Posted by Sunshine Girl, a resident of the Portola Valley: other neighborhood, on Feb 17, 2009 at 1:21 pm

The dome's reflection of sunlight causes global warming.

Shame on Mr. McNealy.

Posted by Kevin, a resident of the Portola Valley: other neighborhood, on Feb 17, 2009 at 4:32 pm

I understand the hockey rink involves constant use of a generator, too. Isn't that creating some noise problems?

Posted by portolaresident, a resident of the Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2009 at 11:52 am

This story shows me that some people of Portola Valley have way too much time on their hands.

I've seen the dome, and it never bothered me. I actually welcome the reflection of sunlight. Vitamin D is good in the winter. As is exercise. An old fashioned pond hockey game in Northern California is not an option. If I had the money, I would put one in my yard. And give it a bright shiny aluminum dome.

Get a Life, and maybe go out for a walk, or go for a skate at your local rink :)

Posted by Slap-shot, a resident of the Woodside: Family Farm/Hidden Valley neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Old-fashioned pond hockey is not an option in Northern California, so what's the sense in trying to create it in your backyard? There's something to be said for having a backyard that respects the terrain and climate.

Posted by PV Neighbor, a resident of the Portola Valley: Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Sunshine Girl, you have it backwards. A reflective dome would REDUCE global warming, not increase it, just like the polar ice caps do.

And, Mr. and Mrs. McNealy are doing their bit to reduce childhood obesity by providing kids a great physical activity. Isn't that important?

Mr. Lamb's estimate of $90 million of lost value is absolutely ridiculous, and Mr. Boyce should not print unsubstantiated estimates like that. It sounds like a guy itching to complain about something.

Posted by Joe, a resident of the Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park neighborhood, on Feb 20, 2009 at 9:43 am

To paraphrase a corporate titan from Silicon Valley during its boom years:

"You have no permit. Get over it."

Posted by Sunshine Girl, a resident of the Portola Valley: other neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2009 at 4:53 pm

Ha ha! I am not so dumb as to believe in man-made global warming, and especially not that a hockey rink cover would contribute to global warming!

And anyone else reading these comments and replying to them also has too much time on their hands.

Posted by Ice Skater, a resident of the Woodside: Mountain Home Road neighborhood, on Feb 23, 2009 at 11:59 am

An indoor hockey rink in your own backyard? Having that much money is OBSCENE. Especially in these hard times, and especially when it's spent on something that is an aesthetic disaster to the surrounding community. (Not unlike the unsightly Indian-casino-cancer that is spreading throughout the Sierra foothills!) So how many of his employees' jobs do you think this guy offshored, in order to fund this?

Posted by pc, a resident of the Portola Valley: Ladera neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 7:13 pm

If the ice rink owner got the permit then that's that. The town should be concerned about important issues like that diseased tree hanging over our Little League dugout on Ford Field. That tree is safety issue not a green issue. CUT IT DOWN NOW!

Our town council and mayor need to show some responsible leadership soon.

signed,

concerned taxpayer

Posted by Ian, a resident of the Portola Valley: Westridge neighborhood, on Aug 3, 2009 at 11:42 pm

Do you think Nealy gives a darn about anyone but himself? Welcome to the world of the nouveau rich. Money but no class. He's not the least bit interested in being a considerate neighbor--"me first" is something that it quite typical behavior among the wealthy in this area. Unfortunately, because of their arrogance, we need to have more and more resrictions in our building codes.

If you want kids to be fit, all it takes is a pair of walking shoes--not an intrusive hockey rink. Nealy's kids are learning more than hockey; they are learning to be rude and inconsiderate of others.