Los Altos Town Crier

News Flash

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The Main Street Singers of Los Altos High School are scheduled to perform a free concert 2 p.m. Sunday in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 1667 Miramonte Ave., Mountain View. The choral group, under the direction of Mark Shaull, perform more than 100 concerts per year. In April, the Main Street Singers are slated to embark on a 17-day concert tour through China and Taiwan.

News

CSA challenged by overflow from downward economy

Not far from the multimillion-dollar homes in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are lines of hungry and often homeless people, waiting in the cold at social services havens like the Community Services Agency (CSA) in Mountain View.

The weakened economy has forced more residents into the food lines than CSA Executive Director Tom Myers has seen in years. Myers observed that lines have been roughly twice as long as in the past.

Cover Story

Looking back on 2008: Financial woes dominated, but local stories gave residents reasons to smile

We won’t sugarcoat it: 2008 was a tough year, even for residents in affluent Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. From the mortgage crisis and foreclosures to the Wall Street bailout and government deficits, the national news also hit home locally. Some were laid off as business soured, and cutting back was the order of the day.

Still, the community forged ahead. Planning continued on renovation of the Los Altos civic/community center and downtown became more colorful – and safer – with added landscaping and lighted crosswalks. Several proposed downtown developments, including a parking structure, gained traction. The Los Altos School District reopened its Los Altos Hills school, naming it after town pioneer Gardner Bullis. The year ended with a changing of the guard for local city councils, in the wake of a history-making presidential election.

Sports

Great in ’08

So many stories, so little space. That was the biggest dilemma in choosing the Town Crier’s top sports stories of the year. There were at least 20 stories involving local teams and athletes worthy of inclusion. Only 10 can make the cut, however, and here’s our countdown:

10. Water wonders. The Central Coast Section crown eluded them again – the Eagles last month were eliminated in the semifinals for the second year in a row – but coach Andy Maisel and his Los Altos High girls water polo team attained just about everything else. No CCS team won as many games as Los Altos (24-4 overall) and the team’s perfect league mark (14-0 in the SCVAL De Anza Division) set a school record. Seniors Alix Kaufman, Courtney Sandlin, Allegra Tringali and Veronica Tse were named first team all-league, with Kaufman voted MVP. The foursome combined for 226 goals.

Community

Run into the New Year in Los Altos

Run, walk or roll into 2009 during the free 5k New Year’s Day Fun Run in downtown Los Altos. The race begins at 9 a.m. Thursday at the corner of Main and State streets. Pregistration is not required.

All ages and ability levels are welcome to run, walk, inline skate, scooter, skateboard or stroller the looped 5k course around downtown Los Altos. Bicycles are not permitted. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the city of Los Altos Recreation Department at 947-2790 or recreation@ci.los-altos.ca.us.

Business

More people able to afford California homes

As home prices continue to fall, more people can now afford to buy homes in California, according to a report released last week by the California Association of Realtors (CAR).

The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 53 percent in the third quarter of 2008, compared with 24 percent for the same period last year, according to the report.

Schools

MVHS teachers earn national recognition

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards honored Mountain View High School teachers Cecilia Quiñones and Steven Kahl Dec. 9 for achieving National Board Certification.

National Board Certification is a voluntary program designed to develop, recognize and retain accomplished teachers who have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. It is considered the most prestigious credential a teacher can earn. Teachers who achieve national certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluations, self-assessment and peer review.

Books

On the lookout for reviewers

Read any good books lately? The Town Crier is interested in your takes on recent books you've read. Reviews should be in the 400-500 word range. For more information, contact Book Editor Traci Newell at tracin@latc.com.

Travel

Send us a postcard

When you go on your next trip, take the Town Crier with you. Drop us a line from your far-away destination, send us a photo and we'll publish it. Better yet, send us a picture from that destination with you reading a Town Crier. You'll forever hold a special place in our hearts. Contact Travel Editor Eliza Ridgeway at elizar@latc.com with your correspondence. Thanks a bunch, and we'll see you in the Town Crier.

Spiritual Life

Spiritual Life Briefs

Ring in the New Year with Bach and jazz

Organist James Welch is scheduled to perform a New Year’s Eve concert, “Bach – and All That Jazz,” 8 p.m. today at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto.

The concert will feature several jazz-inspired pieces for the organ, including George Gershwin’s “American in Paris,” theater organist Billy Nalle’s arrangement of “All the Things You Are” and French composer Jean Berveiller’s pedal tour de force, “Cadence.” The J.S. Bach offerings will include a toccata, sonata, dancing fugue and prelude written by Bach for the New Year.