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Residents agree that their neighborhood, West of Alameda -- the area west of Alameda De Las Pulgas, between Walsh Road and Stockbridge Avenue -- is a quiet part of Atherton with a natural feel.

Mysterious estate-like properties with high gates and hedges spring up along roads that wind through hills covered with oaks, redwoods, eucalyptus and even olive trees. Some of the hilltop homes have sweeping views of the bay and the rolling hills.

"It's wonderful, that's why I built," says Patricia Arthur, who built a home in the neighborhood in 1955.
While it neighbors Woodside High School and is just minutes from highway 280, this western-most area of the town of Atherton is secluded.

West of Alameda residents can be seen enjoying the peaceful scenery while walking their dogs in the hills.

"It's like being in the country and yet we're five minutes from Stanford Hospital and shopping centers," Ms. Arthur says.

While the streets are quiet, Ms. Arthur says there have been problems with people speeding in the neighborhood.

Neighbors say you can sometimes hear coyotes, owls and mountain lions up in the hills at night.
Judith Finch says her family moved to the neighborhood from San Francisco for the school district. She says her three children took the bus to school.

"While the neighborhood holds an annual block party, there is not a sense of community because the houses are so far apart," she says.

-- Sally Schilling

FACTS
==BFIRE STATION:== 3322 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park
==BLOCATION:== Alameda de las Pulgas to Hwy. 280; Menlo Park city border near Walsh Road to the Redwood City border near Fletcher Drive
==BPUBLIC SCHOOLS: ====ILas Lomitas School District -- ==
Las Lomitas School, 299 Alameda de las Pulgas, Atherton; La Entrada School, 2200 Sharon Road, Menlo Park
==ISequoia Union High School District -- ==
Woodside High School, 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside
==BSHOPPING:== Woodside Road, Woodside
==BMEDIAN 2012 HOME PRICE:== $3,797,500 ($1,115,000-$19,800,000)
==BHOMES SOLD:== 14

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