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Archives » 2001 » Volume 54 , Issue 35, Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2001NewsKickoff for the playoffs
Los Altos, Mtn. View may vie for division crown in football; St. Francis looks to rebound from 2-8 year Los Altos High Los Altos Hills landmark home is updated
The Winbigler property undergoes remodeling and seismic upgrades Los Altos Hills residents might have been startled recently when they noticed a familiar Fremont Road landmark, known as the Winbigler home, missing from its usual prominent perch atop a gentle knoll on Campo Vista Lane. Instead, the stately, cream-colored, two-story home sits to the right of its old foundation. Two men expose selves to girls, 14Two men found themselves facing misdemeanor charges last week after one allegedly dropped his pants and the other bared his chest in front of two Los Altos teens. Police arrested Mountain View residents Salvador Olvera, 20, and Daniel Olguin, 19, Aug. 22, on charges of annoying a child and lewd conduct, Sgt. Tom Connelly said. Cheng first to head the town’s public works and engineering departmentsLos Altos Hills Mintze Cheng became Los Altos Hills’ first public works director/city engineer just a month ago. She said she is happy in her new position. Packard Foundation considers options for location of headquartersThe top official from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation told the Town Crier this week that the foundation is keeping its options open to other locations outside of Los Altos for its permanent headquarters. It continues to explore whether the new headquarters building slated for Second Street in downtown Los Altos is feasible. “In June, we hired a commerical real estate consultant to look at alternative sites in Silicon Valley for our operations,” said Richard T. Schlosberg III, the family foundation’s president and CEO. News BriefsThe Los Altos City Council recently approved upgrades for about 15 miles of public roadway. O’Grady Paving of Mountain View is scheduled to resurface 3.5 miles of roadway scattered throughout Los Altos for $830,201 under the city’s annual street resurfacing project. Funds will come from the city’s Capital Projects Fund Reserve. Police reportAug. 23, 1:29 a.m., South Springer Road: A caller heard footsteps outside a bedroom window. Malicious mischief Study gives residents chance to comment on transportationLos Altos residents will have the opportunity to voice their traffic concerns next week during a four-day intensive transportation study of the city. The study is intended to serve as a blueprint for the city’s future transportation plan. Traffic planner Dan Burden and a team from Walkable Communities Inc. are scheduled to lead the study. Police stop $1,100 shoplifting spreeLos Altos Police arrested three homeless adults from San Jose Friday evening for allegedly trying to shoplift $1,100 worth of items from Albertson’s food store at 2175 Grant Road. Sgt. Tom Connelly said two men, ages 30 and 32, and one woman, 29, entered the grocery store at around 7 p.m. and began going up and down the store’s aisles, loading a shopping cart, mostly with “expensive liquors” and some toiletries. CommentPackard influence enhances ‘village’In a surprise announcement this week, Packard Foundation officials revealed that they hired a professional commercial real estate consultant to recommend alternative sites for their headquarters. Meanwhile, the foundation is in the midst of making consolidation plans. Although its plans remain vague at this point, they appear to center on retention of their 300 Second Street offices and construction of a new building replacing a strip of offices along Second to San Antonio Road. The foundation, which leases or owns several properties throughout Los Altos, plans to leave its properties away from Second Street in favor of a centralized location. OpinionLetters to the EditorIn reference to the latest Los Altos Town Crier, Linda Taaffe’s article about the “Save the Village” movement, is disturbing. There is much to be said about the way Los Altos is changing. Many of those changes have seemed to “spoil the village image.” But when you really stop and look at the whole picture, we still have the small town environment and a wonderful place to live. The Packard Foundation’s impact on our town has been very positive and a good role model. They have contributed so much to Los Altos and neighboring communities that we would hate to see them driven out of town. Los Altos would be the loser if they were to move elsewhere. Confessions of a closet New AgerOther Voices I am a closet New Ager. I have a lively interest in alternative medicines, disciplines and philosophies, but don’t tell friends and neighbors that I do. If asked outright about my beliefs, I would answer honestly; but the question never arises in everyday conversation. It is awkward to segue from “How are the kids?” to “Do you believe in reincarnation?” Tally Ho ‘wishes on a star’ for Packard children’s hospital“Wishing on a Star” is the theme for the 51st annual Tally Ho fund-raiser for Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Sept. 8, at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton, and will include cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing. “The most important thing the auxiliary does is help the hospital financially in giving hope to children,” said Los Altos resident Joanie Meyers, this year’s Tally Ho coordinator. CommunityChris Post celebrates 25 years as Town Crier ads jugglerChris Post, advertising services director for the Los Altos Town Crier, is celebrating 25 years with the paper this week, maintaining a steady professional presence through numerous ownership changes. Described by co-workers and clients alike as steady, unflappable and the virtual glue that holds things together, Post can be seen on many a frenzied Monday deadline day on the phone with advertisers going over corrections, typing up legal ads, handling ad layout, coordinating paste-up and cooling hot heads. She also does the billing for the newspaper and the sometimes unpleasant task of collecting on late clients. Community BriefsThe Los Altos History Museum is holding a volunteer open house for all prospective and current volunteers 5-7 p.m., Sept. 10, at the museum, 51 S. San Antonio Road. Current volunteers will be recognized while new visitors can learn about new volunteer opportunities. The event will also feature prize drawings and refreshments. Painting, dining a good mix for this artist
Town Crier Editorial Intern Though she started out as a business major, Francine Markoe knew that business wasn’t for her. She began taking art lessons 38 years ago, once her children began to go to school on their own. After studying art at Foothill College, Markoe began producing and selling her own art at local galleries. A cause for celebration: new rector at Christ Episcopal
Town Crier Editoral Intern The Rev. Malcolm C. Young will be welcomed at his new parish, the Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos, at its second annual Square Dance and Chili Cook-Off on Welcoming Sunday, Sept. 9. Gubernatorial candidate Simon makes his pitch locallyTown Crier Correspondent Bill Simon Jr., another Republican candidate seeking to challenge Gray Davis for governor next year, stopped by the Los Altos area Aug. 22 to state his positions. Friends, family gather at Los Altos memorial for beloved MVHS teacherStudents, colleagues, friends and family touched by the life of Ryan L. Caster gathered to remember him and share in his spirit last Friday, during a memorial at Shoup Park in Los Altos. The 24-year-old Mountain View High English teacher was killed in a motorcycle accident Aug. 5, on Highway 126, in Florence, Ore. SchoolsNoteworthiesScott Barnholt of Los Altos Hills has accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He will be honored at a campus ceremony this fall at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Elizabeth Gucker, daughter of George and Judy Gucker of Los Altos, has been named to the 2000-01 dean’s list at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. Four vying for three seats on CUSD board of trustees this NovemberOne incumbent and three challengers will compete for the three available seats on the Cupertino Union School District Board of Trustees. Each elected board member will serve a four-year term. The school board election will be held Nov. 6. Here is a rundown of the candidates: Schools BriefsLittle Acorn School, a preschool and day-care center located at 1667 Miramonte Ave., Mountain View, has scheduled an anniversary celebration 2-5 p.m., Sept. 15. The event will be held at the Wooding Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View at the same location. For more information, call Brigitta or Josephina at 964-8445. MVHS new library dedicated with recognition of district’s 100th birthday
The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District celebrated both its future and its past this last Thursday at the dedication of the new $2.6 million library at Mountain View High, coupled with the district’s centennial celebration. “It’s a place with a long and good history,” said Rich Fischer, superintendent. “To open a new library at the same time, and to celebrate at the same time, seemed appropriate. It’s a real honor for the community.” Sports On The SideThe Spinal and Sports Care Center, a chiropractic-medical network in Mountain View, is offering professional sports injury coverage for local sporting events. Trained chiropractors can provide pre-participation examinations, injury evaluation and care, first aid, CPR, and taping services similar to those provided by an athletic trainer. They can also provide thorough orthopedic diagnostic and rehabilitation services and chiropractic adjustments. Services are offered at low or no cost for local athletic groups. For more information, call 967-1152. Don’t miss the boat SportsOaks finish baseball season with sweep of SeasideThe Palo Alto Oaks capped off their summer league baseball season earlier this month, and manager Tony Makjavich said he has no complaints about the team’s 18-6 campaign. “I think we did better than I thought we’d do,” said Makjavich, who started the Stan Musial League squad in 1954. “I was happy with the team.” St. Francis grad Lipinski stars for jr. national teamDespite a team-high two goals from St. Francis High graduate Steve Lipinski, the USA Men’s Junior National men’s water polo team lost the fifth-place game at the Junior World Championships. Team USA had to settle for sixth in the tournament after an 8-6 loss to Spain Aug. 19 in Istanbul, Turkey. Local high schools recognize their top student-athletes for 2000-01Boys Athletes of the Year Senior: Mike Murray. MVHS swimmer comes in 18th at national meetLos Altos resident Brook Bishop placed 18th in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. National Swimming Championships, held Aug. 14-18 in Clovis. The Mountain View High sophomore is a member of Stanford Covington Racing Aquatics, a swim club based in Los Altos coached by Scott Shea. Chamber golf tourney draws 144 competitorsThe 12th annual Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament attracted 144 golfers to the Los Altos Golf & Country Club on Aug. 13. “Friendly competition, generous sponsors, perfect weather and one of the most spectacular settings in the region all combined to make this one of our most successful tournaments,” said Sam Pesner, who co-chaired the event with Steve Shepherd. Town Crier seeking names of college-bound athletesIf so, please let the Town Crier know via phone, fax, mail or e-mail so we can publish a list in an upcoming issue. Include the athlete’s name, sport, class and where he or she went to high school. To phone in this information, call the paper at 948-9000, ext. 315. Faxes may be sent to 948-6647. Letters should be addressed to Town Crier, Attn.: Sports Dept., 138 Main St., Los Altos, CA 94022. The sports department e-mail address is peteb@latc.com. Le Boulanger caps long tradition with 20th anniversary in Los AltosPerhaps not every Los Altos resident can correctly pronounce its name, but Le Boulanger (Luh Boo-LAWN-zhay - “the baker” in French) is a downtown establishment familiar to many. Le Boulanger, celebrating its 20th anniversary, now has 22 bakeries in the South Bay. The first one opened at Main and Second streets on Sept. 29, 1981. “I was seeking a location (for a bakery), and after searching around the area, I thought why not do it in my hometown so I could keep an eye on it,” said Le Boulanger owner Roger Brunello. “(Los Altos) was a quiet, sleepy little town. I’ve seen a tremendous amount of change.” BusinessGive your phone number s-l-o-w-l-y!Jean on the Job Nothing is more annoying than hearing the nurse say, “Your biopsy report is in. Call the specialist at 5*&-$*45.” Legislation offers parents opportunity to save more for children’s educationIf you’re wondering how you’re going to save enough for your children’s education, you may want to hit the books and learn about the expanded choices to be available next year to help pay tuition and other schooling expenses. The new legislation increases the annual contribution limit to Education IRAs from $500 to $2,000 per child - i.e., four times the annual amount allowed in 2001. Also, you can now use the balance in these accounts to pay for elementary and secondary school expenses - including tutoring, after-school latchkey programs, room and board, and computer equipment - in addition to college expenses. Current law allows coverage for college expenses only. Making a differenceReena Carvallo leads Wells Fargo in more active community service Reena Carvallo became manager at the Main Street branch of Wells Fargo Bank in Los Altos in March, but she is already effective in making the 40-year-old branch a more active member of the community. Good time to buy a home away from homeWho hasn’t dreamed of owning a home away from home, a cozy little vacation spot where you can escape the city life and relax in the midst of mountain woods or breathtaking ocean scenery? Alas, soaring home prices fueled by the booming stock market in recent years have kept many people from realizing their vacation-home dreams. But now the time may be right for buyers sitting on the sidelines to finally get that second home. EngagementsErin Matthews and Phillip Mobley have announced their engagement to be married Nov. 10 at the Bay View Hotel in Aptos, Calif. The bride-to-be, raised in Los Altos, is the daughter of James Matthews of Los Altos and Molly Matthews of Cupertino. She has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California, Davis, and a Juris Doctorate from Monterey College of Law. She is employed at General Dynamics, formally Matthews Land Company, as a site acquisition representative. The groom-to-be served in a mission in Colorado and attended college in Hawaii, with an emphasis in business. He owns PLM Productions, an entertainment company. ObituariesStella Simpson died Aug. 17 in Mountain View. A native of Chicago, she was 90. Mrs. Simpson was a cook at Los Altos High School. Stepping OutBus Barn puts on a great ‘Comedy’ in Shoup ParkTheater review Congratulations to Los Altos’ Bus Barn Stage Company for bringing Shakespeare’s “Comedy Of Errors” to the sun-dappled lawns of Shoup Park. TheatreWorks ventures into the ‘Pacific’Starting this week, TheatreWorks presents a 25-year anniversary production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Pacific Overtures,” chronicling the westernization of Japan. Composer/lyricist Sondheim and author John Weidman combine elements of traditional Japanese theater with the dazzle of Broadway. TravelDisney cruise vacations prove a good deal, travel expert saysYou can’t go wrong in taking the family to either Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or on a Disney Cruise Line. Disneyland has added a wonderful new park, the California Adventure, and the Electrical Parade is back with 500,000 lights and 100 performers. Numerous bargain packages are being offered, with a child under 11 going in free with each paying adult. Special SectionUltimately, hanging pictures on the wall depends on your frame of mindTown Crier Correspondent Finding a picture to place in your home is easy. Finding the room to hang it in requires a little more thought. Getting bugged this summer? It goes beyond termitesTown Crier Correspondent If you think you and your family are the only ones living in your house, think again. There’s a lot of creepy crawlers at work in your house besides termites. Don’t replace - refinish and restore for a beautiful bathroomMost of us wander into the bathroom in the morning, bleary-eyed, only to be jolted awake at the sight of a pea-green tub, a mustard-yellow sink or hot pink tiles - obviously, decorating disasters of past decades gone awry. Bathroom remodeling can be costly, but there’s no need to live with old or ugly fixtures any longer. If the surfaces are made of porcelain, ceramic tile, fiberglass, acrylic, cultured marble or laminate, you can now update your bathroom without replacing the tub, sink or tiles. Your HomeLocal remodeling firm recognized as one of top women-owned businessesAvalon Enterprises, Inc., a residential design and remodeling firm in Mountain View, was named to the Top-50 list for “Largest Women-Owned Business” in the Silicon Valley on Aug. 16 at a celebration at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. The list was generated by the Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal and ranked by the most recent fiscal-year revenue. Kacey Fitzpatrick, the owner and president of Avalon Enterprises, is a Los Altos resident who graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in Art Design and Architecture and founded her design-build company in 1994. Mold becoming a serious problem for homeowners when they sellIn mid-July the California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 732, which enacts the Mold Disclosure Act of 2001. The bill requires landlords and sellers of residential and commercial property to provide written disclosure to potential tenants and buyers about the existence of mold. Mold is being taken so seriously as an indoor health hazard that the Environmental Protection Agency has just put up a Web page devoted to educating the public about mold and its effect on the lungs. Attorneys are also beginning to take mold seriously, with lawsuits. Home BriefsLearn about “Starting Your Winter Garden” with Jody Main, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Sept. 8, at Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center, 2225 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. There are many winter vegetables, herbs and flowers that can be planted before Oct. 15 for bountiful harvests through spring. Learn new ideas about lettuce, spinach, root crop varieties, peas, cilantro, arugula, fennel and edible flowers. Main is the manager of Rosalind Creasy’s test and photo garden and past manager at Hidden Villa’s garden. Minding their manorNew owners giving LAH historic mansion a needed face lift Morgan Manor, architectural grande dame of Los Altos Hills, is having a face lift. Under new owners - 38-year-old Zap Ventures Managing Partner Kelly Porter, a Palo Alto native, and his fashion designer wife, Christina - who acquired the still elegant dowager in 1999, work is proceeding briskly. Remodeling expected to be lengthy, extensivePlans call for updating all electrical, plumbing and heating and adding air conditioning. “We’re renovating every inch of skin,” Worth said, pointing to the walls of the estate off Stonebrook Drive. Crews have already replaced several layers of decayed roofing with a brand-new layer. Other work ranges from rebuilding chimney pots to replacing sagging floors and seismic upgrades. New location for organic gardening storeBusiness Profile Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center in Palo Alto has been a popular gathering place for Mid-peninsula organic gardeners for nearly three decades. Now, after 29 years at the same location on El Camino Real, Common Ground is scheduled to relocate nearby at 559 College Avenue on Sept. 9. The original site will be torn down and the block redeveloped as office space. Are the ‘naked ladies’ prettier this year?Town Crier Correspondent Don’t tell the police, but there are naked ladies popping up all over Los Altos in the strangest of places. |
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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