http://www.almanacnews.com If it is local and useful, it is on AlmanacNews.com. en-us With "Big Miracle," the new PG "Save the Whales" drama starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski, perhaps the title sets an expectation that Ken Kwapis' movie can't quite deliver. The original title was "Everybody Loves Whales," which suggests a sitcom nobody wants to see. -- PC]]> This chilling adaptation of Susan Hill's 1983 novel offers British actor Daniel Radcliffe a chance to shed his "Harry Potter" persona. Radcliffe plays it somber and stoic in "The Woman in Black," his understated performance complementing the film's spooky atmosphere. -- TH]]> Thursday's prep roundup: The Menlo School girls' soccer team opened up a five-point lead in the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) with a very big 1-0 victory over visiting Priory on Thursday. The Knights improved to 8-1 in league for 24 points and 10-4-2 overall while the Panthers fell to 6-2 (18 points) and 9-4-2 overall. ]]> With the backing of most residents of the street, a local Little League leader wants the town of Atherton to rename Mount Vernon Lane to Willie Mays Way, after one of the street's most famous residents.]]> The Portola Valley Town Council stuck its neck out last week by agreeing to lend money to a group of residents before determining whether they will formally agree to set aside future funds to repay the town.]]> For six evenings and a day, starting Tuesday, Feb. 7, firefighters from the Woodside Fire Protection District will lead a series of free disaster-preparedness classes on skills that save lives and protect property, including search-and-rescue, fire suppression and disaster psychology.]]> The Jan. 25 Almanac cover photo of Carl Clark saluting in his dress uniform is posted prominently on my classroom wall; it is a beautiful memory of an incredible day. ]]> Four low-income teenagers told stories of persevering against hardship in a recent "Youth of the Year" speech competition at the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula.]]> An Atherton police officer named in a federal lawsuit for his role in a domestic violence incident and the subsequent alteration of a police report has announced his retirement.]]> Grammy Award pop singer and songwriter Colbie Caillat will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Fox Theatre, 2223 Broadway, in Redwood City in a concert that benefits the Children's Health Council. ]]> "The Power of the Horn: Charlie Parker to John Coltrane" will be the theme of a talk by Alisa Clancy at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Menlo Park Council Chambers at 701 Laurel St. in Menlo Park. ]]> Tim Hanretty has resigned from his position as superintendent of the Portola Valley School District while an investigation is conducted into suspected "financial irregularities" in the accounts of the Woodside School District, which he previously worked for, according to district officials.]]> Wednesday's prep soccer: Menlo-Atherton had to settle for a 1-1 boys' soccer deadlock with host Woodside on Wednesday evening in PAL Bay Division action. The Bears got their goal from junior Alexei Lopes on an assist from senior Alan Propp. ]]> A former Oakland firefighter who left for Colorado has returned to California as the new operations division chief for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. ]]> Assemblyman Jerry Hill on Wednesday (Feb. 1) called on the president of the California Public Utilities Commission to recuse himself from heading an investigation into whether PG&E will pay fines related to the 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno. ]]> For the next two weeks, Crystal Springs Road between Polhemus and Skyline will be periodically closed to one lane, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission announced Feb. 2. ]]> A missing 19-year-old special-needs Canada College student was found safe early this morning (Feb. 2) after authorities had been searching for him since Tuesday. ]]> Update: Menlo Park-based Facebook Inc. filed for an initial public offering of $5 billion, according to its registration statement filed Wednesday, Feb. 1, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ]]> Rarely does anyone show up to a budget hearing to say "please cut my program." The Menlo Park City Council's Jan. 30 study session was no exception. Oddly enough, several people did say "raise my taxes." ]]> Michael Taylor, a former Menlo School assistant baseball coach, has pleaded not guilty to stealing computers from the Atherton school that had employed him.]]> Tuesday's girls' soccer: With only four matches left in the regular season, the Menlo School girls' soccer team is sitting atop the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) standings for the first time this late in the season since joining the league in 2009. ]]> Palo Alto police chased down and arrested two Menlo Park men who they believe were planning to burglarize a residence in the Duveneck neighborhood Monday night.]]> The Menlo Park venture capital firm founded by Marc Andreessen confirmed Tuesday that it has raised $1.5 billion for its third and largest fund to date. ]]> The transition team taking Kepler's Books into a new phase of life has revealed a few more details about upcoming changes.]]> The large Japanese pagoda-style home in Atherton where firefighters quickly extinguished an attic fire Sunday was the former home of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. ]]> A rare falcon that was found injured in Palo Alto has been euthanized, a Peninsula Humane Society spokesman said today.]]> This is an expanded version of a previously published article. With the town of Atherton scrambling at the 11th hour to secure necessary outside approval to let Interim City Manager John Danielson remain in charge at Town Hall, the question arises: Were the council and the interim city manager asleep behind the wheel?]]> Crime and accident reports from the Atherton and Menlo Park police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.]]> Making the streets of Menlo Park and East Palo Alto safer for bicyclists has hit the top of Facebook's community "to do" list. Photo: Members of the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition ride their bikes Monday on the Facebook campus in Menlo Park. Almanac photo by Michelle Le.]]> A man armed with a gun and a knife got away with some $322,000 in jewelry and watches after invading an occupied house in the 200 block of Atherton Avenue in Atherton and confronting the residents shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, police said. ]]> ]]>