Digest Digest (July 14, 2004)

Palo Alto gains heritage tree

Palo Alto, rated as a Tree City USA for more than 16 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation and State of California, added heritage tree No. 7 to its ranks Monday night. The tree, a 55-foot-tall Aleppo Pine in a Ramona Street front yard, is estimated to be more than 70 years old and has been called "the best example of an Aleppo Pine in all of Palo Alto." The tree is has a spread of 60 feet and is estimated to be worth nearly $40,000.

The Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved its inclusion in the honor rolls.

Trees qualify for the honorary status if they meet one of the city's criteria of being an outstanding specimen, one of the city's largest or oldest trees, or having a distinctive form, size, age, location or historical significance.

"I'm a person that really values trees in the landscape," said owner Barbara Carlitz, explaining why she decided to nominate her tree.

Carlitz was surprised, however, to discover her pine would be only the city's seventh heritage tree.

"I thought I'd be joining a parade of 50 trees," she said.

Palo Alto's other heritage trees include the 1,062-year-old El Palo Alto Redwood, the Rinconada Oak in Rinconada Park, a coast Redwood located on La Donna Street, a dawn redwood on Forest Avenue, a silver maple on Edgewood Drive and an American elm on Ponce Drive.

Carlitz said she might throw a party for the Aleppo Pine, inviting neighbors, the city arborist and the consulting arborist who's been caring for the tree for 18 years. --Jocelyn Dong
Open-space property owner receives go-ahead to build

David Ditzel's photos of his property at 4010 Page Mill Road were worth a thousand words at the Palo Alto City Council meeting Monday night.

As reported in the Weekly last Friday, Ditzel was making his second petition to the council to approve plans to expand his home, which is located on one acre in the city's open-space district, miles beyond Foothills Park. Although building is allowed, certain restrictions are applied to property owners and Ditzel was requesting a variance to those restrictions.

The council's 7-1 decision, with Councilwoman LaDoris Cordell dissenting, reversed a prior vote in February to deny the plans, based on concerns over the building's cluttering the public view. Ditzel's photos persuaded the council Monday night, however. Cordell objected to the building plans, saying that open-space preservation was "critical" and that denying the application would not cause Ditzel to lose substantial property rights. --Jocelyn Dong
Mountain lion sighting in Atherton

There has been another mountain lion sighting, this time in the Atherton hills.

The sighting was Saturday evening near Bear Gulch Reservoir which is, in fact, mountain lion habitat although there are some homes nearby.

The big cat hasn't harmed livestock or been seen in populated areas, so it is not being regarded as a public danger by the state Department of Fish & Game, said Police Chief Robert Brennan.
Forum on worker's compensation explores impacts on local businesses

Interested in better understanding how worker's compensation reforms will affect you as an employee or business owner? The City of Palo Alto and Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce will hold a forum on issues around providing worker's compensation during a panel discussion July 20 from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Palo Alto Civic Center.

Panelists will analyze and discuss the immediate and long-term business opportunities and impacts resulting from the reforms. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy refreshments, provided courtesy of Coupa Café and Hobee's Restaurant, and the opportunity to network with other business representatives.

This forum is part of a continuing series sponsored by the City of Palo Alto Economic Development Division of the City Manager's Office and the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce.

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