By Voters OK taxes for local schools

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.

Likewise, Measure D, a $293-a-year parcel tax to boost teacher salaries and keep them in the Palo Alto Unified School District, passed comfortably, 75.6 percent to 24.4 percent (10,448 to 3,374 votes with all 38 precincts counted). Los Altos Hills students attend Gunn High School in the district.

Buyer sought for chromed horse

The creator of the chromed horse sculpture at Lincoln Park plans to pick up his work early next month, but would much prefer that a buyer come forward and donate it to the city for a permanent stay.

Seattle-based Jabe Jackson said “Barney,” named after a beloved horse that died in an accident, is available for a negotiable price. Jackson built the horse, originally titled “Brawn,” from truck and car bumpers.

Jackson was set to pick up the sculpture last year, but acknowledges that moving the 1,500-pound piece is a costly proposition. “Barney” has been at Lincoln Park since 1996.

The sculpture has been loaned to the city through a “Sculpture On Loan” program run by the now-defunct Los Altos Arts Committee. Arts discussions are now under the purview of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.

- Bruce Barton