Around Town Around Town (September 01, 2004)

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME? ... The Palo Alto Committee Against Measure I, a small group fighting the school district's parcel tax on the Nov. 2 ballot, announced itself to the world and the local media last weekend. But a plea for advice practically overshadowed the news. Along with the group's press release, the campaign's treasurer, Tom Ashton, also e-mailed copies of a draft of the campaign's lawn sign to neighbors and reporters for review. "Vote no on Measure I. Too much tax for too long!" the simple sign announces with gusto. Atop the e-mail, Ashton wrote: "We believe our sign displays a clear message and will be effective in defeating Measure I. Please read the sign and give us any feedback (positive or negative) concerning the likely impact it will have on Palo Alto voters on November 2??" FYI, the group's e-mail is no_on_I@yahoo.com. Measure I would charge property owners $521 a year to help the school.

BUS STATION CHANGES... Caution bus commuters! Starting this week, Palo Alto's main bus stop -- the one near the downtown train station -- will be closed for eight months for a major $7 million renovation. All of the buses and shuttles that stopped there will be temporarily moved to other locations as far away as the Stanford Shopping Center. The project will replace the current wooden plaza with a sleeker, more modern one. The bus loop will also be lengthened to accommodate longer buses, and there will be new palm trees and benches added. For more information, including a map of where to go to catch the rerouted buses, go to www.vta.org or call (408) 321-2300.

BIKE SAFETY COURSES ... Speeding SUVs. Traffic lights that don't notice you're waiting for a turn to turn. Ravenous mountain lions. For bicyclists, the streets and sidewalks of Palo Alto can be fraught with dangers. Those who want to learn the best ways to stay safe can take one of three courses offered by the City of Palo Alto this month. The first is for adults, and will be offered at Palo Alto High School on three Wednesday nights. Register for this course at www.paadultschool.org or by calling (650) 329-3752. Two one-day classes will be offered for kids' safety. The first is to help parents of youths 10 and under learn how to talk to their children about bike safety. The other is for 10- to 14-year-olds, accompanied by a parent. Register for these classes at www.paenjoy.org or by calling (650) 321-5612. Any questions about the classes? Contact the city's Commute Coordinator Amanda Jones at (650) 329-2568.

NEW LOGO OR PRINTER'S ERROR? ... The long-awaited new logo for Palo Alto's Chamber of Commerce looks a lot like a printer's mistake: The chamber's name runs off the edges of a large C and the letters, well, disappear. But don't worry, folks -- it's intentional. The touch of cognitive dissonance -- no reflection on Palo Alto politics or governance intended, one presumes -- was created by graphic designer Sam Smidt, whose office is just a block from the chamber's offices on Hamilton Avenue near Alma Street. The process took about six months. The new logo is intended to convey a more modern, tech-oriented feel than the former logo, which had El Palo Alto, the city's "living landmark, framed by an arch. Chamber leaders not only survived the usually painful process of selecting a new logo but are enthusiastic about how it will be applied to business cards, stationery and even a redesigned Web site. There will be an unusual square business card to frame the new logo. Chamber Director Sandra Lonnquist said now that the chamber has settled into its new, more expansive offices after many years on Forest Avenue, "we wanted a more modern feel -- and some of the energy we feel here has to do with our reaching out to the community. Business certainly enriches the community, but also is enriched by the community." Why the disappearing letters? "It just sort of feels right," Smidt said. "It would be boring" had the letters stayed within the lines, he added. Smidt coincidentally is observing his 50th year doing graphic-design work, most of it in Palo Alto. A retrospective of his work is on display through November at the Koret Gallery of the San Jose Museum of Art.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]