Vol. XXIX, Number 42 • Friday, February 29, 2008 ■ 50¢ Foothill grows accustomed to ‘My Fair Check out the Weekly’s online classifieds Lady’ at fogster.com WeeklyWeekend Edition www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 11 Evocative jazz trio Panthelion's Palo Alto roots Page 9 Veronica Weber Veronica Worth A Look 13 Eating Out 15 Movie Times 21 Goings On 23 ■ Upfront Children’s Theatre: Police probe goes back to 1990s Page 3 ■ Sports Five local teams play for CCS Basketball titles Page 26 ■ Home & Real Estate The mad scientist of orchids Section 2 JACKIE ONE OF THE FIRST COMBINED INTESTINAL AND LIVER TRANSPLANTS CURRENTLY: LITTLE CHARMER JUST ANOTHER REMARKABLE DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Jackie Seki has a smile that lights up a room. But things weren’t always so bright for the little girl. By three months of age, Jackie was suffering from end-stage intestinal failure and her liver soon began to fail. Her only option: a combined small intestine and liver transplant. © 2007 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Jackie joined the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Transplant Program and became one of the few patients to receive the groundbreaking procedure. Ten years ago, an operation like this was experimental at best. Today, with the commitment and pioneering spirit of the doctors, nurses and researchers at Packard Children’s, patients like Jackie are thriving after such surgeries. It’s this kind of innovative thinking, as well as sensitive, nurturing care, that makes Packard Lucile Packard Children’s a world-class hospital. And these days, Jackie is a world-class doll, enchanting Children’s Hospital everyone she meets – people and animals alike. Visit www.lpch.org for more information. AT STANFORD Page 2 • Friday, February 29, 2008 • Palo Alto Weekly 1787_Jackie_PAWeekly.indd 1 3/6/07 5:14:05 PM UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Police theater probe reaches back to early 1990s Leon Kaplan, former city director of Arts early 1990s. That’s when the Friends few details of the probe other than knowledging he does not know the & Culture Division, questioned in Texas by of the Children’s Theatre support to say it involves “tens of thousands details of the investigation, Kaplan Palo Alto police detective group was involved in the $1 mil- of dollars.” said the nature of the questions he by Jay Thorwaldson lion-plus expansion and renovation In a telephone interview with the was asked underscored his convic- of the theater in a complex tempo- Weekly from his office in the Hous- tion that the investigation is off base eon Kaplan, who for two dozen flew to Texas in mid-November, un- rary ownership-transfer agreement ton suburb of Sugar Land, Texas, — “and cruel,” he added. years supervised the Palo Alto announced, to interview him about with the city, Kaplan said. where he manages the Department Director Pat Briggs, Assistant L Children’s Theatre operation possible financial crimes or irregu- His disclosure is the first hint the of Parks and Recreation, Kaplan said Director Michael Litfin, Costume until he retired in 2004, disclosed larities in the theater. police probe reaches back beyond a he is positive to “a moral certainty” Supervisor Alison Williams and this week that a Palo Alto police Questions indicated the police in- reported theft last June. that the top staff at the theater are Program Assistant Rich Curtis were detective and a forensic accountant vestigation was reaching back to the Police officials have disclosed not guilty of criminal behavior. Ac- (continued on page 7) CRIME Walgreen’s arsonist indicted Donald Ray Williams being held without bail by Don Kazak onald Ray Williams, the East Palo Alto man accused of set- D ting the fire that destroyed the historic Wal- green’s building in downtown Palo Alto last July 1, was in- dicted on a sin- gle felony count of arson by a federal grand jury Jan. 30, the Donald Ray Williams Norbert von der Groeben U.S. Attorney’s office announced Wednesday. He was arraigned last Friday in federal court in San Jose. On Tues- day morning, he was ordered held without bail. “I find him a threat to the com- munity,” U.S. District Court Magis- trate Judge Patricia Trumbull ruled Tuesday. Country Sun Natural Foods cashier Marlene Stubbs gets a jump start on the citywide campaign to use reusable containers, as she bags His next scheduled court appear- groceries for a customer who’s been bringing her own bags for a year now. ance is Wednesday. city’s Zero Waste plan, which will banish them April 22. Both He faces a maximum possible sen- ENVIRONMENT aims to reduce the amount of Palo stores already offer a range of tence of 20 years in prison, accord- Alto waste going to landfill. reusable bags and give customers ing to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “It takes the entire community discounts for bringing their own. Williams, 45, is also under inves- Paper nor plastic? to make a difference,” Puskarich The city reports that billions of tigation for setting four grass fires said. “Ultimately, what needs to paper bags are still being made along Alpine Road in Portola Valley City aims to reduce disposable-bag use change are shopper habits but from virgin tree pulp instead of last August, according to Assistant [stores asking shoppers] ‘Do you recycled paper. U.S. Attorney Gary Fry. Williams by Karla Kane really need a bag?’ helps develop “While the debate about pa- was questioned by police but re- etailers in Palo Alto can cal media. new behavior.” per versus plastic rages on, the leased for insufficient evidence, Fry receive free advertising in Annette Puskarich, the city’s The campaign officially launch- hands-down best option for the said. Rexchange for promoting re- recycling coordinator, said 13 re- es April 1 and runs through Dec. environment is to use reusable Police are now awaiting DNA evi- usable bags, thanks to a new city tailers have already enlisted with 31. grocery bags,” Margaret Suozzo, dence in relation to those fires. program. the campaign, including several Plastic bags, made from non- coordinator of the Palo Alto Earth Fry noted in court that a state The BYOBag Campaign, spear- grocery stores, Books Inc., Ac- renewable and non-recyclable Month 2008 Committee, said in parole official concluded that Wil- headed by the Department of cent Arts and Common Ground. materials, have already been tar- an e-mail. liams’ parents, with whom he had Public Works Recycling Program, The goal of the BYOBag Cam- geted by some environmentally Puskarich said the City Coun- been living, are incapable of prop- asks retailers to encourage shop- paign is to reduce people’s use conscious retailers. Country Sun cil has indicated interest in a erly caring for him. pers to bring their own bags and of both paper and plastic bags, Natural Foods has banned plastic citywide ban on plastic bags. A “He would be living in the streets,” reward customers who already do. which the city says creates huge bags at its checkout stands (it still report about the environmental Fry said. “We believe he is a danger In return, the store owners will amounts of waste and pollution. offers them in the produce depart- impact of all single-use bags will to others.” Manuel Araujo, Williams’ federal receive advertisements in the lo- The campaign is a part of the ment), and Whole Foods Market (continued on page 6) (continued on page 7) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, February 29, 2008 • Page 3 Upfront 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 PUBLIC WORKS (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson Huge SF Creek pump to EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Jocelyn Dong, Managing Editor be ready next winter Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Associate Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor HOW TO MAKE POMPOM ANIMALS Tyler Hanley, Online Editor Despite initial cost increase, project now on ( Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor >ÀV Ê£ÃÌ]Ê£Ó«Ê­>}iÃÊ{³® Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor budget, city staff says Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer Arden Pennell, Becky Trout, Staff Writers by Becky Trout (MAGIC PAINTING Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor Karla Kane, Editorial Assistant he long-awaited San Francis- still expected to kick off this year, >ÀV ÊnÌ ]Ê£Ó«Ê­>}iÃÊ{³® Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer Marjan Sadoughi, Veronica Weber, Staff quito Creek pumping station Teresi told the committee, which Photographers Tis on-schedule and on-budget, was created to ensure money from (HAND ART Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Bentson, even if its new budget is $2 mil- the 2005 ballot measure is spent Lynn Comeskey, Kit Davey, Jack McKinnon, >ÀV Ê£xÌ ]Ê£Ó«Ê­>}iÃÊ{³® Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Craig Wentz, lion more than initial estimates, properly. Contributors Senior Engineer Joe Teresi told the The 2005 ballot measure raised Alex Papoulias, Veronica Sudekum, Richard To, Storm Drain Oversight Committee the average monthly fee for a (POTHOLDERS AND OTHER Editorial Interns Nick Veronin, Arts & Entertainment Intern Wednesday morning. single-family home from $4.25 to LOOPY PROJECTS Danielle Vernon, Photography Intern When completed in October, $10. It is expected to generate $35 >ÀV ÊÓÓ`]Ê£Ó«Ê­>}iÃÊȳ® DESIGN in time for the 2008-09 winter million over 12 years. Carol Hubenthal, Design Director storms, the huge pumping project Originally, planners expected Diane Haas, Sue Peck, Senior Designers (CRAYON RUBBINGS Dana James, Paul Llewellyn, Charmaine will have cost about $6.8 million, to use the money for seven storm- >ÀV ÊÓÌ ]Ê£Ó«Ê­>}iÃÊn³® Mirsky, Scott Peterson, Designers Teresi said. drain projects and routine main- PRODUCTION The pump station was estimated tenance citywide. The San Fran- Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager to cost $4.5 million before con- cisquito Creek pump station has 572 College Avenue, Palo Alto (650) 493-2481 Dorothy Hassett, Blanca Yoc, tractors bid on it last year, Teresi always been considered the most /ÕiÃÊqÊÀ\Ê££qÊÈÊUÊ->Ì\Ê£ä\ÎäÊqÊx\ÎäÊUÊ-ÕÊEÊ\Ê Ãi` Sales & Production Coordinators ADVERTISING said.