Mountain View Voice April 22, 2016 by Mountain View Voice

EVENT PROGRAM INSIDE THIS ISSUE

APRIL 22, 2016 VOLUME 24, NO. 13

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Fueling big hopes, South Bay launches alternative utility BOARD HOLDS INAUGURAL MEETING TO PREPARE FOR POWER PURCHASES community-choice start-up as the most effective tool available fficials from Mountain to reduce local greenhouse gas View and nearly a dozen emissions. Despite its potential, other South Bay cities remarkably few people so far met for the first time last week know about the program — to launch a new local energy Santa Clara County Supervisor utility that would rival Pacific Joe Simitian described it as “the Gas & Electric. The new agency best-kept secret in the county.” “When this is available, it — dubbed the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Partnership — still will be a wholly new choice,” he has a long way to go before it said. “We need to make sure we begins feeding electricity to local reach out to the community and residents, but the coming months explain the benefits of communiwill involve a string of formative ty-choice energy.” Perhaps its most crucial decidecisions on how the nascent sion of all, the new energy partutility will source its power. nership will The South need to make Bay utility partpurchases on nership is operSupervisor Joe the power marating under a ket and choose new program Simitian described whether to aim known as community-choice community choice for cost savings or higherenergy. This energy as ‘the best- priced renewinitiative — able energy. In gaining ground kept secret in all likelihood, in communities local cities will across the state the county.’ work to cre— pools local ate a menu of households together to buy power on the options that would give indienergy market, giving customers vidual households the choice to new leverage to find cost savings pay extra to lower their carbon or promote renewable sources of footprint. Simitian said he favors a longenergy. The idea was legally sanctioned term view to move the South Bay by the state Legislation in 2002; off power sources derived from however, jump-starting the pro- fossil fuels. “The cost of renewables is gram has taken years, in part due going down as their efficiency to challenges from PG&E. Early adopters, including is improving with every passMarin and Sonoma counties, ing day; I see them as key to our demonstrated they could offer future,” he said. “The world’s similar energy packages to PG&E going to change. You have to plan at a savings to ratepayers. Addi- for the long haul but in planning tionally, these programs also for that, there’s also going to be empowered local authorities to changes that we can’t predict.” Pooling money from its memswiftly boost the amount of renewable energy available for bers, the South Bay utility is starting out with a budget of consumers. In Mountain View, city offiSee UTILITY, page 6 cials have described the new By Mark Noack

MICHELLE LE

Mindy Lieberman teaches the 2-year-olds’ class at Mountain View Parent Nursery School. A new report is urging state lawmakers to expand access to early childhood education and day care, which is unaffordable for about 70 percent of California families.

Investing in the future generation REPORT URGES LAWMAKERS TO IMPROVE PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE SERVICES By Kevin Forestieri

hen it comes to education, the first five years of a child’s life are in many ways the most important. Early brain development is in full swing, making it a critical time to cultivate cognitive and emotional skills that

will put kids on track to succeed when they hit kindergarten. But for most families of young children in California, important resources for early childhood development remain out of reach. Most families are unable to pay for child care and preschool on top of the high cost of living, meaning many kids

are going into kindergarten well behind their peers, a cascading disadvantage that follows them into middle and high school. The Right Start Commission, a group of Bay Area politicians, company executives and professors, released a report last See CHILD CARE, page 16

Council: build senior housing on downtown parking lot DEVELOPER SOUGHT TO TRANSFORM BRYANT STREET LOT INTO AFFORDABLE COMPLEX By Mark Noack

ensing a ripe opportunity to create more affordable housing downtown, Mountain View City Council members on Tuesday gave initial support

INSIDE

for redeveloping a Bryant Street parking lot into a dense apartment complex for seniors. Located across the street from city’s library, the 1.5-acre lot could be developed into dozens of subsidized homes, but city

staff warned that construction would still be years away due to the logjam of projects already in the pipeline. For years, Mountain View See DOWNTOWN LOT, page 13

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‘AMERICAN UMPIRE’ The California premiere of the documentary “American Umpire,” about foreign policy and the role of the United States as the world’s security guard, will take place Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m. at History Corner (Building 200), Room 2 (lower level), on the Stanford University campus. Admission is free. The film was made by Stanford graduate Elizabeth Cobbs and features narration from PBS’ Jim Lehrer, along with interviews with academics, policy makers, journalists and military leaders. For more information, including a trailer, go to americanumpire.com.

on the fourth floor), 557 Escondido Mall, Stanford. Open hours are Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the second floor and Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. for the Map Center. Highlights include a first-edition map of Lewis and Clark’s westward journey, a tactile atlas made for the blind and the iconic map of the London Underground transit system. Admission is free but visitors without Stanford IDs must register at entrance. The exhibit is also viewable online. Go to library. stanford.edu/spc/exhibits.

‘REDWOOD CITY RESTAURANT WEEK’ Stomach growling? Many eateries in downtown Redwood City will be offering special multicourse menus in celebration of the city’s “Restaurant Week,” April 21-27. From Vietnamese comfort food to gastropubs, tapas and craft cocktails, there’s something for every palate. Go to redwoodcityrestaurantweek. com.

PORTOLA VALLEY/ WOODSIDE EARTH FAIR ‘16 COURTESY OF AMERICAN UMPIRE

A free screening of “American Umpire” is set for Tuesday.

CALIFORNIA BACH SOCIETY The California Bach Society, a 30-voice chorus, will perform an all-Bach concert, including the elaborate, double-choir motets “Singet dem Herrn (Sing unto the Lord),” “Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf (The Spirit helpeth our infirmities),” “Jesu meine Freude (Jesus, my joy),” and more, on Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Tickets are $33 (discounts for advance purchase, seniors, students, and people under 30). Go to calbach.org.

‘A UNIVERSE OF MAPS’ Find your way to a celebration of wayfinding. An exhibit featuring a plethora of rare and intriguing maps, marking the opening of Stanford University’s new David Rumsey Map Center, will be on display through August 31 at Green Library’s Bing Wing (in the Peterson Gallery and Munger Rotunda on the second floor, and in the David Rumsey Map Center

Voices A R O U N D T O W N will return.

The Portola Valley Town Center will hold a free Earth Day celebration, including live music, workshops, giveaways, information about food waste, recycling, water and energy conservation, electric cars and more on Saturday, April 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Go to portolavalley.net.

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The San Andreas Singers perform on Sunday.

‘ROOTED IN JAZZ’ Palo Alto’s San Andreas Singers, an a cappella five-piece group that performs a mix of harmony-rich music from the jazz and contemporary genres, will sing at “Rooted in Jazz,” an Earth Day concert benefiting Canopy’s tree-planting and tree-care programs, on Sunday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. at Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. Suggested donation is $25; refreshments will be served. Go to canopy.org/about-canopy/ special-events/rooted-in-jazz/. —Karla Kane

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The newly renovated Target store is open for business! We are done with our remodel! Come see the new upgrades and selections at 555 Showers Drive, Mountain View, CA.

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PURSE-SNATCHER PUSHES VICTIM TO GROUND Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man who allegedly walked into a Mountain View business last Monday and stole an employee’s purse. The robbery reportedly occurred shortly before 4:16 p.m. on Monday, April 11, when the suspect entered the business at the intersection of El Camino Real and Lane Avenue and grabbed a purse belonging to one of the employees inside, according to police. The employee noticed that the man had taken the purse and ran after him, police said. When she caught up and tried to take back her purse, the man pushed her to the ground, police said. The suspect is described as black man between 30 and 40 years old, at least 6 feet tall and bald, with a thin frame and a beard. He was seen wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt and gray pants. Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Kevin Galloway at 650-903-6624. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 408-947-7867.

TRANSIENT MAN DETAINED Police detained a 31-year-old transient man in Mountain View earlier this month after he allegedly acted “erratically” at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Mountain View campus, and later tried to flee from officers. Officers were called to the medical facility at 701 E. El Camino Real, and were told by staff that the man, Daniel Bobba, had left the area and needed to return, according to police spokeswoman Katie Nelson. Bobba was later located by police along El Camino Real near the Highway 85 overpass, but allegedly refused to talk to officers or listen to commands to stay put, Nelson said. Bobba ran from officers but was eventually detained and sent to a local hospital, Nelson said. Police are not releasing information on why Bobba initially needed to return to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation or why he was transferred to a local hospital following the altercation, citing HIPAA requirements for patient confidentiality. Last month, Bobba was arrested by Mountain View police after he was reportedly found pushing and pulling a city flag pole near the intersection of El Camino Real and Castro Street. The motion caused the pole to lean over and crack near the base, prompting officers to arrest him on felony vandalism charges. His bail was set at $10,000. —Kevin Forestieri

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Q CITY COUNCIL UPDATES Q COMMUNITY Q FEATURES

County: More seniors becoming homeless FAMILIES, ELDERLY ARE SEEKING SERVICES IN THE WAKE OF HIGH HOUSING COSTS By Sue Dremann

T MICHELLE LE

Tennis player Bob Anderson points out new pickleball lines drawn on the tennis courts at Rengstorff Park. The fast-growing sport of pickleball is disruptive to tennis players, Anderson says.

What’s all this racket about pickleball? FAST-GROWING SPORT PLAYED ON TENNIS COURTS IRKS SOME TENNIS PLAYERS By Mark Noack

he game known as pickleball is getting lots attention in Mountain View lately, both from swelling numbers of new players as well as some vocal naysayers. By some measures, it’s the fastest growing sport in the country. Pickleball plays much like a scaled-down version of tennis with players using wooden paddles to hit a Wiffle ball back and forth over a net. While the game can be played by pretty much anyone, its most ardent fans tend to be seniors, since the game doesn’t

put a hard strain on the joints or require heavy sprinting, said Monica Williams, a 73-year-old Mountain View resident.

‘If you’re playing tennis, you can’t concentrate from this cacophony.’ BOB ANDERSON, TENNIS PLAYER

Williams described herself as a tennis player for over 50

Clark seeks to be council’s consensus-builder INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR SECOND TERM By Mark Noack

hris Clark caught the political bug earlier than most. As a child growing up near the Iowa border, he remembers watching his pastoral hometown become a political flashpoint every four years during primary season. He was intrigued, and at the

age of 16 he went to Washington, D.C., as a congressional page. A few years later, he went to Stanford UniverChris Clark sity to study political science and economics. Among his first jobs out of col-

years, but said she was instantly hooked when she first tried pickleball about two years ago in Arizona. “I played for three hours, and I haven’t picked up my tennis racket since,” she said. “It’s that addicting!” Coming back to the Bay Area, Williams became something of a local evangelist for the sport. She became a regular player at a pickleball club at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. Starting around last November, she decided to help spread the game to Mountain View. She approached See PICKLEBALL, page 7

lege was a stint for the U.S. State Department in Germany. Not long afterward, Clark’s interest went from macro-level politics of the world stage to the hyper-local issues of Mountain View, his new hometown. Clark, just 32 years old, is coming to the end of his first term on the City Council and announced his bid for re-election, saying he is eager to spend another four years in local government. His first term on the council was more hectic than he anticipated — it could have been a full-time job by itself, See CLARK, page 6

he faces of Santa Clara County’s homeless residents are getting older, as more seniors are unable to afford the region’s skyrocketing rents, members of a panel on homelessness said last week. The panel of experts, which was moderated by Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, spoke during the “Faces of Homelessness in Silicon Valley: Perception versus Reality” luncheon on April 14 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Palo Alto. The event was organized by LifeMoves, formerly InnVision Shelter Network, the largest nonprofit agency serving homeless individuals and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Panelists were Jennifer Loving, executive director of Destination: Home; Kevin Fagan, San Francisco Chronicle reporter; and Brian Greenberg, LifeMoves vice president. The threat of homelessness is on the rise nationwide, as service and lower-wage workers are being pushed out of housing because of the disparity between wages and housing costs, the panelists said. The Bay Area’s exceptionally high housing costs have exacerbated the situation, which is also playing out in Santa Clara County. Greenberg, who is also a psychologist, found that many of Palo Alto’s homeless population at the Opportunity Center’s drop-in center were once housed residents. “I was amazed at the number of people that went to Paly and Gunn (high schools). So many people that grew up in middleand upper-middle-class families,” he said. Families and seniors are the rising homeless populations, the panelists said. Santa Clara County has the highest per capita of physically unsheltered population in the United States, even though there are six or seven jurisdictions nationally that have larger numbers of homeless, Loving said. There are 6,500 homeless peo-

ple on Santa Clara County streets each night, but the bad news is that it is probably an undercount, she said. About 30 percent of homeless people in the county are living on the street without shelter every day, Simitian added. LifeMoves has 17 facilities to help homeless individuals and families, with six of the facilities serving families alone. Up to half of those families come with a head of household who is working one or two jobs, Greenberg said. Seniors make up the most rapidly growing population showing up at LifeMoves shelters, Greenberg said, and many have health-related challenges. “Some of our shelters look like senior-care homes. And unlike many common perceptions about the homeless, these people, many of them, have no history of mental illness, have no history of addiction. They were living in a Mountain View apartment or a Redwood City apartment, and 10 years ago their one-bedroom rent was $800, now it’s $2,600. They have no local family and they wind up in shelters. So the face of homelessness is suddenly changing with the times,” he said. “The housing crisis feeds homelessness,” added Fagan, who has reported extensively on the issue. In San Jose alone, there are more than 300 homeless encampments, Loving said. “There is not a city in this county that doesn’t have a problem with encampments along waterways, parks, parking garages and alleys,” she added. San Jose had the largest homeless encampment in the county, known as “The Jungle.” Before it was closed, Loving spent a year there working with teams of doctors and organizations to help connect people to housing and services. “It was horrifying. ... Some of the most heartbreaking things I saw in The Jungle were the kids that were coming out of the tents ... and (put on) their backpacks to go to school. Some of the girls See SENIORS, page 10

April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

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e e r FComposting Classes Mountain View Community Center Auditorium 201 S. Rengstorff Ave. Saturday morning class 10am – Noon

May 7th Please pre-register for classes by going to www.ReduceWaste.org/Classes or call 408-918-4640 Compost Bins for sale — $65.00

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Recycling & Waste Reduction Commission of Santa Clara County

Continued from page 5

Clark said. Yet he says he cherished having a front-row seat as Mountain View went from recession recovery to a hotbed of economic development. “It was a jam-packed first four years — and I’d love to have four more if the voters allow me,” he said. Clark described his own political style as a middle-ofthe-road consensus-builder. As examples, he points to the controversy circling around the city’s precise plans for North Bayshore, San Antonio Road and El Camino Real, all of which faced scrutiny over the allocations for offices versus housing. Particularly with North Bayshore, Clark said, many were calling for the city to delay the precise plan in order to add a significant housing component, but he preferred the city staff ’s suggestion to finish up the plan with the idea to amend it later. “You can shelve it and twiddle your thumbs ... or you can finish it up and at least know it will be amended,” he said. “I try to be the person who brings both sides together to move the ball forward.” Case in point in recent months was the city’s lengthy debate over skyrocketing rental costs. Despite many calls for a cap on rent increases, a split council opted not to fiddle with market controls, and instead created a beefed-up mediation program and updated lease rules, which have yet

to face a final vote. Clark said that he and his fellow council members acted appropriately by going with a plan that could be scaled up if needed. It was the “best compromise” available, he said. Tenants and their advocates have called the city’s mediation program toothless and plan to put their own rent control ordi-

‘I know not everyone agrees with me, but I hope I’ve shown I’m pretty middle-of-the-road.’ COUNCILMAN CHRIS CLARK

nance on the ballot for voter approval in November. “I feel really strongly that you don’t go from no regulations at all to being one of the first communities in the Bay Area to implement rent control,” he said. “If you’re going to go to the level (of rent control), you should have tried everything else up to that.” Among his priorities for a second term, Clark says he wants to make a diligent effort to scrutinize the city’s data from its new mediation program to assess its quality and make any necessary tweaks. He wants to finish amending the North Bayshore precise plan with the addition of a large housing component. And

he says he wants to generally prepare Mountain View for the day when its surging development boom cools off. Formerly a renter, Clark purchased a condominium in Mountain View in 2011, and he says that his background gives him a good perspective to understand the political concerns from both property owners and tenants. Clark says he may be the first Mountain View mayor who needed to sublet his home in order to afford the bills. As a younger representative on the council, he says, he can understand many millennials’ desire to shift away from a traditional suburban, automobilecentric style of development. Professionally, Clark has worked in tech management for companies including AT&T and Loopt. He currently is employed by Canonical, a Linux distributor. After his career brought him to Mountain View, he said, he found that City Hall was a welcoming place for anyone interested in participating in the government process. Following an unsuccessful council run in 2008, he was appointed to the city’s Environmental Planning Commission. Four years later, he ran again for a council seat, this time successfully. “I know not everyone agrees with me, but I hope I’ve shown I’m pretty middle-of-the-road, and I try to be a thoughtful consensus-builder,” Clark said. “Hopefully, the voters will agree.” Email Mark Noack at mnoack@mv-voice.com V

UTILITY

million for its initial powersupply purchase. Options for borrowing this sum could be just over $2 million that will go presented to the utility’s board almost entirely toward hiring next month. The dozen board members staff and consultants to begin plotting a strategy. Early on, the governing the new agency voted clean-energy partnership will last week to elect Mountain View rely heavily on staffing from City Councilman John McAlister as the interim its member cities. chairman. In an interIn the partnership’s inaugural meeting, ‘I’m glad to view, McAlister said that he would likely members agreed to a $225,000 contract see the region be replaced by a permanent board chair at with Sunnyvale for administrative and is going this the next meeting. He heaped financial services, direction.’ praise on the new proand a $155,000 congram and its promise tract with Cupertino COUNCILMAN for the future. “It’s for community outJOHN MCALISTER exciting; it’s new; it’s reach and human innovative. I’m glad resources. Mountain View city staff to see the region is going this have been working on behalf of direction,” he said. “This is really the new agency to secure new exciting news.” Leaders of the new energy funding, possibly through a bank loan. A staff report noted partnership hope the utility can that the new energy partner- begin providing energy to conship would need up to $15 sumers by April 2017. Continued from page 1

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COURTESY OF MONICA WILLIAMS

Pickleball players gather every Wednesday for games and free lessons sponsored by the Mountain View Senior Center.

PICKLEBALL

Continued from page 5

the city’s Park and Recreation officials, and got permission to teach free weekly lessons on Wednesdays through the city’s Senior Center. Early on, her group set up their nets at the Rengstorff Park handball courts. That provided enough room for only eight people to play, and her club quickly outgrew the spot. Earlier this year, the city allowed the pickleball players to relocate and use two of the park’s eight tennis courts. Since it requires a much smaller space, Williams and her group can fit multiple pickleball matches on a single tennis court. Every week, they would lay down tape to designate boundaries to squeeze in six pickleball-sized courts. But this is when they crossed the line, so to speak. Some tennis players at Rengstorff Park were not happy to see their courts taken over by an

upstart racket game. Meeting on Monday at the park, Norma Jean and Bob Anderson — two avid tennis players — described pickleball as a nuisance for those using the courts as originally intended. Armed with a stack of photos, they pointed to scuff marks and

‘We’re asking to use two out of the 35 courts in Mountain View that taxpayers paid for.’ MONICA WILLIAMS, PICKLEBALL TEACHER

tape scraps left by the pickleball games, saying it was defacing the courts. But worst of all was the noise — the pounding sound of wiffle balls smacking against paddles was ruining the

tranquility of tennis, Bob said. “The racket from this game is incredible. If you’re playing tennis, you can’t concentrate from this cacophony,” he said. “They’re marking up these courts and changing the use for everybody.” The Andersons and others say the tennis courts should be left for the tennis players. They have nothing against pickleball, they said, but they want the city or Williams’ group to build separate courts for that game. To Williams, this sounds like the whining of a bunch of spoilsports. It would be great to have dedicated pickleball courts, she said, but that won’t happen anytime soon. In the meantime, she said her club has every right to enjoy the public tennis courts, especially during non-peak hours in the middle of the week. “We’re asking to use two out of the 35 courts in Mountain View that taxpayers paid for,” she said. “It’s only right and fair to allow seniors to utilize those

! w ie v in a t n u o M in n Now ope

courts. It doesn’t make sense not to.” Williams points out that Mountain View is lagging on accommodating the growing pickleball trend. The 2015 Sports & Fitness Associationís Participation Report tallied almost 2.5 million people playing pickleball nationwide. Of those players, about 68 percent are over the age of 60, making it a rare sport being spearheaded by an older demographic. Mountain View is hardly the first community to see this kind of face-off between the two racket sports. In an article last year called “Pickleball and Tennis: Can They Be Friends?” Tennis Industry Magazine noted that two sports were often feuding for space. National pickleball advocates have been promoting the idea of painting new lines on tennis courts as a way to make them usable for either activity. But this push has scant support from the tennis community because they see the extra lines as a distrac-

tion that detracts from their game. In fact, Mountain View will soon broach this debate. City recreation officials say they are looking into painting permanent pickleball lines on some of the Rengstorff Park tennis courts. Recreation Manager John Marchant said this plan is being considered at the staff level for the two tennis court currently being used by the pickleball players. So far, Marchant said his department has not received any major complaints about the plan from local tennis clubs, although he pointed out that he did not personally perform this outreach. “We heard this group was interested in trying (pickleball) here, and we wanted to start small and find out what the local interest was,” he said. “Now it’s a matter of meeting the needs of the community, given the numbers we’re seeing.” Email Mark Noack at mnoack@mv-voice.com V

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Western Ballet turns the big 4-0 ‘RED RIDING HOOD’ PERFORMANCES AND GALA MARK DANCE COMPANY’S ANNIVERSARY By Anna Medina

here was a palpable energy in Western Ballet’s Mountain View studio recently as dancers stretched at the barre, marked their steps and practiced pirouettes. Amid the traditional black leotards and pink tights, some dancers were in costume while others carried props — a wolf mask, wooden rifles and baskets brimming with flowers.

A change for the

Rehearsal was about to begin for the dance company’s spring production of “Red Riding Hood.” In a few moments, artistic director Alexi Zubiria would assume his position at the front of the studio, where he gives dancers feedback as they rehearse numbers, but in the moments before it all began, Zubiria discussed the upcoming events on the horizon: “Red Riding Hood” and the 40th anniversary gala.

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In his 9th year as artistic director of Western Ballet, Zubiria described the company as a performing and education institution for everyone. Western Ballet offers classes for students from a wide range of both dance levels and ages. This diversity was reflected in the rehearsal, where a group of 30 children and adults waited their turn to take the stage. “(Western Ballet) is a sanctuary for many. Professionals meet here — most of these people are Silicon Valley’s best,” he said. Western Ballet, founded in 1976, is a nonprofit institution offering the general public access to classical ballet training, including granting scholarships to underprivileged kids. It’s a school where there is a high level of commitment and expectation, Zubiria said. Open 365 days a year, Zubiria takes pride in the fact that Western Ballet offers classes to around 120 adults, in addition to its youth program. Western Ballet is also an innovative place: The spring production of “Red Riding Hood” is a world premiere, which Zubiria has created from the ground up. Zubiria said that though it is uncommon to see the well-known fairytale as a full-length ballet, he has incorporated other wolf folk tales, such as the stories of the three little pigs and the boy who cried wolf. Zubiria said he turned the story of “Red Riding Hood” into a comedy. He said he is anticipating a lot of laughter from the audience and adding that it is appropriate for children and has no tragic endings. Sophia Palant, 15, is a dancer in Western Ballet’s trainee program (for teens who are preparing for a professional dance career). She is playing the role of a gypsy and one of the three little pigs. “Seeing how passionate everyone else is really motivates me. It motivates me to try hard and to

COURTESY OF WESTERN BALLET

Western Ballet is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend with performances of its original ballet “Red Riding Hood” at the MenloAtherton Center for Performing Arts.

dance my heart out on stage,” she said. This same weekend, Western Ballet will celebrate its 40th anniversary by hosting a gala with performances from its students and professionals. There will be guest speakers and the mayor of Mountain View will be presenting Western Ballet with a special proclamation. Performances will include pieces from dancer and choreographer Vicente Nebrada’s “Nuestros Valses” (“Our Waltzes”) and Zubiria’s own “Danzón!” Palant said she is particularly looking forward to dancing with professionals from San Jose, adding that the pieces performed in the 40th anniversary gala are more mature than those in “Red Riding Hood.” “They really show what we can do as a professional company,” she said. Email editorial intern Anna Medina at amedina@ paweekly.com. V

Q I N F O R M AT I O N What: Western Ballet’s “Red Riding Hood” and 40th Anniversary gala Where:Menlo-Atherton Center for Performing Arts, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton When: “Red Riding Hood” will be performed Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24, at 1 p.m. The 40th Anniversary gala will be held Saturday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Cost: Tickets for “Red Riding Hood” cost $25/adult, $20/ students and children (18 and under). For the 40th Anniversary Gala tickets cost $35-45/ adult, $20/students and children (18 and under); student/ children tickets only available at Western Ballet’s studio. Info: Go to westernballey.org or call 650-968-4455.

April 30–May 1 • 10 am to 6 pm

ART • MUSIC • FOOD • FAMILY FUN • CAR SHOW Contemporary Fine Art, Cool Crafts • Stellar Live Music Kids’ Tons of Fun Zone • Health & Wellness Displays Home & Garden Exhibits • Farm-Fresh Produce Organic & Green Products • Fabulous Food & Drink 650-964-3395 • MiramarEvents.com/alacarte • Presented by Mountain View Central Business Association • No Pets Please • Free Admission

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

LocalNews

A cure for long pharmacy waits STARTUP OFFERS SAME-DAY PRESCRIPTION DELIVERIES WITH ITS OWN PHARMACY By Kevin Forestieri

here’s no shortage of startups offering quick, sameday delivery for groceries and other goods, so it’s no surprise that some Bay Area companies are eying pharmaceutical deliveries as a new growth industry. A plethora of new smartphone app-based companies operating as both pharmacies and delivery companies have opened up shop in recent years, and have risen in popularity among customers and investors. From the nationwide company PillPack to local delivery services operating in Bay Area cities, there’s a hearty desire to escape the sometimes long lines at big box stores like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. Cary Breese, CEO of the Mountain View-based start-up NowRx, said it’s perplexing that in the age of on-demand services like Google Express and Postmates, it’s still commonplace to get stuck in a line at a pharmacy for 45 minutes, standing around with a scrap of paper from the doctor’s office. What’s more, he said, most of the independent

pharmacies have been pushed out by Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid, giving people dwindling options for where they get their medicine. “If you do a search, there just aren’t any mom and pop pharmacies left. There really (are) no choices for consumers,” Breese said. NowRx, which kicked off operations at its location on Old Middlefield Way at the beginning of the year, allows customers to send in prescriptions, make their copay remotely and receive same-day delivery at no extra cost. Express one-hour delivery costs extra — provided customers live within an hour’s drive of the Mountain View location. Breese said this is only NowRx’s first year of business, but the small team has already seen plenty of customers, including senior citizens with mobility issues, busy professionals, working parents and patients just out of the hospital following hip and knee surgeries. As the company grows, he said, the company plans to appeal to the mainstream market, but these patients tend to really benefit from an expedited

pharmacy service. Prescription-delivering startups can mostly be divided into two types. One acts primarily as a courier service, picking up prescriptions from existing pharmacies and delivering them to customers. From a regulatory perspective, companies like San

‘It took a good six months to get through all the regulatory hurdles.’

tion, as well as getting approval by a myriad of insurance companies, NowRx was able to build and operate its own pharmacy to go with the delivery and technology services. “We started on this project full time around June last year. It took a good six months to get through all the regulatory hurdles,” Breese said. The company currently has five employees, including a pharmacist and drivers who deliver prescription orders from Redwood City to San Jose. The limits are mostly bounded by the ability to provide one-hour service, Breese

said, and the hope is that venture capital will help fuel future expansion into the South Bay. Convenience is a big selling point for the companies, but Breese said these kinds of startups can play a bigger role as well. Because it’s a pain to wait in line for long periods of time, only to be told the pharmacy is out of stock, he said some patients put off the trip entirely and miss taking their daily medication. With any luck, he said, his startup will prevent that from happening. “Our long-term goal is to improve patient health,” Breese said. V

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

CARY BREESE OF NOWRX

Francisco-based TinyRx are a whole lot easier to get off the ground, Breese said. But it does little to alleviate the service bottleneck at existing pharmacies. On the other hand, companies like NowRx, NimbleRx and ScriptDash — all Bay Area-based — are taking it a step further. After jumping through several regulatory hoops with the California Pharmacy Board and the Drug Enforcement Administra-

2016 Sat. & Sun. April 30 - May 1 Downtown Mtn. View Volunteers are needed for 3½ hour shifts to pour wine, beer, sodas, margaritas and sell tokens and glassware. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt and non-alcoholic drink coupon. Teams of couples, families, and friends are welcome.

Call 650-964-3395 or email alacarte.festival@gmail.com

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All information is subject to change. All imagery is representational. View may vary per home. Residential renderings are an artist’s conception only and are not intended to represent specific architectural or community details. Talent does not reflect ethnic preferences.

April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

LocalNews Happy Hour

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Public hearing notice

Winfield Capital Improvement Project Topic:

Winfield Capital Improvement Project

Who:

Santa Clara Valley Water District

What:

Public hearing on the Engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report

When:

April 26, 2016 Item is time certain at 6:00 P.M.

Where: Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Room 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118

JENNIFER LOVING OF DESTINATION: HOME

ties, and helped 1,000 homeless families and individuals each night in 17 locations, according to the organization. While receiving interim housing, clients receive behavioral, career, financial, health and learning services to break the cycle of homelessness. Ninetyseven percent of families and 82 percent of individuals in interim housing who completed LifeMoves programs returned to stable housing and self-sufficiency, the organization said. Loving said that programs such as Destination: Home and LifeMoves aided in reducing the number of homeless people in Santa Clara County. The number is the lowest in 10 years, she said. In 2011, the county began an aggressive program to reduce homelessness. In 2013, it had an estimated 7,600

Q COMMUNITYBRIEFS

The proposed work of improvement is described in the Winfield Capital Improvement Project Engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report. The Report is on file at the Clerk of the Board of Directors, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California and on the water districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website: http://www.valleywater.org/PublicReviewDocuments.aspx The objective of the Winfield Capital Improvement Project is to ensure that the Winfield facilities meet all applicable building code and regulatory requirements and provide staff with safe and suitable work areas, and sufficient facilities for storage of equipment and materials to ensure staffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to effectively and efficiently perform their duties to meet the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core business. At the time and place fixed for the public hearing, the Board of Directors will receive comments on the Engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report for the Project. After considering the comments, the Board will decide whether or not to proceed with the Project. For more information about this hearing or this Project, contact Project Engineer, Mike Munson at (408) 630-2926.

SPRING FAMILY PARADE Mountain View, get ready to strut your stuff. The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Family Parade, open to anyone with a costume or homemade float, takes to the streets on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade starts at Castro and Villa streets, and proceeds for half a mile to Pioneer Park, where there are crafts, games, music and food trucks. Participation in the parade is free, and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get Ready for Rio.â&#x20AC;? Groups should be gathered and ready to go by 9:45 a.m. More information is available on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at mountainview.gov/parade. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Andrea Gemmet

APP TRACKS CITYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SHUTTLES

Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate persons with disabilities wishing to attend this public hearing. For additional information on attending this hearing including requesting accommodations for disabilities or interpreter assistance, please contact the Office of the Clerk of the Board at (408) 630-2277, at least three business days prior to the hearing. 3/2017_LG

were my daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age,â&#x20AC;? she said. Greenberg said breaking the cycle of homelessness is difficult, but he pointed to cities that have seemingly â&#x20AC;&#x153;cracked the code,â&#x20AC;? including Salt Lake City and Cleveland. Those cities have one-bedroom apartments for under $600 per month, compared with Redwood Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average of $2,500 per month, he said. When one looks at all of the problems that contribute to homelessness, the common element is that people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a home, Loving said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Housingfirstâ&#x20AC;? programs, with multiple supportive services to address physical and mental health, addiction and joblessness, have dropped the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s costs for managing homelessness because people are not sick, hurt or dependent anymore, she said. During 2015, LifeMoves, which manages Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Opportunity Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drop-in center, provided services to more than 15,000 people in Santa Clara and San Mateo coun-

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re turning the tide, finally, in our community.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

homeless persons; by 2015, the number dropped to 6,500, she said. Chronicle reporter Fagan, who lived among San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homeless for six months and reported extensively on their conditions, said that housingfirst programs have dramatically reduced the cost of caring for chronically homeless persons. On average, a chronically homeless person costs $60,000 annually in city services such as repeat police calls and hospital visits, he said. But a homeless person in supportive housing costs $15,000 to $20,000 per year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re turning the tide, finally, in our community,â&#x20AC;? Loving said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Homelessness is a justice issue and homelessness is one of responsibility. ... But no one is actually responsible because if you are responsible, you do something about it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you solve it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We locally have started to take responsibility in a really meaningful way over the last five years, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is our problem and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna fix it.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing numbers start to go down.â&#x20AC;?

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

Catching one of Mountain Viewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free shuttles just got a little bit easier. Starting last week, the transit program launched a pilot application allowing riders to track each shuttleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location in real-time. The new tracker avail-

able on the serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website displays a citywide map showing where each shuttle is currently located along its route, giving riders a useful tool for estimating when they can catch a lift. Launched last year with funding from Google, the four community shuttles each day make a 13.5-mile loop through Mountain View. While the shuttles offer Wi-Fi and cushy seats free of charge, the service remains relatively underused compared to the local bus system. Google has agreed to pay for the system through the end of 2016. More information about the community shuttle can be found at mvcommunityshuttle.com. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Mark Noack

MVHS STUDENTS IN JAPAN Twenty-five Mountain View High School students visiting Japan last week, including the Nagasaki and Kumamoto regions, are safe and unaffected by the two major earthquakes that struck the region April 15-16. A 6.2 magnitude earth-

quake hit the Kumamoto prefecture late last Thursday, followed by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake just 8 miles northwest of the first quake, according to reports from The Guardian. Media outlets are reporting that 45 people have been killed, and over 1,000 have been injured. The students visited both the Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures, but left two days before the first quake hit on Thursday, Nicole Higley, Mountain View High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Iwata Exchange Coordinator, said in an email to the Voice. The students have since stayed in Iwata on mainland Japan, and have not been affected by either earthquake, Higley said. While in Kumamoto, the students visited the Kumamoto Castle, which has since been damaged by the earthquake, and also visited Mt. Aso â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an active volcano â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which was the site of an eruption and major landslide following the second quake, Higley said. The students were expected to depart from Tokyo and arrive back in the Bay Area on Monday evening. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Kevin Forestieri

LocalNews

Dare you sell your house ‘as is’? THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF SELLING A LESS-THAN-PERFECT HOUSE By Carol Blitzer

eeling paint. Leaks in the roof. Dead grass. While prepping a home for sale can be daunting, can a seller really get away with selling a house “as is”? Local real estate agents say “as is” doesn’t turn out to be quite that simple. Every house that goes on the market is required to come with detailed disclosure packets, as well as supplemental documentation with everything from what the neighborhood is like to how many previous remodels have been done on the house. “(We advise our sellers to) get inspections and be brutally honest. Buyers have a 300-page disclosure packet and know exactly what they’re buying and can know upfront what repairs need to be made,” said Tim Kerns, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker, Menlo Park. “Buyers can offer a price accordingly, based on what they know about the house,” he added. In today’s seller’s market, “buyers often waive their own inspection contingencies and just go

off what the seller has disclosed. ... Everything is upfront,” he said. “Almost every transaction I’ve seen in the last 10 years has been an ‘as is’ sale, written in the contract by the buyer. Less than a handful of times I’ve seen a box not checked on the contract.” Steve Pierce, a real estate broker with Zane MacGregor, Palo Alto, has had similar experiences. By selling a property “as is” the seller is essentially telling the buyer “I’m not obligated to bring the house up to standard. But there’s language in the contract (that specifies) no cracked chimneys, no broken glass,” he said. That doesn’t mean the seller has to make all the needed repairs indicated, he pointed out, just that the seller has to be honest about what’s not perfect. Pierce lauds the disclosure practice, noting that the “buyer is aware of potential issues with the house and can roll (them) into the purchase price of the house.” And sellers appear to be doing a better job with disclosures, he said, pointing to a huge industry that’s developed around inspections. But termites, dysfunctional fire-

places and leaking roofs aside, what Realtors truly agree on is the importance of putting one’s best foot forward. If you take the scenario of having a tired house, maybe inherited, the question is, “How do we present this house to the public to maximize the price,” Pierce posed. “That’s where most sellers will put some money into taking care of obvious flaws, old paint, old carpet,” he said. But, will a crack in a foundation cost $200 or $70,000? He advises sellers to do additional inspections and get estimates to fix things. The idea is to show the house at its best, which might involve staging or new landscaping. “You’re still selling ‘as is.’ It just may have a fresh coat of paint on it,” he added. Kerns likens readying a house for sale to getting dressed up for a dance: “You want to put your best foot forward, give a good first impression. Most sellers do get their house dressed up, clean the windows, clean the house,

CITY-WIDE GARAGE SALE AT HOMES May 14 COMMUNITY YARD SALE AT RENGSTORFF PARK May 21

Por favor comuníquese con la Divisón de Recreación al (650) 903-6331 para más intormación en español

See AS IS, page 22

Helping Our Community by Funding Our Schools!

Juliana Lee - Founder of Juliana Lee Foundation, Max McGee - Superintendent of Palo Alto unified school district Linda Lyon - PiE Executive Director, Colleen Gormley - PiE Board Member and 2016-2017 PiE Board President

Julianna Lee’s Education Foundation Our purpose is to support and improve public schools by targeting specific needs. Although our local schools are very good, they have important needs which lack funds. Teachers need discretionary money to implement enrichment and extra curricular activities. The Juliana Lee Foundation, a 501c3 exempt organization, matches individual donations by doubling their value and donating yearly to PiE and Palo Alto Unified School District PTA at different sites.

If you would like to help and make a donation Please make checks payable to: Juliana Lee Foundation Send to: Juliana Lee Foundation 505 Hamilton Ave, Ste 100, Palo Alto, CA 94301 For more information contact please call: (408) 418-6250 or email: JulianaLeeFoundation@gmail.com April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

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LocalNews DOWNTOWN LOT

date remains unclear. According to the neighborhood’s precise plan, any future residential project at that site is supposed to be no higher than three stories. Community Development Director Randy Tsuda pointed out that the height limits pencil out to a maximum of 50 housing units, or 60 if the homes are intended only for seniors. Many council members made clear they would be willing to retool the precise plan or grant exceptions in order to accommodate more housing at the site. Building much higher than three stories would hardly be out of

Continued from page 1

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officials have earmarked the city-owned parking lots as obvious locations for redevelopment. In 2008, City Council gave staff direction to solicit bids from private developers for four downtown lots. At the time, Mountain View officials said they received a disappointing response, which they chalked up to the poor market conditions stemming from the recession. They decided to table the idea and reconsider it after the economy recovered. Those plans were dusted off last year, and the city again began soliciting developers for projects for the parking lots. In January, the council agreed to enter formal negotiations with a developer to transform two lots along Hope and Villa streets into a high-end hotel and office complex. That decision received some criticism at the time for adding more office space but not following through on the council’s expressed goal of adding housing to help remedy the local job-housing imbalance. The contrast couldn’t have been clearer at the Tuesday, April 19, study session to discuss the Bryant Street lot. Council members emphatically supported building out as many homes as possible. “My preference is for 100 percent affordable housing,” said Councilman Ken Rosenberg. “There’s such a large demand for it. If we built this to maximum density, we’d still have demand for it.” Exactly how many housing units the space could accommo-

‘We have a good track record for getting excellent design.’ MAYOR PAT SHOWALTER

place for the neighborhood, said Mayor Pat Showalter. She pointed out that just across Bryant Street from the lot is Mountain View’s tallest building — a 12-story office complex. Going as high as 12 stories might not be a good idea, since the lot’s other side is abutting single-story homes, but Showalter said she was sure a good balance could be found. “With good design and setback, I think we can protect the neighborhood. We have a good track record for getting excellent design,” she said. Perhaps the trickiest aspect of the future development will be the parking. The Bryant Street

lot currently provides 160 spaces, and council members indicated that they wanted to retain as much downtown parking as possible, likely by building an underground garage. “Taking away this much parking would be a problem,” said Councilman Lenny Siegel. “Land values are high enough now that the cost of excavating is competitive.” Exactly what projects will be possible for this site will largely depend on what private developers are willing to offer. Council members said they wanted affordable housing for seniors and nearby workers, but they were also interested in including market-rate housing to help defray the cost of the affordable units. They said they were also willing to consider some space for ground-floor retail or cafes. Tsuda said he expects to put out a request for proposals by the end of this year. Many council members expressed concern at the length of time it would take before any of these homes get built. Tsuda said construction likely wouldn’t begin until 2020, which was partly due to the need to stagger projects so the downtown area doesn’t lose too much parking all at the same time. But even if the city tried to expedite this project, he warned that the timetable would be pretty much the same, due to the slow process of negotiating a complicated land and development deal. “If we could do a real estate deal in one handshake, that’d save nine months, but that’s not the world we live in,” Tsuda said. Email Mark Noack at mnoack@mv-voice.com V

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April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

1325 Oakhurst Avenue, Los Altos New Home Fuses Luxury and Flexibility D/1<@5;:-8 -91:5@51? -:0 ŋ :1 />-2@?9-:?45< />1-@1 - C->9 4-:0?;918E -<<;5:@10 4-B1: C5@45: @45? .>-:0 :1C Z .10>;;9 X Y .-@4>;;9 4;91 ;2 -<<>;D X TTT ?= 2@ I<1> <8-:?J C45/4 5:/8A01? - 8;@ ;2 -<<>;D T W] -/>1? I<1> ?A>B1EJ (-A8@10 /1585:3? 01?53:1> ŋ D@A>1? -:0 =A->@F ?A>2-/1? -//1:@ @45? 45348E 2A:/@5;:-8 >1?501:/1 C45/4 1:6;E? -: ->>-E ;2 Ō 1D5.81 ?<-/1? -: -@@-/410 @C; /-> 3->-31 -:0 - ?<-/5;A? .-/7E->0 %1@ -8;:3?501 - <1-/12A8 @>11 85:10 ?@>11@ @45? 4;91 <>;B501? <>591 -//1?? @; <->7? 8;/-8 ?4;<<5:3 -:0 05:5:3 -:0 @1>>5ŋ / % ?/4;;8? ;> B501; @;A> 9;>1 <4;@;? <81-?1 B5?5@

www.1325Oakhurst.com !221>10 -@ ^X ]\\ TTT

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday & Sunday 1:00 - 5:00

Lunch, Lattes, & Jazz

6 5 0 . 4 8 8 . 7 3 2 5 | m i c h a e l r @ d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | w w w. d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | C a l B R E # 0 9 0 3 2 2 4 14

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

1400 Cowper Street, Palo Alto Glamorously Updated in Unbeatable Location Built in 1924 and shaded by mature trees, this classic 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home of 3,068 sq. ft. (per county) occupies D JDWHG SURSHUW\ RI RYHU D TXDUWHU DFUH SHU FLW\ LQ GLVWLQJXLVKHG 3URIHVVRUYLOOH 7KH ZDUP HOHJDQW LQWHULRU LV Ă&#x20AC; OOHG ZLWK LQWULJXLQJ IHDWXUHV Ă H[LEOH VSDFHV DQG IDEXORXV XSGDWHV 2XWVLGH SULYDWH PDQLFXUHG VSDFHV DGMRLQ D PRWRU FRXUW DQG D GHWDFKHG VWXGLR <RX ZLOO EH ZLWKLQ PRPHQWV RI SDUNV Ă&#x20AC; QH VKRSSLQJ DQG GLQLQJ 6WDQIRUG 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG SULPH 3DOR $OWR schools.

For video tour & more photos, please visit:

www.1400CowperStreet.com Offered at $4,488,000

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Saturday & Sunday 1:00 - 5:00

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650.488.7325 | michaelr@deleonrealty.com | www.deleonrealty.com | CalBRE #01903224 April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

LocalNews CHILD CARE

Continued from page 1

week calling on state lawmakers to boost efforts to put these services within reach of as many families as possible. The report recommends that by 2021, all 4-year-old children should have universal access to preschool or transitional kindergarten, as well as child care for kids from infancy to age 3. The goal would be to provide these services in a way that makes them “open to all families, regardless of their ability to pay,” according to the report. In Santa Clara County, affordable preschool options are scarce. The federal Head Start program provides enough funding to serve about 2,000 children from families who are below the national poverty line of $25,000 a year for a family of four, according to Don Bolce, director of early learning services for the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Even though the poverty line threshold is strikingly low relative to the cost of living, Bolce said there are an estimated 2,000 more eligible children in the county who do not have access to the program. Santa Clara County, local school districts and nonprofits also contract with the state to provide subsidized preschool and child care to about 6,800 children throughout the county, which are also subject to income requirements. A family of four would need to make less than $49,000 a year to qualify. And as with Head Start, a significant number of children are going unserved — about 4,000 seats would need to be added for eligible students who are unable to get into the packed program, Bolce said. In the Mountain View Whisman School District, that translates to about 96 state-funded seats for preschool. The waiting list to get one of these coveted spots has had as many as 200 children on it, but names on the list have recently dropped off due to the length of the wait. Both income thresholds are well below the median income in the Bay Area, but Bolce said any changes would likely worsen the size of the waiting lists unless more preschool spots are made available. “I think, for fiscal reasons, the state has been reluctant to revisit the eligibility criteria,” he said. “It would make more people ineligible to be served because of availability.” Expanding access would require a major increase in the number of preschool and child care providers throughout the state. California has about 3 million children 5 years old and younger, but only 900,000 16

MICHELLE LE

Wilma Chu, an assistant at Mountain View Parent Nursery School, talks with a member of the 2-year-olds’ class on Monday, April 18.

licensed child care and preschool spaces, according to the report. An estimated 1 million children are cared for in an unlicensed setting by a caregiver who isn’t a parent. Increasing child care access is going to cost a lot — it is estimated to be a multi-billion-dollar investment — but it’s only one aspect of a major overhaul that needs to happen at the state level, according to Craig Cheslog, vice president for California policy at Common Sense Media. Health care, better compensation and more accountability for child care and preschool providers, and support from private sector employers play an important role in making sure students get the attention and services they need to thrive at an early age, Cheslog said. “Too narrow of a focus doesn’t deal with the complexity of these children’s lives and their families,” he said. “Making sure they have child care is wonderful — we have to do it — but if they aren’t healthy or their teeth are rotting, that isn’t going to have the positive impact it should have.” On top of the dearth of child care providers, families are faced with a confusing and fragmented system of child care programs that makes it difficult to sign up for services in the first place. The report found that at least 18 public programs are available for children ages 5 and younger, which are administered by 11 government departments with varying and conflicting eligibility requirements. “When it comes to the broad swath of services aimed at helping California’s children, the current bureaucracy is a labyrinth of disjointed boards, commissions, agencies and departments,” the report states. Cheslog said it was clear to the commission that the state needs to restructure these services and get rid of inefficient and overlap-

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

ping roles, and provide families a one-stop online portal to sign up for child care services. The money saved could be invested back into child care services, though the commission did not determine how much could be saved through consolidation. Better than Mississippi Without state or federally subsidized child care, families face having to pay the full cost of child care and preschool, which can leave many families strapped for cash. The average price of child care for infants at a care center is more than $13,000 a year, according to KidsData, a project of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. The cost of preschool is estimated at $10,000 a year.

‘Child care was so decimated during the recession that we still aren’t even close to restoring child care to where we were in 2007.’ CRAIG CHESLOG OF COMMON SENSE MEDIA

For about 70 percent of families with young children in California, those costs are out of reach, according to the Right Start Commission report. And while some of these families qualify for subsidized child care and preschool, scoring one of the 300,000 available spots is another challenge entirely. The report recommends a massive overhaul of the state’s child care support structure and universal preschool options for 4-year-old kids, but Cheslog said

the state can start by bringing back the child care and preschool funding that was cut during the 2008 recession, and never restored following California’s latest economic upswing. “Child care was so decimated during the recession that we still aren’t even close to restoring child care to where we were in 2007,” Cheslog said. Lack of affordable child care is particularly bad in California. A 2015 report by Children Now, a research and advocacy group, found that California ranks 38 out of 50 states for metrics including access to health care, education and poverty level. Even worse, California was ranked 49th in terms of children’s economic well-being, due in part to high housing costs and lack of secure employment. The only state with a worse track record was Mississippi. Preparing for kindergarten One of the key reasons to start investing in early childhood education is to allow children to be on a level playing field once they reach kindergarten. The Right Start Commission report noted that students in lower-income families and families without child care are subjected to what’s called a “word gap,” meaning they hear about 30 million fewer spoken words by age 3 than their higher-income peers. Children who hear more words demonstrate better listening comprehension and vocabulary skills in kindergarten, and by age 9 show better academic performance than their peers, according to the report. Bolce said the achievement gap starts out as a “readiness” gap in kindergarten, and big differences in student performance start early. Although some studies have questioned the effectiveness of preschool on subsequent student achievement, Bolce said,

the overwhelming evidence has shown child care and preschool investments help to put students on an even playing field when they start school. “Very few people today question the research or question the logic of making these kinds of investments,” he said. “The general consensus is that providing these kinds of experiences for children, particularly lowincome children, are important things to do.” Cheslog said the hope is that the commission’s report will prompt state lawmakers to take action and expand child care and preschool programs, and that there’s already some legislation in the works that could help make the recommendations a reality. Assembly Bill 2660, introduced by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, would require the state to work on a multi-year plan that would give preschool access to all income-eligible children for at least one year prior to kindergarten. On the local level, the Mountain View Whisman School District school board has generally supported preschool programs. School board members agreed last year to supplement funding to maintain preschool seats that would have been lost following the end of the state’s Child Signature Program. Board President Ellen Wheeler, a vocal supporter of preschool education, said she was “thrilled” to see the commission’s report last week, and called it a critical piece in closing the achievement gap. Wheeler told the Voice in an email that it’s also important, if the state moves forward with preschool expansion, to make sure they are “high quality” programs with teacher training specific to the needs of children ages 3 to 4. “High quality (preschool) has been shown to narrow and close the achievement gap,” Wheeler said. “(But) simply sending kids to any old preschool does not have that effect.” Local commitment by school boards may be a big step, at least in the interim, towards bringing preschool to families without access to quality, prekindergarten education. Bolce said the county is supporting the Strong Start Coalition, a group of nonprofit organizations, elected officials and community leaders tasked with expanding early childhood education. The group is charged with finding ways to increase preschool access in Santa Clara County, meeting the needs of thousands of families. “There’s a recognition that maybe we can’t wait for Sacramento and Washington to come to the rescue,” Bolce said. Email Kevin Forestieri at kforestieri@mv-voice.com V

202 Camino Al Lago, Atherton Showstopper Estate in Prime Atherton Located in the prized Circus Club area, this state-of-the-art gated estate holds a main home with 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths, and a 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom guesthouse, boasting a collective living area of 10,973 sq. ft. (per plans). Rebuilt in 2013, the home 5? .A>?@5:3 C5@4 4534 @1/4 -91:5@51? -:0 ;Ĺ&#x160; 1>? ?@-@18E E1@ 5:B5@5:3 1:@1>@-5:5:3 ?<-/1? 9<;>@10 Ĺ&#x2039; D@A>1? 1:4-:/1 @41 8ADA>5;A? -9.51:/1 C4581 @41 <>5B-@1 3>;A:0? ;2 U VX -/>1? I<1> /;A:@EJ ?4;C/-?1 1D/5@5:3 ;A@0;;> 85B5:3 ->1-? ">1?@535;A? ?/4;;8? ->1 C5@45: strolling distance. For video tour & more photos, please visit:

www.202CaminoAlLago.com Offered at $ 8,888,000 6 5 0 . 4 8 8 . 7 3 2 5 | m i c h a e l r @ d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | w w w. d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | C a l B R E # 0 1 9 0 3 2 2 4 April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

LocalNews

Real estate market madness SLIM SUPPLY FORCING CONDO/TOWNHOME PRICES SKY HIGH, FRENZIED BIDDING ON FEW AVAILABLE HOUSES By Linda Taaffe

asten your seatbelts and hold on tight. The local housing market is headed for another wild ride. After home sales along the Peninsula dipped 59 percent in January, followed by a sluggish February, many believed a market downturn was finally here. Then March came along, and everything changed. Real estate experts up and down the Peninsula say this year’s market is coming back stronger than ever — just later in the year than usual. Buyers are being forced to look farther north or south to find affordable single-family homes, or pay cash for a partially built home, or settle for a townhouse, albeit in an ideal downtown/transportation corridor. The few homes that are on the market are creating a bidding frenzy that has pushed sales as much as 30 percent above asking prices, reminding some of the bubble of the late 1990s. In Los Altos, a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home on a 7,000-square-foot lot received 28 offers in March, and homes there have been selling for anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000 above the asking price, said Phyllis Carmichael, a sale associate at Coldwell Banker in Los Altos who has been a Realtor for 40 years. In Atherton, four homes sold for more than $11 million in March, said Tim Kerns, an Atherton native who has been a sale associate for Coldwell Banker for nine years. During the previous three months, there was not a single sale in that price range.

And homes are selling not only at high prices but speedily in every city along the Peninsula from San Carlos to Sunnyvale, said Denise Simons, a Realtor for Alain Pinel Realtors in Palo Alto. She said homes have typically been going on and off the market within 10 days. “Things started off very slowly this year. We all thought that with the stock market and what’s happening globally, it was maybe going to affect 2016,” Kerns said. “We were wrong. None of that impacted the market.” When spring arrived in March, Kerns said buyers started coming back out, the phones started ringing, inventory picked up, and the market took off. “We’re seeing prices escalating even higher than last year,” he said. “I think we are in a unique pocket of the world, and not a lot is going to change.” According to data from the California Association of Realtors, the Bay Area is the only region in California where homes are selling above list prices. Sales appear to be leveling off everywhere else. In San Mateo County, the median sales price for a singlefamily home has risen 11 percent compared to last year at this same time. In Santa Clara County, the median price has increased 9 percent, according to data from MLSListings Inc. Along the Midpeninsula, Atherton has seen the largest jump in median home prices over the past year, with values climbing 34 percent. Mountain View values have risen 29 percent, and Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Los Altos and Woodside have seen between 13 and 15 percent

MICHELLE LE

Because of low turnover for homes like this one in Mountain View, the Midpeninsula real estate market focuses on the few homes that are available for escalating prices.

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

Median home prices, single family homes, 2012-2015 East Palo Alto

$4M

Los Altos Los Altos Hills

$3M

Mountain View Palo Alto

$2M $1M $0 2012

2013

2014

2015

Source: Information provided by the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® from MLSListings Inc.

increases, according to data from MLSListings and TrendGraphix. Portola Valley, which saw values rise 7 percent, was the only Midpeninsula city that did not experience a double-digit increase. In Atherton, the median price rose to $5.95 million. Los Altos Hills increased to $3.6 million, followed by Woodside at $2.7 million and Portola Valley and Los Altos at $2.6 million each. Palo Alto saw home prices rise to $2.5 million. Mountain View’s median home price reached $1.7 million.

Mountain View’s median home prices have risen 29 percent in the past year. Carmichael said a shortage of inventory coupled with the influx of thousands of new tech workers hired primarily by Apple and Google are pushing real estate prices higher. Both companies are building campuses of more than 1 million square feet in Cupertino and Mountain View and have been rapidly expanding their workforces. Carmichael said about half of those people offering bids on homes she’s recently represented were Apple or Google employees. “When I hear that we are probably going to see a crash fairly soon, and I look at the Apple and Google buildings all around us, I don’t see how that can happen,” she said. “This market is a whole different thing than we’ve seen before, and it’s because there’s a lot of people with money. I’m seeing a lot of young couples with double incomes who are working for these tech companies ... and want to live some place near their work.” According to a report from the Silicon Valley Association of

Realtors (SILVAR), job growth in Silicon Valley is at 4.3 percent, its highest level since 2000. The Bay Area added 129,000 new jobs last year, including 64,000 in Santa Clara County. “One of biggest problems is that we don’t have enough new home construction,” Carmichael said. “We are going to need more housing if we’re going to absorb the thousands of people all of these tech companies are hiring. These young people really want to live in this area, and they can afford it. There just aren’t enough homes.” Kerns said most of the time there are two to three good listings in each city every week, but they sell the next week with multiple offers because there are just too many buyers and not enough inventory. Everybody wants to live in Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Los Altos, but the tight market is forcing them elsewhere, he added. At the end of 2015, the available inventory of all housing types dropped to record lows. That was coupled with a lackluster sales-volume increase of only 2 percent compared to 2014. This pushed final sales prices to 103 percent of asking prices for 2015, according to statistics provided by Alain Pinel Realtors. Because of the low inventory in high-demand cities like Palo Alto, buyers are now looking in Redwood City to the north and Santa Clara to the south. “It used to be that Sunnyvale was the next place to go for people who couldn’t get into Mountain View. Now, Santa Clara is the new Sunnyvale price range,” Carmichael said. Alain Pinel’s Simons said new construction would take a lot of pressure off the market, but there is almost no new development of housing because of a lack of land and because of lack of space. Right now, most new construc-

tion comes from tearing down older homes. Many young buyers, however, aren’t looking for 4,000-squarefoot homes with large lots that they have to maintain. Townhomes, condominiums and new construction that require less maintenance are becoming popular alternatives, Carmichael added. “The last thing a lot of these young techie people want is a little, old house to fix up someplace when they spend so much time at work, so they start looking into the newish townhouses, which has really pushed the townhouses over the top,” Carmichael said. “In Palo Alto, the condo market has gotten outrageous. Everything is over $2 million there.” Over the past three years, the average price for condominiums has appreciated 50 percent, Simons said. She sold the same townhouse twice, and it appreciated $600,000 in the three years between sales. Kerns said many buyers are looking at new construction in Atherton and Menlo Park in particular. “We’re seeing a lot of houses that are only halfway built selling because inventory is low and people are tired of competing. They would rather buy a partially built house and wait six to nine months to move into it,” Kerns said. New buyers also are looking for homes close to the conveniences of downtowns and easy access to transportation. “Los Altos Hills, Woodside and Portola Valley are only five to 10 minutes up the hill, but the market is totally different,” Kerns said. “Those houses take longer to sell and inventory sits a bit longer there. Not everyone needs views or wants a full acre to maintain. Menlo Park, North Los Altos and Old Palo Alto are See MARKET, page 22

LocalNews Q R E A L E S TAT E M AT T E R S

Real estate contracts: secrets you should know By Robert Taylor

hen you sit down with your real estate agent to review a contract, either as a buyer or a seller, your agent generally selects a form to use. Typically, a buyer or a seller has no control over which contract form is used, or must rely on the agent to make minor modifications to that form if desired. In the Bay Area, excluding the city of San Francisco (which has developed its own form), you are presented with a real estate contract that has either been drafted by the California Association of Realtors (CAR Contract) or by the Silicon Valley Board of Realtors (PRDS Contract). The terms of both CAR and PRDS contracts are developed to make it easy for a novice agent to fill in the blanks. Ninety-five percent of the contract is not editable, with the exception of some key items, such as address, price, loan terms, closing date, escrow company, and additional optional check boxes or fill-ins for personal property or contingency time periods along with

options to initial other sections like “Arbitration” or “Liquidated Damages.” The length of the contract forms has doubled since 1980 to its current 10 pages. The increase in paperwork is mostly due to legislation that instituted mandatory disclosures. These disclosures require agents and sellers to report on the condition of the property, natural hazards, Megan’s law (convicted sex offenders living in proximity), and the agency relationships that the buyer and seller have to the real estate agents in the transaction. Who is best served by these standardized forms? Since contracts are developed by real estate professional organizations, it is safe to assume that they are designed to protect the involved agents from liability. This is overt is some instances. For example, all contracts now contain a mandatory, non-binding mediation clause and an option for binding arbitration of disputes. The form is designed so that agents are not bound to mediation even though buyers and sellers are

bound to mediation. Additionally, arbitration is initialed by an overwhelming number of buyers and sellers, but agents are not required by to participate in arbitration. Quite obviously, the exclusion of agents from both mediation and arbitration benefits only the agents and not the buyer or seller. Market forces also alter the forms. The CAR contract does not allow the buyer to present an offer to the seller without a warranty that basic systems of the home are in operating condition; meaning, by default it is an “as-is” contract. The PRDS contract added a check box to the form to eliminate warranties and pest control during the seller’s market more than 10 years ago. It is routinely checked because this “is what the seller and their agent expects.” Previously, “asis” transactions were done by a separate addendum and were not the “norm.” This shift is contract design was in response to market forces and have greatly benefited sellers and agents. Sellers no longer have to be concerned with pest control work or warranties

of anything in the home; and agents benefit by not needing to worry about the complexity of closing transactions that involve pest control work or any other seller repairs. Buyers are left holding the bag and must typically rely on the seller to provide disclosure reports ordered from vendors selected by the listing agent. Therefore, not surprisingly, I have heard of certain agents not using some inspection companies as to avoid a report that is too critical of the property. The potential for bias is obvious. There are some basic patterns that occur based on contract design. The first being that if a spot to be initialed exists, then it will be initialed. Each contract has two different clauses for initials. First is arbitration, which I discussed above, and second is liquidated damages. In at least 95 percent of all contracts, both of these clauses are initialed when a buyer presents their offer to the seller — this happens even if the clauses are presented as “optional.” If they are not initialed, the clauses do not apply. If ques-

tioned by a buyer or seller as to whether such clauses should be initialed, many agents respond that all buyers and sellers typically initial them; therefore, if you want the offer to be accepted, then you need to initial it. In fact, although foregoing to initial it may raise a question about the offer, the lack of initials on either one or both of these clauses may actually benefit the seller from a legal perspective. For instance, a liquidated damages clause limits the buyer’s potential liability for default to 3 percent of the purchase price or the amount of the deposit, whichever is less. This would seemingly benefit the buyer since it appears as if the damages on their default would be capped at 3 percent of the purchase price. Not clearly disclosed in the liquidated damages clause is that the collection of the 3 percent is far from automatic, especially if the seller resells the property to another buyer for the same amount; and further, it does not indicate to the buyer that See CONTRACTS, page 22

April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

770 Mayview Avenue, Palo Alto Offered at $3,798,000 Surprising New Home in Private Setting Tucked away in prime South Palo Alto, this gated, brand-new 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home of 3,553 sq. ft. (per permit) stands on a lot of approx. 0.3 acres (per survey). The striking cedar-andstucco exterior conceals an interior outfitted with 11-foot ceilings, Lutron lighting, and European oak floors. Highlights include a fireplace, two master suites, and an open floorplan. Enjoy strolling to Mitchell Park Library, Mitchell and Ramos Parks, and exceptional schools like Fairmeadow Elementary (API 953) and JLS Middle (API 943) (buyer to verify eligibility). For more information, please contact: 速

Michael Repka 650.488.7325 | michael@deleonrealty.com

For video tour & more photos, please visit:

www.770Mayview.com

OPEN HOUSE Saturday & Sunday, 1-5 pm Complimentary Lunch & Lattes

6 5 0 . 4 8 8 . 7 3 2 5 | i n f o @ d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | w w w. d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | C a l B R E # 0 1 9 0 3 2 2 4

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

3412 Cowper Street, Palo Alto Offered at $2,488,000 Open, Luxurious, and Convenient Suburban luxury defines this 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home of 1,528 sq. ft. (per county) that occupies a lot of 6,400 sq. ft. (per county). Lavishly appointed with stone finishes, designer features, and a fireplace, the home also provides an attached two-car garage and a sky-lit, open floorplan, perfect for everyday living. Near Charleston Shopping Center and within steps of Mitchell Park and Library, you will also be strolling distance to Fairmeadow Elementary (API 953) and JLS Middle (API 943) (buyer to verify eligibility). For more information, please contact: 速

Michael Repka 650.488.7325 | michael@deleonrealty.com

For video tour & more photos, please visit:

www.3412Cowper.com

OPEN HOUSE Saturday & Sunday, 1-5 pm Complimentary Lunch & Lattes

6 5 0 . 4 8 8 . 7 3 2 5 | i n f o @ d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | w w w. d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | C a l B R E # 0 1 9 0 3 2 2 4

April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

LocalNews AS IS

Continued from page 11

staging, fix landscaping, fix some inspection items. “A lot of times it could be the difference between two and five offers, which equates to tens of thousands of dollars,” he said. Even if the house is priced at land value, you want to give a good impression “and at least make the house look good enough in pictures, without putting real money in capital improvements,” he said. “I usually tell sellers that they should expect to put in 1 percent into the house to get it ready. It’s the little stuff — painting, cleaning, staging — that makes a difference,” he said. Doing nothing to improve curb appeal makes sense only if your audience is only developers, he added. “If you think they’ll keep the home, then it’s worth the steps to prep the house for market. It’s a small amount of money that’s a huge return on investment,” he added. At a minimum, he advised, declutter and depersonalize: “It can make a difference and doesn’t cost anything. To

make rooms feel bigger, get rid of distractions like family pictures. You want buyers to walk through a house and visualize themselves.” Realtor Alex Wang, with Sereno Group in Palo Alto, reminds sellers that the main goal is to get the highest possible price. “If you can get a good feeling about a house, that’ll help you have more buyers interested, more offers, more competition. Generally, that’s the case,” he said. Sometimes lack of funds, too many decision-makers (such as in a trustee sale) or a lack of time will push the seller to make minimal improvements. That doesn’t mean remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, but could mean stripping off outdated wallpaper or slapping on a coat of paint. “In the Palo Alto market, we lean more toward prepping the property, add more value and capture that by improving it a little bit. Staging is a big aspect of it too. Buyers buy off of emotion; you want them to have a good feeling about your house,” he said. Email contributing writer Carol Blitzer at cblitzer@ sbcglobal.net. V

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

CONTRACTS

Continued from page 19

he or she may be also sued by the agents in the transaction for the amount of commission they would have made if the buyer had not defaulted. So the damage cap may actually be 8-9 percent, depending on commissions due for the transaction. Could the contract be designed to avoid this potential pitfall for the buyer? Yes, but it is not. Technology also alters how contracts are completed. With the advent of “convenient” electronic signatures, often the agent is predetermining where buyers and sellers initialed and how the form is completed. While we rely on our agents to guide us through the process, the electronic process forestalls the normal conversations the discussion

MARKET

Continued from page 18

the hottest markets right now. There’s too much premium there for those houses to sit.” Kern said West Menlo Park prices are getting close to Atherton prices, with new construction selling for about $6 million to $7 million on a 10,000- to

of options that occurred when these forms were completed by hand. Clicking to sign makes the process go faster but who is benefiting from the speed? In the end, when in doubt, follow the money. Sellers are the source of the money to pay the commissions. Since the listing agent obtains the listing contract from the seller, the contract typically requires the seller to pay commissions to the agent — once a sale is closed, commissions are split with the buyer’s agent. It makes some sense, therefore, that the brokers developing the forms might be biased towards protecting the seller and agents in the transaction. The form presents itself as it is. Modifying the form to a more balanced document would scuttle any potential offer in the present market. The more money

involved, the more these types of decisions matter. However, this does not mean that both buyers and sellers should be unaware of the bias. It also means when lots of money is involved, that you may want to control certain aspects of the contract if it is within your power to negotiate those terms in your favor. Not all transaction terms on every sale are dictated by the prevailing market conditions. J. Robert Taylor, J. D., a real estate attorney and broker for more than 20 years, has served as an expert witness and mediator and is on the judicial arbitration panel for Santa Clara County Superior Court. Send questions to Taylor c/o Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA, or via email at btaylor@ taylorproperties.com.

12,000-square-foot lot. “I never thought we’d get to this point, where these high prices just keep going up,” Simons said. “It’s amazing. Last year, I thought the price increases were crazy; I couldn’t imagine it continuing to go up like that, but there’s still a lot of money and people who want to be here. People are paying all cash for a home and then

spending another $200,000 to $300,000 on remodeling. “We’ve had a seller’s market here for so long; we see some market shifts over short time periods, but in the long run, I don’t think that’s going to change.” Email freelance writer Linda Taaffe at lindataaffe@ gmail.com.

G U I D E T O 2016 S U M M E R C A M P S F O R K I D S

For more information about these camps, see our online directory of camps at www.paloaltoonline.com/biz/summercamps/ To advertise in this weekly directory, call: 650.326.8210

Arts, Culture, Other Camps Art and Soul Summer Camps

Palo Alto

Summer Unplugged! Art, Cooking, Yoga and Mindfulness. Weekly full, morning or afternoon options. Walter Hays Elementary School. Kinder-Grade Seven. June 6 –July 22. Register online.

www.artandsoulpa.com

650.269.0423

Camp Galileo: 40+ Bay Area Locations Innovation Camps for Kids Inspire a spirit of bold exploration in your pre-k – 5th grader. Art, science and outdoor fun while building lasting innovation skills like how to embrace challenges and create without fear. Four fresh themes for 2016.

www.galileo-camps.com

1.800.854.3684

Camp Imagineerz

Palo Alto

Imagine a space full of ideas, fun materials and limitless possibilities – where creativity is celebrated and failure is embraced. Where children learn the power of an “i-can” mindset through Performing Arts, Building, and Play!

www.imagineeerz-learning.com

650.318.5002

Athletics

Academics

J-Camp at the Oshman Family JCC

Palo Alto

www.ofjcc-jcamp.com

Harker Summer Programs

650.223.8622

Menlo School Sports Camps

Atherton

Menlo camps are designed for boys and girls grades 4–12 to learn from Knights coaches and staff. Join us this summer to develop skills, foster athleticism and promote sportsmanship in camps covering a range of sports — baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer and water polo.

www.menloschool.org

Nike Tennis Camps

650.330.2001 ext. 2758

Stanford University

50+ creative camps for Gr. K-8! Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Musical Theater, School of Rock, Digital Arts, more! One- and two-week sessions; full and half-day enrollment. Extended care available. Financial aid offered.

www.arts4all.org

www.USSportsCamps.com

Mountain View

650.917.6800 ext. 0

Environmental Volunteers Summer Camp

Palo Alto

Discover nature this summer at Explore! & Girls In Science summer day camps with the Environmental Volunteers in Palo Alto! Field trips, live animals, and hands-on science activities will bring nature alive to kids in grades 1-6. Register and learn more.

www.EVols.org/Explore

650.493.8000

Palo Alto Community Child Care (PACCC)

Palo Alto

PACCC summer camps offer campers, grades 1st to 6th, a wide variety of fun opportunities! We are excited to introduce two new camps to our lineup this year: Leaders in Training (L.I.T.) and PACCC Special Interest Units (S.I.U.). Returning favorites include F.A.M.E. (Fine Arts, Music and Entertainment), J.V. Sports and Operation: Chef! Periodic field trips, special visitors and many engaging camp activities, songs and skits round out the fun offerings of PACCC Summer Camps! Open to campers from all communities! Come join the fun in Palo Alto! Register online.

www.paccc.org

650.493.2361

STANFORD EXPLORE: A Lecture Series on Biomedical Research

Stanford

8+ South Bay Area Locations

Twelve innovative majors to explore. 5th – 8th graders dive into a subject that inspires you. Design video games, engineer catapults, build go-karts, paint with electricity, create a delectable dish. Every week is a new opportunity to realize your personal vision.

Junior Overnight and Day Camps for boys & girls, ages 9-18 offered throughout June, July and August. Adult Weekend Clinics (June & Aug). Camps directed by Head Men’s Coach, Paul Goldstein, Head Women’s Coach, Lele Forood, and Associate Men’s and Women’s Coaches, Brandon Coupe and Frankie Brennan. Come join the fun and get better this summer!

Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA)

Galileo Summer Quest

Adventure awaits at J-Camp! With options for grades K-12 that fit every schedule and interest, you can mix and match camps to meet your family’s needs. Are you looking for well-rounded camp sessions that focus on variety and building friendships? We’ve got you covered. Does your child have specific talents you’d like them to explore in depth? Send them our way. We’re looking forward to our best summer ever and want your family to be part of the experience!

1.800.NIKE.CAMP (645.3226)

Stanford Baseball Camps

Stanford Campus

Stanford Baseball Camps have gained national recognition as the some of the finest in the country. These camps are designed to be valuable and beneficial for a wide range of age groups and skill sets. From the novice 7 year-old, to the Division 1, professionally skilled high school player, you will find a camp that fulfills your needs.

www.Stanfordbaseballcamp.com

Stanford Water Polo

650.723.4528

Stanford

Ages 7 and up. New to sport or have experience, we have a camp for you. Half day or fully day option for boys and girls. All the camps offer fundamental skill work, scrimmages and games.

www.stanfordwaterpolocamps.com

650.725.9016

University Club of Palo Alto Tennis Program We offer a comprehensive year round junior tennis program for all levels from novice to ranked players. This includes summer camps and clinics for ages 5 and up. After care options are also available from 8am to 5pm in the summer. First trial clinic is free until May 31st, 2016.

EXPLORE biomedical science at Stanford! Stanford EXPLORE offers high schoolers the unique opportunity to learn from Stanford professors and graduate students about diverse topics in biomedical science, including bioengineProgramering, neurobiology, immunology and many others.

mbentley@ucpaloalto.com ucpaloalto.com

explore.stanford.edu

Alexa Café

650.494.8279

www.galileo-camps.com

1.800.854.3684

San Jose

Harker summer programs for preschool – grade 12 children include opportunities for academics, arts, athletics and activities. Taught by exceptional, experienced faculty and staff, our programs offer something for everyone in a safe and supportive environment.

www.summer.harker.org

408.553.5737

iD Tech Camps

Stanford

Students ages 7–17 can learn to code, design video games, mod Minecraft, engineer robots, model 3D characters, build websites, print 3D models, and more. Campers meet new friends, learn awesome STEM skills, and gain self-confidence.

www.iDTech.com

1.844.788.1858

iD Tech Mini

Palo Alto

At Palo Alto High School. Kids ages 6-9 can discover programming, game design, robotics, or graphic design. And with an emphasis on creativity, friendship, and exploration, every camper becomes a maker of fun. We’ve packed every halfday camp session with tons of tech awesomeness.

www.iDTech.com

1.844.788.1858

iD Programming Academy

Stanford

At this two-week, overnight academy, students ages 13-18 explore advanced topics in programming, app development, electrical engineering, and robotics. Create an awesome portfolio, get industry insights, and gain a competitive advantage for college and future careers.

www.iDTech.com

1.844.788.1858

iD Game Design and Development Academy

Stanford

At this two-week, overnight academy, students ages 13-18 explore advanced topics in 3D modeling and printing, video game design, programming, and level design. Create an awesome portfolio, get industry insights, and gain a competitive advantage for college and future careers.

www.iDTech.com

1.844.788.1858

Mid-Peninsula High School Summer Session

Menlo Park

Week-long jazz immersion programs for young musicians in middle school (starts July 13), high school (July 19 and July 26), and college, as well as adults (August 2). All instruments and vocals.

Girls ages 10-15 discover technology in a unique environment that celebrates creativity, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. Girls learn engineering principles, code games, design websites, model and print 3D objects, and much more.

Mid-Pen’s Summer Session provides innovative, one-week courses that go beyond traditional high school curriculum. Our program offers students courses for summer enrichment and make up high school credits. We have designed creative courses in math, science, English, and Spanish, with options including Physics of Flight and Rocketry, History of the Reagan Years, College Essay Workshop, Creative Writing, Introduction to the Digital Arts, and Drama. Basketball and volleyball clinics suitable for beginning to advanced players. All high school students are welcome to attend. Dates are June 20th to July 21st. Classes are held from 9:30am–2:30pm. Visit our website for full class listings.

stanfordjazz.org

www.iDTech.com

www.mid-pen.org

explore-series@stanford.edu

Stanford Jazz Workshop

Stanford University

TheatreWorks Summer Camps

Palo Alto

In these entertaining camps for grades K-5, students enjoy juggling, clowning, puppetry, playwriting, acting, improvisation, music, dance — and present their own original pieces at the end of each session.

www.theatreworks.org/learn/youth/summercamps

Athletics Hi-Five Sports Summer Camp

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, CA

Children enjoy up to 8 different team sports a week of outdoor fun and fundamentals. With over 25 years of experience and we are the best provider of youth recreational sports in the nation!

www.hifivesportsclubs.com/ 650.362.4975 bayarea_camp_summer_camp_atherton/

Academics

Bay Area Pathways Academy (BAPA)

Palo Alto High School

1.844.788.1858

College of San Mateo

The Bay Area Pathways Academy(tm) (BAPA) is an enhanced new summer for students entering grades 6 to 9 which offers an exciting array of grade-appropriate academic classes, engaging enrichment classes and fun fitness and aquatics classes, including the opportunity to register for up to 3 two-week sessions.

www.BayAreaPathwaysAcademy.org

Castilleja Summer Camp for Girls

650.574.6149

Write Now! Summer Writing Camps

650.321.1991

Palo Alto / Pleasanton

Improve your student’s writing skills this summer at Emerson School of Palo Alto and Hacienda School of Pleasanton. Courses this year are Expository Writing, Creative Writing, and Presentation Techniques. Visit our website for more information.

www.headsup.org

Emerson: 650.424.1267 Hacienda: 925.485.5750

Palo Alto

YMCA Summer Camps Throughout Silicon Valley

Casti Camp offers girls a range of age-appropriate activities including athletics, art, science, computers, writing, crafts, cooking, drama and music classes each day along with weekly field trips.

At the Y, children and teens of all abilities acquire new skills, make friends, and feel that they belong. With hundreds of Summer Day Camps at 30+ locations plus Overnight Camps, you will find a camp that’s right for your family. Financial assistance is available.

www.castilleja.org/summercamp

www.ymcasv.org/summer

650.328.3160

408.351.5473

April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

Viewpoint

Q EDITORIAL Q YOUR LETTERS Q GUEST OPINIONS

Q EDITORIAL

THE OPINION OF THE VOICE Founding Editor, Kate Wakerly

Q S TA F F EDITOR Andrea Gemmet (223-6537) EDITORIAL Associate Editor Renee Batti (223-6528) Arts & Entertainment Editor Elizabeth Schwyzer (223-6517) Special Sections Editor Elizabeth Lorenz (223-6511) Staff Writers Kevin Forestieri (223-6535) Mark Noack (223-6536) Photographer Michelle Le (223-6530) Contributors Dale Bentson, Trevor Felch, Mimm Patterson, Ruth Schecter DESIGN & PRODUCTION Marketing and Creative Director Shannon Corey (223-6560) Design and Production Manager Kristin Brown (223-6562) Designers Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Rosanna Leung, Paul Llewellyn, Nick Schweich, Doug Young ADVERTISING Vice President Sales and Marketing Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) Advertising Representative Adam Carter (223-6573) Real Estate Account Executive Rosemary Lewkowitz (223-6585) Published every Friday at 450 Cambridge Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 964-6300 fax (650) 964-0294 Email news and photos to: editor@MV-Voice.com Email letters to: letters@MV-Voice.com News/Editorial Department (650) 964-6300 fax (650) 964-0294 Display Advertising Sales (650) 964-6300 Classified Advertising Sales (650) 964-6490 • (650) 326-8286 fax (650) 326-0155 Email Classified ads@MV-Voice.com Email Circulation circulation@MV-Voice.com The Voice is published weekly by Embarcadero Media Co. and distributed free to residences and businesses in Mountain View. If you are not currently receiving the paper, you may request free delivery by calling 9646300. Subscriptions for $60 per year, $100 per 2 years are welcome. ©2016 by Embarcadero Media Company. All rights reserved. Member, Mountain View Chamber of Commerce

Q WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? All views must include a home address and contact phone number. Published letters will also appear on the web site, www.MountainViewOnline.com, and occasionally on the Town Square forum. Town Square forum Post your views on Town Square at MountainViewOnline.com Email your views to letters@MV-Voice.com. Indicate if letter is to be published. Mail to: Editor Mountain View Voice, P.O. Box 405 Mountain View, CA 94042-0405 Call the Viewpoint desk at 223-6528

Hopes rise for inpatient psychiatric care for teens

os Altos resident Sarah Gentile was shocked in 2014 when she discovered that there were no hospital beds in Santa Clara County, including at Stanford’s two hospitals, for teens experiencing a mental health crisis. Facing such a crisis with her own son, her family waited for six hours in the emergency room at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View while the staff searched for a bed in one of the few adolescent psychiatric units elsewhere in the Bay Area. Other local families have had the same experience at the Stanford Hospital emergency room and at other county hospitals. In Gentile’s case, a bed was finally located at MillsPeninsula Hospital in San Mateo, but some families end up referred to hospitals more than an hour away, adding more trauma and logistical challenges to what is already a difficult and emotional family situation. With great courage and determination, Gentile went public with her family’s story, studied the problem and became the leading advocate for establishing at least one in-patient adolescent psychiatric unit in Santa Clara County, California’s sixth largest county. Gentile enlisted the support of Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, other parents and concerned mental health professionals physicians, and in December the county invited medical groups to propose concepts for how a new in-patient program could be established in the county. This month, the county released the four submissions it received, including a joint response from El Camino Hospital, Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Kaiser Permanente that proposed opening an 18-bed facility at El Camino’s Mountain View campus that would initially serve 12- to 17-year-olds, including those without insurance coverage and unable to pay. The three other responses, all credible, came from Fremont Hospital, which operates one of the few existing area Q LETTERS

VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY

COUNCIL DECISION ON RENT CRISIS ‘COWARDLY’ Thank you for your April 15 editorial about the set of circumstances by which the Mountain View Tenants’ Coalition was forced on April 1 to file papers for a rent stabilization. That set of circumstances was the result of the shameful failure last March 15 of most of Mountain View City Council members to show solidarity and do justice to the thousands of Mountain View tenants who

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

are an essential component of the fabric and heart and soul of our beloved city; tenants who work here, whose children were born here and go to school here; tenants who are an essential part of the city’s ethnic diversity and contribute to its economy by their purchasing power and sales tax contribution. Those tenants have being begging the council members to enact an ordinance to stop the many greedy landlords from increasing rents whenever they want, in the exorbitant

adolescent psychiatric units and that proposed operating a facility to be located at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose; EMQ Families First, a nonprofit that would expand a small facility it currently operates in Campbell for teens in crisis; and Bay Area Children’s Association (BACA), a San Jose nonprofit that provides adolescent psychiatric services. The El Camino-Packard-Kaiser submission emphasizes the importance and stability of a partnership of three leading regional health care providers. While no formal agreement yet exists among the entities, the response suggests that El Camino is prepared to temporarily incorporate the new adolescent facility into an already-planned mental health building scheduled to open in January 2018. By 2020, a separate 18-bed facility is envisioned that would be jointly operated by the three groups, presumably to spread the financial risk and encourage collaboration among physicians serving this relatively small, targeted patient group. The submission states that the facility would serve youth diagnosed with a broad range of disorders, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and substance abuse. It notes the expense and complexity of operating a secure psychiatric facility for teens, and suggests the size and financial resources of the three health care organizations are an important advantage. Stanford, Kaiser and El Camino are to be commended for stepping up and collaborating on a possible solution, as should the other three groups who responded. With Gentile’s perseverance in bringing this problem out into the open and educating the public, Simitian’s county initiative, and the submission of four possible solutions, the momentum to solve this problem is hopefully irreversible. There is no defensible reason our county should not be serving this vulnerable teen population. This editorial was first published in the Voice’s sister newspaper, the Palo Alto Weekly. amounts they want, and evicting families without a just cause. But instead, cowardly, most of the council members bowed their heads to the pressure of the money-insatiable landlords and real estate interests that financed their political campaigns when they ran for the council, and will do the same for those who are running for re-election in November. Just two days ago I talked to a young couple who were living with their children in the apartment complex “Las Palmas” on 657 Escuela Ave., paying $1,870 for a one-bedroom apartment. Their landlord increased the rent by $180

on March 1, and told them to vacate the apartment by April 1. They told him that by law he was supposed to give them at least 30 days’ notice to vacate. He told them that they could stay until April 30, but increased their rent again. This time by $450, to $2,500, on April 1. Luckily they found a two-bedroom apartment at another complex close by for $2,800. There they had to pay $2,800 x 3 — $8,400 (one-month deposit, first month’s rent, and one month in advance). Job Lopez McCarty Avenue

3378 Vernon Terrace, Palo Alto Offered at $1,988,000 Quiet Charmer in Desirable Location A serene neighborhood holds this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home of 1,763 sq. ft. (per county) that includes a lot of 5,985 sq. ft. (per county). Featuring hardwood floors and abundant storage, this charming home also includes an attached two-car garage. The fine interior provides an office, an eat-in kitchen, and a living/dining ensemble with a fireplace, while the backyard is private and newly landscaped. Stroll to Seale Park and Palo Verde Elementary (API 961) from this convenient location (buyer to verify eligibility). For more information, please contact: Michael Repka 650.488.7325 | michael@deleonrealty.com 速

For video tour & more photos, please visit:

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April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

Arts&Events MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE

Shakespearian silliness PEAR’S ‘BEARD OF AVON’ IS A WITTY WINNER By Karla Kane

‘T

he Beard of Avon,” Pear Theatre’s latest offering, is a hilarious take on William Shakespeare and the ongoing questions regarding the authorship of his canon. Brainy and bawdy in equal measure, it’s one of the must-see productions of the season. Will Shakspere (Dante Belletti) of rural Stratford-upon-Avon has a natural genius for poetry, incredible emotional sensitivity and big dreams of life on the stage. However, he’s also prematurely bald, barely literate, impoverished and stuck in the boonies with a fraught marriage to his weary, promiscuous wife Anne (Caitlin Papp). Meanwhile, Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford (Michael Champlin), has led a glamorous life of luxury and debauchery and is a favorite of Queen Elizabeth (Doll Piccotto), but what he really loves is writing. His secret, unpublished work is full of interesting storylines but lacking in warmth and human touch. His high-ranking court position also precludes him from being able to openly hobnob in the lowbrow theater world other than as a patron. So we have diamond-in-therough Will and rough-in-thediamond Oxford both wishing they could work their ways onto the stage. Oxford has the literary know-how and plot points; Will has the wordplay and warmth

Theater Review that can make language sing. Can the two join forces (with a quick name change to the grander-sounding “Shakespeare”) and form a partnership that may provide the English-speaking world with its greatest works of literature? You know that they say: When there’s a Will, there’s a way. “The Beard of Avon” was written by a local — Amy Freed, artist in residence in Stanford University’s Theater and Performance Studies Department. She’s based the play on the real-life debate over attribution of Shakespeare’s oeuvre. Was the Bard, in fact, someone’s “beard?” To this day, many believe an uneducated country bumpkin like Shakespeare could never have come up with the rich, sophisticated, immortal works of literature that bear his name. Proponents of the so-called Oxfordian theory of authorship argue that de Vere had the right qualifications, connections and skills, but there have also been many other candidates put forward, including the Virgin Queen herself. Freed manages to cleverly interweave and lend credence to many of these theories while also appreciating Shakespeare’s own innate genius, and does so with a brilliant, madcap script that mixes in Shakespearean references and tropes (disguis-

RAY RENATI

Eager Will Shakspere (left, Dante Belletti) looks on while the Earl of Oxford (Michael Champlin) and Nicolae Muntean scheme in “The Beard of Avon” at the Pear Theatre.

Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q April 22, 2016

RAY RENATI

Queen Elizabeth (Doll Piccotto) scolds her favorite nobleman, Oxford (Michael Champlin), in “The Beard of Avon” at the Pear Theatre.

ing one’s identity, for instance), pseudo-Elizabethan language and modern theater terms. Ye olde work inbox, for example, is called an “incoming bucket,” while spotlight-stealing Will is told not to “pull focus.” A character known for his homosexual leanings is told, after seducing a woman, “But you liketh not even girls!” Will’s first on-stage role is as a “spear shaker.” Yep, he literally shakes a spear. It’s silly stuff, and gloriously so, with the right blend of phallic humor and witty wordplay. Sticklers for historical accuracy will no doubt find much to quibble with, but Freed’s play is all in good fun rather than purporting to be any kind of scholarly commentary. Suspend disbelief and just enjoy the buffoonery; one must assume the Bard himself would have. Comparisons to the Oscar-winning film “Shakespeare in Love,” by playwright Tom Stoppard, are inevitable — and apt. The Pear Theatre’s version of “Beard,” skillfully directed by Karen Altree Piemme, more than does justice to Freed — and the Bard — with this production. The cast is across-the-board excellent, with many members tackling multiple roles, including wonderfully talented Palo Alto High School junior Jason Pol-

lack, who takes on three parts. Champlin makes the murderous, gleefully depraved Oxford, who cannot express emotion, a nevertheless entirely appealing and loveable rogue. Belletti’s Will is naive and earnest — so heartfelt in his pure enthusiasm for language and stagecraft — and his facial expressions and reactions are priceless. Papp’s put-upon Anne Hathaway, aka Mrs. Shakspere, is a relatable and warmhearted spin on the real-life figure about whom little is known. Here, she’s a protofeminist and not afraid to speak up for herself while also loving her difficult hubby. And though Piccotto’s Queen Elizabeth isn’t in many scenes, she stands out in the fun and juicy role of a purportedly virgin sovereign who’s above earthly concerns but is really a mortal woman in search of pleasure, romance and connection, just like anyone. (She, in fact, may have written a little something we know as “The Taming of the Shrew.”) The play’s structure and Paulino Deleal’s set design make for a lot of scenery and prop changes. There were unusually long pauses between scenes, adding length to a show already pretty long. However, while this

may be smoothed out in future performances, it’s not necessarily entirely negative. Since it is a show about show business (“all the world’s a stage,” after all), it’s fitting to see some of the behind-the-scenes action. Plus, the incidental music, orchestral-string renditions of pop hits (think Huey Lewis, Nirvana, Lorde), makes for amusing listening. Though Shakespeare died 400 years ago this month, his work (or rather, the work published under his name) continues to inspire, intrigue and delight. Pear’s “The Beard of Avon” is a worthy addition to the greater Shakespearean galaxy. Play on! Email Interim Arts & Entertainment Editor Karla Kane at kkane@paweekly.com V

Q I N F O R M AT I O N What: “The Beard of Avon” When: Through April 24, Thursday - Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Where: Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. Cost: Tickets are $30/$25 for seniors and students. Info: Go to thepear.org.

A+E

A bawdy swashbuckler ‘CYRANO’ OFFERS NEW WIT, ENDURING PANACHE By Jeanie K. Smith

heatreWorks brings us the regional premiere of a new translation of Edmond Rostand’s classic play, “Cyrano,” breathing fresh life into the enduring tale of unrequited love. Strikingly modern in some scenes and for some characters, the translation and adaptation by Michael Hollinger and Aaron Posner still retains the poetic feel of the original, while avoiding rhymed couplets (except for emphasis). Given new language, superb production values, and an excellent ensemble, this “Cyrano” swashes cross the wide Mountain View stage with style and panache, proving again why we love the witty rogue. First written and performed in 1897, Rostand’s tale has been translated and adapted numerous times, into plays, movies, ballet, opera and even comic books. Brave, daring and witty leader of the Gascony Guard Cyrano de Bergerac (here played by J. Anthony Crane) is cursed with a large nose, but compensates with intelligence and erudition, and is valued as a true and loyal friend by Ragueneau the Baker (Christopher Rebar) and Le Bret (Michael Gene Sullivan). His guardsmen both revere and

Theater Review fear him, for his prowess with the sword is as renowned as his nose is big, and he’s quick to eliminate his enemies with little provocation.

Cyrano’s bravado hides a raging fire of insecurity, his conviction that no one could ever love him. Hopelessly smitten with the beautiful Roxane (Sharon Rietkerk), Cyrano admires her from a distance (even though they grew up together), certain that she could never love an unattractive man. When Roxane asks to see him, his heart leaps with hope but crashes again when she reveals that she has fallen for a new guardsman, Christian (Chad Deverman), and seeks Cyrano’s help in protecting him from the usual hazing of new recruits. She also wants Christian to begin a clandestine correspon-

COURTESY OF KEVIN BERNE/THEATREWORKS

Cyrano (J. Anthony Crane) woos by moonlight in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s current production.

COURTESY OF KEVIN BERNE/THEATREWORKS

Le Bret (Michael Gene Sullivan) warns Cyrano (J. Anthony Crane) in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s current production.

dence, hoping he will speak of love to her. Christian indeed loves Roxane but knows he is not blessed with the art of language, and so despairs — until Cyrano convinces him that they can woo Roxane together. He will write the letters for Christian that will win her heart. Thus begins the central plot device, one that will unfold with amusing and then devastating consequences for all involved. Rostand elevates his tale to more than one of deception and unrequited love, however, and Hollinger and Posner give Cyrano modern dialogue that highlights his true condition — his cowardice. Cyrano’s bravado hides a raging fire of insecurity, his conviction that no one could ever love him, certainly not the beautiful Roxane; so he languishes behind a mask, never revealing himself until too late. In a sense, all three main characters wear masks, to others and to themselves as well, ensuring their failure to find what they seek. This timeless caution still speaks to a modern audience, urging us to shed our own disguises in pursuit of our heart’s desire. The ensemble is truly up to the formidable action of the play, enlivening witty dialogue with superb comic skills and excellent swordplay (directed by Jonathan Rider). Reber, Stephen Muterspaugh, Kit Wilder, Darren Bridgett and Monica Cappuccini all play several roles to

great effect; Bridgett makes a great drunk; Wilder capers from fighting fop to Gascony guard; Cappuccini runs the gamut from groundling to nun, particularly fun as Roxane’s duenna; and Muterspaugh amuses as a hapless theatre producer. Peter James Meyers inhabits the somewhat thankless role of De Guiche, Roxane’s would-be suitor, with aplomb and gravitas, managing some sympathy by the end. Sullivan narrates our tale and props up Cyrano when needed, and Reber gets in some good zingers as the sidekick. Deverman delights as the youthful guardsman, by turns brave or bumbling when faced with a fray or a “real girl.” Crane is marvelously matched to the character of Cyrano, alternating fluidly between melancholy and anger, hope and despair, all the while philosophizing in witty metaphors. He wears the confidence of a master swordsman well, and yet reveals his selfdoubt with aching vulnerability. Reitkerk is suitably saucy and demanding, utterly believable in the varied phases of Roxane’s growth. Joe Ragey’s gorgeous sets not only give us numerous locations, they make use of the wide stage in an epic sweep of fabric, romantic moonshine, and autumn leaves, conjuring a fantastic, fabled journey, a story in time and space rather than mired in pedantic reality — so

gloriously fitting for the largerthan-life character of Cyrano, the epic sweep of his timeless tale. Costumes by Fumiko Bielefeldt and lighting by Pamila Z. Gray beautifully enhance the overall spectacle of the show. At times it was difficult to hear actors, even though they were miked; especially true of Reitkerk and Crane, this was a puzzling and frustrating distraction. Despite the new translation, the play feels a little creaky in sections that have always been problematic, particularly the last scene that goes on for days. But “Cyrano” continues to live in our collective cultural mind for good reason, and this production gives us great proof of why. V

Q I N F O R M AT I O N What: “Cyrano,” presented by TheatreWorks Where: Mountain View Center for Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View When: Through May 1, with 7:30 p.m. shows Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 7 p.m. Sundays Cost: Tickets range from $25 to $80. Info: Go to theatreworks.org or call 650-463-1960.

April 22, 2016 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q

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