract — including part- the budgetary constraints we have City leaders have been discussing to others for nighttime play, Mar- C a 1.5-acre undeveloped spot nering with a private school to de- right now that seems to be the most the 1.5-acre area — which is now just quess said. of land at the southeast corner of velop a gym, constructing a BMX realistic option,” Marquess added. dirt and weeds on the corner of Col- The proposal that’s probably re- Greer Park. bike park and building tennis courts The full parks commission was orado Avenue and East Bayshore Road ceived the most attention publicly Although a subcommittee of the — the one that is now favored would scheduled to hear its subcommittee’s — for more than a year. A 1984 mas- is a plan to partner with Kehillah Palo Alto Parks and Recreation simply plant grass there and allow in-depth report last night, and is ter plan called for tennis courts to be Jewish High School to build a Commission spent many months ex- park-goers to play as they wish. planning to make its recommenda- built there, and tennis players have (continued on page 5) SCHOOLS Stanford Stadium demolition begins Stanford Stadium is going the way of the bull- Chinese dozer and wrecking ball, figuratively speaking. Demolition of the 84-year-old stadium, designed with engineering techniques unearthed at 2,000- classes in year-old amphitheaters in Pomeii, has begun. The new stadium, expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2006 football season, will district’s have 30,000 fewer seats, better sightlines, more restrooms and concessions, and better access. The future? new stadium will have 50,858 seats, compared to the current 85,800. Conditions right for The stands will also be moved closer to the field, Norbert von der Groeben launching language eliminating the current running track that circles the field. The project is expected to cost $90 million. program, advocates say A 2002 study found that the stadium’s infra- by Alexandria Rocha structure had reached the end of its service life. The current earthen berm and landscaping will be or four years, Palo Alto parent retained for the new stadium. Grace Mah has fought to bring —Don Kazak F Chinese-language education to the local public schools. But because of tight budget constraints, she has met resistance every step of the way. New developments within the Palo Alto Unified School District, howev- er, could give new life to Mah’s plight. A parcel tax approved in June has giv- en the district room to breath. The two new board members who will take of- fice next month have both said they want the issue back on the table. Last but not least, the district recently took on a year-long review of its attendance boundaries, which could identify a feasible school to host the program. Mah, who has two sons ages 7 and 2, is planning to introduce a new pro- posal to the school board in January. Her goal is to have a Mandarin pilot program, modeled after the district’s successful Spanish Immersion pro- gram, in place by next fall. “The timing for presenting the op- tion is good,” said Barbara Mitchell, who, along with Dana Tom, will be- gin serving on the Board of Education in December. Chinese-language programs, espe- Norbert von der Groeben cially those of Mandarin, the nation- al language of China, are gaining popularity across the United States. With China fast becoming a super- power, schools are implementing pro- grams to help students compete in a global world where job outsourcing is all too common. Bill Chialstri of Palo Alto (above) has a good cry as a bulldozer takes its first bites out of the stadium. The Stanford band (top) leads a half- The Chinese and American gov- time celebration as the stadium hosts its last game — Stanford vs. Notre Dame — on Saturday night. ernments are backing the movement. (continued on page 5) Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, November 30, 2005 • Page 3 )&)43./4).4()36!5,4 )43./43!&% 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson Our EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Jocelyn Dong, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Town Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor by Don Kazak Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer Kids helping kids Brian Connelly, Photo Intern Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor & Online Editor Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections atie Ransohoff, 16, and her sis- bullying from starting in the first Cammie Farmer, Calendar Editor ter Julia, 14, have never been place, Principal Suzanne Barbarasch ,/3!,4/36!5,43!&% Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jill Slater, Susan Kvictimized by schoolyard bul- of Jordan Middle School said. “It can Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors Suman Mudamula, Saqib Rahim, Ken Selis, lying. be a problem in middle school.” $%0/3)4#/ Editorial Interns But they know a lot about it — Derek Chan, now a student at the DESIGN enough to visit classes in December University of California at Irvine, !PRIVATEDEPOSITORY 7 Ê, Ê£t Carol Hubenthal, Design Director at Escondido Elementary School in wrote about being bullied when he Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director Palo Alto and La Entrada Elemen- was a student (coincidentally) at Jor- 3AFEDEPOSITBOXESOFALLSIZES / iÀiÊÃÊ ÊÓ Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior Designers; tary School in Menlo Park to talk dan. He is one of the eight students 3TRICTANDTOTALCONlDENTIALITY 6 Ê/t Dana James, Sarah McAleer, Scott Peterson, Designers about bullying. contributing to the two medical foun- 3ECUREDANDAMPLEPARKING The Menlo Park sisters, who are dation Web sites. PRODUCTION students at Castilleja School in Palo He wrote that another boy teased &ORYOUROWNSAKEWESHOULDHAVEYOURBUSINESS Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager Dorothy Hassett, Brooke Fox, Alto, have been collecting informa- him “like there was no tomorrow” to 6ISITOURFACILITIESANDJUDGEFORYOURSELF Sales & Production Coordinators tion about why bullying is harmful the point where he just wanted to ADVERTISING to children and posting it on two keep away from him. His mom en- $ATABANKFORIMPORTANTANDCONlDENTIALRECORDS Michael Howard, Advertising Manager Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Assistant health-oriented Web sites sponsored couraged him to tell his teacher. The Jasbir Gill, Janice Hoogner, Sandra by the Palo Alto Medical Founda- teacher told the other boy to be nice &IRST3TREET ,OS!LTOS #! Valdiosera, Display Advertising Sales Kathryn Brottem, Real Estate Advertising Sales tion. One of the sites is for teens and to Derek. The bullying stopped. 4EL WWWLOSALTOSVAULTCOM Joan Merritt, Real Estate Advertising Asst. one for pre-teens. “Holy cow! That’s It?? Just like Linda Franks, Classified Advertising Manager “We didn’t see it being addressed that?” Derek wrote. Justin Davisson, Evie Marquez, Irene Schwartz, Classified Advertising Sales anywhere else,” Julia said of bullying. “I am in college now, but I still be- Blanca Yoc, Classified Administrative Assistant “We like the whole idea of kids lieve that no one deserves to be bul- ONLINE SERVICES helping kids,” Katie said. lied or teased,” he wrote. Lisa Van Dusen, Director of Palo Alto Online After visiting fourth and fifth “There are kids who come home Shannon White, Assistant to Webmaster graders next month, the girls will not feeling well, and you don’t know BUSINESS Iryna Buynytska, Business Manager modify their anti-bullying message why,” Julia said of kids who have Miriam Quehl, Manager of Payroll & Benefits for middle-school students.