3-12-26 by Daily Post

Board may direct teachers

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

At its next meeting, the Palo Alto school board will consider telling high schools to offer an advanced math class that teachers and principals rejected but students and parents have been fighting for.

To offer advanced math class

Calculus in the course catalog, starting in the fall.

THE UPDATE

CORRECTION: In his column Monday, Dave Price incorrectly stated that Palo Alto school board President Shounak Dharap would be involved in soliciting proposals from search firms looking for a replacement for exSuperintendent Don Austin. The board has asked its employees to solicit proposals from search firms.

WAR COST: The Pentagon says the first week of the war in Iran has cost the country $11.3 billion.

OIL RESERVES: The International Energy Agency has agreed to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects on energy markets of the war in the Middle East. The Paris-based organization said yesterday it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members’ emergency reserves due to the Iran war effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil choke point.

TRUMP BROS WANT DEAL: Among dozens of companies competing for Pentagon contracts to [See THE UPDATE, page 4]

Board president Shounak Dharap confirmed yesterday that he put the topic on the board’s Tuesday agenda at the request of board member Rowena Chiu.

“I’ve been elected to serve my constituents, and many of those constitu-

The debate over Multivariable Calculus has been long and contentious, pitting advanced math advocates against those worried about adding pressure on students.

ents are frustrated at the apparent contradictions and backpedaling around Multivariable Calculus over the last few years,” Chiu said at a Jan. 20 board meeting.

Palo Alto High School math teacher Daniel Nguyen wrote a proposal for Multivariable Calculus to follow AP

But the course was opposed by the Paly Educational Council — a group of teachers, counselors and administrators that sets the school’s educational priorities.

Offering the class “risks amplifying the already significant pressures on students to do more, faster, at the expense

[See MATH, page 22]

Privatizing TSA to end lines?

Long security lines snaked into baggage claim areas and parking garages at some U.S. airports this weekend, a possible indicator of more widespread travel problems as the latest government shutdown drags on.

That kind of disruption, while not yet widespread, is not a concern that typically surfaces at San Francisco International Airport, the largest of nearly two dozen U.S. airports where screening checkpoints are staffed by private contractors under a little-used federal program that allows airports to outsource security screenings while maintaining TSA oversight.

Because contractors’ pay comes from a federal contract, it often con-

[See TSA, page 23]

Accuser of ex-water CEO speaks

BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Managing Editor

A Valley Water employee who accused ex-CEO Rick Callender of sexual harassment spoke out at a board meeting for the water agency.

“This may place a larger target on my

back, but remaining silent is no longer an option,” said Velia Mariscal, one of two women who reported Callender for misconduct, resulting in his split from the district. Callender retired on March 1 and will stay on as a paid advisor for the next year at his current salary of

$716,000 after an outside investigation sustained many of the women’s sexual harassment complaints.

Mariscal refuted board member’s previous statements that as soon as the elected board heard of Callender’s

[See ACCUSER, page 22]

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Residents leery of council after report

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

Woodside residents do not trust their council after Town Manager Jason Ledbetter’s scathing report alleging he was manipulated to stop subsidized housing projects and that two council members would make disparaging, racist and sexist remarks about others on council.

Residents asked Mayor Brian Dombkowski and Mayor Pro Tem Paul Goeld not to be involved in any discussions involving the investigation into Ledbetter’s allegations, fearing they would influence the third-party investigator’s findings.

“We must find a way to resolve this issue to restore public trust. Right now, people are confused, upset and trying to figure out the truth,” resident Steve Lubin said Tuesday.

Tuesday was the first meeting council has held after the release of Ledbetter’s report on Feb. 20. Only five speakers were allowed to speak on topics not on the agenda.

“The complaint will be addressed in an appropriate process, and we’re here to respect that,” Dombkowski said in response to residents’ comments.

By town manager who’s now on leave

Investigation on going

San Francisco Attorney Richard Bolanos, who is representing the town, said a third-party investigator is looking into the allegations against Dombkowski and Goeld for not wanting to move forward with low-income housing and being openly racist and sexist about other council members. Ledbetter also alleged Councilwoman Jenn Wall bullied him for being a man.

Bolanos said Ledbetter asked council to pay him $400,000 by Feb. 20. Council rejected Ledbetter’s demand.

Although his employment agreement doesn’t provide for severance if he resigns, council offered to work with him to reach a settlement, Bolanos said.

Ledbetter previously told the Post that he asked for his severance, benefits and continued health insurance to be paid for a year, totaling more than $400,000.

Ledbetter is currently on paid administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted, Bolanos said.

Resident Christin New said she hopes the investigation will be made public.

CELEBRATE

The San Mateo County District Attorney will be investigating any Brown Act violations by the council, and the third-party investigator will look into the other allegations, according to Town Attorney Jean Savaree.

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said it may take a while for his office to say if any crimes were committed by council members or Ledbetter because they have to be interviewed.

Martin Walker said the investigation should include recommendations for council on how to maintain open meetings, following the distrust in them. If Dombkowski and Goeld do not recuse themselves from the investigation, it will continue to feed into residents’ perception of bad governance.

Ledbetter was hired by the council in April, and his contract is set to expire in May 2028 with a base salary of $300,000.

Manager’s allegations

Dombkowski and Goeld would abuse their position and tell Ledbetter not to comply with the Housing Ele-

ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

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ment, a housing quota under the state law, Ledbetter said in his report.

Ledbetter was invited to two dinners by Dombkowski and Goeld after accepting the town manager position in May.

At the first dinner, Dombkowski allegedly called Wall derogatory terms like referring to her chest as “marbles on a billiards table,” Ledbetter wrote. At the second dinner, Goeld allegedly told Ledbetter that Wall opposed his hiring because he was a white male who was from a conservative area. Ledbetter was previously the city manager of Yreka, in Siskiyou County.

Goeld also allegedly said Councilman Hassan Aburish was easy to manipulate, Ledbetter alleges. At that dinner, Goeld speculated about Aburish’s nationality.

During that conversation, he referred to Palestinians as the “original” n-words, according to Ledbetter’s report.

Ledbetter said Wall would belittle and be very demeaning toward him. Wall would text him at 3 a.m., midnight, weekends and holidays, expecting immediate responses, Ledbetter wrote.

THE UPDATE FROM PAGE 1

supply attack drones, one stands out: Powerus, flush with cash and ballooning in size as it buys up rivals. It also has another advantage. It is partly owned by President Donald Trump’s two oldest sons.

DEADLY TORNADOES: Tornadoes have killed at least two people in northwest Indiana and leveled buildings in Kankakee, Ill. The Newton County Coroner’s Office yesterday confirmed the deaths of an elderly couple in their home in Lake Village, Indiana.

EPSTEIN’S ACCOUNTANT: A House committee deposed the late financier’s accountant, Richard Kahn yesterday. Kahn worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epstein’s sexual abuse, but provided a fuller picture of how Epstein acquired his wealth.

AMBULANCE WAIT: A man who was shot by police and later died had to wait an extra 10 minutes for an ambulance after an officer in Bridgeport, Conn. took the first ambulance to arrive because he was having “a mild anxiety attack,” according to a report by that state’s inspector’s general.

Winner of 17 awards from the National Newspaper Association Publishers: Dave Price, Jim Pavelich

Editor: Dave Price

Managing Editor: Emily Mibach

General Manager: Brandon Heinrichs

Distribution: Amando Mendoza III

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San Carlos Births

Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City: Aug. 6

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Aug. 5

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July 31

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July 30

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Ex-custodial supervisor for school district sues

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

A former custodial supervisor is suing the Palo Alto Unified School District for allegedly firing her because she complained about her boss possibly favoring vendors and taking bribes.

Wei “Angie” Kung, 51, of Palo Alto, said she raised her concerns to Chief Business Officer Charen Yu on Aug. 15, 2024, and was then faced with discipline letters, extra cleaning work and payroll mistakes.

“No other male supervisors/colleagues were subjected to any of these actions,” Kung said in her lawsuit, filed by attorney Damien Troutman on Feb. 23 in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

Kung claims that Director of Maintenance and Operations Mark Herrera violated laws

against public employees taking bribes and having financial interests in contracts they’re involved in.

After Kung complained, she said Herrera made her help with cleaning at Palo Alto High School and humiliated her work competency at a meeting with her peers.

Kung said Yu denied her a raise she was entitled to and didn’t pay her extra for night-shift work.

Alleged retaliation

After Kung complained about the alleged retaliation on Feb. 25, 2025, she said she was placed on a performance improvement plan.

Herrera ordered Kung to vacate her office and work in the receptionist area, changed her work schedule unilaterally and ignored overtime approval requests from her team, the suit said.

The district allegedly placed Kung on paid leave and pressured her to resign on May 22, the suit said.

Termination and lawsuit

Kung said she started working for the district in 2014 and had received positive feedback before her complaints.

The board officially fired Kung on June 17, the suit said.

Kung is suing the district for alleged retaliation and discrimination.

The district declined an interview on the lawsuit on Tuesday.

“We respect that anyone has the right to pursue legal action. As is standard practice, the district is not able to comment further on pending litigation or personnel matters,” spokeswoman Lynette White said in an email.

Trash, water rate hikes planned

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

Menlo Park residents may see an increase in their garbage and water bills in July.

Councilman Jeff Schmidt said the total cost of living in Menlo Park is unaffordable, after council on Tuesday unanimously OK’d sending out notices to residents that their garbage rates may increase 21% over five years and 15.5% for water rates on July 1. Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise was absent.

Bill preview

Homes will be receiving notices of these changes by April 30. Single-family homes are currently paying between $50.31 and $92.21 and will see an increase of $3 to $7, depending on the size of their garbage container, according to Garth Schultz, a consultant for R3

Group. For apartment complexes, the increased cost could be between $83.99 to $1,041.88, Schultz said.

Water rates for single-family homes will be billed at $150.64 for the first fiscal year, 2026-27, and will increase to $180.94 by 203031, according to Public Works Director Azalea Mitch.

Schmidt said it would be best to pick the least impactful increase to take pressure off residents who are seeing these “eye-popping” increases.

Council had four other options that could’ve increased prices between $155.92 to $193.24 starting in July.

Rising costs

Garbage rates have not been changed since 2012, and if the city did not increase the rates, it would

have a shortfall of over $3.3 million, Mitch said.

The increase in garbage rates covers the costs of street sweeping and landfill disposal, she said.

Rate increases are what all cities are facing, Schmidt said. Compared to other cities, Redwood City has the highest garbage rate at $58.86, while Belmont has the lowest at $49.66 for single-family homes.

The average water rate is $123.05, according to Mitch. By 2027, there will be a $20.23 month increase, she said.

Next steps

Property owners will have the opportunity to protest against the rates by April 30. Council will hear from those opposed to the increased rates before deciding whether to move forward.

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Police: Man bites Walmart security

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Mountain View police have arrested a man for allegedly biting a Walmart security guard after stealing $681 in merchandise, court records show.

Edwin Villanueva, 28, of San Jose, allegedly left the store at 600 Showers Drive through an emergency exit around 10 p.m. on March 1, police said.

Villanueva then moved his stolen items from a Walmart shopping cart to a Trader Joe’s shopping cart, police said.

Security steps in

A security guard approached Villanueva, who backed off by about 30 yards, police said.

As the security guard was moving

Intruder

the items back into the Walmart cart, Villanueva allegedly attacked from behind.

Villanueva punched the security guard in the back of the head and bit him on his right shoulder near the base of his neck, police said.

Prior arrest

Villanueva was previously arrested in Campbell on Jan. 3 for allegedly trying to break into a house with a hammer. The house was owned by the father of a homeless man who Villanueva was with, police said.

Villanueva told officers that he smoked meth that morning, but the drug doesn’t provide the same effects anymore because he’s smoked it routinely since he was 13, according to the police report.

robs home, flees

Detectives are investigating a home burglary by a man wearing all black who stole around $5,000 in purses and jewelry, Palo Alto police said yesterday.

The burglary happened on Friday around 10:20 p.m. on the 200 block of Creekside Drive, near the Cubberley Community Center, police said.

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The resident, a woman in her 80s, was in her bedroom sleeping, woke up to a noise and saw a person looking in her closet that she did not recognize, police said.

The woman questioned the man, and he fled from the bedroom, police said.

Officers arrived within minutes but couldn’t find him, police said.

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Woman accused of groping worker

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

A Belmont woman was arrested for inappropriately touching an employee of Sakura, a restaurant in San Carlos, a prosecutor said yesterday.

Laura Vawter, 65, was arrested on Sunday after groping an employee at the restaurant at 744 Laurel St., District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Vawter entered the hibachi restaurant attempting to make a reservation. As the employee was walking away, Vaw-

ter groped him, and he yelled, “Whoa,” and one of his co-workers called police immediately, Wagstaffe said.

When police arrived, Vawter said the employee was her husband and he asked her to touch him, according to Wagstaffe. The employee told police that he did not know Vawter, Wagstaffe said.

Vawter was in court yesterday and pleaded innocent. She was released on her own recognizance and will be in court on March 20.

Theft suspects arrested

Two San Jose men have been arrested after Redwood City officers used automated license plate reader technology to track a vehicle linked to a January theft of more than $4,000 in merchandise from a motorcycle store, police said.

The theft occurred Jan. 29 at the Cycle Gear store at 2426 El Camino Real, according to the Redwood City Police Department. Investigators said two suspects entered the store, grabbed multiple clothing items, and quickly left without paying before driving away in a red Subaru Impreza.

A store employee captured an image of the vehicle and its license plate,

which investigators later entered into the department’s ALPR system.

At 12:17 p.m. Tuesday, officers received an alert that the vehicle had been detected in Redwood City. Police found the car in the 1900 block of El Camino Real and conducted a traffic stop.

Suspects ID’d

Three people were inside the vehicle — two men and one woman. Officers identified the two men as the suspects involved in the January theft.

Cristian Alexis SilvaGarcia, 33, and Josiah Alexander Delamora, 26, both of San Jose, were arrested

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Times shown are when a report was made to police. Information is from police department logs. All of the people named here are innocent until proven guilty in court.

PALO ALTO

FEB. 22

5:44 p.m. — Rape, El Camino. FEB. 27

12:53 p.m. — Battery that causes serious injuries, Bryant St. FEB. 28

2:56 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, 3500 block of Page Mill Road.

7:10 p.m. — Battery, 700 block of Homer Ave.

MARCH 1

12:41 p.m. — Vandalism, 4200 block of Wilkie Way.

MARCH 2

8:55 a.m. — Michael Wu, 68, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

6:04 p.m. — Home burglary, 100 block of Churchill Ave.

7:17 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Ramona St.

MARCH 3

3:22 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Embarcadero Road and Primrose Way.

8:57 p.m. — Auto burglary, 2100 block of W. Bayshore Road.

9:23 p.m. — Auto burglary, 500 block of Webster St.

MARCH 5

1:06 p.m. — Michael Philip Lugea, 65, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 1900 block of Geng Road.

6:52 p.m. — Elliot Edward Holt, 43, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Florence St.

FRIDAY

6:49 a.m. — Janet Parks Swanson, 66, of Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

8:47 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Byron St. and Lytton Ave.

6:51 p.m. — Christopher Gregory Barries, 66, of San Jose, arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 1-99 block of Encina Ave.

SATURDAY

2:05 p.m. — Vehicle accident

Police Blotter

causes injuries, W. Bayshore Road and Amarillo Ave.

4:30 p.m. — Grand theft, 1300 block of Parkinson Ave.

MENLO PARK

TUESDAY

12:57 a.m. — Kannadi Ridenour, 38, of San Jose, arrested for possession of narcotics for sale and possession of other drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as on a warrant, Willow Road and Highway 101.

9:42 a.m. — Fraud, Yale Road.

5:03 p.m. — Petty theft, 1200 block of Laurel St.

PORTOLA VALLEY

SATURDAY

5:35 p.m. — Package stolen, 100 block of La Sandra Way.

SUNDAY

4:47 p.m. — Ewa Sandra Momtazee, 40, of Portola Valley, arrested on three warrants, Alpine Road and Golden Oak Drive.

STANFORD

MARCH 3

12:12 p.m. — Lorie A. Rust, 57, of Vista, cited on a warrant, Campus Drive and Via Ortega.

1:37 p.m. — Hit-and-run collision, 400 block of Museum Way.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

AUG. 10

11:52 p.m. — Victor Garcia, 52, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 1000 block of El Monte Ave.

FEB. 17

8 a.m. — Randall Troche, 61, arrested on warrants, 1200 block of Grant Road.

FEB. 20

11:04 a.m. — Juan Cabrera Hernandez, 28, transient, cited on a warrant, San Antonio Caltrain Station.

FEB. 22

11:15 p.m. — Gabriel Ortiz, 34, transient, cited on a warrant, 1000 block of Terra Bella Ave.

FEB. 25

4:34 p.m. — Beth Dietrich, 46, cited on a warrant, 800 block of E. El Camino.

FEB. 26

11:10 a.m. — Jerry Howard, 51,

FLEA MARKET

Saturday, March 14th

of San Jose, cited on a warrant at Mountain View Police Dept., 1000 Villa St.

MARCH 3

11:03 a.m. — Julio Marroquin Fuegos, 19, of Santa Clara, arrested on a warrant at Mountain View Police Dept., 1000 Villa St.

3:44 p.m. — Leif Knighton, 59, of San Jose, arrested on a warrant at Mountain View Police Dept., 1000 Villa St.

4:55 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, 700 block of E. El Camino.

6:41 p.m. — Theft, 400 block of Moffett Blvd.

MARCH 4

12:35 a.m. — Assault, Independence Ave. and Wyandotte St.

2:34 a.m. — Jose Hernandez, 34, transient, arrested on a warrant, 300 block of Moffett Blvd.

8:41 a.m. — Auto burglary, 300 block of Castro St.

8:50 a.m. — Identity theft, 300 block of Bryant St.

8:57 a.m. — Auto burglary, 100 block of Ada Ave.

9:46 a.m. — Burglary at a business, 700 block of Yuba Drive.

9:47 a.m. — Identity theft, 100 block of Concord Circle.

LOS ALTOS

MARCH 4

11:36 p.m. — Walter Jimenez Sanchez, 36, of Mountain View, arrested for DUI, 5000 block of El Camino. Arrest made by Mountain View police.

SUNDAY

8:11 a.m. — Vinothiny Naveskumar, 37, of Sunnyvale, cited on a warrant, 4900 block of El Camino.

MONDAY

3:44 a.m. — Robert Hultsman, 69, transient, arrested on a warrant at Whole Foods, 4800 El Camino.

NORTH FAIR OAKS

SUNDAY

12:09 p.m. — Christopher Lucier, 56, of Redwood City, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, El Camino and Renato Court.

11:02 p.m. — Oscar Alberto Gonzalez, 38, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drugs

and drug paraphernalia, as well as on several warrants, Spring St. and Kaynyne Ave.

REDWOOD CITY

SUNDAY

7:13 a.m. — Caller says a group of men in hoodies just stole mail out of mailboxes at a condo complex, Turnbuckle Drive.

7:55 a.m. — Vehicle owner tells police he found a strange man sitting in his vehicle and the man won’t get out, 3100 block of Bay Road. Yonni Morales Garcia, 24, of Redwood City, arrested for theft from a vehicle, possession of stolen property, possession of a fake ID, being under the influence of drugs, having drug paraphernalia and resisting police.

9:33 a.m. — Resident says he found a garbage bag full of mail in his yard, Seattle Lane.

2:56 p.m. — Woman says she left her purse at a cash register at a store and since then multiple charges have been made to her credit card, Jefferson Ave.

5:59 p.m. — Man destroys several flowers and threatens to beat up a cashier at a business, Fifth Ave. 9:21 p.m. — Yuanxi Cai, 28, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, 1200 block of Whipple Ave. 10 p.m. — Julio Mateo Rodriguez, 34, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 700 block of Cassia St. 11:40 p.m. — Hit-and-run causes injuries, Woodside Road.

SAN CARLOS

SUNDAY

1:01 p.m. — Laura Jean Vawter, 65, arrested for sexual battery, 700 block of Laurel St.

4:17 p.m. — Kenneth Joseph Meyers, 41, arrested for violation of a protective order, probation violation and possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, 100 block of Industrial Road. Shasta Racquel Campbell, 23, cited for narcotics possession.

BELMONT

TUESDAY

6:04 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, Old County Road.

10:58 a.m. — Catalytic converter stolen from a vehicle, Crestview Ave.

The Post

Real Estate

PALO ALTO

3428 Alma Village Lane, 94306, 4 bedrooms, 2259 square feet, built in 2013, Liu Family Trust to Txrr Trust for $2,900,000, closed Feb. 11 (last sale: $1,758,500, 03-07-13)

972 Amarillo Ave., 94303, 4 bedrooms, 1560 square feet, built in 1951, Ying Zou to Katherine and Matthew Yelovich for $3,600,000, closed Feb. 9 (last sale: $2,777,000, 04-29-20)

MENLO PARK

400 Santa Margarita Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 2010 square feet, built in 1953, Singh-Sinha Living Trust to Saloni and Mitun Naidu for $3,350,000, closed Jan. 26 (last sale: $890,000, 05-19-04)

1395 Delfino Way, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1470 square feet, built in 1962, Robin and Michael Cisco to Weeks Trust for $3,525,000, closed Jan. 26 (last sale: $1,375,000, 10-18-12)

MOUNTAIN VIEW

171 Cameron Drive, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1236 square feet, built in 2007, Wong Family Trust to Sarika and Joshua Goldstein for $1,425,000, closed Feb. 9 (last sale: $600,000, 0808-11)

178 Stockwell Drive, 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1369 square feet, built in 2006, Aalaya LLC to Aroma Mahendru for $1,440,000, closed Feb. 12 (last sale: $819,000, 03-05-13)

2219 Woodberry Lane,

94043, 3 bedrooms, 1700 square feet, built in 2008, Liao Living Trust to Lan and Jamie Aitken for $1,730,000, closed Feb. 10 (last sale: $1,328,000, 06-14-16)

91 Tyrella Court, 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1700 square feet, built in 1990, Zheyu Zhang to Priya and Tejash Desai for $1,758,000, closed Feb. 12 (last sale: $1,640,000, 10-27-21)

LOS ALTOS

124 Osage Ave., 94022, 7 bedrooms, 2874 square feet, built in 1956, Haley Family Trust to Jed Legacy LLC for $7,203,000, closed Feb. 11

506 Panchita Way, 94022, 5 bedrooms, 3719 square feet, built in 2025, Jc and Ld LLC to Jinxin and Yuan Shen for $8,500,000, closed Feb. 10 (last sale: $3,793,000, 05-25-22)

REDWOOD CITY

2593 Hastings Ave., 94061, 4 bedrooms, 1930 square feet, built in 1952, Morton Trust to Chiara and Gary Goldman for $1,900,000, closed Jan. 30

100 Danbury Lane, 94061, 4 bedrooms, 2490 square feet, built in 1989, Xiying Huo to Dhruv and Ria Pal for $2,300,000, closed Jan. 27 (last sale: $2,250,000, 08-01-23)

SAN MATEO

425 North El Camino Real #308, 94401, 2 bedrooms, 1356 square feet, built in 1981, Chou Trust to Phipps Trust for $800,000, closed Jan. 30 (last sale: $960,000, 03-19-18)

667 Ventura Ave., 94403, 4 bedrooms, 1800 square feet, built in 1946, Mullane Trust to Jonathan and Sara Duffield for $1,100,000, closed Jan. 30

235 Ramona St., 94401, 2 bedrooms, 1210 square feet, built in 1923, Sidharth and Sadhana Mishra to Nova Family Trust for $1,720,000, closed Jan. 26 (last sale: $810,000, 03-25-14)

HILLSBOROUGH

722 Jacaranda Circle, 94010, 3 bedrooms, 4100 square feet, built in 1991, Fuller Trust to Ginkgo Living Trust for $4,500,000, closed Jan. 30

1620 Marlborough Road, 94010, 3 bedrooms, 2221 square feet, built in 1961, Silk Trust to Robson Turner for $4,580,000, closed Jan. 28 (last sale: $2,400,000, 06-08-06)

2496 Butternut Drive, 94010, 5 bedrooms, 5000 square feet, built in 1996, Mathew Qiu to Vanessa and Casey Courneen for $6,250,000, closed Jan. 27 (last sale: $4,750,000, 05-10-17)

BURLINGAME

777 Morrell Ave. #302, 94010, 1 bedroom, 880 square feet, built in 1982, Tomoko Ota to Bernadette Diepenbrock for $635,000, closed Jan. 30 (last sale: $255,000, 04-05-10)

479 Marin Drive, 94010, 2 bedrooms, 1340 square feet, built in 1936, Robinson Trust to Sarika and Dev Sharma for $2,775,000, closed Jan. 30 (last sale: $1,100,000, 04-13-12)

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Entertainment

‘Project Hail Mary’ makes science fun

BY LINDSEY BAHR Associated Press Writer

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a big screen space epic that’s as fun as it is awe inspiring. The last memorable one might have been “The Martian, ” so perhaps it shouldn’t be all that surprising that the drought is ending with another Andy Weir story adapted by Drew Goddard.

“Project Hail Mary,” directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is the kind of spectacular cinematic adventure that we’ve been missing: A clever, sincere, most-ages crowd-pleaser that’s full of life, energy and a love of science, quirky T-shirts and “Interstellar.” It’s the kind of movie Disney really should be making, but, in this case, we have Amazon MGM to thank. And it will probably just get better with age and repeat viewings.

Alone in space

Ryan Gosling is put to the ultimate movie star test as the only person on the screen for a large part of the picture. It begins with his character, Ryland Grace, waking up from an extended sleep in a spaceship. His long hair and bushy beard suggest he’s been sleeping for quite some time (although his highlights may tell a different story, but maybe I should repeat to myself it’s just a show and really just relax). Even worse, he’s

alone and he has no idea how he got there or who he is.

The movie’s not out to annoy you with wheelspinning: There are soon flashbacks and an alien friend added to the mix as he starts to piece together a picture of who he was on Earth (“Am I smart?” he wonders out loud) and try to complete his apparent mission to save the sun.

Except there’s the small matter that Grace is pretty sure he’s not a hero. On Earth, he was a middle school science teacher. When his students ask about the strange dots that have appeared outside the Earth’s atmosphere that seem to be causing the sun to die, he assures them that the world’s top minds are figuring it out. Against all movie logic when it comes to the

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extraordinary nobody, he’s not excited to discover that he might be their only hope.

Some government types have found an old paper he wrote while getting his doctorate, an idea that made him the laughingstock of the scientific community. He tries to tell them at every step of the way that they’ve got the wrong guy for the job. “I ride a bike to work … and it’s not for exercise,” he tells Sandra Huller’s project manager Eva Stratt. But he’s scrappy and keeps working the problem.

Journey of belief

“Project Hail Mary” does make you wonder whether a guy who looks like Ryan Gosling could disappear into the backdrop of his own life the way

17, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.

Grace has. But really what’s the point of that thought exercise? It doesn’t require too much suspension of disbelief to get invested in the journey of someone who essentially has to learn to believe in himself. And it doesn’t hurt when it also comes with an improbably cute alien sidekick who we’ll come to know as Rocky. He’s voiced by James Ortiz and is kind of like a golden retriever crossed with a genius architect. They soon become the best of friends, which can only mean one thing: You’re probably going to cry at some point.

“Project Hail Mary” might blow past a two-hour runtime and yet there’s rarely a dull moment with all the problem-solving, earnest irreverence and unabashed commitment to imbuing life and wit into every molecule of the story.

So many filmmakers feel the need to overwhelm their intergalactic spectacles with pathos to match the cosmos. It’s kind of refreshing that “Project Hail Mary” doesn’t have a dead wife or kid weighing down our protagonist — just an alien friend and all of life on Earth.

Release info

“Project Hail Mary,” an Amazon MGM release in theaters March 20, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “some thematic material and suggestive references.” Running time: 156 minutes.

HARRY’S HOFBRAU - 1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City

NOT A HERO — Ryan Gosling in “Project Hail Mary.” Amazon/MGM via AP.

ROOFTOP PATIO

MATH –––––––––

of balance and wellness,” the council said in an Oct. 3 letter to the school board.

The council said the advanced class would serve no more than 6% of students, yet establish a new “highest level” in math that would leave other students disadvantaged.

“Just as we do not create an advanced ballet course for the small number of students pursuing dance at a professional level, we should not create MVC simply because a handful of students would like it,” the council said.

The board approved Nguyen’s course anyway on Dec. 16, but whether it’s ultimately offered is up to the council, then-Superintendent Don Austin said at the time.

Group against the class

The Paly Education Council voted against the class in a private meeting on Jan. 14.

Instead, Principal Brent Kline said his goal is to bring a Foothill College instructor to teach Multivariable Calculus on campus during the school day, rather than having students take the class after hours as they do now.

Kline didn’t provide an update yesterday on how that effort is going.

Nguyen has questioned whether a Foothill College instructor would be available during the high school’s class schedule. He said students want a teacher who is already embedded in the system at Palo Alto High School and can support them during their tutorial period.

“To claim that this will harm students strains credulity,” Nguyen said in a previous interview, pointing out that the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District offers the class.

Nguyen said it’s important that Multivariable Calculus is offered during the school day, so students don’t have to skip extracurriculars like robotics, a job or sports.

Students want the class

At the Dec. 16 board meeting, several Paly students said the district should celebrate students who are working hard and aiming high, instead of holding them back.

“We have students ready to learn, and teachers ready to teach,” sophomore Alyssa Yuan said. At the Jan. 20 board meeting, Chiu referred to Aus-

tin’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, Nguyen said he has spent $12,000 on a master’s degree that qualifies him to teach Multivariable Calculus.

“That ‘tomorrow’ is here today,” Chiu said.

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

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

During his campaign, board member Josh Salcman said he doesn’t necessarily see a connection between offering advanced classes and harming mental health. He said the district should try to address stress rather than limiting advanced courses.

“We can provide challenging coursework and all sorts of different areas for our students to explore … I have to believe that we have the resources as a district to do that,” Salcman said at a meeting on April 29, 2025.

Pushed to limit acceleration

Administrators pushed the board to limit acceleration at that meeting.

“When we talk about appropriate placement, or appropriate rigor or matching skills with our programs, to what end? And at what level?” Austin asked. “At what point do we say, ‘You can do it, but do it somewhere else.’”

Yolanda Conaway, assistant superintendent of equity and student affairs, said focusing on where students are placed creates a competitive environment.

“There’s nothing wrong with acceleration, but there has to be a ceiling to that acceleration,” she said

ACCUSER –––––

alleged harassment, he was “immediately” put on leave. However, she filed her complaint against Callender in early November 2024, and Callender was not put on leave until after a second woman came forward over a month later.

“I wonder if a second woman had not come forward, would he still be here?” Mariscal said.

Mariscal said the office has a culture of isolation,

and she is still experiencing isolation and retaliation for reporting Callender’s misconduct. “I understand why women choose to leave their jobs quietly,” she said.

Mariscal was one of many employees to lambast the board at its Tuesday meeting over its agreement to keep Callender on the payroll despite the report.

‘Time to clean house’

“It is time to clean house and march all of the executives straight out the door,” said employee Salam Baqleh.

Baqleh said employees of the district have told executives and board members year after year about the culture of fear and intimidation in employee surveys, but workers’ complaints are dismissed.

Baqleh also said there are outstanding complaints and unfinished investigations into other executives at Valley Water.

Others called for the six board members who voted to keep paying Callender to resign. Only Palo Alto representative Rebecca Eisenberg voted no.

Callender refutes report

Callender’s attorney, Lori Costanzo, sent a response to the investigation’s findings on Dec. 16. The rebuttal was also released along with the executive summaries of the investigations, as agreed upon in the settlement agreement.

“They mischaracterize his work, impugn his integrity without basis, and appear calculated to damage his reputation and undermine public confidence in Valley Water’s leadership,” Costanzo wrote.

Costanzo also said the accusations rely on “clear racial animus and stereotypical images of African American men.”

As for the sexual harassment claims, Mariscal provided the district with a list of occasions Callender made her feel uncomfortable, including sending her a photo of his clothed crotch, taking her on personal errands, making comments about her attire and saying they ought to get married due to communication issues.

MARISCAL

CALLENDER

TSA –––––––––

tinues even when the government shuts down. “The money’s already been allocated, the payments have already been made and that continues without interruption,” SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel told The Associated Press. “That is a very nice place to be.”

The contrast draws attention to a long-running debate in the aviation industry: Can private contractors operating under TSA oversight provide a stopgap — and shield airport security operations from the political impasses that can disrupt U.S. air travel?

Some aviation experts see the TSA screening program as a potential model for keeping security lines moving with fewer disruptions during shutdowns. At SFO, that system helped maintain screening operations during last year’s record 43-day shutdown, Yakel said.

But critics caution that privatization is not a silver bullet and could introduce new risks. The union representing federal screeners argues that moving operations to private companies could erode job protections and reduce pay and benefits for workers already facing high turnover amid demanding conditions.

How the program works

Established in 2004, TSA’s screening partnership program allows airports to use private security companies chosen by the federal government to run checkpoints while TSA retains authority over procedures and oversight. The agency says private screeners receive the same security background checks as their federal counterparts.

The program “provides needed relief to staffing shortages brought on by a government shutdown,” TSA said in a statement to AP.

In addition to SFO, other participating airports include Kansas City International Airport, Atlantic City

International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport.

The vast majority of the nation’s roughly 400 commercial airports, meanwhile, rely on federal screening officers employed directly by TSA. During shutdowns, those workers must continue reporting for duty even though they stop getting paid — a dynamic that has historically led to higher absenteeism and slower-moving checkpoints the longer a shutdown lasts.

The current partial shutdown affects only the Department of Homeland Security, which includes TSA. Democrats in Congress refused to fund the department over objections to its immigration enforcement tactics. The lapse marks the third shutdown in less than a year to leave TSA workers temporarily without pay — and once the government reopens, to have to wait for backpay.

Those disruptions can ripple through the travel system, cascading problems across already crowded flight schedules. The strain is especially acute this time of year as airlines and airports brace for what they expect will be one of the busiest spring break travel seasons on record.

SFO is a ‘litmus test’

Aviation security expert Sheldon Jacobson, whose research contributed to the design of TSA PreCheck, said the program’s success at SFO, a large international airport, shows that privatization “is something that needs to be explored.”

SFO is among the top 15 busiest airports in the U.S. when measured by passenger traffic. A major hub for international travel, it is the second-busiest airport in California behind Los Angeles International Airport.

“It’s operated just as well as any other airport,” Jacobson said, adding that SFO’s multiple concourses and status as a hub for United Airlines demonstrate that even large-scale operations can be managed ef-

fectively under this model. “If SFO is the litmus test for delivering this privatized product, then many other airports can do it, too.”

Jacobson noted that most airports currently using the program are smaller, but “the scale issue should not be a limiting factor,” and he called for a broader conversation on how such options could deliver government services efficiently and benefit travelers.

“Of course TSA would have oversight. It’s not like they’re freewheeling on their own,” he said of privately contracted screeners. “We might as well use a government shutdown that affects air travel as an opportunity to begin that discussion.”

Union opposition

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA officers, has long opposed privatization.

“We will never advocate for any privatization of any federal employees. We don't believe that’ll work,” Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA union’s bargaining unit, said in a brief phone call this week.

In a blog post on its website, the union argues it could weaken accountability for aviation security — one of the reasons Congress chose to federalize airport screening after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The union also warned that private companies could face pressure to cut costs in ways that affect training, staffing levels and employee benefits. Relying on contractors, the union says, could create inconsistencies between airports if different companies operate checkpoints across the country, potentially complicating oversight of a system designed to maintain uniform national security standards.

“We have to remember the TSA was created in the wake of 9/11 when there were no security standards or very minimal security standards,” said airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group.

JAZZ LOVERS ARE MARKING THEIR CALENDARS for Jazz Brunch at The Ameswell Hotel, held every fourth Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosted at ROGER Bar & Restaurant, the brunch features live performances by Vintage Noise, delivering jazz and Bossa Nova classics inspired by the crooners of the Sinatra era. The relaxed gathering invites guests to enjoy timeless melodies alongside a reﬁned brunch menu in an airy indoor-outdoor setting, making it an easygoing yet elegant way to spend a Sunday in Mountain View. To reserve your spot, please call (650) 880-1030.

CRITICS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE ARE LOVING PRIMARY TRUST AT THEATREWORKS SILICON VALLEY! Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize winning play received San Francisco Chronicle’s highest rating and has been deemed “a winner! full of hope” (BroadwayWorld) and “thoughtful, moving” (TheaterDogs).

HOLLYWOOD SPECTACULAR AT THE CALIFORNIA Theatre on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Prepare for an interstellar musical journey as Symphony San Jose pays tribute to the most iconic

us for a memorable gathering ﬁlled with a delicious spread and spring cheer on Sunday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information and reservations at https://www.cabanapaloalto.com/eat-drink/. Call (650) 857-0787.

Talkin’ Broadway declared it “heartfelt, imaginative, engaging. Immaculately directed, created, and performed.” Don’t miss this remarkable new play, performing through March 29at Palo Alto’s Lucie Stern Theatre. Save your seats today at theatreworks.org.

space movie scores ever composed. This electrifying concert blends the magic of science ﬁction with the power of a live orchestra to explore “the ﬁnal frontier.” The program features galaxy-spanning adventures from Star Wars, the awe-inspiring wonder of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the time-bending thrills of Back to the Future, the heartfelt magic of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and the breathtaking grandeur of Interstellar. Don’t miss this unforgettable program of adventure, nostalgia, and cosmic wonder as we go “where no one has gone before.”

EASTER BRUNCH AT CABANA COVE. Celebrate Easter in style with a delightful brunch buffet including breakfast classics, small plates and starters, salads, brunch entrees, and delicious desserts. Our Easter Brunch also includes complimentary egg hunts for children in a family-friendly setting. Join

ATTENTION ALL ABBA FANS! Get ready for a night of amazing live music, irresistible melodies, glittering costumes and pure joy when theinternationally acclaimed ABBA tribute band “ABRA Cadabra” takes the stage at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City on Friday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m. This interactive, family-friendly extravaganza features a captivating live band, powerful vocals, dazzling dancers, multimedia effects, and multiple costume changes. You will be singing along to all your favorite ABBA classics, including “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” and more! For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit iLoveABBA.com or call the box ofﬁce at (650) 369-7770

DAVE SAYS “ LET THE WIND BE YOUR COMB! “ You could have it that way or you could walk into the Hairmill Barbershop in Menlo Park and have Dave Klemish give you a new stylish look. Dave’s been cutting and styling hair for over 40 years. This is an old school classic barbershop and yet Dave is a contemporary hair stylist. Come by and see how he’s been keeping Menlo’s elite men looking so suave. Call 650 323 0653 for an appointment and then come by 1050 Chestnut near Santa Cruz ave. in Menlo Park.