Los Altos Town Crier » 2000 » March

Brighter traffic picture

Police enforcement, education efforts pay off in fewer accidents

Chances are most local residents who have driven through Los Altos over the past year have at least caught a glimpse of Sgt. Matt Hartley and officer Paul Arguelles pointing their radar guns at passing motorists. The two Los Altos Police officers are part of the city’s crackdown on local traffic problems that have steadily infiltrated once-quiet neighborhood streets in recent years.

Los Altos not immune from rising cost of gas

Supermarkets are paying more for deliveries, sport utility vehicles are suddenly recognized as the gas hogs they are, and families are driving less. That’s because Los Altos, like the rest of the Bay Area and the nation, is reeling from skyrocketing gasoline prices.

Gas prices have hit an all-time high in California. Here in Silicon Valley, gas at the pump increased 35 cents in a month and 67 cents over the last year. When residents filled their tanks with premium gas at Los Altos service stations, it cost them as much as $2.20 a gallon.

Undercover cops nab suspected jewelry thief

One local contractor’s meeting with prospective clients in Los Altos ended at the San Jose Main Jail last week.

Undercover Los Altos police detectives posing as customers arrested building contractor Mickey Walker, 48, March 15, on a grand theft warrant for allegedly stealing jewelry from a downtown store.

Bikers voice objections to proposed ban from regional open space district trails

Nearly a dozen mountain bikers sat in silent protest, their colorful helmets placed squarely on their heads, during a public meeting held by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, March 9, regarding the proposed ban of mountain bikes from seven open space preserves.

The meeting, at the Los Altos Youth Center, was held to provide mountain bikers and their supporters an opportunity to voice their protests against a proposal that would prohibit off-road cycling at Foothills, La Honda Creek, Los Trancos, Picchetti Ranch, Pulgas Ridge, Teague Hill and Thornwood preserves.

News Briefs

The Regional Airport Planning Commission is sponsoring a public meeting at 7 p.m., April 27, at the Palo Alto Arts Center, 1313 Newell Road, on aircraft noise. The meeting will focus on San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose international airports.

Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, major commercial airports and several regional planning agencies are scheduled to attend the meeting.

Los Altos City Council OK’s Thursday night farmers’ market for downtown

Downtown Los Altos could soon be home to a farmers’ market - but not the kind for which market organizers had hoped.

The Los Altos City Council March 14 agreed to relocate the Los Altos Farmers’ Market from Foothill College to an undetermined downtown location on Thursday nights rather than at the parking lot adjacent to Bandera’s restaurant on Saturday mornings as organizers had requested.

Cheng emerges as victor in tight LAH race

Emily Cheng is all but the official winner in the March 7 election for a seat on the Los Altos Hills council.

The 38-vote victory over Jim Steiner took nine days for the county Registrar of Voters to announce because of the tight vote count and the seesawing of the tallies as additional votes were counted.

LAH council defines role of investment committee

For the past two months, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Finn has been critical of the Los Altos Hills finance committee and suggested a separate investment committee could provide greater financial returns to the town.

In a unanimous vote March 2, the council voted to create a separate investment committee, in addition to the finance committee, but requested Finn provide the council with specifics of the new committee’s responsibilities.

Comment

Farmers’ market a great addition

Trying to appease both enthusiasts of farmers’ markets and two major markets opposed to the extra competition, the Los Altos City Council said OK to farmers’ presence here in downtown Los Altos - but on Thursday nights. Good move.

Although market organizers are concerned about how much business they would draw, Thursday evenings would allow for ample parking on or around State Street, where the market may be held, because most businesses are open during the day. It also soothes concerns from Draeger’s Market and De Martini’s Orchard about their business being taken away. The two markets, although opposed to a farmers’ market downtown at any time, at least stand to lose less from the competition than they would if a market were operating on a busy Saturday.

Opinion

Council wastes time with naming history

With all the truly important issues facing Los Altos, such as traffic mitigation, housing design guidelines, parking and the makeup of the downtown, why waste time with a seat-of-the-pants discussion of a name for the city’s new museum building?

But this is exactly what the Los Altos City Council did last week after receiving a recommended name that had been the result of hours of study by members of the public, the Los Altos Historical Commission and the volunteer History House Association that has managed this important Los Altos institution for over two decades.

Story of a minivan

Blue Jeans & Jelly Beans

The other day a couple, who are expecting their first child, were talking about getting a bigger car. “But not a minivan,” she said. “Maybe an SUV, but I don’t like minivans.”

Letters to the Editor

As I write, the results of the Los Altos Hills council election are too close to call; whoever wins, the win will be far from a mandate but rather a slim plurality of a very few votes. I would like to remind the Council and involved residents of basic tenets of American democracy. Our country is founded on the concepts of majority rule and minority rights.

Recently the sentiment has appeared to be more like majority domination. I hope that respect for all can be valued and manifest in the future.

Leagues of Women Voters addressing flood control and proposed special tax

The League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area invites the public to attend a county-wide program it is co-sponsoring, “Flood Management: A Taxing Situation,” 9-11 a.m., Saturday, in the Santa Cruz Room, Building 50, at the Hewlett-Packard Santa Clara site at the corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Lawrence Expressway.

Flooding is a county-wide problem that threatens commuter routes, homes, schools and industry.

Community

Cyclist holding second fund-raiser to fight cancer foundation

The second annual Peloton Project Dinner benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation will be held at 6 tonight at the Foothills Swim and Tennis Club, 3351 Miranda Ave., in Palo Alto.

According to the foundation’s website, “The goal of the Lance Armstrong Foundation is to do nothing less than change the world. We want to reduce the presence of cancer on this planet, to continue to refine the definition of survivor services and to deliver those services - and a large dose of hope - in an appropriate way.”

Calendar

Los Altos Hills Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road.

MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District board, 7:30 p.m., district offices, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos.

Los Altos composer’s ‘Requiem’ reprised in Saturday concert of SJ Symphonic Choir

Los Altos composer Sondra Clark’s “Requiem For Lost Children,” inspired in part by the Polly Klaas tragedy, is being reprised in a concert of the San Jose Symphonic Choir and Orchestra. The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m., Saturday, in St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown San Jose.

Since the requiem’s premiere in November 1996, reported in a Town Crier cover story, “Much has happened to both the work and to me,” she said last week. “Inquiries and accolades continue to follow the piece throughout the United States, from England and Israel. All who hear the Requiem claim to be very moved by the music and its message of hope in the face of despair over the loss of children.”

Community Briefs

Sponsored by Los Altos resident Ellen Clark, the St. Joseph of Mountain View Cross Country Running Invitational will take place this Sunday starting at 11:40 a.m. The race features a one-mile run for kids, teenagers, and adults and a half-mile run for kindergarteners. It will be held at St. Joseph School, 1120 Miramonte Ave., in Mountain View.

Ellen Clark, a physical education teacher at St. Joseph School and the former organizer of the Los Altos Willy’s Road Race, decided to put on the invitational after her son spent a year volunteering in Zimbabwe. “The AIDS epidemic has left over 11 million orphans in Sub Saharan Africa.” said Clark.

Police Report

March 17, 10:29 p.m., 300 block of First Street: A caller reported a broken window at a downtown business, police said.

Disturbance

Los Altos residents featured performers in spring concert

The South Bay Guild of the Peninsula Symphony Auxiliary will present a spring concert, featuring two acclaimed Los Altos performers, 8 p.m., March 31, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto.

Evelyn Zampino, soloist, with Ramona Rockway narrating and accompanying on the piano, will perform a combination of operatic pieces by Strescobaldi and Puccini along with popular musical numbers by Rodgers, Porter, Kern and Gershwin.

Children’s singer Chapin performs Minors concerts Saturday

Music For Minors members said plenty of tickets remain available for Saturday’s Tom Chapin concerts, set for 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Spangenberg Auditorium on the Gunn High School campus in Palo Alto.

Performing with the brother of the late Harry Chapin is Michael Mark. The concerts are sponsored by Los Altos-based Music For Minors, celebrating 25 years of outreach programs at local schools, and Linden Tree Children’s Records and Books of Los Altos.

Does ticket for driving over double yellow line affect my driving record?

With discussion of traffic issues very much in the local news, members of the Los Altos Police Department are presenting a question-and-answer column on traffic in the Town Crier once a month.

Q: Does a ticket received for the new Municipal Code Ordinance for making a left turn across the double yellow lines affect my driving record?

Save The Date

Los Altos Art and Wine Festival, sponsored by the Los Altos Village Association, downtown Los Altos.

Oct. 7 and 8

Widow and Widowers Association features ‘Laff-Out’ entertainment

“In the past, the program agenda consisted of a meeting, coffee and doughnuts and then entertainment that was so boring people left early,” Allen said. “Now the entertainment will start first, then coffee and doughnuts and the meeting.”

All widows and widowers in the area are invited to attend the show at 7:30 p.m., April 4, at the Los Altos Lutheran Church, 460 S. El Monte Ave. For more information, call 948-7633.

Local history of scouting revealed in ‘Memories’

Today, there are 12 boy scout troops in Los Altos that keep 854 young boys busy. At the same time, the city has 84 girl scout troops for 1,150 young women.

It hasn’t always been like this, as revealed during a Los Altos History House “Music and Memories” program presenting “The History of Scouting in Los Altos since 1918″ last Saturday.

Morning Forum starts year with history, evolution and Italian gestures

The Morning Forum of Los Altos, founded in 1950 to provide “general cultural and intellectual stimulation through the giving and receiving of opinions with an open-minded and tolerant attitude,” continues its tradition of speakers on a wide variety of subjects.

On Jan. 18, David M. Kennedy, Professor of History at Stanford, spoke to the Forum on “The World that World War II Made,” outlining the circumstances, events and forces which brought the United States to the prosperity, power and influence that continues to this day.

Pages of the Past

In the news: All-around athlete Babe Didrikson wins the US Open LPGA Championship.

In Los Altos: A temporary restraining order was issued by Judge Salsman in Santa Clara Superior Court, to halt retired Army colonel Henry S. See from putting a composition shingle roof on his home in the Country Club subdivision. The action was taken as the result of a suit brought by the area’s Approval Committee, representing a majority of property owners of the tract, who objected to having See put up a roof not conforming with the general pattern of construction in the area. The greater number of homes in the area are ranch-type with flat tar and gravel roofs. The court commented that if See, or any other property owners, did not approve of the Approval Committee’s policies, they might attempt to elect their own committee and formulate different policies. As a result of the Judge’s findings, the possibility exists that future home builders in the Country Club subdivision may have to conform to more than just roof construction patterns.

Cranston changes award night to appeal for nuclear-free world

Former U.S. Senator Alan Cranston, a longtime Los Altos-area resident, was honored March 14 for his contribution to the cause of nuclear arms elimination.

“An Evening Honoring Senator Alan Cranston,” a fund-raiser for the Global Security Institute and Lawyers Alliance for World Security, drew local Democratic leaders and more than a few celebrities, including Dr. Jane Goodall, comedian Robin Williams and actor Michael Douglas.

Rustington, England, added to Los Altos circle of international friends

The Los Altos City Council passed a resolution at its March 14 meeting to make the town of Rustington, England, Los Altos’ newest sister city. The purpose of the Los Altos Sister Cities Program is to provide “meaningful cultural experience between Los Altos residents and citizens of other nations,” according to the resolution.

For many years, members of Los Altos Sister Cities, Inc. have been searching for an English sister city in addition to Los Altos’ three other sister cities in Bendigo, Australia; Syktyvkar, Russia; and Shih Lin District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

El Camino Y expansion effort picks up steam

Key donations made; groundbreaking may happen in fall

In their second year of fund-raising, the board of directors of the El Camino YMCA reported the campaign to expand its Grant Road facilities is proceeding successfully with the latest contribution by the Mountain View Kiwanis Club for $100,000.

Press, Huffington agree: Bush, Gore more of the same old politics

Discussing politics after the “Super Tuesday” election, Arianna Huffington and Bill Press, guest speakers at the Foothill College Celebrity Forum, March 10 in Flint Center, agreed we need somebody new or something new; but we’re getting the same old politics with Al Gore and George Bush in the fall.

“John McCain’s campaign to get 1034 delegates crashed and burned on Super Tuesday, but his campaign to shift the ethos of American politics is still very much alive,” Huffington told the audience. “When McCain conceded, his speech ignited a cause for reform.”

AAUW program discusses how and why of public access television

Local producers, moderators and television techies will discuss why and how they create television for public access and local origination programming at a meeting sponsored by the Los Altos-Mountain View branch of the American Association of University Women.

Susanne Elwell, director of public access, will talk about the television courses available at Foothill College, home of Access Los Altos, and of that station’s commitment to programming of special interest to the local communities.

Seniors News

Friday: 1 p.m., Birthday Bingo. Celebrate March birthdays with cake, ice cream and music.

Tuesday: Noon, “So You’ve Got a Great Estate Plan,” with Ken Kaye. Coffee and tea available. Bring your lunch.

Los Altos High wind ensemble learns from teacher’s teacher

Los Altos Town Crier

Three generations of musicians are tuning up together in preparation for a March 29 concert.

Schools Briefs

The Santa Rita Parent Teacher Association (PTA) will discuss fund-raising plans for a new playground structure at the school at 7:30 p.m. April 13 in the school’s multipurpose room.

Los Altos School District officials informed the school of the need to replace the existing structure in the kindergarten playground after a recent inspection.

Fifth-graders construct colonial villages

Local fifth-graders became cobblers, blacksmiths, apothecaries and bakers during colonial history days this month.

Bubb’s students created “WilliamsBubb,” a reenactment of life in colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Schools

Children’s author Climo plays principal-for-a-day at Montclaire

Los Altos children’s author Shirley Climo spent March 14 playing principal-for-a-day at Montclaire Elementary School. Climo, who has written 21 books for children, was happy to spend the day with her favorite kind of characters.

“When we approached her with the idea, she seemed to be delighted,” said Nancy Wood, principal at Montclaire. “She thought it would be a lot of fun.”

Covington renovation may face delay

The Los Altos School District may postpone the reopening of Covington Elementary school for one more year to accommodate changes in the design plans for the site.

The district planned to open Covington as its seventh elementary school in the fall of 2001, as one of the first steps in the implementation of the district’s 1998 bond measure to improve school facilities. However, at a special meeting March 13, board members and district administrators discussed the pros and cons of postponing students’ arrival at Covington until the fall of 2002.

On Deck:

the local sports lineup for March 22-28

Baseball

Sports On The Side

The St. Joseph of Mountain View Cross Country Running Invitational, a fund-raiser for orphans in the wake of the Zimbabwe AIDS tragedy, is set for 11:40 a.m., Sunday, at St. Joseph School, 1120 Miramonte Ave. The race will feature a one-mile run for kids, teenagers and adults and a half-mile run for kindergartners. Event organizer Ellen Clark is a physical education teacher at St. Joseph School and former organizer of the Los Altos Willy’s Road Race. Entry fee is $5. For more information, send e-mail to bclark4689@aol.com or check the web site at www.theschedule.com.

On board

11 area athletes earn college scholarships

Ten athletes from St. Francis High and one from Los Altos High last month signed national letters of intent to play sports on the college level next year.

Among this group are three players from the St. Francis football team, which reached the Central Coast Section Division I championship game last fall. Receiver Chase Lyman and halfback Ronald Nunn are headed to Pac-10 Conference schools, UC-Berkeley and Washington State, respectively, while linebacker Benard Thomas will play for national power Nebraska.

Sports

Egan excels at the net

Egan Intermediate School of Los Altos recently claimed three Valley Junior High School Athletic League championships.

The seventh- and eighth-grade girls volleyball teams won their respective league finals, as did the eighth-grade boys basketball team.

Boys volleyball comes to MVHS

After years of consideration, Mountain View High has added boys volleyball to its list of after-school sports. The Spartans had tryouts in February and opened its inaugural season earlier this month.

“The school has been talking about starting a boys volleyball team for quite some time, and finally they received the funds to have one,” said coach Peter Kim, who also heads up the school’s girls volleyball team.

Eagles (3-1) playing like contenders

Prep Baseball Report

With league play just getting under way, it’s difficult to predict how local high school baseball teams will fare this season.

Mtn. View trounces Fremont; Los Altos splits with Gunn

Around The Track

Both the boys and girls track and field teams from Mountain View High cruised past host Fremont last week in an SCVAL El Camino Division meet.

A winning week for Lancers

Prep Sports Summary

St. Francis boys tennis team goes 3-0

Coaching clinic set for Saturday

Nine top high school football coaches in the Central Coast Section and one of the area’s best youth coaches will speak at Calcagno’s Consulting Services and Association’s Clinic of Champions Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton.

The lineup includes Mike Mitchell (St. Francis High), Mike Holt (Andrew Hill), Butch Cattolico (Los Gatos), Mark Krail (Pioneer), Chris Cameron (Hollister), Tony Alanis (Woodside) and Chris Oswald (Santa Clara), plus youth coach Ryan Buhk (Sunnyvale Micro Rockets). Each coach will give a presentation on offense, defense or a particular aspect of the game.

Signs of change (for the better) at i Fratelli restaurant

The application for a new ABC liquor license was hanging in the window at 388 Main St., causing patrons at i Fratelli restaurant to ask, “What’s going on here?”

“When two of the partners left the business, we had to apply for a new liquor license,” said Philippe Tregon, one of the managing partners. The other partner and chef, Monique Corne, said, “It gave us time to make some needed changes.”

Jean on the Job

Patience - how to acquire it quickly

Oh, oh. Oxymoron - patience and quickly. How about patience easily? The impatient worker, boss, mate, child or teacher is hard on everyone around him. When you show impatience with some people, they respond with:

Business Briefs

It’s primarily a coupon book for award-winning restaurants, but it also serves as an excellent fund-raiser for organizations. It’s called the City Date Book 2000.

The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce sells the coupon book for $25, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Chamber of Commerce.

Business

If you think the tech stock sell-off is over, think again

Stock Report

Watching the stock market these days is like witnessing a tug-of-war. The players are old economy stocks represented by the Dow Jones industrial average on one side and the New Economy technology stocks on the Nasdaq.

Transactions

Cupertino

21751 Olive Avenue - D. & H. Hsu to C. & E. Park for $450,000.00

Home replacement costs rising out of sight

As anyone trying to buy into the Bay Area housing market can report, prices are at an all-time high with no indication of topping out. Although the rising cost of Bay Area property is no secret, you may be surprised to know that the cost of replacing an upscale home on the Peninsula has nearly doubled over the past five years.

Though the sources of rising property values can be attributed to low interest rates and a strong growing global economy, the reasons behind the exponential elevation in replacement costs can also be attributed to the overall supply and demand theory. There is not enough housing to meet current demands, yet the shortage of labor limits new construction.

Anniversary & Engagements

Anna Ruth Diaz and Scott Michael Triola have announced their engagement to be married June 10 in Boston, Mass.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Domingo and Madeleine Diaz of Los Altos. She graduated from Castilleja School, Palo Alto. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College, Mass., and is currently completing an MBA at Harvard University.

Obituaries

Dorothy Hymen died Feb. 27. A native of Russia, she was 100.

Mrs. Hymen is survived by children, Louise Gluckman of Los Altos and Warren Hyman; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

‘Ship’ sails smoothly at Mac’s

Theater review

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be on stage with the actors during the performance of a play?

Stepping Out

No need to mend ‘Fences’

Theater review

The audience stood, clapped and whistled at the end of “Fences,” August Wilson’s drama presented by TheatreWorks at Lucie Stern Theater in Palo Alto.

Bus Barn presenting ‘Hamlet’

Bus Barn Stage Company presents William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” this Thursday through April 22 at Bus Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.

This two-hour interpretation of “Hamlet,” directed by Marcia Frederick, is described as a study of the title character and the life events that force him into a search for self-knowledge.

Your Health

When snoring becomes a serious health risk

Many people think of snoring as little more than an annoying habit for the sufferer and his or her partner. While this is generally true of occasional snoring, habitual loud snoring is the most common symptom of breathing disorders that occur during sleep and it can be life-threatening.

A person who snores habitually sleeps restlessly and is at risk for serious heart and lung disorders. Snoring can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and heart attacks.

Friends of Mim plan ‘A Tack’ on Lou Gehrig’s disease

Mim Ward turned her 60th birthday party last December into a working meeting. The longtime Los Altos Hills resident was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in August, and she and her husband Chris wanted to enlist the aid of their friends in organizing a fund-raising event for the disease.

The group, now known as the Friends of Mim, joined the Wards in planning an auction and reception at Coyote Point Yacht Club called “A Tack for ALS.”

Health Briefs

The Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society invites volunteers to walk in the Avant! MS Walk to raise funds for local programs and research. The 10K walk, scheduled for April 8, follows the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

To register, form a walk team or receive more information, call 1-800 Fight MS or visit the organization’s Web site at www. scvcnmss.org.

In search of reliable sources on health supplements

In the past decade there has been an increasing interest in herbal supplements for the treatment of a variety of disorders including, fighting colds, depression, anxiety, weight management, premenstrual symptoms and insomnia.

The supplement industry has become one of the most profitable sectors of health care with $3.2 billion spent in 1996 by U.S. consumers for herbals alone.

High on Jazzercise

Barbara Peterson’s class celebrates life with a workout

Barbara Peterson exudes charisma, confidence and all-around good vibes as she leads her class in a Jazzercise workout. There is something special going on here as people sweat to the beat - for some, this class is family, a home away from home, a place where they can feel happy and fulfilled. For this, they have Peterson to thank.