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Palo Alto Weekly 05.07.2010 - section 1
Section 1 of the May 7, 2010 edition of the Palo Alto Weekly
Palo Alto City cuts could shrink library hours Page 3 w w w.PaloA ltoOnline.com THE RACE Kishimoto, Becker and Gordon race for Ira Ruskin's seat in the California Assembly PAGE 19 Spectrum 16 Movies 28 Title Pages 30 IS ON Eating Out 33 Puzzles 64 Page 24 Page 35 Page 45 Arts Palo Alto artists open up their studios Sports National honor for Stanford volleyball Home Dramatic, eclectic kitchens on tour JOIN US FOR THE GENTRY GALA FEATURING LOCAL GOURMET CUISINE, DANCING AND ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010 � SHERATON HOTEL , PALO ALTO See the Latest Designs of The New Stanford Hospital Enjoy Live Entertainment Including: LATIN DANCE PERFORMANCES & LESSONS MARIACHI CARDENAL COUNTERPOINT A CAPELLA STANFORD SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING Support Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Your Community Hospital VIP RECEPTION & GALA $250/person GALA $150/person Includes VIP Reception (Westin Palo Alto), Admission to Gala (Sheraton Palo Alto), Complimentary Valet Parking and Hosted Bar Includes Admission to Gala (Sheraton Palo Alto) and Two Drinks COCKTAIL ATTIRE For more information visit stanfordhospital.org/gala To RSVP, contact us at hospitalevents @ stanford.edu or 650.721.2272 ABOUT STANFORD HOSPITAL & CLINICS Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular disease, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery and organ transplant. Consistently ranked among "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Report, Stanford is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into care of patients. For more information, please visit http://stanfordhospital.org. Page 2 Upfront Palo Alto ponders keeping some libraries closed, trimming budget for new collections by Gennady Sheyner Local news, information and analysis Shorter hours, smaller collections eyed for libraries F or Palo Alto's library supporters, the city's latest budget proposal is the ultimate buzz kill. It should be a happy time. The city's $76 million library-improvement project is sailing along swimmingly and, in some cases, ahead of schedule, city officials said this week. Fundraising efforts for library furniture are accelerating, and the Downtown Library just closed down for major renovations -- an event city leaders commemorated with a cheerful ceremony. But with the city facing a $7.3 million budget deficit, it now appears increasingly likely that the new, state-of-the-art libraries will have shorter hours and smaller collections than residents expected when they passed Measure N in 2008. City Manager James Keene's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1, slashes the Library Department's budget for collections by 18 percent -- meaning fewer new books, reference materials and electronic resources. Keene also proposed keeping all libraries closed on Monday and changing the closing time at Mitchell Park and Main libraries from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. The College Terrace Library, which is currently undergoing construction, would be closed until summer 2011, despite the fact that the renovations are scheduled to be completed this fall. Keeping the branch closed for an extra eight months is expected to save the city about $74,000. The Downtown Library's bond-funded renovation is scheduled to be completed in spring 2011, but the budget proposes to keep the branch closed until the end of June 2011. Library Director Diane Jennings said her department, in proposing the cuts, tried to spread the impacts widely to avoid affecting any group of library users disproportionately. Some stay in the libraries for hours without checking anything out, she said. Others pick up their materi(continued on page 13) ELECTION '10 DA race a wild ride Incumbent Dolores Carr and prosecutor Jeff Rosen trade allegations over lack of ethics in contentious election by Sue Dremann T Palo Alto code enforcement officer Brian Reynolds, whose job is threatened, inspects a home littered with debris and trash in early May. He has already issued multiple citations against the owner and is seeking an abatement warrant to haul the debris away. CITY BUDGET Enforcing the code Palo Alto budget cuts could trim staff to one officer by Sue Dremann B rian Reynolds' job is on the line. Proposed Palo Alto budget cuts could shrink the city's two-person code-enforcement team down to one officer -- and he would not be that one. Most people don't know what Reynolds and his partner, Judy Glaes, do. Theirs is a job that, when done well, prevents hazards from turning into disasters. Reynolds, 32, walked past two vacant lots near California Avenue Wednesday, wondering aloud how his partner will handle the workload if his job is eliminated. The pair divides the city in two. His beat cov- ers the foothills and areas bounded by San Antonio Road, Fabian Way and west of Waverley Street. Glaes handles downtown, Midtown and east of Waverley, he said. "We average 500 to 800 cases a year -- last year we had just over 600 -- and we handled 200 to 300 more that don't need to be logged in," he said, inspecting an area where he had issued an order to abate a public hazard. Metal rebar in a planting strip adjacent to a professional building had been jutting out like javelins toward the sidewalk. An elderly gentleman tripped on the 2-foot-tall encroaching metal and was nearly impaled in the throat, Reynolds said. Whether following up on tall weeds or oversized fences, Reynolds checks out complaints large and small and then returns to places after he's already ordered a clean up. He walked past two vacant lots near California Avenue, reflecting on the city's many hidden hazards that require constant vigilance. "I had a limo company in a residential area that I made move out because they were parking limousines all over the street," he said. The company then moved to a warehouse that was not zoned to house limousines, he said. Next door, there was a special-ed school. "One night, one of the old limos caught fire. ... If that fire had happened during the school day, it would have been one of the worst disasters in Palo Alto history," he said. (continued on page 6) he fierce re-election battle between Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr and her employee, prosecutor Jeff Rosen, has become one of the most hotly contested in the June 8 election, splitting powerful supporters between the incumbent official and upstart litigator. Carr's four-year tenure has been scarred by a series of embarrassing gaffes that have led detractors to question her judgment and ethics. She was criticized when her husband, a retired police lieutenant, became a paid consultant for a murder victim's family in a case Carr's office would eventually prosecute. But her husband consulted on a civil action against the bank where the victim was killed and had nothing to do with the criminal case, Carr told the Weekly during a recent interview. In April 2008, she was accused of intervening in a case on behalf of a defense attorney who contributed to her 2006 election campaign -- which she has denied. Rosen has seized on those criticisms, once calling her "un-American" during a candidates' forum because of her rare boycott of a judge whom she said was biased against prosecutors. But Carr isn't taking the attacks complacently. Rosen was taken to task for prosecutorial misconduct in a trial by an appeals court eight years ago, Carr said during a March campaign debate. She recently filed a lawsuit against the wording of Rosen's ballot statement. And she accused his campaign of taking an illegal in-kind $17,000 campaign donation from the San Jose Mercury News, after Rosen used the paper's stories on his website without authorization. Rosen said he did not know it is illegal to post copyrighted articles from a newspaper's site, he told the online news site San Jose Inside. He is questioning Carr's use of 21 billboards paid for with state money on behalf of the state's campaign against workers' compensation fraud, to which she added her name. Carr has denied the billboards have anything to do with her election campaign. Amid the verbal brawling, both candidates claim they want to reform the District Attorney's office. Carr, 57, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge for six years, was elected after a three-year expos� in 2006 by the Mercury News, "Tainted Trials, Stolen Justice," which uncovered widespread judicial, defense and prosecutorial failures and misconduct that the newspaper asserted deprived defendants of fair trials in Santa Clara County. "I left the Superior Court bench to change the culture and to have a broader view of justice," she told the Weekly. She appointed an ethics advisor to aid deputy district attorneys and provide ethics training; set up capital-case protocol for consideration of death-penalty cases and established an equal-justice task force to look at the disproportionate prosecutions of minorities. Carr set up standards and professional-development evaluations for managers. She ordered the first outside management audit in the history of the District Attorney's office, she said. She has also gone after white-collar crime, beefing up prosecutions of mortgage and real estate fraud. Her office helped get legislation passed that made mortgage fraud a felony, she said. "We're doing more regional kinds of things than just try cases," she said, pointing to preventive tactics to reduce gang violence, such as the Parent Proj(continued on page 12) Veronica Weber Page 3 PREFERED DENTAL PRACTICE FOR OVER 50 YEARS! 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 Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Bentson, Colin Becht, Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, Sheila Himmel, Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Renata Polt, Jeanie Forte Smith, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors Katia Savchuk, Aimee Miles, 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 Marisa Walker, Dave McKenna, and Jeuel Espanola PRODUCTION Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager Dorothy Hassett, 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 Molly Stenhouse, Online Sales Consultant BUSINESS Mona Salas, Manager of Payroll & Benefits Elena Dineva, Mary McDonald, Sana Sarfaraz, Cathy Stringari, Susie Ochoa, Doris Taylor, Business Associates ADMINISTRATION Amy Renalds, Assistant to the Publisher & Promotions Director Alana VanZanten, Promotions Intern 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: firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@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. 650-321-4544 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 `` Today's news, sports & hot picks Upfront 450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210 QUOTE OF THE WEEK `` I'm not a big fan of phone banks. ... But they work. -- Tracy Stevens, Measure A campaign co-chair, on the use of phone banks to help the parcel tax pass Tuesday. See story on page 5. Around Town THE CUBS HAVE GROWN ... Though Palo Alto's Cubberley High School graduated its last senior class in 1979, alumni of the shuttered school are keeping its memory alive this summer. 1978 Cubberley grad Colleen Standley is turning 50 this year and plans to celebrate her golden anniversary with her "Cubb" classmates. She's throwing a "Cubberley 50th Birthday Party" potluck May 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cubberley campus, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. All former Cubberley students and staff (from all years) are invited to celebrate. "The spirit of that school has its own lifeblood," Standley said of her beloved alma mater. "It won't die because, in the words of its last principal, Dr. Herman Ohme, `It was a special place.'" More information is available on the "Cubberley 50th Birthday Party" Facebook page (where the event is described as an "all-class reunion sponsored by Class of 1978 to celebrate together as these turkeys turn 50 and get laughed at by those who already have and scare those who think it's `old.'"), which has already attracted 63 attendees. Meanwhile, Cubberley's class of 1980 (called "The Class That Never Was" due to the school's closure the previous year) also remains active, never-was status notwithstanding. Thanks again to the magic of Facebook, the class is planning its first-ever reunion for the weekend of Aug. 6-8. "The trauma caused by the Cubberley closure created a special bond among these people that remains strong even after three decades. The excitement created by this upcoming reunion is palpable, even over the Internet," Cubberley class of `80 member Linda Wilcox wrote in an e-mail. The event organizers are hoping to get back into contact with each and every lost classmate. Those interested in attending the class of 1978's 50th birthday celebration should contact Colleen Standley at firstname.lastname@example.com. Those wishing to RSVP to the "Class That Never Was" reunion should contact Scott Schroeder at firstname.lastname@example.com. SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS ... On Nov. 9, a member of the Palo Alto Police Department was called up for a 10-month tour of duty in Iraq. On Monday night, the City Council debated whether this officer, who serves as a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard, should receive $41,000 from the city -- the difference between his salary and the money he earns for his military duty. The city has an agreement with the police union to compensate employees who serve in the armed forces, but the agreement only applies to those officers who enlisted before Feb. 18, 2003. The soldier under discussion, whose name wasn't mentioned, enlisted after that date. With the city facing a $7.3 million budget gap, some council members argued that the officer in Iraq should receive the salary difference for the first month of his duty (about $5,000), rather than for the full duration of the tour. Councilman Yiaway Yeh called the staff recommendation to pay the officer $41,000 "not an easy decision." The dilemma, he said, demonstrates the impact of federal policies on local budgets. Larry Klein, a military veteran, couldn't disagree with him more. "This person is taking a risk; he's putting his life on the line and he's also putting his career on the line," Klein said. "I don't want to see our city look like it doesn't support the people who put their lives on the line." Human Resource Director Russ Carlsen said he felt "very passionate" about advocating for the police officer, and Vice Mayor Sid Espinosa said he felt queasy that some on the council oppose the staff recommendation. But some did. The council voted 7-2, with Greg Scharff and Karen Holman dissenting, to support the staff recommendation. NEWS TALK ... Paul McHugh, longtime journalist and author of the mystery novel "Dead Lines," put a unique spin on an age-old phrase during a talk Tuesday at Books Inc. in Mountain View. McHugh said traditionally "No news is good news," but when it comes to the journalism industry, no news -- as in no newspapers -- is bad news. McHugh emphasized the value of journalism and the need for people to subscribe to newspapers during his hourlong talk. Upfront EDUCATION Palo Alto parcel tax passes, with highest-ever approval Seventy-nine percent endorse $589-per-year parcel tax to maintain core school programs and staff by Chris Kenrick Saturday, May 15th Preview: P alo Alto voters have said a resounding "yes" to their public schools, according to a vote tally announced at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Voters approved Measure A, a $589 annual school parcel tax, by 79.36 percent, far more than the two-thirds needed. The approval percentage was the highest ever for a parcel tax in Palo Alto, according to campaign consultant Charles Heath of San Franciscobased TBWB Strategies. The result is "really energizing," Palo Alto Superintendent Kevin Skelly said. "This is a big `yes' to our children and our community." More than 50 percent of registered voters in the school district cast ballots in the mail-only campaign. The tax replaces the current $493per-parcel-per-year tax. It is expected to generate an annual $11.2 million, about 7 percent of the operating budget of the Palo Alto Unified School District. The tax carries a 2 percent annual escalation adjustment and an optional exemption for people over age 65. It will expire in six years. "This is incredibly important for our school district," Board of Education President Barbara Klausner told campaign volunteers at a victory celebration Tuesday night at the home of Sunny and Dan Dykwel. "This is a new reality for California and for our schools. ... This is what we need to do to protect our schools." School parcel taxes also passed Tuesday in the Menlo Park and Portola Valley school districts, as well as in Sunnyvale's Fremont Union High School District, San Jose's Union Elementary School District and the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District. Measure A campaign Co-Chair Tracy Stevens said more than 500 people had volunteered in 35 phonebank sessions during the campaign, calling 25,000 voters. "We did call several people repeatedly and they let us know that," Stevens said to laughter from fellow volunteers. Repeat calls were made to people who hadn't yet sent in their mail-in ballots or whose ballots hadn't yet been listed as received. "I'm not a big fan of phone banks ... I do not like getting the calls. But they work." Heath said Palo Alto's 79.36 percent approval is "in the stratosphere" for school parcel-tax results, although other communities occasionally have reached approval ratings of more than 80 percent. "It's a strong mandate and a high turnout," Heath said, noting the 50 percent-plus turnout refutes criticism that mail-in ballots squelch participation. "It's also notable that this occurred in a down economy." Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be e-mailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com. BRING AD FOR FREE CATALOG UP TO 200 VEHICLES ALL VEHICLES SMOGGED 650-938-3272 N.A.S. Public Auto Auction R EL ATIONSHIP BA NK ING Business | Personal business banking: business loans, messenger service, cash management COMMUNITY Police ID `person of interest' in Arreguin shooting Officers conduct interviews as funeral is held for graduate of Palo Alto schools by Chris Kenrick E ast Palo Alto police said Thursday they have identified a "person of interest" in the April 28 shooting death of 20-yearold Gabriel Arreguin. Arreguin, a lifelong East Palo Altan who was educated in Palo Alto schools from kindergarten through high school, died of multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso in a 9:30 p.m. incident on Jasmine Way. "We believe we have a motive, and we're just trying to put the pieces together and detain the right people and make a positive arrest," East Palo Alto Police Capt. Carl Estelle said Thursday morning. "We're following up on more leads and are in the middle of some more interviews to try to determine who was responsible. "I can't tell you the motive because it would tip our hand." Estelle declined to comment on whether drugs or gang activities were involved in the murder. A funeral mass was held Thursday morning for Arreguin. "Gabriel was not involved in gangs or drugs," his godmother, Jennifer Espinoza of Palo Alto, said Tuesday. "There were no witnesses, and no motive other than robbery," said Espinoza, who first met Gabriel's mother, Socorro Arreguin, more than 20 years ago through an outreach program from Peninsula Bible Church of Palo Alto. A short time later Gabriel, the eighth of nine children, was Gabriel Arreguin born and Socorro Arreguin asked Espinoza to be the boy's godmother. "She became my dear friend," said Espinoza, a longtime Palo Alto resident and retired Spectra Art teacher in the Palo Alto Unified School District. "Gabriel is the last one I'd ever think would die this way," Espinoza said. "He's so sweet, such a good friend, easy going, not a fighter -- it's stunning." Like all but one of his eight siblings, Gabriel participated in the Tinsley Voluntary Transfer Program, which allows 60 kindergartners from East Palo Alto's Ravenswood City School District to enroll in Palo Alto schools each year. Gabriel went to El Carmelo El- ementary School and Jordan Middle School. He attended Palo Alto High School but graduated from Alta Vista Continuation High School, an alternative program emphasizing personalized instruction, integrated study and vocational education and training. "He went through some rough years in terms of typical teenage angst," Espinoza said. "We went to his graduation. It was a very proud, happy day for everyone. It felt great to see him do that." Socorro Arreguin worked for many years at Casa Olga in downtown Palo Alto until the residential facility closed last year. Gabriel lived with his mother while working at PetSmart, from which he was recently laid off. He helped by picking up nieces and nephews from St. Elizabeth Seton School in Palo Alto, where they attend. "He was really devoted to his family. His sisters-in-law are saying how hard this is on the little ones. The last time Espinoza saw her godson, in late April, she encouraged to find a job. "He said, `I will, I will.'" "He was a huge animal lover his whole life," Espinoza said. "At different times he had dogs, chickens, a toad, lizards, pythons, parakeets, tropical birds." Socorro Arreguin, who speaks limited English, has been surrounded by family and friends since her son's death, Espinoza said. In a report issued last week, East Palo Alto police said were responding to calls that shots had been fired and were flagged down near the scene by a motorist who had put the bleeding personal banking: checking, online banking, home loans, cds At Borel Private Bank in Palo Alto, our success is built on relationships, both business and personal. Having a bank that understands both is like having, well, money in the bank. Borel � where business and personal banking meet. 245 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301 650.463.8700 | www.borel.com MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER S A N F R A NC I S C O � BU R L I NG A M E � S A N M AT E O � PA L O A LTO � L O S A LTO S Page 5 & with purchase of $25 or more of natural & organic foods, body care, vitamins & more! Upfront News Digest Stanford rejects nurses' contract counter-offer A bluntly worded letter to Stanford and Lucile Packard hospitals' nurses' union has flatly rejected contract negotiations, bringing both sides closer to a strike. "We had told CRONA that if their proposal falls within the parameters of the Last, Best & Final Offers, the hospitals would be happy to return to the table to wrap things up; if not, there was no purpose to be served in meeting," hospital officials wrote. "Unfortunately, the proposal was well outside these parameters and diluted those aspects most essential to the highest-quality operations of our hospital," the letter said. The hospitals' in-no-uncertain-terms letter to the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievements (CRONA), dated May 4, reiterated that hospital officials would not budge on their final offer. Union officials had asked hospital representatives to return to the bargaining table and submitted a counter-proposal on April 28 after the hospitals said they saw no reason to negotiate further. The union's new proposal was submitted through a federal mediator to Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital on April 28. Union officials made several concessions, which included accepting the hospitals' wage-increase offer of the three-year contract. They also accepted staff reductions and layoff policies and performance evaluations. Two areas remain major sticking points: paid time off and the hospitals' Professional Nurse Development Program, or PNDP, which defines promotions for upper-level nurses. CRONA's proposal would allow nurses to accrue up to 520 hours of paid time off, or 13 weeks. "They are proposing to cut in half the period that the hospitals will pay for medical insurance. A nurse who is out and has no paid time off -- because the hospitals' plan makes it impossible to "bank" it -- will end up with no income and no medical insurance after 12 weeks, CRONA attorney Peter Nussbaum said. CRONA's assertions are misleading, hospital spokesperson Sarah Staley said: "The claim that nurses cannot bank their (paid time off) is simply false. They can bank up to 520 hours. CRONA knows and is not saying, that 520 hours is more than nurses can carry at other hospitals in the Bay Area ... and is what is provided for the other 6,000 Stanford and Packard Children's employees." -- Sue Dremann Code (continued from page 6) Your Local Natural Foods Store After all other discounts & coupons. Cannot be combined with any other 'Free' or '$ OFF' Country Sun coupon. One coupon per household per day per purchase of $25 or more. Emotional Support for Women's Health With experience in health psychology Patrice specializes in helping women with health issues. She provides emotional support and assists in creating healthier coping styles to help women move forward in their lives in positive and more satisfying ways. 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Since its very first production -- the musical "Popcorn" in 1970 -- TheatreWorks has grown to become the third-largest theater in the Bay Area, nationally recognized for its quality of new plays and musicals. This week TheatreWorks took home seven 2009 Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Awards, including five for "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues" (Entire Production; Principal Performance, Female, to C. Kelly Wright; Director, to Randal Myler; Sound Design, to Cliff Caruthers; Ensemble) and two for "Tinyard Hill" (Supporting Performance, Female to Allison Briner; Supporting Performance, Male, to James Moye). The company has produced 53 new works in 40 years. One of them, "Memphis," currently is running on Broadway. The rock n' roll musical, which had its world premiere at TheatreWorks in 2004, was nominated for eight Tony Awards. Kelley originally founded TheatreWorks as a youth program for the City of Palo Alto, and the company has presented performances at Lucie Stern Theatre throughout its history. TheatreWorks also presents at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. -- Chris Kenrick cleanup sites... PALO ALTO 1 San Francisquito Creek 2 San Francisquito Creek 3 Matadero Creek 4 Adobe Creek MOUNTAIN VIEW 5 Stevens Creek 6 Stevens Creek 7 Stevens Creek SUNNYVALE 8 Sunnyvale West Channel 9 Sunnyvale East Channel and Calabazas Creek CUPERTINO 10 Stevens Creek 11 Calabazas Creek 12 Regnart Creek SANTA CLARA 13 San Tomas Aquino Creek 14 San Tomas Aquino Creek 15 Saratoga Creek SAN JOSE 16 Saratoga Creek 17 San Tomas Aquino Creek 18 Guadalupe River (East bank) 19 Guadalupe River (West bank) 20 Guadalupe River 21 Upper Penitencia Creek 22 Guadalupe River 23 Coyote Creek 24 Guadalupe River 25 Coyote Creek 26 Guadalupe River 27 Los Alamitos Creek CAMPBELL 28 San Tomas Creek 29 San Tomas Aquino Creek 30 San Tomas Aquino Creek 31 Los Gatos Creek GILROY 32 Uvas Creek Burial service Saturday for Gunn grad Tim Sullivan A burial service will be held Saturday (May 8) for Timothy Sullivan, 20, of Palo Alto, who died April 25 in a skateboarding accident in Capitola. The Catholic graveside service will be at 1 p.m. at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 22555 Cristo Rey Drive, Los Altos. All are welcome at the service, which will be a "simple Catholic rite at graveside with time for sharing of stories and reflections about Timmy," his mother, Sherry Cassedy, said. Sullivan, a 2008 graduate of Gunn High School, was completing his sophomore year at the University of California at Santa Cruz and planned to study in Berlin this fall. He died from head injuries sustained in the accident, in which he was not wearing a helmet, but doctors were able to transplant his organs to others. Rather than flowers, the Sullivan family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Timothy Sullivan Legacy Fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300, Mountain View, CA 94040. -- Palo Alto Weekly staff LET'S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com Reynolds surveyed the pile of junk choking a front yard on Ramona Street. Barbecues, filing cabinets, book cases and several motorcycles filled the driveway and yard, blocking the path to the front door. "I've issued a citation to this lady. Next will be a compliance order. If it goes to a hearing, we will charge her for city time," he said. "Most people are cooperative and want to comply," he said, driving down an alley where a restaurant had used a garbage-bin containment area to store food, which was not an approved use. The business fixed the problem, adding a shed, he said. On nearly every street and alley in the city, Reynolds is likely to find at least one violation of a city code. He hopped out of his car to push an Aframe advertising sign off the sidewalk in front of Charleston Center. He keeps cans of gray spray paint and pruning shears in his trunk to take care of small amounts of graffiti and an errant overhanging branch. But some issues are clear dangers. A man with a hoarding compulsion has repeatedly refused to clean up his yard, despite weekly citations, Reynolds said. The yard on Wednesday was covered with bicycle parts, large cardboard boxes and assorted debris reaching from the sidewalk to the door. "At one point it reached to the top of the carport," Reynolds said. "It's a fire hazard." Reynolds has tried to help the man, giving him weekly deadlines to clean parts of the yard so the man will not feel overwhelmed. But after two years of wrangling and coaxing, there is little progress. Reynolds has carefully documented the trash piles in preparation for a hearing. "We've coordinated with the fire department, and we're in the process of obtaining an abatement warrant," he said. In less severe cases, Reynolds might give someone a week or two weeks to comply, or in some instances 30 days, depending on the circumstances, he said. People are sometimes initially angry, he said. But Reynolds, who is working on a degree in sociology, uses a people-friendly approach. "Our goal is to work with the public and have voluntary compliance," he said. Seemingly small things can create big problems. Businesses are not supposed to cover their windows more than 20 percent with signs, he said. "The police need to be able to see inside safely if the place is being robbed," he said, looking over a liquor store-market he recently ordered to remove banners advertising beer. "In this economy, we don't want to hurt businesses, but we have to make them move the signs onto their property," he said, pointing out several Aframe signs lining the sidewalk. Each day he "takes the scenic route," driving past places he knows to be hot spots. Cypress Lane, a no-man's land that edges Barron Park, is notorious for piles of debris and abandoned vehicles. He made note of a dusty vehicle without current registration. The po(continued on page 7) Page 6 Upfront CITY COUNCIL STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL June 25 � August 7, 2010 All events at Stanford University Group rates, festival subscriptions, 40% OFF student tickets and TAKE 5! $5 family discounts available Palo Alto looks to landfills for `green' electricity Despite major concerns, City Council approves two 20year contracts with energy company Ameresco by Gennady Sheyner he phrase "green energy" may feel right buying energy from the San evoke idyllic images of solar Joaquin landfill, which she learned panels and gently tilting wind still accepts materials such as wood turbines, but in Palo Alto the term and cardboard. She equated the city's can now be chiefly associated with decision to buy energy from a landmethane gas burning in Central Val- fill that accepts such materials to ley landfills. "looking the other way. After a lengthy debate that "I really feel we'd be fostering bad stretched into the wee hours of practice if we support the activities Tuesday morning, a split Palo Alto at San Joaquin," Holman said. "If City Council decided to commit the there are things actually going into city to two 20-year contracts with the landfill, I feel it is a very bad the energy firm Ameresco, which policy and an inconsistent message converts escaping landfill gas into that we're sending if we support both electricity. The two contracts will contracts." cost the city about $233.7 million The second contract is based on over their terms. the Crazy Horse Landfill in Salinas, With the decision, the proportion which closed a year ago and no lonof electricity the city receives from ger accepts waste. The San Joaquin renewable sources will increase from landfill is expected to remain in op22 percent to 28 percent in 2013. The eration until 2059. city's goal is to get 33 percent of its But a five-member council majorelectric load from renewable sources ity, led by Larry Klein, argued the by 2015. two contracts are a good bargain for But the new contracts also mean the Palo Alto, whose Utility Departthat the city's renewable-energy port- ment normally has a hard time comfolio is dependent, more than ever, on peting with energy giants like PG&E landfill gas. The portfolio now con- for long and lucrative contracts. Klein sists of seven landfill-gas contracts also pointed to the city's commitment with Ameresco and two wind-energy to hydroelectric power, which he said contracts. With the two agreements, proved to be wise. Ameresco accounts for 56 percent of "This is an area that lends itself to Palo Alto's renewable-energy supply long-term contracts," Klein said. and 16 percent of its total supply. Klein's argument ultimately The City Council reached the prevailed with Vice Mayor Sid Escontroversial decision a month after pinosa and council members Gail a similarly split Finance Commit- Price, Nancy Shepherd and Yiaway tee failed to reach a consensus or Yeh joining him in supporting the offer a recommendation to the full two contracts. council. Greg Scharff and Greg Burt called the Ameresco contracts Schmid, the two council members a tough decision but emphasized that who opposed making major com- the city's goal isn't to use more remitments to Ameresco during the newable energy, but rather to use less Finance Committee meetings, once nonrenewable, so-called "brown" enagain urged their colleagues not to ergy. In fact, earlier in the evening, sign the two contracts. the council unanimously approved a Both warned about the potential of new 10-year energy efficiency plan, new and better technology emerging which seeks to curb the city's elecover the next two decades and won- tricity consumption by 7.2 percent dered aloud whether the Ameresco over the next 10 years through a wide plants, which burn methane gas, can range of programs. truly be considered "green." Mayor Burt called the city's new renewPat Burt and Council member Kar- able contracts as means to that end, en Holman voted with them to sign not ends in themselves. just one of the two contracts recom"The higher objective should be mended by staff. reduction of brown electricity," Karen Holman said she wouldn't Burt said. TICKETS ON SALE MAY 10! Box Office: 650.725.ARTS (2787) www.stanfordjazz.org Information: 650.736.0324 T 39TH SEASON 06/16 Special Pre-Festival Performance An Evening with Dick Hyman 06/25 A Night of Brazilian Jazz! Luciana Souza: Brazilian duos featuring Romero Lubambo plus Harvey Wainapel's Alegritude 06/26 A History of African Rhythms & Jazz 06/26 Randy Weston's African Rhythms Trio 06/27 Freddy Cole Quartet 07/02 The Music of Billy Strayhorn 07/03 Early Bird Jazz for Kids: Jim Nadel & Friends 07/03 Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio 07/09 Fred Hersch: Jobim and More Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/stanfordjazz and YouTube: youtube.com/stanfordjazz 07/10 Early Bird Latin Jazz for Kids: John Santos Sextet 07/10 Tuck & Patti 07/11 Ella Fitzgerald: America's First Lady of Song 07/16 Mose Allison 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 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 ORDER TICKETS www.stanfordjazz.org Code (continued from page 6) lice will have it towed, he said. Reynolds then turned his inspection to the Palo Alto Hills. "We're seeing more vacant lots with the downturn in the economy," he said, checking on the progress of a weed-abatement order he gave two weeks ago. "And there are more issues with unfinished homes, as people run out of money." Reynolds checks new construction and home-based businesses and follows up to make sure projects remain in compliance with their conditions of use. People rip out landscaping and businesses encroach on public benefits that were conditions of their construction, he said. Not all complaints are actionable. Draining water from planters on a sidewalk did not rise to a tripping hazard and drumming at a residence was within legal noise limits. And many problems fall within gray areas. "The city does not have a blight ordinance," he said. Property owners can't be forced to raze burned and abandoned structures. Reynolds pointed to a dug-up front lawn. Wisp of weeds protruded from large dirt clods. It was ugly, but it didn't break the law. "They could leave it like that if they wanted," he said. Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at firstname.lastname@example.com. Page 7 Upfront Arreguin (continued from page 5) Arreguin in the car's back seat. Arreguin was transported to a hospital but died of his injuries. Police ask witnesses to call Detective John Norden at 650-464-6822, or the department's anonymous tip line at 650-851-8477. In addition to his mother, Gabriel is survived by his siblings Ramiro, Ismael, Fernando, Alejandro, Juan, Sandra, Jasmin and Jose; a grandmother in Mexico; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He had lost contact with his father. 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. Online This Week Police chase nets four arrests in Menlo Park Four men believed to have been involved in a shooting in East Palo Alto early Monday were arrested after a police chase and search that involved more than 30 officers and five K-9 units. (Posted May 5 at 12:13 p.m.) Residents, workers worry about Palo Alto cuts Stanford to build pedigreed concert hall Envisioned as an oval ship rising from a sea of glass, the area's newest music venue, Bing Concert Hall, is scheduled for its groundbreaking ceremony next Tuesday (May 11) on the Stanford University campus. (Posted May 5 at 11:54 p.m.) Hours before Palo Alto City Manager James Keene presented his proposed budget to the City Council Monday night, dozens of city workers gathered at City Hall to share their concerns about the expected budget cuts. (Posted May 4 at 12:59 a.m.) Menlo man killed in fire likely inhaled superheated air Kelly Brosnan, 46, who died in the April 27 house fire on Berkeley Avenue in Menlo Park, died as a result of "inhalation of products of combustion," by which San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault said he meant soot and superheated air. (Posted May 3 at 5:34 p.m.) Duveneck principal named to district-wide post Kathleen Meagher, principal of Duveneck School since 2007, has been nominated to become director of elementary education for the Palo Alto Unified School District. Superintendent Kevin Skelly said the search is on for Meagher's replacement at Duveneck. (Posted May 5 at 10:38 p.m.) Interfaith group seeks better teen `connections' Spurred by last year's string of Palo Alto student suicides at the Caltrain tracks, an interfaith group is exploring ways to help isolated students feel better "connected" with peers and adults at school. (Posted May 3 at 9:51 a.m.) 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 VIDEO: 31st annual Palo Alto Tall Tree awards Palo Alto's 2010 Tall Tree awards recognized suicide-prevention and mental health advocates Victor and Mary Ojakian; local developer and Junior Museum and Zoo board member Roxy Rapp; transitional-employment program Downtown Streets Team; and longtime Palo Alto business Stern Mortgage Company. (Posted May 3 at 9:49 a.m.) Palo Altan among trio arrested for insurance fraud 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. CESAREAN BIRTH CLASS This two-hour class is taught by a labor and delivery nurse/childbirth educator who helps prepare families for cesarean delivery. Information about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) will also be discussed. - Wednesday, June 2: 7:00 - 9:00 pm The owner and founder of several Bay Area bakeries has been arrested on suspicion of failing to report employee injuries and accurate hours worked, according to the California Department of Insurance. (Posted May 2 at 10:49 p.m.) Soap Box Derby `Rally Race' held in Palo Alto About 35 young racers from throughout California and Arizona competed Saturday in Palo Alto in a Soap Box Derby "Rally Race" on a hill on Hanover Street. Competitors aged 8 to 17 hunched down and mentally pushed their cars toward the finish line. (Posted May 2 at 7:52 a.m.) Historic May Fete parade celebrates the young Palo Alto's historic May Fete and Parade has celebrated the area's youth each first Saturday in May since the 1920s -- meaning the grandchildren or great grandchildren could be recent participants. (Posted May 1 at 9:34 p.m.) State-of-the art dental clinics open in East Palo Alto INFANT MASSAGE WORKSHOP Learn techniques of infant massage along with tips to relieve gas, aid digestion and soothe the soreness of vaccination sites on your baby. Class is recommended for infants from one month of age to crawling. - Saturday, June 5: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm A state-of-the art dental clinic and health-education center opened Thursday in East Palo Alto, providing the first such clinics to residents in the city. (Posted April 30 at 3:58 p.m.) Want to get news briefs e-mailed to you every weekday? Sign up for Express, our new daily e-edition. Go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com to sign up. SIBLING PREPARATION CLASS This class for children two years of age and older will help prepare siblings for the emotional and physical realities of the arrival of a newborn. - Saturday, June 12: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm PEDIATRIC WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM Join us for a family-based behavioral and educational weight management program that promotes healthy eating and exercise habits for over-weight children and their families. More than 80% of children achieve long-term weight loss through this program -- and parents lose weight too! - Call (650) 725-4424 for information on the next Open House. CityView A round-up of Palo Alto government action this week 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. 2011 budget: The council heard a presentation on the fiscal year 2011 budget from City Manager James Keene. Action: None Libraries: The commission approved a naming policy to recognize donors to city libraries. Yes: Unanimous Energy efficiency: The council approved a 10-year energy-efficiency plan, which seeks to reduce citywide electricity consumption by 7.2 percent by 2020. Yes: Unanimous Ameresco: The council voted to approve two 20-year energy contracts with Ameresco, which builds plants that convert landfill gas to electricity. Yes: Klein, Price, Shepherd, Espinosa, Yeh No: Scharff, Schmid, Burt, Holman City Council (May 3) High-Speed Rail Committee (May 6) Architectural Review Board (May 6) High-speed rail: The committee discussed its guiding principals, strategic legislation relating to high-speed rail and a schedule for monthly high-speed-rail monthly updates to the council. Action: None 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 8 Keys School: The board voted to approve a proposal by Keys School, on behalf of First Christian Church, to replace four existing classrooms with seven new classrooms at 2890 Middlefield Road. Yes: Unanimous Water well: The board approved a request by the Utilities Department to build a water well facility at Eleanor Pardee Park. Yes: Unanimous LET'S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 9 Community Health Education Programs Palo Alto Center 795 El Camino Real Lecture and Workshops 650-853-4873 Hepatitis B & C: An Update Presented by Erick P. Chan, M.D. PAMF Gastroenterology Tuesday, May 11, 7 � 8:30 p.m. Your Baby's Doctor Thursday, May 19, 7 � 9 p.m. Mountain View Center 701 E. El Camino Real Lecture and Workshops 650-934-7373 Understanding the Parent's Role in Feeding The Marvin Small Memorial Parent Workshop Presented by Tracy Slezak, R.D. Tuesday, May 11, 7 � 8:30 p.m. Is Your Blood Pressure Controlling You? A Conversation With... Presented by Nancy Jacobson, R.D. Sunnyvale Public Library Thursday, May 20, 7 � 8:30 p.m. Living Well Classes 650-853-2960 Functional Spine Training First Monday of each month, 5 � 6:30 p.m. What You Need to Know About Warfarin (Coumadin) Wednesday, May 5, 2 � 4 p.m. Learning About Heart Failure May 6, 14, 18 & 27, various times. Nutrition and Diabetes Classes 650-853-2961 Adult Weight Management Group Thursdays, 5:30 � 7 p.m. Bariatric Pre-Op Class First Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. � noon Bariatric Nutrition SMA First Tuesday of each month, 10:30 a.m. � noon Prediabetes First Monday of the month, 9 � 11:30 a.m., and third Wednesday of every other month, 4:30 � 7 p.m. Also in Redwood Shores, fourth Wednesday of every other month, 5:30 � 8 p.m. Living Well with Diabetes Tuesdays, 4:30 � 7 p.m., or Fridays, 9:30 a.m. � noon Heart Smart Class Third and fourth Tuesday of every other month, 5:30 � 8:30 p.m. Healthy Eating Type 2 Diabetes Third Wednesday of every other month, 5:30 � 8:30 p.m. Gestational Diabetes Wednesdays, 2 � 4 p.m. Ladies' Night Out Women's Bone Basics Mother's Day Event For Your Health Community Lecture Series Presented by Anne Liess, M.D., and Susan Kirkpatrick, R.D. Wednesday, May 12, 7 � 8 p.m. HMR Weight Management Program 650-404-8260 Free orientation session. Tuesdays, noon � 1 p.m., and Thursdays, 5 � 6:30 p.m. Living Well Classes 650-934-7373 Supermarket Wise Tuesday, May 18, 2 � 4 p.m. Nutrition and Diabetes Classes 650-934-7177 Heart Smart Class Second Tuesday of each month, 3:30 � 5:30 p.m. Diabetes Class (two-part class) Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. � noon and Wednesdays, 2 � 4:30 p.m. Prediabetes Third Thursday of each month, 2 � 4 p.m. Fourth Tuesday of each month, 3 � 5 p.m. Sweet Success Gestational Diabetes Class Wednesdays, 9 a.m. � noon Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Child Care Classes Preparing for Birth Thursdays, May 6 � June 10, 7 � 9:15 p.m.; Saturday/Sunday, May 15 & 16, 9 a.m. � 4 p.m.; Wednesdays, June 2 � July 7, 7 � 9:15 p.m., 650-853-2960 Preparing for Childbirth Without Medication Sunday, May 16, 9:30 a.m. � 1 p.m., 650-853-2960 Breastfeeding: Secrets for Success Saturday, May 22, 10 a.m. � noon, 650-853-2960 Raising Healthy & Happy Eaters! (for parents of children aged 0 � 6) 650-853-2961 Toddlers and Preschoolers, Thursdays, 10 a.m. � noon, Palo Alto and Los Altos Introduction to Solids, offered in Palo Alto, please call for dates. Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Child Care Classes Infant Emergencies and CPR Wednesdays, May 5 & 19, 6 � 8:30 p.m. OB Orientation Thursdays, May 6, 20 and June 3, 6:30 � 8 p.m. Infant/Child CPR Monday, May 10, 6 � 8 p.m. Preparing for Baby Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 � 8:30 p.m. Childbirth Preparation Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, May 13, June 3, 4 & 5, 6 � 9 p.m. What to Expect with Your Newborn Tuesday, May 18, 7 � 8 p.m. Baby Care Saturday, May 22, 10:30 a.m. � noon Feeding Your Preschooler Tuesday, June 1, 7 � 9 p.m. For all, register online or call 650-934-7373. Support Groups Bariatric 650-281-8908 Cancer 650-342-3749 CPAP 650-853-4729 Diabetes 650-224-7872 Drug and Alcohol 650-853-2904 Healing Imagery for Cancer Patients 650-799-5512 Kidney 650-323-2225 Multiple Sclerosis 650-328-0179 Free Appointments 650-934-7373 HICAP Counseling, Advance Health Care Directive Counseling, General Social Services (visits with our social worker) Support Groups 650-934-7373 AWAKE Bariatric Surgery Breastfeeding For a complete list of classes and class fees, lectures and health education resources, visit: pamf.org. Page 10 Upfront Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The City Council plans to meet in a closed session to discuss ongoing litigation and labor negotiations. The council is also scheduled to accept the Regional Water Quality Control Plant site feasibility study; get a monthly report on high-speed rail; authorize the sale of $60 million in bonds for the Measure N library projects; discuss a memo regarding the city's investment policy; and hear an update about the Santa Clara Valley Water District redistricting plan. The closed session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 10, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). The regular meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m. or as soon as possible after the closed session. BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board will consider the nominations of Katya Villalobos as the new principal at Gunn High School, Phil Winston as the new principal at Palo Alto High School and Kathleen Meagher as the school district's director of elementary education. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, in the board room of school district headquarters (25 Churchill Ave.). FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to hold budget hearings for City Attorney's Office, the Planning and Community Environment Department and the Community Services Department. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to discuss the city's zero waste goals, the council's priority work plan, the proposed Blue Ribbon Infrastructure Committee and a proposal to release the City Council packet earlier. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the proposed capital and operating budgets for fiscal year 2011. The meeting is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, May 12, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the 2011-15 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan and its consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION JOINT MEETING ... The council and the commission are scheduled to hold a joint meeting to discuss the city's updates to its Comprehensive Plan and Housing Element. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). INTERIOR DESIGN IS AN ART FORM. LET US HELP YOU CREATE YOUR MASTERPIECE. RKI Interior Design is a full service firm with a dedicated office, resource library, and staff to handle any project: Residential, Commercial or Hospitality. We collaborate with architects and builders to provide clients with individual and creative design solutions for new home construction and remodeling projects. The RKI team strives to create living and working environments within a range of styles suited to the client. LEED AP & Certified Green Building Professional Commercial & Residental Wealth of experience Attention to detail Fluency in all design styles Excellent references 2198 AVY AVENUE MENLO PARK 650.854.9090 www.rkiinteriordesign.com Meadow Wing & Focused Care 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. 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. - Cosequin� Available at - 20% OFF next visit (Please Bring This Ad) Expires 12/15/2010 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 AlpineVetOnline.com (650) 969-8555 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 Dr. Rebecca McClellan D.V.M. 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Page 11 PRESIDIO BANK MID-PENINSULA Steve Heitel, President & CEO Sarah Lewis, SVP/Relationship Manager Luke Farley, VP/Relationship Manager Brenda Phillips, VP/Relationship Service Manager Kevin Hutchison, AVP/Relationship Service Manager Upfront DA race (continued from page 3) PRESIDIO BANK ADVISORY BOARD Terry Conner, Partner, Thoits Love Hershbenger & McLean Bill Hurwick, Partner and Senior Vice President, Cassidy Turley/BT Commercial David Kalkbrenner, Principal, Kalkbrenner Consulting Ronnie Lott, Managing Member, Lott Auto Ventures Al Pace, President & CEO, Urban Housing Group David Sacarelos, Partner & CPA Seiler LLP Presidio Bank announces the opening of its Mid-Peninsula Regional Office 325 Lytton Avenue, Suite 100 Palo Alto 650.321.0500 Personalized business banking Delivered by expereinced local professionals Supported by local business leaders ect, a 13-week program that focuses on skills to help parents work through issues with adolescents, she said. Rosen, a 15-year prosecutor of high-profile murder and sex-crime cases, has tried more than 65 jury trials and has one of the highest conviction rates in the District Attorney's office, he said. He has campaigned as a reformer who is intent on restoring integrity to the District Attorney's office and would create a conviction-integrity unit. The unit would handle requests to look into old and possibly wrong convictions, he said. "A prosecutor's job is to pursue justice, not just rack up convictions," he said during a recent interview at the Weekly. Rosen said he would increase transparency and open discovery to defense attorneys and supports opening the grand jury in cases involving police officers accused of crimes. Rosen would also re-open an independent cold-case unit closed by Carr. mp Connec tion Ca For more information about these camps, see our online directory of camps at PaloAltoOnline.com/biz/summercamps To advertise in a weekly directory, contact 650-326-8210 Sports Camps Spring Down Camp Equestrian Center Portola Valley Spring Down camp teaches basic to advanced horsemanship skills. All ages welcome. Daily informative lecture, riding lesson, supervised hands-on skill practice, tacking/untacking of own camp horse, and fun horse arts and crafts. www.springdown.com 650-851-1114 Stanford Baseball Camps Stanford All Day or Half-Day Baseball Camps at beautiful Sunken Diamond. For ages 7-12, Stanford Baseball camps feature personalized Baseball instruction, fun activities and drills, and exciting Baseball games. Camps for beginner and advanced players. Camps for older players also available. Camp availability from June 14th-August 6th. Receive $25 off by calling 650-723-4528. www.StanfordBaseballCamp.com 650-723-4528 Stanford Water Polo Camps Stanford Morning and/or afternoon water polo sessions at Avery Aquatic Center. June 1417 for ages 8-14. Beginners welcome. Fun water skill instruction, activities and games. Camps for more advanced players available too. http://www.gostanford.com/camps/waterpolo-camp.html 650-725-9016 GUIDE TO 2010 SUMMER C AMPS FOR KIDS Academic Camps India Community Center Camps Palo Alto & Milpitas Explore the rich heritage of India through the India Community Center's Cultural Immersion, Hindi Language, Bollywood Dance & Crafts of India Camps. Over 14 different camps all through the summer for ages 4-18. These unique camps will immerse children in Yoga, Indian Dance & Music, Sports & lots more! www.indiacc.org/culturalcamps 408-416-0215 ISTP Language Immersion Palo Alto International School of the Peninsula camps offered in French, Chinese, Spanish or ESL for students in Nursery through Middle School. Three 2-week sessions, each with different theme. Students are grouped according to both grade level and language proficiency. www.istp.org 650-251-8519 Amazing Science Camp! Mountain View Check out this terrific new hands-on science camp designed to bring STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics) to students in a way that engages both mind and body. Two Great Programs-- One for 1-3 graders (1 or 2 weeks 9:00am-12:00pm) �the other for 4-6 graders! (This is a 2-week course- 1:004:00 pm) Both camps are July 26th-Aug 6th. Email: email@example.com 650-279-7013 Conversation Hindi Camps Bay Area The camps provide a creative, fun and interactive environment and focus on developing conversational Hindi skills. A natural and nurturing environment gives numerous conversation opportunities through theatre, role playing, games, arts & crafts and multimedia. www.eduhindi.com 650-493-1566 Summer Program @ Mid-Peninsula High School Menlo Park Mid-Peninsula High School Summer Program is open to students entering grades 9-12 and is proud to offer a variety of academic and enrichment courses in an individualized and caring environment. www.mid-pen.com 650-321-1991 x110 Earth Care Science Camp Los Altos Conservation and Preservation of God's Creation. Hands-on learning environment featuring experiments, arts and crafts, games, field experts and more. For age 3 to Grade 5. August 2 to 6, 9am to 12pm. Held at First Baptist Church. www.fbcla.org/childrens 650-948-5698 Academic Camps iD Tech Camps and iD Teen Academies Stanford Experience North America's #1 Tech Camp -- 4 Bay Area Locations! Ages 7-18 create video games, websites, movies, iPhone� & Facebook� apps, robots and more during this weeklong, day and overnight summer tech program. Teen Programs also available at Stanford. Save w/code CAU22. www.iDTechCamps.com 1-888-709-TECH (8324) Stratford School - Camp Socrates Bay Area Academic enrichment infused with traditional summer camp fun--that's what your child will experience at Camp Socrates. Sessions begin on June 28 and end on August 13 with the option for students to attend for all seven weeks or the first four weeks (June 28-July 23). Full or half-time morning or afternoon program are available to fit your schedule. 12 locations. www. stratfordschools.com 650-493-1151 TechKnowHow Computer & LEGO� Camps Peninsula Fun and enriching technology classes for students, ages 6-14! Courses include LEGO and K'NEX Projects with Motors, Robotics, and Game Design. Many locations, including Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Sunnyvale. Half and all day options. www.techknowhowkids.com 650-474-0400 He criticized her decision to add two publicinformation officers (PIO) instead. Liquidating the unit hurt the Dolores Carr District Attorney's office and left hundreds of unsolved rapes, robberies and murders without follow-up, he said. Carr defended her Jeff Rosen decision, saying that prosecutors were handling media inquiries before. "A PIO costs one-third of an attorney to get information to people," she said. The office has faced unprecedented challenges under her watch, including an $11.7 million cut from her budget, state-mandated early releases of prisoners and a proliferation of marijuana dispensaries, she said. Carr has managed 500 employees, an $85 million budget and 45,000 cases annually, while Rosen has no managerial experience, she said. "It's really about who is the most experienced and most able to lead the D.A.'s office," she said. Rosen said Carr is unfit for reelection. Carr has come under fire in the press for deciding not to prosecute the 2007 high-profile De Anza rape case. In March, she announced her decision to not indict police officers involved in the videotaped beating of Phuong Ho, a 21-year-old San Jose State University student. And she was widely criticized for boycotting Judge Andrea Bryan, whom she accused of bias against prosecutors. In January, Bryan had released a child molester from prison after ruling that a trial prosecutor gave false testimony in the case. Rosen lambasted Carr's decision to instruct prosecutors to stop bringing criminal cases before Bryan, saying the boycott threatened the independence of the judiciary and eroded the checks and balances of judicial oversight of unfair prosecution. Carr said the unusual step is allowed under state law, and that Bryan exhibited bias in several cases that prosecutors clearly should have won. She had asked that Bryan be moved to another court, she said. Rosen said he would have appealed Bryan's decisions. Rosen has won support from the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the latter of which had endorsed Carr in 2006. Carr has received endorsements from San Jose Police Officers' Association and the Central Coast chapter of the Police Officers Research Association of California. Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at sdremann@ paweekly.com. Page 12 Upfront Library cuts (continued from page 3) als and leave quickly, while others use the library system remotely. Accordingly, the budget cuts her department identified seek to strike a balance among the collection budget, the hours of operation and the available library services. Jennings also emphasized that most of the cuts in the department's budget are things that could be restored if the economic climate improves. A few, such as deferring opening the College Terrace branch, are clearly temporary. Still, she said some residents, including former City Council member Dena Mossar, said they were worried about the proposed deferral. "People are very eager to get into their libraries," Jennings said. "They don't want to see their libraries not being available for an extended period of time." Jim Schmidt, president of Friends of the Palo Alto Library, told the Weekly this week he has not yet seen a credible argument for deferring the opening of the two branches. He also said he expects the proposed cuts to the library budget to hit new books particularly hard. Because new materials are the ones that attract the most interest, the cuts would likely lead to an overall decline in library use. But Schmidt, who also sits on a committee that oversees expenditure of Measure N funds, said it's important not to mix up the city's yearly budget woes with the bondfunded capital project, which appears to be proceeding smoothly. On Monday night, the City Council is expected to authorize staff to sell $60 million in bonds for renovations of Downtown, Main and Mitchell Park libraries and for the new Mitchell Park Community Center. This past Monday, the council also heard a report from project architects and city officials involved in the Measure N projects. Mike Sartor, assistant director of the Public Works Department, said the city has been hurrying along to take advantage of the favorable construction-bid climate. Under the current timeline, the new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center are scheduled to open in the middle of 2012, with the Main Library following a year later. The council also approved a new "naming" policy to acknowledge major donors to the library project. The Palo Alto Library Foundation, a nonprofit group that spearheaded the Measure N drive, is now leading a campaign to raise $4.3 million for library furniture, equipment and fixtures -- items not funded by Measure N. The naming plan, presented by foundation President Alison Cormack Monday, calls for those who donate between $1 million and $2 million to have their names displayed in more prominent areas (including the new wing at the Main Library and the prominent meeting room shared by the Mitchell Park Library and the Mitchell Park Community Center), while those who donate between $100,000 and $200,000 would have their names attached to some of the smaller rooms in the new facilities (including the teen room at the Main Library and the study room in the Downtown Library). The rooms themselves would be named after local neighborhoods and landmarks (Midtown Room, Barron Park Room, Ventura Room, El Palo Alto Room). The donors' names would be displayed next to the room names. Cormack said the foundation has already raised more than $500,000, which includes verbal commitments, formal pledges and money in the bank. She called the library renovations the "largest project in the city in many decades" and encouraged residents to support the foundation's fundraising efforts (information is available at PALF.org). Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com. Heating & Air Conditioning Today's news, sports & hot picks Great Rebates Available Low Flow Toilets Tank-Less Water Heaters Furnaces Air Conditioning $20 DISCOUNT WITH AD! (One Discount Per Job) "Don`t Cuss...Call Us" (650) 321-5500 Free Estimates on Equipment. Tooto, Grohe, Kohler, Delta, Bradford White, Rheem, Carrier, Bryant, Day & Night, Lennox A Guide to the Spiritual Community FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC This Sunday: Head of Household Rev. David Howell preaching An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF PALO ALTO Spring Kitchen Tour S a t u r d a y, M a y 1 5 , 2 0 1 0 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tour five fabulous Palo Alto kitchens Ticket orders received before May 8 - $30 After May 8 - $35 Ticket orders received after May 8 and tickets for sale at the door will be available at 125 Southwood Drive on Saturday, May 15th. For your comfort and safety, we request low-heeled shoes. Please no cameras or children. For questions, visit www.womansclubofpaloalto.org or call 650.269.3517. Please join us for our We Invite You to Learn and Worship with Us. Timothy R. Boyer. A place of caring, sharing and growing Worship Service 10:30 AM. www.fpcmv.org 1667 Miramonte (Cuesta at Miramonte) 650.968.4473 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 email@example.com INSPIRATIONS `What's your The Pa lo Alto Sto ry Pro je c t story?' Stories about Palo Alto, as told by local residents as part of the Palo Alto Story Project, are now posted on the Internet. Watch them at www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 13 HOUSING DISCRIMINATION The Peninsula's Premier Funeral Service Provider Serving families since 1899 980 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, California 94301 ARE YOU A VICTIM? Pulse Palo Alto April 27-May 2 Violence related Assault with a deadly weapon . . . . . . . .2 Domestic violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Sexual assault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Strong arm robbery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Elder abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Commercial burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Identity theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Residential burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Shoplifting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Counterfeiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle related Bicycle theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Suspended license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .5 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . 12 Vehicle impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Disturbing/annoying phone calls. . . . . . .1 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Misc. penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . .1 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psych. Subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Warrants/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Unattended death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Restraining order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Disposal request. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 A weekly compendium of vital statistics (650) 328-1360 www.rollerhapgoodtinney.com Funeral Home FD132 Call Project Sentinel, a non-profit agency (888) F-A-I-R-H-O-U-s-i-n-g (888) 324-7468 NOTICE OF VACANCY ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR ONE UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING JANUARY 31, 2011 (Term of Mashruwala) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council is seeking applications for the Library Advisory Commission from persons interested in serving in one unexpired term ending January 31, 2011. Eligibility Requirements: The Library Advisory Commission is composed of seven members who shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council, but who shall not be Council Members, officers or employees of the City of Palo Alto. Each member of the Commission shall have a demonstrated interest in public library matters. All members of the Commission shall at all times be residents of the City of Palo Alto. Regular meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday the month, at least one month per quarter. Purpose and Duties: The purpose of the Library Advisory Commission shall be to advise the City Council on matters relating to the Palo Alto City Library, excluding daily administrative operations. The Commission shall have the following duties: 1. Advise the City Council on planning and policy matters pertaining to: a) the goals of and the services provided by the Palo Alto City Library; b) the future delivery of the services by the Palo Alto City Library; c) the City Manager's recommendations pertaining to the disposition of major gifts of money, personal property and real property to the City to be used for library purposes; d) the construction and renovation of capital facilities of the Palo Alto City Library; and e) joint action projects with other public or private information entities, including libraries. Review state legislative proposals that may affect the operation of the Palo Alto City Library. Review the City Manager's proposed budget for capital improvements and operations relating to the Palo Alto City Library, and thereafter forward any comments to one or more of the applicable committees of the Council. Provide advice upon such other matters as the City Council may from time to time assign. Receive community input concerning the Palo Alto City Library. Review and comment on fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Palo Alto City Library. NOTICE OF A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING of the Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commision Please be advised the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) shall conduct a special meeting at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in the Civic Center, Council Conference Room, 1st Floor, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California. Any interested persons may appear and be heard on these items. Staff reports for agendized items are available via the City's main website at www.cityofpaloalto.org. and also at the Planning Division Front Desk, 5th Floor, City Hall, after 2:00 PM on the Friday preceding the meeting date. Copies will be made available at the Development Center should City Hall be closed on the 9/80 Friday. 6:00 PM CONSENT. 1. 805 Los Trancos Road: Planning and Transportation Commission consent review of plan details and agency comments, and confirmation of the March 24, 2010 Site and Design Review approval recommendation and conditions for a new 11,184 square foot single family home in the Open Space (OS) Zone District. NEW BUSINESS. Public Hearing: 2. 2345 Yale Street: Planning and Transportation Commission Review of a Request for Hearing on a Request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Dental Office on the second floor of an existing office building. Zoning: CN. Menlo Park April 28-May 3 Violence related Domestic violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Auto burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Burglary (unspecified) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Commercial burglary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle related Auto recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Suspended license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Hit and run/property damage . . . . . . . . .3 Parking/driving violation . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Alcohol or drug related Drug activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Narcotics registrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Business check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Domestic disturbance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Gang validation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Info case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Located missing person . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Mental evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Outside assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Parole arrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Property for destruction . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psychiatric evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2. 3. 7:00 PM NEW BUSINESS. Public Hearing: 3. High Speed Rail: Review and comment on draft Alternatives Analysis for High Speed Rail. 4. 5. 6. Questions. Any questions regarding the above applications, please contact the Planning Department at (650) 329-2440. The files relating to these items are available for inspection weekdays between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This public meeting is televised live on Government Access Channel 26. ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn more about the City's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), please contact the City's ADA Coordinator at 650.329.2550 (voice) or by e-mailing ada@ cityofpaloalto.org. *** Curtis Williams Director of Planning and Community Environment Page 14 The Library Advisory Commission shall not have the power or authority to cause the expenditure of City funds or to bind the City to any written or implied contract. Appointment information and application forms are available in the City Clerk`s Office, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto (Phone: 650-3292571) or may be obtained on the website at http://www.cityofpaloalto. org. Deadline for receipt of applications in the City Clerk`s Office is 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 27, 2010. PALO ALTO RESIDENCY IS A REQUIREMENT VIOLENT CRIMES Palo Alto 200 block Forest Avenue, 4/27/10, 7:28 p.m.; armed robbery. Colorado Avenue, 4/30/10, 2:35 p.m.; family violence. Waverly Street, 5/1/10, 1:57 a.m.; sexual assault. Grant Avenue, 5/1/10, 6:33 p.m.; elder abuse/emotional. El Camino Real/Serra Street, 5/2/10, 3:11 a.m.; assault with deadly weapon. El Camino Real, 5/2/10, 6:58 p.m.; assault with deadly weapon. Middlefield Road, 5/2/10, 8:18 p.m.; domestic violence/battery. DONNA J. GRIDER City Clerk Menlo Park Location not specified, 4/29/10, 6:54 p.m.; spousal abuse. Transitions Deaths Carolyn Reller Carolyn Reller, 68, a philanthropist and active member of the Palo Alto community, died May 3 after struggling for several years with a brain tumor. She grew up in Burlingame, Calif., and attended the University of Washington. After marrying her husband, Bill, she moved to Crescent Park in Palo Alto and worked briefly for Sunset Magazine before her three children were born. Her lifelong friend, Karen Olson, also moved to Palo Alto and the two watched their children and grandchildren form close friendships over the years. "She had a natural ability to make everybody feel as if they were a close friend," Olson said. "She was elegant and she was gracious, but she was down to earth." She was passionate about helping senior citizens and served as a board member for Avenidas and Channing House. She was also on the board of the Children's Health Council, worked as a pink lady at Stanford Hospital and participated in the Junior League and the Palo Alto Garden Club. She and her husband decided to build Palo Alto Commons in south Palo Alto after seeing a need for assisted living facilities for the elderly in the area. Over the years, the couple supported several other local institutions, including the Garden Club, the Yosemite Fund, the Stanford Cancer Center and the Palo Alto Library Foundation. "She was a dear friend, we picked right up with every conversation, and probably the most genteel, loveliest woman I've ever known," said Jeanne Ware, a longtime friend and neighbor. "I've heard somebody say once, `God picks his prettiest flowers for his garden,' and that would surely apply to her." She is survived by her husband, William (Bill); a daughter, Elizabeth Moragne of Palo Alto; and two sons, William (Bill) of Seattle and Stephen of Palo Alto. A memorial service will be held May 14 at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto. 2010 Photo Contest Congratulations! Winners and Selected for Exhibition have been notified Watch for the June 4th Edition of the Weekly announcing all the winners! All those that entered but weren't notified, please pick up your photos at 450 Cambridge Ave, M-F 8:30am - 5:30pm Memorial services Alex Fu-Hing Cheng, a Stanford graduate and former resident of Portola Valley, died April 24. Those interested in attending his memorial service on Saturday, May 8, are encouraged to contact firstname.lastname@example.com for further information. John Donovan, passed away on 4/26/10 at the age of 87. He lived in Menlo Park for 54 years before moving to Woodinville, WA, in 2008 to be closer to family. He was an Army captain in WWII, an avid stamp collector, and a retired stockbroker. He graduated from NMMI and the U of Washington. John was married to Donna for 61 years until she died of cancer in 2004. He is survived by 4 children, Sandy Wenning, of Austin TX; Judy Thomson, of Maui, HI; Linda Olson, of Woodinville, WA; and Mike Donovan, of Carlsbad, CA; as well as 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. PA I D Today's news, sports & hot picks Carolyn Wiedemann Reller, 68, of Palo Alto, died peacefully at her home from brain cancer on May 3rd. Carolyn was born and raised in Burlingame, attended Burlingame High School and later the University of Washington. After marrying, she and her husband Bill Reller settled in Palo Alto and never left. She worked for Sunset Magazine for a short time before taking on major volunteer efforts that brought her great joy and satisfaction. Carolyn loved and was loved by her friends, community, and most of all her family. She led a truly wonderful life, appreciating every day to the fullest and never wavering from her greatest priority of caring for, and having fun with, her family. Carolyn is survived by her brother Ted of San Mateo; her husband Bill; children Elizabeth (Mark Moragne), Bill (Amy), and Stephen (Melissa) and nine grandchildren: Rebecca, Anna, Stephen, Annie, Will, Catherine, Michael, Avery, and McLain. Above all, she provided beauty, peace, grace, and dignity to a family of 17. A memorial service will be held in her honor at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto on Friday, May 14th at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Avenidas (450 Bryant St., Palo Alto 94301), the National Brain Tumor Society, 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D, Watertown, MA 02472 or Pathways Hospice Foundation, 585 North Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale CA 94085. PA I D OBITUARY CAROLYN WIEDEMANN RELLER Professor Rangaiya Aswathanarayana Rao Resident of Los Altos Hills 2/27/34 � 4/22/10 Born in Bangalore, India to a family of five brothers and three sisters, Professor Rao attended Central College and the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. As a young man, he distinguished himself by earning 1st rank in his B.Sc. examination among 60,000 candidates in Mysore State. After completing a post-graduate diploma course at the I.I.Sc., he then left home to join the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) in Pilani, Rajastan, India. He moved to the US in 1959 to attend the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. In 1966, he joined Fairchild Semiconductor and went on to serve as a Professor of Electrical Engineering at San Jose State University, where he taught and advised undergraduate and graduate students for over three decades. He also held visiting professor appointments at several universities including Stanford University and Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan. Professor Rao was a prominent member of the San Francisco Bay Area's Indian community, having served as President of Kannada Koota of Northern California and President of South India Fine Arts of Northern California in the 1980's. During this time, he hosted performances by several renowned artists from India and the US. After retiring from San Jose State University in 2003, he enjoyed golfing, exercising and spending time with his family in the Bay Area and in India. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Sarala Rao of Los Altos Hills, son Gopal Rao of San Francisco, daughter Gowri Grewal, son-inlaw Paul Grewal, and grandchildren Calvin & Sarina Grewal, all of Palo Alto. In India, Professor Rao leaves behind his three brothers, R. Ananthaswamy, R. Ramachandra and R. Sundaramoorthy and two sisters, Leela Ramakrishniah and Rajeshwari Krishamoorthy. He was preceded in death by his sister Smt. Venkatalakshamma Srikantiah of Mysore and brothers Wg. Cdr. R. Nagaraja Rao and R. Shankara of Bangalore. There will be a memorial service for friends and family on May 8, 2010 at 4:30pm at India Gate Restaurant in Santa Clara. Please visit http://rangaiyarao.blogspot.com for more information. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the International House Scholarship Fund at the University of California at Berkeley. The International House Scholarship Fund (FU096700) In Memory of Dr. Rangaiya A. Rao Ph.D. `66 University of California, Berkeley 2299 Piedmont Avenue Berkeley, CA 94720-2320. PA I D OBITUARY O B I T UA RY Lois Elinor Oksenberg, 69, died at her Atherton home on March 27, 2010, surrounded by her family after a long illness. She was born to Laura and Frederick Clarenbach on September 25, 1940 in Columbia, Missouri, and was the younger of two daughters. Mrs. Oksenberg graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore University in 1962 and with a Doctorate in Psychology from Columbia University in 1970. She was the wife of noted sinologist Michel Oksenberg, whom she married in 1963 and who preceded her in death. She was a senior and accomplished researcher at the University of Michigan's Institute for Survey Research and remained an active reviewer of professional articles throughout her life. She will be remembered as a gentle and loving wife and mother who bore the burden of her illness with grace and dignity and enjoyed her life to the very end. Mrs. Oksenberg is survived by her son, David, of San Francisco, her daughter, Deborah, of Bellingham, Washington, and three grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Ann Skutt of Seattle, and by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Her memorial service will be held Saturday, May 22d at 1 PM at her Atherton home. PA I D OBITUARY Page 15 Editorial Vote for Jeff Rosen for district attorney Incumbent Dolores Carr has failed to demonstrate that she can run and lead an effective criminalprosecution operation, making too many missteps Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions Importance of firefighters Editor, After reading Tina Peak's letter on the role of firefighters last week, I felt that someone needed to speak up. Obviously this resident has no clue what these hard-working men and women do every day for our community. The position of a firefighter is not "archaistic." Firefighters in Palo Alto do not just fight fires. They also handle medical calls, traffic accidents, natural disasters, gas leaks as well as many other situations. Firefighters and police are specially trained for what they do. These two careers don't just overlap. Most firefighters are EMT's or paramedics. They are first responders, meaning that they are the first medical personnel at the scene and they have highly specialized training and knowledge to save a life, whether it be heart attack, drug overdose, stroke or auto accident. In addition they also have extensive training in fire science, extrication, searchand-rescue and much more. To be a firefighter/paramedic takes years of school and training. "Replacing the old firefighters" would put our community at risk. You cannot replace the years of training and experience these men and women have. I feel like this resident is under the impression that firefighters don't work "full time," which couldn't be farther from the truth. They are constantly training, studying, practicing their skills, testing, responding to calls, maintaining the firehouse and the vehicles. They aren't just sitting around doing nothing at the station waiting for a call. Each station is responsible for calls in a certain area, especially the surrounding neighborhood. I would suggest that this resident spend some time at a station talking to the firefighters and maybe going out on a ride-along for a 12-hour shift. I think it would a very eye opening and life-changing experience. Andrea Roucoule Oxford Avenue Palo Alto a successful, proven track record in, Maine, North Carolina, Connecticut and Arizona. It frees politicians from fundraising and dampens the impact of special interest lobbyists. Elected officials have passed bipartisan, ground-breaking legislation without fearing retribution from powerful special interests. Women and minorities are encouraged to run, because candidates from all backgrounds can be elected, not just those who are wealthy or know wealthy donors. Phyllis Cassel, President League of Women Voters of Palo Alto S anta Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr has had nearly 3 1/2 years to prove she can effectively manage the sixth largest DA's office in the state and fill the shoes of respected long-time former DA George Kennedy. Instead, in one embarrassing revelation after another, Carr has come up short. Not all of the DA office's controversies of the last few years are Carr's fault. But when deputies are accused of prosecutorial misconduct for withholding evidence from defense attorneys, as occurred in domestic abuse and other cases, ultimate accountability rests with the boss. More importantly, Carr's lapses in her own judgment and her self-acknowledged communication shortcomings combine to create an organization that is divided, politicized and unhealthy. Her critics share responsibility for that, but the conflict may be irreparable. To her credit, she owns up to much of the criticism and says her 2006 commitment to reform the culture in the DA's office is still "a work in progress." She acknowledges she poorly explained her decision not to prosecute several De Anza College baseball players for sexual assault in a case that received extensive publicity. She says in hindsight she should have been more alert to the conflict created when her husband, a retired San Jose police lieutenant, became a consultant to the family of a murder victim in a case her office would end up prosecuting. And she defends her action to blackball Superior Court judge Andrea Bryan, a former prosecutor, ordering her deputies to refuse to appear before Bryan due to what Carr believed were unwarranted criticisms of her office. In short, it has been turbulent first term for Carr, and despite her many positive qualities, we believe she will not be able to overcome the controversies of the last few years. Many others, including the Santa Clara County Bar Association and former DA George Kennedy, agree -- Kennedy in fact has publicly endorsed Rosen. By a wide margin, the Bar Association voted to reverse its prior support of Carr and endorsed her sole opponent, Jeff Rosen. Carr was even deemed "not qualified" by more Bar members than found her "qualified." For her part, Carr has picked up the support of most, but not all, police unions. Rosen has been endorsed by the sheriff's deputies association. Rosen, 42, has spent all but two years of his 15-year career as an attorney in the DA's office, trying some of the more complex homicide and other cases. He harshly criticizes his boss's ethical and management shortcomings and points to the number of attorneys in the office who have publicly endorsed him -- more than have endorsed Carr -- as a sign of the discontent in the office. Among Rosen's goals is to bring back the Cold Case Unit, open grand jury proceedings into officer-involved shootings, and reduce small case loads for all supervisors so they are not so insulated from the courtroom. Rosen's major shortcoming is that he lacks the management and leadership experience one would want to see in someone seeking to run a large county bureaucracy as critical as the District Attorney's office. Although he has had to manage complex cases with large numbers of witnesses, he has never been a supervisor in the office responsible for managing employees, creating budgets and dealing with other lawenforcement leaders throughout the county. Rosen counters that as president of Temple Kol Emeth of Palo Alto he administered a large budget and oversaw staff. But this hardly compares to trying to lead and manage through the intense politics of a 500-person organization within a county bureaucracy that must make significant budget cuts. Rosen is a passionate, well-respected prosecutor with a firsthand view of the management challenges Dolores Carr has faced in her first term as DA. He is less qualified than we would prefer for this important position, but we believe there have simply been too many missteps by Carr to put our faith in her ability to turn things around in a second term. We recommend Jeff Rosen for Santa Clara County District Attorney. Page 16 Cheney's oil connections Editor, The oil well spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico didn't have a remote-control shut-off switch used in two other major oil-producing nations as last-resort protection against underwater spills. The lack of the device, called an acoustic switch, could amplify concerns over the environmental impact of offshore drilling after the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig last week. Cheney's energy task force -- the secretive one he wouldn't say much about publicly -- decided that the switches, which cost $500,000, were too much a burden on the industry. But then again, maybe they are not. Regulatory decisions have consequences all the time, and the people who made them should be asked to justify their decisions in a democracy. Halliburton is involved, too. The Los Angeles Times reports that "BP contracted Dick Cheney's old company to cement the deepwater drill hole." Cheney himself corrupts the very foundation of government itself by illegally boring into the private affairs of its citizens and scandalously destroying their personal freedoms, while at the same time he tries to hide his evil-doing with hush money, colossal cover-up, and the most flagrant whitewashing in Washington White House history as it is now born out. Ted Rudow III Encina Avenue Palo Alto (continued on next page) YOUR TURN The Palo Alto Weekly encourages comments on our coverage or on issues of local interest. What do you think? What is your primary reason for voting � or not voting � in the June 8 primary election? Submit letters to the editor of up to 250 words to firstname.lastname@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. Yes on 15 Editor, The League of Women Voters Palo Alto urges a "yes" vote for Proposition 15 on the June 8 ballot. Proposition 15 is a pilot project to make voluntary public financing available to secretary of state candidates in 2014 and 2018. It is a first step toward changing the way we finance elections in California. Fees on lobbyists fund the program, not taxpayers' dollars. Public financing of campaigns has Check out Town Square! Hundreds of local topics are being discussed by local residents on Town Square, a reader forum sponsored by the Weekly on our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Post your own comments, ask questions, read the Editor's blog or just stay up on what people are talking about around town! Letters (continued from previous page) Healthy choices for EPA Editor, Although Sheila Himmel's review of El Pueblo conveys the excitement and energy of a new supermarket, it misses the mark in so many ways. Even her heading, referring to "mere groceries" shows need for a new approach to how we acquire our food. You will be hard-pressed to find a single dish at the long deli counter that does not contain excessive amounts of meat or fish. If you avoid the central junk-laden aisles, you will find that El Pueblo's peripheral displays do have remarkably fresh beans, pretty good fruit and vegetables, and lots of cheese from different Mexican states. But look for recycled toilet paper, local organic milk, or fresh whole grain bread and you will be disappointed. Staff members at Mi Pueblo are charming and friendly but they are not trained to ask if you really need a bag or if you would like a recycled one. Watch for a few minutes the families leaving the store laden with countless yellow plastic bags and you will be disheartened. It is wrong to assume that people in East Palo Alto do not care about the environment or making change. The Charter School on Runnymede has an excellent garden program (Collective Roots) where children and their parents learn about growing food and healthy eating. As someone who has worked in EPA for the past seven years, I look forward to the day when Mi Pueblo, with its profile and presence, shows an equally refreshing and progressive leadership in helping people link healthy diet choices with respect for our desperately endangered environment. Margaret Allen Cornell Street Palo Alto Board of Contributors A new volunteer gig : `muscular mediation'? by Jeff Blum am very excited about my new volunteer endeavor -- being a mediator with the Palo Alto Mediation Program. This mediation gig is a good one for me. It is right up my alley, since I do mediation as a divorce attorney. However, my passion for conflict resolution harkens back to an early age. Remember those Charles Atlas ads about the muscular bully who kicked sand in the skinny guy's face? And how the skinny guy got all buffed out and turned the tide, or sand? I was the skinny guy. While I was a fantastic swimmer and a lifeguard (a hometown hero for saving a little boy's life), my nickname was "Pencil Body" to some, "Bones" to others. Charles Atlas' body-building program failed me miserably, so I learned to deal with the bullies by negotiating my way out of trouble. Most of the time it worked and the bullies found someone else to work over. My conflict-resolution skills were limited, though, as I wasn't able to get these brutes to renounce violence a la Gandhi or to start doing Yoga instead of bodybuilding. My dad planted the mediation idea in me, too, by telling me about his good friend, who was a mediator. This mediator guy was involved in some high-profile conflicts. I remember reading in the newspaper about major labor disputes, often involving strikes by workers over labor conditions and wages. Invariably, the mediator involved in resolving the disputes was my dad's friend. Being a typical teenager, I was more im- I pressed with the guy's huge estate (a family inheritance) on the tip of Long Island than I was with his career. My parents together also taught me the benefits of mediation, although not in the way you might expect. They had a long and solid marriage but they had their share of fights, mainly about money. I agonized when these disputes occurred. The fear of my parents divorcing motivated me to act as a child-prodigy mediator. I remember wracking my brains for creative things to say to get them to stop their arguments. One time my mother got so mad at my father while we were driving somewhere that she got out of the car at a red light and walked away. My mind raced with thoughts about how to get her back in the car. This is where I first learned the benefit of using humor as part of mediation. At the next light, I got out and began walking in cadence with my mom. My lighthearted comments to her about the weather, the scenery, and what a perfectly appropriate idea it was for her to choose that moment to go for a walk, broke the ice. These youthful experiences with conflict resolution were a means of survival of my bodily unit and the family unit. However, as I began having successes in my mediation practice in divorce cases -- helping people get through an extremely difficult period in their lives -- it became a tremendous source of personal satisfaction. It made me want to do more. Think of the busman's holiday, one of my supervisors at the Palo Alto Mediation Program observed. I can't get enough of it. Raising two children also helped me hone my conflict-resolution skills. If you are new to the two-kid life I recommend reading Siblings Without Rivalry and Getting To Yes. Teach your children the mediation skills they need to resolve disputes -- don't do it for them. An ability to mediate is perhaps the most important gift you could give your children. It is something we need to spread more widely among all youth and adults as the key to a gentler family, community, nation and world -- with the possible exception of Congress, still locked in the kicking-sand mode. With my background in conflict resolution it is easy to see why I am so excited about volunteering with the mediation program. But as a veteran volunteer I will not allow my excitement cause me to do something rash. I have given great thought and consideration to my first suggestion. I am sure you will agree this is solid. Since among its services the Palo Alto Mediation Program handles neighbor-toneighbor disputes, perhaps we should get involved in the dispute in Arizona over its new anti-immigration law. After all, Arizona is our neighbor. Ever mindful of the need for a back-up plan, if the Arizona idea falls flat I have another one. You may recall that our governor was a body builder early in his career. It would be great if he and I could do Charles Atlasskinny-guy-at-the-beach type skits together at schools, promoting the benefits of mediation to our youth. Of course, now that I am a superpowered mediator I would be the one kicking the sand. Jeff Blum, a family law attorney practicing in Palo Alto, is a former member of the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission and of the Palo Alto YMCA board. He can be e-mailed at email@example.com. Streetwise What are your thoughts on the upcoming June election? Interviews by Aimee Miles. Photographs by Kimihiro Hoshino. Asked on California Avenue Alison Chang Homemaker Sheridan Avenue, Palo Alto "I haven't been exposed to any candidates in the newspaper or in person. I know how to register to vote but I don't know once I register how to vote, so there are a lot of uncertainties in the voting procedure." Michael Blackburn Retiree College Park, San Jose Jessica Joson Occupational therapist Sioux Drive, Fremont "I definitely plan to vote, I just don't know the issues right now. I'm sure there will be a lot about education and health care but I don't know what's actually on the bill at this point." Renee Kaplan Marketing consultant Robleda Road, Los Altos Hills "Probably the biggest issue for me is education and fiscal debt. On the candidate front I don't know yet -- I'm waiting for the debate. I don't have a party affiliation yet." Regina Wang Student Greenwood Avenue, Palo Alto "No affiliations yet, but I want to just exercise my power to vote." "It' still difficult to narrow the selection down to one choice, but I've definitely eliminated some. Who I won't vote for? Carly. I am an environmentalist at heart, and the last governor we had who really paid attention to the environment was Jerry Brown." Page 17 This Week on Town Square: Jay Thorwaldson's blog Posted May 4 at 3:04 p.m. by Jay Thorwaldson, editor of the Palo Alto Weekly: fogster.com NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING of the City of Palo Alto Architectural Review Board (ARB) 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 20, 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 341 Ramona Street [10PLN-00075]: Request by the Topos Architects on behalf of James Goddard for Architectural Review of minor changes to one residential unit in a Planned Community to allow fa�ade improvements, expansion of the second floor deck and conversion of 32 square feet of floor space. Zone: PC-3111. Environmental Assessment: CEQA Exemption per Section 15301. 524 Hamilton Avenue [10PLN-00128]: Request by Hayes Group Architects on behalf of R&M Properties for Preliminary Architectural Review of a new two story office building. Zone: CD-C (P). Environmental Assessment: Preliminary Review not subject to CEQA. Stanford University Medical Center Facilities Renewal and Replacement Project- Request by Stanford University Medical Center on behalf of Stanford University for Preliminary Review of the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital expansion. Zone: (MOR). Environmental Assessment: Preliminary Review not subject to CEQA. Stanford University Medical Center Facilities Renewal and Replacement Project- Study Session to review conceptual computer simulations and modeling of the renewal and expansion elements of the Stanford Medical Center project. Amy French Manager of Current Planning TM Missing Teeth? Why should missing teeth cause you to miss out on life??? ANSWER: DENTAL IMPLANTS $1,000 Off "Free Consultation" 925 N. San Antonio Rd Los Altos, CA 94022 Los Altos Dental Care 877-394-3887 www.smilegarden.com Offer ends June 30, 2010 The special recognition TheatreWorks received Monday night -- being called a "treasured cultural icon" at a Palo Alto City Council meeting and winning seven theatre critics awards in San Francisco -- triggered some remembrances of four decades back when I was a reporter at the erstwhile Palo Alto Times. In 1970, our A&E editor, the late Paul Emerson, broke the news of the formation of a new theatre endeavor in Palo Alto being launched by an energetic Stanford creative-writing grad named Robert Kelley. By the time I met Kelley he had settled into his trademark Elizabethan-style garb that, when combined with a neatly trimmed goatee, gave him a resemblance of a young Will Shakespeare -- better looking than the real thing, I always thought. Emerson himself was a remarkable person, a kind of Renaissance Man who could review anything from plays to opera, concerts to solo performances, come back to the office and write the review, then get into his vehicle (a retired Times' delivery truck), drive to the Sierra, do a 60-mile loop hike and be back at work early Monday morning. He once did a midwinter transSierra trek, reporting that it was the "coldest I've ever been in my life." He later became one of the strongest mountain climbers in the West, before chronic health problems afflicted his life. He once almost died of a foot-blister infection while on a 30-mile hike into a mountain in South America. When he moved up to a climbing pack, he gave me his old backpack, a Kelty with one aluminum foot broken off from a fall in a scree field. He said the pack had done about 6,000 miles of hiking with him. But at the paper he had a rare gift of being both an honest critic of art and entertainment events and a supCommitment To Excellence portive friend of talented individuals and organizations. "Paul was absolutely critical in our early development as a theatre company," Kelley reminisced Tuesday, confirming my own early 1970s observations as a newsroom colleague. Emerson could be both supportive and honestly critical, guiding and advising in his writings and personally. "There was no real reason why we caught his attention, but we did," Kelley recalls. At 22, he and others in the small troupe "were a part of the community not being heard from" in the arts field. Kelley said Emerson's successor, John McClintock, followed his example and contributed to the group's continuing success and growth. Kelley, perhaps still in the glow of the Monday night accolades and awards, said Tuesday he has no regrets about his decision and early struggles to establish TheatreWorks. The relationships along the way have been rich and rewarding. "In theatre, everything's a collaboration," he said. Could he or another young artist do it again today? "It would be a challenge, but it would be a fun challenge," he said. "I've been asked exactly that question many times." And he takes time to share advice, as if following the path of Emerson of decades ago. In fact, he has an appointment this weekend to meet with someone who desires to create a theatre group in another community further north. He said the advice he will give is twofold: Know yourself and what you believe in, and know your community. "What I wanted to talk about and write about was the community, about us" in Palo Alto and the Midpeninsula, Kelley said, encapsulating his 40 years of creativity. PUBLIC NOTICE FORMER NAVAL AIR STATION MOFFETT FIELD Restoration Advisory Board Meeting The next regular meeting of the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for former Naval Air Station (NAS) Moffett Field will be held on: Thursday, May 13, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:10 p.m. at: Mountain View Senior Center Social Hall 266 Escuela Avenue Mountain View, CA 94040-1813 The RAB reviews and comments on plans and activities about the ongoing environmental studies and restoration activities underway at Moffett Field. Regular RAB meetings are open to the public and the Navy encourages your involvement. To review documents on Moffett Field environmental restoration projects, please visit the information repository located at the Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St., Mountain View, CA 94041, (650) 903-6337. For more information, contact Ms. Kathy Stewart, Navy Base Realignment and Closure Environmental Coordinator at (415) 743-4715 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit the Navy's website: http://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/basepage.aspx?baseid=52&state=California&name=moffett Page 18 Original Ownership Since 1975 Discount C oupon (with purchase of new roof) $500 All Types of Roofing & Gutters Residential & Commercial S.C.L#785441 1901 Old Middlefield Way, Mtn.View 650-969-7663 Cover Story CHASING IRA A seasoned county supervisor, a bike-riding environmentalist and a venture capitalist with a passion for clean technology are all vying to replace Ira Ruskin in the 21st District of the California Assembly. Each of the three Democrats believes he or she is the face of California. San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon points to his long record of balancing county budgets and building bipartisan coalitions. Yoriko Kishimoto, a former member of the Palo Alto City Council, cites her strong environmental credentials and her path from being a Japanese immigrant to becoming the first Asian elected to the Palo Alto council. Venture capitalist Josh Becker touts his clean-tech savvy and business knowhow as major reasons why he best represents his district. On June 8, voters will decide which of the three is best positioned to take on Republican candidate Greg Conlon. The winner of that race will have to tackle California's $21 billion budget deficit, oversee a controversial high-speedrail project, revive a cash-strapped education system and find consensus in Sacramento. by Gennady Sheyner Rich Gordon, Yoriko Kishimoto and Josh Becker brace for a tight race for Ira Ruskin's seat in the California Assembly The 21st District includes large chunks of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties: Palo Alto, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, Stanford University and a section of San Jose. Because the district is heavily Democratic, whoever wins the primary next month will be a strong favorite to prevail. When it comes to policy, Gordon, Kishimoto and Becker have more similarities than differences. Each talks about the need to reform California's system of governance, add transparency to the high-speed-rail project (see sidebar); promote clean energy; repeal the state's two-thirds requirement for passing budgets; and implement an oil-excise tax to reduce the state's staggering budget deficit. None of the three could think of a single Ruskin vote they disagree with. Their backgrounds, however, are as varied as their personal styles. Gordon, who was born in San Mateo County, served as a minister in the United Methodist Church and has spent years in youth ministry and the nonprofit sector before joining the Board of Supervisors. Kishimoto moved to California as a child and worked as a business consultant before emerging as one of Palo Alto's leading conservationists and transportation experts -- credentials she believe make her well-suited to dealing with the proposed high-speed-rail project. Becker, a Pennsylvania native, believes he epitomizes Silicon Valley better than his two opponents because of his entrepreneurial background, his networking skills and his history of supporting innovative ideas and creating jobs. The following three profiles explore the candidates' respective journeys toward the 2010 election and their plans to fix California. Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at email@example.com. YO R IKO KISHIM OTO Finding common ground, while sticking to her principles by Gennady Sheyner O Veronica Weber f the three Democrats running for Ira Ruskin's seat in the 21st Assembly District, Yoriko Kishimoto is the only one who can boast of being a "proven futurist." It's been more than two decades since Kishimoto co-wrote the book "The Third Century," which predicted that America's entrepreneurial spirit, democratic system and tendency to attract the best foreign talent would give the nation a major long-term advantage over Europe and Japan. These days, she is struck by how many of the prophecies in the book came true. For Kishimoto, California presents the same challenges and opportunities as the nation at large: a dysfunctional Legislature, fierce competition from abroad and an education system that's gradually slipping. But she believes that, of the three candidates, she is uniquely positioned to lead the state forward. She didn't just study the statistics about foreign workers succeeding in America, she became one. Kishimoto, 54, sees herself as the "face of California." Born in Japan, she immigrated to America as a child, learned English, earned a master's degree in business from Stanford University and started a management-consulting business. She was elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2001 and had what she calls her "watershed moment" six years later, when she became the city's first Asian-American mayor. "Of the 15 mayors in Santa Clara meetings vague and troubling. County, five were Asian and all five In the following months, she were first-generation Americans," reached out to neighboring commuKishimoto said in a recent inter- nities and helped found the Peninview. "That's a true testament to the sula Cities Consortium, a coalition robustness of our economy." with Menlo Park, Atherton, Belmont During her eight years on the and Burlingame. She believes the council, Kishimoto never shied away consortium may have played a role from pushing for her top priorities: in persuading the rail authority to walkable neighborhoods, safer bike eliminate the "berm" option (known paths, a functional public-transit locally as the "Berlin Wall") from its system, climate protection and land recent list of possible designs. conservation. She routinely subjectKishimoto said a seat in the ed developers and planning staff to state Assembly would give her grueling Q-and-A format sessions more power and influence over the and voted against any project that controversial $43 billion project. she felt was inconsistent with the She supports demanding a better city's long-term vision. business plan from the California Last year, she voted against Palo High Speed Rail Authority; ensurAlto's three largest proposed devel- ing that the authority's work unopments: Alma Plaza, the College dergoes peer reviews; and making Terrace Centre and the proposed sure the system's design doesn't hotel for the Palo Alto Bowl site. harm the quality of life in local All three were ultimately approved communities. despite her opposition. "It has to be a solution that leaves Kishimoto has also emerged as the communities better and protects one of the Peninsula's leading crit- the walkable and livable aspects of ics of the proposed California high- our community," Kishimoto said. speed-rail system. In October 2008, She also supports tackling the she joined the City Council in pass- state's $21 billion budget deficit by ing a resolution urging residents to instituting an oil-extraction fee (a support Proposition 1A, which pro- position shared by her two Demovided $9.95 billion for the project. cratic opponents) and raising taxes She now says she regrets casting on cigarettes and alcohol. She also that vote. said she would support reining in Kishimoto said she still supports pension costs for state employees having a high-speed-rail system but and trimming expenditures, though is disappointed with the way the in a recent interview she couldn't planning process for the new system cite any specific programs she has played out. In February 2009, would eliminate. (continued on page she attended public outreach meet-22) She acknowledged that holding ings on the project and found some of the information coming out of the (continued on page 22) Page 19 Cover Story RICH GORDON Celebrate Spring with a brand-new smile for you or your loved one... a smile that will last a lifetime! Finding support on both sides of the fence by Renee Batti sk Rich Gordon, a candidate for the state Assembly's 21st District seat, what makes him think he can bring people together and help end the divisiveness in Sacramento, and he's likely to point to his endorsements. The endorsement list includes more than 100 elected officials -- from U.S. congresswomen Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier down to local special-district board members. But more to his point is the representation of both sides of the political fence that the list reflects, said Gordon, a three-term member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Perhaps his proudest example is the people Gordon worked with several years ago when he chaired a group of "very disparate" individuals charged with working out controversial elements of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's plan to annex Coastside property. The group included members of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board, pushing for annexation, and opponents of the plan, including San Mateo County Farm Bureau representatives and vocal "property rights" activists, Gordon said. They met every other week for six months, and at the end, "We were able to hammer out the agreement without opposition from the Farm Bureau," he said. When he announced his candidacy for the Assembly seat, the first individual who endorsed him was Mary Davey of the District board, and the first organization, the Farm Bureau, he said. He also points to endorsements he's received from county supervisors from across the state, most if not all of whom he worked with when he served as president of the California State Association of Counties. Singling out the board of Yolo County, Gordon said he received the endorsements of the most liberal member and the most conservative member. Gordon highlights his work with the association, and the support of many of its members, because he believes it speaks to his viability as a state legislator. The supervisors were from "disparate groups -- reflective of what you see in the state Legislature," he said. "I worked to bring them to common ground." Gordon believes his hefty resume and long history as a supervisor gives him a sizeable edge over Josh Becker and Yoriko Kishimoto, his two opponents in the Democratic primary. Becker has had no elective office experience, and Kishimoto's city council service was eight years in duration. Gordon contrasts that with his own history. Before his 12-year stint as a supervisor, he served for six years on the San Mateo County Board of Education. "My background, experience and knowledge are broader and deeper" Spring is the time to refresh your smile and there is no better way tha n wit h In visa lign . If you' ve bee n putt in g off st raig hten ing your smile now is your chance to have the straight beautiful smile you deserve without anyone knowing you're making a change. Ju st ca ll our office t oda y and we will e va luate your smile at a no-charge Invisalign consultation. Make sure to take advantage of our Invisalign Day Special on June 8 th!! A Zahra Hakim, DDS 650.321.3220 780 Welch Rd. Suite 104 Palo Alto, CA 94304 Offered through the practice of Dr. Zahra Hakim Your Invisalign Treatment Payments as low as $ *With your good credit. Come to our Invisalign Day on June 8th from 8am-5pm for a FREE consultation! $500 OFF 99/mo* PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVENUE BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26 (TENTATIVE) AGENDA-SPECIAL MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS MAY 10, 2010 - 5:30 PM 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Closed Session: Existing Litigation Closed Session: Labor 7:30 PM or as soon as possible thereafter Selection of Historic Resources Board Applicants to Interview Proclamation Acknowledging Track Watch Volunteers Monthly HSR Update Acceptance of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant Site Feasibility Study and Authorization to Proceed with an Environmental Assessment of a Recycling Center and Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Facility Improvements for the West Side of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant Site (Continued from 4/5/10) Public Hearing: Approval of a Mitigated Negative Declaration, a Site and Design and Approval of a Record of land Use Action, and Park Improvement Ordinance for a New Green House and Shed Located in the Baylands at 2500 Embarcadero Road. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of its General Obligation Bonds for Measure N Projects in the Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $60,000,000, Authorizing and Directing the Execution of a Paying Agent Agreement and Certain other Related Documents, and Authorizing Actions Related Thereto Colleagues Memo from Council Members Shepherd and Schmid regarding City Investments (TENTATIVE) AGENDA � SPECIAL MEETING � COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM MAY 12, 2010 � 6:00 P.M. Joint meeting with Planning & Transportation Commission regarding the Comprehensive Plan Michelle Le than that of his opponents, he said. "The key is that I can be judged on my track record. I have demonstrated fiscal responsibility in government (and the) ability to build bridges and coalitions." 7. 8. `Obviously, one person cannot change the system. One person can be a voice, and one person can join others. ... It only takes a handful to move toward change.' As examples of fiscal responsibility, he cites his role about 10 years ago in helping to put an outcome-based budgeting process in place for the county, whereby results and benefits of programs could be measured for their efficiency and effectiveness. Also, he was a strong supporter of "a very good reserve policy" now in place. If elected, Gordon said, he would work toward both revenue generation and spending cuts in the state but emphasized that cuts must be "surgical and strategic." For example, lawmakers shouldn't cut programs that help keep people out of prison, because prison is far more expensive than the axed programs would be. He would support a look at reinstating the vehicle license fee and reviewing "the long-term fairness 9. 1. STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Policy and Services Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. regarding: 1) Zero Waste: Recycling and Compostable Ordinance Development and Public Outreach; 2) City Council Priorities Workplan; 3. Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Committee; 4) Early Council Packet The Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. regarding: 1) Budget Hearings for Community Services, City Attorney, Planning Page 20 of Proposition 13," he said, noting that there are ways of protecting senior citizens to allow them to stay in their homes -- a stated goal of Proposition 13. Another source of revenue could be an oil-extraction tax, he said, noting that California is the only oil-producing state in the country that doesn't charge oil companies a fee for extracting oil. That tax is as high as 25 percent in at least one state -- Alaska. Gordon returns often to the need to fix Sacramento. As a legislator, he would "engage the public in a conversation" about the need to eliminate the two-thirds majority vote to pass a budget, a requirement that has caused gridlock in the Capitol for many years running. But how can one person fix a badly broken system? "Obviously, one person cannot change the system," he said. "One person can be a voice, and one person can join others. ... It only takes a handful to move toward change." A native of San Mateo County, Gordon entered the ministry in the United Methodist Church after receiving a degree from the University of Southern California. Before running for public office in 1992, he worked in the nonprofit sector in San Mateo County, first with the YMCA, then with Youth and Family Assistance, where he served as executive director. He lives in an unincorporated area of Menlo Park with his husband, Dennis McShane. Almanac News Editor Renee Batti can be e-mailed at rbatti@ almanacnews.com. Cover Story WE S T BA JOSH BECKER Menlo Park entrepreneur hopes to ride his networking skills to victory in the Assembly race by Sean Howell OPER Tickets online at WBOpera.org BOX OFFICE 650.424.9999 2009-10 J G L FIFTY-FOURTH SEASON OS� UIS MOSCOVICH ENERAL DIRECTOR M enlo Park venture capitalist and social entrepreneur Josh Becker is stressing his networking abilities in campaigning for the California Assembly, saying that the 21st District needs someone who can unite disparate groups of people to rally for change. In the months before the Democratic primary, his main challenge is likely to lie in convincing voters that those abilities would serve him well in public office. In a recent interview, Becker spoke energetically and cogently of jumpstarting a state with constant budget troubles and in need of new jobs. He expressed a desire to make California a leader in energy, and to "bring the spirit of Silicon Valley to Sacramento." His private-sector career has centered on bringing innovators together in various coalitions. He is the founder and chair of the Full Circle Fund, a San Francisco-based philanthropic organization that gives grants to nonprofits and boasts on its board of directors Congressman Mike Honda, Netflix founder Reed Hastings, and Brian David, director of the National Broadband Task Force. Becker also founded New Cycle Capital, an "early stage" venturecapital firm based in San Francisco. He also sits on the board of trustees for the University of California Merced. Becker, 40, grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in Menlo Park with his wife, Jonna, and their two children, Sophie, 5, and Aaron, 4. Though he has worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Reps. Howard Berman and former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, he is new to state politics. Becker said involvement in the Silicon Valley for Obama campaign sparked his interest in running for the Assembly. According to Becker, he helped launch "Cleantech and Green Business for Obama," which raised funds for the 2008 presidential campaign, as well as the Clean Economy Network. The home page of his campaign's website features a photo of Becker standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Al Gore. Becker seems to fit the profile of a "Connector," a term popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his 2000 book, "The Tipping Point." According to Gladwell, connectors can spark a new trend by virtue of their wide networks: "One of the key things she does is to play an intermediary between different social worlds," he writes. And that, essentially, is Becker's pitch. "I think that what's needed right now is my kind of background," he said. "The other people who are running are good people, but what's really needed right now are innovative ideas, and people who can bring together different coalitions." 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 He emphasized his connections to Silicon Valley innovators, saying he's working to get people with good ideas involved in his campaign, people who may have sat on the sidelines in past Assembly races. If his fundraising so far is any indication, he's succeeded, having leapfrogged the other candidates in money raised in six months of campaigning. He proudly points to the fact that he didn't contribute his own money into the campaign (like former Palo Alto City Council member Yoriko Kishimoto) or receive major contributions from unions and other special-interest groups (like San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon). He may, however, face a challenge in convincing voters he is ready to confront the realities of serving in the California Legislature. Becker's two opponents have histories as elected representatives. Asked whether he was prepared to deal with the slow pace and frustrations inherent in government bureaucracy, Becker said: "I'm not a big believer in people saying, `We can't do things.'" One of his top priorities, if elected, would be to promote clean technology, which he believes could be the state's engine of job growth. He supports issuing Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) bonds, a mechanism pioneered by Berkeley that allows residents to borrow money for energy-efficiency projects and to pay back these loans through their property assessments. If elected, Becker said he would work to create a system that makes it easy for other California cities to set up such programs. He also said he would use his business skills and Silicon Valley know-how to identify innovative clean-tech businesses and find ways (tax credits, prizes, etc.) to give them an incentive to grow. When it comes to cutting expenses, Becker is less certain. He said he would support trimming the prison budget by halting design work for prisons California can't afford to build. He also thinks some money could be saved by reviewing the state government's informationtechnology projects. But Becker also recognizes that these specific proposals alone won't be enough to close the state's $21 billion deficit and is hard pressed to suggest more substantive cuts. When it comes to the budget gap, addition for Becker is more attractive than subtraction. The real solution to California's economic malaise -- a solution he always returns to when discussing the budget -- is job creation and the resulting revenue growth. As an entrepreneur, that's exactly where his skills come in, Becker said. He believes his clean-tech background, his passion for job creation and his business savvy make him perfectly suited for the Assembly. "This is a critical time," he said. "I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who asked, `Can California really be saved? Why should we send you up there?' I said, `Yes, it can be, but it's an all-hands-on-deck situation.'" Almanac Staff Writer Sean Howell can be e-mailed at showell@ almanacnews.com. Weekly Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner contributed to this report. A Y Michelle Le WITH T IST PRICE HIS CO UPON SOME REST R EXPIR ICTIONS AP ES 6-3 P 0-2010 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 Page 21 Cover Story Kishimoto (continued from page 19) office in Sacramento would be more difficult than serving in Palo Alto but says she's up to the challenge. She recalled that when she joined the council, the body was also dysfunctional and polarized. She takes some credit for the growing spirit of cooperation and cites herself and former Mayor Bern Beecham as the two council members who were willing to cross the proverbial aisle and build constructive relationships. Kishimoto, who lives in Palo Alto with her husband, Lee, and her daughters, Maya and Sarah, said her ability to find common ground helped her govern in Palo Alto and build alliances around the Peninsula. If elected, these same skills will help her tackle some of California's steepest challenges, she said. "California has some very serious short-term issues and challenges that we have to face head on," she said. "But we do have the single best long-term system in the world -- a system that is amazingly resilient; a system that allows us to pick up and reinvent ourselves." Weekly Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be e-mailed at firstname.lastname@example.com. CAN D IDATE S PLE D G E T O S H A K E UP HIGH-SPEED RAIL Gordon, Kishimoto and Becker seek more transparency, community involvement in controversial project by Gennady Sheyner ich Gordon has a simple solution for improving the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the agency charged with building the $43 billion system between San Francisco and Los Angeles: Sack its board of directors. Gordon, one of three Democratic candidates running for Ira Ruskin's seat in the state Assembly, said the current board has neither the transparency nor the expertise to guide the enormous undertaking to a successful conclusion. And while he has other ideas for improving the controversial project, in his opinion the board is a good place to start. "I think the current membership of the rail authority needs to be tossed out and that the Legislature needs to take action to reformulate the authority and its governance," Gordon told the Weekly in a recent interview. The winner of the Democratic primary is highly favored to replace Ruskin, who will be termed out, in the heavily Democratic district. Though all three candidates have told the Weekly they have major concerns about the high-speed-rail project, each has different ideas for improving the process. Yoriko Kishimoto, a founder of the Peninsula Cities Consortium, said she would push for more credible ridership numbers and a better peer-review process of the rail authority documents. Josh Becker, a clean-tech venture capitalist, said he would demand a more robust business plan for the colossal project. In Gordon's view, the rail authority's board of directors should include members who represent local R 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 communities and who have technical expertise about major transportation projects. He believes the current board, which was appointed by the state Legislature and by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, doesn't meet these criteria. "The board needs to function as a true government body, and it needs to have the transparency in a way that it currently does not," Gordon said. Gordon said he would be in favor of giving local jurisdictions more power over the construction of the high-speed rail, a position he shares with Kishimoto. Last year, Kishimoto founded the Peninsula Cities Consortium, a coalition of elected officials who meet twice a month to discuss the controversial project. The consortium is comprised of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Burlingame and Belmont. As a council member, Kishimoto helped pass a resolution in October 2008 urging voters to support Proposition 1A, which approved $9.95 billion in state funding for the highspeed-rail project. Though she said she still supports the project, she now regrets her earlier endorsement of Proposition 1A. "I'm a fan of rail, but this was a flawed structure and it gave power to the wrong board," Kishimoto told the Weekly. "It wasn't set up correctly." One of the problems with the current system is that the peer-review committee established by Proposition 1A never materialized. More than a year after the legislation passed, only five of the committee's eight members have been appointed. Kishimoto said the state Legislature needs to clarify the committee's role and make sure there is adequate oversight over the rail authority. Kishimoto said she favors the approach taken by state Sen. Joe Simitian, who has been using his budget-oversight powers to demand more information, accountability and transparency from the rail authority. She has been a staunch advocate of local involvement in the controversial state project. She takes some of the credit for the rail authority's recent decision to drop the hotly contested "berm" alternative from their design options in Palo Alto -- a decision the agency said was based largely on community opposition. Kishimoto was also an early proponent of applying the Context Sensitive Solutions approach to high-speed-rail design -- a mechanism that relies heavily on local participation in planning for the project. The rail authority recently agreed to adopt the approach for the Bay Area-to-Central Valley segment of the line. Becker also said he favors giving local residents a greater say on the rail project. A legislator, he said, should be responsive to the citizens, and Becker is still in the process of gathering feedback from the constituents in the 21st Assembly District. When it comes to the rail project, Becker so far has more questions than answers. His biggest questions surround the rail authority's business plan -- a document that has drawn a barrage of criticism from state legislators, rail watchdogs, the Legislative Analyst's Office and, most recently, State Auditor Elaine Howle's office. Critics have persistently challenged the business plan's projections for how many riders will use the rail, its reliance on federal grants and its discussion of risk management. Becker criticized the rail authority for not being as responsive to community concerns as they should be. He also said the rail authority has been reluctant to release the types of information residents and state officials need, including a plan to pay for the system. "I think they've been lax in coming up with details and that's critical in my mind," Becker said. "My focus is the business plan. Let's find a business plan that works." Assembly candidates to debate Saturday The three Democratic candidates for state Assembly District 21 will square off Saturday morning (May 8) about "The Future of Public Education in California" at a forum in Palo Alto. The forum will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Palo Alto Unified School District board room, 25 Churchill Ave. The audience will be invited to submit questions. The Media Center will televise the event live on Comcast Channel 28. Page 22 At Stanford Hospital & Clinics, one of our goals is to offer education about the latest medical advances to assist our patients in finding solutions to health issues that may limit their quality of life. If you experience heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, pain during intercourse or lower back pain, you may have uterine fibroids. And you wouldn't be alone: 20-40% of women ages 35-55 have uterine fibroids, and the incidence is even higher among African American women. Join us for a free Women's Community Education Program. You will learn about the treatment options available to women who suffer from uterine fibroids and meet one of our patients. TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR UTERINE FIBROIDS A COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM Wednesday, May 19, 2010 6:30pm � 8:00pm 300 Pasteur Drive, Alway Class Room M106 Stanford, CA 94305 To RSVP call 650.498.6022 Please register, seating is limited. Visit us and learn more: stanfordhospital.org/ufe You deserve a better home loan Easy online application Low fees Fixed and adjustable-rate loans Jumbo loans up to $2 million* Investment property loans for non-owner occupied, up to 4 units Plus, you can check your loan application status online. A variety of flexible loan terms It is easy to apply, go to www.starone.org or call us toll free at 866-543-5202 or 408-543-5202. 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" Page 23 Arts & Entertainment A weekly guide to music, theater, art, movies and more, edited by Rebecca Wallace Glimpsing the artist's life Palo Alto Studios and other spaces open their doors for Silicon Valley Open Studios There are 26 artists working in 18 spaces at Palo Alto Studios; visitors climbing steps inside can get a bird's-eye peek into the downstairs studios. story by Rebecca Wallace photographs by Kimihiro Hoshino ith high ceilings and concrete walls, this boxy space seems all industrial ambiance at first. Squint, and you can imagine the Palo Alto building in its previous life, as a distribution area for Old Navy apparel. But now 4030 Transport St. contains canvases instead of camis, tubes of paint instead of tunics. Old Navy bowed out of the space when the economy faltered in 2001, and the artists started moving in two years later. Now these walls house Palo Alto Studios: 26 artists working in 18 studios. Like many other artists up and down the Peninsula, the folks at 4030 Transport have company coming soon. The month of May brings the annual Silicon Valley Open Studios event, when visitors can peer into creative spaces all over the area. This weekend, May 8-9, Open Studios is in southern San Mateo County, featuring studios in Menlo Park, Atherton and nearby towns. On May 15-16, Palo Alto Studios and other spaces in Palo Alto and north Santa Clara County will open their doors. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some studios are one-artist affairs in the home, while larger spaces show and sell a range of works in one building. In Palo Alto, these multi-artist sites include Cubberley Studios, the Pacific Art League and Gallery House as well as Palo Alto Studios. "Since we have multiple artists, we get a lot of visitors. We're pretty lively," says Leslie Lambert, whose ink drawings, paintings and collages share a capacious room in Palo Alto Studios with painter Jane Peterman. She sees Open Studios as a chance for many people to experience a working artist's studio: kids whose school art programs have been cut, adults who think they could never paint, and artists who don't yet dare to rent their own space. It's Lambert's fifth time showing at Open Studios. Hosting artists get to mingle with the public, adds Peterman, who's taking part in Open Studios for the seventh time. And, she says with a smile, "Number one, it's an opportunity to sell art." On a recent morning, Peterman and Lambert wander through their convivial space with a couple of journalists. Peterman's dog Kaja follows, surprising the visitors by batting their fingers with a cold nose. Peterman's side of the studio has some of her bold abstract acrylic paintings hanging on the wall. Brushes, palette knives and other tools cover a table. Her work can have print elements: She likes to apply paint to plastic strips, draw patterns in it, then rub it onto the canvas. Spraying the paint with water or alcohol changes the texture. The two artists -- who have known each other for years, since their kids were in school together -- set up shop here in 2007. Before that, Peterman recalls, "I used to do open studios in the front yard of my house." Peterman has a background as a certified public accountant. After starting art classes in 1999, she came to find painting "all-consuming." She's also a member of Gallery House. Lambert worked in various galleries, then let her art slide after getting married and having children. She's now come back full circle. Whereas Lambert's art is compact, Peterman found that moving into Palo Alto Studios allowed her to spread out. Her canvases grew until she found the optimal shape, 52 by 54 inches. Why this particular size? She spreads out her arms to demonstrate her artistic wingspan. "It's enough." Now, muted conversation from other artists carries over from another studio, but the place is mostly quiet. Many of the artists have other jobs and come here only on nights or weekends. Some studios are larger doubles like this one; others are smaller single spaces. Upstairs, there's a print studio that six artists share, coming and going. Down the hall, Hedda Hope, one of Palo Alto Studios' original artists, shares another spacious studio with fellow painter Gertie Mellon, who has been here almost five years. The patterns and shapes in Hope's abstract W Brushes and other tools pack painter Jane Peterman's table. On the other side, Lambert's table is awash with fabric and paper scraps and glue for her collages. She affectionately fingers bits of shiny paper cut into lacy patterns with a laser cutter. Then she holds up her figurative drawings, lush with ink. Page 24 Free Samples in Delicious Flavors! Also available at The Milk Pail Market, Draeger's Markets and JJ&F Deli. GRAND OPENING Premium Superfood Cereals & Snacks www.crunchfuls.com Leslie Lambert displays some of her ink drawings in her Palo Alto Studios space. On the floor, bits of paper for her collages await a new project. tures at her paint-covered smock. "We clean up physically." It sounds like there's some emotional readiness, too. "It can be stressful," she says of the event. "Generally, we're kind of quiet people." She smiles as Hope paints on an easel in the background, adding texture to her canvas with bubble wrap. But it's all worth it to help get her art out there, Mellon says. She says the business of art can be difficult: creating a website, writing an artist's statement, pounding the pavement trying to get into galleries. That may be why Open Studios often attracts new artists or those new to the area, who find it tough getting known. The event is also non-juried, making it easier to take part. Many artists also emphasize the educational aspect of the event, encouraging questions from visitors about the creative process, the artist's life, the current art market. And some, like Peterman, want to make sure visitors have a handson experience. At Open Studios, she sets out materials for an art project visitors can participate in: a canvas, paints, a brush, water. She holds up a canvas from a past event. It's a sort of group floral still life, incorporating brush strokes from many hands. "It's really fun to have someone who's never held a paintbrush make a mark on this experimental canvas," she says. Painter Jane Peterman sits before one of her acrylic works. This year Peterman is practical, too. She marks her fifth taking part in Silicon Valley Open Studios. puts out acrylic paint -- oil is not oils are often drawn from nature. metric or spontaneous. She says she so easy to clean up. Just a few col"Hide & Seek," hanging on the alternates between styles to clear ors, and just one brush, "to keep the wall, represents a maze of redwood her head. mess down." She laughs. "I've had roots from a fallen tree she saw in Mellon's huge acrylic triptych on one incident of a kid sort of bathing Sebastopol. one wall has carefully placed strips in paint." At Open Studios, Hope enjoys of paper cut from phone books. connecting with other artists to get Bristling with angles, it represents What: Silicon Valley Open Studios, an inspiration -- and, sometimes, en- overcrowding in cities, she says. annual event organized by the Campergy. This life is solitary, and the "I'm really fascinated by the vi- bell nonprofit Silicon Valley Visual Arts muse is often elusive. "I'm a full- brancy of the city, the time passing, Where and when: This weekend, May 8-9, studios are open to visitors in time artist, as full-time as one can the speed." Another triptych has the southern San Mateo County. On May get." She smiles with a touch of rue. grids of a cityscape, warmed by or- 15 and 16, the event moves to cities "Being an artist is exhausting." angey-yellows like a sunset reflect- in north Santa Clara County, including While Hope delves into nature, ing off a high-rise. Palo Alto. The studios are generally Mellon's oils and acrylics recall A native of Ireland, Mellon has open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the verve of the cities she's lived in both an art-school and an advertis- Cost: Admission is free, with art for -- Dublin, Ireland; Chicago, New ing background. She's in Open Stu- sale. York. Her paintings tend to go one dios for the fourth year. How does Info: For studio locations and other way or another: precise and geo- one prepare for the event? She ges- information, go to www.svos.org. Mountain View's First Cereal Company Grant Park Plaza near Nob Hill/Ranch 99 Market Page 25 Arts & Entertainment "There`s no place like home." Redwood City - San Mateo - San Jose to Thornton Wilder, most famously the playwright of perhaps the most famous American play, "Our Town." We begin to understand this better as the play amiably shuffles between the staged narrative and a metanarrative when the actors act like "themselves" in order to comment on the action and argue with an audience member (Lauren Burniges). The play also reflects on the current lamentable state of American theater as a means of commenting on the American psyche, the lack of value we place on the arts, and the insane and unreal world of Hollywood. This is much like "Our Town," where we find the universal in the specific and vernacular. Lisabette, the youngest and most hopeful of the characters, has the last word, with a lyrical and moving vision, leaving the audience to continue the conversation beyond the curtain calls. Raucously funny and a little raunchy at times, the piece rises to its role model by the end, challenging us to consider the fate of theater in the 21st century. The ensemble actors play various supporting roles. Genelle, for example, plays at least seven characters, showing chameleon versatility. Vera Sloan plays a beleaguered artistic director, a casting director and a male country-western star cast as Chekhov's Colonel philosopher, Vershinin. Her range is remarkable and each character is utterly believable. Mary Horne plays several men, including the Russian director obsessed with Chekhov and method acting. Burniges stands up and stands out as a notso-innocent bystander. The three lead actresses -- Lo, Parsons and Hagedorn -- are all wonderful in their roles, capable of comedy as well as the requisite melancholy of Chekhov. It's terrific fun to watch them interact with each other and the ensemble. Their instincts are outstanding. There are a few times when the interpretation is off, or the comedy is lacking because of misdirection. Genelle's tobacco mogul, for example, needs a slickness that isn't there; and Horne's two directors are too similar in tone and demeanor. Occasionally a scene misses its emotional arc so that the point is hard to follow. Costuming everyone in black may have seemed like a good idea in theory, but it negates any character definition and actually makes the actors hard to see. The set design by Ron Gasparinetti fulfills the script's idea of opening the stage to the back walls, but it's a faux wall, and I wondered why they didn't open to the actual back walls. The clever upstage doors were a nice effect, although under-utilized. But the talent on stage ultimately brings the show to life, in spite of these minor flaws, to deliver humor, satire and a thoughtful message. What: "Anton in Show Business," by Jane Martin, presented by Dragon Productions Where: Dragon Theatre, 535 Alma St., Palo Alto When: Through May 23, with 8 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays Cost: Tickets are $16-$20. Info: Go to www.dragonproductions. net or call 650-493-2006. James Kasyan www.matchedcaregivers.com From left: Lonnique Genelle, Vera Sloan, Jennifer Jane Parsons, Mary Horne, Kristen Lo and Meredith Hagedorn in "Anton in Show Business." 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. Long on laughs Wickedly funny piece `Anton' is not just for theater people by Jeanie nton in Show Business" by Jane Martin is one of those plays that theater people love, because it's about theater and the importance of keeping it alive in our culture. It's also wickedly funny, irreverent, sexy and satirical, skewering all kinds of theater types even while rather lovingly depicting the crazy life of the artist. Directed by Stephen Maddox, the current production playing at the Dragon Theatre in Palo Alto captures both the humor and the heart of the piece, delivering guffaws and grace, in spite of a few missteps. From the outset we follow two wanna-be actresses: Casey Mulgraw (Jennifer Jane Parsons), a veteran of more than 200 off-off-Broadway shows still struggling to find her stardom; and Lisabette Cartwright (Meredith Hagedorn), a na�ve newcomer fresh out of a college theater K. Smith "A THEATER REVIEW program with stars in her eyes. The two audition for an unlikely production -- Chekhov's "Three Sisters" is slated to play in San Antonio, Texas, as a vehicle for soap opera star Holly Seab� (Kristen Lo). The audition is a farce, but Holly insists on the girls being hired, so the three women fly to Texas for rehearsals. Along the way we meet stage managers, producers, directors and more, as the actresses navigate their way through a wacky and unpredictable process. They wonder, as we do, how any "Art" manages to happen in such an unstable world, where funding is shaky and the work goes unappreciated. Lonnique Genelle, as a kind of uber-stage manager, notes in the prologue that the play is an homage The Aesthetics Research Center Please Contact Stephanie for more information: 800.442.0989 or email@example.com Page 26 Arts & Entertainment Worth a Look Art `Square Root' In creating his sculptural projects, Jeremiah Barber maps his own body and then turns the maps into animal shapes, body armor, even a translucent head 10 times his own. Juan Luna-Avin's multifaceted artwork includes a timeline/genealogy drawing that features 100 Mexican punk bands. FREE DELIVERY (with min. order) "THE BEST PIZZA WEST OF NEW YORK" --Ralph Barbieri KNBR 680 Fair Russian-American Fair Russian culture takes center stage at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center this Sunday: The 18th annual Russian-American Fair happens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mother's Day can include snacking on blini and piroshki, then washing it all down at the vodka tasting. Russian jewelry and art will be for sale, with kids' activities including puppet shows, face painting and a bounce house. Outdoor concerts includes klezmer music, Russian folk songs and a tango showcase. Admission to the fair is free. To get in to see accompanying performances at the Albert & Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall at the center, adults pay $5 and kids ages 7 to 12 pay $3. Scheduled performers include the Fantasy Dance Studio at 11 a.m. and the Firebird Dance Theater at 4 p.m. Proceeds support Russian cultural and educational programs at the JCC. The JCC is at 3921 Fabian Way in Palo Alto. For more information, go to paloaltojcc.org or call 650223-8621. 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 The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto will hold two free forums to present Pros & Cons of the five ballot measures in the June 8 ballot Tuesday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. Channing House 850 Webster Street Palo Alto Friday, May 14, 2:00 p.m. Avenidas 450 Bryant Street Palo Alto Dance Stanford Powwow Jeremiah Barber's stainless-steel work "Absolute" is one of many he creates by mapping his own body. The work of these two artists will soon be on exhibit at the Thomas Welton Stanford Art Gallery, together with pieces by fellow graduating artists Jamil Hellu and Armando Migu�lez. All four are showing works they created for their final master of fine arts theses; Hellu will exhibit a series of photographic portraits, while Migu�lez's work combines cartography, photography, installation and sound sculpture. The exhibition, called "Square Root," opens next Tuesday, May 11, and runs through June 13, with a reception planned for May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. The gallery, at 419 Lasuen Mall at Stanford University, is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5. Call 650-723-2842 or go to art. stanford.edu. Now in its 39th year, the Stanford Powwow is coming to the Eucalyptus Grove on campus again this weekend, with Native American dance and drum competitions, festive costumes, a fun run and walk, and a basketball tournament. Dances, which include a Grand Entry and gourddancing sessions, are scheduled to run from 7 to 11 p.m. tonight, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The 5K run and walk start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at the powwow arena, across Galvez Street from Stanford Stadium. On Sunday, a three-on-three basketball tournament is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Events happen rain or shine. The event is sponsored by the Stanford American Indian Organization. Admission is free (with donations requested). For more information, go to stanfordpow wow.org. This space donated as a community service by the Palo Alto Weekly and Palo Alto Online A&E DIGEST Music `Romanza' In 1998, the composer William Bolcom won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his "12 New Etudes for Piano." He turns to strings in his new work "Romanza," a violin concerto having its world premiere in the Bay Area this month. Tonight, May 7, the New Century Chamber Orchestra performs the concerto in Palo Alto. The San Francisco orchestra commissioned the work, and its music director, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, is the soloist. In the program notes, Bolcom describes the work as immersed in a "musical world of grand gestures," with a style that's "joyful and desolate at once, full of emotional extremes." Bolcom, an American composer, has also received commissions from the Vienna Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne, to name a few. Tonight's concert is at 8 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church at 625 Hamilton Ave. and also includes Barber's "Adagio for Strings" and Copland's "Appalachian Spring." Tickets are $32-$54, with discounts for people ages 30 and under. The orchestra will also perform the program on Saturday in San Francisco and Sunday in Marin. For details, go to ncco.org or call 415-357-1111. Courtesy of Polshek Partnership Architects PEDIGREED CONCERT HALL ... Envisioned as an oval ship rising from a sea of glass, the area's newest music venue, Bing Concert Hall, is scheduled for its groundbreaking ceremony next Tuesday (May 11) on the Stanford University campus. The design team for the $112 million, 112,000-square-foot center includes firms that have worked on the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. An article about the Bing is posted on www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Page 27 Movies Iron Man 2 1/2 (Century 16, Century 20) Iron Man flies back into our lives with fireworks, a Richard Sherman jingle, and a chorus of skimpily suited dancer-cheerleaders. In truth and fiction, showmanship is the order of the day for superhero sequel "Iron Man 2," though the flash and dazzle distract from plot machinery that's more than a little clunky. The coming-out-party that reintroduces our heavy-metal hero -- aka crafty industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) -- is Stark Expo, a year-long world's fair that doubles as a monument to the CEO's ego. One portentous demonstration of hubris follows another when Stark smugly answers to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, whose axgrinding Senator Stern (ever-welcome Garry Shandling) wants to seize Stark's high-powered armor for military use. Stark counters that his invention is inimitable and therefore the ideal deterrent: "I have successfully privatized world peace! What more do you want?" Cue Russian physicist/ex-con Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who makes his own public splash as "Whiplash," using technology very similar to Stark's. Vanko demonstrates his tech in a murderous assault on Stark, whose late father Howard (John Slattery of "Mad Men") apparently wronged Vanko's late father. The first impression of "Iron Man 2," heard under the Paramount and Marvel logos, is the distinctive murmur of Downey, whose tossed-off readings make every line a seeming ad lib. Even with his recent prolific output, Downey remains a dazzling talent, and he goes a long way in holding "Iron Man 2" together. Director Jon Favreau wisely casts Sam Rockwell as rival weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer. He's not Page 28 OPENINGS Baby Hattie, one of the four youngsters featured in "Babies." so much a foil for Stark as a nasty doppelganger, possessed of the same gift-curse of funny blather. There's a lot more going on in "Iron Man 2," which suffers from that sequel symptom of cramming in too many elements. Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle, replacing Terence Howard) clashes with best bud Stark and becomes the power-suited "War Machine"; a new Stark employee (Scarlett Johansson) turns out to be comic femme fatale "Black Widow"; Stark takes strides with presumable flame "Pepper" Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow); and a certain Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) continues to circle Tony as a possible recruit for the eye-patched one's team of "Avengers." Speaking of too many elements, Stark is tasked with discovering a new element when the palladium in his arc-reactor core turns out to be poisoning his bloodstream. It's one of a few clever stakes-raising turns that screenwriter Justin Theroux ("Tropic Thunder") devises. Still, the mad dash through plot points that are, at times, needlessly complicated and, at others, not complicated enough can make the "Iron Man 2" experience naggingly unbalanced. Presumably due to budget concerns, the raison d'�tre action scenes can feel truncated, most noticeably in a rushed final battle involving Iron Man, War Machine and Whiplash. But the giant-sized set piece at Monaco's Grand Prix delivers the goods. And yes, if you're a comic-book fanboy who has avoided online spoilers, there's again a surprise awaiting you in a post-credits sequence. Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language. Two hours, four minutes. -- Peter Canavese Babies (Century 16, Century 20) The French documentary "Babies," directed and filmed mostly by Thomas Balmes, occupies a niche somewhere between "awww!" and ethnology -- a niche filled with delight and visual beauty. The film's babies are four: Ponijao from Namibia's traditional Himba tribe; Bayarjargal, from Mongolia; Mari from Tokyo; and Hattie from San Francisco (actually Oakland, but San Francisco sounds more glamorous). The movie follows each baby from birth to about 18 months, when they're all able to stand and walk. Sort of. The camera observes each baby's activities, moving from one to another in no particular order. Ponijao and her many siblings play in the dirt, which they sometimes eat, or at least put in their mouths. Bayarjargal, the only boy in the group, plays outdoors near the family's yurt, often alone or among the family's goats and cows. Both Mari and Hattie have heaps of toys and books and are taken to parks and baby exercise classes (as if babies didn't move around enough on their own). Despite their different environments, all of the tots are loved and cuddled, and they all seem healthy. The babies all interact with animals in one way or another. Three of the families (the Namibian one is the exception) have cats, who get on just fine with the babies. There's also a rooster that strolls on the Mongolian child's bed, dogs that lick the African child's face, and many goats, cows and donkeys, though not in Tokyo or Oakland. What's missing -- praises be! -- is any narration or subtitles. There's music, but it's subtle and unintrusive. Did I mention the amusing moments, as when Bayarjargal amuses himself by unrolling and chewing on a roll of toilet paper? Or when MOVIE TIMES Most Century 16 times were available only through Wednesday at press time. A Nightmare on Elm Street (R) 1/2 Alice in Wonderland (PG) Babies (PG) Century 16: 11:40 a.m.; 2:15, 3:40, 4:45, 7:45, 9:30 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 & 11:55 a.m.; 1:30, 2:25, 3:50, 4:50, 6:15, 7:20, 8:40, 9:45 & 10:40 p.m. Century 20: In 3D at 1:55 & 7:15 p.m. Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:05, 3:10, 5:15, 7:20 & 9:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 1:40, 3:45, 5:50, 7:55 & 10:05 p.m. The Back-up Plan Century 16: 7:30 & 10:05 p.m. Century 20: 11:40 a.m.; (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) 2:20, 4:50, 7:25 & 9:55 p.m. City Island (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Clash of the Titans (PG-13) Date Night (PG-13) 1/2 Century 16: 11:20 a.m.; 5 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 11:45 a.m.; 2:15, 4:40, 7:10 & 9:40 p.m. Century 16: 12:55 & 6:50 p.m. Century 20: Fri 1:35 & 6:35 p.m.; In 3D at 11:20 a.m.; 4:30 & 9:50 p.m. Century 16: 12:10, 2:25, 4:40, 6:55 & 9:15 p.m. Century 20: 12:20, 3:05, 5:25, 7:50 & 10:15 p.m. DCI 2010: The Century 20: Thu. at 7:30 p.m. Countdown (PG) (Not Reviewed) Death At a Funeral Century 20: 11:05 a.m.; 4:05 & 9:05 p.m. (2010) (R) (Not Reviewed) Exit Through the Gift Aquarius: 2:30, 4:45, 7 & 9:15 p.m. Shop (R) (Not Reviewed) Furry Vengeance (PG) 1/2 Century 16: Noon, 2:20, 7:10 & 9:40 p.m. Fri.-Sat. & Mon.-Wed. also at 4:55 p.m. Century 20: 11:25 a.m.; 1:50, 6:50 & 9:10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. & Mon.-Thu. also at 4:20 p.m. Century 16: 1:55 & 7:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; 2 p.m. Fri.-Wed. also at 4:55 & 7:45 p.m. The Ghost Writer (PG-13) 1/2 The Girl With the Guild: 1:15, 4:30 & 8 p.m. Dragon Tattoo (Not Rated) Harry Brown (R) (Not Reviewed) How to Train Your Dragon (PG) 1/2 Iron Man 2 (PG-13) 1/2 Palo Alto Square: 2:15, 4:45 & 7:15 p.m. Fri. & Sat. also at 9:45 p.m. Century 16: In 3D at 2, 4:25, 7:15 & 9:50 p.m. Sat.-Wed. also at 11:30 a.m. Century 20: In 3D at 11:15 a.m.; 1:40, 4:15, 6:55 & 9:20 p.m. Century 16: Fri.-Wed. at 10:35, 11:10 & 11:45 a.m.; 12:20, 1, 1:35, 2:10, 2:45, 3:20, 4, 4:35, 5:10, 5:45, 6:20, 7, 7:35, 8:10, 8:45, 9:20, 10 & 10:35 p.m. Sat. & Sun. also at 10 a.m. No 11 p.m. show Sun. Thu. at 1, 4, 7 & 10 p.m. Century 20: Fri.-Sun. at 11 & 11:30 a.m.; noon, 12:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10 & 10:30 a.m. Fri.-Sun. also at 10:30 a.m. Fri. & Sat. also at 10:55 p.m. Century 16: 1:20, 4:20, 7:20 & 10:15 p.m. Century 20: 11:20 a.m.; 2:10, 5:05, 7:50 & 10:35 p.m. Century 16: 11:05 a.m.; 1:50, 4:50, 7:40 & 10:25 p.m. Century 16: Sun. at 4:55 p.m. Century 20: Sun. at 4 p.m. Century 16: 11:15 a.m.; 4:30 & 9:45 p.m. Century 20: 12:25, 2:50, 5:15, 7:40 & 10:10 p.m. Century 16: 12:15, 2:40 & 5:05 p.m. Century 20: 12:15, 2:35, 4:45, 7:05 & 9:15 p.m. Palo Alto Square: 2:45, 5, 7:20 & 9:35 p.m. Fri.-Sat. also at 9:35 p.m. Aquarius: 2:15, 5:15 & 8:15 p.m. Century 16: 1:45 & 7:05 p.m. Kick-Ass (R) La Mission (R) Letters to Juliet (PG) (Not Reviewed) The Losers (PG-13) 1/2 Oceans (G) (Not Reviewed) Please Give (R) The Secret In Their Eyes (R) The Square (R) (Not Reviewed) the children of dead people," says her husband, Alex, played by Oliver Platt. She pays a pittance and resells the pieces for major bucks, while being racked with guilt about all the homeless and disadvantaged people out on the streets. As often as not, though, her attempts at charity misfire. The "homeless" black man lingering on the sidewalk is, in fact, waiting for a restaurant table; the handicapped children at a center where she might volunteer make her cry. Kate and Alex have bought the pre-war apartment next to theirs, but can't take possession and merge it with theirs until its current tenant, bitchy 91-year-old Andra, dies. Andra is looked after by her two granddaughters: Rebecca, a mammogram tech (the film's opening scene is of mammograms being administered, one after another); and Mary (Amanda Peet), as bitchy as her grandma. Equally selfish and nasty is Kate and Alex's teenaged daughter, Abby (Sarah Steele). Ill temper spans the generations. And yet "Please Give" is not a mean-spirited movie. The characters, several of them at least, battle with their selfishness. Some, like Rebecca, her suitor Eugene, and his grandmother (Lois Smith), are downright lovable. And the writing is superb: witty, at times seemingly improvised, never static. "Please Give" is a very New York movie, but its New York is far from Woody Allen's gilded view in such films as "Annie Hall" and "Hannah and her Sisters." This is the real New York, warts and all. Rated R for nudity, language and some sexual content. One hour, 30 minutes. -- Renata Polt To view the trailers for "Iron Man 2," "Babies" and "Please Give" go to Palo Alto Online at www.Palo AltoOnline.com STANFORD THEATER The Stanford Theatre is at 221 University Ave. in Palo Alto. Go to www.stanfordtheatre.org or call 650-324-3700. Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) A British butler is transplanted to the American West. Fri. at 7:30 p.m. Twentieth Century (1934) A Broadway hotshot tries to get his ex-lover, now a Hollywood diva, to resurrect his career. Fri. at 5:45 and 9:10 p.m. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) A showgirl disrupts the lives of American pilots in South America. Sat.-Tue. at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. also at 7:30 p.m. Gunga Din (1939) Three British soldiers fight a murderous sect in 19th-century India. Sat.-Tues. at 5:20 and 9:45 p.m. Genevieve (1953) Two friends/rivals race their cars from Brighton to London. Wed.-Fri. at 7:30 p.m. Green for Danger (1946) An inspector investigates murders in a World War II hospital. Wed.-Fri. at 5:45 & 9:10 p.m. Skip it Some redeeming qualities A good bet Outstanding 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) 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/ "THE Fri/Sat Only 5/7-5/8 Harry Brown 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 Please Give 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:35 Sun thru Thurs 5/9-5/13 Harry Brown 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, Please Give 2:45, 5:00, 7:20 (HIGHEST RATING) 4th"HILARIOUS, PROVOCATIVE, JOYOUS" WEEK! NOW PLAYING! TIME OUT NY (HIGHEST RATING) BEST MOVIE TOP OF A MOVIE. SO MUCH DAMN FUN." the goat drinks the little boy's bath water? Or when two babies smear each other with food? Comparisons are hard to avoid, though the film never hammers them home. The Third-World kids are messier but have more freedom and are more in tune with the natural world -- even though the California mother takes little Hattie to a play group where the leader chants: "The Earth is our mother. She will take care of us." Just in time for Mother's Day. Rated PG for "cultural and maternal" nudity. One hour, 20 minutes. -- Renata Polt Please Give (CineArts) One of the sweet mo- ments in "Please Give," written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, is the first date of Rebecca (Rebecca Hall) and Eugene (Thomas Ian Nicholas), on which they drive into the countryside to view the autumn leaves -- accompanied by both of their grandmothers. One of the film's most comically nasty moments occurs in the same scene: Rebecca's grandma, Andra (Ann Guilbert), out of sheer contrariness, turns her head away from the spectacular view. "Please Give" manages to combine tenderness and acerbity like that, often in the same character. Kate (Catherine Keener, often the star of Holofcener's films) is the owner of a trendy New York midcentury modern furniture shop, for which she buys furniture and accessories at estate sales. "We buy from "GRADE `A'! AMUSING, PROVOCATIVE, AND ENORMOUS FUN!" May 14th at 7:00 pm Jean Cocteau`s 3 movie cycle, the "ORPHIC TRILOGY" begins with a double feature: Autobiography of an Unknown a 66 minute introduction to Cocteau`s work. The Blood of a Poet, a 50 minute exploration of the plight of the Artist, the power of metaphor and relationship between art and dreams. Introduction and Q&A moderated by Prof Jean-Marie Apostolid�s and Prof Danielle Trudeau www.frenchfilmclubofpaloalto.org Established in 1977, the French Film Club is an independent non-profit Organization, open to the public. For full program and discounted tickets go to our website. Call 650-400-3496 for details. Reserve your seat, get a discount online at "FUNNY HILARIOUS!" AS HELL!" "JOYOUS! INSPIRED, ADROIT, FILM COMMENT "DON'T LA TIMES MISS IT!" LANDMARK THEATRES AQUARIUS "YOU'LL BE LAUGHING HELPLESSLY!" or www.landmarktheatres.com ROLLING STONE Page 29 Book Talk HOME SWEET HOME ... Iris Harrell, co-author of "Our Forever Home: A Universally Designed, Green Remodel," will be signing books at Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, on Saturday, May 15, at 11 a.m. The book, which the contractor and owner of Harrell Remodeling Inc. in Mountain View co-authored with Genie Nowicki, a senior designer at Harrell Remodeling, outlines how Harrell renovated her Portola Valley Ranch home to "eliminate the possibility of being forced to move elsewhere due to inaccessibility, poor indoor air quality and/or the high costs of maintenance and energy." WOMEN IN IRANIAN BOOKS ... Iranian author Goli Taraghi, a visiting lecturer in the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University, will give a free talk titled "Women in Modern Iranian Literature" at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 25. The event is on campus in Pigott Hall, Building 260, Room 113. Taraghi has written novels and short stories on such topics as life in Islamic Iran and in secular Europe. Information: Go to ica.stanford.edu. AUTHOR, AUTHOR ... Upcoming book talks at the Stanford Bookstore, 519 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, include: Susan Krieger, "Traveling Blind: Adventures in Vision with a Guide Dog by My Side" (May 11, 5:30 p.m.); and Giovanni Tempesta, "Waters, muddy and clear" (May 13, 6:30 p.m.). MORE AUTHORS ... Upcoming authors at Keplers, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, include Guy Gavriel Kay, "Under Heaven" (Sunday, May 9, 2 p.m.); Dave Barry, "I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood" (Monday, May 10, 7:30 p.m.); Laurie R. King, "The God of the Hive: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes" (Tuesday, May 11, 7:30 p.m.); Jane Smiley, "Private Life" (Wednesday, May 12, 7:30 p.m.); B. Annye Rothenberg, "Why Do I Have To?" (Tuesday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.); Cory Doctorow, "For the Win" (Wednesday, May 19, 4 p.m.); Tiphanie Yanique and Maile Chapman, "How to Escape from a Leper Colony: A Novella and Stories" and "Your Presence Is Requested at Suvanto" (Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.); Jennie Shortridge, "When She Flew" (Thursday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.); Christy Raedeke, "Prophecy of Days: The Daykeeper's Grimoire, Book One" (Friday, May 21, 7 p.m.); Sebastian Junger, "War" (Sunday, May 23, 1 p.m.); Jack Rakove, "Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America" (Monday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.); Phyllis Theroux, "The Journal Keeper: A Memoir" (Tuesday, May 25, 7:30 p.m.); Louis Sachar, "The Cardturner: A Novel About Imperfect Partners and Infinite Possibilities" (continued on next page) Title Pages A monthly section on local books and authors, edited by Rebecca Wallace Author Jason Turbow poses with two of his passions: books and a (flying) baseball. Breaking the by Rick Eymer "The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime," by Jason Turbow and Michael Duca; Pantheon; 294 pp.; $29.99. Paly graduate delves into the tales and rules of baseball in his new book codes J ason Turbow developed an interest in baseball the old-fashioned way: His father brought him to his first game at Candlestick Park, with the hometown San Francisco Giants the main event. Baseball became an instant attraction and reading box scores on a daily basis his passion. Turbow's father, retired Palo Alto oncologist Mike, followed baseball but not as intently. He certainly did not immerse himself in the reams of minutia surrounding the game -- the action that separates the true believer from the casual fan. His son did. Jason Turbow, a 1988 graduate of Palo Alto High School, went on to combine his passions for baseball and journalism, writing for SportsIllustrated.com, Giants Magazine and Athletics, as well as for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle. Now he's produced the book "The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and BenchClearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime" with co-author Michael Duca. "It's not often you get to do exactly what you want to do," Turbow said. "I was doing what I wanted to do for three-and-a-half years (creating the book). It couldn't get any better." These days, Turbow lives in Albany, but he'll be back in Palo Alto on May 19, when he's scheduled to give a reading with fellow baseball author Dan Fost ("Giants Past and Present") at Books Inc. in Town & Country Village. Besides crediting his father for his interest in baseball, Turbow attributes his love of journalism to Esther Wojcicki, the Paly instructor who has introduced generations of students to the world of reportage. Wojcicki attended high school with Turbow's mother, retired Palo Alto estate-planning attorney Ellen, in Los Angeles. Wojcicki received an acknowledgment in "The Baseball Codes" as a result of pointing Turbow in the direction of journalism. Turbow was writing and editing articles for the "Giants Today" section in the San Francisco Chronicle when a conversation with Duca in 2006 turned into the idea for the book. "He wanted to do a book with Dusty Baker and he had all these stories," Turbow said. "It dawned on me that there are so many great baseball stories that there was something there. Baseball is made for great stories. I always say that sportswriters are the perfect example of failed novelists. They all tell good stories and the characters are already there." Duca, an official scorer for major league baseball, said the book with Baker would have to wait until the former Giants manager retired Kimihiro Hoshino Page 30 from the game. He didn't have to wait to start working with Turbow. Used to interviewing players and coaches on a regular basis, Turbow and Duca didn't take long to accumulate an extensive database. The book slowly began to take shape out of a mountain of raw materials, interviews and research work. During the process, Turbow and Duca traveled the length of the country, from AT&T Park in San Francisco to Cooperstown, N.Y., home to baseball's Hall of Fame. Duca researched materials at Stanford University's microfilm library, pouring over old newspapers. Turbow spent long hours in the press box transcribing notes and interviews the pair had gathered during pre-game access. "I interviewed people in five states: California, Iowa, Missouri, Arizona and New York," Turbow said. "I talked to (former Oakland A's pitcher) Steve McCatty in the bullpen at Sec Taylor Stadium (Iowa). Jerome Williams was pitching for the Iowa Cubs at the time and he told me a great story." That story, recounted in "The Baseball Codes," illustrates one of the great unwritten rules of baseball: A pitcher has to protect his team, and if a teammate gets hit by a pitch, there must be retaliation. In 2004, when the incident took place, Williams was a young pitcher and Barry Bonds a legendary home-run hitter. The Giants and Dodgers, two teams involved in one of the game's fiercest rivalries, were playing. L.A. pitcher Jeff Weaver put a hard tag on Giants' outfielder Michael Tucker as he ran toward first base. The tag might have been ignored had it not been delivered to Tucker's face. Tucker and Weaver exchanged words. Bonds came up to Williams afterward and told him Dodger players do not get away with disrespecting the Giants. He told Williams to, as Williams recalled it in the book, "take care of business." It was only after Williams allowed a single and saw the reaction -- a Giants pitching coach holding his head -- that he realized Bonds meant for him to throw a pitch at a Dodgers batter. "I was young. It was my second year, and I didn't know these things," Williams said in the book. "Now when that kind of thing happens I know that I have to take care of it right then and there. Then, boom, it'll be done and over with." While working on the book, as with every journey, Turbow found himself avoiding pitfalls, following dead ends and surviving a computer crash that could have been disastrous. "It happened in Des Moines. It was terrible and I lost very important information," Turbow said. "I lost a few key interviews. There were a couple of them so great that I had transcribed them and sent them to Duca, so those were saved." Unfortunately other key interviews were lost. "(Retired pitcher) Mike Butcher was so good, so vibrant and vital," he said. "Duca tracked him down and got him to re-interview but it wasn't the same." These days Turbow is searching for new avenues, while living with his wife, Laura, and their 4-yearold daughter and 2-year-old son. "I am concerned with earning a living," he said. "I have other pitches with agents that (ideally) end up being attractive." Turbow's background also includes visual arts; he attended the University of California at Santa Cruz as a fine arts major. He added journalism on his own. "They didn't offer journalism as a major, but at Santa Cruz you can design your own, so that's what I did," he said. "I discovered I was more comfortable being creative with words than a paintbrush. Before kids I tried to keep up with my art and I'll get back to it. Right now I want to spend time with my family after spending so much time on the book." Info: Jason Turbow and Dan Fost are set to give a free authors' talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Call 650-321-0600 or go to booksinc.net. For more about Turbow's book, go to thebaseballcodes.com. Book Talk (continued from previous page) (Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m.); Juliet B. Schor, "Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth" (Wednesday, May 26, 7:30 p.m.); and Julie Orringer, "The Invisible Bridge: A Novel" (Thursday, May 27, 7:30 p.m.). Information: Go to www.keplers.com. MORE TALKS ... Upcoming authors at Books Inc. at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto include Ruthann Richter and photographer Karen Ande, "Face to Face: Children of the AIDS Crisis in Africa" (Saturday, May 22, 3 p.m.); and Kate Moses, "Cakewalk" (Wednesday, May 26, 7 p.m.). Information: Go to www. booksinc.net. Items for Book Talk may be sent to Associate Editor Carol Blitzer, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 93202 or e-mailed to firstname.lastname@example.com by the last Friday of the month. Open Mother`s Day 10am - 9pm MING'S SPECIALLY PRICED MOTHER'S DAY BANQUETS Cannot be combine with any other special offers. Answers to this week's puzzles, which can be found on page 64 $258.00 for 10-12 2 8 1 7 3 5 9 6 4 6 3 4 8 2 9 7 5 1 7 9 5 1 4 6 3 8 2 5 6 9 2 7 1 8 4 3 4 2 3 6 5 8 1 7 9 8 1 7 4 9 3 5 2 6 1 7 6 9 8 4 2 3 5 9 5 8 3 6 2 4 1 7 3 4 2 5 1 7 6 9 8 Joy of Four Seasons Cold Cut Platter or Ming's Famous Chicken Salad Honey Walnut Prawns Pumpkin Soup with Assorted Shell Fish or Wor Wonton Soup Ming's Beef on Crispy Rice Vermicelli Twin Curry Dungenese Crab Singaporean Style or Peking Duck Sauteed Pea Shoots with Abalone Mushrooms Steamed Tilapia in Spicy Black Bean Sauce or Salt and Pepper Fillet of Sole Yang Chow Fried Rice Sweet Red Bean Soup or Sesame Ball not including tax and tips $139.00 for 5-6 Fresh news delivered daily Sign up today www.PaloAltoOnline.com Dim Sum Carts 10am-3pm 1700 EMBARCADERO ROAD. PALO ALTO (at East Bayshore Rd. off Hwy. 101) 650-856-7700 www.mings.com GRAND OPENING Page 31 Palo Alto Weekly 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 Voted Best Thai Restaurant 2009 -- Palo Alto Weekly 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 Lunch Dinner Cocktails Take Out Outdoor Seating Available Dinner 7 days a week Lunch Mon-Sat 11-3 pm 543 Emerson Ave, Palo Alto 650-323-770 ThaiphoonRestaurant.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 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 32 Eating Out RESTAURANT REVIEW Kimihiro Hoshino 2010 Photo Contest Congratulations! Winners and Selected for Exhibition have been notified Presents The 41st Annual Stanford Tennis School on the Stanford Campus Directed by Dick & Anne Gould ADULT DAY CAMP JUNIOR DAY CAMP Watch for the June 4th Edition of the Weekly announcing all the winners! All those that entered but weren't notified, please pick up your photos at 450 Cambridge Ave, M-F 8:30am - 5:30pm For more information call 650.223.6508 or e-mail email@example.com Overnight & Day Camps for juniors offered all summer at Stanford. Directors are Stanford coaches, John Whitlinger & Lele Forood. All Ability Levels Welcome USSportsCamps.com 1-800-NIKE CAMP The rich salmon risotto at University Cafe. Presented by the Central Business Association am to 6 pm 14th Annual Good fare, fair prices Despite service lapses, University Cafe keeps clientele coming back after more than 15 years by Dale F. Bentson here is variety and there are fee roaster. The glass-and-wood variables at University Cafe storefront has articulated doors in downtown Palo Alto. The that are almost always open, makmenu is lengthy, focusing on ing front-of-the-house dining a brunch, espresso-bar fare, sand- near-al fresco experience. wiches and salads by day, then The food is pretty good overall, sandwiches and entr�es later on. simple and straightforward, and Service and quality can be as it's easy to find something appeshifting as the spring breezes. tizing. The prices are sub-market My first visit did not start off and portions more than generous. well. I was told by a waiter to "sit No wonder University Cafe is alanywhere," so I chose a small ta- ways busy. ble near the front. After I seated With tables inches apart, bits myself, hung my jacket, unfurled and fragments of conversation the napkin and sipped the water, from adjoining tables float freely another waiter came by and told by. Several times I heard rave reme I "had to move." views for the cafe, such as "This Later, I realized he wanted is my favorite place," "Huge porthat table to slide into another to tion," "Can't beat these prices," make a table for four. Explaining and "Wow, the food looks great." his request would have been OK, My menu choices at recent visbut just telling me I "had to move" its included the chicken pot pie clearly was not. Bad start. ($10). It was a tad on the salty, On subsequent visits, service by soupy side but came with generthe waitstaff was generally punc- ous chunks of chicken, carrots, tual but the kitchen was often too mushrooms, peas and asparagus slow or fast in producing orders. under a thin elastic pastry crust. When the cafe was busy, I got the The accompanying dull salad impression that the kitchen was greens were limp as a washcloth: overwhelmed backing orders up. fresh, perhaps, but not perky and Early one evening, however, the crisp. entr�es appeared when we were The frittata rustica ($12) took not halfway through our appe- more than a half-hour to appear. It tizers. The server was intent on was tasty once I lit into the fluffy plunking the plates atop our first eggs, roasted red peppers, onions, course but was shooed off by a spinach, tomato and bits of bacon waiter from across the room who with cheese melted over. A couple ran to the rescue. of thick home fries and toast acThe cafe has been open since companied. A personal happy 1994, and not much has physically meal available until 4 p.m. daily. changed over the years. The large We were caught off guard by coffee roaster sits mid-space, fired the presentation of the beet salad up as needed. The high ceiling is ($9). Usually, the beets in a beet dotted with skylights and gently salad are diced or thin-sliced, but whirling ceiling fans, and the these were thick and about the walls are painted an earthy beige. size of a small Frisbee. The whole Even the receipts still stamp the beets these slices were taken from long-changed 415 area code on must have been the size of volthem. It could still be 1994, 2004 leyballs. They came with a minior 2014; the ambient space is rath- mountain of salad greens. It could er timeless. easily have been a meal in itself, The area is subdivided with an had that been our intent. espresso bar to the rear of the cof(continued on next page) INFO-LINE: 650-964-3395 T Enroll for Y Camp. Engage with others. Enrich your life. For a Summer Camp Guide, call (408) 351-6400 or visit ymcasv.org/summercamp Sign up for summer fun today! Enrich. Page 33 (continued from previous page) Trinity School Encouraging preschool to Grade 5 children from all backgrounds to love learning. We foster rigorous academics grounded in child-centered content. Trinity upholds the values and traditions of the Episcopal Church and honors the role of family in educating children. Accepting applications in select grades for Fall 2010 The legacy of a Trinity education is a curious mind and a discerning heart. The crab cake ($10) was golden and crispy outside and filled with loads of creamy Dungeness crab. The sauce, which was listed as curry, wasn't -- or at least I couldn't detect any curry. Instead, the velvety red sauce was tomatoey and complemented the crab cake. Crispy leeks added a nice finishing touch. Salmon risotto ($15) was a buttery, rich, well-conceived dish. The "risotto" was made from roasted butternut squash, allowing a texture that was slightly coarser and sweeter than risotto made from silkier and nuttier arborio rice. The dish was also made with wine, asparagus and parmesan cheese. Very tasty. The steak stir fry ($12) of onions, peppers, large button mushrooms, julienne carrots, green beans and brown rice was an odd combination of ingredients that delightfully harmonized. The chunks of steak were teriyaki-tossed and fork-tender. It wasn't an identifiable ethnic Asian dish. Perhaps "pan-Asian" is a better description. From the other side of the world, the spaghetti carbonara ($12) was especially good -- a generous portion, with well-integrated ingredients. Despite the high marks, though, the pancetta wasn't crisped and contributed little to the flavors of an otherwise fine dish. Crisped pancetta, added to eggs and parmesan cheese, is what makes carbonara carbonara. Dessert-wise, the chocolate cake ($5.50) was massive and gooey and more than satisfied my partner's craving for chocolate. The icing had been troweled on thick and was layered throughout the cake. The cake was served too cold, though, and was a tad on the dry side. The apple tartlet ($5.50) was too chilled and dried out. It seemed to have been artfully conceived and executed, but left in the refrigerator about a day too long. Two bites were all I cared for. The carrot cake ($4.95) was a prodigious multilayered affair. The cake had delectable flavors that were sweetish and nutty, but the thick smear of layers of icing swamped the effort. It was a challenge to fork some cake and get just a little dollop of frosting. When I finished eating, the remaining icing could have frosted another whole cake or two. Alas, all the desserts were too cold, drying them out and robbing them of flavor. Overall, though, it's clear why University Cafe has been a popular spot for more than 15 years. It rates a wow on portion size with recessionpleasing prices. As for the service issues, no one seems to mind too much. University Cafe 271 University Ave., Palo Alto 650-322-5301 Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Reservations Credit cards Lot Parking Beer & Wine Takeout Highchairs Wheelchair access Banquet Catering Outdoor seating Noise level: Noisy Bathroom Cleanliness: Fair You're invited! Sunday, May 16, 2010 3:00 - 5:00 pm Join us for a garden reception in honor of six distinguished seniors who have made significant professional and community contributions. Marge Bruno Fred & Marcia Rehmus Emery Rogers Gordon Russell Elizabeth Wolf Call (650) 289-5445 or visit www.avenidas.org for tickets. Where age is just a number Sign up today www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 34 Sports Shorts STANFORD ALUMNI . . . Former Stanford women's basketball standout Katy Steding joined former teammate Jennifer Azzi as an assistant coach at USF it was announced Wednesday. Azzi also hired Missouri grad --Blair Hardiek, who served as a coaching intern at Stanford in 2008, as an assistant. Azzi and Steding were teammates on Stanford's first NCAA championship team and later on the Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games under Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer . . . Stanford grad Ryan Garko, currently playing with the Texas Rangers, was voted onto the 28-member College World Series Legends Team as announced Thursday. The team was named as part of the commemoration of the final Series in Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium this year. Garko, a catcher in his college days, played in the CWS in 2001-03. He was the Johnny Bench Award winner in 2003. OF LOCAL NOTE . . . Two area CYSA teams came away with championships in their respective State Cup competitions last weekend in Morgan Hill. The De Anza Force 91 U-18 girls' team won its third straight State Cup by defeating the San Ramon Shock, 2-1. Current Palo Alto High senior Erika Hoglund scored the winning goal in the second half while Paly teammate (and junior) Alex Kershner preserved the victory with her goalie work. Also playing for the Force was Sacred Heart Prep senior Lizzie Weisman. Hoglund will continue playing soccer at Princeton while Weisman will do the same at Harvard. Kershner has a verbal commitment to play at Duke in 2011. The De Anza Force will compete against 14 other State Cup winners at the Far West Regional at the end of June in Albuquerque, N.M. In the boys' State Cup, Santa Clara Sporting 91, a U-18 squad, won its third title in four years with a 3-0 victory over Santa Rosa Soccer Club. The final goal of the championship match came off a corner kick by Paly senior Jenner Fox. Also playing for Santa Clara Sporting 91 was Chris Fisher of Menlo Park. NCAA VOLLEYBALL Special year for Stanford Kawika Shoji's national honor just the latest for Cardinal men by Rick Eymer S Menlo's (L-R) Jackson Badger, Matt Crowder, Jack Suiter, Robert Wickers and Dustin Williams had plenty to cheer about Wednesday, especially during a nine-run fifth inning in a 12-6 victory over Sacred Heart Prep. PREP BASEBALL Menlo has a blast by tying for first Knights slam two homers in fifth while scoring nine runs in 12-6 win over SHP W ON THE AIR Friday College baseball: Stanford at Long Beach St., 6:30 p.m., KZSU (90.1 FM) Saturday College baseball: Stanford at Long Beach St., 2 p.m., KZSU (90.1 FM) Men's volleyball: NCAA Championships, 4 p.m., ESPN2 Sunday College baseball: Stanford at Long Beach St., 1 p.m., KZSU (90.1 FM) Monday College baseball: Santa Clara at Stanford, 5:30 p.m., KZSU (90.1 FM) SPORTS ONLINE For expanded daily coverage of college and prep sports, please see our new site at www.PASportsOnline.com by Keith Peters hen it comes to West Bay Athletic League baseball, it has been a two-team race all along. Not including games against themselves, Menlo and Sacred Heart Prep have combined to outscore their league opponents 107-15. The Knights have beaten five WBAL teams (not including SHP) by 69-9 while the Gators have produced a margin of 48-6. Thus, the two times that Menlo and Sacred Heart Prep have met have been very important. "I don't think there are two more pressure-packed games than these two," said Menlo coach Craig Schoof, who was talking about all the rivalries in all the local leagues. It is perhaps appropriate, then, that Menlo (6-1, 17-6) and Sacred Heart Prep (6-1, 12-11-1) are destined to share the WBAL title this season. Menlo has three league games remaining against teams it already has beaten by a combined score of 45-7. Sacred Heart Prep has three left against squads it has drubbed by a combined 31-5. So, barring a major upset to either team, the Knights and Gators are co-champs and headed for the Central Coast Section playoffs. Both were ticketed for the postseason from Day 1, of course. The only real drama in the WBAL this season was which team would win the title. After losing the first meeting to SHP on a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh, Menlo absolutely needed to win Wednesday's rematch. The Knights did just that, even though the outcome was (continued on page 37) Menlo sophomore Jake Batchelder improved to 7-0, but saw his streak of scoreless innings ended at 26 1/3. tanford senior setter Kawika Shoji, who was named National Player of the Year Wednesday, was a little more than one month old when his father won an NCAA title as coach of the Hawaii women's volleyball program. He'd like nothing more than to honor his dad's legacy than to win an NCAA men's volleyball national title. Dave Shoji, who led the Hawaii women to the Final Four Kawika Shoji last fall, will be on hand to cheer Kawika and younger son Erik Shoji. Cobey Shoji, the eldest daughter of the family, is Director of Volleyball Operations at Stanford. The last time Dave Shoji was involved with a volleyball match at Stanford; it was with his Rainbow Wahine team that beat Illinois and Michigan to advance to the Final Four last fall. "I think it would be very meaningful and special for him," Kawika Shoji said. "He's passed the torch to us in a certain way." Winning the national award also meant a great deal to Kawika Shoji, who became the second Stanford player so honored, following Canyon Ceman in 1993. "It's a great, great honor," he said. "I am very proud. I have to thank my coaches and especially my teammates. It's a team game, and individual awards come with team accolades. I�m just excited they pass me the ball, and I deliver the ball to other players. They make plays too. Without our team, this award would not have happened." The Stanford men's volleyball team features seven Hawaiians on its roster, and three of them -- senior setter Kawika Shoji, sophomore libero Erik Shoji and sophomore middle blocker Brad Lawson -- were named AVCA's first team All-Americans. They've brought their passion for the game to Stanford, and coach John Kosty hopes it will payoff Saturday as the top-ranked Cardinal (22-6) convened with three other colleges for the NCAA National Championship at Maples Pavilion. "It's an honor for the program," Kosty said of the Player of the Year award. "I look at Kawika winning as he's the setter and our team captain and leader, but he also represents our team. It is a team award. There (continued on page 38) Keith Peters Keith Peters Page 35 Sports Sign up today www.PaloAltoOnline.com ATHLETES OF THE WEEK How To Clinics May 15 Learn how easy it is to add a water feature to your yard, house, or deck with Lisa Sweet of Aquascapes, Inc. May 22 Using Bluestone in your outdoor living spaces. Learn the various uses of one of the most popular stones used in designing outdoor living spaces in this area with Earl Boyd of Lyngso Garden Materials, Inc. May 29 Come by as McNear Brick & Block walk you through their paver products and the best way to install them. June 5 Doug Mutoza from Belgard Pavers will be here to walk you through how to design your outdoor living spaces in areas ranging from pavers to outdoor kitchens. Maggie Brown Menlo School The senior middie scored five goals and added two assists in a lacrosse victory over M-A before scoring five goals with three assists in a win over Castilleja to clinch no worse than a tie for the WBAL championship. Teva Levens Gunn swimming Alec Haley Menlo-Atherton High The senior won at No. 1 singles in straight sets to help the Bears beat St. Francis to finish 18-0 in the regular season, then won four matches in straight sets to claim the singles crown at the PAL Individual Tournament. Travis Bowers Gunn baseball Sign up on our website to reserve your seat 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. each Saturday Honorable mention Michaela Michael* Menlo lacrosse Andrew Carlisle-Justin Chan Menlo tennis Mila Sheeline Menlo lacrosse Patrick Chase Menlo tennis Erin Sheridan Sacred Heart Prep swimming Dylan Mayer Menlo baseball Jasmine Tosky Palo Alto swimming Joc Pederson* Palo Alto baseball Sarah Winters Menlo-Atherton swimming Max Wilder Menlo-Atherton swimming * previous winner To see video interviews of the Athletes of the Week, go to www.PASportsOnline.com "Sequoia Center saved my life" T HE SEQUOIA CENTER helps families recover the balance in their lives from the effects of abusing alcohol and other drugs. Our services are offered in a warm and caring environment by trained staff dedicated to helping individuals gain control over their lives. �Call today 650-364-5504 to schedule a FREE, confidential assessment with one of our Specialists. The Sequoia Center is licensed through the State of California to deliver: Medical Detoxification Outpatient Treatment (Day & Evening) Residential Treatment Partial Hospitalization/Day Treatment Page 36 Sports Prep baseball (continued from page 35) in doubt for a while. Through four innings, host Menlo had two hits and three runs. Schoof knew that probably wasn't going to be enough if his team was going to earn a share of the top spot. "All year you watch them and they (the Gators) never give up," Schoof said. "They're a tough team, a good team. I've been telling my players that." When Sacred Heart Prep's Cal Baloff blasted a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning for his first career homer at any level, Schoof's fears were realized. While the blast gave Sacred Heart Prep the lead at 4-3, it also provided something for Menlo. "When we fell behind," Schoof said, "that kind of woke us up." The Knights awoke with a vengeance. In the bottom of the fifth, Menlo sent 13 batters to the plate. The Knights rapped out eight hits and produced nine runs. After Phil Anderson led off with a walk and Danny Diekroeger singled, Jake Bruml lined a three-run homer over the left field fence and Menlo had the lead back at 6-4. Back-to-back hits by Dylan Mayer (he's 16 for 25 and hitting .640 in league) and Clay Robbins (a triple) produced the eventual winning run at 7-4. Robert Wickers and Jackson Badger both singled and Anderson came up for the second time in the inning and walked again. That set the stage for Diekroeger, a senior who is headed for Stanford next season to join his brother, Kenny, in the Cardinal infield. Danny stepped into a high fastball and deposited it over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 12-4 lead. The Gators scored two more runs in the top of the seventh, thanks to a throwing error and an RBI single by Spencer Myers. There would be no winning homer this time for SHP, not like in the team's previous meeting when Bryan Kohrs slammed a two-run, walk-off homer to beat the Knights. "The one thing we didn't do the last time we played them was finish it off," said Diekroeger, who made sure the Gators wouldn't battle back this time. "Finding a way to win and close out games has been a battle," said Schoof. Jake Batchelder, just a sophomore, picked up his seventh win of the season with no losses with five innings of work. He did, however, have his string of 26 1/3 innings of shutout baseball ended. Bruml came on in relief for the final two innings and allowed both seventh-inning unearned runs. Sacred Heart Prep had enough scoring chances, but just couldn't produce. The Gators got the leadoff hitter on in the second, but Diekroeger started a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. In the third, the Gators got a leadoff double from Tomas O'Donnell and an infield single by Ian Lynch, but Diekroeger again started another 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. SHP loaded the bases in the fourth with two out, but failed to score. In another game with first-place hanging in the balance, Carlmont junior lefthander Daniel Madigan threw a complete-game shutout as the visiting Scots defeated MenloAtherton, 7-0, on Wednesday afternoon in a PAL Bay Division showdown. Madigan scattered seven hits, struck out seven, and walked just one in helping Carlmont (7-4, 12-10) to reduce M-A's lead to one game with three league games remaining. Keith Peters Sacred Heart Prep got into trouble early when Kevin Wilkins (right) tried to flip a double-play grounder to shortstop Zack Buono in attempt to get a sliding Phil Anderson, who was safe. Menlo scored twice in the inning. The Bears are now 8-3 in league play and 14-9 overall. In the SCVAL De Anza Division Tournament, Palo Alto kept its winning streak alive and one of the best seasons in school history ongoing with a 3-0 victory over visiting Homestead in the opening round on Tuesday. The Vikings improved to 23-3 and stretched their winning streak to 18 games with the triumph while the Mustangs fell to 13-11. The teams met again Thursday at Homestead, with a Paly triumph putting the team into the tourney finals next week against the Los Gatos-Wilcox winner. The Chargers won their opener over the Wildcats on Tuesday, 10-3. Palo Alto swept both Wilcox and Los Gatos during the regular season while compiling a 14-0 record and winning its first De Anza Division title since 1994. Homestead also was swept as the Vikings outscored the Mustangs, 27-10, in the two games. Tuesday's game was the closest of the three with Homestead, but Paly was in control from the outset after grabbing a 2-0 lead in the first. That was enough for junior starter Drake Swezey, who tossed a completegame four-hitter while striking out eight. He walked only one. Swezey received offensive support from senior Joc Pederson, who slammed a solo homer and added a double. While Palo Alto's postseason is assured, Gunn is taking steps to continue its season into the playoffs after holding off host Mountain View on Tuesday, 4-2, in an SCVAL El Camino Division game. The victory moved the Titans (8-4, 11-11-2) into a three-way tie for first place with Mountain View and Milpitas. Gunn had a chance to make that a two-way tie by beating the Spartans on Thursday (3:30 p.m.). The Titans can control their destiny by beating Milpitas next week to close the regular season. Keith Peters Danny Diekroeger (9) is greeted by his happy teammates following his grand slam in the fifth that gave Menlo a 12-4 lead. In a game where both teams left a lot of runners (22 combined) on base and had trouble coming up with the big hit, a couple of key defensive plays made the difference Tuesday. In the first inning, Gunn kept the damage to a minimum allowing only one run after giving up two walks, a hit batter and two errors. Mountain View scored again in the second inning when Taylor Moran singled, stole second and scored on a single by Chuck Evans, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Gunn got on the board in the third when Jon Rea doubled and later scored on a single by Jake Verhulp. In the bottom of the third, right fielder Matt Mertz made a diving catch to get the Titans out of a jam. Gunn used that momentum to score twice in the fourth. Tyler Harney singled and both he and Jon Zeglin were safe on Zeglin's bunt. Jack Hannan laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Harney. Zeglin later scored on a passed ball for a 3-2 lead. Mountain View got runners on base in the bottom of the fourth, but Gunn catcher Travis Bowers threw out a runner attempting to steal to help end the threat. Gunn added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Connor Radlo did some heads-up base running and was able to score on a sacrifice fly by Mertz. Page 37 Keith Peters SHP's Cal Baloff (second from right) is greeted by (L-R) Kevin Wilkins, Zack Buono and Ian Lynch after his grand slam homer. Sports Volleyball (continued from page 35) are a lot of people who have helped him achieve what he's achieved." Stanford was favored to beat fourth-seed Ohio State (22-7) in Thursday night's national semifinal match. Cal State Northridge (23-9) opened against No. 3 Penn State (23-7). Saturday's championship match is slated for first serve at 4 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2. Stanford, of course, hopes its special year will have a fitting climax for all the players who have been invested for so long. "Everybody starts off on a small court and fools around," said Lawson, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation John Kosty Player of the Year. "We all play on the beach, so everybody learns to be an outside hitter and a setter. It leads to a more complete game." Kosty, who has been part of the Cardinal program for 20 years, said recruiting out of Hawaii is important but may not be a priority. "We want the best student-athlete," Kosty said. "It just so happens Hawaii has been a hotbed for that the past several years." Kosty said there has been at least one Hawaiian on the team every year of the program's existence. "There's always been a piece of Hawaii in the program," he said. "We understand that�s their sport. Throughout their high school career, they have the spotlight on them all the time. "In Hawaii, high school sports are treated like college sports and college sports are treated like professional sports, so there's a lot of focus on them," Kosty continued. "They�re interviewed all the time and they�re on TV all the time. I think all this prepares them for the college game. With Erik and Kawika, their father was the coach so they spent all their lives breaking down plays, watching matches, and being at matches, so they have a great understanding of the game." Hawaii native Clay Stanley, who played for the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games, is highly recognizable in Hawaii. "It's part of the culture in Hawaii not only to play in general but to develop defensive skills and ball control," said Kawika Shoji. "We take pride in those things." The Shoji brothers, along with Lawson and fellow Hawaiians JorKyle Terada/Stanford Photo David Gonzales/Stanford Photo Stanford senior Kawika Shoji, an obvious volleyball fan favorite, was named National Player of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Wednesday. He's the second Stanford player to be so honored. dan Inafuku, Spencer McLachlin, Max Halvorson and Chandler Kaaa, have helped create a winning atmosphere at Stanford. "It�s a great opportunity for us at Stanford to be hosting and participating in the national championships," Kosty said. "We're excited to be here. It�s been a long season for us. It started way back in late September when we arrived on campus and it�s proved to be a very great season for us." As freshmen, current seniors Kawika and Evan Romero, a second team All-American, suffered through a 3-25 season that created a sort of drawing-a-line-in-the-sand mentality that cold reach its zenith on Saturday. "At the end of that year I would have chosen not to remember it," Shoji said. "But it adds to story and helped the team come so far. We know how to handle any situation." Stanford is looking for its first NCAA title since 1997, which was the last year any Cardinal team won a game in the postseason, including the MPSF tournament. For results and photos of Thursday night's semifinals, go to www. pasportsonline.com Page 38 Sports PREP ROUNDUP STANFORD ROUNDUP Swimming showdown is all set Gunn and Paly girls look to battle for the title in De Anza Division finals by Keith Peters Stanford women take shot at NCAA water polo title Top-ranked squad earns No. 1 seed despite MPSF loss; Cardinal women's lacrosse team in NCAA play-in game by Rick Eymer he top-ranked Stanford women's water polo team will be in a good position to seek its first national title since 2006 after receiving the overall No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, which gets underway Friday at San Diego State's Aztec Aquaplex. UCLA (20-7), which beat USC in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament championship, 8-7, on Sunday, was awarded the third seed and will meet sixth-seeded Loyola Marymount (27-5) in the first round. The Cardinal (24-2) plays eighthseeded Pomona-Pitzer (18-14), the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II. "I think I can speak for the seniors, the whole team, in expressing how excited we are for this opportunity," Stanford senior Kelly Holshouser said Monday. "It means a lot any time you can win a championship but fr the seniors it's our last chance and would mean a lot." Second-seeded USC (22-3) plays seventh-seeded Marist (18-15) and No. 4 California (24-8) squares off with Michigan (32-6). The Bruins, who hosted the conference tournament, knocked off Stanford in the semifinals before beating the Women of Troy. Sacred Heart Prep grad KK Clark scored twice for UCLA, the defending national champion. Menlo School grads Camy Sullivan and Megan Burmeister and Sacred Heart Prep grad MJ Mordell are also on the Bruins' roster. Menlo School grad Elise Ponce is a sophomore goalkeeper for the Lions. Palo Alto grad Remy Champion and Sacred Heart Prep grad Lindsay Dorst are members of the California roster, while Priory grad Constance Hiller is a freshman on the USC squad. Michigan advanced with a 7-5 victory over Indiana in the Eastern Championships on Sunday. Princeton finished third with an 11-7 win over Hartwick as Paly grads Phoebe Champion (two) and Tanya Wilcox (one) scored goals. Bucknell finished fifth with an 8-7 overtime win over Brown. Paly grad Hallie Kennan scored once for Bucknell while Castilleja grad Kat Booher scored for Brown. Women's lacrosse The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation became a stronger conference last year, and the Stanford women's lacrosse team would like to thank its fellow members for that. The No. 15 Cardinal knew all along it would have its NCAA tournament destiny resting firmly in its grasp. All Stanford (14-5) had to do was win the MPSF tournament title match against top-seeded Denver on its home field. The Pioneers handed Stanford one of its losses this year. T T he Palo Alto boys' and girls' swimming and diving teams have grabbed the early lead in the SCVAL De Anza Division championships and the swimming portion of the meet hasn't even been held yet. The Vikings are in the lead, however, following the diving competition that was held Tuesday at Gunn, site of Friday's swim finals at 2 p.m. Palo Alto's Cole Plambeck and Grace Greenwood won their respective titles as the Viking boys scored 41 points and the Paly girls totaled 47 to move their respective squads into first place. Plambeck scored 415.50 points for his 11-dive program to earn 20 points. Teammate Jordan Zanger was third with 316.00, Alex Francis was fifth with 283.90 and Justin Choi finished 10th with 230.58. The Gunn boys scored 24 points with Miko Mallari leading the way in fourth with 295.70 points. Teammate Josh Kern added nine points with a ninth-place finish of 243.35 points. Greenwood won a close 11-dive competition over Lauren Gardanier of Saratoga, with Greenwood scoring 397.90 points and Gardanier 396.55. Emma Miller of Paly was fourth with 335.05 and Serena Yee was seventh at 291.50. The Gunn girls, who won the regular-season title in swimming, kept their championship hopes alive by scoring 33 points in diving as Jenny Anderson was eighth (246.85), Louise McGregor ninth (240.70), Jessica Sun 10th (222.25) and Zoe Aspitz 11th (184.35). The Titans, however, were missing their top diver, Talia Mahoney, who is sidelined by an injury. The diving will be added to the swimming on Friday, which should provide some great competition. The Palo Alto girls are the defending champs, but will be challenged by Gunn. "The girls' meet should be close," said Gun co-coach Mark Hernandez. "I think the teams from both Gunn and Palo Alto will go down as among the top five teams the league has ever seen. "We have more girls who are more athletic and competitive than they've ever been. We're very deep, very talented and very versatile. We will have around twice the finalist as we had last year. Our girls are excited and ready to go." Hernandez said his team will have to overcome the points lost in diving to Mahoney's injury. "Second, Palo Alto is a proud, aggressive, talented team," Hernandez Palo Alto's Grace Greenwood won the girls' 1-meter diving competition at the SCVAL De Anza Division Championships. said. Bottom line, Henandez said, is that the Gunn girls have a very good chance at winning. As does Palo Alto. The Vikings have a total of 20 finalists returning while Gunn has eight. Paly also returns defending champs Jasmine Tosky (200 IM and 100 fly) and Sarah Liang (100 breast). Gunn's returning league champ is Julia Ama (50 free). Said Paly coach Danny Dye: "It will be close with Gunn. I think we can take them with our numbers, plus the big guns (Tosky, Liang and Margaret Wenzlau)." The relays will be crucial to the hopes of both Gunn and Paly. On paper, the Vikings are faster in the 200 free and 400 free relays. It all depends on where the coaches place their swimmers. The boys' meet also will be close, but more wide open than the girls. "Our boys did well (in Wednesday's trials)," said Dye, "and actually have given themselves a chance at being able to win it. Although it would have to be a perfect storm! But at least they have a chance, I was very happy with the swims." Girls' Softball Castilleja kept its West Bay Athletic League title hopes alive with a 16-1 rout of host Pinewood in a game halted after four innings by the 10-run mercy rule on Tuesday. The Gators (9-1, 14-7-2) banged out 11 hits and got a 10-strikeout, onehit performance from senior Sammy Albanese, who now has 275 strikeouts this season. She improved to 14-2-1 while allowing no earned runs. In the SCVAL El Camino Division, Gunn blanked Los Altos, 3-0. After four scoreless innings, Gunn�s Taylor Aguon got on base in the top of the fifth with a single, stole second and third, and came home on a hit by Claire Collins. The Titans (7-2, 15-9) sealed the win in the top of the seventh when Nicole Grimwood and Laura Tao both scored. Gunn freshman pitcher Claire Klausner contributed another outstanding performance, allowing only two hits while striking out 16. Gunn essentially moved into a tie for first place with Santa Clara (8-2) and Monta Vista (6-2) after the Matadors handed the Bruins a 4-3 loss on Tuesday. If Gunn wins its final three games, it will finish with no worse than a tie for the division title. Girls' lacrosse Menlo wrapped up the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) regular-season title with a 14-9 victory over visiting Burlingame on Tuesday in the final home game for Menlo seniors Deborah Wohl, Katie Hopkins, Aly Pavela, Emma Southgate, Annie Madding, Maggie Brown, Natalie Williford and Mila Sheeline. Brown led the way with five goals while Sheeline contributed four goals. Freshman Michaela Michael scored three times while Williford and Sophie Sheeline added single tallies. On top of that, Stanford was playing with nine field players (instead of the regulation 11) in the sudden death overtime period due to a pair of yellow cards. That's when destiny rose up from the mile high purgatory and gave the Cardinal one last opportunity. Stanford forced a Pioneers' turnover in the final 10 seconds of the second overtime and Karen Schmidt found herself with the ball and time running out. She scored with five seconds remaining, giving Stanford an 11-10 victory over Denver, and earning the Cardinal a trip into NCAA competition for the first time in four years. It was the moment second-year Stanford coach Amy Bokker and the senior class had been building toward since she stepped on campus. "I knew they had the potential to be successful," Bokker said. "And I could not pass up the opportunity to join the best athletic department in the country." Last year's team had no such guarantee concerning the NCAAs, and despite a late-season victory over No. 2 Penn and a 14-4 overall record, Stanford was not asked to join the party. "That definitely lit a fire, especially in the current senior class, Bokker said."It was disappointing but it became a driving force." Two conferences, outside the field of 15, are awarded berths in the play-in game based on the previous year's RPI rating. For the first time, the MPSF was awarded such a berth and Stanford knew it from day one of practice. The conference improved its rating in large part due to the development of teams like California, Denver, Stanford and UC Davis. Adding Oregon and Fresno State into the mix was also beneficial. Stanford hosts the NCAA playin game Saturday at 1 p.m. against Massachusetts, which won the Atlantic-10 title and is a traditional powerhouse. The Minutewomen (10-9) qualified for their fifth NCAA tournament and own the 1982 national championship trophy. "They're a physical team and we expect that going in," Bokker said. "Their strength is their offense, so our focus has to be on defense." Stanford has some offense as well with senior Claire Hubbard running the show. Hubbard set a school mark with 39 assists this season and is the career leader with 86. She's one of five players with at least 40 points entering Saturday's contest. "She's the point guard of our offense," Bokker said. "She's always heavily defended and face-guarded, which makes her performance even more impressive." Senior Dana Lindsay, one of five co-captains that include Hubbard, leads the team with 39 goals, one ahead of junior Sarah Flynn. Page 39 Allie Shorin Make the most of summer by taking a class in something you've always wanted to learn. It's never too late to pick up a paintbrush or learn to say "hello" in a foreign language. Try yoga or put on some tap shoes. All the classes listed below are local, so go for it! email@example.com Academic tutoring and diagnostic educational evaluation for K-12 and college. Our professional educators and diagnosticians work with students to build understanding of their learning, resulting in improved confidence and academic progress. Professional education services since 1976. Contact Michael Perez, director, for a no-cost phone consultation. Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View 940-1333 www.mvlaae.net The MV-LA Adult School has a long history and commitment to adult education. Be fit. Offering: Ballet, belly dance, ballroom, Hula and salsa dance. HEALTH & FITNESS AlaVie Fitness 777 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto 415-567-7411 www.alaviefitness.com firstname.lastname@example.com Join PowerVie Boot Camp and give your body a fabulous spring cleaning. As AlaVie Fitness's signature program, PowerVie is different from other military-style boot camps. Visit www.alaviefitness.com or call for more information and to register. Great teachers, beautiful studio. Director Catherine De Los Santos has taught yoga in Palo Alto more than 25 years. Elite Musketeer Fencer's Club 160B Constitution Drive Menlo Park 353-0717 408 317 0480 www.emfc.net firstname.lastname@example.com Fencing programs for kids and adults, recreational and competitive. Summer camps, birthday parties, private lessons and group classes. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Challenger School 3880 Middlefield Road Palo Alto 650-213-8245 ChallengerSchool.com Celebrating 45 years of learning and fun, we are an independent private school that focuses on academic excellence, individual achievement, critical thinking skills, and self-reliance. Our uniquely structured classes yield astonishing results. Challenger students achieve scores on average in the 90th percentile on the national Stanford Achievement Test (SAT). Come tour our campus to learn about our preschool through eighth-grade programs. BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View 940-1333 www.mvlaae.net The MV-LA Adult School has a long history and commitment to adult education. Offering: Meet the PC, intro to Windows XP, sending-receiving e-mail, slide-show photo organizer, MS Excel, eBay sales and surfing, resume writing, grant writing and master the interview. Sequoia Adult School Little House Community Center Menlo Park 306-8866 www.adultschool.seq.org firstname.lastname@example.com Belly dance classes in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Community sponsored means only approx. $8 per class. Palo Alto Adult School/Sequoia Adult School. Mondays in Menlo Park in studio at Little House Community Center. Tuesdays in mirrored, well-floored Palo Alto High School dance studio. All welcome. Have fun at any weight or age learning the art of Middle-Eastern belly dance. Develop grace, gain strength, burn calories and laugh. Andre's Boot Camp (ABC) Stanford 724-9872 www.andrestraining.com email@example.com No two sessions are the same but every session will offer either circuit training or interval training. ABC is designed for those who enjoy multi-sport activities. A variety of athletic "toys" are used to make the classes both fun and challenging. Call, e-mail or visit the Web site for more information. Jazzercise at Little House Activity Center 800 Middle Ave Menlo Park 650-703-1263 www.jazzercise.com email@example.com Cost: $47 a month. $14 Drop-in. Jazzercise blends aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and kickboxing movements into fun dance routines set to fresh new music.All fitness levels welcome! Classes are on-going, go directly to class to register! Mon., Tue. 6 p.m., Thu. at 5:40 p.m. and Sat. mornings are at Burgess Rec, 8:30 a.m. Web Site Designs 408-243-6473 www.richardhellyer.com firstname.lastname@example.com Richard Hellyer is an experienced professional marketing consultant who tutors individuals in graphic design and Web site implementation. Emerson School 2800 W. Bayshore Road Palo Alto 650-424-1267 650-856-2778 www.headsup.org firstname.lastname@example.com Emerson School, a private, non-sectarian program for grades 1-8, operates on a year-round full-day schedule providing superior academic preparation, international courses (Chinese, Spanish) and individualized Montessori curriculum. Visit Web site for details. Western Ballet 914 N. Rengstorff Ave., Unit A Mountain View 650-968-4455 www.westernballet.org/ email@example.com Western Ballet has a welcoming, caring place to study ballet. We offer adult classes for absolute beginners to professionals, providing the largest selection of drop-in classes in the San Francisco Peninsula and South Bay. For children through teens preparing for careers in ballet, we have a graded youth program with 13 pre-professional levels. Our highly experienced faculty consists of current and former professional dancers. Cost of a single adult class: $15. For the youth program, see www.westernballet.org for tuition rates. Betty Wright Swim Center @ Abilities United 3864 Middlefield Road Palo Alto 494-1480 www.abilitiesunited.org/ firstname.lastname@example.com Improve your health and wellness through aquatic exercise and therapy in the fully accessible, public, warm-water (92 degree), in-door pool. Classes include aqua aerobics, aqua arthritis, back basics, body conditioning, Aichi yoga and prenatal. Physical therapy, personal training, Watsu and land massage by appointment. Group and private swim lessons. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Friday, 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View 940-1333 www.mvlaae.net The MV-LA Adult School has a long history and commitment to adult education. Be fit. Offering: Belly dance, exercise for the older adult, Feldenkrais, hiking, hula, mat Pilates, Qigong, stability ball, stretch and flex, Tai Chi and yoga. Older-adult classes (55+, $18). DANCE Brazilian Dance Lucie Stern Community Center Ballroom 1305 Middlefield Road Palo Alto 650-463-4940 www.cityofpaloalto.org/enjoy Brazilian dance for ages 16-99 with Anita Lusebrink. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thirteen-week session for $130. Drop-in cards available. Learning Strategies 650-747-9651 www.creative-learning-strategies.com email@example.com A highly qualified Learning Strategies tutor will come to the home, work around vacation schedules and set up individual learning programs curtailed to the student's needs. Private Yoga Instruction by Eyesha 650-224-0150 Sivananda-certified yoga instructor with extensive experience in both private and group class settings. First class is free. Subsequent classes are $50/ hour. Dance Connection 4000 Middlefield Road, L-5 Palo Alto 322-7032 www.danceconnectionpaloalto.com email@example.com Dance Connection offers graded classes for ages 3 to adult with a variety of programs to meet every dancer's needs. Ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, boys program, lyrical, Pilates and combination classes are available for beginning to advanced levels. Find information and download registration from the Web site. Zohar Dance Company 4000 Middlefield Road, L4 Palo Alto 494-8221 www.zohardance.org firstname.lastname@example.com Founded in 1979, Zohar is unique in that it offers classes to adults in jazz, ballet and modern dance. Under the direction of Ehud & Daynee Krauss, the studio is known for its professional instructors and inspiring classes. California Yoga Center (Palo Alto) 541 Cowper St. Palo Alto 947-9642 www.californiayoga.com email@example.com The California Yoga Center offers classes for beginning to advanced students. With studios in Mountain View and Palo Alto, classes emphasize individual attention and cultivate strength, flexibility and relaxation. Ongoing yoga classes are scheduled every day and include special classes such as prenatal, back care and pranayama. Weekend workshops explore a variety of yoga-related topics. Palo Alto Adult School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto 650-329-3752 650-329-8515 www.paadultschool.org Hike for Fitness or empower yourself with Tai-Chi. Join Jeanette Cosgrove's Pilates class. Bring balance back to your life with Yoga. Our fitness classes start at $48. Palo Alto Adult School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto 650-329-3752 650-329-8515 www.paadultschool.org Hands-on computer, language, test preparation, writing, investment and certificate courses available starting at $19. Hundreds of online classes are offered by the Palo Alto Adult School in conjunction with Education to Go. DanceVisions 4000 Middlefield Road L3 Palo Alto 650-858-2005 www.dancevisions.org firstname.lastname@example.com DanceVisions, a unique nonprofit community dance center, offers classes from age 3 to adult. Classes range from modern to hip hop, lyrical, Pilates, jazz, ballet, and contact improvisation, as well as providing a performance showcase. Check Web site for details about classes and schedules. HANDICRAFTS Custom Handweavers 2267 Old Middlefield Way Mountain View 967-0831 www.customhandweavers.com firstname.lastname@example.com Ongoing classes in weaving, spinning, and knitting for beginner and intermediate students. Day and evening sessions. Explore the ancient art of Temari, a Japanese folk art, or learn to weave the Navajo Way. Enhance your lifestyle with an art form almost forgotten. Visit the studio and watch the students work. Call for more information, e-mail or visit the Web site. California Yoga Center (Mountain View) 570 Showers Drive, Ste. 5 Mountain View 947-9642 www.californiayoga.com firstname.lastname@example.com The California Yoga Center offers classes for beginning to advanced students. With studios in Mountain View and Palo Alto, classes emphasize individual attention and cultivate strength, flexibility and relaxation. Ongoing yoga classes are scheduled every day and include special classes such as prenatal, back care and pranayama. Weekend workshops explore a variety of yoga-related topics. Studio Kicks 796A San Antonio Road Palo Alto 855-9868 www.studiokickspaloalto.com firstname.lastname@example.com Studio Kicks is a family fitness center offering high-energy cardio kickboxing classes and fun martial-arts training for kids 2 and up. Taught by owner/instructor Richard Branden, six-time world champion and original stunt cast member for the "Power Rangers." Get the whole family healthy and fit. Stop by for a free class. Randall Millen Registry 921 Colorado Ave. Palo Alto 856-1419 Individual private tutoring in Midtown Palo Alto home for grades 7-12, college and adults. Subjects include English grammar and composition, English as a second language (ESL), French, Latin, mathematics, history and social studies, and humanities in general. Also: test preparation for all standardized tests (including S.A.T.), and manuscript writing and editing. Stanford graduate with 40 years of experience as a tutor. Fees from $18 per hour. L'Ecole de Danse Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road Palo Alto 650-365-4596 www.lecolededanse.net L'Ecole De Danse (School of Ballet) -Vaganova and Cecchetti styles. Creative dance, pre-ballet and full curriculum for all levels starting at age 5. Adult classes include beginning, intermediate and advanced. Please call for more information. Sequoia District Adult School 3247 Middlefield Road Menlo Park 306-8866 www.adultschool.seq.org email@example.com Clothes making: Kimono robe class introduces beginners to the basics of sewing and making clothes. Please bring your own sewing machine. Taijiquan Tutelage of Palo Alto 3790 El Camino Real #185 Palo Alto 327-9350 www.ttopa.com Taijiquan Tutelage of Palo Alto. Established in 1973. Learn the classical Yang Chengfu style of Taijiquan (T'ai chi ch'uan). Beginning classes start monthly. Classes are held at the Cubberley Community Center. Darshana Yoga 654 High St. Palo Alto 325-YOGA www.darshanayoga.com firstname.lastname@example.com Fresh and inspiring yoga classes in Palo Alto. A blend of alignment and flow. QWERTY Education Services 1050 Chestnut St., #201 Menlo Park 650-326-8484 650-326-8030 www.qwertyed.com Page 40 Workout IQ 278 Hope St., Ste. C Mountain View 814-9615 962-9793 www.workoutiq.com firstname.lastname@example.com Posture 101. Learn about why posture is important, why you should care about your posture and most importantly learn how to improve and change your posture. Cost: $275 for a six-week class. Space is limited. MISCELLANEOUS Lucy Geever, Flight Instructor and Advantage Aviation 1903 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto 650-533-4018 http://www.advantage-aviation.com/ Offering learn-to-fly seminars, private pilot ground school and flying lessons, along with free seminars for pilots. kids 2 and up. Taught by owner/instructor Richard Branden, six-time world champion and original stunt cast member for the "Power Rangers." Get the whole family healthy and fit. Stop by for a free class. COLLEGE GOALS Higher Education and College Admission Consultants Former Associate Director of Admission at Brown University MIND & SPIRIT All Saints' Episcopal Church 555 Waverley St. Palo Alto www.asaints.org/parishlife/activities/ yoga.html All Saints' Yoga: Kundalini style yoga combining asana (physical poses), breathing exercises and meditation. Practice is best done on an empty stomach or lightsnack. Please bring a mat and blanket, and wear comfortable, easy-to-move-in clothes. If floor work is difficult, exercises can be modified to do in a chair. ANDREA VAN NIEKERK Andrea is now located in Palo Alto and consulting with clients regarding all aspects of the college search and application process. County of San Mateo RecycleWorks 555 County Center, 5th Floor Redwood City 599-1498 361-8220 RecycleWorks.org Become a certified master composter. Learn to compost and garden without the use of toxic chemicals and make 2008 a healthier year for you, your family and the environment. Classes are free to San Mateo County residents. Yoga at All Saints' Episcopal Church 555 Waverley St. Palo Alto 322-4528 www.asaints.org Kundalini-style yoga, combining asana (physical poses), breathing exercises and meditation. Practice is best done on an empty stomach. Please bring a mat and blanket and wear comfortable, easy-tomove-in clothes. If floor work is difficult, exercises can be modified to be done in a chair. All ages. No registration necessary. Every Saturday, 8-9 a.m., in the Parish Hall. $5/person. Yoga at Unity Church 3391 Middlefield Road Palo Alto 857-0919 email@example.com Modern and ancient yogic meditation and concentration techniques, powerful and therapeutic in their transformation and healing. For more information, contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or visit our website at www.collegegoals.com College Goals, PO Box 18777, Stanford, CA 94309 Tel (401)247-2629 or (401)454-4585 The Talking Playhouse 595 Price Ave., Suite A Redwood City 650-678-9769 www.talkingplayhouse.com email@example.com Social-learning and social-skills classes and activities for all age groups, including theater games and writing groups. Summer schedule runs from June 17Aug. 27. See website for timetable and more information. LANGUAGE MUSIC & ART Art For Well Beings 2800 West Bayshore Road Palo Alto 776-8297 855-9067 artforwellbeings.org firstname.lastname@example.com Art for Well Beings (AFWB) offers art classes especially welcoming people with special needs. AFWB is open to the public. Drop-in or 6-8 week sessions are available. All materials provided. Please call to register or visit website for more information. International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) 151 Laura Lane Palo Alto 251-8519 www.istp.org firstname.lastname@example.com ISTP offers extensive adult language classes and children's after-school language classes. For preschool students, ISTP offers classes in Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. For elementary and middle-school students, ISTP offers classes in Arabic, Farsi French and Mandarin Chinese. For adults, ISTP offers separate classes for varying proficiency levels for each language: Arabic, English ESL, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Give Your Child the Gift of a Lifetime . Kindergarten � 8th Grade . Excellent Academics . Dedicated and Caring Faculty . State-of-the-Art Facilities . Music, Arts and Athletics . After-School Programs Limited space available for the 2010 � 2011 school year Call now for your personal tour! Aileen Mitchner Director of Admission 650.494.8200 ext. 104 email@example.com Elite Musketeer Fencer's Club 160B Constitution Drive Menlo Park 353-0717 408 317 0480 www.emfc.net email@example.com Fencing programs for kids and adults, recreational and competitive. Summer camps, birthday parties, private lessons and group classes. Art with Emily 402 El Verano Ave. Palo Alto 856-9571 www.artwithemily.com email@example.com Emily Young teaches mixed-media, multi-cultural art lessons for children at her fully equipped studio in Palo Alto. Individual lessons or small group classes available. Lip reading/managing hearing loss 450 Bryant St Palo Alto 650-9497-999 foothill.edu email@example.com Lip reading/managing hearing loss. Classes start quarterly and meet weekly but you can join anytime. Learn ways to cope with hearing loss and improve lipreading skills. Pay per quarter, register in class. Beginning class meets on Mondays 1:30-2:50 p.m. Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View 940-1333 www.mvlaae.net The MV-LA Adult School has a long history and commitment to adult education. Learn or practice a language. Offering: Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Older-adult classes (55+, $18). www.hausner.com 450 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 CAIS and WASC Accredited A Beneficiary of the JCF Confidential Scholarships Available Additional scholarships provided by lea d in Children's Music Workshops P.O. Box 60756 Palo Alto 306-0332 Kids music classes and private lessons for guitar, piano and voice. Locations in Palo Alto and Mountain View. Music for special-needs children too. JIMJOSEPH g l e ar ni ng FOUNDATION bje BUREAU of JEWISH EDUCATION SAN FRANCISCO | THE PENINSULA | MARIN | SONOMA A beneficiary of the Jewish Community Federation Shimon ben Joseph Little House Senior Activities Center 800 Middle Ave. Menlo Park 326-2025 www.peninsulavolunteers.org firstname.lastname@example.com Computer workshops, health lectures, investments, travel, self-improvement, movies, opera previews, ballroom dancing and weekend trips for people over 50. Costs range from free to $40. Register in person or by phone. German Language Class 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto 650-329-3752 650-329-8515 www.paadultschool.org firstname.lastname@example.com Willkommen! (Welcome!) Learn to speak, read, and write German, with an emphasis on conversation. Basic grammar and Germanic culture are also covered. The instructor, a college-credentialed teacher, lived and studied in Germany through Stanford, from where she later received a master's degree. Chinese Brush Painting Palo Alto 948-1503 Chinese brush painting with master calligrapher and painter Anna Wu Weakland. Class meets eight Tuesdays, 2:304:30 p.m. Classes held at the Cubberley Studio in Palo Alto. Learn to paint with minimum strokes and achieve maximum results. The techniques of all the popular subject matters will be taught. Beginners and advanced students welcome. Palo Alto Adult School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto 650-329-3752 650-329-8515 www.paadultschool.org Are you curious about birds you often see but have trouble identifying? Learn about "swimmers", "shorebirds", "perching birds" and "birds of prey." Sign up for one of our birding classes. Monday, Tuesday or Thursday classes (7-9 p.m.) with weekend field trips. Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center 230 San Antonio Circle Mountain View 917-6800 917-6813 www.arts4all.org firstname.lastname@example.com The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) offers classes year-round in music, visual and digital arts for ages 18 months to adult. Vacation and summer camps, one- and two-day arts workshops offered throughout the year. Private music lessons offered, taught by international faculty. Financial assistance available (continued on next page) Istituto Educazione Italiana 650-868-5995 www.italybythebay.org Italian Language for adults in the evening on the campus of Menlo College. New offering for Winter 2010 is a course on Italian travel. Courses in Italian cooking in Redwood City. Workshops in painting Tuscan and Venetian landscapes/ cityscapes using acrylics in collaboration with the Pacific Art League (668 Ramona St., Palo Alto). Workshops in Florentine silversmithing at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. Full fee and schedule information can be found online. All classes/ workshops start in January 2010 Studio Kicks 796A San Antonio Road Palo Alto 855-9868 www.studiokickspaloalto.com firstname.lastname@example.com Studio Kicks is a family fitness center offering high-energy cardio kickboxing classes and fun martial-arts training for Page 41 Class Guide Come see how much fun we have learning! (continued from previous page) Kindermusik with Wendy Mountain View 968-4733 www.kindermusik.com firstname.lastname@example.com Group music classes for children ages birth to 7 and their caregivers. All classes include singing, instrument play, movement, musical games, and home materials, and aim to develop the whole child through music. Five levels of classes as well as a multi-age class. Cost per class session ranges from $100 to $225 depending on class and session length (8-15 weeks per session). Private Piano Instruction by Eyesha. 650-224-0150 firstname.lastname@example.com Private piano teacher, with an emphasis in classical music, beginner to intermediate levels. First class is free. Subsequent classes are $50/ hour. Village Heartbeat 883 Ames Ave. Palo Alto 493-8046 firstname.lastname@example.com Village Heartbeat is an organization dedicated to building and educating a rhythmic community. The organization facilitates classes in African drumming, dancing, and TaKeTiNa. Classes offer the opportunity to learn adapted traditional music of the African Diaspora, as well as modern trance grooves. Midpeninsula Community Media Center 900 San Antonio Road Palo Alto 494-8686 www.communitymediacenter.net The Media Center offers classes every month in a wide range of media arts, including publishing media on the Web, pod casting, digital editing, field production, TV studio production, Photoshop for photographers, citizen journalism, and autobiographical digital stories. One-on-one tutoring is also available. Biweekly free orientation sessions and tours. Web site has specific dates, fees, and scholarship information. Violin and Music Studio of Midtown Palo Alto 2862 Bryant St. Palo Alto 650-456-7648 linglingviolin.blogspot.com email@example.com Group music classes for children aged from 3 to 7. This "Intro to Music" includes singing, music note reading, movement and other activities that can help children learn and enjoy music at the same time. It will also give them a solid foundation when they're ready to learn any music instrument later. Yearround enrollment. Taught by professionally trained music teacher. Director: Lingling Yang. Page 42 � 2010, Barbara B. Baker Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View 940-1333 www.mvlaae.net The MV-LA Adult School has a long history and commitment to adult education. Improve your skills. Offering: Beading, ceramics, chorus, digital photography, drawing, guitar, Ikebana, orchestra and painting (watercolor, oil, acrylic). Olderadult classes (55+, $18). SCHOOLS Children's Pre-School Center (CPSC) 4000 Middlefield Road Palo Alto 493-5770 www.cpsccares.org firstname.lastname@example.com Open arms, Open hearts -- Opening minds together. Every day at CPSC holds new adventures for your children from the youngest infant to the oldest preschooler. Your child will experience the joy of finger painting, the thrill of dancing, the pleasure of building towers, and the satisfaction of mastering pre-literacy and pre-math skills with the support and guidance of a dedicated, loving, multicultural teaching staff. A ou sk a rs u bou pro mm t gra ms er ! Engaging, effective curriculum Proven, music-enhanced methods Educational, interactive playgrounds Visit a classroom today. Almaden (408) 927-5771 19950 McKean Road, San Jose Shawnee (408) 365-9298 500 Shawnee Lane, San Jose Harwood (408) 723-0111 4949 Harwood Road, San Jose Strawberry Park (408) 213-0083 730 Camina Escuela, San Jose Berryessa (408) 998-2860 711 East Gish Road, San Jose Saratoga (408) 378-0444 18811 Cox Avenue, Saratoga Sunnyvale (408) 245-7170 1185 Hollenbeck Avenue, Sunnyvale Middlefield (650) 213-8245 3880 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto Newark (510) 770-1771 39600 Cedar Boulevard, Newark Ardenwood (510) 739-0300 35487 Dumbarton Court, Newark New Mozart School of Music 305 N. California Ave. Palo Alto 650-324-2373 www.newmozartschool.com firstname.lastname@example.com New Mozart provides private lessons on all instruments and excellent early childhood music classes for children 2-7 years of age. Opus1 Music Studio 2800 W Bayshore Road Palo Alto 408-821-5080 musicopus1.com email@example.com Opus1 Music Studio is offering private & group music lessons for all kinds of instruments to aged 1.5 and up. Beginners to advanced level. Circle of Friends Preschool Alameda de las Pulgas Menlo Park 854-2468 firstname.lastname@example.com We offer a well-rounded curriculum in a warm personal environment. Our goal is to promote the development of the whole child: physical, emotional, social, language and intellectual. Detailed assessment of each child helps us to build partnerships with families to support emerging competencies. All this in a play-based program where children have opportunities to create, explore, problem solve, learn concepts, and integrate knowledge in a hands-on environment. Pacific Art League 688 Ramona St. Palo Alto 321-3891 www.pacificartleague.org email@example.com Art classes and workshops by qualified, experienced instructors for students from beginners to advanced and even nonartists. Classes in collage, oil painting, portraits and sketching, life drawing, acrylic or watercolor and brush painting. Sculpture. Registration is ongoing. International School of the Peninsula 151 Laura Lane Palo Alto 251-8504 www.istp.org firstname.lastname@example.com ISTP offers extensive after-school language classes at its two Palo Alto locations. Classes offered in French, Mandarin and Spanish to preschool students (3 to 5 years old). Additional classes taught in Arabic, Farsi, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese and Russian for elementary and middle school students. Palo Alto Art Center 1313 Newell Road Palo Alto 329-2366 www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter firstname.lastname@example.com Classes and workshops for adults in ceramics, painting, drawing, jewelry, book arts, printmaking, collage and more. Register online or stop by the Art Center for a class brochure. Child Care Licenses: 434400459, 434408058, 434408059, 434404888, 434400467, 430700130, 430710539, 434403575, 010212301, 013412399 Because You Know the Value of Education ChallengerSchool.com Jim Gorman Swim School 3249 Alpine Road Portola Valley Class Guide 854-6699 ext. 100 firstname.lastname@example.com Patient, professional instructors and warm, clean pools make it fun to learn to swim. Private and small group lessons for all ages and abilities, from water babies (3-30 months) to national champions. Weekday and weekend lessons available for sign-ups now. prehensive curriculum with an emphasis on religion, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science. In addition to the core curriculum, St. Joseph's also offers a fine arts program, computer instruction and physical education. for a brochure or to set up a tour. Yew Chung International School (YCIS) 310 Easy St. Mountain View 903-0986 www.ycef.com/sv YCIS provides multi-cultural and bilingual, English and Mandarin Chinese, education to children from preschool to 5th grade. Yew Chung education aims to liberate the joy of learning within each child. No prior Chinese experience is required. Trinity School 2650 Sand Hill Road Menlo Park 854-0288 www.trinity-mp.org firstname.lastname@example.com Early childhood through grade 5. Trinity School encourages preschool to grade 5 children from all backgrounds to love learning. Trinity fosters rigorous academics grounded in child-centered content. The legacy of a Trinity education is a curious mind and a discerning heart. Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View 940-1333 www.mvlaae.net The MV-LA Adult School has a long history and commitment to adult education. Improve your skills. Offering: Arts and crafts, computers, digital-camera techniques, ESL, foreign languages, genealogy, high school programs and GED, memoirs, motorcycle-safety training, music and dance, needlework, orchestra, parent education, physical fitness and vocational education. Older-adult classes (55+, $18). integrated with the CLASS GUIDE The Class Guide is published quarterly in the Palo Alto Weekly. Descriptions of classes offered in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Stanford, Atherton, Los Altos Hills, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto and beyond are provided. Listings are free and subject to editing. Due to space constraints, classes held in the above cities are given priority. To inquire about placing a listing in the Class Guide, e-mail Editorial Assistant Karla Kane at firstname.lastname@example.com, call 650-326-8210 or visit www.PaloAltoOnline.com. To place a paid advertisement in the Class Guide, call our display advertising department at 650-326-8210. Woodland School 360 La Cuesta Drive Portola Valley 854-9065 www.woodland-school.org Preschool-8th grade. Woodland School's focus is a challenging academic program with a strong enrichment program of art, music, drama, computers, gymnastics and physical education. Science, math and technology are an integral part of the 5th-8th grade experience. Extended Care is offered 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Please call learning through St. Joseph Catholic School 1120 Miramonte Ave. Mountain View 967-1839 www.sjmv.org St. Joseph Catholic School offers a com- GISSV TENNIS TENNIS TENNIS C h a m p i o n Te n n i s C a m p s July 26 - August 13, 2010 ages 4-14 @ Atherton Tennis Center German International School of Silicon Valley The Best of two Worlds - Learning in German and English 650-752-0540 www.alanmargot-tennis.net � Preschool and Grades K-12 with dual immersion language programm (German and English) � German Sumer Camps, June 21 - July 16 � Safe and nurturing learning environment � German language classes for all ages 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, CA 94043 email firstname.lastname@example.com ra Pre-K, G & ps mer Cam Sum rolling Now En 2 des K-1 web www.gissv.org In Service To Our Community Affordable Counseling | Sliding Scale Fees The Bowman program builds confidence, creativity and academic excellence. Contact: [ph] 650.493.5006 [email] email@example.com [web] www.itp.edu/counseling The provides quality counseling at affordable rates with a wide range of professional services to meet your needs. Contact us today. www.bowmanschool.org Page 43 The 7 BIGGEST MISTAKES TRUSTEES OFTEN MAKE How should we tell the kids? invites you to a Free Educational Workshop on � Congratulations, your family trust is now complete. Who Should Attend? Persons who have created trusts or are named as trustees of a trust. Should we even tell them? What Will You Learn? At least our children won't struggle like we did. $ Why don't you go on a long vacation? Avoid Common Trustee Mistakes 2010 Tax Changes Federal Regulations for Trustees New IRS Tax Codes "IRAs" Unexpected Trustee Planning Techniques Tax Consequences Why Living Trusts May Fail NE W Mom & Dad, This is your money, enjoy it. Don't worry about us. Sound Familiar? Sou I hope this doesn't split the family. I don't want to think about this. I wonder what they're really thinking? The role of a trustee requires more than simply signing documents. Co Congratulations! You've established your own Trust, the fir step to securing your financial future. Today, many first p people have created trusts as a means of ensuring the o orderly transition of their estate. A trust can serve as a sophisticated management & investment planning vehicle in a complex world. Most persons named as trustees do not have the required skills and knowledge demanded by today's courts. Only a few fully understand the obligations and liabilities associated with serving as a trustee. Family trusts often unravel due to time, circumstance, improper planning and implementation. Proper planning & education can help ensure that your desires become reality for future generations. Sadly, most trustees fail to adequately understand the significance of their responsibilities. Learn how not to fail as a trustee. This workshop will provide essential training for trustees & trustors of living trusts. Hilton Garden Inn 840 E. El Camino Real Monday, May 17th 10:00am - 12:45pm MOUNTAIN VIEW Marriott 1770 S. Amphlett Blvd. Tuesday, May 18th 10:00am - 12:45pm SAN MATEO Dinah's Garden Hotel 4261 El Camino Real Wednesday, May 19th 10:00am - 12:45pm PALO ALTO �AFS 1999-2010 MENLO PARK (AM) Stanford Park Hotel 100 El Camino Real Tuesday, May 25th 10:00am - 12:45pm MENLO PARK (PM) Stanford Park Hotel 100 El Camino Real Tuesday, May 25th 6:00pm - 8:45pm Due to limited seating, please call Mindi at (650) 243-2224 Sandeep Varma ATS Wealth Strategist and Author of "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Trustees Make" or (888) 446-8275 or firstname.lastname@example.com Sandeep Varma is a registered representative with & securities are offered through LPL Financial Member FINRA/SIPC CA Insurance License #0790710 (05-2010) ED SLOTT As seen on PBS, America's IRA Expert WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: "10 Financial Disasters You Can Avoid" "THE BEST SOURCE OF IRA ADVICE" Page 44 Growing and protecting your money in turbulant times Retirement Fears To Roth or Not to Roth Strategies to protect your IRA's, 401Ks and other Retirement Plans The $199 fee will be waived for ALL ATS CLIENTS and for those who attend the "7 Biggest Mistakes" seminar. �The Wall Street Journal Friday, June 4th 10:00am to 12:00pm The Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto