Vol. XXV, Number 84 • Friday, July 16, 2004 ■ 50¢ INSIDE Cut The Midpeninsula’s loose most complete with real estate listings Kenny and classified section WeWeekend eEdition k l y Page 14 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Children’s Theatre to stage Disney classics like ‘Aladdin’ Page 8 Eating Out 15 Movie Times 20 Goings On 23 Sports 27 Crossword Puzzle Section 2 ■ Upfront Sea Scout bid rejected by city Page 3 ■ Home & Real Estate Master Gardeners show their stuff Section 2 ■ Upfront Palo Alto police may carry Tasers for ‘safety’ Page 6 Winner of the 2003 Gold Award by Marriott! RESIDENCE INN PALO ALTO–LOS ALTOS. Combining the conveniences of home with the services of a hotel. Guest Suites Feature: Facilities / Services • One or two bedroom suites include fully equipped kitchens with stove, • 156 tastefully appointed suites refrigerator, microwave oven, dishwasher and utensils • Free wireless high-speed Internet access in lobby, meeting rooms & pool areas • Large work desk with desk-level outlets and adjustable lighting • Complimentary buffet breakfast & evening social (Monday-Thursday) •Cable/satellite TV with in-room movies and all-news channel • Manager’s weekly barbecues (summer season) • Granite kitchen countertops and Corian vanities • Dinner delivery service from local restaurants • Coffee maker with complimentary coffee • Express check-out • Separate sleeping and living areas • Complimentary business services (faxing & copying) • Hair dryer, iron and ironing board • Plenty of space for entertaining or meetings • Free high-speed Internet access • Fitness center, Sport Court,® pool and whirlpool Residence Inn by Marriott 4460 El Camino Real Los Altos, California 94022 Reservations: (800) 331-3131 Tel: (650) 559-7890 Fax: (650) 559-7891 www.losaltosresidenceinn.com Page 2 • Wednesday, July 16, 2004 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis rebuffed by the City of Palo Alto. Stern Maritime Center, a group learn about the history of the now- PALO ALTO “The submittal was high on enthusi- formed to restore the vessel-shaped closed Palo Alto yacht harbor. (The asm, but low on facts,” said Bill base, submitted the proposal in April. scouts are now sailing out of the Port Fellman, the city’s real estate manager. Murray, a skipper with the scouts, of Redwood City.) Sea Scouts sinking? Most importantly, the group does- said fund-raising was caught in a The funds to restore the building n’t give a solid plan for raising “Catch-22” because donors only would come from “our membership Application to restore former base falls short, money, Fellman said. want to give once the group has the (who also provide free labor)” and according to city administrators “They’ve had promises of dona- right to the building, which over- grants from foundations corporations by Bill D’Agostino tions and raised very little funding,” looks the San Francisco Bay. and governments, Murray wrote. he said. “It leads you to be suspect “It’s difficult to ask for money The city estimates the cost to be or more than 40 years, young Sea Scout leaders and alumni to that they have the wherewithal to when you don’t have an application $750,000 to $1 million, but Murray boys and girls learned the com- restore the group’s former base on finish it.” completed or a lease issued,” thinks it can be done for $250,000 F plex skills for nautical life at the Embarcadero Road — turning the The Sea Scout leaders had original- Murray said. since some work and materials will Sea Scout base in Palo Alto. ramshackle and vacant building ly missed the city’s initial deadline In the proposal, Murray wrote that be donated pro bono. But apparently, they should have into a maritime museum, public for submitting their proposal in he hopes to renovate the base for the City administrators are now asking been taught proposal writing as well. meeting hall and organization January, but got an extension. Kevin scouts’ monthly meetings, while the group to resubmit its application A hand-written application from headquarters — was recently Murray, the president of the Lucie opening a museum for the public to (continued on page 5) BUSINESS Sony’s answer to the Apple Store New outlet at Stanford mall promotes digital lifestyle by Alex Doniach ardwood floors, a crackling remote-controlled fireplace and H 61-inch Plasma flat-screen tel- evision makes for a cushy mock fam- ily room in the Sony Style Concept Store, which opened at the Stanford Shopping Center earlier this month. The upscale floor plan, where Wired Magazine meets IKEA, lets you imagine what Sony’s latest gadg- ets will actually look like in your home. The sound room’s dark wood paneling and velvety cushions make for comfortable viewing on the latest Sony LCD and Plasma televisions. Norbert von der Groeben Soft lighting and old movie posters also work to offset displays of Sony digital cameras, MP3 players mount- ed in glass cases, and the newest water-cooled desktops. Forget Circuit City and Best Buy, Sony’s arrival solidifies the latest trend in electronics retail: high-end electronic boutiques that let buyers Self expression takes a back seat in Palo Alto High School’s summer school art class, where a student (above) practices basic sketching skills. sample the gadgets in comfortable, well-staffed settings. Following in the footsteps of Apple Computer’s high-end showroom that Not your father’s art class opened in Palo Alto three years ago, Sony is hoping to transform the elec- Teachers no longer stress ‘doing your own thing’ tronics shopper’s experience. by Alexandria Rocha “Our major goal is to provide a strong, interactive environment,” said hile yesteryear’s art essays on the project at hand. district-mandated standards to John Robinson, a retired art Dennis Syracuse, vice president of classes focused primarily “Teachers of art now are more teach art: artistic perception, cre- director now teaching a summer Sony Style Retail. “Going in should W on the creation of objets aware of the cognitive processes, ative expression, historical and school course, agreed with be fun, it shouldn’t drain you. And d’art, today’s offerings are less not just the hand movements,” cultural context, aesthetic valuing Larrick’s assessment. “It was when you leave, we hope you love about doing and more about said Patty Larrick, the art educa- and connections, relationships and more about ‘do your own thing’ the product you bought.” thinking — by way of a whole lot tion director for the Palo Alto applications. Each standard comes and self expression, an aspect that Along with the Apple Store, the more studying. Unified School District. with a set of sub-standards that permeated into every area of our new Sony outlet also solidifies Palo Because of a change in the way “You’ve got to give students a students are required to learn. lives — and it was reflected in the Alto’s reputation as a cutting-edge, art is taught, teachers have the context in which to work. You This type of structure is only a classroom,” he said. high-tech haven. From start-ups to new task of blending book reading want kids to stop saying, ‘I like it,’ few years old. “In the old days, we “There was a frustration search engines, the city has proved with the excitement of creating. ‘It’s really cool.’ You want kids to were inventing our own curricu- because I knew that the funda- itself a hotbed for technology and a Before picking up any materials be more able to judge what they’re lums,” Larrick said, adding stu- mental skills needed to be there,” prime location for the latest in elec- from the supply cabinet, art stu- seeing,” she said. dents were lucky to get teachers said Robinson, who taught at the tronics retail, Syracuse said. dents see slides, read books and To achieve that goal, Palo Alto who actually knew what they Palo Alto school district for more “Stanford Shopping Center was an articles, visit galleries and write instructors utilize five state- and were doing. (continued on page 5) (continued on page 5) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, July 16, 2004 • Page 3 Upfront CONNIE LEE SCRIMA 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 Connie Lee Scrima peacefully passed away Thursday, July 1, 2004, with her PUBLISHER family by her side. She is survived by her husband George Scrima, son Matt William S. Johnson Scrima, daughter Emily Jacobson, and son-in-law Tim Jacobson, as well as EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor her mother Violet Trihub, brother Forrest Trihub, and sisters Sally Perkins Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor and Peggy Pitkin. She was born in Minot, North Dakota, but spent most of Jennifer Aquino, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors ReaderWireReader comments via e-mail, voice mail and U.S. mail her married life in California. Her talent as an artist brought consistent joy Keith Peters, Sports Editor throughout her 59 years. She owned her multimedia company, Epiphanies, Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor with her daughter, and successfully continues to sell her bold acrylic Robyn Israel, Arts & Entertainment Editor Swap a success Cordell should speak up Don Kazak, Jocelyn Dong, Senior Staff Writers paintings and oversized gourd pears nationwide. She had a long life with Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers I want to thank City Council mem- I believe it is vital for public officials cancer, but a quick battle. She will be missed by her many admirers, but her Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer bers for making the right decision to — elected, appointed and employed Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer approve the Hays-Rinconada land — to be open and honest with the art will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.