MONDAY, August 4, 2025
Murderer closer to freedom
Panel recommends release of man who killed his roommate
BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent
The man who was convicted of murdering Mountain View resident Kathleen Noble in 1989 might soon be released from prison, more than two decades after his 2002 conviction.
A two-person parole board panel held a hearing on Thursday for Mark Mepham Hensley, 56, and
JACK SMITH UNDER SCRUTINY:
An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against then-candidate Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year.
LONI ANDERSON, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist Jennifer on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” has died at age 79. She married four times, once to Burt Reynolds.
‘FOUR’ FALTERS: Marvel’s “The
[See THE UPDATE, page 4]
found him suitable to be released on parole. The decision now will go through an administrative review process, and then to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can approve or reverse it.
A San Mateo County jury in 2002 found Hensley guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Noble, who was his roommate
[See MURDERER, page 18]
Jury gets neighbor dispute
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Good fences are said to make for good neighbors. But what about when the neighbors are separated by a creek?
That’s the crux of a lawsuit going to a jury trial with a Los Altos Hills family accusing their Los Altos neighbors of sabotaging their home sale and putting a trampoline on their property.
Families feud over small chunk of land
The dispute is between the Whartons and the Robinsons on two treelined properties a couple blocks from downtown.
Scott and Mariette Wharton live with their children at 168 University Ave. When they bought the house in 2016, they assumed their back-
yard went up to the middle of Adobe Creek, forming a border with the Robinsons’ property at 25285 Fremont Road in Los Altos Hills. The Robinsons have owned their property since 1954. Before they moved in, workers straightened out Adobe Creek because a sharp bend caused flooding, but the property line didn’t change. So that means the Robinsons own
[See NEIGHBOR, page 19]
County looks at new sales tax
Santa Clara County officials are preparing to put on the November ballot a sales tax increase to bail out the county hospital system, which has been running a deficit for years and is now facing cuts in Medi-Cal.
Deadline is Friday to put measure on ballot
The deadline for the ballot is Friday, yet the Board of Supervisors has not held any hearings about the proposed five-eighths sales tax.
However, the nonprofit Valley
Health Foundation in San Jose has started raising money for a campaign to get voters to pass the tax in November, according to the San Jose news website Spotlight. Spotlight says the foundation has received about $1 million in pledges for the campaign.
Spotlight said the county is looking to pass a “general tax” rather than one earmarked for the hospital and health care system. A general tax only requires a simple majority to pass, while a tax for a particular purpose needs a two-thirds vote to win.
The downside to a general tax, however, is that officials can use the money for other purposes than the ones they
[See TAX, page 19]
ANDERSON
MARK HENSLEY
KATHLEEN NOBLE
Locally owned, independent
City responds to bicyclist’s death
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
San Carlos Planning and Transportation Commissioners will review three options tomorrow to make the Holly Street and Highway 101 overpass safer for bicyclists and pedestrians after a Palo Alto woman was killed while biking on the overpass.
One proposal can be done quickly while the others could take years
Stanford employee Andrea Vallebueno, 31, died after a collision with a car on Holly Street near the Highway 101 overpass on Nov. 16.
After her death, bicyclists went to the Jan. 8 City Council meeting, asking
the city to quickly make changes to the overpass.
At a community meeting a few months later, they suggested constructing a separate overcrossing as a longterm solution.
City officials are considering a separate pedestrian bridge over 101, but in the meantime, some alternatives have been designed to keep bicyclists safe.
Flashing signs
One idea is to add flashing signs
at Highway 101 on and off ramps, increasing the number of signs and painting a more prominent crosswalk along with a curb extension. This alternative would cost around $4 million, according to the commission’s report.
Another option is to add flashing signs at Highway 101 on-ramps, traffic signals at off-ramps and bike signals at Shoreway Road and Industrial Road, while also separating the bike lane with poles.
The last option is to have flashing
signs and raised concrete at Highway 101 on-ramps, traffic signals at offramps and raised concrete along Industrial Road and Shoreway Road with bike signals.
Millions
The second and third alternatives would cost around $6 to $8 million, according to commissioners.
Caltrans believes the first option could be approved within one to three months, while the other two alternatives could take three to five years, the commission stated in a report. The two alternatives would need to be studied by Caltrans, which would add more time to the project’s start.
Fantastic Four: First Steps” faltered in its sophomore weekend at the box office, recording a 66% dip in North American theaters. But the movie still managed to hold on to the No. 1 spot, earning $40 million. “The Bad Guys 2” and “The Naked Gun” snagged the second and third spots.
BOEING STRIKE: Boeing workers who build fighter jets in St. Louis; St. Charles, Mo.; and Mascoutah, Ill. have rejected a 20% raise over four years and will go on strike today.
LEGISLATORS FLEE: Democrats in the Texas House left the state yesterday in a last-resort bid to block new congressional maps sought by President Donald Trump that would give Republicans a better chance of preserving their narrow U.S. House majority in the 2026 midterm elections. Lawmakers can’t pass bills in the 150-member Texas House without at least two-thirds of them present.
TRUMP SQUEEZES FED: President Trump is calling on the Federal Reserve’s board of governors to usurp the power of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, criticizing the head of the U.S. central bank for not cutting short-term interest rates.
VITAL STATISTICS
Births
Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City:
Jan. 21
Leif Hu Allen, a boy
Vincenzo Van Luca Massagli, a boy
Gianni Orozco, a boy
Ammar Mohammed Shaik, a boy
Jan. 20
Elise Muyan Jokisch, a girl
Jan. 19
Nova Qingfeng Zhang, a girl
Jan. 17
Kaiden Emmett Allen, a boy
Josephine Judy Deluca, a girl
Agastya Satyanaraynan, a boy
Jan. 16
Mateo Ignacio Garay, a boy
Neev Shetty Gupta, a boy
Apollo Peter Liu, a boy
Jan. 15
Haowen Fu, a boy
Amandine Qianye Manceron, a girl
Kamari Prince Pollock, a boy
Bennett Kangyi Sun, a boy
Jan. 14
Nour Alaiddin Ahmad, a girl
Ronen Eyal Delan, a boy
Dara Mccay Ghasimakbari, a boy
Nelly Soleymani, a girl
Josef V. Cervenka
January 25, 1928 - July 23, 2025
In loving memory of Josef V. Cervenka - husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He was born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States in 1956. He proudly became a U.S. Citizen and spent his working life as a commercial photographer, including helping to produce the Sears Catalog for many years. He moved from the Chicago area to California (a lifelong dream) in 2003 to be near his grandchildren. He enjoyed reading, watching sports, fixing things, keeping track of the weather, and eating ice cream. He will be remembered for his kindness and affable nature. He leaves behind his wife Hilde, daughter Andrea (Shai) and grandchildren Adam and Abigail.
Surprise tax not ready for ballot
Slow down.
Somebody needs to tell that to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, which appears hell-bent to beat a Friday deadline to put a sales tax on the November ballot.
Normally, a proposal for a tax increase is released far in advance so the public can scrutinize it and provide feedback. The supervisors are apparently considering a five-eighths of a cent tax, which would raise the countywide sales tax rate to 9.75%. I use the word “apparently” in the previous sentence because nothing — I mean nothing — official has come out about this tax. We only know they’re cooking this up based on a leak to the San Jose news website Spotlight. Surprise, taxpayers!
Where will the money go? It looks like they’re going to call it a health care tax, and that the money will help
What will it take?
Dear Editor: Now that Donald Trump has put 39% tariffs on Switzerland, wonder what it will take to remove them? He’s already got a plane. Several solid gold Rolexes?
Janice Hough Palo Alto
fill the gaps caused by cuts in Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), the health care program for the poor.
But those cuts, for the most part, call for tightening eligibility requirements. For instance, recipients who are able-bodied will have to work at least 20 hours a week to qualify. And the cuts will be phased in over a number of years. So why the mad rush to get this on the ballot?
Hospitals bleed money
The real reason is that the county has a money-losing hospital system, which includes Valley Medical Center on Bascom Avenue in San Jose. In the previous fiscal year, it lost $600 million, a deficit that was made up by the county’s general fund. County officials would like a new tax to take care of that deficit so they can free up $600 million for their pet projects in San Jose.
It’s going to be a “general tax,” which means the money can be used for any purpose, not necessarily health care.
Pro-housing, but …
If it’s “general tax,” it only requires a majority vote to pass. If the tax were dedicated for a specific purpose, then it would need two-thirds to pass.
Before any tax hits the ballot, county residents, hospital employees and others involved in the system ought to be debating how to fill that $600 million gap. Are there budget cuts that can be made?
Million-dollar-a-year salaries
For instance, the government salary website, Transparent California, shows that in 2023 the top 10 county employees made over $1 million a year in salaries and benefits. All 10 were doctors for the county health care system. I’m not saying these highly-skilled doctors don’t deserve to be well compensated, but $1 million each?
This is the sort of thing that ought to be considered. But given the rush to get this on the ballot by Friday’s deadline, there will be no time for thoughtful discussions.
And ironically, a regressive sales tax
LETTERS
Dear Editor: I was quoted in Wednesday’s edition under the headline “Neighbors against apartments,” a mischaracterization. We support housing; we oppose this project’s poor design. In my public comments, I expressly supported new housing.
will hit the poor and middle income residents the hardest — the very people who use Medi-Cal. That’s because people on the low end of the income spectrum spend more of their money on merchandise that is subject to the sales tax than the wealthy.
So when politicians go on and on about how they want to help the poor, it’s a bunch of baloney. They’re perfectly willing to hit them with a regressive tax. Wait and see.
Looking at the calendar, it looks like the Board of Supervisors will only be able to hold one hearing — probably sometime on Thursday — to consider all of the factors that are involved in health care finance, and then make a decision about putting this on the ballot. I’d urge them to hold off and engage the community on what’s necessary to run a complex county health care system. That simply can’t be done in one rushed hearing.
Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.
My concern is the developer shirking basic obligations at public expense. This project is saying: “Deliveries and rideshares are not our problem. If you
[See LETTERS, page 8]
The quote omits my core concern: the project provides no on-site space for delivery trucks, garbage trucks, emergency vehicles, mail trucks or rideshares ... for a community of 100 households. If approved, it will commandeer El Camino Real’s first lane as a loading zone, offloading responsibility onto the public and obstructing a major arterial road with protected bike lanes.
Dave Price
JAN STROHECKER
Cool Gifts.
LETTERS –
Protests’ Impact
Dear Editor: I shopped at Town and Country Village on Saturday, July 26. As I was driving up, I saw that the Vigil4Gaza protesters were out in front yelling “Stop the Starvation!” Is there mass starvation in Gaza? Because of the blizzard of propaganda, we may never know the truth. However, the recent successful push to amplify this message worldwide has emboldened Hamas to stop negotiating. Not that that matters to
the protesters because logic is not at play here.
People mean well. But they can’t resist getting all worked up about a cause that doesn’t require them to take any responsibility. This has resulted in an extraordinary amount of drama over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
All that inflammatory rhetoric flying about has attained such a fever pitch, American Jews are being targeted and killed. Protests that promote these victim narratives now pose an existential threat to my life.
Seeing the Palestinian flag waving back and forth in front of the iconic Town and Country Village lantern made me lose my lunch. I thought T&C management, out
of their concern for brand image, might want to put some boundaries on these protests. The response from Joan at Crosspoint Property Management was a cursory, “not our problem.”
Ellis Partners, the T&C parent company, was not interested either. Not that this matters much, but never again will I shop at Town and Country Village.
Also, thank you Daily Post for keeping a lid on the propaganda.
Deborah
Goldeen Palo Alto
Regime change
Dear Editor: In June, President Trump ordered more than 4,000 members of the California
[See LETTERS, page 8]
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LETTERS –
National Guard to protect federal law enforcement officials in Los Angeles. Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit claiming that the president’s order was unconstitutional.
On June 19, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that, “Affording appropriate deference to the President’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard....”
Transit bailout tax
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If California’s mayors are unwilling to protect federal law enforcement officials, the federalization of the California National Guard will continue. On the other hand, there is support for the succession of California from the United States of America. One way or the other, will we be experiencing a regime change in California?
Skip Justman Palo Alto
Dear Editor: Thank you to Dave Price for his column last Monday l regarding the regressive transit tax. Dave seems to be the only journalist who gets what an awful idea this tax is. Voters in Santa Clara County have passed multiple tax and fee increases including gas taxes, the Caltrain Measure RR tax, two bridge toll increases, three VTA sales taxes, Santa Clara County’s Measure A eighth-cent sales tax, the state prop 30 quarter-cent sales tax and the 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee of $10. Additionally, we’re on the hook to pay back numerous state bond issues including highspeed rail, the Proposition 1 water bond and the infrastructure bonds of 2006. When is enough enough? Transit managers need to live within their means.
Bill Hough Los Altos
Real Estate
The Post prints the
PALO ALTO
1375 Pitman Ave., 94301, 3 bedrooms, 3072 square feet, built in 1941, Peretz Family Trust to 1375 Pitman LLC for $5,575,000, closed June 30 (last sale: $5,562,500, 11-05-24)
1555 California Ave., 94304, 4 bedrooms, 2489 square feet, built in 2017, Benjamin and Rebecca Lester to Leland Stanford Junior Univ for $7,050,000, closed July 2 (last sale: $1,707,500, 11-22-17)
1650 Waverley St., 94301, 4 bedrooms, 5014 square feet, built in 1920, Linder Family Trust to Prestige Mill LLC for $17,998,000, closed July 1 842 Boyce Ave., 94301, 4 bedrooms, 3496 square feet, built in 2000, 1027 Waverley LLC to Qingfang and Zehong Zhang for $21,000,000,
closed June 30 (last sale: $6,225,000, 03-23-23)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
989 Lane Ave., 94040, 4 bedrooms, 2258 square feet, built in 2013, Schneider Family Trust to Jessica and Alex Tang for $4,050,000, closed July 3 (last sale: $3,986,000, 05-31-22)
1200 Satake Court, 94040, 4 bedrooms, 2298 square feet, built in 2010, Koumouzelis Trust to Philip and Ashley Lee for $4,450,000, closed July 2 (last sale: $2,800,000, 09-28-15)
LOS ALTOS HILLS
26666 Laurel Lane, 94022, 4 bedrooms, 3494 square feet, built in 1963, Survivors Trust to Madhumita Datta for $5,500,000, closed June 30
REDWOOD CITY
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
3668 Country Club Drive, 94061, 4 bedrooms, 1940 square feet, built in 1956, Frederic Cirera to Pelard Family Trust for $2,900,000, closed June 3 (last sale: $1,103,000, 02-01-10)
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)
PALO ALTO
JULY 19
6:50 p.m. — Victor Manuel Cordova Negrete, 31, of San Jose, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, 400 block of Lincoln Ave.
WEDNESDAY
11:04 a.m. — Petty theft, Town & Country Village.
9:01 p.m. — Auto burglary, 4200 block of El Camino.
THURSDAY
8:47 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, 700 block of Cereza Drive.
9:31 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Quarry Road and Vineyard Lane.
MENLO PARK
FRIDAY
9:41 a.m. — Person taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, 1000 block of Del Norte Ave.
4:13 p.m. — Person taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, 300 block of El Camino.
SATURDAY
2:09 a.m. — Petty theft, 1200 block of San Mateo Drive.
7:17 a.m. — Burglary, 400 block of Claremont Way.
STANFORD
JULY 22
6:52 p.m. — Hit-and-run causes property damage, Angell Court.
JULY 23
11:44 a.m. — Petty theft at Ventura Hall, 220 Panama St.
1:21 p.m. — Petty theft at Ventura Hall, 220 Panama St.
2:52 p.m. — Electric bike stolen, 200 block of Campus Drive.
4:57 p.m. — Grand theft, 600 block of Escondido Road.
JULY 24
6:04 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, 1-99 block of Olmsted Road.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
JULY 6
12:41 a.m. — Juan Rodriguez, 27, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 100 block of N. Rengstorff Ave.
JULY 10
7:58 a.m. — Erik Rojas, 29, of Sunnyvale, cited on warrants, 600 block of San Antonio Road.
4:55 p.m. — Gabriel Ortiz, 34, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant, 900 block of Shoreline Blvd.
JULY 11
9:11 p.m. — Jaime Lopez, 47, of Sunnyvale, cited for driving under
the influence of both alcohol and drugs and possession of marijuana in a vehicle, Central Expressway and Bernardo Ave.
JULY 14
10:46 a.m. — Kenneth McCandless, 38, of Los Altos, cited for DUI, 500 block of Showers Drive.
JULY 24
8:45 a.m. — Victor Hernandez, 62, transient, arrested for parole violation and on a warrant, El Camino and Shoreline Blvd.
10:03 a.m. — Theft at Target, 555 Showers Drive.
11:52 a.m. — Home burglary, 100 block of N. Rengstorff Ave.
1:40 p.m. — Daniel Rivera, 27, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 600 block of San Antonio Road.
6:03 p.m. — Theft at Chase, 749 W. El Camino.
6:12 p.m. — Cesar Barrios, 24, of Mountain View, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, littering on the roadway and on a warrant, Rengstorff Ave. and Charleston Road.
6:22 p.m. — Sex crime, 2400 block of Villa Nueva Way.
JULY 25
7:45 a.m. — Laurence Ramsdale, 31, of Modesto, arrested for possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia and metal knuckles, 500 block of Showers Drive.
8:25 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, 300 block of Sierra Vista Ave.
Whether
4:10 p.m. — Theft at 99 Ranch Market, 1350 Grant Road.
4:25 p.m. — Grand theft at Bank of America, 384 San Antonio Road.
5:49 p.m. — Kerry Abel, 74, transient, cited for lewd conduct, 700 block of W. El Camino.
6 p.m. — Jorge Lopez, 38, transient, arrested for parole violation, 1200 block of Terra Bella Ave.
ATHERTON
FRIDAY
4:38 p.m. — False license plates found attached to a vehicle, 1-99 block of Adam Way.
SATURDAY
11:39 p.m. — Swapnil Sunilkumar Gandhi, 32, of Stanford, arrested for DUI, Selby Lane and Austin Ave.
NORTH FAIR OAKS
WEDNESDAY
10 p.m. — Alejandro Rodriguez, 24, of Daly City, arrested on four warrants, Marsh Road and Fair Oaks Ave. Arrest made by Atherton police.
REDWOOD CITY
MAY 8
Jose Armando Granados, 23, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as on a warrant, 1000 block of Middlefield Road.
Uvaldo Santiago Gallardo, 33,
Unlike
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of Redwood City, cited for drug possession, 1000 block of Middlefield Road.
Paul Phil Averill, 65, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment, 100 block of Hillview Ave.
Hanns Ricardo Hernandez, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, Seaport Blvd. and Blomquist St.
Tridarell Ayers, 32, of Clarksville, arrested on a warrant, Redwood City Caltrain Station.
Rodrigo Sican Lopez, 39, of Redwood City, arrested for trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia, 1400 block of Marshall St.
Angel Gerardo Naranjo Vargas, 31, of Redwood City, arrested for illegal possession of prescription drugs, 2200 block of El Camino.
Emilio Hernandez Aguilar, 51, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI that causes injuries, 500 block of Woodside Road.
Brett Benjamin Harwood, 55, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, Hazel Ave. and El Camino.
MAY 9
Pelesala Tauloa, 31, of Redwood City, arrested for kidnapping and domestic violence, 1500 block of Hudson St.
JULY 28
11:50 a.m. — Catalytic
converter stolen from a vehicle, E. Oakwood Blvd.
11:53 a.m. — Catalytic converter stolen from a vehicle, Davis St.
11:54 a.m. — Quendell
Dominic Johnson, 41, of Hollywood, arrested for burglary and vandalism, 700 block of Whipple Ave.
12:52 p.m. — Dominic Francisco Vigil, 38, of Vallejo, cited on warrants, 600 block of El Camino.
2:21 p.m. — Beth Dietrich, 46, of Mountain View, cited for shoplifting at Kohl’s, 250 Walnut St.
7:43 p.m. — Damon Sherwood Spikener, 33, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, El Camino and Center St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
8:26 p.m. — Anthony Joseph Benham, 35, arrested for possession and transportation of drugs for sale, drug possession while armed with a gun, carrying a concealed weapon and resisting police, Chestnut St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
TUESDAY
2:54 p.m. — Phone stolen from an unlocked car, Gordon St. 3:41 p.m. — Man walking down the street is swinging a large chain around as he walks, Middlefield Road. The man is gone when police arrives.
4:48 p.m. — Both license
plates stolen from a vehicle, El Camino.
BELMONT
FRIDAY
12:18 a.m. — Maxwell Lee Corner, 24, arrested for domestic violence, 900 block of Ralston Ave. 5:15 a.m. — Vehicle stolen in Belmont is recovered in Union City. 1:50 p.m. — Citizen reports a hit-and-run that occurred the previous day, Ralston Ave.
CHP
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula.
MARCH 1
Moonish K. Reddy, 36, arrested for DUI.
Maury D. Rice, 35, arrested for possession of cannabis for sale.
Rayan H. Rizvi, 23, arrested for DUI and hit-and-run.
MARCH 2
Karishma M. Nand, 31, arrested for DUI.
Douglas A. Soza, 23, arrested for DUI.
MARCH 4
Valerie A. Monteros, 30, arrested for DUI.
Ashwin Suseendran, 26, arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
MARCH 7
Amin Akbarianazar, 34, arrested for DUI.
Maria L. Seemiller-Flores, 39, arrested for DUI.
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Baby born from old embryo
A baby boy born to an Ohio couple developed from an embryo that had been frozen for more than 30 years in what is believed to be the longest storage time before a birth.
In what’s known as embryo adoption, Lindsey and Tim Pierce used a handful of donated embryos that have been frozen since 1994 in pursuit of having a child after fighting infertility for years. Their son was born Saturday from an embryo that had been in storage for 11,148 days, which the Pierces’ doctor says sets a record.
It’s a concept that has been around since the 1990s but is gaining traction as some fertility clinics and advocates, often Christian-centered, oppose discarding leftover embryos because of their belief that life begins at conception.
‘Three little hopes’
“I felt all along that these three little hopes, these little embryos, deserved to live just like my daughter did,” said Linda Archerd, 62, who donated her embryos to the Pierces.
Medical experts estimate about 1.5 million frozen embryos are currently being stored throughout the country, with many of those in limbo as parents wrestle with what to do with their leftover embryos created in IVF labs.
Further complicating the topic is a 2024 Alabama Supreme Court decision that said that frozen embryos have the legal status of children. State leaders have since devised a temporary solution shielding clinics from liability stemming from that ruling, though
Emotional and Practical Side of Downsizing
Tuesday, August 5th 2:00pm - 3:30pm 4041 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Please join us for an informative presentation on the Emotional and Practical side of Downsizing along with helpful teams that are here for you.
If you are planning on moving into a senior living community or helping a family or friend in downsizing, come join us for an invaluable discussion on the best way to tackle decluttering, sorting, packing, moving, setting up a new residence and selling your home. Most importantly learn about the benefits of living in a vibrant senior community!
Refreshments will be served. Valet parking available.
Archerd says she turned to IVF in
Back then, the ability to freeze, thaw and transfer embryos was making key progress and opening the door for hopeful parents to create more embryos and increase their chances of a successful transfer.
She wound up with four embryos and initially hoped to use them all. But after the birth of her daughter, Archerd and her husband divorced, disrupting her timeline for having more children.
As the years turned into decades, Archerd said she was wracked with guilt about what to do with the embryos as storage fees continued to rise.
Train Smarter. Recover Faster. Stay in
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Tim and Lindsey Pierce in November 2024 and their new baby boy. AP photos.
CONNECT AND LEARN SPEAKER EVENT. If you are planning on moving into a senior living community or helping a family or friend with downsizing, come join The Avant for an invaluable discussion on the best way to tackle decluttering, sorting, packing, moving, setting up a new residence and selling your home. Most importantly, learn about the benefits of living in a vibrant senior community. The event will be held tomorrow, August 5th from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 4041 El Camino Way, Palo Alto. Mani Mortezai, a well respected professional in the senior real estate field and the Marketing Director of Tailored Transitions will be the speaker. To reserve a spot, please call (650) 320-8626.
2025 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. Tomorrow, Palo Alto will celebrate National Night Out with block parties citywide, bringing neighbors and public safety professionals together. The Barron Park Neighborhood Association hosts its event
at Bol Park from 5–8 p.m., while Stanford Shopping Center welcomes the community near Blue Bottle Coffee from 4–7 p.m. Residents can meet police officers and firefighters, learn safety tips, and enjoy games and emergency vehicle displays, including police
cars and fire trucks. Locally supported by the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Police Foundation, National Night Out strengthens neighborhood bonds and fosters safer, more connected communities. Go get those trading cards!
LOOKING TO BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS? At the Global Leadership Summit on August 7 – 8, you have the opportunity to hear a
livestream of leadership experts, network and attend a Community Expo, and come away inspired! Event held at First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View, whose pastor Kim Dorr-Tilley says “We’re at the hinge of history right now in Silicon Valley. Investing in bold, inspiring leadership with a true north may be one of the most significant things we’ll ever do.” To learn more and register, go to fpcmv. org/gls.
THE ROTARY CLUB OF LOS ALTOS INVITES YOU to the 50th Annual Rotary Fine Art in the Park on August 9 to 10, 2025, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park. Over 150 artists will be showcasing beautiful and creative photos, oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, textiles, wearable art, wood, metals, glass, ceramics, and jewelry. Take a break and treat yourself at their inviting Food Court in the Park, where you’ll find comfortable seating, delicious local flavors, and refreshing drinks. 100% of Rotary Fine Art profits will go towards various projects such as providing support to fight diseases, including AIDS and COVID-19, helping victims of weather disasters, providing local scholarships, and supporting sustainable projects both locally and internationally.
ARTFUL LIVING. Nestled in downtown Palo Alto at 150 Hamilton Avenue, Galerie Home & Garden is
a local haven for design lovers and plant enthusiasts alike. Owned by Marisa, this beautifully curated boutique blends greenery, home decor, and artistic flair, offering everything from lush indoor plants and unique planters to vintage furniture and oneof-a-kind accents. Marisa’s passion for creativity doesn’t stop at styling spaces, she also hosts hands-on workshops that invite the community to explore plant care, floral design, and home styling tips in an inspiring, gallery-like setting. Whether you’re searching for the perfect statement piece or looking to nurture your green thumb, Galerie Home & Garden delivers a warm, artistic experience that brings homes to life. For more information please call (650) 494-4087.
knows a thing or two about running a restaurant. After taking over Stamp Bar & Grill in 2023 and partnering with Mus Gecim, the duo has dedicated themselves to a full-scale revamp of the beloved San Carlos establishment.
FRESH VIBES. With over two decades in the culinary world, from Tokyo to Australia, Ray Ereay
Drawing on Ray’s experience leading the corporate culinary division for Carnival Cruise Line, along with his deep Turkish roots, the vision is clear: serve fresh, madefrom-scratch dishes with integrity, while creating a space that brings the community together. The interior boasts an urban aesthetic with industrial flair, featuring a spacious dining area that opens seamlessly to a welcoming outdoor patio. Stamp is built to host it all - big parties, sports lovers catching the game, and families looking for a dependable go-to spot. Daily specials keep the menu exciting, while signature offerings like the filet mignon beef stroganoff set the restaurant apart. From house-made pastas to scratchmade sauces, Ray and Mus are serving up honest plates with bold flavor and warm hospitality.
MURDERER
in a Mountain View apartment. Prosecutors said Hensley’s motive was that he wanted a romantic relationship with Noble, but the 23-year-old wasn’t interested. The two worked together at Syva Electronics in Mountain View.
Prosecutors said Hensley bludgeoned Noble to death at their apartment on Feb. 25, 1989. Noble’s body was found in the front passenger seat of her Datsun parked in East Palo Alto eight days later.
The case, which went unsolved for 10 years, has drawn widespread attention and was featured on the Oxygen network.
After his jury trial, Hensley took the case to the state Court of Appeal, which in 2004 upheld the conviction but reduced the crime to second degree murder, finding that it wasn’t premeditated. The California Supreme Court denied a request to review the case.
Sentence reduced
Following the appellate court decision, Hensley’s initial sentence of 25 years to life in state prison was reduced to 15 years to life. That meant Hensley was required to serve a minimum of 15 years but could try for parole after that.
At his first parole hearing in October 2009, Hensley was denied parole for 15 years. In 2018, he was denied parole for five years, and for three years at a 2023 hearing.
The review on Thursday at San Quentin State Prison was Hensley’s fourth parole hearing.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said his staff attended the hearing and argued against parole.
“We don’t feel he’s gained that insight into what he did and why he did it,” Wagstaffe told the Post.
Three of Noble’s family members — two brothers and a sister — also attended and strongly opposed Hensley’s release, according to Wagstaffe.
But the panel took into account that Hensley has participated in prison programs and hasn’t broken any rules recently, Wagstaffe said. They also factored in the state’s youthful offender law, which instructs parole boards to consider the lack of maturity of those who committed crimes when they were younger than 26. Hensley was 19 at the time of the murder.
Another factor for the parole panel was the state’s elder parole law, which gives special consideration to offenders 50 or older who have been in prison for 20 years or more.
Wagstaffe said he planned to send a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom arguing against Hensley’s release.
How parole hearings work
During a parole hearing, the panel determines whether an inmate poses an unreasonable risk of danger to society if released.
Parole hearings are conducted by a parole board commissioner, who is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate Rules Committee, and a deputy commissioner, who is a state employee.
According to Wagstaffe, the parole board panel for Hensley’s hearing con-
sisted of Commissioner Neil Schneider and Deputy Commissioner Amanda Neal. Schneider was first appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown and Newsom reappointed him. He’s a former Sacramento Police Department captain.
Two suspects
Following Noble’s death, police had two prime suspects: Hensley and Noble’s boyfriend of about two years, Richard Schaeffer, according to news reports. Noble and Schaeffer had gone out the night of Feb. 24, 1989, planning to attend a party, but Noble left after they had an argument, according to court filings.
Police were swamped with other homicides at the time and Noble’s case languished. On the 10-year anniversary of her death, Noble’s family asked San Mateo County Sheriff Don Horsley to reopen the case, and the sheriff agreed. Further investigation led to the arrest of Hensley, who had moved to the East Coast.
NEIGHBOR--
about one-tenth of an acre on the other side of Adobe Creek, called “the greenbelt,” that is the subject of the dispute.
The Robinsons listed their house for sale on Oct. 12, 2023, and had an open house with more than 40 interested buyers, their lawsuit said.
Interference in selling home
But the evening before the offer deadline, an attorney for the Whartons sent a letter to the Robinsons’ realtor claiming the boundaries were different than what the maps showed.
The Robinsons said they received no offers because their realtor had to disclose the letter.
“The Whartons’ baseless and manufactured ‘border dispute’ has chased away prospective buyers,” the Robinsons said in a trial brief.
After getting the letter, the Robinsons asked the Whartons to remove their belongings from the greenbelt, including a trampoline, patio heater, fire pit, chairs and hose reel.
When the Whartons allegedly refused, the Robinsons sued them in Santa Clara County Superior Court for trespassing, slandering their title and intentionally interfering with the sale.
The lawsuit was filed by Diane, James, Peter, Kathleen and Christopher Robinson, who each own a share of the property. The Robinsons said the
Location of the neighbors
greenbelt is important to them because Los Altos Hills requires properties to be at least one acre, and their property is 1.1 acres.
The land also adds privacy, helps with flood control and supports “a diverse and productive ecosystem, including deer, migratory birds and other wildlife, contributing to a beautiful, private, park-like setting,” the Robinsons said.
Judge Evette Pennypacker ruled on July 7 that the greenbelt belongs to the Robinsons, based on a deal with their old neighbors.
Whartons clear disputed land
The Whartons said they’ve removed their trampoline and a network of drip irrigation lines from the greenbelt since then.
“Having vacated the greenbelt, one wonders why this trial is even necessary,” their attorney Perry Woodward said. “Each side has spent a large amount of fees in getting to this point, and it would be to all parties’ benefit to bring this to a close.”
The Whartons are downplaying the value of the greenbelt, saying the lawsuit belongs in small claims court.
“Given the nature of this small slice of land — which is heavily wooded, muddy and entirely undevelopable — it is hardly prime real estate,” Woodward said.
Woodward wants the jury to see the greenbelt in person so they know the appropriate damages for putting a trampoline and other personal items on the land.
Los Altos is only 20 minutes from the courthouse in San Jose, and the Whartons will let jurors into their backyard, Woodward said in a motion on Monday.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Aug. 19.
This isn’t the first time the unusual
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Historical Commission of the City of Los Altos will hold a Public Hearings to consider the following project:
1. H25-0001 – James and Effat Parivash – 81 Pepper Drive
Request to remove the property located at 81 Pepper Drive from the City of Los Altos Historic Resource Inventory. The property is located on the north side of Pepper Drive between San Antonio Road and Eleanor Ave. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The Historical Commission public hearing will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM in person at the Los Altos Community Center, Sequoia Room, 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA and via a webinar. Please go to the following link: https://tinyurl.com/jwrthy9h Webinar ID: 831 5403 3216 / Passcode: 679869 / Telephone: 1-253-215-8782
Questions can be answered by calling the Development Services Department at (650) 947-2750 or sent via email to planning@ losaltosca.gov.
Yvonne Dupont, Management Analyst I
property line has resulted in a legal battle.
The Johnsons, who owned the Los Altos property before the Whartons, challenged the Robinsons’ ownership of the greenbelt in a 1975 lawsuit.
Former resident Ralph Raymond testified on Nov. 30, 1977, that he grew up on the property later owned by the Johnsons and the Whartons.
When Raymond was a teenager, he said workers used a bulldozer to straighten out the channel where Adobe Creek flooded, moving the waterway by 40 to 50 feet.
The owners in Los Altos Hills offered to sell Raymond’s father the newly created greenbelt, but Raymond’s father didn’t want to take care of more land.
After Raymond’s testimony, the Johnsons and the Robinsons signed a settlement in 1978 that recognized the property line to be the old center line of the creek.
The Robinsons agreed to leave the disputed area as open space.
Pennypacker based her July 7 ruling on their settlement.
The Whartons said their title insurer didn’t give them a copy of the settlement when they bought the home.
TAX ––––––
state during the campaign. The campaign will focus on President Trump’s “big beautiful budget,” which tightens up eligibility requirements and requires able-bodied adults without children to work at least 20 hours a week if they want benefits.
The authors of the budget bill believe that 11.8 million Medicaid enroll-
ees will drop out of the program if they have to meet eligibility requirements. Medicaid, the federal program for the poor, is called Medi-Cal in California.
Cato Institute policy analyst Dominik Lett points out that Medicaid has been growing faster than inflation, and the One Big Beautiful Bill aims to trim the growth of federal Medicaid outlays from about 4.5% per year to roughly 3%.
“Let’s be clear: That is not a spending cut. And it’s not austerity either,” Lett wrote in an opinion piece.
Regressive tax
Santa Clara County, which gets about $2 billion a year in Medi-Cal funds, runs Valley Medical Center on Bascom Avenue and three smaller hospitals. The county hospitals are often the only option for the poor. One in four of the county’s nearly 2 million residents are Medi-Cal enrollees. Half of the county hospital system’s patients pay through Medi-Cal.
Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association President Mark Hinkle said he will argue against the measure.
“Sales taxes are regressive taxes — the poor get hit hardest,” Hinkle told San Jose Spotlight. “Every time they make a purchase, they’re going to be taxed. Those who care about the poor and downtrodden should be on our side.”
The county’s hospital costs, driven mostly by payroll and supplies, routinely outpace revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars. That requires the county to make up the difference every year out of its general fund — last year the subsidy came to $600 million.
Harvard willing to pay $500M fine
The Trump administration is pressing for a deal with Harvard University that would require the Ivy League school to pay far more than the $200 million fine agreed to by Columbia University to end federal investigations into antisemitism on campus.
Harvard leaders have been negotiating with the White House even as they battle in court to regain access to billions in federal research funding terminated by the Trump administration.
Harvard has signaled a willingness to pay as much as $500 million, the New York Times reported.
The Trump administration plans to use its deal with Columbia as a template for other universities, with finan-
cial penalties that are now seen as a staple for future agreements. Last week, Columbia leaders agreed to pay $200 million as part of a settlement to resolve investigations into alleged violations of federal antidiscrimination laws and restore more than $400 million in research grants.
Columbia had been in talks for months after the Trump administration accused the university of allowing the harassment of Jewish students amid a wave of campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Harvard faces similar accusations but, unlike Columbia, the Cambridge, Mass., school challenged the administration’s funding cuts in court.
