A former employee of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health embezzled about $350,000 from the foundation over a five-year period, the foundation has announced.
A police report has been filed, the foundation said, but the name of the former employee has not been disclosed.
The loss is covered by insurance, and a check shows that all donations have gone to areas specified by the donors, foundation President and CEO David Alexander, M.D., said in a statement.
The missing funds were discovered through routine accounting procedures, and confirmed by independent investigators, he said.
The foundation raises funds on behalf of the Packard Children’s Hospital and for children-related programs in the Stanford School of Medicine.
— Jay Thorwaldson, Palo Alto Weekly
Can you smell the french fries?
Menlo Park’s environmental programs coordinator Dianne Dryer and Evan Boyd, general manager of Allied Waste in San Mateo County, were on hand to celebrate the rollout of the waste company’s first 12 biodiesel-powered garbage trucks.
By the end of January, the whole fleet of 225 trucks will be picking up garbage, yard trimmings and recyclables, saving 3.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide in a year.
A cheerful logo on garbage trucks rumbling though local neighborhood marks trucks that are burning biodiesel fuel — made from used cooking oil. Can you smell the french fries?
New name, programs for job-training center
A big crowd showed up Sept. 20 at an open house for the Menlo Park nonprofit job-training center, Opportunities Industrialization Center West. Supporters blew wooden train whistles to celebrate the new name of the center: JobTrain.
Opened in 1965, OICW last year helped 6,200 people finish high school, learn a trade, and/or find work.
With its new name, the center — located at 1200 O’Brien Drive — is starting new programs, such as solar installation as part of its popular Project Build construction training program. In addition to job training, the center provides counseling, teen services and child development programs at low or no cost.
For more information, call 330-6429 or go online to www.jobtrainworks.org.
Man arrested for attempted auto theft
An East Palo Alto resident was arrested Sept. 19 in the 300 block of McKendry Drive in Menlo Park after a resident reported seeing the man attempting to steal cars, according to the Menlo Park Police Department.
Jorge Molina, 19, was booked for attempted auto burglary, obstructing an officer and two outstanding warrants when police found him hiding in the yard of a house on McKendry Drive, police said.
Residents called 911 around 11:30 p.m. that day, reporting that they saw Molina attempt to open car doors along the street. Mr. Molina allegedly gained access in to one vehicle, but fled the scene to hide when police arrived.
Police ask that anyone with information about the case contact the Police Department at (650) 330-6300.
— Bay City News Service
Open space meet on Good Neighbor Policy
Three years after the Midpeninsula annexed 220 square miles of the San Mateo County Coastside, the open space agency is still trying to improve its relations with its neighbors.
The district board will consider a revised Good Neighbor Policy at a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 330 Distel Circle in Los Altos. The policy is designed to foster good relations with its constituents and neighbors of its preserves.
The new policy has been developed over two years with numerous meetings and discussions with neighbors, particularly in the newly annexed area. The policy deals with topics such as the protection of privacy on adjoining private lands, public involvement in policy development, the process for deciding on the use and management of preserves, and resource management issues, such as control of invasive species.
For information, call the district at 692-1200, or go to openspace.org.
Hikers, bikers, etc., cruise Ridge Trail
Hikers, bikers and horseback riders, including children, will have multiple opportunities to enjoy the Ridge Trail in San Mateo County on Saturday, Sept. 29, starting at the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve on Skyline Boulevard south of Page Mill Road.
The annual event, sponsored by the Ridge Trail Council, gives local trail enthusiasts an opportunity to experience local sections of the trail that will ultimately ring the Bay along its ridges. Three hundred miles of the 550-mile multipurpose trail are now open.
Participating in the Cruz are the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, ROMP (Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers), and ETRAC (Equestrian Trail Riders Action Committee).
The Cruz will offer a variety of trail activities, including a family outing, and 12 or 24-mile hikes. Buses will take hikers to starting points. The fully supported hike includes breakfast, lunch, water, snacks, maps, and first aid stations.
Advance reservations are required at $40 each. For information or to sign up, call 415-561-2595; or go to ridgetrail.org.
