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Eshoo secures $4.5 million in funding

Representative Anna Eshoo speaks at a town hall in Mountain View in July 2019. Photo by Sadie Stinson.
Representative Anna Eshoo speaks at a town hall in Mountain View in July 2019. Photo by Sadie Stinson.

Representative Anna Eshoo has secured $4.5 million in federal funding for a pedestrian and bike tunnel under Caltrain tracks on Middle Avenue in Menlo Park, to be voted on by the House of Representatives.

The funding comes as part of $21.4 million in the 2023 Appropriations bill for the residents of her congressional district, including $8.5 million for Caltrain crossings.

“I think that what is essential in all of these projects is to cover where people move,” Eshoo said. “Whether you’re a pedestrian, whether you’re someone riding a bike, riding in a car, everyone benefits from this.”

The funding, which will be voted on by the House of Representatives next week, aims to improve pedestrian safety in Menlo Park through safe track crossing.

New administrators in Menlo Park district

The Menlo Park City School District Board of Trustees approved hiring Danielle O’Brien as Hillview Middle School’s interim principal for the 2022-23 school year at a June 9 meeting.

O’Brien has served as the associate principal at the Menlo Park middle school. She will be the school’s first female principal, according to Trustee Francesca Segrè’s newsletter.

Incoming Hillview Principal Danielle O'Brien. Courtesy Menlo Park City School District.
Incoming Hillview Principal Danielle O’Brien. Courtesy Menlo Park City School District.

Alicia Heneghan, a former San Mateo-Foster City School District administrator and principal, will be Upper Laurel School’s new principal.

Their contracts started July 1.

The district also hired Chih Mei Chung as a transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher. The district is adding a TK program this fall.

Portola Valley Summer Concert Series

The town of Portola Valley began hosting the Portola Valley Summer Concert Series on July 14.

The concert series is free and takes place at the Portola Valley Town Center, at 765 Portola Road, between 5:30 to 8 p.m., with each event including food trucks.

The Gold Souls performed on Thursday, July 14.

The Joint Chiefs Band, performing on Thursday, Aug. 25, is a funk, acid jazz and R&B band that likes to make its audience dance.

Alex Lucero & The Live Again Band, performing on Thursday, Sept. 15, is a local California band that blends soul, funk, Americana and jazz with intergenerational talent.

For more information on the concert series, go here.

Woodside Architecture Review Board accepting applications

Woodside residents with an interest in local architecture are encouraged to apply to fill a vacant seat on the Architectural and Site Review Board (ASRB). The board evaluates residential applications for key architectural aspects such as landscape and design in order to make recommendations to the town’s planning director.

The board is composed of five members and currently has a vacancy for a term which would expire in February 2025. It meets on the first and third Monday of each month.

Information requests can be directed to Town Clerk Jennifer Li at jli@woodsidetown.org.

Applications are due Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. The Town Council will interview candidates on Sept. 13.

For more information, go here.

By Angela Swartz, Cameron Rebosio, Jonas Pao and Aliana Mediratta

By Angela Swartz, Cameron Rebosio, Jonas Pao and Aliana Mediratta

By Angela Swartz, Cameron Rebosio, Jonas Pao and Aliana Mediratta

Angela Swartz is The Almanac's editor. She joined The Almanac in 2018. She previously reported on youth and education, and the towns of Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside for The Almanac. Angela, who...

Cameron Rebosio joined The Almanac in 2022 as the Menlo Park reporter. She was previously a staff writer at the Daily Californian and an intern at the Palo Alto Weekly. Cameron graduated from the University...

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1 Comment

  1. It appears the City of Menlo Park now has a $5M commitment from Stanford and this $4.5M.
    What is the current cost estimate for this project? How much more funding does Menlo Park still need? Likely sources? When?

    I am surprised this information was not included in this news report.

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