Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Menlo Briefs: Park Theatre plans take shape

by Sandy Brundage

The peeling facade of the long-vacant Park Theatre may give way to a mix of office space and retail, according to owner Howard Crittenden.

"I am working with my architect reviewing options on developing the site," he told the Almanac on Dec. 20. "I have met with the city and find our big hurdle will be the historic nature of the building. The city (has) been most helpful, offering directions that will hopefully result in a successful application."

Plans for renovating the property at 1275 El Camino Real gathered steam after the Menlo Park City Council approved the downtown/El Camino Real specific plan earlier this year.

JobTrain delivers winter wonderland

Hundreds of toys were delivered to children in Menlo Park on Dec. 19, thanks to the combined efforts of JobTrain, Hewlett Packard, TE Connectivity, and other corporations.

The gifts were given to children with unemployed parents pursuing vocational training and employment assistance, according to a press release.

That wasn't JobTrain's only good deed this year: students in its Culinary Arts programs baked more than 10,000 cookies for the approximately 1,000 inmates of the San Mateo County Jail. A representative from the San Mateo Service League will wrap and deliver the holiday gift on Christmas morning, said JobTrain spokesperson Kail Lubarsky.

JobTrain, a nonprofit located in Menlo Park, provides vocational training, guidance on how to earn a high-school-level education, and counseling to those seeking work.

Environmental quality awards nominations

Nominations for Menlo Park's annual environmental quality awards are due Monday, Jan. 14, according to the city.

The 2011 award recipients included Tavinder and Vivek Wadhwa, nominated for building a passive energy home that uses insulation and other construction features to reduce energy consumption by 90 percent, according to the city. This year's awards add a new category — sustainable lifestyle, for "an individual or family demonstrating exemplary actions in reducing use of resources over the past year in the community."

Go to tinyurl.com/cjfoyaz to download the nomination form or call the city's environmental department at 330-6740 for more information.