Parade still shines

Town Crier Correspondent

Annual Festival of Lights continues to dazzle onlookers by the thousands

Los Altos native to head up Mtn. View Police Department

Mountain View

Mountain View’s search for a new police chief wound down last week in Los Altos with the appointment of Los Altos native Scott S. G. Vermeer, who gained national attention in 1994 after he tracked down and arrested three kidnappers holding a Redwood City teen for ransom.

Contemporary design up for review

The Los Altos City Council was scheduled to make a possible precedent-setting decision Tuesday night that would either allow or prohibit the construction of a home based on its architectural style and neighborhood compatability.

The contemporary home proposed for Benvenue Avenue fits the city’s design guidelines, except for style. The 3,645-square-foot home featured a flat roof with sand-finished stucco and zinc metal siding. Benvenue is a neighborhood with a predominant mixture of one- and two-story ranch and Mediterranean-style homes.

News Briefs

Los Altos police arrested a 28-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman at Heritage Oak Park last week for allegedly shooting up heroin in the back of a van.

Both face charges of possession of heroin and hypodermic needles, police said.

Police report

Nov. 22, 12:34 a.m., First Street: A officer responded to a report of a physical fight.

Stray animals

New sewer connections a problem

Los Altos Hills

Three jurisdictions overlap in providing Los Altos Hills’ sanitary sewer system. The town conveys sewage to the water quality control plant through the Palo Alto and Los Altos basins. The town has separate usage agreements with both cities. Homes in the southern part of town connect to the Los Altos lines, while homes in northern part connect to Palo Alto’s.

Mayor faces corruption charges

Town Crier Staff Report

Mountain View Mayor Mario Ambra could lose his political seat if found guilty of using his public position to allegedly influence city decisions from which he might have benefited financially.

Dick Cheney slept here

Commentary

With reliable sources warning that other terrorist attacks were imminent,Vice President Cheney again left Washington for an undisclosed destination. - Associated Press

Letters to the Editor

Sara Ballenger’s Oct. 17 front page article on child care in Los Altos was quite interesting, though in several respects, quite inaccurate. As the senior warden of the Christ Episcopal Church Vestry (the governing board), and as the author of the lease between the church and Early Horizons, I have quite a different picture of the events leading up to Early Horizons relocating to Christ Church.

Once the Packard Foundation had assisted the various day care centers and pre-schools in locating possible relocation sites, all interaction was directly between the parties. One of our parishioners, Ed White, met frequently with Early Horizons personnel to understand their needs and negotiate the terms of the tenancy. He took the steps to receive the necessary permits.

Kitchen counter

Blue Jeans & Jelly Beans

I have an office. It’s my kitchen counter. It’s only about 12 square feet, and I have to stand up to use it, but it’s enough. I have everything I need to coordinate not only the family and household, but also Scouting, sports, volunteering, school, and church stuff.

An historical look at faith in Los Altos

Looking Back, Moving Forward

The development of the Bay Area came about as the Spanish missionaries worked their way north up the coast from Mexico. Led by Father Junipero Serra, missions were established and Catholicism was introduced throughout the region. Over the past 100 years many other religions have established themselves in Los Altos, providing an answer to our wide range of spiritual needs.

Corrections

In the Nov. 7 issue, Robert and Marilyn Byers, Molly’s Vineyard (Byers Cellars), were inadvertently left out of the article on the Oct. 28 Westwind and Wineries benefit as one of the five Los Altos Hills families who shared their wine.

Weather

Thursday: Rain likely, with highs in the 50s.

Friday: A chance of rain.

Stepping lively without stepping on toes

Community Center line-dancers enjoy exercise and friendship

You like to dance, but your husband or wife hates to. Or you want to learn dance steps, but you’re a bit klutzy and afraid you might step on your dance partner’s toes. There’s an answer: the Tuesday afternoon line-dancing class, sponsored by the Los Altos Recreation Department.

Helping the Helpless: Town Crier Holiday Fund 2001 under way

The above is just one of more than 160 families who are being helped this month by Truck Of Love, one several agencies supported by the Town Crier Holiday Fund. Because of the drain of funds contributed to the Sept. 11 tragedy, many local agencies reportedly are falling behind in contributions while needs increase due to layoffs and high unemployment in the county.

The Holiday Fund supports hands-on organizations where a “dollar makes a difference.” All are located in Santa Clara County. This year’s recipients are:

Holidays begin with Los Altos tree-lighting

Town Crier Correspondent

Bring in 200 elementary school students, 100 parents with cameras and camcorders taking pictures of their children singing, and you have a crowded and successful holiday tree-lighting ceremony at the Community Plaza Friday in downtown Los Altos.

Museum’s book signing and jewelry show offer gift ideas

The Los Altos History Museum and History House has scheduled a book signing and jewelry show noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, in the Los Altos History Museum. The Museum, newly decorated in a festive Christmas theme, will provide an opportunity to obtain personal Christmas gifts with local and traditional themes.

Local authors participating include: Jane Bernasconi, “Daughters of California Pioneers;” Bobbi Callison, “Growing Up in Los Altos;” Shirley Climo, “Cobweb’s Christmas;” Eleanor Cranston Cameron, “Alan Cranston;” Rosalind Creasey, “Edible Herb Garden” and “Edible Italian Garden;” Rewa Hodges, “Molly Mae;” Yvonne Jacobson, “Passing Farms, Enduring Values;” Paul and Liz Nyberg, “Paint the Town;” and Ginger Summitt, “The Complete Book of Gourd Craft” and “Gourd Crafts.”

‘Los Altos Story’ scheduled for viewing

The film, produced in 1989 by the Rotary Club of Los Altos, received national media attention and won a variety of awards when it was originally shown.

Locally, the film will be shown 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, on KMVT, Channel 15, Mountain View. For more information, call the Rotary AIDS Project at 688-6164 or check out the Web site at www.rotaryaidsproject.org.

Library News

Whodunit? mystery readers’ group will discuss “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett next Wednesday (Dec. 5) from 10:15-11:30 a.m. in the Los Altos Library Group Study Room. New participants are welcome.

Annie Fox, author of “Can You Relate: Real-World Advice for Teens on Guys, Girls, Growing Up and Getting Along,” will talk with teens next Wednesday (Dec. 5) at 4 p.m. in the Los Altos Library Program Room.

Calendar

Los Altos Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave.

Wednesday

Community Briefs

The 19th Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Community Volunteer Service Awards luncheon is scheduled for Friday at the Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road.

The public is invited to attend. Beverages will be served at 11:45 a.m., with luncheon and awards to follow at 12:15 p.m.

Foothill-De Anza budget stable, but that may change in 2002

Town Crier Correspondent

Despite dire indications that the state’s budget picture will give local agencies fits next year, Foothill-De Anza Community College District finances remain stable for now, the vice chancellor related at the Nov. 12 board of trustees meeting.

Schools Briefs

Blach Junior High School students will offer handcrafted goods during a holiday faire set for 12:30-4 p.m., Dec. 7, at the school, 1120 Covington Road, Los Altos.

Items for sale will include holiday decorations, jewelry, hair accessories, candy, food items, toys and candles.

Practice makes perfect

LAHS Marching Band and Color Guard complete a successful season

The halftime shows by the Los Altos High School Marching Band and Color Guard may last just 20 minutes and band competitions several weekends in the fall, but these performances take many days of practice to perfect.

Foothill-De Anza college board loses Sandoval, looks to appoint new member

Town Crier Correspondent

he Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees is looking for a replacement to fill Dolores Sandoval’s seat. With two years remaining as a board member, Sandoval ran in the Nov. 6 election for a seat on the Cupertino City Council and won. She must vacate her Foothill-De Anza board seat.

Superintendent Rich Fischer tells Kiwanians, ‘I love my job’

Town Crier Correspondent

Invite Superintendent Rich Fischer to speak about the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District and he’ll take on the demeanor of a proud papa.

Los Altos hires former NBA player as coach

Town Crier Correspondent

Ron Williams faced a number of difficult challenges in an illustrious athletic career that any athlete would admire.

Sports On The Side

United States Water Polo is conducting a coaching clinic led by some of the sports’ top coaches and motivational speakers Friday through Sunday during the NCAA Championships at Stanford University. The clinic will feature U.S. National Team coaches Ratko Rudic and Guy Baker, Stanford women’s coach John Tanner, former Olympic coach John Vargas, U.S. National Team sports psychologist Dr. Robert Corb and members of the U.S. National Team. Classes/forums take place around the championship action in the pool. The $125 fee includes a ticket to all sessions of the tournament, a group lunch Sunday and coffee each morning. To register or for more information, call Michelle Pickering at (562) 856-3707 or send e-mail to mpickering@uswp.org.

Jock talk

Foothill College Sports Roundup

Men’s soccer

Defying the odds, Foothill last week reached the semifinals of the Northern California playoffs

Los Altos High girls off to strong start in soccer

Town Crier Staff Report

he Los Altos High girls soccer team is off to a 2-0 start after beating Mount Pleasant and Silver Creek last week.

Pinewood’s Hodzic falls in CCS final

Teammates Lea and Pelea lose to St. Francis duo in semifinals

Prep Girls Tennis Playoffs

Foothill College suspends men’s basketball program

Foothill College has suspended its men’s basketball program for at least this season due to what athletic director Sue Gatlin called “recruiting violations.”

However, neither Gatlin nor Owls head coach Todd Petersen would comment on the nature of these alleged violations.

On Deck: the local sports lineup for Nov. 28-Dec. 4

Football

Friday

Focused Lancers reach NorCal championship

Los Altos falls in five in opening round

Prep Volleyball Playoffs

Cannon reflects on helping Earthquakes capture MLS championship

Joe Cannon, now that you and the San Jose Earthquakes have won the Major League Soccer championship, what are you doing next?

“Well, I’m not going to Disneyland,” smiled the Earthquakes’ standout goalie, who grew up in Los Altos Hills. “Actually, I’m going to visit my dad (Joe Sr.) in Idaho.”

Spirit lifters for the holiday season

Jean on the Job

t’s been hard to concentrate in the last several months. Companies are in re-alignment and employees are trying to decide that the company’s products and goals matter after all. It is a difficult time to motivate the distracted worker and a painful time to see families affected by unemployment. Nearly every family is touched by the disease of low sales, low profits, low attendance, low customers, low down-awful “it ain’t what it used to be.”

Education IRAs aren’t just for kids’ college anymore

By now, you might have heard that beginning in 2002, you can contribute up to $2,000 annually to an Education IRA, compared to the current $500 yearly maximum. What many people aren’t aware of is that recently passed tax-reform legislation greatly expands what you can spend this money on.

Previously your Education IRA could only be used to pay for college expenses. Beginning in 2002, you can tap these funds tax free to pay for a gamut of qualified school-related expenses not only for college but also for private and public primary and secondary educational institutions. Qualified expenses may include: computer equipment and software (no games) used by the student and other household members for educational purposes; Internet service used by the student and other household members for educational purposes (e.g. research for a term paper); tutoring; school uniforms; books and school supplies; transportation; room and board and tuition; and extended-day school programs.

Some report holiday sales off to good start

Town Crier Correspondent

Last Friday’s Los Altos shoppers were looking for bargains

Business Briefs

Bridge Bank of Silicon Valley opened a new branch on the ground floor of 525 University Ave., Palo Alto, on Nov. 2.

Industry veterans Kenneth D, Brenner and Colleen Carlsted, who have recently joined the Bridge Bank’s management group, are slated to lead the team of seven bankers who will staff the Palo Alto branch. Brenner has been named branch president.

Forget about Afghanistan, stock market trend is up

Stock Report

Psychology runs the market this time of year so look for stocks to inch upward into next year. Expect some profit-taking disappointments, but the trend is upward.

New manager to head Coldwell Banker Los Altos office

Coldwell Banker last week announced the appointment of Bob Stelzer to manager of the company’s Los Altos Gateway office, incorporating a team of over 50 real estate professionals.

Stelzer joined Coldwell Banker Northern California in September with the merger of Coldwell Banker and his former broker, Century 21 Seville Contempo. Stelzer previously managed Seville Contempo’s Menlo Park Victoria Lane office which incorporated a team of over 35 sales associates. Recently the Victoria Lane office was merged with the Coldwell Banker offices located at El Camino and Santa Cruz Avenue.

Real estate question: Buy a home, sell your home or sit tight?

Town Crier Correspondent

That’s a tough question ever since Sept. 11, because the market appears uncertain. High-tech layoffs have created weakened confidence among buyers, but Fannie Mae’s economists report 2002 is beginning to look favorable for home sales.

Transactions

Cupertino

10902 Canyon Vista Drive - E. Campbell to Hodsdon Trust for $920,000.00

Wine, wildlife, scenery and eateries - South Australia will beckon you back

For my annual month “Down Under,” I started in Adelaide exploring the beautiful and spectacular coastline and did a wine appreciation course in the five wine regions. My favorite was the Barossa Valley and its Shiraz red wine.

There were lovely little villages, with German names and wineries with no glitz, just outstanding wines. With the dollar strong right now, everything is half price. This region is a bargain, compared with Sydney or Queensland.

Kiwanis Christmas tree lot opens in new location

Town Crier Correspondent

The log’s burning and the TV’s ready for football. Meanwhile, Los Altos Kiwanis Club members volunteer to work for their Christmas tree lot, as they have for the past 14 holiday seasons.

Showplace like home

Town Crier Correspondent

Los Altos home with Nantucket flair part of ‘Christmas at Our House’ fund-raiser for St. Francis

St. Francis ‘Christmas At Our House’ showcase of homes starts Thursday

Town Crier Correspondent

The St. Francis Women’s club will host its 13th annual holiday home tour, “Christmas At Our House,” with a twilight tour and gala preview party at 5 p.m., Thursday.

Cover Story features 12 different

Town Crier Correspondent

table settings

History Museum features quilts and quilting

The Los Altos History Museum has scheduled an exhibit of antique and contemporary quilts, owned or made by Los Altos and Los Altos Hills resident through Feb. 3.

Traditional and contemporary quilts on display will include an antique Texas Star, a hand-quilted Double Wedding Ring and millennium quilts, one with a minimum of 2000 pieces of fabric. The museum will also showcase quilts from its own collection, including a memory quilt made by the family of Reverend Landells and his daughter Edith.

A Place For Flowers also an ideal place for wreaths

Town Crier Correspondent

Does anything say “Seasons Greetings” better then a fresh wreath hanging on your front door or window, or a cut flower arrangement for the holiday table?

Home system sound: It’s all material

Now hear this: The materials that home theater systems are designed from are an important factor in the quality of the sound these systems deliver.

You need only two things: racks of highly specialized A/V equipment and a custom-designed room. Home theater designers agree that the best home theater settings rely heavily on environmentally friendly medium density fiberboard (MDF) throughout.

Paint Like a Pro

Town Crier Report

A fresh coat of paint is the most inexpensive way to “remodel” a room. But, as with all remodeling projects, the key to success is preparation. To make the project easier, professional painters recommend a few “must-haves.”

Engagements

Amanda Winzler Rusch and Tony Pandjiris have announced their engagement to be married next July in Sonoma.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Natalie and Peter Rusch of Los Altos.

Noteworthies

Julien Schaller helped design and built a storage shed with compartments and individualized cubbies. The shed was donated to the Independent Peer Socialization Program at the Morgan Center. Julien is a senior at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose.

Chris Stanley, also a senior at Bellarmine, built four baseball scoreboards for the Los Altos Pony and Los Altos Little leagues.

Obituaries

Eva Mae Mc Cants, a 30-year Los Altos resident, died Nov. 10 at Doctors Medical Center. A native of Oklahoma, she was 79.

Mrs. Mc Cants was a member of Union Presbyterian Church of Los Altos for many years, a lifetime member of the Presbyterian Women’s Club and had served as a deacon for the church.

Spiritual Briefs

KARA, a Palo Alto agency that provides grief support for children and adults, will hold its seventh annual candlelight service at 7 p.m., Dec. 6 at Unity Palo Alto Community Church, 3391 Middlefield Road.

Members will be lighting candles representing the themes of love, hope, memory and courage.

‘Family’ myth can be a hurtful concept for singles, non-traditional couples

Town Crier Correspondent

Transitions

‘Charley’s Aunt’ visits Palo Alto

TheatreWorks ushers in the holiday season with “Charley’s Aunt,” launching this week at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

The play runs today through Dec. 30. Previews are scheduled for 8 p.m., today through Friday, with the opening-night performance slated for 8 p.m., Saturday.

Bus Barn’s latest: comedy based on ‘Christmas Carol’

What happens when you try to present the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” and the cast doesn’t show up?

If you’re the ladies from the Farndale Dramatic Society, the show must go on. And go on it does, with hilarious results.

Foothill’s ‘United We Dance’ honors heroes of Sept. 11

Under the direction of Bubba Gong, Foothill College dance instructor the award-winning Foothill Repertory Dance Company presents “United We Dance” at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

The two-hour performances, presented as a tribute to the heroes of the Sept. 11 tragedy, will be held in the Smithwick Theater at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Ave., Los Altos Hills. Proceeds benefit dance department scholarships.

‘Live Longer, Live Larger’

Bill and Susie Buchholz’s new book offers advice for cancer patients

Book Review