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Archives » 2000 » Volume 53 , Issue 46, Published on Wednesday, November 15, 2000NewsKniss ekes out win over Sandoval to capture 5th district Supes seatPalo Alto Mayor Liz Kniss narrowly defeated Foothill-De Anza college district trustee Dolly Sandoval to capture the District 5 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. In a race marred in its latter stages by accusations of ethics violations and even racism, Kniss captured 51.2 percent of the vote, 54,259, versus Sandoval’s 48.8 percent, or 51,625. Resident chases suspected serial burglar in LAHSheriff’s deputies find handgun in suspect’s car Home break-in Activist tells police she painted over election signsSheriff files report, but makes no arrests Vandalism Third seat a flip-flop in Los Altos Hills city council election Nov. 7Almost a full week after election day, the race for the third seat on the Los Altos Hills city council remains undecided. The two contenders for the seat, Sandy Humphries and incumbent Emily Cheng, wait for the counting of close to 50,000 absentee ballots, some of which will determine the Los Altos Hills election. According to Kathryn Ferguson, Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, the 49,000 to 50,000 outstanding absentee ballots had begun to be counted at 8 a.m. Friday. They were scheduled to be completed on either Monday or Tuesday. News BriefsThe Santa Clara County Fire Department recently earned several awards for demonstrating its leadership in fire safety. Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are among the cities that the department serves in Santa Clara County. The Residential Fire Safety Institute awarded six of the department’s stations for being equipped with full fire sprinkler systems. Purissima upholds public utilities’ plan to fluoridate Hetch Hetchy water, including LAH supplyThe Purissima Hills Water District Board of Directors voted 3-2 at their Nov. 8 meeting not to oppose the San Francisco Public Utilities District’s plans to fluoridate all of its Hetch Hetchy water. Earlier this summer, the board also voted not to oppose fluoridation. But Los Altos Hills resdient Dan Seidel, who will join the Purissima board in December, urged the district to reconsider its decision and even oppose the plan. Seidel said fluoridating the water supply is the worst possible way to dispense medicine and that an overdose could cause potential medical problems. No surprise as physician incumbents retain El Camino Hospital seatsThe El Camino Hospital District Board of Directors Nov. 7 election results for three available seats came as no surprise. Incumbents Edward Bough and Dominick Curatola, both local physicians, won easy victories. Bough won with the highest number of votes, totaling 33,559, or 30.3 percent of the voters. While Curatola won 30,530 votes, which was 27.6 percent of all voters. The third seat was won by Mary Louise Lee, a labor relations director with the Service Employees International Union, Local 715. Lee is chapter chairwoman and chief negotiator for SEIU, which works with hospital employees throughout the Bay Area. LA resident interrupts teens ransacking his homeTown Crier Staff Report Police arrested four teens after a Los Altos resident unexpectedly interrupted the youths’ plans to allegedly burglarize his home on Distel Drive last week. CommentIt’s just not fair!Bv Charlotte K. Jarmy I can understand how Al Gore was feeling the night after the election. Can a candidate be a whiner and still be seen as presidential?. Poor Gore - he’s alreadv been criticized for his huffing and puffing during the debate, for his unusual TV makeup, and for his aggressiveness toward Bush on the stage. OpinionLetters to the EditorIn response to the story “Reclaiming Saturday” (Nov. 1 Town Crier), I totally respect Joan’s decision but I can’t believe I’m reading this article. For those fortunate enough to reclaim Saturday as a resting day, my hat goes off to them. But many of us, work six days a week to pay for the high cost of living. The luxury of a five-day work week in the Bay Area, especially for many young people, does not exist. Most in the retail industry work seven days a week. Thanks to some tree-minded foresight, Los Altos enjoys autumn splendorPages of the Past Recently, I was driving down Foothill and was struck by the beauty of the sugar maples whose leaves had begun turning deep orange in color. “Isn’t it great,” I thought, “to live in a place where we have all the conveniences of city life, but still enjoy park-like views?” I thought about it again the next morning as a sipped a cup of coffee and looked across to the neighbors’ yard where, about 25 years ago, they had the foresight to plant a gorgeous row of California redwoods, now about 50 feet tall. Absolutely beautiful. CommunityHoliday BriefsThe Los Altos holiday season begins with the annual downtown Christmas tree lighting celebration at 6 p.m., Nov. 24, in the Community Plaza, State and Main streets. Traditional holiday music will be performed by choral and solo performers, including a solo by Laura MacEachen, Los Altos’ economic development coordinator. Police ReportNov. 6, 10:22 a.m., Morton Avenue: Large trailer left in front of house. Residential burglary Blown glass exhibit subject of Los Altos lectureAn exhibit of blown glass vessels, objects and dramatic drawings representing Seattle artist Dale Chihuly’s most personal work opened at the San Jose Musuem of Art in late October. Margaret Maynard, the museum’s curator of education, will present an illustrated lecture showcasing this privately owned, 350-piece collection at 7:30 tonight at the Los Altos Library. The lecture is free of charge and open to the public. Maynard’s talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Los Altos Library. Old Adobe Creek Lodge open for holiday tourThis year’s “Christmas at Our House,” the annual home tour sponsored by the St. Francis High School Women’s Club, offers an unprecedented glimpse of old and new Los Altos Hills properties. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 1 and 2, the public is invited to step back in time and stroll the former grounds of the fabled Adobe Creek Lodge on Moody Road, where there were once 26 tennis courts, four swimming pools, and a private casino, all tucked against the green hillside. Now rebuilt and redesigned for family living, the Lodge and Tally Ho House retain much of the original stonework and other detailing from the old lodge and display mementos of bygone Big Band concerts, festive old menus and photos of frolicking party-goers. Mark Russell turns presidential deadlock into a laugh fest at Celebrity ForumPolitical satirist Mark Russell kept the audience laughing and applauding consistently during his Nov. 10 Celebrity Forum appearance at Flint Center in Cupertino with his witty, bipartisan skewing of the presidential candidates and subsequent election deadlock. As the lights caught the sparkle of his ubiquitous red bow tie, Russell changed the words to Al Jolsen’s “Mammy” into George W. Bush’s victory song, titled, “Nader, How I Love You, How I Love You.” Discovery Shop presents upscale finery on paradeYes, they do save the very best stuff in the back room at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop on Main Street. But at 3 p.m. Sunday the public can enjoy a sneak preview of holiday finery which Cancer Society volunteers have been selecting all year from community donations to the upscale resale shop. Designer gowns, fine and estate jewelry, sumptuous furs and even a huge silver punch bowl, complete with tray and 12 silver cups will highlight a gala holiday fashion show and post-show shopping spree. Los Altan brings mission of hope to Kiev childrenWhen Nadia Cervantes returned from a 10-day trip to Kiev on Nov. 2, she brought back a gift for her soul. Part of a 10-person mission from a ministry team at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Cervantes was one of three Los Altans who visited Kiev to partner with the Missions Support Agency in the Ukraine. The mission helps orphaned children and men and women who are drug addicts or victims of abuse. Foothill Disposal embarks on annual ‘Spirit of Sharing’ food, toy driveAs another holiday season approaches, Foothill Disposal is holding its annual “Spirit of Sharing” food and toy drive through Dec. 8 in Mountain View to benefit needy families served by the Community Services Agency (CSA). Foothill Disposal employees will collect new toys, games, books, canned goods and non-perishable food items curbside during the four week period on residents’ regularly scheduled recycling or garbage day. Seniors NewsThe Los Altos Senior Center is located in the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information call 948-7483. The Mountain View Senior Center is located at 266 Escuela Ave. For more information, call 903-6330. Library NewsThe Los Altos Library is a collection site for food for the hungry in our community. Second Harvest Food Bank, which is marking its 25th anniversary, has placed collection barrels in the library. Most needed foods include: powdered milk, peanut butter, cereal and canned meats, tuna , soups chili stew fruit and fruit juices. CalendarLos Altos Senior Center, 9-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Today Community BriefsStanford Blood Center and the Golden Gate Clowns will sponsor a special blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at the Stanford Blood Center, 800 Welch Road, Palo Alto. Beloved clowns Delores “Dee” and Don “Homer” Burda will provide magic tricks, face painting and baloon animals for children of all ages. Everyone is invited to join the fun of clowning around for a good cause: giving blood. Donors are encouraged to call 723-7831 for information and to make appointments. Packs ’scouting for food’ Upcoming EventsHoliday treelighting ceremony, 6 p.m., Los Altos Community Plaza, corner of State and Main streets. Nov. 26 Students bring Pinocchio to lifeThe 25-person cast includes: Steven Lone of Mountain View as Gepetto and Misty Day of Los Altos as Cricky the Cricket join fellow cast members Ryan Page as Pinocchio, Tiffany Cherevko as the Blue Fairy; Jacob Gordillo as Signor Fox; Amber Milner as Signorina Cat; Bryan Freeman as The Puppet Master and Ben Robinson as Sharpe in the Foothill production. Lizz Embry, Jennifer Olmsted and Karen Szpaller of Los Altos; Ori Zadok of Los Altos Hills and Mei Ling Hui of Mountain View are also part of the cast. District in fact-finding mode before making decisions on elementary school projectsLASD construction Most Los Altos School District meetings this year have been marked by the tension and complexity as board members sought to balance school construction financing in an inflationary environment with meeting community expectations. The $94.7 million bond issue has resulted in passionate discussions over scaling-down expectations and balancing the needs of different sites. SchoolsSchools BriefsThe Los Altos High School Eagles Marching Band under Director Ted Ferrucci won first place in their division at the Pacific Grove Band Review Nov. 4. The competition is one of four scheduled this fall. Almond celebrates the joys of walking to schoolTraffic during mornings and afternoons at Almond School was congested, with parking spaces almost impossible to find. So a group of parents sought a solution. They formed the Almond Walks Group for students to walk, bike, bus or carpool to school. Measure E: Los Altos community supports district schoolsElection roundup Despite some fears of voter apathy or confusion, residents last week overwhelmingly approved the Los Altos School District’s request to extend a $264-per parcel tax for another four years to benefit educational programs. Measure C: MV and Whisman, ‘Together even better’Election roundup Next year, the Mountain View School District will be much bigger and will have the opportunity to prove it is better as a result of the overwhelming passage of Measure C, which affected the merger of the Mountain View and Whisman school districts next July. LASD and teachers enter into labor contract talksNegotiations Los Altos School District teachers and administrators met last week to negotiate a new teachers’ contract, negotiations that will likely lack the controversy of recent labor negotiation struggles of Los Altos and other municipalities. Sports On The SideFormer Los Altos resident Mike Croel has been drafted to play for the Las Vegas Outlaws of the new XFL pro football league. Croel, 32, has been out of football since the summer of 1999 when he played in NFL Europe. Prior to that, the linebacker played in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Denver Broncos. A first-round pick of the Broncos, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1991. The eight-team XFL, a joint venture of the World Wrestling Federation and NBC, starts play in February. Write on SportsEagles end season on sour note
Football Game Of The Week As it turns out, even if the Los Altos High football team had won last Thursday’s game against Saratoga, it would have missed the Central Coast Section playoffs. What is executive coaching?Jean on the Job What is executive coaching? These private consulting sessions are usually conducted on a one-on-one basis. The executive is exposed to new insights about his behavior and is then tutored into new behaviors that can enhance his professional potential. Business BriefsGregory J. Ayres has been named senior vice president of operations of YesVideo.com, it was announced last week by Sai-Wai Fu, the company’s CEO and co-founder. YesVideo.com is a San Jose company offering a new service for converting and sharing home videos on CD and the Web. Ayres brings to his new role more than 20 years of experience in establishing and directing all areas of profitable sales and service channels. He was most recently vice president of operations for Honeywell-Measurex Inc., a $460-million diversified technology and manufacturing multinational division of Honeywell Inc. During his 18 years with Measurex, Mr. Ayres drove corporate growth through sales, acquisitions and operational initiative, helping make the company an attractive acquisition to Honeywell in 1997. Ayres has directed all phases of business management, business development, international marketing, operations and B2B e-commerce with full profit and loss responsibility. Ayres was previously project manager and then machine production manager at the Procter & Gamble Co. BusinessPresidential limbo means a chance for bargainsStock Report Wall Street can deal with good news and it can deal with bad news. What it can’t deal with is uncertainty. Until the political stalemate is resolved, stock prices are apt to remain volatile. Single women making up larger percentage of home buyersCandace Daniels found buying a home in Los Altos and Mountain View too expensive, so she bought a house in Morgan Hill. Cindy Rickard rented an apartment in Mountain View for five years; then with low interest rates she found she could meet the payments to buy a house on her own. Peninsula Symphony plays FridayAs part of its 52nd season, the Peninsula Symphony will perform Brahams “German Requiem” at 8 p.m., Friday, and 1:30 p.m., Sunday, at Memorial Church on the Stanford University campus. The holiday concert will feature the Stanford Symphonic Chorus. The performance of Brahams’ masterpiece will feature soloists Nancy Wait Kromm, soprano, and Kenneth Goodson, baritone, plus a chorus of nearly 200 voices and the full forces of the Peninsula Symphony. Picasso and Brassai: 30 years of friendshipReview The great photographer, journalist and literary critic Brassai (born Gyula Halasz, 1899-1984) met Picasso in 1930 on assignment for a short-lived but influential small art magazine. Their friendship continued on and off into the 1960s and “Conversations with Picasso” (University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 1999; $32) was first published in French, in 1966 when Picasso was 83. BooksLocal artists ‘Paint the Town’ in millennium portraits of Los Altos, Los Altos HillsReview Paint the Town Cover Book BeatLinden Tree Children’s Records and Books on State Street swings into a holiday mood with a “wonderful selection of books and records” suitable for adults as well as children, according to owner Dennis Ronberg. “We have an entire wall of things that make great stocking stuffers, plus puppets from finger size up to the size of a large dog,” he said. Other Santa specials: a portable wooden doll house, suitable for toting to Tahoe or just to Grandma’s house; Madeleine dolls in various sizes; and a new line of wood blocks imported from Germany. Parents and grandparents, circle your calendar now for a festive holiday family sing-along of Christmas and Hanukkah music in the Linden Tree courtyard, 11 a.m., Dec. 20, with the “Magical Music Express,” the endearing duo, musicians Pam Donkin and Greta Peterson. PeopleWeddingsShana Lynn Fuller and Michael Paul Russnok were married July 1 in Massapequa, New York. The bride is the daughter of Donna and Rick Fuller of Los Altos. ObituariesCharles Edward Fagg, a longtime Peninsula resident, died Oct. 24 in Los Altos. A native of Iowa, he was 97. Mr. Fagg had lived in Los Altos hills since 1957. He was a 1926 graduate of Stanford Unversity and until his retirment, was affiliated with Wells Fargo Bank. NoteworthiesEach year Music Merit Awards are given to high school students who are outstanding in their school music programs. This activity provides a link to the community and encourages a younger generation to attend Peninsula Symphony concerts, developing future audiences and musicians. This year, three Merit Awards have been presented by the South Bay Guild of the Peninsula Symphony to the following students from local high schools: Spiritual LifePilgrims have led the way in giving nation its shape and characterAlong the Spiritual Path On Nov. 26, during Los Altos’ annual Festival of Lights parade, the Mayflower, surrounded by a band of Pilgrims, will sail once again. ‘Light a Candle’ ceremony helps grievers with supportKara, a Palo Alto-based grief counseling agency, will be offering its sixth annual “Light a Candle” holiday service 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Unity Palo Alto Church, 3391 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Kara representatives said the service provides participants an opportunity “to honor your missing someone as you join with others to remember the gift of love, to acknowledge grief’s journey and to light a candle in your loved one’s memory.” Stepping OutPA Players put new spin on familiar storyTheater review The story of the little Jewish girl hiding with her family for two dark years of Nazi horrors has become familiar through the book, movie and play. Yet this newly revised production by Palo Alto Players still has the power to send chills up the spine and fill the heart with sorrow so many years later. Woodside Priory putting on ‘And They Dance’Woodside Priory School this week will perform “And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson,” by Jim Leonard, Jr. Set in fictional Jackson, Ind., the play features flashbacks to show what happened to Elizabeth Willow, a young girl with polio who’s had a psychotic episode. ‘Elves’ are coming to Mountain View this weekendPeninsula Youth Theater’s “Stories on Stage” series continues this weekend with “Afternoon of the Elves.” The play runs Friday and Saturday at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Show times are 9:30 and 11 a.m., Friday, and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday. ‘Elves’ are coming to Mountain View this weekendPeninsula Youth Theater’s “Stories on Stage” series continues this weekend with “Afternoon of the Elves.” The play runs Friday and Saturday at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Show times are 9:30 and 11 a.m., Friday, and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday. Malian musicians perform Sunday at Stanford UniversityStanford Lively Arts presents “Voices of Mali,” featuring Oumou Sangare and Habib Koite, at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, in Stanford University’s Memorial Auditorium. Sangare and Koite are two champions of the distinct musical traditions of Mali. Sangare sings in the Wassoulou style, which addresses everyday concerns and is popular with the country’s young people. With her clear voice rising over the rhythm of the kamelen n’goni (harp), and djembe (large hand drum), Sangare sings against polygamy, male domination and the trend of young men to leave the country to seek wealth in the cities. |
In Our OpinionEditorialHere are our quick takes on recent local news events: |
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