To fulfill its mission of educating children during their first five years of life, the nonprofit All Five preschool in Menlo Park is kicking off a campaign this month to raise $800,000 to expand its services.

Bob Williams of Menlo Park clearly recalls "a special boyhood thrill" that inspired him into adulthood and to this day: meeting and shaking hands with a U.S. military veteran. A veteran, mind you, of the American Civil War.

Two years ago, Menlo Park resident Kirsten Mouradian was taking the recommended environmentally conscious actions: riding her bike around town, reduce-reuse-recycling and using solar power. But she was growing more worried.

In August of last year, a homeless woman who lives in Menlo Park was sent out of town on a one-way taxi to Ocean Beach in San Francisco on the city's dime, confirmed the Menlo Park Police Department.

The largest project in Santa Clara County's history got the axe just before noon on Nov. 1, a casualty of fundamental disagreements between county and Stanford University leaders and accusations of "lack of good faith."

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