🌱 Patch AM: Will Menlo Park’s tech-focused TIDE high school survive budget scrutiny?

Hey hey Menlo Park! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Will Menlo Park’s tech-focused TIDE high school survive budget scrutiny?
• Why a Menlo Park ex-chancellor stayed silent in his bribery trial
• Why a Menlo Park resident is facing serious charges after winery chaos

Also on today's calendar: GISSV'S German Holiday Market and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny, with a high of 58 and low of 43 degrees.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 61, low: 42.
• Monday: Sun and some clouds, with a high of 63 and low of 49 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Supporters of magnet high school angry over possible closure (padailypost.com) — Families connected to TIDE, the tech-focused magnet high school in Menlo Park, are pushing back hard against a possible closure as Sequoia Union High School District reviews its budget numbers. The board hasn’t decided yet, but will hold community meetings in January and dig deeper into per-student spending before determining the school’s future.
   

2. Galatolo decides not to testify on his own behalf (padailypost.com) — A Menlo Park resident and former community college chancellor facing bribery and related charges has chosen not to testify at his trial, with closing arguments set for January 6. Jurors will weigh allegations involving misuse of bond funds after hearing from several character witnesses instead of the defendant himself.
   

3. Menlo Park man accused of trying to torch winery (padailypost.com) — A 42-year-old Menlo Park resident was arrested after authorities say he tried to start a fire at a Saratoga winery, then crashed into parked cars and barricaded himself in a Tesla. Deputies eventually used pepper-based tools to remove him from the vehicle, and he faces potential charges including assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
   

4. CEOs' Biggest AI Fear Is Surprisingly Old School (inc.com) — A Menlo Park–based consulting firm’s new survey finds most CEOs are more worried about plugging AI into their aging systems than about futuristic risks. For local tech workers and executives, the results spotlight growing demand for skills that bridge legacy infrastructure and emerging AI tools.
   

📸 Around Menlo Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Menlo Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 13

• GISSV'S German Holiday Market
  Mountain View City Hall, 500 Castro St, Mountain View
  11:00 am
• Jingle All The Way
  Union Landing, I-880, Union City
  1:00 pm

Sunday December 14

• San Mateo Cars & Coffee at AutoVino | Holiday Toy Drive Edition
  380 Industrial Rd, San Carlos
  10:00 am
• Public Menorah lighting
  Fremont Park, Menlo Park
  5:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Francisco, CA!
  The Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Hwy, Millbrae
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 14

• Menlo Polo Academy #2
  Menlo Polo Club , 190 Park Ln , Atherton
  10:30 am
• The Nutcracker 2025
  Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center , 555 Middlefield Rd , Atherton
  11:00 am
• External Event: FOPAL Book Sale
  Children's Library , 1276 Harriet Street , Palo Alto
  1:00 pm

Monday December 15

• Baby Bounce Storytime With Stay and Play!
  Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
  12:00 pm
• Reindeer Poop Goop Slime
  Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
  4:00 pm
• In-Person English Conversation Club
  Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
  5:00 pm
• 3D Printing for Families
  Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
  5:30 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Signs and Rhymes Storytime With Stay and Play!
  Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
  10:30 am

📣 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!

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

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

• Amara — (650) 486-1703
  A California cuisine restaurant with mediterranean leaning.
• Samaritan House — (650) 347-3648
  Fighting Poverty. Lifting Lives
• Cool Aid Air Conditioning and Refrigeration — (800) 266-5243
  Voted Best HVAC & Refrigeration Company in the Bay Area
• Atherton Inn Bed & Breakfast — (650) 474-2777
  Luxury five room boutique hotel w/FULL breakfast
• The Harker School — (408) 345-9200
  Magic Happens at Harker

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Meta Platforms, Inc. posted a job opening for Product Design Manager in Menlo Park. Apply here.
• Intero Real Estate Services posted a job opening for Licensed Real Estate Agent in Menlo Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Menlo Park here.

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: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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