Bay Area housing market remains slow
Despite a modest rise last month, Bay Area home sales continue to stagnate, according to the latest figures released Thursday by San Diego-based real estate analysts MDA DataQuick. (Thursday, 7:38 PM)

Who is prospering from Proposition 13?
Proposition 13 has been called California's "third rail" -- as in, untouchable. When billionaire Warren Buffet was serving as candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger's economic adviser during the 2003 gubernatorial race, he touched it. Photo: Jennifer Bestor spent countless hours searching databases and archives for her project researching the local effects of Proposition 13. Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac. (Tuesday, 11:28 AM)

Insider to take over high school district in July
The governing board of the Sequoia Union High School District announced on March 17 that current assistant superintendent and business officer James Lianides, 56, will take over from Superintendent Patrick Gemma when Mr. Gemma retires on June 30. (Wednesday, 11:44 PM)

Atherton shelves police oversight idea
A push to create a citizen oversight committee for the Atherton Police Department ran out of steam last night, as four of five Atherton council members voted to table the idea. (Thursday, 10:49 AM)

Night lights at M-A would be temporary
The governing board of the high school district has asked the staff to proceed with an investigation into the logistics of installing temporary lights at the football field at Menlo-Atherton High School. (Thursday, 5:01 PM)

Sunday: Book sale at Menlo Park Library
The Friends of the Menlo Park Library will hold a book sale from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 21, in the library's downstairs meeting room at 800 Alma St. in Menlo Park. (Thursday, 11:09 AM)

HOT LINKS
● Sports: Prep scores | Stories | Post a score on PA Online
● Calendar listings (Ctrl-f to search) | Local Web sites | Hikes
● Send us information, story tips, obituaries (Wednesday, 6:39 AM)

Menlo delays smoking ordinance
Menlo Park has delayed the adoption of a series of new smoking regulations, citing "unintended consequences" and "inconsistencies" in proposed revisions to the city's smoking ordinance. (Wednesday, 1:40 PM)

Another try at spa in the Willows
Ambreen Lakhani is hoping the fourth time's the charm when it comes to opening a spa at 103 Gilbert Ave. in Menlo Park's Willows neighborhood. (Thursday, 11:12 AM)

Portola Valley OKs water-conservation mandates
Conservation mandates for indoor and outdoor water use in Portola Valley take effect Feb. 26. The Town Council, in a unanimous vote, approved rules intended to cut outdoor use by 25 percent and indoors by 20 percent. (Wednesday, 11:31 AM)

Trailer accident closed Bayfront Expressway
A tractor-trailer loaded with scrap metal tipped over early Tuesday morning at the intersection of Willow Road and Bayfront Expressway, blocking part of Bayfront Expressway during the morning commute, Menlo Park police said. (Wednesday, 12:00 PM)

Saturday: Services for Dennis Plank
A memorial gathering will be held beginning at noon, Saturday, March 20, at the Kings Grove's Tom May Center on Tunitas Creek Road in Woodside for Dennis Plank. Mr. Plank died Feb. 15 with his family at his side. He was 75. (Thursday, 11:09 AM)

Police calls
Crime and accident reports from the Atherton and Menlo Park police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. (Wednesday, 11:30 AM)

Menlo Park weighs changes to downtown parking
Menlo Park has plenty of parking spaces in its downtown area, but many business owners and customers say they're frustrated at how hard it is to find an empty one. Others feel they're not allowed to stay long enough once they do come across two white lines with only asphalt in between. This is an expanded version of a previous story. (Thursday, 11:22 AM)

Menlo library children's room reopens Friday
Good news for kids and parents: The newly renovated children's section of the Menlo Park Library will reopen on Friday, March 19, according to Children's Librarian Michelle Barrese.
(Wednesday, 11:29 AM)

Analysis: Results are in, but what to make of Bohannon poll on his proposed development?
For the second time in a year, a poll has indicated strong support among Menlo Park voters for one of the largest single land development proposals in the city's history. The motivations of the company that commissioned the poll -- and the question of whether it will have any bearing on the project's prospects -- remain a mystery.
■ Bohannon offers peek at survey. (Tuesday, 12:59 PM)

Officer catches alleged burglar in his home
A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of trying to burglarize the North Fair Oaks home of a police officer, a sheriff's lieutenant said today (March 16). (Tuesday, 3:25 PM)

Kindergarten registration at Woodside School
Woodside School is now registering children for its kindergarten classes for fall 2010. (Tuesday, 5:03 PM)

Momentum grows in threat to sue school district
The district attorney will not go to battle for Peter Carpenter, the open-government crusader and Atherton resident, who is trying to force the Sequoia Union High School District to bring to open session a decision that the board made behind closed doors. (Wednesday, 11:53 AM)

SHP's Reed McConnell tops All-WBAL basketball team
BOYS' ALL-LEAGUE HOOPS: Sacred Heart Prep junior guard/forward Reed McConnell, who helped the Gators to the West Bay Athletic League and Central Coast Section (Division IV) titles this season, heads the All-WBAL basketball team for 2010. Joining McConnell on the all-league team are teammates Ty Cobb (first team) and Will McConnell (second team). The Gators finished the season 23-6 after falling in the quarterfinals of the NorCal Division IV playoffs last week. (Wednesday, 11:27 AM)

• LOCAL WEB SITES (Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 11:07 AM)
• Our Regional Heritage (Sunday, 9:58 AM)
• Camping out (Tuesday, 3:14 PM)
• Palo Alto to fight high-speed-rail 'betrayal' bills (Tuesday, 12:17 PM)
• Menlo grad reaches Division III Final Four (Monday, 7:38 AM)
• Union negotiations at impasse (Tuesday, 8:49 AM)
• Hold-up at Willow Road gas station (Tuesday, 11:05 AM)
• Major changes for summer school in Menlo Park (Thursday, 11:26 AM)
• At Filoli: 'Patterns and Abstractions of Nature' (Monday, 7:37 AM)
• Classes: landscaping and water conservation (Monday, 8:18 AM)
• Local residents hold fundraiser for Harris (Tuesday, 9:49 AM)
• Portola Valley school board OKs cuts (Monday, 10:47 AM)
• Tons of aid heads to Haiti (Tuesday, 12:28 PM)
• Mountain lion sighting in Atherton (Tuesday, 10:47 AM)

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