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Menlo Park reopens main library After a month of renovation, the main Menlo Park public library at 800 Alma St. will be back in business at noon Tuesday, June 19, according to staff. The library closed in May for an overhaul of the circulation area, installation of new carpeting, and inventory. The four new checkout stations use radio frequency identification tags (RFID) to let patrons check out more than one item at a time, and, one hopes, with less hassle than the old system, staff said. Funding for the upgrades came from three sources: $175,000 from the general fund capital improvement budget for carpet replacement; $90,000 from a library bond fund for the circulation area; and $147,000 from the public library fund and general fund for the RFID conversion. Library staff will help users navigate the new self-checkout
N MENLO BRIEFS
system. In a press release, library director Susan Holmer said the library circulates 750,000 items each year. “Automating routine transactions will mean more staff time is available for other kinds of more personal assistance, and will enable us to handle an increasing number of transactions. We hope everyone will drop by to see the new look for the library and check out the self checkout system.�
Council passes budget
toward the $588,000 to renovate Ford (baseball) Field. Many of these revenues projections, including those for Ford Field, are passed right through to the expense side, representing a parallel increase in expenses, Administrative Services Officer Stacie Nerdahl told the Almanac. Also on the council’s agenda: A public hearing on amendments to the town’s zoning ordinances, including a proposal to shorten to 15 days the current 30-day window that property owners have to appeal conditional use permits and variances. Go to tinyurl.com/PV-zoning and go to Page 50 for more information.
N P O L I C E C A L L S MENLO PARK Theft reports:
â– Loss estimated at $1,200 in theft of bike locked to tree in front of apartment, San Antonio St., June 11. â– Loss estimated at $1,000 in theft of catalytic converter from 2006 Toyota Sequoia parked in driveway, June 9.
â– Loss estimated at $352 in theft of purse, Laurel St., June 10.
â– Loss of $305 in theft of hair cutting shears and clip-on hair extension by
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(Council members appoint one of their own to serve as mayor.) “Of course it was never my intention whatsoever to violate the Brown Act, which exists to ensure the public has the trans-
man-and-woman team in which man kept store clerk busy while woman stole items, 500 block of El Camino Real, June 9. Animal bite report: Woman bitten by dog while jogging. Linfield Drive, June 8. Fraud report: Man, 77, conned into wiring $2,999 to Panama City, Panama, ostensibly to get brother out of jail but transaction cancelled before completion, Cambridge Ave., June 8.
parency it needs in all local government decision-making. I am grateful the district attorney agreed there was no wrongful intent,� Ms. Fergusson said. “Do I regret the incident happened? Of course, as it was certainly never my intention to do so.� A
Company reports embezzlement A former employee allegedly embezzled more than $100,000 from Menlo Atherton Glass, according to police. Details about how the 27-yearold woman reportedly stole the money and what tipped off the store remain scarce, as police are still piecing together what happened. The theft was reported on June 8. Mark Shafran, who has owned the business at 243 El Camino Real since 1988, declined to comment while the investigation continues.
2010
The Menlo Park City Council passed a $68 million budget for fiscal year 2012-13, but the budget is balanced on the hope that voters will approve an increase in the city’s hotel tax in November. The budget depends on
Portola Valley budget grows mainly due to pass-throughs A budget substantially larger than usual will come before the Portola Valley Town Council at a special meeting that starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, in the Historic Schoolhouse. The projected budget shows revenues of $4,588,589 and expenses of $4,584,201 for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The figures represent a 19 percent increase over the previous year and would yield a surplus of $4,388. The revenues include $65,000 from higher building permit fees, a $137,000 loan repayment from the state, a $20,000 contribution by Stanford University to maintain the Dwight Crowder Trail, as well as all contributions
increasing the hotel guest tax rate from 10 percent to 12 percent. According to staff calculations, passing the higher tax would raise more than $560,000 annually for the city, and bring local rates in line with neighboring cities, including Palo Alto and Redwood City. It would also contribute to a $260,000 surplus in next year’s budget. All five Menlo Park council members voted to put the hotel tax on the Nov. 6 ballot. San
Mateo County voters failed to pass a similar measure in the June 5 election, with 52.3 percent of voters opposing the tax increase. The council also decided to leave the utility users tax at 1 percent. At the same time, it supported continued cost-cutting measures by the city that include reducing staff as possible — the city lost seven fulltime positions this year, according to a staff report — and taking small steps such as using electronic agendas instead of paper.
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Charles Lee
July 19, 1925 – June 9, 2012 At home, surrounded by the family he so loved, Charles passed peacefully on Saturday, June 9, 2012. Beloved husband of Jean Egan Lee, loving father of Kevin and Dennis Lee; Moira Simunovich (Jim); Terri LaJoie (Jerry); Sheila Trombadore (Mike); proud grandfather of Stephanie Kindler(Dorsey); Daniel (Morgan), Matthew and Sarah Simunovich; Caitlin. Mark, Andrew and step grandson Jacob LaJoie; Charlie, Erin and Henry Trombadore; great granddaughter Aimee Jean. A third generation San Franciscan, Charlie was born July 19, 1925 to Eugenia and Charles Lee. Growing up in the Sunset District he attended Francis Scott Key grade school, Lowell High School, class of winter ‘42. During World War II he enlisted in the army and was assigned to the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion. With the Fighting 299th, Charlies’ primary duty was to drive a 21/2 ton truck in combat areas hauling personnel, explosives, and military supplies. He participated in the Normandy campaign in France, the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, and was among the ďŹ rst US troops to cross the Rhine River into Germany. Upon his return to San Francisco, he enrolled in the University of San Francisco. After his graduation and marriage in 1949 he started his working career in San Francisco and thus began a lifelong love of the oil business, starting with Tidewater Oil in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Occidental Petroleum, Los Angeles and retiring as Vice President and Chief Financial OfďŹ cer of Natomas Company. After his retirement from Natomas, he worked
for Smith Barney as a managing director. He served on ďŹ ve corporate boards: American President Lines, Bergen Brunswig Corp. Greyhound Bus Lines, Mattel Inc and Natomas Company. He is a Trustee Emeritus and President’s Ambassador of U.S.F., and was named alumnus of the year 1996 by the University. He is a Knight of Malta, a former Serran and a thirty eight year member of the Church of Nativity. He served as the Chair of the Board of Regents 1998-2001 at St. Patrick’s Seminary. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to his care givers, Jose Pinto, Charlie Malag, and William Halapua. Our deepest gratitude to the hospice team of Pathways who were with us every minute and to San Carlos Adult Daycare CYO for their compassionate care these many years. A funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bishop John Wester on Tuesday June 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025. Reception immediately following Mass. Donations may be made in Charlie’s memory to University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton St., San Francisco, CA 94117; Pathways, 585 North Mary Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085; San Carlos Adult Daycare CYO, 787 Walnut St., San Carlos, CA 94070. PA I D
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