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☘️ St. Patrick's Day Events and Updates to California Ave.

☘️ St. Patrick's Day Events and Updates to California Ave.

Plus, world champion pizza and delicious cupcakes!

Greg Kemper
March 12, 2026

Good morning neighbors!

Welcome to this week’s Palo Alto Scoop!

In this week’s newsletter, learn more about the acting PAUSD Superintendent, the potential for parking permits, and increase in your water bills. Plus, local events to make the most of St. Paddy’s Day.

Let’s dive in! 👇

In this week’s edition:

Local Updates: Increasing water bills, updates on California Ave., and new PAUSD Acting Superintendent
Business Updates: World champion pizza coming to Menlo Park, Foothill College’s new offerings
Events: St. Paddy’s Day events, Easter egg hunts, and live music and drinks to enjoy the warm weather

Increase in Palo Alto’s Water Bills

Palo Alto residents may see an increase in their water bills as city officials consider an 8% rate hike. The proposed increase would help cover the rising costs of maintaining and upgrading the city’s water infrastructure, including pipelines and treatment systems. Like many California communities, rising costs of wholesale water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir lead to increased costs for consumers. If approved, the change would modestly increase monthly utility costs while helping fund long-term improvements to the city’s water network. Read more here.

Parking Permit Proposal

Parking regulations may soon change in parts of East Palo Alto as city officials discuss introducing residential parking permits. The proposal aims to address complaints from neighborhoods where commuters and visitors frequently fill up limited street parking. Under the plan, residents would need permits to park on designated streets, helping prioritize parking access for people who live in the area. City leaders say the program could help reduce conflicts over parking in busy neighborhoods near commercial districts and transit corridors. If adopted, households may need to apply for permits, marking a shift in how street parking is regulated. Read more here.

PAUSD Appoints Acting Superintendent

The Palo Alto Unified School District has appointed an acting superintendent while the search begins for a permanent leader. The move follows the departure of Superintendent Don Austin, prompting the school board to launch a formal recruitment process. District leaders say the interim appointment will provide stability while they gather input from parents, teachers, and community members about priorities for the next superintendent. The board expects the search to take several months as candidates are evaluated. Read more here.

Updates on California Ave

Palo Alto is planning the next chapter for the car-free stretch of California Avenue, with a new program designed to bring more activity to the popular pedestrian corridor. The city is proposing an “Outdoor Activation” initiative that would support parklets, outdoor dining, retail displays, art installations, and community programming along the street. Officials say the goal is to build on the success of the car-free experiment by creating a vibrant public space that supports nearby businesses while giving residents a welcoming place to gather. Updated design guidelines and community feedback will shape the plan before it goes to the City Council later this year. The changes could mean more outdoor dining, events, and street life along one of Palo Alto’s most popular neighborhood business districts. Read more here.

Foothill College Introducing a Bachelor’s Degree

Foothill College is expanding its academic offerings with a new bachelor’s degree program, reflecting the growing role community colleges play in preparing students for in-demand careers. The Los Altos Hills campus plans to offer a Bachelor of Science in Building Trades Management, helping trades workers advance their leadership skills in the construction industry. School leaders say the program will allow students who are in apprenticeships to gain skills such as project management or virtual design. Read more here.

World-Champion Pizza Coming to Menlo Park

World-champion chef Tony Gemignani is bringing another restaurant to Menlo Park. The chef behind San Francisco’s acclaimed Tony's Pizza Napoletana plans to open a new location of his fast-casual concept Slice House. Gemignani has won more than a dozen world pizza titles and built a growing restaurant empire across California and beyond. Slice House specializes in a variety of regional styles, including New York, Sicilian, and Detroit-style slices served by the piece or whole pie. The opening will give Peninsula diners easier access to one of the Bay Area’s most celebrated pizza brands without heading into San Francisco. Read more here.

Villa Lucia’s Pizza - Redwood City

Villa Lucia’s Pizza in Redwood City serves a variety of classic Italian-style dishes in a casual neighborhood setting. The menu centers on traditional pizzas with a range of toppings, including options like Margherita with fresh tomatoes and basil, Florentine with spinach and ricotta, and Lucia’s Special topped with salami, pepperoni, sausage, and vegetables. Other pies feature creative combinations such as the Portofino with clams and garlic or St. Peter’s Favorite with pesto, mozzarella, ricotta, and fresh tomatoes. In addition to pizza, the restaurant offers Italian staples like salads, meatballs, and steamed clams. The restaurant emphasizes hearty portions and familiar flavors inspired by traditional pizzeria menus.

Click here to feature your business in front of over 10,000 local residents!

Kara’s Cupcakes - Palo Alto - Town and Country Village

Kara’s Cupcakes is a bakery known for its small-batch cupcakes and cakes made with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. The bakery produces its treats daily and offers both signature flavors and rotating seasonal selections. Popular cupcakes include chocolate velvet with bittersweet chocolate buttercream, banana caramel, carrot cake, and red velvet. Seasonal flavors such as organic strawberry cream highlight ingredients sourced from local farms. Kara’s Cupcakes also offers gluten-free and vegan options, along with full-size cakes and gift boxes available for pickup, delivery, or shipping.

See more here!

🍺 St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll | Los Altos | Downtown | 3/13 | more
Sip and stroll through downtown Los Altos while sampling craft beers from local spots in this festive St. Patrick’s celebration.

⛳ Pop-Up Parcade! Mini Golf & Arcade| Redwood City | Downtown | Now- 4/12 | more
18-hole mini golf course (+ nighttime glow golf!) and classic arcade games

🎷 A Night of Live Jazz | Redwood City | Feast and Floral | 3/13 | more
Enjoy an intimate evening of smooth jazz paired with a cozy setting—perfect for a relaxed night of live music and good company.

🎨 Free Art Project| Redwood City | Magical Bridge Playground | 3/14 | more
A fun, free art activities for all ages and abilities

🥚 Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt | Los Altos | Downtown | 3/14 - 28 | more
Families can explore downtown while searching for hidden eggs in this playful multi-week scavenger hunt that brings a festive spring twist to local shopping.

🎶 Celtic Harp Music and Irish Brunch | Redwood City | Alhambra Irish House | 3/14 | more
Celebrate St. Patrick’s season with a delicious Irish brunch accompanied by beautiful live Celtic harp music.

🌈 Holi Fest | Redwood City | Cañada College | 3/17 | more
Celebrate the vibrant festival of colors with music, dancing, and joyful community spirit at this lively cultural celebration.

☘️ St. Patricks Day Dinner | Menlo Park | Sand Hill Sundeck | 3/17 | more
Celebrate with a festive Irish Dinner, flowing pints, and a night full of good times. Sláinte!

🎭 Opera San José | Woodside | Filoli | 3/17 - 19 | more
Experience opera in a stunning garden setting as Opera San José brings beautiful music and powerful performances to Filoli. Limited tickets left!

📚 Book Launch Event: The Fortune Flip | Los Altos | A Novel Affair | 3/18 | more
Celebrate the release of The Fortune Flip with this special book launch event featuring the author and fellow book lovers.

🐺 Virtual Talk: Coexisting with Coyotes | Online | 3/18 | more
Learn practical tips and insights on safely sharing our environment with coyotes during this informative virtual wildlife talk.