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Online This Week
These and other news stories were posted on Palo Alto Online throughout the week. For longer versions, go to www.PaloAltoOnline.com/news or click on "News" in the green, left-hand column.

Architect Goodwin Steinberg dies after illness

Famed architect Goodwin Steinberg, who designed scores of buildings in the Palo Alto area and at Stanford University and created an international architectural firm, died Tuesday at his Palo Alto residence following a period of declining health. He was 89. (Posted Dec. 16 at 9:56 a.m.)

Palo Alto pays $400K in bike-crash settlement

Palo Alto will pay $400,000 to settle a claim from a 57-year-old woman who suffered brain injuries after being thrown from her bicycle in the 2100 block of Bryant Street in 2008. (Posted Dec. 16 at 9:44 a.m.)

Report shows big drop in East Palo Alto crime

East Palo Alto — once regarded as the murder capital of the country — has seen a 56 percent decrease in violent crime since 1986, according to researchers at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law. (Posted Dec. 16 at 9:18 a.m.)

Jewelry stolen from Mountain View apartment

Electronics and jewelry were stolen from an apartment in the 1800 block of Ednamary Way in Mountain View Tuesday (Dec. 14), police said. (Posted Dec. 16 at 8:34 a.m.)

Gordon to chair subcommittee on transportation

Newly elected state Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) has been named chairman of the Assembly budget subcommittee that oversees the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Gordon has advocated creating of a new oversight structure for the authority. (Posted Dec. 16 at 8:58 a.m.)

Toys sought for 'Cops that Care' event

Mountain View police hope 1,700 kids will flock to the police station on Saturday (Dec. 18) where the auditorium will be turned into the North Pole as Santa Claus greets children and presents are handed out for free. (Posted Dec. 15 at 9:17 a.m.)

Rich Cline re-elected mayor of Menlo Park

The man who put down the Menlo Park mayor's gavel last week has now picked it back up. In a unanimous 5-0 vote, and counter to tradition, the City Council elected Rich Cline to a second term as mayor Tuesday night (Dec. 14). (Posted Dec. 15 at 8:51 a.m.)

Schools to expand residency verification efforts

Palo Alto school officials plan to expand residency verification efforts to weed out students who may be attending schools illegally. News of the plan, still in the early stages, came Tuesday night (Dec. 14) in a Board of Education discussion of district-wide enrollment-growth projections. (Posted Dec. 15 at 12:36 a.m.)

Demographers cite 'unusual' school ups, downs

In a "most unusual year" for Palo Alto school demographics, kindergarten enrollments this fall were "surprisingly high," substantially exceeding local birth data from five years ago, demographers said. (Posted Dec. 14 at 9:52 a.m.)

Palo Alto approves suicide-prevention policy

Suicide prevention was once a taboo subject in Palo Alto. Now, it's a city policy. (Posted Dec. 14 at 9:36 a.m.)

No 'Packard Court' — too small a street for a giant

Palo Alto boasts streets named after a flamboyant banker, multiple tree species and various Victorian writers, but it would be a vain search for a street sign honoring one of the city's most illustrious residents, David Packard. (Posted Dec. 14 at 9:32 a.m.)

City leaders, residents celebrate 'Scott Meadow'

Palo Alto city leaders — including Mayor Pat Burt and City Manager James Keene — helped honor Midtown resident Charles Scott and his late wife, Jean, during a dedication ceremony Saturday (Dec. 11) at Greer Park. (Posted Dec. 13 at 4:37 p.m.)

Outspoken scientist's colleagues ponder climate situation

The sudden death in July of Stanford University climatologist Stephen Schneider silenced an influential voice in the global discussion on climate change, Schneider's fellow scientists agreed Sunday (Dec. 12). More than 400 of Schneider's colleagues and friends recalled his gift for explaining complex scientific findings in terms the public could understand. (Posted Dec. 13 at 2:59 p.m.)

County animal shelters are heavy on dogs

In response to an increasing number of dogs ending up in Santa Clara County animal shelters recently, these shelters are asking the public to adopt or foster a homeless dog. (Posted Dec. 13 at 2:29 p.m.)

Cal Ave oaks have a new problem: gall wasps

California Avenue's beleaguered street trees were the target of city concern late last week due to the appearance of hundreds of fuzzy tan growths on the underside of leaves of the young southern live oak trees. The growths house larvae of a harmless "gall wasp." (Posted Dec. 13 at 12:39 p.m.)

Stanford sends early acceptances to 754 students

Stanford University has selected 754 students for early admission from a record number of early applicants for its undergraduate class of 2015, the university announced. (Posted Dec. 13 at 9:53 a.m.)

Fire from candles displaces family at Greenhouse

A family has been displaced by a modest fire — possibly caused by candles — in a rear condominium at the Greenhouse complex on San Antonio Road Sunday morning (Dec. 12), Battalion Chief Niles Broussard reported. (Posted Dec. 13 at 1:06 a.m.)

Palo Alto woman robbed in front of her home

A Palo Alto woman was robbed in front of her home in the 900 block of El Cajon Way shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 11), police reported. Police said the robbery "may or may not" be related to other recent robberies in the area but that they are actively investigating the robberies. (Posted Dec. 12 at 8:17 a.m.)

Hennessy ponders the local and the global

Stanford University President John Hennessy reflected on local history, and its global consequences, in remarks kicking off a Friday (Dec. 10) conference about competitiveness and sustainability. (Posted Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.)

Zumot murder trial to focus on domestic violence

In the weeks and months before firefighters found Jennifer Schipsi's body in a burnt cottage on Palo Alto's Addison Avenue, the 29-year-old real estate agent repeatedly complained to friends, neighbors and police officers about how her boyfriend, Bulos Zumot, had been abusing her, court records show. (Posted Dec. 10 at 4:34 p.m.)

Boyarsky appointed chief assistant to district attorney

Long-time county prosecutor Jay Boyarsky has been tapped to serve as chief assistant district attorney by Jeffrey F. Rosen, district attorney-elect for Santa Clara County. Boyarsky has served as a county prosecutor for 16 years. He ran the DA's North County offices in Palo Alto and Sunnyvale from 2001 to 2007 and is known in the state for his expertise in hate crime prosecution. (Posted Dec. 10 at 2:34 p.m.)

Anna Eshoo opposes Obama tax deal

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is not happy about a White House tax proposal, crafted with Congressional Republicans, that would, contrary to President Obama's campaign promise, extend current tax breaks for individuals who earn more than $250,000 per year. (Posted Dec. 10 at 2:27 p.m.)

Fire consumes interior of Woodside cottage

There isn't much that's undamaged in the one-story two-bedroom cottage at 45 Mission Trail Road in northern Woodside after an electric wall heater apparently ignited living-room drapes around 9 p.m. Thursday night (Dec. 9), firefighters said. (Posted Dec. 10 at 1:07 p.m.)

How does your energy-use compare to neighbors?

The Home Energy Report, a new service from City of Palo Alto Utilities, ranks residents' home-energy usage against their neighbors. The city hopes it will encourage people to be aware of their energy consumption and make their homes more efficient, but reactions vary. www.paloaltoonline.com Dec. 10 at 9:06 a.m.)