Vol. XXXIX, Number 34 Q May 25, 2018 PlanPlan toto cutcut aauditoruditor jobsjobs reversedreversed — fforor nnowow PagePage 5 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Palo Alto looks to complete its revamp of INSIDEINSIDE Charleston-Arastradero Page 18 LastLast chance!chance! VVoteote aatt PPaloAltoOnline.comaloAltoOn Spectrum 16 Worth a Look 23 Eating Out 26 Title Pages 29 2 0 1 8 QArts Palo Azul? Public-art project features blue trees Page 21 QHome Roses demystified: expert tips for happy roses Page 31 QSports Local athletes on track for CCS championships Page 45 Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm problem, affecting over 2 million Americans. Without detection and treatment, atrial Saturday, June 2 fibrillation can affect quality of life and 9:30am – 11:30am cause stroke and heart failure. Crowne Plaza Palo Alto Stanford Medicine experts are leading the way in Mediterranean Ballroom treating atrial fibrillation, whether through medication or 4290 El Camino Real groundbreaking therapies like the minimally invasive Cox Palo Alto, CA 94306 Maze procedure. Join us for a free community talk to learn RESERVE YOUR SEAT more about atrial fibrillation’s signs, symptoms, and all This event is free and open to the of the latest advances in treatment. public, though seating is limited. If you plan to attend, please register SPEAKERS at stanfordhealthcare.org/events or by calling 650.736.6555. Paul J. Wang, MD Anson M. Lee, MD Director, Stanford Arrhythmia Service Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Co-Director, Stanford Center Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery), for Arrhythmia Research Stanford University School of Medicine Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) and Bioengineering (by courtesy), Stanford University Page 2 • May 25, 2018 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com JUST LISTED! 931 LAUREL GLEN DRIVE, PALO ALTO PRIVACY AND CONVENIENCE IN A RUSTIC SETTING Offering a rare balance of close-in convenience and secluded privacy, this gorgeous 6-bedroom, 6.5-bath estate is as suited to hosting grand affairs as it is to comfortable everyday living. This striking 7,555sf residence is situated on 4.38 acre lot, one of the largest parcels in the City. It offers indoor-outdoor living at its best with sweeping views of the Palo Alto Hills and Peninsula, and balances close-in convenience with a private setting. Additional features of the home include: • Stunning Bay and golf course views • 2IƓFHZLQHFHOODUUHFUHDWLRQPHGLDURRPDQG • Designed for indoor/outdoor entertaining of any scale VLJQLƓFDQWVWRUDJHKREE\VSDFH • Secluded privacy with close-in convenience • Outstanding Palo Alto schools SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT Offered at $6,995,000 www.LaurelGlenEstate.com DERK BRILL Wall Street Journal “Top Residential Realtors” in America M: 650.814.0478 [email protected] www.DerkBrill.com License# 01256035 6TXDUHIRRWDJHDFUHDJHDQGRWKHULQIRUPDWLRQKHUHLQKDVEHHQUHFHLYHGIURPRQHRUPRUHRIDYDULHW\RIGLIIHUHQWVRXUFHV6XFKLQIRUPDWLRQKDVQRWEHHQYHULƓHGE\$ODLQ3LQHO5HDOWRUV,ILPSRUWDQWWREX\HUVEX\HUVVKRXOGFRQGXFWWKHLURZQLQYHVWLJDWLRQ www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • May 25, 2018 • Page 3 Juliana Lee Education Foundation OUR MISSION The Juliana Lee Education Foundation was created to support local schools and believes education has the power to expand opportunities and transform lives. We hope to inspire others to get involved and support our communities. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP AND MAKE A DONATION Please make checks payable to: Juliana Lee Foundation Send to: Juliana Lee Foundation - 505 Hamilton Ave, Ste 100, Palo Alto, CA 94301 For more information please email: [email protected] TOGETHER, WE PROSPER. Partnering with Our Community At Castilleja, we are dedicated to educating motivated young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders, a mission achieved in part through strong community partnerships. VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE AND TO BECOME A SUPPORTER OF CASTILLEJA CastillejaReimagined.org Castilleja Student and Ada’s Café Employee Page 4 • May 25, 2018 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis City audit jobs saved — for now Finance Committee reverses course in recommending six positions in the Office of the expressed major reservations control reviews” and helps depart- City Auditor, leaving City Auditor about the quality of work pro- ments develop policies and proce- approval of fiscal year 2019 budget Harriet Richardson as the office’s duced by outside firms. dures. Modesto has also outsourced by Gennady Sheyner sole employee. The committee The city of Stockton, for exam- its audit function, Richardson said, had also recommended using 80 ple, eliminated its audit function but there is no indication on the recommendation to dra- both the current city auditor and percent of the savings from the several years ago and switched to city’s website whether the contrac- matically downsize the a former one. position cuts to contract with out- a consultant to work as its internal tors are actually doing any work. A Office of the City Auditor As part of its Wednesday vote side firms for performance audits. auditor. The city is now spending Richardson also cited Val- in Palo Alto, made last week by to recommend adoption of the fis- On Wednesday, City Manager about $450,000 annually and is ley Metro, a transit agency in the City Council’s Finance Com- cal year 2019 budget, the commit- James Keene recommended not getting real performance au- Arizona that recently hired a mittee, was quickly reversed on tee agreed to rescind its May 15 taking more time to consider dits, Richardson said. Instead, the Wednesday, following input by decision to eliminate five out of the staff cuts, and Richardson auditor mostly deals with “internal (continued on page 12) EDUCATION Board approves superintendent’s contract Don Austin to start position July 1 by Elena Kadvany ith little discussion, the Palo Alto school board Wvoted 4-1 Tuesday to ap- prove a three-year contract with Don Austin, the district’s new superintendent. Veronica Weber Board President Ken Dauber cast the sole dissenting vote, stating only that his decision was “based on my participation in the process” and that he “would have preferred Bee-autiful blooms a different outcome.” A bumblebee at the Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden pollinates a white foxglove flower, among the many flowers in bloom at the public Austin is currently the superin- garden in Palo Alto. tendent of the K-12 Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District in Los Angeles County, where he was hired in 2014. He previously they’re passionate about despite worked as an assistant superin- EDUCATION their parents, their environment tendent, high school and middle and their peers,” she said. school principal, high school ac- A group of Gunn students lob- tivities director and middle school bied the school board earlier this teacher in Southern California. Should Palo Alto students be required year for more advanced and hon- Under the contract, Austin will ors humanities courses, which be paid $300,000 and live in a to study computer science? they said are less available than district-owned property with a advanced STEM (science, tech- monthly rent of $1,800. Students, advisory committee debate K-12 computer-science graduation requirement nology, engineering and math) Austin was selected after the by Elena Kadvany classes. board launched a national search Students also worried about to find a replacement for former Palo Alto Unified School logic and the like — and that but emphasized the importance fitting another course into what Superintendent Max McGee, who District committee’s rec- making instruction more widely of maintaining choice for stu- feel like already heavily sched- resigned in September. A ommendation to make available would level the playing dents who are more passionate ules. Paly senior Richy Islas, Palo Austin has been described by computer science a high school field between the haves and the about history, social sciences and Alto High School’s student board supporters as a leader and team graduation requirement has have-nots in Palo Alto. The group the arts. representative, said that the ad- builder who has made strides in sparked opposition among stu- is recommending that computer “Because of where we are, stu- ditional requirement could be Palos Verdes on student mental dents who say there is already an science be treated like a core dents are aware of the growing particularly stressful for students health, facilities and the budget. imbalance between STEM and subject, offered in various forms power of computer science,” said with disabilities who take aca- Critics, however, have voiced con- humanities in the schools. from pre-kindergarten through Gunn High School student Claire demic planning classes on top of cerns about a lack of transparency Members of the Computer 12th grade and required to gradu- Cheng. “My mom supports me their regular courses. and his management style. Science Curriculum Design Ad- ate from high school. coming out tonight, but once I go The committee proposed high Board member Melissa Baten visory Committee argued to the The potential of an additional home, she’s going to frequently re- school students satisfy the gradu- Caswell said Austin has a “history school board on Tuesday night graduation requirement is mak- mind me that computer science is ation requirement by taking either of effectively bringing teams to- that computer science teaches ing some high school students a much more practical way to get one semester-long introductory gether and mentoring people.” skills beyond programming — bristle, however. They don’t de- a job. It takes courage for these Austin will start his position in critical thinking, problem solving, bate computer science’s benefits students to pursue something that (continued on page 11) Palo Alto Unified on July 1. Q www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • May 25, 2018 • Page 5 Learn the Guitar this Summer Upfront Carol McComb’s “Starting to Play” workshophop includes 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 QUOTE OF THE WEEK the FREE use of a Loaner Guitar for the durationuration (650) 326-8210 of the classes.