Recent News
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Menlo Park man rescued from fires pleads guilty to arson
A Menlo Park man rescued from one of two fires he started in Palo Alto last month pleaded guilty to all charges on Tuesday, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
Tuesday, 4:53 PM | No comments yetTuesday: Woodside council discusses wildfire prevention
The Woodside Town Council will discuss wildfire prevention tonight (Dec. 11) in light of the devastating wildfires in Northern California in the past two years.
Tuesday, 11:46 AM | No comments yetMenlo Park council race: Why did incumbents lose?
Four years ago, Menlo Park City Council members Peter Ohtaki and Kirsten Keith received the most votes citywide compared with their competitors. Last month, under an entirely new district-based voting system, they lost their respective district races by wide margins to two people who volunteer on city commissions, Betsy Nash and Drew Combs.
Tuesday, 11:13 AM | 3 commentsTonight: New Menlo Park council members to take dais
Newly elected Menlo Park City Council members Cecilia Taylor, Drew Combs and Betsy Nash will take the dais tonight (Dec. 11) as part of the council's annual reorganization meeting. The council will also decide who will serve as the mayor and vice mayor until December 2019.
Tuesday, 8:56 AM | No comments yetMonday, December 10, 2018
Sprinklers halt kitchen fire at Menlo Park's Nativity School
A fire that started Sunday afternoon (Dec. 9) in a kitchen at the John and Susan Sobrato Pavilion at the Nativity School in Menlo Park was quickly extinguished by a built-in sprinkler system, according to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.
Monday, 2:00 PM | No comments yetFiscal responsibility, high academic standards are key priorities for new board members
There will be some new faces looking out from the dais at Menlo Park City School District board meetings starting Dec. 11, the day district parents Sherwin Chen and Scott Saywell begin their terms on the school board.
Monday, 7:55 AM | 1 commentSunday, December 9, 2018
Menlo Park: Toys, volunteers needed for holiday drive
The annual Willows neighborhood toy drive to benefit children and families in the Ravenswood City School District is underway, and organizers are sounding the call for donations and volunteers.
Sunday, 4:07 PM | No comments yetLongtime aging expert, now 88, heeds his own advice
At 88 years old, aging expert and retired Stanford University professor Walter Bortz is personally experiencing some of the health trials he's spent a career studying and writing about.
Sunday, 9:00 AM | 1 commentSaturday, December 8, 2018
A Woodside treasure
The Fleishhacker estate in Woodside, recently revealed to be on the market for an unnamed price that local real estate agents speculate could surpass $150 million, has been a summer retreat for members of the Fleishhacker family for more than a century.
Saturday, 11:46 AM | 2 commentsFriday, December 7, 2018
WHOA! responding to animals in need
The toll of losses from the Camp Fire continues to climb. Along with the devastation to the human population, thousands of animals have been impacted. WHOA!, the Woodside area equestrian organization, responded to the situation with a call for donations to assist in feeding and caring for the animals.
Friday, 7:44 PM | No comments yetHoliday Fund: Upward Scholars offers 'life-changing' educational help
Upward Scholars provides financial and academic support to low-income adults so they can continue their education in community college, get better jobs, and serve as role models and advocates for their children. The nonprofit is one of 10 that benefit from The Almanac's 2018 Holiday Fund.
Friday, 4:16 PM | 5 commentsHigh school district forms committee to address student performance, absenteeism
The Sequoia Union High School District will form a committee to look at improving its school climate and students' academic performance, Superintendent Mary Streshly announced Tuesday (Dec. 4).
Friday, 11:48 AM | No comments yetCounty officials certify results for local elections
San Mateo County election officials released the certified results for the Nov. 6 election on Thursday, Dec. 6. And given the preliminary counts that have trickled in since election night, there were no surprises except perhaps for the approval of the countywide sales tax Measure W.
Friday, 10:57 AM | 6 commentsFinal election results: Pulido, Sobomehin, Fitch win seats on Ravenswood school board
Incumbent Ana Pulido and newcomers Tamara Sobomehin and Stephanie Fitch have officially been elected to the Ravenswood City School District Board of Education, according to certified election results released on Thursday.
Friday, 8:53 AM | 2 commentsThursday, December 6, 2018
Recycled-water irrigation coming to Menlo golf course
The West Bay Sanitary District has begun construction of a 500,000-gallons-per-day wastewater recycling facility on the grounds of the Sharon Heights Golf Course in western Menlo Park.
Thursday, 6:30 PM | 1 commentUnspecified threat found in M-A bathroom
Menlo-Atherton High School officials notified parents of M-A students in a Dec. 5 email that the school had contacted Atherton police after someone found an unspecified threat written in a bathroom stall. The email didn't say when the threat was discovered.
Thursday, 1:26 PM | No comments yet'Tis the season indeed
You know ‘tis the season of giving when 300-plus people drive up the hill to Alice's Restaurant in Woodside in rainy conditions to attend a Paradise Camp Fire Relief Fundraiser.
Thursday, 12:27 PM | No comments yet40 years after surviving Jonestown, Rep. Jackie Speier talks about trauma, politics
She was shot five times and left for dead in the jungles of Guyana. She lost her first husband in a fatal car accident. But Jackie Speier, undaunted, hasn't let personal tragedy or professional challenges stop her from rising through the ranks of elective office to congresswoman.
Thursday, 11:51 AM | No comments yetMenlo Park council gives $275,000 to local nonprofits
Nonprofits that serve people in Menlo Park earned a combined $275,000 on Tuesday, Dec. 4, when the Menlo Park City Council voted unanimously to approve a spending plan for its community funding program.
Thursday, 11:45 AM | No comments yetThursday: Public meeting in Portola Valley on pedestrian safety
Residents of Portola Valley who have concerns and complaints about pedestrian safety in town may want to attend a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, to hear from a traffic consultant who has studied and assessed the issue.
Thursday, 11:32 AM | No comments yetUpcoming meetings in Menlo Park
It's business as usual between now and the holidays when it comes to Menlo Park's public meeting schedule. Here are a few upcoming gatherings to look out for.
Thursday, 10:34 AM | No comments yetLandmark Theaters bought by Cohen Media Group
Landmark Theaters, which includes the Guild in Menlo Park and the Aquarius Theatre in downtown Palo Alto, has been bought by the Cohen Media Group, the company announced this week.
Thursday, 7:53 AM | 2 commentsWednesday, December 5, 2018
Menlo Park district registering preschool students
Registration is underway for enrollment in Menlo Park City School District's new preschool next school year.
Wednesday, 5:39 PM | No comments yetMenlo Park: Four burglaries reported on Tuesday
Laptop computers were the target in two commercial burglaries on Adams Drive in Menlo Park last night. And there were two burglaries reported on Sharon Park Drive: one attempted entry of an apartment and one incident in which a smashed car window was the only apparent damage.
Wednesday, 11:37 AM | No comments yetToday: PV school board begins process for Measure Z rollout
The Portola Valley School District will meet Wednesday evening (Dec. 5) to begin implementing a bond measure that focuses on fixes to its aging and leaky buildings.
Wednesday, 11:11 AM | No comments yetSheriff's Office warns of scam involving SMC Alert system
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam involving text messages claiming to be associated with the county's SMC Alert emergency notification system.
Wednesday, 8:21 AM | 1 commentTuesday, December 4, 2018
Cyclist injured in hit-and-run at Alpine Road and I-280
A Palo Alto man riding his bicycle on Alpine Road on Nov. 18 was sent to the hospital with head injuries when someone driving a Porsche SUV struck the bicycle from behind and fled the scene.
Tuesday, 9:17 PM | 28 commentsFacebook's international drama has its day in county court
A years-old lawsuit in San Mateo County has made international headlines in recent days after a the founder of a company that is now suing Facebook handed a committee of British lawmakers an unknown number of highly confidential Facebook documents that, under court order, were strictly limited for access by his attorneys.
Tuesday, 3:01 PM | 4 commentsTonight: Dinner at Alice's Restaurant to benefit Camp Fire victims
If you're looking for a way to help victims of the Camp Fire in Butte County, Alice's Restaurant in Woodside is putting on a family-style pasta dinner tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 4), with 100 percent of proceeds going to victims.
Tuesday, 11:58 AM | No comments yetTuesday: Menlo Park council to discuss rail line report, community funding decisions
At the Menlo Park City Council meeting tonight (Dec. 4), there's only one item of regular business scheduled: deciding whether to put $275,000 into the council's discretionary community funding program.
Tuesday, 11:13 AM | No comments yetMenlo Park: Planning Commission OKs Middlefield office building
The Menlo Park Planning Commission voted 4-1 Monday, Dec. 3, to approve a use permit for a proposed office building at 40 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park.
Tuesday, 10:18 AM | 16 commentsHoliday Fund: Maria’s story: Not letting diabetes win
Ravenswood Family Health Center staff work hand-in-hand with patients, providing them the tools they need to become empowered individuals and to take control of their health. The center is one of 10 nonprofits that benefit from The Almanac's 2018 Holiday Fund.
Tuesday, 9:00 AM | No comments yetMonday, December 3, 2018
More rain headed to Bay Area
Periods of rain are forecast through Thursday in the Bay Area before dry conditions return by Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
Monday, 4:51 PM | No comments yetA peek at Atherton Library’s past
As the Atherton Library is demolished to make room for a new $22.8 million library, The Almanac took a look back at the library's history.
Monday, 11:36 AM | No comments yetPolice calls: Man wangles $100,000 from woman online
Crime reports from Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Atherton
Monday, 9:18 AM | No comments yetSunday, December 2, 2018
Holiday Fund: More than just a garden ornament
The St. Francis Center began as a food and clothing program, but evolved, over 32 years, into a multiservice, nonprofit serving families in the Bay Area. The organization is one of 10 nonprofits that benefit from The Almanac's 2018 Holiday Fund.
Sunday, 10:01 AM | No comments yetSaturday, December 1, 2018
Guest opinion: Help fight proposed rule that would harm immigrant families
The residents of Menlo Park must take action to protect our immigrant families by opposing one of the latest moves in the Trump administration's attack on immigrants and refugees.
Saturday, 12:23 PM | 17 commentsFriday, November 30, 2018
Atherton tops most expensive real estate list
For the second year in a row, Atherton topped the list for most expensive residential real estate in the country, according to real estate website PropertyShark.
Friday, 4:51 PM | 36 commentsHow Peninsula Clean Energy is bringing renewable energy to San Mateo County
An assortment of elected officials from across San Mateo County recently took part in the groundbreaking of the "Wright Solar Project," a solar farm that is going to be a 1,200-acre, 200-megawatt collection of solar panels that will meet the energy needs for about 15 percent of the county.
Friday, 11:36 AM | 2 commentsSaturday: Breakfast with Santa coming up in Menlo Park
A pancake breakfast, holiday activities and visits with a certain jolly old elf will be part of the festivities at the city-hosted "Breakfast with Santa" event on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Friday, 10:21 AM | No comments yetHoliday fair this Saturday in Portola Valley
Portola Valley's holiday fair celebrates its 10th year on Saturday, Dec. 1, with sales of fine art, ornaments, textiles, clothing and items of wood, leather and ceramic.
Friday, 8:37 AM | No comments yetThursday, November 29, 2018
Saturday: Menlo Park wine walk and education fundraiser
The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association will partner with businesses in downtown Menlo Park on Saturday, Dec. 1, to host wine tastings at different downtown shops. All ticket proceeds will go to the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation.
Thursday, 6:28 PM | No comments yetMiddle school floods for second time in five weeks
A water main break at La Entrada Middle School in Menlo Park on Thursday, Nov. 29, flooded the campus for the second time in five weeks, leading officials to cancel classes.
Thursday, 3:36 PM | 3 commentsUpdate: Deputies arrest suspect in Woodside burglary
San Mateo County Sheriff's Office deputies have arrested a man suspected in a residential burglary in Woodside on Wednesday, Nov. 28, according to a social media post from the Sheriff's Office Thursday afternoon.
Thursday, 11:58 AM | 2 comments22-year-old killed by train in Menlo Park
A 22-year-old man from Redwood City was struck and killed by a train in Menlo Park around 1 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Thursday, 11:49 AM | 2 commentsVirginia Nalley Woodson dies at 86
Virginia Nalley Woodson, a longtime staff member at Menlo Presbyterian Church, died Nov. 13 at age 86 at Stanford Hospital, surrounded by close family.
Thursday, 11:01 AM | No comments yetModel railroad association hosts annual train show this weekend
The West Bay Model Railroad Association at 1090 Merrill St. in Menlo Park is hosting a free holiday open house of its two-tiered model train layout on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 2, from 1 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, 10:26 AM | 2 commentsIkie Kurose of former Nak's Oriental Market dies at 78
Ikie Kurose, a longtime fixture of the community at the former Nak's Oriental Market in Menlo Park, died Saturday, Nov. 24, at age 78.
Thursday, 8:25 AM | 6 commentsWednesday, November 28, 2018
Rain and strong winds forecast for today
Wet weather, strong winds and big surf are expected across the Bay Area through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday, 4:08 PM | No comments yetLitterbug laments? Pothole predicaments?
Government employees in Portola Valley keep regular hours, but trees have no such scruples when they drop limbs, nor does asphalt when it creates a pothole. Now residents can alert Town Hall to such problems around the clock through a smartphone app.
Wednesday, 9:04 AM | No comments yetSan Mateo County plans 100-plus affordable apartments, child care center
San Mateo County has begun a process to contract with a developer to build at least 100 affordable housing units, a child care center and some community-serving commercial space at "Middlefield Junction," at 2700 Middlefield Road in North Fair Oaks, between Atherton and Redwood City.
Wednesday, 7:57 AM | 7 comments
Downtown Redwood City gets Japanese kaiseki restaurant
By Elena Kadvany | 0 comments | 2,956 views
Couples: Child Loss, "No U-Turn at Mercy Street"
By Chandrama Anderson | 0 comments | 1,411 views
Which Cocktail Has the Least Calories?
By Laura Stec | 10 comments | 1,199 views
UCSB's CCS program
By John Raftrey and Lori McCormick | 0 comments | 189 views
