Digest Digest (August 24, 2005)

Teens caught by police after chase

Four juveniles who led police on a short chase in a stolen car were taken into custody Saturday afternoon in East Palo Alto, according to East Palo Alto police Sgt. Alma Zamora.

The chase started around 3:30 p.m. in the area of East Bayshore Road and Donohoe Street.

Zamora said an officer spotted a Honda Accord driven by a person who looked "extremely young." When the officer called in the car's license plate number, she learned that the Honda had been stolen from Vallejo.

The officer called for backup, and once additional units were in place she attempted to pull the vehicle over, Zamora said.

However, the driver refused to yield and instead drove about a quarter of a mile to the Ikea store and pulled around the back to a vacant lot, Zamora said.

The Honda stopped and the four occupants "jumped out of the vehicle and started running," Zamora said.

By that time, however, responding officers had alerted additional units to the situation, and the suspects were quickly surrounded and taken into custody, according to Zamora.

Zamora said the Honda was driven by a 17-year-old boy. The passengers were identified as a 16-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.

The 12-year-old was released to his parents and the three other teens were taken to Juvenile Hall, Zamora said.

Zamora said Saturday's successful police response can be attributed in part to recent changes implemented by new police Chief Ronald Davis.

When Davis took over the reins at the Police Department in May, "He immediately started work on things he thought needed attention and he put together a crime-reduction strategy," Zamora said.

Part of Davis' short-term strategy was the creation of the department's Metro Unit, consisting of a sergeant and several officers. Zamora said the Metro Unit focuses on gangs and street-level narcotics activity.

Since the Metro Unit is on duty Wednesday thru Saturday, officers in that unit were available to assist in Saturday's chase, Zamora said.

Zamora said another part of Davis' short-term strategy is Operation Impact, a collaborative effort between East Palo Alto police and the California Highway Patrol to curb violence in the city.

Operation Impact went into effect Wednesday, according to Zamora, who said CHP officers were the first to "spot and locate" the suspect in a fatal stabbing that occurred Wednesday night on Fordham Street.

That suspect was later taken into custody.

Seven candidate forums scheduled

There are six Palo Alto City Council candidate forums and one Palo Alto school board candidate forum currently scheduled prior to the Nov. 8, 2005 election. The council forums are:

• Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m., sponsored by the League of Women Voters, broadcast live on cable television by the Media Center;

• Sept. 27, at 11:30 a.m., sponsored by the League of Women Voters, at the Lucie Stern Community Center's Fireside Room (1305 Middlefield Road);

• Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., sponsored by Marvin and Alison Lee, in the Palo Alto Council Chambers (250 Hamilton Ave.), also to be broadcast on cable television by the Media Center;

• Oct. 1, at 10 a.m., sponsored by north Palo Alto neighborhood associations, at the Palo Alto Art Center (1313 Newell Road);

• Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., sponsored by south Palo Alto neighborhood associations, at the Mitchell Park Community Center (3800 Middlefield Road); and

• Oct. 23, at 7 p.m., sponsored by Acterra, at the Palo Alto Art Center (1313 Newell Road).

The school board forum is on Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., sponsored by the League of Women Voters, at the school district's Office Board Room, at 25 Churchill Ave. Election day is Nov. 8. Workshops to help parents and kids "grow up"

With the new school year underway, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is hosting various workshops for parents and children on issues surrounding adolescence. A seminar for boys and dads only will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight and August 31. A seminar for girls and moms will be held at the same time Sept. 8 and 15. The programs offer an informal discussion of facts and practical information on topics of puberty, sexuality and social issues for children 10 to 12 years old. There is an emphasis on the importance of family. Another workshop about growing up issues, also including puberty and sexuality, will be held this time for parents only from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 30. Adolescent trainers Julie Metzger and Rob Lehman will give tips on how to develop conversations with pre-teens on the experiences of adolescence. For more information about the seminars, call 724-4601 or e-mail fstonestrom@lpch.org.

Gunn boosters still working for lights

As the pre-season kicks-off for the National Football League, the Gunn High School Sports Boosters is still fundraising for its campus' stadium-quality field lights.

The local school district's Board of Education has already voted to accept the boosters' donation when it comes. The construction plans are currently being reviewed by the state. About $50,000 has been raised.

However, the boosters still need to raise another $50,000 -- or more - to fund the project, which began quickly after the school's neighbor to the north, and No. 1 rival, installed four lighting structures through a donation last year.

The boosters "Light the field" campaign has kicked into high gear, with announcements now hitting the e-mail inboxes of parents with Gunn students.

For more information, e-mail Cindy Ziebelman at cindymail@att.net.

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