| Midtown News Update |
|
| 2002 Archive | 2006 Archive | January | ||
| 2003 Archive | 2007 Archive | February | ||
| 2004 Archive | 2008 Archive | March | ||
| 2005 Archive | 2009 Archive |
MIDTOWN BUSINESS/NEIGHBOR NEWS
Midtown still has many streets that are in need of BPCs. Please consider being a neighbor helping a neighbor during times of need and preparing our neighborhood for whatever comes our way.
Reminder of the upcoming Block Preparedness Coordinator (BPC) Training schedule, this month there are 2, so if you miss one, there is another: RSVP to epvolunteers@paneighborhoods.org
March 18th, Thursday: Clark Building - 1st Floor, Ed Room - right turn from lobby
March 24th, Wednesday: Jamplis Building - 3rd Floor, Ed Room - Conference Room A & F, near Cafe
6:00PM - Introduction to BPC Program
7:00PM - Damage Assessment
8:15PM - Communications for Disasters (if possible, bring a FRS radio)
Parking in underground garage entering via front driveway or back above ground garage. Website directions - http://pamf.org/paloalto.
NEXT MRA General Meeting will be Tuesday April 13, at the Friends Meeting Hall. "The City Budget Process and Your Input" with City Manager Jim Keene.
CITY/COUNTY/SCHOOL EVENTS/NOTES
HIGH SPEED RAIL: There is also a Quick Guide that can be downloaded on how to provide comments on this project. http://www.calhsr.com/environmental-review/how-to-write-an-eir-comment. Providing public comment is crucial during this very important period. In addition, CARRD (Californians for Responsible Rail Development) is in the process of gathering resources that interested people can use to find factual data about issues such as Noise, Vibration, Water, etc. If you have any thoughts or suggestions as to sites that might have relevant information - please send them comments, corrections or suggestions for any other part of our website www.calhsr.com. Comments to nadianaik@carrdnet.org. Also note the longer document http://www.calhsr.com/environmental-review/how-to-write-an-eir-comment.
RECYCLING: Palo Alto has been recycling for over 38 years and has achieved 62 percent diversion of waste from landfills. This is an excellent start. However, Palo Alto has only another 12 years to reach our Zero Waste goal. To get to the goal, we need to reduce our waste by an additional 37 percent. An ordinance is tentatively scheduled to go before City Council in late April or May & go into effect July 1, 2010. It will be an educational tool not a punitive measure, and initially focus on outreach and education about the new requirements, aimed at creating new systems, processes and behaviors to keep recyclables and compostables out of the garbage. The ordinance will apply to the whole community, recognizing that different services are currently offered to the residential and commercial sectors. Questions? See the City's Recycling and Composting Ordinance page at www.cityofpaloalto.org/recyclingordinance.
-- View the presentation at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=19038
-- View the white paper at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=19035
-- Take the Recycling and Composting Ordinance Survey at https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/1a31g4377b
See latest Summary of Planning and Transportation Division projects/activities at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pln/news/details.asp?NewsID=613&TargetID=85
The Palo Alto Mediation Program (PAMP) will have openings for several new volunteer community mediators this year. The City of Palo Alto offers free and confidential mediation services to its citizens to help them resolve disputes confidentially, and without going to court. Typical mediation cases include neighbor-to-neighbor, landlord/tenant, and consumer issues. The only requirement is that you live, work, or own property in Palo Alto or Stanford, and take an applicable mediation training course prior to June 30, 2010. (Two-year term begins July 1.) Applications are due Friday, March 26. To learn more about PAMP & to download the application, go to www.paloaltomediation.org, or call Ric Rudman at 856-4062.
City Council Agenda
MARCH 15: 6PM Joint Study Session with the Planning and Transportation Commission to Discuss Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Issues. 7PM Proclamation in honor of the dedication of the Betty Meltzer Memorial Highway. Study Session on High Speed Rail. Public Hearing on water supply assessment to Stanford Medical Center project. See http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=19076
MARCH 22: Adoption of Council Priorities & Workplan
APRIL 5: Composting options back to council.
Planning & Transportation Commission
OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS WITH TENTATIVE DATES:
MARCH 15: Annual Joint City Council/PTC Study Session
MARCH 24: Discussion of Housing Element, 2500 Embarcadero Road
MARCH 31: Review of Transportation Element Programs and Policies for the Comp. Plan, Fairmeadow Single Story Overlay Proposal
APRIL 28: North Cal. Ave Safe Routes to School/Traffic Calming Project
PAUSD
MARCH 16 & 18: The Palo Alto Unified School District will hold Landscape Master Plan Meetings to discuss the landscape conceptual design for Palo Alto High School and Gunn High School. The meetings will be lead by Deems Lewis McKinley Architecture and landscape architects, Gates and Associates. The meetings are scheduled as follows:
-- Palo Alto High School: 3:30 to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 16 at the Palo Alto High School Library located at 50 Embarcadero Rd
-- Gunn High School: 3:30 to 5:00 PM on Thursday, March 18,at the Gunn High School Staff Lounge located at 780 Arastradero Road
MARCH 17: The Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) will host a Palo Alto High School Facilities Steering Committee Meeting to discuss the high school's multipurpose field project's bid results and scope details. The meetings will be conducted by Gilbane Building Company, Construction Manager for the PAUSD Strong School Bond Projects. The meeting will be held at the Palo Alto High School Library located at 50 Embarcadero Rd.at 3:15 PM.
MARCH 13/14: Huge Friends of the Library Book sale http://www.friendspaloaltolib.org/index.htm#viaemail
MARCH 16: Public Meeting on the California Avenue Streetscape Project, Phase II. Public meeting to gather input on the remaining streetscape improvements included in the California Avenue Streetscape project. At the meeting, City staff will discuss this next phase of the project (Phase II) and present concept plans. Meeting at 6:30 PM at Escondido School, 890 Escondido Road, Stanford. Phase II of the California Avenue Streetscape Project (from El Camino Real to the Caltrain Depot): This phase of the project includes the replacement and addition of street trees at the "plaza" area near the Caltrain Depot and the replacement of street benches, bicycle racks, news racks, information kiosks and waste receptacles on each side of California Avenue. Additionally, crosswalk improvements and restriping of automobile lanes and parking spaces, potential reduction of travel lanes from four to two, redesign of the Caltrain Plaza area are planned. Public input and comments are sought for this phase of the project. For more information on this project, visit http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/calave. Contact us via email: pwecips@cityofpaloalto.org or call 329-2151.
MARCH 18: Community Meeting on the Library and Community Center Bonds: The Library Facility Projects website has been updated with the latest floor plans for the new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center that will begin construction this July. The former auditorium at the Cubberley Community Center is undergoing renovation to serve as a temporary library. It will open shortly after the current library closes and the furniture, shelving, and books at Mitchell Park are moved into the temporary library. Meeting will be at Cubberley from 7-8:30 PM. Group 4 Architecture and City staff will be there to share information and answer your questions. The infrastructure upgrade to the College Terrace Library and adjoining childcare center is right on schedule. If you take a look at the January 2010 project status report by Nova Partners, Inc., you'll see that a number of infrastructure upgrades are now underway. This historic building will be protected with the addition of a sprinkler system and seismic upgrades. And, an improved HVAC system – with air conditioning – will make the building more comfortable for all.
LOCAL EVENTS/NEWS
Avenidas events for March. See http://tinyurl.com/yguaqoz
Palo Alto Weekly Photo contest - Enter by April 2 at 5:30PM. Entry forms and rules at www.PaloAltoOnline.com or call 223-6508 or photocontest@paweekly.com.
The Hometown Video Awards - Hometown is local cable's largest video awards. Visit www.alliancecm.org for an entry form and complete details. Entries may be given to Media Center Programming Director Becky Sanders and must be received by her prior to the entry deadline. Entries must be received by the sponsoring organization, the Alliance for Community Media, in Olympia, Washington, no later than the March 27 deadline.
Upcoming Workshops on Saving Water in your Landscape: City sponsored.
-- March 27, 2010: Irrigation Design and Maintenance from 9:00 AM- noon; Instructor Lori Palmquist; Cubberley Community Center - Room H-6
-- April 17, 2010: Designing Water Efficient Landscaping from 1:30 - 4:30 PM; Instructor Patricia Evans; City of Palo Alto City Hall - Council Chambers
-- May 22, 2010: New Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Elements – Calculations and Standards from 9:00 AM -noon; Instructor - Chris Todd; Cubberley Community Center - Room H-6
MARCH 11-20: Gunn High School Theatre presents Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Performances are on March 11,12,13,18,19 and 20 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 students. Matinee on March 17 at 3:30 PM $5 & March 20 2:00 PM, $6. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 students. Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are $20. Join us for an amazing evening of laughs and wonder. For information, call 354-8258 or visit www.gunntheatre.org.
MARCH 13: Celebrate Arbor Day @ Jr. Museum & Zoo, See http://www.canopy.org/calendar.html. The California Arbor Day event will have some very unusual fiction/fact exercises for adults & kids to professors and academia. Dave Dockter, City arborist, will be telling an interactive tale handed down by my ranger father during evening campfire programs in Big Sur State Park when I was little. If you have kids or grand kids, this will be a special event for all. Take an arborist-guided tree walk,at 10am; Plant a tree at 11am; Go on a scavenger hunt; Sing tree songs; Experiment with trees and water; And don't forget... Hug a tree
MARCH 13: See the Folklorico Dancers from 1 to 2 PM at Juana Briones Park (600 Arastradero Rd.), young folks in beautiful traditional costumes, celebrating the birthday of latina pioneer Juana Briones! Palo Alto's own Juana Briones Park is named after the Juana de Miranda Briones, born March 12, 1804. Much of the land we now call Palo Alto was part of a ranch owned and managed by Briones, who was also a widely acclaimed healer and humanitarian. Come help us celebrate Juana Briones' legacy with musical performance by the Raging Grannies and dancing and music courtesy of the Folklorico Dancers. Questions: 279-8761 or Clark Akatiff cakatiff@yahoo.com.
MARCH 15: March 15 at Avenidas and learn how to create your own "Life Strategy." (It's Never too Late!) Ronald B. Schilling, Ph.D., Continuing Studies, Stanford, will impart his wisdom from 2-3 PM. FEE: $3/$5 at the door.
MARCH 16: Author Sara Houghteling, 'Pictures at an Exhibition' at JCC Cultural Hall from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Houghteling's luminous novel is a fictionalized account of art theft in Paris during World War II. According to National Book Award winner Julia Glass, "'Pictures at an Exhibition' is at once an authoritative historical novel, a family saga, a labyrinthine love story, and a sumptuous meditation on the purpose and value of material beauty when war threatens the very fiber of civilization." Houghteling artfully and accurately describes wartime France, the early 20th century Parisian art scene and looting by the Nazi party. The book will pull in anyone interested in art, history, or Jewish literature. FEE: 10 Center Members and Students, $15 Non-Members. See http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85242.
MARCH 16: ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE: Preparing Palo Alto for Inevitable Impacts from 7 to 9 PM at Lucie Stern. FREE: Doors open at 6:45 PM. Climate change is happening. We must do everything possible to minimize its severity by reducing our use of fossil fuels, but we also should begin preparing ourselves for the changes ahead. In Palo Alto we can expect an increased risk of flooding, water shortages and wildfires in our foothills. How can we prepare for these impacts? Former Mayor Peter Drekmeier will identify some of the challenges ahead and measures we can take to reduce the local impacts of climate change. Following Peter’s talk, attendees will be invited to divide into small groups to discuss the issues presented.
MARCH 17: FREE! WILLS & ESTATES WORKSHOP FOR SINGLES. If you are widowed or single and have questions about your will and estate, you'll find a forum for your questions at Avenidas on Wednesday, March 17, from 10-11:30 AM. Attorney Deborah Radin of Kramer Radin LLP brings her years of experience and expertise to this presentation. This is an informational session only. Call 289-5446 today to register for a space at this free event.
MARCH 18: Smart Life Forum presents: Ron Rothenberg, MD, Hormone Myths versus Medical Evidence Cubberley Community Center (Room H1) from 7:00 - 9:30 PM. FEE: $10 for nonmembers, first meeting free. MORE INFO: http://www.smartlifeforum.org. Dr Rothenberg is an Attending Physician at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas.
MARCH 18: Raising Resilient, Successful, Less-Stressed Kids. Panel discussion followed by a generous Q&A session with distinguished local educators to discuss some of today’s most pressing questions about parenting. This FREE parent education event is brought to you by the Walter Hays & Juana Briones PTAs and is open to EVERYONE!
* What is one of the most powerful tools you can give your child to succeed?
* What do you and your child need to thrive and stay sane in today’s educational environment?
* What can you do to help your child develop good judgment and effective decision-making skills?
Questions? Contact Hays parents. Jennie Bernheim jjbernheim@yahoo.com or Lisa Waits lisa.waits@nokia.com.
MARCH 18: Mira Leytes in Concert at the JCC Cultural hall from 7:30 - 9:30. Mira Leytes is a locally grown and New York-based vocalist, accordionist, pianist and songwriter. She sings in English, Russian, French, Hebrew & Yiddish, melding her musical cabaret style and Klezmer roots with a glamrock sensibility.FEE: $15 Center Members, $20 Non-Members. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85245. For more see http://www.paloaltojcc.org.
MARCH 19: Acterra Earthshine Night Hike at Arastradero Preserve. See http://www.acterra.org/programs/stewardship/get_involved.html#hike.
MARCH 20: Dr. Aaron David Miller at the JCC Cultural hall. Dr. Miller, U.S. State Department advisor, formulated U.S. policy on the Middle East and the Arab-Israel peace process. His book, The Much Too Promised Land: America's Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace, was published in March 2008; he has been featured on CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox and PBS and his articles have appeared in newspapers throughout the world. Time 7PM. FEE: $10 M and students, $15 NM in advance.
MARCH 20: San Francisco Chamber Orchestra presents: Mandolin Magic with Avi Avital from 8:00 - 10:00 PM at St Mark's Episcopal Church at 600 Colorado Avenue. Noted Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital plays music of Bach and Beethoven, plus a wonderful Corelli Concerto Grosso and Oswaldo Golijov's "Last Round", a simmering tango-infused work for double string quartet and double bass.FREE: No advanced reservations required. Please arrive early to ensure a seat.
MARCH 21 Botanical Patterns on English Transferware at Gamble Garden from 2:00 -4:30 PM. . FEE: $30 member, $40 non-member. See http://www.gamblegarden.org. For more email admin@gamblegarden.org or call 329-1356 x201.
MARCH 24 at Gamble Garden: You are invited to join them for coffee and treats, to learn more about Gamble, and to enjoy a guided tour through our gardens from 10:00 ~ 11:30 AM. 10:15 AM remarks, no RSVP at the Gamble Garden Carriage House.
MARCH 25: Become a Nature Volunteer in Local Schools! Environmental Volunteers (www.evols.org) work with small groups of children and involve them in hands-on, discovery-based learning. The next volunteer training begins on Thursday, March 25. If you want to join the EV, please contact our Education and Training Director at 961-0545. You may also email us at Education@EVols.org.
MARCH 25: USGS monthly lecture. Changing Time -- A Changing Planet! Using phenology to take the pulse of our planet. Jake Weltzin, Executive Director, USA National Phenology Network, will be describing and discussing the emerging science of phenology that uses observations of plants and animals to measure the biological pulse of our planet. For more information and directions, please visit: http://online.wr.usgs.gov/calendar. Time 7PM
MARCH 28: There will be a French café atmosphere at the California Avenue farmers' market. Left Bank/Rive Gauche will play from 9 AM to 1 PM. Enjoy un café et Le Monde at an outdoor table, or sample the spring vegetables available at the market, and we'll serenade you all morning. See: http://www.urbanvillageonline.com/markets/california.php
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 2010 Stanford Track & Field Invitational at COBB TRACK & ANGEL FIELD!!! On Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27, Stanford University will host the 2010 Nike Sponsored Stanford Track & Field Invitational. At the conclusion of the meet, nearly 4000 runners will have competed at Cobb Track and Angel Field, making the Stanford Track & Field Invitational one of the largest track & field events in the United States. We are looking for people interested in volunteering for any amount of time during this 2 day jam-packed, action-filled event!
We need help with the following job responsibilities:
-- Field Events -- Stats, Tape Measure
-- Running Events -- Block Crew and Hurdle Crew
-- Distance Carnival -- Lap Counters, Steeplechase, Finish Line Crew
-- Spotters
-- Programs
-- Results Runner
-- Assistant to the Announcer
If you are able to help out, contact Mary Jo Alexander at stanfordinvite@gmail.com or 626/825/0304 for a form to indicate the days and times that you are available.
As a volunteer you will receive the following:
-- Complimentary tickets
-- An event T-shirt
-- Free Food!
They will send out confirmation letters with schedules by the third week in March. There will be an orientation meeting for volunteers on Wednesday, March 24 at 4:00PM. If you have any questions regarding the Invitational please don’t hesitate to call or email Mary Jo Alexander, Meet Director, at stanfordinvite@gmail.com or 626/825/0304.
APRIL 9: Canopy sponsors SHARING NATURE WITH CHILDREN TALK: 7-8:30 PM, Lecture with Joseph Cornell. Living Wisdom School. Free.
APRIL 9-14: The Fourth Bay Area Senior Games will take place on the Stanford Campus and in neighboring cities. The Games give anyone age 50 and up the opportunity to compete against their peers in 14 sports: Just as important, the Senior Games are helping to build a community of adults who are actively engaged in maintaining their health and modeling an active lifestyle for their children and grandchildren. Stay tuned.
JULY 5-9: An environmentally-themed summer day-camp for children in grades 1- 6 will be offered by the YMCA. Topics include: renewable energy, waste management, the meaning & benefits of 'going green', natural resources conservation & protection. For information, contact the YMCA at 856-9622. Online registration begins on January 25. http://www.paloaltofamilyymca.org
TIPS
NEW and with a new name: Palo Alto Housing List Just published! http://newusnews.blogspot.com -- a new generation of Elaine's List. A list of all multiple housing developments in town that have been approved or built since 1997. The list is in order of number of units and indicates whether it is north or south of Oregon Avenue.
 | Return to the MRA Home Page |