News Digest News Digest (March 18, 2005)

Parents flock to conference on teen stress

More than 100 parents gathered in the Palo Alto public school district's Churchill Avenue board room earlier this week to learn tips on how to reduce their childs' stress.

The evening, sponsored by the Palo Alto Council of PTA's and called "Stressed-Out Students: Fostering Resilience in Our Youth," was aimed at the parents of elementary, middle and high school students. Overall, they learned to help their children set attainable goals each school year and were reminded to ask questions based on learning and effort, rather than performance.

"Kids say their goals are related to achievement outcomes. There are really only two grades for students now - an 'A' and everything else. Getting a 'B' is just like getting an 'F,'" said guest speaker Mollie Galloway, co-chair of Stanford University's Stressed-Out Students (SOS) committee. "We need to remember to set goals on effort, not the outcome." The parents listened to three guest speakers, including Galloway; Dan Logan, executive director of the Palo Alto Family YMCA; and Carol Zepecki, the school district's director of student services.

Keeping the night lighthearted, Logan put the issue of Palo Alto's stressed-out students into perspective for the parents.

"There are always going to be more sources of stress. The good ol' folks at the college board, as if 1600 wasn't enough, now it's 2400 points our young people have to go after," he said, referring to the new SAT's top score. "You open up the paper and there's online predators, steroids, obesity. We see the numbers rising, we see the pain in our children and the ones we get to know. Even young people from good homes are not immune to these things," he added.

The night's meeting is just one of various attempts to grab parents' attention regarding Palo Alto's problem with over-scheduled and stressed-out students.--Alexandria Rocha
Whole Foods Market employee dies in police custody

The death of a popular Palo Alto Whole Foods Market employee in police custody has left co-workers in disbelief. Deli counterworker Fernando Casares, in his mid-thirties, died Tuesday morning after he was pepper-sprayed during a brief struggle with two sheriff's deputies in Redwood City. The San Mateo County District Attorney is investigating the case.

Officers confronted Casares outside his Redwood City apartment on Second Avenue around 2 a.m. Tuesday. After a brief struggle, Casares was doused with pepper spray, according to police reports. He later died in a local hospital.

Coworkers expressed sadness early Wednesday morning.

"He was a very great person, a hard worker. He was good with customers," Christian Mulready, a deli counter coworker said. Casares had past drug problems, but had been clean for several years, according to family members quoted in the San Jose Mercury News.

"I worked close with him. I never expected this to happen. I never saw any evidence of drugs. He didn't drink at all as far as I know. He was just a well-tempered person who really helped out," Mulready said.

"He was a really good coworker. It's really a shock. He was sweet - an even-tempered person," Letrice Smith, a bakery employee agreed.

"He was quiet, a very down-to-earth guy," fellow employee Everardo Gomez said. "I can't believe it - that he was in police custody. I didn't see him using any type of force. He didn't get into anybody's business." -- Sue Dremann
School district to answer questions about upcoming election

The public will have two upcoming chances to grill officials from the Palo Alto Unified School District about the June 7 parcel tax election.

District administration and a Board of Education member will be on hand at two question-and-answer forums. The first will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. March 24 at El Carmelo Elementary School, 3024 Bryant St. The second will be held at the same time April 6 at Terman Middle School, 655 Arastradero Road.

Members of the public are encouraged to bring their questions about the district and state budgets, as well as any other queries about district operations. --Alexandria Rocha
Penthouse planned for downtown Palo Alto

The owner of prime real estate in downtown Palo Alto is planning to replace a one-story bank with a four-story mixed-use building for retail, office and a 2,325-square-foot penthouse on top.

Sal Giovannotto of Vittoria Management, which specializes in residential rentals, and developer Jim Baer of Premier Properties appeared before the Architectural Review Board Thursday morning to pitch plans for the 18,825-square-foot project, located at the corner of University Avenue and Florence Street.

The project proposes to breach various zoning rules, including a 40-foot height limit on the residential part of the project, regulations to make sure the residence is set back from the rear of the property, and allowances for sunlight to be able to shine down to the ground in the back and on one side of the building.

City staff, however, has already given its opinion that the exceptions are allowable. The overall height of the building is within the zoning limits and the rear faces a parking garage, which doesn't require the same daylight standards as other buildings.

The project takes advantage of the city's "transfer of development rights" program, which lets historic-property owners sell off square-footage rights to other properties. The owners of this project, at 335-339 University Ave., bought 4,500 square feet from the owners of historic properties at 230-232 Homer Ave., which allows the building to be larger.

A public hearing on the project is tentatively scheduled for the April 7 Architectural Review Board meeting. --Jocelyn Dong

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