1-22-26 by Daily Post

THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2026

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Mistrial in ex-chancellor case

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

A judge yesterday declared a mistrial for the remaining 18 felonies against former San Mateo County Community College Chancellor Ron Galatolo after jurors said they were deadlocked, a prosecutor said.

The jury had found Galatolo, 62, of Menlo Park, guilty of

THE UPDATE

CORRECTION: A story yesterday misstated some of the charges a jury found San Mateo County Community College Chancellor Ron Galatolo guilty of committing. He was convicted of four counts of perjury and four counts of tax evasion. The person identified only as “Smith” in the story was Chuck Smith, Galatolo’s lawyer.

TRUMP BACKS DOWN: President Trump says he has scrapped the tariffs that he threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. control over Greenland. He says he has agreed with NATO on a future Arctic security deal that could ease geopolitical tensions.

STOCKS RECOVER: The U.S. stock market bounced back from its worst day since October. The S&P 500 rallied 1.2% yesterday after President Trump said he reached the framework for a deal about Greenland.

NO WARRANT: An ICE memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant. The memo, signed by

[See THE UPDATE, page 4]

Deadlocked on 18 charges

eight felonies Tuesday, four counts of tax evasion and four counts of perjury. He was also acquitted on one count of perjury on Tuesday.

The DA’s office now has until March 6 to decide whether to retry the remaining counts, which include taking bribes from contrac-

tors, misappropriation of public funds, conflict of interest, and embezzlement over a 10-year period.

The jurors said yesterday that nothing could help them reach a conclusion, Wagstaffe said. The jury was split 9-3, 8-4 and 6-6 on various counts, the DA said.

Chuck Smith, Galatolo’s attorney, said he would have preferred an acquittal for the remaining 18 counts, but he doubts whether Galatolo can be found guilty of those charges.

“I will try to convince the DA that it would be a waste of time to go forward on the 18 counts because they should realize that,

[See MISTRIAL, page 22]

Leak leads to museum delay

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT

Daily Post Staff Writer

The opening of the new Palo Alto History Museum has been delayed indefinitely because the city-owned building is leaking, CEO Marguerite Gong Hancock announced yesterday.

The museum was scheduled to open in February.

The museum nonprofit is working with the city to assess and repair the water intrusion at 300 Homer Ave., Hancock said in an email yesterday.

“Taking the time to do this right is essential to the museum’s long-term success,” she said.

The historic Roth Building was built in 1932 as the Palo Alto Medical Foun-

[See MUSEUM, page 22]

Officials want answers on math class

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Two Palo Alto school board members want to know how and why a group of teachers and administrators went against their vote to offer Multivariable Calculus, an advanced math class that high school students and parents have been fighting for.

“I’ve been elected to serve my constituents, and many of those constituents are frustrated at the apparent contradictions and backpedaling around Multivariable Calculus over the last few years,” board member Rowena Chiu said at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Chiu referred to Superintendent Don Austin’s comments from April 18, 2023,

when he said the district would offer Multivariable Calculus “tomorrow” if a teacher had the right credentials.

Since then, teacher Daniel Nguyen has spent $12,000 to get a master’s degree that qualifies him to teach Multivariable Calculus, and he developed a course outline that was approved by the

[See MATH, page 22]

THE MUSEUM at 300 Homer Ave. Post photo by Emily Mibach.

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Police will help with Super Bowl patrol

BY STEPHANIE LAM Daily Post Correspondent

Palo Alto police are stepping up to help with safety efforts for the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 and residents are expected to foot the bill.

Palo Alto Officers will assist with monitoring public transportation hubs in the days leading up to and during the event, which will take place in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, according to

Residents will pay for officer overtime

Lt. Nicholas Martinez. Officers will be paid overtime out of the city’s budget, Martinez said.

The department’s specialized K-9 dogs and their handlers will also be participating in the safety effort at the stadium. The highly trained dogs can detect explosives, and are a shared resource in the county, Martinez said.

The Super Bowl is expected to draw thousands of visitors into the Bay Area, who will participate in celebrations and activities across the region leading up to the big day.

Following Santa Clara’s lead

The Santa Clara Police Department serves as the lead law enforcement

agency for planning and implementing Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup public safety operations in coordination with regional, state and federal partners. Officials from Santa Clara County, City of Santa Clara, San Mateo County and City and County of San Francisco are asking residents and visitors to sign up for free emergency text alerts from law enforcement during Super Bowl festivities.

ICE’s acting director, states administrative warrants are sufficient for forced entry if there’s a final order of removal.

ICE IN MAINE: Maine has become the latest target in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement wave. The Department of Homeland Security named the enforcement operation Catch of the Day, a play on the state’s seafood industry.

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CLINTON CONTEMPT: A House committee has advanced resolutions to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee approved the contempt of Congress charges in bipartisan votes. It sets up a potential vote in the House. Democrats were split, with progressive lawmakers called for full transparency in the Epstein investigation even if it meant threatening a former Democratic president if he refuses to testify.

COURT WEIGHS FED FIRING: The Supreme Court seems inclined to keep Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook in her job. The justices are casting doubt on President Trump’s bid to wrest control of the nation’s central bank. They heard arguments yesterday over Trump’s effort to fire Cook based on allegations she committed mortgage fraud. She denies any wrongdoing.

LATEST MUSK FEUD: Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary is dismissing Elon Musk’s idea of buying the airline and shrugging off his insults. The spat began when Ryanair ruled out installing Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi on its planes. O’Leary called Musk an “idiot,” while Musk labeled O’Leary “misinformed.” Musk even joked about buying Ryanair on social media. O’Leary said if Musk wants to invest, it would be a better choice than his investment in X.

NATHAN’S FAMOUS SOLD: Nathan’s Famous, which opened as a 5-cent hot dog stand in Coney Island more than a century ago, has been sold to Smithfield Foods in a $450 million all-cash deal.

Editor: Dave Price

Managing Editor: Emily Mibach

General Manager: Brandon Heinrichs

Distribution: Amando Mendoza III

Account Executives: Jena Hollister, Mike Ireland and Winnie Reyes

Letters: Limit to 250 words. Author’s full name, address and phone number are required. See policy at padailypost.com under “letters.”

Stories without bylines are often from The Associated Press, Bay City News service or the Post staff.

Legal notices: The Superior Court of Santa Clara County has adjudicated the Daily Post as a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Palo Alto and the County of Santa Clara, and we’re qualified to publish legal notices such as Fictitious Business Name Statements (FBNs) and legal name changes. For more information, email

Deaths

San Mateo County Coroner: Jan. 21

Chuenlan Cheng, 105, of Millbrae

Mary Esther Hurtado Duran, 54, of Fremont

Santa Clara County Medical Examiner: Dec. 29

Minerva Peterson, 79, of San Mateo

Peter Mathey, 52, of Los Altos

Taniela Tuipulotu, 69, of San Mateo

Dec. 28

Joan Jack, 91, of Palo Alto

William Terry, 92, of Palo Alto

Jack Mattis, 75, of Sunnyvale

Births

El Camino Hospital in Mountain View:

June 24

Cora Phuong Borgstede, a girl

Emma Camina Buonacorsi, a girl

Sabrina Xuanyu Burns, a girl

Peyton Jean Campbell, a girl

Thomas Juan Gomez, a boy

Olivia Gabriela Juchau, a girl

June 23

Aarush Agrawal, a boy

Nolan Glen Grover, a boy

Amara Lynn Sanchez Jagadeesh, a girl

Vihana Mukundhan, a girl

Shan Nilesh Pathak, a boy

Milan Enrique Ruano Gallardo, a boy

Yuki Ethan Shimizu, a boy

Aradhya Sridhar, a girl

Kai Zheng, a boy

June 22

Agastya Sandilya Ghantasala, a boy

Urvi Kalavai, a girl

Navan Narayan Khamker, a boy

Elliott Jinyoung Macias, a boy

Joselyne Lizeth Montejo Jesus, a girl

Rafael Perdomo, a boy

Atharv Shreyas, a boy

Zunaira Irfan Sufiya, a girl

Ayla Shirley Tello Silva, a girl

Haven Olive Wu, a girl

June 21

Ao Sirius Arai, a boy

Aditi Atreya, a girl

Musa Bukhari, a boy

Olivia Jessica Cannatello, a girl

Emma Sofia Hernandez Ramirez, a girl

Ryan Ho, a boy

Azalea Elle Joonachman, a girl

Nolan Lai Kpa, a boy

Kade Juan Lui, a boy

Jordan Elijah Magallon, a boy

Felix Xie, a boy

June 20

Qirat Muhammad Ali Khan Durrani, a girl

Mateo Lucas Martinez Zertuche, a boy

Avyaan Nalam, a boy

Kashvi Sanket Patil, a girl

Lacey Lou Pierce, a girl

Kendrick Mason Narvaja Punzalan, a boy

Kritin Sai Thilak Raj, a boy

Yana Elise Wieler, a girl

Raya Xiao, a girl

• Private Mortgages

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Budget cuts loom for school district

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

The Menlo Park City School District Board is proposing $4 million in cuts, including eliminating several positions and removing programs like band and orchestra in order to save money over the next three school years.

The administration has been crunching numbers since September to keep paying employees competitive salaries and pensions as costs rise, Superintendent Kristen Gracia said at the Jan.15 meeting.

Programs like World Language, band and orchestra for fifth graders will be fully cut, while the library program will be restructured, according to Gracia. The budget for field trips will be cut in half, saving $1.2 million altogether, she said. Technology in classes will also be reduced and students will have to share more devices, Gracia said.

Attendees voice concerns

Close to 200 people attended the meeting online, with over 30 speakers expressing their concerns about the cuts.

Music teacher John Ashfield said he was heartbroken that the district won’t be able to offer music to all students. Music is used for community fundraising, and the band is a shoo-in to show people where their donation goes, he said.

There are many students who can’t afford music lessons, and the district provides them with that, Ashfield said.

Jobs for math, Spanish and library aides will be cut, saving the district $520,703, according to Gracia.

Jessica Ann Ross, who teaches seventh grade at Hillview Middle School, said the library resources shouldn’t be cut because they would reduce students’ access. The library is more than just a house for books, but an engine for curiosity, access and opportunity, she said.

“Our young scholars have more access at their fingertips than we ever did at their age. Yet, this does not mean they know how to process, evaluate and synthesize all of this information. That is where school libraries and teacher librarians are essential,” Ross said.

Emily Smith, who works at Lower Laurel, said math aides are necessary for students who need extra time or a different learning approach to help them graduate.

District office impact

The board is also looking to reduce positions in the district office to minimize impact on students, Gracia said. Eliminating positions like front desk receptionist or office manager at Hillview Middle School, and reducing overtime by 5%, will help save $654,817.

Travel and management positions overseeing world language, diversity, and equity for the whole district, which oversees Encinal, Laurel, Oak Knoll and Hillview Middle Schools, will also be cut.

The board will discuss the reductions further on Feb. 12.

Suspect charged in home break-in

A man was charged yesterday for breaking into a 89-year-old woman’s Redwood City home while she and her caretaker were home, a prosecutor said.

Miguel Aguilar Sarabia, 36, allegedly entered a home on the 300 block of Alameda de las Pulgas on Saturday at 4 a.m., said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. The homeowner, an 89-year-old woman, was upstairs asleep, but her caretaker was downstairs and heard a light switch and doors opening and closing, Wagstaffe said.

The caretaker ran to the woman’s

room and called police, who arrived in time to see Sarabia running away from the home, Wagstaffe said.

Police found Sarabia’s backpack in the backyard and then chased and caught up to him, Wagstaffe said. The backpack had costume jewelry from the home, wire cutters, a phone and a flashlight in it, the DA said.

Court appearance

Sarabia was in court yesterday and pleaded innocent to charges that included felony burglary. He remains in jail in lieu of $1 million.

Crash on bridge kills 1

A 54-year-old woman driving on the San Mateo Bridge was fatally struck by another driver who was distracted by his phone, CHP said yesterday.

A Ford Transit van was headed west at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday when the driver looked down at his phone, according to CHP Officer Sophie Lu. When he looked back up, he saw a Kia sedan stalled in front of him and was unable to stop in time to avoid a crash, Lu said.

Mary Esther Hurtado Duran, from Fremont, the driver of the Kia sedan, was pronounced dead at the scene by fire officials, according to the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office. One of the passengers of the van was taken to the hospital with major injuries.

Three lanes were closed until 7:45 p.m., according to Lu. The investigation of the crash is still ongoing, Lu said.

Insider picked as new undersheriff

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen has picked an insider to run his dayto-day operations.

Michael Doty will come out of retirement to be the new undersheriff, Jonsen announced yesterday.

Doty worked for the sheriff’s office from 1994 until retiring as an assistant sheriff in 2023.

Doty replaces Undersheriff Dalia Rodriguez, who retired in December after a year in the position.

Since taking office in December

2022, Jonsen has kept around top officials who made their way up the ranks under Sheriff Laurie Smith.

Smith was removed because she traded gun permits for campaign donations, and the county spent millions of dollars on lawsuits accusing her of mismanaging the jails.

Jonsen has four assistant sheriffs, and all of them have been with the office for at least 20 years.

Financial details

Doty’s salary will be in the range of $279,856 to $359,110, plus benefits. Jonsen’s spokesman Brooks Jarosz wouldn’t provide the exact amount yesterday.

Sex abuse trial to start

The trial of a Woodside man accused of sexually assaulting the children of his family friends will begin today, despite the man being in the hospital, a prosecutor said yesterday.

Alan Frank Russell, 84, who is facing 14 felony charges, attempted suicide over the weekend, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. His trial had been set to begin on Tuesday, but that was put on hold due to Russell being in the hospital.

But yesterday, Russell waived his

right to attend his own trial, meaning it will begin today, Wagstaffe said.

Accusations

Russell is accused of repeatedly assaulting at least three victims, who were all under the age of 16 at the time. Russell is accused of molesting the first child from 1995 to 2002, from when the boy was 8 until he was 16. Russell, a retired attorney, was arrested on a warrant at his home in 2023. Deputies found over 3,000 images of child pornography depicting young boys in the home, according to court documents.

CITY OF LOS ALTOS PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Zoning Administrator of the City of Los Altos will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following project:

1. SC25-0017 – Mike Amini – 1111 Buckingham Drive

Request for Design Review to construct a new 3,513-square foot, two-story home. The project site is located on the east side of Buckingham Drive between Suffolk Way and Portland Avenue. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Project Planner: Aguirre

The Zoning Administrator public hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM in person at the Community Meeting Chambers, Los Altos City Hall, 1 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA and via a webinar. Please go to the following link: https://ca-losaltos.civicplus.com/527/Zoning-Administrator NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Los Altos will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following project:

2. DR25-0062 and V25-0001 – Brooke McCue – 1276 Montclaire Way

Request for Design Review to construct a new 3,469 square foot, single-story home, and a Variance to allow a 13’ front setback in lieu of the required 25’ front setback, 5’ 4.5” and 5’5.5” side setbacks in lieu of the required 15’ side setbacks, and 28 percent front yard landscape area in lieu of the required 50 percent front yard landscape area. The project is located on the north side of Montclaire Way between Granger Avenue and Eva Avenue. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Project Planner: Whitehill

The Planning Commission public hearing will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026 starting at 6:00 PM in person at the Community Meeting Chambers, Los Altos City Hall, 1 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA and via conference call. Please go to the following link: https://ca-losaltos.civicplus.com/524/Planning-Commission

Questions can be answered by calling the Development Services Department at (650) 947-2750 or sent via email to planning@losaltosca.gov.

Yvonne Dupont, Management Analyst I

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Couples who spend money on time-saving services — like getting takeout, hiring a housecleaner or calling a dog walker — report greater relationship satisfaction, especially during stressful periods, says Ashley Whillans, a behavioral scientist and professor at Harvard Business School.

Time vs. money

Whillans studies the “tradeoffs people make between time and money.”

“When you spend money to save time — hiring an accountant, a babysitter, a cleaner — you feel more control

Not everyone can afford to outsource bigger household chores. But Whillans says even a little bit can help. She advises couples to take a “time audit” — examining how they spend their hours and what small changes could reclaim even a few moments.

“People underestimate how much these choices matter,” she said. “It’s not about luxury — it’s about freeing up time to connect.”

Whillans’ team tracked busy, dual-income couples — partners working full-time who often report feeling timestarved — and found consistent pat-

terns. In one six-week diary study, couples who made “time-saving purchases” on a given day were happier and more satisfied with their relationships.

Use saved time for connecting

Simply outsourcing chores isn’t a magic fix, however.

“It’s about being intentional with the time you get back — using it to spend quality time together, to reconnect,” Whillans said.

“Think of that half hour not as an opportunity to send more emails, but as a chance to spend time with your partner.”

Casey Mulligan Walsh, 71, a former speech pathologist and author in upstate New York, said the best part about hiring a housecleaner once a week was that it freed up time for her and her husband to spend together.

“My favorite day of the week was coming home to a clean house,” she said. “We’d go get coffee together instead of arguing about who should vacuum.”

Addressing the problems

Targol Hasankhani, a Chicago-based marriage and family therapist, stressed that while outsourcing domestic labor can ease daily stress, it doesn’t replace communication.

“If conflict around chores is rooted in something deeper — like inequity or not feeling heard — hiring a cleaner won’t solve that,” she said.

Couples must dig deeper to address problems with many layers.

“It opens up time and space, but couples still have to know how to show up for each other in that space,” Hasankhani said.

PALO ALTO

JAN. 6

2:18 p.m. — Battery, Embarcadero Road.

JAN. 8

6:38 p.m. — Battery, 1-99 block of Encina Ave.

JAN. 11

10:59 p.m. — James Blain Carrasco, 39, of San Francisco, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

JAN. 13

9:31 a.m. — Dylan Tyler Cox, 34, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 500 block of High St.

2:03 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, 400 block of Matadero Ave.

11:28 p.m. — Phillip Dontay Steward, 43, of East Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

JAN. 14

12:16 a.m. — Gavin Lamar Mour, 45, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 500 block of Webster St.

10:35 a.m. — Theft, 400 block of Pepper Ave.

3:36 p.m. — Demon Williams, 32, of Hayward, cited on a warrant, Newell and Embarcadero roads.

8:14 p.m. — Auto burglary, 4100 block of El Camino Way.

8:18 p.m. — Two vehicles burglarized, 400 block of Ramona St.

8:41 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Ramona St.

9:41 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Lytton Ave.

JAN. 15

3:02 p.m. — Two juveniles arrested for auto burglary and vehicle tampering, Moreno Ave. and Middlefield Road.

5:12 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, University Ave. and Middlefield Road.

5:52 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Bryant St. FRIDAY

8:37 a.m. — Vehicle accident

causes injuries, 3000 block of El Camino.

8:46 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, San Antonio Road and Nita Ave.

11:50 a.m. — Grand theft, 2500 block of Birch St.

STANFORD

JAN. 14

9:30 a.m. — Bicycle stolen, 700 block of Campus Drive.

11:39 a.m. — Parts and/or accessories stolen from a vehicle, 700 block of Bowdoin St.

12:52 p.m. — Petty theft, Hulme Court.

1:16 p.m. — Auto burglary, 600 block of Fremont Road.

1:35 p.m. — Luis Fernando Garcia Munoz, 23, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, possession of a substance containing toluene for huffing and on a warrant, 700 block of Serra St..

4:09 p.m. — Petty theft, 400 block of Jane Stanford Way.

MENLO PARK

SUNDAY

6:47 p.m. — Jerry Cox, 79, of San Jose, cited on a warrant, Willow Road and Durham St.

11:31 p.m. — Fraud, 1100 block of Marsh Road.

MONDAY

12:28 p.m. — Adrian Verdin, 40, transient, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 1500 block of Willow Road.

3:31 p.m. — Check fraud, 600 block of Oak Grove Ave.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

JAN. 10

1:41 a.m. — Ashley Gomez Alfaro, 23, cited for DUI and driving without a license, Villa and Franklin streets.

2:38 a.m. — Ana Sanchez, 26, cited for DUI, Evelyn Ave. and Madera Way.

2:51 a.m. — Karina Chiquita, 25, cited for DUI and driving without a license, Vila and Franklin streets.

JAN. 11

12:43 a.m. — Michael Lugea, 64,

cited for driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, San Antonio Road and Casey Ave.

3:44 p.m. — Fausto Diaz, 33, cited for DUI, Highway 85 and El Camino.

4:44 p.m. — Battery, 200 block of Castro St.

6:07 p.m. — Erik Peterson, 51, transient, arrested for theft, public drunkenness and probation violation at CVS, 2630 W. El Camino.

9:25 p.m. — Severo Meraz Hernandiz, 40, transient, arrested for public drunkenness and probation violation at McDonald’s, 952 El Monte Ave.

LOS ALTOS

FRIDAY

2:30 p.m. — Anita Gavartin, 47, of Los Altos, arrested for domestic violence and vandalism at Andronico’s, 690 Fremont Ave.

SATURDAY

10:35 a.m. — David Maldonado, 52, of Santa Clara, arrested on warrants, 4700 block of El Camino.

4:51 p.m. — Edie Duncan, 62, transient, arrested on a warrant, 4300 block of El Camino.

10:40 p.m. — Yocerimi Sandoval, 29, of San Lorenzo, arrested for DUI that causes injuries, El Camino and Ortega Ave.

ATHERTON

SUNDAY

11:30 a.m. — Identity theft, Middle Gate.

7:44 p.m. — Home burglary, Cowell Lane.

TUESDAY

12:24 p.m. — Fraud, Amador Ave.

NORTH FAIR OAKS

THURSDAY

3:08 p.m. — Irving Ivan Salguero Rivera, 31, of unincorporated San Mateo County, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Columbia and Waverly avenues.

11:10 p.m. — Bryan Alexander Juarez Ramos, 34, of Redwood City, cited for possession of meth and drug paraphernalia, 3100 block of Bay Road.

REDWOOD CITY

FRIDAY

1:30 a.m. — Mail stolen out of multiple mailboxes, 300 block of Sequoia Ave.

7:40 a.m. — Ervin Alexander Top Xujur, 19, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 200 block of Lincoln Ave. 11:12 a.m. — Battery, Samson St. 1:12 p.m. — Two-vehicle collision causes minor injuries, Woodside Road. 3:11 p.m. — Vehicle hits a tree, Chesterton and McGarvey avenues. Minor injuries reported.

7:01 p.m. — Alberto Beto Gonzalez, 35, of Redwood City, arrested for being under the influence of drugs, violation of a court order and obstructing police, 1900 block of E. Bayshore Road.

11:18 p.m. — Auto burglary, Marshall St.

SATURDAY

12:27 a.m. — Discharged patient refusing to leave Kaiser, 1100 Veterans Blvd. Mark Christopher Smith, 44, of San Mateo, arrested for trespassing.

1:17 a.m. — Man says his girlfriend tried to stab him with a kitchen knife, 1-99 block of Laurel St. Sandra Ruiz Mansilla, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and threats.

SAN CARLOS

FRIDAY

7:25 a.m. — Electric bike stolen, 1300 block of Laurel St.

SATURDAY

6:19 p.m. — 32-year-old transient arrested for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, parole violation and resisting police, Old County Road and Commercial St. 8:24 p.m. — Hit-and-run traffic collision, San Carlos and Kenton avenues. No injuries reported.

BELMONT

SUNDAY

9:10 a.m. — Man steals candy and other items from a store, El Camino. 10:03 p.m. — Miguel Angel Velasco, 44, cited on a warrant, Old County Road and Masonic Way.

Real Estate

The Post prints the latest

PALO ALTO

200 Sheridan Ave. #401, 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1355 square feet, built in 1997, Sheridan Plaza LLC to Adji-Limasalle Trust for $1,490,000, closed Dec. 16

477 North California Ave., 94301, 3 bedrooms, 2019 square feet, built in 1948, Burt Trust to Emily and Matthew Miller for $2,000,000, closed Dec. 16

MENLO PARK

1265 Trinity Drive, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 2600 square feet, built in 1987, Paf Of Bkb Living Trust to Simoudis Living Trust for $2,400,000, closed Dec. 12

1250 University Drive, 94025, 4 bedrooms, 2200 square feet, built in 1990, Malcolm Living Trust to John and Emily Richardson for $2,910,000, closed Dec. 11

MOUNTAIN VIEW

49 Showers Drive #F438, 94040, 3 bedrooms, 1526 square feet, built in 1976, Harvey Lynch to Vikram & Manali Trust for $1,300,000, closed Dec. 22

WOODSIDE

6 Friars Lane, 94062, 4 bedrooms, 3440 square feet, built in 1979, Omand Living Trust to Silicon Vly Catalyst Ptrs LLC for

$4,850,000, closed Dec. 8 (last sale: $4,500,000, 02-07-21)

248 Mountain Home Road, 94062, 4 bedrooms, 6179 square feet, built in 2010, Jmy Living Trust to Mountain Home Forest LLC for $24,000,000, closed Dec. 10 (last sale: $4,100,000, 08-01-06)

REDWOOD CITY

814 Schooner Bay Drive, 94065, 4 bedrooms, 2660 square feet, built in 1989, Siyahlan Trust to Trident Equity Group LLC for $2,300,000, closed Dec. 10 (last sale: $445,000, 0101-90)

3694 Country Club Drive, 94061, 3 bedrooms, 2130 square feet, built in 1956, Ricca Trust to Shalini Kumar for $2,501,000, closed Dec. 9 (last sale: $852,000, 06-07-02)

526 Lancaster Way, 94062, 3 bedrooms, 1480 square feet, built in 1948, Big Oak Properties LLC to Erika and Kaiyu Zhang for $2,600,000, closed Dec. 11 (last sale: $1,755,000, 04-14-25)

SAN CARLOS

108 Beverly Drive, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1667 square feet, built in 1942, Max Jasso to Annie and Matthew Long for $2,240,000, closed Dec. 8 (last sale: $860,000, 08-21-08)

329 Oakview Drive, 94070, 4 bedrooms, 2310

square feet, built in 1960, Hayden Living Trust to Dongmei and Zhengmao Ye for $2,340,000, closed Dec. 8 (last sale: $700,000, 06-18-01)

1173 Elm St., 94070, 2 bedrooms, 1129 square feet, built in 1948, Scatena Family Trust to Christine and David Levenson for $3,760,000, closed Dec. 12 (last sale: $1,650,000, 06-29-23)

BELMONT

516 Middlesex Road, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 1010 square feet, built in 1953, Chao Zhang to Qijie and Xiaoyan Tang for $1,728,000, closed Dec. 9 (last sale: $1,606,000, 02-08-23)

3414 Beresford Ave., 94002, 4 bedrooms, 890 square feet, built in 1960, Marina and Kirill Levichev to Grace and Cameron Fisk for $1,800,000, closed Dec. 10 (last sale: $900,000, 1121-25)

1220 Chula Vista Drive, 94002, 4 bedrooms, 2310 square feet, built in 1965, Srivastava Trust to Tassaneeya and Ivan Vasilko for $2,337,500, closed Dec. 8 (last sale: $1,235,000, 07-18-14)

3806 Naughton Ave., 94002, 3 bedrooms, 2250 square feet, built in 1960, 3806 Naughton LLC to Adithya and Prakruthi Siddaram for $3,800,000, closed Dec. 12 (last sale: $1,775,000, 08-26-22)

with a specialist.

Tim has sold $2+ Billion in home sales and knows every facet of the residential real estate business, including new construction. He holds the Certified Residential Specialist designation, awarded by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. He is an Associate Broker with Compass, combining his expertise and knowledge with the cutting edge, high-tech platform of Compass.

LOSE YOURSELF IN THE SWEEPING melodies and passionate emotions of the Romantic era with Symphony San Jose. From Schubert’s elegant Rosamunde Overture to the ﬁery brilliance of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto— performed by the captivating Geneva Lewis—this program celebrates music at its most expressive. Schumann’s ﬁnal symphony closes the concert with bold innovation and profound beauty. Pure heart, pure artistry. This weekend, January 24 & 25. Tickets start at just $35.

HURRY! TIME IS RUNNING OUT to catch performer/ pianist Hershey Felder in the World Premiere of “Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me,” performing at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Hailed by critics as “immensely gifted,”

“inimitable” and “a compelling storyteller” for his portrayals of famed composers, Felder now returns to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley to tell his own deeply moving story in a profoundly touching portrait of the power of music. “Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me” features masterful piano performances of beloved compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Bartók, and more. Tickets are selling fast for this limited engagement, which must close February 8! Grab your tickets now at theatreworks.org.

EAGLES FANS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS because on January 30, 2026 Eagles Tribute“Take It To The Limit” from Vancouver, is making a spectacular return to Fox Theatre in Redwood City! Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music as some of Canada’s most talented musicians and vocalists bring to life your favourite Eagles hits, including classics like “Hotel California,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Take It To The Limit,” “Desperado,” “Life In The Fast Lane,” “Take It Easy,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” and more! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: (650) 443-7822 or EaglesTributeShow.com.

ORIGINALLY FROM SÁO PAULO, BRAZIL, and now based in San Francisco, Zeila Santos-Schappelle founded Brigadeiro Sprinkles to share the cherished

Brazilian tradition of brigadeiros, Brazil’s beloved chocolate truffle-like dessert. Each brigadeiro is handcrafted with the finest, locally-sourced ingredients, always gluten-free and preservative-free, ensuring an authentic and luxurious taste experience. For the first time, Brigadeiro Sprinkles is taking part in the Los Altos Valentine’s Choco-Stroll on Saturday, Feb. 7th from 2 to 5 p.m. Featuring tastings from over a dozen specialty chocolate makers and bakers, an exclusive chocolatedipping experience, wine, hot chocolate, ice-cream, a fun trivia competition with amazing prizes, live music and more…The Choco-Stroll is the most decadent way to enjoy your pre-game on the big weekend. Tickets and more information at downtownlosaltos.org.

13 YEARS OF TERUN. Terun is proud to celebrate its 13th anniversary on Monday, Feb. 9th. They invite you to join them for an evening dedicated to tradition, community, and great pizza. The celebration begins with dinner at 5:00 p.m. and will feature live music by Mike Annuzzi & Friends throughout the evening. Please join them to enjoy the wine and ﬂavors that

have deﬁned Terun over the last thirteen years. For reservations, please call (650) 600-8310 or email info@terunpizza.com.

PROJECT HUMANEKIND IS EXCITED TO invite you to Hearts & Hocus Pocus on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Palo Alto.—an enchanting evening of magic, storytelling, and compassion. Enjoy an inspiring talk by Dr. Patrick Hunt (“Fabled Friends”), a captivating performance by Patrick Livingstone, Magician Unique, vegan bites, wine, and heartfelt connection. Palo Alto Councilmember Greer Stone will present the community awards to Pets In Need, Feline Friends Network, and Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue. Reserve your tickets here: https://bit.ly/ heartshocuspocus

DON’T WHINE. DRINK WINE AND have a ﬁne time. The Sundance is a very classy restaurant. Everybody knows that. They’ve been serving some of the best wine in town for over 50 years.

French, Italian, or pick one of the world famous wines from California. The people who dine at this family-owned restaurant are top shelf people. Everything has to be perfect...and everything is. Classic American cuisine in the candlelit dining room or a sip of wine with some appetizers in the lounge. Just have a seat and talk to Alyssa. Come by 1921 El Camino Real and see why the family owned Sundance The Steakhouse has been such a special place for decades. Call (650) 321-6798 for a reservation or check the website for more info.

GOT AN OLD COUCH WITH SAGGY CUSHIONS? A worn out Lay-Z-Boy recliner that has lost its charm? Don’t toss them to the curb and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on new furniture, come to Sterling Custom Upholstery and let them revitalize everything for a fraction of the cost. A Mountain View staple, Sterling Custom Upholstery is a family owned and operated business that has been around since 1966! Trust Michelle and her amazing crew at Sterling Upholstery to update your old or maybe just sentimental furniture with new style and an aesthetic that works for you. Head over to 1243 W El Camino Real in Mountain View today to see how to save money by transforming your old furniture to its original comfort with a brand new style!

HAVE YOU VISITED THE UNITED NATIONS GIFT SHOP RECENTLY? They have a wonderful collection of handmade items carefully selected by Caroline and their volunteer staff. You’ll ﬁnd amazing handwoven baskets, musical instruments, alpaca scarfs, children’s books and toys, and unique gifts. These are one-of-a-kind creations made by local artisans and shipped from around the world. By shopping at the UNA gift store, you support artisans in developing countries and buy mainly fair trade items. During the holiday season, the proceeds from the sale of UNICEF cards and gifts go directly to UNICEF, helping them continue their humanitarian work globally. Don’t forget to shop local! The UNA Gift store is located at 552 Emerson St. in downtown Palo Alto.

JAN STROHECKER

Entertainment

Chris Pratt’s ‘Mercy’ a tedious watch

BY LINDSEY BAHR Associated Press Writer

It’s a bold filmmaking choice to have a countdown clock on the screen for most of your movie.

In the best-case scenario for a movie like “Mercy,” in which a Los Angeles detective has prove his innocence to an artificial intelligence judge within said time limit, it heightens the tension. Who hasn’t gotten sweaty palms in, say, a “Mission: Impossible” movie when the bomb is ticking down and Tom Cruise still hasn’t cleared the building? Why not just extend it for the duration?

Perhaps in a better movie it might have worked. Sadly in “Mercy,” in theaters today, it’s an ever-present reminder of just how much longer you must endure until you too are free of Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson and that chair.

Dystopian future

In “Mercy’s” near-future Los Angeles, AI has been adopted by law enforcement and the judicial system to more efficiently clean up the city’s crime and blight problem. It’s a potent and not too far-flung idea that might have been a fascinating and provocative premise for a movie attempting to grapple with the implications of so-

called progress that had the potential to be a worthy companion to another Cruise movie, “Minority Report.” But that would have required a more serious script than screenwriter Marco van Belle’s and more vision than filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov managed to muster.

When Pratt’s character, Chris Raven, wakes up, barefoot and strapped into an electric chair sitting in the middle of an oddly large room that looks a bit like the holodeck, he’s informed by an IMAX-sized AI judge (Ferguson) that he has 90 minutes to prove he didn’t kill his wife (An-

nabelle Wallis). In this world, the incarcerated are guilty until proved innocent. They’ve cut lawyers and juries out of the equation as well. Instead, the accused have everyone’s digital footprint at their disposal to help build their own case.

Raven vs. AI

Unfortunately for Raven, he woke up with some gaps in his memory between angrily busting into his home to confront his wife about something and being arrested and bludgeoned at a bar later that day. Raven was also one of the original champions of the AI

judge system, which in a more curious script might have resulted in some real stakes. This story is more hung up on increasingly tortured plot contrivances, however, including Raven’s drinking problem following the death of a partner killed on the job.

One of the most confounding choices is to have a real actor playing the AI judge. Wouldn’t it have been more interesting and provocative to use an AI creation as the impartial Judge Maddox instead of stripping Ferguson of all emotion and charisma in the role? At times, it feels as tedious as watching a stranger’s increasingly frustrating call with a robotic customer service representative play out in real time.

For how reliant this movie is on screens and keeping Pratt alone, one might assume that “Mercy” was a socially distanced, Covid-era leftover instead of something made in 2024. Like Raven, we’re largely stuck in the chair watching things play out on multiple screens, acutely aware of just how much time is left.

Release info

“Mercy,” an Amazon MGM release in theaters today, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “drug content, bloody images, some strong language, teen smoking and violence.” Running time: 101 minutes.

ON TRIAL — Chris Pratt in “Mercy.” Amazon MGM Studios via AP.

ENTERTAINMENT

Sundance kicks off its final year in Park City

The 42nd Sundance Film Festival kicks off this week in Park City, Utah. It will be the last edition in its longtime home and the first without its founder Robert Redford, who died in September at age 89.

But even in this time of transition and change, the festival’s main focus — the movies — remains as vibrant and fresh as ever with 90 features premiering through Feb. 1. And three of them feature pop star Charli xcx.

The festival runs from today through Sunday, Feb. 1. There are 90 features premiering throughout, with screenings starting early in the morning and running through midnight. Award winners will be announced on Jan. 30.

Buzzy movies

Olivia Wilde directed her third fea-

ture, “The Invite,” in which she and Seth Rogen play an unhappily married couple who host a dinner party for friends (Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton). Gregg Araki made a “sex-positive love letter to Gen Z” with “I Want Your Sex,” also starring Wilde as a provocative artist who takes an interest in a younger intern played by Cooper Hoffman. Natalie Portman, sporting platinum blond hair, leads the big ensemble cast of Cathy Yan’s art world satire “The Gallerist.”

Both “I Want Your Sex” and “The Gallerist” feature supporting turns from Charli xcx, but the pop star’s big showcase is “The Moment,” a self-referential mockumentary.

This is the final edition in Park City, Utah. Next January, the festival is relocating to a new home in Boulder, Colo.

MATH –––––––––

board with a 5-0 vote on Dec. 16. “That ‘tomorrow’ is here today,” Chiu said.

Chiu also looked back to Jan. 21, 2025, when Austin expressed concern about the availability and legality of having Foothill College instructors teach the class during the high school day.

“We are much better served if we have our own teachers teaching during the school day,” Austin said at a meeting on April 18, 2023.

‘Illogical step backwards’

Chiu said that given this background, it’s an “illogical step backwards” to hear Principal Brent Kline say Palo Alto High School’s new goal is to have a Foothill College instructor come during the day instead of having Nguyen teach the class.

“Why are we spending time on a convoluted option that the district office itself has pegged as not ideal when we have a willing PAUSD teacher?” Chiu asked.

Board member Alison Kamhi asked Austin to provide an update to the community about the class to alleviate any confusion and clarify students’ options.

Where’s the class?

“The board approved a Multivariable Calculus class, but it has been unclear whether, when or how the class will be offered,” Kamhi said Tuesday.

The Paly Education Council — made up of assistant principals, instructional leads and teacher leaders — voted against offering the course last week because they didn’t want to create a new “highest level” of math.

“It risks amplifying the already significant pressures on students to do more, faster, at the expense of balance and wellness,” the council wrote in a letter to the school board.

Who wants the class

During the time for public comments on Tuesday, parent Leor Melamedov said many of the students who want to take Multivariable Calculus are Asian and from immigrant families.

“A lot of these so-called attempts at reducing pressure are actually judgments in disguise made about different parenting styles, different cultural frameworks,” Melamedov said.

Chiu said she wants the board to discuss Multivariable Calculus at the next board meeting on Feb. 10.

Chiu said she spoke limited English when she entered public schools as a 5-year-old, and working with numbers boosted her confidence at a time when everything seemed hard and strange.

“It is painful for students to feel penalized by their love for advanced maths,” she said.

MUSEUM –––––

dation’s first home. The city bought the building in 2000 and approved plans to turn the site into a museum in 2007, but the museum nonprofit struggled to raise money for a renovation.

So the city pitched in $10.7 million and agreed to rent the building to the nonprofit for $1 a year for 40 years.

In exchange, the museum has to open bathrooms at Heritage Park and stay open for at least 20 hours per week.

Got federal earmarks

Then-Congresswoman Anna Eshoo earmarked another $3 million for the renovation, and Santa Clara County paid $100,000 for a new roof, $182,448 for new windows and $350,000 to restore an elevator from the 1940s.

The building was renovated by Palo Alto-based Vance Brown Builders, the same contractor that worked on the Junior Museum and Zoo at 1451 Middlefield Road and the Avenidas Senior Center at 450 Bryant Street.

The city determined the museum contract was exempt from a competitive bidding process.

MISTRIAL –––––

based upon the results of this trial. There is no reasonable likelihood that 12 people will ever find that my client is guilty on these 18 counts. But it’s their decision and I’ll deal with it no matter what it is,” Smith said.

The eight charges that Galatolo was found guilty of, he didn’t defend, Smith said.

Those charges included two cases of Galatolo lying to the DMV when he claimed he bought a 1963 Corvette and a 2006 Chevy SSR at low prices. When he registered the Corvette, he claimed he bought it for $2,500 even though it was worth $50,000, Deputy DA Joseph Cannon said during closing arguments.

Galatolo’s trial began on Oct. 29 and closing arguments ended on Jan. 7, with the jury deliberating for nine days. Jurors reviewed many emails and text messages between Galatolo and contractors, as well as photos of the trips he took with them.

DA: Case of greed

Cannon told the jurors that this was a case of greed in which Galatolo chose to maintain his friendships with contractors and ensure they were chosen for district projects.

Galatolo was gifted luxurious seats for sporting and concert events and foreign trips, according to Cannon.

Galatolo was chancellor from 2001 until 2019. The district consists of Skyline in San Bruno, Canada in Redwood City and College of San Mateo. During that time, voters approved bond measure totaling nearly $1 billion. The bond measures were meant to pay for new buildings and renovate existing ones. The DA accused Galatolo of taking bribes from the contractors on those projects. After Galatolo left in 2019, he was given a nearly $400,000 a year contract as chancellor emeritus, until the college board revoked the contract after the DA’s investigation into Galatolo was revealed.

Defense: Friendship isn’t a crime Smith previously said the county has made his cli-

KAMHI

CHIU

ent look like a “privileged white party boy” and the evidence has been distorted. Galatolo’s friendships were not a crime, Smith previously told the jury.

Cannon also claimed that Galatolo was not transparent on his tax forms and lied by failing to claim the gifts he would receive.

Galatolo reciprocated the gifts he was given so he didn’t have to disclose them, according to Smith.

Smith told the jurors that Galatolo is on trial not for a crime but for making a mistake, as he was never trained how to fill out tax forms related to his job as chancellor.

Cannon countered that it wasn’t a mistake if the issue is repeated move than once. Galatolo was trying to hide the luxurious lifestyle he had obtained by lying, Cannon said.

Prison possible

Galatolo faces 10 years in prison for the eight counts he’s been found guilty of, Wagstaffe said. But Smith hopes to get the charges reduced to misdemeanors at sentencing.

Galatolo remains out of jail on $150,000 bail and will be back in court on March 6 for the DA’s decision whether to retry the hung charges.

Chess prodigy’s cause of death revealed

Daniel Naroditsky, an influential American chess grandmaster who was found dead at his North Carolina home in October at age 29, had multiple drugs in his system at the time and was killed by an abnormal heartbeat caused by an accidental overdose, according to a toxicology report.

Released Tuesday by the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office, the report said Naroditsky tested positive for methamphetamine and kratom, an opioid-related ingredient that is increasingly added to energy drinks, gummies and supplements.

Naroditsky was last known to be alive on Oct. 18 when he accepted a food delivery. He was found dead the next day after missing a flight, according to the report.

Friends went to Naroditsky’s house two days before his death after he appeared to be acting strangely online, and they took away 40 pills of the stimulant Adderall. Investigators later also found bags of kratom in the home, according the report.

Grew up on Peninsula

Naroditsky was a child prodigy who became a grandmaster, the highest title in chess aside from World Chess Champion, at age 18.

Naroditsky grew up in Foster City, born to a math professor and concert pianist, who both immigrated to the Bay Area from Eastern Europe.

Naroditsky got his bachelor’s degree from Stanford before turning his childhood passion — his father taught him how to play chess — into a career.

Expanded the sport

Fellow grandmasters credited him with introducing the sport to a wider audience by livestreaming many of his matches and sharing live commentary on others.

Thousands of people regularly

tuned in on YouTube and the interactive streaming platform Twitch to watch Naroditsky play. High-speed competitive speed chess flourished during the Covid pandemic, creating a chess community that was soon rife with cheating allegations as players gained access to sophisticated computer programs that could give them an unfair advantage.

Naroditsky was accused of cheating by former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik. He denied the allegations, which were not proven.

In his last livestream before his death, Naroditsky said the allegations had taken a toll on him.

Investigations mount

“Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions. The issue is just the lingering effect of it,” Naroditsky said.

The International Chess Federation filed a formal complaint against Kramnik in November, accusing him of harassment and insulting the dignity of fellow players.

Kramnik, who called the federation’s investigation “insulting and fair,” in turn filed a defamation lawsuit against the organization the following month.

In a post Tuesday on the social platform X, he said that Naroditsky’s death an “immense tragedy” and that in the immediate aftermath, “a cynical smear campaign was launched, unjustly linking me — without any factual basis — to Daniel’s untimely death.”

Kramnik said that was followed by “multiple direct murder threats directed at me, my wife and my children, which compelled me to pursue legal action.”

“After viewing portions of his last stream and despite our existing tensions, I publicly urged Daniel’s friends — on what tragically turned out to be the morning of his death — to look after and seek urgent help for him,” Kramnik added. “Regrettably, those efforts were in vain.”

NOTICE TO BIDDERS / INVITATION TO BID

Notice is hereby given that the governing board (“Board”) of the Mountain View Whisman School District (“District”) will receive sealed bids to construct the following project:

District Wide Bottle Filler Project (“Project” or “Contract”)

Bidders must submit sealed bids on or before 1:00p.m., February 19, 2026,at the District Office, located at 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043, and Bidders must ensure that the District time stamps the Bidder’s bid at or before that time. After the designated bid opening time, the District will open the bids and publicly read them aloud. Any claim by a Bidder of error in its bid must be made in compliance with Public Contract Code § 5100, et seq. The District is not responsible for (1) bids received after the deadline noted above; or (2) bids misdelivered, by any method, even to a different District address.

The Project consists of:

Phase 1 Five (5) Sites: Crittenden MS, Graham MS, Mistral ES, Monta Loma ES, Theurkauf ES

Phase 2 Two (2) Sites: Stevenson ES, Vargas ES

Replace existing trough drinking fountain.

Install a new Hi-Lo drinking fountain with bottle filler.

All bids shall be on the forms provided by the District. Each bid must conform and be responsive to all pertinent bid and Contract Documents, including, but not limited to, the Instructions to Bidders.

To bid on this Project, the Bidder is required to possess one or more of the following State of California Contractor Licenses:

– General Engineering Contractor

B – General Building Contractor

C36 – Plumbing Contractor

The Bidder’s license(s) must be active and in good standing at the time of the bid opening and must remain so throughout the term of the Contract.

As security for its Bid, each Bidder shall provide with its Bid form

• a bid bond issued by an admitted surety insurer on the form provided by the District,

• cash, or

• a cashier’s check or a certified check, drawn to the order of the Mountain View Whisman School District, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid price. This bid security shall be a guarantee that the Bidder shall, within seven (7) calendar days after the date of the Notice of Award, enter into a contract with the District for the performance of the services as stipulated in the bid.

The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond if it is awarded the Contract for the Project.

The successful Bidder may substitute securities for any monies withheld by the District to ensure performance under the Contract, in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code § 22300.

The successful Bidder and its subcontractors shall pay all workers on the Project not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, State of California, for the type of work performed and the locality in which the work is to be performed within the boundaries of the District, pursuant to Labor Code § 1770 et seq. Prevailing wage rates are on file with the District and are available to any interested party on request or at www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/statistics_and_databases.html. Bidders and Bidders’ subcontractors shall comply with the registration and qualification requirements pursuant to Labor Code §§ 1725.5 & 1771.1.

A voluntary pre-bid conference and site visit will be held on February 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Crittenden Middle School, 1701 Rock Street, Mountain View, California 94043. All prospective Bidders are required to sign in at the Administration Building. The Site Visit is expected to take approximately two [2] hours. Additional site walks TBD at job walk.

Contract Documents are available on January 21, 2026, for review by contacting Brenda Parella-Greystone West brenda@greystonewest.com for an electronic set of plans and a list of the builders’ exchanges.

The District’s Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids and/or waive any irregularity in any bid received. If the District awards the Contract, the security of unsuccessful Bidder(s) shall be returned within sixty (60) days from the time the award is made. Unless otherwise required by law, no Bidder may withdraw its bid or bid security for ninety (90) days after the date of the bid opening.

The District shall award the Contract, if it awards it at all, to the lowest responsive responsible Bidder based on: The base bid amount only.

Mountain View Whisman School District By: Rebecca Westover, Ed. D, Chief Business Officer

NARODITSKY

CITY OF PALO ALTO NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY that the City Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers and Zoom on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., or as near thereafter as possible in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California and via Zoom Virtual Teleconference (Site: https://zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone: 1(669)900-6833) to consider: 44 and 88 Encina Avenue [25PLN-00308]. Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Properties from Community Commercial (CC) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning (PC/PHZ) and to Allow Development of Existing Surface Parking for Two Seven-Story Structures Containing 158 Residential Units and 315 Parking Spaces. The Formal Application Will be Subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review. For more information, contact the project planner, Tamara Harrison, at Tamara.Harrison@mbakerintl.com.

MAHEALANI AH YUN City Clerk

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) TO BE ISSUED January 12, 2026

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Menlo Park School District of San Mateo County, California, acting by and through its Governing Board, hereinafter referred to as the District will receive up to, but not later than 2:00 p.m. FEBRUARY 9, 2026 bids for the award of E-Rate contracts for the following:

E-RATE YEAR 29 (2026-2027)

MPCSD WIRELESS ACCESS POINT LICENSES

RFP NO. MPCSD-2026-3001 470 NO. 260012640

RFP available to the Public: Monday, January 12, 2026 8:00 am RFP Submission Deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026 2:00 pm Submissions received after deadline will not be considered

All RFPs must be submitted (in a sealed envelope) to: WILLY HAUG DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MENLO PARK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton, CA 94027

And/or via email and submitted to: Willy Haug, whaug@mpcsd.org at https://district.mpcsd.org/departments/technology-home/2026-technology-rfps in addition to the E-rate EPC website at https://portal.usac.org/suite/

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive informality in any proposals received. No vendor may withdraw his proposal for a period of Ninety (90) calendar days after the date set for the receipt of proposals.

Number (SPIN) and Federal Registration Number (FCC-FRN) with the proposal.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) TO BE ISSUED January 12, 2026

E-RATE YEAR 29 (2026-2027)

MPCSD DISTRICTWIDE FIBER AND LOWER LAUREL CABLING REPLACEMENT

RFP NO. MPCSD-2026-3002 470 NO. 260012641

RFP available to the Public: Monday, January 12, 2026 8:00 am

Mandatory Pre-Bid Site Walk: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 9:00 am

RFP Submission Deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026 2:00 pm

Submissions received after deadline will not be considered All RFPs must be submitted (in a sealed envelope) to: WILLY HAUG

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

MENLO PARK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton, CA 94027 at https://district.mpcsd.org/departments/technology-home/2026-technology-rfps in addition to the E-rate EPC website at https://portal.usac.org/suite/

Number (SPIN) and Federal Registration Number (FCC-FRN) with the proposal.