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Archives » 2001 » Volume 54 , Issue 21, Published on Wednesday, May 23, 2001NewsParade beats the heat
Town Crier Correspondent 54th annual event is the cat’s meow for hundreds of local families First and Main development plans stalledPlans to develop the city-owned property on the corner of First and Main streets in downtown Los Altos appear to have become tangled in a Catch-22. The Los Altos City Council is scheduled next month to choose a land use and narrow the list of developers down to one before moving forward with specific parameters for the project. Part of this decision will be based on the developers’ purchase offers and ability to secure financial backing. News BriefsThe Los Altos City Council hired design consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates last week to evaluate traffic solutions for the Loyola School neighborhood before moving forward with a half-million-dollar federal traffic grant that could require the city to add its first roundabout as part of a list of street improvements intended to calm neighborhood traffic. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city a $495,000 “Safe Routes to School” grant earlier this year, after a group of Loyola parents prepared an application for street improvements, based on recommendations from a privately-funded traffic-planning consultant. Officials discuss new affordable housing challengesThe challenge to provide affordable housing in Los Altos is enormous, but the city can still do its part to comply with a state mandate, Councilman Lou Becker told an audience at a League of Women Voters-sponsored April 28 meeting on the subject. The meeting, held at the Mountain View Library, featured Becker along with Mountain View Councilwoman Rosemary Stasek, with discussion centered on each city’s affordable housing picture. Police ReportMay 17, 10:31 a.m., Foothill Expressway and Loyola Drive: Caller reported debris in the roadway Reckless Driver Dalai Lama stops in Los Altos for new vision
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader for millions of Buddhists throughout the world, attended to one small errand last week in Los Altos on the way to inspiring followers during appearances at Shoreline Amphitheatre. He had his eyes examined Thursday at Eye Lite Optical on State Street. Dr. Jabina Ramde, the optometrist who examined the Dalai Lama and fitted him for new glasses, said she will never forget the half-hour to 45-minute visit she had with the religious celebrity. LAH council tables the Fenwick revisionIn a surprise move Thursday evening, the Los Altos Hills City Council tabled a zoning ordinance revision that has been the subject of months of public debate. The controversial revision, often called the Fenwick formula, potentially could have doubled the allowable size of homes and lot development on all home sites. “I’m going to ask that the Fenwick formula be tabled,” said Mayor Steve Finn. “The change was probably more than we should bite off at one time.” Council considers new police ‘agent’ positionsSix patrol officers in the Los Altos Police Department could move up in rank as part of the city’s plan to retain officers and rebuild the police force following a year of record employee vacancies. The Los Altos City Council is considering a city staff proposal that would promote a half dozen officers to agent positions, a new field rank above officer but below sergeant. The agents would essentially act as supervisors, overseeing the field operations of their particular patrol team in the sergeant’s absence. CommentDon’t muzzle the mayorOther Voices The Los Altos City Council proposes to adopt “norms” to stifle public comment by our mayors outside council chambers on undecided city issues. Why? Because Mayor King Lear apparently confused some folks with his opinions versus unsettled city plans for use of controversial city property. OpinionIn praise of fathersBlue Jeans & Jelly Beans Father’s Day will fall on Sunday, June 17, this year. For most families school will be over by then. If we’re not careful, fathers might not get much attention. Letters to the EditorYour headline on the Rosita Park pool proposal (May 16) was not accurate. The city council did not approve a plan. The council must consider any proposal based on assumptions of size and scope. The architects for the pool proposal presented four conceptual ideas for evaluation. The council selected one of the four concepts as the basis for further review. Further review is exactly what is needed. As noted by council, no one has provided an overall site usage evaluation that includes the pool proposal, current soccer, baseball and park activities, Covington elementary (including possible dual school usage) as well as a large day-care center. After surviving raging storm on Mt. Everest, Beck Weathers revitalized in love of familyTown Crier Correspondent Last Friday evening Seaborn Beck Weathers told the audience at the Foothill College Celebrity Series at Flint Center, “I’m lucky to be here. I’m lucky to be anywhere. I’m a survivor who was given a second chance.” CommunityThousands of art lovers visit Rotary Club’s ‘Fine Art in the Park’
Town Crier Correspondent For many artists, last weekend’s annual Los Altos Rotary “Fine Art in The Park” is the show to be in. Rated as one of the top 10 best-selling fine art shows in California, it features more than 200 innovative artists from all over United States. WeatherFriday through Sunday: Areas of night and morning low clouds around the bay and locally inland - otherwise mostly clear. Lows in the 50s, highs from the upper 60s at the bay to mid-80s well inland. - Courtesy of Weather Underground Hidden Villa officials to dedicate new hostel June 2, featuring environmentally-friendly designThe public is invited to tour Hidden Villa’s new hostel at its opening celebration 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2. Hidden Villa is the oldest continuously operating hostel in America and home to the country’s first multiracial summer camp. A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will dedicate the hostel to continuing the humanitarian and environmental legacy of Frank and Josephine Duveneck. Local children make music with CantabileEvery week, the members of Cantabile Children’s Chorus put aside their books, balls and baseball gloves, and come together to sing. These children, from first grade through high school, aren’t just carrying a tune. They are singing in harmony, learning music theory, and having a wonderful time doing it. Los Altos: home of the walnut hullerLooking Back, Moving Forward For most of us, Los Altos is home to the leaders of companies that build or service things. When we think of local business, our thoughts are probably on the many merchants that populate Loyola Corners, Rancho Market, or the village proper. Real estate, medical, clothing, restaurants and specialty stores have long been at the core of our local economy. ‘The Laughing Stockbroker’ cheers up Morning ForumAlthough most investors are anything but happy nowadays, David Goldman, who writes “The Laughing Stockbroker” financial column for ABC News.com, provided the April 17 Morning Forum audience with some laughs, as well as financial advice. Goldman advocates taking the long view, saying that most people do not plan for today’s life expectancy, an average of 86 years for males, 91 years for females. People also fail to adequately factor the effect of taxes and inflation into their investment plans, he said. “A package of Twinkies cost 17 cents in 1976, and today they’re $1.10. How much will your Twinkies cost when you retire?” he asked. ‘Growing up Asian in America’ essays, art on displayThe works on display were chosen from 1,200 entries by K-12 youth from nine counties in the Bay Area. Winners of the contest received $27,000 in savings bond awards. Korey Lee of Mountain View was among the winners. Los Altos engineer moonlights as ’songster’John Reed of Los Altos is one of the classic breed of Silicon Valley dwellers called a “hardware engineer.” Since the mid-1960s, Reed’s career has involved the design and development of semiconductor memory chips. But those around town who know him know there’s a lot more going on than just the technical stuff. Reed’s been involved in several political campaigns from the local to the national level. And among his many talents, Reed also sings. Library NewsThis summer, the Los Altos Library will present “Summer Shorts,” book discussions on short, but stimulating titles. Everyone is welcome to the discussions on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the small conference room. The schedule is as follows: Community BriefsThe annual Rancho Roundup, a benefit for PTAs at local schools, is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon, June 2, at Rancho Shopping Center, Springer Road and Foothill Expressway, Los Altos. A $2 donation buys a pancake breakfast, including sausages, orange juice and coffee, courtesy of the Rancho Merchants Association. Oak aims for 75 percent participation in Walk to School DayOrganizers hope three-quarters of the Oak Avenue Elementary School student body will participate tomorrow in Walk to School Day, the last such event for the current school year. Students and teachers are encouraged to walk or cycle to school that day, or to carpool if they must drive. “Nationally, it’s estimated that only 13 percent of all trips to and from school are by foot or bicycle,” notes PTA Walk to School Committee Co-chairwoman Renee Lewis. “With so many cars on the road, we urge everyone not to rush to school, but to take the time to walk, cycle, drive and park safely.” SchoolsParent foundation raises $700,000 for Los Altos School DistrictThe Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) presented the Los Altos School District with a check for $700,000 at the May 7 school board meeting. The check was drawn from the funds raised by the foundation’s annual appeal for the 2000-2001 school year. “We are a parent volunteer-based organization,” said LAEF Executive Director Robyn Fay. “It has been amazingly successful when you think of a small community raising $700,000,” she said. Schools BriefsFoothill College has scheduled its annual Career and Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., today, in the Library Quad of the Los Altos Hills campus. Admission is free. The public is invited to attend. Parking lots 1, 3 and 5 provide easy access to the Library Quad. Campus visitors must purchase a parking permit for $2. For more information, call 949-7229. National teacher training at Foothill Retiring MVHS coach leaves teaching to daughterJerry Gosland leaving after 36 years, but daughter to return to classroom June is going to be a busy month for Jeanne and Jerry Gosland of Los Altos. Red Cross teen volunteers offer peers a safe ride home
Sean Harris doesn’t mind when complete strangers call him late on a weekend night for a ride home. Neither do the other teens who volunteer for the Safe Ride program at the Palo Alto Area Red Cross (PAARC). Students from Gunn, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, St. Francis, Pinewood and Homestead high schools volunteer to run the confidential program. Free rides are available Friday and Saturday nights, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. NoteworthiesNelson Ching, a journalism student at De Anza College in Cupertino, will work in a summer internship at Newsday in New York City, beginning June 11. Kevin Lee Vanderbeek of Los Altos graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance from Trinity University on May 12. St. Nicholas fifth-graders sweet on trip to ‘Chocolate Factory’The fifth-grade class at St. Nicholas School produced and performed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory recently. In addition to the stage roles typical of a studentproduction, students worked on scenery, sets, costuming, and even as sound technicians under Director Stacy French and Assistant Director Maria Murphy Lonergan. “The children worked hard to get ready for this big event,” said Lonergan. “They painted all the scenery themselves.” SportsSports On The SidePro golfer Juli Inkster of Los Altos celebrated Mother’s Day with her first LPGA victory of the year. Inkster shot a 7-under-par 65 in the final round of the Electrolux USA Championship on May 13 at Legends Club of Tennessee. Her four-day total of 274 gave her a one-stroke win at the event, which put $120,000 in her pocket. Inkster was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame last year. On the run Owls’ doubles team gets to state quarterfinalsFoothill Roundup Foothill College’s top doubles team made it to the quarterfinals of the California Community College Men’s Individual Tennis Tournament, held May 10-13 in Folsom. Locals lead the way at gymnastics finals
Area schools dominated last week’s Central Coast Section gymnastics championships, with St. Francis, Gunn and Los Altos highs finishing 1-2-3. St. Francis captured the title for the second straight year, posting a score of 178.275 on May 16 at San Jose State University’s Spartan Gymnasium. Gunn scored 170.225 and Los Altos 166.525. Eagles & Titans exit early; Lancers advance to semisTown Crier Correspondent Prep Baseball Playoffs Flood of late entries keeps Mountain View Open tennis tournament in businessA month ago, Glenn Louie wasn’t sure there was going to be a 33rd Mountain View Open. Lacking a major sponsor, Louie and the other organizers were relying on player registration fees to subsidize the annual Memorial Day weekend tennis tournament. 17 locals make CCS track & field finalsSeventeen area high school athletes have qualified for Friday’s Central Coast Section championships, set for 4 p.m. at Los Gatos High They qualified with strong performances in last Saturday’s CCS semifinals at Los Gatos. Adobe Creek Restaurant closes doors, will re-open under new ownershipTown Crier Correspondent The day after an excellent Mother’s Day crowd, Adobe Creek Restaurant on First Street in downtown Los Altos closed its doors after only 18 months in business. BusinessRetail business facing a sizzling summer with energy crisis
Town Crier Correspondent PG&E has a program called “Riding out Summer 2001.” It’s a call for action and was presented to Los Altos Village Association (LAVA) members May 16 at the Washington Mutual Bank. Stocks appear bullish, ignoring bad economic newsStock Report It appears that after last week’s Federal Reserve lowering of interest rates, a springboard is being built for stronger performances later this year. Lately, the market is better at accepting bad economic and corporate news and investors now focus on the next earnings period in a positive manner. Business BriefsLe Boulanger Inc. will celebrate 20 years in business next month. The first Le Boulanger bread and bakery was opened in Los Altos in June 1981, by Roger and Dan Brunello. Another 21 locations have since opened in the Bay Area. EngagementsAmy Leigh Butler and Daniel Fischer have announced their engagement to be married Sept. 22 at Los Altos Lutheran Church, with a reception to follow at the Historical Ainsley House Gardens. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Solveig and David Butler of Los Altos. She is a graduate of Mountain View High School and recently graduated from college with a degree in interior design. She is employed as an interior designer for a homebuilder in Los Altos. PeopleObituariesRandall T. Binkley died May 6. A native of Vancouver, Wash., he was 66. Mr. Binkley spent 38 years of his life sharing his love of nature, hiking and science with generations of students in the Cupertino School District. For more than 20 years, he coordinated a weeklong program to Yosemite for more than 6,000 eighth graders, teaching them about ecology, cooperation and the grandeur of nature. He created Project Access in 1994, a year-round program of enrichment and exploration in science for girls. More than 150 girls have participated in program field trips to visit mostly female scientists. Stepping OutNothing ‘Odd’ about Bus Barn’s latestTheater review The great wit and humor of Neil Simon is alive and well in Bus Barn Stage Company’s production of “The Odd Couple.” Peninsula Symphony back on trackConcert review In recent years, I’ve commented negatively about the imprecisions plaguing the Peninsula Symphony and wondered whether its reputation exceeded its quality. ‘Hoffmann’ promises musical, visual delightWest Bay Opera concludes its 45th season with the surreal and dreamlike “The Tales of Hoffmann,” premiering Friday at Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. Organizers said it’s a production bound to dazzle and excite. “The Tales of Hoffmann” (”Les Contes d’Hoffmann”), an opera by Jacques Offenbach, consists of stories by the German romantic poet E.T.A. Hoffmann regarding the great loves of his life and the evil geniuses who thwarted him at every turn. Foothill opens production of ‘The Country Wife’ on FridayThe Foothill College Drama Department presents William Wycherley’s “The Country Wife” Friday through June 10 in the school’s Studio Theater. All performances start at 8 p.m., except for a 2:30 p.m. matinee on June 10. A story about the relationship between the sexes, “The Country Wife” puts jealousy and trophyism under the microscope. Focusing on the perils of immature marriages based more on convenience than on love, the author shows us the results of such ill-advised couplings - adultery, hypocrisy and neglect. The drama lampoons the opulence and style of 17th century London. It is appropriate for audiences 14 and up. Stanford’s production of ‘Tectonics’ set to openThe Stanford University Department of Drama presents Jose Rivera’s “Cloud Tectonics” this weekend and next in the Little Theater in Stanford’s Memorial Hall. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday and May 31-June 2. Your HealthHouse CallReap the triple benefits of bicycling If you thought you saw more bicycles on the road than usual last week, you weren’t imagining things. It was National Bike-to-Work Week. Thousands of people across the country favored two wheels over four to minimize pollution caused by automobiles, save money and do something healthy for their bodies. High blood pressure an insidious diseaseThe Health Library at Stanford High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of disability or death due to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. It’s also the most common chronic illness Americans face. An estimated 50 million American adults have high blood pressure. That’s about one out of every four people in this country. Each year, 2 million new cases of the disease are diagnosed.” Ronald McDonald House to offer more families affordable accommodationFor Petra Manning, the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford makes all the difference in the world. “It’s nicer than staying in a hotel,” she said, while waiting for her 2-year-old son, Aaron, to recover after a kidney transplant. Manning, from Hawaii, has been living at the house since March. The family doesn’t expect to leave until late June. “We as parents can talk to adults who have gone through the same thing,” she said. Health BriefsThe Center for Healing and Wellness is offering scholarships for its Mind/Body/Spirit series to adults affected by serious illness. The series empowers clients through the emotional crisis that accompanies the diagnosis of a serious illness. The Sobrato Family Foundation has provided $15,000 for scholarships. The center has also scheduled free Art and Play Therapy Support Group activities for children and teens who have a close family member with a serious illness. “Art and Fun” for ages 4-17 is slated 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Center for Healing and Wellness. ‘Stent-sible’ solutionThey shore up arteries, join angioplasty in fight to avoid major bypass surgery Heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases are most often caused by the buildup of cholesterol - plaque - within an artery wall. As the internal lining of the artery thickens with plaque, the blood vessel becomes increasingly constricted and blood flow diminishes. If left untreated, severe vascular narrowing can eventually damage the affected organs. Do prescription drugs deplete vital nutrients?The Corner Pharmacist Meet Mary Kundert, the Town Crier’s latest addition to its monthly health series. Mary is a registered pharmacist specializing in integrative medicine. She earned her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of California at San Francisco in 1990 and currently works part time at Los Altos Pharmacy. Certified in “Phytomedicinals and Alternative Medicine” by the California Pharmacists Association, she also provides private consultations. She and her family live in Los Altos. |
In Our OpinionLetters to the Editor
Leo Long earns local honorsIn the April 30 issue of the Town Crier, you were right to congratulate and thank Dick Henning from Foothill College for four decades of service to the community. I met him at Foothill as student body president more years ago than I’ll admit. Great guy. |
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