Palo Alto Weekly 11.27.2009 - Section1 by Palo Alto Weekly

Palo Alto

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Alvarez found guilty of killing Officer May Page 3

w w w.PaloA ltoOnline.com

Palo Altans experience brilliant colors and fall traditions PAGE 20

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Spectrum 16 Movies 28 Eating Out 31 Crossword/Sudoku 48 N Arts Arts Cafe series kicks off at new JCC

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N Sports Stanford needs Luck against the Irish

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N Home Home tour spotlights ‘green’ Christmas

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Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

Packard Children’s Heart Center

Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Stanford School of Medicine

Packard Children’s Hospital

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In 1984, we gave 2-year-old Lizzy Craze a new heart. Twenty-ﬁve years later, she’s one of the longest surviving transplant patients - and she’s thriving. Today, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has one of the nation’s largest pediatric heart transplant programs. Together, we continue to pioneer new treatments that reduce the need for heart biopsies, explore drug therapies that eliminate the need for transplants for many patients, and sustain patients who await transplants. Visit lpch.org to see how we work together.

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Upfront

Local news, information and analysis

Alvarez found guilty of first-degree murder Man who killed police Officer Richard May could face death penalty or life in prison by Gennady Sheyner lberto Alvarez, 26, who killed East Palo Police Officer Richard May in 2006, was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday and is now guaranteed to spend the rest of his life in prison or face the death penalty. The only question that still re-

mains to be answered is whether Alvarez will face a life sentence or death. It took the jury less than six hours to reach its verdict, which was announced shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Redwood City courtroom packed with May’s rela-

tives, friends and fellow officers. The sentencing phase of the trial is scheduled to begin next Thursday. May’s sister, Tami McMillan, said the family felt “relieved and overwhelmed” by the verdict, which she said vindicated May’s faith in the justice system. She said she was shocked by the speed of the jury’s deliberations, which came just hours after the closing arguments. Whether Alvarez shot and killed May was never in doubt. But the

defense argued throughout the case that Alvarez, a convicted felon, shot May in self-defense after May used excessive force. Alvarez testified during the trial that May shot him in the thigh as he attempted to run away from the officer because he feared he would return to prison for being a felon in possession of a gun. The defense also maintained that May did not have probable cause for stopping Alvarez.

The jury speedily rejected that argument and concurred with the prosecution’s position that Alvarez acted deliberately and willfully when he shot and killed May. Jurors had the option of finding Alvarez guilty on one of several lesser charges, including second-degree murder, justifiable homicide or voluntary manslaughter. But after a month-long trial that (continued on page 5)

COMMUNICATIONS

Palo Alto, Comcast dispute Internet fees City, neighbors say company’s proposed rates are ‘excessive’ by Gennady Sheyner

Veronica Weber

COMMUTE OPTIONS A cyclist walks his bike in the tunnel underneath the tracks at the University Avenue Caltrain station, just as a northbound train stops to pick up passengers during the evening commute on Tuesday.

HOLIDAY FUND

A court of opportunity East Palo Alto Youth Court aims to point young offenders in a positive direction by Royston Sim

ast Palo Alto resident Tasia Lacey, 15, faced a jury of her peers in court this August and argued against five youths who broke the city’s curfew law. After deliberating, the peer jury sentenced the five youths to perform community service for their offense. As part of their sentence, they will also be required to serve on the jury for future trials. This trial was not a scene from juvenile court, where a judge decides a youth’s sentence, but the East Palo Alto Youth Court — a communitybased restorative justice program that is almost entirely run by youths for youths. Youth Courts are an alternative to the juvenile justice system.

More than 40 Youth Courts operate in California; there are more than 1,300 nationwide. Funded in part through the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, the East Palo Alto Youth Court gives young offenders a chance to make amends for minor offenses and stay out of the juvenile-justice system. Young offenders who are referred to Youth Court must first admit the facts of their offense before they are brought before a jury of their peers, who evaluate them and decide the sentence they should receive. Common “restorative” punishments include community service to programs such as Collective Roots, writing letters of apology, attending classes or programs, and serving on

future Youth Court juries, Youth Court Executive Director Leeor Neta said. “This program is about how to mend harm and restore a young person to the community,” Neta said. “This is something that really endeavors to welcome them back into society.” Youths who complete their sentences will avoid juvenile hall and having a record, and some may be rewarded with a job incentive. Serving on the jury really resonates with youths, said retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, who presided over several mock trials and the Youth Court’s first trial in May. “Once they had been subjects of the system, and now they’re going to be part of the solution,” Cordell, a former Palo Alto City Council member, said. “I see (the Youth Court) as changing lives, breaking stereotypes that kids have of police and police have on kids,” Cordell said. “It’s a winwin in every possible way.” Serving as an advocate for the community during that trial in August, (continued on page 7)

alo Alto and its neighbors on the Peninsula are scrambling to keep affordable high-speed Internet in place at schools, city halls and other public facilities after Comcast has proposed to drastically raise service fees next summer. The cable giant is currently charged with running the Institutional Network (I-Net), a fiber-optic cable network that connects 70 public facilities in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Atherton and portions of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. A preliminary proposal lists fees of $2,200 to $3,300 per month per site, meaning that the Palo Alto Unified School District’s annual bill for its 20 I-Net sites could be between $528,000 and $792,000. Ravenswood City School District’s annual bill for its 12 sites could be between $316,800 and $475,000. But officials emphasize those are preliminary proposals subject to serious negotiations. Since 2006, 51 of the 70 connections in Palo Alto and its partners in the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) have been gradually activated (or “lighted”). The network enables voice, video and data communication internally and between the sites, according to a recent staff report. But a recently passed state law and Comcast’s recent proposal is threatening to make I-Net much costlier for local schools, community centers and other public buildings. The agreement between the cities and Comcast expires in July 2010 and Comcast’s proposed rates for future I-Net service has been characterized by Palo Alto officials as excessive and unreasonable. But Palo Alto, which negotiates cable rates on behalf of the coalition, may have little leverage in its negotiations with Comcast. The Digital In-

frastructure and Video Completion Act (DIVCA), which state legislators passed in 2006, has taken away local agencies’ powers to negotiate franchise agreements and placed that power in the hands of the California Public Utilities Commission. The state law also specified that existing cable franchise agreements would not be enforceable after their expiration dates. The agreement between Comcast and the Joint Powers Authority (the coalition) expires in July 2010. Melissa Cavallo, cable coordinator for the JPA, said in a recent report that officials have been meeting with Comcast for the past five months in hopes of extending I-Net service beyond July 2010. On Oct. 16, Cavallo sent Comcast a letter lamenting the lack of “forward progress in developing reasonable options” for continued use of I-Net. The cities, the letter notes, are “disappointed and frustrated by Comcast’s unwillingness to respond meaningfully” to the cities’ I-Net concerns. The loss of I-Net would hit East Palo Alto particularly hard. The city lies close to sea level, which makes use of underground copper wires for Internet service extremely unreliable. According to Cavallo’s letter to Comcast, the Internet network at East Palo Alto schools frequently went down before I-Net was installed. When this happened, the letter notes, “school principals would have to scramble and use cell phones to receive calls from frantic parents who could not communicate with their child’s school.” “The adverse educational impact on our students of not having access to the I-Net fiber bandwidth will be substantial,” Cavallo said in the letter. “For the last several years, we have strived to use technology to ac(continued on page 15)

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Upfront

PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Jocelyn Dong, Managing Editor Carol Blitzer, Associate Editor Keith Peters, Sports Editor Tyler Hanley, Express™ and Online Editor Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Chris Kenrick, Gennady Sheyner, Staff Writers Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor Karla Kane, Editorial Assistant Veronica Weber, Staff Photographer Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Bentson, Colin Becht, Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, Sheila Himmel, Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Renata Polt, Jeanie Forte Smith, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors Royston Sim, John Squire, Editorial Interns Be’eri Moalem, Arts & Entertainment Intern DESIGN Shannon Corey, Design Director Raul Perez, Assistant Design Director Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Scott Peterson, Paul Llewellyn, Senior Designers Laura Don, Gary Vennarucci, Designers PRODUCTION Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager Dorothy Hassett, Blanca Yoc, Sales & Production Coordinators ADVERTISING Walter Kupiec, Advertising Director Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Asst. Judie Block, Janice Hoogner, Gary Whitman, Display Advertising Sales Kathryn Brottem, Real Estate Advertising Sales Joan Merritt, Real Estate Advertising Asst. David Cirner, Irene Schwartz, Inside Advertising Sales Alicia Santillan, Classified Administrative Asst.

W E A LT H M A N AG E M E N T

EXPRESS, ONLINE AND VIDEO SERVICES Rachel Palmer, Online Operations Coordinator Molly Stenhouse, Online Sales Consultant

Business | Personal

BUSINESS Mona Salas, Manager of Payroll & Benefits Elena Dineva, Mary McDonald, Sana Sarfaraz, Cathy Stringari, Doris Taylor, Business Associates

business needs: good information, trusted colleagues, confidentiality

ADMINISTRATION Amy Renalds, Assistant to the Publisher & Promotions Director Janice Covolo, Receptionist; Ruben Espinoza, Jorge Vera, Couriers EMBARCADERO PUBLISHING CO. William S. Johnson, President Michael I. Naar, Vice President & CFO Walter Kupiec, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Frank A. Bravo, Director, Information Technology & Webmaster Connie Jo Cotton, Major Accounts Sales Manager Bob Lampkin, Director, Circulation & Mailing Services Alicia Santillan, Susie Ochoa, Circulation Assistants Chris Planessi, Chip Poedjosoedarmo, Computer System Associates Lisa Trigueiro, Assistant to the Webmaster

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The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every Friday by Embarcadero Publishing Co., 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County. The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered free to homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and to portions of Los Altos Hills. If you are not currently receiving the paper, you may request free delivery by calling 326-8210. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Copyright ©2009 by Embarcadero Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Printed by SFOP, Redwood City. The Palo Alto Weekly is available on the Internet via Palo Alto Online at: www.PaloAltoOnline.com Our e-mail addresses are: editor@paweekly.com, letters@paweekly.com, ads@paweekly.com. Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? Call 650 326-8210, or e-mail circulation@paweekly. com. You may also subscribe online at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $60/yr.

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City/Zip: _______________________________ Mail to: Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610. Palo Alto CA 94302

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210

All programs are on hold, indefinitely. — Susie Ord, community outreach officer, on nearcertain cuts within the Palo Alto Police Department. See story on page 5.

Around Town WE WANT UNCLE BEAR BACK ... Castilleja School students and alumnae have raised a chorus of protest over the unexplained absence from campus of longtime arts, film and drama teacher Bear Capron. “Uncle Bear” Capron, in the midst of overseeing the school’s fall production, “Twelfth Night,” disappeared from campus in late October. The popular teacher’s absence has sparked heartfelt letters to school trustees and a 455-member Facebook group pleading for his return and testifying to his impact on students over two decades. “Anyone who has ever interacted with him cannot help but feel the caring and inspiration that he radiates,” wrote Jessica Feinstein from the Class of 2002. Added Melissa Palmer, ‘09: “Bear Capron is one of the most utilized personal mentors on campus.” From former student Eleanor Liu: “Mr. Capron made us laugh daily. He comforted us; he taught us — by his stories and through his actions — to act for what we believed in. He taught us to find our hearts, on stage and off.” Capron’s phone message recording states he is “on leave of absence and will not be checking his voicemail.” Head of School Joan Lonergan assured the Castilleja community in early November that Capron “is in good health.” “He and I have been engaged in some extended, confidential discussions,” Lonergan said, adding that she hoped to share more “in a week or so.” More than two weeks later, the school still had no further comment. WHO’S CALLING? ... Palo Alto residents received phone calls this week from someone asking an awful lot of questions. When asked to identify himself, one caller said he was with “Topical Research,” a surveying firm. But he claimed not to know the client for whom he was asking the plethora of questions. One might make a reasonable guess, however, based on the tenor of the queries. While starting off in a general fashion (“What do you think is the most important issue facing Palo Alto?”) the survey then hones in on the rate of Stanford University’s

growth, the need for housing in the community and the proposed expansion of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the main hospital. It finally gets down to brass tacks, querying the survey-taker on how generous or stingy he or she would feel Stanford is if the university provided a certain dollar amount of community benefits, such as transportation, affordable housing and free medical services. Lest anyone doubt that a PR campaign is being shaped by the answers to the questions, the survey also asks the resident which groups in town they respect or are suspicious of. Among the choices: all three Palo Alto news organizations. HAPPY HAULING ... Palo Altans love their garbage collectors. For the fourth year in a row, the city has received a Voice of the People Award for garbage collection from the International City/ County Manager’s Association and the National Research Center. Public Works Director Glenn Roberts accepted the award, along with a round of applause, at the Nov. 16 meeting of the City Council. The award is based on a survey that the NRC conducted last year. RECREATIONAL LOTTERY ... It’s never too early for Palo Alto parents to start thinking about their children’s summer-camp plans. The city’s has moved up its randomized registration for summer camps to Jan. 14, about two months earlier than in previous years. On Jan. 15, the city’s Community Service Department plans to conduct “The Draw,” a random drawing to select participants in the city’s broad range of summer camps. Results will be mailed out Jan. 18. To inform residents about the city’s summer programs, the department has mailed out the Summer Camps and Aquatics Guide 2010 along with the Winter Enjoy! catalog. Those who miss the deadline for “The Draw” could still register in person, by mail, by fax or online starting Jan. 21 (Jan. 28 for nonresidents). Residents who would like more information may call 650-463-4900. N

Upfront TRANSPORTATION

Local architect calls for design competition for high-speed rail Courtesy of Bellomo Architects

Joseph Bellomo asks High-Speed Rail Authority to open design to international competition by Gennady Sheyner oseph Bellomo has a simple proposal for the California HighSpeed Rail Authority: Leave the design of the proposed highspeed rail to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brightest designers. Bellomo, a Palo Alto architect whose projects emphasize modular construction, energy efficiency and sustainable design, laments that the design of the controversial 800-mile rail line has so far been dominated by teams of engineers, each working on a separate segment of the line. So while other local architects, urban planners and concerned residents are busy lobbying the state for underground tunnels, Bellomo advocates a different approach for selecting the design of the proposed line â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an international design competition. Last month, Bellomo sent a letter to the rail authority, the state agency charged with building the $45 billion rail line, proposing a twotiered international competition in which architects and designers from around the world would send in proposed designs for the entire line. The proposals would be narrowed to three finalists whose ideas would be further developed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only way to get good design, holistic design, is through competition,â&#x20AC;? Bellomo said. Bellomo said the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing his proposal. Similar calls for competition have also recently popped up in Los

Angeles, he said. Around Palo Alto, Bellomo is best known for his work near University Circle, including new office buildings at 102 and 116 University Ave. and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;corporate cafeâ&#x20AC;? at the former Facebook building. But transportation has never been far from his mind.

Alvarez

ily is relieved to know that the man who killed their husband, father and friend will never be free again. Alvarez looked calm and composed when the verdict was announced, but several members of Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family had tears in their eyes as they filed out of the crowded courtroom. Diana May, Richard Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, said her family hopes Alvarez will some day feel remorse for his actions of nearly four years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing how many lives he has torn apart,â&#x20AC;? she said. She also said the family never doubted that her husband did nothing wrong before he was killed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all felt that Rich knew his job and he did it correctly,â&#x20AC;? she said. Officer Shante Williams, Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former partner and current member of the San Francisco Police Department, said Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verdict was a long time coming. The community, Williams said, lost a hero when May was killed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will celebrate Thanksgiving with something we can truly be thankful for,â&#x20AC;? Williams said. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

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featured 170 exhibits and 67 witnesses, the jury concluded that Alvarez was guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances, a charge that could bring the death penalty. Steve Wagstaffe, San Mateo County senior deputy district attorney, said he was surprised by how quickly the jury reached its verdict. He said the jury requested to read a transcript containing Alvarezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s description of the Jan. 7, 2006, incident. Less than half an hour later, the jury reached its decision. Wagstaffe said he believed the juryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deliberations ultimately came down to a simple choice: whether to believe Alvarez or the witnesses testifying on Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behalf. Wagstaffe said he expects the sentencing phase to take several weeks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m extremely pleased that the jurors could see through the defendantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lies and see that it was a case of an officer killed in the line of duty,â&#x20AC;? Wagstaffe said minutes after the verdict was announced. Wagstaffe also said Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fam-

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The only way to get good design, holistic design, is through competition.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Joe Bellomo, Palo Alto architect

Bellomo designed the awardwinning High Street parking structure and, more recently, he created the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bike Arcâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a sleek curved parking stand for bicycles. He coinvented the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bike Arcâ&#x20AC;? with Jeff Selzer, general manager of Palo Alto Bicycles, in an attempt to give parked bicycles more dignity. Bellomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision for the highspeed rail line combines some of the same elements that could be found in his local work: smooth curves, sweeping arcs and as many green elements as the system can support. His concept for an elevated

rail line would be powered through a â&#x20AC;&#x153;photovoltaic solar corridor,â&#x20AC;? a string of interconnected tubes and panels that Bellomo said would provide up to 25 million kilowatt hours of power per year. In addition to supporting the solar panels, the round corridor would also provide an acoustic screen, mitigating noise impacts of the speeding trains. Bellomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rail system would be supported by curved concrete beams about 40 feet apart. A â&#x20AC;&#x153;concrete dishâ&#x20AC;? would rest on top of the beams and support the speeding trains. Passenger platforms, elegant bike-parking structures and a continuous bike corridor further complement his design for the rail line, which would stretch initially from San Francisco to Los Angeles and ultimately from Sacramento to San Diego. He estimates the cost of the line to be $36 million per mile (or $28.8 billion for 800 miles). Bellomo acknowledged that his vision for a modular, energy-generating elevated rail line has a flurry of obstacles to overcome, both at state and local levels. The rail au-

Palo Alto architect Joe Bellomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision for high-speed rail calls for a modular, energy-generating elevated rail line, with smooth curves, sweeping arcs and many green elements. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d also like to see an international design competition.

thority is taking a piecemeal approach to designing the line, splitting it into eight separate segments. The agency is expected to release its alternatives analysis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a study of various possible alignments â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for the San Francisco-to-San Jose segment next month. Jeff Barker, deputy director for communication for the High-Speed Rail Authority, called Bellomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal an â&#x20AC;&#x153;interesting idea,â&#x20AC;? but noted that the authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors had not formally reviewed the proposal. Barker said the authority wants to make sure the communities along the proposed line have a say

in the design and not have any one company dictate what the entire line would look like. The authority plans to work closely with the communities before considering the final design, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you call around to a number of communities across the state, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d argue that they want to have a say in what the system will look like in their cities,â&#x20AC;? Barker said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an interesting idea, one worth looking at, but our default is to look to local populations in the neighborhoods through which the line will be running.â&#x20AC;? N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

COMMUNITY

City to lose community-outreach police services Neighborhood Watch, mediation programs to get axed by Sue Dremann

he first chop of the budget ax fell last Friday when longtime Community Outreach Officer Susie Ord announced the near-certain elimination of her position within the Palo Alto Police Department. Ord sent a letter to the public Nov. 19 announcing her retirement, effective Nov. 20, and the plans to cut her position. She served residents for 24 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a very bittersweet decision, one that had to be made in a very short time. It comes with sadness, but also a tremendous amount of joy and fulfillment in being able to do the work I loved so much,â&#x20AC;? she wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My position is identified to be eliminated to relieve budget issues. ... There are no plans to fill my position in the interim. ... At this time, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been asked to tell you that all programs are on hold, indefinitely,â&#x20AC;? she said. Programs to be cut include the Citizens Police Academy; Neighborhood Watch program; bicycle licensing; community outreach; HEADS UP newsletter; e-mail distribution list, which sends out bulletins, press releases and breaking an-

nouncements to residents; National Night Out citywide block party; and community liaison services, such as Palo Alto Mediation Services. Palo Alto is trying to close a $10 million deficit. The City Council and its Finance Committee will discuss the budget cuts from each department on Dec. 1. Other police programs that could face elimination and their expenditure reductions, according to an Oct. 5 city managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report, include: s 3CHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER WHO provides criminal- and non-criminal-activity intervention on school campuses â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $162,000 s #RIME ANALYST PROGRAM WHICH handles information related to crime trends â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $94,000 s 4RAFFIC TEAM FOUR POSITIONS Duties would be assumed by patrol units â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $626,000 Eliminating Ordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position would save $83,000, according to the report. Lydia Kou, emergency-preparedness committee chairperson for the Barron Park Association, said the Palo Alto Neighborhoods and Barron Park group worked closely with Ord. The Barron Park committee will

incorporate outreach activities, such as Neighborhood Watch, into the emergency-prep program, she said. But other programs, such as bicycle licensing, will be missed, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The e-mail distribution list is good for announcements. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for the community to know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening and to be watchful as well. A heads-up alert if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a burglary is helpful to the community,â&#x20AC;? she said. Kou, a former mediator through the Palo Alto Mediation Program, said elimination of that program â&#x20AC;&#x153;would be very sad if that goes away.â&#x20AC;? One of her personal concerns is how patrols would be impacted if cuts are made to the traffic team. Lt. Sandra Brown said the department does not know yet if cuts will be made to the traffic unit. The department is not at a point right now to comment publicly, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on standby. We want to make people calm. People are nervous about their positions,â&#x20AC;? she said. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at sdremann@paweek ly.com.

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Upfront EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

City hires guard for rail crossing Palo Alto police chief says outside company allows officers to attend to other duties by Jocelyn Dong

he Palo Alto Police Department has hired a security company to help monitor the West Meadow Drive rail intersection — a move the city hopes will discourage emotionally fragile youth from ending their lives there. Guards from Admiral Security Services of Oakland began work Monday and may continue through the end of the school year, according to Palo Alto Police Chief Dennis Burns. The guards were hired to patrol the crossing from morning to night during the hours the trains operate. Their job is to observe and report any suspicious activity to the Palo Alto police, Burns said. If a potential crisis arises, the guard is to contact police, who will relay the information immediately to Caltrain. At night, the guards have been instructed to bring a flashlight and binoculars to scan the tracks, he added. “I feel good about it,” Burns said. “Our staffing is such that we couldn’t guarantee an officer (would be stationed there) all the time. With this solution, we have someone out there.

We have someone to make a call.” Burns said the city has worked with Admiral Security Services before, and staff was pleased with the company’s work. Since May, four teens have lost their lives at West Meadow, an otherwise ordinary rail crossing used by thousands of cars, bicyclists and pedestrians each day. In response, parents and other residents in October formed “Palo Alto Track Watch,” a group whose members sit on the sidewalk near the crossing daily. Concerned that a “suicide cluster” had formed, the volunteers said they wanted their track monitoring to show teens how much people care. They also hoped their presence would change the attraction of the rail intersection and therefore break the cluster, they said. Volunteer-group leader Caroline Camhy Rothstein said she welcomes the new guards. “It will make a huge difference in making the area safe. We’re glad the city has done it,” she said. The group will continue its moni-

toring, focusing more at the Charleston Road and Churchill Avenue rail crossings, she said. So far, the volunteers have seen some teens who looked “a bit shaky” though none lingered on the tracks. “We’ve always believed that simply being out there, we cause people at risk to think ... (and) we’ve changed the outcome,” Camhy Rothstein said. The goal is for people who are experiencing troubles not to come to the tracks seeking an option but to turn to family members, friends or school resources, she added. Camhy Rothstein said she met and spoke with one guard Tuesday morning. “He’s a very hardworking person. ... He’s sincere about being out there. If there are days he’s not paid, he said he might come out anyway,” she said. The cost for a guard is $25 per hour, and the city is accepting donations to fund the program, according to Burns. Patrolling the crossing full-time with police officers would be “cost prohibitive.” Additional volunteer track monitors

are welcome, Camhy Rothstein said. In addition to the rail watch, another group of Palo Altans is asking Caltrain to slow its trains to 5 mph from West Meadow to Charleston. The petition, signed by about 80 people as of Tuesday afternoon, states Caltrain would take 4 seconds to pass the West Meadow crossing at 5 mph, instead of less than one second at 60 mph. The petition also states that changing the train speed is a short-term solution: “Slower trains now will give us time as a community to work together in launching a multi-factorial effort to curb teen depression and suicide over the long term.” The group plans to approach Caltrain at its Dec. 3 board meeting to raise its concerns. The petition can be found at www. ipetitions.com/petition/Slowthetrains/index.html. Donations to fund the West Meadow security guards can be sent to Barbara Teixeira, c/o Rail Crossing Watch Fund, Palo Alto Police Department, 275 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, CA, 94301. Information about volunteer track monitoring is available at http:// paloaltotrackwatch.weebly.com/ and hopepaloalto@gmail.com. N Managing Editor Jocelyn Dong can be e-mailed at jdong@paweek ly.com.

EDUCATION

Gunn students offer inspiring stories about themselves ‘Gives Me Hope’ website draws posts from alums, teachers, parents, kids by Chris Kenrick

n the wake of four devastating student suicides, students at Gunn High School are finding their spirits lifted by a little positive psychology. The five-week-old website “Henry M. Gunn Gives Me Hope” (HMGGMH) has inspired an outpouring of stories from students, alumni, teachers and parents about the good things, large and small, that transpire daily at the school. “Today I was kinda sad and I went to English class and my English teacher had a big box of donuts,” a student wrote. “After I ate the donut I was happy. HMGGMH.” A recent graduate wrote: “Today I was talking with my roommates in college and we started discussing our hometowns, where we come from

Correction

In the Weekly cover story “Hoho hum” (Nov. 20, 2009) it was incorrectly stated that complimentary Beatles products would be given away with purchases of the Beatles CD collection. The products, including T-shirts, games and album frames, are available for purchase and are not free. To request a correction, contact Managing Editor Jocelyn Dong at 650-326-8210, jdong@ paweekly.com or P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302.

and our high schools. After listening to everyone else’s stories I realized how truly amazing Gunn really is. I had so many friends who would never fit into the classifications like ‘jock,’ ‘nerd,’ ‘popular,’ or things like that. They were just themselves. I feel like all of Gunn is like that. “Thank you so much, Gunn, for making my high school years as amazing as they were. HMGGMH.” Gunn senior Joyce Liu created the website — modeled after a website called “Gives Me Hope” — in her room late at night on Oct. 20, soon after the fourth member of the Gunn community died at the Caltrain tracks since May. “A lot of Gunn students read ‘Gives Me Hope,’” Liu said. (After the fourth suicide) “people said reading it was helping them try to go forward. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we had something like that just for Gunn. There are a lot of really small things here that make people feel really nice, but we don’t necessarily record it, or remember to thank the person. “It’s a nice way for people to do that. It’s the really simple things that people do, but they just make you smile. If you ask anyone there, the people at Gunn are amazing.”

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Liu said she is “shocked, surprised and glad” about results of the website. Postings have come from around the world. She even got a posting from the originator of the “Gives Me Hope” website, which linked to hers. One student wrote last week: “As four-fifths of the students lined up for food today (Turkey Feast), I couldn’t help but think: this is amazing. It was unfathomable that Gunn parents cooked delicious turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pie, etc. — all home-made food for 2,000 people. And probably more, since teenagers tend to eat twice the amount of an adult. It made me smile. Turkey Feast, and the parents of HMG students, GMH.” Another wrote: “I moved to Henry M. Gunn this year after being physically and verbally abused by students at my old school. I have a learning disability and I never told anyone at HMG. One day after school when I was chatting with some HMG students, I let it slip that I had a learning disability. All was quiet for a second until a girl slipped her hand into mine and told me that I inspire her. That girl and I now help tutor at an after-school center for learning disabled kids. HMGGMH.” Liu said an inspiration for her website was Fred Luskin, a psychologist,

author and lecturer who spoke to Gunn seniors in October. Luskin, author of “Forgive for Good,” also directs the Stanford Forgiveness Projects. “He talked about how positive psychology can be beneficial for teenagers,” she said. “With all the suicides, everybody says we have to do suicide prevention. Ms. Likins (Gunn’s principal) is getting e-mails from all over telling her what she should do. “Mr. Luskin gave me the idea that positive psychology is a good thing in general and, in another way, works indirectly for suicide prevention if it makes you feel better about life.” Liu, a graduate of Ohlone Elementary School and JLS Middle School, works on Gunn’s student newspaper, The Oracle, plays lacrosse and is active in the French Club. She also helped launch a student group this fall called ROCK (Reach Out, Care and Know) after she and her “study buddy” Esther Han realized they had served as one another’s emotional “rock” following the suicides. In open signups, about 100 students have volunteered to act as the “ROCK” during their free periods. The volunteer sits at a table in the library with a ROCK sign, indicating his or her availability to talk with any student. “In general it increases the sense of communication around campus. At least people know that if they do need someone to talk to they are available. It also allows people to know that they’re doing something.” N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be e-mailed at ckenrick@paweekly.com.

Paly ‘egg war’ suspensions may be scrubbed Students told there will be no permanent record by Chris Kenrick tudents who were suspended for participating in Palo Alto High School’s “egg wars” have been told the suspensions will be removed from their permanent records if they behave well for the rest of the school year, parents report. Word of the new decision spread rapidly through friends of the 11 students given one- or two-day suspensions. “In the overall scheme of things, we need to keep this in perspective,” Superintendent Kevin Skelly said Tuesday in a meeting with the Weekly. He noted that only about 18 students have received any kind of disciplinary action out of hundreds in the junior and senior classes. Skelly said he, Principal Jacquie McEvoy and Assistant Superintendent Linda Common have been meeting with individual parents and families about the egg wars incident and follow-up investigation. The Oct. 27 incident, involving anywhere from 50 to 150 Paly juniors and seniors, left Gunn High School’s parking lot and sports facilities littered with broken eggs. The $3,200 professional clean-up bill will be covered by Paly, McEvoy has said. Eleven students received suspensions and another six or seven were assigned to community service. Suspended students also were required to perform community service, McEvoy said. The “egg wars,” an unauthorized tradition of Paly’s Spirit Week, was spontaneously moved to an area behind Gunn after students encountered police at the originally planned location, a eucalyptus grove on the Stanford University campus. McEvoy said she alerted Stanford police when she heard rumors of the pending egg fight because Stanford last year complained to her about the egg mess. McEvoy initially issued five-day suspensions but reduced them to oneand two-day suspensions, saying the egg fight had not been as serious as early reports led her to believe. Some Paly parents, upset by what they view as McEvoy’s harsh and reactive discipline style, have called for a district-level administrative and Board of Education probe of the investigation conducted by Paly administrators, including questioning techniques. Some parents are alleging that students were pressured to identify their friends, and cell phones were confiscated and call records searched. McEvoy has denied that improper questioning or searching of cellphone records has occurred. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be e-mailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

Upfront

Youth court (continued from page 3)

Lacey is one of several Youth Court staff members that act as attorneys, bailiffs and clerks during trials. “Helping kids make amends with the community feels so, so good,” Lacey, an aspiring attorney and Menlo-Atherton High School student, said. She said the program has made her a better law student and helped her mature. “When we’re dealing with a case, we’re dealing with someone’s life,” Lacey said. “We can’t play with that.” Youth Court members meet twice a week at the East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy on Bay Road, where they receive tutoring from Stanford law students, take lessons on juvenile justice and practice for Youth Court trials, Neta said. Still in its infant stages, the program was started this year and is currently seeking approval to operate as a formal diversion program for San Mateo County. Neta said he expects a regular stream of cases when trials resume next spring. The East Palo Alto Youth Court has received past funding from the Weekly Holiday Fund, All Stars Helping Kids, The Peery Foundation and other organizations. Additional funds this year would be used to provide training for Youth Court staff, arrange visits from speakers and pay for field trips to conferences, Neta said.

“We can go on doing what we’re doing, helping students and children out there,” Lacey said. Last year’s $7,500 grant from the Weekly’s Holiday Fund helped fund five Youth Court members’ trip to Southern California for the Fourth Annual California Association of Youth Courts Summit in June. Lacey was one of the five. The program was born out of months of careful planning between various stakeholders such as Cordell, former East Palo Alto mayor Patricia Foster, East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis, San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and public-interest attorney Peggy Stevenson. While the program presently only accepts youths with minor offenses such as non-gang-related graffiti, curfew violations and petty theft, Cordell said the goal is to eventually obtain referrals for more serious offenses such as assault. “We want to ensure kids have opportunities to succeed,” board president Cleveland Prince said. “I believe in the future of every child that I come into contact with.” N Editorial Intern Royston Sim can be e-mailed at rsim@paweekly.com. The Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund supports local nonprofit organizations, and the campaign runs through mid-January. Contributors may make checks payable to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund and send them to PAW Holiday Fund, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302, or donate online through www.PaloAltoOnline.com.

Online This Week

These and other news stories were posted on Palo Alto Online throughout the week. For longer versions, go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com/news or click on “News” in the left, green column.

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New dance studio unveiled at Children’s Theatre The completion of a newly renovated dance studio in the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre complex will provide more than 500 dance students and performers with a space for performance rehearsals and dance classes annually. (Posted Nov. 24 at 3:41 p.m.)

NASA Ames breakthrough: algae makes biofuel Thanks to technology developed at Moffett Field’s NASA Ames, fuel for cars, trucks and planes can now be produced at your local sewage treatment plant. (Posted Nov. 24 at 11:02 a.m.)

Man beaten, robbed at Mountain View 7-Eleven Police say a 40-year-old Mountain View man was beaten and robbed by four attackers in a 7-Eleven parking lot Sunday evening. (Posted Nov.

www.McRoskey.com

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Miss California USA crown eludes Paly grad Enduring a grueling schedule this weekend, Palo Alto High School graduate and “Miss Palo Alto” Amy Rogg remained upbeat despite failing to win the title of Miss California USA Sunday afternoon. “I’m happy just to be in it,” Rogg, 23, told the Weekly in an interview Sunday night. (Posted Nov. 23 at 2:25 p.m.)

Elegant and Versatile Italian Wool Throw.

Firefighters respond to gas leak on Cambridge

Visit McRoskey online for more holiday gift ideas.

A gas leak on Cambridge Avenue in Palo Alto prompted city officials to shut off gas service to area businesses Monday afternoon. (Posted Nov. 23 at 12:24 p.m.)

Atherton resident dies in homebuilt-plane crash

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Atherton resident and attorney Gary Lampert, 58, died after his experimental aircraft caught fire and crashed north of an apple orchard near Watsonville Saturday, according to the Santa Cruz County coroner’s office and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (Posted Nov. 23 at 5:58 a.m.)

Want to get news briefs e-mailed to you every weekday? Sign up for Express, our new daily e-edition. Go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com to sign up.

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Trader Joe’s opens on December 4!

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s we plan for the holiday season, we reflect upon the fine selection of local businesses that serve our community’s needs so well. Palo Alto boasts a wide variety of retail stores that offer gifts to meet the tastes and budgets of just about everyone… from shops located in neighborhood centers to California Avenue and Downtown to our regional shopping centers that provide unique one-of-a-kind art pieces to high-style designer clothing… and holiday decorations and cards to the most delectable baked goods or special ingredients for your family celebrations. It’s all here in Palo Alto. Since the holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, it’s a great time to take advantage of Palo Alto’s many restaurants… to save time for yourself or to entertain friends and family. No matter where you shop in Palo Alto, you’ll find eateries to satisfy your hunger. And when you “shop local” you support your community in more ways than one. Not only do you support the vitality of local

shops, restaurants and their employees, you participate in building community. When you shop Downtown this holiday season, you can participate in one of the many events planned for the renovated Lytton Plaza. You can help the California Avenue merchants support the Toys for Tots drive on Sunday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. when Santa arrives on the Cal Train. Town & Country Shopping Center businesses will match your food donations to the Second Harvest Food Bank pound for pound starting November 23 and Stanford Shopping Center will support area nonproﬁts Home and Hope, SV2 and the East Palo Alto Academy through gift wrapping services, gift tag sales and hot chocolate sales through the holiday shopping season. When you shop, eat and have fun in Palo Alto this holiday season you help to ensure that our businesses will continue to be an integral part of the distinctive character of our home. Thank you for shopping and dining locally!

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W AY S T O G I V E , M U S I C , T H E AT E R , F A M I LY A C T I V I T I E S A N D S P E C I A L E V E N T S

Today’s news, sports & hot picks

Volunteers are needed to support distribution programs. Monetary donations are also welcome, as are donations of food, toys and clothing. A schedule of volunteer opportunities is available online. To sign up or to get more information, visit www. csacares.org/, email Alison Hopkins at ahopkins@csacares.org or call 650-964-4630. 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View.

Cops That Care The Mountain View Police Department is now accepting new, unwrapped toys and clothing as well as gift cards and cash. This program is designed for families in Mountain View that are unable to purchase gifts for their children this holiday season. Donations can be brought directly to the police department. For more information about this program, contact 650-903-6344. 1000 Villa St., Mountain View.

InnVision Donations of new books and toys are needed for distribution through the annual “Holiday Toy Shoppe.”

Donate New, Unwrapped Gifts to the InnVision Holiday Toy and Teen Shoppe The InnVision Holiday Toy & Teen Shoppe enables clients to participate in the giving from the heart tradition of the Holiday Season. The week before Christmas, family members select from thousands of donated gifts to give to their loved ones for the holidays. Need a gift idea? Visit us at www.InnVision.org

Donations may be dropped off at the following sites: Opportunity Services Ctr. 33 Encina Avenue Palo Alto M-F 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 650.853.8672 Georgia Travis Ctr. 297 Commercial St. San Jose M-F 12:30 PM – 3:30PM 408.453.3124 Want to Volunteer? Contact Jaynie Neveras JNeveras @InnVision.org 408.292.4286 x 1018

Benefiting Homeless Individuals and Families at 20 sites throughout Silicon Valley This space donated as a community service by the Palo Alto Weekly

Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos.

Board Games | Sports Equipment | Arts & Crafts | PreͲschool Toys | Books

Where to give

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California Avenue Shopping District merchants welcome one and all to ring in the Holiday Season at 7:30 on Sunday, December 6, when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on the Holiday Train at the Cal Ave Caltrain depot. The Holiday Train is bedecked with 40,000 lights and festooned with decorations as it makes its annual run from San Francisco. The Salvation Army Brass Band and a live chorus will lead caroling from a special car on the train. Bins are available to donate new, unwrapped toys and books for the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves ”Toys for Tots” program and the Salvation Army toy drive to beneﬁt needy Bay Area children.

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Donors are also needed to â&#x20AC;&#x153;adoptâ&#x20AC;? families and individual clients

Dec. 3 & 4 3-7:30 p.m.

through donations of gifts and gift cards. Donations of canned food and

coffee are also welcome. Visit www. innvision.org, e-mail donating@innvision.org or call 650-324-5357. Food donations are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All food donations can go 425 Hamilton address at the All Saints Church. Toys and other gifts can be sent to the Opportunity Center at 33 Encina Ave, Palo Alto.

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Raise money for a nonprofit catrescue organization and Palo Alto Animal Services on Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 4 p.m., by bringing pets to have their pictures taken with Santa Claus. All proceeds benefit Itty Bitty Orphan Kitty Rescue (IBOK) and its emergency medical fund. Photos are $10 for one, $15 for two, and all participants receive a free thank-you gift from Pet Food Express. Throughout the month of December, the store is also offering a â&#x20AC;&#x153;giving tree,â&#x20AC;? with proceeds benefiting Palo Alto Animal Services and IBOK. Customers can make donations of foods and toys after selecting ornaments from the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas tree. Visit www.petfoodexpress.com or call 650-856-6666. 3910 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

PETCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tree of Hope Fundraiser

Reiki Â&#x152; Feldenkrais Â&#x152; Podiatry Screenings Â&#x152; Health Information Â&#x152; Massage Hypnotherapy Â&#x152; Acupuncture Holiday gift certificates available! For more information, please call (650) 289-5400 or visit www.avenidas.org.

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Explore our affordable Health & Wellness options!

HOLIDAY FAIR Fine Crafts U Local Artists December 11, 12, 13, 2009 Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10-5 Hoover House (aka â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Girl Scout Houseâ&#x20AC;?) 1120 Hopkins, Palo Alto for information: 650-625-1736 or TheArtifactory@aol.com

Through Dec. 24, PETCO stores are selling ornament cards in denominations of $1, $5, $10 or $20 to benefit the PETCO Foundation for orphaned animals. Donations may also be made online. Visit www.petco.com or call 650-966-1233. 1919 El Camino Real, Mountain View.

Ronald McDonald House at Stanford The house has holiday â&#x20AC;&#x153;giving ornamentsâ&#x20AC;? (with one needed item listed on each ornament) available for decorating office Christmas trees or other holiday displays. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;wishlistâ&#x20AC;? items are also displayed online. New, unwrapped gifts should be brought to the house. Monetary donations and volunteers are always appreciated as well. For information on obtaining and using the â&#x20AC;&#x153;giving ornaments,â&#x20AC;? contact Olga Corral at olga@ronaldhouse.net or call 650470-6008. For general information, visit www.ronaldhouse.net or call 650 470-6000. 520 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto.

St. Anthonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Padua Dining Room

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University Art Palo Alto 650-328-3500 267 Hamilton Avenue For holiday gift ideas, visit UniversityArt.com Be sure to visit our stores in San Jose, San Francisco and Sacramento too!

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526 Waverley Street Downtown Palo Alto 650-328-8555

The St. Anthonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Padua Dining Room needs hams, fresh produce and all the trimmings for its Christmas Meal served on Dec. 25 from noon to 2:30 p.m. to the needy. New toys are also needed to give away for children 2-14 years of age to be distributed on Christmas Eve. Open hours for donations are 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and holiday-food donations can be accepted throughout December. Monetary and clothing donations are also accepted, as well as canned goods of all kinds. Visit paduadiningroom. com, 3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park or call 650-365-9665 or 650365-9664.â&#x20AC;?

Support Network for Battered Women SNBW is seeking gift cards in small

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Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gloria!â&#x20AC;? Philharmonia Chorale director Bruce Lamott and co-concertmaster Elizabeth Blumenstock will conduct the Orchestra and the Philharmonia Chorale in a concert of instrumental

and vocal Baroque holiday favorites, featuring Vivaldiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Winterâ&#x20AC;? from â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Four Seasonsâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gloria.â&#x20AC;? Fri., Dec. 4, 8-10:30 p.m. $30-$75. First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto. info@philharmonia.org

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Through Dec. 18, new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages can be dropped off at local Coldwell Banker offices. The toys will be delivered by the United States Marine Corps Reserve to local charitable organizations, which will do the distribution to kids. Coldwell Banker locations include 245 Lytton Ave., Ste. 100, Palo Alto; 800 El Camino Real, Ste. 300, Menlo Park; 116 Portola Road, Portola Valley; 2969 Woodside Road, Woodside.

Sounds of the season

Toys For Tots

cards and decorate cookies to be donated to the patients at the Palo Alto

PA L

denominations for families in critical need. A list of appropriate gift cards is available online. Normal office hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.snbw. org/donate/gift_cards.htm, e-mail snbwgiftsprogram@yahoo.com or call 408-541-6100 ext. 135. 1257 Tasman Drive, Sunnyvale.

Veterans Hospital. It is asked that attendees bring either cookie dough to bake or already-baked cookies to donate. Sugar-free cookies are preferred. The YMCA is at 3412 Ross Road, Palo Alto.

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The Palo Alto YMCA Nov. 27 through Dec. 14, the Palo Alto Family YMCA will be collecting gifts for The Family Giving Tree, to provide a present for every child, adult and senior who has asked for one. The giving tree will be displayed in the lobby with cards attached to it, and interested parties can take one or more cards and purchase the gift listed on the card, returning the gift unwrapped to the YMCA, with the card attached. The YMCA will also have blank cards available if individuals would prefer to write a check or give a gift card. To donate to The Family Giving Tree online, visit www. thefamilygivingtree.org. Also, Thursday, Dec. 10, the Holiday Card and Cookie Making Social will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. where participants will create

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Bulos Zumot, the suspect in the death of Palo Alto Realtor Jennifer Schipsi, will wait at least six more weeks before entering his plea. Zumot, 26, was arrested on Oct. 19 and charged with homicide and arson after police found the burned body of his girlfriend, Schipsi, 29, at the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cottage on Addison Avenue. Police said they believe Zumot strangled Schipsi to death and set the house on fire on Oct. 14 to cover up his crime. Zumot, who owns Da Hookah Spot on University Avenue in Palo Alto, was scheduled to plead Tuesday, but his plea was delayed after his attorney received hundreds of pages of police reports and dozens of CDs and video tapes from the prosecution earlier in the day. The defense attorney, Cameron Bowman, asked for time to review the evidence before advising his client on the plea. Prosecutor Chuck Gillingham said the materials include about 300 pages of police reports and fire reports and about 40 CDs of police interviews. Gillingham said about 100 more pages of reports will also be provided to the defense in the coming weeks. As in previous hearings, the courtroom at the North County Courthouse in Palo Alto was packed with spectators. About 30 of Schipsiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends and relatives attended the brief hearing, wearing purple ribbons and buttons with the slogan â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stop Domestic Violence.â&#x20AC;? About 20 members of Zumotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family also attended the hearing to show support for the suspect, who has a history of domestic violence involving the victim. Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Douglas Southard granted Bowmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request for more time and scheduled the next hearing for 9 a.m. on Jan. 15. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Gennady Sheyner

Car leaves bumper behind in crash A southbound commute train clipped a car at Churchill Avenue in Palo Alto at 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, but

no injuries were reported and the car left the scene. The train stopped, but the car drove off, leaving a bumper at the crossing, Caltrain officials stated via their Twitter feed. Caltrain Communications Director Christine Dunn confirmed information about the collision on Wednesday, which was initially reported by Twitter accounts from passengers. Police are reportedly still searching for the driver, Dunn said. The train was cleared to continue shortly after 6:30 p.m. Dunn said the delays were primarily so the tracks could be inspected for debris. By 7 p.m. other trains were proceeding slowly through the area. One train was delayed 26 minutes and a second behind it was delayed for 30 minutes, she said. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Palo Alto Weekly staff

Lytton Gardens wins award Lytton Gardens I, a downtown Palo Alto home to 417 seniors with low incomes, has won an award for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excellence in Affordable Housingâ&#x20AC;? from Enterprise Community Partners Inc. and the MetLife Foundation. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award focused on senior housing, with special consideration given for environmentally responsive building technologies. Local Boy Scouts and other community organizations helped in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Going Green Initiativeâ&#x20AC;? during recent renovations of the 35-year-old Lytton I complex, according to Lytton Gardensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Executive Director Gery Yearout. Improvements included drought-tolerant landscaping, new low-flush toilets, motion sensors to decrease electricity use and building materials made of recycled Timber Tek. The changes have led to a 50 percent savings on water and a 15 percent savings on electricity in the first six months of this year, Yearout said. The Enterprise-MetLife award comes with a $50,000 grant. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Chris Kenrick LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com

T H E A RT O F C R A F T I N G D E L I M E AT S

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Comcast

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celerate the learning of our students and give teachers better access to tools that will engage students and accelerate student achievement. “The backbone of that plan is the fast bandwidth that the I-Net provides, and not having it will stop our progress in its tracks.” Comcast has offered the JPA cities two options for continuing bandwidth coverage: leasing I-Net or creating “managed Ethernet service” networks at each jurisdiction that wants the service. Under a preliminary Comcast proposal, each city that wishes to lease I-Net would have to pay between $2,200 to $3,300 per month per site. This means that the Palo Alto school district, which has 20 I-Net sites and is currently struggling to close a $5.7 million budget deficit, would have to pay $528,000 to $792,000 a year to keep the network in place. The Ravenswood district, which

covers East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park, has 12 I-Net sites and would be charged between $316,800 and $475,200 annually. Meanwhile, switching to the localized Ethernet networks would effectively force the JPA to abandon I-Net and eliminate the cities’ ability to exchange information freely through the network. Palo Alto and its school district would also cease to receive free Internet service, as they have since 1994. Joe Saccio, deputy director of Palo Alto’s Administrative Services Department, said Comcast’s proposed rates for I-Net would essentially enable the cable company to bill the communities twice for the fiber network. The network’s construction was funded by cable subscribers and according to the staff report, Comcast has already largely (if not completely) recouped those costs. “It’s felt that all the ratepayers had already paid for the system that Comcast had put into the ground through their rates,” Saccio said during the City Council’s Oct. 19

CityView A round-up of

Palo Alto government action this week

Public Art Commission (Nov. 19)

Retreat refreshments: The commission voted to allocate $300 for refreshments at its upcoming retreat. Yes: Unanimous Absent: Huo Collection maintenance: The commission voted to allocate $2,200 for continued maintenance of the City’s art collection and for payment of two staff members to assist with photographing the collection. Yes: Unanimous Absent: Huo Other business: The commission also discussed its holiday party and logo launch, progress on the upcoming Public Art Commission website and restoration of the Digital DNA sculpture. Action: None

study session with state Sen. Joe Simitian. “It’s double charging — the infrastructure is already paid for and they want to continue to charge the districts for it.” Saccio also said that Comcast has refused to acknowledge and accept the cities’ position that the company is required to transfer, free of charge, public, education and governmental (PEG) access channels. The channels are being operated by the Midpeninsula Community Media Center. Comcast spokesman Andrew Johnson said the company’s policy is not to discuss terms and conditions under negotiation outside the negotiating table. But he said the company takes issue with the assertion the JPA has made regarding the proposed rates. The company is committed to negotiating in good faith with the JPA, he said. “I will say that we plan to and will charge competitive market rates that will reflect the current demand and supply of fiber networks in the Palo Alto region,” Johnson said. Saccio told the Weekly that the city could ultimately look into expanding its own dark fiber network to local schools if Comcast’s rate ends up being excessive. But he said it’s too early to tell what the I-Net rates will end up being. “Even though Comcast listed those substantial amounts, it’s hard to say what its end position is going to be,” Saccio said. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

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Stanford Continuing Studies presents

Eudora Welty at 100

LET’S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com

PALO ALTO POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE ... The committee is scheduled to hear a report on the status of city auditor’s recommendations and discuss the city’s economic development strategy. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton).

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of America’s finest prose writers, the incomparable Eudora Welty, a native and life-long resident of Jackson, Mississippi. Welty’s beautifully crafted, joyous, and wise stories, often set in the South, cross the lines of color and class, offering unforgettable portraits of a region and its people. She was the author of ten collections of short stories, six novels, and five books of literary criticism. Her many awards include the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1973.

PALO ALTO FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The commission is scheduled to hear a quarterly report from the city auditor and receive a budget update for 2009. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

To celebrate, Continuing Studies has invited her biographer and friend Suzanne Marrs to talk about Welty and her legacy. Marrs’ 2005 biography, entitled simply Eudora Welty, is regarded as the definitive life story.

Public Agenda

PALO ALTO PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission is scheduled to discuss the Land Use and Community Design chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. The discussion is part of the city’s ongoing update of the Comprehensive Plan. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). PALO ALTO UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission is scheduled to consider approving the proposed Recycled Water Salinity Reduction policy and to consider the Utilities Department’s legislative policy guidelines for 2010. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). PALO ALTO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ... The commission is scheduled to hold an architectural review for a mixed-use project at 95 Page Mill Road, a proposal by Harold Hohbach that includes 84 apartments and about 50,000 square feet of research and development space. The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

I am a writer who came from a sheltered life. A sheltered life can be a daring one as well. For all serious daring comes from within. Eudora Welty

Our evening celebration also features readings of some of Welty’s most popular short stories (“Why I Live at the P.O.,” “A Worn Path,” “Where Is the Voice Coming From?”). Special performances by Courtney Walsh, Aleta Hayes, and Rush Rehm.

Wednesday, December 2 7:00 – 9:00 pm Cubberley Auditorium, School of Education FREE For more information: continuingstudies.stanford.edu *> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊU Page 15

Editorial

‘Egg war’ incident raises larger issues Egg-throwing tradition of juniors and seniors reveal vague and poorly communicated policies and practices on student discipline

he real question left behind from the Oct. 27 “egg war” between Palo Alto High School juniors and seniors isn’t the egg battle itself as much as what the school’s response reveals about the lack of clear disciplinary and communication policies.

We find it easy to agree that any student found to have damaged property at Gunn High School should be punished. We have no sympathy for any student or parent that minimizes the damage or poor judgment that occurred that night. But the Palo Alto High School administration’s handling of the episode has raised a host of questions that must be addressed, including serious legal issues relating to when school officials should (or have the right to) intervene in students’ lives outside of school and how administrative “investigations” should be conducted, monitored and reported. While both school and district officials clearly wish the entire matter would quietly fade into a historical footnote, the allegations, denials and open questions deserve an official response from Superintendent Kevin Skelly, as well as a policylevel review, at least, by the Board of Education. It is clear that just about everyone wishes they could rewind to the day before the egg wars. Students involved, including some student body officers, have expressed dismay at the decision to relocate to the Gunn High School campus after they were intercepted by police at the Stanford University eucalyptus grove that has been the site of prior egg wars. Apologies and reparations have been made. Paly Principal Jacquie McEvoy found out about the impending traditional egg battle and alerted Stanford police in advance. But she inexplicably chose not to use the school’s e-mail system to send a notice warning parents of juniors and seniors that the tradition was unsafe, that Stanford had complained about it the year before and that she intended to discipline any students were caught participating. Since many parents knew nothing about the tradition, proactive school communication to parents could have enlisted parent help in trying to head off the event. McEvoy has been the subject of sharp criticism by some students, faculty and parents for her strict disciplinary measures since she came to Paly 2 ½ years ago and for what some perceive as a lack of respect for the views of the high school’s diverse stakeholder groups and a lack of communication explaining her philosophy. That has made reaction to this latest incident all the more intense, and makes it essential that McEvoy and Skelly respond carefully and clearly to the questions being raised. These include just what authority the school has over offcampus behavior of its students, what due process rights students and parents have when school officials are conducting an investigation into student behavior, and what the grievance procedure is for parents and students who believe they were improperly treated by school officials. It is good that Skelly has acknowledged his responsibility to step in and conduct his own inquiry into the way this matter was handled, and that he and McEvoy are meeting personally with parents who have complained about the handling of the investigation. The fact that we are at a point where there is so much emotion and anger is a reflection of a poor history of communication and a shocking lack of clarity and documentation of school policy. Skelly has no precise answers yet to some of the legal questions raised in this matter, and is focusing on stabilizing and healing the immediate outrage some parents are expressing. His challenge is to try to sort out rumors from reality, separate exaggerations from what actually occurred and then decide what needs to be done relating both to how this specific incident was handled and about the longer-term relationships between Paly’s leadership and students, parents and faculty. But it is clear that the legacy of this and prior incidents needs clarification and cleaning up, with strong leadership from the district administration and Board of Education. Skelly is precisely correct that the egg-wars and aftermath need to be kept in perspective, but it needs to be a broad perspective that promotes real change, true healing and, most importantly, accountability. Page 16ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions

Free The Children Editor, As we head toward the holidays, many of us are looking for meaningful ways to embrace the season of giving. Earlier this month, the international youth organization “Free The Children” honored the achievements of passionate young Californians who are committed to improving their local and global communities at the “Invitation to Action: 10 by 10 Challenge” event. The celebration was hosted by Free The Children and Marc Kielburger, who co-founded the organization with his brother Craig Kielburger in 1995 when they were 17 and 12 years old. The event at the Oshman Family JCC brought together local speakers and entertainers, including DV8, a hip-hop dance group from Stanford; and youth activists from local schools such as Gunn High School, who challenged Bay Area residents to take a year-long commitment for social change through Free The Children. “Changing the world starts with just one person and it only takes 10 commitments,” Kielburger said. “Together we can change the world in 2010.” Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, opened its first U.S. office last year in Palo Alto. Since then thousands of young people in California have become involved. “Invitation to Action” inspired Bay Area residents to become a part of local and global change through Free The Children’s “10 by 10” challenge. As part of this commitment, Free The Children will work with supporters to fully develop 10 communities in the developing world and volunteer 1 million hours of personal time by the end of 2010. Everyone can get involved at www.freethechildren. com/10by10. There are many ways youth, families, educators, and community members can get involved in achieving real change globally and locally. For more information e-mail California@freethechildren.com. Shana Kirsch Free The Children Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto

Climate-change questions Editor, I don’t question that something is going on. I question whether humankind is to “blame” and whether humankind can do anything about it, whatever it is. First, I don’t think we really know what it is. That seems like a good place to start. There are many cycles that can be substantiated through the millennia. Is this just a cycle of some sort that is just plain vanilla, to be expected? Or should we spend quadrillions to try

to stop it? I have doubts that we can change sun-spot cycles, for one thing, if that is what it is. If we are producing too much carbon dioxide, it seems like planting more trees might be a good place to start. On the other hand, I have trouble figuring out a good way to stop volcanoes from erupting, and I’m not sure they would like it very much if we tried. Bruce N. Baker Kipling Street Palo Alto

High-speed flaws Editor, Your editorial about high-speed rail was too accepting of the current plan, which is quite flawed. Assuming the high-speed rail project is fiscally prudent (a doubtful assumption), it is time to think out of the box and rethink the route. It should meet two (currently ignored) requirements: 1) pass silently and invisibly through all residential neighborhoods and 2) locate stations to maximize ridership. The three airports will attract more riders than downtown locations because the airports already have parking, freeway access, shuttle services and flights worldwide. In Europe and

Japan, downtowns have large transit networks; we don’t. An under-bay tunnel could connect San Francisco airport to Oakland airport, helping offload some airline passengers to Oakland. Caltrain could become a feeder system to high speed rail by rerouting it to pass through San Francisco and San Jose Airports. If it is too expensive to pass through residential neighborhoods silently and invisibly (with tunneling), then they should be avoided. The current route down the Peninsula passes through 53 miles of residential neighborhoods. The route from Oakland Airport to Altamont Pass via I-580 passes through only 17 miles of residential neighborhoods. The Altamont Pass route is best; it provides access to Sacramento and Los Angeles. The Pacheco Pass route is worst; it skips Sacramento, and for Sacramento access, the Altamont Pass route must be built eventually anyway. For more details, see the website HighSpeedRailway.org. I urge everyone to get involved; otherwise, the politicians will force a monstrosity on us. Robert Herriot Byron Street Palo Alto

YOUR TURN The Palo Alto Weekly encourages comments on our coverage or on issues of local interest.

What do you think? Did you ever participate in or hear about Palo Alto High School’s “egg wars” in past years? Submit letters to the editor of up to 250 words to letters@paweekly.com. Include your name, address and daytime phone number so we can reach you. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, objectionable content, libel and factual errors known to us. Anonymous letters will generally not be accepted. You can also participate in our popular interactive online forum, Town Square, at our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Read blogs, discuss issues, ask questions or express opinions with you neighbors any time, day or night. Submitting a letter to the editor or guest opinion constitutes a granting of permission to the Palo Alto Weekly and Embarcadero Publishing Co. to also publish it online, including in our online archives and as a post on Town Square. For more information contact Editor Jay Thorwaldson or Online Editor Tyler Hanley at editor@paweekly.com or 650-326-8210.

Check out Town Square! Hundreds of local topics are being discussed by local residents on Town Square, a reader forum sponsored by the Weekly on our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Post your own comments, ask questions, read the Editor’s blog or just stay up on what people are talking about around town!

Guest Opinion Would Lytton Plaza be better named as ‘Thoits Plaza’? by Sunny Dykwel ytton Plaza was created nearly 50 years ago. In two weeks, the renovated park will be rededicated and open to the public. It will be a wonderful gateway to our downtown, an inviting and comfortable space for community events, where residents and visitors can play, walk and sit under the shade trees. I am a member of the Friends of Lytton Plaza, a non-profit organization that formed a public/private partnership with the City of Palo Alto to renovate the plaza — splitting the cost. As we proceeded, we looked at the history of the plaza’s name (after a savings & loan firm) and wondered if it might be appropriate to recognize a local person or entity deserving of having the park named after them; someone who has served Palo Alto for many years in many ways and helped ignite the vitality of downtown, where Lytton Plaza is located. The name that kept surfacing was Thoits, reflecting an admiration not only for the late Warren Thoits as a consummate Palo Altan but also an appreciation of the Thoits family for its long but little-known history in our community. I spoke with many long-time Palo Altans who shared memories of and respect for the Thoits family. I first met Warren as a member of the Chamber of Commerce board and at community events. I worked with him in founding the Downtown Business Improvement District.

He also served on the board of the Palo Alto Family YMCA. He exuded kindness and deep affection for Palo Alto. When he died Oct. 1 he left a legacy of generosity to the community. Yet Warren is only part of the story: The Thoits family’s connections to Palo Alto go back more than 110 years. Edward Kent Thoits with his wife, Elizabeth Smith, arrived in California in the 1870s. They moved to Palo Alto in 1893 believing in the educational opportunity for their sons and that commercial opportunities would develop as the new Stanford University grew. Edward believed shoes would be needed because of the distance students and faculty members would have to walk between the train depot and Stanford. In 1894 he established the “Palo Alto Shoe Store” (later “Thoits Shoe Store”) on the first block of University Avenue. The family sold the business in the 1940s. Edward and Elizabeth had two sons, Willis and Edward, both of whom attended Stanford. Willis, the eldest, had to drop out to run the family business after the death of his father. Edward graduated in 1898 and joined Willis at the store. They remained lifelong partners in business and investment matters. Their partnership, Thoits Bros., Inc., is still owned and operated by family members. In 1910, Willis at 38 married Hazel Lamson. Their three sons and two daughters were raised in the home at 939 Forest Avenue, a residence still occupied by a great great grandson of Edward Thoits. In the late 1890s, some Stanford professors and local business people recognized the need for a financial institution to help new residents build homes. They formed the Palo

Streetwise

What are you thankful for this year?

The name that kept surfacing was Thoits, reflecting an admiration not only for the late Warren Thoits as a consummate Palo Altan but also an appreciation of the Thoits family for its long but little-known history in our community. Alto Mutual Savings & Loan Association in 1896, which Willis managed until his death in 1935. During the Depression, Willis was known widely for his extraordinary efforts to keep people in their homes by extending credit and payment deadlines. Willis’ youngest son, Warren Thoits, although only a child during the Depression, recalled walking “The Avenue” (University Avenue) many years later and having strangers introduce themselves and tell how his father made it possible for their families to survive the Depression and keep their homes. Edward remained a bachelor, making the city and community his life interest. He was a signer of the city’s first charter, in 1909, and served on the City Council from 1909 to 1949, the longest-serving member in the city’s history. He served as mayor in 1913 and 1920. He was on the council in 1915 during a battle over whether to leave oak trees stand-

ing in the middle of streets. He was a council member when in 1921 the city purchased the Peninsula Hospital, at Embarcadero Road and Cowper Street, where the lawn bowling green now is. When the “town” of Mayfield was annexed in 1925, he was on the council. When Barron Park opposed annexation in 1947 he was still on the council. He worked closely with Dr. Russel V.A. Lee, founder of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, and Almon Roth from Stanford to plan the “new” Palo Alto Hospital, now the Hoover Pavilion. An avid yachtsman, he worked with longtime City Engineer Fletcher Byxbee to establish the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor. He helped form the Palo Alto Chapter of the American Red Cross, the local Masonic Lodge and the Elks Club. He and Willis were charter members of the Palo Alto Rotary Club. Both served as volunteer firemen before and after the city acquired its first fire truck. Edward died in 1951. The five children of Willis and Hazel had varied careers, all keeping deep roots in Palo Alto. The eldest son, Willis, established Thoits Insurance, a brokerage on University Avenue, and was involved with running Thoits Bros. until his death in 1982. One son, Edward David Thoits, an early environmentalist, was a Stanford-educated engineer specializing in water purification and treatment who helped establish Palo Alto’s sewage treatment plant. He was involved in the running of Thoits Bros. until he died in 1969. The youngest son, Warren, graduated from Stanford Law School and in 1949 entered law practice in Palo Alto with David Samuels. The (continued on next page)

Asked at the main branch of the Palo Alto Library. Interviews by Royston Sim. Photographs by Shawn Fender.

Susan Kates

Divya Visweswaran

Patty-Lisa

John Block

Joe McCluskey

“For my family.”

“For all the classes I’ve taken at the Art Center.”

“For myself, for having a job.”

“Just being alive.”

“For my family.”

Retired Teacher McClellan Road, Cupertino

Student Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto

Nurse Laurel Street, Menlo Park

Commercial Truck Driver Palo Alto

Green-building Consultant Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto

*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊU Page 17

A Guide to the Spiritual Community First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto Sunday Services â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30 & 10:25 Sunday School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:00 Rev. Love & Rev. McHugh OfďŹ ce Hours: 8-4 M-F

625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto

(650) 323-6167 s WWW &IRST0ALO!LTO COM FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC

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This Sunday: Christmas Letters & Thank You Notes Rev. David Howell preaching 5:00 pm Advent Wreath Making and Potluck An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

firm grew to become Thoits, Love, Hershberger & McLean and today occupies a floor of a building at 285 Hamilton Avenue owned by Thoits Bros. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the location of the original family home of Edward and Elizabeth Thoits. The house was moved to its present location at 119 Bryant Street. (Edward recounted that he was asleep in the house while it was being moved.) While practicing law full time, Warren helped expand Thoits Bros. into real estate. Today the firm is managed by Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two sons and governed by a family board. It owns 16 properties in Palo Alto and still operates under the family mandate of not just owning property for financial benefit but developing and maintaining properties as community assets while providing service. Warren carried on the tradition established by his grandfather, father and uncle until his recent death. He co-founded the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1951, served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1964, helped the Rotary Club

found the La Comida lunch program for seniors, and helped found the Peninsula Stroke Association in 1998. He provided several nonprofit organizations with free or reducedrent office space in their fledgling years. He co-founded or served on numerous boards of community-based organizations covering a wide range of subjects, from helping organize Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 75th anniversary celebration to an array of programs for seniors, families and children. He co-founded Mid-Peninsula Bank and Greater Bay Bancorp with Duncan Matteson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Warren was determined to continue his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generous practice of helping local businesses and homeowners by extending payment-due dates in order to keep their business and their homes. Warren was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mr Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and a consummate gentleman,â&#x20AC;? Matteson recalls. If funds were needed for a project, Warren or the family business could be relied upon for support. With quiet passion and determination, he

Stanford Memorial Church University Public Worship Stanford Memorial Church Sundays, 10:00 am

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INSPIRATIONS

Heard the one about the plane that crashed into a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car on Embarcadero Road? Did you know developers once eyed Arastradero Preserve as a place to build shopping centers and schools?

T he P a lo Alto S tory P r o ject

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

your

made good on the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief that it was an obligation to give back to the community, both financially and in personal time commitment. He received Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tall Tree Award in 2001. The Thoits family continued its pioneering involvement in downtown Palo Alto and helped establish downtown as a thriving and diverse place. City policy allows city-owned lands to be renamed for an individual or individuals who made lasting and significant contributions to the community. Both Warren and the Thoits family deserve such recognition. N Sunny Dykwel is a member of the Friends of Lytton Plaza and Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission. She serves on the boards of the Palo Alto PTA Council and Palo Alto Family YMCA and was past board member of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, Palo Alto Downtown Business Improvement District and Palo Alto University Rotary Club. She is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and can be reached at sdykwel@kwrpa.com.

These stories and other tales about Palo Alto, as told by local residents as part of the Palo Alto Story Project, are now posted on the Internet.

story?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Watch them at www.PaloAltoOnline.com

A resource for special events and ongoing religious services. To inquire about or make space reservations for Inspirations, please contact Blanca Yoc at 326-8210 x6596 or email byoc@paweekly.com

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Pulse

Menlo Park

A weekly compendium of vital statistics

Nov. 18-23

Vehicle related Bicycle theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Driving with suspended license . . . . . . .4 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Vehicle accident/mnr. injury . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle accident/prop. damage . . . . . . .6 Vehicle impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Palo Alto Nov. 17-23 Violence related Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Child abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Domestic violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Burglary attempt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Checks forgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Commercial burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Shoplifting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Theft undefined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Possesion of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Miscellaneous Disturbance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Felony possession of weapon . . . . . . . .1 Gang validation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Parole arrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Other/misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Misc. penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . .3 Noise ordinance violation . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Other/misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Warrant/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Violence related Attempted murder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Commercial burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle related Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Driving w/ suspended license. . . . . . . . .1 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Vehicle accident/ injury. . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle accident/ prop damage . . . . . . .4 Alcohol or drug related

Atherton Nov. 18-23 Theft related Credit card forgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft undefined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Suspicious vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/prop. damage . . . . . . .2 Vehicle code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Citizen assist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Follow up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Juvenile problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Medical aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Meet citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Other/misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .2 Suspicious person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Town ordinance violation . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Welfare check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Palo Alto Middlefield Road/Oregon Expressway, 11/19, 3:40 p.m.; battery. 3000 block Middlefield Road, 11/20, 8:41 p.m.; battery. Alma Street, 11/19, 8:41 p.m.; domestic violence/battery. Clara Drive, 11/23, midnight; child abuse/ sexual.

Menlo Park Bayfront Expressway and University Avenue, 11/20, 10:14 p.m.; attempted murder.

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www.PaloAltoOnline.com Palo Alto Weekly â&#x20AC;˘ November 27, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 19

Cover

IMPRESSIONS OF

THE PERSIMMON HARVEST, TAILGATE PARTIES, A WALK AMONG FALLEN LEAVES — AUTUMN IS MANY THINGS TO PALO ALTANS

fall

Photographs by Veronica Weber. Essay by Sue Dremann

Clockwise from bottom left: Joe Giddings of Full Belly Farms packs crates of gourds at the Palo Alto downtown farmers market; a coot looks for food in Boronda Lake at Foothills Park; the Boronda Lake pier is illuminated by autumn sunlight; Anthony Angelo grills a turkey at a tailgating party before the Big Game at Stanford; oak leaves on Walter Hays Drive have turned red.

About the cover: A landscaper in front of HP on Page Mill Road walks underneath a canopy of colorful American sweet gum trees.

Page 20ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

Story

ALO ALTO MIGHT NOT BE THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY OR VERMONT, WITH FORESTS OF ORANGE, RED AND GOLD. BUT THERE ARE COLORS ENOUGH TO PAINT PALO ALTO AVENUES IN BRILLIANT HUES.

Mick Carey and Tommy and Clay Witmeyer play football near the Stanford Stadium before the game Nov. 21.

“This autumn has produced some of the best seasonal fall color displays of recent decades,” according to Dave Dockter, a city arborist. “The best autumn colors show up when a moderate rainfall occurs in early November, which coincidentally, we have already experienced,” he noted. But the season is more than the changing leaves to Palo Altans. It’s the Stanford-Cal Big Game; dark beer; Gunn High School’s annual turkey feast, a benefit for a local food bank; migratory birds at the Baylands; a hike at Russian Ridge or the smell of the rain, residents said. At Fairmeadow Elementary School, autumn is marked by pilgrim pageants and papier-mâché turkeys, students said. A child’s painting of the famous fall bird hangs on the wall, celebrating the season: “This is a turkey that has a blue belly and he is the most rarest turkey. He is filled with colors,” a boy wrote. Milo Sabbag, a kindergartner, likes the wind. “It’s like tornados. I can play in the leaves,” he said. Fall for Kira Emery and her brothers Pat and Sean Deaney is always about Stanford University football, Emery said. “I was raised on Stanford football. I’ve been coming to Stanford games since I was 4 or 5 years old,” Emery said amid family and friends who had gathered last Saturday for the Big Game. “Fall is tailgating and good times with good friends. With Thanksgiving coming, we’re very (continued on next page)

*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊU Page 21

Cover Story

Falll

(continued from previous page)

thankful,â&#x20AC;? she said. For Big Game fans, fall means football but also evokes a scattering of other memories depending on where people grew up, they said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m from Michigan. I think of Thanksgiving and turkey and being with family and the warmth of the fireplace,â&#x20AC;? Dayani Waas said. Michelle Yaeger grew up in the Los Angeles area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think of the Santa Ana winds,â&#x20AC;? she said. Other locals reminisced online. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The smell of my bike tires in the rain. Worms. My momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lasagna. Cookies. The lovely shade of charcoal that the pavement turns after it rains,â&#x20AC;? a girl named Caitlin wrote on Palo Alto Onlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town Square. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being out in the wind last night, watching the sky change from clear to cloudy, hearing my wind chimes tinkling, feeling those first drops of rain and smelling that ozone smell,â&#x20AC;? another person wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing all the pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yards, on their porches and front steps, seeing fall decorations. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a great reminder that no matter how fast and technically savvy weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become, the pull of the seasons is still strong, still inevitable, and still so beautiful.â&#x20AC;? For those interested in gazing at fall colors, Dockter offered the following list of streets featuring spectacularly robed trees and plants: â&#x2013; Maidenhair ginkgos along Greenwood Avenue, Ramona Street

From left, Deâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;maurier Jackson, Tim Sun and Tiara Witherspoon model their turkey hats, worn to a Thanksgiving assembly at Fairmeadow Elementary School last week.

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Cover Story

NOT the Same Ol’ Holiday Music! The Gryphon Carolers ... 28th Annual Holiday Concert featuring Ed Johnson & Carol McComb

Colorful and creative turkey drawings line the walls of a kindergarten classroom at Fairmeadow Elementary School. at Addison and Lincoln avenues, as well as in the landscape of Genencor visible from 955 Page Mill Road ■ Sawtooth zelcovas on Bryant Street ■ Boston ivy on the old walls of the Lanning Chateau at 325 Forest Ave. ■ Dawn redwood at the Main Post Office at 380 Hamilton Ave. ■ Chinese pistache on Cowper Street south of University Avenue,

and Waverley Street at Embarcadero Road ■ Sour gums and other trees at Elizabeth Gamble Garden ■ American sweet gums along Page Mill Road between El Camino Real and Foothill Expressway ■ The red oak on the front lawn of the Lucie Stern Community Center ■ Shumard oaks on Porter Drive at Page Mill Road. N Staff Photographer Veronica

Weber can be e-mailed at vweber@paweekly.com. Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at

READ MORE ONLINE

www.PaloAltoOnline.com Talk about it What does fall mean to you? Contribute your thoughts and read others’ on Town Square at Palo Alto Online. Go to “View All Posts” and click on “Palo Alto Issues.”

The Gryphon Carolers is a 40-voice ensemble with guitar, piano, mandolin, ﬁddle, saxophone, bassoon, bass, percussion, and more fun than a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too!

December 12, 2009 – 8:00 p.m. Spangenberg Theatre – Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA Premium seating: $25 for adults and $18 for seniors and children under 12. General admission: $15 for adults and $ 10 for seniors and children under 12. For more information and tickets visit: www.gryphoncarolers.com Advance tickets also available at Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto and Spangenberg Theater box ofﬁce the night of the performance.

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Arts & Entertainment

Shawn Fender

A weekly guide to music, theater, art, movies and more, edited by Rebecca Wallace

" CSBOE OFX WFOVF JCC theater has a busy music schedule, with informal Arts Cafe series starting next week

by Rebecca Wallace ince its opening last month, the new Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto has been a hub of activity, from classrooms to fitness rooms. Now even the theater lobby is getting in on the action. On Dec. 3, the JCC starts its new Arts Cafe concert series, with dates planned the first Thursday of each month. The plan is to have a kick-back atmosphere that will draw a young crowd with pop, blues, jazz and other music. Some musicians will even eschew the formality of playing inside the Albert & Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purple-curtained theater, which can seat 200 to 371. When Oregon songwriter Jake Oken-Berg plays the JCC next Thursday, his show will be in the lobby. Organizers hope the intimate space, round tables and funky, modern chandeliers create an inviting vibe. Later concerts will alternate among the lobby, the theater, outdoor courtyards and a cafe set to open soon. The theater has always been a big part of the 8.5-acre JCC project, arts and culture director Sally B. Oken

Top: The Jewish Community Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new theater has purple seats that can retract with the push of a button, making way for receptions and other events. Above: Some of the many musicians set to perform at the JCC are, from left, singer-pianist Jake Oken-Berg, singer Omega and pianist Konstantin Lifschitz. Page 24Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x203A;iÂ&#x201C;LiĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2021;]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Ă¤Ă¤Â&#x2122;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

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Sally Oken books a myriad of artists as arts and culture director at the Jewish Community Center. said. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heard the concern that the Peninsula doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough music venues, and hopes the new JCC helps address that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People in Palo Alto donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to have to travel to San Francisco for their entertainment and their culture,â&#x20AC;? she said. One of Okenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest jobs is booking visual and performing artists and speakers. But she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have trouble finding Jake Oken-Berg, who besides being a professional musician is also her nephew. The singer and pianist is a regular on the music scene in his home of Portland, Ore., where he often performs with his pop-rock band The Retrofits. In early 2009, he released his first solo album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find Love.â&#x20AC;? He says his solo career has allowed him to explore different genres and write more personal songs. The Portland Mercury, a weekly newspaper, called Oken-Bergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music â&#x20AC;&#x153;comfort food of the musical kind,â&#x20AC;? adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotional music, without a trace of irony.â&#x20AC;? At the Palo Alto concert, OkenBerg will perform with guitarist Jason Barlow and guitarist/bassist Jeff Koch. Audience members will get a taste of Oken-Bergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming second solo ablum, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Out the Door.â&#x20AC;? One song, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Front of Me,â&#x20AC;? is already getting radio play in Portland. Oken-Berg wrote it after his grandfather died. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a poignant piece with a steady drum beat that keeps it moving away from sentimentality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the notion of marching off to war or sense of battle, but that 3/4 time has always had a sense of foregone conclusion that I wanted to suggest,â&#x20AC;? OkenBerg said, noting that his grandfather had been ill for some time. Another track from the new album is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come Down,â&#x20AC;? which has a chorus that â&#x20AC;&#x153;harks back to real â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s soul choruses,â&#x20AC;? Oken-Berg said. On the recording, he plays a Wurlitzer organ, and the song has a theme of political courage: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the only one that tries to make things right / Come on people now,

turn on the light.â&#x20AC;? The political world is familiar to Oken-Berg, who ran for mayor of Portland in 2000 as a college student, coming in second out of 17 candidates. Even though heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now a full-time musician, he still does â&#x20AC;&#x153;a ton of volunteer workâ&#x20AC;? and is on the board of the Bus Project, which works to get young people voting and involved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try not to bat people over the head with political messages,â&#x20AC;? Oken-Berg said of his songs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just want people to engage.â&#x20AC;? Other Arts Cafe concerts are also on the calendar. On Jan. 7, the East Bayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Saul Kaye will play from his latest CD, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jewish Blues Volume One,â&#x20AC;? which merges Old Testament influences with music created by African slaves in America. The Jeff

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Sanford Quartet brings jazz to the JCC on Feb. 4, with a mix of classical jazz, world and pop styles. Meanwhile, the center also has a host of other concerts planned. Scheduled musicians include the Russian violinist Daniel Shindarov on Dec. 17 and the East African world-music singer Omega on Feb. 20. Idan Raichel performs his blend of Israeli pop and African and Indian sounds on March 11. The Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra is also holding its season of concerts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and several open rehearsals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at the center. April 18 brings pianist Konstantin Lifschitz, whose recording of Bachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Goldberg Variations made when he was 17 was nominated for a Grammy award. The JCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arts calendar also includes dance performances, films , theater and author talks. N

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What: Singer-songwriter Jake Oken-Berg performs with guitarist Jason Barlow and guitarist/bassist Jeff Koch. Where: Albert & Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 Cost: $15 general, $10 for JCC members and students Info: For more about arts events at the center, go to paloaltojcc.org or call 650-2238600.

Fresh-faced dance space Some 500 budding performers expected to use renovated Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre studio yearly by Royston Sim he completion of a newly renovated dance studio in the Palo Alto Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre complex will give more than 500 dance students and performers a space for performance rehearsals and dance classes every year. The Gary Wang Studio, located in the Lucie Stern Community Center at 1305 Middlefield Road, was renovated with a $14,100 donation from the Friends of Palo Alto Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Palo Alto Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre has been home to the performing arts for generations,â&#x20AC;? Friends board Co-President Sylvia Sanders said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This dedicated dance space allows the theater to expand its educational offerings and serve an increasing number of children.â&#x20AC;? Built in 1998, the 535-square-foot studio was formerly used as a library, conference room and document storage space for years. The remodel began in early summer. The newly completed studio now includes sky-blue paint, new floor-to-ceiling mirrors and specially treated hardwood dance floors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The city is delighted to receive this stunning gift from the Friends,â&#x20AC;? Kelly Morariu, assistant to the city manager, said of the donation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a perfect example of what friends groups and the city can accomplish by working together to enhance our valued community assets.â&#x20AC;? The studio is already being used for production rehearsals of the holiday show â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nutcracker.â&#x20AC;? For more information about performances and classes at the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/childrenstheatre. N Editorial Intern Royston Sim can be e-mailed at rsim@paweekly. com.

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OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE PRESCHOOL & K: 650.322.0176 GRADES 1-8: 650.473.4011 Tours available for preschool - 5 (please call for an appointment) Open House for Grades 6-8 Sunday, November 1 at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 14 at 10 a.m. (registration required)

GRADES 9-12: 650.473.4006 Open House Sunday, October 25 at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 22 at 1 p.m. (no registration required)

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Arts & Entertainment PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVENUE BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26

(TENTATIVE) AGENDA SPECIAL and REGULAR MEETINGS Week of November 30, 2009

The Special Policy & Services Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 7:00 PM regarding 1) Report on the Status of Audit Recommendations, 2) Economic Development Strategy, and 3) Legislative Program The Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. regarding 1) Auditor’s Ofﬁce Quarterly Report as of September 30, 2009 and 2) 2010 Budget Update and 2009 Financial Update

Jean-Paul Jeanne

STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Filmmakers Rae Chang and Adam Tow, photographed in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Wielding pen and sword Filmmakers focus on a powerful Chinese women’s-rights icon

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING of the Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commision Please be advised the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) shall conduct a special meeting at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 9, 2009 in the Civic Center, Council Chambers, 1st Floor, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California. Any interested persons may appear and be heard on these items. Staff reports for agendized items are available via the City’s main website at www.cityofpaloalto.org. and also at the Planning Division Front Desk, 5th Floor, City Hall, after 2:00 PM on the Friday preceding the meeting date. Copies will be made available at the Development Center should City Hall be closed on the 9/80 Friday. NEW BUSINESS. Public Hearing: 1.

Private Streets Ordinance: An Ordinance Amending the Subdivision Code (Title 21) of the Municipal Code to Revise the Deﬁnition of “Private Street”; California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review: Categorically Exempt.

Study Session: 2.

Review of Housing Element – Housing Needs, Policies and Programs

Review of Comprehensive Plan Business & Economics Element Programs and Policies

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of November 4, 2009. NEXT MEETING: Regular Meeting of January 13, 2010 at 7:00 PM (CCR) Questions. Any questions regarding the above applications, please contact the Planning Department at (650) 329-2440. The ﬁles relating to these items are available for inspection weekdays between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This public meeting is televised live on Government Access Channel 26. ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn more about the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), please contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 650.329.2550 (voice) or by e-mailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. *** Curtis Williams, Director of Planning and Community Environment

Page 26ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

by Be’eri utumn Gem” is about a woman who wielded the wushu sword and the calligraphy brush with equal grace. It is the story of Qiu Jin, a woman who lived in turn-of-the-century (1875-1905) China and fought for women’s rights. Qiu Jin’s tale inspired Bay Area independent filmmakers Rae Chang and Adam Tow to produce an hour-long documentary, which will be screened at Stanford University on Nov. 30. The couple spent almost two years producing the film, investing almost $60,000 of their own savings. In July 2007, Chang quit her job at a graphic design company to work full-time on the film. Tow, a Stanford graduate and former Palo Alto Weekly photo intern, kept his job in digital-media consulting but also made time to work on the film. The first six months of pre-production involved extensive research, script writing and story-board drawing. In the next six months of production, the duo grabbed their video camera and traveled to China to film on location. The third step, post-production, took eight months of editing, fixing, organizing and publicizing. Finally, Chang and Tow took the film on a cross-country tour that spanned from San Diego to Wisconsin to New England and dozens of locales in between. “We are slowly recouping the costs of the film,” Chang said. “It is not a profitable venture.” But, Tow said, “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” saying he had the privilege of working alongside his wife on a longtime dream. Neither Tow nor Chang went to film school. Tow studied symbolic systems at Stanford and Chang got a degree in art and anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Both call the project a “learning experience,” especially on the legal end — filming permits and releases had to be obtained. With the help of Chang’s parents in China in persistent appeals, permits were granted relatively easily, the couple said.

“A

Moalem “Qiu Jin is not a controversial figure,” Chang said. She speculated that had they chosen to profile a more divisive personality, permits might not have been granted. During her own lifetime, however, Qiu Jin was mired in controversy. She fought to end a millenniumold tradition of binding women’s feet, and sought societal equality for women. She joined an uprising against the Qing Dynasty that ultimately failed: Qiu Jin was captured and executed. Yet her struggle was an important step in the struggle for human rights, echoing the now popular (thanks to the Disney animation) legend of Hua Mulan. Qiu Jin was also a prolific writer. In one poem quoted on Wikipedia in a translation by Zachary Jean Chartkoff, she wrote: Don’t tell me women are not the stuff of heroes, I alone rode over the East Sea’s winds for ten thousand leagues. My poetic thoughts ever expand, like a sail between ocean and heaven. I dreamed of your three islands, all gems, all dazzling with moonlight. Tow says of Qiu Jin’s tale, “We felt it a story worth telling.” Chang added, “Qiu Jin is famous in China but no one knows of her here.” “China remains an enigma to many in the U.S. There is little knowledge of the country’s history, and even less regarding the history of its women. As China emerges as a prominent player on the global stage, it becomes crucial to understand its recent past and the often-neglected role of its women,” their film’s website states. As they take the film from city to city, Tow and Chang have learned from their audiences as well. “We’ve had people come up to us after the screening and say that their grandmother or other relative worked with Qiu Jin or participated in the

Li Jing plays the lead role in “Autumn Gem.” same revolutionary activities. It was inspiring to meet these people who had a personal connection with her story,” Tow said. “Autumn Gem” (the title is an English translation of the heroine’s name) tells Qiu Jin’s story with a balanced use of dramatic reenactment and academic research. Martial-arts sequences are juxtaposed with historical narrative; poetry selections are read alongside interviews with scholars on the era. The part of Qiu Jin is acted by Li Jing, a former member of the China National wushu team. She carries the part with few words yet conveys Jin’s determined resolve with a powerful gaze and elegant sword choreography. Chang and Tow’s passion for martial arts is evident — Chang practices wushu and Tow does t’ai chi. They went back to their respective alma maters, Stanford and Berkeley, sending out casting calls at Asian martial-arts clubs for some of the larger scenes. Throughout the production process Tow and Chang recruited friends and acquaintances for roles in the film. Friends also recorded the music on the gu zheng, a Chinese stringed instrument, as well as on ethnic flute and drums. A portion of the film was filmed in Qiu Jin’s home province of Hunan in China, but many scenes were also filmed locally. Viewers might recognize a vista point off Interstate 280, Saratoga’s Hakone Gardens and Tilden Park in Berkeley. Tow and Chang also built a set in their garage. The two have high aspirations for their new film company, “Adam and Rae Productions.” Their goal is to have their film shown on KQED or PBS, and they call themselves “serial filmmakers.” Their next project, “Abacus to iPhone,” will explore the history and future of handheld computers. N What: Adam Tow and Rae Chang screen their new film, “Autumn Gem,” with an introduction by Thomas Mullaney, a Stanford assistant professor of history. Where: Cubberley Auditorium, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford University When: 7 p.m. Nov. 30 Cost: Free Info: Go to www.autumn-gem. com.

Arts & Entertainment

Worth a Look Art

The free screening, hosted by the educational organization Facing History and Ourselves, takes place in the Cubberley Community Theatre at 4000 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto at 7 p.m., followed by a conversation with Williams. To RSVP for the event, call 510-7862500, extension 226, or go to www. facinghistory.org/allstate.

Dance

on dancing through Sunday. The Mountain View-based school, which has a curriculum based on the Russian style of ballet, is in its 19th year of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nutcrackerâ&#x20AC;? performances. Shows are Friday at 1 and 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 12:30 and 4 p.m., with tickets priced at $22 and $27. The theater is at 500 Castro St. in downtown Mountain View. For more information, go to www. mvcpa.com or call 650-903-6000.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Nutcrackerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Steve Curtissâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; acrylic painting â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mondrianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catâ&#x20AC;? is on exhibit at Gallery 9.

Time flies, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the season once again for young Clara, toe shoes and a very eventful Christmas party. Pacific Ballet Theatre opens its annual production of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nutcrackerâ&#x20AC;? today at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, and keeps

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Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s news, sports & hot picks

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cool Art: Warm Heartsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stanford graduate Steve Curtiss works a bit of whimsy into many of his paintings. Take the title â&#x20AC;&#x153;Still Life With Fries,â&#x20AC;? for example, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;God Changes the Channel â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Too Many Commercials.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The paintings can range from light and whimsical to sharper and more challenging, sometimes with a couple of layers of meaning interwoven,â&#x20AC;? the Los Altos resident wrote in an artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like a painting to work on multiple levels, and oil paint has a basic mystery and complexity about it that adds depth to an image.â&#x20AC;? The levels of Curtissâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work can be seen these days in downtown Los Altos, where Gallery 9 is including his art in a group show of 31 Bay Area artists, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cool Art: Warm Hearts.â&#x20AC;? Other pieces on display include ceramics, prints, metal work, photography, collage and jewelry. The show runs through Dec. 24, open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4. The gallery is at 143 Main St. Go to www.gallery9losaltos.com or call 650-941-7969.

Film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Banishedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

A frightening shadow from this countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past flickers again on film next Thursday, Dec. 3, with a screening of the documentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;Banished.â&#x20AC;? Directed by New York University faculty member Marco Williams, the 2006 film recalls a time when white mobs forcibly expelled black residents from many Southern towns, between the 1860s and the 1920s. Focusing on three cities, Williams includes interviews with descendants of the expelled families, and talks with current white residents of the area. The film was nominated for the Sundance Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Jury Prize in 2007.

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Movies

MOVIE TIMES

2012 (PG-13) ((

Century 16: Fri. - Sun. at 11:45 a.m.; 3:10, 6:45, 8:05 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: Fri. - Sun. at 10:15 a.m.; 1:35, 5, 6:10, 8:30 & 9:40 p.m. Fri. - Thu. at 12:05, 3:35, 7 & 10:25 p.m. Mon. Thu. at 1:35, 5, 6:10, 8:30 & 9:40 p.m.

A Serious Man (R) ((((

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 11:50 a.m.; 5:10 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 2:40 & 7:55 p.m.

Ninja Assassin (R (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 11:30 a.m.; 2:15; 4:50; 7:30 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 1:05, 2:20, 3:50, 5:05, 6:25, 7:40, 9:10 & 10:35 p.m. Fri.-Sun. also at 10:35 a.m.

Old Dogs (PG) (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 10:50 a.m.; 1:05; 3:25; 5:40; 7:55 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 11 a.m.; noon, 1:15, 2:20, 3:30, 4:35, 5:45, 6:55, 8, 9:15 & 10:15 p.m.

An Education (PG-13) Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 2:30 & 7:45 p.m. (Not Reviewed)

Pirate Radio (R) (((

Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 4:30 & 9:55 p.m. CinĂŠArts at Palo Alto Square: Fri.-Sun. at 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 & 9:55 p.m.

Astro Boy (PG) ((1/2 Century 20: Fri. - Thu. at 11:45 a.m.

Planet 51 (PG) (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 10:10 a.m.11:25 a.m.; 12:35; 1:50; 3:05; 4:20; 5:30; 6:55 & 9:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 1, 2:15, 3:45, 5:10, 7:50 & 10:10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. also at 10:40 a.m.

Precious: Based on the Novel â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Sapphire (R) (((1/2

Aquarius Theatre: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8:45 & 9:45 p.m. Fri.-Sun. also at noon & 1 p.m.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (R) ((

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 11:05 a.m.; 1:55; 4:45; 7:35 & 10:30 p.m.

The Blind Side (PG-13) ((

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 10:05 a.m.; 1:05; 4:05 ;7:05 & 10:05 p.m. Century 20: Fri.-Thu. at noon, 1:25, 3, 4:20, 6 & 9 p.m. Fri.-Wed. also at 7:20 & 10:20 p.m. Fri.-Sun. also at 10:25 a.m.

Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Christmas Century 16: Fri. -Sun. at 11:10 a.m.; 2:20: 4:55; 7:20 & 9:50 Carol (PG) ((( p.m. Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) ((((

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 10:55 a.m.; 1:15; 3:25; 5:35; 7:50 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m. & 12:20, 1:25, 2:35, 3:40, 4:55, 5:55, 7:10, 8:10, 9:25 & 10:24 p.m. Fri.-Sun. also at 10:05 a.m.

The Christmas Century 16: Thu. at 8 p.m. Century 20: Thu. at 8 p.m. Sweater (Not Reviewed)

Red Cliff (R) ((( Guild Theatre: 2, 5:15 & 8:30 p.m. The Road (R) (((1/2 CinĂŠArts at Palo Alto Square: 2, 4:40 & 7:20 p.m. Fri.-Sun. also at 10 p.m. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 10, 10:40, 11 & 11:40 a.m.; 12:20; 1; 1:40; 2, 2:40; 3:20; 4; 4:40; 5, 5:40; 6:20; 7; 7:40; 8:40; 9:20; 10 & 10:40 & 11 p.m. Century 20: Fri. - Sun. at 10:10 & 11:25 a.m.; 12:30, 1:10, 2:25, 2:55, 3:30, 4:10, 5:25, 5:55, 6:30, 7:10, 8:25, 8:55, 9:30 & 10:10 p.m. Fri. - Thu. at 11 a.m.; 1:50, 4:45, 7:45 & 10:40 p.m. Mon. - Thu. at 11:25 a.m.; 12:30, 1:10, 2:25, 2:55, 3:30, 4:10, 5:25, 5:55,

The Men Who Stare At Century 16: Fri.-Sun. at 11:35 a.m.; 2:05; 4:30; 7:25 & 10:15 Goats (R) p.m. Century 20: 1:55 & 7:30 p.m. (Not Reviewed)

( Skip it (( Some redeeming qualities ((( A good bet (((( Outstanding

Michael Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s This Is It (PG) (((

For show times, plot synopses, theater addresses, trailers and more information about films playing, go to PaloAltoOnline.com/movies.

Century 20: 12:10, 5:15 & 10:30 p.m.

OPENINGS Fantastic Mr. Fox ----

(Century 16, Century 20) When

Mrs. Fox says there is something kind of fantastic about being different, she could have been referring to Wes Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s animated adaptation of Roald Dahlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1970

BEYOND FANTASTIC. THE BEST ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR, AND MAYBE THE BEST FILM, PERIOD. A MARVELOUS TOY BOX OF A MOVIE.

ENDLESSLY ENCHANTING! MAGICALLY ALIVE.

( Skip it (( Some redeeming qualities ((( A good bet (((( Outstanding

AN ADVENTURE IN

Aquarius: 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto (266-9260)

PURE IMAGINATION THAT PLAYS TO THE SMART KID IN ALL OF US.

Century Cinema 16: 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View (800-326-3264)

Century 20 Downtown: 825 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (800-326-3264)

FANTASTIC BY NAME

FANTASTIC BY NATURE.

CinĂŠArts at Palo Alto Square: 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto (493-3456) Guild: 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park (266-9260)

Stanford: 221 University Ave., Palo Alto (324-3700) Internet address: For show times, plot synopses, trailers and more information about films playing, go to Palo Alto Online at http://www.PaloAltoOnline.com/

ON THE WEB: The most up-to-date movie listings at www.PaloAltoOnline.com

childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yarn. Imaginative, quirky and brimming with visual wonder, the tale about a fox that loses his tail â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but gains the love and respect of the animal kingdom â&#x20AC;&#x201D; epitomizes Fantastic-ness. The storybook enchantment opens with Dahlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poetic introduction to those horrible crooks Boggis, Bunce and Bean â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;one fat, one short, one leanâ&#x20AC;? but â&#x20AC;&#x153;nonetheless equally mean.â&#x20AC;? Co-scribes Anderson and Noah Baumbach who collaborated on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,â&#x20AC;? expand Dahlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slight narrative into an exhilarating character study and adventure. Whimsical details set the tone from the start. A hand displays Dahlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book with its library spine label, making the first subtle proreading statement. Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) has turned from a life of fowl poaching to journalism, where his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fox About Townâ&#x20AC;? column runs in the Gazette. His son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) buries his nose in superhero White Cape comics and yearns for dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

approval. The clever and charming Mr. Fox has been tamed somewhat by his wife (Meryl Streep). She knows her husband. Although heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nattily dressed in a corduroy suit, with two stalks of wheat smartly tucked in his breast pocket, the family manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sartorial style canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disguise his true nature: Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an animal. A vulpes vulpes to be exact. How can a fox ever be happy without a chicken in his mouth? Such existential musings make Mr. Fox a fascinating character. And one with dreams of upward mobility. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to live in a hole anymore. A tree house provides a room with a view â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of the Boggis-Bunch-Bean estates â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the corresponding temptation and danger to raid them. The three nasty villains operate corporate farms and big-box retail establishments. Their capitalist greed supplants the class distinctions in Dahlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book. Size, volume, electrified fences, surveillance devices and heavy machinery de-

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NOW PLAYING AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE Check Local Listings For Theatres And Showtimes

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fine their operations. Their steelreinforced businesses claw away at the natural landscape, which Anderson colors in flaming hues of autumnal reds, yellows and oranges. The vibrant color palette and stop-motion animation, in which every facial expression and movement are painstakingly filmed frame by frame, give the film a unique look. In lesser hands, the stop-motion techniques could be stilted and the pacing uneven. But Anderson instills the visuals with cinematic verve. The camera moves as quickly as a fox, sometimes cutting to a close-up of expressive eyes or an extreme long shot of small figures scampering above ground or digging beneath it. The film has a retro feel but also the freshness that typifies Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best work. When Mr. Fox and his sidekicks Badger (Bill Murray), Kylie the opossum (Wallace Wolodarsky) and Kristofferson (Eric Anderson, the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother) follow their wild-thing instincts and decide to poach some poultry from the farmers, the movie catapults into a caper flick. Showdowns with a red-eyed rat (Willem Dafoe) have the markings of a Sergio Leone western. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the good, the bad and the ugly as the animals must outdig and outfox the formidable Bean (Michael Gambon) and his forces. Chapter titles flash on the screen, and the comic antics zip by. The toon has a fanciful spirit enhanced by an eclectic soundtrack of songs ranging from â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ballad of Davy Crockettâ&#x20AC;? to the Beach Boys warbling â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Get Around.â&#x20AC;? Light and uplifting on the surface, the movie has much to say. Insights about relationships, mortality and survival are shaded in a darkness that children wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see. Most of all, the foxy adventure offers a family pack of fun. Rated PG for action, smoking and slang humor. 1 hour, 27 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Susan Tavernetti

The Road ---1/2

(Palo Alto Square) What would you do to ensure your own survival? How far would you go to protect your loved one? At what point is it better to be dead than to be alive? These questions about the very limits of the human experience drive â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Road,â&#x20AC;? John Hillcoatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cinematic adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy (â&#x20AC;&#x153;No Country for Old Menâ&#x20AC;?). â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Roadâ&#x20AC;? comes to the screen after a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delay. The wait was worth it: This post-apocalyptic drama is a potent and distinctly philosophical morality play about human instinct, the moral cost of survival and a fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love. In a flawless performance, Viggo Mortensen plays one of the last good men standing after an unnamed devastating global event. Mortensenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character â&#x20AC;&#x201D; identified in the credits as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man,â&#x20AC;? but called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Poppaâ&#x20AC;? by the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boyâ&#x20AC;? he keeps in tow â&#x20AC;&#x201D; wanders and scavenges to stave off death by starvation. Living under constant threat of the bitter cold and roving cannibals, man and child must also plan for the worst, including the

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possibility that suicide would be the lesser of two evils. Despite all signs to the contrary, Boy (well played by Kodi SmitMcPhee) clings more emphatically to optimism about the human spirit, which he characterizes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;carrying the fireâ&#x20AC;? within (and perhaps he clutches to a plush elephant in part because he â&#x20AC;&#x153;never forgetsâ&#x20AC;?). The filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Womanâ&#x20AC;? (a credibly tortured Charlize Theron) was the Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife and the Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, but for reasons that unfold in flashback, she has not made the journey with her men as they cross the barren American landscape. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is cold and growing colder as the world slowly dies,â&#x20AC;? Man narrates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All I know is the child is my warrant. And if he is not the word of God, then God never spoke.â&#x20AC;? No question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Roadâ&#x20AC;? is a bleak story, filled with terrors and the cold comfort of a revolver with but two bullets. Still, Man and Boy continually, if narrowly, choose life over death, and at times, their faith is rewarded rather than punished. Hillcoatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction is sensitive and tasteful in photography, editing and special effects, as the film paints a future world in faded earth tones and dim light. Though an important American actor shows up in a textured cameo role (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Manâ&#x20AC;?), the picture belongs to Mortensen and Smit-McPhee, who make this admittedly ashen and depressing drama into a powerfully emotional father-son love story.

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THE #1 MOVIE IN THE WORLD â&#x20AC;&#x153;A TRIUMPH.

See it again. And again.â&#x20AC;?

Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language. One hour, 52 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Peter Canavese

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Larry Carroll, MTV.COM

For the Weeklyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s review of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Red Cliff,â&#x20AC;? go to PaloAltoOnline.com./movies.

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WINTER PROGRAM â&#x20AC;?Les Classiquesâ&#x20AC;? December 4th at 7pm movie at 7:30pm Tous les matins du monde â&#x20AC;&#x153;All The Mornings Of The Worldâ&#x20AC;? by Alain Corneau - 1991 Established in 1977, the French Film Club is an independent non-proďŹ t Organization, open to the public. For full program and archives, go to:

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SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS â&#x20AC;&#x153;THE TWILIGHT SAGA : NEW MOONâ&#x20AC;? A TEMPLE HILL PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH MAVERICK/IMPRINT AND SUNSWEPT ENTERTAINMENT KRISTEN STEWART ROBERT PATTINSON TAYLOR LAUTNER ASHLEY GREENE RACHELLE LEFEVRE BILLY BURKE PETERMUSICFACINELLI ELIZABETH REASERMUSIC NIKKI REED KELLAN LUTZ JACKSON RATHBONE ANNA KENDRICK WITH MICHAEL SHEEN AND DAKOTA FANNING CASTING COSTUME EDITOR DESIGNER DAVID BRISBIN BY JOSEPH MIDDLETON, C.S.A. BY ALEXANDRE DESPLAT SUPERVISOR ALEXANDRA PATSAVAS DESIGNER TISH MONAGHAN PETER LAMBERT PRODUCTION COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY JAVIER AGUIRRESAROBE PRODUCER BILL BANNERMAN PRODUCERS MARTY BOWEN GREG MOORADIAN MARK MORGAN GUY OSEARY PRODUCED BASED ON BY WYCK GODFREY KAREN ROSENFELT THE NOVEL â&#x20AC;&#x153;NEW MOONâ&#x20AC;? BY STEPHENIE MEYER SCREENPLAY DIRECTED BY MELISSA ROSENBERG BY CHRIS WEITZ

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CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

PIZZA Pizza Chicago 424-9400 4115 El Camino Real, Palo Alto This IS the best pizza in town Spot A Pizza 324-3131 115 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto Voted Best Pizza in Palo Alto www.spotpizza.com

AMERICAN

CHINESE

Armadillo Willy’s 941-2922

Peking Duck 856-3338

1031 N. San Antonio Rd., Los Altos

2310 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Trader Vic’s 849-9800

Range: $5.00-13.00

We also deliver.

4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Su Hong – Menlo Park

Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm;

Hobee’s 856-6124 4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Also at Town & Country Village,

Dining Phone: 323–6852 To Go: 322–4631

Available for private luncheons

8 years in a row!

Lounge open nightly

INDIAN

Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6 pm

Burmese Green Elephant Gourmet

Darbar Indian Cuisine 321-6688

(650) 494-7391

129 Lytton, Downtown Palo Alto

Burmese & Chinese Cuisine

Lunch Buffet M-F; Open 7 days

3950 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto

Dine-In, Take-Out, Local Delivery-Catering

Janta Indian Restaurant 462-5903

SEAFOOD Cook’s Seafood 325-0604 751 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

369 Lytton Ave., Downtown Palo Alto Lunch Buffet M-F; Organic Veggies

Seafood Dinners from

ITALIAN

$6.95 to $10.95

JING JING

THAI

443 Emerson Street Downtown Palo Alto

Thaiphoon Restaurant 323-7700

www.jingjinggourmet.com

CHINESE Chef Chu’s (650) 948-2696

Spalti Ristorante 327-9390

1067 N. San Antonio Road

417 California Ave, Palo Alto

on the corner of El Camino, Los Altos

ÝµÕ Ã ÌiÊ `ÊUÊ"ÕÌ` ÀÊ }

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JAPANESE & SUSHI

Full Bar, Outdoor Seating

Fuki Sushi 494-9383

www.thaiphoonrestaurant.com

Jing Jing 328-6885 443 Emerson St., Palo Alto Authentic Szechwan, Hunan

4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

MEXICAN

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1700 Embarcadero East, Palo Alto www.mings.com

543 Emerson St., Palo Alto

Best Thai Restaurant in Palo Alto

Palo Alto Sol 328-8840 408 California Ave, Palo Alto Õ}iÊ i ÕÊUÊ iÃÌÞ iÊ,iV «iÃ

3 Years in a Row, 2006-2007-2008

STEAKHOUSE Sundance the Steakhouse 321-6798 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

The Oaxacan Kitchen 321-8003 New Tung Kee Noodle House 520 Showers Dr., MV in San Antonio Ctr. Voted MV Voice Best ‘01, ‘02, ‘03 & ‘04

Authentic Mexican Restaurant

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:00pm

2323 Birch Street, Palo Alto

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also visit us at 6 Bay Area Farmer’s Markets

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Page 30ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

650-328-6885

Open 7 days a Week

Food To Go, Delivery

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Sun 4:30 - 9:30pm

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(Charleston Shopping Center)

POLYNESIAN

of the week

Fri-Sat 5:00-10:30pm, Sun 5:00-9:00pm www.sundancethesteakhouse.com

Search a complete listing of local restaurant reviews by location or type of food on PaloAltoOnline.com

Eating Out RESTAURANT REVIEW

Piemonte luminary New chef, new menu bring star quality to La Strada by Dale F. Bentson svaldo Tomatis is a celebrity chef of ed cooking part-time and worked his way up sorts. He was the executive in charge with stints in the Bay Area and the Pacific of food services at Pixar Animation Northwest. Studios during the filming of the hit film Tomatis took over the helm at La Strada “Ratatouille.” His kitchen was used to film four months ago, reshaping the menu and many scenes, with the images of line cooks infusing new life into the five-year-old restranslated into animation. taurant. He replaced chef Donato Scotti, who Tomatis had been the executive chef at Il recently opened his own restaurant in RedFornaio in San Francisco when Apple’s Steve wood City. Jobs, who was CEO of Pixar at the time, re“My menu is traditional Italian but with cruited him to take over onsite food services local produce. I am market-sensitive, and use at the studio’s high-tech digs in Emeryville. what is seasonal at farmers’ markets,” TomaJobs loved rustic Italian cooking and want- tis said. “The menu will adjust seasonally.” ed someone who could nourish his creative The food at La Strada is less Americanized brain-trust film company, Italian-style. than the fare at most of our local Italian resTomatis is now the chef at La Strada in taurants, and far tastier. Palo Alto. He is a native of Turin (Torino), in Physically, the restaurant is both conItaly’s food-conscious Piedmont (Piemonte) temporary and functional. The kitchen and region. There his family owned both a farm wood-burning brick oven line one side while and a restaurant, where he began working at zesty mustard- and ochre-colored walls add a age 14. spacious feel to the two dining rooms. There By age 18, he was eager to make his own is an enclosed patio for year-round semi-al mark on the culinary world and relocated to fresco dining. Redwood City to live with an uncle. He startAt a recent meal, the focaccia was house-

Shawn Fender

The marinated and grilled veal rib-eye is served with roasted asparagus and eggplant. made and came with an ice-cold tomato tapenade. Too bad it wasn’t served at room temperature because the flavors were locked in, leaving the paste nearly flavorless. The antipasti were all first-rate, though.

Crostone was warm porcini mushrooms, radicchio and fontina cheese layered over grilled ciabatta bread ($9). A meal in itself: fresh, earthy, flavorful and pretty on the plate, and a blissful autumn dish.

DINNER BY THE MOVIES AT SHORELINE’S

Pizzeria Venti LET US CATER OR HOST YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY Make the Holidays truly special with a visit to Pizzera Venti

)TALIAN 3PECIALTIES s &RESH 3EASONAL 3ALADS s 3ELECTION OF &ABULOUS )MPORTED 7INE s 2EGIONAL 0ASTA DISHES FROM ALL OF )TALY s 0IZZA ALLA 2USTICANA s 'ELATO E #AFFE Whether it’s a Private party for 20 or quiet dinner for two, PV has you covered. Off menu and special request items available. Don’t let the Holidays stress you out. PV is Holiday Pary Central!

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Eating Out Maialetto e lenticchie ($12) was the tenderest crispy suckling pig belly imaginable. The pork had been slow-cooked but remained juicy and luscious. Umbrian lentils shored up the generous slab of meat. Umbrian lentils are noted for their ruddy muted hues and do not get mushy when cooked. A half-dozen thin-crusted pizzas were on the menu. I was torn because they all sounded terrific. I settled for the Sicilian tuna with caramelized onions, mozzarella cheese and olives ($14) and wasn’t disappointed. The crust alone would have made a credible flatbread. It was the same dough used to make the focaccia. The combination of the tuna, olives, caramelized onions and cheese was

almost like eating a warm crusty Nicoise salad. The pastas were uncommonly good. I loved the house-made black olive spaghetti with Niman Ranch lamb cheeks (jowls), fava beans and pecorino cheese ($16). The perfumed pasta was a pale lavender color speckled with flecks of black olive. The lamb was fork-tender and the fava beans added chewiness, while the cheese supplied a note of sharpness. The paccheri pasta ($15) with heady lamb ragu, creamy ricotta and sharp pecorino cheese was irresistible, rustic and elemental. Ragu refers to a meat-based sauce, in this case with tomato, and the paccheri were large, hollow, tube-shaped

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pasta. Another favorite was the casonsei alla Bergamasca sausage ravioli ($15) made with a splash of amaretto, and brown butter and guanciale — pig jowls this time. The ravioli were stuffed and wrapped with pork; the dish played like a symphony of bacon. The meat had a resonant note of sweetness and the butter added creaminess. It was good enough to mop up with that last piece of focaccia. The marinated and grilled veal rib-eye ($24) was mellow and yielding and delicately flavored, with the meat milky-rose and tender as butter. Roasted asparagus and eggplant contributed slightly more acid tones while a dash of Aceto Balsamico added sweetness. Aceto Balsamico is the original balsamic, aged at least 12 years, mellow and syrupy. Whole branzino, a Mediterranean sea bass, was offered two ways — grilled or oven-roasted ($25). My dining partner opted for the grilled version, which came with roasted potatoes and arugula salad. When the fish dish was brought to the table, the waitress asked if my companion wanted it boned. Of course, but rather than boning it at the table, she took it back to the kitchen. By the time it returned, the potatoes were ice-cold. Also, I waited to eat until we were both served and my food was barely warm by then. There has to be a better way. The desserts were very good. Soffiato di cioccolato “La Strada” ($9) was warm Valrhona chocolate soufflé with vanilla gelato. The cupcakesized soufflé was spongy on the outside and oozed chocolate lava when pricked. The gelato, while good, only interfered with the ambrosial liquid chocolate. Also noteworthy were the crème brûlée infused with almond and vanilla ($8), and house-made sorbettos ($7). Both the crimson-red mango and the creamy sweet prickly-pear sorbettos were distinctly flavored. The wine list is fairly priced and offers practical selections from both California and Italy. The wines of Piedmont were, happily, much in evidence: Barolos, Barbarescos and Barberas along with Tuscan, Umbrian and Sicilian wines. Prices range from the low $30s to $200plus, with most wines under $100. Corkage fee is $15. Chef Tomatis has charged new life into La Strada with inspired cooking. He is more star maker than star, though. The dishes on his plates are the real stars of the show. N La Strada, 335 University Ave., Palo Alto 650-324-8300 lastradapaloalto.com Lunch: Daily 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Dinner: Mon.-Thurs. 4-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 4-11 p.m. Sun. 4-9 p.m.

Reservations Credit cards Lot Parking

Takeout Highchairs Wheelchair Full Bar

Please contact Diana Peña, Admissions Coordinator: 408.481.9900 Ext. 4248 or dpena@tka.org 562 N. Britton Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085-3841 P: 408.481.9900 • www.tka.org • f: 408.481.9932 ACSI AND WASC ACCREDITATION

Page 32ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓää ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

access

Banquet Catering

Outdoor seating Noise level: Moderate Bathroom Cleanliness: Excellent

Sports Shorts

HELP WANTED . . . Castilleja is looking for an assistant softball coach for this spring. Those interested should contact Athletic Director Jez McIntosh at jez_mcintosh@castilleja.org . . . Palo Alto is looking for coaches in the following sports: baseball, boys’lacrosse and softball. Those interested should send resumes to Palo Alto Athletic Director Earl Hansen at 50 Embarcadero Road, 94301 or contact him at 329-3886 . . . Menlo-Atherton is looking for coaches for next spring’s track and field season. Those interested should contact Mary Podesta at 322-5311 ext 5708 or e-mail mpodesta@ seq.org. . . . Sacred Heart Prep is looking for a girls’ JV soccer coach. Contact SHP Athletic Director Frank Rodriguez at 4734031 or at frodriguez@shschools. org . . . Pinewood is looking for a head coach for boys’ and girls’swimming. Contact Athletic Director Matt Stimson at 9416044 or at mstimson@pinewood. edu.

ON THE AIR Friday Women’s basketball: Utah at Stanford, 1 p.m.; KZSU ((0.1 FM) Women’s volleyball: California at Stanford, 7 p.m.; KZSU (90.1 FM)

Saturday College football: Notre Dame at Stanford, 5 p.m.; ABC (7); XTRA Sports (860 AM); KZSU (90.1 FM)

Sunday

SPORTS ONLINE For expanded daily coverage of college and prep sports, please see our new site at www.PASportsOnline.com

Stanford QB wants to make amends against Notre Dame by Rick Eymer

Friday when the top-ranked and unbeaten Cardinal (23-0) hosts Boston College (18-3-2) in the Elite Eight at 7 p.m. The Stanford men’s team also has an experienced goalkeeper in senior John Moore, but the unranked Cardinal (12-5-2) won’t have the comforts of home. The men travel to Ohio to face top-ranked and un-

he Big Game loss took a little longer to shake but when it came time to begin preparations for Notre Dame, the Stanford football team was eager to get going again. Redshirt freshman Andrew Luck owns regrets about his fatal interception. Coach Jim Harbaugh owns regrets about play calling. Running back Toby Gerhart still seethes about the loss, but is ready to move on. Offensive lineman Chase Beeler wanted to forget, but relived the experience more than once over the weekend. In a year drenched with success, perhaps the Cardinal needed the hint of failure to keep its dreams in perspective. The Rose Bowl is out, and even a win last Saturday would not have kept the Cardinal in contention. There is, however, another game to play; another home game against another storied program. “Notre Dame is the only team in my four years we haven’t beaten,” Gerhart pointed out. “They’re a traditional power with a lot of history.” The Irish, with an entirely different set of problems of their own, come to town for the regular season finale Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and a national audience will be watching, courtesy of ABC. Stanford hopes its Cardinal Luck, not the

(continued on page 35)

Stanford junior keeper Kira Maker will play a key role when the top-ranked and undefeated Cardinal play host to Boston College in an NCAA regional final on Friday night, with a berth in the College Cup at stake.

Goalies will play a vital role

Maker and Moore lead their Cardinal soccer teams into another big NCAA weekend by Rick Eymer ometimes the Stanford women’s soccer coaching staff can’t tell if junior goalkeeper Kira Maker is being vocal, since she’s so quiet off the field. When matches are televised, however, and there’s a live microphone on the field, it becomes apparent Maker not only has been paying attention the entire time but seems ready at a moment’s notice.

“She has to stay connected and fill the gaps,” said Stanford assistant coach Jay Cooney, who is in charge of the goalkeepers. “The goalkeeper has to direct the backs, and that means verbally staying in contact. She has to know what will happen before it happens.” That ability has allowed Maker to accumulate 27 career shutouts in her 54 career starts. She’d like nothing better than to record another shutout

CCS FOOTBALL

NORCAL VOLLEYBALL

This Menlo-SHP matchup means title-game berth

Road is tougher for local teams in the semifinals

by Tim Goode

By Keith Peters

ess than a week ago, Menlo School was looking for its first-ever Central Coast Section football victory. On Saturday, it will be playing Sacred Heart Prep for a berth in the championship game. The Gators, on the other hand, will be attempting to earn their second consecutive trip to the CCS Division IV title game. It lost the Small School Division title game last season to Sacred Heart Cathedral after beating Menlo and topseeded Scotts Valley along the way. The CCS semifinal game begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Oak Grove High School in San Jose. Both teams are 8-3 and earned their way into Saturday’s contest with easy CCS triumphs at home. Second-seeded Menlo beat Greenfield, 42-27, and No. 3 seed Sacred Heart cruised by San Lorenzo Valley, 45-14. Both teams enjoyed early leads, substituted

he first big step has been taken by three local teams in the CIF Northern California girls’ volleyball playoffs as Palo Alto, Sacred Heart Prep and Castilleja all won their openers on Tuesday night. Now comes the tough part. Palo Alto will face No. 2 St. Francis (Sacramento), Sacred Heart Prep will take on No.1 Christian Brothers and Castilleja must tangle with No. 1 Branson, all in semifinal matches Saturday at 7 p.m. For Palo Alto (36-4), which is seeded No. 5 for traveling purposes but is actually the No. 2 seed (ahead of St. Francis-Sacramento), this is new territory for the current players. The last time Paly made it this far was in 2000, when the Vikings reached the NorCal finals before losing to — St. Francis (Mountain View). Head coach Dave Winn also is making his first

(continued on page 38)

Keith Peters

Women’s basketball: Gonzaga at Stanford, 2 p.m.; KZSU (90.1 FM) Men’s basketball: Portland St. at Stanford, 7 p.m.; KZSU (90.1 FM)

Luck of Cardinal, not Irish

Kyle Terada/Stanford Photo

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES . . . The Central Coast Section (CCS) of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has announced the recipients of the 2009 Fall Season Scholastic Championship Team Awards and the Menlo School football team earned top marks in the section with a combined 3.3611 GPA. This is the third time in the past six years that the Menlo football team has earned the honor (previous distinctions in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006), and the fourth time (1987-1988) since the awards were instituted in 1985. The Castilleja water polo team also took home top honors with the best combined GPA of 3.7879. Teams that ranked No. 2 in their sports included Sacred Heart Prep football (3.3229), Sacred Heart Prep girls’ tennis (3.7-13), Sacred Heart Prep boys’ water polo (3.5147) and Castilleja volleyball (3.7727). The CCS Scholastic Team Awards recognize the varsity team from each CCS sport, with the highest collective grade point average of all teams competing in that sport during that season of competition.

STANFORD FOOTBALL

Menlo’s Beau Nichols had six catches for 147 yards in a CCS opening win.

(continued on page 38)

Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2009 • Page 33

Sports

Stanford hosts Cal with Pac-10 volleyball co-title at stake No. 2-ranked Cardinal womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team opens five-game homestand starting Friday against Utah and Gonzaga on Sunday by Rick Eymer unior libero Gabi Ailes could enter the Stanford record books as the all-time digs leader when sixth-ranked Stanford (13-4, 20-7) hosts 11th-ranked California (11-6, 18-9) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Big Spike. Stanford and Washington control their own destiny for the Pac-10 title. Should both teams win their final matches of the season, co-champions would be crowned. Should that be the case, Washington would re-

ceive the Pac-10Ăs automatic berth in the NCAA Championships by virtue of the tiebreaker (Washington won 5 sets to StanfordĂs 3 sets in head-to-head competition). UCLA is holding on to hopes of a tri-championship, but would need to win its final two matches and have both Washington and Stanford drop a match (Washington still holds the tiebreaker). This will be the first time in 24 years of Pac-10 play that there will be a league champion with three or

more losses. Stanford will have finished first or second 23 times in conference history. The Pac-10 has sent six or more teams to the NCAA tournament each year since 2000, a string of nine straight seasons. The conference could have as many as eight this season when the selection committee announces the bracket noon Sunday on ESPNews. Ailes is 26 digs shy of tying Kristin Richardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1,597 career digs.

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currently the third leading active leader in the Pac-10 with 1,571, behind Washington senior Tamari Miyashiro (2,321) and Washington State senior Kelly Hyder (1,736). Stanford seniors Janet Okogbaa, Joanna Evans and Menlo School grad Alex Fisher will be honored for their contributions to the Cardinal. Okogbaa ranks second in the Pac10 and 27th nationally with 1.30 blocks per set. Coach John Dunning is four victories away from 700 career wins. In

24 years as a head coach, Dunning is 696-146 (.827), giving him a winning percentage that ranks among the top five all-time for Division I coaches. Dunning is 259-44, now in his ninth season on The Farm, and the all-time winningest coach in Pac-10 history by percentage (.855). Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball Point guard JJ Hones returned to (continued on page 40)

31st ANNUAL

Winning isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t everything. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just something we do really well.

Every varsity team in the fall season of 2009 made it to the CCS playoffs. Every varsity team since 2001 has earned the CCS Scholastic Team Award (3.0 GPA or Higher).

2010 TALL TREE AWARDS Call for Nominations The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and the Palo Alto Weekly are proud to announce the 31st Annual Tall Tree awards, presented in four categories, recognizing exceptional civic contributions and service to the Palo Alto community. Current elected ofďŹ cials are not eligible.

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Sports

NCAA soccer (continued from page 33)

beaten Akron (21-0) for a 1 p.m. (PT) match on Sunday in the Sweet Sixteen. “It’s not an environment you get every day,” Stanford men’s coach Bret Simon said. “It should be a lot of fun. There should be a nice crowd on hand, though I suspect not many will be rooting for us.” Akron expects to sellout for the fourth time this season. The Cardinal has had to rely on a handful of freshmen to bring them this far, though by now they all seem to be playing like veterans at just the right time. At Stanford, meanwhile, Boston College has advanced to its first Elite Eight since 1985. The Golden Eagles played two invitational matches at Stanford last year, losing to the Cardinal, 3-0, in the third game of the year after beating Oregon State. Stanford opens next season at Boston College, one of four ACC teams remaining in the tournament with North Carolina, Florida State and Wake Forest. The Eagles lost twice to the Tar Heels and once to the Seminoles, both of whom were awarded No. 1 seeds. “That was really an evenly played game last year,” Cooney said of last season’s match against BC. “It was early and Boston College is much better now.” Maker, who is also tutored by former Stanford All-American goalie and Olympic gold medalist Nicole Barnhardt, doesn’t get a lot of attention because of the artistry from the goal producers, but Cooney said the team relies on her for a handful of saves every match that make the difference.

Stanford football (continued from page 33)

luck of the Irish, will prevail. “8-4 has a much better ring to it than 7-5,” Beeler said. “9-3 would have sounded better but that’s not possible now. What is important is for us to make something happen for the seniors.” Beeler and Luck each took mutual responsibility for mishandled shotgun snaps against Cal, and for plays that couldn’t be made. If anything, though, the center and signal caller have to realize that the biggest mistakes of their young careers have been made. Mistakes are random, confidence is permanent. “A couple of times I know I have thought about not messing up and that’s when I mess up,” Luck said. “I learned from that and I go out thinking about success and the best thing I can do.” Luck, Harbaugh and most of the Stanford players will never be accused of playing not to lose. That’s why the Cardinal goes for it on fourth down deep in its own territory and that’s why Luck took a shot at the end zone instead of playing it safe. They play to win. “We lost a game,” Harbaugh said. “We didn’t lose our integrity, we didn’t lose our confidence and we didn’t lose who we are.” Stanford did lose a coach in as-

Commitment To Excellence

She made one save near the end defensive front with juniors Bobby of Stanford’s 1-0 victory over Santa Warshaw, Cameron Lamming and Clara last weekend that looked spec- Ryan Thomas among others. “We knew Hunter could play but tacular in preserving the win. “We’ve come to expect her to we weren’t sure what his best posimake that kind of a save 19 out of tion would be,” Simon said, “or even 20 times,” Cooney said. “Timing if he was ready to make the jump was crucial and that’s where her to Division I. We tried him at right personality comes to the forefront. back and he’s stuck there. I think he She’s very measured and doesn’t could play in the midfield too. He’s cause herself any problems. She a guy who has stood up to playing punched the ball up and Ali Riley every minute of every game. When had the presence of mind to clear you look at him in practice today he it. I think some of the saves she had looks the same as he did the first earlier were better. She has steady, day of training camp. He’s soccer crazy; he’s out playing every day.” safe hands.” As much as Gorskie has been a Maker has been a steadying influence on freshmen defenders like key figure in the defense, freshman Rachel Quon and Alina Garcia- Adam Jahn has key a central player mendez. The communication and on offense. “He’s scored some big support has been precise goals,” Simon said. “He and comforting. Even holds on the attack and while Maker has had to holds the ball. If we’re make just 39 saves (an in trouble we find him average of 1.7 a game), because he makes good she’s clearly a vital part decisions. He plays like of the defense. a veteran.” With Ali Riley and The weather in Akron fellow senior Alicia Jencalls for snow, sleet and kins also working with showers through Frithe freshmen on defense, day, and clearing on the Maker has recorded a weekend. 0.55 Goals Against Aver“We call that a winage, ranking her 13th in John Moore try mix,” said Simon, the nation. Boston College’s Jillian Mastroianni is fourth who grew up in the Northeast and coached at Creighton before coming with a 0.43 GAA. Stanford senior forward Kelley to Stanford. “They say that could be O’Hara ranks second in the nation an advantage for them but when it with a 2.75 points per game average rains or snows, no one is happy.” Akron is no fluke. The Zips have while junior forward Christen Press a soccer tradition and schedule top is sixth at 2.22. Moore, meanwhile, has played teams. “It’s not a big secret what they every minute of every match for Stanford and enters Sunday’s con- do,” Simon said. “They pressure the test with a 0.82 GAA. His Akron ball when they lose it and then try to keep it. Everybody on that team can counterpart has a 0.33 GAA. Freshman defender Hunter Gor- play. If you follow college soccer, skie has been a revelation for the you know they have been good for Cardinal, helping to form a solid awhile.” ■ sistant Willie Taggart, who accepted the head coaching position at Western Kentucky. He will coach through Saturday’s game before heading to his alma mater. “It’s sad to lose a friend but he’s a great coach and teacher and has success as a recruiter,” Harbaugh said. “He’s just so genuine. I feel like the proud older brother. It’s really cool.” Taggart’s duties will likely be assumed by graduate assistant Casey Moore, a Stanford grad who played under Tyrone Willingham as a fullback. He still holds the Big Game record for longest run, a 94-yarder in 1999 that was designed to get the Cardinal out of trouble. Stanford moves forward, hoping to give the seniors a win in their final home game. “We have to get back to basics and do what we do best,” Gerhart said. “That’s getting after people.” Gerhart likely will be playing his final game in a Cardinal uniform. He’s not fully committed, but understands if he’s rated high enough in the draft, he’ll be getting ready for the NFL combine and giving up college sports, including baseball. “I’m not going to do anything until after the bowl game,” Gerhart said. “I want to play football as long as I can. My dad is a coach; I grew up around the game and I love the game.” When Harbaugh was first intro-

duced as the Stanford coach in December of 2006, he said he wanted to play football as long as he could and then coach until he died. Heck, he started coaching, with his father, while he was still playing in the NFL. Gerhart said he could see himself doing the same thing down the road. “There’s still a bit of football to played this year and “winning the final game for the seniors would be a big deal,” said Luck. “8-4 is staring us in the face,” Harbaugh said. “We have to go get it.” NOTES: Notre Dame was won the past seven meetings with Stanford, including the final game ever played at the old Stanford Stadium on Nov. 26, 2005. The last Cardinal win was a 17-13 victory in 2001, the last season Stanford recorded a winning record . . . Stanford needs 11 points to become the third team in school history to record 400 points or more, including the team record 422 scored in, you guessed it, 2001 . . . The Cardinal needs to rush for 70 yards to establish the school mark for single-season team rushing. The 1949 edition ground out 2,481 yards . . . Stanford ranks second in the nation in allowing sacks (0.55 per game) . . . Chris Owusu and Cardinal teammate Sean Wiser were receivers for Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Claussen in high school. ■

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PALO ALTO WEEKLY

Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2009 • Page 35

Support our Kids with a gift to the Holiday Fund. Give to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund and your donation is doubled. You give to non-profit groups that work right here in our community. It’s a great way to ensure that your charitable donations are working at home.

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( Page 36 • November 27, 2009 • Palo Alto Weekly

ach year the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund raises money to suppor t programs ser ving families and children in the Palo Alto area. Since the Weekly and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation cover all the administrative costs, ever y dollar raised goes directly to suppor t community programs through grants to non-profit organizations ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. And with the generous support of matching grants from local foundations, including the Packard and Hewlett foundations, your taxdeductible gift will be doubled in size. A donation of $100 turns into $200 with the foundation matching gifts. Whether as an individual, a business or in honor of someone else, help us beat last year's total of $260,000 by making a generous contribution to the Holiday Fund. With your generosity, we can give a major boost to the programs in our community helping kids and families.

Last Year’s Grant Recipients Adolescent Counseling Services .... $10,000 Art in Action .......................................... $5,000 Baby Basics of the Peninsula, Inc. ... $1,200 Bread of Life.......................................... $5,000 Breast Cancer Connections ............... $5,000 California Family Foundation .............. $2,500 Cleo Eulau Center................................. $5,000 Collective Roots.................................. $10,000 Community Legal Services in EPA .... $7,500 Community Working Group, Inc......... $7,500 Downtown Streets, Inc. .................... $10,000 East Palo Alto Children’s Day Committee ..................................... $5,000 East Palo Alto Kids Foundation ........ $10,000 East Palo Alto Youth Court .................. $7,500 Environmental Volunteers .................. $3,000 EPA.net................................................... $5,000 Foothill-De Anza Foundation .............. $7,500 Foundation for a College Education .. $5,000

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Sports

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a CCS water polo three-peat for Sacred Heart Prep teams A dunking of Menlo provides SHP boys with an historic third-straight title while Gator girls topple St. Ignatius to complete a rare three-year sweep by Keith Peters acred Heart Prep had been the dominant boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; water polo team in Northern California all season, winning the inaugural CCS-NCS tournament in September and then steamrolling through its Central Coast Section foes with relative ease. The Gators won the West Catholic Athletic League regular-season and playoff titles, twice beating eventual CCS Division I champ Bellarmine and section runnerup St. Francis. Despite all that success, Sacred Heart Prep still had something special to accomplish last weekend. The Gators wanted to make some history by becoming the first CCS Division II team to win three consecutive titles. Sacred Heart (24-5) did just that with a 15-6 blasting of No. 2 Menlo School (22-7) in the CCS Division II finals Saturday at Santa Clara University. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This team wanted to make history,â&#x20AC;? said SHP coach Brian Kreutzkamp, who has guided the Gators to three of their four overall section crowns. Not only did SHP make history, but it accomplished it with its best performance of the season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played all season,â&#x20AC;? Kreutzkamp said. Two earlier CCS matches allowed Kreutzkamp to rest his starters so they would be fresh against Menlo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If anything, we were going to be fast today,â&#x20AC;? Kreutzkamp said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be that fast.â&#x20AC;? After a slow start that saw the Gators holding a 3-2 first-quarter lead, things began to click after that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It all starts with Ben,â&#x20AC;? Kreutzkamp said of his senior goalie, Ben Dearborn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once they (the Gators) saw Ben blocking balls, it allowed us to take more chances. He ran the offense and defense.â&#x20AC;?

wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have expected this.â&#x20AC;? Holland-McCowan was limited to a single goal with 3:33 left in the first quarter. That was it. Senior Chris Akin and sophomore Nick Hale both scored two goals for the Knights, but they needed much more. SHP junior Philip Bamberg scored four goals himself while senior Connor Still added two more.

Keith Peters

SHP boys celebrate another title. Dearborn also had 15 saves, which ignited a blistering counter attack. The Gators went on an 11-1 run over the second and third quarters to grab a 14-3 lead and put the game out of Menloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reach. Kreutzkamp figured eight of the 11 goals came on counters, where Dearborn acted as a quarterback and found his wide receivers at the other end of the pool for easy goals. SHP senior David Culpan had six of his seven goals during that time to hand Menlo one of its worst losses ever in postseason play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we get rolling, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hard to stop,â&#x20AC;? Kreutzkamp said. Kreutzkampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game plan was to wear Menlo down in the first half and then attack in the final two periods. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It just came a little earlier,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those two (second and third) quarters were critical.â&#x20AC;? Sacred Heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other plan was to shut down Menlo junior scoring leader John Holland-McCowan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All their offense is run through him,â&#x20AC;? Kreutzkamp said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our plan was to double- and triple-team him and make others beat us . . . but, I

Division II girls Top-seeded Sacred Heart Prep defended its Division II crown and captured its third consecutive section title with a 6-2 win over No. 3 St. Ignatius. Sacred Heart Prep (22-8) was expected to win and did, with a dominating defense and just enough offense. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the one weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been talking about since last August,â&#x20AC;? said SHP coach Jon Burke. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We talked about how this team really hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accomplished anything because we had lost a lot of players and this team was pretty young and new.â&#x20AC;? But, as Burke said, the players worked hard, bought into the program and it all paid off with a third straight title. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is huge for our program,â&#x20AC;? said Burke, who loses only two seniors (Heather Smith and Lisa Rennels). â&#x20AC;&#x153;They earned this. This is what we focus on in the fall, getting to this game.â&#x20AC;? And then making the most of the opportunity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The field blocking was very effective,â&#x20AC;? said Burke, who gladly accepted the ritual post-match dunking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We tried to clamp down on their scorers. With this team, defense has been the main attack all

season long.â&#x20AC;? The Gators missed some early opportunities before sophomore Erin Sheridan scored on a breakaway with 2:54 left in the opening period. With just 52 seconds left in the quarter, SHP took advantage of a 6-on-5 situation with junior Emily Parsons finding the net. St. Ignatius got back a goal when junior Liz Rosen scored the first of her two goals with 3:32 remaining, but SHPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heather Smith erased that and provided the eventual winning goal on another 6-on-5 advantage less than 20 seconds later for a 3-1 match. Sacred Heart Prep scored four of its goals on power plays, with Smith scoring three of them. The Gatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense did the rest, with junior goalie Catherine Donahoe stopping 10 shots, most of them right at her. The final matchup also was the fourth of the season between SHP and SI. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They came into this game with great momentum,â&#x20AC;? Burke said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They played us hard in the WCAL semifinals and, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to beat a team four times. We tried to get that out of the playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; heads. This was just another game.â&#x20AC;? Well, sort of. Burke did get pushed into the pool and the SHP girls got to hoist another trophy and pose for postgame photos. For Smith and Rennels, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably used to it by now. Both were on the past two championship teams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gets harder every year to win,â&#x20AC;? Burke said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a firsttime or second-time champion, you have to defend.â&#x20AC;? Division I girls In a match similar to last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division finale, second-seeded St. Francis upended No. 1-seeded Menlo-Atherton in overtime, 12-11,

to win a second-straight section title on Saturday at Santa Clara University. The Bears came into the finals riding a 25-game winning streak and ranked No. 1 in Northern California. M-A hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lost since September. The Lancers came in ranked No. 3 in NorCal, and having been beaten by M-A in the finals of the Amanda MacDonald Invitational earlier this year. Menlo-Atherton (27-2) grabbed a 9-8 lead on a goal by senior Anna Geiduschek with 1:40 left in regulation. The Lancers (27-2), however, took advantage of a 6-on-5 situation and got a game-tying goal from Katherine Elward with 1:25 left to play. St. Francis took a 10-9 lead in the first overtime on one of seven goals by Hathaway Moore. M-A senior Becca Dorst tied the game at 10 in the second extra period but Moore fired in another goal that appeared to ricochet off the head of M-A junior goalie Emily Dorst, who finished with 15 saves. With only 43 seconds left to play and trailing by 11-10, a shot by Dorst was stopped. With time running out, M-A coach Chris Rubin had Shelby Fero jump into the pool to stop the clock. It also cost the Bears a five-meter penalty shot, which Moore made for a 12-10 lead with 16 seconds left. Dorst scored with five seconds to play, but the Bears couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find a way to score again and dropped their second straight overtime decision to the Lancers in the CCS finals. For the Bears, it was another tough season-ending defeat, made tougher by the fact eight players will be graduating â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including starters Becca Dorst, Vanessa Lane, Heather Bogott, Anna Geiduschek, and Sarah Winters. â&#x2013;

PIANO SUMMIT III: The Richness and Beauty of Modern Jazz Piano

Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce

Holiday Mixer

Featuring Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Restaurants and Bakeries Wines Provided by Thomas Fogarty Winery

LARRY VUCKOVICH

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SUSAN MUSCARELLA

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Saturday, December 5, 2009 G 7:30 pm Rothrock Performance Hall G Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road G Portola Valley

Presented by Palo Alto Jazz Alliance and Palo Alto Adult School G Cosponsored by KCSM FM 91 Produced and Hosted by Dr. Herb Wong Tickets: $30 General Admission $25 PAJA Member (limit 2 per member)N $10 Student N If you join PAJA now by mail (annual dues: $35 single adult or $50 two adults), you may buy 2 tickets per member at member price

Tickets available NOW! Peninsula Music & Repair, 4333 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650/948-5000, cash or check only Or at door only day of event after 7 pm, cash or check only

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This Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holiday Gift Drive Will Benefit Innvision. Visit www.Innvision.org for the Holiday 2009 Wish List.

Information: Call 650/345-9543 or email harvey.mittler@myastound.net

Donated as a community service by the Palo Alto Weekly and the Country Almanac.

122 Hamilton Avenue L Palo Alto L www.PaloAltoChamber.com L 650 324 3121 Palo Alto Weekly â&#x20AC;˘ November 27, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 37

Sports

NorCal volleyball (continued from page 33)

The Bowman program builds confidence, creativity and academic excellence. Lower School - Grades K - 5 Middle School - Grades 6 - 8 Individualized, self-directed program Rich international & cultural studies Proven, Montessori approach State-of-the-art facility Low student-teacher ratio

www.bowmanschool.org 4000 Terman Drive l Palo Alto, CA l Tel: 650-813-9131

CITY OF PALO ALTO NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Palo Alto City Council will hold a public hearing at the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. or as near thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, to Consider the Approval of (1) a Mitigated Negative Declaration; (2) a Site and Design Review application for the demolition of three commercial buildings (including the Palo Alto Bowl and Motel 6) and the construction of a four-story building containing 167 hotel guestrooms, and 26 three-story residential townhomes on a site comprised of four parcels of land zoned RM-1, RM-15 and CS; (3) a Tentative Map merging the four parcels into a 3.62 acre parcel for condominium subdivision into a hotel unit and 26 residential units; and (4) a Record of Land Use Action for approval of the project located at 4301 and 4329 El Camino Real. DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk

YOUTH SOCCER OPEN TRYOUTS NOV. 16 TO DEC. 15

Palo Alto Soccer Club

CYSA/NorCal Te a m Afﬁlia te

“Take the next step!” SOCCER PLAYERS WANTED: Boys and Girls born between 8/1/96 to 7/31/02 (Ages 8 to 13 1/2) Join our Under-9 to Under-13 Teams for 2010

BENEFITS: • Receive professional coaching in a • Join Competitive (Class 3 teams) and parent-managed organization Highly Competitive (Class 1 teams) • Develop individual skills and techniques • Enjoy a fun and positive environment (Positive Coaching Alliance Philosophy) • Learn teamwork and game strategy 2 PAS C F LY E R 2 0 0 9

Visit our website for Time, Locations and Contacts www.pasoccerclub.org Page 38 • November 27, 2009 • Palo Alto Weekly

appearance in the NorCal semifinals. As head coach at Los Altos in 2002, he got his team to a NorCal opener before losing. Thus, the semifinals provide a great, albeit new, challenge. “They (St. Francis) have some tall, powerful girls on that team,” said Winn, who is 123-31 in his fourth year at Paly. “We’ll have to play just as good offensive but against a bigger block on Saturday as St Francis sports four 6-footers on their roster. Their MB, Zoe Nightengale, is one of the best in California and has already verbally committed to UCLA. If we get past St Francis, we will have certainly earned a spot in the NorCal finals. Our goal is a rematch with Mitty.” Facing nationally No. 1 Mitty is the carrot leading Palo Alto in these playoffs. The Vikings were swept by the Monarchs in the Central Coast Section Division II finals and Paly wants to show the nation’s best that it can play much better. The Vikings pretty much showed No. 4 seed Pleasant Valley (31-9), the Northern Section champ, just how tough they be with a dominating effort in a 25-9, 25-14, 25-27, 25-20 victory in Chico. Paly once again improved its school record for single-season victories with its 36th triumph. The Vikings have won 34 of their past 35 matches this season after having a 33-match win streak snapped by Mitty last weekend. Paly’s 6-foot-5 sophomore Melanie Wade had 12 kills and six blocks, senior Marissa Florant added 17

CCS football (continued from page 33)

liberally, and allowed frosh-soph call-ups to get playing time. That may not be the case this weekend. The stakes this time are higher than just bragging rights. Menlo defeated Prep, 27-21, two weeks ago in the Valpo Bowl and has a chance to avenge both of last year’s losses to SHP. The game may turn on overlooked aspects of both teams — the defense of Menlo and the passing of Sacred Heart Prep. Menlo’s defense has been invaluable in the Knights’ playoff run. A goal-line stand in the final minutes led to a victory over then first-place Burlingame and a lategame interception against SHP clinched Matt Walter the Valpo Bowl triumph two weeks ago. The Knights’ defense, which has given up more than 300 yards rushing on four occasions, has been allowing an average of 243 yards per game since the Burlingame win. Its lone 300-plus yard game allowed came against Prep, when the Gators ran for 305 yards. “We would not be in this situation if our defense didn’t get better throughout the season,” Menlo

kills and junior Trina Ohms contributed six blocks and five aces to the victory played at Marsh Junior High. Blocking was the key for Paly, which dominated with its size. While Paly’s defense was “quite good,” Winn said, the Vikings’ offense may have been better. “We had 52 kills to their 36 and we hit .320 as a team, which is outstanding,” Winn said. “Marissa was 44-9-6 (attempts-kills-errors) for .295, Melanie was 21-10-0 for .476, Maddie (Kuppe) was 18-9-1 for .444, and Caroline (Martin) was 7-4-0 for .571. When you have four hitters doing that good a job, and your defense is picking up balls and blocking, it’s hard to not win. “We did a decent job of digging their two big OHs, but they still got their kills. At 21-17 up in the third, we did have a mental letdown on serve-receive and made too many hitting errors, which ended up pushing us to a fourth game, but it was good experience for the team.” In the Division IV playoffs, Sacred Heart Prep is making its first appearance since 2001. The No. 4-seeded Gators (24-10) made the most of it with a 28-26, 19-25, 2519, 25-23 victory over No. 6 Marin Catholic (29-12) on Tuesday night in Atherton. Christine Renschler led SHP with 13 kills while Kate Kerwin added 11 while hitting .688 in arguably her best match of the season. Jesse Ebner added nine kills, DeAnna Kneis had 19 digs while Margot Roux provided 34 assists for the Gators, who have won four straight in the postseason -- including three straight to win the CCS Division IV crown last weekend. When SHP last won a CCS title,

in 1998, the Gators also won a NorCal title and advanced to the state finals. Against Marin Catholic on Tuesday, neither team led by more than six points the entire way. Games 1 and 4 featured a combined 20 ties and 21 lead changes alone. Marin Catholic helped SHP with 17 hitting errors and 15 service errors in the match. In Division V on Tuesday, No. 5 Castilleja (18-13) defeated No. 4 Ripon Christian (17-17) in the Central Valley, 25-11, 22-25, 25-13, 25-18. Senior Erin McLaughlin had 17 kills and 27 digs, sophomore Hannah Boland added 10 kills and four blocks, junior Laura Rose produced 10 kills, four aces and two blocks and junior setter Sophie Koontz had 35 assists. Castilleja will have a shorter trip on Saturday when it travels to the College of Marin to take on No. 1 Branson (32-5), the North Coast Section champ. “I will be happy just to make it to the NorCal finals,” said Castilleja coach Tracie Meskell, who guided her team to a state championship last season. “Being the four seed means we will be challenged every step of the way. I hope we will get one more chance to play Mt. Madonna (which beat Castilleja in the CCS finals). Revenge is always a great motivating factor.” In a NorCal Division I opener, No. 6 seed Menlo-Atherton (21-9) saw its season end in a 25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 25-21 loss to No. 3 Amador Valley (30-7) in Pleasanton. Sophia Cornew, the Bears’ only senior, had 26 assists in her final match. Katelyn Doherty added 18 digs and five kills. ■

coach Mark Newton said. “The coaches have done a good job with players. We went back to the basics and changed around the schemes a bit and made the players understand what they really had to do.” The play of linemen Alipate Faletau, Mafileo Tupou and linebackers Eric Nelson and Brig Badger are large reasons the defense has come together of late, Newton said. Sacred Heart Prep, mea nwh ile, had thrown for more than 100 yards on just two occasions going into the playoffs but, against San Lorenzo Valley, SHP quarterback John Geary was 8-for-10 for a seasonhigh 150 yards. Not that the Gators are going to go passhappy. Last week running backs Matt Walter and Chris Gaertner both eclipsed the 100 yard mark together for the fifth time this season. Gaertner rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns in 15 carries, caught four passes for 80 yards and had an interception for Prep. Walter led all rushers with 156 yards and three touchdowns as the Gators rolled up 494 yards of offense. Walter now has 1,612 yards and 22 TDs this season. Sacred Heart Prep held No. 6 San Lorenzo Valley (4-4-3) without a

first down until there were six minutes remaining in the first half. The Cougars ran just 45 plays to Prep’s 68. “The defense played with more intensity and played with an edge,” said Sacred Heart coach Pete Lavorato. “They played great. Defensive coordinator Mark Modeste did an outstanding job preparing the team and the kids followed the game plan.” SHP scored on seven of its first eight possessions and twice took a knee on the 1 with two minutes remaining in the game on its ninth possession. The Gators’ lone stall came on a fumble on its second possession. Menlo, meanwhile, won its firstever CCS playoff game as senior quarterback Danny Diekroeger threw for five touchdowns, ran for another and completed 16 of 23 passes for 352 yards. Two TD passes each went Clay Robbins and Nick Murayama and another one to Tim Benton. Beau Nichols had six catches for 147 yards, including a long catch-run of 66 yards, and Robbins had five catches for 83 yards as primary targets for Diekroeger, who has thrown for 3,472 yards with 31 touchdowns this season. Since moving to the CCS, Menlo had reached the playoffs six times since 1997. This seventh try has the Knights in the semifinals. Menlo last won a postseason game in 1990 when in competed in the North Coast Section. ■

Sports

IT P

Graduate Education at the Frontier of Psychology and Spirituality

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Steve is passionate about working to help lift children out of poverty, violence, and neglect. After earning his M.A. from ITP, Steve founded a counseling program in East Palo Alto, a culturally rich but underserved community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;ITP changed my life, and now, working together with wonderful ITP interns, we are changing the lives of hundreds of kids by helping their families strengthen and stabilize.â&#x20AC;?

Find out more: www.itp.edu/steve Academic Programs: On-Campus & Online r Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology r 1Äľ % ÄśÄť 5Ĺ&#x20AC;ÄŽÄťĹ Ä˝Ä˛Ĺ&#x20AC;Ĺ ÄźÄťÄŽÄš 1Ĺ Ĺ&#x2C6;Ä°ÄľÄźÄšÄźÄ´Ĺ&#x2C6; r . " ÄśÄť $ÄźĹ&#x192;ÄťĹ Ä˛ÄšÄśÄťÄ´ 1Ĺ Ĺ&#x2C6;Ä°ÄľÄźÄšÄźÄ´Ĺ&#x2C6; .'5 -ÄśÄ°Ä˛ÄťĹ Ĺ&#x192;Ĺ&#x20AC;Ä˛

r . " ÄśÄť 5Ĺ&#x20AC;ÄŽÄťĹ Ä˝Ä˛Ĺ&#x20AC;Ĺ ÄźÄťÄŽÄš 1Ĺ Ĺ&#x2C6;Ä°ÄľÄźÄšÄźÄ´Ĺ&#x2C6; r . " ÄśÄť 8ÄźÄşÄ˛Äť Ĺ 4Ä˝ÄśĹ&#x20AC;ÄśĹ&#x201A;Ĺ&#x192;ÄŽÄšÄśĹ&#x201A;Ĺ&#x2C6; r 0ÄťÄ˛ :Ä˛ÄŽĹ&#x20AC; $Ä˛Ĺ&#x20AC;Ĺ&#x201A;ÄśÄłÄśÄ°ÄŽĹ&#x201A;Ä˛ ÄśÄť 5Ĺ&#x20AC;ÄŽÄťĹ Ä˝Ä˛Ĺ&#x20AC;Ĺ ÄźÄťÄŽÄš 4Ĺ&#x201A;Ĺ&#x192;ÄąÄśÄ˛Ĺ r 1Ĺ&#x20AC;ÄźÄłÄ˛Ĺ Ĺ ÄśÄźÄťÄŽÄš 5Ĺ&#x20AC;ÄŽÄśÄťÄśÄťÄ´ ÄśÄť -ÄśÄłÄ˛ $ÄźÄŽÄ°ÄľÄśÄťÄ´

Jesse Ebner

David Culpan

Sacred Heart Prep

The sophomore middle hitter had 18 kills and 12 block assists in two volleyball victories as the Gators topped No. 2 Mercy-Burlingame in the semis and beat No. 1 Notre Dame-Salinas in the CCS Division IV finals.

The senior scored 11 goals in two Central Coast Section Division II water polo wins, including seven in the title match as the Gators romped to a 15-6 win over No. 2 Menlo to win their third straight section title.

Open House

Institute of Transpersonal Psychology 1069 East Meadow Circle, Palo Alto CA 94303 [ph] 650.493.4430 [email] info@.itp.edu

First Tuesday of Every Month 7:00 P.M.

accredited by the western association of schools and colleges

Honorable mention Hannah Boland

Philip Bamberg

Castilleja volleyball

Sacred Heart Prep water polo

Sophia Cornew

Ben Dearborn

Menlo-Atherton volleyball

Sacred Heart Prep water polo

Marissa Florant*

Danny Diekroeger*

Palo Alto volleyball

Menlo football

Christine Renschler*

Chris Gaertner

Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Sacred Heart Prep football

Margot Roux

Beau Nichols

Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Menlo football

Heather Smith

Matt Walter*

Sacred Heart Prep water polo

Sacred Heart Prep football * previous winner

To see video interviews of the Athletes of the Week, go to www.PASportsOnline.com

CCS TENNIS

Palo Alto juniors win title

Liu and Marti win section doubles crown, first in school history

t has been a tough season for the Palo Alto girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tennis team, which began the year as a potential contender for CCS team honors but failed to even qualify for the tournament. On Tuesday, Palo Alto juniors Janet Liu and Emma Marti helped make up for some of that disappointment by becoming the first girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; doubles team in program history to win a Central Coast Section title. Liu and Marti came in as the topseeded team after losing the title their freshman year in 2007. They captured the title at the Courtside Club in Los Gatos with a 6-3, 6-2

victory over sisters Melissa and Ruri Kobayakawa of Monta Vista. Liu and Marti advanced to the finals earlier in the day with a hardfought 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 victory over freshman Mary Closs and junior Angela Pratt of St. Francis. The only other local player to advance in the CCS Individiual Tournament was Menlo freshman Gianinna Ong. She played in singles, winning her first-round match, 6-4, 6-3, over Logan Finnell of R.L. Stevenson. Ong, however, lost to Milpitas senior Katie Le in the second round, 6-1, 6-1. Le went on to win the singles title over St. Francis senior Kelly Chui, 7-5, 7-5. â&#x2013;

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This s yea year, give a gift that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come in a box. Give the gift of an experience. This holiday season, take a break from all that shopping and wrapping. Give an experience and create a cherished memory instead of more â&#x20AC;&#x153;stuff.â&#x20AC;? Experience gifts are for everyone: â&#x20AC;˘ Tickets to a sporting event, stage play or movie â&#x20AC;˘ Annual passes to museums or parks â&#x20AC;˘ Gift certiďŹ cates for a massage, ski rental or restaurant Enjoy the holidays knowing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve given personal and enjoyable gifts to your friends and loved ones, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also reduced waste!

(650) 496-5910 zerowaste@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org/zerowaste

FOOD TO GO â&#x20AC;˘ DELIVERY Palo Alto Weekly â&#x20AC;˘ November 27, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 39

Sports

GOT WRINKLES? The Aesthetics Research Center is participating in a research study for crow’s feet and forehead lines. Looking for women, age 30-70, with slight to deep wrinkles.

The Aesthetics Research Center 525 Chesapeake Drive • Redwood City Please Contact Stephanie for more information:

800.442.0989 or research@aestheticsresearchcenter.com

Page 40 • November 27, 2009 • Palo Alto Weekly

Stanford roundup (continued from page 34)

action this year having not played a regular-season game since last Nov. 23. She’s starting to hit her stride. The second-ranked Cardinal (4-0) opens a five-game homestand Friday with a 1 p.m. tipoff against Utah (1-2), a team that reached last year’s NCAA tournament. Stanford hosts Gonzaga, another NCAA team, Sunday at 2 p.m. The Utes have struggled this year and are coming off a 69-33 loss at San Diego. Stanford needed double overtime to beat Utah in Salt Lake City in their last meeting two years

ago. Gonzaga (3-1) and Stanford meet for the first time ever. The Bulldogs may feel an affinity for Maples Pavilion, though, having played their first NCAA tournament game in school history there in 2007. The Zags already own victories over USC and Washington this year. Hones hit her first three 3-point attempts in Stanford’s 76-51 win at UC Davis on Sunday and is shooting 42.9 percent (12-for-28) from behind the arc. “For her to just step on the court and knock down 3’s was great,” said Stanford junior forward Kayla Pedersen, who had 17 points and 11

rebounds against the Aggies. “She’s the leader and she gives us all a lot of confidence.” Hones has played sporadically thus far, but looks as though she’s ready to contribute on a regular basis. “I’m here to do whatever the team needs,” Hones said. “Thirteen minutes last game, 32 minutes this game, I’m cool with that.” Men’s water polo Stanford (20-2) opens the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament at USC’s McDonaldís Swim Stadium with UC Santa Barbara on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Menlo School grad Jimmie Sandman is the reigning MPSF Co-Player of the Week after recording 13 saves in the Cardinal’s 8-6 win over California in the Big Splash last Saturday. Stanford is the second-seeded team to host USC and, if it beats the seventh-seeded Gauchos, would likely play Cal again in Saturday’s semifinals. The winner of that game will probably earn a berth in the NCAA tournament should the top teams hold their seeds. USC has already secured a spot in the NCAA finals. If they reach the title game, then both teams would go. Otherwise, the MPSF tournament champion receives the automatic bid. In other first-round matches, third-seeded Cal meets No. 6 UC Irvine, No. 4 UCLA and No. 5 Pepperdine do battle and the Trojans meet No. 8 Pacific. ■