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 roiling Woodside in the wake of a detailed whistleblower report from the town’s top employee.
More Local news
Woodside looks into stronger safeguards for its license plate cameras’ data security
Woodside officials are taking a closer look at the security of data gathered by automated license plate cameras in town after the company it contracts with came under fire for allowing unauthorized searches in other Midpeninsula cities.
Berman bill aims to enhance suicide prevention training at schools
With Palo Alto facing increased pressure to address youth mental health, Assembly member Marc Berman introduced legislation this week aimed at providing access to free suicide prevention training to all K-12 students, teachers, administrators and parents in California.
Atherton council may dump missing town committee member
The Atherton City Council is set to discuss removing one member of the Environmental Programs Committee after she failed to show up to meetings and did not respond to emails, according to city staff.
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Food
Not your typical smashburgers: Redwood City native uses fine-dining background to open chef-driven, affordable burger joint
Redwood City resident Xavier Pereznegron is opening an affordable burger joint inspired by something generally not affordable: fine dining.
Hong Kong drinks and treats land in downtown Mountain View
The smell of fresh egg waffles beckons customers in the streets of downtown Mountain View. T. Castle, which opened in late December, serves traditional Hong Kong-inspired drinks and treats and specializes in egg waffles.
SF Beer Week 2026 brings beer releases, food trucks, live music and more to Silicon Valley
The crown jewel of the Bay Area’s beer calendar is back. SF Beer Week kicks off Feb. 20 and runs through March 1. The festivities, which started in 2009, will include more than 100 different events and 130 participants, including…
Arts & Culture
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.
Artist Seema Kohli’s ‘internal journey’
Change is a constant in the works of Indian artist Seema Kohli, from the themes she explores, even to the variety of media in which she works. She will visit the Peninsula for her first solo U.S. exhibition and a…
Mountain View theater offers a ‘Pear’-ed down ‘My Fair Lady’
With its smaller-scale, immersive take on “My Fair Lady,” The Pear Theatre aims to offer audiences a fresh take on the musical’s charming-yet-sharp exploration of class, gender and society.
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
Palo Alto tries to rein in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park expansion
For years, Crescent Park residents have been complaining to the city about incessant construction and zoning violations at a compound constructed by Mark Zuckerberg, who has been buying up homes since 2011. Now, the city is preparing to take action.
Allegations of ‘sexual conduct’ between youth, staff surface at SMC juvenile hall
Reports of “sexual conduct” involving detained youth and a staff member at the San Mateo County juvenile hall surfaced at a recent public commission meeting, as the Probation Department confirmed it has an internal investigation underway. The department’s head said…
Real Estate
San Mateo, Santa Clara counties top state’s priciest housing markets
While it became slightly easier to afford a home in California at the end of 2025, the state remains one of the nation’s toughest housing markets — especially in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, which again ranked as the…
Palo Alto tops U.S. cities for highest property tax bills
In Palo Alto, where the median home price now exceeds $3 million, property taxes have become a major cost of homeownership. The city ranks highest in the nation for median property taxes paid, according to a new analysis by Construction…
Atherton home sells for $10.5M, then lists for $48K/month
Each week, Embarcadero Media takes a look at home sales activity along the Midpeninsula in the communities of Atherton, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley and Woodside.
The Six Fifty
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.
Ring in Lunar New Year in Silicon Valley with lion dances, festivals and special events
The official start of the Lunar New Year is Feb. 17, but celebrations in Silicon Valley begin in earnest Jan. 24 and stretch through the end of February. Here’s our guide to celebrating on the Peninsula.
From grazing cattle to soaring redwoods and panoramic views of the coast, a new network of trails offers unprecedented access at a Peninsula preserve
Four new multiuse trails have opened in the 6,500-acre La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve located above Woodside and Portola Valley. The 6 miles of additions link up to existing trails and lace through the center of the preserve across…
