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BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Menlo Park will pay its pool operator more to run the city’s two pools, despite residents’ concerns about the lack of financial transparency.
Council voted 3-2 to give pool operator Tim Sheeper, the CEO of Menlo Swim and Sport, an additional $300,477 to restore the hours at the Burgess Pool.
Councilwomen Betsy Nash and Cecilia Taylor voted against giving Sheeper more money because he had not provided any details on his finances.
“This is a lot of taxpayer dollars and it’s on top of the $1.1 to $1.6 million the city already spends on pool facili-
ties and pool maintenance,” Nash said during the meeting. “I take the responsibility to our taxpayers seriously, and we need to find out what is happening.”
Taylor agreed with Nash that supporting the request for more money would continue to maintain power and
privilege, prioritizing profit over the community.
“They are the taxpayers. They’re the ones that pay the bills, and they’re the ones that made the Belle Haven Community Campus possible,” Taylor said.
The city will fund 33 hours at the Belle Haven Pool and 30 at Burgess, and the revenue will be going to Sheep-
POOLS, page 22]
GOODALL DIES: Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died at 91. The Jane Goodall Institute announced her death yesterday, saying she died of natural causes while in California on a U.S. speaking tour. Goodall is best remembered for living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago and documenting the animals using tools and doing other activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans. She also noted their distinct personalities. Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not only humans’ closest living biological relatives but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals.
DIALED DOWN: It’s official: AOL’s dial-up internet has taken its last bow. The company confirmed it would discontinue the service on Tuesday, citing routine evaluations of its offerings. Dial-up is no longer
[See THE UPDATE, page 4]
If a U.S. government shutdown goes on long enough, it could throw a wrench in travel plans, potentially leading to longer airport wait times, flight delays and even cancellations.
The shutdown began yesterday after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach a deal to continue funding government services and operations. That means a vast majority of employees who keep U.S. airports and air travel running are working without pay until the government reopens.
“The longer a shutdown drags on, the more likely we are to see longer TSA lines, flight delays and cancellations, national parks in disrepair and unnecessary delays in modernizing travel infrastructure,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, warned in a
TRAVEL, page 22]
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Staff Writer
Council members said they wanted Los Altos to be a good example for the new use of drone technology. They suggested hiring a cybersecurity expert, bringing in an ombudsman or assigning a council committee to review the use of drones.
“My biggest concern are the unknown unknowns. It’s a new technology, being applied in a new way,” Mayor Pete Dailey said on Tuesday. “We need to have some brain cells dedicated to making sure we know the unknowns as
DRONES, page 22]
Sanctuary in the Heart of Palo Alto...
Experience elevated living at 1101 Hamilton Avenue, a masterfully reimagined Mid-Century Modern sanctuary in the heart of Palo Alto’s esteemed Crescent Park. This refined, two-level residence offers three en-suite bedrooms plus a fourth bedroom/flex room and a breathtaking open-concept living space with soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The sleek gourmet kitchen features Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a Miele built-in coffee system, Swarovski crystal lighting, and a custom pantry with wine storage and laundry. Garden-facing rooms and a serene oversized flex space open to lush grounds—perfect for both entertaining and quiet retreat. The upstairs primary suite indulges with custom walk-in closets, tranquil ensuite, and a private balcony. Ideally located near top-rated schools and just moments from Palo Alto’s downtown amenities. 1101 Hamilton Avenue blends timeless design with modern comfort in one of Palo Alto’s most sought-after neighborhoods.
1
Positioned across from a tree-lined central park with playground, this Craftsman-style home in the Linfield Oaks neighborhood offers beautifully updated style in a highly desirable location.
The three-level design provides and thoughtfully arranged for today’s lifestyle. The floor plan features a gourmet kitchen, primary suite with walk-in closet, and rounding out the accommodations is the top floor, which provides a full loft-style suite adaptable for use as an office, guest retreat, or media lounge. Attached 2-car garage and upper-level laundry for convenience.
The Linfield Oaks location offers easy access to Burgess Park, downtown Palo Alto, Stanford University, and top Menlo Park schools.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
The Independent Civilian Advisory Committee for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office had questions left unanswered on the seventh inmate death in the Redwood City jails after Undersheriff Dan Perea postponed providing an update.
The commission had questions yesterday during their meeting about Markeisha Monique Renee Blount, 31, of Stockton, who died on Monday at the Maple Street Jail in Redwood City after suffering from a “medical emergency.”
Blount is the seventh person to die in jail since San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus took office in January 2023.
Perea said he couldn’t provide an update without a representative from
the District Attorney’s Office and a deputy who works in the jail.
The death comes after a 30-person fight broke out at the Maguire Jail in downtown Redwood City on Friday, leaving six inmates and four deputies injured.
Blount suffered what the sheriff’s office describes as a “medical emergency” on Monday morning in her housing pod, according to a statement from sheriff’s spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker. A safety check had just been completed at the woman’s pod, Spiker said.
Jail employees began trying to help the woman until jail medical staff arrived. Fire and paramedics were also called to the jail, according to Spiker.
The six other county jail inmates who died since Corpus became sheriff in January 2023 are:
• Maycarla Sulapas, 25, of South San Francisco, who was jailed for attacking a relative and acting erratically including being naked in the street. She had lethal levels of meth in her system when she died Jan. 7, 2023, after being tasered, the District Attorney’s office said.
• Peter Edward McLaughlin, 64 of Pacifica, who was arrested for threatening another person with a firearm. He died in the jail on Oct. 20, 2023 from brain cancer, which hadn’t been diagnosed previously.
no, who had been arrested for battery and making criminal threats. Authorities said Simmons had a history of depression, and his death on Oct. 21, 2023 was ruled a suicide.
• Anthony Harding, 23, of Oakland, died Jan. 14, 2024 in the jail’s drug detox unit after his arrest for misappropriating lost property and resisting arrest.
• Hunter Bergner, 46, of Redwood City, died March 15, 2024 of an apparent suicide, though the final cause hasn’t been released. He was arrested for violating a protective order and possessing a gun against a court order.
• Ronald Simmons, 34, of San Bru-
• Kyle Harrison, 25, of Redwood City, who was convicted in the drag-racing deaths of a San Carlos couple, died on March 15, from a toxic mix of medications, the medical examiner said.
advertised on AOL’s website, and former help pages related to the service are unavailable. The creaky door to the internet was characterized by a onceubiquitous series of beeps and buzzes heard over the phone used to connect your computer online.
NYC FUNDING HELD: The Trump administration is citing the government shutdown in explaining why it’s holding up roughly $18 billion for a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey and an extension of the city’s Second Avenue subway. The move is likely meant to target Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York. To the White House, he’s the one to blame for the budget. He says the freeze would harm commuters. The New York agency working on the subway line says it’s been blindsided by the announcement.
COOK STAYS FOR NOW: The Supreme Court is allowing Lisa Cook to remain as a Federal Reserve governor for now. The court is declining to act on the Trump administration’s effort to immediately remove her. In a brief unsigned order yesterday, the high court said it would hear arguments in January over President Trump’s effort to force Cook off the Fed board.
FLOTILLA INTERCEPTION: Activists on board a flotilla of vessels sailing toward Gaza say the Israeli navy intercepted three of their boats as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla, with Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers aboard, consists of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists and is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.
Winner of 7 awards from the San
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Stories without bylines are often from The Associated Press, Bay City News service or the Post staff.
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San Mateo County Coroner’s Office:
Sept. 30
Dewey Thomas Melton, 81, of Pacifica
Mark Kazakevich, 86, of San Mateo
Chen Wang, 93, of Woodside
Parry Sabian, 66, of Belmont
Wayne Morrison, 64, of San Francisco
Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City:
March 26
Marvin Garrick Chan, a boy
Jaylin Davis Luk, a boy
Ved Tejas Shanbhag, a boy
Anna Sung, a girl
Benjamin Taitz, a boy
March 25
Kayla Yang Gong, a girl
Oliver Peyton Hom, a boy
Winston Levi Wang, a boy
March 24
Zion Ziggy Carino Canales, a boy
Aiden Cui, a boy
Rana Muppireddy, a boy
Daniela Navarro Ramirez, a girl
Cecilia Frances Payne, a girl
Brynn Whitley Sorensen, a girl
Sparsha Somesh Soti, a boy
March 23
Myla Rae Bunac, a girl
Eleanor Alina Kuan, a girl
Lucy Jane Kunst, a girl
Sarah Marie Paredes, a girl
Abhim Singh, a boy
March 22
Ananya Gloria Marguerite Bacallo, a girl
Kieran Beau Barrett, a boy
Kimbella Citlali Diaz, a girl
Quinn Earley Lam, a boy
Collins Lee Sellwood, a girl
Elgin Wu, a boy
March 21
Gael Guadalupe Davila Melendrez, a boy
Carter Madrid Mitchell, a boy
Violet Skye Yi, a girl
Vikram Bhargav Rajavolu, a boy
March 20
Aurora Analia Figueroa Villalobos, a girl
Skyler He, a girl
Thomas Douglas Hurrell, a boy
March 19
Olivia Liberalino Paris, a girl
Malia Atonina Olaifanga Taliauli, a girl
Richard Tsai, a boy
Kenzo Ermias Villavicencio, a boy
March 18
Lucia Elena Cutigni, a girl
Adam Shalom Horowitz, a boy
Luca Ernesto Rodriguez, a boy
Chloe Fanqi Su, a girl
Lucia Elena Cutigni, a girl
Adam Shalom Horowitz, a boy
Luca Ernesto Rodriguez, a boy
Chloe Fanqi Su, a girl
March 17
Kavya Aeran Dhamejani, a girl
Mia Hsueh Hammedmilligan, a girl
Tripp Eric Herte, a boy
Aeomer Tayo Acosta Macaraeg, a boy
Jose Leonardo Puluc Viramontes, a boy
Rowan Sun Wentlandt, a boy
Peninsula Civil War Round Table Meeting
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
Tonya McQuade on “Missouri in the Civil War”
peninsulacivilwarroundtable.org
HARRY’S HOFBRAU - 1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City
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BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Menlo Park City Council has unanimously approved the redevelopment of the SRI campus, but three council members said they felt unsure what they were approving.
Council on Tuesday OK’d the proposal to for 800 apartments and 1 million square feet of office and retail space at the 63-acre campus at 333 Ravenswood Ave., but were hesitant about the amount of office space.
Council members Drew Combs, Betsy Nash and Cecilia Taylor said they felt unsure of what they were approving.
Lingering questions
Nash acknowledged that many residents sent council emails concerned that Lane Partners will build over 1 million square feet of office space.
Developer Lane Partners Principal Mark Murray said there will not be more than 925,000 square feet of office space, and council will be able to review the project along the way. Murray said that he will only be able to build on 713,000 square feet and will have to demolish the existing building to construct the rest of the project, adding another million square feet.
Councilman Jeff Schmidt said there was a lot of uncertainty for Lane Partners, not just them. Lane Partners doesn’t know when the existing building will be vacated, so they can demolish it.
“I’m happy to live with uncertainty if we trust that they’re going to be as good a partner in the future as they have been now,” Schmidt said.
Murray said during the second phase of building, Lane Partners will be able to determine how much additional housing will be available. Murray previously estimated that another 200 homes could be built.
The project was revised after residents expressed concerns about the housing and job ratio, as well as increased traffic, at a meeting in August, initially proposing 1.3 million square feet of office space.
Murray said he had no sense of a timeline but assured council that the project will be phased, and the city will have the opportunity to review it. The goal is to complete the project by 2031, he said.
Nash asked if Murray could give the city $10 million for temporarily occupying two of the buildings to make council feel more secure that the project would not surpass 925,000 square feet of office space, but he said it was not financially possible.
The project will demolish two buildings at 201 Ravenswood Ave. and 35 buildings on the SRI campus, replacing them with five office buildings and three parking structures that are limited to three stories.
The majority of residents were excited about the project as it
would help with housing in the city.
Resident Jenny Michel said she was excited for the project because it would provide a new recreational space for her son, who attends Menlo-Atherton High School.
Lane Partners is also offering the city a park, but the city would be in charge of maintaining the park. The developer is offering the city $100,000 to conduct outreach to see if residents would be interested.
Frankie Ensler, a subsite teacher, is excited about the biking opportunities the project will create for her.
Menlo Park City School District Superintendent Kristen Gracia said she looks forward to the project because it will create more housing for students and safer routes for them to get to school.
Many other residents emailed the city with concerns about how the project will add to the traffic.
“At rush hours, cars already back up for blocks just to make left turns. Adding hundreds of new residents at this exact choke point will bring traffic to a standstill, creating ripple effects that will spread far beyond downtown,” resident John Park wrote to the city. “Menlo Park needs new housing, but not at the cost of turning one of our busiest intersections into a dangerous bottleneck.”
Trade Wars and Currency Wars are accelerating worldwide.
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Stocks and bond markets, long suppor ted by Central Banks, may be challenged going for ward as governments have exhausted their debt expansion tools. Recent new highs in equities, due to some promising companies, may be more post-election hope than substance.
Cr yptocurrencies had their run, but the hope for a sounder and more private fiat system remains challenged while a past price bubble for the majority has been costly. Bitcoin is an example of those still per forming among the thousands of currencies & tokens in this young experiment.
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If you have been waiting to buy gold, or buy it “cheaper,” reconsider. Gold bottomed near $1040 at the end of 2015. We are in a new multi-year uptrend reconfirmed by the current strength just below all time highs. Monetar y scientists understand that the repricing of gold is just getting star ted. Each crisis seems to become more pronounced as the debt monetar y system disintegrates towards failure. Gold is best accumulated, not speculated. Star t saving in gold, and make it a habit.
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BY DANIEL SCHRAGER Daily Post Correspondent
Atherton’s City Council appointed the town’s planning commission chair Eric Lane yesterday to fill the council seat vacated by Diana Hawkins Manuelian, who resigned Sept. 1.
Council unanimously approved Lane’s appointment, after conducting interviews with Lane, 72, and one other candidate.
Lane, who opted to be sworn in immediately, fills the open seat after 14 years on the planning commission, including over a decade as chair.
“My only objective in wishing to fill out this vacant term is to provide an experienced and helpful voice on the council,” Lane said in his application for the position.
Lane will hold the seat until November 2026, when voters decide who serves the remainder of Hawkins Manuelian’s term that runs through December of 2028.
Lane said he doesn’t currently plan on running for the seat next November, after Councilman Rick DeGolia insisted that voters should have a chance to
pick their preferred candidate without an incumbent holding a possible advantage.
Hawkins Manuelian left the role Sept. 1 after five years on the council, including one as mayor. She said the decision was driven by recent changes in her life, including her child going to college and the sale of a company she has been mentoring.
Others in running
Council selected Lane over Christine David, the Friends of Atherton Library board president who has served on the town’s Civic Center Advisory and Park and Recreation committees. David previously ran for city council in 2020.
A third candidate, Lindsey Sikes, wasn’t present at the meeting. Four other candidates — Carol Flaherty, Regina Riviello, Jerome Leugers and Betsy Dixon — submitted applications but dropped out of the race before yesterday’s interviews.
After the two interviews, Councilman Bill Widmer nominated Lane and DeGolia seconded his motion, before Mayor Elizabeth Lewis called for the vote.
In accepting the position, Lane leaves his role on the planning commission.
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A man who lived in someone else’s backyard cottage in Palo Alto for four days, ransacked their garage and drank their alcohol will go to prison for three years, court records show.
Dwight Tucker Jr., 34, of Clearlake Oaks in Lake County, pleaded no contest to residential burglary on the 1400 block of Hamilton Avenue, in the Crescent Park neighborhood.
A man in his 70s returned home from vacation on Aug. 25 to find Tucker jumping over a fence into another backyard. Police found Tucker after searching the neighboring properties.
The man told Officer Kevin Brill that three or four bikes, miscellaneous tools, his wife’s golf clubs and about $4,000 worth of unopened scotch and wine were missing from the garage. The total loss was estimated at $8,300.
Tucker left a sleeping bag and pillows on the floor of the accessory dwelling unit, the man told police.
Tucker admitted to drinking alcohol and borrowing the bikes, but he said he didn’t steal anything else.
Criminal history
Tucker has a criminal record in Santa Clara County going back to 1990. He used a ladder to break into another house in Palo Alto on Nov. 25, 2019, while a mother and her two daughters were home on the 2200 block of Ramona Street.
“Someone in the house owes me $10,000 … I’m not leaving until I get my money,” Tucker said, according to the police report.
The mother gave Tucker a $100 bill, and he took two phones and fled as police arrived. Tucker ended up spending two years in prison, court records show.
NOTICE
on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 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 Zoom Webinar. Please go to the following link: https://ca-losaltos.civicplus.com/527/Zoning-Administrator
Questions can be answered by calling the Development Services Department at (650) 9472750 or sent via email to planning@losaltosca.gov. Yvonne Dupont, Management Analyst I
It’s time to get a flu vaccine, and pediatricians are urging people to get them after last winter, when the U.S. saw the most flu-related child deaths in 15 years.
October is the ideal month to get protected, experts say, because flu cases typically begin climbing in November.
“The best time is today. If you haven’t already had it, get it. I got mine yesterday,” said Dr. Laura Riley, of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Don’t like shots? This year marks the first time that some people can try vaccinating themselves at home using the nasal spray vaccine FluMist.
Who needs a flu vaccine?
Just about everyone age 6 months and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and major medical societies. Despite lots of recent misinformation and confusion about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven’t changed.
Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children, and people of any age who have chronic health problems including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.
About 71% of seniors roll up their sleeves every year, but less than 50% of other adults do. Last year, just under half of children got a flu vaccine, down from over 60% a few years ago.
Flu vaccines can keep you out of the hospital
Flu vaccines may not block all infections, but they do a really good job of preventing severe illness and hospitalization, said Dr. Sean O’Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Tens of thousands of Americans die from the flu every winter. But during last year’s harsh season, the CDC counted 280 children who died of flu-related complications. Nearly half had no prior health problems and about 90% hadn’t been fully vaccinated.
Pregnancy concerns
It’s important for mothers-to-be to understand that a bad case of flu can put them in the hospital or cause their baby to be born prematurely, Riley said. Flu shot protection also carries over to newborns, and infants too young for their own vaccinations are especially vulnerable to flu.
Riley stressed that years of flu vaccinations show that recommendation is safe for mother and baby.
Which flu vaccine to choose?
High-dose shots and those with a special immune booster are designed for people 65 and older, but if they can’t find one easily they can choose a regular all-ages flu shot.
For the shot-averse, the nasal spray FluMist is available for ages 2 to 49. The at-home option is newly available for certain adults on the vaccine’s website. If they’re deemed eligible according to their age and a medical questionnaire, they’ll be shipped FluMist with instructions on how to administer it.
During the winter of 2024, Rachel Martin came to a startling realization: She spent most of her free time staring at screens.
“I couldn’t really think of hobbies or things that I did that took a break from the digital world,” she said.
With pastimes like watching television, playing video games and creating digital art, Martin, 33, sometimes spent more than 12 hours per day looking at screens. She longed for an analog alternative.
After some trial and error, she found one: journaling with fountain pens and specialty inks.
“It’s quite a cool tactile experience,” she said.
Finding a screen-free hobby that sticks, though, can be easier said than done. Where to start:
A mix of activities is fine
Some people feel pressured to find the “ideal” hobby that will perfectly optimize their free time — but there’s no such thing, said Sarah Pressman, a professor of psychological science at UC-Irvine who has studied leisure time.
“Having a mix of small enjoyable activities — a little bit of pickleball, cooking something new, chatting with a friend over coffee, spending some time in your garden — can have a cumulative effect on your mood and health,” she said. “So rather than putting pressure on yourself to find the perfect pastime, just ask, ‘What brings me a little joy today?’”
Similarly, hobbies don’t have to fill hours upon hours of time to be beneficial, said Matthew Zawadzki, an associate professor of psychological sciences at UC-Merced who has studied hobbies.
Start small by thinking about activities that would be fulfilling for 20, 10 or even five minutes.
“We really need to embrace small engagements with our leisure,” he said, particularly given how many other demands there are on our time.
Try lots of things
Cast a wide net.
“Test out a few activities for 30 minutes each and just notice how they make you feel,” Pressman said. “Think of it like dating. You
may have to go on a few first dates before you find your match.”
Think about how activities you loved as a child could be adapted for adulthood, or about things that you naturally lose track of time while doing, she suggested.
It can also be helpful to consider what you’re missing, or want more of, in your daily routine, Zawadzki said. If you feel too sedentary, try a new form of fitness. If you need to get out of your head, pick up an engrossing book. If you feel starved for social connection, join a club or volunteer. If you haven’t used your creative muscles in a while, pick up a paintbrush.
Don’t beat yourself up
Screen time isn’t inherently bad, Zawadzki said. Watching a movie with your family can be a bonding activity — especially if you talk about it afterward — and catching up with a juicy TV show on the treadmill may motivate you to exercise.
“Any kind of activity has the potential to be positive,” he said. “But you have to optimize it a little bit to serve your goals.”
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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
SEPT. 14
12:07 p.m. — He Huang, 32, of San Francisco, arrested for petty theft, Stanford Shopping Center.
SEPT. 23
4:41 a.m. — Burglary, 800 block of Alma St. SEPT. 25
3:42 p.m. — Alexandra Valencia Carbajal, 29, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 400 block of California Ave. FRIDAY
1:44 a.m. — Nida Memon, 45, of Cupertino, arrested for DUI, San Antonio and E. Bayshore roads.
11:29 a.m. — Parts and/or accessories stolen from a vehicle, 500 block of Loma Verde Ave.
11:38 a.m. — JohnMark Armando Machore Hudson, 26, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 4200 block of Middlefield Road.
2:49 p.m. — Burglary at an apartment building, 500 block of Kendall Ave.
5:40 p.m. — Grand theft, 300 block of Stanford Ave.
8:56 p.m. — Tongjun Gao, 58, of Palo Alto, arrested for domestic battery, Tanland Drive.
11:18 p.m. — Vandalism, 500 block of Webster St. SATURDAY
2:26 a.m. — Marisela Marin, 32, of Palo Alto, arrested for DUI, Middlefield Road and Oregon Expressway.
8:56 a.m. — John Farr Block, 67, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, Alma St. and Homer Ave.
10:12 a.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of University Ave.
4:09 p.m. — Two adult and two juvenile suspects arrested in connection with a grand theft, Stanford Shopping Center. London James Evans, 24, of Antioch and 25-year-old Messiah Jeremy Erie Heard of Merced are both arrested for grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. One juvenile suspect is arrested for grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime and
the other is arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
11:57 p.m. — Pickup truck leaves the roadway and hits an elevated median, Alma St. near the University Ave. overcrossing. The driver, a man in his 40s, dies of injuries sustained in the crash.
MONDAY
6:26 a.m. — Fraud, 1200 block of Laurel St.
7:55 a.m. — Mail stolen, 1700 block of El Camino.
3:17 p.m. — Burglary, 2200 block of Sharon Road.
11:50 p.m. — Nicholas Gardner, 32, of Oakland, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Bayfront Expressway at the Dumbarton Bridge.
TUESDAY
7:29 p.m. — Juan Ortiz Ortiz, 50, of East Palo Alto, arrested for DUI, 1700 block of E. Bayshore Road. Arrest made by Menlo Park police.
SEPT. 23
1:15 p.m. — Petty theft, 200 block of Santa Teresa St. SEPT. 24
9:31 a.m. — Bicycle stolen, Angell Court.
9:44 a.m. — Three auto burglaries at Roth Way Garage, 345 Campus Drive.
11:28 a.m. — Bicycle stolen, 500 block of Governors Ave.
2:56 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, 1-99 block of Olmsted Road.
3:19 p.m. — Electric scooter stolen, 700 block of Serra St.
7:06 p.m. — Zhuhan Yin, 41, of Redwood City, arrested for battery that causes serious injuries and theft of someone else’s lost property at Tresidder Memorial Union, 459 Lagunita Drive.
SEPT. 7
3:18 a.m. — Travis Osborn, 49, transient, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 700 block of E. El Camino.
SEPT. 10
4:47 p.m. — Manuel Herrera, 49, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, 500 block of San Antonio Road.
SEPT. 13
5:25 p.m. — Manuel Herrera, 49, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, El Camino and Castro St.
SEPT. 17
8:49 p.m. — Jose Vega, 27, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant, 400 block of Castro St.
SEPT. 19
12:55 a.m. — Rodolfo Ceballos, 32, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant, 500 block of Taylor Court.
MONDAY
11 a.m. — Vehicle tampering, 4500 block of El Camino.
1:50 p.m. — Theft at Los Altos Hardware, 441 First St. Dean Hagedorn, 39, of San Francisco, arrested for theft, possession of stolen property, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, probation violation and on a warrant.
TUESDAY
12:49 a.m. — Eduardo Vera Galeana, 24, of Redwood City, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license and on a warrant, Jennings Lane and Middlefield Road.
2:25 p.m. — Rodolfo Maldonado, 35, of Menlo Park, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Middlefield Road and James Ave.
4:10 p.m. — Roberto Ochoa, 59, of Redwood City, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Middlefield and Marsh roads.
10:13 p.m. — Abel Salguero Aguirre, 38, arrested for DUI and on a warrant, Oak Drive and Placitas Ave. Wilmer Lopez Mendez, 20, arrested for public drunkenness.
SEPT. 25
5:27 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, 100 block of Columbia Ave.
10 p.m. — Ryan Anthony Merino, 36, of Daly City, arrested for assault and battery, 2600 block of Spring St.
11:15 p.m. — Mario Estrada, 30, of Redwood City, arrested for
resisting police, 800 block of Fifth Ave.
SEPT. 25
5 p.m. — Sunny Garcia, 47, of San Jose, cited on a warrant, 1500 block of Oxford St.
8:06 p.m. — Karanpreet Saimplay, 30, of Hayward, arrested for false impersonation and on a warrant, Harrison Ave. and Adams St.
9:50 p.m. — Drunken man reported to be disrupting a religious gathering, 300 block of Ensign Lane. Rocky Benjamin Deleon, 45, of Daly City, arrested for robbery and damaging or destroying a phone.
FRIDAY
12:56 a.m. — Vance Merrill, 33, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, 500 block of Woodside Road.
8:30 a.m. — Jorge Luis Suruy, 39, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, Middlefield Road and Cassia St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
8:47 a.m. — Chelsea Rachelle Mijares, 35, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 1500 block of Maple St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
9:08 a.m. — Jose Chamale Chicojay, 36, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, 1400 block of El Camino.
SUNDAY
8:30 a.m. — Janet Balones Dominkovits, 61, transient, arrested on a warrant, 600 block of Masonic Way.
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula. AUG. 12
Frank B. Braby, 37, arrested for battery and threats.
AUG. 13
Jonathan Gonzalez Avellaneda, 26, arrested for threats.
Wilhelm A. Palmen, 49, arrested for DUI.
AUG. 14
Bruce Lee, 56, arrested for DUI that causes injuries and driving without proof of insurance.
Alejandro M. Lopez, 36, arrested for DUI.
Mia and Chadd Krist for $3,997,500, Sept. 3
PALO ALTO
622 Wellsbury Way, 94306, 3 bedrooms, 1300 square feet, built in 1956, Teresi Living Trust to Menglu and Yuanxin Liu for $3,220,000, Sept. 3
831 Sutter Ave., 94303, 6 bedrooms, 1753 square feet, built in 1953, Kai and Peter Drekmeier to Mengchun and Yihuan Shao for $3,380,000, Sept. 5
3767 Cass Way, 94306, 4 bedrooms, 1922 square feet, built in 1959, Vera Trust to Renjie and Huan Yu for $3,750,000, Sept. 2
MENLO PARK
1260 Sherman Ave., 94025, 4 bedrooms, 2750 square feet, built in 2010, Comanor Trust to 1260 Sherman Trust for $4,900,000, Aug. 14 (last sale:
$2,810,000, 04-17-13)
1205 Trinity Drive, 94025, 4 bedrooms, 6200 square feet, built in 1985, Pade Family Trust to Galligan Living Trust for $8,750,000, closed Aug. 15
LOS ALTOS
1 West Edith Ave. #B208, 94022, 3 bedrooms, 1970 square feet, built in 1996, Bliss Trust to David Mccracken for $2,988,000, Sept. 3 (last sale:
$1,390,000, 10-14-08)
2040 Longden Circle, 94024, 4 bedrooms, 2198 square feet, built in 1966, Vandyck Living Trust to
1671 Ben Roe Drive, 94024, 7 bedrooms, 2761 square feet, built in 1958, Roe Trust to Varun Family Trust for $4,651,000, Sept. 2 (last sale: $2,798,000, 12-18-17)
688 Kingswood Way, 94022, 4 bedrooms, 2002 square feet, built in 1957, Brenneman Family Trust to Zhiyuan Zheng for $5,200,000, Sept. 2
390 Cherry Ave., 94022, 3 bedrooms, 1797 square feet, built in 1954, Nickolls Survivors to Lauren and Esfandiyar Alaee for $5,500,000, Sept. 3 (last sale: $313,000, 08-01-85)
13038 Vista Del Valle Court, 94022, 4 bedrooms, 2425 square feet, built in 1957, Watkins Trust to Cancan and Haijiang Ma for $3,500,000, Sept. 2 (last sale: $1,530,000, 11-3010)
99 E. Middlefield Road #37, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1083 square feet, built in 1969, Yi Living Trust to Ruchit Sheth for $820,000, Sept. 5
113 Tynan Way, 94028, 3 bedrooms, 1500 square feet, built in 1925, Mark Dahm to Hang Ly for $2,000,000, closed Aug. 15 (last sale: $1,070,000, 08-09-02)
425 Cork Harbour Circle #G, 94065, 2 bedrooms, 900 square feet, built in 1985, Yun Hsieh to Neima and Fatemeh Oloumi for $850,000, Aug. 13 (last sale: $820,000, 07-21-17)
221 Hillview Ave., 94062, 2 bedrooms, 1190 square feet, built in 1940, Lokken Trust to Patricia Serio for $1,650,000, closed Aug. 12 (last sale: $297,500, 0701-88)
2425 Whipple Ave., 94062, 2 bedrooms, 1680 square feet, built in 1931, Jaramillo Living Trust to Alyssa and Taylor Johnson for $1,900,000, closed Aug. 11
1432 San Carlos Ave. #4, 94070, 2 bedrooms, 1191 square feet, built in 1986, Brian Chong to Andrew and Cong Wu for $910,000, closed Aug. 15 (last sale: $1,000,000, 09-11-19)
3329 Brittan Ave. #1, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1239 square feet, built in 1973, Matthew Steffen to Joseph and Marine Bellucci for $970,000, closed Aug. 15 (last sale: $1,045,000, 1219-19)
510 Chesterton Ave., 94002, 4 bedrooms, 2260 square feet, built in 1953, Yoko and France La to Long and Ka Man for $2,700,000, closed Aug. 12 (last sale: $1,837,500, 01-08-18)
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.
DISTINGUISHED DOWNTOWN RETREAT OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURE | UNPARALLELED LIVING
Step into a world where high-tech amenities, Modern Craftsman character, and immaculate craftsmanship create a once-in-alifetime opportunity. Envisioned by a noted architect, this indooroutdoor masterpiece will impress and distinguish with its striking architecture and future-forward sustainability.
Composed primarily of wood, concrete, and glass, the retreat opens to multiple patios and luxuriant, low-maintenance landscaping. Interiors embrace natural light while mitigating its effects with metal
museum lighting await your art collection. Statement details include
Enjoy a truly unbeatable living experience by Downtown Los Altos near shopping, dining, and exceptional schools like Bullis Elementary, Egan Junior, and Los Altos High (buyer to verify attendance).
705 University Ave. Los Altos Offered At: $4,500,000
AT NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR UNIVERSITY (NDNU), education is more than a credential— it’s a calling to lead, serve, and make meaningful change. Whether you’re returning to finish your undergraduate degree or pursuing graduate-level study, NDNU helps you reach your goals with: Flexible Online & On-Campus Options; Career-
Driven Curriculum; A Personalized Learning Experience; and A Mission That Matters. NDNU integrates social justice, community engagement, and ethical leadership into every program, preparing graduates to serve with both skill and compassion. Discover how NDNU can help you advance your career, deepen your impact, and fulfill your potential. Give them a call at (650) 508-3600 or visit their website at ndnu.edu.
FOUNDATIONAL TUTORING, REIMAGINED. MEHR SIKRI believes that anyone can excel in math. She has been teaching students for over 10 years (in both private and public settings in Palo Alto and Los Angeles) and for the past 7 years, she’s been working full-time on her EdTech startup: OpMath. Mehr’s goal has always been to develop a modern solution to help students eliminate any gaps in learning, build strong foundations, and grow confidence
in their math ability. She started OpMath in the study of her parents’ Palo Alto home, and it has organically grown to what it is today. She is excited for OpMath to help many more students in the years to come. Learn more at opmath.com.
CRAVE | THE EVENT: YOGA 101. Saturday, Oct. 4 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. This class will give you a clear understanding of yoga poses and skills to apply in any yoga class you wish to attend. Great for new students and skill tune ups. Sign up at craveyoga-mv.com.
JOIN HEARTFIT FOR LIFE AND JUSTIN SONNENBERG, PhD, for a free presentation on “The Microbiome in Health and Disease. What’s your gut telling you?”
Tuesday, Oct. 14th from 5 to 6 p.m. Sonnenberg is the author of The Good Gut and a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. HeartFit For Life is the ‘go to’ medically supervised cardiac wellness and rehabilitation program. To learn more about their upcoming events, call them at (650) 494-1300 or visit HeartFitForLife.org.
on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Menlo Park Fire District headquarters at 300 Middlefield Rd. The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation is a nonprofit organization built to enhance the quality of life for burn survivors and promote burn prevention. To support this vital cause, firefighters will flip pancakes and serve breakfast from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. There will also be kids activities, fire safety information, fire truck tours, silent auctions, and more - don’t miss out! Advance ticket purchase is not required. Donations will be kindly appreciated for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation on the day of the event.
ELDER LAW & ESTATE PLANNING PIONEERS SINCE 1983. Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP has helped thousands of families in our community to protect their assets and legacies – saving their clients hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and long-term care costs. Michael Gilfix, at left, and Mark Gilfix welcome the opportunity to serve you and your family. To schedule an initial consultation with their team, call (650) 683-9200.
FLIPPING THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT: A FLAPJACK FRENZY FOR A CAUSE! One of the community’s favorite events, the 25th Annual Pancake Breakfast benefitting the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, will be held
RONBOW IS TRANSFORMING THE CABINETRY INDUSTRY WITH high-quality, fully customizable, European-style designs made in California. Unlike legacy brands, Ronbow delivers kitchens in just 4–6 weeks: half the industry timeline, at 40% lower cost. With eco-friendly, water-based finishes and materials sourced from trusted U.S. and European vendors, Ronbow combines craftsmanship with sustainability. Customers enjoy a seamless experience from photorealistic 3D designs to precision robotic manufacturing in Livermore - what you see is exactly what you get, minimizing errors and delays. Ronbow showrooms span San Francisco, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Cupertino, Livermore, and Monterey, with Monterey just opened this year and Walnut Creek coming soon. In addition to serving
homeowners, Ronbow partners with designers and contractors through its Trade Pro Program. Visit ronbow.com to learn more.
SHELDON OF LOS ALTOS, NAMED AFTER FOUNDER SHELDON BLOCK, has been a trusted name in design and photography for decades. While the storefront is no longer in Los Altos, the business remains very active and continues to serve clients throughout the area. Now led by Eddie Richardson, who has led the business of operations since 1989. The studio brings over 41 years of experience to every project. Known for exceptional attention to detail and a personalized touch, Eddie’s expertise spans family and pet portraits, interior and exterior shots, commercial photography, and small product work. Whether you’re refreshing your business website, capturing special moments, or creating the perfect holiday card, Sheldon of Los Altos delivers professional results with creative flair. In addition to photography, the studio also offers graphic and website design to bring your vision to life. Inquiries can be made online at sheldonla.com or by calling (650) 9483823.
THE FOLLIES DON’T SHUTDOWN. THE federal government may be facing a shutdown, but that won’t stop the laughter and joy that the annual Follies brings to our community! Get ready to dive into a world of humor and entertainment as “Fraudsters, Fanatics and Fools” rolls into town for the 2025 Follies fundraiser, happening over three exciting nights on October 2, 3, and 4 at the Bus Barn Theater. This beloved event is not just about the laughs; it’s a vital fundraiser that helps keep
ENTER SUNDANCE THE STEAKHOUSE IN PALO ALTO AND MEET DESTINEE. She’ll show you to a table in the beautiful dining room or direct you into the historic sports lounge if you just want a beverage and some appitizers. Sundance has been open and serving the best prime rib, chicken dishes, seafood platters and wine for over 50 years. Don’t forget the dessert called a Mudpie. Everybody saves room for the mudpie. There is also a fine selection or Ports or an Irish coffee if that is more to your taste. There’s something for everyone at Sundance the Steakhouse. Located at 1921 El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Call Destinee at (650) 321 6798 for a reservation or check the website.
the performing arts vibrant and thriving in Los Altos! Join us for an unforgettable experience that promises to leave you in stitches while supporting the Los Altos Stage Company and celebrating the collective spirit of our community. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be part of something special—grab your tickets today by visiting Los Altos Stage Company website.
DOES YOUR VACUUM NEED
A little love? The Vacuum repair shop is ready to take your rundown old vacuum and give it new life. Just drop it off at the shop and Steve will call you up when it’s ready. The Saget family has two Steves, an Alex and more.
They’re all expert repair people who also sell new and refurbished vacuums and sewing machines. This is a traditional family-owned fix-it repair shop for anything electrical. Call Steve or Alex at (650) 9686539 or just come by 1446 W. El Camino Real in Mountain View and drop off your vacuum or sewing machine. You can also browse the showroom for new and refurbished sewing machines and vacuums.
COME FOR THE PASTA, STAY for more pasta if you want. There is always the cheesecake for dessert. Vincenzo Maddalena loves to serve an Italian dinner you won’t forget. He’s a nice guy that loves pouring the wine at his 888 Ristorante Italiano in San Carlos. The Italian cuisine served there is the finest and freshest around. Vince comes from a large, old-school family, and mamma had all the best recipes. Come by this romantic little spot for some fun and fine dining. They’re popping the corks and pouring the vino at 888 Laurel St. in downtown San Carlos. Buon Appetito! Call (650) 591-0920 for a reservation or check the web.
DON’T BE THE GUY STANDING on the roof cleaning your clogged gutters in the rain. Get those gutters cleaned before it’s too late. Call Mark Carlson and get your deck power washed and the gutters cleaned at the same time. You can reach Mark at (650) 8680801 for questions or a free estimate.
It’s been eight years since Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting and said he wanted to “explore the world in a different way.”
But the big-screen absence of the actor many would peg as the greatest one alive ends with “Anemone,” a new film directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. The two of them wrote it together. What began as something small, with no real ambition, grew until a full feature film and Day-Lewis’ long-awaited return to movies.
“It saddened me that I had perhaps ruled myself out of that when I decided to work on something else for a while,” Day-Lewis said in an interview alongside his son. “As we progressed through it, and it seemed less and less possible to contain it, like two fellas in a shed, it began to alarm me slightly. I understood that this was going to involve the full paraphernalia of a film production, and that wasn’t something I was eager to get back into.”
“But we just kept moving forward to see what would happen,” he added. “And this is what happened.”
Father-son story
“Anemone,” which recently premiered at the New York Film Festival and which Focus Features releases tomorrow in theaters, finds Day-Lewis, now 68, not even slightly less intense or magnetic a performer.
It’s a father-son story, though not an
autobiographical one. Day-Lewis stars as Ray Stoker, a solitary hermit living in a remote cabin. His brother, Jem (Sean Bean), arrives and tries to convince him to return to his teenage son.
Back in the spotlight
The most meaningful gesture Day-Lewis is offering his son might not be making a movie with him, but returning to the spotlight for it. At the New York Film Festival, Day-Lewis has been a happy, humble presence, calling himself a fool for his professed retirement and dutifully accepting a glare of attention that he’s largely avoided for the last decade.
“It’s been a stark reminder for me of: Oh, yeah, that’s what it’s like,” he said, chuckling.
But Day-Lewis greeted a reporter
Oct 4 & 5, 2025 at the California Theatre
Step into a world of fantasy and wild imagination. Don your mask and immerse yourself in the music and beauty of three iconic masterpieces as we kick off the 2025/2026 season.
Anna Clyne’s dazzling and dynamic opening piece Masquerade captures the spirit of celebration and revelry. San Jose legend Jon Nakamatsu takes on Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in a tour de force performance of the composer’s final and perhaps most significant work for piano and orchestra. Berlioz’s Fantastic Symphony, his most famous composition, is a spellbinding journey through love, delirium, and supernatural visions.
Embrace the mystery and magic of our season opener by donning your most elegant ensemble and your favorite mask and join us one hour before curtain for special pre-concert festivities.
Tickets from $35 to $115! Contact us to learn more about our group discounts, $25 Soundcheck Pass (valid for all our Saturday Night concerts!) for patrons aged 5-25, and our 50% off discount for patrons under 17 years old.
www.symphonysanjose.org
warmly, urging him to pull a chair, and spoke candidly and thoughtfully about the mystique that has often surrounded his work, an aura he disdains.
“I knew to survive in this world that that would probably be the way I’d do it, by creating other worlds and escaping into them and living through them for a period of time,” he said. “And that remains the same. It never changed. I love that work, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. I don’t do it as an act of self-flagellation.”
Day-Lewis’ Method-acting immersion in a character has long been the stuff of legend. Jim Sheridan, who directed him in three films, including “My Left Foot,” once remarked, “Daniel hates acting.” But the idea that Day-Lewis somehow makes himself
into a martyr for his art has long chafed with him.
“That’s something that’s weighed heavily over the years, this sort of misconception which has now become so ludicrous about Method acting,” says Day-Lewis. “We all find a different way of approaching the same problems.”
Day-Lewis has sensed some of the same all-consuming imagination in Ronan, a 27-year-old painter making his directorial debut. He’s one of two sons Day-Lewis has with his wife, filmmaker Rebecca Miller.
“It always held a huge amount of mystery to me what he was doing,” says Ronan. “To be inside this realm that I had always been watching curiously from the outside was so intriguing.”
Capacity for more
Day-Lewis hasn’t yet announced a forthcoming project, but he acknowledges feeling the capacity for more. While he doesn’t say he missed acting during the last eight years, he appears to have come to some self-acceptance of its irrevocable place in his life.
“It has been my primary form of self-expression for my entire life, since I was a child,” he says. “And therefore, I don’t know if I experience it as a sense of missing if I’m not doing it. But the need to express myself in that way, even at a subterranean level, that is still there.”
A new report on book bans in U.S. schools finds Stephen King as the author most likely to be censored and the country divided between states actively restricting works and those attempting to limit or eliminate bans.
PEN America’s “Banned in the USA,” released yesterday, tracks more than 6,800 instances of books being temporarily or permanently pulled for the 2024-2025
school year. The new number is down from more than 10,000 in 2023-24, but still far above the levels of a few years ago, when PEN didn’t even see the need to compile a report.
Some 80% of those bans originated in just three states that have enacted or attempted to enact laws calling for removal of books deemed objectionable — Florida, Texas and Tennessee.
King’s books were censored 206 times, according to PEN, with “Carrie” and “The Stand” among the 87 of his works affected. The most banned work of any author was Anthony Burgess’ Dystopian classic from the 1960s, “A Clockwork Orange.”
Reasons often cited for pulling a book include LGBTQ+ themes, depictions of race and passages with violence and sexual violence.
statement. Here’s what to know about the shutdown and its potential impacts on your travel plans:
Flying during a shutdown
Travelers can still fly despite the lapse in funding, but during a prolonged shutdown, travelers should plan ahead for potentially longer lines at airport security and flight interruptions.
Control towers and airport security areas will still be staffed, with about 13,200 air traffic controllers and more than 61,000 Transportation Security Administration employees expected to remain on the job.
But if the shutdown persists, it could put a significant strain on the national aviation system. That’s what happened in 2018 and 2019, when Trump led the country into its longest shutdown ever for 35 days during his first term.
About three weeks into that shutdown, some unpaid security screeners started calling in sick, and air traffic controllers sued the government in a bid to get their paychecks. Miami International Airport had to temporarily close one of its terminals because TSA officers were calling in sick at twice the airport’s usual rate.
The latest shutdown is unfolding at a time when the Federal Aviation Administration is already facing a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
International travel into the U.S. Ports of entry into the country are expected to stay open for international travelers, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s contingency plan.
The department estimated that about 63,000 workers at Customs and Border Protection would still report to work. They include employees who are responsible for protecting the country’s borders and monitoring traffic coming into the U.S. at official border crossings, like airports and land crossings from Canada and Mexico.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing.
Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does tempo-
rarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S.
Museums and national parks
Smithsonian museums, research centers and the National Zoo were scheduled to stay open to the public through at least Oct. 6. Further updates will be posted on the Smithsonian website.
The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex, with 17 museums and its zoo located in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as two museums in New York City.
National Parks will remain mostly open during the shutdown.
The National Park Service’s contingency plan says park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will “generally remain accessible to visitors.” But parks without “accessible areas” will be closed, and additional sites could shutter if damage is done to park resources or garbage builds up during the shutdown.
The park service oversees 400 sites, including large national parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, national battlefields and national monuments like the Statue of Liberty.
soon as they’re knowable, and not find out about them in the paper when something crappy has happened.”
Council members were skeptical about hiring the Atlanta-based company Flock Safety to supply the drones.
Flock concerns
Recent news reports, starting in San Francisco, have found that Flock Safety shared data from its license plate-reading cameras with ICE.
“Flock has been in the news, properly so, for some very bad reasons, very concerning reasons,” Councilman Jonathan Weinberg said on Tuesday.
Flock Safety has hundreds of cameras around the Bay Area through contracts with individual cities, including Los Altos.
What residents say
Two residents spoke during public comment. Brian Jones encouraged the city to store the data locally for safekeeping.
Pierre Bedard said he was a victim of a crime near the Mountain View border that drones could’ve
helped in solving. “I really believe this is the way to go, within limits,” Bedard said.
Los Altos would join the cities of Campbell, Atherton, Elk Grove and Vacaville in using drones as first responders, Capt. Katie Krauss said.
City could lead
“This would be an opportunity for us to be on the forefront of technology,” Krauss told council.
Council will consider approving a policy for the drones on Oct. 28.
The city already has two drones, but they have to be operated by pilots who are at the scene. So the drones are used for search and rescue, car crash reconstruction and crime scene documentation, Krauss said in a report.
The drones would send live video to first responders while they’re on the way, allowing “for better tactical decisions and resource allocation,” Krauss said.
For example, a drone could see if someone reported with a gun is actually holding a cell phone, or if a car blocking a driveway is in fact parked legally, Krauss said.
er. Only $10 for every $1,000 Sheeper makes goes to the city, Nash said.
A petition with 55 signatures circulated among residents asking for an independent audit to be made, which was initiated by James Rohr.
Rohr said Sheeper could be hiding the majority of his income, and an audit would allow residents to know how their taxpayer money is being used.
Lots of handouts
Robert Peck, a coach for Solo Aquatics, said he was concerned about the number of times Sheeper has asked the city for money.
“The financial records have not been disclosed. If he’s coming to you saying, I need more money your response needs to be ‘Prove it. Disclose your financial records,’” Peck said.
Sheeper threatened to walk away and close Burgess Pool in 2022 as a result of a disagreement about a contract, but it was approved, extending the contract through Aug. 31, 2023.
Councilman Jeff Schmidt said he wants council to focus on what they do know, rather than what they don’t know, supporting the plan to help Sheeper financially keep the pools running.
Resident Alix Gallagher said all the concerns res-
The Town of Los Altos Hills invites residents, contractors, and design professionals to join us in shaping the future of our Building and Planning permit review process.
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM Location: City Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California 94022
What’s on the Agenda:
• A brief presentation on how permits are currently reviewed.
• A guided discussion on what’s working—and what isn’t.
• An open forum to share your own experiences with the permitting process. Why Attend?
Your feedback will directly help us:
• Make the permit process clearer, faster, and more responsive
• Set goals for long-term community development
• Improve customer service and efficiency for everyone involved
Take the Survey First!
Help us prepare by completing a short survey about your experience with the permit process. Scan the QR code to access the survey or visit http://bit.ly/3IK36HV.
Together, we can make permitting in Los Altos Hills a smoother, more user-friendly experience.
idents have brought to council should be addressed, like issues others have raised about the Belle Haven Community Center.
Belle Haven concerns
Many residents have attended multiple meetings about the lack of accessibility and resources for seniors.
Mayor Drew Combs said it has be-
come a common occurrence for residents to complain about issues at the Belle Haven Community Center, which makes him doubt the complaint’s validity.
Combs said he wonders if there are actual substantive issues or if there is just a desire to provide negative feedback on the senior center, which is brand new.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
A man was arrested for allegedly attempting to sneak drugs into a Redwood City jail in his shoe yesterday.
Brian Eduardo Siordia, 27, of San Jose, tried to visit an inmate at the Maple Street jail, but wasn’t allowed in because he is on probation, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker. When he was released from prison, Sirorida needed to get approval to visit someone in jail, Spiker said in a statement.
Deputies saw Siordia in the lobby and arrested him and found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a phone hidden in his shoe, Spiker said. Visitors are not allowed to bring phones into the jail.
“The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to providing a safe and secure custodial environment for our staff, visitors, and those in our custody,” County Sheriff Christina Corpus said in a statement.
Sioridia was booked into the Maguire Jail for bringing drugs and a phone and walking into the jail without permission.
Previous conviction
Siordia was convicted of a felony for having a firearm and drugs in 2024, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. He was sentenced to nine months in jail and two years of proba-
tion on April 16, 2024, after pleading no contest, Wagstaffe said.
On April 14, 2023, multiple 911 calls were made regarding a green pickup truck swerving on Highway 280, just north of Edgewood Road in Redwood City, Wagstaffe said.
CHP responded to the calls and the truck had crashed into a tree along Interstate 280. Officers contacted Siordia and found he was under the influence of drugs.
When officers searched him, they found a loaded handgun, a meth pipe, a small amount of meth in a bag and Xanax pills, according to Wagstaffe.
Lawsuit against county
Siordia sued the county on June 3. He was in court on June 12 after violating his probation. He failed two drug tests when officers found him with methamphetamine, and he failed to report to an officer, Wagstaffe said.
Siorida filed a lawsuit with his attorneys Joshua Henderson and Joshua Markowitz in June against the county and the sheriff’s office for giving him methadone instead of melatonin.
Methadone, an opioid, is used as a medication for treating opioid or heroin addiction. Melatonin is an over-thecounter sleep aid.
On April 24, 2024, deputies at the Maple Street Jail gave Siordia methadone, which was intended for another inmate, Markowitz said.
Menlo Park City Council unanimously approved a 7% raise for City Manager Justin Murphy.
Council approved Murphy’s new annual salary of $348,000, a onetime bonus of $10,000 and a $15,000 contribution to his retirement account on Tuesday.
Another change in Murphy’s contract is that if he is fired without cause, he could be entitled to up to a year in severance, rather than six months, according to a report from Administrative Services Director Brittany Mello.
Council voted unanimously on Aug. 26 to extend Murphy’s contract until June 20, 2027.
The council unanimously voted on June 17, 2022, to appoint Murphy to be the city manager permanently after a lengthy search for a replacement for Murphy’s old boss, Starla Jerome-Robinson.
Mayor Drew Combs previously told the Post that Murphy was the only internal option the council interviewed when looking for a city manager.
Murphy started with the city as a planner in 1996. Before he was the deputy city manager under Jerome-Robinson, he was the public works director for three years. He holds a bachelor's in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Master's of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
