Pedestrians killed on Caltrain tracks
A man was struck and killed by a Caltrain in Redwood City on Friday evening, the second fatality on Caltrain tracks Friday, a spokeswoman said. (Saturday, 1:21 AM)

Former Menlo Park teacher dies at 81
Irene Martha Johnson of Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, who taught in the primary grades at Oak Knoll School in the Menlo Park School District from 1961 to 1995, died Sept. 16. She was 81. (Friday, 6:02 PM)

Chefs for a night
Put Woodside High School staff members in kitchen. Add salmon, chicken, vegetables, bread, cheeses, things like that. Go away for appropriate interval. Return. Enjoy great meal. (Friday, 8:14 AM)

Public comment is sought on the master plan for La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
The public is invited to a hearing on Thursday, Nov. 12, to comment on a 30-year master plan being considered for the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, which includes a working ranch, grasslands and forests near the town of La Honda and a part of the Midpeninsula Open Space District. (Friday, 5:35 PM)

No surprises in Woodside Elementary board race
It was a race two of the five candidates didn't want to win. And they didn't. (Friday, 4:07 PM)

Portola Valley: Tickets available for R&B dance
Tickets are still available for a rhythm-and-blues dance under the stars in Portola Valley from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Nov. 14. (Friday, 4:40 PM)

Sunday: Meet the mayor at farmers' market
Menlo Park Mayor Heyward Robinson plans to hold an informal "meet the mayor" event at the Menlo Park Farmers' Market on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. The market is in the parking lot next to Trader Joe's. (Friday, 11:30 AM)

Saturday: Native sons in Yukon gold rush
Chris Goode of Menlo Park will discuss his book, "Sourdoughs at Seventy Miles: California Native Sons in the Yukon Gold," at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. in Menlo Park. (Thursday, 8:23 AM)

Atherton police chief to retire
Atherton police Chief Glenn Nielsen will be retiring on Nov. 28. While his tenure as chief was relatively short, his history with the department stretches back nearly 35 years. He became an officer in 1980 and rose through the ranks, holding numerous positions, including field training officer, school resource officer, sergeant and lieutenant. (Friday, 11:39 AM)

Prep football teams in running for playoff berths
This we know for sure: The Sacred Heart Prep football team has qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs for a second straight season. This is what we also know: Palo Alto is all but a lock for yet another appearance in the postseason. For Gunn, its first return to the CCS playoffs since 2002 is probable. For Menlo, the Knights certainly are on the bubble. With the 2009 high school football regular season winding down, a lot still can happen starting this weekend. (Friday, 11:26 AM)

Tonight: Reception for Adele Seltzer
A solo exhibit of recent paintings, sculptures and monotypes by Portola Valley artist Adele Seltzer is on display through Nov. 30 at Bryant Street Gallery in Palo Alto. An artist reception is set for Friday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Picture: "Spirals #16," mixed media acrylic on canvas, is among the works by Adele Seltzer in the exhibit. (Friday, 7:21 AM)

Your own backyard
As raising chickens returns to vogue, local people forge a new relationship with key food source. Picture: Kung Pao, left, and Oreo, center, head for the chicken feed in the backyard of the Freidenrich home in Woodside. Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac.
■ Raising chickens: A few tips. (Thursday, 8:30 AM)

Saturday: Bill Lane turns 90 and is still going strong
Bill Lane's birthday is on Saturday, Nov. 7 -- not Friday. The editor regrets the error.
Former Sunset publisher, philanthropist, and Portola Valley town father, Bill Lane is still active in good causes, from the local to the international. As he turns 90 on Saturday (Nov. 7), family, friends and admirers are taking stock of his many achievements and contributions. Portola Valley is planning a big birthday party for him on Sunday, Nov. 22. (Thursday, 10:05 AM)

Short Takes
Dusting off scrapbooks in Woodside, toasting the Internet in Menlo Park, and contemplating the library in Atherton. (Friday, 11:31 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. (Friday, 11:30 AM)

Body found in covered pool in Hoover Park
A decomposing body was found Thursday in a Redwood City public swimming pool that had been covered since July, police said. (Friday, 7:15 AM)

Menlo Park's BethAnn Goldberg wins $10,000 in Food Network's Cake Challenge
BethAnn Goldberg, who bakes amazing cakes in her Studio Cakes shop in the Willows neighborhood of Menlo Park, whipped up an especially spectacular creation for the Food Network's Cake Challenge — and took home $10,000 in cash for her efforts. (Friday, 9:19 AM)

Vikings triumph in first week of playoffs
Menlo-Atherton Vikings football teams were victorious in the first week of the Peninsula Pop Warner conference playoffs, held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. (Thursday, 10:00 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, 1:27 AM)

ELECTION RESULTS
■ Sequoia Union High School District. (Elect two to board.)
■ Menlo Park Fire Protection District. (Elect three to board.)
■ Atherton tax measures S & T (Measure S renews town's parcel tax at existing rate. Measure T allows town to raise appropriation limit to spend revenue from tax. Two-thirds' majority required for passage.)
■ Portola Valley tax measures P, Q & R ((Simple majority required for passage. See story explaining these measures.)
■ For all results, click here and search for the results you are interested in.
(Tuesday, 9:21 PM)

• LOCAL WEB SITES (Saturday, October 31, 2009, 12:53 AM)
• Piano teacher walks after judge dismisses retrial (Monday, 11:59 AM)
• Menlo Park man, 29, killed in motorcycle crash (Monday, 4:18 PM)
• Atherton parcel tax renewal wins handily (Wednesday, 11:55 AM)
• Season of bans on wood burning begins (Sunday, 10:26 AM)
• Atherton fire causes fuel tanks to explode (Tuesday, 12:24 AM)
• Portola Valley tax measures pass (Wednesday, 12:03 AM)
• What public benefits from Bohannon project? (Tuesday, 12:15 AM)
• Menlo College's Torres, Mitchell named Players of the Week (Wednesday, 9:29 PM)
• Missing Menlo Park man is found (Wednesday, 6:25 PM)
• Menlo Park district fire board: Ianson, Nelson win; Nachtsheim likely to take third seat (Thursday, 10:10 AM)
• Sequoia school board: Thomsen, Sarver win (Tuesday, 8:58 PM)
• City revenues fell faster than expected (Thursday, 10:16 AM)
• Woodside council reaffirms location for equine statue on Village Hill (Thursday, 10:14 AM)
• It truly takes a village to put on 'Fiddler' (Friday, 11:34 AM)
• Sudden oak death test results are in (Thursday, 10:14 AM)
• Fundraiser for Christian college in Bethlehem (Monday, 6:08 PM)
• Flu vaccine shortages (Monday, 6:21 PM)
• Update: Two students expelled in drug incident (Tuesday, 11:30 AM)
• M-A girls topple top seeds, win NorCal polo title (Tuesday, 12:08 AM)
• Firefighter group reports election spending (Tuesday, 11:46 AM)
• Voter's ritual (Tuesday, 3:19 PM)
• Menlo settles volleyball race with upset victory (Thursday, 10:11 AM)
• County sees 26 percent voter turnout (Wednesday, 3:54 PM)
• Obituary: William Halford Jr. (Thursday, 7:08 PM)
• Obituary: Elisabeth Ullman Wills: Hostess, chef, teacher, activist, longtime Portola Valley resident (Friday, 11:36 AM)

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