Vol. XXVI, Number 24 • Wednesday, December 22, 2004 ■ 50¢ www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 10 Norbert von der Groeben ■ Upfront High-tech gadgets top teens’ wish-lists Page 3 ■ Sports Stanford women win NCAA volleyball title Page 29 ■ In Business Store for visually impaired opens Page 19 Shop Early for Best Selection! Outlets- Sale ends January 9th @ Year-End Sale & Clearance Save 3Weeks Only! up to 75%off Dec. 22-Jan. 9 easy-care clothes and accessories for every journey A 2741 Middlefield Road in Midtown Palo Alto From Hwy 101, exit Oregon Expressway West, left on Middlefield Road, next to Starbucks ? Stores open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during our Year-End Sale & Clearance, December 22-January 9. (Stores will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) Page 2 • Wednesday, December 22, 2004 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Adam Ojakian takes his life in Davis Former Paly student, son of councilman, He was expect- than a concern about grades he Deputy Coroner Robert LaBrash ed to arrive expressed at Thanksgiving, according of Yolo County said there was “no gave little or no sign of despair home for the to his oldest brother, Ryan Ojakian, sign of homocide or foul play” but by Jay Thorwaldson holidays Sunday who was cloistered with the family declined to give specifics. Family after completing and some friends in their home in the friends said Ojakian had used a gun evastated family members and friends of Adam final exams. 500 block of Addison Avenue. he purchased in November, unbe- Shjant Ojakian, 21, struggled this week to compre- There is no Adam was the youngest son of knownst to family members. A D hend why he took his own life Saturday in an apart- known note, and Palo Alto City Councilman and for- roommate discovered his body. little or no sign mer Mayor Vic Ojakian and Mary Adam and all three of his room- ment he shared with three roommates near the University of any serious Ojakian, and was the brother of mates recently finished final exams of California, Davis. Adam Ojakian problems other Ryan, 29, Sean, 25, and Sereena, 15. (continued on page 11) YOUTH The ‘it’ gadgets From iPods to video games, high-tech gadgets top Palo Alto kids’ lists by Alexandria Rocha f you’re a teenager and live in Palo Alto, you I either have one, or you’re getting one for Christmas. It’s the Apple iPod, and at Palo Alto High School, it’s the hot item on “every- one’s” list this year. “I asked for an iPod, even though my dad works at Intel,” said Paly senior Peter Lenke, 17. With many of their parents in high-tech professions, Palo Alto area teenagers sit at the cutting edge of electronics. Each year, the items on their wish lists seem to Nicholas Wright grow more expensive and more technical. As new and improved gadgets and gizmos land on the shelves — from iPods to video games to advanced computer equipment and cell phones — The shortest day many kids here are just waiting for Celebrants gathered at Bayfront Park Dec. 19 to welcome the winter solstice. Bearing rattles, shakers and other instruments, participants paid the “it” item. respect to the shortest day of the year. The event was sponsored by Foundation for Global Community. “For me, I already have every- thing I want. I was sort of joking when I said I wanted them to fix up As of Dec. 20, more not aggressive,” school Director my cell phone,” said another Paly HOLIDAY FUND than 400 donors have Teresa Tucker said. senior, Junie Kim, 17. contributed $97,386 to Founded in 1955 by a group of Many high school seniors here Friends Nursery School the Holiday Fund. Palo Alto mothers, the part-time, said they received their first cell Matching funds from play-based preschool has sought to phone while in middle school, circa the Weekly brings this embody the values of Friends 1999. At that time, they were also is a friendly place year’s total to $194,772 Meeting, the local Quaker group given their first personal computer. so far. To participate in that espouses the centuries-old non- This year, Ali Reedy and her broth- Quaker-based school has taught this year’s campaign, violent beliefs of the religious sect. er Tim, 14, have asked for one iPod peaceful ways to play for a half century see page 10. The organization received a Holiday to share. Although the iPod Mini, Fund Capital Grant from the with its variety of colors, is the most by Erin Pursell Through role playing, the school Weekly last year to replace old cup- popular among the teenage crowd, teaches its current class of 89 boards and shelving. the siblings will likely push for the he Friends Nursery School in Palo Alto is, well, pupils, all 3- and 4-year-olds, to “Originally from the Quakers, we original — it holds 1,000 songs, friendly. For a half century, the Quaker-philosophy resolve conflicts verbally, to express want to keep that part of the school rather than just 500. It costs $299. T preschool has taught generations of children — and themselves gently and to discover (non-violent) together,” Tucker said. “I just remember stereos were their children and grandchildren — that there are alterna- the rewards of patience. “We tell parents up front that we nice, TVs were nice,” said their “We let them use their imagina- don’t allow that type of play.” father, Don Reedy. Today’s tives to the violence that pervades modern society and tions to find other ways to run that Children are given a wide variety teenagers are “way more advanced entertainment. energy off in a positive way that is (continued on page 7) (continued on page 8) Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, December 22, 2004 • Page 3 Make a difference: 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 be a Master Composter (650) 326-8210 TEACH! PUBLISHER William S. Johnson Others through Our GIVE! EDITORIAL workshops and Jay Thorwaldson, Editor 50 hours to outreach events. Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor the community. Jennifer Aquino, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor Town Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor by Don Kazak Robyn Israel, Arts & Entertainment Editor LEARN! Don Kazak, Jocelyn Dong, Senior Staff Writers Compost science, BECOME! Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers Trained and certified Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer Keeping a dream alive worm composting Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer as a Master Composter brightly decorated Christmas she was 8. Bob Hoover, a long-time and teaching Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor Volunteer. & Online Editor tree brings cheer to a home on youth worker in East Palo Alto, runs skills. Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections A Oakwood Drive in East Palo a golf program and Latu started play- Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn Alto. Something else of the same ing. But she said she didn’t get seri- Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jim Shelby, Jill Slater, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, hue — an immigration “green card” ous about the game until she was 12 Classes start Call (408) 918-4640 for Contributors — will make the Christmas all the or 13. She later made the Sequoia Molly Tanenbaum, Jamie Schuman, Editorial in January. more information. Interns brighter. High School golf team. Naomi Brookner, Photo Intern Etivise “Tivi” Latu, an 18-year-old Now she has an 8 handicap, which DESIGN with a bright smile, was all set to at- she says isn’t that good yet — even Carol Hubenthal, Design Director tend California State University at though it would make many a week- Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior Monterey Bay last fall. She had even end duffer envious. Designers; been offered a golf scholarship, re- She was recruited by the CSU Your Mindi Casillas, Elise Eisenman, Ben Ho, flecting a 10-year interest and prom- Monterey Bay golf coach, who saw Dana James, Scott Peterson, Designers PRODUCTION ising talent. her play in a high-school tournament. Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager But her dreams nearly went astray When the immigration problem methods Dorothy Hassett, Joan Sloss, Sales & Production when college officials discovered she surfaced, Hoover found a donor to Coordinators wasn’t a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her his golf program who was willing to ADVERTISING Michael Howard, Advertising Manager family moved to the Bay Area from pay Latu’s first-semester’s tuition. last for Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Assistant Tonga when she was 5. Her older sis- Michelle Bayer, Jasbir Gill, Colette Jensen, ters were naturalized, but she wasn’t. Display Advertising Sales Kathryn Brottem, Real Estate Advertising Sales The lack of citizenship meant she Her story is about days. Joan Merritt, Real Estate Advertising Asst. couldn’t qualify for the scholarship not giving up, despite Linda Franks, Classified Advertising Manager or other financial aid she needed. Justin Davisson, Ana Gonzalez, She enrolled anyway, with some setbacks. And it’s a Evie Marquez, Maria Menche, Irene Schwartz, Classified Advertising Sales timely help, and recently finished her story of helpers. Blanca Yoc, Classified Administrative Assistant first semester. ONLINE SERVICES Now a green card and Social Se- Lisa Van Dusen, Director of Palo Alto Online curity number are headed her way, Shannon White, Assistant to Webmaster BUSINESS clearing the way for the golf scholar- And Wilson got her a computer. Iryna Buynytska, Business Manager ship and other aid she needs to con- Going to college has been a world- Miriam Quehl, Manager of Payroll & Benefits tinue.