Los Altos Town Crier » 2001 » June

2001’s high hopes

Graduating seniors talk about their year and their future

oday’s graduations at Los Altos and Mountain View high schools are bittersweet. They mark the end of a four-year journey into young adulthood, while signaling growth and change into new environments beyond the comfortable and familiar. The Town Crier takes this opportunity to highlight four outstanding seniors in the class of 2001.

Los Altos may start renovations on Egan gymnasium next year

The Los Altos City Council is considering the possibility of having the gymnasium at Egan Intermediate School renovated as soon as next year, at the same time as a planned renovation for the Blach Junior High gym.

Council members met last week to discuss the feasibility of doing Egan and Blach at the same time and having an architect draw up preliminary plans.

News Briefs

Two nearby school districts and their Los Altos students benefited by the overwhelming passage last week of a parcel tax and a bond measure.

Measure C, an $80 million bond measure for renovating facilities in the Cupertino Union School District, got voters’ approval in the June 5 election by a 74.6 percent to 25.4 percent margin (10,992 to 3,736 votes with all 62 precincts counted). The district includes Montclaire School in Los Altos.

Police report

June 7, 3:39 a.m., Covington Road: Police checked on a commercial alarm.

Loitering

Ordinance to increase LAH development on slopes gets final council OK

A five-month public debate over zoning ordinance proposals that would increase size limits to floor space and lot development on sloped lots in Los Altos Hills has ended. Thursday night, the city council voted 3-2 to adopt the second reading of a revision initially proposed by Councilwoman Toni Casey in January.

The revised ordinance would expand the allowed floor space on constrained lots from 4,000 to 5,000 square feet and lot development from 5,000 to 7,500 square feet. A constrained lot is a lot with a lot unit factor (LUF) less than 1, but greater than .5. A flat, one-acre lot has a LUF of 1.

McWhorter’s says goodbye after 61 years of business

Town Crier Correspondent

Parent company U.S. Office Products files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Confusion reigns over financial advantages of First and Main development

Town Crier Correspondent

A revised staff analysis of the financial advantages to the city of the First and Main street development was presented at the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee last Monday. The City Council met June 12 to make a decision, and this report indicates the financial feasibility details have changed.

Letters to the Editor

I was surprised to read a very perplexing statement in a May 9 Town Crier article, “Union hospital officials continue negotiations”. This article deals with the negotiations between Service Employees Internal Union and El Camino Hospital.

The statement is a quotation made by the union’s chief negotiator, Christy Somersheim: “We’ve brought in a federal mediator, David Weinberg. He came to try to break the log jam”

Comment

How about selling First & Main property to Safeway?

Kallshian’s Korner

One of the interesting things that characterize towns like Los Altos is why some local issues become large enough to divide the town. For example: What to do with the property at First and Main streets?

Opinion

Anniversaries

The Living Experiment

In our earliest years we had barely earned the right to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Beyond getting married, we hadn’t accomplished much yet as a couple. Life was delightful, breezy and exciting - just like our young marriage.

Young LAH filmmaker Jon Chu being recognized, awarded for work

Son of Chef Chu’s owner gets directing scholarship

Jon M. Chu, the son of Lawrence (Larry) and Ruth Chu of Los Altos Hills, has received three awards in recognition of his directing and filmmaking skills in recent months.

Community Briefs

The Palo Alto Concours d’ Elegance is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, at Stanford University. The annual car show will be held outside Stanford Stadium on El Camino Real. Proceeds benefit Lion’s Club charities and Stanford athletics. The event expects to draw some of the finest restored automobiles in the country, spanning every era from brass-radiator cars built before World War I to the muscle cars of the 1960s and ’70s. Several Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents plan on showing their cars at the concours. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., judging, starts at 10 a.m. and the award presentation begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. For more information, logon to www.paconcours.com.

‘Got Books?’ theme of program

Community

Los Altos residents to receive awards from Red Cross

Los Altos resident Karen Duncan is one of three local residents who will be honored by the Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross at its annual meeting on June 14.

Duncan, who is a board member, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution of resources and leadership toward helping the American Red Cross carry out its mission of disaster prevention and preparedness. “Karen’s dedication and vision have helped our chapter meet our goals and successfully provide programs and services to the communities we serve,” said Pilar Furlong, interim executive director of the Palo Alto Area Chapter.

More artists in store for 22nd Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival

The 22nd annual The Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival celebrates its 22nd year this July 14 and 15 with its biggest event ever. Produced by the Los Altos Village Association, organizers said the popular family weekend party has long been one of the Bay Area’s biggest summer events and is rated among the top 75 art festivals in the entire country.

This year’s festival highlights include work by more than 450 artists, up from 400 in prior years, non-stop musical entertainment, street performers, children’s entertainment, an international foods village, and premium wines and micro-brews.

Cal Water issues water quality report

California Water Service Company, Los Altos, has announced its Consumer Confidence Reports are now available to the public. Company officials are joining with the Environmental Protection Agency in encouraging customers to read the water quality reports included with their bills this month.

The reports provide detailed water quality information, including results of water quality testing, a description of where the water comes from, and answers to customers’ most frequently asked water quality questions, such as: a chlorine taste or smell in the water; milky or cloudy appearance; or color in the water.

Chamber celebrates 50 years

Patsy Ouye, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, provided welcome remarks, and Dick Henning introduced the chamber’s past presidents in the audience and acted as master of ceremonies.

Highlights of the evening included recollections by past presidents of the Chamber of Commerce’s serious and comedy events over the last 50 years. John Meredith spoke about the history of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce during the 1950s; Jack Huston covered the 1960s; Don Allen mentioned changes that affected Los Altos in the 1970s; Ken Kaye covered the 1980s; and Penny Lave described changes during the 1990s.

Organic gardens featured on June 23 backyard tour

Backyard food gardens in Los Altos Hills and Mountain View will be featured on a tour of local organic gardens planned for Saturday, June 23.

Organized by the Valley of Heart’s Delight project, the tour highlights different approaches to organic food gardening. The tour begins at 9 a.m. or at 1:30 p.m. at the Foundation for Global Community, 222 High Street in downtown Palo Alto.

Amateur (ham) radio training course being offered

How would you like to chat with friends - across town or around the world - without paying monthly service charges? That’s what you can do with ham radio.

The Foothills Amateur Radio Society (FARS) presents the ‘No [Morse] Code Technician Class,’ in which participants learn not only what they need to know to get their first federal amateur radio license, but also what to do once they have their license and how to use the information they learn.

South Bay singers salute the American musical

Singing stars from TheatreWorks, the American Musical Theater of San Jose, and other South Bay theater groups will appear at 2 p.m., Saturday, to present a gala of the American Musical Theater at the Los Altos History Museum.

This live performance supplements the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit “Red, Hot and Blue,” showing at the Los Altos History Museum until July 8.

Despite the online revolution, library plays an important role

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Libraries often serve as the hub of a community. They are the place where students go to study, where children get to participate in some of their first reading experiences, and where the average citizen can get away from the hustle of everyday life by diving into a book, newspaper or journal. For nearly 90 years, the library has served our village in these ways.

Washington journalist assesses Bush for Morning Forum

When the U.S. Navy plane was being held in China, Evan Thomas asked a White House staffer where George W. Bush was and learned the president was on the south lawn, pacing off 60 feet, 6 inches, preparing to throw the first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewer’s opening baseball game.

Thomas, assistant managing editor of Newsweek magazine, told the June 5 Morning Forum audience that Bush came across well in this first test of his presidency, because be did not dramatize the situation as it unfolded, and he did not grab the limelight at the homecoming of the plane’s crew.

Calling all hams - have a ‘field day’ June 23-24

Radio amateurs or “hams” across the nation will celebrate Field Day June 23-24, during which they will attempt to contact as many other hams as possible using radio stations in field conditions.

The annual event is intended to exercise amateur operating skills in conditions resembling those that might prevail after a major disaster.

Seniors News

Friday: 1 p.m. Armchair Travel: “Silk Road,” presented by Bob Shaffer. Refreshments will be served.

June 21: 10:30 a.m. Grand opening of first bocci ball courts in Los Altos. There are two courts, located on the north side of the Senior Center. There will be demonstrations and information about forming leagues.

Library News

The Los Altos and Woodland Branch libraries will hold reading programs this summer for pre-readers, children, and teens. Registration for the pre-reader and children’s programs starts on Monday [June 18], and registration for the teen program starts on June 23.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers will enjoy a special Clifford Read-to-Me Club and a Clifford party on August 9 at 10:30 a.m.

Calendar

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

Wednesday

Longtime LASD administrator takes early retirement, sense of humor intact

When Lenore Cambouris came to the Los Altos School District at age 8, little did she know that when she grew up, she would work there for 23 years.

“I went through the Los Altos School District,” Cambouris said. “I went to Portola School, Los Altos High and Covington in junior high. Now I’m back,” she said with her trademark laugh.

Noteworthies

Emanuelle N. Burton of Palo Alto graduated cum laude from Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pa., with a bachelor’s degree in English.

Astrid Pulley of Los Altos and Patrick McCallum and Teresa Crocker of Los Altos Hills have received scholarships from the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Schools

Schools Briefs

Space is still available in the Los Altos Summer School Enrichment Programs for students grades 2-7. Summer school begins June 25 and ends July 20. Registration forms are available at the Los Altos School District office, 201 Covington Road. For more information, call 941-4010.

Gunn art displayed in council chambers

Songwriter has Santa Rita kids expressing themselves through music

Children’s singer-songwriter Bob Reid and the third-through-sixth graders at Santa Rita School in Los Altos have been hard at work writing, singing and recording songs.

“We wrote the songs with the kids months ago,” Reid said. “I gave the kids a practice tape of songs to sing and we recorded them in a classroom at the school in April.”

LAHS, MVHS grad ceremonies set for tonight on campus football fields

“Grad Nite” festivities will begin directly following graduation. Students need a ticket to participate. Students will be bused to the secret location where the celebration will be held.

Mountain View High School has scheduled commencement ceremonies for the class of 2001 at 6:30 tonight on the football field. An hourlong reception for graduates, family and friends is to follow in the main quad. “Grad Nite” festivities will begin directly following graduation. Students need a ticket to participate. Students will be bused to the secret location where the celebration will be held.

Scouts Round-up

Los Altos Troop 37 recognized Aaron Justin Epstein as an Eagle Scout at an Eagle Court of Honor on April 28 at the Los Altos Youth Center. Epstein was honored for exhibiting leadership skills, completing extensive community service as well as a special Eagle service project, and receiving 21 merit badges and a community service project.

The Los Altos Girl Scout Service Unit presented Community Partnership Awards to recognize local organizations which supported the Girl Scout program in the Los Altos community. This past year, Girl Scout team members Meg Solera, Suzanne Moshier, Leslie Williams-Hurt and Andrea Gorman met with the following local organizations to present this award. The recognized organizations are the Town Crier, Los Altos Village Association, Santa Rita School and Draeger’s Market.

U.S. Women’s Water Polo team to play exhibition at Stanford

Stanford University will be the third stop on the United States Women’s National Water Polo Team’s four-game exhibition series against the Australian Women’s National Team.

The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center. Tickets, available at the gate, are $10.

St. Francis High standout graduates to national team

A day after graduating from St. Francis High, Steve Lipinski found himself on a plane bound for Italy.

Lipinski wasn’t going on a European vacation, though. The 18-year-old was on his way to join the USA Men’s National Water Polo team.

Sports

Sports On The Side

The Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society holds its 14th annual MS Back to the Beach Tour on June 23. The event offers cyclists routes of 25, 50 and 100 miles. Cyclists’ needs are cared for along the way with breakfast, rest stops and a finish line barbecue. Participants collect pledges for completing their chosen course, with funds going toward the funding of research projects and local programs for people with MS. Volunteers are also needed to register bikers, and to help setup and cleanup. For information, or to register call (408) 988-7557.

Get ship-shape

Homestead High names new head coaches for varsity football and basketball

Homestead High will have new coaches for three major varsity sports when the 2001-02 school year gets under way.

The Mustangs recently hired new head coaches for football, boys basketball and girls basketball to replace men who stepped down from these positions.

LAHS seniors nominated for scholarships

Los Altos High students Scotty Hamilton, Vernis James and Rene Martinez were among the high school seniors honored last month at the REACH Youth Scholarship awards breakfast in San Jose.

The three local students were nominated for REACH awards, which recognize high school seniors who have overcome adversity in their lives to excel both academically and athletically. Reach is an acronym for Recognizing Excellence, Adversity, Courage and Hard work.

Jensen brothers have a big day at IIAJC golf qualifier

May 30 was a memorable day in the Jensen household.

Michael Jensen qualified for the National Independent Insurance Agents Junior Classic and his brother Chris scored a hole in one.

A Blach party in San Jose

Jr. high captures 5 events at county

Three athletes from Blach Junior High in Los Altos returned from the recent Santa Clara County Track and Field Meet with championship medals.

The British are coming to Mtn. View for soccer clinic

Town Crier Intern

The El Camino YMCA in Mountain View will team up with Britannia Soccer USA next week for a youth soccer clinic.

Horiye named SFHS tennis coach

Lynn Horiye last week was named the new girls varsity tennis coach at St. Francis High.

Horiye replaces Gary Dinneen, who has decided to retire after 13 seasons but will remain the boys varsity tennis coach.

Jean on the Job

Dissent and commit, out loud!

We got a call today from a non-profit organization that asked us to do conflict resolution for their organization. Well, really, it was team-building, but they said the real problem is that no one ever speaks up in the board meetings. The executive director knew there were problems, but the frustration never makes it to the boardroom table. Why not?

Business Briefs

SPAUG (The Stanford Palo Alto Users Group for the PC ) regular monthly meeting will be 7:15 p.m., June 27, at the Elks Lodge (Lodge room) at 4249 El Camino Real, in Palo Alto. Regular monthly meetings are on the last Wednesday of the month.

All guests are welcome, and the meeting is free to all first-time guests.

Business

Hammerstrom appointed director of Heritage Commerce Corp.

Hammerstrom, a founder of Bank of Los Altos and a member of its board since 1996, has been in private dental practice in Los Altos since 1976. He is active in numerous professional organizations, including the Northern California Academy for Dental Research and the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society.

Hammerstrom has been actively involved in the Mid-Peninsula community. He was a founding board member of the Los Altos-Mountain View Education Foundation and is a long-standing member and past president of the Rotary Club of Los Altos.

Analysts in a quandary due to mixed earnings outlook

Stock Report

After another up-and-down week, stocks opened lower Monday morning due to the mixed earnings outlook following warnings of disappointing quarterly results by chip-equipment makers. The Dow was down more than 90 points by noon due to heightened fears the sluggish economy would bring a harsh confessional season.

Los Altos-based Silicom Ventures helps emerging Internet firms get their wings

As it has often happened in Silicon Valley, the idea for Silicom Ventures hatched in a private home. Two years ago, while meeting in the den of his Los Altos home, Gadi Behar and other members of his stock-investors’ group - many of whose members are high-tech executives - decided to become venture capitalists.

Silicom Ventures focuses on businesses that provide products and services for the Internet and the growing field of interactive digital media. The investment group prefers to invest in the early stages of a company’s development from seed capital to second-round financing. Behar is the managing director.

Transactions

Cupertino

10334 Alpine Drive #B - J. & Y. Alcordo to S. Lin for $1,200,000.00

Revolving door of development continues

Town Crier Correspondent

Adobe Creek turns to ‘Z’; big changes along El Camino

Diverse attractions, strong dollar make Toronto, Canada, a must-see

As a Canadian specialist, my goal is to visit all of the provinces so I can capture the soul of the country. This trip, I went to Niagara Falls, Toronto and Ottawa. Canada definitely costs less. For each $100 in U.S. money, you get $145 in Canadian. With attractions as widely diverse as Flowerpot Island and the CN Tower, big city nightlife and remote wilderness, museums and art galleries, Ontario is enjoyable for even the short trip that I did. It is home to nearly 11 million people, more than a third of the country’s total population.

Toronto is the capital of Ontario and has the world’s tallest building, the CN Tower, l87 stories high. It took only 58 seconds to get to the top for a wonderful view. Toronto has an underground city of six-and-a-half miles of passages full of restaurants, shops with lovely granite floors and marble walls.

Summer program gets youth involved in community service

Lisa Ellsworth, 24-year-old Los Altos native, is the new coordinator for the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose’s Summer of Service (SOS) program. Her philosophy about how to inspire young people to get involved in community service is to provide a framework, fuel the energy and creativity inherent in youth, and let them go.

SOS, an eight-week summer day camp for youth in grades 7 through 10, utilizes the ideas and enthusiasm of middle school students to accomplish community service projects - the perfect way for Ellsworth to share her talents and inspire young people.

Food and Wine

Grilled entrees for dad

Spicy honey barbecue chicken

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Give something for dad to ‘wine’ about on Father’s Day

Town Crier Correspondent

If you’re thinking of dad on Father’s Day, remember the episode of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” where Morley Safer proclaimed moderate consumption of red wine was a significant part of the answer to the low rate of heart disease in France. That television show made an enormous impact on American wine-drinking habits.

The truth about ‘negative calories’ and ground turkey

Nutrition

Q: Because she wants to keep the food in her refrigerator cold, my mother leaves hot leftovers sitting on the counter to cool before she puts them in the fridge. Is this safe?

Food Bites

Common Ground Garden Supply will host its fourth annual Tomato Tasting from 12:30 - 3 p.m., Aug. 25 at 2225 El Camino Real in Palo Alto.

Both tomato growers and tomato lovers are invited to participate. Bring your favorite tomatoes that you are growing this season. You can label and slice once you arrive.

Affordable Chardonnays for the summer

I recently purchased 12 Chardonnays priced from $13.49 to $19.99. All were purchased within the last two weeks at either Draeger’s or Safeway. These wines are current vintages that are locally available. I have problems with writers that tout wines and attach a caveat, “Good luck finding them.” These wines you can find!

The selections from Draeger’s were all recommended by Julie White, the wine department manager.

Fresh fruit offers skin protection from summer sun

Consumers stock up each summer on sunscreen, sunglasses and cover-ups to protect their skin from the sun, but research shows that some of the most effective combatants in the battle against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays can be found in the produce section at the local grocery store, according to experts from California Summer Fruits.

It’s no secret that fruits and vegetables are important for good health.

Sticking to it

Alice Larse, 70, starts new cookie business with early success

Starting any business presents a challenge that calls for courage, determination and a lot of energy. Meet Alice Larse, a lifelong resident of Los Altos who, at age 70, could give Mrs. Fields a run for her money with a mouth-watering recipe she calls “Alice’s Stick Cookies.”

People

Weddings

Jill Michelle Coffin and Michael Gray Baker were married April 28 in Saratoga.

The bride is the daughter of Sally and Chuck Coffin of Los Altos. A graduate of Los Altos High School and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, she is employed at Caliper Technologies Corp.

Noteworthies

The Los Altos High graduate received a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, graduating with honors from Stanford University in 1997. While at Stanford she received a University Undergraduate Research Opportunities Major Grant to do research in the field of AIDS education and prevention.

The principal purpose of the Fulbright program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Katie’s goal is to obtain a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

Exploratorium awards dinner benefits from Los Altos involvement

Larry Sonsini received the prestigious Director’s Award for his role in building an infrastructure for Silicon Valley ingenuity and entrepreneurship.

Julie Packard, founder and Director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, was recognized with the Outstanding Educator Award.

Births

A daughter was born March 17 to Erin and Leith Eggleton of Los Altos.

A daughter was born March 19 to Carrie and Derek Seidewand of Mountain View.

Celebrity Forum speakers for 2001-2002 announced

The schedule of speakers for the 2001-2002 Celebrity Forum has been announced. All lectures are scheduled at the Flint Center for Performing Arts. The lineup is as follows:

Sept. 25: Steve Wynn: The creator of the Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio in Las Vegas. He will share how he makes decisions.

Obituaries

Mary Delehanty, a 40-year Los Altos resident, died May 13. A native of McFarland, she was 84.

Mrs. Delehanty earned her nursing degree from University of Redlands and became one of the first flight attendants for United Airlines during World War II. She worked for many years as a counselor to children and families at Eastfield Ming Kwong in Los Gatos. After moving to Marin in 1992, Mrs. Delehanty volunteered as a court-appointed special advocate for Marin County children.

Anniversaries

George and Winnie Biocini of Los Altos recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a party in their home given by their daughters and son-in-laws, Linda and Chad Schneller, Peggy Biocini, Georgia and Chris Watson, and grandchildren, Casey and Cas Schneller, and Jennifer, Heather and Ashley Watson.

George’s and Winnie’s parents immigrated from Brac, an island off the coast of Croatia, to San Francisco in the early 1900s. George and Winnie, both born in San Francisco, were married June 15, 1941, at the Church of Nativity, San Francisco.

Spiritual Life

In celebration of ‘organized compassion’ and churches getting it right

Along the Spiritual Path

The various forms of media often have news items about organized crime. News items from churches are often about what someone has called “organized compassion.”

Spiritual Life Briefs

Christ Episcopal Church, 1040 Border Road, Los Altos, has announced the 2001 Summer Camp Program at Dorothy’s Rest in Sonoma County, open to children of all faiths and backgrounds.

Founded in 1901, this is the oldest continuously operated summer camp in California. The week-long sessions start July 2 and run through Aug. 14.

Stepping Out

Weak singing, act reversal plague ‘Hoffmann’

Opera review

West Bay Opera welcomed spring with the delightful opera “The Tales of Hoffmann” by French composer Jacques Offenbach, May 26 through June 3 in Palo Alto.

Symphonic Winds set to play Sunday

The Foothill Symphonic Winds, under the direction of David Bruce Adams, will perform at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, at Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

The program will consist of 11 works by women composers, including “Proud Titania” by Catherine McMichael, “Voyage of Christopher Columbus” by Nancy Bloomer Deussen, “Reflections on Wondrous Love” by Gay Holmes Spears, “Beneath Shining Skies” by Nancy H. Seward, “Early Light” by Carolyn Bremer, “Civilian March” by Nancy B. Reed and “Celebration Fanfare” by Joan Tower.

Hidden Villa going ‘Bananas’ for Father’s Day

Santa Cruz musical group/troupe The Banana Slug String Band will be the featured performer at Hidden Villa Farm and Wilderness Preserve’s Father’s Day concert.

The concert is set for 5-7 p.m., Sunday, at the Visitors Welcome Center at Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills.

FH Concert Choir ready to ‘Rock’

Vocalists from the Foothill College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers present “From Renaissance to Rock,” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in Room 1500 at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills.

Under the baton of Foothill Choral Instructor Lydia Oeh, vocalists present a program of madrigals, a cappella favorites and instrumental pieces, plus a piece created by members of the a cappella group SoVoSo.

Travel

U.S. vacationers are hitting the road for steals and deals this summer

Higher gas prices, an uncertain economy, tightening budgets - no doubt there’s plenty for families to consider when making summer vacation decisions this year.

However, the good news is that vacationers looking to stretch their travel dollar may have more opportunity to do so. According to El Monte RV, one of the nation’s largest motor home and RV rental companies, this summer is an ideal time for travelers to take advantage of deals and special promotions now on the market.