🌱 Patch AM: How a $5.4 million shortfall could reshape Menlo Park services

Good morning Menlo Park! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a $5.4 million shortfall could reshape Menlo Park services
• Will Menlo Park gain stronger flood protection on San Francisquito Creek?
• Who's set to represent you on Menlo Park's key special districts?

Also on today's calendar: PVI Luau and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Clouds giving way to sun, with a high of 76 and low of 59 degrees.
• Friday: Clouds giving way to sun, temps: high: 77, low: 58.
• Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 79 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Vehicle License Fee (VLF) projected shortfall has increased — the impact on Menlo Park (inmenlo.com) — Menlo Park faces a projected $5.4 million hit this year from a deepening countywide Vehicle License Fee shortfall, with $7.3 million now owed over three years. City leaders warn that, without state action, staffing cuts of up to 9% could be on the table, affecting local services residents rely on.
   

• Valley Water wants to take over flood control efforts on San Francisquito Creek (padailypost.com) — Menlo Park has a direct seat at the table as Valley Water moves to take the lead on San Francisquito Creek flood control, a shift that could affect local protections and funding. The creek authority board includes Menlo Park Councilmember Drew Combs alongside Palo Alto and East Palo Alto leaders, with residents pushing for stronger projects like floodwalls and a new Pope-Chaucer Bridge.
   

• Uncontested races, open seats mark Midpeninsula special district elections (almanacnews.com) — Menlo Park residents face largely uncontested races this fall for key special district boards, including the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, where all three incumbents are seeking reelection. The story also details who is running unopposed for regional bodies that govern open space, health care, sanitation, and recreation in nearby communities that include Menlo Park.
   

📸 Around Menlo Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Menlo Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday August 30
• STC @ Menlo Tavern →
  Menlo Tavern, 100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday August 24
• Back to School Night - TK and Kinder
  Walter Hays Elementary MP Room
  5:15 pm
Tuesday August 25
• LEGO Tuesdays!
  Downtown Branch Library 270 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  4:00 pm
• Paly Choirs Adv. Vocals Auditions (New & Callbacks)
  Palo Alto High Palo Alto, CA 94301
  4:10 pm
• Back to School Night
  Addison Elementary School, 650 Addison Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  5:15 pm
Thursday August 27
• Paly Pep Band - Home Game
  Palo Alto High Palo Alto, CA 94301
  6:00 pm
Friday August 28
• External Event: Flamingo Chick Storytime
  Downtown Branch Library 270 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  2:00 pm
Wednesday September 2
• PVI Luau →
  800 Middle Ave, Menlo Park
  4:00 pm
Wednesday September 16
• Silas Herman & The Tone Unit supporting The... →
  The Guild Theatre, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
  6:00 pm

📣 Menlo Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 20
• BCBR Cohort 17 | In-Session
  Santa Clara University 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053
  8:00 am
• Virtual Information Session: STEM MS Programs
  Santa Clara University Online
  8:30 am
• Virtual Information Session & Student Panel: MBA Programs
  Santa Clara University Online
  8:30 am
• Making Your Camino Course Accessible (Virtual)
  Santa Clara University Remote via Zoom
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Menlo Park PatchAM possible:

• RowCal - San Jose — (408) 620-5366

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Beautiful Male ..
  Hummer feeding on the Peruvian lilies at Gamble Garden in Palo Alto a few days ago. I stopped by the garden a few days ago and stayed for a bit… (Nextdoor The Oaks)
• Has anybody lost this beautiful kitty?
  It was walking up and down my backyard probably looking for food. (Nextdoor The Willows)

• INSPYR Solutions posted a job opening for Gen AI Graphic Designer in Menlo Park. Apply here.
• Las Lomitas Elementary posted a job opening for 2025-2026 Maintenance Worker Substitute Pool in Menlo Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Menlo Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

East Palo Alto

• 'You Need Thick Skin': East Palo Alto Mayor Webster Lincoln Defies Backlash for Standing With Jews in Antisemitism Fight (combatantisemitism.org)
• Mama Dee Day Honors the EPA Leader's Enduring Legacy (machronicle.com)

Atherton

• Atherton cancels November election, appoints four to City Council (almanacnews.com)

Stanford

• Hoover Acquires Rare Photograph Archive of a U.S. Army Commander's Controversial 1944 Tour of Saipan and the Marshall Islands (hoover.org)
• 'Molecular glue' turns a cancer driver into a built-in kill switch in Stanford Medicine study (stanford.edu)
• Bill Gates' daughter reportedly took secret Stanford class on 'how to rule the world' (uniladtech.com)

Ok Menlo Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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