GOOD EARTH REOPENING . . . The Good Earth will reopen Monday for the first time since a July 1 demolition mishap at the building next door sent a pile of bricks and mortar crashing through the restaurant's roof. The accident injured no one, but it opened up a 20-foot hole in the roof and caused significant damage to the front dining room. To appease disappointed customers, the restaurant opened an old-fashioned lemonade and cookie stand in front of the store last week. Co-owner Alan Moll said the reopening celebration will include a "Demolition Derby Sweepstakes," with a drawing for two bikes donated from Palo Alto Bicycles, which owns the building next door at 171 University Ave., which was being torn down. (The bike shop has relocated directly across the street while a new store is being built.) Moll said work was found for all of the Good Earth's 50-plus employees the last two weeks, either at the central bakery in Palo Alto, the administrative offices or at the company's other South Bay restaurants, which include Fontana's in Menlo Park and Cupertino.
PROFANITY IN THE PARK . . . A record company had a children's party in Jack Farrell Park in East Palo Alto last Sunday, and some neighbors of the park aren't very happy with the music that was played. In fact, they plan to present a petition signed by 54 neighbors of the park to the City Council next Monday night. Everardo Luna, 22, an Illinois Street resident, said he and others were upset not just by how loudly the recorded music was playing, but also by how profane the lyrics were. "It was a gangster party, let's get high" type of music, Luna said. He said he also saw drug-dealing in the park and marijuana could be smelled in the air. The party was presented by Rogish Records and The Distribution People and featured games and food for children.
ALL TOGETHER NOW . . . East Palo Alto city officials were all smiles Tuesday night when they gathered at City Hall to announce the beginning of the long-awaited Gateway 101 redevelopment project. Palo Alto City Council members Liz Kniss, Jean McCown and Lanie Wheeler also took part in the celebration, as did San Mateo County Supervisors Ruben Barrales and Mike Nevin. Also on hand was Barbara Mouton, East Palo Alto's first mayor, who happened to be celebrating a birthday that day. Barrales led the 100 or so people in singing happy birthday to Mouton.
ABOVE AVERAGE . . . According to recently released information from the California Franchise Tax Board, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties ranked third and fourth, respectively, for the highest household median income in the state. Based on 1995 state joint income tax returns, the median income statewide was $43,006, an increase of 3.4 percent over 1994. Marin County again had the highest median income for joint returns, $66,962, followed by Contra Costa County, $59,638; Santa Clara, $59,444; and San Mateo, $57,452.
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