Palo Alto Weekly 11.30.2012 - Section 1

Vol. XXXIV, Number 10 N November 30, 2012

Downtown project leaves scant paper trail Page 3 w w w.PaloA ltoOnline.com

Local book sellers offer their top picks for the season Section 2

Donate to the HOLIDAY FUND page 2

Spectrum 14

Eating 22 Shop Talk 23

Movies 24

Puzzles 66

N Arts Looking forward to Bing Concert Hall opening

Page 17

N Sports Stanford, UCLA play for Pac-12 title

Page 26

N Home A visual treat: PAST’s holiday home tour

Page 49

Last Year’s Grant Recipients 10 Books A Home .......................................$5,000 Able Works..................................................$5,000 Adolescent Counseling Services ..........$10,000 Art in Action ................................................$5,000 Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula........7,500 Break Through the Static..........................$2,500 Breast Cancer Connections .....................$5,000 Canopy .........................................................$3,000 CASSY ........................................................$15,000 Children’s Center of the Stanford Community ..................................$4,000 Cleo Eulau Center.......................................$5,000 Collective Roots .........................................$7,500 Downtown Streets Team ........................$15,000 DreamCatchers ........................................$15,000 East Palo Alto Center for Community Media ................................$3,000 East Palo Alto Charter School .................$7,500 East Palo Alto Children’s Day ..................$5,000 East Palo Alto Kids Foundation ................$5,000 East Palo Alto Youth Court ........................$3,000 Environmental Volunteers ........................$3,000 Family Connections....................................$7,500 Foothill College Book Program ................$5,000 Foundation for a College Education ........$7,500 Hidden Villa .................................................$5,000 InnVision ......................................................$7,500 JLS Middle School ....................................$5,000 Jordan Middle School ..............................$5,000 Kara ............................................................$15,000 Mayview Community Health Center .....$10,000 Midpeninsula Community Media Center.........$5,000 Music in the Schools Foundation ............$5,000 My New Red Shoes ...................................$3,000 New Creation Home Ministries ...............$5,000 Nuestra Casa ..............................................$5,000 Pacific Art League .....................................$2,500 Palo Alto Art Center Foundation ..............$5,000 Palo Alto Community Child Care ..............$6,500 Palo Alto Council of PTAs .........................$2,128 Palo Alto High School Get Involved!.......$1,500 Palo Alto Housing Corporation ................$5,000 Palo Alto Library Foundation ..................$17,500 Palo Alto Youth Collaborative.................$10,000 Peninsula Bridge Program .......................$5,000 Peninsula Youth Theatre ...........................$3,000 Project Safety Net....................................$20,000 Project WeH.O.P.E. .....................................$7,500 Quest Learning Center ..............................$5,000 Ravenswood Education Foundation .......$5,000 Silicon Valley FACES..................................$7,500 South Palo Alto Food Closet .....................$1,000 St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club ...............$5,000 St. Vincent de Paul.....................................$6,000 TEDxGunnHighSchool ...............................$2,000 TheatreWorks .............................................$5,000 Youth Community Service .......................$10,000

Support our Kids with a gift to the Holiday Fund.

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ach year the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund raises money to suppor t programs ser ving families and children in the Palo Alto area. Since the Weekly and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation cover all the administrative costs, every dollar raised goes directly to suppor t community programs through grants to non-profit organizations ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.

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Whether as an individual, a business or in honor of someone else, help us reach our goal of $350,000 by making a generous contribution to the Holiday Fund.

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Upfront

Local news, information and analysis

Undisclosed meetings, private funds cloud downtown debate Negotiations between City of Palo Alto and John Arrillaga leave sparse paper trail

by Gennady Sheyner n July 2011, just weeks after Palo Alto approved the mammoth expansion of the Stanford University Medical Center — the largest development in the city’s history — city officials learned about another giant project, this one nearby in downtown Palo Alto.

I

John Arrillaga, a billionaire philanthropist who made his fortune building commercial complexes throughout Silicon Valley, called Deputy City Manager Steve Emslie to relay his latest ambition — to build a glitzy office complex on the conspicuous but largely neglected

area next to the downtown Caltrain station. Emslie, who had worked with Arrillaga in the past, agreed to hear him out. They arranged a meeting at City Hall with Planning Director Curtis Williams, Emslie said.

The concept Arrillaga unveiled at the first meeting on what is now known as 27 University Ave. bore little resemblance to the project that residents would see in March 2012, when the plan first became public.

In its original iteration, it included two sleek and sprawling oval office buildings with slanted rooflines and glassy facades — a marriage of flying saucers and silicon chips.

The renderings, which the Weekly obtained through a Public Records Act request, also show wide strips of pavement surrounding the two eight-story buildings, each of which rises well above 100 feet. The modest green plazas surrounding the new buildings are nearly swallowed

by the gray of asphalt.

About the only thing that hasn’t changed between July 2011 and November 2012 is the buildings’ location. Emslie said in an interview this week that Arrillaga’s intention always was to build the complexes at 27 University, a site currently occupied by the MacArthur Park restaurant.

“He said, ‘I’d like to build this in (continued on page 6)

CRIME

Burglary victim speaks out Precautions did not keep ‘athletic’ thieves from entering Palo Alto home

under the new standards that’s being developed by a state-led consortium called Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, Young said.

It’s been 15 years since California last adopted new standards for math and English.

The existing standards match the Common Core standards “in their level of rigor and call for high expectations for all students,” state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said.

But the new standards “provide for additional skills and knowledge necessary in a global economy and technology-rich workplace,” he said.

“For example, under the Common

Sue Dremann urglars who struck a Palo Alto home Wednesday, Nov. 28, apparently adhered to the old Postal Service adage about rain not keeping them from their appointed rounds — nor did locked windows and gates. Now, the victim is speaking out to let people know they must remain vigilant if the crooks are to be caught.

A burglar or burglars struck the home in the 1600 block of University Avenue in the Crescent Park neighborhood at the height of Wednesday’s morning downpour, according to Palo Alto police Officer Marco Estrada.

To gain entry, the burglar or burglars reached over a 6-foot-high side gate and fiddled with a lock until it opened, according to the resident, who detailed the burglary to the Weekly Thursday morning.

The burglars smashed a kitchen window and leapt up to enter (the window is higher than a usual firststory level). Jewelry and electronics of an undisclosed value were stolen.

“It took someone with athleticism,” the resident said.

She said the aggressiveness of the break-in surprised her, both because the family had taken recommended precautions by locking their double-paned windows and gate and because the theft occurred at the height of a major storm.

“People think the bad weather will keep them away — I did — but the rain is not a deterrent. It was pouring during that period.

The house was empty for only two

(continued on page 11)

(continued on page 8)

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Veronica Weber

Laughin’ in the rain Janet Liu, left, and Julienne Keong huddle together under an umbrella while walking down University Avenue in Palo Alto in the midst of a downpour on Wednesday, the first of three storms expected to hit the Bay Area by Sunday.

EDUCATION

Schools prep for new standards Out with the STAR test, in with new metrics when national standards take effect in 2014

by Chris Kenrick

C

alifornia schools will revamp their standardized tests in 2014, replacing the California Standards Test (STAR) with a new exam to assess students under the soon-to-be implemented “Common Core State Standards.”

The new standards — set to take effect in all but a handful of states

by the 2014-15 school year — are a push by the nation’s governors and state school chiefs to align diverse curricula across the nation with the knowledge and skills they say are needed for success in college and the workplace.

In Palo Alto, teachers, principals and administrators have been dis-

cussing what the new standards will mean locally since last spring.

“A lot is left up to the school districts — there isn’t exactly one way to do this, and we want to listen to teacher insights,” said Charles Young, Palo Alto’s associate superintendent for educational services.

The Common Core State Standards do not dictate specific curriculum, though they do recommend types of books that could be suitable for various grade levels, Young said.

“We’re digging into them, learning them and seeing how these can help us improve a system that’s already really strong,” he said.

At an upcoming meeting of principals, JLS Principal Sharon Ofek will give a presentation on testing

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Upfront

Sand Hill School School should be fun.

If you need help, call us.

At Sand Hill School you’ll find teachers who really care and know how to teach children who are bright but struggling in a conventional classroom.

We have opened a few spots in our combination third-fourth grade class!

It’s easy to apply at our website or sign up for a parent visit, where parents can observe classrooms and talk with Sand Hill School staff.

www.sandhillschool.org Thursday morning parent visits 10:30-11:30 Sign up online.

650 Clark Way, Palo Alto, CA

A Hopeful Future We love, challenge, and equip former foster youth

450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Jocelyn Dong, Editor Carol Blitzer, Associate Editor Keith Peters, Sports Editor Tyler Hanley, Express™ and Online Editor Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Tom Gibboney, Spectrum Editor 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 Pierre Bienaimé, Lisa Kellman, Haiy Le, Editorial Interns DESIGN Shannon Corey, Design Director Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Scott Peterson, Paul Llewellyn, Senior Designers Lili Cao, Rosanna Leung, Designers 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 ADMINISTRATION Doris Taylor, Receptionist Ruben Espinoza, Courier

Only 1 to 5% of California’s foster youth will earn a college degree. These students have the drive. What they lack is support to overcome a myriad of complex emotional, developmental and economic issues, preventing them from reaching a goal that 85% of them express having.

College students who have suffered traumatic childhoods are shown how to move forwards with confidence through monthly programming at local campuses. We help them grasp: “You have what it takes.” ~ Workshop to help overcome emotional, relational, academic and career hindrances ~ One-to-one coaching sessions ~ Long-term mentoring ~ Leadership Development ~ Ability to earn gift cards, clothing & other basic needs ~ Web-based coaching to re-enforce workshop topics It takes a community to rebuild shattered lives. Through your financial giving, YOU can be part of that community that helps students, who spent their childhoods in foster care, build their academic resilience, develop a network of support and gain emotional stability.

Tax-deductible contributions may be made online at www.jeremiahpromise.org OR make check payable to Jeremiah’s Promise, Inc. and mail to P.O. Box 1393, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Our Tax ID is 75-30792265

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 ©2012 by Embarcadero Media.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘‘

‘‘

at Children’s Health Council Grades K-4, expanding to grade 8

I’m sorry, but my house was just burglarized.

—A Palo Alto resident, who asked to remain anonymous, on what she would say after taking a picture of someone suspicious in her neighborhood.

See story on page 3.

Around Town BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND ... Palo Alto’s war against the plastic bag is about to mount its next campaign. The effort, which was spurred by the city’s desire to keep local creeks clean, won a major victory in 2009 when the city adopted a ban on plastic bags at local supermarkets.

Now, the city is considering its next battle: extending the ban from large grocery stores to all retail and food-service establishments, including restaurants, food trucks and convenience stores that sell food. The proposed ordinance would also require a minimum charge of 10 cents for each paper bag or reusable bag — a fee that would go up to 25 cents one year after ordinance adoption, according to an update email City Manager James Keene wrote to City Council last week. “Staff is seeking an ordinance expansion to further reduce plastic bag litter found in creeks and by the Bay, to help comply with a state regulation requiring 100 percent reduction in trash in local creeks by 2022, and to help meet City Zero Waste goals,” Keene wrote.

But not everyone is thrilled about the city’s recent efforts to curb plastic bag use. The Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, an industry group, has been filing lawsuits against agencies that have adopted similar ordinances including, most recently, Santa Cruz County. The coalition also challenged the city’s earlier ban on bags in supermarkets. The two sides reached a settlement after the city agreed to conduct a full environmental analysis before expanding the ban. Palo Alto has recently completed the study and is preparing to hold two public hearings on Thursday, Dec. 6, to discuss the new report and the city’s proposal.

The first meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Cubberley Community Center, Room H-1, 4000 Middlefield Road. The second one will be held at 6 p.m. in the same location. Staff plans to bring the environmental report and the proposed ordinance to the City Council in February.

TIME TO SHINE ... Palo Alto plans to usher in the holiday

season this Friday with a Tree Lighting Event in the city’s most prominent downtown plaza. The second annual event will be held at Lytton Plaza starting at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 and will feature music from the Cantabile Children’s Chorus and the Keys School Chorus. Residents will also have a chance to support those in need by bringing donations of warm blankets, coats and gift cards for groceries to the plaza, with items collected by the Opportunity Center and the Downtown Streets Team.

Vice Mayor Greg Scharff will flip the switch at 5:30 p.m. to light the city’s decorated tree. The event will be held rain or shine, so visitors are encouraged to bring their rain gear, if necessary.

GOING FOR A RIDE ... Bicyclists and pedestrians who frequent the area around the Palo Alto Baylands may soon see some welcome changes thanks to a $50,000 grant the city just received from Santa Clara County. The grant, which was secured by Supervisor Liz Kniss, will pay for a host of bike projects and crosswalk improvements in the area of Embarcadero Road and Faber Place, near the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course. These improvements will include three pedestrian-activated flashing beacon signs, 12 “sharrows” (a road marking encouraging drivers to slow down and be aware of bicyclists — think “share” plus “arrow”), crosswalk striping, a median island and a pedestrian ramp. In a letter to Kniss’s office, Palo Alto’s Chief Transportation Official Jaime Rodriguez said the goal is to help close the last gap in the Bay Trail in Palo Alto. At the Nov. 19 meeting of the City Council, City Manager James Keene said the city plans to begin implementation of this project in January. This is just the latest in a series of bike projects that the city is pursuing with help from the county. Earlier this month, the county approved spending $4 million on a new bike bridge over U.S. Highway 101 at Adobe Creek and $1.5 million for a trail along Matadero Creek. N

Upfront HOLIDAY FUND

Library foundation in the final fundraising stretch Holiday Fund beneficiary aims to raise $4 million to furnish city’s rebuilt libraries

P

alo Alto’s politicos, civic leaders and bookworms rejoiced in November 2008 when voters resoundingly passed Measure N, a $76 million bond measure to renovate two city libraries and rebuild its largest library at Mitchell Park.

Despite the onset of the Great Recession and the plummeting revenues in the city coffers, 69 percent of the voters approved a bond that would renovate the Downtown Library, upgrade and expand the Main Library and completely rebuild the city’s largest branch, the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center.

But for those who spearheaded the passage of Measure N, the celebration didn’t last long. While the city now had the funds to construct the buildings themselves, state law prohibits using the bond funds on things like books, furniture and electronic resources. Thus, for leading Measure N proponents such as Alison Cormack and Susie Thom, the end of the bond campaign swiftly transitioned into the beginning of a fundraising campaign to pay for library equipment.

Both now serve on the board of directors for the Palo Alto Library Foundation, a nonprofit group whose mission is “to spearhead fundraising campaigns to support a modern, dynamic library system that meets the needs of everyone in our city.” When the city reopened the newly renovated

Downtown Library in July 2011, it was the foundation that contributed $275,000 to furnish the renovated branch. The branch’s new equipment ranges from the smart board in the new community room and the wheeled, “gondola” shelves spread out throughout the main circulation room to the plushy doughnut-shaped seats in the children’s area. Then there are the books — both the traditional and the electronic kind.

Former Palo Alto Mayor Bern Beecham, who serves as president of the organization’s board of directors, joined the fundraising effort at around the time Measure N passed.

It was the energy and the commitment of the volunteers that encouraged him to get involved, Beecham said. He also recognized that the new libraries wouldn’t do much good if they weren’t equipped.

“In addition to the money that the community voted to contribute by passing the bond measure, we absolutely have to provide funds to outfit the libraries,” Beecham said.

Since Measure N’s passage, the foundation had reached out to just about every Palo Altan, soliciting funds from corporate donors and individual residents. The results have been fruitful. The group has already received $3.8 million in donations, Beecham said. This includes $50,000, distributed over

Veronica Weber

by Gennady Sheyner

As president of the Palo Alto Library Foundation’s board of directors, Bern Beecham is involved in the fundraising effort to refurbish Palo Alto’s renovated and rebuilt libraries. Some of those funds provided the plush seats in the Downtown Library’s new children’s section — as well as the books. three years, from the Weekly Holiday Fund, which raises money to support local nonprofits that serve children, families and individuals.

This year, the foundation received $17,500 from the Holiday Fund.

The foundation in many ways epitomizes the types of publicprivate partnerships Palo Alto officials tout as the way of the future.

After making its contribution for the Downtown Library in 2010, the foundation upped the stakes in 2011 when Beecham presented the City Council with a $1.9 million check to furnish the soon-to-be-rebuilt Mitchell Park library, the most ambitious project in the voter-approved bond. The check, Beecham told the council, represents the contributions of more than 800 people in the community. The donation was the largest the city has ever received from a

nonprofit group.

The contribution provided a welcome boost for a City Council struggling to balance the budget. Councilwoman Gail Price called it “really a wonderful moment” for the city and said she “can’t express deeply enough” her gratitude to the foundation and the many contributors. Her colleagues, including then-Mayor Sid Espinosa, agreed wholeheartedly.

“I don’t think it’s just rhetoric to say that this is a historic moment in Palo Alto’s history to have a coalition of citizens come together and say that ‘One of our Palo Alto resources is important enough that we’re going to donate to the tune of $1.9 million to this city for our libraries,’” Espinosa said at the Dec. 19 council meeting.

“It truly is extraordinary.”

While the finish line is now in sight, the group isn’t ready to rest

yet, Beecham said. The final stretch of a fundraising campaign is typically the toughest, Beecham said, and there’s much work to be done.

The city will soon break ground on the third bond-funded library project — the expansion and renovation of the Main Library. The remainder of the group’s fundraising effort will be devoted to getting the Newell Road facility furnished.

“Being close is not being done,” Beecham said. “We are determined to fund what we believe is necessary, and it’s still going to require a community effort.” N More information about the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, including how to donate, can be found on page 2 of this edition.

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

WORKFORCE

A new plan to avert burnout in academic medicine Stanford doctors can pay in, draw out workload levels over span of career

W

orried about burnout of its top physicians and scientists, Stanford Medical School is trying a new weapon — a kind of banking system that will let doctors “pay in” and “draw out” workload levels over the decades of their careers.

The new program, being tested this fall in five medical school departments, was the result of an “aha moment” about why earlier worklife balance programs for the medical school’s 872 faculty members had failed to gain traction.

Professors were declining to take advantage of time-honored traditions like sabbaticals and newer policies like extension of the tenure clock, said Hannah Valantine, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and senior associate dean for diversity and leadership.

“People in some sense were afraid of being viewed as not serious about

their careers,” Valantine said.

They worried they would look less committed and also that they would place undue extra burdens on their colleagues if they took time away.

It dawned on planners that the medical school’s policies to promote work-life balance — however appealing and up-to-date — conflicted with the deeply held values of faculty members.

“What we found is faculty members don’t want flexibility if it comes at the price of success at the very highest levels,” said Jennifer Raymond, an associate professor of neurobiology who got involved in the search for answers.

And yet, worries about losing top doctors and research scientists to burnout were only growing.

“We recognize that physician burnout is a huge problem, and it leads to poor patient care, turnover and poor quality in general,” Valantine said.

by Chris Kenrick “Our two world-class hospitals right here aspire to be the best and want to deliver the highest possible quality of care, and the faculty are the engines by which this happens.”

Raymond, who works with doctoral students, said: “We’re hearing more and more of them say, ‘I love science, Hannah Valantine but I don’t want an academic career because it’s not compatible with any outside interest.’

“We’d like to be able to compete for the best and the brightest, not just people who are willing to work 24/7,” she said.

Studies have shown that young

graduates are turning away from academic work because of perceptions that faculty careers are not conducive to work-life balance, Raymond said.

In 2010, a 35-member Stanford task force launched a renewed quest for solutions.

The group looked at part-time models used at Kaiser and Palo Alto Medical Foundation, but “We realized what our faculty was asking for was really not part-time, but something else,” Valantine said.

“We couldn’t figure out what that ‘something else’ ought to look like.”

Valantine turned to Stanford colleague David Kelley, founder of the design firm IDEO, and author of “Design Thinking.”

“We’d heard he’d come up with creative solutions based on humancentered design, and we wondered if he could help us,” she said.

Kelley referred the medical profes-

sors to the San Mateo consulting firm Jump Associates, which delved into ethnographic research, probing the lives of faculty to draw out answers.

They held in-depth interviews and filmed eight professors — from when they got up in the morning and transitioned from home to their homecomings at the end of the day — and then analyzed the clips in search of themes.

“One of the things we saw the faculty doing were trying to bank favors with their colleagues,” Raymond said.

“A woman would do more hours of call than she’d ever done in her life right before her maternity leave.”

The team’s “aha moment” came after hearing a kidney specialist comment that after the birth of her first child she bought a minivan to ferry neighborhood children in hopes that their parents later would (continued on page 11)

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Upfront

27 University (continued from page 3)

Courtesy of Hoover Associates

MacArthur Park’ and talked about how this put Palo Alto on the map.

He was very enthusiastic about it,” Emslie said.

The developer also offered to move the historic Julia Morgan-designed building that houses the restaurant to a site of the city’s choosing, Emslie said.

The renderings, emails and other documents obtained by the Weekly show the huge changes that the project has undergone since the initial meetings. The project’s major public benefits — a performing-arts theater and a slew of road improvements around the transit depot — are absent in the initial proposal and were added upon urging from staff. Documents also indicate that city staff to a large degree shared the developer’s enthusiasm for transforming the site and that staff and Arrillaga are now exploring a host of other potential partnerships — including the developer’s offer to buy a 7.7-acre property next to Foothills Park for $175,000 and his proposal to build three athletic fields on Geng Road as part of the city’s upcoming reconfiguration of the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course.

But perhaps more telling are the documents that aren’t in the packet.

Despite a year and a half of discussions and revisions and the inherent complexity of building an officeand-theater complex at one of Palo Alto’s most central sites, the city and the developer produced hardly any paperwork documenting the negotiation process for 27 University Ave. The Weekly requested all written communication between the city and Arrillaga and between city staff and members of the City Council. The documents released by the city contain no summaries of discussions, no meeting notes and no written exchanges about the project or the many complex and controversial issues surrounding it.

For example, there are no documents pertaining to the ongoing discussion about transcending the 50-foot height limit for new developments and no mention of the fact that the city would have to modify its landuse bible, the Comprehensive Plan, to accommodate the project. There is no indication of how or when the initial oval buildings became four traditional office towers, with one soaring to 162 feet, according to a plan that has since been further revised. All negotiations, it appears, took place verbally, leaving no paper trail.

The only document authored by

Arrillaga in the entire packet is a two-paragraph letter in which he expresses his interest in building the three golf courses.

Emslie attributed the slim volume of documents pertaining to 27 University Ave. to Arrillaga’s business style — his tendency to hold one-on-one meetings and phone conversations and his reliance on personal connections. Emslie did not comment on city staff’s lack of documentation of the process.

In keeping with Arrillaga’s reputation for reticence, the philanthropist has enjoyed a low profile during the council’s debate. He has not participated in any of the public discussions on 27 University Ave. and has not responded to a request for an interview.

But he’s been far less bashful about communicating with council members, with whom he discussed the project on an individual basis long before it ever went public. Council members knew about Arrillaga’s plans for 27 University Ave. since at least fall of 2011. In September, members received an email from City Manager James Keene with the subject line, “Mr. Arrillaga may contact you.” By that time, staff had been negotiating with Arrillaga for several months, urging him to add public benefits to his proposal. The developer agreed to revise his offer and to add to his proposal a shell for the new theater, which would be occupied by TheatreWorks.

“Staff has been very positive in general in our initial meetings with him, given the potential for the Performing Arts Center,” Keene wrote to the council on Sept. 27, 2011. “Obviously we are in the early stages.

Please remember that Mr. Arrillaga is looking at giving much to the City as you meet with him. We want to ensure we can unfold a process that works through this in the most effective way, whatever the outcome.”

Despite the council’s knowledge of the project since fall of 2011, it was not publicized in any way until March of this year, when the City Council authorized spending $250,000 for design work associated with the site.

Since then, negotiations and revisions between the developer and the city’s design consultants has continued to unfold. The latest revisions, which cut the height of the tallest office buildings from 162 feet to 123 feet, reduce the development at the site by close to 50,000 square feet and add a tunnel at Lytton Avenue for pedestrians and bicyclists, were released to the public on Nov. 21 and are set to be discussed by the council on Monday, Dec. 3.

The original design of 27 University Ave. called for a pair of eight-story, futuristic oval buildings with slanted rooflines and glassy facades, with wide swaths of pavement and modest green plazas.

T

he proposal currently in front of the council is only the latest chapter in Palo Alto’s decades-long quest to improve the labyrinthine site around the downtown Caltrain station. Planners and consultants have grappled with ways to make the busy area more efficient and pedestrian friendly since at least the early 1990s, when a so-called “Dream Team” of planners from the city and Stanford explored ways to improve the town-and-gown connection. Though the effort considered a slew of proposals — including a new “village green” near Alma Street and University and lowering the Alma overpass to University level — its recommendations languished from a lack of funding.

The idea of improving circulation also loomed large in Palo Alto’s negotiations with Stanford University Medical Center. The development agreement between the city and the hospital allocates $2.25 million in funding for pedestrian and bicycle improvements between the transit center and the intersection of El Camino Real and Quarry Road.

So when Arrillaga came to City Hall just weeks after the hospital expansion was approved, city officials saw it as an opportunity to revive the Dream Team’s long-deferred dream.

“It’s an area that’s been studied and studied but has had very little action to make the improvements,” Emslie said. “In a lot of ways, it’s very unfortunate that we haven’t been able to figure this out, literally, over decades.”

By the time the project was un-

veiled to the public in March, it contained a complete revamp of the transit hub, including increasing the capacity of the bus depot. The project also now included the shell of a performance theater — another goal that the city and Stanford have been evaluating for more than a decade.

Arrillaga and the nonprofit TheatreWorks informally agreed that the developer would build the shell and the theater company would complete it, Emslie said.

Though the project in March was still in its embryonic stage and had yet to receive any public input, it was already generating significant buzz at City Hall. In a March report, Emslie called it “a unique opportunity to create an attractive, vibrant urban destination and identity for people arriving by transit to Palo Alto.” City staff’s enthusiasm hadn’t diminished

by September, when the planning department released revised details showing the proposed office complex to consist of four towers, one of which would be 162-feet tall. The report refers to an “unprecedented opportunity” and an “extraordinary public-private partnership involving several parties, which would allow goals that have been pursued for many years to be realized.”

T

he partnership between Palo Alto and Arrillaga is “extraordinary” for various reasons.

The sheer size of the jackpot is one of them. If voters accede to the concept of what the city now calls the “arts and innovation district,” they would enable tens of millions of pri-

vate dollars to be spent for significant transit improvements in one of the city’s prominent areas.

But it is also extraordinary in that it pits a city famous for its lengthy and complex public processes for new developments (the considerably smaller Alma Plaza project in south Palo Alto was a subject of more than a dozen public meetings before it earned the city’s approval in 2009) with a developer who famously shuns the spotlight and prefers to deal behind the scenes.

The tension means that city officials, for all their talk about “transparency” and commitment to a “democratic process,” now find themselves discussing projects with tremendous implications for the city’s future outside of public view.

The public, meanwhile, doesn’t get to be privy to the discussions until they are already well advanced. The council, for example, didn’t have any public hearings about Arrillaga’s proposal to buy 7.7 acres of undeveloped city-owned land near Foothills Park, opting to consider the item in a Sept. 18 closed session (the land is surrounded by properties owned by Arrillaga). City officials said at the time that they planned to schedule a public meeting on this proposal in October but that didn’t happen.

The council also hasn’t had any public discussions about Arrillaga’s proposal to fund athletic fields adjacent to the city’s golf course near the Baylands. The Weekly learned about this offer only from the single letter from Arrillaga, which was submitted the day before the coun-

Transit Ring Road

El Camino Park

House

enue

Julia Morgan

El Camino Re

al

Revised plans for 27 University Ave. in Palo Alto show the Julia Morgan Hostess House (the MacArthur Park restaurant building) moved to El Camino Park and a Transit Ring Road allowing traffic to exit onto El Camino Real, among other changes.

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Courtesy City of Palo Alto

Office buildings

University Av

Theater

Upfront

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

by Samia Cullen

What’s changed in 27 University Ave. plans

A

revised proposal to build an office complex, a theater and improve roads around the Caltrain station as part of a new “arts and innovation district” in downtown Palo Alto will be reviewed by the City Council on Monday, Dec. 3.

Here are the main differences between the proposal the council considered on Sept. 24 and the one in front of them this week.

Building heights Before: The earlier proposal included four office buildings that were six-, seven-, nine- and 10-stories high and that ranged in height from 118 to 162 feet. The height for the proposed theater was 100 feet.

Now: The new proposal calls for four office buildings with two of them six-stories high and the other two seven-stories high. Building heights now range from 99 feet to cil’s closed-session discussion.

“As I believe you are aware from our many discussions, I am at a stage in my life where I am thoroughly enjoying improving public facilities in our community and one of the projects I have identified that excites me, is developing for the City of Palo (Alto) three new athletic fields with natural turf and related irrigation, all to be located at 1900 Geng Road, Palo Alto,” Arrillaga wrote in a Sept. 17 letter addressed to Mayor Yiaway Yeh. (The fact that it’s addressed to Yeh is a formality.

City Attorney Molly Stump said the letter alludes to discussions between Arrillaga and city staff). “You and I have discussed this project in great detail, and we both agree that it will be an improvement that (will) be welcomed by the City, its citizens and visitors. I commit to the City of Palo Alto that the above project shall be developed and constructed, at no cost and/or expense to the City of Palo Alto, and the development of the project shall commence by the Spring of 2013 and is projected to be completed within three months thereafter weather permitting.”

While staff has been doing most of the negotiations, council members have been on the receiving end of Arrillaga’s overtures. (Yeh and Larry Klein are the only exceptions because each has a spouse with Stanford affiliations and each recuses himself from discussions pertaining to 27 University Ave.) Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss, who will reclaim her former seat on the City Council in January, recalled discussing the project with Arrillaga in June. Kniss said in a September interview that Arrillaga talked about his plans for 27 University Ave. while they attended a Stanford football game. The developer, who has a long history of building athletic facilities for Stanford, said he doesn’t want to “go through all the stuff they make you go through” in Palo Alto’s planning process, Kniss said. She said she left the meeting unconvinced about the project’s merits, saying that the office complex “looks like it will

114 feet. The proposed theater is now 95 feet tall.

Square footage Before: The earlier proposal called for 262,580 square feet of commercial space in the four office towers, including 23,080 square feet on the ground floor.

Now: The new proposal calls for 210,300 square feet of commercial space, with 24,600 square feet on the ground floor. Total commercial footage is reduced by 52,280 square feet.

Julia Morgan House Before: The earlier proposal considered various locations for the historic “Hostess House” that currently houses the MacArthur Park restaurant. It did not issue a recommendation for the new location, but listed El Camino Park as one of the options.

Now: The new proposal recloom large over the city.”

“A good part of the city’s group is enamored with it,” Kniss told the Weekly, referring to staff and consultants. “For me, it’s not worth it.”

Vice Mayor Greg Scharff said he met with Arrillaga for about 10 minutes at the developer’s office, as did other council members and community leaders (Scharff recalled seeing former Mayor Gary Fazzino leaving the office as he was coming in). He said Arrillaga showed him the renderings for the proposed building, after which time Scharff expressed some concerns about the designs but said he found the theater concept exciting.

Councilwoman Karen Holman said she met Arrillaga last fall and was surprised by the level of details in his drawings.

“My expectation of that meeting was that it would be a general conceptual discussion about the project,” Holman said. “It was much more fine-grained than I expected.

There were building designs and heights and some site planning.”

As these details evolved, council members were brought in for private meetings with staff to discuss updates in the various Arrillaga projects. In late June, staff and consultants met privately with council members to discuss revised plans for 27 University Ave. And in early October, the city arranged tours for council members of the property next to Foothills Park that Arrillaga had proposed to buy.

Because in both cases, the meetings involved two or three council members at a time, they did not need to be publicly disclosed under the Ralph M. Brown Act, which governs open meetings. But at least one council member raised flags about the lack of transparency in this process in June, when staff from Keene’s office was trying to schedule a series of 30-minute update meetings between council members, staff and consultants working on the project. Holman wrote in an emailed response that she was concerned about the fact that “the public has yet to have a clear picture of what is being considered even in

ommends relocating the Hostess House to El Camino Park, between the soccer and softball fields.

Road changes Before: The September master plan proposed major changes in the road circulation around the downtown transit center, including a new two-way Transit Ring Road that would replace the existing University Avenue loop road. The new configuration would raise the area’s capacity for bus stops and layovers from 21 to 32.

Now: The revised plan includes the previously proposed Transit Ring Road but also a host of new bike and pedestrian connections.

These include a proposed underpass at Lytton Avenue and a two-way, 10-foot-wide bike route connecting a proposed bike route north of the Caltrain station to the existing bike route south of the station. N — Gennady Sheyner the most general fashion.”

“With these additional meetings being proposed that include designers as part of the meetings, I have even greater concerns about transparency,” Holman wrote in late June. “Please help me understand what causes the need for private meetings with City Council members rather than meetings that could be held in public.”

Holman said she doesn’t recall getting a response from staff addressing her concerns about private meetings, other than a brief message indicating that staff would like to update the council.

Several council members stressed that they are trying to be as transparent as possible and that there’s nothing inappropriate about members meeting privately with staff to discuss the latest changes before the full council weighs in on them. Scharff emphasized that there haven’t been any decisions made about the project and that feedback from council and staff has greatly improved Arrillaga’s proposal.

“It’s easy to kill something,” Scharff said. “That’s the easy thing.

The hardest thing is to say, ‘Given this opportunity, how can we make it work for the community?’”

Council members recognize that they are walking a fine line in the potentially lucrative and continuously evolving relationship between the city and Arrillaga. In an interview in late September, Councilman Pat Burt said the philanthropic component of the downtown proposal limits the number of demands the council can place on Arrillaga without risking all the potential public benefits, which Burt estimated could amount to $100 million.

“If we said to Lucie Stern, ‘We don’t want a community center; we want a police building,’ do you think we’d have the Lucie Stern Community Center?” Burt said. “This being a philanthropic project limits the demands we can make.” N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.

Cost Versus Value for Your Home Remodeling Projects If you are a homeowner who is thinking about selling your home within the next year, you are probably wondering whether there are any remodeling projects that will provide a good return on your investment.

Optimizing the use of space in a home will not only attract more buyers but also give sellers a good return on their investment.

You must first decide on the size of the project you are willing to tackle.

Creating a memorable first impression often can be accomplished through small-scale projects. For example, a nice entry door replacement or a garage door replacement will bring a good return on your investment.

Adding a master suite or a room in the attic is a more extensive project that also offers a good return. Be sure to hire a good architect to help you come up with a functional floor plan.

Having a family room that opens to a kitchen is highly favored by most buyers. A remodel that opens the kitchen to the family room or even to the formal existing living room is another project with a good return on investment. Formal living rooms, as well as formal offices with wood cabinets, are not in high demand in today’s market.

Upgrading kitchens and baths is still a smart bet. However, home owners usually will benefit more by foregoing super deluxe projects in favor of mid-range kitchen and bath remodels.

Judicious home remodeling is still worth the investment. Discuss your future remodeling plan with your agent before you start the remodeling project. Your agent can help you plan a remodel that will bring buyers to your home and increase the return on your investment.

I offer complimentary staging when I list your home. Contact me at (650) 384-5392, Alain Pinel Realtors. To learn more, log-on to samiacullen.com

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 and Church School at 10 a.m.

Advent Vespers at 5:00 p.m.

This Sunday: Angels Are Scary Rev. David Howell 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

26th Annual Palo Alto Weekly

Short Story Contest

Entry Deadline is December 28th See PaloAltoOnline.com for details ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 7

Upfront HISTORY

Palo Alto’s ‘fairy godmother’ is remembered Dec. 2 Talk and book about Lucie Stern reveal a benefactor who dealt with personal tragedies

by Sue Dremann

S

ixty-six years after her death, Palo Alto benefactor Lucie Stern will be honored and remembered during a talk Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at the community center she built for Palo Alto residents during the Great Depression.

Elizabeth Leecing Greist, who grew up in Palo Alto and knew Lucie Stern, will speak about her remembrances of Stern. The event at 1305 Middlefield Road is being sponsored by the Palo Alto Historical Association. The talk follows the November reprinting of a 64-page monograph, “Lucie Stern: Palo Alto’s Fairy Godmother,� which was written by the late Palo Alto Children’s Theatre Assistant Director Michael Litfin.

Few people know much about Stern, despite the Mission Revivalstyle community center and theater that bear her name.

Staring from a photograph in her tight-waisted Victorian dress with neck-to-chin collar and hair piled atop her head, Stern is a face from a bygone era. Although she died in 1946, she continues to make a lasting imprint on generations of Palo Altans through her many gifts to the city.

A prominent and wealthy member of San Francisco and Bay Area society, she was the wife of Louis Stern, one of the nephews of clothier Levi Strauss. “Aunt Lucie,� as she came to be known, gifted Palo Alto some of its greatest cultural treasures: the Lucie Stern Community Center and Ruth Stern Wing with its recreation room and ballroom, the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, the Boy Scout Fire

Circle, Children’s Library, walls and gates of the Secret Garden, the bird sanctuary adjacent to and north of the duck pond in the Palo Alto Baylands and the Sea Scout building.

Posthumously, her estate and foundation contributed to the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course and built the Lawn Bowling Club’s clubhouse, according to Litfin.

But who was Lucie Stern?

Born in 1871 in France, she was the daughter of Jewish parents who came to San Francisco when she was 3. She once claimed her father, Louis Cahen, owned a cigar store, but an 1883 San Francisco business directory listed him as a manufacturer of syrups, bitters and cordials, according to Litfin.

She married Louis Stern, the nephew of now-famous clothier Levi Strauss, who brought denim to San Francisco and made a fortune selling the sturdy workman’s pants to gold miners. Louis Stern and his three brothers took over the firm and became wealthy.

Lucie bore four daughters, but three died in childhood. The fourth, Ruth, became developmentally impaired due to severe epileptic seizures. Lucie dedicated her life to caring for her daughter, according to Litfin.

Living first on an Atherton estate, Lucie and Ruth moved to homes at 1950 and 1990 Cowper St. in Palo Alto after Louis Stern died. The homes were designed and built by architect Birge Clark.

Lucie, who loved good cooking and grew round from the enjoyment, became a benefactor to uni-

versity students in the 1930s — her “Stanford boys.� One student, Phil Kennedy, gave her the name Aunt Lucie, which stuck.

Greist recalled Aunt Lucie as a humorous person who loved to have teas and company for dinner. Greist, who now resides in Livermore, said her father, John Leecing, was the first scout executive of the Stanford Area Council of the Boy Scouts.

While a Palo Alto High School student, Greist was invited to Stern’s home for dinner and sometimes for tea. Stern pointed out pictures on the walls of her den of all of the prominent people she knew, Greist said.

As a college student on summer vacation, Greist work for Stern in the Palo Alto guest house where her nephew and niece, Walter and Evelyn Haas, were spending the summer.

Greist was to do housekeeping and cooking. She didn’t know how to cook, but Stern apprenticed her to her own chef, who guided her through the process with detailed instructions. He often gave her his own desserts left over from the previous dinner.

In the evenings when it became dark, Stern insisted that Greist stay overnight in the guest room. She didn’t see much of Aunt Lucie that summer, but she recalled that she was summoned when Stern wanted her to meet Ruth. “It was difficult,� she recalled, of meeting Stern’s daughter. Ruth was in bed, cared for by a nurse who fluffed 10 pillows behind her. She sat upright. Stern sat at the side of the bed. When she made their introduction, Ruth just stared at Greist and said nothing.

Stern asked for a copy of Greist’s high school graduation picture, and she mounted it with the pictures of the famous people, along with a photo of her secretary’s son, Henry D’Audney. “Here I was alongside pictures of senators and heads of hospitals. I always felt special that my picture was there with all these important people,� Greist said.

One of Aunt Lucie’s favorite places was her garden. Perhaps it was to foreshadow her gift that became the Secret Garden adjacent to the Children’s Library. Stern’s garden was a magical, secret space where all of the flowers were perfumed and every plant was blooming, Greist recalled.

Stern was a generous person, Greist said. She gave male Stanford students loans for tuition, always with the understanding that they would pay her back when they went into

business or obtained jobs. When the last payment was made, Stern hosted a celebration. “She would have the young man with his wife over for dinner, and she would give them an envelope with the whole amount they had paid back. She said she thought she’d taught the young men the importance of saving,� Greist said.

Stern told Greist she was very disappointed with most of the wives, however. “She felt they didn’t appreciate what the husband had to go through,� she said.

Greist remembers Stern as full of good cheer. “I can only see her smiling and teasing my father,� she recalled.

Stern had a huge closet near the front door of her Palo Alto home that contained clothing from Levi Strauss. Stern would invite the young men and women, including Greist, to choose an item of their liking, she recalled.

Greist said if Stern were living today, she would not be disappointed in Palo Alto’s progress. The town is a different place now than it was in the 1940s, Greist said, when she had arranged a hoedown. The event was in the Lucie Stern Community Center, complete with bales of hay.

No local farmer had wanted to rent out a barn to a group of teenagers, she said. “Aunt Lucie — she loved Palo Alto. I think even though Palo Alto has become so crowded, she would understand it; that it has to happen this way. I think even today she’d say, ‘This is what happens with time.’� N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

Alert neighbors or passers by might have been able to notice the strangers at the gate, she said. “They were standing in the side yard monkeying with the lock. It’s not something that was done quickly,� she said.

The victim said that people assume someone coming through a side gate is a worker, such as a gardener or repair person, but that might not be the case.

Anyone coming through a side gate should be suspect, especially if he or she is carrying something, she said. “I just think right now I would take out my camera and take a picture if I saw someone coming from a side yard. I would say, ‘I’m sorry, but my house was just burglarized,’� she said.

Vigilance is important to personal safety, she said. When her husband returned home, he noticed the gates were open and suspected someone might still be on the property.

The police investigation by the

city’s new burglary task force was thorough and highly professional, she said. “We were very impressed by the officers who came out and how seriously they take this. They looked at every possible detail,� she said. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

Twenty Years Transforming Lives

Burglary

(continued from page 3)

the king’s academ y CHRIST-CENTERED COLLEGE PREPARATORY *UNIOR AND 3ENIOR (IGH 3CHOOL s 'RADES

OPENHOUSE

Saturday, December 8, 11:00 am SCHEDULE A SCHOOL TOUR OR STUDENT SHADOW TODAY!

Contact Marissa Lockett, Admissions Assistant 408.481.9900 x4248 or Marissa.Lockett@tka.org . "RITTON !VENUE 3UNNYVALE #! 85 WWW TKA ORG s ACSI AND WASC ACCREDITATION TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION

Page 8ĂŠUĂŠ ÂœĂ›i“LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUĂŠ*>Â?ÂœĂŠ Â?ĂŒÂœĂŠ7iiÂŽÂ?ÞÊUĂŠĂœĂœĂœÂ°*>Â?Âœ Â?ĂŒÂœ"˜Â?ˆ˜i°Vœ“

hours,� she said.

Residents need to be vigilant in order to stop the burglaries, she said. “The only way to catch them is to have your neighbors watch out for each other,� she said.

She said the lock was not cut but that the person had to spend some time trying to figure out a reasonably sophisticated locking mechanism.

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Holiday Fund Learn more at Palo Alto Online

Corrections The Nov. 23 Around Town column stated that a 7-foot dinosaur bone on display at the Nature Gallery was from an Edmontosaurus. The bone is from a Tyrannosaurus bataar. Also, an item in the Nov. 23 Book Talk column misspelled the name of the author of “Little Trouble in Tall Tree.� The correct spelling is Michael Fertik. The Weekly regrets the errors. To request a correction, contact Editor Jocelyn Dong at 650-223-6514, jdong@ paweekly.com or P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302.

Upfront

Online This Week

What school is meant to be.

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.

District seeks parents to help with new school The Palo Alto school district is seeking parent applicants for a committee to help determine a location for a new elementary school. The Elementary School Site Location Advisory Committee will evaluate two sites for use as a neighborhood school or a “choice” school. (Posted Nov. 29 at 9:50 a.m.)

Protests target Arrillaga project in Menlo Park A small group of residents has a large mission: Save Menlo Park.

Their target? The eight-acre, mixed-use complex developer John Arrillaga wants to build on property owned by Stanford University along El Camino Real. (Posted Nov. 28 at 2:37 p.m.)

Gang crackdown in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park Fed up with more than a dozen shootings between rival gangs in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, police from East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Palo Alto are joining forces to quash the crimes, East Palo Alto police Chief Ronald Davis announced Tuesday, Nov. 27. (Posted Nov. 28 at 9:49 a.m.)

East Palo Alto shooting wounds one person

Open Houses: Upper School Oct. 28, Dec. 2 Middle School Oct. 7, Nov. 4

www.menloschool.org/admissions

Police in East Palo Alto are investigating a shooting that left one person wounded late Tuesday morning, Nov. 27 — the fourth shooting reported in the city in the past week. (Posted Nov. 27 at 5:01 p.m.)

Woodside High grieves over death of freshman Sadness pervaded Woodside High School Tuesday, Nov. 27, as students and teachers remembered Leyla Beban, a 14-year-old Redwood City freshman who died in a bicycle accident involving a collision with a vehicle around 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning, Nov. 26, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas. (Posted Nov. 27 at 11:57 a.m.)

‘Undocumented’ but inspiring Immigration reform activist Jose Antonio Vargas spoke at to a nearcapacity crowd at Los Altos High School last weekend, advocating for swift, comprehensive and fair changes to current U.S. immigration policies. (Posted Nov. 27 at 8:39 a.m.)

Motorcyclist dies in Mountain View crash The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal motorcycle collision that occurred in Mountain View Monday night, Nov. 26.

(Posted Nov. 27 at 8:11 a.m.)

Parents, students named to calendar committee The Palo Alto school district has named some 20 parents, teachers, administrators and students to a committee to evaluate reforms to the school district’s academic calendar that took effect this year. (Posted Nov. 26 at 1:05 p.m.)

Homeless shelters open as cold weather hits As winter approaches and the weather gets colder, thousands of homeless people will now be able to seek shelter at three locations in Santa Clara County. (Posted Nov. 26 at 11:12 a.m.)

Man killed by Caltrain in Palo Alto identified The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who was hit and killed by a train in Palo Alto Nov. 20 as Jason Whitten Lee, 19. Whitten Lee’s city of residence was unknown. (Posted Nov. 26 at 9:40 a.m.)

Mountain View man arrested after standoff A man suspected of beating his girlfriend was arrested after a sevenhour standoff in Mountain View Sunday morning, Nov. 25, police said. Richard Johnson, 50, had allegedly assaulted his girlfriend before barricading himself inside his apartment, police said. (Posted Nov. 26 at 8:30 a.m.)

Menlo Park man shot in East Palo Alto Sunday A Menlo Park man was wounded in a shooting in East Palo Alto Sunday night, Nov. 25. (Posted Nov. 26 at 8:24 a.m.)

Second sister dies following crash on 101 A second sister critically injured in a crash with a California Highway Patrol vehicle on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in Palo Alto on Friday morning, Nov. 23, succumbed to her injuries Friday night, according to the CHP. (Posted Nov. 24 at 4:42 p.m.) ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 9

Upfront

News Digest Attempted sexual assault reported in Palo Alto

For a complete list of classes and class fees, lectures and health education resources, visit pamf.org/healtheducation.

Dec. 2012

Beauty Secrets of the Stars Friday, Dec. 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Mountain View Center 701 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View

Presented by Cindy Russell, M.D. PAMF Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery 650-934-7380

Do you want to know the real secrets of the stars? We will look into the lifestyles of a few of the rich and famous to see how they stay younger looking and feeling healthy.

Topics will include “Skin Secrets,” “Surgery Secrets,” “Kitchen Secrets,” “Exercise Secrets,” and more.

Advancements in Cataract Surgery Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, 1 to 2 p.m.

Sunnyvale City Senior Center 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale

Presented by Yichieh Shiuey, M.D. PAMF Ophthalmology 408-730-7360

Join us for this educational presentation where you’ll learn what a cataract is, what are the new advancements in cataract surgery and what is the outcome for vision after surgery.

Community Health Resource Centers The Health Resource Center offers information and support for those who wish to make informed decisions regarding their health and wellness. The center is open to all members of the community. s

Consumer-oriented health reference books

s

Medical textbooks

s

Health newsletters

s

Educational videotapes and DVDs

s

InfoTrac reference system

s

Access to health information websites

s

Information on community resources

Palo Alto Community Health Resource Center: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mountain View Health Resource Center: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

facebook.com/paloaltomedicalfoundation twitter.com/paloaltomedical pamfblog.org

Scan this code with your smartphone for more health education information. Get the free mobile scanner app at http://gettag.mobi.

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A man allegedly broke into a home in the 100 block of Hawthorne Avenue in Palo Alto early Thursday morning, Nov. 29, and struggled with the female resident during what may have been an attempt to sexually assault her, Palo Alto police have announced.

The woman called 9-1-1 at about 2:11 a.m., and officers responded within two minutes, police said in a press release. Along with a canine unit from the Mountain View Police Department, officers searched the area but were unable to find the intruder.

The resident, a woman in her 20s, awoke to find the intruder in her bedroom and screamed. The man fled after a brief struggle, according to police. The woman had a bruised wrist but was otherwise unhurt and did not require medical attention, police said.

The man appeared to have entered the home by forcing open the front door, police stated in the press release.

The man was described as having an average build and wearing a hooded dark jacket or sweatshirt and dark pants. The woman could not determine the man’s age or race, police said.

Officers are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the 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

Palo Alto prepares for storms, potential outages The City of Palo Alto Utilities department has organized a 24-hour control center and stand-by crews to help residents weather this week’s series of storms in the event of power outages, the department has announced. Even if outages occur on nights or weekends, the department is prepared to respond quickly, Communications Manager Debra Katz said.

The series of “pineapple express” storms heading across the Pacific Ocean are expected to dump considerable amounts of rain in the coming days, according to weather reports.

“Trucks, equipment and materials have been stocked and checked. In the event of a larger scale emergency, every utilities staff person knows we are ‘on call’ and may need to come in to help out. We all hope that scenario never develops, but if it does, we’re ready,” Katz said.

The department also has several online sites to help residents: Up-to-date information if there is a power outage, water or gas main break is available at www.cityofpaloalto.org, search for “outageinfo.”

For safety tips, search “safeutility” and for winter storm prep tips, search “winter storm tips.”

A free “important contact info” magnet, which has key phone numbers for services and website links, is available upon request by emailing christen.creed@cityofpaloalto.org (include your name and mailing address) or by calling 650-329-2479.

The city homepage at www.cityofpaloalto.org has a link to general emergency preparedness information, creek-level monitoring and Palo Alto Neighborhood (PAN) emergency-preparation information. N — Sue Dremann

Report: Taser deployed in Palo Alto arrest After nearly two years of silence, Palo Alto Police Department Tasers buzzed to life earlier this year with officers deploying the stun guns on two occasions, according to a new report from Independent Police Auditor Michael Gennaco.

The semi-annual report, which covers the first half of 2012, details the first of the two cases and alludes to a second, which Gennaco is currently reviewing. The auditor concluded that in the first case, the Taser deployment was consistent with department policy.

The first case involved a traffic stop in which an officer pulled over a car because its registration sticker had expired, according to the report.

The driver allegedly didn’t have a license and did not own the car, and the passenger “responded strangely” when asked questions, Gennaco wrote. A backup officer was called in, and as he approached the car, he allegedly noticed the passenger bending forward as if he were hiding something.

The report states that the passenger had “bloodshot eyes, mumbled speech and had a hard time standing still and was sweating.” He also had a bulge in his front pocket and gave “erratic answers” to officers’ questions, leading them to conclude that he might be under the influence of drugs. The passenger allegedly consented to being patted down by an officer but pulled away. He also tried to pull an unknown object out of his pocket even after being asked by officers not to, the report states. Officers then allegedly grabbed his arms to keep him from taking the unknown object out, Gennaco wrote.

“He slipped from the grasp of the first officer who pulled out his Taser and fired it at the passenger,” the report states. “The Taser was effective, and the passenger crumpled to the ground.”

After the incident a police sergeant and a lieutenant reviewed the incident and concluded that “Taser use was justified and conformed to PAPD policy.” N — Gennady Sheyner

Upfront

CityView A round-up of

Palo Alto government action this week

City Council The council did not have any meetings this week.

Parks and Recreation Commission (Nov. 27)

27 University Ave.: The commission heard a presentation on possible options for relocation of the Julia Morgan-designed building that houses the MacArthur Park Restaurant to enable construction of a new office complex, a theater and transit improvements at 27 University Ave. Action: None Master plan: The commission discussed the scope of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which the city plans to undertake in the coming months. Action: None

Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to meet in a closed session to discuss the city’s negotiations with the Utilities Management and Professional Association of Palo Alto. The council also plans to discuss the latest revisions to John Arrillaga’s proposal for 27 University Ave., which would include an office complex, a theater and various road improvements. The council plans to consider the recent changes to the “arts and innovation district master plan”; review advisory ballot measures for the June election asking the voters whether the city should modify its Comprehensive Plan and whether it should exchange the “panhandle” portion of El Camino Park for a more usable portion of adjacent land to accommodate the project. The council also plans to consider rezoning the properties located at 423-451 Page Mill Road from single-family residential (R-1) to service commercial (CS); and to continue its discussion on benefit reforms for city employees.

The closed session will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3. Regular meeting will follow in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to consider a recommendation to close the fiscal year 2012 budget, which includes reappropriation requests; authorization of transfers to reserves; and approval of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The committee also plans to hear a status update on the city’s capital improvement program. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board will swear in recently elected or re-elected board members Melissa Baten Caswell, Heidi Emberling and Camille Townsend, elect officers for 2013 and discuss committee assignments. The board also will discuss the budget, as well as updates to board policies on guidance and counseling services and meeting conduct. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the boardroom of school district headquarters (25 Churchill Ave.).

HISTORICAL REVIEW BOARD ... The board plans to discuss 261 Hamilton Ave., a proposal for a historic rehabilitation of an existing building; and 27 University Ave., a proposal for a new “arts and innovation district” that includes relocation of the 1918 Julia Morgan building and construction of a new office complex and a performing-arts theater. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a closed session to evaluate the performance of City Attorney Molly Stump and City Manager James Keene. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to receive the quarterly update from the Utilities Department; discuss the 2013 legislative policy guidelines; consider redesign options for PaloAltoGreen; consider the carbon neutrality electric portfolio plan; and discuss the preliminary results from the city’s request for proposals for renewable-energy projects. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ... The board plans to discuss 145 Hawthorne Ave., a request by Zach Trailer for a review of a new development consisting of three multi-family residential units; and 1313 Newell Road, a review of the proposed signage for the Palo Alto Art Center. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

COUNCIL RAIL COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to hear a report from its Sacramento lobbyist for high-speed rail and consider renewing its contract for the lobbyist, Professional Evaluation Group. The committee also plans to discuss revisions to its guiding principles and the final report from the Rail Corridor Task Force. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

Balance

(continued from page 5)

return the favor.

“We thought, ‘If we could somehow formalize this’ — because the people who banked favors never seemed to feel comfortable calling those favors back in,” Raymond said.

“A formalized trading system might help in a culture that makes you feel like you should never show any sign of needing help.”

Hence this fall’s pilot programs, in which faculty members can earn credits through extra work and later “buy back” time or services, such as housecleaning, meals or the use of a science writer to help write and edit grant proposals.

First, professors must participate in a long-term career-planning ses-

Common

(continued from page 3)

Core State Standards students will learn to work collaboratively and use digital media to express and present evidence-based fiction and non-fiction literary analysis,” Torlakson said.

“The Common Core State Standards also focus on extending mathematical thinking to real-world challenges so that students develop a depth of understanding and an ability to solve everyday problems through the power of mathematics.”

Young said he thinks Palo Alto students will notice changes brought about by the new standards.

“I think kids will notice some difference in the way we look at writing and also the way we look at reading in younger grades,” he said.

sion, laying out professional goals as well as opportunities for things like sabbaticals.

“It’s more natural to leverage these policies if it’s part of a planning process and not something that’s done by special request on the side,” said Caroline Simard, the medical school’s senior associate dean for diversity and leadership.

Because of its work on the program, the medical school recently was named a winner in the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Faculty Career Flexibility.

“Without innovative new work models, we risk losing generations of promising young physicians and scientists from academic medicine,” medical school Dean Phillip Pizzo said.

Valantine argues that sabbaticals actually can be career enhancers,

not career drags.

“We think if you take these things you actually will be more productive, in terms of the standard, classical academic metrics of success,” she said.

The traditional academic career path was designed for a different era, when families had a single breadwinner with a spouse at home to take care of everything else, Valantine said.

“Now most families have both adults working, and people want to have better relationships with their children. The workplace needs to change in its expectations and the way work is designed and done,” she said.

“At the core of that is integration of life and work as opposed to ‘balance.’” N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

“In language arts, around writing, you’ll see for example a move away from an emphasis on persuasion to presenting an argument and a logical display of thought process.

You’ll see more expository-type writing,” he said.

Perhaps most noticeable to students will be changes in standardized testing.

California is part of the 31-member Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, one of two groups working to formulate tests to measure performance under the new standards.

“There are already banks of tests you can go to and look at,” Young said.

The new system will allow “use of assessment data in a much more fruitful way than the current system because the nature of the questions is more sophisticated. It’s not just multiple choice, but the questions involve more critical thinking and

problem-solving.”

End-of-year “summative assessments” will be mandatory under the new system, but Young said he’s more excited about the possibility of more frequent, lower-stakes “interim” and “formative” tests, which will be optional.

“When you do that more frequently you can identify kids who need additional help and modify your instructional practices based on assessment data,” he said. “It will benefit kids and us more.”

Developed under the leadership of the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Common Core State Standards have been fully adopted by every state except Alaska, Nebraska, Minnesota, Texas and Virginia. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

Common Core: myths versus facts Myth: The standards bring all states down to the lowest common denominator.

Fact: The standards build upon the most advanced current thinking about preparing all students for success in college and career.

They will move even the best state standards to the next level. There’s been an explicit agreement that no state will lower its standards.

Myth: The standards are not internationally benchmarked.

Fact: International benchmarking played a significant role in both math and English standards.

Myth: The standards include only skills and do not address the importance of content knowledge.

Fact: The standards recognize that both content and skills are important.

In English, they require certain critical content for all students including classic myths and stories from around the world, America’s founding documents,

foundational American literature and Shakespeare. Remaining decisions about what content should be taught are left to state and local decision-makers.

In math, the standards lay a foundation in whole numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and decimals. The middle school and high school standards call on students to practice applying mathematical ways of thinking to real-world issues and challenges, preparing students to think and reason mathematically.

Myth: The standards suggest teaching “Grapes of Wrath” to second-graders.

Fact: The standards suggest “Grapes of Wrath” as a text appropriate for ninth-and 10thgraders. Evidence shows that the complexity of texts students are reading today does not match what is demanded in college and the workplace. The standards create a staircase of increasing text complexity.

Myth: The standards are just vague descriptions of skills; they don’t include a reading list or any other reference to content.

Fact: The standards include sample texts that demonstrate the level of complexity appropriate for various grade levels. The exemplars provide a set of possibilities and have been well-received.

This gives teachers flexibility to make their own decisions about what texts to use.

Myth: The standards do not prepare or require students to learn algebra in the eighth grade as many states’ current standards do.

Fact: The standards do accommodate and prepare students for Algebra 1 in eighth grade by including the prerequisites for this course in grades K-7. Students who master the K-7 material will be able to take Algebra 1 in eighth grade. N Source: Condensed from the “Myths vs. Facts” page of the Common Core State Standards Initiative website.

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CITY OF PALO ALTO NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Palo Alto City Council will hold a public hearing at the regular Council meeting on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. or as near thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, To Consider the Approval of a Record of Land Use Action for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment Allowing the Operation of a New Pre-Kindergarten Program Within an Expanded Building and an After-School Day Care Program Associated with an Existing Private School (K-8 Program) at 1095 Channing Avenue.

DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk

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 CHAMBERS MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 6:00 PM CLOSED SESSION 1. Labor CONSENT CALENDAR 2. Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Conflict of Interest Code for Designated City Officers and Employees as Required by the Political Reform Act and Regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission and Repealing Resolution No. 9122 3. Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation that Council Adopt a Resolution Decreasing Gas Rates by Amending Utility Rate Schedules G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-10, G-11 and G-12 Effective January 1, 2013 4. Multiple Contract Award for Temporary IT Staff 5. Approval of Utilities Enterprise Fund Contract with Daleo Inc. An Amount of $12,110,846.95 For Gas Main Replacement Capital Improvement Program GS-09002 Project 19B, GS-10001 Project 20, and GS-11000 Project 21 in Community Club, Barron Park, Duveneck St. Francis, Palo Alto Hills, Golf and Country Club, Palo Verde, Research Park Subdivisions, and Stanford 6. Second Reading: Adoption of a Park Improvement Ordinance for Modifications to the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course and the John Fletcher Byxbee Recreation Area (Passed 8-1, Holman no on 11/13/12) 7. Stanford Annexation Resolutions 8. Approval of Purchase and Budget Change of CIP for ALS EKG Monitors for the Fire Department 9. Second Reading: Recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission Concerning Amendment of Section 22.04.180 of Chapter 24.04 of Title 22 [Park And Recreation Building Use And Regulations] of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Amendment of Park and Open Space Regulations R1-4, R1-5a, R1-5b, and R1-10b to Impose Time Use Limitations on Sound Amplification Equipment at Lytton Plaza (Passed: 11/19/12 passed 7-1, Holman no, Scharff absent) ACTION ITEMS 10. Request for Council to (1) Review Revised Site Plan and Massing Concepts, a Revised Letter of Intent with TheatreWorks, and draft timeline for 27 University Avenue; and (2) Authorize Staff to Execute the revised letter of intent and Prepare Advisory Ballot Measure Language for Council Consideration 11. Public Hearing: Adoption of an Ordinance for a Rezone of a 0.6acre site from Single Family Residential (R-1) to Service Commercial (CS), Adoption of a Resolution for an amendment to the site’s Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation from Single Family Residential to Service Commercial, and Approval of the Negative Declaration for the properties located at 423-451 Page Mill Road.

12. Response to Colleague’s Memo on Employee Benefits Part 2 Pension (TENTATIVE) AGENDA–SPECIAL MEETING-COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012 5:30 PM CLOSED SESSION 1. CAO Midyear Evaluations STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Finance Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 5:00 PM regarding; 1) Year End Financials, 2) Utilities Reserve Audit, 3) First Quarter Financial Report and 4) FY 2012 Year End CIP. The City Council Rail Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 8:30 AM.

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Pulse

A weekly compendium of vital statistics

POLICE CALLS

Menlo Park

Palo Alto

Violence related Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Spousal abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Strong-arm robbery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle related Auto recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Driving w/suspended license . . . . . . . . .3 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Parking/driving violation . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .3 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Alcohol or drug related Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Possession of paraphernalia. . . . . . . . . .2 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Civil problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Coroner case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Disturbance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Info case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Probation violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Property for destruction . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Resisting arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Violation of court order . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Nov. 21-27 Violence related Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Child abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Commercial burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Identity theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Prowler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle related Auto recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Bicycle theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Driving w/suspended license . . . . . . . . .6 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .5 Vehicle impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Liquor law citation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Possession of paraphernalia. . . . . . . . . .3 Miscellaneous Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Misc. penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . .2 Missing person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Municipal code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Resisting arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Warrant/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Nov. 21-27

Atherton Nov. 21-27 Violence related Assault and battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Elder abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Theft related Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Bicycle theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Parking/driving violation . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .4 Vehicle code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Disturbance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Fire call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Medical aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .4 Town ordinance violation . . . . . . . . . . . .4

VIOLENT CRIMES Palo Alto Unlisted block Middlefield Road, 11/21, 4:56 p.m.; child abuse/physical.

200 block University Avenue, 11/23, 12:28 a.m.; battery/peace officer.

100 block University Avenue, 11/25, 3:21 p.m.; battery/simple.

Menlo Park 300 block Ivy Drive, 11/24, 7:59 a.m.; shooting at occupied dwelling.

1400 block El Camino Real, 11/24, 3:58 p.m.; strong-arm robbery.

1800 block El Camino Real, 11/26, 4:49 p.m.; spousal abuse.

Atherton 500 block Middlefield Road, 11/26, 8:59 a.m.; assault and battery.

Transitions Births, marriages and deaths

Thomas E. Holland After a yearand-a-half battle with brain cancer, Thomas Holland died in Zarautz, Spain, on Nov. 9. He was 57.

Born in Palo Alto, Calif., to Sally Bubb Holland and Harry A. Holland, Jr., he grew up in Portola Valley, attended Portola Valley elementary schools, Woodside High School, Caùada Junior College and the University of Texas at Austin some 20 years later (bachelor’s degree in English, 1995; Secondary English Teaching Credential, 1996).

In 2002, he earned a master’s degree in educational linguistics from Stanford University. He loved to boast that he was the “oldest and thickest� student in his university classes.

He spent more than 20 years in the hospitality industry as a restaurant server and manager, the last eight in fine dining with the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons chains.

He then spent nearly 20 years in the classroom as a teacher at various high schools in Texas, Massachusetts and Spain, before ending at the Centro de Linguas, University of A CoruĂąa in Galicia, Spain.

He is survived by his brothers and their spouses — Harry, John and Charlotte, Bob and Kelly — as well as by aunts, cousins and extended families in Brazil, France and Spain. He married María Eizaguirre Altuna in January 1995, accruing more than 20 years together since they met in 1991. As the last of 10 siblings, María and her closeknit family provided 20 nieces and nephews and, so far, six of the grand generation.

accepted a position with Fairchild Semiconductor. In Los Altos, they bought one of the first homes in the Highlands area, where they made many close friends. Recently, with family and some long-time friends, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Early on she worked as a chemist for Ethyl Corp. and then devoted herself to raising eight children. She returned to college and obtained a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University in 1977. She also volunteered for many years with the St. Simon

Catholic Parish ministries, the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary and St. Francis High School. Later on she enjoyed being the office manager and psychological testing coordinator for the Behaviordyne Psychological Corp. in Palo Alto, and she also acted as the bookkeeper for the family business.

Her personal interests varied from celebrating and quietly helping her family, to frequent travels, to reading. Her travels included India, Europe, China, Australia and many trips with family to destinations all over the U.S.

Edith and Bruno Weiser celebrate 60 years Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Weiser (Edith Weiser) of Palo Alto celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their family on Thanksgiving. Bruno and Edith met in 1950 in Salzburg, Austria, and were married Nov. 22, 1952, in Hamburg, Germany.

They immigrated to San Francisco, Calif., in 1956 and have lived in Palo Alto since 1968.

Before retiring, Bruno was a self-employed dental technician and Edith owned and operated

her own electrologist studio.

They spend time with their daughter, Lorna Naugle (Philip), of Tracy, Calif., and their son, Reinhard Weiser (Joan Grant), of San Mateo, Calif., and their four grandchildren: Erika Mallory (Justin) of Lathrop, Calif., Andrea Naugle of San Jose, Daniel Weiser of San Mateo and Sydney Weiser of Santa Cruz, and their great granddaughter, 10-month-old Arleigh Mallory.

Jane Movik, a long-time resident of Palo Alto, passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 in McMinnville, Oregon after a short illness. She was 93.

Jane was born in San Jose to parents who had immigrated from Sicily, Italy. She was one of 4 brothers and sisters. She married Ansgar Peterson Movik (native of Norway) on June 6, 1936 and went on a honeymoon in Yosemite. They walked across the Golden Gate Bridge together the day it opened. They were married 62 years, and lived in Barron Park for over 50 years. Jane will be remembered for her devotion to family.

Surviving are her three daughters: Gloria Movik of McMinnville, Oregon, Andrea St. Cyr of Aptos, California, and Barbara Ross of Kauai, Hawaii; 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Spangler Mortuary Chapel in Los Altos, with services to follow at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.

PA I D

OBITUARY

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 2EBID \ #ONTRACT .O '('2 13 s 0ALO !LTO (IGH 3CHOOL 3TADIUM /RNAMENTAL &ENCING 2EBID \ #ONTRACT .O 0!3&

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Bid Submission: 0ROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE $ISTRICT &ACILITIES /FlCE "UILDING h$v &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.

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Joan Marie Vellequette Joan Marie Vellequette, a resident of Los Altos, Calif., for 51 years, died Nov. 13.

She is survived by her husband, Murlin Vellequette; her sister, Margaret Bouthillier (and husband Conrad); her brother-in-law, Roger Vellequette; her sister-in-law, Bernadette Hall; and her eight children: Joseph Vellequette (and wife Suzy), John Vellequette, David Vellequette (and wife Mary), Mayr Singleton (and husband D.J.), Ann Frates, Mark Vellequette (and wife Mary Beth), Michael Vellequette (and wife Kim), and James Vellequette.

She had 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Born in Chicopee, Mass., her family later moved to Michigan where she attended the University of Detroit as a chemistry major graduating in 1951. She dated Murlin Vellequette in college and they married in 1952.

Over the next nine years, they lived in Huntsville, Detroit, Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, and then moved to California in 1960 when Murlin

Jane Sentina Barbaria Movik

0ALO !LTO 5NIlED 3CHOOL $ISTRICT WILL MAINTAIN A ,ABOR #OMPLIANCE 0ROGRAM ,#0 FOR THE DURATION OF THIS PROJECT )N BIDDING THIS PROJECT

the contractor warrants he/she is aware and will follow the Public Works #HAPTER OF THE #ALIFORNIA ,ABOR #ODE COMPRISED OF LABOR CODE SECTIONS n ! COPY OF THE $ISTRICTS ,#0 IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT #HURCHILL !VENUE "UILDING $ 0ALO !LTO #!

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! PRE JOB CONFERENCE SHALL BE CONDUCTED WITH THE CONTRACTOR OR subcontractors to discuss federal and state labor law requirements applicable to the contract.

2. Project contractors and subcontracts shall maintain and furnish to THE $ISTRICT AT A DESIGNATED TIME A CERTIlED COPY OF EACH PAYROLL with a statement of compliance signed under penalty of perjury.

4HE $ISTRICT SHALL REVIEW AND IF APPROPRIATE AUDIT PAYROLL RECORDS TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH THE 0UBLIC 7ORKS #HAPTER OF THE ,ABOR #ODE 4HE $ISTRICT SHALL WITHHOLD CONTRACT PAYMENTS IF PAYROLL RECORDS ARE delinquent or inadequate.

4HE $ISTRICT SHALL WITHHOLD CONTRACT PAYMENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THE ,#0 INCLUDING APPLICABLE PENALTIES WHEN THE $ISTRICT AND ,ABOR #OMMISSIONER ESTABLISH THAT UNDERPAYMENT OF OTHER VIOLATIONS has occurred.

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Editorial The push for 27 University Never has City Hall moved so fast on a development proposal, nor been so awed by a developer, particularly when the stakes are so high

I

f you’re confused by the process by which the City Council is considering a massive commercial office project put forth by developer John Arrillaga dubbed “27 University” you aren’t alone or crazy.

A revised “master plan” for an “arts and innovation district” on Stanford-owned land adjacent to the downtown train station will be back in front of the City Council Monday night after a flurry of meetings in the last six weeks by various boards and commissions.

The latest plan shows reductions in the heights of two buildings by three stories (the tallest building would now be seven stories and 114 feet) and in square footage from 260,000 to 210,000, improving pedestrian and bicycle access, and relocating the historic MacArthur Park restaurant building to El Camino Park.

These changes, apparently OK’d by developer John Arrillaga, are all fine and good, but the detailed consultant and staff reports (which include such important details as what kinds of flowers, grasses and palm trees will be planted) threaten to distract the City Council and community from the critical questions about this development.

According to the city, the master plan is not to be confused with a “project,” which hasn’t yet been submitted by Arrillaga.

In theory, creating a master plan rather than reviewing a project creates a more flexible and interactive process and can shape what the city actually wants, rather than what a developer may want, for an area.

In practice, however, the master plan approach to the development of five large buildings at 27 University has become a tool through which processes can be sped up, where no rules apply, and the line between a developer’s wants and a community’s needs becomes blurred. Not to mention that the city is footing the bill for the costs, which are quickly approaching half a million dollars.

Under these circumstances, the role of city staff becomes confused and extremely difficult. Is the staff developing a vision for the area based on community needs, values and traffic considerations or is it responding to what John Arrillaga wants?

In the latest pile of staff reports, issued the day before Thanksgiving, the staff has wisely toned down its exuberance and has focused mostly on presenting useful factual information.

But even as they seek to appear more impartial there are troubling revelations. A preliminary traffic study completed in early July was not mentioned or released until last week, in spite of questions raised about traffic by council members (and the public) in September. Why not?

The report shows that even without any development at 27 University, because of the new Stanford hospitals the El Camino RealUniversity Avenue intersection will fall to “F” level of service, the worst possible rating. The report raises serious questions about whether the traffic pattern envisioned for the new development can work. And, of course, the report does not consider the large office complex Arrillaga is intending to build on El Camino in Menlo Park.

Evaluating the traffic impacts and feasibility of adding 1,000 to 1,500 jobs to this area should be the City Council’s threshold priority. If there is no way to create a successful traffic flow in this area then it’s silly to spend time planning other features of the development or debating whether seven stories is too tall or not.

But even more important is determining the economic value of the proposed development to Stanford University. Since current zoning doesn’t entitle Stanford to build anything on the property, the enormous ongoing value of lease income to the university over the life of the development should be the basis for determining what public benefits need to be provided. This should have been the starting point for discussions with Arrillaga and public debate.

And there is the question of why we aren’t seeking a better solution for the needed bus connections. Instead of trying to accommodate parking for 32 buses at a time and the traffic they generate within the project, why not explore creating a new bus staging area on Stanford land west of El Camino, or by using turnouts on El Camino?

We fear the city staff has become so mesmerized by and invested in this ambitious plan that it is losing the bigger picture.

Before worrying about bringing this to the voters, let’s do the hard work to figure out what size and type of development can be successfully accommodated on this site and the appropriate value of public benefits to offset the allowed development.

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Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions

This week on Town Square Town Square is an online discussion forum at www.PaloAltoOnline.com Make University Ave. a pedestrian mall Posted Nov. 28 at 1:35 p.m.

by Paul Losch, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood: I have written about this idea before, and it is worth bringing up again.

Driving home after a long Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, I thought about the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colo.

I participated in a difficult discussion Tuesday night about the proposed development at what is euphemistically called 27 University. Lots to it, we had many local citizens and consultants speak in open session about the concept in its current form.

Commissioners had numerous concerns about the concept as it was presented to us. One thing that I brought up is traffic implications. Whether or not this proposal in some form goes through for this section of town, I am of the opinion that we should turn University Avenue into a pedestrian-only space from Webster to High Street. Lytton and Hamilton would need to be converted to one-way avenues to deal with normal traffic flow at rush-hour times.

This is how Boulder is set up, and my experience there is that it works quite well. The mall itself has great character and the adjoining streets seem to handle traffic flow effectively.

Such an idea is not part of the current design for this proposed project. There are numerous implications that this 27 University project has. From what I heard Tuesday night, traffic flow beyond the immediate area has not been analyzed sufficiently. The area is a regional transit hub, but the proposed parking spaces underground clearly imply commuters in autos would be driving to work.

There are strong opinions about this entire idea. I merely make the modest proposal that we convert University Avenue into the equivalent of the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. Greater mortals than I will pass muster over 27 University and my suggestion for a University Avenue pedestrian mall.

There are plenty of postings about 27 University. What is your opinion about a University Avenue Mall?

Posted Nov. 28 at 2:06 p.m. by yes yes yes, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood: I am in favor. And it doesn’t

have to be all day. Open it up to delivery trucks or commuters before 9 a.m. or so. Some streets in San Francisco do this, then just pull a chain across the entrance during the pedestrian-only time.

Posted Nov. 28 at 2:30 p.m. by Peter Carpenter, a resident of Atherton: As a former Palo Alto planning commissioner I think that this is a GREAT idea. And Menlo Park should do exactly the same with Santa Cruz Avenue between University Drive and El Camino Real.

Posted Nov. 28 at 2:43 p.m. by Midtowner, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood: This would be so nice ... and I believe University Avenue’s merchants would thrive. I am all for it too.

Most of my visits to downtown Palo Alto, by the way, are by

means of bicycling down Bryant Street. I would love to be able to park my bike and enjoy a car-free University Avenue.

Posted Nov. 28 at 3:01 p.m. by Craig Laughton, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood: This is an old idea, although I think it is a good one. It keeps getting knocked down due to traffic and business concerns.

Every now and then the city shuts down downtown in order to run certain events, a possible precursor of things to come. If the business community is willing to buy in (will it get more or less business?), then the traffic concerns will be the big issue.

The partial shutdown, by time of day, makes some sense, probably a good place to start ... just to see if it will fly with the neighbors. I happen to know that neigh(continued on page 16)

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

?

Is the city moving too quickly on the 27 University Ave. project?

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.

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!

Letters University Ave. congestion Editor, In reference to the 27 University Ave. megaproject, I’ve seen little comment on the current congestion of the University Avenue underpass, which will get even worse when the hospital expansion project is completed. If any readers think the underpass can carry the additional traffic from the prospective 1,000 workers at the megaproject, then I suggest that they try driving from the university or shopping center to University Avenue any time of the day and particularly during commute hours and see for themselves.

Have a look at the picture of the underpass on page 54 of the Nov. 23 issue of the Weekly. This promotional drawing shows the underpass at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning. All the busses shown at 6 a.m. will have an easy time negotiating the underpass provided they leave very quickly.

I think the only solution to this congestion is to ban parking on University Avenue and make the avenue four lanes. Perhaps that’s what the megaproject promoters are planning for us.

Don Price Addison Avenue Palo Alto

Destroying downtown Editor, Why is the Palo Alto city council allowing developers to destroy the character of Palo Alto and ruin the quality of life of city residents? Why is the council rolling over time after time to the outlandish requests to grant exemptions to the laws of the city? We have a zoning code and height limits — follow them, no exemptions!

The developers around here have

routinely flouted the normal zoning limits and been granted PC exemptions up to and surpassing the 50-foot height limit for their developments.

Now the same greedy crew has come right back and is asking for much, much more.

Every oversized office building that is approved adds more cars to our streets, more bodies to the worker count that ABAG uses to demand more housing, more square footage to be supported by a city infrastructure that is massively backlogged, and overcrowds schools, parks and facilities resulting in diminishing quality from each.

135 Hamilton and 636 Waverley both want to be massive office towers downtown. 101 Lytton was just approved to be over 50 feet tall. And the 27 University project is now proposing five buildings all over or near 100 feet tall.

Each of these buildings goes through a secretive process that involves backdoor access to the city’s planning department that is only available to well-connected developers. By the time city residents hear of these projects they have often been in the works for years and during that time the city planning staff has taken on the role of cheerleading for the very projects that are trying to circumvent the letter of the zoning laws. Arrillaga’s project is even sleazier having hired away commissioners and staff to now represent the project to their former colleagues.

The Arrillaga project alone will add 3,000 car trips a day to an area that is already gridlocked. The city, wasting taxpayer money for a traffic report, got the news that most intersections are at D and F levels of service and will get worse. Can you get an F minus?

Tina Peak Palo Alto Avenue Palo Alto

Guest Opinion

Technology is not a fashion statement

by Utkash Dubey echnology should serve one clear purpose: to make life simpler. But as consumer-targeting tech giants release more and more goodies, it is inevitable that at some point the newest mobile gadget will be more costly than it is beneficial, and the corporate aims surpass true technical progress.

Regardless, consumer demand is higher than ever. Increasing the public’s demand for the most generic products turned “techy,” most notably, phones and computers, no longer seems to be the result of technological advancements, smarter implementation or innovation. In fact, more and more often I see long lines of people outside local tech outlets waiting for a product they do not even remotely know about. For the majority, price expectations and practical utility are no longer considered in the purchasing process. Instead, having the latest gizmo has become a social statement.

Take the newest iPhone 5, for example. It has a larger screen size, it does the same processes in about 80 percent of the time that the “old” iPhone 4S did, and

T

it got a bit of a software upgrade.

Apart from that, there are not any major ramifications that the new iPhone has over its predecessors. It sounds great in an advertisement that depicts simplicity and beauty, but practically, the product is just not worth the money.

Spending $700 (or, god forbid, more) for this kind of product makes it sound like we are paying more for the prestige, style and sleekness than we are for the functionality. But the last time I checked, phones were not the main attraction on the runway.

This is not limited to just phones. New products such as the Macbook Air sacrifice performance and utility for ... weighing less. That’s comparable to sacrificing a limb to avoid tipping the scale. If carrying an extra pound of USB ports, a larger hard drive and more space for RAM is a physical feat, I would suggest seeing a doctor. But despite the apparent impracticality of the product, it generates much more revenue for Apple. And Apple is not the only one at fault here — the company is simply catering to the majority of consumers who want to be able to show off the half-pound laptop.

By the same logic, Microsoft

and Internet Explorer are taking steps to meet this ridiculous consumer mentality. For example, Microsoft introduced Windows 7, although realistically it does not offer much more to the average user than incredibly better speeds and, of course, better visual appeal. Internet Explorer took it a step further: IE9 now features “a more beautiful web,” according to its marketing campaign, rather than bragging about the breakneck speeds that barely trump Chrome. These almost make it seem like companies are hiring artists and firing engineers.

To push back for a functionality revolution is simply not feasible, but it also does not make sense to further delve into a mentality that abandons innovation for the sake of minor style changes. As consumers, we need to push for real products, and do quality research before arbitrarily deciding on the newest tech gadget. Corporate aims will accordingly change to meet consumer demands, and the push for innovation — not what looks sleek — will follow. Let’s not forget that this mentality is what brought about the dotcom boom. Given the state of the economy, I don’t think that the idea has any chance at getting rejected. N Utkash Dubey is a student at Gunn High School and wrote this piece for the Gunn Oracle.

Diane F.

J.D. Roid

Streetwise

Where do you plan on going shopping for the holiday season?

Asked on California Avenue, Palo Alto. Interviews and photographs by Lisa Kellman.

Laura Wolfe

Community therapist Palo Alto “Small, locally owned businesses.”

Kyle Suppes

Student Grant Street “Nowhere specific. Probably Stanford Shopping Center.”

Rob Kuhling

Venture capitalist Marlowe Street “Amazon.com.”

Retired teacher Castilleja Avenue “I’m sort of out of shopping. The grandkids already have way too much stuff. I have to ask what the kids want and then I buy it.”

Owner of Copy America Fremont “Either Fremont or Stanford Shopping Center.”

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Spectrum

Town Square (continued from page 14)

bors of car-campers hate it, but car traffic is a somewhat lower concern, even though it is still a major concern. The people will need to decide.

Posted Nov. 28 at 4:19 p.m. by curmudgeon, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood: Impractical. We need every street we can possibly get to move traffic through this town.

Posted Nov. 28 at 7:29 p.m. by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old

Palo Alto neighborhood: This is a wonderful idea. I love the pedestrian malls in Zurich, Munich and other European towns. I remember the one in Boulder from long ago, too. The one in Munich, though, goes on for a couple of miles, at least, and contains every kind of shop you could ever want or need, including groceries, furniture, shoes and other necessities, not just highend stuff. My husband’s family in Switzerland goes there annually for Christmas shopping.

It is so much more relaxing to shop without worrying about traffic, and the whole street is your sidewalk.

Posted Nov. 28 at 9:47 p.m. by Johnny, a resident of the Meadow Park neighborhood: Where I grew up, in the suburb of a large city (that ends with “... ago”), they did exactly what you are talking about, but they did it in the ’70s. That’s how it was until I was in about 7th grade, when the merchants complained that it was killing business. After some debate, the ped-mall was bulldozed, and the street ran through again (as it had before the ’70s).

There are some benefits. It was a nice place to walk around. I remember it fondly. I think the idea is probably just impractical in this day and age. I can imagine the

building owners complaining (or likely suing) that they wouldn’t get as much rent, which might be true.

Posted Nov. 29 at 4:01 a.m. by Andrew Boone, a resident of East Palo Alto: I think a University Avenue Pedestrian Mall is a great idea. Pedonly streets are common all over the world, why wouldn’t one work in Palo Alto?

Could this be done temporarily (say, for a week at least) to see if it would work? Maybe more people would visit and spend money downtown. Maybe the traffic patterns wouldn’t be so much differ-

ent. How can we know unless we try?

A far less drastic change to University that should be considered is changing the timing of the signals. They are timed for a “green wave” of 25 mph, so if one could theoretically drive or bicycle at that speed, one would never have to stop at a red light. But of course 25 mph is impractically fast on University through downtown, so you end up getting stuck at a red light at least twice on your way through. Perhaps change the signal timing to 15 mph, the speed both motorists and bicyclists actually travel?

THE NEXT GENERATION OF MEDICINE AT HOOVER STANFORD CLINICS STANFORD HEALTH LIBRARY COMMUNITY PHYSICIANS STANFORD HOSPITAL & CLINICS AND PRESIDENT AND CEO AMIR DAN RUBIN INVITE YOU To join us as we open the doors to the newly renovated Hoover Pavilion and honor this historic structure’s place in the legacy of clinical and community care at Stanford.

Hoover Pavilion Open House Thursday, December 6, 2012 10:00 am: Welcome Reception 10:30 am: Ceremony 11:00 am – 12:00 noon: Tours of Hoover Pavilion The event is open to the public and will be held outside of the Hoover Pavilion at 211 Quarry Road in Palo Alto.

Refreshments will be served.

RSVP to SUMCRenewal.org/HooverPavilionRSVP For more information, visit SUMCRenewal.org Page 16ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

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

A small crowd previews the Bing Concert Hall this week.

8

avid Harrington was practically on the edge of his seat.

“I can’t wait to play here,” the Kronos Quartet violinist said at Stanford University’s new Bing Concert Hall earlier this week.

“To walk in here and know that music has been valued in this way, it’s really beautiful,” he said.

Harrington’s emotions were in concert with many others last Tuesday, when a small, enthusiastic crowd gathered for a media preview of the hall before its official opening in January.

Violinist Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet called the 842-seat venue “devastatingly good,” and Stanford music (continued on page 18)

Below: A photographer walks through one of the “terraced” seating sections. Below right: Acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota and architect Richard Olcott discuss the new hall.

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photographs by Veronica Weber

Right: Guests visit the light-filled concert hall lobby.

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Arts & Entertainment

Bing Concert Hall (continued from page 17)

department chair Stephen M. Sano said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re absolutely thrilled to have this kind of space.â&#x20AC;?

Large student ensembles have been rehearsing in the new hall for about a month, and Sano is already finding it excellent for teaching and learning, thanks to its acoustic design and its relatively intimate size and layout. One violinist, he said, reported being able to see â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and hear â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a faraway bassoonist breathe, which makes for fine interorchestra coordination.

With the opening-night concert approaching on Jan. 11, the $112 million venue looks nearly finished, scented with the perfumes of fresh paint, wood and carpets.

In the oval-shaped concert hall, the soft yellow Alaskan cedar on the stage is as bright as promised.

Seats rise away from it in the separate terraced sections that give the â&#x20AC;&#x153;vineyard-style seatingâ&#x20AC;? its name. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We face each other. I think this is very important. We see other audience faces,â&#x20AC;? said Yasuhisa Toyota, whose Los Angeles-based Nagata Acoustics firm is responsible for the hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acoustics.

Toyota worked closely with architect Richard Olcott and others at the New York-based Ennead Architects to create an intimate feel inside a state-of-the-art space. One goal was to get all audience members as close to the stage as possible, Olcott said. The farthest seat is 75 feet away from the conductor, and the closest seats, in the center section, begin at stage level.

Nuttall said his quartet enjoys these types of theater-in-the-round venues, noting that the experience is â&#x20AC;&#x153;more like inviting people into your home.â&#x20AC;? He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only choice you have to make as a performer is where to face.â&#x20AC;?

Hanging above and around the

Trees grow outside the front entrance of the new Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University. stage are acoustic curtains that look like sails, and a double-curved ceiling reflector with lighting and other technical equipment housed behind it. The effect is grand, drawing the eye upward.

The lobby surrounding the concert hall feels spacious as well.

High windows let in lots of natural light filtered through trees, and bamboo plants grow in picturesque atrium spaces. Tables and chairs dot the patios outside. On Tuesday, two construction workers

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with hard hats were already enjoying the al fresco seating. Though a dump truck temporarily blocked the view, soon visitors will be able to stand at the hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front entrance and look across to the Cantor Arts Center.

The venue also houses artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; suites, a music library, rooms for practice and instrument storage, a recording studio, and restrooms with a touch of high-tech (26 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bathrooms, 16 for men, and four family facilities). Green

lights over the stalls go red to show that stalls are occupied; the color change happens when a visitor locks a stall door.

On another tech topic, it seems difficult if not impossible to get a cellphone signal once you leave the lobby and enter the concert hall.

Some people, of course, may like this. Rick Warren, patron-services manager at Stanford Live, said that signals are not purposely blocked.

(The phenomenon may have something to do with the fact that the

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hall is acoustically isolated from exterior sounds by a 12-inch-thick concrete enclosure.)

Warren said that officials will look into possibly allowing wireless access during student performances. As for â&#x20AC;&#x153;tweet seats,â&#x20AC;? where some theaters allow patrons sitting in a special section to post to Twitter during a show, the juryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those are controversial,â&#x20AC;?

Warren said in an understatement.

Stanford Live (previously named Stanford Lively Arts) begins its arts-presenting season on Jan. 11 with the concert hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening concert. The sold-out event will feature the San Francisco Symphony and the St. Lawrence String Quartet. A free community open house on Jan. 12 has also sold out, but tickets are still available for a Los Lobos concert that night.

While Stanford Live has presented many dance and theater performances in the past, Bingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural season will focus on music. Stanford Live artistic director Jenny Bilfield said the organization plans to bring back visiting dance companies and other types of performers in future seasons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re learning how to use the space,â&#x20AC;? she said.

The university broke ground in May 2010 on the concert hall, which is named for alumni donors Peter and Helen Bing and built on 5.5 acres. The site housed the Stanford Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gym before the 1906 earthquake. A photo mounted outside depicts the grand gym in black and white, all triangular pediments and columns. N Info: For more about the Bing Concert Hall and the Stanford Live and student events planned there, go to binghall.stanford.edu.

Arts & Entertainment

Palo Alto Historical Association presents a public program

Palo Alto Vignettes: Memories of life in a special town

New space, new director

T

Host: Karen Holman

Pacific Art League leases space next door to hold activities during its renovations

Sunday, December 2, 2012, 2:00 p.m.

by Rebecca Wallace

Lucie Stern Community Center

he Pacific Art League has found a new temporary location — and a new executive director — to help it through major renovations set to begin in January.

Management consultant Seth Schalet plans to take the reins of the downtown Palo Alto arts organization starting next week. In addition, the art league has just leased the space next door, at 227 Forest Ave., as an interim place to host activities while the league is under construction. It’s smaller than the league’s current 7,606-square-foot area, but “it certainly gives us the ability to hold classes and exhibits,” Schalet said.

Speck Products, which designs cases for iPhones and other hightech gadgets, has been based at 227 Forest but is now expanding into a larger site, Schalet said.

Ground-breaking for the art league’s $4 million renovation and seismic retrofit is planned for late January. After previous executive director Richard Ambrose left in August to head the Richmond Art Center, the art league launched a search for his replacement, and found it just a few cities north in San Mateo, where Schalet lives.

Schalet has experience with both major construction projects and the specifics of working in Palo Alto.

He spent most of 2011 as chief operating officer for the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in south Palo Alto. The JCC opened its new 135,000-square-foot facility in 2009, so construction was completed by the time Schalet joined, but there were plenty of post-construction and deliverables matters for him to handle, he said.

“I’ve worked with the city of Palo Alto on permitting and other issues.”

Before entering the nonprofit world, Schalet ran the sales and marketing departments for several high-tech companies, and then moved into operations. He then started serving on the boards of various nonprofits. Last year, he co-founded Operational IMPACT Partners, a San Mateo firm providing management consulting to nonprofits and foundations.

It’s a busy time to join the Pacific Art League, which brings challenges that Schalet says he relishes.

“These are the kinds of things that don’t happen every day ... to take a great brand and work with the board and determine how to move forward,” he said.

The 90-year-old art league’s historic building has needed revamping for many years, which led to a controversy in 2007 over plans to sell the structure to a developer and have it redone. Several staff and board members resigned.

The current plan has been much more popular, and was unanimous-

ly approved by the City Council. It will include increasing the building’s size by two-thirds and leasing out the second floor to help retire the bank debt that is funding most of the project. Construction has been estimated to last 10 to 12 months.

Schalet was not around for the controversy, but said there’s a “very positive atmosphere” at the art league now. He said he plans to work with the board to attract new members, in part by adding more programs that marry art with new digital technology. These could be classes held offsite at high-tech companies, or new themed exhibitions. Painting, printing and pastels

1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto Refreshments No admission charge

Karen Holman

Seth Schalet will still be among the core media at the organization, but there’s always room for thinking outside the box, he said.

“I want to be as innovative and creative as possible, to keep PAL in a sustainable position,” he said.

“Beyond that, I’ve got a lot to learn.

I want to take the time to listen and understand what the membership wants.” N

COMMUNITY MEETING Safe Routes to School for Escondido Review and comment on Draft Walk and Roll Maps and Route Improvements

Wednesday, December 5, 7:00-8:30 PM Escondido Elementary, 890 Escondido Road

Presents

A Family Concert and Sing Along

“We Wish You Christmas” Music for Chorus and Harp

By John Rutter, Brian Holmes, Jackson Berkey, and Dale Wood Special Guest, Harpist Dan Levitan

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 choose alternatives to driving to school solo.

Sunday, Dec. 9, at 1:30 pm and 3 pm More info: Contact Sylvia Star-Lack at saferoutes@cityofpaloalto.org or (650) 329-2156

First Congregational Church of Palo Alto 1985 Louis Road www.scholacantorum.org (650) 254-1700 ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 19

Arts & Entertainment

Worth a Look

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

Kelsey Kienitz

A 2011 Weekly photo shows a playful African Nativity scene in cast bronze. ing playwrights, to produce established plays with nontraditional casts, and to create a new canon of ethno-American plays,” the group Christmas Crèche wrote in a statement. exhibit This theater production, called Now in its 25th year, the annual “Bench Project 2,” includes the Christmas Crèche exhibit opens plays “Dodging Bullets” by Skyler this Saturday, Dec. 1, in Palo Alto. Garcia, “Soap Boxing” by Colette The event observes the holiday by Freedman” and “And Then She displaying Nativity scenes large Fell in Love, Really in Love for and small, from countries far and the First Time in her Life” by Julia wide. Local artists take part, too.

Cho. Performances are Dec. 7 and The crèches are built in almost 8 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 2 p.m., at any medium a visitor can think of. 1220 Pear Ave., Unit K. In lieu of Last year’s offerings included an buying admission tickets, audience Italian scene carved from marble, members are asked to bring warm a crèche made from linden-tree jackets to be donated to people in wood in China, and Indian figures need. fashioned from metal oil drums.

For more information, go to Other media have included rice 06ensemble.blogspot.com. paper, banana fibers, porcelain, teak, gingerbread and brass. More than 350 crèches will be exhibited this year, and it’s likely that several thousand people will attend. (The Readings with ‘Mister number topped 11,000 last year.)

The exhibit runs from noon to 9 Lemur’ Hans and Jen Hartvickson share p.m. Dec. 1 through Dec. 5 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- a connection to Stanford and a love Day Saints, 3865 Middlefield of lemurs. The pair of authors will Road, Palo Alto. Holiday music combine those two interests on performances are planned period- Dec. 1 with a free reading-slashically throughout the exhibit, in- storytime from their children’s pocluding marionette shows and cho- etry book “Mister Lemur’s Train of Thought” at the Stanford Bookral concerts. Admission is free.

For details, go to christmas- store.

The two became taken with creche.org or call 650-856-3781. lemurs while spending time in Anja Community Reserve on the island nation of Madagascar in 2006. They concluded that the little mammals’ social personalities worked well with their creative ‘Bench Project 2’ What do two soldiers, a young style of poetry. The poems include radical protestor and a woman do- tales about eating ice cream from ing her laundry have in common? volcanoes’ cones, trying to meet All are wrapped up in stories that Santa Claus, and experiencing the world’s hottest pepper. take place on benches.

Jen Hartvickson has bachelor’s A collection of new short plays, all set on benches, will be pre- and master’s degrees from Stansented at Mountain View’s Pear ford (in sociology and education, Avenue Theatre next month by respectively), and Hans earned a The 06 Ensemble, a multicultural bachelor’s degree in economics Bay Area theater troupe. Several from Stanford before going on to playwrights have written the works an MBA at Wharton.

The reading is scheduled for 1:30 for the troupe, which is made up of p.m.

Saturday at 519 Lasuen Mall young theater artists who started meeting up in 2006 to put on plays on White Plaza. For more informain their old high school theater. tion, go to events.stanford.edu or “We seek to give voice to emerg- call 650-329-1217, extension 323.

Holidays

Kids

Theater

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‘Cuban at Heart: A Photographic Exhibition’ Foothill College presents “Cuban at Heart: A Photographic Exhibition,” which captures the magnetic pull of the Cuban people -- their warmth, openness, and resourcefulness -- as photographed by 16 Foothill College photography students and their instructor. Admission is free; parking is $3. Nov. 28-Jan. 16, 7:30 a.m.8:30 p.m. Krause Center for Innovation Gallery at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Call 650-949-7082. cubanatheart.wordpress.com/ ‘Full Color’ by Karen White Award winning plein air artist and Palo Alto resident Karen White brings “Full Color” to Viewpoints Gallery in November. White is noted for her use of vivid color in her landscapes and florals. Nov. 6-Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Viewpoints Gallery, 315 State St., Los Altos. www.viewpointsgallery.com ‘Small Works and Treasures’ The Portola Art Gallery presents “Small Works & Treasures” -- a group exhibition of smaller works for the holiday gift giving season.

The diminutive original paintings and photographs make owning an original piece of art easier for the first-time buyer, and make wonderful gifts for the holidays. Not open Sundays. Dec. 1-31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Portola Art Gallery, Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-3210220. www.portolaartgallery.com Barbara von Haunalter: ‘Nature’s Paintbox’ The Portola Art Gallery presents “Nature’s Paintbox,” landscape paintings in watercolor by Barbara von Haunalter.

The exhibit features plein air work created in and around the Bay Area. Not open Sunday. Nov. 1-30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free Portola Art Gallery, Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-3210220. www.portolaartgallery.com Miniatures and More Gallery 9 Los Altos Holiday group exhibit features 30 local artists through Dec. 24. Small works in a variety of media: painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, mixed media, metal work and jewelry. Holiday reception: Fri., Dec. 7, 5-7:30 p.m. Gallery hours: Tues-Sat., 11-5 p.m.; Sun. 12-4 p.m. Gallery 9, 143 Main St., Los Altos. www.gallery9losaltos.com Moldaw Residents Arts and Crafts Show Active seniors at Moldaw Residences are sharing their love for art with the community in a special arts and crafts fair. Attendees can come meet the artists, hear their stories and even buy some of the artwork. Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oshman Family JCC, Room G103, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto.

Peter Stucky, Glass and Sculpture Smith Andersen Editions is pleased to announce: “A Consciousness of the Human Kind,” an installation by local artist Peter Stucky. The exhibit will run from Nov. 10Dec. 12. Open Wed-Sat from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Smith Andersen Editions, 440 Pepper Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-327-7762.

Benefits

Huge Used Book Sale Benefits PA Library Friends of the Palo Alto Library is holding monthly sales of used books, CDs, DVDs,and more on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 and 11 and Dec. 8 and 9.

Sale hours are Saturday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the main sale room; Children’s and Bargain Booms open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday: All rooms open 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Classes/Workshops

‘Behind the Scene’ of a Musical Composition Behind every musical work stands the person who authored it - the composer. Most have heard of the legendary Mozart, Beethoven or Brahms, and may be even familiar with some of their works.

But who has actually met a living composer? Thursdays, through Dec. 13, Preregistration $20/ class, or $25 individual class congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. Call 650-283-4541. www.nuritjugend.com/A/Behind_the_ Scene_of_a_Musical_Composition.html

the Midpeninsula CALENDAR LISTINGS

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 www.PaloAltoOnline.com

Beginning Improv Class With Corinne Kason Beginning Improv Class withWorkshop Leader: Corinne Kason. Five Tuesdays (7 p.m. - 9 p.m.). Workshop is limited to 12 participants. Ages 18 and up, please. Open to everyone - no experience necessary. Nov. 13-Dec 11 7-9 p.m. $200 for five sessions. Dragon Theatre, 535 Alma St., Palo Alto. www.dragonproductions.net/rentalsclasses/classes.html Breathing for Longevity, Love and Livelihood A morning exploring breathing skills and the science of breath. Breathing tools to use any time, any place for vitality and happiness. Dec. 1, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $31. Common Ground Garden Supply and Education, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-493-6072. breathingforlongevityloveandlivelihood.eventbrite.com/ Christmas Wreaths A class that teaches students to make a permanent Christmas wreath. There will be a variety of materials to decorate a wreath for the Holiday season. A $20 materials fee is due to the instructor at the class. Dec. 1, 1:303:30 p.m. $30/$39. Arrillaga Family Rec. Center, 700 Alma St., Menlo Park. www. menlopark.org/registration Dance Workshop International Dance Festival-Silicon Valley presents Winter Workshop I, Nov. 20-Dec. 11. Each of four Tuesday class sessions includes contemporary technique, repertory, comp$mprov. Workshop led by internationally acclaimed dancer/choreographer Leslie Friedman. Nov. 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $60 reg by Nov 13 /$72. Mountain View Masonic Lodge, 890 Church St., Mountain View. Call 650-969-4110. www.livelyfoundation.org Foothill College Winter Registration Foothill College Winter Quarter registration is Nov. 26-Jan. 6. Classes run Jan. 7-March 27. Continuing students register Nov. 26-Jan. 6. New and former students register Nov. 30-Jan. 6. California residents pay $31 per unit plus basic fees.

Review instructions and class schedule at www.foothill.edu 5 a.m. California residents pay $31 per unit plus basic fees.

Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Call 650-949-7325. www. foothill.fhda.edu/reg/winter13.php Integrated Pest Management Attendees learn how to keep unwanted pests out of their gardens by joining the Santa Clara Master Gardeners for this workshop. Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m. Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View. Call 650-903-6330.

Zoom In Video Production Workshop Nov/Dec 2012 Session: Nov. 29, 6 p.m.10 p.m. - Camera Lighting Producing; Nov. 30, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Edit w/ Final Cut, Camera; Dec. 1 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Camera; Dec. 7 6-10 p.m. Edit and Publish. $145 for Workshop to produce video ($75 Additional 6 mos. Membership/equip/mentors). Midpeninsula Community Media Center Media, 900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto. Call 50-494-8686 ext 11. www. midpenmedia.org

Community Events

‘Miss Representation,’ a Documentary A screening and discussion of the Sundance film exploring media’s misrepresentations of women and how this has led to under-representation of women in positions of power and influence. Dec. 4, 7-9 p.m. $15. Woman’s Club of Palo Alto,

475 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-3215821. www.landmarkleaders.org Community Tree Lighting Celebration Attendees can enjoy live holiday music, refreshments, lights and the arrival of Santa Claus. Children can visit and have their picture taken with Santa at the free event. Dec. 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Civic Center Plaza, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.

Call 650-903-6331. mountainview.gov/ city_hall/comm_services/recreation_programs_and_services/community_events/ holiday_tree_lighting.asp Deborah’s Palm Holiday Bazaar The bazaar features hand-crafted gifts such as jewelry, knitted items, food, ornaments, photographs and cards. We will have wreath making, strolling minstrels and refreshments for all. Dec. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Deborah’s Palm, 555 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto. Call 650-473-0664. www.deborahspalm.org Holiday Fairs in Portola Valley/Ladera Holiday Fairs in Portola Valley (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and at Ladera Shopping Center (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) 3130 Alpine Road.

Handcrafted items, glass, jewelry, art, honey and refreshments etc. will be on sale in Portola Valley. Santa will be at Ladera for photographs, merchants will host events. Dec. 1, Old Schoolhouse, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley.

Inclusive Schools Expert Panel: Social Inclusion Social Inclusion: Not just a seat in the room! A panel of experts speak on social and academic, inclusion, aide training, social/emotional learning. Jennifer Sommerness, Ed.S, M.A., Diann Grimm, M.A.CCC-SLP, Ed.S, Liz Tucker, Inclusion Specialist-Duveneck School, Holly Wade, PAUSD Dir. Special Ed. Dec. 3, 7-9 p.m.

25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto. Call 415-9993693.

Nativity School Christmas Tree Lot Christmas trees: Noble, Fraser, Douglas and Grand Firs up to 13 feet. Christmas wreaths and garland also available. All volunteer-run fundraiser for benefit of Nativity School. Open from Nov. 23 to Dec. 15, Nativity School, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. www.nativitytrees.com Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive JJ& F Market, Miki’s Farm Fresh and Rick’s Ice Cream are the “food drop off sites” that participants can visit to donate food items. Filled food bags go directly to PA residents. Volunteers and funds donations are also needed. Nov. 9-Dec. 15, Midtown Court Neighbors, Various Locations in Palo Alto, Palo Alto.

Call 650-283-9910.

Norcal Crew erg-a-thon The erg-a-thon is Norcal Crew’s biggest recruitment and fundraising event and consists of the entire Norcal team taking turns on rowing machines. The goal is to pull at least one million meters and raise $45,000. Dec. 2, Fremont Park, Santa Cruz Avenue and University Avenue, Menlo Park. Call 650327-8275. www.piggybackr.com/norcal/ erg-a-thon Peninsula School Craft Fair Peninsula School will host its annual winter Craft Fair on Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The craft fair hosts more than 40 vendors and features handcrafted merchandise including jewelry, clothing and toys. Homemade soups and baked goods will be available and fun zone for kids. Dec. 2, peninsula school, 920 Penninsula, Menlo Park. Call 650-743-9360.

Goings On expression of unification through song.

Dec. 1, 5 p.m. $10-27. First Congregational Church, 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto. www.ragazzi.org

OF NOTE Arts and crafts for all At age 88, Janet Roseman creates about 40 pieces of ceramic art each week. She’ll share some of them with the public on Dec. 2, when Moldaw Residences in Palo Alto, the senior community where she lives, holds an arts and crafts show.

Roseman and her neighbors, all in their 70s, 80s and 90s, will show and sell their work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room G103 of the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, which is adjacent to Moldaw at 3921 Fabian Way. “I work on my pottery every day for three to five hours,” Roseman said. “If people like it, I am flattered. If they buy it, I am thrilled.” Go to moldaw.org or call 800-873-9614.

The Gift of Music The Menlo Park Chorus will perform “The Gift of Music.” The Chorus will offer a sampler of songs from their upcoming winter concert on Dec. 7 at Trinity Episcopal Church. 11-11:30 a.m.

Menlo Park City Council Chambers, 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 650-3302512. www.menloparklibrary.org

season. Highlighting the program is the premiere of Cancionero Amoroso, five love songs in five languages from Armando Bayolo. Dec. 2, 7-9 p.m. $25 ($20 senior, $10 student) All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Call 415-771-3352. www.voltisf.org

Concerts

Social Ballroom Dancing Lessons at 8 p.m. are beginning and intermediate West Coast Swing with Robin Rebello and Michelle Kinkaid teaching, followed by dancing from 9 to 12. No experience or partner necessary; dressy casual attire preferred. $9 cover includes refreshments. Cubberley Community Center Pavilion, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-395-8847. www.FridayatthePav.com

California Bach Society: Christmas in Antwerp and Amsterdam The California Bach Society, under the direction of Paul Flight, presents Christmas in Antwerp and Amsterdam: delightful carols and exquisite motets by 16th and 17th century Dutch and Flemish composers. A lively consort of viols, recorders, and lute joins the 30-voice chamber chorus. Dec. 1, 8-10 p.m. $30 (discounts for advance purchase, seniors, and students). All Saints Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Call 650-485-1097. www. calbach.org Holiday Concert with Menlo Atherton High School Choir The Menlo Atherton High School Choir will perform eclectic Holiday Music at Little House. Dec. 5, 2-3 p.m. $3. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. www.peninsulavolunteers.org Kitka performs Wintersongs Kitka performs Wintersongs, seasonal harmonies from Eastern Europe. Wintersongs features music from pre-Christian celebrations of the solstice to Slavic folk carols, humorous Yiddish Chanukah songs, and meditative Eastern Orthodox incantations. Dec. 2, 4-6 p.m. Advance tickets: $27/$25/$15; at the door: $32/$30/$15/$5. Arts at St. Bede’s, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. kitka.org Missa Missa, a celebration of Choral Music will be performed by Schola Seraphica. Composer range from Palistrina to Williams. Dec. 2, 2:30-4 p.m. $20 General, Seniors/Students $15. St. Patrick’s Seminary, 320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-323-7914.

Paly Choirs 10th Annual Madrigal Feaste Attendees join the Paly Choirs, directed by Mr. Michael Najar and Ms. Monica Covitt, for a celebration of food, cheer and merriment, surrounded by music and costumes of the 16th century.

Dec. 1-2, 2-3:30 p.m. Kings $80 Nobility $60 Gentry $40 Seniors, Students, Paly Staff $15 Palo Alto High Small Gym, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. palymadrigals.com Peninsula Women’s Chorus: ‘Star of Wonder’ Concert 1 “Star of Wonder” features a collection of music from around the world -- from Penderecki to the French Baroque to the U.S. premiere of “Star-Crossed” by Filipino composer Saunder Choi. Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m. $25 general/$30 premium/$10 18 and under. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto. www.pwchorus.org Sacred Music for the Holidays Vallombrosa Center is pleased to present a Christmas concert with Irish singer and songwriter Mary Mc Laughlin, her CÛr AinglÌ Singers, and women’s vocal ensemble Zambra. Dec. 2, 4-6 p.m. $25/ Adult, $20/Youth (under 16) Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park.

Call 650-325-5614. www.vallombrosa. org San Francisco Volti Not-the-Messiah Choral Concert. With tongue only slightly in cheek, Volti offers an alternative way to celebrate the love and spirituality of the

Dance

Environment

Save The Bay Winter Planting Season Festival Save The Bay is looking for volunteers for its Winter Season Planting Festival programs. Volunteers can help restore the Bay for people and wildlife by helping plant native seedlings. Dec. 6-8, Visit www.saveSFbay.org/volunteer to sign up . All volunteer restoration programs are free, but an RSVP is required.

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Palo Alto Baylands, Palo Alto. Call 510-463-6850. www.savesfbay.org/volunteer

Exhibits

‘Playing Grown-Up: Toys from the Harry P. Costa Collection’ This exhibition will explore toys from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s that allowed children to mimic the activities of adults. Toys will include an antique pedal fire truck and airplane, Tonka work trucks, and an electric 1929 Lionel Stove & Oven. Feb. 14-Dec. 31, Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 adults, $3 seniors/students, free for children 5 & under, free for association members.

San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. Call 650-299-0104. www.historysmc.org Harmony: A fine art photography exhibit This exhibit presents the work of MJ Otte, Leah K. Read, Frank Ludolph and S. Pierraci from Sept. 6 through Dec. 3.

Open reception with the photographers and Richard Dischler on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Exhibit shows through Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. none Peking Duck Restaurant, 151 S. California Ave., Palo Alto.

Open Studio Five artists will be showing their work with Jan Schachter at her studio: Lois Anderson, Margaret Wherry, Margaret Realica, Peggy Forman and Judith Content. Dec. 1-2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Jan Schachter’s studio, 190 Golden Hills Drive, Portola Valley. Call 650 851-3754. www.janschachter.com

Family and Kids

Atherton Dames Children’s Holiday Tea Attendees can join the Holbrook-Palmer Park Foundation Atherton Dames for their annual Children’s Holiday Tea on Dec. 2.

This is a holiday event for children and parents. Children will enjoy a visit with Santa, puppet show and craft activity.

Sandwiches and treats are available too.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. $55 for first two seats, all additional seats $25 each. Jennings Pavilion, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton. www. athertondames.org Atherton Library Preschool Storytime Children ages 3-5 are invited for stories and activities every Monday morning.

Through May 20, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free

Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton. Call 650-328-2422. www.smcl.org Holiday party at Allied Arts Guild Children’s Holiday Party at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, which benefits the Packard Children’s Hospital. Two children’s authors will be reading from their stories and selling their books. A puppet show from Magical Moonshine Theater, Heather’s Magic Show, a visit from Santa and juice and cookies. Dec. 2, 12:30-3 p.m. $25 per person attending. Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor at Cambridge, Menlo Park. Call 650-854-4171. alliedartsguild.org Paint Out! Everyone - kids, parents, grandparents, painters, doodlers - is invited to the Pacific Art League’s Paint Out! event. It will feature everyone’s art right on the walls for its last exhibition in its current site. (The League is moving next door while it renovates) Reservations recommended. Dec. 1, 1-5 p.m. Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona St., Palo Alto. Call 650-321-3891. www. pacificartleague.org Palo Alto Boogie Attendees join DJ Kevin and the Palo Alto City Librarians as they disco boogie the morning away.

For toddlers, preschoolers and their parents or caretakers on Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. Registration is required: http://califa. evanced.info/paloalto/lib/eventsignup. asp?ID=4589 Children’s Library, 1276 Harriet St., Palo Alto. Call 650-463-4962. www.cityofpaloalto.org/library The Wind in the Willows Kids can go for a wild ride with Mr. Toad as he is reunited with his beloved friends Mole, Ratty, and Mr. Badger. In an adventure with chases, jail breaks and bandits, Mr. Toad learns the true meaning of friendship. Dec. 6-8, 14-15, 21-22 at 7 p.m., Dec 8-9, 15 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 12-13 at 4:30 $10 children; $12 adults Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-463-4970. www.cityofpaloalto.org/ gov/depts/csd/theatre/default.asp

Film

Lassie Come Home Palo Alto Humane Society’s 2012 Gala Holiday Event. Attendees walk the red carpet, listen to the bagpiper, and enjoy the 1943 classic film, Lassie Come Home. Special guest: NorCal Collie Rescue. Popcorn and small drink included! Call ahead for reserved seating. Dec. 6, 7-9:30 p.m. $2. Aquarius Theatre, 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto. Call 650-424-1901. www.paloaltohumane. org

Health

The Evolution of HIV/AIDS Therapies This conversation will focus on the story of chemical innovation underlying the development of effective treatments for HIV/AIDS along with their global impact.

The event, moderated by Jeffrey Sturchio, will engage four luminaries in HIV/ AIDS research, policy, and practice. Dec. 4, 5-8:30 p.m. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, 1661 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto. Call 215-873-8226. www. chemheritage.org/visit/events/publicevents/2012-12-04-hiv-aids.aspx

Live Music

Ragazzi: Welcome Winter/Winter Solstice Welcome Winter/Winter Solstice continues the Ragazzi Boys Chorus tradition of mixing music from many different cultures, with songs that celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Native American culture, and more in a musical

Religion/Spirituality

Compline: An Evening Service of Song A 30-minute service of hymns, anthems and chants sung by Stanford and local choral ensembles in the Memorial Church. Tonight’s choir: Threshold Choir.

Dec. 2, 9-9:30 p.m. Stanford Memorial Church, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford. Call 650-723-1762. events.stanford.edu/ events/335/33545/ Lifetree Cafe Palo Alto Lifetree Cafe offers weekly conversations that focus on popular life issues. Dec. 2: Simplify Your Life. Dec. 9: Finding Peace When Life is Difficult. Snacks/beverages available. Sundays, 7-8 p.m. 3373 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 408-507-9858. www.lifetreecafe.com University Public Worship Each week the University Public Worship includes preaching from a different reverend or rabbi; music by University Organist, Dr. Robert Huw Morgan and the Memorial Church Choir. Sundays, Nov. 11Dec. 30, 10-11 a.m. Stanford Memorial Church, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford. Call 650-723-1762. events.stanford.edu/ events/333/33389

Seniors

BridgePoint at Los Alto’s Holiday Sale For sale: clothing, jewelry, books, knick-knacks, electrical items; children’s clothes, toys and books. Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. BridgePoint at Los Altos, 1174 Los Altos Ave., Los Altos.

Holiday Pinecone Crafts Participants can discover their inner artist and help decorate the senior center for the holiday season. They will create critters, snowmen, and more from pinecones. No experience necessary, just a willingness to get messy with art supplies. Dec. 6, 1-2 p.m. Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View. Call 650903-6330.

Special Events

Alternative Gift Market The 4th Annual Alternative Gift Market will be held at Trinity Church in Menlo Park on two consecutive Sundays, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. The event, which is free and open to the public, features 17 participating nonprofit organizations. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Trinity Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park. Call 650-854-4360.

Breakfast with Santa The City of Menlo Park Community Services Department presents, “Breakfast with Santa”. Activities will include pancake breakfast, letter writing to Santa, holiday crafts, visiting and picture taking with Santa, and a fun time with friends and family. Dec. 1, 7:3011:30 a.m. $5-7. Arrillaga Family Recreation Center , 700 Alma St., Menlo Park.

Call 650-330-2200. www.menlopark. org/departments/com/BWS_FlyerCombined.pdf Garden Club of Palo Alto’s ‘Holiday Affaire’ A winter marketplace with fresh flower arrangements, wreaths, paper whites, previously used holiday decorations, jams and jellies and more. Dec. 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. No entry fee, open to the public. First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Cowper St., Palo Alto. www.gardenclubofpaloalto.org Rooftop ‘80s Dance Party It’s time to dust off those legwarmers, because the OFJCC wants to take attendees back in time to the ‘80s dance party on our famous rooftop club. Dec. 1, 8:30-11 p.m. $20 Members, $25 Non-Members.

OFJCC, Freidenrich Conference Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Call 650-223-8664. www.paloaltojcc.org/ events/2012/12/01/adults/rooftop-80sdance-party/ Sacred Heart Holiday Boutique Holiday shopping at Sacred Heart Preparatory’s holiday boutique will have 18 vendors. It runs Wednesday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 7. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. free Sacred Heart Preparatory, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton. www.shschools.org/ justbelieve

Talks/Authors

Amitav Ghosh- ‘China and the Making of Modern India’ Author Amitav Ghosh will discuss how the opium trade had momentous consequences for Chinese history in the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as the impact that this trade had

on arts, crafts, tastes and styles in India, the world’s leading opium-producing country under the British Raj. Dec. 3, 6-7:30 p.m. Stamford University, CEMEX Auditorium, Zambrano Hall, 641 Knight Way, Stanford. shc.stanford.edu/events/ c a l e n d a r/2012-12- 3 -a m i t av- g h o s h quotchina-and-the-making-of-modernindia-a-story-of-fantasy-abuse-and-recovered-memoryquot.html Author talk: ‘A Love for the Beautiful’ Susan Jaques will be discussing her book, “A Love for the Beautiful”. In it, she looks at how some of the country’s best art is hidden in plain sight, in museums largely unknown outside their regions.

Susan Jaques, art and travel writer, is a gallery docent at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Dec. 4, 6-7 p.m. Stanford Bookstore, 519 Lasuen Mall, Stanford. Call 650-3291217. www.stanfordbookstore.com Author talk: ‘Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore’ A tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life -- mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore. Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers. com/event/robin-sloan Author talk: ‘The Black Count: Glory, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo’ A true story of the real Count of Monte Cristo - a stunning feat of historical sleuthing that brings to life the forgotten hero who inspired such classics as “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Three Musketeers.” Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.

Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers. com/event/tom-reiss Islam and Muslim Integration Patricia Nahti, visiting lecturer at Stanford, will discuss the basic tenets of Islam and challenges as Muslims play more significant role in Western communities.

Free public meeting on Dec. 5, 7:30-9 p.m. Los Altos Public Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. www.worldaffairs.org Nancy Unger at Books Inc. Nancy Unger shares “Beyond Nature’s Housekeepers,” a comprehensive look at American women who have been influential in environmental history and the role their gender played in their activism. Dec. 5, 7 p.m. Books Inc Mountain View, 301 Castro St., Mountain View. booksinc.net NRP Lecture: Abundance Author Dr. Peter Diamandis will discuss the synergies between SU, the International Space University (ISU), X PRIZE and NASA, the use of new technologies to shape the future of humankind and solve global problems, and the concepts of abundance & persistence to achieve amazing results.

Dec. 3, 7-9 p.m. NASA Research Park, Building 3, Moffett Field. www.nasa.gov/ centers/ames/researchpark The New Industrial Revolution: How Will the Future be Made? Attendees join Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired, and Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk for a discussion about the 3D printer revolution.

Dec. 4, 6-9 p.m. Churchill Club Member $54 | Nonmember $79. SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park. Call 408-265-0130. transition.churchillclub. org/eventDetail.jsp?EVT_ID=964

Volunteers

MCT; ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ Food Drive Time Committment: 30 minutes-1 hour, Nov. 9 through Dec. 15.

Many neighbors throughout Palo Alto are struggling to buy food and medications. Midtown Court Neighbors and Friends have partnered with 2nd Harvest Food Bank. Midtown Court Neighbors & Friends, Midtown & other locations., Palo Alto. Call 650-283-9910.

Museum of American Heritage Volunteers are welcome at the Museum of American Heritage in downtown Palo Alto. There are a wide range of opportunities. 11-4 p.m. free Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto.

Call 650-321-1004. www.moah.org Now Recruiting Outdoor Education Leaders There are volunteer opportunities with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. It involves working as part of a team and leading third through fifth grade students on field trips at the David C. Daniels Nature Center. Those interested can submit an interest form now to be included in the upcoming training.

Through Feb. 12, Free www.openspace. org/volunteer/volunteer.asp

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Eating Out FOOD FEATURE

Love yourself, love what you eat I Heart Curry cooking classes encourage natural ingredients and authentic recipes

by Ashley Finden ver the past year, a cooking teacher in Mountain View has slowly been taking the fear out of making traditional Indian recipes while offering a more healthful way of eating.

Fharzana Elankumaran, who moved to the United States from Bangladesh in 2000, is the instructor and founder of I Heart Curry, Indian cooking classes she offers in her home. Elankumaran said she studied chemistry at the University

Michelle Le

O Working in her kitchen, Fharzana Elankumaran cuts up an onion for her tomato chutney.

PENINSULA

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

INDIAN

Janta Indian Restaurant Read and post reviews, explore restaurant menus, get hours and directions and more at ShopPaloAlto, ShopMenloPark and ShopMountainView

462-5903 369 Lytton Ave. www.jantaindianrestaurant.com

Thaiphoon 323-7700 543 Emerson Ave, Palo Alto www.ThaiphoonRestaurant.com

powered by

Page 22ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

of Maryland, College Park, and used to do full-time marketing for a large company until she decided to follow her passion: cooking and what she calls “food investigating,” her study of the ingredients to make sure there are no unnatural additives.

“I felt so strongly about doing something on my own, doing something I look forward to every day,” she said.

She quit her marketing job and taught her first I Heart Curry class on Nov. 30 last year.

To celebrate the first anniversary of I Heart Curry, Elankumaran is offering a special four-hour class on Dec. 4, longer than her typical three-hour classes. During the anniversary class, she will be teaching more time-taking recipes: potato samosas and roshgolla from scratch, including making the cheese used in it, and goat rezala.

Elankumaran announces her classes two to three weeks in advance on her website, iheartcurry. com. She said she is currently planning her Christmas/holiday class.

Her classes usually include lessons on cooking three dishes: two appetizers and an entree, or a threecourse meal. Elankumaran said she makes sure her students get a full meal they can enjoy and make again outside of her class. Occasionally, she offers a two-hour course where she teaches how to make two appetizers or desserts.

She says she starts her classes by offering students a warm cup of chai tea while everyone gets acquainted.

She said she treats all of her students as if they know nothing about Indian food, so that everyone is taught at the same level.

Elankumaran said she makes sure that her students have fun while they learn in her class. “I actually go through great pains to make sure my house feels like a get-together as opposed to a classroom.”

During her classes, Elankumaran keeps her kitchen, living and dining room open so that class registrants feel invited and can get acclimated.

Her home is able to accommodate up to 15 students per class. She also offers private lessons.

Recently, she said has been getting requests for larger classes and is figuring out how to teach in a bigger location that offers the same kind of environment as her home. She said she has a variety of people register for her classes. Students come in for date night, birthday or wedding presents, company team events or family classes.

Saying that Elankumaran is an advocate for healthful eating almost seems to be an understatement. She

calls herself a “food nerd” and refuses to use any canned or frozen food. Even when she was in college, she said, her grocery trips would be hours-long because she would have to read the ingredients on every item and then research the ingredients she didn’t know.

“All of us should pay attention to what we eat, even the smallest detail,” Elankumaran said.

In her classes, Elankumaran explains every detail of how she cooks her meals. She describes why each individual ingredient goes into the recipe and why substitutes will not suffice.

“That’s just going to sacrifice the integrity and taste of the dish,” she said.

Elankumaran said she is against using any shortcuts while preparing food. “The original, awesome recipes from our grandma’s time are just getting lost,” she said.

To her, it is crucial to know exactly what is going in your body and to use the purest and most natural ingredients. She said she loves teaching people how to eat better and to see improved cooking and eating habits from her students.

“I want to really find the relationship between food and you — it’s getting lost,” Elankumaran said.

“It’s my small effort.” N Roasted Savory & Spicy Peas Ingredients: 1 cup whole Kabuli chana (white chickpeas) or chana daal (yellow chickpeas) oil for deep-frying salt to taste red chili powder to taste 1. Rinse the chickpeas three times and soak them for eight hours or overnight.

2. Drain and allow the chickpeas to stand in a sieve for 30 minutes. If the peas are still wet, pat them dry using a paper towel.

3. Heat up the oil on medium heat.

Deep-fry the peas until golden. Uncooked peas sink to the bottom of the pan and as they are done cooking, they float up. Be sure that the oil is not too hot; otherwise the peas will burn on the outside and not get cooked on the inside.

4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the deep-fried peas to a paper-towel lined bowl. Sprinkle some salt and red chili powder over them. Cover the bowl with a lid or plate, and shake gently.

5. Serve hot or at room temperature as an appetizer or snack. (continued on next page)

Eating Out

ShopTalk

be Los Altosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first in its downtown area in decades. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guests will enjoy the feeling of a fine European hotel without pulling out their passports,â&#x20AC;? she added.

ALMOST GONE ... PacSun, a California-lifestyle clothing retailer that appeals to teens and young adults, is having a going-out-of-business sale at Stanford Shopping Center.

It is expected to close at the end of the year or when all the merchandise is gone. Also scheduled for an endof-2012 closing is Merry Go Round, one of the oldest consignment shops on the Peninsula. Located at 713 Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park, it has been in business for 46 years.

MORE BIKE RACKS AT MOLLIE STONEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ... Good news for cyclists: Mollie Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market at 164 S. California Ave. in Palo Alto has installed new bike racks that will be able to hold 28 bicycles. The decision was made following a meeting between the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and Mollie Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coowner David Bennett.

by Daryl Savage

Michelle Le

Fharzana Elankumaranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tomato chutney is topped with sauteed round red chilis, curry leaves and a mix of flat split garbanzo beans, black gram daal and brown mustard seeds. (continued from previous page)

Phoolkopi Aar Daal Torkari (cauliflower with splitpea curry) Daal ingredients: 1/2 cup split chana daal 2 cups water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder Cauliflower ingredients: 1 tablespoon oil 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds Info: I Heart Curry classes offered

by Fharzana Elankumaran range from two-hour, two- course lessons for $50 per person to three-course classes that cost $60 for vegetarian menus, $75 for poultry and $90 for seafood and red meat. For details, go to www.iheartcurry.com.

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 medium onion, finely diced 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1 cauliflower, cut into florets 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup hot water 1/4 teaspoon coriander powder 1. To cook daal: wash the daal four times and soak for an hour. Combine daal, water, salt, and turmeric powder in a saucepan. Cook for about 20 minutes on medium heat. You need the daal to be al dente. You also may use a pressure cooker to cook the daal. Set it aside.

2. Heat up oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add fennel and cumin seeds. Once you smell the spicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; aroma, add onion and saute for four minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in turmeric and chili pow-

THREE NEW RESTAURANTS FOR PALO ALTO ... Three new restaurants are scheduled to open soon in Palo Alto. The first is a casual eatery offering kosher items. Roast Shop at 565 Emerson St. has an array of kosher meats in its carved sandwiches, including pastrami and corned beef.

Owned by the restaurant group that created Asian Box at Town & Country Village, Roast Shop is in the former location of Rangoon Restaurant.

Also getting ready to open is Campo Pizzeria at 185 University Ave., the former home of Lavanda Restaurant.

It will feature morsels such as housestretched mozzarella and a roasted Brussels-sprout pizza. A midDecember opening is planned. And Freebirds World Burrito will replace the former Wahoo Taco at the corner of El Camino Real and Cambridge Avenue. Freebirds is known for its variety of 40-plus ingredients that customers can add to their burritos, including the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature

der. Add cauliflower florets and stir well. Saute for one minute.

4. Add hot water, cover the pan, and cook on medium-low heat till the cauliflower florets are al dente, stirring occasionally.

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

Cucina Venti

ns ervatio s e r g n epti arty! now acc liday p

r ho for you

le!

ilab a v a g n cateri

â&#x20AC;&#x153;death sauce.â&#x20AC;? It has also scheduled a December opening.

JAMBA JUICE ON THE MOVE ... As Town & Country Village continues its transition to provide a more upscale shopping experience, Jamba Juice will temporarily close on Dec. 31 as it makes a move to the other side of the mall. It is scheduled to reopen in a larger space that was left vacant when the lease for longtime tenant Korean BBQ was not renewed. In addition, the antique print store Lyons Ltd. recently closed. Replacing Lyons is Emilia Ceramics, a shop that offers brightly colored, hand-painted and handmade ceramic gifts and serveware from France, Italy and Mexico.

A HOTEL FOR LOS ALTOS ... EnchantĂŠ, a self-described French chateau-style boutique hotel, broke ground this week at the corner of San Antonio Road and Main Street.

Hotel creator and manager Abigail Ahrens said that her small hotel, which will have only 18 rooms, will

Heard a rumor about your favorite store or business moving out, or in, down the block or across town? Daryl Savage will check it out. Email shoptalk@ paweekly.com.

5. Add daal and continue to cook for five more minutes. Remove from heat.

6. Garnish with a sprinkle of coriander powder.

You can either serve this as a cur-

ry or process it to a coarse/smooth consistency using a food processor and serve it as a soup. This curry goes well with rice, roti, or simply by itself.

Serves two to four people.

Recipe from Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar in Venice

Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar opened in 1931 when Giuseppe Cipriani, an enterprising bartender at the Hotel Europa in Venice, got some ďŹ nancial assistance from a rich, young American from Boston named Harry Pickering. According to Cipriani company history, Pickering had been a customer at the Hotel Europa for some time, suddenly stopped frequenting the hotel bar. Cipriani saw Pickering one day and asked why he no longer patronized the bar.

Pickering was broke, he explained to the bartender -- his family cut him off when it was discovered he had not curtailed his recklessness and fondness for drinking. So, Cipriani loaned his patron a chunk of cash -- about 10,000 lire, or $5,000 U.S.. Two years later, Pickering walked back into the Hotel Europa, ordered a drink at the bar, handed 10,000 lire to Giuseppe Cipriani â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he then handed Cipriani more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Cipriani, thank you. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the money. And to show you my appreciation, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 40,000 more, enough to open a bar.

We will call it Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar,â&#x20AC;? Located on Calle Vallaresso, close to the Piazza San Marco, the bar -- as the Ciprianiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have always called it -- was ďŹ rst conceived as a hotel bar, serving no food, and later transformed into a restaurant. There are many imitators, but only one Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar. To honor this famous Italian culinary icon, we submit our version of one of Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Famous recipesâ&#x20AC;Ś

Tagliolini with shrimp and zucchini from Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar (TAGLIOLINI CON I GAMBERI E LA ZUCCHINA DALLA HARRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BAR) s POUND FRESH YOUNG ZUCCHINI CUT into 1-inch by 1/4 inch strips s POUND ABOUT MEDIUM SHRIMP

shelled, deveined and cut in half s TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL s GARLIC CLOVES CRUSHED s TEASPOON DRIED RED PEPPER m AKES s SALT

s ) POUND DRIED TAGLIOLINI OR FETTUCCINE or fresh tagliatelle (egg pasta) s TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER

softened s 3PLASH OF DRY WHITE WINE s CUP FRESHLY GRATED 0ARMIGIANO Reggiano cheese plus extra to pass at the table

To cook:

1390 Pear Ave., Mountain View (650) 254-1120 www.cucinaventi.com

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

Bring a large pot of water to boil before preparing the sauce. If using dry pasta salt boiling water and add pasta. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, let it cook until golden, about 30 seconds, and discard it. Add the zucchini and cook for two minutes. Add the shrimp, the pepper ďŹ&#x201A; akes, and some salt, the wine and cook for three minutes, tossing constantly, until the shrimp are bright pink and ďŹ rm to the touch.

Reserve 1/4 cup of the mixture for garnish. Set aside. If using fresh pasta, salt the boiling water, add the pasta, and cook until â&#x20AC;&#x153;al denteâ&#x20AC;? (about 2-3 minutes). Drain well in a colander. Toss the pasta with the zucchini-andshrimp mixture, add the butter and the Parmesan, and toss well. Transfer to a heated serving platter dish and garnish with the reserved shrimp-andzucchini mixture. Pass around a small bowl of grated Parmigiano cheese. Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;°*>Â?Â&#x153; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;"Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;i°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;*>Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x203A;iÂ&#x201C;LiĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x17D;ä]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;ä£Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x160;U Page 23

Movies

OPENINGS

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Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock.

Hitchcock --

(Guild) Many can relate to the childhood experience, as at Disneyland or the department store, of getting wise to fakery. “Daddy, that’s not Snow White!” “Mommy, Santa doesn’t wear sneakers.”

Well, film fans may feel a pang of déjà vu when they sit down to “Hitchcock,” which purports to revive the weighty filmmaker forever to be known as “The Master of Suspense.”

In the age of remakes and reboots and re-issues, Hollywood has gotten wise to the idea of revisiting iconic stars of the past, as with last year’s “My Week with Marilyn.” That film had the emotional hook of a wide-eyed young adult star-struck by a sex goddess and the movie biz, whereas Sacha Gervasi’s “Hitchcock” — based on Stephen Rebello’s non-fiction book “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho” — hangs its hat on marital strain and the artistic and financial gamble that was Hitchcock’s masterpiece “Psycho.”

For this latest feat of reenactment cinema, we get Anthony Hopkins as the corpulent filmmaker; Helen Mirren as his wife and trusted screenwriting consultant Alma

NOW PLAYING The following is a sampling of movies recently reviewed in the Weekly:

26th Annual Palo Alto Weekly

Short Story Contest

Entry Deadline is December 28th See PaloAltoOnline.com for details Page 24ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

Anna Karenina -(Aquarius, Century 20) There’s a peril that, in chasing a fresh concept, a director will come up with something foolhardy, which brings us to Joe Wright’s “Anna Karenina.”

No one has a bigger concept this year than Wright, who has transformed Tolstoy’s novel into something conspicuously theatrical. Set amongst the aristocracy of Imperial Russia circa 1874, the novel concerns parallel romantic strivings and the pitfalls that threaten the maintenance of the respectable lifestyle of the upper class. One storyline follows the titular socialite (Keira Knightley), whose dull marriage to Karenin (Jude Law) pales in comparison to an affair with Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). The film begins with an orchestra tuning up, then plays out in a derelict theater.

Wright employs colorful costumes, twirling cameras, tableaux vivants, and whoosh-y, thump-y sound effects as if to say, “Take that, Baz Luhrmann!” In particular, the ball-

Reville; Scarlett Johansson and James D’Arcy as “Psycho” stars Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins; and so on. Essentially, “Hitchcock” takes us from the 1959 premiere of “North by Northwest” through pre-production and production of “Psycho” to its 1960 premiere.

Along the way, John McLaughlin’s script arguably doles out as much misinformation as information. Some of the famous trivia about the film is here, including skirmishes with composer Bernard Herrmann (we almost never heard those famous slasher strings during the shower scene). In this respect, film buffs can feel vindicated in their knowledge, while others can get something of an education in a seminal horror film.

Most crucially, “Hitchcock” explores the key role played by Reville in Hitchcock’s career, as well as her long-suffering tolerance of Hitchcock’s obsessions with actresses. The film also creates drama with a speculative budding romance between Reville and occasional screenwriting collaborator Whitfield Cook (Danny Huston). In a wilder stretch of the imagination, “Hitchcock” depicts “Psycho”’s serial-killing inspiration Ed Gein (Michael Wincott) room sequence technically marvels. But I’d trade in an instant this tiresome artificiality for some potent empathy. We’re able to intellectualize why we should care, but we’re too distracted to be moved. Rated R for sexuality and violence. Two hours, 10 minutes. — P.C. (Reviewed Nov. 23, 2012) Life of Pi ---1/2 (Palo Alto Square) In Ang Lee’s exhilarating “Life of Pi” — based upon the bestselling novel by Yann Martel — a boy adrift reads a “Survival at Sea” manual. “Telling stories is highly recommended,” it says. “Above all, do not lose hope.” In the hands of Ang Lee, “Life of Pi” elegantly walks Martel’s philosophical line while also brilliantly using every modern cinematic tool to tell an epic yarn. Most prominent among these tools is 3D. Lee joins the ranks of auteurs using new 3D cameras, gainfully employing the technology for its full ViewMaster “pop” effect, but also in more magical ways.

Suraj Sharma plays the teenage Piscine Molitor (aka “Pi”), who, having been raised in South India, winds up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, warily sharing a lifeboat

as being regularly envisioned by the director, who at one point remarks to Gein: “Oh, not now, Ed. It’s really not the time.” Wait, is this “Hitchcock” or “Dexter”?

Though that conceit goes too far, it does, to a point, productively dramatize how a director “lives with” his story — dreams and daydreams about it — during production. At its best, “Hitchcock” reminds audiences not only of the risk represented by “Psycho,” but its reinvigorating quality. Hitch tells Alma, in reference to their early years of filmmaking, “I just want to feel that kind of freedom again.”

That’s a too-rare moment of genuine insight in a film generally pleased to be entertainingly glib (the director to Perkins: “You may call me ‘Hitch.’ Hold the ‘cock’”), hero-puncturing (Hitch comically gulps wine and peeps, à la Norman Bates, at Jessica Biel’s Vera Miles), or blunt in an unintentionally humorous way (the Paramount studio head hollering, “I demand to see some footage!”).

Hopkins is, of course, a likeable actor, but his power is muted by pounds of latex, and he doesn’t quite capture the depths of Hitch’s drollery. Mirren, miscast as Reville, comes off too glamorous and modern to play this intellectual used to being overlooked. (In HBO’s “The Girl,” Toby Jones, wearing considerably less specialeffects makeup, creates a more convincing emotional portrait of Hitch, with Imelda Staunton a more credible Alma.) On balance, “Hitchcock” is about as entertaining and as trustworthy as a tabloid.

Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content and thematic material. One hour, 38 minutes.

— Peter Canavese

with a zebra, an orangutan and a Bengal tiger. As a boy, Pi (Ayush Tandon) becomes something of a “Catholic Hindu,” who sees the gods of various religions as his “superheroes.” Pi’s spiritual picaresque shifts into a high gear once he’s fighting for survival on the “life”boat. Pi’s attempts to reach detente with the tiger create a fearful intimacy analogous to some people’s experience of God. “I have to believe there was more in his eyes than my own reflection staring back at me,” Pi says, but the film’s visual motifs of mirrored surfaces might just as well suggest that people under sufficient emotional duress see what they want to see. Rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril. Two hours, seven minutes. — P.C. (Reviewed Nov. 23, 2012)

Lincoln ---1/2 (Century 16, Century 20) Spielberg’s “Lincoln” — which focuses on Lincoln’s tragically shortened second term in office, the conclusion of the Civil War and the president’s fight to pass the 13th Amend-

Movies

Century Theatres at Palo Alto Square

THEATER ADDRESSES

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.

100 Men and a Girl (1937) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Mon. at 5:55 & 9:05 p.m.

A Christmas Story (1983) (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: Wed. at 2 & 7 p.m. Century 20: Wed. at 2 & 7 p.m.

Anna Karenina (R) (( Aquarius Theatre: 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30 & 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 12:55, 3:55, 7:05 & 10:05 p.m.

Fri 11/30 Sat 12/1

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

Sun 12/2 Mon 12/3 Tues 12/4 & Thurs 12/6 Wed 12/5

Tickets and Showtimes available at cinemark.com

Argo (R) (((1/2 Century 16: 10 a.m.; 12:45, 3:30, 6:45 & 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 1:05, 3:50, 6:40 & 9:30 p.m.

Bolshoi Ballet: The Pharaohâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daughter (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Alto Square: Sun. at noon.

Life of Pi 3D - 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 Life of Pi 2D - 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 Life of Pi 3D - 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 Life of Pi 2D - 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 Life of Pi 3D - 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 Life of Pi 2D - 5:30, 8:30 Life of Pi 2D - 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 Life of Pi 3D - 2:30 Life of Pi 2D - 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 Life of Pi 3D - 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 Life of Pi 2D - 2:30, 5:30, 8:30

Century 20: Sun. at noon; Tue. at 7 p.m. Palo

Chasing Mavericks (PG) ((1/2 Century 20: 3:40 & 9:40 p.m.

Chip Off the Old Block (1944) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 6:05 & 9:30 p.m.

+ + + â&#x20AC;&#x153;+

Flight (R) ((( Century 16: 11:30 a.m.; 3:10, 6:50 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 12:05, 3:15, 6:25 & 9:35 p.m.

Follow the Boys (1944) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 7:30 p.m.

Hitchcock (PG-13) (( Guild Theatre: 12:30, 2:45, 5, 7:15 & 9:30 p.m.

Killing Them Softly (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:50, 4:40, 7:30 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:35 & 10:10 p.m.

Life of Pi (PG) (((1/2 Century 20: 12:40, 2:40, 6:30 & 8:40 p.m.; In 3D at 11:40 a.m.; 1:40, 4:40, 5:40, 7:40 & 10:40 p.m. Palo Alto Square: 2:30, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m.; In 3D at 4 & 7 p.m.; In 3D Fri. & Sat. also at 10 p.m.; In 3D Fri. also at 1 p.m.

Lincoln (PG-13) (((1/2 Century 16: 10 & 11 a.m.; 12:50, 3, 4:30, 7, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 12:20, 2:35, 3:35, 5:55, 6:55, 9:15 & 10:15 p.m.

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Mad About Music (1938) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Tue.-Thu. at 7:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera: La Clemenza di Tito (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Sat. at 9:55 a.m. Palo Alto Square: Sat. at 9:55 a.m.

The Nutcracker Mariinsky Ballet (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Mon. at 2 & 7:30 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Mon. at 2 & 7:30 p.m.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (PG-13) ((( Century 16: 10:30 a.m.; 1:05, 3:40, 6:20 & 9:15 p.m.

Pulp Fiction (R) (( Century 16: Thu. at 7 p.m. Century 20: Thu. at 7 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Thu. at 7 p.m.

Red Dawn (PG-13) (1/2 Century 16: 10:40 a.m.; 1:30, 4:50, 7:50 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 12:50, 3:10, 5:30, 8 & 10:30 p.m.

Reservoir Dogs (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: Tue. at 7 p.m. Century 20: Tue. at 7 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Tue. at 7 p.m.

Rise of the Guardians (PG) ((1/2 Century 16: 10:50 a.m.; 1:25, 4:05, 6:55, 8:40 & 9:40 p.m.; In 3D at 10 a.m.; 12:30, 3:05 & 5:55 p.m. Century 20: 11:30 a.m.; 12:30, 1:55, 4:20, 6:45 & 9:10 p.m.; In 3D at 3, 5:25, 7:55 & 10:25 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (R) (Not Reviewed) Guild Theatre: Sat. at midnight.

The Sessions (R) ((( Century 16: 1:35, 4:10, 6:30 & 9:10 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 2:10, 4:45, 7:30 & 9:55 p.m.

Silver Linings Playbook (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 10 a.m.; 12:45, 3:35, 7:20 & 10:15 p.m. Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 2:15, 5 & 7:45 p.m.

Skyfall (PG-13) (((1/2 Century 16: 10 & 11:20 a.m.; 1:40, 3, 5:20, 7, 9 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:20 a.m.; 12:45, 2:25, 4:05, 5:35, 7:20, 8:45 & 10:30 p.m.

That Certain Age (1938) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Tue.-Thu. at 5:45 & 9:20 p.m.

Three Smart Girls (1936) (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Mon. at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 4:20 p.m.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (Not Rated) (( Century 16: 10:20 a.m.; 1:20, 4:20, 6:40, 7:40, 9:50 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:25 a.m.; 2, 3:25, 4:55, 6:20, 7:50, 9:20 & 10:45 p.m.; Fri. also at 12:35 p.m.

Wreck-It Ralph (PG) ((( Century 16: 10 a.m.; 12:40, 3:20, 6:10 & 9:10 p.m.; In 3D at 10:10 a.m.; 1:15 & 4 p.m. Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 12:10, 1:50, 2:45, 4:30, 7:10, 8:10, 9:50 & 10:45 p.m.; In 3D at 5:20 p.m.

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

ment (abolishing slavery) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; plays a bit like a $50 million history lesson. And while thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a boon for history buffs, the pacing suffers sporadically. Still, Spielberg and his team (including an A-list cast that features a spotlight-stealing performance

by Tommy Lee Jones) deserve a wealth of credit for embracing a monumental task and succeeding. The film follows Lincoln (Day-Lewis) as he seeks to outlaw slavery and, thus, end the bloody Civil War. Lincoln juggles nation-changing decisions with personal-life issues: his wife Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Sally Field) migraines, his older son Robertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) military ambitions and his young son Tadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Gulliver McGrath) upbringing. Day-Lewis captures Lincoln as well as any actor could. From his vocal inflections to his mannerisms, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear he truly immersed himself in the difficult role.

But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance that lends the film the spark it needed and would not have otherwise had. Rated PG-13 for war violence, strong language and carnage. 2 hours, 29 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; T.H. (Reviewed Nov. 16, 2012)

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Sports Shorts

STANFORD FOOTBALL

It’s a run for the roses

QUITE A CATCH . . . The Palo Alto High football team saw its season end two weeks ago in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs, but one former member of the team is still playing into the postseason. Davante Adams, who played on the Vikings’ 2010 CIF Division I state championship team, has found himself a home at Fresno State. This past Saturday, Adams helped the Bulldogs romp to a 48-15 victory over visiting Air Force and clinch no worse than a share of the Mountain West Conference championship. Adams, a redshirt freshman, caught nine passes for 141 yards and touchdowns of 64 and 24 yards as Fresno State improved to 9-3 overall and 7-1 in its first season in the Mountain West. The Bulldogs finished tied for first with San Diego State, with Boise State (6-1, 9-2) likely making it a three-way tie with a win over Nevada this weekend. The championship is the first for Adams since his Paly days.

In 12 games, Adams has 89 receptions for 1,168 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s averaging 13.1 yards per catch and 97.3 receiving yards per game. Adams is tied for ninth in the nation for catches and ranks No. 11 nationally in receiving yards among Division I players.

FLORIDA BOUND . . . The Palo Alto Knights’ Jr. Midgets will depart on Friday for the 75-80 degrees temperatures of Kissimmee, Fla., where the American Youth Football (AYF) National Championships will get under way Sunday. The Knights will begin their quest for the first-ever national title in program history at 10 a.m. First-round matchups won’t be released until Saturday night. “We’re ready,” said Palo Alto coach Mike Piha. “I think we’re decent. We’re a deeper team than before. One thing for sure, we’re not going to be intimidated. It’s not new for 22 of these guys who are making their fourth trip.” The Knights also will play Tuesday with the title game next Thursday.

ON THE AIR Friday College football: UCLA at Stanford, 5 p.m.; FOX (2); KNBR (1050 AM); KZSU (90.1 FM) Women’s basketball: Stanford at UC Davis, 7 p.m.; KZSU (90.1 FM) Women’s soccer: Stanford vs. North Carolina, 8 p.m.; ESPNU

Sunday Women’s basketball: Stanford at Gonzaga, 2 p.m.; KZSU (90.1 FM) Men’s basketball: Denver at Stanford, 2 p.m.; Pac-12 Networks; KNBR (1050 AM)

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

by Rick Eymer The formalities are over; the AllPac-12 football team has been announced and major conference honors awarded. There’s one thing left unfinished and that will be decided on the field.

While last weekend’s 35-17 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl is all but forgotten, No. 8 Stanford (8-1, 10-2) has to do it all over again Friday when the Bruins (6-3, 9-3) visit Stanford Stadium for a 5 p.m. kickoff with the Pac-12 championship on the line and a return to the Rose Bowl.

The Stanford seniors get one more chance to play in front of the home crowd and take yet another ‘Last Walk.’

“We’ll put tape over the date of last week’s T-shirt,” said Stanford linebacker Chase Thomas, who was named to the Pac-12 first team for the second straight year earlier this week.

Thanks to changes in the television schedule, which forced Stanford to play California in October,

Stanford senior Stepfan Taylor (33) ran for 142 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 35-17 win at UCLA last Saturday. The teams will meet again, on Friday at Stanford, for the Pac-12 title.

(continued on page 28)

CCS FOOTBALL

NORCAL VOLLEYBALL

Valpo Bowl history gives SHP an edge

SHP girls on threshold of state title

by Andrew Preimesberger

By Andrew Preimesberger

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istory appears to be on the side of the Sacred Heart Prep football team when it meets neighborhood rival Menlo School in the Central Coast Section Division IV championship game on Saturday night.

Since the Gators joined the CCS for football in 2008, they have faced the Knights three times in the section playoffs. SHP has won twice and Menlo once. Each postseason victory coincided with that team winning the regular-season Valparaiso Bowl.

In 2008, Sacred Heart Prep won the Valpo Bowl and then defeated Menlo in the CCS Small School Division playoffs, 28-14. In 2009, the Knights captured the Valpo Bowl, 27-21, and later topped the Gators in the Division IV semifinals, 20-14.

In 2010, SHP defeated Menlo in the bowl game, 35-7, and later cruised to a 49-21 triumph in the postseason.

That brings us to Saturday’s historic showdown at Terra Nova High in Pacifica, with the kickoff at 7 p.m. The local rivals will be meet(continued on page 29)

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Keith Peters

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Rob Ericson/isiphotos.com

NEW COACH . . . Menlo-Atherton has hired Giovanni Napolitano as its new boys’ varsity water polo coach following the retirement of legendary coach Dante Dettamanti. Napolitano was the Bears’ junior varsity coach this season and assisted Dettamanti during a fine season that saw M-A reach the Central Coast Section Division I championship match before falling to Bellarmine, 9-8.

Cardinal hosts UCLA with shot at berth for the Rose Bowl

Ryan Gaertner of Sacred Heart Prep (4) rushed for 135 yards in a 47-17 victory over Soquel in a CCS Division IV semifinal.

he bar of expectations was set very high, very long ago when the Sacred Heart Prep girls’ volleyball program won the 1996 CIF Division V State Championship and finished 39-4.

That accomplishment and record haven’t been touched since by any Gators’ team.

Head coach Liz Santie retired after her second straight state title and with a remarkable two-year record of 73-13.

Since then, the Gators have won five Central Coast Section titles and three NorCal championships. Yet, it has been 16 years since SHP captured that elusive state crown. The Gators had a shot in 1998 and again in 2010, both missing the mark.

Sacred Heart Prep, however, is in position to take aim once again after posting a 25-13, 25-11, 23-25, 25-22 victory over Harbor in the NorCal Division IV title match on Tuesday night in Atherton.

Top-seeded Sacred Heart improved to 33-5 following the eighth NorCal title in program history, (continued on page 31)

STANFORD ROUNDUP

Cardinal chances look healthy with Williams Women’s volleyball team opens NCAA Tournament at home Friday at home against Jackson State to begin its title quest

by Rick Eymer

I

Hector Garcia-Molina/stanfordphoto.com

Sophomore Lo’eau LaBonta (21) and Alina Garciamendez (4) celebrates LaBonta’s winning goal in Stanford’s 2-1 victory over UCLA in an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal last Friday on the Cardinal’s home field.

A second NCAA title will provide plenty of firsts for Stanford women

by Keith Peters hile the Stanford women’s soccer team will be making its fifth straight appearance in the NCAA College Cup in San Diego on Friday, its latest trip still will provide something unique for the Cardinal.

For the first time in program history, the team returns as the defending national champion. Moreover, Stanford is a victory away from a fourth straight appearance in the championship match — another first in school history.

“The College Cup is an unbelievable experience and we’re really happy to be back there, and we’re hoping we can come back with another national championship,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said.

There’s also another first that will be at stake when the top-ranked Cardinal (21-1-1) takes on North Carolina (13-5-3) at Torero Stadium in the semifinals at 8 p.m. — Stanford has never beaten the Tar Heels.

North Carolina, which has won 21 national titles, is 8-0-3 against Stanford. The teams have battled to a tie in their three previous meetings. The last time the Cardinal and Tar Heels met in the College Cup, North Carolina posted a 1-0 victory in the title match on a rainy day at Texas A&M. Thus, plenty will be at stake for Stanford on Friday as it plays for a berth in Sunday’s finals at 1 p.m.

In the first semifinal, Florida State (20-3) will face Penn State (20-3-2).

Stanford brings a handful of impressive streaks into the latest finalfour appearance, including a 152match unbeaten streak (146-0-6) when scoring a goal. The last time the Cardinal scored and lost was

W

Aug. 27, 2006, in a 2-1 setback to Wake Forest. Stanford also has a 10-match win streak in the NCAA Tournament, with its last setback (1-0 to Notre Dame) coming in the 2010 College Cup final.

Stanford’s 10-member senior class also has compiled some impressive totals, including a 94-3-4 overall record during its time on The Farm. The current seniors are one victory away from tying the total of last year’s class (Camille Levin, Teresa Noyola, Lindsay Taylor and Kristy Zurmuhlen), which went 95-4-4.

By winning the national title, the current seniors can depart as the winningest Stanford class ever.

The Cardinal earned a shot at all these milestones by rallying to beat No. 6 UCLA, 2-1, in a quarterfinal match last Friday.

Lo’eau LaBonta scored two second-half goals to put Stanford into its fifth consecutive NCAA College Cup. Both goals came after corner kicks by Courtney Verloo.

The sophomore tied the match in the 55th minute when a shot by Sydney Payne to the far post was redirected by LaBonta from pointblank range.

LaBonta then scored the winner when a shot by Alex Doll was blocked into LaBonta’s path. Her first-touch shot from five yards scored easily in the 69th minute.

“We were down 1-0 and we just really are a second half team,” LaBonta said. “We have great goal scorers. So when Sydney (Sydney Payne) lined up to wind up and take

a shot, I was like, ‘This is a great goalkeeper. It may ricochet off her.’ Luckily, it went right to me and I was wide open in front of goal. Then the second one, it was a corner kick and we work on it all the time where Courtney Verloo sends it in, and then Alex Doll shouldered the goalkeeper and was trying to get one. But luckily, I was right there and I had the easy job, and just tapped it in.”

Stanford’s senior class completed its home career with a 52-0-1 record. The victory also extended Stanford’s home unbeaten streak to 67 (65-0-2), second-longest in NCAA history.

“This whole season, we’ve played huge games and in front of a lot of people already,” said senior defender Rachel Quon. “It’s just another game that we have to put away, it’s business as usual and we’ll take it one game a time.

Quon hopes to conclude her career on Sunday in the finals. Should that happen, she’ll be joined by Annie Case, Lindsay Dickerson, Alina Garciamendez, Aly Gleason, Marjani Hing-Glover, Mariah Nogueira, Madeleine Thompson, Nina Watkins and Verloo, who has an extra year of eligibility if she wants.

Garciamendez, meanwhile, will finish her career having started every match in four years. She and Quon are among the 15 semifinalists for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious honor in collegiate soccer.

A national title, however, might be even better. N

njuries have prevented junior outside hitter Rachel Williams from duplicating last year’s successful season in which she earned All-American honorable mention status.

Williams has still appeared in about 75 percent of the 112 sets the Stanford women’s volleyball team has played this season. More importantly, she’s still one of the top threats in the nation when she’s healthy.

As the second-ranked Cardinal (27-3) prepares to open the NCAA tournament Friday night, Williams is as healthy as she’s been for a while and that’s good news for Stanford.

“She’s also had to learn a new position,” Cardinal coach John Dunning said. “She’s had to nurse some shoulder problems but now she’s strong and healthy.”

Stanford hosts Jackson State (2411) on Friday at 8 p.m., a match preceded by Loyola Marymount (1812) and Western Kentucky (32-3) at 5:30 p.m.

While postseason volleyball will be going on, the Pac-12 football championship game also will be in full swing at Stanford Stadium. Volleyball fans are encouraged to find alternate routes to Maples Pavilion.

Williams ranks fifth on the team with 173 kills and third with 72 total blocks. It was enough to earn her Pac-12 honorable mention this year.

Dunning has been forced to use her judiciously this season. For the most part, Williams sees action at crunch time and/or in the deciding set.

“She has stepped up for us,” said Dunning, who was named Pac12 Coach of the Year earlier this week.

Williams is also one of the 10 returning players whom Dunning calls the framework of the team.

“There is something special about those 10 returners,” Dunning said. “They fight through every set, practice hard every day and challenge each other. You can see how determined they are. They’ve been through this and understand how hard you have to play.”

When the five highly touted freshmen — the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class — entered Stanford in the fall, it was also the returning players who allowed an easy transition for them.

“They provided a wonderful meshing of returning experience with the incoming experience,” Dunning said. “The 10 players have created an atmosphere where challenges are dealt with as a team and not as an individual. They’ve all been remarkable.”

In many ways, it’s been a surprising season for Stanford, which was picked to finish second to UCLA in the preseason coaches’ poll despite having just four seniors on a team that would have to rely on the influx of freshmen.

The Cardinal lost its first five-set match of the year, at Penn State, and then came back to win its next four five-set matches, including two on the road in a conference typically considered to be the best in the nation.

The Pac-12 and Big 10 each qualified seven teams for the NCAA tournament, but only the Pac-12 can claim that its top five teams are all national seeds.

“We had to win a big match to know we could win a big match,” Dunning said of a five-set home victory over then No. 2 Oregon. “We had to fight back to do that. I think that’s when they thought they could do this. But then came USC and UCLA and winning builds confidence.”

The top five in kills — junior Carly Wopat, Williams and freshmen Jordan Burgess, Inky Aganaku and Brittany Howard — average just over 12 1/2 kills a set, an impressive number considering that’s half the needed points.

The next four in kills — Morgan Boukather, Lydia Bai, freshman Megan McGehee and senior Hayley Spelman — average nearly 5 1/2 kills per set, which means they are capable of providing big plays at critical moments.

Stanford became a defensive oriented team last year and has continued that through this season while adding offensive power.

Women’s basketball The top-ranked Cardinal (6-0) visits UC Davis (2-2) on Friday for a 7 p.m. nonconference contest before traveling to Gonzaga (6-1) for a 2 p.m. game Sunday.

The game in Spokane also will feature a sister vs. sister matchup.

Stanford senior Joslyn Tinkle and Gonzaga freshman Elle Tinkle face off from opposite sides of the court.

Joslyn is enjoying a career year in 2012-13, averaging 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 64.4 percent from the field. Elle has seen action in all seven of the team’s games, averaging 4.6 points over 8.7 minutes per game.

Men’s basketball Stanford junior guard-forward Anthony Brown will miss the remainder of the season due to a hip injury, Cardinal coach Johnny Dawkins said Wednesday. Luckily, Dawkins still has Andy Brown, who scored a career-high 17 points and had a career-best seven rebounds to help Stanford beat visiting Seattle, 68-57, in a nonconference game Wednesday night.

Stanford (5-3) hosts Denver in a nonconference game Sunday at 2 p.m.

Brown, who is scheduled to undergo surgery in mid-December, will apply for a medical redshirt.

Stanford also played without guard Aaron Bright for the fourth straight game. N

ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 27

Sports

Stanford football (continued from page 26)

David Bernal/isiphotos.com

the Cardinal will be facing the same team twice within a six-day period.

Coaches and players are taking the first-ever back-to-back showdown in stride.

“There’s no need to make vast changes to the game plan but we will go over it with a fine-tooth comb,” said Stanford coach David Shaw, named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. “You add some things and you delete some things. Our challenge is to make sure we don’t outsmart ourselves but to be diverse enough to change things we can do better, or that hurt us.”

One change for sure is in the Cardinal special teams personnel. Punter Daniel Zychlinski, also the team’s holder, will not play after suffering an injury on a big hit while punting against UCLA last week.

Junior Ben Rhyne will assume punting and holding duties. He averaged 39 yards on three kicks and was spotless on his holds.

Rhyne, an all-state punter from North Carolina, has been on the field before. He handled kickoff duties for the final three games of last year’s regular season in place of an ailing Jordan Williamson, and made 18 kickoffs overall.

Senior defensive tackle Terrence Stephens, meanwhile, will miss his second straight game due to personal reasons. He’s recorded three tackles for a loss, including one sack, among 10 tackles. His likely replacement is senior Josh Mauro, who has played in 33 games but has never started.

Mauro has 11 tackles on the season, 5 1/2 for a loss, including 4 1/2 sacks. He’s also recovered a pair of fumbles.

One cause for concern is turnovers. The Cardinal has coughed it up eight times over its past three games after losing the ball 10 times

Stanford senior linebacker Chase Thomas (44) made life miserable for UCLA freshman quarterback Brett Hundley (17) during the Cardinal’s 35-17 victory last weekend in Pasadena. The teams will meet again on Friday at Stanford with the Pac-12 Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl game at stake. over the first nine games. It could be an adjustment period for redshirt Kevin Hogan, who made the start at quarterback the past three games and beat three ranked opponents for the first time in school history.

Hogan has improved his efficiency in each of his starts and did throw an interception against the Bruins, though one interception was nullified because of a penalty.

“It drives you nuts,” Shaw said.

“We can’t keep turning the ball over and we can’t turn the ball over on a punt for negative yardage. We continue to concentrate on those things.”

No one could remember ever playing the same team twice within such a short span, even in high school. Hogan said Gonzaga Prep played the same team within two weeks.

“We know we put things on film and they study film just like we do,” Hogan said. “We’ll have to focus on things differently.”

Hogan has had an auspicious start to his college career. The championship game will be his fourth consecutive against a nationally ranked opponent.

“It’s been a good experience being out on the field with the guys,” he said. “The defense played great

Page 28ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

ing defense (71.3 per game yards allowed; Alabama was second at 77.0).

Tight end Zach Ertz and offensive lineman David Yankey were named to the all-conference offensive first team while running back Stepfan Taylor, and linemen Kevin Danser and Sam Schwartzstein were named to the second team offense.

Stanford placed 14 on the honorable mention list: DB Usua Amanam, DB Terrence Brown, DB Alex Carter, ST Alex Debniak, OL Cameron Fleming, RB Ryan Hewitt, QB Kevin Hogan, RS Ty Montgomery, DB Jordan Richards, LB Shayne Skov, DL Terrence Stephens, RS Drew Terrell, TE Levine Toilolo, and Zychlinski. N

Rob Ericson/isiphotos.com

David Bernal/isiphotos.com

Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) led the Cardinal to a third-straight victory over a ranked opponent for the first time ever and will be looking to make it four in a row on Friday against visiting UCLA.

and we’re moving the ball well right now.”

Trent Murphy, also a first team all-Pac-12 pick, understands how difficult it is to play, and beat, the same team twice in a season.

“We’re playing a team with a chip on its shoulder,” said Murphy, tied for third on the team with 51 tackles overall. “We get the opportunity to correct the mistakes we made, which is also a challenge. You have to show up for every game.

They probably have a few tricks we haven’t seen and I’m sure we’ll try some new things.”

Murphy leads the Cardinal with with 16 1/2 tackles for a loss, including a team-high 9 1/2 sacks. He’s been responsible for the opposition losing 81 yards.

“We have a party in the backfield,” joked Thomas, second in tackles with 58, including 12 for a loss. “We have great guys up front who can stop the run and get after the passer.”

The defense placed five guys on the first two all-Pac-12 teams. Defensive back Ed Reynolds was also a first-team defensive pick. Defensive linemen Henry Anderson and Ben Gardner were named to the defensive second team.

“Vic Fangio always brought a toolbox to practice and talked about working to build a good defense,” Murphy said. “(Derek) Mason has carried that forward with a few wrinkles of his own. We’ve developed high expectations for ourselves.”

Mason was named one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, which annually honors the top assistant college football coach in America.

The honor represents a seasonlong effort that produced the nation’s best team in sacks (4.42 per game average; Arizona State was second at 4.0) and tackles for loss (9.25 per game average; Arizona State was second at 8.83), and rush-

Anthony Wilkerson rushed for a TD in the win over UCLA.

Sports

Ives Decoration Day Harris Symphony No.3 Brahms Violin Concerto

Christina Mok

Violinist

8 pm Saturday December 8, 2012

Tickets:

$10- student $17- senior $20- general

Pre-concert talk at 7:30pm

Cubberley Theatre

at the door or online

4000 MiddleďŹ eld Rd Palo Alto, CA

www.paphil.org

Keith Peters

Sacred Heart Prep quarterback Kevin Donahoe (7) threw for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the Gatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 47-17 victory over No. 6 Soquel in the CCS Division IV football semifinals last Saturday in Atherton.

CCS football (continued from page 26)

ing for the first time ever in a CCS championship football game.

For those looking for a favorite, perhaps look no further than the 2012 Valpo Bowl results: Sacred Heart Prep 31, Menlo 28. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the third time we have made it to the final round of the playoffs, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited,â&#x20AC;? said SHP coach Pete Lavorato, who this week was named PAL Bay Division Coach of the Year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wonderful to get to the finals. There are not too many teams that can say that.â&#x20AC;?

Both Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo can say that after their big-time performances in the semifinals last weekend. The No. 2-seeded Gators (11-1) advanced thanks to a 47-17 victory over No. 6 Soquel (9-3) last Saturday in Atherton. Fourth-seeded Menlo (10-2) started the neighborhood party with a 41-27 upset of top-seeded and host Seaside (11-1) on Friday night.

The Gators have chance to set a school record for most single-season wins by winning on Saturday.

SHP finished 11-1-1 after losing to Sacred Heart Cathedral in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;08 finals. The Knights, meanwhile, will be looking for their first 11-win season in CCS. Menlo went 12-0 in 1990 while playing in the North Coast Section. The Knightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; current 10 wins are their most since joining the CCS. Menlo is averaging 48.5 points in two section wins while SHP is averaging 46 points per game in the postseason.

What has carried the Gators this season, however, is defense. That was the case once again against Soquel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought the defense today controlled their running back today,â&#x20AC;?

MENLO-SHP IN CCS FOOTBALL The Menlo School and Sacred Heart Prep football teams have played three times in the Central Coast Section playoffs. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look at the highlights of those games: 2010: SHP 28, Menlo School 14 Pedro Robinson gave up tennis for a senior year of football and it paid off he rushed for 177 yards and scored twice as the No. 2-seeded Gators (10-2) gained some revenge with a victory over the Knights in the Division IV semifinals. Colin Terndrup added another 156 yards and the Gators punched a 394-yard rushing hole through the Menlo defense. Sacred Heart beat the Knights, 35-7, in the Valpo Bowl three weeks earlier but Menlo had other plans and took a 14-13 lead early in the third quarter, marching 63 yards in six plays, with Robert Wickers throwing a 24-yard scoring strike to Tim Benton.

Menlo also lost a chance at a possible game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter when SHPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Robert Ojeda recovered on the Gatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; six-yard line just three plays after Benton caught a 33-yard option pass from Carson Badger. Menlo trailed at the time, 21-14 with 10:20 left. Three plays after Ojeda recovered the fumble, and with the Gators facing a third-and-3 at their own 13, Robinson burst through the line for a 64-yard gain that ultimately led to a one-yard TD run by Robinson and a 28-14 lead with 7:05 remaining. The Knights just never had an answer for the devastating running attack, even if the Gators missed Tyler McCool, who suffered a hip pointer, in the second half.

2009: Menlo School 20, SHP 14 Two big defensive plays and a touchdown from special teams vaulted Menlo School past Sacred Heart Prep and into the CCS Division IV championship game against unbeaten Carmel. Ryan Stastny recovered two fumbles, the first for a firstquarter touchdown after a nine-yard run, and the second at the Menlo 9 with less than 45 seconds remaining in the game to prevent the Gators from driving for the tying score. Menloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game-clinching fumble recovery was caused by a solid hit delivered by defensive back Phil Ander-

Lavorato said of Soquel senior Fabiano Hale. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Offensively, we ran the ball well, too.â&#x20AC;?

Hale finished the season with

son, which sent the ball back toward the backfield to thwart a second-and-one run from the 9-yard-line. The defensive stand allowed Clay Robbinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 91-yard kick return with 21 seconds left in the third quarter to hold up as the winning margin. Menlo (9-3) earned its first-ever trip to the CCS finals and its second victory of the season over Sacred Heart Prep (8-4) by recovering four of the Gatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eight fumbles and preventing Prepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running game from getting any rhythm until late in the first half. Menloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offense was best in the first half when Kenny Diekroeger completed eight of his first nine passes. Overall, Diekroeger completed 16 of 23 passes for 237 yards and was Menloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading rusher with 21 yards.

Tim Benton was Menloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top receiver with seven catches for 102 yards. Robbins had six catches for 92 yards. Both Chris Gaertner (153) and Matt Walter (126) rushed for more than 100 yards for SHP. 2008: SHP 49, Menlo School 21 In a season of significant firsts for Sacred Heart Prep, the Gators may have earned their most significant with a victory over Menlo School in the opening round of the CCS Small School playoffs.

In its first year of football in the CCS, the Gators have a league title and a playoff victory. SHP scored four consecutive touchdowns in a nine minute span over the third and fourth quarters to break away from the Knights and earn its second victory over Menlo (6-5) in as many weeks. The Gators edged Menlo, 28-20, in the Valparaiso Bowl. This time there was more at stake than bragging rights. Sacred Heart (10-0-1) advanced to the semifinals and extended its unbeaten streak by gaining 529 yards on offense. Equally important, Prep avoided any turnovers while Menlo lost four. The Gators ran for 390 yards, led

by Victor Ojedaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 142 yards on 14 carries and Matt Bocciâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 122 yards on 10 carries.

Both scored a pair of touchdowns. Prepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passing was efficient. Quarterback Ryan Sakowski completed six of 13 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Menlo quarterback Danny Diekroeger used six different receivers to throw for 359 yards and a touchdown. Menlo finished with 455 yards of offense.

Santa Cruz County record of 2,340 yards and 41 touchdowns. Hale was

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Home is where the heart is.

Sports

CCS football (continued from previous page)

So who says you have to leave it just because you’ve gotten older? Avenidas Village can help you stay in the home you love.

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NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING of the Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission Please be advised the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) shall conduct a public meeting at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 12, 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. Parking Presentation: Discussion on parking strategies previously discussed with the City Council including Parking Program updates for the Downtown & California Avenue Business Districts and residential policy considerations.

2. Highway 101 Pedestrian Bicycle Overpass Project: Request

by Palo Alto Public Works Engineering for Study Session review of the conceptual designs for the Highway 101 Pedestrian/Bicycle overcrossing alignments and request for additional scoping input for preliminary design and environmental studies.

Public Hearing

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 Page 30ÊUÊ Ûi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V

Marine Hall-Poirier

Jack Heneghan

Priory School

Menlo School

The junior outside hitter produced 34 kills and 24 digs in two volleyball victories as the No. 2-seeded Panthers advanced to the championship match of the CIF Northern California Division V playoffs.

The junior quarterback completed 22 of 37 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns to spark the No. 4 Knights to a 41-27 football win over No. 1 seed Seaside to reach the CCS Division IV title game.

Honorable mention Sonia Abuel-Saud* Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Victoria Garrick Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Clara Johnson

Travis Chambers Menlo football

Kevin Donahoe Sacred Heart Prep football

Will King

Priory volleyball

Menlo football

Cammie Merten

Andrew Segre

Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Ellie Shannon Sacred Heart Prep volleyball

Sacred Heart Prep football

Rex Shannon Sacred Heart Prep football

Briana Willhite

Connor Stastny

Priory volleyball

Menlo football * previous winner

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

while trying to rally the Spartans from a 14-point deficit.

Heneghan opened with an eightyard TD pass to Peter Bouret in the first quarter, but Seaside countered with a 28-yard scoring toss from Turner to his younger brother, Ronald.

The Knights grabbed the lead back when Travis Chambers caught an 11-yard TD pass from Heneghan.

Menlo made it a 20-7 game when Matt Bradley tossed a halfback option pass to Connor Stastny for a 17yard score.

After Seaside rallied with a TD to make it 20-14, Heneghan went back to work and found Chambers for a six-yard scoring toss to make it 2714. The Spartans, however, scored once again just before halftime and Menlo took a 27-20 lead into halftime.

Menlo opened the second half with what turned out to be the deciding touchdown when Will King grabbed a Seaside punt that had hit another Menlo player and strolled into the end zone from five yards for a 34-20 lead.

Stastny and Heneghan hooked up later for a 17-yard touchdown to put the icing on the Knights’ celebratory cake. Stastny, the 2012 Wide Receiver of the Year in the PAL

Keith Peters

3. Draft Density Bonus Ordinance Review: Request by Planning Division staff for PTC review and recommendation to City Council for the adoption of the draft Density Bonus Ordinance with Menu of Concessions

held to 125 yards by Sacred Heart’s tenacious defense, which limited the Knights to their lowest scoring total of the season. Soquel had been averaging 43 points a game.

Mike Covell (14 tackles), Paul Westcott (13) plus Daniel Thaure (10), Nick Salzman (10) and Ben Burr-Kirven led the defensive effort. Thaure this week was named PAL Bay Division Defensive Player of the Year.

Sacred Heart Prep came into the game limiting opponents to an average of 9.5 points a game, the best defensive mark in the CCS. The Gators came out strong with junior Andrew Segre scoring on a nine-yard run on the very first possession. On their second drive of the game, senior quarterback Kevin Donahoe connected with wide receiver Rex Shannon for an 81-yard touchdown putting SHP up 14-3 after the first quarter. Shannon, who came into the game with 285 yards and three touchdowns, finished with 134 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

“Kevin Donahoe played absolutely unbelievable,” said Shannon. “He threw some great balls, so I’ve got to give the credit to him.”

Donahoe found a wide-open Shannon again for a 22-yard touchdown putting the Gators up 33-10 to end the first half. Donahoe completed 5-of-6 passes for 151 yards in the first half alone and finished 6-of-7 for 166.

The strong Sacred Heart running game came into full effect in the second half when Segre ran in for a 14-yard touchdown to widen the gap for the Gators, 40-17. Segre and senior Ryan Gaertner combined for 242 total yards, with Gaertner leading the way with 135 yards on 18 carries.

In the fourth quarter Segre muscled his way in for a four-yard touchdown to put the Gators up 47-17, He finished with 107 yards and three touchdowns as the Gators gained 301 on the ground.

“I can’t describe how excited I am,” said Donahoe. “Our whole goal this year was to make it to CCS finals, and then the fact that we play a team that’s our crosstown rival — it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

A night earlier, Menlo School advanced to its second-ever CC championship game by ruining Seaside’s perfect season. Menlo last reached the CCS finals in 2009.

Menlo junior quarterback Jack Heneghan continued his sensational season by completing 22 of 37 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions to ruin the Spartans” perfect season (11-1).

Heneghan now has thrown for 2,698 yards and 33 touchdowns this season. This week he was named Offensive Player of the Year in the PAL Ocean Division.

Equally important, Heneghan converted seven of 10 third- or fourth-down plays for first downs in the final 15 minutes of the game.

Seaside quarterback Michael Turner completed 12 of 20 passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns.

However, Turner threw a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Menlo’s Jack Heneghan has thrown for 2,698 yards and 33 TDs. Ocean Division, finished with seven catches for 89 yards. Teammate Max Parker was named Special Teams Player of the Year.

For Menlo to beat Sacred Heart Prep, Heneghan needs to continue his outstanding season and the Knights need to play error-free ball.

For the Gators to win, they must stop Heneghan and force Menlo into turnovers. Just like in the Valpo Bowl. N

Sports Serving

Volleyball (continued from page 26)

Keith Peters

while No. 3 Harbor ended its season at 34-7. The Gators advanced to the state finals on Saturday at Concordia University in Irvine (12:30 p.m.) against SoCal No. 1 seed Francis Parker of San Diego (36-2).

“We’ve been looking forward to this match the whole season,” said Sonia Abuel-Saud. “We never want to overlook any teams, but right now we’re just so thrilled that we made it to this point and we’re going to state as a team.”

The championship matchup will pit the top two Division IV teams in the state, according to the Freeman rankings on Maxpreps. Sacred Heart Prep is No. 1 and Francis Parker is No. 2. The Gators also are ranked No. 9 overall in the state and No. 38 in the nation while Francis Parker is No. 12 in the state and No. 44 nationally.

The last time the Gators were in the state finals was in 2010, when they lost in the title match to La Jolla Country Day. Abuel-Saud played on that squad along with current seniors Ellie Shannon, Payton Smith and Helen Gannon.

“We wanted to get back to the state finals so we could redeem ourselves,” said Shannon. “We have much more depth this year; we’re an older, more experienced team.”

Previously, SHP won state titles in 1995 and ‘96. Francis Parker last won the Division IV state crown in 2005 and is 6-2 all-time in state finals.

SHP senior Sonia Abuel-Saud had 21 kills in the NorCal finals.

The Gators’ offense started off strong with a 8-3 run with kills from Abuel-Saud and senior Payton Smith. The senior duo combined for nine kills and rallied Sacred Heart to the Game 1 win. Both had big games; Abuel-Saud finished with 21 kills and 20 digs while Smith had 14 kills and seven blocks.

Game 2 belonged to the Gators right out of the gate. The offense was unstoppable and started off on a 16-3 with hard-hit kills from Smith and Shannon.

“The first two games were the best volleyball we’ve played all year,” said SHP coach Damien Hardy.

Harbor made a comeback in Game 3 with senior Molly Tobin contributing nine kills for the Pirates. The

Gators tried to make a late comeback but failed when a spiked ball was hit off senior Cammie Merten and gave the Pirates the 25-23 win.

Merten had a huge night with a total of 54 assists, one shy of her season high. Gannon provided 23 digs.

Sacred Heart sophomore Victoria Garrick got hot late in Game 4 when she rallied for four kills. She finished with 14 in the match plus 21 digs. The Pirates attempted a late comeback, but Hardy called a timeout to stop the rally.

“We were saying (during the timeout) that the only way we were going to win is if we win together,” said Smith. “That motivated us and we pulled it out — we were so excited.”

After the timeout, Smith came through and smashed the ball past the Harbor defense to give Sacred Heart the 25-22 win.

“That’s a great team over there (Harbor),” Hardy said. “I’m sure they came in wanting it as well.

Maybe we just wanted it a little more tonight.”

In the NorCal Division V title match at College of Marin, No. 2 seed Priory (23-9) saw its fine season end in a 25-17, 25-15, 25-11 loss to No. 1 seed and three-time defending state champion Branson (38-2).

Priory junior Marine Hall-Poirier had 11 kills to pace the Panthers, the CCS Division V champs.

The match was the final one for Priory seniors Angelina Laus, Emily Tonogai, Briana Willhite, Stephanie Brugger, Catie Ross, Stephanie Swan, Clara Johnson and Liz Oliphant. N

Preschool - 4th Grade 2 0 13 - 2 0 14

Nurturing Minds and Hearts Come grow with us

Ventana is an Episcopal school taking its inspiration from the schools of Reggio Emilia and other progressive models which encourage artistic expression, critical thinking and hands-on investigative learning.

Elementary School Information Night November 29, 2012 Kindergarten: 6 – 7pm Elementary: 7– 8pm

Kindergarten Readiness Discussion Panel January 10, 2013, 6:30 – 8pm

Elementary School Open House January 17, 2013, 7 – 8:30pm

Limited spaces available for current year.

Young 5s, Grades 1-3

To RSVP, or schedule a tour, call 650.948.2121 or email:ventanaschool@ccla.us 1040 Border Road, Los Altos

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SOLD 530 Menlo Oaks, Menlo Park represented buyer Beds 3 | Baths 3 | Home ~ 1,720 sq. ft. | Lot ~ 12,420 sq. ft. www.schoelerman.com

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Photos by Noah Berger

n l ia tio y ec ec by il Sp ut S ed Fam r O c d te ll- du oo en Pu Pro sw h C n lt ve ea Ra H

Celebrating Service to the Community

Dear Friends,

I

Luisa Buada

Chief Executive Officer

n 2012 Ravenswood Family Health Center was “catapulted” into the mainstream of health care reform.

We were awarded a 3-year Health Care Innovation grant by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to demonstrate that early intervention at the primary care level with higher risk chronic disease patients can potentially save the system up to $6.2 million.

No longer on the periphery of the health care system, what happens at the primary care level in East Palo Alto and inner city and rural clinics throughout the country can have a huge impact on the health care system as it approaches the “fiscal cliff” predicted by upward trends in obesity, diabetes and an aging population of chronically ill.

The capacity of primary care clinics to zero in on local needs and implement specific strategies for a given population is particularly relevant when it comes

to controlling health care costs. Health policy analysts are looking closely at where primary care can really make a dent. “Hot spotting” is a phrase popularized by Atul Gawande. He wrote an article about Dr. Jeffrey Brenner, a family practice physician who isolated the “hot spots” in Camden, New Jersey where the highest cost and sickest people lived. He then mobilized his team to provide medical care and social services and in some cases reduced the cost of their care by almost half.

As a veteran in the decades long effort to improve the health of the most vulnerable, I’m convinced that we cannot fix the health care system if we don’t change the ingrained notion that health care will “fix me when I’m broken.”

No doctor can fix someone who isn’t truly invested in becoming healthy. The spotlight is now on the patient as the agent of change and the medical provider as a facilitator. When wellness is the purpose of health care, treating illness is

secondary. A team with a health coach, medical and behavioral health clinicians, and social service support replaces the traditional doctor’s appointment.

In this newsletter we share with you several of our major achievements with the adoption of electronic health records and the initiation of our Virtual Dental Home at Head Start.

Wishing you and your loved ones happy holidays.

Luisa Buada Chief Executive Officer

Ravenswood Family Health Center

1

Ravenswood Family Health Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to improve the health status of the community we serve by providing high quality, culturally competent primary and preventive health care to people of all ages regardless of ability to pay. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mission Statement Photos by Federica Armstrong and Noah Berger

Board of Directors

Head Start in Oral Health

-ELIENI 4ALAKAI #HAIR

abriel Iquite is a three-year-old at Head Start in Menlo Park. He sits facing classmates as a dental assistant coaxes him to open wide so that she can take a photo of his teeth with a mirror and a small camera. His classmate demonstrates just how wide it should be.

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has been on developing ways to help people who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go into a dental office or receive care in a traditional manner.â&#x20AC;?

Among the first populations he worked with were people with developmental disabilities and complex medical problems such as cerebral palsy.

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Virtual Dental Home

ith their parent's consent, children at Head Start can receive oral W health screening, risk assessment and preventive care. They are part of a pioneering tele-health project referred to as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Virtual Dental Home.â&#x20AC;? Instead of a dentist, a specially trained team includes a dental hygienist in advanced practice and a dental assistant who use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools including an intra-oral camera, a hand-held xray, and a computer. The dental records for Gabriel will be uploaded to a cloudbased electronic site where a dentist at Ravenswood Family Dentistry will review them and recommend a treatment plan if further care is needed.

This 21st century tele-health model of delivering dental services to underserved population is the brainchild of Dr. Paul Glassman, director of the Pacific Center for Special Care at the University of Pacific Dental School. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My focus

Dr. Yogita Thakur, dental director at Ravenswood Family Dentistry, was familiar with Dr. Glasssmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. She spearheaded the formation of a partnership with the University of Pacific and recruited the Institute for Human and Social Development which oversees Head Start programs in the County to develop a way to offer early assessment and prevention in low-income communities where dental decay is the most prevalent chronic condition in children. The two-year project is funded by First Five San Mateo and will enable 525 children enrolled in Head Start and 100 children with special needs in home-based Head Start to receive care.

No Fear Here

Head Start pre-school environment A is far removed from the stainless steel apparatus-filled dental office that can be daunting for a three or four-yearold child. What surprises you at Head

Crossing the Digital Divide

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Celebrating Service to the Community

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Start is how at ease the children seem to be. Janelle laughs as the Dental Hygienist prepares her for a teeth cleaning. The hygienist lets her try the water spray and then holds the vibrating dental brush so that it lightly tickles Janelleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand before she begins to clean her teeth with it. Finally, she ends the exam by showing Janelle a picture of her teeth on the computer. From a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, it becomes an adventure without the fear factor.

Dr. Glassman and Dr. Thakur are pleased about this â&#x20AC;&#x153;happy accidentâ&#x20AC;? resulting from the delivery of oral care in the context of Head Startâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playful preschool environment. Dr. Glassman has written a lot about fear of dental care and seen the lifelong negative effects of early dental trauma. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of kids from low-income families only get to see a dentist when they have a bad toothache.

When they do go, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a terrible experience and they learn to be terrified of dentists. Then they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go back unless they have to. It can set up a lifetime of bad habits and neglect.â&#x20AC;?

Providing children with an early positive dental experience in a setting where they are comfortable is one of the best ways to get people to have a lifetime of dental health. He adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably as important as anything else we do in this setting.â&#x20AC;?

igrating from handwritten medical charts to the digital age of electronic health records (EHR) is by all accounts a big deal for any health care institution. By the time Ravenswood took the leap, it had long ago run out of space for medical charts. With over 35,000 patients registered since 2001, thousands of charts for patients not seen in two years had to be stored off site and retrieved by â&#x20AC;&#x153;runnersâ&#x20AC;? when the patient reappeared after a long absence.

Ravenswood approached the process with the careful planning of a military operation. The staff had hours of

Ravenswood Family Health Center

advanced training and practice with the new EHR system, called NextGen. But that is not the real battle in converting

over to EHR. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What makes it so challenging,â&#x20AC;? says Associate Medical Director Dr. Justin Wu who led the migration at Ravenswood, â&#x20AC;&#x153;is that you are really changing the way you work and people have to mold their previously learned workflows to how the system is designed. The software can be defining and limiting. It asks people to be flexible, but human nature is difficult to change.â&#x20AC;?

Dr. Wu notes that the adoption of EHR is a key component in health care reform and that it is heralded for many Crossing continues on next page

What we do Provide integrated, coordinated primary health care to lowincome and uninsured residents of southeast San Mateo County

Women Stand by Each Other

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Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women,

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accounting for nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in U.S. women.

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his loyal team rallies around one of Ravenswoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own breast cancer survivors, Tesla Oretga, RN, in support of Race for the Cure.

Breast cancer is a universal concern since most women have a friend or relative who has been affected.

Early detection saves thousands of lives each year. At Ravenswood, it is a priority goal to ensure women 40 years and older get a mammogram every two years. But until Ravenswoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new facility is completed in 2015, which will have imaging, Ravenswood has relied for mammograms on the Community Mammography Access Program which sends a mobile van to the clinic six times a year, and San Mateo Medical Center. This can be a 5 month wait to be seen. However, this leaves a lot of women without access. So when Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) reached out to Ravenswood offering mammograms for 250 patients in its state-of-the-art Breast Imaging Center, RFHC accepted and coordinated with their liaison Janet Lederer, Vice President, Education.

Getting a mammogram may be routine, but one can be â&#x20AC;&#x153;on edgeâ&#x20AC;? waiting for the results. If the mammogram looks suspicious and you are told that you need to come back, fear kicks in as it did with Nahida, a vibrant 50 year old. She was babysitting two grandchildren when a member of Ravenswoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Services team Vania Garcia called to tell her that the mammogram report came back and she needed a follow-up ultrasound.

Nahida says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything went black.

I was so scared. And when she told me that the appointment at San Mateo Medical Center would be in 4 weeks, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bear the idea of not knowing for a whole month. Not knowing is enough to break you in pieces.â&#x20AC;?

Collective Compassion Kicks In Nahidaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother had passed away from breast cancer at the age of 49.

Nahida couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be with her mother at the end because as a single parent with three children she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford the trip to Palestine. Given her intense anxiety, Vania consulted with her supervisor and they called the PAMF Breast Imaging Coordinator, Cheryl Hogue to see if they could make room for Nahida. That was Friday. On Monday they called back with an appointment the following day. The ultrasound confirmed there was a cyst, but the radiologist determined it was benign.

Nahidaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former anxiety changed to grateful enthusiasm for the way people came together to help her.

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Early Detection Remains a Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Defense

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At 42, SeĂąora Morenoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk for breast cancer was very low; she had no symptoms at all. But as a matter of course, her medical provider Gabriela Guerrero, FNP recommended a routine mammogram offered to RFHC patients on a Saturday in October at Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

tem. When it came time for the main clinic to Go Live in September, the event was celebrated with a bang as

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Several days after her mammogram, she was called back for an ultrasound that revealed a very small 7 mm tumor that was immediately biopsied. She was referred to Stanford for treatment. After a surgical lumpectomy, she underwent 28 straight days of radiation.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even when I had my surgery I felt positive. Everything was so quick, the care was super wonderful.â&#x20AC;?

In retrospect, she is proud of herself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A strength and peace carried me through.â&#x20AC;? Now she has joined the ranks of the 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. and has become an advocate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very important to get your mammogram at an early age like 40. When you find cancer when it is very tiny everything will be much easier and recovery is much faster.â&#x20AC;&#x153;

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Crossing the Digital Divide continued reasons. One of the chief reasons is that data can be gathered to analyze our patient populations on many measures that are critical to understanding how well we are succeeding with the health care Ravenswood provides.

Our migration rolled forward in stages. The first to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go Liveâ&#x20AC;? was the Belle Haven Clinic in May 2012. Like a reconnaissance team, it uncovered the hitches and glitches of the new sys-

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team members snapped party favors that popped like a bunch of fire crackers. When the clinic opened its doors that day, EHR took over, eliminating forever the venerable but bulky paper medical charts.

Now that Ravenswood is on the other side of the digital divide and looking back, the medical chart with scrawled doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notes is an anachronism that, for the most part, is gladly left behind.

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Spotlight on Volunteers

Judy Brody Volunteer with a generous heart

Ride for Ravenswood!

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he 4th Annual Ride for Ravenswood, presented by Wells Fargo Technology and Venture Banking, was held Saturday, October 6th. For the fourth year, the event was hosted at the Brody home in Atherton, where the Ride begins and ends.

Cyclists, walkers and volunteers came together to share in the effort of raising funds to support Ravenswood Family Health Center.

Their enthusiastic participation raised over $40,000 for the cause of promoting health and wellness for the low-income communities that Ravenswood serves.

The Ride for Ravenswood drew a number of notable sponsors for the event: Wells Fargo Technology and Venture Banking, The Brody Family, Orix Foundation, Baxter International, California Healthcare Foundation, The El Camino Hospital Foundation, Sand Hill Global Advisors, Sequoia Benefits, Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Northern California Cycling Foundation.

Stanford Recognizes Outstanding Community Partners

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avenswood Family Health Center received dual honors at the 11th Annual Community Health Symposium on November 8th that was co-hosted by the Stanford School of Medicine and Stanford Office of Community Health. The Office of Community Health sponsors an integration of research and clinical training programs. The symposium featured 39 student projects that related to community health.

Rhonda M c Clinton Brown, Executive Director

health of underserved populations. Ravenswood was honored for its ongoing partnership with Stanford Medical School in providing clinical training to students and interns. Rebecca Pinto, Physician AssisMedical student Ulysses Rosas presents the tant in Family Practice at award to RFHC's Rebecca Pinto, PA Ravenswood, was recof the Office of Community ognized for excellence in Health, announced the Out- mentoring Stanford interns. standing Community Part- Noted for her commitment ner Award which recognizes to community health and community-based agen- womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services, she has cies that support Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a dynamic way of engagmission to build a cadre of ing and training young leaders to help improve the clinicians.

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Visit our website to donate online

www.ravenswoodfhc.org

Julie Brody welcoming guests at the Ride for Ravenswood

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ach year, Julie Brody collaborates with Ravenswood Family Health Center and its Development Committee to host the annual Ride for Ravenswood. In addition to their personal support of RFHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs and services, Julie and her family have dedicated their time and talent to grow the cycling event, making it a signature event for Ravenswood, drawing more participants and raising more money each year.

We asked Julie a few questions about how she was introduced to Ravenswood.

Why Ravenswood?

I got involved with Ravenswood because I knew Melieni Talakai, RFHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board Chair, who was a mom at our school. We are both Registered Nurses and we bonded through our kids.

I knew what an amazing person she was, and also that she was raising five children in East Palo Alto. I knew that she had many challenges, but that she was actively working at Ravenswood and was doing an amazing job raising her family. I had nothing but respect and love for her and I told her that I would help out if needed. She contacted me and I decided to do what I could for the organization.

What advice do you have for people who want to get involved?

There are many ways to get involved. If you have the means â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of money â&#x20AC;&#x201C; every little bit adds up.

Imagine if thousands of people gave even $25! Maybe you have time to volunteer or you speak fluent Spanish, or another Pacific Island language and can act as a translator. If you and your family have always had medical care available, put yourself in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoes for a moment that does not have access to care.

It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help our society when people are being marginalized and ignored. It is also more expensive in the long run for all of us to pay for costly emergency care that occurs when someone has long neglected health care needs.

What do you love most about volunteering with Ravenswood?

What I love most about Ravenswood is that it provides quality health care for people that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford it. I love that Ravenswood is staffed with people that care and love their jobs because they are serving others. Ravenswood is growing fast, but we still canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accommodate everyone that needs to be served.

See our latest videos at www.ravenswoodfhc.org