Palo Alto Weekly 07.15.2011 - Section 1

Palo Alto

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Upfront

Local news, information and analysis

City, schools to tackle Cubberley future this fall Vow to collaborate on plans for center follows vote against sale to Foothill

by Chris Kenrick and Gennady Sheyner alo Alto city and school officials promise they’ll buckle down to collaborate on the future of Cubberley Community Center this fall after a summer drama in which officials flirted with — but this week rejected — selling off part of

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the 35-acre site.

The treasured but dilapidated former high school long has been leased by the city from the Palo Alto Unified School District for use as a community center, generating $7.3 million a year for schools — about 4 percent of

the district’s operating budget.

But the bill on Cubberley finally has come due with the looming exit of the anchor tenant, Foothill College.

The school-city lease was fashioned by community leaders in the 1980s as a way to preserve public property after declining enrollment in the previous decade led to a selloff of 10 school sites, representing 50 to 70 acres of land.

The Cubberley deal also was

meant to provide a revenue stream to the schools, which were fearful about financial stability in the wake of the 1978 tax-cutting measure Proposition 13.

This year, using $40 million in bond money, Foothill had hoped to buy 8 acres at Cubberley, where it currently leases space, to build its own state-ofthe-art “education center.�

Though council members said they were tempted by the offer, the City Council Monday voted to decline af-

ter the Board of Education declared it will need every last Cubberley acre for future enrollment. (The city holds title to 8 of Cubberley’s 35 acres because of a 2000 land swap for the Terman Middle School campus.)

Rebuffed, Foothill is now looking to move its satellite campus, located at Cubberley since 1984, to possible sites in Sunnyvale.

Until now, Palo Alto school offi(continued on page 6)

NEIGHBORHOODS

Car-dwelling ban heads to City Council City ordinance could take effect in August

by Sue Dremann alo Alto’s status as the only city in the area that allows people to live in their vehicles could end July 25, when the City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance making the practice illegal. “Human habitation of vehicles� would be a potential misdemeanor, carrying with it fines of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to six months, City Attorney Molly Stump said.

The proposal is being hailed by residents of the College Terrace neighborhood, where last year problems with people living in their cars sparked a neighborhood petition.

But an advocate for the homeless and one local religious leader expressed concerns this week that the ordinance is heavy-handed.

The law would cover inhabiting or permitting the habitation of a vehicle on any city street, park, alley, public parking lot or other public way.

Certain situations would be excluded, such as when a motorist is ill or unable to drive and needs to pull over. Also, residents’ guests could live in motor homes or campers for up to 48 hours when the guests are parked next to the resident’s home.

People living in mobile homes in designated mobile-home parks would also be exempt.

Mountain View, Redwood City, Sunnyvale and Menlo Park have ordinances that forbid living in vehicles on city streets, but until now, Palo Alto has not, according to Assistant City Attorney Donald Larkin.

But the city does not plan wholesale sweeps to drive vehicle-dwellers away, said Curtis Williams, the city’s planning director. The ordi-

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Heather Lee

Olenka Villareal and her daughter, Ava, walk across the bridge that spans Adobe Creek in Palo Alto’s Mitchell Park in June. Olenka and other parents of special-needs children want to build a playground in the park that is accessible to all children.

COMMUNITY

Volunteers push for a ‘universal’ playground in Palo Alto Group has city’s support but needs money to make ‘Magical Bridge Playground’ a reality

by Gennady Sheyner hen Olenka Villarreal talks about creating a level playing field for Palo Alto’s children, she isn’t merely reaching for a metaphor.

The energetic city resident is leading a drive to build the city’s first “universal� playground — one that would allow children with disabilities to have the same access to play structures and amenities as everyone else. The vision for the new “Magi-

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cal Bridge Playground� includes sandless play lots, winding ramps, a cafÊ, a theater stage and a real bridge spanning Adobe Creek and leading to the rest of Mitchell Park.

The Magical Bridge playground would feature the usual playground amenities such as slides and swings, though the swings would have “bucket seats� to protect childern.

The slides, meanwhile, would feature a ramp instead of stairs and ladders.

As the vice president of Friends of

Palo Alto Parks, a nonprofit group that supports park upgrades and renovations, Villarreal is no stranger to enhancing the city’s recreational facilities. But the Magical Bridge project hits a personal note. Every week, Villarreal drives her 8-yearold daughter, Ava, to Cupertino and pays $120 for Ava’s 45-minute session on an indoor swing.

Villarreal compares Ava’s therapeutic swinging sessions to a diet — they need to be performed regularly throughout the week to be fully ef-

fective. The money is less of a problem than the difficulty of booking a spot, she said.

For the past two years, Villarreal and a group of about two dozen community volunteers have been spearheading an effort to build the new playground in Mitchell Park.

Her group, Friends of the Magical Bridge, has already garnered the support of city staff, various commissions and, most critically, the City Council, which agreed to provide 18,000 square feet of undeveloped space in Mitchell Park for the new playground and to contribute up to $300,000 for construction. The project’s cost is estimated around $1.3 million.

At its annual retreat in January, the council identified the Magical Bridge playground as one of the (continued on page 6)

(continued on page 10)

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Upfront

PUBLISHER William S. Johnson

Reef Sandals best selection in Palo Alto

EDITORIAL Jocelyn Dong, 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 Tom Gibboney, Spectrum Editor Chris Kenrick, Gennady Sheyner, Staff Writers Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor Karla Kane, Editorial Assistant Veronica Weber, Staff Photographer Dale Bentson, Colin Becht, Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, Sheila Himmel, Chad Jones, Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Jeanie K. Smith, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors Jeff Carr, Janelle Eastman, Aaron Guggenheim, Casey Moore, Editorial Interns Leslie Shen, Arts & Entertainment Intern DESIGN Shannon Corey, Design Director Raul Perez, Assistant Design Director Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Scott Peterson, Paul Llewellyn, Senior Designers Gary Vennarucci, Designer

For you. For him. For kids.

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MENLO PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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July 16-17, 10am-6pm Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park s Contemporary Fine Art & Crafts s Fabulous Food & Wine s Refreshing Margaritas & Mojitos s Home & Garden Exhibits s Artisan Specialty Food Purveyors s Green Products Showcase s Health & Wellness Displays s Microbrew & Wine Tasting Tent s The Popular Chefs’ Demo Tent s Hang Out In The CUDA LOUNGE: Couches, Flat Screen TVs, Free Swag

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EMBARCADERO MEDIA 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, Circulation Assistants Chris Planessi, Chip Poedjosoedarmo, Computer System Associates The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 3268210. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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

The darn thing is a mess. — John Elman, who lives off Arastradero Road, on the new lane configuration that the Palo Alto City Council just extended for another year. See story on page 3.

Around Town UP, UP AND AWAY ... Palo Alto resident Todd Heapy had the chance of a lifetime last week, traveling to Florida as an official Weekly blogger to watch the final launch in NASA’s Space Shuttle program. For Heapy, it was a 30-year-plus dream come true.

It was not, however, a sure thing, as any number of factors, from weather to technology, could have scrapped the July 8 launch.

Heapy woke up at 3 a.m. that day to be prepared to see the scheduled 8:26 a.m. take-off. “I scouted my photo spot and optimistically watched the Web feeds for weather and other progress reports,�

Heapy wrote in his blog, which is posted along with photos on the Town Square forum at www.

PaloAltoOnline.com. “Launch was a go. Launch was not a go.

It was, it wasn’t. Back and forth it went for a few tense hours. Wait, is that a bit of blue sky I see? ...

Anticipation builds. The countdown proceeds. Is this it? The countdown pauses. Oh no! More tension, but thankfully ... it’s short lived. 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Main engine ignition! Blastoff!!� An exuberant Heapy managed to get entry to an employee barbecue following the launch, which he said “brought the launch experience full circle.�

The employees will no longer be employed due to the end of the shuttle program, but their successful contributions to America’s space adventures gave them much to celebrate that day.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN ... Although his parents are members of the Lions Club, Philipp De Fries managed to snag a Rotary scholarship to study in Palo Alto this past year.

The 16-year-old hails from the cutlery city of Solingen, Germany.

On the eve of his departure for home after attending Palo Alto High School, De Fries mused on the year. Students here work harder and party less than their counterparts in Germany, he said.

And Palo Alto is far more diverse than Solingen, where only about 3 percent of the students are from different cultures. De Fries wore a vest, issued by Rotary on his arrival here, on which he collected 60 or 70 pins from various Rotary clubs. On it he had added a few other mementos from his American tour: a pin from the Hard Rock

Cafe, and his Paly varsity tennis letter.

GREEN LANES ... Palo Alto officials shook up the Chinese Zodiac this year when they declared 2011 the “Year of the Bike.� This week, they showed they mean business. The city’s planning staff held two public meetings to discuss projects that officials hope will make life easier for bicyclists and pedestrians (the verdict on drivers isn’t out yet). The more significant of the two was the Arastradero Road re-striping project (see story on page 5). On Tuesday night, transportation officials hosted a smaller, more low-key meeting on proposed changes to Channing Avenue, between Newell Road and Lincoln Avenue. The goal, according to Chief Transportation Official Jaime Rodriguez, is to create an “enhanced bicycle way� on Channing Avenue with green bike lanes, speed tables and road markings to encourage cars to slow down.

Other local neighborhoods will probably see similar changes in the coming months and years. The city plans to release on July 25 a draft of its new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan — an ambitious document that will propose a long list of road modifications aimed at making Palo Alto a top-tier city for bicyclists.

BITS OF TRASH ... Palo Alto officials have grand plans for reforming the city’s troubled garbage operation. In the next year, city officials will consider whether to close the Recycling Center at Byxbee Park; whether the city should start charging customers for recycling; and whether a local composting facility is worth pursuing. The first change customers will likely notice is a bump in their trash bills this fall. Under a new proposal from the Public Works Department, all customers will see a new $4.62 fee added to their trash bills starting Oct. 1. The City Council’s Finance Committee will weigh the proposal Tuesday night. The goal of the new fee is to close the $3.7 million hole in the Refuse Fund, which has been bleeding cash as customers went “green� and switched to smaller trash cans, thereby slashing their bills and creating a revenue crisis in the Refuse Fund. N

Upfront DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

‘Citizen seismologists’ needed for Quake Catcher network Seismic sensors to be set up in local homes, schools and offices for Stanford-based earthquake study

by Sue Dremann housands of Bay Area residents are needed to set up matchbox-sized earthquake monitors in their homes, offices and classrooms to help scientists better understand the nature of quakes, a Stanford University professor has announced.

The Quake Catcher Network, which began installing the sensors in local homes last Saturday (July 9), needs “citizen seismologists� who have a computer and an Internet connection to host the monitors. The sensors, which would be located near faults with the greatest potential to produce a quake of magnitude 6.7 or greater, would be part of a massive network.

The researchers hope to install more than 500 sensors in the Bay Area this year and a total of 6,000 seismic sensors in the San Francisco Bay Area; southern California; the Pacific Northwest; Anchorage, Alaska; Salt Lake City, Utah and Memphis, Tenn.

Half of the sensors are reserved for educational institutions and are available to K-12 teachers. The program provides free educational software to help teachers demonstrate how earthquake motions are detected and monitored. The sensors are free to volunteers who are accepted into the program. “With thousands of volunteers hosting our seismic sensors, forming dense networks in these regions, we’ll be able to get data on a level of

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detail and with a degree of accuracy that we could only dream about before,� said Jesse Lawrence, assistant professor at Stanford University’s Department of Geophysics, where the project is based. The project is the brainchild of Lawrence and Elizabeth Cochran, a research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Pasadena.

The researchers want to set up monitors along the San Andreas Fault through the Peninsula and along the Hayward Fault, which runs through the East Bay. The Hayward is considered most likely to cause a major earthquake in the Bay Area in the next 30 years, according to researchers.

The sensors will send data to the project’s server while an earthquake is occurring.

Eventually, a Quake Catcher mobile-phone app could be able to notify people of quakes, researchers said. “Seismic waves travel slower than Internet traffic, so notifications could reach some participants before the seismic waves do. We are still investigating how reliable and accurate this process will be,� Cochran said.

The network will help understand how the shaking that causes most of the damage radiates from the epicenter of the earthquake and how the impact of earthquakes might be lessened, said Richard Allen, director of the U.C. Berkeley Seismo-

logical Laboratory, which is also a research participant.

Volunteers must have a computer that is five years old or newer, runs a Windows or Macintosh operating system and has a spare USB port for the sensor. A high-speed Internet connection is needed to periodically send the data to the project’s server. Participants would dedicate a Post-It-note-sized space on the floor of their home, classroom or office to mount the sensor. The software runs in the background and uses a small amount of computing power, researchers said. Priority is given to people willing to keep the computer running continuously with battery backup, the researchers said.

Researchers are asking for a commitment of at least one year but hope volunteers will host the sensors for the entire three-year project.

More than 2,000 sensors are already installed in 67 countries, including New Zealand and Chile; both nations are prone to large earthquakes. In an earlier study, older model sensors could detect a magnitude 2.6 quake at a distance of approximately 3.1 miles.

The newer models used for the Bay Area study are more sensitive, researchers said.

More information, maps and signups are available at http://qcn.stanford.edu/regional/. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

Camp Avenidas at Channing House

July 26 - 28, 10 am - 3 pm Š Body & brain fitness Š Memorable keynotes Š Info-packed presentations Š Healthy gourmet lunches Š Free t-shirt and awards Š Fun & friendship Call (650) 289-5436 or visit www.avenidas.org for details or to register!

Where age is just a number

TRAFFIC

Planners urge another year for Arastradero Road trial Controversial project includes lane reductions, expanded crosswalk, new traffic signal

by Gennady Sheyner epending on who is talking, Palo Alto’s experiment on Arastradero Road is either making the busy segment safer for students, pedestrians and bicyclists or saddling morning drivers with hair-raising traffic jams.

The community debate over the year-old Arastradero re-striping project, which has cut the road’s lanes from four to three, bubbled up at the Wednesday night meeting of the Planning and Transportation Commission. The commission voted 6-0, with Susan Fineberg absent, to support a staff recommendation to keep the project going until summer 2012 and to re-examine its traffic impacts next June.

The project has been in the works since 2003, when the City Coun-

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cil directed staff to prepare a new plan for the Charleston-Arastradero Road Corridor — a busy stretch that runs between U.S. Highway 101 and Interstate 280 and is used by hundreds of schoolchildren.

Lane changes to the segment from Fabian Way to Alma Street were made permanent in 2008.

Alterations between El Camino Real and Gunn High School took effect last August. The city reduced the number of lanes from four to three, with dedicated left-turn lanes in each direction and an expanded crosswalk at Clemo Avenue. A new traffic signal at the intersection of Arastradero and Coulombe Drive was scheduled to go live Thursday (July 14) morning, said Jaime Rodriguez, the city’s chief transporta-

tion official.

City officials launched the entire project because of a wave of dense new developments that popped up in south Palo Alto over the past decade near the corridor. These include the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life on Charleston Road, Arbor Real on El Camino Real, and several large multi-family developments on East Meadow Drive, including Echelon and Vantage, said Curtis Williams, the city’s planning director.

At the same time, city officials hope to make conditions safer for students at Gunn and other schools along and around the corridor, including Terman Middle School and Juana Briones Elementary School. (continued on page 9)

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Upfront of Lytton Plaza, which is composed chiefly of downtown developers and (continued from page 3) well-connected business people, swiftly raised money for the 2009 projects the city should pursue to ad- renovation of the University Avenue dress its newest priority, “community plaza, a group like Friends of Magical collaboration for youth well-being.� Bridge faces a steeper climb.

In March, the council recognized Mayor Sid Espinosa acknowlFriends of the Magical Bridge with a edged the challenge at the March 21 special proclamation, at which time meeting, just after the council heard some council members seemed sur- a presentation from Villarreal about prised to learn that many residents in the project. their affluent city are forced to drive “It’s no easy feat — fundraising in to San Carlos or Fremont to take their these economic times,� Espinosa said. children to the “But I think that as playground. we work together The council also ‘The playground and get the word included the Magi- is the first outdoor out there, and find cal Bridge project people who underin its latest capital classroom the kids are stand the need in budget. The docu- exposed to.’ this community ment calls Palo —Olenka Villarreal, Friends of and are passionate Alto a “magnet for the Magical Bridge about finding play families of special spaces for kids, we needs children� and estimates there can work together to get this done.� are about 1,500 special-needs chilSo far, volunteers have raised about dren between the ages of 4 and 16 lo- $150,000 and hope to see the fundraiscally. This makes Palo Alto “one of ing accelerate in the coming months. the largest special needs communities Their goal is to have the new playon the West Coast.� ground in place by the end of 2012.

But while there are many good reaTo attract donations, the Friends sons to build the universal playground group is proposing naming certain at Mitchell Park, the Friends group is playground facilities after major dofacing one formidable obstacle: the nors, who would also have a say in the need to raise about $850,000. The playground’s design. The group is also project’s chief proponents are resi- selling $250 tiles with buyers’ names dents with special needs, or with chil- that would be featured at a prominent dren who have special needs. It’s a location in the park. The Friends are sizable but disparate group, without a also planning a fundraising event for traditional organizational structure or the end of the year, Villarreal said. a time-tested fundraising mechanism.

As it seeks to raise money, the While a nonprofit group like Friends group is stressing the fact that the

Bridge

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Rev. Eileen Altman preaching An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

INSPIRATIONS A resource for special events and ongoing religious services. To inquire about or make space reservations for Inspirations, please contact Blanca Yoc at 223-6596 or email byoc@paweekly.com

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Party place

Mitchell Park

Wheelchair accessible playhouse

Innovation playground

Magical Movement Playground

Accessible slides Up

A preliminary design of the proposed Magical Bridge Park in Palo Alto’s Mitchell Park. universal playground isn’t just for special-needs children but also for adults with disabilities, seniors and all other children. The goal, from the group’s perspective, is to educate and to make everyone in Palo Alto feel accepted, Villarreal said.

“We say the playground is the first outdoor classroom the kids are exposed to,� Villarreal said. “Our schools are really touting acceptance and inclusion, but once you step out of the classroom you’re back into the world where sometimes you feel like

you don’t belong. “We know we can do better.�

More information is available by calling 650-380-1557 or emailing olenka@magicalbridge.org. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@paweekly.com.

Cubberley

its 8 acres, school-board member Barb Mitchell alluded to the 1970s land sales that have haunted elected officials in the decades since. “You will sense some emotion in my voice as a 50-plus-year resident of Palo Alto, because there’s a lot of history and context to Cubberley,�

Mitchell said in a June 28 school board meeting.

Enumerating the sale of school sites such as Lytton, Crescent Park, De Anza, Ortega, Ventura and Ross Road, Mitchell said she did not fault previous boards for the land sales because of a “devastating budget situation.�

But given the history, she said a line must be drawn at Cubberley.

The council voted to tell Foothill it is not interested in a sale but wants to work with the college to explore other sites in the city. Council members instructed City Manager Jim Keene to return Oct. 3 with a plan for working with schools to shape Cubberley’s future.

Foothill officials said they understood Palo Alto’s reasons to be wary of a sale, but lamented a “lost opportunity� for Foothill and Palo Alto schools to collaborate on a futureoriented education center that could serve both populations.

Two of the five trustees of FoothillDe Anza — Betsy Bechtel and Bruce Swenson — are longtime Palo Alto residents.

Bechtel, a former mayor of Palo Alto, said she was “deeply disappointed at the lack of collaboration� despite years of efforts.

Bechtel said she was particularly galled to hear public testimony at a City Council meeting recently to the effect that, “’It will hurt our brand in Palo Alto if we allow a community college to be (at Cubberley) as opposed to Stanford.’ “That really bothered me because we are a real resource to the community, and I think people don’t know it and don’t appreciate it,� said Bechtel, a Stanford University graduate, in an emotional statement during a Foothill-De Anza trustees’ meeting Monday. N Staff writers Chris Kenrick and Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly.com and gsheyner@paweekly.com.

cials have been vague about exactly when, and for what purpose, they would take Cubberley back.

The city’s lease of the campus expires in 2014.

Current school enrollment, at 12,024, has been on an upward trajectory since a post-Baby Boom low of 7,452 in 1989.

When enrollment was at its historic high of 15,575 in 1968, Palo Alto had three comprehensive high schools and more than 20 elementary schools.

The district is in the process of spending $378 million from a 2008 facilities-bond measure to boost capacity at its two existing high schools, three middle schools and 12 elementary campuses. It is likely to open a 13th elementary school in the next three years.

Foothill had hoped to collaborate with the school district on a propertysharing deal at Cubberley, but found its overtures unreciprocated. “Over the past year there have been a number of meetings with the (school) superintendent that also have been attended by the city manager,�

Foothill-De Anza Community College District Chancellor Linda Thor said this week. “We have not found a lot of areas of agreement on opportunities for joint programming, or even necessarily a shared vision for the type of programming we would offer at an education center.�

In arguing against the city selling

‘If the city or school district lose control over this property, it’s a forever decision.’

—Barb Mitchell, member, Palo Alto Board of Education

“It’s in no way disparaging the value and treasure that Foothill is, but if the city or school district lose control over this property, it’s a forever decision. It will never be taken back.

We’ll never have the choice to change our minds.�

The school board’s June 28 declaration on Cubberley prompted the City Council this week to reverse its vote — cast June 27 — to draft a “letter of interest� to Foothill about a possible sale.

Courtesy of Friends of the Magical Bridge

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Upfront LABOR

Palo Alto may require mediation Proposed law would take effect if binding arbitration is repealed

by Gennady Sheyner f Palo Alto voters decide to repeal the binding-arbitration provision from the City Charter this fall, the city could adopt a new law that forces management and unions to take their labor disputes to mediation.

The City Council is scheduled to debate Monday night whether to place a repeal or a modification of the binding-arbitration provision on the November ballot. The provision, which voters passed in 1978, empowers a three-member arbitration panel to settle labor disputes between city management and public-safety unions.

The panel includes one neutral arbiter and a representative from each side.

The council’s Finance Committee vetted both possible measures — a repeal and a modification — on Tuesday night and unanimously agreed to send them to the full council for consideration.

The committee also agreed to send to the council an ordinance that would institute a new mediation requirement for labor disputes. Under the proposed ordinance, the mediation process could only be avoided if both sides agree to bypass it.

The committee voted 3-1, with Gail Price dissenting, to send the mediation ordinance to the full council for consideration. Price said creating the mediation process is premature given that binding arbitration is still in the charter.

But the other three committee members, Pat Burt, Larry Klein and Karen Holman, agreed that the ordinance demonstrates the city’s intent to deal fairly with its unions, even if binding arbitration is repealed. “If we go ahead and adopt it, it shows good faith as to what we intend,� Holman said.

The mediation requirement would only take effect if the voters repeal the binding-arbitration requirement.

The city and the unions already have the option of going to mediation, though the process is not required.

Klein said the new ordinance, if approved, would send a message to all bargaining units that mediation is “no longer a chess piece for bargaining.�

The council has been considering repealing the ordinance since last summer. Last year, a proposal by Councilman Greg Scharff and Councilwoman Karen Holman to repeal the provision fell by a 4-5 vote.

The City Council discussed a possible repeal of the provision last month but did not reach a decision.

The changes reviewed by the committee Tuesday include requiring the arbitrators to consider the city’s finances when making a decision; limiting the arbitrators’ scope to compensation issues; and requiring the neutral arbitrator to be an attorney who is licensed in California. N

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Palo Alto government action this week

City Council (July 11)

Cubberley: The council decided to send a letter to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District stating that the city does not wish to sell an 8-acre portion of Cubberley Community Center. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Price Stanford: The council approved, on a second reading, a request by Stanford University Medical Center to expand its hospital facilities. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Price

City Council (July 12)

Arbitration: The committee discussed possible ballot measures to repeal and modify the binding-arbitration provision in the City Charter and voted to send these measures to the full council. Yes: Unanimous Mediation: The committee recommended creating a new mediation procedure for labor disputes if voters repeal binding arbitration. Yes: Burt, Holman, Klein No: Price

Planning and Transportation Commission (July 13)

Arastradero Road: The commission recommended extending the Arastradero Road re-striping project until summer 2012. Yes: Garber, Keller, Lippert, Martinez, Tanaka Absent: Fineberg

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

Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a joint meeting with the Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission; meet in a closed session to discuss labor negotiations; consider a ballot measure to repeal or modify the binding-arbitration provision in the City Charter; and discuss regional housing projections. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 18, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). The closed session will be held from 7 to 8 p.m.

PALO ALTO GRAND PRIX

BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board will consider contracts for a new gym and classroom buildings at Gunn High School and for six portable classrooms at Jordan Middle School. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, in Conference Room A of school district headquarters (25 Churchill Ave.).

ROAD RACE SERIES

COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to discuss a new refuse fee. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the proposed gas-purchasing strategy, elect its officers and consider the Calaveras Reserve guidelines. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to meet in a closed session to evaluate the performance of City Manager James Keene. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss a report on Human Needs Assessment; plan for its annual retreat; hear a report about Generations United; prepare for its joint study session with the City Council; and hear an update on Project Safety Net. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

RUN, HAVE FUN & JOIN US FOR THE 2011 SEASON

MARCH 12

MAY 8

COUNCIL RAIL COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to consider the city’s position on the Caltrain Electrification Environmental Impact Report and review the city’s guiding principles on high-speed rail. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

OCTOBER 23 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ... The board plans to discuss 180 El Camino Real, a request by Limited Brands for Bath and Body Works for a review of a new storefront and wall sign at a Stanford Shopping Center location; and 2875 El Camino Real, a request by Ken Hayes on behalf of Ehikian and Company for a review of a new one-story retail building.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

SEPTEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 13

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Upfront

PG&E to test gas pipeline beneath Palo Alto PG&E will conduct pressure-testing in the next two months on its gas transmission line running through Palo Alto, the utility announced.

The testing will not disrupt service but may cause a “temporary gas odor� and will be visible above ground, with traffic cones and detours, testing equipment and machinery, including excavators and water tanks. “While gas odors are likely from the work being done ..., safety is our top priority and we encourage any resident who has questions or concerns about the smell of gas to call us 24 hours a day at 1-800-743-5000, or call 911 immediately,� PG&E said.

The transmission line, Line 132, enters Palo Alto from the north along Junipero Serra Boulevard, turns left at Page Mill Road, right on Alma Street, left on El Carmelo Avenue, right on Waverley Street, left on Loma Verde Avenue, right on Cowper Street, left on Ashton Avenue, and right on Middlefield Road, continuing south into Mountain View.

A major access point for the testing will be on Alma, just south of Colorado Avenue, a PG&E official said.

The method used will be hydrostatic testing, which involves placing water in the pipe to make sure it will not leak. If the pipe fails, the result would

be similar to a water main break, with disturbed topsoil or bucked pavement, the agency said.

The pipeline will be taken out of service during testing, but gas to customers will be provided from other sources.

The Palo Alto work is part of PG&E’s planned testing or replacement of some 150 miles of pipeline segments that are similar to the portion that exploded last September in San Bruno.

For information on the exact location of pipelines, visit www.pge.com or call 1-888-743-7431. N — Chris Kenrick

News Digest Menlo Park teen dies after shooting A 19-year-old Menlo Park woman who was shot early Wednesday morning (July 13) in East Palo Alto has died, East Palo Alto police said.

Catherine Fisher was shot while sitting in a vehicle with a man and another woman at 2:12 a.m. in the 2500 block of Annapolis Street between Michigan and Notre Dame avenues east of Bay Road.

Fisher was transported to Stanford Hospital where she died from her injuries. The vehicle’s other occupants were unharmed, police said.

Investigators are working to develop suspect information and a possible motive for the shooting.

Acting Capt. Jeff Liu said police have not yet determined if the shooting was gang related. It is the city’s fourth homicide this year, he said.

Police are asking anyone who has information or might have witnessed the shooting to contact the East Palo Alto Police Department by email to epa@tipnow.org, or send an anonymous voicemail or text message to 650409-6792. N — Sue Dremann and Bay City News Service

Infant’s accused killer pleads not guilty L U C I L E PA C K A R D

C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L

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A 17-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting an infant in East Palo Alto last month pleaded not guilty to murder in San Mateo County Superior Court Wednesday, July 13.

Fabian Zaragoza, wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit with his long hair in a ponytail, entered his plea before Judge Barbara Mallach as the 3-month-old victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ivonne Garcia Lopez and Oscar Jimenez of Redwood City â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sat in the front row of the courtroom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not guilty,â&#x20AC;? Zaragoza said.

Zaragoza is suspected of lying in wait with another gunman and firing as many as 15 gunshots into the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car as they left an East Palo Alto baby shower on June 5, according to police.

Baby Izack Jesus Jimenez Garcia was shot in the head and later died at a hospital. The infantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents were both wounded.

Investigators believe that Zaragoza and an accomplice targeted the family after mistaking them for Sureno gang members who had assaulted Zaragoza in Redwood City on May 31.

In addition to murder, Zaragoza has been charged with two counts of attempted murder with the infliction of great bodily injury, along with the special circumstances of lying in wait and the use of a firearm in the commission of the crimes.

He is being held without bail and faces life in prison if convicted.

Zaragoza is scheduled to reappear in court Aug. 10 to set a preliminary hearing date. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bay City News Service

Man, 23, killed on train tracks in Palo Alto HEART TO HEART SEMINAR ON GROWING UP $ %(# * , +#%(%+) $ " , "/ ) +)) %$) *- $ & ( $*) $ * ( &( * $) %$ &+ (*/ * %&&%) * ) . $ (%- $ +& (") ** $ * ) *-% & (* ) )) %$) - * * ( #%#) $ %/) ** $ - * * ( ) %( (") +$ /) + +)* 9 36 5 22 0 7 22 &#

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A 23-year-old man was struck and killed by a train at about 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 7, near the Churchill Avenue crossing in Palo Alto, according to the San Mateo County Transit Police.

He was identified Friday by the Santa Clara County Coronerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office as Clayton Carlson, a Palo Alto resident. Carlson graduated from Palo Alto High School in 2006.

Train No. 190, a local train that stopped at all stations, was traveling south when it struck Carlson about 1/2 mile north of Churchill, Caltrain spokesperson Christine Dunn stated in a press release.

The 175 passengers from train No. 190 were transferred to another southbound train.

David Triolo, chief of protective services for the Transit Police, spoke to reporters gathered along Alma Street. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are all tragedies,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and we take very seriously safety education.â&#x20AC;?

This is the tenth fatality on the Caltrain tracks in 2011, Dunn said.

Churchill at El Camino Real was blocked off to traffic after the incident.

Caltrain uses a multifaceted approach to address safety issues, Dunn said: engineering, education and enforcement.

Caltrain has posted signs on its right-of-way announcing that any person who is in an emotional crisis can find help by calling a hotline: 650-579-0355. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sue Dremann and Jocelyn Dong

Plan to replace Newell Road Bridge moves forward Palo Alto officials threw their support behind a proposal to replace the narrow Newell Road Bridge â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a project that they hope will improve flood control around the San Francisquito Creek and make the bridge safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The City Council voted Monday night to apply for a state grant that would fund about 89 percent of the design work for replacing the 100-year-old bridge connecting Palo Alto and East Palo Alto. The rest of the funding would come from the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, an agency that includes officials from Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, as well as water officials from Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

The proposal to replace the bridge met some resistance from Palo Alto residents in the flood-prone Crescent Park neighborhood, many of whom said (continued on next page)

Upfront

Arastradero (continued from page 5)

News Digest (continued from page 8)

The project has received a mixed response from the public. Representatives from both camps addressed the commission Wednesday and urged members to halt the experiment immediately, to extend it or to make it permanent.

Barron Park resident Doug Moran criticized the project for not paying sufficient attention to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;road rageâ&#x20AC;? caused by the new lane configuration and told the commission, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Driver problems are worse than before.â&#x20AC;? John Elman, who lives on Hubbartt Drive next to Arastradero, said the new lane configuration has slowed traffic and forced drivers to rely more on residential side streets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The darn thing is a mess, and I hope you listen to people who object to this,â&#x20AC;? Elman said.

But the majority of the speakers said they support the new setup and urged the commission to extend the trial. Philip Malese, who lives on Arastradero and whose children attended Gunn and Terman, said the road previously resembled a highway, with drivers regularly exceeding the speed limit. The new configuration is making things safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I found the current configuration has done what it promised â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it made Arastradero seem less like a freeway where people from one end or another go as fast as they can and made it more conducive to walking and biking,â&#x20AC;? Melese said.

The commission agreed that it is too soon to determine the impact of the project, particularly given its evolving nature. Gunn High is scheduled to delay its start time from 7:55 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. in the fall, a shift expected to improve traffic conditions by creating staggered starting times at the various schools along the corridor.

Rodriguez said he expects Gunnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new bell schedule to have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;significantâ&#x20AC;? impact on traffic conditions. The new traffic signal at Coulombe, which will include a dedicated left-turn arrow, is also expected to make things better for drivers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are some things that still need to be accomplished or finished before we can adequately evaluate this,â&#x20AC;? Vice Chair Lee Lippert said.

Commissioner Daniel Garber also said the road changes reflect the values of the Palo Alto community, which he said is increasingly tilting toward walking and biking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a project thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s being foisted on our community,â&#x20AC;? Garber said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a trial and it has errors, and as a result itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structured in a way that we can address these errors, study them further and work to correct them every time.â&#x20AC;? N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

the city should instead focus on the Pope/Chaucer Street Bridge. Others argued that the proposal to replace the narrow 40-foot bridge with a much longer and wider structure would bring more traffic to the neighborhood.

At the council meeting, several residents said the new bridge would be out of context in their neighborhood and asked city officials to think smaller. Andrew Vought, whose Edgewood Drive home is near the bridge, said that while he supports replacing the bridge he and his neighbors are concerned that building a larger bridge would create new â&#x20AC;&#x153;traffic and safety issuesâ&#x20AC;? and interfere with the wildlife in the San Francisquito Creek.

The scope of work for the project tentatively proposes a 75-foot-long bridge with wider traffic lanes as well as sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides.

Public Works officials said they proposed the larger structure largely to ensure they get enough grant money for the project. Phil Bobel, interim assistant director of Public Works, said engineers will continue to refine the design of the new bridge and make sure it accomplishes the goals of improving flood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Gennady Sheyner control and boosting traffic safety. N

JLS administrator named principal at Duveneck A new principal will greet students at Duveneck Elementary School in August: Chris Grierson, formerly assistant principal at JLS Middle School.

Grierson, who taught six years at Walter Hays Elementary School before moving to Jordan Middle School and later JLS, was named to the post Wednesday (July 13).

He replaces John Lents, who resigned unexpectedly last month because of a job opportunity for his spouse in St. Louis.

Grierson joined the school district in 2002 as a fourth-grade teacher at

Walter Hays. He taught sixth grade at Jordan for a year before moving to JLS, where he has been assistant principal for several years. He also has worked as a summer school principal.

He holds a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in English and a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in education from the University of California at Santa Barbara, as well as a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in public administration from Notre Dame de Namur University. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Griersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive knowledge of elementary curriculum and his work with middle schools make him an ideal candidate for this position,â&#x20AC;? Superinâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Chris Kenrick tendent Kevin Skelly said. N

Stanford Hospital project wins final approval After an unexpected last-minute delay, Stanford University Medical Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bid to dramatically expand its hospital facilities surged past the finish line Monday night (July 11) when the Palo Alto City Council gave the $5 billion project its final approval.

The councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vote came a week after Stanford agreed to relocate a day care center at one of the construction sites, thereby resolving an 11th-hour dispute with the parents whose children attend the Stanford Arboretum Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center. Stanford earned the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial approval June 6 after nearly 100 public hearings. But the hospital was forced to halt its celebrations a week later because of protests from dozens of parents whose children attend the day care center near the Hoover Pavilion.

The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval of the massive project was nearly four years in the making. As part of its settlement with the parents, Stanford agreed to move the day care center and to postpone construction on the parking garage near Hoover Pavilion until the center is relocated. After hearing about the deal, the council voted 7-0, with Gail Price absent and Larry Klein abstaining, to give Project Renewal the final go-ahead. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Gennady Sheyner

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TALK ABOUT IT

www.PaloAltoOnline.com Do you favor the road changes along Arastradero? Share your opinions on Town Square on Palo Alto Online.

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Upfront

Car-dwelling (continued from page 3)

nance would be enforced based on complaints received by the police department. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be out looking for them,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Philip Dah, program director for the nonprofit Opportunity Center, which provides services to homeless and formerly homeless clients, wants the city to devise an alternative for people who live in their cars. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of clients who own vehicles and live in them are long-term Palo Alto residents or have lived here all of their lives and for one reason or another are homeless.

Their vehicles are the only place they have to stay,â&#x20AC;? Dah said, noting that about 200 people are homeless in Palo Alto. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There has to be an alternative plan in place for these community members to be able to stay. If a park can be available, with police patrols in the area and some supervision, they could call that place home. As much as I agree that there is a problem, we have to see it both ways and also make accommodations,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Rev. Greg Schaefer, minister of the Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry at Stanford in College Terrace, said he is scouting for vacant parking lots where car-dwelling residents could live. But he said he considers the ordinance a heavy-handed approach to a problem that perhaps could be solved by working directly with the people living in their vehicles.

The ordinance is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a pretty sweeping action to take,â&#x20AC;? he said. Only about four individuals are known to cause problems such as garbage and unsanitary conditions, and those situations could be addressed by enforcing existing laws about voiding in public and dumping trash, he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been approached from the perspective of human relationships. It seems to be taking a lot of action based on assumptions and not really engaging people living in their vehicles and why they are living in their vehicles,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not clear to me why we are not addressing a scandalous reality that there are people in this city who have to live in their cars,â&#x20AC;? he said.

If the ordinance were to pass, officers would provide a car-dweller with an informational brochure and start a 30-day warning period. Police would be required to provide referrals to social services, Williams said.

Fines of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to six months would be next.

The ordinance would take effect Aug. 26. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a recognition that most of the people are in dire economic circumstances or have mental health problems. If there is another solution, we prefer to do that from a humanistic standpoint,â&#x20AC;? Williams said.

The relationship among Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicle dwellers, residents and police has triggered controversy in the past.

Joseph (Tony) Ciampi, who lives in his van, was the subject of a residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complaint in March 2008. Police responded, luring Ciampi from his van and using Tasers on him during a scuffle. He was charged with assaulting the officers.

But Santa Clara County Superior Court Thang Nguyen Barrett ruled in favor of Ciampi in December 2008, saying the officersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; actions were â&#x20AC;&#x153;taintedâ&#x20AC;? and that they had trampled on Ciampiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Constitutional rights.

Ciampi still has a lawsuit pending against the city for civil-rights violations related to the case. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It used to be a capital offense to steal a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horse in this country, because more often than not a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s survival was dependent upon having a horse. The City of Palo Alto will

be stealing my horse through the use of an unconstitutional law,â&#x20AC;? Ciampi said by email Monday when asked about the pending ordinance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The lunacy of it is should I be renting a room out of (a) house, as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done, my vehicle with most of its stuff would be on the street as it is right now. No difference, with the exception of handing over $800 to some property owner.â&#x20AC;?

The College Terrace Residents Association board of directors sees the ordinance as a much-needed form of relief. It voted last week to send the City Council a letter of support, providing the final ordinance is consistent with the current draft.

The neighborhood, bounded by El Camino Real, Stanford Avenue and Page Mill Road, has been plagued for years by people parking their cars long-term and by sanitary problems caused by some vehicle dwellers, residents said.

Neighborsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; concerns led to a petition drive in 2010.

Although the city already has a 72-hour parking limit, people who live in or store their cars and vans on the streets simply move them every three days.

The new ordinance would be more effective because it includes parks and pocket parks, board member Fred Balin said.

Board President Brent Barker agreed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolving a longstanding problem â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been concentrated in College Terrace. It provides a tool for the city that has not been there before,â&#x20AC;? Barker said. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

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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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Newsâ&#x20AC;? in the left, green column.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Idolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stars entertain at Ronald McDonald House â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Idolâ&#x20AC;? stars Casey Abrams, a jazz, blues and rock musician; and singer-songwriter Paul McDonald met with seriously ill children staying at Ronald McDonald House on July 13. (Posted July 13 at 4:51 p.m.)

Accused Lytton Plaza stabber makes bail A 28-year-old East Palo Alto man accused of a stabbing at Lytton Plaza last April posted $100,000 bail on July 9, according to court records. (Posted July 13 at 9:54 a.m.)

Atherton council backs staff layoffs In a closed-session meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Atherton City Council â&#x20AC;&#x153;affirmed the actions of the City Manager in effecting layoffs of personnel,â&#x20AC;? according to a statement issued by Deputy City Clerk Theresa DellaSanta. The union promptly filed a lawsuit, according to a Teamsters representative. (Posted July 13 at 8:38 a.m.)

Atherton fire damages home, kills two cats A disabled security gate and a long private driveway hampered firefightersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts to extinguish a two-alarm blaze at a home in Atherton early Wednesday morning (July 13), a fire official said. (Posted July 13 at 8:34 a.m.)

Mountain View couple comes home to burglars A Mountain View couple came home in the middle of a burglary Sunday afternoon (July 10), police said. About $4,000 in jewelry, electronics and cash was taken. (Posted July 12 at 11:53 a.m.)

1.2 acres of Jasper Ridge to burn July 18 A prescribed burn will be held Monday (July 18) on 1.2 acres of grassland in the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, according to a press release from Stanford University. (Posted July 11 at 2:49 p.m.)

Firefighters save Maddux Drive home from blaze A smoky fire was quickly doused by Palo Alto firefighters Monday morning after a garage erupted in a blaze in the 3100 block of Maddux Drive. (Posted July 11 at 1:39 p.m.)

Bay trees being removed to save oak trees A crew started removing roughly 250 bay trees in several open-space lands in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties Monday (July 11) to stop the spread of a plant pathogen that causes oak tree species to die. (Posted July 11 at 1:16 p.m.)

Community colleges brace for cuts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; again Due to deep state cuts to public higher education, local community colleges will have to cut back on courses, turn away students and lay off part-time faculty in the coming school year, officials from the FoothillDe Anza Community College District said. (Posted July 8 at 5:01 p.m.)

Three arrested for Menlo Park burglaries Menlo Park police arrested three male juveniles Thursday (July 7) in connection with several residential burglaries on Gilbert Avenue, Laurel Avenue and Pope Street in Menlo Park. (Posted July 8 at 4:57 p.m.)

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A weekly compendium of vital statistics

Palo Alto July 7-12 Violence related Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Domestic violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Theft related Identity theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Residential burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle related Abandoned auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Abandoned bike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Driving w/ suspended license . . . . . . . . 11 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .9 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . 13 Vehicle stored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Miscellaneous Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Missing person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . .2 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Warrant/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Menlo Park July 6-12 Violence related Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Theft related Commercial burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Residential burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Robbery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Auto recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Driving with suspended license . . . . . . .5 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Alcohol or drug related Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Disturbance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Indecent exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Information case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Juvenile problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Possession of stolen property . . . . . . . .1 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Trespassing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Atherton July 6-12 Violence related Assault/battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Theft related Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Suspicious vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Ticket sign-off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Traffic hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle accident/prop damage. . . . . . . .1 Vehicle code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Parking problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Be on the lookout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Building/perimeter/area check . . . . . . . .6 Citizens assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Disturbance noise/fight. . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Juvenile problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Meet citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .9 Suspicious person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Town ordinance violation . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Tree down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Welfare check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

VIOLENT CRIMES Palo Alto El Camino Real, 7/7, 11 a.m.; battery.

El Camino Real, 7/8, 8:49 p.m.; domestic violence.

Cutner Avenue, 7/9, 11:38 p.m.; domestic violence.

University Avenue, 7/10, 3:43 p.m.; battery.

Menlo Park 1300 block Madera Avenue, 7/7, 12:05 a.m.; battery.

1100 block Ringwood Avenue, 7/7, 6:09 a.m.; battery.

Atherton El Camino Real, 7/11, 6:26 p.m.; assault/ battery.

Gresham Lane, 7/12, 10:57 p.m.; assault/ battery.

The online guide to Palo Alto businesses ShopPaloAlto.com

CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVENUE BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26 ***************************************** THIS IS A SUMMARY OF COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THE AGENDA WITH COMPLETE TITLES INCLUDING LEGAL DOCUMENTATION CAN BE VIEWED AT THE BELOW WEBPAGE: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/knowzone/agendas/ council.asp (TENTATIVE) AGENDA-SPECIAL MEETING COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM JULY 18, 2011 - 6:00 PM STUDY SESSION 1. Study Session with Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Committee

NOTICE OF VACANCY ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR ONE UNEXPIRED THREE YEAR TERM, ENDING JANUARY 31, 2014 (Term of Mark Hoose) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council is seeking applications for the Library Advisory Commission from persons interested in serving in one unexpired term ending January 31, 2014.

Eligibility Requirements: The Library Advisory Commission is composed of seven members who shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council, but who shall not be Council Members, ofďŹ cers or employees of the City of Palo Alto. Each member of the Commission shall have a demonstrated interest in public library matters. All members of the Commission shall at all times be residents of the City of Palo Alto. Regular meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday the month, at least one month per quarter.

Purpose and Duties: The purpose of the Library Advisory Commission shall be to advise the City Council on matters relating to the Palo Alto City Library, excluding daily administrative operations. The Commission shall have the following duties: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Advise the City Council on planning and policy matters pertaining to: a) the goals of and the services provided by the Palo Alto City Library; b) the future delivery of the services by the Palo Alto City Library; c) the City Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommendations pertaining to the disposition of major gifts of money, personal property and real property to the City to be used for library purposes; d) the construction and renovation of capital facilities of the Palo Alto City Library; and e) joint action projects with other public or private information entities, including libraries.

Review state legislative proposals that may affect the operation of the Palo Alto City Library.

Review the City Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed budget for capital improvements and operations relating to the Palo Alto City Library, and thereafter forward any comments to one or more of the applicable committees of the Council.

Provide advice upon such other matters as the City Council may from time to time assign.

Receive community input concerning the Palo Alto City Library.

Review and comment on fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Palo Alto City Library.

The Library Advisory Commission shall not have the power or authority to cause the expenditure of City funds or to bind the City to any written or implied contract.

Appointment information and application forms are available in the City Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OfďŹ ce, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto (Phone: 650-329-2571) or may be obtained on the website at http://www. cityofpaloalto.org.

Deadline for receipt of applications in the City Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OfďŹ ce is 5:30 p.m., Thursday, August 4, 2011.

PALO ALTO RESIDENCY IS A REQUIREMENT

DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk

CLOSED SESSION 2. Labor SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 3. Appointment of Candidates for Two Terms on the Utilities Advisory Commission 4. Recommendation from Finance: Policies and Guidelines for Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tarrifs 5. Recommendation from Finance: Utilities Strategic Plan 6. Parks and Recreation Commission Recommends City Council Direct Staff to Consider During the Planning and Design Phase of Park Renovation Projects Improving Recreational Opportunities for Dog Owners Among Other Community Recreational Interests in the Design of Any New, or Renovation of Existing, Neighborhood or Regional Parks 7. Tracking/Comments Award of On-Call TrafďŹ c Signal Support Contract 8. Approval of a Letter of Intent with the Friends of the Magical Bridge for the Design, Construction and Installation of Playground Equipment, Pathways, Park Amenities and Other Improvements for a Universally Accessible Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Play Area at Mitchell Park 9. Approval of an Agreement with SolFocus, Inc. for a Solar-Electric Research Project at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant 10. Approval of a Contract with Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. for Household Hazardous Waste Management and Emergency Response Services 11. Adoption of a Resolution for City Council Approval to Participate in the Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change 12. Adoption of Resolution Establishing Fiscal Year 2011-12 Secured and Unsecured Property Tax Levy for the City of Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Obligation Bond Indebtedness (Measure N) ACTION 13. ReďŹ nancing of 1999 and 2002 Utility Revenue Bonds 14. ReďŹ nancing of 1998 Golf Course COPs 15. Public Hearing: Historic/Seismic Bonus for Rehabilitation- 668 Ramona 16. Update of SB 375/Initial Vision Scenario (IVS) for a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and Direction on Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Preliminary Response to Regional Agencies, and Update of Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Process (continued from July 11, 2011) 17. Binding Arbitration 18. Colleaguesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to Request for the City Council to Direct the City Clerk to Reopen the Recruitment for the Planning & Transportation Commission and Contact the Remaining Two Applicants to be Interviewed at the Conclusion of the Recruitment

(TENTATIVE) AGENDA-SPECIAL MEETING COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM JULY 20, 2011 - 6:00 PM CLOSED SESSION 1. City Manager Review STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 19, at 7:00 p.m. regarding 1) Recommendation for Rate Increases for the FY12 Refuse Fund Budget The City Council Rail Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 21, at 8:00 a.m. *>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;U Page 11

Robert Joseph Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING of the City of Palo Alto Transportation Division

March 7, 1919 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July 12, 2011

Notice of Public Meeting Palo Alto Shuttle Program Public Open House DATE: TIME: PLACE:

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 6:00-8:00 PM Palo Alto City Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto 94306

The Palo Alto Shuttle program has been in operation since the year 2000 with two service routes: Crosstown and Embarcadero. The City is hosting an Open House to solicit public input regarding current routes and operations to ensure that the shuttle program is serving the needs of the community.

The Open House will be an opportunity to meet with the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s service providers, provide input regarding service or route changes for future consideration or general program feedback.

For current route maps go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/shuttle.

For further information, contact: shuttle@cityofpaloalto.org 650-329-2441.

Robert Joseph Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor was born in San Francisco and spent most of his life in the Bay Area. He graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Chemistry in 1940. He worked all his life as a chemist.

Bob served as a captain with the Army Air Corps in Italy and Africa during World War II. On August 8, 1942, he married Rita Mary Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Grady of Palo Alto. In 1952, they returned to Palo Alto where they raised their family, then opened their home to more than 250 longterm patients from Stanford Hospital.

Bob loved his backyard, his redwood trees, sports and his golf group. He was thrilled to have lived to see the San Francisco Giants win the World Series in 2010.

He loved music, and played the piano, saxophone, and clarinet. One of his passions in life was the music of

the Big Band era, which brought great joy to him and everyone with whom he came in touch.

By far his greatest passion was his family â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rita, his wife of 69 years, his ďŹ ve daughters, one son, thirteen grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

He is remembered for his wit, generosity, and kindness. He will be missed greatly.

The service will be at St. Thomas Aquinas, Palo Alto on Saturday July 16th at 10 am.

In lieu of ďŹ&#x201A;owers, a contribution may be made in his name to the charity of your choice. One of Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorites was The Christophers, whose words he lived by- â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.â&#x20AC;? www.christophers.org PA I D

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San Jose

Transitions Halcott Moreno

Halcott Moreno, 92, a Menlo Park resident, died July 7, 2011, at the Stanford University Medical Center following a brief illness.

He was born in Palo Alto on Jan. 28, 1919.

He was a member of the American Legion, the Palo Alto Host Lions Club, the Palo Alto Elks Lodge and Sons In Retirement (SIRS). He also served as the current SIRS historian and conducted new member orientations.

He is survived by his second wife, Marion Moreno; his elder brother Albert Moreno; his daughter Susan Hassitt; and daughter-in-law Susan Moreno. He is also survived by his stepchildren David Farrell, Nancy Freitas and Tom Farrell; and numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Donations can be made to the Palo Alto Host Lions Club, www. paloaltolions.org or P.O. Box 976, Palo Alto, CA 94302-0976.

George Oliver George Oliver, 91, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, died at his home June 25, 2011.

He was born Feb. 3, 1920, in Marshall, Texas. He was the first in his family to venture out to California, where he remained until his death.

He was a Merchant Seaman, construction worker, plumber, handyman and entrepreneur. He had a passion for fishing, hunting and gardening. He loved teaching his children important life skills and enjoyed sharing childhood stories while fishing or spending time at home with his grandsons, family and friends, loved ones recalled.

He is survived by his 10 children; three sisters; two sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, cousins,

grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bruce Tune Bruce Tune, 71, a longtime local physician and professor, died June 25, 2011, of complications from Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease, Lucile Packard Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital announced in a press release.

He spent most of his career at Stanford University School of Medicine, founding the Division of Pediatric Nephrology and holding various leadership roles at the School of Medicine.

Hewas born Aug. 26, 1939, in New York City and moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford School of Medicine, graduating in 1965. After a series of moves to complete his residency and internship, including a two-year stint conducting research at the National Institute of Health, he married Nancy Doolittle and returned to Stanford to become the chief resident in pediatrics in 1969.

At Stanford, he founded the Division of Pediatric Nephrology and taught at the School of Medicine. He was a passionate doctor and teacher who took great care and interest in his patients and students, colleagues recalled in the statement from Stanford.

Apart from his work, he enjoyed spending time with his son Steve and daughter Sara, participating in his sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cub Scouts meetings and attending his daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball games. He was also passionate about photography and music, owning a large collection of eclectic music.

He is survived by his wife, two children; one grandchild; and his mother, Sylvia Newman Tune. Donations in his memory can be made to the American Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Association.

Robert Noboru Yamasaki Oct. 5, 1930-July 6, 2011

Robert Yamasaki passed peacefully at home on July 6, 2011, with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born in Los Angeles, Calif. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he was honorably discharged in 1953. He then moved to the Bay Area and began working at Ishiyama Corporation in San Francisco. It was there that he met his wife, Sachiyo, and they married in Tokyo in 1965.

He retired after 50 years with the company, in 2003. He was an avid San Francisco Giants and 49ers fan, and in his spare time he enjoyed playing golf, participating in church activities and traveling with his family.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Murasaburo and Hatsuno Yamasaki, and his sister, Margaret Yamasaki. He is survived by his wife, Sachiyo; his daughters, Helen Schlegel and Sharon Robinson; his brother, John Yamasaki; and ďŹ ve grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4243 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto.

In lieu of ďŹ&#x201A;owers, donations may be made in Robertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4243 Manuela Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

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OBITUARY

Patricia Mary Prausa Pat Prausa, a long time resident of Palo Alto, passed away at age 53 on July 2nd at her family home in Palo Alto.

Pat grew up in Palo Alto, graduating from Palo Alto High School in 1976. She continued her education at The University of California at Davis where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree. Following graduation, Pat took a job as an engineering administrator for a major defense industry electronics manufacturing company, ďŹ rst in Palo Alto and then transferring to Sacramento.

Pat was an avid sports fan; playing tennis from an early age and following all of the local sports teams in recent years. She had many friends who enjoyed her company and her sense of humor.

Pat is survived by her mother, Shirley of Palo Alto, her brothers John of Newark CA and Cliff of Tempe AZ, and many nieces and nephews.

Pat was predeceased by her father, Frank.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, July 22nd at 8:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Palo Alto. Burial of Patâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ashes will be held at Gate of Heaven in Los Altos at 1 pm on Friday, July 22nd.

Memorial contributions in honor of Patricia Prausa can be made to the Pastoral Garden at Our Lady of the Rosary.

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O B I T UA RY

Nona Jean Cox

December 22, 1913 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June 17, 2011 Born December 22, 1913 in Leavenworth, Kansas to Nona Grace and Emil Metschan, Nona Jean Cox of Portola Valley, California, passed away June 17th. Wife for ďŹ fty-three years of the late Morris Arnold Cox, who preceded her in passing in 1986, she has resided in Menlo Park and The Sequoias of Portola Valley for the last twenty ďŹ ve years since his death. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nonieâ&#x20AC;? as she was affectionately called by her loving family, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and, having lost her Mother four days after her birth was blessed to have her Father marry a wonderful lady, Hazel, a superb cook and pianist, several years later. Nonie was Valedictorian of her Junior High School, graduated from Northeast High School with top honors and went on to attend Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. On June 30th, 1934, she married Morris Cox and they had one daughter, Shirley Matteson of Palo Alto. Throughout her life, she supported his amazing professional career that took them from Kansas City to Burlingame, California in 1952, and ďŹ nally to a happy retirement in Pebble Beach, California for 10 years before returning to Menlo Park prior to his death in 1986.

Nonie was always everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend and conďŹ dante and throughout her life listened patiently, giving wise counsel when asked. She was a superb cook and had a green thumb that created a magniďŹ cent rose garden. She was a girl scout leader, counselor and a volunteer for several thousand hours of service at Peninsula Hospital in Millbrae and the Community Hospital in Monterey as well as at Filoli where she worked in the gift shop for a number of years.

Above all, she has been a thoroughly devoted and loving Mother to Shirley, Mother-in-law to Duncan, grandmother to Melissa Matteson Badger and Matt Matteson and their spouses, Dr. James Badger and Betsy Matteson. As a Great Grandmother to Brady, Brooke, Courtney, Sydney and Brig, her greatest joy has been in following their activities and having them visit her frequently. Her nephew, Michael Metschan of Austin, Texas, his wife Sally and sons, Brent and Kent have continued a close, supportive relationship with Nonie and visited her often. Her brother, Joseph Metschan (Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father) also of Austin, Texas predeceased her in 1997.

A longtime member of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, she was active in a Bible Study group that she was invited to join in 1986 that became her main interest. The friendships she formed in the Bible group and the church have been especially important to her, and their visits and support have been greatly appreciated. A very active member over the years of her PEO group, chapter FK, she enjoyed her association on the Peninsula and in Pebble Beach as well. As her vision declined and her activities became more limited, she became dedicated to her â&#x20AC;&#x153;card ministry,â&#x20AC;? writing to friends who were experiencing health challenges and other difďŹ culties on an almost weekly basis, encouraging them with her thoughtfulness.

As a devoted, gentle, loving lady, Nonie will be greatly missed by all her family and circle of very dear friends that meant everything to her. She lived her long life with graciousness, compassion, and elegance and in spite of losing her sight several years ago, never complained about the compromises that were required. She was blessed to be cared for these last several years by Lesieli Lotoaniu and SelinaMakoni and the entire family wants to extend our deep gratitude for the love, caring, patience and support they brought to her life each day.

A private family interment was held on June 20th at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, July 24th, at 2p.m. at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave. A reception will be held immediately following the service at the Menlo Country Club at 2300 Woodside Road, in Woodside.

Memorial contributions honoring Nona Jean Cox can be made to Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2470 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, or Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Encina Practice, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

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Editorial Outlook brightens to replace Newell Road bridge City will seek major grant to pay for a bigger, safer span over flood-prone creek elped along with the prospect of a generous grant from the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and funding from the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, the City Council wisely took advantage of a generous opportunity and voted 8-0 Monday to replace the Newell Road bridge that the state has declared obsolete and unsafe.

With little advance notice, the city staff presented the council with a proposal to replace the dangerous bridge with a much safer and efficient structure that would include two traffic lanes, two bike lanes and curbs on either side. Preliminary plans show the new span would be 75 feet, about twice as long as the current rickety bridge that may seem quaint to some in the neighborhood, but has been called â&#x20AC;&#x153;functionally obsoleteâ&#x20AC;? by Caltrans inspectors. In addition, a Public Works Department engineer said the bridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deficiencies include â&#x20AC;&#x153;substandard width, lack of access for bicycle and pedestrian traffic, a harsh vertical profile, unsafe railings and poor sight distances.â&#x20AC;?

The Newell Road and Middlefield Road bridges have both received the â&#x20AC;&#x153;obsoleteâ&#x20AC;? designation by Caltrans, a prerequisite to qualifying for the state grant that will pay for 89 percent of the replacement cost with the remainder picked up by the Creek Authority. Officials estimate that it will take $360,000 for the necessary preliminary design work and environmental analysis, which must be done before the project could begin. After qualifying for the grant, the city would have up to 10 years to complete the job, Authority officials say.

Some residents who spoke Monday, particularly those who live near Newell Road, said they were not happy with the size of the proposed bridge, which they said would be out of context for the neighborhood. A smaller structure would be better, they said. One resident who supports replacing the bridge said he and his neighbors were nevertheless concerned that a larger bridge would bring in more traffic and cause safety issues, as well as interfere with wildlife in San Francisquito Creek. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I strongly urge that the proposed bridge be scaled back to within appropriate size,â&#x20AC;? Andrew Vought told the council.

But most council members appear to believe that the availability of funds and the long timeframe until actual construction would leave plenty of time to work out design and traffic impact issues.

Member Larry Klein said he supports the project but urged staff to consider traffic impacts when designing the new bridge. The rest of the council agreed.

East Palo Alto Mayor Carlos Romero was very supportive of the project, telling the council to back the regional effort to replace the bridges and improve flood control. He said there will be plenty of time to address community issues and the design as the project goes forward. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a huge opportunity that we have as all three cities to really parlay important state and federal money into a bridge that may cost us $2.5 million or $3 million on our own to build if we really want to deal with the flooding issues,â&#x20AC;? Romero said.

Replacement or upgrade of the Newell Road, Middlefield Road, Pope/Chaucer Street and University Avenue bridges is a key part of the Creek Authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy to reduce the threat of a 100-year flood in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. The Chaucer Street and University Avenue bridges may also become eligible for state funding, but only after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes a study to determine the bridgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hydraulic-capacity deficiencies.

Grant funding should also be available for the Middlefield Road bridge, which means it could be next in line for replacement.

In our view, the grants from Caltrans and the Creek Authority present a golden opportunity for the city and the authority to begin to deal with an obsolete bridge that just 13 years ago added to the severity of a 100-year flood that devastated a large section of Palo Alto, including Crescent Park. It has long been known that the Newell Road bridge constricts flood waters due to its abutments intruding into the creek flow. A longer bridge will enable engineers to build bridge supports in a way that will give the creek much more room to flow during storm conditions, the most dangerous time on the San Francisquito. The design should provide just enough room to allow safe passage for automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians, but not be a magnet that will attract commuters hoping to skirt University Avenue traffic.

There is much more to be done to guard against catastrophic flooding on the entire watershed, including replacement of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other bridges in the area. It is a task that could take many more years, but moving forward now will hopefully get the job done well before the next 100-year flood.

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Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions

Library lovers prevail Editor, The celebration of the reopening of the Downtown Library on July 16 will not have happened were it not for the years of unflagging effort by passionate library lovers.

Over powerful opposition of past city managers, library directors and some media all urging the closing of branch libraries, the people of Palo Alto proudly prevailed in the preservation of our valued branch libraries.

Winners of this struggle are the library-going public of our city who richly benefit by convenient neighborhood gathering places for books, study, Internet access and laptops.

Vic Befera High Street Palo Alto

Should have sold to Foothill Editor, I think the city and the PAUSD (who currently have first rights to the Cubberley land) should have sent a letter of support for the sale of the eight acres to the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District. A $40 million â&#x20AC;&#x153;state of the artâ&#x20AC;? educational facility would be a tremendous asset to the city and especially South Palo Alto residents.

It would have addressed many of the concerns of high-school students who just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit into the traditional model high school at Gunn or Paly.

Now Foothill College will take its planned unique campus to Sunnyvale. There are those who said that selling the eight acres would be a terrible mistake. Imagine if the City Council in past times had told Leland Stanford that he could not build a university west of El Camino Real because the land was too valuable to sell. Would Palo Alto then be the place it is today?

Cubberley is an old high school site in disrepair and there is no assurance that a third high school will ever be needed given todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technologies. I believe in five years both the city and PAUSD will regret their decision.

Ken Horowitz Homer Avenue Palo Alto

Vehicular dwelling Editor, The Palo Alto City Council is going to be contemplating banning people living in their vehicles on public streets.

I am very much against such a ban, unless alternative spaces are made available for people to live in their vehicles.

I personally know a long-time resident of Palo Alto who has nowhere else to live. He is self-employed but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t earn enough to pay rent, and has a disabled sister he helps support who does not live with him.

Many people live in their vehicles

these days, even families and people with jobs, nationwide.

We should not discriminate against people who are forced to live in vehicles. And that is better than living on the streets or under bridges. The vehicles contain all their belongings, and sometimes pets, none of which would be accepted in shelters, which have no privacy and arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always safe anyways.

I am shocked and outraged that such a ban even be brought up before our city council.

Natalie Fisher Ellsworth Place Palo Alto

ting programs that benefit our lives in the long-term is short sighted and foolish.

This community matter should be taken on and fixed in a way that spreads the cost to everybody through their local taxes. Who would not be willing to pay the extra cost to help the environment? I do understand that some cannot afford such extra costs in times like these, but that should not be a problem if the community pitches in together.

Jules Pichette Seale Avenue Palo Alto

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Obamacareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; protests

Recycling costs?

Editor, The idea of closing the recycling center in Palo Alto goes against a green initiative for the community.

Though sacrifices would have to be made to keep this institution going, these sacrifices should be seen as worth the extra charge. Putting a cost on helping the environment is a foolish thing to do. The closing of the recycling center is a short-term gain initiative. Though we do need to be financially responsible for our city, the fact of the matter is that cut-

Editor, The Hitler-mustached Obama signs in front of the Palo Alto Hamilton Avenue post office revolted me. Espousing Obamacare as killing people was their message. Such ignorance needs to be addressed. Health care for all would reduce the horrific situation we are currently in, in America, ranking us in the lowest for industrial nations for health care and social services. For shame.

Alice Smith Los Palos Circle Palo Alto

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What do you think? Do you think Palo Alto should prohibit people from sleeping in their cars?

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.

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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.

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Check out Town Square!

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Guest Opinion

Caltrain has escaped cuts for now, but whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next?

Support group continues to look for ways to electrify Peninsula rail link

By Yoriko Kishimoto and Adina Levin he final piece of funding to secure at least one year of no-cuts to Caltrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operating schedule was approved last month. Thanks to an outpouring of emails and the leadership of the transit agencies that control Caltrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve saved Yoriko Kishimoto our Caltrain. But just for one year.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next?

First, the same constellation of transit agencies needs to cobble together a second year of patches to keep Caltrain going until we have time to go to the voters. Silicon Valley Leadership Adina Levin Group (SVLG) has been polling recently to gauge support for a November 2012 funding measure so Caltrain will no longer be the only major regional transit agency with zero dedicated funding.

Caltrain also must find a timely way to fund its modernization program so it can continue to meet the ridership demand that has continued to surge through the fiscal crisis. There is a critical window of opportunity today: There is an urgent need for Bay Area and California to act quickly and with one voice before the window closes.

The big picture is positive. The Bay Area

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continues to be the global center for innovation and Caltrain is the main transit system linking San Francisco to Silicon Valley, with equally robust ridership going north and south. More and more people are voting with their feet and dollars to live in transit-accessible and walkable neighborhoods. Almost a tenth of Caltrain riders (9 percent) bring their bikes on board: Caltrain is becoming a model for how public transit can work in a mixed urban/suburban setting.

But leading edge technology from Apple, Facebook and Google stand in stark contrast to Caltrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20th-century diesel locomotives, signal-control systems and physical infrastructure.

Caltrain needs to modernize so it can continue to improve both local service as well as the popular Baby Bullet express service.

Electrification will save energy, clean the air, provide flexible, fast and quiet service and increase ridership â&#x20AC;&#x201D; providing Caltrain with an even higher farebox recovery ratio (47 percent) than it enjoys already. For years, Caltrain has been pursuing this goal but could never get the necessary capital funding.

Then along came High Speed Rail (HSR), dangling the prospect of federal and state funding. The combination of an arrogant HSR board, the vision of an elevated fourtrack state system ripping through our Peninsula communities on our locally owned rightof-way and the federal pressure to â&#x20AC;&#x153;obligate fundsâ&#x20AC;? by September 2012 came together to delay the Peninsula project and send the first phase to the Central Valley.

Today, there is a final chance to try to â&#x20AC;&#x153;do it right.â&#x20AC;? Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, state Senator Joe Simitian and state Assembly member Rich Gordon authored a memo pro-

posing a â&#x20AC;&#x153;blended implementationâ&#x20AC;? to allow a limited number of HSR trains to share Caltrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing right-of-way.

A recent letter from the California High Speed Rail Peer Review Group supports the idea of moving some of the early funding to the north and south ends of the system. The Central Valley is intended to be a demonstration segment, but â&#x20AC;&#x153;analysis has shown that the Central Valley segment would not actually demonstrate high-speed service because it would not be electrified. Keeping the majority of funding in the Central Valley but redistributing some to the San Francisco-San Jose and Los Angeles-Anaheim segments would benefit 28 times as many â&#x20AC;&#x153;proven passengers.â&#x20AC;?

A shift is not likely to happen without strong and united support from the Peninsula.

Caltrain is currently doing a critically important line capacity study, to see how many trains can be accommodated on the existing right-of-way with electrification, a modernized signaling system and other minimal infrastructure improvements. Marian Lee, acting director of the Caltrain modernization program, uses the analogy of looking at whether building a two-bedroom house will suffice for now, rather than seeking permits for a giant four-bedroom house when it will probably be decades before we need it.

The capacity study will provide some basis for what a â&#x20AC;&#x153;blended implementationâ&#x20AC;? might actually mean for the neighbors and users of Caltrain. Hopefully the study will help us understand what future service levels will look like, how specific stations are served, what station-to-station time will be for commuters, where passing tracks need to be added, and what the impact might be on local streets.

Preliminary results of the feasibility of this

â&#x20AC;&#x153;two-bedroomâ&#x20AC;? model should be out by midAugust.

The electrification EIR (environmental report) has been held up for a year due to community concerns about high-speed rail.

It currently does not include any high-speed rail analysis. If the feasibility study shows that a blended implementation is practical, these and other updates can be incorporated into the electrification EIR and address the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerns through a clear and transparent â&#x20AC;&#x153;roadmap.â&#x20AC;? A Friends of Caltrain meeting is scheduled for Aug. 19 where the preliminary results of the capacity study will be reviewed. Sign up on friendsofcaltrain.org to be kept up to date.

In summary, the key next steps for Caltrain will be to: s 3HAPE AND SUPPORT A FUNDING MEASURE for permanent dedicated source of operating funding, probably for November 2012; s !SSUMING THE BLENDED IMPLEMENTATION IS feasible, get local, state and federal interests aligned in the next couple months so we can secure the funding to modernize Caltrain.

A modern Caltrain is key to the Bay Area communities being able to connect jobs to housing while reducing greenhouse emissions. The devil is in the details but we can tackle every detail through a collaborative, transparent process. This is indeed a critical juncture for Caltrain, and all of us living and working in the Caltrain communities.â&#x2013; Yoriko Kishimoto is former Mayor of Palo Alto and currently a director of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Adina Levin is a founder of Drive Less Challenge and Socialtext. They are two co-founders of Friends of Caltrain.

Streetwise

What is your favorite YouTube video?

Asked on California Avenue, Palo Alto. Interviews by Janelle Eastman. Photographs by Heather Lee.

Gisella De Saint Andrieu

Art consultant Bonita Avenue, Mountain View â&#x20AC;&#x153;Michael Moore asks people the question of who we should attack next. He asked my ex-husband, who works for Air France, and my ex-husband kicked him out of the office. Michael Moore then replied with, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will attack France!â&#x20AC;?

Robert Snook

Finance worker Middlefield Road, Menlo Park â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anything with the Giants or baseball related.â&#x20AC;?

Greg Scharff

Lawyer Seale Avenue, Palo Alto â&#x20AC;&#x153;A video of my son.â&#x20AC;?

Melissa Baten Caswell

President, Palo Alto Board of Education Channing Avenue, Palo Alto â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any TED video. They are very educational.â&#x20AC;?

Sukie Stanley

NASA employee Oxford Avenue, Palo Alto â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy watching tutorial videos on how to fix things or find new recipes.

My favorite was learning to make naan, a type of Indian bread.â&#x20AC;?

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Cover Story

Teacher

to the world

Local entrepreneur Sal Khan jumpstarts the emerging global classroom

by Chris Kenrick

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an a hedge-fund guy find fame, fortune and fulfillment as a social entrepreneur?

Meet Salman Khan of Mountain View, an MIT-trained former hedge-fund analyst who is fast becoming â&#x20AC;&#x201D; somewhat accidentally, as he tells it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; math teacher to the world.

Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online tutoring service, begun as a sideline to help a long-distance cousin with her math homework, has become one of the hottest phenomena in the world of education, with as many as 300,000 students a day.

Khan was living in Palo Alto and working in Menlo Park five years ago when he first posted some how-to-do-algebra videos to YouTube as a way to tutor his cousin Nadia in New Orleans. The seventh grader, and later her brothers, Arman and Ali, loved them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the math posts went viral. Khan kept on making videos, eventually quitting his day job to nurture the online, not-for-profit Khan Academy.

His short lessons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; now more than 2,400 of them on topics from algebra to venture capital â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are available to anyone in the world with a Web connection.

For free.

He appears to be succeeding where many for decades have tried and failed: attracting a global, mass audience to an educational website. Students from Alabama to Zimbabwe are flocking to the Khan Academy, and the videos are being translated into 10 languages.

The Khan Academy is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a glimpse of the future of education,â&#x20AC;? says technologist and philanthropist Bill Gates.

Children in the Los Altos School District pilot-tested the self-paced Khan Academy in classrooms last year, and Khan is talking with other local schools.

Investors have knocked at his door â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with notions for a company that could â&#x20AC;&#x153;do well by doing goodâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but to date Khan has remained resolutely nonprofit.

The enterprise has drawn the backing of major education philanthropists, including Gates, Netflix founder and chairman Reed Hastings of Santa Cruz and, locally, venture capitalist John Doerr and his wife, Ann, and Intuit founder Scott Cook. Khan also won $2 million last fall from Google, in a competition where finalists were picked by Google employees and winners chosen by a public vote on the Web. Meanwhile, Khan says Cousin Nadia is â&#x20AC;&#x153;doing well,â&#x20AC;? having recently completed her freshman year at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell her thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot riding on her success,â&#x20AC;? he said laughingly in a recent interview in his sun-filled office above a shop on Castro Street. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s majoring in writing and pre-med, but I say thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s by choice, because she was a rock star at math.â&#x20AC;?

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orn and raised in Louisiana, Khan first came to the Bay Area in 1998 fresh out of MIT, to work in high tech.

After a year at Oracle, he had moved to MeVC â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a startup that aimed to make venture capital avail-

Philanthropist Bill Gates calls the Khan Academy â&#x20AC;&#x153;a glimpse of the future of education.â&#x20AC;?

Courtesy of Khan Academy

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Cover Story

able to the public â&#x20AC;&#x201D; when the tech market crumbled in 2000. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember the day in the spring of 2000 when the Nasdaq hit 3,500 (down from more than 5,000 a month earlier) and I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Let me see those business-school applications,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? he said.

At Harvard Business School from 2001 to 2003, Khan got acquainted with the world of hedge funds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seemed both intellectually interesting and like a good way to make a living,â&#x20AC;? he said, explaining his decision to go to work for Wohl Capital, then based in Boston.

When the bossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife took a job at Stanford Law School, the venture relocated to Sand Hill Road and Khan and his wife took up residence at the Hamlet apartments, on El Camino Way in Palo Alto.

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alking with his cousins in New Orleans, Khan realized he might have stumbled on something important when they told him they liked his tutoring on YouTube better than in-person. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once you get over the backhanded nature of that, there was actually something very profound there,â&#x20AC;? he told an audience in March. He was speaking at a Long Beach

Sitting in his Palo Alto apartment five years ago, Sal Khan posted some how-to-do-algebra videos on YouTube to help his cousin in New Orleans with her math homework.

The videos went viral and became the basis for the Khan Academy, with tens of thousands of daily visits from all over the world.

(continued on next page)

Kimihiro Hoshino

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Cover Story

Courtesy of Khan Academy

Fifth-graders in Kami Thordarsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class at Santa Rita School in Los Altos piloted the Khan Academy for classroom use last year. For part of each math class, students work on lessons at their own pace. A data dashboard instantly tells Thordarson how each child is doing, and where trouble spots may lie.

Kahn Academy (continued from previous page)

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conference sponsored by TED (Technology Entertainment and Design). â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were saying they preferred the automated version of their cousin to their cousin, because now they can pause and repeat their cousin without feeling like theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wasting my time. If they need to review something they should have learned a couple weeks ago or years ago, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to embarrass themselves and ask their cousin.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The very first time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to get your brain around something, the very last thing you need is a person asking you, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do you understand this?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now they can do this in the intimacy of their own room.â&#x20AC;?

From the start, Khan saw no reason to keep his math videos private, and others began watching them. He was rewarded with feedback from â&#x20AC;&#x153;random people around the world.â&#x20AC;?

One user commented that, for the first time, he had smiled after doing a derivative. Another responded that working through the same video had given him a â&#x20AC;&#x153;natural high and a good mood for the remainder of the

day.â&#x20AC;? Parents of a 12-year-old with autism said their son had found success with Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s videos after other programs had failed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here I was, an analyst at a hedge fund. It was very strange for me to do something of social value,â&#x20AC;?

Khan told the appreciative TED audience.

But he was excited by the feedback, so he kept on making videos.

With his wife working nights and weekends as a medical resident and the East Coast hours (5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

PST) of his Wall Street-oriented job, Khan had time to play with it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I kept making videos and hoping someone would notice,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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Courtesy of Khan Academy

Salman Khan, far left, with part of his team: from left, Jason Rosoff, Ben Kamens, Bilal Musharraf and Shantanu Sinha.

In September 2009 he quit the hedge-fund job to focus full time on the academy, digging into savings for the first eight months. Thanks to donations, the Khan Academy can now pay salaries to him and his small staff.

The academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhereâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has attracted, in the founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;talent that money canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy.â&#x20AC;?

John Resig, a widely recognized JavaScript programmer, joined in May.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just by the nature of the mission, especially for people doing something creative whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engineers, or me as a video producer, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the satisfaction of seeing your stuff being used and having high leverage and impact,â&#x20AC;? Khan said.

The staff today numbers about a dozen, plus six interns. To date Khan has produced every single one of the videos himself.

T

he popularity of the videos is due to their digestible chunks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; each one is 10 to 20 minutes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and a tight focus on the individual user, Khan believes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My focus was to build a useful tool for my cousins and then, once it grew, to build something useful for the stand-alone learner,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People like the style I teach in. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very conversational. They appreciate that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a human on the other side.â&#x20AC;?

It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt that the human is friendly, engaging and articulate.

The offerings are so basic that Khan says â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shocking for me that this didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist 30 years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m surprised that an NGO (nongovernmental organization) or the public sector never spent $1 million to $2 million to get the best lectures in core subjects in K-12 and distribute them at cost.â&#x20AC;?

Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alma mater, MIT, was one of the first universities to make available its undergraduate and graduate courses on the Web for free, with its pioneering Open CourseWare initiative back in 2007. â&#x20AC;&#x153;MIT was awesome when they did that,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the universities were talking about monetizing their brands, and MIT laid down the gauntlet and said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, these arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t our family jewels. This should be for the world.â&#x20AC;?

But university lectures are much longer and harder to navigate than Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small, well-indexed bites.

The videos were embraced by parents, home schoolers and users around the world. About a third of the visits are from outside the United States, he said.

But Khan was surprised to get a query last year from a board member of the Los Altos School District. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just assumed they wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to work with us, but they asked all the right questions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As soon as we started working with them, we found they were better run than most for-profit companies. (Bureaucratic) issues with the firewall were changed in half a day.â&#x20AC;?

Los Altos uses Khan in what it calls a â&#x20AC;&#x153;hybrid learning modelâ&#x20AC;? in which students spend part of every math class working through new material at their own pace. Khan generates a data â&#x20AC;&#x153;dashboard,â&#x20AC;? so at any moment the teacher can see how each student is progressing, or where some are stuck. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Los Altos was willing to do something fairly radical,â&#x20AC;? Khan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to change what we were doing for that. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to give them a lot of credit.â&#x20AC;? (continued on page 22)

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A community health education series from Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Stanford Tackles Tough Tumors Once Thought Beyond Treatment Michelle Perea has a very clear memory of what went through her head when doctors told her that a rare and malignant tumor had swollen her abdomen and wrapped itself around the major arteries of her chest and abdomen.

Then, a doctor who was a family friend, who had a sister involved in cancer research, said something different: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Michelle, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to try Stanford.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to try.â&#x20AC;?

Stanford Hospital has several tumor boards, specific to particular kinds of cancer, and Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case was presented. In on the conversation were E. John Harris, Jr., MD, a vascular surgeon in in the Stanford Vascular Center, and Jeffrey Norton, MD, an oncology surgeon at the Stanford Clinical Cancer Center.

Together, they brought nearly 65 years of experience as physicians to the dilemma of how to treat Perea.

She didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do any research on Harris or Norton before her surgery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just knew they were doctors at Stanford,â&#x20AC;? she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and that people come to them from all over the world.â&#x20AC;?

Partners in Innovation Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s malignant sarcoma was located in what anatomy books call the retroperitoneum that middle section of the body where several organs and major arteries are packed together, a tightly-configured space where any surgery is risky, and where, without preoperative angiograms, the need for blood vessel reconstruction can be a dangerous surprise.

Even when a sarcoma appears in an arm or a leg, that blood vessel problem is so great that amputation has been the norm.

Norbert von der Groeben

Inside Perea, the tumor, the size of a melon and weighing 11 pounds, had grown around the major artery supplying blood to her abdomen. The artery was buried like a straw through the middle of a softball, just the type of situation where few physicians would venture.

Another layer of risk: The tumor originated on Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spine, so removing it also raised the possibility that she might emerge from surgery paralyzed. Perea was willing to risk that.

Everyone in the Perea family does sports; Michelleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, x, coaches youth softball teams. The Pereasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; back yard is large enough for a batting cage, where Michelle can watch from the sidelines and encourage her kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; play.

Page 20Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

Perea met first with Norton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told him about my kids

Norbert von der Groeben

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was 38 years old; my youngest was two years old, my oldest 12, and all I kept thinking about was, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We have to get things in order,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Perea said. She went elsewhere for a second opinion and heard much the same, although it was suggested she look around for a clinical trial. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went home to my kids thinking this would be the last holiday I would have with them,â&#x20AC;? Perea said.

Harris and Norton had recently begun an unusual partnership, one designed to tackle impossible-to-remove tumors like Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, laden with risk. Instead of an oncology surgeon handling the surgery alone and calling for help if needed, as has been the norm, Harris and Norton would work together from the startâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a move to get beyond the old barriers around certain cancers like Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: those that emerge from the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soft, connective tissue fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels or deep skin tissues. By nature, these tumors invade and entangle other tissues, and the prognosis is often dire.

Michelle Perea had been told that nothing could be done to remove the rare malignant tumor crowding her abdomen, wrapping itself around major arteries. It was too dangerous, she was told. A friend urged her to call Stanford Hospital & Clinics, where physicians had different ideas. and showed him a picture of my family,â&#x20AC;? Perea said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It almost seemed as though he was thinking, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only 38 years old. We have to try and do somethingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we have to do these things that seem impossible because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we do.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just knew they were doctors at Stanford, and that people come to them from all over the world.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Michelle Perea, cancer patient, Stanford Hospital & Clinics Norton, in the blunt manner of someone unafraid to break new ground, put it differently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Surgery is the only effective treatment for sarcomas,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though this tumor involved major blood vessels, we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it was unreasonable to try to remove it. We are not here to not take out tumors.â&#x20AC;?

Harris, with his special expertise in the vascular system, would do the reconstruction and replacement of the arteries and any other blood vessels damaged by the tumor, the key step to break down the barrier against removing tumors that grow to interfere with major blood vessels.

First of its kind In his meeting with Perea, Harris explained in detail what the surgery would involve. He also told her something she hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t known. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My understanding was that this had never been done before,â&#x20AC;? Perea said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;that that large of a tumor had never been re-

moved in that area before, with that much reconstruction.â&#x20AC;?

Norton never wavered from a positive outcome, she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but he said we had to do it right away. He rescheduled his vacation so that could happen.â&#x20AC;?

The duo of Harris and Norton brings together two very clear-eyed physicians whose nature is to know their individual limitations and to embrace the power of collaboration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent my whole life trying to take tumors out,â&#x20AC;?

Norton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know surgery pretty well, but there are certain times when I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deal with blood vessels.â&#x20AC;?

For vascular surgeons, Norton said, knowing â&#x20AC;&#x153;what vessels you can take and those you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, which you ligate or which you have to reconstruct,â&#x20AC;? is their basic alphabet of working knowledge.

Working with Harris filled out that part of an equation that opened the door to this problematic kind of surgery â&#x20AC;&#x153;where the more you cut, the more you can injure,â&#x20AC;?

Norton said. With Harrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expertise in the vascular system, the two could plan ahead, designing an approach to lower the risk of unexpected bleeding,

When Perea was diagnosed an 2 years old. After the first surge tumor from her abdomen, her again to remove that tumor, to

special feature

Cancer Care at Stanford Hospital and Clinics t The Stanford Cancer Institute coordinates basic research, development of new therapies, clinical trials, patient care, screening, prevention, education, community outreach and psycho-social support. It also houses a tumor registry. t The Stanford Clinical Cancer Center is focused on patient care. It offers 12 12 disease-specific management programs and a full range of specialists in BMT, breast, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, head and neck, hematology, lymphoma, neuro, sarcoma, thoracic, urologic and radiation oncology. Cancer care at the Center is based on a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach. t Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cancer Supportive Care Program provides educational and support activities designed to ease the side-effects of cancer and its treatment

and to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers.

These activities include psychosocial support, exercise, complementary and alternative medicine classes and counseling on nutrition, fatigue reduction and pain management. All activities are free and open to the public. t Advanced cancer treatments at Stanford include cutting edge surgical techniques such as laparoscopic liver tumor resection and VATS lobectomy for lung cancer. Stanford was one of the first five treatment centers in the world to have the TrueBeam STX, one of the fastest and most accurate radiation therapy machines in the world.

For more information about cancer care at Stanford, please phone 650.498.6000 or visit cancer.stanford.edu.

Join us at stanfordhospital.org/socialmedia.

Watch the new Stanford Hospital Health Notes television show on Comcast: channel 28 on Mondays at 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Fridays at 8:30 a.m.; channel 30 Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. It can also be viewed at youtube.com/stanfordhospital.

Norbert von der Groeben

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It almost seemed as though he was thinking, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only 38 years old.

We have to try and do something â&#x20AC;&#x201C;we have to do these things that seem impossible.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Michelle Perea, cancer patient, Stanford Hospital & Clinics Their collaboration began after Norton had had to call for Harrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; help in the middle of a surgery. Later, Harris said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told him it would be better if I saw these patients ahead of time and we came up with a plan.â&#x20AC;? Essential to the plan was a complete mapping of a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vascular system, using computed tomography angiography so there would be no surprises.

Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, Diane Lawson, has been an important part of her recovery from two cancer surgeries, ground-breaking approaches made possible because two Stanford surgeons pooled their expertise.

In addition to the threat of paralysis, Harris said, the blood supply to her liver and other parts of her body could have been compromised.

Harris and Norton told Perea that her first-of-its-kind surgery would be videotaped so others could learn from it.

The surgery lasted more than 10 hours. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was pretty complex,â&#x20AC;? Harris said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It involved all the major blood vessels supplying the kidneys and the intestines. The tumor grew right up out of her spine and pressed up against her heart and traversed her diaphragm.â&#x20AC;?

Norbert von der Groeben

d told nothing could be done, her youngest child was just ery, a never before done procedure, removed an 11-pound cancer returned three years later. Stanford surgeons went in o.

New thinking adds options Perea was in critical care for a week.

After three weeks in the hospital, she went home to restart her life.

Since the account of Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surgery was published in the Archives of Surgery, other surgeons have begun to try the joint venture approach inaugurated

by Harris and Norton for these types of cancer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do have the ability to do this kind of surgery,â&#x20AC;? Harris said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just old thinking that if a sarcoma has invaded a major blood vessel, that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing you can do but give patients palliative therapy.â&#x20AC;?

The surgery does require what Harris called a skill set thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not found everywhereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a special combination of

experience and knowledge but he and Norton are both modest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not doing anything totally different than anybody else does, but we do it well,â&#x20AC;?

Norton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We plan these things out to minimize blood loss and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always thinking, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another way of doing it?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just old thinking that if a sarcoma has invaded a major blood vessel, that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing you can do but give patients palliative therapy.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; E. John Harris, Jr., MD, vascular surgeon, Stanford Hospital & Clinics One of the basic maneuvers is called debranching, something that neurosurgeons and vascular surgeons bring out for aneurysmsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a way to go around a damaged area by connecting the good part before and the good part beyond.

Something else is important, too that collaborative spirit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jeff and I have a good relationship.

There is no ego,â&#x20AC;?

Harris said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;John is a good guy,â&#x20AC;? Norton said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;easy to work with. A lot of surgeons canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work together.â&#x20AC;?

With the success of their teaming, they have expanded the approach to include surgeries to remove tumors in the pancreas and duodenum, with similar replacements of major veins

and arteries. That heralds a bigger role for vascular surgery in tumor removal, Harris believes.

In 2010, Harris and Norton removed a new tumor, another challenge requiring major vascular replacement: This time, the cancer appeared in Pereaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liver, invaded her vena cava, the vein that transports deoxygenated blood, and worked its way up her chest wall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was rediagnosed, I thought, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh, crap, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just one of those things,â&#x20AC;? Perea said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes, I wake up and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel I can do this another day, but then I think about how far Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come and I say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I have to.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no way I can give up on myself when no one else did. I just keep moving forward.â&#x20AC;?

She has gained more time with her children. Her youngest just finished kindergarten, her oldest is 16. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The bottom line is I just want to be here as long as I can.â&#x20AC;?

Norbert von der Groeben

something that can quickly upend a surgery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That unexpected bleeding is the one thing we all want to avoid,â&#x20AC;?

Norton said.

With her tumor removed, Michelle Perea knows she has gained more time with her family: son Diego, 6; husband Mike, daughters Sophia, 14, Olivia, 16, and Allejandra, 8.

Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Hospitals,â&#x20AC;? Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. It is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital at Stanford.

For more information, visit stanfordmedicine.org. *>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;U Page 21

8

Cover Story

Workshop Series by Harrell Remodeling

New Construction vs.

Remodeling

Kahn Academy (continued from page 19)

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big decision so make it an informed one!

Khan Academy enables teachers, parents and coaches to go online to help tutor a student.

Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finance and computerscience background particularly focuses him on â&#x20AC;&#x153;analyticsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; using student-generated data to guide the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and find the appropriate next step.

A studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results are available to authorized parents, teachers or tutors, allowing them to monitor progress and pinpoint strengths and trouble spots.

One question we are frequently asked is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Should I remodel my home, or just tear it down and build a new one?â&#x20AC;?

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Topics will include: n Changes in the real estate market are a huge inďŹ&#x201A;uence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; why? n What do you need and want in your remodeled or new home? n Can you add another story or additional space?

We never forget itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your home.ÂŽ n Site conditions, planning or zoning issues n Easements and property lines n Limitations you may have with your current location n Foundation and framing issues n Plumbing and HVAC or electrical considerations Find out more about which direction is the right one for you and your needs by attending this informative workshop!

K

Saturday, July 23rd Registration and light breakfast at 9:15 am Workshop 9:30 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12:00 pm Harrell Remodeling Design Center Call us or go online to register today.

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hanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reluctance to form a for-profit enterprise appears connected to a spoken fear ofâ&#x20AC;&#x153;jinxingâ&#x20AC;?the magic, and his evolving vision for the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As soon as you get into the mindset of selling to a system â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a school system or anything else â&#x20AC;&#x201D;you adapt your product to the system. You end up trying to convince the bureaucrats, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll force it on the students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here we have students and parents already using it, without forcing it on anyone,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Khan imagines a global academic exchange, serving everyone from American students to middle-aged dropouts to street kids in Calcutta, which happens to be the birth city of his mother. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Imagine what this can do for that

street kid, who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go to school because he has to help his family during the day,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now they can spend two hours a day to remediate it, and not be embarrassed by what they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know.â&#x20AC;?

People who got on the wrong track in high school can advance through the Khan academy and show what they know at 40. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Imagine what happens if that student in Calcutta can tutor your son, or your son can tutor that kid in Calcutta. What you see emerging is that global, one-world classroom, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essentially what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to build.â&#x20AC;?

Khan said he feels better every day about the decision to stay nonprofit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m 80 I want to feel that I helped give access to a world-class education to billions of students around the world,â&#x20AC;? he said on his website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I already have a beautiful wife, a hilarious son (he recently went on a second paternity leave), two Hondas and a decent house. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What else does a man need?â&#x20AC;? N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

About the cover: Short, conversational videos on a host of subjects, from algebra to venture capital, are available â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for free â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to anyone in the world with a Web connection at the Khan Academy.

Cover design by Shannon Corey.

Meadow Wing & Focused Care

a tradition of caring NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING Of the City of Palo Alto Transportation Division

PALO ALTO COMMONS offers a comprehensive program for individuals with

Public Meeting Notice Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and Highway 101 Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossing Feasibility Study Public Open House

Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease and dementia in our Meadow Wing. Here, residents enjoy daily walks on beautiful garden paths and a full program of activities to engage mind, body

DATE: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 TIME: 6:30-8:30 PM PLACE: Council Chambers, City Hall 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto 94301

and spirit.

For residents in the later stages of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, our Focused Care Program provides

This public meeting will be an opportunity for all interested parties to provide input on the project, programs and areas most important to improving walking and biking conditions in Palo Alto. At the meeting, Staff will review the Draft Report of the Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and provide an update on the Highway 101 Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossing Feasibility Study in the vicinity of Adobe Creek.

for all of the residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique needs. Here, families are assured that their loved one will get the best care in the most appropriate environment now and in the future as needs may change.

Call today... 650-494-0760

4075 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306

650-494-0760 www.paloaltocommons.com

24 Hour On-site Licensed Nurse Services Page 22Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

License #435200706

For additional information related to the project, please visit the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s project website at: www.cityofpaloalto.org/bike or www. cityofpaloalto.org/101.

For further information contact: transportation@cityofpaloalto. org or call (650) 329-2520.

Arts & Entertainment

Joel Simon

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

Tristan Cook

GIAA9F C:6F5<AG Top: A past Music@Menlo performance at St. Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. Above: Pianist Menahem Pressler.

(continued on next page)

Tristan Cook

F

Music@ Menlo festival focuses on the composerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music, works that inspired him, and those he inspired

Chamber Music Lincoln Center

by Rebecca Wallace rom his beginnings as an impressive, burgeoning composer dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Young Eagleâ&#x20AC;? to the contemplative works of his final years, Johannes Brahms left an indelible stamp on classical music.

While Brahms (1833-1897) venerated the greats who came before him â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Hayden and especially Bach â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he in turn became an inspiration for composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The German composer was known for his virtuosic piano compositions, intimate vocal works and three string quartets, which pianist Wu Han and cellist David Finckel call a perfect marriage of â&#x20AC;&#x153;passion and technique.â&#x20AC;?

This summer, Midpeninsula audiences will hear a Brahms triptych of sorts: the composerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music, together with works that inspired him and those he inspired. Wu Han and Finckel, artistic directors of

Far left: Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. Left: Violinist Arnaud Sussmann.

*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;U Page 23

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Arts & Entertainment

Brahms

(continued from previous page)

Music@Menlo, are dedicating the summer chamber-music festival to him.

Music@Menlo runs July 22 through Aug. 13, with concerts, lectures, master classes and a chambermusic institute for young musicians.

Performances are at St. Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church at 600 Colorado Ave. in Palo Alto; The Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton High School at 555 Middlefield Road in Atherton; and Menlo School at 50 Valparaiso Ave. in Atherton.

The festival attracts many respected names in classical music. Returning favorites include pianists Alessio Bax and Menahem Pressler, violinist Jorja Fleezanis and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. Besides performing in groups, Bax and Pressler will also give individual recitals.

Music@Menloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major concerts begin with â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Young Eagle,â&#x20AC;? named after the moniker that composers Robert and Clara Schumann gave to Brahms. Performed on July 23 and 24, the program features earlier works, including Brahmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Piano Trio in B Major, op. 8, which the composer wrote at 21. His influences are reflected in such works as Mozartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Violin Sonata in E Minor, K. 304. Musicians include Wu Han and fellow pianist Juho Pohjonen, and clarinetist Carey Bell.

Later concert programs include Aug. 2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Songs of Love,â&#x20AC;? featuring vocal pieces by Brahms, Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. The festival brochure bills Brahmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Liebeslieder Waltzesâ&#x20AC;? as full of â&#x20AC;&#x153;warmth, intimacy, expressive nuance and beguiling lyricism.â&#x20AC;? Performers include Cooke, soprano Erin Morley, tenor Paul Appleby and baritone Kelly Markgraf.

Brahms was fascinated with the Gypsy folk music that came to Germany in the 1840s, courtesy of immigrating Hungarians. The Aug. 5-6 concert programs focus on compositions both lively and melancholic inspired by Hungarian folk music, written by Brahms, Haydn, DvorĂĄk Ë&#x2021; and others. Violinist Elmar Oliveira joins Wu Han and Finckel, pianist Jon Kimura Parker and violist Paul Neubauer on the stage.

The concert lineup also includes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brahms: The Quartet in Context,â&#x20AC;? two programs featuring Brahmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; three string quartets and other quartets by Leon Kirchner, Beethoven and Anton Webern. Kirchner (19192009) was a student of Arnold Schoenberg, who greatly admired Brahms. The Orion String Quartet will perform three of these works on Aug. 4 and three on Aug. 7.

To help put Brahms in the context of his world and times, Music@Menlo also hosts a quartet of lectures.

This summer, they include a July 22 talk by festival artistic administrator Patrick Castillo on lifelong bachelor Brahmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;loneliness and legacy.â&#x20AC;? On Aug. 11, Ara Guzelimian, provost and dean of the Juilliard School, will speak on the wisdom and poignancy of Brahmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; last compositions.

Performances by the Chamber Music Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young musicians are free. Ticket prices vary for other events. For details and a full schedule, go to musicatmenlo.org or call 650-331-0202. N

Arts & Entertainment

City of Palo Alto Notice of Hearing on Report and Assessment for Weed Abatement NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January 10, 2011 the Fire Chief of the City of Palo Alto ďŹ led with the City Clerk of the City of Palo Alto a report and assessment on abatement of weeds within the City of Palo Alto, a copy of which is posted on the bulletin board at the Palo Alto Downtown Library.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on August 1, 2011 at the hour of seven p.m. in the Council Chambers of Palo Alto City Hall, The Palo Alto weed abatement report and assessment list will be presented to the City Council of Palo Alto for consideration, conďŹ rmation, and order that costs of abatement to be a special assessment on the respective properties described therein, and that any and all persons interested, having any objections to said report and assessment list, or to any matter or thing contained therein, may appear at said time and place and be heard.

Lorenz Kienzle

Dated: July 8th and July 15th 2011 City Clerk of the City of Palo Alto

This photo, originally published in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Richard Serra Sculpture: Forty Yearsâ&#x20AC;? by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, shows the Richard Serra sculpture â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;? installed at Pickhan Umformtechnik GmbH in Siegen, Germany.

A steel giant at Stanford Richard Serraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curving, slanting sculpture â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to be installed at Cantor Arts Center

by Rebecca Wallace

T

he Cantor Arts Center is gearing up for a new inhabitant: one thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 13 feet tall, weighs 235 tons and travels via flatbed truck. Made of weatherproof steel, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the 2006 sculpture â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;? by contemporary American artist Richard Serra.

A concrete slab has already been poured outside on the north side of the Stanford University museum where the sculpture will be installed. The workâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge sheets of curved metal have arrived, and await the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rigger to put them in place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are 12 of them. ... Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enormously complicated to get them in order,â&#x20AC;? Hilarie Faberman, the curator of modern and contemporary art at the Cantor, said earlier this month.

Installation work is scheduled to start on July 18. When â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;? is assembled, it will resemble a pair of interlocking figure eights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; massive figure eights that people can walk inside. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The viewer enters through one of the workâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two openings and can wander through inner and outer steel plates,â&#x20AC;? museum officials wrote in a press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The curvilinear walls slant, creating a vertiginous and disorienting experience for the visitor who traverses the interior.â&#x20AC;?

Visitors will also be able to view â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;? from above, getting an aerial perspective from a terrace.

This is the first time the sculpture will be exhibited outside.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already rust-colored but will take on â&#x20AC;&#x153;a patinaâ&#x20AC;? outside in the elements, Faberman said.

Faberman saw the sculpture in its previous location, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it resided from 2008 to 2011. Before that, it was part of the exhibition â&#x20AC;&#x153;Richard Serra Sculpture: Forty Yearsâ&#x20AC;? at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re kind of overwhelmed by it and his mastery of space, and how space is participatory experience,â&#x20AC;? Faberman said about her vivid walk through the sculpture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What Serraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really exploring is weight, mass, balance, architecture versus sculpture, the spectatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation process.â&#x20AC;?

She added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revolutionary in terms of his contribution to our understanding of what sculpture is.â&#x20AC;?

To provide some protection for the sculpture, fences will ensure that people must pass through the museum to access it, and that it will be off-limits when the museum is closed, Faberman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;? is scheduled to stay on view at the Cantor until moving to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where it will be part of the new installation of the Fisher Collection in 2016. The sculpture belongs to the Doris and Don Fisher family, who are â&#x20AC;&#x153;great patrons of Serra,â&#x20AC;?

Faberman said.

The Cantorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north garden previously hosted another large metal sculpture of Serraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. His

!

work â&#x20AC;&#x153;Call Me Ishmaelâ&#x20AC;? was there from 1999 through 2004, Faberman said. It had two 11foot-high pieces of weathered steel that leaned into each other. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was almost like the belly of a whale,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Other outdoor art at the Cantor includes the Rodin Sculpture Garden on the south side of the museum, and Andy Goldsworthyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 sandstone work â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stone Riverâ&#x20AC;? to the east. N Info: For more about â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sequenceâ&#x20AC;? and the Cantor Arts Center, go to museum.stanford.edu.

A&E DIGEST NEW RELEASE FOR LOCAL COMPOSER ... Mountain View resident Frank Ferko is one of the many composers represented on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond All Mortal Dreams,â&#x20AC;? a new CD of American choral music released by the British label Hyperion Records.

The albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works, which include Ferkoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s piece â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hildegard Triptych,â&#x20AC;? are performed by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, and conducted by Stephen Layton. Ferko wrote the piece in 1997 for unaccompanied double choir, with text by the Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is certainly one of the more challenging works that I have written for chorus,â&#x20AC;?

Ferko said in an email, calling the Trinity choirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance â&#x20AC;&#x153;absolutely superb.â&#x20AC;? Ferko was recently interviewed by the Weekly for a story about the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, where he is a sound cataloger and project archivist.

For more about the new album, go to hyperion-records.co.uk.

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Arts & Entertainment

A twisting memory lane Playwright Pinter is at his most challenging, confusing in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Old Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

by Chad Jones

W

THEATER REVIEW itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about the fallibility of memory.

Pinter certainly isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t providing an answer. The man wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a Nobel laureate for nothing.

Pinter loves subverting his audienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need to believe that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some kernel of truth in the story heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s telling â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that under all the mysteries and enigmas and theatrical game playing thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really a story being told. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably not the case. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just messing with us. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Pinter does.

Being messed with makes some people happy because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up for the challenge. It irritates others to the point of wanting to throw things at the stage. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only if the production is a good one.

Stefanie Okuda

hen old friends get together, memories tend to flow as if fond remembrance might actually turn back the hands of time. But when Harold Pinter gathers old friends for a trip down memory lane, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing fond about it. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for warm and fuzzy reunions, go rent â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big Chillâ&#x20AC;? and steer clear of Pinterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Times,â&#x20AC;? part of the Stanford Summer Theater Memory Play Festival.

This 1971 drama â&#x20AC;&#x201D; some might call it a comedy, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let them get away with that â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is perfectly suited to an academic theater festival because it cries out for intense intellectual treatises on the topic of what the heck itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really about. The answer, of course, is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about anything you want it to be because

From left, Cristina Anselmo, Rush Rehm and Courtney Walsh in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Times.â&#x20AC;?

Director Jeffrey Bihr creates a production that nearly inspires throwing things. From the start of his 80-minute production, an air of tension electrifies the air of the Pigott Theater on the Stanford campus, but that tension dissipates.

David Finckel & Wu Han, Artistic Directors

The 2011 Festival: Through Brahms July 22-August 13, 2011 / Atherton Menlo Park Palo Alto

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Innovative, engaging, and artistically excellent...â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;gramophone

Music@Menlo, the Bay Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier chamber music festival, offers an incomparable musical experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;world-class concerts in intimate venues, innovative programs performed by a cadre of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great musicians, and numerous free opportunities to engage with artists and explore classical music.

Â&#x2122; :M8:EI>DC6A 8DC8:GIH 7N LDGA9"G:CDLC:9 8=6B7:G BJH>8>6CH Â&#x2122; :C<6<>C< HNBEDH>6 6C9 A:8IJG:H Â&#x2122; ;G:: 86;w 8DCK:GH6I>DCH 6C9 B6HI:G 8A6HH:H Â&#x2122; ;G:: 8DC8:GIH 7N NDJC< 6GI>HIH ;GDB BJH>85B:CADÂźH >CHI>IJI:

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION:

www.musicatmenlo.org Page 26Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

650-331-0202

Erik Flatmoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s set is an almost childlike outline of a seaside cottage somewhere in England. Husband and wife Deeley (Rush Rehm) and Kate (Cristina Anselmo and Courtney Walsh, alternating in the role) are dressed in blue and beige, so they match both the wallpaper and the furniture. Their lives, we can assume, are comfortable but bland.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re awaiting the arrival of Anna, Kateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one good friend whom she hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen in 20 years. Anna (Anselmo and Walsh alternating) is flying in from her villa in Sicily.

The minute we see her lurking outside the house, peering in the windows, we know sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there to upset the balance, if only because the bold print of her dress matches neither the wallpaper nor the furniture (costumes are by Connie Stayer).

The visit starts pleasantly enough, but soon Anna and Deeley are waging a seemingly civilized but actually brutal war over the mostly silent Kate. Bihrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production skimps on the erotic tension, but we get the drift. Anna and Kate, back in their wild days as young secretaries in London, may have been lovers or they may have been man-hungry.

In the playâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most vivacious scene, Anna and Deeley play a game of one-upsmanship trying to impress Kate with snippets of old songs.

Kate can barely seem to be bothered, which only makes the game players press on with more vehemence. Then Pinterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play, and this production, veers off the tracks.

Director Bihr pulls a fast one in the second half as a way to complicate an already complicated narrative: Actresses Anselmo and Walsh switch roles just before the second act begins. (They also switch roles every night, so that Anselmo starts the play as Kate at one performance, and as Anna at another.) These casting moves make about as much sense as anything Pinter has to say.

Memory is knotty and fragmented and, as one of the characters says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are some things one remem-

bers even though they may never have happened. There are things I remember which may never have happened but as I recall them so they take place.â&#x20AC;?

The way Deeley and Kate met â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at a screening of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Odd Man Outâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; may have never happened. Kate may have been more sexually active than Deeley knew. Anna and Deeley may have played sexual games in a pub before Kate ever entered the picture.

And Kateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underwear holds great metaphorical significance. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even ask.

What starts out tense and mysterious becomes tedious and dramatically inert. How can there be tension when we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even hold on to the threads of the story as it keeps changing depending on whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing the remembering? Then Pinter really goes off the deep end and gives us the whiff of death to confuse the proceedings even further.

Perhaps the two women are aspects of the same person, and the dominant personality vanquished the weaker. Perhaps someone actually died. Perhaps all of this is happening in the twisted mind of one of the characters. And can someone please explain the door in the floor?

Perhaps â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Timesâ&#x20AC;? could be chilling or disturbing, but in this version, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mainly interesting until it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Then frustration and, to be perfectly honest, boredom, set in.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that the actors are flailing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; on the contrary, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re attacking this material with gusto, and their British accents are solid â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re battling the playwright to find something to play.

A note in the program encourages audience members to come back for a second viewing of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Times.â&#x20AC;?

You get a $10 discount and see the actresses switch roles again.

There are some decent laughs in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Times,â&#x20AC;? as when Anna says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have a lovely casserole ... lovely wife. Sorry.â&#x20AC;? And the prominent use of songs in the sound design â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lauraâ&#x20AC;? with its half-remembered face in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;misty moonlightâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where or Whenâ&#x20AC;? with its â&#x20AC;&#x153;some things that happened for the first time seem to be happening againâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is wonderfully evocative. But those two wistfully beautiful songs are so much more satisfying than this play it almost seems insulting to include them. N What: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Timesâ&#x20AC;? by Harold Pinter, presented by Stanford Summer Theater Where: Pigott Theater, 551 Serra Mall, Stanford University When: Through July 24, with 8 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. shows Sundays Cost: Tickets are $15-$25.

Info: Go to summertheater.stanford. edu or call 650-725-5838.

Support Palo Alto Weeklyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s print and online coverage of our community.

Join today: SupportLocalJournalism.org/PaloAlto

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Spalti Ristorante 327-9390 417 California Ave, Palo Alto Ă?ÂľĂ&#x2022;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Â&#x153;`Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;"Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;`Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}

Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seafood 323-1555 #1 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto Open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Happy Hour 7 days a week 4-7 pm Full Bar, Banquets, Outdoor Seating www.scottsseafoodpa.com

www.spalti.com

THAI JAPANESE & SUSHI Fuki Sushi 494-9383 4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Open 7 days a Week

Thaiphoon Restaurant 323-7700 543 Emerson St., Palo Alto Full Bar, Outdoor Seating www.thaiphoonrestaurant.com Best Thai Restaurant in Palo Alto 5 Years in a Row, 2006-2010

Established as one of the Peninsulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best Chinese restaurants, Chef Chuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is known world-wide for its innovative, tempting cuisine and charismatic owner, Lawrence C. C. Chu. Chef Chuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is a lively, bustling place, with Chef Chu himself often at the center of the activity. #!4%2).' s "!.15%4 4!+% /54

1067 N San Antonio Rd Los Altos, CA 94022 Phone: (650) 948-2696 Fax: (650) 948-0121 www.chefchu.com Open daily from 11:30 am - 9:30 pm Weekends 12 noon - 10pm Non-Stop

MEXICAN Palo Alto Sol 328-8840 408 California Ave, Palo Alto Ă&#x2022;}iĂ&#x160;Â&#x201C;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x17E;Â?iĂ&#x160;,iVÂ&#x2C6;ÂŤiĂ&#x192;

Siam Orchid 325-1994 496 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto Organic Thai Free Delivery to Palo Alto/Stanford/Menlo Park Order online at www.siamorchidpa.com

Oaxacan Kitchen Mobile 321-8003 2010 Best Mexican We have hit the Road!

Follow Us twitter.com/oaxacankitchen

Su Hong â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Menlo Park Dining Phone: 323â&#x20AC;&#x201C;6852 To Go: 322â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4631 Winner, Menlo Almanac â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Ofâ&#x20AC;?

8 years in a row!

Trader Vicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 849-9800 4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm; Sun 4:30 - 9:30pm Available for private luncheons Lounge open nightly Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6 pm

Become a Fan facebook.com/oaxacankitchenmobile Find Us www.OaxacanKitchenMobile.com

STEAKHOUSE Sundance the Steakhouse 321-6798 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:00pm Dinner: Mon-Thu 5:00-10:00pm 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

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d Granin g! n e p O

July 8, 9, 10

HACHI

Exciting New Japanese Fusion Restaurant

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50% off

jÂ&#x2039;Â&#x201E;w Š iw { Š ^wÂ&#x192;wy~ Š iwÂ&#x2030;~ Â&#x192; Open 5pm - Midnight

1711 W. El Camino Real Ste. B, Mountain View

650-988-6938

5pcs. of Ahi Tuna Sashimi with orders of $30 or more when you kiss your signiďŹ cant other for our photo wall.

Eating Out RESTAURANT REVIEW

Menu available on Facebook

Buy 1 entree and get the 2nd one

with coupon (Dinner Only)

369 Lytton Avenue Downtown Palo Alto 462-5903 Family owned and operated for 15 years

w w w. j a n t a i n d i a n r e s t a u r a n t . c o m

Veronica Weber

,UNCH "UFFET - & s /RGANIC 6EGGIES s 2ESERVATION !CCEPTED

A father and son share the tandoori mixed-grill plate at Tandoori Oven.

Fast food, Indian-style

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING of the Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission Please be advised the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) shall conduct a public meeting at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, July 27, 2011 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 Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

195 Page Mill Road: Request by Hohbach Realty Company for approval of a Tentative Map for Condominium Purposes to create: (1) one ground floor unit for Research and Development use (50,467 sq.ft.), (2) 84 residential units on the two upper floors (106,320 sq.ft.) including 17 below market rate housing units, and (3) common areas associated with these units.

Environmental Assessment: Notice of Determination for the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the project was filed with the County of Santa Clara on July 12 (following Initial Study/Draft MND circulation, end of public comment period, Initial Study clarifications, and ARB public hearing, review and recommendation on July 7, 2011).

Questions. For 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 Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), please contact the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ADA Coordinator at 650.329.2550 (voice) or by e-mailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org.

***

Curtis Williams Director of Planning and Community Environment Page 28Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

Tandoori Oven serves quick meals that pack a flavorful punch

by Dale F. Bentson

I

love food that bites back. Not blister-the-lips, scorch-thetongue, sweat-on-the-brow hot, mind you, but well-spiced fare that says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here I am.â&#x20AC;? Tandoori Ovenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wraps, kabobs, curries and assorted compatibles fill that lip-smacking bill.

Tandoori Oven on California Avenue in Palo Alto is fast-food Indian-style, with a menu that sticks to basics without much fanfare. The same ingredients are used to prepare a variety of dishes, whether steamed, grilled or cooked in the tandoori oven.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a busy place noontimes, and lines can be nearly out the door.

The queue moves quickly, though, and orders are brought to tables within minutes. The grill is adjacent to the order/pay station and is easily visible in case you are intrigued about how your wrap is assembled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a freezer, so everything is fresh, and deliveries are every other day. We make everything in-house, from naan to yogurt,â&#x20AC;? owner Mani Kabir said.

Opened in December 2008, Tandoori Oven is sandwiched between The Counter and Starbucks in a busy court. Kabir owns four other Peninsula locations and says more are on the way. The menu derives from family recipes but

with a continental touch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was educated in Europe so the cooking style can best be described as Northern Indian-British,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Kabir said that many Indian restaurants in American use too much butter and oil, but that his â&#x20AC;&#x153;home-cooked concept emphasizes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;freshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with minimum amounts of oil.â&#x20AC;? As for the tandoor oven, he said it requires no oil at all; radiant heat cooks foods quickly and evenly.

Indigenous to India and southeast Asia for centuries, the ovens are the ideal vessel for baking naan (bread) as well roasting chicken and lamb. Tandoori Oven in Palo Alto uses a glass-lined clay oven with tasty results.

Inside the restaurant, menu boards are awkwardly positioned, one high above the pay station and another off to one side. Unless one is familiar with Indian cuisine, the choices can be baffling. While I generally dislike photographs of entrĂŠes on menu boards, in this case, some guidance would help the uninitiated. Cashiers are knowledgeable and helpful, but no one wants to hold up the line by asking too many questions.

Overall, the prices are very good and the portions large. There are no desserts, so leave the sweet tooth behind. I thought the ap-

petizers uninteresting but found just about every other item on the menu worthwhile. There is nothing delicate about this food. There are sometimes just layers of spices without subtlety, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a price paid for fast food.

The samosa appetizers ($4.97) were two deep-fried pyramid shells filled with cumin roasted potatoes bobbing in a pool of seasoned garbanzo beans. It was a heavy dish without much flavor wallop, with the tiny amount of herbed potato filling lost at sea.

Ditto the cholay bhature ($3.57).

This time, the seasoned garbanzo beans were topped with diced red onion and cilantro. The dish was redeemed by the accompanying fried naan, though, which was airy, doughy and delightful.

Naan is also offered with a variety of fills. The chicken pesto naan ($3.97) was like a stuffed pizza minus the cheese. The chicken was minced and layered with the pesto inside the bread. The naan was grilled and served piping hot like flatbread. Turned out to be one of my favorite dishes: plenty to share, enough for a meal for one or complement with a cup of cucumber or potato salad ($1.97).

Amazing prices.

Besides chicken pesto, other options include spicy ground lamb, spicy potato, paneer (a light Indian cheese), onion, garlic and a sweet version with coconut and raisins. Each order comes with house-made yogurt for dipping or topping.

Mixed grill ($12.47) featured seekh kabob (chunks of lamb

seasoned with ground chili, ginger and spices); chicken kabob (marinated and spiced); tandoori shrimp, fire-engine red from spices; and caramelized onions and green bell pepper served on a sizzling platter with choice of naan or rice. Loads of tender meat, very filling, very successful.

I loved the spicy seekh kabob wrap ($7.97) with ground lamb that had been seasoned with green chilies and spices, onions and chutney, then wrapped in fresh, cloud-like naan. This was serious bite-backspicy lamb, sinus-clearing spicy but not quite blistering. It lingered on the lips but the tingle quickly dissipated. It was easily the spiciest dish I had at Tandoori Oven, and perhaps the most satisfying as well.

Tamer was the chicken wrap ($7.67), which featured tender chunks of tandoori chicken, wedges of cucumber and creamy mint mayo bundled in baked naan. Tandoori chicken is the color of the Golden Gate Bridge, an orange-vermillion shading. The chicken is marinated in yogurt and seasoned with spices including turmeric and chili powder, which gave it the pulsating color.

No Indian restaurant in America, fast-food or otherwise, would be complete without curry dishes.

Tandoori Oven offers chicken, lamb, shrimp and vegetarian variations, both Ă la carte and as dinners ($8.97-$12.97).

The tender chicken curry dinner ($10.97) came with basmati rice, fluffy naan and a side of stewed vegetables. The curry was lush and piquant, kissing the lips without tormenting the tongue.

Tables were promptly bussed and the place was always clean. The decor is inconsequential but looks more homemade than formulaic.

The too-loud piped-in Indian pop music can be screechy, challenging the ears rather than soothing.

Tandoori Oven serves quick basic Indian fare, with good prices and generous portions. The food is well-prepared and the menu intriguing enough to keep it interesting.

I hope something is done to help educate those with little knowledge of Indian cuisine: photos, definitions or explanations. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that the place lacks for business, but lots of people are missing out on a good thing. N

Tandoori Oven 365 California Ave., Palo Alto 650-324-2111 thetandoorioven.com Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Reservations

Credit cards

City lots Beer & wine Takeout Highchairs Wheelchair access

WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS DOING THIS SUMMER? Join the YES FOR CHESS summer camp

Banquet

Catering

The camp runs from July 11th to 15th

Outdoor seating

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a chess program that focuses on creative problem solving and having FUN.

Noise level: Low Bathroom Cleanliness: Good

No chess experience? No Problem!

We teach beginning to advanced students

510-921-2081 www.yesforchess.com

Sibling discounts offered

(for more info regarding the camp)

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, August 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. or as near thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, to Consider Adoption of an Ordinance for a Zone Change, Requested by William Lyon Homes Inc., from PF (Public Facility) Zone to ROLM (Research OfďŹ ce Limited Manufacturing) Zone, of a 1,968 Square Foot Parcel of Land Located Within the Approved Residential Development Project Area at 200 San Antonio Road. The Planning and Transportation Commission recommended approval of the zone change on June 29, 2011.

DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk

DINNER BY THE MOVIES AT SHORELINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

La Cucina di Pizzeria

Venti

1390 Pear Ave., Mountain View (650) 254-1120 www.mvpizzeriaventi.com Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

I

t didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long for businesswoman, Bella Awdisho, to recognize something was missing in Mountain View. After long research, it became apparent that ďŹ nding a one-of-a-kind restaurant to bring to the Mountain View area would not be easy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just could not see opening another run-of-the-mill restaurant in an area ďŹ lled with such innovationâ&#x20AC;? said Mrs. Awdisho. Her search ended when she found Pizzeria Venti, a small boutique pizzeria based in Italy.

Her introduction to Italian cuisine was in-depth, to say the least. It began with a culinary arts program that included training under the Tuscany sun. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The training was really eye-opening. I learned about the nuances of true Italian cooking; about the quality and passion that goes into every dish. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing.â&#x20AC;? said Bella. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Covering everything from pasta and sauces to the tradition of Italy famous â&#x20AC;&#x153;pizza al taglioâ&#x20AC;? or pizza by the cut, the training was a once-in-a-lifetime experience which is simply not available to most restaurateurs.â&#x20AC;?

Traveling in Italy

A

wdisho said that she was extremely anxious to start her own Pizzeria Venti right here in Mountain View. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I recognized the uniqueness of our location,â&#x20AC;? she noted â&#x20AC;&#x153;so I put many resources into the marketing of the location. We continue to offer to our customers many of the dishes I was introduced to in Italy.â&#x20AC;? So successful was this introduction that Awdisho had to double the size of her kitchen, adding additional equipment to handle the demand. Executive Chef, Marco Salvi, the training chef in Italy, provided many new recipes for use in her restaurant. Chef Marco provided some insight â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ingredients say it all. We work to provide a ďŹ nished dish which will honor its origins and create a wonderful experience for our customers.â&#x20AC;?

Authenticity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Not just a word

E

ach new dish is hand selected with an eye towards authenticity. Even its rustic style pizza has a bit of Italia in it, made daily on-premise and using only imported water from Italy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, one of the most important components of the training in Italy was the cultural understanding of these recipes. I was able to bring this back to our customers,â&#x20AC;? said Bella. She continues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know our customers really appreciate what we do. We are so grateful that they allow us our passion.â&#x20AC;?

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;THE MOST THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLEâ&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;?MOVIE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!â&#x20AC;?

Steve Persall, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES

Movies OPENINGS

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ----

NOW PLAYING

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

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(Century 16, Century 20) Pottermania reaches a crescendo with this taut and thoughtful final installment in the impressive â&#x20AC;&#x153;Harry Potterâ&#x20AC;? film franchise. And they saved the best for last. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2â&#x20AC;? caps the series with visual panache and emotional punch.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fitting finale to an unparalleled cinematic accomplishment.

The wizarding world has taken a dark turn as the vile Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) makes a final violent push for complete dominion. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his two steadfast companions, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), set out to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes (magical items that empower Voldemort).

Their perilous quest leads them to a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, a hitched ride aboard an angry dragon and a meeting with Aberforth Dumbledore (Ciaran Hinds), brother of murdered Hogwarts school headmaster Albus. Meanwhile, Voldemort and his band of maniacal Death Eaters, including the ruthless Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), prepare for a full-fledged assault on Hogwarts.

Director David Yates (who also helmed the previous three Potter films) and his filmmaking team treat this final Potter flick as something of a cherished child. Deep consideration for the characters and meticulous attention to detail permeate nearly every frame. The production values are exceptional, from the eye-popping visual effects to the striking set design and cinematography.

The actors give it their all as this mighty chapter in their lives comes to a close. Radcliffe lends Harry just the right balance of dread and daring; Grint has turned the once-skittish Ron into an admirable hero; and Watson serves up an emotionally sincere portrayal. The truth about enigmatic wizard Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) finally comes to light in harrowing fashion, and Rickman delivers with thespian prowess.

Some scenes border on brilliant, such as a powerful flashback involving Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, Lily, and Snape. The filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tension is thick and infectious, though humor occasionally (and gracefully) interjects. And secondary characters (especially Neville Longbottom, played by Matthew Lewis) shine when given the chance.

Flaws are harder to catch than a Golden Snitch, although occasional lulls in the otherwise consistent pacing, and a not-quite-right denouement, are apparent. There is something a bit melancholy about the viewing experience as each passing minute gets the audience closer to the end of an era. In some ways itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cathartic. Harry, Ron and Hermione have grown and matured right in front of us, and their final moments are also their most profound.

Simply magic.

Rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images. 2 hours, 5 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Tyler Hanley

Project Nim ---1/2

Page 30Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

(Century 16) With his documentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Nim,â&#x20AC;? James Marsh never comes right out with any judgments, but the story he tells inescapably provokes consideration of the human animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primal nature.

Marsh does so in what amounts to a biopic of a chimpanzee born in 1973: Nim Chimpsky. Beginning at the age of 2 weeks, Nim was raised within a human family: graduate student Stephanie LaFarge, her reluctant husband and their three children. The notion was to treat Nim as a human child in every way to test the limits of primate development, particularly of language. But as Marshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film recounts, the scientific method applied was sketchy at best, and the human players showed a Frankensteinian lack of forethought to the consequences of their tinkering with nature. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Nimâ&#x20AC;? is populated by a fascinating cast of conflicting characters, many of whom go on the record in new interviews. The projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiator and overseer, Herb Terrace, a Columbia University professor, seems to have been distracted by the inextricable forces of his ego and libido. LaFarge and Terraceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sexual ties were further complicated by the Oedipal relationship between Nim and LaFarge (the latter both breast-feeding Nim and responding to his masculine animal magnetism), and the eventual intrusion of pretty, young lab assistant Laura-Ann Pettito, whom Terrace put in place for questionable reasons.

As expected, Nim made progress with American Sign Language, but how, how much, and to what significance remain points of contention. Arguably more useful lessons emerge from the ever-arching, vertiginous learning curve of the human researchers, who proved sorely unprepared for Nimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full growth through a rocky adolescence into unpredictably violent adulthood. With new crises come changes of scenery for Nim, each move further destabilizing the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental state.

The irony is thick. Mistaking Nim for a human was part of the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s folly, but disregarding his feelings was an equally damaging error (though one champion of Nimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s animal rights eventually emerges).

Nimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behavior invariably makes the most sense; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his keepers who typically come off as kooky and lacking in self-awareness when jockeying for control and dominance with maneuvers that fall just short of flinging poop. LaFarge uses psychological terminology (sans objectivity) to claim that Pettito â&#x20AC;&#x153;wanted that mother roleâ&#x20AC;? and confesses, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realized I was starting to lose my role.â&#x20AC;?

Pettito moons of Terrace, â&#x20AC;&#x153;He had power!â&#x20AC;? and, therefore, attractiveness. Elsewhere, a researcher says of a split with Nim, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was like breaking up with a bad boyfriend.â&#x20AC;? The line between so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;humanâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;animalâ&#x20AC;? nearly blurs out of sight.

Marsh â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who also directed the Oscar-winning doc â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man on Wireâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; based his film on Elizabeth Hessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human,â&#x20AC;? and he effectively draws on a thorough visual record (supplemented with disquietingly slick recreations). Marshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sly, delicate touch nicely fits the material, which, while informative, raises more questions than it answers.

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, drug content, thematic elements and disturbing images.

One hour, 40 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Peter Canavese

Terri --1/2

(Century 16) The pitfalls and indignities of adolescence remain evergreen subjects at the movies, flexible enough to wring laughs and tears â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sometimes in quick succession. Even when a teen dramedy turns out on the lackluster side, like Azazel Jacobsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Terri,â&#x20AC;? audience goodwill tends

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug and alcohol use, all involving teens. One hour, 45 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Peter Canavese

MOVIE TIMES Beats, Rhymes & Life Palo Alto Square Wed. 1:15, 2, 4:15, & 7:20 p.m. Sun.(R) (Not Reviewed) Tue. & Thur. also at 4:15 & 7:15 p.m. Fri. & Sat. also at 9:45 & 10:15 p.m.

A Better Life (PG-13) (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 1:10 & 7:15 p.m. Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 7:55 & 10:20 p.m.

Bad Teacher (R) (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 10:50 a.m.; 1:30, 4:25, 7:20 & 10:15 p.m. Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 10:40 a.m.; 1:05, 3:25, 5:50, 8:10 & 10:30 p.m.

Beginners (R) (((

Aquarius Theatre: 2:45, 5:30 & 8:15 p.m.

Bridesmaids (R) (((1/2

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 10:30 a.m.; 3:50 & 9:50 p.m.

Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 11 a.m.; 2, 4:55, 7:45 & 10:35 p.m.

Fri and Sat 7/15-7/16

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s news,

Sun-Tue 7/17-7/19

sports & hot picks

Wed Only 7/20 Thurs 7/21

BWQYSba O\R AV]ebW[Sa OdOWZOPZS Ob QW\S[O`Y Q][

Buck (Not Rated) ((( Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 11:10 a.m.; 1:40, 4:30, 7:25 & 9:55 p.m.

Captain America: The Century 16: Thu. at 12:01 a.m.; In 3D Thu. at 12:01 a.m.

First Avenger Century 20: Thu. at 12:01 a.m.; In 3D Thu. at 12:02 a.m.

(PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Cars 2 (G) ((1/2

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 2:20 & 7:50 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9 a.m.; In 3D Fri.-Tue. at 11:40 a.m.; 5:10 & 10:30 p.m.

Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 10:30 a.m.; 1:25, 4:15, 6:55 & 9:40 p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at noon, 2:50 & 5:35 p.m.

Casablanca (1942)

Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 7:30 p.m.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13)

Century 16: Noon, 3:30, 7 & 10:20 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. also at 11:20 a.m. & 6:10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9 a.m.; In 3D Fri.-Sun. at 9:30 a.m.; 12:40, 2:40, 4, 7:40, 9:20 & 10:55 p.m.; In 3D Mon.-Wed. at 10 a.m.; 12:55, 4 & 7:40 p.m.; In 3D Mon. & Tue. also at 2:40 & 9:20 Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 10:20 & 11:55 a.m.; 12:55, 1:20, 3, 3:55, 4:25, 6, 7, 7:30, 9:05, 10:05 & 10:35 p.m.; Sat. also at 11:05 a.m.; Sun. also at 5 p.m.; Mon. & Thu. also at 1:55 & 8:05 p.m.; Tue. & Wed. at 10:20 a.m.; 1:20, 4:25, 7:30 & 10:35 p.m.; In 3D F

(((

Horrible Bosses (R) (((

Larry Crowne (PG-13) ((

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 10:10 & 11:35 a.m.; 12:35, 2:10, :10, 4:40, 5:40, 7:30, 8:20 & 10:10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 3 9:10 a.m. & 10:45 p.m. Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 11:35 a.m.; 12:40, 2:15, 3:15, 4:40, 5:45, 7:15, 8:15, 9:50 & 10:45 p.m.

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 9:25 p.m. Century 20: Fri.Mon. & Thu. at 8:15 & 10:40 p.m.

The Maltese Falcon (1941) Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 5:35 & 9:25 p.m.

The Metropolitan Century 16: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Century 20: Wed. at Opera: Tosca 6:30 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Wed. at 6:30 p.m.

(Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Midnight in Paris (PG-13) (((1/2

Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 11:45 a.m.; 2:20, 4:50, 7:10 & 9:30 p.m. Guild Theatre: 4:30, 7:15 & 9:45 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. & Tue.-Thu. also at 2 p.m.

Monte Carlo (2011) (PG) (Not Reviewed)

Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 10:40 p.m.

Mr. Popperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Penguins Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 11:50 a.m.; 2:30 & 5:05 (PG) (Not Reviewed) p.m. (((1/2

Project Nim (PG-13)

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 12:10, 2:30, 5, 7:45 & 10:25 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 9:40 a.m.

Psycho (1960)

Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Thu. at 5:30 & 9:50 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Guild Theatre: Sat. at midnight.

Picture Show (R) (Not Reviewed) Snow Flower and the Aquarius Theatre: 1:45, 4:15, 7:10 & 9:45 p.m.

Secret Fan (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Super 8 (PG-13) ((1/2 Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 12:30, 3:40 & 6:50 p.m.; Fri.Sun. also at 9:20 a.m. Century 20: Fri.-Mon. & Thu. at 11:15 a.m.; 2:15, 5, 7:40 & 10:15 p.m.

Terri (Not Rated) ((1/2

Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 10:40 a.m.; 1:20, 4:20, 7:35 & 10:25 p.m.

Transformers: Dark of Century 16: Fri.-Tue. at 11:25 a.m.; 3:10, 7 & 10:30 the Moon (PG-13) p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Tue. at 10:20 a.m.; 2:10, 6:10 & 9:40 p.m.

(Not Reviewed) Century 20: Fri.-Mon. at 10:35 a.m.; 2, 5:25 & 8:55 p.m.; In 3D Fri. at 3:40, 7:05 & 10:25 p.m.; In 3D Sat.-Mon. & Thu. at 12:05, 3:35, 7:05 & 10:25 p.m.

Vertigo (1958)

Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Thu. at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 3:10 p.m.

Winnie the Pooh (G) (Not Reviewed)

Century 16: 11 a.m.; 12:55, 2:50, 4:45 & 7 p.m.; Fri.Sun. also at 9:05 a.m. Century 20: 10:45 a.m.; 12:45, 2:45, 4:45, 6:45 & 8:45 p.m.

Zookeeper (PG) (Not Reviewed)

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

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

ALL AMERICA HAS GONE WILD OVER â&#x20AC;&#x153;PARIS.â&#x20AC;?

VISIT, RETURN AGAIN, ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MAGIC!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;HYSTERICALLY FUNNY!â&#x20AC;?

-Mick LaSalle, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;TERRIFIC! BOOK THIS TRIP TO PARIS!â&#x20AC;?

-James Verniere, THE BOSTON HERALD

OPENING NIGHT Cannes Film Festival

Kathy Adrien Carla Marion Rachel Michael Owen Bates Brody Bruni Cotillard McAdams Sheen Wilson

Midnight in Paris Written and Directed by Woody Allen

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;TERRIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO LOVE. Nearly everything about this very fine film is surprising. â&#x20AC;?

John Anderson,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A

DISARMING, ORIGINAL COMEDY...

JACOB WYSOCKI IS TERRIFIC. JOHN C. REILLY MAY HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT ROLE FOR HIS GIFTS.â&#x20AC;?

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OF THE MOST STRIKING and SATISFYING indie films of the year.â&#x20AC;?

Anthony Lane,

A BEAUTIFUL MOVIE to look at, with an enchanted sense of place... FEELS LIKE A STATE OF GRACE.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

MOVIE CITY NEWS

Alonso Duralde,

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

The Tree of Life 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15 Beats, Rhymes & Life 2:00, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45 The Tree of Life 1:15, 4:15, 7:15 Beats, Rhymes & Life 2:00, 4:45, 7:20 The Tree of Life 1:15 Beats, Rhymes & Life 2:00, 4:45, 7:20 The Tree of Life 1:15, 4:15, 7:15 Beats, Rhymes & Life 2:00, 4:45, 7:20

SCAN THIS FOR MORE INFORMATION

to make up the difference. After all, in one way or another, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all been there.

Working from a script by Patrick Dewitt (itself adapted from his own short stories), Jacobs quietly accumulates the details surrounding the steady mortification of an obese teen. Fifteen-year-old Terri (Jacob Wysocki) appears to have stopped hoping for better, reflected in his daily style choice of pajamas. No one is raising him â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to the contrary, Terri wearily cares for his mentally deteriorating Uncle James (Creed Bratton of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Officeâ&#x20AC;?) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and, at school, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the easy target of punks who see the social value in ridiculing an outcast.

Assistant principal Mr. Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly) takes notice of Terri and calls him in to the office for what becomes a standing appointment. Terri slowly warms to the awkward administrator, who, despite his strange ways, can be semi-assuring in dispensing his homegrown philosophy: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mess, dude. But weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all just doing the best we can.â&#x20AC;? Though his demeanor remains cautiously reserved, Terri begins to allow his heart to hope for the better.

While deciding how far he can trust Fitzgerald, the teen loner suddenly finds himself with two new friends, each providing a new thrill of possibility. Scrawny hairplucker Chad (Bridger Zadina) counters Terriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deadpan placidity with fidgety energy and fearless pursuit of stimulation, but Terriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit conflicted about inhabiting the island of misfits where Fitzgerald seems to think they belong. Much more appealing is the attention of the attractive Heather (Olivia Crocicchia), who shows sudden interest in Terri after he defends her in the wake of a socio-sexual catastrophe. When the three teens come together one night, their chemistry proves volatile.

In its broader strokes and, at times, broad jokes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Terriâ&#x20AC;? isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so far away from a commercial teen dramedy. And yet, Azazel unfolds most of the film in a slow and deliberate manner that can come across as self-consciously â&#x20AC;&#x153;indie.â&#x20AC;?

Some will long for the balance to tip one way or another, to more cutting satire or to more richly developed relationships, but Azazel seems content to set the scene and poke around it like a documentarian or, perhaps, a gamer exploring a virtual environment. As such, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Terriâ&#x20AC;? can be unsettling, not least because of the suspicion the whole thing may be as aimless as it is sympathetic.

Reilly gives his character a sturdy, if familiar, comic construction (built on the solid ground of emotional realism). He gets as good as he gives in amusingly baffled reactions to Wysocki, whose Terri can be as frustratingly imperturbable as Bartleby, the Scrivener. Though â&#x20AC;&#x153;Terriâ&#x20AC;? doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the reassuring clarity of a straight path from starting block to finish line, its fits and starts are pretty good.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A TREASURE.â&#x20AC;?

Kim Voynar, MCN

â&#x20AC;&#x153;DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T

MISS IT.â&#x20AC;?

Century Cinema 16: 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View (800-326-3264) Century 20 Downtown: 825 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (800-326-3264) 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 toPaloAltoOnline.com.

JACOB WYSOCKI CREED BRATTON and JOHN C. REILLY

STARTS FRIDAY, JULY 15

CENTURY MOUNTAIN VIEW 1500 North Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View (800) FANDANGO

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Sports Shorts

After winning three Olympic medals total in gymnastics in 1996 and 2000, Castilleja and Stanford graduate Amy Chow turned to pole vaulting. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now 33, a doctor and a budding diver with national-class potential. A qualifying meet this weekend could earn her a berth in the AT&T National Championships.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another challenge for Amy Chow Former Olympic gold-medalist gymnast from Castilleja and Stanford has resurfaced as a doctor, wife and a potential elite diver

ON THE COURT . . . Men and women at least 18 years of age who want the chance to earn free tickets to one of the premier professional womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis tournaments on the West Coast, can become a volunteer at the Bank of the West Classic, July 23-31 at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium at Stanford University. Volunteer positions are currently available in several areas including transportation, ushers, guest services, hospitality, and tournament administration. For more information please go to www.bankofthewestclassic.com and click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Volunteersâ&#x20AC;? to apply online.

ON THE AIR Sunday Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer: World Cup finals: USA vs. France, 11:45 a.m., ESPN

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

Keith Peters

www.PASportsOnline.com

by Keith Peters hen we last saw Amy Chow on a competitive stage, the Castilleja School grad was launching herself skyward in the pole vault. Prior to that, she was an Olympic gold-medalist gymnast.

Chow, however, later dropped out of sight when it came to being an elite athlete. Her life headed in a different direction as she became a doctor of pediatrics and was licensed as a physician and surgeon.

Chow, however, longed for the challenge of being a competitive athlete. At the urging of a friend, she started diving with the Stanford Masters in 2008. She caught the eye of Stanford diving coach Dr. Rick Shavone, who told her heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be interested in coaching her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pulled her aside one day,â&#x20AC;?

Schavone recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;if you want to do this seriously, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll coach you.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

All she needed to do was ask and, eventually, she did. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right after the first meeting, I said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play it by ear,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Schavone said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was an interesting project to undertake. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great, great athlete â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an amazing athlete with an amazing attitude.â&#x20AC;?

The former gymnast-turned-pole vaulter is now a diver with unlimited potential, but with limited time.

Chow is competing in the Zone D

W

COACHING CORNER . . . Palo Alto Knights Youth Football is seeking experienced head and assistant football coaches for the 2011 season.

Contact: Mike Piha 269-6100 or mike@in2change.com. . . . Sacred Heart Prep is seeking an assistant cross-country coach. All interested candidates please contact AD Frank Rodriguez at frodriguez@shschools. org or 473.4031.

READ MORE ONLINE

Keith Peters

Steve Lange

ALL-STATE HONORS . . . Palo Alto junior pitcher Ben Sneider didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the fastest fastball or the curviest curve. While he got his sinkerball to sink and his changeup to change, he rarely overpowered the opposition. But as Paly coach Erick Raich noted of his junkball artist: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ben Sneider didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have dominating stuff, but he was a bulldog on the mound.â&#x20AC;?

Sneiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best stat, perhaps, was that he was the top pitcher on Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 28-9 team that captured the first Central Coast Section championship in school baseball history. Sneider was a starter and he was a reliever.

He relied mainly on a curveball that helped him compile a 12-3 record and 1.59 earned-run average with 62 strikeouts. His most important victory likely came in a 5-2 win over Mitty in the CCS Division I semifinals, as the Monarchs came in ranked No. 20 in the state. Sneiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go unnoticed, as he received secondteam honors on the Cal-Hi Sports allstate baseball honor squad last week.

Sneider was one of nine pitchers named on the second team and only one of three from Northern California.

The others were from Lincoln (Stockton) and Marin Catholic in Kentfield.

Sneider also was one of only four players from the CCS receiving second-team honors. In addition, Sneider also was named to the All-State Underclass first team, along with Menlo School junior pitcher Freddy Avis.

Avis, who started his prep career at Palo Alto High, also was named first team all-state for the small schools.

Recent Palo Alto graduate T.J. Braff was named to the overall all-state third team as an infielder.

Under the guidance of veteran Stanford diving coach Dr. Rick Schavone, Chow has become a top diver on the tower.

qualification meet, Friday through Sunday, in Tucson, Ariz. There, a top-12 finish would qualify her for the AT&T National Championships in Los Angeles on Aug. 9-14. From there, the next step would be the 2012 Olympic Trials. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very big step for Chow, who is now 33 and just celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary on July 10 with Dr. Jason Ho, an orthopedic surgeon. Chow works in pediatrics for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in an office in Dublin.

She trains with Schavone twice a week and has made quite a splash on the tower.

In less than a year, she has gone from a recreational diver to a national-class athlete once again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like learning new things,â&#x20AC;?

Chow said.

Schavone, however, said the grand experiment could end before it comes to fruition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If she qualifies for Olympic Trials, then sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to decide,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She might not have the time.â&#x20AC;?

Chow agreed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I work full time,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like I can drop my work.â&#x20AC;?

Chow is just taking things one step at a time. She has no expectations, nor does she consider herself (continued on next page)

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Sports

Keith Peters

Photo illustration Paul Llewellyn

Stanford grad Amy Chow, 33, now a doctor and wife, took up diving in 2008 as a recreational sport but slowly has gotten into the competitive side. She trains under Stanford diving coach Dr. Rick Schavone, who calls her â&#x20AC;&#x153;an amazing athlete with an amazing attitude. She was an interesting project to undertake.â&#x20AC;?

(continued from previous page)

a competitive diver. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m having a lot of fun with it,â&#x20AC;? she acknowledged. (But) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not that serious . . . Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just something that you do. You can make a mistake and someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t on the line.â&#x20AC;?

Chow is so low key at the moment that she had no idea that she could qualify for the Olympic Trials with a top-12 finish at nationals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh, really?â&#x20AC;? she said.

If Chow somehow qualifies for the Olympic Trials next summer, that would give Schavone three divers at the meet â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a rarity in the sport. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have defending national champ Cassidy Krug and current incoming freshman Kristian Ipsen joining Chow.

Schavone has every right to look that far ahead just because Chow has come so far in so little time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is so much further than she expected,â&#x20AC;? Schavone said.

Chowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best event could be the tower, which is also an event where the United States may not have anyone qualified for the 2012 Summer Games in London. Whether the U.S. has any berths in the Olympics will be determined at the 2011 FINA World Championships that begin Saturday in Shanghai, China. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tower (in the U.S.) is weak,â&#x20AC;? Schavone said of the talent base. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It may be the only event (at Worlds) that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t qualify in (for the London Games)â&#x20AC;?

That might not be the case had Chow started earlier with Schavone

and made the progress that she has. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve coached some of the best (divers) in the U.S.,â&#x20AC;? Schavone said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and no one has trained tower like this.â&#x20AC;?

During a training session on March 6 at Stanford, Chow plunged off the tower some 26 times.

Schavone said thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unheard of for an American diver. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagine anyone but the Chinese doing that,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen anything like that.â&#x20AC;?

Interesting enough, Chow is part Chinese. Her parents, Nelson and Susan Chow, emigrated to the U.S. from Shanghai and Hong Kong, respectively. Amy was born in 1978 with San Jose as her hometown.

Chow began her gymnastics training in 1981 at age 3. Her mother wanted Amy to be a ballerina, but none of the schools would take a child that young. That led Amy to the West Valley Gymnastics Club, where her career got under way.

Fast forward a few years to 1994, when Chow competed in her first international competition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the World Championships in Dortmund, Germany â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as a member of the U.S. National Team.

In 1996, Chow left her mark on the sport when she competed for the U.S. at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She won an individual silver medal on the uneven bars, her best event, and earned a team gold. She and her six teammates later were dubbed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magnificent Sevenâ&#x20AC;? for becoming the first U.S. womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gymnastics team ever to win a team gold in the Olympics.

Four years later, Chow made the U.S. team again for the 2000 Olym-

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pics in Sydney, Australia â&#x20AC;&#x201D; finishing second in the all-around at the Olympic Trials. To accomplish this, Chow took time off from her studies at Stanford, where she was working on her Biology undergrad degree.

The U.S. team finished fourth, but eventually was awarded the bronze medal when the third-place team from China forfeited its medal due to having an athlete on the team under the minimum age of 16. Chow and her teammates from 2000 finally received their bronze medals in 2010.

By that time, Chow had graduated from Stanford (in 2002), started and ended her pole-vaulting career with a lifetime best of 13 feet, 5 inches, had done her residency in pediatrics at Lucile Packard Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital at Stanford (2008), been inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame (2004), been inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame (2005) as an individual after making it with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;96 team in 1998, and been inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;08) in the team category.

Chow also had been diving for nearly two years by then, stopping

by Avery Aquatic Center in the evening after finally giving into a friend who had been â&#x20AC;&#x153;bugging meâ&#x20AC;? about it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was Masters diving in the evenings,â&#x20AC;? Chow said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d stop by whenever you had time.â&#x20AC;?

When Chow moved to the East Bay to begin her private practice, she had to find other times to dive.

That led her to Schavone, the tower and yet another challenge in what has been an interesting and successful athletic career.

As for her first time on the tower, which rises more than 30 feet into the air? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a little scary,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather dive off it than jump.â&#x20AC;?

Chow dives a lot off the tower

these days, and quite well. Whether this leads to the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games, one can only guess.

Right now, Amy Chow is having fun and testing herself once again.

That just may be all she needs. N

Keith Peters

Amy Chow

Two-time Olympic gymnast Amy Chow can qualify for this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. national championships this weekend in Arizona.

Sports

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING Of the City of Palo Alto Transportation Division Public Meeting Notice Downtown/University Avenue Parking Study Public Open House DATE: Thursday, July 28, 2011 TIME: 6:30-8:00 PM PLACE: Council Chambers, City Hall 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto 94301 This public meeting will be an opportunity for the Downtown Business community to provide input on parking strategies and the current parking permit program. The meeting will provide background information and request feedback parking program elements including: UĂ&#x160;-Ă&#x2022;Â&#x201C;Â&#x201C;>Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;vĂ&#x160;Ă&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Ă&#x160;VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C;ÂŤÂ?iĂ&#x152;i`Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;ÂŤĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x153;ViĂ&#x192;Ă&#x192; UĂ&#x160;*>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;ÂŤiĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;`Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;LĂ&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC; UĂ&#x160;7>Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;wÂ&#x2DC;`Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;ÂŤĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x153;}Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x201C; UĂ&#x160;"Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;iiĂ&#x152;Ă&#x160;ÂŤ>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2DC;>}iÂ&#x201C;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152; UĂ&#x160; iĂ?Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;iÂŤĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;+Ă&#x2022;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x153;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;

Kirby Lee

Stanford grad and Castilleja water polo coach Brenda Villa is in Shanghai, China, where the USA womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water polo team opens play Saturday at the FINA World Championships against The Netherlands.

Former Stanford great Villa hoping to help USA women bring home yet another gold

H

er resume happens to break the traditional one page rule, but that is what happens when you have played in three Olympic Games and, including last August in Rome, Italy, six FINA World Championships.

She is Brenda Villa of USA Water Polo and these latest World Championships were just another for Villa where she ended up wearing the gold.

Anyone who has followed womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water polo over the last decade knows Brenda Villa all too well.

The Stanford grad and Castilleja coach from the largely Hispanic community of Commerce grew up playing with the boys, and hit the U.S. National Team scene exactly at the right time. Coming on board in the late 90s, Villa was able to step into a new world for the sport that saw inclusion in the Olympic Games and an increased presence in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s university action.

Considered by some to be perhaps too short and too stout to play the game at the elite level, she arrived in Rome with enough international hardware to fill the Foro Italico.

Serving as captain over the recent run of greatness for this storied program, Villa has amassed a medal in nearly every major championship she has ever played in.

Villa will attempt to bring home yet another medal, preferably gold, when she leads the USA team into the 2011 FINA World Championships that begin Saturday in Shanghai, China. Once again, the U.S. will be among the favorites to win it all.

The Americans will open against The Netherlands.

Villa has hauled in two silver medals (2000, 2008) and one bronze (2004) in Olympic competition. On three occasions she has won gold at

the World Championships (2003, 2007, 2009) and once earned silver (2005). She has also taken gold at two Pan American Games (2003, 2007), a silver at the FINA World Cup (2002), and two bronze medals in FINA Junior World Championship play (1995, 1997).

Add to that a near domination in FINA World League Super Final action that has seen the United States win four titles in the six-year history of the event. The gold in Rome was just another bullet point in a storied career that has seen success at nearly every turn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it (Rome) finally puts to light what USA water polo has done in the last decade,â&#x20AC;? she said.â&#x20AC;?We went from before (then head coach) Guy Baker came on in 1998 placing eighth in Worlds, to be able to turn it around and after 2001 we have been in every final. It blows my mind, thinking of it in that way, in the last four World Championships we have been in a final, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty good stat to have.â&#x20AC;?

Villa, along with teammate Heather Petri are two of the mostdecorated women to ever play womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water polo. Coupled with a team coming off a victory in the World League Super Final this past June in Kirishi, Russia, they cruised into Southern Italy with eyes on a prize they have become very familiar with. Yet they always remain cautiously optimistic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe it until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done,â&#x20AC;? Villa said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that we arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t confident, we just wait to see how it goes. We have been close on many occasions and been on the short end of the stick, so we like to just wait and see what happens on that day, and stay more in the moment.â&#x20AC;?

The one new wrinkle for the U.S.

came in 2009 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a new coaching staff for Villa and company, something she hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen since the late 90s. With new head coach Adam Krikorian coming on board in the spring, the onus was on veterans like Villa to keep the group intact as they tackled the latest major challenge, which included more trips to the medal stand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like being up there and it is comfortable, any time you hear your national anthem you get a new set of emotions. Every tourney is different and brings out different emotions and satisfactions,â&#x20AC;? said Villa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new because it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get old, if it gold old you would stop playing.â&#x20AC;?

Seems like what remains new for Villa has become pretty standard stuff for the rest of the water polo world.

Joining Villa on the U.S team will be fellow Stanford grad Jessica Steffens, current Cardinal players Annika Dries and Melissa Seidemann plus incoming freshman Maggie Steffens.

The menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roster for the World Championships includes Stanford grads Peter Varellas, Peter Hudnut, Tony Azevedo and Layne Beaubien.

In other water polo news: USA Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Junior National Team co-head coaches Robert Lynn and Guy Baker have announced the roster for the upcoming 2011 FINA Junior World Championship set for Volos, Greece this Aug. 27-Sept. 4.

The team includes Stanford teammates Alex Bowen, Nick Hoversten and Paul Rudolph from Sacred Heart Prep.

The team opens with Spain on August 27. N

For further information contact: transportation@city ofpaloalto.org or call (650) 329-2441.

Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION OF BIDDERS PQ 11-MS DAVID STARR JORDAN MIDDLE SCHOOL & TERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL MODERNIZATIONS & NEW CONSTRUCTION The Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District is inviting qualiďŹ cation information from General Contractors to provide Construction Services for two upcoming construction projects.

Jordan Middle School: Construction of a new classroom building, a multi-purpose addition to an existing building & modernization to multiple existing buildings.

Construction estimate is $13M. Terman Middle School: Construction of a new classroom building, a Library addition & modernization to multiple existing buildings. Construction estimate is $9M. There will be a MANDATORY prequaliďŹ cation conference on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 10:00 AM at 25 Churchill Avenue, Building â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;?, Palo Alto, CA. The two projects and the PrequaliďŹ cation package will be discussed.

All responses to this RFQ must be received no later than 10:00 AM Friday, August 12, 2011. Interested ďŹ rms shall submit QualiďŹ cations as described in the PrequaliďŹ cation Package to: Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District Facilities Department 25 Churchill Avenue, Building â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;?

Palo Alto, CA 94306 Attn: Heidi Rank Direct questions regarding this Request for QualiďŹ cation (RFQ) to Heidi Rank at 650-833-4205.

These are not requests for bids or offers by the District to contract with any party responding to this RFQ. The District reserves the right to reject any and all responses. All materials submitted to the District in response to this RFQ shall remain property of the District and may be considered a part of public record.

Compiled by FINA for the World Championships. *>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;U Page 35

Parent Camp Bay Area Basketball Academy Parent Camps offer an exciting learning experience for both the player and the parent.

Often the parents are the day-to-day coaches, and at this camp they can receive individualized feedback and instruction on how to best help their child.

Participants: 5th-8th Grade Boys and Girls Date: July 23rd Time: 9:00am-12:00pm To register for an event or for more information about these and other Bay Area Basketball Academy programs, please go to

www.babasketballacademy.com

Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District Notice is hereby given that RFPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will be received by the Palo Alto Unified School District for Network Equipment & Fiber package: Contract Nos. 11-F-05-E-1R DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK: The work includes, but is not limited to: All equipment necessary to replace the existing district network infrastructure and ďŹ ber modules. No labor to be included in the bid. Bidding documents contain the full description of the work.

There will be a mandatory pre-bid conference for each project on August 27, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at the District Business OfďŹ ce located at 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto, California 94306. Non-attendance or tardiness will deem the vendor ineligible to submit a bid.

Bid Submission: Proposals must be received at the District Business OfďŹ ce located at 25 Churchill Ave. Palo Alto, California 94306, by 3:00 p.m. on August 15, 2011.

Bonding required for this project is as follows: Bid Bond 10% of the total bid.

Vendors may examine proposal Documents at the District Business Services ofďŹ ce. Vendors may obtain copies of Plans and SpeciďŹ cations free of charge at the District Business Services ofďŹ ce located at 25 Churchill Ave. Palo Alto, California 94306.

All questions can be addressed to: Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District 25 Churchill Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306-1099 Attn: Denise Buschke Tel: 650-329-3802 Fax: 650-329-3803 E-mail: dbuschke@pausd.org

The online guide to Palo Alto businesses

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Visit ShopPaloAlto.com today Page 36Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

Sports JUNIOR GOLF

Taking their shot at titles Menlo Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Buchanan, Castilleja grad Nelsen tee it up in top field

by Keith Peters f history plays a role, then Menlo Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Andrew Buchanan has a good shot at winning the annual Trade Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Junior Championship that gets under way Tuesday at Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton.

It was only three years ago that another Menlo School golfer, Patrick Grimes, captured the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; division title in the American Junior Golf Association event hosted by LPGA tour pro Pat Hurst. Grimes had just finished up his freshman year before shooting rounds of 7368-67 on the tough Hill Course.

Buchanan just concluded his sophomore season at Menlo, which included winning the West Bay Athletic League title. He and Grimes both advanced to the Central Coast Section and NorCal tournament before having their season end.

Buchanan recently played in the 100th California State Amateur Championships at the Olympic Club

I

Keith Peters

Future Hooper Camp Future Hooper camps are a fun way for kids grades K-4th to get early exposure to basketball.

The camps teach basic skills and offer fun ways to practice through drills and games.

Participants: K-4th Grade boys and girls Date: July 9th Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Menlo School junior Andrew Buchanan (left) and Castilleja grad Brenna Nelsen will compete in the AJGA Trader Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Junior Championship. in San Francisco but missed qualifying for match play.

Nelsen, who just graduated from Castilleja, will compete close to home in one of her last AJGA events before attending Harvard in the fall.

Nelsen finished fourth in the 2010 Aspen Golf Classic and seventh at the 2011 W. Duncan MacMillan Classic and is among the players to watch next week.

This past season, Nelsen helped Castilleja finish second at the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CCS championships while taking fourth individually after shooting 75. She and her teammates advanced to the NorCal championships.

The 54-hole stroke-play tournament runs Tuesday through Thursday. The 96-player field of boys and girls, 69 of which are from California, includes players from 10 states along with representatives from Ar-

gentina, Bolivia, China, South Korea and Thailand.

In other junior golf action: Xin Fang of Menlo Park and Kennedy Shields of Atherton failed to qualify at the AJGA Jr. at Centennial TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifier on Sunday in Medford, Ore. Fang, from Menlo-Atherton, shot 39-41-80 for the 18 holes to finish ninth while Shields, from Sacred Heart Prep, shot 41-46-87 and took 15th.

The tournament an 18-hole stroke play event held at Centennial Golf Club. The tournament field featured 73 boys and 17 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 states and gave the juniors an opportunity to â&#x20AC;&#x153;play their way inâ&#x20AC;? to coinciding AJGA Open tournaments or earn a Tournament Exemption or Performance Star for a future event. N

Stanford grad earns national honor after tying U.S. record in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shot put tanford graduate Jillian Camarena-Williams of the New York Athletic Club has been named USA Track & FieldĂ­s Athlete of the week after tying the American Record at the Paris Diamond League meet on July 8. This is the second athlete of the week honor for Camarena-Williams in 2011.

Camarena-Williams finished third with her mark of 66 feet, 2 1/2 inches, which tied Ramona PagelĂ­s U.S. outdoor record that she set in 1988. This latest mark for Camarena-Williams comes on the heels of an indoor season where she also established the American indoor record of 65-2 1/4 which was also previously owned by Pagel who set the mark in 1987.

Camarena-Williams will represent the United States at the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field Championships August 27September 4 in Daegu, South Korea.

Now in its 10th year, USATFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport.

USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

S

Awards Owen Marecic (football) and Sarah Flynn (lacrosse) were announced

as Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2010-11 Pac-10 Tom Hansen Conference Medal winners on Monday afternoon.

A Conference Medal is awarded annually to each member institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.

Also earning a medal was Menlo School grad Ben Hohl (water polo) of UCLA. The Tom Hansen Conference Medal was named in honor of Hansen, who served 26 years as commissioner of the Pac-10 Conference, retiring in June of 2009.

Football Stanford football certainly will be a team to watch this season. Heading into this week, five players have been named to preseason â&#x20AC;&#x153;watchâ&#x20AC;? lists that feature the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top players for individual postseason honors.

The latest Stanford players to be honored are juniors David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin, anchors of the offensive line that has been considered among the best units in the nation for the past two seasons.

Both were named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football.

DeCastro and Martin, both of whom earned first team all-conference honors last season as sophomores, have combined to make 50 starts over the past two seasons in which Stanford has posted a combined record of 20-6.

Earlier last week, Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shayne Skov and Delano Howell were included on the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football.

Previously announced, Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coby Fleener was named to the Mackey Award watch list for the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top tight ends.

Rowing U.S. rower and recent Stanford graduate Elle Logan added more gold to her personal stash over the past two weekends, capturing gold medals with the U.S. Quad Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta two weeks ago then again with the U.S. Eight at the 2011 Samsung World Cup on Sunday.

At Henley, Logan and the U.S. Quad Sculls boat advanced through the bracket and defeated the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; entry from the Australian Institute of Sport in the final to capture the Princess Grace Challenge Cup. Logan and the U.S. team will now go into a final selection for the 2011 World Championships, set to be held in Bled, Slovenia in August. N

Sports BABE RUTH BASEBALL

Tougher tests ahead for Palo Alto all-stars a shot that easily cleared the bases.

However, as Bowes tried to stretch his hit to a triple, Palo Alto conducted a perfect relay from centerfielder Andrew Robinson to shortstop Riley Haught to third baseman Roy Shadmon to gun down Bowes and clinch the championship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank goodness Riley had a great relay throw there to third and we got the last out,â&#x20AC;? Shenk said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All I did was turn and go, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I hope Roy is covering third,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and sure enough he was sprinting back to the back so that made my day.â&#x20AC;?

When Shadmon came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Haught in the top of the seventh after doubling to left-center, he had little idea that he would be the game-winning run.

Shadmon, reached base in all four of his plate appearances including two hits, scored four times on Saturday.

He was a part of a four-run first inning that until Mountain Viewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late rally appeared to be all the offense Palo Alto would need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You score first, you win usually better than 80 percent of the time,â&#x20AC;?

Shenk said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Getting four in the first inning was huge.â&#x20AC;?

McCabe singled to right to score Kenta Yanagisawa and Shadmon and Obrien helped his own cause by executing a suicide squeeze bunt to score Haught. Obrienâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squeeze bunt was all the more impressive considering that the pitch might have pegged him in the face had he not gotten the bunt down.

Spotted those four runs before ever throwing a pitch, Obrien tossed a gem, throwing 5 2/3 innings and allowing just one run. Obrien scattered seven hits, three walks and three hit batsmen by constantly escaping jams, stranding 11 runners, five of them in scoring position. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had command of my splitter, which was a new pitch for me,â&#x20AC;?

Obrien said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been kind of playing around with it but today was the first game I actually threw it, so it was a pretty new deal for me but it happened to work well.â&#x20AC;?

Palo Alto added another run in the third and two more in the fifth as Obrien roped a two-out single into right field to score Shadmon and McCabe. Obrien finished the game with four RBI. The Palo Alto 15s, meanwhile, also had a close call before clinching its district crown on July 8 with a 6-5 win over Bel-Mateo in nine innings at Mountain Viewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s McKelvey Park.

Leftfielder Chris Lee drove in the game-winning run for Palo Alto, driving in Alec Furrier with no outs in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off win. Furrier began the inning with a triple to right-center, Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only extra-base hit of the day. Bel-Mateo then intention(continued on next page)

Roy Shadmon of the Palo Alto Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars beats the throw home to score one of his four runs in last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 8-7 victory over Mountain View in the District 6 championship game at Baylands.

Courtesy Palo Alto Babe Ruth

T

he preliminaries are over for the Palo Alto Babe Ruth 15and 14-year-old all-star teams.

Now, the real work begins as both teams head into NorCal State Tournament play this weekend.

Both Palo Alto teams tuned up for the next round of postseason play by winning their respective District 6 titles last weekend â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both of which were just three-team affairs. On Saturday, both squads begin play in eight-team, double-elimination tourneys.

The 15s will open against District 4 champ Washington Manor of San Leandro at Bartholomew Sports Park in Elk Grove at 4 p.m. The winner advances to a Sunday winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;-bracket game at 7 p.m., while the loser will play Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Palo Alto 14s, meanwhile, also head into the Sacramento area and will play host Woodland on Saturday at Clark Field at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to a Sunday game at 7 p.m., while the loser will play Sunday at 1 p.m.

After the Palo Alto 14s District 6 finale last Saturday, manager Andrew Shenk compared his team to the San Francisco Giants for their tendency to create torturous outcomes that put both the players and spectators through intense fits of nervousness.

Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ending would have made even the King of Torture, Giantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; closer Brian Wilson, proud.

Palo Alto nearly blew an 8-1 seventh-inning lead to Mountain View, surrendering six runs before tagging out the tying run at third as Mike Bowes tried to stretch his gapper into a triple. The 8-7 nailbiter win at Baylands earned Palo Alto the district championship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To go to the state tournament, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m real excited,â&#x20AC;? starting pitcher Ellis Obrien said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the best feelings of my life.â&#x20AC;?

It was Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second dramatic win over Mountain View in the district tournament as the team blew a 10-3 seventh-inning lead before winning 11-10 on July 7. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have some guys that are stuck in Little League because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re apparently a very good six-inning team,â&#x20AC;? Shenk said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey, we like to provide a thrilling game.â&#x20AC;?

The route to the championship looked to be far less bumpy entering the final half-inning of play on Saturday as Palo Alto needed to simply continue stranding Mountain View base runners as it had done all day.

Instead, relief pitcher Corbin Koch struggled with his control and was the unfortunate victim of a two-base error as six of the eight batters he faced reached base.

With two outs, the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate, Shenk turned the ball over to Leo McCabe to face Bowes. Bowes launched a 2-0 pitch into the right-center gap,

The Palo Alto Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars, managed by Andrew Shenk (top right), will open play in the NorCal State Tournament on Saturday in Woodland against the host team at 7 p.m.

Courtesy Palo Alto Babe Ruth

by Colin Becht

Keith Peters

Palo Alto 15s and 14s head to their respective NorCal State tournaments this weekend after winning district titles

The Palo Alto Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-star team, managed by Ron Friday (right), will open play in the NorCal State Tournament in Elk Grove on Saturday at 4 p.m., after winning the District 6 title. *>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;U Page 37

Sports

Palo Alto Oaks wrap up top seed for postseason playoffs he PaloAlto Oaks enjoyed their finest season in their 60year history in 2010, winning more games (23) and advancing further (World Series) than ever before. Now, the Oaks are poised to do it again.

Palo Alto improved to 12-0 and clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming state playoffs following a sweep of the El Cerrito Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Sunday at Baylands Athletic Center.

The Oaks produced 12-0 and 6-1 victories while remaining unbeaten with one week of the regular season remaining.

T

The Oaks will wrap things up on Sunday before hosing the state championship tournament at Baylands beginning Friday, July 22.

Palo Alto will have to win that in order to advance to the West Region tourney the following weekend in Southern California.

The reward for winning the West Region title will be a return trip to the World Series in Houston, Texas.

The Oaks came within a game of reaching the finals last season, going 2-2 and finishing the season 23-3-1.

Veteran pitchers Matt Campbell

and Brant Norlander were superb, as usual, on Sunday.

Norlander started Game 1 of the Western Baseball Association (Stan Musial Division) doubleheader and gave up just one hit while striking out 10.

The Oaks got busy in the first inning when they rapped out five hits and two walks to put up a 5-0 lead.

Nick Borg had the big hit, knocking in two with a single.

In the second inning, Palo Alto grad Evan Warner led off by being hit by a pitch. A ground out put him on second. Warner then stole

third. Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tyler Gaffney also was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. Warner stole home on a delay steal, which stunned the visiting team. Bryan Beres singled and Borg walked to load the bases. Anthony Bona launched a bases-clearing double to deep right center. Gunn grad Greg Matson then walked and, after a groundout, Will Klein was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two walks plated two more runs and the route was on.

In the second game, Campbell took the mound and was in complete

control until the fifth. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when the Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s led off with a double and, after a groundout to first, plated the runner with a single.

Palo Alto scored all it would need in the top of the first. Warner led things off with a single. Alex Sortwell walked to put runners on first and second. Gaffney then hit into a double play and the inning looked like it might end without any damage. But, Bona stepped in and delivered a triple over the centerfieldersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; head to plate Warner. Vince Gutierrez then singled in Bona for a 2-0 lead. N

Babe Ruth

(continued from previous page)

OPENED JUNE 2011

Bringing Hope and Healing to Women with Cancer The Stanford Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cancer Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive cancer services to women with breast and gynecologic cancers. The new facility offers Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unparalleled outpatient cancer servicesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from diagnosis to treatment to supportive careâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;offering hope and healing to women with cancer.

For more info, call 650.498.6004 or visit cancer.stanford.edu/womens

Page 38Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;ÂŁx]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;

ally walked the next two batters to create a forceout at home, putting the pressure all on Lee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When they walked the two guys, I went up to Chris and I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey, be ready. We might do a squeeze here,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? manager Ron Fried said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He goes, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re kidding, bases loaded and no outs, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to squeeze?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You going to get the hit?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He goes, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yeah, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get the hit.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

Lee and Furrierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heroics were made possible only by an incredible three-run rally in the seventh inning that revived Palo Alto when it was down to its final out.

Trailing 5-2 with runners on second and third and two outs, first baseman Christian Kurtella blooped a ball into a Bermuda Triangle between the shortstop and the left fielder, scoring Marcus Avelar and Chris Smith. Kurtella then came around to score the tying run on a base hit up the middle by Daniel Tachna-Fram. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I figured if we could just get one guy one, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see what happens from there,â&#x20AC;? Fried said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to start focusing a little more. (The pitcher) starts to lose the zone a little bit.â&#x20AC;?

With only three hits entering the seventh inning, Palo Alto more than doubled its hit total as it finally got to Bel-Mateo starter Jesse Austin, driving him from the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They tried to go with him as long as they could. He just started losing the zone, getting tired,â&#x20AC;? Fried said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to leave the guy in there for seven innings, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to start taking pitches and force the guy to start throwing more and more pitches. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when he started to lose it.â&#x20AC;?

Austin tossed a gem in Bel-Mateoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4-3 victory over Palo Alto in opening round of the district tournament.

Smith threw four innings of nearly perfect relief, surrendering just one hit to allow Palo Alto to climb back into the game and then hold the tie long enough for Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game-winner.

Smith, the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning pitcher, walked one batter and pegged another while striking out four. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had my knuckleball going on.

I just tried to keep it low, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give them anything to hit, get ahead early in the count,â&#x20AC;? Smith said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were hitting a lot of ground balls and it was working.â&#x20AC;? N

Sports TRACK & FIELD

by Keith Peters

T

hirteen members of the Peninsula Youth Sports Program did their job recently at the AAU West Coast Junior Olympic Games in Reno, Nev. All 13 earned a trip to the National Junior Olympics track and field competition in New Orleans, set for July 31-Aug. 6.

That was the easy part. Now comes the tough part. The team is in jeopardy of not attending due to lack of funding.

The East Palo Alto-based track and field club is in the process of trying to raise $18,000 to pay for expenses for all 13 athletes and their chaperones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the money isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t raised, then many of our athletes wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to go,â&#x20AC;? said Lerisa Puckett, a team mom who registers the athletes for each meet and who is spearheading the fundraising drive.

The track club, in its fourth year, is a nonprofit organization that promotes after-school programs as a positive resource for the underserved youth on the Peninsula. The clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outreach efforts focus on the youth from East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, who attend the Ravenswood City School District. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The state and federal programs

for schools and after-school activities that help with the development of youth have been cut deeply,â&#x20AC;? said Puckett. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Keeping our children off the streets and participating in activities that build character, ethics and morals is the mission of this track club. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reward of making it to the nationals and actually attending them keep these kids on the right path to success.â&#x20AC;?

Club members advancing from the qualifying event earlier this month in Reno included Keyshawn Ashford (Sub-Midget), Mekhi Blackmon (Midget), Kevin Lagarde (Primary), Denise Stine (Sub-Bantam), Emma Chiao (Sub-Midget), LaJon Harris (Sub-Midget), Justin Chiao (SubBantam), Makiya Francis (Intermediate), Dejeane Stine (Midget), Jailah Francis (Midget), a girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 400 relay team (Midget) of Jailah Francis, Taevia Vauss, Niyha Brooks and Stine, plus a boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 400 relay team (Midget) of Floyd Gazaway, Ashford, Harris and Blackmon.

Ashford was first in the 200 (28.20) and second in the 100 (13.63); Blackmon was sixth in the 100 (13.75) and seventh in the 200 (28.01); Lagarde was fifth in the 400 (1:24.00) and eighth in

Keith Peters

Trip to Junior Olympics faces a tough hurdle

Thirteen members of the Peninsula Youth Sports Program track and field team have qualified for the National Junior Olympics in New Orleans. The club, however, needs to raise $18,000 for the athletes to make the trip. the 200 (32.58); Denise Stine was second in the shot put (18-1) and fourth in the 400 (1:22.16); Dejeane Stine was ninth in the 400 (1:11.77); Emma Chiao was second in the 800 (3:01.17); Harris was seventh in the 100 (15.71) and 200 (33.31); Justin Chiao was sixth in the fifth in the 800 (3:01.17) and sixth in the 400 (1:14.99); Makiya Francis was fourth in the long jump (15-9 1/2); Jailah Francis was third in the shot put (20-4); while the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; relay finished second in 56.92 and the boys were third in 55.79.

The team is coached by Michael

Davidson.

For those interested in helping defray the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $18,000 travel expenses, tax-deductible donation

can be made at the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.pysports.org. For more information, contact Lerisa Puckett at (650) 468-3115. N

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