Mountain View Voice 01.29.2010 - Section 1

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Downright dreamy ‘Daddy Long Legs’ ARTS & EVENTS | P.21 JANUARY 29, 2010 VOLUME 18, NO. 4

INSIDE: WEEKEND | PAGE 23

MountainViewOnline.com

Many hope to open pot dispensaries in city; others make house calls By Daniel DeBolt

I

n 2005, Mountain View native Jonathan Lustig came to the City Council with a seemingly radical proposal: Let him open a medical marijuana dispensary somewhere in the city. “I believe that all patients should be entitled to safe and affordable and practi-

cal means for obtaining their medicine,” he said at the time. The idea was short-lived, however, after the council rejected Lustig’s proposal in a 4-3 vote after a great deal of contention — and what some felt to be intimidation from the federal DEA agents present at the meeting. Council member Laura Macias explained her no vote by saying,

“We’re in the most awkward of positions because the federal government has taken a very firm position here.” With that the issue seemed to die, but recent shifts in policy at the federal and state level have led to a resurgence in requests to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Mountain View. So many requests are coming in, in fact, that

the city manager is putting the topic of regulating such operations on the council’s to-do list this spring. Among the new crop of requesters is Brian David, whose family ran Eddy’s Sport Shop from 1950 to 2002. David says his “Shoreline Wellness Collective” See MARIJUANA, page 14

Navy renews vow to strip Hangar One TO SAVE LANDMARK STRUCTURE, ‘THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLAN’ FOR REUSE, ESHOO SAYS By Daniel DeBolt

of leaving the historic structure ongresswoman Anna as a steel skeleton. Eshoo said Tuesday that To address the problem, Eshoo a serious plan for reusing said she would be meeting “as Hangar One must be in place if soon as possible” with NASA, Congress is likely to fund resto- which owns Hangar One, and ration of the historic landmark at the Navy, which is responsible Moffett Field. for cleaning up the toxic asbestos “If part of the partnership and PCBs embedded in Hanis the Congress gar One’s sidof the United ing. The White States, they are “Is it going to be House Office going to want of Manageto know what used for a museum ment and Budwe want to do get, which has with the money,” or used by others in been arbitrating Eshoo told the agreement the community?” an Voice. “They are between the going to want to Navy and NASA REP. ANNA ESHOO know if it makes on Hangar One’s sense. Is it going restoration, has to be used for a museum or used also requested to be a part of the by others in the community? meeting, she said. There needs to be a plan.” The comments from Stewart Concern over Hangar One has on Jan. 14 appear to contradict reached new heights since Jan. previous comments from Navy 14, when Navy spokesperson Secretary Ray Mabus, who had Kathryn Stewart told the Mof- said in a letter to Eshoo that it fett Restoration Advisory Board was his “intention” to wait for a that the Navy plans to tear off decision from the OMB before Hangar One’s siding in Novem- removing Hangar One’s siding. ber of this year. With no plan When asked if she was suror funding in place to re-skin prised about Stewart’s comments it, local elected officials have See HANGAR, page 12 unanimously opposed the idea

C

INSIDE

MICHELLE LE

SHE’S A RAINBOW:

Bethani Semple takes cover under her Cirque du Soleil rainbow umbrella Tuesday as she walks down Castro Street on her way to Book Buyers. Semple says she enjoys the rain, which had been falling steadily for more than a week.

Council gets early start on this year’s budget By Daniel DeBolt

I

t’s only January, but the City Council and interested residents spent nearly five hours in a public meeting Tuesday night wrestling with how to fix an estimated $5 million general fund deficit in 2010-11. The general consensus dur-

ing the meeting, one of several meant to prepare everyone for June’s budget decision, seemed to be that “incremental” and “nickel and dime” cuts to city services would no longer suffice following the cuts already made last year to fill a similar deficit. This year, many agreed, major, consequential changes will have

GOINGS ON 28 | MARKETPLACE 30 | MOVIES 26 | REAL ESTATE 32 | VIEWPOINT 18

to be made. These might include having the county run the city’s Fire Department and library, which council members seemed to believe would reduce costs. Finance director Patty Kong estimates that without a way to reduce growing costs, the gap See COUNCIL, page 16

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Does your student think outside of the box? Could he or she be happier in a different setting? “I like to bake. Mainly desserts. And watch TV.” Haley Bridges, Mountain View

Consider making a change mid-year if your child’s school is not a good match, because a year is a long time in the life of a child. ACCEPTING TRANSFER STUDENTS IN GRADES

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Have a question for Voices Around Town? E-mail it to editor@mv-voice.com

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â– MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE â– JANUARY 29, 2010

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA Bentley Sq. & Grant Rd., 1/22 100 Block East El Camino Real, 1/23

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POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY West Dana St. & Houghton St., 1/18

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N C O R R E C T I O N A N D C L A R I F I C AT I O N

Last week’s story on the Minton’s development traffic study, “Report: Minton’s project would decrease traffic,� incorrectly stated that the parking garage occupancy is estimated at 85 percent. It is actually estimated at 97.7 percent. A clarification is needed on how the report concluded that a Minton’s development would

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decrease traffic. The report’s authors compared a theoretical full use of the Minton’s and nearby commercial properties — not the actual current use — to the predicted traffic generated by the housing development. It concluded that a fully functioning commercial space would generate more traffic than the development.

The Mountain View Voice is published every Friday by Embarcadero Publishing Co. 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto CA 94306 (650) 964-6300. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. The Mountain View Voice is mailed free to homes and apartments in Mountain View. Subscription rate of $60 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mountain View Voice, 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

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■ CITY COUNCIL UPDATES ■ COMMUNITY ■ FEATURES

Trustees finally make special ed cuts

From the Editor’s Desk

Death of a writer

VOTE BY MOUNTAIN VIEW WHISMAN BOARD REDUCES HOURS FOR 10 EMPLOYEES

By Don Frances

By Kelsey Mesher

R

EADERS OF THE Jan. 15 print edition of the Voice might have noticed an unusual obituary. “Mark Zamen, an author and longtime Mountain View resident, died Jan. 3 after a 19-year battle with cancer. He was 58.” Zamen’s passing is unusual in several ways. For one, he died fairly young, and following a very long struggle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. And then there was Zamen himself, a Vietnam veteran, man of letters and 35-year resident of Mountain View. Not long before his death, Zamen had approached us about doing a piece on him, especially in light of the 2009 release of his novel, “Broken Saint,” about a Vietnam vet struggling with his demons. A press release he sent us describes the book as a “penetrating, fictionalized account of a real man torn asunder by forces beyond his control.” It also notes that “Mark E. Zamen met the man upon whose life this novel is based on their first day in the Army. Mark was inspired to tell Tom’s story after witnessing what he has gone through over the course of their nearly four decadeslong friendship.” It was not long after he sent Voice writer Kelsey Mesher an e-mail that Zamen passed away. Here’s part of what he wrote: Dear Ms. Mesher, Attached is the press release for my recently published biographical novel, “Broken Saint.” I noted See EDITOR’S DESK, page 15

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Council picks goose-inspired art for fire station ‘GEESE ARE THE VIGILANT BIRDS REPRESENTING THE SPIRIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE’ By Daniel DeBolt

C

anada geese might be a nuisance for golfers and a headache for staff at Shoreline Park, but the City Council put that aside during last week’s meeting when it chose some goose-inspired artwork for the new Shoreline fire station. At its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19, the council selected a proposal from artist Vadim Goretsky over 20 others for art to be installed outside the soon-to-be-rebuilt Fire Station Five across the street from Shoreline Amphitheatre. Goretsky’s submission is an eight-foot-tall bronze sculpture of several geese in flight, which will be commissioned at a cost of $50,000 to $60,000. Another $8,000 to $12,000 would go to a wind vane to go on top of the fire station, which features two more flying geese. “As a golfer I have to admit a strong bias against the

geese,” said council member Tom Means, who eventually approved the geese sculpture. There are more than 800 geese at Shoreline Park, which has caused the city to try all sorts of measures to ward them off. Council member Margaret Abe-Koga said the piece reminded her of another art installation of birds in flight which the council approved in 2008 for Shoreline Park. The council nearly chose a second favorite picked by the Visual Arts Committee, a bronze statue of a kneeling firefighter and a boy wearing a firefighter hat designed by artist Adam Reeder. But the geese sculpture is something drivers on Shoreline Boulevard would more easily notice, council members said. City staffers said Reeder’s piece would more likely be noticed by pedestrians at Fire Station Three, where it could be installed during a planned renovation which is coming in under budget.

Firefighters said they were pleased with both art proposals. A city staff report says that as part of the flying geese sculpture, a plaque will explain the legend of how geese in Rome “saved the ancient city from the great fire started by invaders and that geese are the vigilant birds representing the spirit of public service.” The city has a policy of putting 1 percent of the cost of major projects towards art. In this case the budget is $67,000. V

fter two months of union negotiations, trustees of the Mountain View Whisman School District last week voted 3-2 to reduce the hours of 10 full-time instructional assistants in the district’s autism program. The vote, made during the board’s regular meeting late Thursday evening, effectively reduced nine of the full-time employees from eight hours per day to six-and-a-half hours per day, and one from eight to seven hours per day, due to “lack of work.” The cuts will go into effect March 31, though the instructional assistants will keep their current benefit package through the end of the school year. The proposal first appeared on a Nov. 19 board agenda, but was pulled from two meeting agendas because of ongoing negotiations to “mitigate impact.” The original proposal called for cuts to 11 individuals, and would have reduced all aides’ hours to six per day and adjusted benefits to 75 percent. Administrators said at the time that a change in the special education program eliminated the need for aides after school hours. Though the California School Employees Association, the union representing the aides, had agreed to the proposed cuts, some trustees pushed to maintain their hours until the end of the school year. “I don’t feel the savings here are significant,” said trustee Phil Palmer, referring to the $20,000 the cuts will save the district. “With these sorts of dedicated, caring adults, we should find a way to have them be with our kids.” “I’m wondering if it would be more palatable for everyone if we ... gave everyone notice that with the new school year we would See SPECIAL ED, page 8

JANUARY 29, 2010 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■

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Jim Evans of Todd Street sent in this photo, which he said he took in his “California native plantlandscaped front yard.” If you have a photo taken around town which you’d like published in the Voice, please send it (as a jpg attachment) to editor@mv-voice.com.

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■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ JANUARY 29, 2010

By Kelsey Mesher

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olice say a group of men tried to run over a police officer in their getaway car after attempting to steal liquor from a Mountain View Rite Aide store Monday evening. Officers have arrested one suspect, but are still tracking down five others. At approximately 7:21 p.m., police received a call from employees at the Rite Aide store at 1040 Grant Rd. claiming that a group of five men had gone “into the store and back into the stock room and started putting the booze down their pants and in their pockets,” according to police spokesperson Liz Wylie. Wylie said an officer, who was in the neighborhood, responded to the call, and “As the suspects are exiting the store they see the officer approaching.” The men then “run back inside and start ditching the liquor bottles.” The five men then split up,

Wylie said, and one exited the main door while the others headed back through the stock room. The officer followed the main group though the store yelling “stop” and identifying himself as a police officer, she said. Wylie said the four suspects exited through the stock room and jumped in a waiting vehicle, described as a large light-colored sport utility vehicle. A sixth suspect was reportedly driving the getaway car. “They basically slam on the gas and the officer estimated they were going 40 miles per hour,” Wylie said. The car sped directly toward the officer on the wrong side of the road, she said. “He had to jump out of the way,” she said, and “the SUV missed him by about a foot, and then they kept going.” Soon after, the suspect who had broken off from the group was found at a nearby Shell gas station, Wylie said. Rite Aide

employees identified him and he was arrested. “We detained him; he gave us a false identity,” she said. “He was arrested under this false identity for assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and ultimately also (giving) false information to police officers.” After fingerprinting the suspect, they discovered his real name to be Richard McGregory, 37, from Oakland. McGregory had two warrants out for his arrest totaling $15,500, from Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. Both warrants were for traffic-related incidents, Wylie said. The remaining five suspects are still at large. They are described as black male adults wearing blue jeans and dark clothing. V

E-mail Kelsey Mesher at kmesher@mv-voice.com

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Going green on campus ‘PARTY KIT BOXES’ AMONG IDEAS STUDENTS SHARE AT GREEN SCHOOLS SUMMIT By Dana Sherne

S

tudents from third grade through college found common ground as they gathered at Los Altos High School last week for a Green Schools Summit to discuss strategies for helping the environment. “If there’s one place that really needs to be thinking about being green, it’s schools, because that’s where the students are and the students are the ones who will bring about change,” said Naomi Cohen, vice president of the Mountain View High School Environmental Club. While the summit was organized to celebrate green initiatives taking place in Mountain View and Los Altos schools, it had the additional goal of inspiring students to increase their activities by providing ideas from other schools. “It showed the community and our students that creating a sustainable environment is something we all need to be involved in and that everybody, no matter your role in this educational enterprise, can make a difference,” said Barry Groves, superintendent of the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District. At the summit, students representing seven elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools and a community college gave presentations about a unique action their school is taking to promote sustainability. The prevalence of elementary school students was encouraging for KellyAnne Tang, president of the Mountain View High School environmental club, who is accustomed to seeing her peers throw trash on the ground. “When I saw the kids at the summit, they were super excited about going green. Which was great because kids my age don’t even care, so I think it’s exciting that kids are starting to appreciate the environment,” she said. Kenneth and Naomi, two students from Springer Elementary School in Los Altos, presented their classrooms’

“party kit boxes” of reusable cups, plates and napkins to reduce waste. Cramer said that after the summit, three schools contacted her to express interest in developing this idea. Almond Elementary School in Los Altos has a program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by encouraging students to bike or walk to class. When students arrive on foot or on a bike, they can swipe a personalized barcode that keeps track of their trips. Students get prizes each month for their effort. Mountain View and Los Altos high schools have a similar incentive program for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Members of the Environmental Club award students who walk or bike to school with candy or hot chocolate. Environmental clubs in both high schools also use recycling as a green fundraiser by sending in cell phones and ink cartridges. This money can in turn fund other environmental initiatives. “Even though we have a long way to go, we’re sort of in the forefront of integrating environmental values into our curriculum, and that’s definitely a value we want to instill in our kids,” said Groves. For example, many Los Altos and Mountain View schools now use gardens to interactively teach science, math and social studies. The final presentation of the summit focused on a possible school bond on the June ballot. The bond would pay for solar panels on the roofs of Mountain View and Los Altos high schools, as well as other energy-saving improvements. According to Groves, these changes would save at least $40,000 in energy costs that could then be spent on students and staff. “Nothing would make me feel prouder,” said Cramer about the potential solar panels. “We’re going in the right direction to create a greener, and healthier, and happier environment for our students and our community.” V

E-mail Dana Sherne at dsherne@mv-voice.com

A Guide to the Spiritual Community MOUNTAIN VIEW CENTRAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST

Los Altos Union Presbyterian Church

Saturday Services, Worship 10:50 a.m. Sabbath School, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Study Groups, 10:00 a.m. 1425 Springer Rd., Mtn. View Office Hours 9-1 Tues - Fri

858 University Ave 650-948-4361

650-967-2189

WWW.UNIONPC.ORG Turn East on University off El Monte Ave. between I-280 and Foothill Expwy 8:00 am 9:30 am

Worship and buffet breakfast Worship and buffet breakfast

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We Invite You to Learn and Worship with Us.

FPCMV welcomes our new Pastor Timothy R. Boyer. Biblically based Sermons and Worship Service 10:30 AM.

Los Altos Lutheran Church ELCA

Pastor David K. Bonde

www.fpcmv.org 1667 Miramonte (Cuesta at Miramonte) 650.968.4473

Outreach Pastor Gary Berkland 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Education Nursery Care Provided Alpha Courses

650-948-3012 460 S. El Monte Ave., Los Altos

www.losaltoslutheran.org

To include your Church in Inspirations Please call Blanca Yoc at 650-326-8210 ext. 6596 or e-mail byoc@paweekly.com JANUARY 29, 2010 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■

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where parents have had a SEPTA for three years, she said. Continued from page 5 Los Altos SEPTA president Gita Gopal said the group was set up as a forum for people to implement these hours,” said talk about how to improve sertrustee Ellen Wheeler, the other vices. They have done fundraistrustee who, along with Palmer, ing, as well as organized special voted against the cuts. events, like a talent show, for Assistant Superintendent special needs students, she Stephanie Totter said. maintained her Gopal said recommendation most recently the The cuts come at a time when parents are expressing to reduce the hours, SEPTA has formed emphasizing a lack a special ed leadfrustration with larger changes in special ed services of needed work, and ership commitreiterating that the tee, a group of in the district. Some are mobilizing to form a union had agreed parents, administo the proposal. trators, therapists Special Education PTA, or SEPTA, to support “We together and school psyspecial ed students in the district. verified that there chologists to talk was a lack of work,” about issues like she said, adding “mainstreaming” that in negotiations they exam- from Steve Gingras, the district’s quite some time,” she said, “but special needs students, and how ined each individual’s schedule director of special education, as it seems like now is the time to to improve science and social one by one. well as comments from a par- do it because now we have a lot studies education. “CSEA has agreed that this ent and two aides. One of those more parent interest.” “The idea is to ease the burden is an appropriate reduction,” aides, Melanie Gray, who has She said a group of six par- on the school district,” Recker agreed trustee Fiona Walter at worked in the district for 10 ents has already met once. said. “If there are things we can the meeting, after empathizing years, said after the meeting that The SEPTA will focus on bet- do outside of school hours to with the affected employees. she would probably be leaving ter communication between help our kids ... and get it paid Chris Pederson, a labor rela- Mountain View Whisman due parents and the district, help- for with PTA money, then it tions representative for the to the cuts. ing to coordinate after-school wouldn’t put such a huge burunion, told the Voice that “It’s a activities, play groups, support den on the district.” done deal, there’s no more conNew PTA forming groups for parents and educaE-mail Kelsey Mesher at flict. We’ll continue to monitor The cuts come at a time when tion for parents and teachers. kmesher@mv-voice.com if these people’s hours return.” parents are expressing frustra“We’re kind of copying what “From the union perspective,” tion with larger changes in spe- they’re doing over in Los Altos”

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he explained, “the district has the right under the law to designate the need for services in hours and the number of people that they need for those services. If they don’t need the services anymore, we have the right to negotiate the impact on the affected employees.” A lengthy discussion before Thursday’s vote included input

cial ed services in the district. Some are mobilizing to form a Special Education PTA, or SEPTA, to support special ed students in the district. Nan Recker, who has one special needs child in middle school, is heading up the organizational efforts. “I’ve wanted to do this for

V

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Who’s Who in Business 2010

New Administrator for Los-Altos Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center

McNair Ezzard McNair Ezzard pictured with “Jasper” his “assistant “ Jasper is part of Los Altos Sub Acute on a daily basis offering smiles and assistance whenever needed.

890 Fremont Ave, Los Altos 650.941.5255 www.covenantcare.com 8

■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ JANUARY 29, 2010

McNair Ezzard is licensed as a Nursing Home Administrator in the State of California and North Carolina. He has served in the health care field for twenty-seven years, beginning his career in Denver, Colorado where he worked as the Director of Pastoral Care at a fiftybed in-patient hospice, the Hospice of St. John. After four years in hospice he moved to Beth Israel Hospital where he underwent an administrator-intraining program. Since that time he has served as an administrator in the long term care field, both in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, with the majority of his time spent in skilled nursing. McNair received his BA degree from the University of North Carolina and Masters degree from The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. McNair believes in skilled nursing health care characterized by unsurpassed quality and professionalism, compassion, respect and by going the ‘extra mile’ to ensure the comfort and well-being of residents and families. He sees long-term care as one point in the continuum of care and seeks to work with the larger health care community to provide the best in care to those in need. Los Altos Sub-Acute & Rehabilitation Center provides the most comprehensive Rehabilitation & Nursing Programs available. Los Altos Sub-Acute & Rehab is dedicated to providing quality health care to those in need. Our emphasis is on living. Our goal is to help individuals achieve their highest possible functioning level and to assist them in returning home whenever practical. The facility also holds “the Regional Outpatient Clinic” which offers the community therapy on an outpatient basis to anyone in need.

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Importance of Funerals Since the beginning of time, funerals have been a way for families and friends to come together to celebrate a life, create a sense of community, share memories, tears and even laughter. Experts agree these comforting rituals help bring acceptance and closure, allowing those left behind to move on. We are the Peninsula’s premier funeral home and cremation service dedicated to serving all faiths. We have been in Palo Alto for over 110 years – family owned and operated for four generations. We are independent – answering only to our community. When a death occurs, you and your family will be involved in making many important and personal decisions. You are not alone. We can answer your questions and help you understand your options – funerals, cremations, memorials, tributes, and receptions. We also offer pre-planning services. Our facilities include a large non-denominational chapel, viewing rooms, a large reception room with catering options, ample parking and unique architectural features, including our indoor atrium. WE OFFER ON-LINE OBITUARIES For more information, visit our website at: rollerhapgoodtinney.com. Please feel free to call, schedule an arrangement conference, or visit our facilities at 980 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto.

Quiet Beauty and a Peaceful Atmosphere Roller Hapgood & Tinney had been at its present location at the corner of Middlefield Road and Addison Avenue in Palo Alto, California since 1951. Designed by local architect Leslie I. Nichols, our remarkable funeral home features a unique masonry wall constructed of stone from a quarry near Santa Cruz. FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR FOUR GENERATIONS The family business was established in 1899 when Josiah Roller organized his first funeral. As a retired cabinet maker who was often called upon to craft coffins, (he) agreed to organize a funeral for a friend whose father had died in Palo Alto. In those days, bodies had to be transported by horse and buggy either to San Francisco or San Jose for burial. Josiah agreed to make the arrangements in exchange for help in establishing a funeral home in Palo Alto, something he thought was long overdue. As the only funeral home this side of San Francisco, Roller’s business quickly grew. In 1906, Josiah Roller’s son, Arthur, took over the burgeoning business, and in 1912 Frank Hapgood joined as a partner. In 1951, they moved the business to its current location at the corner of Addison and Middlefield streets. GOOD EMPLOYEES ARE ESSENTIAL TO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS In keeping with the belief of our founders, our staff of professionals is knowledgeable, caring and sincere; qualities that are invaluable during your time of need. Palo Alto is a community rich in religious and cultural diversity, and our staff is well trained in the traditions and faiths that surround us.

What To Do First When Someone Dies ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LOSS When a loved one dies, give yourself, your family and friends adequate time to experience and acknowledge your loss. Call your clergy or spiritual advisor, family members, or friends to be with you during the first few hours immediately after the death. CONTACT YOUR FUNERAL HOME As soon as possible, call your funeral home. The professionals at Roller Hapgood & Tinney are available day or night to answer your questions, provide guidance, and arrange for transportation of the body. Call us at (650) 328-1360. If death occurs away from home or out-of-state, we’ll make the necessary arrangements to prepare and transport the body to our funeral home. If the person who has died must be transported out-of-state, we can make necessary travel arrangements and coordinate services with the destination funeral home. The Staff, clockwise from above: Jenna Moerk, General Manager, Funeral Director and Embalmer; Donavon Dilworth, Funeral Director and Embalmer; Benjamin Bilbro, Funeral Counselor; and Avisha Nair, Office Manager.

Roller Hapgood Tinney, Palo Alto ■ 650.328.1360 ■ www.rollerhapgoodtinney.com JANUARY 29, 2010 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■

9

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Who’s Who in Business 2010

BARRY McMILLS ABC Prosthetist/Orthotist

Alice Nuzzo Sereno Group Realtor

Life comes full circle for Palo Alto native Benton Medical (DBA Palo Alto Orthopedic Company) is the community’s leading provider of advanced prosthetic and orthotic services today and has been for more than fifty-four years. We are a family owned company who is proud to introduce Barry McMills, son of the original owners of Palo Alto Orthopedic Company. As the certified prosthetist and orthotist of Benton Medical, Barry began his profession in 1965. He is also knowledgeable and experienced in manufacturing all styles of metal bracing as well as old style wooden prostheses. Barry maintains the industry’s highest training and compliance standards, ensuring that our patients will receive expert and quality care. Our family understands your home health needs. At Benton Medical we give our clients old-fashioned attention and treat each individual’s custom needs. Benton Medical Equipment Inc. 2601 Garcia Avenue, Mountain View

Alice began her real estate career in 1974 and by 1979 Alice and her two partners created a premier real estate company Seville Properties, which grew to three offices and 110 agents before its sale in 1997. She is currently a founding member of Sereno Group Real Estate in Los Altos. Alice has sold real estate on the Peninsula for 35 years. She has received the Award for Outstanding Sales Production every year she has been in the business and the Silicon Valley Association of Realtor’s President’s Award in 2007. She is a board member for Family and Children Services and received the 2009 Silicon Valley Philanthropy Distinguished Fundraiser award.

(650) 625-1000 ■ www.bentonmedical.com

650.947.2988 www.AliceNuzzo.com

Alice Nuzzo, Sereno Group

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Dianne Vernon Coldwell Banker Valley Home Development

PHOTO BY ELLIOT BURR

Dianne Vernon named in top 8% of Coldwell Banker agents Nationwide! I work in Residential Real Estate both as a buyer’s and seller’s agent. I embrace the latest technology and techniques ensuring that you have the most successful and efficient transactions possible. In addition I work with system-built, sustainable and affordable* housing solutions. I represent the most successful pre-fab/”system- built” home builders in the world. These homes are targeted at under $200 per square foot completed*. To add value I earned the EcoBroker™ designation signifying that I have been trained in the most current and innovative energy, environmental, and green technologies. My sales region is the Peninsula, South Bay, the Beach Communities, Napa, and Sonoma Counties. I look forward to working with you! - Dianne

Dianne Vernon, Coldwell Banker 1.877.630.7732 ■ www.DianneVernon.com 10

■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ JANUARY 29, 2010

Sereno Group Sereno Group was conceived and formed on the ideal of redefining real estate practice. We believe it is our social responsibility to set in motion a self-sustaining process of continuous improvement and continually look at ways to have a deeper accountability to and connection with our community. Our efforts include our Green Certification, our Environmental and Social Responsibility Committees, the in-office recycling campaign, our use of paper reduction software, and use of eco-friendly products and appliances in our offices. We also value the importance of being community sponsors and are very proud to be the top fundraising team for the Los Altos Relay for Life, 2009. We look forward to another year of progress, both within our industry and our community. Sereno Group 650.947.2900 ■ www.SerenoGroup.com

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Francis C. Rolland

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Kim Copher

Coldwell Banker

Coldwell Banker

Serving you Since 1985

b W © iw W

No one knows your neighborhood like your Neighbor. As an international finance manager for 10 yrs., then a business administration teacher in Senegal, Africa, I never imagined how life- changing it would be to start a real estate career here in the Bay Area, in 1985. Bringing together all my knowledge and expertise in the fields of finance, organization, construction, legal, psychology & marketing, I had then an opportunity to help people go through one of the scariest experiences of their lives in a safe and intelligent way, while educating them & explaining what was going on. I only hope that I have brought to the table as much as I have received in the process, which includes so many friends and rich relationships. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all the wonderful people who used my services. A bientôt!

A native to the Bay Area, Kim as has lived and worked in Mountain View since 1994. Over the years, she has owned not one, not two, but three homes in Downtown Mountain View, where she currently resides with her husband. She just can’t seem to move away from the neighborhood she enjoys so much! Kim’s passion for her neighborhood is represented in her community involvement with her local Neighborhood Association, as a member of the Downtown Committee (an advisory group to the Mountain View City Council), her Rotarian work at the local high school and in her volunteer efforts during the Chamber’s Art & Wine Festival. With over 20 years experience in sales negotiations and customer service -- 16 of those years in Mountain View -- Kim offers a wealth of local and professional expertise to her real estate clients. Kim’s success is attributed to her knowledge of the local market, boundless energy, tireless work ethic, dedication, enthusiasm and genuine care for her clients and neighbors.

When you have questions about your real estate needs...just call Kim! Francis Rolland, Coldwell Banker

Kim Copher, Coldwell Banker

650.947.2259 ■ Francis@frolland.com

650.917.7995 ■ www.justcallkim.com

Who’s Who in Business 2010

Who’s Who in Business 2010

Jeanne MacVicar & Bryn MacVicar Pennington The MacVicar Team

Campi Properties 195 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos

Jeanne MacVicar was raised in small Kansas towns and even briefly attended a 1 room school house with a teacher who had 1 arm. She fled Kansas to attend Colorado Women’s College in Denver for a BA in History followed by a graduate degree in Education at the University of Kansas. Jeanne taught Spanish in Livermore on the junior high level for 10 years. Assessment at the Palo Alto Resource Center for Women revealed a variety of aptitudes from litigation to ministry. Jeanne chose real estate and has enjoyed a successful 30 year career assisting clients achieve their goals. Strong negotiating skills, knowledge, hard work, counseling and attention to detail are important traits she and Bryn bring to the table when serving clients. Bryn graduated from the University of San Diego with a BA in Humanities and is also an artist. She enjoys sharing her artistic talents by volunteering in public schools. The MacVicar Team’s determination to exceed expectations results in satisfied clients, repeat business and appreciated referrals.

Campi Properties, Inc is a locally owned residential real estate company established in 1989 by owners Gary and Karen Campi. Campi Properties is one of the strongest independently owned residential real estate firms on the Peninsula. Their goal is to deliver the best possible personalized service with the highest level of integrity. When you select Campi Properties, you’ve chosen a proven leader in real estate sales. Whether you are buying or selling, you can count on Campi Properties to take you through a successful transaction. Visit www.campi.com to view a complete list of their properties and agents.

The MacVicar Team, Sereno Group Los Altos 650.947.2979 DRE# 00764179 jeanne@serenogroup.com www.MacVicarTeam.com

Campi Properties 650.941.4300 www.Campi.com JANUARY 29, 2010 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■

11

-PDBM/FXT

Who’s Who in Business ■ 2010

Study says TCE is worse than thought

Elena Talis Realtor®, MBA

CONCLUSIONS COULD LEAD EPA TO PROPOSE TOUGHER REGULATIONS By Daniel DeBolt

T Elena Talis is an accomplished real estate agent in the San Francisco Peninsula/Silicon Valley region. She is one of the hardest working realtors in the area and has a reputation for being among the most knowledgeable, honest, and intelligent professionals in the business. Elena Talis offers unparalleled service to all of her customers. She serves the entire San Francisco Peninsula/Silicon Valley real estate market including Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo. Whether you are considering buying a home, selling a home or both, Elena knows this area inside and out!

Elena Talis, Coldwell Banker 650.714.4784 ■ www.TalisRealEstate.com

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■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ JANUARY 29, 2010

he Environmental Protection Agency has released a new report concluding that TCE — or trichloroethylene, a pollutant found in much of Mountain View’s groundwater — is definitely a carcinogen, a finding which could lead the agency to propose tougher cleanup standards. “Many people across the country are exposed to TCE in their air and their water under current standards that would not be allowable under these (potential) new standards,” explained Lenny Siegel, director of the Center for Public Environmental Oversight, a Mountain Viewbased nonprofit that helps in cleanup efforts at Superfund sites around the country. But EPA toxicologist Dan Stralka noted that the report only makes conclusions on TCE’s toxicity, and that no new standards have been proposed yet. The report in question is a “toxicological review” released in December by the EPA, marking the most voluminous study to date of the human health effects of TCE, a solvent left behind by early Silicon Valley electronic manufacturers. Siegel points out that the report concludes, on page 995, that “TCE is carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure” without qualifying that with “probably”

HANGAR

Continued from page 1

to the contrary, Eshoo said, “The person that speaks for the Navy is the secretary of the Navy. I did receive a letter from Secretary Mabus a while back assuring me the Navy would not take down the siding before the OMB renders its decision. My understanding is that his position hasn’t changed.” Eshoo was also pressed about what she would do to “prepare for the worst” if there was not a good plan for reusing Hangar One. “I am not thinking that way,” she said. “I don’t build on the negative. I work on a positive viewpoint. This by no means is over.” Meeting site to be scrapped Building 943, located just outside the main gate at Moffett Field, has been the ideal meeting location for the Moffett Field Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB, for years. But it is now set to be demolished in March. Kathryn Stewart, Navy co-chair for the RAB, said she would be looking for another location for the group’s next meeting, possibly within Moffett’s main security gate. As the battle to save historic Hangar One heats up, preservationists are concerned about how any location change

or “highly likely.” Human health effects include kidney and liver cancer, lymphoma and various other reproductive, developmental and neurological effects, Stralka said in a presentation to the Moffett Field Restoration Advisory Board on Jan. 14. For years now, the presence of trichloroethylene in the soil and groundwater has spurred Superfund cleanup efforts at Moffett Field and in a part of northeastern Mountain View called “the MEW” (an area bordered by Middlefield, Ellis and Whisman roads), among various other sites scattered around Mountain View and Silicon Valley. EPA project manager Alana Lee acknowledged that the size and scope of those cleanup areas could widen if the EPA proposes lowering drinking water standards for TCE. Current maps are drawn according to the 5 parts per billion standard (see page 13), although Mountain View residents get their drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy water system, rather than local water tables. The recent EPA report does not explicitly propose new standards for drinking water. But it does propose new standards for indoor air levels of TCE vapors, expressed in ranges which allow See TCE, next page

could affect turnout for future RAB meetings. RAB member Steve Williams said that forcing people to come through the Moffett main gate, where a security guard requires valid government identification, would have a “chilling effect” on future meetings. He said it was appropriate to have the meeting at Moffett, and called for the Navy to demand that NASA allow people to pass through the gate for the meeting without being checked. That spurred a discussion in which most said the gate was an unnecessary security measure. Recent discussions by the RAB about Hangar One have included concerns about what will happen to the windows, which are an important part of the hangar’s character, members say. The hangar’s interior structures, scheduled to be demolished in late March, are also a concern. NASA spokesperson Rachel Prucy said Building 943 was being torn down as part of a NASA program to demolish non-historic buildings at Moffett that are no longer feasible to maintain. The gift shop inside would be moved to the tent next door. The location and time of the next Moffett RAB meeting will be announced on the Navy’s Base Realignment and Closure Web site, www.bracpmo.navy.mil. V

E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com

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LD R

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This map of the “MEW” Superfund site in Mountain View shows in purple where a TCE plume in the groundwater reaches 5 parts per billion.

TCE

Continued from previous page

environmental advocates to call for heightened cleanup efforts. For residential areas, indoor air standards could go from 1 microgram per cubic meter to a range between 0.24 and 0.96 micrograms per cubic meter. Standards for business could go from 5 micrograms per cubic meter to a range between 2.5 and 9.8 micrograms per cubic meter. The difference between the standards for homes and businesses is partly due to the effects TCE has on children, Stralka said. The new standards are similar to those created by the EPA and abandoned by the Bush administration in 2001. Siegel said he had not done an analysis of whether any homes or businesses in Mountain View could be called unsafe if cleanup standards changed as proposed.

The cost of new mitigations on indoor air pollution would likely fall on the polluter for “existing” buildings, he said. The vapors can emanate from groundwater as deep as 25 feet underground and into buildings that lack slab foundations or vapor intrusion membranes. Siegel believes that the toxicology review of TCE was quietly worked on under the Bush administration, but political pressures kept it from being released. He says EPA scientists were told they would lose their jobs if they pushed for increased cleanup standards, which are a financial burden to polluters, including the U.S. military. There is reportedly an effort by NASA and Office of Management and Budget officials to delay the new standards by sending the toxicology review to the National Academy of Sciences. Meanwhile, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson has received a letter

opposing any further delays and signed by 29 people representing communities exposed to TCE across the country — including Mountain View resident Jane Horton, whose Whisman Road home was found to have unsafe levels of TCE. “As the Government Accountability Office has repeatedly pointed out, delays ‘can result in substantial harm to human health, safety and the environment,’” the letter states. “That is, we don’t want our families and our communities to be guinea pigs in permanent research experiment.” The TCE toxicology review and other updates on the subject can be found on the EPA’s Web site by going to www.epa.gov and doing a search for “TCE.” Public comments on the recent review are due by Feb. 1. V

E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com JANUARY 29, 2010 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■

13

-PDBM/FXT 2010 Wallace Stegner Lecture Series

VENTURES

MARIJUANA

Continued from page 1

INTO THE NATURAL WORLD

Richard Preston New York Times The Wild Trees

Monday, February 8 8:00 p.m. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

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UĂŠĂŠ Â?>`iÂ?iĂƒĂƒ]ĂŠ Ă•ĂƒĂŒÂœÂ“Â‡Âˆ - ĂŠ-Ă•Ă€}iÀÞ UĂŠĂŠ >ĂŒ>Ă€>VĂŒĂŠ-Ă•Ă€}iÀÞÊ­ Ă•Â?ĂŒÂˆÂ‡vÂœV>Â?ĂŠ iÂ˜ĂƒĂŠ “Â?>Â˜ĂŒĂƒÂŽĂŠ UĂŠĂŠ-Ă•ĂŒĂ•Ă€iÂ?iĂƒĂƒĂŠ*ĂŒiÀÞ}ÂˆĂ•Â“ĂŠ-Ă•Ă€}iÀÞ UĂŠĂŠ ÂœĂƒÂ“iĂŒÂˆVĂŠ >Vˆ>Â?ĂŠ-Ă•Ă€}iÀÞʹÊ >ĂƒiÀÊ ĂžiÂ?ˆ`ĂŠ-Ă•Ă€}iÀÞ UĂŠĂŠ ˆ>LiĂŒÂˆVĂŠ ĂžiĂŠ >Ă€iʹÊ Â?>Ă•Vœ“>ĂŠ >˜>}i“iÂ˜ĂŒ UĂŠĂŠ >VĂ•Â?>ÀÊ i}i˜iĂ€>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠ Ă›>Â?Ă•>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ UĂŠĂŠ ÂœÂ“ÂŤĂ•ĂŒiĂ€Âˆâi`ĂŠ6ÂˆĂƒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠ Ă?>“Ê­ `Ă•Â?ĂŒĂƒĂŠEĂŠ …ˆÂ?`Ă€i˜Ž UĂŠĂŠ Â?Âœ>ĂŒiĂ€ĂƒĂŠÂąĂŠ Â?>ĂƒÂ…iĂƒĂŠÂąĂŠ,iĂŒÂˆÂ˜>Â?ĂŠ iĂŒ>V…“iÂ˜ĂŒĂŠ UĂŠĂŠ ÀÞÊ ĂžiʹÊ >âÞÊ ĂžiʹÊ Â?Â?iĂ€}ˆiĂƒĂŠEĂŠ ˜viVĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂƒĂŠ UĂŠĂŠ iĂƒÂˆ}˜iÀÊ Â?>ĂƒĂƒiĂƒĂŠÂąĂŠ ÂœÂ˜ĂŒ>VĂŒĂŠ iÂ˜ĂƒiĂƒ

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would sell medical marijuana to those with a prescription out of an industrial building in the Shoreline area, and donate all excess profits to local service organizations. Changes in policy Lustig said a local dispensary today is “more realistic than it was in 2005, certainly,� because in October the Obama administration instructed federal prosecutors to ignore those who use and sell marijuana in compliance with state laws, such as the medical marijuana law California voters passed in 1996. As a result, dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries have sprung up in the Bay Area without the blessings of local governments, a trend that recently led Gilroy to ban the operations and for San Jose to say it will order dozens to shut down or face fines of up to $2,500 a day. Another recent regulatory change helping those in the medi-pot business is a state Supreme Court decision made last Thursday which lifts specific limits on the amount of medical marijuana that can be possessed by patients. The decision allows patients to have as much marijuana as is found to be “reasonably necessary� for treatment, making it harder to prosecute them. Santa Clara County’s own limits — six mature plants and eight ounces of harvested marijuana per patient — were nullified as well, said Amy Cornell, spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office. “The quantity limits in the (county’s health and safety) code do not apply any longer, and additional information provided by a treating physician will now factor into our decisions when charging and prosecuting marijuana cases,� Cornell said in an e-mail. There are no policies specifically supporting or opposing a marijuana dispensary in Mountain View, but a handful of potential operators have found that a lack of appropriate zoning in the city still makes it difficult to open one without a zoning administrator- or City Council-approved variance. Special delivery The competition is not limited to those hoping to set up medi-pot dispensaries. An online search finds several groups already operating in Mountain View that will deliver medical marijuana straight to your door. They include one operation run by none other than Jonathan Lustig, undeterred by the council’s 2005 rejection of his dispensary proposal. Lustig described his operation as a “collective� consisting of “myself and a group of patients who lack

14

â– MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE â– JANUARY 29, 2010

access to their medication. I drive around and accommodate them.� Lustig’s delivery service, Seventh Heaven, is one of at least five such services listed at www.medicalmarijuanapatient.com that serve the city and the surrounding area. He says he started the collective in 2006, and that today his array of customers includes CEOs of Silicon Valley companies and many who are confined to their homes or their beds. The list of ailments Lustig encounters is long, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, arthritis, epilepsy, insomnia, Tourette syndrome, chronic pain and glaucoma. There are at least 200 illnesses which can qualify someone for medical marijuana. Lustig says he spends lots of time with each of his “patients� to discuss their medical conditions, and makes recommendations to new patients about what type of marijuana to use. He himself is a medical marijuana card holder who uses it to treat chronic migraine headaches. “I probably see seven to 15 patients a day and get three to five phone calls a day from new patients I am incapable of accommodating,� he said. Lustig said his patients spend anywhere from $40 to $300 each during his weekly visits, and payment is in the form of a “donation.� “It’s a nonprofit, compassionate organization,� he said. Instead of raking in a profit, Lustig said, he works to keep his prices well below his competition — for example, an ounce of a particular strain of pot that might otherwise sell for $450 is available through Seventh Heaven for $300. Cornell, the spokesperson for the DA’s office, said that only patients and “designated primary caregivers� can legally transport medical marijuana. A primary caregiver is defined as someone who “has consistently assumed responsibility for housing, health or safety of a patient.� Local concerns One thing that appears to make council members nervous is the neighborhood opposition sure to come whenever a marijuana dispensary is proposed. That’s why David believes it would be best to locate one near Shoreline Amphitheatre, away from residential neighborhoods and schools. “There has to be community support,� said council member John Inks, who added he would have to know more about a given proposal and the group behind it before deciding whether to support it. During the 2005 debate, council member Tom Means said he and other council members feared a dispensary would be repeatedly See MARIJUANA, next page

-PDBM/FXT

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Brian David is among those hoping to open a marijuana dispensary in Mountain View.

MARIJUANA

Continued from previous page

targeted for robbery, as they have in other cities, or turn nearby areas into sites for drug dealing. Lustig said strict rules could prevent problematic people from obtaining membership at a medi-pot club, and David said he doesn’t believe the businesses would be any more

presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan, and was ranked best competitive outdoor pistol shooter in the state in 2003 and 2004, he says. David actually thinks marijuana should remain generally illegal. If it were legalized, he said, “It would be just like alcohol is today — people dying from drinking and driving. There would be a lot of DUIs for marijuana.” Even so, David has been using medical marijuana for over 10 years

Lustig said his operation does not require a business license of any sort because “It isn’t a business, it’s a collective,” adding that “There are (dispensaries) out there everywhere that don’t require a business license.” City officials did not know that the delivery services were operating in Mountain View and said they were not certain about Lustig’s claim that a business license is unnecessary.

In an unusual twist, David is a Republican and a staunch advocate of the right to bear arms. He has voted for every Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan. David actually thinks marijuana should remain generally illegal. prone to being robbed than certain others, such as his own family’s gun store. David says the security methods used by other dispensaries include vaults and metal detectors, and he also says he’s considering using an armored car service. In an unusual twist, David is a Republican and a staunch advocate of the right to bear arms. He has voted for every Republican

EDITOR’S DESK

Continued from previous page

your article on Ms. Reddington’s new novel in the Oct. 30 issue of the Voice and it naturally occurred to me that you may also find my book of interest,

to treat chronic lower back pain. He says the alternative would be painkillers like Vicodin, which he fears would wreck his liver. While stories abound about drug users trying to game the system, and Lustig’s phone message tells those without documentation to “hang up now,” Lustig insists that he “never once came across someone who sounded illegitimate or had illegitimate documentation.”

“Any business organization that does business in Mountain View should have a business license,” said finance director Patty Kong. But she and city attorney Jannie Quinn said they would have to research Lustig’s claim that his collective was not a business.

as I too am a Mountain View resident and have been since 1975; I also was vice-chair of the Citizens Communication Committee and wrote numerous pieces for The View, including the “Crimestoppers” series.

To learn more about “Broken Saint” or obtain a copy, visit www. eloquentbooks.com/brokensaint. html, or www.authorautobahn. webs.com/bookpeek.htm, or try Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

We regret missing the chance to meet Mark Zamen.

V

E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com

V

Don Frances can be reached at dfrances@mv-voice.com.

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15

-PDBM/FXT COUNCIL

Continued from page 1

between city general fund revenues and expenditures would increase to $7 million and $9 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively, even if the city fixes the deficit this year without reserves. The biggest

lion could come from new revenue sources, such as recreation fees. Specific proposals are expected in the coming months. The city’s Senior Center was cited as an example of how fees could be generated. By having one entrance and exit, the city could start collecting fees, especially for non-residents, or start charging for

Council member Mike Kasperzak and others said residents would likely balk at paying more fees for less services in a recession, while city employees get compensation increases. reason for the budget gap is growing employee compensation costs, officials said. Council member Ronit Bryant said that if voters are ever expected to support a tax measure to help fund services, the city would have to have “its own house in order,” which would likely mean major cuts to employee compensation. City staff proposed filling $1 million of the gap with cuts to employee compensation. Another $3.5 million to $4 million could come from cuts to city services, which council members took to mean employee layoffs. Another $500,000 to $1 mil-

parking or rental of the building on weekends. Council member Mike Kasperzak and others said residents would likely balk at paying more fees for less services in a recession, while city employees get compensation increases. Council members Laura Macias and Margaret Abe-Koga continued to press the council to find ways to increase revenue, however, though most seemed to favor cutting services instead. V

E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com

Where credit is due

B

elow are some recent excerpts from extra!credit, a blog on the Voice’s Web site dedicated to giving students in our community the recognition they deserve. To read more extra!credit, visit www.mv-voice. com. If you know a local student who deserves some credit, e-mail extracredit.voice@gmail.com. Help for Haiti: Bubb teacher Adria Flores reported that the elementary students have donated over $1,500 to the Red Cross after only four days of fundraising. She credited the fifth graders for spearheading the campaign and collecting the money. Mountain View High students have raised nearly $3,000 to donate to relief efforts in Haiti, reported Ambika Bist, president of the MVHS Red Cross Club. She said donations have come from boys and girls basketball games, as well as donation boxes at school. DemandTec champions: After weeks of preparing, and a win at a regional competition, Mountain View High seniors Jody Zhang and Elise Sugarman took first place in DemandTec’s annual Retail Challenge finals. The competition gives high school seniors challenges that simulate real-life scenarios in marketing and merchandising. The girls flew to New York, completing the final round of the competition in the NASDAQ building. The two students split a $10,000 grand prize, in addition to a $10,000 prize for their regional win,

which was awarded to them at the closing bell ceremonies on Jan. 12. They beat out nearly 50 local students and six other finalist teams from around the country. Zhang and Sugarman will use the scholarship money next year at college, though neither knows yet where they will be heading post-graduation. January students of the month: The Mountain View-Los Altos district board honored three outstanding students for the month of January. Alta Vista senior Ivan Joshua Henriquez-Nunez was recognized for his academic growth and leadership. He helped organize a food drive at his campus, collecting over 350 pounds of food for families in Silicon Valley. He paints original logos, decals and scenes on plain Converse sneakers and is considering designing his own line of shoes. Mountain View student Julien Roth was honored for his outstanding academic achievement and volunteer work. He has volunteered over 1,600 hours of service at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto. In addition Roth has played competitive club soccer and basketball and participated in a few triathlons. Los Altos High student Mark Levin-Gesundheit is the entertainment editor at the school’s newspaper, The Talon. Levin is an avid writer, who describes his fiction short stories as “quirky, humorous and kind of ridiculous.”

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■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ JANUARY 29, 2010

-PDBM/FXT N NEWSBRIEFS

WOMAN MUGGED WHILE WALKING TO WORK A Mountain View woman talking on her cell phone while walking to work Monday morning was attacked by a man who slapped her and took the phone, police reported. At approximately 8:40 a.m., the man approached the 49-year-old woman as she walked to work near Jewell Place and Rengstorff Avenue, according to spokesperson Liz Wylie. She said the victim was talking on her cell phone when the man grabbed her by the shoulders, shook her, and then slapped her twice across the face. He then grabbed the cell phone from her hands and took off on foot. Wylie said a witness who had seen the incident called police “because they thought it was domestic violence.” The woman also called police from her office, though Wylie said officers were already responding from the anonymous tip. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his mid-30s, 5-foot-10 and about 150 pounds. He wore all-black clothing, including a black beanie cap. — Kelsey Mesher

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ARMED ROBBERS HIT CHECK CASHING FRANCHISE Police are looking for three men who robbed a check cashing business on El Camino Real near Dale Avenue last Tuesday, Jan. 19. Police got a call at 10:21 a.m. after three men, one with a handgun, entered the Check Into Cash at 805 E. El Camino Real and told the two employees present to open the cash register. The employees complied and were not injured as the suspects made off with the cash. There were no other witnesses present. Police say all three suspects had similar description: AfricanAmerican males in their late teens to early 20s, slim, 5-foot-10 to over 6 feet tall, and wearing dark clothing with their faces covered. The direction or manner in which the suspects got away is unknown. Anonymous tips about the crime can be made to Mountain View police at (650) 903-6344.

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450 Cambridge Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94306 | 650.326.8210 PaloAltoOnline.com | TheAlmanacOnline.com | MountainViewOnline.com JANUARY 29, 2010 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■

17

7JFXQPJOU N EDITORIAL

THE OPINION OF THE VOICE Founding Editor, Kate Wakerly

N S TA F F Publisher Tom Gibboney

Editorial Managing Editor Don Frances Staff Writers Daniel DeBolt, Kelsey Mesher Intern Dana Sherne Photographer Michelle Le Photo Intern James Tensuan Contributors Dale Bentson, Angela Hey, Sheila Himmel, Jennifer Pence, Monica Schreiber

Design & Production Design Director Raul Perez Designers Linda Atilano, Laura Don, Gary Vennarucci

Advertising Advertising Representatives Anna Mirsky, Dianna Prather Real Estate Account Executive Rosemary Lewkowitz Real Estate Advertising Coordinator Diane Martin Published every Friday at 450 Cambridge Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 964-6300 fax (650) 964-0294 E-mail news and photos to: editor@MV-Voice.com E-mail letters to: letters@MV-Voice.com News/Editorial Department (650) 964-6300 fax (650) 964-0294 Display Advertising Sales (650) 964-6300 Classified Advertising Sales s FAX E-mail Classified ads@MV-Voice.com E-mail Circulation circulation@MV-Voice.com The Voice is published weekly by Embarcadero Media Co. and distributed free to residences and businesses in Mountain View. If you are not currently receiving the paper, you may request free delivery by calling 964-6300. Subscriptions for PER YEAR PER YEARS ARE WELCOME #OPYRIGHT ÂĽ BY %MBARCADERO -EDIA Company. All rights reserved. Member, Mountain View Chamber of Commerce

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

TOWN SQUARE FORUM POST your views on the Town Square forum at www.MountainViewOnline.com E-MAIL your views to letters@MV-Voice.com. Indicate if it is a letter to be published. MAIL to: Editor Mountain View Voice, P.O. Box 405 Mountain View, CA 94042-0405 CALL the Viewpoint desk at 964-6300

18

Readers opened their hearts and wallets

D

espite the economic downturn, donations to the Voice Holiday Fund remained strong this year, nearly matching the record-setting total contributions in 2008-09. In fact, broken down by category, readers gave more this year than ever before: 145 Voice readers contributed nearly $49,000, up from just over $40,000 last year. With an additional $20,000 from the Wakerly family, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the total raised this year is $68,897 — or $9,842 for each of the seven participating nonprofit organizations supported by the Holiday Fund. The top donations this year included one for $2,700, two for $2,100 and another for $2,000, and a number of others of $1,000 or more. The Mountain View Mom’s Cookie Party continued its longtime support of the Holiday Fund with a donation of $710. The Holiday Fund is a partnership of the Voice, the foundation donors and Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which processes all contributions. No fees or other charges are assessed to any Holiday Fund donation; 100 percent of all funds raised go directly to the participating nonprofit organizations. Next month, thanks to your generous support, each of the following agencies will receive checks for $9,842: Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos CSA assists homeless families and seniors with short-term housing, medical care and more. The nonprofit is a cooperative effort of 17 faith-based communities in Mountain View and Los Altos. Community Health Awareness Council CHAC serves Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and seven school districts. Among other things, it offers school-based programs to protect students from high-risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse. Mountain View RotaCare Clinic The RotaCare Clinic provides uninsured local residents with medical care and medications and is frequently the last resort for this underserved demographic. Day Worker Center of Mountain View The Day Worker Center provides a secure place for workers and employers to negotiate wages. It serves 50 or more workers per day with jobs, English lessons and guidance. Support Network for Battered Women This group operates a 24-hour bilingual hotline and a safe shelter for women and their children. It also offers counseling and other services for families dealing with domestic violence. Community School of Music and Arts CSMA provides hands-on arts and music projects in the classrooms of the Mountain View Whisman School District. Nearly 40 percent of the students are low-income, and 28 percent have limited English proficiency. Partners for New Generations Partners for New Generations matches adult volunteer mentors with at-risk youth in the Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills area.

â– MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE â– JANUARY 29, 2010

â– EDITORIAL â– YOUR LETTERS â– GUEST OPINIONS

N LETTERS

VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY

FISHY FIGURES ON MINTON’S STUDY Editor: Your headline last week trumpets the conclusion from the Aecom study that the Minton’s project would actually reduce traffic in the area (“Report: Minton’s project would decrease traffic�). But the conclusion is based on an estimate, from ITE handbook values, for a building materials store, of 1,503 car trips per day into the Minton’s lumberyard. Those of us who have actually shopped at Minton’s have typically found ourselves the only customers in the place, or one of very few. I would guess that the actual number of car trips into Minton’s each day is more of the order of 100; the number of 1,500 might even be too high for Lowe’s in Sunnyvale. If you use a number of 100 per day for Minton’s, the estimate then is that the project would increase traffic by a factor of 400 percent, a lot different from the decrease of 33 percent as claimed in your article for the hypothetical estimate. One significant caveat here — if Minton’s were replaced by a thriving commercial business as probably allowed by current zoning, there might also be a large increase in traffic over what

local residents see now. Thus a more appropriate comparison for traffic might be between the various possible future uses of this property, and not the current situation. David Lewis Oak Street

HOME LOAN PERK IS JUST TOO MUCH Editor: I am outraged! The $2 million allotted by the City Council to fund low interest home loans for city employees should have been used to improve services such as police protection, more firefighters, and better parks and recreation (“City workers get home loan perk,� Jan. 22). We overpay city employees, give them benefits that industry cannot afford, give them pensions so they can double dip, and then the city manager complains about budget problems. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see what the real problem is. If Mountain View has so much money, why don’t you send some my way? Konrad M. Sosnow Trophy Drive See LETTERS, page 19

-PDBM/FXT Mountain View Whisman School District WHAT’S WRONG WITH CITY WORKERS RENTING? Editor: I’m disappointed that the City Council decided to reward city workers with housing “loans” of up to $100,000 despite overwhelming evidence that they should be doing just the opposite. What’s wrong with city workers renting? Why is it the city’s responsibility to provide homes to city workers? Kudos to John Inks for having enough fiscal sense to realize that this is a bad idea and vote against the measure. I think that it’s time for the council to realize that the direct and indirect costs of city workers is bankrupting Mountain View. It’s time for some courage to say “no” to the police and firefighters unions with respect to salary and pension increases — they’re already consuming over half the city’s budget. Dan Waylonis Stierlin Road

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BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS IS NOT THE PROBLEM Editor: I support the measure to block the state’s efforts to grab funds from local communities. But I could not disagree more with your assertion that the state’s problem is the two-thirds rule to approve a budget (“Cities should stop next money grab,” Jan. 22). The problem, simply put, is that Sacramento is addicted to spending. Instead of feeding the state’s spending habit, we need to cut off its drug supply. The measure to keep the state from robbing cities will help, but so will the twothirds rule that keeps the state from robbing taxpayers. When I moved here 40 years ago, California was the greatest state in the union — the best jobs, the best schools, and the best roads. Since then, all Sacramento has built is a monstrous bureaucracy, while services have largely gone down the drain. Our tax rates are already among the highest in the land, and employers and wealthy retirees are fleeing the state. Raising the tax rate will only feed the spending habit. California needs to go cold turkey for there to be any hope of reform. Maarten Korringa Eldora Drive

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19

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20

â– MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE â– JANUARY 29, 2010

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