Recent News
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Friday deadline for county transportation plan feedback
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority, which administers the two half-cent sales taxes that pay for transportation infrastructure projects countywide, has released a new five-year strategic plan for 2020 through 2024.
Tuesday, 5:37 PM | No comments yetPortola Valley council to hold Planning Commission interviews, consider wildfire recommendations
The Portola Valley Town Council will interview candidates for the Planning Commission and receive a report for the town's Ad Hoc Wildfire Preparedness Committee on Wednesday evening (Nov. 13).
Tuesday, 3:26 PM | No comments yetRestoration and wildfire prevention work closes Wunderlich County Park trails
Three major trails in Wunderlich County Park in Woodside are closed until Nov. 29 to allow the San Mateo County Parks Department and PG&E to do a trail reconstruction project, according to a parks department release.
Tuesday, 11:58 AM | No comments yetGuest opinion: Proposed garbage collection contract raises cart-size questions
A former town mayor has concerns about two aspects of a proposed garbage collection contract that the Portola Valley Town Council may approve on Nov. 13.
Tuesday, 9:58 AM | 1 commentAll Five preschool begins fundraising campaign for expansion
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.
Tuesday, 8:42 AM | No comments yetMonday, November 11, 2019
Menlo Park man files lawsuit against creek authority
A lawsuit was filed Oct. 24 against the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority and its board, claiming that the board skipped a step when it approved a new flood control project in Menlo Park and Palo Alto in September.
Monday, 3:38 PM | 6 commentsToday: Attorney for indicted sheriff's deputy seeking to dismiss evidence
Tony Serra, defense attorney for retired San Mateo County sheriff's deputy Juan Pablo Lopez, plans to introduce five motions to dismiss evidence against Lopez allegedly obtained through cellphone records and searches of his homes.
Monday, 10:58 AM | No comments yetWoodside council rejects challenge by equestrian bridge opponents
The Woodside Town Council has reversed a ruling by the Planning Commission that denied a conditional use permit for a bridge that will enable equestrians to bypass a washed-out section of a trail.
Monday, 8:09 AM | 1 commentSunday, November 10, 2019
For Veterans Day, a lesson about service and gratitude
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.
Sunday, 6:09 PM | No comments yetHome sales for the week of Nov. 4
A complete list of home sales on the Midpeninsula, where Palo Alto recorded the highest sale at $12,000,000 for a five-bedroom, East Coast-inspired home in the Crescent Park neighborhood.
Sunday, 7:55 AM | No comments yetSaturday, November 9, 2019
Spare the Air alerts called for Saturday and Sunday; wood burning banned
A high-pressure system trapping smoke over the Bay Area spurred the air district to issue the winter season's first Spare the Air alerts for
Saturday, 2:51 PM |
No comments yet
A high-pressure system trapping smoke over the Bay Area spurred the air district to issue the winter season's first Spare the Air alerts for
Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, 2:51 PM |
No comments yet
Big garbage, recycling rate hikes in store for Woodside, Portola Valley
Woodside and Portola Valley have negotiated a new recycling and garbage collection agreement with San Jose-based GreenWaste Recovery that calls for a more than 30 percent average base rate increase.
Saturday, 7:56 AM | 4 commentsFriday, November 8, 2019
Canopy in Action: Planting trees in Belle Haven
On a recent Saturday morning, nearly 100 people gathered at Belle Haven School, including Menlo Park's mayor and vice mayor and Facebook representatives, to plant 12 new trees along Chilco Street.
Friday, 4:31 PM | No comments yetHow a local nonprofit is fighting climate change, teaching stewardship and building community
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.
Friday, 4:31 PM | 2 commentsMenlo Park council to consider enacting state renter protection law early
Some renters in Menlo Park are being evicted before the end of the year, after which a new state law protecting renters takes effect. The Menlo Park council could make the state law effective immediately on Nov. 12.
Friday, 11:58 AM | No comments yetPolice used city funds to taxi homeless woman to SF
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.
Friday, 11:20 AM | 14 commentsInside Stanford's bid to expand -- and how it came undone
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."
Friday, 10:35 AM | 1 commentSudden Oak Death Blitz results to be revealed at Woodside meeting
Woodside will be hosting a meeting Nov. 8 to share the results of the annual Sudden Oak Death Blitz held last spring.
Friday, 8:38 AM | No comments yetThursday, November 7, 2019
Victim's green pants to be key piece of evidence in serial-killer case
A pair of torn, green corduroy pants will likely be the most fought-over piece of evidence in the trial against accused serial murderer John Arthur Getreu, based on preliminary-hearing arguments in San Mateo County Superior Court.
Thursday, 3:47 PM | 1 commentPortola Valley geophysicist, explorer Sheldon Breiner dies
An expanded version of a story published earlier this week. Sheldon Breiner, known for his adventurous spirit and quests for sunken ships and lost cities, who was dubbed by some the "Indiana Jones of Portola Valley," has died.
Thursday, 2:04 PM | No comments yetAtherton police host toy drive for Adelante Selby Lane Spanish Immersion School
The Atherton Police Activities League and Police Officers' Association are collecting toys for Adelante Selby Lane Spanish Immersion School, formerly Selby Lane School, in Atherton for the holidays.
Thursday, 11:44 AM | No comments yetRavenswood community weighs pace, transition of closing two elementary schools
Parents and others who have attended public meetings on consolidating schools in the Ravenswood City School District appear split over whether to close two schools next fall or to close one next year and the other after that.
Thursday, 10:59 AM | 2 commentsState attorney general sues Facebook over privacy violations probe
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra went to court in San Francisco Wednesday in a bid to force Facebook Inc. to provide more information for an investigation of possible violations of user privacy.
Thursday, 8:37 AM |
3 comments
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra went to court in San Francisco Wednesday in a bid to force Facebook Inc. to provide more information for an investigation of possible violations of user privacy.
Thursday, 8:37 AM |
3 comments
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Accused child molester Randolph Haldeman gets extension for preliminary hearing
A preliminary hearing for Randolph Haldeman, the Menlo Park man accused of molesting children at his home and at a community swimming pool, has been moved to Dec. 18 to give his attorney more time to investigate the case.
Wednesday, 5:04 PM | 3 commentsAtherton: Uber drivers, other contract workers protest outside of Uber investor's home
About 30 gig economy employees, mostly Uber drivers, on Nov. 6 protested outside the Atherton home of Bill Gurley, a venture capitalist and investor in the ride-hailing company.
Wednesday, 3:17 PM | 10 commentsMenlo Park council, county support ban of vape device sales
Hours after the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors acted unanimously to ban the sale of e-cigarettes in unincorporated county areas, the Menlo Park City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Nov. 5, to support a similar ban.
Wednesday, 11:57 AM | 7 commentsPortola Valley Planning Commission to review winery tasting room application
The application from Portola Valley's Neely Wine to modify an existing conditional use permit to allow for a tasting room will be reviewed by the Planning Commission Wednesday (Nov. 6) evening.
Wednesday, 10:16 AM | No comments yetAtherton City Council to examine reducing lanes on El Camino
The Atherton City Council will review a recommendation today to remove a lane from each side of El Camino Real in town to better accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, and reduce car accidents.
Wednesday, 9:02 AM | 5 commentsTuesday, November 5, 2019
Stolen rainbow flags become part of lesson on activism at Trinity School
Students at Trinity School are learning about activism through a lesson about rainbow flags stolen from the church in front of the school.
Tuesday, 3:38 PM | 1 commentSmoke from Ranch Fire drifts into Bay Area
An air quality advisory due to smoke from the Ranch Fire in Tehama County has been extended through Wednesday.
Tuesday, 2:21 PM | No comments yetMenlo Park: Expert panel to discuss ways to boost downtown access
On Wednesday evening, a panel of experts is scheduled to convene in Menlo Park to discuss some of the ways that Bay Area communities can improve access to their downtowns and reduce traffic congestion.
Tuesday, 11:49 AM | No comments yetMan charged with murder of former town arborist gets date for jury trial
Francis Wolke, 27, the man charged with killing former Atherton town arborist Kathy Hughes Anderson in her Menlo Park home last year, has received an April 28 date for a pre-trial conference and a June 22 date for a jury trial.
Tuesday, 8:48 AM | No comments yetMonday, November 4, 2019
Menlo Park buys property fire district wants for station
Following a private discussion about potential liabilities, the Menlo Park City Council unanimously authorized the spending of $3.6 million to acquire a vacant property formerly home to a gas station at its Oct. 29 meeting.
Monday, 5:18 PM | 2 commentsPortola Valley geophysicist, explorer Sheldon Breiner dies at 82
Sheldon Breiner, the Portola Valley resident and open space advocate who used magnetism to find sunken ships and lost cities, died on Oct. 9 at the age of 82 after a long illness, according to his wife Mimi Breiner.
Monday, 11:58 AM | 8 commentsAtherton committee to weigh off-leash dog park at Nov. 6 meeting
An Atherton committee decided to continue to explore the concept of building an off-leash dog park in Holbrook-Palmer Park at its meeting last month, despite reservations from tennis players.
Monday, 8:11 AM | 2 commentsSunday, November 3, 2019
County supervisors to consider ban on sales of e-cigarettes
Two San Mateo County supervisors want to ban sales of e-cigarette products in unincorporated areas of the county.
Sunday, 3:30 PM | 1 commentHome sales for the week of Oct. 28
A complete list of home sales on the Midpeninsula, where Atherton recorded the highest sale at $13,150,000 for a three-bedroom home built in 1998.
Sunday, 7:12 AM | No comments yetSaturday, November 2, 2019
Californians unwilling to subsidize land owners' wildfire prevention, Stanford poll finds
Years of devastating, back-to-back wildfires coupled with recent power shutdowns have not convinced Californians to fund wildfire prevention on behalf of at-risk homeowners and businesses, Stanford University researchers have found.
Saturday, 3:01 PM | 2 commentsMan charged with Skyline Boulevard slayings ruled incompetent
The man charged with killing two men in separate incidents on Skyline Boulevard in June has been ruled incompetent to stand trial by a San Mateo County Superior Court judge.
Saturday, 8:47 AM | No comments yetFriday, November 1, 2019
La Honda Road accident victim remains in hospital with major injuries
A 70-year-old Mill Valley man remains at Stanford Hospital with major injuries after he lost control of his vehicle and drove over an embankment on La Honda Road in Woodside east of Skyline Boulevard on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 27).
Friday, 5:04 PM | No comments yetStanford withdraws application for campus expansion
Stanford University abruptly abandoned on Friday its contentious plan to expand its campus by 3.5 million square feet, citing ongoing disagreements with the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors over the approval process.
Friday, 1:01 PM | 5 comments'A national epidemic'
Local government agencies, schools and other groups are working to combat a growing trend among teens: vaping.
Friday, 11:52 AM | No comments yetFormer teacher faces nearly seven years in prison for sex acts with minor
A former teacher charged with engaging in sex acts with a minor pleaded no contest to several charges on Wednesday, Oct. 30, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
Friday, 8:18 AM | No comments yetThursday, October 31, 2019
Accused Menlo Park auto vandal to get psychiatric evaluation
A San Diego man charged with vandalizing vehicles in Menlo Park in April will be undergoing a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Thursday, 8:35 PM | No comments yetMenlo Park school board approves 5% raise for teachers
Menlo Park City School District teachers will see a 5% pay hike this school year after the school board unanimously approved a labor contract at its Oct. 24 meeting.
Thursday, 3:52 PM | 3 commentsMenlo Park’s new arts nonprofit forges ahead
A new nonprofit is now working to get thought-provoking art installed throughout the city of Menlo Park.
Thursday, 11:57 AM | No comments yetWoodside to repair Old La Honda Road bridge
The Woodside Planning Commission has approved an environmental review and conditional use permit for a project to repair a 95-year-old bridge on Old La Honda Road, about a tenth of a mile west of Portola Road.
Thursday, 11:54 AM | 1 commentWith school closures looming, Ravenswood district to hold series of public meetings
With declining enrollment putting increasing pressure on the Ravenswood City School District's budget, school officials are starting to seek public feedback about closing one or two schools next fall.
Thursday, 8:51 AM | No comments yet
All your news. All in one place. Every day.
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