Portola Valley: Spring Ridge winery would add buildings to scenic pasture
Spring Ridge winery in Portola Valley proposes to add 23,000 square feet of floor area that would include a greenhouse, an entertainment/cabana building, a guest house/art studio, a barn and an "agricultural building." The town's Architecture and Site Control Commission will hold an on-site public meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23. The review will continue later that night at the ASCC's regular meeting. (Friday, 11:42 AM)

Sunday: Portola Valley celebrates Bill Lane's birthday
Portola Valley is celebrating Sunday the 90th birthday of Bill Lane, Portola Valley's first mayor and a major force in sustaining the town's quality of life and culture of environmental conservation. Photo: Mr. Lane received a proclamation at the Nov. 11 Town Council meeting in honor of his recent 90th birthday. Mayor Ann Wengert, right, congratulates Mr. Lane's wife, Jean Lane. (Friday, 11:03 AM)

Siegel appointed to fill vacant Las Lomitas district school board seat
Jay Siegel, who has a child at La Entrada School and has been an active volunteer on the Las Lomitas Education Foundation, has been appointed to the five-member Las Lomitas School District board.
(Friday, 10:55 AM)

Police calls
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. (Thursday, 7:27 AM)

Sunday: Adriana, friends stage benefit concert at Menlo School in memory of her father
Adriana Kwicinski, a senior at Menlo School, will present — with her musical friends — a "Songs for Life" pop and jazz benefit concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, in Florence Moore Auditorium at Menlo School in Atherton. The concert benefits the Larry Kwicinski Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Research Fund, which she established in honor of her father, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2006 at age 57. (Friday, 12:16 AM)

PV superintendent to run for county post
Anne Campbell, the superintendent of the Portola Valley School District, announced her plans to run for the post of San Mateo County superintendent of schools in 2010. Ms. Campbell's candidacy has been endorsed by Superintendent of Schools Jean Holbrook, who is retiring at the end of her term. (Thursday, 11:41 AM)

SamTrans seeks comment on 10-year plan
The San Mateo County Transit District is preparing a 10-year plan in the context of a $28.4 million shortfall and a structural deficit and is seeking comment from members of the public on a draft of the plan. (Thursday, 7:30 AM)

Palo Alto, SHP girls reach CCS volleyball finals
The seniors on the Palo Alto and Sacred Heart Prep girls' volleyball teams are venturing into unknown territory, which includes playing for Central Coast Section titles and qualifying for the NorCal playoffs for the first time following impressive semifinal victories on Wednesday. (Thursday, 10:52 AM)

Sprinkler douses office fire in Woodside home
An interior sprinkler system extinguished a home-office fire on Buck Court in Woodside before firefighters arrived and before the fire had a chance to do any damage to the house itself Wednesday night. (Thursday, 10:44 AM)

Longtime community activist moving
Elizabeth Lasensky, who has been involved in a variety of community groups and activities during her 19 years in Menlo Park, is moving to San Carlos. (Thursday, 7:31 AM)

Caltrain offers special service for the Big Game
Few things on the Peninsula have been around as long as Caltrain, but one of the closest competitors is the Big Game. Caltrain will provide special service to the 112th game when Stanford faces California on Saturday in Stanford Stadium.
■ Caltrain changes schedule for Thanksgiving.
(Thursday, 7:48 AM)

Menlo Country Club faces uphill battle
The Menlo Country Club on Woodside Road predates the high school across the street and the town of Woodside. The club is appealing a decision tonight by the town planning director that denies the club a zoning change that could allow it to expand. (Wednesday, 8:52 AM)

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: The Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Photo by Karl Gohl. (Wednesday, 11:39 PM)

High-speed rail planners ramp up communication spending; locals skeptical
Critics see the new $9 million public relations contract as an effort to stifle dissent, rather than promote dialogue. (Thursday, 10:48 AM)

1940s fashion exhibit at Little House
Sketches of 1940s women's couture designs, photos of women from that era, and actual clothing items are on display in an exhibit at the Little House Activity Center in Menlo Park. (Thursday, 10:50 AM)

Portola Valley Town Center wins the highest green-building rating: platinum
The results are in. As green buildings go, Portola Valley's new complex of library, Town Hall and community hall join a select few municipal buildings awarded the top rating by the green building community. (Wednesday, 11:49 AM)

Saturday: Sacred Heart Prep, Menlo School meet in boys' CCS Division II water polo final
For the past 12 years, either Menlo or Sacred Heart Prep (or both) have played in the Central Coast Section Division II boys' water polo finals. That number jumps to 13 this week now that the Knights and Gators have reached the championship match once again. (Wednesday, 11:52 AM)

Bohannon office/hotel project too big? Not necessarily, Menlo Park City Council says
Menlo Park's City Council has directed the city to enter negotiations on a major office/hotel project, setting the stage for a final vote in spring 2010.
■ Touchy debate over polarizing Bohannon project.
■ Dreams of revitalization in Belle Haven.
■ Perceived benefits a fantasy, critics say. (Wednesday, 11:05 AM)

• Laurel student, 6, dies in hit-and-run crash (Monday, 5:21 PM)
• Bursting at the seams (Tuesday, 11:25 AM)
• Menlo gains some revenge with Valpo Bowl win (Monday, 10:55 AM)
• Recognize anyone here? (Sunday, 11:15 PM)
• LOCAL WEB SITES (Wednesday, 11:36 PM)
• POST to sell 4,262 acres near Montara and Moss Beach to National Park Service (Tuesday, 10:03 AM)
• Expert: Officer May shot in the head first (Tuesday, 6:55 PM)
• M-A boys hope to join local teams in finals (Monday, 4:18 PM)
• Armed men invade, rob Menlo Park home (Monday, 11:26 PM)

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