| Midtown News Updates |
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VACANCY - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
Late call: There is an unexpired term (ending December 31, 2003) on the Parks and Rec Commission. Information and forms available from the city clerk's office 329-2571. Deadline for applications Monday 5:30 PM April 28.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONER HAILS FROM MIDTOWN
Shauna Wilson, Midtown Resident, has just been appointed as one of the newest Human Relations Commissioner. Way to go! Congratulations.
CITY NOTES
State of the City Address & Reception
Monday April 28; 6:30 PM
Planing and Transportation Commission: Wednesday April 30, 7 PM
Zoning ordinance update: Low density residential including accessory dwellings and basements
Mayor Mossar hosts bike ride: Saturday May 10, 10 AM City Hall and follows the bike boulevard south
Celebrate Bike Month (May)
MOSQUITOES
Several folks have asked about mosquitoes, so this update is included. Vector Control (Santa Clara County) checks the Matadero creek monthly for potential problems. They predict Nile Virus infestations later this year and caution to eliminate any standing water in container. They offer mosquito fish free without charge for ornamental ponds, unused or out-of-order swimming pools, and animal water troughs. To obtain fish or for more questions, call 800-675-1155 or www.sccvector.org
Lori Shapiro has furnished a recipe for Herbal Insect Deterrent Spray found in the book "The Take Charge Beauty Book -- The Natural Guide to Beautiful Hair and Skin" - Hampton and Hussey - Organica Press $25. The magic is in the mixture of the herbs. Lori has included for reference phone numbers for vendors.
| Ingredient | Amount | Preferred Brand | Source |
| Vegetable Glycerine | 1 tsp | Check local pharmacy or specialty market. |
1-800-722-9595 |
| Liquid Lecithin (Oil) | 1/4 tsp | Country Life | 1-800-645-5768 |
| Soybean Oil | 1 tsp | Spectrum Naturals | 707-778-8900 |
| Lavender Oil | 8 drops | Tisserand (England) | 011-44-1273-332-5666 |
| Rosemary Oil | 1 drop | Aura Cacia, Frontier, or Gaia | 1-800-437-3301 |
| Sage Oil | 1 drop | Aura Cacia, Frontier, or Gaia | 1-800-669-3275 1-800-831-7780 |
| Natural Grain Alcohol (76.5% ALC/VOL, 150 Proof) |
1/2 cup | If you are unable to obtain this product from your local wine and spirits store, you may use a high grade (triple distilled) vodka in its place. |
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In a mixing bowl, add ingredients one at a time in the order shown, stirring each well into the mixture before moving on to the next. Measure out the alcohol last and add it slowly to the combined oils, then mix in a blender. Pour the mixture into a pump spray bottle that has a "fine" spray pattern. Write and place these instructions on the bottle: Shake Well Before Using. Do Not Spray Near Eyes! Keep refrigerated when not in use. |
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LOCAL EVENTS AND SOME GREAT IDEAS FOR OUTINGS
sent by Acterra. For details check www.Acterra.org/calendar/
submitted by Maria Cajina-Dinard from MOAH
"In the Mood": swing dancing & fundraising event for the Museum of American Hertiage will be on May 16, 2003 at the Museum. Period costume (optional). Swing lessons start at 7:00 p.m. with dancing at 8:00 p.m.
$35 per person for MOAH members, $45 per person for non-members.
Call 321-1004 for more information or admin@moah.org
COMMUNITY JOURNAL - SEGMENT ON MATADERO CREEK
submitted by Elliot Margolies
It will air over the next four weeks (through May 20) on:
Wednesdays 8:00 PM Channel 27
Sundays 8:05 PM Channel 28
Tuesdays 10:30 PM Channel 27
This edition includes the following stories:
SUMMER CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT
submitted by Dawn Wilcox (AKA ye olde Clarinetist)
Come and enjoy a free, old-fashioned band concert in a beautiful park setting. Each month, Ye Olde Towne Band of Los Altos provides an enjoyable concert presenting music ranging from rousing marches to popular musicals. Spend a lazy Sunday afternoon sitting on the grass listening to your favorite concert music. Food and refreshments may be purchased.
Shoup Park 390 University Avenue, Los Altos, CA
1:30 to 3:30 PM; The last Sunday of each Summer Month
May 25, June 29, July 27, August 31, September 28
MIDTOWN - COUNCIL DECISIONS
Council passed a comprehensive traffic study for the south Palo Alto Charleston Corridor. This area includes 1/4 mile either side of Charleston and Alma Street 1/2 mile from Charleston to include Alma Plaza. The council urged the staff to complete the effort by January 2004. Many speakers including council members applauded the effort as a way to do planning rather than looking at projects in a piece meal fashion. Some felt that affordable housing might be compromised, but the effort was supported by the JCC (who also contributed financially to the study), the Bridge Foundation, and the Hyatt (who also promised to make a contribution).
EMERGENCY TIP OF WEEK: FOR AN EMERGENCY TUNE IN
submitted by Mark Lawrence
In general, during an emergency KZSU would be broadcasting as much news as we could gather, and whatever bulletins and announcements campus and local authorities issued for their respective communities.
KZSU, Stanford University's radio station, broadcasts at 90.1MHz (FM) with an effective radiated power of 500 watts. The transmitter is located in the foothills behind the campus, and the signal covers the mid-Peninsula (Santa Clara to San Mateo).
KZSU's studio and transmitter are equipped with backup power systems (UPS and generators), and the use of KZSU for emergency news and information is part of the University's emergency plan. KZSU is able to broadcast directly from the Stanford firehouse (originally, the campus Emergency Operations Center). The campus EOC has moved but the firehouse location is still useful.
It has always been our intention to serve the Palo Alto area as well as the campus in emergencies. It's worth mentioning that the facilities used to broadcast City Council meetings could also be used, in an emergency, to originate broadcasts from City Hall on KZSU.
Any messages sent through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for this area would be automatically sent over KZSU.
CANOPY - LAST PLANTING OF SEASON
Five volunteers wanted to plant cherry trees at the Lawn Bowling Green on Embarcadero on Sat, April 26 from 9-11 AM.
Call Jan Dilley at Canopy 964-6110
MIDTOWN ARTISTS
Martha Castillo
Geri McGilvray
HELP YOUR FLOWERS FLOURISH!
Learn everything about composting and less-toxic pest control at these FREE, one-hour, back-to-back workshops. It is easy to compost your yard and vegetable waste. Control pest populations without harsh chemicals, making your garden safe for your whole family to enjoy.
Tuesday, April 15, 7 - 9 PM
Tuesday, June 24, 7 - 9 PM.
Saturday, July 19, 10 AM - 12 PM
Held at Cubberley Community Center; 4000 Middlefield Road, Room H-1
To enroll call 496-5910
Palo Alto residents attending the workshop will receive a voucher to purchase a Biostack compost bin at a reduced cost (an $89 retail value for $27).
EARTH DAY AND RELATED EVENTS
Remember the Earth and Your Bottom Line at the Earth Day Energy Workshop sponsored by the City.
April 22 -- Celebrate Earth Day
Free energy workshop Tuesday night April 22 from 6:00 -7:30 PM at City Hall in the Council Chambers on energy efficiency, solar energy, and sustainability.
Workshop attendees will learn:
For more information, call 329-2241
ACTERRA SUGGESTS:
For more details. See www.Acterra.org/calendar/
Sandwich Symposium Spring 2003 Program
An Informal Transportation Discussion Series to be held in City Hall Council Conference Room
Friday, May 16, 2003 Noon - 1:30 PM
"All About Specialty Bicycles" Doug Schwandt; Researcher & Engineer
Friday, May 30, 2003 Noon - 1:30 PM
"How to Make Bicycling a Regular Part of Your Work Commute"
PALO ALTO REDI MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT 4/9, 7PM
In the face of this trying time, where our nation is at war, Palo Alto REDI invites you to an organizational meeting where we will launch a neighborhood initiative for mobilization for emergency preparedness.
Palo Alto REDI is a trickle-up, grass-roots network, neighbor to neighbor, block to block, of people prepared to support themselves through the first days of a widespread emergency situation when official help is concentrated on life-threatening situations or otherwise unable to respond to the sheer volume of critical needs. In a widespread emergency, it will be important for residents to be more self-reliant for a period of hours and perhaps days. Our efforts are parallel and complimentary to the official city and medical response.
This meeting will be held on the evening of April 9, 2003 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the Woman's Club - located at 475 Homer.
EMERGENCY PREPARATION TIP OF WEEK- STAY TUNED
submitted by Stepheny McGraw
For those of you who attended the MRA meeting in February where City Manager Frank Benest urged Shop Palo Alto, to keep our sales tax revenues at home, we have a solution, Grundig Radio, with headquarters on Corporation Way in Palo Alto, has a handy emergency radio, the FR 200, which is available in Palo Alto at Radio Shack, Brookstone at the Stanford Mall, and Restoration Hardware. The greatest part about this radio is that it can be used in any emergency because of the built-in power crank.
Offered in many catalogs for close to $50, plus additional costs for shipping and handling, the FR 200 is available at these local stores for $39.95, plus your Palo Alto sales tax. In an ABS case less than 6 inches by 7 inches, and weighing less than a pound and half, you get a small radio with excellent tone. Equipped with an emergency light, it provides four band tuning, AM and FM stations as well as direct access to world wide stations in 60 countries on the shortwave channels. Turning the crank generates power, so you don't have to rely on the standard batteries alone. It also offers a rechargeable battery pack and comes with a DC jack and an earphone jack, as well as a carrying case.
Remember: Tune in the following local stations for emergency information: KGO 810 AM, KCBS 740 AM, KQED 88.5 FM, and 91.7 FM.
MIDTOWN POETRY WALL - TOP THREE WINNERS
Here are the top three winning poems for the Poetry wall and comments from the poets themselves...
I grew up in a tough section of a town outside Boston. Because I tagged along with my older brother's gang, I was at a gun fight when I was four and in a knife fight when I was five. Gang fights were an everyday reality for me. Since no one ever got hurt, we kept on doing it (that is until sometime around 8th or 9th grade, when I realized how stupid it was to continue).
Now, I'm 67-years-old, happily retired, and have lived in Palo Alto since 1973. I worked for 38 years at one company that kept experiencing a name change during those years (Philco Corp, Ford-Aerospace, Space Systems/Loral) and had five careers with them until I retired in 1997 and became a consultant. I have an extensive writing background that includes being a technical writer, as well as a short story writer and a novelist. I've also kept a journal for the past 30 years. I've written thousands of poems and currently I'm Project Coordinator for the International Poetry Museum, which will be located in San Francisco as soon as I'm able to secure a suitable site. Personnel associated with the museum started National Poetry Week, which has since spread across the country. The museum has a vast collection of books and video tapes of previous readings by famous writers that we are eager to make available to the general public.
For me poetry has always been a way to sharpen my thoughts. Many times I choose a subject in order to force myself to think about the selected topic. I write three to five poems each week, with constant revisions daily until I get the wordsmithing just right. If I can't find any changes to make after repeated morning readings, while sitting at my corner table at Cafe Verona in downtown Palo Alto, then I know that I'm done.
I'm constantly listening for ideas for poems. A pen and paper are always at the ready even when driving a car so that I can capture the idea that becomes the catalyst for a new poem. I'm also alert as I walk about observing how people behave, which might also trigger a poem.
I've written many poems that could be called spiritual. I had a profound experience when I was 13-years-old that started me on a path of thinking about past lives. Years later I studied metaphysics and taught a course called Dimensional Mind Approach. I've been a student with many gurus and swamis attempting to gain insights into the science of the soul. I've also had a healing practice.
I was married for thirteen years and have a 34-year-old daughter, Brenda (who just applied to San Jose State in their creative writingprogram), and a 38-year-old son, David, who is a chef at the Menlo Country Club.
Thank you for calling and sending me email. I go to Duveneck. I'm in first grade with Mrs. Miley and Mrs Miron. I was six when I wrote the poem, but now I am seven. My birthday is February 7th. I have a dad, a mom, and a little sister. I used to have two cats, but they ran away after a flood. After the flood I got a couple fish, but my sister knocked over the fish tank and had to have a splint.
I like to write little short stories, but when I heard about the poetry contest in the Duveneck newsletter I wanted to enter. I was really excited when I won. I was so excited I jumped from the time I got out of bed all the way to school. That is when I had to pull myself together.
Another thing which I like to do is quilt, and I like to work outside.
The sense of community and feeling of welcome is one of the main reasons my family and I enjoy Midtown. Living within walking distance of schools and merchants is one of the things that makes it easier to get to know your neighbors and feel like a part of the community. However, I was surprised that my poem had been chosen because I entered the contest on a lark. I had read about it in the paper right before going on an early morning walk and decided to think up a poem along the way.
As I walked around Midtown, it struck me that the neighbors' gardens reflected somewhat the nature of our community. Some gardens are well-established, others just getting started, and of course there is a huge variety of flowers and landscaping styles. Taken together, they form a vibrant and diverse group. Similarly, each of us has lived here various lengths of time, comes from different backgrounds and plays different roles in the community; yet, the residents share an enthusiasm for making Midtown a place that is nurturing to us all. This spirit is evident not only in formal ways, as with the work of the Midtown Residents' Association, but also in the smiles of neighbors at school and along the street. I would say that the poem of Elizabeth Ray Mittman reflects this spirit beautifully. She can come by and pet our cats anytime.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT TELEMARKETING CALLS
Please note that it is now possible to get on a "Do Not Call List" to prevent calls from telemarketers. Click on http://nocall.doj.state.ca.us to sign up. Folks will be able to get on this list by phone later this .
Telemarketers and other companies are supposed to buy the lists in September 1, 2003 and delete names from their data bases by October 1. Not every telemarketer is required to use this list. Businesses with less than 5 individuals, charities, political groups and businesses calling established customers are exempt.
For more information http://nocall.doj.state.ca.us or http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall
After October 1, calling a number on the list could lead to fines up to $ 11,000.
STANFORD COMMUNITY DAY, SUNDAY 4/6 10:00 AM -4:00PM
from the College Terrace Neighborhood Association Enewsletter
Take a walk or bike ride to Stanford University's open house this Sunday, and you'll find music, arts, athletic events, science displays, 21st century classrooms, a children's community carnival a health fair, and more. You can even attend a faculty lecture:
When and where: Sunday 4/6, all over the campus, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Details, including printable map and schedule:
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/neighbors/communityday/
CALL-IN CABLE TV SHOW
submitted by Frank Benest (by way of Victoria Bosch)
Please join Mayor Dena Mossar and me in a budget discussion during a call-in television show on Wednesday, April 9th at 9 PM on cable Channel 27.
The purpose of the show, called "Budget Talk," is to get feedback from residents about the economic downturn and how our community can live within our means. As you know, revenues have fallen and the city is facing a deficit of almost $10 million. The call-in number for the TV station is 856-1491. If you are not able to join us live at that time, then please feel free to email your question ahead of time to citymgr@cityofpaloalto.org.
ENVIRONMENTAL NOTES AND EARTH DAY
Check out the latest environmental activities. An expanded listing of events far into the future is available at www.Acterra.org/calendar/.
Some sampling:
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