M-A’s Jeremy Chow designs huge mural to inspire students at Belle Haven School | Section 2 THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDE AUGUST 8, 2012 | VOL. 47 NO. 50 WWW.THEALMANACONLINE.COM Menlo Park native, Seeing the 27, becomes leader in green-building big picture movement | Page 5 ATHERTON European Villa custom built in 2003. Two levels with 5bd suites. Elevator, formal living and dining rooms, family room, chef’s kitchen and library. Rare African mahogany floors, French windows and doors, slate roof. Gated ‘flag’ lot with 1.1+/- acres of landscaped grounds. 3 car garage, and pool with spa. $8,495,000 MENLO PARK Located in highly sought after Felton Gables, this lovingly updated traditional home is set on a beautiful showcase lot, one of the largest the neighborhood has to offer. Nestled within magnificent landscaping, this move in condition 3bd/2ba home offers plenty of room for expansion while maintaining a tranquil garden sanctuary. $2,495,000 WOODSIDE Down the gated sweeping driveway this lovely custom contemporary integrates the abundant natural landscape to provide privacy and serenity. The great room/ country kitchen is a gourmet’s dream with expanses of deep counters, dining area and cozy woodstove. 4bd/3ba, 2 offices, den, huge basement. $1,648,000 2NThe AlmanacNTheAlmanacOnline.comNAugust 8, 2012 UPFRONT Light Touch Key Lime Pie $3.99 Principal: ‘I was a bratty teen’ UÊ{Ê}À>ÃÊvÊv>Ì UÊnÊ}À>ÃÊvÊ«ÀÌi By Dave Boyce UÊ-ÜiiÌii`ÊÜÌ ÊvÀÕÌÊÕVi Almanac Staff Writer Before her time at Prospect Why did she pick Wood- High, Ms. Burbank spent five side? It’s larger than Prospect Open to the public: f students with attitudes at years as principal of Aptos by about 500 kids, decisions Woodside High School try High School in Aptos in Santa are discussed among parents, Shop our healthful Ito claim that Diane Bur- Cruz County. Prior to that, teachers and administrators in food marketplace bank, the new principal, doesn’t she worked at Cupertino High the Shared-Decision-Making and save understand them, that may not School, Gunn High School and Council, it’s a high-school-only wash. district, and there are “I was one of those “beautiful” facilities, 20% Off Offering Low Carb, Low Sugar, Gluten Free bratty teenagers,” Ms. Diane Burbank Ms. Burbank said. “I your entire purchase* Burbank said in an inter- thought that it was *Expires 8/15/2012 713 Oak Grove Ave, Menlo Park view with the Almanac. brings lots of experience really interesting.” Menlo Park location only 650.323.5483 She wanted to graduate as to her new job as Woodside’s recent a junior so she could enter re-accreditation in college and get going on principal of Woodside March also figured in a career in education, High School. her decision, she said. but her parents wouldn’t The school’s action agree to it so she spent her senior JLS Middle School in Palo Alto, plan lays out two priorities: year in a snit. “I was very angry,” and Newark Junior High School ■ Close the academic achieve- she said. in Newark. ment gap by emphasizing lit- Ms. Burbank comes to Wood- The Sequoia district adver- eracy skills. side and the Sequoia Union High tised statewide and received ■ Build a spirited school com- School District from four years about 30 applicants, Superinten- munity through the principles as principal of Prospect High dent Jim Lianides said. A team of a well-established program School in Saratoga. A Saratoga of teachers, administrators, staff at Woodside that, among other address may sound exclusive, and parents interviewed eight things, builds student confi- but the school’s demograph- candidates,. dence, creates a sense of belong- Why Home Care Assistance Is The ics are about what they are at “Diane Burbank emerged as ing and accomplishment, and Woodside: Hispanic and white the strongest candidate and best fosters a spirit of adventure. Leading Provider of 24/7 Live-In Care: students evenly share about fit for Woodside High School The action plan is “a really We offer experienced, bonded and insured caregivers, who two-thirds of the student popu- as a result of this process,” Mr. clear mandate for me as a lead- are trained in our Balanced Care MethodTM of promoting lation. Lianides said. er,” Ms. Burbank said. A healthy aging. We provide culinary training for our caregivers at Sur La Atherton: Lewis files for re-election Table to improve their skills and our clients’ meals. Our founders wrote the book Handbook for Live-In Care, By Renee Batti Other residents who have member of the Town Center which is a resource for the industry as well as families. Almanac News Editor taken out papers, but not filed Task Force Committee, and ith only one week left them, are: Cary Wiest, Denise has been a leader in the push to Call us for a FREE consultation: before the filing dead- Kupperman, Bob Roeser, Jo- rebuild the center using private 650-462-6900 Wline, Elizabeth Lewis Ann Byrne Sockolov, and Greg funds. She and Councilman 1-866-4-LiveIn (454-8346) turned in her papers Aug. 3 to Conlon. Jerry Carlson often cast the www.HomeCareAssistance.com run for re-election to the Ather- Councilwoman Kathy McKei- minority votes in divided coun- 148 Hawthorne Ave, Palo Alto, CA ton City Council, making her the then told the Almanac on Friday cil decisions. only official candidate to date. that she has made a decision The filing deadline for run- Ms. Lewis is completing her on whether she will run for re- ning for the two open council first term on the council, and election, but she will not make seats is Friday, Aug. 10. If Ms. now serves as vice mayor, which the decision public yet. Asked McKeithen doesn’t file papers SummarySummary RealReal Estate Reports puts her in a prime position why not, she said, “I just want a by then, the filing period will for being handed the gavel in certain amount of privacy in my be extended to Wednesday, forfor Week Week of of August May 7. 6. December if she wins re-elec- life right now.” Aug. 15, for all non-incum- tion. Councilwoman Lewis is a bents. A Available at PeninsulaSpecialist.com CALLING ON THE ALMANAC THE ALMANAC (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) is published every Wednesday by Embarcadero Media, Newsroom: 223-6525 N E-mail news, information, obituaries 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025- Newsroom fax: 223-7525 and photos (with captions) to: 6558. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and STEVE GRAY offers [email protected] Advertising: 854-2626 at additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of 30+ years of general circulation for San Mateo County, The Almanac is N E-mail letters to the editor to: Advertising fax: 854-3650 delivered free to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola [email protected] local knowledge. Classified ads: 854-0858 Valley and Woodside. Subscriptions for $60 per year or $100 per 2 years are welcome. POSTMASTER: Send Reports for: Born in Menlo Park. address changes to the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025-6558. Copyright ©2012 To request free delivery, Atherton Raised in Atherton. or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, by Embarcadero Media, All rights reserved. Reproduction 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626. without permission is strictly prohibited. Woodside A Woodside resident. Portola Valley Menlo Park Support The Almanac’s print Steve Gray and online coverage DRE# 01498634 of our community. 650-743-7702 [email protected] Join today: SupportLocalJournalism.org/Almanac August 8, 2012NTheAlmanacOnline.comNThe AlmanacN3 JOSEPH SHRAGER, MD US News & World Report— Top 1% of Thoracic Surgeons Stanford Hospital & Clinics is proud to be known worldwide for offering advanced treatment solutions to complex medical problems. Every day, our focus is on providing unsurpassed patient care. Get to know all of our top doctors at stanfordhospital.org 4NThe AlmanacNTheAlmanacOnline.comNAugust 8, 2012 Local News AUGUST 8, 2012 M ENLO PARK | ATHERTON | WOODSIDE | PORTOLA V ALLEY Taking on the big challenges Menlo Park native, 27, becomes leader in the green-building movement By Elena Kadvany ed Hillview Middle School and Special to the Almanac graduated from Menlo-Ather- n 2005, a self-described ton High School in 2003. “annoying student advocate” She went on to study busi- Igot the University of Califor- ness economics at UC Santa nia at Santa Barbara to replace Barbara, but it wasn’t until her all of the campus’ carpets with sophomore year that any inter- “green,” environmentally sus- est in environmental issues was tainable carpets. She went on to sparked. “I had kind of an ‘aha’ write the entire UC system’s first moment,” she said. sustainable purchasing policy, She attended an on-campus transforming the way companies screening of a documentary do business with the UCs. called “The Corporation,” a film Almanac photo by Michelle Le Ashleigh Talberth works in her office at the at the U.S. Green Building Council in downtown San Francisco. Now, Ashleigh Talberth, 27, that takes an in-depth look at Cover photo: Ms. Talberth in the conference room of the Building Council. Photo by Michelle Le. of Menlo Park has taken on an the concept of the modern-day even bigger challenge: persuad- corporation. She was struck ing California companies to by a particular interview with dangers. carpets. She approached the with a passion for the environ- reduce their building’s energy, Ray Anderson, chairman and “He changed his whole com- facilities people, first at UCSB, ment, Ms.