Find it Fast » Archives | Contact Us | Subscribe | Place an Ad | Admin
Inside this week's
|
Archives » 2000 » Volume 53 , Issue 33, Published on Wednesday, August 16, 2000NewsEl Camino rides wave of change health care
Seismic regulations, search for new CEO, add to hospital’s perennial problems In the beginning of 1997, something extraordinary happened. El Camino Hospital, then steeped in controversy and on the brink of financial disaster, was returned to public control and public scrutiny. The rebirth came for El Camino Hospital in the form of a redistricting. Mountain View day-worker ban goes into effectMotorists who hire workers standing along Mountain View’s streets, could face up to $1,000 in fines. The city’s new law to oust day workers from city streets took effect last Thursday. Day workers face up to $100 in fines if caught along the streets seeking work from contractors and homeowners. The no-solicitation ordinance is intended to get day workers off El Camino Real and into St. Joseph the Worker Center in Los Altos. Local merchants said the day workers were hurting their businesses. News BriefsOffice space will replace the liquor store in downtown Los Altos that once sold a winning $17 million lottery ticket. The Los Altos City Council approved a special use permit for Jerry’s Liquors & Delicatessen that will allow the property owners to lease the ground floor of the two-story building as office space. The planning commission had denied owners Jerry and Mary Ann Larkins’ request for such a permit last month. The building is located in an area zoned as Commercial Downtown, which requires a permit in order to replace retail space with service space, according to the city’s general plan. Five candidates to run for three seats on the Los Altos Hills City CouncilFive individuals, Councilwoman Emily Cheng, Robert Fenwick, Michael O’Malley, Evan Wythe and Sandy Humphries have filed papers for the Los Altos Hills city council election in November. The deadline for entering the race was extended to today at 5 p.m., since incumbents Elayne Dauber and Bob Johnson have decided not to run. Cheng was elected last November to finish out the remaining term of Bill Siegal, who had resigned from the council. She ran against Jim Steiner, in one of the most contentious and expensive campaigns in Los Altos Hills history, and beat him by a narrow margin. Cheng’s seat, along with those of Dauber and Johnson, are up for election. Blaze kills man in a LA homeSouth Los Altos residents last week awoke to a 40-foot blaze that engulfed a home on Montclaire Place and killed a 53-year-old man asleep in a back bedroom inside the house. A next door neighbor said he woke to the sounds of windows exploding from the heat, just minutes before firefighters arrived at the two-alarm fire at 2:36 a.m. Less than six minutes later, the house was fully engulfed in flames, according to firefighters. Hospital workers take steps to join service unionEmployees seeking to unionize packed the El Camino Hospital Board of Directors meeting on Aug. 9. The four groups, professional, service, office workers and licensed technical workers, sought to organize with Local 715 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). More than half of the 1.1 million members of SEIU are health-care workers. According to Raahi Reddy, an Organizer with SEIU, the union gives workers an organized voice to protect their jobs, increase salaries and improve benefits. SEIU already has members at Valley Medical Center, Stanford and Lucile Packard Hospitals. CommentLetters to the EditorI am surprised that Nancy Sailor defends the lifestyle of wild pigs that threaten the survival of native plants and animals (July 26 letters to the editor), several of which are endangered. Ms. Sailor may like the “rototilled look” in her own yard, but the pig rooting that causes this disturbed soil removes acorns, bulbs, and other native plants from the wildlands, pollutes streams, and facilitates soil erosion. OpinionMy in and out fileReflections I’ll always remember a little boy in Ray Bradbury’s “Dandelion Wine” who couldn’t believe that his best friend would move away and never be there to do all the wonderful things little boys do during a summer vacation. I’ve learned through experience that this does indeed happen, even if you’re a girl and not so young anymore. Police negotiations proceeding - not stalematedOther Voices I find it very distressing that negotiations between the city of Los Altos and the police union have degenerated to the present state. CommunityPages of the PastIn the News: President Truman orders the army to take control of U.S. railroads to avert a strike. In Los Altos: A graphic picture of the growth of Los Altos was released on August 13, 1950, by Postmaster Percy Helena, who reported that receipts for the completed fiscal year were nearly five times more than those of 1940. During the 1949-1950 fiscal year, $57,000 was handled in the post office as compared to $12,000 in 1940. The number of canceled parcels in the 1949-1950 year was 1,536,175, up 35 percent in just one year. Library NewsThe Santa Clara County Library System has added DVD (digital video discs) to the library offerings. For more information on news and events at the Los Altos Library: www.santaclaracountylib.org/losaltos/news.html or www.santaclaracountylib.org/losaltos/events.html. CalendarLos Altos Senior Center, 9-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Wednesday Community BriefsThe Friends of the Los Altos Library have scheduled their fall used-book sale Sept. 8 at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., in Los Altos. The Friday sale is scheduled from 7- 9 p.m., for members only. Upcoming EventsMacArthur Park Winefest, supporting the American Red Cross, 11:30 a.m., at MacArthur Park Restaurant, Palo Alto. Oct. 7 and 8 Police ReportAug. 13, 11:09 a.m., Main and State streets: Police said there were skateboarders in the Plaza. Loud noise High school district honors ‘outstanding’ studentsEach month, the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District administrators, teachers and students select their students of the month. The chosen students demonstrate a wide array of talents in academic and extra-curricular activities which enable them to stand out among their peers. Maria Medina, Moffett High School’s January student of the month, started attending the school’s Independent Studies program in 1998 at age 14, soon after having her baby Lesleiy. She participates in the Young Parents Program in addition to taking regular courses, and is described as “hard-working, responsible, bright and a committed student.” Medina’s goal is to enter a nursing program and work with children. Schools NoteworthiesPatricia F. Buckley of Los Altos, a junior in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, was named to the Dean’s List for the spring quarter of the 1999-2000 academic year. Amie Fernandez, daughter of Ellen and William Fernandez of Los Altos, spent the fall of 1999 studying at the Middlebury School in Florence, Italy, as part of Middlebury College’s Study Abroad Program. SchoolsConstruction not a worry for new LAHS principalGeorge Perez knows a lot about teaching teens and even a little about doing it in the midst of construction projects. Los Altos High School’s new principal, who is entering his 30th year in education, served as principal at Santa Cruz High School for the past six years during the time that the 100-year-old historic high school building was being upgraded. Memorial bricks build St. Nicholas courtyardFather Gary Thomas, pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Los Altos Hills, May 21 blessed the first set of 200 bricks in the courtyard of St. Nicholas School. Parish members purchased bricks for $250 as part of the “Leave a Lasting Impression” campaign launched last year in support of the school. Sports On The SideMountain View/Los Altos Babe Ruth is holding sign-ups for its fall instructional league noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, and Aug. 29, at McKelvey Park on Miramonte Avenue. Ages 12-17 welcome. For more information, call 966-8027. Getting his kicks Sollers up against the nation’s top teen-age golfers at Jr. ClassicJunior Golf Roundup Lozares takes on ‘World’ SportsImprobable goal stuns Cannon, sinks struggling EarthquakesThe San Jose Earthquakes’ woes continued last Saturday, as the team fell 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Mutiny on an improbable goal in the 77th minute that goalie Joe Cannon of Los Altos Hills could do little about. Although it was an accident, Ritchie Kotschau’s game-winning goal will surely garner Major League Soccer’s goal-of-the-year consideration. After taking a pass from Carlos Valderrama down the left side and standing nearly on the left touchline, Kotschau angled a cross toward the goal. Stanford Equestrian Center hosting festivalThe 11th annual Red Barn Festival is set for Saturday at the Stanford Equestrian Center, with performances starting at 11 a.m. An evening performance is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. This year’s day-long anniversary event celebrates Red Barn’s relationship with the horse and with Leland Stanford’s historic Red Barn on the Stanford University campus. District raising funds to improve LAHS tennis courtsIn order to improve the deteriorating tennis courts at Los Altos High, the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District is trying to form partnerships with community groups who play there. “We need to generate money,” said Robyn Phillips, assistant superintendent of business services for the district. “We can’t do it on our own.” Business BriefsTacit Knowledge Systems, Inc. of Palo Alto, a provider of automated knowledge discovery and exchange systems, announced last week that it has appointed Bill Lonergan as chief financial officer. Lonergan joins Tacit after spending 23 years at KPMG LLP, bringing extensive business and financial expertise. He will be responsible for leading Tacit’s financial, administrative and operations departments. Summertime blues bring down technology stocksStock Report Last Friday’s stock market results offered a cure for those summertime blues when the Dow industrials went over 11,000 and increased 260 points for the week. Concerns over a second-half earnings slowdown left technology stocks flat. The Nasdaq was up only 2 points for the week. BusinessFor the long run - try The Runner’s HighThere are more than 60 new running shoes being introduced this fall, and no recommendations or shoe guides are made because experts say the best running shoe is the one that works best for you - the individual runner. Adam Kemist, owner of The Runner’s High at 249 First St. in Los Altos, specializes in fitting the proper shoe for both serious runners and Sunday athletes. More fungus among us in Santa Clara CountySpeical to the Town Crier The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture has released a report on cash crops grown in Santa Clara County in 1999. Total agricultural production in Santa Clara County increased $16 million over 1998 for a total value of $176.1 million. Youth Theatre venturing into ‘The Jungle’Los Altos Youth Theatre’s production of “The Jungle Book” opens Friday and continues through Sept. 2 at the Bus Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Ave. “The Jungle Book” is the adventure of Mowgli, an Indian boy raised by caring wolves. Mowgli is befriended by Bagheer the panther and Baloo the bear, but threatened by Shere Kahn the evil tiger. Book BeatA literary temptation offered to horticultural enthusiasts Dave Ogle, owner of the Antiquarian Archive on State Street, offers literary temptation to horticultural enthusiasts: a 12-volume set titled “Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries and Their Practical Application,” published in 1914 and 1915. “They would go wild over this in Santa Rosa,” Dave said, describing how the books were prepared from Luther Burbank’s original notes by members of the Luther Burbank Society. This historical set is $395. Food and WineSun tea provides ideal conditions for germsQ: Is sun tea safe to drink? A: No. When tea steeps in the sun for several hours, conditions are ideal for bacteria to multiply rapidly and pose a significant risk of illness. Iced tea should be prepared in a brief time, by steeping tea leaves, for example, in boiling-hot water for three to five minutes. Local restaurant owners celebrate 11 years of being ‘Lucky’ in Los AltosOver the past decade, Chan Sheng-Kuei has managed to carve a culinary niche in high tech centers on both sides of the world through his restaurants in Los Altos and Xing Peng Zsu, Taiwan’s equivalent of Silicon Valley. Sheng-Kuei and his wife Wendy are celebrating the 11-year anniversary of Lucky Distinctive Chinese Food on State Street in downtown Los Altos this month. Church celebrates ‘Seasons’Christ Episcopal Church cookbook selected ‘Best of the Best’ from California Best of California Food BitesThe Mountain View Chamber of Commerce needs volunteers to work afternoon shifts at its 29th Annual Art & Wine Festival scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10 on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. The festival will feature more than 650 artists, 30 world cuisine vendors, wine and live entertainment. Seasonings, spreads and foccacia bread: Key ingredients at A.G. Ferrari FoodsA group of Town Crier staff restaurant reviewers, known as “The Lunch Bunch,” descends upon unsuspecting local lunchtime haunts once a month to critique their offerings in the Food & Wine section. The Bunch visited A.G. Ferrari Foods in downtown Los Altos recently. Town Crier Staff Report Watch out for the Long Island redsI recently spent a week on Long Island and visited the Hamptons. It is conceivable that I was there with rest of the populace of New York City. I don’t know where all those people were sleeping, unless it was in their cars that were virtually stopped on all the roads. The intent of the trip was to visit relatives and see the sights. The sights now include wineries. There used to be a few bucolic settings with mom and pop owners. These wineries are now being sold for millions to the area’s big hitters and many new ventures are opening or in the planning stage. The majority of the approximately 30 wineries are located on the North Fork on the east end of the Island about 100 miles from New York City. This skinny land mass lies between the Long Island Sound to the north and Peconic Bay to the south, with the Atlantic Ocean and the UK to the east. All this water tempers the climate; but they are north of Napa and not too far from the area of the “Perfect Storm.” They are subject to the vagaries of the weather and the grapes ripen at a later date, sometimes well into November. This is OK, providing there isn’t a lot of rain and the crops don’t rot. When weather is a problem there, you have good years and bad years, compared to California, where we have good years and great years. Peak peach season nowMarket Talk Don’t know a Bermuda Sun from a Babcock? An Elegant Lady from an Elberta? A Suncrest from a Redhaven? The dilemma of choosing a peach is tough with so many luscious varieties from which to choose. PeopleWeddings & EngagementSara Hesterman and Patrick Macy were married May 14 at the St. Lawrence Orthodox Chapel, Felton. The bride is the daughter of Norma and Victor Hesterman of Los Altos Hills. She graduated from Gunn High School, Palo Alto. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkely, and a master’s degree at the California Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is employed as a Landscape Designer with Joni L. Janecki and Assoc., Santa Cruz. ObituariesElsa H. Solt died July 13 in Santa Clara. A native of California, she was 77. Mrs. Solt was born in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she obtained a Ph.D. in Physics. She worked as a physicist for Hughes Aircraft and later in the semiconductor industry in Silicon Valley. She was a resident of Los Altos Hills for 37 years. Stepping OutBus Barn announces new seasonThe Bus Barn Stage Theater recently announced its 2000-2001 season schedule of six productions. Barbara Cannon, Bus Barn’s artistic director, said the plays will make the audiences think, laugh, tap their toes and hopefully see their world in a new way. MOAH hosts turn-of-the-century transportation lectureThree Bay Area experts on transportation will present a lecture titled “Turn-of-the-Century Transportation,” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto. Steve Staiger, librarian and historian, will talk about streetcars and other rail transit. Marshall Mathews, owner of Mathews-Carlsen Body Works in Palo Alto and a renowned automobile collector, will address the then-fledgling automobile. And Ralph Igler, bicycle historian and collector, will discuss high-wheelers and other early bicycles. BooksNew books celebrate girls, gardens, California lakesBook Reviews Reading the right book at the right time can enrich a family relationship, improve your garden or inspire a perfect vacation. Each of these new books takes you into territory you might think is familiar, but then offers fresh information and insights: |
In Our OpinionEditorialHere are our quick takes on recent local news events: |
Los Altos Guide | Town Crier Archives | Classified | Subscribe | Place an Ad | Contact
2008 © Los Altos Online by Los Altos Town Crier .