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Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

August 2005<br />

Vol 1, No. 12<br />

Steve Penna<br />

Publisher<br />

penna@spectrummagazine.net<br />

Judy Buchan<br />

Contributing Writer/Editor<br />

writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />

Valerie Harris<br />

Contributing Writer<br />

writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />

Katherine Ehat<br />

Student Writer<br />

writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />

Dale McKee, Damaris Divito<br />

Graphic Artists<br />

DJ Design<br />

Advertising Graphic Art<br />

James R. Kaspar<br />

Special Assignment Photography<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

WELCOME TO THE TWELFTH EDITION of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magazine. It<br />

is hard for us to believe that we are almost at our one-year<br />

anniversar; seems like we just got started.<br />

We want to thank our readers for taking the time to read <strong>The</strong><br />

<strong>Spectrum</strong> and our subscribers for having it delivered to your mailbox<br />

each month. If you have not already done so, we encourage<br />

you to support community news by filling out the form below. That<br />

way you will not miss an issue.<br />

We got an overwhelming response to last month’s <strong>cover</strong> story on<br />

Jack Hickey. Most were positive, but there were a few that questioned<br />

why the largest distributed publication in Redwood City<br />

would give ink to “someone like him.” But most understood that<br />

everyone in our community has the right to express their opinions,<br />

and when they work hard to do so, we want to explore why.<br />

And so this month’s <strong>cover</strong> subject - Warren Slocum. As you will<br />

read, Slocum is one of the most respected election officials in<br />

California. He works hard and gets results, and those results come<br />

in more accurately and faster then any other county. Enjoy learning<br />

about what makes him tick.<br />

We have two business profiles we know you will enjoy reading.<br />

Canyon Inn has been a local fixture in our community for years.<br />

Why is this restaurant so loved? Virginia City Rail is a new business<br />

that is causing excitement for those who want a unique experience<br />

when looking for new ways for entertainment.<br />

This month, Publisher Steve Penna’s column “As I was Saying . . .”<br />

is examining the November election races and the candidates who<br />

will help lead our city for the next several years. But did all candidates<br />

make the right decisions? Some insightful thoughts are<br />

coming your way.<br />

Should a former Redwood City teacher be given leniency for<br />

molesting her former student? <strong>The</strong> courts will inform us on<br />

September 1, but we have some of her friend’s thoughts for you to<br />

judge.<br />

We encourage our readers to support our business advertisers by<br />

using their services when you can. <strong>The</strong>y are the real reason you<br />

are reading community news this and every month. Check out our<br />

special section on the Downtown area and what businesses are<br />

laying out the welcome mat for you!<br />

Now that the kids are back in school and the summer fun is coming<br />

to and end, kick back and enjoy this month’s issue and look<br />

forward to our one-year anniversary issue next month! Until then,<br />

have a great month.<br />

Subscribe To Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Your subscription will begin when <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magazine is delivered to your<br />

doorstep during the third week of the month following your mailing.<br />

Subscriber's Name:<br />

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Check - made out to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magazine - $30 in Redwood City, San Carlos, and Menlo Park<br />

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Mail this form to: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magazine P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064<br />

Table of<br />

Contents<br />

INSIDE THE SPECTRUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4<br />

TURF WARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6<br />

CULTURAL EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 24<br />

DOWNTON REDWOOD CITY . . . . . . . . . .19-21<br />

LOCAL INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 27<br />

“AS I WAS SAYING” BY STEVE PENNA . .9, 28<br />

FINANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12<br />

REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29<br />

COVER STORY “THE SLOCUM WAY” . . . . . .16 17<br />

NON-PROFITS IN ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13<br />

PHOTOS ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25<br />

“A MINUTE WITH...” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30<br />

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<br />

THE<br />

<strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

PO Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064.<br />

Advertising/Subscription telephone:<br />

(650) 368-2434.<br />

E-mail: spectrumtext@yahoo.com<br />

Published the third week of each month.<br />

Periodical rates paid at Redwood City,<br />

California.<br />

Subscription rate: $30 per year, $24 for<br />

seniors. Not responsible for the return of<br />

unsolicited material.


<strong>Inside</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong>:<br />

<strong>Our</strong> <strong>cover</strong> <strong>photo</strong> <strong>shoot</strong><br />

Photographer James Kaspar zooms in on <strong>cover</strong> subject Warren Slocum<br />

<strong>photo</strong> by Steve Penna<br />

We decided that Warren Slocum would be a perfect <strong>cover</strong> subject for our readers, so<br />

Publisher Steve Penna arranged this month’s <strong>photo</strong> <strong>shoot</strong> for Thursday August 11 at 2:10<br />

p.m.<br />

Until now, all of our <strong>photo</strong> <strong>shoot</strong>s have been in Redwood City. Considering that the biggest<br />

criteria for our <strong>cover</strong> subjects is that they live in Redwood City, we still thought it would<br />

be best to capture Slocum in his environment, so we met at the election offices on Tower<br />

Road in San Mateo.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Penna arrived at the <strong>shoot</strong> with stylist Damaris Davito, and Slocum immediately greeted<br />

both. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong>’s special assignment <strong>photo</strong>grapher James Kaspar arrived shortly<br />

after, and we were ready to go.<br />

Slocum was dressed very stylish and looked healthy after participating in a marathon the<br />

weekend before. He was in high spirits and was an instant hit with everyone. In fact,<br />

everyone seemed to have known each other for years.<br />

<strong>Our</strong> idea was to <strong>shoot</strong> Slocum as he stood amongst all the county voting machines. After<br />

moving several of them within the warehouse, we were able to place him perfectly. We<br />

took several <strong>photo</strong>s there, then we moved to an area within the warehouse to take some<br />

pictures of him in front of the blue voting boxes you see at the precincts.<br />

It was very hot in the warehouse so after we completed those shots we moved to the airconditioned<br />

offices and map lobby. Even though there were some candidates filling out<br />

and turning in declarations of candidacy for this November’s ballot, all areas of the<br />

offices were so quiet. One can only imagine what it is like during election night with<br />

phones ringing, results being recorded and processed, and on and on.<br />

We completed the <strong>shoot</strong> in about an hour and then Slocum joined writer Valerie Harris<br />

for the interview.<br />

Once the <strong>photo</strong>s came back to us, we really could not decide on just one <strong>cover</strong> <strong>photo</strong>, so<br />

we took the voting machines and superimposed Slocum over them to give the message<br />

that he is in control of our voting system; thus, improving our quality of life.<br />

Recently, current Secretary of State Bruce McPherson described Slocum as one of the<br />

most efficient election officials in California. A person in Slocum’s position must not only<br />

possess that trait, but must be a leader as well. Slocum is just that – when you see him<br />

enter the offices on Tower Road he is greeted with admiration, and right away you know<br />

that his staff is dedicated and committed to this man.<br />

We are proud to introduce you to Warren Slocum, a man who serves as a great example<br />

of true governmental leadership.


TURF WARS<br />

COME TO STULSAFT PARK<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

by Judy Buchan, Contributing Writer<br />

ICAME HOME FROM YET ANOTHER EVENING MEETING that hot July night in 1994 and decided to<br />

sit on the front porch to unwind for a while. Mezes Park, directly across the street from<br />

my home, was quiet, save for the sounds of crickets in the night air.<br />

A caravan of four cars closely following each other seemed to appear out of nowhere and<br />

circled the park. I recall watching them and thinking, “If you’re going to <strong>shoot</strong> someone,<br />

do it somewhere else. I’m too tired to deal with you.” <strong>The</strong> conga line snaked its way out<br />

of the neighborhood, and I thought we were safe for the night.<br />

A few minutes later, they were back, circling the park, and heading toward Whipple<br />

Avenue. I started inside to call 911, but<br />

the gunshots rang out before I reached<br />

the kitchen phone.<br />

As it turned out, ESM gang members<br />

were looking for a CXLS gang member<br />

from my neighborhood. Neighborhood<br />

gossip later had it that this kid stood by<br />

the Shell station in Whipple and watched<br />

as the rival gang members shot at his<br />

house. Rumor had it that the family later<br />

relocated to East Palo Alto.<br />

An unexpected part of my education as a<br />

rookie Councilmember in 1988 was the<br />

alphabet soup of East Side street gangs:<br />

RRG (Rolison Road Gang) claimed the<br />

3400 block of Rolison Road, ESM (East<br />

Side Mara) claimed the Hoover School<br />

neighborhood, and LMG (Little Mexico<br />

Gang) claimed the unincorporated area<br />

of North Fair Oaks.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se branches of the Norteno (Nuestra<br />

Familia) side of the California prison gang family claim the color red, and use the symbols<br />

XIV, X4, 14, and four dots. <strong>The</strong>y also tend to make life pretty darned miserable in the<br />

neighborhoods they claim as their turf.<br />

By the time 1993 rolled around, the Surenos, arch enemy of the Nortenos, arrived in<br />

Redwood City. Claiming the color blue and the symbols XIII, X3, 13, and three dots,<br />

Surenos are aligned with the Mexican Mafia, another California prison gang. <strong>The</strong> blue<br />

Gang grafetti adorned this Redwood City restaurant parking lot onthe same<br />

block a 16- year old was killed this week.<br />

team in Redwood City was known as CXLS and claimed the Mezes Park neighborhood,<br />

the place my family calls home.<br />

As you might imagine, turf wars ensued. To my everlasting personal gratitude, the<br />

Redwood City Police Department went above and beyond to help protect our area and<br />

other embattled neighborhoods from the madness of vandalism, fights, threats, and<br />

<strong>shoot</strong>ings. A joint task force comprised of Redwood City Police Officers and Sheriff’s<br />

Deputies was created and made a distinct difference in the equation. For example, in<br />

1996, this group had gathered enough intelligence to take down the leading players in<br />

A suspected gang member is arrested by Redwood City<br />

Police after a disturbance at a El Camio Real hotel.<br />

CXLS, which by that time had extended its reach to Half Moon Bay. Some of them went<br />

to prison, others grew out of the gang lifestyle, and still others left town.<br />

<strong>The</strong> gang lifestyle didn’t stay east of El Camino. Redwood City Police Sgt. Sean Hart of the<br />

County Street Crimes Suppression Unit suggests that when the City demolished the 3400<br />

block of Rolison Road a few years later, gang members began to make their way west of<br />

El Camino. No longer were there distinct neighborhood boundaries to be claimed by<br />

gangs. <strong>The</strong>se adversaries live in close quarters; Hart says the current problem area is<br />

bounded by Woodside Road, El Camino Real, Roosevelt Avenue, and Hudson Street.<br />

Earlier this year, the Nortenos and Surenos began battling for turf in Stulsaft Park. At the<br />

August 9 meeting of the Farm Hill Neighborhood Association, some 40 attendees gathered<br />

at the Community Activities Building to get an update on gang activity in their area,<br />

including gang graffiti in Stulsaft Park. A resident of Goodwin near the entrance to<br />

Stulsaft Park, who did not want to be identified in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong>, explained that back in<br />

February she and her neighbors were startled to see a gang fight of some 20 kids in front<br />

of their homes. “When the blue guys showed up, the red guys got upset,” she explained.<br />

“I was shocked,” she said. “I had no idea this was going on.”<br />

White, Black, Pacific Islander, and Latino.<br />

Police were quickly called and the combatants<br />

were dispersed. Increased<br />

patrols and walk-throughs have followed.<br />

Norteno and Sureno graffiti that<br />

appeared on structures in the park after<br />

the fight was immediately painted over.<br />

Other residents expressed their surprise<br />

at hearing a new noise in the neighborhood<br />

- squealing tires. Sgt. Hart<br />

explained to the group that there is a new<br />

dynamic to street life here, namely a local<br />

version of side shows that have plagued<br />

cities such as Oakland. <strong>The</strong>se side<br />

shows, Hart said, are part of a different<br />

clique, though some participants are<br />

gang members.<br />

Hart gave a comprehensive picture of the<br />

gang situation in Redwood City. He<br />

explained that the Police<br />

Department/Street Crimes Unit has identified<br />

some 200 gang members, between<br />

the ages of 14 and 24, some of whom are<br />

incarcerated. Gangs come in all colors:<br />

Gang activities can include stealing cars, homicide, narcotics, vandalism, and drinking/partying<br />

as places such as Stulsaft Park. “Farm Hill is secluded,” he said. Gang<br />

members go to Stulsaft to drink and be out of the way, thinking they are safe from police<br />

scrutiny. Patrol checks now take place at the park on a nightly basis. “Stulsaft is a very<br />

safe park,” Hart noted.<br />

Residents should notify the police, Hart added, if they spot any of the following:<br />

* Kids dressed from “head to toe” in red or blue means “something’s up.” More than 10<br />

gang kids together means “something major is going on.”<br />

* Kids wearing red or blue bandanas.<br />

* Kids wearing red or blue web belts or wearing red or blue shoe laces.<br />

* Kids wearing red or blue hooded sweatshirts, known as “hoodies,” with hood pulled<br />

down to try and hide their faces.<br />

Most hardcore gang members<br />

will have tatoos. Though there<br />

is a tatoo removal program<br />

available through the Police<br />

Department and County<br />

Probation, many gang members<br />

want to have their tatoos<br />

removed to avoid detection by<br />

law enforcement.<br />

And gangbangers are big on<br />

respect, Hart said. <strong>The</strong>y cross<br />

out rival graffiti and put their<br />

own as a sign of disrespect to<br />

the rival gang.<br />

“It’s all retaliatory in nature,” Hart explained. Gangbangers are big on posturing and fighting<br />

for turf. Nor is gang life gender-specific; girls, Hart said, are involved as well.<br />

(continued on page 6)


(continued from page 5)<br />

Police Department programs such DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education), GREAT<br />

(Gang Resistance Education and Training) and PAL (Police Activities League) are important<br />

tools, Hart noted, in stemming the tide of gang activity.<br />

Hart also said that the recent gang-related homicide at 475 Redwood Avenue is the first<br />

such crime in Redwood City since 1998.<br />

<strong>The</strong> second gang-related homicide of 2005 happened on August 22nd, when a 16-yearold<br />

Latino alleged gang member was shot and killed at 611 Heller Street.<br />

In response to questions on gang activity in schools, Hart stated that while Sequoia High<br />

and Woodside High have experienced gang incidents, both schools have strict dress<br />

codes and school resource officers.<br />

As the meeting closed, Mayor Jeff Ira was called on for his thoughts on the situation. He<br />

characterized the Police Department’s efforts as “proactive . . . phenomenal . . . they are<br />

right on top of it . . . they do a great job.”<br />

Later, I asked Rene White, Farm Hill Neighborhood Association co-chair, if residents were<br />

surprised at the arrival of gang activity in their area. “Oh, it was a big time shock,” he<br />

said. “<strong>The</strong> world has finally touched us in Farm Hill.”<br />

Senior Activities<br />

September is Community Wellness Month at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, and<br />

lectures and activities to promote healthy lifestyles are open to the public.<br />

"Six Steps to a Healthier Heart," Wednesday, September 7, 10:30 a.m., Goldstar Room.<br />

Linda Merslich, Community Health Nurse for Sequoia Hospital Health and Wellness<br />

Services, will explain the new cholesterol guidelines and the new American Heart<br />

Association guidelines for Blood Pressure.<br />

"How to Beat Arthritis-Naturally!" Friday, September 9, 10:30 a.m., Goldstar Room. Dr.<br />

Paul Piccione, DC, will discuss how to combat the debilitating effects of arthritis utilizing<br />

natural health care methods and current medical approaches to treatment and natural<br />

alternatives.<br />

"Getting into the BP Success Zone: Understanding High Blood Pressure," Monday,<br />

September 12, 10:30 a.m., Redwood Room. A video program and free blood pressure<br />

screening will be presented by Senior Center staff and volunteers. An automatic blood<br />

pressure monitor will be raffled off.<br />

For information about other health programs that are being planned, please call the<br />

Senior Center at 780-7270.<br />

Other programs for September include:<br />

Homeowner and Renter Tax Assistance Program, Wednesday, September 28, by appointment!<br />

- You qualify for a refund on your property taxes if you were age 62 or older as of<br />

December 31, 2004. Those who are blind or disabled qualify if under 62. Income must<br />

have been less than $39,699 in 2004. <strong>The</strong> refunds are based on the property taxes you<br />

pay directly as a homeowner or indirectly as a renter. For information or to schedule an<br />

appointment, call Senior Services at 780-7274.<br />

Wizard of Oz <strong>The</strong>atre Trip: Saturday, September 25th, Noon-5PM<br />

Performance is held at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts. Cost is $65 which<br />

includes Orchestra Seating and Round-Trip Transportation. Call (650) 780-7313 for<br />

more information.<br />

New Fall 2005 Classes at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center include:<br />

Soul Collage<br />

Soul Collage is an intuitive process that accesses your own deep wisdom to reveal, understand<br />

and nurture your precious spirit. It is an easy, fun way to make beautiful art and<br />

satisfy the desire to be creative. Warning: It is addictive!<br />

Goldstar Room, VSMC (Bring a bag lunch!)<br />

10/11 (One Day Class) 10/06-10/27 (4 week session)<br />

9:30am-4:00pm 9:30 am to 11:30 am<br />

$49.00 + $12.00 lab fee $59.00 + $12.00 lab fee<br />

Orienteering Class<br />

In orienteering you use a map to navigate a course through unfamiliar terrain. People of<br />

all ages enjoy orienteering as a leisurely walk in the woods or a competitive cross-county<br />

race. This class is for families, scout leaders, scout groups, teachers, hikers, backpackers<br />

and those beginning adventure racing. Enjoy the outdoors, practice reading<br />

maps, have fun and get exercise. All classes will meet at 1455 Madison Ave. Sign up for<br />

the session of four classes or for each class individually.<br />

9/24-10/8 $32.00 for 4 classes or $8.00 drop-in<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Watercolor for Beginners<br />

Goldstar Room, VMSC<br />

Sat 9/17-12/10<br />

9:00-12:00noon<br />

$75.00<br />

Tai Chi & Chinese Kickboxing<br />

People of all ages enjoy improved health from these gentle exercises, including: stamina,<br />

improved agility and inner peace. Many participants reported increased flexibility,<br />

balance and better health. Sequoia Room, VSMC<br />

Chi Kung Chen Style<br />

Kick Boxing<br />

Tues. 11:30am-12:30 pm Mon. 5:30 pm-6:30 pm Sat. 2:00<br />

3:00pm<br />

$45 $60<br />

$60<br />

Accessible Recreation Activities for September - October<br />

<strong>The</strong> Redwood City Accessible Recreation Activities Program (ARAP) is designed to serve<br />

teens and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities from all over the Bay<br />

Area. All events are held at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center in Redwood City unless<br />

otherwise stated. If you have any questions about ARAP, please call Stephanie Douglas<br />

at (650) 780-7313 or Michele Venneri at (650) 780-7344.<br />

Evening Fitness Club (On-Going)<br />

Have fun while exercising in evening fitness classes. Every Tuesday & Thursday Night<br />

from 7PM-8PM. Membership costs $30 a month, which includes access to fitness classes,<br />

the drop in gym (Monday-Friday 8AM-8PM), in addition to bi-monthly weekend fitness<br />

activities. Classes are taught by Scott Lohmann, a certified fitness instructor, who will<br />

provide you with one-on-one assistance throughout the program to help you reach your<br />

fitness goals.<br />

Drama Club! Back to the Basics: Mondays 7PM-8:30PM - <strong>The</strong>atre @ Vets Building<br />

Come join us for another fun-filled session of drama! This class will go back to the basics,<br />

reviewing theatre acting skill, improve techniques and more. Class will be a prelude for<br />

the following session (Jan-March), which will end in a performance! First class starts<br />

Monday, September 12th. Class ends on December 5th. Cost is $7.00 a class or $70<br />

for 11 classes when you pay in full on the first night (NEW LOWER PRICE).<br />

Wednesday Art Social with Michele: Wednesdays 7PM-8PM - Sunset Room @ Vets<br />

Each month embark on a new and exciting art project. Enrollment is at the beginning of<br />

each month and the cost is $35 per month/project.<br />

September: NO CLASS THIS MONTH<br />

October: Pumpkin Decorating: Carve & Scare!<br />

To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call 780-7270, or visit their<br />

website at www.redwoodcity.org. <strong>The</strong> Veterans Memorial Senior Center is located at<br />

1455 Madison Avenue, Redwood City.


PASTA POMODORO RESTAURANT<br />

Every Wednesday night, this restaurant located at 490 El Camino Real presents FREE<br />

Live Jazz events. You will enjoy the sounds of local jazz musicians in their indoor or outdoor<br />

listening areas.<br />

SAN MATEO COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM<br />

<strong>The</strong> museum is located in the Old Courthouse with its historic dome. Its collections<br />

include horse-drawn carriages, models, railroads from Caltrans and the Ocean Shore<br />

Railroad, relics from San Mateo’s past, and lithographic art dating from 1875.<br />

EXHIBITS — “Fleeting Fashions,’’ through Sept. 9. An exhibit of 19th- and 20th-century<br />

costumes and accessories from the museum’s collection. Most of the costumes are from<br />

Peninsula residents.<br />

“Judge Louis B. Dematteis: An Italian-American Story,’’ ongoing. An exhibit of <strong>photo</strong>graphs,<br />

video and legal memorabilia telling a story of his life. In the Lower Rotunda and<br />

Hallways. “Walter Moore Badge Collection,’’ ongoing.<br />

On display is the collection of over 300 badges of one of San Mateo County’s most<br />

famous lawmen, Walter Moore, including rare badges like Ocean Shore Railroad and the<br />

town of Lawndale. Moore began with the police department at the age of 28 as the constable<br />

of Tunitas Creek. Other historical pieces belonging to the Sheriff’s Department will<br />

also be on display. “Charles Parsons’ Ships of the World,’’ ongoing. An exhibit of meticulous<br />

miniature recreations of 18 ships of historical note by Charles Parsons including the<br />

San Carlos, the first ship to enter San Francisco Bay. “Horse and Buggy Days,’’ ongoing.<br />

<strong>The</strong> six carriages on display reflect the variety of vehicles used by upper-class residents<br />

of the county. “Journey to Work,’’ ongoing. <strong>The</strong> story of commuter transportation on the<br />

Peninsula, why this history was unique in a variety of ways and how this history helped to<br />

shape the built environment of the San Francisco Peninsula. “<strong>The</strong> Lure of the Coast: 65<br />

Years of Surfing in San Mateo County,’’ ongoing. San Mateo County is the home of<br />

Maverick’s off the coast of Half Moon Bay, one of the premier surfing locations on the<br />

planet. <strong>The</strong> museum’s new exhibit is a history of the sport of surfing, its practitioners and<br />

their equipment. <strong>The</strong> exhibit also shows developments in equipment technology and display<br />

artifacts representing seven decades of surfing. “Historical Lithographs from the<br />

Robert Desky Collection,’’ ongoing. An exhibit of hand-painted lithographs depicting<br />

noted sites throughout San Mateo County from the 1870s, including hotels, private<br />

homes and government buildings. In the Rotunda and First Floor Halls. “Nature’s<br />

Bounty,’’ ongoing. Featuring murals of how people used the local natural resources during<br />

California’s early history.<br />

SPECIAL EVENTS — “Victorian Days at the Old Courthouse,’’ Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<br />

This annual event at the museum invites visitors to travel back to Victorian times with a<br />

day of fun historical activities for the whole family. <strong>The</strong>re will be horse-and-carriage rides<br />

through downtown Redwood City for $5; a celebrity dunk tank for $3 per ball; old-fashioned<br />

fire engines and bucket brigade contests; and lumberjack demonstrations. <strong>Inside</strong><br />

the museum there will be old-time children’s games and crafts; local history booths;<br />

Victorian reenactments at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and a vintage hat show at 1 p.m.<br />

Admission to the museum, and most activities, are free of charge. $4 general; $2 seniors<br />

and students; free children ages 5 and under. Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4<br />

p.m.<br />

777 Hamilton St., Redwood City. (650) 299-0104, (650) 359-1462 or www.sanmateocountyhistory.com.<br />

LITTLE FOX THEATRE<br />

It’s time to break out your dancing shoes and groove to some of the unique sounds that<br />

the Little Fox <strong>The</strong>atre have coming up in the next months. Whether it is a big name band<br />

or a local group, you will surely find something to quench your musical thirst at the Little<br />

Fox! <strong>The</strong>y are located at 2209 Broadway, in Downtown Redwood City.<br />

Jesse Colin Young & <strong>The</strong> Kona All Star Band plus Vito Truglio<br />

Fri. Sept. 2, 2005, 9pm $20 adv./$22 door<br />

Jesse Colin Young is a New York native who started his career in Greenwich Village with<br />

the likes of Bob Dylan and Carley Simon. He recorded his first solo album “Soul of a City<br />

Boy” on Capitol Records at the age of 19. He was pivoted into the limelight when he<br />

formed the folk rock group, the Youngbloods of “Get Together” fame, and who held to the<br />

highest integrity of those times by walking their talk. Having been the only group to walk<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

CULTURAL EVENTS<br />

off on Johnny Carson’s show because of breach of contract, the Youngbloods began touring<br />

with fellow icons, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, and the Grateful Dead.<br />

This carried the Youngbloods as a band until 1971. Jesse then formed the Jesse Colin<br />

Young Band and toured with CSYN, Loggins and Messina, Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Bonnie<br />

Raitt, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen in the 70’s and 80’s and 90’s.<br />

He has five current releases out on Artemis Records and a Very Best of 2 CD set coming<br />

out in September 2005. His new band, Jesse Colin Young and the Kona All Stars, is composed<br />

of some new exciting musicians who now live in Hawaii. He has a wonderful percussionist,<br />

Louis Pinault, from Canada; Vito Truglio, from the New York area on Bass;<br />

Dylan Kai, from Hawaii on electric guitar, and his wife, Connie, from South Carolina, on<br />

violin. www.jessecolinyoung.com<br />

Vito Truglio was the winner of the 2005 Hawaii Music Awards Folk Album of the Year at<br />

this year’s 8th annual event www.hawaiimusicawards.com/winners.cfm<br />

<strong>The</strong> Cheeseballs<br />

Sat. Sept. 3, 2005, 9pm $12 adv./$14 door<br />

<strong>The</strong> Cheeseballs will make you “Shake Your Booty” like it hasn’t been shaken in years.<br />

<strong>The</strong> band members pride themselves on serving up a helping of non-stop 70’s disco<br />

dance hits and 80’s and 90’ s pop classics with an uncanny knack of performing songs<br />

that you will be surprised to dis<strong>cover</strong> you knew all the words to, such as “YMCA,” “Stayin’<br />

Alive,” “Dancing Queen,” “Le Freak,” “Disco Inferno,” and many more. <strong>The</strong> result is<br />

always an audience dancing along and singing along.<br />

<strong>The</strong> band is comprised of 8 performers dressed in dazzling retro disco outfits and presents<br />

a parade of personalities who alternate lead vocals with plenty of exuberantly choreographed<br />

dance moves. You won’t be disappointed. www.cheeseballs.com<br />

<strong>The</strong> Mickey Joseph Show<br />

An Evening of Standup Comedy & Music<br />

Sun. Sept. 4, 2005, 8pm $16 adv./$18 door<br />

Featuring comedians Mickey Joseph, <strong>The</strong> Charlie Bulanti Trio, Danielle Bixby (singer),<br />

Evan Sayet, Tony Castle, Hymie Laredo and Gordon Harrelson, Sal Calanni and Ben Gralli<br />

and Doug Ferrari. At six feet five inches, Doug’s nickname is “Dougzilla”. His act has been<br />

described as “intense”, “unique” and “extremely funny.” Doug won the 1984 San<br />

Francisco Comedy Competition, and has been wowing audiences all over the country ever<br />

since.<br />

Mickey’s Joseph’s book, “What Would Don Corleone Do?” is coming out prior to the show<br />

and will be on sale for the first time that night. Mickey will be holding a brief press conference<br />

right before the show and will be on hand to sign books. <strong>The</strong> book is an autobiography<br />

about his life (obviously) and his 20+ years as a successful standup comedian.<br />

www.mickeyjoseph.com<br />

Marcia Ball plus T.J. Politzer & Paul Dorr<br />

Wed. Sept. 7, 2005, 8pm $20 adv./$22 door<br />

Singer/pianist Marcia Ball knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls with her infectious,<br />

intelligent and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie, rollicking, roadhouse<br />

blues and heartfelt ballads. Over the course of her three-decade career, Ball has earned<br />

a huge and intensely loyal following all over the world. Her exquisite piano playing and<br />

passionate, playful vocals fuse New Orleans and Gulf Coast R&B with Austin’s deep songwriting<br />

tradition into a sound described as “a little rock, a lot of roll, a pinch of rhythm and<br />

a handful of blues.” www.rosebudus.com/ball/<br />

T.J. Politzer, long time lead guitar and singer for internationally acclaimed rootsrock-zydeco<br />

band, <strong>The</strong> Sundogs, will perform a set of swampy blues duets with the help of local<br />

piano monster, Paul Dorr who has toured with Joe Louis Walker, Chris Cain & more. Paul<br />

also performs on TJ’s ‘MeanBlues’ CD (Parhelion Records). T.J. and Paul play classics<br />

from the Delta to Chicago & then back to New Orleans mixed with originals. T. J. has been<br />

a featured performer at blues & folk festivals throughout North America and Europe. <strong>The</strong><br />

Seattle Times wrote, “…not only does T.J. have a great voice but he is also a natural<br />

showman who has his act so together he makes it look easy…”<br />

Dolly Rappaport Band & Friends plus Summit 2V1<br />

Thurs. Sept. 8, 2005, 8pm $12 adv./$14 door<br />

Dolly Rappaport’s artistry and musicianship have attracted fans from around the globe.<br />

With a rare combination of an unforgettable voice, world-class saxophone, and masterful<br />

piano highlighting her live performance, Dolly’s original songs glide easily across several<br />

genres including pop, rock, and jazz. As a result of her unique blend of storytelling and<br />

spiritual harmony, Dolly has been blessed as well with a steady and loyal fan base, industry<br />

support, and a community of musicians, producers, and engineers www.dollyrappa<br />

(continued on page 24)


Kids Day America<br />

comes to Redwood City<br />

On Saturday, Sept 17, communities worldwide will participate in the<br />

eleventh annual “Kids Day America/International” from 11:00 am until<br />

3:00 pm. It is a momentous day dedicated to health, safety, and environmental<br />

issues that affect individuals and our community as a whole.<br />

In fact, there will be hundreds of communities participating in this historic<br />

event internationally.<br />

This year is an especially exciting year for Kids Day<br />

America/International, as it is being represented by Jonathan Lipnicki,<br />

star of such films as Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise, and Stuart Little 1<br />

and 2, as the new celebrity spokesperson!<br />

A local chiropractor, Dr. Timothy H. Lease has spent much of his time,<br />

both inside and outside his practice, helping children. It is for this very<br />

reason that he chose to sponsor this event in Redwood City.<br />

During this event, volunteers will distribute essential information on<br />

crime prevention, child safety, and environmental awareness issues.<br />

Lease’s office will provide free child ID cards and the Redwood City<br />

Police Department will conduct free fingerprinting for all children who<br />

attend. <strong>The</strong> Fire Department is supporting the event by providing fire<br />

safety tips. <strong>The</strong>re will also be representation from EPA Environmental<br />

Kids Club.<br />

In addition, Lease’s office will offer free spinal exams and scoliosis<br />

screenings, and distribute vital information on disease prevention and<br />

health promotion.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

<strong>The</strong> event will feature the McGruff Safe Total Identification System program.<br />

This program is part of a national campaign designed to provide<br />

parents with comprehensive safety information and vital data on their<br />

child, which would be readily available in case that child should ever be<br />

missing. Over one million children in the United States are reported<br />

missing each year.<br />

A personal appearance by McGruff the Crime Dog<br />

<strong>The</strong>re will be special appearances by “McGruff” at the event to be held<br />

at Lease’s offices at 520 Warren Street between 11am and 3pm where<br />

each participating parent/child will receive:<br />

An 8 ½ x 11 McGruff Safe Kids Identification Card containing a color digital<br />

<strong>photo</strong> of your child, vital information such as date of birth, height and<br />

weight and ten high speed scanned forensic quality fingerprints<br />

Two laminated wallet-sized identification cards with child’s high-resolution<br />

<strong>photo</strong>graph (head and shoulder shot, digital fingerprint and vital<br />

information)<br />

Packet containing three McGruff child safety booklets, plus other<br />

McGruff items.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re will also be free balloons, snacks, give-aways, and prize drawing<br />

every half-hour!<br />

Child Advocates will be the benefit of donations from the event as part of<br />

the celebration to spotlight their involvement in serving abused and neglected<br />

children in the San Mateo County.<br />

<strong>The</strong> public is invited to attend all events.


By<br />

Steve Penna<br />

Publisher<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

As I was saying...<br />

<strong>The</strong>y are off and running, and those of us who<br />

expected a hotly contested race for City<br />

Council will have to wait and see if the Friends<br />

of Redwood City group can stir the pot. <strong>The</strong> group is<br />

backing Planning Commissioner Hilary Paulson and<br />

newcomer Adrian Brandt. <strong>The</strong>y are running against<br />

incumbents Jeff Ira, Jim Hartnett and Diane Howard<br />

for three four-year terms. It is clear that the group is<br />

gunning for Howard and Hartnett since they have said<br />

they would consider supporting Ira.<br />

Good strategy? Well consider this. Had one of them had<br />

the sense to run against appointed Councilwoman Alicia<br />

Augirre (no one filed to run against her so she is guaranteed<br />

two more years on the council, and no appointed<br />

councilperson has won re-election after being<br />

appointed), they could have really challenged her seat.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n they could have run 3 candidates to take over the<br />

council. What good is two opposing opinions on the<br />

council going to make? We saw that with Matt Leipzig<br />

and Colleen Jordan - it has to be all or nothing. I am<br />

afraid to say, it is nothing. Both Hartnett and Howard are<br />

solid council members who, although you might not<br />

have agreed with their support of the Marina Shores<br />

project, have contributed immensely to our community<br />

and are both seen as logical and fair and have a few<br />

more good years left in them. This will not be a "David<br />

versus Goliath" campaign, and unless a fierce campaign<br />

is waged, all incumbents should easily be re-elected.<br />

* * * *<br />

You will have the opportunity to see the City Council<br />

candidates in action as the Downtown Business Group<br />

will be sponsoring a candidates forum on Tuesday,<br />

September 13, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., in Courtroom<br />

A of the County History Museum. <strong>The</strong> focus will, of<br />

course, be on Downtown revitalization.<br />

* * * *<br />

In the Redwood City School District race, businesswoman<br />

Catherine Fraser will be challenging incumbents<br />

Maria Diaz Slocum and Patricia Wright for two four-year<br />

seats. Wrong choice. She should have run against<br />

appointed member Shelly Masur - who is virtually<br />

unknown in our community and was appointed because<br />

she supposeably knew how to run an effective parcel tax<br />

campaign - and newcomer Roger Anderson who are running<br />

for one two-year seat. Fraser would have defeated<br />

both of them hands down. But to go up against Diaz-<br />

Slocum and Wright does not make any sense. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />

both respected members of the board, and to unseat<br />

(continued on page 28)


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> staff has been out looking for the best businesses in Redwood<br />

City and we thought our readers might want to know who they are. If you are<br />

looking for a place to dine, bank, invest, shop, work out, or treat yourself,<br />

here is our Best of the Best selections.<br />

Bluefin Sushi & Teriyaki Grill: 2327 Broadway - WOW! This place is popular.<br />

Whether you dine in or take out everyone is dis<strong>cover</strong>ing their sashimi, Nigiri<br />

sushi, donburi, and bento dishes are irresistible! No MSG/No chemical additives<br />

added. Low in Cholesterol. Low in Calories. Low in Sodium. <strong>The</strong>ir sushi is made<br />

fresh daily by experienced sushi chefs which has made this restaurant a favorite<br />

Downtown eating spot, this restaurant is a must try!<br />

City Pub: 2623 Broadway - Talk about Redwood City flare - this pub favorite<br />

offers a wide range of items on its menu including: Starters & Soups, Burgers &<br />

Sandwiches, Pastas & Entrees, and of course 24 Beers on tap, Beverages &<br />

Wine. City Pub also has a Kids menu and serves Breakfast on Saturday and<br />

Sundays from 11: a.m. to 2:00 p.m. <strong>The</strong>y offer daily specials and feature Fish<br />

and Chips on Fridays. You will enjoy the outdoor front patio.<br />

Mayers Jewlers: 2303 Broadway - Redwood City's oldest family owned jewelers<br />

still sparkles like it did the first day they opened in 1969. <strong>The</strong>y have a large<br />

selection of necklaces, rings and watches. If you cannot find exactly what you<br />

want, they have personal designs that have kept Redwood City residents frequenting<br />

this fine business for years.<br />

First National Bank: 700 El Camino Real - In the ever merging world of the<br />

banking industry it's hard to find places where the consumer or small business<br />

owner's voice still matters. Independent banks and small local banking chains,<br />

which would take the time to listen, are slowly becoming a thing of the past. This<br />

is not the case luckily at First National Bank of Northern California, according to<br />

Brian Palter. Palter is the branch manager of the Redwood City location, which<br />

is currently housed at 700 El Camino Real. "When we have a new client and do<br />

right by them," said Palter, "they tell others." Doing right by a client, whether old<br />

or new, requires taking extra steps in situations which nationwide chains might<br />

not do. Give Brian a call and see what he means!<br />

OK Maguey: 2616 Broadway - Redwood City's favorite Downtown Mexican<br />

restaurant has a full dinner menu of reasonably priced selections that will keep<br />

you coming back for more. <strong>The</strong>y now feature a lunch menu starting at $5.95<br />

and up. Check out the coupon in this month's <strong>Spectrum</strong> for 50% off your lunch<br />

entree. <strong>The</strong>y also feature live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening<br />

to enhance your eating experience. <strong>The</strong> outdoor patio is great for those warm<br />

nights and a nice cold beverage.<br />

Edward Jones: 702 Marshall Street #515 - For decades, Edward Jones believed<br />

in building relationships through face-to-face interaction, and adhering to a<br />

strategy of recommending quality investments that have proven themselves<br />

over time. <strong>The</strong>y understand that this approach might be considered unfashionable.<br />

But if it means helping their clients achieve their goals, whether for retirement,<br />

education, or just financial security, it's an approach they plan to stick to.<br />

So does Investment Representative David Amann who manages their Redwood<br />

City office.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Redwood City businesses are<br />

here to serve you!<br />

Redwood General Tire: 1630 Broadway - Whether you are looking for a new set<br />

of tires, or need to tune your vehicle, this Redwood City institution has been providing<br />

quality vehicle services since 1957. Redwood General Tire was founded<br />

on the premise that good customer service, quality products at fair prices will<br />

succeed in the marketplace. <strong>The</strong>y continue to follow this philosophy today and<br />

expect it to guide them into a successful future. Many of their satisfied customers<br />

have been with them since their founding and continue to do business<br />

with them today. <strong>The</strong>y proudly serve the third generation of many of their first<br />

Redwood City customers.<br />

Lewis Carpet Cleaners: 1.800.23.LEWIS - Rick Lewis, Founder, Lewis Carpet &<br />

Upholstery Cleaners started his business in 1985 out of his home using a small<br />

portable machine. Today, Lewis successfully operates and manages an<br />

office/warehouse of six employees and has five working vans, with future plans<br />

for expansion and growth. Lewis moved his business from San Mateo to<br />

Redwood City in 1995. <strong>The</strong> Lewis family works, lives and resides in Redwood City<br />

and have truly made this town their home. <strong>The</strong> Lewis family is committed to the<br />

vision and success of our community and with relentless effort will continue to<br />

support the community devoting time, efforts, energy and services today and in<br />

the future. Lewis has built his company on a foundation of integrity, loyalty and<br />

communication. Call and ask about their <strong>Spectrum</strong> special. You can get 100 sq.<br />

ft. of carpet cleaning for absolutely nothing $0.00. Call today!<br />

American Capital Financial: 2317 Broadway #200 - Treat yourself to the ultimate<br />

gift - a new home! <strong>The</strong>y make it easy for you to bid on a house by having<br />

your pre-approval letter with you. <strong>The</strong>se friendly professionals have the right<br />

home loan for you and your family! Competitive Rates: <strong>The</strong>y work quickly to get<br />

you the best rates and explore all the options that fit your needs. Fast Pre-<br />

Approvals: <strong>The</strong>y can have your pre-approval ready for you in 48 hours or less. So<br />

when do you want to close?<br />

Powerhouse Gym: 2075 Broadway - With the summer’s end just around the<br />

corner, why not take advantage of their current new member rates? Since 1995,<br />

thousands of fitness enthusiasts and professionals have joined this fitness center<br />

in their quest for a healthier lifestyle. <strong>The</strong>ir facility is not overcrowded and is<br />

the largest gym on the peninsula. But they still know the secret to success is the<br />

one-on-one service. <strong>The</strong>y are known for their friendly, inviting atmosphere. To<br />

spice things up a little, they also offer Aerobics, Spinning, Kickboxing, Cardio<br />

Funk, Step, Yoga and Pilates. <strong>The</strong>y also provide several other amenities including<br />

a full service pro shop, showers and day care.<br />

Re:Juvenate Skin Care: 805 Veterans Blvd., Suite 140 - Treat yourself, you<br />

deserve it! RE:JUVENATE's medical staff is experienced in all of the known nonsurgical<br />

aesthetic procedures including: <strong>The</strong>rmage, Botox, Restalyne, sclerotherapy,<br />

laser treatments for hair, vein, brown spot removal and skin resurfacing,<br />

medical microdermabrasion and skin peels. You can have a complimentary<br />

consultation by calling 650.261.0500 and mentioning <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

Magazine. We hear they are now offering a new skin tightening procedure that<br />

shows immediate results as well as tattoo removal. Make that call! <strong>The</strong>ir aim<br />

is to assist you in choosing the very best options that will find you smiling each<br />

and every time you look in the mirror.


DANIEL RUBIN PROBABLY HASN’T MET<br />

the ghost of Lucius Beebe<br />

yet. But give him time.<br />

Rubin started as a steward with<br />

Virginia City Rail Corporation a year<br />

ago. Now he is director of marketing<br />

and development for the company,<br />

which offers private rail car charters<br />

and corporate rail charter events<br />

through its classic rail cars at the<br />

Port of Redwood City.<br />

<strong>The</strong> company started some 25 years<br />

ago. Its fleet of classic restored rail<br />

cars includes the Virginia City, a<br />

Pullman Rear Observation Platform<br />

Car; the Royal Gorge, a Rio Grande<br />

Lounge Car; the Pony Express, a<br />

Open Door, Bar/Dance Car; the Silver<br />

Solarium, a Budd Built, Round-End<br />

Vista Dome; and the Yosemite Falls,<br />

a Pullman Sleeper Lounge Car.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

by Judy Buchan, Contributing Writer<br />

VCRail.com, the company’s web site, explains that “we have cars for all occasions,<br />

from large gatherings to intimate family outings we have what you’re looking<br />

for. <strong>The</strong>se<br />

cars not only<br />

differ in their<br />

capacities,<br />

but also in<br />

their heritage.<br />

Each of our<br />

cars has a distinctive<br />

style<br />

and character<br />

reminiscent of<br />

a different era<br />

of rail travel.”<br />

In particular,<br />

the Virginia<br />

City has an<br />

exciting history.<br />

It started<br />

life in 1924 as the Crystal Peak and was first assigned to the Overland Limited<br />

which ran between Oakland and Chicago. Later refitted with air conditioning and<br />

an updated interior, it was renamed the Golden Peak and served passengers on<br />

the Golden State Limited in World War II.<br />

In 1954, famed San Francisco Chronicle writer<br />

Lucius Beebe and his partner Charles Clegg purchased<br />

the Golden Peak for $5,000. Renamed<br />

the Virginia City, the car was reconfigured to<br />

include a dining room, the crew’s quarters, a<br />

fireplace, and a kitchen. Approximately<br />

$375,000 in antique furnishings was added to<br />

the car’s interior. When the restoration was<br />

completed, the Virginia City was the most lavish<br />

and expensively outfitted rail car in the United<br />

States. In the parlor, for example, were two<br />

Murano glass chandeliers which framed a paint-<br />

Romance of the Rails<br />

ed reproduction from the Sistine Chapel. Beebe, who also wrote for New Yorker<br />

magazine and Gourmet magazine, and Clegg rode the rails in style to such stops<br />

as New York, Miami, New Orleans, and<br />

Denver.<br />

Ten years after Beebe’s death in<br />

1966, Clegg put the Virginia City up<br />

for sale. <strong>The</strong> car sat idle for many<br />

years, until purchased at auction by<br />

Wade Pellizer in 1984. Restoration<br />

work ensued to allow visitors to experience<br />

Beebe and Clegg’s Virginia<br />

City. All mechanical parts have been<br />

the Virginia City and the other vintage<br />

cars have been completely upgraded<br />

to ensure that the cars will safely<br />

couple and travel with Amtrak passenger<br />

trains. Passengers can thus<br />

travel along Amtrak routes.<br />

And Daniel Rubin loves it. “I fell in<br />

love with the whole thing,” Rubin said<br />

after a morning of landscaping<br />

Redwood Station, the company’s<br />

portside facility.<br />

“My passion is hospitality,” he added. Riding the rails in a chartered private car<br />

can be a very exciting experience, Rubin said. Charter costs can run from<br />

$5,000 to highend<br />

packages<br />

in the<br />

$100,000 to<br />

$300,000<br />

range for corp<br />

o r a t e<br />

events. One<br />

such package<br />

allows riders<br />

to experience<br />

how to engineer<br />

the locomotive<br />

and<br />

switch cars;<br />

participants<br />

then depart to<br />

a track and<br />

race sprint<br />

cars.<br />

Rubin has also realized that most residents can’t afford the high prices for charter<br />

and corporate events, so he decided to “do a<br />

lot more” to share the magic of the rails with<br />

Redwood City at prices ranging from $49 to $99<br />

per person.<br />

Starting this September, Redwood City residents<br />

can experience Rail and Sail, High Tea,<br />

and Murder Mystery at Redwood Station. In<br />

partnership with Spinnaker Sailing, Rail and Sail<br />

on September 16 is a two-hour sunset cruise of<br />

Redwood Creek for four to six people on a 30foot<br />

boat with live music followed by an evening<br />

of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres aboard a vin-<br />

(continued on page 12)


(continued from page 11)<br />

-tage private rail car. <strong>The</strong> event runs from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Passengers may<br />

choose the cruise and sail at $99 per person or the rail portion at $69 per person.<br />

<strong>The</strong> rage on the Continent, High Tea comes to Redwood City on September 10.<br />

Guests arrive at Redwood Station at 12:00 p.m., a guest author visits with the<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

crowd at 12:30 p.m., high tea is served in a rail car at 1:30 p.m., and guests<br />

depart at 3:30 p.m. Miss Redwood City will also be on hand, with current and<br />

past title holders. A silent auction will help raise funds for the Miss Redwood City<br />

Scholarship program. Cost is $49 per person.<br />

Did the butler really do it? Find out when Virginia City Rail and Janet A. Rudolph’s<br />

“Murder on the Menu: join forces on September 11 to present an afternoon of<br />

mystery, intrigue, suspense, and what’s described as “an incredible interactive<br />

experience, Clue Style.” Guests arrive at 2 p.m., a champagne toast and detectives<br />

briefing follows at 2:15, and the game begins at 2:30. Suspects will be<br />

interrogated until 4:30 p.m., when the solution will be announced and prizes will<br />

be awarded. Champagne and hors de’oeuvres will be available all afternoon.<br />

Cost is $99 per person.<br />

Rubin envisions these events as ways for people to socialize in a unique environment.<br />

“People can come and will be so much more excited,” he said. “<strong>The</strong>y<br />

will all have something to talk about . . . people who have never met each other<br />

will suddenly have so much in common.<br />

“Each car has its own format,” he added. “Visitors will enjoy a different atmosphere<br />

from car to car.”<br />

Rubin expressed concern that visitors might not enjoy the industrial view on<br />

Seaport Boulevard approach to the Port as they drive to Redwood Station. He<br />

hopes people will understand that “there are very few places in a city where you<br />

can park a rail car. A place by the water is so important. I want people to enjoy<br />

it.”<br />

It’s all a labor of love for Daniel Rubin. “I’m getting the education of a lifetime,”<br />

he said.<br />

Lucius Beebe, I’m quite sure, would approve.<br />

For more information, visit www.vcrail.com, or call 650-369-5405.


<strong>The</strong> Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club<br />

Since 1956 <strong>The</strong> Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club has devoted itself to community<br />

service and is one of three Kiwanis Clubs in Redwood City. Through the<br />

decades, they have provided funds to help many worthy community programs.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Key Club of Sequoia High School, sponsored by <strong>The</strong> Woodside Terrace A.M.<br />

Kiwanis Club, was chartered in 1994 and has been actively involved in raising<br />

money and donating time and effort to many of Kiwanas programs such as the<br />

Special Game Day, Christmas Wrap, Car Show and even taking pledges for<br />

KQED.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y currently meet every Thursday morning at 7:15 a.m. at <strong>The</strong> Waterfront<br />

Restaurant, 1 Uccelli Drive. Come join them for breakfast. Listen to interesting<br />

speakers from our community. Share in the fun, the laughs, the strength, the<br />

drive, and the generosity that makes up the camaraderie of <strong>The</strong> Woodside<br />

Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club.<br />

Sunrise Rotary Club<br />

<strong>The</strong> Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered in April, 1988. In the 17 years<br />

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

which features various speakers on a wide range of subjects.<br />

It has been named the “Best Small Club” in Rotary District 5150, comprised of<br />

Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties.<br />

<strong>The</strong> club’s major fund raising activity is its annual Irish Night, held at the Senior<br />

Center on Madison Avenue, on a date near March 17. Another club fund-raising<br />

activity is their beverage booth at the annual Vertical Challenge air show at Hiller<br />

Aviation Museum in San Carlos. Funds raised this past year by the 20-member<br />

club provided nearly $46,000 in contributions for community, youth, international,<br />

and vocational projects.<br />

This club meets every Tuesday at the Waterfront restaurant. For more information<br />

or to join them, call Lorianna Kastrop at 650-299-0303.<br />

City Talk Toastmasters Club<br />

Join the Redwood City Toastmasters Club to develop your communication and<br />

leadership skills. <strong>The</strong> club meets on Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 in City Hall<br />

at 1017 Middlefield Road in the Council Chambers. Call Manny Rosas at 650-<br />

780-7468 if you would like to check out a meeting or just stop in. Visit<br />

www.toastmasters.org for more information about the Toastmasters public<br />

speaking program.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Non-Profits in Action<br />

REDWOOD CITY WOMEN’S CLUB<br />

(A Community Service Organization) invites you to attend their monthly meeting<br />

at their beautiful clubhouse at 149 Clinton St., R.C. September 1st at 11:30 AM<br />

for social, lunch ($10.) at noon. Reservations required for lunch. Call 650-363-<br />

1266. Meeting after lunch.<br />

OPTIMIST CLUB OF REDWOOD CITY<br />

<strong>The</strong> Optimists invite you to become a member of Optimist International, one of<br />

the largest service organizations in the world—where “Bringing Out <strong>The</strong> Best in<br />

Kids” has been their mission for over 80 years! Whether you’re a club officer or<br />

a club member who enjoys the fellowship/friendship of others with a common<br />

greater good, Optimist International needs and wants YOU as a member.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Optimist Club of Redwood City meets every Tuesday at 12:15 PM at Bob’s<br />

Court House Resteraunt Shop at Middlefield and Broadway. For more information<br />

please call: President Steve — 365-8089 or Secretary Ted Cole — (650)<br />

366-1392 or come join them for lunch to learn more about how you can make<br />

a difference.<br />

Editor’s note: If you are connected with a non-profit organization and want your<br />

information printed in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> – email it to: writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />

or <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magazine mailing address at:<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magazine, P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064


y Valerie Harris<br />

Special to the <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

WHEN THE INFAMOUS SCOTT PETERSON MURDER TRIAL ended with a verdict on November<br />

12, 2004, Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, along with her ex-husband,<br />

Dennis Rocha, various members of the Modesto Police Department along with<br />

the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office, people who worked on the case, friends<br />

of the family, and other family members (totaling a crowd of 40 people,) had a private celebration<br />

dinner at the Canyon Inn in Redwood City. Everyone in attendance was still<br />

under Judge Alfred Delucchi's imposed gag order, so the case was not discussed, but the<br />

reason for the celebration was evident.<br />

This pub must have become a Rocha family favorite, because a couple of weeks after the<br />

jurors decided on the death penalty, but before the sentencing, Sharon threw another<br />

dinner party for ten former Peterson jurors, (once again with members of Laci Peterson's<br />

family and friends), and the Modesto cops and the Stanislaus County prosecutors. <strong>The</strong><br />

Rocha family used this venue to thank the jurors profusely for their service, and the<br />

Rochas recapped nuances of the case with the jurors.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

"I had the most amazing Burger of my entire life this weekend."<br />

REDWOOD CITY'S MOST POPULAR "INN"<br />

Canyon Inn owner Tim Harrison with his<br />

wife Stephanie and daughter Alicia.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Canyon Inn is nestled in the small quiet neighborhood of the Emerald Hills region<br />

bordering Woodside and Redwood City. It is a popular stop for bicycle touring clubs, and<br />

local sports celebrities such as members of the San Francisco Forty Niners football team.<br />

But the reputation draws celebrities and personalities from all over the world.<br />

<strong>The</strong> outside of the Canyon Inn is painted brick red with a cheery, crisp blue and white<br />

striped awning. <strong>The</strong> restaurant's name is painted on the windows. <strong>The</strong> décor on the<br />

inside of the Canyon Inn consists of booths that are handmade by the owner, Tim<br />

Harrison. Harrison opened the Canyon Inn in 1973, and started papering the walls with<br />

<strong>photo</strong>s of celebrities, most of whom are posing with Tim. Everyone appears on the wall,<br />

from Bob Hope to Joe Montana. Redwood City used to be the home training camp for the<br />

San Francisco Forty Niners, and the team's football memorabilia adorns the walls above<br />

the booths, hinting that the Canyon Inn served as a 49er regular hangout. Today, Harrison<br />

mostly caters for the San Francisco Giants baseball team. "<strong>The</strong>y are a wonderful organization,"<br />

he says.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>photo</strong>s on the wall are as eclectic as Harrison's friends and acquaintances, who form<br />

the core of Canyon Inn "regulars." <strong>The</strong> Canyon Inn is a fun place to visit; the atmosphere<br />

is friendly, and the burgers and beer are the best.<br />

(continued on page 22)


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine


WHEN FIRST MEETING WARREN SLOCUM, his casual air and wonder of technology<br />

makes you forget that he holds the position of California’s first combined<br />

County Assessor, Clerk, Recorder, and Registrar of Voters. Slocum holds four<br />

public offices, yet manages the departments so well that San Mateo County sets the<br />

blueprint for pioneering innovation in voting and voter technology.<br />

As a child, Warren Slocum moved to California from the Midwest. <strong>The</strong> son of a single-parent<br />

father, Slocum was raised in an eccentric and brilliant family. His father, Ralph<br />

Slocum, taught Warren the entrepreneurial spirit by starting a myriad of businesses such<br />

as selling pet supplies, insurance, leather goods, groceries, real estate, and even flowerpots.<br />

His uncle, John Slocum, was a reclusive inventor, who invented the first synthetic<br />

opal. Slocum’s aunt, Priscilla, was the first woman real estate broker in San Diego.<br />

After a tour of duty with the Army in Vietnam, Slocum took advantage of the GI Bill and<br />

attended San Diego State, where he graduated with honors with a degree in American<br />

History. Slocum had always been interested in the westward movement of people in the<br />

United States; the growth of cities; and historic preservation of architecture, so a career<br />

in politics was a natural progression.<br />

After graduating, Slocum took a six-month internship in San Diego. This job<br />

focused on starting a paramedic program in the early 1970’s in the San<br />

Diego area, and it was just the job to tap Slocum’s innovative and entrepreneurial<br />

spirit. That was his first encounter with a government job.<br />

Slocum assumed at the time that his ties with government work would<br />

end with that internship; after all, he had come from a world of start-up<br />

businesses and the private sector should be the next step.<br />

<strong>The</strong> next job, though, was with Santa Barbara Health Department,<br />

delivering health care services to disadvantaged children. Once again<br />

Slocum found himself in a government start-up environment helping<br />

kids who couldn’t see or hear, or kids who had learning disabilities. That<br />

program took a year to develop, and once again, Slocum felt the urge to<br />

move on.<br />

Slocum had always had an interest in politics. In the early 1970’s, he had volunteered<br />

for Colleen O’Conner, who sought a congressional seat. Even though Slocum<br />

had been a campaign volunteer, his interest in politics led him to apply and secure a job<br />

as an assistant manager in elections in 1976. His first assignment was to work as a<br />

polling place worker in the Isla Vista neighborhood of Santa Barbara, with its denizens of<br />

hippies sleeping in doorways, residual anti-war protesters, and anti-Republican, post-<br />

Nixon-resignation, left-wing radicals. From that experience he gained a special respect<br />

for the people who work in the polls because everything that could have gone wrong that<br />

day went wrong, and Slocum had to deal with some very challenging issues.<br />

<strong>The</strong> next move was up to Silicon Valley, the land of start-ups. Slocum ended up in<br />

Berkeley. While attending an elections conference Slocum met Marvin Church, the San<br />

Mateo County Clerk-Recorder. Slocum recalls: “I remember discussing zero-based budgeting<br />

and he didn’t believe in it and I did, but we hit it off even though we disagreed. We<br />

had lunch later and he told me<br />

that he had a job opening. I said<br />

I was leaving the government sector,<br />

and going into the private sector.”<br />

However, the sales pitch was<br />

enticing, and Slocum agreed to<br />

take on the job of Assistant<br />

County Recorder for at least three<br />

years.<br />

During his stint as Assistant<br />

County Recorder, the Assistant<br />

County Clerk retired, so Slocum<br />

took over that position. He was<br />

now working for the elections, for<br />

the recorder, and also ran the<br />

court systems.<br />

When his boss retired, Slocum<br />

was encouraged to run for that<br />

position. “Marvin Church trusted<br />

me; he mentored me. He was a<br />

very demanding boss, and he<br />

expected a great deal from people.<br />

SERVING THE PEOPLE<br />

by Valerie Harris, Special to the <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

THE SLOC<br />

He<br />

always<br />

set goals that<br />

were beyond an easy<br />

reach, and he always managed up,”<br />

Slocum detailed. “Because of him, I became a better<br />

person and a better manager. I decided to run, but I was relatively unknown,<br />

and Church helped in so many ways. I won the election.”<br />

One of the most notable examples set by Church was the case when he received a call<br />

in the middle of a meeting with a constituent. This woman called Church in desperation.<br />

It seems she had reserved<br />

a campground, and the county<br />

had lost the reservation. <strong>The</strong><br />

woman was saddled with 16 kids<br />

ready to camp for the weekend,<br />

and there was no place to go.<br />

Church assigned the task to<br />

Slocum who resolved the issue<br />

within ten minutes through a few<br />

phone calls. Slocum recalls: “It<br />

wasn’t my job, but I got her a<br />

reservation and she was<br />

relieved. I learned a valuable<br />

lesson that day. It didn’t matter<br />

to him [Church] that it wasn’t his<br />

area; he was an elected official.<br />

He respected the relationship<br />

between being an elected official<br />

and the citizens.”<br />

Slocum won the 1986 election<br />

with 73% of the vote.<br />

Although he won in June, Slocum


FIRST AND FOREMOST<br />

CUM WAY<br />

didn’t<br />

take the reins of<br />

office until 12:01 am,<br />

January 1, 1987. Rose Marie, the<br />

executive secretary was there to welcome him in<br />

with a terse: “It’s yours now – what do you want to do?”<br />

Slocum held that position from 1987 to 1993, when a huge judicial reform hit California<br />

courts system. Courts were consolidated, and municipal courts and superior courts<br />

were merged. Assessor Roland Giannini left and the Assessor’s and Recorder’s offices<br />

were merged. A ballot measure<br />

merged the elected offices of<br />

County Assessor and County<br />

Clerk-Recorder.<br />

In 1993 the business climate<br />

changed. <strong>The</strong> airlines had been<br />

at odds with the Assessor’s<br />

Office over taxable items. <strong>The</strong><br />

bioscience industry was taking<br />

off, and in addition to learning<br />

the complexities of the property<br />

assessment process, there were<br />

many changes in property tax<br />

laws. Software in airplanes, the<br />

exploding dot-com and computer<br />

industry, and mergers and acquisitions<br />

constantly changed the<br />

tax landscape and always challenged<br />

Slocum’s innovativeness.<br />

Yet he always rose to the<br />

occasion.<br />

Mergers and acquisitions also hit<br />

All Photos by James R. Kaspar<br />

the government sector. To allow costs to go<br />

down, and improve efficiencies, mergers hit<br />

county offices. As offices were merged, Slocum<br />

acquired more and more jobs, and finally<br />

became California’s first combined County<br />

Assessor, Clerk, Recorder, and Registrar of<br />

Voters.<br />

Slocum kept up his innovative spirit, refining the<br />

election processes with preparedness and<br />

rehearsals, giving San Mateo County the distinct<br />

title of the first county to report its election<br />

results to the Secretary of State. <strong>The</strong> Recorder’s<br />

office is streamlining the document archives<br />

using the latest in SMART document technology<br />

to increase the efficiency of the filing and recording<br />

of tax liens and private land records. Since<br />

he was always a fan of high technology,<br />

Slocum developed the first county website.<br />

Slocum was short of poll workers<br />

last year, so he enticed them with $25 bonuses. In fact, Slocum is such a<br />

trendsetter, that county governments nationwide keep an eye on San<br />

Mateo County, and constantly seek his advice on technical improvements<br />

and reforms.<br />

Just recently, Slocum allocated some money to do a voter focus group.<br />

“You know what we found out? <strong>The</strong> voters have some doubt about<br />

their ballot being counted when they vote by mail,” Slocum recounts.<br />

To insure the voter that his or her vote was counted, Slocum has instituted<br />

a process in which when the mail-in votes are received, the envelope’s<br />

bar code will be scanned and logged (without compromising the<br />

vote.) <strong>The</strong> voter can log into the county’s website and by simply entering<br />

the address and birth date, the voter can track the receipt of the mail-in ballot.<br />

This will allow the voters of San Mateo County to be the first in the nation<br />

to use this technology in the upcoming election.<br />

Slocum also empowers people in his employ. After she graduated from a Redwood City<br />

leadership program, he hired Lupe Sanchez. She was a young, single mother of two children.<br />

Slocum believes in teaching people that they can change, and empowers them to<br />

do so. Ms. Sanchez is now a valued member of the San Mateo County election team and<br />

recently assisted candidates with their paper work for the November election.<br />

Slocum expects a lot from his workforce as well. But although he considers himself a<br />

demanding boss, he always rewards the employees with barbeques and other work functions.<br />

Slocum epitomizes stellar leadership skills: his team most often finishes first<br />

whether it’s in innovation or filing election results. Slocum’s leadership is unmatched in<br />

the State and possibly the Nation.<br />

This visionary manages to focus<br />

time and importance on family<br />

and community. He is past president<br />

of the Mid-Peninsula Boys<br />

and Girls Club and the Redwood<br />

Shores Rotary. He lives in<br />

Redwood City with his wife Maria<br />

and sons Jonathan and Justin,<br />

and recently found the time to<br />

swim the “Escape from Alcatraz”<br />

race, in which he finished 286<br />

out of around 1,000 swimmers;<br />

plus he recently had a hole in one<br />

at Poplar Creek Golf course.<br />

But the top job for Slocum is<br />

making the time for every constituent<br />

who requests it, affirming<br />

his open door policy. Serving<br />

the people is first and foremost.<br />

Slocum says: “It’s just a priority.”


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

ALL SEASON SUSHI<br />

JAPANESE RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR AND GRILL<br />

Lunch Special - CHOICE OF 4 ITEMS - served with: Soup, Salad, Rice, Fresh Fruit<br />

Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.<br />

Daily Specials for Lunch and Dinner<br />

2432 Broadway . Downtown Redwood City<br />

650.298.9828<br />

Open: Mon - Fri Lunch and Dinner<br />

Saturday Dinner Only<br />

Closed Sundays<br />

Dine in our restaurant or enjoy our outdoor patio<br />

Catering Available for all occasions


(continued from page 14)<br />

Harrison, while running this<br />

Redwood City favorite, also<br />

hosts a lot of community<br />

activities. Harrison is very family<br />

oriented. He lives in<br />

Redwood City with his wife,<br />

Stephanie, and their 16-month<br />

old daughter, Alicia. Harrison<br />

hosts a popular annual<br />

Bachelor's Classic Golf<br />

Tournament for his friends and<br />

regulars. He also runs a catering<br />

operation through the<br />

Canyon Inn, and while he<br />

caters many private and commercial<br />

events, Harrison also<br />

caters for fund-raising events,<br />

such as a charity drive for<br />

debilitating bone diseases.<br />

Local schools are the<br />

Harrisons' top priority. Every<br />

Wednesday, during the summer<br />

months, Tim donates hot<br />

dogs to the concert-in-the-park<br />

series at Stafford Park, and<br />

other school music programs.<br />

<strong>The</strong> restaurant is noted for its<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

burgers and beers, most<br />

notably the Hacksaw<br />

Burger, a big double<br />

cheeseburger named<br />

after Jack "Hacksaw"<br />

Reynolds. His "Hacksaw"<br />

moniker followed<br />

Reynolds through life and<br />

was acquired when he<br />

was playing college football<br />

for the University of<br />

Tennessee. His team had<br />

won the Southeastern<br />

Conference title, but a<br />

loss to Ole Miss prevented<br />

the team from securing<br />

a berth in the Sugar<br />

Bowl Game. "Hacksaw"<br />

was so furious he spent<br />

two days cutting a 1953<br />

Chevy in half using a<br />

hacksaw and 14 blades.<br />

(Hacksaw played for the 49ers<br />

when they were the Team of<br />

the 80's.) "<strong>The</strong> burgers are<br />

1/3-pound of meat, and<br />

Reynolds used to specialorder<br />

a double cheeseburger.<br />

So we named the burger after<br />

him," states Harrison.<br />

In addition to the wide array of<br />

delicious burgers, the Canyon<br />

Inn also offers hot and cold<br />

sandwiches, hot dogs, fish<br />

and chips, spaghetti, ravioli,<br />

lasagna, Mexican tacos and<br />

quesadillas. <strong>The</strong> pub also<br />

serves wine and beer, and an<br />

array of sodas and drinks.<br />

"<strong>The</strong>re are no waitresses or<br />

waiters, it's a self-serve<br />

restaurant. You order at the<br />

counter, and pick up your food<br />

yourself," describes Harrison.<br />

"<strong>The</strong> restaurant has a very<br />

family-oriented environment.<br />

Some nights, the place looks<br />

like a preschool, there are so<br />

many kids."<br />

Susannah Greenwood's Internet blog review probably sums up the restaurant the best:<br />

"I had the most amazing Burger of my entire life this weekend. Had a late lunch on<br />

Sunday with my parents at a place they went to years ago and using the GPS in their car<br />

they redis<strong>cover</strong>ed it about 6 months ago. So this little shack, almost a biker bar of a place<br />

in the "hills" of Redwood City called the Canyon Inn has the best kept secret on the planet.<br />

Oh my God. You don't even understand. I shut up for a good 6 minutes and ate half<br />

of it before I came up for air. I was mmming and making yummy noise so much more than<br />

usual it made my mom [make a lascivious reference.] I think that was the first time I actually<br />

heard her say that word. It was nearly accurate though. I had the Blue-Swiss burger<br />

with blue cheese and melted Swiss. So perfect. And the fries CRISP, thin light...yummmm.<br />

I think maybe you understand where I am going here. It was excellent. and ....a winner."<br />

If you use their coupon in this month's <strong>Spectrum</strong>, you can get 10% off all meals, now<br />

that's an offer you cannot pass up! Canyon Inn is located at 587 Canyon Road (at the<br />

intersection of Canyon Road and Oak Knoll) in Redwood City. <strong>The</strong>y are open daily from<br />

11 am to 10 pm. Phone them at 650-369-1646.


ALLEGED REDWOOD CITY TEEN KILLERS DELAY PLEA<br />

Three teens suspected of participating in the gang-related killing of a man in Redwood City were in<br />

juvenile court last week, but did not enter pleas to the murder charges. <strong>The</strong> suspects include a 15year-old<br />

boy, a boy who turns 15 on July 31 and a boy who turned 14 in early July. Three of the teens<br />

will be tried as juveniles. However, 14-year-old alleged triggerman Josue Orozco — the youngest suspect’s<br />

older brother — will be tried as an adult, along with Faustino Ayala, a 21-year-old suspect in<br />

the case. All the suspects are facing charges of murder and participating in a criminal street gang<br />

in connection with the death of 21-year-old Francisco Rodriguez on July 12. Ayala is also charged<br />

with a parole violation. <strong>The</strong> district attorney’s office alleges that Rodriguez’s killing was gang-related,<br />

the product of ongoing violence between the rival Norteno and Sureno gangs. Ayala allegedly<br />

drove the teens around on the day of the <strong>shoot</strong>ing and waited as Orozco allegedly hopped out of the<br />

car and shot Rodriguez once in the back of the head. Redwood City police officers responded to the<br />

apartment complex in the 400 block of Redwood Avenue about 2:22 p.m. Rodriguez was found lying<br />

in the rear carport area of the complex. He was taken to Stanford Hospital, where he was pronounced<br />

dead. <strong>The</strong> teenagers were to appear again in juvenile court on Aug. 25 at 2:30 p.m. Orozco<br />

and Ayala will return to court on Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. for entry of plea.<br />

MOTORIST SICKENED DOWNTOWN<br />

A motorist was briefly sickened in Redwood City after he ran over a small container of hydrochloric<br />

acid, according to a Redwood City fire spokesman. Fire Battalion Chief Geoffrey Balton said the<br />

motorist drove over the approximately one-gallon plastic container at the intersection of Maple<br />

Street and Broadway. When the driver got out of his car to see what he had hit, he ended up inhaling<br />

fumes from the acid, Balton said. He felt nauseous and was treated at the scene by emergency<br />

personnel. “He was improving as soon as he got out of the (affected) environment,’’ Balton said. A<br />

hazardous materials team responded to the scene and neutralized the acid with baking soda,<br />

according to Balton, who said hydrochloric acid is commonly used for cleaning, especially swimming<br />

pools. He said the container “probably fell off a truck.’’ Broadway was closed between Main and<br />

Maple streets while crews dealt with the small spill, Balton said. All streets in the area have since<br />

been reopened.<br />

TWO PENINSULA CITIES INVESTIGATE ARSON FIRES<br />

Law enforcement officials in two cities on the Peninsula are investigating a string of arson fires in<br />

carports that burned within 15 days of one another. South County Fire Authority Fire Marshal Jim<br />

Palisi said the most recent case of arson was in mid-August in San Carlos where three fires burned<br />

in three separate apartment carports. <strong>The</strong> first fire started in a carport located at 788 Walnut St.,<br />

San Carlos Police Department Sgt. Jim Eckles said. <strong>The</strong> blaze reached a second alarm before being<br />

extinguished. About an hour later, another carport at 1450 Laurel St. went up in flames, according<br />

to Eckles. <strong>The</strong> third fire broke out at 4:55 a.m. in a carport located at 1243 Central Ave. Three cars<br />

were destroyed and three others sustained minor damages in the fires. <strong>The</strong>re were no reported displacements<br />

as a result of any of the San Carlos blazes, according to Palisi. Last month, five fires<br />

burned carports in five separate Redwood City apartment complexes. <strong>The</strong> fires occurred July 30 on<br />

Hess Road, Arch Street, Lincoln, Jackson and Oak avenues. <strong>The</strong> blaze on Lincoln Avenue reached a<br />

second alarm. Eckles said investigators are aware of the possibility that the fires are related and<br />

reported both police departments are in contact. As for the possibility that all the fires were started<br />

by the same individual, Eckles said, “We haven’t ruled that out yet.’’ Redwood City Police<br />

Department Investigator Eric Stasiak reported the department is still investigating the incidents.<br />

Both agencies are following up on leads and ask anyone with information to call its investigators.<br />

<strong>The</strong> public should call (650) 593-8014. to contact the San Carlos Police Department. Investigators<br />

with the Redwood City Police Department can be reached at (650) 780-7100.<br />

KarliBulnes0319p08/16/05 CONTACT: San Carlos Police Sgt. Doug Eckles (650) 802-4232 South<br />

County Fire Authority (650) 802-4313 Redwood City Police Department (650) 780-7100<br />

SUSPECT NAMED IN STABBING OF REDWOOD CITY MAN<br />

One suspect has been identified following an incident in mid-August that resulted in the stabbing<br />

death of one man and the injury of another, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office announced.<br />

Johnny Santiago Vasquez, 33, of Redwood City, was arrested for the attempted murder of Javier<br />

Tapia, 29, of Redwood City, following an altercation that took place at an apartment complex at<br />

2944 Calvin Ave. in unincorporated Redwood City, officials said. Tapia was treated for stab wounds<br />

at Kaiser Permanente Hospital after the incident, according to officials. San Mateo County sheriff’s<br />

detectives are still investigating the murder of Jesus Vargas, 28, of East Palo Alto who was pronounced<br />

dead at the scene, officials reported. <strong>The</strong> results of an autopsy that was conducted to<br />

determine the exact cause and time of Vargas’ death are pending, according to the San Mateo<br />

County Coroner. Several pieces of evidence, including a large kitchen knife, were obtained from the<br />

crime scene and have since been submitted to forensics for more testing, the sheriff’s office said.<br />

<strong>The</strong> investigation is still on going, and it is unknown if Vasquez will be charged with Vargas’ murder.<br />

FOUR-ALARM REDWOOD CITY FIRE COULD’VE BEEN PREVENTED, OFFICIAL SAID<br />

A four-alarm fire in Redwood City that displaced 14 people and caused about $450,000 could have<br />

been prevented with a working smoke detector, Fire Prevention Officer Jamie Lee. <strong>The</strong> fire started<br />

around 3 a.m. at 1230 Whipple Ave., according to Redwood City Fire Battalion Chief Jim Skinner. <strong>The</strong><br />

fire, which originated in the kitchen, was contained to one apartment, where there was no working<br />

smoke detector, Lee said. Nine other units suffered extensive water damage and an exterior hallway<br />

was damaged by smoke, according to Skinner. <strong>The</strong> two residents of the unit where the fire originated<br />

were not able to save any of their possessions. Damage to the four-story, 24-unit apartment complex<br />

was estimated at $375,000. <strong>The</strong> estimated damage to contents is $75,000. A total of 13<br />

engines, four trucks and five battalion chiefs responded to the scene and the blaze was declared<br />

under control at 3:15 a.m., Skinner said. One injury was reported. A firefighter suffered first-degree<br />

burns to his ears. <strong>The</strong> cause of the fire remains under investigation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

News Briefs<br />

REDWOOD CITY MAN ARRESTED FOR PEEPING<br />

<strong>The</strong> San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a peeping tom in unincorporated Redwood City,<br />

according to a news release. 18-year-old Moeses Coralles was arrested at his house after the latest<br />

victim identified him in a <strong>photo</strong> lineup, said the release. Coralles was allegedly in the habit of looking<br />

into windows between the hours of 2:30 and 4 a.m. He was arrested on charges of burglary,<br />

indecent exposure, peeping and loitering during nighttime hours, and booked into the San Mateo<br />

County Jail. Police are investigating a similar case in the Redwood city area and ask anyone with<br />

information to contact Detective Josh Chilton or Detective Derron Sisneros at (650) 780-7116<br />

REDWOOD CITY POLICE CONTINUE ARSON INVESTIGATION<br />

Investigators are combing through a list of Redwood City probationers and parolees convicted of<br />

arson in hopes of identifying a suspect or suspects in their investigation of five suspicious fires.<br />

Redwood City Police Department Detective Jeff Price said today that there are four adults out on<br />

parole in Redwood City with previous arson convictions. <strong>The</strong> Police Department is also waiting for a<br />

list of registered arsonists in San Mateo County from the Department of Justice in Sacramento.<br />

Investigators continue to encourage citizens to call in any information they may have regarding the<br />

fires, which began between 2 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. at five separate apartment complexes on the west<br />

side of El Camino, police said. <strong>The</strong> fires occurred on Hess Road, Arch Street, Lincoln, Jackson and<br />

Oak avenues, according to the Redwood City Fire Department. <strong>The</strong> blaze on Lincoln Avenue reached<br />

a second alarm. At this time, a damage estimate is only available for the fire on Oak Avenue, which<br />

the property manager calculates is close to $60,000, according to Price. “It’s gonna take some<br />

time’’ for the other properties, Price said. As for an official cause of the fires, Price said it is “pretty<br />

safe to assume’’ it was arson based on evidence collected at the scenes. <strong>The</strong> Police Department is<br />

consulting the Redwood City Fire Department in their investigation, Redwood City Fire Department<br />

Chief Gerry Kohlman said.<br />

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE FILED IN BRAWL<br />

Prosecutors formally charged a 33-year-old Redwood City man with attempting to murder another<br />

man during a large-scale drunken brawl but are holding off on adding an additional murder charge<br />

and gang allegations.<br />

Johnny Santiago Vasquez is charged with the attempted murder of Javier Tapia and returned to court<br />

Aug. 23 to enter a plea. If convicted, Vasquez faces about a decade in prison.<br />

Tapia was one of two men stabbed on Calvin Avenue. <strong>The</strong> other victim, Jesus Vargas, 28, died from<br />

a fatal stab to the chest.<br />

Prosecutors are awaiting forensic testing and further investigation by sheriff’s deputies before deciding<br />

whether to charge Vasquez with Vargas’ murder. Although Vasquez reportedly belongs to the<br />

Norteño gang, a special allegation of gang activity is yet to be charged.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> evidence right now does not show that the attack was clearly for the gang’s purpose,” said<br />

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.<br />

Tapia and Vargas were stabbed during an alcohol-fueled fight outside an apartment complex on<br />

Calvin Avenue. When sheriff’s deputies responded to an emergency call for several people fighting,<br />

they found Vargas lying unconscious on the ground in the carport area bleeding from a stab wound<br />

to the chest. Emergency medical personnel were unable to revive Vargas and the East Palo Alto man<br />

was pronounced dead at the scene.<br />

Tapia, stabbed in the back, was taken to Kaiser Permanente Hospital and released about six hours<br />

later.<br />

Detectives found a large kitchen knife that may be the murder weapon in an apartment and spent<br />

the evening interviewing 10 Spanish-speaking men about the fight.<br />

Vasquez remains in custody on no-bail status.<br />

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact Detective Rich Maher at 363-4055<br />

or Detective Cathy Boettger at 363-4050.<br />

COMMUNITY SAFETY TIPS KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAFE<br />

Here are just a few brief tips that you can use in your own neighborhood. Communication is key to<br />

maintaining our public safety, so keep in touch with your neighbors - communicate with each other<br />

and agree to keep an eye on each others’ houses when no one’s home. Be aware of unusual vehicles<br />

or activity. If you see suspicious activity, people, or vehicles, call the Redwood City Police<br />

Department directly at 780-7100. In an emergency, of course, you should call 9-1-1. <strong>The</strong> Police<br />

Department also maintains an anonymous tip hot line at 780-7110. Attend your neighborhood association<br />

meetings to get to know other members of your community, and learn more about what’s<br />

going on in your neighborhood (visit http://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/neighborhoodassociation.html<br />

for a list of neighborhood associations). <strong>The</strong> Redwood City Police Department embraces a<br />

community policing philosophy. <strong>The</strong> Community Coordinating Activities Team (CCAT) works closely<br />

with the community to address the problems of crime, and quality of life issues. CCAT officers coordinate<br />

Neighborhood Watch meetings, neighborhood association meetings, and speak at schools<br />

and service organizations. You can reach the CCAT office at 780-7100 to learn more. For more information<br />

on community safety topics, visit the Redwood City Police Department website’s “Hot Topics”<br />

page at http://www.redwoodcity.org/police/hottopics.html.<br />

APPLY FOR A COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT<br />

Grants of up to $300 are available for community engagement projects, beautification, neighborhood<br />

participation activities, or other projects that bring people together and build community. <strong>The</strong><br />

purpose of this grant program is to help people to implement their own creative ideas for making<br />

their street, block, neighborhood, or community a better place to live and work. Eligible projects will<br />

have a positive impact and will offer an opportunity for neighbors to get to know one another and<br />

work together toward a common goal of community improvement and engagement. This program is<br />

one way the City is helping people to strengthen the foundation of the entire community. More information<br />

and applications are available online, at the Office of the City Manager at 1017 Middlefield<br />

Road , or by emailing or calling the City Manager ‘s office at 650-780-7300. Applications will be<br />

reviewed once a month and applicants can expect to hear from the City within 45 days of receipt of<br />

the application.


CULTURAL EVENTS<br />

(continued from page 7)<br />

port.com<br />

Summit 2V1 (pronounced “Summit Two Five One”)is a 5-piece jazz band from the San<br />

Francisco bay area. Fusing elements of contemporary jazz with funky rhythms, Summit<br />

2V1 is fast developing a sound that is deep in groove and peppered with sophisticated<br />

melodies. Audiences will appreciate the upbeat tempos and tasteful solos that are<br />

becoming the hallmark of this exciting instrumental jazz ensemble. www.summit2v1.com<br />

Frankie’s Dream, Alien Cowboys plus <strong>The</strong> Buttheads<br />

Fri. Sept. 9, 2005, 8pm $10 adv./$12 door<br />

Frankie’s Dream is a true reflection of the Bay Area’s colorful musical history. <strong>The</strong> group’s<br />

influences have combined to create a familiar yet unique style that invites you in and<br />

makes you feel at home with its warm and appealing sound. While most of today’s up and<br />

coming bands try to gain attention by being shocking or employing candy coated productions<br />

to achieve success, Frankie’s Dream relies on talent, integrity and sheer perseverance.<br />

www.frankiesdream.com<br />

Alien Cowboys, an instrumental rock quartet on a mission to restore instrumental rock to<br />

the worldwide prominence the genre enjoyed in past decades. <strong>The</strong> band features Ralph<br />

Perucci on lead guitar, Bruce Stevenson on rhythm guitar, Greg Jones on bass and Ian<br />

Thomson on drums. All are San Francisco Bay Area inhabitants, except Ralph, who hails<br />

from Manhattan. Since its founding in 1997, the band has completed three full-length<br />

CD’s of mostly original material. A fourth CD, ‘LIFT’ which many feel is the band’s best<br />

effort to date and animated video has been released and is available at their web site.<br />

www.aliencowboys.com<br />

Buttheads are dedicated to the philosophy that rock & roll should be fun. If we accidentally<br />

play some decent music in the process so much the better but we’re not going to<br />

lose any sleep if we clank a note here & there. “Wonderfully awful, exquisitely bad. It<br />

wouldn’t be any good if they were any good!”<br />

~ Bobby Fleckman, Spun Magazine<br />

LUCE plus Brad Wolfe & <strong>The</strong> Moon<br />

Sat. Sept. 10, 2005, 8pm $12 adv./$14 door<br />

Luce has been Number #1 on KFOG and is San Francisco’s hottest new adult alternative<br />

rock act. This has led to national airplay. Tom Luce assembled his eponymous band in<br />

the wake of recording his debut LP, which features veteran musicians from such stalwart<br />

acts as Counting Crows, Lisa Loeb, and Clarence Clemons. Luce has filled major showcase<br />

nightclubs in San Francisco. Luce’s distinctive brand of lush, heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll is<br />

filled with vibrant vocals, and hooks.<br />

“While Luce doesn’t break any radically new ground, they feature solid musicianship and<br />

slick songwriting in the mode of ...alternative acts such as the Dave Matthews Band and<br />

Counting Crows.” ~ Mary Grady, All Music Guide www.luceband.com<br />

Brad Wolfe is a young but timeless singer/songwriter who has quickly emerged on the<br />

forefront of the Bay Area music scene. His unique and comforting voice, intelligent lyrics,<br />

intense passion, and life-affirming attitude separate him from other performers of the<br />

day. After almost a year in the studio, his debut full length album, “Brad Wolfe and the<br />

Moon,” will surely be one of the year’s best new releases. “I have so much wrapped up<br />

in this album and in what it represents,” says Brad. “It’s not just about me-it’s about life,<br />

the goodness of the human spirit, and about giving back to the world.” www.bradwolfemusic.com<br />

Yvette’s Y Su Orquestra Mambo Tropical featuring PETE ESCOVEDO<br />

CD Release Party!<br />

Fri. Sept. 16, 2005, 9pm $18 adv./$20 door<br />

Yvette Y Su Orquestra Mambo Tropical is an 11 piece band, infused with fluid flute<br />

sounds, smooth brass, melodic keys, piano and<br />

aggressive Afro-Cuban percussive beats. Yvette<br />

Watts, the lead soprano singer of this amazing<br />

salsa band leads the group with her energetic<br />

and sensual voice.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y will be celebrating the release of Mambo<br />

Tropical’s first album. It is packed full of sultry<br />

classic salsa hits and features the famous Latin<br />

percussionist, Pete Escovedo. Pete has performed<br />

and recorded with artists such as Herbie<br />

Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, Tito<br />

Puente, Woody Herman, Carlos Santana and<br />

many, many others. Come and enjoy a wonderful<br />

night of music and dance at this CD release<br />

party. www.mambotropical.com &<br />

www.peteescovedo.com<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Teacher Apologizes for Sex<br />

With Her Student<br />

<strong>The</strong> former Redwood City teacher who bore a child fathered by a former student<br />

offered a tearful apology to the victim last week and blamed her illegal tryst on depression<br />

fueled by her job and her weight.<br />

“I want to ask God and the court and my victims for forgiveness at this time ...<br />

I am very sorry,” Rebecca Ann Boicelli said as her voice choked with<br />

emotion.<br />

<strong>The</strong> 34-year-old Menlo Park woman dabbed at her eyes and read from a prepared<br />

statement to explain she is a very different person than the teacher who began an<br />

affair with 14 year old.<br />

She said she was depressed at the time of the relationship and feeling “very lonely.”<br />

“<strong>The</strong>re is no excuse for my crime and I have no explanation,” Boicelli said,<br />

adding that she wants the now-adult victim to “get past this and live a happy and satisfying<br />

life.”<br />

Boicelli’s comments came in the first half of a sentencing hearing to decide if<br />

she’ll spend up to three years in prison or receive some leniency. Judge Stephen Hall will<br />

hand down his decision Sept. 1 after a psychiatrist returns his court-ordered report on<br />

Boicelli.<br />

In May, Boicelli pleaded no contest to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse.<br />

In return, prosecutors dismissed three other charges of lewd and lascivious behavior.<br />

Boicelli admitted having sex with the now 18-year-old father once in August<br />

2003. Prosecutor Elizabeth Raffaelli disputed the claim during the preliminary hearing<br />

and pointed out previous inappropriate conduct between the two. <strong>The</strong> boy and Boicelli<br />

allegedly began their relationship in 2001 when he was a 14-year-old student at a<br />

Redwood City alternative school. Boicelli would move on to two different schools but the<br />

encounters continued. Often, the boy visited Boicelli at school and interacted with her<br />

students.<br />

Boicelli gave birth to the baby June 8, 2004 and was arrested Jan. 20 after coworkers<br />

contacted police. Police had fielded tips for two years prior but never had concrete<br />

evidence until the child’s birth. DNA testing proves the boy is the father.<br />

<strong>The</strong> boy’s mother was present in court but will not make a statement until the<br />

continuation of the hearing.<br />

Many supporters of Boicelli filled the audience and three spoke about her<br />

admirable qualities. Laura Ginger, whose daughter was in Boicelli’s eighth-grade class,<br />

said she was “pretty awesome” as a teacher. Ginger has a job waiting for Boicelli if she<br />

is released and spoke about her honesty, reliability and humor.<br />

When questioned by Raffaelli about the facts of the case, Ginger — like the<br />

other two speakers — admitted she did not know about the affair or who fathered<br />

Boicelli’s baby. Ginger’s daughter had told her the boy was a student aide and she maintained<br />

that idea in court.<br />

“I think he was a student aide because I saw him correcting papers,” she said.<br />

Keith Costas, whose wife Erin is Boicelli’s best friend, called her a “pretty genuine<br />

person” with fine character.<br />

“We all make mistakes. It’s how you deal with them,” he said.<br />

Boicelli will be sentenced Sept. 1. Until then, she remains in custody in lieu of $500,000<br />

bail.<br />

Editors note: This story first appeared in the Daily Journal newspaper.


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

PICTURES AROUND TOWN<br />

Fomer Mayor and current State Assemblyman Ira<br />

Ruskin visted the Downtown area last weekend and<br />

checked out the progress of the Cimema project<br />

(below, left column)<br />

CURRENTCOUNCILMEMBER ALICIA<br />

AGUIRRE LAUNCHED HER CAM-<br />

PAIGN FOR REDWOOD CITY COUNCIL<br />

SURROUNDED BY CURRENT AND<br />

PAST ELECTED OFFICIALS.<br />

Young’s Ice Cream and Candy Bar," held their their<br />

Grand Opening with all ice cream and candy sales<br />

for the day donated to the Ronald McDonald House.<br />

(below, right column)


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Are You On Track Toward Retirement Savings Goals?<br />

By David Amann<br />

Special to the <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

ALTHOUGH HE MAY NEVER HAVE SAID IT, Mark Twain, the author of Huckleberry<br />

Finn, is often credited with this quote: "Everybody talks about the<br />

weather, but nobody does anything about it." Unfortunately, just about<br />

the same thing can be said about saving for retirement: We all think about it, but<br />

we don't take much action.<br />

In fact, your fellow Americans are, at the moment, doing an inadequate<br />

job of saving for their retirement. Early in 2005, personal saving as a percentage<br />

of disposable personal income was just 0.4 percent, according to the<br />

Bureau of Economic Analysis, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.<br />

And consider these numbers from the 2005 Retirement Confidence Survey,<br />

issued by the Employee Benefits Research Institute:<br />

* Nearly four in 10 workers have not saved anything at all for retirement.<br />

* Those who have put something away are not saving nearly enough. Half<br />

the workers surveyed have set aside, on average, just $25,000.<br />

* About 60 percent of those surveyed have not even tried to calculate<br />

how much they'll need during their retirement years.<br />

How can you determine how much you'll need to live comfortably during<br />

retirement? You'll need to consider a variety of factors, including the age at<br />

which you retire, your retirement lifestyle, your health and your projected longevity.<br />

To arrive at a good estimate, you may want to work with a financial professional<br />

- someone with the tools to generate several alternative retirementincome<br />

scenarios.<br />

After you determine about how much money you'll need during your<br />

retirement years, your next step, not surprisingly, is to figure out where that<br />

money will come from. Basically, you will need to rely on three sources: Social<br />

Security, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and personal savings and<br />

investments. Let's take a quick look at each of these:<br />

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* Social Security - No one can predict the ultimate result of the current<br />

national debate on funding Social Security. But no matter what happens, one<br />

things is clear: Social Security will only <strong>cover</strong> a relatively small percentage of<br />

your retirement income - perhaps one-fifth to one-third of what you will need. To<br />

get an idea of what you can expect, study your Social Security benefit statement<br />

when it arrives in the mail.<br />

* Employer-sponsored retirement plans - If you have a traditional<br />

"defined benefit" retirement plan that is based on your years of service and level<br />

of income, your employer should be able to provide you with a statement projecting<br />

your future benefits. If you have a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan, your<br />

income will depend somewhat on the performance of the investments within<br />

your plan. Keep close track of how your plan is doing, and make adjustments,<br />

as needed, to diversify your holdings and manage your risk.<br />

* Personal savings and investments - Closely monitor the performance of<br />

your IRA, stocks and other investments. If they are not producing the type of<br />

return you need to help you meet your retirement income goals, you may have<br />

to make changes over time, keeping in mind your need for diversification and<br />

your tolerance for risk.<br />

By taking the time to calculate your retirement funding needs, and by knowing<br />

where your income is coming from, and how much you can expect, you can avoid<br />

unpleasant surprises when you retire. So, start planning today for a rewarding<br />

tomorrow.<br />

Editor’s note: David Amann is one of the Redwood City community members<br />

who contributes to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong>. If you have any questions regarding investments<br />

please send them to: writers@spectrummagazine.net or <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

Magazine – P.O. Box 862 – Redwood City – California – 94064.


CARGILL SALT SHARES COASTAL AMERICA HONOR<br />

WITH FEDERAL/STATE RESOURCE AGENCIES; WINS<br />

TWO REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS<br />

Cargill Salt’s donation and sale of 16,500 acres of South San Francisco Bay salt ponds<br />

and its partnership effort with federal and state resource agencies to restore 25 square<br />

miles of Bay shoreline to tidal marsh is being honored again – this time with the 2005<br />

Coastal America Spirit Award.<br />

This national award, given by Coastal America, a Washington D.C.-based partnership of<br />

federal agencies, state and local governments, and private organizations, recognizes<br />

“outstanding efforts to protect, preserve and restore coastal resources and to increase<br />

public awareness and education.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> Coastal America Award follows three regional environmental honors given Cargill Salt<br />

for this project. Cargill won the ACTERRA 2005 Business Environmental Award for Open<br />

Space and Habitat Preservation/Restoration, the Sustainable San Mateo County award<br />

and the American Society of Civil Engineers, Northern California Chapter award for<br />

Environmental Engineering.<br />

Coastal America’s selection of the San Francisco Bay Salt Pond Sale/Donation and<br />

Interim Stewardship Plan honors Cargill Salt and its partners, the US Fish & Wildlife<br />

Service, California Resources Legacy Fund, California Department of Fish and Game and<br />

Senator Dianne Feinstein.<br />

Coastal America Director Virginia Tippie saluted Cargill and its partners for: “Working in<br />

a collaborative manner, you successfully protected 16,500 acres of shoreline/marsh,<br />

and have begun to implement the restoration of 25 square miles of important wetland<br />

habitat. <strong>The</strong>se efforts will provide important habitat to several endangered bird species<br />

and almost 100 other species that use this area for feeding, nesting and resting, In addition,<br />

this project may be the largest of its type to improve water quality in the region.”<br />

In 1999, Cargill Salt re-designed its historic salt-making operations, freeing up much of<br />

the South Bay shoreline for donation and sale to the federal and state environmental<br />

agencies. In 2003, the lands were transferred at a cost of $100 million and Cargill<br />

agreed to serve as the Interim Stewardship construction manager, working on behalf of<br />

the government agencies to begin restoration. Cargill’s donations to this project exceeded<br />

$143 million in land value plus several million dollars more in donated technical assistance.<br />

A presentation ceremony for the award is being scheduled.<br />

THOMAS C. MOHR APPOINTED INTERIM PRESIDENT<br />

AT CAÑADA COLLEGE<br />

Thomas C. Mohr, the former superintendent of the San Mateo Union High School District,<br />

was appointed interim president at Cañada College July 27 by the San Mateo County<br />

Community College Board of Trustees.<br />

Mohr will guide the college while the district embarks on a nationwide search for a permanent<br />

replacement for Rosa Perez, who was recently named chancellor of the San<br />

Jose-Evergreen Community College District. Perez served as president of Cañada College<br />

since July 1, 1999. <strong>The</strong> search for her replacement is expected to take approximately six<br />

months.<br />

“I am confident that Tom’s exceptional leadership and extensive experience in public<br />

education will be a tremendous asset to Cañada College and our district as a whole,”<br />

said Ron Galatolo, chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District.<br />

Mohr said his first order of business is meeting with members of the campus community<br />

and learning more about programs at the college. He said he is particularly interested<br />

in strengthening partnerships with area high schools and helping to build on existing outreach<br />

programs.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> staff and faculty at this college have done a remarkable job of reaching out to a<br />

wide range of people in the community,” he said. “<strong>The</strong>y’ve made college accessible to<br />

people who might not otherwise attend college. I want to continue the good work they’ve<br />

started and build on it where possible.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Mohr was superintendent of SMUHSD from 1996 through 2004 and was assistant superintendent<br />

of instruction at the district from 1986 through 1996. He was also a principal<br />

of three high schools in the Jefferson Union High School District. During his tenure as<br />

superintendent, the SMUHSD built strong community relationships across the six cities<br />

of the district which were an important factor in the district fulfilling significant goals<br />

which raised standards and enriched academic opportunity for all students and provided<br />

for the district’s future.<br />

Mohr has been a Bay Area resident for 42 years and resides in San Mateo with his wife,<br />

Sandy.<br />

PORT RECEIVES SECURITY GRANT FROM<br />

CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY<br />

<strong>The</strong> Port of Redwood City has been awarded a $150,000 security grant by the California<br />

Office of Homeland Security, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced recently in San<br />

Diego.<br />

At an event at the Port of San Diego, the governor said the Port of Redwood City was<br />

among 11 California ports receiving a combined $4.9 million to beef up maritime security.<br />

Redwood City Port Commission Chairman Dick Dodge said that the port will use the grant<br />

for these purposes:<br />

* Improved perimeter fencing and gates around Port property.<br />

* Two new guardhouses for entry checkpoints to Port property.<br />

* Training of security guards, port personnel and tenant facility security officers.<br />

Gov. Schwarzenegger made the announcement in conjunction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony<br />

of a new Joint Operations Center at the Port of San Diego. Port of Redwood City<br />

Operations Manager Don Snaman was invited by the governor's office to be on hand for<br />

the public announcement. Snaman used the opportunity to impress upon the governor's<br />

office the importance of continued funding through the State to assist with port security<br />

costs.<br />

Since Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America, U.S. ports have been targeted as high<br />

priorities for new security measures by the federal Homeland Security Office as well as<br />

the state equivalent.<br />

All of the marine cargo facilities at the Port of Redwood City are in compliance with the<br />

requirements of the new U.S. Coast Guard regulations that took effect a year ago under<br />

the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA). Enacted in 2002 in the aftermath of<br />

the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the MTSA fortified and extended the Coast Guard's jurisdiction<br />

and responsibilities for security planning and execution in and around U.S. waterways.<br />

Concurrent with the July 1 security deadline, an international agreement for vessel<br />

and port security formulated by the International Maritime Organization also went into<br />

effect.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Port of Redwood City's security management team, consisting of Port staff, tenants,<br />

other Port users, and security consultants, spent innumerable hours over several months<br />

to complete and submit its security plan to the Coast Guard which was ultimately<br />

approved. <strong>The</strong> focus of the increased Port security efforts are on the restricted areas<br />

involved with cargo operations and the handling of chemicals.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Port received a $75,000 grant from the Transportation Security Administration to<br />

help create its plan. <strong>The</strong> grant issued today by the California Homeland Security<br />

Department enables the port to fund many of the physical improvements called for in the<br />

plan.<br />

Advertise with the<br />

<strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

650.368.2434


(continued from page 9)<br />

them you must give voters a reason - and there is not that smoking gun there to do<br />

so.<br />

On the other hand, Fraser is a well-known member of our community and has been<br />

active in both business and political circles for years. I don't know if that will be<br />

enough to carry her. But then, all the incumbents could face the voters disapproval<br />

for the recent failure of Measure V, a five-year, $85-a-year parcel tax - in May.<br />

Don't you just love elections?<br />

* * * *<br />

<strong>The</strong> San Mateo County Community College Board has decided to ask voters in<br />

November to approve some $468 million in new bonds. <strong>The</strong> main reason cited - to<br />

raise funds to finish projects in the district schools. Not to be the bearer of bad news,<br />

but shouldn't they have planned on those costs when they went to voters in 2001<br />

and we approved a $207 million school building bond? Why didn't they just ask for<br />

it then, you might ask? That would have meant asking voters to approve $675 million<br />

in bonds - I don't think that would have gone over too well with voters, and I<br />

doubt it will this November. <strong>The</strong> bond will need 55 percent to pass, and polling conducted<br />

about eight weeks ago indicated more than 65 percent of voters would support<br />

a bond up to $400 million. I got a bad feeling about this one.<br />

* * * *<br />

San Mateo County Prosecutors are asking that former Redwood City teacher,<br />

Rebecca Boicelli, 34, who faces up to three years in prison plus mandatory registration<br />

as a sex offender, and who bore a former student's baby last year, receive<br />

prison time. Her attorney, of course, is pushing for leniency.<br />

In recent history, San Mateo County cases of adults having sex with a minor have<br />

been resolved in a wide range of ways. <strong>The</strong> charges and sentences typically depend<br />

on the age gap between the adult and the victim, the extent of the sexual contact<br />

and how far back prosecutors can prove the crimes began.<br />

* In January, Ernesto Sanchez, 34, received four years in prison after pleading no<br />

contest to five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with his 16-year-old cousin. <strong>The</strong><br />

relationship, dating from November 2003, resulted in a baby boy.<br />

* In December 2004, Damon King, 28, was convicted of one count of unlawful sexual<br />

intercourse with a 16-year-old girl at a party. He faced three years in prison but<br />

received one year in jail.<br />

* In November 2004, Edna Robledo, 22, pleaded no contest to one count of unlawful<br />

sexual intercourse with a minor, child molestation and the allegation that substantial<br />

sexual conduct occurred between her and a 14-year-old cousin who fathered<br />

her baby. She was also accused of providing drugs to the boy. She received three<br />

years in prison.<br />

* In December 2003, Paola Lopez, 26, pleaded no contest to one count of unlawful<br />

sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old son of a friend with whom she was living. She<br />

received six months in the county jail and was deported back to Guatemala.<br />

* A former Redwood City youth pastor, Christopher Fouts, 26, is accused of molesting<br />

two teenaged boys earlier this year and is facing five felony charges of molestation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> charges stem from two boys, ages 13 and 14, that Fouts allegedly met<br />

through his role as director of Middle School Ministries at Peninsula Covenant<br />

Church on Farm Hill Boulevard. Fouts was set to plead as we went to press.<br />

So the question that begs to be answered is does a woman get treated the same as<br />

a man when they molest a child? At least in San Mateo County, and when prosecuted<br />

by Elizabeth Raffelli, I would say yes. So when Judge Stephen Hall hands down<br />

his decision on Sept. 1, it should be 1.5 years in prison (considering time served) for<br />

Boicelli.<br />

She blamed her illegal tryst on depression fueled by her job and her weight - say<br />

what? I for one hope she works on those issues and returns to society a slimmer<br />

changed human being that walks around town singing "I'm walking on sunshine."<br />

When she needed to, she did not show maturity and restraint in her attraction to the<br />

young boy. All she had to do was wait a few years until he turned 18 and her world<br />

would have been fine.<br />

Sad thing is, there is a baby currently in the custody of its maternal grandparents<br />

who needs a mother and unfortunately that mother must pay her debt to society.<br />

* * * *<br />

Predictably, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors gave themselves a 20 percent<br />

raise ($24,000 per year from $81,515 a year to $105,000 - in addition to car<br />

allowances and medical and retirement benefits, even though voters overwhelmingly<br />

told them in 2001 they did not approve. <strong>The</strong> raises will be phased in over the next<br />

three years. Later in a meeting while discussing another issue, Supervisor Rich<br />

Gordon stated "I have learned during my time in office that sometimes in politics<br />

there is no logic." I could not have said it better, Rich.<br />

* * * *<br />

Did you heard that Redwood City School Superintendent Ron Crates gave the Board<br />

of Trustees his resignation in a "mutual" agreement that will pay him 18 months<br />

salary and benefits? He will be temporarily replaced by Don Gielow - good choice -<br />

who is the former Assistant Superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School<br />

District, while the board conducts an executive search for a new superintendent.<br />

With that all happening, the rumors are spreading about different scenarios as to<br />

why Crates left. I have been told that it just came down to the fact that he did not<br />

want to be governed by the board - which is exactly how the process should work.<br />

In a twist to the story, Crates is now interim superintendent of the Hollister School<br />

District. That position runs through June 2006 at $136K. He will get that, plus his<br />

Redwood City salary, so he's in pretty darned good financial shape.<br />

Some are saying that Crates is eyeing a run for John Mehl's seat as San Mateo<br />

County Superintendent of Schools in November 2006.<br />

* * * *<br />

As we go to press, Victor Barajas, 16, of Redwood City died at 12:02 a.m.Tuesday<br />

after an unknown suspect shot him just before midnight Monday, San Mateo County<br />

coroner Robert Foucrault reported. An autopsy is in progress to determine Barajas'<br />

exact cause of death. According to police, Barajas was at an “associate's” home at<br />

611 Heller Street when the <strong>shoot</strong>ing occurred.<br />

Redwood City police Sgt. Sean Hart said police are labeling the incident a gangrelatedhomicide.<br />

This is the second such gang-related murder in Redwood City<br />

during thepast month.<br />

As you will read in one of our feature stories this month, "Turf Wars," gang<br />

activity is on the rise in our community, and sadly it will take an innocent victim being<br />

shot or killed to make our community care and come together to fight this. As a reader<br />

told me upon hearing of this tragedy, “It's no big deal. I heard about that <strong>shoot</strong>ing,<br />

but of course didn't pay much attention because it's just lame-ass gang kids who<br />

should kill each other off anyways. <strong>The</strong> less of them the better.” Even though I was<br />

taken a back by these comments, I am sure to some extent we all feel that way at<br />

times. But should we?<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are so many agencies, non-profit groups, neighborhood associations and individuals<br />

who are working hard to try and do something to combat this violence. Why<br />

shouldn't we? We can call the Police Department, Child Advocates, Friends for Youth,<br />

PAL and for that matter <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> offices--we can refer you--and offer our time,<br />

monies, input, concern or maybe tips on how to get involved and make a difference.<br />

I am not trying to get on a soap box (not many of them can withstand this body), but<br />

I am just trying to provoke some conversation around this issue because my family,<br />

friends and I live in this community and I don't want to have to say someday that I<br />

just stood by and watched these events unfold.<br />

My moto is: Get Involved so you don't have to pay the price for not doing so. Think<br />

about it!<br />

* * * *<br />

With so many construction projects going on all around town, it will be nice to see<br />

one come to a finalization. On Saturday, September 17, the Sequoia Veterans<br />

Memorial will be dedicated at 11:00 a.m. on the Sequoia High School campus. <strong>The</strong><br />

memorial has been in the works for years and will honor those who died while serving<br />

in the military. <strong>The</strong> public is invited to attend and should call 650.368.4800 to<br />

make reservations. Hope to see you there!<br />

* * * *<br />

Did you hear about the council members who were dunked in a water tank?<br />

As I was saying . . .


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Advanced marketing technology<br />

Becomes Critical Tool in Home Selling Process<br />

By Marianne Zanone Rush<br />

Special to the <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS spend a fair amount of time perusing electronic<br />

property listings, as you might expect. And as I scroll down the listings, it<br />

never ceases to amaze me how many properties still contain no <strong>photo</strong>s,<br />

virtual tours or any other online marketing material.<br />

In this Internet age where more and more consumers begin their home shopping<br />

on the Web, a comprehensive online marketing plan is no longer simply<br />

"nice to do" - it's an absolutely critical component of a successful marketing<br />

strategy.<br />

Increasingly, home buyers and sellers are demanding greater use of technology<br />

in the real estate process, and savvy agents and brokerages are spending a<br />

larger amount of their time and budget deploying tech programs in response.<br />

If you doubt the Internet's impact on the real estate industry, consider a recent<br />

study by the California Association of Realtors that found nearly two-thirds of all<br />

first-time homebuyers used the Internet as a significant part of their search and<br />

nearly half of repeat buyers did so.<br />

"As more consumers gain access to high-speed connections and spend more<br />

time online, they clearly have experienced a growing comfort level with using the<br />

Internet in all facets of their day-to-day lives," according to CAR president Jim<br />

Hamilton. "Consumers increasingly look to the Internet for information. As a<br />

result, homebuyers are better informed and maintain a greater sense of control<br />

over the homebuying process."<br />

Ultimately, however, most buyers in CAR's study still relied on a professional<br />

Realtor® to assist them in the process. Homebuyers clearly view the Internet as<br />

a tool to enhance their ability to research the real estate market, rather than a<br />

replacement for a Realtor's expertise in the field. "<strong>The</strong> Internet has complemented,<br />

not diminished, the Realtor's role in the homebuying transaction,"<br />

Hamilton said.<br />

But the study still underscores the importance of agents and brokerages<br />

making greater use of technology in marketing their services, in selling homes<br />

and in better responding to consumer needs in a timely fashion.<br />

Nine of 10 buyers who started searching for home on the Internet found their<br />

agents through an online real estate listing site, according to the study. Six in 10<br />

found their agent through Internet search engines such as Yahoo! and Google.<br />

Agents who have traditionally spent only a small fraction of their marketing dollars<br />

on the Internet are rethinking that strategy.<br />

Another interesting finding was that nearly three out of four Internet buyers<br />

typically interviewed only one agent - the first one who responded to them. That<br />

compares with traditional buyers who typically interviewed three agents before<br />

settling in on one. And nearly half of the Internet buyers said they selected their<br />

agent because of his or her responsiveness.<br />

So what can we learn from all this? Several key lessons:<br />

* Today's home buyer and seller will continue to use the Internet more in<br />

their initial search, and agents and brokerages need to have a greater presence<br />

on the Web. <strong>The</strong>y need to focus more of their marketing - for themselves and<br />

their listings - online.<br />

* Being online isn't enough. This is a visual business, and agents need to<br />

use extensive <strong>photo</strong>graphy and/or virtual tour technology to give buyers a<br />

greater sense of the property. <strong>The</strong>y say a picture is worth a thousand words, and<br />

that is particularly true in real estate.<br />

* Responsiveness is key for consumers. Successful agents will make better<br />

use of e-mail, mobile phones and other technology to better respond to<br />

clients and potential clients. Those who don't will quickly find their business<br />

migrating to those who do.<br />

A recent study commissioned by Realtor.com found that more than 60 percent<br />

of online inquiries from interested buyers did not receive a response within 24<br />

hours and almost half received no response. That's astounding to me. If an<br />

agent doesn't respond quickly to a phone call, what does that tell a consumer<br />

about how they will be representing them in the market?<br />

A few real estate companies, mine included, are working on advanced technology<br />

initiatives to ensure prompt responses to all inquires, whether by phone or<br />

the Web. We recently announced the rollout of a cutting-edge technology platform<br />

that turns Web inquiries on all of our listings into an automated phone call<br />

that reaches the agents' cell phones within seconds.<br />

In addition, we're deploying a technology tool that will enable our agents to<br />

review leads, check e-mails, generate comparables of properties, develop a listing<br />

presentation, create driving directions to open houses and follow up on their<br />

clients' online activity - all from their office, their home or anywhere else, 24<br />

hours a day, seven days a week.<br />

As the real estate market continues to evolve, look for more companies to step<br />

up their technology<br />

programs - or<br />

risk be left<br />

behind.<br />

Editor’s Note: A<br />

Bay Area real<br />

estate veteran<br />

with nearly two<br />

decades of experience,<br />

Marianne<br />

Zanone Rush is<br />

Manager of<br />

Coldwell Banker<br />

Northern<br />

California's<br />

Redwood City<br />

office. She can<br />

be reached by<br />

via e-mail at writers@spectrummagazine.net<br />

or<br />

by mail at:<br />

<strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

Magazine, P.O.<br />

Box 642,<br />

Redwood City,<br />

California,<br />

94064.


What is your main goal as a<br />

member of the City Council?<br />

To contribute to a great community.<br />

Are you looking forward to this<br />

November’s City Council election?<br />

Yes.<br />

Who is your closest political<br />

ally?<br />

Councilwoman Barbara Pierce.<br />

Who is the elected politician or<br />

figure that is the furthest from<br />

your agenda?<br />

Texas Congressman Tom Delay.<br />

Favorite movie?<br />

“<strong>The</strong> Way We Were”.<br />

A MINUTE WITH...<br />

Song?<br />

“Annie’s Song” by John Denver.<br />

Television show?<br />

“American Idol”. (She just attended<br />

their concert with her daughter Julia).<br />

What is your idea of perfect happiness?<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine<br />

Spending time with my daughters,<br />

laughing, and a good book.<br />

Which living person do you most<br />

admire?<br />

My sister Jane.<br />

Which living person do you most<br />

Roseanne Toust<br />

Rosanne has served on the Redwood City Council since 2003. She was born and raised in Shelton, Connecticut<br />

and moved to Redwood City in 1995. She lives in the Redwood Shores neighborhood with her husband Joe and<br />

their two daughters Julia, 10 and Lydia, 5. She is Executive Vice President at Alsace Development International.<br />

She is up for re-election in November 2007.<br />

despise?<br />

Osama Bin Laden – I think he is a coward.<br />

Who are your heroes in real life?<br />

People that serve in the military.<br />

What is your treasured possession?<br />

My daughters.<br />

Which talent would you<br />

most like to have?<br />

To dance, I cannot dance to<br />

save my life.<br />

Something no one knows<br />

about you?<br />

I collect stickers, all kinds.<br />

In five years from now you<br />

will be?<br />

Still a good councilwoman<br />

and a great Mom.<br />

If you were to die and come<br />

back as a person or thing,<br />

what do you think it would be?<br />

Someone who is able to give away a lot<br />

of money to those needing it.<br />

What do you consider your greatest<br />

achievement?<br />

Being a good Mom.<br />

What is the love of your life?<br />

<strong>The</strong> girls.<br />

Advertise with the<br />

<strong>Spectrum</strong><br />

650.368.2434

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