The Almanac launches its 17th annual Holiday Fund
For the 17th year, The Almanac offers readers the opportunity to multiply their charity dollars by giving through the Holiday Fund.
■ DONATE ONLINE (Monday, 12:13 AM)

Shoplifters caught with items from Menlo Park stores
Shoplifters made off with $350 in items from four stores in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 17, but all the merchandise was recovered, Menlo Park police said. (Friday, 11:50 AM)

City now gets Tesla sales tax
Menlo Park only recently began receiving sales tax revenue for roadsters sold at Tesla Motors' flagship dealership, according to the city's finance director. (Thursday, 10:49 PM)

Menlo Park councilman ailing
After a change in medication sent him to the hospital for a brief stay, Menlo Park Councilman Andy Cohen is on the mend, he says -- though he doesn't expect to be back on the job for one to three weeks. (Friday, 11:33 AM)

High rent forces out local advocate of affordable housing
Elizabeth Lasensky advocated for a number of local causes, pulling no punches in criticizing Menlo Park's "old guard." (Friday, 11:08 AM)

Court upholds conviction of Menlo Park jewelry store owner in murder conspiracy
A state appeals court in San Francisco on Wednesday upheld a Menlo Park jewelry store owner's conviction for kidnapping and conspiring to rape and murder a former employee who rebuffed his romantic advances. (Thursday, 10:39 AM)

Town struggles with definition of open space
The state has a definition for open space in a town's general plan, and Portola Valley is now working on a related definition: "open space preserve." (Thursday, 10:52 PM)

Obituary: Susan Jane Conley
Susan Jane Conley of Menlo Park died peacefully Sept. 15 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 57. (Thursday, 10:46 PM)

Obituary: Odessa Daniels Bock
Odessa Alice Tarr Daniels Bock, who lived in Woodside from 1981 to 2004, died Oct. 15 in San Diego. She was 97. (Thursday, 10:49 PM)

Tuesday: Film focuses on girls orphaned by AIDS
Coming to the Woodside Village Church at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, is a one-hour documentary entitled "Where the Water Meets the Sky." The film tells the tale of 23 women from Zambia who learn filmmaking to show the plight of girls orphaned by AIDS. (Wednesday, 2:37 PM)

Monday deadline for assessment appeal
Property owners in San Mateo County who are planning to appeal the assessed value of a property have until the close of business on Monday, Nov. 30, to file an appeal with the office of the county assessor. (Wednesday, 10:33 AM)

Filoli 'Winter Wonderland' opens Friday
Filoli's annual "Holiday Traditions" opens Friday, Nov. 27, for a nine-day celebration at the grand Woodside estate and continues through Saturday, Dec. 5.
(Tuesday, 11:31 AM)

Parking tickets on the rise?
Financial numbers don't support claims that Menlo Park is ticketing more during the recession. (Tuesday, 9:31 PM)

Crime report: Four stores struck by shoplifters
The weekly crime and accident report for Atherton, Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley and the unincorporated areas of Ladera, West Menlo Park, Los Trancos Woods and Vista Verde. (Wednesday, 9:35 PM)

Gerry's Cakes not closing, at least not yet
Rumors that Gerry's Cakes in Menlo Park is closing are not true, according to the owner, though she acknowledged that the bakery is not on firm ground. (Tuesday, 4:20 PM)

LOCAL WEB SITES
Links to local organizations, community resources
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(Wednesday, 9:38 PM)

Air district bans wood burning on Thanksgiving
Bay Area residents are being asked not to throw a log on the fire this Thanksgiving due to poor air quality, and could face a substantial fine if they ignore a Bay Area Air Quality Management District warning. (Wednesday, 9:30 PM)

Alvarez found guilty of first-degree murder
Alberto Alvarez, 26, who killed East Palo Police Officer Richard May in 2006, was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday and is now guaranteed to spend the rest of his life in prison or face the death penalty. (Wednesday, 9:31 PM)

Menlo, SHP grads help Princeton polo reach NCAAs
The NCAA men's water polo championships will be held at Princeton University on Dec. 5-6. It isn't often the tournament is held there, so the host Tigers wanted to make sure they got a chance to not only host but to compete, as well. The nationally No. 18-ranked Tigers needed to upset No. 12 Navy in the 2009 Men's Eastern Championship to get an automatic berth, and did just that on Sunday with a 5-4 victory. (Tuesday, 9:15 PM)

Docent-led hikes on open space preserves
Volunteers docents lead free outdoor hikes and other activities on the preserves of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
Photo: A view of the San Mateo County coast from the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Photo courtesy of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. (Tuesday, 9:28 PM)

Safe stolen from Left Bank restaurant
A burglar (or burglars) broke into the Left Bank restaurant in downtown Menlo Park through the roof and stole a safe overnight on Sunday, Nov. 15, according to the Menlo Park police department. (Wednesday, 10:09 AM)

Menlo Park man chases burglar
A Menlo Park man chased a burglar from his home Friday, Nov. 13, though he wasn't able to recover the antique doormats the man stole. (Wednesday, 10:31 AM)

• Film focuses on girls orphaned by AIDS (Tuesday, 11:15 AM)
• Atherton resident Gary Lampert dies in crash of home-built aircraft (Monday, 11:07 AM)
• Bohannon deal might hinge on cutting car trips (Tuesday, 11:06 AM)
• High marks for Portola Valley Town Center (Tuesday, 11:06 AM)
• Homeless shelter still looking for new home (Tuesday, 11:05 AM)
• Man shot, reports being hit in drive-by shooting (Monday, 10:51 AM)
• Portola Valley parties for Bill (Sunday, 5:44 PM)
• Night games at Menlo-Atherton High School? (Tuesday, 11:06 AM)
• On the fault (Tuesday, 8:22 AM)
• SHP girls win CCS polo title but M-A is upset again (Monday, 10:48 AM)
• Girls' volleyball: SHP, Paly and Castilleja advance in NorCals (Wednesday, 10:58 AM)

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