TownSquare on AlmanacNews.com

Bronze horse descends on Woodside hill

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:30:34 PDT

"Spring," a bronze mare sculpture that weighs 1,200 pounds, is hoisted into place Tuesday (Aug. 31) on Village Hill along Woodside Road in Woodside. Spring and a 300-pound bronze foal named "Sprite" are now anchored to concrete slabs on Village Hill, thanks to donations approaching $108,000 over two years from Woodside residents. The Woodside Landscape Committee is welcoming donations toward the final $4,000 needed. ==I Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac.== Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7270 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 5:27 PM

Las Lomitas school district explores parcel tax increase

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:27:22 PDT

The governing board of the Las Lomitas Elementary School District agreed unanimously to hire a pollster to test voter opinion on a possible increase in the $311 in parcel taxes that property owners pay annually to the district. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=10075 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 12:00 AM

Commission counters Beltramo's proposal

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:16:58 PDT

The ball's back in the developer's court after the Menlo Park Housing Commission unanimously agreed on a counterproposal last night (Sept. 1) to Beltramo's Investment Co.'s request to reduce the number of below-market-rate apartments required for its planned townhome project. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7274 posted Thursday, September 2, 2010, 10:13 AM

Board OKs temporary lights at M-A for sports

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:08:41 PDT

Let there be light, said the governing board of the Sequoia Union High School District on Wednesday (Sept. 1), and, within certain limits, there will now be lights for four night football games per season at Menlo-Atherton High School. The temporary lights also will be used for soccer and lacrosse games, and practices. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7272 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 8:29 PM

LETTERS

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:41:47 PDT

Reduced parking time in Menlo will hurt business Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=10067 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 12:00 AM

Atherton calls on feds to halt funding for state's high-speed rail project

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:04:19 PDT
The proposed elevated high-speed railroad would be akin to a six- to eight-lane freeway bisecting Atherton -- "a blight" on the community, say members of the Atherton City Council. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7216 posted Thursday, September 2, 2010, 8:16 AM

Gateway ballot measure argument criticized

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:45:24 PDT
Menlo Park City Council candidate Chuck Bernstein inspired a look at how ballot measure arguments get written last week when he challenged the accuracy of a rebuttal argument supporting the proposed Bohannon Gateway office/hotel project. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7228 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 11:33 AM

Firms to compete for city attorney position

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:52:39 PDT
The Atherton City Council agreed in principle, in a unanimous vote on Aug. 18, to invite area law firms to make their cases in a competition for the position of city attorney. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7218 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 11:31 AM

Menlo Park siblings arrested in hotel robbery

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:50:18 PDT
A brazen late-night attack on a Palo Alto hotel worker in his room has ended with the arrest of two Menlo Park siblings. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7265 posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 8:49 PM

Menlo College changes affiliation, but not goals

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:04:11 PDT
Coming off its best season in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference, the Menlo College football team is hoping to build on that success. There's a solid foundation in such returning players as junior safety Beau Bussani, senior defensive lineman Damien Girard and senior linebacker Shawn Winters, who were all named first team all-NWC last season. Bussani was named an NAIA Division II preseason All-American. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7266 posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 8:52 PM

New year brings changes to high schools

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:01:41 PDT
There is significant newness to be found in programs and plans for the 2010-11 school year at Woodside and Menlo-Atherton high schools, and more electives at Summit Preparatory and Everest high schools, both of which are small charter schools. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=10076 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 12:00 AM

Tonight: Beltramo's townhomes on agenda

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:29:50 PDT
The Menlo Park Housing Commission will hear a presentation by Beltramo's Investment Company tonight (Sept. 1) regarding the number of below-market-rate units will be part of the planned office/townhome complex at 1460 El Camino Real. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7269 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 11:56 AM

Parking changes coming to Menlo Park

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:24:18 PDT
The New Year will herald new parking rules for Menlo Park. The City Council voted 4-1 to test a plan that changes the configuration of time restrictions on downtown parking areas after the holiday season. Two-hour parking on Santa Cruz Avenue will be cut to one hour, with 15 to 20 minute spots added at each corner. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7268 posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 10:42 AM

Beltramo brothers try to reduce number of affordable housing units tonight

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:40:45 PDT
From the San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15959548?nclick_check=1 Come on Almanac at least try to keep us posted on Menlo Park news and meetings!

Police Outsourcing

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:40:34 PDT
The City of San Carlos votes tonight on whether to outsource its Police Department. The Council Agenda is published and includes the agreement between the City and the County: http://www.epackets.net/cache/2/ay5x5lmzv2bl3345cxpce345/1029087508312010081743712.PDF Interesting read. My take away is $6.7 million per year to run an agency which is roughly the same size as the Town of Atherton. (Note, that the 2010-2011 budget is a partial year; see the exhibit at the end for full year cost and calculations.) Alternatively, the Atherton Police Department budget is under $5.1 million: http://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/documents/FiscalYear2010-2011BudgetDocument.pdf I have seen repeated claims that outsourcing the Atherton Police Department to the County Sheriff would save the Town $2 million / year. Now that I have reviewed the San Carlos agreement, I have to question the validity of that "fact". The County - San Carlos agreement would have to be reduced in scope and cost by $3.6 million to achieve the speculated $2 million savings. I can only wonder what service levels the residents might receive for $3.6 million / year -- if they could even get it for that price.

Firefighters union rejects latest offer

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:21:21 PDT
It's back again (and again) to the bargaining table for firefighters with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. The union rejected the latest offer from the district. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7263 posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 5:36 PM

Free Classes Sept. & Oct.: Water-Efficient Landscaping - Design, Plants to Use, etc.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:08:52 PDT
Fall Landscape Education Program: Learn how to beautify your garden and use water more efficiently. Check out free classes being offered in Menlo Park and Palo Alto and in cities from San Jose to San Bruno as well as across the Bay. http://bawsca.org/docs/10_Fall_LandscapeEducationProgram_Flyer_FINAL.pdf Register online at bawsca.org

Pension initiative remains on Menlo Park ballot

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:04:22 PDT
The pension reform initiative will remain on the Menlo Park ballot, despite a lawsuit filed to remove it, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge George Miram ruled on Aug. 27. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7256 posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 11:41 AM

More light coming to Portola Valley Town Center at night

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:59:03 PDT
The Portola Valley Town Council endorsed a go-slow approach to increasing artificial light at the Town Center, which now is so naturally dark that a recent star-gazing party had a view of the Milky Way. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7250 posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 10:46 AM

Readers Choice 2007: Our readers pick their favorite local gems

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:18:27 PDT
The Almanac's 15th annual Readers' Choice contest produced some fresh results, and lots of repeat winners. Readers named their favorite places for a range of goods, services and special occasions � from staging a child's birthday party or meeting people to getting your car repaired or pictures framed. Here are their choices, beginning with two Santa Cruz Avenue favorites that have recently expanded into greater and grander quarters. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=4769 posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 12:00 AM

M-A moves ahead on lights and expands usage hours

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:25:10 PDT
From The Daily Journal: "On Wednesday, the Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees will consider adopting a policy for using the temporary lights, as well as a resolution exempting the project from local zoning ordinances. Sequoia spokeswoman Bettylu Smith noted there has been no notification from the court that it couldn�t move forward with plans to install the temporary lights. School districts can, by a two-thirds vote of its board, find that a proposed change on school property is exempt from a local ordinance. Trustees will take such a vote Wednesday night arguing the temporary nature of the lights exempts the project from local regulations. With the lights going in shortly, the board will consider a policy on using them. Under the proposal, lights and a public address system could be used for four football games starting at sunset until 10:30 p.m. Soccer and lacrosse teams would each be able to use the lights for six weeknight games from sunset to 8:30 p.m. Lastly, school and youth sport practices would use lights on weeknights until 8:30 p.m. There was no limit to the number of practices for which lights could be used. " ***************** Note that the planned usage already exceeds what the Board previously stated would be allowed.

Menlo Park downtown parking targeted for change

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:11:33 PDT
Downtown parking is on the agenda when the Menlo Park City Council meets Aug. 31, and among the questions considered will be whether to shorten parking time limits from two hours to one hour along Santa Cruz Avenue, while adding 15-minute spots at the street's corners. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7244 posted Monday, August 30, 2010, 10:35 AM

Bill Lane honored at Town Council meeting

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:49:23 PDT
The Portola Valley Town Council honored one of its own on Wednesday, Aug. 25, by setting out the chair usually occupied by Bill Lane, the town's first mayor. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7240 posted Friday, August 27, 2010, 10:55 AM

Caltrain likely to keep weekend service

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:23:36 PDT
Caltrain is likely to keep weekend service and service to Gilroy, at least until next July, instead of cutting them as previously discussed to help close a $2.3 million budget gap, a Caltrain spokesman said Friday. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7245 posted Monday, August 30, 2010, 9:48 AM

Las Lomitas district to explore parcel tax increase

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:16:24 PDT
The governing board of the Las Lomitas Elementary School District agreed unanimously to hire a pollster to test voter opinion on a possible increase in the $311 in parcel taxes that property owners pay annually to the district. Read the full story here http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7246 posted Monday, August 30, 2010, 10:23 AM