Morgan Marchbanks - The Spectrum Magazine

S t a b i l i t y.
P u r p o s e .
Discipline.
P a s s i o n .
Leadership.
Morgan Marchbanks
Leaving Sequoia a better place!
Also in this issue:
Ice Cream for All! Crabs,
Corned Beef and “Stuff”
In “As I Was Saying…”
Bizzarro’s — Believing in
Redwood City in More
Ways Than One
Redwood City Saltworks is a 1,433-acre industrial site located in Redwood City
Redwood City
BRITTANIA SEAPORT CENTRE
PACIFIC SHORES CENTER
101
STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER
San Francisco Bay
101
DID YOU KNOW?
•
•
•
The Saltworks site is similar in size to Redwood Shores or the Presidio in San Francisco.
•
Noted companies such as Dreamworks, Openwave and Protein Design Labs are located in
the Pacific Shores Center.
Salt has been produced on the site for more than 100 years.
The Saltworks site is immediately adjacent to major employment centers, like Pacific Shores
Center, Britannia Seaport Centre, and the new Stanford Medical Campus.
To learn more about the Saltworks site, please visit www.RCSaltworks.com or call us at 650-366-0500.
Redwood City
Saltworks
1700 Seaport Blvd., Suite 200 | Redwood City, CA 94063
650.366.0500 | [email protected] | www.RCSaltworks.com
SW_SpectrumAd_Full.indd 1
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
2/19/09 3:47:46 PM
The Spectrum.MAR.09
Steve Penna
Welcome to the March issue of The Spectrum Magazine.
Anne Callery
Last month we highlighted gang issues, which proved to be very popular with our readers and the
community. We have never before received so many e-mails, phone calls and comments on a single
issue. Ironically enough, just after our issue came out, the city staff released a report that stated concern
about gangs was the number one “social” issue among residents surveyed in Redwood City. Your positive
comments were appreciated.
Owner and Publisher
[email protected]
Copy Editor
[email protected]
Judy Buchan
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
Michael Erler
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
Nicole Minieri
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
James Massey
Graphic Designer
James R. Kaspar
Cover/Cover Story Photography
[email protected]
Valerie Harris
Internet Maintenance
Contact Information:
Phone 650-368-2434
E-mail addresses listed above
www.spectrummagazine.net
In our cover story this month, contributing writer Judy Buchan profiles Sequoia High School Principal
Morgan Marchbanks. She recently announced that she will be leaving her position at the end of this
school year, and we thought it was the right time to take a look back at some of her challenges and
accomplishments throughout the years. As you will read, she is leaving quite an impressive legacy.
We are excited to bring you this month’s business profile on Bizzarro’s Auctions. This versatile business
offers many services to our community, including charity auctions, donate-your-vehicle fundraisers,
appraisal services and, of course, auto auctions. But more than all that, the owner, Frank, and his staff
are all community-minded and contribute in so many positive ways. Contributing writer Nicole Minieri
will tell you just how much they do.
Publisher Steve Penna throws out a few topics — including Miss Redwood City judging, council
candidates, crabs, corned beef and county “misinterpretations” — for our readers in his column, “As I
Was Saying….” What will you think after you read his opinions?
We also bring you our regular features on community interests, senior activities, financial advice by
David Amann, information from the Redwood City School District, parties around town, news briefs,
community cultural events and popular feature “A Minute With.”
We encourage you to support our advertisers by using their services when you are out shopping, dining
or enjoying yourself with friends and family. Many of our advertisers have special offers for you to
cut out and present, so please take the time to look over their ads this month and use their coupons and
discounts. That is what they are there for, and by using them, you show you appreciate their offers.
Thank you to all of our readers for your support. We want you to know we will keep striving to bring
you real community information worth waiting for!
Contents
This Month’s Photo Shoot – 4
RCSD Corner – 5
“As I Was Saying...” – 6
Survey Shows More Concern About
Gangs, Economy – 7
Cargill Site Comes
Before Bay Commission – 8
Cultural Events – 11
Through the Years – 14
Community Interests – 15
Morgan Marchbanks Looks
Back and Ahead – 18
Nonprofits in Action – 21
Shop Redwood City – 23
It’s Not a Job, It’s a Profession – 26
News Briefs – 30
Finance: 5 Reasons to be Bullish About
Financial Markets – 33
Senior Activities – 33
A Minute With Diana Johnson – 34
The Spectrum 3
Inside The Spectrum: Cover Story Photo Shoot
Publisher Steve Penna arranged this month’s photo shoot with Sequoia High School
Principal Morgan Marchbanks after the cover story interview was completed by
contributing writer Judy Buchan. It was one of those months when everyone and
everything was running late and deadlines were being pushed back, so the shoot was
scheduled for St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m., a mere one-and-a-half
days after Penna and Marchbanks corresponded by e-mail.
Cover story photographer James Kaspar was waiting on the front steps of the front
entrance to the main building when Penna arrived, and the two proceeded to the
principal’s office. Once they arrived, they were greeted by Dottress Rollin, who is
Marchbank’s senior school secretary. Penna has known Rollin for several years, so
the two quickly exchanged a friendly hug and she led them into the office, where an
administrative meeting was wrapping up.
Penna first met Marchbanks when he was chairman of the Sequoia Education
Foundation and she had just been appointed principal, coming from Redwood High, so
they have a long history and demonstrated a mutual respect as they greeted each other.
Once the meeting broke, Kaspar began taking pictures in her office.
After many shots, the three went to Rollin’s outer office, where they took some
photos of the “dynamic duo,” then to the entrance hallway, the main building entrance
and finally the small vehicle pathway that leads around the front of the school. The
entire shoot took just about one hour.
Marchbanks has faced many challenges during her years at Sequoia. Her first was the
Cherokee mascot controversy. It was apparent after that resolution that she was on her
way to proving herself a strong leader for a school in transition.
The Spectrum salutes Marchbanks’ perseverance, dedication and commitment to our
students and community. Because of her efforts, many who once might not have had
the opportunity will now move on to college, trades, employment and quality lives. We
can’t wait to see what she will do when she returns!
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RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood City School District
School District Libraries Provide Services Beyond Reading
The RCEF, in partnership with Oracle and the
Westly Foundation, provided $100,000 in teacher
SMART grants in the 2008–09 school year to
bring innovation into Redwood City classrooms
in the areas of science, math, technology and
the arts. The visit by Gomez was one of several
programs Hoover was able to implement as a
result of the grant money offered by the RCEF.
“The visit by Elizabeth Gomez is exactly the
type of program we had in mind when we worked
with Oracle and Westly Foundation to set up the
SMART grants,” said Jo-Ann Sockolov, president
of the RCEF. “It’s exciting to see this kind of
community partnership bring new opportunities
to our students in Redwood City.”
“In the midst of
budget cuts and
our dire economy,
students still need
opportunities to think
creatively.”
Local artist Elizabeth Gomez works with Hoover students.
Rice looks like ants. Meatballs are like
basketballs. Beans look like spiders. Tacos look
like boats. Hot dogs are like big fat caterpillars.
Second-graders at Hoover School came up
with these analogies during a recent art workshop
with Redwood City artist and book illustrator
Elizabeth Gomez. Students were challenged to
identify their favorite food, complete the sentence
“My favorite food is like …” and then draw a
picture to illustrate the analogy.
Gomez visited Hoover to give an art lesson
to first- and second-graders, and talk with them
about how her art gets made into storybooks
for children. The focus of the lesson was not
on artistic technique as much as it was on the
imaginative process. Gomez challenged the
passions,” said Hoover Principal Amanda
Neborsky. “In the midst of budget cuts and our
dire economy, students still need opportunities
to think creatively. Students can create a work of
art with materials as simple as paper, pencil and
a few crayons, as our second-graders learned this
morning.”
This was not the artist’s first visit to Hoover.
Earlier in the year, she gave children and their
families an evening presentation about how she
became an illustrator, and all pre-kindergarten
through third-graders received a free copy of
her bilingual book, “The Upside Down Boy,”
courtesy of the Sobrato Foundation and Friends of
the Redwood City Library. The teachers at Hoover
have been reading Gomez’s books to students, so
“Art can inspire students to pursue their passions.”
students to take something very familiar to
them — their favorite food — and imagine it as
something fanciful.
The student who saw beans as spiders drew a
big bowl of spiders on a table. The student who
thought meatballs looked like basketballs drew a
picture of a flower in a shoe-shaped vase shooting
a meatball into a basketball hoop centerpiece on
a table.
Gomez went on to explain how her drawings
start as doodles, then turn into a series of penciled
illustrations. “After doodling, I take the pictures
I like and do many fancy drawings, many times.”
She told students that it takes one to two years to
turn a series of drawings into a book.
“Art can inspire students to pursue their
the children participating in the art lesson were
already familiar with Gomez and her illustrations.
Hoover does not have an art teacher on staff,
so the opportunity to learn from a real artist
was a new experience for many of the students,
according to Neborsky. “Besides being a local
artist who does beautiful work, Gomez is
bilingual, and her stories and her history really
connect with many of our students who are
learning English.”
Gomez’s art lesson to first- and second-grade
students was paid for by a SMART grant from
the Redwood City Education Foundation,
a private organization that raises money
specifically for K–8 student programs at the
Redwood City School District’s 16 schools.
Hoover student creates illustration with help of local artist.
The Spectrum 5
As I Was
Saying…
I recently was invited and accepted the
opportunity to be a judge for the Miss Redwood
City scholarship pageant. Let me tell you, this
event is back in our community and back in a big
way. The new organizers, Chris Cheshire and her
daughter Krista, have done a fantastic job getting
contestants and sponsors and creating a buzz
around the county again. They have really made
a superb effort in providing an opportunity for
young women to get much-needed scholarships
and life experience.
As I quickly learned, judging is a big
responsibility and should not be taken lightly —
scholarships are on the line here, and it is clearly
apparent that education is important to all the
young ladies involved.
There are a total of six judges — three
“celebrity” judges from the community and three
“official” judges who are involved in the pageant
world. They also run their own pageants in other
areas, and that makes you wonder whether they
should be judging pageants where the winners
will be competing against their title-holders in the
future. Haven’t any of these people seen the movie
“Miss Congeniality”? It is, after all, a competition.
The day starts out with breakfast and the official
interviews at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. We
are on a controlled timeline, so everything must
go as scheduled. Of course, one of the judges was
late and makes no excuses, telling us she overslept
because she forgot to set her alarm. Oh well, so
much for setting a good example.
We are all given instructions on the judging and
interview process and the day’s activities. We are
then shown an informational video on the pageant,
and we are ready for the first set of contestants.
There are actually three pageants in one. The
Miss Redwood City (all girls from Redwood
City), Miss San Mateo County and San Mateo
County’s Outstanding Teen (13 to 15 years old).
There are a total of 13 young ladies competing,
ranging in ages from 13 to 23 years old.
As the first group enters, I am instantly
impressed by each girl’s uniqueness, intelligence
and attractiveness. We really have some bright
young ladies in our community. The judges run off
questions, none prearranged, ranging from “What
would your friends say about you?” to “Favorite
hobbies?” “Is Miss America ready for a lesbian
title holder?” (I am sure there has been one, but we
just did not know it). “Is Barack Obama’s policy
of taking from the rich and giving to the poor
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going to work?” Etc., etc.
Some of my favorite answers included “They
would say I talk too much,” “Spending Saturday
nights with my grandparents,” “Whale watching,”
“My sister is bisexual,” “My best friend is gay,” “I
worked at a wine bar, as a hostess, even though I
was not 18 years old” and “Huh?”
Almost toward the end of all the interviews
walked in my breath of fresh air — a 17-yearold ray of sunshine who lit up the room with
a personality that could have given Alicia
Silverstone a run for her money in the movie
“Clueless.” But this girl proved to be anything but.
She was a contestant competing for the Miss San
Mateo County title. Her smile, her walk, her odd
confidence just made you want to scream, “I love
this girl!”
When asked the Obama question, she replied,
“I think it is neat and stuff,” and then looked at us
like we were supposed to know what all “stuff”
includes. Were we the ones not getting it? I could
not help but think.
We learned she was going to sing the song
“At Last” — and “not the Beyoncé version, but
the original by Etta James” — for her talent.
Impressive and “stuff.” Can’t wait.
After all the interviews were completed, we
were given a two-hour break and asked to come
back for a prepared dinner at the Lathrop House,
then on to the Cañada College Main Theatre for
the 7 p.m. pageant start.
As we entered the theater, I was instantly
impressed by the enthusiasm of the almost-soldout audience. Many were holding signs and
posters encouraging their favorite contestants.
There were other title-holders from other pageant
areas, plus dignitaries including Vice Mayor Diane
Howard and sponsors including Redwood City
businesses American Coast Mortgage, Mayers
Jewelers, Paula Uccelli (another “celebrity” judge
along with Jackie Rice and myself), Studio S
Broadway Academy of Dance, Hannig Law Firm,
Sequoia Chiropractic Clinic, attorney William
Morris, Lourdes Carini, Bangkok Bay Thai, Key
Market, the Saddle Room, Roosevelt Nail Salon,
Wells Fargo Bank, Clean N Press, Broadway Auto
Service and Charles Carter, DDS.
As the competition began, the show was
actually entertaining to watch. There were
production numbers, a Mistress of Ceremonies
(she was good, but next year it should be someone
local, and maybe a publisher. Ha!), the farewells
Publisher | Steve Penna
by last year’s title holders and on and on.
The competition itself was divided into
categories of (1) onstage questions — one girl
named London as her favorite country — oops,
(2) swimsuit for the “Miss” contestants and fitness
clothes for the “Teens,” (3) talent — Wow! Some
great performances, and (4) evening gown.
Okay, so you are probably wondering how
the contestant I was mentioning above, who was
going to sing “At Last,” did. Let me tell you,
she nailed it. One of the best performances of
the night! It was neat and “stuff.” Her evening
gown, flawless; swimsuit, her athleticism was
perfection; her onstage question, very composed.
I hope she competes in this pageant in the future,
because I think she could win and may even be
a strong Miss California possibility — she has
that much potential. Funny how when you are in
that environment, you realize how different the
maturity is between girls just a few years apart,
but experience makes such a difference in those
few years. She finished first runner-up in the Miss
San Mateo portion.
The three girls in the Outstanding Teen
competition were so close in talent, poise and
speaking, I don’t know how we made a decision.
I could not help but think what talented and
composed young ladies they all were and what
bright futures they all have. Their parents and/or
guardians should be so proud of them all.
Who were the crowned ones? Nineteen-yearold Anna Lisa Matias was named Miss San
Mateo County. Sandra Robles, 17, of Woodside
High School, was named Miss Redwood City.
Both women will go on to compete in the Miss
California pageant this summer. Thirteen-year-old
Elyse Vincenzi was named San Mateo County’s
Outstanding Teen. She will continue to the
California’s Outstanding Teen competition.
To be perfectly honest, I did not have Robles
high on my point sheet. There were two other
contestants whom I gave higher scores, and I did
not feel that her talent — a cheer about herself
— was up to par with the other singers, dancers
and monologues. Plus, when she was asked her
onstage question, “If you could be mayor for a
day, what would you do?” she replied, “Free ice
cream for everyone!” A cute answer, but if you
come from a high school like Woodside, with
so many social and economic issues, one would
expect a more community-oriented and concerned
(continued on page 32)
Celebrating All Things Square
03-03-09
04-04-16
Greg Mack, left to right, Yasmina Teal and Rodney McMenomy eat root beer floats out
of square glasses to celebrate Square Root Day early while at Our Common Ground in
Redwood City.
Is it hip to be square? Maybe not, but it could be lucrative.
Redwood City teacher Ron Gordon is searching for the most unique idea
that includes the most participants celebrating Square Root Day — 03/03/09.
Feb. 2, 2004, or 02/02/04, was the last such day. It will not occur again for
seven years, one month and one day on 04/04/16.
Being square can be fun, Gordon explained. “In October, I’ll turn 8
squared. And that doesn’t even sound that bad. Take the federal stimulus at
$787 billion. That’s about $887,130 squared. That sounds manageable,” he said.
The rules are simple: Be safe, be clever, have friends root for you, have fun,
think square and, of course, be square. Winners are participating for a shared
prize of $339.
Some ideas for celebration include drinking root beer in square mugs,
rooting for the underdog, eating a square meal or square dancing.
Gordon’s students at Our Common Ground — a treatment program in
Redwood City for adolescents and adults with substance abuse and addiction
problems — celebrated to demonstrate the original idea.
Rodney McMenomy, 17, was confused about the concept at first, he said
while scooping ice cream into square plastic cups. “I thought it would be boring.”
Instead, McMenomy joined with Greg Mack, Jesse McGill and Yasmina
Teal to take a few minutes and enjoy root beer floats. McGill made square
knots with rope — a skill he recently learned from Gordon.
“He’s a goofy but awesome teacher,” he said.
Teal was considering wearing a box to school to celebrate the holiday.
On the last Square Root Day, Gordon and his family chopped vegetable
roots — like carrots and beets — into squares. They then shipped the food
to Punxsutawney, Penn., for groundhog Phil. Square Root Day falls on
Groundhog Day only once in a century.
“These days are like calendar comets. You wait and wait and wait and wait
for them, then they brighten up your day and — poof — they’re gone,” he said.
Contestants had a 339-hour window — between 9 p.m. Feb. 16 and 3 a.m.
March 18 — to complete or make their square entries. The entry must have
been submitted within three squared days of the March 18 deadline — in
other words, entries were due by Friday, March 27, at 3 a.m. to be considered
for the big prize.
It’s not the only number-based holiday Gordon celebrates.
Odd Day, like 01/03/05, 03/05/07 or the next one on 05/07/09, pays homage
to the rare occurrence of consecutive odd numbers in a date — an occurrence
that happens six times at the start of a century.
Gordon doesn’t encourage celebrating Even Day, however — he doesn’t
want to be held responsible for people getting even.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Daily Journal newspaper.
Redwood City Resident Survey Shows More Concern About Gangs, Economy
A new survey shows Redwood City residents are
largely satisfied with the quality of life in their
hometown, although concerns about the economy
and gang presence have increased, city officials
said.
The first such survey since 2003, this document
reflects a city of 58,400 adult residents who
interact frequently with their neighbors and
enjoy their redeveloped downtown. Nine out of
10 residents are “very satisfied” or “somewhat
satisfied” with life in Redwood City.
The survey was conducted by phone during
December 2008, spokesman Malcolm Smith
said. Pollsters took efforts to ensure the
400 participants were selected at random
and represented a variety of ethnicities and
neighborhoods.
No single issue emerged as an overwhelming
problem in the city, Smith said. While the
economy topped the list of resident concerns,
only 11 percent identified it as an important
issue. Concerns about gangs received a 9 percent
response, and 7 percent of residents are concerned
about affordable housing. Smith said these results
were “not a surprise, but a confirmation.”
Prior surveys indicated concerns about
affordable housing, education and traffic
congestion. The city uses this document to gauge
where services need improvement, Smith said.
Data is cross-tabbed by respondents’ location so
city employees can detect trends. If residents from
a particular neighborhood express dissatisfaction
with sidewalks or street sweeping, for example,
the Public Works Department can work to
improve these issues.
In tough budget times, Smith said, the
document will help the city “use our resources
where they’re needed the most.” Of the eight city
services listed in the survey, disaster preparedness
and affordable housing received the lowest marks,
while the city’s efforts to draw people downtown
topped the list.
Overall, 86 percent of respondents said
their sense of community is “very strong” or
“somewhat strong.” Nine out of 10 interact with
their neighbors. Half the respondents give their
time or money to a local organization, although
80 percent of residents have never seen a city
council meeting.
The city aims to conduct surveys every few
years, Smith said, but other budget priorities
resulted in a five-year gap since the last one. He
was not sure whether the program would survive
future budget talks.
Other survey results include:
• 92 percent reported being either “very satisfied”
(59 percent) or “somewhat satisfied” (33 percent)
with the quality of life in Redwood City.
• 59 percent reported feeling a “very strong” (22
percent) or “somewhat strong” (37 percent) sense
of community, while 27 percent felt a “somewhat
weak” (22 percent) or “very weak” (5 percent)
sense of community.
• The issues most frequently mentioned as
important were the economy and gangs.
• More than four out of five residents are satisfied
with city services.
• Approximately three out of four residents feel
either “very safe” (39 percent) or “somewhat safe”
(37 percent) walking downtown after dark, while
four out of five residents feel “very safe” (46
percent) or “reasonably safe” (34 percent) walking
alone after dark in their own neighborhoods.
• Only a little more than half are happy with city
staff and leaders.
The entire survey results are available online at
www.redwoodcity.org/survey.
The Spectrum 7
Cargill Site Comes Before Bay Commission
Having triumphed over a ballot battle that could have killed development on
the former Cargill Salt site, developer DMB Associates is now turning to the
Bay Area commission whose approval it still needs.
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
(BCDC) must issue a permit for development of the site. Although that end
is still quite far away, DMB offered up a briefing of conceptual plans before
BCDC.
“At this point, any suggestions or comments can still be incorporated
within the application,” said DMB spokesman Jay Reed. “This lets us know
what they want and gives them a chance to hear background about the site and
the planning efforts.”
The briefing also provided Save The Bay Executive Director David
Lewis the chance to argue why the salt ponds should be restored rather than
developed into housing.
Lewis and other opponents addressed the commission, but Lewis did not
return a call for comment on his specific points. Lewis spearheaded the effort
to defeat development of the land during last year’s contentious election
battle, and Save The Bay Political Director Stephen Knight said he planned to
echo the sentiments.
The property is considered important in the San Francisco Bay. At one
time it was part of a plan fostered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein for the federal
government to purchase and restore endangered salt flats. That plan eventually
dropped the Redwood City salt flats from preservation and instead was to
preserve some land in the South Bay for a price tag close to $100 million.
The BCDC has jurisdiction over any development on San Francisco Bay
waters but Cargill, as successor to Leslie Salt, claims it is exempt. However,
the California Attorney General’s Office decided Cargill falls in BCDC’s
“salt pond” jurisdiction, according to Will Travis, BCDC executive director.
Historically, the commission has had authority over the entire salt pond
system of the bay but not the refining and processing facilities. The two
groups are now agreeing to disagree but working on ensuring the site’s use is
consistent with the current BCDC laws and policies.
Applicable salt pond policies include the caveats that development be
guided by maximum access to the bay without adverse effects on wildlife,
permanent dedication of some of the water surface area and providing for
resource conservation.
BCDC policy also requires every effort be made to sell the land for public
use before OK’ing development — a requirement BCDC Commissioner Rich
Gordon said is challenging.
“At the end of the day, in this climate, I don’t know where those dollars
would come from,” said Gordon, also a member of the San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors.
BCDC also tackled the need for transportation if the site is developed, even
though that issue is not in the commission’s jurisdiction, Gordon said.
“Although we cannot rule over that, it lets the developer see here’s a set of
public officials raising those concerns,” Gordon said.
DMB has committed that any plans will be fully consistent with the
commission’s bay plan policies, Travis has said. But absent any final plan,
Travis said it is impossible to predict whether it would be approved.
DMB is pushing what it calls a 50-50 plan, providing 50 percent for
wetlands restoration, recreation and open space uses and 50 percent for
mixed uses including housing. DMB accompanied its plan with a list of 10
commitments to the community, including flood control issues, creating a
transit-friendly development and ensuring the project is self-sufficient.
Reed said DMB anticipates a development plan will be submitted in the
next month, but currently nothing definitive is on the table.
Despite the absence of a development plan, the briefing was scheduled
because of the proposal’s large-scale scope, the policy issues raised and
the controversy of using the site for something other than salt production,
according to BCDC staff.
The saltworks site is a 1,433-acre parcel of land — the largest untouched
area in the Bay Area outside the Presidio in San Francisco — whose potential
development has long been debated in the community. Last year, the dispute
erupted into a full-out war between organizations like Save The Bay, Redwood
City and a smattering of grassroots groups who took no sides other than
opposing a ballot measure that would have significantly changed the city charter.
Measure W, initially known as the Open Space Vote, would have altered
the charter so voters rather than councilmembers would decide the fate of
development on land zoned open space. Proponents said the measure did not
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preclude development, instead giving voters a direct input in the decision and
forcing proposed projects to be better. Opponents worried some homeowners
would be forced to ask the city as a whole for every home improvement or
change.
In response, the Redwood City City Council proposed Measure V, which
would have changed the charter so any decisions on only the Cargill Salt land
would require a vote.
Ultimately, both failed and the issue returned to square one.
Redwood City is currently updating its general plan and recently decided to
use the current designations for the saltworks site. If DMB proposes changing
the general plan to accommodate its development proposal, the developers
will need to push a future amendment. Current estimates suggest that could
happen in 2010.
Editor’s note: This article appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper.
The Spectrum 9
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Cultural Events
The Main Gallery
1018 Main St., Redwood City
At the corner of Main and
Middlefield, in the historic yellow
Victorian cottage
650-701-1018
W–F 11–4, Sat.–Sun. 10–3, and by
appointment
www.themaingallery.org
Two artists with many ideas come together to
present “Divergent Views” at The Main Gallery.
Painter Ellen Chong and ceramic and mixedmedia artist Nina Koepcke will collaborate on the
show, which runs from March 25 to April 26, with
a reception on Sunday, March 29, from 2:30 to 6 p.m.
Chong paints what strikes her fancy and finds
results in colorful tangents of the imagination.
For “Divergent Views,” she gathers an eclectic
selection of images into a collective representation
of her work. A camera collection, objects on her
kitchen windowsill, local landscapes and general
paraphernalia go into the mix. Her work endeavors
to bring personality, humor and/or character into the
everyday-object scenes that she paints.
Koepcke asks the questions “Inward looking or
outward looking; what does the viewer see and
what does he or she interpret when viewing an
image? What is in front of the image and what is
behind it? How does one’s view mask or reveal
the artists’ intentions?” These are all views to
consider in new works by Koepcke and Chong.
Drawing inspiration from African Makishi
masks, Koepcke explores the idea of
masquerading in a series of monotypes and
ceramic works.
Charles Parsons Gallery. An exhibit of the 23
historical model ships created by Charles Parsons
of San Carlos.
Politics, Crime and Law Enforcement. The
Atkinson Meeting Room includes the Walter Moore
Law Enforcement Collection of historic badges.
San Mateo County History Makers:
Entrepreneurs Who Changed the World. The
exhibit chronicles the entrepreneurs who made
San Mateo County internationally known.
Land of Opportunity: The Immigrant
Experience in San Mateo. The exhibit tells the
stories of the diverse people who came to the area
and explores how different groups faced hardships
and discrimination. It highlights the experiences
of the early immigrant groups — Chinese,
Japanese, Irish, Italians and Portuguese — in the
late 1800s.
Living the California Dream. The exhibit
depicts the development of the suburban culture
of San Mateo County.
The Celtic Tiger: The Irish Economic Miracle.
The exhibit explores how the Bay Area has
participated in Ireland’s current economic boom.
San Mateo County
History Museum
863 Main St.
Downtown Redwood City
650-365-3226
2200 Broadway St., Redwood City
650-299-0104
www.historysmc.org
Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
$2–$4; free for children 5 and under
Ellen Chong, “Beau Brownie”
Oil on canvas, 8” x 10”
The History Museum is housed inside the historic
1910 County Courthouse. Over 50,000 people
visit the museum each year, and the number of
local residents who hold memberships is growing.
The History Museum teaches approximately
14,000 children each year through the on- and
off-site programs. The museum houses the
research library and archives that currently hold
over 100,000 photographs, prints, books and
documents collected by the San Mateo County
Historical Association.
Angelica’s Bistro
Marty Atkinson
West Coast Songwriter Celebration to Honor
Jennifer Addan
Dinner and live performance
Wednesday, April 1, 7 p.m.
Dinner starts at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.
Call 650-365-3226 for reservations
Ongoing Exhibits
Nina Koepcke, “Masquerade,” monotype
24” x 20” framed size, 12” x 10” image size
The Great Rotunda. The stained-glass dome
of the rotunda, thought to be the largest in a
Pacific Coast public building, is the architectural
highlight of the museum building.
Courtroom A. The oldest courtroom in San
Mateo County has been restored to its appearance
in 1910.
Nature’s Bounty. This exhibit gallery explores
how the earliest people of the Peninsula used
the natural resources of the area and how those
resources were used to help build San Francisco
after the discovery of gold in 1849.
Journey to Work. This exhibit gallery shows
how transportation transformed San Mateo
County from a frontier to suburbs.
Carriage Display. An exhibit of the museum’s
30 horse-drawn vehicles.
(continued on page 12)
The Spectrum 11
Cultural Events
(Angelica’s Bistro, continued from page 11)
Brett Reeves and Jason Powers
Dinner and live performance
Friday, April 3, 8 p.m.
$5 cover charge
Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
County Line Trio
Saturday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.
$20 cover charge plus dinner
Red Desert Dancers
Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m.
$5 cover charge
Nancy Gilliland Trio
Dinner and dancing
Saturday, April 18, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m.
$10 advance, $15 door
Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 8:30 p.m.
Their last show was sold out! The Red Desert
Dance Company, back by popular demand, is
based in Redwood City. They bring fun, fusion
and fabulous energy to the dance floor with a
variety of props and dances ranging from candles,
swords, veils, drum solos, tribal, cabaret and
more. Winners in the local Fourth of July parade
several years in a row, they perform at a variety
of functions, including the three-day festival,
Rakassah, in Vallejo in March.
Whiskey Hill Band
Dinner and dancing
Friday, April 17, 8 p.m.–11 p.m.
$5 cover charge
Dinner starts at 6 p.m., music starts at 8 p.m.
Dan Schneider
Dinner plus folk, rock and country
Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
$5 cover charge
Dinner starts at 6 p.m., music starts at 7:30 p.m.
The South City Blues Band
Dinner and dancing
Friday, April 24, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m.
$10 cover charge
Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 8:30 p.m.
The Valerie Jay Band
“Country rock”
Dinner and dancing
Saturday, April 25, 8:30 p.m.
$5 cover charge plus dinne
Advertise With The Spectrum
Give Us a Call 650.368.2434
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Donate Your Vehicle
650-363-2423
Proceeds support Kainos Home & Training Center
Providing quality residential, vocational and support services to developmentally
disabled adults, enabling them to become active, contributing members of the
community.
Maximum Tax Deductions – We handle paperwork
The Spectrum 13
REDWOOD CITY
THROUGH THE YEARS
The Alhambra Theatre (Opera House)
By Darold Fredricks, Special to The Spectrum
The Alhambra ca 1890 (San Mateo County
Historical Association)
The Redwood City Democrat,
Aug. 20, 1895:
“The Alhambra of Redwood City
may never rival in grandeur and
historic association the famous
place of Granada, but it will give
to the progressive dwellers in the
capital of San Mateo County all
the comforts of a modern opera
house. It is wholly in harmony with
the spirit of esthetic progress on
the Peninsula that A. Page Brown
should plan and Charles Josselyn
build an opera house worthy of the
City. The house is of the mission
type of architecture with the
blending of the Moorish. There is
a series of ornamental windows
across the front, heavy cornices
project and the tiled roof lends
poetry to the structure. The building
is to be of brick, sand finished.
Seating capacity for 800 people
will be provided. A spacious stage
and fine dressing rooms will delight
the actors and singers. Then the
auditorium is so picturesque with its
quaint timbers overhead instead of
the finished ceiling.
“The desires of the young people
of Redwood City have not lacked
consideration; dancing in the
Alhambra is sure to be a delight,
for the floor is laid on lines to
make dancing agreeable. Below
will be stores and a café. Electric
lights, gas jets and fire escapes
are to be provided for the building.
Contractor Robert Brown, who built
the Burlingame Country Club, will
construct the new opera house.”
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Grand opening poster (San Mateo
County Historical Association)
Charles Josselyn did not hold back
on his investing when building the
Alhambra Theatre. He wanted it to
be the most glamorous and dramatic
building on the San Francisco
Peninsula. He also wanted it to be a
proud partner to the courthouse just
several blocks west. Employing A.
Page Brown, one of the most famous
and well-respected architects in
California and throughout the
country, is evidence of Josselyn’s
intent to make this structure equal
to the architect’s and the owner’s
characters for grandness and beauty.
The grand opening was on the
evening of Jan. 20, 1895. The
performance was “Men and
Women” and was performed by
the troupe of T. Daniel Frawley
Company. The company had
appeared at the Columbia Theater,
in San Francisco, the Saturday night
preceding and received excellent
reviews. Redwood City turned out
in droves, purchasing all 800 of the
tickets. Grand scenery and elegant
costumes were the order of the day
for this magnificent production. A
nine-piece orchestra supplied the
music introducing the play and at
intermission. The orchestra also
played for the dance that followed
the play, making the evening a very
special social occasion. Twenty-five
percent of the gross receipts were
donated to Redwood City so the
town could purchase a grand clock,
which was placed in the new school
building across from the courthouse.
The San Francisco Chronicle
ran a long story about the grand
opening. The reporter was
obviously impressed with the
1906 earthquake damage
theater and the troupe, as his review
was again excellent. His prediction
for the theater was that it would be
a part of a circuit of the best in the
country. He commented especially
on the curtain drop and the painted
scenery of a Venetian setting.
The theater was more than just a
playhouse; it was a place of social
significance as well. It served as
a community gathering spot even
when no performance was planned.
The great earthquake in April
1906 did substantial but not fatal
damage to the Alhambra. The
inside was damaged, as well as the
external walls. The San Francisco
Call commented on June 10, 1906,
“It has been given out that Charles
Josselyn, after several careful
inspections, has decided to have
the Alhambra Theatre restored
and the interior of the playhouse
reconstructed along new lines. It is
designed to have the stage removed
to the rear portion of the building
and to extend the building in that
direction. The auditorium will
thus be enlarged, the long entrance
hallway dispensed with, and better
and safer entrances and exits provided.”
The theater gradually was used
less and less, and by World War
I, the only activity was a dance
company academy that was used
primarily to entertain the soldiers
training at Camp Fremont in Menlo
Park. William Plump, the son of the
well-known early pioneer Gevert
Plump, purchased the building in
the mid-1910s and opened a saloon
on the ground floor that was very
popular for quite a period of time.
The Redwood City Lodge No.
Gevert and William (age 5) Plump
ca 1870
168, F. & A.M. (Free & Accepted
Masons), bought the property
in 1921. They did a great deal of
renovation and held a dedication
of their new meeting place on
Aug. 23, 1923. This is the oldest
Masonic Order on the Peninsula.
The adjoining structure, owned
by the International Order of Odd
Fellows, was given a common
facade. The internal wall structures
were changed during this period as
well. Later, a kitchen was added to
the back of the building. Many of
the old-timers will remember those
steep steps both in the front and the
back of the building.
Following a fire several years
ago, John Anagnostou decided to
restore the building to, as closely
as possible, its original appearance.
He is still looking at what would
be the best way to use the ground
floor that was the saloon. The upper
floor, however, will be again part
of the entertainment industry. We
all hope it will return to one of the
community’s favorite places to rub
shoulders and meet friends.
Editor’s note: The Alhambra
Theatre is on Main Street 60 yards
south of Broadway and has recently
been beautifully restored as an
office building and pub/restaurant.
Its mahogany front gives it all the
appearances of a place where Wyatt
Earp would have spent his hardearned money. The restoration
process was continuing at the time
this article was written.
Community Interests
Grand Jury Says Green-Light More Red-Light Cameras
Five Stars for Redwood City Library
Redwood City should green-light more red-light cameras because the use of
one at the intersection of eastbound Whipple Avenue at Veterans Boulevard
increased safety in its first six months of use, according to a San Mateo
County Civil Grand Jury report.
The city installed traffic enforcement equipment at the intersection in 2007
based on five years of Redwood City Police Department data of collisions
caused by drivers running red lights. The police found that during that time,
there were 76 crashes of which 64 involved vehicles traveling eastbound on
Whipple Avenue.
The camera went live in February 2008, and in the first half-year, 527
citations were issued. There was only one collision, compared to an average
of six accidents every six months between 2001 and 2005.
While the grand jury looked favorably at the camera, it did offer some
suggestions for improvement. Signage does not include warnings for drivers
headed east, and the city should place a link on its home page offering
general information to the public about the program, the jury recommended.
The full report is available at www.sanmateocourt.org/grandjury.
Congrats to the Redwood City Public Library, which received the coveted
“five-star rating” from the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service, a
new rating system. The honor makes the library the top-rated of its size in the
Bay Area and one of two top-rated mid-size libraries in all of California.
Governor Appoints Redwood City Resident
Marlon Evans, 34, of Redwood City, has been appointed to the Commission
on Teacher Credentialing by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Since 2006, Evans
has served as the executive director for All Stars Helping Kids. Prior to that,
he served as a director at the Knowledge Is Power Program Foundation from
2003 to 2006 and was a major gifts officer for Stanford University Office of
Medical Development from 2002 to 2003.
Evans was the assistant director of undergraduate admissions at
Stanford University from 1998 to 2001 and was a free agent with the NFL’s
Indianapolis Colts in 1998 and the Carolina Panthers in 1997. He is a member
of the Sports4Kids Bay Area Advisory Board of Directors.
Cañada College Receives $600,000 Grant
Cañada College in Redwood City has received a $600,000 grant from the
National Science Foundation that will help students majoring in fields such as
science, math and engineering.
The National Science Foundation will provide the scholarships to students
of the community college during the next five years.
The grant provides $3,000 to students eligible for trigonometry and $4,000
annually to students ready for calculus. Each student could receive as much
as $15,000 over three years.
The scholarship is open to community college students and graduating
high school students. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Fair Oaks Children’s Clinic Remodel Completed
The ribbon cutting ceremony and reception held at the Fair Oaks Children’s
Clinic Jan. 22 marked the completion of a major remodeling of the medical
home to more than 4,000 area children. The clinic provides health care that
includes physicals and exams, asthma care, immunizations and mental health
services.
The $400,000 refurbishing of exam rooms was underwritten by the San
Mateo County Health Foundation, an independent community foundation
supported solely through donations and managed by a volunteer board of
directors. The San Mateo County Health Foundation raises funds to address
health care concerns facing residents of San Mateo County. Most of its
support goes to programs located at the San Mateo Medical Center and
affiliated community health clinics.
“The Foundation recognized the outstanding care provided to children at
the clinic. We were pleased to do our part in making this remodel possible,”
said Lee Michelson, executive director of the foundation.
The Fair Oaks Children’s Clinic is located at 603 Laurel St. in Redwood
City on the grounds of Hoover School. Financial assistance is offered to those
who do not have insurance. For information about hours of operation and
appointments call 650-261-3710.
Rite Aid Winner From Redwood City
Christina Granato of Redwood City won first prize in Rite Aid’s “Win a Day
With Denise Austin” sweepstakes. Granato and a guest will be escaping to
the Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne, Va., for a free three-day, two-night
luxury spa getaway, including spa treatments and a workout session with
fitness expert Denise Austin. Way to go, Christina!
Redwood City District Put New $91 Tax on Ballot
A $91 annual parcel tax would mean an estimated $2.3 million per year for
Redwood City schools if voters approve the ballot measure in June.
Faced with $4 million to $6 million in budgetary cuts, the Redwood City
School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to put a parcel tax
before residents during a special election in June. The five-year levy will
require a two-thirds yes vote to pass. School officials were optimistic the
measure could pass, but only with the support of volunteers helping spread
the word of the district’s needs.
“This is about our kids. We can save jobs and, while saving jobs, make a
better educational experience for our kids,” said Trustee Dennis McBride.
The key to success will be education, said Alisa MacAvoy, who added that
once people understand the need, they are ready to help. But first, they need
to know what the district is facing.
A $91 parcel tax, if passed, would generate $2.3 million in revenue for
five years. Currently, the district is facing $3 million in mid-year cuts and $4
million to $6 million in reductions for next year. As a result, the board voted
to release staff.
“If we don’t have people there who care about kids, our kids are not going
to get what they need. I just feel that we have to take this risk,” said board
President Shelly Masur. “We have to do something.”
Those in attendance showed excitement and support for the parcel tax prior
to the board’s vote.
For parent Ray Dawley, there were many reasons to move ahead with the
parcel tax. One major reason was that children within the elementary school
district funnel into the Sequoia Union High School District. All neighboring
districts that also go to the Sequoia district have parcel taxes and spend more
money per student, he said.
Last week, the board heard results of a 400-person phone interview
conducted by Godbe Research regarding a potential parcel tax.
Support for such a measure was at 69 percent when respondents were
initially asked about a $91 annual parcel tax. Those polled were more likely
to support a measure aimed at maintaining science programs, attracting
and retaining quality teachers, keeping school libraries and services open,
maintaining technology in classrooms, maintaining music and art programs,
continuing electives in middle schools and providing reading and math
tutoring programs for students.
After hearing information about the potential tax, support for a $91 levy
grew to 73 percent.
A 2008 survey showed similar support and resulted in a suggestion of a
five-year term.
In February, the district sent out 24,000 fliers with a survey to registered
voters within the city. The mailer was sent out in English and Spanish. The
survey was also available online. About 800 surveys were returned by mail
and 80 were conducted online. Out of the surveys returned, only 5 percent
were opposed to a parcel tax.
Redwood City previously attempted a parcel tax in 2005 but only earned
61.69 percent support.
Jefferson, San Carlos and Woodside elementary school districts all put
parcel taxes on an all-mail ballot in May.
The Spectrum 15
GREAT gifts for Mother’s and Father’s Day
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Parties Around Town
Kainos/Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club Irish Night, Saturday, March 14
Top left: Attorney Ted Hannig, Councilman Ian Bain, Paula Uccelli and Marilyn Territo. Top right: Connie Guerrero, Lilia Ledezma and Nori Jabba. Bottom left: Councilman Ian
Bain, Paul and Jane Taylor, Cheri and Kevin Bondonno and Marc Manuel. Bottom middle: Rotary President Brandy Navarro and husband Danny, Cañada College soccer coach
Kurt Devlin and Jennifer. Bottom right: Mayor Rosanne Foust and Councilman Jim Hartnett with former Mayor Jack Greenalch and his wife, Barbara.
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The Spectrum 17
Changing the Face of Sequoia High:
By Judy Buchan, Contributing Writer
Morgan Marchbanks Looks Back and Ahead
S ta b i l i t y.
Purpose.
Discipline.
Passion.
Leadership.
Ask Sequoia High School grads and
colleagues about Principal Morgan
Marchbanks, and you’ll hear those
words and many more.
Marchbanks is stepping down from her post
as principal at the end of the current school
year. She has been accepted into the doctorate
program at the University of California, Berkeley,
where she will work toward a doctorate degree in
educational policy and organizations research.
As she comes to the end of her career at
Sequoia, Morgan reflected on how she found
Sequoia when she became principal in 2000, how
she leaves Sequoia in 2009 and much more.
“When I was appointed to Sequoia as interim
principal in June 2000, there were multiple
issues to address, as was explained to me by
the superintendent, Dr. Jo Ann Smith, and the
district’s board of trustees,” she recalled.
She listed the challenges waiting for her when
she assumed the principal’s role. “There was the
issue of low staff morale as a consequence of the
constant turnover of principals and the lack of
consistent leadership. There was also an issue
with inconsistent handling of disciplinary matters
with students related to the constant turnover of
site leadership. There was declining enrollment
at Sequoia due to open enrollment and the
perception of Sequoia in the larger community as
a ‘failing school.’ There was the very real problem
of the low Academic Performance Index (API)
score, which was the lowest in the district and
among the lowest in the county. And, there was
the debate raging in the community and the media
about whether the Cherokee Indian should be the
school’s mascot.”
And she was off and running.
“My goals, as set by the district upon hire, were
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
to improve the academic performance of Sequoia
High School, reverse the trend of declining
enrollment with the implementation of the
International Baccalaureate program and facilitate
the resolution of the Cherokee mascot debate,”
Marchbanks said.
Her personal goals were equally as daunting.
“The goals which I set for myself as a leader were
to retain and hire the most qualified faculty to
address the diverse needs of the Sequoia student
body, to respond to staff concern that students
could address their academic issues without first
addressing health and mental health issues, and to
prove what I have felt as a novice teacher and then
English department chair at Sequoia in the early
’90s: that it was the best school for its positive
climate, the spirit of ‘unaliyi’ (a Native American
Cherokee word) and its focus on equity and
achievement for all students.”
Did it work? Ask Lorraine Rumley, president of
the district board of trustees. “I’m glad both my
girls went through Sequoia during the Morgan
Marchbanks era,” she said. “Morgan is very
passionate about education and access for all
students, no matter their socioeconomic status,”
she continued. No roadblocks kept students from
learning, but they had to challenge themselves,
Rumley told me. The International Baccalaureate
program did not require an entrance exam, only
the willingness to work. “I am very appreciative
of Morgan’s work. She brought discipline to
Sequoia, made it a comfortable place for students
to learn and develop,” Rumley added.
Ken Rolandelli, president of the Sequoia High
School Alumni Association, agrees. “I believe
that Morgan has done nothing less than an
outstanding job at Sequoia. She brought Sequoia
from the doldrums, both in terms of academics
and morale, to a position of stature in academic
circles and in the community in which it serves.
It became obvious to me about two years ago
that Morgan would be moving on to even greater
achievement. So I am not surprised about her
leaving. I wish her the best and thank her for all
she has done. She leaves big shoes to fill, but I
believe she has set a foundation and created a
mindset where Sequoia will carry on successfully
in her absence.”
“She was great for Sequoia, providing a sense
of stability for students,” said Paul Sanfilipo,
former councilmember and chair of the alumni
association’s scholarship committee. “Sequoia’s
academic scores went up, thanks to Morgan. As
chairman of the scholarship committee, I found
Morgan to be very helpful.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. In November 2007,
an incident at the football game between Sequoia
and Half Moon Bay thrust Marchbanks into the
forefront of dealing with racial issues.
According to the Half Moon Bay Review,
“Students and officials at Half Moon Bay High
School have issued three written apologies in the
wake of charges of racial insults and documented
bad behavior during a football game pitting Half
Moon Bay and Sequoia high schools.
“All agree the game was marred by streakers,
that eggs were lobbed into the Sequoia section
of the stands and rocks later thrown at the team
bus as Sequoia students left the Nov. 2 game.
Allegations that someone leveled a racial epithet at at
least one Sequoia player remain under investigation.”
News coverage at the time was widespread.
Marchbanks was quoted as saying that she
received a good deal of feedback because she
responded to press queries.
“Rather than let the CCS (Central Coast
Section) investigate the matter and decide
sanctions, I, as principal, along with our student
records officer, the Redwood City police and our
vice principals, decided to take our own actions,”
she said at the time.
Also in 2007, the San Mateo Daily Journal
published a story on allegations of recruiting
violations and questions about two varsity
basketball players’ residency. Marchbanks
subsequently fired coach Peter Simos and
forfeited the remainder of the team’s South
Division leading season.
“There was very little evidence that the students
in question lived at the address provided,”
Marchbanks told the Daily Journal. “There was
nothing that was credible that (indicated) they
lived at the address in Redwood City. There was
also admission they were riding the train (Caltrain)
two to three days a week (to get to school).”
The school decided to forfeit its final three
games of the regular season, as well as the 20
wins the Cherokees had already earned.
“Even if it was with best intentions, it is still by
definition recruiting,” she said at the time.
And there was more. Would she have done
anything differently during the Cherokee mascot
debate? “I was directed upon hire to facilitate the
resolution of the Cherokee mascot issue with a
broad-based and representative committee and
to maintain neutrality in the matter. That is what
occurred. And as I am still a district employee
who is going on leave to pursue my further
education, I feel I must maintain that promised
neutrality. So, the directive was addressed as
given by the board of trustees. Hence, I am
satisfied that I did what was directed.”
Another bubbling issue is that of cheerleader
uniforms. “First, we are exceedingly proud
to have an award-winning, nationally ranked
cheerleading team. The matter of their uniforms
during the school day has been addressed to
the mutual satisfaction of the school and the
cheerleaders’ parents. In order to address the
equity concerns brought forth by students and
faculty, the cheerleaders at Sequoia now wear
outfits during the school day on game days which
Morgan Marchbanks and school secretary Dottress Rollin
are compliant with the school dress code. In fact,
they may wear their competition uniforms with
leggings during school time. On cold days, we’ve
noticed that they wear their warm-up uniform.
During games, rallies and competitions, they
wear their uniforms, unfettered by additional leg
covering that would impede their movement. We
are quite proud of our cheerleading squad, and we
are proud of the shared decision-making process
that brought forth this resolution.”
And gangs. “There isn’t gang activity at
Sequoia per se,” Marchbanks said. “There has
never been a gang fight on campus during the
13 years that I have worked there as a teacher
or principal. There are individuals on the
campus who may be flirting with gang life
or have been involved in gang life. This is so
throughout our state and our nation. However,
Sequoia disciplinary policy and mental health
interventions we have on campus prevent any
‘gang issue’ on the Sequoia campus. I am quite
proud of the way Sequoia High School addresses
the matter with laser-like focus to campus safety
as well as the mental health issues of the students
who are being courted by older gang affiliates and
members. We work to empower students to discover
their strengths, academically and in their characters,
so the gang life doesn’t offer any attraction.”
When asked to describe her worst day at
Sequoia, she told me that “The worst days have
the community can understand the reasons for my
actions. Those are always the hardest days.”
And the best days? “The best days are those in
which our school receives recognition for the data
which prove that we are doing the right things for
kids. Period.”
Looking back, Marchbanks saw that she
achieved her goals. “I believe that I, and the
Sequoia staff and Sequoia community, have
achieved the goals set. I cannot claim credit for
what the school has achieved; that would be
counter to my educational philosophy as a leader.
I couldn’t have gotten buy-in from the Sequoia
staff if I hadn’t incorporated their goals into my
own. Due to the reciprocity of respect and buyin at Sequoia, we have all achieved the goals
that we set for the school. And, we have created
programs that have improved the school’s success
that were not in the vision of anyone when I
began at Sequoia. They were created out of our
examination of our weaknesses and research into
effective programs. We have created Personalized
Learning Communities at the 9th and 10th grade
levels. We are in the process of constructing a
full offering of Interest Pathways for 11th and
12th graders. We successfully installed a Teen
Resource Center and a Teen Wellness Center
that address the emotional and social issues that
students confront that impede their academic
progress when left untended.”
“I believe the data are quite clear that the situation
at Sequoia had changed immensely. We are a California
Distinguished School which has received Title I Academic
Achievement Award status.”
all been associated with addressing the fallout
from making hard decisions about matters to
which the public or the press does not have all
of the information, and the information is most
often of a nature that I cannot fully disclose. I
am the decision-maker, and those days when I
take a beating have to do with making the best
decision possible with confidential matters, so I
am unable to disclose fully all of the facts so that
Is she leaving Sequoia a better place?
Absolutely. “I believe the data are quite clear that
the situation at Sequoia had changed immensely.
We are a California Distinguished School which
has received Title I Academic Achievement
Award status; this dual award was earned by
only 16 middle and high schools in the state of
California in that year, 2007. Add to that, we
have twice appeared in the last two years among
(continues on next page)
The Spectrum 19
Parties Around Town
Changing the Face of Sequoia High: Morgan Marchbanks Looks Back and Ahead
(Continued from 19)
Newsweek magazine’s top 1,200 schools in the
nation. Our International Baccalaureate (IB)
exam-passed rate of 97 percent exceeds both the
national and worldwide IB pass rates. We have
more national board–certified teachers than any
district school. And for the first time, Sequoia
has drawn in the most students who live outside
our attendance area than any other school in the
district. This is an area, as I mentioned in the
goals given to me by the board previously, where
Sequoia has consistently been dead last. That
reversal from declining enrollment to functioning
as a magnet program for outlying areas within the
district is proof positive that Sequoia’s perception
in the community has changed dramatically.
Again, the data speaks clearly as to the status of
Sequoia High School since my arrival in 2000.”
On March 20, Marchbanks will be inducted
into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of
Fame. Hall of Fame inductees are selected by
impartial judges outside the county who make
selections without knowing the identity of
nominees. The Hall of Fame is sponsored by the
county’s Commission on the Status of Women.
Marchbanks is now set to move forward to a
new part of her life, in what else but education. “I
now have the opportunity to pursue my lifelong
dream to teach at the university level. I would be
happy to teach either teachers or administrators,
even both. And I fully intend to contribute to
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
the body of research that examines the effect
of equity-based policies in education and,
conversely, to expose those programs and policies
which run counter to the needs of students who
have historic and predictable patterns of academic
performance that prevented these groups from
realizing full participation in our larger society.
I hope to complete my Ph.D. in policy and
organizations research at UC Berkeley within
three to four years so that I can begin that aspect
of my career.”
“Sequoia will be losing a true leader in Morgan
Marchbanks,” said former coach Mike Mancini.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing and working
for Morgan for over 15 years. Her dedication and
commitment to excellence at Sequoia will be truly
missed. As the principal at Redeemer Lutheran
School, I have enjoyed sending our graduates to
Sequoia as part of the International Baccalaureate
program that Morgan developed. Her constant
care and concern for the school environment has
been awesome and her continued drive to make
Sequoia a better place has been noticed by many
throughout the Redwood City community. Having
been a resident of Redwood City for over 40 years,
I have enjoyed watching the positive growth that
has taken place under Morgan over her years as
administrator. I wish her God’s richest blessings
as she embarks on her new journey.”
You go, girl!
Nonprofits in Action
Advocates for Children
For as little as 10 hours a month, you could make
a lasting difference in the life of an abused and
neglected child.
Each year, 600 to 800 San Mateo County
children enter the foster care system as a result of
abuse and neglect. Advocates for Children, CASA
of San Mateo County, is actively seeking caring
and consistent adults to mentor and speak up
for the best interests of these children. Over 130
children are waiting for someone who cares.
If you would like to become a volunteer
advocate, or just want to learn more, please attend
an orientation held in their San Mateo office. Visit
their Web site (www.AdvocatesFC.org) or call
650-212-4423 for more information.
City Talk Toastmasters
Join the City Talk Toastmasters to develop
communication and leadership skills. The club
meets Wednesdays 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road.
Call Manny Rosas at 650-780-7468 if you would
like to check out a meeting, or just stop in. Visit
www.toastmasters.org for more information about
the Toastmasters public speaking program.
CityTrees
CityTrees is a nonprofit working with the Public
Works Department to enhance and care for
Redwood City’s urban forest. They usually plant
or prune on the third Saturday of each month.
Check their Web site (www.citytrees.org) for a
listing of events, dates and how to join.
Family Service Agency of San
Mateo County
Looking for a dependable source of skilled,
reliable workers? Family Service Agency of San
Mateo County provides employers with mature,
ready-to-work, experienced workers who are 55
years and older. Employers contact the service
because they appreciate the superior work ethic
and the commitment to quality that mature
workers possess. There are no fees for hiring
candidates. Contact Barbara Clipper at 650-4034300, ext. 4368, to place your job order.
For those who are looking for work and are
at least 55 years of age, Family Service Agency
provides a range of services, including referrals
for classroom training, vocational counseling,
job referrals and on-the-job training for qualified
participants. Contact Connie Tilles at 650-4034300, ext. 4371, if you are looking for work.
Friends for Youth
Do you like to play video games, shoot hoops,
watch baseball games or just have fun? Then you
have what it takes to be a mentor!
As a mentor, you can hang out with a young
person like Reggie. He’s a 12-year-old who
loves pizza, baseball and cars. He lives with his
grandmother and three sisters and would love to
hang out with a guy and have fun. There are 30
boys like Reggie waiting to be matched with a
mentor like you. Most of the boys wait more than
a year to meet their mentors.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor,
you are invited to attend a one-hour information
session in Redwood City. For upcoming
sessions, call 650-482-2871 or e-mail mentor@
friendsforyouth.org.
Funders Bookstore
If you haven’t wandered into the Funders
Bookstore, you have missed one of Redwood
City’s hidden treasures. This project is a
volunteer effort by a group of dedicated people
interested in supporting the San Mateo County
History Museum and simultaneously providing a
community bookstore for everyone’s pleasure. A
large collection of hardback first editions, trade
paperbacks, children’s books, cookbooks and an
entire room of $1 paperbacks are featured.
Bookstore hours are Tuesday through Saturday,
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is on the lower level of the
San Mateo County History Museum at 2200
Broadway, with the entrance facing Hamilton
Street. Stop by for a browse!
Hearing Loss Association of the
Peninsula
Hearing Loss Association is a volunteer,
international organization of hard-of-hearing
people and their relatives and friends. The
nonprofit, nonsectarian, educational organization
is devoted to the welfare and interests of those
who cannot hear well but are committed to
participating in the hearing world.
A day meeting is held on the first Monday of
the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial
Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave. Educational
speakers and refreshments are provided. A
demonstration of assistive devices is held on the
first Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the
second-floor conference room at the Redwood City
Public Library, 1044 Middlefield Road. Please call
Marj at 650-593-6760 with any questions.
Nursing Mothers Counsel
Nursing Mothers Counsel, a nonprofit
organization since 1955, provides free
breastfeeding education and assistance by highly
trained counselors (moms who breastfed for at
least six months). To speak with a counselor (no
fee), call 650-327-MILK (327-6455).
NMC also has breast pumps and breastfeeding
supplies available for purchase and rent. Call
650-364-9579. If you’d like to become a trained
counselor, call 650-365-2713. Visit their Web site
at www.nursingmothers.org.
Optimist Club of Redwood City
The Optimists invite you to become a member of
Optimist International, one of the largest service
organizations in the world, where “bringing out
the best in kids” has been their mission for over
80 years. Whether you’re a club officer or a club
member who enjoys the fellowship and friendship
of others with a common greater good, Optimist
International needs you and would like you as a
member.
The Optimist Club of Redwood City meets
every Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Alana’s Cafe, 1020
Main St. For information, visit www.optimist.
org or call President Ed Rosen at 650-366-7589 or
Membership Chair John Butterfield at 650-3668803. Or just come join them for lunch to learn
more about how you can make a difference to the
youth in our community.
Peninsula Hills Women’s Club
Founded in 1960, Peninsula Hills Women’s Club,
a member of the General Federation of Women’s
Clubs and the California Federation of Women’s
Clubs, is a philanthropic organization serving the
community through charitable, educational and
service programs. Meetings are held the third
Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. For additional
information, contact PHWC, P.O. Box 1394,
Redwood City, CA 94064.
Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
In addition to sheltering and finding new homes
for stray and unwanted animals (100 percent
placement for healthy dogs and cats since 2003!),
PHS/SPCA has vital programs for people. The
shelter drives its mobile spay/neuter clinic into
low-income neighborhoods, offering owners free
“fixes” for their pets. PHS/SPCA also provides
a free animal behavior help line in English and
Spanish. Call 650-340-7022, ext. 783 or 786.
And domestic abuse victims who wish to leave
their abusive situation but are fearful of doing
so because they have pets can receive temporary
sheltering for their pets through PHS/SPCA. Call
650-340-7022, ext. 330.
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club
The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered
in April 1988. In the years since that time, the
club has met weekly at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and
to hear a speaker at the Waterfront Restaurant at
Pete’s Harbor in Redwood City. The club, with
22 members, has frequently been honored as an
outstanding small club by Rotary District 5150,
which includes San Mateo, San Francisco and part
of Marin counties. For more information or to
join, call Brandy Navarro at 650-367-9394.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula
RTP is a Redwood City nonprofit that provides
free home repair and renovations for lowincome families, seniors and people living with
disabilities throughout the Peninsula. RTP’s
mission is to promote independent living in safety
and warmth through volunteer partnerships
with individuals and groups in the community.
All repair work is completed during National
Rebuilding Day, an annual event that takes place
on the last Saturday of April. For this one-day
rebuilding event, thousands of volunteers and
sponsors unite to rehabilitate the homes and
community facilities of our low-income neighbors
and revitalize communities across the Peninsula.
RTP is currently seeking skilled volunteers and
construction captains. Come see how one day of
your time can make a difference in someone’s
life. If you are interested in volunteering, call
650-366-6597. For more information, visit
rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org.
(continues on page 24)
The Spectrum 21
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Shop Redwood City: Now More Than Ever — Shop Redwood City
Shouldn’t you make the commitment to shopping locally? When you are shopping, dining or enjoying
some entertainment, check out our Best of the Best selections below — businesses that not only
provide excellent service but also contribute to our community. You will benefit because your sales tax
dollars stay local and help us all.
Auto Care:
Legal Services:
Redwood General Tire – 1630 Broadway – Redwood General Tire was
Hannig Law Firm – 2991 El Camino Real – Hannig Law Firm LLP provides
founded on the principles of good customer service and quality products
transactional and litigation expertise in a variety of areas. The professionals
at fair prices. Many satisfied customers have been with them since their
at HLF are committed to knowing and meeting their clients’ needs through
founding. Whether you are looking for
long-term relationships and valuea new set of tires or need repair work
added services, and to supporting
on your vehicle, this Redwood City
and participating in the communities
institution has been providing quality
where they live and work.
vehicle services since 1957. They now
Michelle Glaubert, Realtor at Coldwell Banker – 650-722-1193
Personal Improvement:
have a free WiFi connection while
– Michelle doesn’t want to be one of the real estate agents that
you wait for your car to be serviced.
pass through your life; she wants to be the only Realtor in your
Every Woman Health Club – 611
life! When you work with Michelle once, she will do everything
Jefferson Ave. – A women-only, bodyEating and Catering:
in her power to make you want to come back to her the next
positive fitness center in downtown
time you need real estate assistance. Since she works mainly
Angelica’s Bistro – 863 Main St. –
Redwood City. Services include
on referral and repeat business, that strategy must be working!
Located in the back of an antiques
classes, weight and cardio equipment,
“People like my honesty and my follow-through,” says Michelle.
emporium, Angelica’s Bistro feels like
personal training, therapeutic massage
“They know they can count on me and I absolutely refuse to let
it has been here since the 18th century.
and skin care. Flexible pricing, with
them down.” Visit her online at www.glaubert.com.
Sit in a cozy alcove and listen to
several options available for members
romantic live music as you enjoy your
and nonmembers. Visit www.
meal. Lean at the counter and order a
everywomanhealthclub.com or call
microbrew beer. Or sit in the garden among
650-364-9194.
fountains and sculptures for afternoon tea. Visit www.angelicasbistro.com for
Re:Juvenate Skin Care – 1100 Laurel St., Suite F, San Carlos – Whether
menu and live entertainment offerings.
you are seeing a Re:Juvenate clinician for acne, sun damage, skin
Canyon Inn – 587 Canyon Road – “The Canyon Inn has had the same owner
tightening, wrinkle reduction or laser hair removal, the process starts with a
for over two decades, and every year it just keeps getting better. They have
complimentary consultation with a member of the aesthetic staff. Call 650everything from their famous hamburgers to pizzas. They also serve all kind
631-5700 and mention The Spectrum Magazine.
of sandwiches and pastas, and they even have a South of the Border menu!
They now do Sunday breakfast buffet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don’t forget to
Home Improvements:
reserve their closed patio for your next party. They have heaters, fans and a
Lewis Carpet Cleaners – 1-800-23-LEWIS – Founded in 1985, Lewis
big screen TV (no extra charge). They do catering, too!”
Carpet Cleaners has grown from one small, portable machine to a company
Encore Performance Catering – 2992 Spring St. – No matter the
of six employees and five working vans. The Lewis family works and lives
occasion, owner Dave Hyman’s catering menu goes on for eight pages of
in Redwood City and is committed to our community. Ask about their
mouthwatering suggestions for everything from casual to formal events.
Spectrum special: Get 100 square feet of carpet cleaned for absolutely
Despite an entire page devoted just to warm appetizers, these are mere
nothing. Call today!
suggestions, and Hyman is quick to offer additional possibilities to fit any
occasion. He also has a strong sense of community and participates in many
Specialty Businesses:
community-oriented events. Additionally, Hyman is proud of the fact that
his business products are nearly 100 percent recyclable, and leftovers are
Bizzarro’s Auto Auction – 2581 Spring St. – Owner Frank Bizzarro has
contributed to St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room in Redwood City. Need a
a unique business that offers auto auctions, consignment vehicle sales,
caterer for that party or event? Call Dave at 650-365-3731 or visit his Web site
appraisal services and even ways to donate your vehicle to needing charities.
at www.epcatering.com.
If you are thinking of holding an event with a live auction to increase your
fundraising efforts, Frank and his staff are also a one-stop auction team with
Little India – 917 Main St. – “There are good restaurants. There are bad
spotters, clerks, sample catalogs, bid numbers, etc. Just give Frank a call at
restaurants. There are OK restaurants. Then there are those places, the magic
650-363-8055 and get details on all of their services.
ones. You come back again and again because the food doesn’t just taste good
and satisfy hunger, but helps heal the heart and soul.” Senior citizens receive
Castle Insurance – 643 Bair Island Road, #104 – Castle Insurance is an
$1 off and children under 12 dine at half price. www.littleindiacuisine.com.
independent insurance agency. They do not work for an insurance company;
they work for their clients to ensure fair, prompt payment. They represent a
Financial Institutions:
carefully selected group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies,
and they place each client’s policy with the company offering the best
San Mateo Credit Union – Two Redwood City locations – As a membercoverage at a competitive price. Visit www.insurancebycastle.com or call
driven organization, SMCU does everything possible to ensure that all
650-364-3664 for a free quote.
of your financial priorities are anticipated and fulfilled. Some of the more
Saf Keep Storage – 2480 Middlefield Road – What is the Saf Keep
popular offerings include free personal auto shopping assistance, membersadvantage? Safe. Clean. Secure. At Saf Keep, they want you to know that you
only car sales, low-rate home loans and lines of credit. Contact them at 650and your belongings are safe and secure. They have a friendly and reliable
363-1725 or 888 363-1725, or visit a branch for additional information. Learn
team that is ready to assist you. Saf Keep offers a variety of storage products
the advantages of membership banking.
and services to suit all your storage needs. Visit www.safkeepstorage.com to
see exactly what products and services are available. Compare them to other
facilities and you’ll see why their service makes the difference.
Business Profile of the Month
The Spectrum 23
Nonprofits in Action (Continued from page 21)
Redwood City Art Center
The Redwood City Art Center promotes creativity
and community by providing art education,
exhibitions, studio space for artists and outreach
to the local community and schools.
The Art Center has recently been involved with
local events such as Target Family Day events, the
Fair Oaks Middlefield event, the Pet Parade, the
Salsa Festival and more. They offered fun, creative
art projects for children who were visiting the events,
and the center hopes this is just the beginning of
their involvement with the community.
For scheduling or donation, contact artreach@
redwoodcityartcenter.org. For more general
information, visit www.redwoodcityartcenter.org
or call 650-369-1823. Or visit in person at 2625
Broadway, Redwood City.
Redwood City Eagles #418
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international
nonprofit united in the spirit of liberty, truth,
justice and equality. The organization attempts to
make human life more desirable by lessening its
ills and promotes peace, prosperity, gladness and
hope. For more than a century, the Eagles have
had a major positive influence on our region, nation,
world and, most importantly, our communities.
It was the Eagles who pushed for the founding
of Mother’s Day. They support our police,
firefighters and others who protect and serve. The
Eagles have provided support for medical centers
across the country to build and provide research
on medical conditions including heart disease,
cancer, spinal cord injuries, kidney disease,
diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. They raise
millions of dollars every year to help handicapped
kids, uplift the aged and make life a little brighter
for everyone.
They meet on the second Tuesday of each
month at the Eagles Hall, 1575 Marshall St., at 6
p.m. for a social hour and dinner meeting. They
play cards on the third Thursday and would love
to have you join them. For more information,
call President Ryan Herbst at 408-489-6582 or
Secretary David Tomatis at 650-575-3225, or
check out their Web site at www.foe418.org.
Redwood City Education Foundation
The Redwood City Education Foundation is an
all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated
to providing students in the Redwood City
School District with a strong education that lays
the foundation for future success. They raise
private money to provide enrichment programs
to all students in the district. Their funding is
focused on academic achievement, music and
art, and health and wellness. They are currently
seeking new board members. Board members
are responsible for attending monthly meetings,
chairing board committees, participating
in fundraising and outreach activities, and
promoting RCEF in the community. If you are
interested in the possibility of serving on the
board, please contact Adam Borison at 650-3637271 or [email protected]. For more information on
RCEF, check out www.rcef.org.
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Redwood City Rotary
Redwood City Rotary performs many service
projects, provides college scholarships and
donates to international relief efforts. The
50-member club meets in a spirit of good
fellowship and fun each Tuesday at 12:15 at the
Sequoia Club, 1695 Broadway, to hear speakers
and plan community benefits, including the
annual July 4 raffle that raises $80,000 for 12
local charities. For more information about joining,
contact President Bob Doss at 650-368-3900.
Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club
This group is small but has a growing
membership. All members either live or work
in our community and share a common goal of
making our city a better place to live. This club
is one of over 44,000 Lions Clubs in 199 nations.
Chartered in 1966, the club has been vigorously
active helping eyesight-impaired youth in our
schools and seniors who are hearing-impaired.
Join them for breakfast! The Lions meet every
Wednesday at Bob’s Court House Coffee Shop,
2198 Broadway, beginning at 7:15 a.m. Call Bill
Gibbons at 650-766-8105 for more details.
Redwood City Women’s Club
Redwood City Women’s Club meets at the
clubhouse, 149 Clinton St., the first Thursday of
each month September through June. Social at
11:30 a.m. and lunch at noon, followed by meeting
and program. For information, visit the group’s
Web site at rwcwc.com.
Sequoia High School Alumni
Association
The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each
month at the Sequoia District Board Room, 480
James Ave., at 7 p.m. All alumni and friends
of Sequoia are welcome to attend. For more
information call Nancy at 650-592-5822, visit the
Web site at sequoiahsalumniassoc.org or e-mail
[email protected].
Sequoia Stamp Club
This club was established in 1947 and invites
community members to visit. The club meets
at the Community Activities Building, 1400
Roosevelt Ave., every second and fourth Tuesday
at 7:45 p.m. There is a program every meeting and
refreshments are served. The dues are only $3
per year. Contact Hank at 650-593-7012, e-mail
[email protected] or visit the group’s
Web site at www.penpex.org. Sequoia Stamp Club
sponsors a free stamp show at the same location
on the first weekend in December.
Soroptimist International of South
Peninsula
The Soroptimists invite you to become a member
of Soroptmist International, the world’s largest
service organization for business and professional
women, where “improving the lives of women
and children” has been their mission since 1921.
Soroptimists work through service projects to
advance human rights and the status of women
locally and abroad. They meet the second
Thursday of every month. For more information,
please call their president, Maria, at 650-3660668, Monday–Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club
Since October 1956, the Woodside Terrace A.M.
Kiwanis Club has been devoted to community
service in Redwood City. Through the decades,
the club has provided funds to help many worthy
community programs and continues to add more
community projects. The Key Club of Sequoia
High School, sponsored by the Woodside Terrace
A.M. Kiwanis Club, was chartered in 1994 and
has been involved in raising money and donating
time and effort to many programs.
The Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club
meets every Tuesday evening 6–7 p.m. at Harry’s
Hofbrau, 1909 El Camino Real (one block north
of Woodside Road). They invite you to come to
their meetings and check out the club’s Web site at
www.wtamkiwanis.org.
Woodside Terrace Optimist Club
This is a unique club made up of senior citizens
who want to stay involved. Most, but not all, come
from the residence at Woodside Terrace. The club
is open to all of the community and provides an
opportunity for seniors to be useful.
The club’s funds are raised by a card, candy
and necklace sale held on the fourth Wednesday
of each month in the main lobby at 485 Woodside
Road, open to the public.
Lunches/meetings are at 12:30 p.m. on the
second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in
the Assisted Living Dining Room at Woodside
Terrace. Guests are welcome. Please call President
Jack Murphy at 650-780-9891 or Millie Cole at
650-366-1392 for reservations.
YES Reading
This local organization is dedicated to
empowering students through literacy and
investing community members in underserved
public schools. YES Reading recruits and trains
community volunteers to provide one-on-one
tutoring for elementary and middle school
students reading below grade level.
YES Reading operates several reading centers
on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, including
a site at Selby Lane School in Atherton. If you
are interested in becoming a reading tutor for a
child who needs your help, please call 408-9459316 or email [email protected]. Visit the YES
Reading Web site at www.yesreading.org.
Editor’s note: If you are connected with a
nonprofit organization and want your information
printed in The Spectrum, send it to writers@
spectrummagazine.net or The Spectrum Magazine,
P.O. Box 862, Redwood City, CA 94064. Let our
community know your contributions and maybe
they will want to join you.
IMMIGRANTS DAY
FESTIVAL 2 0 0 9
HISTORY
MUSEUM
presents
Honoring our Heritage:
San Mateo
County
SA
TH VE
DA E
TE
S a t u r d a y,
M AY 1 6
NOON - 5 PM
Music & Dance Performance
Groups representing African-Americans,
Basque, Chinese, Croatians, Filipinos, Irish, Italians,
Japanese, Mexicans and Portuguese.
ON
COURTHOUSE
SQUARE
STAGE
Food Tasting Card
$5
Above, Mexico Vivo performing
San Mateo County History Museum
2200 Broadway Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
CONTACT: 650-299-0104 or
[email protected]
Thank You to our
Sponsors
The Spectrum 25
“It’s Not a Job, It’s a Real Profession”
By Nicole Minieri
“Going once, twice, three times, sold to the
gentleman all the way in the back of the room,”
is something you might hear being pitched by
professional auctioneer Frank Bizzarro at the
biweekly Bizzarro’s Auto Auction. The multiauction business includes public auto auctions,
charity auction fundraisers and car donation
auctions at three Redwood City locations: at 2581
Spring St., on Edison Street and at Angelica’s
Bistro on Main Street downtown. The Spring
Street location is home to most of the auto
auctions. Bizzarro, who is fully bonded and
registered as a commercial fundraiser in the state
of California, remains at the top of his game.
Active in the auction industry since 1973, he has
sold over 43,000 cars to date.
Bizzarro was an Equity actor in New York
for a number of years in the early ’70s and
transitioned to auctions after responding to an
ad for an apprentice auctioneer in New York. He
pursued that avenue for a couple of years before
entering the wholesale perfume industry. In 1983,
Bizzarro and his wife moved to the Bay Area,
and he eased his way back into working as an
auctioneer. In 1989 he opened an antiques house,
and in 1996 he launched Bizzarro’s Auto Auction.
“It is quite enjoyable to do, especially if you like
to perform,” said Bizzarro. “There are a lot of
people in auction, but only 20 percent of them
are able to do it full time. And it is because that
20 percent find a way to make it work.” Bizzarro
most certainly has found a way to make it work,
because he has the passion, will and drive to do
so. In 2001 Bizzarro closed the antiques portion
of his business but kept building upon his charity
and auto auctioning enterprises.
Today, how Bizzarro’s Auto Auction works is
quite user-friendly. In return for selling their cars
at the auction, patrons receive a cash advance,
advertisements in newspapers and on Bizzarro’s
Web site, comprehensive detailing services
available right on the premises, DMV paperwork
processing and secured storage. Usually, more
than 100 cars are offered to the general public
at an auction. All of the autos are available for
previewing the day before the auctions, which are
held on Saturdays at 10 a.m. For those who wish
to donate their cars, boats, RVs or motorcycles in
the auction, all of the IRS and DMV paperwork
is processed for free. Vehicles are accepted
regardless of running condition, smogged or not
and with or without car titles. Parties donating
vehicles have the opportunity to select the charity
or school of their choice from among those that
Bizzarro’s Auto Auction represents.
Vehicle donation is highly encouraged and
can benefit the donor in several ways. The donor
experiences no problems in selling a used car or
truck and receives the maximum tax-deduction
benefit. Bizzarro’s also offers free pickup and
towing services for the vehicle and handles all of
the paperwork. Vehicles are then reconditioned on
an as-needed basis before being sold.
For those who wish to sell their vehicles on
consignment through Bizzarro’s public auctions,
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Bizzarro’s Auctions – More Than Just Cars
that procedure is quite easy as well. Interested
parties must have proper registration and at
least two forms of ID with a matching name
and address in order to generate a valid bidder
number. The vehicle must also pass the smog
inspection. Because this is a public auction, there
are absolutely no guarantees on the vehicles, and
they are sold in “as is” condition.
In addition to the auto auction, Bizzarro also
heads Bizzarro’s Gala Event Auctions. This
branch of the business specializes in charity
fundraising auctions and is responsible for
the success of more than 100 charity events
throughout the Bay Area per year. In this forum,
Bizzarro is able to utilize his entertainment
roots and years of training as an actor. His
formal training was at the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts, and he also performed stand-up at
New York’s legendary comedy spots, such as the
Improv and Catch A Rising Star. It is Bizzarro’s
talent as an actor that gives him a leading edge
as a unique auctioneer and has made him one of
the best in the industry for 25 years. Since 1984,
Bizzarro’s has been a one-stop auction squad
at the UCSF Neiman Marcus event. We netted
$145,000.” And a statement released by the
Sequoia Hospital Foundation said, “Your team
helped make Celebrate the New Sequoia Ball and
Auction extremely successful. The event netted a
record breaking $1.2 million.”
But what makes Bizzarro and his auto auctions,
charity fundraising and car donations even more
engaging is that he does it all within Redwood
City. “We think Redwood City is great,” said
Bizzarro. “I stayed in Redwood City and have
invested in the downtown area because I believe
in it. Redwood City is still the best focal point
for any business. Not only have I invested the
business aspect here, but also have invested in
the real estate aspect. I want to continue to live
in Redwood City. And I certainly still have a
strong belief that in 10 to 15 years from now, that
Redwood City will still be the focal point of many
businesses to come.”
As for Bizzarro’s thoughts on being a frontman
in the auction scene, “It is not just a job; it’s
a real profession. The idea of working with a
live audience is very similar to doing a live
“I stayed in Redwood City and have invested in the downtown area because
I believe in it. Redwood City is still the best focal point for any business.”
for gala events and has provided exceptional
consultations and state-of-the-art technology.
The incomparable auction team is renowned
for taking auctions to the next level. Because of
Bizzarro’s appealing character as an auctioneer in
charity fundraising, he has caught both local and
national attention and has appeared repeatedly on
television and in magazines.
Bizzarro’s has worked with hundreds of
local schools and nonprofit agencies, and the
impressive roster of clients includes Sequoia
Hospital Foundation, Woodside High School,
San Francisco Zoo, March of Dimes, MenloAtherton Education Foundation, San Francisco
AIDS Foundation, Junipero Serra High School,
Special Olympics, California State Parks
Foundation, Redwood City PAL and Public
Interest Clearinghouse. Most recently, Bizzarro’s
orchestrated the Fremont Opera’s Gala “Springs
in Seville” auction on Sunday, March 15. This
event featured Bizzarro as auctioneer, musical
performances by the Fremont Opera and the
Nichols Party Band, and authentic Spanish tapas.
With a full agenda always scheduled in the
calendar, Bizzarro’s Gala Event Auctions is
already booked well into 2010. Some of their
upcoming auctions include those for Immaculate
Heart Church and El Carmelo in April, Seton
School in May, Rebuilding Together Peninsula
in June, March of Dimes in October, Peninsula
Symphony in November and Mercy High School
in March 2010.
For gala events, Bizzarro’s is truly the best
in the business. Bizzarro has been praised as
“entertaining and one who will make a live
auction engaging and fun!” The Wheelchair
Foundation stated, “Your auctioneer skills
brought the highest prices at the live auction,
and you and your staff kept the pace lively and
fun.” From UCSF: “I can’t begin to thank you for
the outstanding job you did for us as auctioneer
performance on stage. And being an auctioneer
is a great place to use a lot of things that I have
learned along the way!” As to his durability as an
auctioneer, Bizzarro certainly hopes to be around
for another 25 years. Hmm… Doesn’t sound like
there will be a “curtain call” on this performance
anytime soon!
If you are interested and would like to learn
more about Frank Bizzarro, Bizzarro’s Auto
Auction and Bizzarro’s Gala Event Auctions, as
well as the services he provides through public
auctions, charity fundraisers and car donations,
please visit www.bizzarrosauctions.com or call
650-363-8055.
Bizzarro (center) at a community event with Frank Bartaldo and Phil Bucher.
The Spectrum 27
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News Briefs
Assault Trial Ordered in Fatal
Stabbing
Former Lawyer to Trial on
Embezzlement Charges
The 21-year-old Redwood City man arrested for
his alleged role in a fatal attack on a group of boys
who threw rocks at a vehicle carrying him will
stand trial for felony assault, a judge ruled after a
preliminary hearing.
Luis Antonio Herrera Jr., 21, has pleaded not
guilty but was held to answer on the charge after
the hearing in which the prosecution called a police
officer and detective to testify. The hearing was
held after a defense request for more time was denied.
Herrera did not stab 15-year-old Matthew
Johnson but did participate in the associated
beating, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
At approximately 1:20 a.m. Jan. 3, according
to Redwood City police, Johnson and three other
boys were throwing rocks at vehicles in the
100 block of Franklin Street. A group of males
left a red or orange compact car and reportedly
confronted the boys. The encounter turned
physical and Johnson was stabbed multiple
times. He was taken to a local hospital and later
pronounced dead.
Authorities are still looking for others involved
in the melee, including the person who did the
actual stabbing.
Herrera remains in custody in lieu of $25,000
bail and a probation violation no-bail hold. He
returns to court March 27 to enter a Superior Court
plea and set a trial date.
The former Redwood City attorney accused of
taking nearly $1 million from his clients through
unpaid loans and forged documents will stand
trial on seven charges of embezzlement and grand
theft, a judge ruled after a preliminary hearing on
the evidence.
After the three-hour hearing, one misdemeanor
and one felony were also dismissed against
Edward Duff Hume. Hume, 60, of Solvang, was
to return to court March 18 to enter a Superior
Court plea and set a date for trial on charges of
embezzlement by the executor of an estate, grand
theft, forgery and second-degree burglary.
Hume has already forfeited his license to
practice law, but conviction on the charges could
also hand him prison time.
While practicing law in Redwood City, Hume
allegedly took the money between July 6, 2004,
and May 2006. Hume, who was a licensed
attorney in Redwood City since 1975, represented
Frederick Helversen in the family trust. After
Helversen’s 2002 death, Hume acted as the trustee,
and prosecutors say he embezzled $824,361.28
over the course of 18 months.
In 2006, Hume allegedly asked two other clients
to loan him $100,000 for home improvements
on the condition the money was repaid by the
end of the year. Hume did not repay the funds
and is accused of presenting a forged document
to one victim’s Menlo Park bank in 2006 asking
for $6,000 from her personal account. The bank
would not honor the document after learning from
the woman she didn’t approve the transfer.
Hume resigned from the California Bar in
September 2007. The request took effect in April
and disciplinary proceedings are pending.
After his initial arrest and charges, the District
Attorney’s Office tacked on charges to more
alleged victims, although those were dropped due
to insufficient evidence.
Hume remains in custody on $500,000 bail and
must show any money posted did not come from
ill-gotten means.
Redwood City Deemed AIDS
Prevention Hot Spot
Organizers of a female-targeted HIV/AIDS
screening fair said more women than expected
attended the event in Redwood City, where rates
of AIDS infection are higher than in most of San
Mateo County.
Women, who comprise 12.5 percent of reported
AIDS cases in San Mateo County, respond well
to female-specific events like the recent HIV
Awareness Health Fair for Women and Girls, said
Danielle Castro, the education and prevention
coordinator for the county’s AIDS program.
“Often times women have a hard time discussing
sexual ideas in a group with men,” she said.
Castro said women’s risk of contracting HIV or
AIDS often stems from “being on the receiving
end if it’s having sex with a man.” Events like
the health fair encourage women to be more
aggressive with “condom negotiation,” or being
empowered to require a partner to practice safe
sex, she said.
The event at the Fair Oaks Community Center
in Redwood City offered free one-on-one
counseling and HIV tests, with results available
within 20 minutes.
The fair drew 30 attendees, 17 of whom
got tested. This number exceeded Castro’s
expectations.
www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Driver Guilty of Assault on
Pedestrian
A female motorist accused of intentionally hitting
and dragging a woman in a Redwood City parking
lot after the pair argued was sentenced to five
years’ prison after pleading no contest to felony
assault and felony hit-and-run.
The plea change spared Gail Nora Mason, 54,
trial on the greater charge of attempted murder.
The District Attorney’s Office sought nine years
and eight months in state prison, but the court
countered with a straight five-year term. Mason
was immediately sentenced and receives credit
for 209 days against the term. She returns to court
April 28 for a restitution report.
Mason turned herself in to Redwood City police
Sept. 2, the day after the alleged altercation.
Mason and another woman, both transients,
already knew each other and ran into one another
in the parking lot across from discount retailer Big
Lots. The pair argued over the victim’s boyfriend,
according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Angry, the victim reportedly broke the side
mirror on Mason’s van. Mason, according to
prosecutors, drove the van directly at the woman,
who was standing in a curbed planter with her
back to the vehicle. The van struck the woman,
dragging her several feet before Mason reportedly
fled. The victim sustained compressed vertebrae
and serious lacerations.
Mason has been in custody on no-bail status.
Manager Charged With
Embezzlement
A former general manager at a Redwood City car
dealership took $835,000 by writing himself
unauthorized checks to spend on gambling, according to
prosecutors who charged him with embezzlement.
Cesar Emilio Caceres, 34, took the money from
Putnum Lexus over a span of approximately eight
months beginning last June, said Chief Deputy
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Caceres had the office manager cut checks from
business accounts by saying they were authorized
by two of the three necessary people, Wagstaffe said.
The loss was reportedly discovered by the owner
while reviewing the auto dealership’s books. The
money was used by Caceres for gambling, said
Wagstaffe, although he did not know what type.
Calls to Putnum Lexus went unanswered.
Redwood City police arrested Caceres Feb.
26. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of felony
embezzlement and an allegation of theft of more
than $200,000. He did not waive his right to
a speedy trial. He asked for a court-appointed
attorney and was ordered back to court March 4
for a Superior Court review conference and March
9 for a preliminary hearing.
Bail was set at $850,000 and Caceres remains in
custody.
He has no prior criminal history in San Mateo
County, according to court records.
Cops Close Case on Bomb Threat
Police have given up looking for what they believe
was a jaded, laid-off employee who called in bomb
threats to a Redwood City company.
On Jan. 22, a manager or owner at NeoPost,
located at 3400 Bridge Parkway in Redwood
Shores, received repeated messages from an
unidentified caller warning him of a bomb in the
building, according to court documents.
“Steven, this is the only time I’m going to tell
you this. There’s a bomb in the building,” the man
(continues on page 32)
7 te!
AY Da
M he
t
e
v
a
The Service League of San Mateo County
invites you to the
23rd Annual Community Prayer Breakfast
PRAYER...
AMERICA’S
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ÕFirst Thursday in May
ÕMAY 7, 2009
ÕThe National Day of Prayer
THURSDAY Õ MAY 7
7:00Õ9:00 AM
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The Spectrum 31
As I Was Saying…Continued from p6
answered. But that is where maturity and experience come in.
Nonetheless, she is a very impressive young lady and will be a fantastic
representative of our community for the year to come. Robles has lived in
Redwood City most of her life. The Woodside High School senior is currently
a cheerleader (go figure) and previously played for the school’s volleyball
team. She has attended Middle College at Cañada College. The program
allows students to concurrently take high school and college level classes.
As a result, students earn college credits while in high school. Robles is in a
position to finish her general education at Cañada in a year, which is her plan.
I told you, these young ladies are very impressive, as is the pageant. Next
year, if you are asked, try to support it. It’s another way to help a student with
educational goals and “stuff.”
.…
March is always a time when those in our community who work so hard
volunteering and trying to raise money also give it away. Here are some of the
highlights: The Sequoia Awards held their annual dinner at the Hotel Sofitel
and gave away over $142,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors. The
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club’s Irish Night raised over $23,000 to support
local activities and had over 125 supporters eating a lot of corned beef and
cabbage and drinking green beer. The Kiwanis Club’s “all-you-can-eat” Crab
Cioppino Night was a real treat and netted the group over $9,000 to support all
the community activities they fund. The community volunteer event Kaboom
Build was held on Saturday, March 7, at Mezes Park (the “Tank Park”) and
had over 300 community members helping to clean, paint, repair and build
new playground equipment for the entire park. It was truly an exciting event
to participate in and to watch. Could we live in a more giving community?
.…
This November’s City Council election is getting more competitive as the
weeks go on, and we still have more than seven months to go. Here is a brief
update on some of the candidates’ activities. Candidate Janet Borgens has
gained new endorsements from Mayor Rosanne Foust, port Commissioners
Ralph Garcia and Lorianna Kastrop and former Mayor Georgi LaBerge.
Candidate Cherlene Wright has announced the endorsements of County
Sheriff Greg Munks, Undersheriff and former Redwood City Police Chief
Carlos Bolanos and Sequoia Healthcare District board member Art Faro.
Candidate John Seybert recently held his campaign kickoff party at his
Farm Hill home, and it was attended by Mayor Rosanne Foust; Council
Members Alicia Aguirre, Jim Hartnett, Diane Howard and Barbara
Pierce; planning Commissioners Jeff Gee (also a candidate) and Nancy
Radcliffe; former Mayor Jack Greenalch; former City Manager Ed Everett;
county Supervisor Rich Gordon; Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve
Wagstaffe; school board members Alisa MacAvoy, Lorraine Rumley
and Don Gibson; former school board member Chris Bohl; former county
Sheriff and Sequoia Healthcare District member Don Horsley and former
Assemblyman Ted Lempert. Also attending were business and community
leaders Marc Manuel, Steve Howard, Max Keech, David Amann, Jeri
Richardson, Paula Uccelli, Stacey Wagner, Bob Lutticken, Keith and Nina
Kadera and Jack Castle.
Candidate Kevin Bondonno is scheduled to have his kickoff event on
Sunday, March 29, at the Red Morton Community Center.
Not surprisingly, all six candidates are scheduled to attend the Chamber of
Commerce’s 40th annual Progress Seminar to be held in Monterey on April
17, 18 and 19.
.…
Godbe Research recently announced the results of a survey they conducted
for developer David Bohannon of 400 Menlo Park residents on a project his
company is trying to get approved that includes three eight-story towers on the
east side of Highway 101 just south of Marsh Road. Sixty-five percent of the
surveyed residents said they would support the project, noting that traffic was
the main concern.
Those results have to be sweet music to the ears of the No Additional Jails
in Redwood City Coalition advocates who have suggested that area as a
potential site for a new seven-story county jail. Considering the jail would
be only one tower and have far less of a traffic impact, it seems like a perfect
match. Hey, and a survey is already paid for. What more could you ask for?
.…
I know that you were all waiting on the edges of your seats to see what county
Supervisor Rich Gordon was going to do next, right? Well, you can sit back
now, because he has ended weeks of speculation about his political future and
formally announced his plans to run for the 21st District State Assembly seat,
trying to replace termed-out Ira Ruskin in 2010. As you may remember, I
predicted that would happen in my January column.
In declaring, he stated, “The bottom line is the state is so broken that I just
feel somebody’s got to step up and fix it.” OK, do I really need to comment on
this? Because I am sure you are thinking the same thing as I am.
Expected to be challenging Gordon for the seat will be Palo Alto
Councilwoman Yoriko Kishimoto, Foothill-De Anza Community College
District board member Hal Plotkin and possibly fellow county Supervisor Rose
Jacobs Gibson (who has not said whether she will run or not). The 21st District
includes parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and the city of San Jose.
It will be interesting to see if any of those candidates feel they are
egotistical or naive enough to think they can single-handedly solve the state’s
broken problems, especially if they have been part of the system for the past
12 years and “stuff.” Was that a comment or a thought?
.…
In other 2010 election news, former county Sheriff Don Horsley, who will be
running for Gordon’s seat, has already raised an impressive $125,000 toward
his campaign, and there is really no formidable candidate who is considering
challenging him. Given his qualifications, support and respectability
throughout the county, political watchers feel there will not be anyone to step
forward and do so.
In another county supervisor seat that is already being talked about, Rose
Jacobs Gibson will not term out until 2012, but possible candidate names
have already been floating around. County Board of Education trustee Memo
Morantes is one, Redwood City Council Members Alicia Aguirre and Diane
Howard are two more, as is John Bostic from East Palo Alto, who ran
against Jacobs Gibson in last June’s election. That race is really too far out to
speculate about, but the potential candidates are interesting, and it will be fun
to watch over the next few years.
.…
I had so much more “stuff” to write about this month, like San Mateo County
agreeing to pay $6.8 million to the U.S. government and holding no one accountable
for having to do so, and the possible end to the Joe and Roberta Carcione
lawsuit against the City of Redwood City, but I am running out of space and ink.
But then, there is always next month. Isn’t there?
As I was saying…
News Briefs: Continued from page 30
said in the first message, according to a search warrant filed by the Redwood
City Police Department.
The manager received two more calls threatening of a bomb in the building.
Each call came from a different number. The last call came from a cell phone
that was traced to a cellular phone purchased with stolen personal information.
The phone was in service for only four days, said Redwood City police Sgt.
Steve Blanc.
Police believe the bomb threat came from a former employee recently laid
off by the manager. That manager gave all departing employees his cell phone
number, Blanc said.
The company is now closed or will soon be closed. It has not received any
additional threats and the case is considered closed, Blanc said.
Finance: Five Reasons to be Bullish About Financial Markets
By David Amann, Special to The Spectrum
During a long downturn in the financial markets,
it’s hard for some people to be cheerful about their
prospects for investment success. And that’s not
surprising, because a daily diet of bad news can
take its toll on investors’ outlooks. Yet if you look
beyond the headlines, you can actually find some
reasons to believe that brighter days lie ahead.
Here are five of these potential causes for optimism:
1. Recovery may be near. The financial markets
obviously are connected to the overall U.S.
economy, so it makes sense to keep an eye on how
the economy is doing. As you know, we’ve been
in the grip of a long and painful recession, but that
may change fairly soon. In fact, the recession is
likely to end in the second half of 2009, according
to a majority of the economists surveyed by the
influential National Association for Business
Economics. And since the stock market has
historically anticipated an economic recovery
by about six months — and begun responding
favorably — now may not be the time to abandon
your long-term investment strategy. Of course,
past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
2. Market rallies can happen quickly. No one
can predict the exact moment a sustained market
rally will begin, but history has shown that rallies
can start quickly and take off sharply. Consider
this: In the first year of a recovery, investors have
recouped an average of 82 percent of what they
lost in the entire prior bear market, according
to Standard & Poor’s. And since 1932, the S&P
500 has gained an average of 46 percent in the
year after stocks have hit bottom. Keep in mind,
though, that we have experienced a largerthan-usual drop in the market, so you shouldn’t
necessarily expect a rally to produce these results.
Still, if you are out of the market when it does rally,
you are likely to miss some of the strongest returns.
3. Low prices may mean good opportunities.
By almost any traditional measure of value,
investments are now very attractively priced.
And when prices are low, returns over the
long term tend to be higher. Keep looking for
quality investments — like other investments,
they’ve been hurt by the downturn, but if their
fundamentals are still sound, they could offer the
greatest potential for long-term rewards.
4. The Treasury and Fed are working overtime
to support the U.S. financial system. While the
problems of resuscitating our financial system
are enormous, and the solutions are not clear-cut,
the Department of the Treasury and the Federal
Reserve are working hard to support the credit
markets, boost liquidity, lower mortgage rates and
take other steps that can ultimately benefit the
economy and the investment markets.
5. Low inflation can help boost “real” returns.
Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price
Index, is currently close to zero. As an investor,
you have reason to welcome a low inflation rate,
because when inflation is high, it can erode the
“real” returns of your investments. Consequently,
you may be rewarded by investing in vehicles that,
for the moment, are producing only modest returns.
Keep the above factors in mind when you make
investment decisions. Remember, if you’re going
to help achieve your long-term goals, you will likely
need to keep investing in even the gloomiest of
markets — and, as we’ve discussed, there might be
more than a few rays of light ready to pierce the clouds.
Senior Activities
The Veterans Memorial Senior
Center, 1455 Madison Ave.,
Redwood City, provides the
following activities that are open to
the public during the month of April.
Monday Morning Movie Madness
(MMMM)
Every Monday, 10 a.m.–noon
Come to the VMSC every Monday in April and
enjoy your classic favorites on the big screen
again! After the movie, enjoy a hearty lunch for
only $4.50. Call our lunch desk at 650-780-7259
for menu selections and reservations.
April 6: “Rebel Without A Cause”
April 13: “Jailhouse Rock”
April 20: “A Streetcar Named Desire”
April 27: “Citizen Kane”
Friday Movies for Everyone
Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise
announced)
Come to the VMSC in April for a free featured
movie in our state-of-the-art movie theater! Call
650-780-7270 for the most current movie listing.
April 3: “Passengers”
April 10: “W.”
April 17: “What Just Happened”
April 24: “Quantum of Solace”
Earthquake Preparedness
With Kathleen Jacobi
Thursday, April 2, 1–2 p.m. Free
It’s not a matter of if, but when the next
earthquake will come, and it could be a big one.
Being prepared will be crucial to your safety and
survival. You will receive lifesaving information
and an earthquake survival kit. There will be an
opportunity to get your questions answered. Even
if you have attended one of these lectures in the
past, it never hurts to refresh your memory and
update your response plan.
“Grease” Theater Trip
Saturday, April 4, 12:30 p.m. $65
An excursion to see, hear and enjoy Time
Magazine’s 2007 pick for “No. 1 Musical of
the Year” at the Golden Gate Theatre in San
Francisco. Price includes transportation to and
from this live show. We will meet at the VMSC
at 12:30 p.m. Reservations required. Please call
Michele at 650-780-7344 to reserve your spot.
Space is very limited.
Why Can’t I Lose Weight?
With Dr. Simia McCully
Thursday, April 23, 1–2 p.m. Free
Why is it so difficult not only to lose weight,
but to keep it off? This lecture will be very
informative and helpful. Dr. McCully studied at
the world’s leading school for natural medicine,
Bastyr University. She has a private practice in
Menlo Park.
Save the date:
Mother’s Day Tribute Lunch
Friday, May 8, 12–2 p.m. $15
Join the VMSC as we pay tribute to the women in
our lives. Mothers, daughters and granddaughters
are encouraged to join us for this special
luncheon. All mothers will receive a special gift.
Individuals are also encouraged to send us photos
and stories of their mothers for a special display
in the VMSC lobby. Please contact Michele
Venneri at 650-780-7344 for lunch reservations
and/or to submit your photos and stories.
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial
Senior Center, call 650-780-7270. Redwood City
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Department provides recreational facilities and
activities for all ages and interests, and supplies
building and custodial services for city buildings.
Redwood City Parks also operates the Veterans
Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks
Community Center, providing social, educational
and cultural activities, as well as information,
referral and counseling services to persons living
in Redwood City and neighboring communities.
Redwood City Parks is more than you think! Its
Web site is located at www.redwoodcity.org/parks.
The Spectrum 33
A Minute With: Diana Johnson
Diana Johnson was born in San Diego. She graduated from high school
and attended college there. She has a son, Kenneth, 47, and a daughter,
Lynne, 43, and eight grandchildren ranging in age from 10 to 28. She also
has one great-grandchild.
She moved to Redwood City in 1971 for a relationship that did not work
out. Her community involvement started in 1984 when she joined the
Friendly Acres (East Bayshore) Neighborhood Association.
She has worked on the Redwood City Pride and Beautification
Committee and the state organization of mobile-home parks (where she
lobbies state officials), and has lobbied for rent control in Redwood City.
Should Redwood City be proud?
Yes!
What talent would you most like to have?
I have never wanted to be talented. I am boring.
In 100 years, what will you be remembered for?
Working on mobile-home issues.
The proposed development at the Cargill site is
in your backyard. Are you excited?
Yes, I am!
Something few know about you?
I am very quiet at times.
Anyone you got on your mind?
No.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Why not?
Memorable moment?
Fiftieth class reunion.
What is your greatest regret?
That I did not finish college.
First word that comes to mind?
What?
What is your motto?
Let live.
What or who is the love of your life?
My grandchildren.
Why do you get up in the morning?
’Cause it is the thing to do.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To be alive and well.
Still believe that rent control is needed in
Redwood City?
For mobile homes, yes.
Which living person do you most admire?
I can’t think of anyone I admire more than anyone
else.
What is your most treasured possession?
My life.
You currently feel?
Happy.
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The Spectrum 35