| Midtown News Updates |
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MIDTOWN BUSINESS/NEIGHBOR NEWS:
PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS IN AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU WANT IT PUBLISHED
RENTAL: I have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath unit coming available in March on Colorado ave. a short 6 minute walk to California ave. train station. It's a quiet, light and private space, has hardwood floors throughout excepting kitchen and bathroom, granite kitchen counters, newerappliances, in short, a great place to live. Rent is $1,850/ mo. Contact Mark at 408-807-0500 or markk@waynemascia.com.
Volunteer host needed: MRA Steering Committee is looking for a volunteer to assist with printing our large volume newsletters and postcards. We need a location to house our large laser printer. If you can be part of this effort, respond to this email.
SAVE THE DATE: MRA General Meeting - March 18 "Plans for Cubberley". Meeting start 7:15PM at Friends Meeting Hall, 957 Colorado. Presented by Steve Emslie, Director of Planning City of Palo Alto, Judy Minor, PhD, President of Foothill College, Bruce Swenson, President of the Board FHDA.
REMINDER: Residents Encouraged to Respond to short online Survey to explore civic participation. Survey results will be presented to the city council at the March 17th meeting; survey will be cut off the Friday before this. Survey at http://perennialsurvey.com/s.cgi?12415.
MARCH 8: Reception at the Gallery House (320 California) featuring Midtown artist Martha Castillo from 6-8 PM. Regular Gallery hours: Tues, 11 AM -5 PM: Wed - Sat 11AM -9 PM.
Please note the increased burglaries in MIdtown. "You are the Eyes & Ears of your Neighborhood". If you see something suspicious, report it immediately to the police. This is the subject of an article in the next Midtown hard copy newsletter, which will be in the mail early next week and online on the Midtown web site late next week.
CITY/COUNTY/SCHOOL EVENTS/NOTES
Civil Grand Jury Applications for the 2008-2008 term with a March 5 Deadline. The Civil Grand Jury is part of the judicial branch of government. It serves as the county's investigatory body and may examine the operations of city and county government, special districts, and school districts. The Grand Jury also has the authority to inspect adult and juvenile detention facilities. Contact Gloria Alicia Chacón at the Office of the Civil Grand Jury at 408-882-2722, or visit the website at www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/jury/gj.html. Obtain an application online at http://www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/files/AD-1017.pdf.
FEBRUARY 28: VTA Meeting at Mountain View City Hall (Plaza Conference Room, 2nd Floor 500 Castro Street) on the Valley Transportation Plan 2035 (VTP 2035) which is the long-range plan for transportation in Santa Clara County. Time from 6 - 8 PM.
MARCH 1 & 2: CANOPY Planting. Saturday at the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course from 9 AM to noon. Plant 15 trees living in containers and help to begin their new life in the ground. Meet in the corporation yard. (Turn left into the parking lot, keep driving until you come to a fork in the road. Go to the left. Keep going until you come to an open gate. There will be a Canopy banner.) Sunday from 10am to 1pm to mulch along East Bayshore Road. Mulch restores organic matter back to the soil and it is a great form of exercise. Meet at Saint Samuel Church at 1199 East Bayshore Road. Look for Canopy banner.
MARCH 5 from 4 - 6 PM in council chambers: Inaugural meeting of the Community Environmental Action Partnership, bringing together the City and a wide array interested stakeholders. This partnership is being created to create and implement environmental solutions and develop a new forum for action and discussion. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/ceap to learn more.
MARCH 12: Two free programs at the Library
* What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online at Palo Alto High School's Haymarket Theater at 50 Embarcadero Road at 7:30PM. From cyberbullying to social networking and blogging, our teens are immersed in technology as never before. Join Anastasia Goodstein, author of Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online, for a lively and important presentation about the online worlds that engage so many teens every day.
* The Historic New York Times - Searching Over a Century of News. Time: 10:30 AM - noon at the Main Library at 1213 Newell Road. The historic New York Times database is a rich resource of historical significance. You can look at an entire issue or use the sophisticated search engine to look for specific articles by date, name or keyword. This resource is great for genealogy or historical research. This program is part of the Library's monthly "Information You Can Use @ the Library" series that runs through June 2008. Future program topics are about health, genealogy and travel. Registration is requested for this series.
To register or find out more about any library program, visit the News and Info section of the Library homepage at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/library.
Become a Volunteer Mediator for the City of Palo Alto. Application due April 18. The City, under the auspices of the Human Relations Commission, offers free and confidential mediation services to its citizens to help them resolve disputes confidentially, and without going to court. Typical cases include neighbor-to-neighbor, landlord/tenant, and consumer issues. Apply now to become a volunteer mediator. Download the application at www.paloaltomediation.org or call the program coordinator at 856-4062.
UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS:
MARCH 3: Mayor's State of the City. All residents are invited to attend. A reception will immediate follow in the lobby.
MARCH 17: Joint meeting with Senator Joe Simitian (6PM). City Council to discuss council priority milestones including civic engagement.
Council will approve profile of ideal City manager, plus discussion on Public/Private Partnership for Family Resources Center.
PTC Meetings
MARCH 12: 6:00 PM Study Session on the proposed green building criteria for use in a mandatory green building program for private developments.
7PM: Construction of New Wastewater Treatment Facility at 2501 Embarcadero Way (new 3,600 square foot ultraviolet wastewater treatment facility to replace the old treatment system.)
"Talking with Henrietta" show on Exploring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Exploring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: This year marks the 40 anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. It's also the 45 anniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington. On this edition of Talking with Henrietta, Harold Boyd, Palo Alto Vice Mayor Peter Drekmeier, and Roy Clay speak with Henrietta J. Burroughs about the state of race relations in America and focus specifically on race relations on the Midpeninsula.
Their discussion can be can be seen from February 21 through March 6, 2008, on Fridays@ noon, Saturdays @ 1:30 PM, Sundays @5 PM, Mondays @ 8 AM and Thursdays @ 8 PM on Channel 27, which airs locally. It can also be seen on the web at the above days and times at www.communitymediacenter.net. These additional times and dates have been added: Sunday, March 2 at 10:30 AM, Friday, March 7 at 9 PM, Saturday, March 8 at 4 PM. and Saturday, March 8 at 12 noon.
LOCAL EVENTS/NEWS
FEBRUARY 28: USGS Public Lecture Free: "Alaska's Rivers of Ice" on the impact of changing climate and conditions on Earth's glaciers. 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California, 94025, Conference Room A, Bldg 3, Menlo Park.
See http://online.wr.usgs.gov/calendar
Contact: Amelia Barrales, abarrales2@usgs.gov, or 329-5135
FEBRUARY 28 - "Brainstorms: Materials to Heal and Rebuild the Human Body" Stanford Continuing Studies and Office of Science Outreach present what sounds like a fascinating look into medical use of industrial materials inside the body. New materials can be engineered that communicate with cells to promote healing and regeneration. FREE. Time 7:30 - 9:00 PM at the William R. Hewlett Teaching Center, Room 200 on the Stanford campus. For more information, please see http://www.continuingstudies.stanford.edu.
MARCH 2: Wildlife Tracking at Arastradero Preserve from 1- 3 PM. Learn to identify animals, their tracks and scat. Wear long pants, sturdy shoes (no open-toed shoes please), sunscreen, hat. Bring your own water bottle. FREE, but you must register in advance at https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/Acterra/WishList.html.
All ages welcome. Limit 40 participants. Meet at the Gateway Facility near the Pearson-Arastradero Preserve parking lot at 1530 Arastradero Road, just north of Page Mill Road and the 280 freeway.
MARCH 2 & March 9:"The Challenge of Climate Change: What We Can Do" sponsor the Cool Planet Working Group at First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Cowper and Lincoln. The talks will be from 9:30-10:30 AM the next 2 Sundays in the Lounge. March 2: Alternatve Energy Sources - Don Hildenbrand, Senior Scientist at SRI; March 9: "Our Food Choices" Laura Stec, activist, chef, author of The Global Warming Diet
MARCH 2: "History of Barron Park" presented by PAHA (Palo Alto Historical Association) by Doug Graham, Barron Park historian. at 2:00 PM at the Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road. FREE.
MARCH 4: 1:00 to 4:00 PM, for a Stanford University symposium, Sustainable Places: Leadership in the Public and Private Sectors, including: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Felicity Barringer, Lawrence Goulder, Dian Grueneich, Mary Nichols, Christina Page, Joseph Stagner, James Sweeney, Peter Williams! Memorial Auditorium, 551 Serra Mall. Sponsored by the Woods Institute for the Environment and Energy Crossroads. FREE.
See: http://woods.stanford.edu/woods/y2e2.html
MARCH 5: Women & Stroke Lecture. 11:30 AM to 1:30PM at Magnolia of Milbrae. FREE admission, Light meal, health screening and informational materials, Contact PSA (Peninsula Stroke Association) to RSVP at 565-8485 or www.psastroke.org
MARCH 8: Palo Alto Philharmonic Orchestra Concert at 8 PM at Arts Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Road. Tickets available on the web: http://www.paphil.org; also at the door. FEE: $17 General, $15 Senior, $8. Pieces to be performed are: Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K495, for Horn and Piano, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Trois Aquarelles for Flute, Cello, and Piano, by Philippe Gaubert Sonata for Flute and Piano in D major, Op 94, by Sergei Prokofiev Quintet Op. 57 for Piano and Strings, by Dimitri Shostakovich
MARCH 13-14: "Beanie and the Bamboozling Book Machine" stars 31 fourth and fifth graders at El Carmelo School (3024 Bryant ). FEE: (Ticket prices: Adult - $8, Youth under 18 years of age - $4).
THREE SHOWTIMES: Thurs., March 13, 7:00 PM; Fri., March 14, 7:00 PM; Sat., March 15, 2:00 PM. at the El Carmelo School. Tickets may be ordered in advance using forms available in the El Carmelo School Office or downloaded from the El Carmelo PTA website www.elcarmelo.paloaltopta.org.
MARCH 18: Midpeninsula Professional Alliance presents "Knowing What to Expect in 2008", Lecture by Mitchell Levy from 7:30 - 9:00AMat Scotts Seafood Restaurant, Town and Country, http://www.scottsseafoodpa.com. FEE: $31.95 advance reg; $34.95 at the door. https://www.123signup.com/register?id=ttqqg.
How often do you hear about large multinational companies being "surprised" by demographic, economic, or political trends in the marketplace? Why do you think that, as a group, these firms are remarkably well prepared to maximize the economic opportunities that "luck" brings them? Simple: They talk to each other and give each other the benefit of their individual insights. Mitchell Levy, Publisher (Happy About Publishing), and Director, Silicon Valley Executive Business Program. - The Man with the Killer Rolodex - has harnessed the insight of his network to produce a new book: "Happy About Knowing What to Expect in 2008 - getting a handle on the year ahead."
For more check http://www.midpeninsulaprofessionalalliance.com or call Tom Pencek at 799-7261.
APRIL 12: Native Plant Sale Hidden Villa Ranch, CNPS Nursery, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills from 10 AM to 3 PM. Organized by the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Scores of species of native plants, seeds, and bulbs suitable for California gardens. Speak to experts about lawn alternatives such as native perennials, wildflowers, and grasses. Native plant books, posters, and note cards. Cash or check only. Bring boxes to carry your purchases home. For more information, visit www.cnps-scv.org, email cnps_scv@yahoo.com, or call 941-1068.
OLD: MARCH 6: New Exhibit: Museum of American Heritage: Bonfires and Bugs: The Art and Science of Camping. Location: 351 Homer Avenue. The exhibit runs through August 17. Exhibit hours are 11 AM to 4 PM, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. FREE.
OLD: MARCH 6: "Lose 5000 Pounds in a Month," with a Low Carbon Lifestyle sponsored by Stanford & Acterra - Thursdays, from March 6 through April 17 (meets every 2 weeks) from 7:00-8:30 PM. Turn good environmental intentions into action! Fee: $65. Location: Yang & Yamazaki Environment & Energy Building, 473 Via Ortega Way, Stanford campus.
To register: go to http://hip.stanford.edu, click "classes", enter lcd-01 or call 723-9649 for registration help For more info, call 498-4744.
OLD: MARCH 8: CPR Saturday sponsored by the American Red Cross. FREE 4.5 hour CPR Training
http://www.redcrosscprsaturday.org/. In Palo Alto at Cubberly.
For questions 688.0417 or email CPRsaturday@paarc.org
OLD: APRIL 5: "Recipe for Recovery". From 11AM to 2PM at Cubberley Community Center. Some highlights: First Aid Demonstrations, Rescue Dogs, Fire & Rescue Vehicles, "Bring the whole family for an exciting day filled with love demonstrations, product vendors, yummy food, and a chance to create your family disaster plan during a workshop.
TIPS
On the topic of Burglaries: The Palo Alto Police Department continually asks the public to continue to call the police when suspicious activity occurs in your community. Notify close neighbors when leaving for extended periods of time. Be great witnesses and write down license plate numbers and physical descriptions of suspicious persons. And most importantly, contact the police as soon as possible when crimes occur. Also, take the time to gather important information about your valuables. Take pictures of components and jewelry. Write down serial numbers on stereo systems, televisions, bicycles, watches, MP3 players and tools. Put this information in a location where you have easy access. This information will aid the police in returning your valuables in the chance that we arrest suspects in the possession of stolen property. The community is encouraged to call the Palo Alto Police tip line at 329-2190 with any information concerning burglaries that are occurring in this city.
** From Bob Moss: The press release from PAPD about protecting against burglaries omits one important method of either reducing the chance something of value is stolen, or increasing the chance of recovering it. Mark your drivers license number on the object with an engraving tool. The format that cops recognize is CA DL xxxyyy. I marked my computers, TVs, and anything that I think is both valuable enough to be tempting and small or light enough to be taken in a fast burglary. And remember to keep doors and windows locked. Deadbolts on doors are a minimum.
** From Mary Carlsted: We would like to add a suggestion. If you see a van, pick-up truck, etc. in your neighborhood with no logo on it, get the license number and 'observe'. If you see a truck or van in your neighborhood with a logo on it, consider checking it out in the phone book. If a strong hunch or doubt, call the PAPD. If you see two juveniles or older on one bicycle, call someone farther down the block - or take your car and follow. If you see them on two bicycles, call the PAPD.
Aerial pesticide spraying: Moth spraying likely to harm more than help by Richard Fagerlund. See article from SF Chronicle published Feb 23: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/23/HO4OUNNC6.DTL
From the Wall Street Journal: Turtle Wax (ICE Total Interior Care) for cars has other uses! When applied to bathrooms walls, stove top surfaces & Brass fixtures, the multi-surface cleaner provides a barrier to keep mold, grease & dirt from clinging to surfaces. Stains can easily be wiped off during cleanings. ALSO experts suggest wiping headlights of your car with ordinary cooking oil to keep bugs and grime off. PLUS: When tackling the problem of scraping off bumper stickers, try mayonnaise & a nonmetal scraper to break down glue & residue.
From Mercury: Rules of the road: Test yourself to see if you know the correct answers to 20 questions.
www.mercurynews.com/mrroadshow
EMAIL SCAM: There have been news and TV articles about this, but in case you missed them here is an example. NEVER reply to any email supposedly from a government agency or bank that asks for any personal or financial information or asks you to enter into any kind of financial transaction. They are all scams and will empty your bank account or leave you with huge credit card debt that will take months to clear and hurt your credit records and score. We used to get regular "notices" from banks and financial companies, many of which we had no relationship with telling us of bank errors in our favor, or asking us to verify information or they would close our accounts, etc. I always ignored them. Do the same..
"I received this email tonight from "Internal Revenue Service-tax refund online form"-and being naturally suspicious googled it to see if it is one of known scams. It didn't come up immediately on Google but after searching on the IRS site-I copied the following:
A recent email scam tells taxpayers that the IRS has calculated their "fiscal activity" and that they are eligible to receive a tax refund of a certain amount. Taxpayers receive a page of, or are sent to, a Web site (titled "Get Your Tax Refund!") that copies the appearance of the genuine "Where's My Refund?" http://www.head-fi.org/forums/# interactive page on the genuine IRS Web site. Like the real "Where's My Refund?" page, taxpayers are asked to enter their SSNs and filing status. However, the phony Web page asks taxpayers to enter their credit card account numbers instead of the exact amount of refund as shown on their tax return, as the real "Where's My Refund?" page does.
Emails claiming to come from tax-refunds@irs.gov, admin@irs.gov and similar variations told the recipients that they were eligible to receive a tax refund for a given amount. It directed recipients to claim the refund by using a link contained in the http://www.head-fi.org/forums/# email which sent the recipient to a Web site. The site, a copy of the IRS Web site, displayed an interactive page similar to a genuine IRS one; however, it had been modified to ask for personal and financial information that the genuine IRS interactive page does not require.
How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes -
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=155344,00.html.
Quote: If you receive an unsolicited email communication claiming to be from the IRS, please forward this message to: phishing@irs.gov using the instructions provided below.
Quote: The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through email. As always-be aware!
MIDTOWN BUSINESS/NEIGHBOR NEWS:
PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS IN AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU WANT IT PUBLISHED
From the Midtown Merchants:
*** Midtown needs more bike racks in different areas. Anyone who can help with ideas...racks...should contact Marta at butterflylife_paloalto@yahoo.com.
*** SAFEWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Number and size of trucks has eliminated many parking spaces in Midtown Shopping Area. Neighbors are encouraged to walk, bike, or park away and walk in order to avoid wasting time looking for non-existent parking spaces. This condition may last a few weeks.
Palo Alto Neighborhoods has designed a short online survey to explore civic participation, one of the four City Council priorities for 2008. Please take the survey yourself at http://perennialsurvey.com/s.cgi?12415 and encourage other residents to do the same! Thanks to everyone from Midtown who has "voted" already!
OLD: FEBRUARY 29: FEBRUARY 29: Parents Night Out - MYGYM: 5:30 - 8:30PM. Fee: $$.
Contact mygympaloalto@sbcglobal.net or call 330-1760.
OLD: MARCH 5: Our very own Karen Froniewski from Midtown Natures Alley will be teaching a class "Creating a Topiary" at Gamble Garden.
FEE: $$. Register at www.gamblegarden.org or 329-1356 x 201
CITY/COUNTY/SCHOOL EVENTS/NOTES
http://pacool.pbwiki.com/. PA Cool is an open forum for Palo Alto citizens and businesses ready to take action against catastrophic climate change due to greenhouse gas emission.
The Spring 2008 Enjoy! Catalog, including Summer Camps and Aquatics, will arrive in your mailbox this week & is available for pick up at Community Centers and Libraries. Visit http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/enjoy to view & register or more call 463-4900.
UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS:
FEBRUARY 25: Recruitment for new City Manager from 7-9 PM. Come and share your views on the ideal candidate traits and qualifications.
Send Comments to mgr4pa@cityofpaloalto.org
FEBRUARY 27: Planning & Transportation Commission: Study session 5:30PM on Tentative Maps Requirements, Process, and Commission Role. Regular meeting: Review and comment on Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program.
MARCH 3: Mayor's State of the City
MARCH 17: Joint meeting with Senator Joe Simitian (6PM). City Council to discuss council priority milestones including civic engagement.
Council will approve profile of ideal City manager, plus discussion on Public/Private Partnership for Family Resources Center.
OLD: CALL FOR ENTRIES; Green Light Film festival. Entries received by March 21. The third annual Greenlight Earth Fay film festival is a celebration of earth day featuring film projects that explore environmental citizenship and show how individual actions can reduce our environmental impact, Films featured will be produced by local artists. Emphasis on student produced films., For more details and entry forms see www.cityofpaloalto.org/earthday or call 329-2417.
OLD: MARCH 5 from 4 - 6 PM in council chambers: Inaugural meeting of the Community Environmental Action Partnership, bringing together the City and a wide array interested stakeholders. This partnership is being created to create and implement environmental solutions and develop a new forum for action and discussion. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/ceap to learn more.
LOCAL EVENTS/NEWS
FEBRUARY 22: Unity Palo Alto <3391 Middlefield> concert with Karie Hillery "positive pop" music. 7:0 PM Fee: $10. For more see www.karie.com
FEBRUARY 24, between 10:30 AM-noon.. Come by any time between those hours and enjoy an introductory Reiki session. This is a wonderful opportunity before the Reiki class starts on Sunday, March 2. We also have our guided meditation on Thursday evening, February 28, between 7:45-9 PM. his is an open and free event for people to try and experience this modality. If you have attended the regular guided meditation before, there is a $10 charge to maintain this service. Your RSVP is greatly appreciated, as space is limited. To RVSP contact michal@camelotcenter.net. Please arrive a few minutes early. Location: Camelot, 258 Thompson Avenue, Mountain View. You can also get info about upcoming events through the online calendar at www.camelotcenter.net
FEBRUARY 26: Avenidas sponsors: Let's Get Creative: Are you interested in Creativity, Spirituality and Aging? Then join them on Tuesday, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. Judith Pruess-Mellow, P.h.D., M.Div., Executive Director, Senior New Ways, will discuss the creative force dwelling inside each of us. You'll rediscover the rejuvenating power of your own creative spirit at this free event. Avenidas is located at 450 Bryant St
MARCH 6: "Lose 5000 Pounds in a Month," with a Low Carbon Lifestyle sponsored by Stanford & Acterra -
Thursdays, from March 6 through April 17 (meets every 2 weeks) from 7:00-8:30 PM. Turn good environmental intentions into action! This action-oriented class can help individuals and communities reduce their "carbon footprints" which contribute to climate change--in a practical, fun way. The 4-session course will use the illustrated Low Carbon Diet reader from Empowerment Institute to guide the class. More than a list of eco-friendly actions, the class helps you actually implement changes, including calculating current CO2 footprint, supporting your efforts at CO2 reduction, and tracking progress. Meeting like-minded others makes this a fun learning experience! The class is co-facilitated by David Coale and Jane Rothstein.
Note: Please register by 2/25 to be assured of receiving a reader. Fee: $65 (includes reader)
Location: Yang & Yamazaki Environment & Energy Building, 473 Via Ortega Way, Stanford campus. To register: go to http://hip.stanford.edu, click "classes", enter lcd-01 or call 723-9649 for registration help For more info, call 498-4744.
MARCH 8: CPR Saturday sponsored by the American Red Cross. This is a FREE 4.5 hour CPR Training course that will teach life-saving skills to better prepare you and your family for emergencies. Participants will learn: Adult CPR Care for choking victims 911 emergency services, and Information on how to stay safe during emergencies.
This training will be offered in eight counties at 12 training locations.
http://www.redcrosscprsaturday.org/ In Palo Alto at Cubberly.
Morning Session from 9 AM-1:00 PM. Afternoon Session: 2:00 - 6:00 PM. Persons registering for a morning CPR session may also register for an afternoon First Aid class for a fee of $25.
Questions? 688.0417 or email CPRsaturday@paarc.org
MARCH 6: New Exhibit: Museum of American Heritage: Bonfires and Bugs:
The Art and Science of Camping. Perfectly timed to fit with this year's camping season, exhibit opens March 6 at the Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Avenue. The exhibit runs through August 17. Somewhere in our journey from nature to civilization, camping changed from survival to recreation. Shelter, heating, food preparation, "critter control", lighting and all around comfort have greatly evolved over the centuries. Experience a few of the high points along the road from camps of the past to roughing it, modern style, and pick up some of the lore, the science, and the art of camping, from cooking to transportation to navigation to shelter - and beyond. The exhibit also honors the 1907 founding of the Scouting movement by General Robert Baden-Powell in England with displays of uniforms and camping equipment. Exhibit hours are 11 AM to 4 PM, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
APRIL 5: "Recipe for Recovery" Faire: Sponsors include: PA Chamber of Commerce, PAMF. Sheraton, Westin,Roche, Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Weekly, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, HP, Stanford Shopping Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Borel Private bank, Garden Court and more. There are/will be many community partners (including PAN, Red Cross, PAUSD etc). Additionally PAN will have a table.
From 11AM to 2PM at Cubberley Community Center.
Some highlights: First Aid Demonstrations, Rescue Dogs, Fire & Rescue Vehicles, "Bring the whole family for an exciting day filled with love demonstrations, product vendors, yummy food, and a chance to create your family disaster plan during a workshop.
Visit the booths of businesses & local non-profits to obtain information and materials to help you prepare for any type of disaster.
OLD: FEBRUARY 23: INSECT LIFE FOR A HEALTHIER GARDEN:
Learn how to maximize the eco-system diversity that produces the best garden, as well as simple steps to take if an insect challenge occurs from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Common Ground Educational Center, 559 College Ave. Fee: $25.
To register: call 493-6072. The instructor, John Jeavons, is the Executive Director of Ecology Action and author of How to Grow More Vegetables
OLD: FEBRUARY 23: Housing conference hosted by Avenidas & Nancy Goldcamp. "Where to Live: What's Right for You" at Avenidas from 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM. I
Keynote from Dr. Jim McCabe. Fee: $$.
Register online at www.avenidas.org or call 289-5445.
TIPS
Too long web site addresses: Arthur Keller tells us about the ability to shorten that long URL to a tiny one. Try tinyurl.com.
Sad about the loss of "POPCORN" to get accurate time of day. From the Mercury action line - Dennis Rickstroh. Get an atomic clock or a computer! Find the official US time at www.time.gov. Atomic clocks are radio controlled clock that tune into the signal emitted by the US Atomic clock in Ft Collins, Co These clocks reset themselves daily to the exact hour, minute & second, & automatically reset themselves for daylight saving time.
More about cutting down on junk mail: Great article in Mercury on this - http://tinyurl.com/3y3n4p. A few sources to opt out include: www.dmachoice.org allows consumers to opt in or out of a particular mailing list. This DMA (Direct Marketing Association) site used to charge $1 for this service; now it is free. (Write to them at DMA at Mail Preference Svc; PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512-0643. There is $1 for this by-mail service.) Also try the other site offered by the consumer credit reporting industry - www.optoutprescreen.com. Call them at 888-567-8688.
From Walt Hays: Let There Be (Fluorescent) Light!: A provision in the 2007 energy bill requires light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy-efficient starting in 2012-a standard that will effectively phase out traditional incandescent bulbs. But why wait? Today's compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) already use 50 to 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. If every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates we would reduce global warming pollution by an amount equivalent to taking more than 800,000 cars off the road. Most CFLs on the market today offer the same performance, versatility, and light output as incandescent bulbs. Look for the following product information to ensure you find the right bulb for your needs:
CFLs and Mercury
CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury, so they cannot be thrown out in the trash.
However, the mercury in CFLs represents a much less significant environmental hazard than incandescent bulbs because CFLs require much less electricity, and more than half of our nation's electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants-the largest U.S. source of mercury emissions.
In other words, the average coal-fired power plant emits only 3.2 milligrams of mercury for each CFL running six hours per day for five years, but emits nearly 15 milligrams of mercury for an incandescent bulb running the same amount of time, according to UCS research. The difference far exceeds the approximately five milligrams present inside a CFL. Properly disposing of CFLs ensures the mercury in them remains contained.
MIDTOWN BUSINESS/NEIGHBOR NEWS:
PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS IN AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU WANT IT PUBLISHED
LAST CALL --- NEXT MRA GENERAL MEETING will be February 19th Tuesday night at the Friends Meeting House - 957 Colorado. We will vote in the new MRA Steering Committee officers and hear about Stanford's plan for renovating/rebuilding. Doors open at 6:55PM and meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
See Midtown artist Karolyn Zeng's exhibition "Celestial Journeys: In the Language of Art" through March 31 in the Physics and Astrophysics Building at Stanford open 8 AM-5 PM M-F. The artist reflects on astrophysics, quantum physics, human genetics and the I Ching in nineteen Oil on Canvas paintings, which range from the use of ancient Chinese calligraphy to large, multi-canvas works fusing human genetics and cosmology. Her work seeks to highlight universal territory by expressing ideas shared by different scientific and philosophical disciplines. A wine and cheese reception for the artist will be held March 12 from 5.30 - 6.30 PM.
Congratulations once again to midtown resident Geri Spieler. Her book about Sara Jane Moore, "I'm Sorry I Missed, Mr. President" (working title), has been purchased by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of St. Martin's Press. The book will be out & available March 2009 - shorter time to publish it than the usual 18 months.
FEBRUARY 29: Parents Night Out - MYGYM: 5:30 - 8:30PM. Fee: $30 for Members, $40 for Non Members, and 50% off siblings (CASH ONLY).
To RSVP please come in, email to mygympaloalto@sbcglobal.net or call 330-1760.
MARCH 5: Our very own Karen Froniewski from Midtown Natures Alley will be teaching a class "Creating a Topiary" at Gamble Garden.
Karen is known for her topiary and hanging baskets, as well as for her beautiful floral arrangements. The fantasy world of topiary will become reality in this hands-on class. Karen will teach the techniques for creating plant sculptures limited only by your imagination. Everyone will take home a topiary in a 6 inch pot. The materials (pot, soil, moss, pins, form) will be purchased directly from Karen.
Class FEE: $25 members, $30 non-members, Class is limited to 15.
Register at www.gamblegarden.org or 329-1356 x 201
CITY/COUNTY/SCHOOL EVENTS/NOTES
CRIMEPORTS: The City installed CrimeReports this week. Good detail at http://www.paloaltodailynews.com/.
Also watch for a Friday article in the weekly. http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=7162
"Citizens can do a search in their particular community to see what's going on in their neighborhoods," Sgt. Sandra Brown of the Palo Alto Police Department said. The system combines the value of police data with the ease-of-use of Google-based mapping and a module so that members of the public can view police data in a high-impact map or summary descriptive format.
You can sign up to receive free email alerts based on user-defined parameters.
Bob Moss reports: You can enter any address in town and the crimes then will be plotted within a mile or so of that address. You have to go back to the PAPD home page to get the explanation of the codes and abbreviations. To change the map locus, such as into Professorville, just type in an address in that area such as on Channing or Webster, or any other convenient location. Same with Midtown - use an address in that area like Middlefield or Colorado.
Don't forget - this weekend is the AMGEN event.
(Nice calendar of events in Wednesday's Weekly) February 16 Events:
9:00 AM-NOON - Exercise and the Brain, Public Symposium - Stanford University Schwab Residential Center, Vidalakis Dining Room.
9:30 AM - Community Bike Ride leave from Mitchell Park and ride down to Lytton Plaza downtown! Pro cyclists, the busycle, hundreds of families! At Lytton Plaza, you can cheer and support the Downtown Street Team's Row and Ride! The program supports people getting back into the workforce and into permanent housing through work programs such as keeping our streets and sidewalks clean.
Sunday, February 17: PROLOGUE on Charity Challenge Time Trial - 12 NOON; Prologue 1 PM is the Official Start.
A Lifestyle Festival will be held from 11:30 AM 4:30 PM, on the Stanford Campus by the big climbing wall. The Lifestyle Festival is part of the 2008 AMGEN Tour of California. Activities planned include a climbing wall, sports activities, arts and crafts, bike repair demonstrations, a pedometer challenge and pedal-powered electric bike, plus a hula hoop and jump rope contest. In addition, there will be a pedal-powered smoothie machine, a bike giveaway and lots more. For more information about the Prologue, visit www.paloaltostanfordprologue.com.
CALL FOR ENTRIES; Green Light Film festival.
Entries received by March 21. The third annual Greenlight Earth Fay film festival is a celebration of earth day featuring film projects that explore environmental citizenship and show how individual actions can reduce our environmental impact, Films featured will be produced by local artists. Emphasis on student produced films.
For more details and entry forms see www.cityofpaloalto.org/earthday or call 329-2417.
Easy to get a library card - apply at www.cityofpaloalto.org/library and complete the application on line
March 5 from 4 - 6 PM in Council chambers:
Inaugural meeting of the Community Environmental Action Partnership, bringing together the City
and a wide array interested stakeholders. This partnership is being created to create and implement environmental solutions and develop a new forum for action and discussion. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/ceap to learn more.
UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS:
FEBRUARY 19: (Note meeting on Tuesday due to holiday) Finance Committee Recommendation to Consider Midyear Changes to the 2007-08 Municipal Fee Schedule, Including Adoption of New Fees, and Increasing Existing Fees, Rates or Assessments;
FEBRUARY 25: Recruitment for new City Manager from 7-9 PM. Come and share your views on the ideal candidate traits and qualifications.
Send Comments to mgr4pa@cityofpaloalto.org
MARCH 17: City Council to discuss council priority milestones including civic engagement.
Please note that PAN (Palo Alto Neighborhoods) will be distributing a short survey on the topic of civic engagement.
LOCAL EVENTS/NEWS
FEBRUARY 16: Palo Alto Philharmonic Orchestra Concert perform a evening of romantic music, 8 PM at Cubberly. FEE: $17 general admission, $15 seniors, and $8 students; available from www.paphil.org.
FEBRUARY 16: Stanford Dance Marathon from 2 - 5 PM at Stanford's Arrillaga Alumni Center. Stanford Dance Marathon creates, educates, inspires, and mobilizes community combat HIV/AIDS and support international health, culminating in 24-hour dance-a-thon. To learn more or to support their cause, visit http://dancemarathon.stanford.edu.
FEBRUARY16: Class on Exercise & the Brain from 9AM to noon. Internationally renowned scientists, physicians, and athletes discuss the effects of exercise on brain function and how exercise may improve neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This event, sponsored by the Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Stanford University and the Davis Phinney Foundation, is free, and refreshments will be provided. It will be held at Stanford University, Schwab Residential Center, Vidalakis Dining Room. Please register for catering purposes to slouie@stanfordmed.org, or call 724-2541.
FEBRUARY 16: Common Ground will hold 2 FUNdamental gardening classes with Jennifer Ungemach:
SEED PROPAGATION from 10:30 - 12:30. Fee: $25. It all begins with a seed! Learning GROW BIOINTENSIVE seed propagation techniques will help you have a more productive and efficient garden. This class will explain choosing the best soil mix, transplanting, pricking out seedlings from flats, proper watering, and planting by the phases of the moon.
DOUBLE-DIGGING and BED PREPARATION with from 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Fee: $25. Double-digging is the first step in a GROW BIOINTENSIVE garden. Learn how easy, fun and productive this method can be.
Loosening the soil 24 inches deep will help to build essential soil structure. Plants will grow much better and need less water; weeds will come out easily. This ever-popular class includes a hands-on demonstration at the Common Ground Demonstration Garden. (559 College Avenue - 493.6072 or www.commongroundinpaloalto.org)
FEBRUARY 17: As many of you already know, the Palo Alto community was shocked & saddened last week with the passing of Children's Theatre Assistant Director Michael Litfin. A committee has been organized to plan a Celebration of Michael's Life, on Sunday, February 17 11 am at the Children's Theatre. The Board of the Friends of Children's Theatre has set up a special fund to help pay for the gathering. The money will be used to pay for flowers, food, printing costs for the memory booklet, and chair rentals, among other expenses.
Donations to: Friends of Palo Alto Children's Theatre; 1305 Middlefield Roadl Palo Alto, Ca 94301. Checks should be payable to the Friends of PACT or FOPACT, with the words "Michael Litfin Memorial Fund" on the memo line.
FEBRUARY 20: Unity in Landscape Design Class at Gamble Garden Center from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. FEE: $20 members, $25 non-members.
Register at www.gamblegarden.org 329-1356 x 201.
Harmony is a key element in both. Susie Wells, Gamble Garden Horticulture Director, will show us how to create a complete design incorporating flow and harmony, whether you are planning to re-do your landscape or seeking to tweak your existing garden.
FEBRUARY 23: INSECT LIFE FOR A HEALTHIER GARDEN:
Learn how to maximize the eco-system diversity that produces the best garden, as well as simple steps to take if an insect challenge occurs from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Common Ground Educational Center, 559 College Ave. Fee: $25.
To register: call 493-6072. The instructor, John Jeavons, is the Executive Director of Ecology Action and author of How to Grow More Vegetables
FEBRUARY 23: Housing conference hosted by Avenidas & Nancy Goldcamp. "Where to Live: What's Right for You" at Avenidas from 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM. If you've been pondering issues such as whether you should move in with your children, get a reverse mortgage, age in place, move into a retirement community, sell your home or other questions of this nature, then you're going to want to attend this conference. Enjoy a continental breakfast followed by a keynote from Dr. Jim McCabe, renowned senior housing expert.
Fee: $35 for Avenidas & Avenidas Village members, $40 for non-members if you sign up before 2/15.
Register online at www.avenidas.org or call 289-5445.
TIPS
From Dick Freeman: This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Car keys used as an alarm system:
Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off. The horn will continue to sound until turned off or the car battery dies. (or the neighbors start screaming) It's a security alarm system you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around... After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.
ALSO-Remember carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime. This would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. People should consider carrying car keys with them in case they fall outside and others are not aware. You can activate the car alarm and others will know there's a problem.
Tracy Harper sends on a web site that allows you to see if any sex offender are living nearby.
http://www.FamilyWatchDog.us.
This site was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted. When you visit this site you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as a small icon of a house. There will be red, blue and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on these dots a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and the description of the crime he or she has committed. The best thing is that you can show your children these pictures and see how close these people live to your home or school.This is a tool you can use to help us keep our kids safe.
MIDTOWN BUSINESS/NEIGHBOR NEWS:
PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS IN AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU WANT IT PUBLISHED
NEXT MRA GENERAL MEETING will be February 19th Tuesday night at the Friends Meeting House - 957 Colorado. We will vote in the new MRA Steering Committee officers and hear about Stanford's plan for renovating/rebuilding. Doors open at 6:55PM and meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
FEBRUARY 14: Midtown artist and Director of Art for Well Being, Judy Gittelsohn is having a reception "Self Portraits of the Artists of Art for Well Beings" at the Art gallery at the Emerson center; 2800 West Bayshore from 5 - 7:00 PM. Come to the reception & meet the artists.
This exhibition features portraits of people painted at Art For Well Beings. Over a period of two months every week the artist would apply the featured Golden paint and gel to their painting creating layered and textured surfaces.
For more information 776-8297 or www.artforwellbeings.org
Congratulations to Midtown resident Geri Spieler.
Geri was selected to serve on Mountain View's new Environmental Sustainability Task Force. She will be a member at-large and recommend initiatives to the City Council for creating a sustainable community for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Geri owns the Bath Shop in Mountain View and her appointment is due to a course she took to become a Certified Green Remodeler for our company. She also worked with the city of Mountain View and Santa Clara County for our business to qualify as "Certified Green Business" using green materials and practices.
Pamela is looking for a buyer: Gary Smalley's Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships -- A series of 6 VHS tapes and The Gary Smalley Seminar. Some never opened! (says what happening to the relationship!!) Paid $150 years ago. Amazon about $50. Now $30 or best offer!!! Contact her at Pamulu@aol.com.
CITY/COUNTY/SCHOOL EVENTS/NOTES
CALL FOR ENTRIES; Green Light Film festival.
Entries received by March 21. The third annual Greenlight Earth Fay film festival is a celebration of earth day featuring film projects that explore environmental citizenship and show how individual actions can reduce our environmental impact, Films featured will be produced by local artists. Emphasis on student produced films.
For more details and entry forms see www.cityofpaloalto.org/earthday or call 329-2417.
The County's long range transportation planning is at http://www.mtc.ca.gov/T2035.
Curtis Williams, assistant Director of Planning and Transportation, sends the latest summary of recent or upcoming Planning and Transportation topics of interest.
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pln/news/details.asp?NewsID=613&TargetID=85
Bike Week Starts February 11 at Mitchell Park Teen Center.
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=10812
FEBRUARY 11: City Council Meeting: 6PM - Joint meeting with Human Relations Commission. Public Hearings on Ciardella's (re-zoning, Mitigated Negative declaration), Naming Opportunities for City-Owned Land, Report from Finance Committee on Financing for the Public Safety Building and Library/Community Center.
Council will give direction on schedule for the Public Safety building.
http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=10808
LOCAL EVENTS/NEWS
FEBRUARY 9: Canopy Tree walk through Community Center from 10 AM to noon. Meet at The Children's Library located at 1276 Harriet Street. Ellyn Shea, Former arborist at Friends of the Urban Forest, the urban forestry organization in San Francisco, will explain the reproductive methods of trees as we walk amongst them.
NOTE: Canopy is one of the 2008 winners of the Chamber Tall Tree Award!!!
FEBRUARY 9: Common Ground class USING NATIVE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN.
From 10:30 - 12:30 at 559 College Avenue. Fee: $25
Explore using California native plants not only for their beauty and appropriateness in our Mediterranean climate
FEBRUARY 9: Free seminar Theta Healing- a relatively new modality that has profound effect on those who experienced it. There is a special and open event for people to learn more about it, as well as experience a sample of its benefits.
7-9 PM; 258 Thompson Avenue; Mountain View.
For more information or RSVP, please call 967-2484, or email michal@camelotcenter.net.
FEBRUARY 9-10: CUBBERLEY USED BOOK SALES. It is that time again. Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM - Main Room opens at 11 AM; Sunday, 1 - 4 PM. These sales are at 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, at the northwest corner of the Cubberley Community Center.
For more information on the sale, see www.friendspaloaltolib.org/booksale.htm#viatmail.
Shelf preview pictures at http://www.friendspaloaltolib.org/bookshelves.aspx
FEBRUARY 10: California Pops Orchestra's Side Street Strutter Show featuring Disneyland's own Side Street Strutters jazz band! From Mardi Gras and Dixieland to Big Band Swing, this show's got it all.
Time: 3: 00 PM at Spangenberg Theater, Gunn High School.
This high energy show is a perfect time to introduce your kids and grandkids to the best of America's own music too. I'll even sneak in some Gershwin for you!
FEE: $25 adult, $20 senior, $15 student, $5 children.
Advance Tickets by Phone - 856-8432.
www.californiapopsorchestra.org; email manager@californiapopsorchestra.com
FEBRUARY 16: Palo Alto Philharmonic Orchestra Concert perform a evening of romantic music, 8 PM at Cubberly. FEE: $17 general admission, $15 seniors, and $8 students; available from www.paphil.org.
FEBRUARY 16: Stanford Dance Marathon from 2 - 5 PM at Stanford's Arrillaga Alumni Center. Stanford Dance Marathon creates, educates, inspires, and mobilizes community combat HIV/AIDS and support international health, culminating in 24-hour dance-a-thon. To learn more or to support their cause, visit http://dancemarathon.stanford.edu.
FEBRUARY 17: As many of you already know, the Palo Alto community was shocked & saddened last week with the passing of Children's Theatre Assistant Director Michael Litfin. A committee has been organized to plan a Celebration of Michael's Life, on Sunday, February 17 11 am at the Children's Theatre. The Board of the Friends of Children's Theatre has set up a special fund to help pay for the gathering. The money will be used to pay for flowers, food, printing costs for the memory booklet, and chair rentals, among other expenses.
Donations to: Friends of Palo Alto Children's Theatre; 1305 Middlefield Roadl Palo Alto, Ca 94301. Checks should be payable to the Friends of PACT or FOPACT, with the words "Michael Litfin Memorial Fund" on the memo line.
FEBRUARY 20: Unity in Landscape Design Class at Gamble Garden Center from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. FEE: $20 members, $25 non-members.
Register at www.gamblegarden.org 329-1356 x 201.
Harmony is a key element in both. Susie Wells, Gamble Garden Horticulture Director, will show us how to create a complete design incorporating flow and harmony, whether you are planning to re-do your landscape or seeking to tweak your existing garden.
FEBRUARY 23: INSECT LIFE FOR A HEALTHIER GARDEN:
Learn how to maximize the eco-system diversity that produces the best garden, as well as simple steps to take if an insect challenge occurs from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Common Ground Educational Center, 559 College Ave. Fee: $25.
To register: call 493-6072. The instructor, John Jeavons, is the Executive Director of Ecology Action and author of How to Grow More Vegetables
FEBRUARY 23: Housing conference hosted by Avenidas & Nancy Goldcamp. "Where to Live: What's Right for You" at Avenidas from 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM. If you've been pondering issues such as whether you should move in with your children, get a reverse mortgage, age in place, move into a retirement community, sell your home or other questions of this nature, then you're going to want to attend this conference. Enjoy a continental breakfast followed by a keynote from Dr. Jim McCabe, renowned senior housing expert.
Fee: $35 for Avenidas & Avenidas Village members, $40 for non-members if you sign up before 2/15.
Register online at www.avenidas.org or call 289-5445.
OLD: FEBRUARY 13: Come learn about The Red Cross in Action. Program at noon 2/13 (light lunch included or bring your own) and same program Thursday, March 13, 5:00 PM.
Please call Heidi at 688-0438 to make a reservation to attend; OR register online, www.paarc.org.
OLD: FEBRUARY 15 - Information Session re: Avenidas Village, Aging in Place Membership Program.
You are invited to a half an hour information session with refreshments on Friday February 15th at 3:00 PM at Avenidas. RSVP: Elyse Gerson 289-5405 or egerson@avenidas.org.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
The League's Smart Voter Project Director is stepping aside after 12 years. They are looking for someone passionate about our democracy, good management skills, a team player with some tech knowledge. The program manager oversees the Smart Voter program, reports to the executive director and the SmartVoter Steering Committee, chairs the Smart Voter Steering Committee and works with state and local Leagues to facilitate participation in and implementation of the program.
LOCATION: Bay Area or Sacramento.
Submit cover letter and resume to: Jill Kaiser Newcom; League of Women Voters of California; 801 12th Street, Suite 220; Sacramento, CA 95814; tmandarino@ucpsacto.org or jnewcom@lwvc.org. Fax 916-442-7362.
Note: For a longer job description, send me an email.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government. The LWVC is a statewide organization with an office in Sacramento.
Smart Voter, www.smartvoter.org, is a program of the LWVC with a steering committee in the San Francisco Bay Area.
MIDTOWN BUSINESS/NEIGHBOR NEWS:
PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS IN AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU WANT IT PUBLISHED
NEXT MRA GENERAL MEETING will be February 19th Tuesday night at the Friends Meeting House - 957 Colorado. We will vote in the new MRA Steering Committee officers and hear about Stanford's plan for renovating/rebuilding. Doors open at 6:55PM and meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
Best Congratulations to Midtown Resident Megan Swezey Fogarty for the honor of receiving the Tall Tree Award as a local volunteer!
Re Gas Leaks: From Sheryl Contois, Palo Alto Police Department: PG&E, Utilities and Fire from either San Mateo County or here in Palo Alto were never definitively able to ascertain the source or cause. Pure speculation, and it seemed to make sense to me (but I am no expert!), is the landfill did a compost turnover at 3 PM that day -- as you know landfill creates methane -- so, chance, but again, there is no way to be sure.
Hoover Park: Timeline for completion is mid-February. Watch this site for date of the opening celebration.
ARCO Gas Station: A project is currently underway to replace the ARCO gas station with a modest 2 story retail/office building. Sorry everyone, the condition of sale of property stated no gas station. We will try to post the latest copy of the plans at the Midtown Meeting.
CITY/COUNTY/SCHOOL EVENTS/NOTES
Palo Alto Citizens' Police Academy from 3/12 - 4/30. The 21st Citizens' Police Academy.
Download an application from www.cityofpaloalto.org (Police Department, Police Information).
Fax completed application form to 329-2565. Contact the academy coordinator, Susie Ord at 329-2632 .
FEBRUARY 4 at 6 PM: The City Council will have a study session on the projected cost of the Mitchell Park/Community Center, and the upgrades of Main and Downtown. Group 4 (architects for the
project) will present the current schematic designs for the project.
For future tentative agendas see: http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=10242
FEBRUARY 5: CHAMBER & City of Palo Alto sponsor a forum "Recipe for Recovery" on Emergency Preparedness for Businesses from 7:30 - 9:30 AM city hall. http://www.paloaltochamber.com/
FEBRUARY 12: Mountain View City Council will hold a public hearing in their Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 Castro St. to consider a Master Plan, Planned Community Permit, Tentative Map and Heritage Tree Removal Permit for 100 MAYFIELD AVENUE.
LOCAL EVENTS/NEWS
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital announce: A new website allows users to access data about the hospital's performance http://www.lpch.org/aboutUs/quality/index.html.
This move toward greater data transparency continues an ongoing campaign to improve and communicate patient safety and quality of care. Parents, policymakers, and professionals around the Bay Area are using the newly expanded kidsdata.org to find data about their field, to inform decision-makers, and as an alternative to searching Internet-wide for dozens of children's health topics. The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health has expanded the online database to include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Francisco counties, along with previously featured Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and statewide comparisons.
AMGEN BIKE RACE AGAINST THE PROS on February 17th. Place your winning bid to race in the Charity Challenge for the 2008 Amgen Tour of California Prologue, coming to Palo Alto and Stanford University on February 17, 2008. Just moments before 130 of the top cycling professionals in the world officially kick-off the 2008 Amgen Tour of California Prologue, 25 people will have the opportunity to race the official route. This priceless opportunity for every cycling fan, enthusiast and weekend warrior will last only a few short moments, but will be remembered for a lifetime. Bidding is taken over the phone at 1-800-341 The 25 highest donations made to the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation between now and Friday, February 15, at 12 noon will earn a spot to test this course. Minimum bid is $500. A bid of $2,500 assures you a spot in the challenge!
For more see: http://www.paloaltostanfordprologue.com/.
For a listing of other events and activities leading up to race day on February 17, 2008 visit http://www.paloaltostanfordprologue.com/calendar.html.
FEBRUARY 2: A few seats left for Common ground class: FRUIT TREE VARIETIES with Nancy Garrison from 10:30 -12:30. Fee: $25. earn which varieties of peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots, apricots, apples and pears are the delight of connoisseurs. You will be introduced to the best of the best-tasting deciduous fruits that grow in this area and learn where to source your own plants.
Location: Common Ground 559 College Avenue, Phone: 493.6072
FEBRUARY 10: The California Pops almost-Valentine's show at 3 PM at Spangenberg Auditorium. Featuring Disneyland band, the "Side Street Strutters" playing Dixieland, jazz, big band, Mardi Gras and the usual Pops fun!
For ticket information visit http://www.peninsulapops.org/homepage.html
OLD: FEBRUARY 1-3: Sent by Ann Okamura: "Journey to the Unknown--The Japanese American Experience during WWII at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple, 1251 Louis Road. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
OLD: FEBRUARY 2: Heart Health Learning Faire: Sponsored by the Cardiac Therapy Foundation 1-3 PM Cubberley auditorium. To RSVP or for more information, call 494-1300. Speaker: Lynette Lissin, MD from Palo Alto Medical Foundation on New Insights & Treatments.
OLD: FEBRUARY 3, from 1 - 3 PM Acterra Hike - Mosses, Lichens and Ferns Interpretive Hike at Arastradero Preserve RSVP: Sheri Lubin at 962-9876 x347 or sheril@acterra.org.
OLD: FEBRUARY 6: Gamble Garden sponsors "Roses in a Mixed Border" with Carole Kraft. Do you have a passion for roses, but not the room to devote to a special rose bed? From 9:30 to 11:30 AM in Carriage House, 1431 Waverley (at Embarcadero). Carole will show us how to create and maintain our own beautiful & ever-blooming borders using roses and perennials, small trees, & shrubs.
Fee: $20 members, $25 non-members. Class is limited to 25.
To Register or for more information: www.gamblegarden.org or 329-1356 x 201.
OLD: FEBRUARY 13: Come learn about The Red Cross in Action. Program at noon 2/13 (light lunch included or bring your own) and same program Thursday, March 13, 5:00 PM. Each fast-paced meeting lasts just one hour and includes program exhibits. Location: the Chapter training center, 400 Mitchell Lane.
For more information, please contact 699-0415 or www.paarc.org.
Please call Heidi at 688-0438 to make a reservation to attend; OR register online, www.paarc.org Chapter Calendar and click on the date you wish to attend.
OLD: FEBRUARY 15 - Information Session re: Avenidas Village, Aging in Place Membership Program.
Launched in October 2007, Avenidas Village is an aging in place program that provides members with many of the benefits of living in a retirement community while they remain in the homes they love. Members have access to a one-call resource for all their needs. Core areas of service include health & wellness, daily living, arts & culture and community connections. Examples of the kinds of services members can request assistance with include everything from nutrition counseling to in-home care to pet sitting to meal preparation.
You are invited to a half an hour information session with refreshments on Friday February 15th at 3:00 PM at Avenidas. RSVP: Elyse Gerson 289-5405 or egerson@avenidas.org.
MOAH (MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HERITAGE) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SUMMER CAMP
Age 10 and up! 2 Separate Sessions:
Session 1: June 23-27 from 9 AM - 4 PM
Session 2: July 14-18 from 9 AM - 4 PM.
FEE: $450 Museum Members/$500 Non-Members
Fun filled activities and projects include: Adventures in Electronics, Whispers in the Wind: Crystal Radios, Rocket Science: We're out to Launch, LEGO Robotics: RCX vs. NXT, Mechanics in Action, Aerodynamics of Flying Rings, Build & Use a Trebuchet, Biology & Genetics: DNA with Stanford Geneticists, Crime Scene Investigation with the City of Palo Alto Police Department, Video Production.
For more information or to register please call 321-1004 or visit www.moah.org
TIPS
Greentips: The Smartly Furnished Home: If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your home, what should you do when you need to replace worn-out furniture? After all, a piece of furniture can contain materials that contribute in a small way to air pollution, global warming emissions, and tropical deforestation (at least 32 million acres of tropical forest-an area larger than Mississippi-are cut down each year, releasing 20 percent of all global warming emissions). When searching for that perfect addition to your living room, dining room, or bedroom, consider the following options, which will minimize the amount of resources consumed and emissions released:
** Good wood. When buying solid wood furniture, look for the Forest Stewardship Council seal, which certifies that the wood came from forests or tree farms that are being managed in a sustainable way. More than 200 million acres of forestland worldwide have been FSC-certified to date. Another alternative is the Rainforest Alliance's "SmartWood Rediscovered" label, which certifies that thewood was recovered from landfills, manufacturing facilities, or other sources in an environmentally sound manner.
** Bamboo. This is a good option for furniture because it is both sustainable (it grows quickly and requires little water, fertilizer, or pesticide) and versatile (it can be molded into a variety of shapes).
** Recycled materials. A growing number of companies offer furniture made from recycled metal, rubber, glass, or plastic. Composite materials used in less-expensive furniture, such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard, are generally not recycled, but some manufacturers are starting to make MDF from 100 percent recycled wood fiber.
** Natural upholstery. Avoid synthetic materials such as polyester, simulated leather, and polyurethane foam (which are all derived from fossil fuels); instead, look for latex foam and cotton, wool, linen, or hemp fabrics that have been minimally treated with chemical dyes or coatings. Further reduce your impact by buying antique or secondhand furniture, or by reupholstering your existing furniture (using environmentally friendly materials, of course)-all of which will preserve natural resources while reducing emissions. And keep in mind that the durability of higher-quality furniture will translate into fewer resources used in the long run.
Related Links:
The Green Guide-Product Report: Wood Furniture
How to Green Your Furniture
Sustainable Furniture Gurus
GreenGuard Certification Program
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