Palo Alto Weekly 10.12.2012 - Section 1

Vol. XXXIV, Number 2 N October 12, 2012

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2012

PaloAltoOnline.com

A

PUBLICATION

OF THE ALMANAC AND

PA L O A LT O W E E K LY

Inside this issue

Fall Real Estate SO MANY BUYERS, SO FEW HOMES

LOOKING UP IN EAST PALO ALTO?

DOES IT PAY TO GO GREEN?

PAGE 6

PAGE 28

PAGE 42

I LIKE EICH’

HIGH-END MARKET GOES GLOBAL

SCAM — OR ALTERNATE BUSINESS MODEL?

PAGE 14

PAGE 33

PAGE 57

Pot shops

for Palo Alto?

Measure C asks voters to allow medical marijuana dispensaries page 23

INSIDE: UNA

Film Festival PROGRAM

Title Pages 18

Spectrum 20

Eating Out 34

Movies 39 Home 49

Puzzles 74

N News Alma Plaza finally has a grocery store

Page 3

N Arts Palo Alto Art Center reopens its doors

Page 30

N Sports M-A’s long-awaited water polo win

Page 42

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Upfront

Local news, information and analysis

Palo Alto plows ahead with more pension reforms City to create new pension rules for police union and consider other drastic benefit changes

by Gennady Sheyner alo Alto’s effort to curb the exploding costs of employee benefits will hit a milestone this week, when the City Council officially reduces pension benefits for newly hired police officers and mulls other, more dramatic reforms aimed

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at shrinking the city’s liabilities.

The council is scheduled to launch on Monday night what promises to be a long and complex discussion on ways to reduce employee costs — a discussion prompted by a July memo from Vice Mayor

Greg Scharff and council members Pat Burt, Karen Holman and Greg Schmid. The four council members argued in the memo that with costs of employee benefits rising dramatically, the council needs to provide “policy direction” regarding future changes to benefits.

One reform that the city has already implemented is setting up a second pension tier for newly hired workers in each of its major la-

bor unions. On Monday night, the council is scheduled to officially implement this reform for its largest police union, the Palo Alto Police Officers Association. At the same time, the city is negotiating a similar agreement with the small group of police managers.

Under the new agreement, newly hired officers will be subject to a pension formula of “3 percent at 55” — that is, 3 percent of the high-

est salary for each year of service, after retirement at age 55. In another change, the “highest salary” will actually be an average of the three highest years rather than the single highest year. Current members of the police union will remain subject to the “3 percent at 50 formula.”

Though the changes to the police agreement will have little immedi(continued on page 14)

EDUCATION

School board: Collaborate on counseling Board asks principals to agree on ‘purpose, metrics’

by Chris Kenrick

S

(continued on page 11)

(continued on page 7)

Veronica Weber

family household on budget.

Werness rebuffs rumors that Miki’s will cater to the cost-is-noobject yuppie crowd. Instead, the market will offer both the exotic and the basic: In the mustard section, gourmet brands sit alongside French’s. Organic sugar nestles next to bags of C&H. “I like being different,” the whitehaired Werness, 65, said, a grin on his face.

Though he’s worked at popular Berkeley grocery stores for the past two decades, Werness’ ties to Palo Alto stretch back to the 1970s. When he was 27, the Saratoga native managed the old Brentwood Market at Charleston Shopping Center, which has since been replaced by Piazza’s Fine Foods. In fact, he was hired by

chool board members Tuesday asked principals of Palo Alto’s two public high schools to get together to develop a “common purpose and common metrics” for their guidance-counseling programs even though the two schools differ in the way they offer services.

The informal directions came after the principals of Gunn and Palo Alto high schools presented progress reports to the board on their efforts to improve counseling services.

High school guidance counseling was tagged as an area needing improvement in the school district’s 2008 strategic plan.

But the issue became contentious last year when the parent group We Can Do Better Palo Alto pointed to surveys showing higher satisfaction levels with counseling at Paly than at Gunn.

The group argued that Gunn — which uses a traditional counseling model — should immediately adopt Paly’s “teacher-advisory” model, which uses 46 teacher-advisers to augment a small counseling staff.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Gunn Principal Katya Villalobos stressed that a Gunn committee charged with developing reforms comprises a wide range of viewpoints — including highly critical ones — on Gunn’s current system, which uses a more traditional staff to handle academic advising, college counseling and social-emotional support for students.

Board members reiterated that Gunn should be free to come up with its own counseling reforms, but that collaboration with Paly on “purpose and metrics” is needed to ensure the two systems offer comparable services to students.

Superintendent Kevin Skelly said

Good day for a cool run A runner follows the path below a grove of oaks adjacent to Campus Drive West on the Stanford University campus on Thursday, Oct. 11.

BUSINESS

After seven years, Alma Plaza has a grocery store Veteran of Berkeley food scene opens Miki’s Farm Fresh Market

by Jocelyn Dong ichael “Miki” Werness Just one week before the grocery gestured to the stretch of store’s opening at Alma Plaza in empty, black countertops Palo Alto, workers scurried to arin the middle of the produce sec- range cheese displays, set up the tion at Miki’s Farm Fresh Market deli section and stock shelves of dry on Wednesday, Oct. 10. goods.

“You’ll probably find 24 feet of Werness grabbed some rice cakes mushrooms. Any mushroom you — gluten-free and vegan-friendly could want,” he said of the soon-to- — and rattled off the low price his be-filled space. buyers were able to get them for.

M

Ditto the bottles of Looza fruit nectar, which lined shelves under the countertops like wallflowers waiting for the dance.

It’s been seven years since Albertsons closed at 3445 Alma St., precipitating a much-discussed search for another neighborhood market.

Some residents clamored for a Trader Joe’s. Others speculated that JJ&F Market would move in from the College Terrace neighborhood.

Instead, Werness, a veteran of the Bay Area grocery scene, signed the lease with property owner McNellis Partners to open the independent store. At 17,000 square feet, Miki’s Farm Fresh Market will be nearly 4,000 square feet larger than Albertsons. But unlike its predecessor, Miki’s is aiming for a different niche: organic and specialty foods but with price points low enough to keep the

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Upfront Ecole internationale de la PĂŠninsule

Ě˝ ŕŁ&#x2018; ੢ á&#x201E;&#x2018; á&#x2039;&#x2022; ŕ¤&#x201C; PRE-SCHOOL Outstanding fullday program.

LANGUAGE Longest running bilingual immersion school in the area.

Experienced native-speaking faculty.

ACADEMICS Established English curriculum.

Rigorous program in a nurturing environment. Low student-to-teacher ratio.

PUBLISHER William S. Johnson

WHEN ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S YOUR CHILD, EXPERIENCE MATTERS. TEACHING MANDARIN CHINESE IMMERSION FOR 15 YEARS. A LEADER IN FRENCH IMMERSION IN PALO ALTO. ACCEPTING PRE-SCHOOL APPLICATIONS.

RSVP FOR A TOUR! PRE-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE NOVEMBER 10, 2012

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF THE PENINSULA 7%" 777 )340 /2' s 0(/.%

EDITORIAL Jocelyn Dong, Editor Carol Blitzer, Associate Editor Keith Peters, Sports Editor Tyler Hanley, Expressâ&#x201E;˘ and Online Editor Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Tom Gibboney, Spectrum Editor Sue Dremann, Chris Kenrick, Gennady Sheyner, Staff Writers Eric Van Susteren, Editorial Assistant, Internship Coordinator Veronica Weber, Staff Photographer Colin Becht, Dale F. Bentson, Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, Sheila Himmel, Chad Jones, Karla Kane, Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Jeanie K. Smith, Susan Tavernetti, Contributors DESIGN Shannon Corey, Design Director Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Scott Peterson, Paul Llewellyn, Senior Designers Lili Cao, Rosanna Leung, Designer PRODUCTION Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager Dorothy Hassett, Blanca Yoc, Sales & Production Coordinators ADVERTISING Tom Zahiralis, Vice President Sales & Advertising Samantha Mejia, Shop Product Manager Adam Carter, Elaine Clark, Janice Hoogner, Wendy Suzuki, Display Advertising Sales Neal Fine, Carolyn Oliver, Rosemary Lewkowitz, Real Estate Advertising Sales David Cirner, Irene Schwartz, Inside Advertising Sales Diane Martin, Real Estate Advertising Asst.

Alicia Santillan, Classified Administrative Asst.

EXPRESS, ONLINE AND VIDEO SERVICES Rachel Palmer, Online Operations Coordinator BUSINESS Susie Ochoa, Payroll & Benefits Elena Dineva, Mary McDonald, Claire McGibeny, Cathy Stringari, Business Associates

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ADMINISTRATION Doris Taylor, Receptionist Ruben Espinoza, Courier EMBARCADERO MEDIA William S. Johnson, President Michael I. Naar, Vice President & CFO Tom Zahiralis, Vice President Sales & Advertising Frank A. Bravo, Director, Information Technology & Webmaster Connie Jo Cotton, Major Accounts Sales Manager Bob Lampkin, Director, Circulation & Mailing Services Alicia Santillan, Circulation Assistant 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) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County. The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered free to homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and to portions of Los Altos Hills. If you are not currently receiving the paper, you may request free delivery by calling 326-8210. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Copyright Š2012 by Embarcadero Media.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

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

It must have exploded. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Daniel Peters, a Palo Alto resident, on how part of a train ended up crashing into his car. See story on page 12.

Around Town NAME THAT LIBRARY ... As Palo Alto plows forth with its bondfunded renovation of local libraries, city officials are looking far beyond brick-and-mortar fixes. In the case of the Main Library, which is set to be expanded and renovated next year, the city is also considering a name change. The frontrunner so far is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rinconada Library.â&#x20AC;? That was the recommendation the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Library Advisory Commission issued at its last meeting on Sept.

27. The recommendation followed a suggestion from the City Council that the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Main Libraryâ&#x20AC;? is too vague and meaningless, particularly given that the Newell Road library isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest (that distinction goes to the Mitchell Park Library, which is currently getting rebuilt from scratch). Commissioner Bob Moss advocated the name Rinconada Library at the meeting as a safe option given its location on a centrally located campus that also includes Rinconada Park, the Palo Alto Arts Center and the Junior Museum and Zoo. The city is, in fact, currently putting together a master plan for the Rinconada campus with the goal of improving connections and circulation. Moss said calling the library â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rinconada Libraryâ&#x20AC;? would be the simplest solution though urged the city to wait until the library is renovated before making the switch. The name change would still have to get approved by the council before it becomes final.

NO THEFT HERE ... For a brief time, Barron Park neighborhood residents were incensed. A 4-footlong wood sign at Cornelis Bol Park had disappeared, sawed off at both posts during the Sept. 29 weekend, residents reported. The sign on Laguna Avenue featured a large, colorful portrait of the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first and now deceased donkey, Mickey. It had been a park fixture for nearly 20 years, according to a longtime resident. Upon inquiring of city workers, the resident said that Erin Perez from the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Services Department merely said a replacement sign would be made. As it turns out, while thefts have been plaguing other parts of town, the apparent Bol Park vandalism turned out this week to be something else: none other than city maintenance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The same sign will be returned soon, after a little

sprucing up,â&#x20AC;? City of Palo Alto spokeswoman Linda Clerkson said in an email to the Weekly.

RIPE FOR GROWTH ... Higher buildings. Denser developments.

More foot traffic. Economic vitality. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision for the neighborhood around California Avenue â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a vision that took another step forward at last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Planning and Transportation Commission meeting. The commission agreed at its Oct. 3 meeting to rezone four adjacent parcels on the 400 block of Page Mill Road from residential to commercial. The parcels, which currently house single-family residences, would be rezoned to allow construction of a taller mixed-use building that will likely include major office space. The commission voted 6-0, with Arthur Keller absent, to support the rezoning proposal by architect John Northway. At its Oct. 3 discussion, commissioners agreed that the Page Mill sites arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suitable for residential developments. But they also stressed that much work still needs to be done before Northwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed development gets the green light.

Commissioner Michael Alcheck noted that the developer will have to demonstrate that the project would not have adverse parking impacts or burden neighboring properties with risks of toxins being emitted during construction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The next step in the process is one that will be most difficult â&#x20AC;&#x201D; figuring out how to make this work,â&#x20AC;? Alcheck said.

THE SUPREMES ... Obamacare, voting requirements, same-sex marriage and Anthony Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting role on the Supreme Court were just a few of the many topics that bubbled up during this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discussion between Stanford University professor and constitutional lawyer Pamela Karlan and Jeffrey Toobin, the legal-affairs reporter for the New Yorker and CNN. During a Tuesday night chat at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, Toobin and Karlan broke down the current state of the Supreme Court, where four of the nine members are currently in their 70s, and parsed the ideological differences between the conservatives on the court. Kennedy, Toobin argued, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the â&#x20AC;&#x153;moderateâ&#x20AC;? most people think he is but â&#x20AC;&#x153;an extremist with unpredictable enthusiasm.â&#x20AC;? N

Upfront ELECTION 2012

Gray injects green into council campaign Consultant takes funding lead with a $30,000 contribution to his own campaign

by Gennady Sheyner

T

im Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark-horse candidacy for the Palo Alto City Council received a major boost from a $30,000 contribution that the financial consultant has injected into his own campaign.

Gray, who has twice run unsuccessfully for a seat on the ninemember council, is hoping that the third time will be the charm â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the funds to prove it. While he ran his first two campaigns on a shoestring budget, his recent $30,000 contribution has given him the largest campaign chest of the six candidates in the race.

Gray, whose top issue is fiscal re-

sponsibility, told the Weekly that he is not accepting contributions for his council campaign. His decision to fund the campaign exclusively with his own money, he said, is intended to reinforce his status as an independent candidate.

According to campaign-finance records filed Friday, Oct. 5, attorney Marc Berman also remains flush with cash. His $23,846 places him second behind Gray, though his funds have come from a diverse network of donors. These include economist Stephen Levy and planning Commissioner Alex Panelli, both of whom served with Berman

on the Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission, a panel that analyzed the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure needs.

Councilman Pat Burt edged former Mayor Liz Kniss for third place in fundraising by the Sept. 30 deadline, with $11,075. Burtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large field of donors includes various neighborhood leaders, including Karen White, Annette Glanckopf and Norm Beamer; established politicians such as Assemblyman Jerry Hill and state Sen. Joe Simitian (each contributed $100); and local developers. Two entities associated with prominent developer Charles â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chopâ&#x20AC;? Keenan had each contribut-

ed $500 to Burtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign. Mark Gates of the real-estate company Hamilton Management chipped in another $500.

Burt also received $500 from Jim Baer, a prolific consultant who has been involved in most of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent major development applications. These included the recently approved Lytton Gateway development, a four-story structure pegged for Lytton Avenue and Alma Street.

Two of the partners involved in the Lytton Gateway project, Lund Smith and Boyd Smith, each gave $500 to Burtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign. At the same time, Burt received a $250 contribution from the California League of Conservation voters.

The other incumbent in the race, Greg Schmid, reported $8,059 in contributions as of Sept. 30, though his contributions came from very different sources than Burtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Some of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading critics of major new developments, including for-

mer council members Jack Morton ($150), Emily Renzel ($200) and Enid Pearson ($100) contributed to his campaign. Land-use watchdogs Bob Moss and Fred Balin have also chipped in $100 each. The retired economist also received $100 contributions from former mayors Yoriko Kishimoto and Gary Fazzino and from state politicians Hill and Simitian.

Kniss, meanwhile, ended the reporting period with $10,921 in cash. The termed-out Santa Clara County supervisor has received contributions from numerous local residents and former officials.

Kishimoto and Councilwoman Nancy Shepherd each contributed $100. Kniss has also received $500 from the campaign of her fellow Supervisor Ken Yeager.

The sixth candidate in the race, Mark Weiss, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t raising any funds for his campaign and has not filed a campaign-disclosure form. N

ELECTION 2012

School board candidates to square off on Monday Additional local political forums scheduled as Nov. 6 election looms

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he Palo Alto Weekly is sponsoring a forum on Monday, Oct. 15, with candidates for the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education.

The event will be moderated by state Sen. Joe Simitian, a former Palo Alto school board member, and held at 7:30 p.m. in the boardroom of school district headquarters, 25 Churchill Ave. The four candidates vying for three available spots in the election are incumbents Melissa Baten Caswell and Camille Townsend, software engineer Ken Dauber and parent educator Heidi Emberling.

Two additional school board can-

didatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forums will take place later this month.

With Election Day approaching, civic groups continue to host a variety of voter-education forums, providing the electorate with opportunities to learn more about the people and issues they will be voting on Nov. 6.

Here are some other upcoming events: Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education s 3UNDAY /CT AT P M AT Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St. s 7EDNESDAY /CT AT P M

at Nixon Elementary School, 1711 Stanford Ave., sponsored by the PTAs of Nixon and Escondido elementary schools.

State Assembly and State Senate s 7EDNESDAY /CT P M

at 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Cosponsored with League of Women Voters South San Mateo County.

Election Day: presidential, state legislature and county final elections s 4UESDAY .OV A M P M More information is available at www.smartvoter.org. N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Palo Alto Online staff

Public Agenda

ELECTION 2012

Big spread in financing of school-board race Caswell raises the most cash with the most donors; Dauber effort is mostly self-funded

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chool board incumbent Melissa Baten Caswell led and challenger Ken Dauber trailed in fundraising for next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s election for the Palo Alto Board of Education, according to campaign finance reports through Sept. 30.

In the last three months, Caswell received $18,012 in contributions from 71 donors. Challenger Heidi Emberling raised $12,844 from 36 contributors; incumbent Camille Townsend raised $10,079 from 40 donors and Dauber raised $9,657 from 29 donors, which included a $5,697 loan to himself.

The four candidates are vying for three available school board seats in the Nov. 6 election.

Caswellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest donors, at $500, were former school board member Mandy Lowell, Sue and

by Chris Kenrick Lou Pelosi, Heather Rose, Preeva Tramiel and Michael Rantz.

Contributions at $400 came from Gary Kremen; at $300 from Claudia and Doug Begg; at $260 from Judy and Todd Logan and at $250 from John Kirchmann, Camilla Olson, Yoriko Kishimoto, Marvina White, Asher Waldfogel and Helyn MacLean, Amy Sung and Wim deGroot, Susan Paul, Hollis Caswell. Barb Mitchell, Dorit and Greg Scharff, Lauren Bonomi and Sarah Sands.

Emberlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest donor, at $500, was Preeva Tramiel. Contributions at $250 came from Aiofe Maynard, Diana Walsh, Brennan McKenzie, Barb Mitchell, Sarah Sands, Richard Hirsch and Steve Ross.

Townsendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest donors, at $1,000, were Shan-I Judy Severson and Kathleen Eyre. Contribu-

VIDEO: Candidate interviews The four candidates for Palo Alto school board and the six candidates for Palo Alto City Council discussed their experience and opinions on relevant issues with the editorial board of the Palo Alto Weekly recently. Each candidateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s video is 30 minutes long. Watch them all on PaloAltoOnline.com by clicking on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Election 2012â&#x20AC;? module.

tions at $500 came from Mandy Lowell, Jack Moses and Jim Baer; at $350 from Charles Jacklin; and at $250 from Deborah Peng, Lauren Bonomi, school board member Barb Mitchell and Stephen Smith.

Dauberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign has been mostly self-funded, with $5,697 from himself and $3,960 in contributions from others. His largest donors, at $500, were David Bailey and Darren Neuman.

Contributions at $200 came from Meri Gruber, Karen Kang, Rajiv Bhateja, Mitchell Polinsky, Greg Schmid and Michael Klausner.

All four candidates reported smaller contributions as well, ranging from $20 to $200.

Complete campaign finance reports are on file with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. N

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to meet in a closed session to discuss potential litigation relating to the construction of the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center. The council also plans to have a study session with Assemblyman Rich Gordon, discuss a recent colleaguesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; memo calling for consideration of ways to reduce the rising costs of employee benefits; and consider adopting an ordinance instituting a moratorium on parking exemptions for developments downtown and near California Avenue. The closed session will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, in the Council Conference Room and will be followed by the session with Gordon. The rest of the meeting will follow in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

CITY/SCHOOL COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to hear an update on traffic safety, discuss the school districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enrollment report and hear an update on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital-improvement projects. The meeting will begin at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ... The board plans to discuss 1070 Page Mill Road, a proposal by Stanford University to demolish 67,000 square feet of commercial space and construct a 116,000-square-foot, two-story research-and-development building. The board also plans to discuss 1845 El Camino Real, a proposal by Ken Hayes for a three-story mixed-use building; and to talk about the Rinconada Park Long Range Plan. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

CUBBERLEY POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to hear a status report from the Cubberley Community Advisory Committee co-chairs. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, in the school district office (25 Churchill Ave.).

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Upfront TRAFFIC

Palo Alto looks to tighten parking requirements downtown City considers moratorium on parking exemptions for new developments in downtown, California Avenue

by Gennady Sheyner

W

hen Palo Alto officials decided to ease the parking rules for downtown developers nearly three decades ago, they did not envision the drought of parking spots that today plagues the streets in the heart of the city.

The plan has worked a little too well. Today, downtown vacancies are nearly nonexistent, the city is awash with applications for major new office buildings, and residents in the downtown neighborhoods Professorville and Downtown North routinely voice exasperation at the flood of office workers whose cars now hog their onceplentiful street parking. The two inter-related trends — more developments and less parking — have prompted the council and planning

officials to take a fresh look at the city’s zoning ordinances and evaluate the need for additional parking facilities.

The first significant zoning change could be made as early as Monday night, when the City Council considers a proposal by planning officials to scrap the parking exemption that the city created in the mid-1980s. The exemption was invoked in recent months by several developers looking to construct office buildings downtown. These included the recently approved four-story Lytton Gateway pegged for the intersection of Lytton Avenue and Alma Street and for the proposed development at 135 Hamilton Ave. — a building that would

also be four stories high and that is currently undergoing the city’s design-review process.

In approving the Lytton Gateway project — which as a “planned community” project gave the city latitude in negotiating with the developer — the council declined to give the builders parking exemptions and required the applicants to contribute funds for future parking improvements.

In the report, the Planning and Community Environment Department argues that while “the basis for those amendments is now outdated and downtown development is thriving, the provision remains in place and applicants are now invoking it to further exempt parking.” Staff is urging the council to

pass an “urgency” ordinance that would impose a moratorium on the parking exemption.

“Given the current parking deficits in the City’s two assessment districts (downtown and California Avenue) and the outdated rationale for applying this exemption, staff has been discouraging recent applications since the 135 Hamilton Ave. and the 355 Alma (Lytton Gateway) projects from using this parking exemption,” the report states. “To staff’s knowledge, no project applicant has requested the use of the exemption for the California Avenue area. Staff believes it is appropriate to apply the moratorium to both the Downtown and California Avenue areas, as

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EPWH645-01BA 03 071312

it will in both areas exacerbate parking deficiencies documented previously by staff.”

The report also argues that the ordinance is “now outdated, as downtown does not require encouragement to develop, and any equity issues have long been addressed.”

The proposal to revise parking regulations is part of a wide range of reforms Palo Alto is considering to deal with the pesky parking shortage. In July, staff recommended instituting a residential permit-parking program in a section of Professorville, a proposal that the council rejected as too narrow. At that meeting, the council directed staff to consider a more “comprehensive” set of solutions to downtown’s parking woes, which includes consideration of zone changes, new methods for increasing usage of existing garages and evaluation of the need for more parking facilities. The city’s broad analysis of the parking situation is funded by a $250,000 contribution from the developers of Lytton Gateway.

The parking discussion is also occurring at a time when the city is creeping toward the 235,000square-foot threshold for new downtown development, which the city established in 1985. Once the city hits the number, it is required to analyze downtown zoning regulations and consider the need for parking strategies.

The Lytton Gateway project pushed downtown development to 212,000 square feet, while Charles “Chop” Keenan’s proposed 26,000square-foot development at 135 Hamilton would officially push the city over the threshold.

At the same time, the city is considering approving another mammoth downtown development — a proposal by billionaire John Arrillaga to build four office towers (the tallest of which would be 10 stories) and a theater at 27 University Ave., a site currently occupied by MacArthur Park restaurant.

If the council chooses to pass the “urgency ordinance” proposed by staff, it would be able to do so without holding a public hearing or vetting by the Planning and Transportation Commission. Passing such an ordinance requires support from eight of the nine council members.

If passed, the ordinance would take effect immediately. The council then would be required to hold a public hearing within 45 days to consider an “interim report” from staff. At that time, the council would also consider a request to prolong the ordinance for an additional 10 months and 15 days while staff evaluates additional zoning changes. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

Upfront SCIENCE

LAND USE

Stanford physiologist shares Nobel Prize in chemistry

Palo Alto boards consider: How tall is too tall?

Fifty-foot height limit on new buildings in place since the 1970s

Medical professor Brian Kobilka honored for work on composition of protein receptors

by Gennady Sheyner

by Chris Kenrick s Stanford leaders basked in the university’s 27th Nobel Prize Wednesday, the winner, physiologist Brian Kobilka, said he was “surprised to be honored because so many people have contributed to things I’ve done.”

Kobilka, a Palo Alto resident who chairs molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford Medical School, shared the chemistry prize for his work on G-protein-coupled receptors, which convey chemical messages across cell membranes. The co-recipient is his former mentor, Duke University professor Robert Lefkowitz, with whom he worked at Duke in the 1980s.

Made of protein, the receptors sit embedded in the cell membrane, with a portion sticking out on each side of the membrane. On the exterior side, the receptor forms a small trench in the membrane that can bind to a specific signal, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter.

When a signal binds the outside of the receptor, the receptor changes shape and a “factory” of signal molecules switches on. The process regulates heartbeat, workings of the brain and nearly every other physiologic function. Forty to 50 percent of all medications target the receptors, Kobilka said.

Kobilka, 57, and Lefkowitz, 69, worked to identify one G-protein-coupled receptor family member called the beta-adrenergic receptor. Kobilka was able to isolate the gene for the receptor to learn more about its composition.

In what he called a “eureka moment” in 2011, Kobilka and his team were the first to obtain a three-dimensional image of another receptor family member bound to its signaling molecule.

“It was so exciting to see this three-dimensional structure and finally know how these transmembrane regions interact during signaling,” he said.

Kobilka credited the many people he’s worked with through the years, including his wife, Kaiser physician Tong Sun Kobilka. The couple has two grown children, Jason and Megan.

“It’s been a collaborative effort with researchers from around the world. I consider that this award recognizes their work as well,” Kobilka said.

Kobilka graduated from the University of Minnesota at Duluth and earned an MD from Yale University in 1981, joining the Lefkowitz laboratory in 1984. Early in his career, Lefkowitz used radioactivity to understand the receptors’ function and their shape in the cell wall.

Kobilka came to Stanford in 1989 from Duke to join the then-nascent Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

“It was probably the only place that offered me a job,” said Kobilka, who recalls himself as a “good, but not exceptional” student.

He said the proximity of Stanford Medical School to colleagues working in physics, chemistry and engineering has helped his work.

F

A

(continued from page 3)

he would return to the board with a proposed policy on guidance counseling that includes language about purpose and that he would invite principals to return in two months with ideas about how to measure effectiveness of counseling at the two schools.

Kathy Sharp, a member of We Can Do Better Palo Alto, said she was pleased with the result.

Short of persuading the board to order Gunn to adopt Paly’s teacher-advisory model, Sharp

L.A. Cicero/Stanford News Service

School counseling

Nobel Prize winner Brian Kobilka answers calls from reporters at his home Wednesday morning, Oct. 10.

“Being at Stanford you attract really fantastic colleagues and students and postdocs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought, ‘How am I going to hide the fact that I know this kid is smarter than I am and try to make him think I know something?’”

Science is hard, he said, but it’s a “fantastic way to spend your life. If you persevere, you can be successful. As you go from being that young scientist to being an old scientist, you’re surrounded by young people with great ideas and enthusiasm and energy, so you still feel young at any age.”

At a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 10, Stanford President John Hennessy and Stanford Medical School Dean Philip Pizzo said the Nobel Prize was an affirmation of Stanford’s commitment to basic science research.

“Brian’s work stands at the crossroads between chemistry, structural biology and molecular medicine,” Pizzo said.

“His commitment to staying focused on a problem of extraordinary complexity and to find the techniques and technologies to solve the protein’s structure and function is also a testament to the value of investigator-initiated, basic science research. In a day when big teams and massive labs have become the common mediator of modern science, Brian Kobilka represents how a small group of committed scientists can illuminate deep mysteries and open doors to new solutions that will ultimately improve human life.”

Of Stanford’s 27 Nobel Prize winners, 17 are still living, including four from the medical school. Besides Kobilka they are Paul Berg, chemistry, 1980; Andrew Fire, physiology or medicine, 2006; and Roger Kornberg, chemistry, 2006. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly.com. had asked the board to require Gunn to engage in joint planning with Paly to create a unified “mission, vision and curriculum for counseling services.” N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly.com.

TALK ABOUT IT

www.PaloAltoOnline.com What role do you think guidance counseling should play in high school students’ lives? Share your opinion on Town Square, the community discussion forum on Palo Alto Online.

aced with a stampede of massive new developments, Palo Alto officials are taking a look at the city’s zoning code and considering whether it’s time to puncture the city’s 50-foot height limit for new buildings — a critical rule that has guided local development for nearly four decades.

The limit, which the city instituted in the early 1970s, has long been considered a sacred cow by planning commissioners and residentialists intent on protecting neighborhoods from the long shadows and parking problems that towers could bring. While the City Council has occasionally allowed developers to transcend the 50-foot ceiling, exceptions have been rare and typically involved extensive negotiations with applicants, who promised significant public benefits in exchange for the excess.

Several buildings in Palo Alto already exceed 50 feet, including 11-story Channing House, the 15-story office building at 525 University Ave., and the eightstory Casa Olga on Hamilton Avenue.

The four-story Lytton Gateway development, which the council approved earlier this year, is 50 feet tall, but its design includes a corner tower that is 70 feet in height.

City officials are unlikely to remove the height limit entirely, but they are moving to chip away at the bedrock provision. Last month, during the council’s long discussion of John Arrillaga’s development proposal for 27 University Ave. — a proposal that includes a theater and four office towers with heights greater than 100 feet — council members directed staff to re-examine height limits in general.

The Planning and Transportation Commission considered this topic Wednesday night, Oct. 10, and while commissioners didn’t take any votes, they were generally sympathetic to the idea of relaxing height restrictions in certain cases. Commissioner Alex Panelli argued that tall buildings don’t have to be eyesores and stressed that they could, in some cases, create new opportunities at the street level.

“Is an eight-story building with a lot more open space better than a four-story building that’s built sidewalk-to-sidewalk and road-to-road?” Panelli asked. “I don’t know, but there are tradeoffs, and I think we need to talk about those tradeoffs.”

Others shared his view that taller buildings should be considered, but only under certain conditions and in certain locations. The most likely sites would be near the city’s major transit hubs — namely, University and California avenues. In 2010, the council directed staff to explore height exemptions for developments next to Caltrain stations.

The topic of height limits also loomed large at the Sept. 24 council discussion of 27 University — a project so ambitious that it will probably go to Palo Alto residents for a vote. Councilman Pat Burt was one of several council members who argued that the proposed office buildings are too tall (one would be 161 feet). Though he said he would

be willing to exceed the 50-foot ceiling for this proposal because of its public benefits (the new theater with a public plaza and extensive improvements to the roads around the transit center), he also called on the city to reaffirm its general commitment to the height restriction.

Members of the planning commission likewise had mixed feelings about overturning the ban. Commissioner Samir Tuma said he would be open to allowing builders to go a few feet beyond 50 if doing so would result in a more attractive and interesting project. Easing the restriction, he said, would give developers more flexibility in their designs.

“What makes the environment interesting and enjoyable to us isn’t just a matter of height and mass,” Tuma said.

At the same time, Tuma argued that the city should have a broad discussion and consider a host of factors, including location and what the building would be used for. He also argued that this process should proceed independently of the recent proposal from Arrillaga.

“We want to come up with something that covers the whole city and not one project,” Tuma said.

Chair Eduardo Martinez and Commissioner Michael Alcheck both said they were “protective” of the height restriction, citing its impact on the city’s character and scale. Alcheck said it would be a mistake to ignore the lessons from the past 40 years about “smart growth” and transit-oriented developments. Even so, he stressed the need to proceed slowly and gather community input before making any decisions.

“I’d tread cautiously there because there is a success story in Palo Alto ... that has made the real estate values here so high,” Alcheck said. “There’s tremendous demand to be in this community because of its success story. The notion of changing certain development limitations is an important one.”

Members of the city’s Architectural Review Board voiced similar sentiments on Oct. 4, when they tackled the topic of height limits. Most said the city should ease restrictions but only in certain contexts. Board members generally supported allowing taller buildings near transit centers but stressed the need to consider the parking problems that could arise with new development.

Architectural Review Board Chair Clare Malone Prichard said she supported eliminating the height restriction and instead limiting the number of stories in new buildings. This would give developers more flexibility in designing the projects. She acknowledged, however, that an outright abolition of the 50-foot limit probably wouldn’t go over well in Palo Alto because of the community’s fear of tall developments. N

TALK ABOUT IT

www.PaloAltoOnline.com Under what circumstances, if any, would you favor allowing buildings in Palo Alto to be constructed that are taller than 50 feet? Voice your opinion on Town Square, the community discussion forum on Palo Alto Online.

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Upfront COMMUNITY

Silicon Valley entrepreneur starts â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Repair CafĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; From headsets to vacuums, volunteers will fix household items to reduce landfill waste

by Sue Dremann

A

new Palo Alto nonprofit organization that aims to help non-tinkerers solve the minor mysteries of repairing broken small appliances and household items will open its doors on Sunday, Oct. 14.

At the Repair CafĂŠ, as the new group is dubbed, volunteers armed

with hand tools will help people learn to repair frayed electrical cords, non-popping toasters and even luggage at the Palo Alto Museum of American Heritage.

Peter Skinner, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and longtime chief financial officer, founded the first such organization in the U.S. after reading about repair cafes in the

L U C I L E PA C K A R D

Netherlands, he said. The small European nation has 30 communitybased fix-it cafes.

Instead of tossing the broken devices into the Dumpster, people will save money and do something good for the environment while learning a few handyperson skills, he said.

Among the items volunteers can

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help fix are small household appliances, furniture, luggage, some electronics, including personal computers, toys, bicycles and clothing.

Palo Alto ACE Hardware will have staff on hand, and Green Citizen recycling company and the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zero Waste program will have booths.

There will be information about where to recycle things that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be repaired, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea appealed to me because of my own dissatisfaction with the prevalence of our hyper-consumer culture where we buy and we toss,â&#x20AC;? he said. Every time he does that personally, he finds it discomforting, he said.

After reading a New York Times article in May, Skinner contacted the Netherlands group to see about using their name and model. They were excited about the idea, he said.

With his background as a chief financial officer for Silicon Valley companies, including formerly at Accept Software Corporation, Skinner knew he could fill the role of group organizer. He set about putting together the volunteers and their skills and finding a location for the inaugural event with the help and advice of two friends, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Bob Wenzlau and John Eaton.

Skinner admits he is not a fix-it expert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have moderate fix-it skills, not refined fix-it skills. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the perfect candidateâ&#x20AC;? for the Repair CafĂŠ, he said. He plans to bring an electric kettle with a lid that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t close and a corroded multimeter electronictesting device that stopped functioning.

Skinner said he hopes to assuage peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fear of those things that seem imposing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and build in people a sense of the value of repairing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are all so acclimated to throwing things away,â&#x20AC;? he said.

That trend has nearly doubled in almost 50 years, he said. In 1960, each person in the U.S. generated 2.68 pounds of waste per day. By 2008, the average was 4.5 pounds per day. About 54 percent ended up in the landfill, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Out of 2.25 million pounds of electronics that were retired in 2007, 82 percent were discarded in landfills nationwide, according to the EPA. The deleterious effects are more than mountains of trash. Landfills are usually located near bodies of water, and plastics can leach chemicals and gases even before they disintegrate, the EPA states. A Zero Waste America study found that 83 percent of landfills surveyed in 2008 had leaks in their protective linings.

Incinerators that process landfill materials are also a major source of 210 different dioxin compounds, heavy metals such as mercury and

cadmium, nitrous oxide, hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, fluorides and particulate matter small enough to lodge in lungs, according to the EPA. Waste incinerators create more carbon dioxide than coal, oil or natural-gas power plants, the EPA notes.

Skinner said he is interested in grassroots, community-based solutions to problems. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have so little appetite for sweeping policy changes,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Eaton, a mechanical engineer by training, said he will volunteer at the event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been a tinkerer and repairer since forever â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ever since I was a kid and started pulling lawnmower engines apart,â&#x20AC;? he said.

That first introduction to things mechanical probably led to his career choice, he added. It has also made him popular with his friends and neighbors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My friends will call and say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;John, come over for a glass of wine â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and by the way, the dishwasher isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t draining right,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? he said.

Eaton said headphones and earbuds are some of the most challenging items to fix. Tiny coaxial wires, which have a braid of fine wires within them, have to be connected with a soldering iron while looking through a microscope.

His stereoscope â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a microscope with two eyepieces â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is one of his most-used tools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not something people have a lot. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good when things are broken and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t determine why they are broken,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In his arsenal are items one wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have found in Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toolbox. New tools are used for new technologies: miniature wire strippers, good tweezers and pry tools made out of plastic so they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gouge consoles, he said.

Skinner said Repair CafĂŠ will start out quarterly, and hopefully it will expand as community interest grows. So far, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spreading the news through his neighborhood email list and has posted notices at ACE Hardware and the Museum of American Heritage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The response I got has been amazing,â&#x20AC;? he said.

People have supplied a list of items needing repair, from DustBusters to luggage. One woman wanted to bring a moped.

That brought up a point he wanted to emphasize. The Repair CafĂŠ is for small appliances and items only â&#x20AC;&#x201D; things that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take too much time to fix. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No cars, no washing machines, no dishwashers. If it takes a truck to move it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably not a good thing to bring,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Repair CafĂŠ will take place Sunday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Palo Alto Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

Upfront EDUCATION

Cheese balls, aliens, Angry Birds — and logical sequencing

X

uanyi and Ben drew Angry Birds.

Roshni created an underwater cartoon with a fish, an octopus and a crab.

The dozens of children who flock to Smita Kolhatkar’s lunchtime “Scratch Club” at Barron Park Elementary School create their own little worlds and, in the process, absorb early computer programming concepts, Kolhatkar said.

The former Oracle engineering manager, who switched careers to teaching seven years ago, launched Barron Park’s Scratch Club this fall after having used the simple programming language called Scratch with fifth-grade students for the past three years.

Even with competition from a Zumba class offered in the school multi-purpose room, about 40 Barron Park third-, fourth- and fifth-graders forsook other choices

by Chris Kenrick — even the post-lunch playground — to play with Scratch.

After washing their hands and grabbing Macs from a laptop cart, the kids settled themselves in Kolhatkar’s darkened portable classroom for 25 minutes of screen time, appearing thoroughly absorbed.

Developed at MIT, the Scratch programming language makes it easy for children to create interactive stories, animations, games, music and art.

A few students took up a special challenge Kolhatkar had posed to the whole club: try to create a game that will help first- and secondgraders practice their addition and subtraction facts.

But most kids in the room Wednesday had ideas of their own.

A cluster of fourth-grade boys had built a screen that included a person, a vehicle and some cheese puffs that

were crashing into one another.

A girl sitting alone toyed with Halloween figures, and a group of girls in the back of the room was trying to create a movie involving a girl in a jeep in the desert.

A boy drew a green and pink alien.

Two fourth-grade girls explained that they were writing a story called “The Amazing Life of Bob the Pony” and said they’d add pictures later.

With Scratch, kids can choose characters from a pre-made list or draw characters of their own.

“Each one works at their own pace, so it’s an automatic differentiator,” Kolhatkar said.

Because Scratch has a graphical interface, kids don’t have to do the mundane programming that real programmers do in terms of text, but it introduces them to logical sequencing and planned commands, she said.

“There are pre-made commands

Veronica Weber

In Barron Park’s ‘Scratch Club,’ kids learn early programming concepts

Barron Park Elementary School students Quentin Boussard, left, Maya Hoofien and Roni Gal-Oz look over each other’s animations using the Scratch program, during a lunch meeting on Oct. 10. they can decide: ‘Do I want (the character) to say something with a voice or just a speech bubble? Do I want it to move, bounce, hit the wall and come back?’”

Kolhatkar, who taught fifth grade at Walter Hays Elementary School before becoming a “technology teacher on special assignment” at Barron Park this fall, discovered Scratch at an educators’ conference three years ago.

After finding it popular with her fifth-graders for the past three years, she started the Monday-andWednesday lunchtime club this fall.

“Originally I thought I’d start it with fourth- and fifth-graders, but the third-graders have been extremely enthusiastic as well,” she said. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be reached at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

EDUCATION

PUBLIC SAFETY

Discussion of new schools for Palo Alto gets more concrete

Palo Alto hires new fire chief City selects Eric Nickel to lead its Fire Department

by Gennady Sheyner

Board members request ‘conceptual comparison’ of Garland, Greendell options

by Chris Kenrick

L

aunching one — or even two — new elementary schools in Palo Alto was at the heart of discussion this week as the Board of Education pondered enrollment data for the current school year.

Board members asked Superintendent Kevin Skelly to prepare by December a “conceptual comparison” of opening a 13th elementary school at the old Garland Elementary School campus at 870 N. California Ave. versus the Greendell campus at 4120 Middlefield Road.

Skelly also is scouting for possible venues for the opening of a fourth middle school.

In addition, he told the board Tuesday, “Not only should we plan for a 13th elementary school, but we should also think about a 14th elementary school.”

This fall’s enrollment growth was dampened somewhat by a new law, which is gradually shifting the kin-

dergarten birthday cutoff from Dec. 2 to Sept. 1.

But board members agreed that the overall growth trend appears unmistakable.

Total K-12 enrollment went from 12,286 to 12,396 — a 1 percent growth rate compared to the 2 percent seen in recent years.

“We can discuss the annual numbers, but I’ve come to believe the trend is very stable, and it’s time to shift our attention to the noise of annual movement to the trends — and to build our solutions around the trends — rather than hope to have that magic breakthrough that will suddenly make the future more certain and clear,” board member Barb Mitchell said.

The district has grown by nearly 1,300 students in 10 years — enough for two elementary schools, half of a middle school and a quarter of a high school, board member Dana Tom said.

How class sizes have grown in Palo Alto Grade

’08/’09

’09/’10

’10/’11

’11/’12

’12/’13

K

19.5

20.5

20.9

20.9

20.9

1

19.6

21

21.5

21.7

21.3

2

19.8

20

21.8

22.7

22.8

3

19.6

20.3

21.6

22.4

22.8

4

20.6

21.4

21.5

22.6

23.4

5

22.0

21.7

22.5

23.1

22.9

Average Class Size

20.3

20.9

21.6

22.2

22.3

Source: Palo Alto Unified School District

“That growth has been remarkably steady over the last 20 years,” Tom said.

The district has coped with recent growth by adding classrooms at existing schools and slightly loosening the lid on class size.

The average elementary classroom has grown from 20.3 students to 22.3 students in the past four years.

The last time an entire school was launched was 12 years ago with the re-opening of Terman as the third middle school.

But board members will discuss “next steps” on facilities planning — including the conceptual comparison of Garland and Greendell — at board study sessions scheduled for Oct. 25 and Dec. 18.

Officials have not explicitly ruled out other district-owned sites — including Cubberley Community Center, newly acquired property at 525 San Antonio Road and the old Fremont Hills site currently leased to Pinewood School in Los Altos — as possible expansion venues.

But Mitchell and others specifically asked that the Garland/Greendell comparison be prepared for the Dec. 18 study session.

Ethnicity data contained in the fall enrollment report reflected trends that have been apparent in recent years: a decline in Caucasian enrollment from 54.2 percent six years ago to 48.8 percent this year; an increase in Asian enrollment (continued on page 11)

P

alo Alto’s rapidly changing Fire Department now has a new leader.

City Manager James Keene announced Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 9, that the city has selected Eric Nickel, currently a deputy chief in the Novato Fire District, to serve as the new fire chief, a position that has been vaEric Nickel cant since June 2010, when Nick Marinaro retired.

Ever since Marinaro’s retirement, Public Safety Director Dennis Burns has been serving as both the police and fire chief. While Burns will remain at the helm of the two increasingly integrated departments, he will now have a new high-level official to assist him in running the city’s fire department.

In a statement, Burns said the city is “excited” to have Nickel join the Fire Department and “lead the outstanding men and women of the PAFD on a number of exciting initiatives on behalf of the Palo Alto/ Stanford community.”

“I look forward to working with such an energetic, enthusiastic and dedicated public-safety professional,” Burns said.

Nickel, who is set to begin his new job on Nov. 13, was selected after a nationwide search that yielded 37 applications and seven preliminary interviews, Keene said. Ultimately,

three candidates were invited for more extensive interviews with key stakeholder groups consisting of senior managers, public-safety officials and community leaders.

As deputy chief in Novato, Nickel managed a team of 88 fire professionals and oversaw a budget of $29 million. His responsibilities included oversight for the ambulance system, fire prevention, budget, human resources, labor management and community engagement, according to the city’s announcement.

Before rising to deputy chief, Nickel had spent four years as a battalion chief and four years as fire captain.

Before that, he had served as a firefighter and paramedic for 10 years.

In Palo Alto, Nickel will be inheriting an operation with a $26.6 million budget and 117 full-time positions. In addition to personnel changes at the top, the department has been undergoing other major changes, many of which stem from recommendations issued by recent consultant reports. The city has recently abolished the longstanding minimum-staffing provision in its contract with the firefighters union, a move that gives the administration more flexibility with personnel.

At the same time, the city is looking to expand its well-used ambulance operations and to use one of the fire engines at its centrally located Hanover station as a backup engine to support other stations in the city.

The city’s effort to shift resources from firefighting to medical response follows a recent report by (continued on page 11)

ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 9

Upfront

There’s no place like home.

COMMUNITY

Pay a buck, save the world Founder of One Dollar For Life to be honored by Palo Alto Kiwanis

by Lisa Kellman hen 9,000 students from five California schools donated just $1 each in 2007, the resulting $9,000 was enough to build a new school in Kenya.

The idea was the brainchild of Los Altos High School teacher and Palo Alto resident Robert Freeman, who founded the nonprofit organization One Dollar For Life.

When the Kenyans saw their new school, “they thought it was the Taj Mahal ... and were just crying, openly weeping,” Freeman recalled this week.

Freeman will be honored with the Palo Alto Kiwanis Club’s first Angel Award later this month for his work with One Dollar.

Freeman founded the nonprofit because he was frustrated with “teenagers’ sense of impotence in being able to make a difference in the world.” So, he made a model by which anyone, by donating a dollar, could participate and change the world — provided everyone did so.

“The point was to put the impetus onto the teenagers themselves for enlisting one another. It is a generational bootstrap to a higher level of cultural consciousness (‘we’re all in this together’) that is necessary to meet the challenges of our time,” he said.

Freeman graduated from Santa Clara University in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in economics before getting his MBA at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He started his career in the computer industry before transitioning to teaching in 2000. Seven Los Altos High School teacher Robert Freeman founded One Dollar years later with the help of a few dediFor Life to empower teens to make a difference, $1 at a time. cated students, Freeman put his model into action.

When Freeman and a group of students flew to Ke- with Freeman and One Dollar to send 452 bicycles to nya to build the school, he saw the impact One Dollar Africa so children could travel to school from greater could have on children living in Third World countries distances. One Dollar also helped six of the schools and how students in America could help. set up bicycle-repair shops to teach the students a voStudents get a “real tangible connection” to the cational skill. Afterwards, Palo Alto Kiwanis wrote a project because pictures of the completed projects proposal to Kiwanis International asking that Freeman are emailed to every participating American school. be selected for the prestigious annual World Service The back-office operations to man the telephone and Medal award given to individuals who have “signifithe website (odfl.org) are paid by private individuals cantly enhanced the quality of life for a noteworthy and foundations so that every dollar from the students number of people.” When they were turned down, Jim goes directly to nongovernmental organizations in de- Phillips, chair of the Palo Alto chapter’s International veloping countries to build schools and finance other Committee, said: “If we can’t get them to give him an projects. In addition, each year, Freeman and a hand- award, why don’t we do it?” ful of students visit one or two project sites to help in Thus, the Angel Award was created to celebrate construction. an individual or organization who mentors and im“Our kids come back, and they are transformed people. pacts children in the community and throughout the They see people living, I’m telling you, on the threshold world. of existence ... people were drinking out of (polluted) The first annual Angel Award cocktail event will take creeks because that’s where the water is,” said Freeman, place Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Palo Alto from 5:30 to choking up. He hopes to instill in American students the 7:30 p.m. with State Sen. Joe Simitian serving as masfive “Cs” to shape a better world: connection, compe- ter of ceremonies. Proceeds will benefit the Eliminate tence, compassion, cooperation and creativity.

Project, a partnership between Kiwanis International Through One Dollar, Freeman is working to get chil- and UNICEF dedicated to eliminating maternal and dren in developing countries complete access to food, neonatal tetanus, a disease that kills mothers and nearly education and health care by providing transportation 60,000 newborns yearly. The Palo Alto Kiwanis Club to schools, educated teachers and necessary nutrients. has pledged to raise $100,000 in the next five years.

He visited an orphanage in Kenya where children grew This year, One Dollar will be completing six new their own gardens for food but had no source of protein projects ranging from a new, $15,000 birthing center in their diet. When he returned, Freeman convinced in Nepal to providing 30 netbooks to students at an alla Jordan Middle School teacher to do a fundraiser in girls school in Kenya. which the students raised enough money to buy two “It is a change-the-world idea that is actually workmilk cows. The milk provides the orphan children with ing,” Freeman said. enough protein for eight years.

“If we can get every high school student to give $1, In five years, One Dollar has raised approximately we can build more than a thousand schools every year $209,000 from middle and high school students and in the developing world — for a dollar. The idea was if has completed numerous projects including sending 250 everyone does the smallest bit, but everyone does it, the tennis shoes to students in Malawi and buying 20 piglets effect can be enormous,” he said. N Editorial Intern Lisa Kellman can be emailed at to save 20 Nepalese girls from being sold into slavery.

The Palo Alto Kiwanis Club initially teamed up lkellman@paweekly.com.

W It’s not just wishful thinking.

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Senator Joe Simitian Assemblymen Rich Gordon, Jerry Hill Mayor Yiaway Yeh Educators Susan Charles, Diane Rolfe, Susie Stewart “Camille’s collaboration and experience on critical academic and fiscal issues continues to earn my appreciation and support. I support Camille’s re-election for School Board.” - Senator Joe Simitian “Camille places top priority on ensuring the best education - academic, physical, and social-emotional - for each of our students.” Former PAUSD School Board President Mandy Lowell Visit camilletownsend.com for many more endorsements.

WE ENDORSE Camille Townsend PAUSD, City Council, & Other Elected Officials (*current) Ray Bacchetti Hillary Freeman Jack Morton Betsy Bechtel* Walt Hays Amado Padilla Bern Beecham Greg Scharff* Karen Holman* Laura Casas Frier Yoriko Kishimoto Greg Schmid* Melissa B. Caswell* Liz Kniss* Bruce Swenson* Peter Drekmeier Cathy Kroymann John Tuomy Sid Espinosa* Grace Mah* Lanie Wheeler Gary Fazzino Barb Mitchell* FPPC# 1350204 Page 10ÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

Veronica Weber

WE ENDORSE CAMILLE TOWNSEND

Upfront

Mikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

(continued from page 3)

Fire chief

(continued from page 9)

the consulting firms TriData and the ICMA Center for Public Safety Excellence, which noted that the total number of emergency medical incidents in Palo Alto went up from 2,742 in 2000 to 4,070 in 2009, a 48 percent increase.

In a statement, Keene lauded Nickelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning and mentoring future leaders, as well as collaborating with the community.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;These skills are essential as we continue to move forward to build a sustainable model of fire service for the future,â&#x20AC;? Keene said.

In addition to his duties at the Novato Fire District, Nickel currently serves as a director on the board of

Jocelyn Dong

the late John Piazza Sr., who was Brentwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s district supervisor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was my mentor when it came to groceries,â&#x20AC;? Werness said of Piazza.

Werness entered the field as a teenager, rising from a Purity Market bagger who earned $3.65 an hour to â&#x20AC;&#x201D; most recently â&#x20AC;&#x201D; manager of Monterey Market in Berkeley. His father was also in the business.

Mikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is not Wernessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first stab at owning and operating a grocery store. Twenty years ago, he and a partner opened a warehouse supermarket in Oroville along the lines of Food 4 Less. But there were too many factors of running a business that he overlooked, he said, recalling the rough experience. After twoand-a-half years, he got out.

But his dream didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t die. A lover of food and cooking, he continued to learn all aspects of the business, working for years at the Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market, waiting for the opportunity to try again.

Over time, he got to know people with whom he worked well. Many of them are now department heads in his new store. And food vendors heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked with over the years are now supplying Mikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, he said.

Mike Myers, the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of meat operations and a former employee at Berkeley Bowl, has followed Werness to Palo Alto. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked in markets for more than 40 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun â&#x20AC;&#x201D; developing it and seeing it through,â&#x20AC;? Myers said, waxing rhapsodic over grassfed beef from Uruguay, organic pork from Chico and the ranchers with whom he has developed good relations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At our age, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not in it to get wealthy.â&#x20AC;?

Some people might wonder about opening a grocery store in an area that, frankly, already has plenty to offer. From the 55,000-square-foot Whole Foods in Los Altos to the enduring Milk Pail Market in Mountain View to the just-opened Sprouts in the San Antonio Shopping Center, there are more than a dozen markets within 5 square miles.

But looking at the numbers, and Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s income per household, Werness believes the area can sustain his store as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a real interest in organics

Michael â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mikiâ&#x20AC;? Werness stands in his new grocery store, Mikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farm Fresh Market, at Alma Plaza in Palo Alto on Wednesday, Oct. 10. (here). People care about what they feed their families,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In addition, he said, he thinks his market will appeal to residents in a university town. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They cook. They read. They travel,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Socially, they do more things around food,â&#x20AC;? like invite their book clubs over for a meal.

And, they seek out unique tastes, he added.

As the name of the store suggests, produce will have a starring role in the market, taking up the biggest portion of the floor space, he noted.

In search of farm freshness, his buyers go to markets in South City, San Francisco and the East Bay to pick out fruits and vegetables. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They look at the produce. They cut the produce,â&#x20AC;? he said.

From his work in Berkeley, Werness said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learned the importance of organic foods, of treating farmers right and of getting to know his customers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take some time to feel out what Palo Altans in particular want to buy, but Werness pledges to look into special requests and give attentive customer service.

On a fast-paced tour of the store recently, he explained the various sections, some already filled with food, some not: grab-and-go dinners, such as the ubiquitous rotisserie chickens, a large selection of Asian spices, a cheese counter, desserts in glass cases, a deli, a juice bar, a beer and wine section, bulk

foods and more.

He is also creating a private label, Mikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farm Fresh Market, that will offer everything from biscotti to salsa to coffee beans.

Still, with just 17,000 square feet of space, Werness knows he has to choose which products to emphasize and which to scale back on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not trying to be everything to everyone,â&#x20AC;? Werness said, adding that he wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be selling ties, hats or coffee pots.

There are, however, a few shelves of pharmaceutical goods, a small display for greeting cards, and a rack with hammers and wrenches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going crazy with lightbulbs,â&#x20AC;? he said, pointing to just two varieties on the shelf.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been two decades since Oroville. This week, an older and wiser Werness walked around his store like a host preparing for a party, greeting and directing his staff. A deliveryman who apparently knew Werness from Berkeley greeted him with a hearty handshake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was wondering where you were!â&#x20AC;? the deliverer said, smiling.

With his staff of more than 60 people hired, the grocery veteran seemed prepared to have his dream come true. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to rock and roll in Palo Alto,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like work. This is fun.â&#x20AC;? N Editor Jocelyn Dong can be emailed at jdong@paweekly.com.

the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Novato Program and the Novato Human Needs Center. Nickel called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;an honor to be selected as the City of Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next Fire Chief.â&#x20AC;? He will receive an annual salary of $184,830. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My passion is community leadership and organizational excellence. It is exciting to be part of an extraordinary community with innovative, educated and passionate advocates,â&#x20AC;? Nickel said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am eager to lead the dedicated, talented and professional men and women of the Fire Department to engage the community and generate shared solutions to make life safer.â&#x20AC;? N

New schools

Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

(continued from page 9)

from 29.9 percent six years ago to 37.1 percent this year; a growth of Hispanic enrollment from 9 percent six years ago to 10.5 percent this year; and a decline in AfricanAmerican enrollment from 3.7 percent six years ago to 3 percent this year. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

TALK ABOUT IT

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www.PaloAltoOnline.com Do you favor re-opening Garland Elementary School, Greendell or both to accommodate Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing population of students? Talk about the issue on Town Square, the community discussion forum on Palo Alto Online.

!

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Upfront

Train part catapults into Palo Alto car

News Digest

Large, heavy piece smashed into parked car after flying over homes, street

Schools report improved scores

TRANSPORTATION

Better test scores among disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students contributed to a bump in the Academic Performance Index (API) score of Palo Alto public schools, which was publicly released Thursday by the California Department of Education.

District-wide, Palo Alto’s score jumped from 926 to 934, placing it in the top six K-12 districts in California.

The five K-12 districts coming in ahead of Palo Alto were San Marino, at 954; La Cañada at 950; Piedmont at 938; Manhattan Beach at 937 and Sunol Glen at 936.

Palo Alto logged API growth “across all numerically significant subgroups, with the greatest API gains across students who are socio-economically disadvantaged, Hispanic and English learners,” the district said in a press release.

Fourteen of the district’s 17 individual campuses — all but Addison, Hoover and Nixon elementary schools — saw API gains.

Although Hoover’s score remained unchanged from last year, it was still good enough to make it the fifth highest-scoring elementary school in California.

Palo Alto’s three middle schools are among the top 55 highest-scoring in California, and Gunn and Palo Alto high schools respectively were the 27th and 49th highest-scoring on the API. The API score reflects school-wide and district-wide performance on California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program and on the California High School Exit Exam. N — Chris Kenrick

by Sue Dremann mysterious object that slammed into a parked Chevrolet Suburban in Palo Alto earlier this week has been identified as part of a train. But the part is from a Union Pacific locomotive, not a commuter train, Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said on Thursday, Oct. 11.

The object, a 1-foot-long, 20pound hunk of molded material with two large bolts, ripped into the car sometime between Monday night, Oct. 8, or Tuesday morning, initially confounding Palo Alto police and the vehicle’s owner.

Was it a bird? Was it a plane?

Resident Daniel Peters discovered the huge gash in the tailgate of his black SUV when he went to take his children to school on Tuesday morning. The heavy object was embedded amid the torn metal and could not be extracted, he said.

Peters said he last saw his intact vehicle in front of his home in the 4200 block of Newberry Court, on Monday at about 10 p.m. Newberry ends at Park Boulevard, which parallels the train tracks.

At first, he thought the car had been vandalized, but he had second

A

Courtesy Daniel Peters

(continued on page 13)

Prowler eludes police in Duveneck manhunt

Part of a passing train lodged in a Chevrolet Suburban that was parked in Palo Alto.

1MH 4IRMRWYPE ,MKL 7GLSSP OPEN HOUSE Saturday, October 20, 2012 10:30am-Noon

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A prowler in the backyard of a home on Tulip Lane eluded Palo Alto police on Tuesday, Oct. 9, after a homeowner spotted him hopping a fence in her backyard, police said. But while police hunted for the man, another resident flagged down an officer to report that his home on nearby Wildwood Lane had been burglarized.

The Tulip Lane resident saw the man jump the fence into the rear of the yard at about 1:30 p.m. and called police immediately. Officers set up a perimeter around the neighborhood to try to catch the man but could not find him, Sgt. Kara Apple said.

The man is described as Caucasian, in his late 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds and with a slight build. He had light-brown hair and wore a turquoise-and-white-striped shirt and light pants.

While police sought the prowler, a resident in the 600 Block of Wildwood near Channing Avenue flagged down a patrol car and reported that his home had been burglarized. Apple said the report for the theft had not yet been completed.

Residents have been concerned about the recent uptick in burglaries in their neighborhood, and many are looking into obtaining surveillance equipment and developing community crime-fighting strategies, they said. N — Sue Dremann

Police release sketch of suspected burglar Palo Alto police have released a sketch of a man wanted in connection with the burglary of a home in the 1000 block of Arrowhead Way Thursday, Oct. 4, Sgt. Kara Apple stated in a press release last weekend.

Apple said a resident “got a clear view” of the burglar as he fled the area at approximately 9 a.m.

The resident said she had left her house at 8:30 a.m. “to run a quick errand.” She returned home about 20 minutes later to find that it had been burglarized, Apple stated.

After returning home the resident stayed in her car in the driveway for a few minutes, according to Apple. She heard a car door slam and noticed a man get into the driver’s seat of a black four-door BMW sedan that was parked nearby. The resident made eye contact with the man before getting out of her car, at which point he sped away, police stated.

The resident then noticed her front door was unlocked even though she remembered locking it when she left, according to Apple. Upon entering her home the woman realized some of her belongings had been moved and that a tablet computer and a video-game console had been stolen.

Officers found that the burglar had “entered a side yard gate, removed a screen and climbed into the home through an open bathroom window,” Apple stated.

The suspected burglar was described as a white male, approximately 20 to 35 years old, with a fair complexion and a medium build. He had short blond hair, no facial hair and no earrings, according to the resident.

He was last seen driving southbound on Aztec Way from Arrowhead.

Anyone with information about the burglary can call the Palo Alto Police Department’s 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or by text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984. N —Tyler Hanley LET’S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at PaloAltoOnline.com

Upfront

Train part

(continued from page 12)

thoughts when he saw the size of the object and the trajectory of the large slash. It seemed to have come from above.

“My sister said, ‘No, a part of a plane fell on it,’” he said Tuesday afternoon.

Peters gazed toward the train tracks across the street, which are hidden by a row of houses. He marveled that an object of that size could be hurled with such force that it would fly over homes where people were sleeping, cross Park and slice a hole into his car on the side street.

“It must have exploded. It’s hard to believe it came this far,” he said.

Palo Alto police Sgt. Kara Apple said on Tuesday that traveling at high speed, a shattered object of such size could be flung quite far.

“We were all saying, ‘Thank God no one was outside. Thank God a car wasn’t driving down the street and was struck,’” she said.

Police did not immediately know what the object could be. But Peters’ body-shop repairman had an idea. It looked like part of a train fan housing, and it was marked “UP 9999,” Peters said. He said he did not yet know the extent and cost to repair the vehicle, but the body shop said the damage was extensive, Peters added.

Union Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt initially said on Tuesday that there were no reports of a Union Pacific incident in Palo Alto.

But Dunn on Wednesday said Caltrain would work with authorities to identify the object and would inspect its trains. On Thursday morning, she had an answer.

“Caltrain has inspected all of its equipment and none of our equipment is missing any parts. We have also inspected the part and identified it as the cover of cooling fan, which is located on the top of a locomotive. We have also identified the part as coming from a Union Pacific locomotive. We are in the processing of notifying Union Pacific,” she stated in an email.

Palo Alto police spokesman Lt. Zach Perron on Thursday referred further comment to Union Pacific.

“I received word that the part has been identified as coming from a Union Pacific locomotive that had stopped in San Francisco, according to a colleague of mine with the San Mateo County Transit Police,” he wrote in an email.

Hunt said that Union Pacific is continuing to investigate and officials are in touch with local authorities.

“UP locomotive 9999 was not in California on the evening in question,” he said in an email on Thursday. “Since we are still in the process of investigating, I am unable to comment on what Caltrain is sharing with you.”

But he said he should know more on Friday. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

SEE MORE ONLINE

www.PaloAltoOnline.com Additional photos of the damaged Suburban have been posted on Palo Alto Online.

CityView

A round-up of Palo Alto government action this week

Board of Education (Oct. 9)

Counseling: The board heard reports from high school principals about reforms to guidance-counseling programs and informally advised the principals to collaborate on the purpose of counseling and how to measure success. Action: None Enrollment: The board heard a report on official enrollment figures for the 2012-13 school year. Action: None

Planning & Transportation Commission (Oct. 10) Heights: The commission discussed the possibility of modifying zoning regulations regarding height limits. Commissioners said they would be open to relaxing the 50foot height limit for new developments but only in certain locations and after extensive public outreach. Action: None

Council Rail Committee (Oct. 11)

Caltrain: The committee discussed with Caltrain officials the ongoing analysis of grade crossings and traffic impacts of upcoming improvements to the Caltrain corridor. The committee also heard an update about the memorandum of understanding between Caltrain and the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Action: None

Online This Week

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

Cynthia graduated with a Bachelor in Theatre from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City.

Bar Association president-elect named Palo Alto attorney Dianne Sweeney will serve as the Santa Clara County Bar Association’s president-elect for 2013 and will automatically assume the office of president in 2014, the association has announced. (Posted Oct. 11 at 9:40 a.m.)

Rite Aid to pay $800,000 for false advertising Rite Aid Corporation has agreed to pay $800,000 for false and deceptive advertising. The company has settled a civil law-enforcement suit with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and DA offices in Riverside and Ventura counties, the Santa Clara County DA has announced. (Posted Oct. 11 at 9:14 a.m.)

Study released on life in Santa Clara County A study released Wednesday, Oct. 10, on life in Santa Clara County shows that while the majority of people are satisfied with their quality of life, financial and economic issues are also a major source of stress.

(Posted Oct. 11 at 8:22 a.m.)

Stanford energy facility to cut carbon in half A new Stanford energy facility that could reduce campus carbon emissions by 50 percent, cut water use by 18 percent and save the university an estimated $300 million in the next 35 years broke ground Wednesday, Oct. 10, the university announced. (Posted Oct. 10 at 10:59 a.m.)

Gov. Brown issues order to help reduce gas prices The California Air Resources Board announced Sunday evening, Oct. 7, that it is easing certain restrictions on gasoline production in response to a directive issued by Gov. Jerry Brown. (Posted Oct. 8 at 2:18 p.m.)

Palo Alto woman dies in crash on I-880 A woman who was killed in a crash on southbound Interstate Highway 880 in Fremont Saturday morning, Oct. 6, has been identified by the Alameda County coroner’s bureau as 49-year-old Palo Alto resident Charla Suzette Smoot Pate. (Posted Oct. 6 at 8:04 p.m.)

Two homicides reported in East Palo Alto Friday

As a Residential Life and World Languages Faculty member, Cynthia is involved in student’s lives on just about every level. If she’s not working in the dorms, she can be found in the classroom, teaching 6th Grade French, or in the Performing Arts Center, assistant directing and stage managing Priory’s theatrical productions.

As a 2005 Priory graduate, Cynthia was active in the Performing Arts department and continues sharing her passion for the arts with current students in the Priory.

Cynthia also has a strong interest in volunteering and has worked at the Stanford Jazz Workshop for the past 12 summers and volunteers once a week at Hidden Villa leading school groups on tours of the farm and wilderness.

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO: Woodside Prior y School

Police are investigating two fatal shootings that occurred three blocks apart in East Palo Alto Friday night, Oct. 5. (Posted Oct. 6 at 1:29

Admissions Office 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 650/851-8223 ■ www.PrioryCa.org

p.m.)

Councilman Schmid recovering from heart surgery Palo Alto City Councilman Greg Schmid is in recovery mode after undergoing an unplanned coronary bypass surgery at Sequoia Hospital Wednesday, Oct. 3. (Posted Oct. 5 at 2:04 p.m.)

Crash on I-280 in Woodside injures two All southbound lanes of Interstate 280 were reopened Friday morning, Oct. 5, following a solo-vehicle crash near the Woodside Road offramp that injured two people, the California Highway Patrol reported.

OPEN HOUSE

for Prospective Students and Families

Saturday, November 10th, 2012 at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 8th, 2012 at 10 a.m.

For information and to R.S.V.P. contact Admissions at 650.851.8223

(Posted Oct. 5 at 9:22 a.m.)

ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 13

Upfront

Pension reform (continued from page 3)

ate impact on the city’s fiscal situation, they are expected to pay off big in the long run. According to a new report from the city’s Human Resources Department, the city expects to save about $11,000 in fiscal year 2015. The savings are expected to rise to $120,000 in 2022.

The change comes at a time when state and city officials throughout California are looking for ways to bring down rapidly rising pension and health care costs. Pension reform has been a major component

Page 14ÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

of Gov. Jerry Brown’s legislative agenda, and he scored a major victory last month when the state Legislature approved reforms raising the retirement age for newly hired state workers and requiring more contributions by employees toward their pensions.

Palo Alto officials have been pursuing pension and health care reforms since 2008 and reached their first milestone in 2009, when they added a second pension tier to their agreement with the Service Employees International Union, Local 521, which represents more than half of the city’s workforce. The city subsequently reached similar agreements with its non-unionized group of

managers and professionals, its firefighters union and, most recently, its police union.

The city has also been trying to get employees to pay for a greater share of their medical expenses.

While the city has traditionally picked up the entire tab, its new agreements require employees to pay up to 10 percent of the medical costs. The topic of cost-sharing between the city and its employees is expected to loom large in the council’s discussion.

Other questions that the four council members had posed in the memo and that the council is expected to start tackling next week include: “Should the city move toward fixed health benefit contributions?”; “What retirement age would make for a proper transition to Medicare coverage for retiree health care?”; and “How can the city provide greater employee choice in health benefits?”

The council members argue in their memo that the rising costs of benefits has reduced the funds the city has available for services and infrastructure. The proportion of employee benefits to salaries has risen from 23 percent in 2002 to 54 percent in 2010 to 63 percent in 2012. Benefit costs are expected to exceed salaries by 2022, according to the city’s Long Range Financial Forecast.

According to the Human Resources Department report, an employee with a $50,000 salary received benefits valued at about $11,500 in 2002. Today, those benefits are valued at $31,500.

The Human Resources Department recommends holding three public discussions on issues related to “innovations in employee pension, medical, compensation” and “other benefits related to employee engagement, recruitment and retention strategies.” The report stresses that the city’s efforts to reduce costs should be coupled with a push to retain its workforce despite the less-lucrative benefits. Over the last three years, the city has seen a huge spike in retirements from workers in response to the benefit reductions.

“In the end, we are concerned with not only managing costs but support for a high quality of life in Palo Alto through delivery of quality services,” the report states.

Schmid, who proposed the memo, said during a discussion in July that the idea for the public conversation was prompted by the reforms Brown had been pursuing at the state level.

Scharff said he was glad the city’s consideration of future reforms for employee compensation will take place in a public forum rather than in closed sessions, as is typically the case.

“That’s a rare opportunity to think of this from a more holistic approach of what we’re doing as a city, what challenges we’re facing in terms of long-term deficits (and) how we’re going to retain services in the face of pension and medicalcare costs that are increasing dramatically compared to the revenues we’re getting,” Scharff said at the July 2 meeting. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 15

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

14.

15.

Title of Publication: Palo Alto Weekly Publication Number: 604-050 Date of Filing: October 1, 2012 Frequency of Issue: Weekly No. of Issues Published Annually: 52 Annual subscription price: $60 1 year Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto 94306-1507 Mailing Address of Headquarters of Publisher: Same Publisher: William S. Johnson, 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto 94306-1507 Editor: Jocelyn Dong, 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto 94306-1507 Managing Editor: None Stockholders owning 1% or more of the total amount of stock: Jean and Dexter Dawes, Shirley Ely, Trustee, Franklin P. Johnson, William S. Johnson & Teresa Lobdell, Marion Lewenstein, Trustee, Helen Pickering, Trustee, and Jeanne Ware, all of Palo Alto, California; Robert Heinen of Menlo Park, California; Margaret Haneberg of San Luis Obispo, California; Jerome I. Elkind of Portola Valley, California; Anthony Sloss of Santa Cruz, California; Derek van Bronkhorst of Campbell, California; Jon van Bronkhorst of Redwood City, California; Kort van Bronkhorst of Napa, California; Karen Sloss of Bellingham, Washington.

Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1% or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None.

Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 28, 2012 Extent and Nature of Circulation Average no. of Actual no. of copies each issue copies of single during preceding issue nearest to 12 months filing date A. Total Number of Copies (Net press run)

33,260

33,500

1. Paid/Requested Outside Co. Mail Subscriptions

1,367

1,308

2. Paid/Requested In County

9,652

9,554

B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation

3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, and Counter Sales Street Vendors

7,816

7,657

C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation

18,835

18,519

D1. Free Distribution by Mail Outside-County

5,953

6,045

D2. Free Distribution by Mail Inside-County

0

0

D4. Free Distribution Outside the Mail

6,512

6,931

E. Total Free Distribution

12,465

12,976

F. Total Distribution

31,300

31,495

G. Copies not Distributed

1,960

2,005

H. Total

33,260

33,500

60.18%

58.80%

I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation

16. Publication of statement of Ownership: 10/12/2012 J Certify that the information furnished on this form is true and complete.

Michael I. Naar, CFO, Embarcadero Media

Pulse

A weekly compendium of vital statistics

POLICE CALLS Palo Alto Oct. 4-10 Violence related Child abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Domestic violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Family violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Misc. sex crime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Attempted burglary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Identity theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle related Driving w/suspended license . . . . . . . . .4 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .6 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .7 Vehicle impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Municipal code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Other/misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Outside investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .4 Terrorist threats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Warrant/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Menlo Park Oct. 4-10 Assault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Assault and battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle related Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Driving w/suspended license . . . . . . . . .4 False display of registration. . . . . . . . . . .1 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Recovered stolen vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .3 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .2 Alcohol or drug related Drug activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Narcotics registrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Failure to yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Gang information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Info case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Medical call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Missing adult. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Missing juvenile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Psychiatric evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Shots fired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Atherton Oct. 4-10 Theft related Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Suspicious vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle/traffic hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .1 Vehicle code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Miscellaneous Attempt to contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Construction complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Disturbance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Fire call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Hang-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Medical aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Narcotics offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Parking problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Possible elder abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Public works call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .2 Town ordinance violation . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Watermain break. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

VIOLENT CRIMES Palo Alto Unlisted block University Avenue, 10/5, 7:22 p.m.; family violence/battery.

Unlisted block San Antonio Road, 10/6, 2:45 a.m.; sex crime/misc.

Unlisted block Arastradero Road, 10/6, 1:04 p.m.; domestic violence.

Unlisted block Carolina Lane, 10/6, 10:08 p.m.; child abuse/physical.

Unlisted block El Camino Real, 10/7, 11:15 p.m.; family violence/battery.

Unlisted block Roosevelt Circle, 10/8, 8:04 p.m.; family violence/violation of court order.

Menlo Park 1200 block Crane Street, 10/4, 5:44 p.m.; assault and battery.

400 block Pope Street, 10/5, 8:09 a.m.; battery.

1400 block El Camino Real, 10/8, 3:04 p.m.; assault.

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Miriam Roth MacKenzie Miriam Roth MacKenzie died Oct. 3 at her home in Menlo Park, where she had lived for 62 years.

She was born in San Francisco on Jan. 8, 1917, and lived most of her life on the Peninsula. She was the daughter of Almon E. Roth and Mildred Hayes Roth and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Hayes of Edenvale, San Jose. She grew up living on the Stanford campus, where her father served as comptroller of the university for 18 years.

She attended Castilleja School in Palo Alto and graduated from Stanford in 1938. There she was president of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, graduated with great distinction and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa National Scholastic Honor Society.

In 1941, she married Alexander Scott Gray MacKenzie, who was then in Stanford Medical School.

He served for three-and-a-half years in the Navy Medical Corps during World War II, after which he returned to Stanford Hospital for his surgical residency. In 1950, he joined the Palo Alto Clinic and the family established a home in Menlo Park.

She lived a busy life occupied with the raising of her six children and participation in their activities. She also provided a home for two grandparents for 23 years and nine foreign students who came and went. She served as president of the Stanford Mother’s Club (now Parent’s Club) and volunteered for auxiliaries to Stanford Children’s Hospital (now Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital).

When her children were grown, she transferred her energies to cre-

ating and maintaining her garden.

The family’s love of the High Sierra resulted in many wonderful summer experiences in the High Country.

Dr. MacKenzie died in 2000. His wife is survived by her daughter, Alexandra Standing (Douglas) of Sunnyvale; her five sons, David (Helen) of Palo Alto, James (Janet) of Atherton, William of Menlo Park, Duncan (Phyllis) of College Station, Texas, and Donald (Janice) of Newark; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Private services will be held. The family requests any memorial donations be made to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, 222 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301; or the Roth Auxiliary at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Elizabeth Theresa Hiegel Elizabeth Theresa Hiegel, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, died Sept.

4 after a short bout with cancer. She was 83.

She was born in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 1929, to John and Marcella Martin, their sixth of seven children. After graduating from Immaculate Conception Academy and after a brief time in Nursing School and working for the phone company, she married the love of her life, Bill Hiegel, also of Davenport, Iowa, on Sept. 3, 1949. The two had four boys: Bill Jr., Tony, Steve and Terry (deceased), and six grandchildren.

In 1960, with a work opportunity, the family moved to Palo Alto, Calif. There she lived with her husband until his passing in 2007. A year later she moved to Claremont, Calif., and enjoyed her life with her beloved dog, Flirti, and close neighbor, Laura Mc Dermott.

She is survived by her sisters, Vir-

ginia Barnard and Jeanne Fuller; and her brother, Bob Martin. She was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Docery, and brothers, Fr. John Martin and Don Martin. N

Births Laila Dafik and Andy Chang of Menlo Park, a daughter, Sept.

26.

Samia McCully and Satya Vardharajan of Menlo Park, a daughter, Sept. 26.

Catherine and David Hyre of Palo Alto, a son, Sept. 28.

Deborah Mendes Jones and Matthew Jones of Atherton, a daughter, Sept. 28.

Clare Carron and Fred Bauermeister Jr. of Menlo Park, a son, Oct. 1.

Lizeth Sosa and Andrew Tinae of East Palo Alto, a son, Oct. 1.

Melody and Brett Westervelt of Menlo Park, a daughter, Oct. 2.

Laura and Victor Patterson of Menlo Park, a son, Oct. 3.

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Visit

Lasting Memories An online directory of obituaries and remembrances.

Search obituaries, submit a memorial, share a photo.

PaloAltoOnline.com/ obituaries

The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto WE RECOMMEND .OVEMBER s 'ENERAL %LECTION PROP 30 Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act ...............YES

George Stewart Locke, Jr. Resident of Menlo Park George S. Locke Jr., naval aviator, commercial pilot and aeronautical engineer, passed away at home in Menlo Park on September 8, 2012.

Born in Hyattsville, MD on September 5, 1927, he was the son of George S. Locke Sr. and Mary Higdon Locke.

He joined the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet, entering their flight training program at age 17. He received his gold wings as a Naval Aviator in late 1948.

Shortly thereafter he was assigned to a Navy squadron flying in support of the Berlin Airlift. At age 21, he was the youngest pilot to fly in that historic humanitarian endeavor. He resigned from the active Navy and joined the Active Naval Reserve in 1953. Concurrent with his Naval Reserve flying, he attended Stanford University, graduating in 1956 with degrees in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. After several years as an aeronautical research scientist at NACA /NASA, he went back to flying and joined Pacific Airlines as

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a pilot in 1959. Later he combined his career as an airline pilot with his extensive accomplishments in aviation management technology to form a company, Locke & Associates, and became technical consultant to many airline and aircraft companies, eventually developing a complete flight system for use by commercial airlines.

He is survived by his wife Maureen and a loving extended family: sons, David and Robert; daughter, Carol; stepdaughters Laura Berthoud and Monica Horton; stepson Kevin Smethurst; daughters-in-law Mary and Paige, sonsin-law Bill, Charley and Dereck; 15 grandchildren, two great grandsons; brother Robert Locke; sister Liz Feeney; and many close friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 13 at 9:30 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Waverley and Homer Streets, Palo Alto. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Anthony’s Dining Room, 3500 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park 94025 PA I D

OBITUARY

PROP 31 Government Performance and Accountability Act .............. NO PROP 32 Special Exemptions Act ............. NO PROP 34 SAFE California Act ..................YES PROP 40 Referendum on Redistricting ...YES PROP 38 Tax for Education and Early Childhood Programs .......NEUTRAL PROP 39 Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses .....................NEUTRAL The League has not studied the issues in the following measures and so has no recommendations on Proposition 33 (Auto Insurance Rates), Proposition 35 (Human Trafficking), Proposition 36 (Three Strikes Reform) and Proposition 37 (Genetically Engineered Foods). ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 17

Book Talk

MEET THE AUTHORS ... Kepler’s Books’ grand reopening party is set for Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 7 to 10 p.m., kicking off with an interactive discussion with Michael Doyle and Christin Evans about Doyle’s new book, “Radical Chapters: Pacifist Bookseller Roy Kepler and the Paperback Revolution.” Other upcoming authors at Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, include: Greg Bardsley, “Cash Out: A Novel” (Oct. 13, 7 p.m.); Timothy Egan, “Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis” (Oct. 17, 7 p.m.); Jasper Fforde, “The Last Dragonslayer,” “The Woman Who Died a Lot: A Thursday Next Novel” (Oct. 18, 7 p.m.); Michael Chabon, “Telegraph Avenue” (Oct. 25, 7 p.m.); and Heidi Kling, Pam van Hylckama Vlieg and Lee Mackenzie, “Two and Twenty Dark Tales,” and Ingrid Paulson, “Valkyrie Rising” (Oct. 30, 7 p.m.). Info: keplers.com AT STANFORD ... Novelist Adam Johnson, will give a free talk on the techniques and joys of writing at Stanford University on Oct. 23, with writer and Stanford lecturer Hilton Obenzinger. The event is planned for 7:30 p.m. in Geology Corner (Building 320), Room 105. Other authors set to give free talks at Stanford include: Kathryn Lofton, “Oprah: The Gospel of an Icon” (Oct. 17, 5:15 p.m., Levinthal Hall in the Stanford Humanities Center); James Cuno, “Whose Muse? Art Museums and the Public’s Trust” (Oct. 18, 5:30 p.m., Annenberg Auditorium); Michael Erard, “Babel No More” (Oct. 24, 6 p.m., Stanford Bookstore); Catherine Albiston, “Institutional Inequality and the Mobilization of the Family and Medical Leave Act: Rights on Leave” (Oct. 25, 4:15 p.m., Bechtel International Center; and Alan Kubitz, “The Elusive Notion of Motion” (Oct. 25, 6 p.m., Stanford Bookstore). Info: events.stanford.edu BOOKS INC. BOOK TALKS ... Authors speaking at Books Inc. at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto this month include: Libba Bray, “The Diviners,” Malinda Lo, “Adaptation” and Rachel Cohn, “Beta,” all on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.; Debra Dean, “The Mirrored World” (Oct. 16, 7 p.m.); Lisa Stander-Horel and Tim Horel, “Gluten-Free Canteen’s Book of Nosh” (Oct. 18, 7 p.m.); Christy Hale, “Dreaming Up” (Oct. 20, 6 p.m.); Marilyn Yalom, “How the French Invented Love” (Oct. 24, 7 p.m.); Barbara Moritsch, “The Soul of Yosemite” (Oct. 29, 7 p.m.); and Lance McVay, “Lighthouse Tales” (Oct. 30, 7 p.m.). Info: booksinc.net

Title Pages A monthly section on local books and authors

by Gennady Sheyner “The Perilous Life of Symphony Orchestras,” by Robert J. Flanagan, Yale University Press, 240 pp., $50

W

hen the Philadelphia Orchestra announced in April 2011 its plan to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the news thundered through the arts community in the City of Brotherly Love like a gong in the middle of a Chopin sonata.

Since its founding in 1900, the beloved institution has risen to prominence as one of the nation’s Big Five, along with the New York, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland orchestras. But with expenses hovering far above revenues and labor concessions out of reach, the orchestra’s trustees decided that bankruptcy was the only way to close a gaping deficit. It became the largest orchestra in the nation’s history to file for Chapter 11.

To those who have been tracking trends in the symphonic scene, the move probably didn’t seem so jarring. Orchestras have never been cash cows. Even in the best of times, ticket

sales have consistently failed to cover performance costs, forcing musicians to rely on patrons, endowments and government grants for sustenance. These revenue sources become particularly critical during economic downturns, just as they become scarcer.

Still, bankruptcies have been limited largely to smaller organizations: the Louisville Orchestra in 2011, the Honolulu Orchestra in 2009 and the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003. Philadelphia’s was remarkable because of the prominence of the institution.

The financial crisis for orchestras has many sources, including unsustainable labor costs, a diminishing audience, a sluggish economy and dwindling government support.

So what’s an orchestra to do? That’s the question at the heart of “The Perilous Life of Symphony Orchestras: Artistic Triumphs and Economic Challenges,” a new book by Stanford professor Robert Flanagan. By collecting and analyzing data from dozens of American orchestras large and small, Flanagan offers a sober-minded and, as the title implies, sobering look at today’s symphony scene.

With an accountant’s precision, he tracks the

orchestras’ historic trends, pores through their financial books, and carefully tracks current and historic levels of private contributions, endowments, musician salaries and government support. He compares the business models of America’s orchestras to their counterparts abroad, analyzes the labor trends in the symphony scene and segregates the short-term impacts of economic recessions from the longer-term effect of the “cost disease” inherent in their business models. What emerges is a portrait of an industry filled with interrelated problems and few good solutions.

Not all of these problems are unique to orchestras. The most basic pitfall — expenditures that rise faster than revenues — is familiar to the auto industry, to name one of many possible examples. But orchestras have one distinct disadvantage. A carmaker may lay off workers or seek cheaper parts abroad; an orchestra can’t outsource its woodwind section to China during a performance of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” A carmaker can adopt technology to boost efficiency and improve the company’s productivity — the only sure-fire way to keep up with rising labor costs. But a concerto will

AN UNFINISHED

SYMPHONY STANFORD SCHOLAR ROBERT FLANAGAN DIGS INTO THE FINANCIAL TROUBLES OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS

OVER AT OSHMAN ... Palo Alto’s Oshman Family Jewish Community Center at 3921 Fabian Way also hosts author talks. Future speakers include: David Makovsky, “Beyond the Election: Middle East Challenges Facing the U.S. and Israel” (Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15), and Mordechai Bar-On, “Moshe Dayan: Israel’s Controversial Hero” (Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., $8-$15). Info: paloaltojcc.org.

Items for Book Talk may be sent to Associate Editor Carol Blitzer, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 93202 or emailed to cblitzer@paweekly.com by the last Friday of the month.

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Title Paages

Veronica Weber

Robert Flanagan, author of “The Perilous Life of Symphony Orchestras,” standing outside his office at Stanford University. take just as long to play during the good times and the bad.

This “cost disease” has become more irksome over time, as labor unions have begun to flex their collective-bargaining muscles, prompting labor costs to climb. Becoming a symphony musician is an arduous, highly competitive ordeal, with the supply of trained musicians far exceeding the demand. But, as Flanagan shows, those who make it tend to do well. In fact, as his analysis indicates, over the past two decades musicians’ compensation has been climbing at a faster rate than that of other professions. He found that

since 1987, the salary increases for orchestra musicians in his sample of American symphonies averaged 4.2 percent per year, compared to the 3.6 percent in salary increases received by other union and nonunion employees in the United States, on average.

“Pay increases for orchestra musicians also exceeded the pay gains of university teachers and health workers, who also work in sectors that have low productivity gains but face much stronger demand,” Flanagan writes. “In short, the pay of orchestra musicians not only kept up with pay increases elsewhere in the

economy, as suggested by the cost disease argument; their pay also increased more rapidly than the pay of most other groups of workers in the United States in the late 20th and early 21st Century.”

To make matters worse, Flanagan found that the wage increases musicians receive weren’t correlated with the orchestra’s financial performance. Instead, they were generally linked to how much the orchestra has received in private donations — hardly a formula for long-term stability.

Unsustainable labor costs aren’t the only problem. Audiences have been decreasing steadily but consistently, despite growth in the general population. According to a National Endowment for the Arts survey that Flanagan cites, 13 percent of polled adults reported in 1982 that they had attended at least one classical-music concert in the past year. By 2008, that number dropped to 9.3 percent.

Performance revenues made up 48 percent of orchestras’ total revenues in 1982, then fell to 37 percent in 2005.

Communities such as Philadelphia and Detroit, which have seen significant population declines, have been hit particularly hard. Interestingly enough, Flanagan found that a community’s population plays a much greater role in orchestra attendance than factors such as per capita income or unemployment.

Unfortunately for orchestras, that is one factor that they have absolutely no control over.

Flanagan’s book offers plenty of

advice for easing the financial pain through prudent financial management. A board of directors should diversify its orchestra’s investment portfolios and institute conflict-ofinterest policies to promote prudence (shockingly, only 60 percent currently have such policies). An orchestra manager should create more differentiation in ticket prices (that is, charge more for the most preferred seats and less for the least preferred ones) to get the most per ticket. Musicians should be aware of the orchestra’s financial picture when making compensation demands during negotiations.

But he also emphasizes that there is no “silver bullet” and cautions of “the futility of a single solution.”

Raising performance revenues, for example, may narrow the gap but it would take much more to eliminate it. “Even filling the concert hall — an ambitious goal for an industry usually selling 70 percent of its capacity — would not eliminate deficits at most orchestras,” Flanagan writes.

The same can be said about nonperformance income such as donations and government subsidies.

Flanagan concludes that nonperformance income growth alone is “unlikely to cover future structural budget deficits, unless supplemented with actions to narrow the deficit itself by both raising the growth of performance revenues and slowing the growth of expenses.”

Flanagan’s book is unlikely to cheer up a fan of classical music.

It offers a rare and unsparing look

inside a troubled industry where backstage problems often get obscured by front-stage polish. Some sections may sound a bit wonky for a general reader unconcerned about the methodologies trustees use in investing endowment proceeds, but anyone interested in getting the story behind the recent rash of orchestra bankruptcies will find plenty to like here.

But as “perilous” as the lives of symphony orchestras may be, Philadelphia’s experience also offers a glimmer of hope. On July 30, after more than 15 months of negotiations, the orchestra officially came out of bankruptcy with a plan that includes labor concessions; reduced rent from the Kimmel Center, the concert hall where the orchestra performs; and greater oversight over investments by the philanthropy group Annenberg Foundation.

Some issues remain unresolved.

There are contested claims from creditors and concerns about the departure of some musicians unhappy about the new labor conditions.

But orchestra administrators were happy to announce that the deal “addressed more than $100 million in claims, debts, and liabilities with a settlement of $5.49 million” and that the music is resuming this month, when the orchestra launches its new season.

For all the gloom and doom, a requiem for American symphony orchestras would be premature. N Staff writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

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COMMUNITY MEETING Review the proposed landscape beautification project scope for University Avenue Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 6:30 PM - 8 PM

Downtown Library, Community Room 270 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301 The City of Palo Alto seeks community input on this beautification project.

Email pwecips@cityofpaloalto.org for more information.

Meeting hosted by City of Palo Alto Public Works, (650) 617-3183 ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 19

Editorial

Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions

Caswell, Dauber, Emberling for school board

T

he last time there was an election for school board in Palo Alto was five years ago, just a few months after Superintendent Kevin Skelly had been hired to bring order to the chaos created by the board’s poor handling of the proposed new Mandarin Immersion program and a widespread lack of confidence in former Superintendent Mary Frances Callan.

The two top vote-getters in that 2007 election were thenchallengers Melissa Baten Caswell and Barbara Klausner, while Camille Townsend, the only incumbent running, barely beat out Wynn Hausser for the third slot by 200 votes.

After the 2009 election was cancelled because no one filed to oppose incumbents Barbara Mitchell and Dana Tom, this year there is not only a competitive race but a refreshing and serious discussion of issues.

Camille Townsend seeks a third term, something that no school board member has done in more than 40 years. If successful, Townsend would set a record of 13 years on the board by the time her term expired in 2016.

Caswell, a former high-tech marketing executive, seeks a second term, while the third incumbent, Klausner, decided against running for a second term due to frustrations over the role of the board and her ability to have an impact.

The two non-incumbents in the race are Ken Dauber, a Google software engineer and former college professor with a PhD in sociology and co-founder of We Can Do Better Palo Alto, a group devoted to improving the social and emotional well-being of kids and to closing the achievement gap, and Heidi Emberling, an early childhood parent education specialist at Parents Place, a non-profit supporting families and teachers, and a former president of the Juana Briones PTA. The last five years have seen unprecedented emotional highs and lows for the schools and the kids and parents in our community.

On the positive side, in 2008 voters overwhelmingly approved both a $378 million bond measure and in 2010 an extension and increase of a parcel tax (to $589/year.) These two measures have enabled badly-needed construction and renovation of new classrooms, athletic facilities and school infrastructure, and provided a steady revenue flow to stabilize district annual budgets during uncertain economic times.

The fortuitous timing of the bond measure, passed just prior to the stock market crash and the onset of the Great Recession in 2008, enabled the district to get much more favorable construction bids than expected and to stretch the dollars. Unlike with the previous bond measure, this one has been managed exceedingly well.

The school board also developed a strong strategic plan in 2008 that has actually been used to develop the district’s annual goals and priorities over the last several years.

Tragedy, in the form of five teen suicides in 2009 and 2010, has had a powerful impact on the district, especially faculty, students and families at Gunn. This brought renewed examination of values and priorities and major new initiatives to address the social and emotional needs of kids and the stress caused by the high expectations of parents, peers and the school system.

The community’s despair over the suicides also gave rise to Project Safety Net (PSN), a collaborative of community organizations, the city, school district and concerned individuals committed to a comprehensive response to the needs of Palo Alto youth.

We Can Do Better Palo Alto, the grass-roots group cofounded by Dauber and his wife last year, became a consistent prod to the district to make these efforts a top priority, and an advocate for using better data analysis to aid policy decisions, especially in the realm of high school counseling.

While groups in the PSN collaborative opted not to use their influence and take positions on issues in front of the school board, We Can Do Better Palo Alto advocated for measures to reduce student stress, including a change in the school calendar, a district homework policy and enforcement of designated no-homework days, and adoption of a unified counseling system modeled after the teacher advisory system used at Palo Alto High School. While its criticism and aggressive style has made some uncomfortable and put the board and superintendent on the defensive, it succeeded in bringing valuable new information, perspectives and analysis to many issues, and in creating better results.

All of the candidates in this race are thoughtful, caring parents who are committed to outstanding and rigorous academic programs and making sure our schools continue to be among the best in California and the nation. They also all acknowledge that the achievement culture in our community and the high stress it has created demand attention.

Such qualities and viewpoints do not, however, correlate with leadership or effective governance.

The current board has had five years without a change in composition, coinciding with the first five years of Superintendent Skelly’s tenure with the district. Each trustee has had a turn as board president during this period, and the opportunity to work closely with Skelly in his first-time role as a district superintendent.

But rather than a steadily improving competence and confidence in its decision-making, the process of engaging the public and its oversight of the superintendent, the board has struggled with almost every important issue to come before it.

Having observed dozens of school board members and hundreds of meetings over more than 30 years, we believe the current group suffers from having neither a superintendent nor board leader who excels at formulating clear recommendations and leading effective discussions that conclude with formal motions and votes.

The result is frequently a meandering, undisciplined discussion in which each board member talks, often making useful suggestions, but that ends without clarity. The board therefore functions more like a sounding board for the staff, which must then figure out how to translate five different voices into policy.

There is no better example of this process than the board’s clumsy attempts to ensure both high schools have “comparable” counseling programs. Identified as a priority four long years ago in the 2008 strategic plan, the board and superintendent’s mismanagement of this process has created distrust, unclear direction and continued confusion as to just how similar the board wants the counseling programs to be.

Amazingly, the board has never actually had a discussion or vote to determine whether a board majority actually favors establishing a single “best practice” counseling model, regardless of what it is, at the two high schools.

School district voters, which includes about half of Los Altos Hills, should not settle for this passive form of governance.

So which candidates are best equipped to bring improvements in the way the board operates?

We are confident only about Melissa Baten Caswell and Ken Dauber. Each of them has a firm grasp of the governance problems, is willing to assert the board’s responsibility to make decisions and places a high value on transparency and parent participation. Both have experience in corporate decision-making yet acknowledge that a public institution can’t run like a business and needs to build support among all stakeholders in the school community. We think together they could provide the type of board leadership that could fix many of the problems identified above.

ELECTION

2012

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For the third seat, we cannot support Camille Townsend, who we also declined to support when she ran for reelection four years ago.

Townsend’s PTA work and her tireless efforts to beat back attempts to cut state support for Palo Alto schools back in 2002 and 2003 propelled her to victory in 2003, and no one cares more about kids and the school district.

But as much clarity as she has in private conversations about school policy, she has not brought it to the public process, where it really counts. As recent email disclosures have shown, she says one thing in public and another in private.

As board president, where a trustee’s influence is greatest, Townsend has consistently opted to use the role to carry the superintendent’s water rather than construct meeting agendas so that important issues were teed up for a focused policy discussion and decision by the board.

Only in the most extraordinary circumstances should anyone serve three terms on a local elected body. This is not one of those times.

How Heidi Emberling will function as a board member is difficult to predict because over the years she has opted to observe meetings rather than advocate for her point of view.

She is knowledgeable, articulate and passionate, and her professional background as an early childhood education specialist would be a unique addition to the board.

She raises concerns about student stress and the social and emotional needs of students, particularly related to bullying, the lack of clarity of goals or policy options when the board is dealing with controversial issues, and the strong tilt in the district toward site-based decision-making. She believes teachers need more “cultural competence” in order to more effectively work to close the achievement gap.

A former journalist, she advocates for more transparency in district-board operations and communications. As a mother of 4th and 6th graders, she also would be a voice for parents of younger students, a rarity on the school board.

We recommend Melissa Baten Caswell, Ken Dauber and Heidi Emberling as the best group to move the school district forward.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? The Palo Alto Weekly encourages comments on our coverage or on issues of local interest.

?

Do you think the school district should consider opening a 13th elementary school?

Check out Town Square!

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

On Deadline Camera-armed residents fight back against spike in Palo Alto burglaries

by Jay Thorwaldson tunned into action by a wave of brazen daylight home and auto burglaries in recent months, Palo Alto residents and neighborhood groups are rallying to defend their property and community.

A surge in interest in home-surveillance systems — candid cameras, in short — is one of the main components in their arsenal of action items.

Several neighborhood organizations have already made good use of the Internet, with real-time alerts when someone gets robbed or burgled, or something seems out of place.

Some networks have been around for years, creating tight bonds among those signed on.

There is frustration among neighborhood leaders as to how to get more people linked, whether for general neighborhood news or to encourage emergency preparedness.

Perhaps the burglars who have found easy pickings in Palo Alto might leave behind a positive side-effect — more cohesive neighborhoods — as some of them, at least, head off to jail or prison. An old adage is that having a common enemy unites folks.

The online alerts are now being augmented by face-to-face meetings, such as three in the past two weeks — one of them Wednesday night in the Crescent Park area of north Palo Alto.

Jim Lewis is one of the leaders of the drive for more secure neighborhoods. He’s active both in the Crescent Park Neighborhood As-

S

sociation and in the Edgewood neighborhood group.

Lewis hosted a meeting in his home a week ago last Saturday and the Edgewood group held a meeting in a home the next day, Sunday.

About 36 persons attended, several of whom expressed interest in surveillance systems.

Attendees included residents from the area where Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and football great Steve Young live. Young and his wife attended one meeting. Zuckerberg was a fresh victim, with numerous laptops stolen from a Facebook building in Palo Alto — for which two young men have been arrested. Not a “residential” burglary, but that’s a lot of laptops.

“Research is being done in preparation for our next monthly meeting scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 28,” Lewis reported. He hopes “for a more definitive answer” as to the best type of system to install.

“In the meantime, several neighbors have camera systems already,” he notes. One neighbor has done extensive research, after a bad experience with his initial purchase.

Barron Park and Midtown neighborhoods also have responded with a surging interest in protection, circulating tips and holding sessions on how to improve security of one’s home or car.

Palo Alto police are direct participants in the prevention efforts, on top of a major response to the crime wave in which police presence has doubled in neighborhoods during the prime “burglary hours” of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There was a sharp burglary spike in the first three months of 2012. Things cooled off somewhat in May, June and July but rose sharply again in August and early September before tapering off in late September.

Early in the year, police launched a “Lock It or Lose It!” awareness effort, noting that a majority of burglaries involve unlocked doors or windows, or cars.

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 10, there were 151 reported burglaries, up about 50 percent from three prior years. There was a surge of 130 burglaries reported in 2008.

Police Chief Dennis Burns, who attended a neighborhood meeting Wednesday night, told the Weekly that the department has not done a comparison of systems — yet. But he agreed several features that would help nab burglars would be clarity of image, low-light sensitivity, multiple cameras and ease of downloading information for quick access by police, either via the Internet or a tiny thumb-drive device.

Such systems “can be very beneficial” in terms of helping make arrests, he said. And some systems are “dirt cheap” compared to systems not too many years back that would be a major investment, he noted.

So far, no one is seriously proposing a cityoperated camera system in neighborhoods, although some residents have mentioned that possibility.

That would raise significant concerns about invasion of privacy of residents and public by a government entity. But a proliferation of privately owned surveillance systems not linked to any official network doesn’t seem as threatening to many. No “Big Brother” on watch here, just us Little Brother residents with cameras aimed at our own homes.

There’s also a touch of irony: The upsurge in neighborhood togetherness parallels a positive neighborhood-cohesiveness effort by Mayor Yiaway Yeh, as part of his goal as mayor to enhance “community” in the community. The city is looking at “neighborhood grants” for

projects or programs to help achieve closeness.

The two efforts may complement each other. The end result might well be more people who get to know each other, either in response to Yeh’s outreach efforts or the crisis of crime, and who then find themselves engaged in a broader range of activities than block parties or crime-prevention meetings.

There can be downsides. Some residents with dogs for home protection (one of the best methods) have found that they also have unhappy neighbors — if their dogs bark too much at too little.

In one online comment, a Community Center resident posted: “I have two watch dogs for protection since I live alone.

“Unfortunately, my neighbor is a hostile, grumpy old man who hates dogs and threatens me when my dogs bark. My dogs only bark if they hear someone near my fence area.

“Maybe my grumpy, mean ol’ neighbor should be thankful my dogs protect the neighborhood!

“Anyone have suggestions on how to deal with a hostile neighbor who leaves threatening notes? Cheers, and everyone please lock up, and stay safe!”

Cookies? With an apology for the barking?

Meanwhile, in terms of increased surveillance, does anyone recall the children’s book of many years ago, with the theme: “There is a WatchBird watching you.”

Welcome back, WatchBird. N Former Weekly Editor Jay Thorwaldson can be emailed at jthorwaldson@ paweekly.com with a copy to jaythor@ well.com. He also writes biweekly blogs at www.PaloAltoOnline.com (below Town Square).

Streetwise

Do you think Palo Alto’s 50-foot limit on new construction projects is a good thing?

Asked on Homer Avenue, Palo Alto. Interviews and photographs by Pierre Bienaimé.

James Lyons

Writer Rhodes Drive, Palo Alto “I think it’s important. One of the greatest assets is the view from the hills through the city.”

Steve Dow

Venture capitalist Valley Road, Woodside “I think having a limit on height is a good thing. I don’t have an opinion on 50 feet versus 45 feet or 60 feet. I think it’s a balance between property rights and the aesthetics of a town.”

Suzanne Ferry

Director of education at a technology company Forest Avenue, Palo Alto “Yes. Density is a problem and we don’t have the money to fund the infrastructure for that increased density.”

Ronen Mukamel

Math teacher Cowper Street, Palo Alto “I think it’s unwise. It seems that there’s not enough housing in the area.

Rental prices have been going crazy.”

Perla del Rio

Student, Sequoia Fordham Street, East Palo Alto “It depends on the purpose of the buildings. If it’s for offices or apartments, why not?”

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Spectrum

Letters Save Buena Vista Editor, Close your eyes. Picture a square block in your neighborhood. Now imagine all the neighbors suddenly disappear. You would be heartsick with loss. This is what may happen in Barron Park now that 200 or more neighbors are threatened with loss of their homes at Buena Vista Mobile Home Park.

Buena Vista’s owner shopped for a buyer, choosing the gargantuan developer Prometheus. Prometheus wants a zoning change, permitting 187 upscale, one- and two-bedroom units targeting young tech workers: units of housing for units of workers.

Palo Alto’s Comprehensive Plan and Mobile Home Park Conversion Ordinance recognizes Buena Vista as a major resource of affordable housing, requiring extra oversight and relocation payments if it’s closed — neither of which will help much, given limited housing options and a lack of space for mobile homes.

Residents are frantic. Many lowand very-low-income people have lived there for decades. Old people, some disabled, and the schoolmate friends of our children. Residents are reaching out for help to their school principals, Barron Park neighbors and affordable-housing advocates.

The city has great discretion and leverage in this matter. It shouldn’t grant a zoning change. Instead it must do everything possible to retain this affordable housing resource and our neighbors at Buena Vista.

What do Palo Altans value? Will we opt to live in a bubble of affluence, cut off from economic reality?

Or opt for an inclusive community?

If you value the latter, email winterdell@earthlink.net to support our neighbors at Buena Vista.

Winter Dellenbach La Para Avenue Barron Park

Trashy objectives Editor, The proposal to reduce trash collection (Palo Alto Weekly, Sept. 28) to allow for the collection of residential organic waste mixes up financial and environmental objectives. The council needs to establish the priority.

If it is to save money, then staff ought to pursue opportunities to sell our unused garbage allocation to Kirby Canyon landfill or some other agency. This should be the top priority, given the fiscal challenges the city faces, and that paying for unused space in that landfill, because of errors of judgment of previous city leaders, remains an irritant and an insult to the taxpayers of this city.

If it is to reduce trash so more of the residential garbage would go into a compost stream, then find out first how much that service would cost for a residence. The staff report says some people have asked for this service, so let’s see if they would “put their money where their mouth is.”

Ask those residents who are requesting this service to pay for it. If they agree, give them a purple bin that would stand out in their neighborhood. Let them be the pilot, the public advocates. Let them talk to their

neighbors and explain what a great idea it is, answer their questions about how it works and convince them to join — but don’t force this on the rest of us.

Arthur Liberman Chimalus Drive Palo Alto

Overdeveloping Alma Editor, I am SO SO in agreement with the letter Jim Fox wrote about the horrible new development where Alma Plaza used to be. They wrangled for years and that’s the best they could come up with? I particularly agree with him that having a building butted right up against the sidewalk, with no shade, no grass or bushes is — aaaagh — double ugly.

The new development going up at the other end of Alma is going to be bigger than the usual zoning permits allow, too — a massive excrescence that is supposed to be a gateway to our fair city. And yes, the JCC, also butted up against the sidewalk, with no green buffer, looks like a penitentiary from the outside.

It’s very sad that so many hulking new structures are cluttering up what was once our quiet community. Gosh, maybe some day there will just be a continuous high wall on Alma all the way from Menlo Park to Mountain View.

Sue Kemp Seale Avenue Palo Alto

Find Concours a home Editor, Recently, the director of public events at Stanford University served notice on the Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance that after 38 years on the campus it can no longer hold the event at Stanford. If this decision is not reversed, 41 local charities will lose the funding provided by the Concours, and Palo Alto will be diminished by the loss of a signature event in the exhibition and display of rare and beautiful automobiles. Seven thousand to 10,000 participants and spectators attend the event held the fourth Sunday in June. A search by the Concours Committee to find a suitable replacement has not turned up a satisfactory replacement venue in or close to Palo Alto.

William C. Downey De Bell Drive Los Altos Hills

Density isn’t vibrancy Editor, Something’s up in Menlo Park: The City Council recently passed an aggressive rezoning Specific Plan that adds 680 high-density units to a very narrow area smack in the city’s downtown, with a big chunk of the proposed housing earmarked as lowto very-low-income units.

This bad idea was sold to the city in the name of “vibrancy.” However, the hallmark of a vibrant city, such as Manhattan, is the upscale glamour and affluence that make it attractive to tourists and residents alike. Alas, this is not what Menlo Park can expect under the combined wisdom of the state, ABAG (Association of

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Bay Area Governments), the punitive lawsuit against the city by Peninsula Interfaith, Urban Habitat and Youth United for Community Action, coupled with our City Council’s refusal to go to bat for the residents.

The current top-down long-range planning, comprised of the following three-pronged attack — the controversial Downtown Plan, the new radical high-density zoning of the Housing Element, and the potential transforming of El Camino Real into primarily a bus route (the Grand Boulevard Initiative) as proposed by the GBI’s unelected, unaccountable Task Force — far from making our city “vibrant,” would make it a gridlocked, crowded, noisy, squalid place to live, with a strained-to-bursting, floundering school system and overburdened, underfunded infrastructure, plus a shrinking tax base and lots more people.

Isn’t it time to stand up for our community, to preserve and protect our high quality of life? Should we allow outside agencies to dictate the terms of our lives: to “get us out of our cars,” to discourage single-family homes, to rob us of our local control, mobility and all that we’ve worked for and for which we pay our taxes?

Concerned residents need to bombard our City Council with calls and emails, and especially to attend the upcoming critical City Council meetings on Oct. 22 and 23, to voice their objections to high-density building in our neighborhoods, or the above scenario will become our “wrenching transformation.”

Cherie Zaslawsky Oak Lane Menlo Park

Bechtel for trustee Editor, In these tough economic times we need the leadership skills and business acumen of Betsy Bechtel, who is running for another term as trustee of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

She chaired a successful $490 million bond campaign that has made possible the renovation of four 50year-old campuses, the upgrade of classrooms and the construction of new state-of-the-art labs and science buildings that will meet the educational challenges of the 21st century.

In addition, Bechtel’s extensive experience in business helped facilitate negotiations among employee groups that saved more than $5 million annually in medical benefit costs. During Bechtel’s tenure on the board, she has continually looked for creative ways to cut costs and increase efficiencies, but never at the expense of students or the quality of their education.

In fact, Foothill and De Anza — despite ongoing and severe budget cuts from Sacramento — have remained nationally renowned for their innovative programs and academic excellence. Each year both colleges have earned the prestigious distinction of being a member of the League of Innovation.

From participating in the hiring of the college presidents and an outstanding chancellor, to spearheading the installation of a photovoltaic system to reduce the district’s electric bill by thousands of dollars, Bechtel

has been a dynamic, dedicated and highly effective trustee. She deserves our deep appreciation for her many contributions to our community colleges and our vote for another term on the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees.

Kathy Torgersen Foothill-De Anza Foundation board member

Other people’s money Editor, As if the state doesn’t already have its hands full, the recently passed SB1234 will create a new state retirement system for employees in small, non-unionized businesses. Employers will be fined $1,000 per employee for non-compliance.

Worse yet for small business owners, their money will end up helping big businesses that they compete against. Worse still, this new pot of money will be managed by seven political appointees who won’t be small business employees and don’t have their own money in the pot. So they got to play with other people’s money either to enhance their own investment portfolio or to use that money to punish political foes and reward political friends.

This is a bad law. If I am in the Assembly, I will vote no if my vote can defeat it. But if all the Democratic members vote to pass it as a block, this is how I might modify it: I will dedicate this money as a one-to-two matching fund for small business loans so the money will help support small business jobs in California while making a healthy return.

For example, if Ginger’s Cafe in Sunnyvale applies for and receives a $30,000 loan from Wells Fargo, the State Fund will loan $10,000 of that amount on the same interests, same terms, with preferred repayment conditions. Participating banks get to serve more clients, and the funds get a good return.

The job of the state government is to provide for infrastructure, education and public safety. Investing other people’s retirement money is not among those.

George Yang Candidate for state Assembly Menlo Park

at home.

In this era there are many who are within a few lost paychecks of being dispossessed and homeless. For those who also lack extended family, one’s poverty is not “unsavory,” but rather a misfortune that we as a community share.

I write as one homeowner among many here in Palo Alto who values people above property, and who measures the richness of the community by our compassion and vision to help those who are less fortunate among our neighbors. I urge that candidates for Palo Alto City Council speak specifically and sensitively, to demonstrate a leader’s capacity to see beyond the petty gripes to gather our community including those in need.

Roland Hsu Ramona Street Palo Alto

Vote Kniss Editor, I think your endorsement of Liz Kniss for Palo Alto City Council is gratuitous and condescending. I have designed the graphics for a number of candidates and appreciate how hard it is just to run for office. She is running a campaign as though she were a first-time candidate, especially in reaching out to constituents to learn about their issues.

I watch most City Council meetings and appreciate even more how much time it takes to be an effective public official. They not only have to spend countless hours reading the often-prodigious packets, but need to be constantly alert during the many hours of public meetings ready to listen, comment and vote.

I disagree with your comment “the need for the likes of Klein and Kniss is lessened today ... and her political insider status fails to broaden the community perspectives represented on the council.” Their expertise and institutional knowledge is needed more than ever as the council grapples with the major economic, demographic and environmental changes facing Palo Alto and Silicon Valley.

I urge a strong yes vote for Liz Kniss for City Council.

Carroll Harrington Melville Avenue Palo Alto

Homeless, not unsavory Editor, At a recent campaign coffee with a candidate for Palo Alto City Council, one of the candidate’s positions was particularly alarming. Because this candidate has not responded, I write this letter to all council candidates to encourage sensitivity.

The topic is our community’s homeless, and this was raised in conjunction with the instances of individuals and families living temporarily in autos. The candidate concluded with what seemed intended as a knowing whisper: “... they (homeless) are unsavory.” To many of us, this comment was particularly grating.

Instead of such divisive views, and responding to poverty with police and “kicking the can” down the street, we were hoping that the candidate, indeed all candidates, will speak of leadership — how to direct such a resourceful city as Palo Alto to address the root causes of poverty right here

Submit letters to the editor of up to 250 words to letters@ paweekly.com. Submit guest opinions of 1,000 words to editor@paweekly.com. Include your name, address and daytime phone number so we can reach you.

We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, objectionable content, libel and factual errors known to us.

Anonymous letters will generally not be accepted. Submitting a letter to the editor or guest opinion constitutes a granting of permission to the Palo Alto Weekly and Embarcadero Media to also publish it online, including in our online archives and as a post on Town Square.

For more information contact Editor Jocelyn Dong or Editorial Assistant Eric Van Susteren at editor@ paweekly.com or 650-326-8210.

Cover Story

A matter of choice

Redrawn districts create new options in November election

W

hen voters contemplate their ballots before heading to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, — or mailing in those ballots before that — they’ll be faced with an unusual option this year: choosing between candidates from the same party.

That’s the result of California voters approving Proposition 14 in 2010, which took away the requirement to cast ballots only along party lines

in primary elections.

In the race for State Senate, Democrats Jerry Hill and Sally Lieber are competing in the newly redrawn District 13. As the top two vote-getters in the June primary, they qualified to vie for the office in November. Both are experienced legislators, with years spent in the State Assembly.

The Assembly race, for newly redrawn District 24, is more traditional with incumbent Democrat

Rich Gordon challenged by Republican Chengzhi “George” Yang, a software engineer. District 24 now covers Sunnyvale north to Woodside, plus much of the San Mateo County coastside.

While there are plenty of state propositions to ponder, the city of Palo Alto has only one measure on the ballot, whether or not to allow three medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits. ■

Senate: Hill, Lieber gear up for final battle

Assembly: Software engineer challenges legislative veteran

Lieber hopes her underdog campaign will benefit from cash infusion before Election Day

Candidates disagree on “what people want”

by Renee Batti

by Gennady Sheyner

F

lush with cash, endorsements and legislative accomplishments, state Assemblyman Jerry Hill is riding a wave of momentum in his quest for the state Senate seat in the 13th District.

With less than a month to go until Election Day, the San Mateo lawmaker has plenty of reasons to feel jubilant. After a strong performance in the June primary, when he received 55 percent of the votes in a fourcandidate field, he has been racking up endorsements from California’s Democratic heavyweights — including Gov. Jerry Brown and Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom — and major advocacy groups such as the California Federation of Teachers, California Labor Federation and Sierra Club of California.

“The level of support and endorsements has been overwhelming,” Hill said in a recent interview.

His opponent in this race, former Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, wouldn’t want it any other way. Lieber, whose legislative efforts have focused underdog groups such as female prisoners and the homeless, now finds herself in the position of the underdog. As always, she savors the challenge.

And while her campaign chest of $187,570 pales in comparison to Hill’s $426,000, she feels she has more than a fighting chance

against Hill.

Lieber, who finished the primary as Hill’s distant second with 22 percent of the vote, is no stranger to the election upset, having scored one in 2002 when she went up against Rod Diridon Jr. in the primary for Assembly. She said she knew all along that she would need all her funds for the November showdown. As a result, her campaign has been painfully stingy during the primary season, spending only $66,000 for the July election.

“Our strategy all along was to spend as little as possible toward the primary and to save our money to communicate with voters in the General Election,” Lieber said.

Both candidates paint themselves as independents, though as their campaign records show, each exhibits independence in a distinct way. Hill has attracted funds from a wide array of companies and lobbying groups, including the Personal Insurance Federation of California, which contributed $2,500 to his campaign; the California Real Estate PAC, which gave him $7,800; and the State Building and Construction Trades of California, which donated another $7,800.

Hill has also received $3,900 in contribu(continued on page 26)

(continued on page 28)

State Assembly candidate Chengzhi “George” Yang is running for the District 24 state Assembly seat.

Michelle Le

Former Assemblywoman Sally Lieber is running for the District 13 state Senate seat.

“My mission is to really listen to people and hear what they want to see changed in Sacramento,” he said.

During his tenure in Sacramento, Gordon introduced 35 bills, with 26 signed into law.

The 74 percent success rate is the highest in the Assembly, he noted.

Among the bills he pushed through this year is AB 481, which was signed by the governor in September. The bill, which was supported by the Fair Political Practices Commission, requires greater transparency for campaign spending by independent committees that are not controlled by a candidate.

The bill was needed, Gordon said, because committees run ads and create campaign literature with no identification of who’s paying for it. AB 481 requires “identification of who’s behind the ad, and more (and more timely) reporting to the FPPC.” It will make it “far easier for the FPPC and others to track spending,” he said.

Another component is the requirement that committees identify a person who would be accountable to the FPPC after the election. “Many of these committees right after an election go out of business — they disappear,” Gordon said. “That’s when a lot

Michelle Le

Veronica Weber

Veronica Weber

Assemblyman Jerry Hill is running for the District 13 state Senate seat.

T

he incumbent served three terms as a San Mateo County supervisor before being sent two years ago to Sacramento, where his record suggests he knows how to find bipartisan support for his bills. And, he’s a Democrat in a heavily Democratic district.

The Republican challenger has held no elective office but served for a time as chair of the San Bruno Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee.

It’s not hard to see how this race will go.

Rich Gordon of Menlo Park is asking voters to return him to Sacramento next year to represent residents in District 24. He now represents District 21, but redistricting has altered boundaries, and areas of the Midpeninsula that he’s represented since December 2010, including his hometown, are now in District 24.

In addition to Menlo Park, the newly reconfigured district includes Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale and most of the San Mateo County coastside from El Granada south.

Challenger Chengzhi “George” Yang of Menlo Park, a software engineer, has criticized Gordon for “not listening to the people of the district,” especially on topics such as high-speed rail.

Incumbent Assemblyman Rich Gordon is running for the District 24 state Assembly seat.

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Senate (continued from page 23)

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tions from various unions, including plumbers, electricians and the Service Employees International Union.

Tech firms have also been major backers. Hill has received major contributions from giants such as Microsoft and Genentech, each of which contributed the maximum amount of $3,900, and eBay, which donated $3,000. The industry group Technet, which represents high-tech interests, gave Hill another $3,900.

Hill sees his ability to pool funds from so many different interests as evidence of his ability to work with people and reach compromises. He sees his major edge in endorsements and contributions as a sign of confidence by others in his legislative abilities.

“I’ve aggressively raised the fundraising because to me, these are the two things that show support. One is endorsements, which shows that people have confidence in you. And if they support you and have confidence in you, they also want to give money,” Hill said.

He also points to his recent legislative achievements as clear evidence of his ability to balance competing interests and bridge differences. He is proud of the fact that 18 of his bills were signed into law in the current Assembly term, more than any other state lawmaker. Some of these were niche issues far from the radar of the average voter — licensing requirements for funeral-home directors and an effort to crack down on attorneys who don’t pay for their deposition transcripts. Others were more substantive. The two bills he is particularly proud of are Assembly Bill 45, which holds drivers of “party buses” responsible for underage drinking on their vehicles; and Assembly Bill 578, which requires the California Public Utilities Commission to respond to gas-safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The latter hit particularly close to home. In the aftermath of the 2010 gas explosion that killed eight San Bruno residents and decimated a neighborhood in his Assembly district, Hill has been one of Sacramento’s leading critics of Pacific Gas & Electric, which owns and operates the area’s gas pipes.

When asked about the biggest distinction between himself and Lieber, Hill responded: “I work well with people.”

“The proof is in the number of bills,” Hill said. “I take on the tough challenges. I value the innovative economy we have, and I want to sustain it because I realize that the quality of life we enjoy depends a lot on it.”

Lieber sees things differently.

She sees her financial disadvantage and the fact that most of her checks have been smaller and have come from individuals rather than groups as a sign of her “progressive” bona fides (though she did receive checks from several groups, including $250 from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, $3,900 from the Women’s Political Committee and $750 from the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee). She said she looks forward to finally opening up (continued on page 29)

Page 26ÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

Cover Story

Ballot measure: Palo Alto sucked into statewide marijuana debate City, marijuana advocates clash over whether legalized dispensaries are a ‘humane’ solution or a misguided one

by Gennady Sheyner

A

that included dispensary operators succeeded in pushing through a referendum that would have expanded the number of allowed dispensaries from 10 to 25 and modified some of the regulations in the original ordinance.

The San Jose City Council responded to the referendum by suspending the city’s prior ordinance, though some dispensaries continue to operate in the city. Los Angeles has also gone back and forth on the topic of dispensaries, with the City Council ultimately deciding in July to ban them.

While Palo Alto voters have been generally sympathetic to legalizing marijuana, as evidenced by the majority vote to support Proposition 215 in 1996, the City Council has been fiercely opposing Measure C. Last month, the council voted unanimously to support a colleagues’ memo from Mayor Yiaway

Veronica Weber

fter wafting through Los Angeles, San Jose and Oakland, California’s cloudy debate over marijuana law will drift into Palo Alto next month, when voters consider whether to allow three dispensaries to open shop in the city.

But as the two campaigns over the Measure C make clear, the terms of the medical-marijuana debate have changed drastically since the sizzling and provocative this-is-your-brain-on-drugs days of the late 1980s. The arguments over dispensaries now focus less on the drug’s effects or its possible status as a “gateway” drug (though these still pop up now and then) and more on land-use issues and the status of local, state and federal laws, which are all over the map on the subject.

Recent and forthcoming court decisions add another layer of buzzkill to a Palo Alto resident looking for a little clarity in the voting booth.

Palo Alto’s marijuana measure landed on the November ballot after a citizens’ petition collected more than 4,800 signatures last year. The measure was spearheaded by Ronald Reagan adviser Thomas Gale Moore and Cassandra Chrones Moore, who argued in their notice of intent that legalizing marijuana is both the humane and economically sensible thing to do. The measure would establish a 4 percent tax on gross receipts from the dispensaries, which city officials estimate would bring in about $40,000 in annual revenues.

Peter Allen, spokesman for the Measure C campaign, said the Palo Alto measure was crafted after consideration of various other marijuana ordinances, including those recently adopted in Los Angeles and San Jose. The ordinance in San Jose was suspended last year after a coalition

Measure C, Palo Alto’s only ballot measure, would allow three medical marijuana dispensaries to be opened within city limits.

Yeh, Vice Mayor Greg Scharff and Councilman Larry Klein formally opposing the measure.

The Palo Alto council is joined in its opposition to Measure C by a coalition of former mayors, including Gary Fazzino, Lanie Wheeler, Dena Mossar and Liz Kniss. The proMeasure C campaign, meanwhile, has been relying on paid consultants to boost its chances. According to campaign-finance statements filed last week, the campaign is more than $76,000 in debt after spending $82,216 on campaign-related activities. This includes a $56,134 balance with the law firm DLA Piper, LLP, and the $13,500 the campaign had spent on polling services from the firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates.

The memo from Yeh, Scharff and Klein briefly mentions marijuana in connection to drug addiction (which, they write, “can lead to poor school performance, job loss and serious medical problem”), but focuses largely on the murky legal issues. The most significant of these is the contradiction between federal law, which bans marijuana, and state law, which allows it for medical purposes.

“The establishment and regulation of medical dispensaries has been the subject of extensive litigation, and there are several cases pending between the California Supreme Court relating to the cities’ ability to permit, regulate or ban medical marijuana dispensaries,” the memo states. “If the City issues permits for marijuana to be grown and sold within the City of Palo Alto, it is unclear what the legal ramifications of this could be.”

In recent months, state courts have been considering three different cases centered on whether a city can ban marijuana without violat-

ing state law. A ruling on these is expected later this year or early next year, City Attorney Molly Stump said. On the flip side of the coin, the state Supreme Court had also considered a Long Beach case centering on whether a state can legalize and regulate marijuana without violating federal law. The state’s highest court ultimately declined to issue a ruling on this issue, which essentially upheld a prior ruling from an appeals court. That court concluded that the Long Beach ordinance, by

Please be advised the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) shall conduct a special public meeting at 4:00 PM, Wednesday, October 24, 2012 in the Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Civic Center, Palo Alto, California. Any interested persons may appear and be heard on these items.

Staff reports for agendized items are available via the City’s main website at www.cityofpaloalto.org and also at the Planning Division Front Desk, 5th Floor, City Hall, after 2:00 PM on the Friday preceding the meeting date. Copies will be made available at the Development Center should City Hall be closed on the 9/80 Friday.

NEW BUSINESS. Study Session 1.

San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Initial Flood Protection Project: (4:00 – 5:30 p.m.) Site and Design Review application by the San Francisquito Creek JPA for a project to provide 1% (100year) flood protection improvements, riparian corridor enhancements, and recreational opportunities along San Francisquito Creek between Highway 101 and San Francisco Bay. A Park Improvement Ordinance is tentatively scheduled to be considered by Council in November 2012.

Zoning District: Public Facilities with Site and Design Review Combining District. Environmental Review: An Environmental Impact Report prepared by the lead agency (JPA) has been circulated for a 45-day public review period, and is scheduled to be certified by the JPA Board on October 18, 2012. Responses to Commissioner comments are available on the City’s website and have been distributed to the Commissioners.

2.

27 University Avenue: (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) Two Hour Joint Study Session of the Planning and Transportation Commission and the Architectural Review Board/27 University Avenue Public Meeting The group will receive public comments and a presentation on the site planning and urban design concepts Council reviewed on September 24, 2012 for the area bounded by El Camino Real, University Avenue, the improved areas of El Camino Park and the Caltrain Station and Right of Way, the potential site of a new Arts and Innovation District. Included in the concepts are the relocation of the Intermodal Transit Center from Mitchell Lane to a transit circle at University Avenue and Urban Lane to enhance transit accessibility and capacity, improved connections across the site, and provision of an urban destination including a performing arts theater and contemporary office space. Questions from Boardmembers and Commissioners will be received. Boardmember comments on various components, particularly height and urban design aspects of the potential project, may be made during the joint session if time allows.

3.

27 University Avenue: (8:00 p.m.) Commission study session regarding general land use issues and design concepts related to the potential project presented as Item #2. This study session is being scheduled to allow the Commission and public an additional and more detailed opportunity to provide comments in advance of City Council consideration.

Notice of Public Environmental Scoping Meetings Wednesday, October 17, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Menlo Park Senior Center, 110 Terminal Avenue, Menlo Park, CA; and Wednesday, October 24, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

East Palo Alto City Hall, Community Room, 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA Purpose: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), as owner and operator of US Route 101 and Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), will prepare a draft Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA), for the above referenced project.

The focus of the meeting will be to determine the “scope” of the draft IS/EA to assess the potential environmental effects of the proposed project. We are seeking input from the community regarding the relevant environmental issues and information to be addressed in the draft IS/EA.

Project Overview: The purpose of the project is to address the operational deficiencies for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians by eliminating traffic weaves and to provide adequate storage on the off-ramps. The draft IS/ EA process is intended to evaluate the potential modifications to this segment of US Route 101. Probable Environmental Effects: It is anticipated that the proposed project may have the following environmental effects: Land Use, Traffic and Transportation/Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities, Noise, Air Quality, Utilities/Emergency Services, Visual/Aesthetics, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Water Quality, Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Floodplain, and Geology/Soils/Seismic/Topography.

(continued on page 29)

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING of the Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission

US ROUTE 101/WILLOW ROAD INTERCHANGE PROJECT

Written comments on the scope and content of the draft IS/EA will be accepted until November 7, 2012. Please send comments to: Yolanda Rivas, District Branch Chief, Office of Environmental Analysis, California Department of Transportation, P. O. Box 23660, Oakland, CA 94623-0660, by Fax: 510-286-5600, or by E-mail: Yolanda_ Rivas@dot.ca.gov

regulating the dispensaries, is effectively permitting them in violation of federal law.

The council has also found the legal argument more convincing than the traditional health argument in stressing its opposition to Measure C. Councilman Pat Burt and Councilwoman Gail Price both distanced themselves from the memo’s characterization of marijuana’s effects, though they agreed with the memo’s

Questions. For any questions regarding the above items, please contact the Planning Department at (650) 329-2441. The files relating to these items are available for inspection weekdays between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This public meeting is televised live on Government Access Channel 26.

ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities.

To request accommodations to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn more about the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), please contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 650.329.2550 (voice) or by e-mailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org.

*** Curtis Williams, Director of Planning and Community Environment ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 27

Cover Story

Assembly (continued from page 23)

ferry service to link the North Bay, San Francisco and the Peninsula to the Oakland hub.

An Altamont route is supported by many on the Peninsula, who have fought the current plan to route the train along the Caltrain right-of-way into San Francisco.

Yang criticizes Gordon for a July vote with the Assembly majority on a high-speed rail funding bill. He said the bill includes only a small amount of money for the electrifi-

cation of Caltrains â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a carrot for the Peninsula â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with â&#x20AC;&#x153;no guarantee that it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be built with four tracks.â&#x20AC;?

Gordon dismissed the criticism and said there was a lot of misinformation reported in the media about the vote. The bill he voted for, he said, funded only ancillary components of the rail plan but no actual high-speed rail construction.

Those components are: electrification of Caltrain, modernization

of the rail service between Los Angeles and Anaheim, new tracks in the Central Valley that will be used solely by Amtrak if high-speed rail isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t built, and funding for rapidtransit systems across the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually no high-speed rail activity in any of those projects,â&#x20AC;? he said. N Almanac News Editor Renee Batti can be emailed at rbatti@ almanacnews.com.

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of violations are found ... but who do you contact? The entity no longer exists.â&#x20AC;?

Any change to FPPC law requires a two-thirds vote, Gordon noted, adding that it made his ability to achieve bipartisan support for his bills all the more critical.

Asked for other highlights of his term, Gordon points to a bill he wrote that was signed into law that created financial incentives for California companies to remanufacture the plastic recyclables that are typically being shipped overseas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a jobs-boosting and environmentally superior strategy to deal with plastics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and another aimed at reducing fraud in recycling, which has been costing the state millions of dollars, he said.

Gordon, who chaired a budget subcommittee in the Assembly in his first term, was appointed chair of the Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee last summer.

He has yet to decide on bills he would introduce during a second term, but noted that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;areas I have great interest inâ&#x20AC;? are the environment and education. In the latter category, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remain very concerned with inequity of funding in school districts and the high drop-out rate.â&#x20AC;?

Yang also lists education as one of his top two concerns, the state budget being the other.

Of his inexperience in elective office, Yang said that as an engineer by training, he is a problem-solver and innovative thinker. He also said his strong skills as a negotiator would make him an effective legislator who could find bipartisan support.

He has floated ideas about job creation, such as promoting ecotourism in the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s areas of innovative sustainable and organic farming. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are great organic farms in Half Moon Bay, for example,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He also has introduced his own visions for pension reform and for the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planned high-speed rail system. His rail plan would route the train along the Altamont Pass, create a spur into Oakland, and boost

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Cover Story

Senate (continued from page 26)

her campaign chest and beginning to talk to voters about issues she is primarily concerned with — education and the environment.

When asked about the main difference between herself and Hill, Lieber stressed her independence in the Assembly, where she served from 2002 to 2008 and where her

legislative achievements included raising the minimum wage and authoring a bill that combated human trafficking. While much of the Democratic establishment backs Hill, Lieber sees herself as the true “progressive” voice in this race.

“I think I have a much stronger legislative record,” Lieber said.

“I’ve authored legislation independent from special interests, while he’s done more sponsored bills.

“There’s no question that the big

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other arguments for opposing Measure C and joined their colleagues in the vote. In a recent debate over the measure sponsored by the Midpeninsula Community Media Center, Klein painted the debate over the measure as one that should occur far beyond the local level.

“This is not about legalization of marijuana,” Klein said. “If that was the issue, we need to have that done in a far more comprehensive way — at the federal level, at the state level.

It’s not a Palo Alto issue by itself.”

At the same time, city officials argue the measure’s passage would have a significant local impact. Because surrounding cities all ban dis-

Give blood for life!

Palo Alto Stanford

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(continued from page 27)

About the cover: Illustration by Shannon Corey.

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Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

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“You have to have a balanced approach to maintain that quality of life, sustain that innovation economy and protect the environment,” Hill said. “I believe my record in public service addresses each of these areas.” N

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the General Election to be different from those who cast their ballots in July.

“In this election, we will have many more voters who aren’t necessarily as familiar with the candidates,” Hill said. “They’re the ones that in many cases turn out every four years to vote for president. It’s our job to communicate with these voters.”

Lieber also savors the challenge of communicating to voters in both counties in the coming weeks. She said the issues she’ll be focusing on — “strengthening education and protecting the environment” — will really resonate with the voters D of the newly drawn 13th District.

The district holds much of the territory currently represented by Sen. Joe Simitian, including most of San Mateo County and northern part of Santa Clara County. Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton and Mountain View are all part of the 13th Senate District.

Hill also believes his record and policies will appeal to the residents of the 13th District, which he lauded as both the “innovation capital of the world” and the dis-

corporate PACs are supporting Jerry Hill, and I’ve known all through this race that we’re going to have to fight it out with less money and keep our spirits up and keep pushing our issues forward.”

Hill, for his part, isn’t taking his advantages for granted. He said he’s been campaigning seven days a week and spending more time in areas outside his traditional stronghold of San Mateo. He also expects the voters who turn up for

pensaries, Palo Alto would become a magnet for pot-related activities.

Scharff said allowing dispensaries would lead to increased enforcement activities and a flurry of complaints about pot smoking, harassment of passersby and smoking too close to schools. And even if the dispensaries prove disruptive, Scharff said, the city would be legally obligated to allow three permits.

“No matter how many problems these pot shops cause, the city will be required to continue to allow them to operate regardless of their impacts,” Scharff said at the recent debate. “Measure C will bring the sale and cultivation of marijuana to our neighborhoods and our kids.”

Proponents of the measure dismiss this argument as a scare tactic

with no basis in truth. Allen noted in a recent interview with the Weekly that the ordinance severely restricts the locations where the dispensaries would be allowed. Specifically, they would be prohibited within 150 feet of any residential zone, within 600 feet of any school and within 500 feet of any public library, public park, day care center or substanceabuse rehabilitation center.

“What this will do is allow residents of Palo Alto the option of getting medicine locally instead of having to drive to San Francisco or San Jose,” Allen told the Weekly. “I do not think it will have any ill effects in Palo Alto.” N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

FREE ORAL CANCER SCREENING at Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Sat., October 20 8:00am – 12:00pm Stanford’s Adult ENT Clinic 801 Welch Road, 1st floor Palo Alto, CA 94304 If you use alcohol or tobacco or lack dental care, you may be at risk for oral cancer. Come to our Oral Cancer Screening Clinic to be examined by Stanford doctors and learn more about oral cancer prevention and detection.

Screening is quick and painless, and resources for tobacco cessation and low-cost dental care will be available.

For more information, 650.427.9777, email OralCancer@stanford.edu or visit us at: med.stanford.edu/ohns/news/ocs.html ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 29

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

The center’s

next

chapter

Palo Alto Art Center reopens with revamped spaces and new exhibitions

by Pierre Bienaimé

A

ft 18 months of renovation, the fter Palo Alto Art Center has reopened Pa its doors to residents of Palo Alto and beyond. Center staff estimated th that more than 2,000 people tten attended the Oct. 6 open house to see the expanded children’s wing, larger glass-walled gallery shop, redesigned main gallery and other changes made in the $7.9 million center project.

Opening ceremonies, art activities and music and dance performances took place on Saturday, along with the opening of “Community Creates,” a collection of nine exhibits by 10 artists at the center. Each of these invite and depend on community participation to thrive.

“Part of the interest in coordinating the exhibition is really to engage the public in an active way,” center Director Karen Kienzle said.

“We asked 10 artists to work with community groups to create installation projects.”

“Vertical Garden,” for example, is a col-

■

photos by Veronica Weber

lection of ferns sprouting from white gallery walls, each of their leaves made from different fabrics. Some of the prints mimic a natural verdure, while others might more conventionally belong on a dress, a set of curtains or gift wrap. The overall effect is a doubled familiarity with the fern’s shape as it appears in nature, and with its textures as they appear in daily life.

On opening day, visitors could meet “Vertical Garden” artist Paz de la Calzada and cut out their own fern leaves. Some of these will be added to the walls, though the Spanish artist says most of her exhibit’s negative space will be preserved.

Also on display at the center is “Untitled (Monument for Palo Alto)” by Carlos Ramirez. Soft clay tiles adorn a wooden staircaseshaped structure fashioned after the Mesoamerican architecture of Ramirez’s heritage.

The tile designs — which are inspired by old-school video games — result from his collaboration with youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula center in East Palo Alto. The tiles were then cast in the Palo Alto Art Center’s ceramics studio a few rooms away from the gallery. (continued on next page)

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Top: Lora Groves works on installing clay tiles as part of Carlos Ramirez’ art installation “Untitled (Monument for Palo Alto)” at the Palo Alto Art Center. Above: Lilah Lin creates a clay porcupine in the kids’ ceramic classroom during opening day at the art center.

Arts & Entertainment Some of the most dramatic changes are in the wing that is now devoted to children’s activities, with a new dedicated entrance and twice as many classrooms. Floored with tiles of recycled cork and rubber, the children’s wing and the adjacent studios provide space for nearly two dozen classes, workshops and drop-in programs for both children and adults.

The center’s broad focus on students of all ages is embodied in the new logo, which was designed by artist Colleen Sullivan.

“It has some ambiguity to it, which I think is very much inherent in art,” Kienzle said. “Some people immediately see a hand, some a tree. It could have been made by a

WATCH IT ONLINE

www.PaloAltoOnline.com Weekly photographer Veronica Weber also made a video of arts activities and other events at the Palo Alto Art Center’s grand re-opening last week. To watch it, go to PaloAltoOnline.com.

child, or an adult. We’re open to different interpretations.” N Info: The Palo Alto Art Center is at 1313 Newell Road. Galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more about the exhibits, the center and its classes, go to cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter.

COMMUNITY MEETING Draft Walk and Roll Maps for Barron Park Elementary School Review and comment on Walk and Roll Maps

Tuesday, October 23, 7:00 - 8:30 PM Barron Park Elementary, 800 Barron Ave. The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School program is documenting suggested routes to school and identifying opportunities for engineering improvements and enforcement which, when combined with safety education and promotion activities, will encourage more families to choosealternatives to driving to school solo.

More info: Contact Sylvia.Star-Lack@cityofpaloalto.org or 329-2156

PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL 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

Monday, October 15, 2012– 5:00 PM

Top: Curt Kinsky and his son Jacob admire the artwork in the newly renovated main gallery at the Palo Alto Art Center. Above: One of the art activities at opening day on Oct. 6 was making screen prints. (continued from previous page)

As opening day progressed, Ramirez continued to staple the underlying structure together as an assistant worked new tiles into the pattern.

“I see all of this as a collision of my own cultural heritage with the pop culture that I’ve grown up in, the 8-bit graphics of the ‘80s,” Ramirez said. To drive the point home, the structure houses a Donkey Kong arcade cabinet, a video game dating back to 1981.

Visitors will have a chance to add leaves to the “Vertical Garden” periodically through Nov. 14. Also evolving is Ramirez’s tile structure; as it dries and sheds a few fragments, these will be fired in the center’s kiln and distributed to visitors as keepsakes.

In planning these exhibits, Kienzle’s goal was to represent a broad range of media, she said. “We wanted painting, drawing, installation. ... We wanted to make sure we had something that represented ceramics since that’s such an important program area for the art center.”

The exhibits will stand until April, after which time they will return to their respective artists. In the future, the art center may invite traveling exhibitions to join other displays, as has happened in the past.

“It’s quite amazing for an institution of our size. Usually it’s much larger institutions that can do that. The last exhibition that the art center had that traveled was the Bruce Metcalf exhibition, which traveled to five venues in the U.S.,” Kienzle said.

The building’s renovations certainly seem to invite a range of shows. San Francisco architecture firm Mark Cavagnero Associates honored the original ranch-style design of the building while raising the ceilings up to its rafters to add light and space. Many of the original building’s bricks were retained, and elsewhere many recycled elements contribute to its LEED Silver certification for green design.

Other changes include: new gallery lighting and climate-control systems, double-paned windows and new landscaping.

Funded by local donors as well as a public-private partnership between the city of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation, the renovations begin the next chapter of a building that first opened in 1953 as Palo Alto’s City Hall.

The center employs 25 staff members, the equivalent of 12 to 13 full-time employees. Before closing for renovations, it had 70,000 visitors a year, Kienzle said. “We’re interested in maintaining that and increasing it.”

CLOSED SESSION 1. Mitchell Park Library STUDY SESSION 2. Assemblyman Rich Gordon CONSENT CALENDAR 3. Adoption of Resolution Relating to Amendment to Utility Rate Schedule E-16 (Unmetered Electric Service) 4. Approval of a contract for Golf Course Architect Forrest Richardson for Golf Course reconfiguration and environmental impact analysis 5. Casa Olga Amendment No. 2 Settlement Agreement 6. Adoption of a Resolution of Intent to Amend Contract with CalPERS for Second Pension Tier for Safety Police Employees and 1st Reading of Ordinance 7. Approval of Contract with Muzak, LLC, in the Amount of $201,992 for Media Broadcast System for the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center (CIP PE-09006) 8. Request City Council Designate Voting Delegate for the Upcoming National League of Cities Annual Business Meeting ACTION ITEMS 9. Response to Colleague’s Memo on Employee Benefits 10. Zoning and Parking Update STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The City School Liaison Committee will meet on October 18, 2012 at 8:15 AM to discuss; 1) Update on School Traffic Safety, 2), City CIP Project Update and 3) Enrollment Report.

The Cubberley Policy Advisory Committee will meet on October 18, 2012 at 10:30 AM to discuss; 1) CCAC Co-Chairs Status Reports, 2) Review of Timeline, and 3).

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Arts & Entertainment

Worth a Look Art

‘Dames and Posies’ A delicate ankle, a flutter of cyclamens, a red-and-white hat on the beach. These details make up the world of Nancy Wulff’s ink drawings and watercolor paintings: people and places, rich with mood, many sketched from life.

Wulff, a longtime South Bay artist who has taught at Palo Alto’s Pacific Art League, is currently showing her work in a solo exhibition titled “Dames and Posies” at Gallery 9 in Los Altos. While she has a business background, she more recently earned a bachelor’s degree in art education at San Jose State University, and now teaches drawing and watercolor at Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino.

The exhibition runs through Oct. 28 at 143 Main St. Admission is free, and the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4. Go to gallery9losaltos.com or call 650-941-7969.

Book Arts Jam 2012

annual Book Arts Jam is moving to Palo Alto this time around, celebrating the beauty and versatility of the book at the Lucie Stern Community Center. On Saturday, Oct. 20, artists will display art books of all materials, shapes and sizes (including miniature); hand-marbled paper; letterpress work; and other creations related to books, paper and printing.

Jone Manoogian of Palo Alto is a founding member of Bay Area Book Artists, which puts on the event. Other local artists include Jamila Rufaro, Dena Mosser, Daniela Barnear, Carol Matre and Nancy Welch. Some use unusual materials. Welch, for instance, favors handmade papers fashioned from garden clippings and other fibers. San Mateo artist Judith Hoffman works in copper, brass and silver.

Events during the day will include talks by such artists as Mary Risala Laird, on fine-binding and letterpress; and Darius B’Alexander on origami art and “paper engineering.” Kids and adults will be able to participate in art activities as well.

The jam runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1305 Middlefield Road. Admission is free. For more information, go to bookartsjam.org.

After many years at Foothill College, the

“Looking for Lilonga,” a narrative short film about a Namibia man working to pay off his wife’s debts, will be shown this weekend at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival.

Film

African Film Festival More than 30 films from many African countries will be shown this weekend in Mountain View at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival. Presented by the Oriki Theater together with the Community School of Music and Arts, the annual festival is in its third year.

Feature-length and short films, together with animated movies, will represent both new and emerging African filmmakers.

The variety of stories will include Khaled Sayed’s 92-minute documentary “Stories from Tahrir,” which profiles dozens of people living in Egypt today, on many sides of the big issues facing the country. A lighter option is “Yarawtis Digis (The Animal Party),” a 10-minute animated movie

by Ethiopian filmmaker Ezra Wube based on a folkloric tale.

This year, the festival will give special honors to Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani, the “2012 Africa Reel Award,” in recognition of his substantial body of work.

Kelani’s new feature film, “Maami,” will be shown; it follows Nigerian soccer star Kashimawo dealing with his past of poverty and his present of success and fame.

After an opening ceremony starting tonight, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m., screenings are planned for Saturday and Sunday, with a closing and awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday. Workshops, dance performances, African drumming and talks by filmmakers are among the other activities planned.

All events are at the Community School of Music and Arts at 230 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View. One-day passes are $20 general and $15 for students and seniors; full-festival passes are $30/$25.

Go to arts4all.org or call 650-917-6800, extension 305.

Music California Bach Society

“Demure” is among the watercolor paintings by Nancy Wulff now on exhibit at Gallery 9 in Los Altos.

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Fittingly, the California Bach Society sings J.S. Bach for its season-opening concerts this month, taking on a major masterpiece: the Mass in B Minor.

This complete setting of the Latin Mass has inspired many adjectives over the centuries.

Earlier this century,

Baritone Christòpheren Nomura will solo in J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor on Oct. 13 in Palo Alto.

National Public Radio commentator Ted Libbey called the work “lofty,” and wrote, “It represents an attempt to both summarize the tradition of the mass in a single perfect specimen and leave a statement on the nature of sacred music as a bequest to the future.”

The Palo Alto-based chamber chorus’ interpretation of Bach’s tour de force will also feature a Baroque orchestra, including trumpeter John Thiessen, oboist Molly McDolan and violinist Katherine Kyme. Vocal soloists are: soprano Jennifer Paulino, mezzo-soprano Danielle Reutter-Harrah, alto Paul Flight (who is also artistic director of the society), tenor Brian Staufenbiel, and baritone Christòpheren Nomura.

Locally, the group will perform the Mass at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto, at 8 p.m. Oct. 13. Other performances are scheduled this weekend in San Francisco and Berkeley. Tickets are $30 at the door, with discounts available for seniors, concert-goers under age 30, and people who purchase in advance.

Go to calbach.org or call 650-485-1097.

Talk

Natalie Batalha Kicking off the 13th annual Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, Natalie Batalha, mission scientist for NASA’s Kepler Project, will give a free talk on Oct. 17 at Foothill College. Designed as an illustrated, non-technical lecture, the talk is titled “Finding the Next Earth: The Latest Results from Kepler.”

The Kepler spacecraft was launched in 2009 as part of the continuing search to find planets orbiting other stars. Batalha plans to talk about the planets that have been found, which include one with two suns. She’ll also cover the techniques that the Kepler team uses to identify such planets.

Also a research astronomer at NASA Ames Research Center, Batalha has a doctorate from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Exoplanets have become an increasingly hot topic for her.

The lecture series is organized by the college, NASA Ames, the SETI Institute and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Wednesday’s talk is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Smithwick Theatre at 12345 El Monte Road in Los Altos Hills.

Visitors must buy parking permits for $3.

Go to foothill.edu or call 650-949-7888.

To hear past lectures in the series, go to astrosociety.org and click on “Resources and Education,” then “Programs.”

Arts & Entertainment

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Howard Swain, left, plays Beethoven in â&#x20AC;&#x153;33 Variations,â&#x20AC;? with Jackson Davis as the composerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend Anton Schindler.

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Mystery, music and mortality TheatreWorksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; production of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;33 Variationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hits high notes

by Jeanie K. Smith

W

hen noted music publisher Anton Diabelli in 1819 invites 50 well-known composers of his day to write a variation on a modest little waltz of his own, he hopes that Beethoven will contribute one. He could never anticipate that Beethoven, after initially rejecting the invitation, would insist on writing a total of 33 variations over a period of five years. Those 33, now known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diabelli Variations,â&#x20AC;? are sometimes called the best piano compositions ever written.

Brilliant indeed, but shrouded in mystery, as scholars have debated for centuries over Beethovenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motives for spending so much effort writing variations on such an inconsequential theme. Was it purely satirical, to parody the source? Was it professional one-upmanship, wanting to out-perform Bachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 32 Goldberg Variations? What inspired this amazing outpouring of invention and innovation?

These questions fuel the inquiry of musicologist Katherine Brandt in MoisĂŠs Kaufmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest play, â&#x20AC;&#x153;33 Variations,â&#x20AC;? presented by TheatreWorks in its regional premiere.

Kaufman creates parallel lives centuries apart. We see Beethoven (Howard Swain) as he races to compose against illness and growing deafness, while his modernday counterpart Brandt (Rosina Reynolds) has been diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, and is determined to solve the mystery of the Diabelli Variations before she succumbs to the disease. A research junket to Bonn becomes an extended stay as she unravels threads of the mystery at the Beethoven archives, assisted by Dr. Gertrude Ladenburger (Marie Shell).

For all her passion for music and Beethoven, Brandt is brittle and reserved, especially with her daughter,

THEATER REVIEW Clara (Jennifer Le Blanc), whom she finds unfocused and unmotivated to succeed. Clara is more of a free spirit, less driven, but leaves New York to care for her mother in Germany as the illness progresses, revealing a surprising devotion. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s joined by her newly acquired nurse boyfriend, Mike (Chad Deverman), who provides moral support as well as caretaking expertise.

The cast is rounded out with Diabelli (Michael Gene Sullivan), a man enjoying his role as nurturer/ publisher of music celebrities and not ashamed to make his living doing it; and Anton Schindler (Jackson Davis), Beethovenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secretary and later biographer, who adds more questions than answers for posterity with his dubious version of history.

And there is the music, lots of it, definitely a character in its own right. Beethovenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glorious, intricate music is played as demonstration, as an intense accompaniment to the action, as illustration, as mood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; most of it played brilliantly by William Liberatore on piano, but augmented with fragments of other Beethoven works in a lovely sound design by Brendan Aanes.

As Beethoven nears completion of his master work (simultaneously completing his Mass and another symphony), and Brandt nears the end of her mortal journey, much is made of transformation and transfiguration, and of finding the world in a moment (or many variations from a paltry few notes). Brandt and Beethoven find peace and acceptance at the heart of their mortal crises, and a kind of immortality in the pure pursuit of their particular passions.

The cast is uniformly superb.

Reynolds hits just the right balance, initially aloof and even snobbish, but showing increasing vulnerability and warmth as the disease wears down her body and her defenses. Swain is diabolically good as Beethoven, channeling both the great composerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eccentricity and charm, giving us a delightful study of artistic drive.

Le Blanc brings subtlety and depth to a character that could be rather one-dimensional, and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnered well with the amiable and appealing Deverman, in a sweet, slightly goofy romance. Shell is pitch-perfect as Gertie, no-nonsense with a heart of gold, practical but not rule-bound.

Even Davis and Sullivan shine in smaller, somewhat predictable roles, fleshing out their characters with nuance and attitude. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a rare treat to see such a flawless ensemble on stage.

Kaufman indulges in some pedantic moments that weigh down the action and wax tedious, and there are a couple of scenes that should be excised. He errs on the side of intellect, falling somewhat short of igniting deeper empathy with his characters. But the production overall is beautifully rendered, with terrific production values and outstanding acting. N What: â&#x20AC;&#x153;33 Variations,â&#x20AC;? a MoisĂŠs Kaufman play with music, presented by TheatreWorks Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. When: Through Oct. 28, with 7:30 p.m. shows Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays; and 7 p.m. shows Sundays Cost: Tickets are $23-$73.

Info: Go to theatreworks.org or call 650-463-1960.

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Eating Out RESTAURANT REVIEW

Just what the doctor ordered The folks at nearby Stanford Hospital flock to Tootsie’s for the artful salads and stellar bruschetta

by Sheila Himmel

Y Veronica Weber

Freshly prepared panini are ready for the lunchtime crowd at Tootsie’s.

ou see a lot of scrubs and stethoscopes at Tootsie’s.

Do not be alarmed. They migrate, like penguins, from Stanford Hospital, and if you worked nearby you likely would too. Tootsie’s in the Stanford Barn is a lovely nesting place.

The current hospital construction across Welch Road makes it a little less lovely, but still you can gaze across lavender bushes and olive trees while nursing a terrific cappuccino or glass of wine.

The menu is inspired by the chef’s roots in Bologna, the culinary capital of Italy, and by his work at Mario Batali’s Del Posto in New York City. Like Batali, Rocco

Scordella focuses on freshness and simplicity.

Take the salads. Four of my favorite things are packaged in the insalata di tonno ($8.50): peppery arugula, fresh fennel, tuna and voluptuous cannellini beans, brought together by a light, vinegar-free lemon dressing.

Tootsie’s is very good about not drowning its salads, so you can taste each ingredient, and they’re large enough for a meal. And, the salads vary tremendously, also changing with the seasons. Fennel shows up again in the Agrumi ($8.25) with citrus segments, red leaf lettuce, radishes and capers, but otherwise there’s very little

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Eating Out

Veronica Weber

PENINSULA Veronica Weber

Above: a blueberry scone, a cappuccino and a relaxing interlude at Tootsie’s. Top right, Rocco Scordella prepares bruschetta del giorno with layers of roasted Brussels sprouts, hard-boiled eggs and mozzarella cheese. repetition. You can come back again and again and have something different.

Which people do. Tootsie’s gets a line out the door at noon. Many people call in their orders ahead of time, especially in the colder months. Most of the seating is outside.

Sandwiches come with housemade chips or a sprightly mixed green salad drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette. It’s tricky for restaurants to make their own chips. So often they’re a little spongy by the time they get to you. Tootsie’s are cool, but remain mostly crisp besides showing a little skin and flecks of fresh oregano.

The short-rib sandwich ($9.75) is thick with meat, given a little edge by a topping of pecorino cheese.

Bruschetta ($7.95) changes personality every day, but the foundational bread is toasted enough not to get soggy, and thick enough not to be a cracker, or just the stale slab many restaurants call bruschetta. A recent topping of the day mixed zucchini coins with caramelized onions and capers, with cheese melted on top. With the accompanying salad, it’s a wonderful lunch.

Scordella’s crew comes in at 4:30 a.m. every morning to bake focaccia, pizza and pastries including the signature bomboloni (filled doughnuts). Which is why they sometimes run out. Fresh ricotta pancakes ($9.75) are available until 11 a.m. weekdays and all day Saturday.

Tootsie’s is almost 4 years old.

I am not the only one who has driven past the cute brick building thinking it was a candy shop, a shoe store or something to do with California Cafe. Scordella has heard this complaint before, but the name came with the lease.

Tootsie was Leland Stanford Jr.’s dog. N

Tootsie’s 700 Welch Road, Palo Alto 650-566-8445 www.tootsiesbarn.com

Hours: 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m weekdays.

“Apertivo” (beer and wine, appetizers) 4-7 p.m. Wed.-Fri. Brunch 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Closed Sun. Reservations

Credit cards Lot Parking Beer and wine Takeout Highchairs Wheelchair access

Banquet

Catering

Discover the best places to eat this week!

AMERICAN

CHINESE

Armadillo Willy’s

Chef Chu’s

941-2922 1031 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos www.armadillowillys.com

948-2696 1067 N. San Antonio Road www.chefchu.com

The Old Pro

Ming’s

326-1446 541 Ramona Street, Palo Alto www.oldpropa.com

856-7700 1700 Embarcadero East, Palo Alto www.mings.com

STEAKHOUSE

New Tung Kee Noodle House

Sundance the Steakhouse

947-8888 520 Showers Drive, Mountain View www.shopmountainview.com/luunoodlemv

321-6798 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto www.sundancethesteakhouse.com

Janta Indian Restaurant

Outdoor seating Noise level: Low Bathroom Cleanliness: Good

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INDIAN

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Goings On The best of what’s happening on Art Galleries

‘Children of the World, Orphaned Elephants of Tsavo and New Works’ The Portola Art Gallery presents “Children of the World, Orphaned Elephants of Tsavo and New Works,” a collection of oil paintings by Marsha Heimbecker.

Heimbecker’s series is inspired by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a refuge for the protection and preservation of Africa’s wilderness. Oct. 1-31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Portola Art Gallery, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-321-0220. www. portolaartgallery.com ‘Paint Allied Arts 2012’ - A Plein Air Paint-Out and Exhibit More than twenty artists have been selected to join with artists of Portola Art Gallery to paint in the gardens of Allied Arts on the morning of Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Portola Art Gallery, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-321-0220. www.portolaartgallery. com ‘Seeing Through Lines’ -- Taryn Curiel “Seeing Through Lines” is new work in watercolor on Yupo by Taryn Curiel. The artist’s reception is Oct. 6, from 5-8 p.m. at the gallery. Gallery closes 3 p.m. on Sun. Oct. 2-Nov. 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Viewpoints Gallery, 315 State St., Los Altos. www.viewpointsgallery.com ‘Shadow Boxes:’ inspired by music and animation Exhibition of puppet shadow boxes by artist Raquel Coelho. Opening reception & artist talk: Friday, Oct. 19, 6-8 pm. Runs from Oct. 12 to Nov. 25, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. Call 650-917-6800 ext. 306. www.arts4all.org Gallery 9 features Nancy Wulff Nancy Wulff’s “Dames and Posies” are on display at Gallery 9 through Oct. 28. Featuring ink drawings and watercolor paintings inspired by nature and the love of dance.

Reception, Fri. Oct. 5, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in tandem with Los Altos downtown First Friday. Gallery hours: Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 12-4 p.m. Oct. 2-28, Gallery 9 Los Altos, 143 Main St., Los Altos. www. gallery9losaltos.com Surrealism to Seussism Attendees can visit the Peabody Gallery and explore the works of Dr. Seuss, AKA Ted Geisel, in

the Midpeninsula

the context of art movements, major artist and world events. Attendees examine the influences on Suess’s work as he takes his place in art history. Oct. 12-Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Peabody Gallery, 603 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. Call 408-3905177. www.peabodygallery.com

Benefits

‘Halloween Zoo Night’ Participants in this costumed event can meet animals and learn about Halloween science. Refreshments provided. Attendees must be museum members; the cost to become a members is $100. Oct. 26, 6-8 p.m.

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, 1451 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650326-6338. www.friendsjmz.org Benefit for national feral cat day! There will be animal-themed merchandise including cat items. Proceeds of sales will go to the Palo Alto Humane Society Spay-Neuter Program and Animal Rescue Fund to help feral and abandoned cats. Oct. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Palo Alto Humane Society, 520 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. Call 650-424-1901. www. paloaltohumane.org Los Altos follies “Poppycock, Balderdash & Politicking,” a satirical musical revue of modern life and politics to benefit Bus Barn Stage Company. Oct. 11-13, 7:30-8:45 p.m. $55 Thurs., $90 Fri., $90 Sat. Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. www.busbarn.org Peninsula Volunteers dine out for Meals on Wheels Those who dine out at participating restaurants will have 10 percent of your bill will support Peninsula Volunteers Meals on Wheels. Oct. 16, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Forty Bay Area Participating Restaurants, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. peninsulavolunteers.org/events Used book sale to benefit PA libraries Friends of the Palo Alto Library is holding monthly sales of used books, CDs, DVDs, and more on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13-14. Sale hours: Sat: Main sale room open 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Children’s and Bargain rooms open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun: All rooms open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-2138755. www.fopal.org

Walk 4 Change Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change Inc. will be hosting its first walk-a-thon fundraiser from 994 Beech St. to Lucy Evans Nature Center and back. The organization is looking for corporate and individual sponsors as well as participants to walk and help raise funds. Oct. 14, Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change, 994 Beech St., East Palo Alto.

Call 650-630-0222. lh4pc.org

For complete Calendar listings or to submit a Calendar listing, go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com and click on “Master Community Calendar” For News submissions for possible use elsewhere in the paper, e-mail editor@paweekly.com or call (650) 326-8210

Classes/Workshops

‘Esther’s Pledge’ Workshops Adolescent Counseling Services offers substance abuse-prevention workshops covering warning signs, education, how to talk to kids, and steps for getting help. Parents welcome. Youth (ages 10-14): third Thursday of the month. Must RSVP to info@ acs-teens.org. Young adults (ages 1521): first Thursday of the month. Through December, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Adolescent Counseling Services, 1717 Embarcardero Road, suite 4000, Palo Alto. Call 650-4240852 ext 200. www.acs-teens.org/ ‘Seed Collection and Saving’ Gardeners saving their own seeds may be able to save money and preserve their favorite varieties. Attendees will learn the basic principles involved in producing, collecting and saving their own seeds. Oct. 13, 2-4 p.m. $31. Common Ground Garden Supply and Education, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-493-6072. seedcollectionandsaving2.eventbrite.com/ Autumn Leaves - watercolor workshop This workshop is devoted to the colors of autumn. Participants will learn techniques for rendering colorful, realistic leaves. It is an exploration of the descriptive power of watercolor, combining the effects of pigment-applied wet into wet. Oct. 18, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $80 members; $90 non-members. Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Call 650-364-8300 . www. filoli.org Body Sculpting This non-aerobic workout is designed to strengthen all major muscle groups, using free weights, resistance tubing, stability balls, or body weight as resistance. With regular strength training students can increase bone density, gain lean muscle, and reduce body fat.

Through Dec. 17, 10-11 a.m. $111/$148.

Arrillaga Family Rec. Center, 700 Alma

OF NOTE

Into the wild Bay Area artist Marsha Heimbecker has giant-sized muses: the elephants who have been given refuge through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. She captures the elephants in her intensely colored oil paintings as they frolic, thrive and just plain live at the refuge. Her work is now on display in a solo exhibition at the Portola Art Gallery at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. Visitors can stop by the free show at 75 Arbor Road through Oct. 31, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For details, go to portolaartgallery.com or call 650-321-0220.

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CALENDAR LISTINGS

www.PaloAltoOnline.com

St., Menlo Park. www.menlopark.org/ registration Career Planning Workshop-Career Ad. Acad. San Mateo County-Atherton Library hosts Career Advancement Academies Career Planning Workshop designed to explore personal characteristics and hobbies to map a career. Attendees can use interactive exercise to explore, discover occupations, then map out career steps. Oct. 17, 2 p.m. Atherton Library of San Mateo County, #2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton. Call 650-328-2422. www.smcl.org/en/node/5923 Collage plate-making workshop Participants will choose from a variety of papers to create a custom-designed plate. Gold, silver and copper leaf will also be available to add a more decorative touch. Oct. 13, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $95 for members, $115 for non-members. Fee includes all materials. Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Call 650-364-8300 . www.filoli.org Cooking - Secrets of Saute Attendees learn the basic definition and technique of saute, which fat produces the best result, saute pan selection and tricks for the perfect saute. Then they practice saute techniques with these recipes: Spiced Shrimp Saute, Chicken Marsala and Herbed Corn Saute. Oct. 18, 6:30-9 p.m. $50. Palo Alto Adult School, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-329-3752. www.paadultschool.org/ eBook Drop-In Center Those interested in checking out eBooks from the Palo Alto City Library can visit the eBook drop-in center for informal sessions to ask questions and get help. On the first Friday of each month, Oct-Dec, 3-5 p.m. Downtown Library, 270 Forest Ave., Palo Alto.

Call 650-329-2436. www.cityofpaloalto. org/library Fall Classes at Little House Classes start Oct. 1 and go into December 2012. Anthropology Through Collage: Excavating Your Own Life, Introduction to Drawing, and Holiday Decoration. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Various, starting at $20. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 650-3262025 x222. www.penvol.org/littlehouse/ classes.cfm Fall wreaths Attendees create decorative fall-themed wreaths using autumn branches, leaves, foliage and flowers.

Students learn techniques that enable them to make wreaths for any season.

Wreath “machines” are required and available for purchase at the workshop for $65. Oct. 16, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $95 members; $115 non-members. Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Call 650-3648300. www.filoli.org Financial Planning Day Financial Planning Day is an opportunity to get one-onone financial advice and attend informative workshops. More than 50 certified financial planners have volunteered their time and will be on hand to provide private consultations. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. UUCPA, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto. Call 877-808-2699. www.financialplanningdays.org/siliconvalley First aid with adult CPR/AED This American Red Cross course meets OSHA Guidelines for First Aid Programs and combines lecture, interactive video demonstrations featuring emergency scenarios that are likely to occur in a workplace environment and hands-on training to teach participants lifesaving skills. Oct.

12, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $90. American Red Cross Silicon Valley, 400 Mitchell Lane, Palo Alto. www.siliconvalley-redcross. org Flower Arranging the Gamble Garden Way A three-class session for creating flower arrangements. Wednesdays, Oct. 17, 24, 31, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $225 member, $255 non-member, includes materials. Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Call 650-329-1356 x201. www. gamblegarden.org Modern Square Dancing Square dancing is a recreation suitable for all ages, combining music with physical and mental exercise. Singles, couples, families welcome. No special clothing required, but wear comfortable shoes. Sundays, Oct. 7-21, 7-9 p.m. Fairmeadow School, 500 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. Call 408-774-1570. www.stanfordquads.org/ class/intro.php Morning Wake stretch class Attendees can do this exercise designed to increase flexibility and mindfulness of the whole body. Special stretches for all the muscles and joints, including hips and shoulders, and gentle breathing and abdominal exercises included. $20 drop-in fee. Through Dec. 11, 10-11 a.m. $214/$288. Arrillaga Family Rec. Center, 700 Alma St. , Menlo Park. www.menlopark.org/registration Oil Painting for Beginners Through stepby-step instruction, participants learn the fundamentals of working with oil paint while creating a painting. This class lays the foundation for continued learning and participation in other oil painting workshops. Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $180 members; $215 non-members. Fee includes all materials. Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Call 650-364-8300. www.filoli.org Seasons of Filoli photography -fall Fall reveals a palette of blooms and leaves for the eye and camera to capture. The workshop includes classroom instruction on equipment use and technique, field shoots with individual attention and follow-up meetings for critique and feedback. Oct. 19-20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $115 members; $140 non-members. Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Call 650-3648300. www.filoli.org State of the Menlo Park Real Estate Market Billy McNair of the McNair Group at Coldwell Banker will lead a seminar that will discuss the current state of the Menlo Park real estate market, the “Facebook Effect,” and the best timing and strategies for success for both buyers and sellers.

Oct. 13, 9-11 a.m. $15/$20. Arrillaga Family Rec. Center, 700 Alma St., Menlo Park. www.menlopark.org/registration Using Master Charts The Master Charts in How to Grow More Vegetables may look intimidating, but they contain a lot of information that can help gardeners use space & grow food more efficiently.

This class will show how to calculate the amount of seed to sow for the space designated. Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $31. Common Ground Garden Supply and Education, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-493-6072. usingmastercharts.eventbrite.com/ Williamsburg designs This class provides participants with ideas and skills to re-create Colonial Williamsburg in homes.

A variety of different designs and techniques will be presented. There will be

Clubs/Meetings

Coordination for gardens The De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will feature a program by Rebecca Sweet on Harmony in the Garden and will put in some info on how to coordinate rhododendrons in the garden with our other plants. Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m. Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. www.deanza-ars.com Model Railroad Club Open House The West Bay Model Railroad Association holds monthly open houses the fourth Wednesday of every month, and the club is currently seeking new members who are interested in model railroading, regardless of their skill level in the hobby.

Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m. Free. West Bay Model Railroad Association, 1090 Merrill St., Menlo Park. Call 650-322-0685. wbmrra.ning.com Portola Valley Library nonfiction book club Book enthusiasts discuss “My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey” by Jill Bolte Taylor. Taylor recounts her experiences after suffering a stroke at the age of 37, describing the steps she took over a period of eight years to recover her health. Oct. 18, 1-2:30 p.m.

Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. www. smcl.org SV-IABC Luncheon Meeting Attendees join the SV Chapter of The International Association of Business Communicators for a discussion of cyber security, data privacy and other technology-focused legislative issues which affect communications professionals. Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Michael’s at Shoreline, 2960 North Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. bit.ly/U8IARC

Community Events

Candidate Forum: East Palo Alto City Council and Ravenswood School District The League of Women Voters South San Mateo County-organized Pros and Cons event will discuss State ballot measures in this November election. Attendees can come hear a straightforward, unbiased presentation by League members. Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. East Palo Alto City Council Chambers, 2515 University Ave., East Palo Alto. Call 650-839-8647. lwvssmc.org/pc_forums.html Candidate Forum: State Senate, District 13 and Assembly District 24 The League of Women Voters, South San Mateo County, is hosting this Candidate Forum as an opportunity for the public to hear and question the candidates running for these positions. It’s an opportunity to meet the candidates and become familiar with the issues. Oct. 17, 7-9 p.m. Menlo Park City Council Chambers, 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 650-839-8647. lwvssmc.org/pc_forums.html El Camino Hospital Farmers’ Market El Camino Hospital offers the community a weekly farmers’ market brought to campus by the Bay Area Farmers’ Markets Association. The market, which will take place each Friday during fall will feature locally grown organic produce, fresh eggs, cheese, breads, kettle corn, fish and nuts. Through Nov. 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. El Camino Hospital, Mountain View campus, 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View. www. elcaminohospital.org/calendar Harvest Craft Faire A selection of handcrafted items from 70 artisans. Garden & gourmet shops. Some vintage collectibles and small antiques. Snacks and lunch both days in Harvest Cafe. Childcare Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Benefits local charities. Oct. 19-20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos. Call 650-9481083 ext. 122.

M-A 60th anniversary celebration Attendees can celebrate the 60th anni-

Concerts

California Bach Society: Mass in B Minor Acclaimed 35-voice California Bach Society presents Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Paul Flight is the director with soloists Jennifer Paulino, soprano; Danielle Reutter-Harrah, mezzo-soprano; Brian Staufenbiel, tenor; Christopheren Nomura, baritone. Oct. 13, 8 p.m. General $30, Senior $22, Under 30 $10 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-485-1097. www. calbach.org Classical music concert The Fortnightly Music Club and Arts Action 21 co-present a special event celebrating National Arts and Humanities Month in October 2012. This classical music concert will feature a saxophone quartet, piano solos

by Brahms and Chopin, and selections by Nancy Bloomer Deussen. Oct. 14, 7-8:30 p.m. Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. www. fortnightlymusicclub.org Inaugural Organ Concert Organist James Welch performs the inaugural concert on the newly installed Rodgers organ.

He will demonstrate the organ in works from the baroque to the contemporary, including songs from “Phantom of the Opera.” Joining him will be sons Nicholas and Jameson at the piano, and vocalist Chayah Miranda. Oct. 13, 3-4 p.m. Palo Alto 7th Day Adventist Church, 786 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-856-9700. welchorganist.com Irish journey to Ellis Island More than five million Irish immigrants came through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954 to begin new lives. Stephen S. Gill, Mollie Hudner Thompson and Karl Franzen perform the Irish songs and stories that these newcomers told and sang. Oct. 15, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Los Altos Library Program Room, 13

S San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Call 650948-7683. sccl.org John Cage - 100 Years: Symposium and Concert In observance of the 100th anniversary of John Cage’s birth, the Department of Music presents a panel discussion at 7 p.m featuring Cage scholars and friends and a concert at 8 p.m. by Thomas Schultz, Geoff Nuttall (St. Lawrence String Quartet) and others with works by Cage, Webern, and Zimmermann. Oct. 12, 7 p.m. Campbell Recital Hall, Stanford. music.stanford.edu/Events/calendar.html Main Stage Concert: La Belle France (Stanford) Benjamin Simon, conductor; Karla Ekholm, bassoon. Mozart, Francaix, Couperin, and Ravel. Oct. 14, 3-5 p.m. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Drive, Stanford. Call 415-692-3367. www. sfchamberorchestra.org/events/mainstage/ Paly Choirs Fall Concert The award-winning Palo Alto High School Choirs (Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, Spectrum Singers, Men’s Chorus, Beginning Choir), under the direction of choral director Michael Najar and Ms. Monica Covitt, will present “All the World’s a Stage: Music from the People and Places We Have Encountered.” Oct. 14, 4-5 p.m. $10 adults $5 seniors/students. Free 12 & under.

Grace Lutheran Church Palo Alto, 3149 Waverley St., Palo Alto. www.paly.net/art/ choirs/concertsevents.html

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versary of Menlo-Atherton High School with an all-class picnic. M-A grads, family and friends are welcome for food, drink, entertainment and informal tours of the changes on campus. Oct. 13, Noon-4 p.m. Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton.

PALY music boosters October flea market A variety of items for sale including books, antiques, crafts from around the world, plants and more. Proceeds support Palo Alto High School Instrumental Music Program. To reserve a booth for sales, please see contact information.

Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Palo Alto High School parking lot, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-324-3532.

Patagonia’s Full Circle Farm Stand Full Circle Farm’s stand will be selling fresh, local, sustainability grown fruits and vegetables. Saturdays, through Jan. 5, 12-3 p.m. Patagonia Palo Alto, 525 Alma St., Palo Alto.

Pros and Cons: State Ballot Measures The League of Women Voters South San Mateo County organized this Pros and Cons event to discuss State ballot measures in this November election. nonpartisan presentation by League members.

Oct. 17, 7-9 p.m. The Sequoias, 501 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-8398647. lwvssmc.org/pc_forums.html Silicon Valley Financial Planning Day Attendees can meet with a certified financial planner free of charge to discuss whatever personal finance questions are keeping them up at night. Presentations will also be given on personal finance topics such as budgeting, investing and saving for retirement. Sponsored by FPA of Silicon Valley. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto. Call 877-861-7826 (toll free). www.financialplanningdays.org/siliconvalley Tech CU Anniversary Open House Celebrating one year in Palo Alto, Tech CU will have family activities with refreshments, games, prizes and free samples. Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tech CU, 490 S. California Ave., Palo Alto. www.techcu.com The Ethics of Wealth: Spiritual Capitalism and Oprah Winfrey After 10 years of research, Kathryn Lofton published “Oprah: The Gospel of an Icon,” a study that uses the works of Oprah Winfrey to define the history and structure of religion in modern America. In this talk, Lofton will focus on the prescribed and created neoliberal economies of American religion. Oct. 17, 5:15 p.m. 0 Levinthal Hall, Stanford Humanities Center, 424 Santa Teresa St., Stanford. ethicsinsociety.stanford.edu/ethics-events/events/ view/1511/?date=2012-10-17

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a take-home project that utilizes these techniques and is exemplary of Williamsburg design. Oct. 13, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $75 members; $90 non-members.

Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Call 650-364-8300 . www.filoli.org Woman’s Support Group - “depression and anxiety” Deborah’s Palm, a woman’s center located in downtown Palo Alto, is a place for women to gather, receive encouragement, support and information.

Their Thursday night woman’s group this fall will explore the subject of depression and anxiety. Dates are Oct. 11 and 18 and Nov. 1, 8, 15, and 29. 7-8:30 p.m. $10 per session. Deborah’s Palm, 555 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-473-0664. www. deborahspalm.org

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Dance

Social Ballroom Dancing Lessons at 8 p.m. are west coast swing for beginning and intermediate levels, followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. No experience or partner necessary; dressy casual attire is preferred. A $9 cover includes refreshments. Oct. 12, 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Cubberley Community Center Pavilion, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

Call 650-395-8847. www.FridayatthePav. com Social Ballroom Dancing Friday Night Dance at the Cubberley Community Center Pavilion. Lessons at 8 p.m. are salsa for beginning and intermediate levels, followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight.

No experience or partner necessary; dressy casual attire is preferred. Oct. 19, 8 p.m.-12 a.m. $9. Cubberley Community Center Pavilion, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-395-8847. www.FridayatthePav.com

Environment

‘Winterize Your Trees’ workshop Rick Gessner, Mountain View Trees’ guest arborist will lead an autumn workshop to teach about how trees grow and what one should look look for to have them ready for the coming winter storms.

Children okay if accompanied by adult.

Refreshments served. Bring sunscreen and tree questions. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sleeper Avenue Trailhead, Corner of Sleeper & Franklin Avenues, Mountain View. Call 415-412-1127. www.mountainviewtrees.org

Exhibits

Palo Alto Art Center re-opens with ‘Community Creates’ exhibit Ten Bay Area artists have partnered with community members to inspire an exhibition in celebration of the re-opening of the Palo Alto Art Center following its $7.9 million renovation. Runs through April 2013. Oct. 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with museum admission. Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. www.cityofpaloalto.org/ artcenter Stanford Art Spaces - Stanford University Paintings by Ben Alexy, watercolor, ink, and mixed media by Valerie P. Cohen & paintings by Kyungsoo Lee are on exhibit at the Paul G. Allen Art Spaces on the Stanford University Campus. From July 6 to Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stanford Art Spaces, 420 Via Palou, Stanford.

Call 650-725-3622. http://cis.stanford. edu/~marigros Stanford Art Spaces - Stanford University Paintings by Manli Chao, Lucy Liew and Jingui Zhang are on exhibit at the Paul G. Allen (C.I.S.) Art Spaces Gallery from Sept. 14-Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stanford Art Spaces, 420 Via Palou, Stanford. Call 650-725-3622. cis.stanford. edu~marigros The Menlo Art League Annual Exhibit The Menlo Art League’s annual exhibit is at the Menlo Park Library in the downstairs community room from Oct. 2

Inspirations a guide to the spiritual community FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC £ nxÊ Õ ÃÊ, >`]Ê*> Ê Ì ÊUÊ­Èxä®ÊnxÈ ÈÈÈÓÊUÊÜÜÜ°vVV«>° À}Ê Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m and 5:00 p.m. Church School at 10 a.m.

This Sunday: Dealing With Depression: A Feel Good Sermon Rev. Grant F. Sontag, guest preaching An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

Inspirations is a resource for ongoing religious services and special events. To inquire about or to reserve space in Inspirations, please contact Blanca Yoc at 223-6596 or email byoc@paweekly.com

(continued on next page)

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Goings On (continued from previous page) through Oct. 28. An opening reception is set for Oct. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the community room. Free.

Family and Kids

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Not Too Scaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories for Halloween Nationally known storyteller Michael Katz will share age-appropriate stories for Halloween. His stories always involve giggles, goose bumps and jumps. Oct. 17, 4-5 p.m. Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. www.smcl.org St. Raymond Pumpkin Festival The festival features pony rides, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, face painting, games, bounce houses, food & drinks. Oct. 12, 3:30-7 p.m., Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Raymond School, 1100 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. www.straymond.org Tech CU Anniversary Open House Celebrating 1 year in Palo Alto, Tech CU will have family activities with refreshments, games, prizes and free samples. Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tech CU, 490 S. California Ave., Palo Alto. www.techcu.com ZoppĂŠ - An Italian Family Circus The Zopp Family Circus welcomes guests into the intimate 500-seat tent for a circus that honors the best history of the OldWorld Italian tradition. Starring Nino the clown, the circus is propelled by a central story featuring acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship and canine capers.

Oct. 12-21, 4-8 p.m. Weekday shows: youth (2-11): $10 / adult (12+): $15 weekend shows: youth (2-11): $13 / adult (12+): Circus Tent - Downtown Redwood City, 1044 Middlefield Road (next to LIbrary), Redwood City. www.redwoodcity.org/ events/zoppe.html

Film

Silicon Valley African Film Festival A showcase of films reflecting the stories by African filmmakers. Highlights: dialogue with filmmakers, African drumming and dance performances, Parade of Nations, award ceremony. Cosponsored by Oriki Theater and Community School of Music and Arts. Oct. 12-14, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. $20 (one-day); $35 (full festival pass). Senior/ Student discounts available. Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. www.svaff.org Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival opening night An evening with Rona Ramon, wife of the late pioneering Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who perished in the Columbia shuttle disaster in February 2003.

Featuring the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Article of Hopeâ&#x20AC;? about Ilan Ramon and be joined by the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director, Dan Cohen. Oct. 20, 8 p.m. $35-$45. Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fa-

bian Way, Palo Alto. Call 408-899-6013. www.svjff.org/ United Nations Association Film Festival The 15th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival) from October 18-28, 2012 Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, San Francisco and Stanford University celebrates the power of documentary films dealing with human rights issues, the environment, racism, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issues, universal education, war and peace. Oct. 18, 6:15-10:15 p.m. Aquarius Theatre, 400 Emerson St., Palo Alto. www.unaff.org

Health

Balance Your Life: a wellness gala Attendees experience special gifts from experts in health, beauty and wellness through mini-sessions, workshops and demos with keynote speaker Peggy Werner. Oct. 14, 1-6 p.m. $25 In Advance, $35 At the Door. Crowne Plaza Cabana - Palo Alto, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Call 973-713-6811. www.wellnessgala.com El Camino Hospital Free Skin Cancer Screening At this free screening, an El Camino Hospital dermatologist will scan attendees from head to toe and refer them for follow up if there are any areas of concern. Open to participants 18 and older only. No walk-ins will be admitted. Registration required. Oct. 15, 2-4 p.m. Free El Camino Hospital, Melchor Pavilion, Suite 110, 2490 Hospital Drive, Mountain View. www.elcaminohospital.org Heart Health through Maharishi Ayurveda Participants can learn about this system of natural medicine, about balance as the key to optimizing heart health and about how meditation can reduce stress and create the mind-body balance. Oct. 15, 7-9 p.m. Palo Alto Transcendental Meditation Center, 1101 Embarcadero Road , Palo Alto. Call 650-424-8800 . tmpaloalto.org Laughter Yoga: Its Health Benefits Join Monina Maclang-Carlos, certified Laughter Yoga Leader with Care Resource Aging and Adult Care, for an interactive workshop that combines breathing exercises, playful laughter and relaxation.

Oct. 12, 9-10 a.m. Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, Woodside. www. smcl.org

On Stage

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Distractedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory presents the play by Lisa Loomer about a mom struggling to raise a son with ADHD. In an info-rich, tuned-in 24/7 culture, whos isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t distracted? Oct. 19, 7:30-10 p.m. $10-40. Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory, 945 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650 851-8282 ext.

105. www.pvtc-ca.org

North Star Academy presents â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Henry Vâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Henry V,â&#x20AC;? Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tale of the 26-year-old Henry taking the reins of power and becoming the King of France, as well as England, is directed by Neva Hutchinson who has been recognized by the Folger Shakespeare Library and has taught and produced Shakespeare plays for more than two decades. Oct. 18-21, 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door, $8 on Thursday night and the Sunday matinee. McKinley Auditorium, 400 Duane St., Redwood City. www. northstartix.com The Cherry Orchard The orchard is about to be auctioned off to pay debts, but Mme. Ranevskaya and her family enjoy long lunches and parties while time runs out. Sept. 21, 8-10 p.m. $10-$30. Pear Avenue Theatre, 1220 Pear Ave., Mountain View. Call 650-254-1148. www.thepear.org TheatreWorks presents â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;33 Variationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; This play follows a brilliant musicologist racing to solve one of Beethovenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest mysteries, while her daughter struggles to connect with her. Oct. 3-28, $23-$73. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. www.theatreworks.org West Bay Operaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Tales of Hoffmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; New production of the Offenbach opera. Cast: C. Bengochea (Hoffmann), R. Bard (Olympia/Antonia/Giulietta), R. Stafford (Lindorf), B. Coffland (Nicklausse). Orchestra and chorus. Lavish costumes and sets. Jose Luis Moscovich, conductor. Ragnar Conde, director. Oct. 12, 14 (2 p.m.),20 and 21(2 p.m.) Fri-Sun, Oct. 12-21, 8 p.m. $40-75. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

Call 650-424-9999. www.wbopera.org

Outdoors Birds of Bedwell Bayfront Park Ducks and shorebirds are returning for the winter. Attendees can learn about resident and just-arriving migrant birds. Experienced birders will be available to show close-up views of different birds of water and land. Families welcome. Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bedwell Bayfront Park, end of Marsh Road, Menlo Park.

Call 650-464-2877. www.friendsofbayfrontpark.org Woodside Day of the Horse - Camelot!

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for The Woodside Day of the Horse - Camelot. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Progressive Trail Ride: $35 / The Horse Fair is free. Woodside Town Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside. www. whoa94062.org/index.php/day-of-thehorse

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Movies

OPENINGS

Ben Affleck, center, acts in “Argo” and also directs, showing he’s become a sharp and thoughtful filmmaker.

Argo ---1/2

(Century 16, Century 20) In 2010, when I reviewed Ben Affleck’s sophomore directorial effort, “The Town,” I wrote: “Ben Affleck is all grown up.” Affleck doubles down on that statement with his third — and best — directorial undertaking, “Argo.”

The Ben Affleck audiences discovered in the mid-1990s and early 2000s seemed to have the depth of a speed bump. He stumbled through cinematic missteps (“Forces of Nature”) and laughable stinkers (“Gigli,” “Reindeer Games”), with only the occasional gem. Now, the Affleck of old has been shed like an unwanted husk, and what remains is a sharp and thoughtful filmmaker who is still in the embryonic phase of a very impressive career. Sure, Affleck the actor is also along for the ride (and he fares well in “Argo”), but his skill behind the camera is what truly shines.

The harrowing true story is more compelling than anything Hollywood could dream up. The film’s creative opening sheds some light on the strained political dynamic between Iran and the United States, leading up to an assault on the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979. Fifty-two Americans are taken hostage as Iranian revolutionaries storm the embassy, but six Americans manage to escape amidst the turmoil and hide out in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber).

Back in the U.S., CIA operative Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston) tasks “exfiltration specialist” Tony Mendez (Affleck) with hatching a plan to get the six Americans safely out of Iran before their true identities and whereabouts are discovered. And what a plan it is. Mendez conceives of a faux movie production that would make the six part of his filmmaking team. Their excuse for being in Iran is location-scouting, naturally, as pre-

The production values — costuming, set design, cinematography and score — are impressive throughout. Affleck and his crew do a phenomenal job capturing the time period and casting actors who both look like their real-life counterparts and have the thespian chops to hit all the right emotional notes (notable performances come from Arkin, Cranston and up-and-comer Scoot McNairy).

Affleck should be in line for an Academy Award nomination for Best Director, though it is still too early to say if he deserves to win. The strong screenplay includes great dialogue for the likes of Arkin and Cranston, but some “close call” moments leading up to and during the film’s tense climax feel contrived. One of the film’s many strengths is its ability to draw in the audience — we often feel we are there with these people throughout the ordeal, for better or worse.

A goofy sci-fi film dubbed “Argo” never got made in 1980. Fortunately for moviegoers, a brilliant, Oscar-worthy drama/thriller of the same name did get made in 2012.

Rated R for language and some violent images. 2 hours.

Woody Harrelson in “Seven Psychopaths.” production gets underway on “Argo,” a Star Wars-esque fantasy film featuring exotic locales. Mendez even turns to Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and aging director Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to make the “production” as authentic as possible. Should Mendez’s ruse get discovered, it is more than likely that he and his six fellow Americans will all be killed (or worse — tortured and killed).

“Argo” is a nail-biter from beginning to end, and easily one of the year’s best films.

— Tyler Hanley

Seven Psychopaths ---

(Century 16, Century 20) Just what is it that non-violent people get out of violent stories? Possibly a deeper understanding of the roots of violence where it is found, but more likely a kind of vicarious thrill, a holiday from civility and an indulgence in primal bad behavior. By asking the question, “Seven Psychopaths” gives itself a bit more heft than, say, the aptly named “The Expendables.”

As written and directed by playwright Martin McDonagh (acclaimed for haunting but darkly comic plays like “The Pillowman”), the film investigates the absurdity of Southern California, where movie crime shares real estate with real crime. As aspiring screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell) tussles with his screenplay “Seven Psychopaths,” he gets not entirely welcome kibitzing from Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell). Bickle’s day job involves kidnapping pets so partner Hans (Christopher Walken) can return them and collect reward money, a scheme that hits a snag when they inadvertently put their hands on a Shih Tzu belonging to a gangster (Woody Harrelson).

Rightly panicked, the three stooges hightail it to Joshua Tree National Park, where their ineptitude strands them even as doom approaches. Call it “Waiting, with Guns, for Godot.” Faced with the absurdity of their situation, the three men talk and talk to stave off the inevitability of the existential void.

And so the gleefully violent, comically profane “Seven Psychopaths” represents a sort of evolutionary step from Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction,” but without that picture’s coked-up energy and propulsive narrative drive. McDonagh gets bogged down in the desert, where Hans’ observation about psychopaths (“They get kind of tiresome after all, don’t you think?”) becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

That McDonagh can see that about his own screenplay is part of its postmodern appeal, to a point. Lines like “I don’t want it to be one more film about guys with guns in their hands,” “Your women characters are awful!” and “Life-affirming, schmife-affirming.

It’s about seven (expletive deleted) psychopaths!” acknowledge the script’s weak spots while working to let McDonagh off the hook for them. The ironic McDonagh motif of exploring the soft spots of homicidally violent men gets full play here, in that arguably none of the “psychopaths” fit the definition of a person so psychologically troubled as to be incapable of love.

The picture is smart enough to work on multiple levels. It can be a witty salute to masculine ‘70s cinema (“Marty” can stand for Marty Scorsese as well as Martin McDonagh), or a deconstruction of same (Rockwell’s “Bickle,” alluding to De Niro’s psychopath in Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” symbolically embodies the eager violence Marty needs for a commercially successful script).

It can also be seen as an existential consideration of the role of self-expression in ascribing meaning to life, including the question of artistic “responsibility.”

This potentially irritating playfulness works because of likeable performances from the central trio of actors. Farrell, Rockwell and Walken play off their own screen personas while reminding us of their extensive comic capabilities. Accompanied by the empathetic funereal strains of customary Coen Brothers composer Carter Burwell, these men make beautiful music out of the mortal fear of living to die.

Rated R for strong violence, bloody images, pervasive language, sexuality/nudity and drug use. One hour, 49 minutes.

— Peter Canavese (continued on next page)

ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 39

Movies (continued from previous page)

The Paperboy --

(Palo Alto Square) Woe betide the family who heads down to the local movie theater, stares at the marquee and decides “The Paperboy” sounds like a fun “Dennis The Menace”-style suburban comedy.

This lurid, sexed-up pulp fiction set in and around the sultry swamps of Florida is strictly for Mom and Dad (if them).

Lee Daniels’ film of Pete Dexter’s 1995 novel was in development for a decade, and it’s not hard to figure out why the tricky material wasn’t fast-tracked. Already infamous as

the movie in which Nicole Kidman pees on Zac Efron (relax: it’s a jellyfish thing), “The Paperboy” is part legal thriller, part sex-charged coming-of-age romantic tragedy, part meditation on race. It’s like “Anatomy of a Murder,” “The Graduate” and Daniels’ own “Precious” rolled into one wacked-out bloody Southern Gothic that’s considerably less than the sum of those parts. (Just as Kidman’s character doesn’t quite live up to being one’s “mama ... high school sweetheart and an oversexed Barbie doll all rolled into one.”)

The title refers to Efron’s character, Jack Jansen, a 20-year-old naif who becomes gofer to his

older brother Ward (Matthew McConaughey) during the summer of ‘69. A reporter harboring a dark personal secret of his own, Ward joins colleague Yardley Acheman (David Oyelowo) in investigating the presumable wrongful conviction of lowlife death-row inmate Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack). These “paperboys” find themselves allied with Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman), whose jailhouse-romance correspondence with Van Wetter means to result in an overturned sentence followed by a quickie marriage.

All of this gets put into (one) perspective by the voice-over narration of Jansen family maid Anita

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Chester (smoky-voiced Macy Gray).

Though it’s anyone’s guess what the otherwise self-possessed Charlotte sees in the disgustingly abusive Van Wetter (“Hillary ain’t so bad, and I’m not so good,” she avers). Cusack gives the film’s most electric performance in the change-of-pace role, but his potency makes the journalists seem all the more clueless and/ or amoral in their excusing of his wild behavior in order to serve their goal of logging a headline story.

Dexter gets co-screenwriting credit with Daniels, but this is clearly the director’s show, at the expense of the source material. Daniels’ plot contortions, including changing Yardley into an English-accented black man and supplying a highly unlikely (if thematically convenient) explanation for the accent. Daniels tarts up the picture with stylistic tics (split screen, slo-mo, filters), strange reveries and period soul music, but such energies would have been better spent on organic, revelatory character work to make motivations less murky.

Despite the palpably diffuse focus, the actors labor to pull their weight.

At least the bland Efron’s lingering callowness suits his character, and Kidman’s damaged vamp meshes well with Daniels’ tonal approach.

“The Paperboy” is perhaps better felt, or intuited, than understood on an intellectual level, though the director outlines the social forces (racism and sexism, primarily) that try the characters’ souls. The film’s aim is off enough to annoy: It lands, but in the bushes, with too much of the news drenched and obscured by the sprinklers.

Rated R for strong sexual content, violence and language. One hour, 47 minutes.

— Peter Canavese

Century Theatres at Palo Alto Square Fri & Sat The Paperboy - 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 10/12-10/13 Searching for Sugar Man - 2:00, 4:45, 7:25, 9:45 Sun-Thurs The Paperboy - 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 10/14-10/18 Searching for Sugar Man - 2:00, 4:45, 7:25

Tickets and Showtimes available at cinemark.com

NOW PLAYING The following is a sampling of movies recently reviewed in the Weekly: Frankenweenie --(Century 16, Century 20) By reaching back into his own past and movie history, the recently fumbly Tim Burton has gotten a grip with “Frankenweenie.” For Disney to put out a 2012 animated 3D family picture in black-and-white can mean only one thing: The megahit “Alice in Wonderland” wasn’t a complete waste after all. The story concerns young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan), reimagined as a child of suburbia. For Victor, a curious child, science comes in handy when his beloved dog Sparky dies, necessitating electrical resuscitation.Burton and his voice cast (including Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara in multiple delightful roles) justifiably have a ball bringing new life to the likes of Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff. Along with the 3D goose, “Frankenweenie” boasts Burton’s distinctive design work, and creatively eager stop-motion work (check out the streaking raindrop shadows, evocative of Conrad Hall’s cinematography for “In Cold Blood”). Of course “Frankenweenie” offers eye candy, a celebration of cinema, and a heartfelt, central “boy and his dog” story, but it’s a pleasant surprise that the picture also goes out of its way to encourage free-thinking square pegs to avoid gaping round holes. Rated PG for thematic elements, scary images and action. One hour, 27 minutes. — P.C. (Reviewed Oct. 5, 2012) Looper ---1/2 (Century 16, Century 20) Of all the projects Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been involved with, “Looper” may well be the one to launch him into superstardom.

The picture takes place in the year 2044, 30 years before the invention of time travel. The mob has a stranglehold on the advanced technology, using time travel to send people back to the year 2044 for termination by highly paid Loopers like Joe (Gordon-Levitt). Occasionally the mob will send back the older version of the Loopers themselves to “close the loop,” When Joe’s older self (Bruce Willis) appears in the year 2044 and young Joe can’t pull the trigger, older Joe escapes. The episode sets off a hunt-and-chase that ropes in brassy farmer Sara (Emily Blunt) and her young son Cid (Pierce Gagnon). Director Rian Johnson (“Brick”) demonstrates a deft touch and infuses “Looper” with subtleties and soulful moments. Gordon-Levitt nails Willis’ mannerisms, so it’s easy to believe the two are versions of the same person, and showcases his depth with toughness and compassion. Blunt is also remarkably good as a protective mother, and youngster Gagnon is a revelation.

The visual effects underwhelm at times, but the story doesn’t suffer.Ultimately, “Looper” is a thoughtful genre-bender that brings science-fiction, action and mystery together in one tight package. Rated R for strong violence, drug content, sexuality/nudity and language.

1 hour, 59 minutes. — T.H. (Reviewed Sept. 28, 2012)

Movies MOVIE TIMES All showtimes are for Friday through Sunday only unless otherwise noted.

For other times, as well as reviews and trailers, go to PaloAltoOnline.com/movies.

Arbitrage (R) ((( Aquarius Theatre: 1, 3:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m.

Argo (R) (((1/2 Century 16: 11 a.m.; noon, 1:45, 2:45, 4:30, 5:30, 7:40, 8:50 & 10:40 p.m. Century 20: 11:20 a.m.; 12:55, 2:10, 3:45, 5, 6:40, 7:50, 9:30 & 10:40 p.m.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pulpy, sweaty, outrageously entertaining... not like anything I ve ever seen.â&#x20AC;?

THE ATLANTIC

Atlas Shrugged: Part II (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11:15 a.m.; 1:55, 4:35, 7:40 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 2:15, 4:55, 7:35 & 10:15 p.m.

Bad Sister (1931) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Wed. & Thu. at 7:30 p.m.

End of Watch (R) ((1/2 Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 2:15, 5, 7:35 & 10:20 p.m.

Foolish Wives (1922) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 7:30 p.m.

Frankenweenie (PG) ((( Century 16: 12:20, 2:30, 4:50, 7:20 & 9:40 p.m.; In 3D at 11:20 a.m.; 1:40, 4, 6:30 & 9 p.m. Century 20: 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:25 & 9:45 p.m.; In 3D at 11:30 a.m.; 1:40, 3:55, 6:10, 8:25 & 10:35 p.m.

Here Comes the Boom (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11:05 a.m.; 1:35, 4:10, 7:10 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 12:15, 1:45, 2:45, 4:15, 5:15, 6:50, 7:55, 9:25 & 10:25 p.m.

Hotel Transylvania (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11 a.m.; 3:55 & 9:20 p.m.; In 3D at 1:20 & 6:40 p.m. Century 20: 11:20 a.m.; 1:45, 4:05, 6:30 & 8:55 p.m.; In 3D at 12:45, 3:10, 5:35, 8 & 10:20 p.m.

Imitation of Life (1934) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Sat. & Sun. at 5:30 & 9:35 p.m.

Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: Wed. at 7:30 p.m.; Thu. at 7:30 p.m. Century 20: Wed. at 7:30 p.m.; Thu. at 7:30 p.m.

Looper (R) (((1/2 Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:45, 4:30, 7:35 & 10:35 p.m. Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 12:35, 2, 3:20, 4:45, 6:15, 7:50, 9:05 & 10:40 p.m.

Magnificent Obsession (1935) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Sat. & Sun. at 3:25 & 7:30 p.m.

STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT, VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE

Mary Poppins (G) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: Wed. at 2 & 7 p.m. Century 20: Wed. at 2 & 7 p.m.

The Master (R) (((1/2 Century 20: 12:50, 3:50, 6:55 & 10 p.m. Guild Theatre: 1:45, 5 & 8:15 p.m.

EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12

The Metropolitan Opera: Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Elisir dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amore (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Sat. at 9:55 a.m. Palo Alto Square: Sat. at 9:55 a.m.

The Oranges (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11 a.m.; 4 & 9:50 p.m.

A REMARKABLE STORY.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The Other Dream Team (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Aquarius Theatre: 2, 4:30, 7 & 9:45 p.m.

The Paperboy (R) (( Palo Alto Square: 1:45, 4:30 & 7:15 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 9:50 p.m.

Paranormal Activity 4 (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Thu. at 9, 9:30, 10:15 & 11 p.m.; 12:01 & 12:02 a.m.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (PG-13) ((( Century 16: 11:30 a.m.; 2, 4:45, 7:30 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 2:20, 4:50, 7:30 & 10:10 p.m.

Pitch Perfect (PG-13) ((( Century 16: 11:25 a.m.; 2:05, 4:40, 7:35 & 10:15 p.m. Century 20: 11:45 a.m.; 2:25, 5:05, 7:45 & 10:25 p.m.

Searching for Sugar Man (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Palo Alto Square: 2, 4:45 & 7:25 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 9:45 p.m.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;CAPTIVATING...

TOTALLY OUT OF THE ORDINARY.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;INSPIRING!â&#x20AC;?

Seed (1931) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Wed. & Thu. at 5:40 & 8:55 p.m.

Seven Psychopaths (R) ((( Century 16: 11 a.m.; 12:10, 1:35, 2:50, 4:20, 5:25, 7:30, 8:40 & 10:40 p.m. Century 20: 11:25 a.m.; 2, 4:35, 7:15 & 9:55 p.m.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;WITH FANS LIKE THAT,

Sinister (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11:10 a.m.; 1:50, 4:50, 7:50 & 10:40 p.m. Century 20: 2:40, 5:20, 8:05 & 10:45 p.m.; Fri. & Sun. also at 12:05 p.m.

HOW COULD IT LOSE?â&#x20AC;?

Taken 2 (PG-13) (1/2 Century 16: 11:40 a.m.; 12:30, 1:30, 2:20, 3:30, 5, 6:10, 7, 8, 9 & 10:35 p.m. Century 20: 11:40 a.m.; 12:30, 1:20, 2, 2:50, 3:40, 4:30, 5:15, 6, 7, 7:40, 8:25, 9:20, 10:05 & 10:45 p.m.

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

OFFICIAL SELECTION 2012

FILM FESTIVAL

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

Palo Alto (493-3456)

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

Guild: 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park (266-9260)

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

Internet address: For show times, plot synopses, trailers and more information about films playing, go to Palo AltoOnline.com/movies

CinĂŠArts at Palo Alto Square: 3000 El Camino Real,

The Perks of Being a Wallflower --(Century 16, Century 20) In â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wallflower,â&#x20AC;? novelist Stephen Chbosky directs a revealing film based on his own semiautobiographical book. Witness specimen Charlie (Logan Lerman) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; seen here entering the mating grounds of Mill Grove High School outside Pittsburgh in the early â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; little understanding the pull that will lead him to join a pack, gravitate to his cool English teacher, fall for an unavailable female of the species, make mix tapes, have late-night â&#x20AC;&#x153;deep thoughtâ&#x20AC;? epiphanies, and participate in ancient teenage rituals involving drugs, alcohol and/or â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Rocky Horror Picture Show.â&#x20AC;? Charlie is painfully shy and inclined to lick the wounds of earlier tangles with predators. He is accepted by the impulsive seniors of the pack: attractive potential mate Sam (Emma

Stanford: 221 University Ave., Palo Alto (324-3700)

Watson) and gay Patrick (Ezra Miller), the latter performing that rare and complex dance of flamboyance, deception, confusion, fear and desire like a junior Oscar Wilde. One cannot blame our sentimental filmmaker or even you, gentle viewer, for seeing in these younglings something of ourselves. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content and a fight; all involving teens. One hour, 43 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; P.C. (Reviewed Sept. 28, 2012)

Taken 2 -1/2 (Century 16, Century 20) Enraged that a foreigner would blithely kill his son and think he could get away with it, Albanian villain Murad Hoxha (Rade Serbedzija) relentlessly pursues his own justice against retired CIA operative Bryan

Mills (Liam Neeson) in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taken 2.â&#x20AC;? Since Mills offers a last-minute invite to his ex (Famke Janssen) and their daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) to join him on a business trip to Istanbul, Hoxha gets a shot at teaching the American that turnabout is fair play. As a writer-producer, Besson is particularly mercenary. Knowing well his audience for these blood-simple actioners, he ticks off a rooftop chase, car chase, a handful of mano-a-mano clashes and multiple crashes and explosions.

But the ludicrous plot devices that allow Mills to go from point A to point Z insult the intelligence of the character and the audience. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sensuality. One hour, 31 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; P.C. (Reviewed Oct. 5, 2012)

THE OTHER

DREAM TEAM THE FILM ARCADE PRESENTS A SORRENTO PRODUCTIONS AND BERLINER 76 ENTERTAITNMENT PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BASKETBALL FUTURE FOUNDATIAON A MARIUS A. MARKEVICIUS FILMâ&#x20AC;&#x153;THE OTHER DREAM TEAMâ&#x20AC;?

CINEMATA A GRAPHY ANIMATION ADDITIONAL MARC WEINBACH MUSIC FROMWITH DUSTIN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;HALLORAM EDITED BY DAN MARKS ADDITIONAL A GRAPHY BO BILSTUP AND ALEX VAN WAGNER EDITING CURTISS CLAYTON AND BRIAN JOHNSON

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MUSIC SUPERVISOR CO-PRODUCED BY

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STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 MEET THE FILMMAKER! OPENING WEEKEND Q&A

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AQUARIUS THEATRE (650) 327-3241 %-%23/. 34 s 0!,/ !,4/

SATURDAY: Q&A AFTER 4:30PM SHOW

f a c e b o o k . c o m /o t h e r d r e a m t e a m

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Sports Shorts

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Battling to get better

STILL PERFECT It was a day to keep streaks alive as the Palo Alto Knights’ Jr. Midgets posted a 14-0 victory over Elk Grove in American Youth Football action Sunday at Palo Alto High. This team of Palo Alto players improved to 7-0 this season and lengthened their winning streak in California to 26 games. The Knights lost at the national championships (in Florida) in 2010 as Jr. Pee Wees and ‘11 at Pee Wees. “This is a very focused and smart football team,” said head coach Mike Piha. “We do not have a lot of speed . . . these players just know how to play the game and have completely out-powered all opponents.”

Piha and his coaching staff have been together for 10-plus years, during which they have won eight league championships and advanced eight times to the national championships in Orlando, Fla. “Coaching is a big part of youth football. Our offensive coordinator and co-head coach, Eric Borjon, is as good as they come,” Piha said. “He has our players running high school-level plays and always out-coaches our opponents.”

On Sunday, the Knights took the opening kickoff and drove 94 yards for their first score — a five-yard run

by Ethan Stern. He finished the day with his third consecutive 100-plus yard rushing game. The previous week, Stern had 130 yards rushing and scored two TDs in a 40-6 win over host Richmond. The Knights’ second score came on Stern’s 11yard run in the third quarter. The Knights will travel to Kezar Stadium in San Francisco on Sunday to play the San Francisco Seahawks, with action beginning at 8 a.m. The Jr. Midgets will put their undefeated record on the line against a 6-1 Seahawks’ team at 2 p.m.

ON THE AIR Friday Women’s volleyball: UCLA at Stanford, 6 p.m.; Pac-12 Networks; KZSU (90.1 FM) Prep football: Burlingame at MenloAtherton, 7 p.m.; KCEA (89.1 FM)

Saturday College football: Stanford at Notre Dame, 12:30 p.m.; NBC; KNBR (1050 AM); KZSU (90.1 FM)

Sunday

READ MORE ONLINE

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

H

Menlo-Atherton senior Morgan Olson-Fabbro scored six goals in an 11-10 victory over visiting Menlo School on Wednesday, effectively ending the Knights’ streak of 19 straight PAL Bay Division championships.

PREP WATER POLO

PAL title may be a fitting farewell for M-A coach

by Keith Peters ante Dettamanti has a habit of taking his water polo teams to championships. At Stanford, he won eight NCAA titles over a 25-year span with the Cardinal men. In 2003, he guided the Sacred Heart Prep boys to their firstever Central Coast Section Division II crown in his only season there.

When Dettamanti took over as the MenloAtherton boys’ head coach in 2011, there was no such talk of titles. After all, he was just helping out after friend and former coach Marco Palazzo took a job with the U.S. National Team as an assistant coach.

Dettamanti just turned 70 and, even though he said “I still have the enthusiasm,” his prep coaching career will end with the Bears after this season.

Thus far, however, it has been a season for the record book.

While there are still a handful of league matches remaining, the Menlo-Atherton boys’ water polo

D

(continued on page 45)

Page 42ÊUÊ"VÌ LiÀÊ£Ó]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

Keith Peters

Men’s soccer: Stanford at Washington, noon; Pac-12 Networks

by Andrew Preimesberger

Keith Peters

PREP ALUMS . . . Palo Alto High grad Caroline Martin is making an impact for Connecticut College in only her first season. Martin had 19 kills in a 3-2 win over Amherst College on Saturday as the Camels improved to 5-2 in the NESCAC (14-2 overall). A night earlier in 3-1 win over Trinity College, Martin had 13 kills, three aces and 12 digs. . . . Senior outside hitter Allison Whitson from Palo Alto knocked down 19 kills and hit .302 to help UC Davis post a 2523, 25-21, 25-20 sweep of host UC Irvine in Big West Conference action on Saturday night.

M-A alone in first, but has yet to be at its best due to injuries

M-A coach Dante Dettamanti (right) and assistant Marvin Mouchawar are congratulated by Menlo coach Jack Bowen (left).

ad it not been for Palo Alto, who knows what the MenloAtherton girls’ volleyball team could have achieved last season?

It was the Vikings who twice blocked the Bears from championships in 2011. The first time was in the Central Coast Section Division I title match. The second came in the NorCal championships.

Palo Alto wound up winning a second straight CIF Division I state title while the Bears took home the consolation prize of setting a school record for most single-season wins with 31.

With eight players returning from that team that went 31-7 and with Palo Alto graduating the core of back-to-back state title-winning teams, expectations were high for the Bears in 2012.

But, that was until head coach Jennifer Wilson left the program.

M-A got an able replacement in Ron Whitmill, but he began the season with a slew of injuries that resulted in makeshift lineups.

“I think it’s a little hard on the girls, but I think they’ve been doing a good job,” said Whitmill. “Players have been coming in and out of the lineup; the lineups change a lot and roles change.”

Two standouts from last season, senior Ali Spindt and junior Paulina King, have been in and out of the lineup. King is the reigning PAL Bay Division Most Valuable Player and King could be the best junior in the division.

King is back in the lineup, but now Spindt is out — most recently with a bad hip. She missed Tuesday’s match due to illness and wasn’t even in the gym. When she has played, she hasn’t hit. King, meanwhile, has been hitting only the past couple of matches.

“We plan on having them both hitting by CCS,” said Whitmill. “There are a lot of adjustments that the kids have to make. It’s kind of keeping us from getting in good rhythm. (But) I think all in all, they’re handling it well.”

Despite missing Spindt, the Bears battled their way to a 24-26, 25-20, 26-28, 26-24, 15-13 victory over visiting Carlmont on Tuesday in a crucial PAL Bay Division showdown between the two best teams in the league. It was M-A’s 25th straight victory in the division and, more importantly, kept the Bears in sole possession of first place at the halfway point in the league season.

Senior Katelyn Doherty and King provided a much-needed one-two punch for M-A as Doherty had 17 (continued on page 44)

STANFORD FOOTBALL

It’s just another big test Unbeaten Notre Dame provides a challenge for Cardinal on Saturday

by Dave Kiefer

by Rick Eymer enior receiver Jamal-Rashad Patterson will be in the starting lineup when No. 17 Stanford (4-1) travels to meet No. 7 Notre Dame (5-0) on Saturday in a nationally televised nonconference football game with a scheduled 12:30 p.m. (PT) kickoff.

Patterson gets the start because of a knee injury to sophomore Ty Montgomery, sustained during Stanford’s wild 54-48 overtime victory over visiting Arizona last week.

Just don’t get Cardinal coach David Shaw started on the difference between starting and playing a significant portion of the contest.

Starting is a state of mind and a statistic best left off the final tabulations, he said.

“Counting starts is useless,” Shaw said. “A waste of time.”

Example: Stanford opens the game in its Wildcat formation.

“Then Stepfan Taylor would be the starting quarterback,” said Shaw.

Patterson has four receptions on the season, but is one of five receivers with at least 100 yards. He’s the one with the 25 yards per-catch average, which would lead the team if such stats were important.

(Remound Wright is technically the leader with his one catch for 35 yards but let’s not get caught up in details).

More important is that Patterson is one of five receivers with a touchdown catch. That means points and that’s a statistic about which Shaw feels strongly.

Touchdowns both rushing and passing, were big for quarterback Josh Nunes, who rushed for his first three collegiate scores against the Wildcats. He also threw for a pair of scores and finished with a careerhigh 360 passing yards. That was easily enough for Nunes to earn Pac12 Offensive Player of the Week.

“It’s a nice honor to get but it’s more for the guys up front and the

T

S

David Elkinson/isiphotos.com

guys down field,” Nunes said. “They were the ones making plays.”

That’s all well and good, but Shaw had a different view of Nunes’ performance.

“Whatever we needed him to get done, he did it,” Shaw said.

The big test is how Nunes will perform in his second road game of the season.

“That’s going to be the big test,” Shaw said. “That’s our gauntlet.

Can we play our best game on the road?”

Tight ends Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo have been important targets for Nunes during the season, but Patterson and freshman receiver Kodi Whitfield (no catches) will also be important to the cause.

“They can do everything we need them to do in our game plan,” Nunes said.

Meanwhile, when redshirt sophomore Henry Anderson was named Stanford’s Defensive Player of the Game during a team meeting for his efforts against Arizona over the weekend, he was greeted by calls of “Goooooose! Gooooose!” and

Grant Shorin/isiphotos.com

Don Feria/stanfordphoto.com

Josh Nunes threw for a careerhigh 360 yards against Arizona.

Stanford head coach David Shaw had plenty to cheer about following his team’s 54-48 overtime win over Arizona last Saturday.

Stanford’s Jamal Rashad-Patterson made an acrobatic catch.

his teammates began flapping their arms like geese.

Anderson was all smiles.

“I’ve had a lot of nicknames but that one has stuck,” Anderson said Tuesday. “I don’t like the nickname because the story behind it is kind of embarrassing.”

He’s been embarrassing offensive linemen and frustrating quarterbacks all season. It was Anderson who tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage that Chase Thomas turned into an interception in overtime last Saturday and led to Stanford’s win over Arizona.

“When I tipped it, I saw three Stanford guys jump for it,” Anderson said. “I thought it might fall to the ground. Luckily, Chase outjumped everybody for it.”

Anderson, one of several players from the state of Georgia, wasn’t even aware he was on Stanford’s radar while at Woodward Academy in Atlanta.

“It was out of the blue when they offered,” Anderson said. “We had not talked that much. But their combination of academics and athletics stood out. Of the schools in the southeast that offered, I took a hard look at Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Those are schools with good academics but I wasn’t sure about their football potential.”

As for that nickname?

“A bunch of us play Madden football and it just seems like when I play the game I can’t score a point,” Anderson said. “They shut me out.”

Stanford defensive end Ben Gardner couldn’t remember who gave Anderson the nickname “but I was one of the first to jump on board with it,” he said.

Cardinal linebacker A.J. Tarpley claims to be the best at Madden football, according to Gardner.

“But he plays with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos,” Gardner said. “No one can beat that.” N

he mullet that once graced the head of defensive end Ben Gardner has returned.

“I didn’t want to bring it back, to be honest,” Gardner said. “I cut it last year after the final game of the regular season, and then we ended up losing the Fiesta Bowl.

You wouldn’t believe all the crap I took from teammates blaming the loss on my lack of mullet.

“At the end of the day, they kind of convinced me they needed it. I brought it back for one more final hurrah. I’m going to keep it to the end of the bowl. Maybe we’ll cut it in the locker room after the game.”

So, just so we’re straight, the mullet was to blame for the 41-38 overtime loss to Oklahoma State and not Cowboys’ receiver Justin Blackmon?

“According to the other 100 guys in the locker room, it was my mullet,” Gardner contested. *** Quarterback Josh Nunes had what might be considered a breakthrough game in leading the Cardinal to a 54-48 overtime victory over Arizona on Saturday.

He completed 21 of 34 passes for 360 yards and accounted for five touchdowns — three running, two passing — without throwing an interception.

How will that performance help Nunes?

“He was confident before,” Shaw said. “But now the confidence is backed up by some more tangible production.” *** There are many similarities between Stanford and Saturday’s opponent, Notre Dame, as Stanford Coach David Shaw explained.

“We have something in common with Notre Dame, and that’s playing tough, physical defense, loving our linebackers, and running the ball on offense, and have the quarterbacks do what they need to do to win the game,” he said.

But the coach stopped short of following that common thought that Notre Dame is the closest of major-college programs to Stanford in terms of the academicoriented players that Stanford recruits.

“We’re still in our own universe,” Shaw said. “We don’t even send a letter of intent to anyone unless they are admitted to the school.” *** Notre Dame senior inside linebacker Manti Te’o may be the best defensive player in the country, if not the best overall player in college football.

“He’s got as good of instincts as anybody I’ve seen on this level,”

Shaw said. “He reads the quarterback so well. He’ll get a jump on a pass, and he’ll get a jump on a run play.

“There was a run play where as soon as the ball’s snapped and the guard starts to pull, he actually passes the linebacker and beats him to the play. It’s uncanny. He’s a special football player.”

However, when asked if he would vote for Te’o if he could vote for the Heisman Trophy, Shaw shook his head. His campaign for Luck last year could not prevent his quarterback from a runner-up finish.

“I’ve learned that I don’t vote for Heisman Trophies, and people who vote for Heisman Trophies don’t listen to me,” Shaw said.

“I stay out of the conversation.

It was a tough lesson for me, but I’ve learned it.” *** Stanford has allowed only five sacks this season. The Notre Dame defense has 14.

“This will be our biggest challenge,” Shaw said. “These guys are big and they are physical.

When the linebackers blitz, they hit it hard. This is going to be a big test.

“We’ve done well, but the thing that helps our pass pro is our running back. We’ve got to be able to run the ball and have our play action, which helps slow down the pass rush, hopefully.” *** After chasing players around the field in facing Arizona’s spread offense last week, Ben Gardner is looking forward playing against a team that approaches the game much like Stanford.

“They want to run the ball and hit people,” Gardner said of the No. 7 Irish (5-0). “That’s our style of football. That’s what we signed up for when we came to play here.

We’re looking forward to a physical matchup where we can really play to our strengths and hopefully flex our muscles a little bit up front.”

Having grown up in the Midwest, Gardner appreciates the Notre Dame tradition.

“The guys on our team don’t really understand it,” Gardner said.

“I’m one of the few guys that grew up watching Notre Dame and know about the history.

“I love playing them, and I love going to Notre Dame Stadium because it’s a beautiful place to play and the fans are into it, and you’ve got the little leprechaun running around. But, in terms of most our team, they could care less. We’re just about what we do, about playing big, physical football.” N Dave Kiefer is a member of the Stanford Sports Information Department)

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October

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Sports PREP ROUNDUP

Youth isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t holding back M-A girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cross-country team Bears run off with a PAL meet title despite having four freshmen in the lineup this week

by Keith Peters enlo-Atherton cross-country coach Eric Wilmurt has had some pretty good boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; teams over the years. In fact, the Bears are ranked No. 8 in the Central Coast Section this season.

To make a good situation even better, the M-A girls are catching up

M

to the boys. They, too, are ranked No. 8 in the CCS this week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to pretend itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business as usual and not jump the gun with the girls,â&#x20AC;? said Wilmurt, who seems to have an excess of talent this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have had some fast boys teams in the last four years, along with a lot of boys. They ended up

breaking our school-record team score at Crystal Springs last season, too. And now, little sisters are out for the team.â&#x20AC;?

M-A senior George Baier, for example, has his sister, freshman Madeleine, also out running for the Bears â&#x20AC;&#x201D; on varsity.

Madeleine was one of four freshmen in the lineup on Tuesday as the M-A girls ran off with the team title at the second Peninsula Athletic League meet of the season on Tuesday at Westmoor High in San Bruno. The Bears finished with 62 points to hold off runner-up Aragon by 20 points.

M-A junior Taylor Fortnam led (continued on page 47)

Volleyball Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District Notice is hereby given that proposals will be received by the Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District for multiple work bid packages. Description of the projects/work is as follows:

s 'UNN (IGH 3CHOOL 'AS $ISTRIBUTION 3YSTEM s 'UNN (IGH 3CHOOL 2EPLACEMENT OF &URNACES IN %XISTING 'YM

Mandatory Job Walk: There will be a pre-bid conference and site visit for each project.

Bid Submission: 0ROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE $ISTRICT &ACILITIES /FďŹ ce, Building â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;?. &OR MORE DETAILS ON OBTAINING PLANS AND SPECIlCATIONS THE MANDATORY JOB walk, bid submission, prevailing wage laws, or the bid packages, please see the contact below.

PREVAILING WAGE LAWS: The successful Bidder must comply with all prevailing wage laws applicable to the Project, and related requirements contained in the Contract Documents.

1.

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A pre-job conference shall be conducted with the contractor or subcontractors to discuss federal and state labor law requirements applicable to the contract.

Project contractors and subcontracts shall maintain and furnish to the District, at a designated time, a certiďŹ ed copy of each payroll with a statement of compliance signed under penalty of perjury.

The District shall review and, if appropriate, audit payroll records to verify compliance with the Public Works Chapter of the Labor Code.

The District shall withhold contract payments if payroll records are delinquent or inadequate.

The District shall withhold contract payments as described in the LCP, including applicable penalties when the District and Labor Commissioner establish that underpayment of other violations has occurred.

"IDDERS MAY EXAMINE "IDDING $OCUMENTS AT &ACILITIES /FlCE Building â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;?.

Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District 25 Churchill Avenue, Building â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;?

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Good for Business. Good for You. Good for the Community.

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kills, 27 assists and 22 digs while King contributed 17 kills and 30 digs as the Bears improved to 7-0 in league (13-5 overall).

Carlmont, which was hoping to force a three-way tie for first place, instead fell two games behind M-A at 5-2 (10-10) in into third place behind Burlingame (6-1) prior to matches last night. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have some good, experienced volleyball players on this team,â&#x20AC;? said Whitmill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paulina King and Doherty have been doing a good job of being leaders and picking up the slack.â&#x20AC;?

The first game was a seesaw battle as both teams were scoring back and forth on kills by Doherty and King. Carlmont senior Kallan Bedard started off with seven kills in Game 1. Bedard had a solid game as she matched her career high with 29 kills.

The Bears stepped up in Game 2 when King, a junior outside hitter, spiked the ball passed the Scotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Amelia Tupou, giving M-A a 25-20 win to tie the match.

After Carlmont won Game 3, M-A was up 25-24 when sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Ostrow spiked the ball to Tupou, who double hit it and gave the Bears the win. Ostrow finished with nine kills and 26 digs.

The Bearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense came up big in the fifth game. Bedard spiked three balls that went out of bounds, giving the Bears the 4-1 advantage.

With the Bears up 12-11, Whitmill called a timeout, stopping a Carlmont rally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told them to stay aggressive,â&#x20AC;? said Whitmill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the games weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lost, we got a little tentative late into games. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not so much about winning or losing, but focusing on the process of playing your ballgame.â&#x20AC;?

After the timeout, the Bears got a clutch spike by King that deflected off Carlmontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tupou, giving M-A the 15-13 game win and 3-2 comeback win. Doherty had four kills to help secure the triumph. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Credit to Carlmont, they did a good job,â&#x20AC;? said Whitmill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When teams show up and play that well against you, it brings out the best in you.â&#x20AC;?

Menlo-Atherton likely will be facing that kind of situation again this weekend when the Bears compete in the NorCal Classic at Vista del Lago High in Folsom. The 12-

Keith Peters

Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District will maintain a Labor Compliance Program (LCP) for the duration of this project. In bidding this project, the contractor warrants he/she is aware and will follow the Public Works Chapter of the California Labor Code comprised of labor code SECTIONS n ! COPY OF THE $ISTRICTS ,#0 IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT #HURCHILL !VENUE "UILDING $ 0ALO !LTO #!

(continued from page 42)

Menlo-Atherton junior Pauli King (9) had 17 kills and 30 digs in a 3-2 victory over Carlmont this week for the first-place Bears. team field includes a host of talented teams, like Sacred Heart Cathedral, Granite Bay, Foothill (Pleasanton), Christian Brothers (Sacramento) and St. Ignatius. Granite Bay won the Harbor Invitational a few week ago, where Palo Alto and Sacred Heart Prep tied for third.

In the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division), Menlo School cruised to a 25-22, 25-19, 25-16 over host Castilleja to improve to 4-0 in league (15-5 overall) and remained tied for first place.

The Knights finished with a team hitting percentage of .302 while collecting 10 team aces, 48 digs and 10 blocks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a solid effort tonight from just about every part of our game,â&#x20AC;? said Menlo coach Atlee Hubbard.

Menlo setter Elisa Merten led the team in digs with 12 along with 28 assists and four aces. Junior Maddie Huber finished with a teamhigh nine kills, followed by Morgan Dressel with eight.

Lucy Tashman led Castilleja (0-4, 11-12) with 16 kills and 10 digs.

Menlo played at co-leader Sacred Heart Prep on Thursday night, with the winner taking over sole possession of first place. Sacred Heart

Prep (4-0, 19-2) had its scheduled nonleague match with St. Ignatius canceled on Tuesday.

In the SCVAL De Anza Division, Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning streak in division came to an end, as did the Vikingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hold on sole possession of first place following a 25-13, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19 loss to host Los Gatos.

The setback ended Palyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division win streak at 21. The Wildcats were the last team to beat the Vikings in league play, that coming in 2010 at Los Gatos. That was the only setback Paly suffered that season during a 41-1 campaign that ended in a CIF Division I state championship.

The current Vikings were 6-1 in league (17-4 overall) and in a threeway tie for first with Los Gatos and Homestead prior to Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game against the Mustangs.

Senior Shelby Knowles had 15 kills with junior Becca Raffel and sophomore Jade Schoenberger adding eight kills for the Vikings. Senior Sophia Bono finished with 35 assists with sophomore Anna Dukovic adding 11 digs.

Elsewhere, host Gunn dropped a 25-21, 25-10, 25-23 decision to Monta Vista. Lena Latour had 11 kills for the Titans (2-5, 9-10). N

Keith Peters

Sports

Water polo

(continued from page 43)

Keith Peters

M-A sophomore John Knox gets a hand up on defense against Menlo’s Cameron Walker (4) while M-A goalie Peter Berquist (right) looks on during the Beaers’ 11-10 victory that all but wrapped up the PAL Bay Division title. ing opportunity, but grabbed the rebound and called time. The Bears ran off 30 seconds of the final 32, giving the ball back to Menlo for one final shot that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd but missed.

Menlo-Atherton (2-0, 8-7) now has control of the PAL race while Menlo (1-1, 8-6) has to hope for the Bears to be upset in order to share the league crown.

M-A senior Morgan Olson-Fabbro scored six goals and assisted on the eventual winner by Knox, who tallied twice. Olson-Fabbro missed practices last week with a minor case of mononucleosis and still wasn’t at full strength. Still, he scored five of the Bears’ first six goals while putting M-A on top 3-2 before tying the match at 4, 5 and 6 in addition to giving his team a 9-7 lead in the fourth period.

“We came out thinking we could win this game,” Olson-Fabbro said.

“We felt we could win it just as easy as we could lose it. It depends on how hard we went and how few mistakes we had.”

Keith Peters

Menlo School sophomore Nick Bisconti (right) scored five goals, taking a shot here against John Knox.

Evan McClelland scored on a lob for a 10-7 advantage before Menlo senior David Rozenfeld scored with 5:00 remaining for a 10-8 game.

Junior goalie Peter Berquist played well for the Bears, blocking a oneon-one situation right in front of the goal in the second quarter to preserve a 4-4 match.

“It was a really well-played games by both teams and I’m very proud of all of the players in our program,” said Bowen.

Seven of Menlo’s 10 goals came from a sophomore and freshman —Bisconti and Chris Xi. Sophomore goalie Spencer Witte played well while recording nine saves.

In the West Catholic Athletic League, Sacred Heart Prep moved into sole possession of first place following an easy 18-1 dunking of visiting Mitty on Wednesday. Former co-leader St. Francis, meanwhile, lost to Bellarmine, 7-6.

The Gators (4-0, 13-3) got three goals each from Scott Jollymour and Zach Churukian while goalie Will Runkel came up with 11 saves.

SHP jumped out to a 10-0 halftime lead. Bret Hinrichs, Michael Holloway, Nelson Perla-Ward, Alex Swart and Chris Hinrichs all scored twice for SHP, which was coming off a third-place finish in the S & R Sport Tournament in Irvine on Saturday.

It was the Gators’ best finish ever in the event.

In the SCVAL De Anza Division, Palo Alto set the stage for a showdown with first-place Mountain View on Thursday by pulling away from host Los Gatos for a 14-6 victory Tuesday. The Vikings (6-2, 12-4) got six goals from Bret Pinsker and three from Sam Kelley and outscored the Wildcats in the second half, 7-1.

Girls’ water polo Stephanie Flamen scored six goals to pace Castilleja to an 11-8 victory over host Carlmont in PAL Bay Division action Wednesday.

The Gators (2-0, 7-4) also got two goals from Anna Yu and Sara Holston while remaining tied for first place.

Menlo freshman Chris Xi scored twice in the tough loss.

Keith Peters

team all but wrapped up its first PAL Bay Division championship in 19 years following an 11-10 victory over visiting Menlo School on Wednesday.

“Menlo usually wins the league,” said Dettamanti. “This is pretty much the championship game . . . I told (Menlo coach) Jack (Bowen) I might retire after this game!”

The Bears last won the league crown in 1992. Since then, Menlo has won league titles from 19932011 — 19 straight years. Bowen, who took over in 2000, was seeking his 13th crown this season.

“I told Jack, ‘We have to win it every once in awhile,’” Dettamanti joked. “We can’t have Menlo winning it every year.”

A Bowen-coached Menlo team last lost to M-A in 2002, when the Bears won both regular-season league meetings but the Knights won the league playoff final, 5-3, and were named PAL champs. The Bears’ first win over the Knights that season was (surprise) 11-10 in sudden death and came on October 9.

M-A’s coach that season was Ben Quittner, a former assistant of Dettamanti’s at Stanford.

Aside from those two losses and Wednesday’s match, the only other setback to the Bears was two years ago in the St. Francis tournament.

The Knights are 24-4 against the Bears during the Bowen years.

This is Dettamanti’s swan song, however, and retirement beckons once again. All the Bears need to do is win their final three PAL matches to make Wednesday’s big win stand up.

All the streaks moved closer to coming to an end when M-A grabbed an 11-8 lead when sophomore John Knox scored with 3:21 left in the game. The Bears still held the three-goal margin with 2:00 left to play until Menlo’s Nick Bisconti took charge. He made it 11-9 despite having M-A’s Harrison Holland-McCowan draped on him, then added another tally with 1:03 remaining — his fifth goal of the match.

Menlo-Atherton missed a scor-

Menlo-Atherton team members celebrate their 11-10 win over Menlo, which is the Bears’ first in league since the 2002 season.

Also tied for first is Menlo-Atherton, which got four goals each from Jenna Swartz and Jessica Heilman in a 13-1 swamping of visiting Sequoia. Fiona Jackson added three goals and goalie Sierra Sheeper had 12 saves as the Bears improved to 2-0 in the PAL (9-5 overall).

Nicole Zanolli had nine steals for M-A, which came up with 19 for the match.

On Tuesday, the Bears posted a solid 5-1 nonleague win over visiting St. Ignatius as Heilman scored three times and Sheeper had nine saves.

Next up for Menlo-Atherton will be a nonleague home match against Sacred Heart Prep on Saturday at noon. The Gators remained atop the West Catholic Athletic League on Wednesday with a 9-7 overtime win over host Mitty.

“They caught us,” said SHP coach Jon Burke, whose team was outscored in the fourth quarter, 2-0, to force overtime. P.J. Bigley, Kate Bocci and Malaika Koshy all scored two goals for the Gators while junior goalie Kelly Moran had 18 saves.

SHP (4-0 in league) will bring an 11-4 overall record into Saturday’s match.

On Tuesday, Palo Alto edged host Los Gatos, 6-5, as Tess van Hulsen and Martine LeClerc scored twice and the Vikings’ stingy defense proved tough at the end. Paly moved to 5-2 in league (9-7 overall). Tara Lawrence tallied the winning goal.

In PAL Ocean Division action, Kate Huneke scored both goals as host Menlo School held on for a 2-1 victory over Mills. The Knights improved to 6-2 in league (7-5 overall). N

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Sports

Freshman class growing up quickly for Stanford volleyball Cardinal will put its Pac-12 Conference co-lead on the line against defending NCAA champ UCLA following a big sweep of No. 6-ranked USC

by Rick Eymer nky Ajanaku, Brittany Howard, Jordan Burgess and Madi Bugg are quickly earning the respect of their peers and women’s volleyball observers throughout the volleyball universe.

Friday night’s match against visiting UCLA will help define just how important the freshmen class, which also includes Megan McGehee, has been, and will continue to be, for fourth-ranked Stanford.

The Bruins are in an awkward position as they prepare for the scheduled 6 p.m. first serve. The defending national champions have already lost twice in Pac-12 Conference play and will likely need to sweep their weekend trip (they visit Cal on Sunday) to climb back into the title chase.

With five teams ranked among the top seven in the nation and several others deserving to be ranked, any conference loss will be magnified.

I

Which makes Stanford’s situation all the more impressive.

The Cardinal (7-0, 15-2) and Washington remain the lone undefeated teams in conference play with with a handful of matches remaining in a competitive first half.

It’s probably just as well that the freshmen class have yet to experience a full conference season. They seem oblivious to the pressures of playing top teams night in and night out anyway.

Leave it to sophomore libero Kyle Gilbert to put Friday’s match into perspective.

“I have a lot of friends on that team so it will be great fun,” she said following Stanford’s 25-18, 2516, 25-18 victory over No. 6 USC on Wednesday night in Maples Pavilion. “They beat us twice last year so we’re out for revenge.”

Should the Cardinal, which has won 13 in a row following its early two-match losing streak (to current

No. 1 Penn State and No. 8 Hawaii), gain its vengeance, the reward is a visit to No. 2 Washington next Friday night in a showdown.

The Cardinal opened the year ranked sixth nationally and picked to finish second in the Pac-12.

Those expectations were based, for the most part, on having 10 returning lettermen, including a pair of All-Americans.

The play of the freshmen class has boosted those expectations a little bit and rightly so. The top rated recruiting class of last year has risen to the challenge.

Not that coach John Dunning had any doubt.

“The right thing to do with this team is to set the expectations as high as possible,” he said before the season. “We have expectations every year of striving to win the Pac12 and the national championship.

We want to keep our minds focused on improving throughout the season

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE DEBATE Melissa Baten Caswell Camille Townsend Ken Dauber Heidi Emberling Moderator: State Senator Joe Simitian

Monday, Oct. 16 7:30-9:30 p.m.

PAUSD Board Room 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto Sponsored by the Palo Alto Weekly

Ad donated by the Palo Alto Weekly as a public service

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to see just how good of a team we are.”

Stanford continues to win even without the full-time presence of senior setter Karissa Cook and junior outside hitter Rachel Williams, both of whom have been plagued by injuries.

Howard and Burgess have allowed Stanford to remain strong on the front line even without Williams, an All-American with Carly Wopat last year, at full strength.

Ajanaku has complemented Wopat’s efforts at middle blocker and Bugg has been nothing short of spectacular in taking up the slack for Cook.

Gilbert is following a solid freshman season with a standout sophomore year. She collected 22 digs in the win over the Women of Troy, just off her season high of 25 against Oregon and the 13th time she’s reached double digits.

“I really like doing that,” Gilbert said of digging. “Hustling, for me, is the most fun in the world and proving to people I can get to it.”

Men’s soccer When Stanford (2-1, 5-5) travels to Oregon State for its Pac-12 match on Friday night, there are two possible accomplishments waiting.

With a win, the Cardinal can match its win total from last year and climb over .500, and it can also match last year’s number of conference wins with just over a half of the season left.

It won’t be easy. The Beavers (1-2, 6-4-1) are the only Pac-12 team with an unbeaten home record.

Stanford moves to second-place Washington (2-0-1, 7-3-2) for a Sunday showdown. The Huskies own a win over conference leader UCLA. Zach Batteer earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors after scoring twice in Stanford’s 2-0 win over California last week. Adam Jahn leads the Cardinal with 12 points on five goals and two assists.

Field hockey Playing the No. 1 team in the country is always a challenge. But seldom do you get three shots.

That’s the position Stanford (9-4, 3-0 NorPac) finds itself in this weekend. Having already played topranked Maryland and North Carolina earlier in the season, the Cardinal travels to Amherst, Mass., on Friday for a neutral-site game against No. 1 Syracuse before playing at No. 4 Connecticut on Sunday.

Not that third-year head coach Tara Danielson minds. A feisty, cutting-edge technician and tactician who has guided the Cardinal to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, she intentionally toughened up the schedule to help her players gain experience against elite programs. She brainstormed with assistants Steve Danielson, her husband and a member of the 1996 USA Olympic Field Hockey Team, and Patrick Cota.

“This school has never won an NCAA game, why?” Danielson said. “I started researching for answers. We tried to figure out from

a skill component, to physiology, from soup to nuts. We’re looking at everything we have control over.

How do we improve? One of those things is scheduling. How can they play an NCAA game with the top 16 teams in the country? There’s only one way: You have to play the top 16 teams in the country if you plan on winning a game.”

So Danielson scheduled the best.

This year, Stanford has already faced five top-25 teams, going 2-3.

That includes a tough early-season 3-2 loss to defending national champion Maryland in double-overtime, and a 6-2 defeat to North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Now come Syracuse and Connecticut, the lone unbeaten teams in the country. The highest-ranked Stanford has ever defeated was No. 3 Michigan State back on Aug. 31, 2001.

Cross country Stanford competes Friday at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. The meet is expected to be the most competitive regular season meet of the year with 46 men’s team and 49 women’s teams scheduled to compete.

The women’s 6,000-meter race will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the men’s 8,000-meter race immediately following at 10:40 a.m.

The No. 7 women’s team will have its hands full as six of the top-10 teams in the country are scheduled to compete. This includes conference foes No. 2 Arizona and No. 3 Washington, as once again the Pac12 is arguably the top league in the nation in 2012.

Other contenders include No. 5 Iowa State, No. 9 Cornell and No. 10 Michigan State. Overall, 20 ranked teams will make the trip to Wisconsin.

The Cardinal women will be led

by Kathy Kroeger who is a threat for the individual title. Kroeger already has a meet title to her name this season as she won the Stanford Invitational for the third-straight season.

Other top returners include, Aisling Cuffe, Jessica Tonn and Emilie Amaro, but this race will mark the first major collegiate race for several Cardinal women, including Cayla Hatton who was the runnerup at the Stanford Invitational.

On the men’s side the competition is equally formidable. Top-ranked Wisconsin is the host, but six of the top-10 teams, including No. 8 Stanford are set to compete. No. 4 Oklahoma, T-No. 5 Portland, T-No.5 Iona and No. 10 Syracuse will also factor into the race at the front.

In all, 19 ranked teams will compete, although Stanford will be the lone ranked team from the Pac-12.

Individually, it remains to be seen who from the men’s team is ready to step up and run at the front of races.

Joe Rosa led the Cardinal at the Stanford Invitational, while Benjamin Johnson, Erik Olson and Miles Unterreiner have the most experience in big races.

Thomas Graham and Billy Orman are also scheduled to debut in the Stanford singlet. N

Sports

Katelyn Doherty Menlo-Atherton High The senior outside hitter helped the injury-plagued Bears with 50 assists, 30 digs and 11 kills in two volleyball victories that kept the Bears unbeaten in the PAL Bay Division and alone in first place.

Jack Heneghan Menlo School The junior quarterback completed 16 of 23 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to rushing nine times for 106 yards, as the Knights remained unbeaten with a 43-12 Ocean Division win over Woodside.

Honorable mention Ashlii Budhijara Palo Alto tennis

Zoe Enright Menlo cross country

Shelby Knowles* Palo Alto volleyball

Kelly Moran Sacred Heart Prep water polo

Laurie Perng Gunn tennis

Payton Smith Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Royce Branning Menlo-Atherton football

Will Latta Priory football

Sean Lydster Gunn football

Matt Myers Menlo cross country

Bret Pinsker Palo Alto water polo

Will Runkel* Sacred Heart Prep water polo * previous winner

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

Prep roundup (continued from page 44)

the way with a second-place finish of 15:11 over the 2.4-mile course with freshman teammates Annalise Crowe (15:44) and Maddie Worden (15:46) finishing seventh and ninth, respectively. Katie Beebe, yet another freshman, ran home 21st overall in 16:40 while Baier finished 23rd in 16:42.

“We were anticipating a pretty good girls’ team this fall with Fortnam, (junior) Annika Roise (who has a sprained ankle) and three or four sophomore girls who were in shape and ready to run varsity for us. But, these fast frosh girls decided they wanted to run cross country.

I knew we might get Analisa Crowe, because her brother was on the team last year. But, along came Katie Beebe, Maddie Worden . . they’re young and new to cross country. It would be nice if they can get a state meet berth their first time out and, at this rate, it is a possibility.”

Only three other D-1 teams are ahead of the M-A girls in the latest CCS rankings — Monta Vista, Salinas and Homestead.

In the varsity boys’ race, MenloAtherton (85 points) finished behind

Carlmont (20) and Half Moon Bay (70). Senior John Lovegren led the Bears with a 12:55 clocking while taking seventh. Junior Zach Plante was 11th in 13:08, senior Alex Aguiar was 16th in 13:37, junior Eric Snyder finished 23rd in 13:51 and sophomore Adam Scandlyn was 28th in 14:00.

At the SCVAL Preview meet at Crystal Springs, Palo Alto won the senior girls’ race with 56 points as Nora Rosati led the way with a fourth-place finish of 19:49.2 over the 2.95-mile layout. Chika Kasahara was sixth for the Vikings in 19:54.5 with Shaheen Essabhoy clocking 21:11.9 for 12th.

Palo Alto also won the senior boys’ race with 66 points as the Vikings put five runners among the top 25, led by Ben Hawthorne’s 13th-place finish of 17:22.2.

Palo Alto won the freshman girls’ race with 38 points as five Vikings finished among the top 14 with Emma Raney leading the way in 21:06.1. Gunn was second in the team race with Gillian Meeks taking third overall in 19:47.6.

Palo Alto captured the sophomore boys’ race with 82 points as Nate Cook took sixth in 17:12.6. Gunn was fourth as David Lee-Heidenreich came home seventh in 17:232.8.

Football Menlo School and Sacred Heart Prep will risk their 5-0 marks to highlight Friday’s action.

The Knights hope to celebrate their homecoming with a sixth straight when they host South San Francisco in a key PAL Ocean Division game at 3 p.m.

Menlo is averaging 52.2 points a game and will be tested by SSF’s tough defense. A victory should open the door to a possible division crown for the Knights.

Sacred Heart Prep, meanwhile, will be tested in the PAL Bay Division by host Terra Nova at 7 p.m.

The Tigers ended the Gators’ fourgame win streak to start last season.

SHP has allowed only nine points in five games, most likely the best mark in Northern California thus far.

In another important game, Palo Alto (1-1, 3-2) visits Wilcox (1-1, 3-2) and needs a victory to stay close to SCVAL De Anza Division co-leaders Milpitas (2-0, 4-1) and Los Gatos (2-0, 3-2).

In the PAL Bay Division, MenloAtherton (1-0, 3-2) will host Burlingame (0-1, 2-3) in a homecoming game at 7 p.m.

In the MTAL, Priory (4-0) and visiting Trinity Christian (Monterey) will match explosive offenses at 3 p.m. Each team is averaging more than 50 points a game.

In games last week: Sacred Heart’ Prep’s stubborn defense sacked Burlingame quarterbacks five times and allowed only 167 total yards to lead the host Gators to a 10-0 win in a PAL Bay Division football opener. Senior quarterback Kevin Donahoe ran for a 14-yard touchdown and Kevin Spillane kicked a 25-yard field goal.

In the SCVAL De Anza Division, Palo Alto poured it on early and ran away with a 55-14 win over host Homestead. Senior running back Matt Tolbert rushed for three touchdowns in the first half to give Paly a 35-7 lead.

In the PAL Ocean Division, Menlo posted a 43-12 win over host Woodside as junior quarterback Jack Heneghan completed 16 of 23 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns. He also had nine carries for 106 yards while compiling 401 yards of total offense. carries for 106 yards.

In the SCVAL El Camino Division, Gunn (2-0, 4-2) used an outstanding offensive effort by Sean Lydster as they defeated a pesky Harker squad in Campbell, 49-21.

Lydster scored on touchdown runs of 38, 35, one and 18 yards along with a 43-yard TD on a screen pass as the Titans’ offense ran unchecked against the undersized Harker squad.

In addition to Lydster’s scores, the Titans got a 30-yard touchdown run from Marcus Moreno-Ramos and a 28-yard touchdown pass from Andre Guzman to Wade Barry.

Ina the PAL Bay Division, M-A opened league play in a big way by

handing visiting Aragon its first loss of the season, 28-23. M-A quarterback Royce Branning completed all six passes he attempted in the second quarter for 165 yards and two touchdowns, one score a 72-yarder to Evan Perkins. Lineman Enzo Santos returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter to give the Bears a 28-17 lead.

In eight-man action, Pinewood scored first, but Priory made up for that in a hurry by rolling to a 46-24 triumph in a Mission Trails Athletic League game. Priory came up big defensively as Will Latta intercepted three passes, returning one 32 yards for a touchdowns. He also had a fumble recovery, made five tackles and had a pair of pass deflections as the Panthers improved to 2-0 in league (4-1 overall).

Latta also did the job on offense, scoring from one-yard out on a quarterback sneak in addition to hauling in a 37-yard pass while playing receiver. Latta’s twin brother, Tom, also helped out with a 17yard interception return for another score.

James McDaniel paced the Priory offense with 114 yards rushing on 20 carries and touchdown runs of four, 20 and 11 yards. Matt Schwab helped spark the defensive effort with 12 tackles, three of them sacks.

Girls’ golf Castilleja remained unbeaten and atop the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) standings with a 213-282 win over host Notre Dame-

6 TH

San Jose at San Jose Municipal on Tuesday.

Sophomore Chloe Sales was the medalist with a 2-over 38 while senior Taylor Wilkerson was just a stroke back. Nicki Mitchell (42), Paris Wilkerson (45) and Ellie Zales (49) rounded out the scoring for the Gators (5-0, 6-0).

At Poplar Creek in San Mateo, Sacred Heart Prep helped Castilleja move into sole possession of first place by upsetting previously unbeaten Harker, 241-247. Emma Dake (43), Jessica Koenig (44) and Maddy Ellison (49) helped the Gators (5-3, 6-5) hand the Eagles their first WBAL loss.

Boys’ tennis Menlo School senior Andrew Ball will not be following his older brother, Jamin, to Stanford University and continue his tennis career with the Cardinal.

Andrew Ball will be wearing red next season, but it will be the Crimson of Harvard University.

Ball made that commitment recently, deciding to follow in his father’s footsteps instead.

Ball, a top-ranked junior in Northern California, has led Menlo to three Central Coast Section titles, three NorCal championships and two national tournament crowns in his first three years with the Knights.

During his time at Menlo, Ball has helped the Knights compile a dual-match record of 83-1. It’s the best three-year record in school history. N

MARSH2012 MADNESS

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In the junior girls’ race, Gunn’s Eliana Ribbe was second in 20:21.0 and Paly’s Audrey DeBruine was third in 21:04.8.

In the sophomore girls’ race, Paly’s Katie Foug finished fifth overall in 20:43.1 to help the Vikings take second as a team.

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