How to stop a tragedy

Sheriff’s campaign emphasizes the importance of reacting quickly

Last week’s cover story featured Michelle Houde, the De Anza student who played a role in thwarting a would-be bomber’s plans for the Cupertino campus. This week, we look at efforts to get more residents to act immediately in such emergencies.

News Briefs

Supervisor Liz Kniss reappointed Los Altos resident Jay Stone to serve a second four-year term on the Santa Clara County Los Altos Fire Protection District Commission last week.

Stone has served on the seven-member commission since 1996, when former supervisor Diane McKenna appointed him to the position. As a commission member, Stone is responsible for keeping Los Altos and Los Altos Hills prepared for fire emergencies. The Los Altos Fire District serves more than 12,000 people.

Police Report

March 30, 7:08 a.m., Jordan Avenue: Police reported an auto burglary.

March 30, 7:37 a.m., Jordan Avenue: Police reported a residential burglary.

Los Altos Hills civic buildings, homes hit by burglaries

Los Altos Hills, an area described by Sgt. Mark Eastus, public information officer at the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department, as “one of the safest communities you could live in,” appears to have experienced a minor crime wave in recent weeks, including burglaries at Town Hall and the Purissima Hills Water District office, robberies at the Heritage House, which is the Los Altos Hills sheriff’s substation, and a home on Becky Lane, and a series of “five or six” residential auto thefts and burglaries of unlocked garages in an unincorporated area near Mora Drive and Eastbrook School.

Deputy Jeff Hunter of the Los Altos Hills substation of the sheriff’s department said Monday that the alleged perpetrator of the auto thefts was nabbed late last week, when officials discovered most of the stolen property in a home during a routine probation home search. The other crimes remain unsolved.

City could condemn Main St. property

The Los Altos City Council approved a resolution earlier this month that would allow staff to use condemnation to take over the leased businesses at the city-owned site on First and Main streets.

The resolution would “authorize staff to acquire outstanding leasehold interests in the city’s First Street property, and to take steps to qualify a resolution for condemnation, should such a resolution become necessary,” according to the resolution.The council is slated to decide next month whether to place a movie theater or hotel at the site, which is currently leased to The Home Consignment and Nielsen’s Martinizing Dry Cleaning. Both businesses have the option to renew their leases through 2006.

First and Main plans could threaten downtown Los Altos’ landmark tree

Los Altos

The development of the city-owned lot at the corner of First and Main streets could mean chopping down the pine tree that marks downtown Los Altos’ Main Street entrance.

Elaborate charade swindles MV residents out of $1,000s

Mountain View

Mountain View police are warning residents about two con men who allegedly defrauded victims out of thousands of dollars near El Camino Real on two separate occasions recently.

Mayor addresses questions about 1st/Main development

The future development of the city-owned lot at the corner of First and Main streets has generated city-wide controversy in recent weeks as the Los Altos City Council comes to a decision that will either place a hotel or movie theater at the .78-acre site.

The Town Crier submitted the following questions about the future of the First and Main lot to Los Altos Mayor King Lear last week. These are his written answers.

Letters to the Editor

As I listen to the arguments regarding movie theater vs. hotel in downtown Los Altos, gut feeling and common sense lead me to these thoughts:

1) It is good that our elected officials are taking a close look at tax revenue for our city, but with two more large hotel complexes going up on El Camino, do we really need another hotel in the area?

More news before opinion on Metcalf power plant

Media Watch

California’s energy story is actually expanding, or should be, as Bay Area news media tone down their crisis-of-the-day coverage. Important energy decisions await in Sacramento and locally.

Throwing in the towel

A Side of Clyde

With at least two new hotels eventually opening in Los Altos, it’s interesting to wonder whether any increased police action will take place after the hotels are open.

Drip, drip, drip, but could Pollock draw?

All About Art

This question is and has been the battle cry of Jackson Pollock dissenters for 50 years. Of course, the answer is yes! He studied with the best: Thomas Hart Benton, Hans Hoffman and the great Mexican muralist David Alfaro Sequeiros.

Gallery 9 artist’s jewelry and paintings represent a complete change of pace

Metalscapes, an exhibit of Judy Miller Johnson’s mixed-media paintings and jewelry, opened last week at Gallery 9 in downtown Los Altos. The creations represent a whole new direction in her art, she said, not only in medium and style, but in her method of working.

For the past two decades Johnson has specialized in all forms of printmaking, especially etching, and her images have been detailed and concrete, and fully envisioned in her mind’s eye before she even begins to work. The unstructured approach she took in creating the paintings featured in the Gallery 9 exhibit was completely new for her, she said.

Chamber sends out directory, a guide to local living

The 2001 Chamber of Commerce Community Guide and Membership Directory was hand-delivered to 16,000 residents and businesses in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills during the last two weeks of March.

This 72-page four-color directory is a complete guide to living and doing business in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. It includes information about city government, area attractions, public services, shopping in Los Altos, clubs and organizations, city history, schools and higher education, hospital and medical services, parks and recreational facilities, housing, places of worship, public art, and an economic profile of the city. Emergency numbers and essential public information are included along with a listing of special community events and a calendar.

Seniors News

Friday, 1 p.m.: Movie, “A Walk in the Clouds,” starring Keanu Reeves. Refreshments will be served.

April 13, 1 p.m.: Armchair travel featuring Ike Travis of Collette Vacations on planned trips to the French Riviera and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.

Los Altos Masons celebrate 50th birthday

Town Crier Publisher

Silicon Valley high-techs do not have a corner in starting up in someone’s garage. The Los Altos Masons started the same way in 1951.

‘You dirty rat!’ Pest proves costly for LAH couple

Los Altos Hills residents Pat and Russell Shonberg had a five-month frolic with a super-rat who apparently wanted to be a squirrel.

The first evidence of an alien in a Shonberg vehicle surfaced last November, when Pat’s screaming yellow Volkswagen showed a red “check engine” light. A check by the Gilroy dealer who had sold Pat the car revealed a huge nest packed to capacity with acorns.

Incorporationists played to resident fears

This is Part II of a two-part article of the “war” in Los Altos.

As you’ll recall from last week, in June 1950, the pro-incorporation forces were mounting a strong campaign. The supporting articles in the local paper continued to point out that there were already signs of trouble arising from the lack of a formal city structure. Due to the area’s unorganized state, apathy was on the rise, perhaps because of acceptance of remote control over local affairs which had become so familiar during the war years. This was eroding the famed charm of Los Altos. The incorporationists fanned the flames of fear, suggesting that chaos could result if locals were to take their situation for granted.

Groundbreaking for YMCA expansion this Saturday

Led by its volunteer board of directors, the local YMCA has completed its capital fund drive to raise the needed funds for phase II construction of its facility, located at 2400 Grant Road in Mountain View.

As a result, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new addition is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, at the site near El Camino Hospital. Phase II provides an additional 32,000 square feet of program space, including a new gymnasium and teen and youth center.

Library News

Andy Cammisa is the new library clerical supervisor for the Los Altos main library. He started work on March 5. He brings to the job 20 years of supervisory experience in the U.S. Postal Service.

In addition, he recently worked as a clerk and a page in other libraries in the Santa Clara County Library System.

Community Impact announces additions to executive team, new headquarters in MV

Community Impact, the non-profit leader for flexible and fulfilling volunteerism throughout the Bay Area, recently announced the appointments of Mary Matthiesen as executive director and Hilary Valentine as a new member of the board of directors. In addition, Community Impact has relocated its headquarters to Mountain View.

Matthiesen was executive director of the American Heart Association’s North Bay Region. She brings both a corporate and a non-profit perspective to Community Impact, with her 10-year background in sales and communications with McGraw-Hill and Sola Syntex, and in non-profit management with the California Transplant Donor Network and the AHA.

Movement disorders seminar scheduled at El Camino Hospital

For information or to register, call (800) 216-5556.

Calendar

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

Today

Community Briefs

The Los Altos Village Association and downtown merchants are once again inviting local kids and their parents to celebrate Easter with an annual egg hunt and a host of other fun activities.

Festivities get under way at 10 a.m., Saturday with the egg hunt, which takes place in front of stores along Main and State streets. The eggs will be filled with either candy or gift certificates. The Main Street hunt is for ages 1-6, while the State Street hunt is for children ages 7-10.

School construction on budget and on schedule for fall 2002 completion

Work is progressing on facilities renovations at Los Altos and Mountain View high schools, to the point where Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District officials still have nearly $5 million remaining for items beyond the original scope of the project.

Superintendent Rich Fischer said the district hopes to have work on the dining commons and theater buildings at both schools finished by October. Both theaters are designed to hold 350 seats. Work on the new library buildings at both schools is also scheduled for fall completion.

Students display talents at 31st annual Art Show

The Los Altos Art Docents will host their 31st-annual Student Art Show tomorrow through Sunday at Hillview Community Center. Artwork from every Los Altos elementary school student, K-6, will be showcased. Several seventh- and eighth-grade artists will also have pieces in the show.

About 3,500 pieces of art will be on display in several rooms at Hillview Center.

Springer slogans promote energy conservation at school and at home

The students at Springer Elementary School are feeling the effects of the power crunch and are doing something about it.

Last week, the Springer student council sponsored “Save your Energy,” a slogan contest about conserving energy.

Schools Briefs

Foothill Music Theatre has scheduled auditions for the summer production of “Show Boat,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tuedsay, in the Smithwick Theater, room 1000, at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. All actors in the production will receive a stipend.

St. Nicholas Annual Fund-raiser

Students learn to appreciate good writing through annual conference

Writers read their work to audiences of English students at the Los Altos High School writers’ conference last week. The 16th annual event gave students and budding writers an opportunity to talk directly with poets, novelists, and journalists about their work.

English teacher Galen Rosenberg helped coordinate the event with parent volunteers. Rosenberg decided on a class schedule for the authors and compiled a collection of the writers’ work to distribute to the classes.

Sports On The Side

A free lecture on golfing posture will be held 7-8 p.m., April 11, at Back to Fitness in the Charleston Center, 3906 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. The lecture will be given by physical therapist Nancy Chan. For reservations and more information, call 494-0991.

Walking for a cause

Hills-based Pony Club excels at competition

Young equestrians from Pacific Ridge Pony Club, based at Westwind Barn in Los Altos Hills, triumphed in the annual “Know Down” competition of horse management skills March 17 in Half Moon Bay.

Winning first place in the Junior Division, prevailing over 17 other teams from the middle California region of the U.S. Pony Club, were Laura Krieger (team captain), Katie Daw, Elizabeth Evans and Katherine Lynch.

Mustangs in the hunt for El Camino crown

Town Crier Correspondent

Prep Softball Report

Eagles fall to Fremont

Town Crier Correspondent

6 errors prove costly

On Deck: the local sports lineup for April 4-10

Baseball

Today

Sabrina Quintero named WAC Pitcher of the Week

Los Altos High graduate Sabrina Quintero, a pitcher on the San Jose State softball team, on March 19 was named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week .

Quintero, a senior from Mountain View, pitched 18.1 innings in relief in nine games of the Capital Classic tournament and was named to the all-tournament team.

Shine named West Region Girls Tennis Coach of the Year

Los Altos resident Bill Shine has been named the 2000 West Region Girls Tennis Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Shine coaches both the boys and girls varsity tennis teams at Menlo School in Atherton. Last fall, Shine coached the girls team to the Northern California championship and a top-five national ranking. Last season’s boys team was ranked second in the nation.

Mtn. View girls making waves; Eagles can’t track down ‘Cats

Town Crier Staff Report

he Mountain View High girls swimming and diving team remained undefeated in the SCVAL El Camino Division by routing host Wilcox 141-42 last Friday.

Broadbase CEO’s no-frills approach keeps this software company hot

Chuck Bay won’t win any awards for pretentiousness. This down-to-earth, down-to-business Los Altos resident feels just fine in a polo shirt and being addressed as “Chuck.” He managed to be friendly and direct at the same time as he explained why his company, Broadbase Software of Menlo Park, occupies a unique niche in e-commerce that may well keep it very profitable for years to come.

Bay, 43, who became CEO of the company in January 2000, has guided Broadbase through incredible growth which has taken the employee base from about 80 two years ago to more than 600 now. He has also presided over four mergers and the company’s initial public offering (IPO) in September 1999. Bay had come to Broadbase in 1998 with experience handling mergers and a successful IPO with Pure Atria Software Inc.

Who pays for lunch?

Jean on the Job

Here are my rules for who pays for lunch. I have been so surprised when someone asks me for lunch and then doesn’t pay the bill or makes me scramble to pay half of the bill. Most restaurants take two credit cards for one bill. Just ask them to split the bill for you. Don’t forget the tip!

AAUW sponsors April workshops on money facts

The Los Altos-Mountain View branch of the American Association of University Women will present four weekly workshops in April focusing on “Financial Savvy for Women & Girls.”

“Making the Most of Your Money,” a financial planning workshop for women of all ages, will kick off the series 5:30-7 p.m., April 4. The speaker is Jacqueline Mayer, of Mayer, Moll & Associates, San Jose. She is a certified financial planner and chartered life underwriter.

Business Briefs

The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce’s 13th annual Business EXPO 2001 is scheduled 4-7 p.m., April 26, at the Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road.

The event will feature Los Altos retailers, restaurants, professionals and services coming together to show off under one roof.

Stock Report

The view from Omaha - Warren Buffett style

With the Dow Jones industrial and the Nasdaq composite experiencing huge daily volatility, this column will attempt to explain the philosophy of Warren Buffett and his investor theory on stock valuation.

LAH resident devises tool for smart investing

“Buy low, sell high” is the traditional advice to those investing in the stock market. Perhaps all too often, investors go against this advice. They buy a “hot” stock whose price is soaring, or they panic and sell stock as its price begins to drop.

Los Altos Hills resident Ron Schilling has developed an investing system called the Intelligent Investor, which he has recently posted on a Web site. He said his system establishes a logical, consistent method an investor can use to select stocks for his or her portfolio. It enables the individual investor to communicate more effectively with a financial professional, such as a stockbroker.

Transactions

Los Altos

2093 Crist Drive - Lofdahl Trust to J. & K. Doust for $850,000.00

What is the market like? Agent tells all

Realtors all over Silicon Valley are being asked their opinion on what the market looks like. Some people want to know because they want to make sure the equity in their home continues to maintain its value; others want to find out whether maybe, just maybe, they can afford finally to buy.

Taking a look at the big picture is a good idea, since the real-estate market typically runs in cycles. There are high and low periods running an average of 5 to 10 years. On the other hand, you can’t really describe the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley as a “typical” real-estate market.

Bus Barn’s ‘Scapin’ earns its laughs

Review

Along with the bright, energetic colors of spring comes “Scapin,” a wild farce adapted from Moliere by Bill Irwin and Mark O’Donnell. Shine up your funny bone before entering the Bus Barn Theater, where comedy moves into the very seats of the audience. First-row theatergoers may find themselves participants at times - be forewarned.

When leasing a car, do your homework

By Robert Hammer and Stefanie Kelly

Buying or leasing a new car should be a pleasant experience, from the initial excitement that accompanies the decision-making process to the thrill of finally getting behind the wheel.

Good Housekeeping reveals auto award winners

Good Housekeeping Institute Technical Director Donald Mays recently announced that 10 automotive nameplates have earned the Good Housekeeping Institute Women’s Automotive Satisfaction Award.

All of the winning models met the criteria initiated by a survey of female new car purchasers and lessees conducted on behalf of the Good Housekeeping Institute by J.D. Power and Associates.

Report: specialized vehicle clusters replacing traditional auto segments

Traditional automotive segments are being replaced by smaller, specialized vehicle clusters, according to research compiled by Visual Forecasts LLC, a Detroit-based automotive analysis firm.

The recent introductions of vehicles like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escape and Honda Insight have helped accelerate the breakup of traditional vehicle segments, providing consumers with new vehicle definitions to choose from.

New Web site offers alternative for car shoppers

Auteo Media, Inc. recently launched Autoloco.com, a Web site featuring more than 300,000 used vehicles and access to an estimated 8,000,000 new cars from 23,000 dealerships across the United States.

In minutes a new car shopper can propose the car of interest and get e-mail pricing and availability from any or all dealerships carrying that make in their state.

CCFA asks Bay Area residents to donate their used cars

The Greater Bay Area Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is asking people to donate their used cars, trucks and motorhomes to help those afflicted with inflammatory bowel diseases.

The “Cars For A Cure” program gives the maximum tax deduction as allowed by law, while helping to fight digestive diseases.

Maternity Seat Belt aims to better protect pregnant women

Should a woman wear a seat belt while she is pregnant?

Some OB/GYN doctors dispute the obvious answer for fear that the lap portion of the vehicle’s seat belt may cause injury to the unborn baby. However, without the seat belt, the expectant mother could sustain even greater injuries or death, substantially increasing the danger to the unborn baby.

Los Altos is a great town for owners of classic cars

Driving Passions

Every year at the Los Altos Fall Festival, 60 classic cars owned by local residents fill one of the plazas. Carefully restored or maintained in showroom condition, many of these cars have won awards at the best car shows in the country.

It takes more than one recall to deter consumers

A recent study by the Polk Company reveals that it takes more than one recall to undermine the loyalty of customers toward their favorite vehicle brands.

In fact, loyalty stands firm until a customer experiences three or more recalls, and then customer loyalty quickly erodes. Polk found that in light of the recent rash of recalls in the automotive industry, it is vitally important for a manufacturer to keep the number of recalls per customer at a low level to avoid future loss of its customer base. When a customer experiences three or more recalls, special consideration should be given to boost loyalty.

Luxury cars dominate dependability study

Lexus ranks highest in long-term dependability for the sixth consecutive year, with less than one-half the number of vehicle problems than the average manufacturer, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2000 Vehicle Dependability Study.

Following Lexus in the ranking was sports car manufacturer Porsche, with Infiniti, Toyota and Acura rounding out the top five.

Engagements

Stephanie Sarah Knox and Charles Peter Vega Jr. have announced their engagement to be married July 7 in Boulder, Colo.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Dr. John Knox and Barbara Knox of Boulder. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is employed as a CPA at Deloitte and Touche in Irvine.

Births

A daughter was born October 12 to Yuanyuan Xiao and Armin Spura of Mountain View.

A son was born October 13 to Roni and Chen Greif of Mountain View.

Obituaries

Rear Admiral Theodore Ridenour Frederick died of heart failure March 21. A native of Washington, D.C., he was 96.

Mr. Frederick entered the United States Naval Academy from the 38th Congressional District, New York state, and graduated with the class of 1926.

Briefs

Los Altos Lutheran Church , 460 S. El Monte Ave., will host the Alpha Omega program, run by the Mountain View Community Services Agency through April 21.

In addition to providing shelter for about 10 guests, they provide meals, with support of outside providers. For information, call 948-3012.

Trust the gifts the universe has to offer

Along the Spiritual Path

Recently I volunteered to word-process a medical manuscript, pro bono, as a Lenten gift to the universe. Ruth Polata was impressed by this and invited me to expand on this gift and a lesson I learned long ago - “you can’t outgive the universe.”

Clergy Profile

Immanuel Lutheran’s Pastor Ericson lives with tears of joy

Pastor Jack Ericson of Immanuel Lutheran Church was in his office on a sunny morning recently, talking about all the non-profit groups who use the church’s facilities. When he described the group sewing pillows for cancer patients in his church’s fellowship hall that day, he became slightly overcome. Not embarrassed for a moment, he said matter-of-factly, “Tears are a part of my life.”

Friday prayer breakfast offers coffee beans and pigskins

The way Marshall Heller describes it, God played a major role in the success of her last business, the Mission City Coffee Roasting Company.

“The way the Lord led us is so amazing,” said Heller, who will discuss her experiences at Friday’s Peninsula Community Prayer Breakfast in Palo Alto.

Children’s chorus provides music education for local singers

Cantabile Children’s Chorus of the Peninsula and South Bay, a member of the Baroque Choral Guild and the Foothill College Performing Arts Alliance, is scheduled to perform Saturday at the Euphrat Gallery in Cupertino. It will also perform with the Baroque Choral Guild in Palo Alto and Berkeley June 9 and 10.

Cantabile Children’s Chorus is a community chorus that rehearses in Los Altos and San Jose. Drawing members from Los Altos as well as other towns on the Peninsula and San Jose, it brings vocal music education to more than 120 first-grade and older singers from this area.

CYS to perform ‘Prelude to Spring’ at Stanford

Stanford Shopping Center this weekend presents the fourth annual “Prelude to Spring,” a concert fund-raiser to benefit the international award-winning California Youth Symphony (CYS).

The event will take place in the shopping center’s garden courtyards, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday.