PEOPLE with PULL - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's ...

Redwood City's 

PEOPLE with PULL 

Our annual edition 

Is CENTURY THEATres 

pulling the wool 

over our eyes? 

In bed with your daughter 

in "As I Was Saying . . ." 

who's next? 

Myspace.coM 

Do you know what 

your kids are saying?

The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine 

Redwood City's Monthly Magazine 

February 2006 

Vol 2, No. 5 

Steve Penna 

Owner and Publisher 

penna@spectrummagazine.net 

Anne Callery 

Copy Editor 

Judy Buchan 

Contributing Writer 

writers@spectrummagazine.net 

Valerie Harris 



Robby Schumacher 



Katherine Ehat, Nick Markwith 

Student Writers 


Dale McKee, Damaris Divito 

Graphic Artists 

Clayton Shyne Ramos 

Sales Associate 

ads@spectrummagazine.net 

DJ Design 

Advertising Graphic Art 

James R. Kaspar 

Special Assignment Photography 

Welcome to the February issue of The Spectrum 

Magazine. We have an exciting and informative 

issue for you this month and hope you will enjoy 

the read. 

We are excited to bring you our annual People With Pull 

issue. The Spectrum staff contacted several people in our 

community and asked for nominations and then met and 

came up with the top list. Although it may not surprise most, 

the list contains those who dedicate themselves to our 

community, paid or not. 

With all the excitement generated throughout our community 

for the downtown cinema project heading towards completion, 

many were shocked to hear that the Century Theatre 

group plans to keep the 12-theater complex on the other side 

of Highway 101 open. Is this a power play so they can get the 

permits needed to develop their land? 

The Web site MySpace.com has been generating national 

attention as several youths on the site have been “connecting” 

with older persons and developing relations with them. 

Is this Web site an innocent place where our youth can 

express themselves and meet new friends or a breeding 

ground for something sinister? 

In Publisher Steve Penna’s column, “As I was Saying . . .” he 

writes about an issue that is rarely talked about – teens who 

are dating and one who spends the night at the other’s family 

home. Is it a new fad or just irresponsible conduct? 

Our youth writer from Sequoia High School informs our 

readers of the reaction to the recent elimination of their varsity 

basketball team from league play. Is the community 

pulling together or pointing fingers? 

We encourage our readers to support our business advertisers 

by using their services when you can. They are the real reason 

you are reading community news this and every month. They 

are laying out the welcome mat for you so wipe your feet and 

walk in. Use their coupons. 

We also encourage our readers to support community news 

by filling out the subscription form below. That way you will 

not miss an issue of The Spectrum and it will be mailed to 

your home each month. 

Until next month, Redwood City. 

Table of 

Contents 

INSIDE THE SPECTRUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 

MYSPACE.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 11, 29 

CULTURAL EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 

DOWNTOWN REDWOOD CITY . . . . . . . .24-26 

LOCAL INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 19 

“AS I WAS SAYING” BY STEVE PENNA . .9, 28 

FINANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

COVER STORY: PEOPLE WITH PULL . . . . . . .16-17 

NONPROFITS IN ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 

DOWNTOWN CINEMA PROJECT . . . . . . . .7, 27 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

THE 

Spectrum 

P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064 

Advertising and Subscription: 

(650) 368-2434 

E-mail: spectrumtext@yahoo.com 

Published the third week of each month. 

Periodical rates paid at Redwood City, 

California. 

Subscription rate: $30 per year in 

Redwood City, San Carlos and Menlo Park 

($60 all other cities); $24 for seniors (any 

city). Not responsible for the return of 

unsolicited material. 

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Check - made out to The Spectrum Magazine - $30 in Redwood City, San Carlos and Menlo Park 

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Subscribe to Redwood City's Monthly Magazine 

Your subscription will begin when The Spectrum Magazine is delivered to your 

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Mail this form to: The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064 

3


Inside The Spectrum: 

Our cover photo shoot 

5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 

The Spectrum’s special assignment photographer, James Kaspar, arrived with The 

Spectrum’s stylist, Damaris Divito, an hour early to set up and make sure the 

shoot would go smoothly. Penna arrived shortly after. 

Sheriff Don Horsley arrived on schedule 15 minutes before everyone else so we 

could shoot his individual photos because he had to attend an event and leave by 

5:10 p.m. Yeah, right! 

Attorney Ted Hannig arrived next, as he was having dinner with his sweetheart at 

5:30 p.m. and had to leave, so we thought we would shoot his solo before as well. 

Next, Councilwoman Diane Howard arrived and, as always, brought that special 

smile that has smoothed some rough times at City Hall. She was impeccably 

dressed and would be having dinner with her husband, Steve, once the shoot was 

complete. 

City Manager Ed Everett arrived next and, in his usual style, greeted everyone in 

the room and instantly began talking with each person as if they were the only 

person in the room. 

Photographer James Kaspar with cover subjects Ed Everett, Ted Hannig, Don 

Horsley and Diane Howard. 

It does not get any better than this! Four of the most influential/powerful/ 

community-minded people in the same area being photographed together and 

loving the experience. 

The Spectrum’s publisher, Steve Penna, called each of the five cover subjects and 

quickly found out that arranging the shoot to fit any kind of schedule was next to 

impossible. But we did it! 

The mood in the room was very light-hearted. You could tell by their interactions 

that all were enjoying each other’s company as they kidded and interacted with 

each other. 

The entire shoot took about 45 minutes and the only thing that did not go as 

planned was that our fifth cover subject, Redevelopment Manager Susan Moeller, 

did not make the shoot, as she was attending a conference in San Francisco and 

got delayed with meetings and traffic. 

We hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoy presenting them to our 

readers. 

The photo shoot was scheduled for Tuesday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day), at 

4


IS R EDWOOD C ITY’ S 

DIRTY LITTLE SECRET? 

By Robby Schumacher, Contributing Writer 

Photos from MySpace.com 

Are our children in serious danger? Little girls and boys all over Redwood 

City were found on the popular Web networking site called MySpace.com. 

Within five minutes of research, hundreds of photos and personal information 

was found on children between the ages of 11 and 18 years old who live in 

our city. Some photos suggested that the ages posted were not exactly 

truthful. Children appearing to be 11 and up are being found 

on this site daily. Some are even being found in provocative positions 

with highly suggestive material within their profiles. If you 

think you or your friends and loved ones are immune, you're 

wrong. 

Since gaining popularity, MySpace.com has become one of the 

fastest growing sites on the Internet. From elementary-aged children 

to seniors, the site is home to millions of photos, profiles, 

names and information about people all over the world. The 

youngest age posted is supposed to be 14 but that rule is not 

enforced, as many pre-teens are found on the site. Many will 

reveal their younger ages within their profiles. Some don't. What 

started out as a well-intentioned site for finding friends, networking, 

communicating and romance has turned into an ocean of perilous 

gateways for pedophiles, murderers, rapists and criminals to 

tap directly into the minds and worlds of our children. Redwood 

City alone has a huge network of information floating around the 

world, just waiting to fall into the wrong hands. 

Parents and children don't seem to realize that the posted photos 

become public and can be downloaded by anyone and used for 

other purposes. Millions of viewers have access to them. One 

Redwood City mother found out about MySpace.com and was surprised 

at what she found. Patty Carini has a 12-year-old son who wanted to communicate 

with his father through the Internet. A friend of his helped build a profile 

for him and when Carini logged on to see it, she was shocked. Her son had 

posted himself as being 16 instead of 12, had Playboy bunny icons and cartoons 

on the site, used words and phrases such as “I like hot girls” and “I am a playa”, 

and was listed as a resident in Redwood City so others knew where he lived. 

Carini said, “I couldn't believe what I saw and had no idea he would ever talk like 

that or post that sort of thing. I had it removed right away. As parents it is our 

duty to look at everything our children are involved in. We have to be more careful 

than ever and check in with our children's activities 

often. So much can be prevented if we educate them 

on the dangers and set boundaries right away. If someone 

doesn't know how to check it out on the computer 

they can ask neighbors or friends to help them look 

things up. We have to do anything we can to keep 

them safe. It only takes two minutes to check the site 

and see if your child or your friends’ children are on it. 

Two minutes is not much, even for the busiest people. 

It is so important!” 

It is no secret that the Internet has played its part in 

criminal activity for a long time. Between pornographic 

sites, violent cartoons/games, chat rooms and cybersex, 

the list grows bigger all the time, but MySpace.com 

is just now being recognized for its part in recent 

crimes. What is it going to take to wake people up? 

How many murders and horrid crimes do our communities have to learn of before 

something is done about it? Children are being raped, murdered, molested and 

kidnapped, yet some parents still fail to monitor their children's Internet activity. 

Kids are jumping online at friends' homes, neighbors’ computers, public libraries, 

their own schools and even coffee shops to explore the secret world of connections 

so readily available. It's even happening right in their own households where 

parents are absent, taking no notice, or technologically challenged. In some cases, 

pictures of the family, the family pet(s), the home, bedrooms and 

other information-giving photos are being posted with no consent. You could be 

pictured online and not even know it. Children are also sharing addresses, cell 

phone numbers and after-school schedules on their sites. 

Filling out a few questions will get you a membership. You don't even have to be 

a member to look through all the photos and profiles. Being a member allows 

communication to take place but is unnecessary to track down and harm someone 

from the site. The sickening display of photos, profile statements 

and comments that were found all over our Redwood City children's 

sites was enough to make any parent's blood boil. It took 

less than 10 minutes to find three different sixteen-year-olds (or so 

they claimed) in “less than innocent” poses, with statements about 

“loving hot guys,” what schools they attend, the towns they live 

in, who their friends are, and, in one case, exactly where she would 

be the following night. This young teen, perhaps innocently, 

shared her school spirit by announcing and cheering for Sequoia 

High over Woodside, saying she'd be at the game. She posted the 

game time next to her name, photo and other revealing information. 

Given that her Sequoia High School friends were on her site 

as well, it would take no time to show up at the game, ask around 

for the group of girls by name, lie about who you are, and track 

them down within the hour. Worse yet, they could be followed 

home, where siblings and others may also be found. 

The mind of the pedophile and violent criminal lacks consciousness 

at the level of normally functioning individuals. If a person 

set out to track someone and harm them, it would not take long. 

MySpace.com is used like a catalogue for them. Photos reveal significant 

information, let alone the outright and alarming amount 

of information given by the child. Names, birth dates, signs, 

schools, friends, family members, events, hang-out spots, parties, 

ages (true and false), multiple photos, and access to speaking with 

and perhaps meeting these children is a click or two away. Can you say for certain 

your child is NOT on this site or one like it? They are free to join, easy to lie on, 

easy to operate, and viewed publicly on a constant basis. 

The longer a person cruises the site the more foul language the very young users 

are found to be using. References to murder, suicide and hate are everywhere, and 

disturbing messages are passed back and forth among members. One Redwood 

City child who appeared to be around 12 or 13 years old was even being bullied 

on the site. One comment read, 

“waz up its Alejandro From ur skool 

U suk and u look funny in all ur pictures.....lol..... 

AND IM NOT KIDING 

BYE UGLY” 

Another profile of a 16-year-old Redwood City girl 

said, KEEPiN` iHT REAL; 

--- simply known as Denise or you can be cool& call 

me Nee-Cee x). you better not forget to cake me on 

november30 th. right now I am sixteen years young, & 

I am a sophomore at .high tech high bayshore Grr..!! 

??. i`m a shortie at the height of 5 foot 4. I love to eat 

everything&anything. can`t get enough food. I like to 

sing in the shower & I dance in my pajamas when no 

ones looking.. it just makes me all happy inside so if 

you think im weird bite me ;D. normal is boring so be 

crazy all you can. I love my bestfriiends& have had so 

many fun times. we've been through everything together. 

I have a little disney obsession. I love anything disney I like to hangout at the 

mall even if I don`t have money; I ?? the colors pink; greenblack;& red I love animals& 

I hate people that abuse them; I can be really shy at times but you don`t 

even know me until you've been my friend. i`m a hyper-maniac. i`m scared of spiders. 

even the littlest ones freak me out so bad.you can try& call me names or try 

to bring me down.. but it won`t phase me because I know you don`t know me& 

so that means you have no 

(continued on page 11) 

5


Community Rallies in Basketball “Truth” 

By Katherine Ehat 

Student Writer 

The recent news about the Sequoia Boys Varsity Basketball team has been widely 

publicized. There have been many versions of the story circulating and everyone 

thinks they have the inside sources and the foolproof story. But the truth is, the 

story is different depending on which basketball player, which administrator, 

which friend, or which student you talk to. The other “truth” is that this event has 

left the Sequoia community with many questions. This event has left the Sequoia 

community saddened and bewildered. The sudden end to the Sequoia Boys Varsity 

Basketball season left the community up in arms. Everyone was shocked, confused, 

angry and speechless. Everyone wanted to take some action yet was left 

helpless in the presence of rules, regulations and decisions that had to be made. 

The season came to an abrupt end following the information that two players were 

considered to be ineligible. The reason includes a question of residency and a question 

of CCS recruitment violations. The details then become a bit confusing. The 

rules and regulations that defined the outcome seem to be a little broad and leave 

the students with many more questions. One thing definitely happened ... the 

team, minus two players and the head coach, played out the remaining two games 

of the season with the same demonstration of skill and team focus that they played 

their first twenty games. It was the team members who wanted to be able to play 

the remaining games and had the decision to end the season early reversed. They 

overcame their disappointment and demonstrated the strength of character that 

has been present in this team all season. 

What should not be forgotten is that this team has had an incredible season. The 

members of this team are dedicated, smart, skilled and responsible. They work as 

a family and are intensely loyal to each other and their coach. They have shown a 

dedication to their team and to hard work. They happen to be good students also. 

The fact that this team has played with the success that they have shown cannot 

be taken away from them. Each basket was earned and deserved. Point by pointno 

matter what address is shown, no matter who knew whom at what point in 

time - these young men exemplified a good (great?) team, based on their abilities. 

One thing that did come out of this dreadful ordeal was the connection and support 

within the Sequoia student body. The moment the news reached the students, 

they rallied around the team, cheering them on with support. Everyone wanted to 

show support and school spirit. One example of this support was shown by a group 

of seniors who had T-shirts made to show their belief in their team and to demonstrate 

the only means of protest that they felt was possible. T-shirts were made to 

be worn at the upcoming game between the new first-place contenders and for the 

remaining Sequoia games. 

This upset has left so 

many questions lingering 

in everyone’s minds. 

If recruitment was the 

real issue in this situation, 

then what is classified 

as recruitment? It 

seems as though academic 

recruitment 

occurs on a regular 

basis. Any visit to a 

school to help with 

choosing which school 

to attend involves persuasion 

by counselors or 

tour leaders. Is it not a 

form of recruitment that 

takes place with Sequoia’s 

International Baccalaureate program (a reason why many students choose Sequoia 

over other district high schools) being promoted? Why are there different standards 

at the high school level for the athletic programs than other programs? And, 

what about the abundance of year-round sports programs in this area with overlapping 

contact between the youth and adult participants. Are there not coaches 

in community-based teams such as Pop Warner, Little League, AYSO, club volleyball 

teams, year-round swim teams, and summer or club basketball that also are 

involved with the high school teams? The coaches and players certainly overlap in 

community-level sports and high school sports. Where do the rules apply, and are 

they equally applied? 

A Leader Discovered at Woodside High School 

By Nick Markwith 

Student Writer 

Woodside High School does not have many leaders lurking in its corridors. Very 

few people have the determination needed to take charge over issues important to 

students. Many students are not brave enough to stand up in front of teachers and 

demand a change on behalf of the students. Nor are there many students who lead 

the student body, participate in a variety of sports and extracurricular activities, 

and still find time to receive over a 4.0 GPA. However, there is one student who 

excels at all this and more. Her name is Kara Mantani. 

Kara Mantani, a junior at Woodside High School, has done many things in and 

out of school; sports was just one of them. This year for Woodside, she plays tennis 

in the fall, basketball in the winter, and softball in the spring. She has played 

other sports too, including volleyball, soccer, and “little league baseball with all the 

boys,” commented Mantani. This is Mantani’s first year playing tennis instead of 

volleyball. She switched sports because “I’ve always wanted to learn to play tennis 

and it seemed like good time to learn while in high school because there’s coaching,” 

explained Mantani. In her second year on varsity basketball, she proves to be 

a force to reckon with while she helps push her teammates to do their best. 

Leadership from her and her other teammates caused the Woodside varsity girls 

basketball to reach the Central Coast Section playoffs in a very competitive league. 

Not only an all-around good player on the sports fields, Mantani has done a lot 

for Woodside and its students. As the junior class treasurer, she is automatically 

put into a leadership class. Everyone in leadership is required to do a minimum of 

40 hours of community service per semester, 80 hours in a school year. These students 

also help plan and organize dances at Woodside by fundraising and reserving 

specific places. This is only one requirement forced onto the leaders of 

Woodside. Leadership students are a part of the committees at school. Mantani is 

part of the school site council and the shared decision-making council. The school 

site council consists of teachers, students, principals and parents. They discuss the 

issues at school and how to solve them. Mantani is also on the student advisory 

council, which is students from the four high schools in the district gathering 

together to talk about their school problems and how they could be solved. 

Leadership requirements are not the only community service Mantani does. She is 

part of the Octagon Club, a school club promoting community service by organizing 

community beneficial activities. Besides the Octagon Club, Mantani can be 

seen in the library tutoring other students in a variety of subjects. 

On top of all her leadership and sports activities, Mantani is taking an impressive 

amount of difficult classes for being so busy. She has two AP classes on her class 

schedule, which, she admits, is a handful for having so many responsibilities. 

Woodside’s crowded hallways and quad have found a leader to guide the students. 

Kara Mantani provides hard work with determination as she walks the halls, 

making Woodside High School a better place for teachers and students. 

6


CENTURY THEATRES PLAYS ITS TRUMP CARD 

Many questions were left unanswered 

at the Redwood City 

Downtown Business Group 

meeting on February 7, 2006. The 

Century Theatres project discussion 

started out with a bang and ended up 

throwing some hard, fast curve balls at 

attendees. With each surprising new twist 

or shocking revelation, the general “feel” 

of the room quickly went from curious 

excitement to bewilderment and, at 

times, even anger. 

By Robby Schumacher 


Elizabeth Puccinelli, Senior Vice 

President of Communications for 

Century Theatres, opened the discussion 

with enthusiasm as she shared some of 

Century Theatres’ history. According to 

Puccinelli the company began in the 

1940s. “ It is a family-owned and ran 

business of which the second generation 

continues to operate today. We started in 

Vallejo, California, so we really are a Northern California company. For many years 

we were located in San Francisco and we've now grown and spread into 12 other 

states. Century Theatres can be found as far 

east as Chicago and have doubled in numbers 

over the past decade. There are currently 

1,000 screens and the company remains very 

financially strong. We are maintaining an 

intense focus on the Peninsula area as 

Northern California is considered our 

‘backyard’.” 

Alice Louise 

Puccinelli confidently stated, “The company 

is thoughtfully ran. We are very excited about 

the new facility and feel it was a good business 

decision to come to Redwood City. We 

are confident of the long-term strength too. It 

is a large investment and an expensive building 

but we know we'll all see how the community 

will benefit once things are up and 

running so it's a good investment. The community 

will build upon itself.” 

She went on to describe the state-of-the-art building that will house all 20 screens 

and 4,200 seats. “There will be elevators, escalators, 40-foot-high ceilings, a lot of 

granite and stone materials, and a huge 

100-by-100ft impressive lobby that will 

dazzle moviegoers. The concessions will 

have the highest per capita revenues and 

people can be served or serve themselves 

if they'd like. There will be real butter on 

the popcorn, a Starbucks for coffee 

lovers, ice cream, pastries and more. We 

want our guests to have an exciting and 

positive experience. This will really make 

downtown a more lively place and will 

complement and coexist with the Fox 

Theater and restaurants in the area to 

give the nighttime an added element.” 

Puccinelli continued to paint the positive 

picture adding that “George Lucas himself 

came up with the standards and we 

met his criteria for presentation. There 

are big wide-screens, comfortable chairs 

that rock, and we'll be able to have a wide variety of movies. Redwood City will be 

the place to go for movies and this area will appeal to a wide range of films, both 

art films and Hollywood alike.” 

This is where the discussion took its 

turn. In all her enthusiasm and the pretty 

picture that was being painted, a 

bombshell was dropped most unexpectedly. 

Much to the surprise of the attendees, 

as Puccinelli continued her speech 

she nonchalantly mentioned there would 

be about 150 employees and 32 screens 

between the two facilities. As if it had 

almost “slipped out,” she quickly recovered 

by discussing the wide range of films 

again, the spillover to merchants, and 

when the facility would be open. “Now 

that the bad weather is behind us,” she 

said, “we can continue with the construction 

and we should be opening this 

summer!” Whether intentional or not, 

the quick-paced redirection didn't hold. 

Before one could say “oops,” a hand was 

in the air. A bewildered crowd listened 

intently as one resident asked the 

inevitable question, “You mean you are keeping the other theater open?” Puccinelli 

did not answer. She asked that the questions be held until she finished. Keeping 

good composure, she wrapped things up and 

opened the floor for discussion. 

Again, it was asked, “I heard that when this 

facility opened, the one across the freeway 

would be closing. Are you now saying that 

you're keeping them both?” Stammering, 

Puccinelli said, “Well um, you know, right 

now, um, the existing theater is, uh, a retail 

zone property and if the zoning were to 

change they might develop it into something 

else but right now, um, that's the situation.” 

Whispers grew louder and the resident said, 

“So it's your intention to operate both facilities 

then, correct?” Puccinelli said, “Yes, that 

may change in the future but for now, yes. 

What you may have heard might have been 

different but as we get closer to opening, new 

things come up. Our intention was to close 

Dan Zack 

the other site but the reality is now that we've 

gotten closer to the end, we've decided to keep it open. We still have X amount of 

months left so I can't say whether that will 

change but for now all I can tell you is 

that's the best information we have.” 

The discussion went on to topics such as 

getting art films rather than just blockbusters, 

which was also met with some 

vague answers. It was stated that it would 

be a surprise if independent art films 

weren't shown, but it is up to theater 

bookers to designate those things. The 

question/answer portion continued this 

way for quite some time. The most direct 

answers were about the building itself, 

and a sense of frustration began to pulsate 

through the room. From “What is 

the visitation at Century 12 across the 

freeway?” to “Would the restaurants be 

open later?” and “How will safety precautions 


7

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8


As I Was Saying... 

By 

Steve Penna 

Publisher 

City Council watchers are wondering if the 

recent friendship between member Jim 

Hartnett and Vice Mayor Roseanne Fouts 

will result in some sort of block voting on issues 

that come before them. When I first heard about 

this concern, I immediately thought it was no one’s 

business whom council members are friends with 

let alone to speculate on whether ones are dating. 

There have been council members through the years 

that have had fantastic friendships – Dick Claire and 

Judy Buchan, Claire and Hartnett, Colleen Jordan 

and Matt Leipzig, Diane Howard and Barbara 

Pierce, Bob Bury and Bill Stangle, Georgie LaBerge 

and Jack Greenalch, and given that I never heard anyone 

question the issue of block voting with them, it left 

me wondering, why now? 

If you look at their voting records you will find that 

since Fouts joined the council in 2003 she and 

Hartnett have over 90 percent of the time voted in unison. 

I would imagine that they did so because they 

agree on the direction they must take to improve the 

quality of their community’s lives. Nothing more, 

nothing less. 

So why am I writing about this issue? Because given 

the fact that there is concern, no matter how small it 

is, the issue needs discussion. But as far as I am 

concerned, given the two persons involved, our 

community should rest assured that they will continue 

to be individual voices/votes on the council and any 

concerns that suggest otherwise, no matter how well 

intended they are, should be put to rest. 

* * * * 

There is a behind-the-scenes effort being waged to rally 

the City Council and have the community square in 

front of the Old County Courthouse (or another 

appropriate venue) named Uccelli Square in honor of 

Pete Uccelli who passed away late last year. A group of 

community-minded persons – which I am proud to be 

a part of – has been meeting and gathering support 

and will approach the City Council in the next couple 

of weeks to present the idea. 

But I am hearing chatter that the city might be looking 

for that big donor to name the square after. Consider 

the possibilities – Oracle Optical Square? Electronic 

Arts (Electric Center)? Starbucks Coffee (Caffeine 

Circle)? All seem quite ridiculous and naming the 

square after anything besides someone who has given 

to our community is too. 

* * * * 

As we went to press, the Planning Commission was 

holding a public hearing about revamping the zoning 


9

Redwood City businesses are 

here to serve you! 

The Spectrum Magazine knows you are always looking for different places 

to dine, bank, invest, shop, work out or treat yourself. We have been out in 

our community using businesses that not only provide excellent service but 

also contribute to our community. 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 to tune your vehicle, this Redwood City institution has been providing 

quality vehicle services since 1957. 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. 

Winter is here, maybe you should give them a call. 

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 the 

Emerald Hills region bordering Woodside and Redwood City. It is a popular stop 

for bicycle touring clubs and local sports celebrities, such as members of the San 

Francisco 49ers football team. 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, Mexican tacos and quesadillas. If 

you use their coupon in this month’s Spectrum, you can get 10 percent off all 

meals; now that’s an offer you cannot pass up! 

Diving Pelican Café: 650 Bair Island Road, Suite 102 – This restaurant may be 

the best-kept secret in Redwood City. They offer a variety of specialty items, 

including eggs Benedict with fresh crab and homemade hollandaise sauce. They 

also have beer, wine, and espresso drinks available to go. For your convenience, 

they have outdoor seating available that overlooks the water. Conveniently located 

half a mile from the freeway, it’s easy for you 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 cheese 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 Street – 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. He participates in the City 

Trees program, helping to plant and maintain greenery around the area, and works 

with other local organizations, such as the Peninsula Sunrise Rotary, the Chamber 

of Commerce, and Rebuild Together. He participates in the San Mateo County 

Civil Grand Jury. Additionally, Hyman is proud of the fact that his business products 

are nearly 100 percent recyclable, and they contribute their leftovers to Saint 

Anthony’s Dining Room in Redwood City. Need a caterer for that festive 

gathering? Call Dave at (650)365-3731. 

Mexquite Mexican Cuisine and Cantina: 2616 Broadway – Formerly OK 

Maguey restaurant. Mario Astorga, original founder of Hola! Mexican Restaurant 

in Belmont, has joined Jorge Alverez to create a fully remodeled restaurant that is 

attracting a new crowd to downtown. They have a menu with varied selections, full 

bar and live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Give them a try; we think 

you will like it. 

Savvy Cellar Wines: 2048 Broadway – One of the newest “hot spots” in town, 

they provide daily specials of wine-tasting flights. The specials are rotated biweekly 

and all wines are drawn from their retail wine shop inventory. The wine bar is 

always open during regular business hours. Sampling wines side by side is a great 

way to expand your wine knowledge. All their wines are rated 90 and above. All 

bottle prices are $39 or less. They have live jazz once a week and have free wireless 

high-speed Internet service. They also provide great food complements to 

wine: artisan cheeses, quiche, fresh baguette, olives, chocolates and more. Tuesday 

through Saturday (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.) they offer a European lunch plate for $11.95. 

10 

It includes quiche, cheeses, baguette bread, fruit and a glass of wine. Taste what 

you want. Buy what you like. 

Financial Institutions: 

First National Bank: 700 El Camino Real – In the ever merging world of the 

banking industry it’s hard to find places where the consumer or small business 

owner’s voice still matters. Independent banks and small local banking chains, 

which would take the time to listen, are slowly becoming things of the past. This 

is not the case, luckily, at First National Bank of Northern California, according to 

Brian Palter. Palter is the branch manager of the Redwood City location. “When 

we have a new client and do right by them,” said Palter, “they tell others.” Doing 

right by a client, whether old or new, requires taking extra steps in situations that 

nationwide chains might not do. Give Brian a call and see what he means! 

Edward Jones: 702 Marshall Street #515 – For decades, Edward Jones believed 

in building relationships through face-to-face interaction and adhering to a strategy 

of recommending quality investments that have proven themselves over time. 

So does Investment Representative David Amman, who manages their 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. 

Personal Improvement: 

Redwood Massage & Sauna: 797 Arguello Street – 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 thirty 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 optimizing 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 - amidst a clean, comfortable and serene surrounding. 

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 healthcare industry 

and over ten 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. You can call (650) 261-0500 and mention The Spectrum Magazine. 

Retail: 

Mayers Jewelers: 2303 Broadway – Redwood City’s oldest family-owned jeweler 

still sparkles like it did the first day they opened in 1969. They have a large selection 

of necklaces, rings and watches. If you cannot find exactly what you want , 

they have personal designs that have kept Redwood City residents frequenting this 

fine business for years. 

Cartridge World: Sequoia Station – When was the last time you could save 

money and improve the environment? Recycle and save at Cartridge World! Just 

bring your toner cartridges and fill up at great rates. This business offers expert 

advice and quality service and they also offer pick-up and drop-off services for 

their clients. From inkjets to laser toners, they do it all. Call for a quote! Owners 

Yogeeta and Sunil Bhas are ready to serve you and your company. 

Home Improvements: 

Lewis Carpet Cleaners: 1.800.23.LEWIS – Rick Lewis, Founder, Lewis Carpet & 

Upholstery Cleaners, 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, lives and resides in Redwood City and has truly made this 

town their home. The Lewis family is committed to the vision and success of our 

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

devoting time, efforts, energy and services today and in the future. Lewis has built 

his company on a foundation of integrity, loyalty and communication. Call and 

ask about their Spectrum special. You can get 100 square feet of carpet cleaning 

for absolutely nothing. Call today!


(continued from page 5) 

truth or right by your words. don`t get on my bad side I wanna 

be your friend not an enemy. I love my shoes ?? even thought 

I don't have that many. my babyphat are my babiess! ii hate 

going to school but I love it because of all my friends ;D I 

wanna be a Super Model. I wish I was a smarty pants but I 

can be a couch potato most of the time. I love watching 

degrassi. my favorite show of all time. I also love talking on 

my celly phone with my friends. ;] =P I love Writing poems 

and listening to the radio. I love getting new stuff. Christmas 

is my favoritest holiday; along with my birthday. I like making 

up words. ;D ( &I like guys that are nice& funny. I like 

getting notes in class; I love chatting on aim. I love puppies 

yet I don`t have one. I love my family&friends. Get at me!” 

She also added, “I wanna meet a guy: that would call me 

every mornin` just to say wake up my sleepy head` or just 

good mornin` baby >;D the guy that will call me out of 

nowhere just to tell me he loves me or he misses me. the guy 

that would do anythin` just to make me smile. the guy that 

likes me for me. the guy that makes me smile just gettin` to 

hear his voice. the guy that calls in the middle of night just 

`cause he misses my voice. the guy that understands me. the 

guy that can stand my bitchy mood swings. the guy that 

knows when i`m feelin` down and tries to cheer me up. the 

one that will kidnap me away from my pain&sorrow and 

hold me in his arms tightly and tell me that he`s always gonna 

be by my side. the guy that keeps his pinkee promises and definately his words. 

the one that can wipe away my tears. the one that tells me he loves me and actually 

means it. the guy that does anythin` just to be with me. the one that`s one 

phone call away. my lover&bestfriend” 

Much less disturbing profiles have been used to gain access to young teens. Often 

the teenagers communicate with their offenders and it is too late once the victims 

of these horrible crimes are found. The Internet, television and other media 

sources are flooded with incidents. CourtTV.com reported, “HARTFORD, Conn. 

(AP) - Police are investigating whether as many as seven teenage girls have been 

sexually assaulted by men they met through the popular Web site MySpace.com. 

The girls, ages 12 to 16, are from Middletown and say they were fondled or had 

consensual sex with men who turned out to be older than they claimed. None of 

the incidents appeared to be violent, said Middletown Police Sgt. Bill McKenna. 

He said it was difficult to determine the exact number of victims because some 

girls have been reluctant to disclose that they met their assailants online.” 

As Riehl World Views reported, “Judy Cajuste: 14 Year Old NJ Girl Found Dead - 

- Police have identified the body of a New Jersey girl as 14 year old Judy Cajuste. 

left naked, strangled and placed in a dumpster, authorities are looking into her PC 

records, as they believe she 

may have met foul play as 

the result of meeting an 

individual through her 

MySpace account.” 

the popular networking site. 

Adam Hunter of MSNBC 

reported on another case, 

“NEW YORK - Early one 

morning a few weeks ago, 

Kara Borden, a 14-yearold 

from Lititz, Pa., logged 

onto MySpace. The 

young, bubbly, blondhaired, 

brown-eyed home 

schooled high school 

freshman had a profile on 

“Her page was brightly colored with pink-lined black boxes listing her friends and 

hobbies, a rainbow striped white background and a picture of her in a pink top, 

smiling with lips closed to hide her braces. She listed her interests as soccer, talking 

on the phone, the beach and partying. ‘Books are gay,’ she wrote. She lied 

about her age, listing it as 17. 

“A few hours later she allegedly stood by as her boyfriend, David Ludwig, 18, shot 

and killed her parents. David was on MySpace, too. 

“Kara's parents were killed on Nov. 13. Just after noon the next day, police tracked 

the two teens down in Indiana, capturing them after a high 

speed chase. But before that, as the story of the double murder 

and the two missing teens hit the news, hundreds of curious, 

savvy Web surfers found Kara and David's MySpace 

profiles and Xanga blogs. It didn't take long for reporters to 

begin doing the same thing. A photo used by numerous news 

Web sites was also from the MySpace profile of Kara's best 

friend. MSNBC was first to report the teens' interests found 

listed online.” 

A statement given by MySpace.com said it was committed to 

providing a safe environment for its users. The site, which 

includes safety tips, also prohibits use by anyone younger 

than 14, though a disclaimer says the people who run the 

site can't always tell if users are lying about their ages. Other 

than that, not much else has been done. 

These are just a few reports. The most recent crime related 

to MySpace.com is the stabbing in Berkeley. An account 

user posted a party they were to have that night. Over a 

hundred people showed up and a stabbing took place. You 

may also have heard about the murder of 17-year-old Taylor 

Behl from Vienna, Virginia. A young college student eager 

to learn and make friends posted her profile and photo on 

MySpace.com while still in high school. It was there she met 

a 38-year-old amateur photographer named Ben Fawley. 

Fawley used Myspace to portray himself as a dark, romantic, artistic type who was 

into Goth culture and studying bones and skulls. 

The young girl grew closer to Fawley and became intimate with him on at least one 

or two occasions. After one such occasion, she came up missing. It took a couple 

of days for her roommates to report her missing but the search was on and the past 

of Ben Fawley began to bring up many suspicious signs. Along with several computers 

that authorities seized, and many photos of Behl, the police found numerous 

convictions and a criminal past that painted many scenes of violent behavior 

toward women. 

Twelve days after her disappearance, authorities caught a break when an off-duty 

officer found Taylor Behl's car. Only six days after that, police arrested Fawley on 

unrelated charges. The computers they had seized had 16 counts of very graphic 

child pornography movies and photos on them. Some were of children as young 

as 24 months old. Further investigation turned up things from Fawley's home, 

such as sex toys, whips, chains, a hatchet, a machete and a gun cartridge. Some 

photos became a lead and officers eventually found human remains about 70 miles 

east of Richmond near the Chesapeake 

Bay, where Fawley had taken the photos. 

It appeared the body had been 

buried and dug up by animals. It took 

dental records to confirm it was 17- 

year-old Taylor Behl. 

Ben W. Fawley later claimed he had 

killed Behl accidentally. He was 

indicted January 17, 2006, for firstdegree 

murder, but the indictment was 

amended and he is now being charged 

with second-degree murder. His trial 

is scheduled to begin May 30. 

Stories just like this are growing in 

numbers. There are multiple hundreds 

of men and women from ages 35 to 65 

in Redwood City on the site. There 

are also hundreds of registered sex 

offenders in the area. The less specific 

the search, the more profiles that turn 

up. Anyone can post a picture that is not actually them, so children may think 

they are talking to another teen when in fact they are making plans to meet with 

a sex offender. These prowlers know just how to lure children in and the Web site 

information provides everything they need. Also, another disturbing fact is that if 

you browse the site there are several pornographic photos throughout the pages. 

No matter the age of the child, they can easily catch an eyeful of disturbing images 


11


Nonprofits in Action 

SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 

The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered in April 1998. In the 16 years 

since that time, the club has met weekly at 7:30 a.m. at Pete’s Harbor for breakfast, 

which features various speakers on a wide range of subjects. 

It has been named the “Best Small Club” in Rotary District 5150, comprising 

Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. 

The club’s major fundraising activity is its annual Irish Night, held at the Senior 

Center on Madison Avenue, on a date near to March 17. Another Club fundraising 

activity is the Club’s beverage booth at the annual Vertical Challenge air show 

at Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos. Funds raised this past year by the 20- 

member club provided nearly $46,000 in contributions for community, youth, 

international and vocational projects. 

This club meets every Tuesday at the Waterfront Restaurant. For more information 

or to join them, call Lorianna Kastrop at (650) 299-0303. 

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/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 President Steve (365-8089) or Secretary Ted Cole (366-1392), or come 

join them for lunch to learn more about how you can make a difference. 

FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY 

Looking for a dependable source for skilled, reliable workers? They provide 

employers with mature, ready to work, experienced workers who are 55 years and 

older. Employers contact the service to hire workers because they appreciate the 

superior work ethic and the commitment to doing quality work that mature workers 

possess. There are no fees for hiring candidates. Contact Barbara Clipper to 

place your job order at (650) 403-4300, extension 4368. 

educational speakers and refreshments. 

A demonstration of assistive devices is held on the first Wednesday of the month 

at 10:30 a.m. at the Redwood City Public Library, second floor conference room, 

1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, California. 

An evening meeting is held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at 

the Redwood City Public Library, second floor conference room. Please call Marj 

at (650) 593-6760 with any questions. 

SHHH is the nation’s voice for people with hearing loss. Our members include 

people with hearing loss, their families and friends, and caring professionals. 

City Talk Toastmasters Club 

Join the Redwood City Toastmasters Club to develop your communication and 

leadership skills. The club meets on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 in the 

Council Chambers at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road in the Council Chambers. 

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. 

REDWOOD CITY WOMEN’S CLUB 

This community service organization meets the first Thursday of each month at 

149 Clinton Street. Social at 11:30 a.m., lunch ($10) at noon, general meeting at 

12:30 p.m. Program at 1 p.m. Visitors welcome. For information call (650) 363-1266. 

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

printed in The Spectrum, e-mail it to writers@spectrummagazine.net or mail to The 

Spectrum Magazine mailing address at: 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. 

For those looking for work, Family Services provides a range of services for those 

who are at least 55 years of age. Services range from referrals for classroom training, 

vocational counseling, job referrals and on-the-job training for qualified participants. 

Contact Connie Tilles if you are looking for work at (650) 403-4300, 

extension 4371. 

THE WOODSIDE TERRACE A.M. KIWANIS CLUB 

Since 1956 the Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club has devoted itself to community 

service and is one of three Kiwanis Clubs in Redwood City. Through the 

decades, they have provided funds to help many worthy community programs. 

The Key Club of Sequoia High School, sponsored by the Woodside Terrace A.M. 

Kiwanis Club, was chartered in 1994 and has been actively involved in raising 

money and donating time and effort to many of our programs such as the Special 

Game Day, Christmas Wrap, Car Show and even taking pledges for KQED. 

They currently meet every Thursday morning at 7:15 a.m. at the Waterfront 

Restaurant, 1 Uccelli Drive. Come join them for breakfast. Listen to interesting 

speakers from our community. Share in the fun, the laughs, the strength, the drive 

and the generosity that makes up the camaraderie of the Woodside Terrace A.M. 

Kiwanis Club. 

SHHH-Peninsula (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People) 

SHHH is a volunteer, international organization of hard-of-hearing people, relatives 

and friends. SHHH is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, educational organization 

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 Building, 1455 Madison Avenue, Redwood City. We provide 

12


Rotary Gives Dictionaries to 

Garfield Charter Third-Graders 

The Redwood City and Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Clubs presented dictionaries 

to all 81 third-graders at Garfield Charter School on Wednesday, January 

25, as part of the clubs’ continuing commitment to improve childhood 

literacy. 

Rotarians Pete Hughes and Judy Cooper participated in the donation, assisted by Garfield 

K-5 Director Alex Hunt (holding dictionary). 

This is the first of three dictionary giveaways to Redwood City schools sponsored 

by the two local Rotary Clubs. The clubs each donated $1000 to fund the 

program. All third graders at Taft and Fair Oaks elementary schools will be presented 

dictionaries in the next few weeks. 

For more information, please contact: Jill Singleton, publicity director, Redwood 

City Rotary. 

KAINOS/PENINSULA SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 

IRISH NIGHT 

AT THE VETERAN’S MEMORIAL BUILDING - 1455 MADISON AVENUE - REDWOOD CITY 

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 

TICKETS - $35 PER PERSON - ALL INCLUSIVE 

DOOR PRIZES 

5:30 - HAPPY HOUR 

WITH GREEN BEER & WINE 

SILENT AUCTION 

7:00 - LIVE AUCTION & 

DINNER 

MAJOR EVENT UNDERWRITER 

SAN MATEO CREDIT UNION 

EVENT SPONSORS 

BAY AREA BANK 

ON BROADWAY - PETE’S HARBOR - 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK - DANFORD FOUNDATION 

NOR CAL WASTE SYSTEMS - WELLS FARGO BANK 

DANI GASPARINI & ALYN BEALS - 

PROVIDENT CREDIT UNION - T&H LUMBER 

HOSTED BY THE PENINSULA SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 

BENEFITING KAINOS HOME & TRAINING CENTER & OTHER LOCAL CHARITIES 

FOR TICKETS CALL KAINOS (650) 363-2423 

CRAB CIOPPINO DINNER 

Presented by 

Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club 

Saturday, March 25, 2006 

5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 

The American Legion Hall 

651 El Camino Real, Redwood City 

plenty of parking!! 

ALL YOU CAN EAT CIOPPINO 

Complimentary Wine With Dinner, No Host Bar, 

Raffle Prizes, Silent Auction 

$40.00 Per Person 

All Proceeds benefit community programs and services including a college scholarship program, a computer reuse program 

that benefits local students, Special Games for special needs youth, Bike Rodeo/Safety Program, Annual Food & Toy Drive for 

local Charities, Sequoia High School Key Club, Senior Tea, Toiletries collection for women in transition, Relay for Life, 

Neighborhood Clean Up Days, Books for Raising a Reader program and much more! 

TO ORDER TICKETS: 

Tickets are sold on a First Come First Serve basis, limited to available seating. Once allotment has 

been sold, ticket orders cannot be honored. Sorry, no refunds for purchased tickets. Tickets will be 

mailed to the person at the address designated below. 

-------cut here----------------------------------cut here------------------------------cut here------------------------------------ 

Name_________________________________________Phone #_________________________ 

Address/City/Zip_______________________________________________________________ 

Please send ________ tickets at $40.00 each for a total of $_________ (payment enclosed) 

Check or money order made payable to WTAM Kiwanis Foundation, mail to Donna Vaillancourt, 15 Pilot 

Circle, Redwood City, CA 94065. 

13


CULTURAL EVENTS 

The Main Gallery 

invites you to “Hot off the Press: Exploring the boundaries of printmaking” featuring 

artists Cindy Blain, Belinda Chlouber, Linda Fillhardt, Barbara Kirst, Kate 

Orrange and Judith Serebrin. The show runs from February 15 through March 19, 

2006. 

Located at 1018 Main Street, Redwood City, CA 94063, www.themaingallery.org, 

(650) 701-1018. Hours: Wed – Fri 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sat – Sun 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. 

Little Fox 

2209 Broadway 

Ticket purchase and info number is (650) 369-4119 for all shows at the Little Fox. 

Tickets also available online at foxdream.com and at the Fox Theatre Box Office. 

Aja Vu - A Tribute To Steely Dan plus Alien Cowboys 

Presented by Voices of Latin Rock 

Friday, Feb 24, 2006, 8 p.m. $12 adv./$14 door 

The San Francisco-based Aja Vu band won this year’s KFOX Last Band Standing 

competition on the Bay Area’s number-one-rated Greg Kihn Show. Aja Vu performs 

the music of Steely Dan, from “Hey Nineteen” and “Reelin’ in the Years” to 

“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” You can buy a thrill when you hear the tight , 

chunky horns, vocals and solos note for note and phrase for phrase, backed up by 

an unparalleled rhythm section! The Aja Vu show recreates the combination of 

rock, jazzy blues and unique storytelling that has made the Steely Dan sound 

endure throughout pop culture for 30+ years! Aja Vu has also perfomed with The 

Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason, Robben Ford, at Shoreline, at Fresno’s Tower 

Theatre. www.ajavu.com 

Alien Cowboys, an instrumental rock quartet on a mission to restore instrumental 

rock to the worldwide prominence the genre enjoyed in past decades. The band 

features Ralph Perucci on lead guitar, Bruce Stevenson on rhythm guitar, Greg 

Jones on bass, and Ian Thomson on drums. All are San Francisco Bay Area inhabitants, 

except Ralph, who hails from Manhattan. Since its founding in 1997, the 

band has completed three full-length CDs of mostly original material. A fourth 

CD, “LIFT,” which many feel is the band’s best effort to date, and animated video 

has been released and is available at their Web site. www.aliencowboys.com 

The Bingtones plus Wendy Waller Band 

Arbor Bay School Benefit presented by Voices of Latin Rock 

Saturday, Feb 25, 2006, 8 p.m. $16 adv./$18 door 

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. Bing, an East Coast native 

of New Jersey, is a hopeless romantic who has composed music that richly 

describes our life and thoughts from everything from love to our lives since 9/11. 

Bing has joined forces with the “Funk Administrator” and co-producer Jerry 

Pelizzer to put the heartbeat and soul to Bing’s music. The Bingtones are composed 

of veteran musicians who have played with the likes of Malo, Cold Blood, 

Santana and Etta James. With such a wide spectrum of experience the Bingtones 

have hit the ground running in bringing to life the music that Bing and Jerry have 

put together. www.bingmusic.com 

Soul music runs in Wendy Waller’s family. The ability to reach down deep to a 

sacred place inside herself goes all the way back to Waller’s great-grandfather, who 

was a famous cantor in the Ukraine. Her father was a fine trumpet player and 

singer. Her mother played viola ... and the list goes on. The point is this classically 

trained coloratura soprano was born to sing. That natural ability has served 

Waller well. Critics often cite Waller’s ability to use her voice like an instrument. 

“Jazz was constantly in my ear,” says Waller. “My dad played lots of jazz around 

the house. ... Making up melodies and scatting just came naturally. I improvised 

long before I studied improvisation.” www.wendywaller.com 

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Arbor Bay School, a Redwood City nonprofit 

day school for students who benefit from a multisensory, experiential 

approach to learning. 

Elana James & Her Hot Hot Trio 

Thursday, March 2, 2006, 8 p.m. $12 adv./$14 door 

Elana James, formerly of Hot Club of Cowtown, in her own words: “Hot Club of 

Cowtown has gone on to release five CDs internationally plus two more exclusively 

available in Japan. I began 2005 by playing violin/fiddle with Bob Dylan on 

his spring tour (with Merle Haggard and Amos Lee), and most recently played on 

Bob Dylan’s new song “Tell Ol’ Bill,” which was written and recorded for the 

motion picture “North Country” (starring Charlize Theron and Frances 

McDormand). In the fall of 2005 I started a new trio, under my own name, with 

two of my wonderful and talented cousins: Luke Hill (on guitar) and Beau Sample 

(on upright bass), playing hot jazzy tunes, new original songs, western swing, hoedowns, 

and gypsy music. I hope you will come out and see us when we come to 

your neck of the woods!” www.elanamusic.com 

The Heartbeats plus The Houserockers 

A Night of Classic Rock & Soul 

Friday, March 3, 2006, 8 p.m. $12 adv./$14 door 

The Heartbeats have been entertaining discriminating audiences from coast to 

coast and abroad for over 20 years. The Heartbeats’ riveting stage show takes you 

from the Beatles to the Beach Boys, Tom Jones to the soulful sounds of Motown. 

Costumes changing, scenes blazing and tightly woven harmonies make this unique 

stage presentation of classic rock ‘n’ roll a must-see for audiences of all ages. 

www.theheartbeats.net 

One of the hottest and most in-demand bands in Northern California today, The 

Houserockers are a 10-piece rock and soul revue out of Los Gatos that plays the 

greatest songs ever recorded. The group is known for high-energy, fun-filled performances 

that gets everyone up, dancing and singing. Bringing together elements 

of classic rock, 60s soul, R&B, swing, blues and pop, we turn every venue into a 

party. It’s the best show in town – come and rock the night away with The 

Houserockers. www.svhouserockers.com 

Tempest plus Four Shillings Short 

CD Release Concert 

Saturday, March 4, 2006, 8 p.m. $14 adv./$16 door 

Based in Northern California, Tempest is recognized as a driving force in the modern 

folk-rock movement. Fusing traditional material with high-energy rock intensity, 

the band is renowned for its dynamic and electrifying concerts. The group’s 

brand new studio CD, “The Double-Cross,” finds the band in peak form as it 

showcases inventive original and traditional material. Tempest’s members hail 

from five countries across three continents: lead vocalist, electric mandolinist and 

founder Lief Sorbye from Oslo, Norway; drummer Adolfo Lazo from Havana, 

Cuba; guitarist Ronan Carroll from Dublin, Ireland; bassist Ariane Cap from 

Innsbruck, Austria; and fiddler Michael Mullen from Fresno, California. www.tempestmusic.com 

Travelling musicians with a carload of instruments is nothing new in the world of 

folk music, but what if one of those instruments is a sitar from India or a 

Renaissance Crumhorn? Going out on a musical limb is common for the group 

Four Shillings Short. With an ever-increasing array of instruments (over 20 at last 

count), including hammered dulcimer, mandola & mandolin, tinwhistle & woodwinds, 

sitar, banjo, percussion and vocals, their music is always varied and captivating. 

In a single night, Four Shillings Short performs traditional Irish tunes and 

airs, Indian ragas, folk ballads, old-time songs, medieval & Renaissance 

instrumentals and a cappella numbers as well as contemporary folk and original 

compositions. www.art.net/~4ss/ 

Redwood City Blues Jam 

Wednesday, March 8, 2006, 7 p.m. Free admission! 

The popular “Redwood City Blues Jam” has relocated to the Little Fox. Enjoy an 

evening of quality Blues music from the area’s best musicians. Kenny “Blue” Ray 

hosts the jam and invites audience Blues musicians to “jam” on stage. The music 

is real, the mood collegial and the doors open to the community to enjoy this 

uniquely American music. The Jam meets on the second and fourth Wednesday 

each month, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Bring your friends! 

14


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15

REDWOOD CITY'S TOP 

Overseeing an annual budget of 

$118 million and 608 officers and 

administrators, the county's top 

law enforcement officer, San Mateo 

County Sheriff Don Horsley, has influence 

far beyond what is patrolled by his 

office. 

Besides coordinating county law enforcement 

resources, running the jails and 

patrolling the streets, Horsley has built 

his department's regional reputation as a 

progressive agency that will fight crime 

without overly infringing on personal 

rights. 

When first elected in 1993, his department 

assisted in bringing the murder rate 

in East Palo Alto from 42 the previous 

year to two. Horsley won re-election in 

1994, 1998 and 2002 and is set to retire 

in January of 2007. He has been known 

for balancing his budget and fighting for 

his department, not to mention his mildmannered, 

infectious personality. 

Horsley lives in Emerald Hills with his 

wife, Elaine. They have three children: 

Matt, Chris and David. 

DON HORSLEY 

DIANE HOWARD 

Hannig, a founding Partner in the 

Hannig Law Firm, received both 

his JD and MBA degrees from 

Santa Clara University, where he was 

Research Editor for the Law Review and 

founded the Computer and High 

Technology Law Conference. 

Hannig serves on the boards of several 

nonprofit organizations, including 

Kainos Home and Training Center, 

Broadway By The Bay, Casa De 

Redwood, and The Danford Foundation. 

In addition, he is one of the founders of 

The Sequoia Awards. 

Hannig made headlines for his representation 

of Jim and Aida Celotti in their 

eminent domain lawsuit against the 

City/Redevelopment Agency (RDA). On 

May 20, 2004, the courts ruled in favor 

of the Celotti family and they received 

millions. 

This decision has set the course for redevelopment 

in downtown. Word on the 

street is that eminent domain will NOT 

be used for a long time, if ever. 

TED HANNIG 

ED EVERETT 

16

PEOPLE WITH PULL 

Howard was first elected to the 

City Council in November 1994. 

She was re-elected in 1997, 

appointed in 2001 (no election was held 

due to a lack of candidates) and was the 

top vote getter in November 2005 even 

without the Police Officers Association 

endorsement. 

During her terms she has participated on 

the board of Redwood Family House, a 

shelter for homeless families in Redwood 

City. She is also on the Executive Board 

of the Redwood City YMCA, a member 

of Redwood City International, and a 

member of the Redwood City-San Mateo 

County Chamber of Commerce. 

Howard is Vice Chair of the Peninsula 

Congestion Relief Alliance, and Chair of 

the Community Advisory Committee for 

the Bay Area Water Transit Board. She 

also serves on Redwood City 2020, a 

joint venture of County, City, school and 

citizen representatives. She is perhaps 

best known as Chair of the City's Pride 

and Beautification Committee. 

Howard and her husband live in the Mt. 

Carmel neighborhood. She has one adult son. 

Overseeing an annual budget of 

131 million dollars, Everett 

became Redwood City's city manager 

in 1991 after moving over from the 

equivalent position in Belmont. Prior 

government positions include serving as 

a county administrator in Nevada and as 

Palo Alto's fire chief. 

Since then, he's managed Redwood City's 

staff through good economic times and 

bad, as well as through some of the 

Peninsula city's greatest spurts of development. 

He has been praised by some for his leadership 

ability and although he answers to 

seven council members, criticized by others 

for allegedly running the city himself. 

Everett lives in the Woodside Road area 

of Redwood City. 

JIM HARTNETT 

It has been 12 years since 

Hartnett was first elected 

to the Redwood City 

Council. During that 

time, his well-thought-out 

opinions have gained him 

respect from residents and 

colleagues alike. 

An attorney by trade, Jim 

graduated from Sequoia High 

School in 1968 and from Cañada College two years 

later as part of the college's first graduating class. 

He still lives in the home he was raised in on Grand 

Street. 

CARLOS BOLANOS 

Since moving from 

Salinas and taking over as 

Redwood City's police 

chief in 1994, his advocates 

say Bolanos has seen 

crime rates fall and professionalism 

rise. 

Among Bolanos' initiatives 

since taking office 

were installing the acoustic 

“shot-spotter” system in Friendly Acres neighborhood 

and forming a joint anti-gang “crime suppression” 

team with the Sheriff's Department. 

Bolanos also served as interim fire chief in 2003. 

THE NEXT FOUR 

ALPIO BARBARA 

THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO POWERFUL THINGS 

Having one of the most 

successful businesses in 

Redwood City, Redwood 

General Tire Service. 

Barbara donates his time 

and monies to various 

nonprofit agencies. 

But his influence stretches 

far beyond that as he 

serves as the Vice President of the Downtown 

Business Group and is an active member in Rotary. 

As President of the Police Athletic League's Board of 

Directors, the league recently completed the construction 

of a new building which provides an after 

school facility for youngsters. Activities such as 

tutoring, karate, dancing, boxing and computer 

access are provided at the new facility. 

SUSAN MOELLER 

As the Redevelopment 

Manager for the City of 

Redwood City, Moeller is 

possibly the most pressured 

resident of our community. 

The success of 

failure of the Downtown 

Cinema project rests solely 

on her shoulders. Should 

the project succeed, it puts 

her and her department in a position to redevelop 

the downtown area block by block. 

PAULA UCCELLI 

Active in the community for many years with her late husband, Pete, Paula Uccelli is a mainstay 

for stepping up to help those in need. Look for Paula to heal from losing Pete and come 

back stronger than ever. 

MIKE SCANLON 

San Mateo County Transit District Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Scanlon is committed to 

the community. Since joining the district more than eight years ago, community service has 

become a tenet of SamTrans' culture. 

Scanlon has led the district's employees in raising nearly $200,000 in charitable contributions 

to organizations like United Way and for events like the America Heart Walk. Those close to 

him say Scanlon's primary passion will always be providing efficient, effective and safe public 

transportation, helping to relieve traffic congestion throughout the county, acting as the mobility manager 

for a complex network of shuttles, buses and trains and providing the administration for the Transportation 

Authority, the agency tasked with relieving traffic throughout the county through the expenditure of the 

Measure A half-cent sales tax receipts. 

DANI GASPARINI 

Making her first appearance on the Redwood City political scene with a first place finish in 

the City Council race of 1992, Dani Gasparini has never left the community she loves. She 

became Mayor in 1994, and retired from the City Council in 1995. 

Dani is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, has served in executive leadership at 

Bay Area Bank, and is now the Director of Special Gifts at the Sequoia Hospital Foundation. 

17


Wine of the Month 

Wine & Spirits designated 

Roshambo 

Winery one of the 

Top 100 Wineries and 

has rated this zinfandel 

94 points! 

It is also designated 

one of the 

top 10 Zins of 

2005! This delicious 

wine is 

from the Dry 

Creek Valley of 

California, probably 

the most 

famous area for 

Zinfandel in all 

of California. 

Just like an old 

fire and brimstone 

sermon, it 

starts easy and 

lures you in with 

scents of christmas 

spices and then it kicks 

up the volume with an 

explosion of juicy red 

and black berries, 

plums and chocolate. 

To finish you 

are called up front 

to be healed with a 

smack to the forehead 

of spicy, 

smooth tannins 

that leave you 

wanting more. You 

will be back next 

Sunday for some 

more. 

Try this zin with 

chili, teriaki, bbq, 

or even nachos! 

Zinfandel also 

pairs nicely with 

blue cheese. Yum! 

18


19


A Hub of Activity and Community 

Discovered at Local Shops 

By Rose Patterson 

Special to The Spectrum 

Nestled in Redwood City’s Emerald Hills, a complex of locallyowned 

businesses are huddled together in an idyllically quaint 

setting. Situated at the intersection just off of Edgewood Road on 

Oak Knoll, the complex of businesses serves as a hub where the old natural 

charm of Emerald Hills remains intact. 

Cielo Salon is situated on the corner, its large glass windows showcasing a 

content row of pampered clients from morning to night. Beckoning next 

door, with its newly-finished wood flooring and freshly painted walls (and, 

on occasion, the lingering aroma of roasting beans), Canyon Coffee 

Roastery serves a steady and sometimes hectic slew of customers, both 

regulars and enthusiastic newcomers. Next to the coffee shop, a life-sized 

wooden statue stands exuberantly guarding Sancho’s Taqueria. Inside, an 

eclectic display of authentic Mexican dolls and paintings colors its walls as 

customers wait in a clustered line for the chance to request their favorite 

taco, burrito or quesadilla. 

The businesses are excitingly alive, and their boundaries as neighbors are 

charmingly fluid; Cielo’s apron-clad clients pop in next door for a hot chai 

to savor over a manicure, and the Sancho’s crew frequent the coffee shop 

to deliver hot dishes to customers waiting patiently over a cup of coffee. 

Familiarity and friendliness create a local feel unparalleled in today’s fastpaced 

world. Running tabs, alphabetized by customers’ first names, attest 

to the quaint ambiance of the place. Beyond offering quality food, coffee, 

and beauty services, this hub offers a charming experience reminiscent of 

“Cheers,” where “everybody knows your name”– as well as your favorite 

drink, dish and most recent drama. It is the kind of place where employees 

linger at the end of their shifts, where they gravitate even on their days 

off, and where locals find peace and joviality at a home away from home. 

They are even apt to find a ride back from an errand-bound owner or a 

worker just getting off shift. 

As a student in need of a break, this corner was the perfect place for me 

to find the relief of real community; and for readers and residents of the 

Bay Area rushing to make ever-increasing rent (or to study so that one day 

they can), this hub of businesses offers a pause to reconnect and to rev up 

– with a clean trim, a hot latte or a spicy Mexican meal. 

Visit Emerald Hills Shopping Center During Our Construction! 

20


Senior Activities 

The Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue, Redwood City, 

will be providing many great activities during the month of March. These 

activities are open to the public. 

Free Tax Preparation Services for Seniors, Wednesdays only, through April 

12, by appointment. This program is sponsored by AARP (American Association 

of Retired Persons). For more information or to schedule a tax appointment, please 

call 780-7264. 

“How to Benefit from Mother Nature’s Medicine Chest” Free Lecture, 

Wednesday, March 1, 10:30 a.m. Guest speaker is David Stouder, owner of 

Apple Health Foods in Redwood City. He is the host of “The Vitamin Shelf,” a 

weekly health talk radio program that interviews doctors, scientists, herbalists and 

nutritionists (KEST 1450 AM, 7:00 a.m. on Thursdays, and KNEW 910 AM, 

9:00 p.m. on Sundays.) 

Hollywood Hats, Friday March 3, 1 p.m., Theater. Join us for a unique and 

entertaining show about Hollywood, its great stars, and their movies. The program 

will feature songs, stories and legends brought to life through a collection of vintage 

Hollywood hats actually worn by such stars as Katherine Hepburn, Rita 

Hayworth, Greta Garbo, Gloria Swanson and more. Cost is $4. 

St. Patrick’s Day Party, Friday, March 17, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Redwood 

Room. Join the Veterans Memorial Senior Center for a “Lunch and A Bit of the 

Blarney.” The celebration includes Irish music and dance, Songbirds Choir, and an 

Irish sing-along. Menu: corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and carrots, and a special 

dessert. Cost is $8. 

Community Services Musical Theatre Trips. All shows take place at the 

American Musical Theatre of San Jose. The cost is $65 per person, which includes 

round-trip transportation using our City Vans and Orchestra Seating. For more 

information about these trips, please contact Michele Venneri at (650) 780-7344. 

Friday, March 31 – Gypsy; Saturday, June 17 – Hairspray. 

Friday, March 24, 8 - 9 p.m.: Redwood City Accessible Recreation Activities 

Program (ARAP) presents its Second Annual SHOWCASE EVENT! Join us for 

an evening of celebration as we honor all of our participants in various ARAP programs. 

Evening will consist of light appetizers, beverages and the premier of the 

ARAP Drama Club Movie Musical! Donations are welcomed and copies of the 

ARAP movies will be available for purchase. Please come and support the participants 

and the program! 

Music Therapy Program ARAP is pleased to offer a new program specialized for 

children and teens with special needs. Music therapy groups will feature small sessions 

based on age and ability, supportive social and emotional experience, and a 

variety of activities including singing, songwriting, drumming, piano, movement 

and music improvisation. Cost and times may vary per month. Class is instructed 

by Beth Robinson, a Board-Certified Music Therapist. For more information about 

this program, please contact Beth at (415) 637-7281. 

For more information about Accessible Recreation Activities, call 780-7313 or 

780-7344, or visit their website at www.redwoodcity.org. ARAP is designed to 

serve teens and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities from all over 

the Bay Area. All events are held at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center in 

Redwood City unless otherwise stated. To learn more about the Veterans 

Memorial Senior Center, call 780-7270. 

School Move Budget Soars 

Estimates for the relocation of Redwood High School into modules on the 

Sequoia High School campus and a charter school onto the vacant Redwood 

campus will cost four times more than original estimates, jumping from $1.5 

million to $6.5 million. 

The Sequoia Union High School District decided at the end of last year to move 

forward with a proposal to move both Summit Charter and Redwood high schools. 

The original plan was to move Summit into portables on the Sequoia campus 

would cost between $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The current plan will move 

Redwood High School into permanent modulars on the Sequoia campus and allow 

Summit to move into Redwood’s old school with a $6.5 million price tag. While 

the cost increased significantly from other estimates, district officials said this 

change will be better in the long run. 

“The $1.5 million was for about two years of rentals. That project is not at all comparable 

with what we’re doing which is to build a new addition to the Sequoia, 

James Avenue property. At one point we were going to rent a bunch of portables 

and say good-bye to the money. The current budget for $6.5 million is to put up 

a new educational facility at the Sequoia campus. The two projects are completely 

different,” said Ed LaVigne, assistant superintendent of administrative services. 

Under Proposition 39, the Sequoia High School District must provide facility 

space for Summit Charter High by fall 2006, Superintendent Pat Gemma aid previously. 

Over the past two years, many ideas were considered with little luck. 

With time running out, the decision was made to move the students of Summit 

Charter High to Redwood High’s current location at 1968 Old County Road. 

Redwood will be moved into modules on top of seven tennis courts at Sequoia 

High School. 

The money to pay for the move will come from the $70 million Measure H bond 

measure passed in November 2004, which had $3.5 million earmarked for 

Summit. Instead of using the money for Summit, the district will take advantage 

of the leeway in bond money use and allocate $6.5 million in the bond money to 

move Redwood. Summit will be completely responsible for any cost needed to 

move into the Redwood site. 

LaVigne said a majority of the cost increase is for the prep work for the land prior 

to placing the portables. The estimate is a conservative one, he said. 

This change will not affect the general budget of the district or the projects to be 

funded with Measure H money, said board President Gordon Lewin. 

“The preparation work required for this land is more expensive than was thought 

and it has to be done. Obviously that’s why when we developed our construction 

budget there was money set aside for contingencies,” he said. 

Lewin said the important thing to remember is this change will allow the district 

a new permanent addition. 

“I think what you’ll have in the end is we’re buying high-quality buildings that will 

be attractive. We’re not putting cheap portables here. These will last for years if 

we do it right,” said Lewin. 

The change is to be complete for both schools by the beginning of the 2006-2007 

school year, said LaVigne. 

“There’s no margin for error. We’re going 100 mph for kids to have what they 

need,” he said. 

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Daily Journal newspaper. 

21


Two Ways to Boost Retirement Income 

By David Amman 

Special to The Spectrum 

If you have several years to go until retirement, now is the right time to determine 

about how much annual income you can count on as a retiree. And if it 

looks like you might be coming up short, you’ll want to take action soon. 

Even if you’ve been investing for many years, you may not be able to count on a 

typical portfolio of stocks and bonds to provide you with the income you’ll need 

to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle. Consequently, you may want to consider 

these two moves: purchasing an immediate annuity and delaying your Social 

Security payments. Let’s examine both these options. 

Immediate results that last a lifetime 

An immediate annuity works pretty much as the name suggests. You make a lumpsum 

payment to an insurance company, and you immediately start receiving an 

income stream, which can last the rest of your life. Immediate annuities are fairly 

low-risk, especially if you buy one from a company that receives the highest ratings 

for safety and stability from one of the independent rating agencies. And they 

can provide a reasonable amount of income: If you are 65, and you buy a 

$100,000 immediate annuity, you’ll receive annual lifetime income of $7,848 if 

you are a man and $7,392 if you are a woman (as of August 22, 2005). (These 

amounts can vary, depending on the current interest rate environment and the 

state in which you live.) 

Still, immediate annuities do have a “down” side. Specifically, the fixed payments 

you receive each month are subject to inflation. You could easily live another two 

or even three decades in retirement; over that time, even a relatively mild inflation 

rate can seriously erode the purchasing power of your fixed-income payments. 

To combat this problem, you might want to look for an immediate annuity that is 

indexed for inflation. Your monthly payments in the first few years might be lower 

than those offered by a non-indexed annuity, but each year, your income will 

increase along with inflation. 

As you might have guessed, another possible drawback to an immediate annuity is 

longevity. While you can’t predict the future, you may want to take into account 

your family history of longevity before you purchase an immediate annuity. You 

also can structure your annuity to “protect” your investment. For example, you 

could accept lower monthly payments in exchange for the ability to name a beneficiary 

to receive your income stream for a designated number of years. 

Delaying Social Security 

Another way to boost your retirement income is to delay taking Social Security 

payments. Suppose, for instance, that you were born between 1943 and 1954, and 

you were eligible to receive $750 each month in Social Security once you reached 

62. If you could just wait four more years, until you were 66, you’d receive $1,000 

a month. This strategy depends, of course, on whether you’d have sufficient 

income to tide you over for those four years – but if you do, it’s something to consider. 

And again, if you have concerns about your longevity, this “delaying” technique 

may not be right for you. 

Buying immediate annuities and delaying Social Security are just two of the ways 

you may be able to boost your retirement income. For more suggestions, consult 

with a financial professional. But don’t delay: The more time you have on your 

side, the better your options. 

Editor’s note: David Amman is one of the Redwood City community members who contributes 

to The Spectrum. If you have any questions regarding investments please send them 

to writers@spectrummagazine.net or The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood 

City, CA, 94064. 

22 

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News Briefs 

REDWOOD CITY MAN PLEADS NO CONTEST TO MOLESTING NIECE 

A Redwood City man faces up to 16 years in prison when he is sentenced in a San 

Mateo County courtroom in February after pleading no contest to molesting his 

young niece numerous times over a six-year period Willie Peter Koi, 24, earlier 

pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a minor under 

the age of 14. However, at his pre-trial conference, as part of a plea bargain Koi 

pleaded no contest to five counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a minor under 

the age of 14, and one count of committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a minor 

under the age of 14 by use of force, violence or the threat of bodily harm, the San 

Mateo County District Attorney’s office reported. Koi molested his niece from 

August 1999, when she was 7 years old, until February 2005, at which time she 

was 13, the district attorney’s office reported. The assaults included oral copulation, 

sexual intercourse and forcible rape, according to the district attorney’s 

office. Of the 22 counts Koi originally faced, 17 of them occurred in Sacramento 

County at the victim’s Rancho Cordova home, and the remaining five counts 

reportedly occurred in Redwood City. Koi, who is in custody in lieu of $1 million, 

was scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. 

WOMAN KILLED BY TRAIN IN REDWOOD CITY IDENTIFIED 

A woman who was killed after being struck by a train in Redwood City has been 

identified as 58-year-old Bonnie Heitz, San Mateo County Chief Deputy Coroner 

Tom Marriscolo said. The collision occurred on the Caltrain tracks at Brewster 

Avenue and Arguello Street, adjacent to the Brewster Wash and Dry Laundromat 

at 701 Arguello St. Mark Mitsch, who had known Heitz for 35 years, said Heitz 

walked across the train tracks where she was struck every day to get to a bus that 

took her to her job in San Carlos. According to Mitsch, Heitz’s co-workers at 

Kelly-Moore Paint Co. called him after Heitz did not show up for work. They said 

“this is not her; this is unusual,’’ Mitsch said. “She always calls if she’s going to be 

late.’’ Mitsch said he checked Heitz’s apartment and called Sequoia Hospital for 

any sign of her, finding none. When he heard someone had been hit by a train a 

few blocks from where Heitz lived, he said he had to check and see if it was Heitz. 

Heitz’s body was located about 20 feet from a Caltrain guardrail next to a fence. 

Warning signs reminding pedestrians not to cross the tracks are visible from the 

scene of the accident. Marriscolo said Heitz’s death is not believed to be a suicide, 

though the coroner is still investigating. 

REDWOOD CITY-BASED VIDEO GAME COMPANY CUTS JOBS 

Electronic Arts notified 145 of its employees that they are being laid off as the 

video game company prepares for the next generation of gaming consoles, spokeswoman 

Trudy Muller said. Muller said the layoff affects a “relatively small percentage’’ 

of the Redwood City-based company’s total workforce. The company 

employs close to 7,000 people worldwide from Los Angeles to London and Tokyo. 

About 1,600 of those jobs are in Redwood City. Muller said the company is reshifting 

its focus during a “hardware transition’’ in anticipation of a “new generation 

of hardware consoles.’’ The company is tailoring its workforce to better 

accommodate the next phase in gaming technology, trying to find “the right size 

and skill mix,’’ Muller said. “Across every division in the coming weeks and 

months we’re re-evaluating everything,’’ Muller said. “We’ve done this before. 

We’ve always emerged from transitions stronger.’’ The company, which produces 

games including Madden NFL, is expected to announce its third quarter earnings 

results today. 

REDWOOD CITY BABY FOUND IN TRASH KILLED BY INFECTION 

San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault said that a newborn girl found in a 

Redwood City trash bin in late November died as a result of a placental infection. 

“The baby was born septic,” and died very shortly if not immediately after she was 

born, according to Foucrault. The infection could have been caused by an amniotic 

fluid leak, Foucrault said. Preliminary autopsy results showed there was air in 

the lungs of the newborn, according to Foucrault. However, there were no signs of 

trauma to the baby’s body. Redwood City resident Hilda Figueroa, 29, who pleaded 

not guilty on Jan. 4, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child 

endangerment after she allegedly placed her newborn in a Dumpster. According to 

San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, the charges 

against Figueroa have not changed in light of the recent toxicology results. 

However, since the test results do suggest the baby died as a result of an infection, 

there is a greater likelihood that the charge of involuntary manslaughter against 

Figueroa could be dismissed. Redwood City police were directed to Figueroa’s 

home after she sought treatment at the San Mateo Medical Center on Nov. 30, 

saying she had delivered a premature, stillborn fetus at home. According to police, 

Figueroa told medical staff she flushed the stillborn fetus down the toilet. The hospital 

contacted the Police Department at 12:40 p.m. that same day after a routine 

medical examination indicated that Figueroa had given birth to a full-term infant, 

police said. Officers found the child wrapped in plastic bags in the trash at 

Figueroa’s apartment building in the 600 block of Buckeye Street. Figueroa was 

arrested later that day at around 5 p.m., according to police. Figueroa, who was 

released from custody on $100,000 bail, will appear in court on March 17 at 9 

a.m. for her preliminary hearing. 

TWO-ALARM RWC BLAZE CAUSES ‘EXTENSIVE’ DAMAGE 

Witnesses said it looked like it was “raining fire” when a two-alarm blaze in 

Redwood City sent 30-foot flames shooting into the air, according to Louis Vella, 

Administrative Chief and Fire Marshal for the Redwood City Fire Department. 

Firefighters learned about the blaze at 3:35 a.m. and took about 30 minutes to get 

it under control, Redwood City fire Capt. Martin Schutt said. The fire was reported 

at a residence at 3312 Spring St., but Vella said the blaze started in a backyard 

shed that was detached from the main building. One man, who is said to be in his 

20s, was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s burn unit after suffering 

second- and third-degree burns, Redwood City fire Battalion Chief Geoffrey 

Balton said. Witnesses said the injured man was attempting to extinguish the fire 

before firefighters reached the scene, according to Balton. When firefighters did 

arrive, they found the man “out on the sidewalk in pain and screaming,” Vella 

said. Vella said the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, though witnesses said 

“they have seen a person that may have been staying or sleeping in the shed.” Vella 

said that person is believed to be the injured man. The blaze spread across three 

adjoining properties, damaged the roofs of two houses and displaced one family. 

The family has already made arrangements to move into a vacant rental property 

in an apartment building next to their home, Schutt said. Vella said the damage 

to the three properties was “fairly extensive,” but he did not yet have a dollar figure 

for the damage. 

ALLEGED NORTENO GANG MEMBER PLEADS INNOCENT TO SHOOTING 

An alleged Norteno gang member pleaded not guilty in a San Mateo County 

courtroom to charges he and several others fired gunshots at two rival gang members 

in unincorporated Redwood City. Redwood City resident Olinscer “Pato” 

Leyva, 20, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and participation in a 

criminal street gang, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s 

Office. Shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday February 11, Leyva and several other 

Norteno gang members reportedly approached two alleged Sureno gang members 

in a parking lot at 535 Oakside Ave. near Hampshire Avenue, the San Mateo 

County Sheriff’s Office reported. Leyva and the other Norteno gang members 

reportedly yelled out gang identifiers and challenged the two victims to a fight. 

One of the victims had a bottle thrown at his vehicle while attempting to flee. The 

other victim was chased by the Norteno gang members as he ran toward the fleeing 

vehicle. According to the sheriff’s office, three shots were fired from a semiautomatic 

pistol in the direction of the running victim. However, he was not 

struck by any of the bullets. Following an investigation into the shooting, Leyva, 

Redwood City resident Agustin “Oso” Cueavas, 20, and a 17-year-old Redwood 

City teen, who is believed to have been the shooter, were taken into custody. 

According to prosecutors, at the time of the shooting Leyva was out of custody on 

his own recognizance after he was arrested for attempted robbery and residential 

burglary. Leyva, who remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail, will appear in 

court on Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. for his preliminary hearing. 

APRIL TRIAL FOR JUVENILES CHARGED WITH MURDER 

Three teens suspected of participating along with two adult defendants in the 

gang-related shooting of a Redwood City man in July are scheduled to stand trial 

for murder in April, but their attorneys are asking for more time. 

The three boys, one 15 and two 16, are being tried as juveniles in the July 12 

shooting of 21-year-old Francisco Rodriguez. The defendants are not being identified 

because they are minors. The trio has entered a denial — the juvenile court 

equivalent of not guilty — to murder and conspiracy charges and is scheduled for 

trial April 24. Defense attorneys indicated a desire to seek more time to review evidence 

and a new date may be set Feb. 28. 

While the three move through juvenile court, another 15-year-old boy is being 

prosecuted as an adult. That boy, Josue Orozco, is the youngest suspect’s older 

brother and the county’s youngest adult defendants also face a special allegation 

of participating in a street crime. Orozco is presumed the actual shooter with 

authorities pinpointing Ayala as the getaway driver. 

A judge can still sentence Orozco as a minor and, as a juvenile, would be housed 

at the California Youth Authority until he is an adult. In juvenile court, he would 

be incarcerated until age 25 — the same maximum faced by the three juvenile 

defendants currently. Orozco and Ayala, both alleged Sureño gang members, have 

pleaded not guilty and were ordered Friday back to court Feb. 24 to set a preliminary 

hearing date. 

The five defendants were arrested less than 24 hours after the shooting and 

Orozco allegedly confessed. The defendants encountered Rodriguez near his 

apartment carport at 475 Redwood Ave. Orozco allegedly got out of the car, covered 

his face, pulled a gun from his waistband and, as Rodriguez turned, fired a 

shot. 

23


Downtown Redwood City 

construction update 

Downtown Detours 

and Road Closures 

The remodeling of Redwood City’s 

downtown “streetscape” is moving into the final 

stages of street and sidewalk enhancements! 

Broadway between Jefferson and Redwood Creek 

Crossing will be closed to vehicular traffic for one 

week at the end of February while construction is 

completed on this section of Broadway. Two lanes of 

Jefferson will continue to be closed between Broadway 

and Middlefield until the end of March, and then 

all lanes of Jefferson will re-open. Meanwhile, work 

will continue on the Middlefield side of the retailcinema 

complex, and on Broadway between Hamilton 

and Jefferson. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a final layer of asphalt is placed on Jefferson, 

Middlefield, and Broadway at the end of April, Redwood 

City’s downtown streets will once again be fully 

open to motorists. All schedules are weatherdependent. 

The City wishes to extend a big “Thank You!” to 

motorists, pedestrians, and particularly our downtown 

businesses for their patience during the downtown 

construction. Be sure to come downtown in 

May to enjoy the beautiful new sidewalk and street 

pavers, high-quality planter boxes, decorative street 

lights, new street trees, and many other beautiful 

design details. 

DURING CONSTRUCTION: 

All businesses are open 

Pedestrian access is available 

Vehicular detours are provided 

Please visit our website at www.redwoodcity.org or call our question line (650) 780-7563 

24


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(650) 363-8737 

www.savvycellar.com * info@savvycellar.com 

26



and loitering be handled?”, many questions were answered with a simple “I don't 

know.” Residents showed concern and signs of mistrust over the surprising change 

in statements. 

the downtown area needs. In essence, it will have its own funding source. Things 

like extra clean-up, building repairs, etc., would be paid for with the money from 

that fund. This brought some reassurance among community members but some 

merchants still expressed their feeling that Century is not showing care or concern 

for the well-being of the merchants. 

Alpio Barbara, president of the Downtown Business Group, was very glad to see 

such a large turnout. “This may have been our largest attendance so far. I think 

there were 85 people or so. It was an interesting meeting for sure. We will definitely 

be holding a follow-up meeting so the people can continue to voice their 

questions and concerns. Validation was a big topic and there will be more discussion 

on it. I think once the dust settles it will flow in a much more positive way.” 

In general, the attendees expressed support for improving the downtown activity 

level but frustration at the inconsistencies and lack of answers during the February 

7 meeting. Parking issues, what types of films will be shown, and why the other 

theaters are now supposed to remain open were the hot topics of the evening. 

Validation concerns and questions about Syufy (the parent company), who 

changed the proposed plans for condominium development or auto row development, 

were addressed as “best they could be.” 

Downtown Business Group Members 

Another attendee said, “I heard that part of the selling point on the downtown theater 

was the fact that on the east side we have all the auto dealerships and that 

whole area was to be developed more as an auto row for car sales. What about that 

selling point?” Puccinelli replied, “I don't think that came from Century.” “But 

that was the whole original selling pitch. I am quite surprised and furious actually 

to hear this new stuff come out,” said the same resident, to which Puccinelli said, 

“I'm sorry I can't address that but maybe we can bring someone in, next time, who 

can.” 

Although the positive aspects of the project stood strong and a few attendees 

addressed the benefits of the Century Theatres project, the discussion grew more 

heated as the meeting continued. At one point, after the discussion turned to parking 

issues, a resident angrily said, “People wouldn't have voted if they knew about 

the parking issues. The rules are changing! It makes me wonder what will happen now.” 

Puccinelli's portion of the meeting came to a quick end when another heated topic 

came into question. That topic was the parking plan. Dan Zack, the downtown 

redevelopment manager, quickly took over and was prepared with a short lecture 

to address many concerns. The number of parking spaces in the new garage numbers 

around 590. The plan is to charge a fee of $5 per hour (only at nights and on 

weekends) except when validated for certain amounts of time. Some businesses 

can validate parking for more time than others. Namely, the Century Theatres. 

The primary parking garage will be located under the Century building. The new 

parking validation program is said to be “equal and that no businesses will receive 

special perks or benefits,” but what about Century Theatres? 

It was shown on an overhead projector that businesses will have to spend $616.50 

to purchase a validation machine before March 1 and $840 per machine thereafter. 

The Jefferson garage (Century's primary parking garage) will validate up to four 

hours. The Marshall Street garage will validate for two hours and the Middlefield 

Road garage will validate for one-and-a-half hours. Validation can't accrue. Once a 

ticket is validated that's it. So, it appears that in order for people to be validated 

for a longer term visit downtown, they will have to go to a movie. Those who are 

downtown for shopping, dinner, ice cream or a nice walk will likely end up paying 

for it unless they find their way to the free parking areas. These areas are seemingly 

getting less publicity than the new garage is. One resident suggested the 

posters that will be hung in business windows should have a big sign on them to 

let people know there is FREE parking in the area as well. Zack nodded in agreement 

and said, “That's a good idea.” 

When contacted later and asked point blank, “Is Century planning to keep both 

complexes open to see which one does better financially, and if so, are they planning 

to sell the financially weaker of the two?” Puccinelli said, “No. We plan to 

operate both and have no intentions of selling. Once it opens, the residents and 

merchants will be happy and the new opportunities will be very beneficial.” 

About who put the other proposals on hold for the East Bayshore site, Puccinelli 

said, “Syufy didn't put anything on hold. The zoning is what's being waited on and 

there are no requirements for Century to close the freeway theater.” 

Mayor Barbara Pierce commented, “I was surprised that operating both complexes 

was brought up the way it was. Unfortunately it worried people and I feel bad 

about that. It is important to remember the Syufy brothers are very successful 

operators. Their own money is paying for all the improvements and they are well 

aware whether the city can support 32 theaters or not. Yes, though, I would have 

to say I was surprised. I hope they change their mind but it isn't zoned for the 

condo project. That is just one of the alternatives. There are three potential alternatives 

or uses but the city would have to change the zoning.” 

The mayor continued, “No specific uses were decided on. I think the Syufy business 

men are good at what they do and this is a tremendous investment. Perhaps 

if the other theater shows some art films it will meet with greater positive response. 

Once things are up and running people will be happy and downtown will benefit.” 

About rumors that a group of lawyers who will not get parking validation machines 

are planning to sue the city, Mayor Pierce stated, “There is a certain group we have 

spoken with. We are gathering information and have an agreement right now with 

the group. We are figuring out the data and will make a decision based on cost. 

The cost of validation and the impact if it is extended to different groups is being 

researched.. We are looking into it and have an agreement in the meantime.” As 

usual the mayor was able to shed some light and give some reassurance to the people. 

Rumors are flying and so far only part of the truth is clear. Redwood City merchants 

and community members have a lot on their minds and until their inquiries 

are met with specific answers, satisfaction and ease of mind will remain distant. 

People want to know what is going on and why things are changing yet going unexplained. 

Has Syufy/Century pulled the wool over our eyes or is the greater good of 

Redwood City still the aim here? 

Zack addressed many concerns during his presentation. There was talk of how a 

flood of new customers would appear and the activity downtown would no longer 

be stagnant. With some help from the head of parking development, many questions 

were finally answered directly. The sense of panic ceased but the general feel 

of mistrust remained. 

Some confidence was restored when past projects were discussed. Zack said, “This 

will truly bring Redwood City to life. We need this here. It has brought downtown 

areas to life from the east to the west coasts. It works, big time, and it's going to 

work here too!” He reinforced Puccinelli's statements about the city building upon 

itself and maintained an attitude of a positive nature no matter what came at him. 

Zack also discussed keeping the prices reasonable and how the surplus that is collected 

from the parking fees will go back into the city by helping with whatever 

27



and other changes related to the regulation of sexually oriented businesses in 

Redwood City. 

The proposal would require such businesses to be at least 750 feet from “sensitive 

uses,” such as schools and churches, and from other like businesses. The businesses 

would be allowed in more areas of the city under the new ordinance as long as 

they meet the distance requirement. Under the new requirements, the city estimates 

about 150 parcels could qualify for adult businesses. Who knew? 

* * * * 

I recently ran into a young man, “Daniel,” whom I had met years ago through an 

advocacy group. He is 19 years old and has had his share of troubles in the past. 

I won’t go into detail about it but let’s just say he has taken a few wrong turns on 

his life’s journey. 

As we caught up he informed me that he was recently asked to leave his family’s 

home – not suprisingly since in every home he has lived in he has been asked to 

do the same – and that he had been spending some nights at his girlfriend’s house 

(whom he had met a few weeks earlier) and others at a friend’s. 

My first thought was that is was good that he had found a girl to call his own – he 

has never had trouble finding a girl. He is a charmer, a master manipulator, and 

attracts those who are weak, naive, dysfunctional (you get the picture), so he 

always has someone and smothers them with affection and after mere hours they 

are in love – and he does that with every girl he dates. 

I had assumed that his girl had an apartment or shared housing with friends. But 

as we continued our conversation he informed me that when he stays with her it 

is at her family home complete with parents and younger siblings. I am not a 

prude, I am not ultra-conservative, but this struck me as unconventional to say the 

least. 

Regardless of whether they are over 18 or not, since when is it acceptable to sleep 

at your girlfriend’s family home let alone in the same bed? Although I would have 

not done this myself, if I had, I would have been grounded/disciplined; my friends 

would have not seen me for weeks. Are we in a different generation? A time warp 

back to the freedom of love? 

I questioned how any parent in this day and age would invite anyone to stay 

overnight in their home, especially if there are younger children in the household, 

without knowing who that person is or what kind of past they have. He just says 

it happens, parents are less strict these days. 

As children we are always drawn to those households that are less strict then others. 

One can always find friends’ homes where anything goes. But what about the 

parents who work so hard to instill strong moral values and integrity/respect in 

their children and then they meet friends/families that do not have the same 

morals or values? 

I know – you teach them what you can and they do with it what they will – and 

if you teach them well they will resist the temptations. But let’s be frank, what 19- 

year-old boy is not going to take that offer and run with it? Or so I thought. 

So my curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask several others, young and old, 

their thoughts on the issue. When asking, I gave the impression that I felt there 

was nothing wrong with it. All just rejected the thought, one even replying with a 

“eww,” which means she did not find it acceptable. 

But the most interesting response came from a 23-year-old young man who told 

me that he once was invited to spend the night in his girlfriend’s room, in high 

school nonetheless, at her family’s home and he declined stating he had more 

respect for her and himself to do that even with her parents’ consent. She had siblings 

also, and he informed me that he did not feel comfortable being a role model 

for them in that fashion. 

I guess that sometimes it is the obligation of a young person to correct one’s parents 

and let them know what is appropriate and what is not? 

Daniel could tell that the conversation had left me uneasy so he let me know that 

when he stayed at his girl’s she had to ask permission – that is supposed to ease 

things? That even made me more perplexed. Can you imagine having to ask your 

parents if your current “squeeze” could spend the night? I don’t even want to 

know if they have sex, but he did say that they had to leave her bedroom door 

open – another thought I did not want to imagine. 

Oh, and while we are on the subject – what if the parents are feeling a little frisky? 

In need of some intimacy? How odd would it be knowing that your child is sleeping 

with their “squeeze” in the next room? I guess some families refer to family 

outings in different ways? 

In my opinion, this type of unconventional conduct only fosters irresponsible 

behavior, a lack of respect and dignity for oneself and their parents, and makes 

impressions on the young ones that will continue the cycle of dysfunction. 

So as Daniel walks down his path of life, he will always face adults who will guide 

him in the wrong direction. Not care enough to sit down and teach him the difference 

between right and wrong. Good and evil. Morals and decay. 

But Daniel is a strong- willed person, well meaning, kind, and I am confident he 

will figure it all out and hopefully he will discard all the influences that have gotten 

him to where he is today and rely on those who have his best intentions in 

mind. 

* * * * 

Good night John Boy. Good night Mary Ellen. 

As I was saying . . . 

28



even if they aren't within the child's network of friends. 

Even more disturbing is the fact 

that MySpace.com is just one 

in a long list of networking sites 

of this sort. Take time to find 

out what your kids are doing on 

the computer. Search the site 

yourself to see if there is anyone 

you know participating in 

this dangerous game of cat and 

mouse. You can log on to 

MySpace.com and click 

“browse” at the top of the page. 

You can then type in your zip 

code and you will have access 

to certain age groups in your 

area. You may need to hit on the “18yr old” age group to find your children as 

they will be under that listing. It is imperative that we pull together and get our 

community members involved. Our town's youth has enough danger to contend 

with without being subjected to the prying eyes and minds of millions of strangers. 

Getting involved is extremely important in preventing the death or harm of any 

child. Take action today, before it's too late. Talk to the teachers and administrative 

staff at schools. Find out what is being done to educate the children on safe 

ways to communicate on the Internet. Speak openly about the site and talk to 

your children about the dangers involved in being a member. You can also write 

your city council to see what else can be done in your area. The best prevention 

is watching children like a hawk. If you don't, someone else out there might be. 

To view information on registered sex offenders in your area go to: 

http://www12.familywatchdog.us and enter your address. To report suspicious 

behavior or criminal activity, call your local police department. 

Before 

. 

. 

. 

Remodel 

Addition 

New Construction 

AFTER 

N.D.R. CONSTRUCTION 

GENERAL CONTRACTOR 

650.787.0831 Lic. # 796613 

29


A Minute With... 

Pat Miljanich 

Pat was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She moved to Redwood City 

in 1988. She lives in the Edgewood Park neighborhood. She has four children: 

Nicolene, 23; Martine, 20; Peter, 20; and Sophia, 18. She is currently the Program 

Coordinator for the CASA Child Advocates program in San Mateo County and an 

elected official on the Community College District Board. 

The main goal of the CASA program 

is to? 

Advocate for foster children and youth. 

How many children does your 

program serve a year? 

Three hundred. 

If a child is victimized in Redwood 

City, do you feel “the System” is 

equipped to handle them? 

Yes! 

Have you noticed crimes against children 

increasing or declining in the 

past year? 

Decrease. 

Favorite movie? 

“To Kill a Mockingbird.” 

Song? 

“Imagine,” by John Lennon. 

Television show? 

“Law and Order,” of course. 

What is your idea of perfect 

happiness? 

Family. Having my children all around 

me. 

Which living person do you most 

admire? 

Everyday folks who make a commitment 

to children. 

Which living person do you most 

despise? 

Any people who hate. I do not like that 

emotion. 

Who are your heroes in real life? 

My CASA advocates. They inspire me. 

What is your treasured possession? 

Photographs of my family as I was 

growing up. 

Which talent would you most like to 

have? 

To play the piano. I am learning. 

Something no one knows about you? 

I never wear T-shirts. 

In five years from now you will be? 

Still kicking – doing what I am now. 

If you were to die and come back as a 

person or thing, what do you think it 

would be? 

Harriet Tubman - Underground Railroad 

conductor and activist. 

What do you consider your greatest 

achievement? 

Helping to raise my four children. 

What is the love of your life? 

My children! 

30

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