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Palo Alto Weekly 07.16.2010 - Section1
Section 1 of the July 16, 2010 edition of the Palo Alto Weekly
Palo Alto INSIDE THIS ISSUE Official Program Guide Connoisseurs' Marketplace 24th Annual Connoisseurs' Marketplace July 17 - 18 Saturday & Sunday Santa Cruz Avenue Menlo Park Presented by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce w w w.PaloA ltoOnline.com SURVIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY Aging service clubs seek new members Page 16 GENERAL EXCELLENCE California Newspaper Publishers Association 1ST PLACE Spectrum 14 Eating Out 25 Movies 31 Puzzles 56 Page 27 Page 33 Page 37 Arts Vintage Vehicles festival returns to Palo Alto Sports Baseball teams continue postseason Home A Japanese garden grows in College Terrace Photography by Frank Gaglione; Physician: George A. Fisher, Jr., MD, PhD; Patient: Gary Grandmaison STAND FOR STANFORD MEDICINE ARRANGING YOUR RETIREMENT TO REFLECT YOUR VALUES, YOUR NEEDS AND THE IMPACT YOU SEEK TO HAVE IN THE WORLD IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES, CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF A STANFORD MEDICINE GIFT ANNUITY: With a gift annuity of $20,000 or more, Stanford makes fixed annual payments to you or a loved one for life Receive a tax deduction and possible future tax savings It's easy to set up Support Stanford University School of Medicine's world-class medical research and education STANFORD GIFT ANNUITIES Current Single-Life Rates Age 65 75 85 Rate (%) 5.5 6.4 8.1 TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US. Stanford University School of Medicine Office of Planned Giving Carol J. Kersten, JD 650.725.5524 firstname.lastname@example.com http://pgmed.stanford.edu Page 2 Upfront City revisits 1978 provision in response to Santa Clara County Grand Jury report by Gennady Sheyner alo Alto officials may soon ask city voters to repeal a local law that requires the city and its police officers and firefighters to seek third-party arbitration if BEST LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE California Newspaper Publishers Association 1ST PLACE Local news, information and analysis Palo Alto to scrap `binding arbitration' for labor disputes? P their contract negotiations collapse, the Weekly has learned. The "binding arbitration" provision has been in the City Charter since 1978, when voters approved it as a way to prohibit Palo Alto police officers and firefighters from striking if contract negotiations stall. Since then, however, court rulings and changes to California's labor code have made it illegal for publicsafety workers to strike, prompting city and county officials to take a fresh look at binding-arbitration provisions in their charters. A new report from a Santa Clara County Grand Jury, which evaluated employee costs in local cities, criticizes binding-arbitration provisions and recommends that San Jose give its voters an opportunity to repeal the provision. The Palo Alto City Council is scheduled to discuss the report Monday night. Mayor Pat Burt told the Weekly that the report's findings are relevant to Palo Alto, which last month be- gan contract negotiations with Palo Alto Professional Firefighters, Local 1319. Burt said the city still has time to place a binding-arbitration repeal on the November ballot this year if the council decides to do so. The issue of binding arbitration has become more pertinent because of the firefighters' own ballot initiative, which would require the city to hold a citywide vote any time it wants (continued on page 10) CRIME Trial set for Zumot Palo Alto hookah-shop owner to face jury in September on murder charge by Gennady Sheyner ulos Zumot, owner of the downtown Palo Alto shop Da Hookah Spot, will go to trial on arson and murder charges in September despite last-minute arguments by his attorney Tuesday morning that evidence implicating Zumot is nonexistent. Zumot, 36, has been held without bail since Oct. 19, 2009, when Palo Alto police charged him with strangling his girlfriend, 29-yearold Jennifer Schipsi, and torching their shared cottage on Addison Avenue on Oct. 15 to hide the evidence. Zumot's attorney, Mark Geragos, downplayed the significance of police evidence -- which includes various accounts of the fight Schipsi and Zumot had the night before the fire; their history of domestic violence; and the fact that a trained police dog named Rosie smelled accelerant on several articles of Zumot's clothing -- and asked Santa Clara County Judge David Cena to dismiss the case. Police arrested Zumot after a Santa Clara County medical examiner determined that a bone in Schipsi's neck had been broken before the fire and that there was no smoke in her lungs or airways. Police also found what they believed to be a melted gas can near the bed where Schipsi's body was found and reported a strong smell of gasoline emanating from the victim's body. The coroner concluded Schipsi was dead before the fire was started. After hearing testimony from seven police officers on Monday and Tuesday, Cena ruled that there is "sufficient cause" to believe Zu(continued on page 6) B Kimihiro Hoshino Measures are being taken to protect the small farm at Ohlone Elementary School -- with its sheep, goats, chickens and bees -- during construction of the new two-story classroom building. EDUCATION Ohlone Farm prepares for construction Sheep, goats and garden will weather building of adjacent, two-story classroom structure by Chris Kenrick W hen kids head back to Ohlone Elementa r y School Aug. 24, they'll encounter their new teachers, the pigs, goats and chickens on the school's beloved farm -- and a major construction site. Work will begin on a new, twostory classroom building adjacent to the school's library and farm on ground that previously held portable classrooms used for after-school day care. The new eco-friendly building, with 12 classrooms and a planted roof that will be accessible to students, should be ready for occupancy on Valentine's Day of 2012, school officials said. "When we're finished we're going to have an exemplary building. Everybody's going to love the architecture and the green roof," the Palo Alto school dis- trict's Co-Chief Business Officer Robert Golton said. "It's going to be educational and sustainable." In the meantime, caretakers of the 15 chickens, two sheep, two goats and two beehives that occupy the Ohlone Farm are ready to take extra steps to protect their charges, if necessary. "We're hoping the bees will live through the construction because they tend to be quite sensitive to construction noise and dirt," science teacher and farm coordinator Tanya Buxton said. Buxton said farm managers and volunteers studied the architect's daylight and shade analysis to make sure the farm's garden and orchard area would continue to receive maximum sunlight. The 25-year-old Ohlone Farm long has been a centerpiece of the school's "developmentally based" curriculum. Each class spends at least 45 minutes a week on the farm, which, in addition to animals, contains a gazebo, special teaching area, greenhouse, orchard, vegetable garden and "butterfly garden" planted with lavender, cosmos, marigolds and petunias. The 1-acre vegetable garden currently holds pumpkins, tomatoes, sunflowers, corn, squash and cucumbers. The orchard is planted with plum, apricot, apple, pear and fig trees. Families volunteer to visit the animals each morning and to take them in and feed them each evening, on weekends and holidays. The school holds a weekend workday each month to take care of more significant chores. "It definitely takes the whole community to make it run," said (continued on page 9) Page 3 DEBORAH'S PALM D E B O R A H S P A L M . O R G Upfront 450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Jocelyn Dong, Managing Editor Carol Blitzer, Associate Editor Keith Peters, Sports Editor Tyler Hanley, ExpressTM and Online Editor Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Chris Kenrick, Gennady Sheyner, Staff Writers Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections Editor Karla Kane, Editorial Assistant Veronica Weber, Staff Photographer Dale Bentson, Colin Becht, Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, Sheila Himmel, Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Renata Polt, Jeanie Forte Smith, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors Katia Savchuk, Carolyn Copeland, Robin Migdol, Piyawan Rungsuk, Ryan Deto, Georgia Wells, Coryanne Hicks, Angela Chen, Sophie Stid Editorial Interns DESIGN Shannon Corey, Design Director Raul Perez, Assistant Design Director Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Scott Peterson, Paul Llewellyn, Senior Designers Gary Vennarucci, Designer PRODUCTION Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager Dorothy Hassett, Samantha Mejia, Blanca Yoc, Sales & Production Coordinators ADVERTISING Walter Kupiec, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Judie Block, Esmeralda Flores, Janice Hoogner, Gary Whitman, Display Advertising Sales Neil Fine, Rosemary Lewkowitz, Real Estate Advertising Sales David Cirner, Irene Schwartz, Inside Advertising Sales Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Asst. Diane Martin, Real Estate Advertising Assistants Alicia Santillan, Classified Administrative Asst. EXPRESS, ONLINE AND VIDEO SERVICES Rachel Palmer, Online Operations Coordinator BUSINESS Penelope Ng, Payroll & Benefits Manager Elena Dineva, Mary McDonald, Cathy Stringari, Susie Ochoa, Doris Taylor, Business Associates ADMINISTRATION Amy Renalds, Assistant to the Publisher & Promotions Director Janice Covolo, Receptionist Ruben Espinoza, Courier EMBARCADERO PUBLISHING CO. William S. Johnson, President Michael I. Naar, Vice President & CFO Walter Kupiec, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Frank A. Bravo, Director, Information Technology & Webmaster Connie Jo Cotton, Major Accounts Sales Manager Bob Lampkin, Director, Circulation & Mailing Services Alicia Santillan, Circulation Assistants Chris Planessi, Chip Poedjosoedarmo, Computer System Associates The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every Friday by Embarcadero Publishing Co., 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County. The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered free to homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and to portions of Los Altos Hills. If you are not currently receiving the paper, you may request free delivery by calling 326-8210. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Copyright �2010 by Embarcadero Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Printed by SFOP, Redwood City. The Palo Alto Weekly is available on the Internet via Palo Alto Online at: www.PaloAltoOnline.com Our e-mail addresses are: email@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com. Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? Call 650 326-8210, or e-mail circulation@paweekly. com. You may also subscribe online at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $60/yr. Speakers and Demos on: -- Motivation & Fitness -- Self-Defense for Women -- Posture & Balance -- Health & Wellness Coaching -- Bone Health and Injury Prevention -- Mental Wellness & Support The event is free. Please join us! july highlights Lenka's exercise classes: Boot Camp, 5 & 10k training, Weight Training, Flexibility/Yoga... Valerie: "Eat to Live" Cooking Classes Janada: Women's Wellness Series For a complete list of our classes visit: deborahspalm.org 555 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto 650 473-0664 Support your local newspaper by becoming a paid subscriber. $60 per year. $100 for two years. Name: _________________________________ Address: _______________________________ City/Zip: _______________________________ Mail to: Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610. Palo Alto CA 94302 SUBSCRIBE! Page 4 `` HEALTH & FITNESS FAIR Saturday, July 24: 10 to 2 QUOTE OF THE WEEK `` Counting up your friends on Facebook pages is not the same. -- Debra LaVergne, a member of the Palo Alto Rebekahs, on the value of belonging to a service group. See story on page 16. Around Town WHAT CAN THE BROWN ACT DO FOR YOU? ... When elected officials from Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Belmont and Burlingame formed the Peninsula Cities Consortium last year, their goal was to give their cities and citizens a greater voice on the design of California's proposed high-speed-rail system. But in the past week, the consortium found itself on the defensive when word got out that elected officials from Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton and Mountain View took a tour of the rail corridor with Curt Pringle, chair of the California HighSpeed Rail Authority board of directors. The group briefly assembled for introductions before separating into two vans and proceeding along the corridor, Palo Alto Mayor Pat Burt said. Though the tour itself was perfectly legal, the introductions technically violated the Ralph A. Brown Act, which bars elected officials from holding meetings or taking action without notifying the public. The introductions involved three of the five members of the consortium. Burt said the tour wasn't scheduled as a "meeting," but as a way to get Pringle acquainted with the corridor through which the highspeed-rail system is scheduled to pass. Pringle had recently taken a similar tour of the corridor in north San Mateo County, Burt said. The consortium could face a lawsuit that would require it to nullify whatever actions it took -- if there had been any. Burt said the city officials involved in the tour had no intention to circumvent the law. "At worst, it's a technical violation," he said. FOR YOUR INFORMATION ... What do T-Mobile, the U.S. Department of the Navy and City of Palo Alto have in common? All three are among 100 "companies" singled out by CIO Magazine (which stands for Chief Information Officers) for using technology to save energy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The Top 100 list includes airlines, hotels, telecommunication companies and dozens of other businesses that fit the conventional definition of "company." Palo Alto is the only city on the list, largely because of its use of the Hara Environmental and Energy Management Software to track energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions in real time. According to the magazine, Palo Alto "has become one of the first cities in the nation to track its greenhouse-gas emissions and its use of electricity, water and other resources." The city's energy-efficiency programs have also helped it reach another "green" goal. Between 2005 and 2009, the city's energy costs plummeted by $500,000 per year, staff reported. "For us, it's really nice to get recognition for both our commitment in this city to sustainability and for using technology in an innovative way," City Manager James Keene said. "We were specifically budgeting credits in our budget based on energy savings, which we met and exceeded." DOWSING THE DISTRICT ... Former Palo Alto Mayor Bern Beecham is hoping to charge back into public service. This week, he announced he's running for the Santa Clara Valley Water District. If elected, Beecham would represent the new District 7, which includes Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. The water district made headlines last month when it tried to approve a redistricting scheme that would have lumped Palo Alto and Gilroy into the same banana-shaped district -- a proposal it scrapped in the face of heated criticism. Beecham, who helped create the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, said he is running for the water board for two reasons: to continue the work he "enjoyed and excelled at while serving on the council and as mayor" and to bring the water district's "excesses under control." Beecham said that while the district has done much good work, "it has a long-standing reputation for excess and for disregarding the residents." He cited the redistricting controversy, which he called an "attempted blatant gerrymander of our district." The district's headquarters are "extravagant" and the payscale "overly generous," Beecham said in a statement. Upfront COMMUNITY and communications. Despite his illness and declining health, Druker said in a comfortable den in his Los Altos Hills home that he still counts his life as being one guided heavily by good luck. In an interview shortly after he was named executive director of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic in 1989, he described his life as "one big accident. So much of what happens to us is the result of good luck and timing. I've been blessed with a lot of both." He was raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, and went to Harvard University believing he would follow in his father's footsteps and become a lawyer. He was accepted at the University of Michigan Law School -- but abruptly changed his mind. "Since I liked people, and the idea of being my own boss really appealed to me, I decided to switch to a career in medicine." He was admitted to the University of Iowa Medical School on condition he complete required undergraduate courses. He spent a full year catching up on science classes, cramming 90 percent of the pre-med requirements into that year. "It was a fun year," he recalled ruefully. He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1966, and have two children, Daniel and Ellen, and five grandchildren. He has two sisters, Hannah and Leah. He spent two years in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., then completed his dermatology residency at the University of Oregon in the early 1970s. He was in private practice in Portland when he heard of an opening at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic -- then a private physician partnership and not yet a component of the nonprofit medical foundation. He said that, too, was luck. His sister Leah lived in Palo Alto, and when visiting he drove past the clinic's former large blue building at 300 Homer Ave. and thought, "Gee, that looks like a nice place to work." He joined the clinic in 1975, later serving as head of the Business Affairs Committee and vice executive director, before being named executive director. He was later named chief operations officer for the foundation and finally was named president and CEO following the retirement of Dr. Robert Jamplis. For years, Druker continued to see a normal full load of about 30 patients a day, declaring "I would never want to give up my dermatology practice. That's the thing I enjoy most. It's what I'm trained to do." But he also derived satisfaction from "being able to contribute to something I believe in," such as multi-specialty group practice and innovation. He has been a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford School of Medicine, has written several books on dermatology and medical administration and has held state and national offices in professional organizations. In his June 29 interview, Druker noted that he has been a Republican but nevertheless supports the underlying notion of some form of universal health care in President Barack Obama's reform package. Most physicians support that notion, also, he believes. He is pessimistic about reform overall due to its complexity, cost and politics: "As a whole it is destined to fail," he said. Yet he believes the most promising aspect of the reform package is embodied in the term "accountable-care organization," replacing the older "managed care" term that people often interpret as rationed care. Accountable care means "aggregating doctors into some kind of functional group that takes responsibility for providing a broad range of health care services to a community or region." Weekly Editor Jay Thorwaldson worked with Dr. Druker at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for more than 18 years. He can be e-mailed at email@example.com. Ailing Medical Foundation leader David Druker speaks about health care Battling lung cancer, executive confronts his own future while discussing America's health care prospects by Jay Thorwaldson D avid Druker, president and CEO of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and a key architect of the nonprofit organization's expansion in the South Bay and coastal communities, is near death at his Los Altos Hills home following a battle of several years with lung cancer. But he took time recently to speak of his vision for health care in America. Druker, a non-smoker, said in what he acknowledged was a final interview June 29 that he has been scaling back his duties as he has grown less able to handle the physical demands of overseeing both the medical-foundation operations and broader responsibilities for Sutter Health, of which Palo Alto Medical Foundation is an affiliate. He resigned a regional vice presidency for Sutter last year. But he emphasized that his vision for providing high-quality outpatient health care remains as strong as his belief in the "multi-specialty group practice" model for providing health care. He believes that it should become a national pattern for efficient but thorough community-based health care -- contrasted with single-specialty referral groups or hospital-based and solo-practice models. Druker said he would like to see the group-practice model of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, founded in 1930 by the late Dr. Russel van Arsdale Lee, coupled with two components: innovations in how groups are organized and selfmon itored; and modern communications technology among providers and with patients. U n d e r D r u k e r 's David Druker leadersh ip, the medical foundation has grown from about 120 physicians to more than 950. It now includes the Sunnyvale-based Camino Medical Group, a Santa Cruz medical group, the Fremont Center, the Los Altos Center, the Redwood City Center and more recent affiliations in San Carlos and Burlingame. Druker was a key participant in designing the 1993 affiliation with Sutter Health, then a predominantly hospital-based organization in Sacramento and the Central Valley. He said one of his regrets was the failure of two years of affiliation talks with Stanford University Medical Center that preceded the Sutter linkage. Druker has pushed for creation of a "Center for Innovation" within the foundation, and there is talk of naming it in his honor. The foundation is planning a $500 million campus in San Carlos that includes a community outpatient clinic and 95-bed hospital. (The project has been delayed by the economic recession, however.) Druker said the concept for the San Carlos facility is to further the foundation's longtime research into improving outpatient care, as opposed to the more common "bed counts" to measure the success of hospitals. He has long envisioned such an integrated facility where treatment methods could be integrated, tested and refined. "It's actually been my dream. When we first joined Sutter, in 1993, I laid out a vision. First we would build a physician infrastructure so we would be in a position to provide care for the communities we're in. "For decades we've been learning how to keep people out of the hospital while providing quality care." He said when he was named executive director of the clinic in 1989 he confronted a rapidly increasing demand for primary health care in the region, due to growth and an aging population. "The implications were that we had to have many more primarycare doctors versus specialists, and we began to work on how to achieve that," despite a national shortage. "This took us back to the vision of expanding the primary-care infrastructure. Then we would have the luxury of deciding whether to build or buy beds," depending on whether there were existing hospitals in various communities. His vision includes building health care teams of physicians, physician assistants and registered nurses tightly integrated through electronic medical records CITY HALL Council to discuss youth well-being Project Safety Net report details next steps for city, schools by Chris Kenrick T he "best collective thinking of local and national experts" on how to prevent teen suicide will be presented to the Palo Alto City Council Monday night. Council members will discuss a 68-page document explaining the community's past and future response to five suicides by local teens that took place at the Caltrain tracks between May 2009 and January. The deaths included three students at Gunn High School, a 13-year-old who was about to enter Gunn as a freshman, and a 2008 graduate of the school whose family said he had been under treatment for mental illness. Youth well-being is one of the council's top five priorities for 2010. The report to be presented Mon- day is the work of a committee -- composed of school, city, medical and community agency staff members -- known as Project Safety Net. It was co-chaired by city Rec- `It's very much a check-in with the City Council to let them and the community know about how we as a community have responded to the tragic set of events we've all experienced here.' -- Rob De Geus, recreation division manager, City of Palo Alto reation Division Manager Rob De Geus and Palo Alto school district Student Services Director Carol Zepecki, who retired June 30. "The report represents a beginning rather than an end," De Geus said Thursday. "It's very much a check-in with the City Council to let them and the community know about how we as a community have responded to the tragic set of events we've all experienced here." Project Safety Net recommends continuing "Track Watch," a program in which volunteers sit by the rails during hours that trains run, through the 2010-11 school year. Suggestions also include training school staff and youth-serving agencies in suicide-prevention strategies, specifically the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) method that has been used at Foothill College and Stanford University. The committee also recommends that school and community groups implement a comprehensive youth program known as Project Cornerstone's 41 Developmental Assets, as well as peer-counseling programs and other school-based mental health efforts. It proposes that the school district and the city assign a senior-level administrator to see that the recommendations are carried out. Following the second suicide in June 2009, school officials teamed with the city and many community groups to try to build a coordinated response, resulting in Project Safety Net. The report to be presented Monday was prepared by the project's 14member executive committee. The group consulted with Stanford University faculty and other national experts about the best strategies to respond to a "suicide cluster" in a community. "The report represents the best collective thinking of local and na- tional experts, Palo Alto community leaders, parents and students on how we as a community should proceed," the document states. Besides school and city officials, Project Safety Net had wide participation from parents, physicians, community and religious groups. The group's stated mission is "to develop and implement an effective, comprehensive community-based mental health plan for overall youth well-being in Palo Alto." The Palo Alto Board of Education heard a presentation from Project Safety Net in May and voted to adopt Project Cornerstone's 41 Developmental Assets. Board members will have the full report in hand when they hold their annual two-day retreat tentatively scheduled for Aug. 2 and Aug. 3. On Monday, the Council will be asked to refer the report to its Policy and Services Committee to discuss policy implications for the city, De Geus said. Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be e-mailed at ckenrick@ paweekly.com. Page 5 BOUTIQUE & VINTAGE FURNITURE SALE FRIDAY, JULY 23 9:00 a.m. � 4:00 p.m. SATURDAY, JULY 24 9:00 a.m.� 12:00 p.m. Upfront News Digest Memorial services set for Stanford climber Memorial services will be held Sunday, July 18, for Christina "Chris" Chan, the Stanford University graduate student and climbing enthusiast who fell to her death July 9 while "free soloing" in Yosemite National Park. Services will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Stanford Memorial Church, according to her Facebook memorial page. Chan, 31, fell 400 feet as she was descending from the north face of Eichorn Peak (also referred to as Eichorn Pinnacle) Friday afternoon. Chan, a fourth-year graduate student in political science, was 2008 copresident of the Stanford Alpine Club, through which Chan shared her passion for climbing with others, according to the club's website. Her climbing partner, Jim Castelaz, also of Stanford, saw her falling and quickly descended, hoping against all odds that she was still alive, according to a posting he made on the Facebook page. "I was in shock and horrified and helpless," he wrote. Free soloing is climbing without a rope or safety protection and is usually practiced only by the most skilled of climbers. Chan often spent weekends teaching beginning climbing, anchors, lead climbing and self-rescue. Her climbing accomplishments included soloing the Zodiac route of El Capitan in Yosemite and soloing the Prow and the Skull Queen routes of Washington Column in Yosemite. Chan's academic interests included environmental policy and politics in China. As an undergraduate at Harvard University she studied biochemical sciences. She later received a master's degree from Stanford in civil and environmental engineering. She recently was working toward a doctorate in political science, according to her Stanford website. Chan is survived by her parents, Cecil and Susie Chan, and her brother, Peter Chan. An expanded version of this article is available at Palo Alto Online. The story was initially posted on July 12. -- Georgia Wells Zumot (continued from page 3) Woodside Village Church 3154 Woodside Road Woodside, CA Look inside today's insert for savings! Channing House launches new health center After more than five years of planning, Channing House finally broke ground on its new health center Thursday (July 15). The retirement community in downtown Palo Alto began the lengthy process of gaining approval from the city and state to renovate its facility by building a new health center back in 2005. Construction is set to begin by the end of the month. The current center, on the second floor of the 11-story building, was completed in 1964 and lacks space and privacy for patients, according to the organization. Health center patients who require assisted-living or skilled-nursing care live in two- and three-bed rooms. The project is planned in two phases. The first will be the construction of the two-story, approximately 37,000-square-foot health center with a 17,000-square-foot underground. The entire first phase is expected to take 19 months to complete, according to Executive Director Carl Braginsky. The second phase will involve the remodeling of the second floor of the existing building where the current health care center is located. Construction on this part of the building won't start until all health center residents have been relocated to the new facilities and is anticipated to take roughly seven months, Braginsky said. The renovation will add 14 apartments to the retirement home's 188 existing ones. There will be 12 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments. The construction will help facilitate Channing House's Aging-at-Home program, which provides services to residents so they are able to maintain independence and live in their apartments longer. Programs will include "prescribing and monitoring diet and exercise, assistance with medications and greater opportunities for mental, emotional and social stimulation that help to minimize loneliness and depression," according to the organization. -- Coryanne Hicks Always great NC O LOW PRICES EVERYDAY E PLUS Club Card Specials That's our promise... that's Ingredients for life. Caregiver Conference Saturday, August 21 8:30 am - 2:30 pm Avenidas presents the 7th Annual Learn how to: Deal with family dynamics Cope with a loved one's dementia Create order out of clutter Care for yourself to avoid burnout Discover forgiveness Wireless coverage boosted in Palo Alto schools Wireless coverage in Palo Alto's public school classrooms will increase "dramatically" thanks to a recent contribution of equipment by Google, Inc., the Palo Alto Unified School District said. Google has contributed 350 wireless-access points and other networking hardware to the Palo Alto Unified School District, the district announced. The access points -- spread throughout the district's 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and single preschool campus -- will help the district "deliver excellent educational technology to our students," Superintendent Kevin Skelly said. The Google contribution will more than double the number of wirelessaccess points on the district's network, allowing students to connect to the Internet. -- Chris Kenrick LET'S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com Register at Avenidas.org or (650) 289-5445. mot may have been responsible for Schipsi's death. The trial is scheduled to begin in late September in San Jose Superior Court. Much of the testimony at the pretrial hearings focused on the Oct. 14 argument between Zumot and Schipsi, which resulted in Schipsi leaving Zumot's birthday party and walking home by herself. Palo Alto Police Agent Scott Savage, who had interviewed the couple's mutual friend Jaber Al Suwaidi, said Schipsi and a group of friends and relatives were celebrating Zumot's birthday and were preparing to leave the Dishdash Restaurant in Sunnyvale and head to Da Hookah Spot. Schipsi was inviting Al Suwaidi to join the group shortly after 10:30 p.m. Oct. 14 when Zumot reportedly interfered. "Someone can't handle me texting. Sorry," Schipsi wrote to Al Suwaidi, according to Savage's testimony. Minutes later, she sent him another message telling him that her "phone was just thrown at me." The dispute was the latest episode in a volatile relationship, one that included multiple break-ups and threats, as well as a restraining order that Schipsi obtained against Zumot but later asked the court to rescind. Zumot was attending a court-ordered class in San Jose for perpetrators of domestic violence. After her heated exchange with Zumot on Oct. 14, Schipsi left the group and walked alone to the cottage on Addison Avenue, Savage said. At one point during the walk, she received a call from her friend, Nora Hanafy, who had arrived at Da Hookah Spot for the birthday party but could not find Schipsi, Detective James Reifschneider testified. Schipsi told Hanafy about her argument with Zumot. "According to Ms. Hanafy, the defendant threw the cell phone angrily at the victim," Reifschneider said. The couple also argued during the drive from the Dishdash Restaurant in Sunnyvale to Da Hookah Spot, according to testimony by Police Agent Tyson Hughes. Zumot's friend, Mansour "Victor" Chaalan was driving the couple in Zumot's car when the two passengers began arguing about an offer from another friend to help pay for the party, said Hughes, who had interviewed Chaalan. When the group arrived at the hookah lounge, Schipsi "seemed upset and didn't want to go to the restaurant immediately," Hughes said. While Zumot and Chaalan went inside the shop, Schipsi remained outside. She then walked home. Meanwhile, Zumot reportedly had a few drinks with his friends at Da Hookah Spot before going next door to the Bella Luna restaurant to play cards. Zumot and Chaalan then went back to Da Hookah Spot, (continued on next page) Where age is just a number Page 6 Upfront (continued from previous page) cleaned and closed up the shop and headed to Zumot's Addison Avenue home. When they arrived, Chaalan noticed the smell of cigarette smoke in the house, which he found strange because he knew Schipsi generally didn't smoke cigarettes. Zumot allegedly told him that Schipsi sometimes smoked and that he didn't like her smoking in the house. Chaalan stayed inside the house for about 15 minutes and mediated a discussion between Zumot and Schipsi. He left at about 2:45 a.m. Prosecutor Chuck Gillingham said he believes that Zumot is the only person who saw or heard from Schipsi between that morning and the time her body was discovered that evening. She did not go to work on Oct. 15 and did not give a friend a ride to a post-doctoral appointment, as previously scheduled. At about 6:40 p.m., less than an hour after Zumot left his courtmandated class in San Jose for domestic-violence offenders, the cottage at 969 Addison Ave. was in flames. Geragos maintained his client's innocence this week and pointed to Chaalan's characterization of the Oct. 14 argument between Zumot and Schipsi as a "small disagreement." Chaalan also allegedly told police that Zumot loved Schipsi and that he was planning to take a trip with her on an upcoming weekend, Geragos noted. After Chaalan left the cottage on the morning of Oct. 15, he and Zumot swapped a few text messages. At about 3:42 a.m., Zumot allegedly sent Chaalan the message, "She is Kool now and honestly she has a clean heart. I shouldn't drink and act the fool. I love her." Chaalan also reportedly told police that he thought Zumot was "an honest man." Geragos also dismissed evidence from the arson investigation indicating that several items of Zumot's clothing had traces of accelerant after the fire. Geragos pointed to an analysis from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which tested the same items of clothing that the accelerant-sniffing dog, Rosie, smelled but did not find evidence of gasoline on them. Gillingham said the clothing had some substance on them, but not enough for the ATF test to find them "positive." Geragos said the analysis essentially disproved Rosie's findings. "You now have absolute proof that either the dog was hungry or there was something else going on," Geragos said. But Gillingham said all evidence points to Zumot, who has a history of domestic violence, who argued with Schipsi the night before her death and who police believe was the last person to see Schipsi alive. "Unfortunately, it's an all-toocommon scenario," Gillingham said. Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com. 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California Ave. Suite 2 ~ Palo Alto, CA ~ 94301 s 650.324.0669 violin Jorja Fleezanis Erin Keefe Philip Setzer Arnaud Sussmann Ian Swensen Joseph Swensen Practicing together for more than 30 years, Dr. Davis Baldwin and Nurse Practitioner Patricia Baldwin invite you to visit Natural HealthStyle, their proactive, personalized women's healthcare practice. -- Musical America Music@Menlo CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL AND INSTITUTE ton The Bay Area's Premiere Chamber Music Festival Featured Artists & Speakers string quartets Borromeo String Quartet Escher String Quartet flute Sooyun Kim Demarre McGill baritone Robert Gardner guest speakers Bruce Adolphe Ara Guzelimian Stuart Isacoff Michael Steinberg percussion Florian Conzetti Christopher Froh Daniel Kennedy Tom Kolor oboe William Bennett Kathryn Greenbank The Sixth Season: July 18�August 8 harpsichord Kenneth Cooper piano Gary Graffman Derek Han Jeffrey Kahane Anna Polonsky Stephen Prutsman Wu Han clarinet Anthony McGill viola Hsin-Yun Huang Paul Neubauer bassoon Dennis Godburn cello Andr�s D�az David Finckel Laurence Lesser special thanks to the following sponsors: Koret Foundation Funds french horn William VerMeulen soprano bass DaXun Zhang Celena Shafer for tickets and information: Page 7 Upfront Online This Week Residents split on impacts of hospitals expansion Residents were divided Monday night on the environmental impacts of the Stanford Medical Center Facilities Renewal and Replacement project during the City Council meeting. More than 20 Palo Altans stepped up to the podium to praise and criticize the hefty Draft Environmental Impact Report's assessments of the huge project. (Posted July 13 at 9:57 a.m.) 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. Palo Alto airport committee seeks new member Five months after an East Palo Alto plane crash raised concerns about the Palo Alto Airport, the aviation group responsible for community outreach is seeking another member. (Posted July 14 at 3:45 p.m.) Fire burns through roof of Menlo Park home A fire that burned through the roof of a two-story home on Seminary Drive in Menlo Park at around 9:50 p.m. Saturday (July 10) caused $50,000 to $75,000 in damages to the roof, Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District said. (Posted July 12 at 12:31 p.m.) Three EPRI scientists on climate-change panel Three scientists from the Palo Alto-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have been chosen to be lead authors on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment. (Posted July 13 at 12:12 p.m.) Residents urged to dispose of recalled spinach The California Department of Health is advising residents who purchased two lots of recalled baby spinach to throw the products away because they could be contaminated with E. coli. (Posted July 12 at 9:06 a.m.) www.restorationstudio.com Menlo Park bookkeeper arrested for grand theft Police on Friday arrested Roger Reynolds Nursery business manager and bookkeeper Evette Christine Weiler on charges of grand theft and embezzlement in connection with losses at the Menlo Park nursery estimated at more than $100,000, said Sgt. William Dixon of the Menlo Park Police Department. (Posted July 12 at 8:40 a.m.) How To Clinics Delight Lighting store goes dark Delight Lighting, Inc., once proud to be the only store on its block, is boxing up to head elsewhere. Delight was the one shop on its section of East Charleston Road in Palo Alto to withstand the construction of the Taube-Koret Campus for Jewish Life next door. Now, due to the slow economy, its owner is moving out. (Posted July 12 at 8:32 a.m.) Woodside woman dies after head-on collision Woodside resident Patricia Woodrow, 59, died July 4 from injuries suffered in a head-on collision on U.S. 101 in Mendocino County, according to the California Highway Patrol. (Posted July 9 at 2:43 p.m.) Palo Alto car-charging station leads new program Sign up on our website to reserve your seat California's first electric-car charging station under a new national program was unveiled Thursday afternoon (July 8) at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Palo Alto. The announcement was made with some pomp and ceremony by officials as they also announced a $3.4 million state grant to install other stations in the Bay Area, Sacramento and Los Angeles. (Posted July 9 at 11:07 a.m.) Burglar finds someone home -- suspect arrested A young burglar who entered a Palo Alto home was shocked to open a bedroom door and find a resident sitting at his home-office desk Thursday afternoon. The intruder bolted from the house, but a suspect was quickly spotted and taken into custody, police reported. (Posted July 9 at 9:50 a.m.) LET'S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com What's New in the Treatment of Macular Degeneration and Cataracts Free Presentation for Seniors & Caregivers at Webster House Are you experiencing unusually fuzzy or distorted vision? These changes may not just be a part of getting older. You may have agerelated Macular Degeneration, which is the most common cause of vision loss among people over 60. Please join us at Webster House to learn more about advances and treatments of Macular Degeneration and other Low Vision Conditions from Dr. Fishman, a Stanford-Trained and BoardCertified Eye Physician and Surgeon, specializing in state-of-the art, small incision cataract surgery. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsor by Chris Iverson, Intero Real Estate Services The Bowman program builds confidence, creativity and academic excellence. E V E NT D E TAI L S What's New in the Treatment of Macular Degeneration & Cataracts With Dr. Fishman, Board-Certified Eye Physician & Surgeon RSVP for you and a friend today! RCFE# 435201904 CCRC 218 Saturday, July 31st 10:00am -11:30am Valet Parking Available 650-327-4333 401 Webster Street Webster House Space is limited. RSVP to 650-327-4333 by July 29th. www.bowmanschool.org www.WebsterHousePaloAlto.com Page 8 Upfront CityView A round-up of Color & Highlight Specialist Haircuts for Men, Women & Children $100 Off BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT good fun stuff that just happens to be green Kids' toys made from recycled plastic Folding portable speakers Palo Alto government action this week City Council (July 12) Stanford Hospital: The council discussed the traffic impacts of the proposed Stanford University Medical Center expansion. Action: None Corridor study: The council authorized staff to proceed with a study of the Caltrain corridor and to form a new citizen task force as part of that study. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Shepherd, Scharff, Yeh, Schmid, Price, Holman Absent: Klein Fire initiative: The council discussed the firefighters union's ballot initiative that would prohibit the city from changing staffing levels in the Fire Department or closing fire stations without a citywide vote. The council voted to continue the discussion on Aug. 2. Yes: Espinosa, Shepherd, Yeh, Schmid, Price, Holman No: Burt, Scharff Absent: Klein on tati ent S R for 30% OFF All Services New Clients Only Now Open TM $ Off with purchase of $25 or more. Expires 7/31/10 650.799.8303 454 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto By Appointment City Council Policy and Services Committee (July 13) Planning and Transportation Commission (July 14) High-Speed Rail Committee (July 15) Architectural Review Board (July 15) 158 University Ave (at High St.), Palo Alto www.livegreene.com - firstname.lastname@example.com (650) 331-0700 5 Service efforts and accomplishments: The committee discussed survey options for the 2010 Service Efforts and Accomplishments report and the council priorities workplan. Action: None 7 Remodeling Workshops Our Design + Build team will give you design ideas and solutions that reduce maintenance costs, are energy efficient and might even help you to spend less time with your vacuum cleaner. With these interactive workshops, you will learn what to do at your own home to make your life easier and make your home more maintenance free! n Topics will include: Durability through timeless and functional design and smart home technology to incorporate now n Learn the "enemies" of an enduring home n Product, design and remodeling choices that are sustainable, personal, and healthier for you and your family Comprehensive Plan: The commission discussed the city's Comprehensive Plan and sustainability goals and policies that could be added to the Comprehensive Plan. Action: None Stanford Hospital: The committee discussed the status of Caltrain's electrification project and legislation relating to the high-speed rail system. Action: None Stanford Hospital: The board held a preliminary review for the proposed design of the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital expansion. Action: None Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week COUNCIL APPOINTED OFFICERS COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to discuss the recruiting process for the next city attorney. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 19, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to discuss refuse rates; the quarterly report from the City Auditor; and the City Auditor's fiscal year 2010 work plan. The closed session is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, July 19. Regular meeting will follow in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board plans to vote on a contract for construction of an $8.8 million new, two-story classroom building at Ohlone Elementary School; and whether to endorse a state constitutional amendment sponsored by State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, that would reduce the required percentage of the vote necessary to pass a parcel tax from two-thirds to 55 percent. The special meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20, in the board room of schooldistrict headquarters, 25 Churchill Ave. UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to elect officers and discuss the city's water-supply allocations; the Gas Asset and Supply Management Plan and the Long-Term Electric Acquisition Plan. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a closed session to discuss performance evaluation for city manager. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. Low Maintenance Homes by Design Saturday, July 24, 9:30 am � 12:00 pm Registration and light breakfast at 9:15 am Harrell Design Center, Mtn. View Call us or go on line to register today. We never forget it's your home.� Kitchen & Bath Remodels Thursday, July 22, 6:30 pm � 8:30 pm Registration and light dinner at 6:15 pm Harrell Design Center, Mtn. View IT P Graduate Education at the Frontier of Psychology and Spirituality Steve is passionate about working to help lift children out of poverty, violence, and neglect. After earning his M.A. from ITP, Steve founded a counseling program in East Palo Alto, a culturally rich but underserved community. "ITP changed my life, and now, working together with wonderful ITP interns, we are changing the lives of hundreds of kids by helping their families strengthen and stabilize." Ohlone (continued from page 3) Buxton, who oversees the farm along with garden coordinator Marieluise Fries. Construction workers will use a service road that runs along the left-hand side of the campus to reach the worksite, which is at the back of the deep property. From the service road, construction vehicles probably will run either in front of, or behind, the school library to get to the site. Last year's enrollment at Ohlone, which also houses the district's Mandarin Immersion Program, was 516 students. The project will expand the school's capacity to 570 students, with no more need for portable classrooms except for the after-school day care program, Golton said. During construction, students will be housed in portables that have been moved close to the main classroom building. The afterschool day care portables will remain on the perimeter of campus, Golton said. The $11.6 million authorization for the Ohlone Modernization Project, including an $8.8 million construction budget, comes from the $378 million facilities bond measure approved by 77.5 percent of school district voters in June 2008. Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be e-mailed at email@example.com. Find out more: www.itp.edu/steve Academic Programs: On-Campus & Online Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Institute of Transpersonal Psychology 1069 East Meadow Circle, Palo Alto CA 94303 [ph] 650.493.4430 [email] info@.itp.edu First Tuesday of Every Month 7:00 P.M. Open House accredited by the western association of schools and colleges Page 9 Upfront Labor disputes (continued from page 3) to reduce staffing levels in the Fire Department or close fire stations, Burt said. The firefighters collected enough signatures to place this initiative on the November ballot. Binding arbitration has historically favored the firefighters' interests over those of the City Council, Burt said. The three-member arbitration panel, which includes a member from each side and a neutral member, sided with the firefighters in 1999 when the union opposed an existing provision barring the city from hiring workers whose relatives also work for the city, according to City Manager James Keene. In 1980, the arbitration panel sided with the city on one issue relating to firefighters' salaries, but sided with the union in a dispute over pension formulas. The Grand Jury report specifically recommends that the San Jose City Council prepare a ballot measure asking voters to repeal the section of the City Charter that addresses binding arbitration, a policy that according to the report "results in an adversarial process between the city and employee groups." "Binding arbitration limits the ability of city leaders to craft solutions that work for the city budget," the report states. "The process has resulted in wage and benefit decisions that have been greater than the growth in basic revenue sources." Other cities are also taking a new look at binding arbitration. In June, Vallejo voters repealed their city's binding-arbitration provision. The Gilroy City Council also considered scrapping binding arbitration but decided against it after it reached an agreement with its firefighters union. The Grand Jury report analyzes a broad spectrum of issues relating to employee costs, including pension, medical care and negotiation mechanism, and summarizes its conclusion in 13 findings and its title, "Cities Must Rein in Unsustainable Employee Costs." The report concluded that a sagging economy and climbing wages and benefits have made employee costs "not sustainable" in Santa Clara County cities. In Palo Alto, the median total compensation for police officers and firefighters has jumped from $89,059 in 2000-01 to $146,061 in 2009-10, according to the report. At the same time, the city's revenues (continued on next page) The Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce would like to express its sincere thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who have given so generously of their time and service, and to the following sponsors whose participation has helped make the festival possible. 24th 2010 www.menloparkchamber.com Page 10 San Mateo Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Larabar, Cascadian Farm, Farm Fresh to You, Menlo Medical Clinic, Provident Credit Union, Solar City, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, University Chiropractic, Armstrong Painting, Renewal by Andersen, Bay Home & Window, Cobalt Power Systems, The New York Times, Heavenly Greens, Maita Distributing, Sam Adams Summer Ale, Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White, Coors Light, Cutco Cutlery, California State Automobile Association, Danmer Custom Shutters, Gutter Helmet, BathFitter, R-Mac Properties, The Craftsmens' Guild, KC Custom Homes, AT&T Real Yellow Pages, Kitchen Experts, AutoVino, American Laser Centers, Sauza Premium Original Margarita, Cruzan Rum Mojito, The San Jose Mercury News, CBS 5 TV, The CW, Channel 44, Comcast, Alice 97.3 FM, KBAY 94.5 FM, KEZR 106.5 FM, KFOX 98.5 FM, The Almanac, Palo Alto Weekly, The Wave Magazine, Allied Waste Services, Recology, The City of Menlo Park, Tyco Electronics, and Friends of the Chamber. Upfront (continued from previous page) VOLVO www.mominabox.net The "I Care" package you'll want to send off with your new or returning college student have plummeted, leading to a series of annual budget deficits. Over the past two months the Palo Alto City Council wrestled with a $7.3 million deficit in the general-fund budget -- a deficit the city closed through a combination of service reductions and position eliminations. Burt said the combination of the firefighters' petition and the Grand Jury report has prompted the council's fresh look at binding arbitration. City Attorney Gary Baum said he's been getting many questions about the topic lately. He also released a report Wednesday concluding that the binding arbitration provision is no longer necessary to prevent strikes. Tony Spitaleri, president of Palo Alto Professional Firefighters, Local 1319, defended binding arbitration and called the city's push against it a "red herring." He also dismissed the Grand Jury report as one "not worth the paper it is written on." Spitaleri disputed Burt's notion that binding arbitration favors the union over the City Council. Instead, it helps the city avoid long labor disputes and gives workers who aren't allowed to strike a tool for reaching an agreement, he said. "You'd be hard pressed to get rid of arbitration," Spitaleri said. "That would open the door to having longterm labor problems." Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com. Top Rating For Quality By Bay Area Consumer Check Book and CORPORATE AUTO WORKS NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS BID PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR 2009-2010 STREET RESURFACING PROJECT off El Camino near Hwy 85 www.corporateautoworks.com The City of Menlo Park invites qualified contractors to submit sealed bid proposals for the construction of the 2009-2010 STREET RESURFACING PROJECT. Work required as part of this project consists of, in general, asphalt digout repairs, asphalt milling, concrete curb ramps, concrete curbs and gutters, and asphalt overlay in various locations within the City of Menlo Park; all as shown in the contract documents. Performance of this work requires a valid California Contractor's License Class A or Class C12. Project documents and copies of the prevailing rate of wages can be obtained from the Menlo Park Engineering Division, located in the Administrative Building at 701 Laurel St. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting to discuss the project scope of work. The pre bid meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at the City Administration Building, 701 Laurel Street in Menlo Park, CA. Sealed bid proposals will be received at the Engineering Division office until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at which time they will be opened and publicly read. Additional information can be obtained on the City's website: www.menlopark.org/cip Since 1981 650-691-9477 Distributor JT Design Products s r r Visit Our Friendly and Professional Staff Corporations, Living Trusts, Promissory Notes, Deeds, Power of Attorney, Divorce Karen and Kyle 230 S. California Ave., Suite 103, Palo Alto 94306 Phone: 650-324-3800 Email: email@example.com Santa Clara County LDA #114 � Expires 7/11 Paralegal and Notary Services Page 11 AUTO CHARITY FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC WWW.ABLEAUTOCHARITY.COM This Sunday: Celebrating the Body Eclectic Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, preaching An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ 1-877-977-9577 OR DONATE YOUR VEHICLE Pulse Palo Alto July 5-12 Violence related Arson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Assault with a deadly weapon . . . . . . . .1 Assault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Theft related Commercial burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Identity theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Prowler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Shoplifting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Abandoned auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Abandoned bicycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Bicycle theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Suspended license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . 11 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .8 Vehicle impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Miscellaneous Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Misc. penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . .2 Missing person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psych. subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Warrants/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Unattended death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. municipal code violation . . . . . . . .1 Resisting arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 A weekly compendium of vital statistics Hit and run/no injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Hit and run/property damage . . . . . . . . .1 Stolen vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle accident/no injury. . . . . . . . . . . .2 Alcohol or drug related Cancelled case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Civil problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 CPS referral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Drug activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Drug information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Drug Registrant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Civil problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Illegal dumping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Indecent exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Info. case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Medical Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Mental Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Pedestrian stop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Property for destruction . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Runaway juvenile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Warrants/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 408-370-1054 FAST F R E E PICK-UP A resource for special events and ongoing religious services. To inquire about or make space reservations for Inspirations, please contact Blanca Yoc at 326-8210 x6596 or email firstname.lastname@example.com INSPIRATIONS Atherton July 8-14 Theft related Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft of recyclables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle related Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Parking/driving violation . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Suspicious vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle accident/prop damage. . . . . . . .1 Vehicle code violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Alcohol or drug related Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Be on the lookout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Building/perimeter/area check . . . . . . . .4 Citizen assist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Construction complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Construction site checks . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Disturbing noise/fights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Fire call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Medical aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Pedestrian checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Special detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .3 Suspicious person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Town ordinance violation . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Tree down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle/traffic/hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Warrant attempt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Watermain break. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Welfare check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Menlo Park July 7-13 Violence related Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Vehicle related Auto Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Suspended license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Driving without license . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Today's news, sports & hot picks CITY OF PALO ALTO NOTICE OF HEARING ON REPORT AND ASSESSMENT FOR WEED ABATEMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January 11, 2010 the Fire Chief of the City of Palo Alto filed with the City Clerk of the City of Palo Alto a report and assessment on abatement of weeds within the City of Palo Alto, a copy of which is posted on the bulletin board at the City Hall Plaza. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on August 2, 2010 at the hour of seven p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers of Palo Alto City Hall, the Palo Alto weed abatement report and assessment list will be presented to the City Council of Palo Alto for consideration, confirmation, and order that costs of abatement to be a special assessment on the respective properties described therein, and that any and all persons interested, having any objections to said report and assessment list, or to any matter or thing contained therein, may appear at said time and place and be heard. www.ThePaloAltoBlackandWhiteBall.org Media Sponsors: Page 12 VIOLENT CRIMES Palo Alto 2000 block Cowper Street, 7/7, 11:08 p.m.; arson. Venture Avenue and El Camino Real, 7/7, 11:45 p.m.; battery/simple. 260 California Avenue, 7/10, 1:32 a.m.; assault/simple. 4141 El Camino Real, 7/11, 2:01 a.m.; assault with a deadly weapon. 300 Pasteur Drive, 7/11, 10:44 p.m.; battery/simple. Dated: July 9th and July 16th 2010 Donna J. Grider, City Clerk Menlo Park 200 block Fetton Drive, 7/12, 1:01 p.m.; burglary. 1300 block Henderson Avenue, 7/13 9:23 p.m.; battery. Births, marriages and deaths WEDDING Transitions Commitment To Excellence $500 Discoun (with purchase of Original Ownership Since 1975 t Coupon new roof) All Types of Roofing & Gutters Residential & Commercial S.C.L#785441 1901 Old Middlefield Way, Mtn.View 650-969-7663 PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVENUE BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26 (TENTATIVE) AGENDASPECIAL MEETING-COUNCIL CHAMBERS July 19, 2010 - 6:00 PM 1. Closed Session: Potential Litigation 7:00 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter 2. Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Nick Marinaro Upon His Retirement 3. Appointment of the UAC applicants 4. Public Hearing Stanford Draft EIR � Noise, Geology, Soils & Seismicity, Hydrology, Hazardous Materials, Utilities 5. Approval of Three Year Software Consulting Services Contract with Sierra Infosys Inc. in the Amount of $750,000 for the Support and Maintenance of SAP Industry-Specific Solution for Utilities, SAP Financials, Customer Relationship Management System, Business Intelligence System and Utilities Customer Electronic Services (Item continued from July 12, 2010) 6. Referral To Policy And Services Committee For Its Review And Recommendations Of Project Safety Net Community Task Force Report On Palo Alto Youth And Teen Suicide Prevention And Strategies For Addressing Their Social And Emotional Health 7. Update on HSR, Extension to Capital Advocates Contract 8. City Council Preliminary Response to Grand Jury Report on Employee Costs 9. Approval of a Contract with Valley Slurry Seal Construction, Inc., in the amount of $977,577 for the 2010 Street Maintenance Program Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing Capital Improvement Program Project PE-86070 10. Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Robert Ward Upon His Retirement 11. Approval of a Contract with Granite Construction Company, Inc., in the amount of $2,226,227 for the 2010 Street Maintenance Program Asphalt Overlay Capital Improvement Program Project PE-86070 12. Adoption of a Resolution Summarily Vacating Public Access and Public Recreation Access Easements at 600 and 620 Sand Hill Road (Item continued from May 3, 2010) 13. Approval of an Amendment to Ordinances Regarding Publications of Board & Commission Recruitments: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Sections 2.18.030, 2.20.015, 2.21.020, 2.22.015, 2.23.020, 2.24.020, 2.25.020, and Section 16.49.030 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Delete the Publication Requirements for Board and Commission Recruitment Ads and Adding Section 2.16.060 to Address the Publication of Board and Commission Recruitment Ads from Two Advertisements to One Advertisement in a Two-Week Period 14. Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting), and Section 2.04.070 (Agenda) of Title 2 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code Regarding Agenda Publication (TENTATIVE) AGENDASPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Special City Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 21, at 6:00 p.m. regarding: 1) Interviews of Candidates for the Planning and Transportation Commission for Two, Four-Year Terms ending July 31, 2014, and 2) Performance Evaluation for City Manager STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Council-CAO Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. regarding: 1) Discussion and Approval of the Recruitment Process for the City Attorney, and 2) Consideration of an Exit Interview of the City Attorney The Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 20, at 7:00 p.m. regarding: 1) Auditor's Office Quarterly Report as of June 30, 2010, 2) City Auditor's Fiscal Year 2011 Work Plan and Citywide Risk Assessment, 3) Long Range Financial forecast, and 4) Refuse Rate Analysis and Funding Strategies Page 13 The Peninsula's Premier Funeral Service Provider Serving families since 1899 980 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, California 94301 Lindsey Harris and Jim Quast Lindsey Michelle Harris and Jime David Quast were married April 8 in Los Gatos, Calif. The bride is the daughter of Mark and Mary Harris of Palo Alto. She attended Palo Alto High School and the University of Michigan, and works as a specialty-cake artist. The groom is the song of the late Burton and Colleen Quast of Janesville, Minn. He attended the University of Minnesota and works as an automotive technologist at the Environmental Protection Agency in Ann Arbor, Mich. The couple resides in Janesville, Minn. (650) 328-1360 www.rollerhapgoodtinney.com Funeral Home FD132 BIRTHS Erin and Andrew Vitus of East Palo Alto, a daughter, May 9. Tracy and Nolan Wilson of Palo Alto, a son, May 19. Leilani and Paul Parquer of Menlo Park, a daughter, May 20. Andrea Chacon and Adolfo Ordz Jr. of East Palo Alto, a daughter, May 31. Armita Abadian and Sam Kavusi of Menlo Park, a son, June 1. Katie and Lock Anderson of Menlo Park, a son, June 10. Thuy-Linh Chu and Ljubomir Buturovic of East Palo Alto, a son, June 15. Su Eun, Choi, and Jaewoo, Jung of Palo Alto, a daughter, June 27. Jennie Dal Busci of Menlo Park, a daughter, June 30. Alexandria and Ross Feldman of Palo Alto, a son, July 8. City of Palo Alto Recreation Presents 26th Annual PALO ALTO WEEKLY MOONLIGHT RUN & WALK MOONLIGHT RUN&WALK Friday September 24 2O1O REGISTER NOW! www.PaloAltoOnline.com John Thomas ("Jack") Evans, 89, Palo Alto, CA died June, 2010. Born March 5, 1921 in Tiffin, Ohio to Ernest and Mabel Evans. As a child, Jack and his family lived in Milan, OH and then Portsmouth, NH. Jack graduated from Portsmouth High School (class of 1938) and Sacramento City College's Technical Institute of Aeronautics (1940). He then went on to earn a B.S. from University of New Hampshire and an MBA from Harvard Business School (1948). During this time, he also served as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps and later, in the Korean conflict, as a Naval Aviator and Engineering Officer. Jack met his wife, Joyce, in 1948. They were married on April 1, 1951 at the Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel, CA. Jack joined Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) in 1948 at the company headquarters in St. Paul, MN, moved to Atlantic Aviation Corp. (Beechcraft Aircraft) in Boston in 1956, and finally signed on with the Hewlett-Packard Corp. in Palo Alto, where he spent 26 years before retiring in 1986. A perpetually honest, caring and giving man throughout his long life, Jack will be remembered by his devoted wife, family and friends for his acts of great generosity, patriotism, personal sacrifice and perhaps most importantly, optimism. His cheerful smile, quick wit and commitment to family will be his endearing and enduring legacy. Jack survived all three siblings: Ruth, Robert and Betty. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Joyce Evans, of Palo Alto. Other survivors include his nieces Beverly Collymore (daughter of Ruth), of Portsmouth, NH, and her son Evan Mallett, his wife Denise, and their children, Eleanor Parker and William Cormac, of Berwick, ME; Peggy Lunsford (daughter of Robert) and husband Ronnie, in Boerne, TX, and their son Alan; Penny Valentine (daughter of Robert) and husband Richard, of Hingham, MA; Debra Bell (daughter of Betty) of Apex, NC, and her sons Matthew and Michael; Susan Wright (daughter of Betty) and husband Dean, of Raleigh, NC, and their children Lindsay and Evan; Patti Dover (daughter of Betty) and husband Kim of Raleigh, NC, and their children Ryan and Anna; Jodi Nelson (daughter of Betty) and husband John of Raleigh, NC, and their children Adam and Stephanie. He is also survived by his nephew Jerry Evans (son of Robert) of Maryland, and his son Ryan Casey; and sister-in-law Joanne Evans of Florida. Interment has taken place in Massachusetts. PA I D O B I T UA RY Editorial New start needed for high-speed rail State Sen. Joe Simitian and other legislators set Feb. 1 deadline for California High Speed Rail Authority to get its rail-project act together It must prove by Feb. 1 to increasingly skeptical state legislators and the public that the vision of a modern, high-speed rail system initially linking San Francisco to Los Angeles is more than a bad, deeply flawed dream. That is the deadline state Sen. Joe Simitian and other key legislators have set for the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to demonstrate that its economic and ridership projections are based on more than incorrect methods, as alleged in a recent technical review commissioned by the Legislature. Two earlier analyses, one by the highly regarded state Legislative Analyst's office in March 2009 and one by State Auditor Elaine Howle just released in late April, raise serious questions about the rail authority's initial studies relating to economics, costs and ridership for a system currently estimated to cost more than $43 billion. The auditor said the project suffers from poor planning, inadequate risk assessment and a poorly done business plan, and warned of potential major delays, cost overruns or even an incomplete system. The third heavy blow to the authority's credibility was the lateJune release of an analysis of ridership projections. The Legislature commissioned the analysis by the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, whose experts concluded that the authority's projections were so shaky that they couldn't predict whether the system would be profitable or run deeply in debt. The analysis said the projections, done by consultant Cambridge Systematics, were inadequate as a basis for making policy decisions. The three critical reports are replete with technical details, but the summations are withering. The findings confirm what critics such as the Palo Alto-based Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design (CARRD), have been voicing for months.Yet the response from the authority thus far has been weak, consisting primarily of a statement that it supports the Cambridge conclusions. If confirmed, the purported flaws in the ridership analysis could undermine the selection of Pacheco Pass/San Jose over an Altamont Pass (East Bay) alternative route. Simitian is blunt: "At some point, folks need to come to grips with the fact that this isn't just the case of isolated concerns or misguided complaints or rampant NIMBY-ism," he said following release of the state auditor's report. "They are real and legitimate concerns and they need to be addressed sooner rather than later." And, he warned, "We are getting very close to a point where, if there's no significant changes and improvements in the way business is done, I will no longer be able to call myself a supporter of `high-speed-rail done right.' "Once members (of the Legislature) start to back away in such a way, I think it puts the project in great jeopardy." The technical criticisms are being rolled out against a broader backdrop, largely but not completely based on concerns by Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton and other Peninsula cities relating to the impact of building and operating a high-speed-rail system through the communities. Menlo Park Mayor Richard Cline, chair of the Peninsula Cities Consortium, correctly cites the authority's "enormous credibility problem." The venerable but economically strained Caltrain system is under dire threat of becoming unable to maintain its commuter operations. It had hoped that an infusion of funds from the rail project would help it upgrade and electrify its aging trains. But there recently has been a distancing by Caltrain, which is finally asserting itself in seeking a share of $2.25 billion of federal stimulus funds for transportation upgrades despite opposition from the authority. Like Simitian, we have been supporters of the rail project, assuming the legitimate concerns of affected communities are resolved. But time and patience are running out. Roelof van Ark, the highly respected and brand-new CEO of the rail authority, has a mess to clean up and numerous credibility problems to solve -- and he doesn't have much time. We're with Simitian. If there aren't wholesale changes in the way the authority is operating by the beginning of next year, we'll join the chorus to put an end to this exciting but badly botched transportation initiative. Page 14 C alifornia's dream of high-speed rail -- which to many seems more like a nightmare -- is facing its greatest challenge. Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions Racial profiling Editor, These are my comments after watching, on Comcast channel 27, Sunday's program, "Talking with Henrietta". This program will be repeated several times. Palo Alto police chief Dennis Burns and two members of the police advisory committee were being interviewed by Henrietta Burroughs. Two points really caught my attention. Henrietta was stopped recently by Palo Alto police when she drove from East Palo Alto to Palo Alto. She said that the officer first looked into her back seat and then explained that he stopped her because her DMV sticker was not easily readable and she should get a new one. Upon arriving home, she and others examined the sticker and saw nothing wrong. The second point was that it was mentioned that two patrol cars were parked at the main post office, one facing towards EPA and one facing towards PA. Burns had no explanation for this and implied he didn't know about it. It seems nothing has changed since Lynn Johnson was chief. There still are patrol cars parked and watching people driving from EPA to PA, just as there were then. Stopping African-Americans from EPA on pretext (pretense) is still happening, as Henrietta's experience shows. Statistician John Abraham, who analyzed the demographic data for many years, showed this very thing: African-Americans being stopped disproportionately for equipment problems and not cited. Now that the data is no longer being collected, there will be no evidence of this. The statistics that show the disparity, racial profiling, will no longer exist. Natalie Fisher Ellsworth Place Palo Alto director and included a merchants committee which dealt with similar issues BID has been dealing with. The interesting difference with what is happening now and what happened then is the involvement of the property owners. In the long run the people who benefit most from a healthy downtown are the property owners. Unless they own a business or service in downtown they don't seem to be involved. It all boils down to money, and by involving the property owners you can again establish a solid organization with a full-time professional executive director. The organization should stand on its own rather that operate under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, and should actually be a member of the chamber. There are still a number of people around from those days, including a past executive director, who would be happy to sit in on a round table discussion to help guide a new and stronger organization to benefit downtown Palo Alto. Jan Aarts Ohlone Street Portola Valley This week on Town Square Posted July 14 at 11:36 a.m. by student, a member of the Gunn High School community: This ("Wireless coverage boosted in Palo Alto schools") is more good news. More wireless around campus and it was just announced on the Facebook fanpage that we got two big, brand new printers for free use in the academic center -- the only place where we can print all we want without being harassed. I have an iPhone and last year we could barely get reception. Now with wireless we can have access to a lot more on our phones and access stuff online. I don't think a lot of students will bring their laptops, but yes for smart phones. I did some quick research on the so-called "side effects" of wireless and it's less than mobile phones, and it drops off fast. So, unless your head is right up against the router all day long, you're fine. YOUR TURN The Palo Alto Weekly encourages comments on our coverage or on issues of local interest. What do you think? Will expanded wi-fi connectivity in Palo Alto schools help students learn? Submit letters to the editor of up to 250 words to email@example.com. Include your name, address and daytime phone number so we can reach you. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, objectionable content, libel and factual errors known to us. Anonymous letters will generally not be accepted. You can also participate in our popular interactive online forum, Town Square, at our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Read blogs, discuss issues, ask questions or express opinions with you neighbors any time, day or night. Submitting a letter to the editor or guest opinion constitutes a granting of permission to the Palo Alto Weekly and Embarcadero Publishing Co. to also publish it online, including in our online archives and as a post on Town Square. For more information contact Editor Jay Thorwaldson or Online Editor Tyler Hanley at firstname.lastname@example.com or 650-326-8210. Downtown business Editor, I was interested in reading your editorial about the Downtown Palo Alto Improvement District and have followed the problems it has recently had. I was a merchant in downtown Palo Alto in the 1960s and '70s and remember that after the Stanford Shopping Center opened up in the late '50s, an organization was established called "Downtown Palo Alto Inc." It was an organization of property owners and merchants with the goal of improving and maintaining a healthy business environment in downtown Palo Alto. The organization had a full-time executive Check out Town Square! Hundreds of local topics are being discussed by local residents on Town Square, a reader forum sponsored by the Weekly on our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Post your own comments, ask questions, read the Editor's blog or just stay up on what people are talking about around town! Guest Opinion We shouldn't let `Planned Community' zone steal our public benefits M by Winter Dellenbach y beautiful hometown, Pomona, was destroyed by rapacious development. The orchards are gone, along with its beauty, charm and livability. This loss affected me -- I pay attention to decisions our city makes, knowing its wonky process can elevate or diminish us, with great consequence in our daily lives. I don't want our town to lose more than it gains as we grow and change. This is why I am interested in the train wreck known as Planned Community (PC) zoning � a category of zoning that often diminishes, rather than builds, our community. Let me tell you about PC zoning. A developer agreed to build a 1,786-squarefoot plaza in Palo Alto for public use as part of his successful application for PC zoning. When the plaza was finished, it measured less than 600 square feet, including just over 100 square feet of useable open space. The same developer agreed to color-tint public sidewalks on Channing and Alma, adjacent to his project. Permanent color was to be mixed into the cement, but apparently it was applied superficially, fading away along with its beautification benefit to the public.How did this happen? After an 18-month investigation of 10 city-approved PC-zoned developments, I think I know. This is what I found and what we can do about it. It matters because PC-zoned projects are all over town, and when the public benefit component fails, it is to our detriment. Planned Community zoning was intended to provide greater flexibility for exceptional projects. In practice, it enables developers to change zoning to build bigger and denser projects that produce vastly greater profits than possible through regular zoning. Acquiring PC zoning has practically become the default setting for big development in Palo Alto. According to Planning Department staff, the city has granted about 140 PC rezonings. "Public benefits," provided by the developer and supposedly not otherwise attainable under regular zoning, are a fundamental requirement for a change to PC zoning. The city and its residents must absorb the impact on infrastructure, traffic and services caused by over-sized development, so it is only reasonable that public benefits should be significant, valuable and substantial -- and permanent. Yet all too often public benefits are minimal and short-lived, used to barely justify a developer's desire for a PC-zoning change. The current PC ordinance should be amended to require the value of a project's public benefits to approximate the increased profit a developer gains from building bigger and denser under PC zoning, putting an end to measly benefits. Two PC agreements I reviewed contain contradictory language or conflicting components -- guaranteeing a public benefit failure. The responsibility for poor drafting lies squarely with staff and the City Council. An example of contradictory language is found in the PC agreement for the project at Sheridan at Park Boulevard: "The project includes a plaza which will be accessible to the public. The plaza will include a water feature, benches and landscaping. The public accessibility of the plaza shall not in any manner restrict or limit the owner of the subject property in the lawful exercise of any property rights the owner may have with re- spect to the subject property, including the plaza area." Predictably, the owner exercised his right to use the supposedly public plaza and its amenities for private use, installing an outdoor cafe that fills the plaza with paying customers enjoying our "public benefits." The little plaza at Homer and High is an example of conflicting components written into a PC agreement that guarantees failure. According to the agreement, the plaza was to be a comfortable space, open and accessible to the general public for informal socializing without charge. However, the plaza could also include seating restricted during business hours for patrons of the project's retail use. The agreement goes on to state that any restricted access shall be supportive of, rather than in conflict with, free public use. A restaurant now crams the plaza with furniture 24/7, with nary a square inch of space for the non-paying public. This is a flagrant violation of the PC and a later use agreement -- but the city turns a blind eye. The issue is not the worthiness of these restaurants but the broken promises to the public and how the city crafts and enforces our public benefits. The community room planned for the Alma Plaza PC illustrates how the usefulness and value of a public benefit can be eroded during the approval process. By imposing onerous time restrictions on the use of a proposed community room in order to free up parking spaces, the developer successfully transferred value from the public back to himself. Now you see a public benefit, now you don't. Surprisingly, PC projects pass final inspections and meet City conditions of approval even when a major public benefit is missing or flawed. The undersized plaza on Channing, mentioned above, is an example. I found no explanation for this inspection negligence. The most shocking failure by the city to enforce its own laws is in section 18.38.160 of our PC ordinance. This requires the building department to inspect all PC-zoned projects at least once every three years. Yet no inspections have been conducted on any PC property, according to staff. An inspection would have found the defective coloring of the sidewalks at Channing and Alma and other post-construction problems at other PC-zoned projects. Lack of inspections is not a recent lapse due to a crummy economy or understaffing, -- the requirement is decades old. I wonder how many public benefits from 140 PCs have been lost because the city doesn't enforce its own ordinances or conduct inspections? The city should levy a fee on PC project owners to cover the costs of these inspections, just as other towns do to finance annual fire inspections. I filed three complaints with Code Enforcement more than a year ago regarding lost public benefits. The complaints remain "in process," with no resolution, even for blatant violations. There is a $500 per-day penalty for violating zoning laws, and the city should use it to secure our public benefits. We are collateral damage in a PC zoning game of Three-Card Monte, with agreements and benefits shifting and disappearing like cards in a con man's hand. This is unacceptable. The City Council must be willing to protect the interests of Palo Alto residents, and must amend the PC ordinance, ensuring it is only used for truly exceptional projects, laden with enduring, valuable, desirable and measurable public benefits. Winter Dellenbach has been a resident of Palo Alto since 1970. She opposed 800 High St. project and other development/growthrelated planning issues. She can be e-mailed at email@example.com. Streetwise Do you belong to any clubs? Asked on California Avenue in Palo Alto. Interviews by Georgia Wells Photographs by Kimihiro Hoshino. Christine Yeh MFT Intern Bryant Street, Palo Alto "Since I had my baby I only belong to a fitness club. I would go to the jewelry making club I used to belong to, if I had more time." Alex Protopopescu Software Engineer Brittan Avenue, San Carlos "I like swing dancing. It's like jazz. Half the reason I go is because I love the dance. The other half is for the people there." Emma Lynn Student Sheridan Avenue, Palo Alto "I play tennis. I love doing well." Danielle Ploini International Sales Kathleen Street, San Jose "I am too busy for clubs now. I spend all my time working." Mike Maystead Graphic Artist and manager of Pip Printing Cowper Street, Palo Alto "I belong to a critique group for authors and illustrators of children's books. I am working on a children's book, and it is helpful to get different interpretations of my work. " Page 15 Cover Story YOUR FATHER'S SOCIAL CLUB NOT Veronica Weber I BY SUE DREMANN Top: from left, Julie Thomas, Debra LaVergne, Laurie Prescott and Pat Aanenson lead the June 9 meeting of the Rebekahs in Palo Alto. Below, Palo Alto Rotary Club members staff a booth at the Fourth of July Chili Cookoff in Mitchell Park. Page 16 n floor-length gowns -- some sparkling with sequins, all adorned with medallions -- the 13 women of the Palo Alto Rebekah Lodge No. 291 stood dwarfed in the voluminous Blue Room in downtown Palo Alto's Masonic Center on a recent Wednesday evening. "I am a Rebekah," they recited in unison, repeating a creed that dates to the founding of their group, the Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. "I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and the Sisterhood of woman. "I believe in the watch-words of our Order -- Friendship, Love and Truth." Two golden columns towered like silent sentinels as the women stood with hands to their hearts. Their voices, strong and resonant, rose in the dark, wood-paneled room. "Friendship -- is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together. "Love -- is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give, the more you receive. "Truth -- is the standard by which we value people. It is the foundation of our society. "I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out To survive in the 21st century, fraternal and service groups reinvent themselves to attract younger members Veronica Weber Cover Story Kimihiro Hoshino Above, an award-winning car at the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance, held as a fundraiser by the Palo Alto Host Lions Club, is displayed. Below, Tommy Fehrenbach, one of the youngest members of the Kiwanis Club, stands next to the playground in Heritage Park that his club helped to build, one of several in Palo Alto with which the Kiwanis have been involved. Veronica Weber Alexis Satterfield and her grandmother Diane Satterfield listen in on a Rebekahs meeting at a June invitational event. to my community and the World, for in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters. "I am a Rebekah!" The room echoed with their final shout. Noble Grand Laurie Prescott, the lodge leader, stood on a wooden dais surrounded by three ornate thrones and presided over the evening's business. Rows of empty assembly seats flanked the cavernous room's walls. "Are there any applications for membership?" Prescott asked. "No applications for membership," secretary Julie Thomas said. time pressures on young professionals, a desire for couples to spend their precious free time together rather than at lodge meetings, as well as the revolution in online social networking. From the Odd Fellows to the Rotary Club, service and fraternal organizations are searching for ways to breathe new life into their groups. To keep up with the times, clubs are doing away with time-consuming meetings and adding hands-on activities. Some, like the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, are becoming more family friendly, adding incentives such as pools, work-out rooms and day care. Patricia Mastalir, Royal Matron of the Eastern Star (Masons) in Palo Alto and a Rebekah, said the problem is nearly universal and something must be done if such organizations are to survive in the 21st century. "It's very difficult. Members are getting older. We're all in the same boat," she said. Veronica Weber O nce a strong thread in a community's social fabric and a main source of public service, the Rebekahs and other fraternal and service clubs today are struggling after decades of waning membership, according to their leaders. The decline can be attributed to several factors, the leaders say: women entering the workplace, The numbers are sobering. The Rebekahs, once 50,000 members strong in the 1950s, count just 5,000 members today. The Palo Alto Elks have shrunk from 3,600 to 892. Members' average age hovers around 70 and "young" means being in one's 50s, leaders said. The groups have centuries-old histories. The Odd Fellows were popular during the Industrial Revolution in England, when people moved from the countryside and left their social networks and safety nets behind, according to Debra LaVergne, a Palo Alto member since 1970 and past Noble Grand. In California's gold country, nearly every town had an Odd Fellows hall where miners met, many of which can still be found today. Women formed an auxiliary, the Rebekahs, and both groups functioned as a type of insurance. Members took care of their own, aiding the sick and burying the dead, LaVergne said. But that role no longer seems relevant to many people, having been largely supplanted by government health programs and private insurance. Two assisted-living facilities for the elderly and a campus for troubled children in California are just about all that remain of the Odd Fellows legacy in the state, she said. Now LaVergne, in her mid-50s and one of the youngest members of her lodge, is seeking ways to carry the membership forward for succeeding generations. In a world in which the Internet offers endless new ways of interacting, fraternal organizations and service clubs still offer a connection for which people yearn, according to LaVergne. "I just belong, and I need to belong. Substituting counting up your friends on Facebook pages is not the same," she said. LaVergne joined the group when she was about 17. She was attract(continued on page 22) Page 17 special feature Understanding dementia A community health education series from Stanford Hospital & Clinics Dementia is a broad term, like arthritis, that describes a spectrum of disorders that physically alter the brain and its workings. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. In all its forms, dementia produces a decline in memory or an impact on speech, movement and behavior that has a profound impact on daily life-like not being able to find your way home. Diagnosis of dementia has been largely limited to a broad evaluation of changes in memory, behavior, motor skills, language use and visual processing. Dementia can begin in different areas of the brain, so early symptoms may vary. Stanford researchers are developing new technologies to spot microscopic changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's. Also in development are tests to identify certain blood proteins that might serve as another early alert to dementia. Dementia's causes are varied, although still not thoroughly defined. In Alzheimer's, two proteins in the brain accumulate and interfere with normal function. Dementia can appear after a stroke. Other, treatable causes of dementia include Vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, alcoholism, substance abuse and infections. Age is the most significant risk factor for dementia. Other risk factors include prior head trauma, coronary artery disease, genetics and family history. Occasionally forgetting something is normal, like the name of a movie you saw two weeks ago. If that memory problem expands or worsens over time, consult your doctor. Preventing dementia is a developing field. A healthy diet and regular activity, including aerobic exercise, may help prevent or slow dementia. So do new intellectual or social experiences-whether reading, solving puzzles or going out with friends. "The important goal is to get out of the armchair," Kerchner said. For more information about dementia, support groups, classes and other resources: stanfordhospital.org/memoryclinic (Phone: 650.723.6469) and stanfordhospital.org/agingadultservices (Phone: 650.498.3333) Join us at: stanfordhospital.org/socialmedia When Our Memory Fails: Recognizing Real Loss Adeline Riley's family wasn't sure at first what was going on. "You'd tell her something over and over and she wouldn't remember," said her daughter Ann. "I'd have a whole conversation on the phone with her and she'd have no memory of it." She was in her 70s, a time when memory does seem to slip a bit-forgetting a movie seen two weeks before or not remembering where you put your glasses are familiar symptoms of brains that are slowing down, along with the rest of the body. For Adeline Riley, however, that forgetfulness grew and began to erode her ability to be her normal, active self. "Before," said her husband, Joe, "she'd always have to be doing something." A family doctor sent the Rileys to see a neurologist at Stanford Center for Memory Disorders, where a team of diagnostic specialists tested Adeline Riley's memory and looked also at her blood and brain and medications for all possible explanations for her problem. The diagnosis was dementia, a broad term that covers a group of conditions that sometimes involve memory, sometimes other parts of thinking, feeling and moving. Dementia can't yet be seen in a blood test, or an MRI, but what's happening in the brain is "more than just forgetting something every once in a while," said Geoffrey A. Kerchner, MD, PhD, Director of the Stanford Center for Memory Disorders. "It means a person's thinking has declined to the point that they've had a functional change-to where they need help with daily life." "Our life is a constantly running film which most of us rewind and fast-forward at will. When it stops running smoothly, we lose track of where we are and, ultimately, who we are." � Geoffrey A. Kerchner, MD, Director, Stanford Hospital & Clinics Center for Memory Disorders Dementia is progressive. For many patients, the earliest symptom is that loss of memory; other problems may appear later. "I often tell my patients, `Most of your brain is working really well,'" Kerchner said, "but some parts are not." How Memory Works Researchers know that memory is not just "one big thing," said Frank Longo, MD, PhD, Chair of the Stanford Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences. "The hippocampus, the amygdala, and the cortex are the main gears, but they need other gears to move. They don't operate individually. Memory and its product, learning, depend on networks of neurons that connect one memory-function part of the brain with others, enabling the storage and transfer of information that is the core of human thought and emotion." The interaction between short and long term memory is dazzling in its intricacies -- and when normal communication between the two stops, the effect is devastating and pervasive. Adeline Riley's fading ability to move information to long term memory explains her short attention span. "It's hard to watch a movie or read a book � Adeline Riley, patient, Stanford Hospital & Clinics Center for Memory Disorders It is not safe for Adeline Riley to drive or to cook. Her husband won't let her do the laundry anymore, because she started putting quarters in the washing machine, and forgetting that the clothes needed to be dried. When she reads, Joe Riley said, "she can read maybe a chapter and she puts the book down. `I'm bored now,' she'll say. I'll say, `Is the story becoming a little thin?' `No, I'm just tired of reading.' I keep after her constantly." She likes to watch television, he said, "but I limit her. I try to keep her occupied with little odds and ends." Norbert von der Groeben Memory begins with sensory input-sight, sound, smell, taste, touch. These fleeting snapshots of the world can only linger in a short term memory basket for only a few seconds before they Adeline Riley's vibrant personality shines out clearly, but dementia has diminished disappear to make her brain's memory mechanisms. Her family first noticed that when they'd tell her room for new exsomething multiple times and she wouldn't remember. periences. When an experience if you don't have any recollection of is important-when we exercise conwhat happened 120 seconds ago," said sciousness of it-it's transfered into a Kerchner. "Our life is a constantly long term memory basket. Awareness running film, which most of us reis required for that step. "If we want wind and fast-forward at will. When to hold on to information, we have to it stops running smoothly, we lose pay attention and rehearse it, until it track of where we are and, ultimately, consolidates," Longo said. who we are." Long term memory is the reservoir of "There are times when I'm not what makes us who we are. When we ponder and plan, we call up informaremembering anything and other tion from those long term memory times when I remember real good. stores and hold it temporarily in short It's very frustrating. I just try to term memory. That's what we do if remember more." asked to spell a word backwards. Norbert von der Groeben said her husband, "so we just use the phrase, loss of memory." More than 100 years since Alois Alzheimer described the pathological findings in the disease that bears his name, "our thinking has evolved," Kerchner said. "Dr. Alzheimer's patient was a 51-year-old woman, and for many decades, the disease was thought to be a very rare disorder of young people. The term senile dementia was used to describe thinking problems in old age." Physicians and scientists now recognize that Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of age-related cognitive decline. It now affects about 5 million Americans, a number that will rise with the growing percentage of individuals over the age of 65. Treatments have been slow to emerge, and currently target only the symptoms of the disease. However, diseasemodifying therapies, discovered in Stanford's Alzheimer's Translational Research Program, are in various stages of early testing. "The one thing that I hate to see is families in denial. `Mom's getting old. She'll be fine.'" � Geoffrey A. Kerchner, MD, Director, Stanford Hospital & Clinics Center for Memory Disorders For now, the most important therapy is an active lifestyle. "There is strong evidence that regular aerobic exercise and mental stimulation can prolong functional independence," Kerchner said. Support groups for caregivers and other resources are equally important. Stanford Hospital's Aging Adult Services works closely with the Center for Memory Disorders to make sure that patients and their families get the comprehensive care they need. Adeline Riley will soon be leaving the Bay Area with her family, but will still be close to the light of her life, her four-yearold granddaughter. "She comes to have breakfast with us and spends a couple of hours with us in the afternoon," said Joe Riley. "They have a special game they play called wiggleworm." "There are times when I'm not remembering anything and other times when I remember real good," Adeline Riley said. "It's very frustrating. I just try to remember more." Despite knowing what's happening to his wife, Joe Riley has not given up trying to help her. "She'll sit down and try to tell me something and she can't get it out. She just gets so frustrated. You can see it on her face, that she's trying extra hard," he said. "I'll say, `Wait a minute, let's just simmer down and talk about it, and we'll get it." Planning a Future Getting accurate information, Kerchner said, can be very helpful psychologically and practically. "The one thing that I hate to see is families in denial. `Mom's getting old. She'll be fine.' Although these conversations seem unpleasant to initiate, it is far better to discuss plans for long term care and housing with a loved one before something bad happens." As time passes, Joe Riley keeps closer and closer watch on his wife-and encourages her in every way he can to keep active, whether it's walking or reading or doing puzzles. "I've told her certain things will happen," said Joe Riley. "She says, `I can't remember anything now, so what's the difference?' How do you reason with that? It's difficult sometimes to keep from feeling a little bit sorry for yourself. But I intend to take care of her just as long as I am able. Our marriage vows said, `through thick or thin, in sickness and in health.'" Changing Knowledge Even talking about what's happening is difficult. The word dementia in popular culture conjures images of complete insensibility, Kerchner said, making conversation about it difficult. "Adeline hates the word dementia," Alzheimer's disease affects the brain in ways visible to new, high-power MRI technology. The hippocampus, critical to memory making, is radically reduced in size as the disease progresses. On the top, outlined in yellow, is a healthy hippocampus. Below it, one shrunken by Alzheimer's. "It is sad to diagnose dementia, and to witness a patient's deterioration," said Kerchner as he reflected on his practice, "but I find reward in helping patients and families to discover what is happening, to get accurate information, and to use this knowledge to find a path forward." Norbert von der Groeben Adeline and Joe Riley have been married for more than 50 years, with many shared memories. It's easy for Adeline to recall their first years together. With dementia eroding her short-term memory, it's much harder for her to recall recent events. Page 18 Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of "America's Best Hospitals," Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. It is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, visit stanfordmedicine.org. Page 19 Meadow Wing & Focused Care a tradition of caring PALO ALTO COMMONS offers a comprehensive program for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia in our Meadow Wing. Here, residents enjoy daily walks on beautiful garden paths and a full program of activities to engage mind, body and spirit. For residents in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, our Focused Care Program provides for all of the resident's unique needs. Here, families are assured that their loved one will get the best care in the most appropriate environment now and in the future as needs may change. Call today... 650-494-0760 24 Hour On-site Licensed Nurse Services 4075 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306 650-494-0760 www.paloaltocommons.com License #435200706 Bay-Friendly Bay-Friendly Gardening Wor ork Gardening Workshops Gro gar arden. health Grow a beautiful garden. Build healthy soil. You can create a sustainable, healthy and beautiful garden using Bay-Friendly practices. Learn gardening techniques that work with nature to reduce waste and protect the watersheds of the San Francisco Bay. Bay-Friendly Basics Saturday July 24 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cubberley Community Center, Room H-1 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto This class provides an overview of the Bay-Friendly philosophy, approach and integrated practices that make for a sustainable garden. It is a mix of lecture and hands-on activities, including: � Breakouts on: soil, managing pests and plant selection � where you'll be introduced to the primary Bay-Friendly maintenance practices. Small group design activity to instill fundamentals and help with getting started on your own garden. Brought to you by: � Workshop is FREE. Attendees receive a Bay-Friendly Gardening Book. To register go to: www.BayFriendlyCoalition.org Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening programs and resources are offered by the Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition. Bay-Friendly is a trademark and servicemark owned by StopWaste.Org Page 20 City of Palo Alto Recreation Presents � 26th Annual PALO ALTO WEEKLY MOONLIGHT RUN & WALK Friday, September 24, 2O1O TIME & PLACE PlEASE NOTE NEW WALK TIME: 5K walk 7:00pm, 10K run 8:15pm, 5K run 8:45pm. Race-night registration 6:15 to 8:00pm at City of Palo Alto Baylands Athletic Center, Embarcadero & Geng Roads (just east of the Embarcadero Exit off Highway 101). Parking -- go to PaloAltoOnline.com to check for specific parking locations. COURSE 5K and 10K loop courses over Palo Alto Baylands levee, through the marshlands by the light of the Harvest Moon! Course is flat, USAT&F certified (10k run only) on levee and paved roads. Water at all stops. Course map available at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. long-sleeve t-shirt. Late/race-night registration is $30 and includes a shirt only while supplies last. A scantron card must be filled out at race-night registration. FAMILY PACKAGE: Children 12 and under run free with a registered parent. A completed entry form for each child must be submitted with adult registration. Please indicate on form and include $15 for an adult small t-shirt. No confirmation of mail-in registration available. Registration also available online at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Refunds will not be issued for no-show registrations and t-shirts will not be held. REGISTRATIONS & ENTRY FEE Pre-registration fee is $25 per entrant (postmarked by September 17, 2010) and includes a SPORTS TEAM/CLUBS: Pre-registration opportunity for organizations of 10 or more runners; contact Amy at (650) 223-6508 or firstname.lastname@example.com. MINORS: If not pre-registered Minors under 18 MUST bring signed parental/waiver form (below) on race night to participate. In addition scantron card must be completely filled out at race-night registration. MOONLIGHT DIVISIONS Age divisions: 9 & under; 10-12; 13-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69, and 70 & over with separate divisions for male and female runners in each age group. Race timing provided for 5K and 10K runs only; not 5K walk. COMPUTERIZED RESULTS by A Change of Pace Race results will be posted on the Internet at www.PaloAltoOnline. com 10am on 9/27. Registration forms must be filled out completely and correctly for results to be accurate. Race organizers are not responsible for incorrect results caused by incomplete or incorrect registration forms. RUN&WALK Stanford AWARDS/PRIZES/ENTERTAINMENT Top three finishers in each division. Prize giveaways and refreshments. DJ Alan Waltz. Prerace warmups by Noxcuses Fitness, Palo Alto PALO ALTO GRAND PRIX Road Race Series -- Moonlight Run, 9/24; Marsh Madness, 10/23; Home Run 11/14, for more information go to www.paloaltogp.org. BENEFICIARY Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund. A holiday-giving fund to benefit Palo Alto area non-profits and charitable organizations. In April 2010, 43 organizations received a total of $240,000 (from the 2009-2010 Holiday Fund.) MORE INFORMATION Call (650) 463-4920, (650) 326-8210, email firstname.lastname@example.com or go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com. FLASHLIGHTS/HEAD LIGHTS RECOMMENDED For safety reasons, no dogs allowed on course for the 5K and 10K runs. They are welcome on the 5K walk only. No retractable leashes! Please bring your own clean-up bag. Jogging strollers welcome in the 5K walk or at the back of either run. First aid service and chiropractic evaluations provided by K. Skinner, R.N., D.C. Sports and Spinal Injury Specialist Register online at www.PaloAltoOnline.com GOT OLD SHOES? Give them to Meb! We'll be collecting gently worn athletic shoes to go to those in need in war-zones and postconflict areas. Bring your shoes to the Project Active booth on the baseball diamond and support your sport by giving back. Go to www.GiveMebYourShoes.com for more information about the cause. You deserve a better student loan Zero origination or other application fees, no prepayment fees Lower rates than many other lenders Private loan solution is now available to business graduate degree-granting program Fully deferred payment option while in school* Full Line-Of-Credit (LOC) that can be used over multiple years. Only one application is necessary to secure financing for the current program of study** * DURING DEFERMENT, INTEREST ON THE LOAN WILL ACCRUE. MANDATORY REPAYMENT BEGINS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE STUDENT GRADUATES OR SEPARATES FROM SCHOOL. ** SUBJECT TO CREDIT QUALIFICATION AND CREDIT VERIFICATION. CREDIT LIMITS MAY BE REDUCED OR NEW CREDIT REFUSED DUE TO CHANGES IN BORROWER'S FINANCIAL CONDITION. Call a Star One Credit Union Student Choice Program Representative at (800) 741-2893 De Anza Blvd & Homestead Rd Cupertino 10991 N De Anza Blvd El Camino Real & Ventura Ave Palo Alto 3903 El Camino Real Blossom Hill Rd & Almaden Expwy San Jose 1090 Blossom Hill Rd Stevens Creek Blvd & S. Winchester Opening by Fall 2010 San Jose 3136 Stevens Creek Blvd Sunnyvale 1080 Enterprise Way, Ste 150 Enterprise Way & 11th Ave " J o i n U s ! M e m b e r s h i p i s o p e n t o i n d i v i d u a l s w h o l i v e , w o r k , o r a t t e n d s c h o o l i n S a n t a C l a r a C o u n t y. " Page 21 Cover Story WHAT THE CLUBS DO T here are dozens of service and fraternal clubs on the Midpeninsula. Here are the histories of a few of them: Service and fraternal organizations provide big money, helping hands to support local and international needs Nationally, the Elks National Foundation has a $400 million endowment and contributes millions of dollars annually to many causes, including $3.5 million in college scholarships. Symbols: Elk with antlers surrounded by a clock face and letters B.P.O.E. Internationally, clubs have contributed more than $80 million toward the global elimination of iodine-deficiency disorders through UNICEF. They are also working with UNICEF to address neonatal and maternal tetanus. Symbols: "K" in a braided circle surrounded by a global icon. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks The Elks began as a fraternal organization in 1868, morphing out of the Jolly Corks, a group of New York actors who formed a private club to elude New York City laws governing the hours of operation at taverns, according to the lodge's history. The group began charitable work after a member died and his family was left without an income. The group based their rituals on a British fraternal organization, the British Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, but took the name Elks to give the group a decidedly American name. The organization opened to African Americans in the 1970s and to women in the 1980s. Services: Locally, the Palo Alto Elks Lodge No. 1471 Veterans' Committee provides bingo, an outdoor barbecue and trips for hospitalized vets. The lodge supports the Palo Alto Little League, Sea Scouts, Adolescent Counseling Services and other programs and hosts the annual Soap Box Derby. Regionally, the CaliforniaHawaii Elks Major Project, Inc. provides aid and scholarships for children with disabilities. Kiwanis International The name Kiwanis comes from an American Indian word meaning "we shout" or "we gather." The organization was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Mich., by a tailor, Joseph G. Prance, and Allen S. Browne, a professional fraternity organizer, who wanted a business and professional men's club that networked and served the poor. Kiwanis became a service-focused organization in 1919. The Kiwanis International Foundation started in 1939 with 25 silver dollars that were auctioned for $625. The organization works globally to eliminate child hunger, abuse, neglect and to provide medical care. Kiwanis began accepting women in 1988. Services: Locally, Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto constructed playground equipment at Mitchell Park and Palo Alto Community Housing Corporation's California Park Apartments; serves meals at Clara Mateo; has repaired local day-care centers and the duck pond at the Baylands; and builds homes with Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity. Lions Club International The Lions is a secular organization founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman who believed success is not achieved until one gives back to the community through good deeds. Work on eyesight projects and blindness prevention began in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the organization at its international convention, according to the organization's history. All funds raised are used strictly for charitable purposes, and administrative costs are kept separate and paid for by members. Women were admitted starting in 1986. Services: Locally, Palo Alto Host Lions organizes the Concours d'Elegance auto show, which has raised more than $1 million in 44 years for local community organizations, including Blinded Veterans Association, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Jean Weingarden Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf and organizations for seniors, persons with devel- Veronica Weber Donna Keiffer (above), exalted ruler of the Palo Alto Elks, holds up a piggybank used to collect donations to support children with disabilities. Palo Alto University Rotary Club member Steve Ross (facing page), volunteers at the downtown Palo Alto Food Closet each Monday, serving food to the needy. Service clubs (continued from page 17) ed to the organization's "happiness through service" philosophy and opportunities to bond with other women, she said. "In the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs I'm actually an influential person. I get respect and validation. It's a very small pond, and I'm the big frog," she said. T he Palo Alto Elks Lodge 1471 has faced the same crisis. Seven years ago the club began losing money, according to member Rod Norville. "We were only able to survive by renting things out," he said of the then-expansive Elks Lodge property on El Camino Real. The group is actively seeking families and members in their 20s, but like many organizations, it must overcome perceptions of being an old boys' club whose members are hooked on ancient rituals. In fact, the Elks have many women in their ranks and are also becoming more ethnically and raPage 22 cially inclusive, according to Exalted Ruler Donna Keiffer. The group now includes Latinos, Indians, Middle Easterners and Asians, among others. Other clubs likewise are actively seeking a diverse membership. The San Francisco Lions depicts people of color on its website. In San Francisco, its clubs are located in Bayview-Hunters Point and Chinatown and there are Korean-American, Taiwanese, Nikkei and Hispanic clubs. Tommy Fehrenbach, membership chair of Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto, said groups are trying to break down the old perceptions. "The service-club stereotype is of a lot of retired white men. All you have to do is come to an event, and that's how you break those stereotypes down," he said. Changing perceptions requires both outreach and dropping or tweaking some traditions that hark back several centuries, leaders of some organizations said. "A lot of the language should be done away with. We don't have that formality anymore," according to Carolyn DeBoer, a fifth-generation Rebekah who is president of the Rebekahs Assembly in California and a baby boomer. Lodges are realizing the value of marketing themselves, too. Those that do are having great success in recruitment, proving that people will take interest when given information, DeBoer said. One Rebekah lodge became involved with its Chamber of Commerce and members made connections through the workplace. "The success has been astronomical. The lodge now has 175 members," she said. "We can't isolate ourselves in our own lodges. It's about getting out there and exposing yourself." When Lions Club International, a service organization, saw a membership decline, it conducted public-perception surveys, according to spokesman Dane LaJoye. "We were astonished by what we found," he said, citing the "old, white male" stereotype. "In truth, we're men and women of every conceivable culture. We really do represent the everyman." The Lions mounted a re-branding campaign, complete with billboards and advertising to reflect its diversity and projects, he said. It surveyed people to learn which kinds of volunteering they were interested in, and then it offered the hands-on service projects that younger people want, he said. "People want to build a house and pound a nail. They want to see tangible results," LaJoye said. As a result, the Lions experienced its biggest one-year gain in two decades. The organization worldwide grew by 33,000 members, he said. W omen are now the fastestgrowing demographic of service and fraternal organizations. The Lions switched from being all-male in 1989. In 2009, 67,000 women worldwide belonged to the group, LaJoye said. Women have also revitalized the Elks. Keiffer is the first female exalted ruler in the group's 87-year history. Last year, several leaders asked her to head the club, she said. "They said, `We need a softer touch now,'" according to Keiffer. Ironically, Rebekahs are endangered in part because women are joining the Odd Fellows, which was all male until seven years ago, LaVergne said. "That's saved several Odd Fellows lodges, but when women joined it put Odd Fellows and Rebekahs in head-to-head competition for new members," she said. Clubs are also realizing they need to compete against non-service organizations, such as fitness centers, for members. The Palo Alto Elks are in the midst of building a new lodge, which will have extensive recreational facilities: indoor racquetball and squash courts; Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms; a ballroom; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; a basketball court and rock-climbing wall; group exercise rooms; billiards; an outdoor barbecue station and extended hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to attract the younger, busy generation. "We want it to be like a countryclub atmosphere," said Norville, a Cover Story Institute. Nationally, since 1927, the Odd Fellows Education Foundation has provided $6.8 million in low-interest student loans and hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to low-income students. Internationally, it supports SOS Villages and homes for orphaned and AIDS-affected children. Symbols: Three-Link chain representing friendship, love and truth; All-Seeing Eye; others. Rotary International Founded in 1905, Rotary claims to be the world's first service organization. An attorney, Paul P. Harris, started the club among professionals because he wanted to capture the friendly spirit he felt in small towns as a youth, according to the organization. Rotary's name derives from the club's early practice of rotating meetings at its members' offices. After World War II, the organization called for a conference to promote international cultural and educational exchange. It inspired the founding of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Palo Alto has two Rotary clubs: Palo Alto University Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Palo Alto. Services: Locally, it supports a variety of organizations financially and through hands-on projects, including Belle Haven Community Center, the Opportunity Health Clinic, Downtown Streets Team, Stevenson House, Lytton Gardens and the City of Palo Alto. Nationally and internationally, it works to combat hunger, build schools, improve health and sanitation in poor countries, education and job training and to eradicate polio. Symbols: Gear -- Sue Dremann Kimihiro Hoshino opmental disabilities, diabetes and children's mental health. Internationally and nationally, the group supports programs to prevent or eliminate blindness in Third World countries and has provided aid to cities and countries rocked by disaster. Also addresses hearing loss and cancer. Symbols: Lion; double lion head surrounding a circle with "L" Masonic Lodge The early origins of this fraternal organization are debated widely but the Masons or Freemasons date back at least to 18th-century England and was established in the United States in 1733, according to various sources. George Washing- ton was perhaps the most notable American Mason. The Masonic Lodge of Palo Alto was started in 1902, with several orders established at its center on Florence Street, including the Order of the Eastern Star, Palo AltoRoller Lodge, George Washington Club and Order of the Amaranth. Services: Locally, the Masons support Ronald McDonald House, diabetes organizations and soup kitchens. Nationally, the organization supports orphanages, homes for the aged, hospitals, education and medical foundations, programs for children with diabetes, burn victims, literacy, sight and medical research. Symbols: Compass, right angle forming a diamond shape with a "G" at the center; others. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs The Odd Fellows date back to the 18th century, but the modern fraternal organization is said to have taken shape during England's Industrial Revolution. People who left their rural communities for the cities lost their social network and safety net, according to Debra LaVergne, a Palo Alto member and past Noble Grand. Members were called "odd fellows" because it was deemed odd for people to organize to give aid to the needy without recognition, she said. The Rebekahs is the ladies' auxiliary. Odd Fellows formed in the United States in 1819 and in California during the Gold Rush in 1849, according to historian Peter V. Sellars. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was an Odd Fellow, according to the organization. Services: The group maintains two assisted-living centers in California for the aged; Rebekah Child Services, a residential and educational campus in Gilroy for deeply troubled children; and the Compadres program, which works with at-risk children and teens and their families directly in the home. The group has raised $2.5 million to support a professor's chair at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye former exalted ruler. "It will be the flagship of Elkdom." In order to finance the project, Elks members sold part of their property to a residential developer. The lodge is slated to open in October and is already increasing membership, according to Norville. While clubs are not forsaking their traditions -- the Palo Alto Host Lions Club mounted its 44th Concours d'Elegance auto exhibition June 27, a fundraiser for 35 local charities -- they are expanding into high-profile, even global, charitable efforts to attract new members. The Lions have supported disaster relief in Haiti, New Orleans and overseas, in tsunami-stricken areas, LaJoye said. "When there's a tornado in the Midwest, you can be sure the Lions Club is there," he said. University Rotary Club of Palo Alto/Stanford built a school in El Salvador and has worked in microlending, according to the club president, Deborah Pappas. Those activities have attracted members under 40 in the past three or four years. The club currently has 90 members, a mix of professionals and retired persons. Approximately 50 percent are women, she said. Many clubs are also leveraging social-networking sites and new technology for meetings and communication. LaJoye said the Internet is fast becoming a crucial way to garner younger members. Groups that have "cyber clubs" that meet online instead of requiring attendance at a traditional gathering are seeing their memberships grow. The Lions has an evening meeting at Palo Alto Airport for people who can't make the traditional luncheon, and the Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto also holds online meetings. "In today's economy -- in our cut, paste and go society -- there's not time for a 1.5-hour lunch," said Kiwanis secretary Howell Lovell. The club now requires attendance only once per month and involvement in one monthly service project. A satellite committee of younger professionals meets primarily through social-networking sites such as Facebook and communicates via Twitter and e-mail, he said. Fehrenbach said the club's 82 members now range in age from 24 to 89. Twenty members -- one quarter -- are under 40. Flexiblity is important to club growth, Rotary's Pappas said. "These clubs have to be more forgiving." They also have to be willing to explore new possibilities, such as working with other groups. She is trying figure out how to engage organizations doing work similar to the Rotary Club. "It would make a statement. If we all got together, we could do a big project and have social time," she said. E conomic and social changes have boosted groups' membership numbers recently. Volunteers say a call to service by President Barack Obama has inspired them, and volunteerism is up in part due to unemployment. Service projects look good on resumes, and students seeking college admission also seek out service opportunities, Lovell said. The groups do countless good deeds: visiting the aged; bringing blankets to lonely, hospitalized veterans; funding college scholarships for disadvantaged students; helping hearing-impaired children receive cochlear implants; and more. Introducing young people to service early in life builds character, the Rebekahs' LaVergne said. The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs have Junior Odd Fellows and Theta Rho Girls groups for kids ages 8 to 18. The Lions Club's Leo Clubs (5,700 worldwide) are designed for young people ages 12 and older. Kiwanis has youth groups -- Key Clubs -- at both Palo Alto and Henry M. Gunn high schools. Fehrenbach, 31, is part of the younger breed of volunteer the organizations are counting on to take them into the future. "Service has always been a part of my DNA," he said. "We built a playground," he said of a recent project. "It's really touching. You see the value for yourself." While some might argue that people can find countless volunteer opportunities online through sites such as VolunteerMatch.org and Idealist.org without the club commitment, service and fraternal groups offer something that is often in short supply: a sense of community, Pappas said. "There are many aspects of a service club. You can get so much out of it. There are great speakers every week. You meet people that you may not ordinarily come in contact with. You're connecting with likeminded people. "There's something really valuable about connecting. There's a lot of feeling a part of something bigger," she said. Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at sdremann@ paweekly.com. About the cover: Laurie Prescott, Debra LaVergne and Pat Aanenson of the Rebekahs wear their formal dresses inside the Palo Alto Masonic Lodge at their June 9 meeting. LaVergne, center, wears a cape of the order's Encampment Branch. Photo by Veronica Weber Page 23 MEXICAN The Oaxacan Kitchen 321-8003 Authentic Mexican Restaurant 2323 Birch Street, Palo Alto also visit us at 6 Bay Area Farmer's Markets www.theoaxacankitchen.com of the week PIZZA Pizza Chicago 424-9400 4115 El Camino Real, Palo Alto This IS the best pizza in town AMERICAN Armadillo Willy's 941-2922 1031 N. San Antonio Rd., Los Altos Range: $5.00-13.00 Hobee's 856-6124 4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Also at Town & Country Village, Palo Alto 327-4111 CHINESE Peking Duck 856-3338 2310 El Camino Real, Palo Alto We also deliver. Su Hong � Menlo Park Dining Phone: 323�6852 To Go: 322�4631 Winner, Palo Alto Weekly "Best Of" 8 years in a row! Spot A Pizza 324-3131 115 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto Voted Best Pizza in Palo Alto www.spotpizza.com POLYNESIAN Trader Vic's 849-9800 4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm; Sun 4:30 - 9:30pm Available for private luncheons Lounge open nightly Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6 pm Dine-in, Pick-up & Delivery 115 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto 650.324.3131 133 Main St, Los Altos 650.947.7768 Open 7 days 11:00-9:00 Delivery from door to door Burmese Green Elephant Gourmet (650) 494-7391 Burmese & Chinese Cuisine 3950 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto (Charleston Shopping Center) Dine-In, Take-Out, Local Delivery-Catering INDIAN Darbar Indian Cuisine 321-6688 129 Lytton, Downtown Palo Alto Lunch Buffet M-F; Open 7 days Janta Indian Restaurant 462-5903 369 Lytton Ave., Downtown Palo Alto Lunch Buffet M-F; Organic Veggies SEAFOOD Cook's Seafood 325-0604 751 El Camino Real, Menlo Park Seafood Dinners from $6.95 to $10.95 Scott's Seafood 323-1555 #1 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto Open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Happy Hour 7 days a week 4-7 pm Full Bar, Banquets, Outdoor Seating www.scottsseafoodpa.com CHINESE Chef Chu's (650) 948-2696 1067 N. San Antonio Road on the corner of El Camino, Los Altos 2008 Best Chinese MV Voice & PA Weekly Jing Jing 328-6885 443 Emerson St., Palo Alto Authentic Szechwan, Hunan Food To Go, Delivery www.jingjinggourmet.com Ming's 856-7700 1700 Embarcadero East, Palo Alto www.mings.com New Tung Kee Noodle House 520 Showers Dr., MV in San Antonio Ctr. Voted MV Voice Best `01, `02, `03 & `04 Prices start at $4.75 947-8888 ITALIAN Spalti Ristorante 327-9390 417 California Ave, Palo Alto NEW SPOT! great for teen parties www.spalti.com Pizzeria Venti 650-254-1120 1390 Pear Ave, Mountain View www.MvPizzeriaVenti.com Fresh, Chef Inspired Italian Food THAI Thaiphoon Restaurant 323-7700 543 Emerson St., Palo Alto Full Bar, Outdoor Seating www.thaiphoonrestaurant.com Best Thai Restaurant in Palo Alto 3 Years in a Row, 2006-2007-2008 JAPANESE & SUSHI Fuki Sushi 494-9383 4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Open 7 days a Week STEAKHOUSE Sundance the Steakhouse 321-6798 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:00pm Dinner: Mon-Thu 5:00-10:00pm Fri-Sat 5:00-10:30pm, Sun 5:00-9:00pm www.sundancethesteakhouse.com MEXICAN Palo Alto Sol 328-8840 408 California Ave, Palo Alto Search a complete listing of local restaurant reviews by location or type of food on PaloAltoOnline.com Page 24 Eating Out FOOD FEATURE Most importantly, I can interact with customers and friends to create new concoctions." At the core of the product line are "single-origin" chocolates. Most chocolate makers blend cocoa beans from a variety of plantations and countries to achieve a uniform product with consistent taste. In contrast, single-origin chocolates come from just one country, often a singular plantation or micro-growing region. The exquisite and pricey Tuscan Amedei is the premier example of the genre, although Valrhona, Cluizel and other large producers market some single-origin products. The taste can vary year to year, depending on growing conditions. While the word "terroir" is used by wine aficionados to define rainfall, soil, average temperature days, etc., the word also translates well for cocoa-bean production. Single-origin chocolates offer subtle taste variations as well as differences in color, snap, finish, olfaction and sheen. Some chocolates taste smoky or woody, or like black coffee, berries, tropical fruits, molasses or pipe tobacco. It is the subjective side of chocolate that is debated as much as any fine glass of aged Pinot Noir. Cocoa beans grow near the equator on plantations that are often mountainous or in rainforests with difficult accessibility. After being harvested and fermented, the beans are dried, packed and shipped. The chocolate maker roasts, husks and grinds the cacao into a fine paste. Finally the mixture is churned in open tanks, which smoothes the texture while building nuances of taste, aroma and texture. It's complicated, demanding work, and few small companies ever attempted it. Now, trendy food is all about hand-made products by dedicated artisans with an eye towards fair trade and sustainability. For West's part, he says he avoids buying cocoa beans "from politically troubled places like the Ivory Coast," he said. "The beans in my chocolate come from South America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Madagascar." West said he buys the highest quality single-origin chocolates, adds organic cream from Palo Alto's Michal the Milkman, and processes the ingredients into truffles. "I also make my own caramels and marshmallows and a non-dairy vegan truffle using hazelnut milk." There are none of the typically filled candies at Monique's: no (continued on next page) Buy 1 entree and get the 2nd one with coupon (Dinner Only) 369 Lytton Avenue Downtown Palo Alto 462-5903 Family owned and operated for 15 years w w w. j a n t a i n d i a n r e s t a u r a n t . c o m STANFORD JAZZ Thi sS atu rda y! FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! www.stanfordjazz.org Box Office: 650.725.ARTS (2787) 39TH SEASON SAT. 7/17: CLAUDIA VILLELA BAND (BRAZILIAN JAZZ) June 25 � August 7, 2010 SUN. 7/18: JOHN SANTOS SEXTET MON. 7/19: KHALIL SHAHEED & THE MO' ROCKIN PROJECT TUE. 7/20: GERALD CLAYTON TRIO 07/17 Claudia Villela Band 07/18 John Santos Sextet 07/19 Khalil Shaheed & the Mo'Rockin Project 07/20 Gerald Clayton Trio 07/21 Kristen Strom Quintet 07/22 The Music of Dave Brubeck presented by Victor Lin 07/24 Giants of Jazz: Charles McPherson, Junior Mance, and Tootie Heath 07/25 Ruth Davies' Blues Night with Special Guest Keb' Mo' 07/26 Dena DeRose Trio 07/27 Junior Mance Trio Veronica Weber 07/28 100 Years of Django with Julian Lage, Victor Lin & Jorge Roeder 07/29 Visions: The Stevie Wonder Songbook 07/31 Rebecca Martin featuring Larry Grenadier, Steve Cardenas & Larry Goldings 08/01 Dave Douglas Quintet Plus 08/02 George Cables Trio 08/03 Nicholas Payton with the Taylor Eigsti Trio 08/04 Joshua Redman Trio 08/06 SJW All-Star Jam Session 08/07 Taylor Eigsti Group featuring Becca Stevens A selection of truffles with milk and dark chocolate, paired with a cup of espresso. Sweet science Crafting the perfect chocolate a passion for Palo Alto boutique owner by Dale F. Bentson M ark West bounds with energy. He's a tinkerer by nature, a man who loves to experiment, bend convention, reformulate odds and come up with something new. His entrepreneurial predilections have led to several successful business startups, primarily in the cargo business, both air and oceanic. Opening a tiny, hands-on chocolate store might seem out of character. It's not. "It really began as a hobby when I started making chocolate for my daughter Monique and her preschool class," West said in a recent interview. "I made batches for events, fundraisers, as teacher's gifts and for family parties. Eventually, I wanted to take everything I learned from classes and my business experience and create something: Monique's Chocolates." West opened Monique's in downtown Palo Alto in January, setting up shop at 539 Bryant St. Like any astute entrepreneur, he had prepared himself for the venture by learning from experts. He took classes from Alice Medrich, the cookbook author and founder of the long-gone, but never forgotten, Cocolat stores. West read extensively about the science of food and everything about chocolate he could get his hands on. Then, he began testing in his home kitchen. The idea, he said, was "to recreate an Old World, Parisian chocolate shop, using just great chocolate and organic cream, with no additives or preservatives. A place where confections are made right in the place where they are sold -- you can see them being made. ORDER TICKETS www.stanfordjazz.org Looking for something to do? Check out the Weekly's Community Calendar for the Midpeninsula. Instantly find out what events are going on in your city! Go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com/calendar Page 25 FREE DELIVERY (with min. order) SENIORS HEALTH SPECIALIST Are you a senior, or do you have an elder parent and are concerned about their health? Contact a Certified Fitness Trainer experienced in working with seniors. Training that focuses on: 1. Strength: increase bone density and keep weight and blood sugar in check 2. Balance: help prevent falls 3. Stretching: freedom of movement 4. Endurance: aid breathing and heart functions fu Eating Out (continued from previous page) "THE BEST PIZZA WEST OF NEW YORK" --Ralph Barbieri KNBR 680 880 Santa Cruz Ave Menlo Park (at University Drive) 226 Redwood Shores Pkwy Redwood Shores (Next to Pacific Athletic Club) (650) 329-8888 (650) 654-3333 Personal Fitness Training by Brian Doyle Call 650-235-6494 www d L U C I L E PA C K A R D C H I L D R E N ' S H O S P I TA L Your Child's Health University Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers classes and seminars designed to foster good health and enhance the lives of parents and children. HEART TO HEART SEMINAR ON GROWING UP Informative, humorous and lively discussions between parents and their pre-teens on puberty, the opposite sex and growing up. Girls attend these two-part sessions with their moms and boys attend with their dads. - For Boys: Wednesdays, August 11 & 18: 6:30 � 8:30 pm - For Girls: Wednesdays, August 25 & September 1: 6:30 � 8:30 pm chocolate-covered cherries, no liqueur-flavored butter creams. "Taste is the key," West said. "When you are using the best chocolates in the world, let the flavor shine." That is not to say there isn't a bit of whimsy in West. He has a line dubbed "x_otics and x_perimentals." Ash's chai truffle with milk chocolate, tea and chai spices was inspired by a favorite customer. There's an M-Cube with milk chocolate and marshmallow, and Galaxy with chocolate, caramel and marshmallow -- and even a peanut butter and jelly mishmash. "Requests lead to discovery lead to product," West said. For customers not content to buy a box of truffles to eat later, the store has tables and chairs along with bar seating that overlooks the kitchen for instant gratification. West also offers in-store "Naked Truffles," a build-your-own truffle sundae, with this advisory: "Caution: More than four truffles at one time is not recommended. This is an incredible amount of rich chocolate." In addition, hot chocolate ($3.50) is available with the single-origin ingredients changing daily. Thomas Keller's French Laundry coffee blend is served. Marshmallows cost $1 and caramels $1.50. Overall, Monique's chocolate truffles ($2-$3) are rich, not pop-inthe-mouth-while-watching-a-movie confections. This is serious chocolate for the educated palate, or the palate that needs to be educated. In the shop, Mark or his wife, Cathy West, are on hand seven days a week. He is working on a website, while daughter Monique, now an eighth grader, is planning the Facebook page for the business. "What's most fun is someone loving the product," Mark West said. "(When) they just stop and say, `Oh, that's really good,' well, that's the moment, the reward. "It's not a hobby anymore. I'm building something from ideas ... planning and flexibility are key. It's a customer-driven custom business." Just as I was finishing writing this piece, Mark West emailed me with a dozen new ideas he is considering trying. The experimentation, happily for our palates, might never end. Monique's Chocolates 539 Bryant St. Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-323-9669 Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Answers to this week's puzzles, which can be found on page 56 MOTHER-BABY MORNINGS LPCH offers a group forum for new mothers with infants 0-6 months of age. Our group provides support and camaraderie for new parents while promoting confidence and well-being. - Tuesday mornings, 10:00 � 11:30 am 4 7 3 5 1 2 6 8 9 2 6 9 7 8 4 1 5 3 5 1 8 9 3 6 2 4 7 8 2 6 4 7 9 3 1 5 1 3 4 2 5 8 9 7 6 9 5 7 3 6 1 8 2 4 6 9 1 8 4 7 5 3 2 7 8 5 6 2 3 4 9 1 3 4 2 1 9 5 7 6 8 COMFORT TECHNIQUES FOR LABOR For couples who have already completed Childbirth Prep, this class provides additional tools and practice for relaxation, breathing and comfort measures for labor. - Saturday, August 14: 1:30 � 3:00 pm NEWBORN CARE 101 This interactive program teaches the specifics of newborn care including bathing, swaddling, soothing and more. Infant doll models are used to allow for hands-on practice. - Saturday, August 28: 9:00 am � 12:00 pm & 12:30 � 3:30 pm Notice of a Public Meeting of the City of Palo Alto Architectural Review Board (ARB) 8:30 A.M., Thursday, August 5, 2010 Palo Alto Council Conference Room, 1st Floor, Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue. Go to the Development Center at 285 Hamilton Avenue to review filed documents; contact Alicia Spotwood for information regarding business hours at 650-617-3168. Stanford University Medical Center Facilities Renewal and Replacement Project- Preliminary review to review draft design guidelines, including concepts for Welch Road and the Durand Way extension of the Stanford University Medical Center project. Amy French Manager of Current Planning Call (650) 723-4600 or visit www.lpch.org to register or obtain more information on the times, locations and fees for these and other courses. L U C I L E PA C K A R D C H I L D R E N'S H O S P I T A L C A L L TO D AY TO S I G N U P F O R C L A S S E S ( 6 5 0 ) 72 3 - 4 6 0 0 Page 26 Arts & Entertainment A weekly guide to music, theater, art, movies and more, edited by Rebecca Wallace Above: A detail from Jan Krieg's 1929 Ford Roadster. Left: Krieg sits in the Roadster in his Palo Alto garage. He plans to bring the car, which he powers with ethanol, to the July 25 Vintage Vehicles event at El Camino Park. story by Carolyn Copeland photos by Veronica Weber Vintage Vehicles and Family Festival returns after funding issues canceled it last year eople take different approaches to doing their part for the environment. Jan Krieg, a Palo Alto vintage car builder, uses ethanol fuel to power his 1929 Ford Roadster. Sporting a "Rednecks for Obama" bumper sticker above the license plate, the red and green rusted car rests in Krieg's shop in Palo Alto. The car is a two-seater convertible with metal seats, giant headlights, and a hood that needs to be unscrewed in order to open it. Krieg started building his car three years ago after spending two years searching for the parts. "I use ethanol fuel because it's about 80 percent cleaner than gasoline and provides more horsepower," said Krieg, who works on cars as a hobby. "I'm also an environmental nut. I want to alert people about global warming. Like they say, `If you're not a part of the solution, you're a part of the problem.' Hopefully this car will reach the people (continued on page 29) P Page 27 Stiffer joints make it painful to move, run or play. Try Cosequin�, the #1 Vet recommended joint supplement. Cosequin� plays an important role in maintaining optimal joint function. Healthy cartilage is crucial for proper joint mobility. Cosequin helps support cartilage production and protect existing cartilage from breakdown. Cosequin allows your pet to enjoy their everyday activities. Arts & Entertainment More - Cosequin� Available at - 20% OFF next visit (Please Bring This Ad) Expires 12/15/2010 Music Ayano Kataoka Lily Francis by Rebecca Wallace concert and several others will be at M-A. All feature an array of artists drawn from far and wide, including Finckel, a cellist; and pianist Wu Han. Musicians new to Music@Menlo this year include the Jupiter String Quartet, violinist/violist Lily Francis, pianist Alessio Bax, percussionist Ayano Kataoka (one of the July 23 performers) and baritone Randall Scarlatta. Overall, the festival runs from July 23 through Aug. 14. It also includes "Encounter" lectures, recitals, a Chamber Music Institute for music students, and informal discussions on music and art. Some events, such as talks and student performances, are free. Visual artist pilot/photographer Alex S. MacLean will also display his work during the festival. Following "Seasons," the next in the concert series is "The English Voice." The festival press release states: "With the death of Henry Purcell in 1695, English music entered a long era of silence. The country became known for the next two centuries as `a land without music' until Sir Edward Elgar reawakened England's composers to the richness of their musical heritage with his iconic `Enigma Variations' for orchestra in 1896." Chamber works from this period that will be performed at the concerts on July 25, 26 and 27 include Elgar's Piano Quintet in A Minor, op. 84; and William Walton's Piano Quartet. The Benjamin Britten song cycle "A Charm of Lullabies," op. 41, will feature another artist new to Music@Menlo, soprano Sasha Cooke. She sang the role of Kitty Oppenheimer in John Adams' opera "Doctor Atomic" at the Metropolitan and English National operas. The next concert, "Vienna," will be performed July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 and features Arnold Schoenberg's First Chamber Symphony, along with music by Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms. On Aug. 4 and 5, "Aftermath: 1945" looks at World War II with Richard Strauss' "Metamorphosen" and Dmitry Shosta- at Menlo Wellness Services include: Heartworm/Tick Disease Testing Flea Control Vaccinations Year-round Parasite Prevention Dentistry & Oral Surgery Surgical Services Spay & Neuter Fecal Parasite Exams Microchipping Geriatric Pet Care Health Certificates For Travel Alessio Bax AlpineVetOnline.com Sasha Cooke (650) 969-8555 Dr. Rebecca McClellan D.V.M. Dr. Tyler Long D.V.M. Chamber-music festival is back for the eighth summer, with concerts focusing on the seasons, World War II, 1920s Paris C U S T O M S O L U T I O N S F O R E V E R Y S T Y L E A N D E V E R Y B U D G E T O WITH T IST PRICE HIS CO UPON SOME RESTR IC TIONS EXPIR APP ES 7-3 1-2010 LY OFF L 25% O U R P E N I N S U L A S H O W R O O M S H A V E C O N S O L I D AT E D. V I S I T U S AT O U R N E W LY E X PA N D E D A N D R E N O V AT E D C A M P B E L L S H O W R O O M . T H E B AY A R E A ' S L A R G E S T ! CAMPBELL SHOWROOM 1 1 9 0 D E L L AV E N U E 408.370.1041 F O R M E R LY E U R O D E S I G N W W W. VA L E T C U S T O M . C O M H O M E O F F I C E S M E D I A W A L L B E D S C L O S E T S C E N T E R S G A R A G E S ne can never know what Antonio Vivaldi would have made of the thoroughly modern composer George Crumb. At Music@Menlo's season-opener concert, it could be fun to listen and speculate. On July 23, the chamber-music festival starts its eighth summer on the Peninsula with a concert program called "The Seasons." As one might expect, the night will begin with Vivaldi's classic "The Four Seasons." As one might not expect, the Vivaldi will be followed by Crumb's "Music for a Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III)." Crumb's 1974 work is by turns surreal, atonal, abstract, melodic and haunting. In the first movement there's a bit that sounds frenetic, like madly circling fireflies. Later on, the third movement starts out dark and low. It's all an intriguing contrast to the lilt of Vivaldi. Crumb, a Pulitzer- and Grammywinning composer born in 1929, wrote in the "Summer Evening" CD notes: "As in several of my other works, the musical fabric of `Summer Evening' results largely from the elaboration of tiny cells into a sort of mosaic design." He also noted that he wrote the piece for two amplified pianos and percussion -- with the percussion instruments including vibraphone, glockenspiel, antique cymbals, Tibetan prayer stones, bongo drums, bamboo wind chimes, a jug, sleigh bells, a slide-whistle, a sistrum and an African thumb piano. Good thing the concert hall is big. The diversity of the July 23 program seems in tune with this summer's goal for Music@Menlo, which artistic directors David Finckel and Wu Han have described as exploring an "immense constellation" of chamber-music pieces. This summer, the festival is also adding a new venue. Along with holding concerts at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto and at Menlo School, Music@Menlo has also set performances at the new performing-arts center at MenloAtherton High School. The July 23 kovich's String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, op. 110. Tenor Matthew Plenk, also new to the festival, sings in Britten's "The Holy Sonnets of John Donne," op. 35. The fifth concert, "La VilleLumi�re," heads for Paris from 1920 through 1928, throwing a little George Gershwin ("An American in Paris") into the program with Darius Milhaud's jazz ballet "La cr�ation du monde" and works by other composers including Gabriel Faur�, Maurice Ravel and Francis Poulenc. There is one performance scheduled, on Aug. 7. "Spanish Inspirations," with performances on Aug. 9 and 10, features Spanish composers and the French composers who admired their sound: Isaac Alb�niz, Manuel de Falla, Claude Debussy, Joaqu�n Turina and Ravel. "Dvor�k's America," on Aug. 13 and 14, explores the Czech composer's look at Americana through his String Quartet no. 12 in F Major, op. 96; and Quintet for Two Violins, Two Violas and Cello in E-flat Major, op. 97, "American." Other selections include Samuel Barber songs sung by Sasha Cooke. The festival's four "Encounter" talks, for which admission is free, seek to further illuminate the music and themes in the concerts, adding social and historical context. They include a July 30 presentation by Ara Guzelimian, provost and dean of the Juilliard School, on musical culture in Vienna between 1762 and 1938. What: Music@Menlo, a chambermusic festival with concerts, talks and other events Where: Events are at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto; Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; and MenloAtherton High School, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton. When: July 23 through Aug. 14. Cost: Some events are free, but tickets for the major concerts vary in price, ranging from $10 for students to $72 for adults. Info: Details are at musicatmenlo.org; call the box office at 650-331-0202. Page 28 Arts & Entertainment CITY OF PALO ALTO RECREATION PRESENTS THE 26TH ANNUAL � Palo Alto Weekly MOONLIGHT RUN & WALK MOONLIGHT RUN&WALK SEPTEMBER 24, 2O1O Register at www.PaloAltoOnline GOT WRINKLES? The Aesthetics Research Center is participating in a research study for crow's feet and forehead lines. Looking for women, age 30-70, with slight to deep wrinkles. The Aesthetics Research Center On the road again (continued from page 27) Please Contact Stephanie for more information: 800.442.0989 or email@example.com that are a part of the problem." Plenty of people will see the Ford Roadster on July 25, when Krieg plans to display it at the Vintage Vehicles and Family Festival at El Camino Park in Palo Alto. He says he's excited to show it off at the event for the second time. Though the festival was cancelled last year due to funding issues, Krieg has entered cars in the festival several other times. This free annual event includes live music, LEGO displays, oldtime radio and radio-controlled model racecars, as well as classic cars, hot rods, bicycles, motorcycles and other vehicles on display. This year, there is also a section focusing on the evolution of the Ford vehicle. The Museum of American Heritage, which organizes the event, was able to get the funding to bring the event back thanks to sponsors and underwriters, said Gwenyth Claughton, executive director of the museum. Claughton said she expects there will be between 100 and 125 antique vehicles as well as some innovative ones. She anticipates thousands of visitors. "There's not always the same people (showing) at the event, so there's always something new to see," Krieg said. Krieg just might bring another vehicle along from his shop, which is home to several other works-inprogress. His vintage cars include a green 1951 Chevy pick-up truck that he is currently selling and a blue 1985 super cart (a go-cart with a powerful motor) that has never been raced. He also has an aluminum motorcycle that he built in 2001 that turns heads whenever he drives it because of its resemblance to a three-wheeled car. Krieg says he does what he can to make his cars as environmentally friendly as possible. By using ethanol as an alternative fuel for his Roadster, he doesn't have to worry about his engine overheating. While a normal engine tends to be about 200 degrees, his car goes up only to 150, he said. 20 P E R F O R M I N G A RT S S E A S O N 10 20 11 Top: Jan Krieg takes the Roadster for a spin down W. Bayshore Road in Palo Alto. Above: This high-speed commuter-car prototype was built by Jan Krieg out of aluminum. Though he enjoys building and fixing up different cars, the Roadster remains one of his favorites. Krieg drives it about once a week and doesn't hesitate to take it long distances because it runs so well. "The furthest I've driven it is San Francisco," he said. "But maybe this summer I'll take it to Paso Robles." This year, Krieg might also bring his solar scooter to Vintage Vehicles, depending on how much extra room the festival has. He's also excited about getting his son involved. "He drove my Roadster one day and thought it was fun so he built one," he said. "He hasn't switched it to ethanol yet but he got his running about a month ago." Though his son has painted his Ford Roadster black, Krieg plans to keep his unpainted. "I want mine to look like a work in progress," he said. "I like things that aren't finished." Krieg plans to do minor body modifications to his Roadster and upgrade the motor. He also wants to make his aluminum motorcycle either a hybrid or all-electric in order to make it more environmentally friendly. Krieg built his first go-cart when he was 10 years old and got interested in building cars when he was a teenager. He even made a bicycle out of scrap metal from his aluminum motorcycle. Next to it, he attached a sidecar for his dog to ride in. Although he taught himself how to build cars, he admits he's still learning. "There are guys way better than me who I like to talk to," he said. "The guys that do it for a living are really good." While it may be just a hobby for Krieg, he is used to getting attention for his work. Often times he catches people taking pictures of his car. "I'll be inside the coffee shop and I'll just watch people stand there and take pictures," he said. "There's usually about five or six." What: Vintage Vehicles and Family Festival, put on by the Museum of American Heritage Where: El Camino Park, across from Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 25 Cost: Free admission, with food booths and other items for sale Info: Go to moah.org or call 650-3211004. Kronos is joined by Cantabile Youth Singers in Awakening: A Meditation on 9/11. SLSQ performs works by Schumann, Elgar, and Haydn, joined by pianist Stephen Prutsman. One of Bali's premier ensembles in a dazzling performance of music and dance. Legendary Japanese Butoh company performs its latest work, the enigmatic Tobari. "An effortlessly charismatic bassist" (NY Times), McBride returns with an acoustic quintet. Violin virtuosa Midori in an intimate evening of Bach, Mozart, and more. READ MORE ONLINE www.PaloAltoOnline.com Sing-along requiems with Schola Cantorum, and stretchy ceramic storks by a Mountain View artist are among the topics covered recently in Weekly arts editor Rebecca Wallace's blog. Read Ad Libs at adlibs.paloaltoonline.com. Solo recital: The legendary pianist performs late works of Schubert. The Israeli rock legend unites East and West, classical and contemporary, sacred and secular. The iconic jazz composer Charles Mingus lives on in his incendiary namesake ensemble. Page 29 Arts & Entertainment "There`s no place like home." Redwood City - San Mateo - San Jose Worth a Look www.matchedcaregivers.com did an artist's residency at the Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart. The free show runs through Aug. 8 at the gallery, 419 Lasuen Mall, Stanford. It's open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5. Call 650-723-2842 or go to art.stanford.edu. Ballet `Danz�n!' Latin America is known for its fiery, passionate dance forms, from tango to salsa. Now, the Mountain View-based Western Ballet Company combines ballet and Latin dance in its premiere performance of "Danz�n!" The production will feature choreography by Venezuelan Vicente Nebrada and music by composers from Venezuela, Argentina and Mexico, in a fusion of classical ballet and modern Latin American dance. The program incorporates Nebrada's piece "Fiebre" and three other works performed by students of the Western Ballet Company and by guest artists from Diablo Ballet, Company C and Ballet San Jose. Western Ballet Company artistic director Alexi Zubir�a said "Fiebre" incorporates the emotion of Latin dancing into classical ballet. "With `Danz�n!' we are reshaping classical ballet into a neoclassical form with Latin American undertones, in order to convey the love, desire and intimacy of our lives," Zubir�a said. The company hopes the Top: "Stewardess," a 2009 archival inkjet print, is one of Mike Osborne's performance will help make photos focusing on underground life in the subways of Stuttgart. Western Ballet a center for Latin Above: Jennifer Little's 2007 pigment print "Waller Creek at Red River Street, American choreographers and Austin, TX" shows a verdant view of the underground. composers. The program will be performed on July 23 at 8 p.m. at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 `Excavating the Underground' for children 12 and under. Call 650-903-6000 or go to The new show "Excavating the Underground" at the mvcpa.com. Thomas Welton Stanford Art Gallery is a multi-sensory affair. By the entrance, Jennifer Little's video of traffic scenes in Austin, Texas, spreads the sounds of cars, sirens, wind and voices through the gallery. Then the photos, by Little and Stanford graduate Mike Osborne, take visitors beneath the surface. The exhibi- Bruce Henderson Bestselling nonfiction author Bruce Henderson knows tion highlights two contrasting views of the world unsomething about modern heroes: As a U.S. Navy Seventh derground. Osborne's photos from the subways of Stuttgart, Fleet weatherman, he served in the Vietnam War aboard Germany, are often bleak, commuters sharply outlined the aircraft carrier Ranger from 1965 to 1967. In his latest against the blaring colors of the underground. The Metro book, "Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the walls' faux-cheery crayon hues make the young punk Vietnam War," Henderson tells the true story of one of seem that much more hard-edged, the stewardness lone- his fellow veterans, U.S. Navy pilot Dieter Dengler. Henderson will give a free lecture about Dengler and lier. In the midst of an urban hub, Osborne's photos cap"Hero Found" at Kepler's Books at 1010 El Camino Real ture a strange, silent melancholy. Little, on the other hand, finds an almost fairytale in Menlo Park on Wednesday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. His greenery in the drainage ditches and underground creeks book recounts the story of how, after Dengler was shot of Austin. Her photos are vivid and sharp, blue sky re- down over Laos in 1966 and taken prisoner, he carried flected in the water where the creek emerges into the out an organized escape from the POW camp where he light. There are no people in her images, but graffiti adds was held deep in the Laotian jungle. Henderson has written or cowritten more than 20 personality to the concrete. books. He also teaches nonfiction writing at Stanford Little, an assistant professor in the department of visual arts at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, University and lives in Menlo Park. For more informarecently completed a residency at the Kala Art Insti- tion about his author talk, go to www.keplers.com or call tute in Berkeley. Osborne is based in Texas and recently 650-324-4321. www.menloparkchamber.com ION July 17-18, 10am-6pm ADMISSEE IS FR Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park Contemporary Fine Art & Crafts Fabulous Food & Wine Refreshing Margaritas & Mojitos Home & Garden Exhibits Artisan Specialty Food Purveyors Green Products Showcase Health & Wellness Displays NEW Microbrew & Wine Tasting Tent NEW AutoVino Collector Car Showcase & Racing Simulator The Popular Chefs' Demos Are Back This Year! Stellar Lineup of Rock`n Roll, Blues, Jazz & Party Music Ryze The Band, The Garage Band, Rock Solid, SF Bay Jazz, HeartStrings Music, Bob Culbertson, Shabang Saturday After-Hours Concert Dance Band Fave, PRIDE & JOY 5:30 � 8 p.m. in Fremont Park Action-Packed Kids' Fun Zone NEW Interactive Kids' Art Area Photos Info-line: 650-325-2818 | www.miramarevents.com Books City of Palo Alto Recreation Presents 26th Annual PALO ALTO WEEKLY MOONLIGHT RUN & WALK Friday, September 24, 2O1O MOONLIGHT Page 30 RUN&WALK REGISTER NOW! www.PaloAltoOnline.com Movies OPENINGS Inception 1/2 (Century 16, Century 20) Some filmmakers dream big. Director Christopher Nolan's ("Memento," "The Dark Knight") visually stunning and exceptionally cast "Inception" is a cinematic marvel -- a rare film inspired by imagination rather than potential boxoffice return. Although the big-budget flick features persistent and impressive visual effects, it is also thought-provoking and poignant. Leonardo DiCaprio headlines the top-notch cast as Dom Cobb, an enigmatic fellow whose expertise is accessing someone's subconscious through their dreams and "extracting" (i.e., stealing) valuable information. Cobb is also a troubled man, hunted by shady government agents and haunted by memories of his deceased wife (Oscar winner Marion Cotillard). When a powerful businessman (Ken Watanabe) offers Cobb a chance to clear his record and return home to his children, he embraces the opportunity. But the task is far from simple. Cobb and his carefully selected team (which includes "point man" Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "architect" Ellen Page and "forger" Tom Hardy) are to enter the dreams of soon-to-be tycoon Robert Fischer Jr. (Cillian Murphy), and plant an idea, an act known as "inception." As Cobb and his crew know only too well, dreams can be dangerously unpredictable. While the group dives deeper and deeper into Fischer's subconscious, threats slowly emerge, forcing each member to face the possibility of a mental limbo they may never wake from. Despite appearances, "Inception" is far more substance than spectacle. There are philosophical, spiritual and moral observations sprinkled throughout (though thankfully not forced down the viewers' throats) and the characters are wonderfully complex. Similarly themed films have been produced over the years -- such as the 1984 Dennis Quaid thriller "Dreamscape," the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix" and Jim Carrey's 2004 indie hit "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" -- though none with as quality a cast or as much dramatic oomph as "Inception." The actors all shine, feeding off one another with thespian prowess. DiCaprio -- easily one of the best actors working today -- serves up yet another raw and riveting performance. Gordon-Levitt plays against type and does so with aplomb as Cobb's nononsense right-hand man. British-born actor Hardy ("RocknRolla") is a scene-stealing revelation and Murphy ("Red Eye") offers a sympathetic and sincere portrayal. When "Juno" darling Ellen Page is the weakest link (Page still gives a terrific performance), we know the ensemble is outstanding. (Nolan even throws in veterans Michael Caine, Tom Berenger and Pete Postlethwaite for good measure.) Where "Inception" stumbles a bit is in the storyline, which for most will be a little confusing and for others will be downright incomprehensible. It is one of those visionary, nuanced films that at first might be perplexing but becomes clear after a second or third viewing. The movie is almost hypnotic -- a mind-bending experience laced with palpable tension and fueled with drama. Sweet dreams. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout. 2 hours, 22 minutes. -- Tyler Hanley The Sorcerer's Apprentice 1/2 (Century 16, Century 20) About 30 minutes into "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," after a particularly dramatic magical showdown, sorcerer-in-training Dave (Jay Baruchel) looks incredulously at his new master, Balthazar (Nicolas Cage). "Are you insane?" Dave asks. "Little bit," Balthazar responds drily. That exchange can, in so many words, sum up "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," the latest offering from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the guy who brought us "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "National Treasure." "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" follows the Bruckheimer tradition of big stars and big special effects, often at the expense of truly compelling characters or a believable plot. However, what sets this film apart from other action-adventure blockbusters of the summer is that it is aware of its own absurdity and wastes no time attempting to convince the audience that what it's watching has any significance whatsoever. The plot is pure fast-paced, summer-popcorn inanity. While on a school field trip, lovesick fourth-grader Dave meets Balthazar, a 1,000-year-old sorcerer literally locked in an epic battle against evil sorcerers Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Morgana (Alice Krige). The encounter leaves Dave the laughingstock of his classmates but Balthazar convinced that he's the young boy he's been looking for lo these many years who will succeed the greatest wizard of them all, Merlin. Fast forward 10 years. Balthazar manages to convince the nerdy (and still lovesick) college student Dave to learn the craft of sorcery and help him defeat Horvath and Morgana once and for all. Together, Baruchel and Cage have surprisingly good chemistry as the skeptical student and the tutor patient yet assured in his coaching methods. While Baruchel's Dave is basically a live-action version of his chatty, dorky Hiccup in "How to Train Your Dragon," Cage as Balthazar is understated and kind of cool. The film's action sequences are fun, if more than a little predictable. Much of the movie was filmed on location on the streets of Manhattan, which gives the film a neat sense of authenticity despite the ridiculousness of the magical pursuits themselves (think "Harry Potter" wizardry without any real fear of bodily harm). Mention must be made of the film's clever nod to the Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence in the 1940 Disney classic "Fantasia," in which Dave makes like Mickey and tries to use his powers on a few mops and buckets. It's this unabashed silliness that makes "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" enjoyable in a mindless kind of way. The film falls short in its supporting characters and smaller plot details, which ultimately leave the viewer detached from the film's suspense. Alfred Molina does his best as the villainous Horvath, but we are told next to nothing about him or the extent of his wickedness. Dave's love interest Becky has an integral role in the climactic battle, apparently, yet we don't see her carry out her mission. And don't even try to understand how the sorcerers' magic, an odd combination of spells and physics, works. But then, in a movie so confident in its own insanity, who really cares about making sense? Rated PG for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief language. 1 hour, 51 minutes. -- Robin Migdol "A FUNNY AND.UNEXPECTED FILM." SERI O USL Y, DON T *@# Y O FoxSearchlight.com AMC MM SARATOGA 14 CAMERA CINEMAS San Jose (888) AMC-4FUN Campbell (408) 559-6900 CAMERA 7 PRUNEYARD CIN�ARTS AT SANTANA ROW AQUARIUS San Jose (800) FANDANGO 983# CINEMARK LANDMARK'S Palo Alto (650) 266-9260 City of Palo Alto NOTICE OF DIRECTOR'S HEARING To be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, August 5, 2010 in the Palo Alto City Council Conference Room, 1st Floor, Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California. Go to the Development Center at 285 Hamilton Avenue to review filed documents; contact Alicia Spotwood for information regarding business hours at 650-617-3168. 760 Webster-[10PLN-00024]-Request by Stephen Reller for a Preliminary Parcel Map to create two condominium units on one existing lot on the corner of Webster Street and Homer Avenue. Zoning: RM-30. Curtis Williams Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY OF PALO ALTO RECREATION PRESENTS THE 26TH ANNUAL � Palo Alto Weekly MOONLIGHT RUN & WALK MOONLIGHT RUN&WALK SEPTEMBER 24, 2O1O Register at www.PaloAltoOnline Page 31 Movies MOVIE TIMES Movie times for the Century 16 theater are listed only through Tuesday except where noted. Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky Aquarius Theatre: 4:15 & 9:15 p.m. (R) 1/2 Cyrus (R) Despicable Me (PG) 1/2 Aquarius Theatre: 2:45, 5, 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. Century 16: 12:10, 2:35, 5, 8 & 10:25 p.m.; In 3D at 10:50 a.m.; 1:15, 3:40, 7:05 & 9:30 p.m. Century 20: 12:05, 12:55, 2:35, 3:25, 5:05, 5:50, 7:45, 8:35 & 10:15 p.m. Sat. also at 10:30 a.m.; In 3D at 11:15 a.m.; 1:45, 4:15, 7:10 & 9:40 p.m. Guild Theatre: Fri.-Sun. at 1, 4, 7 & 9:55 p.m. Mon.-Thu. at 2, 5 & 8 p.m. Century 16: 11:40 a.m.; 2:30, 4:55, 7:35 & 10:35 p.m. Century 20: 11:45 a.m.; 2:20, 4:50, 7:20 & 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; 1:55, 4:40, 7:30 & 10:20 p.m. Palo Alto Square: 1:45, 4:30 & 7:15 p.m. Fri.-Sat. also at 10 p.m. Century 16: 10:30 & 11:50 a.m.; 1:10, 2, 3:20, 4:40, 5:30, 6:50, 8:10, 9 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 12:25, 1:15, 2, 2:50, 3:45, 4:35, 5:25, 6:15, 7:05, 7:55, 8:45, 9:35 & 10:25 p.m. Sat. also at 10:40 a.m. Aquarius Theatre: 2 & 7 p.m. Century 16: 6:45 & 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 1:05, 4:10, 7:25 & 10:30 p.m. 1/2 Century 16: 12:40, 3:50, 7:40 & 10:40 p.m. Century 20: 11:05 a.m.; 1:35, 4:05, 6:55 & 9:40 p.m. Century 16: 11:30 a.m.; 2:10, 5:20, 7:50 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 12:35 & 5:55 p.m.; In 3D at 1:50, 4:20, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Fri., Sun.-Thu. also at 11:20 a.m. The Girl Who Played with Fire (R) Grown Ups (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) I Am Love (R) (Not Reviewed) Inception (PG-13) 1/2 Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (R) 1/2 The Karate Kid (2010) (PG) Knight and Day (Not Rated) The Last Airbender (Not Rated) 1/2 The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot Century 16: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Thu. at 10 a.m. Century 20: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Thu. at 10 (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) a.m. Palo Alto Square: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Thu. at 1:30 p.m. Planet 51 (PG) (Not Reviewed) Predators (Not Rated) Ramona and Beezus (G) (Not Reviewed) Restrepo (R) (Not Reviewed) Salt (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) The Sorcerer's Apprentice (PG) 1/2 Toy Story 3 (G) 1/2 Century 16: Wed. at 10 a.m. Century 16: 11:10 a.m.; 12:30, 1:50, 3:10, 4:50, 6:15, 7:30, 8:50 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 1:10, 2:40, 3:55, 5:20, 6:45, 8:05, 9:25 & 10:40 p.m. Century 20: Thu. at 12:01 a.m. Palo Alto Square: Fri.-Wed. at 2:15 p.m. Fri.-Tue. also at 4:45 & 7:20 p.m. Fri.-Sat. also at 9:40 p.m. Thu. at 4:45 and 7:20 p.m. Century 20: Thu. at 12:01 a.m. Century 16: 10:40 a.m.; noon, 1:30, 2:50, 4:20, 5:40, 7, 8:20, 9:40 & 10:55 p.m. Century 20: 11:05 a.m.; 12:40, 1:50, 3:20, 4:35, 6, 7:20, 8:50 & 10:05 p.m. Century 16: 12:20 & 3 p.m.; In 3D at 11 a.m.; 1:40, 4:30, 7:15 & 10 p.m. Century 20: 12:20, 2:55 & 10:45 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. & Thu. also at 5:35 & 8:10 p.m. In 3D at 11 a.m.; 1:40, 4:25, 7 & 9:45 p.m. Century 16: 11:20 a.m.; 2:15, 5:10, 7:55 & 10:50 p.m. Century 20: 11 a.m.; 2, 3:05, 5, 7:50, 9:15 & 10:40 p.m. The Twlight Saga: Eclipse (PG-13) 1/2 Winter's Bone (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 1, 4, 7:20 & 10:05 p.m. Skip it Some redeeming qualities A good bet Outstanding Cin�Arts at Palo Alto Square: 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto (493-3456) Guild: 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park (266-9260) Internet address: For show times, plot synopses, trailers and more information about films playing, go to Palo Alto Online at http://www.PaloAltoOnline.com/ Aquarius: 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto (266-9260) Century Cinema 16: 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View (800-326-3264) Century 20 Downtown: 825 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (800-326-3264) STANFORD THEATRE The Stanford Theatre is at 221 University Ave. in Palo Alto. Go to www.stanfordtheatre.org or call 650-324-3700. I'm No Angel (1933) Lion tamer Mae West flirts with Cary Grant. Sat.-Tue. at 5:50 & 9:55 p.m. Royal Wedding (1951) Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling in this musical. Wed.-Thu. at 7:30 p.m. Yolanda and the Thief (1945) Fred Astaire plays a con man who falls for the woman he's deceiving. Wed.-Thu. at 5:30 & 9:15 p.m. ON THE WEB: The most up-to-date movie listings at www.PaloAltoOnline.com Desire (1936) Sparks fly in Paris between an engineer and a jewel thief. Friday at 7:30 p.m. City Streets (1931) Gary Gooper falls for a racketeer's daughter. Friday at 5:55 and 9:20 p.m. North by Northwest (1959 Cary Grant and Eve Marie Saint hit the rails in this Hitchock thriller. Sat.Tue. at 7:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun. also at 3:25 p.m. Fri, Sat & Sun Only: Restrepo 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:40 7/2-7/4 Mon & Tues Only: 7/5-7/6 Weds Only 7/7: Thurs ONLY 7/8: I Am Love 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 Restrepo 2:15, 4:45, 7:20 I Am Love 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 Restrepo 2:15, 4:45, 7:20 I Am Lover 1:45 Restrepo 2:15, 4:45, 7:20 I Am Love 7:15 Page 32 BEST SPORTS COVERAGE California Newspaper Publishers Association 1ST PLACE Sports Shorts NEW COACHES . . . The Priory will be a new girls' soccer coach this season, with Ramiro Arredondo taking over for Armando Del Rio, who is leaving the school after accepting a full-time teaching position. Arredondo is returning to the Priory campus where he is considered one of the greatest soccer players in Priory history. He is a current member of the school's Hall of Fame. He was a member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team pool and was captain of the Region IV ODP team for five years. After his club and high school career, Arredondo had an outstanding collegiate career as a midfielder at Cal, where he was named captain his senior year. He currently serves as Coaching Director of Cal Stars Premier and is coaching the MVLA Mutiny BU12 as well as the Alpine Strikers Blue & Red GU13 teams. Arredondo will join with his brother, Henry, also a former Priory soccer standout, to continue building on the school's tradition of girls' soccer excellence . . . Menlo-Atherton has a new boys' water polo coach in Marco Palazzo, who takes over for Johnny Bega, who left to coach at Los Altos High. ON THE LINKS . . . Palo Alto's Jayshree Sarathy recently captured the Girls 12-14 division at the Northern California Junior Players Championship at Rancho Canada East and West courses in Carmel Valley. Bradley Knox Jr. of Menlo Park was second in the Boys 14-15 division with Andrew Buchanan from Menlo School taking fourth. Brenna Nelsen from Castilleja tied for seventh in the Girls 16-17 after shooting a 70 on Rancho Canada East on the final day. Golfers accumulated points for double eagles, eagles, birdies and pars and bogeys, with winners determined by two-day point totals . . . .Palo Alto's Patrick Grimes will return to the site of his championship performance in 2008 when he competes in the Trader Joe's Junior Championships beginning Tuesday at Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton. The field includes 99 juniors from 10 states in addition to Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Ben Dearborn of the Stanford Water Polo Club's 18-under team earned all-tournament honors while helping his squad finish second at the U.S. Club Championships last weekend in Southern California. The Sacred Heart Prep graduate, who is headed for Princeton, helped Stanford go 4-1-1 in the tourney. Room to improve after silver medal in club champs Stanford Water Polo Club's 18U boys' team shifts focus to Junior Olympics after taking second in national tournament by Keith Peters J on Barnea has an interesting way to look at his Stanford Water Polo Club's second-place finish in the boys' 18U division at the U.S. Club Championships last past weekend in Southern California. "We took a similar path two years ago," Barnea said. "We were second at the Cal Cup, second at the Club Championships and first at Junior Olympics." Barnea isn't making any predictions at this time, but his 18U squad is perhaps headed in that direction and certainly has the talent to make 2008 happen all over again. In fact, he still has a solid core of players from that JO championship squad. That group includes goalie Ben Dearborn, Connor Still, Colin Mulcahy, Thomas Agramonte, Alex Bailey, Philip Bamberg, David Culpan, Robert Dunlevie, Mark Garner, John Holland-McCowan and Peter Simon. There are only four new players to the team -- Christian Broom, Brian Morton, Peter Olson and Jed Springer. The Stanford 18U squad reaffirmed its status as being one of the best teams in the nation with its second-place finish on Sunday following an 8-4 loss to Rose Bowl at Norco High. "We know we can play with any team in the country," said Barnea, who coached Stanford to a 4-1-1 record during the four-day event. "It was a long weekend. (But) The guys played extremely hard." (continued on page 35) LITTLE LEAGUE BABE BUTH Palo Alto 10-11s open Section 3 on Saturday by Colin Becht he next step has arrived for the Palo Alto National 10-11 all-stars, who will take a 14-1 postseason record into the Section 3 Little League tournament this weekend in Union City. After playing in the 14-team District 52 Tournament the past two weeks, the four-team, doubleelimination section event should be a welcomed sight for Palo Alto manager Ted Tracy. Palo Alto, after all, played nine games in the district tourney and ended up winning seven straight to claim the title with a 10-4 victory over Belmont/Redwood Shores in the challenge championship game. The most Palo Alto will play in Union City is six games, but Tracy is hoping that won't be the case. Should that happen, it would mean Palo Alto makes pitch for title at NorCal tourney by Keith Peters alo Alto manager Bob Budelli hasn't really seen all the pitchers on his Babe Ruth 15year-old all-star team, due in part to the fact it took only two games to wrap up the District 6 Tournament title last week. Budelli can only hope that remains true once again heading into Saturday's opening game of the NorCal State Tournament in Vallejo. Palo Alto opens at Wilson Field at 4 p.m. If Palo Alto is as successful as it was in the district event, Budelli won't have to rely on his entire staff. Should his team lose early in the double-elimination event, well, Budelli likely will get to see his entire staff. Fortunately, Palo Alto has enough pitching. Moreover, Budelli's team T P ON THE AIR Saturday Women's soccer: FIFA U-20 World Cup: USA vs. Switzerland, 9 a.m., ESPNU Wednesday Women's soccer: FIFA U-20 World Cup: USA vs. Korea Republic, 9 a.m., ESPN2 READ MORE ONLINE For expanded daily coverage of college and prep sports, please see our new site at www.PASportsOnline.com www.PASportsOnline.com (continued on page 34) Nick Wells of the Palo Alto Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-stars will play a key role in the NorCal State Tournament this weekend. (continued on page 34) Page 33 Elizabeth Dunlevie Keith Peters SPRING INTO SUMMER! 2009 �Zumba �Pilates �Yoga �Combat Cardio �Step �Boxing �Kettlebells �Personal Training �Spin! �Free Weights �TRX Suspension �And Much More! Sports Little League (continued from page 33) MASSAGE NOW AVAILABLE www.overtimefitness.com Upscale Classic Buffet LUNCH Villa 8 BIRTHDAYS his team loses its opener before having to win five straight to win the title. Tracy would be more than happy to play just four games and move on to the next stop on the postseason Little League trail. Palo Alto will get things under way with a game against Tracy American at 2 p.m. at Hall Ranch Park (4525 Dyer Street). Should Palo Alto win its opener, it will play Sunday against District 45 at 10 a.m. A first-round loss means a Sunday consolation-bracket game at 2 p.m. The championship is set for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. A challenge game, if necessary, will be Thursday. While Tracy is hoping his team takes the safe route in the winners' bracket, Palo Alto is used to battling from behind after beating Belmont/ Redwood Shores on back-to-back nights to win the district crown. Thriving in pressure at-bats, Palo Alto scored all 10 of its runs with two outs, including a six-run, twoout rally in the fourth inning that broke the game open. "They were pretty immune to pressure," Tracy of his team. "One out, two outs, they don't really think much about it." Tommy Smale delivered a clutch performance on the mound for Palo Alto, pitching 4 2/3 innings with just three runs and six hits allowed. Smale also struck out three. "He wasn't really pitching on power like the other guys. He does more changeups," said Tracy. "He's a very crafty pitcher." Tommy Smale Palo Alto has come to count on Smale delivering lights-out performances on the mound. He pitched in all seven games Palo Alto won in the district tournament. When Smale hit the 85-pitch maximum, Riley Schoeben took to the hill to finish off Belmont, recording the last four outs including a perfect sixth inning. After being shut down by Belmont starter Matt Carroll for the first 2 2/3 two innings, Palo Alto's bats suddenly came alive with three straight two-out doubles. Ryan Chang doubled in Ethan Stern and Justin Hull followed with another double to score Griffy Byer, who pinch-ran for Chang. An inning later, Palo Alto again waited until two outs to find its offensive stroke. When an error that would have ended the inning kept Palo Alto alive, it responded with three more hits, including a two-RBI double by Alec Olmstead. Stern and Hull both had RBI singles as well. Relying on two errors and four hits, Palo Alto scored six runs to build an 8-0 lead. Belmont chipped away at that lead with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, led by an RBI double by Nick Garcia. However, Palo Alto was unfazed by the comeback attempt and added two more runs in the top of the sixth to ensure the victory. Ben Cleasby's RBI single scored Stern and Byer came in on a wild pitch. Stern executed the job of a leadoff hitter to near perfection, getting three hits in the game. Hull and Smale also had multi-hit games. A deciding factor in the game was not a disparity in hitting or pitching, but in defense. While Palo Alto committed just one error that led to one unearned run, Belmont made three errors that gifted Palo Alto six unearned runs. "The one thing we really focused on throughout is (having) the best defense possible," said Tracy. With two runs already in and Belmont threatening to rally in the fourth, it was Palo Alto's defense that quashed that rally. Brian Tracy made a diving catch on a blooper that got Palo Alto its first out of the inning and kept Mitch McCabe at second. Smale went on to retire the next two batters to get out of the inning without further damage. "If he didn't make that play, we would have been struggling," said Tracy. lowed with a single to score Kadash. Larson then plated both Thomas and Wallu with a single to right-center for a 3-0 lead. After Bel-Mateo got a run back in the bottom of the second, Palo Alto added two more in the fourth. After two strikeouts, Thomas walked and Wallu was hit by a pitch. Larson then walked to load the bases for Tam, who ripped a two-run single to center for a 5-1 lead. In the fifth, three-year all-star veteran Chris Rea doubled to lead off the inning. After two were out and Rea had moved to third on a groundout, Grey brought Rea home with a single. Bel-Mateo did threaten in the seventh against Larson, who induced a popup and a fly ball to center (a nice running catch by Tam) before striking out the final batter. There was little celebration afterward. This team, after all, had been here before and there are plenty of tough games ahead. Budelli, in fact, doesn't know what to expect at the next tournament other than it will take a lot of good pitching for Palo Alto to keep its season alive. "And it helps to score a lot of runs, too," he said. Vanoli recalled how close Palo Alto came to advancing past the NorCal State Tournament last season as 14-year-olds. Palo Alto lost an early game to Hayward, but battled through the consolation bracket to force a challenge game. Unfortunately for Palo Alto, it fell in extra innings. "Hopefully," Vanoli said, "this will be our year." Michael Abramson Babe Ruth (continued from page 33) $ 99 Mon.-Fri. 8 DINNER $ $ Sat.-Sun. 1099 14 1 FREE 99 MEAL With 5 or more people SPECIAL PARTIES AND WORKING LUNCHES $ 99 2 items + soup 6 Mon-Thur 11:00am-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:00am-10:00pm; Sun 11am-9:30pm 895 Villa St, Mountain View Page 34 (650) 965-1198 has the experience of playing at this level after winning district titles the past two seasons with pretty much the same team. "This is our third district title," said assistant coach Lou Vanoli. "We won as 13s and 14s and now as 15s." Palo Alto captured the district title with a 6-1 victory over BelMateo at Baylands Athletic Center last weekend. If the triumph looked business-like, it was. Nearly 75 percent of this team has been together all three years and the players know each other quite well. "We know what they can bring," Budelli said. "They know what we expect and we know what to expect from them." There still are a few things that Budelli, Vanoli and Andrew Shenk (last season's manager) don't know about this current team, but that's because the all-stars have only played twice in the postseason. The district opener was a second-round 9-5 win over Bel-Mateo, which put Palo Alto directly into the championship game of the three-team event. Bel-Mateo earned a rematch by eliminating Mountain View on Friday. Budelli said he's still working on whom his starting and closing pitchers will be heading into the NorCal State Tournament. The three pitchers who saw action last weekend certainly didn't hurt their upcoming chances. Keith Peters Jack Larson Andrew Lim started and went three innings, allowing five hits and surviving two bases-loaded situations while allowing a solo run. Nick Wells went the next three innings and allowed one hit and one walk while facing the mininum nine batters. A double play helped matters after he gave up a leadoff walk and a single to open the fifth. Jack Larson finished up in the seventh, getting out of another bases-loaded situation without any damage. While the three pitchers did give up eight hits, the Palo Alto defense was flawless. Centerfielder Eric Tam made two solid running catches that took away potential hits, Lim caught a liner and turned it into a double play in the fifth after Bel-Mateo got the first two runners aboard, and catcher Kyle Wallu did a good job behind the plate with all three pitchers. Palo Alto scored all the runs it needed in the second after Justin Grey flew out to left to open the inning. Christian Kadash singled, Luke Thomas walked and Wallu fol- Sports Stanford women's athletics honored as No. 1 in nation W hen Stanford University won its 16th straight Directors' Cup award this season for having the nation's best overall athletics program, there was one likely assumption -- that either the men's or women's program was perhaps the best in the land. That was confirmed on Wednesday when Stanford women's athletics was honored at the ESPY Awards with the Capitol One Award, recognizing the Cardinal as the top women's athletic program in the nation. Stanford captured the women's honor while Duke University took the award for the top men's athletic program. The award was accepted by Stanford women's basketball All- American Nnemkadi Ogwumike in a backstage presentation at the ESPYs in Los Angeles. Stanford's women's athletics teams boasted one of the top showings of all collegiate women's programs in the nation. Two Cardinal teams, women's tennis and women's lightweight rowing (varsity eight), captured national championships, while five additional teams (basketball, soccer, swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo) turned in runnerup finishes. Overall, six Stanford female student-athletes were also named their conference's player of the year, and 49 earned All-America honors. Stanford appears in good shape to win the award again next year tournament team. The Stanford 12U squad went 3-1 and finished 11th. The Stanford 16U team featured Connor Dillon, Maxwell Draga, Casey Fleming, David Freudenstein, Patrick Goodenough, Alex Gow, Nick Hale, Ben Hendricks, Matt Leyrat, Cory McGee, Ben Pickard, Cullen Raisch, Max Schell, Caleb Terzich and Adam Warmouth. In the girls' competition, the NorCal 18U squad fashioned a solid 4-2 record and wound up seventh following an 8-6 victory over SET. "We had a pretty adventurous weekend," said NorCal coach Chris Dorst. "This was a great big chance for us to test ourselves against some very good teams. It was a great leadin for JOs. I was thrilled with the weekend." NorCal opened with a 10-3 win over the North San Diego Stars and followed that with an 8-7 win over Pacific Northwest United (of Washington). That earned NorCal a match with the host team, CHAWP, of the Chino Hills area. NorCal pulled off a huge 15-10 victory. In a crossover match, NorCal dropped a 7-3 match to Diablo and fell to San Diego Shores in penalty shots, 10-7. In the seventh-place game, NorCal beat the defending JO champion SET team. "It was a great step toward where we want to be," Dorst said. "We played five very good programs. If that was the measuring stick, we're right up there." The Stanford girls' 18U team finished 3-3 for 10th, the Stanford 16U girls were 1-4 while taking eighth and the NorCal 16s were 1-4 while finishing 12th. The Stanford 14U girls went 2-4 and took 13th. The Stanford 18U team dropped a 16-7 decision to Diablo in its opener after starting slowly and then fell to SET, 14-8, which went on to beat Diablo later in the day. Stanford salvaged pool play by showing lots of improvement in a 12-10 victory. "Our counter-attack and counter defense looked much better in this game," said Stanford coach Cory Olcott. "And, we controlled the pace." In a crossover game with the North San Diego Stars, Stanford jumped out early but then gave up the lead and fell behind, 10-6, mid- following Wednesday's announcement that incoming basketball freshman Chiney Ogwumike was named the Gatorade national high school athlete of the year. Ogwumike averaged 22.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.1 blocks last season for Cy-Fair High in Cypress, Texas. She led the 36-1 Bobcats to the state Class 5A state championship. She graduated third in her class with a 3.45 GPA. At Stanford, Ogwumike will team with her sister Nneka, the defending Pac-10 Player of the Year. They were among 12 finalists for the awards that recognize athletic achievements, academic excellence and character. Women's field hockey Tara Danielson has been named head coach of the women's field hockey team. Danielson becomes the sixth head coach in the history of the program and replaces Lesley Irvine, who accepted a position as Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator at Bowling Green State University last month after seven years at the helm. Soccer Stanford's Rachel Quon, Teresa Noyola and Courtney Verloo all saw action for the U.S. Under20 Women's National Team as it opened play in the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup with a 1-1 deadlock with Ghana on Wednesday in Dresden, Germany. Team USA forward Sydney Leroux scored in the 70th minute to answer an early goal from the Africans. Leroux�s goal came after Noyola stripped a Ghana player in midfield and sent a through ball to Maya Hayes on a long break-away into the right side of the penalty area. Hayes raced at the �keeper and then slipped a pass square to Leroux, who slid to knock the ball into the open net from just inside the six-yard box. Quon started for the USA with Noyola and Verloo subbing in. The United States is now tied with Ghana for second place in Group D behind the Korea Republic. Rowing Three Stanford women rowers have been named to the 2010 U.S. Under-23 National Team roster -- Lindsay Meyer, Grace Luczak and Julie Smith. The trio will compete at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships scheduled for July 22-25 in Brest, Belarus. areas of improvement into sharp relief." In the girls' 16U division, Stanford opened with a 7-6 win over NorCal and a 7-1 loss to Santa Barbara, the eventual champion. Stanford then played SET, the runnerup team, and battled to a deadlock before finally falling, 11-8. Sacred Heart Prep's Pippa Temple had six goals before adding four more in a 12-11 loss to LA Water Polo Club. Stanford trailed 11-5 in the fourth quarter before rallying to within one with a minute left. LAWPC scored with 32 seconds left for a 1210 match before Temple answered 10 seconds later. LAWPC then ran out the clock for the victory. Gunn's Elizabeth Anderson played a big role in the comeback and was solid at both ends of the pool. In the game for seventh place, Stanford fell behind Commerce early before Palo Alto's Skylar Dorosin found the net. Stanford eventually fell, 14-3. In the 14U competition, Stanford dropped its first four matches before winning its final two while taking 13th. "Overall, I think we did a great job," said coach Kelsey Holshouser, who just graduated from Stanford following a standout polo career there. "Two of those (four) losses were one-goal games and the girls did an excellent job of continuing to fight until the end of games, as we were down by a couple of goals going into the fourth quarter for both of those one-goal games. "Fortunately, we ended the tournament with two big wins. One our wins came against 680 (9-8), which is a team that we recently lost to so it was good to see that we are making some improvements. We also beat SET (11-5) . . . and played a very solid game against them. Our defense is looking awesome, but sometimes we have trouble scoring goals." Holshouser said she is looking forward to get back to practice and work on the team's weaknesses. "Hopefully," she said, "we will be able to make some big strides before we head back to the LA area for our JO tournament." All the other local water polo coaches are probably thinking the same thing. Page 35 Water polo (continued from page 33) Barnea was both disappointed and encouraged by the runnerup finish. While he goes into every tournament with the expectation of winning it, the fact that his team didn't play the type of game it needed to leaves room for improvement. And it's likely better to head into the Junior Olympics without being the top seed, as Stanford was for this event. Stanford opened with a 15-7 win over Xtreme before beating Pacific Northwest United, 15-4. Following a tough 7-7 deadlock with a good San Diego Shores team that didn't hurt its No. 1 rank in pool play, Stanford advanced to be LA Water Polo Club (8-6) before upending SET (Saddleback El Toro) in the semifinals, 9-4. That victory avenged Stanford's loss to SET in the JO 16s championship match last summer at Stanford. "We just kind of crushed them," Barnea said. "That was a great win for our guys." It also might have left them a little flat for the championship match, which saw Rose Bowl grab leads of 3-0 and 5-1 before Stanford finally rallied and got to within 7-4 heading into the final quarter. "We just didn't play the type of game we needed to play," said Barnea, who had Dearborn and Agramonte named to the all-tournament team.. Fortunately for Barnea and his players, there's plenty of time to rest up and get ready for the Junior Olympics, which will be held in the Los Angeles area beginning July 31. Most of the players will return to their high school teams the week before JOs for the High School Championships in Southern California. Sacred Heart Prep, St. Francis, Menlo, Palo Alto and Menlo-Atherton are expected to compete. The Stanford 18U boys were just one nine teams that competed last weekend. For the boys, the Stanford 16U went 4-2 and finished seventh with a 9-8 victory over SET. The Stanford 14U team finished fourth despite a 4-4 mark, finishing with an 8-3 loss to SET. Stanford's Harrison Enright was named to the all- Keith Simon Thomas Agramonte of the Stanford Water Polo Club's 18U boys' team earned all-tournament honors at the U.S. Club Championships. way through the third period. "The team showed terrific poise, however, and rallied for five unanswered goals to take the game, 1110," Olcott said. That set the stage for a semifinal match against an old rival, Commerce, a traditional powerhouse. "Instead of being intimidated, the girls used their reputation as motivation," Olcott explained. "Playing our beset game of the weekend, the team dominated the game." Stanford posted a big 12-3 victory, but wasn't able to follow up that big win and dropped a 9-8 match to Xtreme in the ninth-place game. "Our last game was a bit of a letdown," Olcott said. "Again, we rallied from three goals down but, in the end, could not quite get over the hump. "Overall, this is the sort of performance you like to have at this stage of the season," continued Olcott, "for it shows you how good you can be -- at times we looked fantastic -- while still helping to bring some NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING of the Palo Alto Architectural Review Board (ARB) Please be advised that on Thursday July 29, 2010, the Architectural Review Board shall conduct a public hearing at 8:30 AM followed immediately by a board retreat in the Council Conference Room, located at 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, California. Any interested persons may appear and be heard. CONSENT CALENDAR 3600 Middlefied Road (10-PLN-0024): Request by City of Palo Alto Public Works Department for Architectural Review of directional signage between Mitchell Park and Cubberley Community Center. STUDY SESSION ARB discussion of Palo Alto's Green Building Regulations, including: developments. (CALGreen). RETREAT TOPICS City Sign Ordinance City Entrance Signage ARB Annual Report to PTC and City Council ADA. Persons with disabilities who require auxiliary aids or services in using City facilities, services, or programs or who would like information on the City's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact (650) 329-2550 (voice) or 650-328-1199 (TDD). Amy French Current Planning Manager APY 3-year APY 2-year CD 1 CD 1 Special rates. Smarter checking. One solid financial partner. Open a checking account and get a special CD rate. Stop by a branch for this limited-time offer, or visit unionbank.com/cdoffer. Menlo Park: Mid-Peninsula: Palo Alto: Page 36