Shock waves from the financial turmoil gripping the nation have reverberated in the Los Altos area, as residents, local agencies and business owners try to predict what the market meltdown portends for their bottom line.

The Federal Reserve announced plans to expand credit to major national banks, and last week Congress passed a $700 billion financial-rescue package, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. But these moves – intended to rebuild faith in the American financial system and ease a liquidity crisis that has toppled banks – are difficult to understand even for area financial experts, leaving many unknowns for residents faced with the specter of tight times.

Ichikawa rules MV

Los Altos resident Adam Ichikawa won the Mountain View City Championship at Shoreline Golf Links last month. The Mountain View High senior shot two rounds of 73 to capture the crown.

Candidates for the Board of Trustees of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District discussed their platforms at a League of Women Voters’ Candidates Forum last week. The American Association of University Women, Los Altos-Mountain View Branch co-sponsored the pre-election forum held at the Los Altos main library.

Three candidates are running for two open four-year seats on the MVLA board of trustees in the district’s first contested election in 10 years. Residents within the district’s boundaries will cast their votes Nov. 4. Incumbents Susan Sweeley and Phil Faillace and newcomer Colin Rudolph responded to audience questions following their three-minute opening statements.

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