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Archives » 2001 » Volume 54 , Issue 37, Published on Wednesday, September 12, 2001NewsPTAs serving lunch
Hot lunches offer variety for kids, relief for moms and profits for schools With no cafeterias to cater hot lunches for students in the Los Altos School District, volunteers from the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) at each of the six elementary and two junior high schools have stepped up to the plate - literally. Pac Bell to offer DSL service to Los Altos Hills soonNearly all of Los Altos Hills residents will be able to obtain high-speed access to the Internet through Pacific Bell within the next five months. Two other major providers, AT&T and Sprint Broadband (EarthLink DSL) don’t appear likely to provide service to the town anytime soon. “You’ll be 99 percent covered by February of next year,” Pac Bell representative Trent von Wormer told the town council Thursday night. Von Wormer noted only those residents living along Page Mill Road will not be served because their telephone lines, which they share with Palo Alto, don’t work with Pac Bell’s DSL system. The company is currently unwilling to fund the installation of new lines, he said. LAH council considers ‘pioneer’ plan for utilitiesSeveral Los Altos Hills city councils in recent years have sought to place all major utility underground. Mayor Toni Casey has called undergrounding one of her “Top 10″ goals. Thursday night, council members heard a proposal - developed after 2 1/2 years of research by the Utility and Information Systems Committee - that might make that goal a reality. Council Member Mike O’Malley called the proposal “unique. We will be pioneers.” Los Altos woman wins Emmy for documentaryTown Crier Staff Report Los Altos filmmaker Elizabeth Thompson won an Emmy award Sept. 5 for a news documentary about a former white supremacist trying to battle his demons while adjusting to a new life. LA-based open space district joins cleanup efforts at Moffett FieldThe Los Altos-based Midpeninsula Open Space District will join the toxic cleanup efforts planned for Moffett Federal Airfield, the U.S. Department of the Navy announced last week. The Navy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board last week withdrew a proposed plan that would clean up a portion of property they own at Moffett Field, called Site 25, after discovering that the Open Space District is also a property owner. Suspected kidnapper still on the loose MondayMan flees Mtn. View shopping center after allegedly trying to pull girl, 13, into car The identity and whereabouts of the man who allegedly tried to abduct a 13-year-old girl in the parking lot of a Mountain View shopping center last week remained unknown Monday. News BriefsThe Village Chevron station at 401 Main St. will undergo a facelift over the next six weeks. Owner John Cheng has already begun construction on a new cashier booth near the First Street side of the property. He also intends to upgrade the station’s gas pumps with electronic pumps that accept credit card or bank card payments. Store clerk fires gunshots at robbers’ getaway carA clerk at a local liquor store fired gunshots at the getaway car of two gunmen who allegedly robbed the store moments earlier. Police were still searching last week for the men, who they believe escaped unharmed. Mountain View police said the two gunmen allegedly held up Kara’s Liquors at 820 El Camino Real at 8:20 p.m., Sept. 1. One of the men, wearing a white handkerchief over his face, pulled out a handgun and ordered one of the two store employees on duty to give him money. City-employee housing could replace open spaceMountain View Mountain View could lose a stretch of land along Shoreline Boulevard zoned as open space to a housing project intended for city employees. CommentParental minefieldThe Living Experiment When our children were toddlers, our mom’s group embraced the message that it takes a village to raise a child. Not only did we chat about the nice things our children did; but when the children erred, we talked about that, too. These conversations left us feeling tremendously supported in our roles as parents. OpinionCandidate apathy ruins council electionLear and Moss will gain another four years on the council after the Nov. 6 election - without a fight. This is a disappointing surprise, considering the grumblings we have been hearing about recent council actions. In three separate cases - development at the city-owned site at First and Main streets, the new office building planned for Loyola Corners and the aquatic center pegged for Rosita Avenue - residents decried the city for a lack of notification, rushing through the process and being pro-development. We’re all challenged by immigration issueLast week’s U.S. visit by Mexican president Vicente Fox brought the controversial subject of immigration to the forefront. The issue hits home in our own back yards. St. Joseph the Worker Center on Jordan Avenue continues to connect day laborers with jobs regardless of residency status, and the bulk of laborers working as gardeners and housekeepers in the Los Altos area are new to this country. As history shows, immigrants have made this country the great melting pot that it is, mixing diverse cultures into a nation unlike any other. And, as Fox put it last week, “Migration has always rendered more economic benefits to the United States than the cost it entails.” Letters to the EditorI was appalled to hear that there is a group of individuals in Los Altos who are trying to oust the Packard Foundation. They are one of the largest foundations in the United States, with an excellent reputation to match. The building is tasteful and unobtrusive. Their staff comprises well-educated professionals. League of WV forum to shed light on power shortageIn March 1998, three investor-owned electric utilities in California were deregulated leading to a sell-off of more than half of the fossil fuel generating capacity. Management of transmission lines was delegated to a new Independent System Operator and power was to be bought and sold on a Power Exchange. Consumers would be free to select a provider other than their local utility. More than two years later, Californians witnessed Pacific Gas and Electric’s declaration of bankruptcy. For more information, call 941-4846. Community54 and still counting: Another Town Crier milestoneTown Crier Publisher Dave MacKenzie says that when he started the Los Altos Town Crier 54 years ago this week, he did not know he was starting a “news” paper. He and his partner, Warren Goodrich, had an ad agency in Los Altos and he says the Town Crier was intended to be a weekly “advertiser” for some of their local clients. Los Altos Online celebrating 6 years connecting local affairs to the worldTown Crier Publisher The Los Altos Town Crier created losaltosonline.com in late 1994 to give the city a presence on the Internet. Los Altos Online (LAOL) was, in fact, one of the first citywide sites on the entire worldwide Web. Electric railways spawned Los AltosLooking Back, Moving Forward Like other small towns across the United States, Los Altos boomed with the arrival of the railway. By 1893, there were more than 250 railways in the nation and more than 60 percent of them had been electrified. As noted in the Los Altos Historical Resources Inventory of 1997, the electric streetcar was crucial to opening up the suburbs. That report describes two nationwide entrepreneurial policies that facilitated the outward movement of formerly city-bound populations. History Museum offers free admission to allEffective immediately, the Los Altos History Museum is offering free admission to people of all age groups. This has been made possible through a grant from an anonymous donor. The board of directors approved the free admission at its Aug. 1 meeting, but the public announcement was delayed until all museum members were notified, said Museum Director Madelyn Crawford. It was ‘fun fun fun’ at Rock Back the ClockTown Crier Correspondent Rancho Shopping Center rocks when the music starts for “Rock Back the Clock.” For many Los Altos and Mountain View youngsters, it’s one of the social events of the year. Morning Forum opens new season with power talkThe Morning Forum of Los Altos will launch its 51st season at 10:15 a.m., Sept. 18, at the United Methodist Church, with a talk by James Bushnell. Bushnell, co-director of the UC Energy Institute and lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, will talk on the power crisis and the energy market. ‘Hometown Hero’ Judy Marcus draws big donations for CSATown Crier Correspondent The Community Services Agency (CSA) honored Judy Marcus as its outstanding community volunteer at its 2001 Hometown Heroes Annual Recognition Breakfast. Library NewsThe grand prize winner in this summer’s Teen Summer Reading program at the Los Altos Library is Moonway Lin. He won a Sony Walkman personal CD player. Other winners in the final drawing are Stephanie Ou at the Los Altos main library and Samantha Williams at the Woodland branch library, who each won a pendant and a canvas bookbag. In weekly drawings throughout the summer, participating teens won tickets to Great America and gift certificates from the Italian Deli and Baskin Robbins. This summer, 92 teens signed up for the teen summer program. Community BriefsThe 38th Annual Halloween Window Painting Contest, sponsored by the City of Los Altos Recreation Department, in cooperation with the Los Altos Village Association, will be held Oct. 25-27. The contest is open to all fourth- through eighth-grade students. Applications can be obtained from the Los Altos Recreation Department, 97 Hillview Avenue. Completed application forms must be received by 5 p.m., Oct. 17. For full contest details call the Recreation Department at 941-0950. MV-LA sophomores improve in STAR test resultsTenth-graders in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District showed the most improvement districtwide in test scores on the 2001 Standardized Testing and Recording (STAR) examination, according to results released by the California Department of Education, Aug. 15. The STAR test scores are based on national norms using the 50th percentile as the average. The test is a standardized state test used to evaluate California schools. Schools2001 STAR test results for MV-LA: How they faredranking of each grade, for each area of study. Mountain View High School Schools BriefsThe Kitty Petty Attention Defict Disorders and Learning Differences Institute scheduled its annual symposium, “Choices, changes & challenges: Improving work, home and school interpersonal relationships,” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 13, at the Foothill Christian Center, 2420 N. Foothill Blvd., Los Altos. For more information, call 329-9443. New Almond Elementary principal feels right at home in new position
Town Crier Editorial Intern Although Almond School’s principal Jeff Baier is brand new this year, Los Altos is old hat to him. Baier moved to Los Altos when he was age 2, and attended St. Simon and St. Francis High schools. Now, he lives in Los Altos with his wife and three sons who attend Oak School. Leaders greet students in CupertinoSix and seventh grade students new to Cupertino Middle School (CMS) this fall received enthusiastic greetings from approximately 40 eighth grade Welcome Everybody (WEB) leaders during new student orientation held a week before the start of classes. The WEB orientation program is intended to make middle school students feel comfortable with their new environment. NoteworthiesEdward J. Hayes of Los Altos Hills received The University of Scranton’s Frank J. O’Hara Award for science and technology, June 9, in Scranton, Pa. Sarina A. Beges, Aimee Lisa T. Buenviaje and Michael Hoa of Los Altos graduated with bachelor’s degrees from Boston University. Beges earned a degree in international relations. Buenviaje earned a degree in psychology, cum laude. Hoa earned a degree in medical science, summa cum laude. Mtn. View whips Willow Glen; Oak Grove runs over St. FrancisPrep Football Digest or the first time since 1996, the Mountain View High football team opened its season with a win, defeating Willow Glen 34-0 last Friday at PAL Stadium. SportsSports On The SideSt. Francis High graduate Roz Pelayo was recently named girls varsity volleyball coach at Woodside Priory. Pelayo last spring graduated from Santa Clara University, where she finished her volleyball career as the school’s all-time assist leader. Last season, the setter led the nation in assists per game (14.1). At St. Francis, Pelayo helped the Lancers capture a pair of state titles. Pelayo takes over for Dustin Moore, who led Woodside Priory to the Division V state title last year. Moore has moved over to Santa Clara University, where he is an assistant coach for the women’s team. Get in the swim Turnovers doom Los Altos in 21-7 loss at Gunn
With a 7-0 lead and heading for an apparent insurance touchdown midway through the third quarter, the Los Altos High football team had to feel good about its chances of winning Friday’s season opener at Gunn. It took only one play, however, to dramatically alter the complexion of the game. As the list proves, lots of local former prep athletes ‘fall’ for sports in collegeAthletic careers don’t always end after high school. Several former students of local high schools, plus local residents from schools outside the area, are participating in fall sports at colleges and universities across the nation. A list of such student-athletes, divided by their high schools and sports, appears below. El Camino YMCA to host benefit golf tournamentThe El Camino YMCA will hosts its sixth annual Benefit For Children Golf Tournament on Monday at Stanford Golf Course. The tournament, sponsored by Infinity Capital and Bank of Los Altos, will feature up to 144 golfers competing in foursomes. Local boys help Alpine Hills win tennis titleThe Alpine Hills Tennis and Swim Club in Portola Valley last month captured its first state championship in tennis since 1992, and two boys from Los Altos had a hand in it. Local residents Ronald Wu and Greg Ringold were key members of the club’s victorious under-12 boys team, according to Alpine Hills’ coach and tennis pro Chris Bradley. Gold Star Gymnastics opens meet season with big victoryGold Star Gymnastics last month opened its meet season by soundly beating its competition, outscoring all of the other teams across both compulsory levels and age divisions. For Level 5 (age 10-and-over division), Asia Casino took first all-around with first-place finishes on the vault and floor exercise at the Aug. 12 meet. Casino earned a 9.2 for floor. That risky stock market keeps tumbling - predicting the bottom like picking a lottery winStock Report Last week’s stock market massacre left investors wondering just how bad things can get, because the future isn’t very encouraging. BusinessDon’t rule out a wireless network - there are several advanatagesTech Talk This biweekly column offers solutions to personal technology problems submitted by readers. Neither the author nor this newspaper endorses products or companies mentioned. Business BriefsSanta Clara-based NetScaler Inc. Aug. 29 announced the appointment of Patrick J. Conte of Los Altos to the new position of general manager and executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. Conte, a former Sun Microsystems executive, brings nearly 20 years of senior management experience in sales, marketing and operations to the position. He will direct worldwide sales and marketing. “Patrick’s appointment reaffirms our commitment to building a strong, experienced senior management team,” said BV Jagadeesh, NetScaler president and CEO. “Conte’s experience developing and growing new technology markets from the ground up will be invaluable as we drive adoption of our accelerated traffic management solutions worldwide.” Los Altos area homes still very expensivein Los Altos Hills It has been confirmed - homes in the Los Altos area are still very expensive. Los Altos Hills still tops the list. Former Spago’s chef a partner at ‘Z’Town Crier Correspondent If the first week of business was any indication, the new restaurant called Z on First Street, Los Altos, could soon be one of the top dining places on the Peninsula. A marriage ceremony: ‘When Harry met Sally’ in Los AltosTown Crier Correspondent It was one of the most important days in Harry and Sally’s lives. When you get married, you deserve a personalized ceremony that reflects the feelings you share with the one you love. Food and WineA little soy will boost bland vegetablesQ: Everyone talks about the “Freshman 10,” meaning everyone who goes away to college gains weight. Is this inevitable or can I avoid it? A: Weight gain is common, but not inevitable. Take time for regular meals. Studies show that when people skip meals, they get so hungry they tend to overeat at the next meal. Make fruits and vegetables a major part of every meal, but avoid those that are deep-fried. Compared to other foods, fruits and vegetables are low in calories, so you can eat more of them to achieve that full feeling. Since college students tend to keep late hours, you’ll probably need evening snacks. Keep fruit around for a light snack instead of vending machine chips or candy. Try not to get into the habit of ordering pizza every night at midnight. When you do have a high-calorie snack, watch your portions carefully and eat only as much as you need to satisfy your hunger. Some coffee and soft drinks as well as alcoholic beverages can make calories add up fast, so rely on water as your primary beverage. When you get stressed, don’t use food to help you feel better. Work it off in activity. Exploring opportunities for sports and workouts is good for body, mind and spirit and a great way to meet people. Tips to tempt finicky eatersIf a fussy eater loves pasta, add shredded carrots and zucchini or other finely chopped vegetables to the tomato sauce and serve it over a favorite noodle. Add mashed sweet potatoes into your bran muffin batter or extra vegetables to alphabet soup. Food BitesThe Cookie Cafe on Main Street in downtown Los Altos changed ownership Aug. 1. The new owners, Tracy and Pehn Lay, have expanded the cafe’s yogurt and cookie menu to include lunch items. The cafe features deli sandwiches and homemade soup that changes daily. The Lays plan to add doughnuts and bagels to the menu later this month. Picky eatersChildren would rather pick up their toys than eat mushy vegetables, survey reveals f the family dog is mysteriously gaining weight, there’s a good chance he’s snacking on your children’s table scraps. About 20 percent of children say they feed food they don’t like to their dog during mealtime, according to a recent national survey on children’s eating habits. My time in Italy: Now this is something to crow aboutMy recent trip to Italy included a day with the Chianti consortium The Black Rooster Group, which represents over 230 Tuscan wineries. I think they got confused and thought I wrote for the L.A. Times. That “L.A.” opens a lot of wine doors! Whatever the reason, we were picked up at our hotel in Florence and treated to a day of wine and food. We started at Melini, an 80,000-case, three-century-old Chianti producer. We tried all their 1997 vintages, and the results were quite spectacular. The 1997 Chianti Classico Riserva “La Selvanella” was my favorite. It was full of ripe berries, with a great lingering, elegant finish. The 1997 Machiavelli was equally good but not quite as ready to drink and needs another year or two. Half the wineries in Tuscany may have named a wine after Machiavelli. It has always been a mystery to me why you would name a wine you wanted people to buy after this man. His very name represents all that is shady and treacherous about politics, and he is often referred to as the “Devil Incarnate” or the “Evil One.” PeopleNancy Mason, 75, Los Altos historical preservationist, saved Griffin HouseTown Crier Correspondent Obituary ObituariesRobert Gilmour, a 42-year Los Altos Hills resident, died Aug. 26. A native of Michigan, he was 81. Mr. Gilmour served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a systems analyst with Stanford Research Institute and Hewlett-Packard for 15 years until retirement. WeddingsElizabeth Rossin and Andrus Laats were married July 28 at the Orfila Vineyards in Escondido. The bride’s parents are David and Sandy Rossin of Los Altos Hills. She graduated from Mountain View High School in 1987. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University in 1991 and a master’s in public policy from Duke University in 1997. She is employed in public relations in San Diego. Stepping OutPowerful ‘Pacific’Theater review The words “beautiful” and “spectacular” come to mind after seeing TheatreWorks’ incredibly creative production of “Pacific Overtures,” directed by Robert Kelley. ‘Doors’ opening at Bus Barn Theatre in Los Altos“Communicating Doors,” a comedic thriller by Alan Ayckbourn, opens Bus Barn Stage Company’s new season. The play previews Thursday, opens Friday and continues through Oct. 20 at the Bus Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Special SectionLos Altos brides have a new place to look for ‘pretty things’Town Crier Editorial Intern Business Profile Preserving a precious memento for posterityVogue Cleaners preserves and restores wedding dresses Business Profile A taste for lace
Favorite wedding fabric can be ’something old and something new’ Lace: it is unique just like each wedding and has its own story to tell just like each bride. Wedding rehearsal dinner: a time to meet and greetTown Crier Correspondent Before you say “I do,” twist and shout - let it all hang out at your wedding rehearsal dinner, because rehearsal dinner styles are changing to accommodate diverse tastes and lifestyles. |
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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