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Palo Vol. XLIII, Number 5 Q November 5, 2021
Alto Counties roll
out vaccines for
children
Page 7
INSIDE
Home & Garden
Design
Support Local Journalism Membership Drive • Page 10 visit www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Q Upfront California Avenue plagued by vacancies Page 5
Q Eating Out Going green with chef Martin Yan Page 21
Q Living Well Senior sleuths shine in mystery series Page 24
Moving forward, together.
Right now, in this moment of uncertainty, there’s a
promise we can count on: together, we’ll continue
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Stanford Medicine, made up of Stanford Children’s
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We’re answering the uncertainty with an unwavering
commitment to our community, and meeting this
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We are here for you.
Page 2 • November 5, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01079009. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and
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and square footage are approximate. compass.com
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 5, 2021 • Page 3
Page 4 • November 5, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront Local news, information and analysis
Daylight Saving Time is ending
Set your clocks back one
hour at 2 a.m. this Sunday.
Plan to close Churchill near tracks faces backlash
City Council defers decision on rail crossing after crossing” — feature large con- the city’s consulting firm, Aecom. Panel (XCAP), a specially ap-
dozens express concerns about impact on traffic crete structures along the tracks. It would usher in a suite of pointed citizen committee that
But it’s the third option — the clo- traffic improvements, including voted 6-3 after 18 months of de-
By Gennady Sheyner sure of Churchill to traffic near a reconfiguration of the clunky liberation to support this option.
S
outhgate neighborhood five years, includes three options the tracks — that many see as the interchange of Alma Street and But for resident Susan Newman,
residents see some irony in for the Churchill Avenue crossing, most divisive of the lot. Embarcadero Road, and it would who lives in Southgate, the closure
the City Council’s decision which is just north of Southgate With a price tag of between $50 feature an underpass on Churchill option — more so than other two
to call its campaign to redesign its and serves as the neighborhood’s million and $65 million, the clo- for pedestrians and bicycles look- — epitomizes division. Like doz-
rail crossings “Connecting Palo main conduit for crossing the sure option is the cheapest of the ing to get across the tracks. ens of her neighbors, she believes
Alto.” tracks and heading east. three and it would take the least The closure alternative has that it would direct cars to other
The effort, which has been Two of these — a viaduct and time to implement — about two also won the endorsement of the
slowly advancing for more than what’s known as a “partial under- years according to an analysis by Expanded Community Advisory (continued on page 12)
EDUCATION
Parents
put off by
Cubberley
plan
Campus to accommodate
two schools
By Zoe Morgan
P
lans to move Palo Verde
and Hoover elementary
schools to Cubberley
Community Center and the ad-
jacent Greendell site while their
campuses are under construc-
tion moved ahead at Tuesday’s
meeting of the Palo Alto Uni-
fied School District’s Board of
Magali Gauthier
Education, though some parents
expressed strong concerns about
the idea.
The former theater on California Avenue that housed ZombieRunner is for lease. Palo Verde parents spoke out
at the meeting against temporar-
ily relocating their school — and
BUSINESS Jon Goldman, co-president of prime real estate and a big ques- some board members said they
Premier Properties, which man- tion mark around who will take wished there had been more time
‘A failing street’ ages over 70 buildings in Palo
Alto, said, “The district is fall-
ing apart. There’s no two ways
over the building. (Redwood
City’s Arton Management In-
vestments, which owns the Palo
for community input — even as
the board unanimously signed off
on beginning to design the tempo-
As vacancies plague California Avenue, about it.” Alto property and several oth- rary campus.
can the shopping district make a comeback? In 2020 alone, longtime res- ers in Redwood City, declined to At Tuesday’s meeting, the board
By Lloyd Lee taurants such as The Counter, comment.) also approved new long-term site
Antonio’s Nut House and even According to LoopNet.com, a goals for Cubberley, which include
E
mpty storefronts and Jessica Roth, owner of The the Subway franchise have aban- commercial real estate website, setting aside at least 20 acres for
“For Lease” signs have Cobblery, which has operated on doned Palo Alto’s once vibrant Bank of the West has occupied a theoretical future school, as
become a regular fixture California Avenue since 1940, destination, with business own- the 6,195-square-foot space for well as approving the start of the
along Palo Alto’s California Av- said this is the most vacancies ers either citing financial hard- over two decades. design process for Hoover’s new
enue shopping district in recent she has seen since she took over ships or employee shortages due Lucas Grzeszczuk, the branch campus.
years. As of this week, there her grandfather’s shoe repair to the pandemic. manager at the California Av- The board also heard an update
were at least 13 storefronts that shop in 1994. “COVID-19 affected us a enue location, confirmed the on infrastructure repairs that are
were vacant or for lease. “In my entire life, we have lot,” Amanda Lee, who has move and said that the branch planned for Cubberley, although
And as buildings remain emp- never had more than three emp- co-owned several Subways in is relocating a few blocks away no formal vote was taken on that
ty and the number of attractions ty spaces on this street,” said Palo Alto since 2003, told the near 2700 El Camino Real. He item.
along the avenue wane, business Roth, who is also vice president Weekly. “The rent is very high declined to disclose why the Cubberley is a rundown 35-acre
owners and property managers of the California Avenue Area in Palo Alto, and we lost many branch is moving. campus on Middlefield Road in
who have maintained a stake on Development Association, a employees during COVID.” In 2016, Keeble & Shuchat south Palo Alto that was once a
the dead-end street for multiple business advocacy group for the Bank of the West also is set to photography store shuttered after high school. The district owns 27
decades are now wondering if shopping strip. “California Av- move out of its longtime home at 51 years of business, as the pho- acres of the site, with the city of
the city’s second downtown can enue is known for its longevity 414 S. California Ave. by the be- Palo Alto owning the remainder.
ever make a comeback. and keeping businesses.” ginning of 2022, leaving behind (continued on page 9)
(continued on page 12)
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 5, 2021 • Page 5
Upfront
N G F O R
CALLIINATIONS! 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
NOM
(650) 326-8210
PUBLISHER
William S. Johnson (223-6505)
THE
TH EDITORIAL
TALL TREE
42ND ANNUAL
4
Editor Jocelyn Dong (223-6514)
Associate Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511)
The district is falling apart.
Sports Editor Rick Eymer (223-6516)
Assistant Sports Editor Glenn Reeves (223-6521)
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Heather Zimmerman (223-6515)
Express & Digital Editor Jamey Padojino —Jon Goldman, co-president of Premier
AWARDS
(223-6524)
Properties, about rising vacancies on California
Staff Writers Sue Dremann (223-6518), Zoe
Avenue. See story on page 5.
Morgan (223-6519), Gennady Sheyner (223-6513)
Embarcadero Media Staff Writers Kate Bradshaw
Around Town
(223-6536), Kevin Forestieri (223-6535), Angela
Swartz (223-6529)
Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier (223-6530)
Editorial Assistant/Intern Coordinator
Lloyd Lee (223-6526)
Contributors Mike Berry, Carol Blitzer, Karla Kane,
OFF TO GLASGOW ... All eyes tied with Dublin. Overall, the Bay
Yoshi Kato, Chris Kenrick, Sheryl Nonnenberg are on the 26th United Nations Area’s nearly 44,000 lanes-miles
ADVERTISING
Climate Change Conference of streets and roads scored 67 out
(COP26) now underway in of 100 points, which is “computed
MAY
M 2022
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) Glasgow, Scotland, and the on a three-year moving average
Peninsula’s very own Sen. Josh basis,” according to a Nov. 3 press
21
Multimedia Advertising Sales
. 30, 20
Elaine Ogden (223-6572), Becker is part of the 22-member release. “Some of the pavement
Y NOV California delegation at the work scheduled for last year
EB
Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571)
DU
ATIO NS ARE teer
Real Estate Advertising Sales international meeting. It’s quite was delayed by the COVID-19
NOMIN n Volun
g Citize ess Pers
on Neal Fine (223-6583)
d in fitting that the state is sending pandemic,” MTC Chair Alfredo
Outstan or B usin
a l Legal Advertising Alicia Santillan (223-6578)
Becker, D-Menlo Park, who is Pedroza said in the release. “But
fession
ding Pro QSURƚW
Outstan
a venture capitalist for green the new scores illustrate how big a
GLQJ1R
ADVERTISING SERVICES
2XWVWDQ siness businesses. He also chairs the challenge it is to bring our roads ...
ding Bu
Advertising Services Manager
Outstan Kevin Legarda (223-6597)
Senate Subcommittee on the to a state of good repair.”
Sales & Production Coordinator
Clean Energy Future and serves as
SPONSORED BY Diane Martin (223-6584)
vice chair of the Joint Legislative VAX VIDS FOR CASH ... For
DESIGN Committee on Climate Change several months now, health
NOMINATION FORM Design & Production Manager Policies. In an interview Monday leaders have spread the
AVAILABLE at Kristin Brown (223-6562)
with ABC7 News, he discussed message of getting vaccinated
Senior Designers Linda Atilano, Paul Llewellyn
paloaltochamber.com his goals for the two-week event against COVID-19 through press
Designers Kevin Legnon, Sam Olson,
where world leaders discuss what conferences, public service
Questions? Call 650-324-3121 or email info@paloaltochamber.com Mary Watanabe, Douglas Young
actions they can take to fight announcements and government
BUSINESS
climate change. “I’m there to show meetings, just to name a few
Assistant Business Manager
Gwen Fischer (223-6575)
California’s commitment, to show examples. Santa Clara County
Answers to this week’s puzzles, which can be found on page 27. how we’ve done it, how we’ve is passing the mic to local youth
Business Associates
Nico Navarrete (223-6582), Suzanne Ogawa led in electricity, how we’ve led in who are encouraged to join its
(223-6543) electric vehicles, our No. 1 export VaxUp Video Contest, where
ADMINISTRATION as a state,” he said. Becker also they can produce short videos
Courier Ruben Espinoza views the summit as an opportunity that inform their peers about
to gather ideas, such as how COVID-19 vaccination. The
EMBARCADERO MEDIA
to utilize offshore wind power, competition is open to students
President William S. Johnson (223-6505)
which would work well with the in grades 6 through 12 and is
Vice President Michael I. Naar (223-6540)
state’s solar energy and onshore divided into two categories:
Vice President & CFO Peter Beller (223-6545)
wind energy. He acknowledged middle school and high school.
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) that whatever comes out of the The contest aims to help increase
Director, Information Technology & Webmaster
summit will fall short of where youth vaccination, an area that is
Frank A. Bravo (223-6551) the world should be given the behind in inoculation compared
Director of Marketing and Audience absence of China’s leaders, but to other age groups in the county,
Development Emily Freeman (223-6560) believes the representatives can despite people ages 12 and up
Major Accounts Sales Manager walk away “with a shared sense becoming eligible for doses this
Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571) of momentum. ... It’s truly about past spring. “Our kids and teens
Circulation Assistant Alicia Santillan transforming every aspect of our have shown us many times over
Computer System Associates Chris Planessi, economy.” COP26 started on Oct. how this pandemic has affected
Mike Schmidt
31 and ends on Nov. 12. them on a personal level,”
The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every Dr. Monika Roy, the county’s
Friday by Embarcadero Media, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo
Alto, CA 94306, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at
SMOOTH RIDE ... When it comes assistant health officer, said in a
Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a to maintaining local roads, Palo press release. “This contest gives
newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County.
The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered to homes in Palo Alto,
Alto knows how to give them the them a creative outlet to show
Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to attention they deserve, as seen the community what vaccinations
faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and through new data made public mean to them.” To compete,
to portions of Los Altos Hills. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Palo Alto Weekly, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo this week by the Metropolitan students must be grades 6-12
Alto, CA 94306. ©2021 by Embarcadero Media. All rights Transportation Commission. On in Santa Clara County and have
reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly
prohibited. The Palo Alto Weekly is available on the Internet Wednesday, the agency issued an adult sponsor who’s affiliated
via Palo Alto Online at: www.PaloAltoOnline.com its 2020 Pavement Condition of with the school. Submissions,
Our email addresses are: editor@paweekly.com, Bay Area Jurisdictions report, which must be 30 to 60 seconds
letters@paweekly.com, digitalads@paweekly.com,
ads@paweekly.com which gave the city a Pavement long, can be created in teams of
Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? Condition Index score of 84 based up to five students and posted
Email circulation@paweekly.com. You may also subscribe on a total 414 miles of road. Palo on Instagram and TikTok with the
online at PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $120/yr.
Alto is among 10 jurisdictions that hashtag #sccVaxUpVideo. Cash
saw their three-year PCI scores prizes are on the line. The top
fall under the “very good” range, three winners will be awarded
which connotes “slight or moderate $1,500, $1,000 and $500,
distress.” The city has maintained a respectively, with another $500
Become a score of 84 for the past three years. going to the school of the first-
Paid Subscriber for as low The new report shows Palo Alto place winners. Entries are due by
as $5 per month was one point behind Cupertino, Nov. 15. For more information,
Sign up online at which topped the regional list, and visit SCCVaxUpVideo.org. Q
www.PaloAltoOnline.com/join
Page 6 • November 5, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront
Families are encouraged to Clinics lined up
PUBLIC HEALTH reach out to their child’s doctor or in San Mateo County
health care specialist to ask any San Mateo County will offer a
‘A momentous milestone’: COVID-19 vaccine questions they may have about
their child’s vaccination and to
child-focused, walk-up vaccination
clinic on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the
eligibility opens up to kids ages 5-11 see if they are offering vaccine
appointments for children.
Palo Alto Unified School Dis-
San Mateo County Event Center at
1346 Saratoga Drive in San Mateo,
health officials said in a statement.
Broad access to doses available in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties trict plans to hold vaccination Appointments are required for Sat-
By Sue Dremann and Angela Swartz clinics for children in the 5-to-11- urday’s pediatric clinic and can be
age group. The district is working made at myturn.ca.gov.
C
OVID-19 vaccines for vaccines, along with Pfizer, are mostly those with underlying on details with a new provider, Menlo Park City School District
children ages 5 to 11 are plentiful and available for any- health conditions, who have been Covid Clinic, or would work administrators are hosting vaccine
now available in Santa one ages 12 and older, including hospitalized. She urged parents to again with Safeway as the district clinics, with Safeway Pharmacy,
Clara and San Mateo counties, as booster shots for adults ages vaccinate their children. previously has done to provide for the age group on Saturday,
health officials announced on 65 and up and to anyone over “We don’t yet know the long- students who are 12 and older Nov. 6, and Sunday, Nov. 7, from 9
Wednesday. 12 years old who has a medical term effects of infection,” she with the vaccines, Rose Dowell, a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hillview Middle
The announcement comes after condition or work situation that said, noting the “long COV- health services coordinator, said. School, 1100 Elder Ave. in Menlo
the Centers for Disease Control makes them vulnerable for seri- ID-19” syndrome. Getting this Local pharmacies, including Park. Visit district.mpcsd.org/Hill-
and Prevention (CDC) approved ous illness from the virus. age group vaccinated will also CVS, Safeway, Lucky Supermar- view for information. Nearly 1,700
emergency use authorization of Santa Clara County got started go a long way toward lifting the kets, and Walgreens, also plan kids have signed up and the dis-
the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for on vaccinating 5-to-11-year-olds indoor mask mandate, county of- to offer vaccines for the 5-to-11- trict is at maximum capacity, Parke
this age group, long considered a on Wednesday, said Dr. Jennifer ficials have said. year-old group at some of their Treadway, the district’s public in-
critical component of protecting Tong, associate chief medical of- The Santa Clara County Office locations. Residents should check formation officer, said in an email.
the community and returning so- ficer for Santa Clara Valley Medi- of Education on Wednesday also the MyTurn.ca.gov and pharmacy “As a parent of young children
ciety to normalcy after the nearly cal Center. released a statement promoting chain websites to confirm avail- myself, the day they can be vac-
two-year pandemic. “We feel very confident that we the importance of youth vaccina- ability. As of Wednesday, Costco cinated is one I have been looking
The CDC and the U.S. Food can vaccinate over 20,000 kids tions in keeping schools open for and Rite-Aid had not indicated a forward to for a long time,” Super-
and Drug Administration autho- this week,” she said. full-time, in-person instruction. plan to offer these pediatric vac- intendent Erik Burmeister said in
rized the vaccines for younger There are 167,000 children “Vaccines are safe and effec- cines, the county noted. an email. “I think we all feel this is
school-aged children after ex- in the age group in Santa Clara tive in reducing the spread of Stanford Children’s Health is a momentous milestone in reach-
tensive review. California also County, according to the Public COVID-19 in our homes, schools also offering the vaccines at 25 ing the end of this pandemic.”
required a review by the inde- Health Department. Tong said six and communities,” said Dr. Mary pediatric clinics throughout the Ann Waterman Roy, strategic
pendent Western States Scientific vaccination sites opened Wednes- Ann Dewan, Santa Clara Coun- Bay Area. Information and sched- pandemic recovery consultant for
Safety Review Workgroup, which day and others are expected as ty’s superintendent of schools. uling links are available online at the Ravenswood City School Dis-
conducts its own review and ap- needed. Because of expected “Promoting vaccine access to all stanfordchildrens.org/en/land- trict, said the district is working to
proval of the safety and efficacy high demand, the clinics require eligible children in Santa Clara ing/covid-vaccine, while Sutter get its health care partners to set
of the vaccines. an appointment; drop-ins may be County is one of the leading pub- Health/Palo Alto Medical Foun- up clinics at its three elementary
Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine allowed at a later date. Residents lic health strategies for preventing dation hasn’t yet started schedul- schools.
doses are one-third the amount can sign up at sccfreevax.org and illness and continuity of in-person ing, according to its website. While some parents are already
of adult doses and are specially also find updates on the website. schooling.” The Office of Education, the eager to have their children vacci-
formulated for the younger age The county is using its mobile Children will receive a white county Public Health Depart- nated, the district expects that oth-
group, health officials in both vaccination clinic to provide shots CDC COVID-19 vaccine record ment and Stanford Health Care ers will benefit from planned in-
counties noted. Two doses given on site at 80 schools in higher-risk card in addition to a children’s will host a virtual town hall at 6 formation sessions at the schools
21 days apart are needed to pro- ZIP codes throughout the county, yellow immunization card, if they p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, to answer with local doctors who can an-
duce maximum immunity. she said. have one. Both cards will be up- questions and provide additional swer questions, she said. Q
The Pfizer vaccine is the only Tong said that while the num- dated so parents or guardians are information to families regarding Email Staff Writers Sue
one currently available for young- ber of hospitalizations from CO- encouraged to bring the yellow the COVID-19 vaccine. To at- Dremann and Angela Swartz at
er children, while the Moderna VID-19 have gone down, there are card to their child’s appointment, tend the town hall, visit sccoe.to/ sdremann@paweekly.com and
and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson children in the 5 to 11 age group, the Office of Education said. YouthVaxTH. aswartz@almanacnews.com.
gram through which readers can the Weekly. “By helping us reach first 100 to sign up at PaloAl-
support the work of the Weekly’s our goal of 300 new members be- toOnline.com/join, they will re-
journalists. tween now and Nov. 11, you can ceive a long-sleeve 100% cotton
This month, the Weekly is host- support both.” Moonlight Run shirt. Q
ing its first-ever Fall Membership For those who are among the — Palo Alto Weekly staff
Drive to call attention to the mem-
bership program.
Between now and Nov. 11,
Public Agenda
Magali Gauthier
readers can join thousands of
others who are already members
of the Palo Alto Weekly and A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week
PaloAltoOnline.com by becom-
Editorial staff members from the Palo Alto Weekly talk about stories ing a Basic Annual Member at CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a study session to discuss
during a Zoom meeting in June. $120. Out of each subscription, the Safe Routes to School program; continue its discussion of revisions
the Weekly will donate 10% to to objective standards for new developments; discuss the business tax
the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday measure that is proposed for the 2022 ballot; and consider policies to
MEDIA assist renters. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, in
Fund, the company’s annual
the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. Those wishing
Weekly launches first-ever campaign to raise money for lo-
cal nonprofits. This past year, to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using
Meeting ID: 362 027 238.
the fund distributed $680,000
Fall Membership Drive to community service groups in
the Palo Alto and East Palo Alto
COUNCIL POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE ... The committee
will hear presentations from the Office of the City Auditor about utilities
Readers can support local journalism area. power purchase agreements and about construction project controls.
by becoming annual subscribers According to a Gallup/Knight The virtual meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Those
Foundation survey in 2020, local wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and
A
merican newspapers, once cording to a 2021 Pew Research news boosts residents’ knowl- using Meeting ID: 992 2730 7235.
robustly funded by adver- Center report — falling from edge about their community and
tising revenue, are increas- $37.8 billion in 2008 to $14.3 bil- strengthens their sense of connec- PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission
ingly turning to readers for finan- lion in 2018. tion to it. plans to discuss 985 Channing Ave., a request to remove recorded
cial support, much as public radio Like news organizations “Our future as an essential height restrictions on the underlying parcel; review programs in the
and television stations have been throughout the country, the Palo source of local news and infor- Comprehensive Plan’s Implementation Chapter; and consider adopting
doing for years. Alto Weekly has been working mation and the future of local a resolution to enable teleconferencing for commission meetings during
Advertising revenues for news- for the past three years to offset nonprofit organizations are vital the COVID-19 emergency. The virtual meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on
papers across the U.S. declined the decline in local advertising. to the health of the community,” Wednesday, Nov. 10. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so
62% between 2008 and 2018, ac- It now boasts a membership pro- said Bill Johnson, publisher of by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 965 6189 1491.
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 5, 2021 • Page 7
Upfront
COMMUNITY SERVICES
It’s back! Expanded Junior Museum
and Zoo to reopen on Nov. 12
Upgraded facility provides sensory experience for people of all abilities
By Lloyd Lee
H
anging over the small tun- which houses more than 50 ani- means that we know about their
nel that leads to the cichlid mal species and features a two- genetics and we move them around
fish exhibit at Palo Alto’s story, wheelchair-accessible tree- and breed them appropriately to
newly renovated Junior Museum house that parents and children preserve genetic diversity,” he said.
and Zoo, sprawling fake tree roots can climb to get an overview of The campus’ indoor museum is
Magali Gauthier.
have been meticulously sculpted the zoo’s landscape. an ode to science with interactive
to blend into the natural elements The outdoor zoo area is called exhibits that allow children to ex-
of the facility. Loose-in-the-Zoo and attempts to perience gravity, motion, electricity
The zoo’s executive director, immerse people into the context and magnetism, among other natu- Rey Martinez Han feeds flamingoes at the Junior Museum and Zoo
John Aikin, grabbed onto one of of natural wildlife habitats, Ai- ral phenomena. in Palo Alto during a preview event on Oct. 28.
the artificial roots as he squatted kin said. The area features vari- Visitors can push a golf ball onto
down during a media preview of ous plant life, boulders and water a winding track and follow its path we’re definitely heading there.” as the lemurs, had yet to arrive at
the facility on Oct. 28 to demon- structures. in the museum’s ball exhibit or see During construction, parts of the the facility due to travel restric-
strate how someone in a wheelchair There, visitors have an opportu- the contortion of the magnetic field popular city attraction were housed tions. (According to Aikin, le-
might access the crawl space. The nity to feed American flamingos, by playing with magnetic sand. at Cubberley Community Center. murs are able to be infected with
roots were not arranged like that hear the screech of Manusela, a In front of each exhibit are signs A majority of the $33-million COVID-19 just like humans and
by accident but by careful design Moluccan cockatoo named after written in two languages, Spanish expansion project — about $25 consequently are unable to travel
to assist visitors with special needs, the Manusela National Park, and and English, with “highly readable million — was funded by dona- on commercial airlines for now.)
Aikin explained. visit Edward, a 21-year-old res- text” and some Braille, according tions to the nonprofit Friends of The facility will be run by 20
The Junior Museum and Zoo on cued African tortoise raised by a to Aikin. There are also QR codes the Palo Alto Junior Museum and half-time staff members and eight
Middlefield Road, which is set to local Palo Alto family. to provide visitors with aids for Zoo. The Peery Foundation has full-time employees, Aikin said.
reopen on Nov. 12, was designed Overhead is a netted roof so reading or seeing, he said. provided $15 million for the proj- Each staff member is in the pro-
with a focus on accessibility for that most of the zoo’s birds can In addition to the more subtle ect. About $10 million came from cess of being trained to know how
visitors of all mental and physical roam freely above and alongside accessibility features are two large other local donors, along with an to interact and be mindful of par-
abilities, he said. guests, except for the colorful ma- calming nooks (one inside and out- $8 million contribution from the ents with children who may be on
“Our exhibits all have multiple caws, which according to Aikin, side) with “bubble walls” to provide city, according to a press release. the autism spectrum.
ways of approaching them,” said are equipped with beaks strong a safe, quiet space for over-stimu- The hefty investment allowed “We now have kits to train staff
Aikin, who was hired to lead the enough to crack open Brazil nuts. lated children or nursing mothers. the JMZ to remain at its original and consultants that come in so
Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo (Their wings are clipped, the di- There also are restroom stalls that site at Rinconada Park. that everybody understands how
staff in 2008. “They engage peo- rector said.) include adult-sized changing tables. “In talking about sites and you can help a mom whose got an
ple of different ages, knowledge The animals at JMZ come from Brent McClure, a principal at CAW where we were going to rebuild, overstimulated kid on the spec-
bases, and they include people of a wide range of sources: Some are architects, helped design the city’s we decided to rebuild on our site trum, and be respectful to her and
different abilities.” rescues from local households; new facility with Studio Hanson in Palo Alto, which kept us con- everybody around them, so that
After two years of construction, others are from accredited zoos Roberts, a design firm that special- strained,” Aikin told the Palo Alto we make the process as inclusive,
the Junior Museum and Zoo (JMZ) from around the globe, according izes in zoos and aquariums. Weekly. “It meant that we had painless and accommodating as
now boasts about 34,000 square to Aikin. Aikin credits much of the fa- to stay small because we’re in a possible,” Aikin said.
feet, nearly double the square foot- “The scarlet ibises, the flamin- cility’s focus on accessibility to residential neighborhood. But the The zoo is set to open to the pub-
age of the old 19,000-square-foot gos, the African spoonbills, the Tina Keegan, an exhibits director relationship that this institution lic on Nov. 12. Visitors can pur-
facility. The facility includes larger hamerkop, the Von der Deken’s at JMZ. has with its community was well chase tickets in advance by going
classrooms and a deck that will hornbill, the ring-tailed lemurs “Tina Keegan took on the initia- worth that trade-off.” to cityofpaloalto.org and searching
host educational programs. — all are part of a population of tive to make the most accessible The JMZ was in the final stages for “Junior Museum and Zoo.” Q
But the centerpiece is an animals in accredited zoos that are museum in the country,” Aikin of completion during the recent Email Editorial Assistant
18,000-square-foot outdoor zoo, managed for the long haul, which said during the tour. “And I think media tour. Some animals, such Lloyd Lee at llee@paweekly.com.
CityView
PUBLIC HEALTH
Long-term COVID-19 could affect
millions, particularly younger adults A round-up of Palo Alto government action this week
Local health experts examine and plan for City Council (Nov. 1)
Homekey: The council amended its ordinance to authorize an application for
impacts of syndrome that can last for months a Project Homekey grant to facilitate the construction of an 88-unit complex
for unhoused individuals at 1237 San Antonio Road. The project’s cost was
By Sue Dremann amended from $17.4 million to $26 million. Yes: Burt, Cormack, DuBois, Filseth,
Kou, Stone No: Tanaka
A
s COVID-19 infections Committee on Oct. 26. Many CO- dividing line lies betweenCOV- Churchill: The council heard public comments about design alternatives for
decline in Santa Clara VID-19 long-haulers can’t work or ID-19’s persistent symptoms and the Churchill Avenue rail crossing and continued its discussion to Nov. 15. Yes:
and San Mateo counties, attend school. How younger popu- long COVID-19 syndrome is not Unanimous
the medical profession is grap- lations, including children, will easily definable.
pling with another facet of the fare over the long term or whether It’s not unusual for COVID-19 Board of Education (Nov. 2)
disease — mysterious symptoms they will develop learning abilities patients to have symptoms for Construction: The board unanimously approved beginning the design
process for a temporary school campus at Cubberley Community Center
that researchers say can persist and health issues with societal im- two weeks to two months after and the adjacent Greendell site. The site would house Palo Verde and then
for months. pacts remains unclear. an acute infection, said Dr. Brian Hoover elementary schools while their campuses are under construction. Yes:
Called “long COVID-19,” the To treat those afflicted with the Block, assistant professor at Uni- Unanimous
syndrome can cause a constel- illness, local and national govern- versity of California, San Francis- Cubberley: The board revised its long-term site goals for Cubberley Community
Center. The goals now include retaining at least 20 acres of land for a theoretical
lation of symptoms: breathing ments will need to develop poli- co, School of Medicine Division of future school, but no longer include moving the district office to Cubberley or
difficulty, headaches, debilitat- cies and multidisciplinary teams Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care building staff housing on the land. In the same vote, the board also approved
ing fatigue, brain fog and organ of physicians to address the physi- and Sleep Medicine and the asso- designing a new campus for Hoover Elementary School. Yes: Unanimous
damage. cal, cognitive and psychological ciate director of the medical ICU.
Whether long COVID-19 will challenges posed by long CO- But that’s not long COVID-19. Council Finance Committee (Nov. 2)
last a few months, a few years or VID-19, the researchers told the Long COVID-19 is a syndrome Fire: The committee discussed financial and staffing trends in the Fire
Department. Action: None
a lifetime will take time to under- health and hospitals committee. of persistent symptoms lasting at
stand, a group of medical profes- least two or three months after the Utilities Advisory Commission (Nov. 3)
sionals and researchers said dur- What is long COVID? initial infection. Typically, people Resiliency: The commission heard a presentation on the impacts of
ing a special hearing of the Santa Long COVID-19 can be many decarbonization on resiliency in single-family homes. Action: None
Clara County Health and Hospitals things. Just exactly where the (continued on page 16)
Page 8 • November 5, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront
In September, the council voted maybe needs to be relooked at,”
Vacancies to extend the popular street dining California Avenue vacancies Roth said.
(continued from page 5) program until at least next June. Mike Meffert, a commercial real
Pa
“Overall, the city has worked rk ornia estate agent for Alhouse Deaton
Av n
Blv
lif
Ca
e
tography industry morphed and to help promote retail and retail- d ue who has worked in the Peninsula
customers increasingly turned to like uses on California Avenue,” for 20 years and also owns an of-
ue
online shopping. That, along with Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, the fice building at 480 S. California
ue
en
en
Av
a scarcity of parking and increas- city’s chief communication offi- Ave., agreed that the formula retail
Av
20
n ia
0
ge
ing development in the California cer, wrote in an email. policy is among the barriers that
for
id
Bir Pa
li
br
Avenue area, made the closure The City Council is scheduled ch 230 could be deterring businesses that
Ca
rk
Bo
m
Str
e ule
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necessary, owner Terry Shuchat to discuss longer-term closures on et va may have the ability to increase
ue
Bir rd
said at the time. Portions of the Nov. 15, she added. ch foot traffic on the street.
en
Str 26 Pa
Av
e et 1 rk
large corner building still remain But some retailers say the ben- Bo “As far as I know, other cities
an
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e
efits of the program are not shared (with downtown districts) don’t
erm
vacant and available for lease. va
nu
29 2 rd
Bir 99
ve
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Last year, Antonio’s Nut House, among all businesses on a street 0 have this formula retail restric-
aA
ch
a popular local dive bar, shut dominated by restaurants. Str tion,” he said. “I think that is fairly
r ni
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35 32 rch s
lifo
down after 49 years due to pan- As a retail store that relies on 0 1 tree unique.”
Ca
t
demic-related restrictions on bars impulse walk-ins, Roth believes More recently, the city enacted
e
38 Bir
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and a looming expiration date that the street closure continues 1 new policies around parking that
ue
39393 c hS
ve
en
on the lease that was held by the to negatively impact her business. 5 tre have left business owners frus-
eA
et
Av
idg
late Tony Montooth, the original “Retail is a very funny thing As trated and feeling that they were
an
41 h Str
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owner of the bar. The building is where sometimes you don’t know left out of the conversation w hen
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42 t
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9
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currently being gutted and a lease that you want something until you changes were discussed.
aA
sign is in the window. see it,” she said. “And walking up On Oct. 5, the city agreed to in-
rni
48 OfficeAand retail
lifo
0 sh
Kevin Legnon
“We’re losing a lot of money. It’s the middle of the street, you’re not locationsStrthat crease the cost of parking permits
Ca
ee are up
just too difficult to conform to all going to see my retail.” t for its public garages and elimi-
the regulations and maintain our for lease as of Nov. 4. nate its on-street parking permit
pricing,” Jess Montooth, son of Businesses move in, program in the Evergreen Park
Tony, previously told the Weekly. despite tough conditions In addition, boba shop Ume moving to the avenue are facing and Mayfield residential neigh-
In addition, 440 S. California As someone who has sounded Tea is preparing to move into the tough conditions — some of which borhoods, which employees in the
Ave., the longtime home of Coun- the alarm bells for several years to former Subway site at 421 S. Cali- predate the pandemic, retailers California Avenue district rely on
try Sun Natural Foods, was listed the city about California Avenue, fornia Ave. And Local Kitchens, said. for parking.
for sale for $6 million on LoopNet Goldman said businesses are not which describes itself as a “digital Property managers and business The city expects cars to move
in October. clamoring to grab the vacant loca- food hall” focused on food delivery owners who spoke to the Weekly off neighborhood streets and into
A person connected to the gro- tions in the commercial district. service apps, is set to take over the pointed to what they considered the new 626-space garage at 350
cery market, who spoke on the But the avenue will welcome a former location of The Counter in questionable policy decisions the Sherman Ave. and has assured that
condition of anonymity, empha- few newcomers soon. November. Customers can order city made over past years that have the structure is large enough to
sized that anything in terms of a Recently, Goldman’s Premier from a variety of restaurants and only made it more difficult to oper- support the 250 or so vehicles that
sale remains tentative. Properties, which currently lists pick up their food at the location. ate a business and attract willing currently use the on-street permit
“Country Sun is not moving,” five retail locations on Califor- “We couldn’t be more thrilled newcomers. parking program.
the person said. “We have no idea nia Avenue available for lease on to bring our micro food hall to Roth at The Cobblery, for exam- Michael Ekwall, owner of La
if (the property is) going to be sold its website, helped secure a re- California Avenue, which will fea- ple, highlighted one ordinance that Bodeguita del Medio on 463
or not. Even if it is sold, (the store) tail space for Nob Hill Hardware ture a mix of incredible Bay Area she ironically once supported by California Ave., believes that the
won’t move.” at 251 California Ave., next to restaurants including Señor Sisig, gathering petition signatures for its new parking policies are a blow
FedExOffice. While it’s an excit- Wise Sons Deli and The Melt,” implementation: the “formula re- to the business district, especially
Street closure — ing opportunity to add a retail use Jon Goldsmith, CEO of Local tail” policy adopted in 2015, which as the restaurant industry contin-
a mixed blessing to the street, Goldman said the Kitchens, wrote in an email. “The restricts chains with more than 10 ues to struggle with an employee
The city has taken measures to level of permitting and inspection reaction from guests has been tre- locations from setting up shop on shortage.
support local businesses in the that the business had to undergo mendous since our inaugural store California Avenue. The law made “We’re in a very challenging po-
commercial district during the for a 3,144-square-foot space has launch last year, and we are excited exceptions for Benjamin Moore sition right now in terms of being
pandemic. Most notably, it tem- been “brutal.” to serve Palo Altans with conve- Paints, The Counter, FedEx, Star- able to fully staff our business and
porarily closed California Avenue “This construction has been nient and diverse food options.” bucks and Subway, which already when our people can’t get parking
to traffic to allow restaurants to going on for more than one and a Other than these new retailers, operated on the street at the time. permits, it just makes it worse,”
offer street dining while health half years ... and they’re not build- however, businesses that consider “That’s one of the things that Ekwall said. Q
mandates limited indoor dining. ing anything,” he said.
Public Notices
Online This Week
These and other news stories were posted on Palo Alto Online
995 Fictitious Name
Statement
Mac’s Smoke Shop, located at 534 Emerson
St., Palo Alto, CA 94301, Santa Clara County.
This business is owned by:
San Jose, CA 95127
Registrant has not yet begun to transact
business under the fictitious business
throughout the week. For longer versions, go to www.PaloAlto HOOLOCK PARTNERS A Corporation. name(s) listed above.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The name and residence address of the
Online.com/news. This statement was filed with the County
File No.: FBN679053 registrant(s) is(are):
The following person (persons) is (are) doing KHOURY’S UP IN SMOKE INC. Clerk-Recorder of Santa Clara County on
Palo Alto revisits tenant protections business as: 534 Emerson St. October 27, 2021.
Palo Alto City Council will consider on Monday new restric- Hoolock Partners, located at 317 Everett Palo Alto, CA 94301 (PAW Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2021)
Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, Santa Clara Registrant began transacting business
tions on evictions as well as a cap on rent increases as part of County. under the fictitious business name(s) listed
GUZMAN AND SONS TRUCKING
a menu of options to provide relief to local renters at a time of This business is owned by: A General above on 10/06/2006. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
astronomical housing costs. (Posted Nov. 4, 9:27 a.m.) Partnership. This statement was filed with the County File No.: FBN679883
The name and residence address of the Clerk-Recorder of Santa Clara County on The following person (persons) is (are) doing
Firefighters ‘burned out’ registrant(s) is(are): October 20, 2021. business as:
Budget cuts and position reductions have taken their toll on the WILLIAM EDWARD HULBERT (PAW Oct. 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19, 2021) Guzman and Sons Trucking, located at 1570
317 Everett Avenue
Palo Alto Fire Department, where fewer people are now respond- Palo Alto, CA 94301
LUXILY THE LABEL Almond Way, Morgan Hill, CA 95037, Santa
ing to more medical calls and personnel are increasingly reporting FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT Clara County.
ELIZABETH MILDRED MORGAN File No.: FBN679957
feeling burned out, according to Fire Chief Geo Blackshire. (Posted 317 Everett Avenue This business is owned by: An Individual.
The following person (persons) is (are) doing The name and residence address of the
Nov. 3, 9:50 a.m. ) Palo Alto, CA 94301 business as:
Registrant began transacting business registrant(s) is(are):
Luxily The Label, located at 1654 Burdette
All residents eligible for COVID tests under the fictitious business name(s) listed
above on 02/01/2021.
Dr. Unit 160, San Jose, CA 95121, Santa Clara ABONFILIO E. GUZMAN
The Palo Alto Unified School District began offering free CO- County. 1570 Almond Way
This statement was filed with the County This business is owned by: A General Morgan Hill, CA 95037
VID-19 tests to any Palo Alto resident, regardless of their connec- Clerk-Recorder of Santa Clara County on Partnership. Registrant began transacting business
tion to the school district, starting Monday, Nov. 1. (Posted Nov. 1, September 24, 2021. The name and residence address of the under the fictitious business name(s) listed
9:29 a.m.) (PAW Oct. 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, 2021) registrant(s) is(are): above on 09/14/21.
MAC’S SMOKE SHOP JADE KRISTEN LEYNES FAVIS
Ravenswood school district seeks lease bids FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 5568 Lexington Ave. 304
This statement was filed with the County
Clerk-Recorder of Santa Clara County on
The Ravenswood City School District’s governing board voted File No.: FBN679774 San Jose, CA 95123
The following person (persons) is (are) doing SARA NAM October 25, 2021.
5-0 to begin to solicit bids for long-term leases at its district office business as: 282 Ridge Vista Ave. (PAW Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2021)
and a shuttered school, potentially for housing and office space,
during itsThursday night meeting on Oct. 28. (Posted Nov. 1, 9:03 a.m.) Call Alicia Santillan at 650-223-6578 or email asantillan@paweekly.com for legal advertising.
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 5, 2021 • Page 9
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