News Digest News Digest (March 31, 2004)

VTA could reconfigure downtown Palo Alto's bus station

Downtown Palo Alto's bus station could get an overhaul if the Valley Transportation Authority's board approves a $7 million project during its Thursday afternoon meeting.

The project would replace the current wooden bus plaza, located at the downtown Caltrain station, with a more modern-looking one. It would also lengthen the narrow bus turnaround to allow for a smoother flow of bus traffic, and more space for longer buses.

"That's going to offer more capacity for the riders," VTA spokesperson Brandi Hall said. The current bus station is "just not made very well for the types of buses we have now," she said

Palm trees and new benches will also be added.

During the seven-month construction, the buses that stop at the transit center -- including bus line 22 -- will be moved to the Stanford Shopping Center. Construction is expected to start around September, after the construction crew is chosen.

Approximately $4.5 million of the dollars needed for the project comes from the federal government. Other funds come from Measure B, a half-cent sales tax increase approved by voters in 1996.

The VTA board meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the County Government Center in San Jose on Thursday, April 1. --Bill D'Agostino
Emily Renzel named an 'Audubon Bay Champion'

Emily Renzel, a longtime Palo Altan, former City Council member and avid fighter for protection of the baylands of Palo Alto and San Francisco Bay, has been honored with an "Audubon Bay Champion" award by the Audubon California environmental organization.

Renzel, whose e-mail nickname is "marshmama," has been coordinator of the Baylands Conservation committee for nearly two decades and has served on the boards of the Committee for Green Foothills, the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, and the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, which promoted legislation to complete the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Renzel served on the Palo Alto City Council from 1979 to 1991, after earlier serving on the Planning Commission from 1973 to 1979, as chair in 1978-79. She was a member of the subcommittee that wrote the Baylands Master Plan, and was a leader in the still-controversial effort to end dredging and close the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor. Renzel also is a member of the Palo Alto Women's Club, serving as president in 1999-2001.

Audubon California also presented State Sen. Byron Sher with the first "Byron Sher Award for Public Service to the Environment" -- which will become an annual award -- and recognized philanthropist Richard Goldman with the group's Morris Doyle Award.

--Jay Thorwaldson

Nurses approve new contract

Nurses at Stanford and Lucile Packard Children's hospitals have signed a new, three-year conmtract, effective April 1.

The contract gives the nurses pay raises of 6 percent the first year, 6 percent the second year, and 7 percent the third year.

More than 2,000 nurses at the two hospitals are represented by the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement (CRONA).

CRONA nurses went on a 51-day strike in the summer of 2000 which ended up costing the hospitals $30 million, mostly to pay contract nurses to replace them.

"We are pleased to reach this agreement expeditiously," said Lori Johnson, CRONA president. "In addition to economic issues, we have contract language to address working conditions that are vital importance to the nurses' safety and most importantly, the safety of our patients."

"We believe this agreement will help our hospitals recruit and retain the very best nurses and continue to provide the highest quality of care to our patients for which we are widely recognized," Mike Peterson, chief operating officer of Stanford Hospital and Clinics, and Sue Flanagan, chief operating officer of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, said jointly.

--Don Kazak
Stanford expresses 'thanks' to community

In its first-ever community awards, Stanford University will honor a tutoring and tennis program and a local law clinic.

Community Partnership Awards and the Roland Volunteer Service Prize will be given out to East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, Partners in Caring, and the Stanford Community Law Clinic during a luncheon at the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto today.

This is the first year the university has presented the awards, which include a cash prize of $1,000 and recognize individuals and programs that benefit the local community and represent successful community partnerships between Stanford and its neighbors.

The three recipients were selected from a group of 37 programs and individuals nominated for the awards.

The awards luncheon will be held in conjunction with Stanford's Community Day on Sunday, April 4.
Eshoo votes against federal budget

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, voted against the fiscal year 2005 federal budget last week. The budget passed the House on a narrow 215-212 vote.

Eshoo said the budget has a record deficit of more than $500 million and will lead to a 10-year deficit of $3.6 trillion.

"As the representative of Silicon Valley, I know there's so much more we could be doing to grow out economy, create jobs and keep our commitments to the American people, but this budget won't do it," Eshoo said.

-- Don Kazak
Stanford offers admission to 2,424

The Office of Undergraduate Admission announced Monday that 2,424 students for the Class of 2008 have been admitted. Letters were mailed this week to 1,621 admitted students who applied through the regular review process. Follow-up letters have been sent to another 803 students previously offered admission under Stanford's Single-Choice Early Action program.

All admitted students have until May 1 to decide whether to accept the offers.

The university will officially welcome these new admits and their families during Admit Weekend, April 22-24. Admitted freshmen have been invited to visit the Stanford campus at that time to explore the university's unique opportunities and unrivaled resources and to meet their future classmates.

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