Around Town Around Town (April 21, 2004)

DEEP-GREEN JOE ... Assemblyman Joe Simitian has received a perfect 100 percent score for the second year in a row from the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) organization for his 2003 legislative voting record -- far greener than the average score of 58 percent. Last year's legislative session was one of the strongest "pro-environmental sessions in recent memory, and Joe was a big part of that," CLVC Executive Director Susan Smartt said. She said the rating reflects his votes on 22 environmental bills, including his own AB 47 watershed-protection bill that required logging companies to file detailed reports on planned timber cuts. Other "green" recognitions include the Bluewater Network, which awarded Simitian its first "Environmental Leadership Award" and a "Coastal Steward" award from the Vote the Coast group.

CRUNCH! ... Just a coincidence -- or an "I told you so"? Last week, after six traffic barriers were removed from the Downtown North neighborhood, two car accidents occurred at the intersection of Everett Avenue and Middlefield Road. Neighbors who had favored the barriers were quick to alert the Weekly: "A corner that saw frequent accidents before the trial and no accidents during the 11 months of the trial has now returned to the bad old days ... and in record time," one wrote. Looks like it'll be at least four months until the new traffic circles and speed tables will be installed, according to the city. Buckle up!

DRUNK ON GREEN BUILDING ... Last week, Stanford University's Carnegie Institute ceremoniously unveiled its newest building -- the headquarters for the Global Ecology Department. The $5.5 million building, true to its denizens, was built using the latest in innovative "green" building techniques. Most notably, the redwood siding was made from recycled 100-year-old wine barrels. Word has it that if you put your nose up close to the wood, you can smell the wine the barrels used to hold. You can go smell it for yourself -- the building is located on campus, at 260 Panama St.

MERCURY NEWS ... Mercury is one of the major pollutants in the San Francisco Bay, and broken mercury thermometers can be an environmental disaster waiting to happen. Lucky then, that from now until April 26, you can exchange your mercury thermometer for a free digital thermometer at any Longs Drugs in Palo Alto or Mountain View. This Earth Day-inspired swap is a partnership between the city's Pollution Prevention Program and the drug store to help remove water-polluting mercury sources. For permanent drop off locations and more information visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/cleanbay/mercuryexchange.html.

BERRY BABIES . . . An oddly named berry may boost fertility in women having difficulty conceiving, a Stanford study recently indicated. The "chasteberry" -- which, as legend would have it, monks used to chew in a misguided attempt to quell certain urges -- is a key ingredient in FertilityBlend, a nutritional supplement that was the basis of OB-GYN doc Lynn Westphal's pilot project. According to Westphal, the herbal remedy helped five women in her double-blind study -- out of 15 taking the supplement -- to get pregnant within five months. The study was funded by the supplement's makers. Westphal has begun a larger study and is currently accepting new participants. And, not to leave the fellas out, the Stanford researcher is also planning a study of the male version of FertilityBlend. Interested volunteers should call (650) 498-7911.

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