AROUND THE BLOCK AROUND THE BLOCK (March 31, 2004)

EL CAMINO TRIANGLE . . . Barron Park and Charleston Meadows residents will soon get one more place to buy coffee -- a Starbucks, of course. A long-awaited, three-story, mixed-use building at El Camino Real and El Camino Way in south Palo Alto is expected to debut in coming weeks with retail -- including a Subway eatery -- on the ground floor, and office space and eight apartments above. The two-story units include both one- and two-bedroom apartments that face Charleston Meadows and come with reserved parking in the 28-space underground garage. The surface-level lot includes 10 parking spaces. The glass, steel and concrete facility was developed by Alison Properties.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT . . . Even though the release of the movie "Shrek 2" isn't until May 21, a certain long-eared Palo Alto resident has already found himself back in the spotlight. That would be Pericles, a.k.a. Perry, one of the Barron Park donkeys, who was the model for the Eddie Murphy-voiced sidekick of Shrek. According to Doug Moran, head of the Barron Park Association, a local TV crew recently paid Perry a visit at his home in Bol Park. The famous four-footer apparently takes his celebrity in stride.

WHO'S IN CHARGE . . . If you were wondering who's in charge of things in the Community Center neighborhood -- the area around the Main Library -- wonder no more. The Community Center Neighbors Association board, elected last month, consists of Rick Ferguson, Peter Allen, Dan Eakins, Carroll Harrington, Jim Holsworth, Marvin Lee, Andy Newman, and Glenn Rennels. In the past, the CCNA implemented the Fiber-to-the-Home broadband trial program; co-sponsored the 75th Anniversary Celebration for Rinconada Park; promoted summertime block parties; coordinated with the city on planning, shuttle bus routes, traffic calming, emergency preparedness, telecom and utilities; and more.

BENCH MARKED . . . The Barron Park Association showed its neighborliness recently with the gift of a $1,500 bench to Barron Park Elementary School's new reading garden. Unveiled at the association's annual meeting earlier this month, the resting spot was promptly inaugurated by neighbors both young and old, as 3-year-old Amit Blum hopped on beside genteel, white-haired Denise Atherson.

What's up on your block? Let us know what's going on in your neighborhood. Mail us your newsletter, leave a message for Jocelyn Dong at 326-8210 x256, send e-mail to jdong@paweekly.com or fax us at 326-3928.

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