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Archives » 2001 » Volume 54 , Issue 42, Published on Wednesday, October 17, 2001NewsLos Altos City Council approves city’s first traffic roundaboutThe Los Altos City Council unanimously agreed last week to move forward with the city’s first roundabout, at the intersection of Springer and Berry avenues near Loyola School. Design consultants Kimley-Horn and Associates are scheduled to present a final design of the proposed roundabout to the council by next March. The 80-foot traffic circle is part of a list of street improvements intended to calm traffic in the Loyola School neighborhood under a half-million-dollar federal “Safe Routes to School” grant. Search-and-rescue team called to LAWhen one Los Altos resident lost his cat last week, he called a search-and-rescue team from Halfmoon Bay to locate the elderly feline. Cheryl Carver and Leo, a bloodhound mix who is fond of cats, found the animal hiding between a bin and the wall in the family garage within minutes of the search. News BriefsDue to the potential threat of terrorists’ retaliatory attacks, the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services opened its command center last week in a partial activation, readying its public safety services for potential emergencies, County Executive Richard Wittenberg announced Oct. 7. The command center was partially open last week, with county officials and key agency personnel on hand. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center was also on high alert, prepared to respond to demands on emergency medical services. Police ReportOct. 8, 6:06 p.m., Clay Drive: A caller reported a fire in the garage. Firefighters were dispatched. Traffic control Council considers building guidelines repealLos Altos Hills The Los Altos Hills City Council is set to hold a first reading and public hearing Thursday on a resolution to repeal the current design review guidelines, the exterior colors of structures and fences policy, and the site development policy statement. Raised crosswalks, speed tables and medians planned for El MonteThe Los Altos City Council approved a traffic-calming study last week that will mean adding a series of physical interruptions along El Monte Road intended to narrow the street and slow traffic. The 5-to-10-year plan that TJKM Transportation Consultants recommended calls for the addition of two traffic circles, two chicanes, a speed table and one raised intersection, median and roundabout along a 1.5-mile stretch of El Monte from Springer Road to Foothill Expressway. Reach Fitness center to shut down next monthPackard Foundation unable to negotiate an extended lease with downtown gym Reach Fitness Club in Los Altos is scheduled to close at the end of next month despite the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s recent announcement to temporarily table plans to renovate the site as its new headquarters. City cautions trick-or-treaters to avoid Orange Avenue areaTown Crier Staff Report Los Altos City Hall announced last week that trick-or-treaters should avoid the Orange Avenue neighborhood Oct. 31. LA man accused of luring teen across country for sex actsA 34-year-old Los Altos man could face life in prison if a federal grand jury finds him guilty of sexually exploiting a Pennsylvania teen he met over the Internet earlier this year. During an arraignment last Thursday in a federal court in San Jose, Robert Jay Tashbook pleaded innocent to six sex-related charges that allege he coerced a 16-year-old girl to travel to California to perform sexual favors for him and his friends and persuaded her to take sexual photographs of herself and send them to his south Los Altos home. CommentLA council taking too much timeShort agendas don’t necessarily mean short meetings, at least with the Los Altos City Council. What was the 5.5 hour session on Oct. 9? A council meeting? A study session? The meeting mostly covered two traffic items. Traffic issues are important - in this case El Monte improvements and a Loyola School area conceptual plan. The council did eventually do the right thing, approving a temporary plan for El Monte and a conceptual plan for Loyola. We do salute the members’ decision to create a rotary circle at Berry and Springer. OpinionLetters to the EditorWe wanted to share our appreciation and thanks to all the sponsors, contributors, volunteers and especially those who donated to the “Los Altos Cares” event held Oct. 7 at Shoup Park. What a proud moment for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. We understand that the total amount donated exceeded $60,000. The pain, the rage and the fearReflections Over and over they tell us, “The world will never be the same again,” and “Go back to your normal life. Don’t panic but be alert.” Volunteers profoundly affected by NYC tripNeither Karen Duncan nor Lynne McCreight of Los Altos experienced “Ground Zero” firsthand on a recent trip to New York City with the American Red Cross. But both came away dazed over the impact and amazed over the outpouring of support. Duncan and McCreight both fulfilled vital functions as volunteers during their stays. Duncan, who was dispatched less than a week after the Sept. 11 tragedies, handled public affairs and media relations, while McCreight, who returned to Los Altos last week, performed bookkeeping duties. CommunityLA Youth Center schedules activitiesThe Youth Commission is sponsoring an art project for high school students. The commission plans to paint a wall in “graffiti” style at the Underground Teen Center located in the Garden House at Shoup Park. Students are invited to submit a design with the words “The Underground” to the Youth Commission. The winner will paint their design on the wall at the Underground. The Youth Commission meets the first Wednesday and third Monday of each month at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave. Historian to play John Sutter at California History Center fund-raiserThe California History Center at De Anza College will hold its third annual Vintage Celebration 7-10 p.m., Saturday at Le Petit Trianon, the center’s home on the campus, adjacent to De Anza’s Flint Center for the Performing Arts. The event will feature a benefit wine tasting as well as live and silent auctions. There will also be a dessert buffet. The guest of honor will be Ken Bruce, retired De Anza history professor, who will make a presentation as California pioneer John Sutter. Bruce graduated from San Jose State University, taught at Los Altos High School for 10 years and joined the history department at De Anza College in 1968. He became professor emeritus of history when he retired from the classrooms of De Anza College in December 1999 after 42 years of teaching. Submit your scary stories for special Halloween issueFor the second straight year, the Town Crier is featuring a collection of Halloween stories from you. We are awarding first-, second and third-place honors to the authors. First-place winners will receive a prize. Here are the guidelines: Stories should be no longer than approximately 400 words. Subject matter is wide open, and while the story doesn’t have to be scary, it shouldn’t be gory or in bad taste. Pacific Ridge horse show setThis children’s show is a fund-raiser for Pacific Ridge Pony Club, non-profit club for riders ages 6 to 21 from Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose and Cupertino. The show features classes in jumping, trail riding skills, costumes, dog fun and racing games. Celebrating friendship and visits from old friendsStrictly Candids Celebrating 50 Years of Friendship and Partnership: LWV candidates’ forum scheduled for tonightA candidates’ forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area has been scheduled for 7 p.m. today. The event will be held in the Program Room of the Los Altos main library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, and is open to the public. Marcia Allen is the moderator. ‘There Oughta Be a Law’ contest deadline extended“Some of the best ideas I hear for new legislation come directly from the folks who live and work in the 21st Assembly District,” said Simitian. Simitian will declare at least one contest winner and will plan to introduce the legislative proposal as a bill in the 2002 session. To participate in the contest, call Simitian’s district office at 688-6330. Looking Back, Moving Forward28 years ago in the Town Crier: As reported in the Oct. 24, 1973. edition of the Town Crier, a joyful message on a hand-lettered sign tacked to a Los Altos telephone pole read, “Jennifer Is Home!” A beloved golden retriever, missing for five days, had been returned to her owners, Linda and Bob Osborne and their 3-year old, T.J. Nature Gallery jewelry sale to benefit communityNature Gallery, Fifty Plus Media, Treasures Hospice Store and Los Altos Hills artist Carole Brown are coming together for an event Friday and Saturday that will support a community service while supporting the local economy. Charitable donation dollars are dwindling as Americans are tightening their purse strings. Admirably, many people nationwide and locally have decided to send their budgeted charitable dollars to the relief effort in New York City and Washington, D.C. But many local non-profits fear they will not have the funding they need to provide services. Car show brings out fine vintages at fall festivalAl Hastings’ red 1957 Jaguar XK140 Roadster was one of this year’s winners at the Classic Car Show, held Oct. 6 and 7 in conjunction with the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival. Several classic cars, ranging from 1913 and 1915 Ford Model T’s and a 1915 Franklin to 1960s Shelbys, were on display both days. Library NewsBig Chalk is a new online database available through the home page of the Santa Clara County Library System, which includes the Los Altos and Woodland Branch libraries. This easy-to-use database contains full text articles from magazines and newspapers, as well as TV, radio and government transcripts, books and reference collections, photographs, images, and maps. It also includes the full text of The New York Times from 1999 to the present. CalendarLos Altos Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave. Wednesday Metropolitan Opera sensation Frederica von Stade will sing in benefit concert for Waldorf SchoolMetropolitan Opera star Frederica von Stade is the featured performer in “Seasons of Song,” a benefit concert for Waldorf School of the Peninsula. The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m., Oct. 26, in the Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn High School, Palo Alto. A catered reception is slated to follow at 9:30 p.m. Five other Bay Area artists will join von Stade in performing selections from opera, Broadway and jazz, as well as contemporary favorites. Jake Heggie, pianist and composer of the opera “Dead Man Walking,” baritone Curt Branom, lyric-soprano Kristin Clayton, mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook and von Stade’s daughter, Jenifer Elkus, are appearing pro bono for the benefit. SchoolsSchool BriefsSanta Rita School in Los Altos has scheduled a Scholastic Book Fair 2:20-5 p.m., Oct. 24; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 25; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 26; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 27. The fair, open to the community, is a fund-raiser for the school library and classroom libraries. Visitors can purchase and donate requested books for any classroom’s library. For more information, call 941-3288. CEEF 2001 dinner and silent auction A thousand paper cranes send ‘hope and love’ to New Yorkers from Montclaire studentsWhen Montclaire School sixth-grader Sami Michishita heard about the events of Sept. 11, she wanted to do something. While cleaning her room, Michishita found some origami paper and the book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” by Eleanor Coerr, and got an idea. Santa Rita School’s annual teddy bear parade proves educational and fun“I would like to present Santa Rita’s First-Grade Teddy Bear Marching Band,” a voice said over the loudspeaker as Santa Rita School’s 17th annual “First-Grade Teddy Bear Parade” began amid cheers and clapping, Oct. 5. “It’s part of a unit that they study about bears,” said Principal Steve Peck. “They do bears with math, bear habitats for science, read about bears, sing about bears and today they performed ‘Teddy Bear Parade’.” 41st annual ‘Witches’ Delight’ at Santa Rita School, Oct. 27Ghoulish goblins and wacky witches are all planning to attend Santa Rita PTA’s 41st annual “Witches ‘Delight” Halloween Carnival, scheduled 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 27. The event attracts hundreds of Los Altos families and is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit. The carnival for preschoolers through sixth-graders is not a fund-raiser, said organizer K. B. Herndon. “This is a goodwill gesture for the community.” SportsSports On The SideAvenidas Senior Day Health Center on Oct. 24 will hold a walk-a-thon, with proceeds going to the New York Firefighters 911 Disaster Relief Fund. The walk is slated for 10-11 a.m. at Avenidas, 701 E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. A picnic follows from noon to 1 p.m. at nearby Mitchell Park. For more information, call 494-8018. That’s the ticket Eagles need to make a splash during final weeks of leagueThe next two weeks of play should determine if the Los Altos High girls water polo team has what it takes to make the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs. The Eagles entered this week in third place in the SCVAL El Camino Division at 4-2, with games against the teams ahead of them on the horizon. Spartans subdue EaglesThe Mountain View High football team didn’t dominate the scoreboard as much as it did the stat sheet last Friday night against Los Altos. Although the Spartans gained more than three times as many yards as their rivals, they prevailed only 28-14 at Foothill College. KRON reporter to speak before Women in BusinessThe Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and Palo Alto chambers of commerce will feature Emmy award-winning reporter Noel Cisneros at the annual Regional Women in Business Luncheon. KRON Channel 4 reporter Cisneros will speak at the event scheduled 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 6, at the Sunnyvale Sheraton Four Points Hotel. BusinessBuying stocks now can show some long-term profitsStock Report If you have the courage to hold your stocks rather than sell them in this economic downturn, you will do fine. The market is still vulnerable to outside events, but if you add to your portfolio instead of selling, you will be further ahead in the long term. Don’t worry about buying at the bottom. Attitudes changing as sellers, buyers seek greater control through technologyBy the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors With the overload of technology in the information age, consumers are changing their attitudes toward real estate transactions. They are becoming more involved in the process while relying on real estate professionals for knowledge and information. Schola Cantorum opening concert season on SaturdaySchola Cantorum, the Mountain View-based community choir, opens its 2001-2002 concert season this weekend with “Majestic Masses.” The concert features two famous works from the classical choral music repertoire: Mozart’s “Coronation Mass” and Haydn’s “Mass in Time of War.” PeopleWeddings & EngagementsSara Tuttle and Michael Leeder were married May 26 at Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco.The reception was held at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. The bride is the daughter of Jack and Jan Tuttle of Los Altos Hills. ObituariesLillian Bayer died Sept. 9 after a long illness. A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, she was 79. Mrs. Bayer moved to Los Altos in 1954. She was an avid bowler and gardener. Spiritual LifeSpiritual Life BriefsIn February members of Los Altos United Methodist Church will be going to El Salvador, where they will build a house. Hands-On Missions is collecting school supplies that they can take to the children in the community where they will be working. For more information, call Donna Davies at 969-3697. You can relieve your burden of stress by lightening others’ burdensTransitions Between the downturn in the economy and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, we all have a burden of stress to carry. Senior LifestylesStrrrr-e-ttcch… to fit!Town Crier Correspondent Hillview class meets needs of older adults who want to keep healthy and relieve stress Practical ways of dealing with stress needed more than ever after Sept. 11Joy for Seniors In considering the tragedy of Sept. 11, I am wondering if I should change the name of this column to something else. At this time, it seems inappropriate, somehow, almost trivial, to discuss such issues as travel, leisure, retirement and joy. Our world, the world of most Americans, has changed. For many of us who are seniors, it may never again be the same. But we will not be defeated, if we don’t allow it. Defeat is a state of mind. Con artists see seniors as easy targets for scams - so here’s what you can doHave you ever received a telephone call in which you’ve been told you’ve won $50,000? And that all you need to do to receive your winnings is to wire money to cover the insurance costs? “If it smells like a rat, it probably is a rat,” said Sgt. Tom Connelly, supervisor and chief investigator of financial crimes at the Los Altos Police Department. Seniors BriefsThe Health Library of Avenidas has scheduled a series of events this month. Janis Thomas, physical therapist and health educator, will talk to women on “Solutions for Declining Bladder Control” 10.30 a.m., Friday and Oct. 26. Cost is $10 for the series. There will be free glaucoma screening 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Preregistration is required. At the Senior CentersFriday, noon - Oktoberfest Luncheon with knockwurst, hot German potato salad, sweet and sour cabbage and chocolate cake. Reservations required. Tickets $3 for members and $6 for guests. Oct. 25, 12:30 p.m. - AARP general meeting,. Hear what AARP offers to seniors. Seniors enjoy early-morning tennis, socializingTown Crier Correspondent Lee Kann, 90 years old, dragged himself out of bed early last Wednesday because there was someplace very special he needed to be. He went to the tennis courts at Los Altos High School and played a game with other early-rising seniors. REACH program offers extended rehabilitation for stroke survivorsStrokes can frequently cause some form of physical or mental impairment. Medical insurance and Medicare will pay for outpatient rehabilitation services for several months, but often people who have undergone a stroke feel the need for additional support. Their impairment can also leave them feeling socially isolated. Fortunately, the Foothill College REACH Program offers this support. Located on the college’s Middlefield campus, REACH is designed to provide a link between outpatient rehabilitation and full community integration. It also provides a service for those who have old limitations but need support in learning new activities. It costs just $21 per 12 weeks for residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Stepping OutBooksLos Altos author gives poignant account of child’s life during the DepressionTown Crier Correspondent Review |
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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