www.smdailyjournal.com
Leading local news coverage on the Peninsula
Friday
•
Sept.13,2013
•
Vol XIV,Edition 23
SYRIA’SWEAPONS
WORLD PAGE 7
‘INSIDIOUS 2’ISHAUNTING
WEEKEND PAGE 18
KERRY STRIKES TOUGH TONE IN SYRIA ENCOUNTER WITHRUSSIA
Family Owned & Operated
Established: 1949
By Don Thompson
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACRAMENTO — California’s minimumwage would rise to $10 an hour within threeyears under a bill passed Thursday by thestate Legislature, making it one of the high-est rates in the nation.Washington state currently has the topminimum wage at $9.19 an hour, an amountthat is pegged to risewith inflation. Somecities, including SanFrancisco, have slightlyhigher minimum wages.The state Senateapproved AB10 on a 26-11 vote and theAssembly followed hourslater on a 51-25 vote,both largely along party lines. Gov. JerryBrown indicated earlier this week that hewould sign the bill, calling it an overduepiece of legislation that would help work-ing-class families.The bill would gradually raise California’sminimum wage from the current $8 an hourto $10 by 2016.It would be the first increase in the state’sminimum wage in six years and comes amida national debate over whether it is fair topay fast-food workers, retail clerks and oth-ers wages so low that they often have towork second or third jobs.Democrats said the bill by AssemblymanLuis Alejo, D-Watsonville, would helpworkers left behind during the recent reces-sion.
Minimum wage set to rise
State Legislature passes bill that would increase pay to $10 an hour within three years
Parents concernedwith redrawing of school boundaries
Sequoia considers open enrollment,boundaries to address student growth
By Angela Swartz
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF
Concerned Menlo Park parents showed up in numbers at aschool board meeting to contest a potential shift that couldsend their children to different high schools and bring morestudents from East Palo Alto to Menlo-Atherton HighSchool.At Wednesday night’s Sequoia Union High SchoolDistrict board meeting, parents cited separation from aschool they moved to the area to have their kids attend, dis-connect from their home school, decreased property valuesand having to travel farther to get to school as reasons theyoppose adjusting the district’s boundaries and revising thecurrent open enrollment policy.“The solution for enrollment should not be at the expen-sive of my community,” parent Laura Redmond of the NorthFair Oaks neighborhood said at the meeting. “We boughtour house 10 years ago for Nativity [Catholic School] andMenlo-Atherton. I hope we can find another solution.”
Latest try at jail funding fails
Sen.Jerry Hill vows to continue fighting
By Michelle Durand
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF
State Sen. Jerry Hill’s latest attempt tosecure state jail funding for San MateoCounty’s new facility failed to nab evenenough support to warrant a motion in itscommittee but the legislator vowed yes-terday to keeping fighting. “My experience in Sacramento is thatyou never say never,” said Hill, D-SanMateo. “There’s always an ability somehow, somewhere.”Hill said he is working on another solution but declined to
Jerry Hill
See
JAIL
,Page
23
TERRY NAGEL
The Burlingame Green Street Fair offers free activities for children such as face painting,bubbles and spin-art.
By David Egan
DAILY JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT
With more than a fair share of enter-tainment, demonstrations, freehands-on art projects, family activi-ties and more than 60 vendors, thesixth annual Burlingame Green StreetFair promises to be the biggest oneyet. “It is growing with popularity,” saidKathy Meriwether, treasurer of Burlingame’s Citizens EnvironmentalCouncil.She has seen an increase due theawareness people have with the envi-
Get ready for green
Burlingame street fair showcases sustainable lifestyle choices
Jerry Brown
See
WAGES
,Page
20
See
FAIR
,Page
31
See
CONCERN
,Page
31
MAKING SOMEADJUSTMENTS
SPORTSPAGE 11
Docktown tackles open space measures
Proponents on both sides of thebrewing open space controversy inRedwood City gathered the week of Sept. 13, 2008 in an attempt tosway members of the city’s FloatingCommunity Association — oneof the groups possiblyaffected if plans fordevelopment of openspace is shifted to vot-ers rather than elected leaders.The gathering, held at theDocktown Marina, was the first paneldiscussion since measures Wand Vwere placed on Nov. 4, 2008 ballot.Measure W, initially known as theOpen Space Vote, was to change thecity charter so a two-thirds majoritywas needed to approve developmenton lands deemed open space. Themeasure needed only a simple majori-ty to pass, leading opponents andcouncilmembers to condemn the ideaas letting a minority control develop-ment decisions.After weeks of meetings and discus-sion, the City Council decided toplace an alternative initiative —known as Measure V— on the ballotwhich was specifically tailored to theCargill Saltworks site. The site wasthe primary target of the original ini-tiative and city leaders believed itwas better to address the elephant inthe room rather than risk the unin-tended consequences of a broader pro-posal.
Transient gets 11 years prison for killing
The transient accused of fatallybeating a fellow homeless man in thefall of 2007 at a Half Moon Bay encampment aday after biting a chunkfrom the ear of the man’sfriend was sentenced theweek of Sept. 13, 2008 to 11years in prison on one count of vol-untary manslaughter.The 11-year term was expected afterbeing reached as part of a plea bar-gain that spared Brian David Ruckel,48, trial for murder and the possibili-ty of a 33-years-to-life sentence if convicted. Prosecutors offered Ruckela negotiated plea in July 2008 afteracknowledging they couldn’t provewhat exactly caused the death of KarlStevens.
Brothers get life for fatal shooting
The two brothers convicted of mur-dering a South San Francisco man in achaotic shootout that left three othersinjured — including the dead man'sgirlfriend who broke her back fleeingfrom a second-story bathroom win-dow — were sentenced to life inprison the week of Sept. 13, 2008.Brian Dean Hedlin, 28, of SanBruno, received 96 years and eightmonths to life in prison. Shawn PaulHedlin, 32, of Hayward, received 162years to life in prison. Both men weresecond strikers, doubling their sen-tences on first-degree murder.Judge Stephen Hall imposed thesentence after first denying theHedlins' requests to fire theirattorneys and delay imposi-tion.About 3:05 a.m. Jan. 31,2005, South San Franciscopolice responded to a report of shotsfired at an apartment in the 600 blockof Third Lane and discovered GregorioChicas, 22, dead and another man anda woman suffering from gunshotwounds. They survived their injuries.Asecond woman suffered a brokenback after jumping out a window toescape the attack.
Deficit running at record level
The federal budget fell further intothe red in August 2008, pushing thedeficit with one month left in thebudget year to an all-time high, it wasreported the week of Sept. 13, 2008.The Treasury Department reportedthat week the deficit through the first11 months of the budget year totaled$483.4 billion, up 76.2 percent fromthe same period a year prior.
From the archives highlights stories origi-nally printed five years ago this week. Itappears in the Friday edition of the DailyJournal.
FOR THE RECORD2
Friday
•
Sept.13,2013
THEDAILYJOURNAL
The San Mateo Daily Journal
800 S. Claremont St., Suite 210, San Mateo, CA94402
Publisher: Jerry LeeEditorin Chief: Jon Mays
jerry@smdailyjournal.comjon@smdailyjournal.comsmdailyjournal.comscribd.com/smdailyjournaltwitter.com/smdailyjournalfacebook.com/smdailyjournalPhone:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (650) 344-5200 Fax: (650) 344-5290To Advertise:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ads@smdailyjournal.comEvents:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . calendar@smdailyjournal.comNews:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . news@smdailyjournal.comDelivery:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . circulation@smdailyjournal.comCareer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smdailyjournal.com
As a public service,the Daily Journal prints obituaries of approximately 200 words or less with a photo one time on the date of the family’s choosing.To submit obituaries,emailinformation along with a jpeg photo to news@smdailyjournal.com.Free obituaries are edited for style,clarity,length and grammar.If you would like to have an obituary printedmore than once,longer than 250 words or without editing,please submit an inquiry to our advertising department at ads@smdailyjournal.com.
Actor Martin Freeman is 42.
This Day in HistoryThought for the Day
1892
An early version of “The Pledge of Allegiance,” written by FrancisBellamy, appeared in “The Youth’sCompanion.”
“Censorship is the height of vanity.”
— Martha Graham,American modern dance pioneer (1893-1991)
Comedian SidCaesar is 91.Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas is32.
Birthdays
REUTERS
A rider from Kazkahstan’s team scores during the first Asian Kokpar championship in Astana.Kokpar,also known as Buzkashi,is a traditional central Asian sport played between two teams of horsemen competing to throw a beheaded goat into ascoring circle.
Friday:
Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in themorning. Highs in the mid 60s. Westwinds 5 to 15 mph.
Friday night:
Mostly cloudy. Patchyfog after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s.Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.
Local Weather Forecast
The incorrect photo ranwith yesterday’s birthdaysection. Actor-comedianLouis C.K., left, turned 46yesterday and Actor PaulWalker turned 40.
Correction
In 1565
, a Spanish expedition established the first perma-nent European settlement in North America at present-daySt. Augustine, Fla.
In 1761,
Britain’s King George III married PrincessCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz just a few hours aftermeeting her for the first time.
In 1900,
Galveston, Texas, was struck by a hurricane thatkilled an estimated 8,000 people.
In 1913,
the Victor Herbert operetta “Sweethearts” openedon Broadway.
In 1921
, Margaret Gorman, 16, of Washington, D.C., wascrowned the first “Miss America” in Atlantic City, N.J.
In 1935
, Sen. Huey P. Long, D-La., was shot and mortallywounded inside the Louisiana State Capitol; he died two dayslater. (The assailant was identified as Dr. Carl Weiss, whowas gunned down by Long’s bodyguards.)
In 1941
, the 900-day Siege of Leningrad by German forcesbegan during World War II.
In 1951
, a peace treaty with Japan was signed by 49nations in San Francisco.
In 1974
, President Gerald R. Ford granted an uncondition-al pardon to former President Richard Nixon.
In 1988
, two nuclear-missile rocket motors were destroyedat an army ammunition plant in Karnack, Texas; they werethe first U.S. weapons to be eliminated under an arms reduc-tion treaty with the Soviet Union.
In 1994
, a USAir Boeing 737 crashed into a ravine as itwas approaching Pittsburgh International Airport, killingall 132 people on board.
Ten years ago:
The Recording Industry Association of America, the music industry’s largest trade group, filed 261copyright lawsuits across the country against Internet usersfor trading songs online.
(Answers tomorrow)RIGID FRAUD FINISH EATERYYesterday’sJumbles:Answer:King Kong attended Yankees games becausehe was a — HUGE FANNow arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, assuggested by the above cartoon.
THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
Unscramble these four Jumbles,one letter to each square,to form four ordinary words.
PIRCMHWISSKENSAYLIDUET
©2013 Tribune Content Agency, LLCAll Rights Reserved.
J u m b l e p u z z l e m a g a z i n e s a v a i l a b l e a t p e n n y d e l l p u z z l e s . c o m / j u m b l e m a g s
Answerhere:
Ventriloquist Willie Tyler is 73. Actor Alan Feinstein is 72.Pop singer Sal Valentino (The Beau Brummels) is 71. AuthorAnn Beattie is 66. Cajun singer Zachary Richard is 63.Musician Will Lee (“Late Show with David Letterman”) is 61.Actress Heather Thomas is 56. Singer Aimee Mann is 53. Popmusician David Steele (Fine Young Cannibals) is 53. ActorThomas Kretschmann is 51. Rhythm-and-blues singer MarcGordon (Levert) is 49. Gospel singer Darlene Zschech is 48.Alternative country singer Neko Case is 43. TVpersonalityBrooke Burke-Charvet is 42. Rock musician Richard Hughes(Keane) is 38. Actor Larenz Tate is 38.
Lotto
The Daily Derby race winners are Big Ben,No.4,in first place;Solid Gold,No.10,in second place;and Eureka,No.7,in third place.The race timewas clocked at 1:40.88.
5 4 82 12 18 54 56 1
Meganumber
Se
pt.10 Meg
a Million
s
11 19 33 42 52 33
Powerball
Se
pt.11 Powe
r
b
all
18 20 25 33 39
Fa
ntasy Fi
v
e
D
a
il
y th
r
ee m
id
d
ay
72 6 5
D
a
il
y Fo
u
r
9 2 8
D
a
il
y th
r
ee eve
ni
n
g
3 5 14 40 46 2
Meganumber
Se
pt.11 Su
p
e
r Lot
t
o Plu
s
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
School board unity, new curriculum, fiscalsolutions and enrollment issues are all of concern to those running for the San BrunoPark School District Board of Trustees.There are three seats open on the board.Patrick Flynn was appointed to replacelongtime trustee Skip Henderson, whoretired. Trustee James Prescott is not run-ning for re-election since he retired forhealth reasons. Flynn, incumbent HenrySanchez, John P. Marinos and Charles(Chuck) Zelnik are all running.Interviews were held to help the DailyJournal determine endorsements. To alloweach candidate a forum to express theiropinions on the issues discussed, candidateswere given the same questions and asked toanswer each in 50 words or fewer. Answersare arranged alphabetically by the candi-date’s last name.
What curriculum changes would youlike to see at the district? Patrick Flynn:
We are already switch-ing to the Common Core standards, which Itruly support. Common Core to me is teach-ing children how to use their knowledge inreal world applications. We know that chil-dren can acquire knowledge, but testing andapplying that knowledge in a working envi-ronment will make them more valuable inthe working world. Having El Crystal as ourscience, technology, engineering and mathschool is a good start.
John P. Marinos
: Full alignment to thecommon core, actual professional develop-ment, increasing technology and moderniz-ing textbooks.
Henry Sanchez:
The complete adaptionof the California Common Core standardswould be a needed change to our current cur-riculum. CCCS provides the opportunity toembed technology in a systematically andthoughtful approach through K-12 gradesfor English/language arts, mathematics andcontent specific subject matter.
Charles (Chuck) Zelnik
: The newCommon Core curriculum will create somedelivery changes. I would like to see newand/or additional electives at ParksideMiddle School; resources and possiblefinancial assistance for PTA/PTO-fundedprograms such as elementary music and artand financial support for our administrators,teachers and staff. I will work with otherboard members to enhance the quality of learning at our schools.
Do you think Superintendent DavidHutt is providing solid leadership? Patrick Flynn:
No. Public opinion of the district is pretty low even though ourAPI scores are not too bad considering ourchallenges. The reasons are we sold aschool site. We closed a school site. Wehaven’t had a balanced budget in 10 years.Distrust of the administration probablycaused the failure of two ballot measures forthe district.
John P. Marinos
: The current boardmust of felt so since they just renewed hiscontract for four years.
Henry Sanchez:
He has constantlydemonstrated solid leadership in a multitudeof fiscal, instructional, infrastructural andpersonnel issues that the SBPSD has had toface with integrity and honesty to the SanBruno community. During his tenure, thestudent educational achievement district-wide has steadily risen.
Charles (Chuck) Zelnik
: No.Examples of his disastrous leadershipinclude, but are not limited to, school clo-sure, attendance boundary area changes andlack of fiscal management for the last fouryears, which is evident by furlough days anddeficit spending.
3
Friday
•
Sept.13,2013
THEDAILYJOURNAL
LOCAL
Baby Expo
Sunday
October 6, 2013
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
HILLSDALE SHOPPING CENTERSIXTY 31
ST
AVENUE, SAN MATEOBay Area baby services will share a bundle of expertise with new and expecting moms and families
Baby Photo Contest
Enter your baby in our baby photo contest Ages newborn to 2 yearsNoon - 3 p.m. Macy’s Center Court
Your baby may be featured in the Daily Journal!
All entrants receive a free gift while supplies last.No purchase necessary.
FREE
The Daily Journal and Health Plan of San Mateo present
Leading local news coverage on the Peninsula
Exhibitor space still available.For information call 650-344-5200 x121
HALF MOON BAY
Controlled substance
. Asubject wasfound to be in possession of a controlled sub-stance without a prescription on KellyAvenue before 8:53 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Burglary
. The window of a vehicle wassmashed and a purse was stolen on the 6000block of Cabrillo Highway before 5:45 p.m.Monday, Sept. 9.
Theft
. Pumpkins were reported missing froma trailer on the first block of Jenna Lanebefore 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9.
Burglary
. Jewelry and gold items werestolen when a suspect entered a home throughan unlocked window on the 500 block of LeConte, Montara before 9 a.m. on Saturday,Sept. 7.
Burglary
. Avehicle was broken into andmore than $1,000 worth of items were stolenon the 400 block of Valdez Avenue before4:40 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
Welfare check.
Awoman holding a bottleof wine with a screwdriver stuck in the corktrespassed into the neighbor’s patio askingfor help at El Camino Real before 9:44 p.m.Monday, Sept. 9.
Disturbance
. Areport of two men fightingat 7-Eleven on Callan Boulevard before 7:58p.m. Monday, Sept. 9.
Robbery
. Aman was robbed at gun point bythree strangers on Aspen and Linden avenuesbefore 10:41 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1.
Arrest
. Aperson was arrested for disorderlyconduct at 7-Eleven on Mission Road before10:06 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1.
Assault
. Aairport shuttle driver was assault-ed at a McDonalds on South AirportBoulevard before 11:53 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1.
Police reports
Sick of sharing the road
Aman was upset about a bicyclist ridingin the street so he tried to hit him withhis car on Burlingame Avenue andDwight Road in Burlingame before 6:07p.m. on Sunday, Sept 1.
San Bruno school candidates respond to district issues
By Michelle Durand
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF
The Redwood City construction firmowner whose former wife allegedly attackedhim while wrapped in bubble wrap claimsshe planned to torch the office to destroybusiness records and hide evidence of herTaser and knife assault.In a civil suit filed this week, RandyWenke claims the Sept. 15, 2011 attack byformer wife, Laura, has cost him financiallybecause of both his physical injuries andthat no one wants to hire him due to heractions. Randy Wenke said he is also left thesole caretaker of the couple’s son because of her incarceration.Wenke and Wenke Construction, Inc., aresuing Laura Jean Wenke, 52, for battery,assault and emotional distress. They allegednegligence, fraud and breach of fiduciarytrust. The suit also goes after an unnamedlist of medical professionals treating herwho Wenke said knew she was mentally illand dangerous.Wenke’s defense attorney Geoff Carr saidthe medical claims actually bolster hisclient’s defense of not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder.“He apparently now admits that he knewshe was mentally ill as did the shrinks,”Carr said. “In a strange way, we’re now alliedagainst the same people.”Wenke begins jury trial in November andCarr said while he is not representing her inthis civil matter the claims made within areadmissions that can be used in court.At the time of the alleged attack, Wenkewas vice president and chief financial officerin charge of all record and book-keeping atthe company, according to the suit. She wasalso in the midst of a divorce from RandyWenke, living separately but continuing towork for Wenke Construction.On the night in question, Laura Wenkeallegedly arranged a fictitious meetingbetween him and a potential client at theoffice. While he waited,Laura Wenke allegedlyarrived around 7 p.m.claiming she needed toshow him a new programon the computer server.She was dressed in amechanics jumpsuit overbubblewrap that prosecu-tors later said was meantto protect her from injuryduring the attack. The two went into an adjacent office andshe stood behind him under the guise of notseeing him enter the server password. As hetyped, Laura Wenke stunned him with a stungun, stabbed him in the torso and sliced hisneck from left to right ear. As Randy Wenkegrabbed her and tried to get the stun gun, shereportedly stabbed him in the chest.He called 911 and was treated for seriousinjuries including a punctured lung andslashed neck.The suit claims Wenke had also removedbusiness records from a storage facility tothe office with plans at the time of theassault to destroy them and evidence of theattack by torching the business. At the time of arrest, Wenke possessedlinseed oil, two five-gallon buckets andshop rags.Carr said the claims of potential arson andrecord destruction is news to him but theo-rized that the suit is a way to recoup moneylost in the couple’s divorce which was final-ized days prior to its filing.Randy Wenke’s attorney Janet Brayer wasout of the office but told the Daily Journalvia email she filed the civil complaint toavoid any statute of limitation issues. Theattack hits its two-year anniversary onSunday. During a preliminary hearing in the crim-inal case, a police officer said a “to-do” listof activities related to the crime was found
Husband,company sue ex-wife for stabbing
Defense attorney calls claims good for the case
Laura Wenke
See
WENKE
,Page
23
Age
:48
E
du
ca
ti
on
:Trade school,four year apprenticeship
E
x
p
erience
:Chief stationary engineer,founding president of theSan Bruno EducationFoundation
F
amil
y
:Married,three sons
R
e
si
d
en
c
e
:San Bruno for43 years total
Patrick Flynn
A
ge
:45
E
du
c
ati
on
:San FranciscoState University,B.S.finance
E
xperi
en
c
e
:Crestmoor PTOtreasurer,Past San BrunoAYSO regional treasurer,DDACmember,Current 7-11Committee member
Famil
y
:Married,two children
R
esi
d
en
ce
:San Bruno,45years
John P. Marinos
Ag
e
:58
E
du
c
ation
:M.S.,StanfordUniversity,M.D.,Universityof Southern California
E
x
peri
en
c
e
:Physician,UCSFprofessor,current governingmember in district
F
amil
y
:Married,threechildren
R
esi
d
ence
:30 years in SanBruno
Henry Sanchez
Ag
e
:
56
E
du
cation
:La Sierra HighSchool,John O’Connell Trade School,GeneralMotors University of Automotive Management
E
xpe
ri
en
c
e
:Member of SanFrancisco Local 2Carpenters Union;GeneralMotors Service and BodyShop Manager;inventorymanager of various of companies,PTA president at Portola and Crestmoor
Famil
y
:Married,two adult children
Resid
en
c
e
:San Bruno,27 years
Charles Zelnik Jr.
See
ISSUES
,Page
23
Reward Your Curiosity
Everything you want to read.
Anytime. Anywhere. Any device.
No Commitment. Cancel anytime.