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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
COMMUNITY NEWS
REDWOOD CITY PARCEL TAX DEFEATED
A Redwood City parcel tax measure that would fund school programs did not pass,
according to election results posted on the San Mateo County Web site . Measure V,
the "Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Act of 2005," would have instituted
a per-parcel tax for school programs that would infuse the Redwood City
Elementary School District with an estimated $3.3 million in new annual revenue. The
measure required a two-thirds majority in order to pass but only received 61.63 percent
of the vote - about 5 points shy of the 66.67 percent it needed to pass.
POODLES' PROGRESS IN REDWOOD CITY
The Peninsula Humane Society and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
reward has doubled to $1000 for information about the person responsible for packing
five severely neglected poodles into two boxes and abandoning them. The puppies
were discovered on May 2, according to society spokesman Scott Delucchi. While the
Humane Society reports that it euthanized a male animal because of the extreme pain
he was in, four females have been medically cleared and their temperaments assessed.
The poodles are now up for adoption and will be ready for a new home after undergoing
spaying and the extensive dental work that resulted from their poor diets. "We've
received dozens of calls from concerned residents and potentially interested adopters,''
Delucchi said. Delucchi asks those interested in adopting the poodles to complete an
adoption profile available on the Web at http://www.phs-spca.org and to include a
100- to 250-word statement explaining why their home would be good. The Humane
Society hopes to find one home for all four poodles or two homes to accept the dogs
in pairs. Boxes containing the poodles were found dumped in front of the Pets in Need
adoption building at 873 Fifth Ave. in Redwood City, Delucchi reported. The Humane
Society reported that the dogs, which are between the ages of 8 and 10, were neglected.
All of the animals needed veterinarian care and grooming. The four female dogs
were in need medication for their eyes and ears, according to Delucchi. One of the
females will probably need an eye removed. Anyone with information about the incident
is asked to contact (650) 340-7022 ext. 320.
ATTEMPTED MURDER IN REDWOOD CITY
A man accused of choking his former girlfriend, choking the woman's 13-year-old
sister and later stabbing the victims' male friend multiple times pleaded not guilty in
San Mateo County Superior Court. Christopher Sartor, 21, is charged with attempted
murder, battery upon a cohabitant and assault with a deadly weapon for the events of
Feb. 11 in Redwood City. At a preliminary hearing in April, all three alleged victims testified
about the attack. According to testimony, Sartor was visiting his ex-girlfriend and
her sister at their home on East Bayshore Road when he and the young woman began
to argue. Sartor allegedly choked the woman, then -- when the younger sister attempted
to intervene -- attacked the child as well. Sartor abruptly became apologetic, tearful
and left the scene. The sisters called a male friend, Jason Bailey, for protection. Sartor
allegedly returned to the property and stabbed Bailey multiple times, including three
times in his left arm, once above his left hip and once through his rib cage, injuring his
diaphragm. Bailey underwent two surgeries and endures ongoing pain on the left side
of this body, he testified at the preliminary hearing. Sartor and his defense attorney
Michael Hroziencik appeared today before Superior Court Judge Stephen Hall. He is
scheduled to return to court for a pretrial conference on June 27 at 1:30 p.m. A jury
trial is scheduled for July 25 at 8:45 a.m.
CONSTRUCTION THEFTS IN REDWOOD CITY
Two people are in custody in connection with a string of residential construction
site burglaries, the Redwood City Police Department reported. Power saws, drills and
portable construction equipment have been reported missing in the construction site
burglaries over the past two months. On April 21, Redwood City Police detectives
developed information about the crimes that led them to an apartment in the 200 block
of Vera Avenue in Redwood City. Police determined that the apartment's residents,
Jorge Acosta Morales, 25, and Veronica Lopez, 27, were on probation and both had
outstanding felony arrest warrants. Neither resident was in the apartment at the time
of the search, which yielded a large quantity of high-end construction equipment valued
at approximately $20,000. Four victims already have identified property seized
from the residence. Police detectives learned that both Morales and Lopez had gone
into hiding to avoid arrest, and that Lopez was hiding at a home in Hayward. Lopez
was arrested at the Hayward residence without incident. Police then learned that
Morales was in the Belmont area. He was taken into custody without incident.
SEAT AVAILABLE ON HOUSING AND HUMAN CONCERNS COMMITTEE
The City of Redwood City announces an opportunity to fill a vacancy on the City's
Housing and Human Concerns Committee. Members of the community are invited to
offer their interest, experience, and enthusiasm for the benefit of their City by applying
for this appointment. The selected applicant will serve the remainder of the unexpired
term, until May, 2008. Applications are available by calling the City Clerk's office,
or online at www.redwoodcity.org/clerks. The objective of the Housing and Human
Concerns Committee is to advocate for the improvement of the quality of life of
Redwood City citizens and to assure that human considerations, as set forth in the
General Plan, are given adequate consideration in physical and economic decision making.
Applicants' basic requirements are that they have an interest in civic and community
improvement, are 18 years of age or older, are a United States citizen, and are a
resident of incorporated Redwood City. The deadline for submitting applications is
May 27th 2005.
TEAR THE OLD THING DOWN
Please save the date to join Redwood City, San Mateo County, and the Redwood City
Redevelopment Agency to kick off the beginning of the project to bring back the old
courthouse façade and open up the area for the upcoming courthouse square public
plaza. Also involved are the San Mateo County Historical Society & San Mateo County
History Museum, DPR Construction, the Downtown Business Group, and DES
Architects. Wednesday, May 25th, 10:30 am, on Broadway in front of the old annex
building (across the street from the Fox Theater).
17TH ANNUAL MAYOR'S BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS UNDERWAY
Redwood City residents, non-profit organizations, and businesses are showing their
civic pride by applying for a Mayor 's Beautification Award. Individuals, homeowners
associations, apartment complexes, businesses, non-profits, and others are invited to
participate. Applications are available by calling 770-7300, or by visiting City Hall (
1017 Middlefield Road). The application is also available online at
www.redwoodcity.org, where applicants can fill it in, print it, and send it in. The deadline
for entries is June 30, 2005, and judging will be completed by the end of July. These
awards help foster civic pride in our community, beautify our entire City, and, of
course, recognize people and organizations for their work to make Redwood City a better,
more attractive place to live and work. The program is sponsored by the City 's
Pride and Beautification Committee, and encourages attractive structural and landscaping
improvements in our community. Single- or multi-family residences, apartment
complexes, home owners associations, and non-profit or commercial properties are eligible.
A panel of volunteer judges will prescreen the entries, and the final selection
process will include a site visit to the top entries. Categories include best architectural
design, remodel, historical restoration; most beautiful garden or landscape; best compatible
building and garden or landscape; and more. If an entry doesn't exactly fit into
one of the categories, you can create your own! Call 780-7300 for information on the
Mayor's Beautification Awards.
MERGE HEALTH CARE DISTRICTS
The Sequoia Healthcare District is meeting the needs of residents and should merge
with the Peninsula Health Care District, according to a report released by the San
Mateo County Civil Grand Jury.
The grand jury determined the district continues to represent and serve the health
care interests of the residents. It also found that losing the direct responsibility for
owning
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