Landlord guilty of murder
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
An East Palo Alto man accused of shooting his tenant and hiding her body was found guilty yesterday by a jury.
John Caisiano Thompson, 47, could face 40 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of Breanna Labat, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Stauffer said. Despite the conviction, Labat’s body has not been found.
Body not found
Second-degree murder means the killing was intentional but not planned.
The jury reached its verdict in two days, ending a three-week trial that had testimony from two witnesses, Thompson’s friend, neighbor, East Palo Alto police, investigators, Labat’s family and friends.
Thompson was accused of killing La-
bat, 32, on Dec. 2, 2022, after an argument over rent and why she was not taking care of his child, Deputy District Attorney Vishal Jangla said during closing statements last week.
Labat was living with Thompson temporarily and would babysit his 2-year-old in exchange for rent.
Also present during the fight was Thompson’s friend Delano Els and Ed-
[See GUILTY, page 22]
Council mulls city hall offer
KAMALA’S OUT: Former Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday announced she is not running for governor next year. However, she appeared to leave the door open for another White House bid.
COACH SUES ESPN: Former Stanford football coach Troy Taylor yesterday sued ESPN and a reporter for defamation after the outlet published an article saying that he bullied and belittled female employees, the Sacramento Bee reports. Taylor was fired by Stanford on March 25, a week after the article came out.
POWELL STICKS TO GUNS: The Federal Reserve is leaving its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, brushing off repeated calls from President Trump for a cut. The Fed’s decision yesterday leaves its key short-term rate at about 4.3%, where it has stood after the central bank reduced it three times last year. Chair Jerome Powell has said the Fed would likely have cut rates if not for Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
INDIA TARIFFS: President Trump
[See THE UPDATE, page 4]
From Jobs’ widow
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
East Palo Alto City Council is unsure how it will pay for its contribution to a new civic center floated by a company owned by Laurene Powell Jobs.
Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with negotiations with Powell Jobs’ company, Sycamore Real Estate, to build a new city hall, police station, library and park — a project with a roughly $200 million price tag. Anonymous donors will help pay for the park, according to city officials.
But who will be paying for what hasn’t been figured out yet.
“We have a lot of questions down the
[See MULLS, page 22]
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A retired Stanford doctor who allegedly hit a bicyclist on Middlefield Road told Palo Alto police officers that he was having a “teenage moment” when he fled the scene.
Gary Dahl, 84, had a felony com-
plaint filed against him on Tuesday. The police report included the statement he gave to Officer Khalil Tannous while in his doorway on Dana Avenue in the Crescent Park neighborhood.
Dahl told Tannous the bicyclist appeared to be OK since he was standing, although he was bleeding from his
head. Dahl said there was nothing he could do for the bicyclist, so he left the scene.
Dahl acknowledged he should’ve stayed, according to the police report.
Tannous told Dahl the bicyclist went to Stanford Hospital, and Dahl said the
[See TEENAGE, page 22]
LABAT
A TRACK and soccer field is being floated for Tara Street in East Palo Alto. Artist’s rendering from SG/D Architectural Design.
Locally owned, independent
NEWS Details released in girl’s drowning
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
The Palo Alto Fire Department provided a narrative yesterday for how an 8-year-old girl drowned in a pool, along with a man and a woman who had to be pulled up from the bottom.
All the involved people were in the pool together around 6 p.m. on July 6,
and none of them knew how to swim, Deputy Fire Chief Kevin McNally said. The child and an adult accidentally got into deeper water, and when the other adult went to try to help, all three wound up in distress, McNally said.
The man and the girl were already pulled from the pool when police officers and firefighters arrived at 4111
Thain Way, firefighter Kyle Alarid wrote in the incident report, which the Post obtained using the California Public Records Act.
Firefighters and police officers helped pull out the woman, who was in cardiac arrest.
They were all brought to the hospital, where Akshaya Selva Ganesh, 8, of
Palo Alto, was pronounced dead. The drowning happened at Barron Square, a community of 65 condos and townhomes built in the late 1970s just off El Camino Real.
The pool had passed recent inspections, according to records from the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health.
says the United States and India are still negotiating on trade despite new tariffs slated to begin in a few days. India’s government says it’s studying the implications of Trump’s announcement he’ll impose a 25% tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of its purchasing of Russian oil.
VAX CHIEF OUT: Dr. Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s polarizing vaccine chief, and former UCSF professor, has resigned after three months. During that time, Prasad drew the ire of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Trump such as Laura Loomer.
BROWN STRIKES DEAL: Brown University has reached a deal with the federal government to regain access to federal research funding and end investigations into alleged discrimination. The Ivy League school agreed to pay $50 million in workforce development grants in Rhode Island over 10 years as part of the agreement. Brown President Christina H. Paxson said the deal preserves Brown’s academic independence. The terms include a clause saying the government cannot dictate curriculum or the content of academic speech at Brown.
POISON SHAKES: A Colorado dentist has been convicted of murder in the poisoning death of his wife and sentenced to life in prison without possible parole. Jurors found James Craig guilty of firstdegree murder yesterday. Prosecutors had accused Craig of repeatedly poisoning his wife Angela Craig, including by lacing her smoothies, over 10 days in 2023. When those attempts failed, prosecutors said, James Craig gave her a final dose of cyanide as she was hospitalized.
PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY?: Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Trump administration was committed to protecting Social Security hours after he described a children’s savings program in President Trump’s recent tax package as a “back door for privatizing Social Security.” Democrats seized on Bessent’s privatization comment, suggesting the GOP aims to revive efforts to privatize the retirement program that is used by millions of Americans.
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Press Club
Deaths
July 29
Josefa Ramos, 89, of
Tomas Carpio, 61, of South City
Jose Chavez Caballero, 71, of Burlingame
Births
El Camino Hospital in Mountain View: Jan. 14
Sebastian Alvarado Anaya, a boy
Han Chen, a boy
Sujay Gowd, a boy
Sage Jacqueline Macdonald, a girl
Beckett Simmons Myott, a boy
Sujith Paladugu, a boy
Shrey Patil, a boy
Nora Jordan Prange, a girl
Matthew Tacam Gonzalez, a boy
Ira Tiwari, a girl
Cherie Tran, a girl
Koen Luochen Van Lier, a boy
Francis Hao Chen Wu, a boy
Leqi Zhang, a girl
Isabella Xiao Zhou, a girl
Jan. 13
Mayya Abdulkerim Afendi, a girl
Michael Hugo Biermann, a boy
Kabir Chopra, a boy
Valerie Rose Gowans, a girl
Emma Solene Guerrero, a girl
Samanvi Mallampati, a girl
Jordan Taylor Nguyen, a girl
Aura Parekh, a girl
Janaki Gayatri Ravishankar, a girl
Reid Daniel Ruiz, a boy
Oliver Nguyen Samuels, a boy
Jan. 12
Charles Robert Astill, a boy
Tejas Aiswarya Bhat, a boy
Maxim Borodin, a boy
Phoebe Chen, a girl
Kirill Evgenievich Gousev, a boy
John Constantine Komar, a boy
Aria Leong Padwa, a girl
Aiden Liam Rodrigues, a boy
Saho Yamagami, a girl
Jan. 11
Myra Singh Agrawal, a girl
Zoey Zhiyi Balakrishnan, a girl
Audrey James Bautista, a girl
Neil Ram Cutshaw, a boy
Mingfeng Deng, a boy
Jose Manuel Garcia Borja, a boy
Eliana Aubrielle Guerrero, a girl
Adina Hanna Lanphar, a girl
Om Amit Patil, a boy
Jax Chase Richardson, a boy
Myra Rosemary Vaz, a girl
Emma Ye, a girl
Anya Qi Zhang, a girl
Jan. 10
Lily Lynn Dos Santos, a girl
Hana Asif Khan, a girl
Felix Manuel Landeros Padilla, a boy
Lukas Zane Ruiz Pantaleon, a boy
Benjamin Paz, a boy
Elyana Samir Saif, a girl
Elyas Samir Saif, a boy
Sylvia Verner, a girl
William Xuanrui Zhang, a boy
Caltrain may expand transit police
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Caltrain is considering adding more transit police in an effort to cut down their overall average call response time of 21 minutes.
But the reinforcements will cost $390,000 per officer per year, plus a one-time expense of $90,000 for their car, Chief Safety Officer Mike Meader said at a committee meeting on July 23.
Sheriff’s Office contract
Caltrain currently has a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to provide two transit officers who are on duty at a time.
Their average response time is
quicker for in-progress crimes against a person, but they still take 12 minutes, Meader told the committee.
That complicates Caltrain’s efforts to stop people from going on the tracks, Meader said.
“We can get reports of people, but if we can’t get out to the people to see if we can help them in a timely fashion, we’re still going to struggle,” Meader said.
Transit officers are quicker for “priority one” calls that involve an active crime against a person, but they still take 12 minutes, Meader said.
Adding four police officers on duty would cost about $2 million for the first year, and $1.5 million after that. The re-
inforcements would reduce response by five to seven minutes, Meader said.
Caltrain is also having “meaningful conversations” with cities along the corridor to have their police give Caltrain extra coverage and attention, Meader said.
The agency is looking into hiring off-duty police officers to help, which would be a significantly lower cost, Meader said.
Safety push
The discussion about adding transit police is part of Caltrain’s broader safety effort that involves new signs, fences, cameras and panels that make it harder to walk onto the tracks.
Caltrain put new pavement markers and reflective posts at Churchill Avenue in Palo Alto, where the most cars drove onto the tracks of any crossing. Since then, zero cars have been reported on the tracks.
Caltrain added Rail Sentry, a camera system that uses AI to detect cars and people on the tracks, at Churchill Avenue and the Broadway crossing in Burlingame.
The Post emailed Meader after the committee meeting to get more details, and Caltrain spokesman Dan Lieberman replied on his behalf. Lieberman wouldn’t provide a breakdown of what’s included in the cost for adding officers.
Lawsuit alleges fraud at housing nonprofit
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A Redwood City nonprofit that helps tenants with housing issues has been sued by an employee who said her coworkers were duplicating cases to get more government funding.
The nonprofit, Project Sentinel, has contracts with cities across the Peninsula to provide counseling for tenants and mediate their disputes with landlords.
Melinda Daugherty was hired to
work remotely as a conflict resolution manager in August 2021. She said her supervisor, Isenia Macias, told her to duplicate her caseload entries at the end of each quarter by closing them and re-opening them.
At least two other employees followed these directions, bringing their caseloads to 778 and over 1,100, when a typical caseload is around 200, Daugherty’s lawsuit said.
“Daugherty believed Project Sentinel committed these unlawful acts to
receive additional local county funding because the number of cases directly correlated to the amount of monetary funding awarded,” her lawsuit said.
Nonprofit denies claims
Attorney Rona Layton said Project Sentinel “disagrees vehemently” with Daugherty’s allegations.
“Project Sentinel has been a HUD-approved housing counseling agency since 1998, and obviously has to go through reports and audits and such,
and has protocols in place to make sure cases are not duplicated,” Layton said on the phone on Tuesday.
Daugherty said that after she complained, Macias and Executive Director Carole Conn singled her out, undermined her projects, deleted her work, stalked her on social media and unduly criticized her. She was fired in February 2023. Daugherty filed her lawsuit in Sacramento County where she lives, and the case was transferred to Santa Clara County on July 21.
Treatment set for man in knife case
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A man who swung a box cutter at a Whole Foods manager in Los Altos while wearing a mask that was mistaken for Richard Nixon has avoided jail time, court records show.
Judge Meghan Piano on Tuesday agreed to free Henry Villalobos, 23, and send him to get mental health and drug addiction treatment at the Muriel Wright Recovery Center in San Jose.
Villalobos will spend two to three months there, and then he’ll go back into the community. If he stays out of trouble for two years, then the case against him would be dismissed.
Garage confrontation
A Whole Foods manager reported that a homeless man wearing a Nixon mask tried to slice him with a box cutter in a parking garage underneath the grocery store at 4800 El Camino Real.
Villalobos allegedly pulled out a bottle of pills, ingested them and started cussing at the manager around 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, 2024.
Villalobos then put on a mask, told the manager to give him his phone and lunged at the manager at least two times, the manager said.
Mountain View police arrested Villalobos the next day.
The mask, which Villalobos still had, turned out not to be a Nixon mask, but an old man mask with a hat attached that said “I love Bingo,” Officer Jason Kozy said in his report.
Villalobos has been at the Elmwood
Jail in Milpitas ever since. Two social workers interviewed him and his mother about his life history to support a motion for a mental health diversion instead of a criminal sentence.
Villalobos’ biological mother drank alcohol and used drugs while she was pregnant in Richmond and then died from complications associated with his birth, the motion said.
“Upon entering the world he was already addicted to substances,” Deputy Public Defender Dalton Bradbury wrote.
Troubled past
Villalobos went to juvenile hall for a fight when he was 15, and then went back when he was 17 after another fight.
He started a truck-hauling business with a friend but lost his customers during the pandemic, so he started drinking more and exploring the Bay Area on BART, the motion said.
“He began to wander aimlessly,” the motion said.
Police officers tried to pull over Villalobos while he was drunk and on Xanax, and Villalobos fled the scene and got into a serious accident before he was arrested, the motion said.
Inmates at the Maguire Jail in Redwood City introduced Villalobos to meth and fentanyl, and he spent the next few years in between jail and homelessness.
Villalobos said he was looking for a warm place to stay when the Whole Foods manager confronted him.
Social worker Michelle Nelson said Villalobos has been taking medication and staying sober in jail but still has potentially dangerous symptoms.
MASK
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
JULY 18
6:47 p.m. — Lance Dwayne Henry, 38, of San Francisco, arrested on a warrant, Stanford Shopping Center.
JULY 21
11:10 p.m. — Auto burglary, 500 block of Webster St.
JULY 23
2:20 p.m. — Gavin Lamar Mour, 44, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, Civic Center.
3:52 p.m. — Tauaomalo Poialii, 62, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 3100 block of Park Blvd.
10:03 p.m. — Auto burglary, 800 block of Emerson St.
10:34 p.m. — Auto burglary, Gilman St. and Hamilton Ave.
FRIDAY
7:58 a.m. — Don Reese, 59, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.
2:27 p.m. — Danyell Lindsey, 36, of Elk Grove, arrested for theft of a vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia, Town & Country Village.
5:20 p.m. — Vehicle tampering, 600 block of Forest Ave.
9:15 p.m. — Auto burglary, 500 block of High St.
11:01 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Bryant St.
11:04 p.m. — Vandalism, 400 block of Bryant St.
SATURDAY
12:09 a.m. — Auto burglary, 500 block of High St.
9:28 a.m. — Anthony Emilio
Nieblas, 25, of San Jose, arrested for auto burglary, 400 block of High St.
10:39 a.m. — Paul Hurbert Tuutafaiva, 50, of Martinez, arrested for domestic violence, Edgewood Drive.
1 p.m. — Burglary, Byxbee Park.
2:06 p.m. — Aisha Hunter Ramsey, 23, of Oakland, arrested for theft of a vehicle, 300 block of Alma St.
2:13 p.m. — Josue David Montes Aguilar, 30, of East Palo Alto, arrested on warrants, Alma St. and Lytton Ave.
6:28 p.m. — Grand theft, Stanford Hospital.
MENLO PARK
TUESDAY
Noon Mail stolen, 600 block of Sharon Park Drive.
4:50 p.m. — Hector Ambrocio Nieto Mejia, 33, of Foster City, cited on a warrant, Menlo Park Police Dept.
7:41 p.m. — Gabriela Cota, 37, transient, arrested on a warrant, 1500 block of Willow Road.
STANFORD
JULY 16
3:30 p.m. — Petty theft, 700 block of Serra St.
JULY 17
2:36 p.m. — Burglaries reported at Encina Hall Center at 616 Jane Stanford Way and at Landau Economics Building, 579 Jane Stanford Way. At 3:02 p.m. on the 300 block of University Ave. in Palo Alto, police arrest Kuang Sett Lwin, 23, of Fremont, in connection with both burglaries.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
JULY 21
1:33 a.m. — Theft at 24 Hour Fitness, 550 Showers Drive.
5:30 a.m. — Jose Eliseo Mendez Mendez, 27, arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended or revoked license, Highway 101 and Moffett Blvd.
9:29 a.m. — Vandalism, 500 block of Piazza Drive.
2:59 p.m. — Battery, 200 block of Pettis Ave.
6:02 p.m. — Home burglary, 400 block of Bush St.
7:08 p.m. — Auto burglary, California and Bryant streets.
7:39 p.m. — Vandalism, 300 block of Escuela Ave.
7:50 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Bryant St.
LOS ALTOS
SUNDAY
1:07 a.m. — Juan Hernandez, 27, transient, cited on a warrant, El Camino and San Antonio Road.
10:58 a.m. — Troy Harrison, 39, of San Jose, arrested for possession of burglary tools, tear gas and drug paraphernalia and probation violation, Miramonte and Berry avenues.
TUESDAY
10:11 a.m. — Elder abuse alleged, 1100 block of Los Altos Ave.
ATHERTON
TUESDAY
11:16 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Middlefield Road and Glenwood Ave.
NORTH FAIR OAKS
JULY 24
2:46 p.m. — Manuel Tinajero Garcia, 36, arrested for trespassing, 2900 block of Bay Road.
REDWOOD CITY
MAY 7
Oscar Alberto Hernandez Urbizo, 30, arrested for possession of drugs
and drug paraphernalia and falsely identifying himself to police, 300 block of Woodside Road.
Faustino Dennis Ayala, 40, of Redwood City, arrested on warrants, 300 block of Woodside Road.
Angel Wilfredo Prado Cabrera, 43, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 300 block of Woodside Road.
Marcos Javier Ramos, 36, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 3100 block of Rolison Road.
Heidy Franco Jacome, 34, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, Devonshire Ave.
Justin Michael Hersh, 38, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, Roosevelt Ave. and Adams St.
Ivan Urbina Canales, 31, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, San Mateo and MacArthur avenues.
Sanis Erika Sandoval Damian, 33, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic battery, 1-99 block of Oak Ave.
Frangel Chan, 51, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, Marsh Road and Florence St.
JULY 22
2:45 a.m. — Johnathon Jermaine Willis, 33, of San Jose, cited for
drug possession, Jefferson Ave. and Cleveland St.
9:30 a.m. — Raymond Ramos, 44, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, Redwood City Police Dept.
12:20 p.m. — Diamantae Michael Parker, 21, of San Jose, arrested for illegal possession of tear gas and on a warrant, El Camino and Winklebleck St.
4:44 p.m. — Michael Hosking, 45, of Redwood City, cited on warrants, Kentfield Ave. and Woodside Road.
JULY 23
6:48 a.m. — Auto burglary, Veterans Blvd. Tools, radio and vehicle registration paperwork are stolen.
8:03 a.m. — Man says his bicycle was stolen the previous day and he just saw a man riding his bike, Bradford St.
8:20 a.m. — Jasmine Felicia Ashley, 44, of San Francisco, arrested for driving without valid registration and proof of insurance and falsely identifying herself to police, 200 block of Redwood Shores Parkway.
8:40 a.m. — Cristian Ladino Palomino, 28, of Santa Clara, arrested for narcotics possession and on a warrant, 500 block of Buckeye St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
9:27 a.m. — Wallet stolen, Brewster Ave.
1:55 p.m. — Natalia Jamaca, 32, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 400 block of Walnut St.
2:09 p.m. — Sergio Mauricio Gutierrez Alvarez, 32, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, 400 block of Walnut St.
3:36 p.m. — Security guard says a drunken homeless man was throwing beer cans at him and trying to steal alcohol and the security guard used pepper spray on the man, 1000 block of El Camino. Ruben Pilar Herrera Sr., 55, arrested for public drunkenness.
4:53 p.m. — Damon Sherwood Spikener, 33, of San Francisco, cited for shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia at Target, 2485 El Camino.
8:24 p.m. — Man goes into a store and scams an employee there into buying fake products, El Camino.
SAN CARLOS
JULY 24
12:16 p.m. — Jamaica Edward Satterwhite, 27, and Jesse Tyler Smith, 30, both arrested for shoplifting, possession of narcotics and drug
paraphernalia, and on warrants, 1100 block of Industrial Road.
4:47 p.m. — James Anthony Ursino, 27, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, 300 block of Dartmouth Ave.
BELMONT
MONDAY
8:55 p.m. — Jeffery Taylor Moore-Lavaysse, 33, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, 700 block of Harbor Blvd.
CHP
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula. FEB. 21
Noemi A. Gonzalez, 27, arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
FEB. 22
Leonardo A. Ramos, 20, arrested for DUI.
Joshua C. Robinson Jr., 27, arrested for DUI, recklessly evading police in a vehicle and resisting police.
Roderico B. Temaj Castanon, 39, arrested for driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.
Joseph B. Vinzant Jr., 33, arrested for DUI.
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Newsom seeks to bolster men, boys
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order yesterday aimed at supporting men and boys and improving their mental health outcomes, in an effort to lower suicide rates among young men and help them feel less isolated.
The order directs the state Health and Human Services Agency to recommend ways to address suicide rates among young men and help them seek services to improve their mental health and well-being. It also requires the state to connect them with education and career opportunities.
“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity, and even their own families,” Newsom said in a statement. “This action is about turning that around. It’s about showing every
young man that he matters and there’s a path for him of purpose, dignity, work, and real connection.”
The issue has come increasingly into focus for Democrats since last year’s election, when the party lost young men to President Trump, who framed much of his campaign as a pitch to men who felt scorned by the country’s economy, culture and political system.
Suicide numbers
Men make up half the population but account for 80% of suicides in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. suicide mortality rate — defined as deaths per 100,000 people — for men and boys in 2023 was 22.7, about four times higher than that of women and girls.
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Real Estate
The Post prints the
PALO ALTO
221 Byron St., 94301, 2 bedrooms, 1152 square feet, built in 1911, Christopher and Scott Young to Hobstetter Living Trust for $217,000, closed July 1
185 Forest Ave. #4c, 94301, 2 bedrooms, 1285 square feet, built in 1981, Emily and Daniel McDonough to Rochelle and Thomas Cramer for $1,360,000, closed July
2 (last sale: $1,075,000, 03-14-23)
727 Loma Verde Ave. #C, 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1698 square feet, built in 1985, Mendell Living Trust to Tiezheng and Yan Luo for $1,596,000, closed July 2 (last sale: $1,100,000, 08-15-13)
MENLO PARK
2 Perry Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1540 square feet, built in 2001, Lenhardt Trust to First Compass Rose LLC for $3,425,000, closed June 9 (last sale: $2,900,000, 09-22-21)
940 Continental Drive, 94025, 4 bedrooms, 2400 square feet, built in 1961, Zml LLC to Hauke and Regine Schmidt for $4,050,000, closed June 9 (last sale: $3,050,000, 02-12-16)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
217 Ada Ave. #52, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1338 square feet, built in 1983, Kendrick Poon to Rebecca
and Elena Albinana for $1,108,000, closed July 2 (last sale: $527,500, 0509-11)
2255 Showers Drive #363, 94040, 3 bedrooms, 1418 square feet, built in 1999, Liao Trust to YowHwa and Tsungyeh Tang for $1,196,000, closed June 30 (last sale: $1,405,000, 06-20-19)
305 Cherokee Loop, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1327 square feet, built in 2018, Irevocable Trust to Katrina Wijaya for $1,460,000, closed June 30 (last sale: $1,335,500, 02-28-19)
LOS ALTOS
425 1st St. #34, 94022, 2 bedrooms, 1131 square feet, built in 2023, 425 First Los Altos LLC to Alexander and Kjersten Turpen for $1,825,000, closed July 1
1290 Colonial Oaks Drive, 94024, 5 bedrooms, 2535 square feet, built in 1951, McDonough Trust to 1290 Colonial Oaks Prop LLC for $2,169,000, closed July 2 (last sale: $1,630,000, 05-27-09)
LOS ALTOS
HILLS
26388 Ginny Lane, 94022, 5 bedrooms, 2432 square feet, built in 1967, D and G Survivors to Tingyi and Di Lu for $4,180,000, closed July 1
PORTOLA VALLEY
161 East Floresta Way, 94028, 3 bedrooms, 2412 square feet, built in 1953, Kelley Trust to Alexis
and Robert Robbins for $4,250,000, closed June 10
REDWOOD CITY
1918 Madison Ave., 94061, 3 bedrooms, 1919 square feet, built in 1947, Buescher Trust to Caroline and Bryon Smith for $2,415,000, closed June 6 (last sale: $1,925,000, 08-24-18)
2006 Hull Ave., 94061, 4 bedrooms, 2448 square feet, built in 2003, Michael and Nicole Mcginn to Inc.hara and Sagar Khadabadi for $2,800,000, closed June 5 (last sale: $2,250,000, 09-10-20)
910 Governors Bay Drive, 94065, 4 bedrooms, 3040 square feet, built in 1993, Lesli and Andrew Leong to Hiten and Amee Shah for $3,750,000, closed June 3
SAN CARLOS
3335 Brittan Ave. #6, 94070, 2 bedrooms, 1040 square feet, built in 1972, Cortes Trust to Elaine and David Mills for $739,000, closed June 10 (last sale: $225,000, 10-01-90)
113 Wildwood Ave., 94070, 4 bedrooms, 3090 square feet, built in 1941, Laporte Living Trust to Bagby Trust for $4,400,000, closed June 10
BELMONT
2514 Dekoven Ave., 94002, 2 bedrooms, 780 square feet, built in 1949, Michael Sneper to Donovan Family Trust for $3,800,000, closed June 10 (last sale: $1,200,000, 10-08-18)
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.
Open Saturday August 2, & Sunday August 3, 12 – 3 p.m
$4,150,000 4 Bedrooms
2 Baths 2,002 Square Feet
688 Kingswood Way, Los Altos
Idyllic Neighborhood
Idyllic neighborhood of four tree-lined streets with one road in. Trees provide awe-inspiring seasonal color. Short distance to Santa Rita and Egan schools. Short bike ride to LAHS. The street is between San Antonio and Los Altos Avenue, providing access to much of what makes Los Altos appealing and an easy commute via 280, Foothill Expressway, 101 or Central Expressway. It would be hard to beat the beauty, comfort and convenience of this neighborhood.
This home is available for the first time in 46 years. Property is 4 bedrooms/2 baths. 2,002 square feet house 9,537 square foot lot. Kitchen is a cook’s pleasure with Cherry cabinetry and distinctive granite. Baths have been redone with great style and accoutrements. The backyard allows complete enjoyment of our magnificent weather. The grill and outdoor kitchen enable easy entertaining and the inviting pool includes an automatic pool cover enabling comfortable temperature Spring to Fall.
DRE 00417967, CRB, GRI
Prochnow Realtors, Inc.
164 Main Street Los Altos, CA 94022
Mobile 650.269.3120
maryproc@aol.com
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Barbecue Brings Texas Smoke and Southern Hospitality to the Bay Area
If you’re craving authentic Texas-style barbecue without leaving the Bay, Capelo’s Barbecue nestled on 711 Madison Ave in Redwood City is the place to be. Recently placed on Yelp’s Top 100 Barbecue Restaurants in the country, and the only Bay Area spot to make the list, Capelo’s is serving up a true taste of the Lone Star State, right here on the Peninsula.
Owner and self-proclaimed Boss of Barbecue, John Capelo grew up in Harlingen, Texas, where his love for barbecue was forged deep in Southern tradition. In 2008, John turned his side hustle into the start of his lifelong dream. While working in the corporate world, John noticed the Bay Area lacked the authentic smokehouse flavors he grew up with, so he began experimenting with different woods, meats, and sauces until he mastered his signature flavor. By 2012, John’s food truck had become a destination in its own right, attracting die-hard barbecue fans willing to drive hours for a plate of authentic Texas-style BBQ. Fast forward to 2020, when John’s dream of a permanent location became reality. Today, Capelo’s flagship spot is more than a barbecue joint, it’s a community hub. True to its roots, Capelo’s also gives back to the community with open mic nights in partnership with Palo Alto’s School of Rock and live music every Friday and Saturday from 5:00pm-8:00 p.m. John and his team remain committed to Southern hospitality, ensuring every guest feels like family.
Guests can savor slow-smoked meats, like their specialty ribs and brisket, paired with Southerninspired sides like creamed corn, kale slaw, baked beans, and potato salad - all best enjoyed in the relaxed outdoor space with a cold drink in hand. From a single food truck to one of the top barbecue destinations in America, Capelo’s Barbecue is proof that passion, patience, and smoke make magic happen. For bold flavors and good vibes, stop by Capelos and thank John and the exceptional Capelo staff for what they do for our community, and for all their hard work. Offers catering and private events. For more information call (650) 701-5433.
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. Shown in the photo is Kurt Allen, NDNU’s Vice President for Marketing & Communications.
A TASTE OF CALABRIA, AN EVENING
WITH Rosetta Constantino. Join Impasto for an unforgettable culinary event as they welcome Rosetta Costantino, author of My Calabria and ambassador of Southern Italian cuisine. Thursday, September 4th. This exclusive evening will feature a 4-course Calabrian menu, crafted in collaboration with Rosetta and expertly paired with regional wines. From rustic classics to bold flavors rooted in tradition, each course will celebrate the heart and soul of Calabria. To make a reservation, please call (650) 486-1506 or email info@impastosancarlos.com. Impasto is located at 661 El Camino Real, San Carlos.
WANT AN ADVANCE LOOK AT TOMORROW’S THEATRE HITS? Join the fun at TheatreWorks
Silicon Valley’s 22nd Annual New Works Festival. Among this year’s highlights: new works by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winners (including the creators of Come From Away), and indie-band The Kilbanes; a musical about the real Alice (of Alice and Wonderland) and her college romance with a crown prince; and much more. With readings, special events, and food trucks on select days, the popular festival runs July 25 – Aug. 17 at the Lucie Stern Theatre. For the schedule and tickets go to theatreworks.org or call 877-662-8978.
21ST ANNUAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
With 4 separate campuses in Palo Alto, Bowman supports the entire educational journey from 12 Weeks to 12th Grade. Parents love the flexibility of Bowman’s year-round program, which allows each family to choose time off. Extended care is included in tuition (7:30am - 6pm). Montessori methods are applied across all age groups at Bowman, nurturing children’s curiosity, independence, and lifelong love of learning. Visit their website today for more information and registration.
DAY. Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center. A family-friendly and resource-rich event designed to empower all residents to be better prepared for any emergency! Some of the activities include: How to Pack a Go Bag; How to Use a Fire Extinguisher; Pets & Disasters 101; Be Red Cross Ready; an Emergency Cooking Demonstration; a Search & Rescue Dog demonstration; and a Kids’ Korner where children can decorate a pillowcase and hear Storytime with a Firefighter. In addition, there will be many displays, exhibits, games, and vendors so you can gather more information and supplies. For updates and full listing of events, visit smcdisasterprep.org
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.
WHEN IT COMES TO DEPENDABLE electrical work, Bay Area residents and business owners alike turn to Keith Davey Electrical. With years of handson experience, Keith offers all phases of electrical specializing in recessed lighting. Now offering electric car charger installations. References and free estimates available. Please call Keith at (650) 7590440 for more information.
YOUNG FAMILIES! ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN for Bowman’s Children’s House at 3801 Bayshore in Palo Alto. This beautiful new facility is set to serve 12-week-old infants to 6-year-olds starting in September. Children’s House at Bayshore is the latest addition to the larger Bowman School, an award-winning, accredited Montessori program, highly trusted for the past 30 years.
DOES YOUR VACUUM OR SEWING machine need a little love? Have one of the Steves at the Vacuum Hospital repair shop give it a new lease on life. 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) 968-6539 or just come by 1446 W. El Camino Real in Mountain View.
SUNDANCE THE STEAKHOUSE IS A pretty classy joint. Everybody knows that. Been in business for over 50 years serving the best prime rib in town. The people who drink and dine at this family-owned restaurant are pretty classy people themselves so everything has to be perfect...and everything is. Classic American cuisine served in the candlelit dining room and cocktails served in the sports decorated lounge before dinner makes it the perfect evening. Just ask Olivia for a table and let her seat down to an evening you won’t forget. Come by 1921 El Camino Real and see why Sundance The Steakhouse has been such a special place for decades. Call Olivia at (650) 321-6798 for a reservation or check the website for more info.
Entertainment
Grateful Dead fans toast 60 years
Fans of the Grateful Dead are pouring into San Francisco for three days of concerts and festivities marking the 60th anniversary of the scruffy jam band that came to embody a city where people wore flowers in their hair and made love, not war.
Dead & Company, featuring original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, will play Golden Gate Park’s Polo Field starting tomorrow with an estimated 60,000 attendees each day. The last time the band played that part of the park was in 1991 — a free show following the death of concert promoter and longtime Deadhead Bill Graham.
Certainly, times have changed.
A general admissions ticket for all three days is $635 — a shock for many longtime fans who remember when a joint cost more than a Dead concert ticket.
But Deadhead David Aberdeen is thrilled anyway.
“This is the spiritual home of the Grateful Dead,” said Aberdeen, who works at Amoeba Music in the bohemian, flower-powered Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. “It seems very right to me that they celebrate it in this way.”
Then to now
Formed in 1965, the Grateful Dead is synonymous with San Francisco and its counterculture. Members lived in a dirt-cheap Victorian in the Haight and later became a significant part of 1967’s Summer of Love after their early
days on the Peninsula. The band’s first show, as the Warlocks, was at Magoo’s Pizza Parlor at 639 Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park. Bob Weir met Jerry Garcia on New Year’s Eve in 1963 when Weir heard Garcia playing banjo at Dana Morgan Music Store at 534 Bryant St. in Palo Alto. They formed a band that over the next two years morphed into the Warlocks, and then the Dead.
That summer of 1967 eventually soured into bad acid trips and police raids, and prompted the band’s move to Marin County on the other end of the Golden Gate Bridge. But new Deadheads kept cropping up — even after iconic guitarist and singer Jerry Garcia’s 1995 death — aided by cover bands and offshoots like Dead & Company.
“There are 18-year-olds who were obviously not even a twinkle in somebody’s eyes when Jerry died, and these 18-year-olds get the values of Deadheads,” said former Grateful Dead publicist and author Dennis McNally.
Fitting in, feeling at home
Deadheads can reel off why and how, and the moment they fell in love with the music. Fans love that no two shows are the same; the band plays different songs each time. They also embrace the community that comes with a Dead show.
Sunshine Powers didn’t have friends until age 13, when she stepped off a city bus and into the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
“I, all of a sudden, felt like I fit in. Or
like I didn’t have to fit in,” says Powers, now 45 and the owner of tie-dye emporium Love on Haight. “I don’t know which one it was, but I know it was like, OK.”
Similarly, her friend Taylor Swope, 47, survived a tough freshman year at a new school with the help of a Grateful Dead mixtape. The owner of the Little Hippie gift shop is driving from Brooklyn, New York, to sell merchandise, reconnect with friends and see the shows.
“The sense of, ‘I found my people, I didn’t fit in anywhere else and then I found this, and I felt at home.’ So that’s a big part of it,” she said of the allure.
Multiple events planned
Mayor Daniel Lurie, who is not a Deadhead but counts “Sugar Magnolia” as his favorite Dead song, is overjoyed at the economic boost as San Francisco recovers from pandemic-related hits to its tech and tourism sectors.
“They are the reason why so many people know and love San Francisco,” he said.
The weekend features parties, shows and celebrations throughout the city. Grahame Lesh & Friends will perform three nights starting Thursday. Lesh is the son of Phil Lesh.
On Friday, which would have been Garcia’s 83rd birthday, officials will rename a street after the San Francisco native. On Saturday, visitors can celebrate the city’s annual Jerry Day at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater located in a park near Garcia’s childhood home.
LASTING INFLUENCE — Musicians perform during Haight Street Daydream to celebrate 60 years of the Grateful Dead. AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez.
Lobster 2-lb Thursday
TEENAGE ---
bicyclist will likely need a CT scan. Dahl drove an Audi crossover that had hair and blood embedded in the shattered windshield, police said.
Officers found the car in Dahl’s driveway using his license plate number, and witnesses of the crash identified him as the driver.
Ran a red
Witnesses said Dahl was going about 35 mph and ran a red light at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue. The bicyclist told police that he didn’t see the car coming and only remembered lying on the ground.
Dahl was a pediatric oncologist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for over 30 years, taking care of kids with cancer or hematologic disorders.
Reached by phone after the crash, Dahl declined to comment. He’s out of jail on $10,000 bail and will be charged at the Palo Alto Courthouse on Aug. 20, court records show.
GUILTY ––––
ward Quinn, who would give Labat rides to and from work. Both Els and Quinn testified that they saw Labat’s dead body as they ran out of Thompson’s home after hearing gunshots, Jangla said.
Incriminating searches
Through investigations, it was found that Thompson had looked up things like “How to clean a Glock 19,” “What kind of stains do black lights detect,” “Notable murders without a body” and “No corpus, no problem,” Jangla said.
“It was me. I think I know who snitched on me,” are the words of someone who isn’t innocent, Jangla said, which was a statement Thompson made to his next-door neighbor, Elizabeth Axiak.
In tears, Axiak testified that Thompson, whom she saw as a brother, had told her he was responsible for the gunshots she heard a few days earlier.
Thompson admitted to cleaning up the mess that was left after the shooting and told Axiak he disposed of floorboards with blood and markings throughout the area — some in a Home Depot dumpster, others in the creek, Axiak testified.
The defense’s take Thompson’s attorney, Geoff Carr, said he doesn’t know who killed Labat, but all he knows is that it wasn’t his client.
“No one saw (Thompson) with a gun,
except one witness who then changed his testimony,” Carr said. “The jury bought him, apparently. Which I’ve never seen happen before. I’ve never seen a witness act out that badly, let alone for a jury to go, ‘that’s okay.’”
William White, who was accused of helping dispose of Labat’s body, took the stand after smoking a blunt, drinking half a pint of tequila and snorting cocaine before testifying.
“If I called a witness like that, I wouldn’t be surprised that the jury would cut my (…) off,” Carr said. “It’s not a witness that should be believed by anybody in any context.”
Doesn’t blame jury
Carr said he was insulted by what happened during the trial but isn’t criticizing the jury’s verdict.
When Quinn testified, he gave conflicting statements, didn’t answer any questions and made threats, Carr said.
“He told me I needed to take my medication and then mumbled something that I interpreted as a threat,” Carr said.
Carr said if he had called Quinn as a witness for Thomspons’ defense, the jurors wouldn’t have believed him.
“They made up their decision, and I’m supposed to eat it, so I’m eating it,” Carr said.
Today, the case will be back in court to schedule Thompson’s sentencing date.
road. How are we going to pay for it? Who’s going to pay for it?” Vice Mayor Mark Dinan said.
Sycamore Real Estate is proposing a permanent police station and library, estimated to cost $22 million and $50 million, respectively. A new 30,000-square-foot city hall would cost the city $65 million, according to Klima.
Dinan said that the city might have to do fundraising to see the project happen. He expressed support for the project but had concerns, but did not mention what they were, as council was not discussing finances.
A ‘real win’
The proposal is a great opportunity and a real win for the community, as it could create more space for the city’s heavily used library, Dinan said. He mentioned that the current police station has raccoons living underneath it and that the city deserves better.
East Palo Alto residents expressed excitement for the new buildings as an opportunity to support the community better. Resident Isabelle Lopez said
she hopes the city moves fast with the project because a new civic center will bring in more people and make the city more inviting.
Eric Stuart, who coaches for the East Palo Alto Greyhounds Youth Athletic Association, brought his team to sit in the meeting to support the project.
Stuart said this was an opportunity for children to have a park close to their homes and not have to travel to other cities for practice. He said this will also help family members attend games, making them more accessible.
No one spoke against the project.
Stars aligning?
Councilman Ruben Abrica, who has attended Greyhounds games, said he will now have the opportunity to just walk over instead of driving to Redwood City to support the city’s sports teams.
“All the elements are there to hopefully really make it happen. I think all the stars are aligning. As you know, the financing is always an issue, but it seems like there are different options that we could consider,” Abrica said.
Abrica said that having a partnership makes the project more likely to happen. The project will serve the community and help the business growth in the city, he said.
Been looking
For years, the city has been looking for a place for the town to use as a city center, Assistant City Manager Shiri Klima said.
Kilma said it’s about time for East Palo Alto to have an updated library, city hall and police station, which are
all rented. Abrica said that this is the third time something like this has been considered and has high hopes for this proposal.
City officials had previously approved plans for a four-story building at 2535 Pulgas Ave., which Sycamore was planning to build for the nonprofit JobTrain, which trains people who are looking for new careers, and the Emerson Collective, a nonprofit that Powell Jobs also heads.
But because of issues with the East Palo Alto Sanitary District — which the city now controls — plans for the nonprofit office project fell apart.
Rents
civic buildings
The city currently rents city hall and the library at 2415 University Avenue, the police department at 141 Demeter St., the corporation yard at 150 Tara Road and office spaces at 1950 Tate St.
If the project for the new city hall continues, a public park will be donated at 2555 Pulgas Ave., 151 Tara St. and 264 Tara St.
If the project continues, a park will be donated that includes a multi-use field for football, soccer, and Little League baseball. It will also feature an eight-lane track around the field, and surrounding it will be a children’s playground, an exercise plaza, two pickleball courts, half a basketball court and a picnic area.
Private donors who were not disclosed and Sycamore Real Estate will cover $30.35 million of the park’s cost. The city will be responsible for maintaining the park.
Council will revisit the proposal in September and talk about financing.
Stanford conversion of Red Cross building
by commission
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
The Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission yesterday approved Stanford’s permit to convert the former Red Cross building at 400 Mitchell Lane into an outpost for the new Doerr School of Sustainability.
Resident Herb Borock appealed Planning Director Jonathan Lait’s approval, saying that a separate tree removal permit should be considered at the same time. Borock didn’t go to last night’s meeting.
Current Planning Manager Claire Raybould said Stanford could update the building without removing the trees and vice versa, so the city
can approve the permits at different times.
Commissioner Forest Olaf Peterson had questions about how Stanford’s property by the downtown train station fits in with any expansion plans, but his colleagues said that was outside the scope of the permit.
Fresh paint needed
Overall, commissioners were excited that the building would get some fresh paint.
“I’m thrilled to see that we’re converting something that has been unused into a vibrant center of local environmental education,” Commissioner Cari Templeton said.
Classes at PVI
Frustrated with technology?
Want to learn how to use an iPad? Join our Tech Connect Program at PVI, Inc. If you do not have an iPad, a complimentary one will be lent to you for the duration of the class. During the 8-week session, you will learn the basics, Zoom, email, taking pictures, being safe on the Internet, and much more! Training materials are provided.
$60 for Little House members $80 for non-members
Class iPad Class
September 2 through December 16
Radioactive wasp nest discovered at nuke site
Workers at a site in South Carolina that once made key parts for nuclear bombs in the U.S. have found a radioactive wasp nest, but officials said there is no danger to anyone.
Employees who routinely check radiation levels at the Savannah River Site near Aiken found a wasp nest on July 3 on a post near tanks where liquid nuclear waste is stored, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The nest had a radiation level 10 times what is allowed by federal regulations, officials said.
The workers sprayed the nest with insect killer, removed it and disposed of it as radioactive waste. No wasps were found, officials said.
Contamination source
The report said there is no leak from the waste tanks, and the nest was likely radioactive through
what it called “onsite legacy radioactive contamination” from the residual radioactivity left from when the site was fully operational.
The watchdog group Savannah River Site Watch said the report was at best incomplete since it doesn’t detail where the contamination came from, how the wasps might have encountered it and the possibility there could be another radioactive nest if there is a leak somewhere.
