Alpio! - The Spectrum Magazine

Alpio! 

Hail to the Chief… 

TWO REDWOOD CITY 

CHILDREN NEED OUR HELP 

MUNKS, BOLANOS, CASTLE 

AND CLAIRE IN 

“AS I WAS SAYING…” 

THE “CEMENT KING” 

MADE SEQUOIA HIGH’S 

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

The Spectrum.MAY.07 

Steve Penna 

Owner and Publisher 

penna@spectrummagazine.net 

Anne Callery 

Copy Editor 

writers@spectrummagazine.net 

Judy Buchan 

Contributing Writer 


Valerie Harris 



Nicole Quasney, Nick Markwith 

Student Writers 


James Massey 

Graphic Artist 

DJ Design, Dale McKee 

Advertising Graphic Art 

James R. Kaspar 

Cover/Cover Story Photography 

Table of Contents 

Welcome to the May edition of The Spectrum Magazine. Over the next few months, you will see some changes in 

our format and we hope you like them. This month is a great issue with several stories and features we know you 

will enjoy. 

Last month, our cover story on Patricia Miljanich and the Advocates for Children (CASA) program proved to be a 

reader pleasure. Miljanich reports she got a lot of positive response and, hopefully, some volunteers and donations 

to go along with that. 

Our cover story this month is on one of our community’s most active residents and business owners, Alpio Barbara. 

You know his business, may know him personally or have heard of his contributions, but Valerie Harris’ story will 

enlighten you on why he dedicates so much of himself to others. Enjoy the read. 

Publisher Steve Penna discusses the recent controversy about our county sheriff and undersheriff plus a few other 

items in his column, “As I Was Saying….” His candid views and opinions will, as always, provoke some conversation 

around town. 

Contributing Writer Judy Buchan brings our readers the story of two Redwood City youths who are in desperate 

need of community support. After reading the challenges they are going through, we hope you will respond in a 

giving way and do whatever you can to help out. 

Remember the days of experiencing the excitement and sometimes despair of attending school dances? Our student 

writers from Sequoia and Woodside high schools both write about their schools’ recent proms and, as you might 

imagine, things have not changed that much. 

Many of our stories and features come from suggestions from our readers. If you have a story idea, please contact 

us at (650) 368-2434 or The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064. You can also leave comments 

or view missed copies of past issues by visiting our Web site at www.spectrummagazine.net. 

We encourage you to support community news by filling out The Spectrum’s subscription form on page 32 and have 

us mailed to your home each month. We also would like to thank our loyal advertisers for supporting community 

news and we encourage you to support them by patronizing them when you can. 

All around our city, you can tell summer is near because all the outside activities are starting. The Spectrum and its 

staff will be there and we hope you will enjoy some of them too. If not, just pick up next month’s edition to see what 

you missed. Enjoy Redwood City! 

Inside The Spectrum – 4 

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them – 5 

“As I Was Saying...” – 7 

Cement King – 9 

Badges of Sacrifice – 11 

Community Interest – 13 

Youth: Prom Nights – 14 

Parking Meter Times Adjusted – 15 

Alpio Barbara (Cover Story) – 18 

Nonprofits in Action – 21 

News Briefs – 22 

Summit Charter School – 27 

Shop Redwood City – 29 

Cultural Events – 30 

Finance – 31 

A Minute With Regina Van Brunt – 34 

.TheSpectrum.MAY.07

Inside The Spectrum : Our Cover Photo Shoot 

After rescheduling the cover photo shoot twice, Publisher Steve Penna finally secured the date of Tuesday, 

May 1, at 7:45 a.m. at the Redwood General Tire site on Broadway. 

Cover Story Photographer James Kaspar arrived at the same time as Penna, and they both began designating 

locations for various photographs. The first in the series was taken in front of the main entrance 

with cover subject Alpio Barbara and his sales and mechanical staff. Getting all 27 of them to converge 

at the same time and be patient was easier than expected. 

After Kaspar took some exterior shots of the building and the big “G” sign, shots were taken of staff inside 

all areas of the building. Many of the photos were to be used not only for this issue of The Spectrum but 

for the Redwood General Tire anniversary brochure as well. 

After about 45 minutes it was time to begin the process of placing Barbara in different poses, atmospheres 

and lighting to get the perfect cover shot. As you can imagine, we had several to choose from and we 

wanted to capture his real personality in and atmosphere he must call his second home — his business. 

Special assignment writer Valerie Harris arrived about an hour and a half after the shoot began. Her 

cover story interview began as Penna and Kaspar completed the shoot and left the site. 

Many in our community give their time, money and effort to those who are less fortunate, in need of a 

little boost, strapped financially or who hunger for the basic needs in life. The Spectrum is pleased and 

honored to present such an exemplary person this month. 

Barbara has been honored publicly — including the Sequoia Award for Citizen of the Year in 2005 

— but those types of accolades are not what is most important to him. Barbara is a true representative 

of community giving, and what he receives in return is personal, private and unselfish. Just the way he 

wants it to be. 

Photography by James R. Kaspar 

www.TheSpectrumMagazine.net

and a little 

Child Shall Lead Them 

Judy Buchan 


Q 

uietly they meet the daily challenge of just plain living, always with the 

knowledge that their medical conditions make each day a precious gift. 

Two young Redwood City girls, their families and their community are examples 

of courage and commitment that should make us all stand back, take 

notice and get involved. 

Here are their stories. 

Michelle Hosking, born in July 1998, 

is in third grade at Our Lady of Mount 

Carmel School. Like most girls her age, 

Michelle enjoys being with friends, riding 

her bike, skating, reading, and arts and 

crafts activities — when her health permits. 

Michelle was diagnosed with severe 

aplastic anemia in May 2006. An Internet 

search on www.marrow.org reveals 

that this disease strikes the bone marrow. 

With the disease, the bone marrow 

stops making enough red blood cells, 

white blood cells and platelets for the body. Any blood cells the marrow does 

make are normal, but there are not enough of them. Aplastic anemia can be 

moderate, severe or very severe. People with severe or very severe aplastic 

anemia are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding. 

Children of Courage, 

a Community of Hope 

Doctors performed a bone marrow transplant on Michelle in September 

2006 at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto. The cost for this 

lifesaving procedure can run approximately $500,000. The transplant helped 

Michelle to return to school in March, where she now “participates 100 percent, 

even in PE,” according to Development Director Michelle Conci. 

But there’s still the matter of $500,000 and expenses for drug treatments. 

The Hoskings’ friends, family and the Mount Carmel school community 

have set a goal of raising $50,000 for Michelle’s family. So far, Conci said, 

they have raised about $25,000. Fundraisers included a Valentine’s Day cupcake 

sale that raised $288 and a Fat Tuesday pancake breakfast that brought 

in over $2,000. During the season of Lent, when the parish traditionally 

collects money for the Holy Childhood Association, the drive was for the 

Hosking family instead. And the parish men’s club sponsored a cash raffle 

that raised $5,000 for the family. 

The most touching fundraiser was the work of a fellow third-grade student, 

Julia Pellizzari. It all began with Julia wanting to earn enough money to buy 

her friend an American Girl doll. Julia sold lemonade in front of her house 

and got help from her family and friends. She recalled that “the doll made 

Michelle so happy.” After Michelle’s bone marrow transplant, Julia learned 

more about how sick Michelle is and that health insurance does not pay for 

all her health care expenses. “I wanted to help Michelle’s parents pay her bills 

and make sure they could be with her and not worry about working,” said Julia. 

Julia wrote a letter to her family, friends and father’s business colleagues telling 

them about her friend and 

(continued on page 32) 

Top: Michelle Hosking of Mount Carmel School. Directly Above: Abigail Mendoza (center) with her parents and members of the Redwood City Firefighters. 


Publisher Steve Penna 

AS I WAS SAYING... 

As I arrived at the Palm Springs airport for five 

days of relaxation and nonexistence, I got a call 

from a county employee who asked me if I had 

“heard about” the sheriff and undersheriff. “No 

— and I am not going to be drawn into any story 

that would have me wanting to hear — but what 

should I have heard?” I asked. 

The employee informed me that they were in 

Las Vegas and that police at a house busted for 

prostitution had detained San Mateo County 

Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos 

Bolanos. My first thought was, no way, someone 

in my media circle is pulling me and getting me 

all worked up to distract me from relaxing. Then I 

became pissed off because I realized that the person 

was telling the truth and I was not in a position 

to break the news and beat all the other media 

outlets to the story, which I would have done had 

I been home. Oh well, it would all be there when I 

returned, I thought, and I was correct. 

Despite all the rumors that they were actually 

arrested, accusations that they knew where they 

were going and what for, and assumptions that 

one or both of them had a sexual encounter while 

at the house, here is what we know as fact. Munks 

and Bolanos were in Las Vegas for the 23rd annual 

Baker-to-Vegas 120-mile, 20-stage, foot relay race. 

Participation in the two-day, weekend race is 

limited to law enforcement agencies from around 

the world. 

The two rented a limousine that Saturday 

evening and asked the driver to take them to a 

massage parlor because “Munks was sore from 

the race,” Bolanos explained to KLAS television 

station in Las Vegas. Why he made a statement to 

someone other than locally is beyond me. 

Munks and Bolanos were detained for a short 

time after police located the two at a residence 

under investigation by local and federal law 

enforcement officers for prostitution and human 

trafficking. Neither of the two officials was arrested. 

Munks has said that Bolanos did not enter the 

residence but waited in the limo. 

According to Bill Cassell, public information 

officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police 

Department, police said the two were not given 

any special treatment. “They were treated no 

differently then anyone else. The target was the 

operators,” Cassell said. “All of the customers … 

we simply identified them.” 

Munks read a prepared apology outside, of all 

places, his Redwood City office. I would have 

advised him to do so in the press room at 455 

County Center, thus removing the situation from 

his official office. He stated: “I want to apologize 

to my family, the Sheriff’s Office and its fine men 

and women, and to the people of San Mateo 

County for my lack of judgment and the undue 

attention and embarrassment this incident has caused. 

“I would not, nor did I, break any laws. Neither 

did the undersheriff,” Munks said. “I believed I 

was going to a legitimate business.” 

The operation that led to this incident was the 

result of a two-year joint investigation by Las 

Vegas Metro and the FBI’s Organized Crime 

Squad. Members of the Metro Vice Section, Gang 

Unit and SWAT teams assisted in serving eight 

separate search and arrest warrants. The eight 

different locations were at either single-family 

residences or apartments within a half-mile of 

each other on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip. 

A total of seven people were arrested on various 

prostitution-related charges. Another 25 alleged 

prostitutes were taken into custody. Police also 

seized $20,000 in cash from all the locations and 

3,500 ecstasy pills from one location. 

Talk about being in the wrong place at the 

wrong time. This has to be up there as one of the 

all-time examples. 

Bolanos and Munks are known to be the best 

of friends. They both rose through the ranks at 

the Palo Alto Police Department and, according 

to Munks, the two share a brotherly rivalry. They 

are frequently seen at lunch or political events 

together. 

Bolanos served as the Redwood City police 

chief for 12 years before Munks appointed him to 

his current position after he was sworn in as the 

sheriff on Jan. 8. Munks previously served 13 years 

as the undersheriff to his predecessor, Don Horsley. 

To say that these series of events have cast a 

shadow on Munks, Bolanos and the Sheriff’s Office 

is like saying San Francisco Mayor Gavin 

Newsom should be forgiven for his recent sex 

scandal and his total lack of judgment and moral 

values. 

He admitted to cheating with his best friend’s 

wife, a serious no-no between friends of the male 

gender and against the religion he so proudly 

aspires to. But should he be forgiven and face no 

repercussions for his actions because of his honesty? 

It is a good start; being honest always is. But 

the ultimate repercussion will be at election time, 

when the voters that elected him choose to reelect 

him or throw him out of office. At least they 

have all the facts to make the decision. 

I, for one, would not vote for him because he 

had the poor judgment to marry someone as 

pathetic as Kimberly Guilfoyle — but that is 

another story for another column. 

The reaction around our community to the Las 

Vegas “top cop scandal” has been startling, and 

the repercussions are just beginning. 

There are those asking Munks to resign or 

answer some questions, and if he does not, they 

want to organize a recall election. Local media 

publications have been running editorials calling 

for the same, including caricatures of Munks in 

his underwear. Letters to the editor have been 

flooding in and Web site blogs are filled with 

negative comments. I find most of them tasteless, 

but everyone is entitled to opinions. 

I got several messages and information via 

phone calls (some of them anonymous), e-mails 

and letters. I even got one call from an angry 

reader who had read last month’s “A Minute 

With” and was scolding me for not mentioning 

the Las Vegas issue — she was not going to be 

reading anymore. Our last issue actually came out 

before the trip — get your facts straight. 

But most of the word on the street is not good. 

Getting back to those rumors, accusations and 

assumptions — they are plentiful and being said 

at almost every event I have attended and just in 

day-to-day conversations. Are they fair? Deserving? 

Even justified? 

Perhaps the most logical and reasonable statement 

from anyone has been from the former sheriff 

himself. Horsley cautioned the public against 

“ascribing the worst possible motives” to what 

happened. I, for one, take that to heart. 

I remember a time when I was vacationing with 

friends and we pulled over to lodge at an unfamiliar 

hotel in Los Angeles. I was sent to the lobby 

to ask about price and availability of a few rooms. 

Since it was late, there was no one at the front 



Never late for the Theatre 

when you eat at Little India. 

All You Can Eat Lunch 

Mon - Fri 11am - 2pm 

Regular $9.95 Vegetarian $7.95 

All You Can Eat Dinner 

Mon - Sat 5 - 9pm 

Regular $12.95 Vegetarian $10.95 

Little India 

Restaurant 

917 Main St., Redwood City 

650-361-8737 • www.littleindiacuisine.com 

10 % off 

with your Parking 

Valadation! 

• Catering 

• In-House Parties 

Available 

• Takeout

“Cement King” Landscaped 

Sequoia High 

Joan Levy 

Special to The Spectrum 

S 

ome of the more elaborate landscaping on the campus of Sequoia High School in Redwood City is 

left over from the gardens of an estate, Dingee Park. 

William Jackson Dingee has been described as one of the most colorful but also one of the most unscrupulous 

of California’s millionaires. His success in business has been attributed to his ability to gain 

influence over men in government through generous donations. 

The site of Sequoia High School was originally part of the old Las Pulgas Rancho. A section was later 

purchased by Horace Hawes and then sold to Moses Hopkins, who built Emerald Lake to supply water 

for his horse farm. In 1902, Dingee bought the estate. 

He built a home where Sequoia’s main school building is located and put in gardens for Dingee Park. 

The house was completely destroyed in the earthquake of 1906, and by 1907 the 3,000-acre property was 

sold to a developer. 

Dingee was known as the “Cement King” as he owned the Standard Portland Cement Company and 

had plants in Napa, Washington state, Pennsylvania and finally in Santa Cruz. Construction of brick and 

mortar was giving way in the early 20th century to concrete construction. 

Cement is a main ingredient for concrete, so its value was increasing. The United States had begun 

work on the Panama Canal and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the demand for cement along the Pacific 

Rim was booming. 

Dingee moved his Santa Cruz operation to the isolated north of town to avoid opposition from townspeople 

to the dust and noise. He said he planned to ship his product from a wharf at Davenport. It turned 

out that he had also been talking to people about building a railroad. 

Southern Pacific presented a plan to build along the coast to San Francisco and an unrelated plan for 

the Ocean Shore Railroad along our coast was developing in 1905. Ocean Shore was the first to build 

north out of Santa Cruz, and they rushed to get their track built before Southern Pacific laid their track 

and took away the lucrative freight business. 

The 1906 earthquake delayed the progress of the Ocean Shore line. Rebuilding after the quake also 

increased the demand for cement throughout the Bay Area. In July 1907, Southern Pacific completed its 

line to the cement plant, and the Ocean Shore freight monopoly was over. 

Dingee, meanwhile, had started to build another estate, Cliff Manor, in Santa Cruz. His planned 

Moorish mansion was never built, but a modest villa was erected and landscaping was done using mature 

plants he moved from his San Mateo County estate. 

Dingee had begun his career in real estate in Oakland. In 1884, he had his offices there. He acquired 

control of the water supply, establishing the Oakland Water Company in the process. He had an estate in 

the Piedmont hills and homes in New York City as well as San Francisco. 

In addition to the cement business, he also owned all of the slate quarries that produced the preferred 

roofing material of that time. He was a close friend of San Francisco Mayor Eugene Schmitz. 

The mayor expressed his gratitude to Dingee for his generous gifts by endorsing legislation that enhanced 

Dingee’s business projects and appointing him to the Parks Commission. 

Dingee’s complex financial empire began to crumble in 1909, and he finally declared bankruptcy in 

1921. He died in obscurity in Sacramento in 1941. 

Editor’s note: Articles like this appear in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal newspaper. For more 

information on this or related topics, visit the San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, 

Redwood City. 


Badges of Sacrifice: 

H 

onoring peace officers both past and present 

and their families, a crowd of around a 

hundred gathered at the County Center and San 

Mateo County History Museum in the downtown 

area on Tuesday, May 8. “In Valor There Is Hope” 

was the theme of the program, which included 

fallen officers being remembered and prayers said 

at the Fallen Peace Officers Memorial Service. 

All San Mateo County officers who have placed 

their lives on the line were recognized for having 

helped ensure the safer existence of our community. 

“A peace officer’s job description 

is not for the faint of heart and, 

for many, the job is a calling.” 

Each year the San Mateo County Police Chiefs 

and Sheriff’s Association conducts the ceremony 

at the History Museum to honor those officers 

who have fallen in the line of duty in our county. 

This year’s ceremony included a wreath laying 

and the posting of colors by the San Mateo 

County Sheriff’s Honor Guard, a speech by Chief 

Craig Courtin of the Foster City Police Department, 

an opening prayer by Pastor Mark Mitchell of the 

Central Peninsula Church in Foster City and the 

Pledge of Allegiance led by Chief Susan Manheimer 

of the San Mateo Police Department. 

Local officers “honoring our fallen” included 

Sgt. Kathy Anderson and Officer Richard Harrington 

of the Redwood City Police Department; 

Capt. Mark Hanlon, Lt. Ken Jones, Lt. Gil Rodriguez 

and Correctional Officer Overman from the 

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office; Sgt. Laura 

Clare and Officers Victor Forero, Jeff Egeline, 

Tony Tam, Eric Pohrman and Eric Gutierrez of 

the California Highway Patrol. 

Peace Officers, Friends Attend Annual Service 

In the Line of Duty: This memorial is a tribute to the dedicated men and 

women of the San Mateo County law enforcement family who have given 

their lives to assure a peaceful and orderly society for their fellow citizens. 

The San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff’s Association dedicates 

this monument to our fallen brothers and sisters who will forever be in our 

hearts. We honor them, for we can do no less. 

1888 Jailer George Washington Tallmen 

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office 

1897 Sheriff William Phillip Mcevoy 


1923 Marshal Arthur G. Meehan 

San Bruno Police Department 

1924 Sheriff Herbert W. Lampkin 


Deputy Marshal Albert D. Coturri 

San Bruno Police Department 

1927 Undersheriff Pierre J. Larrecou 

San Mateo Sheriff’s Office 

1929 Officer Leland Stanford Bond 

California Highway Patrol (State Traffic 

Officer) 

1936 Officer Jack Doyle 

Daly City Police Department 

1939 Officer Herman G. Fleishman 

Redwood City Police Department 

1944 Traffic Officer Forrest Gerken 

California Highway Patrol 

1945 Traffic Officer James Dalziel 


1953 Officer William Moyle 

South San Francisco Police Department 

1959 Officer Eugene A. Doran 

Hillsborough Police Department 

1960 Officer John W. Lyle 

Menlo Park Police Department 

Officer William E. Pitois 


1962 Traffic Officer Dale Krings 


1964 Officer Charles Manning 

Broadmoor Police Department 

1966 Officer Richard J. Klass 

Daly City Police Department 

1968 Sergeant Gordon Joinville 

San Mateo Police Department 

1974 Traffic Officer Ralph Percival 


1981 Sergeant George L. Garrett, Jr. 

Redwood City Police Department 

1988 Officer Joel M. Davis 

1989 Officer Hugo Olazar 


1998 Officer David J. Chetcuti 

Millbrae Police Department 

2006 Officer Richard A. May 

East Palo Alto Police Department 

11.TheSpectrum.MAY.07

We’re on the move! 

After several years in our offices at 570 El Camino Real in Redwood 

City, Coldwell Banker has moved our Managers, Agents and office 

professionals to 580 El Camino Real in San Carlos. 

Our new premier office is devoted to servicing our clients with 

integrity and character. Our office, located in beautiful downtown 

San Carlos, is within minutes of highway 101, and surrounded by 

local restaurants and unique shops and opposite the historic 

San Carlos train depot. 

If you are looking for a friendly place to serve all your real estate 

needs, stop in and say hello. 

Redwood City-San Carlos Office 

580 El Camino Real, San Carlos 

Office: 650.596.5400 • Fax: 650.637.9857 

CaliforniaMoves.com 

RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

Community Interest 

Save the Date 

Thursday, June 7, 5:30 p.m. 

Create-A-Smile Fundraiser for 

Abigail Mendoza 

Abigail Mendoza is a 6-year-old Redwood City 

girl with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor. 

Despite heavy treatments of radiation and chemotherapy, 

doctors have advised the family that 

there is little hope for recovery. Her mother is on 

a nonpaid leave of absence from work in order 

to make daily trips to the hospital for treatments. 

Her father is working long hours of overtime and 

extra shifts to make ends meet, leaving him precious 

little time to spend with young Abigail. 

The Mendoza family is in a less-than-fortunate 

financial situation already. The Redwood 

City Firefighters Association’s Create-A-Smile 

foundation is holding a special fundraising dinner 

and auction to help offset some of the family’s 

expenses and give Abigail’s father the opportunity 

to spend more time with his very sick daughter. 

This special event will take place at A Tavola 

restaurant and the adjacent City Center Plaza, 

located at 1041 Middlefield Road. Live music, 

wonderful food and silent and live auctions will 

all help in providing much-needed funds to the 

Mendoza family. It’s an incredible opportunity for 

the Redwood City community to come together 

and help some of our fellow community members 

in need. 

Create-A-Smile is gratefully accepting donations 

of funds and auction items to help the family 

and to make this event a great success. Volunteers 

who wish to participate in the planning and 

implementation of the Mendoza fundraiser are 

also welcome. To donate or volunteer, contact 

Justin Velasquez, Redwood City Fire Department, 

at (650) 868-4270. 

July Fourth — 

The Main Event 

Join Main Street in bringing back an old-fashioned 

Fourth of July. Activities include a talent 

contest sponsored by the Miss Redwood City 

Foundation, local moms selling apple pie, a 

watermelon-eating contest, face painting, the 

opportunity to throw a pie at the mayor or vice 

mayor, various booths with local artists and more. 

Complete details will be in next month’s issue of 

The Spectrum Magazine. All activities will be on 

Main Street. 

Port Receives Security 

Grant From Department of 

Homeland Security 

The Port of Redwood City has received a $181,527 

grant from the Department of Homeland Security 

to improve security in and around port facilities, 

Port Commission Chairman Jack Castle announced. 

Port Executive Director Michael Giari said that 

the funds will be used in three areas: emergency 

operations support, landside/waterside intrusion 

detection, and training support. Specifically, the 

port will acquire emergency equipment including 

a portable generator, waterside lighting, one new 

guard shelter and improvements to an existing 

one, closed circuit television monitors to patrol 

the wharves from the guard houses, and a port 

vessel for patrol when ships are at dock and upon 

arrival. Redwood City was one of 183 ports and 

private entities that received a combined $202 

million in federal grants to improve security. 

President Bush has said, “Protecting our homeland 

also requires protecting our seaports. Our 

seaports are a gateway to commerce, a source 

of opportunity and a provider of jobs. Our ports 

could also be a target of a terrorist attack, and 

we’re determined to protect them.” Castle said 

that the Port of Redwood City has implemented 

numerous security initiatives since Sept. 11, 2001, 

and lauded Congress and Homeland Security for 

providing additional funds to assist security efficiency 

at the port. 

Teacher Named Local Wal- 

Mart Teacher of the Year 

Ann Mercurio, a reading specialist working with 

children who need one-on-one help with reading 

at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Redwood 

City, was honored in a surprise ceremony on 

Tuesday, May 8 — National Teacher Appreciation 

Day — as local Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. 

Parent and Wal-Mart.com employee Diana Silva 

nominated Mercurio because “my second-grade 

son really struggled with reading since he started 

school three years ago. Mrs. Mercurio has made 

tremendous progress with him and he is finally 

able to read. His progress has been remarkable, 

and she has changed his life.” 

As part of the Teacher of the Year program, 

each Wal-Mart store, neighborhood market, 

Sam’s Club location and Wal-Mart distribution 

center across America selected a local teacher 

winner. Teachers were nominated by members 

of the community in February and selected by a 

committee of store or club associates. The winning 

teachers each received a $1,000 grant for his 

or her school, a $100 gift card to buy classroom 

supplies, a Teacher of the Year polo shirt and a 

personalized certificate. 

Teresa Anthony, principal, said, “We are so 

blessed and grateful that through the success and 

generosity of our fundraisers and donors that we 

are able to provide a reading resource program for 

children in grades one through five that their parents 

might otherwise have to spend thousands of 

dollars for. We strive to provide ways for all our 

students to be successful learners.” Mercurio has 

designated the grant funds to purchase Earobics, a 

software program that develops phonemic awareness 

and phonic skills, as well as Sunshine level 

readers, SRA readers and additional copies of 

Newbery and Caldwell award-winning literature. 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School is a K–8 

Catholic school located at 301 Grand St., Redwood 

City, and has been serving the Redwood 

City community for over 100 years. The school 

combines Catholic education with a challenging 

curriculum in a community rich in tradition and 

with active and supportive parents. For more 

information, please call (650) 366-6127 or visit 

www.mountcarmel.org. 

Water Rates to Be Restructured; 

Water and 

Sewer Rate Increases Proposed 

A new, less complicated and more conventional 

rate structure for your water usage bills will be 

implemented as of August 27. 

Up until now, Redwood City’s water rates have 

been based on a “variable usage” rate. Under that 

structure, wherever your total usage was, all of 

your water beyond the first 10 units (1 unit = 748 

gallons) was charged at the rate for that total usage 

level. In other words, if your total water use went 

just 1 unit into a higher price bracket, then all 

the water you used above 10 units got charged at 

that higher rate. The new structure simplifies the 

calculation of your water bill into a more conventional 

set of incremental rates. 

Water 

During last year’s rate adjustment, the city indicated 

that water rate increases would be occurring 

each year for the next few years. So, concurrent 

with this simplified water rate structure, the city 

is considering a slight rate increase: The monthly 

basic service charge, which is currently $14.25 

per month, is proposed to increase by 9.5 percent 

to $15.60 in order to pay for increases in the fixed 

costs of providing water to the community. 

The monthly “consumption rates” (the amount 

you pay per unit of water used) are proposed to 

increase by approximately 12 percent to pay for 

the purchase and distribution of wholesale water, 

capital improvements to the water system and our 

water conservation and recycled water programs. 

Sewer 

The monthly basic service charge for residential 

customers is proposed to increase from the current 

$33 to a new rate of $35.66 (an increase of $2.66 

per month, or about 8 percent). 

Commercial sewer rates vary based on the 

type of business. Those with so-called “higherstrength” 

wastewater, such as restaurants, pay a 

higher usage charge per unit (1 unit = 100 cubic 

feet = 748 gallons). 



Youth 

When the Night Fell at Sequoia Prom 

Nicole Quasney 

Student Writer 

For most juniors and seniors, the best season of the year is Prom Season! It is 

a time of excitement, romance and end-of-the-year sadness. At Sequoia, prom 

is a very important event that is long awaited throughout the entire year. 

Many of the girls start looking for dresses months in advance, just to find the 

right one that no one else will have. The boys wait those long months to find 

out what their dates’ dresses will look like, just to match perfectly. It is a time 

of corsages, dressing up, dates, dancing and money. 

This year’s junior and senior prom’s theme was “Al Anochecer,” which 

means “When Night Falls.” It was held at the Decathlon Club in Santa Clara 

on April 28. The venue accommodated us very well and it looked absolutely 

gorgeous. We had many desserts, including tiramisu, cookies, cheesecake, 

brownies, a chocolate fountain and marshmallows. The club had its bar open 

and happily served us Shirley Temples, sodas and an endless amount of water. 

The Decathlon Club is also very unique because it has a two-level dance 

floor. It wasn’t a very popular aspect for our student body, because they would 

have rather had one dance floor where everyone could have been together. 

Nonetheless, it was an interesting twist to an exciting evening. 

The word around campus was that this prom was one of the best dances 

Sequoia has seen in a long time. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves 

and had one of the best nights of their lives. 

Woodside’s Prom Was a Night to Treasure 

… ARG! 

Nick Markwith 

Student Writer 

After spending $140 for two Woodside High School Prom tickets, I was 

handed the ticket to the eventful night. It, itself, was a sight to behold. Rolled 

and tied with string, it appeared a pirate’s treasure map. The entire paper took 

the form of a tarnished, old-fashioned map, with a country and writing in the 

center. As I opened it, it greeted me with, “Ahoy there matey! Ye be invited 

for a swashbuckling Prom ‘A Night To Treasure’ that’s set to ride them seas. 

Get set to hoist the rigging at the Westin San Francisco Market Street Hotel. 

And me galleon sets sails on April 28, 2007 from 8 pm to 12 am. Be prepared 

to plunder the booty en’ have a Jolly Roger of a time. So make sures ye wears 

yer kit or be prepared to walk them planks.” With such an elaborate ticket, 

everyone believed it truly would be a night to remember. 

The night began and ended in San Francisco. Most people headed to the 

city for a pre-prom dinner, ranging from elegant, expensive restaurants to 

the California Pizza Kitchen across the street from the hotel. The hotel itself 

“Prom is always a night to remember and a high 

school tradition that should never stop.” 

glowed and was overflowing with adolescents ready for the night to begin. 

Formerly the Argent Hotel, the Westin San Francisco Market Street Hotel 

accommodated well, considering the enormous number of people who 

walked through its doors. After getting off the escalator necessary to get to 

the second floor where prom was held, we were, as is the custom at Woodside 

dances, lightly frisked and forced to breathe into a breathalyzer to detect any 

pre-prom partying. Once passed through security, we headed into the ballroom. 

There was a dance floor placed in the center and a DJ already blasting music. 

As if a scene from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” had been splashed into 

the room, pirate paraphernalia was scattered within the room, adding to the 

theme. Skulls and actual statues of life-size pirates with parrots on their shoulders 

were common sightings during the night. Situated around the dance floor 

were tables and chairs to place our things and occasionally take a breather 

from dancing. Unlike other proms, Woodside’s prom does not offer dinner, 

only an array of desserts on the other side of the room. 

Music floated through the air as students danced to their hearts’ content, 

despite the occasional “Achy Breaky Heart” and swing music. By the time 

the dance was halfway through, the music stopped. Alex Purcell and Jen 

Harvath were announced Prom King and Queen and were adorned with an 

overly large pirate’s hat and other pirate things, respectively. As the night 

slowly came to an end, people left happy and ready to continue to party at 

their after-prom events. 

Prom is always a night to remember and a high school tradition that should 

never stop. It might be a cliché at times, but a sprinkle of cliché here and 

there cannot hurt. The things that can hurt are the prices for prom. Over $100 

for two tickets without dinner? The necessary limousine and pre-prom dinner? 

Tux rentals? Prom dresses? As my mom continually reminded me, prom 

definitely empties your wallet very quickly. The high prices can be accounted 

for. A combination of failed fundraisers, rental for the hotel and the over-the-top 

decorations certainly added to the price of each ticket. It seems too much for 

a single night. However, as I told my mom, it is only one night and, for the 

seniors, it won’t happen again. Prom is an event everyone should experience, 

especially seniors, because it will be one of the very few times everyone is 

together again. 

So, you scallywags, next time you have the opportunity to go to prom, 

don’t skip out or it’s off to the planks for you. Arg! 


(Community Interest—continued from page 13) 

Commercial sewer bills are calculated based on 

metered water use, with a minimum charge equal 

to the residential basic service charge (which is 

proposed to increase to $35.66). 

Over the past 10 years, commercial usage rates 

have only increased by about 8 percent (less than 

1 percent per year), putting the city’s commercial 

sewer rates among the lowest in the region. The 

city needs to realign commercial rates with the 

cost of service, and this will result in an initial 

sewer charge increase of between 8 percent and 

20 percent for most businesses, with smaller increases 

in subsequent years. However, some customers, 

such as restaurants, will face substantially larger 

initial rate increases as their rates are brought 

back up to levels that reflect the cost of service. 

For more details on these proposed increases, 

read the articles in the May–June issue of “Our 

Water Supply” newsletter at www.redwoodcity. 

org/publicworks/water. 

There will be a public hearing on the proposed 

water rate and sewer rate increases on July 9 at 7 

p.m. at City Hall. If approved by the City Council, 

the new rates will be effective on August 27, and 

all bills generated on or after that date will be impacted 

by the new rates for the full billing period. 

Because of our bimonthly billing cycle, for some 

customers the new rates will apply to water or 

sewer services used as of June 27. 

Emergency Preparedness 

for Family and Home 

In the event of a major disaster, you can be sure 

that the staff of the City of Redwood City is doing 

all it can to ensure the public safety and is working 

hard to restore services and return our community 

to normal. 

But remember, disaster can strike quickly and 

without warning. It can force you to evacuate 

your neighborhood or confine you to your home, 

and your family may be without basic services 

like water, gas, electricity and telephones or access 

to stores and other services for several hours 

or days. While public safety personnel will be 

on the scene after a disaster, they cannot reach 

everyone right away. 

Therefore, the best way to make your family and 

your home safe is to be prepared before disaster 

strikes. The Redwood City Fire Department urges 

everyone to be responsible for their own and their 

family’s safety and emergency preparedness by 

taking the time now to plan for such a situation. 

Visit the Fire Department’s Disaster Preparedness 

page at www.redwoodcity.org/fire/disaster for lots 

of great information on how you can prepare and 

make sure your family and home are safe. 

Parking Meter Times Adjusted 

For Redwood City parking meters, it’s about time — literally. 

In response to frustration over the prices and hours of the new downtown parking meters, the city will 

trim two hours of enforcement six days a week and leave Sunday completely free. 

The new hours — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday — began Tuesday, May 8. 

The adjustment comes after a review of the meters’ use for the past two months, said Project Manager 

Dan Zack. 

The parking plan requires the city to make changes based on actual conditions at least once and not 

more than four times a year. While the tweaks were always part of the plan, the first round comes on the 

heels of concerns by residents and business owners about the new system. 

The 40 high-tech pay stations handle multiple spaces and are meant to make parking more convenient in 

Redwood City’s core downtown area, which includes the 20-screen theater/retail complex and renovated 

Courthouse Square. The solar-powered “smart meters” accept bills, coins, credit cards and pre-established 

accounts via cellular phone. 

They also eliminated time limits, leaving drivers to pay for as much time as needed and even add extra 

minutes from any of the new payment units. 

The centralized system and staggered prices, 

however, confused some drivers along Broadway, 

Middlefield Road and Jefferson Avenue and left 

merchants unhappy the late enforcement cutoff 

might drive away business. 

Mayor Barbara Pierce and Vice Mayor Rosanne Foust even attended a meeting of the Redwood City 

The new hours — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Monday through Saturday — began 

Tuesday, May 8. 

Downtown Business Group to apologize for any difficulty the new meters caused merchants. 

Prior to the meeting, Foust didn’t mince words. 

“The responsibility for the downtown parking and people’s dissatisfaction lies with the council and 

we’re very sorry that things haven’t gone according to how we all wanted it to go,” she told the Daily Journal. 

According to data from the last two months, Broadway is still nearly full at peak times. The 75-cent 

rate seems to hit the mark but 50 cents may be on the high side for streets north. Sunday is the slowest 

day, with only about one-third as many cars as Fridays and only half as many as all other days. 

On average, 1,700 transactions happen daily and 65 percent of payments are made with coins, followed 

by 25 percent by credit card. 

The new hours are expected to take about $1,000 from the roughly $9,000 per week generated by 

the meters, but Zack notes in a memo to the council that the low revenue is in part due to a slow movie 

period, a lack of events at Courthouse Square and an abundance of empty retail space. 


Counterclockwise from top right : Sherna Madan, M.D., and Linda Moore, 

R.N., share a laugh with their guests. Ghina Morad, D.M.D., and Lindsey Richards 

enjoy the party. Kathy Duong, Rejuvenate Skincare office manager, and Lucy Lozano, 

R.N. Damaris Divito, Councilwoman Alicia Aguirre, Trynie Hermary, Valerie Harris 

and Cheryl Angeles strike a pose for The Spectrum. 

Do you have an adjustable rate on your: 

* Home Equity Line? * First Mortgage? 

Let us provide a FREE, NO OBLIGATION analysis of fixed rate options! 

Please call and ask me about our Kids First Program and how 

you can earn money for your school! 

Committed to the community ... Committed to you. 

LOURDES CARINI 

650.823.1463 (cell) 

805 Veterans Boulevard 

Suite 202 

Redwood City 

650.362.2700 

Call us for details!

From Malta to Redwood City 

Alpio Barbara 

Celebrates Life 

and Gives Back 

Valerie Harris 


Photography by James R. Kaspar 

R 

edwood General Tire in Redwood City is 

celebrating its 50th birthday this month. 

But what do we know about the man behind the 

company? 

If ever there was a poster child for community 

service, it’s Alpio Barbara (known to everyone 

as just “Alpio”). He is a fit, trim, energetic 

man with sparkling eyes and an abundance of 

energy and devotion to his company and his 

community. 

Barbara was born in 1953 in Malta, a small 

island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. 

Malta represents true old-world European values. 

Barbara was one of seven children, all born at 

home. His mother was a stay-at-home mom. 

He recalls, “If you talked to her, she would tell 

you that she worked, although the only job she 

ever had was for three weeks. My grandfather, 

her father, was really mad at her for working. 

Women just didn’t work outside of the home. 

She was there when we came home 

and she made dinner every night. The 

love was constantly there.” 

When Barbara was 2 years old, his 

father, a young merchant marine, 

brought his family to the United States 

through Ellis Island. The family settled 

in San Francisco, where they lived for 

the next twelve years before moving to 

San Mateo. There, Barbara attended 

Aragon High School, then studied 

administration of justice at the College 

of San Mateo. He wanted to be a cop, until a knee 

injury thwarted that dream. 

Barbara was always an enterprising and hardworking 

kid. He worked in a stationery store and 

also had a paper route. He attributes his business 

acumen and work ethic to that paper route. He 

said, “Working as a paperboy gave you great 

business training. You have to be responsible. You 

have to deliver the newspaper at a certain time. 

I’ve always had a lot of responsibility in my life. 

“I was one of seven children, and 

we didn’t have the luxury that 

children do now.” 

I was one of seven children, and we didn’t have 

the luxury that children do now. We didn’t have 

the time to play after-school sports, which would 

have been nice. But, being one of seven children, 

if I wanted some spending money, I had to go 

out and get it. It made me a bit more responsible. 

It’s also the reason I am so involved with kids. 

We never lacked food on the table or clothes, 

but we didn’t have 15 toys or any excess.” 

Barbara connects with kids who need a haven 

for activities that more affluent kids can afford. 

He believes in these kids and spends most of his 

free time to help them. 

As a young adult, Barbara lived at home and 

turned over all his income to his parents, who 

saved it for him. At 21, he had enough money 

saved to buy his first house in San Carlos. He 

moved to Redwood City in 1973 and has lived 

and worked in the community ever since. He 

currently lives in the West Oakwood neighborhood 

near Selby Lane. 

In 1969, when Barbara was 17 years old, he 

started working for Al Howard of Howard Tire 

Company. He started on the ground floor as a 

tire mechanic, then became an auto mechanic. 

He was promoted to assistant store manager, 

then warehouse manager and then general 

manager. 

In May 1985, at the California State Tire Association 

trade show, Barbara chatted with Dave 

Redfern, whose father had started Redwood 

General Tire in May 1957. After the trade show, 

Redfern approached Barbara with hesitation, 

figuring Barbara planned to stay put at Howard 

Tire. But after some discussion about future 


ar 

opportunities, Barbara took Redfern up on his 

offer and moved to General Tire in 1985. “On 

my first day on the job, a transformer blew and 

a fire started,” Barbara recounted. Luckily, 

everything since has been a smooth undertaking. 

Barbara came in as a partner in General 

Tire, and when Redfern retired three years ago, 

Barbara bought out the business and now owns 

it in its entirety. 

Currently the company employs 40 workers, 

who Barbara considers his “family.” A hands-on 

boss, he truly cares about the personal aspects 

of his employees. 

While business is a huge part of Barbara’s 

life, his true love is community service. He is 

involved in the Police Activities League (PAL) 

and was responsible for raising millions of 

dollars to develop the new youth center at Taft 

School. Barbara considers PAL a tremendous 

asset to the community. “Kids need a place to 

go,” he said. 

He sponsors Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) 

golf tournaments as well as PAL Comedy Nights 

featuring such local talents as Bob Sarlatte, field 

announcer for the San Francisco 49ers. Barbara 

served as president of the local chapter of the 

Rotary Club and has been very involved in the 

California Tire Dealers Association. Through 

his community involvement and participation 

Alpio with Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, San Mateo County Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos and John Adams of Wells Fargo Bank 

in various associations, Barbara has helped raise 

over $1.5 million for charitable and community 

causes, all of which led to him being honored as 

Citizen of the Year by the prestigious Sequoia 

Awards in 2005. 

Barbara’s brothers and sisters all live in the Bay 

Area, from San Jose to Discovery Bay. The oldest 

is his brother Charlie, who resides in San Jose and 

is retired from Interstate Concessions, a canteen 

vending business. His sister Mary Spiteri, also 

retired, lives in San Mateo and worked at the Pisano 

Bakery, formerly in Redwood City. Sister Theresa 

Stellini lives in Discovery Bay and is a retired 

machinist. Brother Joe, the “family handyman,” 

lives in San Carlos and is a senior manager of 

operations at Pitney Bowes. Brother Emanuel 

(Manny) is a retired educator who was a school 

superintendent in San Jose in the 1980s. Barbara 

had another brother, the second born, who was hit 

and killed by a car when he was 3 years old. He is 

buried in Malta. 

The siblings didn’t even know about this brother 

until Barbara took a trip to Malta in 1978 with his 

parents and his brother Joe. “We went to this one 

area where you go on this boat, and you go into 

these caves filled with water. The boat captain 

asked me my name, and I said, ‘Alpio Barbara.’ 

The captain exclaimed, ‘Barbara! Are you Sgt. 

19.TheSpectrum.MAY.07 


Abigail Mendoza (center) with her father Crispin and businesswoman 

Janet Borgens, spending some time with firefighters 

Marc Bernall, Bruce Meisenbach and Jason Fox. 

John Zerelli and Mike King Jr. serve out some nice beverages. 

Norm Gilbert and a surprised Julie Mooney sharing a few 

moments together. 

Barry Jolette, County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and her aide Paula 

Duarte share a laugh. 

Alpio Barbara : Celebrates Life and Gives Back continued 

Barbara’s kid?’ because my father was a policeman back in Malta. I said, ‘Yes, that’s my dad.’ The 

captain rowing the boat responded, ‘My God!’ I asked, ‘Why is that?’ When he was 8 years old, he 

was in the truck that hit my brother. I get goose bumps when I think of that story. He’s the one who 

told me the whole story about my brother being hit.” 

However, Barbara has found his true “soul mate” in PAL. With the support of his good friend 

Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos, who was formerly the Redwood City police chief, Barbara has thrown 

himself into supporting the organization. “Every dime that is raised for PAL goes to PAL. There is no 

executive director salary. There are no staff salaries to pay. The Police Department pays for PAL and 

its staff. Also, Ed Everett, from the City of Redwood City, helps the city support PAL.” All the effort 

is directed to helping kids. Through concerted efforts by the city and the Police Department, along 

with contributions from Cargill Salt, San Mateo Credit Union, EA Sports and Stanford Hospital, PAL 

raised enough money to build the $4.5 million youth building. Kids can take lessons in karate, dance, 

computers, music and more. PAL keeps the kids focused on positive activities and keeps them away 

from gangs, guns and drugs. For example, the annual PAL 100-mile motorcycle ride raises $10,000 to 

$12,000 and every dime is spent on charitable activities. 

A recent health crisis — a very minor stroke — has reordered Barbara’s priorities. The hard-driven 

boss, who declares his status with his cell phone ring tone of “Hail to the Chief,” is reflecting on his 

life. His parents lived well into old age; his father passed away at 91 and his mother at 88. Neither 

parent ever went to see a doctor their entire lives. Barbara hasn’t cut back in his efforts; he has just 

reprioritized his life. He loves the kids and loves the community more than ever. 

Redwood City is lucky to have such a wonderful patron. As we concluded our interview, Barbara 

looked at me, choking back tears, and said, “I am so blessed. I just want to give back.” 


Nonprofits in Action 

CityTrees 

CityTrees is a nonprofit working with the Public Works Department to enhance 

and care for Redwood City’s urban forest. They usually plant or prune on the 

third Saturday of each month. Please check their Web site (www.citytrees. 

org) for a listing of events and dates. 

Redwood City Education Foundation 

The Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 

organization dedicated to providing students in the Redwood City 

School District with a strong education that lays the foundation for future 

success. The organization raises private money to provide enrichment programs 

to all students in the district. Funding is focused on academic achievement, 

music and art, and health and wellness. They are currently seeking new board 

members. Board members are responsible for attending monthly meetings, 

chairing board committees, participating in fundraising and outreach activities, 

and promoting RCEF in the community. If you are interested in serving on 

the board, please contact Adam Borison at (650) 363-7271 or vp@rcef.org. 

For more information on RCEF, check out www.rcef.org. 

City Talk Toastmasters 

Join the City Talk Toastmasters to develop communication and leadership 

skills. The club meets Wednesdays 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers 

at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road. Call Manny Rosas at (650) 780-7468 

if you would like to check out a meeting or just stop in. Visit www.toastmasters.org 

for more information about the Toastmasters public speaking 

program. 

Family Service Agency of San Mateo County 

Looking for a dependable source of skilled, reliable workers? Family Service 

Agency of San Mateo County provides employers with mature, ready-to-work, 

experienced workers who are 55 years and older. Employers contact the service 

because they appreciate the superior work ethic and the commitment to 

quality that mature workers possess. There are no fees for hiring candidates. 

Contact Barbara Clipper at (650) 403-4300, ext. 4368, to place your job order. 

For those looking for work, Family Service Agency provides a range of 

services for those who are at least 55 years of age, including referrals for 

classroom training, vocational counseling, job referrals and on-the-job training 

for qualified participants. Contact Connie Tilles at (650) 403-4300, ext. 4371, 

if you are looking for work. 

Friends for Youth 

Do you like to play video games, shoot hoops, watch baseball games or just 

have fun? Then you have what it takes to be a mentor! As a mentor, you 

can hang out with a young person like Reggie. He’s a 12-year-old who loves 

pizza, baseball and cars. He lives with his grandmother and three sisters and 

would love to hang out with a guy. He wants to have fun. There are 30 boys 

like Reggie waiting to be matched with a mentor like you. Most of the boys 

wait more than a year to meet their mentors. 

As a mentor with Friends for Youth, you will have access to group activities 

like bowling, miniature golf and camping trips, as well as free tickets to Giants, 

49ers, Warriors and Sharks games and more. In just a few hours a week 

you can make a difference in the life of someone like Reggie by just being you. 

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, you are invited to attend an information 

session. The session lasts approximately one hour and takes place 

in Redwood City. Please call (650) 482-2871 for upcoming sessions or e-mail 

mentor@friendsforyouth.org. 

Hearing Loss Association of the Peninsula 

Hearing Loss Association is a volunteer, international organization of 

hard-of-hearing people, relatives and friends. The nonprofit, nonsectarian, 

educational organization is devoted to the welfare and interests of those who 

cannot hear well but are committed to participating in the hearing world. 

A day meeting is held on the first Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the 

Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave. Educational speakers 

and refreshments are provided. A demonstration of assistive devices is held 

on the first Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the second floor conference 

room at the Redwood City Public Library, 1044 Middlefield Road. 

Please call Marj at (650) 593-6760 with any questions. 

Nursing Mothers Counsel 

Nursing Mothers Counsel, a nonprofit organization since 1955, provides free 

breastfeeding education and assistance by highly trained counselors (moms 

who breastfed for at least six months). To speak with a counselor (no fee), call 

(650) 327-MILK (327-6455). 

NMC also offers free breastfeeding classes. Moms (including babies), 

dads, grandmas and friends are welcome. Free breastfeeding classes are held 

the first Saturday of each month at Mills Hospital in San Mateo from 10 a.m. 

to noon. Call (650) 327-MILK (327-6455) to RSVP. 

NMC also has breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies available for purchase 

and rent. Call (650) 364-9579. If you’d like to become a trained counselor, call 

(650) 365-2713. Visit their Web site at www.nursingmothers.org. 

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA 

In addition to sheltering and finding new homes for stray and unwanted 

animals (100 percent placement for healthy dogs and cats since 2003!), PHS/ 

SPCA has vital programs for people. New in 2006 and beginning with the 

North Fair Oaks community, the shelter began driving its mobile spay/neuter 

clinic into low-income neighborhoods, offering owners free “fixes” for their 

pets. PHS/SPCA also provides a free animal behavior help line in English and 

Spanish. Call (650) 340-7022, ext. 783 or 786. And domestic abuse victims 

who wish to leave their abusive situation but are fearful of doing so because 

they have pets can receive temporary sheltering for their pets through PHS/ 

SPCA. Call (650) 340-7022, ext. 330. 

Peninsula Hills Women’s Club 

Peninsula Hills Women’s Club meets the third Wednesday of each month at 

the Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave. For more information, 

call (650) 366-6371. 

Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club 

The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered in April 1988. In the years 

since that time, the club has met weekly at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and to hear 

a speaker at the Waterfront Restaurant at Pete’s Harbor in Redwood City. The 

club, with 22 members, has frequently been honored as an outstanding small 

club by Rotary District 5150, which includes San Mateo, San Francisco and 

part of Marin counties. For more information or to join, call Fred Wolin at 

(650) 329-1013. 

Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club 

This group is small but has a growing membership. All members either live 

or work in our community and share a common goal of making our city a 

better place to live. This club is one of over 44,000 Lions Clubs in 199 nations. 

Chartered in 1966, the club has been vigorously active helping eyesight-impaired 

youth in our schools and seniors who are hearing-impaired. 

Join them for breakfast! The Lions meet every Wednesday at Bob’s Court 

House Coffee Shop, 2198 Broadway, beginning at 7:15 a.m. Call Bill Gibbons 

at (650) 766-8105 for more details. 

Redwood City Women’s Club 

Redwood City Women’s Club meets at the clubhouse, 149 Clinton St., the 

first Thursday of each month September through June. Social at 11:30 a.m. 

and lunch at noon, followed by meeting and program. For information call 

Loretta at (650) 368-8212 or visit the group’s Web site at rwcwc.com. 

Redwood City Rotary 



News Briefs 

Retired Officer Accused of 

Tracking Daughter’s Boyfriend 

A retired Redwood City police officer illegally 

used the state criminal computer system last year 

to track his estranged daughter’s boyfriend as a 

way to keep track of her whereabouts, according 

to prosecutors who charged him with two dozen 

misdemeanors and infractions. 

Barry Finch, 55, is charged with 18 misdemeanor 

counts of unlawfully receiving records to which 

he is not authorized and six infraction counts of 

knowingly and without permission accessing a 

computer network. 

The infractions are alternative ways of charging 

the misdemeanors, said Chief Deputy District 

Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. 

If convicted, Finch faces up to six months per 

charge. 

Finch appeared in court for his initial arraignment 

on the charges but did not enter a plea, according 

to court records clerks. He returned to court May 

23 for further arraignment. 

On multiple occasions beginning April 14, 

2006, Finch used the state criminal history 

tracking computer system to pinpoint where his 

daughter’s boyfriend was living, according to the 

District Attorney’s Office. 

The system includes Department of Motor 

Vehicles and criminal records. 

Finch reportedly used the boyfriend’s location 

as a means to track his estranged daughter. Prosecutors 

filed charges against Finch April 12 and 

ordered him to appear yesterday with attorney 

William Rapoport. Redwood City hired Finch in 

February 2001 but he retired after the department 

began investigating the claims. 

The department became aware of the allegations 

after the boyfriend discovered Finch knew their 

address, Wagstaffe said. 

Finch remains free from custody on his own 

recognizance. 

“Gilligan” Bandit Strikes Again 

The “Gilligan” bandit struck again at a Redwood 

City grocery store, bringing the total number of 

banks he has robbed to five in three weeks. 

Wearing a fisherman-style hat, the man strolled 

into the Wells Fargo Bank within the Sequoia Station 

Safeway at 1071 El Camino Real. He handed 

a demand note to the teller and left the bank with 

an undisclosed amount of money. He was last 

seen walking north through the parking lot. 

This is the latest in a string of robberies the man 

committed in the last three weeks. He is also believed 

to be the criminal who robbed some of the same 

banks four to five years ago. Police are hoping 

people might recognize one of the photos captured 

by bank security cameras and help identify “Gilligan.” 

The man is between 45 and 50 years old with a 

tan complexion and weighs between 200 and 210 

pounds. He has a pot belly, is between 6 feet and 

6 feet 2 inches tall and wears a fisherman-style 

hat that looks similar to the one worn by Gilligan, 

a character from the television show “Gilligan’s 

Island.” Police believe he is the same man who 

robbed the same banks in 2002 and 2003, said 

Redwood City police Detective Jeff Price. 

In 2002 and 2003, wearing the same type of 

hat, the man robbed banks in Redwood City, San 

Carlos, Mountain View, Fremont and Union City. 

In the last month, the man has allegedly robbed 

two banks in Redwood City and the rest in San 

Carlos, Mountain View and Union City, Price said. 

On Saturday, April 21, at approximately 11:27 

a.m., police said the man robbed the Washington 

Mutual Bank, located at 845 Laurel St. in San 

Carlos. The man demanded money from multiple 

tellers. No weapons were displayed and no one 

was hurt during the incident, according to a statement 

released by San Carlos police. 

On April 28, the same man allegedly robbed 

a bank in a Mountain View Albertson’s grocery 

store, Price said. 

On May 4, just after 2 p.m., the man allegedly 

robbed the Fremont Bank inside a Newark Safeway, 

Price said. 

Just 45 minutes later, the same man robbed 

the First National Bank at 700 El Camino Real 

in Redwood City. He walked into the bank, approached 

a teller, handed over a dark blue canvas 

bag and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed 

amount of money, police said. 

All those banks, except for the San Carlos 

Washington Mutual and the Sequoia Station Wells 

Fargo, were robbed by a man matching the same 

description in 2002 and 2003. 

He has a tan complexion, dark brown eyes, a 

gray bushy mustache and large cheeks. He was 

wearing brown-rimmed prescription glasses. 

Anyone with information about these cases 

should contact detectives Jeff Price or Ed Feeney 

at the Redwood City Police Department at 780-7100. 

Competency Questioned 

for Accused Baby Beater 

The 22-year-old Redwood City man accused 

of approaching a mother exiting Safeway and 

bashing her 18-month-old baby in the head with 

a softball-sized rock for no apparent reason is 

unable to aid in his own defense, according to his 

defense attorney, who raised questions about his 

client’s competency. 

Criminal proceedings were suspended against 

Jose Rivera Salvador at his preliminary hearing and 

he was instead ordered back to court to appoint 

two doctors to evaluate his mental state, according 

to court records clerks. 

If Salvador is deemed competent, he will move 

forward with the charges of felony child abuse. 

If the doctors believe he cannot help his attorney, 

Salvador will be sent to a state hospital for treatment 

until he regains his competency. 

Competency refers to a defendant’s mental state 

at the time of prosecution, while sanity refers 

to his or her condition at the time of an alleged 

crime. 

The Sheriff’s Office Transit Unit officers who 

responded to the April 20 incident indicated he 

appeared to have mental problems, said Chief 

Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. 

At approximately 2:30 p.m. that day, a woman 

left the Safeway grocery store at Sequoia Station 

in Redwood City and was headed to the SamTrans 

bus stop with child in hand when Salvador reportedly 

approached and hit the child in the back of 

the head with a rock. As the toddler bled and the 

mother screamed, Salvador allegedly dropped the 

rock and silently walked away. He was later discovered 

in the Sequoia Station parking lot and arrested. 

The child was treated at Stanford Medical Center 

and received extensive sutures. 

Salvador was charged with assault with a deadly 

weapon causing great bodily injury, felony battery 

causing great bodily injury and felony cruelty 

to a child with great bodily injury. If convicted, he 

faces up to nine years in prison. 

He has a 1999 conviction for misdemeanor battery. 

Salvador, who pleaded not guilty during his 

initial arraignment, remains in custody in lieu of 

$100,000 bail. 

Woodside Student 

Escapes Charges 

Prosecutors declined to file any charges against a 

15-year-old Woodside High School student who 

told a school counselor he was considering harming 

fellow students, saying there is no proof any 

crime was committed. 

“It appears he was only thinking about things 

and never acted on it,” said Chief Deputy District 

Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. “If that was a crime, it 

really would be the thought police.” 

Police searched the student’s Redwood City 

home and three computers after he told the counselor 

the previous day he had begun putting a plan 

together and had downloaded a map of Woodside 

High School. 

The boy was placed on psychiatric hold and 

taken to San Mateo Medical Center for evaluation. 

The student, who is in the ninth grade, reportedly 

told his counselor he was thinking about hurting 

“disruptive” and “bad” students at the school and 

mentioned being able to get information about 

explosives from the Internet, according to the 

Sheriff’s Office. 



Nonprofits in Action : continued from page 21 

Redwood City Rotary serves the community by raising $60,000 or more each 

year through its July Fourth car raffle to fund college scholarships, support 

local charities and provide international relief aid. In addition, club members 

volunteer at a host of local events and meet in fellowship each Tuesday at 

12:15 at the Sequoia Club, 1695 Broadway, to hear from a variety of interesting 

speakers. For more information about joining, please contact Roland Haga at 

(650) 482-6300. 

Sequoia High School Alumni Association 

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Sequoia 

District Board Room, 480 James Ave. All alumni and friends of Sequoia are 

welcome to attend. For more information call Nancy at (650) 592-5822, visit 

the Web site at sequoiahsalumniassoc.org or e-mail sequoiaalumni@earthlink.net. 

Sequoia Stamp Club 

This club was established in 1947 and invites community members to visit. 

The club meets at the Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., 

every second and fourth Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. There is a program every 

meeting and refreshments are served. The dues are only $3 per year. Contact 

Hank at (650) 593-7012, e-mail sequoiastampclub@yahoo.com or visit the 

group’s Web site at www.penpex.org. Sequoia Stamp Club sponsors a free 

stamp show at the same location on the first weekend of December. 

Soroptimist International of South Peninsula 

The Soroptimists invite you to become a member of Soroptmist International, 

the largest service organization for business and professional women in the 

world, where “improving the lives of women and children” has been their 

mission since 1921. Soroptimists work through service projects to advance 

human rights and the status of women locally and abroad. Soroptimist International 

of South Peninsula needs and wants you as a member. While helping 

women’s and children’s causes, you will enjoy fellowship and lasting friendships. 

They meet the second Thursday of every month. For more information, 

please call their president, Maria, at (650) 366-0668, Monday–Friday between 

9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

Camp near La Honda for needy children, the Optimist Jr. World Golf program, 

Challenge Day and many other programs for kids. 

Lunches/meetings are at 12:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays 

of each month in the Assisted Living Dining Room at Woodside Terrace. 

Guests are welcome. Please call President Jack Murphy at (650) 780-9891 or 

Millie Cole at (650) 366-1392 for reservations. 

Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club 

Since October 1956, the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club and its precedents 

have been devoted to community service in Redwood City. Through 

the decades, they have provided funds to help many worthy community 

programs and continue to add more community projects. The Key Club of 

Sequoia High School, sponsored by the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis 

Club, was chartered in 1994 and has been involved in raising money and 

donating time and effort to many programs. 

The Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club meets every Wednesday morning 

7:15–8:30 a.m. at the Waterfront Restaurant, 1 Uccelli Blvd. (at Pete’s Harbor). 

They invite you to come to their meetings and check out the club’s Web site 

at www.agencyinfo.org/kiwanis. 

Editor’s note: If you are connected with a nonprofit organization and want 

your information printed in The Spectrum, send it to writers@spectrummagazine.net 

or The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 

94064. Let our community know your contributions and maybe they will 

want to join you. 


Optimist Club of Redwood City 

The Optimists invite you to become a member of Optimist International, 

one of the largest service organizations in the world, where “bringing out the 

best in kids” has been their mission for over 80 years. Whether you’re a club 

officer or a club member who enjoys the fellowship and friendship of others 

with a common greater good, Optimist International needs and wants you as 

a member. 

The Optimist Club of Redwood City meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. 

at Bob’s Court House Coffee Shop at Middlefield and Broadway. For more 

information please call their president, Steve, at (650) 365-8089 or their 

secretary, Ted Cole, at (650) 366-1392. Or come join them for lunch to learn 

more about how you can make a difference. 

Woodside Terrace Optimist Club 

This is a unique club made up of senior citizens who want to stay involved. 

Most, but not all, come from the residence at Woodside Terrace. The club is 

open to all of the community and provides an opportunity for seniors to be 

useful. 

The club’s funds are raised by a card, candy and necklace sale held on the 

fourth Wednesday of each month in the main lobby at 485 Woodside Road, 

open to the public. All greeting cards are a dollar each. They sell See’s and 

other candy bars and hold a See’s fundraiser for holidays. One of their members 

makes beautiful necklaces and sells them for $10 or more if one wishes to 

make a larger donation to the club. 

The club has a tutoring project at Taft School and has contributed to school 

libraries, the Children’s Cancer Campaign, the Optimist Volunteers for Youth 


News Briefs : continued from page 22 

No proof was found he downloaded such information 

or had explosives. 

The case was turned over to the juvenile division 

of the District Attorney’s Office but Wagstaffe 

said Thursday it was considered closed. 

The Woodside High incident came in the wake 

of not only the Virginia Tech massacre but also 

the prosecution of a San Bruno man who told a 

Kaiser Hospital psychiatrist he drove to Planned 

Parenthood with a gun to shoot the doctor who 

had performed an abortion on his girlfriend 

before changing his mind. That case received 

national attention because of its connection to the 

controversial topic of abortion and sparked debate 

about whether the initially filed attempted murder 

charges were appropriate. 

A legal case, known commonly as the Tarasoff 

ruling, establishes a duty to warn for counselors 

or therapists in situations with clear evidence of 

danger to the client or others. 

“Mr. Universe” Pleads 

Not Guilty 

The diabetic bodybuilder arrested outside a Redwood 

City movie theater by officers who thought 

he was intoxicated pleaded not guilty to battery 

and resisting arrest but is still hopeful the charges 

will be dismissed outright. 

Doug Burns, 43, of Redwood City, appeared in 

court for the first time since his April 1 arrest and 

the subsequent media blitz caused by the alleged 

medical misunderstanding of insulin shock and 

his position as the reigning Mr. Natural Universe. 

“Honestly, I was pretty surprised it still went 

to court,” Burns said after his arraignment on the 

two misdemeanors. 

He believes the district attorney should accept 

the word of the paramedics who treated him and a 

physician who wrote a letter on his behalf. 

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe 

does not discount the possibility of dropping the 

case but needs proof of his diabetic conditions, 

such as medical records. 

If the prosecution is not satisfied, Burns is 

scheduled for a pretrial conference May 30 and 

a jury trial July 2. All earlier suggested dates, 

Burns said, conflicted with previously scheduled 

engagements for diabetic children. 

Burns was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 35 

years ago, is a board member of the American 

Diabetes Association and frequently speaks as a 

health and fitness expert at diabetes and medical 

conferences. 

As first reported in the Daily Journal April 3, 

police said Burns was escorted outside the theater 

by a security guard who believed he was intoxicated 

and took a fighting stance when officers 

were called. Four officers and mace were needed 

to subdue Burns, according to police reports. 

Burns said any flailing was due to his low blood 

sugar, which can lead to seizures and in extreme 

cases coma. 

A medical test confirmed Burns’ low blood 

sugar but he was cited and released on his own 

recognizance after being taken to the hospital. 

Wagstaffe said the office’s decision to move 

forward is based on the belief he was not out of 

control. 

“That’s not what we see in the police reports,” 

he said. 

After the incident, Burns weighed civil action 

against the Redwood City police but said yesterday 

any suits will wait until after the criminal 

matters are settled. 

Although Burns believes his run-in with police 

is unfortunate, he still sees a silver lining: the outpouring 

of support and education about diabetic 

symptoms. 

“The reaction has been astounding,” he said. 

Jail, Probation in Shooting 

Trauma-Related DUI 

A 24-year-old man who blamed the trauma of 

witnessing a triple-fatal bar shooting for speeding 

toward a Redwood City police officer was sentenced 

to two months in jail and must pay more than 

$32,000 in restitution. 

Tomas Lucatero Rodriguez receives credit for 

eight days toward his 60-day jail term for misdemeanor 

driving while intoxicated, according to 

court records clerks. He changed his plea after his 

trial began in February in return for no more than 

a year in jail and the dismissal of felony charges 

including assault with a deadly weapon. 

Rodriguez took the offer after a Stanford psychiatrist 

testified on his behalf that he was suffering 

from an acute disassociative state at the time 

and wasn’t aware of what he was doing. 

Rodriguez was a customer at the Headquarters 

Bar April 15 when gunfire erupted, leaving three 

dead and three wounded. 

He ran from the bar and fled the scene in his 

car. An officer at a nearby DUI checkpoint waved 

at Rodriguez to stop but he drove directly at him, 

according to the District Attorney’s Office. 

Under the terms of his sentence, Rodriguez 

must also serve two years supervised probation 

and one year court probation. 

He opted to serve an extra 14 days in jail rather 

than pay a $1,421 fine and was ordered to surrender 

July 30. He must pay an additional $32,437.68 in 

restitution to a victim’s fund. 

He is free from custody on $100,000 bail pending 

his surrender. 

Meanwhile, the two men charged in the murders 

— Rolando Fernandez, 26, and Domingo 

Samuel Naranjo, 18 — are scheduled to stand 

trial in October. A motive in the shooting remains 

hazy but the prosecution contends it started after 

two men had an argument and one called his 

friends for backup. They face life in prison without 

parole if convicted. 

Both men remain in custody on no-bail status. 

RWC Man Who Died in 

Garage Fire Identified 

A 54-year-old man died in a garage fire at a 

Redwood City home April 13 that left 12 people 

displaced when the blaze spread to neighboring 

homes. 

The fire started in the garage of a home at 571 

MacArthur Ave. 

Manuel Vallejo died in the fire, according to the 

San Mateo County Coroner’s Office. 

Firefighters first found the interior of the 

garage, as well as a storage area to the rear of the 

garage, engulfed in flames, Redwood City Battalion 

Chief Steve Cavallero said. 

Six adults and six children were displaced 

from their home at 570 Douglas Ave. after the 

fire spread to a room of their home, damaging the 

entire home’s electrical wiring, Cavallero said. 


Nonprofits in Action : continued from page 23 

Left to right: Ella Morris, honoree Doris Rankine, Judy Archibald and Kit Fragulia 

Nonprofits in the News 

Peninsula Hills Women’s Club celebrated “Federation Day” in April by 

honoring Doris Rankine for her 50 years of community service and 50 years 

of being a member of PHWC. Doris joined the organization in 1957 and 

has been an active member ever since. She has benefited the Redwood City 

community over the past 50 years by being a member of many organizations 

including Native Daughter, Inter-service Council and Lathrop House. 

The slate of PHWC officers for the years 2007–2009 are as follows: 

President Margaret Cassetta, First Vice-President Nancy Radcliffe, Second 

Vice-President and Membership Chairman Judy Yoakum, Corresponding 

Secretary Kathleen Brooks, Recording Secretary Teresa Garcia, Bulletin 

Chairman Elaine Raines, Treasurer Kit Fragulia, Auditor Arcie Eppler. 

Kiwanis Awards Scholarships to Local High 

School Students 

The Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club of Redwood City has selected 15 

local high school students as recipients of their annual scholarship program. 

Seniors from Sequoia, Woodside, Carlmont, Castilleja, Junipero Serra and 

Menlo-Atherton high schools were honored at the annual breakfast on May 

24 at the Waterfront Restaurant in Redwood City. 

The following senior high school students have demonstrated academic 

achievement and commitment to community service and volunteerism and 

will receive these awards: 

Phillip and Louise Wang Scholarships 

Drew Plak, Carlmont High School; Jordan Sanvictores, Menlo-Atherton High 

School; Kara Mantani, Woodside High School; Jessica Brandt, Woodside 

High School; Nicholas Markwith, Woodside High School 

Yamada Family Scholarships 

Johanna Calvillo, Sequoia High School; Wendy Renderos, Sequoia High 

School; Viral Shah, Sequoia High School 

Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Scholarships 

Ryan Duchin, Menlo-Atherton High School; Richard Morowski, Junipero 

Serra High School 

The Mayers Community Service Award 

Polly Tseledis, Woodside High School 

The Walter Butler Memorial Scholarship 

Nikki Ellis, Woodside High School 

The Bogart Family Scholarship 

Andrea Isabel Godoy-Orantes, Castelleja School 

The Charles and Jean Rigg Scholarship 

Max Schneider, Woodside High School 

The Maggie Cuadros Memorial Scholarship 

Janet Girardot, Woodside High School 

Nonprofit Activities 

Prune ’N’ Pub with CityTrees 

Come prune then enjoy City Pub with CityTrees on Wednesday, June 6. The 

group will meet at 6 p.m. for some pruning. Don’t worry; they will teach you 

how! Then it’s down to City Pub for some social time together. Community 

residents are encouraged to join in the fun. Call (650) 556-9588 for details. 

B.O.K. Ranch 22nd Annual Western Day 

Sunday, June 10, 12–5 p.m. 

1815 Cordilleras Rd., Redwood City 

$45 per person; children under 10 free with an adult 

Join B.O.K. Ranch for a fun-filled day of student horseback-riding demonstrations, 

sheep and duck herding and dog agility demonstrations, children’s 

games, silent auction and raffle drawing. Special appearances by the Redwood 

City Fire Department, Jerry Mertens and NFL alumni. Live music and 

BBQ lunch included. Proceeds benefit B.O.K. Ranch’s therapeutic horsebackriding 

program for children and adults with special needs. For more information 

call (650) 366-2265 or visit www.bokranch.com. 

Kiwanis Car Show and Craft Faire 

Sunday, June 24, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 

Sequoia High School 

No gate fee, $30 registration 

Award ceremonies, food, autos, arts, crafts and auto vendors. Entertainment, 

raffle, safety information. All proceeds go to community projects sponsored 

by the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club. Pre-register by June 16 for 

early-bird $100 drawing. To download registration forms for car entries and 

vendors, visit www.wtamkiwanis.org/cars or call (650) 368-8212. This show 

is generously supported by Guaranty Bank and Peninsula Digital Imaging. 


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Summit Charter School 

Hosts O’Connell 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell 

got a lesson in physics yesterday when he sat down on 

Summit Preparatory Charter High School junior Nik 

Romano’s hovercraft while visiting the school to observe 

the hands-on learning style. 

The 400-student Redwood City school welcomed 

O’Connell by showcasing classes and projects that help 

students succeed. The campus tour took O’Connell 

through classrooms to watch as students at various grade 

levels gave speeches, shared projects and explained why 

Summit was a fit for them. 

“I’m a big proponent of rigorous education opportunities 

for every student. The small size and individual learning 

opportunities [are] clearly reaching each student. [Summit] 

is a clear example of the three Rs of learning: rigor, relevance 

and relationships. The staff is very dedicated and 

committed. ... It’s a very good school,” O’Connell said 

after his tour. 

O’Connell watched as freshman geometry students 

critiqued the various end-of-the-year projects. Freshman 

Claire Wampler gave her persuasive speech, “Boycott the 

bacon,” which gave an overview of the economic, environmental 

and health benefits of cutting meat consumption 

by 10 percent. 

An outdoor physics fair got the most attention. Juniors 

created projects incorporating the various elements 

learned through the year. 

Romano took two months building his hovercraft, inspired 

by students who took on the idea last year. He wasn’t 

finished until 4 a.m. Thursday. Romano had ridden it only 

twice so he wasn’t sure how fast it could go. 

Eighteen-year-old junior Zach Shpizner’s physics project — a small mechanical car of 

sorts — was tested to see if it could pick up items such as paper clips. It took two tries 

before Shpizner was successful as O’Connell watched. 

Eighteen-year-old junior Zach Shpizner tests his physics 

project while State Superintendent Jack O’Connell 

and Diane Tavenner, Summit Preparatory Charter High 

School executive director, watch. 

O’Connell’s final stop was into a senior seminar class to hear the end of a discussion 

on genocide. Students were given the opportunity to share their thoughts on Summit’s 

teaching style with O’Connell. 

At first students simply said, “It works,” and “We like it.” Senior Patrick Reneau followed 

by explaining how Summit differed from his experience at Menlo-Atherton High 

School, where kids were segregated. 

“You can have one class without dividing people and prepare students for college,” he 

said. “It’s been tricky but I think it’s worked.” 


The Diving Pelican Cafe 

Michelle Glaubert 

650.598.2366 VM 

650.722.1193 Cell 

650 Bair Island Road . Redwood City .(650) 368-3668 . From 101 take Whipple Avenue East 

Hours: Tues-Sun 8 AM - 3 pm www.divingpelicancafe.com 

Join us for outdoor 

dining on our sun-kissed 

deck. Enjoy a peaceful 

waterfront view and our 

home-cooked dishes made 

from only the freshest 

ingre-dients! We serve 

breakfast, lunch, weekend 

brunch, espresso, beer & 

wine. We have plenty of 

free parking only 5 

minutes from Downtown 

Redwood City! 

Meal Club Memberships 

Available Now! 

Purchase 10 Meals, excluding Sunday's, 

and recieve your next, 11th meal FREE! 

Minimum purchase $8.00 - Maximum free meal value $10.00 

3718 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City 

$949,000 

Spacious, 2020 sf one story Farm Hill rancher. 3 BR- 2 BA- FR- 2 Car Garage. Formal 

entry, hardwood flooring, Crown molding, wood-burning fireplace in living room, formal 

dining area, sunny eat-in kitchen with Corian counters, gas cook-top & a built-in desk. 

Wonderful separate family room with a second wood-burning fireplace, laundry area, lots 

of storage areas. Two of the bedrooms have been doubled in size! The master bedroom 

suite has an updated bathroom and extra closet space. AC unit, Plantation shutters, easy 

access to 280, Stulsaft Park, Roy Cloud K- 8th- Woodside High School. The backyard has 

been landscaped and offers privacy & serenity with the covered patio, lawn, new fencing, 

numerous plants, flowers & trees! There is even a separate play house on the side!

Shop Redwood City : It’s All Right Here! 

The Spectrum Magazine has been out in the community, using businesses that not only provide 

excellent service but also contribute to our community. Shouldn’t you make the commitment to 

shopping locally? Check out our Best of the Best selections. 

Auto Care 

Redwood General Tire — 1630 Broadway — Whether you are looking 

for a new set of tires or need repair work on your vehicle, this Redwood City 

institution has been providing quality vehicle services for 50 years. Redwood 

General Tire was founded on the premise that good customer service and 

quality products at fair prices will succeed in the marketplace. They continue 

to follow this philosophy today and expect it to guide them into a successful 

future. Many of their satisfied customers have been with them since their 

founding and continue to do business with them today. They proudly serve 

the third generation of many of their first Redwood City customers. 

Eating and Catering 

Canyon Inn — 587 Canyon Road — You will find everything at this 

Redwood City favorite. The Canyon Inn is nestled in the small, quiet neighborhood 

of Emerald Hills. It’s a popular stop for bicycle touring clubs and 

local sports celebrities such as members of the San Francisco 49ers. But 

the reputation draws celebrities and personalities from all over the world. 

The restaurant is noted for its burgers and beers, most notably the Hacksaw 

Burger, a big double cheeseburger named after Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. 

The Canyon Inn also offers hot and cold sandwiches, hot dogs, fish and chips, 

spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, tacos and quesadillas. If you cannot make it to 

the site, they cater all types of parties from business events to home-style 

barbecues. 

Diving Pelican Cafe — 650 Bair Island Road, Suite 102 — This restaurant 

may be the best-kept secret in Redwood City and provides the perfect 

atmosphere for get-togethers of any kind. They offer a variety of specialty 

items, including eggs Benedict with fresh crab and homemade hollandaise 

sauce. They also serve beer and wine, and espresso drinks are available to 

go. For your convenience, they have outdoor seating overlooking the water. 

Conveniently located half a mile from the freeway, it’s easy to stop by and 

visit. Try the famous pear, walnut, gorgonzola and grilled chicken salad. It is 

so delicious that people come from all over to enjoy it! They also have a seasonal 

specialty, which is mango pasticcio and feta salad with grilled chicken. 

People tell us that they want to keep the cafe a secret, because it is such a nice 

location with outstanding food. We won’t tell anyone? 

Encore Performance Catering — 2992 Spring St. — Owner Dave 

Hyman’s menu goes on for eight pages of mouthwatering suggestions for 

everything from continental breakfasts to formal dinners. Despite an entire 

page devoted just to warm appetizers, these are mere suggestions, and Hyman is 

quick to offer additional possibilities to fit any occasion. He also has a strong 

sense of community and participates in many community-oriented events. 

Additionally, Hyman is proud of the fact that his business products are nearly 

100 percent recyclable and leftovers are contributed to St. Anthony’s Padua 

Dining Room in Redwood City. Need a caterer for that party or event? Call 

Dave at (650) 365-3731. 

Little India — 917 Main St. — This stylish Indian restaurant features 

a reasonably priced all-you-can-eat buffet for both lunch and dinner. The 

home-style food is mainly from the northwest region of India, and items from 

other regions of India are also featured. The food is low in fat and sodium. 

You can dine in or take out. Senior citizens receive $1 off and children (under 

12) dine at half price. Bring your appetite, because you will want to try 

everything! 

Entertainment 

Arthur Murray Dance Studio — 2065 Broadway — Put a little 

fun in your life; try dancing! Whatever your goal — meeting people, gaining 

confidence or preparing for the first dance at your wedding — the expert 

instructors can design a customized program that’s just right for you! One 

strength of the Arthur Murray system is the wide variety of dances you can 

choose from: foxtrot, merengue, waltz, swing, hustle, rumba, cha-cha, tango, 

salsa and many more. You can hire genuine Arthur Murray professionals 

to teach and dance at your special event. For weddings, hire dance hosts to 

come and dance with your guests. For birthday parties, have a group lesson. 

Go with the era of your choice for anniversary parties. At business parties, 

they will teach your group with fun and flair. For holiday parties, they will 

prepare your crowd for the festivities. Hire someone to teach at your ’50s 

party, ’70s party or at the theme party of your choice. Take the first step to 

years of fun and confidence on the dance floor. Contact Arthur Murray to get 

started today. And your first lesson is always complimentary! 

Financial Institutions 

American Coast Mortgage — Whether you need to purchase property, 

refinance or obtain a home equity loan, for over 25 years owner Paul 

Sanfilipo has been helping thousands do just that. Call (650) 365-2144 now 

for your complimentary mortgage consultation. 

Capital Mortgage Lending — 805 Veterans Blvd., #202 — Lourdes 

Carini and her team of dedicated loan agents focus on residential lending, 

including purchases and refinances. As a mortgage company, they deal with 

a large assortment of lenders, allowing them to research the best financing 

to meet each client’s individual needs. Carini has over 25 years experience 

in the Bay Area financial services industry. The company’s success is based 

on referrals, its track record and being accessible to clients. So if you have a 

mortgage loan need or question, please pick up the phone and call (650) 362-2700. 



Cultural Events 

Music on the Square Friday 

Evenings 6:00-8:00PM 

June 1 • Livewire 

Six-Piece Dance Party Cover Band 

Showcasing an eclectic mix of the best danceable 

songs from the 1970s through current dance hits, 

the band accurately covers a wide range of dance 

music, from Kool and the Gang, Chic and Bon 

Jovi to Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani and Weezer. 

June 8 • Sun Kings 

Beatles Tribute Band 

With a repertoire of over 100 songs, the Sun 

Kings shine with spot-on arrangements and vocal 

harmonies, delivered with a driving energy that 

recalls the earliest Beatles shows. The band has 

won over fan and skeptic alike with their love of 

the music they play and delight in sharing it. 

June 15 • Aja Vu 

Steely Dan Tribute Band 

The SF-based Aja Vu performs the music of 

Steely Dan, from “Hey Nineteen” to “Rikki Don’t 

Lose That Number.” The Aja Vu show recreates 

the combination of rock, jazzy blues and unique 

storytelling typical of Steely Dan. 

June 22 • Bingtones 

R & B With Lots of Horns 

Join Bing and the Bingtones as they perform their 

style of “rhythmic nighttime music with a soul,” 

reminiscent of the great horn groups of the ’70s 

and ’80s, such as Tower of Power, Sons of Champlin 

and Cold Blood. 

Sponsored by the City of Redwood City Redevelopment 

Agency. Co-hosted by the Redwood City 

Civic Cultural Commission and Redwood City 

Parks, Recreation and Community Services. 

Art on the Square 2007 

Redwood City is fast becoming the Peninsula’s 

epicenter for the arts with new galleries and 

great places to hear live music. This summer, Art 

on the Square 2007 joins the mix. Courthouse 

Square will be transformed as fine artists and 

crafters exhibit their work in the heart of the 

beautifully renovated downtown. Presented by 

the Redwood City Civic Cultural Commission 

and the Redwood City Redevelopment Agency, 

the three juried outdoor shows will complement 

Music on the Square, the city’s Friday evening 

summer concert series. The public can enjoy the 

Friday evening art shows from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on 

July 6 with Handful of Luvin’ (Seattle-based folk 

rock band), on August 3 with Ben Maarcato and 

his Mondo Combo (jazz, soul) and on September 

21 with La Ventana (salsa rock). And they can 

enter a drawing to win gift certificates good that 

evening to spend at the show. Artists interested 

in having their work considered can download an 

application at www.redwoodcity.org/parks. 

San Mateo County History 

Museum 

2200 Broadway, Redwood City 

(650) 299-0104, www.historysmc.org 

$2–$4; free for children ages 5 and under 

Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 

The museum is located in the Old Courthouse 

with its historic dome. Its collections include 

horse-drawn carriages, models, railroads from 

Caltrans and the Ocean Shore Railroad, relics 

from San Mateo’s past and lithographic art dating 

from 1875. 

Ongoing Exhibits 

The Great Rotunda — The stained-glass dome of 

the rotunda thought to be the largest in a Pacific 

Coast public building is the architectural highlight 

of the museum building. 

Courtroom A — The oldest courtroom in San 

Mateo County has been restored to its appearance 

in 1910. 

Nature’s Bounty — This exhibit gallery explores 

how the oldest people of the Peninsula used 

the natural resources of the area and how these 

resources were used to help build San Francisco 

after the discovery of gold in 1849. 

Journey to Work — This exhibit gallery shows 

how transportation transformed San Mateo 

County from a frontier to suburbs. 

Carriage Display — An exhibit of the museum’s 

30 horse-drawn vehicles. 

Charles Parsons Gallery — An exhibit of the 23 

historical model ships created by Charles Parsons 

of San Carlos. 

Politics, Crime and Law Enforcement — The Atkinson 

Meeting Room includes the Walter Moore 

Law Enforcement Collection of historic badges. 

San Mateo County History Makers: Entrepreneurs 

Who Changed the World — The exhibit 

chronicles the entrepreneurs who made San 

Mateo County internationally known. 

Land of Opportunity — The exhibit tells the story 

of the diverse people who came to the area and 

explores how different groups faced hardships 

and discrimination. 

Living the California Dream — The exhibit depicts 

the development of the suburban culture of 

San Mateo County. 

Special Exhibit 

The Celtic Tiger: The Irish Economic Miracle 

(ongoing) — The exhibit explores how the Bay 

Area has participated in Ireland’s current economic 

boom. 

Opening 

Service Before Self: 100 Years of Rotary (May 

20–Oct. 13) — Items on display include memorabilia, 

photography and videos related to the activities 

of local Rotary clubs of District 5150. 

Immigrants Day Festival 

Saturday, June 16, noon to 4 p.m. 

The San Mateo County History Museum presents 

its second annual Celebration of the Peninsula’s 

Diversity: Immigrants Day Festival. About a third 

of the population of the ethnically rich San Mateo 

County has been born in another country. This is 

a historical legacy. As early as 1880, a third of the 

population of San Mateo County was born in another 

country. A new, permanent, 2,000-squarefoot 

exhibit gallery — Land of Opportunity: The 

Immigrant Experience in San Mateo County 

— within the museum documents this history. 

The Immigrants Day Festival will feature, in 

addition to the museum’s regular offerings, food 

tasting reflecting countries from which people 

have historically come to the Peninsula, including 

Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Mexico, Japan, China and 

the Philippines. Children will try traditional craft 

activities like writing their name in Japanese with 

a “Fude-Pen.” Cultural dances and other performances 

will be staged on Courthouse Square 

at the steps of the History Museum. Acts will 

include Chinese lion dancing, the Murphy Irish 

Dancers and Japanese taiko drums. Readings by 

immigrant authors, such as Mexican immigrant 

and media personality Rose Guilbault, will speak 

about recent experiences. 

Admission to the museum will be cut in half for 

the day — $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and 

students; children five and under are free. 

Parking for the museum is free on weekends. 

There is a lot directly behind the museum on 

Marshall that is designated for museum visitors. 

The large county “jury and public parking” area 

at 400 Middlefield is also free on weekends. This 

lot is only one block from the museum. 

Major sponsors of the Immigrants Day Festival 

are Safeway and the Redwood City Redevelopment 

Agency. For more information call (650) 299-0104. 



Finance : To Build Wealth, Look at Both Sides of Balance Sheet 

David Amann 


To achieve your financial goals, you need to be a diligent saver and investor. 

But you need to do more than just build your assets — you also must do a 

good job of managing your debts. If you let your debts get out of control, they 

will eventually erode your savings and investments — and when that happens, 

the road to financial success can get pretty bumpy. 

Unfortunately, your fellow Americans are doing a poor job of saving 

money and staying out of debt. Here are some telling statistics: 

Debt is rising. By September 2006, household debt had reached 130.9 percent 

of disposable income, according to the Center for American Progress. In 

plain English, that means we owe about a third more than we have available 

to spend after we’ve paid our taxes and met our expenses. 

Savings have fallen. For most of 2005 and all of 2006, the personal savings 

rate was negative, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Previously, 

we haven’t had a negative savings rate since the Great Depression. In 

short, we’ve gotten into the habit of spending more than we save. 

“While you’re taking steps to cut your costs, you can 

still add to your investments.” 

These grim figures foretell a discouraging financial future for many of us. 

Every dollar you pay for debt is a dollar you can’t use to invest. Furthermore, 

if you have too little in savings, you may well be forced to dip into your exist- 

(Shop Redwood City—continued from page 29) 

Edward Jones — 702 Marshall St., #515 — For decades, Edward Jones 

believed in building relationships through face-to-face interaction and adherence 

to a strategy of recommending quality investments that have proven 

themselves over time. So does Investment Representative David Amann, who 

manages the Redwood City office. He understands that this approach might 

be considered unfashionable. But if it means helping his clients achieve their 

goals, whether for retirement, education or just financial security, it’s an approach 

he plans to stick to. Create your financial portfolio now! 

Personal Improvement 

Redwood Massage & Sauna — 797 Arguello St. — First opened 

in 1964 by two Finnish women, this professional facility is now under the 

management of Beverly and Harold May. Ms. May is a full-time massage 

therapist with almost 30 years of experience. They pride themselves on having 

exceptionally talented massage therapists to care for you, trained in a 

variety of specialized techniques to improve your circulation, mental clarity 

and creativity as well as optimize your overall physical health. Your experience 

at Redwood Massage & Sauna will enhance your health and well-being 

naturally in the true Finnish tradition of therapeutic massage and sauna amid 

clean, comfortable and serene surroundings. 

Re:Juvenate Skin Care — 805 Veterans Blvd., Suite 140 — Treat 

yourself; you deserve it! Re:Juvenate is owned and operated by Sherna 

Madan, M.D., and Linda S. Moore, R.N. Together they have more than 50 

years in the health care industry and over 10 years in the field of aesthetics. 

Both have lived and worked in the community for the majority of those years. 

When a consumer is looking for a facility that offers a list of services that are 

so personal, name recognition and reputation are of the utmost importance. 

Relationships are formed quickly, and trust is a huge part of the equation. 

Whether you are seeing a Re:Juvenate clinician for acne, sun damage, skin 

tightening, wrinkle reduction or laser hair removal, the process starts with a 

complimentary consultation with a member of the aesthetic staff. Call (650) 

261-0500 and mention The Spectrum Magazine. 

ing investments to pay for short-term needs, such as a car repair or an expensive 

new appliance. And the more you take from your investments today, the 

less you will have available tomorrow — when you might need the money to 

help pay for retirement or your children’s college tuition. 

So what can you do to protect your savings and investments against the 

demands of debt? You probably already are familiar with some steps you can 

take to cut costs: Extend the life of your old car, eat out less often, look for 

cheaper phone and cable service, etc. In short, review your entire lifestyle 

and try to separate the “nice to have” items from the “must have” ones. If you 

can reduce your expenses, you can start whittling away at your debt. 

While you’re taking steps to cut your costs, you can still add to your investments. 

How? For starters, increase your contributions to your 401(k) or other 

employer-sponsored retirement plan every time you get a raise. Until you 

retire, you generally won’t be able to access this money without taking a big 

tax hit, so you won’t be tempted to “raid” your 401(k) to pay off debts. (You 

can, however, typically take loans from a 401(k) or similar account.) 

You also may want to “pay yourself first.” Each month, before you pay 

the mortgage, the utility companies and your other obligations, set aside an 

amount for your investments. It’s easier if you set up a bank authorization 

to move the money directly into the investment you choose. By having the 

money taken out this way, you are less likely to “miss” it — and, hopefully, 

you’ll be less likely to look at it as a source of funding for your daily life. 

By cutting your debts, boosting your 401(k) contributions and paying yourself 

first, you can help yourself get a firmer grip on your financial situation 

— today and tomorrow. 

Warren Street Chiropractic — 520 Warren St. — Warren Street 

Chiropractic Wellness and Injury Center was formerly Lease Chiropractic 

Offices, owned and operated by Timothy H. Lease, D.C. Dr. Lease is beginning 

his 22nd year of practice and has a very broad patient base, from infants to 

folks in their 90s. Cases include work injury (workers’ compensation), personal 

injury (car accidents, slips and falls, bicycle and pedestrian accidents), carpal 

tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, headaches, neck pain, back pain and leg 

and arm pain. He has a working network of other doctors and therapists, so 

he is able to refer for second opinions or other therapy if appropriate. The office 

has six spacious exam rooms, including a massage room. 

Retail 

Lulu’s — 846 Main St. — Lulu’s is the latest and most unique gift store to 

open in downtown Redwood City. Owner Nancy Radcliffe has taken 24 years 

of design experience to create a collection of cards and gifts intermingled 

with eclectic antique pieces, all affordably priced! In addition, Lulu’s carries 

everything from baby gifts that put a smile on your face to whimsical 

candles. Pamper your dog or cat or find that perfect hostess gift. 

Home Improvements 

Lewis Carpet Cleaners — 1.800.23.LEWIS — Founder Rick Lewis 

started his business in 1985 out of his home, using a small, portable machine. 

Today, Lewis successfully operates and manages an office/warehouse of six 

employees and has five working vans, with future plans for expansion and 

growth. Lewis moved his business from San Mateo to Redwood City in 1995. 

The Lewis family works and lives in Redwood City and has truly made this 

town their home. They are committed to the vision and success of our community 

and with relentless effort will continue to support the community, devoting 

time, energy and services today and in the future. Call and ask about 

their Spectrum special. You can get 100 square feet of carpet cleaned for absolutely 

nothing. Call today and make your house or living space luxurious!

(And a Little Child Shall Lead Them—continued from page 5) 

how she wanted to help. So far she has raised $4,500. 

The family continues to work with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association 

(COTA), an organization that provides fundraising assistance for children 

and young adults needing lifesaving transplants and promotes organ, marrow 

and tissue donation. You can learn more about Michelle, her illness and how 

you may help by visiting www.cotaformichelleh.com. 

Donations may be made in person at any Wells Fargo Bank branch location 

(to account number 8096484871) or mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant 

Association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403. Checks or money 

orders should be made payable to COTA, with “in honor of Michelle Hosking” 

written on the memo line of the check. Secure credit card donations are 

also accepted through the Web site above. All donations will go directly to 

Michelle’s fund. Abigail Mendoza had a winsome smile on her face as she 

leaned close and whispered, “You know what? I L-O-V-E Y-O-U!” 

At the tender age of six years, Abigail was diagnosed this past January 

with an inoperable malignant glioblastoma in her brain. An Internet search 

on www.braintumor.org finds glial cells are part of the cells that make up 

the nervous system. They surround the neurons and play a protecting and 

nourishing role for neuron cells. According to the Web site, glioblastomas are 

considered the “most invasive type of glial tumor.” Glial tumors commonly 

spread to nearby tissue and grow rapidly. 

Abigail’s condition first made itself known when Engine 10 of the Redwood 

City Fire Department responded to the Mendoza home for a seizure episode. 

Shortly after that visit, Abigail and her mother, Deborah, traveled to Central 

Need a ticket to the dinner? Can you help with the logistics? Call firefighter 

Justin Velasquez at (650) 868-4270. 

So it’s all about courage, commitment and caring. Little children are leading 

the way, teaching us lessons to last for a lifetime. 

“They care so much; they are truly selfless. And this 

is all a blessing in disguise. God is using Abigail to 

bring people together,” 

America to distribute toys to less-fortunate children at a mission they helped 

to bring about some years earlier. While in Central America, Abigail began 

to experience recurring seizure episodes during sleep. She had a CT scan in 

Nicaragua and was told to return to California for an MRI and more extensive 

examinations. Doctors at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital found 

the inoperable malignant glioblastoma. Abigail is undergoing radiation and 

chemotherapy, and doctors have advised the family there is not much hope 

for her recovery. 

“I felt like life itself had ended,” Deborah said of the moment she heard the 

news. “I felt helpless, like I couldn’t do anything.” She has taken a nonpaid 

leave of absence from her job to care for her daughter as they make the daily 

trips to the hospital. Her husband, Crispin, works long hours of overtime and 

extra shifts to try to meet their financial obligations, leaving him precious 

little time with his wife and daughter. 

Enter the Create-A-Smile foundation, established by the Redwood City 

Firefighters Association in 1993. Thanks to the firefighters, Abigail recently 

had her 6 1/2 birthday party at Fire Station 9, an event filled with piñatas, a 

bounce house, cotton candy, hot dogs, a cake, family, friends and firefighters 

(most of whom were off duty and volunteered their time). 

And the firefighters are only starting. They have teamed up with the community 

to present a fundraising dinner on June 7 for Abigail and her family 

at A Tavola restaurant and City Center Plaza in downtown Redwood City. 

Featured that evening will be a silent auction, a live auction hosted by Michele 

Sharkey of the 49ers Academy, live music from the Back Burner Blues 

Band, fabulous food and the opportunity to help a family enjoy the gift of 

their daughter for each precious day she has. All donations will go through 

the Create-A-Smile foundation into a special account for Abigail at the San 

Mateo Credit Union. 

“I can’t believe that the firefighters are doing all this,” Deborah Mendoza 

said. “They care so much; they are truly selfless. And this is all a blessing in 

disguise. God is using Abigail to bring people together,” she added. 


(As I Was Saying...—continued from page 7) 

desk but a sign displaying the “hourly” and “daily” pricing. Not missing a 

beat, I returned to my friends and provided the information they requested. 

After they called me naive, laughed at me and pulled me back into the car, 

we left and found another place that was not accepting of clients paying by 

the hour. What if we had been detained and questioned by police at that time? 

I am sure those who found out would have just assumed I was inside having 

a sexual encounter while my friends were outside waiting for me or had 

finished before I had and had returned to the car. 

Regardless, I would have defended my friends and myself, given a complete 

explanation and apologized for my stupidity at being in the wrong place at 

the wrong time — but I would have come clean, completely, and answered 

responsible questions to clear up any implications of wrongdoing. 

So, without knowing the complete facts, it is totally irresponsible for 

anyone in the media or, for that matter, anyone at all to believe and report 

rumors, accusations and assumptions as fact. 

What needs to happen here is Munks and Bolanos coming clean and giving 

our community a clear explanation of what happened. I am sure their political 

advisors are telling them the opposite, but the only thing those people 

have invested in them is making more money from them in future elections. 

It does no one any good in this situation to stay silent and just hope it all goes 

away; it will not. 

What has been said to date is not enough of an explanation. There are 

serious questions that need to be answered and a respected office that needs 

serious image damage control right now. 

The chairman of the Port Commission, Jack Castle, who has served for 

20 years, was not reappointed to a new term and was replaced by former 

Mayor, City Councilman and Planning Commissioner Dick Claire. Only two 

positions were up for reappointment, and the results were 6 votes for current 

Commissioner Ralph Garcia, 5 votes for Claire and only 3 for Castle. 

Whether the council is looking for new blood (Claire — new blood?) or 

paying back a political supporter is not clear. Regardless, Claire will bring a 

different perspective to the commission — he feels the port should contribute 

more money to the city coffers, and we all have to wait and see if he can pull 

it off and make a difference. But beyond that, Claire has worked on the campaigns 

of Jim Hartnett, Diane Howard, Jeff Ira, Rosanne Foust and Barbara 

Pierce (who all voted for him), and those in the know knew he would be 

appointed for that reason alone. Especially since it is an election year for the 

City Council — Foust and Pierce would not dare vote against him. 

But to add insult to injury, Mayor Pierce embarrassed herself and Castle by 

recommending to him that he apply for a different board or commission because 

he was a valuable asset to the city, just as she slammed the door in his 

face and, figuratively speaking, kicked him out of the council chambers. She 

does not need to embarrass and patronize a person who has given so much to 

this community — just vote and move on. I get so tired of politicians trying 

to explain themselves and their guilty feelings when it is not necessary. You 

lost his support in this year’s election, so just move on and count the donations 

lost. 

I think I will have to go on vacation more often. 

As I was saying… 

(Cultural Events—continued from page 30) 

Documenting Oral Histories: 

Holocaust Survivors’ Stories 

Thursday, June 28, 1 to 4 p.m. 

The San Mateo County History Museum presents 

Dr. Anne Grenn Saldinger, director of the Bay 

Area Holocaust Oral History Project (BAHOHP), 

who will speak about the importance of oral history 

and how to investigate resources for oral history 

research (including some Web opportunities). 

After the talk, program participants will watch 

and analyze an oral history video from the BA- 

HOHP archives housed in the History Museum’s 

archives. The audience will develop a summary 

and index for the video to help researchers find 

important information on this tape more easily. 

The lessons learned can be applied to documenting 

other types of oral histories and using them for 

research. 

Dr. Grenn Saldinger has been director of BA- 

HOHP for over eight years. For the last six years, 

she has been running workshops similar to this 

one at various colleges in the Bay Area. In that 

time, college students have helped the organization 

document several hundreds of oral history videos. 

This program is free with the price of admission 

to the museum: $4 for adults, $2 for students and 

seniors. Advance reservations are required since 

space is limited. For reservations, please contact 

Katrina Donovan at (650) 299-0104 ext. 31. 

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A Minute With Regina Van Brunt 

Photograph by James R. Kaspar 

Regina Van Brunt was born in 

Chicago and currently lives in 

Menlo Park with her boyfriend 

of 16 years, Michael. She has 

one daughter, Nicole, and one 

granddaughter, Chloe, whom 

she calls the “love of my life.” 

After graduating from high 

school, she attended Foothill 

and DeAnza colleges. She is 

an administrative assistant at 

Arthur Murray Dance Studio 

and for the Downtown Business 

Group (DBG). She is a 

member of the Terrace Kiwanis 

Club of Redwood City and 

sells Cookie Lee jewelry at the 

downtown farmers market on 

the second and third Saturdays 

of each month. 

Why do we need the DBG? 

So businesses in the core area can assist and help 

one another be successful. 

Are there any downtown projects you are 

excited about? 

Just to see the empty storefronts filled with businesses. 

Retail! Retail! Retail! 

Parking meters — yea or nay? 

Yea! They will bring needed revenues to the city 

and, after the adjustment period is over, will solve 

the parking issues. 

What historical figure do you most identify 

with? 

Florence Nightingale. I wanted to be a nurse when 

I was younger. 

What living person do you most admire? 

Diane Rummel, San Mateo Historical Museum, 

and Karen Francone, Service League of San 

Mateo County. 

Who are your heroes in real life? 

Princess Diana. She helped so many people. 

Favorite song? 

“Up on the Roof” — The Drifters. 

What is your treasured possession? 

Jewelry items I have from long ago. 

What talent would you most like to have? 

To sing better. 

Something no one knows about you? 

When I was a little girl, I was really shy. 

If you could change one thing about yourself, 

what would it be? 

To be more optimistic at times. 

What words or phrases do you most overuse? 

I make excuses for people — apologize for their 

mistakes. 

If you could choose what to come back as, what 

would it be? 

An angel. 

What is your idea of perfect happiness? 

Peace and love in the world. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

That I am still alive. 

What is your greatest regret? 

To have not spent more time with my family. 

What or who is the love of your life? 

My mother, daughter and granddaughter. 

What is your motto? 

One day at a time!

Alpio! - The Spectrum Magazine

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