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Menlo briefs: Trees for park or Belle Haven?

by Sandy Brundage

Menlo Park residents usually like trees. But when it comes to the city planting native trees and shrubs at Bedwell Bayfront Park, the response is an unusual "don't do it."

At the Oct. 9 council meeting, the city will reconsider whether to use a $350,000 state grant to carry out its plan. The Friends of Bedwell Bayfront Park, a nonprofit that serves as guardian to the former landfill, has questioned whether the soil's deep enough to support the proposed 1,000 plants. The nonprofit wants the project canned; city staff wants to either hire a consultant to design the landscaping or renegotiate the grant to pay for planting 400 trees in Belle Haven.

High-speed rail will also put in an appearance, both during a closed session discussion at 5:30 p.m. regarding the city's two ongoing lawsuits against the California High-Speed Rail Authority, and during regular business when the council discusses whether to tweak the name of its related subcommittee to reflect a broader focus on all things rail, not just high-speed rail issues.

Go to tinyurl.com/99myvhs to review the agenda. The regular meeting starts at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the Civic Center at 701 Laurel St.

Kepler's grand reopening

Kepler's Books and Magazines officially debuts its new look and inventory on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Michael Doyle, author of "Radical Chapters: Pacifist Bookseller Roy Kepler and the Paperback Revolution," will hold a discussion with Christin Evans, one of the new owners of the long-time Menlo Park landmark.

The party runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the bookstore (1010 El Camino Real). Snacks, drinks and books will be on hand.