Vol. XXXIV, Number 26 N March 29, 2013
City asks: Just what is a ‘public benefit’? Page 3
Mod ’60s costumes add zip to a new musical take on Oscar Wilde Page 16
Transitions 13
Spectrum 14
Movies 22
Puzzles 46
N Arts Exploring auditory hallucinations through opera
Page 20
N Sports Stanford women’s basketball heads to Sweet 16
Page 24
N Home Barron Park: Semi-rural charm in the midst of the city
Page 29
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Upfront
,OCAL NEWS INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS
Palo Alto struggles to find the meaning of ‘benefit’ #ITYS PLANNING COMMISSIONERS TRY TO BRING ORDER TO MESSY DEBATE OVER ZONING EXEMPTIONS by Gennady Sheyner HILOSOPHERS MAY RACK THEIR BRAINS OVER THE MEANING OF LIFE BUT FOR 0ALO !LTOS DE VELOPERS NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THE MEANING OF hPUBLIC BENEFITSv IS IN MANY WAYS A MORE PUZZLING MATTER )N RECENT YEARS THE NEBULOUS TERM
P
HAS ENCOMPASSED EVERYTHING FROM A FRIEZE OF TINY CARS LITTLE PUBLIC PLAZAS AND GROCERY STORES TO ROAD IMPROVE MENTS AND LARGE CASH PAYMENTS $E VELOPERS LOOKING TO BUILD PROJECTS THAT EXCEED THE CITYS ZONING REGU LATIONS ROUTINELY PROPOSE PACKAGES OF PUBLIC BENEFITS TO JUSTIFY THEIR RE
QUESTS 5NDER hPLANNED COMMUNITYv ZONING TALLER AND DENSER BUILDINGS ARE ALLOWED IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE BENEFITS 4HE ZONING HAS ENABLED SOME OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS DEVEL OPMENTS IN 0ALO !LTOS RECENT HISTORY INCLUDING !LMA 0LAZA THE #OLLEGE 4ERRACE #ENTRE ON %L #AMINO 2EAL ,YTTON 'ATEWAY NEXT TO THE DOWN TOWN #ALTRAIN STATION AND %DGEWOOD 0LAZA ON #HANNING !VENUE .OW THE CITYS 0LANNING AND 4RANS PORTATION #OMMISSION IS LOOKING TO
BRING A LITTLE CLARITY DEFINITION AND TRANSPARENCY TO THIS PROCESS #OM MISSION #HAIR %DUARDO -ARTINEZ 6ICE #HAIR -ARK -ICHAEL AND #OM MISSIONER -ICHAEL !LCHECK RECENTLY AUTHORED A PAGE MEMO ADDRESSING THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC BENEFITS LAYING OUT THE PROBLEM AND WAYS IN WHICH OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE GRAPPLED WITH IT 4HE TRIOS HOPE IS THAT THE MEMO WOULD hJUMP START THE PROCESS OF DEFINING THE TERM @PUBLIC BENEFIT v !LCHECK SAID 7EDNESDAY NIGHT
h/UR HOPE IS THAT BY BRINGING GREATER CLARITY AND PREDICTABILITY TO THIS PROCESS WE WILL ENHANCE THE COMMUNITYS BENEFITS AND OUR SAT ISFACTION WITH THESE BENEFITS v !L CHECK SAID 4HE MUNICIPAL CODE IS PURPOSEFULLY VAGUE WHEN IT COMES TO hPUBLIC BENE FITS v LEAVING IT UP TO THE #ITY #OUNCIL TO DEFINE THE TERM ON AN AD HOC BASIS AS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS SURFACE (continued on page 6)
#/--5.)49
Local scouts want change in policy -EETINGS PREFACE -AY VOTE ON THE SEXUAL ORIENTATION ISSUE BY THE NATIONAL BOARD by Sue Dremann HE NATIONAL "OY 3COUTS OF !MERICA POLICY PROHIBITING HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE FROM BE COMING MEMBERS OR LEADERS IS OUT OF TOUCH PARENTS AND SOME SCOUT LEADERS SAID AFTER A MEETING -ON DAY NIGHT -ARCH ON THE TOPIC OF CHANGING THE ORGANIZATIONS STANCE -EMBERS OF THE 0ACIFIC 3KYLINE #OUNCIL MET AT THE "OY 3COUT OF FICES AT ,UCIE 3TERN #OMMUNITY #ENTER IN 0ALO !LTO TO DISCUSS WHETHER TO SUPPORT A CHANGE TO AL LOW OPENLY GAY MEMBERS OR TO CON TINUE THE STATUS QUO 4HE APPROXIMATELY VOT ING MEMBERS OF THE "OY 3COUTS OF !MERICA NATIONAL COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A RESOLUTION IN -AY ! PLANNED &EB RUARY VOTE WAS POSTPONED TO GAUGE SENTIMENT FROM COUNCILS AROUND THE COUNTRY LEADERS SAID IN A STATEMENT 0ACIFIC 3KYLINES 3TANFORD DIS TRICT REPRESENTS 3COUTS IN 0ALO !LTO ,OS !LTOS ,OS !LTOS (ILLS AND -OUNTAIN 6IEW #ITING A SECRECY PROMISE FEW MEMBERS SPOKE PUB LICLY -ONDAY EVENING "UT SOME SAID THE MEETING WAS BROADLY SUPPORTIVE OF INCLUDING GAYS AND LESBIANS -ANY LOCAL LEADERS AND PARENTS SAID IT IS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS STANCE WITH THEIR OWN VIEWS !ND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE 2OTARY #LUB SAID THEY ARE CONSIDERING PULL ING THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF LOCAL TROOPS IF THE POLICY REMAINS $EIRDRE -OORE THE MOTHER OF AN YEAR OLD 3COUT ATTENDED THE -ON DAY MEETING AND SAID SHE STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE CHANGE h4HE MEETING WENT VERY WELL
T
Andre Zandona
A big splash !T PRECISELY AM ON 3ATURDAY -ARCH CHILDREN AND ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THE 'REENMEADOW !SSOCIATIONS ANNUAL GROUP DIVE THE "IG 3PLASH TO KICK OFF THE SWIM SEASON AT THE 'REENMEADOW POOL 4HE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OWNS A POOL PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER ON 0ARKSIDE $RIVE IN 0ALO !LTO
%$5#!4)/.
Entrepreneur’s fourth startup is close to heart !FTER TWINS DIAGNOSED WITH DYSLEXIA MOM DEVELOPS CURRICULUM LAUNCHES SCHOOL by Chris Kenrick &IRST YOU BUILD IT THEN YOU SELL IT v SAYS #ARLA 2AYACICH PON DERING THE FUTURE OF HER THREE YEAR OLD STARTUP SCHOOL !N ENTREPRENEUR WITH THREE PREVI OUS STARTUPS ON HER RESUME TWO IN MEDICAL DEVICES AND ONE IN SICK CHILD CARE 2AYACICH IS BUILDING HER FOURTH OUT OF PASSION FOR THE FU TURE OF HER YEAR OLD TWINS $IAGNOSED WITH DYSLEXIA AS KIN DERGARTNERS THE TWINS SPENT THEIR FIRST AND SECOND GRADE YEARS AT THE INDEPENDENT #HARLES !RMSTRONG 3CHOOL IN "ELMONT WHICH SPECIAL IZES IN LANGUAGE BASED LEARNING DIF FERENCES SUCH AS DYSLEXIA "UT WHEN 2AYACICH STUMBLED ON A DIFFERENT TEACHING METHOD THAT PRODUCED BREAKTHROUGHS FOR HER SON SHE DECIDED TO LAUNCH HER OWN
“
SCHOOL FOR DYSLEXIC CHILDREN OPERAT ING IT FOR TWO YEARS OUT OF HER HOME IN %MERALD (ILLS BEFORE MOVING TO 0ALO !LTO LAST FALL 7ITH SPACE LEASED FROM THE 0ALO !LTO 5NIFIED 3CHOOL $ISTRICT SHE NOW EMPLOYS THREE CREDENTIALED TEACHERS FOR NINE STUDENTS INCLUD ING HER TWINS AND AIMS TO GROW ENROLLMENT TO UP TO 4HE READING CURRICULUM AT 2AYAC ICHS !THENA !CADEMY BEGINS WITH A METHOD DEVELOPED BY 2ON $AVIS AUTHOR OF THE BOOK h4HE 'IFT OF $YSLEXIAv $AVIS APPROACH STEERS AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL PHONICS BASED INSTRUCTION IN FAVOR OF HELPING DYS LEXIC STUDENTS RELY ON WHAT HE SAYS IS THEIR STRENGTH A NATURAL CAPACITY TO THINK IN PICTURES !THENA !CADEMY SAYS 2AYACICH
HAS hGONE BEYOND THE $AVIS METHOD WHICH IS A VERY CONSISTENT APPROACH TO TEACHING DYSLEXIC LEARNERS IN A WAY THEY LEARN MOST EASILY AND READILY h7EVE PUT TOGETHER OTHER METH ODS THAT MEET THE SAME CRITERIA TO CREATE A COMPLETELY UNIQUE PROGRAM THATS GOT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS INTE GRATED TOGETHERv /N A RECENT MORNING A TEACHER WORKED AT A TABLE WITH ONE STU DENT WHILE FOUR OTHERS WERE SPREAD ABOUT THE CLASSROOM READING TO THEMSELVES )N THE SCHOOLS AUDITORIUM AN OTHER TEACHER WORKED WITH A STUDENT AND ANOTHER STUDENT READ NEARBY 4EACHERS AND STUDENTS USE CLAY TO REINFORCE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN IM AGES AND WORDS !FTER WRITING A WORD ON THE BOARD AND LOOKING IT UP IN THE
DICTIONARY THEY FORM THE LETTERS OUT OF CLAY TO HELP STUDENTS GRASP THAT THE OBJECTS ACTUALLY ARE SYMBOLS 7ORDS THAT DONT SPARK AN AUTO MATIC MENTAL PICTURE ARE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT 2AYACICH SAYS &OR THE WORD hTHE v FOR EXAMPLE SHE USES A PICTURE OF A LITTLE PERSON POINTING TO THE NEXT WORD h-Y SON SAID HE USED TO GET SLOWED DOWN BY THE WORD @THE BUT NOW HE SPEEDS UP BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT WORD IS v SHE SAID 3IMILAR TECHNIQUES WITH CLAY AND OTHER MANIPULATIVES ARE USED FOR MATH SYMBOLS AND OTHER SYMBOLS 4HE SCHOOL ALSO FOCUSES ON TEACH ING STUDENTS SELF CALMING TECH NIQUES AS WELL AS CERTAIN LIFE CON (continued on page 12)
(continued on page 9)
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Upfront 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson (223-6505)
Notice is hereby given that proposals will be received by the Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District for multiple work bid packages. Description of the projects/work is as follows: s 2EMOVAL AND )NSTALLATION OF 0OURED )N 0LACE 2UBBER \ #ONTRACT .O 02 s 2EMOVAL AND )NSTALLATION OF 0OURED )N 0LACE 2UBBER \ #ONTRACT .O 02 -ANDATORY *OB 7ALK 02
There will be a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit at 9:00 a.m. on April 8th, 2013 at the !DDISON %LEMENTARY 3CHOOL !DDISON !VE 0ALO !LTO #ALIFORNIA FOR 02
02 There will be a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit at 9:00 a.m. on April 11th, 2013 at the &AIRMEADOW %LEMENTARY 3CHOOL % -EADOW 2D 0ALO !LTO #ALIFORNIA FOR 02 "ID 3UBMISSION 02 Proposals for 02 must be received at the District Facilities OfďŹ ce building D, by AM on April TH 02 Proposals for 02 must be received at the District Facilities OfďŹ ce building D, by AM on !PRIL TH Bonding required for this project is as follows: Bid Bond 10% of the total bid, Performance Bond to be 100%, Payment Bond is to be 100%. 02%6!),).'