High school district and Atherton pay $560K to settle student’s lawsuit
The town of Atherton and the local high school district are spending more than half a million dollars to settle a student’s lawsuit over allegations that police used excessive force when arresting him.
More Local news
San Mateo County health officials warn of measles exposure at Burlingame restaurant
A confirmed case of measles has been reported in someone who came back from traveling abroad and visited a restaurant in Burlingame earlier this week, San Mateo County Health officials announced.
Defense seek recusal of Santa Clara DA in Stanford retrial
With a new trial looming for the five Stanford students who broke into a university building during a 2024 protest, their defense attorneys are calling for the District Attorney’s Office to be recused.
Community briefs: Wine tasting, robotics tournament and local musical production
Wine tasting at Ladera Church Ladera Community Church is hosting its third wine tasting, from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, at 3300 Alpine Road in Portola Valley. The event will focus on sharing favorite wines with the group. The…
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Food
Mia’s Paletería y Nevería brings hard-to-find Mexican treats to Mountain View
Mia’s Paletería y Nevería, which directly translates to “Mia’s popsicle and ice cream store,” held its grand opening in November. Its ice cream reflects a Mexican palette that showcases unique flavors you would not find at most of your local grocery stores or favorite ice cream shops.
Meet 3 woman-owned small businesses bringing globally inspired treats to the Peninsula
These under-the-radar bakeries are far from vanilla. This Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting three woman-owned small businesses baking up big and bold global flavors.
This pioneering sushi chef’s final venture may be the newest omakase restaurant to land in Mountain View
Masaki Sasaki is a legend in the Bay Area omakase scene. Known as Chef Masa, his Michelin-starred restaurant Maruya was the first to introduce the style of dining to San Francisco in 2013. Sasaki, now 68 years old, will open his…
Arts & Culture
What’s up this week: Violent Femmes, comedy, jazz and more
Coming up this week: Violent Femmes’ 45th anniversary tour at The Guild; comedian Marsha Warfield at Stanford Live; Edward Simon Trio in Palo Alto; author Drew Daywalt at Kepler’s and more.
No ‘strangers’ here: Menlo Park author publishes collection of short stories about meeting of cultures
Margaret Kahn draws on a wide-ranging career in linguistics and living abroad to craft stories that explore the mingling of cultures. She shares her book “Familiar Strangers: Stories from America and the Middle East” March 10 in Redwood City.
Bay Area writer pens biography on legendary Stanford women’s basketball coach VanDerveer
Dublin’s Michelle Smith has released her new biography of legendary Stanford University women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, a book that brought together the two Hall of Famers whose professional relationship dates back some 30 years.
Spotlight
Changing diet to generate a healthier microbiome and a healthy individual
Stanford microbiologists Justin and Erica Sonnenburg are working to understand the complex microbial community that resides within the human gut and its potential for helping people live healthier, longer lives.
Ivy League mentorship for college applications and career foundations through meaningful projects
Path Mentors was born out of dissatisfaction with the toxic high-pressure environment that college admissions has created. Founded in 2019 by Columbia graduates, the Path Mentors’ team of nearly 100 mentors from a wide range of professions including technology, finance,…
Community Calendar
Did you miss
Charged with child sex abuse, East Palo Alto employee gets character reference from council member
A former East Palo Alto city employee allegedly molested and supplied drugs repeatedly to a 13-year-old he met while working for the city, according to San Mateo County prosecutors in newly obtained court documents that include a character reference by…
Woodside town manager behind scathing report asked town to buy out his contract
Did Woodside’s town manager demand a $400,000 payout in exchange for quashing a scathing list of complaints against Town Council members? Or was Jason Ledbetter just asking for a partial buyout of his contract? These are among the claims currently…
Real Estate
March tips for your Peninsula garden: Soil prep, frost damage and growing carrots in heavy clay
Now is a good time to plant carrots. Carrots thrive in cool weather and can be planted before the final frost of spring. Early planting leads to sweeter, crisper harvests. If you have a light, fluffy soil, perhaps in a…
Leaf bumps on your Midpeninsula oak? Here’s what to know
If you’ve noticed unusual bumps that look like tiny “horns” or brown spots on the leaves of your oak tree this winter, you’re not imagining it. Many residents in the region are seeing a higher population of tiny gall wasps,…
In 1950, Palo Alto’s Lawrence Tract redefined who could live where
Lined with trees and modest one-story homes, Lawrence Lane in Midtown Palo Alto may look like a typical 1950s neighborhood today, but when construction on the first homes began on Feb. 23, 1950, the subdivision made headlines. The 6-acre, 25-home…
The Six Fifty
Where to chase waterfalls and hike among green hillsides after the wet Peninsula weather
Soak in the late winter and early spring sights and sounds with The Six Fifty’s guide to post-rain hot spots.
Downtown Sunnyvale developments: Where to play, dine and unwind in a transforming Silicon Valley corridor
What comes to mind when you think of downtown Sunnyvale? For many locals, downtown is synonymous with Murphy Avenue, the Heritage District’s character-filled block of restaurants, small businesses and historic buildings.
Nature events, reopenings and more: Here’s the latest outdoor recreation news around Silicon Valley
Just because it’s a little chillier outside doesn’t mean you can’t bundle up and spend time moving and learning outdoors on the Peninsula.

