The Almanac March 25, 2015

Menlowe Ballet stages ‘Rapture’ | Page 3

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Rehearsing for “Bru’s Sweet” are dancers, from left, Gregory DeSantis, Alec Guthrie, Anton Pankevich and Brian Gephart. “Bru’s Sweet,” choreographed by Reginald Ray Savage, is set to the music of Dave Brubeck.

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Menlowe Ballet stages ‘Rapture’ 2/ 3

by Elizabeth Schwyzer

‘A

feeling of intense pleasure or joy; ecstasy, bliss, elation.” That’s the definition of “rapture,” the word Menlowe Ballet has chosen as the title of its upcoming program.

Transporting audiences to a state of ecstasy is a tall order for an evening of dance, but the company’s artistic leadership is confident the show lives up to its name.

Slated for March 27-29 at the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, “Rapture” is a mixed bill featuring two works by the company’s artistic director Michael Lowe — last season’s “Legend of the Seven Suns” and the new “Playing Love” — alongside the premiere of Reginald Ray Savage’s “Bru’s Sweet,” set to the music of Dave Brubeck.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Savage trained under Katherine Dunham, director of the first African American modern dance company in the United States — the company Mr. Savage later joined as a professional dancer.

He founded Savage Jazz Dance Company in Oakland in 1992 and has gone on to establish himself as a dance artist whose work is rooted in the spirit and cultural heritage of jazz music.

This won’t be the first time

Q IN F O R MATION

Performances: “Rapture,” presented by Menlowe Ballet, at the Menlo-Atherton Pefrorming Arts Center at 8 p.m. Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29. Cost: $28$48. Info: Go to menloweballet. org or call (800) 595-4849.

Mr. Lowe and Mr. Savage have shared a stage; in 2012, as part of Menlowe Ballet’s second season, the two choreographers collaborated on a joint program, bringing their companies together to perform both on the Peninsula and in Oakland.

This time, Menlowe Ballet has commissioned Mr. Savage to create a new work.

Over the past few months, he Howie Epstein photo has been trav- Reginald Savage eling back and forth across the Bay to set “Bru’s Sweet” on Menlowe dancers.

At over 6 feet tall with a solid build, a nose piercing and a chunky silver ring adorning every finger, Mr. Savage stands out in the ballet studio. When he sits, he’s always on the edge of his seat; when he stands, it’s hard to focus

anywhere else. Flamboyant and expressive by nature, he seems to have found a way to channel that energy into the bodies of the dancers he’s working with.

With only a few weeks to go before showtime, Mr. Savage showed little sign of anxiety during rehearsal. “Yes, yes yes!” he cried as 16 dancers lunged across the studio to a swelling percussion crescendo.

His notes at the end of their first full run-through: “Just stay hot. It’s yours. Take it where it needs to go.”

In selecting the music of popular jazz composer Dave Brubeck, Mr. Savage is consciously evoking the 1950s, an era he described as “Elvis, Chuck Berry, ‘Funny Face,’ the jazz club scene — America trying to be free.”

“Take Five” isn’t part of the score (“I didn’t want to do paintby-numbers Brubeck,” Mr. Savage explained), but those familiar with the classic 1959 Dave Brubeck Quartet album “Time Out” will hear some familiar tracks.

Also reminiscent of the mid20th century are the costumes; a designer’s sketch featured boatnecked tees, pedal pushers and ballet flats.

“One of my first big concerts with Katherine Dunham was to dance to Brubeck live in 1978

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Hydrogen fuel station planned for Skylonda The state predicts 6,650 hydrogenpowered vehicles will be on the road in California by 2017.

Q

By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer

E

lectric cars and their charging stations have had the alternative-fuel spotlight mostly to themselves in Silicon Valley in recent years. By the end of October, however, they will have challengers, in Skylonda and along the Peninsula.

A hydrogen fuel-cell refilling station is in the works for the Skywood Trading Post at Skyline Boulevard and La Honda Road in Woodside, opposite Alice’s Restaurant. A state report lists 14 stations planned for the Bay Area, with seven on the Peninsula, including in Mountain View, Palo Alto and Redwood City.

Representatives for Kalaf Properties Inc., Skywood’s owner, appeared before the town’s Architectural & Site Review Board recently for a conceptual design review of the remodeling planned for its existing service station. The ASRB gave a “relatively positive response” to the proposal, said Senior Planner Sage Schaan.

The station would have a single hydrogen pump joining the two gasoline pumps now there. The hydrogen processing equipment would be placed on the 0.4-acre property in two 20-foot shipping containers, with associated modules nearby, the report said.

The Woodside Planning Commission is expected to review the proposal to determine whether hydrogen fuel is consistent with the town’s definition of a service station. The current definition is already out of date in that it does

The state is heavily subsidizing hydrogen stations as part of its effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. not include diesel or ethanol, according to a staff report.

The California Energy Commission, acting on the state’s long-term goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, would provide about $2.1 million of the $2.8 million needed to remodel this station, said Colin Armstrong, president of British Columbia-based Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corp. The company joined with Kalaf Properties in bidding for a station in Skylonda, Mr. Armstrong said.

The Commission requires that the hydrogen station be up and running by Oct. 31, 2015, or face heavy fines, the report said.

Bob Boyd, an agent who said he helped arrange the grant funding, called the Skywood Trading Post “a great site. Not large, but large enough.” The state will subsidize the station’s operating costs to about $100,000 per year for the first three years, he said.

Which fuel?

The hydrogen would be stored in above-ground tanks and the system would create enough to refuel about 20 cars per day, Mr. Boyd said. The process is similar to pumping gasoline in that the pump includes a hose designed to be handled by an attendant or driver.

Electric cars are popular, but hydrogen is the future, Mr. Boyd said. He described himself as

a real advocate of electric cars and said that the current “tussle” between the two technologies is “really unfortunate,” he said.

“I think (hydrogen) is the only option.”

The key is in the time it takes to refill a vehicle, he said.

A depleted hydrogen-powered car can be pumped full in 3 minutes, he said, a fraction of the time needed to recharge an electric vehicle. Mr. Boyd speculated that an electricity recharging station could theoretically have the capacity to recharge in minutes, but the grid would be unable to handle the load.

Electric cars also require recharging infrastructure at home, putting it out of reach of the average person, he said.

Tesla Motors, manufacturer of the electric sedan ubiquitous in Silicon Valley, did not respond to interview requests.

See HYDROGEN FUEL, page 18

Lawsuit against fire district over crash is dismissed

By Sandy Brundage Almanac Staff Writer

A

lawsuit brought against the Menlo Park Fire Protection District and a battalion chief over a collision between a car and an emergency vehicle has been dismissed, according to San Mateo County Superior Court records.

The suit, filed in August by Jose Cardosa and Feliciano Curup, the two people who were in the car, asked for compensation related to unspecified injuries, resulting from alleged negligence on the part of the defendants. But the suit was dismissed with prejudice (meaning it can’t be refiled) six months later.

Juan Simon, the attorney who represented the plaintiffs, did not respond to requests for comment.

The collision occurred on Aug. 20, 2013, at the intersection of El Camino Real and Ravenswood Avenue at about 10:19 p.m., based on police and fire district records.

Battalion Chief James Stevens, responding to a shooting in East Palo Alto, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban with

lights and sirens activated when he made a left turn on a red light onto Ravenswood Avenue, according to the records. The driver of the other car, a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta, reportedly heading north on El Camino Real at 35 miles per hour, was unable to stop before entering the intersection, and the two vehicles collided.

Mr. Stevens was cited for a failure to yield, although he could have been cited under section of the code “more favorable to emergency responders” that takes into account that he was responding with red lights and siren to a high-level emergency, Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said.

The chief said Mr. Stevens is a 32-year veteran with an exceptional driving record. Larger SUVs in the turn and first lanes blocked the battalion chief’s view of the Jetta, and the crash occurred as the Mr. Stevens crept into the second lane.

The Jetta’s driver, who has not been identified as such in court records or by law enforcement, did not have a valid license at the time of the incident, according

Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac

Woodside installed new crosswalk markings and lights as a safety measure near Woodside Elementary School last summer.

Deputy to drivers: Be careful near school An email sent March 19 to parents at Woodside Elementary School by San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron DeRespini warns “there have been numerous close calls with students and parents” near the school recently.

Violations singled out by Deputy DeRespini were: Q Driving while pedestrians are in the crosswalk. The deputy said no vehicle can

legally enter a crosswalk “until the pedestrian has completely cleared the crosswalk.” Drivers need to be especially aware of children “as they sometimes do not pay as much attention to oncoming vehicles as adults,” he wrote. “Numerous tickets have been written in front of the school for this violation.”

Q Passing to the right of vehicles stopped on Woodside

Road, or entering the school parking lot. Passing on the right is legal “only under conditions permitting that movement in safety,” and only if it can be done without leaving “the paved or main-traveled portion of the roadway,” Deputy DeRespini wrote.

“I have seen this happen all too often, and have written numerous tickets for this See DEPUTY, page 8

See LAWSUIT, page 8

March 25, 2015 Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q The Almanac Q 5

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Atherton chooses architect to start civic center design

By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer

T

hey didn’t pull out the champagne, but Atherton City Council members seemed almost giddy on Wednesday, March 18, as they approved a contract with the architectural firm WRNS Studios to begin designing the town’s new civic center.

WRNS Studios, a 10-year-old San Francisco-based architectural and planning firm, has partners Pauline Souza and Adam Woltag leading the design team. Ms. Souza has experience designing schools, corporate campuses and community centers, many with energy-efficiency certification. Mr. Woltag has overseen the design and development of medical office buildings, schools, public buildings and parking garages.

Locally, the firm designed the Sacred Heart Schools master plan and library (which produces all of its own energy) and Woodside Elementary School buildings that start construction

this summer.

Council members were unanimous in praising the firm. “It was the two of you who showed you really were going to be willing to work with us,” Council member Cary Wiest told Ms. Souza and Mr. Woltag. “We’re obviously not an easy town.”

Mayor Rick DeGolia said WRNS Studios is “a team that complements the town.” The firm should be able to not only reach out to residents to convey ideas, “but to listen to them and to ask the right questions to be able to extract from them the nuances” that will make the civic center “one that people will really be proud of,” Mayor DeGolia said.

“This is an opportunity for us to pull the town together in a way that I have never seen,” he said.

“This is a very exciting moment for me,” said council member Elizabeth Lewis as she made a motion to allow work on the civic center to begin.

The town and WRNS Studios have negotiated a $3.2 million price tag for services through the construction of the complex,

with additional costs possible if enough money is raised to pay for extras such as underground parking or meeting energy efficiency certification standards.

The contract will be done in phases, and the proposal before the council was for $379,480, covering the first two design phases only, including master plan changes and conceptual design of the complex.

Donations must pay for most of the civic center project, according to the terms of a 2012 ballot measure approved by Atherton voters. An exception is money set aside for a new library and for building department offices.

That means design work won’t officially begin until after April 1, because that is when Atherton Now, the nonprofit raising funds for the civic center, said it will turn over its $250,457 share of the cost for the first two phases.

The remainder will come from the library and building funds.

The staff report estimates the two phases will be completed by the end of June. A

MENLOWE BALLET continued from page 3

outside in a big outdoor arena,” he recalled.

Mr. Savage has never lost his passion for jazzy improvisation, though he’s specific about what he’s looking for; it’s not just a question of hurling the body through space any old way.

The improvisation in “Bru’s Sweet,” for example, is structured, meaning he has given the dancers instructions for the mood and the style of movement he wants to see.

Lisa Shiveley, Menlowe Ballet’s executive director, described “Bru’s Sweet” as an exciting challenge for the company, particularly because of its improvisational passages. Creating movement spontaneously rather than following choreographed steps, Ms. Shiveley said, requires

that dancers “be both fierce and vulnerable. The risks they took in the studio will translate into a breathless experience for the audience,” she predicted.

Those who caught Menlowe Ballet’s “Legend” program in the fall will remember Mr. Lowe’s ethnic ballet, “The Legend of the Seven Suns,” a narrative dance adapted from an ancient Mongolian myth, complete with elaborate animal costumes and digital projections. That work will be restaged alongside Mr. Lowe’s newest work, “Playing Love.” The latter is a romantic ballet for 11 dancers that examines the nature of love, from romantic to sensual to mature.

The work is set to an orchestral score from Mongolia that features Asian instruments including the “morin khuur” or horsehead fiddle. A

Transportation advisers sought The San Mateo County Transportation Authority is seeking five volunteers to serve on its Citizen Advisory Committee, which advises the authority’s board on transportation projects and programs and the use of money collected under the

Measure A half-cent sales tax. The projects involve Caltrain, highways and streets, paratransit service, and walkways and bikeways.

April 3 is the deadline to apply.

Go to tinyurl.com/apply372 to download an application.

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Menlo Park plans next steps to improve rail crossing safety

By Sandy Brundage Almanac Staff Writer

P

eople disagree on whether railroad tracks should be elevated above the street or buried underground in Menlo Park, and whether it’s the rail crossing design or driver inattention that causes the most problems, but based on comments at recent meetings, everyone agrees: Even after the Feb. 23 fatal collision at the Ravenswood crossing, drivers still get stuck on the railroad tracks on a daily basis, and something needs to be done.

The council rail subcommittee, made up of Vice Mayor Rich Cline and Councilwoman Kirsten Keith, met March 18 to start answering the question of what can be done, both nearterm and long-term.

Caltrain representative Marian Lee said the rail agency had conducted a hazards assessment of the Ravenswood intersection a couple of months ago, and plans to meet with city officials in early April to further analyze the issues, but changes are at least 18 months away.

Ms. Keith said she thought that partnering with Caltrain would shorten the time frame, given the agency’s engineering expertise.

But Ms. Lee said the problem isn’t technical, it’s the amount of community outreach needed.

“It’s the level of dialogue that’s necessary,” Ms. Lee explained, adding that San Bruno, which now has elevated tracks, took 10 years to implement abovegrade crossings. Whatever

Drivers are getting stuck on the Ravenswood Avenue railroad crossing on a daily basis. solution Menlo Park chooses, “the expense is great” and will require a lot of fundraising, she said.

“You can say this is already a 10-year process,” Ms. Keith noted. Menlo Park first started looking at grade separations in 2002. Now, the city has a $750,000 grant from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority to study the Ravenswood crossing, and the rail subcommittee’s support for changing council policy to allow consideration of elevated tracks.

The expense will indeed be great: Transportation Manager Nikki Nagaya said that a 2009 study estimated the cost at $100 million to $400 million to elevate a two-track system at Ravenswood Avenue. Now, with Caltrain’s plans for electrification, the number of tracks could be increased to three or four, which along with inflation would raise the cost.

Mr. Cline noted that no one really discusses building a tunnel instead. “We wouldn’t be having these conversations if we tunnel ... It’s safer,” but the cost estimates scare everyone away, he said.

Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman said the district would love to partner with the city on

installing signal pre-emption technology so that the coordination of green lights on Ravenswood at El Camino Real with train traffic would help keep vehicles moving.

Other near-term options the city will evaluate: Q Adjusting the Ravenswood pedestrian crosswalk, which is about 105 feet away from the tracks. One possibility is moving the crosswalk farther from the intersection.

Q Posting electronic countdown signs that indicate when the next train will pass through the crossing.

Q Prohibiting left turns from Alma Street onto Ravenswood Avenue entirely, rather than just during commute hours.

Mr. Cline asked that a parking evaluation be included, as many of those now using Alma Street are patrons of the city’s gym; he suggested looking at whether they could be encouraged to park in a location that would reduce traffic on Alma Street.

Ms. Nagaya told the Almanac that many of the suggested near-term changes “would result in changes to local circulation patterns, so it’s important that we assess what those would be and understand how they may impact the community as we move forward in considering the modifications.”

For grade separations, she said, the amount of work that’s already been done may help expedite the city’s review.

Go to tinyurl.com/pvglwyo to view updates on the city’s website. A

Three arrested after police pursuit

By Sandy Brundage Almanac Staff Writer

T

hree men were taken into custody March 20 following a pursuit sparked by a resident who reported seeing a suspicious vehicle cruising along Bay Laurel Drive in Menlo Park shortly after 10 a.m., police reported.

The vehicle, a gray and black Buick Somerset, looked like one described as a suspicious vehicle on the neighborhood’s Nextdoor email group, the resident told police. Officers arrived to find the car occupied by one man, who was detained.

Meanwhile, police said, another resident had just interrupted two burglars by arriving home in the 1500 block of Bay Laurel

Drive. The suspects fled on foot, dropping bags of stolen property along the way, according to the police, who arrested a second man as the third leaped fences to escape.

Officers from Redwood City, Palo Alto, Atherton and the San Mateo County Sheriff ’s Office joined the pursuit. A county canine team located the remaining suspect around 11:40 a.m. in an Olive Street backyard. He ran, but encountered a Palo Alto officer’s Taser, which ended the chase, the report said.

Booked into county jail on suspicion of multiple charges, including burglary and possession of stolen property, were Juan Baca Jr., 18, of Redwood City; Alexander Ledwell, 18, of

Redwood City; and Salvador Reyes-Aguilar, 19, of South San Francisco.

Stolen property recovered from the vehicle has been linked to another burglary in the 1100 block of Hobart Street in Menlo Park on March 20, police said.

Among items recovered were jewelry, clothing, cash, electronics (computers and iPads), rifles, Airsoft weapons and a U.S. Army sword, police said.

Entry appeared to be through unlocked rear doors, police said.

There were no signs of forced entry.

Investigators ask that anyone with information about these incidents call Officer Louis Tommei at 330-6300 or the anonymous tipline at 330-6395. A

R EAL E STATE Q&A

by Monica Corman

Are Permits Necessary?

Dear Monica: I want to make an offer on a house but I read in the seller’s disclosure that several remodeling projects at the property were done without permits. Should I be concerned about this? Erica W. Dear Erica: Yes, you have reason for concern. The permit process is designed to ensure that certain work (plumbing, electrical, structural, et.al) is done according to current building codes. It is a minimal but important standard. If a homeowner bypasses the permit process, there is no assurance that the work was done properly. Non-permitted work casts a negative light on the

property and could have consequences in the future.

If unpermitted work is made known, a city or county can retroactively require the homeowner to obtain a permit and if so, the work done must conform to the most recent codes, not the ones in place at the time the project was originally done.

This doesn’t often happen but it can, and the result is costly for the owner. You should look at the total permit history. If most work was done with permits, and only minor projects were unpermitted, then the risk to you is not as great as it would be if permits were never obtained.

For answers to any questions you may have on real estate, you may e-mail me at mcorman@apr.com or call 462-1111, Alain Pinel Realtors.

I also offer a free market analysis of your property. www.MonicaCorman.com

Ruth Katherine Jackson June 3, 1921 – March 15, 2015 Ruth Ford Jackson, 93, died March 15, 2015 in Redwood City, California with family members by her side.

She was born Ruth Katherine Ford on June 3, 1921, to the late Ernest and Ruth Ford of Hebron and later Laurel, Mississippi.

Ruth graduated from high school in 1939 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi College in 1943.

While living in Laurel, she met the late Thomas Hardy Jackson Jr., whom she married in 1947. They remained married for 57 years until his death in 2004.

The family’s first home was in New Orleans. Thereafter, they lived in Natchez, MS, Venezuela and Atherton, CA. In retirement, Ruth and Hardy lived in Dallas, TX, and San Mateo, CA. Ruth was known for joyful and gracious hospitality. The Jacksons hosted parties for many groups — Hardy’s international business associates, their children’s friends, grandchildren, garden club, Bible study group, book club, and international students from nearby Stanford University.

With a love for travel and culture, she traveled around the world over a sixty-year period.

From her Mississippi family’s roots in farming, Ruth developed a love of gardening; she created a beautiful orchard and garden at her Atherton home.

Her vibrant personality, radiant smile and bright blue eyes never faded. Ruth’s signature call “Youhoo” will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Ruth is survived by four children: Deborah Jackson Cozzone of Marseille, France, and Singapore; Cynthia Jackson Mulit of St. Louis, Missouri, and Califon, New Jersey; Andree Jackson Schouten of Amstelveen, Netherlands, and Jakarta, Indonesia; and T. Hardy Jackson III of San Francisco, California. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Jennifer Cozzone of London, England; Christopher Cozzone of London, England, and Palo Alto, California; Matt Mulit of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Ashley Mulit of Budd Lake, New Jersey; and Marijke Schouten of South Hadley, Massachusetts, and Melbourne, Australia.

Funeral services were held in Laurel, Mississippi at Crestview Memorial Cemetery on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. She was laid to rest next to her husband, mother and father. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you remember Ruth’s love of people by reaching out to an old friend or by making a new friend.

PA I D

O B I T U A RY

March 25, 2015 Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q The Almanac Q 7

N E W S

Attend Stanford while living at home.

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to the police. “You can appreciate my frustration related to the outcomes here where lives were put at risk, our organization is being threatened with litigation, public property was damaged and one of my commanders, who has an exemplary driving record, missed a serious emergency incident where his job is to look out for the safety and well-being of our personnel who were responding to it,� Chief Schapelhouman said.

Menlo Park Police Cmdr.

Dave Bertini said the “failure to yield� citation for the battalion chief came after officers bounced around ideas of what would be most appropriate in light of the primary collision factors. “No one was cited at the scene.

When these things happen, we discuss it,� he said, particularly since the police officer that responded to the scene hadn’t gone through specialized accident investigation training. “We’re very aware of all the sections that we could have used.

The cause of the accident was really running the red light.�

While section 21806 of California’s vehicle code does require drivers to yield to emergency vehicles, he said, section 21807 states that someone behind the wheel of an emergency vehicle must still drive “with due regard for the safety of all persons and property.�

The Jetta’s unlicensed driver was not ticketed. “We’re under no obligation to cite anyone,� Cmdr. Bertini said, noting that the Department of Motor Vehicles may have taken action on its own. “People think police respond to all accident scenes and cite people ... but it’s discretionary.�

New policy

ASRB2014-0080 Planner: Sage Schaan, Senior Planner

Presentation and consideration of a proposal to demolish an existing service station/garage; construct a new service station building in a similar location; and install a hydrogen fueling dispenser, a fenced yard with the hydrogen supply and demonstration-level hydrogen production, and storage and compression equipment that is required to support dispenser operation. The project would utilize the existing septic system that services the property, which is located on the adjacent parcel to the west (APN 075-103-050). The ASRB provided a Conceptual Design Review of the project on March 16, 2015; and forwarded the application to staff for Formal Design Review. The Planning Commission shall make a Use Determination to decide if the proposed hydrogen fueling station XVH LV VXEVWDQWLDOO\ FRQVLVWHQW ZLWK WKH 7RZQ¡V GHÀQLWLRQ RI ´6HUYLFH 6WDWLRQ¾ DQG ÀQG WKDW WKH demonstration-level hydrogen production is consistent with General Plan Policy S1.2.a, Promote Green Energy.

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8 Q The Almanac Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q March 25, 2015

Lawsuit against fire district over crash is dismissed

According to Chief Schapelhouman, the district is impleDEPUTY continued from page 5

offense,� he said. “It’s extremely dangerous, considering that the driver making the pass can not always see what is beyond the car directly in front of them,� he wrote. “There are also the usual offenses, such as cell phone use, texting while driving, and no seatbelts being worn,� he wrote.

While those offenses may result in tickets, he said deputies are “most focused on the safety of

menting new procedures inspired by the collision. After consulting with the California Highway Patrol, he said, the new policy is that drivers must ensure each individual lane is clear first before proceeding into an intersection against a red light. “I hope this minor change will help,� the chief said, adding that when red lights are flashing and sirens sounding, seconds can make a difference.

The district is also thinking about putting dashboard cameras in its emergency vehicles. “Given our traffic challenges, I want to start documenting how difficult and dangerous it can be for our first responders,� he said.

The fire district’s board of directors will receive a study in May related to traffic issues and response times. With more vehicles hitting the road as new projects get built and the economy continues to improve, firefighters at times have found their response delayed by traffic congestion.

Chief Schapelhouman seemed frustrated that development planning, such as the zoning update underway for Menlo Park’s M2 industrial zone, doesn’t include an analysis of how emergency response will be affected. “This seems to be a significant problem as these consultants present a landscape where suggestions and options related to transportation changes have little to do with the reality of the emergency first responders and the primary response routes that they rely on to adequately service the community,� Chief Schapelhouman said. “It’s all about striking a balance between what is desired, needed, practical and a daily reality and necessity. I’m all for improvements and change, but they have to make sense.� A

Drivers need to be especially aware of children. the students getting to and from school.�

He warned that “deputies will be out and about enforcing these codes during drop-off and pickup, and making sure that everyone in the area is acting in a safe manner. That includes vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.� A

N E W S

Complaint about creekside spraying draws quick response in Menlo Park

By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer

S

ometimes local government does work. Menlo Park responded last week to a neighbor’s report that herbicides were being sprayed near a local creek by tracking down the culprit and immediately restricting future spraying in the city. The resident wants even more restrictions, however.

Janet Davis was aghast when she saw a tanker truck and a man spraying what she thought was an herbicide near a trail along San Francisquito Creek, near Alpine Road and Junipero Serra Boulevard

in Menlo Park on Tuesday, March 17.

Ms. Davis, a resident of the Stanford Weekend Acres neighborhood, fired off an email to the Menlo Park City Council, county supervisor Don Horsley and, for good measure, Portola Valley environmentalist Lennie Roberts.

Her email said the herbicide would be washed into the water. “Even the county has stopped doing this,” she wrote.

“This is idiotic. One man (or at least one WOMAN) with a hoe could do the job in half an hour.”

At first, Menlo Park officials said they could not figure out who was responsible.

New policy prohibits spraying near waterways.

But when Menlo Park Director of Public Works Jesse Quirion heard that the man doing the spraying had told another neighbor that he was working for Menlo Park, he did some more digging.

“I apologize for the previous inaccurate information,” Mr. Quirion said on March 19. “I was notified yesterday afternoon that the spraying that occurred was performed by the landscape company Gachina

Caltrans cancels second herbicide spray

By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer

T

he California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which had said it would spray herbicides along Highway 84 west of Skyline Boulevard on March 17 and March 24, now says the job was completed in one day and canceled the second spray date.

Caltrans spokesperson Allyn Amsk said on March 19 that “herbicide spraying was completed on Tuesday.”

Local residents, who have formed a group called “Protect Our Watershed,” have protested Caltrans’ spraying, saying they fear it will pollute local water sources and harm the health of

local residents and others who use the roads, such as cyclists, and animals who come in contact with the spray.

They have asked Caltrans to honor San Mateo County’s decision in 2012 to end broadcast spraying of herbicides by the county everywhere except at its two airports.

The group has a petition on Change.org, which had more than 250 signatures as of March 20.

Go to tinyurl.com/change320 for more information on the petition.

Caltrans spokeswoman Gidget Navarro earlier said the herbicide spraying takes place only once a year. She issued a statement from Caltrans saying the state agency would continue spraying

because Caltrans could not safely mow the weeds that needed to be removed for safety purposes.

Caltrans does not spray herbicides in several other counties where it had been asked to use alternative weed removal methods. A

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A

26-year-old man pulled over by Menlo Park police for a traffic stop in what turned out to be a stolen truck pleaded not guilty to multiple charges on March 17.

Julio Moreno Lopez of East Palo Alto was stopped by Menlo Park police for a traffic violation around 7:30 p.m. on March 12, according to the report.

Upon finding that Mr. Lopez was allegedly driving on a suspended license, police called the registered owner of the truck — who said the vehicle had just been stolen from the driveway of his Menlo Oaks Drive home,

striking another car on the way.

The house had also reportedly been ransacked. A bottle of wine taken from the scene was said to be found in the truck, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Lopez allegedly told police that a man named “Frog” had given him the truck, but was unable to provide a full name or address for his benefactor, the DA said.

He pleaded not guilty in San Mateo County Superior Court to burglary, receiving stolen property, joyriding, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving on a suspended license. Represented by the private defenders program, Mr. Lopez remains in custody on $50,000 bail, according to the DA. A

Mr. Quirion said Menlo Park in June restricted the use of Roundup within 100 feet of schools, daycare facilities, picnic areas and playgrounds and is looking into different ways to kill weeds that the city could use to modify its 1998 Integrated Pest Management policy, he said.

The draft of Menlo Park’s pest management plan, which is being modified to conform with stricter water safety standards, should come before the council

by May, he said.

Ms. Davis said she feels the city needs to do even more.

Even an herbicide sprayed 100 feet from a waterway “still flows down to the creek and is lethal to aquatic life” she said.

“There also needs to be public notification several days ahead of ANY intention to spray ANY area,” she wrote to the city. A

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who is contracted by the city of Menlo Park.”

Mr. Quirion said the mix-up has led to a new city policy.

“Due to the lack of information about who was spraying, I am from this point forward restricting the use by city staff and city contractors of any and all pesticides within a 100’ range of waterways, creeks and/or canals and requiring all city contractors to notify city staff in writing at least 24 hours in advance of any uses of pesticides,” he said.

Herbicides, which kill plants, are considered pesticides, as are substances that kill insects.

“I agree that the use of pesticides directly adjacent to the canal is unacceptable and I am grateful for the residents bringing this to our attention so that we are able to address it and prevent it from occurring again,” Mr. Quirion said.

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N E W S

Q P O LI C E C A LL S This information is based on reports from the Menlo Park Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Under the law, people charged with offenses are considered innocent unless convicted.

Police received the reports on the dates shown.

MENLO PARK

WOODSIDE

Auto burglaries:

Suspicious circumstances: A couple living on Family Farm Road reported arriving home and seeing an unfamiliar man walking nearby. When they stopped to inquire as to his name and purpose, the man ran into a wooded area. Deputies were unable to locate him.

March 3.

Fraud: Residents of a home on Woodside Road discovered that a tax return had been falsely filed in their name using their Social Security numbers. March 6.

Solo accident: A man driving west on Highway 84 near Friars Lane left the road and ran into a dirt embankment that flipped his vehicle, leaving him with his “right hand pinned between the roof and the roadway” until released by first responders. March 3.

NORTH FAIR OAKS Residential burglary: A resident of 7th Avenue came home to find kitchen drawers open, the master bedroom ransacked, and a surveillance camera unplugged. The burglar stole loan documents, family passports and $2,500 in cash. March 5.

Burglary tool possession: Deputies arrested and booked into jail a Hayward woman in the 300 block of Middlefield Road on charges of possession of burglary tools — specifically a “window punch” — that she claimed was not hers, and of possession of metal knuckles, which she said she kept in her purse for her protection. She was on probation, which allowed officers to search her belongings. March 7.

PORTOLA VALLEY Solo bike accident: Two people in a vehicle heading north on Willowbrook Drive witnessed a southbound cyclist veer toward the roadside, strike a raised curb, head off the road, then hit a “landscape timber” raised about 6 inches above ground, thereby damaging the bike’s front wheel. The cyclist had moderate injuries to his face and abrasions on his legs, which medics treated before taking him to the hospital. March 3.

Residential burglary: Burglars entered a house on Stanford Avenue through an unlocked rear door and stole two computers, three watches and a safe containing “valuable documents and monetary bonds.”

Estimated loss: $11,950. March 16.

Q Someone broke a window on a vehicle parked in

the 500 block of El Camino Real and stole a jacket and a backpack with bike-riding clothing and accessories inside. Estimated loss: $756. March 19.

Q A vehicle parked in the 500 block of Willow road

was found with a window smashed. No estimate on losses. March 17.

Thefts:

Q A thief took a purse from an unlocked vehicle

parked on Oak Grove Avenue. Estimated loss: $1,150.

March 19.

Q An unlocked vehicle parked on Eastridge Avenue was robbed of a wallet, a radio, a pair of shoes and other items. Estimated loss: $910. March 18.

Q Someone stole a backpack from a student at Oak

Knoll School. Inside was a cellphone, $20 in cash and a school jacket. Estimated loss: $746. March 19.

Q A thief cut the lock from a bicycle located on the balcony of an apartment on Sharon Park Drive and stole the bike. Estimated loss: $600. March 17.

Q Someone stole the stereo faceplate from an

unlocked vehicle parked in the 600 block of Willow Road. Estimated loss: $300. March 19.

Q Mail was stolen from an unlocked mailbox on Harvard Avenue. No estimate of losses. March 13.

Q A library patron left a USB drive in a public computer there and returned to find that it had been stolen.

No estimate on losses. March 16.

Fraud: A resident of Santa Cruz Avenue responding to a pop-up advertisement, seemingly from Apple Computer, gave out personal information and paid $700 to get “lifetime protection from computer hackers.” March 19.

Stolen vehicle: A green 2005 Subaru Impreza was taken from in front of a house on Pope Street. March 15.

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Water snafu affects 3,500 Menlo Park customers Untreated water was mixed with treated water in an East Bay reservoir and then went on to the regional water system, which delivers to an estimated 3,500 customers of the Menlo Park Municipal Water District, according to the city, which issued a written statement about the incident on March 20.

A valve was left open on March 3 by San Francisco Public Utilities workers at the San Antonio Reservoir, according to the announcement. Blending with the treated water provided some disinfection and customers have no need to take any actions such as boiling water before using it.

The SFPUC has transferred the remaining affected water to a different reservoir for further treatment, the city said.

Call 330-6750 or email water@ menlopark.org for more information. The SFPUC is available at (866) 973-1476.

Easter egg hunts Menlo Park will host two free Easter egg hunts on Saturday, April 4. One will be held at Burgess Park at 701 Laurel St. from 10 a.m. to noon. The second will

Q M E N LO B R I E F S

be held the same day and time at Kelly Park, located at 100 Terminal Ave. Both events include visits from the Easter Bunny, crafts, a jelly-bean guessing game and other activities.

In Atherton, the Friends of Holbrook-Palmer Park will also hold an Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to noon for children ages 10 and under. There will be photos with the Easter Bunny, a magic show and breakfast treats.

Proceeds benefit the park, located at 150 Watkins Ave. in Atherton.

Admission is $10.

Visitors from Ireland The mayor of Galway, Ireland, Donal Lyons, arrived in Menlo Park on March 11 for a four-day tour of businesses, including Facebook, and hospitality, including Left Bank restaurant. Accompanied by Galway chief executive (similar to city manager) Brendan McGrath, he had lunch at Hewlett-Packard, which displayed the Irish flag in the lobby.

Menlo Park and Galway signed a friendship agreement in 2013.

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March 25, 2015 Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q The Almanac Q 13

N E W S

Man not guilty of officer assault

By Sandy Brundage Almanac Staff Writer

A

jury delivered a “not guilty” verdict in the case of a 65-year-old Menlo Park man charged with hitting a code enforcement officer with a pickup truck on purpose.

Jerry Jenkins was arrested July 9, 2014, for alleged assault with a deadly weapon. A code enforcement officer who had previously cited him for conducting illegal automobile repairs in his yard had gone to his Henderson Avenue residence late that afternoon to further document the activity, according to the District

Attorney’s Office.

During the ensuing discussion, Mr. Jenkins got into his 1966 Chevy pickup truck and as he was backing up, knocked the officer down. She was treated at Stanford Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

In San Mateo County Superior Court on March 16, the jury found him not guilty of felony assault as well as misdemeanor assault. Represented by attorney Tom Kelley, Mr. Jenkins argued that he had not seen the officer and the incident was an accident.

District Attorney Steve Wag-

staffe said the jury returned a verdict after deliberating for only an hour and a half.

“The jury fairly quickly found him not guilty and accepted his defense that he wasn’t trying to hit anyone,” Mr. Wagstaffe said. “That’s why there’s juries. Every now and then they surprise us.”

Mr. Kelley said he was happy for his client, whom he described as a very nice man. “I’m really happy that the jury did the right thing. This is a case that should not have been brought,” the defense attorney said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Police look for vehicle burglary suspect Atherton police are looking for a man they suspect has committed a series of vehicle burglaries in town recently.

The burglaries occurred in an area including Valparaiso Avenue, Watkins Avenue and Nora Way. Vehicles on Fairview Avenue, Austin Avenue and Shearer Drive were also tampered with on March 17.

In one of the incidents,

which took place at Menlo School, a man was chased from the scene by security officers, but not caught, police said. The man is described as Asian, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing 185 pounds, with a thin build. He was wearing a blue denim jacket and a baseball cap.

As he ran, the man discarded stolen items, which were recov-

Local schools score high in academic decathlon

By Erin Glanville Special to the Almanac

C

an you answer these questions?

1. What female artist made high-impact pieces using black and white photos mixed with text that chronicled her observations about racial and gender stereotypes? A) Nan Goldin B) Diane Arbus C) Lorna Simpson D) Gillian Wearing.

2. Which pattern of natural selection describes changes in population genetics in which the extreme forms of a trait are favored? A) directional selection B) disruptive selection C) artificial selection D) stabilizing selection.

(Answers are at the bottom of this story.)

Students from two Menlo Park schools competing in the California Catholic Schools Academic Junior High Decathlon knew the answers to those questions. Their intensive preparation enabled St. Raymond to take first place and Nativity School, second place, in overall scoring at the event held March 7 in Redwood City.

The decathlon is a day-long competition for students in grades 6-8. There are 10 events, two of which are a team effort: an hour-long logic quiz and a “SuperQuiz” made up of 50 questions related to social studies, science, fine arts, literature and religion. In addition, there are eight individual tests on mathematics, religion, English, literature, science, current events, social studies, and fine arts.

Awards are given for individual and team performance, and the winning school team from each geographic diocese competes in a state championship that will be held April 18 in Sacramento.

Other schools that competed included All Souls, in South San Francisco; Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires, St. Gabriel, St. Vincent de Paul, Saint Peter and Paul School, and School of the Epiphany, all in San Francisco; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Belmont; Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Pius, both of Redwood City; and St. Charles, San Carlos.

To prepare for the grueling event, students at both Menlo Park schools met with coaches

14 Q The Almanac Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q March 25, 2015

ered, police said.

Atherton police ask that anyone who sees a man matching t he description call them immediately at (650) 688-6500.

In the March 17 incident, no items were taken from the vehicles but the owners said their glove boxes had been rummaged through. A — Barbara Wood and teachers before and after school, at lunch, and on weekends for five months.

St. Raymond took top honors with an overall first-place finish after correctly answering 50 out of 50 SuperQuiz questions and earning a third-place finish in logic. Students at the school took home these individual awards: first place, religion and current events; second place, math, social studies and English; third place, fine arts.

St. Raymond team members were Christian Powell, Ronan MacRunnels, Thaddeus Sison, Sebi Marshall, Leslie Duke, Isa Robinson, Dylan Huey, Matthew Huo, Lexi Bundy, Maggie Leahy, Kevin King, James Garrow and Max Zieger.

Nativity School earned an overall second-place finish, correctly answering 49 out of 50 SuperQuiz questions, and received these individual awards: first place, science; second place, current events and fine arts; third place, social studies.

Nativity team members were Jackson Mar, Diego Stone, Phoebe Wong, McKaela Glanville, James Cuff-Alvarado, Luke Edward Harding Bradley, Amelia Rajakumar, Quinn Meinhardt, Lauren Roque, Casey Chamberlain, and Leia Bonifacio. A Answers to questions at the top: C & B.

Kristen Gracia named Oak Knoll principal Kristen Gracia, who has been serving as an interim coprincipal at Menlo Park’s Oak Knoll School, has been named its new principal.

Ms. Gracia, who has worked for the Menlo Park City School District for 16 years starting as a teacher before becoming an administrator, will need to receive formal approval for her new position from the district’s governing board, which meets April 14.

She was a vice principal at Oak Knoll before becoming interim co-principal.

Erik Burmeister, who is filling in for Superintendent Maurice Ghysels until he returns from a medical leave, said Ms. Gracia “has proven herself to be knowledgeable about effective teaching practices, willing to coach and mentor colleagues, committed to equity and diversity, and devoted to the mindsets that allow systems to innovate and people to evolve.”

Photo courtesy Menlo Park City School District

Kristen Gracia is a 16-year veteran of the Menlo Park City School District.

Mr. Burmeister said Ms. Gracia’s efforts as vice principal “led the student-centered instruction and positive climate and culture for which Oak Knoll is so well known.”

Teachers, support staff, parents, site and district administrators, and board members all participated in the search process, Mr. Burmeister said. A — Barbara Wood

Carbon theme of Earth Fair for Portola Valley, Woodside

By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer

W

ith a theme of “Carbon: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” for the 2015 Earth Fair for Portola Valley and Woodside, it should be no surprise that cars that run on fuels not derived from fossilized carbon will be on display.

The fair is set for Saturday, March 28, at 521 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside on the grounds of the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County. Cars planned for display with their hoods open are a Tesla, a factory-built electric BMW, and a vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, says fair organizer Jason Mendelson of Woodside’s Sustainability and Conservation Committee.

In keeping with the equestrian aspect of the location, the fair will include activities involving horses and horse-related matters, including horse manure and its uses in gardening, Mr. Mendelson says.

A team of vaulters doing gymnastics on horses’ backs is expected, he says. Connections will be drawn between horses and green lifestyles.

Both towns will honor one or more residents with envi-

Q I N F OR M ATI ON

What: Woodside Portola Valley Earth Fair When: Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Woodside Mounted Patrol Grounds, 521 Kings Mountain Road, Woodside Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the gate

ronmental champion awards.

It will be the first such award for Portola Valley and the 15th for Woodside, Mr. Mendelson says.

Woodside will be recognizing previous environmental champions, including Ollie Mayer and Debbie Mendelson in 2001, Howard Rathlesberger in 2002, Jeanne Dickey and Nancy Gonzalez in 2004, Carroll Ann Hodges and Shirley Weinman in 2006, Virginia Dare in 2008, Peggie MacLeod 2010 and Nancy Reyering in 2013.

Tickets, including a food voucher, are $10 in advance and will be available until Friday, March 27, at the town halls in Woodside and Portola Valley. At the gate, tickets will be $12. A

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March 25, 2015 Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q The Almanac Q 15

N E W S

$5M food-for-kids drive launched Second Harvest Food Bank is launching a $5 million Stand Up for Kids Campaign by partnering with schools and community organizations to better connect hungry kids and their families to nutritious food.

The campaign is co-chaired by several high-tech executives, including Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook; John Donahoe, CEO of eBay Inc.; and Mike

Schroepfer, chief technology officer at Facebook. “There is real hunger in our neighborhoods, including in the working families that are struggling to make ends meet,” Ms. Sandberg said.

The campaign will support Second Harvest’s work with schools, such as providing a school pantry onsite or connecting families to additional food resources. The food bank

says its partners with 330 agencies to provide food at 770 sites, including schools, afterschool programs, pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

One in three children in San Mateo County struggles with hunger, according to Second Harvest. Nearly 100,000 children rely on Second Harvest for food every month.

Visit SHFB.org or call 866234-3663 for more information.

Deputies warn of home-repair scam Residents of San Mateo County should be wary of scams involving door-to-door solicitations by people claiming to be in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning repair business, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

The scam involves residents who have had legitimate work done at their homes recently, deputies said. The “technicians” claim to be coming by to do a follow-up inspection.

The recent work is typically found to be in need of repair and the resident is charged for work not actually done. Some residents have been burglarized, deputies said.

Residents are advised to call 911 when suspicious of a scam, and to check repair persons’ credentials by visiting the company where they purportedly work or calling the company’s publicly available phone number.

Peninsula Easter Services Celebrate the Resurrection Sunday April 5 9:15 am Light Brunch and Egg Hunt 10:00 am Family ily Worship Worship First Baptist Church • 1100 Middle Ave Menlo Park (650) 323 8544 • www.firstbaptist.com

CHRIST CHURCH

The Episcopal Parish of Portola Valley & Woodside

Saturday April 4: Children’s Eucharist @ 4 p.m.

Sunday April 5: Sung Eucharist @ 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.

815 Portola Road, Portola Valley; tel. (650) 851-0224 www.ccpvw.org www.facebook.com/ccpvw

Egg hunts on both days!

Holy Week & Easter

St. Bede’s Episcopal Church 2650 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park

3149 Waverley Street • Palo Alto, CA 94306 | www.gracepa.org | 650.494.1212

www.stbedesmenlopark.org Maundy Thursday, April 2 7:30pm Communion, foot washing Good Friday, April 3 noon & 7:30pm Liturgy Holy Saturday, April 4 7:30pm Great Vigil of Easter Easter Sunday, April 5 8:00am & 10:15am Communion w/organ,trumpet,choir 11:30am Egg hunt, Brunch buffet Nursery available 10-11:30am

Celebr C Cel l brate E East stter! ster ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH PALO ALTO Maundy Thursday— April 2 Y 6:15pm m

Monastic Supper & Liturgy of the Word followed

by Holy Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday — April 3 Y Noon to 2:00pm A service focused on "The Adversaries and Companions of Jesus" Y 2:00 to 3:00pm Devotional Labyrinth Meditation Y 7:30 to 8:30pm Tenebrae: The Office of Shadows

Easter — April 5 Y 5:30am Y 8:00 to 9:30am Y 10:00am

Easter Vigil, Eucharist & Baptism Festive Breakfast & Family Easter Activities Festive Holy Eucharist

600 Colorado Ave, P.A. (650) 326-3800 www.saint-marks.com

16 Q The Almanac Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q March 25, 2015

N E W S

Truck smashes through glass door; cop chases, captures suspect After a silver Nissan pickup truck smashed the rear glass door of Mike’s Camera in downtown Menlo Park early Sunday morning, March 22, police chased and captured a 46-yearold burglary suspect a short distance away.

Joshua Nelson, identified as a transient from San Francisco, was arrested and booked into San Mateo County jail on multiple counts, including commercial burglary, possession

of stolen property, and an outstanding warrant, police said.

Officers said they are investigating whether this incident is related to other recent “smash and grab” burglaries throughout the Bay Area.

At 5:08 a.m. Sunday, Menlo Park police received a call from a night-shift employee at a business in the 700 block of Menlo Ave., reporting that a truck had backed through the rear glass door of the camera shop at 715

The first officer on the scene said he saw a man trying to enter Mike’s Camera by climbing over a broken interior security gate.

Santa Cruz Ave. The caller said two people were attempting to enter the business.

Police said they responded within 40 seconds of the call.

The first officer on the scene said he saw a man trying to enter Mike’s Camera by climbing over a broken interior security gate.

Upon seeing the officer, the man fled on foot westbound through the parking lot, police said. The officer said he chased and captured the man a short distance away.

More officers from Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Atherton,

and San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies, assisted in a search for more suspects, but none was found.

Police said a records check showed the pickup truck was reported stolen in San Francisco.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Menlo Park Police Department at (650) 330-6300 or the department’s anonymous tip line at (650) 330-6395. A

Peninsula Easter Services Join Us For Easter

Easter Sunday, April 5 6:30 am in the Memorial Garden 8:3 30 am* & 10:30 am* in Church with Festival Choir

Join Us for Easter!

Community Worship Service

*Indicates child care available

330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park (650) 326-2083 www.trinitymenlopark.org

10:30am, Sanctuary

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

Holy Week Services

11:30am, Courtyard www.fprespa.org • 1140 Cowper St. • 650-325-5659

April 2

6:00 pm

Seder Dinner

April 3

Noon & 7:00 pm

Good Friday Services

April 5

9:30 am

Easter Festival Service

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt after the service!

Peninsula Easter Services is a resource for ongoing religious services and special events.

To inquire about or to reserve space in Peninsula Easter Services, please contact Blanca Yoc at 223-6596 or email byoc@ paweekly.com

Bethany B th LLutheran th Ch Churchh

VALLEYY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Riiss k for Ris for fo or th the he Jour he ourney ou u rn urn rney ney ney

Join Us on Easter Sunday!

Easter Sunrise Service 6:15am Easter Services 9:00 & 11:00am Valley Presbyterian Church 945 Portola Road, Portola Valley www.valleypreschurch.org 650-851-8282

1095 Cloud Avenue, Menlo Park 650.854.5897 www.bethany-mp.org

HOLY WEEK SERVICES March 29, Palm Sunday – Worship at 9:30 A.M. April 2, Maundy Thursday – 6:30 P.M. Passover meal April 3, Good Friday – 7:00 P.M. in the sanctuary, choir and readers present Wondrous Love by Lloyd Larson April 5, Easter Worship at 9:30 A.M.

Re d Ama Zenya, Reverend Zeny Ze nya, Pas Pastor Pa tor Reverend Dorothy Re hy Straks, St Minister of Music Musi c Woodside Village Church 3154 Woodside Road, Woodside

650.851.1587 www.wvchurch.org

March 25, 2015 Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q The Almanac Q 17

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WEST BAY SANITARY DISTRICT 500 LAUREL STREET MENLO PARK, CA 94025 NOTICE IS GIVEN that the District Board of West Bay Sanitary District will conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board Room located at 500 Laurel Street, Menlo Park.

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to consider a proposed increase in sewer services charges for fiscal year 2015/2016.

Additional information is available through the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website (www.westbaysanitary.org) and on the official notice that was mailed to every parcel address that pays District rates.

The annual sewer service charge will increase from $893 per single family residence to $973 in fiscal year 2015/2016.

Approximately 60 homes in the Portola Valley area (located within the On-Site Wastewater Disposal Zone) who pay higher charges for the maintenance of the STEP or Grinder Sewer Collection Systems they require will increase from $1,136 per single family residence to $1,238 in fiscal year 2015/2016. Non-residential rates will increase proportionately. The increased charges are required to fund needed maintenance to the sewer system and to the Silicon Valley Clean Water regional wastewater treatment plant.

Protests against the proposed rate increase must be submitted in writing and signed by the property owner, must identify the owner(s) of the property for which the protest is entered, and must include the property address and assessorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parcel number (APN).

/s/ Phil Scott Phil Scott District Manager

Good for Business. Good for You. Good for the Community.

18 Q The Almanac Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q March 25, 2015

Director of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry named Gary Lindsay is the new director of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, where he will be serving more than 2,000 families.

Pastor Lindsay was childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pastor at Irving Bible School in Irving, Texas, for the past eight years. He previously served as childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minister at Grace Baptist Church in Hudson, Massachusetts, and director of Christian education at South United Methodist Church in Manchester, Connecticut.

He holds a degree in hotel management from the University of Johannesburg, in Johannesburg, South Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The growing number of families at MPPPC is a key part of our outreach, especially since many of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s families live under high pressure,â&#x20AC;? said Charley Scandlyn, Menlo Park campus pastor.

Menlo Park Presbyterian Church has campuses in San Mateo, Mountain View and San Jose, as well as in Menlo Park. More than 5,000 people attend the church each weekend.

Gary Lindsay, Menlo Park Presbyterian Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new director of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry, is shown with his wife, Heidi, and children Rebekah and Brendan.

Hydrogen fuel station planned for Skylonda continued from page 5

No hydrogen cars?

The Skylonda stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hydrogen processor would produce only as much fuel as its storage system can hold â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about 100 kilograms. The hydrogen production happens slowly. Over a day, the station could fill about 20 cars, or about three cars per hour, Mr. Boyd said. A fill-up of four to five kilos would take a car 300 miles and cost between $40 and $50.

Why such a remote location for a product that is both new and without a customer base? The Energy Commission determined that it wanted a station in Woodside, based on a study done at the University of California at Davis, Mr. Armstrong said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess they feel that the Woodside area will be early adopters.â&#x20AC;?

While the customer base may be small for some time, a key mission will be educating people on the equipment, the technology and the challenges of using hydrogen as a fuel, Mr. Armstrong said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From our perspective, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a

unique location,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one knows where the drivers are going to be.â&#x20AC;? Hydrogen-powered cars are â&#x20AC;&#x153;incredibly well engineered,â&#x20AC;? he said, and safer than gasoline-powered cars. Hydrogen fuel is an essential component of the steps to address air pollution and climate change.

The state Environmental Protection Agency predicts 6,650 hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road by 2017, and three times that many by 2020. Toyota Motor Corp. already offers a sedan, the Mirai, that is expected to take to California roads this year, according to Car and Driver Magazine.

Safety

The Energy Commission, which is subsidizing the placement of hydrogen stations up and down the state, considers gasoline service stations as right for the hydrogen technology, Mr. Schaan said.

Mr. Boyd concurred, saying that co-location has the approval of the state fire marshal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no risk to the public, no risk to the neighborhood,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Denise Enea, fire marshal for the Woodside Fire Protection District, said in an email that her office is involved and will be overseeing the project with respect to permits, safety, adherence to state and local codes, and firefighter training.

There is a perceived high level of risk around hydrogen, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unrealistic, Mr. Boyd said, noting that pure oxygen is more dangerous. Hydrogen as a fuel is also nontoxic; the only byproduct is water, he said.

When the German airship Hindenburg caught fire in 1937 over New Jersey, the spectacular flames came from the skin of the zeppelin, not the hydrogen, Mr. Armstrong noted. The hydrogen, a gas, immediately dispersed into the air.

The station would produce at least 33 percent of its hydrogen from renewable sources, Mr. Boyd said. The Skylonda station would have a small electrolyzer producing hydrogen from water and would acquire the rest from sources that use solar-powered electrolysis, he said. A

Portola Valley: Spanish instruction for all students The Portola Valley School Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will provide Spanish language instruction to all district students, from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, starting this fall.

The districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world language task force recommended the program, Superintendent Lisa Gonzales said in her announcement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The recommendations came from a review of literature, best practices for world language instruction, data from PVSD

parent surveys, staff input, and administration input,â&#x20AC;? Ms. Gonzales said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nurturing connected, global citizens is built into our district strategic plan and language instruction is one component that will help us address it.â&#x20AC;?

Ms. Gonzales said each of the two district schools will hire one new teacher, but details of the program are still being worked out.

In transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade

students will have Spanish for 20 minutes twice a week; in second and third grade, 30 minutes twice a week; and in fourth and fourth and fifth grade, 50 minutes once a week. Students in sixth through eighth grades may choose Spanish as an elective.

Ms. Gonzalez promised that â&#x20AC;&#x153;careful consideration (will be) given to the minutes of library, music, art, and other activities during the instructional day,â&#x20AC;? as schedules are set.

Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside for 49 years.

Viewpoint IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES

NEWSROOM Editor Richard Hine (223-6525) Associate Editor Renee Batti (223-6528) Lifestyles Editor Jane Knoerle Staff Writers Dave Boyce (223-6527), Sandy Brundage (223-6529), Barbara Wood (223-6533) Contributors Marjorie Mader, Kate Daly Special Sections Editor Carol Blitzer (223-6511) Photographer Michelle Le (223-6530) DESIGN & PRODUCTION Marketing and Creative Director Shannon Corey (223-6560) Design and Production Manager Lili Cao (223-6562) Designers Linda Atilano, Kristin Brown, Diane Haas, Rosanna Leung, Paul Llewellyn, Douglas Young ADVERTISING Vice President Sales and Marketing Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) Display Advertising Sales Carina Rodriguez (223-6577) Real Estate Manager Neal Fine (223-6583) Real Estate & Advertising Coordinator Diane Martin (223-6584) Legal Advertising Alicia Santillan (223-6578) ADVERTISING SERVICES Advertising Services Manager Jennifer Lindberg (223-6595) Sales & Production Coordinators Dorothy Hassett (223-6597), Blanca Yoc (223-6596) Published every Wednesday at 3525 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025 Newsroom: (650) 223-6525 Newsroom Fax: (650) 223-7525 Advertising: (650) 854-2626 Advertising Fax: (650) 223-7570 Email news and photos with captions to: Editor@AlmanacNews.com Email letters to: letters@AlmanacNews.com The Almanac, established in October 1965, is delivered each week to residents of Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside and adjacent unincorporated areas of southern San Mateo County. The Almanac is qualified by decree of the Superior Court of San Mateo County to publish public notices of a governmental and legal nature, as stated in Decree No. 147530, issued December 21, 1969. ©2014 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved.

Subscriptions are $60 for one year and $100 for two years. Go to AlmanacNews.com/circulation.

Q WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? All letters must include a home address and contact phone number. Published letters will also appear on the web site, www.TheAlmanacOnline.com, and occasionally on the Town Square forum.

Town Square forum Post your views on the Town Square forum at AlmanacNews.com Email your views to: letters@almanacnews.com and note this it is a letter to the editor in the subject line.

Mail

or deliver to: Editor, The Almanac 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas Menlo Park, CA 94025

Call

the Viewpoint desk at 223-6528.

Kudos to watchdog and city, but issue unresolved

S

ome know Janet Davis of the Stanford Weekend Acres learned that the company spraying the herbicide had been conneighborhood as a watchdog of public works and traffic- tracted by the city. Mr. Quirion added that as a result of this related services provided by the county and the city of glitch, he’s put a new rule into place restricting the use by city Menlo Park in the Alpine Road area. And some in those govern- staff and city contractors of all pesticides/herbicides within a ment agencies may consider the watchdog a pitbull. However 100-foot range of waterways, and requiring formal notification anyone wants to characterize her, Ms. Davis deserves a round 24 hours in advance of intended spraying.

This is the latest restriction the city has put on the use of pesof applause for her relentlessness in helping to track down the truth of the March 17 herbicide spraying right next to San ticides such as Roundup. Last year, it restricted its use within a 100-foot range of day care centers, schools, picFrancisquito Creek. nic areas and playgrounds. But do the restricThe episode is an example of how easy it is for ED ITORIA L tions go far enough? A growing number of wires to get crossed when city outsourcing of The opinion of The Almanac jurisdictions are banning the use of such sprayservices results in less oversight by professional ing in public spaces out of concern for possible staff over companies hired to take on the projects. But it also exemplifies how the conscientious pros in City Hall harm to humans, wildlife and the environment. San Mateo can spring into action when a problem is called to their attention. County is one such public agency, but the restriction applies The story unfolded when Ms. Davis witnessed a tanker truck only to unincorporated land, and Caltrans is exempt from the next to the creek at Alpine Road and Junipero Serra Boulevard ban — a situation that’s causing more than a little unrest among spraying what she believed to be herbicide. She dashed off an residents in the Skyline area these days.

Menlo Park’s Environmental Quality Commission is scheduled email to City Council members, among others, noting the proximity of the spraying to the creek, and adding the understate- to review the city’s policy on spraying in April, Mr. Quirion said, and if changes are called for, a revised policy should reach the ment: “This is idiotic.”

Councilwoman Kirsten Keith copied her response asking for City Council in May. Restricting the use of spray within a certain more information to the city’s staff, getting the ball rolling for distance from sensitive areas is a good start for city officials. But Public Works Director Jesse Quirion to check into it. Mr. Quirion with growing evidence of the harm toxic sprays cause to organinitially determined that it was not a city crew that applied the isms — including humans — that are not their intended target, spray, and he took the extra steps of checking with Stanford, Palo a complete review of spraying in public spaces should be on the Alto and the county to try to pinpoint the responsible party. That agenda.

As we urged Caltrans to do regarding its spraying on Skyline, effort produced no answers.

But Ms. Davis’ persistence produced another resident’s state- the city needs to look at alternatives to spraying. If it decides to ment that she had talked to the man spraying the toxic, and he continue controlling weeds with toxic sprays, it must explain to said he was hired by Menlo Park. And sure enough, Mr. Quirion residents why the perceived need to spray in the public space followed up with an apology and new information: He had just should outweigh public health concerns. A

LETTE RS Our readers write

Support for change in Filoli management Editor: Hurray for your call for the dismissal of Filoli’s manager!

Your editorial fully explains my sentiments.

Jim Lipman Palmer Lane, Portola Valley

What’s on your mind?

From City Hall politics and the schools to transportation and other pressing issues, the Almanac aims to keep readers informed about their community. But we also want to hear from you.

Tell us what’s on your mind by sending your letters to letters@AlmanacNews.com. Or snail-mail them to: The Almanac, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306.

Looking back “Tranquil Menlo Park wasn’t Gertrude Atherton’s cup of tea,” write Michael Svanevik and Shirley Burgett in their Menlo Park history book, “Beyond the Gate.” The San Francisco-born Ms. Atherton, shown in this portrait, found life sleep-inducingly dull in the town she moved to around 1877 after eloping with George Atherton, son of a well-known merchant, according to the historians. Perhaps the boredom was good for her. She soon began a writing career that led to dozens of published novels, histories, essay collections and short stories, and over time “she achieved recognition as California’s leading woman author,” the historians write.

Menlo Park Historical Association

March 25, 2015 Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q The Almanac Q 19

Woodside real estate.

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400-2796 20 Q The Almanac Q TheAlmanacOnline.com Q March 25, 2015

MOUNTAIN HOME RD listed at $17,500,000