Palo Alto Weekly 02.03.2012 - section 1

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Facebook files for IPO Page 3

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Year of the dragon Chinese new year is celebrated page 14

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Spectrum 12

Eating Out 21

Movies 24

Puzzles 46

N Arts Plastic bags inspire ‘Lawn Bowls’ exhibit

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N Sports Stanford tennis hoping to serve winners

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N Home Colorful, long-lasting succulent wreaths

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Upfront

Local news, information and analysis

Plan would boost Palo Alto graduation requirements Proposal aimed at 20 percent who typically graduate without four-year college-prep load

by Chris Kenrick alo Alto would boost its high school graduation requirements to match entrance criteria for California’s four-year

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public universities under a proposal floated Tuesday, Jan. 31, by Superintendent Kevin Skelly.

It was well-received by parents

and students who have been agitating for the district to raise expectations for — and performance of — lower-achieving students.

If enacted by the school board in May, Skelly’s proposal would be phased in, taking full effect with the graduating class of 2018 — today’s sixth-graders.

It would not affect the vast majority of students. About 80 percent of Palo Alto’s high school graduates already meet or exceed the entrance criteria for California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC), the so-called “A-G requirements.”

Rather, the proposal is aimed at

increasing academic achievement among the roughly 20 percent each year who graduate without fulfilling the CSU/UC entrance requirements, a group that is disproportionately low-income, African-American or Hispanic. (continued on page 6)

BUSINESS

Facebook files for $5 billion IPO CEO Mark Zuckerberg retains more than 50 percent voting power

by Eric Van Susteren acebook Inc. of Menlo Park filed for an initial public offering of $5 billion Wednesday, Feb. 1, according to its SEC filing.

Bank Morgan Stanley will be the lead underwriter of the offering, but JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Barclays Capital will also participate.

The stock is organized into two classes: Class A and Class B. The document states that holders of each stock will have identical rights, but each share of Class B stock is worth 10 votes while Class A stock is worth only 1. This gives holders of Class B stock more voting control of the company.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg holds 533,801,850 shares of Class B stock, giving him 28.2 percent of total voting power before the IPO — the highest in the company. However, he also has voting proxy over additional shares, bringing his total voting power to 57 percent before the IPO. Zuckerberg earned a base salary of $500,000 in 2011, but Facebook’s compensation committee accepted his request to reduce his salary to $1 in 2013. Some executives adopt this strategy to instead receive compensation through stock options.

The filing revealed that the eightyear-old company earned $3.7 billion in revenue in 2011, $1.9 billion in 2010 and $777 million in 2009.

The company’s net income was $1 billion in 2011, $606 million in 2010 and $229 million in 2009.

Facebook’s ticker symbol will be FB. N Editorial Assistant Eric Van Susteren can be emailed at evansusteren@paweekly.com.

F

Veronica Weber

Don’t try this at home Skateboarder Alex Giacalone of Palo Alto carves around the bowl at the Greer Park Skateboard Park on a sunny day.

COMMUNITY

Foundations coming back after recession Even with billions of dollars lost, local philanthropic organizations carried out their missions

by Sue Dremann

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hen Silicon Valley Community Foundation opened its doors in 2007, it almost immediately faced the Great Recession meltdown.

In its first year, the foundation raised $292 million. Donations dropped to $190 million as the economic crisis spread.

“We were in freefall,” CEO and President Emmett Carson said last week. The foundation, a promising merger of Santa Clara County-based Community Foundation Silicon Valley and the Peninsula Community Foundation in San Mateo County, was forced to dip into its emergency reserve funds, he said.

The community foundation was not alone. In 2008 some of the country’s largest foundations saw their assets shrink by billions of dollars, according to the Foundation Center, a New York-based research institution on philanthropy.

The Bay Area’s largest foundations, William and Flora Hewlett and David and Lucile Packard, saw their endowments shrink by onethird, leaders in those organizations said.

The Packard Foundation lost $1.9 billion. Hewlett’s endowment dropped by $3.2 billion.

Pitted against those losses were the sudden needs of nonprofit organizations that had lost public and private support. Safety-net nonprofits strained to provide services to the

swell of newly jobless and homeless clients.

Like Silicon Valley Community Foundation, philanthropic groups across the nation dipped deeper into their assets than they normally would have to aid struggling nonprofit groups, according to the Foundation Center.

Four years later, many foundations are still rebuilding their assets and rethinking or restructuring their giving. But some are starting to bounce back.

The financial crisis is likely to affect assets and grant making through 2015, keeping them below 2008 levels, according to a November 2011 report by the Foundation (continued on page 5)

TALK ABOUT IT

www.PaloAltoOnline.com What impact do you think Facebook’s IPO, and subsequent creation of Facebook instant millionaires, will have on local housing prices? Share your opinions on Town Square on Palo Alto Online.

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Upfront 450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘‘

‘‘

Concerned about your aging spouse or parent?

It’s a blunt instrument but, Dr. Skelly, you’ve sharpened it.

—Dana Tom, Palo Alto school board vice president, on the district’s plan to use statecollege requirements to increase local students’ achievement. See story on page 3.

Around Town SOCIAL HYPE ... Palo Alto is no stranger to social media, boasting a host of start-ups and, until recently, the industry colossus, Facebook.

Now, City Hall is getting in on the fun. Last month, the city launched its partnership with the company rBlock, which provides socialmedia services on a block-by-block basis. City Manager James Keene said the city has been talking to rBlock for close to two years on developing a pilot program of a “geographic web-based communication program� in several local neighborhoods. In late January, the program kick-started in the neighborhoods of Greenmeadow, Old Palo Alto and University South. Keene said the platform allows residents within a neighborhood area to share and manage information and to set their own privacy controls. It also allows the city to target information to specific neighborhoods. These will include press releases, events, public-service announcements, construction updates, street closures, emergency-preparedness events and information about police incidents. “We’re looking forward to working in partnership and testdriving this new communication module for both the city and the community,� Keene told the City Council Monday.

ADA’S CAFÉ ... Construction bids are typically humdrum affairs in Palo Alto, but the city’s quest to bring a cafÊ to the soon-to-becompleted Mitchell Park Library and Community Center has attracted an unusual amount of interest from the community. In September, more than a dozen students and residents lobbied the City Council to select Ada’s CafÊ, a nonprofit group that hires disabled adults and children, as the vendor at the library. Speakers heaped praise on the organization and its founder, veteran school volunteer Kathleen Foley-Hughes.

Their voices have apparently been heard. The council on Monday is scheduled to vote on a staff recommendation to select Ada’s CafÊ from a pool of applicants that also includes Coupa CafÊ, KJ’s CafÊ and Sanghee Lee. Tommy Fehrenbach, the city’s economic development manager, wrote in a report that Ada’s concept is to operate a cafÊ while providing jobs and job training for disabled workers and

for those who assist the disabled. “Their unique concept of matching compassionate employees with disabled workers while focusing on quality food and customer service has garnered them significant support in the community, and even a notice by the White House Office of Public Engagement,â€? he wrote. “Through their proposal it was very clear to City Staff that Ada’s CafĂŠ is making a significant investment in time, talent, and funds to make the cafĂŠ a commercial, environmental and social services success.â€? The cafĂŠ is expected to open at the same time as the new Mitchell Park facility, which is scheduled to be completed this fall.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN ...

Early next week, an old and popular oak tree named “George� is scheduled to meet his Waterloo.

The Cowper Street fixture has been occupying its present spot near Homer Avenue for longer than a century, but time has taken its toll on the coastal live oak. After a community meeting and consultation with various arborists, the city decided that the tree now presents a safety hazard because of its weak root system. On Feb. 6, the process of taking George down will begin and will last about four days, City Manager James Keene said Monday. But George will not go gentle into the good night. Keene said “significant parts of the tree� would be provided to the Palo Alto Historical Association to be used for posterity as a bench or a plaque at the site. The city also plans to plant a valley oak in George’s former spot.

CELEBRATING THE CHAMPIONS ... Palo Alto High School’s victorious girls volleyball team will be the toast of the town when the City Council convenes this week.

The varsity girls won their second consecutive state title on Dec. 4 at Concordia University and, in doing so, became the first high-school team in Palo Alto ever to win backto-back state championships. The council plans to pass a special proclamation Monday celebrating the teams’ accomplishments and proclaim Feb. 6 as a “day of celebration for the unprecedented success of the Palo Alto High School Girls 2010 and 2011 Volleyball Teams.� N

Upfront

Foundations (continued from page 3)

Center and the Cricket Island Foundation. Support for socialjustice programs has taken the biggest hit, and the trend is likely to continue unless the field sees five years of above-average investment returns.

Two issues have continued to affect endowments and grant giving: the initial downward spike and the recession’s length, said Chris DeCardy, vice president and director of programs for the Packard Foundation.

The recession has dragged on for so long that some nonprofits the foundations support are still in crisis, their contingency plans having only addressed the short term, he said.

The foundation did provide multi-year grants so struggling nonprofit organizations would not have to worry about losing funding. It also helped nonprofits reallocate funds to areas of highest need within their organizations, he said.

Packard also worked with nonprofit groups to streamline their operations and train development staff, DeCardy said, a trend the Foundation Center said it saw among roughly one-fourth of organizations it surveyed in 2010.

Those foundations said they had developed new programs, including those to help nonprofits restructure and become more fiscally fit.

Although Packard’s endowment took a hit, the foundation did not reduce local grants proportionally.

“We had just made a decision to ramp up the direct local grant making from $8 million to $14 million dollars per year. We did not lower it ... because we knew of the impact of the recession,” DeCardy said. “The result is that grant making has been held flat for the last few years as the endowment has slowly come back.”

Packard in 2008 distributed $331 million but only granted $234 million in 2010, Communications Director Minna Jung said.

Last year, the foundation saw an uptick in its grant-making ability, giving $248 million.

Its endowment, meanwhile, totaled $6.4 billion in 2007 but dropped to $4.5 billion in 2008.

Recovering slowly, it reached an estimated $5.5 billion last year, according to Jung.

The Hewlett Foundation also cut back on its grant making during the recession.

In 2007 it awarded more than 750 grants, but by 2010 the figure dropped to about 525, according to the foundation’s annual reports.

The median grant dropped from $482,778 in 2007 to $135,000 in 2010.

“We were hit pretty hard because as an endowed foundation we don’t raise money, we manage assets,” Hewlett’s Communications Director Eric Brown said.

Hewlett’s peak endowment of

$9.2 billion dropped to $6 billion in 2008. But assets have been rising and in 2011 totaled approximately $7.2 billion, spokeswoman Elizabeth Kislik said.

During the height of the crisis Hewlett focused on the most vulnerable organizations. It also stuck to its broad goals, such as reducing the worst effects of climate change and support for educational systems, Brown said.

“Now things are coming back, and we can slowly add back some grants,” he said.

Hewlett distributed approximately $213 million in 2011, Kislik said, about half of 2007’s $427 million.

(2008 was an unusual year in that the foundation distributed $784 million — including $481.5 million to the ClimateWorks Foundation, of which Hewlett is a founding funder.)

Silicon Valley Community Foundation cut staff by 11 percent as a result of the merger and the recession. It spent $1.2 million of its emergency cash reserves over two years to help at-risk nonprofit groups, Carson said.

The foundation stuck with its five new focus areas: middle school mathematics, regional development and planning, financial literacy and economic security (such as addressing payday lending), immigrant integration and an opportunity fund. The lattermost is a catch-all for good ideas for improving the community, he said.

But it also increased funding for social programs such as food and shelter, which came from that fund.

In 2007, the foundation awarded $242 million in grants. By 2010 the sum dropped to $197 million, only to rebound in 2011 to an estimated $234 million, said Rebecca Salner, vice president of marketing and communications.

The foundation’s assets turned around in 2011. Gifts representing new funds or additions to existing funds jumped to an estimated $470 million in 2011 from a low of $156 million in 2010.

In 2007, gifts had totaled $292 million.

The foundation now has amassed more than $2 billion in assets. It has paid back some of the funds to its emergency fund, Carson said.

Five years after its birth, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is one of the top-giving foundations in the state and the largest single grant maker to Bay Area nonprofits, Carson said. And it ranks fourth out of the top 10 Bay Area philanthropic foundations in assets, behind Hewlett, Packard and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, according to a June 2011 report by the Foundation Center.

“We’ve been on the road to a rocky recovery. It’s been slow and painful. But our view was that we needed to keep providing support to the community,” Carson said. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann @ paweekly.com.

CITY COUNCIL

Palo Alto sees spike in retiree medical obligations Rising health care costs, changing demographics add millions to the city’s unfunded liability

by Gennady Sheyner

A

surge of retirements, shift- large part by benefit reductions, study wasn’t too conservative. He ing demographics and rising contributed another $2.7 million also suggested that significantly health care costs are greatly to the backlog, according to Bar- raising the city’s contributions toinflating Palo Alto’s obligations to tel’s study. The retirees’ tendency ward retiree medical costs may not its retirees and prompting a debate to choose more expensive medical be the best use for city funds. The among city officials about how plans added another $7.7 million. medical contributions, he observed, much money the city should set Council members on Monday, Jan. would be close to 10 percent of the aside to meet its gaping liability.

30, questioned Bartel’s assumptions city’s General Fund budget.

A recent actuarial study by the firm and, in particular, the firm’s meth“That to me is freezing out variBartel and Associates estimates that odology, which bases the estimate ous expenditures which may in fact the city should spend $13.6 million on a 28-year amortization period be better for the health of our comthis year on medical expenses for that aims to eliminate the unfunded munity in the long run,” Klein said. retirees, a number that is 39 percent liability. Milliman’s estimate used “I can make an argument that payhigher than the estimate in a prior a 30-year period in which annual ing large sums into this may not be audit. In 2009, the firm healthy for the community Milliman and Associlong-term financially.” ates estimated that the ‘It creates difficult decisions, not just The Bartel study also projcity would have to spend ects a steeper near-term in$9.8 million annually to for management but for the council crease in the medical costs (9 meet its obligation. percent per year until 2021) and the community. We do plan to The alarming diverthan the Milliman study (6.5 gence between the two do outreach on this to employees percent until 2018). This prostudies has prompted in the general sense, not just in jection did not surprise city the City Council to won- negotiations.’ staff. Lalo Perez, director der how much the city of the city’s Administrative —Lalo Perez, director of the Services Department, said should spend this year city’s Administrative Services Department Palo Alto’s medical costs to narrow its unfunded medical liability for rehave doubled over the past tirees. The Bartel study pegs the gap contributions would not completely six years and said it’s important for at about $134.7 million. Milliman es- pay off the liability, according to a the city to have discussions with its timated it to be about $105 million. report from Senior Financial Ana- employees about the rising pension But while council members gener- lyst Nancy Nagel. and health care costs. ally acknowledged at Monday night’s The Bartel study estimated that In the past two years, the city discussion that the city would have to the city’s unfunded retiree medi- added a second tier of pension for increase its annual required contribu- cal liability now stands at $134.7 new employees and adopted new tion, they stopped short of accepting million, 28 percent higher than the requirements for employees’ health the new conclusions and asked staff $105 million cited by Milliman. care contributions. and Bartel to further analyze the asCouncil members noted that if “It creates difficult decisions, sumptions behind the latest actuarial the city were to accept the report’s not just for management but for the report. conclusion, it would have to take an council and the community,” Perez John Bartel, whose firm put the extra $2.3 million from its General said. “We do plan to do outreach new study together, listed a wide Fund and $1.5 million from its En- on this to employees in the general range of reasons for the dramati- terprise Fund in the current fiscal sense, not just in negotiations.” cally higher numbers. These in- year, which ends on June 30. Vice The council voted to direct staff clude a recent study by California Mayor Greg Scharff called this “a and Bartel to re-examine the asPublic Employees’ Retirement Sys- huge increase” and said the change sumptions in the new report and to tem (CalPERS) detailing changing would cut into other city priorities, return with more information about employee demographics: increas- including infrastructure. payment alternatives. The conversaing retiree lifespans, decreasing re“You can’t absorb an increase like tion is scheduled to resume at the tirement age and other factors that that. ... You won’t have money to do Feb. 28 meeting of the council’s Fiadded about $8 million to the city’s anything else,” Scharff said. nance Committee. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner unfunded liability.

Councilman Larry Klein also exPalo Alto’s recent wave of re- pressed skepticism about the latest can be emailed at gsheyner@ tirements, which was prompted in numbers and wondered if the Bartel paweekly.com.

EDUCATION

Technology, new schedules drive changes at Gunn, Paly Principals share state-required ‘continuous improvement’ plans

by Chris Kenrick

A

“seismic shift” at Palo Alto High School — the switch to the block schedule that began last year — has rippled across the campus in areas as diverse as student mental health, homework loads and teacher collaboration, according to principal Phil Winston.

At Gunn High School, a spe-

cial focus on college readiness for African-American and Hispanic students has led to a “significant improvement” in the percentage of juniors and seniors in those groups — more than 60 percent — being on track for a four-year college.

Winston and Gunn Principal Katya Villalobos Wednesday, Feb. 2, shared

their plans for “continuous improvement” with the Board of Education in the annual state-required “Single Plan for Student Achievement” (SPSA) review.

Both are in their second years as heads of school. (continued on page 7)

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Upfront

Grad requirements (continued from page 3)

Specifically, the proposal would add two years of foreign language, which Skelly said could be fulfilled in various ways, including by taking a test.

For the classes of 2016 and 2017 (today’s seventh- and eighth-graders), three years of math, including geometry, would be required compared with today’s two years.

The following year, Algebra 2 would be explicitly specified in the three-year math requirement.

The current two-year science requirement also would specify a

laboratory science, as is required

by CSU/UC. This week was the second time Skelly has proposed “A-G alignment� — the first was last May. At that time, he suggested a form of “waiver� for students unable or unwilling to complete the four-year college-prep curriculum, leading to protest from special-education parents and others that a waiver would amount to a black mark on high school diplomas.

But Tuesday’s proposal — offering “alternative graduation requirements� rather than “waivers� — appeared to be better-received.

The customized alternative-graduation requirements would be avail-

able to students who have “explicit post-secondary plans� that differ significantly from the four-year college path.

The proposal also was praised by parent and student backers of “A-G for all.� “We wholeheartedly support the superintendent’s recommendation, even though we’d like to see it happen sooner rather than later,� said parent Ken Dauber, founder of the anti-stress group We Can Do Better Palo Alto, who less than a year ago charged that the Palo Alto school district “needs new leadership.�

Parent Sara Woodham said the plan is “moving in the right direction. “Alignment is a blunt instrument,

a forcing function,� she said. “But it’s a forcing function to get better at educating our kids.�

Seven Palo Alto High School students — all members of the Student Equity Action Network — turned out to advocate “A-G for all.� “I can’t wait to see the positive effects of Dr. Skelly’s proposal,� said Paly senior Lucas Brooks, to applause from the audience.

Skelly said he will fill out details of the plan and bring it back to the board in May for discussion on May 8 and a vote May 22.

School board members generally praised the plan, calling it a “blunt instrument� but perhaps necessary to make headway against a

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socio-economic and racial achievement gap that long has plagued the schools here and elsewhere. “It’s a blunt instrument but, Dr. Skelly, you’ve sharpened it,� board vice-president Dana Tom said. “Of those students this will affect, hopefully there will be a good portion who will be capable of meeting A-G. For students who aren’t, you’ve found a way to accommodate alternative pathways.�

But board member Barb Mitchell cautioned that while the plan goes in the right direction, “I’m less optimistic that this is the right tool to get there.�

She worried that the district lacks the structure to provide timely “second instruction� to the consistent number of students who fall behind on the A-G path. If a failing student drops a class in November, for example, the next chance to make it up in some cases isn’t until the following school year, placing the student far behind. “My bias is to debug our plan before we launch, to build the runway first,� Mitchell said.

Board member Melissa Baten Caswell said the new plan should be considered “an opportunity for us to think about ‘first instruction.’ “I’d like us to keep from thinking of it as ‘second instruction,’� she said.

Skelly said the new graduation requirements would force positive change. “My bias is, if we were to adopt these and do nothing else, it would force conversations around students where they are introspective about what they’re doing, and the consequences of what they’re doing, and we’d be better off than we are right now,� he said. “The principals are very fired up about this and believe it’s the right work,� he said, adding that teachers “have lots of different views� and are split on the issue. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

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Upfront

School changes (continued from page 5)

Along with the new Paly block schedule, initiated by his predecessor Jacquie McEvoy, Winston said he has tried to “shift the conversation” at Paly regarding students in danger of failing.

“We talk about what we, the adults, can do differently, not what students need to do differently,” Winston said. “It’s a very important paradigm shift. It’s our responsibility to control and mold their environments, and students simply respond to that.”

The new schedule and philoso-

phy have led to 65 minutes a week of school-wide “tutorial,” where students are freed up to visit any teacher’s classroom to get help, make up tests or attend to other needs. For students with Ds and Fs, tutorial is required. Others are free to take a break and play on the athletic fields, Winston said.

The weekly tutorial time has led to “increased connectedness and deepening relationships between students and staff,” he said.

The shift to the block schedule, involving fewer — but longer — classes each week, allowed the staff time to examine their instructional practices and led to discussions about the purpose of homework,

particularly around math, he said.

It also has made room for weekly collaboration time for teachers, in which students receiving Ds and Fs are discussed individually, he said.

Winston said Paly is testing the software program Rjenda, which lets teachers know about their students’ tests and projects in other classes, possibly leading to a centralized calendar.

At Gunn, a special focus on the teaching of Algebra 1 has led to the use of an array of online tools, including the Khan Academy videos, Villalobos said.

“We’re using all the standard things — textbooks, teacher instruc-

tional practices — but also seeing what other things are out there to make sure our students find success in Algebra 1,” she said.

Gunn’s technology-filled library has become “symbolically the center of campus,” she said.

“Our library teacher/media guru Meg Omainsky has elevated looking at technology to help students access and augment the curriculum and become producers, not just consumers, of information.

“She’s reconfigured, literally and symbolically, the concept of the library itself,” Villalobos said, with ceiling-to-floor whiteboards and the availability of iPads for entire classes.

With the help of Stanford University Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Shashank Joshi, Gunn has adopted the emotional-wellness program Sources of Strength (SOS), using peer leaders to break student “codes of silence” about students who may be troubled.

The SOS program is paired with other programs, including the student-founded ROCK (Reach Out, Care and Know) to boost the “connectedness” and social-emotional health of those on campus, Villalobos said. N Staff Writer Chris Kenrick can be emailed at ckenrick@paweekly. com.

CityView A round-up of

Palo Alto government action this week

City Council (Jan. 30)

Medical: The council discussed the actuarial report on retiree medical obligations and directed staff to return to the Finance Committee with more information about the study’s assumptions. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Price

Board of Education (Jan. 31)

Graduation requirements: The board discussed a preliminary staff recommendation to align Palo Alto’s high school graduation requirements with entrance criteria to the University of California and California State University systems by 2018. Action: None Cubberley: The board heard a report from the superintendent about meetings with City of Palo Alto staff members concerning the future of Cubberley Community Center. Action: None

Utilities Advisory Commission (Feb. 1)

Vice chair: The commission elected James Cook as its vice chair. Yes: Unanimous Projections: The commission discussed financial projections for water and wastewater utilities. Action: None

Architectural Review Board (Feb. 2)

Edgewood Plaza: The board voted to approve a proposal at 2080 Channing Ave., which includes renovations to three commercial buildings, relocation of one retail building and construction of 10 new homes and a 0.22-acre park at the Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center. The approval included a list of conditions including ones requiring the applicant to provide more details about residential street furniture, roof overhangs, bike lockers and park furniture. Yes: Lew, Malone Prichard, Wasserman, Young Abstain: Lippert

Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to issue a proclamation congratulating the Palo Alto High School volleyball team and discuss the process and timeline for considering a new waste-to-energy facility. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The committee will discuss the proposed local renewable-energy feed-in tariff program and consider revisions to the Gas Utility’s long-term objectives, strategies and implementation plan. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

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PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss its policy on ex-parte communications and consider a request to convert a research-and-development building at 2585 E. Bayshore Road into an after-school daycare center. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

COUNCIL RAIL COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to consider the city’s response to the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s revised Environmental Impact Report for the Bay Area-to-Central Valley segment of the line. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION ... The commission plans to hear an update on Human Services Needs Assessment and comment on the Draft Community Services and Facilities Element in the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

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Palo Alto Medical Foundation Community Health Education Programs

February

-OUNTAIN 6IEW s 0ALO !LTO

&OR A COMPLETE LIST OF CLASSES AND CLASS FEES LECTURES AND HEALTH EDUCATION RESOURCES VISIT pamf.org/healtheducation.

Lectures and Workshops

Cancer Care

Hypertension and the Heart: Practical Ways to Reduce Your Risk For Your Health Community Lecture Series

– Exercise for Energy – men and women’s group – Expressions – Healing Imagery – Healing Touch

Presented by Deepu Nair, M.D., PAMF Cardiology Tuesday, Feb. 14, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

701 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View 650-934-7373

Childbirth and Parent Education Classes

Understand the prevalence of high blood pressure and its effects on the heart and blood vessels, identify the key risk factors for hypertension and their relative importance and learn what you can do to reduce your risk for high blood pressure and how to treat it if it develops.

The Facts About Losing Weight with Weight Loss Surgery San Carlos Library Lecture Series Presented by John Feng, M.D., FACS, PAMF Bariatric & General Surgery Monday, Feb. 27, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos 650-591-0341 Join us for a discussion that will focus on the different types of weight loss surgery. The discussion will include health issues related to excess weight gain, pros and cons of surgery and weight loss surgery results.

– – – – – – – –

Baby Safety Basics Breastfeeding Childbirth Preparation Feeding Your Young Child Infant and Child CPR Infant Care Infant Emergencies and CPR Introduction to Solids

– Healthy Eating After Cancer Treatment – Look Good, Feel Better – Qigong – When Eating is a Problem, During Cancer Treatment

– Mother-Baby Circle – New Parent ABC’s – All About Baby Care – OB Orientation – Prenatal Yoga – Sibling Preparation – What to Expect with Your Newborn

Living Well Classes – Back School – Mind/Body Stress Management – Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Nutrition and Diabetes Classes Mountain View, 650-934-7177 s Palo Alto, 650-853-2961

– Diabetes Management – Healthy Eating with Type 2 Diabetes – Heart Smart (cholesterol management)

– Living Well with Prediabetes – Sweet Success Program (gestational diabetes)

Upcoming Lectures and Workshops in March For Your Health Community Lecture Series s %AT 9OUR 7AY TO 4RUE (APPINESS Nutrition Strategies to Boost Your Mood, Curb Your Cravings and Keep the Pounds Off (Palo Alto) Library Lecture Series s Environmental Healthy Living (Sunnyvale) s Kidney Stones (San Carlos) Parent Workshop Series s Sleep and Your Child (Mountain View)

Page 8ÊUÊ iLÀÕ>ÀÞÊÎ]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

Weight Management Programs – Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Program – Healthy eating. Active lifestyles. (for parents of children ages 2-12)

s 1-888-398-5597

– HMR Weight Management Program – Lifesteps® (adult weight management) – New Weigh of Life (adult weight management)

Support Groups – – – – –

AWAKE Bariatric Surgery Breastfeeding Cancer CARE

– – – – –

Chronic Fatigue Diabetes Drug and Alcohol Kidney Multiple Sclerosis

Upfront Correction: Recycling in Palo Alto Last Friday, the Weekly published an article regarding the closure of the Palo Alto Recycling Center on Feb. 1.

A chart on where to recycle contained a few errors, however: Staples office-supply store in Menlo Park does not take polystyrene but does take old TVs, and the SMaRT Station in Sunnyvale does not take ink and toner cartridges or DVDs and CDS. An updated chart, including a few additional resources, can be found at www.

PaloAltoOnline.com by searching for “Palo Alto Recycling Center to close Feb. 1.”

In addition, the following recyclable items are accepted at curbside in Palo Alto: Mixed paper, magazines, newspapers, cardboard, paperback and hardcover books, PET No. 1, HDPE No. 2 clear and color, HDPE plastic No. 3-7, plastic bags/film, rigid plastic items (limited size), glass bottles, aluminum cans, aluminum foil, tin cans, small pieces of scrap metal, small consumer electronics, household batteries, large appliances such as washers (for a fee), mattresses and box springs (for a fee), bulky items such as furniture (for a fee), residential motor oil and residential oil filters.

More information about the city’s recycling program is available by calling 650-496-5910 or visiting the City of Palo Alto website at www.cityofpaloalto.org. N

Online This Week

These and other news stories were posted on Palo Alto Online throughout the week. For longer versions, go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com/news or click on “News” in the left, green column.

‘Youth of the Year’ finalists share stories Four low-income teenagers told stories of persevering against hardship in a recent “Youth of the Year” speech competition at the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula. (Posted Feb. 1 at 4:01 p.m.)

VIDEO: Teens unite at ‘Break Through’ bonfire Jade Chamness, founder of Break Through the Static, talked about the Jan. 28 bonfire hosted in Palo Alto and the organization’s aspirations to create a peer-to-peer support network for local teens who have experienced a loss to suicide and mental health issues. (Posted Feb. 1 at 11:41 a.m.)

Facebook unveils bike plan

Rare falcon rescued in Palo Alto dies

The imagination, vision, know-how and purpose that produced Netday became a permanent part of tech folklore. Private initiative with government support lifted and gifted schools and their communities.

A rare falcon that was found injured in Palo Alto has been euthanized, a Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA spokesman said Monday, Jan. 30. (Posted Jan. 30 at 3:43 p.m.)

Norovirus outbreak hits Lytton Gardens A gastrointestinal norovirus outbreak that began early in January closed some sections of Lytton Gardens, the senior-living center in downtown Palo Alto, Amy Cornell, Santa Clara County Department of Public Health information officer, said Monday, Jan. 30. (Posted Jan. 30 at 9:55 a.m.)

‘Cosmo girl’ icon gives $30 million to Stanford Famed Cosmopolitan magazine editor Helen Gurley Brown is donating $30 million for a bicoastal “media innovation institute” pairing Stanford University School of Engineering with the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, the two schools announced Monday, Jan. 30.

(Posted Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.)

Simitian: Gov. Brown seeks deeper finance reform Besides a temporary tax hike for public education, Gov. Jerry Brown is attempting a deeper reform to school finance in his budget proposal, state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, told a crowd of educators Saturday, Jan. 28. (Posted Jan. 30 at 9:14 a.m.)

at 10:50 p.m.)

Palo Alto cop to coach 2012 U.S. Olympic team

Support Local Business

Palo Alto Police Officer Ben Lee has been selected as the coach for the 2012 United States Olympic badminton team, USA Badminton announced Friday, Jan. 27. (Posted Jan. 27 at 10:43 p.m.)

‘Peeping Tom’ frequenting Stanford dorm A peeper has been pestering women in a Stanford University dormitory since the beginning of January, according to the campus Department of Public Safety. (Posted Jan. 27 at 10:36 a.m.)

Golf course architect presents new plan Golf-course architect Forrest Richardson presented a new plan for reconfiguring Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course, which would include three full-sized recreational fields, during a community meeting at Lucie Stern Community Center on Thursday night, Jan. 27. (Posted Jan. 27 at 9:57 a.m.)

Apparent ‘pipe bomb’ linked to Palo Alto juvenile

The online guide to Palo Alto businesses ShopPaloAlto.com

John Gage of Sun was the project’s Chief Evangelist and before long, employees, vendors and educators were at work filling up rosters of volunteers at school sites. Cable was donated and engineers consulted.

Enthusiasm and resources quickly spread across the country.

On the assigned day, then-Vice Prsident Al Gore pulled wires at a high school in Contra Costa County and nearly half the Clinton Cabinet were engaged – several in California. Mayors, legislators, local officials – including many school board members joined in.

Electronics and jewelry were taken in four residential burglaries during daylight hours in Palo Alto the week of Jan. 23. (Posted Jan. 28

bloodcenter.stanford.edu

I

t seems like only yesterday that our Valley was preparing for “Netday.”

It was 1996 and Sun Microsystems, Cisco, Apple and many other leading companies planned, in barn raising fashion, to wire schools.

If the internet could educate, it should surely be in classrooms!

Making the streets of Menlo Park and East Palo Alto safer for bicyclists has hit the top of Facebook’s community “to do” list as the company settles into its new headquarters on Willow Road in Menlo Park. (Posted Jan. 31 at 3:02 p.m.)

Electronics, jewelry taken in four burglaries

Give blood for life!

Working Together Works

By Anna G. Eshoo

The suspicious object that resembled a pipe bomb and prompted Palo Alto police to shut down a section of Middlefield Road in August 2011 was accidentally dropped on the road by a juvenile who was using it as a game prop earlier that day, police said. (Posted Jan. 27 at 9:24 a.m.)

Dead man found at Stanford construction site A man’s body was found in a grove near a construction site close to Stanford Hospital on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, according to the university’s Department of Public Safety. The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office identified him as Raymond Vieira, 68, whose address is unknown. (Posted Jan. 27 at 9:39 a.m.)

Over the years, the relationship between government and the tech industry, not surprisingly, has had its ups and downs. That’s as it should be. Industry is understandably self-interested and government must advance the public’s interest. Yet, government’s ongoing role removing barriers, leading investment and prompting a supportive climate for industry expansion hasn’t always been featured in the Tech Narrative.

So it was with some interest that I noted the recent news about job growth in the Valley last year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the past 12 months the South Bay job market grew by 3.2%, nearly triple the U.S. rate of growth and almost double the rate for California.

Why is it that Silicon Valley companies are the first to rebound and expand following lean times? Talent, capital and a culture of inventiveness and experimentation are certainly essential to our region’s success. Curiosity, a high regard for education and a willingness to fail add to our brand.

“Government policy” rarely gets a mention in the story. It is common to hear “only the private sector can create jobs.” Government is cast as an impediment to progress and rarely recognized as the vehicle for progress that it is. At critical junctures, government policies advance and expand industries, creating new jobs.

For the past thirty years the R&D tax credit, for example, has rewarded a company’s investment in research and development. Valley Members of Congress have worked to make the R&D tax credit permanent because we know that government support for innovation is one of the best ways to foster job growth. I’m proud to have written a bill to expand and permanently extend the Research and Development tax credit.

Consider my e-commerce legislation that enabled online signatures to be legally binding on digital documents. Sounds almost quaint today, but it is a clear example of government removing a barrier to commercial progress.

Who could have imagined online banking as it is practiced today, but the on-line signature was its ancestor.

The solar industry offers another example of government enhancing a Silicon Valley vision. The scientific community’s recognition of climate change led to demand for alternative sources of energy. In Congress, we appropriated funds for high risk, high reward clean energy research and we extended a renewable energy grant program that provided grants in lieu of existing tax credits to spur job growth in the solar and wind industries.

Investors saw their opportunity and solar and wind companies grew.

So the next time you hear carping about obstructionist, gridlocked government, remember that sometimes government gets it right; sometimes growth is unleashed by a digital signature or sparked by a federal grant. Sometimes public-private partnerships work. When they do, it can mean a computer company in Silicon Valley has a new customer in Iowa or a social media site has more room to grow on the spectrum. And government did that.

Not that different from pulling wire at schools, working together works.

Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) represents California’s 14th Congressional District and serves as the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology subcommittee

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Upfront

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Tuesday February 7th, 2012, 6:30 PM At the Lucie Stern Center in the Community Room 1305 MiddleďŹ eld Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94301 The City of Palo Alto seeks the community’s input on this proposed landscape renovation project Meeting hosted by City of Palo Alto Public Works (650) 617-3183 Email pwecips@cityofpaloalto.org for more information.

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And then there were three Former Saratoga Mayor Kathleen King has withdrawn from the race for Liz Kniss’ seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, leaving state Sen. Joe Simitian — a former Palo Alto mayor — as one of three candidates vying to replace Kniss.

King, who serves as executive director of the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, announced that she is withdrawing from the race because of health issues involving her son. According to campaignfinance documents released Jan. 31, she had received more than $55,000 in contributions.

Simitian, who served on the Board of Supervisors before his election to the state Assembly and, later, the state Senate, raised more than $96,000 as of the end of 2011.

Simitian’s campaign funds came from a broad range of contributors, including local developers, businesses, labor unions, individual donors and other political campaigns.

Simitian drew $500 contributions from politicians, including from state Senate campaign funds of Alan Lowenthal, Juan Vargas and Kevin de Leon, and former Palo Alto Mayor Gary Fazzino; from unions, including the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the California Nurses Association and the California Professional Firefighters; from companies, including Applied Materials and Union Pacific Railroad; and local developers Charles “Chop�

Keenan and Roxy Rapp. Developer Jim Baer gave Simitian’s campaign $300.

Simitian also loaned $10,000 to his own campaign.

The campaign-finance documents also show Simitian spent $14,924 as of Dec. 31.

Cupertino Councilmen Kris Wang and Barry Chang are also running for Kniss’ seat. N — Andrea Gemmet and Gennady Sheyner

Police nab burglary suspects near Duveneck Palo Alto police chased down and arrested two Menlo Park men who police said were planning to burglarize a residence in the Duveneck neighborhood Monday night, Jan. 30.

Officers received a call Monday from a resident in the 600 block of Wildwood Lane who reported seeing two men with flashlights prowling around the outside of a neighboring home’s entry gate.

When officers arrived, they allegedly saw two men sprinting out of the side yard of a home in the 1900 block of Ivy Lane, a few homes away from the caller. Police asked the men to stop. When they didn’t, police chased them and caught them in the 1900 block of Ivy. No one was injured during the foot pursuit.

Police later discovered evidence of an attempted burglary at the original location in the 600 block of Wildwood and arrested the two men, Antonio Barajas and Ricardo Hernandez. The two 19-yearold Menlo Park residents were charged with attempted residential burglary, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools. They were booked at the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose.

Police said they are investigating Barajas and Hernandez for possible involvement in other burglaries that have occurred in the Duveneck/St. Francis area over the past week. That investigation is ongoing. N — Gennady Sheyner

Armed man invades Atherton home

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News Digest

A man armed with a gun and a knife got away with $322,000 in jewelry and watches after invading an occupied house in the 200 block of Atherton Avenue in Atherton and confronting the residents shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, police said.

The residents, a couple in their 60s, managed to escape the house without injury and drive to the police station, Lt. Joe Wade of the Atherton Police Department said in a telephone interview.

Police responded to the scene in force and with a police dog and set up a perimeter, but the robber was gone, Wade said. It’s not clear where the burglar entered the house or how he got to the second floor, Wade said.

The residents described the man as slender, 18 to 25 years old, and wearing a black mask.

The incident unfolded as the husband was climbing the stairs after his wife told him she had heard a noise upstairs. While on the stairs, he met the burglar, who grabbed the husband and demanded money, Wade said.

The wife made a run for it and had started the car when her husband ran out and joined her. He had bargained with the burglar by offering him $100 in cash and escaped somehow, Wade said.

Near a fence in the yard, police found a laptop computer and a model car stolen from the house. In an adjacent property, they found a knife and a pellet gun believed to have been used in the crime. N — Almanac staff LET’S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at PaloAltoOnline.com

Pulse

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING of the City of Palo Alto Architectural Review Board (ARB) 8:30 A.M., Thursday, February 16, 2012 Palo Alto Council Chambers, 1st Floor, Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue.

Go to the Development Center at 285 Hamilton Avenue to review filed documents; contact Diana Tamale for information regarding business hours at 650.329.2144.

A weekly compendium of vital statistics

POLICE CALLS Palo Alto

180 Hamilton Avenue [11PLN-00459]: Request by Steinberg Architects, on behalf of Casa Olga and Joie de Vivre Hospitality, for Preliminary Review of proposed exterior renovations of an existing eight story building and conversion to a hotel use (85 rooms and new ground floor restaurant). Zone District: CD-C(P).

Jan. 25-31 Violence related Armed robbery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Child abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Family violence/battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Rape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Sexual battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Embezzlement/misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Vehicle related Abandoned auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Bicycle theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Driving w/suspended license . . . . . . . . .8 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .6 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .4 Vehicle impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Alcohol or drug related Drunk in public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Miscellaneous Disposal request. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Found property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. penal code violation . . . . . . . . . . .1 Missing person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Other/misc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Possession of stolen property . . . . . . . .1 Prowler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .2 Warrant/other agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

180 El Camino Real [11PLN-00420]: Request by Discount Signs and Neon, on behalf of the Board of Trustees to the Leland Stanford Junior University, for Architectural Review of a “glass windscreen” sign for Yucca de Lac at the Stanford Shopping Center. Zone District CC. Environmental Assessment: Exempt from the provisions of CEQA, 15301 (Existing Facilities).

Amy French Manager of Current Planning

Menlo Park Jan. 25-31 Violence related Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Domestic violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Theft related Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Grand theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Petty theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Residential burglaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle related Auto theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Driving w/suspended license . . . . . . . . .6 Driving without a license . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Hit and run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Misc. traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Recovered vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Theft from auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Vehicle accident/minor injury . . . . . . . . .1 Vehicle accident/property damage. . . . .4 Alcohol or drug related Drunken driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Drug activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Possession of drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Miscellaneous Animal call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Information case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Lost property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Missing person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Misc. penal code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Probation violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Property for destruction . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Psychiatric hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suspicious circumstances . . . . . . . . . . .2 Trespassing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Warrant arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

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Editorial

Boosting grad standards Aligning high school graduation requirements with UC/CSU admissions standards is the first step toward eliminating achievement gap fter a false start last spring, when a similar plan was met with resistance, the Palo Alto school board took a major step in the right direction this week when it gave its informal blessing to an updated plan for phasing in graduation requirements that are in sync with what is required to attend state universities.

Once the board passes the final package in May, the plan would be phased in over the next six years, taking full effect with the graduating class of 2018.

Under the new proposed policy, Palo Alto would adopt the UC/ CSU entrance criteria as its standards for graduating from high school, a higher bar than is currently in place. The change would add two years of foreign language, increase from two years to three of math, including Algebra 2, and change the current twoyear science requirement to include a laboratory science.

About 80 percent of the high school graduates in Palo Alto already have been meeting these so-called A-G standards and will not be affected. The debate has centered around whether elevating the requirements will result in getting that number up closer to 100 percent, or simply cause more students to not graduate from high school.

School superintendent Kevin Skelly advocates raising expectations of both students and teachers, so that beginning in elementary school the academic goal is to prepare all students to be able to pass the high school classes needed to attend college.

We strongly agree with Skelly and are happy to see the school board appear ready to move forward with these changes.

Skelly’s first plan to adopt the UC/CSU criteria ran into trouble last May when the chair of the Paly math department protested, saying in a letter that he did not want to dilute its current Algebra 2 curriculum, which is set to a higher standard than needed to meet state curriculum standards. The letter, signed by almost the entire department, revealed a stunning lack of sensitivity to the needs of students who struggle with math. It rightfully caused an uproar among some parents, who demanded that the district’s lowest math lane be designed to help these students achieve success and to gain eligibility for admission to UC/CSU schools.

Additional questions were raised by special education parents, who feared their children might not be able to meet the higher standards for graduation. The board put the proposal on hold and told Skelly to bring back a revised plan that would address the concerns.

His answer for special education and other students who are not bound for college is a plan to craft individual alternative graduation requirements for those who have “explicit post-secondary” plans that do not include attending college.

Underlying the math curriculum debate is the fact that a disproportionately higher percentage of black and Hispanic students are failing to earn a passing grade in the current Algebra 2 course, in part because it is more demanding than necessary.

Skelly said school principals are “fired up about this and believe it is the right work,” but added that teachers “have a lot of different views” and are split on whether raising the graduation standards will help underperforming students.

The challenge for Skelly and his principals will be to make sure that teachers view closing the achievement gap and attaining near 100 percent graduation rates as just as important a measure of their effectiveness as the number of brilliant, award-winning students going on to elite schools.

Test score data shows that Palo Alto schools are doing a worse job than most districts in California in educating both minority students and economically disadvantaged students, an embarrassment for a district with our resources and quality of teachers.

There is much work to be done to close these achievement gaps, and the solution won’t be as simple as changing graduation requirements. But Skelly’s proposal, which has received praise even from those critics who have been pushing for action, is a solid start.

When the final plan comes before the board in May, we hope it includes a clearer strategy for how the administration plans on making sure the needed changes are implemented in classroom curriculum. It’s one thing to change policy; it’s another to successfully bring teachers around to embracing and implementing it. To that end, the school board should make this one of Skelly’s performance goals for the next year, as he should with his principals.

A

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Spectrum Editorials, letters and opinions

New Palo Alto Process Editor, Criticism is often directed toward social media networks. A frenzy of “liking,” “friending” and “commenting” interferes with actual communication. Easy online connections, pornography and stimulation protect us from the stressful interactions that are inherent in actual individual and group relationships.

Traditionally, neighborhoods, homes and rooms have confined people both physically and emotionally. In Palo Alto people frequently move in and out, represent diverse cultures and traditions, and are subject to financial strains, layoffs and other difficulties. Relationships with others are essential for psychological well-being, but also difficult to build in our ever-changing multinational community.

A new social media form is emerging that has special potential.

Next Door College Terrace enables neighbors to connect in real time and set a stage for the development of a more supportive community. A new form of kinder interaction is evolving through sharing tools, help and support.

Next Door offers a means to take us further along a pathway to the creation of a new “Palo Alto Process.” Rather than the usual hostile, isolated and aggressive ways, the means for compassionate and caring community is instilled.

Bette U. Kiernan, MFT Sherman Avenue Palo Alto

No unsustainable projects Editor, The proposed downtown “gateway” building, with its 84-foot glass tower and five stories of housing and office space, encompasses everything that is wrong with the planning process in this city. The current zoning for this site is for a two-story building, which would be in keeping with what is currently in the area and what the neighborhood wants.

However, we have a perverted planning process that allows for massive exemptions, and it has turned our zoning code into a freefor-all, growth-at-any-cost planning rodeo. Why are city planners — people you assume work for the city’s residents to protect their zoning code — writing reports that describe this plan as “a landmark for downtown?” Their reports are not unbiased analyses.

And why are non-elected planning commissioners demanding taller and bigger buildings when they have no mandate from the electorate to drive this process? In fact, it is pretty clear that this whole “growth is inevitable” mantra and the idea that “planned growth” can be all good and have no negative effects is the Kool-Aid spouted by po-

litically connected developers and their friends who profit from growth and drive its process.

We are fed the line that growth is good for our economy, for our community’s livability and for the environment.

This is not true. In a finite city continuous growth is not good. It has serious negative effects, such as crowded roads, parks and schools,

more air pollution and water shortages. But this growth is also not inevitable. If residents want to preserve livability and quality of life in Palo Alto, we need to end these massive developments. We don’t have to accept and accommodate unsustainable growth.

Tina Peak Palo Alto Avenue

This week on Town Square Town Square is an online discussion forum at www.PaloAltoOnline.com.

Posted Jan. 31 at 9:40 a.m. by Bob, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood: Remember that most of the (city) employees, including many top brass, do not live in Palo Alto — some as far away as the north East Bay, Santa Cruz and the Valley. Their retirement income will not be returned to Palo Alto in the way of purchasing power and taxes, and also through community involvement, but rather to the communities in which they live. It would be interesting to know the statistics on this. Other places thank us very much.

Posted Feb. 1 at 10:10 a.m. by A-Bar-Too-High?, a resident of another Palo Alto neighborhood: The premise that higher expectations will lead to higher achievements is not always borne out in reality. There is also the possibility that raising the bar will lead to higher drop-out rates, as well as an increase in the failure to graduate on time (meaning four years or less).

YOUR TURN The Palo Alto Weekly encourages comments on our coverage or on issues of local interest.

What do you think? Should the Palo Alto Unified School District align high school graduation requirements with UC/CSU admission standards?

Submit letters to the editor of up to 250 words to letters@paweekly.com.

Include your name, address and daytime phone number so we can reach you.

We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, objectionable content, libel and factual errors known to us. Anonymous letters will generally not be accepted.

You can also participate in our popular interactive online forum, Town Square, at our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Read blogs, discuss issues, ask questions or express opinions with you neighbors any time, day or night.

Submitting a letter to the editor or guest opinion constitutes a granting of permission to the Palo Alto Weekly and Embarcadero Media to also publish it online, including in our online archives and as a post on Town Square.

For more information contact Editor Jocelyn Dong or Online Editor Tyler Hanley at editor@paweekly.com or 650-326-8210.

Check out Town Square!

Hundreds of local topics are being discussed by local residents on Town Square, a reader forum sponsored by the Weekly on our community website at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. Post your own comments, ask questions, read the Editor’s blog or just stay up on what people are talking about around town!

Guest Opinion

Take a second for our kids

by Nancy Shepherd used to love reading “My Turn” in Newsweek magazine. This was an article submitted by a reader on a topic of choice. The one article I remember over the years was from a new parent about applause. She openly contemplated what it would be like if each one of her actions was actually applauded by her family, coworkers and public. For example, walking down the hall to her office and getting to work just a few minutes late after a busy morning and having her workmates give her applause for the accomplishment. Just like the applause parents and friends give babies as they learn to walk, talk and yes, go to the potty. After a simple accomplishment, the adult claps and cheers, and will likely get a toothy grin from ear to ear by a very happy to please toddler. Ah, the joy of parenthood!

Somewhere, between terrible twos, the teenage years and adult life the applause stops. Today kids are exposed to a range of influences never imagined a generation ago. Doing what is right can be hard to figure out — especially when boundaries seem nonexistent. In the Internet age, our kids are growing up in a global world with access to global influences. There are complex social forces confronting youth.

Yet, communities can fortify young people against the allure of risk-taking and nega-

I

tive behavior. A concerted effort by all members of the community can build assets in our youth, thereby strengthening our whole community. And, the applause just might start again.

“It is easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken men.” This quote by Frederick Douglas speaks to the Palo Alto community which has a long history of supporting youth and families. Our quality of life includes family-oriented services like extensive recreation programs, first class public education, youth training, a children’s theater and library, and active middle school sports programs just to name a few.

Yet in 2010 the City Council adopted “Collaboration for Youth Well-Being” as a response to the suicide contagion by our youth. It was clear, Palo Alto is very successful with incubating innovation, but somehow we lost our way helping our youth find themselves. Project Safety Net, a group of over 40 organizations including the city, the school district, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, mental health practitioners, youth nonprofits, volunteers, and many more was formed to effect a change in how our community supports our youth. The strategies of the group include work in the areas of education, prevention and intervention that together provide a safety net for youth and teens in Palo Alto.

In 2010 the City Council proclaimed and adopted the 40+1 Developmental Assets identified by the Search Institute that correspond with youth resilience and behavior, helping children become successful adults.

Santa Clara County identified a 41st asset: Positive Cultural Identity. The more assets a teen has in their life, the less a teen is likely to engage in high-risk behavior. In 2010 over 4,000 elementary, middle and high school students in local schools were surveyed to measure their developmental assets. It found that 56 percent of middle and high school students have enough assets to provide a great foundation for success in life. Unfortunately, 44 percent of our youth don’t have enough assets to build a solid foundation for a successful future.

Project Safety Net is focused on getting our kids to thrive and has set a goal that every person in Palo Alto will be an asset builder. Asset building ranges from simple actions like greeting a child to a major commitment such as mentoring. Project Safety Net is asking Palo Alto to take a second, and make a difference for our youth.

“People not programs are what make a difference to kids,” says Clay Roberts, a featured Developmental Assets speaker sponsored by Project Safety Net in October. “We need a movement,” he says, and “the movement starts with you. Invite a conversation with kids.”

Roberts describes three different levels of relationships. First, invite the relationship with a smile or nod of the head, make eye contact and let them know you care. Then build the relationship using trust. Figure out what’s right about kids and understand their needs. Finally, leverage the relationship by taking it to a higher level. Keep in touch over time, mentor them, challenge them. Help kids learn behavior for success.

“Success is simple,” says Arnold Glasgow, “Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.” Yet the tragedy of teen deaths by suicide challenges us to reconsider what success looks like for youth. Our job is to believe in them, even if they don’t believe in themselves. To help them emerge into the world of responsibility and purpose. To make things right again.

This year Palo Alto’s elected officials from the city and school district are taking the movement to the community. We are inviting our business and civic organizations to adopt the Developmental Assets principles. Our hope is that all Palo Alto groups that engage with the public will make youth a priority. In fact, all adults can build assets in young people, whether you’re a parent or not. Simple actions like spending time listening to kids. Paying attention to what’s going on with young people around you — intervene if you see threats, bullying or unsafe behaviors. Adopt Project Safety Net’s asset of the month as your own personal mission statement; “Our youth are watching, your actions are their lessons,” was featured for January. Take it personally and see what happens. We can’t do it without you!

For more information contact devassetspaloalto@gmail.com or visit the Project Safety Net website: www.psnpaloalto. org. N Nancy Shepherd is a member of the Palo Alto City Council, former president, Palo Alto Council of PTAs, board member, Palo Alto Foundation for Education, and trustee, Mid-Peninsula High School.

Streetwise

What would you think of a Palo Alto ordinance that banned smoking in public places?

Asked on Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Interviews and photographs by Cristina Wong.

Luba Keller

Housewife Middlefield Road “Stop. It’s not healthy for the children, not healthy for anyone.”

Lynn Hori

Teacher Terman Drive “They need some place to smoke. I don’t agree with smoking, but you’ve got to give them some spot.”

Rene Deboise

Retail Middlefield Road “I’m a smoker myself, and I would totally disagree with a new ordinance because it gives us a harder time to find a place to smoke.”

John Keller

Financial adviser Tennyson Avenue “I don’t agree with it. I’m not even a smoker, but I think the whole secondhand smoke concept is false, and the people deserve the right to be able to smoke as long as it’s outdoors.”

David Kassel

Marketing manager Middlefield Road “We probably do need some way to protect those of us who don’t want to smell smoke in any public place. Perhaps there could be special designated public smoking areas the same way we have dog parks for people with dogs.”

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Cover Story

Jamie Tsai, a Chinese Performing Arts of America dancer, performs “The Joy of Spring,” during a Chinese New Year gala at Stanford on Jan. 22. The Uighur folk dance comes from an ethnic group in China with Turkish influences. It was performed to illustrate China’s diversity.

Yiaway Yeh, Palo Alto’s first ChineseAmerican mayor, gives 3-year-old Jonathon Wang a wish card during the Children’s Chinese New Year Lantern Event at Nature Gallery on Jan 21.

Above: Fairmeadow kindergarteners, David Felsh (left), Dave Chen, Justin Shea, Devon McCraely and Meghna Gummalan prepare to carry out the long tail of a dragon costume before the Lunar New Year parade at the school on Feb. 1. The children painted the costume for the event. Right: Parent Donn Lee and former science teacher Margaret Fisher help kindergartner Lauren Hajadi into the head of the class’s dragon costume for the parade.

w e lco m i ng the

Year of the dragon photographs by Veronica Weber story by Eric Van Susteren

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About the cover: Kaylan Huang (left), Jamie Tsai and Rachel Wu of Chinese Performing Arts of America perform at Stanford on Jan. 22. Photo by Veronica Weber.

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Inspirations a guide to the spiritual community

Chinese New Year is celebrated throughout the month

A

s a boy growing up in the Hubei province of China, Ken Wang’s favorite parts of the Chinese New Year were delicious balls made from rice and meat and the candy he’d get going door-to-door in his neighborhood.

Now grown up and far from home, Wang, a student at Stanford University, places more value in the holiday’s ability to bring families together than the free food and candy it offers.

“It’s a really great opportunity to enjoy good food, shows and time together with your family,” said Wang, president of the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at Stanford.

While he may not be able

to celebrate the holiday with his own family, Wang’s organization kicks off each Chinese New Year with a huge gala that includes performances in dance, music, drama and even kung fu.

“We can’t go back to China because of the school year, so we put on the show to invite Chinese students to come and celebrate it together,” he said.

Wang said the Chinese New Year is the most important holiday of the year — a bit like Christmas and New Year’s Eve rolled into one. Festivities for the holiday last two weeks, from the first new moon to the first full moon (from Jan. 23 to Feb. 6 this year) and are commonly marked by the

giving of gifts, special foods and traditional dance and music performances.

Wang said the purpose of his organization’s gala is not just to entertain, but to serve as a bridge between two cultures.

“Part of our mission is to connect with American students and introduce Chinese culture to them,” Wang said. “It’s one of the best opportunities to fulfill that mission and promote Chinese culture.”

In terms of cost, the gala is one of the larger productions the student organization puts on each year, but Wang said there’s no question that it draws the most people. (continued on next page)

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Children and parents gather at Nature Gallery to attend the Chinese New Year Lantern Event with Mayor Yiaway Yeh on Jan. 21.

Cover Story

Chinese New Year (continued from page 15)

This year 1,700 people came to the association’s gala on Jan. 22 at Stanford’s Memorial Auditorium, nearing the building’s total capacity.

For Vicki Ching, owner of Ming’s restaurant in Palo Alto, the holiday season is easily the year’s busiest.

Ming’s hosts dragon and lion dances for its Chinese New Year Celebration.

The dances each feature a number of dancers hidden beneath a long costume with an ornate head at its front.

Ching said the dances are considered signs of celebration, but they can also signify driving away evil spirits.

“It’s a real community thing,” Ching said. “There are many, many Chinese people moving into Palo Alto, and I like them to join us for the celebration.”

Palo Alto’s Asian population increased 73 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 10,090 to 17,461.

That growth sent Palo Alto’s Asian population from 17.2 percent to 27.1 percent of the city’s total residents, according to 2010 census data.

“Most of Chinese people move here for the excellent school system, so they all have kids,” she said. “I’m proud that we can have this cultural event every year — it’s something they can remember when they grow up.”

On Jan. 21 the Nature Gallery in Town & Country Village held a Chinese New Year event hosted

by Palo Alto Mayor Yiaway Yeh, during which children decorated lanterns and played games. Yeh is Palo Alto’s first Chinese-American mayor.

Carolyn Digovich, who promoted the event at the Nature Gallery, said it was a good experience for children from all backgrounds.

“It’s valuable to have a living cultural experience about somebody else’s culture,” she said. “It stays with them in a different way and engenders curiosity.”

Ann Woo, director of Chinese Performing Arts of America, also said that the children are central to the holiday’s significance.

“Chinese New Year is the happiest time of the year for Chinese children,” said Woo, whose organization performed traditional Chinese dance and music at the recent Stanford gala.

“The dances performed by our kids are meant to show their happiness.”

Woo said her organization spends about a third of its annual resources on full-scale productions and smaller performances around the Bay Area celebrating the Chinese New Year. This year, her organization will perform at six locations from San Jose to San Francisco.

The mission of Chinese Performing Arts of America is to introduce Chinese culture to the mainstream, and Chinese New Year celebrations, galas and performances are ideal outlets for doing so, Woo said.

“It’s the busiest time of the year for us,” she said. “The Lunar New Year celebration is the most important and joyous celebration of Chinese culture.” N Staff Photographer Veronica Weber can be emailed at vweber@ paweekly.com. Editorial Assistant Eric Van Susteren can be emailed at evansusteren@paweekly.com.

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING of the City of Palo Alto Architectural Review Board (ARB) 8:30 A.M., Thursday, February 16, 2012 Palo Alto Council Chambers, 1st Floor, Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue.

Go to the Development Center at 285 Hamilton Avenue to review filed documents; contact Diana Tamale for information regarding business hours at 650.329.2144.

180 Hamilton Avenue [11PLN-00459]: Request by Steinberg Architects, on behalf of Casa Olga and Joie de Vivre Hospitality, for Preliminary Review of proposed exterior renovations of an existing eight story building and conversion to a hotel use (85 rooms and new ground floor restaurant). Zone District: CD-C(P).

180 El Camino Real [11PLN-00420]: Request by Discount Signs and Neon, on behalf of the Board of Trustees to the Leland Stanford Junior University, for Architectural Review of a “glass windscreen” sign for Yucca de Lac at the Stanford Shopping Center. Zone District CC. Environmental Assessment: Exempt from the provisions of CEQA, 15301 (Existing Facilities).

Amy French Manager of Current Planning

CITY OF PALO ALTO NOTICE OF DIRECTOR’S HEARING To be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012, in the Palo Alto City Council Conference Room, 1st Floor, Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California.

Go to the Development Center at 285 Hamilton Avenue to review filed documents; contact Alicia Spotwood for information regarding business hours at 650-617-3168.

3775 La Selva [11PLN-00396]- Individual Review for the addition of a second floor side balcony with privacy screening side wall to a two-story residence and attached garage under construction in the R-1 zoning district.

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Kelsey Kienitz

A weekly guide to music, theater, art, movies and more, edited by Rebecca Wallace

by Rebecca Wallace

Environmental artist finds her inspiration in ‘wonderful horrible’ plastic

Above: “Lawn Bowls,” the new artwork on Embarcadero Road, with Palo Alto lawn bowlers in the background.

Right: Artist Judith Selby Lang, wearing a necklace made of bouncy balls that washed up on the beach.

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Kelsey Kienitz

It’s inthe bag

I

n the latest work of outdoor art presented by the Palo Alto Art Center, orbs the size of car tires are scattered across a lawn. They’re composed of strips of plastic wound round and round, creating a carnival of colors against the winter-faded grass.

“Lawn Bowls,” by Marin artist Judith Selby Lang, is set to be up for the next year on Embarcadero Road, persevering through sun and showers. With some clear sealant, and stakes keeping them in the ground, the balls will be resilient, Lang predicts.

That’s the problem. As a longtime environmental artist, Lang has chosen plastic bags and other plastic packaging as her medium for “Lawn Bowls.”

They’re flexible and durable, creating what she calls “the wonderful horrible” nature of plastic: It lasts. That’s fine for eyeglasses, but not so much for a singleuse grocery sack.

Palo Alto has been sounding the drumbeat against plastic bags for years.

In 2009, the city banned the use of nonreusable plastic bags in supermarkets.

“But people are worn out with the negative environmental message,” Lang said. With her art installation, she instead aims to be “playful and lighthearted.”

The piece is also very much about community participation, which is what the Palo Alto Art Center is looking for in its public art, director Karen Kienzle said. Starting last fall, residents attended free public workshops to help create “Lawn Bowls.” Children, seniors, lawn bowlers, city staffers and others helped Lang cut up the plastic into strips, tie the strips together and roll them into balls. Some said the workshops felt like friendly quilting bees or sewing circles.

“It’s actually super-meditative,” Kienzle said of the work. “I found that you got into a flow with it.”

People often chose words or pictures to cut out of the bags. The resulting lawn balls are rather verbose: “Forever 21,”

“the joy of everyday,” “for people who love bikes,” “Nature Valley” and many other words adorn them.

The balls are anchored firmly in the ground, but their exteriors are soft, almost squishy.

In keeping with the community theme, “Lawn Bowls” opens with a free opening celebration this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. The installation is next to the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club’s green, and the party will include family art activities, an artist’s talk and lawn bowling.

Because residents helped create the art, organizers hope they’ll feel a connection to it. It’s the opposite of so-called “plop art” — a public-art piece that officials just plop in place and hope residents will like, Kienzle said.

Overall, Lang estimates that “Lawn Bowls” contains about 10,000 plastic bags and wrappers. Once Lang thought up the project, she found herself noticing material for it everywhere: not just in supermarket bags, but in paper-towel wrappers, restaurant takeout bags, fruit packaging.

“I’ve become quite a connoisseur of plastic bags,” she said.

Lang also gained an appreciation for the sport of lawn bowling, with Palo Alto’s faithful practitioners just on the other side of the fence from her project. As a tribute, she made one of her “Lawn Bowls” white to represent the “jack,” the smaller ball that players roll bigger asymmetric orbs toward. Her piece can be seen as an enlarged version of the game.

As Lang stands by her artwork and

a lawn bowler gives her a friendly wave, an observer might also remark upon the globes around her neck. The necklace is an example of her great passion for beachcombing. She and her husband, Richard, have been collecting plastic debris from Kehoe Beach in West Marin regularly since 1999.

The two pick up toys, combs, cheese spreaders and other items that wash ashore, then sort them by color and kind. The plastic assortments become sculptures, jewelry and the subjects of photo tableaux.

Currently, Lang is wearing a necklace fashioned from bouncy balls that washed up on the sand.

Some have crumbly patinas, while others are in quite good shape for having been at sea. Plastic takes a licking. Around Lang’s wrist is a bracelet of white milk-jug lids.

There’s no elastic added; the artist has simply daisy-chained the small lids together.

Along with her beach-themed works, Lang is also planning another project in Palo Alto. “Waterlily” will be installed in April out at the Baylands watershed area. It’s envisioned as a shimmery, mirrory floating network of empty singleuse plastic water bottles attached to a mesh of netting. A round mirror will crown each cap; hence the shimmer.

The community will also be involved in the creation of this project; public workshops are being planned for February and March at which attendees will help prepare the bottles for use.

Lang’s Palo Alto installations are paid for with city and private funding, Kienzle said. The Palo Alto Art Center Foundation raises private donations (which, for “Lawn Bowls,” included many plastic bags) to cover the artist’s fee, and the city gives staff time to organize the projects.

As staff members work on “Waterlily,” they also look ahead to October, when the Palo Alto Art Center is expected to reopen after its $7.9 million renovation. “The project is on schedule and on budget, which we’re really excited about,” Kienzle said.

The work includes revamped exhibit spaces, a new gallery shop and a children’s wing.

Kienzle added that she hopes the center will find a new curator to replace Signe Mayfield, who retired last year. “There’s some budget challenges ... (but) we hope to hire someone,” she said.

Meanwhile, another major Palo Alto outdoor art project, Patrick Dougherty’s “Double Take” sculpture willow trees, is still holding steady in front of the art center, where it’s been since January 2011.

The whimsical sculpture did sprout a bit when it rained, and city staff emailed Dougherty to ask what to do, Kienzle said. He didn’t sound too concerned.

“He said that it might diminish the form, so we might do a little pruning, but the piece is holding up beautifully,” she said. “Our hope is that we can keep it up until the art center reopens.” N Info: The free opening celebration for “Lawn Bowls” is set for Feb. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 474 Embarcadero Road.

For more about this event and the tobe-announced public workshops for “WaterLily,” go to cityofpaloalto.org/ artcenter or call 650-329-2366.

There’s something about ‘Harry’ Straight-talking Truman charms, inspires in one-man show

by Karla Kane

THEATER REVIEW

B

eing in the audience of Palo Alto Players’ production of “Give ‘em Hell, Harry” is akin to spending the evening with a kindly uncle as he reminisces about his eventful life, sharing rambling anecdotes sprinkled with wisdom and humor. That is, of course, if said uncle was also the leader of the free world.

In the case of this one-man play written by Samuel Gallu, the jovial, avuncular narrator is no run-of-themill Midwestern gramps. He’s former U.S. President Harry S. Truman, and mixed amongst his shrewd commentary and mother-in-law jokes are tales of giving the OK to drop the atom bomb(s) on Japan, run-ins with the KKK, leading the nation through the shadowy Korean War, defending the little guy from Wall Street greed and much more. It’s the story of a self-proclaimed average Joe from the heartland who came to represent the best of America.

Truman grew up a farm boy in Missouri and worked a variety of clerical jobs before serving as a U.S. Army officer in World War I. After returning from France and marrying his childhood sweetheart, the formidable future First Lady Bess Wallace (affectionately referred to as “Boss”), he had a brief career as a haberdasher before going into politics as a staunch Democrat, rising to the U.S. Senate.

To his surprise, he was selected to be Franklin D. Roosevelt’s third vice president in 1944. Only a few months into 1945, Roosevelt died, leaving Truman to ascend as World War II was drawing to a close. Surprising political pundits once again in 1948, he defeated Republican Tom Dewey to earn a second term in office.

Truman, at least as portrayed in this play, is the opposite of what comes to mind when most people these days hear the word “politician”: straightforward, honest to a fault, plainspoken and humble. He’s a man who loathes phoniness, corruption and inequality; a man who fights for the liberty of regular folk and for the preservation of common sense, bipartisanship and pragmatism.

Though “Give ‘em Hell, Harry” first premiered in 1975, in the wake of the Watergate scandal, the content resonates just as strongly today. Concerns about big banks and Wall Street screwing over the working and middle classes are proven not to be new concerns, as Truman rails against such corruption in the 1930s.

The idealized Harry of Gallu’s play is someone to root for, and learn from. Throughout the course of the play he recounts his battles with racists, snobs, McCarthy and others — several times drawing enthusiastic cheers from the Lucie Stern Theatre crowd at a recent performance.

Palo Alto real-estate developer and

CITY OF PALO ALTO

Support Palo Alto Weekly’s coverage of our community.

Memberships begin at only 17¢ per day Join today: SupportLocalJournalism.org

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Palo Alto City Council at the special Council meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. or as near thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, will have a Public Meeting for the Purpose of Hearing a Presentation from U.S. Postal Service to Discuss the Process for Disposition of Post Office at 380 Hamilton Avenue DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk

PUBLIC NOTICE FORMER NAVAL AIR STATION MOFFETT FIELD Restoration Advisory Board Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for former Naval Air Station (NAS) Moffett Field will be held on:

Thursday, February 9, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at: Mountain View Senior Center Social Hall 266 Escuela Avenue Mountain View, CA 94040-1813

The RAB reviews and comments on plans and activities about the ongoing environmental studies and restoration activities underway at Moffett Field. Regular RAB meetings are open to the public and the Navy encourages your involvement. To review documents on Moffett Field environmental restoration projects, please visit the information repository located at the Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St., Mountain View, CA 94041, (650) 903-6337.

For more information, contact Mr. Scott Anderson, Navy Base Realignment and Closure Environmental Coordinator at (619) 532-0938 or scott.d.anderson@navy.mil.

Visit the Navy’s website: http://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/basepage.aspx?baseid=52&state=California&name=moffett

(continued on next page)

*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ iLÀÕ>ÀÞÊÎ]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 19

David Ramadanoff presents

PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVENUE BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26 ***************************************** THIS IS A SUMMARY OF COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THE AGENDA WITH COMPLETE TITLES INCLUDING LEGAL DOCUMENTATION CAN BE VIEWED AT THE BELOW WEBPAGE: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/knowzone/agendas/council.asp

Master Sinfornia Chamber Orchestra and the World Premiere of Martin Rokeach’s clarinet concerto

(TENTATIVE) AGENDA - SPECIAL MEETINGCOUNCIL CHAMBERS FEBRUARY 06, 2012 - 7:00 PM SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 1.

Proclamation for the Paly Girls Volleyball Team CONSENT CALENDAR 2.

Resolution Setting the Council Vacation in 2012 3.

2nd Reading: Adoption of an Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Plan for Improvement to Juana Briones Park Authorizing the Addition of a Park Restroom (1st Reading 1-23-12 Passed 9-0) 4.

Request for Approval of a Budget Amendment Ordinance in the Amount of $825,000 to Execute a Contract with PAR Electrical Contractors, Inc. in the Amount of $1,512,636 plus $151,264Contingency for 60kV Reconductoring with ACCR 5.

Authorize the City Manager to Enter into a Contract with SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure, LLC in the amount of $225,000 to conduct an Organizational Assessment of the Palo Alto Utilities Department 6.

Award of Contract with Ross McDonald Company, Inc., in the Amount of $648,412 for Custom Casework for the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center (CIP PE-09006) 7.

Approval for the City Manager to Enter Into an Agreement with the Cities of Mountain View and Los Altos to Purchase Public Safety Systems Technology, Including Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Police Records Management (RMS), and In-Vehicle Mobile and Reporting Applications for Police and Fire 8.

Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with WeCARE (Community Alliance to Reduce Euthanasia) 9.

Approval of a Contract with Golder Associates, Inc in the Amount of $227,136 to Assist with New Sewage Sludge Incinerator Air Regulations 10.

Approval of a Contract with Life Insurance Company of North America for Underwriting of the City’s Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), and Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD) Plans for Up to Three Years for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $597,156 Per Year ACTION ITEMS 11.

Approval of Amendment No.1 to Contract C11136602 with Alternative Resources, Inc. in the Amount of $29,700 for Assistance in Developing a Process and Timeline for Energy/Compost Facility Consideration; Approval of Contract C12143502 with Golder Associates, Inc. in the Amount of $193,713 for Final Landfill Cap Design and Landfill Capping-Related Services (CIP RF-11001); and Temporary Suspension of Landfill Capping and Compost Termination to Allow for the Establishment of a Process and Timeline for Consideration of an Energy/Compost Facility STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Finance Committee Meeting will be held on February 07, at 7:00 p.m. regarding 1) Results of Refuse Cost of Service Study and Plan for Restructure of Refuse Rates, 2) Recommendation to Approve Two Resolutions Adopting the Feed-in Tariff Program, 3) Timeline to Implement Gas Supply Rate Change to Monthly-Varying, Market-Based Rates, and 4) Proposed Revisions to the Gas Utility Long-term Plan (GULP) Objectives and Implementation Plan Page 20ÊUÊ iLÀÕ>ÀÞÊÎ]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

Tickets:

Wagner

Siegfried Idyll

Gen Admission

$20

Rokeach

Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra

Seniors (60+)

$16

Mozart

Symphony No. 38 in D major, “Prague”

Youth

$5

Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 pm St. Bede’s Episcopal Church 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park (Reception follows)

This ad sponsored by Ginny Kavanaugh and Joe Kavanaugh of Coldwell Banker, Portola Valley.

Visit them at www.thekavanaughs.com

Sunday, February 5 at 2:30 pm Los Altos United Methodist Church 655 Magdalena (at Foothill Expressway) Los Altos (Reception at intermission)

NOTICE NOTICE INVITING SEALED BIDS for WINDOW REPLACEMENT in two buildings consisting of six units each (#1 thru #12) of Ventura Apartments, 290-310 Ventura Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project is to remove and replace old windows with glass energy-efficient products in two buildings with six residential units each.

GENERAL SCOPE OF WORK: 1. Remove existing windows and screens.

2. Contractor to supply storage for supplies and materials.

3. Furnish and install double-paned Low-E glass sliding windows and screens to fit individual dimensions of existing openings.

4. Seal and caulk installations as appropriate.

5. Furnish and install locks on all windows.

6. Remove and dispose of all old material each day.

7. Clean glass and window/door frames.

8. All materials used must be manufactured in the USA. Bid specifications pertaining to this project are available from (Friday, Feb 3, 2012) to (Friday, Feb 17, 2012). Please call to schedule a mandatory job walk. Bid closing date is (Wednesday, Mar 8, 2012) at 5:00 PM. Bid opening at 725 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301 on (Thursday, Mar 9, 2012) at 10:00 AM. This project is funded by the City of Palo Alto Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. All federal regulations listed in the Bid Specifications will apply, including equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and Federal Labor Standards provisions (Davis-Bacon). Reference is hereby made to bid specifications for further details, which specifications and this notice shall be considered part of the contract.

For information and bid walk-through, contact Jim Brandenburg at 650-321-9709 ext. 19.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Harry’

(continued from previous page)

veteran actor Peter Vilkin plays the 33rd president with the voice and every-man demeanor of Jimmy Stewart, but full of confidence (never swagger) and a penchant for salty swear words. His Truman is friendly, warm and unabashedly dedicated to serving his state, then his nation, to the best of his abilities without suffering delusions of grandeur or losing touch with his roots.

Vilkin leads audience members on an autobiographical tour of Truman’s life, punctuated by wonderful excerpts from his crackling speeches and letters. In one piece of correspondence, the president colorfully attacks a newspaper reporter who gave a poor review to his beloved daughter Margaret Truman’s musical concert, stating: “Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!”

In other, more serious vignettes, Vilkin reenacts Truman’s stirring speeches from the Senate floor and one from his famous “Whistlestop” campaign tour across the country by train.

The timeline drifts in and out of chronology, which is true to the stream-of-conciousness style and tone of the show. Sometimes Truman flashes back to his early years; sometimes he flashes forward to after his time as president. It’s a hodgepodge of a character study that generally works very well.

Though Vilkin is the only actor, and often speaks directly to the audience, other figures play invisible roles (such as ex-President Herbert Hoover), as Vilkin engages them in one-sided conversations. It is much to his credit that Vilkin is able to keep audiences interested for what must be a vocally taxing hour and 45 minutes of gabbing.

Due to the simple nature of the show, the staging and costume needs are not elaborate, but props are used throughout to good effect to visually underscore the scenes Vilkin flashes back upon.

Whether or not the real Harry Truman was as likable and wholeheartedly decent as portrayed on stage (Hiroshima and Nagasaki notwithstanding), the Truman character in the play proves a true American treasure.

Vilkin was rewarded with a standing ovation at the end of the performance I attended, and I got the feeling the hearty applause was meant not only in praise of Vilkin’s excellent performance but also in honor of the one-of-a-kind president he so joyfully brings to life. N What: “Give ‘em Hell, Harry,” a Samuel Gallu play presented by Palo Alto Players Where: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto When: Remaining performances are this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30.

Cost: Tickets are $29, with discounts available for students, seniors and groups of 12 or more.

Info: Go to paplayers.org or call 650329-0891.

Eating Out FOOD FEATURE

Hot lunch Silicon Valley chef brings his restaurant ĂŠlan to bisque and barbecue in the Castilleja School kitchen

by Sheila Himmel

Kelsey kienitz

Y

Forrest Gingold prepares grilled turkey and brie sandwiches for the students at Castilleja School.

DINNER BY THE MOVIES AT SHORELINE’S

Pizzeria Venti

ns rvatio e s e r g ceptin e! ailabl Now ac v a g n cateri

ou can take the chef out of the restaurant, but then what happens? Some write cookbooks or memoirs. A few become TV celebrities. In Silicon Valley, many restaurant chefs go to work in homes where they are the only ones whose fingers ever touch a kitchen appliance.

Forrest Gingold took another route. He went back to school.

After 32 years in Silicon Valley restaurants, Gingold took over the kitchen at Castilleja School in Palo Alto in September 2010. It’s been an adjustment. “I had my first New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day in the house I’ve lived in for 21 years,� Gingold says. “I’m turning into less of a Scrooge� — by which he means grouch — “at Christmastime.� It

isn’t a season of marathon hours, no days off, sore back, cuts and burns. “I had two weeks off this year!�

Not that Gingold has any kind of “poor me� attitude about his restaurant years. He loved the adrenaline rush. But it was hard to commit to social occasions. He made it to his daughters’ events, but other plans often got hijacked by crises in the kitchen. Now he is amazed at how a person can put something on a calendar and depend on it being correct.

The day he spoke to a reporter, Gingold consulted the calendar to see why there were no kids at school. “Ah, it’s some kind of teacher in-service day.� (continued on next page)

Pizzeria Venti is your ticket to Italy (NO PASSPORT REQUIRED) &ROM THE HILLS OF 2OME TO THE SEA BREEZES OF THE !MALl COAST AND WINDING back through the ancient towns of Tuscany, Pizzeria Venti has captured the soul of Italian cooking. We take pride in bringing you the very best. The ingredients are simple. Imported Italian water to make our dough; fresh herbs to bring out the true taste of the regions and extra virgin olive oil ENHANCE CLASSIC DISHES FROM THE WORLD S l NEST CUISINE *OIN US SOON AND experience the taste of Italia‌ right here in Mountain View. To our valued customers: Our love of Italian food knows no bounds. It is in this spirit that we will be sharing some of our classic recipes with you each week.

Cotolette alla Bolognese s VEAL CUTLETS OZ EACH s THIN SLICES OF FRESH PECORINO OR provolone s SLICES PROSCIUTTO s CUP UNSALTED BUTTER s EGGS BEATEN

s CUP l NELY GROUND breadcrumbs s JAR GOOD QUALITY TOMATO SAUCE

heated s 3ALT s &RESHLY GROUND PEPPER s ! LITTLE BUTTER FOR THE BAKING DISH

Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350 F Pound the cutlets at, trim away any fat, and remove any membrane. Salt and pepper the meat to taste, dip it in the beaten egg, and dredge it in the bread crumbs, pressing down to make sure the crumbs adhere.

1390 Pear Ave., Mountain View (650) 254-1120 www.mvpizzeriaventi.com

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

Melt butter in a large skillet, and when it begins to bubble. Fry the cutlets until golden, turning them once. Transfer them to a buttered baking dish, lay a slice of prosciutto and one of cheese slices on each piece, and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts. Spoon a warm tomato sauce over each and serve with crusty bread.

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Eating Out (continued from previous page)

Most weekdays, he and his staff of six serve 550 meals. Weekly menus are posted online, including soup, grill, entree and dessert items.

A recent menu featured celery-root bisque with thyme, baked Mediterranean ziti, barbecued chicken with scalloped potatoes, and cookies.

Castilleja students may not see exact replicas of the chef’s signature penne con cavolfiore (pasta quills with cauliflower) or ossobuco di agnello (braised lamb shank), but he has brought much of his restaurant repertoire. And, he says, “Being outside the constraints of an ethnic restaurant has allowed me to branch out quite a lot.” One day he served falafel, the next day, turkey meatloaf.

He may have schmoozed with business bigwigs and visiting celebrities in his time, but now “It’s about fitting into a school culture. There are a lot more of them than me.”

Castilleja’s being a girls’ school doesn’t faze Gingold, who has two teenage daughters.

Gingold entered restaurant work at 15-and-a-half, when he lied about his age to get a job as a dishwasher at a downtown Los Gatos institution called the Broken Egg. The cook was only too happy to show Gingold and his friend how to make omelets, and pretty soon the teenagers were the A-team, cooking at the restaurant’s peak times: Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Gingold met his wife, Mari, when both worked at the Original Crab House in San Jose. She was the hostess and he was cooking, while slogging through community college. That was when he started to think seriously about making food his life.

He dropped college and went to the California Culinary Academy, worked a couple of years at Scott’s in San Jose, and then spent most of his career at La Pastaia. In the early 1990s, the restaurant moved to downtown San Jose’s newly restored De Anza Hotel. At one time, La Pastaia also had outlets in Palo Alto and Campbell.

Gingold does miss the intensity: “I miss the line on a busy night, working as part of a well-oiled machine under pressure.” La Pastaia got slammed during Sharks season, by visiting hockey teams as well as fans. His Castilleja team gets glimpses of that adrenaline rush at events and parties. “But it’s a controlled environment. I know exactly how many people are coming, and they’re the same people every day.”

Gingold has gone in the opposite direction from Charlie Ayers, who went from being personal chef for the Grateful Dead to feeding Google employees, to opening his own restaurant and market, Calafia, in Palo Alto. But whether the cooking is done for the public or a private audience, Gingold concludes, “A lot is the same whether you’re cooking in a convent or a greasy spoon.” N

Become a Volunteer Mediator to make Palo Alto more peaceful The City of Palo Alto Mediation Program is now accepting applications for volunteer mediators. This free Program handles tenant/landlord, neighbor-to-neighbor, and consumer and workplace disputes.

Help fellow citizens resolve conflicts and: ✓ Build your communication skills ✓ Receive valuable mediation training ✓ Give something back to your community

The application deadline is February 24, 2012

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

Applications* may be requested by calling (650) 856-4062 or emailing pamediation@housing.org To learn more about the Palo Alto Mediation Program visit www.paloaltomediation.org *Applicants must live, work, or own property in Palo Alto or Stanford

Shop Talk

NEW MARKETS COMING ... Many in the neighborhood surrounding Alma Plaza on E. Meadow Drive in Palo Alto are looking forward to the opening of Miki’s Farm Fresh Market.

Plaza developer John McNellis said the 19,000-square-foot market is expected to be finished by Sept. 1.

The independent grocery will focus on organic items, and sell such supermarket staples as produce and meat. Michael Werness, a former manager at two Berkeley markets, will run the store. (He goes by “Miki.”)

Mountain View is also expecting a new grocer geared toward greenminded consumers. Sunflower Markets appears to be catching on; several locations are opening, including one at 630 San Antonio Road this summer. “All our stores are set up the exact same way. ... We sell organic and conventional products,” said Jessica Swol, a cashier at the Roseville location.

Meanwhile, the older Safeway supermarket at 2580 California St. in Mountain View will be replaced with a renovated Safeway on San Antonio Road. The new store will be 65,000 square feet and have more modern additions, such as a cafe and deli with a sushi bar, said Susan Houghton, director of public government affairs for Safeway. “And depending upon weather, we would love to open in 2013,” she said.

— Cristina Wong PIZZA ON PARK ... Many pizza offerings have a definite local slant at the Palo Alto Pizza Co., which opened in January at 2450 Park Blvd. just off California Avenue in Palo Alto. Menu options include: El Palo Alto (grilled chicken with spicy chipotle cream sauce), The California Ave. (olives, artichoke hearts and tomatoes in pesto sauce), and The Cardinal (mesquite-grilled chicken with red onions, bell peppers and creamy garlic sauce). Crusts can be thick or thin. For more information, go to paloalto-pizza.com.

T BA

A

Y

WE S

— Rebecca Wallace

OPER

SHAVING, STANFORD-STYLE ...

The Art of Shaving, which adds a little luxury to men’s morning rituals, opened in January at Stanford Shopping Center, in the space previously claimed by Kiehl’s. Store-brand men’s grooming products include nickel-plated engraved razors, silvertip badger brushes and after-shave clay masks. More info is at theartof shaving.com.

— Rebecca Wallace Heard a rumor about your favorite store or business moving out, or in, down the block or across town? Shop Talk will check it out. Email shoptalk@ paweekly.com.

Page 22ÊUÊ iLÀÕ>ÀÞÊÎ]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii Þ

JAPANESE & SUSHI Fuki Sushi 494-9383 4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Online Ordering-Catereing-Chef Rental Sushi Workshops-Private Tatami Rooms

of the week

Darbar

Online Gift Card Purchase fukisushi.com & facebook.com/fukisushi

MEXICAN

AMERICAN

CHINESE

Armadillo Willy’s 941-2922

New Tung Kee Noodle House

408 California Ave, Palo Alto

1031 N. San Antonio Rd., Los Altos

947-8888

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Range: $5.00-13.00

520 Showers Dr., MV

Palo Alto Sol 328-8840

in San Antonio Ctr. Hobee’s 856-6124 4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto Also at Town & Country Village, Palo Alto 327-4111

Burmese

Voted MV Voice Best ‘01, ‘02, ‘03 & ‘04 Prices start at $4.75

115 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto Voted Best Pizza in Palo Alto

Dining Phone: 323–6852

www.spotpizza.com

To Go: 322–4631 Winner, Menlo Almanac “Best Of”

Green Elephant Gourmet Burmese & Chinese Cuisine

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Su Hong – Menlo Park

8 years in a row!

494-7391

PIZZA

POLYNESIAN Trader Vic’s 849-9800

INDIAN

Fri-Sat 5-11pm;

(Charleston Shopping Center)

321-6688

Sun 4:30 - 9:30pm

Dine-In, Take-Out, Local Delivery-Catering

129 Lytton, Downtown Palo Alto

Available for private luncheons

www.greenelephantgourmet.com

Lunch Buffet M-F; Open 7 days

Lounge open nightly Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6 pm

Janta Indian Restaurant (650) 462-5903 Fax (650) 462-1433 369 Lytton Ave., Downtown Palo Alto

1067 N. San Antonio Road

Lunch Buffet M-F;

Cook’s Seafood 325-0604

on the corner of El Camino, Los Altos

www.jantaindianrestaurant.com

751 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

Authentic Szechwan, Hunan Food To Go, Delivery

www.darbarcuisine.com open 7 days

Seafood Dinners from

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129 Lytton Avenue Palo Alto 650-321-6688

SEAFOOD

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Jing Jing 328-6885

Take-out & Catering Available

Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Darbar Indian Cuisine

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Largest Indian Buffet in Downtown Palo Alto

4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

3950 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto

CHINESE

FINE INDIAN CUISINE

ITALIAN

$6.95 to $10.95

La Cucina di Pizzeria Venti

STEAKHOUSE

254-1120 1390 Pear Ave, Mountain View

Sundance the Steakhouse

www.pizzeriaventi.com

321-6798

Fresh, Chef Inspired Italian Food

1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

www.jingjinggourmet.com

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:00pm Spalti Ristorante 327-9390

Dinner: Mon-Thu 5:00-10:00pm

Ming’s 856-7700

417 California Ave, Palo Alto

Fri-Sat 5:00-10:30pm,

1700 Embarcadero East, Palo Alto

ÝµÕ Ã ÌiÊ `ÊUÊ"ÕÌ` ÀÊ }Ê

Sun 5:00-9:00pm

www.mings.com

www.spalti.com

www.sundancethesteakhouse.com

Search a complete listing of local restaurant reviews by location or type of food on PaloAltoOnline.com

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Movies A Separation (PG-13) (((1/2 Guild: 2:30, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 11:30 a.m.

The Adventures of Tintin (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11 a.m.; 4:10 & 9:25 p.m.; In 3D at 1:35 & 6:50 p.m. Century 20: 2 p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Tue. & Thu. at 4:30 & 9:55 p.m.

Albert Nobbs (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:40, 4:20, 7:15 & 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; Fri. & Sun.-Thu. also at 4:45 & 10:20 p.m.; Sat. also at 10:45 p.m.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: 1:30 p.m.; Fri.-Wed. also at 5:55 & 10:30 p.m.

The Artist (PG-13) (((1/2 Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 2:10, 4:40, 7:20 & 9:50 p.m.

Palo Alto Square: Fri.-Tue. 2, 4:20 & 7:25 p.m.; Wed. & Thu. at 2, 4:30 & 7:15 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 9:50 p.m.

Beauty and the Beast (G) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; In 3D at 3:45 p.m.; In 3D Fri.-Wed. also at 8:10 p.m.

Big Miracle (PG) (( Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:45, 4:40, 7:35 & 10:15 p.m. Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 1:50, 4:25, 7:05 & 9:45 p.m.

Chronicle (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11:40 a.m.; 2:30, 5, 7:45 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 12:35, 2:50, 5:10 & 7:30 p.m.; Fri.-Wed. also at 9:50 p.m.; Thu. also at 9:35 p.m.

Contraband (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 12:30, 3:40, 7 & 9:50 p.m. Century 20: Noon, 2:45, 5:20, 8:05 & 10:45 p.m.

The Descendants (R) ((1/2 Aquarius: 3:15, 6 & 8:45 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 12:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; 1:50, 4:30, 7:15 & 9:55 p.m.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (PG-13) (( Century 16: Noon, 3:10, 6:40 & 9:50 p.m. Century 20: 1, 4:05, 7:05 & 10:10 p.m.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) (R) ((( Century 20: 11:55 a.m.; 3:20, 6:45 & 10:05 p.m.

The Grey (R) ((( Century 16: 11:10 a.m.; 2, 4:50, 7:40 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:30 a.m.; 2:15, 4:55, 7:40 & 10:30 p.m.

Haywire (R) ((1/2 Century 16: 2:20, 4:50, 7:50 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 12:40, 3:05, 5:30, 7:50 & 10:25 p.m.

Hugo (PG) (((1/2 Century 16: 2:40 & 9:20 p.m.; In 3D at 11:30 a.m. & 6:10 p.m.

Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 5 & 10:35 p.m.; Sat. also at 7:50 p.m.; In 3D at 2:10 p.m.; In 3D Fri. & Sun.-Thu. also at 7:50 p.m.

The Iron Lady (PG-13) (((1/2 Aquarius: 4:15 p.m.; Fri.-Sun., Tue. & Wed. also at 7 & 9:45 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. also at 1:30 p.m.; Thu. also at 9:45 p.m. Century 20: 11:45 a.m.; 2:20, 4:55, 7:30 & 10:05 p.m.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: Thu. at 12:01 a.m.; In 3D Thu. also at 12:01 a.m.

Man on a Ledge (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11:05 a.m.; 1:50, 4:30, 7:20 & 10:05 p.m. Century 20: 12:05, 2:50, 5:25, 8 & 10:40 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera: The Enchanted Island (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Wed. at 6:30 p.m.

Miss Representation (Not Rated or Reviewed) Aquarius: Thu. at 7 p.m.

Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 12:20, 3:30, 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 12:45, 4, 7 & 10:15 p.m.

National Theatre Live: Travelling Light (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed) Century 20: Thu. at 7 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Thu. at 7 p.m.

One for the Money (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11:05 a.m.; 1:30, 3:50, 7:05 & 9:40 p.m. Century 20: 11:50 a.m.; 2:30, 4:50, 7:20 & 9:40 p.m.

Pina 3D (PG) (Not Reviewed) Palo Alto Square: 1:50 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. also at 4:30 & 7:15 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 9:50 p.m.

Red Tails (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 12:10, 3:30, 7:10 & 10:20 p.m.

Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; 2, 4:50, 7:45 & 10:35 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (R)

Guild: Sat. at midnight.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (PG-13) (((1/2 Century 20: 1:50 p.m.; Fri. & Sun.-Thu. also at 7:25 p.m.

Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace 3D (PG) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: Thu. at 12:01 a.m. Century 20: Thu. at 12:01 & 12:02 a.m.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (R) (((1/2 Century 16: 11:50 a.m.; 3, 6:30 & 9:30 p.m.

UFC 143: Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz Century 20: Sat. at 7 p.m.

Underworld: Awakening (R) (Not Reviewed) Century 16: 11 a.m.; In 3D at 1:30, 4, 7 & 9:45 p.m. Century 20: 11:20 a.m.; In 3D at 1:30, 3:45, 6, 8:20 & 10:40 p.m.

War Horse (PG-13) (((1/2 Century 16: 11 a.m.

We Bought a Zoo (PG) (1/2 Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; Fri.-Tue. & Thu. also at 7 p.m.

Woman in Black (PG-13) ((1/2 Century 16: 11:20 a.m.; 2:10, 4:40, 7:40 & 10:25

OPENINGS A Separation ---1/2

(Guild) Even as she defends her divorce filing, an Iranian woman says of her spouse, “He is a good, decent person.� But “A Separation� — Iran’s entry for Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Film — tests its every proposition, from the wisdom of the couple’s separation to the ethical rectitude of the spurned husband.

The opening scene of writer-director Asghar Farhadi’s knot-tightening drama lets wife Simin (Leila Hatami) and husband Nader (Peyman Moadi) vent their sides of the dispute that threatens to end their marriage. Having secured visas, Simin refuses to let go of a chance

to leave the country, with a better life in mind for 11-year-old daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). Nader will not budge: Caring for his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father means staying put. And so the two separate, forcing Termeh to take sides and quietly play one parent against the other in the hope they’ll see the errors of their ways.

A week later, their lives have turned upside down. Nader hires a live-in housekeeper named Razieh (Sareh Bayat), who brings her own daughter to work. Nader’s father quickly proves to be more than the pregnant Razieh can handle. Soon Razieh’s hotheaded husband enters, and we realize two marriages, two families are at stake.

Mistakes and misunderstandings culminate in an altercation that

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lands Nader in court. With that, the film becomes something of a domestic mystery but even more so a Sophoclean tragedy of moral ambiguity. No one escapes ethically unblemished — not even the children — but the adults are the ones who are graceless under pressure.

The climate of cultural repression in Iran has only made its cinema more vital. The film’s neorealism is beautifully observed and supremely humane, thanks to Farhadi’s finely honed script and the naturalistic acting of his cast. Moadi, in particular, stands out in the range of his performance. Without ever pushing, he radiates the frustration in his marital situation and concern for his father that allow him to stumble into injustice. And Nader devastates whenever his daughter is around to remind him what’s at stake, whether he’s smiling with pride as Termeh reclaims a bit of swindled cash or feeling the burn of her mounting suspicions.

The film’s separations can be familial, but also those of class and culture and between citizen and state; above all, Farhadi’s parable teaches that a rush to judgment inevitably turns back on the judge.

Though the characters may not live in glass houses, it’s a shattered windshield that attends the film’s moment of truth.

Rated PG-13 for thematic material. Two hours, three minutes. — Peter Canavese

The Woman in Black --1/2

(Century 16, Century 20) This chilling adaptation of Susan Hill’s 1983 novel offers British actor Daniel Radcliffe a chance to shed his “Harry Potter� persona. Radcliffe plays it somber and stoic in “The Woman in Black,� his understated performance complementing the film’s spooky atmosphere. “Spooky� may be too gentle a word. The movie bombards viewers with a host of scare tactics, from barely startling to borderline terrifying. And therein lies the problem. The paranormal period piece (“Black� is set in 19th-century England) relies so heavily on frightening imagery that backstory and character development get buried.

Widowed lawyer Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) struggles with the grief brought on by his wife’s untimely passing and the strain of raising their young son alone (nanny notwithstanding). Arthur’s employer dispatches him to a quiet village to sift through paperwork at an unkempt estate. Something is amiss in the peculiar town, as the villagers react to Arthur’s arrival with less warmth than a bucket of ice water.

His only real friend comes in the

form of wealthy resident Sam Daily (Ciaran Hinds).

Arthur gets to work at the enormous mansion, where shadows seem to shift and eerie sounds echo throughout the night. He begins to catch glimpses of a woman in black, and unearths a mystery that involves the mansion’s former mainstays and the village’s bizarre rash of child deaths. Let’s just say the pale-faced woman in black doesn’t take too kindly to strangers.

The scenes of Arthur alone in the dark mansion (aside from a small dog Sam lends him for company) at times literally made this reviewer’s spine tingle. Director James Watkins sets the mood remarkably well — this is a ghost story through and through. Although costuming and set design are excellent, some set pieces take the fear factor too far. (Hard to imagine that anyone, save for the film’s producers, would purposely select the cornucopia of scary dolls that litter an upstairs bedroom.)

The malevolent title character is intimidating but one-dimensional

and, frankly, something of a hypocrite. Her scary schtick is effective but eventually grows tiresome, and the film’s unsatisfying climax doesn’t help matters. Too much of what occurs in the film has been done before. Wailing ghost woman with sinister intentions? Seen it.

Creaky doors that slowly open on their own? Been there. Adolescent phantasms strolling around in the dark? Please.

Ultimately the film can’t distinguish itself from other ghosts-gonewild tales like “The Ring� (2002) and “The Grudge� (2004), though die-hard horror fans might not mind the similarities.

Rated PG-13 for violence/disturbing images. One hour, 35 minutes. — Tyler Hanley

READ MORE ONLINE

www.PaloAltoOnline.com To read Peter Canavese’s review of “Big Miracle,� and his story about actress Glenn Close (“Albert Nobbs�), go to PaloAltoOnline.com/movies.

WINNER GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD ÂŽ

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

ŠHFPA

WINNER “THE BEST PICTURE WINNER NEW YORK FILM LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF THE YEAR!� CRITICS ASSOCIATION -Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES WINNER WINNER NATIONAL BOARD BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST PICTURE • BEST ACTOR BEST ACTRESS

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

OF REVIEW

WINNER CRITICS’ CHOICE

WINNER CHICAGO FILM

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

CRITICS ASSOCIATION

AWARD

WINNER SOUTHEASTERN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

NEW YORK • TELLURIDE • TORONTO FILM FESTIVALS

FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEE BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

WINNER NEW YORK FILM CRITICS ONLINE

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A SEPARATION DreamLab

A FILM BY ASGHAR FARHADI WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ASGHAR FARHADI

WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM

STARTS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.ASEPARATION.COM

“The best ‘Underworld’ yet�

- EVAN DICKSON, BLOODY-DISGUSTING.COM

Fri and Sat 2/3-2/4 Pina in 3-D (Three Dimensional) 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 The Artist 2:00, 4:20, 7:25, 9:45 Sun thru Tues 2/5-2/7 Pina in 3-D (Three Dimensional) 1:50, 4:30, 7:15 The Artist 2:00, 4:20, 7:25 Wed and Thurs 2/8-2/9 Pina in 3-D (Three Dimensional) 1:50 The Artist 2:00, 4:20, 7:25

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CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

Sports Shorts

STANFORD TENNIS

They’re hoping to serve winners

A TOP CLASS . . . Success on the field has paid off on the recruiting trail for the Stanford football team, which attracted one of its finest classes on Wednesday’s national of letter of intent day. Among the 22 high school seniors signed by the Cardinal included 13 All-Americans. Arguably the best is five-star offensive tackle Andrus Peat, ranked at the No. 1 recruit in the nation by Sporting News.

Joining the 6-7, 305-pound Peat was 6-7, 278-pound offensive tackle Kyle Murphy. Peat picked Stanford over Nebraska while Murphy shunned USC in favor of the Cardinal. Stanford also added five-star offensive guard Josh Garnett (6-5, 305), listed as high as No. 2 nationally; offensive guard Brandon Fanaika (6-3, 300); and center Graham Shuler (6-4, 277), the fourth-best center in the nation. This is an offensive line for the future, with Peat and Murphy good enough to contribute right away and help fill the void left by NFL-bound All-Americans David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin. Stanford also picked up athletes to run behind that line, most notably Barry J. Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders. “We are excited to welcome one of the best recruiting classes in school history,” Stanford coach David Shaw said.

Stanford’s class was rated a school high 10th best in the nation by Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network in addition to ranking No. 5 by Rivals. com and No. 6 by Scout.com.

ON THE AIR Saturday Men’s basketball: Arizona at Stanford, noon; Comcast Sports Net Bay Area; KNBR (1050 AM); KZSU (90.1 FM) Women’s basketball: Stanford at Arizona, 1 p.m.; KZSU (90.1 FM)

Thursday Women’s basketball: USC at Stanford, 6:30 p.m.; Comcast Sports Net Bay Area; KZSU (90.1 FM) Men’s basketball: Stanford at UCLA, 7:30 p.m.; KNBR (1050 AM); KZSU (90.1 FM)

www.PASportsOnline.com For expanded daily coverage of college and prep sports, please see our new site at www.PASportsOnline.com

Stanford senior Ryan Thacher has helped the men’s team go 4-0 while filling in at No. 1 singles for the injured Bradley Klahn.

and winning, at No. 2 singles.

“He’s playing the best tennis of his career,” Whitlinger said. “I like where the team is and where the team is going. The chemistry is good and everybody is helping each other.”

Junior Denis Lin, freshmen John Morrissey and Robert Stineman, and sophomore Daniel Ho also have played up because of Klahn’s injury.

“We’re a pretty deep team this year,” Whitlinger said. “Denis is a talented tennis player and when he’s good, he’s really good. He had a tough start this year but we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Morrissey held the No. 1 ranking at some point while competing in 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Stineman is a two-time Illinois state champion. Ho played doubles in last year’s NCAA tournament.

Junior Walker Kehrer, who won six of his final seven matches last year, has been playing doubles.

Menlo School grad Jamin Ball (9-9 last year as a freshman) fills an important position for the Cardinal.

He’s like the sixth man in basketball, always ready to enter the starting lineup and produce.

“He’s the next man in,” said Whitlinger. “That’s the toughest position to be in and he’s handling it so well.

He could play this weekend and he’s ready to go. It’s a nice safety valve to have.”

Junior Sam Ecker was a top youth player and also fills in where needed. Sophomore Fawaz Hourani played for Jordan’s Davis Cup team in 2010. Freshman Gregory Zerkalz, (continued on page 27)

PREP BASKETBALL

PREP SOCCER

Gunn girls are back in the race

M-A boys keep their goal alive

by Keith Peters hen the Gunn girls’ basketball team opened their SCVAL De Anza Division season with back-to-back losses to Wilcox and Palo Alto, it appeared the Titans might be in for a long season.

Since that rough start, however, Gunn has won six straight and now finds itself tied for second place and only a game out of first.

The Titans made that happen by toppling rival Palo Alto, 52-42, on Wednesday night to end a four-game losing streak to the Vikings.

The Titans improved to 6-2 (12-5 overall) to join Paly (6-2, 13-4) in second place and avenge that earlier

W

(continued on next page)

by Keith Peters t has been a long time since the Menlo-Atherton boys’ soccer team played for a Central Coast Section title. The year was 1994 and the Bears won. Most of the current team members weren’t even born yet.

The Bears also won in 1985 and thus are 2-0 in championship match appearances. All M-A needs to do, perhaps, is get there.

This season’s squad may have the talent and drive to do that.

“We want to go undefeated,” said senior forward Edgardo Molina.

“That’s been our season-long goal.”

Thus far, the Bears have kept to their plan while compiling a 5-0-3

I

Tim Aiken

READ MORE ONLINE

by Rick Eymer enior Ryan Thacher has filled an important role for the sixthranked Stanford men’s tennis team through its first four matches, all victories. He played at the top of the singles ladder, taking over for his injured friend and doubles partner Bradley Klahn.

Now comes the hard part. Klahn remains unavailable this weekend with three-time defending NCAA champion USC coming to town for a 1:30 p.m. match on Friday. UCLA follows Saturday for a 1 p.m. match.

Both matches are nonconference.

The 37th-ranked Thacher will have his hands full with USC’s top player, defending NCAA singles champion Steve Johnson.

“This may be their best team in the last four years,” Stanford coach John Whitlinger said. “They have a couple of new guys in who are really, really good. That’s a deep, solid lineup.”

Stanford has a pretty good lineup, even without Klahn available. The Cardinal, which reached the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA team tournament, has its own set of veterans and newcomers.

Thacher and Klahn, who reached the finals of the NCAA doubles tournament last spring, are the only seniors and the rest of the team has been playing well of late.

“Ryan had a great NCAA tournament and he’s off to a good start,” Whitlinger said. “He’s playing as well as I’ve seen him play. He’s committed and stepped into the role of leader.”

Junior Matt Kandath, ranked 75th, has impressed Whitlinger with his work ethic. He has been playing,

S

Zach Sanderson/Stanfordphoto.com

BOYETT SERVICES . . . Memorial services have been planned for Foothill College football coach and Palo Alto native Doug Boyett, who passed away in his sleep last Friday night at age 52. A public viewing will be held Friday, Feb. 10, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Roller, Hapgood & Tinney, 980 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. A public memorial will be Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Foothill College Gymnasium, 12345 El Monte Road in Los Altos Hills. Parking Lot 2-A provides best access to the gym. Boyett, a 1977 graduate of Palo Alto High, was a former Foothill College student, athlete, instructor, and coach. He became a full-time faculty member in 1990 and assumed responsibility as head coach of the football team in 2007. “He cared deeply for his students and took great pride in their academic accomplishments, which were numerous under his guidance,” said Foothill president Judy C. Miner.

Deep and talented Cardinal teams open seasons with expectations of challenging for NCAA titles

Gunn’s Claire Klausner (left) drives on Palo Alto’s Lindsay Black during the Titans’ important 52-42 victory on Wednesday.

(continued on next page)

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Sports

Basketball

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

(continued from previous page)

Kendall Jager

Edgardo Molina

Sacred Heart Prep

Menlo-Atherton High

The junior forward had two goals and two assists in a 4-0 soccer win over NDSJ and scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Priory as the Gators moved into second place in the WBAL.

The senior scored both goals in a 2-1 soccer victory over Carlmont and had the only goal in a 1-0 victory over San Mateo as the Bears remained unbeaten and in the thick of the PAL Bay Division race at 5-0-2.

Honorable mention Leeana Bade Pinewood basketball

Jaye Boissiere Menlo soccer

Kelly Doran Pinewood basketball

Lauren Lete Menlo basketball

Cat Perez Gunn basketball

Etelle Stephan Pinewood soccer

Tim Costa Menlo soccer

E.J. Floreal Palo Alto basketball

Israel Hakim Palo Alto basketball

Cameron Helvey Pinewood basketball

Cole McConnell Sacred Heart Prep basketball

Bobby Roth Menlo basketball * previous winner

To see video interviews of the Athletes of the Week, go to www.PASportsOnline.com

Soccer

(continued from previous page)

record in the PAL Bay Division (100-4 overall). On Wednesday, M-A had to settle for a 1-1 deadlock with host Woodside. The Bears got their goal from junior Alexei Lopes on an assist from senior Alan Propp.

Menlo-Atherton, which took over the division lead by beating San Mateo last Friday, entered Wednesday’s game ranked No. 26 in the nation in the Powerade Fab 50 by ESPNHS and No. 7 in the state while trailing only Alisal (No. 7 nation, No. 2 state) among Northern California teams.

The Bears will host Sequoia on Friday (5:30 p.m.) before embarking on an important three-game stretch next week.

In the West Bay Athletic League, Sacred Heart Prep maintained its hold on first place following a 4-0 victory over host Crystal Springs.

SHP has 26 points and a four-point lead with four matches remaining in the regular season.

The Gators (8-0-2, 11-0-4) got the eventual winning goal in the first half from Andrew Segre off an assist from Brendan Spillane.

Andrew Liotta then scored the

first of two goals with Segre assisting for a 2-0 halftime lead. Willy Lamb opened the second half with the first of his two assists, first on a goal by Steven Glassmoyer and then to Liotta.

In Atherton, host Menlo School remained in third place and just one point out of second following a 5-0 victory over Priory. The Knights improved to 6-1-3 in league (9-1-5 overall) and have 21 points. King’s Academy (7-1-1), which routed Pinewood, 5-0, is in second with 22 points.

Max Parker had a hat trick for Menlo, two coming in the second half. Freshman Kyle Perez assisted on two of them in addition to assisting on Julian Viret’s first goal of the season in the second half.

In the SCVAL De Anza Divison, Gunn completed a rare season sweep of rival Palo Alto as Cameron McElfresh scored in the first half on an assist from Kevin Macario. The Titans (4-3-1, 7-5-3) remained in a two-way tie for fourth place with Homestead, both with 13 points.

Mountain View leads with 22 points while Palo Alto (0-7-2, 0-13-4) fell to last.

Girls’ soccer Palo Alto avenged a first-round

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loss in the teams’ first meeting this season. The Vikings also had beaten the Titans three times last season, including in the CCS Division I championship game.

Gunn, however, knocked off previously unbeaten Wilcox last weekend and rode momentum from that victory into Wednesday’s game.

The Chargers remain in first place at 6-1 (16-1) heading into Friday’s game (6:15 p.m.) at Palo Alto. The Vikings can force a three-way tie for first with a victory.

Sophomore Zoe Zwerling led the Titans with 14 points and sparked a 7-2 fourth-run that gave Gunn a double-digit lead. The Titans also did a solid defensive effort on Paly’s Emilee Osagiede, who was limited to seven points while none of her teammates reached double figures.

“I’m pleased with how we played tonight,” Gunn coach Sarah Stapp said on gunntitans.com. “Earlier in the year we didn’t face up to the challenges, but now we are and it’s making a difference.

In the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division): With only three games remaining in the regular season, Mercy-San Francisco (6-1, 20-1) has taken control with a two-game lead following a 57-47 victory over visiting Sacred Heart Prep on Tuesday night.

That victory, coupled with Pinewood’s crazy 40-39 win over Eastside Prep and Menlo’s 53-28 win over Notre Dame-San Jose, left three teams tied for second with 4-3 marks.

In San Francisco, Sacred Heart Prep had a chance to tighten the race and move to within one game of first place. The Skippers, however, pulled away to a 38-25 halftime lead and weren’t threatened after that.

Melissa Holland tallied 13 points to pace the Gators (4-3, 14-7). loss to rival Gunn by handing the visiting Titans a 3-1 defeat in SCVAL De Anza Division action on Wednesday night. Gunn won the first meeting by the same score.

This time, Paly (2-5-2, 5-6-5) started aggressively and dominated the ball. The Vikings scored quickly as center midfielder Lily Seedman passed to Mira Ahmad, who found the net from 15 yards out in the sixth minute. This was Ahmad’s first game and first goal of the season as she had been benched due to previous concussions.

Gunn (1-5-2, 5-9-2) tied it 10 minutes later on a goal by Sarah Robinson, a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team who was held in check otherwise by Ahmad. The Paly offense kept up the pressure, threatening Gunn goal keeper Monisha White (also playing her first game of the season). In the 22nd minute, Paly had the ball in front of the goal, scrambling with multiple players taking shots. The loose ball finally was finished by sophomore Sunny Lyu for a 2-1 lead.

With four minutes remaining in the half, Paly junior forward Jordan Smith outran Gunn defenders down the right side of the field and crossed the ball to the far left post, where defender Nina Kelty met Smith’s

In Atherton, Menlo pulled into a three-way tie for second with a victory over Notre Dame-San Jose.

Junior Drew Edelman scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Knights (4-3, 13-7) while point guard Lauren Lete added 15 points and five assists. Maddy Price, making only her third start of the season, contributed seven rebounds and five points.

In the WBAL Skyline Division, host Castilleja saw its lead dwindle after a 47-44 loss to second-place Harker. The Gators (5-2, 10-10) overcame a 13-point halftime deficit, but couldn’t pull off the victory.

Castilleja is playing without starter Riya Modi, sidelined the rest of the season with a knee injury.

In the PAL Bay Division, MenloAtherton traveled to Pacifica to face first-place Terra Nova and dropped a 57-31 decision. Tennyson Jellins led the Bears (2-5, 8-13) with 13 points while the Tigers improved to 7-0 (15-5).

Boys’ basketball Palo Alto continued its mastery over rival Gunn and got a helping hand while taking over first place in the SCVAL De Anza Division with a closer-than-expected 65-54 victory over host Gunn on Wednesday night.

The Vikings (7-1, 17-2) moved closer to defending its division title after erstwhile co-leader Mountain View (6-2, 15-5) suffered a 58-39 loss to Los Gatos.

Gunn (0-8, 6-14) shot well in the first half and kept things close, trailing only 32-29 at intermission. The Vikings took over in the third period and went on an 11-2 run that was triggered by a three-pointer from Mathias Schmutz, who finished with a season-high 20 points.

It was 47-35 entering the fourth quarter and Paly pushed its lead to 21 points at one point. Aubrey Dawkins added 16 points for the Vikings while fellow junior E.J. Flo-

real contributed 13 and senior Israel Hakim had 10. Gunn senior Shang Yip led all scorers with 22 points, but the Titans nonetheless dropped their 11th straight game. Palo Alto, meanwhile, won its sixth straight and 11th in the past 12 games.

In the PAL Ocean Division, Dominic Tully produced 18 points and 10 rebounds and Miles Weiss dished out six assists, but it wasn’t enough as Menlo-Atherton dropped a 54-49 decision to host South San Francisco.

The showdown is all set for the WBAL title and the contenders appear all set after posting solid victories on Tuesday night.

Pinewood held on to first place with a 83-29 demolition of last-place Crystal Springs while second-place Sacred Heart Prep took care of host King’s Academy, 56-47.

That sets up Friday’s confrontation in Atherton between the No. 1 Panthers (8-0, 17-1) and No. 2 Gators (7-2, 14-5) at 7:30 p.m.

Menlo School, meanwhile, could benefit from that game as the Knights (7-2, 14-5) are tied with SHP and still have games remaining against Pinewood and Sacred Heart.

SHP tuned up by outscoring King’s Academy by 29-15 in the second half. The Gators got 20 points from Cole McConnell and 14 from Pat Bruni while bouncing back from a 32-27 halftime deficit.

In Los Altos Hills, Pinewood won its 13th straight game as Kevin Sweat drilled six 3-pointers on the way to a 20-point outing. Solomone Wolfgramm and Cameron Helvey each added 12 points for the Panthers.

In Atherton, Menlo bounced back in the fourth quarter to win its fourth straight game.

In Portola Valley, host Priory got 18 points from Gabor Somogyi in a 37-32 victory over Eastside Prep.

Priory improved to 4-4 (8-5) while the visiting Panthers fell to 2-7 (12-7). N

feed to score.

In the WBAL Foothill Division, Menlo School was sitting atop the standings for the first time this late in the season heading into Thursday’s showdown with third-place Priory.

Menlo held on to first place with a 2-0 victory over visiting Kings Academy on Tuesday. The Knights (7-1, 9-4-1 before Thursday) won their sixth straight WBAL contest, five of them by shutout, while maintaining a two-point lead over second-place Sacred Heart Prep, 2119. Priory also won on Tuesday for 18 points.

Menlo took the lead against King’s Academy just 18 minutes into the match when sophomore Lindsay Karle won possession of the ball in the box and then slipped a pass to sophomore Chandler Wickers, who scored from 12 yards out. Wickers found the back of the net again on a 10-yard volley off a well-placed cross off the foot of sophomore Jaye Boissiere at 26 minutes.

In Atherton, junior Kendall Jager had a foot in every goal as Sacred Heart Prep blanked Mercy-Burlingame, 3-0. The Gators remained in second place while improving to 6-1-1 in league (8-3-5 overall). Jager scored twice and assisted once.

In San Jose, Priory held off Notre Dame-San Jose, 2-1. Eugenia Jernick gave the Panthers (6-1, 9-3-2) a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute off an assist from Darrah Shields. In the 44th minute, Shields took a pass from Sarah Zuckerman and made it a 2-0 match.

In the WBAL Skyline Division, Pinewood lost an opportunity to grab a share of first place following a 2-2 deadlock with host Crystal Springs on Tuesday in Hillsborough. The Panthers needed a victory to share the top spot with 33 points.

Instead, Crystal (11-0-1) moved to 34 points while Pinewood (10-1-1) has 31 with four matches to play.

In the PAL Bay Division, MenloAtherton remained in the hunt for a division title following a 4-0 victory over host Burlingame on Tuesday.

The Bears improved to 6-2-1 in league (10-4-1 overall). M-A, with 19 points and four straight victories, still sits in third place behind Aragon (7-1-1, 22 points) and Carlmont (6-1-2, 20 points).

M-A senior Meryssa Thompson scored one goal and added one assist to lead the way. Senior Jen Kirst provided the first and winning goal, Naomi Pacalin made it a 3-0 match and the Bears got an own goal in the second half to wrap things up. N

Sports

Tennis

(continued from page 25)

a blue belt in karate, fills out the roster.

In addition to playing two of the top teams in the Pac-12 Conference, as well as the nation, this weekend, Stanford Director of Tennis Dick Gould is hosting a free clinic for kids eighth grade and younger on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in conjunction with USTA Campus Day. There’s no registration, just bring your own racket and be ready to play.

The two matches this weekend is the start of a five-match homestand that leads into the National Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va., beginning Feb. 16.

Whitlinger hopes to get Klahn, the NCAA singles champion two years ago, back in the lineup by then.

“He’s getting closer,” Whitlinger said. “He’s been practicing but he hasn’t been cleared to go full blast.

We’re being careful with him because he has a nice future ahead of him. We’re not rushing anything.”

The Pac-12 (eight teams play tennis) figures to be another dogfight, with California and Washington also part of the conversation. Utah comes in this season and replaces Arizona State, which dropped its varsity program.

That road trip at the end of March, just after midterms, looks interesting, with stops at Pepperdine, Arizona and Utah.

“You can’t afford to breathe easy because there are so many good

teams,” Whitlinger said. “Our focus is down the road and playing our best tennis in May.” The Pac-12 coaches also voted to replace the season-ending individual conference tournament in Ojai with a team tournament beginning April 25. The top two teams receive a bye into the semifinal, the third and fourth place teams receive a bye into the quarterfinal. The first round will feature No. 5 vs. No. 8 and No. 6 vs. No. 7, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinal.

team-high 46 victories. Sophomore Kristie Ahn was honored by the ITA and Pac-10 as both organizations’ Rookie of the Year while also capturing two singles titles.

Then there is the case of junior Stacey Tan, who reached the NCAA singles championship match despite playing the majority of her matches at No. 5 during the regular season.

Freshman Ellen Tsay had a successful fall season and could join a crowded lineup of top-notch players as the Cardinal looks to regain its homecourt magic.

Women’s tennis Senior Veronica Li once again will Stanford junior Mallory Burdette play an important role as a seasoned has been there to experience the veteran who is more than capable of highest high on a tennis court and winning her share of matches. She also to suffer the lowest has a career record of 45low. She enters the season 14, playing No. 4 through ranked No. 1 nationally No. 6. Li has experience first in both singles and playing in high-pressure doubles and likely will be postseason matches, as asked to fill the top spot well, contributing a win in on the Cardinal ladder, vaStanford’s national chamcant because Hilary Barte pionship win over Florida graduated. two years ago.

Burdette’s experience The Gators are part of will be even more valuable a 13-match home schedon a team with one senior Mallory Burdette ule this year, which began but a lot of talented playWednesday with a 6-1 vicers. Burdette won the NCAA dou- tory over UC Davis. Florida returns bles title (with Barte) last year and to the site of its national title on Sunclinched Stanford’s national cham- day, Feb. 12, with a match time set pionship as a rookie. She was also for noon. on the court when Florida clinched Stanford’s impressive NCAA reits national title last year following a cord 184 consecutive home matches grueling, third-set tiebreaker. is history, although the triumphant She’ll have plenty of support. legacy at Taube Family Tennis CenSophomore Nicole Gibbs earned ter remains. The Cardinal has won All-America accolades in a fresh- 240 of the past 242 matches played man campaign that saw her record a there. N

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