Recent News
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Music school faces possible shut-down
For more than a decade, the New Mozart School of Music has helped to Palo Alto's aspiring pianists unleash their inner Wolfgang Amadeuses. Now, the school is facing the music.
Thursday, 8:18 AM | 32 commentsWednesday, June 21, 2017
Legislation introduced to allow Caltrain sales tax
State legislation introduced Wednesday would allow Caltrain to seek voter approval for a new sales tax to help cover capital and operating costs.
Wednesday, 4:53 PM | 8 commentsBoard eyes ways to save high school positions
There could be relief ahead for two high school volunteer coordinators and five clerical staff at Gunn High School who recently received layoff notices due to budget cuts.
Wednesday, 4:24 PM | 10 commentsSpare the Air smog alert issued for Thursday
The fourth Spare the Air alert for has been issued in the Bay Area for Thursday by regional air quality officials, as a result of light winds and triple-digit temperatures in the region.
Wednesday, 1:30 PM | 1 commentCity seeks applications for Storm Water Management Oversight Committee
The City of Palo Alto is encouraging residents and employees to join a new committee that will oversee the management of the city's evolving stormwater program. Applications are due Aug. 1.
Wednesday, 11:45 AM | No comments yetCity banks on cameras to help deter suicides on Caltrain tracks
Palo Alto city officials are shifting their focus from human monitors stationed at the tracks to computer monitors broadcasting camera footage at a distant site.
Wednesday, 9:53 AM | 21 commentsTuesday, June 20, 2017
Palo Alto to raise water and refuse rates
The drought may be over, but Palo Alto's water forecast shows rates going up every year for the next decade, starting with a 4 percent increase that will kick in on July 1.
Tuesday, 5:11 PM | 20 commentsSchool board to review law firm contracts
The board will discuss the Palo Alto school district's legal services contracts at its Tuesday meeting as part of an annual evaluation process that involves both the board and superintendent.
Tuesday, 8:45 AM | 9 commentsMonday, June 19, 2017
Southgate parking program gets green light
The City Council voted to create a Residential Preferential Parking program in Southgate, a residential neighborhood next to Palo Alto High School where students and staff are known to park.
Monday, 11:27 PM | 18 commentsPreschool teacher named new Greendell School principal
Shannon Coleman, a preschool teacher who has worked at Palo Alto Unified's Greendell School since 2012, has been promoted to principal of the district's early childhood education campus.
Monday, 7:45 PM | 1 commentHeat wave this week prompts weather advisory, Flex alert
A heat advisory for the Bay Area issued by the National Weather Service has been extended through 9 p.m. Thursday as sweltering temperatures continue to stay in the forecast.
Monday, 6:55 PM | 5 commentsNASA's Kepler detects 219 new planets
In a single patch of sky, the NASA Kepler space telescope has detected signs of 219 new planets, about 10 of which are believed to bear strong similarities to Earth, NASA officials announced Monday.
Monday, 3:50 PM | 3 commentsTwo-vehicle collision reported near Embarcadero Road
Two vehicles collided into each other near Town & Country Village in Palo Alto this afternoon, which has blocked off a section of the roadway, police said.
Monday, 1:31 PM |
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Two vehicles collided into each other near Town & Country Village in Palo Alto this afternoon, which has blocked off a section of the roadway, police said.
Monday, 1:31 PM |
5 comments
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Stanford graduation celebrates bridge-building, the unexpected
Stanford University's commencement ceremony on Sunday morning emphasized themes of embracing the unexpected, bridging divisions and understanding others.
Sunday, 5:08 PM | 2 commentsReport called a 'first step' in improving Stanford's Title IX process
In the first 15 months of a new Title IX adjudication process at Stanford University, campus officials have formally investigated 36 sexual-violence cases, four of which resulted in a finding of responsibility and consequence for the offending student.
Sunday, 8:51 AM | No comments yetSaturday, June 17, 2017
Around Town: state recognition; small solutions
Tidbits collected by the Weekly staff on people, events and other happenings.
Saturday, 8:39 AM | No comments yetPlan for 'car-light' development on El Camino draws mixed reviews
Few projects epitomize the hopes of Palo Alto's housing advocates and the anxieties of the city's land-use watchdogs as clearly as a four-story housing project proposed on El Camino Real.
Saturday, 8:36 AM | 56 commentsFriday, June 16, 2017
Behind the Headlines: Tracking surveillance
Palo Alto City Councilman Cory Wolbach joins Palo Alto Weekly journalists Jocelyn Dong and Gennady Sheyner in discussing the city's effort to balance privacy with surveillance technology.
Friday, 5:17 PM | No comments yetDriver killed in East Palo Alto collision identified
The driver of a Ford Mustang killed in a three-car collision that closed a major thoroughfare in East Palo Alto on Friday afternoon has been identified as Palo Alto resident Jose Diaz-Galaviz, 49.
Friday, 3:29 PM | 14 commentsCity, school district move toward new Cubberley vision
An effort by city and school officials to redevelop Palo Alto's sprawling Cubberley Community Center made some concrete progress this week when both sides endorsed a path for crafting new vision for the 35-acre complex.
Friday, 12:55 PM | 1 commentEx-CEO sentenced to six months for domestic violence
The former CEO of Sunnyvale startup Cuberon was sentenced Thursday afternoon after his wife testified in a Palo Alto courtroom that he had beaten her for the duration of their 10-year marriage.
Friday, 9:12 AM | 14 commentsInterim Title IX officer comes with civil-rights experience
A man the Palo Alto school district has hired as its interim Title IX compliance officer has spent most of his career on the other side of the fence.
Friday, 8:40 AM | 6 commentsNew Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is a habitat for healing
Lucile Salter Packard, he late Silicon Valley philanthropist and namesake of Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital would likely delight in the new hospital scheduled to open in December.
Friday, 6:42 AM | 13 commentsLeadership exodus will reshape school district, again
With new principals at three of the district's five secondary schools and new top-level district administrators, the Palo Alto school district is undergoing a transformation like none other.
Friday, 6:41 AM | 12 commentsBike lanes proposed, fiber optics planned for University Avenue
The City of Palo Alto's multiple-year infrastructure and street improvement project, Upgrade Downtown, will launch next week with the digging of trenches on Hamilton Avenue.
Friday, 6:41 AM | 18 commentsGuest Opinion: Concerned about nuclear weapons? Here's why you should be
Why does the world need 15,000 nuclear weapons, when just a few will cause physical damage to huge swaths of land and the resulting cloud of radioactive material in the Earth's atmosphere would drastically affect other areas of the globe?
Friday, 6:41 AM | 7 commentsEditorial: Castilleja's unwise stubbornness
Castilleja School is doggedly pursuing a major expansion plan that is alienating the very neighbors whose support it needs to head off a contentious community-wide controversy.
Friday, 6:40 AM | 39 commentsPUBLIC AGENDA: water rates increase; vote on school budget
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of June 19.
Friday, 6:39 AM | No comments yetThursday, June 15, 2017
Planning commissioners slam City Council for 'artificial' deadline
The Palo Alto City Council rejected the Planning and Transportation Commission's request for more time in reviewing the city's land-use constitution, the Comprehensive Plan.
Thursday, 4:56 PM | 7 commentsCaltrain hits car on tracks at Churchill Avenue
A family of three from Italy was shaken up this afternoon when their car stalled on the railroad tracks at Churchill Avenue in Palo Alto and they escaped before it was hit by a train.
Thursday, 2:04 PM | 65 commentsWednesday, June 14, 2017
Long-awaited College Terrace Market opens for business
The long-awaited College Terrace Market, which offers products from local food manufacturers and farmers, opened in Palo Alto on Wednesday.
Wednesday, 6:04 PM | 43 commentsCharles P. Thacker, co-designer of the first modern PC, dies
Charles Patrick ("Chuck") Thacker, a pioneer of the first personal computer, died at his Palo Alto home on June 12, according to the publication Communications of the ACM. He was 74.
Wednesday, 5:22 PM | 2 commentsPalo Alto moves to extend ban on outdoor pot growth
Outdoor cultivation of cannabis will remain illegal in Palo Alto for at least another year-and-a-half under a proposal that a City Council committee approved Tuesday night.
Wednesday, 4:00 PM | 41 commentsNew parking restrictions on the way in Southgate
Residents of the Southgate neighborhood would be required to obtain permits to park on the streets outside their homes under a program that the City Council is scheduled to approve on Monday night.
Wednesday, 1:27 PM | 6 commentsChan Zuckerberg Initiative to help house teachers
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced the investment of $5 million to create a home down payment support fund through a startup for educators who work in three Peninsula school districts.
Wednesday, 9:51 AM | 11 commentsSchool board to discuss Cubberley plan
School trustees will discuss on Thursday morning a staff recommendation to approve a request for proposal (RFP) to hire a consulting firm to help the school district and city move forward with long-stalled planning for the future of Cubberley Community Center.
Wednesday, 9:22 AM | 4 commentsAfter 43 years, Hobee's Restaurant sold to new owners
The family who has owned Peninsula breakfast institution Hobee's Restaurant for 43 years sold the business to two longtime employees, the company announced Tuesday.
Wednesday, 8:47 AM | 13 commentsTuesday, June 13, 2017
Proposed law zooms in on surveillance technology
On Tuesday night, Palo Alto officials focused on a downside of high-tech: the difficulty of retaining privacy in a world of drones, body cameras and license-plate readers.
Tuesday, 11:17 PM | 13 commentsDespite zoning concerns, Protégé wins approval
A proposal by two French Laundry alums to build a high-end restaurant on California Avenue received a long-sought go-ahead on Monday night, despite arguments that the approval process was deeply flawed.
Tuesday, 4:24 PM | 6 commentsStanford University to renovate east side of campus
Stanford University is taking on the feat of adding more amenities and utilities to the campus with minimal disruptions for those that enjoy the space.
Tuesday, 3:55 PM | No comments yetSchool district grapples with high opt-out rates on state exam
High school juniors in the Palo Alto Unified School District opted out of the state's new standardized test this spring at what appear to be abnormally high rates compared to other local school districts.
Tuesday, 2:30 PM | 50 commentsFire sparks in backyard of Ventura neighborhood home
A fire behind a Ventura neighborhood home on Tuesday was sparked by a pinched extension cord and possibly spread from stored flammable liquids, Deputy Fire Chief Catherine Capriles said.
Tuesday, 12:31 PM | 2 commentsAll-clear given at courthouse, clinic following bomb threat
About 60 people were evacuated from two buildings on Tuesday morning after a bomb threat at the Palo Alto Courthouse, a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy and courthouse officials said.
Tuesday, 9:57 AM |
3 comments
About 60 people were evacuated from two buildings on Tuesday morning after a bomb threat at the Palo Alto Courthouse, a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy and courthouse officials said.
Tuesday, 9:57 AM |
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Doris Richmond, who broke racial barriers, dies
Doris Richmond, the first African-American to work full-time for the Palo Alto Library and the oldest member of the historic University AME Zion Church, has died at 95 following a period of declining health.
Tuesday, 9:01 AM | 8 commentsMarriott hotels approved in south Palo Alto
Palo Alto rolled out the welcome mat on Monday night to two new Marriott hotels, which won the City Council's approval despite heated opposition from the surrounding neighborhood.
Tuesday, 12:16 AM | 60 commentsMonday, June 12, 2017
Nearly 40 students receive Pursuit of Excellence scholarships
Pursuit of Excellence, a program created by a Palo Alto couple, has awarded scholarships this year to 38 students from low-income backgrounds to help them continue their higher education.
Monday, 3:21 PM | No comments yetTwo arrested for allegedly robbing cyclist, stealing car
A 20-year-old Newark man and 17-year-old East Palo Alto juvenile were arrested on June 5 for allegedly robbing a cyclist of her purse. Police also suspect the pair committed vehicle theft the day before.
Monday, 3:11 PM | 1 commentLongtime Children's Theatre director Pat Briggs dies
Pat Briggs, who guided and coached generations of Palo Alto children onto the stage as director of the Palo Alto Children's Theatre, has died in her native Chicago after a period of failing health.
Monday, 1:22 PM | 18 commentsCity pays $250,000 settlement for Fire Department accident
A woman has settled a lawsuit with the City of Palo Alto for $250,000 in a lawsuit she filed in December 2015 after receiving significant injuries caused by a motorcycle crash with a city fire truck, according to court documents supplied by the city City Attorney's office.
Monday, 9:49 AM | 6 commentsShop Talk: Accent Arts returns; Protégé nears approval
In this week's Shop Talk column, read about comings and goings on California Avenue, including Accent Arts' move to a new space and a highly anticipated restaurant.
Monday, 8:19 AM | 3 commentsSunday, June 11, 2017
Palo Alto to host its annual regional wildfire drill
The community can expect to see plenty of fire trucks and crews in Foothills Park as the Palo Alto Fire Department hosts the Annual Wildland Training drill this year from Monday to Wednesday.
Sunday, 9:09 AM | 2 commentsAround Town: school eyes inclusive playground; potshots
Tidbits collected by the Weekly staff on people, events and other happenings.
Sunday, 8:26 AM | No comments yetSaturday, June 10, 2017
Police seek help in solving 16-year-old cold case homicide
Palo Alto police are looking for the public's help in their investigation on the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Maria Hsiao outside a downtown nightclub that happened 16 years ago Saturday.
Saturday, 2:00 PM | 2 commentsGuest Opinion: As we face our climate crisis, choose your vehicle wisely
Here in Palo Alto we can demonstrate our commitment to drastically reducing CO2 emissions by encouraging our fellow citizens to phase out high-emission vehicles.
Saturday, 8:12 AM | 43 commentsFriday, June 9, 2017
Behind the Headlines: Debate over Castilleja expansion
On this week's "Behind the Headlines," Palo Alto Weekly journalists discuss Castilleja School's proposal to redevelop its campus that has divided the surrounding neighborhood.
Friday, 7:06 PM | No comments yetStanford study finds disparities in Oakland police speech to white, black residents
Oakland police officers speak significantly less respectfully to black than to white community members in everyday traffic stops, according to a Stanford study published Monday.
Friday, 3:32 PM | 11 commentsAt Castilleja meeting, a call to 'reset' the project
Residents who oppose Castilleja School's proposed expansion and even some who support the school told Castilleja officials during a Tuesday night neighborhood meeting to hit the reset button on their plans.
Friday, 6:56 AM | 37 commentsRestaurant sparks debate over outdoor seating
The developer of a "world-class" restaurant at 260 California Ave. has been in intense zoning debates with the city and faced a resident's challenge to the proposal.
Friday, 6:56 AM | 45 commentsAlmost game time
Palo Alto High School's new 91,765-square-foot athletic complex, set to open this fall, rivals most high schools' and even some colleges' athletic facilities.
Friday, 6:55 AM | 11 commentsFilm project at Greenmeadow debuts Saturday
The front walls of 16 Eichler homes in Palo Alto's Greenmeadow neighborhood will become movie screens on June 10, showing films of the indoor activities of residents in an innovative art installation that will debut at sundown
Friday, 6:55 AM | 2 commentsEditorial: The sex-ed tumult
There are far too many important issues facing our school district than to go through the motions of a review process for 10 hours of sex-education curriculum.
Friday, 6:55 AM | 39 commentsPUBLIC AGENDA: outdoor marijuana cultivation ban; superintendent eval
A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of June 12.
Friday, 6:54 AM | No comments yet
Time To Get Stoned
By Laura Stec | 5 comments | 1,909 views
Development policy: "The Market" and regulation
By Douglas Moran | 6 comments | 1,130 views
My Quality of Life on this Father's Day
By Steve Levy | 3 comments | 1,066 views
Getting out of the house
By Cheryl Bac | 2 comments | 1,008 views
We’ve Been Married About a Year . . .
By Chandrama Anderson | 0 comments | 156 views
