Shopping season at hand

Local merchants unfazed by changing tastes, technology or economy

The joy of the holidays involves friends and relatives getting together, sharing space, time and, yes, shopping for each other.

Los Altos to begin process for hiring new police chief

The Los Altos City Council could begin searching for a new police chief as early as this month. Lucy Carlton said she plans to retire from her nine-year position as Los Altos Police Chief within the next 10 months.

She and City Manager Phil Rose asked the city council to begin recruiting for the position immediately in order to provide more time for Carlton’s successor to work with staff on a possible new long-term plan to restructure the police department.

Illegal plant debris leaves LAH residents bewildered

Gardeners spend hours trimming, cutting and chopping clients’ trees. So where does all that unwanted plant debris go? Apparently, some of it ends up in the yards of surrounding homes.

At least two residents on Ravensbury Avenue in Los Altos Hills complained to sheriff’s deputies last week about an estimated four-to-five truckloads of eucalyptus chips and grass clippings left on their property over a period of three weeks.

Police audit highlights

“The Los Altos Police Department is at a critical state in its evolution. … The department is experiencing staff turnover and position vacancies. As a smaller law enforcement agency, the department faces and will continue to face major challenges associated with staff recruiting and retention to sustain staffing levels necessary to provide law enforcement services to the community.”

“The Los Altos Police Department is in the midst of a difficult time. Contentious labor negotiations, coupled with relatively significant turnover, have led to internal dissatisfaction in the Department and some distrust of the city council and top city managment.”

News Briefs

An urban planning consultant is scheduled to fine-tune the draft policy that will regulate landscaping and paving along the shoulder of Los Altos city roads without curbs. The Los Altos City Council unanimously agreed Nov. 27 to hire an expert to further develop shoulder-paving guidelines before approving the policy. The council said it would support a policy that would balance safety, environmental and individual interests.

The purpose of such a policy is to provide recommendations to residents and staff on the limits and types of materials allowable for paving shoulders, or areas that lie in the public right-of-way. The policy will apply to 30 miles of unimproved streets. The city placed a freeze on shoulder projects until it approves a policy.

Audit calls for reducing turnover in Los Altos Police Department

Despite settling contentious labor negotiations with city officials last August, the Los Altos Police Department’s troubles are not over, according to a draft report of the city-commissioned police audit released last week.

The Los Altos Police Department is in a critical stage of evolution. Police officers say they distrust city management and the continuing high turnover could compromise the department’s ability to deliver law enforcement services, according to the 178-page report.

Newly elected hospital board members take office

Newly elected El Camino Hospital District board members Edward Bough, Dominick Curatola and Mary Louise Lee will begin four-year terms at the Dec. 13 district meeting.

Bough and Curatola, both Los Altos-area physicians, easily won re-election bids Nov. 7. Lee captured the third seat, vacated by Dr. Paul Hoar in April. Lee is a Mountain view resident and work site organizing director for Service Employees International Union Local 715 in Redwood City.

Keep new salons off State and Main

Nearly two years ago, we praised the Los Altos City Council for deciding against a moratorium on hair and nail salons. The numbers, after all, did not show a major increase in downtown salons over a four-year period.

Last week, the council extended an urgency ordinance, essentially putting a moratorium on new hair and nail salons (often called “personal services”) on State and Main streets for another 10 months and 15 days. This will bring the total time of the ban to one year.

Wild in the hills

A View from the Hills

I roll up the bedroom shade to peer through the morning mist. Will it burn off by noon and let sun filter through or will the chiffony grey curtain fall softly over the entire day, giving it an air of unreality, obscuring perception, blurring outlines?

Letters to the editor

Imagine my surprise upon returning from Europe to read an article from your Nov. 8 edition about our former office filled with pessimism.

The heading spoke of employees taking a chance and then proceeded to talk about the perils of the industry with the advent of the Internet ready to take over from traditional travel agencies. This story about Ligtelyn Travel Counselors requires clarification.

8 unsung volunteers thanked by town, city

The town of Los Altos Hills hosted the 18th annual Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills at the Los Altos Youth Center Friday. Doni and Sid Hubbard, recipients of the volunteer awards in 1999, served as moderators.

“We are hooked on the greatest people in the community who care,” said Sid Hubbard. “Doni represents the volunteers, and I represent the volunteered. Doni has always been the inspiration for me to volunteer.”

Calendar

Los Altos Senior Center, 9-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave.

Wednesday

Community Briefs

The American Red Cross in Palo Alto has initiated a vehicle donation program to generate funds for disaster preparedness and health and safety services in the community.

The Red Cross is accepting contributions of new and used, running or not, automobiles, small pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Upcoming Events

Carriage rides sponsored by the Los Altos Village Association. Call 949-5282 for reservations.

Feb. 3, 2001

Holiday Briefs

Music will be in the air Dec. 16 when the Aurora Singers, led by John Reed and the Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers, stroll the streets of downtown Los Altos.

Carriage rides throughout holidays

Police Report

Nov. 27, 1:17 a.m., Plaza South: Subject arrested for drunken driving.

911 hang up

Morning Forum learns to communicate cross-culturally with speaker Peter Grothe

When the American businessman in Hong Kong invited his Chinese counterpart and his family to dinner, he was amazed at the group of 19 people who arrived at the restaurant. To Americans, the invitation would be understood to be for the husband, wife and children; but to the Chinese, the term “family” extends to parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, Peter Grothe explained to members of the Morning Forum of Los Altos on Nov. 21.

Grothe, professor of International Policies Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, told the Morning Forum audience that cross-cultural faux pas are made by presidents, prime ministers and ordinary tourists, and jokingly said that since he has traveled in 118 countries, he has probably made cross-cultural errors in 118 countries. The meaning of family in different cultures is just one of 25 value orientations that anthropologists use to define societies, Grothe said. An understanding of these values can avert embarrassing incidents, such as the hug former President Jimmy Carter, a product of informal American culture, gave to the visiting prime minister of Japan, a highly formal culture. When Vice President Dan Quayle gave a reception in Malaysia, a country where punctuality is not a value, and left to play golf after 17 minutes, he offended many of the guests who arrived after he was gone.

Town Crier loses, gains a printer, continues publishing unabated

The Los Altos Town Crier has changed printers. Fricke Parks Press of Hayward signed on late last week to print the weekly community newspaper’s 16,500 copies, following the unexpected closing of its former longtime printer, Pizazz Printing of Milpitas.

Fricke Parks began printing with this week’s issue.

‘Paint the Town’ books ready for holidays, benefiting host of Los Altos non-profits

Holiday shoppers can now purchase the book that is a virtual time capsule of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills at the turn of the millennium. It was created by Town Crier publishers Paul and Liz Nyberg as a unique fund-raiser for local non-profit organizations.

Approximately 3,000 copies of the hardback book will be available in Los Altos starting this week, featuring paintings by 45 local artists.

Start new year with volunteer service to city of Los Altos

Do you resolve to get more involved in community life in 2001? The City of Los Altos seeks residents for a number of interesting and important committee and commission vacancies.

Inactive for some time, the Bicycle Advisory Committee needs members. They will advise city staff and the city council on promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety, updating the city’s Bicycle Plan, prioritizing bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects, and identifying and prioritizing potential handicap access ramp locations within the community. Regular meeting times will be established by new committee members.

Flu shots at a premium: 150 turned away at Los Altos Senior Center

New stocks of flu vaccine are expected at county health departments this week, but it’s still a race to see if vulnerable patients will get their shots before the virus makes its annual winter debut.

More than 150 people were turned away Nov. 29 when the Los Altos Senior Center offered flu shots to its members and residents.

A golden opportunity to see the best that modern art has to offer at SF museum

All About Art

The co-founders of Saga Corporation of Palo Alto, Hunk and Moo Anderson, began collecting in 1967 some 880 pieces of modern art, 330 of which are on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art through mid-January.

A constant: excellence in schools

Pages of the Past

A few months ago, Los Altans were again pleasantly surprised by the results of the California STAR tests. Those results demonstrated the quality of the schools for which our area is known. But outstanding schools are nothing new to Los Altos. It’s been that way since the early years, starting back in 1901, in a building that was once a fruit shed. The original Purissima School, on Robleda Avenue, was only open for one school year as the city looked for more permanent quarters. The following year, a new building was constructed and Los Altos’ sole teacher, Miss Helen Carroll, moved her operation there. Miss Carroll must have performed well the year before because she was awarded a 10 percent pay raise, increasing her monthly salary to $55!

A brief history: Community foundation movement got its start in Cleveland

Los Altos Community Foundation

This is the first in a series of articles about the Los Altos Community Foundation, a fledgling organization, which has already made a substantial impact in and around Los Altos. Before we begin the tour involving the people and places already touched by our local foundation, it is appropriate that we provide a brief history of the community foundation movement.

Partners for New Generations offering menu of mentoring opportunities

Partners for New Generations, sponsored by the Los Altos Rotary clubs and the Los Altos Community Foundation, is a community outreach program that connects volunteers with local agencies that work with youth.

“It’s helping children by helping yourself,” said Rotarian Cindy Leudtke, one of the originators of the program. “You grow up with a child by being a tutor or a mentor. The program goes beyond the Rotary and anyone interested in being a volunteer can be connected to a youth program.”

Donate your old cell phone to thwart domestic violence

Your old cell phone may be the key to quick relief for domestic violence victims.

Fine Homes and Estates, Seville Properties of Los Altos has joined the campaign to collect wireless phones to help these victims.

Seniors News

Dec. 13: 9:30 a.m., board of directors meeting.

Dec. 8: 1 p.m., birthday bingo. Celebrate December birthdays with cake, ice cream, music and free bingo.

Library News

The “Great Decisions” foreign policy discussion series will start in February in the Los Altos Library Program Room. Participants will meet every Monday, from 10 a.m. to noon, from Feb. 5 through April 2, except Feb. 19.

Topics to be discussed this year are: Trade and Globalization, China and Taiwan, Missile Defense, U.S. and Iraq, International Health Crisis, Mexico Reexamined, European Integration, and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

LASD board discusses grants, budget

School Roundup

The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees heard a report on more than 30 grants for district programs at last week’s meeting.

Girl Scout introduces troop to the finer points of car maintenance

Julia Balster, a senior Girl Scout in Santa Clara County Los Altos Troop 321, organized a car maintenance workshop for her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The Gold Award, presented for a major service project, is the highest achievement that can be earned by senior Girl Scouts.

Balster planned the workshop, held last month at DeAnza Automotive Technology Center, for high school girls who had a driving permit or license. It was designed to teach self-confidence and self-reliance to the novice drivers, along with the skills needed in emergency situations and basic auto maintenance.

LAHS students donate more than 4 tons of food

When the Senate of Los Altos High School, representing the second period classes, launched this year’s food drive, students set a difficult but, they felt, doable, goal of 5,000 pounds. This target represented a substantial increase over the previous record of 4,000 pounds, according to Senate President Reid Phillips, and extended over only six school days, Nov. 13 through Nov. 21.

Last week, the 20th annual Senate Food Drive donated 8,037 pounds of non-perishable food, half to Second Harvest and half to Loaves and Fishes.

School Briefs

Laura Bence, president of the Los Altos Teachers Association, announced last week that district teachers voted to accept the settlement defined by the negotiating team.

The agreement offers a 10 percent raise effective Jan. 1, with an additional 6 percent raise plus the standard COLA (cost of living) increase for the 2001-2002 school year.

Author offers his ’sediments’ on reading aloud

Author Jack Hasling writes stories with simple themes for his grandchildren and young students. Hasling visits schools and interacts with the children about his book “The Little Rock and Other Stories,” (Wild Rose Publishing, 1997).

Hasling visited Almond School Nov. 28 and spoke to Liz Lamson’s fourth-grade class about the adventures of a glob of mud and a piece of straw.

Thomas receives Los Altos School District board gavel

Jay Thomas will trade his office of vice-president of the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees for that of president at their meeting Monday when President Victor M. Reid III steps down. Thomas is well prepared for the transition; he is in his eighth year on the board and rotated through the presidency once before.

Thomas emphasized that the office of president does not bring any mandate nor additional power to the holder, but only the responsibility to guide the board, keep them focused and help meetings to run smoothly.

Girls Scouts fund benefits Blach’s programs

From kindergarten through sixth-grade at Loyola School in Los Altos, members of Girl Scout Troop 1086 earned money as junior girl scouts. They worked on the traditional cookie sales and various charitable events over the years and donated to different causes along the way, but they managed their money carefully. Now that they have all moved on to Blach Junior High School, they decided to disband their troop. Troop members agreed that their final donation should benefit the programs they are participating in at Blach. They presented checks to physical education teacher Pat Koren and music teacher Vivian McNulty at a brief ceremony at Blach last week. Principal Arthur Harris attended and recognized their contributions.

On Deck: the local sports lineup for Dec. 6-12

Girls Basketball

Today

Sports On The Side

Some of the Bay Area’s top college and high school baseball and softball coaches will speak Saturday at Calcagno’s Consulting Services and Association’s Baseball/Softball Clinic of Champions. The clinic starts with registration at 11:30 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. at St. Joseph’s School, 50 Emilie Ave., Atherton. The lineup includes Mark Marquess of Stanford and Sam Piraro of San Jose State. The clinic, open to the public, is recommended for high school and youth baseball and softball coaches. Cost is $35 per person or $30 each for those in groups of four or more. For more information, call Ray Calcagno at 969-3295.

In the gym

Mtn. View, St. Francis fit to be tied

Prep Sports Summary

Girls Soccer

Owls cap stellar season by bowling over Shasta

Foothill Roundup

Women’s basketball

St. Francis volleyball team captures fifth state championship

St. Francis High made California history last Saturday night, becoming the first girls volleyball team to win five state championships.

The top-seeded Lancers beat No. 4 La Habra 15-7, 15-3, 14-16, 15-6 in the Division II title match at Cypress College.

Panthers aiming for state crown

Prep girls preview

irls basketball continues to be one of the area’s strongest sports. Four of the six local teams qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs last year, with both Homestead and Pinewood claiming section titles. St. Francis reached the finals and Gunn lost in the quarterfinals.

Lancers look to defend CCS title

Prep boys preview

aking the Central Coast Section playoffs isn’t exactly difficult, requiring only a .500 record overall or in league. However, just two of the six area teams, St. Francis and Gunn, qualified last season.

Los Altos Bar and Grill under new ownership

Loren Masters and Steven Holloway are the new owners of Los Altos Bar and Grill.

“There’s something about owning a restaurant-cafe where people can have a good time and enjoy good food,” Masters said. “We’re going to cater to an adult crowd who are looking for a place for dining, dancing and gathering to have a good time.”

Are the dot.com refugees returning to the corporate nests?

Jean on the Job

Some dot.com employees are sitting at home wondering what happened. Others are happy fellows and gals, still glad they are free of the bureaucracy. Still others sit worrying that revenues won’t rise and they, too, will be begging on the doors of their old companies.

Business Briefs

After nine years as a fixture on Main Street, the Los Altos Golf Company is moving to 325 First St. The store is scheduled to open today.

The move into a new 3,900-square-foot facility houses an array of new features, including two Swing Solutions GVA (golf video) studio teaching and club fitting units. Included will be a Nike Golf concept shot, a practice putting green and a lounge area to relax and watch The Golf Channel and golf tournaments.

Falling stocks create worries about our economy

Stock Report

t’s scary out there in the financial world. The ferocious selling on Wall Street last week indicates the long-running U.S. expansion could be in for a rough ride in coming months. The technology-based Nasdaq has been in a bear market for some time and it opened down again Monday morning.

Transactions

Cupertino

19707 Alderbrook Way - D. & H. T. Yang to C. & J. Chang for $1,030,000.00

Finding love on a kayak trip on the Salton Sea

“Thank you for calling the beautiful Calipatria Inn and Suites. My name is John. How may I help you?”

“Well, if you really have a beautiful place, maybe I will take a suite instead of a room for tomorrow night.”

AAA offers nine tips for driving safely in the rain

The rainy season’s first strong storm front has arrived, and it’s a good bet there are more storms offshore and ready to roll in.

That means bad driving conditions for motorists.

There are plenty of holiday gift ideas for drivers

With only a couple of weeks to think about gifts for the holidays, here are some gift suggestions for soccer moms in their SUVs, weekend warriors who tinker with their cars and everyone in between.

For people in Los Altos Hills, there is an item called a Deer Repeller Avoidance System. This is perfect for those foggy nights on Altamont or Page Mill roads and could be a lifesaver for you and the deer. The Deer Repeller ($29.95) is similar to a dog whistle, emitting a high-pitched sound deer despise. It attaches to the grille of the vehicle and claims to have a range of 725 feet. Check it out at www.lentek.com.

Lexus IS300 aims to compete with vaunted BMW 3 Series

Auto Review

When you walk around a Lexus showroom, you don’t see many young people standing around checking out the cars.

Oh, the crazy things drivers tell insurance agents

Clyde on Cars

I talked with a couple of insurance agents in Los Altos and asked them if they ever found any stupid answers on insurance forms.

Foundation seeks used cars & trucks

The National Kidney Foundation is asking people to donate their used vehicles to the Kidney Car Program.

Kidney Cars is a nationwide, year-round, fully licensed and insured program. The foundation will arrange a free pick up for your used vehicle or boat and then acknowledge your gift for tax deduction purposes. It may also be a convenient way to make a donation without having to come up with out-of-pocket funds. Donors should consult their tax advisors for details regarding their specific situations.

Volunteer fund-raisers and 25 years of music in schools

SILICON VALLEY’S OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUND-RAISERS, “GOOD PEOPLE … GOOD CAUSES”: The National Society of Fund-Raising Executives held its special Philanthropy Awards Luncheon Nov. 2 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Twenty-six people and numerous organizations were recognized for their significant philanthropic service. This award recognizes volunteers who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills for the benefit of charitable institutions. Former schools superintendent Yvette del Prado was nominated by the Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT). According to the RAFT group, “she lights up the room with her energy and passion for teachers. Yvette’s enthusiasm is contagious, as many teachers and children can attest. RAFT is grateful for her leadership in its $5 million capital campaign. She is a gift to our community.”

Officials with the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) nominated Art Takahara, former Mayor of Mountain View. CSMA officials commented: “As chairman of the board, Art Takahara led the Community School of Music and Arts through its most successful annual fund-raising campaign in its 32-year history. He has helped to raise awareness of CSMA as an invaluable resource for arts education in Silicon Valley providing arts for all, regardless of a student’s financial resources.”

Weddings

Elizabeth McCarthy and William A. Yates Jr. were married Nov. 18 at the Chapel at the Presidio, San Francisco.

The bride is the daughter of Anne and Don McCarthy of Walnut Creek. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis and is employed at Merck & Co Inc.

Obituaries

Clyde Williams died Nov. 15 in Los Altos. A native of Montana, he was 76.

Mr. Williams attended Baker schools and farmed and ranched in the Baker area for many years. He moved to Los Altos in 1992, where the weather and altitude helped provide relief from the emphysema from which he suffered. Mr. Williams enjoyed reading, rock cutting, jewelry and pottery making and gardening. He was the son of Lewis R. Williams and Genevieve Williams.

Rotarian receives national award for leadership in AIDS workplace programs

Dushan “Dude” Angius, vice-president of Lawson-Hawks Insurance, Mountain View, and former president of the Rotary Club of Los Altos, has been honored as the first recipient of a special award from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Business and Labor Responds to AIDS Program for his “exemplary leadership in HIV/AIDS workplace programs.”

Presented at the National Business and Labor Conference on HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C., the first-time award recognizes Angius’ efforts during the past decade to promote AIDS education and awareness. The award, designated the Dude Angius Award, will become an annual award to honor other individuals who are dedicated to a high level of leadership and support for HIV/AIDS programs in the community, the workplace and/or among peers.

A loss for local art scene - Ralph Doerr to retire from ZYT Galerie

Some might say businessman Ralph Doerr founded the meeting place for the Los Altos art scene when he opened his gallery and framing store on San Antonio Road more than 25 years ago. ZYT Gallerie quickly became a hot spot for local artists to visit and display their work

Nearly three decades later, the award-winning frame maker has decided to retire. He recently sold the business.

MV Buddhist Temple welcomes local-born minister

Though the Rev. Dennis “Jay” Shinseki’s calling has led him thousands of miles and many years away from his childhood in Mountain View, it has now brought him home. As of Oct. 1, Shinseki is the new minister of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple.

Shinseki, 49, attended the temple as a child and graduated from Los Altos High School in 1969.

Before Christmas, there’s Advent - a time of hope, expectancy

Allow me to wish you the peace and joy of this holy season and I don’t mean the Christmas season.

The Christmas season begins Dec. 25. Christians call this time, the four weeks before Christmas, Advent, which means coming.

Baroque Choral Guild performing Saturday in Palo Alto

In celebration of the holiday season, the Baroque Choral Guild this Saturday presents a program of musical works from the Italian Renaissance.

The program will showcase works composed by a series of musical directors of the Venetian basilica, St. Marks, and will feature the period winds of The Whole Noyse.

Rating Hollywood’s latest holiday offerings

Film Vitals

Movie Review

Grammy-nominated Eroica Trio to make Stanford debut Sunday

The Eroica Trio is scheduled to make its debut appearance at Stanford University at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, in Dinkelspiel Auditorium.

The trio will perform from three works: Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Chaconne” from “Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004;” Bohuslav Martinu’s “Cinq pieces brève;” and Antonin Dvorak’s Trio in F Minor, op. 65.”

Foothill Symphonic Winds play Sunday at Cubberley

The Foothill Symphonic Winds, under the direction of David Bruce Adams, are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m., Sunday, in the Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

Professor Emeritus Terry Summa will be guest conductor.

California Youth Symphony putting on free holiday concert

The California Youth Symphony will present its annual free holiday concert at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, at the Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Road in Palo Alto.

Conducted by Leo Eylar, the orchestra will perform Berlin Bennett’s “White Christmas,” L. Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “Christmas Festival” and “Christmas Favorites” arranged by Bruce Chase. The Associate Orchestra, also conducted by Eylar, will present “The Merry Wives of Windsor Overture” by Otto Nicolai, the “Masaniello Overture” by Auber and the “English Folk Song Suite” by Vaughan Williams.