Around the Block Around the Block (August 31, 2005)

UNDERGROUND TALK . . . The Palo Alto Utilities Department will be meeting with residents of underground utility district No. 41 on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. in the staff development center at the Palo Alto Unified School District office at 25 Churchill Ave. Last month, neighbors on Bryson Avenue, which is in the district, protested the costs of putting their utilities underground -- homeowners had received bills ranging from $5,000 to more than $10,000. The residents successfully won a delay in the project so that the city could devise payment options. This meeting is an opportunity for residents to ask questions about the underground project, according to Patrick Valath of the utilities department.

NEIGHBORS ABROAD . . . Who says neighbors are just those who live next door? Not the Neighbors Abroad group, which promotes international and intercultural understanding by partnering with sister cities around the world. The 42-year-old organization will celebrate the 25th anniversary of sister city Enschede, Netherlands, on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the multipurpose room at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road. A jazz benefit concert by Swedish musicians and a light supper will be served for a $25 donation. On Sept. 11, the musicians will perform at 3 p.m. at the Lucie Stern Community Center; a $5 donation requested. RSVP to Joni Reid, Neighbors Abroad President, at 322-1378.

PLANNING PRIMER . . . For those who have wanted to know everything about Palo Alto city zoning, but have been afraid to ask, here's your chance. The city's Planning and Community Environment Director, Steve Emslie, will conduct an hour-and-a-half session on that dry but important topic on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Friends Meeting Hall, 957 Colorado Ave. Sponsored by the Midtown Residents Association.

HOUSING FORUM . . . The group of neighborhood leaders known as Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN) will host a forum to discuss how the city can balance housing, office and other commercial needs. "The Costs to the City of the Housing Boom," will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at the Mitchell Park Community Center, 3800 Middlefield Road. City planning officials and development experts are expected to be on hand as panelists. Councilmember LaDoris Cordell will moderate. For information, contact Sheri Furman at sheri11@earthlink.net.

STEP-PAN' UP . . . In related news, Midtown resident Sheri Furman has become the third co-chair of the Palo Alto Neighborhoods group, sharing the leadership with Doug Moran of Barron Park and Karen White of Duveneck/St. Francis. Furman replaces Annette Ashton, who remains the chair of the Midtown Residents' Association.

What's up on your block? Let us know what's going on in your neighborhood. Mail us your newsletter, leave a message for Jocelyn Dong at 326-8210 x256, send e-mail to jdong@paweekly.com or fax us at 326-3928.

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