A special publication produced by the Palo Alto Weekly, The Almanac and Mountain View Voice GUIDE TO 2013 SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS Camp Co Summern 2013ne ction INSIDE THIS ISSUE Summer Camp Connection 2013 FEBRUARY 22, 2013 VOLUME 21, NO. 4 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 18 Toxic fumes found in more sites EPA to step TCE vapors up outreach found in on TCE danger Google offices By Daniel DeBolt TCE VAPORS REACH fter the Voice discovered UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS; a number of residents on EFFORTS TO REMEDY AEvandale Avenue had no IT IN PROGRESS knowledge of newly discovered toxins creeping under their street By Daniel DeBolt and possibly into their homes, the Environmental Protection fter a carcinogen was Agency says it plans to do more found to be seeping up outreach in the area. Afrom contaminated soil The news last week that part of into buildings, Google is work- a large groundwater plume con- ing to protect employees from a taminated with TCE (trichloro- mess left behind by the Valley’s ethylene) had found its way down earliest tech companies. Evandale Avenue was shocking Over 1,000 Googlers moved to North Whisman Road resi- into “the Quad” near Whisman dent Jane Horton, whose home Road and Middlefield Road in was found with unsafe levels of June of 2012, an area once home TCE vapors in 2003. to Fairchild and Intel, among “My reaction was, you’ve got others. Those companies used to be kidding me,” Horton said. TCE (trichloroethylene) as a “I have attended countless meet- solvent in the manufacturing of ings where we’ve always been the first silicon computer chips, assured the plume is contained” leaving behind a massive plume and doesn’t go much further west MICHELLE LE of contaminated groundwater Testing for TCE, a known carcinogen, has found surprisingly high levels of the toxic chemical, left behind discovered in 1981 — one that See TCE DANGER, page 11 from early silicon chip manufacturing. may take many more decades to ‘Joke’ brings police rushing to high school ‘The potential health concern is long-term MUSIC TEACHER SAYS STUDENT IN GAS MASK, CAMOUFLAGE MEANT NO HARM exposure to TCE.’ By Nick Veronin “I don’t think and Los Altos police depart- The teacher, along with par- ALANA LEE, EPA PROJECT MANAGER he would step ments rushing to the school and ents, students and other com- he Mountain View High on a bug,” its surrounding neighborhoods. munity members are defending School senior who caused music teacher No one was injured in the Egerton, saying that the teen’s Ta stir by wearing camou- Robin Kramer incident, and no weapons were post-high school career shouldn’t clean up. flage fatigues and a gas mask to said of Christo- found, police said. be derailed by this one poor Though regularly tested since school on Valentine’s Day was pher Egerton. choice. 2003, in December Google’s described by one of his teachers as The 18-year- Christopher Meant as joke As Kramer tells it, the gas mask new buildings at 369 and 379 a “musical genius” and “wonder- old’s Feb. 14 Egerton According to Kramer, Egerton was not intended to instill fear in Whisman Road were found ful kid” who had “no clue of the prank brought “sometimes has trouble picking his classmates. Egerton was riff- for the first time to have TCE ramifications of what he did.” officers from Mountain View up on social cues,” and hadn’t ing off the school’s Valentine’s vapors above the Environmen- really considered how frighten- ing some might find his getup. See SCHOOL JOKE, page 9 See TCE AT GOOGLE, page 11 INSIDE MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS | page 5 VIEWPOINT 13 | GOINGS ON 19 | MARKETPLACE 20 | REAL ESTATE 22 apr.com EXPLORE THE NEW Where people, homes and a bit of imagination intersect S S S DOROTHY & ALEX LIU JUDY BOGARD-TANIGAMI & SHERI HUGHES ERIKA AMERI CUPERTINO LOS ALTOS MOUNTAIN VIEW New construction. Stunning 5bd/4.5ba home, 3936+/- sf., Elegant 2bd/2ba condo located in the highly regarded Creek- Completely remodeled in 2013, this 4bd/3.5ba home fea- with office, features designer touches throughout. Monta side Oaks community. Gourmet kitchen, den/study, DR + tures an open floor plan with natural light + designer ameni- Vista High School. 9750+/- sf lot. $2,450,000 living room with FP. Private patio. $1,495,000 ties throughout. Los Altos High School. $1,398,000 S S S TIM ANDERSON BILL OTTO JEFF STRICKER & STEVE TENBROECK CUPERTINO SUNNYVALE SUNNYVALE Beautifully remodeled 2bd/2ba townhouse located in a gated Charming 4bd/2ba Eichler home located on a quiet cul-de- Conveniently located, this 4bd/2ba home offers HW floors, community near Deep Cliff Golf Course. Tranquil atrium + sac. Atrium courtyard opens to the Living room and Abun- fresh paint, large eat-in kitchen, FR with FP and a patio generous patio. 2-car garage. $1,195,000 dance of natural light. 8400+/- sf lot. $1,150,000 perfect for entertaining. 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Billed as a “leisurely morning ride” that is family friendly, it delivered will take attendees on a 4-mile tour with stops so stories may be told, issues raised and opportunities highlighted “to create safer and more attractive places to walk, bike and congregate daily in the city’s highest density neighborhood.” {änUÓxÇUÎÓ££ Great Streets Rengstorff Park has posted a vision for the www.danceacademyusa.com Sign up today at area’s streets on its website, greatstreetsrp.wordpress.com, 3TEVENS#REEK"LVD 3UITEs#UPERTINO MountainViewOnline.com which includes placing bike lanes where they currently don’t Call or visit our website for more info exist on Escuela Avenue and the Caltrain right of way, designs for “slow streets” on Ortega and Latham avenues and “road diets” and protected bike lanes on California Street and Shore- line Boulevard.